Bulgaria's Only Assyrian Restaurant

Sofia -- The quarter around Sofia's Zhenski Pazar, literally Women's Market, is one the Bulgarian capital's most diverse. The hum of multiple languages, the air carrying the smell of roasted peppers, fresh bread, and ground coffee with cardamom. The market is the beating heart of this diverse neighborhood.

Weathered building facades, a few undergoing renovative works and most with their ground level covered in graffiti, radiate a sense of abandonment. The liveliness of the community, however, is betrayed by the prevalence of small shops and informal gatherings on park benches and entryway stairs.

The slow speech of elderly residents, the sharp rhythm of Arabic echoing from cafes and barbershops, the lilt of Balkan dialects, and the occasional trumpeting of English, both native, and broken, piece together a mosaic of change, of the old and new.

Only a few streets away is the city's famed "Square of Tolerance" -- the Bulgarian Orthodox Saint Nedelya Cathedral, Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph, Central Sofia Synagogue, and Banya Bashi Mosque all within sight of one another.

Their proximity speaks of the invisible threads that tie together centuries of faith, exile, and return. From antiquity to the present day, Sofia, and Bulgaria as a whole, has been a crossroads.

Within this multi-cultural enclave -- and walking distance of a kosher Algerian cafe, Kurdish bakery, and Arab grocer -- you can find Ashurbanipal.

Given its namesake, the last great king of Neo-Assyria Empire, Ashurbanipal, one would imagine a grand, ostentatious dining hall covered in gold and azure stone. On the contrary, Ashurbanipal appears unassuming from the outside. Almost hidden in plain sight, the building is modest with simple signage and an old-world feel. Its understated presence contributes to its charm -- an almost clandestine gem.

The interior is compact and unpretentious. Service is informal. You order at a small counter, picking up your dishes as they're finished. What defines Ashurbanipal is chef and owner Frederick Benjamin, who goes by Freddy.

Years ago, Freddy ran another restaurant near the Women's Market. After closing it, he opened several shawarma shops and, in the meantime, completed a chef's course in Bulgarian cuisine. He used to work alongside Bulgarian chefs in a traditional local restaurant but ultimately returned to his original ambition of opening his own establishment, cooking the food he grew up with. That vision became reality with the opening of Ashurbanipal in early 2013.

Freddy speaks of his path, and of his adoptive Bulgaria, with a combination of affection and matter-of-factness. "I am Frederick from Iraq. I am Assyrian," he says. "I settled in this country, Bulgaria, over 25 years ago. I have a wife and two children here." Freddy's wife, Linda Awanis, is the founder and current chairperson of the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria.

"I think life here is something else," Freddy says with a fondness. "Many times, I had a chance to go to other European countries. Maybe for other people, it was great to go somewhere else, like Germany or the Scandinavian countries. But I like this country."

He explains that Bulgaria's Assyrian community is exceedingly small. "We have just three, four families here. This is the only Assyrian restaurant in the country." Yet he insists he has always felt welcomed. "People here are very sympathetic and kind. They accept us as much as we accept them. I discovered this when I started working in Bulgaria and started cooking here."

An engineer by training and an Arabic calligraphist by trade, Freddy came to be a chef by a twist of fate. "Cooking saved my life," Freddy says frankly. During the Iran--Iraq War, from 1980 to 1988, he served as a soldier. "I was a cook in the Iraqi Army. I am living today because my role as a cook kept me away from the fighting."

He is originally from Baghdad and, despite his clear affection for Iraq, he says he no longer returns. "There is no purpose."

"I like my mother country, for sure," he explains. "But I think it is useless going there. Even though I love Iraq, I am living in Bulgaria. I feel like a Bulgarian. If you don't like your first country, you will never like your second one." He has now been in Bulgaria for nearly three decades. "More than 25 years," he says with a laugh. "Sometimes I feel more like a Bulgarian than the Bulgarians."

His life now is rooted in a village just outside Sofia, a place he describes with warmth. "We are like a small family there. We also have a small taverna in the village. We cook for one another, drink together. I often make doner kebabs for the children." Then he laughs and adds, "It's good to have a new mother."

Freddy says Bulgarians have embraced Iraqi cuisine with curiosity and openness. "Bulgaria is a crossroads, they are open to new tastes. Chinese, Indian, Arabian. When we started with Iraqi dishes, it was something different, but they liked it. There is an interest."

Over the years his restaurant has been featured on television and YouTube, and he has cooked with the organization MultiKulti at primary schools. "One time we taught eight classes, forty-fifty kids each. The second we finished, a new group would come in," he recalls, laughing. "I was begging the organizer for a break. I took a short break and when I came back, all the children were waiting and chanting 'Freddy! Freddy!'"

As for the restaurant's name, he says it came from a desire to honor the culture he comes from. "The name of the restaurant is Ashurbanipal because we are Assyrians. I am Assyrian."

Freddy pauses for a moment, as if reflecting on his past and his identity. "Our language is not Arabic, it is not Kurdish, it is Aramaic," he eventually says. "We have a nation, but we have no country. We've been forced to fight for others, targeted by others, and now many have left Iraq. In, maybe, 15 years, 20 years, there may be no Christians left. Assyrians are peaceful. We are Christians. Perhaps this has made it easy to push us out of our homeland."

At the end of our conversation, and after we've finished our meal and settled the bill, Freddy makes sure we get a picture of him with the Assyrian national flag, hanging in Ashurbanipal since it first opened.
China's poverty elimination reflects human-centered vision

09:53, November 21, 2025 By Zamir Ahmed Awan ( People's Daily Online

When China opened its doors to the world in 1978 and embarked on the path of reform, the country confronted a daunting reality: poverty. Vast rural regions remained trapped in deprivation, lacking basic infrastructure, access to markets, health care and economic opportunities. Few observers at the time could have imagined that within just four decades, China would not only escape this trap but go on to achieve what no country in human history had ever accomplished on such a scale.

By 2020, China officially declared the elimination of absolute poverty, lifting nearly 100 million people out of destitution in just eight years of targeted poverty alleviation and 800 million since the beginning of the reform era. This achievement positioned China among the world's leading examples of poverty reduction, enabling the country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty well ahead of schedule. The transformation was neither accidental nor the result of external exploitation or coercive economic expansion. Instead, it was the outcome of vision paired with discipline, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to people-centered development.

This is the story of a nation that chose to uplift rather than conquer, to empower rather than exploit, and to create prosperity through hard work, indigenous capabilities, and inclusive policies rather than through war, plunder or domination of others.

A vision rooted in humanity

China's poverty-alleviation effort is not merely an economic milestone; it is fundamentally a human story. It represents a political leadership that placed dignity, well-being and equality at the center of national rejuvenation. Guided by the principles of people-centered governance, China recognized early on that genuine modernization must have a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable.

The secret behind China's success lies in its long-term planning, continuity of policies, and a strategic culture that prioritizes deep structural transformation over short-term populism. No matter how ambitious the goals were, they were executed with discipline, consistency and clarity of purpose.

The development trajectory that began in 1978 gradually built an ecosystem in which:

 Agriculture was modernized, enabling farmers to produce more and earn more

 Industrial growth created jobs, transforming rural populations into a dynamic urban workforce

 Infrastructure connected once-isolated villages to markets and opportunities

 Technological innovation opened new paths for income generation

 Education and health care investments secured long-term human development

This multi-pronged strategy created a ladder for millions to climb out of poverty and prevented them from falling back.

The world has long witnessed international powers claiming leadership in poverty alleviation while simultaneously engaging in wars, resource extraction, and political manipulation abroad. Many so-called developed countries built their wealth by colonizing territories, controlling resources, and exploiting vulnerable populations across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Even today, coercive sanctions, political interference, and economic pressure continue to be key instruments of foreign policy for these states. Such histories make their advice on development less convincing, and their narratives about poverty reduction difficult to reconcile with their actions.

China chose the opposite path. Rather than becoming wealthy by taking from others, China became prosperous by developing itself from within, dedicating its energy, resources and labor toward building a fair and inclusive society. The country's development was not financed by foreign conquest, but by the sweat and determination of its own people  farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, scientists and local officials who all contributed to a national mission.

A sustainable model for the future

China understood early that lifting people out of poverty is one step; the more difficult task is ensuring they remain out of poverty. Many countries that have attempted to reduce poverty have seen temporary improvements, only to witness communities fall back into deprivation due to weak foundations. Recognizing this risk, China created a five-year transition period (20212025) dedicated entirely to consolidating achievements and preventing relapse.

This strategy has yielded impressive results:

 6 million people at risk of falling back into poverty received targeted assistance

 Over 30 million workers previously lifted from poverty secured stable annual employment

 850.5 billion yuan ($120 billion) was invested in formerly impoverished areas to improve infrastructure and public services, including transportation, water conservancy, education and health care

 Rural residents' per capita disposable income in counties lifted out of poverty rose from 12,588 yuan in 2020 to 17,522 yuan in 2024  an annual real growth rate of 7.8 percent

These initiatives exemplify a multidimensional approach to sustainable development, encompassing economic, environmental and social aspects.

With the transition period ending in 2025, China is preparing for its 15th Five-Year Plan (20262030).

China will continue to consolidate and expand its achievements in poverty alleviation, according to the recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, released last month.

The goal is clear: to ensure that every citizen benefits from modernization and that no one is left behind.

The leadership behind the miracle

Central to this unprecedented achievement is the visionary leadership of the CPC, which provided the political will, institutional strength, and stability required to drive long-term poverty eradication. Key elements included:

 Prioritized poverty alleviation as a national mission, not a charity program

 Deployed millions of cadres to the grassroots, living and working among villagers

 Implemented incentive-based policies that rewarded innovation and hard work

 Designed localized solutions tailored to each village's conditions

 Ensured fiscal and financial continuity, protecting development from political cycles

The leadership understood that every village required different tools. Some needed roads, others needed industries, still others needed ecological restoration. This tailored approach differentiated China from countries that apply generic poverty-alleviation templates with little regard for local contexts.

China's poverty alleviation model offers valuable lessons to developing countries worldwide:

 Political commitment matters. Poverty cannot be eliminated by rhetoric; it demands consistent action.

 People-centered development works. Growth must uplift the weakest to be meaningful.

 Indigenous solutions outperform external prescriptions. Countries prosper when they build on their own strengths.

 Sustainability is essential. Eliminating poverty is not an event; it is a continuous process.

A global beacon of hope.

Peace enables development. China's achievements were made without invading, looting or exploiting others.

In an era when certain nations still impose sanctions, fuel conflicts, and interfere in the affairs of others, China's development path stands as a humane and dignified alternative, rooted in cooperation, self-reliance, and mutual benefit.

China's poverty elimination is more than a domestic achievement; it is a global beacon of hope. It demonstrates that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome when a nation unites around a shared mission, guided by visionary leadership and grounded in compassion.

As China moves into the 15th Five-Year Plan period, its focus on rural revitalization, sustainability, and inclusive growth signals a new chapter  one where development becomes deeper, more balanced and more equitable.

The elimination of absolute poverty in 2020 is nothing short of a miracle. But it is not a miracle achieved by chance. It is the result of determination, devotion and the enduring belief that every citizen deserves a dignified life.

In a world often divided by conflict and inequality, China's experience reminds us that development should uplift humanity, not exploit it. And that a modern, prosperous society is within reach for all nations that dare to dream, plan and persevere with the same resolve.

About the author: Zamir Ahmed Awan is a sinologist, former Pakistani diplomat and the founding chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance (GSRRA), based in Islamabad, Pakistan. He can be reached at awanzamir@yahoo.com.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
21 November 2025 15:13 (UTC+04:00)

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21 November 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

LG Electronics will start receiving Wi-Fi patent royalties from Amazon in the United States, further expanding its intellectual property business despite having exited the smartphone market in 2021, Azernews reports, citing Korean media.

The company announced Thursday that it has signed a patent licensing agreement with the global e-commerce giant for the use of LGs standard essential Wi-Fi patents. Under the deal, Amazon can incorporate LGs Wi-Fi technology into devices such as Alexa AI speakers, Fire TV Stick streaming devices, and Fire tablets.

Standard essential patents (SEPs) are core technologies that must be used in any product complying with international standards. Once a technology becomes part of a global standard, companies around the world rely on it in developing their products.

According to LGs 2025 semiannual report, the company holds approximately 97,880 registered patents worldwide, with roughly half classified as standard patents. These patented technologies are already integrated into products such as OLED TVs, washing machines, and refrigerators, and they extend into future-oriented areas like telecommunications, automotive components, and sixth-generation (6G) communications.

Although LG exited the smartphone market in 2021, it has been actively growing its intellectual property operations by leveraging decades of accumulated mobile and communications technology. In 2022, the company officially added licensing of patents and other intellectual property rights to its articles of incorporation, solidifying it as a key business objective.

The companys standard patent licensing business is managed by the IP Center under Chief Technology Officer Kim Byoung-hoon. The R&D-focused organizations patents are now generating revenue, and LG is reportedly negotiating Wi-Fi standard essential patent licensing agreements with several other global companies.

This move highlights a broader trend among former hardware giants: even after leaving competitive markets, tech companies can turn their intellectual property into a lucrative business, effectively monetizing decades of innovation without manufacturing a single device.
21 November 2025 23:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Uber announced on Thursday that it will partner with Starship Technologies to introduce autonomous robot deliveries in the UK starting in December, with plans to expand to additional European markets next year and the United States in 2027, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Initially, Uber Eats customers in the Leeds and Sheffield areas will be able to receive deliveries from Starships robots, the company said.

This partnership is the latest in a series of collaborations Uber has established with autonomous vehicle and robotics companies as it increasingly focuses on automating its services to drive growth and efficiency. In the United States, Uber already works with Avride and Serve Robotics to provide robotic food deliveries.

Starship, based in San Francisco, will deploy robots operating at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can navigate and complete deliveries within a designated area without human intervention. The robots are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and AI systems to safely avoid obstacles, interact with pedestrians, and ensure timely deliveries.

Experts suggest that this move could significantly reduce delivery costs, speed up service in congested urban areas, and provide a glimpse of the future of last-mile logistics. Interestingly, some of Starships robots are designed to carry multiple orders simultaneously, and users can track the robots in real time via the Uber Eats app, making the experience interactive and futuristic.

With the rise of autonomous technology, partnerships like Uber and Starships signal a shift in the delivery industry, where smart robotics and AI could become as commonplace as traditional couriers within a few years.
Groups founder and chairman, Northern Ireland-educated Tim Martin, backed Leave campaign

JD Wetherspoon  whose Northern Ireland-educated founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU  is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape, the Irish Independent has learnt.

The stock market-listed group, which owns a small number of pubs in the Republic of Ireland and three in Northern Ireland, has been eyeing locations in Spain for its debut on the Continent.

The new ventures will typically be operated on a franchise basis, following the success of franchise partnerships the group has in the UK with universities and a holiday parks firm.

The first premises on the Continent is due to open next year.

But UK trade with the EU now subject to significant barriers as a result of Brexit.

JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin, who attended Campbell College in east Belfast, was a strong advocate for Brexit, donating hundreds of thousands of pounds to the campaign for the UK to leave the EU. Following the 2016 vote, the UK went on to leave the EU almost six years ago, hitting business between British firms and the trade bloc.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, which operates a total of about 800 pubs, confirmed that the pubs company will now use a newly established subsidiary in Dublin to launch its business in mainland Europe.

Given our current plans for a number of franchise sites in Europe, it is more straightforward if the agreements are between EU-based companies and JD Wetherspoon Europe has been set up [in Dublin] as a result, he said.

JD Wetherspoon opened its first pub in Northern Ireland in 2000. Expansion into the Republic of Ireland followed in 2014, with The Three Tun Tavern in Blackrock, Co Dublin. Later the same year, it opened a premises in Dun Laoghaire.

Founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon Tim Martin. Photo: Getty

News Catch Up - Tuesday 18 November

It later opened a handful of pubs in Cork, Carlow and Waterford. However, in 2023 it put those properties, as well as a premises it planned to open in Galway, up for sale. It sold The Three Tun Tavern in 2022.

It still operates five pubs in Dublin.

Businesses never regret increased democracy because democracy and prosperity are inextricably linked

After the UK voted in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, Mr Martin hailed the outcome of the referendum as a victory for democracy.

Businesses never regret increased democracy because democracy and prosperity are inextricably linked, he said in an interview with the BBC at the time.

Addressing the International Monetary Fund last month, the UKs chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said that Brexit has caused long-term damage to the UKs economy.

The UKs Office for Budgetary Responsibility recently claimed that Brexit will reduce the UKs productivity by 4% in the long term.

Mr Martin, who was knighted in 2023, said in January this year that JD Wetherspoon is looking at expanding overseas.

He cited destinations in Spain such as Alicante, Mallorca and Benidorm that are popular with British holidaymakers as the types of locations that would be suitable for the group.

In the year to July 27, 2025, JD Wetherspoon reported revenue of 2.1bn, a 17%% increase on the previous financial year. Its like-for-like sales rose 5.1% and it made a pre-tax profit of 81.4m.

The group held its annual general meeting yesterday .
The casting director said, Go for it  and dont mention your age

The mesmerising Scottish actor Shirley Henderson talks to Helen Coffey about her new drama Summerwater, the joy of hanging out with the Bridget Jones cast, and how she landed her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter

Dougray Scott) and Annie (Shirley Henderson) in Summerwater

Helen Coffey UK Independent Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 08:01







What was the question again? Sorry, Im dreadful Its the third time  or is it the fourth?  that Shirley Henderson has said this during our interview. Not that she has anything to apologise for; I honestly cant remember what the question was either by this point. Nor do I much care. Its hard not to feel hypnotised, in fact, as the actor drifts away on a meandering, mesmeric tide of anecdotes, reflections and tangents in her soporific, Scottish lilt.
The Prime Minister has vowed to defend a trusted independent BBC as he confirmed he is yet to speak with US President Donald Trump over the Panorama incident.
An award-winning Bangor-based artist has partnered with a young Ugandan painter to sell his work and raise funds for a youth project in his home community.

Kate Whiteman, who has collaborated with the NI Hospice in the past, is hosting the exhibition, which will see proceeds go to AboAba Kids Art, at her Bangor gallery on Friday.
Education

EA cuts not even scratching surface of deficit as Minister warns funds not there to meet teacher pay obligations
An official inquiry published its report into political decision-making during the crisis on Thursday

The daughter of the first woman from Northern Ireland to die of Covid has said Baroness Heather Halletts report makes it very much clear that this inquiry has been needed.

Families who lost loved ones during the pandemic have highlighted the loss of life at an unprecedented, avoidable scale after an official inquiry published its report into political decision-making during the crisis.

The second report of the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry sets out how lives could have been saved and lockdowns may have been avoided if different decisions had been taken.

Brenda Dohertys mother Ruth Burke (82) was the first local woman to die in March 2020 after she contracted the virus in hospital.

Brenda, who became one of the leaders of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK campaign group, said: It is very much clear that this inquiry has been needed, to show why things need to change across the four nations.

We as a society deserve so much better. Our next big thing is to work with all administrations to ensure that these reports, which are heavy, are implemented.

If theyre not, I want to know why, as do the families within our group that we represent.

She added: I found today very emotional. If we had a lockdown a week earlier, people like my mammy wouldve been saved.

Somewhere down the line in the future, if there will be a further pandemic, there will be no excuses. It is up to those who are paid to, to look after every single member of society.

Brenda Doherty of Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (left), leaves the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Pic: PA

The group was critical of the actions of former prime minister Boris Johnson during the pandemic.

It said: The evidence from the inquiry is clear, and while it is vindicating to see Boris Johnson blamed in black and white for the catastrophic mishandling of the pandemic, it is devastating to think of the lives that could have been saved under a different prime minister.

We now know that many of our family members would still be alive today if it werent for the leadership of Boris Johnson and his colleagues.

As the report has found, the governments approach to the pandemic was undermined from the beginning  if Johnson had listened to scientific advice and locked down even a week earlier, around 23,000 people could have been saved.

Instead, throughout the pandemic, Boris Johnson put his political reputation ahead of public safety.

He ignored scientific advice that didnt fit his agenda, and he ignored the impact of his decisions on the frontline, repeating the mistakes of the first wave and prolonging the second.

To make mistakes is human. To refuse to listen to frontline workers, vulnerable people, the insights of devolved leaders or scientific experts is unforgivable.

The same arrogance that led those at the heart of government to hold parties while many of us died and grieved alone shaped the governments approach to the pandemic, and led to loss of life at an unprecedented, avoidable scale.

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Nicola Brook, a solicitor from Broudie Jackson Canter, which represents more than 7,000 families from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said: The report is 760 pages of failures and missed opportunities to save lives.

The families have also heard that half of the loved ones lost in the first wave would not have died if Johnsons shambolic government had acted just one week quicker.

This is heartbreaking for the families who lost loved ones in the most horrific circumstances.
Everything you need to know about the 'super flu' sweeping the nation
Birmingham pub bomb families accuse authorities of spitting on graves of victims

How can we have faith in a process that is designed to protect the government?

Julie Hambleton protests opposite the gates to Downing Street. Photo: Martin Pope/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Richard Sullivan Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 13:59

The Birmingham pub bombs families have slammed the liar government for hiding the truth about their loved ones murders.
The Chinook crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2, 1994 (Chris Bacon/PA)

The families of those who died in the 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter crash have said they hope they are getting somewhere after defence ministers agreed to meet with them.

Twenty-five intelligence experts and four special forces crew were killed when the helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness, on June 2 that year.

The incident was initially blamed on pilot error before this was overturned in 2011.

Relatives of those killed are calling for answers about the crash and are seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in person, having delivered a handwritten letter to Downing Street last month.

Families of the victims have said they will see the UK Government in court after the Prime Minister rejected calls for a judge-led inquiry.

On Friday they said three ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MoD)  Lord Coaker, Al Carns, and Louise Sandher-Jones  as well as victims minister Alex Davies-Jones have now agreed to meet them on Tuesday December 16 at the MoD.

Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Chris was one of the victims, said: The actions of the MoD and the Government continue, daily, to cause not just emotional and psychological distress but intellectual distress as well.

So far, they have made out that we families are stupid and should go away. All of this adds to the ambiguous nature of our loss and is an unacceptable abuse of power from a Government committed to candour.

Perhaps now they have deigned to meet us  not just one minister but four of them  we are getting somewhere. We will see.

The move comes as two experts said the relatives of the victims are living with a unique form of unresolved grief  described by US family psychologist Dr Pauline Boss as ambiguous loss.

Relatives of those killed are seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister (Lucy North/PA)

She said: There is no such thing as closure. We have to live with loss, clear or ambiguous. So, clarity is the goal. But with ambiguous loss, people feel their power has been taken away because there are unanswered questions.

One of the ways to deal with ambiguous loss is to give survivors as much information as possible. If theres no meaning to whats happened, then people are frozen. These families are stuck, and thats a terrible place to be.

A paper written for the Chinook Justice Campaign by social scientist Dr Simon Robins, a research adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross and an expert in ambiguous loss, states: The search for truth  ongoing despite the pilots being formally cleared in 2011  has meant that families live with contradictory realities: their loved ones are gone, yet the truth about what happened remains contested and incomplete.

This lack of recognition, and apparent dismissal of the loss of the families, prolongs suffering, complicating efforts to reconcile emotions with reality.

The Chinook Justice Campaign has launched a petition which has been signed by more than 51,000 people calling for a public inquiry.

An MOD spokesperson said: The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.

We understand that the lack of certainty about the cause of the crash has added to the distress of the families.

The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent judge-led review and Lord Coaker, Minister of State for Defence has offered to meet with representatives from the Chinook Justice Campaign before the end of the year, to listen to their concerns first hand.
The PSNI is facing fresh questions about consistency in policing, as Belfast and Co Londonderry prepare for Palestine Action protests on Saturday.

Since Palestine Action was banned in July, the PSNI has made three arrests and sent six files to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), according to data provided to investigative website The Detail.

The cases relate to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which makes it an offence to wear clothing or display items that indicate support for a proscribed group.

Over the same period, however, the PSNI took no similar action against public displays linked to proscribed loyalist or republican groups, despite several high-profile incidents.

These included parades honouring UVF killer Brian Robinson in Belfast in September, and another in Portadown in August for Harris Boyle, a UVF member linked to the Miami Showband Massacre.

Both were attended by hundreds of people, with UVF wreaths carried openly.

The UKs most senior terrorism-law expert told The Detail the overtly supportive displays at these events involved clear potential Section 13 offences.

A display with the letters UVF certainly arouses reasonable suspicion that those responsible are members or supporters of the UVF, a proscribed organisation, said Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation.

Section 13 Terrorism Act therefore applies. There are no loopholes because the display is floral, or because of clever wordplay if, in the circumstances, reasonable suspicion is aroused.

In addition to arresting Palestine Action supporters, the police have also issued advisory letters to 13 individuals in Derry, where a Defend the Right to Protest rally has been held weekly since July.

The letters, issued mostly to civil rights-era pensioners, warn they may have committed a terrorism offence and invite them for interview.

Goretti Horgan, a trade unionist and women's rights activist in Derry, said: Most of the people doing it are pensioners, for the obvious reason that even an arrest under the Terrorism Act can have an awful impact on the rest of your life.

So those of us who have already had a good life can do that.

Ms Horgan and her partner Eamonn McCann received letters from the PSNI on 8 August, the day before a planned protest, which was scheduled for the same day as the Apprentice Boys parade, where a band carried a UDA banner.

It was to scare us off, Ms Horgan said. But even the PSNI can see it is ridiculous that they are collecting evidence on us while doing nothing about people carrying the flags of sectarian murder gangs.

If charged, she intends to launch a judicial review about why there is action against them but not against support of paramilitaries.

The PSNI confirmed that no advisory letters had been sent regarding displays of support for any paramilitary groups in the four months since Palestine Action was banned.

The only other action taken in relation to a Section 13 offence since July was the arrest of man in Derry for carrying a flag displaying the images of Hezbollah and Hamas.

A PSNI spokeswoman said its role is to apply the law fairly and proportionately, regardless of the issue or organisation involved.

"The proscription of groups is a matter for Government; police act to ensure public safety and uphold the law.

We are clear that people have a right to protest and express their views, and we will continue to facilitate that. We simply ask that those taking part do so peacefully and within the law, so that everyone can make their voices heard safely.

Colum Eastwood, SDLP MP for Foyle, said that the disparity in the police approach was stark.

He said Palestine Action has little presence in Northern Ireland, while local paramilitaries engaged in racketeering, drug dealing and extortion continue and these people hold their communities to ransom.

Colum Eastwood. Pic by Lucy North/PA Wire.

Recent months have seen paramilitary threats over bonfires and Irish language signage, and the targeting of Catholic and migrant families in north Belfast.

Mr Eastwood also criticised the Home Office for failing to consider NIs unique policing and political context.

This is a total dereliction of duty when policing is so sensitive here," he said.

The Department of Justice and the Executive Office said they were not consulted or asked for any input regarding the decision to proscribe Palestine Action.

The PSNI pointed to a statement by Deputy CC Bobby Singleton to the Policing Board in September, where he said we had no role in the decision to proscribe (Palestine Action).

A report which the UK government relied on before introducing the ban included a community impact assessment which made no mention of the situation in NI.

The Home Office has said that Palestine Action met the relevant tests for proscription and that enforcement of related offences is an operational matter for police forces, including the PSNI.

Daniel Holder of the Committee for the Administration of Justice (CAJ) said that, alongside concerns about disparity in policing of proscribed groups, there is a specific concentration of Palestinian solidarity activities within nationalist communities, and PSNI enforcement actions risked discriminatory impact against nationalists.

Support for Palestine

Backlash over 700k thatch training project, which treats homeowners as second-class citizens and could be the death of Irish thatching

Whilst there are persons engaged in Palestinian solidarity activities here who are Protestant, Jewish, Muslim  there is a specific concentration of Palestinian solidarity activities within nationalist communities, with by contrast support for Israel higher among unionists, he said.

This is evident even from as simple an indicator as the locations of Palestinian and Israeli flags.

A legal challenge to the UKs decision to ban Palestine Action is set to be heard next week.
Extensive scorch damage was caused to the front door area, including exterior fittings and a drainpipe.

Three people have escaped uninjured following an early-morning arson attack at a house in east Belfast.

The PSNI were alerted to a report of a fire in front of a property at around 5.35am on Friday morning in the Rathmore Street area.

Detective Sergeant McCallum said: Officers attended the scene, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who extinguished the blaze.

Extensive scorch damage was caused to the front door area, including exterior fittings and a drainpipe.

Three occupants of the property who were inside the house at the time were thankfully able to escape uninjured.

Extensive scorch damage was caused to the front door area, including exterior fittings and a drainpipe.

Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken?

However, we are treating this report as arson with intent to endanger life, and enquiries are ongoing today to determine a motive and who was involved.

We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and noticed anything suspicious to make contact with us.

We also want to hear from anyone who may have CCTV, dash-cam or other footage of the area to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 165 21/11/25.
The Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has been fined for causing the death of a father-of-three after he was fatally struck by an industrial loading shovel.

The organisation  with an address at The Docks in Warrenpoint  were also fined for failing to ensure the safety of their employees after the death of Rostrevor man Kevin McGeough.

The court hearing at Newry Crown Court follows a joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI),

The Warrenpoint Harbour Authority were fined a total of 80,000 after earlier pleading guilty to two health and safety offences.

The Court heard that on July 18, 2019, 58-year-old Mr McGeough, an employee of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, was fatally injured after being struck by an industrial loading shovel that was being operated by another employee in the dockyard area.

The Court heard that on the afternoon of July 18, Mr McGeough was assigned cleaning and tidying duties, including using a power washer in and around Berth 1 at the harbour, close to the travel route of two large loading shovels that were being used to transfer wood chip from one part of the berth to another area approximately 150 yards away.

Mr McGeough was struck and run over by a 20 tonne Volvo loading shovel, suffering fatal injuries.

The investigation revealed that workplace transport risks were not being adequately managed within the Port.

It also found there was an absence of clearly identified, segregated, and physically protected routes for pedestrians to safely move about, placing pedestrians at risk of coming into contact with moving vehicles.

The investigation identified that, at the time of incident, the loading shovel was carrying two tonnes of wood chip in its 1.69m high shovel bucket.

In a statement following the hearing, prosecutors in the PPSs Fraud & Departmental Section said they worked closely with HSENI and the PSNI to build a prosecution case.

HSENI Major Investigation Team Inspector Kevin Campbell said: Vehicles at work continue to be a significant cause of fatal and major injuries in Northern Ireland.

Effective control measures must be put in place and maintained. Such controls may be relatively simple and do not need to be complicated. Detailed advice on managing workplace transport risks is readily available to employers.

This tragic death was completely preventable. HSENI will not hesitate to take enforcement action to ensure workplace transport risks are appropriately managed.

Enforcement action was also taken by Health and Safety Inspectors following the incident to ensure steps were taken to allow pedestrians and vehicles to circulate in a safe manner around the Port.

Kevin McGeough.

News Catch Up - Friday 21st November

Mr McGeough is believed to have worked at the harbour for several decades and was a volunteer barman in St Bronagh's GAA Rostrevor social club.

At the time of his death widespread tributes in the local community were paid to him, with club chairman Ciaran Sloan saying that the area was left in shock.

"It's an absolute tragedy," Mr Sloan said.

"He was very well known around the club because he would have worked around the bar in the social club at various points in his life.

"The family are well known around Rostrevor and he's a well known man in the area too."
There has been a call for an investigation into Russian interference in British politics after a former ally of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was jailed for accepting bribes from associates of Vladimir Putin.

Nathan Gill, 52, a former leader of Reform UK in Wales, received 40,000 for making pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament.

The Old Bailey heard Gill was paid by Oleg Voloshyn, 44, an ex-Ukrainian MP, who was acting on behalf of Putin supporter Victor Medvedchuk, 71.

Gill was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014 for the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) and later represented the Brexit Party until the UK left the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: A traitor was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting a foreign adversary.

Nigel Farage and his party are a danger to national security.

Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putins TV channel, Russia Today, and said he was the world leader he admires the most.

We must all ask  where do his loyalties really lie? We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics.

Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymrus Westminster leader, said: If the former Reform UK leader in Wales was part of a broader, co-ordinated effort to advance Moscows agenda within our democratic institutions, then the public deserves to know the full truth, and how far Russian money and influence reached into Nigel Farages inner circle.

Mr Farage, the Reform UK MP for Clacton, had previously described his former colleague as a bad apple and said he was shocked after Gill pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery.

He said: Any political party can find in their midst all sorts of terrible people.

You can never, ever guarantee 100% that everyone you meet in your life, you shake hands with in the pub, is a good person.

Armed forces minister Al Carns called for Reform UK to launch a thorough investigation after Gill was jailed.

Nigel Farage must urgently initiate an independent investigation into every inch of Reform UKs party structures, membership, donors, and representatives, to give the public a cast-iron guarantee that any remaining pro-Russian links have been removed from his party, he said.

He must leave no stone unturned in this investigation.

Earlier this week, security minister Dan Jarvis announced a series of measures against espionage threats to the UK.

Nathan Gill used his privileged position in public office to advance the malign interests of Russia over those of the UK in exchange for money  that is a betrayal of our country, our people, and our national security, Mr Jarvis said.

Russias hostility and attempts to weaken our democracy will continue to be met by the full force of the law.

A Reform UK spokesman said: Mr Gills actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable.

We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.
The Prime Minister said no visit to China had yet been confirmed (Leon Neal/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer insisted he would robustly protect the UKs national interests in response to speculation he will visit China early next year and the countrys controversial embassy in London will be approved.

The Prime Minister said that no visit to China had yet been confirmed, while officials refused to comment on speculation about the planned embassy near the Tower of London.

But Sir Keir defended his approach to dealing with Xi Jinpings country, which was to co-operate where we can and challenge where we must, particularly on national security.

The decision on the embassy is due next month and The Times reported it had been cleared by MI5 and MI6.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was speaking ahead of the G20 summit in South Africa (Leon Neal/PA)

The newspaper reported the Home Office and the Foreign Office will not raise any formal objections to the plan, providing that mitigations are put in place to protect national security.

Sir Keir is at the G20 summit in South Africa, where China will be represented by premier Li Qiang rather than Mr Xi.

Asked if he would meet the Chinese premier during the summit, Sir Keir said: The meetings Im having at the G20 arent confirmed yet. Nor is any visit confirmed yet.

Our approach is the same approach as weve always taken, which is co-operate where we can and challenge where we must, particularly on national security.

You saw that this week, in relation to espionage, we had a statement in the House setting out the action the Government is taking along with MI5 because we will always robustly protect our interests.

MI5 issued an alert to parliamentarians about the activities of two head-hunters, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, who are both said to be using LinkedIn profiles to reach out on behalf of Chinas ministry of state security.

Sir Keir met Chinese president Xi Jinping during the 2024 G20 summit (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The intelligence agencies believe China is attempting to recruit and groom individuals with access to sensitive information about Parliament and the UK Government, often masked through cover companies and head-hunters.

Critics of China fear the proposed new embassy, on a huge site close to the City of London and crucial data cables, will be used as a base for espionage.

A decision on whether to approve it will be made by Steve Reeds Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after a quasi-judicial process expected to end on December 10.

Defence minister Al Carns said on Friday if the embassy is approved it would be wrapped in the tightest possible measures by the intelligence agencies.

He said: Weve got the best intelligence services in the world. I am absolutely content that any country setting up a building in the UK will be wrapped in the tightest possible measures to ensure there is no threat to the UK in any way, shape or form.

In October, MI5s chief Sir Ken McCallum said the agency had more than a century of experience of dealing with the national security risks which do flow from the presence of foreign embassies on British soil.

A decision on whether to approve the embassy will be made by Steve Reeds Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Aaron Chown/PA)

Approval of the embassy would remove one of the diplomatic barriers ahead of the long-expected visit by Sir Keir to China as he seeks to build business ties with the worlds second-largest economy.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall declined to comment directly on reports the embassy will be approved, saying the decision will be taken through the proper process.

But she told Sky News: We are clear-eyed about our relationship with China and national security will always come first. That is absolutely non-negotiable.

But where we can safely work with China, whether thats on the economy or areas like research, thats what well do, because we want to get the best outcome for the British public.

Asked about reports that Sir Keir could visit China next year, she said: I dont know about the Prime Ministers diary plans for the new year, but what I do know is that he takes all of those issues extremely seriously.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said national security would always come first (Ben Whitley/PA)

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said Sir Keir was desperate and unprincipled, warning that rubber-stamping the super embassy would put Britain at risk.

Keir Starmer really hates Britain, she said.

Hes jetting off to Beijing, days after our intelligence services issued alerts about Chinese espionage following the massive spy case.

Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said the Government was throwing our national security aside in pursuit of Beijings favour.

He said: The whole process appears to be a total stitch-up with the embassy bulldozed through without proper scrutiny.

Starmer lacks the backbone to stand up to China.
Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, centre, is celebrated by other contesters after winning the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Fatima Bosch Fernandez of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the centre of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.

The issues at this years event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding of Ms Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by a walkout, feminist solidarity and a teary, melodramatic apology from the local organiser who set it all off.

When Ms Bosch was announced as the winner, cheers and screams erupted from the audience, with Mexican flags waved by elated supporters.

Mexicos Fatima Bosch competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Speaking to the media after her victory, Ms Bosch said that she would like to be remembered as a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart.

She also paid tribute to the pageant, describing it as a platform that is strong because they have the space that women are searching to have a voice.

The first runner-up was 29-year old Praveenar Singh of Thailand and 25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third.

Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yace of Ivory Coast who came fifth.

At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the more than 100 contestants on November 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Ms Bosch for allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local promotional activities.

He called security when she spoke up to defend herself.

Ms Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark.

What your director did is not respectful: He called me dumb, an unbowed Ms Bosch told Thai reporters.

Miss Japan Kaori Hashimoto competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.

Mr Nawat insisted that he did not call her dumb.

The Miss Universe Organisation president, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, released a statement condemning Mr Nawats conduct as public aggression and serious abuse.

Even Mexicos first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying at a news conference in her countrys capital that she wanted to give recognition to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a dignified way.

It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices, Ms Sheinbaum said.

Ms Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that women look more beautiful when they keep quiet.

We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights, she said.

Mr Nawat later apologised for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant at the same time.

Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry, he said in front of the contestants.

He then turned to them and said Its passed. OK? Are you happy?.

Ms Boschs official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials.

It says she has volunteered with sick children, promoted environmental awareness and engaged in supported migrants and mental health issues.

This years competition also saw a report that two judges had quit, with one of them suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest.

The allegation was denied.

Separately, Thai police investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of the events publicity.

Mishaps and controversies are not rare for the pageant  the 2021 event attracted criticism because it was held in Israel, to the dismay of supporters of the Palestinian cause.

An example of a minor misstep  literally  occurred on Wednesday when Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the evening gown competition. She was not badly hurt.
A bystander watches as an Indian Hal Tejas aircraft crashes during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Jon Gambrell/AP)

The pilot of an Indian combat plane died after the aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight for spectators at the Dubai Air Show, the Indian Air Force said.

The Indian Hal Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2.10pm local time on Friday after the pilot had flown across the site of the biennial air show in Dubai several times.

The plane appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground just prior to crashing inside the grounds of the airfield.

Emergency services attend the scene after an Indian Hal Tejas aircraft crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show (Dubai Media Office via AP)

The Indian Air Force confirmed the crash and said the pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief, it said in a statement.

It said a court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Black smoke rose over the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central as a crowd of spectators watched, and sirens sounded after the crash.

The city-states second airport was hosting the biennial Dubai Air Show, which has seen major aircraft orders by both the long-haul carrier Emirates and its lower-cost sister airline FlyDubai.

Friday marked the last day of the week-long air show, and many families had come to a grand stand area of the airport to watch the display.

Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site, the Dubai Media Office, which responds to crises in the sheikhdom, said on X.

Police and emergency personnel could be seen at the crash site afterwards, with firefighting foam sprayed across the road.

The Indian Hal Tejas jet during a demonstration moments before crashing at the Dubai Air Show (Jon Gambrell/AP)

An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag also could be seen.

The air show resumed flight demonstrations about an hour-and-a-half after the crash, with the Russian Knights flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site.

Tejas is Indias indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster Indias depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defence ties with Indias rival Pakistan.

In September, Indias Defence Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or Hal, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force and deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

The Indian government also signed a deal with Hal in 2021 for 83 Tejas aircraft. Deliveries, expected last year, have been delayed largely because of shortages of engines that must be imported from the US.

On Thursday, Indias Press Information Bureau rejected some social media claims alleging that a Tejas aircraft had experienced an oil leak while on display at the air show.

In a statement on X, it called the posts false and said they were attempts to undermine the fighters proven technical reliability with baseless propaganda.

It was unclear whether the aircraft in question was the one that crashed on Friday.

A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident.
President Donald Trumps draft peace plan would see Russia take control of the eastern Donbas region (Evan Vucci/AP)

US president Donald Trumps plan for ending the war in Ukraine would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyivs military, according to a draft obtained by The Associated Press.

The proposal, originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favourable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbour.

If the past is anything to go by, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has opposed Mr Trumps previous calls for territorial concessions.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said his country would not concede territory to Russia (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

A side agreement aims to satisfy Ukrainian security concerns by saying a future significant, deliberate and sustained armed attack by Russia would be viewed as threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.

The agreement, which was detailed by a senior US official, does not obligate the US or European allies to intervene on Ukraines behalf, although it says they would determine the measures necessary to restore security.

Mr Trumps push to end the war could drive a wedge between himself and European leaders, who are likely to oppose any agreement that could be seen as rewarding Russian president Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.

For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining Nato but would also prevent the alliances future expansion.

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Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views Nato as a threat.

Mr Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands.

Ukraines military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.

The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the worlds biggest economies.

Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll, right, was in Kyiv on Thursday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Mr Zelensky, according to a senior administration official.

The official added that Mr Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Mr Zelensky.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Mr Zelensky, according to a senior administration official.

Mr Zelensky offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.

Our teams  of Ukraine and the United States  will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work, he wrote.

Under the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession.

Rescue workers clear rubble at the site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, earlier in the week (Vlad Kravchuk/AP)

In addition, 100 billion US dollars (76.44 billion) in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.

But handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraines constitution. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.

Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europes largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.

The draft calls for a Peace Council that Mr Trump will oversee.

The council is an idea that Mr Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested the draft would be too favourable towards Moscow (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.

European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Mr Trumps administration might be side-lining them and Mr Zelensky in its push to stop the fighting.

Mr Trumps at-times conciliatory approach to Mr Putin has fuelled these concerns, but Mr Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russias vital oil sector that came into force on Friday.

For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation blocs foreign ministers.

She also suggested that the draft would be too favourable towards Moscow.

We havent heard of any concessions on the Russian side, Ms Kallas said.
PSNI insist they werent aware of the potential scale of criminality until last weekThe Churchs moderator Dr Trevor Gribben quit citing serious and significant failings in safeguarding over 13 yearsCase of convicted paedophile highlighted serious safeguarding issues within the church

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is on the rack.

The PSNI has now launched a criminal investigation in connection with alleged safeguarding failures.

Police insist they werent aware of the potential scale until last week.

It comes after the churchs moderator Trevor Gribben quit citing serious and significant failings in safeguarding from 2009 to 2022.

Those failings include concerns over a pedophile teacher who was a voluntary youth group leader in the church.

Rev Trevor Gribben (Liam McBurney/PA)

Backlash over 700k thatch training project, which treats homeowners as second-class citizens and could be the death of Irish thatching

The churchs former head of safeguarding says the internal culture in Irelands largest Protestant denomination enabled serious errors in safeguarding, while former Alliance Party leader Lord John Alderdice has accused the church of an attempted cover-up".

Ciaran Dunbar is joined by The Belfast Telegraphs Brett Campbell and the Sunday Lifes Angela Davison, who have both been working across the story.
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Alice was a wonderful human being, said Jim Youngerman, the exhibit's curator and an old friend. She was very free and open and fun and lyrical. Those traits, he said, shone through her art.
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The UK prime minister has vowed to defend a trusted independent BBC as he confirmed he is yet to speak with US President Donald Trump over the Panorama incident.

Mr Trump said last week he would sue the corporation following its apology over the editing of a 2021 speech broadcast by Panorama.

The BBC apologised for the edit of Mr Trumps speech on January 6th 2021, which had given the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.

Despite the apology, Mr Trump said he would proceed with legal action for anywhere between $1 billion and $5 billion.

The principle of an independent trusted BBC is really important and should be defended Sir Keir Starmer

He also said he would be speaking to the UK prime minister over the incident, however Sir Keir said that discussion has yet to take place.

I have not directly spoken to him about the BBC, Sir Keir said.

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I think he was going to phone me at the weekend but that call didnt happen but we regularly have contact.

I speak to him fairly regularly as you know, (we) have an excellent relationship.

Sir Keir also said any editorial failings should be addressed quickly, but added: The principle of an independent trusted BBC is really important and should be defended.

So where (there are) editorial failings, yes of course that has to be addressed as you would expect and as soon as possible, with explanation.

But the principle of a trusted independent BBC media is really important  we have to defend it.

The BBC has said it will not air the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? again, and published a retraction on the shows webpage.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump pose for a photo during the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt in October (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

BBC chairman Samir Shah last week sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for the editing, and lawyers for the corporation wrote to the presidents legal team, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said.

BBC News reported that the broadcaster had set out five main arguments in its letter to Mr Trumps legal team as to why it did not believe there was a basis for a defamation claim.

It said the BBC did not distribute the Panorama episode on its US channels and it was restricted on iPlayer to viewers in the UK; that the documentary did not cause Mr Trump harm as he was later re-elected; that the edit was not done with malice and was designed to shorten a long speech; that it was not meant to be considered in isolation but as part of an hour-long programme; and that an opinion on a matter of public concern and political speech is heavily protected under defamation laws in the US.

The Panorama scandal saw the resignations of two of the BBCs most senior executives: director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness.
Denis OBrien defamed two lawyers in a 2016 press release that implied they acted for the IRA, a High Court jury has found.

Mr OBrien and his spokesman James Morrissey must pay solicitors Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth 411,750 each to compensate the damage done to their reputations arising from the defamation.

The jury awarded general and aggravated damages.

The solicitors, partners at Belfast firm Phoenix Law, brought the proceedings against Mr OBrien and Mr Morrissey complaining of a sentence in the statement that read: Sinn Fein/IRA certainly got the report they paid for.

Mr OBrien made the statement in response to a report on media ownership in Ireland. Mr Mackin and Mr Booth were credited as co-authors of the report, which was commissioned by then-Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan.

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At the time of the report, Mr OBrien owned substantial stakes in Irish media companies.

Mr OBrien and Mr Morrissey had denied the material defamed the solicitors or meant what the solicitors alleged. It was their case that word meant the report was not fair or balanced, and was designed to advance the political agenda of Sinn Fein.

After two hours and 20 minutes of deliberation, the jury of nine men and three on Friday found that the words complained of meant both solicitors acted for an unlawful organisation, the IRA.

The solicitors were represented by Tom Hogan SC, Mark Harty SC and barrister Conan Fegan, and instructed by Johnsons Solicitors.

The OBrien side was represented by Darren Lehane SC and barrister Joe Holt, and instructed by Meagher Solicitors.
The mother of a little girl who was seriously injured in a multiple stabbing incident outside a primary school on Parnell Square two years ago has said they are living in the moment and grateful for it as she marks the anniversary.

The stabbing occurred outside Colaiste Mhuire national school in Dublin 1 on November 23rd, 2023, in which several others were injured.

Aged five at the time of the attack, the girl was critically injured and spent the majority of last year in Temple Street Childrens Hospital before being released from medical care for a year.

The family have continued to share updates on a GoFundMe page, set up following the incident, which has raised almost 143,000.

Recently celebrating her seventh birthday, her mother explained that by the end of this month, they will be taking down their fundraising page, with legal proceedings around the incident starting next month.

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We believe that it is time, plus we will focus on the legal proceedings due to commence in December. But most importantly, we will continue to focus on our family, she said.

Riad Bouchaker (50) is currently before the courts charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm.

She added: This Sunday marks two years of the incident on Parnell Square, but it was a Thursday like this one that resonates in my mind. I have since dreaded Thursdays; constantly checking my phone to make sure everyone and everything is alright. Two years... two years! The pain is there, but it is not raw. It has been shelled by love and strength.

But she pointed out that the joy she sees in her little girl's eyes is enough to chip away any ache my heart carries.

I do cry still, but not as often or as painfully as I did before. The cry is for missing the old her or imagining what we would be up to at seven years of age.

Ireland Young girl stabbed on Parnell Square almost two years ago making 'great progress' Read more

Two years of drive to live. Two years of hard work and dedication. Two years of relearning. And two years of us embracing this new girl we have been gifted with, she noted.

The Dublin girls mother highlighted that even though the family does not know what will happen over the next two years, they are living in the moment and grateful for it".

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She reiterated that they are beyond thankful to all of those who placed them in their prayers and who have been so generous to complete strangers.

We are also humbled by all those people who showed everyone involved in the attack that day that kindness and help can come in all shapes and sizes, and that you did not do it for any other reason besides helping. You are truly heroic. All our appreciation from the bottom of our hearts.
The former boyfriend of Longford woman Sarah McNally has been sentenced by a New York court to 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing her in March last year.

Marcin Pieciak (37) cornered the victim while she worked at The Ceili House, a since-closed Irish bar in the Queens neighbourhood of New York city. He fatally attacked her, then slit his own throat.

According to the charges, on March 30th, 2024, at approximately 6:30pm, Pieciak arrived at the Ceili House Bar at 69-56 Grand Avenue in Maspeth, Queens.

The defendant approached 41-year-old Sarah McNally as she worked, went behind the bar and stabbed her 19 times in the neck, back and chest causing fatal injuries to her carotid artery and severing her spine.

Pieciak then cut his own throat several times with a second knife and attempted to run from the bar. A patron intervened and stopped the defendant from fleeing the scene.

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When police arrived, Pieciak exited the premises with two knives and brandished the weapons toward the officers. Police safely disarmed him and recovered the knives.

Pieciak of 76th Street in Glendale, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of the indictment against him. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant sentenced the defendant today to 24 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

In a press statement, Queens District Attorney Katz said: Marcin Pieciak mercilessly stabbed his girlfriend 19 times at her place of work. This violent and unprovoked attack took Sarah McNallys life and left her family, friends and colleagues devastated on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. We hope that todays sentence provides some measure of comfort as Ms McNallys loved ones continue to grieve her senseless loss.

McNally had been living in New York for about 10 years at the time of her death.
The funeral will take place next week of a dearly loved wife and mother who was attacked by a man armed with a knife close to her home in Shrewsbury Downs in Ballinlough in Cork city last Monday night.

Stella Gallagher (59) died in Cork University Hospital in the aftermath of the stabbing incident in which her husband Brian was also seriously injured.

Mrs Gallagher was a retired chemical engineer. She was known under her maiden name of Griffin at her workplace, Eli Lilly. Her death notice reads that Mrs Gallagher is survived by her husband Brian and her children Ciara, Conor and Mark.

She is also sadly missed by her brother Denis, parents-in-law Val and Geraldine, brothers-in-law Alan and Mark, sisters in law Erika, Ann, Michele and Mary, nephews and nieces, extended family and friends.

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The much loved mother, who is a native of Ballinspittle, Co Cork, will lie in repose at the Temple Hill Funeral Home in Boreenmanna Road in Cork from 5pm to 6pm next Monday.

Her requiem mass will take place on Tuesday at 11am in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballinlough. The mass will be live-streamed. Burial will follow at St Michaels Cemetery in Blackrock in Cork city.

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One mourner in the condolences section of Rip.ie described the late Stella Gallagher as a gentle lady with a ready smile whilst another said that she was a wonderful person.

The National Womens Council of Ireland has also offered its deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Mrs Gallagher. In a statement on social media the council said that their thoughts are especially with her husband Brian who was also seriously injured and remains in a stable condition in hospital.

Meanwhile, David Gallagher, with an address at Shrewsbury Downs in Ballinlough in Cork, has been charged with the murder of his mother, and with assault causing harm to his father, close to the family home in Ballinlough last Monday night.

Mr Gallagher (25) was remanded in custody following his court appearance on Wednesday. He will appear before Cork District Court again by video link on November 26th next.
The Government has allocated 700,000 to Wexford County Council to restore the ecological condition of a lake that has turned green.

Ladys Island Lake, the largest saltwater lagoon in Ireland, has turned green due to the level of algae pollution from nutrient run-off.

The lagoon surrounds Our Ladys Island, which is an area of pilgrimage, and has secured legal protection as a habitat for wildfowl.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the lake was severely degraded due to overflows of nitrogen and possibly phosphorus, commonly used as agricultural fertilisers.

The EPA said Ladys Island Lake exemplifies the problems involved in managing Irish lagoons and said, even if the run-off issue was addressed, nutrients in the lagoons sediments could continue to affect its ecology.

On Friday, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne and Minister of State Christopher OSullivan visited the lake and met officials from Wexford County Council.

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The 700,000 in funding for the council aims to support the development of a Water Quality Management Plan for Ladys Island and to project manage a holistic approach to improve the water quality.

This includes measures to address excess nutrients from agriculture, domestic wastewater treatment plants (septic tanks) and urban wastewater treatment plants entering the lake.

The politicians also met officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Authority Waters Programme, Teagasc, representatives from Farming for Water EIP and the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) who are advancing plans to address the deterioration of the saline lagoons water quality and ecology.

Mr Browne said: The 700,000 euro in funding I am announcing this morning will resource Wexford County Council to coordinate a response among the Government departments, state bodies and the local community in Ladys Island.

I am confident that by continuing to work collaboratively, using all the tools available to us through my departments funding of initiatives under the Water Action Plan, the Nitrates Action Plan, Uisce Eireanns capital investment plan and the National Biodiversity Plan, serious improvements can be made here at Ladys Island.

Whilst the additional funding announced today will support Wexford County Councils coordinating role, significant funding and support for the restoration of Ladys Island is already under way through the programmes such as those run by LAWPRO through catchment science and local community engagement; National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) inspectors in the local authorities, who are responsible for investigating farm compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations; free advisory services through the ASSAP programme and direct support for supplementary measures to improve water quality, through the Farming for Water EIP.

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Mr OSullivan said that progress had been made since the establishment of the oversight group in July.

The group has quickly come together to identify the specific response required for Ladys Island, using the principle of implementing the right measure in the right place.

The combined strengths of the agencies involved and collaborative initiatives such as the Farming for Water EIP is vital for effective, holistic action for Ladys Island Lake.

It may take some time to see the results of those inputs and effort, but the commitment of the stakeholders involved and the local community here is clear to see and I look forward to being kept appraised of progress.
A husband, who allegedly attacked and held a knife to his wifes neck in a row about her being unable to get pregnant, has been refused bail.

Mohammad Masum, 47, of Convent Court, Clondalkin, Dublin, was charged with assault causing harm and production of an offensive weapon during an incident at his home on Wednesday.

The hospitality worker, originally from Bangladesh, who denies the allegations, faced bail objections when he appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday.

Judge Hughes heard evidence from an arresting garda who told the court it would be alleged that the complainant stated she and the accused had an argument in their living room about her being unable to become pregnant, which allegedly angered her husband.

The court heard claims that he slapped her in the face, went to the kitchen and picked up a large knife. The garda said that the woman informed him that the accused then held the knife to her neck and said, I will kill you.

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The woman allegedly suffered a defensive wound when she pushed him away, and did not require hospitalisation, but was in pain. She did not attend the contested bail hearing.

The garda said the man went out and left her with her mobile phone, which he did not normally do, and he allegedly controlled finances.

It was also alleged that he prevented her from seeking employment or having friends. The garda alleged that the accused would not let her leave the apartment without him.

By the time of the bail hearing, she had moved to a refuge because she was not comfortable returning home.

The garda told defence solicitor Michael French that he would not agree to any bail terms when it was suggested the accused could reside at another location.

The judge heard that there were no family law court orders in place. The woman had arrived in the country about nine months ago, and the accused had lived with her for three years, the court was told.

Mr French put it to the arresting officer that his client made no admission, and the garda replied that the accused stated he had picked up the knife to scare her during the argument.

The defence solicitor stressed his client denied the allegations, and argued that there was nothing to suggest the accused, who had no warrant history, would fail to turn up to court.

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Judge Hughes emphasised that Mr Masum still had the presumption of innocence and bail, and he noted the case may proceed on indictment. However, he held that the prosecuting garda had established grounds for objecting to bail, and he also took into account the seriousness of the charges.

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The accused, who did not address the court, was remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to appear again on November 28th.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Womens Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Mens Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.

Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
Residents of a Cork city suburb have been given permission by the High Court to mount a legal challenge over concerns arising from manganese levels in the citys drinking water supply.

Elaine Eagar and Daniel OShea, both with addresses at Mount Farran, Assumption Road, are taking the action with Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), claiming the basis on which Uisce Eireann and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declare water containing manganese safe to drink is mistaken.

Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found in rock and soil and the waters that flow through them. Trace amounts are needed for human health but repeated consumption of high levels is linked to neurological conditions and developmental problems in infants and children.

FIE, Ms Eagar and Mr OShea, represented by FP Logue, are seeking an order quashing the EPAs purported decision to approve Uisce Eireanns action plan aimed at remedying non-compliance with drinking water standards in Cork city.

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They claim the action plan does not deal adequately with manganese levels in the water.

In written evidence submitted to the court on behalf of Ms Eagar, Mr OShea and FIE, Prof Gabriel Scally, a professor of public health, claims repeated breaches in permitted levels of manganese in the citys water supply represent a potentially serious public health concern.

This week, Ms Justice Emily Farrell granted permission to the applicants to bring the High Court challenge against the EPA, with Uisce Eireann and the HSE as notice parties.

According to the applicants court documents, the citys issues with problematic manganese levels in its water supplies can be linked to the commencement in operations at a new water treatment plant.

The majority of Cork citys water supply is provided via a water treatment plant on the citys Lee Road. The Lee Road plant is a new facility  construction completed on the development in July 2022.

However, the citys water supply continues to rely on an old system of piping, dating back to the 1920s.

When the Lee Road plant commenced operations, treated water began reacting with iron and manganese sediment in the old pipework, according to the applicants.

Iron causes discolouration in water, as does manganese in certain circumstances.

Discolouration has occurred in the case of Cork citys water supply on account of the presence of manganese and iron, leading to complaints to Uisce Eireann and the EPA.

An EPA investigation into Uisce Eireanns non-compliance with water quality standards has been ongoing since August 2022, and remains open.

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According to an EPA letter, dated July 28th, 2025, Uisce Eireann reported addressing the need for improved water treatment to prevent manganese entering the citys drinking water supply.

However, according to the applicants, Uisce Eireann did not address the buildup of manganese in the old pipes, or its ongoing presence in the citys drinking water network.

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The letter noted Uisce Eireanns advice to run cold taps for up to 20 minutes to restore water to a clear colour, adding, the water is safe to drink once running clear.

The applicants do not accept this claim. Water that is running clear may still be contaminated by manganese at unsafe levels. Water may also be partially clear and still be contaminated with manganese, they say.

They argue that 61 recorded manganese exceedances between August 2024 and July 2025 show Uisce Eireann is not adequately addressing the problem and that the EPA is failing in its duty as a regulator by not requiring a stronger response.

They also claim that the public is not being adequately informed about the health risks associated with manganese.
A Narwhal, an Arctic species of whale never seen in Irish waters, has been found dead and stranded off the Donegal coastline.

This finding is the first recording of the species in Irish waters, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed.

The body of a female Narwhal was retrieved by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, working with regional staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Narwhal is a toothed whale found exclusively in the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic, north of 60.

The initial discovery was made by a family walking along Sweet Nellies Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula, who reported the sighting of a small, stranded 2-3m whale or dolphin to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Volunteers from the IWDG responded quickly and arrived at the scene to recover the carcass and collect skin samples.

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The IWDG and NPWS regional staff worked together to retrieve and transport the carcass to the Regional Laboratory in Cork for post-mortem examination and tests.

Speaking about the discovery, Minister for Nature Christopher OSullivan said: Id like to thank everyone who was involved in retrieving the stranded Narwhal for their rapid response and collaboration, from the young people who initially spotted it on the beach and raised the alert, to the dedicated teams in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my own Department.

This is a significant event and it is important that we try to find out more about why this species arrived on our coastline.

"An examination is underway which I hope will reveal important details about its life and history, and shed some light on the reasons why it arrived on our shores.

"The Narwhal is an arctic species that is mainly found in cooler waters. Findings like this are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of a changing climate, and the need to protect them.

Niall O Donnchu, director general of the NPWS, said:We can confirm that a female Narwhal, a species never before recorded in Ireland, was discovered in Co Donegal last weekend and has since been retrieved for scientific examination. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented event.

"I want to acknowledge the swift actions of the family who reported the stranding, as well as the rapid and professional response by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and our NPWS regional colleagues.

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As we await the results, NPWS will continue to work closely with our partners to monitor Irelands marine environment and to better understand the impacts of climate and ecological change on vulnerable species. Each event like this reminds us of the importance of sustained scientific vigilance and public awareness in protecting our natural world.

There are an estimated 170,000 living Narwhals worldwide. Male Narwhals are famous for their long tusks, and they are often dubbed the unicorns of the sea.

The population is threatened by the effects of climate change, such as reduction in ice cover and human activities such as pollution and hunting.

Narwhals have been hunted for thousands of years by Inuit in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory, and regulated subsistence hunting continues to this day.

Narwhals are rarely recorded outside the Arctic with the last stranding record in western Europe, when a young male washed up dead in Belgium in 2016.

Prior to that record, two females stranded in the Thames Estuary, England in Kent 1949.

The only sightings are of two off Orkney and one off Aberdeenshire in Scotland in 1882 and one in the Hebrides in 1976. This is the 10th stranding record of Narwhal in western Europe and only the fourth female.

The IWDG is continuing to conduct an examination as part of a Deep Diving and Rare Investigation Programme to understand more about these kinds of rare strandings.
The Peter McVerry Trust in front of the Public Accounts Committee, dominates the front pages of Friday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with fundraising for the Peter McVerry Trust falling from 15 million in 2022 to 2 million in 2025.

The Irish Examiner also leads with the charity, as it was revealed funds were suspended on an enclosure for two peacocks at a period property it purchased in Co Kildare.

The Echo leads with Threshold preventing over 1,100 households from going homeless in Cork last year.

The Irish Independent leads with the Garda arrested over missing cannabis seizure is being investigated for passing information on to a criminal orghanisation.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with the Peter McVerry Trust, as TDs were told it is on the "verge of collapse".

The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star leads with survivors of violence against women calling for an end to their suffering, as a man was jailed for an assault on the daughter of Roddie Collins.

The Star leads with comments from Mr Collins as he said the sentence of two years and nine months is not enough.
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years after he was paid 40,000 (45,538) to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament in a grave betrayal of the British public.

Nathan Gill, 52, of Anglesey, North Wales, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery on dates between December 6th 2018 and July 18th 2019.

Sentencing him on Friday in a UK court, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: Parliamentarians wield significant influence over public and political discourse.

It is incumbent upon them to speak with honesty and conviction, irrespective of whether their views are met with approval or dissent.

When you say what someone has paid you to say, you are not speaking with sincerity. If it were your genuine opinion, you would not need to be paid for saying it.

She told Gill that allowing money to corrupt his moral compass amounted to a grave betrayal of the trust vested in you by the electorate.

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She added: Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond personal honour, which is now irretrievably damaged. It erodes public confidence in democracy itself.

Gill made no reaction as he was sent down from the dock at the Old Bailey to begin his sentence.

At the time of the offences, Gill was a member of the European Parliament, having been originally elected for the UK Independence Party (Ukip).

His activities included making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.

The architect of the bribes was Oleg Voloshyn, 44, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian MP, who with his wife was connected to 112 Ukraine.

The television channel was owned by wealthy pro-Russian Ukrainian Victor Medvedchuk, 71, who was a close ally of Vladimir Putin and the ultimate source of requests and money that Gill received.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said Gills crimes were exposed after he was stopped at Manchester airport on September 13th 2021 as he attempted to travel to Russia.

Gills mobile phone was examined and messages were found between him and Mr Voloshyn.

WhatsApp messages between the pair included references to promised x-mas gifts, postcards and 5K which was a reference to payments, he said.

After speaking from a script at one debate, Mr Voloshyn told him, impressive  you are the perfect orator, the court was told.

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Further exchanges between the pair related to Mr Voloshyn getting 5,000 euros for Gill for speaking on 112 Ukraine about Mr Medvedchuk being prosecuted for treason.

Bundles of cash in euros and US dollars were found at an address used by Nathan Gill (Met Police/PA)

Gill was invited to encourage others to adopt the same approach and repeat the same line that he had given.

There were references to other members of the European Parliament, including British representatives and politicians from the Netherlands.

Mr Voloshyn reported that if Gill could get three, then they would be extremely grateful and that his fee would be 5K.

Following the 2019 European elections, Mr Voloshyn asked Gill to arrange for colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend a presentation by Mr Medvedchuk on the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region.

Mr Heywood said the Ukrainian asked Gill to book a room and various names were mentioned including a leading figure.

In response to Gills certainty that he could drag a few in to attend, Mr Voloshyn promised he would be fairly rewarded, and said: I already have a small sack of paper gifts for you.

The former senior Reform politician has been jailed (Yui Mok/PA)

On January 30th 2020, there were a series of exchanges between Gill and Mr Voloshyn, who passed on thanks from V, which was said to be Mr Medvedchuk.

The next day, Gill ceased to be an MEP on the departure of the UK from the European Union.

Following his arrest, Gill declined to comment in police interview.

Mr Voloshyn is now believed to be living in Russia and is wanted by authorities in Britain and Ukraine.

Mr Medvedchuk was arrested in 2021 and sent to Russia in 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange.

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Gill led Reform UKs 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, told the PA news agency the seriousness of the crimes was reflected in Gills sentence.

Nathan Gill was arrested at Manchester airport (Met Police/PA)

He said: When we elect individuals, in whatever parliament, in whatever circumstance, we do so because, as constituents, we want them to act in our best interests and, of course, the best interests of the country.

In this case, Nathan Gill has put aside the best interests of this country and, in fact, agreed to take payment to ask questions or make statements that were pro-Russia in nature as a result of payments from the opposition parties in Ukraine at the time.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement: Nathan Gill used his privileged position in public office to advance the malign interests of Russia over those of the UK in exchange for money  that is a betrayal of our country, our people and our national security.

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey demanded an investigation into Russian interference in British politics.

He said: A traitor was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting a foreign adversary. Nigel Farage and his party are a danger to national security.

A Reform UK spokesman said: Mr Gills actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.
Irans foreign ministry called a resolution by the UN atomic watchdogs board of governors anti-Iranian and threatened unspecified retaliatory actions, state media has reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency demanded on Thursday that Iran fully co-operate with the organisation and provide precise information about its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, as well as grant its inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites.

A report by the official IRNA news agency on Friday quoted foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as saying that Iran had informed the Vienna-based IAEA in a letter that in addition to ending an agreement forged over the summer in Cairo, the Iranian government could take other actions in response to Thursdays resolution.



IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi had reached an agreement with Iran in early September to resume inspections (Alexander Podgorchuk, Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation via AP)

Iran suspended all co-operation with the IAEA after the war with Israel.

IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi then reached an agreement with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Cairo in early September to resume inspections.

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Mr Baghaei did not immediately elaborate on what further actions Iran would take, but further uranium enrichment by the country was a possibility.

He accused the IAEA of amplifying grudges held against Iran by the US, the UK, France and Germany.

The minister said that the resolution did not mention the reason that Iran halted inspections was because of the strikes by Israel and the US against Irans nuclear facilities in June.

The IAEAs resolution sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the UN nuclear agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar moves by the watchdog in the past.

After a 12-day air war in June with Israel, Iran suspended all co-operation with the IAEA.

Strikes on Iran killed nearly 1,100 in the country, including military commanders and nuclear scientists.

After the deal to resume inspections in September, the UN reimposed crushing sanctions on Iran later that month through the so-called snapback mechanism contained in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, drawing an angry response from Tehran and leading it to halt implementation of the Cairo agreement.
Fatima Bosch Fernandez of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the centre of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.

The issues at this years event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding of Ms Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by a walkout, feminist solidarity and a teary, melodramatic apology from the local organiser who set it all off.

When Ms Bosch was announced as the winner, cheers and screams erupted from the audience, with Mexican flags waved by elated supporters.



Mexicos Fatima Bosch competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Speaking to the media after her victory, Ms Bosch said that she would like to be remembered as a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart.

She also paid tribute to the pageant, describing it as a platform that is strong because they have the space that women are searching to have a voice.

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The first runner-up was 29-year old Praveenar Singh of Thailand and 25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third.

Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yace of Ivory Coast who came fifth.

At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the more than 100 contestants on November 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Ms Bosch for allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local promotional activities.

He called security when she spoke up to defend herself.

Ms Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark.

What your director did is not respectful: He called me dumb, an unbowed Ms Bosch told Thai reporters.



Miss Japan Kaori Hashimoto competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.

Mr Nawat insisted that he did not call her dumb.

The Miss Universe Organisation president, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, released a statement condemning Mr Nawats conduct as public aggression and serious abuse.

Even Mexicos first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying at a news conference in her countrys capital that she wanted to give recognition to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a dignified way.

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It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices, Ms Sheinbaum said.

Ms Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that women look more beautiful when they keep quiet.

We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights, she said.

Mr Nawat later apologised for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant at the same time.



Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali competes during the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry, he said in front of the contestants.

He then turned to them and said Its passed. OK? Are you happy?.

Ms Boschs official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials.

It says she has volunteered with sick children, promoted environmental awareness and engaged in supported migrants and mental health issues.

This years competition also saw a report that two judges had quit, with one of them suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest.

The allegation was denied.

Separately, Thai police investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of the events publicity.

Mishaps and controversies are not rare for the pageant  the 2021 event attracted criticism because it was held in Israel, to the dismay of supporters of the Palestinian cause.

An example of a minor misstep  literally  occurred on Wednesday when Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the evening gown competition. She was not badly hurt.
US President Donald Trump gave a warm greeting to incoming New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday, praising Mr Mamdani's electoral victory in the first in-person meeting for the political opposites, who have clashed over everything from immigration to economic policy.

A democratic socialist and little-known state lawmaker who won New York's mayoral race earlier this month, Mr Mamdani requested the sit-down with Mr Trump to discuss cost-of-living issues and public safety.

After months of trading barbs and insults in the media, the mayor-elect and the president appeared to put aside their differences and quickly strike a rapport in the Oval Office, a setting that Mr Trump has sometimes used to embarrass heads of state.

"We agreed on a lot more than I thought," Mr Trump said after inviting journalists into the Oval Office following a private meeting. "We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well."

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Sitting at his desk, Mr Trump smiled up at Mr Mamdani, who stood to the president's right, and offered his congratulations on winning the mayoral election earlier this month: "He really ran an incredible race against some very tough people, very smart people."

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mr Mamdani said.

Mr Trump said he was happy to put aside partisan differences. "The better he does, the happier I am," Mr Trump said.

As Mr Mamdani surged in the polls to victory, Mr Trump, a Republican, issued threats to strip federal funding from the biggest US city. The mayor-elect has regularly criticized a range of Trump's policies, including plans to ramp up federal immigration enforcement efforts in New York City, where four in ten residents are foreign-born.

The 79-year-old president, a former New York resident, has labeled \mr Mamdani, 34, as a "radical left lunatic," a communist and "Jew hater," without offering evidence for those assertions.

Mr Mamdani has espoused Nordic-style democratic socialism, not communism. While a staunch critic of Israel, he was endorsed by prominent Jewish politicians, is bringing in Jewish staff in his new administration, notably New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and has repeatedly condemned antisemitism.

Mr Trump tempered his language on Friday shortly before the mayor-elect's arrival, saying he expected it to be "quite civil" and commending Mr Mamdani for a "successful run."

"I was hitting him a little hard," Mr Trump told The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News. "I think we'll get along fine. Look, we're looking for the same thing: we want to make New York strong."

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World Trump to meet New York mayor-elect Mamdani at White House on Friday Read more

Earlier, Mr Mamdani posted a grinning selfie on social media, taken in the seat of a plane bound for Washington.

Mr Trump's Oval Office meetings have been wildly unpredictable, including respectful encounters with opponents and ambushes of guests, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mr Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on January 1st, said at a press conference the day before heading to Washington that he had "many disagreements with the president."

"I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers," he told reporters outside New York's City Hall. "If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so."
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BusinessConsumer affairsAviation Qantas, Virgin to ban use of power banks on planes after spate of fires Chris Zappone November 21, 2025  8:01am Save 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 11 View all comments

Passengers on Australias major airlines will face new rules on the use of power banks, as Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar update their guidelines starting next month. The move comes as safety concerns over the use of the devices has prompted airlines and regulators to act. Starting on December 1, passengers on Virgin Australia will not be able to use power banks - the small, self-contained battery packs used to charge phones and other devices - on flights. Starting on December 15, Qantas has announced the same restrictions in tandem with Virgin, which will affect Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar planes. Passengers on Australias major airlines will face new rules on the use of power banks, as Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar update their guidelines. Getty Images While passengers can still carry power banks, spare batteries and small portable electronic devices they must be easily accessible throughout the flight, Virgin said in a statement.

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Virgin and Qantas airlines will also limit the number of power banks passengers can carry to two. Related Article Aviation Emirates bans power bank use on flights as airlines grapple with battery risks Globally, more lithium battery-powered devices are now being carried by travellers, and while these items are generally safe when packed and handled appropriately, this move will minimise any potential risks associated with these devices, said Virgin Australia chief operations officer Chris Snook. The changes for Virgin will be effective on December 1. Awareness of power bank risks on flights has risen as more cases of the devices overheating and catching fire emerge and are documented. Virgin says it has in-seat charging ports in 88 per cent of its Boeing 737 fleet, with the remainder to be equipped by June 2026. All of Virgin Australias new Embraer 190-E2 aircraft have in-seat chargers.

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Safety is, and always will be, Virgin Australias number one priority, said Snook. These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest levels of safety and compliance with international aviation standards. Qantas said it introduced the restrictions after a safety review. Geoffrey Dell, the head of aviation safety for the AMDA Foundation, said the ban was understandable because there have been multiple fires globally, a couple serious, at least one resulting in loss of aircraft. In January, the overhead luggage compartment of an Air Busan plane in Busan, South Korea caught fire because of a power bank. It resulted in 27 injuries. Virgin will require devices over 100 watt-hours and up to 160 watt-hours to be approved prior to travel. Power banks that exceed 160 watt-hours will be prohibited, Virgin said.

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People dont realise how much energy is stored in these things, said Dell. They can deliver more electrical current [in a short period of time] than your house supply can. And while they are generally reliable, he said, whats important is the way theyre used and maintained. A fire breaks out on a Virgin flight. Credit: Pulse Tasmania. So if there are problems with terminals from misuse, which can lead to wires coming loose and short-circuiting, when that happens you cant stop the energy flow until it drains. There is no way of knowing just by looking at them what condition theyre in, said Dell.

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Aviation Qantas boss wins praise as first Project Sunrise plane takes shape A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said Australias safety regulations for travelling with lithium batteries  including power banks - align with international standards which require that power banks, spare lithium batteries, e-cigarettes and vapes must be carried in the aircraft cabin. Individual airlines can choose to introduce additional procedures, based on their operations or aircraft types, and we support operators making sound decisions based on safety risk assessments, a spokesperson for CASA said. Qantas said in a statement: Due to the growing use of power banks by travellers and the associated safety risks of damaged or defective lithium battery-powered devices, the changes follow a comprehensive internal safety review in recent months and work with other industry representatives including Virgin Australia, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Oneworld carriers. Despite the growing attention placed on power banks in aviation, many passengers dont realise the potential for fire risk the devices can present.

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Half of airline passengers incorrectly believe packing small lithium-powered devices in checked luggage is safe, according to a poll released in October by the International Air Transport Association. Nearly one half of those polled - 45 per cent - think packing power banks in checked luggage is safe, while one-third think there are no limits on the number of power banks or spare batteries a passenger can travel with. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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A 22-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged over a drive-by shooting on a home belonging to an innocent elderly couple in Sydneys south-west, which was filmed and posted online. Chilling footage captured the moment a gunman opened fire on the Bossley Park home before fleeing the scene in a white Audi that was crashed and abandoned two blocks from the address. A volley of shots was fired into the house on Aberdeen Street about 6.30am on Friday, sparking a substantial manhunt into the afternoon. No one was injured in the shooting. Loading Friday mornings shooting was the second time the property had been targeted in 48 hours. A single bullet hit a caravan outside the home in one of three shootings on Wednesday night.

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A video shared online captures the Audi driver shouting say hello to my little friend, invoking a line popularised by Al Pacino in Scarface, as the gunman opens fire through the rear passenger seat window. They both exclaim as nearly two dozen shots ring out in the suburban street, with bullet casings flying through the vehicle before the gunman urges the driver to speed away. An automatic firearm was found in a crashed and abandoned Audi not far from the scene of the shooting. NSW Police The vehicle crashed at the nearby intersection of Mimosa Road and Prairie Vale Road on Friday morning, and the driver and gunman fled on foot. After searching the Audi, police seized the automatic firearm, which will now be forensically examined.

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The rifle has been seized for forensic examination. NSW Police On Friday afternoon, investigators arrested a 22-year-old man at a home in Woodville Road, Fairfield East, and seized a shortened calibre rifle, ammunition and mobile phones. Manyang Manyang was taken to Cabramatta Police Station and charged with firing at the home and participating in a criminal group. He was refused bail to appear in court on Saturday, where he did not apply for bail. He will appear at Parramatta Local Court in January. Investigators also picked up a 16-year-old boy during a vehicle stop in Leppington on Friday night.

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The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with firing into the home, participating in a criminal group and being a passenger in a stolen car. He was refused bail to appear in the Childrens Court on Saturday. Related Article Crime Listen to the barrage of gunshots fired into a suburban Sydney home Detective Superintendent Craig Middleton said the elderly couple living in the home are innocent and law-abiding citizens, and have been left very upset and traumatised by the two attacks. Theyve lived there the majority of their lives with their grandson, and this is obviously very shocking for them and their community.

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NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said gun violence in the citys west was definitely not out of hand, and that cracking down on organised crime remained a top priority for police. Weve made significant arrests. We will not stand for the type of violence you are seeing there, he said. It is unclear if the weapon seized on Friday was used in any of Sydneys recent shootings. The home in Bossley Park was targeted in a shooting twice in 48 hours. Nine News The second shooting on the Bossley Park home follows three similar incidents in Sydneys south-west on Wednesday night.

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NationalNSWCorruption Used the influence of the union: Ex-CFMEU leaders jailed over kickbacks Michaela Whitbourn November 21, 2025  4:09pm Save 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

Two former NSW CFMEU officials have been jailed after pleading guilty to pocketing thousands of dollars in bribes from a construction industry figure. Darren Greenfield, a former NSW secretary of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, and his son Michael, a former state branch assistant secretary, pleaded guilty this year to corruption-related offences after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors. Former CFMEU leader Darren Greenfield outside court last week. He has been sentenced to a minimum 10 months behind bars. Steven Siewert In a decision on Friday, District Court Judge Leonie Flannery sentenced them to a minimum of 10 months and six months behind bars respectively. The duo used the influence of the union for their own personal benefit, the judge said.

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It marks the first time union officials have been sentenced for corruption offences introduced in the Fair Work Act in 2017 in response to recommendations of the trade unions royal commission. No penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate, Flannery said. The judge emphasised the importance of deterring others in imposing full-time jail terms. Bribes totalled $30,000 The court heard Greenfield snr took $20,000 in cash in four payments while his son received $10,000 in two payments from a union member and co-offender known as AF. They pleaded guilty to bribery offences covering three of the six payments, totalling $15,000, but the other payments were taken into account during sentencing.

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Flannery sentenced Greenfield snr to maximum prison terms of 18 months, starting on Friday, and 24 months, starting in May next year, for two separate offences. The latter term expires in May 2028. However, Flannery ordered that he be released after serving 10 months behind bars, conditional on paying a $500 bond and remaining of good behaviour for the balance of the sentence. Michael Greenfield was sentenced to a maximum of 18 months jail for one bribery offence. Steven Siewert Greenfield jnr was sentenced to a maximum of 18 months jail for one bribery offence, to be released after six months on the same conditions. Michael also pleaded guilty to signing a false statutory declaration in a bid to avoid demerit points for running a red light. Flannery imposed a two-year community corrections order for that offence.

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Moment of weakness Flannery accepted that Darren Greenfield, now 60, didnt go looking for the money but took it, as his lawyer had submitted, in a moment of weakness, at least on the first occasion. No penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate. District Court Judge Leonie Flannery The offences were far from sophisticated and occurred relatively randomly, Flannery said. As to Michael Greenfield, now aged 40, Flannery said she was not satisfied taking the money was entrenched behaviour or premeditated. However, she said signing the false statutory declaration was planned.

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Flannery accepted that Greenfield snr was contrite and remorseful, and that his son, who had taken longer to arrive at this point, felt likewise. Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said on Friday: You cant call yourself a unionist if youre on the take. Those who use their position for personal gain arent unionists  theyre imposters. The ACTU supports the brave and principled unionists who are stepping up to do the hard work to return to building workers the clean and strong union they deserve. Duo charged in 2021 The Greenfields were charged with corruption offences in September 2021. An extensive investigation by this masthead in 2024 brought renewed attention to the case by revealing allegations of corruption and that the CFMEU had been infiltrated by organised crime.

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The court heard AFs company did renovation works on Darren Greenfields home before paying the bribes. The cost, estimated at up to $7000, was covered by AF. In addition, AF helped Michael Greenfield find a foreign worker in October 2018 to take the rap for the traffic infringement. It was motivated by personal gain, that is, avoiding loss of demerit points, Callan told the court. Michael Greenfield pleaded guilty to one offence under the NSW Oaths Act for signing the false statutory declaration. He also pleaded guilty to one charge of receiving a corrupting benefit, and the court was asked to take into account an additional offence of receiving a cash payment.

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On two separate occasions, in January 2019 and May 2019, [Michael Greenfield received] ... cash payments totalling $10,000, Callan said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Perth businessman Chris Marco had lodged an appeal over his 43 fraud convictions for allegedly defrauding his clients of millions of dollars, and investing their money in real estate and luxury cars.

Marco was sentenced to 14 years jail in the WA Supreme Court in October after he was found guilty on all charges of fraud by a jury.

Chris Marco outside the West Australian Supreme Court last year. Jesinta Burton

An appeal was lodged in his case on Thursday afternoon by his lawyer Luka Margaretic.

The appeal asks the court to set aside the convictions in all 43 counts, and says they are having regard to the evidence  unreasonable and cannot be supported.
Almost 60 young footballers found an AFL home across the past two nights of the most compromised draft in history.

We took a close look at Fremantle and West Coasts draft haul and heard from recruiting and list managers, who explained their strategy and hopes for their fresh draftees.

The top three selections in the 2025 national draft: Harry Dean (pick No.3), Willem Duursma (No.1) and Zeke Uwland (No.2). AFL Photos

Fremantle

Who they picked: Adam Sweid (25), Tobyn Murray (40)

The Dockers picked late in the first round for the second straight year, and will hope diminutive midfielder-forward Sweid is every bit the success Murphy Reid was in 2025. Sweid, who spent last year recovering from an ACL rupture, was tied to Essendon as a next-generation academy prospect, but the Bombers chose not to match the bid. He is tough, competitive, professional, and has a nose for the goals. Murray is a 20-year-old small forward out of Geelongs VFL side who brings a combination of speed, power and toughness.

List manager David Walls: We got two guys who are probably pretty similar in their role as mid-forwards  and theyre both pretty strong guys who are good runners. Hopefully, they can be pushing for selection. It was good in the trade period to bring Judd [McVee] in, to give us that running half-back, so to add to that, and a couple of guys forward, were reasonably happy.

West Coast

Who they picked: Willem Duursma (1), Cooper Duff-Tytler (4), Josh Lindsay (19), Sam Allen (29), Tylah Williams (39)

The Eagles placed five unsuccessful bids in the first round, but should be thrilled with who they did bring in. Duursma projects as a big-time star with his 193-centimetre size, elite and aggressive kicking skills, marking strength, and positional versatility. As a bonus, he is friends with Harley Reid. Duff-Tytler is likened to Docker Luke Jackson as a fellow ex-basketballer who is a great athlete and excels at ground level. Left-footed defender Lindsay is arguably the best kick in the draft. A fourth Victorian followed when West Coast picked Oakleigh Chargers captain Allen, an athletic winger who suffered a season-ending ACL rupture. They matched Fremantles bid on academy goalsneak Williams, who demonstrated his speed and agility at the combine, but lost Koby Evans (Brisbane) and Charlie Banfield (St Kilda) to rival clubs.

National recruiting manager Duane Massey: Overall, it was an outstanding result for the club. To have access to some high talent at the sharp end of the draft really sets the club up to launch into 2026 and beyond. Securing Willem, Cooper and Josh adds to the young talent weve selected in the past few years, and we believe they can really add value to our list for years to come.
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PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion Even Albaneses friends are impatient with his lack of ambition James Massola Chief political commentator November 21, 2025  4:00am

November 21, 2025  4:00am Save 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 597 View all comments

Few things infuriate Anthony Albanese more than suggesting he and his government lack political ambition. Raise the topic and the prime minister will instantly reel off a long list of legislation and other policies implemented by his government in the past 3 years: changes to the stage 3 tax cuts, more money for Medicare, more ambitious climate targets than the previous government, urgent care clinics, major housing programs, an expansion of paid parental leave, the right to disconnect and so on. Not so fast  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces critics close to his own camp. Sam Mooy But that doesnt mean the criticism is not correct, despite what Albanese claims. Labor governments are elected to do things  more so than conservative governments. And this week, while Sussan Ley attempted to resurrect her leadership, five separate critiques again questioned Albaneses ambition.

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The first was the release of Sean Kellys Quarterly Essay, The Good Fight: What Does Labor Stand For? As a former staffer to prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard turned author and columnist for this masthead, Kelly writes perceptively about the purpose of Labor in government and whether the party is overcompensating for the disorderliness of the Rudd-Gillard years, and in so doing, failing the people who need the party most. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership You thought climate was a Coalition problem, but Albanese may rue his enemys low ebb Sean Kelly Columnist His conclusion, more in sorrow than in anger, will dismay progressive types: by seeking to be the natural party of government, Albanese and his team have become essentially conservative by seeking to represent the vast majority of interests, many of which do not wish for the status quo to change. The second critique was Shane Wright and Millie Murois essays in this masthead on Australias dysfunctional federation. The pair take a different starting point, interviewing state premiers and economic boffins, examining what this countrys citizens get for the $1 trillion in taxes charged across the federation. They rip into some of the more absurd rules and regulations that gum up the wheels of the federation. And they arrive at essentially the same conclusion as Kelly: while the Albanese government has made changes to remove duplication and waste, a heck of a lot more needs doing to deliver value for money.

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The third critique was from a powerful left-wing union, the CPSU, claiming the scale of job losses at the CSIRO  800 so far, and as many as 350 more announced this week  meant more jobs had been lost at the agency under Albaneses government than under conservative bogeyman prime minister Tony Abbott. Let that sink in for a moment. Fourth, the International Monetary Fund called for major tax changes in Australia  hardly the first time  including raising the rate of the GST and re-introducing a resource revenue tax. The chances of that happening under this government are vanishingly small. Fifth and finally, from former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus, came a call for Labor to hold a referendum on fixed four-year terms for the federal parliament and to restart a campaign for Australia to become a republic. (Australias decision on Thursday to back out of the race to host the COP31 climate summit next year could also be added to the list, but given COPs reputation as a massively expensive, overly long talkfest and Albaneses waning enthusiasm for the event, its unlikely he will regret the event not coming to Australia.)

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The common question that unites all five of these critiques is the same: Is the Albanese government ambitious enough? Related Article Opinion

Pacific diplomacy As the Coalition self-immolates, Albanese strides the world stage Zach Hope South-East Asia correspondent The prime minister secured a stunning victory in this years election and his reputation as a political strategist and leader has been elevated to rare heights. As 2025 ends, its fair to say  for now  he has mastered his domestic political opponents, nailed his brief on the world stage and is the unquestioned leader of the Australian Labor Party. And again, to give the government its due, when you look at its achievements in just the past couple of months, theyre not inconsiderable. Aged care funding reforms and a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive for GPs began on November 1; Australia and Indonesia negotiated a landmark agreement on defence; Australia recognised Palestine; in a pact with Papua New Guinea, it signed the nations first formal alliance since ANZUS in 1951; major changes to Indigenous employment programs have commenced; and real wages increased for an eighth consecutive quarter. Seven months on from Albaneses victory, this second term has had the same feel-good start as that of his first term, but for all the achievements, the whole seems less than the sum of its parts.

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In his essay, Kelly quotes Labor legend Paul Keating, years ago, describing his view of politics: Im not in the consensus business ... f--- consensus. Im in the conflict business. And later: Why would we take second-quality decisions? Why wouldnt we do better? Those Keating quotes best explain why this government falls short of the sum. After 4 years in power, its still unclear sometimes what it will fight for and how much it is willing to risk of its political capital to be a reforming Labor government. Albanese, for example, supports fixed four-year terms and he supports an Australian republic. But both require a referendum, and after the failure of the Voice, and his experience working for federal minister Tom Uren in 1988, when Bob Hawke proposed fixed four-year terms and bipartisanship collapsed, Albanese has no intention of proceeding with either. Its a fair bet that most of the Labor caucus would support winding back negative gearing tax breaks, too, but after an untimely leak, that idea was killed off and is unlikely to be examined again under Albanese. His determination to reset politics after a revolving door of prime ministers is understandable. He has successfully portrayed himself as a reliable, trustworthy leader in the minds of voters. After all, 94 seats do not lie.

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Australian economy Albanese doesnt share Chalmers ambition. Hes got a different one Peter Hartcher Political and international editor But his incrementalist approach to change leaves him open to the charge of being too cautious or not ambitious enough, as we see with these critiques from people and organisations as diverse as the IMF, the CPSU and his own former attorney-general. None of these are sworn ideological enemies. If he wants to secure a legacy as a great reforming prime minister, and not just a two-time election winner, Albanese will need to take more risks and spend more of his capital than he has to date. James Massola is chief political commentator for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.
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La tension politique en Tanzanie connait un rebondissement de taille. La Presidente Samia Suluhu Hassan a cree la surprise en affirmant que les violentes manifestations ayant secoue le pays apres les elections generales du 29 octobre dernier n'etaient pas spontanees, mais  payees . Une declaration-choc lancee lors de l'installation officielle d'une commission independante chargee d'enqueter sur ces evenements.

Des manifestants  payes  pour defiler ?

 Nous avons recu des informations selon lesquelles les jeunes descendus dans la rue pour exiger le respect de leurs droits avaient d'abord ete payes , a declare la cheffe de l'Etat, citee par le journal Daily News. Et d'ajouter, percutante :  Beaucoup ont rejoint les manifestations precisement a cause de l'argent recu. Cela souleve la question de savoir d'ou vient cet argent. 







Cette accusation, sans preuve immediatement apportee, vise a discrediter le mouvement de protestation qui a enflamme plusieurs villes du pays pendant plusieurs jours. Les images de heurts avec la police, de voitures et de stations-service incendiees, avaient fait le tour des medias.

Une commission pour apaiser les esprits

Face a cette crise, la Presidente Hassan a choisi la mise en place d'une enquete officielle. La commission independante se voit confier un triple mandat : etudier l'essence du probleme, analyser les revendications exactes des manifestants et evaluer les mesures prises par les forces de l'ordre pour contenir le chaos.







Elle dispose d'un delai de trois mois pour rendre ses conclusions, qui determineront les suites a donner et les eventuelles solutions a apporter.

Un contexte electoral controverse

Ces troubles s'inscrivent dans un contexte electoral hautement controverse. L'election presidentielle du 29 octobre a ete marquee par la victoire ecrasante de la presidente sortante, Samia Suluhu Hassan, avec 97,66% des voix. Un score record annonce apres que les deux principaux adversaires de la presidente aient ete exclus de la course, alimentant un vif mecontentement populaire et des accusations de pression sur l'opposition.







Alors que la nouvelle commission se met au travail, la question plane : sa mission parviendra-t-elle a apaiser une nation clivee et a etablir la verite sur le financement des manifestations, ou ne sera-t-elle qu'un outil pour delegitimer toute contestation ? La reponse, dans trois mois.





Tanzania: President Samia Suluhu Hassan Claims Post-Election Protests Were "Paid For"

An independent commission tasked with a three-month investigation to shed light on accusations that cast a shadow over popular dissent.







The political tension in Tanzania has taken a dramatic turn. President Samia Suluhu Hassan made a surprising claim, stating that the violent protests that rocked the country after the general elections on October 29 were not spontaneous, but "paid for." This shocking declaration was made during the official inauguration of an independent commission tasked with investigating these events.







Protesters "Paid" to Demonstrate?







"We have received information that the youth who took to the streets to demand their rights were first paid," the head of state stated, as quoted by the Daily News newspaper. She added pointedly, "Many joined the protests precisely because of the money received. This raises the question of where this money came from."







This accusation, made without immediately provided evidence, aims to discredit the protest movement that engulfed several cities for days. Images of clashes with police, burnt cars, and petrol stations had circulated widely in the media.







A Commission to Calm Tensions







In response to this crisis, President Hassan has opted for an official inquiry. The independent commission has a triple mandate: to study the root of the problem, analyze the exact demands of the protesters, and assess the measures taken by security forces to contain the chaos.







It has three months to deliver its findings, which will determine the next steps and any potential solutions.







A Controversial Electoral Context







These disturbances occur against a backdrop of a highly controversial election. The October 29 presidential vote was marked by the overwhelming victory of incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan with 97.66% of the vote. This record-breaking score was announced after the president's two main rivals were disqualified from the race, fueling widespread public discontent and accusations of pressure on the opposition.







As the new commission begins its work, the question looms: will its mission succeed in calming a divided nation and establishing the truth about the protest funding, or will it be merely a tool to delegitimize all dissent? The answer, in three months.





Tanzanie, Samia Suluhu Hassan, manifestations Tanzanie, elections Tanzanie 2023, commission d'enquete, politique Tanzanie, Afrique de l'Est, actualites africaines, opposition politique, manifestations payees, crise politique, Daily News Tanzanie, John Magufuli







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Matchmaking conference for ChinaEurope robotics cooperation held in E China's Nanjing

People's Daily Online) 10:49, November 21, 2025

The 2025 China-Europe Robotics Conference (Nanjing) was held in Qixia district, Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on Nov. 19, with participants from China and abroad sharing ideas and presenting their projects.

Photo shows a scene of the conference. (People's Daily Online/Ma Xiaobo)

During the conference, 10 robotics projects from the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland and Russia delivered roadshow presentations.

Representatives from universities including Southeast University and Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, local robotics companies such as Jiangsu Jitri Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Nanjing TetraBot Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., and Yijiahe Technology Co., Ltd., as well as investment firms including CoStone Capital and Nanjing Innovation Capital Group, held talks with the project teams to explore potential collaboration.

Nanjing is home to nearly 200 robotics-related companies, creating a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that includes industrial, specialized, service and humanoid robots.

The city's core robotics industry generated 33 billion yuan ($4.64 billion) in output from January to October this year.

Nanjing is among the few cities in China capable of supporting the entire robotics value chain, from complete robot manufacturing to key components and broad application scenarios, Jiang Min, vice mayor of Nanjing, said at the conference.

She noted that the city will continue to help Chinese and European robotics companies build channels for resource sharing and strengthen cooperation.

Tang Song, deputy head of the Investment Promotion Agency of China's Ministry of Commerce, highlighted in his speech at the conference that China-Europe cooperation in robotics is the result of joint efforts based on innovation, shared standards and mutual benefits.

He encouraged Chinese companies to expand their presence in Europe and establish research and development networks. He also emphasized that advanced European technologies, capital and talent are welcome to seek partnership and development opportunities in Nanjing and elsewhere in China, to jointly boost the resilience and vitality of the global robotics supply chain.

Qixia district has long-standing and solid ties with European businesses, according to Wang Chengjiang, mayor of the district.

Many well-known multinational companies, including Bosch, ZF Friedrichshafen, Arc and Danfoss, have already invested in the district, Wang said.

He said the district will build platforms for industrial collaboration, deepen university-industry partnerships and expand application scenarios to match local industrial strengths with Europe's technological advantages.

The goal, he said, is to make Qixia a model for China-Europe robotics cooperation.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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A GROUP of students from SETU Carlow hosted a Carlows Got Talent show this month in aid of charity.

The talent show was in aid of Carlow Hospice and Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, with all funds raised on the night split equally between the two charities. The event took place in The Barracks, Tullow Street tomorrow, Wednesday 19 November, from 7pm to 10pm.

There was a raffle held on the night, with the main prizes including a Waterford FC jersey signed by current Waterford captain and Carlow native Padraig Amond, as well as a signed match-worn Ireland jersey from former Irish international Daryl Murphy.
LOCAL creative businesses are feeling positive yet apprehensive about using AI in their work processes after attending a Carlow Local Enterprise Office event at Google headquarters in Dublin.

It was good to see what can be done, said Leslie Kelly of 5th Wall Interiors. Google is improving all the time; things are moving so fast. It was good to see whats coming down the line. But some of it went absolutely over my head, Ms Kelly said with a laugh.

The event on 13 November was organised to show how digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) can support growth in creative enterprises. Kira Brakhage from Google delivered a presentation on applying AI to improve productivity, content development and discover new market opportunities. John Stafford from Google showed how ViGenAir can repurpose existing content into promotional video assets for different advertising platforms.

Google's John Stafford demonstrates ViGenAir

Two workshops  making sense of AI and practical AI for marketing  followed.

The closing session was a panel discussion with business leaders sharing how digital thinking and AI inform their product development and day-to-day operations.

Naomh McElhatton, Irish ambassador for Women in AI and founder of the Business of AI Club, monitored the panel of Magdelena Seymour of Pure Oskar, Kim Whyte of Pawpear, Kay Lyng of K Kajoux Jewels, Niav Riley of Market Square Studios, and Kieran Comerford on behalf of the local enterprise offices.

Paul Byrne, who owns and operates PB Studio in Carlow, said: It was a really well-run event.

Were lucky to have an event like this. Many other European countries dont have Google on their doorstep.

However, he understood that it could sometimes be daunting for small businesses to upskill in this way. Were doing so much as company owners anyway. The big question is where to start.

For Mr Byrne and his colleagues, the advent of AI is not overwhelming: Were driven by innovation as a studio. We see it as an innovation tool rather than a threat. After the event, they are looking to use Googles NotebookLM more intensively, to get greater insights into buying trends of their customers and aid their sales process. Were embracing it; were definitely not afraid of it.

Leslie Kelly found it difficult to imagine how AI could threaten her business, but saw it as being potentially useful for social media and scheduling. She expressed fears about privacy and intellectual property ownership. The biggest thing was copyright. They couldnt answer questions about who owns it, she noted.

Similarly, Pat Bramley, owner of Bramley Jewellers, couldnt get a handle on how secure AI is or how much it really costs to implement.

Phillip, the jewellery maker, uses AI in his laser printing machinery, he said, and is hoping to upscale it in the new year.

AI certainly is the coming thing, said Mr Bramley. Its the only way to go now.
Ottoline Spearman

Tributes have been paid to former RTE broadcaster and author David Hanly following his death at the age of 82.

Mr Hanly was known for his long career presenting Morning Ireland as well as his television interviews with writers and poets on Hanlys People.

The Limerick native also wrote a column and had a career in public relations.

On RTEs News at One on Friday, Morning Ireland host Aine Lawlor said Mr Hanly was a wonderful writer with the most amazing deep voice.

She added: He was synonymous with Morning Ireland from the get-go back in 1984.

He taught me and so many other journalists on Morning Ireland and in the newsroom so much.

He is  and will be  sorely missed.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: I have fond memories of interviews with him on Morning Ireland.

He was sharp, highly intelligent, and always had a sense of perspective.

He put Morning Ireland on the map. His voice was unmistakable.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said: David became a household name through RTEs Morning Ireland but he was also a distinguished author, columnist and scriptwriter.

He enjoyed a rich and varied career in journalism and public relations.

For many, including myself, David was the voice we woke up to every weekday as the presenter of RTEs Morning Ireland for some two decades.

As one of the shows first presenters, his unambiguous and commanding voice etched him into the public psyche."
Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, November 23, in the 10:30 a.m. service.His topic will be 'Who Is This God We Serve? God's Reputation.' The purpose of the sermon is to lead all Believers to know that God is interested in you and your life, paying attention to you. His purpose is to get us to the Father and redemption. All are welcome to participate.





Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate.





Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Kelly Selby is currently leading this Bible study. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide.





Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1946 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome.
ClearStory Arts announces the return of its Cold Turkey Art Pop-Up Market, taking place Saturday, Nov. 29 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m."Timed with Small Business Saturday, this annual event invites the community to celebrate and support local artists, makers and small businesses in one of Chattanoogas most vibrant creative hubs," officials said. "Visitors are invited to explore ClearStory Arts iconic arts spacewell known for its atmosphere of community, creativity and good vibes."Attendees can warm up indoors, meet artists in their open studios, and get a behind-the-scenes look at their creative processes.The event also features a curated Pop-Up Art Market showcasing 10 local vendors offering one-of-a-kind, handmade and locally crafted art.This years event includes a partnership with Broads Lounge, who will provide cocktails and beverages available for purchase at a cash bar throughout the market.Featured vendors include: Annabelle Tarter, ArtByYoungKris, Denice Bizot, Earthly Indigo, Emma Made, Hiliarys Arts and Crafts, Hollow Hill Creative, Shannon Leo Arts, Studio 443 and TRD Photography.Were proud to host the Cold Turkey Market again as a way to uplift Chattanoogas creative community, said the ClearStory Arts team.Connecting artists with neighbors in a space built on collaboration and joy is what ClearStory is all about."The event offers free parking, festive beverages and a welcoming environment designed to spark connection and inspiration," officials said. "Guests are encouraged to stroll, sip, shop and experience why ClearStory Arts has become a beloved home for creativity in the city."
Thank you to the taxpayers of Chattanooga for stepping up - yet again - to fill community needs. When SNAP benefits were disrupted, city taxpayer dollars helped the food bank through a difficult time. That support was necessary to make up for the abrupt lapse in food aid resulting from the government shut down.

However, the mayors recent public comments gave the credit to the City Council instead of the city taxpayers who actually earned the funds and handed off to city in taxes.

The city does not generate income or resources; the city only redistributes earned income from the efforts of others. Mayor, the thank you belongs to the taxpayers, volunteers and givers.

Why cant you say, thank you taxpayers? These are words we never hear from government.

"The city of Chattanooga will provide $200,000 in funding to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. While the federal government shutdown is over, the disruption to SNAP is still affecting our community, said Mayor Tim Kelly. I want to thank the City Council, who have been eager partners with my administration, in helping our people make it through this difficult time.

Many residents also gave to food banks directly, as well as their tax dollars. The annual city budget includes support for agencies. Americans are generous.

Why cant the city mayor thank the source of the funds? Instead, the mayor thanks the City Council members who receive an income for showing up to the meeting, health insurance, and retirement accumulation.

Oh wait, they voted yes, and praised the mayor.

So again - thank you, Chattanooga taxpayers. You earned the income, and made the sacrifice. You funded the $200,000 gift that helped feed families.

I salute the taxpayers.

April Eidson

* * *

Ms. Eidson - Truer words have never been printed on this page.



Steve Ray

* * *

Well said and thanks.



Expecting most politicians to be grateful or even acknowledge where the money and support comes from is a thankless task doomed to fail.



It is appropriate that a taxpaying citizen via the comment section of the free press has pointed it out.



Well done and thanks again.



Pete Clark
The School Board on Thursday unanimously approved a list of five mental health providers for counseling services for county school students.

Students will have a choice of any of the five, including one Chattanooga-based Christian group, ELU LLC.

The list also includes Centerstone, which provided the service without charge to the school system for a decade but did not have its contract renewed in a close board vote.

At a later board meeting, in which a number of speakers advocated for the return of Centerstone and others praised the board action, the board again declined to reverse the vote.

It was ultimately decided to have an RFP process. Five finalists were identified, and a committee that included some school board members opted to keep all five.

Students in need of counseling can select any of the five.

Board member Steve Slater said students should be told

"there are secular firms and a faith-based one."

Others approved were the Helen Ross McNabb Center, Psychiatry of Texas and Thrive Therapies Group.

Some of the firms offer online counseling.
12/4/2025

When you hire a realtor in the Chattanooga area, you gain more than one professional; you tap into a coordinated network at the local, state and national levels that is designed to protect consumers, ... more
12/11/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) BEARD,CHRISTOPHER ... more
A man in Chicago with a criminal history dating back to the early 90s is accused of dousing a woman with gasoline on the L Train, chasing her down and setting her on fire. The mayor claims this is just an isolated incident. The accused has had more than four dozen arrests, nine of them for felonies yet hes only served just over two years behind bars. His most recent arrest was a charge of knocking unconscious a social worker which was recorded on a surveillance camera.



The statess attorney requested pre-trial detention. The Judge, Theresa Molina Gonzales, denied the request. She said, I cant put everyone behind bars just because the states attorney asks me to. Medical staff determined the social worker will likely have optic nerve bruising, eye pain, nausea and memory issues. The SA related this to the judge in the plea for detention, but to no avail. She ordered ankle monitoring instead (CWB Chicago 11/20/25).



This is the kind of folly going on where the past history of violent offenders is ignored and repeat offenders are continued to be released. The ankle monitoring didnt stop what happened on the L Train. The judges comments and actions, along with those of the Chicago mayor, creates the climate for such violent and criminal threats. Had he been in custody, that social worker would not be injured now.



Dealing with violent offenders with social workers instead of law enforcement is a very dangerous social experiment, yet the future mayor of NYC thinks its a brilliant idea. He and those of his party could learn from this case as they attempt to, as then candidate Barrack Obama said, fundamentally transform America (Amer. Presidency Project 10/30/08). Look at these big cities where Democrats rule and ask yourself to what are they transforming America?



Ralph Miller

* * *

Mr. Miller pointed out that some criminals have been able to slip through the cracks of justice. While I agree with Mr. Miller that these individuals should be held accountable for their crimes, cherry picking two incidents from nearly 30 and 20 years ago is a poor example.



Trump pardoned many individuals, without even knowing whom they were or why they were even in jail. Maybe you've forgotten about 1/6/2021, but at least 10 that were pardoned went on to commit other crimes, and would not have had Trump not pardoned them. Just to name a few, Emily Hernandez had pleaded guilty for her actions on Jan. 6, then was found guilty of drunk driving, killing one passenger and injuring another. One other example, is Theodore Mittendorf, who also pleaded guilty for Jan. 6, was pardoned, then sexually assaulted a seven year old. That child would not have endured what awful acts he had done if Trump hadn't pardoned him.



Please note that these examples were due to Trump's action of simply pardoning everyone arrested on Jan. 6. Not once did he look at the individual's cases or crimes.



Let's look at how Trump has transformed America since he took office. Our national debt has increased by $2.17 trillion since January. Federal employment has decreased by 97,000 jobs since January. Energy prices have risen by 2.8 percent through the current year, as well as food prices by 3 percent, both of which Trump campaigned on and promised to bring down.



The main increase I've seen since Trump took office are the number of protests against the Executive Office, as no nationwide protests were demonstrated during Biden's presidential term. Not to mention a large increase in beef prices, as well as bacon one of my favorite parts of a pig but I'll be quiet about my love of sizzling, delicious bacon.



John Spencer
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Dec. 3 in two cases at Bryan College in Dayton, as part of the Courts SCALES program.



SCALES, which stands for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students, is an initiative launched by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1995 to educate students about Tennessees legal system and the functions of the judicial branch of government.



The SCALES program provides students with the unique opportunity to hear oral arguments in actual Tennessee Supreme Court cases in a local community. SCALES has provided more than 40,000 students from more than 500 high schools the ability to witness the Tennessee Supreme Court in action.



All members of the Court are looking forward to our SCALES docket at Bryan College in historic Dayton, said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. For the students, the program is a real-world civics lesson. For the Justices, it gives us an opportunity to engage personally with students, educators, community leaders and local lawyers and judges. The SCALES programs consistently are an enjoyable and rewarding experience for members of the Court and students alike. We are grateful to the Dayton community, the local educators, the local lawyers and judges, law enforcement and the local volunteers who are facilitating this event.



The proceedings will begin at 9 a.m. in Rudd Auditorium, and will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@TNCourts),

The two cases before the Court are:



 State of Tennessee v. Anthony Cornelius Baylis  Anthony Baylis responded to an ad on a paid for sex website. Unbeknownst to Mr. Baylis, the ad was part of a sting operation conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and Mr. Baylis was texting a TBI agent. Although the ad described the purported escort as an adult (and the TBI agent was an adult), text messages from the TBI indicated that the escort was sixteen years old. In addition, Mr. Baylis was in Knoxville, but the escort was in Sweetwater. Undeterred by any of these circumstances, Mr. Baylis arranged a time to meet the escort in Sweetwater. However, he also tried to convince the escort to come to Knoxville and let him sponsor her work. Mr. Baylis ultimately met the undercover TBI agent at a hotel in Sweetwater, gave her cash, and began taking off his pants. The TBI then arrested him. Mr. Baylis was charged with the offense of trafficking for a commercial sex act. The State argued at trial that Mr. Baylis attempted to recruit the undercover officer as a prostitute, and the jury convicted him as charged. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted Mr. Baylis application for permission to appeal to consider whether the evidence was legally sufficient to support his conviction, given that Tennessee law defines commercial sex act as requiring either conduct induced or obtained by coercion or deception, or conduct induced or obtained from a person under eighteen years of age.



 Danielle Lowe ex rel. Beau Christopher Lowe et al. v. Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC  In this workers compensation case, the Court will consider the status of an employer and its obligation to ensure the safety of its premises. Beau Lowe was an employee of Cumberland Machine Company (Cumberland), an independent contractor that performed certain work at a Bridgestone tire plant. Cumberland had a dedicated workspace in the plant where it repaired the molds Bridgestone used to make tires. Mr. Lowe was killed when a piece of equipment he was repairing fell on him. Danielle Lowe, Mr. Lowes widow, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bridgestone, claiming that the equipment and work process were defective. Bridgestone asserted that it qualified as Mr. Lowes statutory employer under workers compensation law, which states that because such employers are financially liable for workers compensation benefits, they cannot be sued for negligence. Bridgestone moved for summary judgment to have the case decided without a trial. The trial court denied that motion but later granted summary judgment to Bridgestone on a different ground, ruling that Bridgestone owed no duty of care to Mr. Lowe. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that there were genuine issues of material fact that precluded summary judgment on either ground. The Tennessee Supreme Court will consider whether the Court of Appeals erred in concluding that there were disputed material facts as to whether Bridgestone qualified as Mr. Lowes statutory employer and whether Bridgestone owed Mr. Lowe a duty of care.


Federal judges are drawn from the ranks of experienced lawyers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds. They bring to the bench their professional training and experience, personal history and lived experiences. As a result of these experiences, they form certain beliefs and sympathies and develop certain preferences and biases. But, as judges, they must put aside these beliefs, sympathies, preferences and biases if they conflict with their obligation to apply the law fairly and impartially.Judges Join The Bench With Human Frailties -Judges do not arrive on the bench as blank slates.Their experience is derived from years practicing as plaintiffs lawyers, civil defense lawyers, prosecutors, criminal-defense lawyers, lawyers at big firms, sole practitioners, law professors or in other fields of legal practice. In their former roles, they acquired affinities for their fields of practice and also formed beliefs, preferences and perhaps even biases. As human beings, it is impossible for us to completely abandon all personal beliefs.For the most part, judges are aware not only that they have sympathies for certain positions, but also that the public will assume they retain those sympathies. Judges know the public will be looking for displays of these sympathies in their rulings. However, their authority as judges depends on separating their personal inclinations from their legal judgments. Judges therefore strive to not let any of those sympathies influence their decisions on the bench and not show favoritism to past affiliations and beliefs. They also strive to demonstrate that their rulings are not influenced by their prior roles or beliefs.Important Of The Oath Of Office -One of the primary tools helping judges resist former beliefs and sympathies and demonstrate to the public that they are doing so is their oath of office. The oath all federal judges must take is set out by federal law in 28 U.S.C.  453. For district court judges, it states: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a United States District Judge under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.This oath is a public affirmation of an ideal to which all judges aspire. Regardless of past professional endeavors or of beliefs, sympathies or biases, a judge is bound to administer justice without regard to the status or beliefs of the people before them, to ensure equal rights for all, and to impartially discharge their judicial duties.Unconscious Biases -While judges acknowledge their conscious sympathies and biases, the reality is that judges also have unconscious biases. These are biases of which the judges themselves are unaware. Unconscious biases are implicit assumptions or associations that all people, regardless of training or good will, naturally develop.The judiciary is structured to minimize the effect of these unconscious biases. Judges are bound to strictly follow stare decisis - the prior decisions of higher courts - regardless of their personal preferences. Judges must also follow the written laws passed by legislatures, again, regardless of their personal preferences. Most federal courts are multi-judge courts, so judicial collegiality also inhibits judges from giving free reign to their individual sympathies and biases.Moreover, the adversarial process, where two or more competing parties vigorously present their positions, also serves to minimize individual biases. Lastly, the jury system acts as a democratic restraint against judges carrying out personal preferences.Conclusion -Acknowledging that judges are mere humans need not diminish confidence in the courts. In fact, understanding and acknowledging the human element reinforces the integrity of the judicial process. It reminds us that judges strive - imperfectly but earnestly - to separate personal preferences, sympathies and bias from legal duty. Their oath is not a promise of perfection; it is a commitment to vigilance, humility and the rule of law.In the end, the strength of the federal judiciary lies not in pretending that judges are free of biases, but in judges continuous efforts to understand, confront and rise above them, as well as, to the best of their ability, fairly and impartially administer the law.Curtis L. CollierUnited States district judgechair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach CommitteeCarrie Brown Stefaniaklaw clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. CollierMeghna Melkotelaw clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. CollierAlex Tritelllaw clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier
Screenshot: YouTube/ CollegiateDayofPrayer

A new survey reveals that Americans are far more likely than Canadians to say that religion plays a significant role in their daily lives.

The findings, released Wednesday in a joint report by the non-partisan think tanks Cardus and the Angus Reid Institute, draw on responses from 5,001 Americans and 5,001 Canadians gathered in March. The data confirm that Americans remain markedly more religious than Canadians overall.

One key indicator showed that 33% of Americans strongly agree that religion is very important in their day-to-day life, while only 17% of Canadians said the same. In contrast, 45% of Canadians strongly disagree that religion holds day-to-day importance, compared to 26% of Americans.

The report also identified major differences in spiritual identity. A plurality of Canadians (44%) were categorized as spiritually uncertain, are classified as spiritually uncertain, a category defined by factors such as belief in a higher power or life after death, the importance they place on parents teaching religious beliefs, and how often they pray, read sacred texts, experience Gods presence, or attend religious services.

Canadian respondents also split evenly between non-believers (19%) and the privately faithful (19%). In comparison, 37% of Americans were classified as religiously committed, far outpacing the 18% of Canadians who fell into the same category. Another 27% of Americans were either privately faithful or spiritually uncertain, and only 10% identified as non-believers.

Attendance patterns further reveal the divide. While majorities of Canadians (72%) and Americans (56%) report they never or only rarely attend religious services, weekly attendance is far more common among Americans (27%) than Canadians (13%). Similarly, 30% of Americans read the Bible, Quran, or other sacred texts at least weekly, compared to just 13% of Canadians.

Eighty-one percent of Americans and 65% of Canadians affirm belief in a higher power, while 77% of Americans and 51% of Canadians believe in life after death. Additionally, 49% of Americans and 40% of Canadians agree that All of the great religions of the world are equally good and true.

Questions about experiencing Gods presence revealed striking contrasts: 32% of Americans say they sense Gods presence daily, whereas 44% of Canadians say they never feel His presence. By comparison, 17% of Americans feel Gods presence daily, and 23% say they never feel it.

Americans also appear more comfortable expressing their faith openly. Sixty-nine percent say, Im public about my religion and faith and dont mind other people knowing Im a believer, compared to 56% of Canadians.

When considering the role of religion in public life, the two nations diverge sharply. A majority of Americans (56%) believe Americans who hold public positions should feel free to speak and act based on their religious beliefs, while 44% prefer to keep God and religion completely out of public life. Meanwhile, 66% of Canadians support excluding religion from public life, with just 34% saying politicians should be free to speak and act based on their religious beliefs.

Despite Americans reporting stronger religious belief overall, the research suggests that Canadas religiously committed population is more active in community service. Fifty-five percent of religiously committed Canadians volunteer for a group or cause, compared to 51% of their American counterparts.

Charitable giving is also widespread, with 82% of religiously committed Canadians and 71% of religiously committed Americans saying they donate money to a charitable organization.
A rendering image of the mosque and Islamic school located in the EPIC City community in Collin and Hunt Counties, Texas. | Screenshot: YouTube/ EPIC CCP

A Muslim-centered development proposal in North Texas appears to be resurfacing under a new identity after its creators removed earlier online content and reworked promotional materials in response to ongoing state investigations and recently enacted legislative measures.

The 400-acre project, first introduced as EPIC City  a planned expansion connected to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC)  was slated for land in unincorporated Collin and Hunt counties near Josephine, roughly 40 miles northeast of Dallas.

Envisioned as a community featuring 1,000 homes, a mosque and community center, a school, and other amenities designed for Muslim families, the initiative halted earlier this year after running into legal and political resistance.

On Nov. 8, Collin County Judge Chris Hill posted an update on Facebook, indicating that developers at Community Capital Partners, LLC (CCP) may soon move forward with new filings, beginning with a rebranding effort. According to a diagram of the planned neighborhood, the developers have changed the name of the project to The Meadow, Hill wrote.

Hill added that there are reports that CCP have filed or soon intend to file an application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to establish a municipal utility district for The Meadow.

CCPs original EPIC City website  once advertising a vibrant and inclusive community that serves the evolving needs of the Muslim community and a safe and purpose-built environment that fosters growth, connection, and prosperity for all who call EPIC City home  now displays only a message stating, New website coming soon! accompanied by an email contact.

Archived versions from May 2024 show the former sites emphasis on a prominent mosque at the center of the master plan, imagery that has since been removed. Additionally, Islamic scholar Yasir Qadhi, whose photos and videos were previously featured in promotional materials, no longer appears on the site.

The project first drew significant backlash during a crowded Collin County commissioners court meeting on March 31, where officials discussed details of the proposed EPIC expansion. At the time, Judge Hill said he would oppose any plan that violates Texas or federal law, while County Administrator Yoon Kim countered that if a development meets state and local laws, the county has a ministerial duty to approve it.

By May, the dispute reached statewide political attention. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asserted on X that there was no construction occurring on the farmland and claimed the state had halted any construction of EPIC City. Developers disputed Abbotts remarks, maintaining the project had not progressed beyond early planning stages.

In June, the U.S. Department of Justice closed a civil rights inquiry launched after requests from Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. The agency concluded its review after CCP affirmed that all will be welcome in any future development and committed to revising its promotional language to reinforce that message in accordance with the Fair Housing Act.

Texas, home to an estimated 313,000 Muslim residents  including nearly 150,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area  hosts one of the largest Muslim communities in the nation.

EPIC, located in Plano, began operating in July 2015 as a nonprofit formed exclusively for educational, religious, and social purposes and describes itself as a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual, non-sectarian, diverse, and open community committed to full and equal participation and involvement of men and women who are community members of EPIC and subscribe to accept its rules, regulations, and procedures.
Home News 12 men now accuse ex-Harvest pastor Paul Havsgaard of child sex abuse and trafficking

Six more men have filed federal lawsuits in the last week claiming they were sexually abused and trafficked by Paul Havsgaard, a former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor, while living in now-defunct church-run childrens homes in Romania.

The number of filings  which also accuse the California megachurch's founder, Greg Laurie, and missions pastor Richard Schutte of negligence in failing to prevent the abuse and covering it up for 20 years  now stands at 12.

McAllister Olivarius, the law firm representing the men, said in a September news release that they expect to file complaints on behalf of 23 former residents of the homes.

The latest complaints were filed Nov. 14, 17 and 18 on behalf of Aurelian Busca, 37; his brother Alexandru-Cristian Busca, 38; Marian Dragne, 36; Bogdan Ionescu, 35; Alexandru Badaluta, 36; and Florin Cristian Caragea, 32.

The Christian Post reached out to Harvest Christian Fellowship for comment about the additional filings, and this article will be updated if a response is received.

CP has been unable to reach Havsgaard.

In September, the firm also filed lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of Marian Barbu, 33; Mihai-Constantin Petcu, 40; Cristian Aeroaiei, 36; Constantin-Alin Nitu, 36; Razvan-Georghe Nitu, 38; and George-Adrian Vasile, 33.

The lawsuits allege that Laurie sent Havsgaard, a long-time Harvest pastor, to Romania in 1998 to run the Harvest-sponsored homes for at-risk youth in a country known to be a child-sex trafficking hub in Europe.

The alleged survivors, many of whom were living on the streets of Bucharest prior to joining the Harvest Homes, claim they were lured with McDonalds meals and the promise of a safe place to sleep. Havsgaard is accused of repeatedly engaging in sexual and physical abuse on an industrial scale.

The alleged abuse has left the men with a lifetime of trauma, the suits claim. Some report developing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, drug addiction and being functionally illiterate.

A Harvest Christian Fellowship spokesperson previously told The Christian Post that the allegations brought by the men are "serious and disturbing" and denies that the church knowingly covered up the alleged sexual abuse.

The spokesperson said that after being contacted by representatives of the alleged victims, Harvest Riverside reported the case to law enforcement and plans to cooperate with authorities in the investigation. Harvest also claimed the lawsuits could be a "form of financial extortion" and said the church expects to "vigorously defend against these claims" in the courts of law.

The spokesperson has not responded to follow-up questions from CP since their initial statement on the lawsuits. While Harvest states that they reported the allegations against Havsgaard to local authorities, the Riverside Police confirmed with CP that there are no active investigations into Havsgaard. It remains unclear where Harvest reported the allegations.

Harvest Christian Fellowship leaders are accused of failing to supervise Havsgaard while raising donations by promoting the homes as a social good in Romania.

The men claim they were groomed into a life of sadistic sexual torture and abuse for years before being forced back on the streets when the homes were quietly shuttered in 2008, four years after an investigation by Harvest Christian Fellowship officially confirmed the abuse at the insistence of concerned missionaries, according to the lawsuits.

Allegations against Havsgaard include various forms of non-consensual sexual contact, pornography consumption and trafficking of teens to third parties.

The men are now seeking damages for multiple forms of alleged negligence by the defendants in California in supervising and operating the childrens homes, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sex-trafficking and conspiracy.

Razvan-Georghe Nitu, whose suit was filed in September, claims he was sexually abused by Havsgaard on many occasions between 2000 and 2007, from the time he was 13 until he was 20 years old.

The men also allege that Laurie and Schutte kept Havsgaard in place in Romania with minimal oversight despite repeated warnings about his abuse of children. Harvest reportedly deposited $17,000 each month to Havsgaards personal bank account to cover expenses associated with running the homes, but did not require detailed accounts. The filings allege that Havsgaard was able to "divert funds into purchases for his sexual favorites and hush money for employees."

Havsgaard frequently returned to Harvest Christian Fellowship in California to raise money for the homes in Romania. The plaintiffs allege he sexually assaulted the boys on many of those trips.

American missionaries concerned about reports of abuse at the Romanian homes contacted Harvest in 2004 and forced Schutte to send an inspection team, the lawsuits state.

When Schutt eventually joined the inspectors in Bucharest, he was told by a Calvary minister working in Romania that Havsgaard was a pedophile and needs to be on that plane with you when you leave tomorrow. He doesnt need to be another day in Romania. He is an embarrassment to every single missionary and Christian worker.

Harvest leaders in California are accused in the filings of telling the inspection team that Havsgaard was too important to Harvests fundraising to remove. The church left him in place for four more years while progressively cutting its funding until 2008, when Havsgaard returned to California.

During those four years, Havsgaard allegedly continued abusing children, the lawsuits state. At the end of the ministry, Havsgaard reportedly received $200,000 in severance payments.

The filings also accuse Laurie of praising Havsgaard publicly in 2009 as a pastor who faithfully served the Lord for many years at Harvest Christian Fellowship, the church where I pastor. He also compared Havsgaards work in Romania to Moses' leadership of the Israelites, stating that his life demonstrates the power that just one godly person can have.
Home News Gateway Church, elders fight to stop discovery in Cindy Clemishires defamation lawsuit

In a bid to avoid producing documents and sit for depositions in child-sex abuse survivor Cindy Clemishires defamation lawsuit, Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and its independent elders are seeking to overturn a recent court ruling rejecting their motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that secular courts lack jurisdiction in matters of religion.

The appeal was filed Friday in the Dallas-based Fifth Court of Appeals, after Dallas County District Court Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied Gateways motion to dismiss Clemishires defamation lawsuit against the church, their embattled founder, Robert Morris, and other defendants, in a two-page order last Tuesday.

This defense was invoked by the church and elders John D. "Tra" Willbanks, Kenneth W. Fambro II, and Dane Minor, via the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. It is a legal principle that prevents civil courts from adjudicating disputes that require them to rule on matters of religious doctrine, faith, or internal governance. The principle is also based on the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, which aim to protect religious institutions from state intervention in strictly religious affairs.

To start, the propriety of any order compelling the Independent Elders and Gateway to submit to discovery in the face of the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine raises important legal issues concerning the First Amendment, attorneys for Gateway Church and the independent elders argued in a joint emergency motion to stay a limited discovery process in the defamation lawsuit pending a mandamus review.

A writ of mandamus is an order issued by a court to compel performance of a particular act by a lower court or a governmental officer or body, usually to correct a prior action or failure to act.

Lawyers for Gateway Church and their independent elders insist that Clemishires lawsuit should have been dismissed under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine.

These issues are not susceptible to meaningful review through the normal appellate processes  once [a] religious organization has been forced to disclose information in contravention of its First Amendment rights, any resulting harm cannot be undone, the attorneys argued. Therefore, in order to obtain meaningful review of these issues, it is necessary for the Independent Elders and Gateway to seek the extraordinary remedy of writ of mandamus.

Gateway Church and its independent elders have asked the court to stay the discovery process until a review of their mandamus appeal has been completed by the Dallas Court of Appeals.

Mandamus relief, . will ultimately be inadequate if, in the interim, the Independent Elders and Gateway are required to submit to the Clemishires' intrusive discovery, hand over materials related to internal church deliberations, and thereby lose the constitutional protections afforded by the First Amendment, they argued. Accordingly, stay is warranted to ensure the Independent Elders and Gateway an adequate and meaningful opportunity to seek appellate review by mandamus of that ruling.

In her Nov. 11 order, Tobolowsky found that, "After reviewing the Pleas, Plaintiffs' responses, applicable law, and arguments of counsel, and reviewing evidence, the Court finds that the Pleas should be DENIED."

In a separate 16-page order on Nov. 11, Tobolowsky also granted Clemishires motion for continuance and limited discovery to oppose the defendants motions to dismiss her lawsuit under the Texas Citizens Participation Act in open court. The TCPA is a 2011 law that protects citizens from lawsuits intended to stifle their First Amendment rights.

All the defendants were ordered to provide written responses and produce documents in response to Clemishire's proposed discovery requests that focus mainly on internal and external communication church officials engaged in regarding the handling of her child-sex abuse claims against Morris.

Gateway Church founder Robert Morris was given a six-month prison term and a 10-year suspended sentence during a hearing in Osage County Court, Oklahoma, on Oct. 2, after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing Clemishire, 55, over 4.5 years in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12. At the time, Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000, was serving as a traveling evangelist.

In her defamation lawsuit, Clemishire and her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire, are seeking more than $1 million in damages, alleging that Morris and Gateway Church leaders publicly mischaracterized the abuse she suffered as a consensual "relationship" with a "young lady" instead of the sexual assault of a child after the abuse was made public in 2024.

In an affidavit dated Nov. 6, Clemishire said the statements made by both Morris and former Gateway Church elders led to her being harassed by Gateway Church followers and members of the public.

"On June 14, 2024, Robert Morris made a public statement to The Christian Post wherein he falsely minimized his rape of me, referring to it only as 'inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady,'" Clemishire wrote.

"Shortly thereafter in June of 2024, the Elders of Gateway Church issued their own statement to Gateway staff wherein they asserted that 'Pastor Robert has been open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago when he was in his twenties' and republished Robert Morris's statement that he made to The Christian Post," she continued.

"These statements were false and misleading because they minimized Robert Morris's rape of me, a 12-year-old child, as something that was only 'inappropriate' rather than criminal and implied the sex acts were consensual by classifying me as a 'young lady.'"
Home News Gen Z son of Nikki Haley shares supernatural conversion experience, warns against mass immigration

Nalin Haley, the 24-year-old son of former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, spoke earlier this week of his own journey to embracing Christianity and attributed the surge of Christian conversions among Gen Z men like himself to the work of the Holy Spirit.

During a Wednesday episode of "The Tucker Carlson Show," Haley, who has recently drawn attention on social media for being outspoken against the neoconservative positions often associated with his mother, also addressed what he sees as the widening generational divide among conservatives on key issues such as immigration.

Haley, who was 9 years old when his mother first became the Republican governor of South Carolina in 2011, said after being exposed to both the Sikh and Christian traditions at home, he researched world religions "obsessively" when he was in middle school.

Nalin, whose mother was born in 1972 to immigrants from India who raised her in Sikhism until she converted to Christianity, claimed he ultimately embraced Christianity himself following a quasi-supernatural experience.

"I had an experience where I was researching, and it was as if, in an instant, I heard, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.' As if the knowledge, the truth of God, was placed instantly, after that was said, in my mind and in my heart," he said. "And it's funny, after all these years, I've struggled to really put into words that experience and that feeling."

The strange experience lingered in his thoughts long after, Haley said, adding that he believes it was a private revelation from the Holy Spirit that bypassed his own intense study of world religions to affirm Christ's divinity.

"I had always heard about the Holy Spirit, right? Everyone hears about it. But when that happened, I was like, 'Oh, that's what that is, right?' Because [the Holy Spirit] was just some mythical thing that I had read about, but then it happened, and I was just like, 'This is really interesting.'"

Haley emphasized that he believes his sudden realization that the Gospel is true was not the result of his own efforts.

"The most interesting part, and the part that I kind of like the most, is it was none of my research on these world religions that got me to that answer; not at all," he said. "It was in an instant. I was very much a skeptic of Christianity prior to that, the second before that happened. It was an instant realization that was not of any of my own work."

He said that soon after his experience, he came upon the words of Jesus to Simon Peter in Matthew 16:16-17, which he came to believe applied to his own conversion.

"What made it so beautiful was that not long after that, I was reading the Gospel and I found where Jesus said to Peter, then Simon, 'Blessed are you, Simon. For flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my father in Heaven.' That's what that was."

"And then I also read [in Matthew 7:7] where He said, 'Knock and the door will be open to you. Seek and you will find.' It's just a beautiful thing when you realize that. God is true to His word every single time. It has never left me," he added.

A study that was part of Barna's State of the Church 2025 initiative found that commitment to Jesus has risen sharply, especially among young men. Conversions jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025 among Gen Z men, and 19 percentage points among millennial men, according to the study.

Drawing a distinction between the nominal "cultural Christianity" that has historically prevailed in the U.S. and "the actual lived faith in Christ" that many young converts are embracing now, Haley said, "I don't know what brought it about."

"The only thing I could attribute it to is probably the Holy Spirit. And I don't know why it's happening now. I hope it grows and I hope it continues to flourish, because it's something our society desperately, desperately needs."

During his conversation with Carlson, Haley also touched on his political belief that the interests of the United States should be the primary concern of its politicians, a position he said is increasingly dominant among conservatives of his generation.

NEW: Nikki Haley's son, Nalin Haley, says naturalized citizens should not be able to hold office, lists off all the things he sees wrong with immigration and citizenship.



Here is what he said:



1. "Naturalized citizens should not be able to hold public office."



2. Limit the pic.twitter.com/1G4AinnCdo  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 20, 2025

"I've only ever been American. I love America. I love the South. I love Southern culture. I'm a Christian," said Haley, who warned that the economic effects of both illegal and legal mass immigration to the U.S. are hurting the prospects of young American citizens, including those like himself who are only a generation removed from immigrants.

"How ironic is it? Someone leaves their country in search of the American dream, to give their kids a better life, only for their kids to grow up and have the job that they want being sent back to the country that they came from? It's ridiculous."

Haley also called for limits on foreign student visas in the U.S., warning some such visa holders are "spies," and claimed naturalized U.S. citizens should not be allowed to hold public office, arguing that "growing up here is a big part of understanding the country."

He also called for dual citizenship to be banned, calling it "the stupidest idea," and insisted that would-be Americans must show "loyalty to America first." He described the idea of holding American citizenship while serving in a foreign military as "insane."

Nalin elaborated that "Con Inc."  a common slang for establishment conservative media and politicians  has failed millennials and Gen Z with "half-measures on immigration ('legal good, illegal bad')" and unwinnable, endless foreign wars that have drained resources that are needed at home.
Home News Groups urge EU to investigate human rights violations in Pakistan ahead of trade deal review

Rights activists have urged the European Union to investigate widespread human rights violations in Pakistan, including the persecution of religious minorities, ahead of a review by a key EU mission that will begin monitoring the countrys eligibility for preferential trade terms on Monday.

The EU mission will conduct periodic assessments of Pakistans implementation of 27 U.N. conventions tied to GSP+, which lowers or eliminates duties on awarded countries exports to the EU in exchange for their efforts to pursue sustainable development and good governance.

Governments with this status must implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, good governance and the environment. Pakistan has benefited from GSP+ status since 2014, contributing to a 108% rise in textile exports to the EU due to lower or zero duties.

The EU mission has meetings planned with government institutions, civil society, human rights groups, workers and the private sector. The review mission was originally planned for June but was postponed due to the Iran-Israel conflict.

The Pakistan government has completely failed to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to protect the fundamental rights of Pakistani people guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan and protected by international conventions and protocols, said Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) Chairman Akmal Bhatti.

An attorney of the high courts, Bhatti said religious minorities, especially Christians, continue to suffer from religious discrimination and institutional hatred in Pakistan.

The blasphemy law continues to be misused, and the main perpetrators of the false allegations are working in connivance with state institutions, Bhatti told Christian Daily International. Glaring evidence of this evil nexus was exposed during the proceedings held in the Islamabad High Court by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq. The judge directed the government to form a judicial commission for a fair and transparent investigation, but the verdict was suspended by an appellate bench of the high court. It is the prime duty of the federal government to probe these cases and the international community must monitor its progress.

The socio-political leader also criticized the government for its inaction against those involved in the August 2023 attacks on multiple churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala town, Faisalabad Division of Punjab Province.

Though the government has now imposed a ban on the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan [TLP] and launched a crackdown against its cadres, it failed to arrest the TLP leaders who led the violent attacks against Christians in Jaranwala, including the groups local chief, who was named in at least two cases related to the incident, he added.

Similarly, the Punjab Province government has failed to pass a law that criminalizes child marriages despite its submission in the assembly in April 2024, he said.

We have been demanding a law criminalizing forced faith conversions as well as raising the legal age of marriage for both boys and girls to 18 years as a deterrent against false conversions, but the Punjab government is sitting on the issue for reasons not known to the public, he said. The EU mission must question the government leaders about the draft bills status when it meets them.

Among other issues, the EU mission should also consider religious minorities demand for their constitutional right to elect their own representatives, he said.

We have also been demanding the removal of the constitutional ban on non-Muslims from being elected as president and prime minister of the country, he said. If all citizens are equal in the eyes of the Constitution and the law, then this restriction on non-Muslims must end.

Pakistan Masiha Millat Party Chairman Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra echoed Bhattis concerns over the situation of minorities in Pakistan.

There has been no improvement in Pakistans human rights situation. In fact, it has only worsened over the years, Sahotra told Christian Daily International.

He further rejected the government's claims that conditions for minorities have improved.

Continuing to extend trade benefits despite ongoing rights violations sends a dangerous message that economic interests outweigh human rights, Sahotra said. The EU must ensure that its trade policies uphold its core values of accountability, rule of law and justice for Pakistans persecuted minorities.

In an interview with Dawn News this week, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said Pakistan must make significant progress on its international commitments to remain eligible for the GSP+ preferential trade scheme.

He said the EU review mission will examine Pakistans compliance in areas including human rights, minority protections, the death penalty, blasphemy laws, enforced disappearances, womens rights, child labor and forced labor.

On enforced disappearances, the ambassador said the issue remained a priority concern for the EU. He acknowledged the establishment of a commission to examine such cases but noted that the mission would assess whether existing mechanisms were adequate.

Pakistans GSP+ status was extended in October 2023 until 2027, but the next monitoring cycle is expected to influence Pakistans reapplication under the new scheme that will take effect in 2027. In exchange for implementing the 27 conventions, Pakistan has enjoyed duty-free or minimum duty on exports to the European Union on apparel, home textiles and surgical instruments, among other items, according to a 2022 report by the commerce ministry.

Earnings on exports to the EU rose to $3.17 billion in July through October, up from $3 billion over the corresponding months of last year, according to figures by the State Bank of Pakistan released on Monday.

The EU monitors countries granted GSP+ status to make sure they continue to uphold the international conventions and implement them effectively. Countries must also comply with reporting requirements and accept regular monitoring in accordance with the conventions.

Countries hold meetings on the implementation of the 27 conventions, with a public report submitted to Brussels for review every two years.

According to the EUs GSP Convention Compliance Database, Pakistan has ratified 27 international conventions, most recently ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987) in 2010.

Regarding the EUs monitoring of Pakistan, the body prioritized 13 key areas: enforced disappearances; torture prevention; death penalty; freedom of expression and belief and minority rights; violence against women, transgender persons, and minorities; right to information; labor inspectorates; freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; child and forced labor; combating climate change and environmental degradation; fight against corruption; drug control; and reporting.

This article was originally published at Christian Daily International
Home News Larry Summers steps away from Harvard, OpenAI board after Epstein emails released

Former Harvard University President Larry Summers announced Wednesday that he will step away from teaching duties and key leadership roles at the institution, just days after newly-released emails revealed his correspondence with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Summers, 70, who also served as U.S. Treasury Secretary under former President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001, issued a statement Monday expressing profound remorse. I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein, he told The Harvard Crimson.

His email exchanges with Epstein  which spanned at least seven years, up to July 5, 2019, the day before Epstein was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges  included Summers seeking Epsteins advice on pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a "mentee." In one email, Epstein referred to himself as Summers wing man, according to the Crimson.

The university launched a new investigation Wednesday into Summers and other Epstein-linked affiliates, building on a 2020 review of the financier's donations. The University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted, a university spokesperson told ABC News.

In a video shared on social media, Summers addressed stunned students in a Harvard class on Wednesday. Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein, and that I've said that I'm going to step back from public activity, he said. ... I think it's very important to fulfill my teaching obligations. So with your permission, we're going to go forward and talk about the material in the class.

In addition to his role at Harvard, Summers was also a paid columnist at Bloomberg News and served on the board of directors at OpenAI. On Wednesday, Summers announced he would resign from the OpenAI board, telling Politico that he is grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress. He is also expected to step back from his role at Bloomberg, the outlet reported Tuesday.

Summers announcement follows a vote from the House Oversight Committee last week to release nearly 20,000 pages of emails involving Epstein, including messages indicating Summers sought relationship advice from Epstein in 2019.

No Epstein survivor has accused Summers of wrongdoing, and there is no public evidence linking him to the financier's alleged abuse of potentially hundreds of women and girls. Epstein, who died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial, had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Despite initial opposition from President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers, the Epstein Files Transparency Act overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 427-1 on Tuesday afternoon, with Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the only vote against the measure. Hours later, the U.S. Senate agreed with unanimous consent to pass the bill, sending it to the president's desk.

The bill, which was authored by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., would force the U.S. Department of Justice to release all files related to the investigation into the late convicted sex offender. Trump has signaled his willingness to sign the bill, despite formerly dismissing ongoing concerns about Epstein and his sex trafficking network that involved powerful figures internationally.

The university launched a new investigation Wednesday into Summers and other Epstein-linked affiliates, building on a 2020 review of the financier's donations. The University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted, a university spokesperson told ABC News.
Home News Tucker Carlson explains 'civil war' on Right, claims Christianity being 'distorted' to destroy US

Political commentator Tucker Carlson discussed the "civil war" waging within conservatism during a podcast earlier this week, and claimed that cynical parties are weaponizing Christian principles to demographically destroy the United States and other Western nations.

He also touched on the recent firestorm over his interview with far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes, whose ascendance among young men he blamed on his own generation's political failure.

"Evil people use your strengths against you, they use your decency against you," Carlson said during a Wednesday episode of "1819 News: The Podcast," which is an independent, Alabama-based outlet originally established in 2021 by the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

A raw, unfiltered conversation about truth, power, and putting Americans first! ????@TuckerCarlson and I just dropped the most brutally honest conversation about power, war, and the American working class youll hear this year.#alpolitics#alabama@1819News



???? Tune in: pic.twitter.com/1FE9wfpTEC  Bryan Dawson (@Bryan1819News) November 20, 2025

"You saw this with COVID. ... They're not actually sticking a gun in your face and trying to force you to do something. They're leveraging your own decency against you," Carlson said.

"And one of the things that makes the Christian world so vulnerable to demographic replacement and to a lot of other things is the universalist nature of Christianity," he continued.

Noting he agrees with the Christian view that no group is inherently more valuable than another, he warned that idea might be used to make some Christians reticent to object to mass immigration.

"God, Jesus is available to everybody," he said. "God created everybody. So you could say, 'Well, I prefer this. I don't prefer that,' but you can't say someone is born inherently sinful  that's what I believe  or inherently virtuous."

While countries such as India or China would balk at the idea that they have "a moral obligation to let people who have nothing in common with you come into your country and get on social services," historically Christian societies are more susceptible, Carlson argued.

"If you say that to Christians, they're like, 'Well, I don't know. Jesus loves everybody. Maybe I can't put up a fight.' And that's why Christian charities  and Jewish charities, but if we're being honest, it's mostly Christian, Catholic, Lutheran charities  are mainly responsible for moving these people in the United States in this invasion."

"Why is that? Because they've leveraged a good thing about Christianity, distorted it and used it against the population to destroy the population, which is clearly the point. And to humiliate the population, which they have done."

Carlson, who spends much of his time at his home in rural Maine, noted he has witnessed similar trends in neighboring Canada, and in other Anglosphere countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

"It's always the same story," he said. "The point is not immigration to help your economy  there's a real argument there. They're not even making that argument. It's immigration because you deserve it."

While he clarified that he holds no malice toward the nationalities trying to immigrate, Carlson claimed the push for mass immigration is effectively an act of atonement for what some in power see as the historical sins of white Christians in Western countries.

"Tell me what the point of this is, and the point of it is, 'You're evil because you're white and Christian.' That is the point. So it's an act of aggression and hate posing as an act of charity, which is so often the case," he said, adding that being outright conquered by overtly hostile force would be preferable to "menopausal bureaucrats telling you that you were naughty if you didn't go along with your own destruction."

Carlson also discussed the "civil war" on the political Right, framing much of the present tension in economic and foreign policy terms while suggesting the old framework is crumbling.

"Libertarian economics plus [neoconservative] foreign policy: that's the orthodoxy that has dominated the institutional right my entire life," he said, describing it as a "false religion."

Carlson reflected on his own disillusionment with hawkish, neoconservative foreign policy during the 2003 Iraq War, which he advocated for as a young journalist and political commentator until one of his friends died in Iraq and he personally witnessed the chaos in the wake of the U.S. invasion.

He said he came to realize his talents were being "used" by neoconservatives to push an agenda he came to reject, and that neoconservatives have used media to manipulate conservatives into false binary choices.

"The whole construct is fake and it's designed to herd you into a position that is contrary to your own interests, and that's where most conservatives have been. And that dam has broken," he said, adding that conservatives are facing "a much long overdue conversation about what the point of all of this is, especially now that Republicans have power."

"And if the point is not to help the people who live in this country, then what is the point?" he asked.

Carlson has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks after drawing intense backlash from Evangelicals, Jews and other conservatives for what critics have described as a softball Oct. 27 interview of 27-year-old Nick Fuentes, a controversial far-right podcaster who has expressed antisemitic views and admiration for Hitler and Stalin.

Regarding Fuentes, Carlson denounced his antisemitism but suggested Fuentes is a consequence of incompetent political leadership that has left young men reeling.

"I interviewed Nick Fuentes because I wanted people to think about why is this guy the most popular  much more popular than I am  influencer among young men? And it's because they've been destroyed by us, and that's a freaking fact."

"And anyone who doesn't know that isn't listening. And anyone who listens, but can't hear it, is intentionally ignoring it. And shame on them," he added.
Home Opinion I'm grateful to President Trump putting pressure on Nigeria

How long will our nation continue to largely ignore the terrible persecution being endured by Nigerians, the majority of whom are Christians? Nigeria is a nation of 232 million people, almost evenly split between a majority Muslim population in the north and Christians in the south.

For years, we have been hearing and reading about terrible atrocities being committed against Nigerian Christians. Churches are burned down, pastors and church leaders are killed, women and girls are kidnapped and subjected to sexual violence, and often forced into marriages with Muslim husbands.

I am thankful this Thanksgiving season that we live in a country where we can protest this religious persecution and these human rights abuses, and we can peacefully petition our government to do what it can to stop this terrible suffering.

President Trump has just declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, an official designation concerning abuse of religious freedom, which allows a set of sanctions to pressure Nigerian government and security officials to intervene to stop such lawlessness and persecution.

I was privileged to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (U.S.C.I.R.F.) from 2001 to 2012. U.S.C.I.R.F. was created to monitor religious persecution around the world and to recommend to the U.S. government when it should intervene to help stop religious persecution within the borders of countries around the world.

I have never been more grateful to be an American than during my service on this bipartisan Commission. While the Commissioners were seriously divided on many domestic issues, we were almost always united in defending religious freedom and freedom of conscience. In fact, often the only country that cared about what governments were doing to their own citizens within their own borders was America, sometimes joined by the United Kingdom.

Religious freedom is a deeply held conviction among Americans, and always has been, as illustrated by the First Amendment to our Constitution. I am grateful that President Trump has now put Nigerian authorities on notice that if they dont take action to stop these ongoing atrocities, they will face serious and severe sanctions by the U.S.A.

There used to be a time, not so long ago, when people who were perpetrating these kinds of atrocious human rights abuses had to ask themselves, If we do this, will the Americans come? Starting with the Obama Administration, they no longer had to ask that question, and the world became an increasingly dangerous place, especially for the weak and the defenseless.

I am hopeful that the bad guys are beginning to ask themselves again, If we do this, will the Americans come? I know the weak and defenseless around the world are certainly hoping and praying  as am I.

As we prepare for our national observation of Thanksgiving, I urge you to join me in praying specifically for our Nigerian Christian brothers and sisters. I will be praying the prayer that is posted on the Open Doors website:

Heavenly Father, we cry out to You for our persecuted sisters and brothers in Nigeria. Comfort and heal all who have been attacked, traumatized or bereaved, and fill them with hope. We pray especially for women and girls who have been abducted and assaultedset them free and restore them to their families. Help the new president to work together with the authorities to bring an end to terrorism in the country. Build your good Kingdom in Nigeria through your church and give believers courage to keep proclaiming the good news of Jesus, Amen.

And I pray we will all give thanks to our Heavenly Father this Thanksgiving for our manifold blessings as Americans.
Home Opinion Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and demonic attack: Does he deserve the backlash?

Tucker Carlson has found himself at the center of controversy once again. This time for two reasons: his recent interview with Nick Fuentes, a figure widely known for antisemitic and white-nationalist rhetoric, and his claim of having experienced a demonic attack shortly after what he described as a profound encounter with God.

The backlash has been fierce, and not only from the secular press. Many on the political right who once condemned cancel culture now seem eager to cancel Carlson. The same voices that demanded nuance and mercy for others now appear quick to condemn one of their own.

Lets start with the Fuentes interview. Carlson gave Fuentes nearly two hours on his program, describing him as talented and engaged, and calling some of his ideas not crazy. He did not explicitly agree with Fuentes antisemitic views, but neither did he firmly challenge them. It was, at best, a lapse in discernment  a moment when generosity of conversation became a platform for poison.

Nick Fuentes ideology is insufferable. His antisemitism is real and destructive. Christians must be clear: such views are incompatible with the Gospel of Christ and are subject to Gods judgment. Yet acknowledging the wrongness of Fuentes words does not require the destruction of Tucker Carlson. Correction is not the same as condemnation.

History gives us a sobering lesson in this very distinction. Martin Luther, the great Reformer who recovered the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, also wrote some of the vilest things against the Jewish people ever to come from a Christians pen. We do not excuse these writings. They were iniquitous and imprudent. Yet we also do not erase Luthers entire contribution to the cause of truth because of them. We separate his error from the enduring power of the Gospel he so boldly proclaimed. This same principle of discernment applies today: we may reject a persons foolishness without seeking to destroy their person.

So, when Tucker Carlson errs, we humbly address the inaccuracy with the truth. We call for clarity, repentance when necessary, and renewed wisdom. But we do not join the mob that would devour him.

This brings us to Carlsons other claim  that of a supernatural encounter with a demonic presence. Many found his story absurd, but the Scriptures remind us that such realities are not figments of the imagination. The Gospels tell us of Christ casting out demons. These accounts were not simply people suffering from mental illness; they were people possessed by wicked, fallen angelic entities that controlled them, made them insane, and tormented them and others within their circle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, wrote the apostle Paul, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

In truth, spiritual awakening and spiritual assault are often close companions. After Christs baptism came Satans temptation in the wilderness. After Elijahs triumph on Mount Carmel came exhaustion and depression. After Pentecost, there was violent persecution of the followers of Christ. When God draws near, the adversary rarely stands still. He moves in for an attack.

I have had some experience with this myself. Years ago, in a season of intense trial in ministry, I encountered what I can only describe as a demonic being. In his presence, I was immobilized  unable to move. This dark, shadowy, humanoid figure appeared in the corner of my living room one night. He was unable to touch me, but when he spoke, I could feel his breath on my ear from across the room. His persona was pure hatred. The profanity he used was nauseating. But when I rebuked him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, he vanished instantly. That moment was a turning point for my ministry. It taught me that evil is very real, but Christ is supreme. One word given in His authority, and the darkness flees.

Thus, I do not find Carlsons account strange in the slightest. If he truly encountered the presence of God, then it isnt surprising the hounds of hell were not far behind. Such opposition is not proof of psychosis or deception; it is sometimes the cost of an awakening.

However, experience alone does not necessarily equate to spiritual maturity. Carlson may well be in a season of unearthly upheaval, a time when discernment is crucial and wise counsel indispensable. This doesnt make Carlson evil. What he needs now is not the applause of fans nor the fury of critics, but the steadying prayers and guidance of those who know the voice of God in the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and the Written Word, the Bible.

Christians, including conservative political commentators, need to learn to respond to controversy in a more thoughtful and nuanced manner. We rail against cancel culture, yet we practice the same behavior, worst of all, against our own. The culture cancels; truth corrects  setting the record straight as much as possible. The culture mocks; the Church should pray. The culture discards; we should seek to redeem.

We can honestly say that Tucker Carlson has done significant work in exposing corruption and hypocrisy  a contribution that is worthy of much recognition. Nevertheless, in my estimation (for whatever that is worth), he has also shown poor judgment in giving space to a man whose ideas are seriously wrongheaded. He needs correction, not crucifixion. He needs the truth spoken in love, not rage disguised as righteous indignation. The mob, whether secular or conservative, pagan or Christian, rarely results in healing; it only consumes.

As Martin Luther, so flawed himself, yet so wonderfully right about grace, wrote in that great hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God:

And though this world with devils filled

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed,

His truth to triumph through us.

Tucker Carlson does not need this incessant barking from a pack of attack dogs. Moreover, we would all do well to be cautious about our tendency to idolize heroes. It presents entirely too many pitfalls. Carlson doesnt need to be marginalized and excommunicated from conservative ranks. He needs what every soul needs when shaken  the same that I hope Ill receive when Im off track  the love of my brethren in the faith, and the steadying hand of the grace of God.

May we, as followers of Christ, be wise enough to give it.
Charities have raised serious concerns after the Home Office launched a consultation outlining its plans for migrants that volunteer to earn settled status faster.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday published details of the plans, which state that migrants must earn UK settlement through good conduct, contribution and integration, expedited by voluntary work.

The paper says that three to five years could be chalked off the new baseline 10-year qualifying period  previously five  for indefinite leave to remain if an applicant volunteers in the community.

This comes after an open letter last week, organised by Asylum Matters, from 300 charities and voluntary organisations refusing to comply with Mahmoods plans for a volunteering test after she announced them at the Labour Party conference in September.

The full proposals published yesterday note that volunteering should always be a free choice but suggest that settlement in the UK should be earned through participation in the economy and society.

Respondents are asked whether giving back to the community through actions such as volunteering should go towards reducing the time required to qualify for settlement.

It asks organisations with volunteers specifically how easy or difficult it would be for an applicant to provide evidence of giving back.

Another question the Home Offices consultation asks of charities is what the overall impact would be to them of recognising voluntary work as a contribution towards settlement.

Greater risk of exploitation

In response to the new paper, Janet Thorne, chief executive of Reach Volunteering, said she was not reassured by anything in the proposal and that it raised serious safeguarding concerns.

Volunteers would be at greater risk of exploitation, because they may feel unable to complain of poor treatment, lack of expenses, or unsafe roles for fear of jeopardising their settlement prospects, Thorne said.

Any policy that blurs the boundary between volunteering and conditional labour raises serious safeguarding concerns.

Thorne added that many migrants already volunteer but not all can, especially those working long hours for low pay, people working multiple jobs and those with health problems.

We must ensure this is stopped

Nathan Phillips, head of campaigns at Asylum Matters, branded the full proposals immoral and unworkable.

Its disappointing the government are looking to push this unworkable policy through, Phillips said.

This is a nonsensical plan that undermines the principle of volunteering and ignores and undermines the immense contribution already made to the voluntary sector by migrants.

Effectively mandating volunteering as a means to securing settlement and stability, particularly for those who have fled war or persecution is immoral.

When asked if yesterdays proposal did anything to reassure charities, Phillips said they would likely face more strain.

Phillips added: Theres certainly not enough detail laid out in that document to assuage our fears and concerns about what this would mean for people seeking asylum, newly recognised refugees, or the already stretched charities who would presumably be relied upon to document, evidence and administer the volunteering reduction.

Meanwhile, Leigh Brimicombe, umbrella body NCVOs chief influencing officer, said the proposal would create logistical problems for charities.

Brimicombe, posting to LinkedIn, said the proposals would be a massive logistical, bureaucratic and reporting burden for charities to deliver.

He said: Through this consultation, we must ensure this is stopped, and government must focus instead on investing in removing barriers to volunteering so that those who want to give their time, can.

Charities and other organisations have until 12 February 2026 to respond to the consultation.

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,
An east London-based organisation that excluded women and girls over 12 from a recent fundraising run has committed to reviewing its policies, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which has decided against further intervention at the charity.

Last month, the East London Mosque Trust was criticised after holding its 12th annual Muslim Charity Run, a 5k race that was only open to men, boys of all ages and girls under 12.

Speaking to radio station LBC after the event, housing secretary Steve Reed said it was absolutely unacceptable that women should be blocked from going on a fun run in a public space when the men are allowed to go out there and do that.

The Muslim Womens Network UK also expressed concerns about the event, saying that organisers could have taken practical steps to accommodate women and girls without compromising religious beliefs.

This prompted EHRC to assess whether the charity had breached the Equality Act 2010 and consider whether intervention was warranted.

In an update sent to Civil Society, EHRC said that after careful consideration, we arent taking further action at this stage.

We recognise that the organisers have committed to reviewing their policies and the format of the event in advance of the next Muslim Charity Run, EHRC said.

If were made aware of any further complaints about the event, we stand ready to re-examine the concerns and take action where appropriate.

We also have guidance available on compliance with the Equality Act 2010 to help the organisers avoid unlawful discrimination, and ensure their events are inclusive.

According to the East London Mosque Trusts website, the next Muslim Charity Run is scheduled to take place in 2026.

The East London Mosque Trust responded to concerns raised about the run last month but declined to comment further.

Separately, the charity was given an official warning by the Charity Commission on 10 April after failing to responsibly manage charity funds over an investment deal that resulted in the loss of 1m.

The commission gave the charity six months to address failings in its governance and management, or it may face further scrutiny.

A spokesperson for the commission told Civil Society that it is actively monitoring the charitys compliance with actions set out in the official warning.

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,
Malaysia said its entered mediation talks with Julius Baer Group Ltd. in a bid to settle a $112 million lawsuit filed against the Swiss bank by a unit of the failed 1MDB development fund.

SRC International (Malaysia) Ltd. sued the Zurich-based firm in 2021, claiming a breach of fiduciary duty for its role in the scandal, according to a filing with a Hong Kong court.

Mediation is ongoing, Johari Abdul Ghani, chairman of the 1MDB asset recovery task force, told Bloomberg News Thursday in response to questions.

Baer declined to comment when asked whether its participating in mediation talks. The firm stands by a statement in its first-half earnings report that its contesting the claim, while taking appropriate measures to defend its interests, a spokesperson said.

The Malaysian fund collapsed in 2016, spawning multiple lawsuits against banks across Asia, Europe and the US. 1MDB was originally intended as a development fund to finance big infrastructure projects and spur economic growth in the Southeast Asian country. Instead, alleged mastermind Jho Low and his co-conspirators were suspected of using 1MDB as a scheme to pay bribes and enrich themselves.

In August, JPMorgan settled a case filed in Malaysia, agreeing to pay 1.4 billion ringgit ($339 million) without admission of liability. The Singapore High Court two months later blocked attempts to sue Standard Chartered Plc and BSI Bank Ltd. by liquidators of entities linked to 1MDB transactions, citing technical grounds.

SRC obtained two loans from Malaysias state-controlled pension funds for investing in energy resources for the benefit of Malaysians, according to the suit. The firm, under its management, instructed Baer to make fraudulent payments totaling about $112.5 million to third parties.

Julius Baer carried out the payments from 2013 to 2016, even though the 1MDB scandal had been publicized internationally by then, and there were red flag grounds for suspicion about SRCs management, the suit alleged.

Separately in Malaysia, a suit against Deutsche Bank AG for $1.1 billion in damages is currently set for trial in January. The German bank is going to fight the case, said people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be named because the case is still before the court. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson declined to comment.

As of the end of July, about 42.2 billion ringgit has been channeled to finance debt repayments and other commitments of 1MDB, according to the finance ministry. The Malaysian government has recovered 29.7 billion ringgit of funds relating to 1MDB and its former unit SRC International Sdn. since the establishment of the assets recovery account, the ministry said.

Top photo: Offices of Julius Baer Group Ltd. in the Altstetten district of Zurich, Switzerland.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
In recent years, mental health has become a growing focus in the workplace. Employers and policymakers alike are paying closer attention to how psychological well-being intersects with job performance, safety and long-term employee health.

Yet when it comes to workers compensation, psychological injuries occupy one of the most complex and inconsistently defined areas of the law. These claims are often emotionally charged, medically nuanced and legally challenging to prove. Unlike physical injuries, where cause and effect are usually clear, mental injuries often depend on subjective experience, medical interpretation and the unique statutory framework of each state.

Since there is no federal oversight of workers comp, every state has developed its own laws and evidentiary standards for handling psychological injury claims. As a result, what qualifies as a compensable mental injury in one jurisdiction might be completely excluded in another, and this lack of uniformity creates significant challenges for employers, insurers and employees. Generally, mental injury claims are divided into three categories based on the cause of the condition.

The firstand most commonly compensableare psychological injuries that stem from a physical on-the-job accident. These are often referred to as physical-mental injuries. For example, if an employee suffers a serious back injury after a fall at work and later develops anxiety or depression related to chronic pain or loss of mobility, that would be considered a physical-to-mental injury.

The second category, mental-physical injuries, occurs when psychological stress from employment results in a physical condition. For instance, if an employee experiences sustained work-related stress and later develops high blood pressure or gastrointestinal issues, that would qualify as a mental-to-physical injury.

The lastand least likelycategory to be compensable in most states involves mental-mental injuries. These transpire when a purely psychological stimulus rather than a physical one causes psychological harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety. This might occur when an employee witnesses a traumatic workplace event such as a violent incident or the sudden death of a coworker and subsequently develops PTSD or another mental health disorder.

States have taken varying approaches to handling these psychological claims, whether they stem from a physical injury or a traumatic worksite experience. Most states recognize physical-mental injuries as compensable, meaning employees who sustain psychological injuries that arise from a physical injury are eligible for workers comp benefits. For example, in Georgia, the case Hanson Buick v. Chatham established that a psychological injury must arise out of a physical injury or a discernible physical occurrence to be compensable. It also states that while a physical blow or visible wound is not always required, there must be some physical occurrence such as a fall, a sudden loud noise or exposure to harmful substances that contributes to or triggers the psychological condition.

Similarly, Florida law limits psychological injury compensation to cases in which the mental condition arises directly from a physical, work-related injury and is supported by clear and convincing medical evidence (Fla. Stat.  440.093). Stress-only claims are excluded, meaning that an employee cannot receive benefits for conditions like anxiety or depression if they result solely from work-related stress without any accompanying physical harm. Florida law also requires that the physical injury be the major contributing cause of the psychological injury, meaning it must account for at least 50% of the resulting condition. However, the law has been expanded to allow first responders to bring claims for mental-only injuries (Fla. Stat.  112.1815(5)(a)).

A majority of states also recognize mental-physical injuries in which psychological stress results in a physical manifestation. In Minnesota, for example, the statute provides that physical stimulus resulting in mental injury and mental stimulus resulting in physical injury shall remain compensable (Minn. Stat.  176.011). However, Minnesota law specifically excludes claims resulting from personnel actions such as disciplinary measures, performance evaluations, demotions or terminations if the employer acted in good faith. New Hampshire follows a similar approach, allowing compensation for work-related mental disorders only if they directly cause a physical manifestation such as ulcers, high blood pressure or heart attacks and are not the result of routine workplace stress or legitimate management decisions (N.H. Rev. Stat. 281-A:2).

When it comes to mental-mental claims, states diverge significantly. Some states deny these claims entirely while others allow coverage under narrowly defined circumstances. Generally, ordinary work stress is not enough to make a claim compensable in any state. However, Delaware takes a more inclusive approach. Its Supreme Court held in State v. Cephas that a mental injury can be compensable even when it results from gradual, cumulative stress rather than a single traumatic event and without any physical trauma. The employee must still provide objective proof that work-related stress was a substantial cause of the disabling condition. Still, Delaware case law reflects a more progressive view of coverage for psychological injuries than most other states.

Other jurisdictions are considerably stricter. Alaska law specifies that workers comp benefits for mental injuries caused by stress are only payable if the employee can demonstrate that the stress was extraordinary and unusual compared to that experienced by others in similar positions and that this stress was the predominant cause of the mental condition (Alaska Stat.  23.30.395). Arizona has also set a high bar for mental-only claims. In Timothy Matthews v. The Industrial Commission of Arizona, a leading case involving a Tucson police officer who developed PTSD after responding to a suicide scene, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that mental health injuries without corresponding physical trauma are compensable only when the employee faces unusual, unexpected, or extraordinary stress. Since responding to violent incidents was deemed a normal part of police work, the court denied coverage under its workers compensation laws.

Nonetheless, many states have carved out exceptions for first responders in recognition of the unique and often traumatic nature of their work. Connecticut, for instance, limits eligibility for mental-only claims to certain occupations, including police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, correctional officers, telecommunicators and health care providers (Conn. Gen. Stat.  31-275). Texas law explicitly provides that PTSD suffered by a first responder is a compensable injury, provided specific statutory conditions are met (Tex. Labor Code  504.019). Other states have adopted similar carveouts for emergency personnel but continue to exclude coverage of mental-only claims for different types of workers who are not first responders.

It is essential to consider a states specific provisions when prosecuting, defending against or assessing this type of claim. From the employees standpoint, alleging a psychological injury can be daunting. The burden of proof lies squarely with the claimant, who must demonstrate through credible medical evidence that a mental disorder exists, that it arose out of and in the course of employment, and that it meets the specific statutory standards for compensability in their state. Psychological conditions often result from a combination of work-related and non-work-related factors, making it challenging to draw a clear causal connection to the workplace. Claimants typically must provide detailed medical records, psychological evaluations and expert testimony to substantiate both the existence of the disorder and its work-related cause. The absence of visible injuries or objective diagnostic tests often makes these claims more difficult to substantiate compared to physical injuries.

For employers defending against psychological injury claims, a meticulous review of medical and employment history is critical. In many cases, employers should examine the employees prior psychiatric records, history of personal stressors and overall job performance to assess whether the alleged condition is truly work-related. Independent medical evaluations conducted by board-certified psychiatrists or psychologists can provide an impartial assessment of diagnosis, causation and prognosis. Employers and insurers may also consider workplace policies, employee assistance programs and stress management initiatives as mitigating factors in the defense of these claims.

From the insurers perspective, psychological injury claims present unique underwriting and claims management challenges. Insurers must navigate varying state standards, assess complex medical evidence and manage the increased potential for subjective interpretations of mental health symptoms. Adjusters handling these cases should evaluate both medical and legal elements of the claim, including whether the alleged injury meets statutory definitions and whether medical evidence satisfies the burden of proof. Reliance on multidisciplinary collaboration between claims professionals, medical experts and legal counsel is essential when assessing the validity of these claims.

As awareness of mental health grows across society, the legal landscape surrounding psychological injuries in workers comp continues to evolve. States are gradually expanding protections for certain classes of workers, particularly first responders, and some state courts are becoming more open to considering cumulative psychological harm rather than limiting coverage to single traumatic events. However, the absence of federal standards means the patchwork of state laws will persist, with some jurisdictions maintaining strict thresholds and others taking a more progressive stance.

In the years ahead, coverage of psychological injury claims in workers comp will likely remain a dynamic and debated area of the law. As the workforce continues to prioritize mental health and societal attitudes shift toward greater recognition of psychological well-being, policymakers and courts will continue to refine the balance between protecting workers and preserving the integrity of the compensation system. For insurance and claims professionals, staying informed about these developments is prudent and necessary to navigate the increasingly complex intersection of mental health and workers compensation law.

Osborne is an associate attorney at Swift Currie in Atlanta, where she defends employers and insurers against workers comp claims throughout Georgia. Email: shantalia.osborne@swiftcurrie.com.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will drop its landmark lawsuit against SolarWinds Corp. that accused the company of covering up internal problems ahead of a massive cyberattack.

The SEC, the software company and its top information security official jointly asked a federal court in Manhattan to end the case, according to an agreement filed on Thursday. The agency and Solarwinds in July said they had reached an agreement to settle the allegations.

The agency said the decision to seek dismissal is in the exercise of its discretion and does not necessarily reflect the Commissions position on any other case. A SolarWinds spokesperson said the company was clearly delighted with the dismissal.

The move ends a controversial case for the SEC, which faced criticism from Wall Street and beyond that its allegations against SolarWinds went far afield of the agencys typical enforcement remit. SolarWinds also slammed the agency, accusing the SEC of twisting facts to expand its regulatory turf to cybersecurity.

The SEC sued the Texas-based firm in October 2023, saying it blindsided investors by downplaying the risks leading up to a data breach that affected hundreds of public companies and several federal agencies. The regulator alleged securities fraud and controls violations and also accused the companys chief information officer, Timothy Brown, of breaking securities laws by minimizing the hack. It was the first time the SEC sued a computer security executive for a cybersecurity-related issue.

The SEC at the time said the firm failed to maintain adequate controls and shared general, hypothetical risks about cyber threats in its financial statements when serious problems were ramping up behind the scenes.

A federal judge in July 2024 dealt the agency a major blow by dismissing much of the SECs lawsuit against the firm, including some claims against Brown. The judge also dismissed allegations that the firm violated decades-old accounting rules in connection with the hack.

Although Solarwinds disclosed the hack in December 2020, Russian state-sponsored hackers breached the companys networks as early as January 2019, according to investigations into the attack. When customers installed an update to a popular piece of SolarWinds software, they inadvertently opened a digital door that let hackers sneak into their networks.

The SEC alleged that SolarWinds and Brown were warned of weak cybersecurity within the company, but that they painted a rosier picture to investors. The agency said that the company and Brown were regularly alerted to security deficiencies, with Brown writing in an internal presentation in 2018 that the current state of security leaves us in a very vulnerable state for our critical assets.

Top photo: Computer code displayed on screens arranged in Danbury, U.K., on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc. directors agreed to a $190 million settlement of claims they failed to rectify repeated violations of Facebook users privacy and improperly engineered an accord to protect Zuckerberg from personal liability for the privacy missteps, court filings show.

The deal ended a July trial over investors claims Zuckerberg and other Meta board members mishandled the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal and improperly agreed to a $5 billion US Federal Trade Commission settlement to personally protect Zuckerberg, Metas CEO, according to a filing Thursday in Delaware Chancery Court.

Meta shareholders sought at least $7 billion in damages, arguing directors wrongfully overpaid in the FTC deal to prevent Zuckerberg from having to dig into his own pocket to cover some of the financial hit to the company. The case centered on disclosures that an outside developer collected personal data from millions of Facebook users without their consent. Cambridge Analytica used the information after being hired by now-President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign.

Meta shareholders sued Zuckerberg and other directors  including venture-capitalist Marc Andreessen  hopes a judge would hold them personally liable for billions and fines and legal costs tied to repeated serial violation of the companys privacy policies.

FTC officials fined Facebook $5 billion in 2019 after finding it violated a 2012 agreement with regulators mandating it get users permission before the company shared their data. Facebook officials agreed not to contest the fine as part of a settlement.

Because its a derivative case  one that allows investors to sue board members on behalf of the company itself  the proposed settlement must be approved by Chancery Judge Kathaleen S.J. McCormick. The $190 million will go back to the company rather than to any individual investor.

Lawyers for Meta investors  which include retirement funds and an individual shareholder  laid out the accords terms in a filing. At the time the settlement was announced, the $190 million wasnt made public.

The case is Facebook Derivative Litigation, 2018-0307, Delaware Chancery Court.

Top photo: A Meta store in Burlingame, California. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
A sculpture called The Hare looks out over a vineyard of Cabernet Franc grapes at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte winery in France. The winery made the list of best vineyards. Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Ohio  Like wine and thinking of traveling abroad? A ranking is out of the Worlds 50 Best Vineyards.

The annual ranking honors the worlds exceptional wine-tourism destinations for excellence in winemaking, terroir and hospitality.

The list, from the 50 Best brand, focuses on global gastronomy and international drinks scene and recognizes the best vineyard experiences. The ranking is compiled from votes of more than 700 wine experts. Each voter submits seven nominations in order of preference.

A handful of vineyards from the United States made the list. Vineyards from six countries landed in the top 10.

Heres the top 10 with summaries culled from the worlds50best site:

1. Vik, Millahue, Chile

Recognized for its futuristic architecture, pioneering wines and breathtaking scenery across 4,400 hectares in the Millahue Valley. Its regarded as a major destination for enotourists, featuring eco-friendly initiatives and 22 uniquely designed suites.

2. Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, Germany

Famed as one of Germanys great wine estates, the winery is celebrated for its steep, historic vineyards that produce remarkable Riesling and for its centuries-long contributions to winemaking innovation.

3. Bodegas Ysios, Rioja, Spain

Noted for its avant-garde architecture set against the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range, Ysios is acclaimed for its tours. It has state-of-the-art facilities and a chance to explore 100-year-old vines, offering visitors incredible wines and a visual feast.

4. Bodega Garzon, Maldonado, Uruguay

Although established only in 2016, Garzon leads Uruguays wine renaissance. Its allure lies in its acclaimed wines and a signature restaurant known for open-fire cooking in a striking setting.

5. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Bordeaux, France

This chateaus transformation over the past three decades has made it a global favorite, emphasizing top-tier winemaking and an impressive collection of contemporary art.

6. Klein Constantia Wine Estate, Western Cape, South Africa

Renowned for its history (dating to 1685) and a marriage of classic Cape Dutch architecture with thoughtful modern enhancements. Its farmlands and tasting experiences vaulted it to the highest-ranking African vineyard on the list.

7. Creation, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa

This estate stands out for its natural beauty, with rows of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, distinctive vegetation and integrated local art displays.

8. Champagne Bollinger, Champagne, France

Few estates command such Champagne pedigree. Established in 1829, most of its 179 hectares are classified as grand or premier cru. With a cellar of more than 4,000 barrels, the winery is a must-visit for Champagne lovers.

9. Sauternes (Chateau dYquem or top Sauternes estate), Sauternes, France

This region is known globally for its legendary sweet wines, especially those with botrytized grapes. The estates in Sauternes are prized for impeccable tastings and an historic legacy.

10. Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Visitors enjoy Syrahs of serious quality, fine-dining pairings, unique cellar tastings (where Gregorian chants are played) and the chance to explore a substantial botanical hiking trail  all hallmarks of its hospitality.

Here are the 1 to 50 and 51 to 100 rankings.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Hydraulic fracturing has dramatically boosted oil and gas production in the Utica and Marcellus shale formations of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania over the past 15 years.

Scores of drilling pads have popped up in the countryside, allowing oil and gas companies to access hard-to-reach deposits using improved technology.

They do so by shooting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the ground at high pressure to fracture the shale and release gas and oil.

But along with production comes waste, and Ohio has become the prime repository of that waste throughout the region, which also includes part of West Virginia.

Ohio currently operates 232 active Class II injection wells, which are the ones permitted to receive fracking waste, with approximately 19 more under construction, according to a recent lawsuit. Ohios total far exceeds Pennsylvanias 16 wells and West Virginias 70 wells.

The disproportionate burden stems from actions taken decades ago when both Ohio and West Virginia sought primacy over the regulation of the waste wells, while Pennsylvania ceded that responsibility to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA is much slower in its approval process, while Ohios regulators move way too fast, said Ted Auch, who has monitored the regional fracking industry for years.

Ohio is basically a rubber stamp, he said.

Auch, who used to work for an organization called FracTracker Alliance, doesnt think Ohio has the resources or expertise to properly regulate the industry. He said recent incidents where waste migrated out of well injection zones is evidence of the states oversight inadequacy, as is a recent lawsuit filed by the Buckeye Environmental Network.

The network sued the Ohio Department of Natural Resources over its approval of two waste injection near Marietta, arguing the state relied on outdated safety rules when it greenlit the projects.

Read more: Ohio environmental lawsuit: Fracking-waste wells not properly permitted

Both wells would store millions of gallons of waste from oil and gas fracking operations less than two miles from Mariettas public drinking water source, according to the environmental group.

Fracking waste includes fracking fluid as well as materials collected during extraction, such as heavy metals and radioactive elements. Sometimes, PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been found in injection waste in Ohio, said James Yskamp, an attorney for Earthjustice representing the Buckeye Environmental Network.

The crux of the lawsuit centers on which set of regulations should apply to the wells. The state approved construction permits under older rules that required safety reviews within only a half-mile radius of proposed injection wells. But the lawsuit argues the wells should fall under stricter 2022 regulations that expanded the review zone to two miles.

Yskamp said the permit applicant is required to look within the review area for potential conduits that could allow waste to migrate to the surface, including existing oil and gas production wells, other injection wells, and water wells.

The difference between the old and new rules is significant. One of the approved waste injection wells has about 191 oil and gas wells and 116 water wells within two miles, compared to just 12 and seven within a half-mile, according to the lawsuit. The other well has approximately 202 oil and gas wells and 44 water wells within the larger radius, versus 14 and six in the smaller area.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Katrina Cheung declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.
FILE - House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks during a hearing, June 4, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) AP

WASHINGTON -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said Thursday that the Justice Department secretly obtained his phone records spanning more than two years as part of the Arctic Frost investigation that formed the basis of former Special Counsel Jack Smiths election case against President Donald Trump.

According to newly obtained documents released by Jordans office, the Justice Department secured a grand jury subpoena on April 25, 2022  without Jordans knowledge  for all call detail records beginning January 1, 2020, more than a year before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot that was the investigations focus.

The subpoena sought comprehensive data including inbound and outbound calls, text messages, voicemail messages, addresses, payment information, IP addresses, and location information. It came with a nondisclosure order that prevented Verizon from notifying Jordan, with prosecutors asserting that disclosure could result in flight from prosecution, destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the investigation.

We know they spied on President Trump, then we learned senators and the Speaker of the House, and now we learned they were spying on me for two and a half years, Jordan told Fox News on Thursday evening. They gathered information that told them who I call, who called me, when we called each other, when the call took place, how long the call was, and where I was at when I made that call.

The Ohio Republican expressed outrage at the suggestion he might flee the country or intimidate witnesses.

This is how ridiculous this is, he said. I bet theres a bunch of other members of Congress, a bunch of other citizens like you, all over this country, that they were looking into because this is the epitome of the weaponization of government.

Documents released by Jordans committee show the phone records were requested by Timothy Duree, a Justice Department prosecutor.

Jordans case is part of a much broader investigation that Senate Judiciary Committee documents show issued 197 subpoenas seeking records on approximately 430 Republican individuals and entities.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley revealed in October that the FBI targeted eight Republican senators personal cell phones for phone data as part of the Arctic Frost investigation, seeking information about the senators phone use from January 4 through January 7, 2021.

Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus, Grassley said at an October press conference. Contrary to what [Jack] Smith has said publicly, this was clearly a fishing expedition. If this happened to the Democrats, theyd be as rightly outraged as we are.

Jordans Role in Election Challenge

The investigations focus on Jordan may have stemmed from his prominent role in efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.

Jordan joined a Stop the Steal protest in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, two days after the 2020 election while the state was still tallying ballots. He repeatedly made election fraud allegations in Pennsylvania and other states Trump targeted, despite authorities finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome.

Text messages obtained by the January 6 committee showed that Jordan texted White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at 11:27 p.m. on January 5, 2021, describing how then-Vice President Mike Pence should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all. Jordans spokesman said that text was forwarded to Jordan by a former Defense Department inspector general.

Transcripts of interviews with former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson indicated Jordan was among those who discussed the theory that Pence could take strategic action to overturn the election in its beginning stages, and that Jordan participated in meetings where the White House counsels office opined that it would be illegal for Pence to intervene.

Jordan also spoke with Trump multiple times on January 6, 2021, including a 10-minute call that morning while Trump was still at the White House residence, according to White House call records.

Weaponization Debate Continues

Jordan has long accused the Biden administration of weaponizing federal agencies against political opponents. His Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government issued a 17,000-page report finding that federal agencies collaborated with big tech to suppress content on COVID, elections, and political topics, especially targeting conservative viewpoints.

However, Democrats now accuse the Trump administration of the very weaponization Jordan condemned. A variety of Democratic officials are being prosecuted by Trumps Justice Department on charges such as mortgage fraud. Trump has even urged the Justice Department to prosecute former President Barack Obama for treason, accusing him of plotting to steal the 2016 presidential election, which Trump won.

When asked earlier this year about Democrats weaponization claims, Jordan countered that Trump is simply fulfilling campaign promises.

Jordan distinguished Trumps actions from what his committee investigated: Going after your political opponent just days after he announces hes running against you. Thats weaponization, not to mention what we saw from the Biden administration on censorship.

Jordan told Fox News his committee wants to know which top Justice Department officials under Biden signed off on the subpoena of his phone records. He said his committee will question Smith about it when he appears for his deposition.

When you start these investigations its always worse than we thought, Jordan told Fox News . This is the epitome of the weaponization of government against the other party.
Plainly put, Ohios tax laws are a mess, and not just property taxes but an overlapping and confusing array of commuter and municipal income taxes that perplex and vex those expected to pay them. It's time for serious reform. Getty Images

Plainly put, Ohios tax laws are a mess, and not just property taxes but an overlapping and confusing array of commuter and municipal income taxes that perplex and vex those expected to pay them.

Understandably, taxpayers are becoming increasingly angry about what they see  correctly  as unfairness and complexity. That in turn is a prime driver of attempts to put a taxpayer amendment on the November 2026 ballot to outlaw property taxes altogether -- a potentially devastating outcome at all levels of government.

Ohio lawmakers need to wake up to the reality and scope of this danger and urgently adopt top-down reforms to fix the profound mess that Ohios tax system has become, starting with municipal tax inequities.

Yet add to that the nearly incomprehensible property taxes on Ohioans homes -- adding insult to injury for homeowners already paying full freight for government services. And what about all the deep-pocketed nonprofits like hospital systems that avoid property taxes altogether? A purported Statehouse attempt to address that instead took aim at the nature conservancy. More palaver instead of genuine action.

There is good news: Cleveland.coms Anna Staver reports a four-bill package thats emerged from the legislature would change how taxes rise when property values go up, letting officials cut back levies that bring in too much money, and overhaul how schools collect local taxes.

But other parts of Ohio tax law also cry out for reform. Good example: The municipal income taxes that let City A, where an Ohioan lives, tax income already taxed by City B, where that commuter works.

The nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission reports that a city or village may  but isnt required  to [grant] residents a full or partial tax credit for income taxed by a nonresident municipality.

The LSC found more than half of the [Ohio] jurisdictions [with] a municipal income tax ... offer a credit to residents that fully offsets tax [paid] to another [city or village], while dozens more offer credits that partially offset another jurisdictions tax.

Failing to grant residents offsets for income taxes paid elsewhere is starkly unjust. Little wonder, as Staver also recently reported, that Ohios municipal income tax is not well-regarded.

I think its safe to say we have the worst municipal income tax structure in the country, Buckeye Institute fellow Greg Lawson told her. The institute is a Columbus-based free-market think tank.

Ohio requires that municipal income taxes be levied at a flat rate, set locally, but the maximum without voters approval is 1%. As of 2023, the LSC reports, 675 Ohio cities, villages and joint economic development districts levied an income tax.

And the legislature takes care of its own: In a 1965 law, the General Assembly feathered its own nest by completely exempting legislators and staff from paying the Columbus municipal income tax  now 2.5%  unless theyre also residents of Columbus, (which only legislators with Columbus districts could legally be.)

Now pending is House Bill 503, a municipal income tax reform, co-sponsored by GOP Reps. Bill Roemer, of Richfield, and Heidi Workman, of Rootstown. It would require voters OK to modify a municipal income tax reciprocity credit and to allow a voter [ballot] initiative to authorize, modify, or repeal such a credit. That could be the opening act of what should be the prime focus of the General Assemblys 2026 session, starting in January  tax reform.

Cleveland.com has also copiously documented the frailties and injustices of Ohios real-estate taxes, which are forcing older Ohioans out of their homes. And while Ohios 38.5-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax isnt (yet) on the Statehouse table, thanks to a hole in state law, Ohioans cant be sure what grade of gas theyre paying for: Ohio is one of just three states that doesnt test gasoline for its (claimed) octane.

Study committees are fine in theory, but not if lawmakers have no appetite to act. A recent example  the former Joint Committee on Property Tax Review  deadlocked to shrugs. However, General Assembly members -- in standing committees, and speeches and roll-call votes on the Statehouse floor -- are directly answerable to voters for what they do and dont do.

Thats why the first order of business for 2026s General Assembly session should be substantial tax reform  not just more palaver, but action.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

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Chinese pavilion not affected by fire at COP30 in Brazil: Chinese delegation

Xinhua) 10:55, November 21, 2025

BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese pavilion at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which is being held in the Brazilian city of Belem, was not affected by the fire that broke out at the conference on Thursday, the Chinese delegation confirmed.

The delegation said in a statement sent to Xinhua that the fire did not originate in the Chinese pavilion.

Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino said that the fire, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m. local time, was under control at around 2:30 p.m., with no injuries reported so far.

Helder Barbalho, governor of the Para state, where Belem is located, told local media that the emergency teams are currently probing into two possible causes of the incident -- a generator failure or a short circuit in one of the stands that were set up for the conference.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in South Africa's Waterkloof Air Force Base to take part in the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 21 to 23.

Leaders of 20 biggest economies of the world will convene with discussions centred on the theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.'



VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) arrives in Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit.



PM Modi will present India's perspective at the Summit in line with the nation's vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and One Earth, One Family, One pic.twitter.com/Ef1BH14fv5

 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

US President Donald Trump is skipping the meeting. Other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have arrived in Johannesburg.

PM Modi, who was invited by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said he will present Indias perspective aligned with the vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and 'One Earth, One Family and One future.

"The summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues," he said, adding that he also looks forward to meeting Indian diaspora in South Africa during his three-day visit. PM Modi will also take part in the 6th IBSA Summit.

"I look forward to my interactions with leaders of the partner countries," he said. The African Union became a G20 member when India hosted the meeting in 2023.
Chilean state-owned miner Codelco said on Friday it has signed a non-binding agreement with Indias Adani Group to explore copper projects in Chile, expanding efforts by the worlds largest copper producer to deepen international partnerships and secure long-term development opportunities.The agreement, signed with Adanis Kutch Copper subsidiary, will enable both companies to review three copper projects in Chile and sets out a framework that could lead to joint development in the future, Codelco said in a statement. The deal allows for the exchange of technical, legal and geological information on the projects as the companies assess potential collaboration.Adani, which is building one of the worlds largest copper smelters in India, has been seeking upstream opportunities to secure reliable raw material supplies for the countrys fast-growing industrial and clean energy sectors. We are creating a cross-border collaborative model that will ensure long-term copper supply for India, Vinay Prakash, Adanis CEO of Natural Resources, said in the statement.Codelco, which has faced production declines in recent years due to project delays and ageing deposits, has stepped up efforts to modernise operations and build global alliances. The company said the partnership with Adani fits into its broader internationalisation strategy and could help diversify its project pipeline.The Chilean miner has also been expanding cooperation with technology firms as it pushes to enhance productivity and reduce costs. On Thursday, Codelco announced a partnership with Japans NTT DATA to integrate artificial intelligence and robotics tools across its operations, part of a wider digital transformation effort.Copper demand is expected to rise sharply over the next decade, driven by the global shift to electric vehicles, renewable energy and transmission infrastructure. Both Codelco and Adani said the agreement aligns with the long-term needs of their respective markets.
Tata Power Company Ltd on Friday (November 21) said it has signed commercial agreements with Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd (DGPC) for the development of the 1,125 MW Dorjilung hydroelectric power project in Bhutan. The project will be executed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), in which DGPC will hold a 60% equity stake and Tata Power will hold 40%.

The run-of-the-river project will consist of six units of 187.5 MW each and is being developed on the Kurichhu river in Mongar, Bhutan. Designed with six-hour pondage for peaking, the project aims to expand clean and reliable hydropower capacity in the region.

Tata Power has committed an equity investment of about 1,572 crore, which will be infused in tranches based on the agreed structure. With a total project cost of 13,100 crore, Dorjilung will be Bhutans second-largest hydropower project and the largest public-private partnership (PPP) hydro project in the country.

Also Read: Tata Power Q2 profit marginally down; plans strategic stake acquisition

The company noted that 80% of the power generated will be supplied to India while also supporting Bhutans energy security and developmental objectives. The project is expected to be commissioned by September 2031. Upon completion, the SPV will become an associate company of Tata Power, strengthening its position in the Himalayan renewable energy corridor.

The project will provide a significant boost to regional energy security and clean power availability. Supported by the World Bank, it marks a milestone in cross-border clean-energy financing.

Dorjilung also marks the next chapter after the Dagachhu hydro power project, where Tata Power holds a 26% stake, and the under-implementation 600 MW Khorlochhu hydropower project, where Tata Power also holds a 40% stake.

Together, these projects advance the broader commitment of Tata Power and DGPC to jointly develop 5,000 MW of clean energy capacity in Bhutan, which is aligned with Bhutans national priorities and Indias net-zero ambitions.

Also Read: Tata Power commissions 300 MW solar project for NHPC in Rajasthan

Shares of Tata Power Company Ltd ended at 386.95, down by 1.05, or 0.27%, on the BSE today, November 21.
Tourism in Japan faces $1.2 billion hit as trip cancellations spike due to rift with China

Japan could lose out on as much as $1.2 billion in visitor spending between now and the end of the year as would-be travelers from China cancel their trips due to a worsening diplomatic spat.Around 30% of the 1.44 million trips to Japan from China planned through the end of December have been canceled since Beijing advised citizens to avoid traveling to their Asian neighbor, according to figures from China Trading Desk. Roughly 70% of the drop comes from near-term departures being canceled or delayed, while new bookings havent materialized, according to the market researcher that specializes in travel data.Thats set to remove at least $500 million in spending from Japan, though the figure could rise to $1.2 billion, said Subramania Bhatt, chief executive officer of China Trading Desk. His calculations are based on estimates that Chinese tourists spend over $900 million a month as well as data on Chinese overseas spending from UnionPay and other financial service companies.Japan has been left facing a major hit at a delicate time for its economy after remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that linked the use of military force in any Taiwan conflict with the potential deployment of Japanese troops. The retaliation from Beijing, which has also suspended seafood imports from its neighbor, now threatens to ripple through its economically significant tourism sector, which counts China as its biggest source of visitors.Were seeing a very sharp shock to Japan demand out of China, Bhatt said, noting that the fallout of the current spat may differ from previous times of diplomatic strain. The current notice explicitly discouraging trips to Japan is a noticeably stronger stance than we have seen in recent years.While theres been a raft of cancellations, some travelers are choosing to re-route their holiday plans. Singapore and South Korea have seen new bookings increase as much as 15% over the last few days, while Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are heading for growth of as much as 11% week-on-week, according to Bhatt.Tour operators are already acting on the advice to stay away. China Trading Desk estimates group and package tours account for up to half of the lost travel volume, with individual leisure trips making up as much as 22%. Most Chinese airlines, as well as Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., are waiving cancellation fees on tickets to Japan, accelerating cancellations.At least two state-owned Chinese travel agencies have scrapped group bookings that were made months in advance, in a move that was aimed at protecting them against potential losses amid policy uncertainty and shifting sentiment, Bloomberg News has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.Chinese airlines have also started to cancel flights to Japan, data provided by flight scheduling data service AeroRoutes showed. Juneyao Air is reducing 24% of its 114 flights a week to Japan, while China Eastern Airlines Corp. has temporarily scrubbed six of 14 flights a week between Beijing and Osaka.Japanese media have reported several instances of hotels already feeling the impact. The Gamagori Hotel in Aichi prefecture, where up to 60% of guests book through Chinese travel agents, has seen a surge in cancellations for November and December, FNN News Network reported Thursday. The hotel said 28 tour groups, totaling about 1,000 people, have canceled for November alone.Sapporo Stream Hotel, which hosts about 3,000 Chinese guests each month, has seen about 40 room reservations canceled, resulting in losses of roughly 800,000 ($5,080), Hokkaido Broadcasting Co. reported Thursday.Before the travel warning, China-Japan bookings through the end of the year were up as much as 25% from the same period last year, he said. With the cancellations, its now running behind last years pace. Some of Japans most popular tourist destinations are bearing the brunt, with routes from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou into Tokyo and Osaka accounting for the majority of canceled travel plans, Bhatt said.Japans tourism sector has logged record growth in part due to Chinese travelers flocking to the country. They account for about one in four visitors annually and were responsible for around 27% of total inbound consumption from July to September, spending about 240,000 on average during their stays, according to government tourism data.The weak yen has given a particular boost to high-end shopping demand. Chinese luxury spending abroad was about 120% of the pre-pandemic levels last year in the Asia-Pacific, especially in Japan, according to consultancy firm Bain & Co. The current bout of trip cancellations may see luxury purchases drop as much as $600 million this year, according to China Trading Desk.
First, Andrew Schulz interviews Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and admits he felt misled after voting for President Donald Trump. Now, the highest flier in the manosphere has taken similar shots.

The pressure point, as it was with Schulz last July, is Trumps potential level of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein, a prolific convicted sexual predator, is at the center of a sex trafficking and pedophilia scandal that involved numerous high-powered individuals. Rogan detoured from his fealty to the presidents agenda in the Wednesday episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.

Speaking with comedian Brian Simpson, Rogan expressed frustration about alleged levels of corruption plaguing the country. Reading the Google AI summary of Enrique Tarrio, the former chairperson of right wing extremist group the Proud Boys, who was also at one point a federal informant, Rogan laments the levels of secrecy and conspiracy: It's It's layers upon layers, Rogan said. It's those Russian nesting dolls and you open it and there's another one in there and you open there's another one in there.

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Corruption is at an all time high, bro, Simpson responded. The Epstein files!

A sarcastic Rogan said, I heard there's no files. I heard it's a hoax."

And then all of a sudden, he's going to release the files, Rogan continued, sounding irritated. Well, I thought there was no files, man. He wants an investigation now. Like what is going on?

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The conversation continued. Rogan pivoted to discuss the single representative who voted against releasing the Epstein files, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins from Louisiana. After a bit of back and forth, its clear that Rogan has some very particular distinctions about the Epstein list.

There were peoplethat had dinner over Epstein's house, Rogan continued. Like Epstein had dinners and had celebrities go over his house. Like Chelsea Handler was one of the people that went over his house. I don't think Chelsea Handler is out there molesting kids.

I think its fair to argue no one is hankering to see the list of dinner guests visiting Epsteins house. There are larger, more obvious concerns. But it will be interesting to see who Joe Rogan places in the just over for dinner category as more information gets released.

And if that is what people suspect about You Know Who, yesterday may have been Rogan's Post-Trump trial balloon. If he sails on, it'll certainly shift how the winds blow in the manosphere.
When President Donald Trump isnt suggesting that Democratic lawmakers be hanged for sedition, he is often posting on Truth Social about his deep and burning hatred for the late night television show hosts of America. He typically posts these little flurries of fury during the exact hours the shows are airing live, leaving the possibility open that hes live-tweeting his viewing experience like fans of Game of Thrones in 2014.

Hes railed against Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers. The president does not like that they get on television every night and make fun of him. Wednesday night, Trump blasted Kimmel for his biased coverage of the president.

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Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air? Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage, Trump wrote. Get the bum off the air!!!

But that post is just the tip of a very large, very bitter iceberg.

Using the Roll Call social media archive for the president, we have exact stats for each time Trump has targeted a late night show host in 2025. Lets dig in.

Starting with the host that has been targeted the least, Trump posted about Jimmy Fallon two times in 2025. Perhaps Fallons desire to take an apolitical approach to late night shielded him, somewhat, from the presidents ire. Trump still called Fallon weak, and very insecure, on July 25.

Stephen Colbert had just three Truth social posts directed at him this year. This is perhaps because the president feels victorious over The Late Show host. Colbert and the entire program will exit the network when Colberts contract expires in June 2026. Still, Trump didnt reign in the gloating.

Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, Late Night, Trump wrote, in part. That is not true! The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT, and the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 Million Dollars a year in losses  And it was only going to get WORSE!

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Trump posted about the host of Late Night with Seth Meyers five times in 2025. The first Truth Social post of the year was on January 14 at 1:24 am EST. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast, Trump wrote, in part.

The next four times, in August, September, and twice in November, Trump referred to Meyers as a total loser, said he had the personality of an insecure child, said he was the least talented person, and urged, NBC should fire him, IMMEDIATELY!

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The president posted about Jimmy Kimmel seven times in 2025, starting on July 18. On that day, Trump wrote: I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.

Trumps attacks on Kimmel include the president calling the host untalented and a FOOL. Most notably however, Trumps hatred of Kimmel is connected to the host getting yanked off air after Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr threatened ABC and Disney about his show. For a week, Kimmel was offline, only to make a triumphant return with a historic ratings boost.

You would think the president would be well aware that all press is good press. But in the fog of wrath, Trumps Truth Social posts helps late night show hosts be exactly what he says they arent: relevant.
Chevy Chase, the Cuddly Grandpa version, introduced the world to the trailer for a new CNN documentary about his life yesterday. In less than a minute and a half, the teaser for Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not tells you nothing and everything you need to know.

Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not promises to reveal the comedians rascally side. Oh, Chevy, laughs SNL writer Alan Zweibel, shaking his head as if Chase tripped down the stairs once again. Hes the asshole who you love, smirks Rachel Brosnahan, as Chevy hilariously slaps himself on the forehead. Can I say asshole?

That naughty word is a way for the documentary makers to say, Oh, were going to go there! while showing you that they have no intention of going there. Based on the trailer, this is hagiography of the highest order, showing us nostalgic home video footage of Chases kids while Foul Play costar Goldie Hawn talks about a man who has a deep heart.

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Chevy Chase is exciting and talented, gushes Dan Aykroyd.

I immediately fell in love with that bumbling idiot doing Weekend Update, says Kevin Nealon.

Hawn, Aykroyd and Nealon are big names, but a few voices are missing from the trailer.

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Wheres Community co-star Donald Glover, who Chevy told, people think youre funnier because youre black?

Wheres Joel McHale, who heard Chase joke to a female cast member, I want to kill you and then rape you?

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How about gay SNL cast member Terry Sweeney? Chase suggested SNL do a recurring sketch about Sweeney having AIDS, and we weigh you every week.

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Do we hear from Nothing But Trouble costar Demi Moore, who called Chase a goddamn turd shithead?

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Any chance the filmmakers talked to Chris Columbus, Will Ferrell, Alison Brie, Dan Harmon, Jane Curtin, Bill Murray, Kevin Smith, Cheri Oteri, Robert Downey Jr., or Yvette Nicole Brown? Is there another beloved celebrity who has so many people in his circle willing to talk trash in public?

Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not does promise to explore the comedians fall from grace, but from the looks of it, well only learn about his addiction to painkillers and his brave return to prominence. Hes been more open about his troubled childhood lately, and maybe he believes that makes him a sympathetic character.

I don't think a lot of people have the happiness I have, Chase says, sappy music playing as we watch snapshots of his family growing up. I am who I am and I like who I am.

Im happy Chevys happy  I guess  but its too bad the documentary makers couldnt have captured the defiant jerk profiled by the Washington Post in 2018. Just a few short years ago, he was still ranting about how much Saturday Night Live sucked (A whole generation of shitheads laughs at the worst fucking humor in the world) and trashing the writer of his authorized biography (She had the sense of humor of an egg timer).

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The documentary wants us to believe Chase has morphed into kindly Clark Griswold, but it would be more entertaining to watch him keep raging. Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not looks precisely like the kind of sanitized history hed have ripped to shreds on Saturday Night Live.
Security leaders arent short of data, theyre short of decisions. Heres how to turn threat feeds into an operating model that measurably reduces loss, accelerates response and earns board confidence.

The problem isnt data, its conversion

Modern security operations centres ingest torrents of artefacts: Indicators of compromise, suspicious domains, sandbox reports, takedown notices and headlines about the latest campaign. Much of it is relevant in theory; too little of it turns into consistent action. Alert queues swell, analysts burn out and executives receive dashboards that never quite answer the only question that matters: What changed in our risk profile? The recent 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report analyzed 22,052 incidents and 12,195 breaches, noting third-party involvement doubled to 30%, a stark reminder that decisions (not dashboards) move risk.

Operationalising CTI is the fix. Not more feeds, but a disciplined way to turn intelligence into repeatable decisions across detection engineering, incident response and investment governance. When done well, CTI becomes a business function, not a side project: a capability that helps you avoid loss, protect revenue and demonstrate resilience.
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Few people emerge well or with dignity or with their moral compass intact if they dipped even a toe in the fetid pool that bubbled around Jeffrey Epstein for all those years, but Melinda French Gates is one of them.

Perhaps even the only one. Or at least the only one who wasnt a victim.

The former wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates met the deceased sex offender precisely once and alarm bells started shrieking in her head straight away. It was 2013, at a dinner in Epsteins New York townhouse, she was there with her husband, all very nice, pass the salt, lets raise money for charidee, what could possibly go wrong?

Only everything.

Mrs Gates found Epstein abhorrent and evil personified. She hated him on sight and felt so uncomfortable in his home and his presence that she tried to stop her husband from fraternising with him. And when he refused, she eventually divorced him in 2021, after 27 years of marriage.

What was it that made her so apprehensive? Was it the decor of the notorious mansion on the Upper East Side?

The sculpture of a woman in a bridal dress hanging by a rope from the ceiling; the first-edition copy of the novel Lolita on prominent display; the chessboard with naked female figures; the profusion of young girls flitting about the place; the flagrant misogyny that seeped through the walls of this honeytrap hive of carnality, with queen bee Ghislaine Maxwell presiding over the evil revels? And if Melinda felt the prophetic essence of it all, why couldnt everyone else?

All those smart guys such as Gates and Bill Clinton and the not-so-smarts like Donald Trump and the former Prince Andrew. All their wives, such as Hillary Clinton, the assorted Mrs Trumps and chaotic Sarah Ferguson; women who were blind to their husbands whereabouts, or who turned a blind eye or were so consumed by blind greed that they simply didnt care what was going on.

Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, met Jeffrey Epstein precisely once and alarm bells started shrieking in her head straight away, writes Jan Moir

The convicted paedophile with Donald Trump at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 1997

Everyone is now scrambling for distance and pretending they didnt have a clue, but it was certainly no secret. Epstein was a boaster who delighted in hiding in plain sight and he had no shame; indeed, he was proud of himself and particularly delighted in taking the virginity of these poor girls.

He doesnt like to be reminded of it now but in 2002 Donald Trump said that his pal Jeffrey Epstein was a terrific guy and added: It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.

Now Trump has just signed a Bill directing the Justice Department to open the vaults and release the so-called Epstein Files, which might reveal at last which men were or were not willing participants in this giant, sex-trafficking racket.

The files have become an obsession in America, with Democrats convinced they might contain damaging kompromat about Trump, and Republicans convinced that the truth about Bill Clinton and high-profile Democrat supporters such as Bill Gates will finally come out.

In the most recent tranche of papers, Elon Musks name appears in flight records, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon pops up in emails and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has already announced he will step back from public roles after his name appeared.

It certainly seems strange  I cant quite bring myself to use the word unfair  that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is the only alleged abuser to have been publicly named, shamed and ruined.

Will President Donald J. Trump be the next?

To be honest, I dont think so. His personality, behaviour patterns and taste in women suggest not. For Trump is one of those men who sees women as trophies. His three wives were all models, each one a high-maintenance, impeccably groomed, swishy haired glamazon whose shine reflects on him.

It seems unlikely the scrambled ego lurking under his own unlikely swish of marmalade hair could take the sociosexual demotion from beauty queen to gauche teen. In 1997, when a journalist from New Yorker magazine asked Trump if he considered himself ideal company, he replied: You really want to know what I consider ideal company? A total piece of a**.

And a lank-haired 17-year-old in a crop top and a pair of Britney Spears jeans  a la Virginia Giuffre on the night she met Prince Andrew  hardly fits that bill.

Yet as Melinda Gates perhaps understands, who knows what men will do when temptation is served to them on a tropical fruit platter on a private island far from prying eyes? She felt unsettled and furious that her husband continued to have ties with Epstein because it betrayed everything I believed we stood for.

Despite this, Bill Gates continued to meet with Epstein for ten more years because he believed it would help secure large philanthropic donations for his global health initiatives.

You see? Hes all heart. Just like Andrew, who also carried on seeing Epstein for the noblest of reasons  he didnt want to end their friendship over the phone.

Bill Gates has since called his devotion to Epstein a huge mistake and an error in judgment.

He should have listened to his wife. In fact, they all should have listened to Melinda.

By George! Give that man an Oscar...

Jay Kelly is the new film in which George Clooney plays a handsome but ageing movie star with a strong resemblance to George Clooney.

It hasnt had fabulous reviews, but I couldnt have loved it more. Touching and funny, melancholic and uproarious, it reminds us of how we are all shaped by where we have been and what we have done in life. Regrets? Jay has had a few. His is the sad dad story of career over kids, of missing the moments, and of self, self, self above all.

All my memories are movies, he says. Jays hollow and haunted, walking through life like a ghost, surrounded by an entourage yet somehow always alone. George is 64 but as Jay he seems older, thin-lipped and haggard, like a windswept tortoise.

Can we go again? Id like another one, this is Jays plea both onstage and off. He wants another take, a second chance to reclaim what he has lost.

Hes not the father he should have been, hes not the husband he could have been. In fact, the wife and mother of his children is barely mentioned, unlike the glowing Amal, always at his side in life and on the red carpet.

How strange celebrity must be, but is this Georges turn to seize an Oscar? If not, the film is still a powerful reminder to seize the moment.

This statue is a Bridget too far

We all love Bridget Jones, especially as depicted by the wonderful Renee Zellweger in four hit films.

But is the diary-writing super ditz really deserving of a statue in Londons Leicester Square?

You might as well stick Olive Oyl or Cheryl from Girls Aloud up there, if the bar is going to be set so low.

Actress Renee herself turned up to the unveiling of the bronze statue this week (left) and tried to explain the secret of Bridgets enduring appeal. Her vulnerability, her humanness, we recognise ourselves in her, she said.

Do we really? Arent statues supposed to be inspirational, not pitiable wrecks with whom we can empathise?

Even author Helen Fielding is a bit tired of grown women who cant walk across a carpet without laddering their tights breathlessly telling her that they are the real Bridget Jones.

She had a suggestion. Perhaps they can come and tell the statue now, she said.

Get well wishes and a big hug to Maud, my colleague Tom Parker Bowless dog who was savaged by a 10st mastiff in the streets near our office. Darling little Maud is a Jack Russell who nearly died, and has been left with injuries from which she might never fully recover. Heroically, Tom is not calling for the attack dog to be put down, but he does want owners to be more responsible and for these dogs to be muzzled. What are they even doing on the streets? Im a canine lover but Im beginning to think the unthinkable  are there just too many dogs now?

How can trans row NHS boss retire early with her pension?

Well, well, well. Exit stage left Carol Potter, the chief executive of NHS Fife who oversaw the Sandie Peggie debacle.

You might recall Nurse Peggie was suspended from her job after she complained about the presence of male-born Dr Beth Upton in the female staff changing room of the hospital where they both worked.

Peggie went on to sue for discrimination and harassment  with the Employment Tribunal judgment due to be handed down in the next few weeks. But, conveniently, Carol Potter is taking early retirement and may slip away from the fracas without censure or blame.

This seems remarkable, given it has been established that not only did NHS Fife break the law by allowing transgender Dr Upton to use the changing room, but it was also planning to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds defending its right to do so. The farcical tribunal that followed found an NHS Fife doctor saying that sex was a nebulous concept, while an executive NHS colleague told the tribunal she didnt know if she was a woman or not.

No one stood up for Peggie, a frontline nurse who has given the NHS many years of impeccable service.

Not the Scottish government, not the NHS and not Scottish health secretary Neil Gray, who has stated he has every confidence in the board of NHS Fife, an assessment that makes him unique and in a majority of one.

Carol Potter was part of a woke coalition, high on the SNPs disastrous genderpolitics, who tried to destroy a womans life. But after things didnt quite go her way, Potter can look forward to heading off into the sunset with her pension and without rebuke.

Another fine mess the SNP has got us into. Scotland deserves more.
One hesitates to do the Kremlins dirty work but Londons response to the Russian maritime threat would make a Siberian tiger laugh.

Russian spy ship Yantar, with a full complement of knobbly-headed Ivans, was spotted north of Scotland this week. It was said to be scanning our seabeds for cables so that if V. Putin declares war, he will know which power and internet lines his frogmen should snip.

This startling development was first reported by the Defence Secretary, John Healey, in a Downing Street speech on Wednesday. It went little noticed for two reasons. First, Mr Healey is unexciting.

Moscow intelligence operatives, listening to his speech from Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square, were found slumped at their monitors.

For a moment it was feared they had been sedated by some cunning MI6 device, maybe gaseous. Almost right. Doctors later confirmed the observers had been rendered comatose by Mr Healeys rhetoric.

The second reason the spy-ship story did not gain much attention was that everyone was more gripped by the appearance of a Mancunian vessel, the coal-smoke-belching Andy Burnham, off the coast of Westminster.

This rustbucket is said to be surveying the briny depths of the parliamentary Labour party to gauge how vulnerable Sir Keir Starmer is to attack.

Doctors later confirmed the observers had been rendered comatose by Mr Healeys (pictured) rhetoric (file image)

Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary, also came to the House to make another of her immigration statements

Yesterday, a defence minister, Al Carns, was dragged to the Commons to tell MPs what was going on with the Yantar affair. Speaker Hoyle took a salty swipe at the Ministry of Defence for neglecting the Commons.

Mr Carns, formerly of the Royal Marines, was non-plussed by this broadside. You would have thought a naval man might have been better prepared. But Mr Carns is not much cop at this parliament game (as he called it).

He may have been awarded the Military Cross for his time in uniform but at the despatch box he mumbles into his blond designer stubble.

After well over a year as a minister he has not mastered the customs of the House. He sounds more robotic than you would hope from a former Marines colonel. A disappointing lump of beefcake.

Not many MPs had gathered to hear about the Russian outrage. The Yantar had tried to deter an RAF anti-submarine P8 aircraft by shining a laser beam at its crew.

Mr Carns did his best to sound macho as he said that Russia wants to operate in this veil of darkness but we know exactly what they are up to.

And what were we going to do about it? Mr Carns inhaled until his chest was jolly big. We are going to expose and attribute, he said. Expose and attribute. Expose and attribute.

Had the Russia ambassador been summoned by the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, so that she would wobble that head at him and shout at him with her knitting-needle of a voice? He had not. Mr Carns just said expose and attribute one more time.

As it happens, the new minister in charge of maritime affairs, Keir Mather, was on display earlier at transport questions. Peachy-cheeked little fella. Looks about 14. Pinewood casting directors would swoop on him to play a midshipman in the next Hornblower dramatisation.

Mr Mather sat on the front bench beside his secretary of state, Heidi Alexander. She could have been a mother escorting her child to school on the bus.

Another minister, Lilian Greenwood, brought the joyous news that 300million is to be spent on active travel. In essence, walking.

The money would go to things such as the delivery of high-quality of pavements to enable more people to walk. She would soon publish her next steps on pavement policy. Might the money not be spent more wisely on buying a few torpedoes to shoot at Russian spy ships?

Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary, also came to the House to make another of her immigration statements.

I find myself shocked to report she did not swear. With little Keir Mather around, you do worry about safeguarding procedures when effer-and-blinder Shabana is nearby.
In her uncompromising new proposals on dealing with Britains mass-migration crisis, Shabana Mahmood has been accused this week of stoking division in the House of Commons.

Responding robustly, the Home Secretary shocked MPs by saying she was regularly called a f***ing P**i and told to go back home. But I, for one, was not in the least bit surprised.

The truth is that the virulent racism and anti-migrant sentiment that should have been put to bed in this country following the awful days of the 1980s race riots are making an unwelcome return.

And while it may be a big thing for the Home Secretary to come out and utter those words in Parliament, I am glad that she has finally said the unsayable. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is a watershed moment.

Like Ms Mahmood  who on Thursday announced that some migrants will have to wait up to 30 years to gain settled status in the UK under a new immigration crackdown, I recognise the severity of the problem. Unless we sort out the dysfunctional nightmare of legal and illegal migration, then the issue could trigger a complete breakdown in race relations.

Of course, the irony here is that it has taken Ms Mahmood  the child of Pakistani Muslim migrants  to point out this grave but obvious threat.

As someone of Muslim heritage  my mother was born and raised in Bangladesh  I come from a not dissimilar background to the Home Secretary.

And the fears for our nations future run deep in my own hometown of Luton. I have relatives and family friends there, first-generation migrants from countries in Asia and Africa, who think Britain is being taken for a ride by migrants  turning neighbour against neighbour in the process.

The Home Secretary shocked MPs by saying she was regularly called a f***ing P**i and told to go back home. But I, for one, was not in the least bit surprised

They cannot believe that more isnt being done to protect our borders and they fear the consequences for community relations if this unfettered immigration continues.

Like others in wider British society, they are increasingly of the view that the difference between illegal economic migrants (those looking for a better life in a new country) and genuine refugees (people fleeing the immediate threat of violence and persecution) is becoming more blurred by the day.

In our concern to provide a safe haven for the latter, we are clearly being overly generous to the former. New arrivals are routinely put up in hotels and given immediate access to a wide range of benefits such as already overstretched GP and dental services.

Matters arent helped by the fact that many are accommodated in some of the poorest towns and cities in the UK, places where many people have never been lucky enough to stay in a four-star hotel for even a single night  let alone for months or years on end at the expense of the taxpayer.

In such a context, the sight of young single men pacing the grounds of a smart local hotel is bound to stoke tensions.

And it doesnt take much to spark a riot. Violent unrest erupted outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, in February 2023 after misinformation spread online that there were sex offenders and ISIS members among the young male asylum seekers housed there.

An initially peaceful demonstration escalated, with protesters throwing missiles, setting a police van on fire, and damaging vehicles and police equipment.

More recently, we have seen violent demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after one of its male migrant guests was arrested for sexual offences and later jailed.

But moving migrants from hotels to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) is fraught with pitfalls, too. In areas where it is often difficult for people to get to the top of the council housing ladder, feelings run high when locals see illegal migrants enjoying state-funded accommodation in their own communities.

You dont have to take my word for it. The Policy Exchange

think tanks recent report on the small-boats emergency revealed that the countrys most deprived areas have been treated as asylum-seeker dumping grounds for decades.

As a result, growing numbers of ordinary Britons are getting angry and frustrated. They feel neglected and marginalised. And make no mistake, these feelings are shared right across the spectrum.

As someone of Muslim heritage I come from a not dissimilar background to the Home Secretary. And the fears for our nations future run deep in my own hometown of Luton, writes Dr Rakib Ehsan

It is a huge myth to suggest that ethnic-minority communities hold universally liberal views when it comes to immigration and asylum. On the contrary, the desire for more restrictive immigration policies is anything but the preserve of the white British majority.

According to a new Ipsos poll, commissioned by ITV, 45 per cent of black respondents believe that immigration is too high. That figure rises to 50 per cent among people of Asian origin.

None of this should come as a surprise. Following the 2022 riots in Leicester (primarily between Hindu and Muslim male youths), established first-generation migrants blamed relatively new arrivals from South Asia  languishing in low-paid jobs and overcrowded housing in eastern parts of the city  for a groundswell of anti-social behaviour that culminated in large-scale disorder.

It should also be remembered that vast swathes of the black and Asian populations know Britain for the safe, welcoming and wonderful place it is.

But they are also acutely aware that, if a breakdown in race relations and community cohesion is triggered by the broken asylum system, then they will be the ones bearing the brunt of the backlash in terms of arbitrary prejudice and racism.

Unfortunately, Britains reputation for being a soft touch for migrants is being perpetuated by woke politicians and misguided organisations such as Amnesty International.

The latter described the Home Secretarys crackdown on immigration and asylum as cruel, divisive and fundamentally out of step with basic decency  and accused her of bowing to anti-immigrant, anti-rights [sic] politics.

Yet it made no mention of the rights of millions of hard-working British taxpayers, many of

them  like my family  from ethnic minorities, who are anxious about how a dysfunctional migration system can destabilise society.

This blindness to perfectly legitimate concerns is everywhere among the open-borders lobby.

Perhaps the most egregious example of politically-motivated posturing came when ultra-Left MP Zarah Sultana ludicrously branded Ms Mahmoods initiatives as straight out of the fascist playbook.

But Liberal Democrat frontbencher Max Wilkinson ran her a close second when he described the Governments plans to require asylum seekers to contribute to the taxpayers costs of looking after them as cruel, state-sponsored robbery.

Indeed, it was his intervention that prompted Ms Mahmood to reply with the words that captured the public imagination.

I wish I had the privilege of walking around this country and not seeing the division that the issue of migration and the asylum system is creating, she said. Unfortunately, I am the one who is regularly called a f***ing P**i and told to go back home.

Britain has become an El Dorado for illegal migrants. If we dont get to grips with this problem, our achievement in creating a successful multi-racial democracy will be fatally undermined.

Shabana Mahmood should be applauded for pointing this out, not pilloried by naive members of the metropolitan elite who have never walked in her shoes.

Dr Rakib Ehsan is a researcher on migration.
A hospice nurse who claims to have sat with 300 dying patients has listed seven of the most common regrets she's heard people make on their deathbeds.

The nurse, identified only as Laura M, worked in end of life care for fifteen years, supporting people as they teetered in the twilight zone between this life and the next.

According to Everyday Health Tips, Laurawhose location is not disclosedrealised that her role in their final moments was more than just making sure they were comfortable and filling in paperwork, but listening to them.

Inspired, she began jotting down their fears, dreams, reflections and regrets, and found that they fit into roughly seven categories.

Everyday Health Trips reports: 'She didn't expect to uncover a map of the human soul.

'Over fifteen years and more than three hundred deaths, she heard the same confessions, regrets, and revelationsdifferent voices, same truths.

'Her notes reveal something haunting yet hopeful: most people don't fear dying. They fear not having really lived.

'We're all chasing somethingsuccess, control, attentionbut every chase ends in stillness.

Hospice nurse 'Laura M' claims to have sat with 300 dying people

'What matters is who we loved and how we showed up while we were still running.'

The blog then goes through the seven themes, and suggests the simple steps people can start taking right now to make sure that they don't have the same moments of painful clarity when it's their time to say goodbye.



'I should have loved moreand differently'

One death that sticks in Laura's mind is that of WW2 hero George, 92, who had been estranged from his brother for forty years.

While the cause of their fall out was not revealed, she remembers him whispering to her, 'I won the argument, but I lost a lifetime.'

The lesson from this is that no one dies wishing they had been harder, they actually regret the moments they chose not to be kind.

To make sure it doesn't happen to you? Thomas Blake, author of Everyday Health Tips suggests: 'Send the message. Make the call. Don't wait for the funeral to say what love demands now.'

'I saved my joy for laterand later never came'

No one dies wishing they had been harder, they actually regret the moments they chose not to be kind, claimed the hospice nurse

Laura claims that a retired engineer once told her, 'I was so scared of being poor that I became rich in fear.'

According to Blake, he died three months after he retired and was never able to spend the savings he had amassed throughout his life.

'We all postpone happiness: after the raise, the move, the milestone. But life doesn't honour those timelines,' he writes, adding that the engineer's words should spur you to 'let joy become your default, not your reward.'

'Forgiveness set me free more than oxygen did'

For some people, holding a grudge becomes a lifestyle choice, with a bellyful of seething rage powering their daily lives.

But Laura discovered that when death is looming, it can become easier to embrace forgiveness.

Blake writes that Laura had one dying patient who chose to forgive her estranged son as she 'couldn't die angry'and passed away just half an hour after their unexpected reconcilliation.

This, he adds demonstrates that unforgiveness doesn't punish othersit poisons you.

If you're struggling to navigate a past betrayal, he suggests writing a letter of forgiveness to get these toxic feelings out of your system.

'Peace isn't a prize. It's a release,' he says.

'The best things in life were freeand I was too busy to notice'

Laura noted that people didn't dwell on their successes or possessions in the final moments of their lives.

Blake writes that actually they said that they would miss 'the smell of rain, the sound of birds, my dog's breath in the morning.'

He also writes that once a CEO told her, 'I mistook being busy for being alive.'

To avoid this fate, he suggests you unplug from technology for a day and 'count how many moments make you smile without screens or money.'

'Regret is the heaviest thing to carry'

Many elderly people will tell you it's better to regret the things you did do rather than you didn't, and this is a theme from Laura's deathbed experiences, too.

Blake claims that one patient told her: 'I didn't regret failingI regretted never auditioning.'

While it can be hard to push yourself to try and do new things, or venture into new situations, there is a way of getting under the hood of the 'what ifs' that would really bother you at the end of your life.

Try writing down the three things you'd most regret not doing, and then take steps to start the first one before the end of the week. .

'Presence is the greatest gift you can give'

While you might think the sound of a flatlining heart monitor is the saddest sound in a hospice ward, Laura claimed it was actually the 'phone vibrating beside an empty chair.'

She claims that one father told her that he was bothered by the lack of attention he gave to his loved ones, even when they were in the same building.

He said: 'I was always somewhere elseeven when I was home.'

Blake adds that 'distraction is the modern disease of the living, we scroll through life like it's rehearsal.'

To avoid feelings like this, put your phone down and be in the moment, listen fully, and enjoy meals and activities without distractions.

He adds: 'One day, someone will give anything to remember that moment you were half-absent for.'

'Peace comes when you stop pretending'

The final regret Laura noted was that people spent their lives pretending to be someone elsewho they, or others, thought they should be.

She recalls one woman who pulled off her wig, and said, 'Finally, I'm done pretending.'

Blake says it's time to let people see the real you, and to stop being afraid of being authenticit's what makes your life truly fulfilling.
NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the second year in a row, the Chancellor announced today.

Patients will continue paying 9.90, from May 2026, to collect their medication from a pharmacy.

Campaigners have long called the fee people must pay to secure certain drugs like blood thinners or asthma inhalers an 'unfair tax on health'.

England is the only country in the UK that still charges, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all ditching the charges more than a decade ago.

The move could see patients save hundreds of pounds over the next year, given the fee for a single prescription typically rises around 30p each year.

The charge was frozen earlier this year in April  for the first time in three years  to help ease the 'cost of living crisis'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the move would save patients around 12million next year while those already exempt from paying prescriptions would continue to be so.

Announcing the freeze she said: 'No one should put their health at risk because they can't afford their medication, and as the cost of living still puts pressure on households I'm extending the cash freeze on prescription charges.

Patients in England will continue paying 9.90 to collect their medication from a pharmacy

'Since taking office, we've been committed to fixing the NHS, and waiting lists are down by 230,000 over the past year.

'At next week's Budget I will take the fair choices to deliver what matters most to the country: cutting waiting lists, cutting the cost of living and cutting the national debt.'

Prescription prices will remain at 9.90 per item while three-month and annual pre-payment certificates will also be frozen for 2025/26.

A three-month prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) will cost 32.05, while a 12-month one will remain at 114.50.

The cost of the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) certificate has also been frozen.

There are few pay exemptions for patients in England, including for those aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education or patients once they turn 60.

Drugs like contraception are almost always free.

Approximately 600million is generated each year in revenue from prescription charges in England for the delivery of NHS services.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the move would save patients about 12million next year while those already exempt from paying prescriptions would continue to be so

Pharmacy leaders today welcomed the move but urged the Government to go one step further and abolish the charge altogether.

Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said: 'Many people choose not to collect some or all their prescription medicines because of cost, with potentially dire health consequences.

'As pharmacists, we understand the healing power of medicines. So naturally we oppose arbitrary barriers to people getting the medicines they need.

'The prescription charge is a tax that especially hits the working poor.

'It's good news the Chancellor is freezing prescription charges, but we've said for years that prescription medicines should be free, as they are in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

'There are many exemptions for prescriptions but people should not be charged for vital medicines, it's a tax on being ill.'

According to charity Age UK, in England, more than one in 10 people aged over 65 take at least eight different prescribed medications each week.

This increases to nearly one in four people aged over 85.

The Chancellor will make her Budget announcement next Wednesday on November 26.
Parents of babies who became severely ill after consuming a formula suspected of being contaminated with a toxin have spoken out about their ordeals in a bid to warn others about the issue blighting families nationwide.

New York City-based ByHeart initiated a voluntary recall on November 8 for two specific lots of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula after the FDA alerted the company to an ongoing botulism investigation.

Then, on November 11, the company expanded the recall to all batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.

Preliminary testing by the California Department of Public Health found Clostridium botulinum spores in an opened can of ByHeart formula that had been consumed by a sick infant.

Later, ByHeart said independent third-party lab tests detected C. botulinum in some unopened cans, and the company reported that to the FDA. The FDA reports that as of November 19, there have been 31 cases of infant botulism linked to recall in 15 states.

Since then, a growing number of families across the US have filed lawsuits against ByHeart, Inc., alleging that the company's infant formula caused severe cases of infant botulism now tied to a nationwide outbreak.

At least three new lawsuits, filed in Arizona, California, and Washington, detail similar medical emergencies: previously healthy infants who suddenly developed weakness, feeding difficulties, and life-threatening neurological symptoms after consuming ByHeart formula.

One of those lawsuits is from Stephen and Yurany Dexter in Arizona, who allege their daughter, referred to as E.D. in court documents, contracted botulism after consuming ByHeart formula used to supplement breast milk.

In Arizona, Stephen and Yurany Dexter filed a federal lawsuit alleging their daughter (pictured), referred to as E.D. in court documents, contracted botulism after consuming ByHeart formula used to supplement breast milk

ByHeart, which has initiated a voluntary recall, has said publicly that the situation is 'heartbreaking' and that the company is working to support concerned families

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E.D. was born on July 5, 2025, and initially thrived. But on August 21, her parents said in the lawsuit they noticed troubling symptoms: stomach discomfort, gas, and a steadily decreasing appetite.

In the suit, they claim that within a week, she refused to eat, even when fed by syringe. She soon lost the ability to suck, swallow, cry with normal strength, or hold her head up. Her parents feared she would die.

Physicians at Phoenix Children's Hospital initially suspected muscular dystrophy because infant botulism is so rare, with only around 100 cases in the US per year.

But as her condition worsened, E.D. was given BabyBIG antitoxin, the only treatment available for botulism, and began intensive occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

She was eventually discharged with an IV feeding tube and her parents claim she continues to struggle with digestive and strength issues, according to the lawsuit.

The long-term effects remain unknown, but children who fail to thrive early in life or struggle to eat can face several well-documented medical complications, including delayed growth, poor weight gain, nutritional deficiencies and, in more prolonged cases, neurodevelopmental delays tied to insufficient calories during critical periods of brain development.

The lawsuit also claims the trauma has left E.D. with separation anxiety requiring constant caregiver contact.

The filings state that eventually doctors discovered E.D. had infantile botulism, but they don't specify whether that was via toxin detection in stool, a blood test, or another method.

Attorneys with Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, along with regional co-counsel, represent many of the affected families.

Lead attorney Bill Marler said told Daily Mail he has now been retained 'by over a dozen families whose kids are part of this outbreak,' adding that he expects more cases to surface.

ByHeart has said publicly that the situation is 'heartbreaking' and that the company is working to support concerned families.

In a statement to Daily Mail, responding to the allegations set forth by the families' lawsuits, ByHeart said: 'The safety and well-being of babies, and the trust families have placed in us, are our highest priorities. We partnered with an independent lab to test cans of ByHeart formula and that lab has identified Clostridium botulinum in some samples of our formula.

'We recognize this news is heartbreaking for parents and we are committed to working with speed and transparency to provide continued support for our community and ensure this investigation leads to solutions for our processes and the industry at-large.

In Washington state, Madison and Tyler Wescott of Eatonville filed suit in federal court after their infant daughter (pictured) was hospitalized with confirmed botulism earlier this month

'We have been working in cooperation with the FDA, and we are investigating every facet of our process. All findings will be shared transparently with regulators and industry partners to strengthen safeguards and ensure this never happens again.

'Until now, this bacterium was not among the pathogens routinely tested for across the industry, despite thousands of safety tests conducted by all manufacturers.

'As a result, we are also working with the FDA to understand how Clostridium botulinum entered the food supply to help advance testing standards and ensure the highest level of safety for families.'

A lawsuit filed in California centers on the case of A.B., born September 29, 2025, in Stockton.

His parents, Anthony Barbera and Thalia Flores, fed him ByHeart formula exclusively beginning in early October, using sterilized bottles and distilled water.

According to the lawsuit, A.B. was healthy at a pediatric visit on October 22. But within 48 hours, he began eating less, crying weakly, and producing fewer wet diapers.

On October 25, his parents rushed him to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where physicians documented dehydration, a weak cry, inability to latch, and worsening lethargy, the lawsuit claims. His decline was so sharp that he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Doctors observed near-total loss of strength: A.B. could barely open his eyes, could not hold up his head, offered only faint moans, and showed severe weakness in all extremities.

ByHeart, a manufacturer of organic baby formula that is being recalled, is displayed outside a building that houses a plant for the company

Confronted with possible diagnoses ranging from botulism to spinal muscular atrophy, the medical team consulted the California Department of Public Health's Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, which recommended immediate BabyBIG antitoxin.

By late October, a stool sample confirmed botulism type A. Public health officials collected the family's open cans of ByHeart formula for testing.

Although A.B. gradually improved, he remained hospitalized until early November.

Today, the complaint says, he continues to struggle with constipation and slow feeding. His parents say the ordeal 'shattered the trust' they placed in ByHeart, adding: 'We believed we were making a well-informed choice Instead, we feel like we inadvertently participated in the poisoning of our baby.'

In Washington state, Madison and Tyler Wescott of Eatonville filed suit in federal court after their infant daughter, who was fed ByHeart formula, was hospitalized with confirmed botulism earlier this month.

The child, born in September, began showing symptoms in early November, difficulty feeding, choking, spilling milk from her mouth, constipation requiring suppositories, and extreme fatigue, according to the complaint. On November 13, she was taken to an emergency room.

The Wescotts had just learned of the ByHeart recall through a notice from a retailer. After consultation with the CDC and local health authorities, physicians treated the child for botulism and admitted her to the pediatric unit. She remained hospitalized until November 19.

As of mid-November, the outbreak includes at least 31 infants in 15 states with suspected or confirmed botulism. No deaths have been reported

Health officials in Washington have since urged parents to immediately stop using ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. As of mid-November, the outbreak includes at least 31 infants in 15 states with suspected or confirmed botulism. No deaths have been reported.

With lawsuits now filed in multiple states, and more under investigation, the ByHeart outbreak has quickly become one of the most significant infant food-safety crises in recent memory.

Marler, who has previously represented victims in major foodborne illness outbreaks, said he is also reviewing earlier 2025 cases of infant botulism. where infants consumed ByHeart.

'My fear is that we will see these numbers go up,' he told Daily Mail.

ByHeart maintains that it is cooperating with investigators and has set up 24/7 support channels for concerned families. Federal health agencies continue testing, and more case confirmations are expected.

Infant botulism is a rare but potentially fatal condition that affects babies, usually under 12 months old.

Another lawsuit filed in California centers on the case of A.B., pictured. His parents, Anthony Barbera and Thalia Flores, fed him ByHeart formula exclusively beginning in early October

In the US, there are typically about 100200 total botulism cases reported each year, depending on the year.

The majority of these, usually around two-thirds, are infant botulism cases, affecting babies under one year old.

It happens when spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum enter an infant's intestines, where they can grow and produce botulinum toxin - one of the most potent natural toxins known.

Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak cry, low muscle tone, and in severe cases, respiratory difficulty or arrest.

In infant botulism, the food doesn't contain toxin; it contains spores that have the potential to produce toxin inside the baby's body.

The best-known food linked to infant botulism is honey, and health authorities advise never giving honey to babies under 12 months.

Occasionally, spores can also be found in dusty home environments, unwashed produce, or powdered foods, though these are much rarer routes of exposure.

The main treatment for infant botulism is an antitoxin called Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), or BIG-IV, administered via a single intravenous infusion.

Supportive care is also essential, which may include hospitalization, breathing support with a ventilator if needed, and IV fluids or tube feedings to maintain nutrition if the infant has difficulty swallowing.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a favorable outcome.

While death is rare at less than one percent, recovery can be a lengthy process, requiring months or even years for full recovery.
B&M has issued a recall for two brands of baby formulas because they have expiredand might not be safe for consumption.

Shoppers who have purchased Aptamil and Kendamil from any of the chain's 764 stores have been warned that some products have passed their expiry date.

The recall issued last month is for Aptamil First Infant Milk Powder (800g) product code 348054, Aptamil Follow-On Milk (4x200ml) product code 422087 and Aptamil Follow-On Milk (700g) product code 422056.

The recall also includes two Kendamil products, Kendamil Infant Milk (800g) product code 422378, and Kendamil First Milk (250ml) product code 422381.

The B&M recall notice reads: 'If you've purchased either of these products with an expiry date of 08/10 or earlier, please do not use the product.

'Please return the product to your local store immediately. A refund or replacement will be provided.

'We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

'For further assistance please contact your local store's team. If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Services - 0330 838 9000.'

The discount chain B&M has recalled items by two popular baby formula brands

The recall includes Aptamil Follow-On Milk (700g) and Kendamil First Milk (250ml) [pictured]

It also includes Aptamil First Infant Milk Powder (800g), Aptamil Follow-On Milk (4x200ml) and Kendamil Infant Milk (800g) [pictured]

Last month, a customer complained that the baby formula she had bought from her local branch was almost a year out of date.

B&M apologised for the error and said it 'falls short of the high standards we set'.

The retailer said it was investigating how the product reached shelves in some stores and issued a recall last month on the formula over a 'date issue'.

Advice from the Kendamil website urges customers to always check the expiration date on their formula as expired milk 'might not be safe' for babies.

The advice reads: 'Before you open and use a new can of formula, glance at the expiration date.

'You don't want to accidentally use expired formula  it can lose its nutrients and might not be safe for your little one.

'If you find a can that's past its date, don't risk it. Toss it out to keep your baby safe and healthy.'

Meanwhile, Aptamil manufacturer Danone said ensuring quality and safety in their products was their 'number one priority'.

A total of five products have been recalled by B&M (file photo)

The brand added that baby formula was strictly regulated and 'these products should not have been sold' in the first place.

Promotional discounts on baby formula are banned under UK regulations in order to encourage breastfeeding, which the NHS says is healthier for children.

A spokesperson for Danone UK & Ireland said: 'Danone UK & Ireland was made aware that out-of-date Aptamil First Infant Milk Powders and Follow-On Milk ready-to-drink liquids were discounted by B&M.

'The quality and safety of our products is our number one priority to ensure parents can rely on them with confidence and these products should not have been sold.

'In the UK, formula milk is highly regulated, and we comply with these regulations.

'We have a strict global policy for Baby Formula Marketing Standards, which all our employees, brands and retail customers must adhere to. This standard prohibits discounts on infant formula.

'Once made aware, we contacted B&M, and the retailer removed out-of-date product and marketing materials immediately.'

B&M were contacted for further comment.
Rising numbers of adults in the UK are suffering irreparable damage to their noses due to cocaine use, leading doctors have warned.

Britain is now believed to snort around 117 tonnes of cocaine per year, according to the UKs National Crime Agency amid a huge explosion in use.

The UK also has the second highest rate of cocaine use in the world, with one in 40 adults  2.7 per cent of the population  using the party drug, more than any other country in Europe, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says.

But patients, some of whom may have only taken the drug infrequently, could still be at risk of losing part of their nose, surgeons have argued.

Thomas Jacques, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at The Cadogan Clinic, in London, said the phenomenon, dubbed 'coke nose', causes holes in the septum from reduced blood flow, leading to tissue damage.

Nasal damage triggered by cocaine use, however, doesn't just affect 'yuppies' and 'bankers' that are stereotypically users of the drug, he added.

It comes as Paris Jackson, who has been open about her past drug use, last week revealed she had a hole in the middle of her nose as a result of sniffing cocaine.

The 27-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson celebrated five years of sobriety earlier this year, also admitted she makes a noticeable 'whistle' sound when breathing through her nose.

Britain is now believed to snort around 117 tonnes of cocaine per year, according to the UKs National Crime Agency amid a huge explosion in use

Cocaine's effects have been publicised previously by former EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook, who was left with a hole in her nose.

Mr Jacques said: 'You don't have to be what most people would consider a 'heavy habitual user'.

'There do seem to be some patients where it can cause a lot of damage from occasional recreational use.

'Some patients report having quite nasty inflammation and severe destruction, even from small amounts of the drug.

'There isn't a safe amount. It's best to completely avoid it.

'Because once the damage is done, the fix is possible, but it's not easy. There's no magic wand and the surgery can be complex.'

'I think that patients who have had damage of their nose from taking cocaine often do feel a lot of shame about it.

'But we try and reassure patients that it's not something that other people need to know about, and we try very hard to be non-judgemental.

Paris Jackson, who has been open about her past drug use, last week revealed she had a hole in the middle of her nose as a result of drug use

He added: 'People take cocaine from all walks of life, genders, age. I've seen older patients. I've seen young patients.

'It's a very broad range of society that can be prone to overuse of cocaine.'

When snorted, cocaine causes the blood vessels to contract very strongly, known medically as vasculitis.

For those that take just a small amount of cocaine, this can cause minor sniffles and slight congestion.

But for other who are much more sensitive to the drug, or who regularly take cocaine, inflammation starts to compromise the blood supply to the tissue of the nose, resulting in more serious consequences.

'This can cause whistling, bleeding, and crusting in the nose, but some people don't even know they have it, and don't have any symptoms,' Mr Jacques said.

'If people use cocaine really heavily over a long period of time, it can affect other parts of the nose.

'The second most common thing is that it can cause the bridge of the nose to collapse inwards, which is caused a saddle nose deformity, and that's actually quite common.

Cocaine's effects have been publicised previously by former EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook, who was left with a hole in her nose

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'Less commonly, we see destruction of the skin between the nostrils, which effectively creates one big nostril, like Daniela Westbrook famously had.

'It can also rarely cause perforations in the outer surface of the nose, or a hole through the roof of the mouth.

'I've seen all of those things, although they are pretty rare.'

Before any treatment, patients must completely stop using the drug, Mr Jacques said.

For septum perforations, patients don't always need surgery, and may instead be able to treat the problem with nasal irrigations and creams for the inside of the nose to help the lining settle down, along with complete cessation of the drug.

'They can have a septal button put inside, which is a small piece of silicone, like a disc, that blocks the hole and stops it crusting up and whistling', Mr Jacques added.

'You can also have an operation to attempt repair the hole.

'Understandably some patients want the perforation closed in order to close a chapter or erase memories of previous drug use.

'However, repairing a septal perforation using surgery, is very complex, and even in the best hands, doesn't have a success rate more than about 70 to 80 per cent because the blood supply to the septum is really delicate.

'Sometimes the lining of the nose tries to grow over the hole but fails to heal completely.

'With a smaller perforation, you can repair it by creating a "flap" from a piece of healthy lining of the septum that's rotated in to the hole.

'With a larger perforation, one of the things we can do is to use connective tissue from under the scalp.'

Reconstructive rhinoplasty's are an option for those with saddle nose deformities, to correct the external appearance of the nose.

It is possible to get treatment for a perforated septum on the NHS, but for more complex surgeries, such as for a saddle nose deformity, treatment can cost up to 15,000 privately.
The UK's Covid Inquiry yesterday delivered a damning verdict that a 'toxic and chaotic culture' at the centre of government meant the pandemic response was 'too little, too late'.

Lockdowns could have been 'avoided entirely' during the pandemic had ministers reacted more quickly to the emerging threat of the virus, it also concluded.

After examining 180,000 documents and hearing from 166 witnesses, Baroness Hallett, the Inquiry's chair, said that if measures including contact tracing, self-isolation, face coverings had been put in place before March 16, 2020, there might have been no need for a lockdown.

Instead, the UK suffered more than 200,000 Covid deaths by early 2023.

Now, figures analysed by the Daily Mail, show exactly how the UK fared against the rest of the world in its fight against the devastating virus.

Excess deaths, sometimes known as extra deaths, are the number of deaths that are above the average for the same period in previous years.

The figure includes fatalities from all causes.

The method is considered the most consistent way to measure pandemic death tolls because official Covid deaths vary between countries due to differences in logging data.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Understanding the failings in the UK's gathering of Covid data gives an insight into why other countries' data may be unreliable.

Only months after the first British lockdown was implemented did health officials include people from care homes or those who died at home, and also only counted people who had officially tested positive.

According to excess death figures between January 2020 and May 2023  when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid was no longer a public health emergency of international concern  the UK fared 65th worst of all 237 countries.

It logged an extra 346 deaths per 100,000 people.

The US was worse, reporting 397 deaths placing it in 51st position. Bulgaria took top spot with a grim 1,048 excess deaths per 100,000 people.

By comparison, Australia reported 120 extra deaths, putting the nation 193rd.

Spain followed the UK in 66th spot with 339 deaths per 100,000.

Neighbouring European nation France, meanwhile, recorded 222 deaths and 122nd place.

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After examining 180,000 documents and hearing from 166 witnesses, Baroness Hallett, the Inquiry's chair, said that if measures including contact tracing, self-isolation, face coverings had been put in place before March 16, 2020, there might have been no need for a lockdown

Ireland was 138th with 186 deaths per 100,000.

In Sweden, which controversially chose not to implement a lockdown and instead relied heavily on trusting residents to use their 'common sense', there were an extra 185 deaths than expected, giving it a ranking of 139th.

New Zealand and Luxembourg were among the most successful to keep excess deaths to a minimum, logging 10 and 25 extra deaths per 100,000 people respectively.

This placed them 224th and 229th.

In her damning second Inquiry report yesterday, Lady Hallett concluded that the first lockdown which started on March 23, 2020, 'might have been shorter or not necessary at all' if restrictions had been brought in sooner  even by just a week.

She wrote: 'Had a mandatory lockdown been imposed on or immediately after 16 March 2020, modelling shows that in England alone there would have been approximately 23,000 fewer deaths in the first wave'.

The death toll in this period 'would have been reduced by 48 per cent', she said.

Other findings in her 760-page report included that Boris Johnson was too slow and 'should have appreciated sooner that this was an emergency that required prime ministerial leadership'.

Other findings in her 760-page report included that Boris Johnson was too slow and 'should have appreciated sooner that this was an emergency that required prime ministerial leadership'. Pictured, during a Covid press conference in March 2020

Sir Christopher Wormald  now running the civil service for Sir Keir Starmer  presided over 'misleading assurances' when he was in charge of the health department about the UK being prepared, she said.

He also failed to correct 'overenthusiastic' Health Secretary Matt Hancock's false promises to 10 Downing Street about having the crisis under control.

And the vast majority of children were not at risk of serious direct harm from Covid, 'but suffered greatly from the closure of schools and requirement to stay at home'.

Children 'were not always prioritised' and the government was not prepared for the 'sudden and enormous task' of educating children at home.
I am of the nuclear age. I was born and have lived my entire life under the threat of universal extermination that followed that day in the summer of 1945 when, on a testing ground in the New Mexico desert, the first nuclear bomb was exploded.

It caused Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientist heading the USs Manhattan Project, to proclaim  melodramatically but entirely accurately  an ancient Hindu prophecy: I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds. Just three weeks later, in early August, the bomb was used for real for the first time against an enemy, in a blinding flash and a shockwave that destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Pavements melted, skin was peeled off faces, 60,000 died immediately, another 60,000 in the following five months from injuries and radiation.

Three days later Nagasaki was given the same treatment. The original target had been a different city but heavy cloud cover saved it, diverting the American B29 bomber 125 miles south. Two square miles of the city centre were pulverised. More than 70,000 people died a horrible death.

And amazingly, those were the last fatalities of nuclear explosions. Eighty years on the world has somehow managed to avoid that apocalyptic, suicidal tripwire of its own making.

So far.

When the first nuclear bomb exploded on a testing ground in the New Mexico desert, Robert Oppenheimer proclaimed an ancient Hindu prophecy: I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds'

The radioactive plume from the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki as seen from Koyagi-jima, 9.6km away, in 1945

Those capital letters are necessary and should be imprinted on all our brains. Its a miracle we are still here. Because, in an unstable world (and increasingly so) we are all one reckless move, one miscalculation, one technical glitch, one individuals moment of madness, away from Doomsday.

How the lid has been kept on Armageddon is plotted by acclaimed American historian Serhii Plokhy in this chilling, bewildering book.

Bewildering because all we have ever done is make the threat greater, while posturing about the importance of containing it, claiming, nonsensically when you stop to think about it in the long term, that massive overkill is making the world a safer place.

I was a schoolboy back in 1962 when Soviet Union ships carrying nuclear weapons headed for a clash with an American blockade of Fidel Castros Cuba in the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was it. US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev toe to toe.

If no one blinked, inevitably those red buttons would end up being pushed, missiles would fly, the world was a goner. We teenagers counted off the miles to confrontation, laughed and sang: Well all go together when we go.

I remember a white-faced, scared history teacher coming into our classroom and bawling us out for being so flippant over the end of history itself.

He was right to bring us to our senses. Then again, how else do you deal with the apocalypse being hours, minutes, seconds away? Because the very idea is impossible to grasp. What do you do? Hide under a desk as a civilisation built up over millennia is blown apart and a world of abundance reduced to ashes?

With Cuba, the moment passed. The world survived. Plokhy argues that neither Kennedy nor Khrushchev was ready to push the button. They both pulled back. Phew.

And next time? Can we rely on the same calculated response from todays leaders, from the likes of Putin, Trump, Kim Jong-un, Xi?

Because thats the threat we live under, and yet we not only get on with our lives and look the other way but up the arsenal, increasing the destructive power to the point of absurdity.

Only recently, Putin boasted of a new Russian super-submarine with unstoppable weaponry that can fire nuclear drones at Western coastlines from thousands of miles away. In response Trump ordered the US to restart nuclear testing.

How the lid has been kept on Armageddon is plotted by acclaimed American historian Serhii Plokhy in this chilling, bewildering book

Escalation like this is the underlying narrative of the nuclear age, of the powerful few thinking they can keep the weapon to themselves but finding all they have done is provide an incentive to other nations to follow suit as fast as possible for fear of being left behind. The US threw its scientists into nuclear research for fear of Hitler getting there first and the Nazis snatching a late victory in the Second World War.

Then Stalin had to have his, Britain, too, then France, China, Israel, India. The club just got bigger. Containment became harder. World leaders talked non-proliferation but thats easier said than done once the genie is out of the bottle.

That genie is now everywhere. Officially there are nine fully fledged nuclear-armed states in the world. But the most worrying assertion of all in this deeply disturbing book is that close to 40 more states have access to the requisite technology and raw material or have the capability to produce nuclear weaponry, in some cases at very short notice.

Thats the size and extent of the timebomb each and every one of us is sitting on.

Those scientists  the Einsteins, Bohrs and so on  who first developed the principle and then the practicality of releasing unimaginable amounts of energy through nuclear fission and fusion, begged their leaders to concentrate on the massive peaceful benefits of their discoveries.

Of course, said presidents and generals, but first there is this enemy to defeat, this opponent to match, this military threat to see off.

Eight decades on, thats where we still are.

Its hard to find much to be optimistic about in Plokhys account of the nuclear age.

He concludes that fundamentally it is the fear of annihilation that has kept us from the brink  the general agreement that it is in no ones interest to die in a global nuclear apocalypse. That held true in the Cuba crisis. He writes: We must enhance the instinct of self-preservation shared by friends and foes alike to save the world once again.

And keep our collective fingers crossed.
On Wednesday, Meghan Markle graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine for its December 2025/January 2026 edition - but now, some are noticing that her poses and outfits in some of the shots have a resemblance to those of Princess Diana.

The mom-of-two posed for multiple photographs in various looks for the cover story, including a sleeveless red dress with a dramatic cape draping over one shoulder.

The cover photo of Meghan saw her in a low-cut, black silk blazer with a tie at the waist, as the magazine's cover was titled, 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Meets Her Moment.'

In other pictures, which were captured in black-and-white film, she posed cross-legged on the floor dressed down in a button-down and jeans while barefoot, and another as she laid on a boucle armchair in an off-the-shoulder silk dress.

But some users on Reddit are saying that these photos look similar to those that Princess Diana took for various magazines throughout the years, as they went so far as posting comparisons photos on the social media website.

On X, formerly Twitter, some of Meghan's fans posted the same thing, writing that the pictures gave the 'same energy.'

Princess Diana posed for Vogue's October 1997 issue in a red, halter-neck dress that looked similar to the one that Meghan wore in Harper's Bazaar.

Another picture that looked similar to one of Meghan's saw Princess Diana in her final photo spread in Vanity Fair in July 1997, titled, 'Diana Reborn,' where she is sitting cross-legged in black jeans and a white turtleneck.

On Wednesday, Meghan Markle graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine for their December 2025/January 2026 edition - but now, some are noticing that her poses and outfits in some of the shots have a resemblance to those of Princess Diana

Princess Diana is seen here at a Private Viewing and Reception at Christie's in Aid of the Aids Crisis Trust and The Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund

Similarly, in the 1997 Vanity Fair story, Princess Diana was captured lying on a cream couch, staring into the camera, just as Meghan did for this recent shoot.

It is unknown how much involvement Meghan had in the creative direction of her shoot.

Daily Mail reached out to Harper's Bazaar for comment.

Many fans pointed this out on Reddit and X, as they noticed the apparent similarities between the photos.

'Oh my God. I gasped when I saw this,' one person wrote on Reddit.

Someone else typed, 'Oh damn.'

'This is too weird,' another commented.

Interestingly enough, this is not the first time that Meghan's style has drawn comparisons to Princess Diana's.

Meghan and Prince Harry share two children together - son Archie Harrison, six, and daughter Lilibet Diana, four

In 1987, Princess Diana sported a spectacular pink satin evening gown, featuring a deep off-shoulder neckline that showed off her collarbone.

The dress, designed by Catherine Walker, was selected by Diana for a Gala performance by the Royal Ballet at the Berlin Opera House.

This look appeared to be a source of inspiration for Meghan's Trooping the Color ensemble in 2018, when she wore a light pink Carolina Herrera dress with a similar neckline and button detailing.

And, in 2024, Meghan wore a strappy red gown by Carolina Herrera to attend the LA Children's Hospital Gala, channeling a similar look worn by Princess Diana in 1995 to a dinner party in Argentina.

Diana's dress was made by Catherine Walker, in the same shade of red, featuring a plunging off-the-shoulder neckline and halter strap detailing.

As Meghan posed for photos for Harper's Bazaar, she also gave an extensive interview to the publication.

She spoke about her loving relationship with Prince Harry, and how much he loves her.

In 2024, Meghan wore a strappy red gown by Carolina Herrera to attend the LA Children's Hospital Gala, channeling a similar look worn by Princess Diana in 1995 to a dinner party in Argentina

This look appeared to be a source of inspiration for Meghan's Trooping the Color ensemble in 2018, when she wore a light pink Carolina Herrera dress with a similar neckline and button detailing

The dress, designed by Catherine Walker, was selected by Diana for a Gala performance by the Royal Ballet at the Berlin Opera House

Meghan said of Harry: 'He loves me so boldly, fully, and he also has a different perspective because he sees media that I wouldn't.'

'No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he's always going to make sure that he has my back,' she continued.

The Duchess of Sussex also shared that her husband brought out a 'childlike wonder' and 'playfulness' in her.

'That's translated into every part of our life. Even in business, I want us to play and have fun and explore and be creative,' she shared.

The couple share two children together - son Archie Harrison, six, and daughter Lilibet Diana, four.
Growing up an only child, I never lacked for anything  material or emotional.

Theres a snap of me as a little girl with my parents that illustrates this perfectly. Always at the centre of their lives, Im walking between them  beautifully turned out, down to my neat white ankle socks and a bow in my hair  with Mum and Dad each holding one of my hands.

But there was one thing I desperately wanted that they couldnt give me: brothers and sisters to play with.

I loved going next door to see my best friend, Isobel, and her two sisters. I felt so envious watching how they shared toys and secrets. But Id been adopted as a baby after my parents suffered the heartache of repeated miscarriages.

Mum and Dad never kept my adoption a secret  in fact, they told me it made me more precious to them  but inevitably I wondered about my origins.

An imaginative child, I fantasised that I was a stolen baby princess who would one day be returned to her royal family. It helped push out the very difficult question that lurked in the back of my mind: why hadnt my birth mother loved me enough to keep me?

As I would discover later in life, there was a much more complicated answer to that question than I could ever have dreamt up as a little girl. For while my birth mother had desperately wanted to keep me, I was the only one of her five children who was put up for adoption. And I was not, as you might expect, her first-born.

In fact, my older sister had stayed within the family. Discovering that I was the one given away was, at first, difficult to come to terms with.

Of course, growing up I knew nothing of this.

A happy but imaginative child, Carol Ann Morison (pictured aged 12) fantasised that she was a stolen baby princess who would one day be returned to her royal family

Her birth mother, Helen, gave up only one of her five children: Carol Ann

Until my teens I shied away from asking too many questions because I was worried my parents might feel rejected. But when I was 13, Dad died suddenly from a brain aneurysm and Mum moved us from our home in Stornoway, Scotland, back to her hometown of Hull.

Unsettled by all the changes, the question why did my birth mother give me away? began to intrude into my thoughts more frequently.

When I finally put this to Mum, far from being upset, she told me she always knew Id ask and explained that my biological mothers name was Helen, that she had become pregnant with me as a teenager and my birth father had wanted to marry her but her parents thought she was too young.

I remember feeling a great sense of relief  my mother hadnt rejected me after all.

I imagined my birth parents as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet: young lovers torn apart and cruelly forced to give up their baby.

For the next two decades that explanation was enough for me. The question of where I came from sat quietly in the background while everyday life took over. Having left school at 17, I met my husband, Glenn, and we married when I was just 18 and he was 22. Our daughters, Tina and Amanda, were born in 1973 and 1974 respectively, and all my energy and focus went into bringing them up.

It was only in 1989 when, aged 35, I happened to see a television documentary about two sisters separated at birth and reunited later in life, that those feelings came rushing back. I remember being in tears on the sofa, thinking how Id longed for siblings of my own.

After the documentary, I wrote to the register office in Edinburgh asking for a copy of my original birth certificate. As I was born in Glasgow it would be held there.

They replied asking for documents I didnt have: namely proof of identity beyond my adoption certificate. By then Mum had died  she passed away in 1986 after suffering a stroke  and the house had been cleared.

Although I could have sent my marriage certificate, at the time it all just felt too overwhelming and so I pushed the idea of trying to trace Helen aside.

It kept niggling at me, though. When I took a trip to Edinburgh the following year, I decided to try again.

I gathered everything I could think of  marriage certificate, photographs, any scraps of paperwork I still had.

But on the drive up, my car was hit from behind and I ended up being taken home by the AA. I remember thinking the universe was telling me that meeting my birth mother just wasnt meant to be.

Looking back, that makes me very sad, because it turned out Helen longed to meet me  and two years after the crash had tried to find me herself.

Yet for me, life took over again. As well as caring for my family I was building a successful career in human resources, eventually becoming an international head of HR for a multi-national.

Then in 2008  by then aged 54  I was in Edinburgh for a meeting and happened to walk past Register House. It brought all the old feelings back. I finally went inside and the staff told me about Birthlink, the Scottish charity that helps reunite families following adoption.

I sent them an email and a week later they told me theyd found a match  my mother had already contacted the charity herself.

I felt a rush of elation so strong it left me dizzy.

I imagined our reunion: what she would look like; what she would say; whether she would recognise anything of herself in me.

So when, a few days later, a second email informed me she had died of cancer ten years earlier, aged 61, I felt utterly shattered.

I read the message through a wall of tears. I had left it too late.

But Birthlink forwarded me copies of the letters Helen had written during her attempts to find me.

Carol Ann wrote to the register office in Edinburgh asking for a copy of her original birth certificate after watching a television documentary about two sisters separated at birth and reunited later in life

Seeing Mums handwriting  beautifully neat, unlike my own left-handed scrawl  felt incredible. Written on very thin-lined paper, theyre the most tangible thing connecting us and I still treasure them.

They were addressed to the agency staff but so much of what she wrote seemed to have been intended for me.

Little details stood out. She wrote that I had a birthmark on the back of my right calf  something she had remembered from the time she spent with me in the mother-and-baby home before I was placed with my adoptive parents aged three months.

And she wrote of her regret at not having been strong enough to stand up to her mother; that she had wanted to keep me but felt she had no choice. One line read: I do not want my daughter to go through life thinking she was an unwanted child. Another said: I will never forget her as long as I live.

For a girl who had grown up assuming her birth mother didnt want her, reading these words was extraordinarily emotional.

Birthlink asked if I would like them to trace any other relatives. I didnt hesitate to answer yes.

They were addressed to the agency staff but so much of what she wrote seemed to have been intended for me.

A few weeks later they contacted me to explain that Helens sister, Violet, was living in Glasgow and keen to speak to me.

From the moment Violet picked up the phone, I felt a warmth that caught me off-guard  as though she instinctively understood how overwhelming it was for me to speak to my first biological relative.

She filled in the gaps, explaining how the family had emigrated to Australia under the Ten Pound Poms scheme after the war.

But Helen falling pregnant with me aged 19 had caused such upset that the whole family had moved back to Glasgow in an attempt to keep her away from my father.

Violet told me how, after I was adopted in 1954, Helen later married a man called Samuel and had three more children before the whole family moved back to Australia in the early 1970s.

This was the first I knew of any siblings. I was delighted but also a little sad that they had got to grow up with our mother while I hadnt. In that same conversation, Violet told me that Helen had made several trips back to Glasgow to try to find me. On one occasion she had tearfully told Violet: She would have been 40 today.

Then the conversation took a totally unexpected turn. Violet paused: Helen had a baby before you. I didnt breathe for a moment. She had a little girl, she continued. Her name was Ann.

Everything in me seemed to stop. For 40 years I had believed I was Helens first child. In fact, I had built entire explanations of how my life started around that belief.

The idea of another baby before me upended everything.

I was too shocked to ask any questions and ended the conversation as quickly as I could so I could try to process what I had just learnt.

Horrible thoughts swirled around my head. I assumed from the little Violet had said that Helen must have kept Ann, so why didnt she keep me? What sort of person had my mother really been? Had I been too forgiving of her?

Three days later, my half-brother Billy, now 69, called. His voice felt instantly familiar.

My other half-siblings  Tommy, 65, and Linda, 67  were with him, and together they told me more about the mother I had never known. They recalled Helen working long hours in factories and as a bus conductor to support them; how she and their father Samuel had enjoyed a happy marriage; how gentle and loving she had been.

But one question sat heavily on my tongue. Taking a breath, I asked: Billy, are you in touch with Ann?

Carol Ann with her siblings, Ann and Billy, in Australia. She says: 'For 40 years I had believed I was Helens first child'

'Horrible thoughts swirled around my head,' says Carol Ann. 'Why didnt she keep me? What sort of person had my mother really been? Had I been too forgiving of her?'

There was a pause. He seemed shocked that I knew about her.

Then he continued  and my world shifted again.

Youre full sisters, he told me. Ann and I shared the same father.

He said that Ann, 15 months older than me, was also living in Australia. A few hours after we hung up, Ann phoned me herself.

We talked for almost three hours that first night, the conversation intense and emotional.

By the time we finished the call, everything I had feared since Violets revelation that I had an older sister had dissolved into something far more complex.

My sisters early years sounded heartbreakingly bleak. Ann said our grandmother was cold and controlling, and she never felt wanted in that house.

It became clear, very quickly, that I had no need to be jealous of Anns relationship with our mother Helen.

Anns childhood had been nothing like mine  and in so many ways, I had been the lucky one.

She told me that, yes, as I suspected, she had been kept in the family  but she wasnt raised by Helen. Instead, she was brought up by our grandparents, who told Ann that they were her parents.

Apparently the arrangement had been presented to Helen as the only way she could stay connected to her baby  but it was on the strict condition that Helen played the role of big sister and the secret was kept for ever.

She had been a frightened teenager  just 18 at the time  and completely under her mothers control, with no power to challenge any of it.

When Helen subsequently became pregnant with me, our grandmother made it clear that another baby could not be absorbed into the household and that adoption was the only option. Ann herself only discovered the truth aged 21, when Helen finally told her.

My sisters early years sounded heartbreakingly bleak. Ann said our grandmother was cold and controlling, and she never felt wanted in that house.

In a twist that still makes my stomach turn, she explained how our grandmother had another baby a few years after I was born, naming her Caroline.

Technically my aunt, Ive never met Caroline, as my siblings lost touch with her years ago.

Ann told me that Helen and Violet felt sure our grandmother chose the name deliberately because it echoed Carol Ann  my birth name, which my adoptive parents had kept.

They believed, and I do too, that it was her way of punishing Helen for becoming pregnant with me.

It wasnt Carolines fault but she grew up the favoured younger child, with new clothes and affection, while Ann got the hand-me-downs.

I always knew something wasnt right, she told me. I always felt different.

As Ann spoke, the contrast between our lives felt so stark. I had been adopted into a loving home where I was always made to feel wanted. My sister had stayed with our birth family but she had grown up always feeling out of place.

Yet when Ann talked about our mother Helen, her voice softened. She told me about the little gifts Helen used to bring her, how shed always felt more at ease with Helen than with our grandmother  the woman she had believed was her mother.

As for my birth father, Ann told me that she had met him but didnt like him, so didnt pursue any further relationship with him.

Ive no idea if hes still alive but I never felt any longing to know him myself. Anns assessment was a good enough reason not to pursue it further.

A year later, in 2009, I flew to Australia to meet all four of my siblings in person. I will never forget walking through the arrivals gate and seeing Ann.

We hugged and then she stepped back and announced: I can see Mum in you. For a second, I couldnt speak. All my life Id wondered who I took after, where my features came from. Hearing that felt like being handed a missing piece of myself.

Meeting my younger half-siblings Billy, Tommy and Linda felt just as grounding. They were so welcoming and immediately protective of me in a way I never expected.

When my husband Glenn died of cancer in 2015 my brothers and sisters supported me from the other side of the world. Ann even came over for the funeral.

What strikes me most now is that the sadness I carry isnt for what I missed out on not being with my birth mother. After all, I had a happy childhood and two wonderful parents.

What hurts is thinking about what Helen missed out on. She never got to see me safe. She never saw me become a mother and now a grandmother. She never knew Glenn, or my girls  her granddaughters.

I think she would have been proud of the career I forged for myself. She would have loved knowing I was happy.

I often think of her looking for me, travelling back to Glasgow and coming home in tears when she found nothing.

The tragedy isnt that I lost her  its that she lost both her eldest girls, in different ways.

Two daughters she wanted but wasnt allowed to keep.

At least now, we have found each other.

Babies Come From Glasgow, by Carol Ann Morison, (Grosvenor House Publishing, 15.99) is out now.

As told to RACHEL HALLIWELL
An ER doctor explains why side-sleeping may quietly reshape your face

A popular US emergency room doctor has issued a stark warning to the millions of people who fall asleep curled up on their side every night.

Dr Joe Whittington claims this one simple sleeping habit could be quietly altering your face shape without you even realising it.

Known to his two million TikTok followers as Dr Joe, he claims your pillow may also be a silent offender, worsening facial asymmetry and premature wrinkles - and even creating issues that aren't easily corrected with injectables.

In his now-trending video, Dr Joe didn't mince words, but insisted years of pressure and friction by sleeping on the same side of the face can cause visible, long-lasting damage.

'They've even proven it in studies with twins,' he said, referencing a well-known study by the National Library of Medicine.

'Worse yet, the wrinkles caused can be vertical facial wrinkles, and usually these won't go away with Botox.'

According to Dr Joe, chronic pressure against a pillow doesn't just compress the skin it folds it into the same lines, night after night.

'Chronic pressure and friction also fold the skin in the same place night after night, which is why side sleepers often develop vertical sleep wrinkles that don't fade in the morning.'

US-based Dr Joe Whittington warns that years of sleeping on the same side can lead to permanent wrinkles - even studies with twins prove it. Vertical sleep lines, he says, often wont disappear with anti-wrinkle injections

Known to his two million TikTok followers as Dr Joe, he insists years of pressure and friction by sleeping on the same side of the face can cause visible, long-lasting damage

@drjoe_md Most people dont realize that sleeping on your side with your face pressed into the pillow can create subtle facial asymmetry over time. Chronic pressure and friction also fold the skin in the same place night after night, which is why side sleepers often develop vertical sleep wrinkles that dont fade in the morning. The fix is simple, use a softer low friction pillowcase like silk, switch sides instead of always sleeping on the same one, and keep your head slightly elevated to reduce overnight swelling. Small adjustments like these add up over the years. #sidesleeper #wrinklefree #foreveryoung #sleeptips  original sound - Dr. Joe, M.D. 

Thankfully, the ER doctor said there are simple ways to reduce the damage, and none involve giving up comfort.

His first tip is what he calls 'the gold standard for facial ageing' and involves sleeping on your back only.

Admittedly hard to do for some, but it can keep pressure off your face entirely and reduces swelling by allowing fluid to drain evenly.

His second recommendation is to switch to a silk pillowcase that is smoother, softer and a lot gentler on the skin than any other alternative.

Silk reduces friction, prevents creasing and gives the skin a smoother gliding surface through the night.

And if you despise sleeping on your back, his third tip is to try and alternate every other night if you can to give your face 'equal time'.

'I'm a side sleeper, I know it's hard to do, [but] small adjustments like these add up over the years.'

With Botox-resistant wrinkles, sagging and asymmetry on the line, it's clear your bedtime position may matter more than any serum on your shelf.

To tackle it, Dr. Joe recommends sleeping on your back, swapping to a silk pillowcase or alternating which side you sleep each night

If you're a victim of disturbed sleep, he also believes there's a simple one-minute 'effective trick' that could help calm the nerves in seconds by 'fooling' the body into thinking it is relaxed.

According to Dr Joe Whittington, taking control of your eye movement by focusing on a single object can help restore calm, and has urged people to try the method, known as the 'Infinity Tracing Technique'.

This involves putting a finger up into the air and tracing the infinity symbol slowly.

'Brain won't shut up at night? Do you ever lay in bed at night overthinking all of the embarrassing things you've done since childhood? Same,' he said in another viral video.

'As you're tracing this infinity symbol, you're going to just follow it with your eyes - only your eyes.

'What this does is activate your vestibular centre which is involved with your balance and eye movements.'

According to medical experts the vestibular system - located within the inner ear - is stimulated by movement up or down, backwards or forwards, and around or over.

Focusing on gentle, slow and predictable movements is just one of the techniques, the health professionals suggests to calm a sensitive vestibular system.

While the method isn't a replacement for professional support, many praised Dr Whittington's advice to ease the nightly onslaught of overthinking.
Attorney Tom Bosworth warns against using weed killer with a certain chemical

A catastrophic injury and death lawyer has shocked viewers after revealing the one everyday product he refuses to go near - and it's something millions of Australians pick up at the supermarket without a second thought.

Philadelphia-based attorney Tom Bosworth told his followers that the chemical glyphosate - used in many weed killers sold in Australia - is the one thing he won't touch under any circumstances.

'As a catastrophic injury and death lawyer I deal with some of the most dangerous products and some of the worst situations in the world,' he said in a viral TikTok.

'But if you were to ask me what's the one product that I'm most afraid of that I would never go near - it's without a doubt glyphosate.

'There has been study after study that demonstrates the link between the weed killer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

'The latency in people can be five, 10, 20 years. You might not get the diagnosis until 20 years after using the product.'

His warning mirrors years of global concern.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a 'probable' human carcinogen back in 2015, saying the evidence - while limited - was strong enough to prompt caution and further investigation.

Philadelphia-based attorney Tom Bosworth told his followers that the chemical glyphosate - used in many weed killers sold in Australia - is the one thing he won't touch under any circumstances

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a 'probable' human carcinogen back in 2015, saying the evidence - while limited - was strong enough to prompt caution and further investigation

Australia remains deeply divided over its safety.

Professor Lin Fritschi, an epidemiologist within the School of Public Health at Curtin University, has previously said the evidence around glyphosate and cancer risk remains incomplete.

'The fact the IARC stated there is 'suggestive evidence' that glyphosate causes cancer means more information is needed on the issue,' she said in an expert commentary published by Scimex.org following Australia's first glyphosate-related cancer lawsuit.

She urged anyone using glyphosate to consider safer alternatives and to take greater precautions if they do continue to use it.

'For glyphosate, the manufacturers recommend wearing eye protection, a respirator with a replaceable filter, rubber gloves, and cotton overalls buttoned at the neck and wrist,' she said.

'A strong message from this is that labelling of pesticides in Australia needs to be improved.'

But not every expert agrees with the warnings.

Professor Ivan Kennedy, from the University of Sydney and an expert in risk assessment and the environmental fate of pesticides, has argued that concerns have been exaggerated.

But Professor Lin Fritschi, an epidemiologist within the School of Public Health at Curtin University, has previously said the evidence around glyphosate and cancer risk remains incomplete

'The IARC made a 'bad mistake' in claiming glyphosate is a probable cause of cancer,' he said in the same Scimex report.

'There is no convincing evidence for this, and much evidence gathered over 40 years about it as the safest herbicide known.'

Despite the pushback, Australia's pesticide regulator recently reapproved glyphosate for use until 2035, saying there isn't enough evidence to ban it - even as several countries including Vietnam, Austria, Belgium, and France have restricted or outlawed it entirely.

Bosworth said the long delay between exposure and diagnosis is what frightens him most.

'It's a product I'd never touch,' he told viewers.
The new CBS anti-woke editor-in-chief is coming in hot with some serious changes she's trying to implement for the network.

Former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss was appointed in October and has big plans for the outlet, telling her colleagues, 'I wanna blow this up,' WSJ reported.

Weiss, who runs the anti-woke The Free Press news website, has been given a broad remit by the network's new owner David Ellison to tame liberal excesses at the Tiffany Network in a bid to boost ratings and win back viewers' trust.

She is determined to rebrand CBS as 'radically centrist' and has already planned a makeover for the flopping night show, CBS Evening News.

CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson dramatically quit his role in October, without any explanation, and sources told WSJ they plan to ax co-anchor Maurice DuBois.

Weiss's new challenge is finding a fresh face for the show and prefers a male anchor - and has already shared two polar opposite choices.

The fiery editor-in-chief has had her eye on CNNs Anderson Cooper and Fox News Bret Baier, sources told WSJ.

New CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss speaks onstage during Book Club Event With Peggy Noonan on November 19, 2024 in New York City

CBS News Correspondent and Contributing Anchor John Dickerson

Co-anchor Maurice DuBois, he attended attends Revels & Revelations 11 hosted by Bring Change To Mind in October 2023

CBS attempted to poach Cooper but he said he 'wasn't interested' and preferred 'his contributing role on 60 Minutes,' WSJ reported.

The anti-woke boss has had conversations mentioning Fox News start Baier for the weeknight anchor position, Status first reported.

Landing either high profile anchor would be extremely challenging even if they wanted to leave their positions.

Both Cooper and Baier make whopping salaries, with Baier raking in $14million annually and Cooper bringing in a stunning $18million.

Baier already reupped his contract with Fox, extending his position through 2028. He would have to break the deal to switch to rival CBS.

Rumors about CBS Mornings Anchor Gayle King has spread, with talks that she's next on the chopping block.

But King slammed the chatter, telling TMZ those claims are 'news to her' and executives have assured shes doing 'a great job' and remains 'well-liked.'

The fiery editor-in-chief has had her eye on CNNs Anderson Cooper

Weiss also had her eye on Brett Baier, landing either high profile anchor would be extremely challenging

Rumors about CBS Mornings Anchor Gayle King has spread, with talks that she's next on the chopping block

The morning star added that 'she loves what she does and the coworkers with whom she does it'.

Weiss is seen as a media visionary. She quit her opinion editor role at The New York Times in 2020 over the paper's narrow liberal views and staff bullying of anyone who dared to voice a different opinion.

Weiss began a small news site called Honestly, which later became The Free Press and was sold to CBS News's parent company Paramount as part of a $150 million deal.
The billionaire father of Paramount owner David Ellison floated the idea of firing some of CNN's top talent if his son is able to acquire the news network's parent company Warner Bros Discovery, according to a new report.

Hosts Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar were singled out by Larry Ellison during phone calls with officials at the White House, sources familiar with the matter told The Guardian.

The 81-year-old Oracle founder singled out the anchors because they are not liked by Donald Trump, the sources said.

Ellison also reportedly pondered a programming change that would put longtime CBS News flagship program 60 Minutes on CNN. CBS News's parent company Paramount was recently bought by Ellison's son David. Larry Ellison helped finance that deal.

The report, published Thursday, sparked chatter across the halls of CNN's NYC headquarters in Hudson Yards, Status reported.

David Ellison, 42, has entered an unknown bid for the entire WBD portfolio, including CNN.

Larry and David are the only prospective WBD bidders who want to buy CNN as part of any deal. Others are said to be willing to spin off the ailing cable network into a separate company while focusing on more promising assets like Warner Bros. movie studio and HBO.

Pictured, Donald Trump and Oracle founder Larry Ellison trade laughs at the White House in January. Ellison does not hold a specifed role at Paramount, which is run by his son David Ellsion

Hosts like Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar were singled out by the elder Ellison on at least occasion during telephone conversations with officials at the White House due to being disliked by Trump

Larry Ellison, a well-known GOP donor, donated to Trump's 2024 campaign and does not play a formal role within Paramount.

He is, however, the company's primary shareholder - and he fourth-richest man in the world with a net worth of nearly $200billion.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Paramount for comment on the report Friday. Reps from CNN declined to comment.

Burnett, 49, has been with CNN since 2011 after joining from CNBC. Keilar , 45, joined CNN as a correspondent in 2006, after several years with CBS News. The two have offered critical reporting Trump for years, but are far from the only CNN stars known for targeting the president.

Burnett - currently the host of hour-long primetime program Erin Burnett OutFront - last week tore into the conservative for what she saw as inconsistencies in his story about Jeffrey Epstein on November 13.

On Thursday, she hosted Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan to criticize Trump for accusing six Democratic lawmakers of of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death' for a video urging members of the military to not follow orders if they are unlawful.

Keilar did the same later in the night on News Central with Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA), one of the politicians in the video, calling Trump's comments 'outrageous.'

Last year, she tore into the president for his false claims about Haitian immigrants.

The younger Ellison is seen sitting ringside at UFC 314 with President Trump and members of his team in April. He took over Paramount - which is looking to buy CNN parent Warner Bros Discovery - in July

Ellison, 81, also reportedly pondered a programming change that would put longtime CBS News flagship program 60 Minutes on CNN, despite his son being technically at the reins

The news comes after former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss was minted as CBS News' chief on October 6 after 'informally consulting' the network for weeks, a source told the Daily Mail last month.

David Ellison personally headhunted Weiss after buying Paramount in July.

She is said to be keen to hire a new evening news star, with Fox News host Bret Baier and CNN favorite Anderson Cooper among her rumored top picks. Weiss resigned from Times in 2021 to found the Free Press, which was purchased by Ellison in October for roughly $150 million.

After being named CEO, Ellison pledged to shed any prior political connotations that may be tied to the company after a string of controversies and claims of 'deceptive' editing practices from both Donald Trump and Homeland Security boss Kristi Noem.

Before the merger, Paramount balked at settling a lawsuit with Trump that claimed a 60 Minutes interview with a then-campaigning Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited.'

The suit was settled for $16million days before the FCC approved the merger.

Other companies who have entered a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery - sans CNN - include NBC News parent Comcast and Netflix.
Joe Scarborough was so angered by House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson that he swore on live early-morning TV.

The Louisiana-born presenter, 62, raged that 'these people are lying through their f******, their teeth,' at 6.18am on Friday's show while sitting next to co-host and wife Mika Brzezinski.

The Morning Joe host's ire was triggered by Johnson and other Republicans' response to a video posted on X Tuesday that featured six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence community to 'refuse illegal orders' from the Trump administration.

The President responded to the Democrats with a series of Truth Social posts on Thursday that slammed the messaging as 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!'

Speaker Johnson had attempted to put a positive spin on Trump's comments, which were widely criticized, during a White House press conference on Thursday.

But this drew the ire of MS Now's Scarborough, who bizarrely switched from his neutral TV voice to his original southern drawl.

He said of Johnson: 'He was going to just flop over, I tell you, you know, he was so shocked and stunned.

'These people are lying through their f******, their teeth,' he added, before stopping himself.

MS Now star Joe Scarborough, 62, seen with wife Mika Brzezinski, could not help but swear while speaking about Republicans' attempts to put a positive spin on Trump's comments

'These people are lying through their teeth.'

No apology for the outburst was forthcoming.

Scarborough previously swore while slamming Republicans on-air in August, over what he framed as their 'failure' to accept stricter gun laws.

The last time he dropped an F-bomb was back in 2021, during a nearly eight-minute-long rant against Capitol Hill rioters after the insurrection on January 6 of that year.

Anchors can curse on cable TV because the networks are not regulated by the FCC.

The network, formerly known as MSNBC, was renamed last week after splitting from NBC and former parent company Comcast. The Daily Mail has reached out to the network for comment.

Joined by wife and longtime cohost Brzezinski, Scarborough also accused Johnson of forgoing 'his sacred oath.'

'And that is not committing illegal actions. And they know that, and yet they keep lying through their teeth. And running through the halls,' he said.

The host played a clip of House Speaker Mike Johnson making light of Trump's rhetoric while batting back reporters on Thursday

Trump's responded to the Democrats with a controversial Truth Social post Thursday

Scarborough also took aim at White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, playing a clip of her incorrectly telling reporters Thursday that the Democrats in the video - all veterans - were urging the military to refuse 'lawful orders.'

Senators. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) actually urged service members to 'refuse illegal orders.'

'It's willful ignorance. And, I mean, it's obviously extraordinarily serious moment. The United States is calling for the execution of lawmakers,' co-host Jonathan Lemire added.

Of Trump, Scarborough said, 'He's just trying to distract.'

The former Florida congressman brought up the Epstein files, which the President has faced questions about since assuming office due to his past connections to the late financier.

Trump signed a bill into law this week demanding the documents' release within 30 days.

The lawmakers in the video did not specify which 'illegal orders' they were urging troops to disobey.

It comes as Trump faces criticism for deadly strikes on 'narco terrorist' boats that the administration claims are bringing drugs to the US, and as the administration has ordered National Guard deployments within the country as well.
The great theme of the political Left in the arduous, economically damaging build-up to Wednesday's Budget is that wealthier taxpayers need to pay more. The critics also cite the Nordic nations as societies to which we should aspire.

It was at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings in October that Rachel Reeves gave voice to the mantra that those with the 'broadest shoulders' should pay more. The Chancellor's view is endlessly parroted by Labour apparatchiks.

The rabble-rousing, newish leader of the Greens, Zack Polanski, advocates a wealth tax. He cites France as an example of the best way to address the financial black hole. His advocacy, in frequent broadcast appearances, is often greeted with applause. Yet evidence shows that such a charge would raise modest new income  maybe 1billion at best.

But it would likely drive wealthy investors and entrepreneurs overseas. They are the most mobile sector of society. Several thousand have already headed for their private jets since Labour began mindless assaults on inheritance and capital gains.

No one expects honesty from politicians. But the belief that well-paid City traders and bankers, business creators and the landowning classes are freeloaders is a whopping untruth.

The highest earning 1 per cent of UK residents are already responsible for paying 30 per cent of taxes. Drill down to the top 10 per cent and you find they are responsible for 60 per cent of collected revenues.

Rabble-rouser: Newish leader of the Greens, Zack Polanski (pictured), advocates a wealth tax

As for much disparaged 'fat cats', collectively the Square Mile pays about 10 per cent of the nation's taxes, or 76billion. That is enough to fund the UK's national defence and education alone.

There is another killer statistic to be drawn from OECD data. In Britain, 45 per cent of the top earners' salaries are consumed by tax and National Insurance contributions. This compares with 29 per cent for the average worker, or what Starmer and Reeves might call working people.

Britain has the widest gap in the G7 between taxes paid by high earners and working people. It is only comparable with much smaller Norway and Denmark.

The odd thing is that the surging tax burden for Britain's better off, creating a fairer society, largely took place during 14 years of coalition and Tory rule. It was a period when governments had to cope with vast costs of Labour's financial crisis legacy, Covid-19 and Russia's brutal war on Ukraine. The contrast between Britain's supposedly free market model and that of the fast-growing US economy could not be more pronounced.

In the US, it is the average taxpayer rather than the better-off who provide most of the income for a less generous federal government. Americans have a totally different attitude to the likes of Polanski and Reeves. Instead of the politics of envy, many lower-income US citizens believe that in a land of opportunity, one day they could join the elites.

The build-up to the Budget has been horrendous. The GfK consumer confidence index is dropping, retail sales are sinking in the run-up to the holiday

season and the latest S&P purchasing managers' index is in retreat signalling stagnation  if not recession.

All of this is having a baleful effect on the public finances with tax receipts falling and the Budget deficit already 9.9billion higher than the projection in the spring statement. Taxing endeavour, enterprise and entrepreneurship doesn't work. Something Labour's naive front bench fails to understand.
The stock market can appear inhospitable just now. Apprehension that a bubble was forming over US tech stocks has receded following forecast-beating results from semiconductor colossus Nvidia.

But amid the considerable relief, doubts linger. Against this background, dividends from UK companies seem set to emerge as a source of solace.

The valuations of Nvidia and Silicon Valley enterprises engaged in the artificial intelligence (AI) arms race will continue to be regarded, by some, as excessive.

But UK shares trade on far lower multiples. The FTSE 100 seems headed for its best year since 2009, and members of the blue-chip index are forecast to pay out about 80billion in dividends to shareholders this year.

The AI war combatants may be cash-generating machines, but they have tight-fisted dividend policies.

By contrast, the insurer Aviva and fund manager M&G are offering dividend yields of 6 per cent-plus. The yield on a ten-year government bond, or 'gilt', is 4.54 per cent.

Cashing in: The FTSE 100 seems headed for its best year since 2009, and members of the blue-chip index are forecast to pay out about 80billion in dividends to shareholders this year

Moreover, FTSE 100 constituents are planning 50billion in share buybacks this year. When a company buys back its own shares, this reduces the number in issue, which should boost the price.

Such has been unease about the Budget and its aftermath that it may seem safer to take shelter in deposit accounts  especially since the savings safety net will be extended to 120,000 next month.

But, while a best-buy instant access account pays 4.5 per cent at present, this will be trimmed if the base rate is cut next month, as forecast.

Also, Budget trepidation may be overdone. Ken Wotton, manager of the Strategic Equity Capital trust, said: 'If policy turns out even slightly more growth-friendly than feared, that alone could materially lift sentiment and share prices. UK shares are priced for catastrophe. When expectations are this low, the UK only needs to clear a small hurdle to surprise on the upside.'

Dividends are not guaranteed. They can be trimmed or even suspended. But at nervous times like these, a decent dividend payout takes on a new allure: small wins count.

It's also time to dispel the notion that dividends are only for those seeking an income. As Barclays explains, reinvesting dividends 'can become a powerful driver of wealth through compounding'.

The bank says that, over the past decade, the FTSE 100 has provided a 15 per cent gain for investors. But this turns into 68 per cent with dividends reinvested, which platforms such as AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown make easy to do. Here's what you need to know.

HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

The property and insurance sectors can prove lucrative if you like an above-average yield.

London Metric is a real estate investment trust (Reit) which owns logistics warehouses and retail parks.

The shares yield 6.54 per cent and are rated a 'buy' by analysts. This is thanks to 'continuous portfolio improvement and value creation', as Andrew Saunders, of Shore Capital, puts it. Asset manager M&G's yield is 7.47 per cent. Its shares are up by 32 per cent this year to 263p, following takeover talk, a tie-in with a Japanese insurer  and the announcement of a

progressive dividend policy. This is a commitment to continue to raise the payout, and the reason why analysts reckon the shares could advance to as high as 342p.

Aviva is also being open-handed to shareholders with a 6.03 per cent yield. Six of the eight analysts that follow the stock rate the shares a 'buy'. The rest consider them to be a 'hold'.

Legal & General shares have failed to thrill this year, but the yield is an enticing 9.28 per cent, explaining why analysts consider them a 'hold'. Phoenix is another insurance star with an 8.42 per cent yield. Analysts consider the shares to be a 'hold' at 660p.

The dividend yield from Vodafone (led by Margherita Della Valle) is 4.53 per cent, after a change in strategy. Until recently, the telecoms group had not hiked its payout since 2018.

The company is also executing a 4billion (3.46billion) buyback programme. Shares  which analysts rate a 'hold'  have also soared this year, up 36 per cent at 90p.

Change in strategy: The dividend yield from Vodafone, led by Margherita Della Valle, is 4.53 per cent

DOUBLE DIGIT RETURNS

Imperial Brands, maker of cigarettes and 'next generation' products such as oral nicotine and vapes, has distributed 10bn over the past five years to shareholders. Through a mix of dividends and buybacks, it now provides a distribution yield of 10 per cent.

The shares have soared by 26 per cent this year to 3224p. Analysts are forecasting further growth with an average target price of 3319p.

An eye-catching dividend can be a sign of corporate confidence. But it can be a red flag, too, indicating problems at the company and a tumbling share price, as is the case at embattled advertising giant WPP. WPP's yield may be 10.35 per cent, but it has been losing clients and is struggling with the challenge that AI poses.

DIVIDEND HEROES

A number of investment trusts are 'dividend heroes' with more than six decades' worth of uninterrupted dividend growth. City of London (where I am an investor) is one. Its portfolio includes NatWest and Tesco. Artemis Income is another option.

If you want to expand your dividend search to include smaller and medium-sized British businesses, Darius McDermott of FundCalibre cites Schroder Income Growth, which has a strong tilt towards UK mid-cap stocks, and the VT Tyndall Unconstrained UK Income Fund.

BUDGET THREATS

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could spoil the dividend party fun in the Budget.

Earlier this month it was thought that she would not make the banking levy more punitive. This is a tax on banks' balance sheets. It is now said, however, that Reeves could raise the corporation tax surcharge to which these institutions are subject.

These fears could be outweighed, however, by the attractive yields of 4.05 per cent at Lloyds and 5.49 per cent at NatWest. Most analysts think that Lloyds is a 'hold' or set to outperform the sector. Most who follow NatWest say it's a 'buy'.

Whatever the source of dividends, Reeves could decide to tax them more heavily, perhaps abolishing the 500 tax-free allowance  and raising the rates of tax. Basic rate taxpayers pay 8.75 per cent, which rises to 33.75 per cent for higher rate taxpayers and to 39.35 per cent for additional rate taxpayers. The basic rate could go up to 16.5 per cent.

On other hand, Reeves may incentivise the buying of London-listed shares by overhauling the rules for Isas in which shares escape tax.

But will the Chancellor have the decency to do something to promote investing?

We will know next week.
The former boss of Lloyds of London has lost out on his next job after an alleged affair with a colleague while at the insurance market.

John Neal was due to join AIG  one of the worlds largest insurers  as president of its American operations next month.

But AIG said he would no longer be joining due to personal circumstances.

Neal led Lloyds for six years before standing down in January.

The firm has since probed his relationship with Rebekah Clement, who was director of corporate affairs before being promoted by Neal.
Dr Martens plans to raise prices in the US from January to offset a multimillion-pound tariffs hit.

The footwear retailer had pledged to keep prices on hold in 2025 despite high tariffs, but said it would need to make increases on selected products in the US only.

It makes the bulk of its footwear in Vietnam and almost a third in neighbouring Laos, which have been hit with higher tariffs because of US President Donald Trumps trade war.

Dr Martens now expects a high single-digit million-pound impact from tariffs on full-year profits.

Ije Nwokorie, chief executive of Dr Martens, said that the company would not need to increase prices elsewhere globally.

It has forecast between 53million and 60million in underlying pre-tax profits, after results showed pre-tax losses of 11million for the six months to September 28.

Tariff kicking: Dr Martens makes the bulk of its footwear in Vietnam and almost a third in neighbouring Laos, which have been hit by US President Donald Trump's trade war

Sales rose 0.8 per cent to 327.3million. Shares fell 9.6 per cent, or 7.8p, to 73.8p.

Mr Nwokorie said: 'Our brand is strong, as evidenced by the 33% increase in shoes volumes and the successful launch of new products such as the Zebzag Laceless boot and the 1460 Rain boot.

'While it's still early days, we are happy with the advances we're making and are seeing green shoots.

'While the marketplace remains uncertain and consumers are cautious, and our biggest trading weeks are ahead, we are confident in our plans for the year.'

The group also said sales of shoes had overtaken boots for the first time in the first half, driven by demand for its Adrian tassel loafer, which saw sales growth of 24%, and its Adrian Black Polished Smooth shoe design, which was the number two bestseller.
Unilever is in talks to offload Marmite, Colmans and Bovril in a major shake-up.

Selling the British brands could be part of boss Fernando Fernandezs mission to turn the consumer goods giant around.

He took the helm in March and wants to focus on beauty and personal care brands, such as Dove and Vaseline, that have global reach.

It is exploring a sale of Marmite, the yeast extract spread first manufactured in 1902 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

Fellow British household names Colmans mustard and Bovril beef extract, would also be included in a sale.

The brands have been owned by Unilever for at least 20 years. But Unilever would hold on to Pot Noodle, Reuters reported.

Shake-up: Unilever is exploring a sale of British brand Marmite, the yeast extract spread which was first manufactured in 1902 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

Together, the three brands reportedly have revenues of around 200million.

A sale would be the biggest disposal since Fernandez replaced Hein Schumacher, pledging to eradicate pockets of mediocrity.

Unilever is also understood to be keen to cling on to brands that are more popular across the world, including Hellmanns mayonnaise and Knorr stock cubes.

Earlier this year, it spun off its ice cream division. The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which owns Cornetto and Ben & Jerrys, will be floated in Amsterdam next month.

The float, which includes secondary listings in London and New York, was delayed due to the US federal shutdown.

Fernandez has been cutting costs and exploring sales of brands amid weak consumer sentiment and economic uncertainty.

Unilever announced plans to cut 7,500 jobs in April and last month sold beauty brand Kate Somerville to pop star Selena Gomezs Rare Beauty group.

It is reportedly trying to get rid of British healthy snack Graze, but it has also been acquiring trendsetters like British deodorant seller Wild and soap brand Dr Squatch.

The founders of Ben & Jerrys, which is part of the new ice cream spin-off, have demanded the brand be released ahead of the listing.

Unilever bought it in 2000 but has long had a tense relationship with the ice cream firm, which is outspoken on social and political issues.

Ben & Jerrys claimed last year that Unilever had urged the brand to stop public criticism of Donald Trump.
Entrepreneurs in Britain have accused Labour of being 'anti-business' and failing to reward hard work.

A survey of company founders ahead of the Budget found just 2 per cent think the Government 'rewards people for working hard'.

The poll by Helm, whose members are the founders and bosses of fast-growing 'scale-up' firms, found 64 per cent believe the Government is 'anti-business'.

Helm chief executive Andreas Adamides said: 'Our members feel betrayed, ignored and genuinely let down by a Government that promised growth but has delivered nothing but uncertainty and indifference. The sense of betrayal is palpable.

'These aren't faceless corporatesthey're founders who've risked everything to build businesses, create jobs, and drive the economy forward.
Qiang New Year festival celebrated in SW China's Sichuan

Xinhua) 11:01, November 21, 2025

Sichuan opera is staged during an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

The Qiang people, one of China's oldest ethnic groups, are often regarded as a "living fossil" in the evolutionary history of the Chinese nation. Southwest China's Sichuan Province is home to the country's only Qiang ethnic enclave.

Every year, on the first day of the 10th lunar month, the Qiang people celebrate their most significant traditional festival -- the Qiang New Year. Centered around themes of worshiping heaven and expressing gratitude, they hold ceremonies during the festival to honor the gods, drive away evil, express gratitude for the harvest, and pray for blessings.

Qiang New Year festival was added by UNESCO to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024.

Women in ethnic attire perform during an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

Women in ethnic attire attend an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

Women in ethnic attire perform during an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

Women in ethnic attire attend an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

Women in ethnic attire perform during an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

A woman in ethnic attire attends an event celebrating the Qiang New Year in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. An event celebrating the Qiang New Year was held here on Wednesday, starting a series of activities to celebrate the Qiang New Year, which falls on Nov. 20 this year. (Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing)
Asda has agreed to sell 24 of its stores and a depot in a bid to shore up its finances and restore its competitiveness against rivals.

The debt-laden grocery giant said it would secure 568million by offloading the sites. After selling the sites, the business will then lease them back and continue to operate them.

Asda said all locations affected would continue to run as normal, with no changes for their staff.

Two separate buyers have agreed to purchase the 24 stores and depot run by the embattled supermarket chain.

Ten of the stores and an Asda depot in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, will be sold to US investment firm Blue Owl Capital, while a further 10 will be flogged to Blue Owl's joint venture with Supermarket Income REIT.

Asda said a further four stores would be sold to London-based DTZ investors.

The supermarket chain has not released a list of the stores being offloaded.

Tough at the top: Allan Leighton, chair of Asda, is undertaking a turnaround process at the supermarket chain

Both deals will see Asda rent back the properties on 25-year lease deals, with options to extend by a further ten years.

It is understood the deals are part of efforts to strengthen Asda's financial position as it continues to plough ahead with its turnaround plans to improve its performance under boss Allan Leighton.

An Asda spokesman said: 'Asda's property strategy is centred on maintaining a strong freehold base while also taking a considered and selective approach to unlocking value from our estate where appropriate.

'These transactions reflect that approach, enabling us to realise value from the sites while retaining full operational control.'

The supermarket is due to report on its trading over the third quarter and latest financial position next week.

Asda had 3.8billion in net debt at the end of last year, according to its latest annual accounts.

In the 12 weeks to 1 November, Asda's sales fell by 6.5 per cent, making Asda by far the worst performer among Britain's grocers, according to researcher NIQ.

The slump was 'remarkable' said Clive Black, an analyst at broker Shore Capital, adding 'Asda's momentum is exceptionally weak' going into the key Christmas trading period.

Asda's parent group saw a near 600million loss last year as sales fell and the cost of servicing its debt pile increased.

Former Asda boss Allan Leighton is the chain's executive chairman and attempting to return the business to its low-cost roots. He has already revived the That's Asda Price tagline.

The business has been without a chief executive for four years.

Nadine Houghton, a national officer for the GMB union, said: 'Asda's owners, TDR Capital, is selling off yet more assets to settle the debt liabilities heaped on the business by its own borrowing.

'Debt is up, lease liabilities are up, interest payments are up  but market share and staff morale are rock bottom. Asda was once one of the UK's biggest retailers  where will it all end?'
The president of the European Central Bank warned yesterday that the region is increasingly 'vulnerable' to shocks and lagging behind in growth-driving areas.

Christine Lagarde told a banking conference that Europe is 'geared towards a world that is gradually disappearing'.

It comes as Germany and France grapple with crippling economic and political crises. A closely watched purchasing managers' index yesterday showed growth across the eurozone remained sluggish this month.

'Europe has become more vulnerable,' Lagarde said.

Warning: European Central Bank boss Christine Lagarde says region is increasingly 'vulnerable'

'Global shocks have intensified, with rising US tariffs, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stiffening competition from China.' She added Europe's domestic market had 'stood still' in areas set to underpin growth such as the digital sector and AI, noting that the model of relying on the export of goods is no longer working.

She warned that more years of 'lost growth, lost productivity, would not just be disappointing for future generations, it would be irresponsible on our part'.
The owner of British Airways has joined the race to buy a stake in Portugal's flag carrier TAP.

International Airlines Group (IAG) is the third company to express formal interest in the privatisation of TAP, joining European rivals Air France-KLM and Germany's Lufthansa.

An IAG spokesman yesterday confirmed it had submitted a statement of interest to state-owned holding company Parpublica.

Portugal relaunched the long-delayed privatisation of TAP in July, seeking to sell a 44.9 per cent stake to a business capable of boosting the company's global scale and competitiveness  with a further 5 per cent to be offered to employees.

TAP's most attractive assets are its connections to Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries and the United States from its Lisbon hub, which the government wants to keep and expand.

The IAG spokesman said: 'We believe TAP has significant potential within IAG.'

Showing an interest: The owner of British Airways has joined the race to buy a stake in Portugal's flag carrier TAP

Some fear the latter's control could mean it diverts routes from Lisbon to Madrid  the hub for IAG's Spanish airline arm Iberia.

However, the British Airways and Aer Lingus owner said its track record shows how it invests 'to strengthen airlines, benefiting customers, employees, local economies and shareholders'.
I'm buying a new build flat that I reserved back in November last year. It was meant to be completed eight months ago, in March, but it still isn't finished.

I moved out of my previous home at the end of February and am living in Airbnbs while I wait.

I have had two mortgage offers expire and also missed out on the stamp duty discount after the costs went up in April.

The housing association Notting Hill Genesis, which is developing the site, is awful at communicating. I feel completely left in the dark. The last major update came at the end of March when it said completion would be in July. It wasn't. It is now saying it won't be until the end of the year and ignores my emails.

Am I entitled to compensation and how do I get it?

And given the delays, my flat is likely to be ready after the November Budget - should I push to complete before then?

Waiting game: The property should have been completed seven months ago, now the developer admits it is running a year behind schedule

Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: This must have been a deeply frustrating and stressful year for you.

While buying a home can come with all manner of delays and unexpected complications, you would have hoped that you'd have skipped out most of the potential pitfalls by buying straight from a developer.

While you reserved the property before it was completed, and told me you thought the risk of delays was low as it was little more than four months before you were expecting to move in.

It sounds like customer care and communication were lacking from Notting Hill Genesis.

When we contacted the developer, it said it would not be ready until early March next year meaning the delay in completion will be almost 12 months.

Given your experience so far, I imagine you will take this promise with a pinch of salt.

The problem, it says, is to do with delays in connecting the new development to the local energy network.

A spokesperson for Notting Hill Genesis said: 'We sincerely apologise to all the buyers impacted by the delays on the latest phase of Royal Albert Wharf.

'This is related to complications with connection to the local energy network which supplies heating and hot water to these properties as well as the existing 1,600 households.

'These delays are preventing us securing the necessary statutory approvals and we cannot and will not hand homes over until we are comfortable they meet the high standards demanded by both us and our buyers.

'As a result we have informed them that we now do not expect them to be able to move in until the beginning of March 2026. We will seek to expedite this wherever possible.'

'We know this is hugely disappointing news and will continue to engage with all the buyers and regularly update them on progress.'

For expert advice on what you can do in this situation, we spoke to Rob Dix, co-founder of Property Hub and Paula Higgins, founder and chief executive of the property advice website Homeowners Alliance.

Our reader has spent months in limbo with their completion date pushed back further and further by the developer

Check the long-stop date

Paula Higgins replies: Your situation is more complicated because you're buying from a housing association, which means you don't have the same rights or protections as you would if you were buying from a private developer.

Housing associations are not required to sign up to the independent consumer codes that govern most private new-build sales, so your contract is the key document that sets out your rights and options.

Read your contract carefully and look for the long-stop date - sometimes called the back-stop.

This is the date by which the seller must be ready to complete. If they miss it, you normally have two options.

One, rescind the contract and recover your deposit, often with interest, or two, agree to a new completion date and proceed.

Paula Higgins of property advice website, Homeowners Alliance

Rob Dix adds: Delays like this are, unfortunately, a common hazard of buying off-plan.

It often catches buyers out, because completion dates can move several times - so it's safest not to give up existing accommodation until your solicitor confirms that completion is imminent.

The key point is what your contract says about the long-stop date.

If that date passes and they still haven't finished, you can withdraw without penalty and reclaim your deposit  but usually not the other costs you've incurred.

Up to that point though you don't have much leverage, so the first step is to confirm whether that long-stop date has been reached.

Use your solicitor to chase them

Rob Dix replies: It sounds as though you've been dealing with the housing association directly. Where possible, communication should go through your solicitor, not you.

Developers tend to take correspondence from solicitors far more seriously, and your solicitor can deal directly with the developer's legal team rather than front-line progression staff who have little authority.

I'd recommend that you press your solicitor to be more proactive: request clear confirmation of the expected completion date, escalate concerns formally, and explore your options for compensation.

What about compensation?

Paula Higgins replies: On costs, most new-build contracts exclude compensation, which means you're not automatically entitled to claim for temporary accommodation, such as Airbnbs, unless your contract or a written promise says otherwise.

Rob Dix, co-founder of Property Hub

However, you can still request a goodwill payment to cover costs like temporary housing, storage, mortgage re-application fees, or any stamp duty increase caused by delays - especially if poor communication or repeated slippage is on the seller's side.

Send a formal written complaint to the housing association, setting out the missed deadlines, financial impact, and what you're asking for. Keep a full record of all correspondence and receipts.

In your complaint, ask for a fixed, evidenced completion window with confirmation of building-control sign-off and warranty, or written confirmation that the long-stop date has been or will be breached and that you can withdraw if you wish.

Also ask for a goodwill payment for your documented out-of-pocket expenses and a commitment to regular, transparent updates with a named contact and clear escalation route.

Rob Dix adds: If you've suffered clear financial loss, you can submit a formal complaint to the developer and explore if they're a member of a redress scheme you can escalate to. However, unless they've clearly breached the contract I wouldn't have much hope of success.

What about the Budget?

Paula Higgins replies: Regarding the Budget, any announcements in November are speculative, and tax changes usually take effect from April 2026.

There's no need to rush completion for that reason. It's better to ensure your new home is fully finished and built to a high standard before you complete.
The beautiful blonde designer had one thing in mind when she boarded the fancy yacht in the Hamptons that hot August night: boosting her fledgling fashion label.

But the boat's owner? He had other plans, her family claims.

Martha Nolan, a 33-year-old Irish immigrant, had arranged to meet 60-year-old investor Christopher Durnan on August 4 to discuss his possible investment in East x East.

But a family source tells the Daily Mail the insurance tycoon appeared to have a very different evening in mind.

The pair had originally planned to meet at 4pm in a public setting, but Durnan allegedly texted her later, asking her to come instead to his yacht around 7.30pm, the source said.

Nolan's wealthy benefactor had stocked the boat with many bottles of pricey Dom Perignon champagne before she arrived.

'It seems like it was intended to be a romantic interlude,' the family source told the Daily Mail. 'He was the one driving the boat as to when and where they were meeting.'

'There's no doubt they were drinking a lot of champagne,' a second source added.

Bikini designer Martha Nolan, 33, and insurance tycoon Christopher Durnan, 60, allegedly met for a 'romantic interlude' aboard his Hamptons yacht where bottles of luxury Dom Perignon were ready to be popped before her mysterious death, family sources told the Daily Mail

Nolan's body was discovered on Durnan's yacht, the Ripple, and her family told the Daily Mail that the initial autopsy - shared privately but not publicly released by police - showed only 'trace amounts of cocaine' in her system, raising doubts that she died of a drug overdose

Close friends of Nolan sent her some chilling text messages the night of August 4, hours before she was found dead

The two set out on his fishing boat to share the bubbly and watch the Montauk sunset.

Later that night, Nolan was found dead on the yacht - and Durnan was seen running down the dock naked, hurling sunscreen at a neighboring boat and shouting for help.

Nolan had only 'trace amounts of cocaine' in her system - a revelation that has led her grief-stricken family to doubt she died of a drug overdose and question the account given by her companion that night, a source close to the family told the Daily Mail.

In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Durnan's attorney, Robert Holman, claimed his client had stripped only because his clothes were 'soaked' in the designer's vomit.

Holman said the pair had been sitting on the deck of the Ripple in the dark discussing business when Nolan suddenly went limp around 10.30 or 11pm. Durnan attempted CPR, he said, but she was already unresponsive.

Police were alerted by a bystander close to midnight - a timeline that appears to leave at least an hour unaccounted for between the moment Nolan lost consciousness and when Suffolk County police say they were called.

Holman maintained that 'it all happened immediately,' and added that one detail Durnan could offer investigators was that Nolan had excused herself twice that evening to use the restroom.

'It could be an indication of someone going to the bathroom, it could be an indication of someone doing drugs, or it could be both,' the lawyer suggested.

Her grieving family, who laid her to rest in August, told the Daily Mail that Nolan had originally planned to meet Durnan in a public setting - until he insisted they switch to his yacht around 7.30pm

Durnan's lawyer claimed he and Nolan had been sitting on the deck of the Ripple in the dark discussing business when the designer suddenly went limp at around 10.30pm or 11pm

The fashion designer had recently celebrated the opening of her East x East popup shop at Gurney's Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa and met with Durnan to discuss the brand on the day of her death

Police sources early on had called this a suspected overdose but were awaiting autopsy and toxicology results to make an official determination.

But according to Nolan's grieving family, the tests so far have been inconclusive.

In lieu of waiting for results, the family ordered a second autopsy about a week to ten days after the initial Medical Examiner's exam.

And according to the second autopsy's findings, there were no visible signs of foul play.

'There was no indication of drugs in her system that would have killed her,' the source said. 'There were only trace amounts of cocaine. And it could have been in her system for days.'

'Our own autopsy didn't show any cause of death,' the source added. 'There was no obvious cause of death, no blunt force trauma, no trauma, no signs of strangulation.

'We were told she was a young and healthy woman,' the source said.

Nolan's family has yet to speak with Durnan and were skeptical when they read his lawyer's account of that night.

'Durnan was the last one with her,' the source said, and noted the family is awaiting the official findings of police. 'Her family wants to cross every t and dot every i.'

Photos taken the next morning showed a dusting of white powder on a seat inside the 50-foot cruiser. Durnan's lawyer claimed Nolan went to the restroom twice that night - a sign, he suggested, that she may have been using drugs

Durnan, who is believed to split his time between his waterfront home in Florida and New York, has a fleet of supercars parked outside his Florida mansion, including a bright purple Lamborghini Urus worth $250,000

In his interview with New York Magazine, Holman said that while his client's meeting with Nolan was strictly about business, he acknowledged that the two had previously 'actually dated,' even claiming Durnan had traveled to her hometown in Ireland and met her family.

But when pressed for details, the attorney appeared to retreat from that characterization, saying Durnan loved Nolan 'as a friend' and insisting the pair did not have a 'hard relationship.'

A source close to Nolan's family told the magazine that Nolan never mentioned anything about a relationship with Durnan, and that the family had never met him.

A separate family source who spoke with the Daily Mail repeated that assertion and said they'd never met Holdman and that Nolan had never mentioned him them having a relationship.

Chilling text messages revealed the chaos and confusion that unfolded before her death.

After leaving the dock, the fashion designer could not be reached, and her friends began to worry.

Her pals initially used the Find My app, which showed her location was somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

'lmao. I'm sure her phone died. Or maybe she's dead,' one of her friends wrote in an eerily prescient joke.

Nolan, however, responded about ten minutes later: 'Lol I'm at the yacht club now, my phone is on.'

Although her family told our outlet the meeting may have been a romantic tryst, Durnan's lawyer later walked back his own claims that they had been involved - despite admitting to NY Magazine that Durnan had visited Nolan's family in Ireland and that the two had previously 'actually dated'

Nolan had settled a divorce from her husband just months before her untimely death and was reportedly considering marrying her boyfriend, Nick DiRubio

About an hour after her last text message, Nolan was slumped over, unresponsive.

'Chris is distraught,' his lawyer told New York Magazine. 'He watched his friend die in trauma. He's absolutely destroyed.'

He added that his client 'really liked Martha and he wanted to help her succeed.' 'He was hopeful and he liked her energy and liked the way she presented it to him.'

Nolan was living an enviable life in Manhattan's Upper East Side, posting TikToks of herself sipping champagne, taking private jets and helicopter trips with her boyfriend, Nick DiRubio, whom she reportedly planned to marry.

She had finalized her uncontested divorce from ex-husband Sam Ryan in April, according to court documents filed in New York Supreme Court.

She worked in Ireland until 2015 before moving to the US, where she founded several companies, including fashion accessories brand Duper and a luxury swimwear label.

As police now continue to probe what may have happened to the fashion designer, they are searching for potential drug dealers, according to the New York Post.

'[These dealers] may or may not have known [they were selling] poison to this girl, but that doesn't matter,' a law enforcement source told the New York Post in August.

The final post-mortem report, which will include toxicological, histological, and other testing, will take at least three months to conclude.

If the toxicology report comes back positive for drug usage, the dealers could face manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide charges, police sources said. Federal authorities could also become involved.
The three conspiracy theorists behind the horrific Wieambilla massacre, whose 'off-grid' home was stacked with heavy-duty weapons and camouflage supplies, 'shared delusional disorder', a Queensland coroner has ruled.

Gareth Train, his wife Stacey, and his brother Nathaniel, gunned down two police officers during an ambush on their rural property in the Western Downs area, west of Brisbane, on December 12, 2022.

Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot at close range within ten minutes of entering the property to conduct a welfare check on Nathaniel, who was reported missing by NSW Police at the time.

Good Samaritan neighbour Alan Dare was also murdered by the Trains when he came to investigate after he spotted smoke billowing from the property.

The Trains were subsequently killed in a gunfight with police later that night after a lengthy siege.

A five-week long inquest last year revealed photos of the compound and large weapons arsenal that the Train family had built up.

One photo displayed of a large stash of weapons from the home, laid out by authorities, including knives, axes, bats, machetes, what appeared to be a spear, at least a dozen boxes of ammunition, and a bow and arrow.

Another photo showed one of the slain officer's taser and handgun sitting on an outdoor table after being taken off their bodies by one of the Trains.

Photos taking by authorities following the tragedy showed the alarming arsenal of weapons collected by the Trains, including axes, knives and what appeared to be spears

A five-week long inquest last year revealed photos of the compound and large weapons arsenal that the Train family had built up

Gareth Train and his wife Stacey (pictured), with Gareth's brother Nathaniel, fatally shot two Queensland officers during an ambush on their rural Wieambilla property in December 2022

Nathaniel Train (pictured), his brother Gareth and Gareth's wife Stacey were subsequently killed in a gun fight with police after a lengthy siege

Another photo seen by the inquest showed a rifle covered in camouflage inside the Trains' car

The Trains' casual treatment of guns appeared to be reflected by several photos revealed during proceedings, with a gun pictured on top of a dresser and a rifle covered in camouflage inside a car.

The inquest also saw a still image from bodycam footage belonging to one of the deceased police officers.

In it, a member of the Train family can be seen armed with a rifle near a pile of police gear taken from the bodies of Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold.

Authorities also found, and photographed, a sniper hide covered in branches and leaves with a small opening towards the front gate of the Train property.

The inquest also saw the Trains' vast stash of camouflage gear, including bags, caps and pouches.

There were also photographs of sheets of cardboard peppered with gunshots that are understood to have been used for shooting practice.

On Friday, State Coroner Terry Ryan finally delivered his official findings that the four police officers attending the property to check on Nathaniel were 'adequately equipped and trained' to respond to a missing persons case, ABC News reports.

However, he added that their equipment was 'woefully inadequate to (defend) themselves or each other on the attack they faced'.

Constable Matthew Arnold (left) and Constable Rachel McCrow were killed by the Trains

Good Samaritan neighbour Alan Dare (pictured) was also killed by the Trains when he came to investigate after he spotted smoke billowing from their property

The constables were two of four officers visiting the Trains' remote Wieambilla property to conduct a welfare check on Nathaniel Train, who had been reported missing by NSW Police

Inside the home, a double-barrelled shotgun vies for space with flyspray

'They were no match for an ambush,' Mr Ryan said.

'(I'm) not satisfied extra protection may have prevented their deaths  given the wholly unexpected and unprecedented nature of what was lying in wait.'

Mr Ryan said he believed there was nothing surviving constables Keely Brough and Constable Randall Kirk could have done to stop the death of their colleagues.

Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel each had an 'undiagnosed and untreated psychotic illness', he said.

But the coroner concluded it was 'not possible' to classify the murders committed by the Trains as a terrorist act, adding the current definition of terrorism was 'narrow'.

During last year's inquest, the coroner heard that NSW Police Detective Senior Constable Tim Montgomery had contacted Chinchilla officers near Wieambilla asking if they could attend the property for a missing persons 'welfare check' on Nathaniel Train, but did not share the latest police reports.

Some of the reports summarised emails from Gareth Train telling his brother officers wanted to 'see you dead' and vowing to 'greet them as they deserve' if they turned up to his remote bush property.

In his official findings on Friday, Mr Ryan said he could not make any definitive findings on information NSW Police provided to their Queensland counterparts about the missing persons case.

But he said that, if those emails had been sent, 'it's not possible to know if it would have delayed attendance at the Wieambilla property' or 'which officers attended'.

One of the slain officers tasers and handguns were photographed on an outdoor table after being taken off their bodies by one of the Trains, the inquest heard

The Trains brothers and Stacey (pictured with Gareth Train) had become increasingly obsessed with anti-authority conspiracy theories prior to the shooting, the inquest heard

Queensland Police detailed all areas of interest, including where the Trains' locations, across the Trains' compound for the inquest last year

There were at least a dozen boxes of ammunition, including for shotguns, on the property

In her analysis of the property last year, Senior Sergeant Kirsty Gleeson told the inquest it was designed for 'off-grid' living.

There was no main line power, water or sewerage connected to the house, but there were solar panels attached to the roof of the laundry.

The Trains relied on tank water and had non-perishable foods stashed in their home and an Esky found in one of their vehicles. Toilet paper was kept in the pantry.

Troubling details about the love triangle between the Train brothers and Stacey emerged in the days following the tragedy, with the siblings' father, Ronald, claiming Gareth 'took over' his younger brother's marriage.

Gareth and Nathaniel had become estranged from their conservative Christian pastor father following the breakdown of Stacey's relationship with Nathaniel.

The siblings and Stacey then became increasingly obsessed with anti-authority conspiracy theories.

Shortly after the constables were shot dead, Gareth and Stacey ranted about 'devils' and 'demons' in a since-deleted video on their YouTube channel.

The couple recorded themselves huddling in the darkness and boasting about the cold-blooded killings.

The inquest was shown the bare interior of the Trains' property was designed for 'off-grid' living, including a first aid kit (pictured)

The inquest saw a still image from bodycam footage belonging to one of the officers in which a member of the Train family can be seen armed with a rifle near a pile of police gear

Authorities found, and photographed, a sniper hide covered in branches and leaves with a small opening towards the front gate of the Train property

The Trains' home at the centre of the compound where the firefight erupted

In the clip, seen and verified by Daily Mail at the time, Gareth said: 'They came to kill us and we killed them'. He also refers to the cops as 'devils and demons'.

Stacey Train finishes the video by saying 'we'll see you when you get home' and 'love you, Don'. It is unclear who precisely they are referring to.

Nathaniel Train does not feature in the clip. About three hours after the video was published, the three Train family members were shot dead by tactical police.
She was strangled and incinerated by Young

Years before he throttled the life out of his estranged girlfriend, Hannah McGuire, and then torched her body to cover his tracks, Lachlan Young was already adept in evil.

When he finally came clean about his heinous crime, he still shirked any responsibility - and instead blamed his dad in court.

But while Young's dad Tony may be no angel - with his own share of previous court appearances - even he knew where the line was.

In a stark message, just three weeks before his son killed Hannah, 23, Mr Young warned his son in no uncertain terms to grow up and start treating Hannah right.

Daily Mail can reveal he was so disgusted by his son's callous treatment of the beloved teacher's aide, he even threatened to knock some sense into him.

'Start acting like you are responsible and care about Hannah instead of treating her like s*** every weekend,' his father texted him.

'You want to have a crack? Come down and I will sort you out.'

Instead cowardly Young, 23, did what he always did - and took his frustrations out on Hannah, assaulting her the very next day.

Years before he throttled the life out of his live-in girlfriend, Hannah McGuire (pictured together) and then torched her body to cover his tracks, Lachlan Young was adept in evil

On Tuesday, Young was jailed for 28 years and told he must serve at least 22 years and four months before becoming eligible for parole.

For Hannah's long-suffering parents, Debbie and Glenn, the sentence was probably as good as it gets from a justice system routinely accused of being broken.

They hadn't liked Young one bit and it had nothing to do with his buck teeth, mullet haircut and rough upbringing.

They had been desperate to see the back of him, but Hannah's generous nature meant she kept trying to make her relationship with him work.

The couple had bought a home together but she finally became fed up with the volatile affair and tried to end it - but agreed to see him one last time.

Young took that as his opportunity to murder her.

What happened next has been widely reported in graphic detail. Young dumped Hannah's body in the back of her car, drove it into the bush and burnt her remains.

He then went about trying to make it look like suicide, sending messages to her mum pretending he was her.

Tony Young told his son to treat Hannah right just three weeks before his son killed her

When Lachlan Young (pictured) finally came clean about his heinous crime , he still shirked any responsibility - and instead blamed his parents

Hannah McGuire and her best friend Caitlyn Stepnell in happier times

But the lead-up and background to Young's life and Hannah's murder make it all the more tragic.

In short, Hannah's trust and belief in the decency of human beings cost her her life.

That trust applied to Victoria Police and the justice system too.

Young had been the subject of numerous intervention orders he had breached with little consequence.

An order 'protecting' Hannah from Young had only just expired when he killed her and a new one had just been put in place.

He had been on bail over other alleged offending when he killed her.

Hannah had told police she was 'terrified' of Young - and with good reason.

When Young's charade was up, he blamed his upbringing for his poor life choices.

Hannah McGuire had told police she was 'terrified' of Young - and with good reason

Lachlan Young had been abusing drugs most of his life, kicking it off with cannabis when he was just 13

Young's father had been a heavy drinker and was known to fly off the handle at a whim, the court was told.

Young had been abusing drugs most of his life, kicking it off with cannabis when he was just 13.

At 18, he began using cocaine, speed and ecstasy.

By 20 he was routinely using up to 1.5 grams of methylamphetamine a week, but would sometimes use up to three grams a week.

Young was also boozing like a trooper, downing slabs of beer and swilling spirits like they were for free.

And he and his father had been trading blows since he was around 14, Young told the court.

In October last year the father was jailed for six months after a frightening attack on a woman he believed had stolen his dog.

But had Young listened to his father's advice, Hannah would be alive today.

Hannah McGuire's friends were forced to front court as Lachlan Young maintained his innocence

Lachlan Young was ugly both inside and out

His younger sister Rebecca claimed Young had been kind to her as a child, but things changed as the years went on. Young's anger could not be tamed.

Even at school, Young was both a sook and a menace. He would storm out of class when things didn't go his way and dropped out in Year 8.

From there Young spent 18 months as a panel beater before becoming a labourer on building sites with the father of his then-girlfriend.

It was a short-lived relationship that ended in circumstances Hannah would have well understood.

Young spent time with his grandparents in South Australia as a 17-year-old before returning to Victoria and completing a carpentry apprenticeship in the weeks before the murder.

He had met Hannah at the end of 2021 and by early 2022 she had moved into his parents' home with him.

Hannah had worked with Young's sister, who was also a teacher's aide like her.

It quickly became clear to all that observed the couple that Hannah was not being treated right.

The couple had bought a home together but she finally became fed-up with the volatile affair and tried to end it - but agreed to see him one last time

A tribute was left for Hannah McGuire on a tree stump where her body had been incinerated by Young

Her father's own efforts to sort Young out fell on deaf ears.

When Young told Hannah he wanted them to buy a house just 70m down the road from his parents' home in Sebastopol, just outside of Ballarat, alarm bells rang.

Hannah moved back home with her own parents, who continue to run an iconic pub in the township of Clunes in country Victoria.

Young went ballistic and wasn't shy about letting anyone know about it.

When he chased her down the road in his car, Hannah led him to the local police station.

The last two words of her police statement made on February 17, 2023 were: 'Im terrified'.

Unable to accept a troubled man could not be turned, Hannah took him back, buying the property with him, where she would later die.

A month before she would be killed, Hannah gave up that fight.

Kicked and punched by Young, her necklace torn off, Hannah went to police where an intervention order was granted prohibiting him from hurting her any more.

Hundreds farewelled Hannah McGuire at her funeral service

But Young ignored it - and continued to harass Hannah with endless claims that he'd sort himself out.

Young took a week off work after the break-up and sought medical attention to assist with his mental health.

On March 29 he attempted to commit suicide.

Hannah spent the very next night with him at her former home.

When she failed to visit over the next few days, Young set the wheels in motion to dispatch her once and for all.

On April 3, Young was served with the intervention order paperwork.

'Women they just wanna hurt you and milk you dry and still have the decency to say it was your fault,' Young texted his boss's wife.

On the night of April 5, Hannah went to netball training and had dinner at her parents hotel.

Debbie and Glenn McGuire fronted reporters after Young's sentence. They hope for closure, but will only find more pain

She left the hotel about 9.13pm, telling her parents she was going to see a friend who was about to travel overseas.

All the while she was exchanging messages with Young which indicated her intention to see him.

What happened that night will only ever be known by Young himself.

The remorseless thug maintained his innocence all the way to trial, only changing his plea to guilty eight days into it.

Pre-trial examinations had already been conducted in December last year and again in March where more than 20 witnesses were grilled, including Debbie McGuire and a number of Hannahs friends.

In handing down his sentence, Justice James Elliott noted the suffering of Hannahs parents was hard to comprehend.

'The immense suffering of so many others whose lives were deeply touched by Hannahs murder was stark and is still raw, including because of the trauma you caused by lying about the circumstances of her death,' he said.

With time already served, Young will be eligible for parole in August 2046 when he is in his mid-40s.
Life satisfaction in Australia hits its lowest point between the ages of 40 and 44, with women experiencing the sharpest decline as unpaid care and housework continue to erode wellbeing.

A new report from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre warns that middle-aged Australians face the greatest risk of burnout, caught between work pressures, family responsibilities and rising financial strain.

Lead author Dr Daniel Kiely said women in their 40s and 50s carry a disproportionate load, spending around 12 more hours per week on unpaid care and household labour than men and experiencing 13 per cent more time-stress.

By age 48, one in ten women cares for both children and ageing parents, double the rate for men.

'Many are part of the 'sandwich generation,' caught between caring for children and ageing parents while also maintaining paid work,' he said.

'The result is chronic time poverty that erodes both mental health and financial security.'

The report finds that one in three Australians in midlife experience a major negative life event each year, with separation and financial hardship among the most damaging.

'Financial stress increases the likelihood of separation fourfold, while single parents particularly women  report the lowest life satisfaction and highest rates of hardship,' Senior research fellow Dr Abebe Hailemariam said.

Dr Daniel Kiely (pictured) said by the age 48, one in 10 women cares for both children and ageing parents  double the rate for men

'Relationship breakdowns, financial strain and the unpaid care burden don't exist in isolation. They intersect in ways that shape people's lives for years.'

Dr Kiely said that despite contributing the most to households, workplaces and communities, midlife Australians experience the highest levels of time stress, burnout and emotional fatigue - a trend that has intensified over the past decade.

'Australians in midlife are the scaffolding of our society as they raise children, support ageing parents, drive economic productivity and maintain community life,' he said.

'But these contributions come at a cost. Time scarcity, financial strain and constant juggling between competing role demands have created a perfect storm for stress and declining wellbeing.'

The report calls for targeted policy reforms to support Australians through the middle years, including expanding flexible work rights and greater access to parenting, financial and relationship support.

'The middle years are when Australians contribute the most  economically, socially and civically. Supporting them through this period is an investment in every generation,' Dr Kiely said.

'When the middle holds strong, the whole of society benefits.'
Detectives are investigating claims Arnie the German shepherd's owner was at an inner Brisbane brothel on the night he allegedly left his dog to die inside his ute, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Nathan McKeown, 43, was sensationally charged on Thursday with breaching the duty of care to an animal after his family dog was discovered dead in his abandoned ute on Amelia Street, Fortitude Valley, on November 17.

The discovery came after McKeown spent more than a week fronting the media, claiming that his dog had been kidnapped by car thieves while it slept in the back of his ute outside his friend's Wynnum home on November 8.

McKeown and his wife launched a viral social media campaign and offered a $6,000 reward for his return, with the alleged ute theft capturing the hearts of Australians who rallied to support the family and flooded their inboxes with possible Arnie sightings.

Now, the Daily Mail can reveal detectives are investigating claims that McKeown was visiting a well-known city brothel on the evening that Arnie was allegedly left behind.

Police will allege McKeown drove his ute into the heart of the city's nightlife hub at 10.30pm on November 7 and parked his car in Amelia Street in Fortitude Valley.

It is alleged he then left on foot while Arnie was still inside the car and attended a separate brothel, about a 30-minute walk away.

The manager of that brothel told the Daily Mail one of their workers saw McKeown on the Today Show during one of his public appeals and recognised him as a customer from the night of November 7.

Nathan McKeown, 43, (pictured) has been charged over the alleged neglectful death of his dog, Arnie the German Shepherd

Arnie was allegedly left inside the back of McKeown's ute (pictured) for more than a week before it was discovered on November 17. Now police are investigating claims he spent part of the evening at a brothel

Footage has emerged of police removing Arnie's body after he was allegedly left abandoned in the vehicle

The woman then reported her alleged encounter to management, who lodged a report with police on Thursday as news broke of McKeown's arrest.

The brothel asked not to be named to avoid being associated with the tragedy.

The Daily Mail has confirmed a report was lodged with Queensland Police Service and officers are working to substantiate it.

It is understood that the brothel has CCTV footage that allegedly shows McKeown at the premises between 11pm and 1am that evening.

The manager told the Daily Mail: 'He came in and booked a lady and stayed with that lady.

'We found it difficult to remove him and all he could talk about was that he had lost his car, but there was no talk of his dog [being inside it].

'The girl told him to report it stolen, then he called his wife and said it had been taken,' she claimed.

She said McKeown eventually left of his own accord.

She said CCTV also showed McKeown returning to the business between 3am and 3.30am, but none of the ladies would see him.

Footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows McKeown driving to Amelia Street, where police will allege he left his car with Arnie inside

Arnie was said to have been stolen by car thieves as he slept inside McKeown's ute, but police will allege the pet owner abandoned the vehicle in Fortitude Valley

The manager said staff at the establishment were shocked and distressed after hearing about the arrest in the case, which they have been following.

The Daily Mail put questions to McKeown but did not receive a response by deadline.

Police have alleged that on November 8, McKeown allegedly told his wife, Louise, that the ute had been stolen and she filed a police report.

Ms McKeown had no idea the vehicle had not actually been stolen, police say.

How the search was sparked

The frantic week-long search began after Arnie was reportedly stolen along with the ute from outside a home on Davidson St, at Wynnum, between 1.30am and 5am on November 8.

McKeown said he had the eight-year-old German shepherd with him when he dropped in to visit friends, but his mate's kelpie didn't get along with Arnie, so he put his dog in the back canopy of his black Toyota HiLux and gave him some water.

When McKeown went to leave several hours later, he said both his ute and Arnie were gone.

'I went and met one of my mates, he picked me up, we drove around looking up streets, checking car parks seeing if it had been abandoned,' the father-of-one told Seven News last week.

'I would have heard him if he barked, he probably thought it was me getting in the ute.'

The Daily Mail understands McKeown had spent part of the evening of November 7 with one of his best mates, who has an aggressive cattle dog.

A poignant tribute to the dead dog could be seen at the home of Arnie's family in Brisbane

The Daily Mail understands McKeown attended the brothel alone, and does not suggest the friend was with him.

The Daily Mail also does not suggest the friend was aware that McKeown had allegedly left the dog in the car on Amelia Street.

One neighbour, Claire, told the Daily Mail 'they're a lovely couple' who never caused trouble.

'Arnie was like their family, they loved him and he would be genuinely devastated about what's happened,' she said.

'Sometimes we'd be having a bonfire at the same time and they'd have some music going, but we never had any trouble.

'It's so sad because they're so nice.'

McKeown issued countless online community appeals as Queensland Police worked around the clock to locate Arnie and the stolen vehicle.

Police will allege McKeown's wife Louise did not know the vehicle was never stolen

The search came to an end on Monday when a member of the public located the vehicle parked on Amelia Street with Arnie dead inside.

'Unfortunately there isn't a better outcome and Arnie was found... deceased, still in the back of the ute that was stolen,' the family posted on Tuesday.

'We are beyond devastated. He didn't deserve to go like this!! We had the best life with him and he is going to be so missed.

'We sincerely want to thank everyone for all your help over the past week in the search for our boy Arnie.

'Police are following up all CCTV footage and leads.'

Shock arrest

Following inquiries from Daily Mail on Thursday, Queensland Police revealed they will allege in court that the car was not stolen and the owner had left the dog in the ute in Fortitude Valley.

'The owner of the vehicle has assisted police with these investigations, and it has now been established that a criminal offence of unlawful use of (a) motor vehicle has not occurred,' a spokesperson said.

Queensland Police previously said that reports of 'Arnie' sightings took officers across the Brisbane region and surrounding districts, but they were 'unsubstantiated'.

As investigations remain ongoing, Queensland Police thanked the media and the public on Thursday for their extensive assistance throughout the investigation.

'Police are aware this has been a highly publicised case, and offences of this nature may cause distress and upset members of the public,' a spokesperson said.

'The Queensland Police Service requests that the public are respectful of the matter's progression through the courts.

'The QPS takes animal care seriously.'

McKeown has been charged with one count of 'breach of duty of care of animal by failing to provide under the Animal Protection Act'.

He is expected to appear before a Brisbane court next month.
The first men will today be invited to join a game-changing prostate cancer screening trial that will revolutionise care and save thousands of lives a year in the UK.

Researchers will compare combinations of the most promising techniques so the NHS can adopt the most effective approach and make earlier, safer and more effective diagnoses.

Over 300,000 men will be recruited to the 42million Transform project, which is the biggest prostate cancer screening trial in over two decades.

The results will help shape a potential national screening programme for the disease, which affects 63,000 men a year nationwide and kills 12,000.

Health secretary Wes Streeting last night said the launch of the trial marks a turning point, with the prospect of more patients being diagnosed early when the disease is easier to treat and survival chances are higher.

Around 16,000 men will be recruited for the first stage, which will pitch a mix of PSA blood tests, genetic spit tests and fast MRI scans against the current NHS diagnostic pathway.

The approaches that prove most effective will then be tested in a much larger group of up to 300,000 men.

Patients aged between 50 and 74  or 45 and 74 for higher risk groups  will be invited directly by their GP, so the trial mirrors how a future screening programme would operate.

The Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths

The first testing will be at the InHealth community diagnostic centre in Ealing, with more set to enroll across the UK.

It comes as the Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially for high risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or particular genetic mutations.

The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the government on which screening programmes to offer, is currently considering recent developments around prostate cancer diagnosis and is due to report its findings later this year.

A major study last month found screening men for prostate cancer slashes their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent, with one such death prevented for every 456 men checked.

However, Transform goes beyond existing evidence, testing new ways to diagnose the disease that could find the cancers that todays methods miss.

It will also quickly produce new information about the tests currently used.

If the NSC decides there is insufficient evidence to recommend screening now, these early results could help shift the evidence in favour of screening in as little as two years, researchers say.

The massive scale of Transform will also allow the creation of the biggest ever bank of prostate cancer samples, images and data to power the development of new tests and treatments for decades to come.

Hashim Ahmed, the trials chief investigator and professor of urology at Imperial College London

Hashim Ahmed, the trials chief investigator and professor of urology at Imperial College London, said: Transform is truly game-changing.

As the biggest and most ambitious trial Ive ever been part of, the start of recruitment today marks a pivotal step towards getting the results men urgently need to make prostate cancer diagnosis safe and more effective so that we can unlock the potential of prostate cancer screening in the UK.

Combining our world-class team of UK researchers, the latest screening techniques like fast MRI scans, PSA blood tests and genetic tests, we can find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer  minimising late diagnosis, saving more lives and doing so with fewer harms.

Importantly, weve designed the study so that we can evaluate promising new tests as soon as theyre developed.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: Prostate cancer is one of the biggest killers of men in the UK.

Devastatingly, around one in eight will get it and that risk is doubled in Black men.

But today marks a turning point for prostate cancer care in this country, as the first men are invited to take part in this game-changing trial.

When the UK National Screening Committee share their initial findings on screening for prostate cancer, I will look carefully at their recommendations as I am determined to bring about genuine change.

Laura Kerby, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, which part-funded the study, said: The future of prostate cancer screening starts today.

Its incredible to see the launch of this once-in-a-generation trial that so many people have worked to make possible, from our scientists to our amazing supporters raising funds.

Now we need the public to stand up and be part of it.

The men signing up for the study, and the people who donate to keep it running, will have the power to help save thousands of lives each year in the UK and even hundreds of thousands globally.'

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and chief executive officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, said: The start of recruitment for the Transform trial marks a major milestone in prostate cancer research.
Middle class drug use is funding Russia's war in Ukraine and even espionage activity on British soil via a global money laundering network, law enforcement chiefs warned.

A billion-dollar network so large it has bought a bank in Kyrgyzstan is operating in 28 UK towns and cities collecting 'dirty' cash from criminals then converting it to 'clean' cryptocurrency.

In the past 12 months the National Crime Agency has arrested 45 suspected money launderers and seized more than 5million in cash.

And last year it dismantled a network run by glamorous Siberian millionaire Ekaterina Zhdanova which laundered money for Irish cartel the Kinahans and state-sponsored spies.

But deputy director Sal Melki said that the horrifying link between casual drug use and nefarious activity from the Russian state had become clear for the first time.

'We can draw a really clear thread between someone buying cocaine on a Friday night all the way through to geopolitical events causing suffering across the world,' he said.

Mr Melki explained that money earned by drug dealers and other criminals moved upstream to be laundered by the network, with the money launderers taking a slice of these profits.

This money was then used to fund Russian intelligence projects, military operations and to help state-backed organisations circumvent sanctions.

Ekaterina Zhdanova, who was born in Siberia and built a vast network of contacts in Moscow, ran the 'Smart' money laundering network but is now in custody in France

The NCA has seized more than 5million in cash in the last 12 months alone from people involved in the money laundering networks

'It's not as simple as paying a drug dealer and the crime goes away - it is funding bad things around the world,' he added.

Russian intelligence used Zhdanova's network, named Smart, to provide funds to a UK-based group of Bulgarians who were convicted in March of a spying operation which passed secrets to the Kremlin for three years.

The group, led by a man named Orlin Roussev, received orders directly from Moscow and was run from a Great Yarmouth guesthouse stacked with sophisticated surveillance technology.

Smart and another group named TGR, headed up by Russian businessman Georgy Rossi, were dismantled by Operation Destabilise last year and Zhdanova is currently held in pre-trial detention in France.

In August, a company linked to Rossi named Altair Holding SA was sanctioned in Britain after it was identified as owning a controlling 75 per cent stake in Kyrgyzstan-based Keremet Bank which was utilised for sanctions evasion.

Solution architect at anti-money laundering firm Strise, Robin Lycka, explained that the purchase of the bank represented a new sanctions evasion model where 'you become a bank instead of using a bank.'

The network had brought its financial infrastructure in-house to give money launderers full control over the creation of data and any reports that might trigger safeguarding measures, he added.

Russian businessman Georgy Rossi (right, with Elena Chirkinyan) heads up money laundering group TGR and bought a controlling stake in Kyrgyzstan-based Keremet Bank

The NCA and Scotland Yard have made a series of arrests of couriers who collect cash from criminals and transport it on behalf of money launderers.

Among them was Giorgi Tabatadze, who was sentenced to three years in prison for helping the networks to launder 2.2 million.

Tabatadze was arrested by NCA officers in April 2024 and more than 750,000 in cash was seized from his car and home address.

The NCA has begun installing posters with warnings for other couriers in English and Russian above urinals and hand dryers at services stations across Britain.

'Millions of Britons will have seen these messages at service stations but rest assured, they were not for you,' Mr Melki said.

'To the launderers who will have seen them, your choice is simple: either stop this line of work, or prepare to come face to face with one of our officers and the reality of your choices. Easy money leads to hard time.'

The money laundering network operates in 28 towns and cities in the UK

Vitaliy Lutsak (pictured) and Valeriy Popovych were sentenced in April to a combined 13 years for laundering 6million

Valeriy Popovych and Vitaliy Lutsak were sentenced in April to a combined 13 years for laundering 6million  exploiting the Russia-Ukraine war to launder their criminal profits.

The pair used criminal cash to purchase vans and lorries in Britain before selling them into Ukraine, converting the profits into cryptocurrency.

The scheme enabled Popovych to buy a 1million second home in London.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 'This complex operation has exposed the corrupt tactics Russia used to avoid sanctions and fund its illegal war in Ukraine.

'We are working tirelessly to detect, disrupt, and prosecute anyone engaging in activity for a hostile foreign state. It will never be tolerated on our streets.

'I want to thank every officer for their work uncovering this criminality and intercepting the dirty money networks that bankroll serious organised crime.
Disturbing new evidence is being reviewed by prosecutors in Massachusetts after a report revealed decades of sexual abuse at an elite boarding school, including allegations against a teacher shielded by the state's age of consent law.

Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, which charges up to $75,600 a year for international boarders, hired a law firm last year to investigate misconduct claims.

A 60-page report released in August concluded that history teacher Matthew Rutledge abused at least five students over two decades and that administrators repeatedly failed to act on warnings, reported Boston.com.

Investigators also substantiated allegations against seven other former employees, exposing a pattern of misconduct spanning decades.

The report described Rutledge as a 'polarizing' figure, with some saying 'you either loved him or you hated him.'

It found he engaged in 'grooming behavior, sexual advances, sexual touching, and forcible oral and vaginal intercourse,' amounting to 'egregious patterns of grooming and sexual misconduct.'

One student said Rutledge had sexual contact and intercourse with her multiple times during her junior and senior years, including 'at his house when she was babysitting his children, in his classroom, and in other rooms/locations on campus.'

Another student said that on graduation day, Rutledge 'pulled' her into his classroom, gave her a letter and gift, hugged her for a long time, kissed her goodbye, and told her he 'loved' her. The same student said he later engaged in 'forceful' and 'animalistic' vaginal and oral intercourse with her.

The close-knit school charges fees starting at $6,800 per year up to $43,800 for a day student, while international boarding costs up to $75,600. With fewer than 200 students at the institution, Rutledge's behavior was allegedly an open secret

Longtime history teacher Matthew S. Rutledge has been accused of sexual abuse at Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield by five women between 1992 and 2010, two of whom have identified themselves

Other accounts described threats and coercion: one student said Rutledge 'threatened [her] often that he would kill himself' if she reported him, while another said he made her believe she would 'not get into college' if she spoke up.

The report found that in the 1990s, a senior student was punished for saying Rutledge was 'having sex' with international students and was forced to write an 'apology' letter.

At an all-school meeting, students were warned 'not to gossip' or face 'disciplinary action.'

Parents later reported 'unmistakably inappropriate' behavior, including Rutledge attempting to kiss and professing his love for a recent graduate.

The Board summary said former leaders Norris and Chandler 'failed to adequately respond and properly investigate after seeking advice from the School's former legal counsel.'

Concerns raised to Board President Nancy Ault were also not properly investigated.

Other Misconduct Investigators substantiated claims against seven other former employees, including a teacher in the 2000s who showed 'grooming behavior' and 'inappropriate physical contact,' such as rubbing a student's shoulders and touching another's upper leg.

One alumna reported waking up 'naked and alone' in a past employee's bed.

He was accused by five women between 1992 and 2010, two of whom have identified themselves (Pictured: Rutledge with accuser Hilary F. Simon)

Ruttledge will not be prosecuted for allegedly grooming and abusing multiple young girls because of the state's age of consent laws (Pictured: Teacher Matthew Rutledge with one of the accusers, Melissa Fares)

Miss Hall's apologized and settled some legal claims. The school has since implemented new staff training and set guidelines for where students and teachers can meet.

'We would not know the full extent of this harm if it weren't for the courageous Survivors who came forward,' trustees wrote in a letter to the community. 'We are profoundly grateful to these individuals, and we are simultaneously deeply sorry for all they endured.'

Rutledge resigned in March 2024 after allegations became public.

The claims first surfaced that month when former student Melissa Fares posted on Facebook that Rutledge had sexually assaulted her between 2007 and 2010.

Hilary Simon later came forward, saying Rutledge kissed her and told her he loved her at her graduation in 2005.

Both women described grooming that began when they were 14 or 15, escalating to sexual contact after they turned 16 - the legal age of consent in Massachusetts. That law shielded Rutledge from criminal charges.

'Massachusetts law defines the age of consent as 16,' Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said last year. 'While the alleged behavior is profoundly troubling, it is not illegal.'

The district attorney's office says the case remains open and is reviewing new evidence from the report, which was based on 146 interviews.

'Our office has assigned a team to review the findings,' spokeswoman Julia Sabourin said.

The school has since implemented new staff training and set guidelines for where students and teachers can meet

Fares and Simon have testified before lawmakers, urging passage of a bill that would bar teachers and other authority figures from claiming consent in sexual relationships with minors.

'For more than 30 years, this man preyed on students - why? Because he knew he could,' Simon told legislators in June. 'He knew that the law offered cover.'

Fares added: 'Massachusetts expects a 16-year-old to say 'no' to someone who is like a parent, who holds power over their grades, their college recommendations and their social freedom. The next generation needs the protection we never got.'

Massachusetts is one of 11 states where consent laws allow teachers to claim sexual relationships with students as legal once the student turns 16. 'The school was very, very well aware of what he was doing,' Simon said. 'And they didn't stop him.'
Disgraced former Harvard President Larry Summers spent his honeymoon on billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's private island after marrying one of the school's English professors.

The professor, Elisa New, flew to Little Saint James on Epstein's infamous 'Lolita Express' with Summers, who left the school earlier this week over embarrassing emails where he referred to Epstein as his 'wingman.'

The couple flew from Bedford, Massachusetts to the island on December 11, 2005, ten days after their wedding and while Summers was still president, according to publicly available flight logs obtained by The Harvard Crimson.

The logs show Summers and New flew alongside Epstein's infamous madam and ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and his former pilot, Larry Visoski.

'Mr. Summers and Ms. New spent their honeymoon in St. John and Jamaica in December 2005, which was long before Mr. Epstein was arrested for the first time,' a spokesperson for summers said.

'As part of that trip, they made a brief visit of less than a day to Mr. Epstein's island.'

However, it did come six months after Palm Beach police began investigating Epstein over the rape of a 14-year-old girl and two months after police had executed a search warrant on his mansion.

Epstein hired Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz just days before the visit by Summers and New.

Disgraced Harvard economist Larry Summers (pictured center with Reid Hoffman in 2022) spent his honeymoon with Elisa New (pictured right) one of the school's English professors on billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's private island

Summers left the school earlier this week over embarrassing emails where he referred to Epstein (pictured) as his 'wingman.'

The honeymoon trip is one of four publicly known flights Summers took on one of Epstein's planes and three he took while running Harvard.

New remains a professor emerita at Harvard in the school's English department, teaching American Literature. She has been employed by the school since 1999.

The Daily Mail has reached out to a spokesperson for Harvard University for comment.

New is featured in the emails that were released by the House Oversight Committee earlier this week.

The documents show that New discussed her personal projects at length with Epstein, soliciting thousands of dollars from him even after Harvard said it would stop taking contributions from the disgraced financier.

In one 2014 exchange, New and Epstein discussed a $500,000 gift to Poetry in America, a television show and digital initiative she spearheaded.

The emails also show she once accepted an unspecified amount of money from Leon Black, an executive at private equity firm Apollo, in a gift she wrote Epstein helped broker.

'It really means a lot to me, all financial help aside, Jeffrey, that you are rooting for me and thinking about me,' she wrote in December 2015.

Nearly 200 people who visited Jeffrey Epstein 's 'pedo' island Little St James left a trail of mobile device data which links them to homes and offices in the US around the world

The main property on Little St James is surrounded by several other structures including the maids' quarters and a massive, square-shaped white building on one end of the island that some say is a music room fitted with acoustic walls

Summers, who once served as the US's Treasury Secretary, will not conduct the last few lectures of his class for the fall semester and will not teach any courses in the spring

'His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the course he has been teaching with them this semester,' a spokesperson told the Harvard Crimson.

Summers, who once also served as the president of the prestigious university, will also take an immediate leave from his position as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

'Mr. Summers has decided it's in the best interest of the Center for him to go on leave from his role as director as Harvard undertakes its review,' the spokesperson said.

A university representative has since confirmed Summers shared his intentions with the school, which had announced hours earlier it is conducting a 'review of information concerning individuals included in the newly-released Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.'

Summers had previously said he would be 'stepping back' from public life but would continue to teach economics at Harvard after damning emails revealed how he had been communicating with Epstein for years.

He even asked the pedophile for sex and love advice - prompting Epstein to refer to himself as Summers' 'wingman.'

'I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,' Summers said on Monday.

The logs show Summers and New flew alongside Epstein's infamous madam and ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured) and his former pilot, Larry Visoski

In email exchanges dated between 2013 and 2019, Summers and Epstein shared their thoughts about current events and politics - while also delving into the married economics professor's love life. Epstein is pictured smiling at Summers in 2004

Summers analyzed his exchange with a woman in classic economic terms, by weighing up how he could maximize profit from what he gave in the exchange with Epstein

'While continuing to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.'

Summers has now severed his relationships with think tanks Center for American Progress and the Center for Global Development and has stepped down from his position on the board of OpenAI.

'Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI Board of Directors, and we respect his decision,' the company said. 'We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the Board.'

Meanwhile, The New York Times Opinions section and Bloomberg News announced they would not be renewing his contract as a contributing writer.

But over the past few days, pressure has been mounting on Summers to step away from his teaching position - with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren urging Harvard to cut ties with him.

She told CNN she believes Summers 'cannot be trusted' with young college students given his lengthy friendship with Epstein.

Warren added that Summers displayed 'monumentally bad judgment' in his messages with Epstein while he was married to New.

It is unclear whether they have an open relationship or if he was cheating on his partner of now-20 years.

Summers previously served as the Treasury Secretary in the Clinton administration

Former Vice President Al Gore is pictured congratulating Summers after he was sworn in as treasury secretary in 1999

Summers told The Harvard Crimson last week that he regretted his friendship with Epstein.

'I have great regrets in my life. As I have said before, my association with Jeffrey Epstein was a major error of judgment,' he said.

Summers has worked at Harvard since 1993, when he became an economics professor. He then served as the school's president from 2001 to 2006, when he resigned following a faculty no-confidence vote due to a speech he made suggesting the lack of women in science and engineering might be connected to differences in their aptitudes for the subjects.

Prior to joining the faculty at Harvard he served as the Treasury Secretary for the Clinton administration. He has also advised Joe Biden's presidential campaign.

But when Harvard conducted a review of Epstein's ties to the school - including financial documents and meetings with members of the faculty - Summers name came up in a citation for the website for the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, which he established with funding from Epstein.

According to the May 2020 report, Epstein visited the program's offices dozens of times between 2010 and 2018, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In the email exchanges dated between 2013 and 2019, Summers and Epstein frequently shared their thoughts about current events and politics - while also delving into the married economics professor's love life.

He complained to the now-disgraced financier in one of the messages about feeling like 'the friend without benefits' in his relationship with a woman who jilted him in 2019, and asked him for tips on how to reply to her texts.

The emails came long after Epstein pleaded guilty to sex crimes against children in 2008 - and Harvard had already stopped accepting donations from him the previous year in light of the allegations.

In the end, Harvard officials have said Epstein donated more than $9 million to the school prior to his death in 2019.

The school has since agreed to adopt new guidelines on accepting potentially controversial gifts and revise its procedures for appointing visiting fellows - a one-year non-degree seeking research position Epstein held in 2005 under Summers' presidency.
A California police officer bravely rescued a tiny, purring kitten after it was trapped inside a Tesla.

On November 2, San Mateo police responded to a call featuring every dispatchers dreaded phrase: I think theres a noise coming from my engine.'

Officer Figueroa arrived to the scene, but when he opened the cars hood, he was met with an unusual sight: a little furball staring back at him with wide, 'glowing eyes.'

'Now, most people open their hood and hope for the best,' the San Mateo police department wrote in a statement on Facebook.

'[Officer] Figueroa opened it and found a kitten clinging to the engine like it was starring in its own action movie.'

The feline was 'wedged in tighter than a toddler in a car seat,' clearly frightened as it squirmed inside the odd hiding spot.

'It had the look of someone who realized, a little too late, that the warm spot they crawled into was, in fact, a terrible life choice,' the post read.

Officer Figueroa rescued a tiny, purring kitten after it was trapped inside a Tesla

The heroic officer safely removed the kitten in what was jokingly dubbed a 'tactical feline extraction'

The heroic officer performed what was jokingly dubbed a 'tactical feline extraction' and safely removed the kitten from the oil-slicked engine.

'[It was] A rescue so delicate, it would make a bomb squad sweat. There they were Officer Figueroa, the fire department, and one deeply unimpressed cat.'

Once the little kitten was free, it strutted away proudly, reportedly in perfect, fluffy condition.

'Today we gather to honor true bravery. Not the Hollywood kind with explosions and dramatic slow-motion-but the kind that involves a police officer, a car engine, and one very confused cat.'

The department then praised Figueroa for his 'ability to keep a straight face' while rescuing the 'judgmental kitten.'

The Purrfect Catch Foundation scooped up the stray, who is now up for adoption, and appropriately named it 'Figueroa.'

The Purrfect Catch Foundation scooped up the stray, who is now up for adoption, and appropriately named it 'Figueroa'

The emotional story melted social media users' hearts who also commended the brave officer.

'Thank you, Officer Figueroa for your true heroism in the eyes of more than just your fellow human beings!' One user gushed.

'I think officer Figueroa needs to adopt Figueroa. You can see the love in his eyes,' another quipped.
The Coast Guard is strongly pushing back on a stunning report that said the military branch is planning to no longer characterize swastikas as hate symbols.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that the Nazi insignia - representative of fascism and antisemitism - would be classified as 'potentially divisive' under new guidelines.

Nooses and the Confederate flag would be downgraded as well, though displaying the Confederate flag would remain banned, the new guidance said.

Service members would also have less time to report the display of a noose or a swastika, limiting it to 45 days.

The new policy, one critic argued, would have a chilling effect, as members of the Coast Guard are often deployed for months.

The previous policy had no limit on timing.

'If you are at sea, and your shipmate has a swastika in their rack, and you are a black person or Jew, and you are going to be stuck at sea with them for the next 60 days, are you going to feel safe reporting that up your chain of command?' a Coast Guard official told the Post.

In the Post's report, the newspaper provided side-by-side language of the 2023 policy versus the one that is set to be implemented on December 15.

The Coast Guard is pushing back on a report that said the military branch is planning to no longer characterize swastikas as hate symbols, despite a new policy that refers to them instead as 'potentially divisive symbols'

Hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' are seen marching in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017, after the town decided to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee

'The following is a non-exhaustive list of symbols whose display, presentation, creation, or depiction would constitute a potential hate incident: a noose, a swastika, supremacist symbols, Confederate symbols or flags, and anti-Semitic symbols,' read the policy in 2023.

'The display of these types of symbols constitutes a potential hate incident because hate-based groups have co-opted or adopted them as symbols of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, or other bias,' the policy continued.

The November 2025 policy read: 'Potentially divisive symbols and flags include, but are not limited to, the following: a noose, a swastika, and any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups as representations of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, or other bias.'

On Thursday, the acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin Lunday, argued that the fresh wording did not represent a policy change.

'The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false,' Lunday said in a statement posted on X. 'These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy.'

Lunday said any display of these symbols would be investigated and violators would be punished.

'The Coast Guard remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace,' he said.

'Symbols such as swastikas, nooses and other extremist or racist imagery violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant under current policy,' Lunday added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitti ignored a question about the Coast Guard's change of policy during Thursday's press briefing, as the same reporter had asked her why President Donald Trump referred to a journalist as 'piggy'

The Department of Homeland Security oversees the Coast Guard during peace time, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem touring U.S. Coast Guard Station Charleston earlier this month

The report on Nazi insignia comes at a time when anti-semitism is roiling the Republican Party, which has split over its longtime allegiance to Israel and its military pursuits.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ignored a question about the Coast Guard story during her Thursday briefing, moving on quickly after the same reporter had asked her about President Donald Trump calling a journalist 'piggy.'

The policy change attracted fury online.

'A swastika is a hate symbol, plain and simple. If Kristi Noem thinks that's up for debate then she has no business overseeing our Coast Guard. We should be doing everything we can to combat rising antisemitism. Why on earth would anyone in DHS make this change?' commented Democratic Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.

The Department of Homeland Security oversees the Coast Guard during peacetime, meaning Noem is in charge.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a likely 2028 Democratic White House hopeful, also chimed in.

'I helped build a Holocaust museum so future generations would understand the horror of the swastika - not watch our own government rebrand it, the noose, and the Confederate flag as merely "potentially divisive,"' Pritzker posted to X.

Trump has made several moves to restore Confederate imagery in the United States, after statues were taken down and military bases were renamed in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020.

Late last month, a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike was reinstalled in a park near the headquarters of the Labor Department in Washington, D.C.

In recent weeks, the president has also said glowing things about the Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

In October, as the president discussed what's being called the Arc de Trump - an archway Trump wants to see installed to mark the country's 250th anniversary next year - he noted how that spot was going to be used for a Lee statue in the early 1900s.

'Would have been OK with me,' Trump said. 'Would have been OK with a lot of people in this room.'
Online, wannabe food influencer Pei 'Lu' Chung projects a lifestyle of refined elegance and rarefied indulgence.

One glance at her Instagram page reveals Hermes and Prada shopping hauls, softly lit mirror selfies, and sculpted plates from some of New York City's best restaurants.

But dig a little deeper, and all is not what it seems. Buried between the glossy posts are captions that veer into the nonsensical, and stories in which she launches into strange rants about her neighbors, making scattered, paranoid claims.

Her manicured facade fell apart this week when the 34-year-old was arrested for the seventh time in less than a month, accused yet again of racking up a hefty tab at a restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which she refused to pay.

However, the so-called 'dine-and-dash diva' appears undeterred. On Monday, staff at 12 Chairs say she walked out after refusing to settle her tab, and on Wednesday, the manager at Hole in the Wall asked her to leave mid-meal after recognizing her from recent coverage, staff at both restaurants told the Daily Mail.

Exclusive images obtained by the Mail show Chung seated alone inside Hole in the Wall, twirling pasta and sipping a cappuccino before her abrupt ejection.

Then, on Thursday night, the Daily Mail encountered Chung two doors down at the swanky Maison Premiere, playing with her camera by the bar. When approached for comment, she silently rose from her seat and moved to the back of the restaurant.

She attempted to order a drink, but management refused to serve her and asked her to leave. She declined, and police were called. Chung then quietly slipped out moments before officers arrived.

For many, Chung's brazen antics have come as a shock. But to her neighbors, none of this is surprising. They say her public behavior mirrors the turmoil they have endured for months inside the luxury waterfront building they share.

Pei Chung, the so-called dine-and-dash diva, was seen on the prowl again in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, last night, racking up a tab at the Australian restaurant Hole in the Wall

Exclusive images obtained by the Mail show Chung seated alone twirling pasta on her fork

Three neighbors who spoke with the Daily Mail described Chung as a disruptive and unnerving presence whose late-night screaming fits, door-pounding, alleged acts of vandalism and bizarre outbursts have allegedly drawn police to her door more times than they can count. The NYPD has been contacted for comment.

One neighbor, who asked to be identified only as Will, claimed he has borne the brunt of her ire since she moved into the exclusive building in July 2021. He said their feud began after Chung messaged him out of the blue, asking him to join her in a lawsuit against building management over what he considered a petty grievance. He politely declined.

What followed, he said, was a sudden escalation.

'I think when I shut her down, she villainized me,' he said. 'That's when she started to play music really loud. She'd blast EDM and classical music so loud my walls would shake. Sometimes really early in the morning and then things continued to get weirder and worse from there.'

Will said that when Chung first arrived, she mostly kept to herself. Their early interactions were brief and friendly. He recalls their first proper interaction when one of his cats slipped out of his apartment, and he found Chung petting it in the hallway.

A week later, he said, he awoke in the early hours to a text message from Chung asking, 'Can I come and see your cats?' - having apparently pulled his number from the building's resident group chat.

By winter 2022, her behavior appeared to shift. According to Will, several men in the building who had previously been friendly with her gradually distanced themselves after noticing 'something was off.'

Chung was abruptly ejected from the restaurant after staff recognized her from recent news coverage, staff told the Daily Mail

One neighbor, who asked to be identified only as Will, told the Daily Mail that Chung has been tormenting him for months, playing music in the early hours and vandalizing his door

In all, Chung (seen Wednesday) has been arrested seven times for the same misdemeanor charge: theft of services

Then, on Thursday night, the Daily Mail encountered Chung two doors down at the swanky Maison Premiere. She was asked to leave and refused until police were called

Late last month, Chung was arrested for allegedly refusing to pay a bill at the famed steakhouse Peter Luger's

During this period, Chung allegedly told a now-former doorman that she had seen a sniper on the roof of a nearby building. Chung, a Taiwanese citizen, also voiced fears the Chinese Communist Party was 'coming after her,' Will claimed.

Will said she seemed more mellow by spring 2023. Aside from occasional flare-ups and noise complaints, life on the floor was relatively normal - until early summer 2024, when Chung contacted Will again via WhatsApp, asking about his rent and what he paid for the building's facilities.

In screenshots shared with the Daily Mail, Chung claimed the building was trying to charge her double for gym access and pointed out what she believed were violations in the clauses of her tenancy agreement.

After a flurry of messages, she suggested 'consulting a lawyer for potential legal action.' Will replied that he wasn't interested and wished her luck.

It was around this time that Chung stopped paying rent altogether. Legal records obtained by the Daily Mail show that her lease expired in August 2024, but she has continued living in her $3,350-a-month studio ever since - without making a payment. To date, she owes more than $40,000 in back rent and has been ordered by a judge to vacate the premises by December 1.

Her unpaid rent, Will said, became an open secret among residents and doormen.

After he rebuffed her lawsuit proposal and word spread that she was in arrears, Will claims her behavior went off the rails.

Chung's Instagram page is filled with glamorous snaps showing the 34-year-old decked from head to toe in designer gear - but her manicured facade came crumbling down this week

Legal records show she owes more than $40,000 in rent. She has been court-ordered to leave her apartment by December 1 (seen above is the eviction notice on Chung's door)

After allegedly skipping out on a bill at a restaurant on Monday, Chung was captured returning home by a group of neighbors

In November 2024, she ranted in the resident WhatsApp group that front-desk staff weren't wearing suit jackets, as she believed was customary - drawing rebuke from several residents, messages show. She was later removed from the group.

In the weeks that followed, Will said Chung then started playing music so loudly that his walls shook and furniture rattled.

'It was intentional,' he said. 'She'd bang in all different areas - the bathroom, the main room. You could tell she'd pushed the speaker right up to my wall.'

Will claimed Chung's outbursts often woke him in the middle of the night or in the early morning hours. He banged on the wall in response and repeatedly called 311, but police could do little. Officers would knock, she wouldn't answer, and they'd eventually leave, he said.

On December 15, 2024, the NYPD returned for a welfare check after reports that she had been screaming in Mandarin inside her apartment and blasting music for hours. Video footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows several officers forcing open her door.

Will, who witnessed the incident, said, 'She answered their questions correctly but kept saying everyone was against her, and that she's right and everyone else is wrong.'

As their war between walls continued, Chung allegedly began leaving strange items outside of Will's door, including a dirty face mask and used plastic gloves.

He says he lost count of how many times he or other residents called police, but officers would sometimes visit her floor multiple times per week - occasionally multiple times in a day.

Officers from the NYPD are seen gathered outside of Chung's door on December 15, 2024, conducting a welfare check

Chung allegedly began leaving strange items outside of Will's door, including dirty facemasks and used plastic gloves

One night, after several police visits, Will was in the bathroom when he heard a scribbling sound outside his door around midnight. When he opened it, he said, he found his name written in red lipstick.

'I don't know if she has a thing for me or something,' he said, 'but that's an objectively weird thing to do to someone.'

He shared an image of the graffiti with the Daily Mail. Not long after, his door was vandalized again - this time with a smeared brown and red substance. Will believed Chung was the culprit.

Sharing Chung's other wall is another neighbor, Maggie, who moved into the building in early 2024. She says she witnessed many of the same episodes and backed up Will's accounts.

'Some of her behavior has been literally insane,' she claimed.

Residents and door staff regularly trade stories about interactions with Chung, several sources said.

One source claimed Chung once called police on a doorman because she believed he was 'meowing' at her. He was temporarily transferred to a different building until tensions cooled.

Another source told the Daily Mail that Chung had been reprimanded for attempting to enter another tenant's apartment.

Will said he is aware of two incidents in which she allegedly walked into someone's unit uninvited, once waking a male resident by entering his bedroom. Maggie said she had heard similar accounts.

Born in Taiwan, Chung moved to New York in 2019 to attend Pratt Institute. She moved into the Kent Avenue building in 2021

In February this year, Will photographed Chung tying one of the building's luggage carts to her front door (left). Then in April, Chung appeared to smash a Roomba vacuum in her hallway (right)

Will said all civility with Chung ended after he rebuffed her request to file a lawsuit against their building over what he deemed petty grievances

In February, Will photographed Chung tying one of the building's luggage carts to her front door, seemingly so it could only be at her disposal.

Then in April, he, Maggie and a third neighbor heard a thunderous crash from the hallway. When they stepped outside, they found the smashed remains of a Roomba vacuum and a telephone. When Maggie asked what she was doing, Chung allegedly replied that she wasn't satisfied with how the Roomba was working.

Another video Will filmed in June shows a loud, violent banging from behind Chung's door. The following month, Chung placed a speaker on a tripod outside her apartment and played a blaring, AI-generated monologue about Taiwanese foreign policy.

On Instagram, Chung documents some of her disputes.

In posts and stories, she has railed against a 'black family' on her floor, accusing them of closing their door 'too loudly.' Other clips show her grinning as deafening music plays from a speaker, or peering into the hallway, making noises.

Both Will and Maggie told the Daily Mail they complained repeatedly to building management, voicing concerns for their safety, but nothing was done. Instead, they say they were told they could break their leases if they felt unsafe. (The management company has been contacted for comment.)

Despite the chaos, both said they worried about Chung's well-being.

'It's clear something's not right,' Maggie said. 'It's sad - she doesn't seem to have any family or friends here. She spends most of her time locked in that apartment.'

On Instagram, Chung (seen Wednesday) documents some of her disputes. In posts and stories, she rails against a 'black family' on her floor, accusing them of closing their door 'too loudly'

On her personal website, Chung says she studied ballet and classical piano. She previously worked as a digital designer

In November 2024, she ranted in the resident WhatsApp group that front-desk staff weren't wearing suit jackets, irritating other residents. She was later removed

Born in Taiwan, Chung moved to New York in 2019 to attend Pratt Institute and previously worked as a Senior Experience Designer at JP Morgan, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On her personal website, she claimed to have studied ballet, classical piano and violin. She also claimed she was 'operating a rifle at age 17.'

Social media posts from her early years in New York show her mingling with Taiwanese socialites at Manhattan clubs and galas. One friend who knew her then told the Daily Mail she always seemed 'pretty normal.' She suddenly cut contact with everyone, he said, and they haven't heard from her since.

'I'm shocked at all this happening,' he said.

Chung's alleged dine-and-dash spree began in the Williamsburg area in late October at the ritzy restaurant Francie.

According to the Post, she ordered foie gras, carpaccio, bucatini, lamb and a chocolate mousse - totaling $188 - before attempting to barter with the restaurant for the meal.

'She wanted to trade pictures and a blog post for the meal,' owner John Winterman told the outlet. 'I told her that would have needed to be agreed upon beforehand, and it wasn't, so she needed to pay the check.'

When all her cards declined, Winterman said she claimed she was waiting for money from her family. She returned on November 7 and was arrested after allegedly refusing to pay an $83 tab, records show.

Chung's alleged dine-and-dash spree began in the Williamsburg area in late October

On Wednesday, after being ejected from Hole in the Wall she peered into a Chinese take-out across the street

She appeared to leave empty handed, before heading in the direction of home

Days earlier, she racked up a $97 tab at Lavender Lake and left without paying, according to police.

She also visited Peter Luger's Steak House on October 27, where she allegedly ran up a $146 bill and refused to pay. A manager alleged to the Post that Chung offered a sexual favor instead of payment.

A video obtained by the Daily Mail shows her being arrested and taken away in a squad car.

Over the weekend, Chung was arrested twice on Saturday after similar incidents at Sea Thai and Misi, police records show. She was released under supervision.

Then came this week's incidents at 12 Chairs, Hole in the Wall, and Maison Premiere.

On Monday, Will filmed Chung returning late to her apartment building.

Wednesday night, exclusive images obtained by The Daily Mail show her enjoying a bowl of pasta inside Hole in the Wall before a staff member asked her to leave.

She later posted about the meal on Instagram, revealing she ordered pan-seared salmon, carbonara, burrata salad and a cappuccino. It is unclear whether she paid; police were not called.

Chung was then spotted at Salt + Charcoal and two nearby Chinese takeout spots before heading home in a cow-print fur coat, red dress, black ankle boots and a cream beret - seemingly empty-handed.

Repeated requests for comment sent to Chung were not returned. Her posts on social media depict her as a high-fashion fitness fanatic, but neighbors said the reality is far different

Maggie claimed Chung returned home at midnight and started thrashing around in her apartment.

In all, Chung has been arrested and charged seven times for the same misdemeanor: theft of services. It's unclear if she's entered a plea.

Repeated requests for comment sent to Chung were not returned. Her public defender has also been contacted.

She is due back in court in December to face her theft of services charges - just days after her scheduled eviction.

Will said he will be relieved to see her go, describing her as the human embodiment of modern materialism, self-indulgence and vapidity.

'She's like a modern Frankenstein's monster,' he said. 'Everybody thinks it's hilarious her dressing like that and stealing from restaurants and not paying her rent.

'I think she's a consumerist monster and she's being rewarded for her behavior with attention.'
A suicidal British woman who travelled to the United States to be murdered by a man she met in an online fetish chatroom recorded a shocking video where she described how she wanted him to end her life moments before he stabbed her to death.

Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old digital content creator, flew to Florida last month 'seeking a violent death' just days before her body was found buried in a shallow grave in remote woodland.

Dwain Hall, 53, a father-of-two, has been charged with Sonia's murder and kidnapping, having allegedly sexually abused and tortured the vulnerable British woman before killing her in a remote Airbnb the pair were staying in.

Now police have revealed that a clearly distressed Sonia recorded footage where she described in graphic detail how she wanted to die.

In the video she can be seen sitting on a chair 'looking dishevelled' and with multiple bruises across her face, neck and breasts  after being tortured by Hall who told police he used the name 'alphasadist' on fetish websites.

Hall, who claimed Sonia had also asked for rough sex, can be heard asking her why she is in the United States and Sonia replied in tears: 'Because I am an awful person,' adding: 'I've crushed everyone who ever loves me.'

Sonia, who describes herself as a content creator, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, goes on to detail why she is an awful person before Hall asks her 'how' she wants to die and to 'describe it'.

Initially Sonia refused to answer but eventually said she wants 'to be stabbed'.

Sonia Exelby (pictured, right, with her boyfriend Steve Hunt) flew to Florida last month 'seeking a violent death'

Dwain Hall, 53, (pictured) has been charged with Sonia's murder and kidnap.

Hall is accused of abusing and murdering Exelby inside this Airbnb cabin (pictured) before dumping her body in a shallow grave

Hall then said: 'This is how you wanted to die, right?'

When asked if she is being forced to do anything against her will, she shook her head before Hall asked if she is 'happy' and getting what she wants  and she nodded.

Sonia's last moments were recorded in a 13-page indictment filed with the Florida Police Department investigating her murder.

Sonia, who had well-documented mental health issues, flew out to Florida on October 10 and had a return flight booked three days later for October 13.

Her family, including her boyfriend Steve Hunt back the UK, reported Sonia missing when she wasn't on board her return flight.

Mr Hunt posted an emotional plea for help in trying to find her  describing how she had flown to Tallahassee.

Posting several pictures of Sonia on Instagram he said, alarmingly: 'We believe she has arranged to meet someone there and has got herself into an extremely vulnerable situation. That's all I can really say on that.'

Tragically it has emerged from the police report that Sonia had suffered her family's worst fears.

Hall, who claimed she had also asked for rough sex, can be heard asking her 'why' she is in the United States and Sonia replied in tears: 'Because I am an awful person'

Sonia's family and Steve reported her missing when she wasn't on board her return flight

Detectives in the US say she had 'travelled to the United States with the intention of meeting with online individuals who would be willing to kill her violently'.

They say evidence found on her computer had indicated she was 'suicidal and travelling to the US to be possibly sexually abused, tortured and murdered by unknown individuals'.

She had also used the messenger platform Discord to contact friends back in the UK to tell them what was happening, in what police say was a 'long and disjointed' series of texts.

In them she wrote: 'I'm sorry, he keeps taking my phone. He doesn't trust me with it.'

She then added: 'He made it clear, there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night. I can't kill anyone.'

Sonia then added: 'I thought he'd do it quick and not give my mind time to stew and realise this is the last thing I'll ever do to anyone if I don't take this offer of shooting him.

'He showed me how to use it and where to aim it. I'm so scared I'm so broken and in so much pain.

'All I can do is lay here and doing what he wants makes him respect me enough not to do the things I really hate,' she wrote.

Mr Hunt posted an emotional plea for help in trying to find her  describing how she had flown to Tallahassee

Hall, who is married, said Sonia initiated the interaction, and he had not wanted to have sex because he did not want to 'feel bad about his wife'

Police used mobile phone records and bank card transactions to establish that Hall at the airport when Sonia landed and took her to an Airbnb in Marion County  which she had paid for using her bank cards as she waited to take off at London's Heathrow airport just hours earlier.

He told detectives he had met Sonia on a fetish website two years ago and she had told him how she was suicidal and wanted to be killed but he insisted he had tried to talk her out of it.

He told investigators he and Sonia had sexual intercourse inside the Airbnb before her killing.

Hall, who is married, said Sonia initiated the interaction, and he had not wanted to have sex because he did not want to 'feel bad about his wife.'

Police eventually found her body in a woodland at Marion Oaks, while Hall was being questioned and she was identified via her fingerprints  a shovel found at his home had soil in it which matched the burial site.

Blood was also found on the handle, and it was later confirmed to be a positive match for Sonia and an autopsy on her preformed a week later showed she had been stabbed four times.

Police have also recovered a knife thought to have been used in the murder after it was sent by post to a friend of Hall's and DNA found on bloodstains on the blade, matched with the victim.

Social media posts indicate Hall has been with partner Ginger Stein (pictured, left) since at least 2014

Officers say he made the video to protect himself from the consequences of 'kidnapping and murdering' his victim

Detectives say the video 'clearly shows a visibly distressed' Ms Exelby being 'questioned by an authoritative Hall about her describing to be beaten and ultimately die violently.'

Officers say he made the video to protect himself from the consequences of 'kidnapping and murdering' his victim.

Her distraught family in the UK have been too upset to speak to the Mail.
A single mother is the first person to be sentenced in relation to the alleged murder of two Australian brothers in Mexico, facing up to 20 years in prison.

Callum and Jake Robinson, from Perth, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, from San Diego, had been on a surfing trip in the Mexican state of Baja California when they were reported missing on April 27 last year.

Their bodies were found a few days later, on May 3, at the bottom of a well alongside a fourth body not directly linked to the case, reportedly that of a local rancher.

Ari Gisell, 23, is the ex-girlfriend of Jesus Gerardo, who has been charged with murder along with two other men.

Prosecutor Raul Gerardo Cobo Montejano told the court she was the 'instigator,' ABC News reported on Thursday.

The court heard she had shown interest in the tyres of the car the Robinsons and Mr Rhoad were driving, telling her then-boyfriend she would like them for herself.

Prosecutors said Jesus Gerardo, with the men Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, came across the Robinsons and Mr Rhoad after Gisell was dropped at her home.

The accused followed the tourists to a remote camping spot and robbed them before allegedly shooting them dead, the court heard.

Perth brothers Jake (left) and Callum Robinson (right) were found dead, alongside their friend from San Diego, Jack Rhoad, in the Mexican state of Baja, California, in May last year

Ari Gisell, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery with violence in relation to the brothers' alleged murder

Natalie Weirtz said in a statement to a court that her life was now a nightmare after the alleged murder of her fiance, Mr Rhoad (pictured)

During the court proceedings, Callum and Jake's mother, Debra Robinson, read a prepared statement, saying her sons' futures had been stolen from them.

'Our hearts are broken beyond repair... The silence in our home is deafening. There are no words for the emptiness, the weight of their absence,' she said.

Carter Rhoad's mother, Page, attended the court hearing virtually with his widow, Natalie Weirtz.

'Carter was the love of my life ... He was my safety in the world. My life is now a nightmare,' Ms. Weirtz said.

Gisell cried while listening to the testimonies before giving her own apologetic statement, local media La Silla Rota reported.

'I know that nothing I can say will compensate or give you peace,' she said in English.

'I am focused on being a better person, and I am so sorry for your losses. I assure you that I did not know what would happen that night,' she said.

Gisell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for robbery of a vehicle with violence, and a further six years for robbery with violence. She has also been fined 54,285 Mexican pesos ($4,563).

The three accused killers (two pictured) are facing up to 210 years in jail if found guilty

Police allege the trio's vehicle (pictured) was later found burnt-out in the Santo Tomas area

Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus have all been charged with aggravated homicide in relation to the deaths of the Robinsons and Mr Rhoad.

Last week, the trio - whose surnames have been suppressed - rejected plea deals that would have seen them serve prison terms ranging from 47 to 52 years.

It means that, if found guilty during their trial, their sentences could be significantly harsher after Mr Montejano asked for 210-year jail sentences for each of them.

The prosecutor also requested a further 168-year sentence for Jesus Gerardo, who was charged with forced disappearance, if he is found guilty.

None of the three men have entered formal pleas. Their trial date has not yet been set.

A fourth man, who was allegedly with the accused, has cooperated with authorities, according to prosecutors. He is not believed to have been responsible for the murders or robbery.

Authorities are still hunting a separate fourth suspected murderer, whose nickname is known to prosecutors but will not be shared with the public.

Callum Robinson was a talented lacrosse player living in the United States, while Jake was a doctor visiting his brother.

Debra Robinson, the mother of Jake (left) and Callum (right), said her son's futures had been stolen from them during a prepared statement to the court

Mr Rhoad worked at a technology services company and was set to get married in August last year.

Three wooden statues have been installed overlooking the North Baja coast to commemorate the Perth brothers and their American friend.

The Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation said earlier this year that the 'unveiling ceremony brought together surfers, representatives from the Australian embassy and the Baja California governor's office'.

'After a few words were shared, the community honoured the boys with a traditional paddle out,' the statement said.

Although Baja California is a hotspot for cartel activity, authorities say the killings were not tied to organised crime.

But documents reported by the ABC in July claimed Jesus Gerardo and Irineo Francisco were connected to the notoriously violent Sinaloa cartel.

The pair are being held at El Hongo, a high-security desert prison, after authorities transferred them from a local jail due to concerns over alleged cartel connections.

The third accused, Angel Jesus, is being held separately in a lower-security facility in Ensenada.
When Ismail Ali clocked off from his usual shift at a corner shop in Bradford in May 2020, nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

Colleagues assumed the 'polite' and 'straightforward' 46-year-old would be back behind the counter the following morning, as he always was.

Yet that unassuming early afternoon, Mr Ali simply walked out of work in his red-hooded top - and then vanished without a trace.

As days turned into months, detectives began to fear the worst, neighbours slowly accepted he was gone for good and even his mother in India came to believe her son had been killed.

So, when the softly spoken shop assistant strode into a local police station this week - more than five years later and just hours after detectives upgraded his missing person case into a murder probe - the West Yorkshire city was jolted into a most intriguing mystery.

Just where has Mr Ali - alive, unhurt, and apparently unfazed - been all these years?

With the married now 51-year-old firmly back among the living, the city has erupted with speculation - with echoes of the John Darwin saga, the notorious canoe conman who staged his own death and lived undetected for years.

Some insist Mr Ali quietly slipped away to the south of England to work. Others whisper that he staged his own disappearance or may even have been living for years inside one of his familys nearby homes.

Ismail Ali, 46, vanished without a trace after leaving work at Gulam Food Stores in the Lidget Green area of Bradford in May 2020. This CCTV image is the last known picture taken of him

When married Mr Ali packed up Gulam Food Stores in Bradford for the last time five years ago, it was the last time any of his friends and family saw him. Everyone thought he was dead

There are rumours, too, that he moved around the city in some form of disguise.

One friend said: 'Ismail was a regular face around Bradford, everyone knew him. He was popular. But then one day he just disappeared off the face of the earth.

'No one knew what happened to him. Everyone was talking about it, but no one seemed to know what happened to him.

'I know he was very stressed before he vanished. He was having problems with his wife. There were lots of rows and stress at home.

'Maybe he finally had enough and started a new life away from her. Maybe he faked his own death? No one knows.

'One minute he was here, the next he was gone. Everyone is wondering where he's been.'

Police raised the alarm when diminutive Mr Ali failed to return home after leaving his long-standing job at Gulam Food Stores, in Bradford's Lidget Green area, on May 29, 2020.

One neighbour told a local newspaper, four months after 'humble' Mr Ali's disappearance: 'Everybody is talking about it. We are worried about him'.

Missing appeals came and went but there was no sign of the bearded shop worker, who had links to Dewsbury, Batley and Blackburn.

Then, this week, detectives at West Yorkshire Police suddenly announced they had arrested five people on suspicion of his murder - three women, aged 47, 54 and 55, and two men, aged 27 and 51.

A force press release exclaimed: 'After extensive enquiries we now suspect that Ismail Ali is no longer alive, and we suspect that he may have been murdered.'

Yet, fast-forward less than 48 hours and Mr Ali casually walked into a police station front-desk and told stunned officers: 'I'm alive.'

A friend, who asked not to be named, said: 'I think he saw that some people close to him had been arrested on suspicion of his murder and so came back as he didn't want them to get into trouble.

'His conscience wouldn't allow him to continue hiding if he thought they would go to prison for killing him.'

Businessman Rohan Patel, 59, added: 'Everyone is wondering what happened to him and where he has been.

'He obviously didn't want to be found.'

Police, meanwhile, are now painstakingly unravelling five silent years - and probing why Mr Ali chose this moment to return.

Even Mr Ali's mother in India believed he was dead. Then last week when five people close to him were arrested on suspicion of his murder, in an extraordinary and surreal twist, Mr Ali turned up at a local police station to tell them: 'I'm alive!'

Detectives in Bradford have raided three properties in the city including these two, which are neighbouring houses. Police said that they had launched a money laundering investigation after finding large amounts of cash at the properties

Their shock was compounded by the discovery of a large amount of cash in raids linked to his supposed murder, sparking a parallel money-laundering investigation.

One of the three homes raided by police was on the very same road and just a stone's throw from Mr Ali's former workplace.

And more curiously, the two other properties targeted by detectives were adjoining terraced houses.

Their significance remains to be seen but it is a detail that has prompted inevitable comparisons to the case of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin, who staged his own death to claim life insurance while living in a bedsit accessed from his family home.

Mr Ali has claimed, according to a friend, to have been working in a shop in southern England for the past five years.

He is not in custody or under arrest but is being 'safeguarded', West Yorkshire Police say.

His former employer, who asked not to be named, was working behind the counter at Gulam Food Stores.

He said: 'Five years ago so many officers came. One after another. They checked everything.

'They got our statements. This time we did not know anything about what happened. He was living just across the road.

'He worked for us for a long time. He was happy here. He went. We don't know what the issue was.

'Now he has been found safe and sound. That is the good news. But we don't know where he went.

'We don't even know what police station he walked into.'

A neighbour said of the raids of the two adjoining homes in Beckside Close: 'They broke the door down. They have been there for the past three days but have gone today.

'There were four or five police vans outside the property from Monday.'

Another resident said: 'It is like he came back from the dead'.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'Detectives investigating the suspicious disappearance of Bradford man Ismail Ali in 2020 can confirm that he turned up at a police station yesterday reporting to be safe and well.

'Officers are working to understand the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance. '

The bizarre police investigation has prompted feverish speculation amongst Mr Ali's former neighbours as to what he has been doing over the past five years - with some saying he may have faked his own death

Mr Ali's family have been notified that he has been found safe and well and is being safeguarded whilst necessary checks are being made.

'Following the arrests on Monday, house searches were carried out at three properties, and a large amount of cash was seized.

'A number of the people who were arrested remain on bail for money laundering offences.

'Enquiries will remain ongoing for some time into the money laundering offences.

'Officers would like to thank members of the public who shared the appeal for Mr Ali.'
Melbourne media figure Derryn Hinch has penned an insult-filled final send-off to his old Sydney rival John Laws in the wake of the radio king's death.

Since Laws died aged 90 almost two weeks ago many of his former Sydney colleagues and competitors have lionised the man with the 'golden tonsils' for his 71-year career.

Ray Hadley called Laws a 'radio icon', Kyle Sandilands reckoned he felt 'like I've lost a grandfather' and Ben Fordham said 'radio has lost its king'.

Alan Jones hailed the Laws morning program as 'compulsive listening' and joined his fellow Australians in offering thanks 'for the pleasure and enjoyment given to millions'.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and his predecessors Paul Keating and John Howard all offered glowing tributes to Laws, and on Wednesday he was farewelled with a state funeral.

But Hinch, who hosted radio shows on Melbourne stations 3XY, 3AW and 3AK, as well hosting national television programs, made it clear he was never a fan.

'Radio legend John Laws, who died this week, and I were not friends,' the 81-year-old wrote online. 'Far from it.'

Hinch then raised the Australian Broadcasting Authority's 1999 inquiry which revealed Laws and Jones had received undeclared payments from major corporations for favourable commentary.

Melbourne media figure Derryn Hinch has penned an insult-filled final send-off to his old Sydney rival John Laws (above) in the wake of the radio king's death

'Radio legend John Laws, who died this week, and I were not friends,' 81-year-old Hinch (above) wrote on Facebook. 'Far from it'

'During the "cash for comment" scandal I said Laws and Alan Jones should be banned for ten years for damage to the industry,' Hinch said.

Laws had denied any wrongdoing, always pitching himself as a salesman and entertainer, rather than a journalist.

He endorsed products including Valvoline motor oil and Mortein fly spray, while Hinch was originally a newspaperman who had had edited The Sun in Sydney in the mid 1970s.

Hinch said his relationship with Laws 'was not helped' when as The Sun's editor he put the headline 'The Pockmarked Prince of Pain' on a column written by Mike Gibson.

'I also said once that I wished he would turn his Mortein can around and spray it in the other direction,' he said.

Hinch acknowledged Laws as a 'radio legend' who 'owned Sydney'.

'He tried to crack Melbourne several times but never made it,' he said. 'A bit like Kyle Sandilands years later.

'I once asked the boss of 2UE what was Laws' success secret. He crudely replied: "Because women think his voice sounds like he has a big c***".'

Laws with his wife Caroline in 2005. He called her 'the Princess'

'During the "cash for comment" scandal I said Laws and Alan Jones should be banned for ten years for damage to the industry,' Hinch said. Laws (right) and Jones are pictured

Hinch also raised his most notorious encounter with Laws, which occurred three days after the Sydney broadcaster's December 2007 retirement from 2UE.

Laws had been hosting a lunch for his longtime personal assistant Jodee Borgo and 2UE staff at Otto, his favourite harbourside restaurant on Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf.

Hinch and legendary radio presenter Bob Rogers - then at 2CH - were dining nearby at Salon Blanc.

'With a couple of drinks under his belt he swaggered up and publicly insulted us,' Hinch said of Laws. 'He loudly called us both despicable c***s.'

Hinch had publicly revealed nine months earlier he was suffering advanced cirrhosis of the liver caused by chronic alcohol abuse.

'Laws described me as a "failed alcoholic",' Hinch remembered. 'I said that would make him a successful one.'

'He bragged to guests back at lunch that he swung a punch at me but that did not happen.'

Laws, whose love of Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey was well-known, had a different version of events.

Hinch, who has recently been in hospital after a series of health setbacks (above), recalled the last time he saw Laws they shook hands

'I said, "Derryn, there's something you should know about yourself and then I said what I said, which shouldn't be repeated,' Laws told the Daily Telegraph.

'It was a very quick exchange. I told him he looked like an armpit transplant... but the unbelievable thing is that after I insulted him, he just sat there.'

Laws said Hinch had been making nasty comments about him for years but that Rogers was a 'decent old bloke'. Rogers, then 81, said it was the most enjoyable lunch he'd had in years.

'I thought for a second he was going to hit Hinch,' Rogers said. 'I couldn't believe it. I thought it was wonderful. At this stage in my life I thought it was wonderful to have such enjoyment.'

Hinch, who served three years in the federal senate as leader of his own party and has recently been in hospital after a series of health setbacks, recalled the last time he saw Laws.

'Ironically, I was in a Sydney restaurant last Christmas and bumped into Laws who was sitting in a wheelchair with a minder,' he said.

'I'm not sure he recognised me but, in the Xmas spirit, we shook hands. First time ever.'
Miss Palestine married the son of Hamas' most-wanted terrorist prisoner - who is serving life in Israel for five murders.

Nadeen Ayoub, 27, Palestine's first ever Miss Universe contestant, wedded Sharaf Barghouti, son of Marwan Barghouti, in 2016.

She also appears to have named her son after the infamous Fatah leader, who was jailed in 2002 for helping orchestrate terror attacks that killed five people.

Barghouti, who is seen as the most prominent Palestinian prisoner held by Israel, also founded the West Bank's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and led street protests before he was arrested.

Viewed by many as the one man who could unite Palestinians across both Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas unsuccessfully sought his release as part of a hostage deal.

Ms Ayoub, a US-Canadian citizen living in Dubai, can be seen posing alongside members of the Barghouti family in social media posts uncovered by the New York Post.

It is unclear if she remains with Sharaf but family members confirmed to the outlet that they were married at one point.

The beauty pageant contestant previously taught at Ramallah-based gym IQ Fitness, owned by brother-in-law Qassam Barghouthi, who was imprisoned in Israel but later acquitted of carrying out an ambush and four attempted killings.

Nadeen Ayoub, 27, Palestine's first ever Miss Universe contestant, wedded Sharaf Barghouti, son of Marwan Barghouti, in 2016

She is the first contestant from the Palestinian Territories to compete in the beauty pageant

Marwan Barghouti is Hamas' most-wanted terrorist prisoner and is serving life in Israel for five murders

One social media post refers to Ms Ayoub as 'Nadeen Barghouti'.

After her participation as Miss Palestine was announced earlier this year, Ayoub said in an Instagram post: 'Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title but with a truth...

'I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see. We are more than our suffering - we are resilience, hope and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.'

She previously represented Palestine in the 2022 Miss Earth beauty pageant in the Philippines, where she came third.

Meanwhile, Miss Israel revealed that she has been bombarded with death threats after footage appeared to show her scowling at Miss Palestine on stage at an event in Thailand.

The clip went viral online after it seemed to show Melanie Shiraz, 27, glaring and rolling her eyes at Ms Ayoub, who appeared to be standing next to her.

But Shiraz has since posted separate, 'original footage' from the event, showing her standing behind Ayoub and diverting her expression elsewhere.

The Israeli beauty queen has claimed the video where she appeared to give Miss Palestine the side-eye was 'edited' and from a 'third-party', and designed to intentionally mislead audiences.

In the wake of the viral clip, she said she received an onslaught of online hatred, including 'Hitler-related comments', resulting in her having to organise 'heightened security'.

'Its not only death threats, but sexual assault threats,' Shiraz told the New York Post. 'I experienced antisemitism before but I didnt think it would be this bad.'

The event in Thailand is the first time the beauty competition has included a contestant from the Palestinian-occupied territories.
Tragic teen Anna Kepner's ex-boyfriend has claimed her 16-year-old stepbrother tried to climb on top of her against her will months before she died on a cruise  and he was named a 'suspect' in explosive court documents.

Josh Tew, who broke up with the 18-year-old cheerleader six months ago, also gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna's life before she was found wrapped in a blanket and stuffed under a bed in her cabin on November 7.

She had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her dad, stepmom, siblings and step-siblings when she was declared dead in international waters between Mexico and Florida.

Josh, who is 15 and talked to the media with his mother's permission, said Anna's little brother heard yelling and chairs being thrown in the cabin the previous evening, when she was inside the room with the 16-year-old.

The ex said the young sibling told him the stepbrother barred his entrance into the room and then 'heard her yelling at her in a harmful way, like "shut the hell up" and stuff like that.

'And that's when he knew something was going on. There was screaming going on. Something was banging around, like chairs were getting thrown around in the room.

'But he wouldn't talk to me any more. He said the FBI told them that if they talk they'll get arrested because it's tampering with an investigation or something.'

Josh said he called the FBI because he was so concerned about what he had been told. 'They told me they're glad I gave them the information,' he said.

The former boyfriend, speaking after Anna's emotional celebration of life in her home town of Titusville, Florida, said he 'caught' the 16-year-old stepbrother trying to get on top of Anna nine months ago.

Anna Kepner had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her dad , stepmom, siblings and step-siblings when she was declared dead in the international waters between Mexico and Florida

Josh Tew, who broke up with the 18-year-old cheerleader six months ago, gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna's life

He said he was having a late-night FaceTime call with his then-girlfriend in the house she shared with her dad Christopher Kepner, 41, and his new partner Shauntel Hudson, who had brought her children into the home when she moved in.

Anna was laying down and 'he walked in there and tried to get on top of her ... but he got caught by me in the process of it. I was like, "What the hell are you doing in her room?" Then he got scared and ran away. And I heard his footsteps running through the house because he got caught.'

He added: 'She was too scared to tell anybody. Because that one time that he said that if she said anything about getting on top of her he'd do something to her.

'She told me that she was uncomfortable with them [his step relatives] being at the house because she didn't fully know who they were.

'That their dad had just met this woman, not even like a year ago, and she doesn't really like her she has an attitude most of the time and was very controlling over her. But I told her, they're going to be your parents at the end of the day, you know.

Anna slept in the dining room of the house. 'But most of the time she did sleep in her friend's beds and stuff because of her being uncomfortable with him being at the house,' he added.

'She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I last talked to her three weeks ago. I was meant to go on that cruise.'

Her stepbrother faces possible criminal charges in her death

Christopher and Anna's stepmother Tabitha split in 2023, but he soon found love with Shauntel, who divorced Thomas Hudson last year and moved to Titusville with their two youngest children

Anna's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has been locked in a custody battle with her ex, Thomas Hudson, over their children. On Tuesday, she filed a response acknowledging that 'it is true that there is an open investigation' into her stepdaughter's death

The Daily Mail has exclusively revealed that the teenager's stepbrother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces possible criminal charges.

The boy was 'obsessed with' Kepner and relentlessly pursued her despite their blended family, Steven Westin, Josh's father, told Inside Edition.

'He's infatuated, attracted to her like crazy,' Steven claimed. 'He always wanted to date her.'

Westin went on to claim that his son tried to warn Kepner's parents, but they 'didn't want to believe me.'

Kepner's embarrassed birth mother, Heather, was forced to wear a disguise to her daughter's funeral.

She told Inside Edition she had been instructed not to attend the service in Titusville, Florida - but was determined to say goodbye.

'I'm going to wear a disguise,' she said. 'I'm going to put a wig on and wear some really tall shoes because I'm four-foot-nine.'

Photos of the slain teenager adorned the walls of the Titusville, Florida church

Friends and family remembered Kepner for her bubbly personality

A packed memorial service was held Thursday night for the slain cheerleader

Heather, who lives in Oklahoma and has not seen her daughter in recent years, had previously claimed she was not informed of her daughter's untimely death.

'My beautiful baby girl was found dead Friday, and I just found out last night,' she said in a TikTok video on November 11.

'Her dad and stepmom didn't even try to contact me, so I'm gonna give that to God and let Him sort it out, along with whoever did this to my baby girl.'

But Kepner's father, Christopher, has also claimed investigators have shared barely any details with him.

'We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don't know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,' he said.

'The FBI hasn't shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they're going to be in contact with me about it  but I know as little as everybody else.

'I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.'

Friends and relatives are seen piling into Grove Church in Titusville, Florida for the memorial service on Thursday

The tragic teens family arrived to Anna's celebration of life dressed in smart casual attire on Thursday in two black stretched limos. Police guarded the entrance

The hour-long service included photos of Anna throughout her life flashed up on a screen while the pastor described them. None of her parents read a eulogy

Heather described her daughter in an interview with Fox 13 as being 'always happy' as she recalled her daughter's love of horseback racing and cheerleading.

'She was a really good child,' the heartbroken mother said. 'She never really complained about much. She never really cried that much as a baby, and as a teenager, she was the same. Just always happy.'

She added that Anna cherished becoming a big sister and had a gift for lifting other's spirits.

That was on full display as swaths of folk in Titusville packed The Grove church to pay tribute to the 'bubbly' teenager.

The hour-long service included photos of Anna throughout her life flashed up on a screen while the pastor described them. None of her parents read a eulogy.

Former classmate Daisy Fletcher spoke poignantly to the Daily Mail before the celebration, emphasizing her friend's empathy for others.

Fighting back tears, she said: 'Whenever someone was upset Anna put a lot of effort into making sure they felt really cared about, that she was really there for them.'

The student, also 18 and who now lives in Orlando, Florida, hinted though that Anna did have 'issues', but would not go into detail.

'Seeing her go through her own bouts, her own issues, it was heartbreaking,' Daisy said. 'She was a very kind person and actually very sturdy.

'Anna was so bright. Both smarts wise and also the way she interacted with people. She made them laugh a lot. She laughed a lot herself, very bubbly and such a good friend.

'Anna felt pretty confident and she deserved the good that she had in life.'

Relatives, friends and strangers who just wanted to give support thronged the church in the community where the school cheerleader had brought such joy to countless other lives.

Anna's mother, Heather, said she had a gift for lifting other's spirits and cherished becoming a big sister

Bubbly Anna grew up on Floridas sun-soaked Space Coast with her father, Christopher, 41, his ex-wife and Anna's stepmother, Tabitha, 33, and siblings aged 14 and nine

Anna grew up on Florida's sun-drenched Space Coast with Christopher, 41, his ex-wife Tabitha Kepner, 33, and siblings, aged 14 and nine.

Christopher and Tabitha split in 2023 but the crane operator soon found love again with Shauntel, who divorced Thomas Hudson last year and relocated to Titusville with their two youngest kids.

The tragic teens family arrived to Anna's celebration of life dressed in smart casual attire on Thursday in two black stretched limos. Police guarded the entrance.

In a poignant obituary, the family wrote: 'How can we possibly capture every bit of beauty that was Anna Marie Kepner ? Our Anna Banana, our sunshine, our babygirl? At just 18 years old, she filled the world with laughter, love, and light that reached everyone around her.

'Anna was pure energy: bubbly, funny, outgoing, and completely herself. She never had a filter, and that was part of her charm. Whether she was practicing new makeup looks (even if she had nowhere to go), making TikToks in front of the mirror, or blasting a perfectly curated playlist on the boat, Anna lived every day with her whole heart.

'She loved the sun, the water, boat days, island days, and beach days, anything that let her soak in the light she so easily radiated to others.

It continued: She loved her siblings deeply and made sure they always felt it whether it be taking them to the park, Halloween Horror Nights, or just out for fun, because thats who she was: thoughtful, nurturing, and always thinking of others. She had a big, beautiful heart, often sending random I love you messages or little gestures that made someones day.

Kepner posted a TikTok video from on board the ship six months ago saying how much she wanted to return

Following the grisly discovery of Anna's body on November 7, FBI agents swarmed the cruise ship when it returned to Miami.

But the Feds have refused to say how she died  or whether she was murdered  on board 4,700-capacity liner which visited Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel before sailing back to Florida.

However, the Daily Mail has revealed onboard security footage captured Anna's final steps as she headed back to her room on the evening of November 6 after complaining of feeling unwell during dinner.

She was sharing the cabin with her 14-year-old brother as well as the 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The two boys had bunk beds and Anna was in her own, according to a well-placed source.

The boys headed back to the room later that evening but the younger brother changed his clothes and went out again to take snapshots of the $800 million ship to post on social media.

When he got back he noticed Anna wasn't in bed but presumed she was staying up late with the grown-ups and went to sleep, according to a source.

It wasn't until the next day when the brother and stepbrother got up and headed to breakfast that the family realized the bubbly teen was missing.

As Christopher began searching the horizon for Anna, it's believed a medical emergency was announced over the public address system.

Sources say that prompted the dad to race to his daughter's cabin where he walked inside to find a cleaning crew had just discovered her body crammed under her bed.

The fresh clues emerged hours after court filings relating to a custody battle involving Annas stepmom Shauntel Hudson  with Christopher on the cruise  revealed the 16-year-old suspect who is one of her sons.

Thomas Hudson has demanded clarity on what happened to his son

In the paperwork, the boys father Thomas Hudson demands clarity on what has happened to his son, who he says is now in the care of a 'third party.

The dad is also seeking immediate custody of the other minor child from his marriage to 36-year-old Shauntel, a nine-year-old girl living in Titusville with her and Annas father.

'The respondent took the remaining minor children on a cruise with a stepchild of her paramour,' his filing says.

'The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise. While released from custody, the sixteen-year-old child is residing with a third party.'

The filing adds: 'The sixteen-year-old's future has been put in jeopardy because of the choices made by the respondent the youngest child is at immediate risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect in the care of the respondent.

Shauntel hit back in a court filing denying allegations that she 'abused, neglected or abandoned' her children.

She added: 'It is true that there is an open investigation regarding the death of the biological daughter of the stepfather and [boy's initials] is a suspect regarding this death which occurred recently on a cruise ship.'

Shauntel's filing said the boy was staying with one of her relatives and she is providing counseling for all of her children.

The Miami Dade County Medical Examiner lists Anna's time of death at 11.17am on November 7 but has not revealed its findings.
The Bali hostel at the centre of shocking mass-poisoning allegations has broken its silence for the first time as chilling new details emerge from inside the dormitory where a young tourist died.

Daily Mail this week revealed how travellers staying at the budget Clandestino Hostel in Canggu became seriously ill in early September.

Ten people were rushed to hospital in critical condition, while young Chinese backpacker, Deqing Zhuoga, was found dead beside her bunk at the $9-a-night hostel.

Two months on from the fatal incident, Clandestino has issued its first public statement, insisting the case remains under police investigation.

'This has been an extremely difficult and delicate situation for everyone involved,' a spokesperson said.

'At this time, the case is still under investigation by local authorities, which means we are not able to share specific details yet.

'I can say that we have been fully cooperative from the very beginning, and we hope everything can be clarified and resolved as soon as possible.

'We are doing everything we can to support the process.'

Ten people were rushed to hospital in critical condition, while young Chinese backpacker Deqing Zhuoga (pictured) was found dead beside her bunk

Leila Li spent $10,000 on her medical treatments after she was struck down with poisoning

But Ms Zhuoga's friend has slammed the statement, accusing the hostel of hiding behind vague language rather than providing answers.

'The hostel should not shrink responsibility and needs to give an explanation to the victims,' survivor Leila Li told Daily Mail.

'I spent around $10,000 and eight days in the clinic, hospital and ICU and I only just managed to save my life.

'The hostel treated guests with total indifference throughout the entire stay. They even charged me for my bed while I was in hospital.

'So many people were poisoned, but police didn't close the place and the hostel didn't warn any new guests checking in - some on the same day the girl died.'

Ms Li also claims that in the weeks since her friend died the hostel have been in damage control concerned more about losing bookings than their guests' welfare.

'They are mass deleting comments on social media, bad reviews online and blocking anyone who mentions it,' she said.

Balinese police say their inquiries show hostel staff checked on Ms Zhuoga the day before her death, with a receptionist becoming 'alarmed' at her deteriorating condition.

An image online advertising the hostel shows a chilling poster pinned to the wall of the six-bed shared room

Badung Police First Inspector Azarul Ahmad said security later placed her in a taxi and accompanied her to a nearby medical centre, but after becoming anxious about the cost of treatment she returned to the hostel, where she died alone in the dorm.

Despite the tragedy, the hostel remains listed on major booking platforms including Agoda and Booking.com, with one of the images showing a chilling poster pinned to the wall of the six-bed shared room.

'CANGGU DIE WITH A SUNTAN,' the poster reads, ending with the word Hari ini  Indonesian for 'Today.'

The head of Badung Police's investigation unit, First Inspector Azarul Ahmad, said on Wednesday that witnesses had been interviewed and Ms Zhuoga's vomit was examined by Denpasar Forensic Laboratory.

'There were no pesticide compounds, narcotics, cyanide, heavy metals such as arsenic, hazardous chemicals, or methanol detected,' he said.

An examination of the medicines and food items in her bag was pending, he said, and while an autopsy had found no signs of violence on her body, it did show telltale signs of food poisoning.

'The exact cause of death cannot be definitively determined, however, death due to gastrointestinal irritation leading to diarrhoea, which resulted in dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, cannot be ruled out.'

On September 2 the hostel's receptionist, Eka Ayu, discovered Ms Zhuoga had not checked out.

Canggu's Clandestino Hostel did not shut or inform guests of the mass poisoning

Ms Li claims the hostel is in damage control blocking anyone who comments about the poisoning

She unlocked the door and found the young woman face down, wearing only an unbuttoned blue shirt.

Police found vomit in a rubbish bin beside the bed and a post-mortem concluded her death from acute gastroenteritis and hypovolemic shock would likely have been preventable with proper medical treatment.

Ms Zhuoga had shared a communal dinner with fellow guest Ms Li a few hours earlier.

Shortly after the dinner, guests began collapsing in hallways, vomiting blood, fainting and begging staff for medical help.

More than 20 people suffered collective poisoning and at least 10 were in critical condition.

By morning the sickness had ripped through the dorms with multiple guests admitted to local medical centres and the BIMC hospital.

Ms Li said by the time she was taken away in an ambulance her roommate was too ill to move and that she 'messaged her from hospital telling her to go too', but she never replied.

'My doctor confirmed it was pesticide poisoning and food poisoning,' she said.

'I improved when I left the hostel, but when I returned to the room the symptoms came back.'

She said Ms Zhuoga mentioned that an adjacent dorm had recently been closed for fumigation after a severe bedbug infestation.

Police found vomit in a rubbish bin beside the bed and a post-mortem concluded her death was from acute gastroenteritis and hypovolemic shock

Ms Li, along with travellers Melanie Irene, Alisa Kokonozi, Alahmadi Yousef Mohammed, Cana Clifford Jay and Leslie Zhao, were later listed as victims in the official Kuta Police report.

Inspector Ahmad has confirmed that due to so many guests experiencing identical symptoms, the hostel will be subject to further investigation, but survivors say authorities have been far too slow and fear more travellers could be hurt.

'They are trying to cover it up and I want to warn people so this does not happen again,' Ms Li said.
Kellie Sloane did not come into politics planning to lead the NSW Liberal Party within one term. Yet here she is, elevated in a bloodless party room coup after Mark Speakman concluded he could not cut through in the media and could not turn around dire polling.

A former television journalist and charity CEO, the first term state MP for Vaucluse and shadow health minister, has been handed one of the toughest jobs in Australian politics: rebuilding a damaged brand in Australias largest state while standing opposite a popular first-term Labor premier.

Sloanes rise tells us as much about the state of the Liberal Party as it does about her. Federal colleagues have just walked away from the net zero emissions target for 2050, shredding what was left of the Coalitions climate consensus and confirming for many voters who equate climate action with the target, that the party still hasnt come to terms with the politics of the 2020s.

NSW Liberals, stung by polling that shows metropolitan voters strongly backing net zero, have gone the other way and held the line, explicitly maintaining a 2050 target. Sloane, a moderate whose leadership only became inevitable once the right started counting numbers against Speakman, now has to navigate that contradiction: leading a state party that wants to look modern and electable while its federal colleagues double down on a climate culture war.

In politics you dont get to choose your timing. Sloane didnt want the leadership this quickly, but once the right began moving against Speakman, the choice became stark: either a moderate made a move or the leadership would eventually fall into conservative hands.

The story that has emerged is of Sloanes allies approaching Speakman to step aside so that the succession remained in moderate control, rather than risk an ugly spill later. In that sense the transition was orderly, no public brawling, no contested ballot. But it was still a coup, driven by internal frustration that the Opposition had failed to land blows on Chris Minns, with polls showing little prospect of a change of government in 2027.

That context matters because it shapes how her colleagues will judge her. She takes over in circumstances where the most likely outcome at the next election is still a Labor win. Minns is personally popular and presents as sensible. He hasnt yet made the sort of glaring mistake that turns a first term government into a one term wonder.

The last election result was not a landslide, meaning that Labors win was modest and its majority threadbare. That creates an awkward benchmark for Sloane going forward. If she fails to gain ground, or worse, if the Coalition goes backwards as is more likely, the optics could be brutal.

You're in: Kellie Sloane has been appointed the NSW Liberals leader - after only winning her seat in Parliament at the last election

Even if she performs better than anyone else realistically could have, a negative seat count would be seized on by the partys right as proof that the moderates experiment failed and they deserve a chance to do better.

Internally, then, her first task is discipline. Speakmans problem wasnt only a lack of media cut through; it included a sense that the party room was permanently restless, with too many MPs more interested in factional positioning than building a credible alternative government.

Sloane will get a short honeymoon because she is a fresh face, a new story for the press gallery and for voters. She might even get an easier than usual ride from the media, given her background and likeable persona.

But honeymoons in opposition usually dont last. She has to convince ambitious colleagues (particularly those on the right) that their best chance of ever serving in government again is to back her rather than white ant.

If the party looks like it is already measuring her up for a political coffin, voters will treat the NSW Liberals as a protest movement rather than a government-in-waiting.

The climate divide with Canberra makes this task harder than it otherwise should be. The federal partys decision to abandon net zero may well be electorally suicidal in the very kinds of affluent, professional and socially liberal seats that used to be the Liberal heartland.

But Sloane also needs voter support in outer metro Sydney seats if shes to form government, and we need to wait to see what their reaction is to the diverse opinions on net zero within the Liberal Party.

NSW Liberals have already signalled that they will keep their own net zero target, and Speakman upon departing urged the party to maintain its environmental credentials. But the pressure from Canberra will be intense.

Kellie Sloane at least brings a point of interest to the job - her TV background. Seen above on Sunrise with Samantha Armytage, Andrew O'Keefe and Mark Beretta

Federal Liberals will argue for consistency, for one national message, and for avoiding mixed signals. That is code for getting state branches to bend the knee to whatever position the federal leadership has cobbled together to keep its own party room quiet.

Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has already said that Sloane should dump the net zero target, claiming that party members in NSW want that. This debate wont end anytime soon.

If Sloane yields to that pressure and drifts towards the federal line on emissions, she will instantly alienate the very metropolitan voters she has been elevated to win back, and she risks splitting her own state party in the process.

Equally, if she resists and unapologetically sticks with net zero, she will certainly deepen the already growing divide between state and federal Liberals. There is no painless option here.

The best Sloane can do is what she has signalled so far: decline to be drawn into commentary on federal decisions, insist that her job is to offer a modern, centre-right alternative for NSW, and quietly demonstrate through policy that she understands where the state electorate actually is on climate and more importantly on other state based issues.

Her own seat is a problem and an opportunity. Vaucluse is the very definition of a silvertail electorate: harbour views, some of the most expensive real estate in the country, and a reputation for privilege that Labor strategists can weaponise in their sleep.

Peter Debnam discovered that when Labor caricatured him as out of touch and he never really escaped the image of a rich toff who strutted around in his Speedos. Sloane has already been criticised for opposing housing developments and higher density in her electorate, putting her on the wrong side of the housing crisis in the eyes of even some Liberals.

Those positions might be popular locally as the sitting MP, but they complicate any attempt to present herself as a premier-in-waiting who gets western Sydney. Mark Latham is already calling her 'caviar Kellie', because of an unfortunate series of posts she made more than a decade ago about superyachts.

Peter Debnam - the Liberal opposition leader almost 20 years ago, and also the MP for Vaucluse - was ruthlessly caricatured by Labor as out of touch (as well as for fronting press conferences in his Speedos)

If Labor overplays the class war angle, however, it could backfire, especially if attacks on Sloane feel snobbish in reverse - by mocking someone from the east simply for being from the east. But she shouldnt rely on Labor misreading the room.

She needs to show, quickly, that she is capable of talking credibly about cost of living, housing supply and public services in parts of Sydney that look nothing like Vaucluse.

Sloane must be therefore willing to back policies that might upset her own backyard. That doesnt mean signing up to every Labor planning proposal, but it does mean moving beyond the instinctive not in my suburb reflex that has characterised too much of the Liberal response on housing.

The other obvious vulnerability is the empty suit charge. Her television background guarantees she will be dismissed by some as all optics and no substance, the political equivalent of a polished promo reel.

That can be turned around, but not with stunts or crafted photo opportunities. Her best defence is hard work on policy, starting with issues where she already has some credibility. Such as health, where she has been an effective critic of pressure points in the system.

But policy alternatives need to be developed to avoid the appearance of mere carping.

She then needs to extend such alternative government substance to areas where the Coalition needs a story that voters might sign up to: on energy, infrastructure and integrity in government, for example.

If she can demonstrate seriousness in such areas, voters are less likely to see her media skills as a gimmick and more as a useful asset in explaining complex reforms.

There is, buried in all this, a potential upside. Voters in NSW have often been comfortable with one side of politics in charge in Canberra and the other in Macquarie Street.

With Labor likely to remain in office federally for some time yet, Sloane can pitch herself as a check and balance on Albo: a modern, socially aware, economically literate Liberal premier who offers change without chaos.

For that to work she has to make crystal clear that she is not simply a branch office manager for a federal party lurching further to the right. The more the federal Liberals look like an anti-net-zero, anti-urban, anti-compromise outfit, the more room there is for a state Liberal leader to occupy a distinct, genuinely centre-right space. But it wont be easy.

The risk, of course, is that her own party wont let her do that. If the 2027 result is poor, and poor will be defined unforgivingly, the same forces that undermined Speakman will turn on her. In that sense Sloanes leadership is a test not just of her own political skills but of what the NSW Liberal Party wants to be.

If it really wants to return to government, it will give her time and tolerate some internal discomfort as she distances herself from Canberra on climate and other issues. To build a policy offering that looks like it belongs in this decade rather than the last one.

Sloane will be campaigning to win the March 2027 election in sixteen months time, and doing so isnt impossible. But a two term strategy is more realistic, not least because its hard to imagine Minns hanging around to fight a third election if he wins the next one.

All of which is why she would rather have hung back than step up to be leader now. But in the end she had no choice. As Barack Obama wrote in his memoir A Promised Land: you dont choose the time. The time chooses you.
A Melbourne high school teacher who filmed himself having sex with a female student while they watched Aladdin has retained the support of his devoted wife.

Former MacKillop College Werribee teacher Troy Ollis, 34, fronted the Melbourne County Court on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences, including producing and possessing child abuse material.

The married former Catholic school teacher was exposed as a child sex offender after he was arrested at Melbourne Airport in January this year.

Ollis, of Geelong, involved the victim in his twisted offending, filming and photographing more than a dozen encounters in which he sexually violated the child.

The court heard Ollis sexually violated his victim at hotels, at his family home, and in his car during hours-long ordeals while the child's parents believed she was at work.

Ollis also filmed himself having sex with the girl while the movie Aladdin was playing in the background, the court was told.

The teacher also discussed the girl's 'younger sister' with his victim while stating he was not going to leave his wife for her.

Prosecutor Deanna Caruso previously told the court Ollis got his hooks into the victim after 'grooming' her with more than 200 emails in which he praised the child as a 'promising student.'

Former Melbourne teacher Troy Ollis, 34, fronted the Melbourne County Court on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences

Ollis taught at MacKillop College in Werribee

'The offender engaged in grooming behaviour by complimenting her maturity, writing style and work ethic through email,' Prosecutor Caruso told the court.

Prosecutor Caruso said Ollis 'manipulated' the victim so he 'got what he needed'.

'Which was a young person who was compliant... who would adore him,' Prosecutor Caruso said.

Ollis then purchased the girl a secret phone so he could covertly communicate with his victim after her father applied strict parental control settings on his daughter's regular phone.

The pair also communicated via 'secret email addresses' and used 'self-destruct' apps, the court was told.

Australian Border Force officers caught Ollis with child abuse material at the airport on January 14 after officials examined his phone and discovered 140 child abuse material files.

The teacher had just flown home from a holiday in Tanzania with his wife and four-year-old son.

Many of the child abuse photos and videos investigators found on Ollis's phone depicted the student.

Ollis, of Geelong, involved the victim in his twisted sex offending

Police also discovered other child abuse material, some of which depicted children believed to be as young as three years old.

In a twisted revelation, Ollis also sent one of the student sex videos to a WhatsApp chat accompanied by the message: 'He he I have a lot of videos and photos with this girl. She loved being on camera with my d***'.

Police also discovered vile written child abuse material on Ollis' phone with a note titled 'Daily Routine'.

The material included a written remark instructing a female student to perform vile acts, including: 'wake up, play with your c*** for 15 minutes, send master a good morning text and picture get ready for school'.

Ollis, who pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual penetration of a child aged 16 or 17 years under care, supervision, or authority, was represented by top criminal barrister Belinda Franjic.

Ms Franjic previously told the court her client's relationship with the victim started as an 'appropriate' teacher-student connection but 'evolved' over time.

'It's the way the victim made him feel that led him to transgressing these boundaries,' Ms Franjic told the court.

Ollis then purchased a secret phone so he could covertly communicate with his victim

Ms Franjic also submitted Ollis did not 'target' or 'deliberately groom' the victim while conceding her client 'should have known better' than to start a relationship with a student.

Prosecutor Caruso said it Ollis' was violating the child to fuel his own 'fantasies'.

'He had an attraction to the victim, he had an attraction to females of that age,' she said.

Experienced County Court sex crimes adjudicator Judge Paul Higham said 'no teacher can stay within the post feeling sexually attracted to their pupils'.

'Had it happened between adults it would have been body positive, sex positive I would have described it, but this happened with a child,' Judge Higham said.

Judge Higham also described Ollis' conduct as 'deranged offending'.

Ollis, who was supported in court by his parents, was remanded into custody to be sentenced on January 27.
Former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds says her 'fight for truth' is over after winning a defamation case against Brittany Higgins, and is urging the Albanese Government to take responsibility for years of reputational damage.

Reynolds had claimed a series of social media posts made by Higgins and partner David Sharaz in 2022 and 2023 caused her health issues, damaged her reputation and stymied her career.

In August, the WA Supreme Court awarded Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus $26,000 in interest, and Higgins was ordered to pay 80 per cent of her legal fees, which, combined with her own legal bills, amounts to an estimated $2 million, following a decision from Justice Paul Tottle.

Reynolds told The Australian she had 'no choice but to stand and fight' after what she described as a 'huge and monstrous lie' that destroyed her career.

'I believe the truth matters,' Reynolds said in a video published by the outlet.

'It's about fighting for the truth because the allegations about me, Fiona, Michaela, Scott Morrison and all of our staffs was a lie, so for me it was about the truth.

'We've now had three court cases and with Justice Tottle's judgement the truth is now binding on Brittany, on David and on journalists - it is binding.

'So I feel the fight for the truth after five years is now out there.'

Linda Reynolds (pictured) called on the Government to apologise for damaging her reputation after winning her defamation battle against Brittany Higgins

Reynolds has also called for justice for her former chief of staff Fiona Brown, who was named in Higgins' allegations.

Brown was the senior staffer who supported Higgins after the alleged assault and arranged meetings with police.

'Fiona did everything right. Three courts have now found she did everything right. She is a compassionate, capable, competent woman who has been so badly damaged,' Reynolds said.

'It is very clear how damaged she has been - from my perspective justice for Fiona would look like an apology and financial compensation because Fiona did everything right. She is a compassionate, capable woman who did everything right.'

Reynolds also revealed why she took on the lengthy defamation battle.

'I have spent my entire adult life serving my nation, 35 years in the army, 11 years in the Senate, and I have served because I believe in our democracy, I believe in our country.

'When these things it's a bit like the movie the Matrix - you have a red pill and a blue pill - the red pill is that you just get defeated and you walk away and say this is too much.

'Or you decide to stand and fight and for me the choice, it wasn't really a choice, I had to stand up and fight because it was not just for me, it was for so many other people who have been damaged by these lies.

Reynolds (pictured) demanded an apology to Fiona Brown who also worked in her office

'I want to give hope to other woman, and particularly other conservative woman that my experience won't be there experience.'

Despite the ruling, Reynolds warns little has changed in Parliament.

Reynolds has previously called for a parliamentary inquiry into whether senior Labor senators misled Parliament and weaponised Higgins' claims under privilege.

'They talk the talk, but when it comes to coalition women and their political enemies, they will use parliamentary privilege to do exactly the opposite.

'What Labor did to me in the Parliament would be completely illegal in any other workplace.'

She specifically named Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher, alleging they used privilege to amplify untested allegations and create political damage.

Speaking in parliament in 2021, Senator Wong and Senator Gallagher explicitly accused Scott Morrison's government of engaging in a cover-up of Ms Higgins' rape accusation.

'We know minister Reynolds was aware and made it feel like a political problem to fix, made Ms Higgins feel like she had to choose between justice or her job,' Senator Wong said in a February 2021 Senate statement.

Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz (pictured) both face bankruptcy after the defamation trial

'We know that, at best, Mr Morrison runs a government where the culture is "don't ask, don't tell" when it comes to serious criminal allegations. At worst, Mr Morrison himself is part of the cover-up.'

Gallagher said: By withholding information, what she is continuing is the cover-up that has been under way for two years, which has been the cause of much trauma to Ms Higgins. Its the cover-up, often, that is as traumatic as other elements of a serious crime like this because it compounds the trauma

Wong disputed the claims the assault allegation was weaponised.

'I did not know the full details of the allegations before the story became public,' she said.

'There are others who did know a lot of detail, including Morrison government ministers, and they have still failed to account for what they did with that information.'

Gallagher said it was untrue that Labor had 'made a decision to weaponise it' as asserted by Reynolds.

Higgins and her husband David Sharaz are facing imminent bankruptcy following Reynolds' win.

Before going to trial, Ms Higgins had offered to pay Reynolds $200,000 as a contribution to her legal costs, with her parents to pick up the tab, but the sum was rejected.

The ex-political staffer apologised to Reynolds following the former Defence Minister's five-week defamation trial victory in September 2024.

The trial centred on a tweet Ms Higgins and her husband published in January 2022.

Justice Paul Tottle found Ms Higgins' social media posts were defamatory as they implied Reynolds engaged in a campaign of harassment, mishandled her rape allegation and engaged in questionable conduct during Bruce Lehrmann's aborted rape trial.

Ms Higgins alleges Lehrmann, her former co-worker, raped her in the senator's ministerial suite - a claim he has always denied.

His criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

A Federal Court judge overseeing a defamation case Lehrmann launched against Network Ten found Ms Higgins was raped in the Parliament House office, on the balance of probabilities.

Lehrmann is appealing that finding.
A drug-crazed menace repeatedly stabbed a Melbourne shopkeeper as she pleaded for help - and left her too terrified to ever return to her store.

Joseph Cassar, 49, repeatedly stabbed his 64-year-old victim Thanh Lam with a kitchen knife while high on meth, in a random attack at the Port Melbourne convenience shop where she had worked for more than 30 years.

Cassar had lived just around the corner from the inner Melbourne shop on Bay Street and had been a regular customer before he launched his senseless onslaught.

He had been due to stand trial this week over the September 17, 2023 attack, but changed his mind and pleaded guilty to attempted murder on the day it was to begin.

Cassar appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria via videolink on Friday where Justice Andrew Tinney heard grim details of the stabbing.

Crown prosecutor Erin Ramsay told the court there was seemingly no reason for Cassar's savagery against Ms Lam, who was captured on CCTV fighting for her life.

'He was a regular customer, attending once or twice a week to buy cigarettes,' she said.

'Ms Lam described him as a very big, tall guy who would sometimes swear but was never rude to her.'

Joseph Cassar is arrested after stabbing a Port Melbourne shopkeeper

On the day of the attack Ms Lam had opened the store about 8.40am and served three or four customers before Cassar entered the shop.

Ms Lam had been seated behind the counter when Cassar jumped on top of it with a knife concealed behind his back.

The court heard Cassar grabbed Ms Lam by her hair before pushing her to the far end of the counter where she could not escape.

'He raised the knife up high and plunged it into Ms Lam, who was cowering near the counter,' Ms Ramsay said.

'She used her hands to try and protect her head as Mr Cassar drew back the knife and stabbed her again and again.'

The court heard at one point Cassar's knife got stuck in Ms Lam's hand.

'The footage shows that he stabbed her around seven times and that the entire attack lasted 43 seconds,' Ms Ramsay said.

The court heard Ms Lam begged Cassar to take what he wanted and leave her unharmed.

The convenience shop where Cassar went on his mindless, bloody rampage

'The money is here, the cigarettes are over there, and Ill listen to you, Ill listen to you,' she pleaded.

But Cassar didn't want cash or cigarettes. He only wanted to unleash his mindless violence.

'Her hand was on the table and Mr Cassar stabbed her hand with the knife three times and cut her fingers,' Ms Ramsay said.

'He also cut her right hand twice. She says he then turned her body around and pushed her against the bench so that she was facing away from him.

'He stabbed her in the back of the left side of her neck and the bottom part of her back.'

Sure she was about to die, Ms Lam screamed for help, but no-one came.

Bleeding out, Ms Lam managed to make a break for the door where she was helped by a man from a neighbouring shop.

The court heard Cassar drove to his home 700m away after the attack and dumped the knife, which has never been found.

The stabbing took place on busy Bay Street in Port Melbourne in broad daylight

When police came the next day, he denied any wrongdoing despite being caught on CCTV.

'What are you doing? I have done nothing,' he told police.

He later refused to answer questions.

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Ms Lam told the court she could no longer step foot anywhere near the shop she spent most of her life in.

'Even though Ive worked in this location for 30 years, I can no longer step into the store without reliving the incident and fearing for my life,' she told the court.

She told the court the attack had left her with lifelong injuries.

'I struggle to use my left hand. I lost sensation in my fingers and have difficulty performing daily activities including brushing my teeth, cooking and cleaning,' she said.

'I have lost weight because I have difficulty eating due to my hand. I also struggle with looking after my husband who is in palliative care.

'I cannot spend quality time with my grandson because I do not have the strength to carry him. I have ongoing numbness in the back of my head and neck from the stabbing.'

Thanh Lam was never able to return to work after the senseless attack

Cassar's barrister Jason Gullaci, SC said his client had no memory of carrying out the attack, but accepted he had attempted to murder Ms Lam.

He told the court his client had no relevant prior criminal history and had been dealing with a terrible drug addiction.

'There's no evidence of any animosity between (them) in the shop. He'd been attending there regularly,' Mr Gullaci said.

The court heard Cassar made no attempt to conceal his identity while carrying out the attack.

'He's wearing a hoodie, the hoodie remains down,' Mr Gullaci said.

'He's got no gloves to protect DNA or fingerprints being left, doesn't wear a balaclava. He doesn't make any demand in the store for anything.

'He doesn't ask for cash, doesn't ask for cigarettes.'

Mr Gullaci said his client appeared to walk into the shop unsure about what his intentions were.

'There is a level of uncertainty about what he's actually going to do until the point where he does stab, and stab in a frenzy,' he said.

He called on Justice Tinney to sentence Cassar to a jail period that included a longer than ordinary non-parole period.

The hearing comes just days after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced tougher penalties for people who attack retail workers.

The maximum penalty for attempted murder in Victoria is 25 years' imprisonment.

Justice Tinney will sentence Cassar next week.
A childcare worker whose 'singular error' allegedly caused a horrific crash, killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child, has been granted release on bail.

Samanvidha Dhareshwar, 33, was walking with her husband and a child in northern Sydney when struck by a station wagon on November 14.

The crash in Hornsby was allegedly caused after the station wagon was itself struck by a luxury sedan driven by a 19-year-old P-plater.

Ms Dhareshwar was taken to hospital but she and her unborn baby, due in December, could not be saved

Aaron Papazoglu made a second bid for bail at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday after his first application was rejected on Sunday.

The university student, who has no previous criminal or driving offences, is accused of speeding up through an intersection when the traffic light changed to yellow, the first bail hearing was told.

Defence barrister Allan Goldsworthy on Friday pressed for the end to the teenager's seven-night stint in custody, saying there was nothing to show he had any criminal proclivity.

'This case boils down to a singular error on a roadway ... albeit with tragic consequences,' he said.

Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, was tragically killed on Friday night, along with her unborn baby

University student and P-plater Aaron Papazoglu, 19, has been charged over the crash

Papazoglu has been charged with dangerous driving and negligent driving, both occasioning death, as well as causing the death of a fetus through the death of a pregnant woman.

A fourth charge - failing to stop at a red light - was added before Friday's hearing.

Mr Goldsworthy said the teen was demonstrably of good character and had been self-funding tens of thousands of dollars for his university degree by working at a childcare centre.

His family, including his single mum, were willing to put up their entire savings of $50,000 as surety to ensure Papazoglu attended court, the barrister said.

Family members nodded along, looking concerned in court while these submissions were made.

The police prosecutor said it was up to the court to decide whether bail conditions could mitigate any risk the 19-year-old would pose to the community.

Magistrate Scott Nash ordered the teen be released, finding that sufficient conditions could be put in place.

Papazoglu has been ordered to reside at an apartment in Wahroonga and to report to police once weekly.

Police will allege Papazoglu's white BMW went through an amber light and struck a stopped Kia, pushing it into Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her family as they crossed a road

Police and emergency services on George Street, Hornsby where the 33-year-old mother was walking with her husband and their three-year-old son on Friday night

Eight months pregnant Samanvitha Dhareshwar, her husband and their three-year-old son were just a few minutes from their apartment in Hornsby where the horror unfolded

He is not to contact any crown witnesses and is forbidden from being in the driver's seat of any vehicle.

He will not be required to attend when his matter next comes before court on January 13.
A Democrat running for Congress to represent Nashville gave a bizarre defense of herself after past comments that she 'hates' the Music City suddenly resurfaced.

Aftyn Behn, 35, claimed she's 'cried no less than ten times' in the Country Music Hall of Fame and she went viral for saying she 'hates' the Tennessee capital's tourists and country music.

'I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville. I hate it,' Behn can be heard saying in the resurfaced clip from the GRITS podcast in February 2020.

With the caption 'BREAKING: I DO NOT HATE NASHVILLE LOL,' Behn posted a nearly two-minute video trying to explain herself Thursday evening, decrying the 'national GOP's new attack' against her as just 'wild rumors.'

She further tried to prove her Nashville cred by claiming she visits the city's famous Ryman Auditorium 'just to hang out.'

Behn did say that she always wants 'Nashville to better so people can thrive' and admitted that the city's reputation as a hub for bachelorette parties and honky-tonk venues bugs her.

'Sure, I get mad at the bachelorettes sometimes, I get mad at the pedal taverns,' she said in the video.

The Democrat claimed these comments surfaced because she is 'close to winning.'

Aftyn Behn, 35, is defending her longshot Congressional bid after resurfaced comments that she 'hates' the city went viral

NO, I DO NOT HATE THE CITY I REPRESENT 



The national GOP's new attack? That I hate Nashville." Ive cried in the Country Music Hall of Fame no less than 10 times. Theyre panicking because were close to winning. Eyes on the prize, yall. Lets go. pic.twitter.com/jjwMnyW8ZU  Aftyn Behn for Congress (@aftynfortn) November 21, 2025

'The Republican eye of Sauron has finally shifted toward moi,' she said, referencing Lord of the Rings.

'Today, the Republicans decided that they're gonna' start this narrative that me, the state representative that represents downtown Nashville, doesn't like the city.'

Behn ended the clip by saying that she's 'not going to take the bait' and will continue campaigning to try and beat Republican Matt Van Epps.

However, on the podcast from just five years ago, Behn makes her thoughts about the city's culture clear.

She has also previously called sororities 'a staple of white supremacy,' and branded the whole of Tennessee a 'racist state.'

Behn was privately educated at the $27,000-per-year Webb School in Knoxville and went on to study at the University of Texas at Austin.

Republicans seized on the damning audio, arguing that it is absurd for Behn to try and represent a place she admitted she hates.

'If Behn hates Tennessee so much, why is she trying to represent it?' the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on Thursday.

Behn's campaign manager Kate Briefs claimed the GOP is clutching at straws.

With the caption 'BREAKING: I DO NOT HATE NASHVILLE LOL,' Behn posted a nearly two-minute video trying to explain herself Thursday evening, decrying the 'national GOP 's new attack' against her as just 'wild rumors'

She tried to prove her Nashville cred by admitting she 'cried no less than ten times in the Country Music Hall of Fame' (pictured) and visits the city's famous Ryman Auditorium 'just to hang out'

'Republicans are panicking and in a last ditched attempt, they are distracting from the fact that Washington Republicans ... are raising costs on Tennessee families and ripping away their health care,' Briefs said in a statement.

'Aftyn Behn will lower Tennessee families' costs and make groceries more affordable by eliminating the state's grocery tax.'

But Behn is in an uphill battle against Republican Matt Van Epps, a former Tennessee General Services commissioner.

They are running to fill the state's 7th congressional seat, formerly occupied by Republican Mark Green, who resigned earlier this summer to take a job in the private sector.

The seat is rated R +10 by the Cook Political Report, despite Green's prior win being by over 20 points.

The race has also shifted slightly toward Democrats, going from 'solid Republican' to 'lean Republican' last week.

Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. jumped into the race as well last week, with a small expenditure of $15,000 for phone banking.

Significant Democratic electoral victories earlier this month have drawn substantial media attention and money to the race in the last few weeks.

Seventh Congressional District candidate Matt Van Epps, who is running against Behn, is seen at a political forum in Dickson, Tennessee, in September

Behn is in an uphill battle against Van Epps, a former Tennessee General Services commissioner

Former vice president and failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail in person to boost Behn earlier this week, calling her race 'the most competitive race in America.'

However, she did not mention the candidate by name or appear alongside her.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, supported Van Epps via a tele-rally last week, calling him a 'true America First patriot who has dedicated his entire life to serving our country.'

Behn has been endorsed by groups such as the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, AFL-CIO, and the Working Families Party.

At the same time, Van Epps is supported by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Club for Growth PAC and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Green's sudden departure from Congress came as a surprise.

'It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from Congress,' he said in a statement at the time.

'Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was too exciting to pass up,' Green added.

Green called it 'an honor of a lifetime' to serve in Congress, he also touted many of his achievements as committee chairman.

He also addressed his previous retirement announcement and subsequent reversal.

'Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump's border security measures and priorities make it through Congress,' he wrote.

'By overseeing the border security portion of the reconciliation package, I have done that. After that, I will retire, and there will be a special election to replace me.'

The announcement also came after Green was publicly embroiled in an alleged 2024 affair and roasted by his ex wife online.
Famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's self-portrait sold for an astonishing $55 million at auction on Thursday - setting a new record for female artists.

The painting of Kahlo asleep in a bed - titled 'El sueno (La cama)' or in English, 'The Dream (The Bed)' - surpassed the record previously held by Georgia OKeeffes 'Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1,' which once hung in the White House and sold for $44.4 million in 2014.

The sale at Sotheby's in New York also topped Kahlo's own auction record for a work by a Latin American artist.

Her 1949 painting 'Diego and I,' depicting the artist and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, went for $34.9 million in 2021.

That is now the third-most valuable painting by a woman.

But 'El sueno (La cama)' had the rare distinction of remaining in private hands outside of Mexico, where the government declared her work an artistic monument in 1984 and banned any of her paintings that were in Mexico at the time from being exported.

It was previously sold at Sotheby's in 1980 to Nesuhi Ertegun, the Turkish-American record producer who co-founded Atlantic Records with his brother Ahmet, according to historian Luis-Martin Lozano, who wrote an essay for the auction house on the painting, The New York Times reports.

The piece depicts Kahlo asleep in a wooden, colonial-style bed that floats in the clouds. She is draped in a golden blanket and entangled in crawling vines and leaves. Above the bed lies a papier-mache skeleton figure wrapped in dynamite.

Famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's self-portrait sold for an astonishing $55 million at auction on Thursday - setting a new record for female artists

The painting of Kahlo asleep in a bed - titled 'El sueno (La cama)' or in English, 'The Dream (The Bed)' was sold to an unidentified bidder at Sotheby's in New York City on Thursday

The painting is deeply personal for Kahlo, who was confined to her bed for long periods of time as she endured chronic pain following a near-fatal bus accident at the age of 18 and underwent subsequent surgeries on her damaged spine and pelvis.

During her recovery, Kahlo's family set up an adapted easel and fitted mirror to the canopy of the bed so that she could continue to paint while lying down.

'I am not dead, and I have a reason to live,' she once wrote, according to CNN. 'That reason is painting.'

In his essay, Lozano argued that the firecrackers tied to the skeleton suggested 'Kahlo's intent to signal a passage between dimensions - between reality and dream, life and death.'

Advertising the piece ahead of the auction, Anna Di Stasi, Sotheby's head of Latin American art, said: 'El sueno (La cama) stands among Frida Kahlo's greatest masterworks - a rare and striking example of her most surrealist impulses.

'Kahlo fuses dream imagery and symbolic precision with unmatched emotional intensity, creating a work that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant,' she said, according to NPR.

On Thursday, auctioneer Oliver Barker also described the painting as 'an evocative and spectral meditation on life, death and the spirit world.'

Kahlo made the masterpiece in 1940, a tumultuous year in her life.

It was the year remarried Rivera after divorcing him just one year prior. It was also the year her former lover, Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, was assassinated.

'El sueno (La cama)' had the rare distinction of remaining in private hands outside of Mexico , where the government declared her work an artistic monument in 1984 and banned any of her paintings that were in Mexico at the time from being exported

The sale proved to be controversial, with some arguing Kahlo's work should remain in Mexico, while others raised concern that the painting - last exhibited publicly in the late 1990s - could again disappear from public view after the auction

Ahead of Thursday night's auction, Kahlo's great-niece, celebrated the significance of the sale.

'I'm very proud that she's one of the most valued women, because really, what woman doesn't identify with Frida, or what person doesn't?' she told the Associated Press.

'I think everyone carries a little piece of my aunt in their heart.'

Kahlo's work has been receiving renewed interest since a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek as the artist introduced a new generation to her work and her dramatic biography.

Just within the past year, more than a dozen museums around the world have exhibited shows dedicated to Kahlo, and on Thursday, 'El sueno (La cama)' sold after four minutes of spirited bidding, The New York Times reports.

But at one point, bidding dramatically slowed at around $40 million - the low end of what auctioneers thought it could go for - and it seemed uncertain whether the painting would break any records.

Ultimately, Di Stasi handed the winning bid to a buyer on the phone, whose identity is not yet known.

Kahlo's work has been receiving renewed interest since a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek as the artist introduced a new generation to her work and her dramatic biography

Kahlo's painting was the star of a sale of more than 100 surrealist works by artists including Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning - despite Kahlo's objections to being labeled a surrealist.

The art style centers on a fascination with the unconscious mind, but Kahlo once said: 'I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.'

The sale of her painting on Thursday was also controversial as some argued her work should remain in Mexico, while others raised concern that the painting - last exhibited publicly in the late 1990s - could again disappear from public view after the auction.

It has already been requested for upcoming exhibitions in cities including New York, London and Brussels.
Six Democrats are receiving round-the-clock protection from Capitol Police after Donald Trump accused them of 'seditious behavior' that should be 'punishable by DEATH.

The defiant Dems - Senators Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.); and Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Maggie Goodlander (NH), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.) and Chris DeLuzio (Pa.) - were targeted by Trump's after releasing a video that told members of the military they 'can refuse illegal orders.'

Trump issued a furious response on Truth Social Thursday that called their action 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' The president made further posts demanding their arrest.

Trump also reposted more than a dozen comments from other accounts, including one that stated: 'HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!'

Slotkin, a CIA veteran, said she received hundreds of threats after Trump's statement and Capitol Police put each lawmaker under full surveillance for their own safety.

'Capitol Police came to us and said, "We're gonna put you on 24/7 security." We've got law enforcement out in front of my house. I mean, it changes things immediately,' she told MSNBC about Trump's statement.

She wasn't surprised by the threats, noting: 'If the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn't be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.'

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Democratic leadership was in contact with law enforcement about the ongoing threats to lawmakers.

Six Democrats - including Elissa Slotkin (pictured center left), Jason Crow (pictured center) and Chrissy Houlihan (pictured right) - are receiving round-the-clock protection from Capitol Police after Donald Trump accused them of 'seditious behavior' that should be 'punishable by DEATH'

Trump issued a furious response on Truth Social Thursday that called their action 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' The president made further posts demanding their arrest

'We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and dangerous death threats,' Jeffries said.

'We have been in contact with the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of these Members and their families.'

Mark Kelly of Arizona, a 25-year Navy combat pilot and former astronaut, recalled his military experiences as he reacted to Trump's threats.

'I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit  all for my country,' Kelly said.

'I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution. Trump doesn't understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.'

Kelly's wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, famously survived an assassination attempt in 2012.

Chris DeLuzio, who represents Pennsylvania, noted that he had decried violence against Trump when he faced assassination attempts and when Charlie Kirk was murdered but had not heard from Republicans following Trump's posts.

'This is a time to demand that this end, that we reject this kind of lawlessness and that we stand up for the rule of law in this country,' he told CNN.

Mark Kelly of Arizona, a 25-year Navy combat pilot and former astronaut, recalled his military experiences as he reacted to Trump's threats

Representatives Chris DeLuzio (pictured left) of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander (pictured right) of New Hampshire also stood behind the video

Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger, defended their video, claiming that the commander-in-chief had put troops in an unenviable position where they are being forced to break the law.

'We are standing by our troops, our service members who are often put in very difficult positions and Donald Trump has put them in very difficult positions and has alluded to putting them in even more difficult positions in the months and years ahead,' Crow explained to Fox News on Wednesday.

'So we are reminding folks about what the uniform code of military justice says, what the Constitution says, what the law of war says,' he added.

All of the half-dozen Democrats remained resolute that they had done the right thing in releasing the clip.

They released a joint statement doubling down on their rhetoric later Friday.

'We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.

'What's most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.

'But this isn't about any one of us. This isn't about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President's calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.

Houlihan (pictured) released a statement jointly signed by the rebellious six Democrats standing behind their video

'In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.

The lawmakers conclude the statement, as they did in the video, by encouraging service members, 'Don't give up the ship,' a War of 1812-era phrase attributed to a U.S. Navy captain's dying command to his crew.

The video shows the lawmakers, each veteran from different branches of service, ranging from the CIA, Air Force, Army and Navy, pleading with military members.

'You must refuse illegal orders,' the lawmakers said. 'No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.'

The video enraged Trump, the commander-in-chief of all the US's military forces, who has spent his morning bashing the 'traitors' on social media.

Trump even reposted someone calling for the lawmakers to be executed. 'Hang them George Washington Would!' the Truth Social entry shared by the president said.

'Its called seditious behavior at the highest level,' another one of Trump's posts about the lawmakers reads.

'Each one of these traitors to our Country should be arrested and put on trial. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We wont have a country anymore!!! An example must be set.'

The video enraged Trump, the commander-in-chief of all the US's military forces, who has spent his morning bashing the 'traitors' on social media

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the video evidence of 'Stage 4 [Trump Derangement Syndrome].'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters several times that the lawmakers - all veterans - were urging the military to refuse 'lawful orders.'

After an exchange with reporters in which CBS Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes argued otherwise, Leavitt called an end to the briefing only to be met with complaints from the press.

'Karoline, you misquoted Democrats in that video,' Collins said as Leavitt walked off.

'That's actually not what they said.'

In the video, the lawmakers did not specify which 'illegal orders' they were urging troops to disobey, but it comes as Trump is facing criticism for strikes on 'narco terrorist' boats that the administration claims are bringing drugs to the US.

The Democrats also never specified what the soldiers should do if they receive unlawful commands.

In recent months, the US has conducted at least 20 lethal strikes on alleged narco-terrorist boats bringing drugs illegally to the US.

The videos of the strikes, which have killed at least 80 people, have regularly been reposted by Hegseth and Trump.
A neo-Nazi accused of directing supporters to 'rhetorically rape' a federal politician will remain behind bars, as federal police crackdown on threats and harassment against elected officials.

Joel Davis, 30, appeared before Sydney magistrate Daniel Covington on Friday, when he was denied bail.

The National Socialist Network mouthpiece allegedly used a carriage service to encourage abuse and hate towards independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.

Davis is accused of calling on supporters to 'rhetorically rape' the parliamentarian in an encrypted online platform after she condemned the group for holding a rally to 'abolish the Jewish lobby' outside the NSW parliament earlier in November.

Representing Davis, Liam McKibbin told the online court hearing his client's pregnant partner was due to imminently give birth to their son.

The pair have planned a home birth with a midwife at their Bondi residence.

Noting the 'alleged disturbing conduct,' the defence lawyer said it doesn't include a 'specific physical threat of violence'.

Opposing bail, prosecutor Kristen Wakefield said Davis' South Australian criminal history showed he is bailed to an address there.

Neo-Nazi Joel Davis has been refused bail for allegedly calling on supporters to 'rhetorically rape' a female MP

A court found Davis was an unacceptable risk of committing a serious offence and endangering community safety. Above, Allegra Spender MP

She said he was an unacceptable risk, noting failure to appear, danger posed to community safety, and the alleged offending occurring while on bail.

Ms Wakefield said due to Telegram's wide audience, it would be very difficult for federal police to conduct compliance checks to ensure he wasn't continuing to offend.

Refusing the bail application, Mr Covington said there was an unacceptable risk of Davis committing a serious offence and endangering community safety.

He will next appear before court online on December 3.

Australian Federal Police National Security Investigations teams have arrested three people, including Davis, in the past week for allegedly harassing or threatening parliamentarians.

They include a Tamworth man, 29, issued a court attendance notice for allegedly sending online threats to an Australian high office holder, in addition to a 32-year-old Victorian man for allegedly using a carriage service to harass a politician.

AFP acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew Gale said 951 referrals had been made in the 2024/2025 financial year over threats to federal politicians.

'The AFP is very concerned, and our national security investigations teams, alongside with our specialist protective command, are working hand in glove with our federal parliamentarians to make sure that we provide them with the assurances and the safety that are required,' he told reporters in Canberra.
Temperatures across Britain have dropped to a bone-chilling -11C as multiple Met Office ice warnings come into effect.

The fresh warnings come after snowy weather shut schools and led to travel chaos in some parts of the country as the UK continues to battle a freezing cold snap.

Scotland is expected to bear the brunt of the freezing conditions, where some communities may endure lows of 10C to 11C.

According to the Met Office, the frigid temperature was recorded at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands, with the mercury dipping below minus 7C across much of Scotland.

Temperatures were slightly milder in England and Wales, with lows of minus 6C at Trawsgoed in Ceredigion, Wales and minus 4C at Rostherne, Cheshire.

Multiple yellow ice warnings remain in force across Scotland, Northern Ireland, the South West and the East of England, raising fears of hazardous roads, widespread travel disruption and a heightened risk of slips and falls.

The North East is also on alert, with a fresh warning from midnight until midday on Friday, while East Anglia faces icy conditions until 11am.

Meanwhile, nearly 200 schools across Britain were closed yesterday.

Snowy conditions in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, yesterday. Temperatures across Britain have dropped to a bone-chilling -11C as multiple Met Office ice warnings come into effect

A person braves the the snow in Newcastle early on Thursday morning as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning

Ice yellow weather warnings are in force across parts of the UK

Cold weather health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency remain in place until Saturday morning.

Forecaster Simon Partridge said the chill stemmed primarily from 'a little ridge of high pressure moving across the UK overnight', adding 'the main difference between that and previous nights is the winds are a lot lighter'.

Mr Partridge said that much of the country will see frost in the morning but that later in the day there is expected to be widespread sunshine.

He said: 'Friday is really the end of the really cold weather as things turn back to average by the time we get into the weekend.'

It comes after schools were forced to close, roads were disrupted and homes were left without power because of snow.

About 100 schools closed in northern Scotland on Thursday, while in Wales, 36 were closed in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire and seven in Ceredigion.

In North Yorkshire, 33 schools were closed while eight were listed as fully closed in East Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Brits faced disruption as roads were closed and homes were left without power because of snow.

A car stuck on the A169 in Yorkshire is dug out of the snow. The cold snap has caused widespread travel disruption

Children on a snow day build an igloo in Aberdeenshire. The snowy conditions led to the closure of nearly 200 schools across the UK

Drivers in the North East and Yorkshire were hit hardest, with North Yorkshire Police urging motorists to avoid the A171 near Whitby after multiple vehicles became stranded in the snow.

Officers also closed the A169 between Whitby and Pickering amid whiteout conditions.

National Rail urged rail commuters to check their journeys before travelling during the snowy and icy weather.

Drifting conditions saw a spate of minor incidents across the north, with snow ploughs and gritters deployed to keep routes open as temperatures plummeted to below.

The Met Office has a spate of yellow ice warnings in place across the UK this morning, including north, east, south-east and south-west England, northern and south-eastern areas of Scotland and north and west Wales.

But the Arctic conditions are expected to be short-lived with temperatures across much of the country turning milder over the weekend.

A Met Office spokesperson said 'As we head into the weekend, we expect a shift to milder, more unsettled, Atlantic-driven weather.

'This will bring cloud, rain and some stronger winds at times, but also a reduction in the wintry hazards we've seen over recent days.

A cyclist braves the wintery weather in North Yorkshire

'We are keeping an eye on Wales and the Midlands, where saturated ground conditions may increase the likelihood of low impacts.

'Conditions will remain on the chilly side, although temperatures will gradually edge back towards more typical values for the time of year.

'As we head into next week, a gradual settling trend is expected; north to northeasterly winds will confine rain and showers increasingly to eastern areas.

'Whilst cooler air arriving in the north may allow some wintriness to develop in the extreme north of the country by the end of Monday.'
A brazen thief who allegedly stole a car with a sleeping baby inside has been captured by police.

Officers arrested the 32-year-old man from Mooroopna, in Victoria's north, about 2pm on Friday.

The man allegedly stole a red Volkswagen in a supermarket carpark on Maude Street in Shepparton, shortly before 2pm on November 14.

CCTV captured the man reversing the car out of the car park before he realised there was a 15-month-old child sleeping in the back seat.

The man removed the boy from the car and ran to the other side of the car park where he placed him inside a cardboard box.

The boy was uninjured.

Detectives from the Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit claimed the boy's mother had been heading into the supermarket at the time of the incident.

Acting Sergeant Andrew Costello said the entire incident transpired in 'a matter of moments'.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested by police after he allegedly stole a car with a baby in the back seat on November 14

CCTV captured the man placing the 15-month-old boy in a cardboard box before driving off in the car

A major manhunt was launched following the alleged carjacking during which Victoria Police urged the public to keep an eye out for the suspect.

Before he was found, officers managed to track down the stolen car in Mooroopna on November 15.

The 32-year-old will now be interviewed by officers regarding the theft and other serious driving offences.

He has yet to be formally charged.
The BBC lost more than 1billion last year as a record one in eight households refused to pay the licence fee.

Some 3.6million households said they do not have a licence because they do not need one.

This is 300,000 more than the previous year, resulting in a potential loss of 617million if converted to paying households, according to a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The BBC has been embroiled in a series of scandals in recent months, culminating in the resignation of boss Sir Tim Davie, who gave evidence to the PAC for the report.

Earlier this month, it was revealed Panorama edited footage of a speech by Donald Trump to make it look like he encouraged supporters to 'fight' in the Capitol riots.

The new PAC report also revealed that 2.9million BBC viewers evaded paying the 174.50-a-year fee, costing the broadcaster of 550million in lost income.

The BBC increased visits to unlicensed households by 50 per cent, but this did not result in higher licence sales or more prosecutions.

'Prosecutions fell by 17 per cent in the year to December 2024 compared to the year before, continuing a long-term decline since 2017,' the report said.

The BBC has been embroiled in a series of scandals (Pictured: Broadcasting House in London)

The report added that the BBC is 'not doing enough to enforce collection of the licence fee, which is unfair to the vast majority of households who do pay for a licence'.

It said: 'Without visible enforcement, licence fee payers who do comply may start to question the fairness of the system.'

The BBC said that it has 'become harder to get people to answer their doors' compared to five years ago 'which limits the enforcement effectiveness'.

The corporation spent 166million, 4.3 per cent of its entire income, on collecting the licence fee.

The report said the BBC has 'not adopted opportunities to digitise the licence fee' resulting in 'missed opportunities for cost efficiency and more customer engagement'.

It found that around 40 per cent of households receive a paper licence by default, but the BBC has 'not set any target to increase take-up of paperless licences'.

The report also said that BBCs mission to serve all audiences is at 'risk as younger audiences choose other media providers' while the corporation's 'digital first strategy could risk alienating non digital audiences'.

It said: 'As younger viewers turn to other platforms and older or less digitally connected audiences risk being left behind, the BBCs ability to serve all audiences, a core part of its public mission, is under pressure.'

The PAC also highlighted how the BBC does not provide clear information about its commercial investments, targets and actual returns from its commercial activities, and said it should begin to provide annual reports on this.

BBC director-general Tim Davie quit amid a row over the editing of a Donald Trump speech

Issues with regional services were also cause for concern, and it said the BBC should clearly communicate how it will ensure better representation of local communities 'to sustain trust and relevance in the future'.

It said PAC members were 'concerned that decisions labelled as "local2", such as moving operations to Manchester or Birmingham, risk overlooking the identity and needs of smaller communities'.

Reforms such as the restructuring of regional news hubs and changes to the local democracy reporting service 'may have unintentionally diluted the BBC's connection with the communities it aims to serve', it added.

The corporation's funding model is set to be looked at the upcoming Charter Review as it competes with streaming services.

The report did say that the BBC is a 'trusted institution' but its relevance across the UK is 'under pressure'.

This is despite the corporation recently coming under pressure after being accused anti-Donald Trump bias.

Mr Trump threatened to sue the broadcaster for up to $5billion for its editing of a speech he made in 2021 on the day his supporters overran the Capitol.

The corporation apologised for the speech edit, which it said gave the 'mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action' on the day of the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

The broadcaster said the splicing of the speech was an 'error of judgment' but refused to pay financial compensation, after the US president's lawyers threatened to sue for $1billion in damages unless a retraction and apology were published.

In an episode broadcast in June 2022, Newsnight reportedly played an edit of his speech which was similar to the one used in the Panorama programme.

The PAC report also highlighted how the BBC is behind target in developing new intellectual property (IP), 'which in turn will limit sustainable long-term revenue streams'.

Naming children's TV series Bluey as an example of 'the commercial value this can bring', it said the BBC should set out how it will prioritise generating new IP.

The report said just 51 per cent of younger people feel the BBC reflects them, while their overall use of BBC services - including TV, radio or online - is significantly lower than other age groups.

'With audiences now able to access an unprecedented range of content from a variety of providers, the BBC faces intense competition for attention', the report said.

'Its digital-first strategy is an important response and there are promising signs of innovation, such as using platforms like TikTok to share news content with new demographics.

'However, this shift also carries a risk: those without reliable digital access could find themselves excluded from core BBC services.'

PAC chairman Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: 'The BBC is an organisation under severe pressure.

'Its own founding aspiration to be a truly universal broadcaster reflecting all its viewers means that this pressure, from both within and without, is inherent in its mission.

'Our report offers a snapshot of the BBC's efforts to deliver value for money as it seeks to thrive in an increasingly fragmented media landscape and illustrates the tensions it must navigate in multiple areas of its business - in efficiently collecting the licence fee; in providing that universal service; in staying relevant to its audiences.

'On the licence fee, our report makes clear that the ground is shifting beneath the BBC's feet - the traditional enforcement method of household visits is seeing fewer and fewer returns at a time of heightened competition for almost every aspect of the BBC's activities.

'Our report shows that without a modernised approach focused more on online viewing, the broadcaster will see faith in the licence fee system ebb away.

'Similarly, while efforts to distribute itself more equitably across the nation are welcome in principle, the BBC must ensure that greater distribution does not equal greater dilution of the authentic local quality of its coverage.'

A BBC spokesperson said: 'As was made clear in the committee session, the licence fee needs reform.

'We are actively exploring all options that can make our funding model fairer, more modern and more sustainable, but we've been clear that any reform must safeguard the BBC as a universal public broadcaster.

'We look forward to engaging with government, Parliament and the public on the next charter to secure the long-term future of a publicly funded BBC that serves and delivers for everyone.

'In terms of the current funding model, TV Licensing works hard to collect the licence fee and enforce the law efficiently, fairly and proportionately and we are audited on this each year. The National Audit Office reports that we continue to successfully deliver on these measures.

'We thank the committee for its report and will respond to the recommendations in full when we provide our formal response.'
Vladimir Putin will be 'expected' not to invade his neighbours, Russia will be welcomed back into the G8, and the U.S. will receive significant financial rewards under Donald Trump's 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine.

The full details of the controversial proposal, drafted secretly by American and Russian officials, have been revealed - and they require Volodymyr Zelensky to make huge concessions to Moscow.

The plan would limit Ukraine's military to 600,000 personnel - from more than 900,000 currently - and ban the country from seeking membership in the NATO military alliance.

Only one line in the plan is dedicated to Ukraine's unspecified 'security guarantees', and it bars the deployment of any NATO troops from the UK-led coalition of the willing on its territory.

Crimea, the peninsula Putin annexed in 2014, would be internationally recognised as de facto Russian, alongside the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Russian economy would receive a boost as part of a new long-term economic cooperation agreement with the U.S., which will involve rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic.

Moscow would be granted roughly two-thirds of the 300billion (265billion) of sovereign assets frozen in Europe, with the remaining 100billion going towards reconstruction in war-torn Ukraine.

The U.S. would reap the benefits of the rebuilding projects, receiving 50 per cent of profits, while Europe would be expected to contribute another 100billion to efforts.

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Donald Trump, who 'supports' the plan, is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President in the coming days

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Turkey's President following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on November 19, 2025

Drafted by Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Kremlin adviser, Kirill Dmitriev, the plan was presented to Rustem Umerov, a high-ranking member of Zelenskys government, earlier this week in Miami.

He 'agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and presented it to President Zelensky,' a senior U.S. official told CBS news.

The Ukrainian President is expected to meet with Trump in the coming days about the peace plan, which has been described as 'heavily tilted towards Vladimir Putin,' by unnamed sources quoted in the Financial Times.

The plan is 'very comfortable for Putin,' another source said.

But Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, rejected the notion that the proposal called on Kyiv to make major concessions to the Kremlin, and insisted that the U.S. had engaged 'equally with both sides'.

'Its a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides,' she said at a press conference.

But there is no escaping that fact that the proposal grants Moscow unprecedented political power in Ukraine, while making Kyiv vulnerable to future aggression and limited in its ability to defend itself.

The country will be banned from possessing long-range missiles, capable of hitting St Petersburg or Moscow, and foreign jets providing assistance will have to be stationed in Poland.

Despite still controlling around 14.5 per cent of the territory there, Ukraine will be forced to surrender its industrial heartland - the mineral and coal-rich eastern Donbas region - which will become a demilitarised buffer zone internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation.

Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be relaunched under UN supervision and supply half of its supply to Ukraine and the rest to Russia.

'After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment,' the proposal states.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his visit to a command post of the West group of Russian Army at an undisclosed location, November 20, 2025

Ukraine will be required to hold elections in 100 days, another key demand being pushed by Moscow, which has repeatedly and openly called for the Ukrainian leader to be toppled.

Meanwhile, Russia would be reintegrated back into the global economy, freed from the burden of Western sanctions.

The deal would enshrine in Ukraines constitution that it will not seek membership in NATO, but it keeps the door open for its membership of the European Union.

All parties will receive 'full amnesty' for their actions during the war, and agree 'not to make any claims or consider any complaints' in the future.

In a statement on X, Zelensky wrote: 'The American side presented points of a plan to end the war- their vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure it's all genuine.'

Ukrainian officials said the U.S. wanted Zelensky to sign the proposal before Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday next week, with sources suggesting that the stiff deadline was unlikely to give Kyiv enough time to negotiate.

On Thursday, European countries pushed back against the plan, indicating they would not accept demands for Kyiv to make punishing concessions.

'Ukrainians want peace - a just peace that respects everyone's sovereignty, a durable peace that can't be called into question by future aggression,' said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

'But peace cannot be a capitulation.'

Despite the momentum building towards peace, Russia has shown no sign of stopping its relentless strikes on Ukrainian civilians.

An attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia late on Thursday killed five people and injured three, the regional governor said.

It came after a Russian drone and missile attack in western Ukraine killed at least 26 people, including three children, after a block of flats in Ternopil was struck.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday Kyiv and Europe needed to be involved in any Ukraine peace plan.

'For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,' Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

'We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. So we haven't heard of any concessions on the Russian side.'

Recent events may have further weakened Ukraine's position. Russia's tactic of pummeling the nation's energy and transport infrastructure will likely plunge swaths of the country into cold and darkness, while Putin has made territorial gains in the east and on the southern flank in Zaporizhzhia.

To make matters worse, Kyiv is facing a manpower crisis: some four out of five Ukrainians are fleeing military training centres after being drafted into the army, and last month saw a record 21,000 deserters.

A corruption scandal is also engulfing the president that led to parliament dismissing the energy and justice ministers on Wednesday, diverting attention from the war.

In a telling post on X, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: 'Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas.

'And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.'
The CFMEU says it is rebuilding after two of its former officials received jail sentences over corruptly taking thousands of dollars in bribes.

Darren Greenfield, 60, and his son Michael, 40, were escorted behind bars on Friday after accepting wads of cash, in some cases literally under the table, from a building company for preferential union treatment and access to contracts.

Judge Leonie Flannery labelled the breach of trust of both senior union officials 'egregious' during a sentence at Sydney's Central District Court.

'The offenders used the influence of the union for their own personal benefit rather than for the benefit of its members,' she said.

Darren Greenfield was the union's NSW branch secretary when he accepted bribes over more than a year and a half from 2018 to 2020.

His son was the branch's assistant state secretary and took bribes twice in 2019.

CFMEU NSW executive director Michael Crosby welcomed the judge's decision.

'Darren and Michael Greenfield have betrayed the members of our union in the most fundamental way possible,' he said in a statement.

Darren Greenfield, 60, was the CFMEU's NSW secretary at the time of the offence

'Any suggestion this was a victimless crime that didn't hurt members is completely false.

'It was an egregious breach of trust that shattered the important compact between union members and their leaders.'

Judge Flannery accepted that the elder Greenfield did not seek the bribes, but rather they came to him and he accepted the payments in a moment of weakness.

Father and son were also remorseful for their actions and had no prospects of reoffending, she noted.

However, the judge said the pair's sentence should be strong enough to deter others from the same misconduct.

'Such offences undermine public confidence and the integrity of employee organisations and the people who run them,' she told the court.

That the amounts received were modest was not relevant, the judge noted.

'It is the fact of the bribe and not the amount which is important here.'

Michael Greenfield was the union's state branch assistant secretary at the time of the crimes

Father and son sat silently, hands in their laps, listening to the judge, while CFMEU members including Mr Crosby filled the court's public gallery.

They were sentenced to a combined maximum total of four years in prison.

Darren Greenfield took four bribes from the owner of a building company totalling $20,000 between November 2018 and June 2020.

His son, a former rugby league player, accepted two payments which amounted to $10,000 over two-and-a-half months in 2019.

Michael Greenfield also tried to avoid a penalty for running a red light by signing a false statutory declaration which pinned the blame on an illegal Taiwanese worker.

The CMFEU was placed into administration in 2024 after allegations of corruption and links to organised crime.

Darren Greenfield was terminated on the same day, several weeks after Michael resigned amid media scrutiny.

The elder Greenfield was sentenced to up to 30 months but will be released after 10 months.

His son was hit with a maximum sentence of 18 months but will be released in six.

Both had pleaded guilty in April to the offences. They will be required to pay $500 and remain on good behaviour while serving the remainder of their sentence in the community.

The person who bribed the elder Greenfield told police he handed over the wads of cash because the CMFEU state secretary 'helped us do things', the court was previously told.

The man, who cannot be named, was in 2022 sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment, to be served in the community.

An inquiry into the CFMEU and misconduct in Queensland's construction industry was told on Thursday that the union's deregistration would be bad for members, the industry and the state.

Mark Irving KC, representing the administrator, said effectively outlawing the CFMEU would leave a void that would be filled by more unscrupulous operators 'if other states are any indication'.
JD Wetherspoon today announced the location of its first pub to open in continental Europe - Alicante Airport in Spain.

The venue, which will be named Castell de Santa Barbera, is set to welcome punters from the end of January and will be located in the airside area of departures.

The new-build pub at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport will be open from 6am to 9pm each day and will have almost 1,000 sq ft of customer space on one level.

It will also feature an external terrace with customer seating, with food served at all times up to an hour before closing.

The menu will include many meals available in Wetherspoon pubs in the UK, including breakfast dishes, burgers and pizzas.

But local dishes including garlic prawns and Spanish omelette are also set to feature.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin told the Daily Mail today: 'We are very much looking forward to opening our first overseas pub.

'We believe it will be popular with people travelling home from Alicante Airport.

An artist's impression of the new Castell de Santa Barbera pub at Alicante Airport in Spain

The pub is set to open at the end of January at Alicante Airport (artist's impression pictured)

The venue will open at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport in January (file picture)

'We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports.'

A Wetherspoon spokesman told the Mail that 90 per cent of the menu will be dishes seen on the regular menu in its UK pubs, while it will also sell Guinness and Stella Artois.

The venue is expected to stock a mixture of beers and wines seen in its UK pubs as well as local Spanish offerings. While there will be no real ales on handpump, bottled real ales will be available.

The spokesman added that the pub is named after Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante to give it some 'local heritage', and it will not have a special carpet design like other Wetherspoon pubs but instead be floored with Spanish tiles.

On prices, he said they would be 'competitive and fair value like Wetherspoon pubs'.

Sir Tim revealed in January that Wetherspoon was considering opening its first pubs abroad in some of Britons' favourite European holiday hotspots.

The chain has been eyeing up resorts popular with UK tourists in Spain  but confirmed at that time that it would not be considering China.

Sir Tim said he was looking at franchises abroad after a series of successful partnerships in Britain with Haven holiday parks and the universities of Hull and Newcastle.

The business is expected to target hot locations where the Wetherspoon brand is already well-known, but could also look at winter sun destinations.

The Watford-based company has never previously opened a pub outside the UK and Ireland.

Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin said he is 'very much looking forward' to the new pub

A copycat bar in Pattaya in Thailand called 'Witherspoons' already serves English breakfasts

However, there is a copycat bar in Pattaya city in Thailand called 'Witherspoons' serving English breakfasts and cheap beer to Brits looking for a slice of home.

Earlier this month Wetherspoon reported growing sales but said it was cautious ahead of the upcoming Budget, with recent Government policies already sending costs soaring.

The group, which operates nearly 800 pubs across the UK, said like-for-like sales lifted 3.7 per cent in the first 14 weeks of its financial year, to November 2.

This is up from growth of 3.2 per cent in the first few weeks.

It saw bar sales rise 5.7 per cent, food lift 0.9 per cent and sales from slot and fruit machines jump 8.9 per cent, but hotel room sales fell 6.3 per cent.

Sir Tim revealed earlier this month the group was seeing a surge in staff costs following recent policy changes, which is 'dramatically widening the pricing differential between pubs and supermarkets, to the anger and consternation of customers'.

A 10 per cent wage rise will increase the cost of a pint by about 15p in a pub compared with about 1.5p per pint in a supermarket, according to Sir Tim.

Wetherspoon employed an average of nearly 42,100 staff across its pubs and head office over 2025.

Sir Tim also recently said increases to national insurance contributions and wages were adding about 60million to the chain's yearly costs, while it was also facing an impact from energy charges and new packaging taxes.
A dance teacher who suffered an 'emotional meltdown' on an intense yoga retreat in Goa has won her court fight for compensation.

Personal trainer and dance instructor Melissa Revell said 'self-exploration exercises' on the 2,250 yoga teacher training course triggered a breakdown which left her unable to work or look after herself.

Ms Revell, 35, said she had been in good physical health prior to embarking on Luton-based The Yoga People's course in 2019 - but had since ballooned from a size six to a size 16.

She has blamed unadvertised psychological exercises on the course, which 'retraumatised' her after resurfacing memories of being adopted.

The teacher, from Richmond in west London, sued The Yoga People's trading firm TYP International Ltd - run by British yoga guru Jamie Clarke, 59, and Mexican instructor Dulce Aguilar, 43 - seeking over 200,000.

London's High Court has ruled that she is entitled to a payout after Mr Clarke confirmed the company would not seek to defend its previously lodged denial of liability for Ms Revell's.

And now Ms Revell is in line for a payout after Mr Clarke told London's High Court that the company has dropped its defence over liability for what happened to her.

Ms Revell said she had gone from fit, active and working to being 'not able to care for herself' and leading 'an extremely reclusive, impoverished and dysfunctional life' with 'acute anxiety whenever she leaves the flat'.

Personal trainer Melissa Revell (pictured), 35, says she suffered a life-changing emotional breakdown following the 'self-exploration' drill

The teacher, from Richmond sued the Luton-based company which put on the course, The Yoga People International Ltd - run by British yoga guru Jamie Clarke, 59 (pictured)

The course was led by Mexican yoga instructor Dulce Aguilar, 43 (pictured)

The yoga company previously insisted to the court Mr Clarke, Ms Aguilar and its other staff did nothing wrong.

They denied there was any 'psychological' element to the training or that the emotional collapse Ms Revell says she suffered was a foreseeable risk of a yoga course.

However, Mr Clarke has now confirmed to the court that the company would no longer be disputing the issue of liability, having run out of funds.

The company parted with its lawyers and lost a key pre-trial skirmish meaning they were unable to adduce their own expert medical evidence.

'The company is no longer trading as of July 2022,' he told judge, Master John Dagnall.

'We are now unable because of funds to defend the claim.

'We feel it is not probable that the claimant would win on liability, but we are in the catch 22 situation where there is not money to pay for our defence.

'With [the company's former solicitors] Kennedy's no longer acting, we find ourselves no longer with representation or funds to defend the claim.'

In documents lodged at London's High Court, Marcus Grant, for Ms Revell, said that she paid 2,250 for a 200-hour training course in Goa in September and October 2019, with the aim of becoming a qualified teacher of Ashtanga yoga.

But she ended up leaving India early and flying home after having a meltdown triggered by an exercise in exploring childhood memories, he said.

Describing the exercise, he said: 'On 24 September 2019, Ms Aguilar instructed the claimant and the other students on the course to participate in a somatic touch session led by her.

'Ms Aguilar explained that the purpose of the exercise was for the students to explore their childhood memories and their relationship with their parents so that they could forgive them for things they had done, heal and move forward.

'As part of the exercise, the students were instructed to pair up and sit in a circle with one person sitting in front of the other. They were told to take turns in their pairs to hold the other person.

'Whilst holding the other person, they were instructed to imagine that the other person was their parent and massage their shoulders, hold their hands and stroke their hair.

'Ms Aguilar said words such as '"I love you, you are my teacher, my carer, my nurturer and I forgive you".'

The barrister said that 'following the session the claimant started shaking and feeling ill' and was gripped with 'overwhelming anxiety'.

Over the following days, she spoke to Mr Clarke and told him how she was feeling and that it was bringing up previously suppressed memories relating to her childhood, he said.

'Mr Clarke responded that he could not spend all his time with one student, but offered one to one therapy sessions back in the he UK,' he added.

The barrister said that this 'dismissive response' and being 'left with no resolution or support', along with 'coercive pressure to participate' in further 'psychology-focused exercises', caused Ms Revell to 'become very ill' and fly home.

The teacher, from Richmond in west London , sued The Yoga People's trading firm TYP International Ltd - run by British yoga guru Jamie Clarke, 59, and Mexican instructor Dulce Aguilar (pictured), 43 - seeking over 200,000

She was subsequently diagnosed with 'significant and severe complex PTSD and comorbid depersonalisation/derealisation disorder' and 'functional neurological disorder'.

'She remains significantly incapacitated by her injuries,' he said.

'Her long-term relationship with her partner...failed as a result of her psychological illness.

'Now she lives alone and leads an extremely reclusive, impoverished and dysfunctional life.

'She does not go out much. She is not able to care for herself. She cannot cook or clean or do grocery shopping. Her home is untidy and dirty as a result. She struggles with self-care.

'She can go for days without changing her clothes or washing her hair. She doesn't eat properly.

'As she is unable to exercise, she has gained weight; she used to be a UK size 6-8 and now is a size 14-16.'

Although she had a history of mental health problems going back to her adolescence, she had been in good mental and physical health since 2013-14, and until the yoga course, he continued.

'Nowhere in the brochure was she put on notice that the course would entail any psychology/psychotherapy aspect,' he said.

'At no point was any warning given as to the risk of possible retraumatisation as a result of engaging on any of the exercises on the yoga course.

'Participation in all the sessions on the course was mandatory in order to obtain their yoga teacher accreditation.

'Had she been informed about the requirement to engage in psychology and or psychotherapy based on potentially traumatic or distressing childhood memories and parental interactions she would never have signed up for the course.'

In the company's defence, its lawyers had previously denied any fault and said there was no psychological nor psychotherapy element to the course.

'It was however a yoga course and there was therefore an inevitable focus on physical, mental and spiritual practices,' they said.

'There are discussions about feelings as part of yoga.

'There was no requirement to engage in psychology/psychotherapy and the claimant knew that yoga involved spiritual healing.

'The claimant completed the exercise without complaint or distress and at the end of the session approached Ms Aguilar and said that she had loved the exercise and was moved by it. She gave Ms Aguilar a hug.

'It is denied that the claimant was obliged to engage in any exercise.

'It is denied that she was required to 'access her childhood memories and parental interactions.'

'The claimant was told what the purpose and goal of the...exercise was before it commenced, along with how it would be conducted. She could have refused to participate if she so wished.

'It is denied that the purpose of the exercise was to elicit potentially traumatic or distressing childhood memories. The purpose of the exercise was purely to feel love and develop forgiveness for anyone who had wronged you. This included parents and parking attendants.

'It is admitted that no warning was given as to possible re-traumatisation as a result of engaging in any of the exercises on the course. Re-traumatisation was not foreseeable as a consequence of the exercise carried out by the claimant.

'It is denied that the defendant was obliged to carry out any sort of prospective assessment of the claimant's psychological state. It was sufficient for the defendant to enquire whether the claimant had any physical or mental conditions.

'The claimant...confirmed, when signing the waiver, that she had no existing mental and physical conditions and no pre-existing conditions, both physical and mental, which may affect her performance.'

After a short hearing conducted via videolink, Master Dagnall told Mr Clarke: 'If you are not going to turn up to defend the claim, your chances of success would seem to be remote.'

The judge went on to make a so-called 'unless order' directing that the company's defence on liability be struck out unless Mr Clarke confirmed by the end of November 17 that he intended to personally turn up and fight his company's case in court in the absence of lawyers.

Lawyers for Ms Revell later said outside court that Mr Clarke, on behalf of the company, had confirmed it would not be attending trial, meaning judgment will be entered for the claimant on liability, with damages to be assessed.

The value of her claim will now be assessed during the next stage of the case.
Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision to travel to South Africa for the G20 summit - despite Donald Trump and other leaders snubbing the global gathering.

The Prime Minister insisted it was 'really important' for him to make the trip to Johannesburg amid growing criticism of the amount of time he spends out of Britain.

This has seen him dubbed 'never here Keir' with the G20 summit now marking his 42nd foreign trip in less than 17 months as PM.

Some Labour MPs have even questioned the number of air miles that Sir Keir is racking up, with his South Africa visit coming just days before a critical Budget.

One backbencher wondered if Sir Keir would rather be foreign secretary than PM.

Mr Trump is shunning this weekend's G20 summit - and is not be sending any US officials - after hitting out at the South Africa's treatment of white farmers.

The US President has claimed Afrikaners are being 'killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated'.

But South Africa's government has rejected claims of a 'white genocide' as 'widely discredited and unsupported by reliable evidence'.

Sir Keir Starmer arrives at O.R. Tambo International Airport ahead of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa

The G20 summit is Sir Keir's 42nd foreign trip in less than 17 months as Prime Minister. Criticism of the amount of time he spends abroad has seen him dubbed 'never here Keir'

Some Labour MPs have even questioned the number of air miles that Sir Keir is racking up, with his South Africa visit coming just days before a critical Budget

China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Argentina's Javier Milei are also expected to skip the Johannesburg meeting of the world's leading economies.

Asked about Mr Trump's absence, Sir Keir told reporters travelling with him: 'In terms of attendance, obviously President Trump set out his position.

'I think it's really important to be there and to talk to other partners and allies.

'So we can get on with the discussions around global issues that have to be addressed and do have an impact back at home.

'But also to take the opportunity face to face to further the deals that I want to do for our country.'

The PM added: 'In the last three years the jobs that have been generated in the UK from countries in the G20 is 200,000 and that focus in the Budget will be very much the economy and the cost of living.

'And I will focus on the deals we can do, the business we can do with our partner countries and make sure that the work we do internationally is impacting directly at home.'

The PM will use the trip to announce 400million worth of deals for trains, planes and submarines, Downing Street said.

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Sir Keir took an emissions-heavy flight to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil at the beginning of this month - his 40th foreign trip since becoming PM in July last year.

He then travelled to Berlin on Tuesday for a dinner with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

One Labour MP defended Sir Keir's decision to make the trip to South Africa, telling Politico: 'I think when Trump is boycotting the G20 it's important for others to take it seriously.'

But a second backbencher said, while the Johannesburg gathering 'feels like the sort of thing he should be at', Sir Keir needed to be aware of disgruntlement back home.

'If he wants to be foreign secretary he can be, but he's meant to be PM,' they added.

'It's often not clear what the actual purpose of him being there is when he doesn't seem to have had any real grip on the domestic agenda/party management.'
Residents have mocked a threadbare Christmas tree in a seaside town which they say looks like it has 'been on the fat jabs'.

The 16-foot tree in Rhyl, North Wales has been labelled a 'Temu tree' in a jab relating to the cut-price online retailer.

Another local joked that they had seen 'bigger branches' being dragged by dogs.

Every year the town council puts up a Christmas tree on the High Street, which is then decorated and lit up at a switch-on event before December.

In previous years the town has held an impressive display on a large and healthy tree in the town centre.

However ahead of the turning on of the Christmas lights this Saturday, residents have blasted the 'skinny' appearance of this year's Norwegian Spruce.

They have described it as a symbol of shrinkflation amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Council chiefs have blamed nature for leaving the tree 'gappy' ahead of the festive season.

Residents have criticised the threadbare tree which has been put up on the High Street in Rhyl

Rhyl Town Council said 'things don't always grow perfectly,' adding that each year they are 'somewhat at the hands of nature in terms of what grows, how and when'.

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) also warned that trees may be shorter and more 'gappy' this year following two poor growing seasons.

Fundraiser Richard Kendrick, of Helping Homeless North Wales, said he noticed the tree looked much slimmer than in previous years.

Mr Kendrick, who will spend the coming weeks by the tree collecting, donations added: 'It's the same height but it's not as robust or developed,' he said. 'It just looks so thin.

'I think the council should be doing better by the people of Rhyl. They should be looking at what they are buying before they pay for it, not just accepting whatever they're given.

'I know it's hard for the council. If they spend too much on a tree, they're criticised for wasting money; if they spend too little they get told off as well. They can't win.

Richard can see at least one added benefit for the council. 'It won't need as many lights this year,' he said. 'So they should save a bit on electricity.'

The town's Christmas lights switch-on event, in the High Street, is on Saturday, November 22.

Rhyl Town Council said it is aware of remarks about the resort's 'skinny' tree.

Father Christmas pictured with the tree in Rhyl from 2024 decorated with Christmas lights

A spokesperson said: 'Rhyl Town Council has always favoured a real Christmas tree, particularly given our commitment to reducing plastic use where possible.

'However, like all things in nature, the size and style of trees and plants cannot always be guaranteed, and things don't always grow perfectly.

'Although we do send our suppliers an idea of what we would like to see, we are all somewhat at the hands of nature in terms of what grows, how and when.

'The British Christmas Tree Growers Association had already warned this year would be a difficult one for those looking for the 'perfect' Christmas tree as the 2024 growing season was particularly wet, followed by an intense dry period. This has hampered growth leading to trees which are not as 'full' as in previous years.

'The association itself has referred to this year's trees as 'gappy' and for people not to expect trees which are as bushy as normal.

'But that shouldn't make them any less impactful or detract from the joy of a real Christmas tree - it is worth noting that the festive lights are not yet switched on, and that can make a difference.'
A British father has had his three children taken away by Italian authorities after they were poisoned by mushrooms when he took them to live off-grid.

Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old ex-chef from Bristol, lived in a run-down farmhouse in the Abruzzo region of central Italy with his Australian wife Catherine Birmingham and their three children, an eight-year-old girl and six-year-old twin boys.

Having bought the property in 2021, Mr Trevallion moved his family in with the aim of living off-grid.

But authorities were called to the homestead in September 2024 after all five members of the family needed to be taken to hospital because they had been poisoned by mushrooms.

The three children have now been removed from the care of Mr Trevallion.

He told Corriere Della Sera: 'Yes, unfortunately, it happened, and it was terrible. They took our children away from us.'

With parental rights now suspended, the children have been placed in a foster home, and a guardian is set to be assigned to care for them.

Social services arrived on the scene alongside five officers to remove the children from the house in the woods. But mother Catherine Birmingham was able to accompany them to the protected facility and spend the first night with them.

'Otherwise the shock would have been truly unbearable,' the family's lawyer, Giovanni Angelucci, said.

Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old ex-chef from Bristol, lived in a run-down farmhouse in the Abruzzo region of central Italy with his Australian wife Catherine Birmingham and their three children, an eight-year-old girl and six-year-old twin boys

The family relied on solar power for electricity and a well for water because their home is located six miles from the nearest small village

Mr Trevallion spent his first night and morning alone in the farmhouse, and told the Italian news outlet that he would deliver toys and clothes to his children on Friday morning.

But the case has caused a stir online, with over 13,000 having signed a petition in support of the family and their choices to live off-grid.

The family relied on solar power for electricity and a well for water because their home is located six miles from the nearest small village.

The children were also homeschooled and authorities said they had inadequate access to healthcare.

Earlier this month, Ms Birmingham claimed police had 'bullied and harassed' her and her family.

She claimed they had to flee the property three times after police showed up theatening to take their children away.

She told the Telegraph: 'They saw we were living off grid and they labelled our house a crumbling ruin. The kids were really traumatised.'

The family's lawyer, Angelucci, had insisted the children were in 'perfect health'.

'They are in better physical condition than most children,' he said, adding: 'There is no evidence of maltreatment.'

In an effort to prove their claims, Trevallion invited a local media outlet to the family's cottage to reveal how they lived.

He reportedly said in broken Italian: 'There are cracks in the walls, but the walls are strong.

'We are a clean family. Every day we sweep the floor'.

In a statement to the court, Trevallion and Birmingham said: 'We consciously changed our own lives to provide our children with parents that are able to be at home with them, food, air and water that is clean, and an environment that not only is beneficial to their brain and physical development but, most importantly, a connection.'
The Serbian president has denied any involvement with the 'human safari' sniper trips during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, when wealthy tourists allegedly paid to shoot at unarmed civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo.

Aleksandar Vucic was responding to allegations by Croatian investigative journalist Domagoj Margetic, who filed a complaint with Milan prosecutors against the Serbian leader over involvement in the alleged human hunting expeditions.

Mr Margetic accused the politician not only organising, but personally participating in the sniping of civilians during group 'safari' trips between 1992 and 1993, when he volunteered for a Bosnian Serb militia which commandeered a Jewish cemetery above Sarajevo.

The president's denial came as a macabre video resurfaced of a car allegedly used by the militia's leader, Slavko Aleksic, featuring a human skull on the bonnet - said to be extracted from a Bosnian corpse - wearing a UN helmet.

Prosecutors in Milan recently opened an investigation into Italian tourists who allegedly paid up to 88,000 to take part in the sniping of civilians during the four-year Bosnian Serb siege of the city, which left more than 11,500 people dead between 1992-96.

The investigation followed a 2022 documentary called 'Sarajevo Safari' directed by Miran Zupanic, which made the claim that elite gun enthusiasts from Russia, Canada and the U.S. made weekend trips to the hills of Sarajevo to shoot at innocent civilians for fun, paying more to target children.

'I have informed the Public Prosecutor's Office in Milan in a report of all my knowledge about Aleksandar Vucic's connection with human safaris in wartime Sarajevo,' Mr Margetic announced to his followers on social media.

He claimed to have 'video materials, photo documentation, audio and video documentation' proving that Mr Vucic, 55, took part in the expeditions in his 20s, before his rise to political power.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has denied any involvement with the 'human safari' sniper trips during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, when wealthy tourists allegedly paid to shoot at unarmed civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo

A video of a Toyota allegedly used by militia leader Slavko Aleksic, with a human skull from a Bosnian corpse, during the siege of Sarajevo

Sarajevo residents keep close to a wall trying to avoid snipers and mortars in 1993 in the besieged capital as fighting intensified

Denying the allegations, Mr Vucic's spokeswoman Suzana Vasiljevic dismissed them as 'a textbook case of malicious disinformation, purpose-built to erode the institutional credibility of the Republic of Serbia and its president'.

'This narrative is devoid of factual grounding and is operationally crafted to generate reputational damage,' she said in comments published by The Times.

She insisted Mr Vucic was working as a journalist and as a translator in the early 1990s in the nearby Pale, 'without any contact with military structures or operational activities'.

She added: 'President Vucic's did not participate in combat activities, did not use weapons, and had no role in any wartime operations.'

Mr Margetic, however, claimed he had evidence that the Serbian president was a 'war volunteer' for the New Sarajevo Chetnik Detachment of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), led by commander Aleksic.

That particular detachment was stationed at a Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo, repurposed during the siege as a frontline position for Serbian snipers.

Backing up his claim that the president was part of the militia, the journalist cites a 1994 magazine interview during which Mr Vucic says he 'signed up as a volunteer' during the siege, and spent time at the cemetery in the hills above the city.

In his letter to prosecutors in Milan, Mr Margetic also cites a video from 1993 which he claims showed Mr Vucic carrying a sniper rifle alongside other armed men in the cemetery.

Bosnian media has previously reported that Mr Vucic claimed he was holding an umbrella, not a weapon in the clip.

Refuting the latest allegations, spokeswoman Vasiljevic claimed it was a tripod he used as a journalist.

The journalist claims that Aleksandar Vucic (to the right) was caught on camera carrying a rifle in Sarajevo in 1993 at a Jewish cemetery where the Serb forces were stationed

Aleksandar Vucic's spokeswoman has denied that he was carrying a weapon in the video, claiming that the object was a tripod

Allegations against Mr Vucic have been made previously by Zukan Helez, Bosnia's minister of defence, who has said that members of the Bosnian Serb Army told him they witnessed Mr Vucic firing on Sarajevo residents from the Jewish cemetery.

'Recently, I spoke with three members of the Army of Republika Srpska who admitted to me that they were at the Jewish cemetery at the same time as Vucic and that the current President of Serbia was firing on Sarajevo residents with a sniper rifle,' he told The Sarajevo Times in an interview last year.

Mr Margetic also claimed that Mr Aleksic alleged in 2017 that the president was formerly a member of his military unit, and provided translation for when foreigners arrived at the cemetery in the 1990s.

Mr Vucic, who took office in 2017, has previously denied that he ever shot at anyone in Sarajevo and insisted he was only in the region as a reporter. He described the allegations as political manipulation.

'I can't listen to nonsense and lies,' he said to Bosnian news channel Face TV in 2021.

'I didnt shoot, but I was at Pale, doing my job,' he added.

With the launch of an Italian investigation, triggered by a legal complaint filed by Italian journalist and writer Ezio Gavazzeni, the truth about the so-called 'human safaris' might finally be uncovered.

More evidence emerged on Thursday to support the allegation that wealthy tourists paid to fly from Trieste in northeast Italy to join the Serb snipers shoot at civilians in the besieged Sarajevo.

In 1992, a Bosnian soldier returns fire in Sarajevo as he and civilians come under fire from Serbian snipers

A man carries his son, injured in the back by mortar shrapnel, in front of a woman on a stretcher, 1993, after a shell landed near a water point in the Bosnian capital

Romanian freelance photographer Vadim Ghirda (C) and locals carry a dead Bosnian Muslim, 1996

Doctors at Sarajevo's State Hospital carry Mujo Causevic, a Bosnian Army soldier wounded by sniper fire on one of Sarajevo's front lines, to be treated, 1995

Michael Giffoni, an Italian diplomat based in Sarajevo in the 1990s, told La Repubblica that he was alerted to the safaris when he arrived in the city.

'There were loads of rich people arriving from all over. Hunters, but also businessmen. Military or paramilitary forces, who were strong in that conflict, took them to the hills and they paid. Then everything became clearer,' he said.

He added that Bosnian intelligence official Edin Subasi - one of Mr Gavazzeni's key witnesses - received information about the activities of the tourists from a captured Serbian paramilitary, who confessed that Italians and Russians were being driven to Sarajevo to shoot.

Mr Giffoni said the claims were passed on to the Italian secret service in Rome, which responded in a few months time to say that 'the trail had been explored, they had identified the organisers, and that the matter had been closed'.

One of the first people to go public with the allegations was John Jordan, a former U.S. Marine, who testified to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2007.

There, the veteran made astonishing claims about his time volunteering as a UN firefighter in Sarajevo - the war-torn capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina - between 1992 and 1995.

The crisis began when the Bosnian Serb forces - agitated by Bosnia-Herzegovina's decision to break from federal Yugoslavia - besieged the city for 44 months, cutting off food, electricity and setting whole neighbourhoods ablaze by cannon fire and shelling.

Mr Jordan stationed himself in Sarajevo during the siege to help civilians, and gave evidence years later about the horrors he witnessed.

The landmark trial led to the sentencing of Bosnian Serb general Dragomir Milosevic to 33 years in jail for murder, inhumane treatment and overseeing a campaign of terror that killed thousands, mainly Muslims.

'There was no safe place in Sarajevo,' concluded the presiding judge, Patrick Robinson. 'One could be killed and injured anywhere and any time.'

At the trial, Mr Jordan testified about a number of atrocities, including the Serb's indiscriminate targetting of unarmed residents. He himself was shot in the chest while responding to a fire at the citys frontline, just north of the Bosnian Serb-held area of Grbavica.

Two-year old Aldijana Mujezinovic is carried by a female UN soldier after being evacuated by helicopter from the Eastern Bosnian town of Gorazde to Sarajevo, 1994

Seeking shelter behind a United Nations APC, a Sarajevan man pinned down by sniper fire, peers from behind the wheel in Sarajevo, 1995

He also testified about how Serb shooters seemed to deliberately aim for the youngest in a family, as a way to 'cause the most pain to survivors'.

'If an adult and child were walking together, the child would be shot. If a family was walking, it would be the youngest. In a crowd of girls, it is seemed that the most attractive would be shot,' he said in his statement.

But then he made another sinister allegation, yet to be proven in a court of law: that Sarajevo was crawling with 'shooter tourists' armed with hunting weapons, who had travelled overseas and paid handsomely to snipe for the Serb side as a bit of weekend fun.

'I had witnessed on more than one occasion personnel who did not appear to me to be locals by their dress, by the weapons they carried, by the way they were being handled, i.e., guided around by the locals,' Mr Jordan testified in court.

When asked to elaborate by the judge, he specified how these 'tourist shooters' wore a 'civilian-military' combination-style dress that made them distinct from the Serb fighters, and carried weapons that were more suited to 'hunting boar in the Black Forest than urban combat in the Balkans'.

The foreigners also appeared 'completely unfamiliar' with the city, Mr Jordan said, and were seen 'being led, literally almost by the hand, around an area by people who are familiar it'.

The veteran's testimony ultimately lacked weight, however. He admitted he 'never actually saw one take a shot', but insisted seeing the armed foreigners around Grbavica and other neighbourhoods.

But Mr Jordan's allegations didn't disappear, and continued to accrue interest and speculation over time.

Sarajevo residents run along 'Sniper Alley' under the protection of French United Nations soldiers, 1994

Though the concept of a 'human safari' is almost beyond-belief, it is not incongruent with the level of depravity that was proven to have taken place in Sarajevo, where the main street - Mesa Selimovic Boulevard - was nicknamed 'Sniper Alley' because of the inherent risk of death in traversing it.

The disturbing allegations about tourists partaking in the killing spree in Sarajevo resurfaced dramatically in 2022.

That year, Slovenian director Mr Zupanic released 'Sarajevo Safari', gathering testimony from witnesses who said they saw such activity firsthand.

One of the interviewees was an anonymous Slovenian man, who worked as an intelligence officer for the U.S. during the Balkan Wars and claimed to have visited Bosnia around 35 times between 1992 and 1994.

Describing the types of foreigners who took part in the 'safari' - of which he witnessed seven - the former agent said they were from the 'upper echelons'.

'These people were certainly not ordinary people. They were people in high positions, protected... people who, after having everything, seek another thrill, saying to themselves: 'Why shouldnt I now shoot a child or an adult in Sarajevo and gain another pleasure? I wont only kill animals,' he said.

'I never heard the prices. I only know it was terribly expensive, and that the price was higher for a child,' he added.

Another witness in the documentary was Mr Subasic, the agent for the Bosnian army who reported the alleged 'human safaris' to Italy's Sismi military intelligence in early 1994.
In France, Beaujolais Nouveau Day is a reverent, almost ritualistic celebration of one of the country's best known varieties of wine  where producers roll the first barrels down the street to local bistrots, accompanied by revellers with torches.

And then there's Swansea.

Last night, partygoers spilled out onto the streets of Britain's Beaujolais capital in their droves to mark the day of the wine's release  laid down in French law as the third Thursday of November.

Young women braved temperatures as low as 2C in strappy dresses and high heels  and towards the end of the night many looked a little worse for wear.

Beaujolais Nouveau is released just weeks after its Gamay grapes are harvested, and the first uncorkings are celebrated in France with street parties.

But its popularity grew in Britain too. In the 1970s, a wager between wine writers Joseph Berkmann and Clement Freud to be the first to bring the first bottles back to London continues to this day as a charity event.

A poster even appeared behind the bar in Del Boy's infamous pratfall scene in Only Fools And Horses.

Sales of the wine peaked in the 1980s. However, it developed a reputation as being cheap plonk that quickly loses its flavour, and once had an aftertaste unfavourably compared to banana.

But the wine's flavour is developing thanks to changes in the soil, attributed to climate change, bringing about a revival of this 'vin de primeur'  a wine sold the same year it is bottled.

A pair of partygoers out on the town early in Swansea on Thursday. French law requires Beaujolais Nouveau to be sold from the third Thursday of November

A woman is led away by police in Swansea on Thursday night

Some were worse for wear towards the end of the evening (pictured: a woman stumbles in the street)

The scenes in France were altogether more reverent than those in Swansea  with wine lovers gently tasting the new vintage

A man smells a glass of Beaujolais at a grocery store in Montreuil, Paris on Thursday as the first bottles of the year are uncorked

Swansea has become inextricably linked with the wine over the years (pictured: revellers braving the cold last night)

A woman flashes the photographer a peace sign as she heads out to party in the Welsh city on Thursday night

People celebrate at Les Sarmentelles - the annual festival celebrating Beaujolais - in Beaujeu, France on Thursday

In Lyon, just to the southeast of Beaujeu, producers rolled barrels of Beaujolais Nouveau down the streets to be delivered to thirsty fans

A pair of partygoers take the weight off as they enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau Day

The celebrations began early for some on Thursday - trekking out in party dresses before the sun had even set

In Beaujeu, the capital of the region that gives the wine its name, revellers held candles to mark the start of Les Sarmentelles, a festival celebrating its release

French newspaper of record Le Figaro now regards it as 'almost a vin de garde'  a wine for ageing before it is drunk.

That particular stance wasn't taken on the streets of South Wales, however. Some partygoers appeared to have enjoyed rather a lot of it towards the end of the night.

And for some, the evening didn't go to plan, with at least one woman being led away in handcuffs by police.

Swansea is inextricably linked with Beaujolais Nouveau Day thanks to former Wales rugby international Clem Thomas, who once ran the city's No Sign Wine Bar.

Thomas had a house in France and would bring Beaujolais Nouveau back to his watering hole for locals to sample for themselves.

His son, Chris, told the BBC last year that it was a 'pivotal day' for the city's pubs. At the No Sign, takings would go from 5,000 in a week to up to 15,000 on Beaujolais Nouveau Day alone.

Venues across the city effectively treat it as an early Christmas, with demand for tables to match the peak of the festive period and marquees put up to accommodate the swell of drinkers who come out to play on the third Thursday of the month.

Events marking Beaujolais Nouveau were altogether more reverent in France.

On the streets of Beaujeu, the capital of the region that gives the wine its name, revellers held candles at Les Sarmentelles, the five day festival marking the wine's release.

Les Sarmentelles  meaning 'the vines'  features live music and wine tasting, as well as inductions into le Ordre des Compagnons du Beaujolais, an organisation dedicated to promoting wines from across the region.

Beaujolais is not for everyone: just ask these two very jubilant men clutching pints

Some Swansea revellers braved temperatures as low as 2C in nothing more than a strappy dress. Others wrapped up more practically for the cold

Wind Street in Swansea (pictured) is the Welsh city's nightlife hotspot  with every bar along the street packed out last night

Pour vous, monsieur? A barman pours a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau in a bistrot in Paris

Beaujolais Nouveau reached peak popularity in the 1980s but gained a reputation for being cheap party plonk. That is changing, producers say

The cold proved too much for some revellers, who ended their nights wrapped in foil blankets

The night did not go to plan for everyone (pictured: a woman is led away in handcuffs by police)

You've had your chips! A woman tucks into a box of fried chicken towards the end of her night

In Lyon, a short distance to the southeast, producers rolled the first barrels of the wine down the street.

In Paris people sampled the new vintage at grocery stores and bistrots across the capital.

Production volumes of the wine have dropped this year, however, due to changeable weather. This year's harvest was smaller than expected.

But growers say it has developed into a wine of quality, rather than quantity.

'We were told beaujolais nouveau was over  but the more years go by and the more we make, the proof is we were practically out of stock on the eve of [the day]. We've never sold so much,' winemaker Marine Riviere told France 24.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to approve China's new 'super-embassy' in London despite spying fears, it is claimed.

The Prime Minister is reportedly planning to back the controversial plan for the Royal Mint Complex near the Tower of London after being given the green light by MI5 and MI6.

The Home Office and Foreign Office, representing the security services, will not raise objections to the development provided 'mitigations' are put in place, according to reports.

The fate of the planning application for the embassy lies with the Housing Secretary Steve Reed  in what is known as a quasi-judicial decision. The outcome is set to be announced on December 10.

An approval would spark claims Britain is putting national security at risk in order to placate Beijing's bullying regime.

Last month, China's foreign ministry warned the UK government would face 'consequences' if the embassy was not approved.

The relationship between both countries is severely strained after a series of spying scandals, with MPs warned just this week that they were being targeted by spies posing as recruiters on LinkedIn.

If the development is given the go-ahead the embassy at the site of the old Royal Mint (above) would become the largest in Europe

Sir Keir Starmer, pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year, has been accused of striking a secret deal with Beijing to approve the 'super-embassy'

Science Secretary Liz Kendall today declined to comment directly on reports in The Times, saying decisions on the embassy 'will be taken through the proper process'.

But she told Sky News: 'We are clear-eyed about our relationship with China and national security will always come first. That is absolutely non-negotiable.

'But where we can safely work with China, whether that's on the economy or areas like research, that's what we'll do, because we want to get the best outcome for the British public.'

Asked about reports that Sir Keir Starmer could visit China next year, she said: 'I don't know about the Prime Minister's diary plans for the new year, but what I do know is that he takes all of those issues extremely seriously.'

Both the Tories and Lib Dems have called for Labour to reject the proposed embassy.

Addressing the Commons this week, Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns said China should 'not get away with attacks on our democracy'.

The development, on the site of a former Barclays trading floor, would have accommodation for more than 200 diplomats and intelligence officers, making it the largest embassy in Europe.

A nearby tunnel has carried fibre optic cables under the Thames since 1985.

The Bank of England has also highlighted the risks of allowing the embassy to be built close to sensitive financial centres.

Ms Kearns pressed the Government to require the Chinese government to pay 'for sensitive underground cables to be rerouted away' from it.

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The planning process was revived by Beijing after Sir Keir won last year's General Election, with President Xi Jinping mentioning it directly to Chancellor Rachel Reeves when she visited China in January to discuss trade deals.

Critics have accused Ms Reeves of sacrificing national security in her desperation to fill a 30billion black hole in the public finances.

Suspicions were increased by China's furious reaction to Housing Secretary Steve Reed's decision to delay a decision on the project until December 10.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman accused the UK of showing 'disregard for contractual spirit' and failing to honour its 'commitments'.

Last month, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped their case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who denied passing secrets to the Chinese state.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said he was 'frustrated' by the collapse of the case.
Rachel Reeves today opened up about her weepy appearance in Parliament earlier this year as she admitted: 'If I had that day again, I wouldn't have gone.'

The Chancellor sparked frenzied speculation about her political future in July when she was seen in tears in the House of Commons while sitting next to Sir Keir Starmer.

Ms Reeves later said she had been dealing with a 'personal issue' when she became openly emotional during Prime Minister's Questions.

But it also came shortly after she and Sir Keir had been forced to abandon most of their efforts to cut welfare in the face of a huge revolt by Labour MPs.

Her emotional state sparked turmoil in financial markets, with the scenes of her upset fuelling rumours she might be leaving her role in the Treasury.

Now, more than four-and-a-half months on, Ms Reeves is preparing to deliver her second Budget as Britain's first female Chancellor.

In an interview with The Times ahead of her upcoming fiscal statement, Ms Reeves expressed her regret that her 'difficult moment' was televised.

'Most people have had a day at work when they go into the toilets and have a cry, or say to their boss, 'I'm just going home early', she said.

'Unfortunately, my difficult moment was on live TV. I always go to PMQs - I thought it was my duty to be there - but if I had that day again, I wouldn't have gone into the chamber.'

Rachel Reeves today opened up about her weepy appearance in Parliament earlier this year as she admitted: 'If I had that day again, I wouldn't have gone.'

The Chancellor sparked frenzied speculation about her political future in July when she was seen in tears in the House of Commons while sitting next to Sir Keir Starmer.

Ms Reeves later said she had been dealing with a 'personal issue' when she became emotional during Prime Minister's Questions

On the reasons for her upset in July, Ms Reeves said: 'If you weren't recording this, I'd tell you about what was going on, but I'm not saying that to the world.'

The Chancellor added that 'people don't want to read about my recipe for Yorkshire puddings or what really made me cry'.

'Well, they might,' she said. 'But what they really want to know is that they can trust me with their money, to run the economy.

'I'm not a public personality. I'm not in showbusiness. I'm the Chancellor. If you want people to enter politics, you have to remember they're human beings.

'I'm a mum with two kids. I'm a wife and a daughter. I wasn't born into this and I'm just trying to do my best.'

Ms Reeves also spoke about the efforts of her and her husband, senior civil servant Nick Joicey, to protect their two children from the pressures of her job.

'There are worse things to happen, I guess, than living in Downing Street,' she said. 'But it's not normal and kids want to be normal.'

'We don't have the radio on during breakfast. We try to keep political stuff away from them.'

Ms Reeves also said she was 'sick of people mansplaining how to be Chancellor to me' as she prepares for her next Budget on 26 November.

Suggesting some of the criticism was motivated by sexism from 'boys who now write newspaper columns', she added: 'I recognise that I've got a target on me. You can see that in the media; they're going for me all the time. It's exhausting.

'But I'm not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence. I've seen off a lot of those boys before and I'll continue to do so.'

After a chaotic U-turn on plans to raise income tax, Ms Reeves is expected to announce a 'smorgasbord' of other levy hikes on Wednesday as she scrambles to fill a multi-billion pound hole in the public finances.

The Chancellor claimed Britain cannot continue to 'muddle through' and must take 'a different path' on the economy.

'Borrowing is too high, but you can't cut it overnight,' she said.

'Public services are a mess, but we haven't got loads of money to throw at them and we have to use what we've got well.

'We can't just carry on like this and muddle through. We have to make some decisions to get on a different path.'

As well as the climbdown on welfare cuts, the Chancellor has also been forced to partly reverse her controversial axing of winter fuel payments for pensioners.

On Labour's record since winning power in July 2024, Ms Reeves admitted there had been 'a couple of unforced errors' but added: 'We're fighting to win.'

Both the Chancellor and Sir Keir are under intense scrutiny ahead of the Budget, with questions swirling about both of their political futures at Westminster.

Ms Reeves' father, Graham, said: 'Rachel recognises it's part of the job, but the pressure does seem to have been relentless, while much of it is also pretty unpleasant and unfair.

'She'll come through it because she's always been a very determined and hard-working person. But some things hurt her, I think, more than she lets show.'

He added: 'I'm her dad, not her political adviser, so all I would say is you have to remember she has her own family and they're incredibly important to her.'
An urgent recall has been issued for a popular children's toy sold at Kmart and Target.

Anko-brand Pop and Surprise Playset toys have been flagged for recall over concerns noted by the consumer watchdog.

Each toy set may pose a choking hazard.

They are marketed for use by children under three years.

'The concern stems from their removable parts,' the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said.

'Small screws may separate from the toy and become a choking hazard.

'Risk of serious injury or death by choking if small parts separate from the toy and a child places them in their mouth.

'Incidents have occurred. Stop using this toy immediately and keep out of reach of children.'

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a recall for Anko-brand Pop and Surprise Playset toys

The toys are sold at Kmart

Anybody who has purchased the toys has been urged to return them for a full refund

The ACCC said the products did not comply with the mandatory standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months of age.

Anybody who has bought the Vietnamese-made toys has been urged to return them.

'Contact the place of purchase if you are unable to return the product or have sold or gifted it to another person,' the ACCC said.

All people affected by the recall will be eligible for a full refund.

For those needing to contact Kmart, all stores are open from Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm and their number is 1800 124 125.

Target can be contacted between Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm on 1300 753 567.
A senior lawyer has won a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend she called her 'soulmate' after a court heard he repeatedly fat-shamed her during their relationship.

Jennifer Riddaway said was left 'a shadow of my former self' after being cruelly branded 'morbidly obese' by 50-year old James Lawlan.

The conveyancing expert was so hurt by his behaviour that she would book into hotels overnight to avoid him, a court heard.

The emotional abuse left her with a lack of 'self-worth' and she suffered bouts of depression as a result.

Ms Riddaway, aged in her forties, eventually called police when twice-married Lawlan placed a GPS tracking device on her car - then told her he knew which hotel she was staying at.

Lawlan, who lives with his mother, later claimed he had only called his ex 'fat' as she had called him out over his excessive use of alcohol.

In a statement, 'heartbroken' Ms Riddaway - who is head of conveyancing at Dixon Rigby Keogh in Northwich, Cheshire - said she suffered from depression as a result of 'months and years' of struggling with Lawlan's behaviour.

'Being called morbidly obese and fat all the time was extremely hurtful and impacted my self-worth,' she said.

James Lawlan, 50, pleaded guilty to stalking after cruelly branding his lawyer girlfriend Jennifer Riddaway 'morbidly obese' (pictured leaving court)

Conveyancing lawyer Jennifer Riddaway was left 'a shadow of my former self' after the man she regarded as her 'soulmate' put a GPS tracker to find the hotel she was staying in as she sought to escape his unkind weight barbs, a court heard

'My colleague said I am a shadow of my former self. This is I believe due to the anxiety caused by James.

'Never knowing what I would be coming home to I had taken to staying in hotels to avoid going home.

'I was physically sick when I found out the GPS tracker was on my car. This is the most profound breach of trust I have suffered.

'I am absolutely heartbroken to have lost what I thought was my soulmate. I am broken.'

At Chester magistrates court, Lawlan - a site operative - pleaded guilty to stalking between August 10 and October 13 of this year.

He was banned from contacting Ms Riddaway for five years and given a community order with unpaid work.

Jennifer Riddaway, pictured, said in a statement that her stalking ordeal had left her 'absolutely heartbroken to have lost what I thought was my soulmate'

Details of the couple's relationship were not aired at the hearing.

But Lisa McGuire, prosecuting said it was a case of 'domestic abuse' which had caused Ms Riddaway 'distress'.

'This was conduct designed to maximise fear and distress,' she added.

'This was planned and persistent action over a prolonged period.'

In mitigation, Lawlan's solicitor Catherine Higham said: 'Whilst he does not accept that he has a problem with alcohol he does concede it has affected his relationship and something he needs to work on.'

Sentencing him, Deputy District Judge Imran Hussain told Lawlan that references to Ms Riddaway's weight amounted to 'emotional abuse'.

'Stalking is a form of harassment,' he added.

'You admit that you placed a tracker in the victim's vehicle and you were then able to monitor her movements which then explains what the victim described in her statement about your contact and communication with her.

'On one occasion you knew which hotel she was at. You only had this information because of the lengths you went to to monitor her.

'It is a sophisticated way to stalk a person. To manage to get a tracker on that person's vehicle and go online and monitor where precisely that person is likely to be.

'You struggle to have insight into how your behaviour would harm the victim and unless those issues are addressed you will struggle with healthy relationships.

'In my view you are minimising this issue.'

Lawlan, of Bebbington, Wirral, was given a 18-month community order with requirements that he completes 20 days of rehabilitation activity, six months of alcohol treatment and 100 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay 199 in costs and a surcharge.
Donald Trump's 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine has sparked astonishment in Kyiv, as officials process how it appears to call for a full capitulation to Vladimir Putin's draconian demands after almost four years of conflict.

Ukraine woke up Friday to a controversial U.S. proposal - based off the Gaza war ceasefire - that would force it to give up its land, cut its army in half and hold elections within 100 days.

'Being f***ing mind blown has become our norm,' a senior lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party told AFP, reflecting the mood in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump backs the draft proposal that would also see Kyiv pledge never to join NATO.

Ukraine is facing greater pressure from Washington to agree to the framework of a U.S.-brokered peace deal with Russia than in previous negotiation efforts, including threats to cease provision of intelligence and weapons, according to sources familiar with the matter.

One of the sources said that the U.S. wanted Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday.

Reacting to the proposal in an address to the nation on Friday, Zelensky said he would not 'betray' Ukraine, and would propose 'alternatives' to the plan widely seen as giving in to a host of Moscow's demands.

The leader said his country was facing the critical choice of 'either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,' and that 'today is one of the most difficult moments in our history'.

The leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom spoke by phone with the Ukrainian President, assuring him of their continued support.

The four leaders 'welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office said in a cautious statement - clearly wary not to antagonize Trump while showing support for Kyiv.

But despite the pressure to accept the deal, Ukraine will refuse to accept any proposal that violates its 'red lines', the country's top negotiator said on Friday.

'There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines - now or ever,' Kyiv's security council chief and negotiator Rustem Umerov said on social media.

Many of the proposals are 'quite concerning,' according to a European government official, who told AP that Ukraine's allies in the EU were not consulted in peace efforts, and that a bad deal for Kyiv would also be a threat to the bloc's broader security.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Turkey's President following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on November 19, 2025

Donald Trump, who 'supports' the plan, is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President in the coming days

Washington's draft appeared to heed to the demands of the Kremlin, whose 2022 invasion has turned into Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

Under the plan, Moscow would not only keep territories that it occupies but get more land currently controlled by Ukraine.

The West would lift sanctions on Russia and Moscow would be invited back into the G8.

The plan would also pile pressure on Zelensky, requiring elections to be held in Ukraine within 100 days - another key demand being pushed by Moscow, which has repeatedly and openly called for the Ukrainian leader to be toppled.

Zelensky has said he will discuss the plan with Trump in the 'coming days' - so far not saying if Kyiv would agree to any of it.

He has insisted his country needed a 'dignified peace'.

'With a neighbour like Russia, defending one's own dignity, freedom, and independence is an extremely difficult task,' he said Friday.

The European Union has not officially received the U.S. proposal but it would be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Putin had not commented but Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister who is close to the Kremlin and Washington, said it was a 'decisive moment' and the coming weeks will be 'crucial'.

Reports that the United States and Russia were secretly working on a plan to end the conflict were leaked earlier this week, but the White House denied that it had prepared it with Moscow.

'I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives,' Zelensky said on Friday.

Recalling how he marshalled Kyiv's response to the Russian invasion in February 2022 he said: 'We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now.'

He warned that next week his country will face 'a lot of pressure... to weaken us, to make divide us', adding that 'the enemy is not sleeping'.

'Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account,' he said, adding: 'We're not making loud statements; we'll be calmly working with America and all the partners.'

The Ukrainian leader held a call with U.S. Vice President JD Vance as he warned Kyiv risked a rupture of ties with Washington over its plan to end the war with Russia.

The proposal comes with Russian troops grinding forward on the battlefield and with Zelensky facing domestic pressure after a corruption scandal rocked the country's war-hit energy sector

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, November 20, 2025

Full text of Trump and Putin's 28-point peace plan for Ukraine 1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed. 2. A comprehensive [sic] and comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled. 3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and NATO will not expand further. 4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development. 5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees. 6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel. 7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. 8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine. 9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. 10. US guarantee:  The US will receive compensation for the guarantee.  If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee.  If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked.  If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid. 11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered. 12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to: a. The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centres, and artificial intelligence. b. The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernise, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities. c. Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernisation of cities and residential areas. d. Infrastructure development. e. Extraction of minerals and natural resources. f. The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts. 13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: a. The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis. b. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centres, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities. c. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8. 14. Frozen funds will be used as follows: $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine. The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict. 15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement. 16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. 17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty. 18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 19. The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50. 20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programmes in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice: a. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. b. Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education. c. All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited. 21. Territories: a. Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States. b. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact. c. Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions. d. Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarised buffer zone, internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone. 22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment. 23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea. 24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues: a. All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis. b. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children. c. A family reunification programme will be implemented. d. Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict. 25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days. 26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future. 27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations. 28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement. Advertisement

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff - who skipped a meeting with Zelensky this week - and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been 'quietly' working with both sides.

'The president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine,' she told reporters.

Washington has warned, however, that the document was still in working mode, while Kyiv said it had been presented as a 'draft plan'.

Under the plan, the United States would recognise Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions as well as Moscow-annexed Crimea, as 'de facto Russian'.

'Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control,' the plan envisages.

The Donetsk region has been the epicentre of fighting, with tens of thousands of troops killed on both sides.

Despite still controlling around 14.5 per cent of the territory in the mineral and coal-rich eastern Donbas region, Ukraine will be forced to surrender the entirety of its industrial heartland.

The frontline would be frozen in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which are both partly occupied by Moscow.

Russia would be required to give up small pockets of territory it has seized in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Ukraine would receive unspecified 'reliable security guarantees' while at the same time commit to cutting the size of its army, from over 900,000 to 600,000 personnel.

It would also bind Ukraine to 'enshrine in its constitution' not to join NATO but calls for European jets to be stationed in neighbouring NATO-member Poland.

The country would be banned from possessing long-range missiles, capable of hitting St Petersburg or Moscow.

And $100 billion of Russia's frozen funds - sanctioned after its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - would go towards U.S.-led reconstruction efforts, with Europe contributing another $100 billion.

The U.S. would reap the benefits of the rebuilding projects, receiving 50 per cent of profits. The Russian economy would also receive a boost as part of a new long-term economic cooperation agreement with the U.S., which will involve rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic.

Aside for getting to keep its conquered territory, the plan also calls for Moscow, which is under massive Western sanctions for more than three years, to be 're-integrated into the global economy'.

Sanctions would be lifted and Moscow could rejoin the G8, which it was expelled from over the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Trump's sympathies have flipped repeatedly between Moscow and Kyiv since he returned to the White House earlier this year, with this plan seen as a sign that he has taken on many of Russia's key positions.

The proposal comes with Russian troops grinding forward on the battlefield and with Zelensky facing domestic pressure after a corruption scandal rocked the country's war-hit energy sector.

In a statement on X, Zelensky wrote: 'The American side presented points of a plan to end the war- their vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure it's all genuine.'

Ukrainian officials said the U.S. wanted Zelensky to sign the proposal before Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday next week, with sources suggesting that the stiff deadline was unlikely to give Kyiv enough time to negotiate.

On Thursday, European countries pushed back against the plan, indicating they would not accept demands for Kyiv to make punishing concessions.

'Ukrainians want peace - a just peace that respects everyone's sovereignty, a durable peace that can't be called into question by future aggression,' said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

'But peace cannot be a capitulation.'

Moscow has downplayed the significance of the plan. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that, while there had been 'contacts' with the U.S., there was 'no process that could be called "consultations"'.

He emphasised that any peace deal would have to address the 'root causes of the conflict' - a phrase the Kremlin has used as shorthand for the maximalist demands which, to Kyiv, are equivalent to surrender.

Despite the momentum building towards peace, Russia has shown no sign of stopping its relentless strikes on Ukrainian civilians.

An attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia late on Thursday killed five people and injured three, the regional governor said.

It came after a Russian drone and missile attack in western Ukraine killed at least 26 people, including three children, after a block of flats in Ternopil was struck.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday Kyiv and Europe needed to be involved in any Ukraine peace plan.

'For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,' Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

'We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. So we haven't heard of any concessions on the Russian side.'

Recent events may have further weakened Ukraine's position. Russia's tactic of pummeling the nation's energy and transport infrastructure will likely plunge swaths of the country into cold and darkness, while Putin has made territorial gains in the east and on the southern flank in Zaporizhzhia.

To make matters worse, Kyiv is facing a manpower crisis: some four out of five Ukrainians are fleeing military training centres after being drafted into the army, and last month saw a record 21,000 deserters.

A corruption scandal is also engulfing the president that led to parliament dismissing the energy and justice ministers on Wednesday, diverting attention from the war.

In a telling post on X, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: 'Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas.

'And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.'

The proposal has been described as 'heavily tilted towards Vladimir Putin,' by unnamed sources quoted in the Financial Times.

The draft plan is 'very comfortable for Putin,' another source said.

Efforts to reach a peace deal have largely frozen since the last meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska in August, while Kyiv and Moscow have not held direct negotiations since the summer.

Russian forces control about 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory (44,800 square miles) and are grinding forwards, up from 18 per cent nearly three years ago.

Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday in an effort to 'intensify' peace negotiations.

He was due to hold talks with Witkoff, but the meeting was postponed because the Ukrainian President intended to discuss an alternative plan drafted by EU allies which the Trump administration felt would be unacceptable to Putin, a U.S. source told Axios.

Reacting to the proposal, Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his position that 'Ukraine must determine its future' following a call with European leaders.

The Prime Minister told broadcasters: 'I just had a call with President Zelensky, alongside President Macron and Chancellor Merz.

'And that was an opportunity for us to express, again, our support for Ukraine and the principle that's very important, which is all matters to do with Ukraine must be determined ultimately by Ukraine.'

Wary of provoking Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses to the deal were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister assured Zelensky of 'their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace' in Ukraine, Merz's office said.

'They agreed to continue pursuing the aim of protecting vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term,' the statement said.

'That includes the line of contact being the point of departure for an agreement and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.'

Emergency teams conduct operation to extinguish fire after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on November 21, 2025

Shops and a car caught fire after the strikes

The pyrotechnics of the State Emergency Service are conducting an inspection of the territory for explosive objects

Zelensky said the leaders discussed the plan and appreciated the efforts of Trump and his team, although he added that they are 'working on the document'.

'We are closely coordinating to ensure that the principled positions are taken into account,' Zelensky said in a Telegram post.

A European government source said that the U.S. plans weren't officially presented to Ukraine's European backers. They see their own futures at stake in Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, which began in February 2022, and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Von der Leyen said she also would call Zelensky to discuss the 28-point plan.

'Important is a key principle we have always upheld, and that is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,' she said at a G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn told the Kyiv Independent that the White House wanted a 'quick peace at the expense of one side, which they consider weaker'.
A combat plane crashed in a huge fireball explosion this morning killing the pilot as horrified crowds watched on at Dubai Air Show.

The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2.10pm local time on Friday while attempting to perform a vertical loop.

Dramatic footage showed the warplane hurtling towards the ground at Al Maktoum International Airport before it crashed in a massive fireball having failed to pull up in time.

Shahad Alnaqbi, an onlooker at the show, recalled the ordeal to local media. 'We were watching the display when suddenly we saw smoke and an explosion. People started running and screaming, and then the ambulance arrived quickly,' she said.

Visitors quickly began fleeing the scene as emergency and firefighting teams scrambled to manage the devastating incident.

Clips shared on social media show dozens of people, including children, dashing from the area as a column of smoke rose, drawing gasps from the crowds.

'It was a wonderful show until this tragic accident occurred, shocking all of us watching the airshow. From the way the flight turned before it went down, I strongly feel the pilot tried to save the spectators,' Shajudheen Jabbar, who witnessed the accident along with his wife Shiny and daughter Ashley, told Gulf News.

'It's so unfortunate that he couldn't escape. We are deeply saddened that someone died before our eyes, and the pain is even greater knowing it was an Indian fighter jet pilot'.

The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2.10pm local time on Friday

It wasn't immediately clear if the pilot ejected, or if anyone was injured in the incident

Black smoke rose over the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central as a crowd of spectators watched, and sirens sounded after the crash

The Indian Air Force has taken to X, stating: 'An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today.

'The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.

'A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident'.

The UAE Ministry of Defence also took to X to confirm the tragic death of the pilot, writing: 'In a tragic accident that occurred just moments ago, a pilot from the Indian Air Force lost his life today when his multi-role Tejas fighter aircraft crashed during its participation in the flying display accompanying the Dubai Airshow.

'The relevant teams responded immediately to the incident'.

India's Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anial Chauhan said in a statement that all ranks of the Indian Army 'deeply regret the incident' and 'stand firmly' with the pilot's bereaved family.

The city-state's second airport was hosting the biennial Dubai Air Show, which has seen major aircraft orders by both the long-haul carrier Emirates and its lower-cost sister airline FlyDubai.

The Dubai Airshow 2025 website says the event has attracted more than 148,000 attendees and exhibitors from 1,500 companies.

The HAL Tejas MK 1 in the air just before it crashed during a flight demonstration at the Dubai Airshow 2025

Visitors quickly began fleeing the scene as emergency and firefighting teams scrambled to manage the devastating incident

This is the second known crash of the fighter jet, which is powered by General Electric engines and is crucial for India's efforts to modernise its air force fleet of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet fighters.

The first crash was during an exercise in India in 2024.

Tejas is India's indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India's depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defense ties with India's rival Pakistan.

In September, India's Defense Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force.

Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

The Indian government also signed a deal with HAL in 2021 for 83 Tejas aircraft.

Deliveries, expected last year, have been delayed largely because of shortages of engines that must be imported from the United States.
Families of the Chinook helicopter tragedy victims have made a major breakthrough in their campaign for a public inquiry after UK Government ministers agreed to a meeting.

Bereaved relatives say repeated requests to meet the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary or any other minister have been rejected over the past 18 months.

Now three Ministry of Defence (MoD) ministers  Lord Coaker, Al Carns, and Louise Sandher-Jones  as well as the Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones have agreed to a summit with the families on December 16.

The families say for three decades, they have faced a fog of official secrecy, denial, deceit, and dishonesty from the MoD along with shifting explanations and an absence of evidence.

The UK Government has sealed crucial files until 2094 - long after even the children of those who perished in the crash will themselves have died, leaving families without answers about why their loved ones were placed aboard a helicopter that was known by the RAF and MoD to be unairworthy.

Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Chris was one of the victims, said: The actions of the MoD and the Government continue, daily, to cause not just emotional and psychological distress but intellectual distress as well.

We have mountains of evidence about the circumstances surrounding the crash, but the MoD and ministers deny the reality, refuse to acknowledge the evidence or - until now - to meet us.

So far, they have made out that we families are stupid and should go away.

All 29 people on board died when the Chinook, en-route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George, Inverness-shire, crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994

Family members of the victims of the Chinook crash arrive at 10 Downing Street in October this year to deliver a petition

All of this adds to the ambiguous nature of our loss and is an unacceptable abuse of power from a government committed to candour.

Perhaps now they have deigned to meet us  not just one minister but four of them - we are getting somewhere  we will see.

Psychologist Dr Susan Phoenix, whose husband Ian, a senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, died in the crash, is one of the longest-standing campaigners for truth and transparency on the disaster.

She said: Living in the permanent shadow of loss, we know that many of the other widows and their 47 sons and daughters who are part of this campaign, have faced the same struggle.

Together, we have had to navigate lives marked by absence  lives that feel incomplete, deprived of the peace that comes with knowing how or why our loved ones died.

Each time the Ministry of Defence refuses to give us answers, or the government closes its doors to us, the wound is reopened.

The silence deepens our grief and prolongs our search for truth.

The families have already been vindicated once  when former Defence Secretary Sir Liam Fox cleared the pilots of blame  but they say critical questions remain unanswered about airworthiness, accountability and the decision to fly the Boeing Mark 2 Chinook on that fateful night, when it was known to be unsafe.

The families  who delivered a 50,000-signature petition to Number 10 last month - are calling on the Prime Minister to intervene personally, to overturn the MoDs refusal to release all sealed documents, and to establish a full, judge-led public inquiry.

The crash in foggy conditions killed all 29 people on board, including the crew and officers from MI5, the Army and the RUC.

Former squadron leader Robert Burke has claimed ZD576 was ordered into the air as a show flight to demonstrate the safety of the new Mark 2 upgrade.

When it went wrong, the families believe the truth was covered up by the MoD.

Key facts were allegedly withheld from every subsequent inquiry, while the main crash investigation failed to consider the crucial issue of the aircrafts airworthiness.
Tributes have been paid to a 'true gentleman' Second World War veteran who has died aged 102.

Edward 'Ted' Hayford served with distinction on board minesweepers in North Africa, Norway, the Mediterranean and the Pacific throughout the conflict.

The small warships did perilous work removing and detonating naval mines to clear the path for larger destroyers, battleships and aircraft carriers.

They kept the waterways clear for shipping convoys in the face of the German blockades while facing the U-Boat threat.

Post-war, the North Londoner and devoted Tottenham Hotspur fan was a tiled fireplace maker, bus driver and London taxi driver who drove for veterans charities.

Tributes have been paid to 'true gentleman' Second World War veteran Edward 'Ted' Hayford, who has died aged 102

Mr Hayford served with distinction on board minesweepers in North Africa, Norway, the Mediterranean and the Pacific throughout the conflict

He was married to Helen who died in 2017 and they had two children, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Dick Goodwin, his relation and vice president of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: 'The minesweepers were out at the front trying to clear the path for the bigger ships - the destroyers, battleships and aircraft carriers.

'Uncle Ted was one of life's true gentlemen, kind, humble, and always ready with a smile or a story.

'He represented the very best of his generation and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.'

Edward 'Ted' Hayford (right) with fellow veterans, with his medals on his chest

The veteran laying a wreath at his local memorial

Mr Hayford died peacefully at his home in Carlby, Stamford, Lincolnshire, on October 3.

Tributes were paid online thanking Ted for his 'service and bravery' keeping the Nazis at bay.

Carl Ross said: 'RIP Uncle Ted, reunited with your comrades again, thank you for your service.'

Alan Cole added: 'At rest now sailor, thanks for your service and bravery, anchors away now.'
An Afghan asylum seeker has pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12-year-old girl in a small Midlands town.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, changed his plea at Warwick Crown Court today to admit a single charge of rape against the child in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in July of this year.

But he continues to deny a further string of charges related to the alleged abduction and prolonged sexual assault of the underage victim.

He is due to face trial with another Afghan asylum seeker, Mohammed Kabir, also 23, in January.

During a brief hearing today, Mulakhil, assisted by a Farsi interpreter, entered a plea of guilty to a single count of oral rape.

He entered not guilty pleas at a previous hearing to two further counts of rape relating to the underage girl, as well as two counts of sexual assault and one count of abduction.

Kabir has also denied aiding and abetting rape, intentional strangulation and attempting to take a child.

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC remanded both men in custody to next appear before Warwick Crown Court on December 12, ahead of a trial on January 26.

Details of the case were first revealed by the Mail on Sunday in August, when police were accused of attempting to cover up the immigration status of both defendants to avoid inflaming racial tensions.

Mulakhil, who crossed the Channel on a small boat, raped the victim in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Tuesday, July 22.

The Mail on Sunday obtained CCTV footage from a resident's house near Cheverel Street which appears to show a man walking with the girl, who is white.

CCTV footage from a resident's house near the scene of the attack which appears to show a man walking with the girl, who is white

The chilling footage was captured as the pair walked past the property at 8pm, around half-an-hour before the victim was allegedly subjected to a prolonged assault.

The girl is now understood to be receiving specialist care.

Warwickshire Police said Mulakhil was arrested four days after the incident and charged the following day.

There was a major political backlash when the Mail revealed Warwickshire Police had advised councillors and officials not to disclose the background of the suspects for fear of 'inflaming community tensions'.

It is believed officers feared that unrest would break out like that seen in Epping, Essex, where Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Nuneaton town centre, Warwickshire, England, UK

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and the youngest council leader in the country, George Finch  who is leader of Warwickshire County Council, claimed there had been a cover-up of details about the alleged rape.

At the time, Warwickshire Police defended its position, saying it was following national policy in not sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

In response to the alleged cover-up, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said 'more transparency is needed' in the information given by police.

Police forces have since begun to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in high-profile cases.

Inquiries by the MoS in Nuneaton revealed that both Mulakhil and Kabir lived in two tax-payer-funded rented houses about 70 yards from each other on adjoining streets.

Both properties are managed by Serco, which has accommodated around five asylum seekers in each house. Serco has a 1.9billion contract with the Home Office to house asylum seekers across the country.
A pupil was found hanged in the bathroom of his boarding house just weeks into starting at the 53,000-a-year school, an inquest has heard.

Songcheng Fang, 18, was discovered unresponsive in the bathroom at Kent College Canterbury's boarding house on Monday night.

The inquest heard how Songcheng - known as Franklin to his friends - had only started boarding at the school in September.

He was last seen at 8.15pm for evening registration.

Another pupil, who shared a bedroom with Songcheng, told police he heard him enter a communal bathroom used by three dormitories at around 10pm.

Concerns were raised an hour later when the water was still running inside the bathroom.

Staff turned off the supply but received no response from the pupil, so the boarding master forced the door open.

The teenager was found unresponsive and attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

Songcheng Fang, 18, was found dead at the boarding house of Kent College Canterbury on Monday night

Fees at the co-educational boarding school cost up to 17,798 per term

The provisional medical cause of death was given as hanging. Further hearings will consider Songcheng's intent and the circumstances leading up to his death.

In an email to parents, headmaster Mark Turnbull said Franklin had 'won considerable praise from his teachers for the manner in which he approached the opportunities at the school'.

The senior school was closed on Tuesday to allow his peers 'time to come to terms with the tragic loss'.

A statement released by the private school said: 'We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our boarding pupils on November 17.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and our wider school community.

'We are now supporting our pupils and their families.'

Kent College, a co-educational private school, dates back to 1885 and has more than 500 pupils.

It has five houses for senior school pupils, and takes students from nursery age up to 18.

Fees for boarding cost up to 17,798 per term.

Police said earlier this week they were called to a medical incident on Whitstable Road, Canterbury, at just before 11pm on Monday.

A police spokesperson said: 'Officers attended the scene along with paramedics, and an 18-year-old man was confirmed to be deceased.

'His death is being treated as non-suspicious, and a report will be compiled for the coroner.'

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org.
Colombia's President found himself at the centre of an extraordinary scandal after official spending records revealed a $50 charge at a Lisbon strip club during a state visit.

Gustavo Petro, already under fire after Washington DC labelled him a drug trafficker and froze his accounts by placing him on the notorious Clinton List, ordered the release of his own financial records in a bold attempt to prove his innocence to the US President.

But the move spectacularly backfired. Among pages of luxury purchases - including Gucci and Prada - a $50 (35) tab stood out.

It was paid in May 2023 at the sultry Menage Strip Club in Lisbon's nightlife district of Cais do Sodre.

On Wednesday, Petro tried to explain away the club visit with a philosophical flourish on social media, posting: 'There are two things I've learned in life: not to sleep with a woman who doesn't make anything blossom in my heart, and not to buy sex when I'm still capable of seduction and poetry.

'Sexuality should always be combined with culture  that's called eroticism'.

The President insisted he had not attempted to hide anything and hinted that the full story would emerge one day.

'Someday', he vowed, he would explain why he spent '40 euros at that place.'

Gustavo Petro, already under fire after Washington DC labelled him a drug trafficker and froze his accounts by placing him on the notorious Clinton List, ordered the release of his own financial records in a bold attempt to prove his innocence to the US President

A $50 tab was paid in May 2023 at the sultry Menage Strip Club in Lisbon's nightlife district of Cais do Sodre (pictured)

For now, he insisted the real issue was US 'arbitrariness' toward Colombia, blasting the decision to remove the Andean nation from the list of those doing enough to combat drug trafficking.

'For now, I am interested in ensuring that all those who analyze my accounts can see the type of arbitrary action taken against Colombia, in downgrading it, and against its President,' he wrote on X.

Then came a second, defiant declaration: 'I don't need to buy sex, I don't like it. I still have some seductive ability that allows me to avoid resorting to those practices of sad men'.

This is not the first time Petro has waded into sexual territory.

During a live-broadcast Cabinet meeting last September, he stunned viewers with another bold proclamation: 'A free woman does what she wants with her clitoris and her brain, and if she knows how to balance the two, she will be a great woman'.

It comes after a second controversy arose this week, following allegations around the luxurious lifestyle of the Columbian first lady, Veronica Alcocer.

Petro responded that she 'does not spend a single peso of Colombian public funds and has rights and freedoms,' and criticised Trump's 'rudeness' towards Alcocer for also including her on the 'Clinton List.'

The Colombian President went on to explain that the pair separated 'years ago' which reignited doubts and questions over her status as first lady.
An alleged burglar has appeared in court accused of fatally stabbing a much-loved father in his own home, before fleeing with a big of cash.

Anthony Priestley, 53, was found gravely injured with 'extensive knife wounds' at his address on Aldrich Avenue, Coventry, at around 4am on November 18.

Paramedics were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alexander Neilson, 28, today appeared before Coventry Magistrates' Court accused of murder and aggravated burglary.

It is understood that the men were known to one another.

The court heard that police were first called to the address by Mr Priestley's panicked partner, who told them that he had been stabbed.

Prosecutor Sarah Lawrence said: 'Emergency services found the deceased with extensive knife wounds, but were unable to save his life.'

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant entered the property at 4am and stabbed Mr Priestley in the doorway of his bedroom.

He then allegedly followed him into the bedroom where he stabbed him several more times, according to the prosecutor.

Neilson was allegedly 'asking for drugs and money and left with a bag of money', the court was told.

Alexander Neilson, 28, today appeared before Coventry Magistrates' Court accused of murder and aggravated burglary

Anthony Priestley, 53, was found gravely injured with 'extensive' stab wounds at his property on Aldrich Avenue, Coventry, at around 4am on November 18

Paramedics were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene

Police were first called to the address by Mr Priestley's panicked partner, who told them that he had been stabbed

Neilson, wearing a black and grey tracksuit, was led into the dock by two security guards and spoke only to give his name, date of birth and last address.

Cath McMillan, defending, indicated that her client would be pleading not guilty to the offences.

Chief Magistrate Michael Priest told him he would next appear before Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday November 25.

Neilson, whose head was shaved, thumped his chest as he was led back into custody at the end of the five-minute hearing.

A dozen of his family members had attended the court with one shouting, 'love ya' as he was led away.

The family of Mr Priestley, who were not at court, had earlier released a tribute to him through West Midlands Police.

It said: 'Anton, we loved you so much and we cannot imagine that we're never going to see you again. Our love for you will never end.'

His daughter paid a touching tribute to her father, saying: 'Thanks for all the lovely memories I have of you. Your loving daughter.'
A local Washington councilwoman caused a stir when she shared an offensive post on social media where she proudly declared she was an 'Islamophobe' because of how she believes the religion treats women.

Jessica Yaeger, who sits on the city council in Spokane Valley, shared the controversial post on Facebook Thursday morning that read, 'I am a proud Islamaphobe.'

The post then rattled off a listicle of what she stands against, including homophobia, misogyny, 'dressing women in tents,' anti-Semitism, 'forced female genital mutilation,' and racism, insinuating that Muslims have different beliefs.

'I love dogs, bacon, and the freedom,' the post concluded.

Yaeger shared the post on her page with the caption, 'Yep!'

The post appears to be either hidden from the public or deleted from her page, but local news outlet Spokesman-Review shared a screenshot.

The story has since sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning Yaeger's Islamophobic comments.

'Super cringe to hear an elected official is discriminating against an entire RELIGION,' one comment read.

Jessica Yaeger, a city councilwoman in Spokane Valley, Washington, shared an inflammatory post on her Facebook about Islam

Yaeger is one of seven members on the Spokane Valley City Council. The city is home to the county's only Islamic center

'Imagine how you would feel if a political figure stated they had no use for your religion and that it is not a true religion but simply a form of bigotry,' another added.

'I certainly would not feel safe let alone well represented. I suggest if she is not able to fairly represent all her constituents, she probably should not be in her position.'

Former president of the Spokane NAACP James Wilburn condemned Yaeger's comments, telling the Spokesman-Review: 'Thats nothing to be proud of. She should be ashamed.

'Theyre people just like anybody else. She should be out of office. How is she going to represent people if shes neglecting a portion of her district?'

Yaeger was elected to the city council in November 2023 and is serving her first term. She served as a Spokane County Republican precinct committee officer and worked in healthcare before her campaign.

According to the most recent data from the Association of Religion Data Archives, there is one Islamic congregation in Spokane County with about 269 participants.

The largest religious group in the county is non-denominational Christian Churches, with 76 congregants and 105,060 participants.

The only Islamic center in the county is located in Spokane Valley, the city where Yaeger serves on the council.

Yeager posted the controversial remark on her Facebook page

Yaeger received backlash from her colleagues, who condemned the post as inflammatory and suggested that she should be more careful with what she says on social media as an elected official (Pictured with her husband)

She is one of seven members on the City Council. Her colleague on the council, Ben Wick, told the Spokesman-Review that the post was not something he would've shared.

'Im very guarded about what I post on social media because most people dont see a line between the personal and professional lives of council members,' he added.

Councilman Al Merkel had a stronger condemnation for Yaeger's post, telling the publication that he was 'aghast' by her comments.

'I clearly dont support anything like pedophilia or violence against women, but shes pigeonholing an entire group of people, and thats not a fair thing to do,' he said.

'As a council member, you should be more cautious about posting inflammatory things like this.'

Yaeger was elected to the council in 2023 and is serving her first term as an elected official

'I dont like Nazis, I dont like neo-Nazis or Christians who hate black people, but that doesnt mean I hate all Christians,' he concluded.

Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley said the post was 'terrible' and that Yaeger's beliefs don't represent the council's stance on Islam.

However, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg offered a more lukewarm stance against the controversial post, noting that Yaeger was entitled to her beliefs.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Yaeger, Mayor Haley, and the rest of the council for comment.
An Illinois judge ignored a prosecutor's warnings that a man who is now accused of setting a commuter on fire was likely to attack again and allowed him to walk free, court records show.

Lawrence Reed, 50, was released on an ankle monitor after assaulting a social worker in August, CBS News reported.

Despite the prosecutor warning Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez that Reed had a lengthy rap sheet and his next crime would 'likely be violent,' she allowed him to walk free.

Reed went on to be hit with a federal terrorism charge this week after he allegedly poured gasoline on a 26-year-old woman at random and set her ablaze on the Chicago transit system Monday night.

He approached the victim, who has not been identified, and repeatedly yelled 'burn alive b***h,' according to a criminal affidavit filed in federal court.

Investigators obtained additional security footage of Reed allegedly filling a container with gasoline at a gas station 20 minutes before the attack.

According to transcripts obtained by CWB Chicago, as Molina-Gonzalez released Reed in August, she said: 'I can't keep everybody in jail because the state's attorney wants me to.'

Monday's attack has drawn comparisons to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22.

Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez (pictured) allowed Lawrence Reed, 50, to be released on an ankle monitor after he assaulted a social worker in August

Prosecutors warned that Reed, who is now accused of setting a woman on fire during her commute in Chicago, was likely to attack at random again

Investigators said he attacked the woman at random and obtained additional security footage of Reed allegedly filling a container with gasoline at a gas station 20 minutes before the attack

'This horrific attack is EXACTLY why we need communities to take safety seriously. Blue cities cannot allow another Iryna Zarutska to happen,' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.

In both cases, each suspect has a lengthy criminal background.

Reed has been arrested almost 50 times and has had multiple felony convictions over the last three decades.

US Attorney Andrew Boutros confirmed on Wednesday that the latest attack Reed is accused of was completely random.

'We've watched the video and different angles of the video. And what we could say is this young woman was on her phone, going through her phone, minding her business, when [Reed] approached her and began throwing gasoline on her,' Boutros said at a press conference.

'I've seen reports that there was an altercation or that there was some kind of disagreement or argument that took place. Those statements are inaccurate and false.'

Surveillance footage showed the woman sitting in the train car before Reed allegedly poured gasoline over her head and body.

In a horrifying chain of events, the victim attempted to fight off her attacker while Reed allegedly tried to set her on fire.

She was seen running to the front of the train car to escape before her attacker allegedly ignited the bottle in his hand, according to the affidavit.

Reed has been arrested almost 50 times and has had multiple felony convictions over the last three decades

He approached the victim, who has not been identified, and repeatedly yelled 'burn alive b***h,' according to a criminal affidavit

The victim ran to the front of the train car to escape before her attacker allegedly ignited the bottle in his hand

Reed then allegedly ran to the front of the train car and watched his victim as her body was 'engulfed in flames.'

She was seen attempting to extinguish the flames by dropping to the ground, and fled the train car when it stopped at Clark and Lake.

The victim collapsed when she arrived at the station, and multiple witnesses attended to her while she waited for emergency responders.

Her family put out a statement saying, 'We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes as our daughter receives care for injuries sustained earlier this week.'

'We are also grateful for the excellent care and support of the burn team at Stroger Hospital.'

Reed was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and appeared to be wearing the same clothes he was seen in on the night of the attack.

The complaint also noted that he had 'fire-related injuries' on his hand.

Reed is accused of setting fire to the woman around 9.24pm on Monday, which is outside of the hours he was allowed out of the house while on the ankle monitor.

In September, records show that Judge Ralph Meczyk increased the hours he was allowed out of the home, but Mondays were not included on that list.

The Daily Mail has contacted the judges and the Circuit Court of Cook County for comment.
A Texas father is pleading for prosecutors to drop the charges against his brother, who crossed blocked train tracks and was struck, killing his nephew.

Fabian Riojas, 24, was driving his nephew, Emilio Martinez, home in his Dodge Charger when they came across a blocked railroad crossing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Wednesday around 4pm.

Riojas maneuvered the vehicle around the crossbucks in an attempt to 'beat the train,' Martinez's father, Jon, told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

The TRE commuter train crashed into the side of the Charger, causing the vehicle to be flung off the track and onto the side of the road.

Riojas was hospitalized, while the five-year-old died from his injuries. None of the 43 passengers on the train were injured.

Fort Worth Police Department charged him with manslaughter-traffic accident and he is currently being held in the Fort Worth Jail.

However, Jon is begging prosecutors to let his brother go free.

'The last thing I want is people to think that my brothers a monster, because I can assure you that my brother loved him more than anything,' Jon told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

Fabian Riojas, 24, was driving his nephew, Emilio Martinez, home in his Dodge Charger when they came across a blocked railroad crossing

Martinez's father, Jon, said his brother tried to 'beat the train' and maneuvered around the crossbucks, leading to the train hitting them

Martinez died instantly, while his uncle was hospitalized. Riojas and Martinez had always been close

Pictured: The crashed Dodge Charger that was flung to the side of the road after being hit

'And if I can forgive him, I hope everyone else can too.'

Jon also said that Riojas' decision was a mistake and that his son wouldn't have wanted his uncle to face jail time for it.

'He did it, and he wasnt so lucky, and unfortunately, he had to pay with my sons life,' Jon told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

'I know if hed had a chance, he would have given his life for him.'

Jon remembers his son as always being full of life and energy and said Fabian and the five-year-old were always very close.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, which would normally decide on dropping the charges, and Martinez for comment.

The DA's Office told the Daily Mail: 'That incident has not been submitted to our office.'
Russia is seeking to bribe Britains MPs to undermine our democracy, police warned today as the former head of the Reform UK party in Wales was jailed for taking cash to back Putins allies.

Nathan Gill was jailed for over ten years today after accepting tens of thousands of pounds in bribes to give speeches, interviews and arrange events supporting Russian activity in Ukraine.

The former leader of the Reform UK party in Wales was told to 'recruit' other British MPs and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to attend pro-Russia events, including a leading figure in the Brexit Party, which was headed by Nigel Farage at the time.

The 52-year-old was promised he would be rewarded with a sack of paper gifts thought to contain money, if he would bring his friends in the Brexit Party, which is now known as Reform UK.

Now it can be revealed that four other pro-Brexit MEPs are under investigation in connection with the scandal.

Scotland Yard confirmed yesterday that Mr Farage is not one of the politicians being investigated and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the Reform leader.

As Gill was sentenced today, Head of Scotland Yards Counter Terrorism Command Dominic Murphy warned that Moscows attempts to influence British politics are widespread.

He suggested Russia is seeking to bribe and influence MPs to subvert our democracy saying: This is the first type of case we've seen like this but what we've seen in this case does raise questions.

Former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill arrives at the Old Bailey

I think we're beginning to see a course of conduct in those states that wish to do us harm, about their influence over society, politicians and politics more broadly.

In an unprecedented prosecution, Gill pocketed around 5,000 a time to read out parliamentary speeches urging Ukraine to negotiate with Moscow and seek peace after Russia invaded Crimea and sent paramilitary units into the Donbas region.

He delivered scripted media statements criticising Ukraine leader President Zelensky and supporting Ukrainian politician, Viktor Medvedchuk, a personal friend of President Putin.

Medvedchuk, who was later accused of treason in Ukraine and attempting to loot national resources, is considered so close to Putin that the Russian leader is the godfather of Medvedchuks daughter.

Gill was paid thousands to give TV interviews in favour of the key Putin ally and to make speeches in the European Parliament, where he was an MEP for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2014 to 2020.

The father-of-five was the leader of UKIP in Wales from 2014 to 2016 before it became Reform UK Wales in 2021.

Nathan Gill with Reform leader Nigel Farage

Oleg Voloshyn's wife, Nadia Sass interviewed Gill

The practicing Mormon, who lives on the island of Anglesey with his family, represented North Wales in the National Assembly, now the Welsh Parliament, between 2016 and 2017

The Old Bailey heard today that Gill offers no excuse for his venal compromise after he accepted at least 30,000 in bribes from Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian politician to give pro-Russian statements.

WhatsApp messages revealed that Gill would deliver word-for-word scripted statements provided by Voloshyn to the European Parliament and in interviews to a pro-Russian TV station backed by Medvedchuk.

Police later found images on Instagram of Gill being interviewed by Voloshyn's wife, Nadia Sass, who worked for the same TV station, days after arranging an event for Medvedchuk in the European Parliament.

Gill also made appearances on the Russian state broadcaster RT in 2016 and 2017, criticising the EUs sanctions imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

Viktor Medvedchuk is a close ally of Putin

At the time, he was not the only UKIP member to do so, as Mr Farage was also making appearances on the RT channel around the same time criticising the EU and NATO.

Prosecutors did not name the other MEPs Gill attempted to recruit, but he travelled to Kiev in 2018 with Jonathan Arnott and David Coburn, two other Brexit Party MEPs who have stated they were on a fact finding trip to meet with journalists.

They took part in a TV programme hosted by Ms Sass as part of a campaign opposing Russian sanctions, but there is no suggestion that they took bribes for their participation.

The trip was funded by an organisation run by Janusz Niedzwiecki, a Polish lobbyist arrested in 2021 and charged with espionage for the secret services of the Russian Federation'.

Following a tip-off, police raided Gills home in September 2021, discovering bundles of cash including euros and US dollars.

Detectives discovered Gill was already on his way to Russia and stopped him at Manchester Airport where they seized his mobile phone which revealed scores of messages about payments for speeches.

Gill later admitted eight counts of bribery between 2018 and 2019.

Today he was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Gill had lost his moral compass and betrayed the electorate after he accepted payments to enlist MEPs representing the North East, South West and North West of England to give interviews to pro-Russian TV stations.

The judge told Gill: The revelation of your actions has a broad and deleterious effect on public confidence and trust in democratic institutions of importance to many dozens of millions of people.

She added: Whether or not you believe any of what you said, allowing money to corrupt you moral compass amounts to a grave betrayal of trust placed on you by the electorate.'

After the case, Commander Murphy said: This sentencing should send a clear message that any efforts by foreign powers to bribe people in the UK in elected and influential positions will not be tolerated. It also shows that there are grave and severe consequences for anyone here who engages with that sort of activity.

Instead of looking after the interests of his constituents and the interests of the UK, Gill was more concerned about making money for himself by peddling views and opinions that were in support of the Russian states activities in Ukraine.

After the sentencing, Defence Minister Al Carns called for Reform to launch an investigation.

Wherever we see Russian influence in UK politics, it's got to be weeded out, he said.

And I genuinely believe that we need Reform to conduct a full investigation to winkle out, weed out any Russian influence whatsoever in the party.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said: Nathan Gill used his privileged position in public office to advance the malign interests of Russia over those of the UK in exchange for money - that is a betrayal of our country, our people, and our national security.

Bethan David, Head of Counter Terrorism for the Crown Prosecution Service, added: This case strikes at the heart of democratic integrity. Accepting bribes from foreign nationals to influence parliamentary proceedings undermines public trust and the proper functioning of government.

Nathan Gill has admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong, and his activities only ended because of the UKs departure from the European Union, removing him from a position of use for those who sought to influence him.

Public office is a position of trust, and his actions represent a serious breach of that trust, his sentencing today shows the seriousness of that breach.
A teenage heiress's death under horrific circumstances in California after meeting a mystery man was ruled an overdose - but her wealthy parents are convinced she was murdered.

Amelia Salehpour, 18, died on July 26, 2023, after abruptly leaving a drug treatment center in Costa Mesa, California, and driving off with her ex-boyfriend and a man known as 'Raider.'

Her parents alleged in a complaint that Amelia had been trafficked from the rehab facility and then beaten, raped and killed at a drug house 'frequented by gang members, sexual deviants, drug users, and drug and assault weapon dealers.'

Police initially ruled that Amelia had died from an accidental overdose after finding her next to an open drawer marked with black tar heroin residue, per the Los Angeles Times.

But the family remained unsure at the 'hastily and suspiciously' made assessment.

Since the death of their daughter, the Salehpours have paid for a private security company to run their own investigation of the case, retained two locally-recognized prosecutors and conducted their own autopsy of Amelia.

The evidence obtained was used to file a lawsuit against seven people allegedly involved in Amelia's death but the case was later dropped without an explanation.

Ali Salehpour, Amelia's father, has an estimated net worth of about $107million, according to GuruFocus. He was previously a senior vice president at Applied Materials Inc, whose market cap is roughly $181billion.

Amelia Salehpour, 18, died on July 26, 2023, after abruptly leaving a drug treatment center in Costa Mesa, California

The private investigation was so thorough that Black Box, the firm hired by Amelia's family, knew 'who's received pizza' at the alleged drug house.

But the defense accused the Salehpours of using their wealth to obtain a prosecution.

Amelia had been checked into the Rising Roads women's only in-patient substance abuse program in May 2023 after struggling 'for years' with drug abuse brought on by mental health and cognitive disability issues.

She was 18 but was 'cognitively' an eighth-grader, per her family's complaint.

However, her family alleged that Amelia's mental health 'deteriorated greatly' while at the treatment center.

She allegedly suffered from psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia and panic attacks. The teen was also self-harming.

Rather than report this alarming behavior to her parents, the suit claimed, the rehab facility's 'solution was to lie and tell them that everything was going 'fine'.'

Amelia's family, included her father Ali, have 'found themselves spending time, energy and resources' putting together a team of experts to investigate their daughter's death

Amelia was discharged to Saddleback Recovery in Costa Mesa, and allegedly departed the treatment center after five days with her ex-boyfriend and a man nicknamed 'Raider'

Amelia was discharged to Saddleback Recovery, a subcontractor in Costa Mesa - where she only stayed for five days, per the complaint.

The 18-year-old was 'somehow allowed to discharge herself against medical advice,' the family claimed, even though she was 'a danger to herself and gravely disabled.'

Amelia was allegedly released from Saddleback without a phone, money or ID.

Rising Roads denied the allegations brought on by her family.

'These are tragic and profoundly unfortunate circumstances,' Brian Hoffman, an attorney for the center, told the LA Times. 'Rising Roads denies the allegations made against it and its staff, and maintains that its team acted professionally and in full compliance with all applicable standards, policies, and legal obligations.'

Amelia's parents claimed that 'no timely notification' was issued to them, so they could not travel to the facility in time from their Saratoga home to pick up their daughter and keep her safe.

Instead, she was picked up by her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Reyes and a man nicknamed 'Raider', who was later identified as Marlon Mancillas, per the LA Times.

Amelia's body was found alongside needles, a burned spoon with black tar heroin residue and a purse with more needles and a spoon

Salehpour's complaint claimed: 'Despite these circumstances and the overwhelming evidence suggesting foul play and human trafficking of Amelia, Los Angeles police and medical examiner(s) hastily and suspiciously concluded - moments after finding Amelia's body - that she had died of an accidental drug overdose.'

Amelia's family urgently called the Costa Mesa Police Department, but the complaint claimed police 'squandered critical time by refusing to accept a missing person report by telephone and investigate Amelia as a critical missing person as required by law.'

The Salehpours also 'repeatedly' asked the Los Angeles Police Department for help. Its officers searched the house Amelia was allegedly being held captive in - but 'inexplicably failed to execute a complete search of the house.'

Someone in the house told the cops that 'Amelia was not in a room with a closed door' and they believed him, the complaint alleged.

One day later, LAPD was called to the alleged drug house for a 'dead girl' and discovered Amelia's body next to needles, a burned spoon with black tar heroin residue and a purse with more needles and a spoon.

Since then, Amelia's parents have 'found themselves spending time, energy and resources assembling a team of expert investigators and various subject matter experts and securing a comprehensive private autopsy to help uncover the depths of the wrongdoing of the care homes, police and coroner.'

That included hiring Black Box for more than $1million.

Amelia's family alleged that the rehab center had not notified them their daughter was being charged and could not travel from their Saratoga home to pick her up and keep her safe

The Salehpours accepted the decision to not pursue charges against the seven suspects, per the LA Times, and are hoping that Los Angeles police continues investigating their daughter's death.

Los Angeles County district attorney Nathan Hochman told them he believed Amelia had been murdered, the Salehpours told the LA Times.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Salehpours' attorney and the Los Angeles Police Department for further comment.
A Pennsylvania man who was found unconscious in a Florida gas station bathroom woke up with no recollection of who he was or how he got there.

Moments after walking into a Wawa in Orlando on September 8, Darrell Powell was discovered unconscious in the stores bathroom, stripped of his wallet, phone and any form of identification, according to WGAL News.

He couldnt recall a single detail from his life when he regained consciousness, leading Osceola County Sheriffs deputies to conclude he was suffering from total amnesia.

Days later, facial recognition software confirmed his identity, his upbringing in Middletown and that his only remaining family member was his ex-wife, Abi Knaub, whom he had not contacted in over a decade.

'He doesn't know who he is. He knows who he has been told he is,' Knaub told the outlet.

She has now stepped in to help Powell uncover who he was, how he wound up in the Sunshine State and what occurred in the moments before he was found unconscious.

'Basically, I'd just like to be able to start over, and I mean, you know, just move forward,' Powell told WGAL.

Because Powell had only $45 in cash on him, authorities were unable to identify him and rushed him to the hospital as a John Doe, according to a GoFundMe page.

Darrell Powell (pictured), of Pennsylvania, was found unconscious in a Wawa store in Orlando Florida and woke up with no memory of who he was or how he got there

Powell (pictured) couldnt recall a single detail from his life when he regained consciousness, leading Osceola County Sheriffs deputies to conclude he was suffering from total amnesia

Facial recognition software confirmed his identity, his upbringing in Middletown and that his only remaining family member was his ex-wife, Abi Knaub, whom he had not contacted in over a decade (pictured)

Police tried to identify him through his fingerprints, but with no criminal record, the effort was unsuccessful.

Following an eight-day hospital stay, authorities turned to facial recognition software and found his Pennsylvania drivers license in an online database.

The database revealed that both of his parents had passed, he had no next of kin to turn to and his only remaining connection was Knaub. With no other choice, authorities phoned his ex-wife.

'They landed on me because basically his parents have passed away and there is no one else,' Knaub told WGAL.

Shocked by the call, Knaub asked the police what could have caused it. They said they suspected either a stroke or a brain aneurysm, explaining that his amnesia was so complete it had erased all memory before being found.

Powell was finally discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of amnesia caused by a brain aneurysm, yet what came next was daunting - he had no idea who he was.

Despite having had no contact since 2014, Knaub dedicated herself to helping him rebuild his life. He was transported from Florida to Maryland by bus, where she met him.

'I'm not taking that stance. And everybody in my life, my family members, the people that I love, all understand and support me in doing this because they know this is who I am,' she told the outlet.

Despite having had no contact since 2014, Knaub (pictured with Powell) dedicated herself to helping him rebuild his life and figure out who he was

According to Knaub, much about his life remained a mystery. The last she knew, he lived in Camp Hill, but his drivers license indicated he was a resident of Erie.

She eventually uncovered that he had an apartment in Erie, with rent paid through July, and that he had rented a car which was later discovered in Florida.

An invoice showed that Powell had booked a cruise out of Miami from August 3 to 8, but whether he ever set sail also remains a mystery.

She immediately drove him to Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, where doctors confirmed the presence of a brain aneurysm.

However, since it wasnt bleeding, they thought it probably wasnt responsible for his sudden amnesia.

'Darrell and I both met with a psychiatrist and that doctor told me verbally that he did not feel it was related to mental health since his only previous diagnosis was anxiety,' Knaub wrote on the GoFundMe page.

'Every doctor at Holy Spirit told us that they do not know enough about the brain to tell us how this has happened or if his memory will return.'

Powell is currently living in a homeless shelter, and not even photographs from his past have been able to trigger memories of his former life.

Powell (pictured left) is currently living in a homeless shelter, and not even photographs from his past have been able to trigger memories of his former life

In the meantime, Powell (pictured with Knaub) has lost his apartment, all his possessions have disappeared and his car is about to be repossessed

In the meantime, he has lost his apartment, all his possessions have disappeared and his car is about to be repossessed.

Knaub started a fundraiser to raise money for several needs: gas to make the trips back and forth, a group home to replace the shelter and clothing, as he owns nothing.

She explained that the cheapest group home theyve found costs about $550 per month, an amount Powell cannot manage since he has no job and will require support for the foreseeable future.

'He needs to have a life now. Even if he can't remember his life,' Knaub told WGAL.

As of Friday morning, Powells fundraiser had reached $665 of the $10,000 goal.
A devastated grandmother shared photos of her young granddaughter in the hospital after a grizzly bear attacked her on a school trip in Canada.

The group of students and teachers were on a walk in Bella Coola, northwest of Vancouver, on Thursday when the bear attack took place.

At least 11 people were injured, including two who are in critical condition and two who are considered seriously injured.

Hzita Brown Mack confirmed on Facebook that her granddaughter is one of the victims.

'My heart shattered to see what the bear had done to her little body,' Mack wrote.

The grandmother posted photos of the young girl in the hospital and thanked the staff for preparing her for transfer to another medical facility.

'She had approximately 100 stitches/sutures to close all her wounds so that she can be transferred safely,' she wrote.

Veronica Schooner posted a photo of the mud-soaked shoes of her ten-year-old son, Alverez, who was in the elementary school class that was attacked.

A young girl is in the hospital (pictured) with 100 stitches after a grizzly bear attacked her on a school trip in Canada, her grandmother revealed

Veronica Schooner posted a photo of the mud-soaked shoes (pictured) of her ten-year-old son, Alverez, who was in the elementary school class that was attacked

At least 11 people were injured, including two who are in critical condition and two who are considered seriously injured, when the bear attacked a school ground on Thursday

'Alverez grade 4/5 class got confronted by a grizzly today. I'm so glad Alvarez is ok. This is his shoes and he injured his ankle and had bear spray on his face,' she wrote.

Schooner told The Canadian Press that her son was so close to the animal that 'he even felt its fur' and 'he was running for his life'.

The mother said several people attempted to intervene during the ordeal, but one male teacher 'got the whole brunt of it' and was among the people taken by helicopter from the scene.

She added that Alverez was left 'traumatized' by the attack on his friends, and three children were among those with significant injuries. However, officials have not officially confirmed the ages of any of the victims.

'He said that the bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,' said Schooner.

'Everybody was in shock at the school. A lot of people were crying, and I don't know, I just wanted my son, and I grabbed him, and then I took him home.'

British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEMS) told CBC they received a call about an 'animal attack' on a trail near Highway 20 and sent two ambulances and a community paramedic to respond.

'Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to four patients and transported them to the hospital,' health services spokesman Brian Twaites said.

Hzita Brown Mack posted photos of her granddaughter in the hospital and thanked the staff for preparing her for transfer to another medical facility

As of Thursday night, authorities said the bear is still on the loose and Acwsalcta School, an independent school in Bella Coola run by the Nuxalk Nation, said it will be closed on Friday

The ages and genders of the injured students are currently unknown. Police corporal Madonna Saunderson described their injuries as 'very serious at the very least'.

Acwsalcta School, an independent school in Bella Coola run by the Nuxalk Nation, said it will be closed on Friday due to the 'bear incident'.

The school did not confirm whether its students were attacked, but wrote in a statement that it will offer counseling services, adding that 'it's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time.'

Nuxalk Nation wrote on social media Thursday night that the animal 'has still not been found' after warning of an 'aggressive bear' in the Four Mile subdivision, a forested and residential area in the Bella Coola Valley where Acwsalcta School is located.

'The bear has still not been found, so we ask that you do not walk anywhere tonight,' Nuxalk Nation wrote, while offering rides for those who need them.

Officials also urged people in the area to stay indoors, warning them not to go looking for the bear and to 'not go down any trails'.
A Ponzi scheme fraudster who swindled millions of dollars from would-be investors is appealing his convictions and sentence after being jailed for more than a decade.

Chris Marco was found guilty of 43 fraud charges in September after illegally accepting more than $34million from six victims to whom he promised healthy returns from investment schemes that did not exist.

The 67-year-old was sentenced in Western Australia's Supreme Court in October to 14 years' imprisonment, eligible for parole after 12 years.

Marco wants the 43 guilty verdicts quashed, saying the convictions were unreasonable and can't be supported.

He also believes his sentence was excessive and that the judge erred when punishing him because she found that he knew his investment schemes were dodgy.

The notice of appeal also said Justice Natalie Whitby falsely determined that Marco's victims fell prey to his lies when they transferred their money to him.

A different sentence should have been imposed, the document said.

All up, Marco accepted $253million from investors, repaying almost $200million of it over an almost eight-year period to 2018, before the corporate watchdog caught up with him and he declared bankruptcy.

Chris Marco was found guilty of 43 fraud charges in September

Marco told his victims he was a successful private investor

He invested less than five per cent of the funds and made no profit despite guaranteeing his victims high rates of return from exclusive schemes not available to the public, Justice Whitby said when she sentenced him.

Marco knew what he told his victims was untrue, and he paid returns from their own and other investors' funds, the court heard.

This was done to enable him to continue his fraudulent scheme.

Marco told his victims he was a successful private investor and that through decades of investing, he had developed relationships that enabled him to gain access to risk-free and exclusive private placement programs, Justice Whitby said.

He also claimed to be a high-wealth businessman who had made large sums of money from investing.

In reality, he was an 'unremarkable' country boy who owned and operated 16 businesses, including video shops, laundromats and newspaper rounds, before turning his hand to financial services and fraud.
'Entitled Instagram vandals' have been condemned after they tore down a 500-year-old castle wall so they could take better pictures.

Historic Assynt - a charity which protects historic sites from vandals - said visitors to Ardvreck Castle in Lairg, Scotland, 'ripped down' part of the historic structure.

It claimed tourists averse to getting 'their little tootsies wet' pulled down part of the wall so they could access the site without having to walk across the water-covered beach.

The charity says it is just one of many incidents of vandalism that have occurred as visitors 'clamber' all over walls in the search of the perfect shot for their social media.

Ardvreck Castle sits on the banks of Loch Assynt and is on the path of the famous NC500 - a scenic route which traverses the Scottish Highlands.

It is thought to have been built by the Macleod Clan in around 1500 and has been abandoned since 1726.

Now, the ruins have become a popular spot for tourists to explore - and unfortunately, many have caused extensive damage to the historic structures, with the problem only getting worse.

A representative from Historic Assynt said: 'We had some vandalism at Ardvreck again this year.

Castle Ardvreck, in the Scottish Highlands, has become a tourist attraction. Access to the castle is sometimes blocked by high water levels at Loch Assynt, which it lies on the edge of

Pictured the damaged wall at the castle. The tourists allegedly pulled down part of the wall to make a path to walk across wet sand to get to the castle for a photo

'Not just the usual theft from the collection boxes and clambering all over the walls like entitled monkeys.

'This year, some special individuals decided when the water was over the beach area, rather than get their little tootsies wet, they would rip down a 500-year-old wall to make a path for themselves.

'Truly unbelievable, but it happened.'

Historic Assynt issued a 'huge thank you' to Historic Environment Scotland, who provided funding for the repairs - and added additional signage to the area, urging visitors to respect the site's history.

It also added a QR code at the collection box, as a way to fund future repairs and to avoid further thefts.

Historic Assynt added: 'If you are planning a holiday and want to clamber over an ancient monument for that Instagram pic, please don't!

'This is our history and every time someone clambers all over it, a little more of it crumbles away.

'Individually it might be small amounts but collectively Assynt's history is disappearing.

A tourist (not related to the ones who damaged the wall) walks towards the castle through a gap in the wall

Pictured: A tourist (not related to the wall's damage) sist on the wall outside Ardvreck Castle

The ruins are reportedly haunted by two ghosts - a tall man dressed in grey and a young girl - both linked to the Clan Macleod

'Take photographs - without climbing on things - leave only footprints, and when you leave, leave the past for future generations to enjoy.'

The castle is over 500-years-old. In April 1650 it was the site where the Marquis of Montrose - who was fighting for the Royalist even after the execution of Charles I - lost the battle of Carbisdale to a much smaller Covenanter army.

He later sought sanctuary in Ardvreck Castle with Neil Macleod of Assynt.

But Macleod's wife tricked Montrose and called government forces. He was then taken to Edinburgh where he was executed.

The ruins are reportedly haunted by two ghosts - a tall man dressed in grey and a young girl - both linked to the Clan Macleod.
Security is ramping up around an army base that is set to house 600 male asylum seekers - as locals were told they would get '48 hours' notice' before they move in.

Residents are in revolt over the plans for Crowborough Army Training Camp in East Sussex, with thousands of people turning out every week for noisy protests.

Today, guards with dogs were seen patrolling the site, where a secondary security fence has been erected alongside a series of residential huts.

Kim Bailey who chairs the Crowborough Shield group, met with Alex Norris - Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum - on Wednesday.

Recalling the conversation, she told the Daily Mail: 'We pushed him for seven to 14 days' notice. And he refused and said, "more like 48 hours".

'When they start, we won't know. They'll just be shifting in the cover of darkness.'

Locals say they were given no warning of the plans to move the men in by January and only found out when it was leaked to a newspaper.

Campaigners still believe they can stop the plan and are raising money for a legal challenge.

Guards with dogs were seen patrolling Crowborough Army Training Camp in East Sussex today

Plastic sheeting erected on a fence around the camp - which is near the quiet village of Crowborough

'The legal team are very good and they're looking at every angle,' Ms Bailey said.

'Wealden District Council have to be assured by the Home Office that the site is safe, legal, and compliant. And, right now, the Home Office cannot evidence that.

'Guards have been patrolling inside the camp fence for around a week,' Ms Bailey said.

'I was challenged by them at the weekend.

'I wasn't on the premises. I was outside the fence and they were patrolling with the dogs and they just came up and said, "You okay? Can I help you?"

'I said, "No, no. Just taking a walk". He was a dog handler.'

The full security team at the camp is expected to be in place with the next week in preparation for the arrival of the first group of asylum seekers.

Locals are concerned about increased pressure on already inadequate public services and the impact the Home Office plan will have on house prices.

The Home Office said most primary healthcare will be delivered in the camp although the asylum seekers will be registered with local GPs.

Responding to health and safety concerns, the Home Office said they are obliged to ensure all systems at the site were safe, legal and compliant.

A dog handler walking within the security fence this morning

The camp and barracks were previously used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 before they were resettled elsewhere

Protesters in Crowborough, East Sussex, hold placards and march through the town centre on Sunday

Organisers are appealing for 600 male volunteers to march through the town in numbered T-shirts during the third weekend of protests this Sunday.

Sussex Police said they have increased patrols in the town to reassure locals.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: 'We're increasing our reassurance patrols, there's just more visibility in the town centre.'

The camp and barracks were previously used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 before they were resettled elsewhere.

The site has a proud history going back to the war, when it was used by Canadian forces preparing for D-Day.

A separate plan to house migrants at a base in Inverness has also sparked a backlash.

Hundreds took to the streets in the Highland city on Saturday to voice their concerns at the proposal to house more than 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in the city centre.

War heroes and pensioners joined parents and children making their views of the unwelcome move  which will see a historic veteran's association turfed out of the complex  known.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has sought to project a tougher stance on illegal migration by unveiling a slate of reforms aimed at making Britain less attractive.

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A new package will see illegal migrants who bring successful human rights claims to dodge deportation forced to wait 30 years to secure permanent leave to stay.

Sources said this penalty would apply to failed asylum seekers who made a successful legal challenge under the 'right to family life' Article 8 provisions in the European Convention on Human Rights, for example.

Most migrants currently qualify for ILR after spending five years legally in the UK, but the new baseline will double to ten years.
Isis-linked rebels have brutally slaughtered 89 innocent civilians in multiple attacks across east Congo.

The violent assaults were carried out by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces in several localities of North Kivu province between November 13 and November 19, and the 89 killed included at least 20 women and an undetermined number of children.

In one of the attacks the rebels attacked a health centre operated by the Catholic Church in Byambwe, killing at least 17 people including women who had gone there to receive maternity care and setting alight four wards housing patients.

Other violations committed by the rebels included abductions in nearby villages and the looting of medical supplies.

Col. Alain Kiwewa, the territory's administrator, said: 'Attacks on health facilities are a crime against humanity.

'These despicable acts must not go unpunished,' Kiwewa said

A UN peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO said it a statement on Friday: 'MONUSCO urges the Congolese authorities to promptly initiate independent and credible investigations to identify the perpetrators and accomplices of these massacres and bring them to justice'.

Local officials said last month that suspected ADF rebels had killed 19 civilians in an overnight attack in the village of Mukondo in North Kivu province.

FILE PHOTO: Democratic Republic of Congo military personnel (FARDC) patrol against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in 2013

In September, the ADF claimed responsibility for one of its deadliest attacks in recent months that claimed the lives of more than 60 civilians at a funeral in eastern Congo.

A recent flurry of attacks claimed by the ADF has exacerbated insecurity in east Congo, a mineral-rich region where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels staged a major advance this year.

The ADF started as a rebel force in Uganda but has been based in the forests of neighbouring Congo since the late 1990s, and is recognised by Islamic State as an affiliate.

Congo's army and Ugandan forces have pursued operations against the ADF, but the group's attacks continue.

Other parts of North Kivu province are under the control of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who staged a lightning advance this year.

Mediators including the United States and Qatar are trying to broker peace in that conflict, which Washington hopes will facilitate Western investments in the mining sector.

Mass school abduction in Nigeria

Nigeria suffered its second mass school abduction this week with authorities confirming an attack on a Catholic school on Friday. It wasn't immediately confirmed who the attackers were or the number of students abducted at St. Mary's School in Niger state's Papiri community. At least 52 schoolchildren were seized, and local police said they have deployed a team to rescue the children. It comes four days after 25 students were abducted in neighbouring Kebbi state. Advertisement

Africa is rapidly becoming the new heartland of global jihad, as franchises of IS, Boko Haram, and Al Qaeda have been carving out strongholds across the continent.

In 2024, an estimated 18,900 people were slaughtered in attacks linked to militant Islamists, a staggering toll that underscores the continent's growing struggle to contain extremism.

Over the past three years, the annual death toll has averaged more than a third higher than between 2019 and 2021, with many victims bombed, beheaded, stoned to death, or hacked with machetes.

Brutal rapes, public executions, and forced marriages have been used to assert dominance in areas controlled by the various groups.

Al Qaeda's main African spearheads are al Shabaab in Somalia and Jama'at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin, known as JNIM, in the Sahel.

ISIS operates through a web of 'provinces' in West Africa, the Sahel, Mozambique, Somalia and Libya.

In Nigeria, the original Boko Haram movement has splintered into rival factions that now fight both governments and each other.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the Allied Democratic Forces, rebranded by ISIS as Islamic State Central Africa Province, continues to massacre civilians in Ituri and North Kivu.
Students and teachers have been kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic school in a terrifying raid amid Donald Trump's fury at spiraling attacks on Christians.

Armed gangsters abducted the children in Agwara, in the center of the country, officials said Friday - the second kidnapping incident in less than a week.

Residents fear that close to 100 students and staff were taken away in the early-morning assault. It comes after 25 schoolgirls were abducted by bandits in the country's northwest on Monday.

President Trump has threatened military action over the targeted killings of Nigeria's Christians by radical Islamists. The narrative is rejected by the Nigerian government.

A 16-year jihadist insurgency in the Muslim-dominated north has plagued Africa's most populous country, home to 220 million people.

Terror groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State want to establish a caliphate and their campaign, which has drawn in mercenary bandits, is fueling mass kidnappings and deadly attacks on Christians.

Trump warned on October 31 that he had directed the Pentagon to prepare for 'swift and brutal' military action in Nigeria, framing the conflict as an existential threat to Christianity.

The Catholic church in the area said that 'armed attackers invaded' St Mary's School between 1am and 3am, abducting the children and their teachers as well as shooting a security guard.

Donald Trump in the Oval Office on November 10. The President has threatened military action over the targeted killings of Nigeria's Christians by radical Islamists

St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state. Residents fear that close to 100 students and staff were taken away in the early-morning assault

The local Catholic church said 'armed attackers invaded' the school between 1am and 3am

The Niger state government said it had 'received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils.'

Abubakar Usman, the state government secretary, said in a statement: 'The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation.'

After gunmen stormed classrooms and abducted 25 girls in a secondary school in the northwest Kebbi state on Monday, Friday's attack further raises alarm over security in the country.

For years, heavily armed criminal gangs locally known as 'bandits' have been intensifying attacks in rural areas of northwest and central Nigeria with little state presence, killing thousands and conducting kidnappings for ransom.

The gangs have camps in a vast forest straddling several states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger, from which they launch attacks.

The state government said the school had defied orders to temporarily close all boarding schools in parts of the state following an intelligence report of an 'increased threat level' in parts of northern Niger that border Kebbi.

State police said its tactical units and the military were deployed to search for the pupils.

Officers said they received a report that 'armed bandits invaded' the secondary school and 'abducted a yet to be ascertained number of students from the school's hostel'.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu is seen on an official visit to Brasilia in August

It said security agencies were 'combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students'.

President Bola Tinubu's government said earlier this week that security forces had been placed on high alert. He has sent a defense minister to lead the search for the Kebbi school girls.

A spokesman said that the Nigerian minister of state for defense had 'experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping.'

Alhaji Bello Matawalle secured the release of 279 students aged between 10 and 17 who had been kidnapped from a secondary school in 2021 in western Zamfara state.

In a separate attack on a church in the west of the country on Tuesday, gunmen killed two people during a service that was recorded and broadcast online. Dozens of worshippers are believed to have been abducted.

As Nigeria grapples with security challenges on several fronts, hostage-taking has spiraled nationwide and become a favored tactic of bandit gangs and jihadists.

Although bandits have no ideological leanings and are motivated by financial gains, their increasing alliance with jihadists from the northeast has been a source of concern for authorities and security analysts.

Jihadists have for 16 years been waging an insurrection in the northeast with the aim of establishing a Caliphate.

The jihadist violence has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced around two million in the northeast since it erupted in 2019.
Two activists who were protesting topless against fascism in Spain were sexually assaulted after a man approached them and touched their breasts.

Astonishing footage shows two half-naked women standing outside a Madrid church on Thursday evening where a mass was being held for the anniversary of the death of Spain's fascist dictator Francisco Franco.

Wearing only trousers, the women held up posters as supporters of Franco gathered outside the Parroquia de Doce Apostoles church located in the affluent Salamanca neighbourhood in the Spanish capital.

As they chanted their anti-fascism slogans, an unnamed man approached one of the women and placed his hand on her left breast.

The woman quickly backed away from him, shouting: 'Sir, don't touch me! Don't touch me!'

Her companion rushed to stand in between them, but the man - who was wrapped in a flag from the Franco era - continued his assault and turned on the second woman, groping her as well.

Despite the man's appalling behaviour, the activists continued to chant, while onlookers shouted derogatory slurs at them and reprimanded them for protesting outside the church.

The disturbing incident was captured on camera by several Spanish media outlets, as journalists had gathered outside the church to cover the service for the late dictator.

Two activists who were protesting topless against fascism in Spain were sexually assaulted by a man who touched their breasts

A counter-protester holds a flag next to activists from the feminist group Femen during a protest on the 50th anniversary of Spain's late dictator Francisco Franco's death, in Madrid, Spain, November 20, 2025

The incident sparked outrage across Spain, with several politicians and activists condemning the assault of the two activists.

Spain's Equalities Minister said in a statement on X: 'How utterly unashamed must one feel to assault two women right in front of the cameras.

'Fifty years have passed and some people haven't learned a thing, but society in general has, and we no longer tolerate the abuse of women or the admiration of a dictator. Our bodies are our own.'

As worshippers left the the religious ceremony, several dozen attendees stood outside the parish, where they chanted 'Long live Franco', and shouted insults against Spain's socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

Spain has seen a spike in support for the country's far-right in recent years, reviving memories of Franco and burnishing his legacy despite the left-wing government seeking to eradicate symbols of the nation's fascist past.

A survey by staterun pollster CIS last month showed that more than 21 per cent of Spaniards saw the Franco era as 'good' or 'very good' for the country, compared to 11 per cent when asked a similar question in 2000.

Spaniards are largely split along the right-left divide over how to handle the legacy of the four-decade dictatorship that followed the 1936-39 civil war, which ended with Franco's death 50 years ago on Thursday at age 82.

Democratic Spain has done little of the soul-searching of other nations with troubled pasts like South Africa, with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or Chile, with the jailing of generals from its past military regime.

Since coming to office in 2018, the Socialist-led government of prime minister Pedro Sanchez has stepped up efforts.

It has exhumed the remains of victims of Francoism, designated sites of repression as places of 'democratic memory', removed Franco-era symbols from public spaces, and run advertising campaigns about the benefits of democracy.

The conservative People's Party and far-right Vox are contesting those measures in court, calling them divisive and partisan by focusing only on victims from one side.

Fifty years after General Franco's death, which paved the way for Spain's democratisation and modernisation, the dictator's figure remains divisive in the country

People gesture the Roman salute on the 50th anniversary of the late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco's death, at an informal shrine, at the entrance to Franco's mausoleum in Madrid's Mingorrubio-El Pardo cemetery, Spain, November 20, 2025

Defenders of the dictator say life was more affordable under Franco compared to the current housing and cost-of-living crises disproportionately affecting young Spaniards. However, all economic indicators have improved significantly since Franco died.

They also cite Franco's public works such as dams, hospitals and housing, as well as containing the spread of Communism or preserving the unity of European Union member state Spain.

Historians say Franco's regime executed tens of thousands of dissidents, operated a vast network of prisons and forced-labour camps and tortured detainees.

Political parties, trade unions and regional separatist movements were banned while women needed permission from their husbands or fathers for basic administrative procedures.

Censorship and secret police enforced Franco's blend of Spanish nationalism and ultra-Catholicism. Millions went into exile fleeing repression and famine.
Fears of further incursions into UK waters by Vladimir Putin's navy have heightened further after a device used to detect submarine activity was discovered off the Pembrokeshire coast.

The latest discovery comes as the Russian spy ship Yantar continues to sit in waters on the edge of UK territory north of Scotland and defence secretary John Healey has warned the Kremlin to go no further.

The discovery of a sonobuoy - normally deployed by aircraft and used to locate or track submarines - during a volunteer clean-up has now heightened paranoia.

Divers from Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) found the device near Wooltack Point, off Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire.

The cylindrical device was thick with barnacles and marine growth when it was pulled from the sea.

Its appearance is consistent with equipment used by foreign militaries for underwater monitoring - but its country of origin remains unknown.

The device was handed over to authorities for a formal assessment.

Diver Tim Smith-Gosling discovered the suspected Russian device during a volunteer clean up

Experts said that sonobuoys can be lost or abandoned during military exercises, and it is not yet clear whether the device is Russian, British or from any other nation.

Skomer and the surrounding waters form one of Wales' most important marine conservation zones, attracting thousands of visitors and researchers every year.

The area is protected for its seabird colonies, grey seals and rich underwater habitats.

NARC, which has removed more than 1,000 tonnes of debris from Welsh waters over the past two decades, says it will continue their regular programme of clean-ups to protect the site from hazards.

A spokesperson for the group said further details about the recovered device will be released once authorities have completed their analysis.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on specific underwater activities or individual finds due to operational security considerations.

'The Royal Navy continuously monitors and protects UK waters with a range of maritime assets and work closely with allies and partners to maintain maritime situational awareness and deter threats to UK interests.'

Sources said the acoustic monitoring devices are routinely used by many navies.

Divers found the device near Wooltack Point, off Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire

The government is currently considering 'military options' if the Russian spy ship near Scotland sails any closer to British shores.

Mr Healey said the UK was ready to respond if the ship moves any further south from its current position in 'wider UK waters' north of Scotland.

He lambasted the Kremlin, warning the Russians that they were watching the vessel's movements closely.

Warships and RAF planes have been keeping watch on the Yantar, which is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables, after it entered wider UK waters this month.

Mr Healey said the frigate HMS Somerset and RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft had been deployed to 'track this vessel's every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots'.

He also confirmed he has provided British pilots with more robust guidance to counter such threats following a dramatic showdown in the North Sea.

He fired a verbal warning shot across Vladimir Putin's bow as fears were raised that the Yantar ship  part of a so-called Russian 'ghost' fleet  has been targeting cables and pipelines.

The ghost fleet consists of ordinary looking ships that Russia claims are research vessels, but are in fact bristling with surveillance equipment and carry manned and unmanned submarines.

The devices can cause permanent damage to pilots' eyesight, while experts suggest Russian industrial-strength lasers could burn holes in aircraft.

The Russian military ship Yantar pictured operating off the northern coast of Scotland

Mr Healey said yesterday: 'As I speak, a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland having entered the UK's wider waters over the last few weeks.

'My message to Russia and to Putin is this  we see you. We know what you're doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready. We have military options ready.

'We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and a RAF P-8 plane to track the vessel's every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots. Anything that impedes, disrupts or puts at risk pilots in charge of British military planes is deeply dangerous.'

It is understood to be the first time a Russian spy ship has used lasers against the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.

Attacks on undersea cables could cause 'catastrophic disruption' to the financial and communications systems Britons rely on, the National Security Strategy Committee warned in a September report.

The UK operates around 60 undersea cables connecting the country with the US, Scandinavia and mainland Europe.

Mr Healey added that the threat to service personnel is being taken 'extremely seriously'.

Mr Healey said: 'Clearly, anything that impedes, disrupts or puts at risk pilots in charge of British military planes is deeply dangerous.

The vessel (pictured) is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables

'This is the first time we've had this action from Yantar directed against the British RAF.

'We take it extremely seriously. I've changed the navy's rules of engagement so that we can follow more closely, monitor more closely, the activities of the Yantar when it's in our wider waters.

'We have military options ready should the Yantar change course. I'm not going to reveal those, because that only makes President Putin wiser.'

A Royal Navy Spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on specific underwater activities or individual finds due to operational security considerations.

'The Royal Navy continuously monitors and protects UK waters with a range of maritime assets and work closely with allies and partners to maintain maritime situational awareness and deter threats to UK interests.'
A young woman has died after being 'run over by a tractor' in an industrial workplace accident.

Lithuanian national Zavinta Petrasiute, 19, died at Pretoria Energy in Mepal near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.

Officers were called to anaerobic digestion plant at around 3pm on Monday after Ms Petrasiute was reportedly run over by a heavy-duty tractor.

Her heartbroken parents have paid emotional tribute to their 'bright, hardworking' daughter who was 'loved and appreciated by everyone who knew her.'

Her father said: 'We want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you.

'During this incredibly painful time of losing our daughter we never expected to receive so much kindness unity and warmth from so many people.

'Your moral and financial support has touched us deeply and helped us raise the funds needed to bring our daughter back home.

Police are investigating after Zavinta Petrasiute, 19, died at Pretoria Energy in Mepal near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

Officers rushed to assist the ambulance service at the anaerobic digestion plant at around 3pm on Monday. Pictured: The Petoria Energy Mepal in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

'This means more to us than words could ever express.

'Since we cannot thank everyone individually, we want to say a big and heartfelt thank you to all who stood by us supported us and contributed in any way.'

A fundraising page, which has already reached more than 25,000, has been set up to support her family in transporting Ms Petrasiute back to her home country of Lithuania and for the funeral expenses.

Ernestas Mag, who set up the fundraising page, said: 'Alan and Ieva have faced an unimaginable tragedy.

'Their beloved daughter, Zavinta Petrasiute, tragically lost her life yesterday in a workplace accident at Pretorija Energy in Mepal, Chatteris.

'The circumstances of the incident are currently under investigation.

'Zavinta was a bright, hardworking, and kind young woman, loved and appreciated by everyone who knew her.

'Her sudden and heartbreaking loss has left the family devastated and unprepared for the emotional and financial burden that followed.

'The family's only wish now is to bring Zavinta back home to Lithuania, so she can be laid to rest in her homeland, close to her family and loved ones.

'However, the costs of repatriation from the United Kingdom and the funeral expenses are extremely high.

'We are kindly asking for your support during this incredibly difficult time.'

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: 'Officers are carrying out enquiries and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.'

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that they are investigating the incident alongside Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Donald Trump's blockbuster peace deal for Ukraine includes unprecedented NATO-style security guarantees, sources have revealed.

The President backed a 28-point draft proposal - based on the Gaza deal - that would treat an attack on Ukraine as one on the entire 'transatlantic community.'

But the deal, delivered to Kyiv last night, sparked a ferocious backlash as it demands Volodmyr Zelensky cedes territory, slashes troops and holds elections within 100 days.

Washington has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies to press the country into agreeing to the proposal, sources told Reuters.

'They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price,' one of the sources said.

The NATO-style pledge comes after Ukraine earlier this week pushed back on a draft which only included vague security assurances. The new proposal promises to defend Ukraine for 10 years, with a later renewal not ruled out.

Ukraine is under greater pressure from the US than ever to sign a peace deal, sources said, with Trump determined to end the war which has killed 300,000 people since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.

The US wants Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday, a source said.

'Being f****** mind-blown has become our norm,' a senior lawmaker from Zelensky's party said.

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Donald Trump is finally willing to give Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky security guarantees after a year of virtually no movement on peace negotiations with Russia, a draft proposal obtained by Axios reveals. The pair are pictured in Washington in February

Next February, the Ukraine-Russia war will enter its fourth year  and Trump now appears open to giving a ten-year NATO-style commitment to protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression

Reacting to the proposal in an address to the nation on Friday, Zelensky said he would not 'betray' Ukraine, and would propose 'alternatives' to the plan widely seen as giving in to a host of Moscow's demands.

The leader said his country was facing the critical choice of 'either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,' and that 'today is one of the most difficult moments in our history.'

The leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom spoke with the Ukrainian president by phone, assuring him of their continued support.

The four leaders 'welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office said in a cautious statement - clearly wary not to antagonize Trump while showing support for Kyiv.

But despite pressure to accept the deal, Ukraine will refuse to accept any proposal that violates its 'red lines', the country's top negotiator said on Friday.

'There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines - now or ever,' Kyiv's security council chief Rustem Umerov said on social media.

Many of the proposals are 'quite concerning,' according to a European government official, who said Ukraine's allies in the EU were not consulted on peace efforts, and that a bad deal for Kyiv would also be a threat to the bloc's broader security.

Washington's draft appeared to heed the demands of the Kremlin, whose 2022 invasion has devolved into Europe's bloodiest conflict since the Second World War.

Trump invited Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a bilateral summit in August, but walked away with no significant commitments and is growing frustrated with his refusal to end the war

Under the plan, Moscow would not only retain territories it occupies but also gain more land currently under Ukrainian control.

The West would lift sanctions on Russia and Moscow would be invited back into the G8.

The plan would also pile pressure on Zelensky, requiring elections to be held in Ukraine within 100 days - another key demand being pushed by Moscow, which has repeatedly and openly called for the Ukrainian leader to be toppled.

Zelensky has said he will discuss the plan with Trump in the 'coming days' - so far not saying if Kyiv would agree to any of it.

He has insisted his country needed a 'dignified peace'.

'With a neighbor like Russia, defending one's own dignity, freedom, and independence is an extremely difficult task,' he said Friday.

The European Union has not officially received the US proposal but it would be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Putin had not commented, but Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, who is close to the Kremlin and Washington, said it was a 'decisive moment' and the coming weeks will be 'crucial'.

Emergency teams extinguish flames after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, today

Shops and a car were up in flames after the recent strikes

The pyrotechnics of the State Emergency Service are conducting an inspection of the territory for explosive objects

Reports that the United States and Russia were secretly working on a plan to end the conflict were leaked earlier this week, but the White House denied that it had prepared it with Moscow.

'I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives,' Zelensky said on Friday.

Recalling how he marshaled Kyiv's response to the Russian invasion in February 2022 he said: 'We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now.'

He warned that next week his country will face 'a lot of pressure... to weaken us, to divide us', adding that 'the enemy is not sleeping.'

'Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account,' he said, adding: 'We're not making loud statements; we'll be calmly working with America and all the partners.'

The Ukrainian leader held a call with Vice-President JD Vance as he warned Kyiv risked a rupture of ties with Washington over its plan to end the war with Russia.

Zelensky has been trying for years to obtain security guarantees from the US and Europe, and this drafted plan is the first time Trump has put it on the table.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll presented Zelensky with a plan on Thursday, stating vaguely that 'Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.'

The administration then presented Kyiv with another draft agreement stating more definitively that any future 'significant, deliberate, and sustained armed attack' by Russia on Ukraine 'shall be regarded as an attack threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.'

It says that the US and its allies will use military force to respond accordingly.

A senior White House official said that Russia was briefed on the draft.

The document has signature lines for Ukraine, the US, European Union, NATO and Russia, but it's unclear if Putin's signature will be required for the proposal to be adopted.

Axios reports that a senior White House official confirmed the document's authenticity and said that Trump sees the proposal as a 'big win' for Zelensky and Ukraine's long-term security.
An embattled Republican lawmaker was allegedly caught with sex workers during a trip to Afghanistan, a bombshell report claims.

Amid the chaotic withdrawal of US forces in 2021, Florida Republican Representative Cory Mills and a group of unknown individuals traveled to Afghanistan as the Taliban were overtaking the country to extract Americans who were stranded.

The group wanted to rescue an American mother and her children who had been left inside Afghanistan after Joe Biden ordered a US military withdrawal.

While en route to the war-torn country for the 'sensitive' mission, Mills's group stopped in Tbilisi, Georgia. However, one night while staying in the capital, Mills was caught in a hotel hallway with sex workers, an insider told NOTUS.

After allegedly discovering Mills with the sex workers, the rest of his group was reportedly furious.

In light of the obvious security implications they decided to abandon him midway, leaving Mills to travel to Afghanistan by himself.

Mills has not issued a public statement on the scandal following NOTUS's report and has not denied it. The Daily Mail reached out to Mills's office for comment.

Mills, who is in the midst of a divorce of his wife, has been romantically linked to Sarah Raviani, a Washington DC marketing manager. As recently as this week, Raviani referred to Mills as her 'significant other' but the current status of their relationship is unclear.

The report is the latest in a trail of scandals which have plagued Mills, including allegations of domestic abuse which he has denied and a restraining order brought by an ex-girlfriend.

Cory Mills has not issued a statement denying a NOTUS report that claimed he was caught with sex workers on a trip to Afghanistan

Mills was on a trip with other individuals to rescue Americans stranded in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country

Following the mission in 2021 when Mills was married, the Floridian bragged about his efforts to save a woman named Mariam and her three children, while slamming Biden's State Department for taking credit for his success.

'This is an attempt to save face by the administration for the Americans they left behind. This is a woman with three children from age 15 all the way down to two years old,' Mills told Fox News Digital at the time.

'And they did nothing to try to expedite this But at the very last minute, you have these "senior officials" at the State Department trying to claim credit for this, like, "Oh yeah, look what we've done".'

Mills has been embroiled in a slew of controversies this year, including allegations of domestic abuse, allegedly threatening to release revenge porn of an ex-girlfriend, stolen valor claims that he is undeserving of his Bronze Star award and revelations that he was married in a mosque by a man linked to the 9/11 hijackers.

The latest scandal only adds fuel to the fire as calls for Republicans to distance themselves from Mills continue to grow.

A Florida judge last month issued a restraining order against him after his ex-girlfriend claimed Mills threatened to release nude images of her. Mills has previously denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations.

The House Ethics Committee, meanwhile, has opened an investigation into Mills over a variety of scandals, including campaign finance issues and allegations of sexual misconduct.

Mills is facing litany of sexual misconduct allegations and scandals. Here he is pictured with Sarah Raviani, who the congressman has been romantically linked to.

Mills's fellow conservative colleagues, such as Representative Nancy Mace, have called for Republican leadership to strip the Florida lawmaker of his committee assignments due to the scandals.

Mace re-posted a screenshot on Wednesday of steamy text messages Mills allegedly sent to his 28-year-old girlfriend while still married.

'And you will be a good girl and do anything he wants or asks?' one of the alleged messages from Mills to his girlfriend in a group chat titled 'New Year's Fun' reads.

'He can have you as many times as he wants, anyway he wants, and finish anywhere he chooses, right, babe?' Mills continues in the exchange, referring to another man.

Though Sarah Raviani, Mills's girlfriend, strongly pushed back on the exchange.

'The messages being circulated are doctored and originated from an anonymous pro-Palestinian account,' she told the Daily Mail.
One of Trump's top Cabinet members was seen mocking liberal protestors as they jeered in his face near a popular Republican hangout.

Groups of anti-Trump protestors have regularly flocked to the conservative hotspot Butterworth's just blocks from the US Capitol for months.

The restaurant, which only opened last year, is frequently visited by Republican bigwig congressmen and Trump administration officials.

The protestors typically carry megaphones to loudly blast their anti-GOP chants from the sidewalk outside in an attempt to disturb patrons at the booming restaurant.

Some particularly musical activists have brought drums, bells and other instruments to serenade the largely conservative crowd with awful, jarring melodies.

'No peace for fascists,' read one sign recently held by a protestor outside the french bistro.

But on Thursday evening, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent flipped the script on the curb-dwelling, raging hecklers.

Bessent, intrigued by the peculiar antics, stopped directly in front of the crazed and screaming cohort of protestors to laugh and film them as they bravely howled 'Donald Trump eat s***.'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrived to the popular Republican hangout Butterworth's on Thursday evening as protestors screamed anti-Trump slogans outside

Not deterred by the enraged activists, Bessent mocked them by stopping and taking a video before heading inside

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a television interview outside the West Wing

Standing tall at around 6'4, the treasury secretary and his security personnel appeared undisturbed despite the raspy screams of the three protestors, who after much yelling, sounded like they were losing their voices.

Bessent has developed a reputation for volatile confrontations and threats of physical violence, most notably during a high-profile incident at an exclusive Washington, DC dinner for MAGA allies.

Witnesses said that Bessent erupted at fellow official Bill Pulte, accusing him of bad-mouthing him to President Trump, and threatened to punch Pulte in the face and 'beat his ass' if they took the argument outside.

'Secretary Bessent not phased by tonight's Butterworth protestors,' one of the chefs and partners, Bart Hutchins, wrote on X alongside the chaotic video.

The rabble rousers had a speaker with a microphone and strobe lights on Thursday evening when the encountered the Cabinet member.

Once the individual on the mic spotted the treasury secretary, he immediately flipped the Cabinet member the middle finger.

Well, the screaming protester had been flipping the bird to everyone who entered the restaurant, so perhaps the treatment was not unusual.

'Even the treasury secretary pauses to mock the protestors,' Raheem Kassam, another Butterworth's investor, reacted.

Kassam has suspected that the protestors who dutifully show up to the eatery night after night are paid to do so.

Though the clientele do not seem put off by the repeated antics - many have stopped to film the protests themselves and they see it as a sort of badge of honor - the protestors have still regularly tried to ruin the Republican hangout.

Butterworth's has hosted some of the top names in Republican politics, including Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, Elon Musk and a slew of other politicos.
Two teenagers accused of hacking into Transport for London's systems and attempting to install ransomware conducted a cyber attack that cost 39million, a court heard today.

Thalha Jubair, 19, and Owen Flowers, 18, both deny carrying out the attack, which prosecutors called 'highly sophisticated'.

Between August 31 and September 3 last year, the teenagers allegedly hacked into the TfL system and caused chaos for Oyster card users.

The hackers prevented live Tube arrival information on TfL Go and the TfL website, while online journey history was also unavailable.

The result was that TfL was unable to process any payments on the Oyster and contactless apps or register Oyster cards to customer accounts, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson earlier said: 'The attack was a highly sophisticated attack against Transport for London.

'The ultimate objective of the attack was to install ransomware.'

The attack was carried out by members of the online criminal collective known as 'Scattered Spider.'

Two teenagers (not pictured) are accused of hacking into TfL's systems and attempting to install ransomware on them

TfL was unable to process any payments on the Oyster and contactless apps or to register Oyster cards to customer accounts

Bespectacled Jubair appeared in the dock wearing a grey suit with a striped tie, while Flowers was wearing a black t-shirt with a grey hoodie tied around his shoulders.

Jubair, from Bow, East London, denied conspiring to carry out an unauthorised act against computer systems belonging to Transport for London, causing risk of serious damage to human welfare, and with failing to comply with a notice to disclose pins or passwords to devices seized by the police.

Flowers, from Walsall, West Midlands, denied one count of conspiring to commit an authorised act against computer systems belonging to Transport for London, and one count of conspiring to commit unauthorised acts against computer systems belonging to SSM Health Care Corporation, causing a risk of serious damage to human welfare.

Flowers further denied one count of attempting to commit unauthorised acts against computer systems belonging to Sutter Health.

Their trial will take place on 8 June next year. There will be a further hearing on February 13 which the pair will both be required to attend by video link.

Judge Christopher Hehir told the two teenagers: 'Your trial, as you have been told, will take place in this court on 8 June. You will remain in custody in the meantime', the judge told them.

Mr Richardson, prosecuting, said TfL suffered a 39million total loss as a result of the attack.

Deputy Director Paul Foster, head of the National Crime Agency's National Cyber Crime Unit, earlier said: 'This attack caused significant disruption and millions in losses to TfL, part of the UK's critical national infrastructure.

'Earlier this year, the NCA warned of an increase in the threat from cyber criminals based in the UK and other English-speaking countries, of which Scattered Spider is a clear example.

'The NCA, UK policing and our international partners, including the FBI, are collectively committed to identifying offenders within these networks and ensuring they face justice.'
Lord Gove today questioned the Covid Inquirys incendiary claims that 23,000 people died unnecessarily because lockdown came one week too late.

The former minister branded chair Baroness Halletts conclusion a leap, while a top scientist said it was impossible to say if the figure was true or not.

In her findings, Lady Hallett suggested the devastating death toll in the first wave of the pandemic could have been halved if ministers had acted one week sooner.

She was quoting modelling from discredited Professor Lockdown Neil Ferguson, who later faced claims his data methods were unreliable and who quit as a government scientific adviser after he cheated social distancing rules to meet his married lover.

Responding to the 200million Covid Inquirys conclusion, which made headlines around the world yesterday, Lord Gove said: I think its one thing to say it would have been more prudent to have locked down a week earlier - but its quite another to make the leap to claim that 23,000 lives would have been saved as a result.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: This particular figure was a projection not a prediction. The inquiry report itself helpfully makes clear we need a better understanding of how modelling works.

An NHS worker being tested for coronavirus at a temporary testing station at the height of the pandemic

The Covid-19 Inquiry's second report contains the explosive claim that 23,000 died who could have been saved if lockdown had been imposed one week sooner

Prof Fergusons modelling in 2021 suggested the first wave death toll could have been cut from 48,600 to 25,600, but his methodology faced heavy criticism during the pandemic for failing to take into account measures already in place to limit spread.

Oxford University Professor Carl Henegan, also interviewed on the Today programme, added further doubt to the 23,000 figure.

He claimed it was not possible to say if it was true or not, saying: Its just not clear to say, if we had locked down week earlier, 23,000 lives might have been saved, based on modelling.

This was a judge-led inquiry, he said, rather than an epidemiological sort of investigation, adding: There was no assessment of the peer-reviewed literature. You would expect someone to do a systemic review, given that theyve got 200million.

It was put to Prof Henegan that the 23,000 figure had political implications  with claims it could damage pandemic Prime Minister Boris Johnsons chances of returning to frontline politics  and he repeated the figure was unreliable.

Meanwhile Lord Gove, who apologised for mistakes made during his time in office during the crisis, said a singular focus on Mr Johnsons role distorts the complexity of decision-making. He said the 23,000 figure should not be hung on the necks of Mr Johnson or his ministers.

Clinical staff caring for a coronavirus patient at the intensive care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in May 2020

Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Patrick Vallance speak at Downing Street on March 3, 2020

Year eight boys wear face masks at Moor End Academy in Huddersfield on September 11, 2020

He also questioned Lady Halletts conclusion that the devastating lockdowns could have been avoided altogether, if ministers had not done too little, too late.

Lord Gove said: Its certainly the case that some sort of restriction on social mixing, on social liberty, was always going to be required to suppress the spread of the virus.

The Covid Inquirys 760-page second report found that childhood was 'brought to a halt' by the draconian lockdowns.

Young lives were blighted even though the 'vast majority' of children were immune to the deadly virus, it added. Their education and wellbeing were sacrificed to save their elders.

Lady Hallett said: Steps taken to protect the adult populationbrought ordinary childhood to a halt, adding: For most children, the closure of schools, the inability to see friends and the requirement to stay at home, were of profound consequence.'

She said scientists, civil servants, ministers and the devolved governments had all failed to react fast enough in early 2020.

But she heaped praise on Mr Johnson's administration for leading the world in developing a vaccine to end the crisis. Lord Gove added: 'Without his drive, we would not have had the vaccine. Its rollout was responsible for ensuring we were the first country to put jabs in arms.'
A Labour MP has revealed he was raped after 'blacking out' on a night out, as he called for an end to the stigma around being a victim of sexual assault.

Josh Newbury told a debate on International Men's Day that he had been out with friends in an unfamiliar city but woke up in his hotel room with another man.

The MP for Cannock Chase said he had not reported the attack to police and had felt guilty afterwards. He wanted to stop the silence and 'shame' around those who have been assaulted.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Newbury said: 'Around 10 years ago, I went on a night out in an unfamiliar city with a group of friends. I was very conscious not to overdo it, because if I got separated from the group, I wanted to be able to find my way back to the hotel.

'I remember going to a few bars, having a good time, but then it's a complete blank. Which is something that I've never experienced before or since. The next morning, I woke up with the worst headache I've ever had.

'The man I was sharing a hotel room with commented that he had a great night, but that I'd overdone it a bit and needed to be looked after.

'That didn't seem to tally with me being determined to pace myself, but I thought maybe I'd drunk too much, and I just wanted to get home and sleep it off.

'What followed in the days after was constant text messages from this man, initially just asking if I was OK, but then repeatedly asking what I remembered and commenting that I was a ''great shag''.

'Now that made me freeze, because I had no recollection of getting back to the hotel, let alone anything else, and he'd repeatedly told me how out of it I'd been, so how could I have ever consented?'

Josh Newbury told a debate on International Men's Day that he had been on a night out in an unfamiliar city but woke up in his hotel room with another man after blacking out while drunk

Mr Newbury said: 'It took me a few weeks to piece together my memories, the blanks, the text messages, this man's insistent tone. Obviously, I cut myself off from contact, but it took me a long time to admit, even to myself, that I was a victim of rape.

'I never felt able to report this and face the likely conclusion that months on from that night, there wasn't the tangible evidence to ever bring a charge, and I will probably always carry a bit of guilt around that.

'I found myself processing all of this with thoughts like, ''I count myself lucky that I was unconscious when it happened''. But I want to say clearly today, that no victim should ever feel that they have to put themselves in a hierarchy or feel any shame.

'It is the people who do this to another person who should feel shame, and I hope that we can foster an atmosphere where men have the courage to speak out about this, and seek justice, even if it is a hard road.'

Fellow Labour MPs Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) and Jim Dickson (Dartford) could be seen offering him support afterwards.

Speaking later in the debate, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, shadow minister for women Mims Davies and Labour MP Alistair Strathern (Hitchin) paid tribute to him, among others.

Mr Streeting said: 'I can honestly say, having been in this house for 10 years, it is a rare moment to hear such a courageous speech as the one that we heard opening this debate.

'We can be truly proud of the Member for Cannock Chase (Mr Newbury). I hope his constituents know the diligent way in which he fights for his constituents every single day here.

'He is a conviction politician, he is prepared to speak truth to power and use his influence to get things done for his community, and just through his words, he will have such an impact on so many people who he will never meet but will nonetheless draw strength from his courage.'

Ms Davies said: 'He (Mr Newbury) was hugely brave and absolutely right when he said that no victim should not be able speak out and seek justice.'

Mr Strathern said: 'Can I just start by saying an incredible thank you to the honourable member, my friend, for Cannock Chase, for... the bravery I think he showed today, as well as the leadership he's shown on so many of the issues that he spoke to in his speech, (which) will serve men right across the country far better in the future than maybe politics has managed to in the past.

'It's a day after International Men's Day, but I could not think of a better model for a modern strong man than the vision of himself he set out today and being so brave to share that deeply personal experience.'

The debate took place on the 10th anniversary of International Men's Day and coincided with the Movember charity fundraising month which raises money for Prostate Cancer UK.

Issues raised by MPs included a push for prostate cancer screening, a focus on under-achievement by working-class boys in school, and a campaign to get better paternity leave for men.

Mr Newbury paid tribute to the group Dad Shift.

He said: 'Their campaign for better paternity leave, backed by undeniable evidence, is grounded in lived experience.'
A 49-year-old woman has died in hospital a month after the death of a nine-year-old girl at a house in Islip.

The woman had been kept under police watch after she was found severely injured at a property in the Oxfordshire village, on the edge of the Cotswolds, on October 21.

She was discovered alongside a young girl who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other children, a boy and a girl, were treated in hospital and later discharged.

The woman succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, Thames Valley Police said.

Her next of kin have been informed and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

A force spokesperson said: 'Our investigation following the death of the nine-year-old girl on Tuesday 21 October is ongoing and we continue to support her family at this extremely difficult time.

'We are still not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this incident.'

Police at a house in Islip, where a nine-year-old girl died last month. A 49-year-old woman found injured alongside her has now died of her injuries

The incident at the house (pictured) rocked the small community of Islip. Police are yet to determine how the nine-year-old died

Forensic officers at the scene in Islip last month. Two other children injured in the incident were treated and later discharged from hospital

Last month, investigators said they had been unable to determine the cause of the nine-year-old's death following a post-mortem examination.

Those living in Islip were rocked by the tragedy. One local woman said the youngster had lived with her mother and a sibling.

She said: 'It's terribly sad - I can't imagine what on earth must have happened. This is something that never happens in this village. Very shocking and sad and totally out of the blue.'

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Amy Fox of Thames Valley Police previously said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the child's family, friends and all who knew and loved her.

'This is an unimaginable tragedy, and we are doing everything we can to support those affected.

'This remains a highly sensitive and complex investigation.

'I want to sincerely thank the community for their understanding and patience as we work to uncover the full circumstances.'

This is a breaking story - more to follow.
Sir Keir Starmer has tried to brush aside speculation that Andy Burnham will mount a challenge against him as he heaped praise on the Greater Manchester mayor.

The Prime Minister insisted he was working 'very closely together' with Mr Burnham despite fresh suggestions of a coup plot.

Mr Burnham this week stopped short of ruling out a return to the House of Commons so he can challenge Sir Keir.

It came after rebel Labour MP Clive Lewis dramatically offered to give up his Norwich South seat so Mr Burnham could make a Westminster comeback.

The Greater Manchester mayor would first need to be an MP before taking on Sir Keir for the Labour leadership, under the party's rules.

Mr Lewis has already described Sir Keir's position as 'untenable' and said Mr Burnham should be given the chance to 'step up'.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him to the G20 summit in South Africa, Sir Keir attempted to bat away questions about his political future.

But his woes worsened later on Friday when a second Labour MP joined Mr Lewis in calling for a change of leadership.

Sir Keir Starmer has tried to brush aside speculation that Andy Burnham will mount a challenge against him as he heaped praise on the Greater Manchester mayor

The Prime Minister insisted he was working 'very closely together' with Mr Burnham despite fresh suggestions of a coup plot

The PM said: 'My message would be very much that every minute that we are not talking about the cost of living, and straining every sinew to ensure that those that need our help in relation to the cost of living and feeling better off, and having a better health service, and feeling safer and more secure in their community, is a minute wasted.'

Mr Burnham on Thursday repeatedly refused to rule out challenging Sir Keir for the Labour leadership, saying he was not in a position to rule out such a move.

The former minister and ex-MP for Leigh also said he 'appreciates the support' of Mr Lewis, following his offer to give up his constituency for Mr Burnham.

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome on Friday joined Mr Lewis in backing a change of leadership.

In an interview with former Labour candidate Ali Milani, Ms Whittome said: 'I think there does have to be a new leader.

'Even if Keir Starmer had a radical change of direction, I don't think people would believe him. And I don't think people around him would allow that to happen.

'So I think there has to be a change in leadership, a change in personnel, of the people in No10, and a completely different direction for the party.'

Mr Burnham is frequently touted as a possible successor to the PM, despite a humiliating implosion at Labour's conference earlier this year after he hinted at making a leadership bid.

Pressed on whether Mr Burnham should ease off, Sir Keir told journalists: 'Andy's doing a really good job as mayor in Manchester and we work very closely together.

'Only two days after Labour Party conference we were in Manchester together in the aftermath of the terrible attack on the synagogue there.

'I spoke to Andy as soon as I heard about that attack when I was in Denmark. It was one of the first calls I made to get an assessment on the ground from him.

'I spoke to him the next day then I went up and met him and went through the briefings.'
Larry Summers was accustomed to having the most powerful people in the world eating out of the palm of his hand.

As Bill Clinton's treasury secretary and Barack Obama's head of the National Economic Council; as chief economist of the World Bank and president of Harvard, Summers could get an audience with nearly anyone he pleased.

Yet an encounter on Tuesday  revealed in a furtively-filmed video of him apologizing to a classroom of college students  showed him in a rather different light.

'Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame, with respect to what I did in communication with Mr [Jeffrey] Epstein,' said Summers, 70, addressing an auditorium at Harvard, where he was teaching.

By the following day Summers, the Harvard president emeritus, had announced he is ceasing teaching and going on leave, as the school investigates his ties to convicted sex offender and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

For days Summers has been at the center of a firestorm, after a House Committee released 20,000 emails obtained from Epstein's estate.

The House Oversight Committee released a vast tranche of Epstein emails last week, including several sent by one of Harvard's most distinguished professors Larry Summers (pictured)

Summers previously served as the Treasury Secretary in the Clinton administration

The correspondence shows how Summers maintained a cozy relationship with Epstein, even after the disgraced financier pleaded guilty to, and served time for, soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008.

In one message, Summers, a married father of six, asked Epstein for advice on 'getting horizontal' with a woman whom Summers once described as a mentee, complaining in March 2019: 'I dint [sic] want to be in a gift giving competition while being the friend without benefits.'

Epstein several months earlier joked that he served as a 'wing man' for Summers, whose wife of 20 years, Elisa New, is a professor of American literature at Harvard.

But it's not only Summers who is now under renewed scrutiny. This unpleasant drama also serves to spotlight a seemingly deep and disconcerting link between Epstein and the university itself.

Harvard, America's oldest and wealthiest university, began courting the Brooklyn-born financier in 1992, according to the university's own report commissioned after Epstein's sex trafficking arrest in 2019 and published in May 2020.

At that time, in the early 1990s, Epstein, a former math teacher at Manhattan's Dalton school, had worked for around five years as a trader at investment bank Bear Stearns and recently set up his own investment firm.

He had recently met Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of a conglomerate that owned Victoria's Secret and who would become one of Epstein's most valuable clients. Wexner, now 88, said in September 2019 that he had severed ties with Epstein more than a decade ago, and that the financier had 'betrayed' him and 'misappropriated vast sums of money' of Wexner's fortune.

Epstein in the early 1990s had also begun to be seen around town with Ghislaine Maxwell, the charming and impeccably-connected British society heiress.

People were beginning to pay attention.

In 1992, 'some of the University's most senior leaders met with Epstein to seek his support,' reported the three people tasked by Harvard in 2019 with investigating Epstein's connections to their institution.

In 1998, Epstein would make his first of many donations to the university.

Epstein, a college dropout and former math teacher charged in 2006 with sex offences, visited Harvard's campus as recently as October 2018. He was arrested for the final time in July 2019

Summers is married to Elisa New, who is a professor emerita of American Literature at Harvard. They are pictured walking together during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in 2022

That same year, Summers - at the time deputy treasury secretary, about to be promoted - would be recorded as flying on Epstein's Boeing 727 from Aspen, Colorado to Dulles Airport in Washington DC.

The 2020 report found he was not the only Harvard figure to enjoy Epstein's largesse.

'A number of the Harvard faculty members we interviewed also acknowledged that they visited Epstein at his homes in New York, Florida, New Mexico or the Virgin Islands, visited him in jail or on work release, or traveled on one of his planes,' the authors noted.

By September 2005, Epstein had been approved as a visiting fellow at the university's psychology department, despite not having an undergraduate degree. He was recommended for the prestigious post, which involves research and presentations, by Professor Stephen Kosslyn.

Kosslyn had 'known Epstein for many years', the report noted, and the professor had received $200,000 from Epstein between 1998 and 2002 to support his work.

Kosslyn was asked by the university why someone without any of the normal qualifications should be given such an honor, and conceded that Epstein was an unusual choice. But, Kosslyn said, Epstein was 'extraordinarily intelligent, broadly read, and very curious,' and he wished every student were as committed.

Epstein showed up to register and then was seen infrequently. But he made an impact.

'An administrator recalled Epstein's appearing at registration accompanied by several women who appeared to be in their 20s,' the report stated.

In email exchanges dated between 2013 and 2019, Summers and Epstein shared their thoughts about current events and politics - while also delving into the married economics professor's love life. Epstein is pictured smiling at Summers in 2004

By July 2006, revelations of Epstein's indictment for prostitution involving a minor were widely known, but the money continued to flow.

Epstein donated $9 million between 1998 and July 2007  with all but $200,000 spent. The leftover cash was donated by the university in May 2020, at the time of the report's publication, to charities assisting victims of sexual abuse.

Then-president Drew Faust had ordered in 2007 that the university turn down donations, deciding that having Epstein on their donor list was not in the university's best interest.

But even after Epstein was told to stop giving, he kept on trying - often, according to the 2020 report, enlisting professors whose work he bankrolled to plead on his behalf.

Between 2010 and 2014, Professor Martin Nowak - the recipient in 2003 of Epstein's largest donation, $6.5 million to set up the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (PED), an institute exploring evolution - 'sought clarification or reconsideration about whether PED could accept funds from Epstein'.

Tamara Rogers, the then-vice president for alumni affairs and development, held a meeting in November 2013 with the chair of the math department to discuss Epstein's continued attempts to funnel cash into the university, describing him in an email in the report as 'a former donor with some reputational issues [who] has approached a couple of departments (individual faculty members) to discuss support.'

The university did not receive further funds from Epstein - but some figures within his circle were still extremely generous, even though there is no evidence that they donated on Epstein's behalf.

Wexner, financier Leon Black and hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin all endowed fellowships at Harvard's world-renown Kennedy School of Government.

Summers on Monday said he would be 'stepping back' from public life but would continue to teach economics at Harvard; by Wednesday, he said he was stopping his teaching

For Epstein, it was a helpful arrangement that served to whitewash his reputation.

Harvard's PED institute studied human evolution - something now known to be a passion of Epstein's, though in a deeply disturbing way.

A New York Times report, published weeks before Epstein's death, revealed that he wanted to use his New Mexico ranch as a place where he could 'seed' women with his DNA, and establish a master race.

His association with Harvard reportedly brought him into contact with some of America's greatest thinkers - among them the late Murray Gell-Mann, who won the Nobel Prize for physics, and James Watson, who won the prize for his co-discovery of DNA.

That, in turn, brought other luminaries into his orbit: Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, neurologist Oliver Sacks. When he needed help - as with his 2006 arrest in Florida - he could turn to one of the country's greatest legal minds, Harvard scholar Alan Dershowitz.

In mid 2013, Epstein's publicist wrote to the Harvard institute he had helped fund, saying: 'Jeffrey is trying to boost his foundation's websites and a link on Harvard's network would be very helpful.'

A year later, when Professor Nowak - head of the institute - needed more funds, he agreed to an entire page on the website devoted to Epstein, with a flattering photograph.

'Epstein's publicist specifically requested that PED post information about Epstein on the harvard.edu domain because 'it would be very helpful in terms of Google results if his name were attached to a Harvard.edu url',' the authors wrote.

The glowing profile of a convicted sex offender raised eyebrows.

Epstein's mug shot from July 27, 2006, when he was arrested by Palm Beach sheriffs in Florida

In March 2014, an anti-human trafficking organization wrote to Harvard's president to complain that it was 'unusual and disheartening . . . to read almost daily press releases distributed by a pedophile [who] feels entitled to identify himself as a 'Harvard philanthropist.'

The PED facility, however, was not ordered closed by the university until 2021 following Epstein's final arrest in July 2019. Nowak was placed on leave, with full pay, in 2021, but by May 2023 had resumed teaching, and remains at the university.

Perhaps most revealing of all, Harvard University kept the vast majority of Epstein's donated cash.

Lawrence Bacow, Harvard president from 2018-23, said at the time that only $200,937 of the $9.1 million would be returned, because that was all that 'remained unspent'.

Approached for comment, neither Harvard nor Larry Summers responded.
President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Friday he would not betray Ukraine after being given just days to agree to a US-proposed peace deal with Russia.

The Ukrainian leader also warned that Kyiv faces a choice between losing a key partner and its national dignity at one of the most perilous moments in its history.

Ukraine is facing pressure to agree to a controversial 28-point plan by Thursday that would force it to give up its land, cut its army in half and hold elections within 100 days.

Exasperated Ukrainian officials have privately complained that their minds are ''f***ing blown' by the plan that they regard as a capitulation.

The contentious plan endorses some of Moscow's demands and leaves security guarantees for Kyiv vague.

In a somber video address, Zelensky pledged to work with the US on the plan but said he expects more political pressure over the next week.

He urged Ukrainians to remain united in the face of what he said were additional attempts by Russia to derail the peace process.

'Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history. Now, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the heaviest,' he said.

'Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice  either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner.'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Turkey's President following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on November 19, 2025

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President Donald Trump is demanding an answer from Zelensky on the peace plan by Thursday, but an extension on finalising the deal remains possible.

It comes after Ukrainian officials said feeling 'f***ing mind blown has become our norm', after Trump threatened to cut key support for Kyiv if it did not agree to the framework of the proposal.

Russia is grinding forward on the battlefield and pounding Ukraine's energy system with missiles and drones as a domestic political crisis unfolds over a massive corruption probe involving senior officials and business elites.

Washington has presented Ukraine with terms that include that Kyiv cede additional territory, curb the size of its military and be barred from joining NATO.

Trump's 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine has sparked astonishment in Kyiv, as officials process how it appears to call for a full capitulation to Vladimir Putin's draconian demands after almost four years of conflict.

Trump backs the draft proposal that would also see Kyiv pledge never to join NATO.

Ukraine is facing greater pressure from Washington to agree to the framework of a US-brokered peace deal with Russia than in previous negotiation efforts, including threats to cease provision of intelligence and weapons, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Donald Trump, who 'supports' the plan, is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President in the coming days

One of the sources said that the US wanted Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday.

Reacting to the proposal in an address to the nation on Friday, Zelensky said he would not 'betray' Ukraine, and would propose 'alternatives' to the plan widely seen as giving in to a host of Moscow's demands.

The leader said his country was facing the critical choice of 'either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,' and that 'today is one of the most difficult moments in our history.'

The leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom spoke by phone with the Ukrainian President, assuring him of their continued support.

The four leaders 'welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office said in a cautious statement - clearly wary not to antagonize Trump while showing support for Kyiv.

But despite the pressure to accept the deal, Ukraine will refuse to accept any proposal that violates its 'red lines', the country's top negotiator said on Friday.

'There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines - now or ever,' Kyiv's security council chief and negotiator Rustem Umerov said on social media.

Many of the proposals are 'quite concerning,' according to a European government official, who told AP that Ukraine's allies in the EU were not consulted in peace efforts, and that a bad deal for Kyiv would also be a threat to the bloc's broader security.

Washington's draft appeared to heed to the demands of the Kremlin, whose 2022 invasion has turned into Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

The proposal comes with Russian troops grinding forward on the battlefield and with Zelensky facing domestic pressure after a corruption scandal rocked the country's war-hit energy sector

Under the plan, Moscow would not only keep territories that it occupies but get more land currently controlled by Ukraine.

The West would lift sanctions on Russia and Moscow would be invited back into the G8.

The plan would also pile pressure on Zelensky, requiring elections to be held in Ukraine within 100 days - another key demand being pushed by Moscow, which has repeatedly and openly called for the Ukrainian leader to be toppled.

Zelensky has said he will discuss the plan with Trump in the 'coming days' - so far not saying if Kyiv would agree to any of it.

He has insisted his country needed a 'dignified peace'.

'With a neighbour like Russia, defending one's own dignity, freedom and independence is an extremely difficult task,' he said Friday.

The European Union has not officially received the US proposal but it would be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Putin had not commented but Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister who is close to the Kremlin and Washington, said it was a 'decisive moment' and the coming weeks will be 'crucial'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, November 20, 2025

Full text of Trump and Putin's 28-point peace plan for Ukraine 1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed. 2. A comprehensive [sic] and comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled. 3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and NATO will not expand further. 4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development. 5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees. 6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel. 7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. 8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine. 9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. 10. US guarantee:  The US will receive compensation for the guarantee.  If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee.  If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked.  If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid. 11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered. 12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to: a. The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centres, and artificial intelligence. b. The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernise, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities. c. Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernisation of cities and residential areas. d. Infrastructure development. e. Extraction of minerals and natural resources. f. The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts. 13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: a. The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis. b. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centres, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities. c. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8. 14. Frozen funds will be used as follows: $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine. The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict. 15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement. 16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. 17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty. 18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 19. The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50. 20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programmes in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice: a. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. b. Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education. c. All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited. 21. Territories: a. Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States. b. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact. c. Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions. d. Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarised buffer zone, internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone. 22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment. 23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea. 24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues: a. All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis. b. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children. c. A family reunification programme will be implemented. d. Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict. 25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days. 26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future. 27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations. 28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement. Advertisement

Reports that the United States and Russia were secretly working on a plan to end the conflict were leaked earlier this week, but the White House denied that it had prepared it with Moscow.

'I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives,' Zelensky said on Friday.

Recalling how he marshalled Kyiv's response to the Russian invasion in February 2022 he said: 'We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now.'

He warned that next week his country will face 'a lot of pressure... to weaken us, to make divide us', adding that 'the enemy is not sleeping'.

'Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account,' he said, adding: 'We're not making loud statements; we'll be calmly working with America and all the partners.'

The Ukrainian leader held a call with US Vice President JD Vance as he warned Kyiv risked a rupture of ties with Washington over its plan to end the war with Russia.

It said its envoy Steve Witkoff - who skipped a meeting with Zelensky this week - and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been 'quietly' working with both sides.

'The president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Washington has warned, however, that the document was still in working mode, while Kyiv said it had been presented as a 'draft plan'.

Under the plan, the United States would recognise Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions as well as Moscow-annexed Crimea, as 'de facto Russian'.

'Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control,' the plan envisages.

The Donetsk region has been the epicentre of fighting, with tens of thousands of troops killed on both sides.

Despite still controlling around 14.5 per cent of the territory in the mineral and coal-rich eastern Donbas region, Ukraine will be forced to surrender the entirety of its industrial heartland.

The frontline would be frozen in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which are both partly occupied by Moscow.

Russia would be required to give up small pockets of territory it has seized in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Ukraine would receive unspecified 'reliable security guarantees' while at the same time commit to cutting the size of its army, from over 900,000 to 600,000 personnel.

It would also bind Ukraine to 'enshrine in its constitution' not to join NATO but calls for European jets to be stationed in neighbouring NATO-member Poland.

The country would be banned from possessing long-range missiles, capable of hitting St Petersburg or Moscow.

And $100billion of Russia's frozen funds - sanctioned after its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - would go towards US-led reconstruction efforts, with Europe contributing another $100billion.

The US would reap the benefits of the rebuilding projects, receiving 50 per cent of profits. The Russian economy would also receive a boost as part of a new long-term economic cooperation agreement with the US, which will involve rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic.

Aside for getting to keep its conquered territory, the plan also calls for Moscow, which is under massive Western sanctions for more than three years, to be 're-integrated into the global economy'.

Sanctions would be lifted and Moscow could rejoin the G8, which it was expelled from over the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Trump's sympathies have flipped repeatedly between Moscow and Kyiv since he returned to the White House earlier this year, with this plan seen as a sign that he has taken on many of Russia's key positions.

The proposal comes with Russian troops grinding forward on the battlefield and with Zelensky facing domestic pressure after a corruption scandal rocked the country's war-hit energy sector.

In a statement on X, Zelensky wrote: 'The American side presented points of a plan to end the war - their vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure it's all genuine.'

Ukrainian officials said the US wanted Zelensky to sign the proposal before Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday next week, with sources suggesting that the stiff deadline was unlikely to give Kyiv enough time to negotiate.

On Thursday, European countries pushed back against the plan, indicating they would not accept demands for Kyiv to make punishing concessions.

'Ukrainians want peace - a just peace that respects everyone's sovereignty, a durable peace that can't be called into question by future aggression,' said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

'But peace cannot be a capitulation.'

Moscow has downplayed the significance of the plan. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that, while there had been 'contacts' with the US, there was 'no process that could be called "consultations"'.

He emphasised that any peace deal would have to address the 'root causes of the conflict' - a phrase the Kremlin has used as shorthand for the maximalist demands which, to Kyiv, are equivalent to surrender.

Despite the momentum building towards peace, Russia has shown no sign of stopping its relentless strikes on Ukrainian civilians.

An attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia late on Thursday killed five people and injured three, the regional governor said.

It came after a Russian drone and missile attack in western Ukraine killed at least 26 people, including three children, after a block of flats in Ternopil was struck.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday Kyiv and Europe needed to be involved in any Ukraine peace plan.

'For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,' Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

'We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. So we haven't heard of any concessions on the Russian side.'

Recent events may have further weakened Ukraine's position. Russia's tactic of pummeling the nation's energy and transport infrastructure will likely plunge swaths of the country into cold and darkness, while Putin has made territorial gains in the east and on the southern flank in Zaporizhzhia.

To make matters worse, Kyiv is facing a manpower crisis: some four out of five Ukrainians are fleeing military training centres after being drafted into the army, and last month saw a record 21,000 deserters.

A corruption scandal is also engulfing the president that led to parliament dismissing the energy and justice ministers on Wednesday, diverting attention from the war.

In a telling post on X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: 'Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas.

'And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.'

The proposal has been described as 'heavily tilted towards Vladimir Putin,' by unnamed sources quoted in the Financial Times.

The draft plan is 'very comfortable for Putin,' another source said.

Efforts to reach a peace deal have largely frozen since the last meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska in August, while Kyiv and Moscow have not held direct negotiations since the summer.

Russian forces control about 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory (44,800 square miles) and are grinding forwards, up from 18 per cent nearly three years ago.

Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday in an effort to 'intensify' peace negotiations.

He was due to hold talks with Witkoff, but the meeting was postponed because the Ukrainian President intended to discuss an alternative plan drafted by EU allies which the Trump administration felt would be unacceptable to Putin, a US source told Axios.

Emergency teams conduct operation to extinguish fire after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on November 21, 2025

Shops and a car caught fire after the strikes

The pyrotechnics of the State Emergency Service are conducting an inspection of the territory for explosive objects

Reacting to the proposal, Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his position that 'Ukraine must determine its future' following a call with European leaders.

The Prime Minister told broadcasters: 'I just had a call with President Zelensky, alongside President Macron and Chancellor Merz.

'And that was an opportunity for us to express, again, our support for Ukraine and the principle that's very important, which is all matters to do with Ukraine must be determined ultimately by Ukraine.'

Wary of provoking Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses to the deal were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister assured Zelensky of 'their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace' in Ukraine, Merz's office said.

'They agreed to continue pursuing the aim of protecting vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term,' the statement said.

'That includes the line of contact being the point of departure for an agreement and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.'

Zelensky said the leaders discussed the plan and appreciated the efforts of Trump and his team, although he added that they are 'working on the document'.

'We are closely coordinating to ensure that the principled positions are taken into account,' Zelensky said in a Telegram post.

A European government source said that the US plans weren't officially presented to Ukraine's European backers. They see their own futures at stake in Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, which began in February 2022, and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Von der Leyen said she also would call Zelensky to discuss the 28-point plan.

'Important is a key principle we have always upheld, and that is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,' she said at a G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn told the Kyiv Independent that the White House wanted a 'quick peace at the expense of one side, which they consider weaker'.
Palestine Action protesters whipped a security guard and sprayed him with a fire extinguisher as the group smashed their way into an Israeli-linked weapons factory, a court has heard.

Charlotte Head, 29, allegedly whipped guard Angelo Volante as six 'armed and threatening' demonstrators stormed into the Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in the early hours of August 6 last year.

Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, also took part in the 'meticulously organised' attack, where they allegedly used sledgehammers as weapons on security guards and police officers while wearing red jumpsuits.

The activists were 'armed and threatening us with harm,' Mr Volante told Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.

He added the protesters 'resorted to using physical violence' and he was 'sprayed with a fire extinguisher'.

Giving evidence, Mr Volante told the trial: 'I saw a large group advancing towards us while using pyrotechnics and fireworks to threaten us.'

Mr Volante told jurors that he was 'whipped on the right side' by Head.

After Head's lawyer Rajiv Menon KC denied this took place, Mr Volante said: 'She did have a whip and she used the whip on me at some point during the struggle.'

Charlotte Head, 29, (pictured) allegedly whipped guard Angelo Volante as six 'armed and threatening' demonstrators stormed into the Elbit Systems factory in Bristol

Samuel Corner, 23, (pictured), allegedly beat Police Sergeant Kate Evans who suffered back injuries as a result

Fellow security guard Patrick Luke told the court that a woman swung a sledgehammer 'quite aggressively and with a lot of force' towards him during the events.

Mr Luke said: 'I parried it away, it just missed my chest area.'

Prosecutors previously said that police sergeant Kate Evans was struck twice on the back by Corner.

Mr Luke said he saw an activist 'hit a police officer in the back'.

The security guard told jurors: 'I saw the individual with a sledgehammer bang in the back of the police officer's back and then she went down.'

Footage was shown to jurors of a confrontation at the site in which prosecutors allege Rogers swings a sledgehammer towards Mr Volante.

After Rogers' lawyer Audrey Mogan suggested it made no contact with the security guard, Mr Volante said: 'I think it did make some contact, it wasn't a direct hit, it was a brushing of my hand as I was reaching out.'

On the footage of the incident Mr Volante can be heard saying: 'If you swing that once more it's going to get really serious.'

Asked by Ms Mogan what that comment meant, Mr Volante said: 'Really serious as in the consequences if you hit me and injure me are going to be really serious.

'I'd defend myself, I'd use more physical force.'

Pictured: Supporters of the Palestine Action activists gather outside Woolwich Crown Court on November 17

Mr Volante, who took possession of a sledgehammer during the incident, added: 'Being really serious did not mean using the sledgehammer.

'I did not take any swings at anyone with a sledgehammer.'

Asked by Devlin's lawyer Andrew Morris if he struck Devlin, the security guard replied: 'I'm confident I did not strike him with a sledgehammer.

'I don't think there was any intentional strike, if there was any strike to Mr Devlin, it was in the struggle.'

Mr Volante added: 'The only thing I remember being said to me by Mr Devlin was something to do with Star Wars - with me representing the empire and them being the rebels.'

Footage was also shown to jurors of Mr Volante shouting at people in red jumpsuits on the floor.

Asked whether this was necessary, the security guard said: 'That was to mitigate any further violence or intervening in arrests.

'It delivered the effect that was required without the use of any physical force.'

Mr Volante said he 'confiscated' an angle grinder during the events.

Asked what Elbit security guards are told to do in such situations, Mr Volante said: 'We're encouraged to intervene while simultaneously calling the police.

Protesters also held signs which read: 'Elbit boasts their weapons are "battle tested" on Palestinians'

'We're there to contain and manage the incident and to intervene to stop criminal damage, threat to life, threat to injury.'

All six defendants were arrested at the factory on the day.deny aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.

Corner has denied causing police sergeant Kate Evans grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.
This is the moment a brazen gang stole 2million worth of luxury cars from the driveaways of wealthy owners as they slept.

The highly organised crew stole 107 vehicles during an eight-month blitz across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, using off-the-shelf signal-boosting gadgets to break into keyless cars under the cover of darkness.

Led by George Berry, Benjamin Cross and Bradley Paddick, the gang prowled wealthy neighbourhoods between February and October 2023 hunting for high-end models before funnelling them to a chop shop in Surrey, where they were stripped for parts.

Police said the criminals used technology bought on Amazon to amplify the key fob signal inside victims' homes  tricking the cars into thinking the owner was standing right beside them. One of the priciest vehicles stolen was an 80,000 Bentley Continental.

Detectives urged motorists with keyless systems to store their fobs well away from doors and windows, and to use Faraday pouches to block rogue signals. Officers also said they had been in talks with manufacturers about the growing threat.

Sentencing Judge Nigel Peters KC highlighted the stress and financial toll these actions had on these victims.

Judge Nigel Peters KC told the court the spree had caused huge distress and financial strain to families who relied on their cars for everyday life.

Berry was jailed for 56 months, Cross for 64 months and Paddick for 36 months, while their partners, Rachael Moran and Charlotte Traves, received suspended sentences.

The highly organised crew stole 107 vehicles during an eight-month blitz across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire

The gang used off-the-shelf signal-boosting gadgets to break into keyless cars under the cover of darkness

The five, all from Southampton, were among 11 defendants sentenced at Southampton Crown Court for offences ranging from conspiracy to steal and handle stolen goods to money laundering and perverting the course of justice. Seven accomplices were handed suspended jail terms.

Gemma White, prosecuting, said: 'These defendants include the leaders, drivers and lookouts for the thefts.

'They were targeting the cars on the drives of valuable properties. Cars stolen included Land Rovers, Jaguars, Mercedes, Audis and Bentleys.46 vehicles are still unrecovered and the total value of the cars is estimated to be around 2.09 million.

She described how the gang operated in teams, wearing balaclavas, working to 'wish lists' provided by the chop shop and boosting key signals to quietly unlock cars before driving them away.

Judge Peters heard mitigation for the five main defendants and noted the remorse that they showed and the effect if would have on their family's lives, some of whom were crying in court when the sentence was passed.

He described it as a 'serious' and 'large scale' operation which was 'quite alarming to anyone who owns highly valuable cars with keyless ignition'

He explained: 'These defendants targeted 107 cars to a value of over two million pounds. 46 of them remain stolen.'

He praised the police for their 'remarkably thorough investigation'

Berry, 32, admitted conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles, handling stolen goods and possessing criminal property.

Cross, 25, pleaded guilty to the same charges as well as perverting the course of justice, while Paddick, 22, admitted two conspiracy counts and was jailed for 36 months.

Two of the gang's partners were also sentenced: Moran, 31, admitted possessing criminal property and must complete eight therapy sessions, while Traves, 24, who also admitted perverting the course of justice, was ordered to carry out 30 rehabilitation activity days.

A further seven defendants were handed suspended terms for their roles in the conspiracy. They included Bran, 23, Brandon Cross, 26, and Downs, 21, who each received 12-month sentences suspended for 18 months.

Berry, 32, admitted conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles, handling stolen goods and possessing criminal property and was jailed for 56 months whist Paddick admitted two conspiracy counts and was jailed for 36 months

Benjamin Cross, pleaded guilty to the same charges as well as perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 64 months

Kelly, 38, was given a 16-month suspended sentence, while Martin, 24, and Masters, 24, received eight-month terms suspended for 18 months.

Watkins, 24, who also admitted dangerous driving, was given an 18-month sentence suspended for the same period.

Speaking after the sentencing, DC Paul Beasley said: 'The vast majority of the vehicles were stolen by these thugs in the middle of the night from driveways as the owners slept.

'The financial hurt caused by this group to so many families is vast, and many of the victims of these thefts have also suffered mental harm from the distress.

'For many people, having their car stolen can completely disrupt their day to day lives as these are relied upon so much for their work commutes, school runs, grocery shopping and social lives.'
Prosecutors have appealed a decision to overturn the conviction of a man who shouted 'f*** Islam' while burning the Koran in London.

Hamit Coskun was initially found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence after he held the flaming religious text aloft outside the Turkish consulate.

The 51-year-old was backed by free speech campaigners over the February incident and had his conviction overturned at Southwark Crown Court last month.

But today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had appealed against the decision.

In a statement, the CPS said: 'There is no law to prosecute people for 'blasphemy' and burning a religious text on its own is not a criminal act - our case remains that Hamit Coskun's words, choice of location and burning of the (Koran) amounted to disorderly behaviour, and that at the time he demonstrated hostility towards a religious or racial group, which is a crime.

'We have appealed the decision, and the judge has agreed to state a case for the High Court to consider.'

In his ruling last month, Mr Justice Bennathan said while burning a book of such religious importance might be something 'many Muslims find desperately upsetting and offensive', the right to freedom of expression 'must include the right to express views that offend, shock or disturb'.

Hamit Coskun was initially found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence after he held the flaming religious text aloft outside the Turkish consulate

The 51-year-old was backed by free speech campaigners over the February incident and had his conviction overturned at Southwark Crown Court last month

He said Mr Coskun, who is originally from Turkey, had acted alone and had not aimed his 'political speech or conduct' at a person.

In a written statement after the judgment, Mr Coskun said he had come to England 'to be able to speak freely about the dangers of radical Islam' and was now 'reassured that - despite many troubling developments - I will now be free to educate the British public about my beliefs'.

Mr Coskun, who is half-Kurdish and half-Armenian, was initially convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress'.

The charge alleged he was motivated by 'hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam', contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section five of the Public Order Act 1986.

His appeal case was funded by the National Secular Society (NSS) and the Free Speech Union (FSU).

Blasphemy laws were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 and in Scotland in 2021.

Mr Coskun said he burned the Koran to highlight how Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogans constitutionally secular government had become an Islamist regime.

However during his protest, he was attacked by Moussa Kadri, 59, with a knife who later told police he was protecting his religion.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (left) walks with Hamit Coskun outside Southwark Crown Court

The Free Speech Union said the ruling sends a message that anti-religious protests, however offensive to true believers, must be tolerated.

Lord Young, director of the union, which helped fund Mr Coskuns legal case, said: Had the verdict been allowed to stand it would have sent a message to religious fundamentalists that all they need to do to enforce their blasphemy codes is to violently attack the blasphemer, thereby making him or her guilty of having caused public disorder.

National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans added: Mr Coskuns protest was a lawful act of political dissent.

There is no need to condone the nature of his demonstration  what is important is that it was not criminal.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said while he did not agree with what Mr Coskun had done, he didnt think it was a crime.
A village renowned worldwide for its yarn bombing has been left furious as new solar-powered postboxes have forced them to retire their 'spectacular toppers'.

Knitted postbox toppers created by the Titchfield Yarnbombers have been seen across the world, but now they fear their festive tradition will come to an end.

As the Royal Mail has made sweeping changes to its iconic red postboxes, the Hampshire village is expected to have a solar-powered box installed.

The village postbox - which is regularly adorned with a creatively designed toppers - has since had its door removed to be modified.

Similar to 3,500 postboxes around the UK, the red mailbox will be fitted with small solar panels - stopping the Yarnbombers crowning it with their knitted creations.

Suzy Jackson, 66, the founder of the knitting group, said that she was 'very sad' to see a 'much-loved feature of the village' removed.

There have been creations for Remembrance Day, Harry Potter, Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, and even a topper made as a fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Trust.

Ms Jackson first began making the toppers before COVID, later deciding to start the group in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Yarnbomber Suzy Jackson adjusting the final postbox topper outside the Titchfield Post Office

Titchfield renowned worldwide for its yarn bombing has been left furious as new solar-powered postboxes have forced them to retire their 'spectacular toppers

'It has become quite a focal point in the village. People love to take pictures of the toppers. They are completely eccentric,' she said.

'It is a much-loved feature of the village. Photos of the postbox are shared worldwide.'

She added: 'Everyone in the village goes by it because it is in the centre of the village, and the kids love it.

'We are all just really sad that we are losing not just the access to the post office but the surface that we decorate.'

Ms Jackson has become concerned about the impact the new mailboxes will have on the post office because they would lose business - putting their future in danger.

She said she had contacted Royal Mail and customer services to complain about the change to the postbox, but had been unable to get through.

The new postbox design will have solar panels on top of a digitally-activated drawer, allowing customers to deposit small parcels.

Although the door has been removed from the postbox, it is unclear when it will be replaced, leaving Ms Jackson concer

A petition has been started by a resident of the village, Lyn Mobley, to protest the postbox change and has been signed by over 250 people.

The petition says: 'Royal Mail is removing Titchfield's traditional postbox and replacing it with a solar-powered digital machine that allows the posting of small parcels while side-stepping the use of the actual Post Office, which it is directly outside of.

'Revenues will go directly to Royal Mail, and nothing will go to the Post Office.

'We do not want to lose our local Post Office and so are petitioning to keep our beloved and traditional postbox and to stop it from being replaced with a digital or solar version.

'Replacing the traditional postbox in this way could significantly impact the viability of our Post Office and local shops, and leave no coverage of Post Office services in the surrounding area.'

Comments on social media have also shown their support for the Yarnbombers and their postbox toppers.

Previous postbox toppers from over the last few years outside the Titchfield Post Office, included King Charles' coronation, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and more

Emma Trickle said: 'What? I love seeing these creations - I take a photo of each one. What does a post box need a solar lid for? I don't really understand that'

Morven Brown added: 'My 16-year-old son and I saw your topper last week. It opened all sorts of intelligent discussion around Armistice Day.

'I have enjoyed your yarn bombers group since 2020, as have my boys, even if they haven't always realised. I will (and the boys) be sad if the village lose the post box.'

Kathryn Emery said: 'That's really bad news. So many people get so much joy from seeing all the different topical themes.

'I photograph them and forward to the family in South Africa, they love them. Such a Shame.'

Ms Jackson has said that she will continue the Yarnbomber group to allow people in the village to 'make friends', and to 'earn and use their skills'.

She said the group had looked at trying to buy an old postbox to allow them to carry on making postbox toppers, but as they cost over 1000, it would not be possible.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'Postboxes of the future offer another convenient way for customers to access Royal Mail's services.

'We appreciate the passion and care that goes into the crocheting, knitting and decorating of toppers. With 115,000 postboxes across the UK, there are plenty that remain unaltered and that will remain the case in the future.'
A climate activist threatened to bring a decades-long tradition to a halt - after scaling the annual Christmas tree gifted by Norway to the UK right at the moment it was being felled.

Officials in Oslo have sent a tree to Trafalgar Square, London, every year since 1947 to thank Britain for its support during the Second World War, when Norway fell under occupation by Nazi Germany.

But as the tree-chopping ceremony got underway this morning, one eagle-eyed official noticed something unusual - an Extinction Rebellion protestor sitting high up the branches of the 65ft spruce tree.

A statement released later by the activist group - also known as XR - revealed that the stunt was organised to protest against the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea.

The government is due to make a decision on the much-debated oil field, which was initially given the green light by the Tories in 2023 - but was the subject of an upheld legal challenge earlier this year.

A judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh found that the UK Government and North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) were found to have acted unlawfully by not taking into account emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted fuels.

Shortly before the tree was due to be chopped down, the activist climbed the 60-year-old spruce and secured themselves to the trunk.

Campaigners then unveiled a large banner urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reject plans for the oil field.

A climate activist threatened to bring a decades-long tradition to a halt - after scaling the annual Christmas tree gifted by Norway to the UK right at the moment it was being felled

Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe made the first cut with Paul Dimoldenberg, the Lord Mayor of Westminster before the spruce was felled and transported to the UK

Symbol of friendship: British Lord Mayor of Westminster Paul Dimoldenberg speaks at the ceremony alongside Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe

The activist was returned to the ground by 9.30am UK time after police arrived at the scene.

Bemused Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe, who made the first cut with Paul Dimoldenberg, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, told Norwegian Broadcasting: 'I must admit I was quite surprised when I saw some unwanted decorations on the tree.'

Meanwhile Knut Johansson from the city's environmental department, who witnessed the chaotic scene, said in the moment: 'This is not good. We cannot continue with a man in the tree.'

The demonstrator, who was later escorted away from the site by police, was unhappy that British authorities and Norways state oil company Equinor have not quashed plans for Rosebank, the UKs largest undeveloped oil and gas field.

It lies in the British sector of the North Sea around 81 miles northwest of Shetland. Despite being overturned in the courts, Equinor still hopes the project will go ahead next year.

In a statement, campaigners from StopRosebank said: 'Norway's gift to the UK this year comes with strings attached - at the same time they are pressuring the UK to sign off on an environmental disaster in the Rosebank oil field.

'This is not how friends behave at Christmas. While Norwegians have cheap renewable energy in abundance, they want us to stay locked into expensive fossil fuels, abandon our climate commitments and endanger our wildlife, just so they can add even more money to their trillion dollar oil fund.'

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch however supports the development of Rosebank, citing energy security and financial benefits for the UK.

Officials in Oslo have sent a tree to Trafalgar Square, London, every year since 1947 to thank Britain for its support during the Second World War

She previously said: 'This ruling is an act of self-harm. Yet more lawfare killing economic growth.

'The Labour government who were banging on about growth yesterday are too scared to fight for the oil and gas fields that deliver energy security and provide jobs for thousands of people.

'For the sake of our country, Keir Starmer needs to get serious. He talks a lot, but his actions so far are all hiking taxes and caving to the unions and the green lobby.'

A Department for Net Zero spokesman previously said: The government has already consulted on revised environmental guidance to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas to provide stability for industry, support investment, protect jobs and deliver economic growth.

We will respond to this consultation as soon as possible and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime.

Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.

The deadline on a public consultation on Rosebank ended yesterday, with the Energy Secretary now due to decide whether to support granting consent for the project.
A former British soldier facing extradition to Kenya accused of murdering a young mother has broken his silence to insist he is innocent.

Robert Purkiss, 38, is alleged to have stabbed Agnes Wanjuri, 21, to death before dumping her part-naked body in a septic tank.

The sickening crime was supposedly covered up by Purkiss chain of command for over a decade, resulting in a furious diplomatic row between Kenya and the UK.

In September, a Kenyan court ordered Purkiss arrest and extradition so he can face trial for killing Ms Wanjuri, a prostitute working near a military training area.

Last month, her family flew to London, where Defence Secretary John Healey assured them of the UKs steadfast support for their fight for justice.

Purkiss has until now never spoken publicly about the incident and its aftermath, which has been hugely traumatic for his supportive wife and their two children, who live in Wiltshire.

He is currently being held on remand at a London prison after being refused bail at an extradition hearing earlier this month. He told magistrates he 'vehemently denies' the allegation.

Robert Purkiss, wearing the formal attire of the Lancashire Regiment, and Kelly Purkiss on their wedding day. She insisted her husband is innocent and will be vindicated

Agnes Wanjuri, 21, was found murdered near a British training base in Kenya in June 2012, three months after her disappearance. Robert Purkiss is facing extradition over her murder. He 'vehemently denies' the charge

Now, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail from prison, he has rejected the allegations and challenged other soldiers accounts that put him in the frame.

He is accused of confessing to murdering her, allegedly joking with colleagues on their journey back to base that he killed a brass because the sex was bad.

But Purkiss told the Daily Mail: I did not kill Agnes Wanjuri, I do not believe I ever met her either. Neither would I joke about killing a woman - that conversation has no basis in reality.

I only heard about the incident weeks later when I was on a military exercise in Canada. Only much later than that was I told a body had been found in a tank.

I never booked the hotel room, cant remember ever being in it. I think we were back in camp by midnight.

I was a medic, Ive treated people on the battlefield. Agnes was stabbed in the abdomen. She would have lost a lot of blood.

If I killed her and dumped her body there would have been blood over my clothes and hands. There was none.

There is no basis in fact to any suggestion I murdered Agnes Wanjuri. I am sorry if that is hard for her family to hear, but it was not me.

Ms Wanjuris remains were found in the grounds of a hotel popular with off-duty soldiers in June 2012, three months after her disappearance. She was a mother-of-one with a baby.

According to police reports, she was last seen socialising with British troops on the night of March 31, 2012.

A hotel manager told investigators she left the bar accompanied by two soldiers and entered hotel room D1, close to the septic tank.

A night guard and a guest claimed they heard a woman screaming, according to reports.

That night, troops from Purkiss unit, Arnhem Company, Second Battalion the Lancashire Regiment (2 Lancs), had booked a room intent on paying prostitutes for their time.

Agnes Wanjuri's niece Esther Njoki has campaigned for justice on her behalf and has held talks in London with UK Defence Secretary John Healey

The brutal nature of Ms Wanjuris death shook her community in Nanyuki, 124 miles north of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, and sparked nationwide outrage.

Since her death the circumstances of what happened have slowly been pieced together - there is circumstantial evidence but no forensic evidence, such as a weapon or bloodied clothes, or witnesses to the murder.

Earlier this month, Purkiss, who has left the Army and now runs a successful IT company, was arrested in the middle of the night and driven to Westminster Magistrates Court for the extradition hearing.

Purkiss, a medic who served multiple tours of Afghanistan and received an official commendation for his service, before being medically discharged, said the evidence against him would be dismissed by a British court.

But the former corporal fears there will only be one verdict should he be extradited to Kenya for a show trial.

He continued: For the sake of my family I try to stay positive but it is bloody hard.

Whatever people say about squaddies, I dont believe any of us would cover up something as serious as the murder of a woman. None of this makes sense.

In the absence of forensic evidence or direct witnesses to Ms Wanjuris murder, the Kenyan bid to extradite Purkiss hinges primarily on the account of another soldier, Liam Hendry.

Purkiss is alleged to have brought Hendry, then also a soldier in 2 Lancs, to see Ms Wanjuris bloodied body.

But Purkiss told the Daily Mail Hendry, from Accrington, Lancashire, was a heavy drinker with a reputation for telling tales.

It can be revealed that Hendry, now 35, became a drug addict after leaving the Army and has been jailed several times for prolific shoplifting.

Last year, when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates and pleaded guilty to 13 charges of theft from stores, his solicitor Damien Pickup told the court how he previously served in the Army for 12 years, including Afghanistan and Kenya.

While earlier this year, Hendry was arrested over 21 separate shoplifting offences and four breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He appeared before Preston magistrates in July 2025 and received a 52-week sentence.

In a court hearing the previous year, 2024, Hendry's solicitor said he turned to crime to fund a drug habit after being discharged.

Damien Pickup also appeared to refer to Ms Wanjuris death, telling the court: Something happened in Kenya which caused him a lot of anguish and he left the Army.

At the age of 33 he committed his first criminal offence and things have exploded since then. There is a lack of support out there for people like him who have served their country with honour.

The Daily Mail approached Mr Pickup for comment on behalf of Hendry. He failed to respond.

A second witness in the case has provided a statement saying he heard Purkiss and Hendry joking about killing a brass as they were driven back to camp.

The man only claims to have overheard their drunken conversation and does not suggest he saw Ms Wanjuris body.

Their company commander, then-Major Paul Tingey, since promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, has also been questioned. He claims he knew nothing about the Agnes Wanjuri incident and only learned about it from media reports.

Purkisss wife Kelly has been left traumatised by allegations that her husband brutally murdered Ms Wanjuri and disposed of her body in a brutal manner.

She told the Daily Mail how she sat down her husband with their 11-year-old son and questioned him about the incident.

Mrs Purkiss, a former Army Warrant Officer, met Purkiss when they were both serving.

Her older son from a previous relationship recently joined the Royal Marines and Purkiss attended his passing out parade at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, just days before his arrest.

Mrs Purkiss, 41, said: One of the reasons I discharged from the Army was the stress of the claims against Robert. I know my husband and he would not have killed her or slept with her.

Hes not like that. Robert is a medic, his job was to save people not kill people.

When this came out we did sit together with our son and he asked Robert about it, because we were worried about him being bullied if other pupils read the reports.

Our son asked him, Dad, did you do it? Robert was very calm and said, No son, I didnt, and I would never put any of you through something like this. Our son said, Thats good enough for me Dad."

Robert Purkiss with his wife Kelly on their wedding day. He has rejected the allegations and challenged other soldiers accounts that put him in the frame

Ms Wanjuris family are convinced the murder was covered up by the British Army.

Following Purkisss arrest and court appearance, her niece Esther Njoki welcomed the progress in the case.

She said in a statement earlier this month: My family is incredibly relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunts case has been arrested.

We have waited so many years for this moment which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes.

An inquest into Ms Wanjuris death was opened in Kenya in 2018. The following year a Kenyan court concluded she had been unlawfully killed by British soldiers and that she suffered stab wounds to the abdomen and chest.

The claim that a British soldier had confessed the murder to colleagues emerged in 2021, although Purkiss was only later named as the suspect.

In 2024, the British Army announced a review into the conduct of British soldiers in Kenya, based on the Wanjuri case and the launch of legal action by Kenyans claiming to have been fathered by UK troops.

The review found 35 suspected cases of soldiers having engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse, including transactional sex with local women. Nine of these cases came after the Army banned troops from using prostitutes in 2022.

An MOD spokesman said: 'It would be inappropriate to comment while there are ongoing legal proceedings.'
After suggesting that they could be executed for seditious behavior, President Donald Trump has walked back his fury at Democrats who urged soldiers to disobey commands.

'I'm not threatening death, but I think they're in serious trouble,' the president told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on Friday morning. 'In the old days, it was death.'

He added that punishments today are less severe than they were in the past, 'I don't know about the modern day things, because, you know, modern day is a lot softer.'

On Thursday, Trump went on a posting spree, firing off Truth Social posts bashing a half dozen Democratic lawmakers who released a video earlier this week in which they urged US troops to not follow 'illegal orders.'

Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, as well as Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, all veterans, were featured in the video published this week.

The lawmakers never clarified what 'illegal orders' Trump has given to the military, leaving the meaning of the video opaque. The liberals also did not specify what soldiers should do if they are given unlawful orders.

'Seditious behavior, punishable by death!' the president wrote on Truth Social on Thursday reacting to the liberals calling for military disobedience.

President Donald Trump softened his tone towards six Democrats on Friday after he labeled them as seditious 'traitors' who could face the death penalty. On Friday, Trump said 'I'm not threatening death, but I think they're in serious trouble'

Six Democrats - including Elissa Slotkin (pictured center left), Jason Crow (pictured center) and Chrissy Houlihan (pictured right) - are receiving round-the-clock protection from Capitol Police after Donald Trump accused them of 'seditious behavior' that should be 'punishable by DEATH'

The president also reposted someone calling for the lawmakers to be executed. 'Hang them George Washington Would!' the Truth Social entry shared by the president said.

His threats prompted outrage from Democrats and action from authorities charged with protecting lawmakers.

Slotkin said Thursday night that the Capitol Police is putting her on an around the clock security protocol.

'Capitol Police came to us and said, "We're gonna put you on 24/7 security." We've got law enforcement out in front of my house. I mean, it changes things immediately,' she told MSNBC.

'If the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn't be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.'

The other Democrats called out the president for endangering their lives.

'Donald Trump is calling for my death and others, and every political leader should condemn the President's violent threats,' Deluzio posted on X.

Crow posted on social media voicemails he received as a result of the president's remarks.

Representatives Chris DeLuzio (pictured left) of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander (pictured right) of New Hampshire also stood behind the video

Just months ago Trump called on Americans to tone down the radical political rhetoric following the assassination of conservative Charlie Kirk

'I hope you all get f***ing throat slashed,' one caller said.

Trump's veiled threat comes as political rhetoric and violence have reached a fever pitch.

This year there have been a slew of political attacks from the assassination of conservative Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk to the murders of Minnesota Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Following the assassination of Kirk, Trump and Vice President JD Vance urged the nation to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric that is so commonplace in US politics today.

'For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now,' Trump said in September.

The president pointed the finger at the Democrats in his Friday morning interview, noting how they were 'bad people.' He also insisted he did not incite any violence or threats against them.

'These are people that, in my opinion, broke the law. Now what happens to them? I cant tell you. But they broke the law,' the president said.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson also suggested that the Democrats may have broken the law with their demands that troops disobey orders.

'I know the [Department of Justice] and the Pentagon are looking into the legality of all of that,' Johnson told CNN on Thursday. 'But what I can address is what everybody knows, that was wildly inappropriate. It is very dangerous. 'You have leading members of Congress telling troops to disobey orders. I think that's unprecedented in American history.'
A BBC board member has resigned over 'governance issues' at the top of the embattled corporation.

Shumeet Banerji stepped down after claiming he was 'not consulted' about the events leading up to the departure of director-general, Tim Davie, and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News.

The scandal-hit BBC confirmed on Friday that Mr Banerji, who was appointed to the board in January 2022, had resigned.

'Mr Banerji's term on the Board as a non-executive director was due to end at the end of December and we thank him for his service,' a BBC spokesperson said.

'The search for a replacement is already well under way and we will update further in due course.'

The latest blow to the BBC comes weeks after Mr Davie dramatically resigned following a row over the doctoring of a Panorama documentary on Donald Trump.

Banerji's resignation over 'governance issues' suggests he has levelled direct criticism at chairman Samir Shah and other members of the board.

The technology executive's departure comes just days before board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson will give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of MPs.

Shumeet Banerji has resigned over 'governance issues' at the top of the embattled BBC

Shumeet Banerji stepped down after claiming he was 'not consulted' about the events leading up to the departure of director-general, Tim Davie

Mr Banerji, founder of Condorcet LP, an advisory and investment firm, has been a non-executive director since 2022.

He was 'responsible for upholding and protecting the independence of the BBC by acting in the public interest and exercising independent judgement.'

The board, which is made up of 12 members, is responsible for the broadcaster's strategic direction.

Non-executive members hold the BBC's executive management to account.

Mr Davie and Ms Turness stepped down after an internal dossier exposed a string of incidents that demonstrated serious apparent bias in the Corporation's coverage on issues including the Israel-Gaza conflict and transgender rights.

The corporation is also facing a $1bn lawsuit from the US president who demanded a retraction, an apology and compensation after the documentary suggested Mr Trump had made a 'direct call for violent action' as two separate sections of his speech in the run-up to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, were spliced together in a 12-second clip.

The broadcaster said the splicing of the speech was an 'error of judgment' but refused to pay financial compensation.

The edit was brought to public attention after a leaked report from former editorial standards advisor Michael Prescott, which raised concerns about the Panorama programme Trump: A Second Chance?.

The programme was broadcast a week before the US election in November 2024.

Mr Banerji's resignation comes at a challenging time for the BBC, as it faces calls to lose its funding from the licence fee.
Hollywood star Ewan McGregor has sold his sprawling Los Angeles home for 5million, after moving back to Scotland.

The actor quit LA as he felt a pull back to his homeland and announced last week he is now based here permanently.

McGregor, 54, purchased a ten-bedroom mansion for 2.35million near his home town of Crieff, Perthshire, in 2023 and carried out extensive renovations to the C-listed property.

He and his wife, actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 40, put their US home in LAs Topanga Canyon on the market for 6.5million earlier this year.

Ewan McGregor sold his home in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, for 5 million after moving back to Scotland

The property is set in 29 acres of land and boasts a modern three bedroom home with four bathrooms, a detached gym, swimming pool and two guest cottages

McGregor, who played Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise, with wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead at the Bafta Scotland awards in Glasgow in November

They later dropped the price and sold it for 5million. But McGregor still made a healthy profit on the luxury property, which featured in his Long Way Home TV series, after buying it for 2million in 2018.

Set in 29 acres of land, the modern house has three bedrooms and four bathrooms.

It also boasts a detached gym, swimming pool, two guest cottages and a large garage where the actor kept his motorcycle and car collection.

A sales brochure read: This one-of-a-kind compound offers unmatched access to nature, style, and seclusion alongside the convenience of nearby cafes, boutiques and... artistic vibrancy.

Accepting an award at Bafta Scotlands ceremony last week, McGregor said: Mary and I are now here in Scotland, so to save us the pain of having to be apart, maybe you could come up with lots of Scottish films that we can be in together.
The SNP has been accused of playing politics with peoples lives after it emerged its child abuse inquiry already has the power to investigate grooming gangs.

The inquiry, chaired by retired judge Lady Smith, was set up a decade ago by the Nationalist government to investigate allegations of institutional child abuse in living memory.

Ministers have been accused of blocking an inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland, however, it now transpires that the abuse probe can investigate the problem using the powers it currently has.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) said it could look at grooming as long as it fell within the scope of its terms of reference  raising questions over why SNP ministers have not yet ordered it to do so.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: The SNP need to stop playing politics with peoples lives by refusing to implement a grooming gangs inquiry in Scotland.

It looks as though there might even be scope to do it within an inquiry they were responsible for setting up.

The SNP cant claim to be serious about stopping child abuse when they are repeatedly rejecting our calls for an inquiry to be set up.

An SCAI spokesman told the Mail: Where any conduct which constitutes grooming is alleged, the SCAI is able to investigate it if the circumstances in which it occurs are within our terms of reference.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has been accused of misrepresenting the views of an expert on grooming gangs as she attempted to shut down calls for an inquiry

Grooming gangs survivor Fiona Goddard, who was trafficked from Bradford to Scotland, gave a first-hand account that Scottish girls were also victims of groomers

The Scottish Tories have launched a campaign to demand a public inquiry on grooming gangs in Scotland.

They have urged victims, their families and other members of the public to back a public petition demanding a full probe into the issue.

The Labour government has also rejected calls to extend its inquiry into the issue to Scotland because key aspects of it are devolved to Holyrood.

Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Angela Constance was accused of misrepresenting the views of a child abuse expert as she attempted to shut down calls for an inquiry.

The Tories have highlighted the case of Fiona Goddard, who was trafficked from Bradford to Scotland and has given a first-hand account that Scottish girls were also victims of grooming gangs.

Ms Goddard, who won convictions against the West Yorkshire gang who abused her from the age of 13, said First Minister John Swinneys refusal to accept that grooming happens in Scotland is insane.

The 32-year-old, from Bradford, told the Mail: This is widespread right across the UK, and on a mass scale. The idea that he thinks this stopped at the Border is insane in itself.

If you look at it logically, you would realise that its worth at least looking into, isnt it?

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Our commitment to the survivors of in-care abuse is for the SCAI to complete as soon as is reasonably practical. If a wider remit for the Inquiry were set it would take many more years for investigations to complete.
Scotland's icy blast is set to turn to rain this weekend after the country experienced its chilliest night of the autumn with temperatures colder than Icelands capital.

Tomintoul in Banffshire was officially the coldest place overnight yesterday recording a biting -12.6C  more than 14C cooler than the 1.61C average for the time of year.

Even Reykjavik in Iceland was far warmer with the mercury hovering above freezing a month into its winter season.

The Arctic blast hitting Scotland saw hundreds of children free to play in the snow as almost 40 schools remained shut for a third day in Aberdeenshire yesterday.

A handful were also closed or partially closed in Moray and in the Highlands.

The Cairngorm ski centre, meanwhile, had enough of the white stuff to open a fortnight before the official start of winter.

Mike Gifford, chief executive of the facility, said his team had been working hard to move snow around to make some runs available and hoped it was the start of a positive winter for the resort.

The nearby Lecht Ski Centre said it had a dusting of snow but not enough to open its runs while Glenshee, which is further south in the Cairngorms, aims to open next month.

Working farm dog Mac leaps around Louden Hill in Ayrshire

Snow-capped Pentland Hills in the Borders

Zoi Wilson, 5, and her sister Eliana, 10, go sledging in Aberdeenshire

While a weather warning for ice was in place across the north until 11am yesterday, it was Eskdalemuir in Dumfriesshire which recorded the lowest daytime temperature of just 1.5C.

Forecasters, however, said the freezing temperatures would start to ease over the weekend as warmer air pushed in from the west bringing with it rain for many parts of the country.

A Met Office spokesman said: Generally conditions will turn milder and with that more in the way of rain and influence of low pressure from the west.

Sunny spells are also likely across the east and Central Belt but, with daytime temperatures not expected to exceed 10C and thermometers overnight predicted to plummet to a low of -5C, it is not quite time to pack away the woolly hats and scarves.

Meteorologist Clare Nasir said: The snow and ice we have been experiencing through the last three or four days will slowly wane as we head into the weekend although it will remain rather chilly.

Snow ploughs and gritters continued to work to keep routes open yesterday after more snow fell in places.

But the snow gates at the world- famous Bealach na Ba mountain pass, which runs from Kishorn to Applecross, Ross-shire, remained closed yesterday.

A spokesman for RAC Breakdown said the roadside assistance company saw its busiest day of the year since January yesterday, with vehicle breakdowns spiking.

Alice Simpson said: The freezing temperatures means our patrols are exceptionally busy, with breakdowns almost 50 per cent higher than what we would usually expect at this time of year.

The dramatic dip in temperatures comes after the country enjoyed one of the warmest springs and summers on record.

But this years autumn low still has a way to go before reaching Scotlands all time record of -23.3C, which was recorded at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on November 14, 1919.

More recently, between 2011 and 2023 temperatures in Scotland dipped below -10C in November on only four occasions.
Sir Keir Starmer has backed both Ukraine and Donald Trump after a call with Volodymyr Zelensky about a US-backed peace plan.

The Prime Minister said he and the French and German leaders had emphasised to Mr Zelensky the 'fundamental principle' that Kyiv should be in charge of its own destiny.

Following the call, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'We all want a just and lasting peace. That's what the president of America wants. That's what we all want.

'And so we need to work from where we are to that end. But the principle that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.'

It comes as Ukraine is facing pressure to agree to a controversial 28-point plan by Thursday that would force it to give up its land, cut its army in half and hold elections within 100 days.

The deal is said to have been negotiated by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Moscow had received the proposal and cautiously welcomed it on Friday, saying it 'could form the basis of a final peace settlement'.

But he said the plan had not been discussed with the Russian side 'in any substantive way'. The Kremlin leader said he assumed this was because the US had not been able to get Ukraine's consent.

Sir Keir Starmer has backed both Ukraine and Donald Trump after a call with Volodymyr Zelensky about a US-backed peace plan

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Turkey's President following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on November 19, 2025

Donald Trump, who 'supports' the plan, is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President in the coming days

In a somber video address, Zelensky pledged to work with the US on the plan but said he expects more political pressure over the next week.

He urged Ukrainians to remain united in the face of what he said were additional attempts by Russia to derail the peace process.

'Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history. Now, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the heaviest,' he said.

'Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice  either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner.'

No 10 said during the call, Sir Keir, Mr Zelensky and the other leaders agreed to 'co-ordinate with partners and allies in the coming days' on a plan to end the war, including at the Johannesburg G20 summit.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'They underlined their support for President Trump's drive for peace and agreed that any solution must fully involve Ukraine, preserve its sovereignty and ensure its future security.

'The leaders agreed to co-ordinate with partners and allies in the coming days, including at the G20, as discussions on how best to achieve a lasting peace continued.'

Sir Keir spoke to Mr Zelensky from South Africa, where it is thought he intends to use his attendance at the G20 summit to shore up support for Kyiv.

On the flight to Johannesburg on Thursday night, the Prime Minister told reporters: 'My position has always been focused on a just and lasting peace. That's why we have done so much work on the Coalition of the Willing.

The proposal comes with Russian troops grinding forward on the battlefield and with Zelensky facing domestic pressure after a corruption scandal rocked the country's war-hit energy sector

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, November 20, 2025

'But that is premised on the principle underpinning that, which is central to me, which is that the future of Ukraine must be determined by Ukraine and we must never lose sight of that principle underpinning the just and lasting peace that we all want to see.'

President Donald Trump is demanding an answer from Zelensky on the peace plan by Thursday, but an extension on finalising the deal remains possible.

It comes after Ukrainian officials said feeling 'f***ing mind blown has become our norm,' after Trump threatened to cut key support for Kyiv if it did not agree to the framework of the proposal.

Russia is grinding forward on the battlefield and pounding Ukraine's energy system with missiles and drones as a domestic political crisis unfolds over a massive corruption probe involving senior officials and business elites.

Washington has presented Ukraine with terms that include that Kyiv cede additional territory, curb the size of its military and be barred from joining NATO.

Trump's 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine has sparked astonishment in Kyiv, as officials process how it appears to call for a full capitulation to Vladimir Putin's draconian demands after almost four years of conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump backs the draft proposal that would also see Kyiv pledge never to join NATO.

Ukraine is facing greater pressure from Washington to agree to the framework of a U.S.-brokered peace deal with Russia than in previous negotiation efforts, including threats to cease provision of intelligence and weapons, according to sources familiar with the matter.

One of the sources said that the U.S. wanted Ukraine to sign a framework of the deal by next Thursday.

Reacting to the proposal in an address to the nation on Friday, Zelensky said he would not 'betray' Ukraine, and would propose 'alternatives' to the plan widely seen as giving in to a host of Moscow's demands.

Shops and a car caught fire after the strikes

The pyrotechnics of the State Emergency Service are conducting an inspection of the territory for explosive objects

The leader said his country was facing the critical choice of 'either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,' and that 'today is one of the most difficult moments in our history'.

But despite the pressure to accept the deal, Ukraine will refuse to accept any proposal that violates its 'red lines', the country's top negotiator said on Friday.

'There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines - now or ever,' Kyiv's security council chief and negotiator Rustem Umerov said on social media.

Many of the proposals are 'quite concerning,' according to a European government official, who told AP that Ukraine's allies in the EU were not consulted in peace efforts, and that a bad deal for Kyiv would also be a threat to the bloc's broader security.

Washington's draft appeared to heed to the demands of the Kremlin, whose 2022 invasion has turned into Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

Under the plan, Moscow would not only keep territories that it occupies but get more land currently controlled by Ukraine.

The West would lift sanctions on Russia and Moscow would be invited back into the G8.

The plan would also pile pressure on Zelensky, requiring elections to be held in Ukraine within 100 days - another key demand being pushed by Moscow, which has repeatedly and openly called for the Ukrainian leader to be toppled.

Zelensky has said he will discuss the plan with Trump in the 'coming days' - so far not saying if Kyiv would agree to any of it.

He has insisted his country needed a 'dignified peace'.

'With a neighbour like Russia, defending one's own dignity, freedom, and independence is an extremely difficult task,' he said Friday.

The European Union has not officially received the U.S. proposal but it would be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Lying at the mouth of Strathconon, Scotlands longest glen, the Scatwell Estate has a similarly lengthy story of foreign invasion.

Its name has Norse origins, although its exact meaning is lost in the mists of time. Some believe it means the place where money changed hands, from the words skat, or tax, and vollr, a field.

Another theory is that it derives from the word skati meaning wood or large logs, somewhere the Vikings would raid for its timber. Whatever, Scatwells natural resources have long been coveted by Scandinavian eyes.

These days, little appears to have changed if the recent sale of Scatwell to Danish Lego heiress, Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, is any measure.

Ms Kirk Kristiansens interest in the 3,500-hectare estate in Ross-shire, might seem obvious given that she already owns the neighbouring, and much larger, Strathconon Estate.

Yet, if there was little surprise about the identity of the estates new owner, there was some spluttering over the skat she paid for it  more than 25million for land which one seasoned observer suggested was worth less than a third of that sum.

From Ms Kirk Kristiansens point of view, this must have seemed a logical addition to the more than 28,000 hectares her family already own in this sparsely populated expanse of open hill and narrow mountainous landscape.

And she is hardly the first to spearhead this modern-day Norse invasion, given that her compatriot, Anders Hoch Povlsen, alone owns more than 89,000 hectares - or one per cent of Scotlands total landmass.

Lego heiress Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, who paid 25 million for a 3,300 acres estate in Ross-shire

The Lego empire started as a simple childs toy and became a global brand worth more than 20bn

Nevertheless, the purchase of Scatwell has again brought into sharp focus questions about the concentration of land ownership in the hands of a few rich investors, even as a parliamentary bill has been passed by Holyrood aimed at facilitating the breaking up of these vast holdings and offer them back to the community.

Strathconon Estate, which also manages Scardroy and Ledgowan, said the purchase would help transform the newly amalgamated properties from a classic Highland shooting estate to a wholehearted nature restoration project.

Although this doesnt account for the eye-watering price tag, it may hint at why a woman, worth more than 5bn, who could literally afford to do anything in the world that her heart desires, should choose to spend her time buying up huge swathes of open moorland in the wilds of Scotland.

Such land has become dramatically more expensive over the past decade, as so-called green lairds realise the value of old shooting estates as places of natural capital to restore peatlands and forests.

These can generate credits that corporations invest in to offset their carbon emissions.

While many environmentalists support this shift, the concern for land reformers is that roughly half of all privately owned rural land in Scotland remains in the hands of just 421 landowners and that, to their minds, is empirically wrong.

The SNP Government, egged on by the Scottish Greens, have been keen to diversify ownership and the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is their latest effort, which could allow the government to intervene in private sales and potentially break up large estates. Ministers will be notified before any sale greater than 1,000 hectares, which also gives community groups the opportunity to table a rival bid.

Against such a polarised backdrop, it would be easy to portray the new owner of Scatwell as just another bored billionaire businesswoman looking to swap Lego bricks for a new plaything.

Yet, Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, who turned 49 last Tuesday[NOV 18], would baulk at such descriptions of her as a traditional landowner.

She may have been born into the family which built Lego from a simple childs toy into a global brand worth more than 20bn, but she never showed any desire to run it. Instead, she has used her inherited wealth to pursue her own deep-rooted love of nature.

While the imaginations of children around the world were drawn to the small, brightly-coloured interlocking plastic bricks which Lego produced, it seems the only colour which interested Sofie was green.

In truth, Ms Kirk Kristiansen has always admitted feeling something of an outsider growing up within one of Europes richest families.

Lego is a byword for wealth in Denmark, and especially so in the town of Billund, where Sofies great-grandfather, Ole, a carpenter who started off making wooden toys, dreamed up the concept of the world-famous Lego brick and his son, Godtfredt, helped develop it into a global success story.

Her own father, Kjeld, who would later take over the business, was often away. When he was home, business talk often dominated the dinner table.

The eldest of three, Sofie was born in Switzerland where her parents were based in the early 1970s but returned to Billund as a seven-month-old.

She found it tough to find her feet in this goldfish bowl of a town, where thousands of residents worked for Lego, including many of her classmates parents.

Lego makes around 60 billion bricks per year - and is beloved by children and adults alike

According to the Danish writer Jens Andersen, who has chronicled the Lego story, if there had been layoffs at the company, she didnt dare show her face at school.

While her brother, Thomas, now 46, would eventually go into the business (he now chairs the company), she and her sister, Agnete, 42, took refuge in nature and horses.

At the family home, Schelenborg, a manor house dating to the 13th century on the island of Funen, west of Copenhagen, she was able to escape into the forest, where she forged a close bond with the natural world.

An intensely private person, Sofie once explained: The place I feel most at home has always been in the woods with animals. Its where I can feel who I am. More, she felt compelled to put her love of nature into practice.

She said: I think I always knew that being part of nature was as important to me as breathing. So Im very grateful that my family has supported me in my desire for freedom, allowing me to devote myself 100 per cent to my life with the woods and animals. It is a loving support and understanding that binds us even closer together as a family.

Several years ago, she opted to take a back seat as a passive owner in the company and in November 2023, she sold 720million worth of her shares in the toy company back to her family members so she could focus on conservation projects.

The Schelenborg estate was established by her father as a centre for horse-breeding and equestrian sports, so Sofie and Agnete were in their element from an early age. Agnete became an Olympic dressage rider, competing in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Sofie took to conservation, studying ethnography and social anthropology at Aarhus University in Denmark. When she married the lawyer Christopher Kiaer Thomsen in 2005 her parents gave her as a wedding present a forest estate on the Danish mainland named Klelund Dyrehave, which they have rewilded with the reintroduction of wolves, deer and boar. As the estate website explains: Now we can take a step back and watch nature evolve with a minimum of intervention on our part.

They rebuilt an old hunting lodge as their home and settled into married life. Moving in the upper circles of Danish society, Sofie became close friends with Princess Mary of Denmark, and the pair would holiday with their families in Klosters.

But within a decade, Sofies marriage had crumbled and in 2014, the couple divorced. Sofie and the couples two daughters continued to live at the hunting lodge while the Danish tabloid press, eager to detect scandal, reported that her husband was in a relationship with Christina Rehnquist, a flight attendant on one of the Lego familys private jets.

Amid the swirling publicity, Sofie retreated further into her conservation work.

She set up the organisation Earthkeeper, using her billions to further its aim of funding projects that create breathing spaces for the natural world. Its projects include the conservation of virgin rainforest in Ecuador and handing over her Danish estate to wild nature.

On its website, she writes: Since my earliest childhood, I have felt two things most strongly in my life: a desire to make a difference, and a strong sense of love for and oneness with nature.

To that end, she adds: I am nourished on a deep spiritual level by my sense of oneness with every little facet of nature; a sense of connectedness with the infinite love that is the source of all things. You could say Earthkeeper is my way of balancing my inner and outer worlds.

In his book, The Lego Story, Mr Andersen, wrote: Sofies decision to be a passive owner in Lego stems from a desire to be able to fully devote herself to her everlasting love of nature, which originates from her many childhood memories at Schelenborg, where she could be herself in the forests and with the animals without anyone expecting more than that.

But while this child of Lego continues to lean on the familys fortune to save the planet, the companys own green credentials have been called into question.

Lego makes around 60 billion bricks per year, but the type of plastic it needs uses roughly two tonnes of petrochemicals to produce each tonne of Lego.

It ploughs millions each year into research to find more sustainable ways of working, including switching to renewable energy to power its network of factories.

But its been slow progress.

Meanwhile, its reputation took a hit in 1997 when a ship accident off the UK coast led to 62 containers (some with nearly 5 million Lego pieces) falling into the sea.

Some pieces are still being discovered almost 30 years on. For a company whose name derives from the Danish phrase legt godt, meaning play well, it was acute embarrassment.

Climate change activists also point to the three private jets the Kristiansen family own (including one belonging to Sofie) to jet around Europe.

Yet any heavy polluting activities have not translated into any major consumer backlash as Legos popularity among children and a new wave of affluent AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) has surged amid tie-ins with Star Wars, Harry Potter and F1.

Nor has it deterred Sofie Kirk Kristiansen from her core purpose and in her bid to widen her foothold in the Highlands, money would prove no object.

When the deed of sale for Scatwell was obtained by land reform campaigner and former Green MSP Andy Wightman and published on his Land Matters blog, he labelled the 25.2million price tag for what amounted to high hill ground and some woodland as astonishing.

He suggested the market value would be closer to 7million and criticised the deal as one example of the growing concentration of private rural landownership in Scotland in the past decade, adding that the huge sums being spent are pricing local communities out of any hope of mounting buyouts.

Ms Kirk Kristiansen might argue that it was her father, Kjeld, who originally purchased the main Strathconon Estate in 1995 before handing it over to her, so it was already in the family.

Like her fellow Dane, Povlson, she wants to see the land moved away from a traditional shooting estate and returned to wild nature through native woodland recovery, peatland restoration and managing the deer population.

She hopes to improve habitats for key native species such as golden eagle, ptarmigan, otter, salmon, red squirrel and Scots pine.

One frequent criticism of rewilders is that they place nature above people  Sofie employs just 16 staff on her Highland estates.

But she has tried to build good relations with the local community, improving tenants houses, restoring the village hall and notably, at one stage, stepping in to save a school when it faced threat of closure.

One local source, who asked not to be named, said: I dont think anyone has looked after a place as well as they have. They scrimp on nothing when it comes to looking after employees and the estate.

Sir Edward Mountain, MSP for the Highlands, who worked with her for several years as a land manager, backs that view.

He said: The family always invested in the local community and worked with them, whether it was running the Strathconon Games, which were always held on the estate, or helping to maintain the Strathconon Hall.

Sofie is a particularly nice woman, but I think the whole family is. It was a pleasure to work with them and we should welcome their continued involvement in Scotland.

She may dream of constructing her own private wilderness, but Sofie Kirk Kristiansen will remain the landowner that Lego built. Brick by brick.
John Swinney has been urged to apologise for his role in the SNPs botched response to the Covid pandemic.

The First Minister is facing demands to explain his part in the Scottish Government failings during the outbreak, when he was deputy First Minister and education secretary.

Despite later being Covid recovery secretary, he left his deputy Kate Forbes to respond to damning findings from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday.

The calls came as grieving families accused the SNP leadership of being too slow to act after it emerged the pandemic was relegated to any other business at her cabinet.

The Scottish Covid Bereaved group said it was clear from the viruss spread across Europe that something terrible was headed to Scotland in February 2020.

Yet Nicola Sturgeon and Mr Swinney didnt treat it with the urgency it deserved.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, his partys shadow Covid recovery secretary, said: Families bereaved by Covid will rightly be furious if John Swinney doesnt answer questions on the inquirys report as soon as possible in Parliament.

Having already shamefully deleted his WhatsApp messages from during the pandemic, it would be deeply insulting if he didnt offer a formal apology to those who lost loved ones.

John Swinney walks masked through Holyrood with Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic

John Swinney gets his Covid vaccine at Blairgowrie Town Hall in 2021

He was at the heart of the SNP government and responsible for decisions which had devastating consequences when the virus struck.

We are used to senior SNP figures failing to be transparent and desperate to avoid scrutiny but that isnt an option here for the First Minister.

Baroness Hallets devastating 800-page report blasted Boris Johnsons chaotic Downing Street response to Covid.

But she also criticised Ms Sturgeon for sidelining her cabinet, making unminuted decisions in a Gold Command clique, and undermining transparency.

She also said the former FMs far-fetched plan to eliminate Covid from Scotland was inappropriate and destined to fail given the open border with England.

Hours before the reports publication, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar asked Mr Swinney to apologise for the SNP Governments mistakes and for deleting WhatsApp messages which should have been Inquiry evidence.

Mr Swinney expressed heartfelt sympathies to those who lost loved ones, and said he regretted peoples suffering, but did not say sorry.

Scottish Labour deputy Dame Jackie Baillie said: The report published by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has now confirmed beyond any doubt that John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon hoarded power and made crucial decisions without even discussing it with the Scottish Cabinet.

John Swinney may hope that he can simply deflect blame and move on from the part he played in the catastrophic failings of the SNP during the pandemic.

However, unlike his WhatsApp messages, he cannot delete the evidence and pretend that his hands were not all over this mess. He must now come clean.

The First Minister should make a statement to Parliament following publication of this report and finally offer all those who were impacted by the Scottish Governments decisions during the pandemic the apology they deserve.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: There is no doubt that the First Minister will need to appear before Parliament to account for his decisions.

I hope he will use his time to end the culture which saw key meetings take place without civil servants in the room and WhatsApp messages about key decisions deleted.

Grieving relatives have been forever denied an understanding of the rationale behind life-or-death decisions by the actions of SNP ministers.

Decisions here regularly diverged from those in the rest of the UK, sometimes with tragic consequences. I think the public are entitled to answers as to why this happened.

John Swinney arriving for 'Topical Questions', August 25, 2020

In her report, Baroness Hallett highlighted how Covid was only discussed under any other business in a Scottish cabinet meeting as late as 25 February 2020, despite a terrifying surge in cases in Italy that month.

She said Ms Sturgeon and Mr Swinney, as FM and deputy FM, should have realised that by then it was the most pressing issue facing the Scottish Government.

But February 2020 was a lost month for the UK and devolved governments responses, and their lack of urgency and failure to take emergency steps was inexcusable, she said.

Margaret Waterton, who lost her 86-year-old mother to Covid in June 2020, and attended the Inquiry as a member of the Scottish Covid Bereaved, told BBC Radio Scotland she understood Ms Sturgeons defence that Covid was a completely unprecedented event.

But she went on: Its about the timeous nature of the decisions that were being made.

Theres evidence in the report of the Scottish Government discussing Covid under any other business in February in 2020, when we were sitting at home watching the pictures coming from Italy and other countries across Europe.

So we knew there was something terrible coming our way, and they were just slow to act.

Ms Sturgeon defended her actions on Thursday, saying she had been leading from the front, and denied her cabinet was merely a rubber stamp for her inner circles decisions.

But Ms Waterton said the absence of Gold Command minutes meant youve got no idea whos saying what, how decisions were made and what the contrary voices were.

Ms Sturgeon declined to comment.

The First Ministers office was asked for comment.

A Scottish Government spokesman said its full focus throughout the pandemic was on protecting the people of Scotland.
A last-ditch attempt has been launched by residents to stop the government bringing 600 male migrants to an army camp in an English town.

Wealden District Council issued the legal challenge today over plans to house the asylum seekers at Crowborough Training Camp, East Sussex.

In a statement, the local authority requested further details of building works currently taking place and proof they are lawful.

It comes amid ongoing demonstrations from locals and chants of 'Starmer out' as well as reports of safety fears.

And workers have already begun converting the army barracks into accommodation for the 600 lone male migrants, with a secondary security fence and residential huts erected as well as high-speed fibre cabling laid out.

The base is being hastily converted as part of Labour's bid to reduce the use of hotels, which cost taxpayers nearly 6million a day.

Wealden District Council said the Planning Contravention Notice was served this afternoon.

A spokesman said the purpose was to obtain 'detailed information about what building works are happening now' to determine 'the basis on which they deem the works to be lawful'.

The camp and barracks were previously used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 before they were resettled elsewhere

Guards with dogs were seen patrolling Crowborough Army Training Camp in East Sussex today

Protesters in Crowborough, East Sussex, hold placards and march through the town centre

The council added: 'This will help to identify whether there are any grounds for challenge in relation to planning law or more generally.'

A stop notice could be issued by the planning authority after it has inspected the Home Office plans.

The council said: 'By law, planning enforcement powers, such as Stop Notices and Enforcement Notices can only be used after there has been a breach of planning control, not pre-emptively in the way that is being suggested by some parties.'

Crowborough is one of two sites identified by the Home Office as suitable for around 1000 migrants in total.

The barracks were previously used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 before they were resettled elsewhere.

The camp itself has a proud history going back to the war, when it was used by Canadian forces preparing for D-Day.

A third weekend of marching is planned for Crowborough on Sunday.

Joanna Ince, whose farm is located close to the training camp, said locals should be given more time to explain why the site is 'unsuitable'.

Around 2,000 people were understood to have joined a march earlier this month

A sign held up at the protest reads '600 unnamed individuals, single men, free to roam'

Kim Bailey, Chair of Crowborough Shield - a grassroots organisation which has challenged the Home Office - said proposed changes to asylum laws will not change anything in her town

She added: 'The announcement was just dropped on us from a great height with no consultation and no detail and it is the fear of the unknown that is really worrying people.

'There doesn't seem to be any firm plans to consult with ordinary people and ask them about whether these plans are suitable.

'I think we should be able to tell them why it isn't suitable.'

Another resident, Deena Reid, added: 'It's absolutely infuriating.

'The Home Office is just going to plough through with this deeply unpopular move. They are opening themselves up to legal action.'

Kim Bailey, who chairs Crowborough Shield, a local group that is challenging the Home Office on the issue, has raised more than 12,000 to fund legal action. She said: 'The strength of feeling is just incredible. Their whole plan is wrong.'

Speaking of today's announcement, she added: 'Crowborough Shield welcomes the decision of Wealden District Council to finally take practical steps to hold the Home Office to account over these proposals.

'It is regrettable that Crowborough Shield and local people had to go to such lengths to compel WDC to do anything at all by way of challenging the Government.

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'WDC are finally executing on a strategy that we provided them with. 'We are continuing to prepare our legal case as we expect the Home Office to ignore or dispute WDC's notice.

'The Home Secretary has acted in bad faith throughout this process and sadly we do not anticipate that she will change her approach without the intervention of the Courts.'

Under the Home Office's proposals, the 600 men would be free to come and go.

But locals also claimed there weren't enough police officers to cover the countryside town - which borders Ashdown Forest, the setting for the Winnie the Pooh stories.

'This is a very rural area, surrounded by forest,' Ms Bailey said. 'If crimes were to happen, they are going to go unheard.'

The Home Office has said public safety 'remains our first priority'.

The plans coincide with a broader drive to toughen up the UK's asylum system through a series of Denmark-style reforms unveiled on Sunday by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

There will be reviews of refugee status every 30 months, with people returned if their home countries have become safe.

But the announcement already risks being overshadowed by a revolt among Labour backbenchers over proposals to seize migrants' jewellery.

The Home Office has also announced a ban on visas from three African countries - Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo - if they do not co-operate more on the removal of illegal migrants.
A Wisconsin man accused of killing a couple in cold blood to avenge his father's freak snowmobile death is now walking free, and the victim's families are furious.

Tony Haase, 54, was charged in 2022 with first-degree intentional homicide of 23-year-old Tanna Togstad, 23, and Timothy 'Tim' Mumbrue, 35, for the March 1992 double homicide.

The couple had been in Togstad's farmhouse when Haase allegedly entered, stabbing Mumbrue multiple times before sexually assaulting and stabbing Togstad and killing Togstad's dog, according to prosecutors. The couple was last seen alive around 11.30 pm at a local bar.

The savage crime rattled the tight-knit rural community of Weyauwega, Waupaca County.

Investigators had been working the case for decades until they eventually got a break when the daughter of one of the original suspects came forward, and Haase was identified as a possible suspect.

He was facing life in prison and was being held on a $2 million bond, but a shocking twist in the case occurred in August when a Waupaca County jury found Haase not guilty.

The NBC Dateline episode 'Raising the Dead' airs Friday at 9 p.m./8 p.m. CT. Host Keith Morrison exclusively interviews family members and friends of victims Mumbre and Togstad, and the family of Haase.

Retired Chief Deputy Al Kraeger, Retired Agent Mike Sasse, and Detective Captain Nick Traeger, who also worked on the case, are also interviewed.

Couple Tanna Togstad, 23, and Timothy 'Tim' Mumbrue, 35, were brutally stabbed on March 21, 1992 at Togstad's farmhouse in rural Wisconsin

Tony Haase was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in 2022. In August, he was acquitted of the charges

Haase was seven years old when his father was killed in a snowmobile crash during an outing with two of his dad's friends.

It was December 31, 1977, and one of those drivers of the snowmobile was Togstad's father.

Wisconsin authorities had long suspected Haase may have been involved in the double murder, but were only able to take a DNA sample from him following a traffic stop on July 6, 2022.

Then on Monday, July 18, 2022, a Wisconsin State Crime Lab analyst found that the DNA was 'consistent with the profile previously detected from the bodily fluids recovered from the body of Togstad,' according to the criminal complaint.

He was arrested three days later at his place of employment, the Waupaca Foundry, the complaint says, and was brought in for questioning.

At first, the criminal complaint says, Haase denied he had anything to do with the murders of Togstad and Mumbrue, but after a while, authorities say, he admitted 'he was afraid he was involved.'

In the criminal complaint, Haase said his father was operating a snowmobile in a group of three that was racing. The second snowmobile hit his father, and his father was killed. The third snowmobile then ran over the driver of the second.

Haase said it was 'a horrible accident.' One of the other snowmobile drivers was Tanna Togstad's father,' WSAW News7/WLUK reported.

Haase admitted to investigators that he went to Togstad's home on March 20, 1992, it is claimed. He had been in a 'drunken stupor' after going bar hopping and started thinking about the snowmobile crash that killed his father and involved Togstad's father.

He insisted he did not plan to hurt anybody, but had 'snippets' of memories of knifing Togstad and Mumbrue. In the complaint, he described getting into a 'scuffle' with Mumbrue, but said 'he could not remember if he had brought a knife or if the knife was at the house.

Togstad's home on Butternut Ridge Road in Royalton is where the double homidice took place

The prosecution (left) and the defense sparring during the August trial

During the 'scuffle,' he and Mumbrue were wrestling while standing up, and he moved his arm in a stabbing motion toward Mumbrue's chest. He described Mumbrue falling to the floor near the foot of the bed, the complaint said.

He recalled Togstad yelling, 'What the f***?' and that is when he punched her in the face, and when she started to stir, that is when he stabbed her in the chest.

Haase said he did not tell investigators when they asked him because he 'didn't want it to sound like he had it planned.'

He also told investigators he did not know why he did it, and when he saw the news report, he thought 'Holy f---, what did I do,' the complaint states.

Tim's older sister Tina Spierings described her brother as 'her protector' and was crushed with the verdict

Rick Togstad continues to fight for his sister Tonna. He filed a civil wrongful death suit against Haase weeks after the trial

During the August trial at the Waupaca County Courthouse, the prosecution stated that Haase was guilty of murdering the couple at the Royalton home, and the DNA evidence proves that he was there.

'We are here today, and we know exactly who did this crime. Those swabs knew. The science knew and was waiting for technology to catch up,' the prosecution said.

They also showed Haase's confession tape to the jury with the prosecution stating: 'There are only three people who know if Tony 's confession was truthful, and two of them are dead.'

The defense argued that the DNA evidence and the evidence from the crime scene were mishandled and unreliable, specifically, the crime scene collection, the fingerprints, the DNA, and the blood at the scene, and the handprints that were on one of the doors of the home.

They also argued that the confession was coerced. The defense also attempted to pin the murder on Haase's uncle, Jim Tiel.

'They were just desperate to arrest somebody for this notorious crime,' the defense said.

Haase's wife, Tracy Haase, who was at her husband's trial every day, told Dateline's Keith Morrison 'In my heart, I know he did not do this. There is no possible way he could have ever done something like that.'

However, the victims' families and friends are devastated and continue to fight.

Togstad's brother, Rick Togstad, filed a civil wrongful death suit against Haase.

'It isn't about financial gain,' he told Morrison. 'I don't want his house. I don't want his retirement. Acknowledgement is what I want.'

The case officially remains unsolved.
Defence secretary John Healey is facing embarrassment after failing to pay the full council tax on his second home in Westminster.

Mr Healey became the latest senior minister to face questions about his financial affairs after an administrative error by Westminster Council left him underpaying by almost 1,500.

The local authority admitted it had made an error due to an oversight and Mr Healey has now paid the full sum owed. The council has also apologised.

But the mix up is potentially embarrassing for Labour, which has seen a string of senior figures, including Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner face questions about their failure to meet their legal obligations.

The Conservatives said Mr Healey still had questions to answer about why he had failed to notify the council when he received an incorrect bill.

Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: Whether its the anti-corruption minister being investigated for corruption, the homelessness minister who evicted her own tenants, or the housing secretary who failed to pay her stamp duty, with this Government it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.

Now we learn the Defence Secretary underpaid his council tax. This comes as the Labour Government is hiking council tax bills for everyone else across the country.

Healey needs to come clean about what he knew and when. If we cannot trust senior ministers to keep their own tax affairs in order, how can we trust them to run the country?

Admin error: Allies of John Healey say Westminster Council sent him the wrong bill

John Healey with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales earlier this week

Following the introduction of the second home council charge surcharge this year, the council tax bill for Mr Healeys Westminster flat effectively doubled to 2,938.

A spokesman for the defence secretary said he notified the local authority that the property was a second home. But the council billed him as if it was his primary residence, charging only half the amount due.

The spokesman added: The Secretary of State fulfilled all his obligations as a tenant by notifying Westminster Council of the second home status of the tenancy on the council tax registration form when the tenancy began.

Westminster Council made an administrative error which failed to classify it as a second home for council tax purposes, and led to an incorrect council tax notice being issued. The Council have accepted fault and apologised for the error.

Westminster Council have rectified this mistake and the council tax liability, including the second homes surcharge, on the London flat has been paid in full.

Mr Healeys main home is in his South Yorkshire constituency, where he has lived for decades. An ally said there could have been no financial gain from underpaying his council tax in Westminster as it is covered by his MP expenses.

He has been renting the flat in Westminster since November last year and uses it as a base when working in London.

A spokesman for Westminster Council said: The Secretary of State filled in the form correctly and registered the address as a second home. There was an oversight by the council, and we did not register it as a second home. This led to an incorrect council tax notice being issued. We apologise for the error.

The second home surcharge was introduced by the last Conservative government and has been taken up by more than 200 councils since it came into force in April this year.

Ms Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister in September after it emerged she had failed to pay 40,000 in stamp duty on an 800,000 second home in Hove.

Ms Reeves faced calls to quit after she broke the law by failing to acquire the licence needed to rent out her south London home. Yesterday she acknowledged she had a duty to get it right but added: I dont think anyone can say theyve never made an admin error.
Thousands of commuters say they are experiencing travel 'hell' after a signalling fault brought trains to a halt and has plunged a major London station into chaos.

Hordes of travellers were seen looking in despair at information boards at London Euston station following an issue on the West Coast Main Line in the Stafford area.

Videos and photographs captured at the scene show the station packed to the hilt with travellers during Friday night's rush hour.

Avanti West Coast has issued a 'do not travel' warning for all routes between London and Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead and Preston.

Lines have since reopened but commuters are being warned of continuing cancellations and delays of up to 90 minutes.

A statement on the Avanti West Coast website said: 'Cancellations and delays are expected until the end of the day due to a major fault with the signalling system earlier in the Stafford area.

'This has affected multiple Avanti West Coast routes, including journeys to/from Manchester, Liverpool, Scotland and North Wales.

'Please do not attempt to travel on these routes today due to this major disruption.'

Thousands of commuters say they are experiencing travel 'hell' after a signalling fault brought trains to a halt and has plunged Euston station into chaos

Hordes of travellers were seen looking in despair at information boards at London Euston station following an issue on the West Coast Main Line in the Stafford area

The rail operator added that anyone with tickets dated for today can now use them tomorrow at no extra cost, on any Avanti West Coast service via the same route.

It urged people to avoid travelling to Euston while the disruption continues.

Several other train operators and routes have also been affected, including CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, and Birmingham New Street to Oxford, Reading and the South Coast.

Northern services have also been disrupted between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly.

This is a breaking news story, more follows.
The United States has issued a terrifying new warning for the airspace around Venezuela as Donald Trump dispatched a B-52 nuclear bomber for an 'attack demo.'

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sent out a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) at 1.08pm ET alerting pilots, airlines, and air traffic controllers of a 'potentially hazardous situation' in and around Venezuela.

Just hours later, the Air Force announced that last night a B-52 - along with KC-135 Stratotankers and fighter jets - 'conducted a bomber attack demo' in the Southern Command area of operations set up to deter illegal drug runners from Venezuela.

The FAA notice warns of a 'worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.'

'Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground,' the FAA notice states.

The warning is for the Maiquetia Flight Information Region, which includes Venezuelan airspace and parts of the southern Caribbean - such as Colombia, Guyana, Brazil, and Trinidad.

Trump on Monday refused to rule out strikes on Venezuela amid the largest build-up of American troops in the Caribbean since the Cold War.

The president is waging war against 'narco-terrorists', which the administration accuses of funneling drugs into the US on the orders of socialist tyrant Nicolas Maduro.

The Air Force announced that last night a B-52 - along with KC-135 Stratotankers and fighter jets - 'conducted a bomber attack demo' in the Southern Command area of operation set up to deter illegal drug runners from Venezuela.

President Donald Trump waits to welcome Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, Tuesday

File photo of Venezuelan Sukhois Su 30MK2 flying over Caracas

Trump reiterated that he 'probably would talk to' Maduro, but underscored that he is not taking the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territory off the table. Hours later, Maduro said he was open to dialogue with the Trump administration.

'I don't rule out that. I don't rule out anything,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

The president, however, sidestepped questions about whether Maduro could say anything to him that would lead to the US backing off its military show of force.

'He's done tremendous damage to our country,' said Trump, tying Maduro to the inflow of drugs and illegals. 'He has not been good to the United States, so we'll see what happens.'

The comments from both leaders deepened the uncertainty about the Trump administration's next steps toward Maduro's government.

America has ratcheted up the pressure in recent days, saying it expects to designate a criminal gang, the Cartel de los Soles, as a terrorist organization. The White House says this cartel is led by Maduro.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying warships arrived in the Caribbean this weekend just as the US military announced its latest in a series of strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs.

The administration says its actions are a counterdrug operation meant to stop narcotics from flowing to American cities, but some analysts, Venezuelans and the country's political opposition see them as an escalating pressure tactic against Maduro.

A member of the Bolivarian Militia holds a weapon during a rally amid rising tensions with the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, October 30

The Trump administration has shown it 'can turn policy on a dime,' said Geoff Ramsey, an expert on US policy toward Venezuela who is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

He pointed to the diplomatic talks the administration held with Iran 'right up until the point' that the US military targeted Iran's nuclear facilities in June.

But, Ramsey added, the timing of Trump's remarks - after Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement of the impending terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles - underscores that the administration does not want to repeat failed attempts at dialogue.

'They really want to negotiate from a place of strength, and I think the White House is laying out an ultimatum for Maduro,' Ramsey said. 'Either he engages in credible talks about a transition, or the US will have no choice but to escalate.'

Maduro has negotiated with the US and Venezuela's political opposition for several years, most notably in the two years before the July 2024 presidential election.

Those negotiations resulted in agreements meant to pave the way for a free and democratic election, but Maduro repeatedly tested their limits, ultimately claiming victory despite credible evidence that he lost the contest by a 2-to-1 margin.

Among the concessions the U.S. made to Maduro during negotiations was approval for oil giant Chevron Corp. to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil. The corporations activities in the South American country resulted in a financial lifeline for Maduros government.

During his weekly television show Monday, Maduro addressed Trump's comments, saying that 'free countries and governments should only understand each other through diplomacy.'

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures on the day of a march marking Venezuelan Student Day, in Caracas, Venezuela, November 21

'Anyone who wants to engage in dialogue will find in us people of their word, decent people, and people with the experience to lead Venezuela,' he said. Later, in English, he added: 'Talk, yes. Peace, yes. War, no. Never, never, war.'

A spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado told reporters Monday that she would not comment on Trump's remarks.

The president didn't even rule out possible military action against close allies in the region.

'Would I want strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? OK with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs,' Trump said, adding that hes 'not happy with Mexico.'

Trump said the US government has drug corridors from Mexico 'under major surveillance' and said he would also like to target Colombias 'cocaine factories.'

'Would I knock out those factories? I would be proud to do it personally. I didn't say I'm doing it - but I would be proud to do it,' he said.

Trump's goal on Venezuela remains unclear, but above all, Ramsey said, the president 'is looking for a win.'

'And he may be flexible on exactly what that looks like,' Ramsey said. 'I could envision the US pushing for greater control over Venezuelas natural resources, including oil, as well as greater cooperation with the presidents migration and security goals.'

In Venezuela's capital, Caracas, people responded with skepticism and hope to the possibility of a new dialogue between the US and Maduro, whose government has fueled rumors of a ground invasion despite the Trump administration giving little clear indication of such a plan.

'If (the dialogue) actually happens, I hope the government will actually follow through this time,' shopkeeper Gustavo Garcia, 38, said as he left church. 'We have to be serious. They've gotten us used to them talking, but they dont honor the agreements. You dont mess with Trump.'

Stay-at-home mother Mery Martinez, 41, said, 'Talking is always better.'

'Anything that helps prevent a tragedy is good,' Martinez said. 'Venezuelans dont deserve this. A war benefits no one.'
China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 seen spurring biz

16:36, November 21, 2025 By REN QI ( China Daily

A foreign exhibitor (left) answers visitor queries about footwear during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Sept 17. LU BOAN/XINHUA

The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol will inject more confidence and momentum into regional and global economic growth, officials and experts said.

Signed on Oct 28 in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the 28th China-ASEAN Summit, and witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the agreement marked a major step in regional economic integration.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the effective implementation of the agreement would bring new economic opportunities to the region.

"As long as ASEAN and China continue to redouble our efforts to cooperate, we can keep driving sustainable and inclusive growth in our region and deliver lasting benefits for all," Wong said.

He Yadong, spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce, said the two sides will now complete their respective domestic approval procedures to ensure the protocol takes effect as soon as possible.

The CAFTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol expands cooperation to nine major areas, adding five new pillars: the digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, competition and consumer protections, as well as support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The ministry said the framework reflects a shared commitment to shaping global trade rules and deepening collaboration in emerging sectors.

He described the signing as a milestone that extends economic integration beyond traditional trade and investment facilitation into digital, green and standards-related domains.

The upgrade, he said at a news conference, will promote digital enablement, green industry cooperation, supply chain interconnectivity, and regulatory and standards alignment, accelerating the integration of the regional market and industrial and supply chains.

"Enterprises on both sides are highly attentive to the protocol because they see the substantial business opportunities it contains," he added.

Trade data underline the relationship's weight. In the first three quarters, China's trade with ASEAN reached 5.57 trillion yuan ($763 billion), up 9.6 percent year-on-year and accounting for 16.6 percent of China's total foreign trade, said the General Administration of Customs. ASEAN remains China's largest trading partner.

Corporate leaders see the upgrade reinforcing structural shifts.

"China's cooperation with ASEAN continues to deepen. We are seeing investments in next-generation sectors such as electric vehicles, digital payments and consumer brands that are accelerating the ongoing build-out of regional supply chain systems," said Sunil Kaushal, co-head at corporate and investment banking of Standard Chartered.

"This transition strengthens the widespread use of the renminbi in the region, enabling companies to conduct business with greater certainty and financial efficiency."

Several Chinese provincial-level regions with close economic and trade ties to ASEAN are ramping up efforts to tap into regional cooperation opportunities. Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a key driver of China-ASEAN cooperation, inaugurated the CAFTA 3.0 enterprise service station on the same day the upgrade protocol was signed. The station aims to provide comprehensive services for businesses, including policy interpretation and market expansion support.

On the same day, Nanning, Guangxi's capital, hosted a cooperation exchange conference focusing on rule alignment and trade promotion related to ASEAN. The event featured policy briefings, achievement releases and practical experience sharing to assist enterprises in meeting ASEAN compliance requirements.

Li Guanghui, dean of academic affairs at the China-ASEAN School of Economics at Guangxi University, said the protocol will advance deep integration of production and supply chains and play an important role in deepening China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation.

Lei Xiaohua, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies under the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, said the inclusion of the digital economy, cross-border e-commerce and the green economy offers fresh opportunities for upgrading, transforming and optimizing trade cooperation by expanding its scope and enhancing quality.

A defining feature of the 3.0 arrangement is stronger coordination of standards and mutual recognition of rules, providing institutional safeguards for more efficient, stable and convenient cooperation in future digital economy domains as well as traditional trade areas, Lei said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Usha Vance was spotted at an official engagement without her wedding ring, weeks after husband JD Vance publicly revealed the religious divide in their marriage.

The Second Lady was ringless during her visit to Camp Lejeune military base in Richlands, North Carolina on Wednesday with First Lady Melania Trump.

Photos show Usha, 39, getting off a plane with her left hand in full view  and the wedding band nowhere to be seen.

Additional images from Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River confirm the ring remained off throughout the visit.

The Vice President, meanwhile, was photographed wearing his wedding band during a speaking event in Washington on Thursday.

The image comes after weeks of nasty trolls whispering about the state of the Vance marriage, which began in October with the Vice President's tight hug he gave to Erika Kirk during a memorial for her husband, the right wing activist Charlie Kirk.

The speculation about a possible rift between the Second Couple was fueled by the VP admitting that he has pleaded with his wife to convert from Hinduism: he is a Roman Catholic.

The visit was the first joint engagement for Usha and Melania and was designed to cheer up the troops ahead of Thanksgiving.

Second Lady Usha Vance was seen traveling to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on Wednesday with her wedding finger noticeably bare

Usha's wedding band was missing as she delivered remarks to military personnel on November 19. Meanwhile, husband JD was seen with his wedding ring at a speaking event in Washington the following day

They also went to Lejeune High School and met with students before going to a nearby elementary school for arts and crafts projects with other children.

What's more, photos of Usha's previous appearance on November 10  a joint visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with her husband  show she was not wearing her band at that event either.

As the photos began circulating on X, commenters suggested that Usha may be not-so-subtly indicating her feelings towards her husband, 41.

One user joked that Usha was 'Quiet Quitting her husband' while another said 'there were signs' and posted an image of Vance hugging Kirk.

Others were more supportive of Usha and Kori Talbot wrote: 'Yes, many people (not just women) don't wear their wedding rings all the time.

'But she has to know she'll be photographed and it will be commented/speculated onso I definitely think it's purposeful to make some sort of "statement".'

Gina Milan wrote: 'So many people leave their wedding rings at home when they travel. Plenty take them off at night and forget to put them back on because they're juggling kids and real life. And somehow these clowns spin that into a 'gotcha'? The reach is absolutely insane'.

When contacted by the Daily Mail a spokesperson for the Second Lady said Usha 'is a mother of three young children who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes'.

Kirk and Vance's embrace happened last month in Utah at a memorial event for Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while hosting a campus event weeks earlier.

The vice president and second lady were photographed together on November 10 during a visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Usha was also seen without her ring

Usha, who has been married to the VP since 2014, was last photographed with her wedding band on November 8 at the Marine Ball

The Vice President was seen awkwardly putting his hands around the waist of Kirk, a former reality TV contestant, and hugging her tightly while she apppeared to run her hands through his hair.

Lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Mirror US that Kirk could be seen saying: 'I can't do this, I don't want to do it'.

When she took to the stage and hugged Vance, he told her: 'I'm proud of you'.

In an interview late last month, the Vice President revealed another point of contention between him and his wife  their different faiths.

The Second lady is Hindu and did not grow up in a religious household, according to her husband.

Vance, on the other hand, is a devout Catholic who plans to raise his three children in a Christian household.

'Now, most Sundays Usha will come with me to church,' Vance told a MAGA audience at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi.

'Yes, my wife did not grow up Christian. I think it's fair to say that she grew up in a Hindu family but not a particularly religious family in either direction,' he said.

Following an emotional speech, during which Erika evoked her late husband, she greeted the Vice President on-stage with a hug

The vice president converted to Catholicism in 2019, while Usha, the mother of his three children, grew up in a non-religious Hindu household

The Vice President then revealed he had told Usha that he would like her to 'believe in the Christian Gospel,' the first time Vance publicly revealed that he wanted Usha to convert to Christianity.

'As I've told her, and I've said publicly, and I'll say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends,' Vance continued. 'Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church?

'Yeah, I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.'

He added: 'But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me.'
Freedom of speech in the UK is under threat, the US ambassador has warned an audience including David Lammy.

Warren Stephens urged the country to reject laws which threaten free speech as he hit out at 'excessive government interference' and 'malign foreign actors'.

He also said 'individual acts of violence' were threatening free speech during a talk in London on Friday.

Addressing a Pilgrims of Great Britain event at Guildhall, with Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy present, Mr Stephens said the US and UK are bound by 'free markets, free people and free nations'.

While expressing 'faith' in the US-UK trade relationship, he warned of 'concerns', saying Britain risks falling behind unless it lowers energy costs and reforms drug pricing.

Mr Stephens said he was 'angry and disturbed' by recent attacks on religious groups in the UK and the US, including last month's Manchester Synagogue attack.

He added: 'We must condemn this violence for what it is: an attempt to undermine the right of all people to worship, gather and speak freely.

'Where our adversaries wish to instil fear, we respond with freedom. Because freedom makes our societies what they are today.

Freedom of speech in the UK is under threat, US ambassador Warren Stephens has warned an audience including David Lammy

'That means we must refuse to allow policies, laws and regulations to become so broad that they undermine our commitment to freedom of expression.

His remarks come as Sir Keir Starmer and his Government have come under fire from influential American figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, amid accusations that new online safety laws restrict freedom of speech.

The police have also faced accusations of stifling free speech after making a series of arrests for allegedly offensive social media posts.

The debate was brought to the forefront of the public's mind when Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was jailed for stirring up racial hatred in the aftermath of the Southport attack.

She received a 31-month custodial sentence, believed to be the longest for a single social media post, in what critics have argued is evidence of two-tier policing.

In September, Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan was arrested by armed policeman at Heathrow on suspicion of inciting violence in posts he had made on X about transgender people.

Mr Stephens, a chairman, president and CEO of Stephens Inc., a privately owned financial services firm, said: 'Technology is developing rapidly and that poses new challenges for debates over freedom of expression - but as two nations founded on liberty, we must enshrine and defend the freedoms we fought together for in two world wars and in the battle against communism and socialism.'

He also warned that energy policy reform is 'essential' for British industry to 'compete and advance'.

He said: 'Access to new nuclear power remains at least a decade away while wind and solar resources alone cannot fill the gap.

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan was arrested by armed policeman at Heathrow on suspicion of inciting violence in posts he had made on X about transgender people

'To compete effectively, the United Kingdom must utilise all available forms of energy - including oil and gas - and embrace the opportunity to do so with confidence and purpose.

'Through a balanced approach - easing restrictions and lowering taxes on North Sea production and partnering with American firms to advance nuclear energy - the United Kingdom can restore competitive energy costs, strengthen its high-tech economy and ease the burden on households nationwide.'

US President Donald Trump has criticised UK energy policy, urging the Prime Minister to exploit the 'great asset' of North Sea oil and gas.

Sir Keir's Government has previously ruled out new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, focusing on renewables and new nuclear power stations.

Mr Stephens also raised concerns that 'excessive regulatory barriers and anti-growth policies' threaten Britain's pharmaceutical sector.

He continued: 'Pharmaceuticals must be priced fairly and competitively - because, as the US experience shows, when they are, investment flows, innovation accelerates and patients ultimately benefit.

'I hope to see progress being made in this area very soon and I know serious discussions are continuing, probably as we speak.

'Please know that both President Trump and I are deeply invested in your success.'

It comes after US-based Merck and AstraZeneca cancelled or paused investments in the UK in recent months.

Mr Stephens also stressed that the collaboration between the US and UK is 'essential' to 'securing peace for the people in Gaza and hopefully Ukraine'.

He added: 'To meet those challenges, we must continue investing in our own security.'
A unique set of vibrant Hindu paintings worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been banned from leaving the country after the Government made them subject to an export bar.

The Devi Mahatmya - illustrating the tale of the Divine Mother of Hinduism - are valued at 280,000, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

A DCMS spokesman said the 56 paintings present an opportunity for the study of this genre of work and the export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire them for the nation.

The near-complete series of paintings depicts one of the most important narratives in Hinduism, with gold and silver paint used to portray scenes that range from quiet worship to violent battles.

The 200-year-old works of art include a painting showing defeated gods Vishnu and Shiva appealing for help in a scene believed to be unique to this series.

The spokesman said there are no other comparable series surviving in the UK, and the paintings are a reminder of the cultural connection between the UK and the Punjab region.

More than a million Hindus live in the UK, with the paintings presenting an opportunity for their culture to be both researched and celebrated.

Culture Minister Baroness Twycross said: 'This series is not only beautiful, but unique in the UK.

A unique set of vibrant Hindu paintings worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been banned from leaving the country after the Government made them subject to an export bar

The Devi Mahatmya - illustrating the tale of the Divine Mother of Hinduism - are valued at 280,000, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

A DCMS spokesman said the 56 paintings present an opportunity for the study of this genre of work and the export bar will allow time for a UK gallery to acquire them for the nation

'With no other near-complete similar narratives existing in our country, it's vitally important we take the chance now to keep this series in the UK and allow researchers crucial time to unlock its secrets.'

The decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

Committee member Pippa Shirley said: 'In these small, jewel-like paintings, an epic unfolds before our eyes.

'We see the Devi, the divine mother of Hinduism in her various manifestations, as the terrifying, multi-armed Kali slaying demons in ferocious battles contrasted with scenes of courtly life, worship and serene landscapes populated by a menagerie of animals.

'They were prompts for storytelling, recitations of Sanskrit hymns, at weddings or family gatherings and are remarkable for their completeness.

'They throw light on artistic workshop practices and raise questions about social and devotional use and collecting this kind of material in the colonial period.

'They are also a powerful statement of divine female power. With no comparable set in the country, it is important that they remain here so they can be more fully understood and be enjoyed by the widest possible audience.'
Passing the assisted dying Bill could spark an NHS exodus as objecting doctors would have no legal security against being sacked, ministers have been warned.

GPs who refuse to help end a life would receive no protection from being dismissed by the health service, according to the opinion of a leading human rights barrister.

The legal analysis from Aiden ONeill KC highlights the lack of real conscience protections for doctors, nurses, and organisations such as hospices and care homes in the assisted dying Bill.

Mr ONeill represented the women in Aprils landmark Supreme Court gender case.

He raised concerns that if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is passed in its current form, it may undermine the states duties to elderly, disabled and mentally ill people under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr ONeill wrote: General practitioners who refuse or decline to participate in the assisted suicide procedures which the Bill would propose to legalise, would receive no protection against being subject to detriment or dismissal by NHS bodies.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the architect of the legislation, has said that amendments to the Bill mean medical professionals will be under no obligation to participate in the assisted dying process.

The assisted-dying lobby has some famous backers including Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter Rebecca Wilcox (pictured)

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater (pictured) the architect of the legislation, has said changes to the Bill mean medics will be under no obligation to participate in the assisted dying process

She has proposed amending the Employment Rights Act 1996 so that NHS staff would be at no detriment for opting out. But Mr ONeill pointed out that as GPs are not classed as NHS workers, previous case law shows they would not be protected from dismissal.

He adds that GPs would often be the first port of call for somebody seeking an assisted death, so if they object they would still be required to direct people to further information on how to end their life.

He also warns the Scottish assisted dying Bill contains even fewer protections for doctors and nurses and the Scottish Parliament lacks the legislative competence to implement them.

The assisted-dying lobby has some famous backers including Dame Esther Rantzen and her daughter Rebecca Wilcox.

But Michael Robinson, from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children which commissioned the analysis, said: Thousands of doctors and nurses would be put in an invidious position to engage in an action they believe is fundamentally against either their religious or moral beliefs or violates long-held medical ethics that they should do no harm.

Mr Robinson added: The duty of the Lords is clear, fix the bill if possible, and if that is not possible, they must reject it unequivocally, because getting it wrong will put the lives of vulnerable people at risk and will lead to an exodus of medical staff from a sector that is already on its knees.

It comes as members of the House of Lords continued line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill for the second of at least four committee sessions yesterday.

If it becomes law, it will allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel.
The recent alert from MI5 to MPs and staff working at the Palace of Westminster has raised awareness of the threat from Chinese espionage. There's nothing new about it  I should know as I was targeted in 2017. These are a few basic steps anyone should take to be on their guard if they are approached out of the blue.

Look at who's approached you and ask yourself why have I been approached? If it's a pretty young girl in broken English and her profile doesn't match what they're asking, then you should be suspicious.

When I was approached in 2017 it was a man who messaged me on LinkedIn. I was invited to China for an allexpenses paid trip and a $2,000 fee. It was to produce a report for a counterterrorism conference, shortly after the London Bridge attack. It was at an international conference in Shanghai.

This was something I do all the time anyway, so it could have been perfectly legitimate.

The first thing that made me suspicious was the Chinese element.

Any Chinese citizen or organisation, under Article 7 of the Chinese constitution, is required to cooperate with Chinese national intelligence when asked to do so  they have no option.

The same applies to TikTok and to every aspect of society.

When I asked about the fee, that was to be paid in cash when I got to China, which sounded even more alarm bells.

Ex-Army intelligence officer Philip Ingram (pictured) says he was approached by a Chinese spy in 2017

Pictured: Shirly Shen who approached an aide to the Tory MP Neil O'Brien on Linkedin

Pictured: Amanda Qiu the owner of a Linkedin profile that was identified as a potential Chinese spy

Because I ran counterintelligence operations across northwest Europe when I commanded my battalion, I knew what I was doing and decided to play along a little bit to discover what his intelligence priorities were and confirm that he was from the Chinese government.

I suggested it would be better to meet up to have a chat in London or elsewhere in Europe, but there were excuses as to why that wasn't possible. I asked if I could meet an official from the Embassy, but that wasn't possible either.

I suggested that we move from chat on LinkedIn to Proton Mail, a secure email server, knowing full well that the average Chinese individual cannot gain access to Proton Mail in China because it's blocked. Less than 15 minutes later I had an email back from him on Proton, so I knew he had government sanction at a fairly high level.

I then asked him if he was really after more than what was in the public domain, and he readily took the bait and said yes, he wanted private conversations or documents not normally released to the public.

It's not something I would recommend the average person to do, as you're playing with fire. If you're suspicious, just block the contact and think yourself lucky that you spotted it.

If I had accepted the invitation to China, I might have been the focus of an escalating range of strategies to apply pressure to you.

They will try and set you up in any way they think you're vulnerable.

So you may find you're in the hotel bar and surrounded by pretty women who just happen to find you the most attractive man  or attractive woman  they've ever come across, and are only too willing to please.

Ms Qui's Linkedin profile which MPs were warned could be used to target individuals in Parliament

Ms Shen's Linkedin profile claims she is a global headhunter. However, it is not clear if the woman named and pictured on the networking site is the actual account holder

Your room will be bugged with video and audio. Electronic devices will be compromised if you leave them in your room. They'll download everything that's on them and possibly even put hardware on them to allow them to continue to monitor them.

If you download any Chinese software for visas, tourism purposes or anything else, it will be compromised and accessing everything on your device.

If the honeytrap doesn't work, you might find there's a minor altercation in the street or you get mugged and have to talk to the police.

Or your hotel room is raided and they find drugs, or there's some anomaly on your visa when you're trying to leave the country.

They may also consider compromising or threatening your family.

These are professionals. The issues highlighted in Parliament are not necessarily that senior, and could be subcontracted. They're using what I'd call a shotgun effect, very much like dating  you ask 10,000 women and hope that one might say yes.

The Palace of Westminster have seen numerous high profile incidents of Chinese spies trying to infiltrate Parliament in recent years

They'll get the whole Palace of Westminster contact list, along with any people they can find working in the defence, tech, cyber or even engineering industries and trawl away.

If one person says yes, then it's a success.

Those women highlighted by MI5 could be fake profiles, and the photos of pretty young women are clearly designed to lower a man's defences, but that's just one aspect.

Any unsolicited approach that you're not expecting, be immediately suspicious.

Do everything you can to try and confirm the legitimacy of the individual, rather than automatically assume they're legitimate and they really do believe you're the best thing since sliced bread.

People need to remember this is a grooming process and therefore they're looking at a longerterm view. They may not ask for anything that is giving secrets away or anything sensitive for the first months or even years. It's to establish a relationship and once they've done that, they'll start to see where they can take it.

They might say, if you can't do that, can you recommend people who could? That in itself is giving them information, which is useful. Perhaps they'll ask you to make an introduction to someone on LinkedIn.

That is all part of building up the intelligence picture, piece by tiny piece.

Imagine a highquality, big screen TV and you're trying to build a picture, one pixel at a time. You've got people out there finding scraps of information, and building up a picture, dot by dot, and even those supplying the dots can't see the big picture. That's the intelligence game and the Chinese are very good at it.

The Chinese think in multigenerational terms. They throw the whole of their national resources at this.

Part of their effort is data harvesting, sucking in as much as they can get. They will get a little snippet and then use AI to crossreference it with what they are already holding, and that includes anyone with TikTok on their device.

This is not new, and it's something that western intelligence services also try and do, just in different, more targeted ways.

It's why MI5 produced a pamphlet a few years ago called 'Think Before You Link' to raise awareness of this kind of thing and they constantly brief people in government departments.

People don't recognise the level of pervasiveness that the Chinese have achieved throughout our society and, I would submit, neither does the government.

It's no accident that there is an increased percentage of Chinese restaurants around some of our more sensitive government sites, including military and nuclear bases around the country.

They bring in staff from China on shortterm visas and they will happily deliver meals to personnel on base, which gives them an email, a phone number and a name and address. That gives them a start point from an intelligence perspective to try and exploit things further.
If love is blind, it is also anosmic as far as King Charles is concerned, as he put up with Queen Camilla's smoking habit for years before she finally quit.

In fact, there is no greater sign of his 'devotion' to Camilla Parker Bowles than his patience for her past nicotine addiction, royal staff felt, considering he has been a 'fastidious non-smoker' all his life. `

Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth chronicled the King and now Queen's tumultuous love story in his 2005 book 'Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair' - from their first meeting at a polo match in 1970 to their 2005 wedding.

He described in great detail how Charles's marriage to Diana crumbled and why he sought Camilla out years after their brief relationship ended, with Mr Brandreth writing: 'Eventually, in desperation, he "rekindled their earlier friendship" for fear that if he didn't, he might go "stark, raving mad".

This was in 1986, the year that Charles, now 77, and Camilla came back into each other's lives or - as Mr Brandreth described it - 'episode three of the mini-series' of their affair.

By then, his love for Camilla had turned into a full-blown 'obsession', according to Mr Brandreth, as Charles found himself 'morally checkmated'.

While his marriage to Diana had broken down, Charles feared his title meant he could not 'escape her'.

At the same time, he 'could not, would not, give up Camilla' but worried endlessly about the 'indignities' and 'calumnies' he knew his then-mistress was subjected to.

If love is blind, it is also anosmic as far as King Charles is concerned, as he put up with Queen Camilla's smoking habit for years before she finally quit. The now King and Queen are seen together during an engagement at Clarence House in 2005 - the year they finally tied the knot

In fact, there is no greater sign of his 'devotion' to Camilla Parker Bowles than his patience for her past nicotine addiction, royal staff felt, considering he has been a 'fastidious non-smoker' all his life

So, their affair continued - at the homes of 'obliging friends', Balmoral, and Highgrove House - but the late Eighties were a period marked by great turmoil for the future King.

He was so distraught, a friend of the couple claimed, that Charles 'fantasised about escaping to Italy and living in exile' with the only woman who truly loved him - but remained 'loyal' to the throne despite reports of him 'being selfish'.

Accounts of Charles's absolute devotion to Camilla - including overlooking her smoking habit - also came from members of staff at the royal household, including the housekeeper at Highgrove House from 1985 until 1992.

At the time, Britain's former 'playboy prince' was spending several hours playing polo to escape the 'impossibility of my situation' and found it harder and harder to focus on his duties, according to Mr Brandreth.

Charles found that polo distracted him from the misery of his situation because it required total concentration, but it appears the future King remained preoccupied with thoughts of Camilla when he 'came a cropper' during a match in 1990 and broke his arm.

After receiving treatment at two hospitals, including the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, Diana reportedly drove him to Highgrove, hoping to 'nurse and care for him' - but was 'rebuffed' by an 'irritated' Charles.

Her former butler Paul Burrell told Mr Brandreth that Dana left 'feeling "utterly rejected" and "unwanted" before Camilla arrived, much to Charles's delight.

However, Mr Burrell noted, she did not stay over.

Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth chronicled the King and now Queen's tumultuous love story in his 2005 book 'Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair' - from their first meeting at a polo match in 1970 to their 2005 wedding. They are seen here at Windsor Castle after announcing their engagement in February 2005

After smoking for 30 years, Camilla finally ditched the habit in 2001 due to her suffering from rhinitis - or hay fever during pollen season - that irritates the eyes, nose and throat

During those years, the royal butler added, Camilla was a frequent visitor to Highgrove but 'did not effectively move in or host dinner parties'.

Wendy Berry, who served as Highgrove's housekeeper during Charles and Camilla's torrid affair, reported that the monarch was 'always relieved to see her' and made sure to plant a kiss 'firmly on her lips' when she arrived.

Such was his love for Camilla that Charles 'suspended' his acute distaste for smoking as Ms Berry recalled a 'collection of ashtrays' placed around the terrace of Highgrove for Camilla.

Mr Brandreth wrote: 'Here is the paragraph from Wendy Berry's testimony that, for me, illustrates Charles's devotion to his mistress better than any other.'

Quoting Ms Berry, he continued: 'Charles's hatred of smoking was suspended as Camilla puffed away, putting the butts in a collection of ashtrays arranged around the terrace for her benefit.

'Later on Charles would let her run around him like a wife as they invited mutual friends over for drinks and meals,' she reported. 'Sometimes we were told not to get help, but to stay in the background until everyone had left.'

While Charles and Camilla continued their affair behind closed doors, Diana publicly maintained that all was well in her marriage.

Explaining their increasingly frequent solo appearances, and rumours Charles and Diana barely spent any time together by 1987, the late Princess said: 'It's very simple.

'My husband and I get around 2,000 invitations every six months. We can't do them all, but if we split them up, with him doing some and me doing others, we can fulfil twice as many.'

Five years later, her no-holds-barred account of her marriage to the Prince of Wales was published before former Prime Minister John Major confirmed Diana and Charles were separating in a statement at the House of Commons.

The foreword for Andrew Morton's groundbreaking biography Diana: Her True Story read: 'Even at a distance of more than a quarter of a century, it is a scarcely believable story.

'Hollywood producers would dismiss the script as much too far-fetched; a beautiful but desperate princess, an unknown writer, an amateur go-between and a book that would change the Princess's life forever.'

After their separation - and eventual divorce from Diana in 1996 - Charles made his first public appearance with Camilla in 1999, with the couple moving into Clarence House together in 2003.

Their engagement was announced in February 2005 and, 35 years after they first laid eyes on each other at Windsor Great Park, Charles and Camilla were wed in a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005.

After smoking for 30 years, Camilla finally ditched the habit in 2001 due to her suffering from rhinitis - or hay fever during pollen season - that irritates the eyes, nose and throat.

A friend of hers told the Daily Mail at the time that Camilla developed a 'persistent cough' that, although unrelated to her smoking, became the catalyst for her lifestyle change.

Such was his love for Camilla that Charles 'suspended' his acute distaste for smoking as Ms Berry recalled a 'collection of ashtrays' placed around the terrace of Highgrove for Camilla

Then 53, Camilla is believed to have told the friend: 'It wasn't so much me giving up on smoking, rather smoking giving up on me.'

Last November, the Queen spoke about her past smoking habit during her first royal engagement after she was struck down by a nasty chest infection that forced her to cancel a week's worth of events, including over Remembrance Weekend.

Camilla joined Charles, who is patron of the Film and TV Charity, for a Buckingham Palace reception where she caught up with Emily Mortimer.

The Queen is friendly with the Paddington in Peru actress's mother, Penelope, and reportedly asked how she was doing.

When Emily told her 'she's still smoking as much as ever', Camilla is believed to have replied: 'Oh, she's still on the fags?'

When the Mary Poppins Returns star asked Camilla if she had quit, she told Emily: 'Oh, yes, I quit 20 years ago.'

Her son Tom Parker Bowles previously addressed rumours about his mother's smoking habit during an interview with The Times.

'Oh you know she has that reputation of drinking gin and smoking?' he told the newspaper, before adding: 'Never drunk a glass of gin in her life. Doesn't smoke.'
Meghan Markle's practice of asking friends to announce her to guests when she enters a room is at odds with the royal protocol it is seemingly intended to imitate, according to experts.

Meghan was announced by her full title to a room - with only one other person in it - during an interview for Harper's Bazaar.

Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge revealed the bizarre moment happened when she went to interview the Duchess of Sussex at a property in New York.

The writer said that as she walked into the room, the house manager declared: 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex' - despite it only being the three of them inside.

A clearly bemused Ms Greenidge wrote in her article for the magazine: 'We're in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan's friends.

'When I enter, the house manager announces, 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,' even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house.'

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, an etiquette expert and former editor of The International Who's Who, confirmed that the announcement broke royal protocol.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I have often felt that Meghan took to heart Oscar Wilde's dictum, 'To love oneself is the beginning of a lifetime's romance'.'

Mr Fitzwilliams said the announcement as reported in the interview, 'would make a wonderful skit in the South Park series', adding: 'It speaks volumes, in an interview calculated not to offend, about the importance Meghan attaches to her royal status.'

The Duchess of Sussex gave a revealing interview about her family life to Harper's Bazaar

Meghan Markle was photographed by Malick Bodian and interviewed by Kaitlyn Greenidge

He also pointed out that earlier in the interview she was introduced to a group of girls as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex", adding that 'she is and it is perfectly correct'.

However, Mr Fitzwilliams explained that the journalist should be announced to her - rather than Meghan being announced to the journalist and 'so this breaks protocol', adding: 'It also makes her look silly.'

He continued: 'There was that painful scene when she did a mock curtsey imitating what happened when she met Queen Elizabeth II for the first time in the Netflix documentary Harry and Meghan. She calls it 'medieval'.

'She had also appeared to mock curtsy in the infamous Oprah interview.'

Mr Fitzwilliams also referenced the famous dialogue when the late Queen Elizabeth II appeared alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a comedy sketch for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

In the clip, Craig called at Buckingham Palace to summon the Queen and was announced by a royal aide as he walked into the room as: 'Mr Bond, Your Majesty'

The Queen, sitting at her writing desk, made him wait before greeting him with the words: 'Good evening, Mr Bond'. He replied: 'Good evening, Your Majesty.'

Mr Fitzwilliams said: 'Someone is obviously announced when, say, James Bond arrives to escort Queen Elizabeth to the Olympics. He is announced as 'Mr Bond, Your Majesty' and then he enters.

In March, Meghan rebuked her actress friend Mindy Kaling during her Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan for not using her 'Sussex' name - telling The Office star: 'I'm Sussex now'

'Meghan wants to have a halo in the interview by saying nothing nasty about anyone and being full of positive thoughts.

'However, in her use of her title in this pricelessly comic way she speaks volumes about herself. She could be alone and be announced.'

Guidance from Buckingham Palace and etiquette guide Debrett's suggests that it is the visitor who is normally announced, rather than the Royal Family member.

What is supposed to happen when people are introduced to Royal Family members?

From etiquette guide Debrett's: On being presented to members of the Royal Family Introductions to the Royal Family are known as presentations. When presenting another person to The King or Queen it is only necessary to state the name of the person to be presented: 'Your Majesty, may I present Mr John Smith?'. Upon being presented to members of the Royal Family, and on taking leave, men should bow and women curtsy (some women may prefer to bow). The bow is an inclination of the head, not from the waist. The curtsy should be a discreet but dignified movement, with a slow rise, maintaining eye contact. It is acceptable, but less usual, to simply shake hands, especially with younger members of the Royal Family in less formal circumstances. Check with their staff for guidance. Advertisement

The official royal website states that audiences held for a high commissioner or ambassador and their spouse with the monarch see the visitors' names announced as they enter the state or semi-state room by the Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps.

Debrett's adds that introductions to the royals are known as 'presentations', and it is only necessary to state the name of the person to be presented.

For example, someone meeting King Charles III or Queen Camilla might be announced as follows: 'Your Majesty, may I present Mr John Smith?'.

The same rule follows for other members of the Royal Family  and Debrett's states that upon being presented and leaving, men should bow and women curtsy.

Debrett's also says those speaking with the King or Queen should use 'Your Majesty' for the first time and then 'Sir' or 'Ma'am', rhyming with 'lamb'.

References to other Royal Family members are made to 'His (or Her) Royal Highness' or the appropriate title, such as the 'Princess Royal' for Princess Anne.

Back in March, Meghan rebuked her actress friend Mindy Kaling during her Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan for not using her 'Sussex' name.

When Kayling used Meghan's maiden name, the Duchess spoke about being a Sussex: 'You keep saying, Meghan Markle, you know, I'm Sussex now.

'You have kids, and you go, 'now I share my name with my children'  I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go 'this is our family name, our little family name'.'

Harry and Meghan stopped using their HRH styles when they stepped away from the monarchy  and there were calls at the time for them to lose their Sussex titles, but this can only be actioned through legislation.

In the cover interview for the magazine, Meghan revealed how she was drawn to her husband Prince Harry's 'childlike wonder and playfulness' as she spoke about family life.

Meghan said she appreciates spending more time with her children because she can work from home.

The Duke of Sussex is set to make his first appearance in Meghan's Netflix series when the festive edition airs on December 3. Harry has not yet featured in the programme but appears briefly in a 65-second trailer this week when he and the duchess share a kiss in a kitchen

She added that Harry 'loves me so boldly, fully, and he also has a different perspective because he sees media that I wouldn't'.

The former Suits actress said: 'No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he's always going to make sure that he has my back.

'You have someone who just has this childlike wonder and playfulness. I was so drawn to that, and he brought that out in me.'

She told the magazine that Harry's 'playfulness' has 'translated into every part of our life' - even to business.

'I want us to play and have fun and explore and be creative,' Meghan said in the interview.

The Duchess, who on the same day released the trailer for the Christmas special of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, also gave insight into life as a mother to young children.

Meghan and Harry, who stepped down as working royals and moved to California in 2020, have two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

The duchess said: 'My office is right by the kitchen, and I love that I can work from home,' she said. 'It's a great luxury.

'(Lilibet) comes and sits on my lap when I'm in the middle of the meeting, whether it's about P(rofit) and L(oss) for my brand or it's about something creative.'

The 44-year-old said her boundaries became stronger when she came into the public eye.

'You find different ways to protect yourself, whether that's self-preservation or it's just growing up,' she told the magazine.

A royal expert referenced what was said when Queen Elizabeth II appeared alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. In the clip, Craig was announced by a royal aide as he walked into the room as: 'Mr Bond, Your Majesty'

The duchess also said she gives herself grace when she makes mistakes in business, though she did not elaborate on what errors she has made.

Meghan said: 'I'm a mom with kids at that age where they are constantly learning something new.

'I watch them face things that feel completely insurmountable every day. But you can remember and say, 'I know it seems really hard right now, but trust me, that's going to come so easily soon.'

'I can give myself the same grace as a founder. There's no such thing as perfect. I, too, get to make mistakes.'

The Duke of Sussex is set to make his first appearance in Meghan's Netflix series when the festive edition airs on December 3.

Harry has not yet featured in the programme but appears briefly in a 65-second trailer when he and the duchess share a kiss in a kitchen.

The show, which sees Meghan offer hosting tips while she cooks with celebrity friends, was savaged by critics following its release in March.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex secured a lucrative contract with Netflix, thought to be worth more than $100million (74million), in 2020, after their exit from being senior working royals.

Harry and Meghan announced they had signed a new 'multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects' with the streaming platform in August.

Meghan described the deal as 'an incredible sign of the strength of our partnership', despite rumours the streaming giant may be pivoting away from her and Harry.
Kris Jenner has given Meghan Markle a show of support by sharing a trailer for her upcoming Netflix Christmas special online following the 'photogate' scandal.

The Kardashian 'momager' reposted an advert on Instagram for the festive edition of With Love, Meghan ahead of its release on the streaming platform on December 3.

Meghan's husband Prince Harry makes a brief cameo appearance in the 65-second clip when he and the duchess share a kiss as she tries out decorating and baking.

'I love the holiday season,' Meghan says in a voiceover. 'It's about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones.'

The show, which sees her offer hosting tips while cooking with friends, was savaged by critics following its release in March but a second series came out in August.

The latest development follows Jenner's 70th birthday party being overshadowed by a mystery over why photos of Meghan and Harry were deleted from social media.

Candid images showed the couple cosying up to Jenner on November 8, with Harry seen sashaying towards the birthday girl on the dancefloor in Beverly Hills.

But within 48 hours they were all scrubbed from Instagram by Jenner and her daughter Kim Kardashian, who had shared them with their millions of followers.

Harry and Meghan arrive at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party in Beverly Hills on November 8

Kris Jenner reposted a trailer on her Instagram account for Meghan's upcoming Netflix special

A screengrab from Kris Jenner's account shows Meghan's trailer in the top middle repost

The Duchess of Sussex kisses Prince Harry in the new trailer for her Christmas Netflix show

Harry and Meghan arrive at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party in Beverly Hills on November 8

Harry and Meghan arrive at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party in Beverly Hills on November 8

(From left) Khloe, Kourtney, Kim, Kris, Kylie and Kendall at the birthday party on November 8

The Sussexes were among the A-listers invited to the James Bond-themed ball thrown for Jenner by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez at their $165million estate.

People magazine, the Sussexes' preferred publication in the US, claimed that Meghan and Harry asked that no photographs of them inside the party were published.

The publication also claimed it was understood that the Sussexes ticked a 'no' box on a photo consent form, leading to the party images of them being removed.

But a source close to the event then strongly refuted the claim to the Daily Mail, saying 'there were no consent forms'  meaning it remains unclear why the photos vanished and whether the Sussexes or anyone else asked for them to come down.

Despite the images being deleted, the pictures of Harry and Meghan were shared widely on social media and published by several websites in the US.

Harry looked particularly happy in one photo, putting his arm around Jenner, who was standing between him and his wife, with the prince leaning in to bring his face closer to hers.

Meghan looked far more serious, with her hand on Jenner's shoulder.

The former Suits star smiled, but not as widely as Harry, who in another now-deleted image appeared to be giddy and shimmying towards their host on the dancefloor.

The duchess, who met through mutual friend Ellen DeGeneres at a party three years ago, was also seen laughing with her hand resting on Jenner's shoulder.

While photos of Harry and Meghan were deleted, Jenner's photos with the likes of Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Mark Zuckerberg, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and hosts Mr Bezos and Lauren Sanchez remained on her social media.

Kris Jenner with Beyonce and her mother Tina Knowles during the party in Beverly Hills

Kris Jenner parties with the likes of Mariah Carey during the party attended by 300 guests

Kris Jenner posted a photo of herself with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan

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In an interview published by Harper's Bazaar this week, Meghan spoke about her 'brave' decision to make jam and gushed over how much 'childlike' Harry loves her.

The feature was entitled 'Meghan's Moment', with the strapline: 'After years of being subsumed by other people's narratives, the Duchess of Sussex is ready to author her own next chapter.'

Meghan was also announced by a house manager in New York by her full title 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex' to a room with only one other person in it.

Asked what inspiration she hopes Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, will draw from her working life, Meghan talks about making homemade pots of jam in the kitchen of their $15 million Montecito mansion that she would later sell through her lifestyle business, As Ever.

'I hope they see the value of being brave', she says of her children, adding: 'They saw it when the jam was just a pot on the stove, bubbling.'

A large section of the interview is dedicated to Harry and his love for his wife.

Speaking with her hand held to her heart when describing the prince, Meghan said: 'He loves me so boldly, fully. No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he's always going to make sure that he has my back.

'You have someone who just has this childlike wonder and playfulness. I was so drawn to that, and he brought that out in me.'

Justin Bieber was also in attendance at the party and was pictured dancing with Kris Jenner

Kris Jenner looked like a Bond girl as she brandished a pistol next to her partner Corey Gamble

Kris Jenner spoke with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, who hosted the party at their home

Friends are also called upon for supportive quotes in the magazine. As well as Serena Williams's praise for her 'smart' friend, she adds: 'I feel like no matter what, I can always learn from her'.

Former model Kelly Zajfen says: 'There's not a day that goes by that she hasn't checked in or I haven't checked in. Meghan just always made herself available to all of us.'

The duchess also admits making mistakes and says there is 'not a lot of fun' in trying to be perfect.

And in an apparent message for her critics, she said: 'I think the moment you start making all of your personal decisions based on external judgment, you lose your authenticity.'

The interview saw Meghan posing for the cover of the magazine in black silk jacket and trousers by Dior, and in another picture she wore a sleeveless red Balenciaga dress with a dramatic cape draping over one shoulder.
A 19th century fort on a private island is up for sale for the first time in decades - and could be yours for a mere 50,000.

Fort Darnet, on the River Medway in Kent, was first built in the early 1870s as part of an inner defensive line protecting access to a nearby dockyard.

The historic circular structure even has gun points to ward off invading enemy ships, and is only accessible by boat or kayak.

Three barges believed to have played a role in the D-Day landings in France also feature on the private island.

The fort is now up for sale for the first time in 40 years via property auctioneers Savills, with a guide price of just 50,000.

The Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom constructed the fort between 1870 and 1872 as part of an inner defensive line protecting access to the naval dockyard at Chatham.

Although it was decommissioned before the First World War, Darnet Fort was repurposed during World War Two as an observation post, with additional platforms and pillboxes installed.

The fort was originally designed to accommodate a garrison of a hundred men.

Fort Darnet is a historic Victorian fort on a private island in the Thames Estuary in Kent

The fascinating property has gone on the market for the first time in 40 years for just 50,000

The circular structure has gun points and stone archways, but owners will only have access from the sea

Fort Darnet is one of only two sea forts constructed on low-lying islands within the Medway channel, along with Hoo Island, located a kilometre upstream.

The pair are thought to have been designed to create a bottleneck defence for the river, and formed part of Britain's extensive coastal defence system.

The fort is now a Scheduled Monument and is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

It comprises a striking circular structure with an open upper platform and a lower level featuring a series of gun points.

Though described as being in a 'fair' condition, the lower magazine level is partially submerged.

The island the fort sits on is only accessible by boat or kayak, having previously been used for picnicking and leisure until the 1980s.

Adding to its historic appeal, the island also features three barges believed to have played a role in the D-Day landings - though these are only visible at low tide.

Ben Fletcher, the negotiator at Savills Auctions in charge of the sale of the fort, said the fort offered the opportunity for buyers to own their very own piece of history.

The castle was first built in the early 1870s as part of an inner defensive line protecting access to a nearby dockyard

It also includes three barges believed to have played a part in the D-Day landings during World War Two

The design of the fort was intended to accommodate a garrison of a hundred men, making it a spacious property

'The sale of Darnet Fort presents a unique and rare opportunity to acquire a piece of British military history,' he said.

'We are excited to be bringing this landmark to our final auction of the year.

'Used historically as a place for recreational activities, the forts could serve as the base for alternative uses, subject to the necessary planning consents.

'We anticipate strong levels of interest when it goes under the hammer in December from those keen to preserve its historic integrity, or simply drawn to the uniqueness of owning such a rare and individual structure.'
A lion's roar is undeniably one of the most fearsome sounds across the entire animal kingdom.

Now, it turns out these majestic creatures produce not just one, but two distinct types of roar.

That's according to researchers from the University of Exeter, who have identified a brand new type of growl in African lions.

The animals  often referred to as the 'King of the Jungle'  are best known for their fullthroated roar, an immensely powerful vocalization that can be heard up to five miles away.

However, using AI, the researchers were able to identify a second type of roar, which they've called the 'intermediary roar'.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jonathan Growcott, lead author of the study, explained: 'The fullthroated roar is loud, complex and arcs in pitch.

'The intermediary roar differs by being a flatter sound with less variation.

'The intermediary roar will also always follow the fullthroated roars.'

Lions are best known for their fullthroated roar, an immensely powerful vocalization that can be heard up to five miles away

Using AI , the researchers were able to identify a second type of roar, which they've called the 'intermediary roar'

While lions are best known for their fullthroated roars, they've also been recorded moaning and grunting.

In their new study, the team set out to understand if lions produce are any other distinguishable sounds.

The researchers headed to Tanzania's Nyerere National Park, which is estimated to be home to between 1,700 and 6,900 individual lions.

Across a total of 64 stations, they set up camera traps which recorded bouts of lions roaring.

Once these bouts had been recorded, they were fed through an AI tool.

This confirmed their suspicions  beyond the fullthroated roars, moans and grunts, lions also produce an intermediary roar.

'Both roars are found within the roaring bout so it's not the case that one roar is used in one situation and the other another,' Mr Growcott explained to the Daily Mail.

'But the bout is an important behaviour. Not only does it act as a signal to other lions within their pride as to where they may be, but, to nonfriendly lions, bouts can be used to advertise territorial boundaries.'

The researchers headed to Tanzania's Nyerere National Park, which is estimated to be home to between 1,700 and 6,900 individual lions

The two types of roar 1. The fullthroated roar Loud, complex and arcs in pitch 2. The intermediary roar Flatter sound with less variation

Always follows a fullthroated roar Advertisement

As for the communicative differences between the two roars, the researchers remain unclear.

'It has long been considered that lion roars may convey information relating to pride size, age or individual,' Mr Growcott added.

While previous studies have relied on the human ear, this AIbased approach simplifies the acoustic monitoring process.

This makes it not only more accessible, but also more reliable compared to traditional methods.

'Until now, identifying these roars relied heavily on expert judgment, introducing potential human bias,' Mr Growcott explained.

'Our new approach using AI promises more accurate and less subjective monitoring, which is crucial for conservationists working to protect dwindling lion populations.'

Aside from teaching us more about lion vocalisations, the researchers hope the findings will 'transform wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts'.

For example, the AI tool is so accurate that it can distinguish between individual lions  making it easier for conservation scientists to estimate the size of a population.

'Lion roars are not just iconic  they are unique signatures that can be used to estimate population sizes and monitor individual animals,' Mr Growcott concluded.
Africa is separating into two  and the split likely started tens of millions of years ago, according to a new study.

By studying magnetic data, scientists at Keele University have discovered evidence of a geological separation starting between Africa and Arabia.

These two landmasses were once connected like two pieces of a jigsaw, but a gradual separation event pulled them apart.

And the separation is ripping through Africa from the north east to the south, like the zip on a jacket, accompanied by volcanism and seismic activity.

By the time the split is complete, perhaps five to 10 million years from now, Africa will be made up of two landmasses.

There will be the larger landmass in the west featuring most African countries, such as Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana and Nambia.

Meanwhile, the smaller landmass to the east will include Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and a large portion of Ethiopia.

'These findings give a unique perspective on how our planet is constantly changing and shifting right beneath our feet, said Professor Peter Styles, geologist at Keele University.

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The old data from the Afar region has been digitised and integrated it with additional vintage magnetic data from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden regions

The theory of plate tectonics tells us that the present configuration of the continents has been very different over geological time.

Millions or perhaps billions of years ago, much larger tectonic plates fragmented and moved apart, creating new oceanic crust and the oceans we now recognise  a process called seafloor spreading.

The researchers point to the East African Rift, one of the great tectonic features of Africa, caused by fracturing of the Earth's crust.

Around 4,000 miles long and averaging 30-40 miles wide, the system extends from Jordan in southwestern Asia southward through eastern Africa to Mozambique.

It's thought that when Africa separates over millions of years, the gap will run down the length of this rift, splitting through the middle of enormous bodies of water in East Africa, such as Lake Malawi and Lake Turkana.

For this study, the researchers focused on a study area nearer the top of the rift called the Afar region, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.

The Afar region is a rare place on Earth where three tectonic rifts meet  the Main Ethiopian Rift, the Red Sea Rift, and the Gulf of Aden Rift  together known as a triple junction.

Scientists believe we are seeing the earliest stages of the spitting process in this area, and it has long been considered that it is occurring or has already.

Analysis of the magnetic data showed that seafloor spreading stripes lines run from east in the Gulf of Aden, westwards across and down into the Afar Depression

The researchers focused on a study area nearer the top of the rift called the Afar region, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. The high-resolution aeromagnetic survey was conducted over the Afar region of Ethiopia, what is now Eritrea

What's happening beneath the Gulf of Aden? Deep below the Afar region in Ethiopia is a plume of molten mantle rock that pulses upward like a beating heart These pulses carry distinct chemical signatures to the overlying tectonic plates above The plates are moving apart from each other at different speeds - forming rifts of different widths With this movement, the pulses flow out down each rift Over millions of years, this movement continues and the tear at the Afar region goes southwards, forming a new ocean Advertisement

The experts studied magnetic data collected in 1968 and 1969 using airborne instruments to learn more about how the continent of Africa is stretching and splitting.

By combining the 'vintage' datasets and using modern technology to analyse them, the team found new insights about the magnetic field of the crust.

Namely, the team used data from scanners that looked at the magnetic profile of the crust that's formed at underwater mountains (known by geologists as mid-ocean ridges).

When the Earth's magnetic poles flip  an event that happens once every several thousands or millions of years  it leaves a magnetic mark in the crust that's akin to a tree ring or the barcode on a supermarket product.

The analysis showed that ancient seafloor spreading stripes run between Africa and Arabia  suggesting the region started separating tens of millions of years ago.

The strong magnetic signature here appears to be evidence of slow but continuous continental rifting  where the crust is being stretched and thinned like soft plasticine  until it ruptures, marking the birth of a new ocean.

While we may imagine the land being ripped apart before our eyes during such an event, will of course be so slow that humans would not notice.

Dr Emma Watts, a geochemist at Swansea University, said the African split is happening now but at a slow rate  5-16 mm per year  in the north of the rift.

The Gulf of Aden (pictured) is a relatively narrow body of water separating Africa in the south and Yemen in the north - and this is where the split has already begun

Scientists say a massive crack has started ripping through Africa, from the north east to the south, starting at the Afar region in Ethiopia. Pictured, active lava flows spilling out of the Erta Ale volcano in Afar, Ethiopia

'Regarding timescales, this process of Africa being torn apart will take several million years before it is completed,' Dr Watts, who was not involved with this study, previously told the Daily Mail.

The full findings, published in the Journal of African Earth Sciences, reveal more about the 'complex and fascinating' Afar region, authors say.

'With this publication, the magnetic data from the 1968 Afar Survey has been resurrected, we hope, from an undeserved obscurity,' they conclude.

'These techniques, in a further paper, will help define the geological evolution of this critically important region for understanding continental break-up and the earliest stages of ocean development.'
In the debate whether British or American food tastes better, Blighty has just been dealt an almighty blow.

A landmark study reveals that American cuisine typically features a greater range of ingredients compared with British.

Scientists studied a data set of recipes covering 23 cuisines around the world  ranging from British and American to Thai and Eastern European.

While Britain opts for carb-heavy comfort foods like meat and dairy, the US adds more in the way of herbs and spices.

However, neither British nor American cuisine use spices and herbs at the same level as Indian cuisine.

Globally, Indian leads the way in the use of spices, while Italian and Thai rank highest for use of herbs.

Study author Iacopo Iacopini, an Italian professor working at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, says 'ingredient fingerprints' emerge in each food tradition.

'British cuisine uses more dairy and cereals than average, and does not show a particularly high use of spices,' he told the Daily Mail.

The results showed Indian and African food scored highest for spices, while Caribbean scored high for fruit, Thai for fish, Japanese for plants, Chinese for maize and Chinese for nuts and seeds. In this image from the paper, deep red denotes respectively higher use of ingredients in that category

For the study, Professor Iacopini and his colleagues studied a data set of recipes covering 23 cuisines around the world.

The representative sample included American, British, African, Chinese, French, Indian, Korea, Japanese, Scandinavian, Spanish and Thai.

The dataset contained details of 45,661 recipes made up of 604 ingredients, which were separated into 20 categories including spices, herbs, meat, dairy and fungus.

Overall, Indian and African food scored highest for use of spices, while Caribbean scored high for fruit, Thai for fish, Italian for herbs, Japanese for plants, Chinese for maize and Chinese for nuts and seeds.

India stood out as the cuisine that uses meat the least, reflecting cultural restrictions on meat consumption, especially among its vast Hindu population.

Scandinavian cuisine, meanwhile, ranked high for relative use of dairy just like Britain but had significantly lower usage of vegetables, herbs and plants.

'The harsh climate of Scandinavian countries creates unfavorable conditions for the cultivation of most vegetables, resulting in a distinct culinary approach that relies on other ingredients,' the authors say.

But the study also revealed some intriguing findings when comparing Britain and America  known for a frenzied debate when it comes to who has the tastiest cuisine.

Pictured, popular pairings per cuisine represented by emojis including vegetables (carrot), spices (chili pepper), herbs (sprig) and additives (salt shaker)

UK vs USA: How our cuisines stack up Vegetables  American ranks higher

 American ranks higher Spices  American

 American Additives  British

 British Herbs  American

 American Plants  American

 American Meat  British

 British Fruit  American

 American Dairy  British

 British Cereals  British

 British Essential oils  American

 American Nuts and seeds  American

 American Alcoholic beverages  British

 British Legumes  American

 American Bakery  American

 American Fish  American

 American Seafood  American

 American Fungi  British

 British Maize  American Advertisement

Of the two nations, American cuisine ranked higher for the use of 12 ingredient categories  spices, herbs, fruit, vegetables, plants (a category that includes honey and soy sauce), nuts & seeds, essential oils, legumes, bakery, fish, seafood and maize.

Meanwhile, British only ranked higher than American for the use of six ingredient categories  meat, dairy, cereals, fungi, additives and alcoholic beverages.

On two other categories (beverages and flowers), British and American food ranked about the same.

Herbs and spices in particular are typically what gives food its flavour, so a cuisine with lower use of spices and herbs can be considered blander.

However, Professor Iacopini stressed that complex flavour profiles are created by other ingredients in the mix too.

'Cuisines rely on different sources of flavour (fat, acidity, fermentation, broths, etc.) that don't necessarily involve spices,' he told the Daily Mail.

Out of all the 23 cuisines, American ranked highest overall for number of recipes and total number of ingredients, while Portuguese, Korean and Scandinavian ranked lowest.

The research also analysed the data set to find recipes with the largest number of ingredients for each cuisine.

Ranking top was vegetable korma from India with 31 ingredients, including star anise, sunflower, bell peppers, buttermilk and chili pepper.

Out of all the 23 cuisines, American ranked highest overall for number of recipes and total number of ingredients, while Portuguese, Korean and Scandinavian ranked lowest

The second most ingredient-heavy recipe in the dataset was found in American cuisine  a turkey, sweet potato shepherd's pie (29 ingredients).

Also ranking high on this list were nachos from Mexico (27 ingredients), grey cup chili from Canada (26 ingredients) and green chicken curry from Thailand (also 26 ingredients).

The British dish on this list was 'Scotsman's shepherd pie' with 21 ingredients  packed with comforting staples like butter, cream, egg and potato.

Interestingly, the representative cuisine with the fewest ingredients was South American  a Peruvian menestron soup with only 18 ingredients.

According to Professor Iacopini, so-called 'new world' countries such as the US, Canada and Australia have cuisines that are 'more homogenized'.

'This could be due to the strong immigration cultural blending that has been going on in those places,' he said.

The paper, 'The networks of ingredient combinations as culinary fingerprints of world cuisines', has been published in npj Science of Food.
A US military Challenger spy plane is carving looping patterns over the Black Sea in a flight path that has sparked speculation about what exactly the Pentagon is hunting for near Russia's doorstep.

The reconnaissance jet lifted off from a Romanian base early Friday and has spent hours drawing tight circles across international airspace, almost as if zeroing in on something.

Flight data shows the aircraft crept to within about 60 miles of Russian-occupied Crimea before sweeping east toward Sochi, tracing a route eerily close to some of Moscow's most sensitive military sites.

Outfitted with powerful ground-scanning radar and secretive signal-sniffing tech, the plane is built to intercept communications and track troop movements in real time.

Its sudden appearance, replacing routine drone surveillance with a rare manned mission, has fueled chatter that the US may be bracing for a new escalation, and the timing could not be more ominous.

Poland's top general warned this week that Russia has entered a full-fledged phase of war preparation, claiming Moscow is laying the groundwork for a potential strike on NATO territory.

Wiesaw Kukua said Russia is conducting cyberattacks and sabotage operations designed to 'create conditions favorable for aggression on Polish territory.'

Hours later, Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed a railway line between Warsaw and Lublin, one of Ukraine's vital lifelines for Western aid, had been blown up in an 'unprecedented act of sabotage.'

Kukua cautioned that any Russian attack on Poland would instantly trigger NATO's Article 5, forcing a collective response that could push the world to the brink of a global war.

Flight data shows the aircraft crept to within about 60 miles of Russian-occupied Crimea before sweeping east toward Sochi, tracing a route eerily close to some of Moscow 's most sensitive military sites

The Challenger, a sleek business jet repurposed for military shadows, blends civilian poise with lethal curiosity.

Delivered in 2020 and modified by contractor Leidos, this CL-600 variant, often dubbed ARTEMIS in prototypes, boasts server racks and sensors crammed into its widened cabin, where luxury seats once reigned.

Its turbofan engines hum at altitudes above 40,000 feet, evading surface threats while vacuuming up data from hundreds of miles away.

On Friday's flight, the aircraft mowed methodical 'racetrack' loops, a tactic for sustained surveillance akin to a predator circling prey.

Open-source trackers like ADS-B Exchange captured the path, as a serpentine purple line threading Ukraine's northern flank, brushing Romanian and Bulgarian coasts and probing Georgia's edge.

The ominous military signals unfold just as Washington ignites a political firestorm with a sweeping new peace proposal for Ukraine, a plan Kyiv says would hand Moscow everything it has failed to win on the battlefield.

The 28-point blueprint, modeled partly on the Gaza ceasefire framework, stunned Ukrainian officials who woke Friday to a draft that would force the country to surrender territory, slash its military in half, and hold national elections within 100 days.

One senior lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party told AFP the reaction in Kyiv was summed up in one phrase: 'Being f***ing mind-blown has become our norm.'

Outfitted with powerful ground-scanning radar and secretive signal-sniffing tech, the plane is built to intercept communications and track troop movements in real time

The draft appears to mirror key demands long pushed by the Kremlin. Under the proposal, Russia would keep all the land it currently occupies and gain even more. Western sanctions would be rolled back, and Moscow would be invited back into the G8.

The plan would also pressure Zelensky to agree to an accelerated election timeline, another demand frequently echoed by Moscow.

Zelensky said he will discuss the proposal with President Donald Trump 'in the coming days,' while pointedly avoiding any hint that Kyiv would accept it.

He reiterated Ukraine's need for a 'dignified peace,' saying that with a neighbor like Russia, defending national 'dignity, freedom, and independence is an extremely difficult task.'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU has not yet received the proposal officially but expects it to surface during discussions at the G20 summit in South Africa.

Hungary's Viktor Orban, the EU leader closest to Moscow, called the moment 'decisive,' saying the coming weeks will be 'crucial.'

Reports earlier this week suggested the US and Russia were secretly working together on a peace formula, but the White House has strongly denied coordinating any proposal with the Kremlin.
A biologist has shared the heartwarming moment he found one of the rarest flowers in the world, breaking down in tears over the discovery.

Dr Chris Thorogood, associate professor of biology at the University of Oxford, had trekked day and night through the jungle to hunt for the incredibly rare Rafflesia hasseltii.

These elusive plants only grow in the tigerpatrolled jungles of West Sumatra, Indonesia and bloom for only a few days.

However, as Dr Thorogood revealed in a video, the emotional occasion proved to be too much for some of the assembled scientists.

Incredibly, the researchers had stumbled upon the exact moment that the flower finally opened after nine months of development.

As Dr Thorogood filmed, local conservationist and guide Septian Andriki broke down and wept at the sight of the rare flower.

'It's okay, we did it!', Dr Thorogood says as he tries to comfort the crying biologist.

'We found it, we found it, my friend.'

A biologist has shared the heartwarming moment that he found one of the world's rarest plants in the Indonesian jungle, leaving his guide and fellow conservationist sobbing

Rafflesia arnoldi is a member of the Rafflesia family, which includes the world's biggest flower (pictured) and are known as 'corpse flowers' due to their pungent smell

Rafflesia are a family of plants that are capable of growing the world's largest flowers.

This includes the enormous Rafflesia arnoldi, which produces flowers measuring one metre (three feet) across and weighing up to 11 kilograms (24 lbs).

Sometimes known as 'corpse flowers', these alienlike plants get their morbid nickname from the overwhelming stench of rotting meat they are known to produce.

The plant uses this smell to lure flies and beetles into its cavernous flower so that it can spread its pollen across the dense rainforest.

However, even among this bizarre family, the Rafflesia hasseltii stands out as one of the strangest.

Known by its Indonesian name 'Cendawan Muca Rimau', meaning 'Tigerfaced Mushroom', this strange plant only grows in a remote stretch of West Sumatran rainforest that requires a special permit to enter.

Scientists say that the plant is so rare that it has been seen by more tigers than humans.

Dr Thorgood, Mr Adriki, and another local guide, Iwan Iswandi, had made the gruelling journey into the forest as part of a research and conservation mission.

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The researchers found an exceptionally rare specimen of Rafflesia hasseltii, known as the 'TigerFace Mushroom', which only blooms for a few days after nine months of development

This strange plant only grows in a remote stretch of West Sumatran rainforest that requires a special permit to enter

Their goal was to find and study the Sumatra's elusive Rafflesia plants, which are under mounting threat of extinction.

Researchers currently believe that 60 per cent of all Rafflesia species now face a severe risk of extinction and that 67 per cent of known habitats fall outside protected areas.

Discovering a Rafflesia hasseltii in bloom was an incredible achievement, but for Mr Adriki, who has spent the last 13 years searching for this rare flower, the moment was especially moving.

Dr Thorogood told Daily Mail: 'Moments like this are electric. I think a combination of the tough trek and the extraordinary flower was what made it so moving for us.

'Septian Andriki broke down in tears. Then, sitting quietly with the flower was otherworldly  it was like something sent from another planet.

'It takes up to 9 months for the bud to develop, and it only opens for a few days  this one opened in front of our very eyes. So it's like it opened specially for us.'

Dr Thorogood also stressed that the real 'heroes' were the local people, Mr Andriki and Mr Iswandi, who were able to track down the flower thanks to their excellent knowledge of the forest.

Meanwhile, science fans have flocked to social media to share their congratulations and support.

Scientists were looking for the Rafflessia hasseltii as part of an ongoing conservation effort. Currently, around 60 per cent of all Rafflesia species face a severe risk of extinction

On social media, science fans flocked to share their support for the conservationist's emotional reactions. With one joking that they were crying just from watching the video

One excited commenter said that they had 'shed a tear' watching Mr Andrik finally see the plant he had hunted for over a decade

Another commenter called Mr Andrik a 'wonderful person to be so in awe of nature that it moves him to tears'

One commenter wrote: 'I'd be THAT emotional too if I were him. Heck, I'm only watching your video and tears streaming down my eyes.'

Another added: 'What a wonderful person to be so in awe of nature that it moves him to tears. We could all do with a bit more of being awestruck.'

'I'm so happy for this man and for your whole team that night,' added another.

While one enthusiastic commenter wrote: 'Surreal. Omg. So happy you have got to witness it. I'd cry too. Bawling, nah, I just shed a tear! My gosh! Sooo happy for you guys!'
A Georgia man allegedly gunned down his neighbors during a break-in while their two-year-old was sound asleep.

Matthew Lanz has been accused of breaking into the home of Justin and Amber Hicks and fatally shooting them in November 2021.

Lanzs long-delayed trial finally kicked off on Monday, after years of legal wrangling over whether he was mentally fit to face the court.

Tragedy: Justin Hicks and his wife Amber Hicks were shot dead as their baby son was asleep

A judge said that after speaking with Lanz, he 'appeared to have the capacity to make rational decisions' and had 'a few minor outbursts that did not significantly disrupt the proceedings'.

Surveillance video of the alleged gunman exiting the young couple's home before fleeing to his apartment was presented by prosecutors on Monday.

Police officers received a 911 call the next morning and arrived at the home to discover the unharmed two-year-old plastered in blood and hiding, prosecutors said.

Cops didn't link Lanz to the double murder until he reportedly tried to break into two homes in Sandy Springs the next day.

Heartbreaking: Amber Hicks shared a photo on Facebook of her family smiling in front of their new home on September 11, 2021

Police arrived to find the suspect in one of the homes but he ran towards one of the officers, stabbing him several times.

Another officer shot at Lanz to end the one-man crime spree. The alleged gunman faces multiple charges including malice murder and child cruelty.

Defense attorneys argued that their client believed 'he has been set up by either the FBI, CIA, or some government agency'.

Suspect: Matthew Lanz is accused of breaking into the Hicks' home and fatally shooting them as their 2-year-old child was sleeping

The couple, both 31 , had just celebrated moving into their new home and were childhood friends-turned sweethearts, a relative said.

'We would play kickball, and I remember at 12 years old, Justin telling us, I'm going to marry her one day, I am going to marry her one day, Amber's cousin Kirstyn Bauer told a local outlet.

Justin was a firefighter and Amber was an audiology assistant. The alleged shooter lived on a property sharing a fence with the couple, Atlanta News First reported.

The Hicks family had just closed on their Verbena Drive home, a 3,000 square-foot corner lot.

Gone too soon: Justin was a firefighter for over six years and Amber was an audiology assistant
Sailing around the world and stopping off at different destinations on a large, luxurious vessel can offer amazing opportunities  but will come with a high price tag.

On Silversea's Silver Ray, the cheapest cabin came to be around $14,000 (10,676) for one traveller and his mother.

The vessel boasts 'breathtaking 270-degree vistas at every turn' and is described as an 'icon of innovation' by Silversea.

It has expansive decks to stroll on and enjoy the views, as well as plenty of windows to show off the surroundings as it travels.

The company sells it as a 'guiding light for the future of luxury travel' and it's easy to see why.

Business Insider's David Morris booked the cheapest room on the ship with his mother and paid $7,050 (5,356) per person.

Included in the price was a personal butler, unlimited caviar, dining, drinks and gratuities.

They stayed in the entry-level cabin for an eight-night trip from Barcelona to Monte Carlo back in July.

Silver Ray 'breath-taking 270 degree vistas at every turn' and is described as an 'icon of innovation' by Silversea

Business Insider's David Morris booked the cheapest room on the ship with his mother and paid $7,050 (5,356) per person

Despite it being the lowest priced room in the ship, David revealed 'it didn't feel cheap at all'.

'Our entry-level veranda suite felt spacious with a queen-size bed, a small living area with a couch, and a desk,' he shared.

'The suite had tons of storage, including a large walk-in closet with a chest of drawers and plenty of space for hanging clothes.'

Aside from the decor and overall feel of the room, the experience itself proved to be luxurious too, with the butler even helping the pair to pack and unpack.

The bathroom also proved to be quite large and equipped with toiletries.

Silver Ray holds 728 passengers and is one of the most spacious in Silversea's fleet of ships.

It's designed horizontally instead of vertically, which allows passengers to enjoy higher ceilings and more room.

Despite it being the lowest priced room in the ship, 'it didn't feel cheap at all'  which isn't surprising given the cost

The ship has 364 suites and 13 different categories to choose from.

The Otium Suites are described as 'the crown jewel' by Silversea that boast 'walls of windows'.

At 1,324 square feet, the suites have plenty of space for passengers to relax including a large living room.

The entire ship is beautifully decorated from top to bottom and guests can enjoy more than 1,700 pieces of art.
British flight passengers have branded their first experiences with the EU's new digital border system at airports as 'pure chaos' - with one traveller saying he watched as frustrated passengers almost came to blows with border guards.

The European entry/exit system - commonly called the EES - is an automated digital border system for non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, entering the Schengen Area, which includes most of the EU plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Travellers are now required to register biometric details including fingerprints and photographs. The roll-out began on October 12th but airports and ports have until April to introduce the technology, when it will become mandatory.

UK consumer group Which? sent writers to test out the system, after reports of long delays at European airports, including Malaga, Prague, Dusseldorf. Earlier this month, travellers in Spain shared videos showing long queues at Alicante and Malaga airports.

Those investigating have sent back a dismal picture for tourists heading to the region anytime soon, with one writer trying to depart Gran Canaria almost missing their flight home because of faulty scanners.

Staff charged with overseeing the fingerprints-based border system appear equally unimpressed, say Which?, with a border guard in Alicante telling one reporter they'd experienced major problems while testing the technology: saying: 'Its terrible, it has a lot of problems.

The EU's new digital border system will become mandatory in April 2026 at ports and airports in the Schengen Area which includes most of the EU plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

The Spanish Ministry told Which? they had experienced no major problems so far.

Many airports have yet to introduce the technology and, while the Port of Dover was set to launch the EES for car passengers at the start of this month, delays mean it's unlikely to be introduced for those heading across the Channel until early next year.

Which? content lead Jake Massey endured a disastrous first encounter with the new borders system.

Upon his arrival in Gran Canaria, Massey says EU passport holders were able to use a 'separate, faster queue' while tourists, the lion's share of the arrivals, were asked to join queues for four gates with the new scanners.

The journalist said that while the queues were initially short 'it felt like each person took about five minutes to get through' as they uploaded fingerprints and photographs were taken.

The situation became even more frustrating when two of the four gates were closed because of faulty technology, with the journalist asked to go to the back of the line of one of the remaining two queues.

Eventually, the frequent traveller was forced to join a different queue to have his passport manually checked.

The flight home? Even worse, says the journalist. Despite leaving lots of time and his flight being delayed, huge queues had already formed at border control.

He says: 'The queue for passport control was wrapping around numerous times, like a line at a theme park.

It was pure chaos. The EU queue just whittled down normally but the queue for UK passport holders was moving at a snails pace. It must have taken about 45 minutes to get to the part of the queue where I could see the gates.'

He adds: 'Then it was havoc. One of the flights made a last call and people started pushing to the front. I was literally watching people getting pushed back by airport security as they were trying to push past.'

The situation deteriorated quickly, with passengers 'shouting and crying' as it became clear they wouldn't make their flights.

Massey explains: 'They were pointing at the EU queue, saying "I need to catch my flight - just let me go over there!".

'And security said, "no, not only can you not go over there - now you need to go to the back of the queue." There were people shouting and crying.'

Which? reporters tested out the technology at airports where the EES has already been introduced, including Alicante (pictured)

Once again the journalist was asked to join a queue for a manual passport check - with around 75 per cent of his fellow passengers in the queue asked to do the same.

He says: 'I always expect the chance of a long wait to get through passport control but there was no indication that it was going to be that bad. Until they released the gates, it felt like the crowd was ready to erupt.

'It was a big relief when they gave up on the new gates but I'm certain a lot of people missed their flight.'

Which? says it also sent writers to airports at Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Croatia, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Vienna in the days after the digital border system was introduced.

During that period, the only other airports that had the technology in place was Split in Croatia and Vienna in Austria.

Other travellers reported they also faced scrutiny from the automated machines, including being asked by the scanners whether had their return ticket in place, had purchased travel insurance, accommodation and enough money to support travel plans.

Which? says it has asked the European Commission what the process is for travellers who say no to the questions - and is still awaiting a reply.

Content editor Victoria Purcell arrived in Split before the system was introduced - but was caught by it on the way back.

The journalist says it took about three minutes to use the scanner but that it was irritating to watch EU passports sailing through.

She explains: There was an elderly chap in a wheelchair in front of me, and it took a few goes to scan his fingerprints, so he took a bit longer, probably five minutes.

Purcell also says that she got through quicker than her partner - purely because of height issues, saying he 'had to squat down' because he was too tall for the cameras.

On the plus side, she says her off-peak queue was short...but adds that's unlikely to be the case during the height of the summer holiday season or other busy periods.
Ryanair has grounded flights next year to a popular Portuguese destination - because of EU taxes.

Yesterday, the Irish low-cost airline revealed it would not be running flights to and from the Azores, Portugal's mid-Atlantic archipelago, from March 29th next year.

The budget carrier said the decision had been made because of increased Air Traffic Control charges, a new 2 travel tax and high airport fees.

The move will result in a loss of six different routes to and from the Azores, which, in total, carried 400,000 passengers a year.

Ryanair hit out at 'French airport monopoly ANA' which they claim 'has no plan to grow low-fare connectivity to the Azores' and is responsible for the airport fees.

The airline called for the Portuguese government to 'intervene' and make sure the country's airports 'benefit' locals instead.

Ryanair's CCO Jason McGuinness described how 'disappointed' the airline is with the situation.

He said: 'We are disappointed that the French airport monopoly ANA continues to raise Portuguese airport fees to line its pockets, at the expense of Portuguese tourism and jobs  particularly on the Portuguese islands.

Yesterday, low-cost carrier Ryanair revealed it would not be running flights to and from the Azores, Portugal, from March 29th 2026

'As a direct result of these rising costs, we have been left with no alternative other than to cancel all Azores flights from 29 March 2026 onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe.'

Mr McGuinness continued: 'This loss of low fare connectivity to the Azores is direct result of the French monopoly airport operator  VINCI  imposing excessive airport charges across Portugal (which have risen by up to 35% since Covid) and the anti-competitive enviro taxes imposed by the EU, which exempt more polluting long haul flights to the US and Middle East, at the expense of EU remote regions such as the Azores.

'After 10 years of year-round Ryanair operations, one of Europe's most remote regions will now lose direct low-fare flights to London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto due to ANA's high airport fees and Portuguese Govt. inaction.'

Last month, Ryanair announced it would scrap 24 routes to and from Germany, cutting nearly 800,000 seats in total.

It comes as tensions rise over what the airline describes as an 'exorbitant' air travel tax.

Ryanair, which describes itself as Europe's number one airline, said the move will affect nine German airports, including Berlin, Hamburg and Memmingen, while Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig will remain closed.

As a result, Ryanair's overall capacity in Germany will fall below Winter '24 levels.

The low-cost airline blames the government policies for damaging the country's competitiveness within the European market.

The budget carrier put the reasoning down to increased Air Traffic Control charges, a new 2 travel tax and high airport fees

In a statement issued yesterday, Ryanair accused the German government of making air travel increasingly unaffordable through high aviation taxes and rising operational costs, including fees for air traffic control, airport management, and security.

Ryanair's CMO, Dara Brady, said: 'Germany's air travel market is broken and needs an urgent fix.

'Due to its excessive access costs, Germany has only recovered 88 per cent of its pre-COVID traffic, which is by far the worst recovery of any major European market.

'Until the excessive (and rising) aviation tax, ATC charges, Security Fees and airport costs are addressed by the Government, German air traffic will simply continue to decline whilst other more competitive European countries (with no aviation taxes) benefit from turbocharged Ryanair traffic growth  at Germany's expense.'
Dreaming of a white Christmas? With snow becoming less likely each year in the UK, many Brits are looking to spend the festive season elsewhere.

If you're looking for a snowy landscape to wake up to, you might have better luck heading to a European city with odds in your favour.

Some Christmas markets across the continent are far more likely to see snow this year than those in the UK.

The best destinations have now been revealed.

At the top of the list is little heard-of Montbeliard, France.

Located in the BourgogneFranche-Comte region, Montbeliard is a labyrinth of more than 100 stalls offering crafts, seasonal treats and local produce.

The Renaissance-era Chateau de Montbeliard provides a picture-perfect backdrop for the festive season.

Plus, the likelihood of snow is for 39.34 per cent of days, with an average snowfall of 24.2cm.

At the top of the list is little heard-of Montbeliard, France, located in the BourgogneFranche-Comte region

In second place is Salzburg, Austria.

Set against Baroque architecture and the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburgs market offers centuries-old traditions, live performances and the charm of Mozarts birthplace.

Here, the chance of snow is for 36.07 per cent of days, with an average snowfall of 35.2cm.

And you can fly from the UK to Salzburg for as little as 42 with airlines such as Ryanair.

Taking the third spot is Metz, France.

Nestled in the medieval heart of the city, the Metz Christmas Market blends traditional craftsmanship with gourmet delights such as Mirabelle plums, gingerbread and pate lorrain.

The likelihood of snow is for 32.79 per cent of days, with an average snowfall of 10.7cm.

The fourth place crown goes to Basel, Switzerland, with a chance of snow on 32.79 per cent of days and an average snowfall of 10.2cm.

In second place is Salzburg, Austria. Set against Baroque architecture and the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburgs market offers centuries-old traditions, live performances and the charm of Mozarts birthplace

Taking the third spot is Metz, France. The likelihood of snow is for 32.79 per cent of days, with an average snowfall of 10.7cm

And coming in fifth is - unsurprisingly - Strasbourg in France.

No Christmas list is complete without Strasbourg, home to Europes oldest and largest Christmas markets, collectively known as Christkindelsmarik.

Dating back to 1570 and attracting two million visitors annually, the city hosts 13 markets with more than 300 stalls, blending French and German traditions in a uniquely Alsatian celebration.

The chance of snow here is for 32.79 per cent of days, with an average snowfall of 8.8cm.

European Waterways analysed Statista data, World Weather Online reports and independent research to identify the top spots.
An airport lounge has long been considered among the finer things in aviation, a pleasant way to count down the hours until departure with a glass of champagne in hand.

But new research shows that most lounges in the UK are expensive and lacklustre  and travellers are being warned to consider whether their money would be better spent in a pub or restaurant elsewhere in the airport.

Consumer group Which? anonymously visited 28 lounges across the country, rating each from one to five stars based on the facilities, food and drink, and whether there were runway views, designated quiet areas or spaces for families.

Hardly any impressed the reviewers, and only a third managed a score of three stars or above.

Bottom of the rankings was Club Aspire in Terminal 5 at Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, which was only awarded one star.

The undercover inspector complained of plates that were stained and dirty, and noted the floor was covered in crumbs  despite their visit being at the start of the day.

The food was described as 'very poor on the whole', with a breakfast selection featuring 'congealed' scrambled eggs but no mushrooms or tomatoes.

The lounge would set you back 42.

Club Aspire, found in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, landed at the bottom of the rankings and was rated only one star by Which?

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If passengers were to visit the Fortnum and Mason bar elsewhere in T5, they could enjoy a luxury afternoon tea for one, including finger sandwiches, scones, a selection of cakes and a pot of tea, for 35.

Or The Wetherspoons in the terminal, The Crown Rivers, offers a large breakfast for 14.50.

A spokesperson No1 Lounges, which operates the lounge in Terminal 5, said it was 'disappointing' that the experience failed to meet the expectations.

'As with any undercover review, this reflects only a brief moment in time and may not represent the experience of the thousands of guests who use the lounge every week, nor the consistently positive feedback we receive across our network.'

Heathrow's other lounges were similarly expensive and unimpressive.

Which? said that over the past two years, their inspectors have made 10 visits to Heathrow lounges and have yet to find one to recommend.

Paying more doesn't guarantee a better experience. Newcastle Airport is home to the most expensive space in the survey, with a visit to Suite by Aspire costing 68.

However it was only ranked two-and-a-half out of five, with researchers never receiving a promised welcome drink or table service  despite the lounge professing 'the top-tier hospitality of a five-star hotel', which it combines 'with the fine dining you'd expect from a critically acclaimed restaurant'.

The lounge also claims to benefit from 'opulent seating' to enjoy the airfield views but that section was closed when Which? visited.

Holidaymakers might find other options for food and drink elsewhere in the terminal, including the Wetherspoons or the Fortnum and Mason bar

As an alternative in Newcastle, Bar 11 offers a full English breakfast for 16.99 with what researchers called 'spectacular' views of the runway.

The cost of lounge access when Which? first began their reviews in 2017 was 25, and some included access to spas and showers.

The spas have gone and access to showers now costs extra, the prices have skyrocketed.

The average price of lounges visited for this study was 42  a 68 per cent increase in eight years.

London Gatwick South's Clubrooms lounge made the best impression, with three-and-a-half stars out of five.

It was one of few that offered table service, the food was 'delicious', prosecco was included and guests were handed a free bottle of water when they left. It cost 44-50, depending on how far in advance it was booked.

The only other three-and-star rating was Birmingham Airport's Clubrooms  in fact, the Clubrooms brand were the only lounges that inspectors said felt 'genuinely luxurious'. The Midlands lounge cost 48.

Which? warns that for many of the lounges, travellers should avoid paying full price.

Newcastle Airport is home to the most expensive lounge in the survey, with a visit to Suite by Aspire costing 68

It found that the lounges' own websites were never the cheapest place to purchase access, with some package holiday providers and credit cards offering entry.

'There was once a time when an airport lounge was a special treat, but our latest results say quite the opposite,' said Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel.

'Instead of paying over 40 for a lukewarm buffet breakfast on a dirty plate, you can get a lot more for your money by visiting a bar or restaurant inside the airport.'

'There are some better lounges, but make sure you get in for free, or at least for a reduced price. Look around for deals online or through your bank or holiday provider.'
Rating:

Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

Verdict: Elementary

Fans of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals need salivate no more  although this is not, alas, the big reunion theyve dreamed of for decades, since the dynamic duos last major collaboration (Evita, way back in 1976).

Its more a case of lets bash out a few songs as a favour to a mate.

The mate in question is the co-creator of Sherlock Holmes And The 12 Days Of Christmas, Humphrey Ker, whose sister happens to be Rices daughter-in-law.

Rice agreed to write some lyrics  and then asked Lloyd Webber to provide the tunes.

(Ker, by the way, has friends in all sorts of high places: he was the catalyst behind Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying Wrexham AFC.)

The show is an entertaining spoof melodrama, written by and starring Ker and David Reed, two-thirds of comic troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, known for their schlock Victoriana.

They play Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson respectively. The mystery that Holmes has to solve here is that actors in West End shows are being bumped off mid-performance (everyones a critic).

Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, a review by Veronica Lee

Fans of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals need salivate no more  although this is not, alas, the big reunion theyve dreamed of for decades, since the dynamic duos last major collaboration

Holmes deduces that the murders are following the traditional song 12 Days Of Christmas.

He and Watson must save panto dame (and national treasure) Arthur Stone (Cameron Johnson, stealing every scene hes in), who is appearing as Mother Goose, before the serial killer gets to six geese a-laying.

Adding to Holmess woes is that a new consulting detective is in town and, dash it, Athena Faversham (Helena Wilson) is not just a woman but every bit as smart as he is (although she uses a hookah rather than a traditional pipe to cogitate).

Its all very silly, with nice anachronistic gags and the fourth wall being broken regularly in Ker and Reeds affectionate nod to Conan Doyle.

Although I wish I could say Rice and Lloyd Webbers involvement adds value, the music doesnt feel integral to the show and the eight songs (one of them reworked from Lloyd Webbers Variations album) neither drive the narrative nor stick in the memory  although one, Houses Are Not Holmes, a strings-heavy solo ballad by Dr Watson about his fondness for the detective, is rather touching.

I saw the final preview, so it wasnt entirely run in, but Phillip Breen and Becky Hope-Palmers production could do with a little more zip and focus. This is a show with a big heart and theres fun to be had  and Rice-Lloyd Webber completists, at least, will savour their late-career reunion.

The production runs until January 18 at Birmingham Rep.
Play for Today: Big Winners (Channel 5)

Rating:

There's a terrible old joke which goes something like this. A woman gets home from work and announces to her husband: 'I've won the lottery. Pack your bags!'

'Great news,' he says. 'Should I pack for winter or summer?'

'I don't care,' says the wife. 'As long as you're gone by tonight.'

Play For Today: Big Winners is that gag turned into a one-off drama.

Channel 5 is developing a successful line in reviving things that the BBC used to do well (like All Creatures Great And Small).

Last week's revival of Play For Today featured Nigel Havers and Anita Dobson in a care home, and Big Winners again features love in old age.

Arthur and Edith Thistle (Sue Johnston and Paul Copley) are a couple who've been married for nearly 53 years.

They seem to bicker happily together, but there are signs that she is quietly seething with discontent.

Big Winners is one of those plays in which the camera dwells for a long time on a character's face, so we can see how they're suffering

People in the old Play For Today did a lot of quiet seething. He, of course, misses all the signs, because that's part of the problem.

ROTTER OF THE YEAR: Matt Smith played the title role in The Death Of Bunny Munro (Sky Atlantic), adapted from a novel by musician Nick Cave. He seduces waitresses, walks out of his wifes funeral for a cigarette break, tries to give away his son, and insults his in-laws. Step aside, Terry-Thomas: theres a new cad on the block. Advertisement

Every week, they wonder what they'd do if they won the lottery. 'Maybe I'll leave you and take all the cash,' she says. That's one of the signs that he misses.

Moments later, they discover they have won 14 million on the lottery.

One of the best-known Plays For Today was Spend, Spend, Spend, the story of Viv Nicholson, who worked her way through a huge pools win.

That didn't end well, and neither did Big Winners. Arthur is making big plans, right up to the moment Edith tells him: 'I want a divorce.'

Edith wants to study psychology, or feminism. She wants to go to London, see plays, and eat food she's never heard of.

She is so serious about this that she deploys the words no man ever wants to hear: 'Don't you think we ought to talk about this properly?'

And that's the problem, you see. Arthur hasn't been big on conversation. He's not been the same since . . . ah, at this point,

I should probably mention that they have a room that's been padlocked for 50 years. This, as anybody could guess, was where their little daughter died, probably from cot death, while Edith was away.

Arthur and Edith Thistle (Sue Johnston and Paul Copley) are a couple who've been married for nearly 53 years

Big Winners is one of those plays in which the camera dwells for a long time on a character's face, so we can see how they're suffering. Sue Johnston is, of course, very good at this.

In the end, Arthur makes a desperate gesture. He burns the lottery ticket, and Edith sees all her plans go up in smoke.

We don't know what happens next, but judging from the expression on Edith's face, she and Arthur won't be living happily ever after.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS is away.
Rochelle Humes broke down in tears live on Friday's instalment of This Morning as a young Wicked fan discussed her cancer battle on the sofa.

Lola Tucker, 11 - who has been dubbed the movie's 'biggest fan' - and her mum Kaisha appeared on the sofa to talk to Rochelle, 36, and co-host Dermot O'Leary, 52, about her journey after being diagnosed with a rare cancer last year.

After noticing that her daughter was limping, and various trips to the doctors and hospital, Lola had an X-ray and a 10cm tumour was found in her left thigh.

Lola went on to have chemotheraphy and surgery, and has since been given a 'great' prognosis.

Throughout her diagnosis, the popular film - which is in cinemas this Friday (21st November) - really kept her going.

Rochelle said: 'Wicked really kept you positive during that moment, becuase I can imagine as that diganosis happens, everything happens ever so quickly.

Rochelle Humes broke down in tears live on Friday's instalment of This Morning as a young Wicked fan discussed her cancer battle on the sofa

Lola Tucker, 11 - who has been dubbed the movie's 'biggest fan' - and her mum Kaisha appeared on the sofa to talk to Rochelle, 36, and co-host Dermot O'Leary, 52, about her journey after being diagnosed with a rare cancer last year

Wicked: For Good, which stars Ariana Grande and Cynia Erivo, is in cinemas on Friday (November 21)

'Did it keep you positive?'

Lola said: 'Yeah because I kept on searching on the internet and I was seeing videos of Cynthia Erivo - I saw a video of her, she didn't have any hair, so I was like "Mum look! Cynthia has got no hair!"

'It just kept me going the whole time. I was like "Wow!"'

Later on during the interview, Dermot wanted the youngster to give her verdict on the film, which left Rochelle in tears.

Looking down the camera, Lola said: 'I think it was just so good, I would 100% give it a 10/10.

'It did make me cry at the end when they sung For Good because it was like my treatment is done for good.'

As the camera panned out, presented Rochelle and Dermot looked visibly emotional at her words.

As the camera panned out, presented Rochelle and Dermot looked visibly emotional at her words (pictured)

Lola continued: 'And I don't have to go through that again.

'I would definitely go and see it.

'My cousin Marnie, she's also a huge fan and she was like "Can you come and watch it with me? And I was like yes of course I can!"'

'It's just so good.'

And the camera zoomed in on Rochelle and she dabbed the tear away from her cheek.

Lola went viral earlier this week after telling actress and muscian Ariana Grande a hilarious confession at the Wicked: For Good premiere in London.

In the clip, the youngster can be seen shouting for the stars attention as they walk on stage to see if they will sign her trainers.

As Ariana puts her mark on her shoe, Lola says: 'By the way, my cousin thinks you're fit!'

Rochelle asked Lola if she was scared to wear them, to which her mum replied: 'She's not allowed to!'

Lola chimed in: 'I was like "Mum I'm not allowed to wear them because I had an ulcer on the back of my foot from my cast.

'So I was like mum, I've only worn them like six or seven times!"'

Rochelle added: 'We need to get you one of those perspex shoe boxes to keep them nice!'

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV1 from 10am and is available to stream on ITVX.
THE BEATLES: The Anthology Collection (Apple/UMG)

Verdict: Fab but spasmodic

Rating:

The past eight years have seen a trawl through the archives to produce expanded editions of classic Beatles LPs. Starting with Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band in 2017, the project has delivered lovingly curated versions of The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be and Revolver. Weve now reached a stage, however, where its the deluxe retrospectives that are getting the deluxe reissue treatment.

The bands Anthology series, featuring out-takes and demos, was first released, in three instalments, to coincide with a 1995 TV documentary, The Beatles Anthology.

With that TV footage now restored, and due to start streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday (Nov 26), the three Anthology albums have been remastered by Giles Martin, son of original Beatles producer George, and repackaged as a 12-LP vinyl box (310), 8-CD set (95), and digitally.

At 191 tracks, the spasmodic (and pricey) Anthology Collection is too much of a Fab thing, and even the most loyal Beatles nut might detect the sound of a barrel being scraped.

Cavern Men: The Beatles performing in the legendary Liverpool nightclub in 1962

But this is The Beatles, and the reissue is still worthy of attention due to the addition of a fourth album: featuring (amid other rarities) 13 unreleased session recordings, the fourth disc is available as part of the box set, but also as a more affordable stand-alone triple vinyl LP (70) and double CD (23).

The previously unheard material isnt a dramatic departure, but it does cast familiar songs in a fresh light. Spanning a five-year period that changed the course of pop, it starts with John Lennons 1964 girl-group homage Tell Me Why, and concludes with a rollicking instrumental version, all pounding Lennon piano, of Hey Bulldog, from 1969s Yellow Submarine soundtrack. Its veering between your blues and your comedy, quips John.

Between those two, the other out-takes whisk us back to Beatlemania via the Lennon-sung ballads If I Fell and In My Life, the latter without its speeded-up baroque piano solo.

Where's Ringo? The band pose at Chiswick House, in 1966, while promoting Paperback Writer

Strike a pose: The Fab Four lounge outside John Lennon's house, in 1969

Deluxe reissue of a deluxe retrospective: The 12 LP vinyl box set of the Anthology Collection

Ive Just Seen A Face, sung by Paul McCartney, is peppered with so much urgent acoustic guitar that Lennon suggests it should have been donated to UK skiffle king Lonnie Donegan.

Moving on to the bands tempestuous later years, we get a live rehearsal of All You Need Is Love, a frenzied instrumental take on I Am The Walrus and a hard-rocking Baby, Youre A Rich Man, stripped of all its fancy effects.

Whatever disagreements existed outside the studio, The Beatles were a force of nature once the tape started running.
An Australian DJ has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after videos emerged of him pulling some 'cringeworthy' dance moves.

DJ Levi, whose real name is Levi Neufeld, boasts a combined 2.2million followers on Instagram and TikTok and an impressive 3million monthly listeners on Spotify.

However, the Afro-house DJ has recently been trending for a very different reason  a video of his Dusseldorf performance that went viral.

In the clip, Levi pulls a series of bizarre facial expressions at the decks, flashing a maniacal grin and sticking out his tongue.

The clip was quickly picked up by social media jokesters, who wasted no time in mercilessly mocking the Sydney DJ.

Spanish EDM station FlaixFM joined the pile-on, posting a clip of one of its DJs delivering an over-the-top impression of Levi.

DJ Levi, whose real name is Levi Neufeld, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons

Videos emerged of him pulling some 'cringeworthy' dance moves

Dutch musician Pieter Valley also shared a clip that showed him at his decks, comically aping the DJ.

The mockery didnt stop there  other accounts began posting exaggerated caricatures of Levi.

One account, Lemme Draw You, appeared especially amused by Levi's antics, sharing a series of humorous illustrations of him in different stage scenarios.

'I love how much you love to hate this guy,' one follower commented, while another chimed in with: 'You making fun of him is the only thing I know him for.'

'This is art. Ive not seen art in so long. But this is art,' a third declared while another offered Levi a potential nickname: 'DJ Cringe is the best, ever.'

With numerous accounts from across the globe poking fun at the beleaguered DJ, the comments kept flooding in.

One user even suggested that: 'He has embarrassed all of Australia.'

Another summed up the sentiment of many of the trolls with: 'I love that the whole internet decided to hate on this guy.'

The clip was quickly picked up by social media jokesters, who wasted no time in mercilessly mocking the Sydney DJ

Levi's own Instagram hasn't escaped the relentless jibes either.

His latest post  a carousel of images from Miami, Florida  has also been inundated with remarks about his 'tongue moves'.

But not all the comments were harsh  some fans rushed to defend Levi.

'People are just jealous of what you have brother. Dont let the internet ruin you,' one fan offered.

'You got this. This is just the downside of fame but f the haters.'

Another chimed in with an encouraging: 'Funny how some guys are soo jealous of him being a hot DJ. Hes the best.'

Levi, who is also a model, got his start in reality television as a 'door pusher' on The Voice.

Back in 2018, he even told Daily Mail that he was keen on taking a then single Delta Goodrem 'out for a drink'.

Levi's own Instagram has not been immune from the seemingly ceaseless jibes either

But not all the comments were harsh  some fans rushed to defend the musician

'I find Delta extremely, extremely attractive. She's amazing,' Levi said at the time.

'I personally prefer sitting on a balcony, getting a bottle of red wine, some cheese crackers and hors d'oeuvres and watching the sunset,' he said.

'We would have some acoustic music playing in the background and just talk about life.'

Levi popped up again in 2022, as the fan-favourite best friend of Married At First Sight groom Brent Vitiello.

When Brent's bride branded him 'average' at their wedding in the premiere episode, Levi was quick to leap to his mate's defence, causing many fans to gush over the wingman.

'I'd marry this Levi guy. He's a keeper,' one wrote, along with one who said, 'Can I just say I've got a crush on Levi?'

Another described him as their 'favourite person ever', while one suggested he 'needs his own show'.
The relationship between Wicked witches Glinda and Elphaba is perhaps the greatest platonic love story of all time.

But don't tell that to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo  depicting the pair on-screen once again in the new Wicked: For Good movie  who appear to be gunning for that title in real life.

In a repeat of last year's memorable antics, that saw the inseparable pair repeatedly crying and touching each other while out promoting the first Wicked movie, the recent press tour for the sequel has been equally ridiculous - with yet more weeping and even one bizarre breakdown over a noisy nearby helicopter.

Such is their hyper-emotional closeness that Grande herself has even joked about being 'secretly married' to Erivo (fans have given them the relationship name 'Gelphie').

But while they certainly appear to be thick as thieves, some people aren't buying it, dismissing the dynamic as a calculated ploy to distract from Grande's reportedly strained relationship with her co-star Ethan Slater, who has been largely absent from the recent promotional tour.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have raised more than a few eyebrows with their seemingly bizarre behavior on the press tour for Wicked: For Good

A Broadway World video captured Erivo rearranging Grande's jewelry for a second time. Other antics have seen them bursting into tears, shooing away helicopters and holding onto one another's fingers

Despite the naysayers, however, insiders have insisted to the Daily Mail that Erivo, 38, and Grande, 32, are in fact 'genuine' best friends.

'Cynthia is super protective of Ariana and is like the big sister Ari's never had,' our source said. 'She worships the ground she walks on. They've bonded with each other on so many levels and have complete trust with each other.

'It's very rare for two leading actresses to be this close, but their friendship is 100 percent genuine.'

And Erivo  who has been mocked for 'fixing' Grande's necklace and kissing her hand mid-interview  certainly displayed that protective instinct when she stepped in to protect Grande as she was ambushed by a serial harasser on the red carpet in Singapore earlier this month.

Such was Erivo's swift response, that she jumped in to pull Grande away from her attacker before their slow-to-the-mark bodyguards were able to leap into action.

The event was said to have left Grande 'triggered'. (She has spoken about her struggle with PTSD after the bombing at her 2017 concert in Manchester that left 22 dead and over 1,000 injured).

Others have suggested the unusual dynamic is a calculated ploy to distract from Grande's reportedly strained relationship with her costar Ethan Slater (pictured)

'Cynthia has taken the role of protector, like a big sister to Ariana as they clicked so much,' said a second insider who insisted their friendship is 'authentic and real.'

'She's six years older, it just naturally became that way,' the second insider added. 'If people want to talk about their relationship being weird, whatever. Ari doesn't care if people think it's weird, if it drums up interest in the movie, it's a win.'

For the most part, Erivo is also unfazed by the public response to her protective behavior.

'I'm never going to be able to please every single person on the planet and nor should I,' she said this week. 'I don't really care what everyone thinks about me.'

But it is also true that duo could soon struggle to maintain their close bond once their promotional duties for Wicked finally wrap, our insiders said.

For despite Erivo now being one of Grande's 'closest confidants,' it is understood that they often don't have time to see each other when they're not working together.

'They text and have phone calls all of the time, but when they're not filming or on a press tour together they often don't have time to hang out like regular friends,' said our first insider. 'You're not going to see them go shopping together. They both have busy schedules and Ariana is mainly in Los Angeles and Cynthia is in London.

'Post-Wicked will be a true test of their friendship. Things can change a year from now like most Hollywood friendships tend to.'
Notorious race faker Rachel Dolezal has resurfaced with a stunning new look.

The activist, who now goes by the Nigerian name Nkechi Amare Diallo, showed off her glam makeover while celebrating her 48th birthday last week.

She looked much younger and fresher than before, with some fans comparing her to Katy Perry.

'Are you dating Justin Trudeau,' joked one, while another wrote, 'Why are you Katy Perry?'

Others pointed out that Dolezal now looks more Caucasian compared to the dark bronzers that she sometimes wears to look more in line with her transracial identity.

'Did you get the Michael Jackson treatment?' asked one.

Notorious race faker Rachel Dolezal resurfaced with a stunning new look (pictured) on her 48th birthday last week - which saw her likened to Katy Perry

The activist, who now goes by the Nigerian name Nkechi Amare Diallo, is pictured in 2017

'You look pretty, your natural skin color suits you,' a second wrote, while a third added, 'You look way better embracing your whiteness than you did pretending to be black.'

After skyrocketing to public attention in 2015 for passing herself off as a black woman, the former NAACP leader was unable to find work.

She eventually found a job as an after-school instructor at Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona, but was sacked early last year when her side hustle as an OnlyFans creator was exposed.

In an email, Tucson School District Director of Alumni & Community Relations Julia Fairbanks said the district was unaware of the account.

'We only learned of Ms. Nkechi Diallo's OnlyFans social media posts yesterday afternoon,' they shared.

'Her posts are contrary to our district's 'Use of Social Media by District Employees' policy (attached) and our staff ethics policy. She is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District.'

Dolezal's page was launched in September 2021 and was reportedly going to feature 'foot photos,' hair tutorials and fitness routines.

However, it has since evolved to feature more explicit content, including sex tapes.

Dolezal now looks much younger and fresher than before, with some fans even comparing her to Katy Perry

The 48-year-old now works as an OnlyFans creator in addition to selling art online

The controversial personality was the spitting image of Perry as she rang in her birthday

Dolezal spent more than 10 years posing as a black woman, rising to become a chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

She also became a teacher of Africana studies at East Washington University.

In 2015, a local news reporter in Washington 'outed' Dolezal after revealing her Montana parents, Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal, were both white.

She was sacked from her job with the NAACP and subsequently dismissed from her position at Eastern Washington University.

The controversial 'civil rights activist' would later argue that she was 'transracial' and has said she did nothing wrong in not correcting 'assumptions' that she is black.

Dolezal began to try to rebuild her image with a Netflix documentary in 2018, The Rachel Divide.

She then attempted to generate some income by writing a memoir called In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World.

The former NAACP leader has become wildly successful on OnlyFans

Things fell apart when in May 2018, Dolezal was charged with theft by welfare fraud, perjury and false verification for public assistance.

Court documents alleged that she illegally received $8,747 in food assistance and $100 in childcare assistance from August 2015 through November 2017.

Dolezal settled in a Washington court in April, agreeing to pay an undisclosed restitution and complete 120 hours of community service.

High school pictures emerged of Dolezal - before she had made attempts to cast herself as a black woman - with blond hair.

In 2020, Dolezal appeared in a new documentary about black beauty, in which she claims people who criticize her are 'white supremacy folks' and blames her black ex-husband for 'repressing' her.

Titled 'Subjects of Desire' and directed by Jennifer Holness, the documentary debuted at SXSW and featured Dolezal saying she had been a victim of 'shaming and ridicule' due to the scandal.

'I've been called an insult to white women and an insult to black women. White women are angry because I did what they never would do and went further, like I put 110,' she said, according to Daily Beast.

'I didn't just be that white ally and do a little bit, I canceled my white privilege. I canceled my hair.'

Dolezal shared her incredible story in her 2017 memoir In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World

Dolezal defiantly told Tamron Hall that 'you can't change who you are' during a 2021 appearance on Hall's talk show

Dolezal further opened up about her identity in a 2021 interview on The Tamron Hall Show.

'When it comes to race and identity, I've always identified racially as "human" but have found more of a home in black culture and the black community, and that hasn't changed,' she explained.

'I'm still the same person I was in May of 2015 I'm still doing the work I'm still pressing forward but it has been really tough for sure,' she continued.

'Not having a job for six years, having to create my own job and find my own ways to provide for my children through braiding hair, through grant writing to bring funds into marginalized communities and black-owned businesses and non-profits, through painting, through doing pep talks on Cameo.com.'

Dolezal - who has said she is 'transracial', equating her experience to that of being transgender - remained defiant in talking to Hall, stating that she couldn't change who she is and would not bow to pressure.

'It's definitely been a long six years, but I really strongly believe that as a person, you have to just continue to be who you are. And you can't change who you are.'
Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth joined his wife Elsa Pataky on the Gold Coast this week for an intimate screening of his new Disney+ documentary, A Road to Remember, marking the couple's first joint red carpet appearance in months.

Chris, 42, took to social media to share snaps with his Spanish wife Elsa, 49, alongside family members including his father Craig, 71, and mother Leonie, 64.

Chris looked dashing in a brown three-piece suit as he posed affectionately with his wife of 14 years.

Elsa, radiant in a green summer maxi dress and shimmering silver stilettos, beamed as Chris wrapped his arm around her waist.

It was a true family affair for the Hemsworth clan, with Chris' brothers Liam, 35, and Luke, 45, joining him on the red carpet.

Sharing the snaps to Instagram, Chris included a tribute to his parents in the post, who co-starred alongside him in the new film.

Chris Hemsworth joined his wife Elsa Pataky on the Gold Coast this week for the premiere of his new Disney+ documentary, A Road to Remember, marking the couple's first joint red carpet appearance in months

'Surreal experience spending time with family and friends last night at a special screening...,' Chris wrote alongside his post.

'This project was unlike anything I've been a part of for a whole host of reasons and I'm incredibly proud of it.

'Very thankful to everyone who poured into it and especially grateful to my parents, Craig and Leonie, who really put themselves out there with such vulnerability and grace.'

Chris also thanked the film's director, Tom Barbor-Might, and included a photo of his 11-year-old twin sons, Tristan and Sasha.

Their daughter India, 13, did not appear in the photos.

Also featured in the snaps were Samantha Hemsworth, wife of Luke and their children Holly, 16, Ella, 15 and Harper, 13.

They posed alongside Liam and his fiancee, Gabriella Brooks.

Produced by National Geographic, A Road to Remember chronicles Craig's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's.

The event was a family affair for the Hemsworth clan. Pictured: Chris's brothers Liam, 35, and his fiancee, Gabriella Brooks, and elder sibling Luke, 45, and his wife Sam and their mum Leonie, 60. Also pictured: Chris and Elsa's sons, Tristan and Sasha, and Luke and Sam's daughters, Holly, Ella, and Harper

Produced by National Geographic, A Road to Remember explores Chris' father Craig's experience with early-onset Alzheimer's

It comes after Elsa has been seen spending plenty of solo time away from her Hollywood star husband.

Earlier this month, she attended the launch of Ralph Lauren's Fall/Holiday 2025 campaign in her native Byron Bay, while Chris was nowhere in sight.

The Fast And The Furious star was joined by the likes of actors Lincoln Younes, Daniel Webber and Olivia DeJonge, and models Duckie Thot and Montana Cox for the event.

Elsa and Chris are certainly no strangers to spending time apart.

Last month, she took daughter India on a luxe horse riding safari in Africa.

Elsa and Chris often spend long periods apart and go on separate trips with their children.

The safari came after Chris and Elsa spent most of the European summer apart.

Elsa was in her native Spain for weeks, filming her new TV series, Matices.

Meanwhile, Chris spent time abroad, including an appearance at the final day of Wimbledon without Elsa.

Chris also enjoyed a beachside escape in Hossegor, France, with his longtime personal trainer and best mate, Luke Zocchi, while Elsa enjoyed her own holiday in her native Spain.

They later reunited in July for the Thor star's new National Geographic series, Limitless: Live Better Now, with Tristan and Sasha in London.

A Road to Remember is out on Disney+ on November 24.
Australian pop star Delta Goodrem and her new husband Matthew Copley are said to be house hunting in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The hitmaker, 41, and her beau, 37, were seen eyeing off a luxury pad in Dover Heights, a location known for its spectacular ocean views and sky-high house prices.

Delta, who tied the knot with her long-time boyfriend back in July, appears ready to settle into married life in Sydney.

According to news.com.au, Delta and Matthew had a peek at a sprawling home, located in the famed clifftop neighbourhood, only minutes from Bondi Beach.

Dover Heights has lured buyers with deep pockets in the last few years, with one resort-style home there going under the hammer for $16.8 million in March 2024.

Another nearby property was listed for $16 million back in September.

Australian pop star Delta Goodrem, 41, and her new husband Matthew Copley, 37, are said to be house hunting in Sydney 's eastern suburbs

Delta already has a lavish bolthole in The Residence building, overlooking Hyde Park in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst.

The performer and songwriter bought the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in 2018 for $4.8 million.

Highlights of the apartment complex include a gym, steam room and spa.

There's also a 24-hour concierge service, sauna, a 20-metre pool and wine storage.

It comes after Delta Goodrem was seen stepping out for lunch in Sydney last week.

The pop diva cut a very chic figure as she arrived at swanky Coogee eatery Mimi's for the launch of her new perfume, called Within.

Looking more red carpet ready than lunch-ready, Delta wore a billowing sky blue gown that wafted effortlessly in the coastal breeze.

Delta appeared chuffed to be out and about in the swanky Sydney suburb, offering waiting photographers a happy wave as she made her way into the restaurant.

The hitmaker and her beau were seen eyeing off a luxury pad in Dover Heights, a location known for its spectacular ocean views and sky-high house prices

She was all smiles, despite arriving at the restaurant solo, without the company of her husband Matthew.

Delta is, no doubt, enjoying married life after tying the knot with Matthew back in June.

The wedding, which took place on June 16, according to New Idea, was an extravagant multi-day celebration attended by the couple's nearest and dearest.

Among the guests were Delta's mother Lea and brother Trent, as well as TV presenter Renee Bargh, former Nine journalist Airlie Walsh, and her best friend Danielle Cox.

Delta, who has remained private about her personal life, got engaged to Matthew, her guitarist and musical collaborator, in September 2023.
Daryl Somers is reportedly unhappy after failing to receive a mention during Livinia Nixon's five-minute farewell package on Tuesday night.

The Melbourne weather presenter, 50, delivered her final broadcast at Channel Nine this week after 21 years in the role, with a clip of the TV star's career highlights marking her exit.

Although the video featured a brief clip of Livinia's Hey Hey It's Saturday debut in the '90s, host Daryl, 74, didn't receive a shoutout, leaving him 'bruised', according to news.com.authough a spokesperson for Daryl has since denied these claims.

The outlet went on to allege the long-time anchor and onetime executive producer of the iconic show was left disappointed he didn't receive a shoutout from Livinia, despite helping launch her career.

Sources apparently went on to claim Daryl may now be taking a 'closer look' at the footage Nine used of Livinia on Hey Hey It's Saturday, as his company SEA acquired the copyright for the variety show in 2010.

When Daily Mail reached out to Daryl for comment, a spokesperson said these claims were 'absolutely false'.

Daryl Somers is reportedly unhappy after failing to receive a mention during Livinia Nixon's five-minute farewell package on Channel Nine on Tuesday night

Hey Hey It's Saturday aired on Nine for 28 years from 1971 to 1999, with Livinia scoring a gig on the show alongside Daryl in 1997.

It comes after the 9News Melbourne team bade an emotional farewell to Livinia this week after she delivered her final broadcast as weather presenter.

The occasion was marked by a five-minute package that highlighted Livinia's two decades of bringing Melburnians the weather.

'The secret to Livo's success has been her ability to just be herself,' Tony Jones said over a montage of some of Livinia's memorable on-air moments.

'The Livinia Nixon you see in your lounge room each night is the same Livinia we see in the newsroom each day.'

The package concluded with a heartfelt: 'Best to check that pollen count one more time, Livo, because there's watery eyes across Melbourne tonight.'

Throwing back to the newsroom, Livinia was surrounded by the entire 9News Melbourne team and family members, who gathered to bid her a fond farewell.

'You really are the ray of sunshine in our team,' Tom Steinfort said. 'We have people come up to us all the time and say: "Livinia seems nice on air but what's she like in real life?" and I say: 'Even more wonderful.'

The Melbourne weather presenter delivered her final broadcast this week after 21 years in the role, with a clip of the TV star's career highlights marking her exit

While the video included a few seconds of Livinia's debut on Hey Hey It's Saturday in the '90s, host Daryl didn't receive a shoutout, which allegedly left him 'bruised', according to news.com.authough a spokesperson for Daryl has since denied these claims.

'You are such a beautiful person. I will miss you, and I hope you know how many people at home are going to miss welcoming you into their living rooms.'

An appreciative Livinia then reciprocated the love, admitting the decision to leave was not easy.

'This is a very difficult decision to make because I do love this job,' she said.

'But I feel it's the right decision at the right time for my family. I want to see my boys chase their dreams.'

Livinia went on to thank husband Alistair and Channel Nine for their 'unwavering support' after she announced her exit.

Although Livinia is stepping away from the 9News team, she is not leaving the network entirely and will still appear on Getaway and Postcards.
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin is still reeling from the betrayal of his wife's efforts to have him killed, his close friend and co-star Zak Bagans has revealed exclusively to the Daily Mail.

Paranormal expert Bagans, 48, has been friends with Goodwin, 49, since 2004 and is now filming season 31 of Ghost Adventures with him in Idaho.

Goodwin's estranged wife Victoria, 32, was sentenced five months ago for plotting his murder, but the heaviness of the brutal ordeal is still weighing on him.

'We're filming in Idaho right now. Aaron is still having a bit of a tough time. I just let him know he's loved. We've been friends for a long time and I can notice it,' Bagans told The Daily Mail.

'I try not to let this pull at him too much when I notice it. I tell him he's loved and he's amazing and I hug him,' he added.

Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made.

Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin is still reeling after his wife Victoria was arrested for plotting his murder, his close friend and co-star Zak Bagans has revealed exclusively with The Daily Mail (Goodwin pictured L and Bagans R in 2012)

Bagans' wife Victoria Goodwin is now behind bars after she plotted his murder; pictured 2022

Aaron, 49, wept as he described the betrayal of discovering that the 'love of his life' had not only cheated on him but had tried to have him killed during her sentencing

But, her devious plan unraveled when prison authorities seized Amato's phone and discovered disturbing communications between him and Victoria.

Investigators said she instructed him to make Goodwin's death look like an accident and provided detailed information about his travel plans and routines.

Victoria and Amato were also allegedly having an affair, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

On Wednesday, Goodwin marked a chilling moment - the one-year anniversary a hitman was set to cut his life short.

'From what the detectives told me, I cant believe I was supposed to die again a year ago today while filming the poltergeist house from the 2nd hit man attempt on my life that Victoria hired (emotional emoji) WTF (broken heart emoji) not having any idea thinking we where so in love. Theres so much more Im learning,' he captioned a photo of the cover of the book Harleen.

Since the murder plot was unveiled, Goodwin has filed for divorce from Victoria.

Victoria pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in April.

She was sentenced two months later to a minimum of three to seven and a half years behind bars in Nevada after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.

At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Goodwin, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again.'

Aaron wept as he described the betrayal of discovering that the 'love of his life' had not only cheated on him but had tried to have him killed.

Aaron was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder (pictured)

Paranormal expert Bagans, 48, has been friends with Goodwin, 49, since 2004 and is now filming season 31 of Ghost Adventures with him in Idaho; pictured with the Annabelle doll

She was sentenced two months later to a minimum of three to seven and a half years behind bars in Nevada after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors

At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Goodwin, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again'

He uploaded this chilling photo of the cover of Harleen as he marked the one-year anniversary of the day a hitman was set to take him out

On Wednesday, Goodwin marked a chilling moment - the one-year anniversary a hitman was set to cut his life short

Divorce documents obtained by Court TV reveal the duo married in 2020

Ghost Adventures is now airing it's 30th season; pictured 2012

Goodwin was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder.

Goodwin and his co-host Jay Wasley were setting up UV lights and polaroid cameras to take photos in an abandoned medical facility in Southern California when the presenter said he was feeling something peculiar.

'I feel like something's happening,' Goodwin said ominously.

But rather than a supernatural encounter normally reserved for an episode of his show, he was hit with the news that officers were at his home.

'Bro, police are at my house,' said Goodwin to Wasley, his tone became panicked.

Goodwin left the premises to take the call outside, leaving Wasley behind.

'That's fine, but I'm not staying in here by myself,' Wasley responded, trailing behind.

Ghost Adventures cut off the footage there, shielding viewers from the remainder of the gritty conversation where Goodwin was told that his wife, Victoria, had been arrested and charged for conspiracy to commit murder, according to TMZ.

Aaron was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder; pictured 2022

Goodwin and his then-wife Victoria sharing a tender moment

Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made

The murder plot was set to unfold in October 2024 while Goodwin was filming Ghost Adventures in California. The show follows Goodwin, Bagans, Wasley, and Billy Tolley as they explore reportedly haunted locations and investigate paranormal activity. It is now airing it's 30th season.

Prosecutors cited chilling messages recovered from Amato's phone. One message from Amato to a hitman read: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?'

In another message, Victoria wrote to Amato: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.'

When questioned by authorities, Victoria claimed she first learned about Amato through a true crime documentary and began corresponding with him.

She described their relationship as 'pen pals' and admitted that she and Aaron had been experiencing marital problems, which led her to 'connect' with Amato.

According to divorce documents obtained by Court TV, Goodwin and Victoria married in May 2020.

Following her arrest, Goodwin filed for divorce on March 12, stating: 'The views, tastes, likes, and dislikes of Husband and Wife have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony. There is no possibility of reconciliation between Husband and Wife.'
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson paid homage to the late Robin Williams in an Instagram clip he posted on Thursday, donning a piece of memorabilia that had once passed through the late actor's hands.

The 53-year-old superstar took to the social media site on Thursday as he was seen traveling via tram through the Universal Studios lot in Southern California, where he's making the fourth installment in the Jumanji film franchise.

The international superstar greeted thrilled fans riding on a seperate tram, in a clip posted to his 391 million followers.

The A-list action star, who plays the role of Dr. Smolder Bravestone in the motion picture series, said he gave fans 'a little Easter egg' as filming commenced on the highly-anticipated sequel.

'This is the dice from the original Jumanji with Robin Williams as a show of respect and a way of honoring Robin and this entire franchise that he started as we film our very last,' the Hayward, California-born film star said, showing off the prop, which he wore around his neck.

The wrestler-turned-actor said he was enjoying 'a little day one of Jumanji excitement' as production ensued on the motion picture.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, 53, paid homage to the late Robin Williams in an Instagram clip he posted on Thursday

Johnson said it came as a relief to be filming in Los Angeles for the first time in a while.

'So good to be shooting in Los Angeles,' Johnson said. 'I have not shot a film in Los Angeles since I don't know when.'

He added, 'It feels so good to bring a production back home to Los Angeles.

'And have our hardworking crews sleeping in their own bed every night - it's very cool - and especially just a big, fun movie like Jumanji.'

The original Jumanji arrived in theaters nearly 30 years ago, on December 15, 1995.

A logline for the film, which starred Williams as Alan Parrish, was that 'a magic board game summons jungle perils and a missing boy.'

The cast was rounded out by Kirsten Dunst, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, David Alan Grier and Bonnie Hunt.

The international superstar greeted thrilled fans riding on a seperate tram, in a clip posted to his 391 million followers

Bradley Pierce, Kirsten Dunst and Robin Williams pictured in the original movie

Hours after Johnson's tribute post the the late legend, the star was spotted filming scenes for the upcoming Jumanji flick in Downtown Los Angeles

He was joined on the bustling set by co-stars Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Laren Gillan

Johnson waved at fans who were lucky enough to watch him and his co-stars in action on Thursday

The group, all clad in costumes, appeared to be shooting a Christmas-themed scene outside of building with fake snow on the ground and miniature pine trees dressed with ornaments on the sidewalk

Karen Gillan giggled with Johnson while showing off her abs in a crop top and shorts

Jack Black made his way around set with an umbrella as it rained intermittently in LA

Kevin Hart looked cheery in a black puffer jacket

Johnson was often photographed in character as he acted with Gillan and Black outdoors

The cast is joining creative forces with director Jake Kasdan for next installment

Previous motion pictures in the film franchise include 2017's Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle and 2019's Jumanji: The Next Level.

Johnson will again join creative forces with director Jake Kasdan and actors Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan for the next installment.

Keene, New Hampshire, where many scenes in the original movie were filmed, observed the film's anniversary with a celebration this past June.

Madeline Murphy, who worked as an extra on the movie, recalled the direction filmmakers gave her when production was going on on the first film 31 years ago in November of 1994.

Murphy told the New York Post that she was told, 'Pretend youre frightened and youre screaming because an elephants coming after you.'

Williams tragically died in August of 2014 via suicide. He was 63.

Hours after Johnson's tribute post the the late legend, the star was spotted filming scenes for the upcoming Jumanji flick in Downtown Los Angeles.

He was joined on the bustling set by co-stars Hart, Black and Gillan.

The group, all clad in costumes, appeared to be shooting a Christmas-themed scene outside of building with fake snow on the ground and miniature pine trees dressed with ornaments on the sidewalk.
Heather Graham showed off her age-defying looks in a new video she shared to Instagram on Thursday.

The actress, 55, sizzled in a sheer black lace dress and heels as she struck a number of poses for the clip.

The beauty  who recently reunited with a nostalgic prop from Boogie Nights  wore soft, delicate makeup that highlighted her naturally striking features and smooth, wrinkle-free complexion.

Her golden tresses were styled into bouncy locks, and she completed the look with a fuzzy black fur coat.

She also added several photos into the clip, including one where she playfully holds a lipstick as if it were a cigarette.

In her caption she thanked her makeup and hair stylists for getting her ready to an event celebrating Aisling Chin-Yee's new documentary, The Pink Pill, about a drug known as the 'female Viagra.'

Heather Graham, 55, showed off her age-defying looks in a new video she shared to Instagram on Thursday

The actress sizzled in a sheer black lace dress and heels as she struck a number of poses for the clip

The video was set to Dua Lipa's flirty song 'Pretty Please.'

Paris Hilton left a heart-eye emoji on in the comments of the post.

Actress Molly Shannon wrote 'Beautiful inside and out!' along with a red heart emoji.

Another follower commented on her hairstyle being similar to the curls she rocked in Twin Peaks: 'Those Twin Peaks curls you like are gonna come back in style'

Yet another follower called Graham a 'Smoke show.'

The day prior, the beauty wore a nearly identical lace dress in white, as she attended an event for Cindy' new documentary at the Whitby Hotel in New York City.

Graham completed the look with silver heels that showed off her red pedicure.

The Pink Pill, directed by Chin-Yee, centers on entrepreneur Cindy Eckert and her fight to bring Addyi, the controversial 'female Viagra,' to market.

The documentary delves into the gender bias that runs through the medical world, especially concerning women's sexual health.

The beauty wore soft, delicate makeup that highlighted her naturally striking features and smooth, wrinkle-free complexion

She also added several photos into the clip, including one where she playfully holds a lipstick as if it were a cigarette

In her caption she thanked her makeup artist for getting her ready to an event celebrating Aisling Chin-Yees new documentary, The Pink Pill, about a drug known as the 'female Viagra'

The day prior, the beauty wore a nearly identical lace dress in white, as she attended an event for the film in New York City

She was seen posing with Cindy Eckert and actress Awkwafina

It comes after Graham reunited with her Boogie Nights roller skates during filming for Stephen King's remake of Carrie for Amazon Prime Video.

In October, the star took to her Instagram to share some unseen snaps whilst on set.

Graham revealed how excited she was to work with the talented cast and crew for the TV series as they were on location in Vancouver and also shared how she came across a nostalgic prop.

She found her original Rollergirl roller skates from the iconic 1997 Boogie Nights film - a comedy about a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films.

Thrilled about finding them, Heather said it was 'good memories'.

She wrote: 'I'm so excited I got to work with @flanaganfilm and the talented cast and crew on Stephen King's Carrie for @primevideo.

'And @flanaganfilm has the original Rollergirl rollerskates from Boogie Nights!!! So I was reunited with my Rollergirl skates as you can see in these photos. Good memories'

Graham added: 'We shot the Carrie tv series in Vancouver. Have you been? I think it's one of the most beautiful cities. I'm obsessed with the bike path in Stanley Park.

'The food there is good'

The actress previously shared how she looks so youthful at 55, spilling her celebrity secrets with fans.

First and foremost, Heather's enviable physique can be largely attributed to her very active lifestyle - which includes regular bike rides and hikes.

'I'm obsessed with yoga,' she also told Refinery29 previously.

'For fun, I would go on a yoga retreat and do four hours of yoga a day. Then I do Pilates.'

The actress previously shared how she looks so youthful at 55, revealing it's thanks to her very active lifestyle - which includes regular bike rides and hikes

The energetic star is a big fan of dancing too and revealed her bizarre guilty pleasure during an appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

Heather asked the host: 'Do you ever go alone at night in your house, turn out all the lights, turn on your favourite song and just dance around like crazy? It's so fun.'

Discussing some of the songs she prefers to get loose to, she referenced Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and Rihanna's Umbrella.

She also revealed that a friend had been teaching her to pole dance, which is renowned for helping build core and upper body strength.

But Heather always finds time to unwind and spends 20 minutes a day doing transcendental meditation - a non-religious method for relaxation, stress relief, and self-development.
Shelley Duvall fans were shocked to find out that the iconic actress had dated one of the members of The Beatles.

A photo resurfaced of Ringo Starr taking a selfie with Duvall on the set of classic 1980 horror film The Shining - which she starred in alongside Jack Nicholson - leaving fans shocked that they were ever together.

The snap was posted on popular Reddit subreddit /r/oldschool and many commenters were bewildered that the two were ever romantically involved.

One wrote: 'did not know they had been a couple. she must have had a thing for musicians.'

Duvall - who died at 75 of complications from diabetes in July 2024 - had dated Simon & Garfunkel Paul Simon from 1976 to 1979, who the commenter was likely referencing.

The actress and Starr, now 85, had a brief romance as she filmed The Shining in London back in 1978 though not much is known about their relationship.

Shelley Duvall (pictured in 1983) fans were shocked to find out that the iconic actress had dated one of the members of The Beatles

A photo resurfaced on Reddit of Ringo Starr taking a selfie with Duvall on the set of classic 1980 horror film The Shining - which she starred in alongside Jack Nicholson - leaving fans shocked that they were ever together

The two were spotted together at Heathrow Airport around the time.

Another Reddit commenter wrote: 'Shelley and Ringo just make sense as a couple. Both unconventionally attractive, and good actors. Well, at least Ringo was the best actor of the Beatles.'

The iconic actress, who played Wendy Torrance in the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film died in her sleep at her Blanco, Texas home last year.

Meanwhile, Duvall's controversial estate sale back in September divided fans - who claimed the late star 'deserved more' than having her personal possessions sold.

Her stellar collection of movie memorabilia from her storied acting career - including the original script from Popeye, her personal notebooks and her call sheets from The Shining - were up for grabs at the sale, with a further auction of her belongings slated for October.

The chance to grab items from the actress' personal effects sparked mixed reactions from fans - with some determined to snap up one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia, while others lambasted the 'intrusive' decision to sell her prized possessions.

One fan commented on a video shared by Vogt Auction Galleries inside DuVall's storage barn at her Texas home: 'Dude. Start off showing some respect

Others wrote: 'Interesting but still feels a bit intrusive/ RIP SD.

The actress and Starr, now 85, had a brief romance as she filmed The Shining in London back in 1978 though not much is known about their relationship as the two were spotted together at Heathrow Airport around the time (pictured)

Meanwhile, Duvall's controversial estate sale back in September divided fans - who claimed the late star 'deserved more' than having her personal possessions sold- pictured as Wendy Torrance in the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film

Shelley Duvall, 75, died of complications from diabetes in July 2024

'Rest in peace Shelley, you deserved more.'

'What about using those items to create a museum?

'This is what happens to all of us. All the things we kept and cherished throughout our lives get divvied up to strangers. Like when the Romans rolled dice for the lord's possessions. Sad.'

'Omg. The shining and Popeyes scripts belong at the academy of motion pictures museum. Geez. Hollywood treasures. I hope they go to the right place and not lost/

Others praised the sale saying: 'I'm grateful that you will be sharing the catalog online. She was such a beautiful inspiration my whole life.'

'why didnt i see this two days ago!! i wouldve loved to go to this.'

Duvall died of complications from diabetes.

'My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now shes free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,' Dan Gilroy, her life partner since 1989, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Her stellar collection of movie memorabilia from her storied acting career - including the original script from Popeye in which she starred as Olive Oyl along side Robin Williams in 1980

The chance to grab items from the actress' personal effects sparked mixed reactions from fans - with some determined to snap up one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia, while others lambasted the 'intrusive' decision to sell her prized possessions

Duvall's storage barn includes original call sheets from The Shining

She also had a first edition of the Stephen King classic

Her Popeye script is seen above

One fan commented on a video shared by Vogt Auction Galleries inside DuVall's storage barn at her Texas home: 'Dude. Start off showing some respect'

Others praised the decision to allow fans to purchase Duvall's items

Following a career that included major roles in Annie Hall, McCabe and Mrs. Miller and the iconic Olive Oyl in Popeye, Duvall retreated from Hollywood in 2002.

She later revealed that she suffered from mental illness and felt she had been 'hurt' by the showbusiness world.

Born July 7, 1949 in Fort Worth, Texas, Duvall began her career by appearing in the 1970 black comedy feature Brewster McCloud.

She starred in the psychological thriller Three Woman in 1977, which earned her an award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

Her most notable role was as Wendy Torrance in The Shining, and although initial reviews for the feature were mixed, contemporary critics have viewed the film in a much more favorable light.

She founded her own production company in 1988, called Think Entertainment, which was behind a ton more kids shows; however, she sold the company five years later. She also released an album that featured her covering popular Christmas hits in 1991.

Duvall was married to Bernard Sampson before her career kicked off, then she went on to date Paul Simon from 1976 to 1979 and Ringo Starr from 1979 to 1980, then Stanley Wilson who she met on the set of Popeye before starting her relationship with Gilroy.

In 2002, Duvall appeared in the independent film Manna from Heaven, before announcing that she was stepping away from the spotlight and retiring from acting.

Following the movie's release, the actress retreated from public life and retired until last year.

She made her return to the big screen in the 2023 film The Forest Hills about a man who begins experiencing disturbing visions after enduring a head injury during a camping trip in the Catskill Mountains.

Dan Gilroy (right), her life partner since 1989, confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter

'Shelley leaves behind an amazing legacy and will be missed by so many people, myself included. I am proud of her for overcoming adversity to act again and will always be forever grateful for her friendship and kindness,' The Forest Hills director Scott Goldberg told People.

In an interview with The New York Times, Duvall said that she left showbusiness in 2002 because people in Hollywood 'hurt' her.

'I was a star; I had leading roles,' she told the paper. 'People think it's just aging, but it's not. It's violence.'

She eventually made an appearance on an episode of Dr. Phil in 2016, where she spoke about dealing with mental illness during her time on the show.

The show's host was subsequently criticized for what many saw as his exploitation of the performer.

Gilroy also chimed in the Times interview saying that her 2016 interview with Dr. Phil was support to help her career, but it ended up being damning and made her appear 'odd'.

But then he added that he does worry about her, especially when she sleeps in her car.

Gilroy also explained that when her Los Angeles home was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, they moved to Texas hoping for a happier life.

That is when things went 'downhill' and she 'started becoming afraid of things, maybe didn't want to work'.
A Grammy-winning artist was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was convicted of funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

Fugees rapper Pras Michel, 53, was found guilty of having orchestrated the illegal foreign lobbying scheme on behalf of fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low.

Michel obtained over $120 million from Jho and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obamas campaign.

The rapper also tried to end a Justice Department investigation of Low, tampered with two witnesses and perjured himself at trial, prosecutors said.

In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

The trial in Washington included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Michel had publicly appealed to President Donald Trump for clemency, expressing hope his case would receive favorable consideration.

'I hope he turn an eye on me,' Michel told TMZ earlier this year, adding he still held 'love for any president' and trusted the process would prevail.

Pras Michel (pictured right), 53, was found guilty of having orchestrated the illegal foreign lobbying scheme to illegally funnel millions of dollars in foreign contributions to Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign

Michel was found guilty in a $100m foreign extortion scheme, having been the lynchpin lobbyist for China in a bewildering plot whose cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama and Donald Trump; pictured arriving to his trial in March 2023

He also drew parallels between his legal battle and Trump's own conviction in a hush money trial during the Biden administration, suggesting both had been victims of an overzealous Justice Department.

The Hollywood Reporter previously said Trump was weighing a possible pardon, though the White House declined to comment and Michel's team later confirmed only that 'all available options' were being explored.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly also ordered Michel to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, whom they said 'betrayed his country for money' and 'lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.'

'His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed,' they wrote.

Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg said his client's 14-year sentence is 'completely disproportionate to the offense.' Michel will appeal his conviction and sentence, according to his lawyer.

'Elliott Broidy was pardoned, George Higginbotham got 3 months' probation, and Nicki Lum Davis received 24 months. Not to mention that DOJ has announced that FARA will no longer be prosecuted except where there is espionage involved  something not alleged here,' Zeidenberg said.

'There simply is no justification for Mr. Michel being singled out like this except for the penalty for opting for trial. We will appeal.'

Michel obtained over $120 million from a Malaysian billionaire and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obamas campaign

In recent months, Michel publicly appealed to former President Donald Trump for clemency, expressing hope his case would receive favorable consideration; Trump pictured March 6

Zeidenberg had recommended a three-year prison sentence. A life sentence would be an 'absurdly high' punishment for Michel given that it is typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders, Michel's attorneys said in a court filing.

'The Governments position is one that would cause Inspector Javert to recoil and, if anything, simply illustrates just how easily the Guidelines can be manipulated to produce absurd results, and how poorly equipped they are, at least on this occasion, to determine a fair and just sentence,' they wrote.

Additionally, a spokesperson for Michel told The Daily Mail: 'Throughout his career Pras has broken barriers. This is not the end of his story. He appreciates the outpouring of support as he approaches the next chapter.'

In addition to the lengthy sentence, Michel has already been instructed to forfeit $64 million linked to the sprawling influence operation, which prosecutors say sought to pressure U.S. officials into dropping investigations into Low, the alleged mastermind of the massive 1MDB embezzlement scandal.

Federal prosecutors argued Michel deserved a harsh sentence, describing his conduct as a profound breach of national trust.

According to Billboard, they claimed he 'betrayed his country for money,' noting that comparable financial crimes often result in prison terms exceeding two decades.

Michel's legal team pushed back, requesting just 36 months, arguing the government was treating him as if he were a violent cartel leader or terrorist.

He is scheduled to surrender to authorities on January 27.

Michel is scheduled to surrender to authorities on January 27; pictured in 2022

Low, who has lived in China, was one of the primary financiers of "The Wolf of Wall Street," a movie starring DiCaprio. Low is a fugitive but has maintained his innocence.

"Lows motivation for giving Mr. Michel money to donate was not so that he could achieve some policy objective. Instead, Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama," Michels attorneys wrote.

In August 2024, the judge rejected Michels request for a new trial based in part on his defense attorneys use of a generative AI program during his closing of the trials arguments.

The judges said that and other trial errors didnt amount to a serious miscarriage of justice.

Michel also voiced support for rapper Tory Lanez, incorrectly suggesting a presidential pardon could free him, though Lanez's conviction falls under California's jurisdiction, making any clemency strictly the decision of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Michel was ultimately determined to be a central figure in a bizarre global influence plot involving Hollywood elites, international financiers and political heavyweights.

Prosecutors said he pocketed an estimated $88 million for his role in the scheme.

Michel rose to international prominence in the 1990s as part of the Grammy-winning group Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.

The trio became global icons with hits including Killing Me Softly, Ready or Not and Fu-Gee-La before disbanding in 1998.

After years of sporadic reunions, Michel's personal and legal troubles overshadowed any comeback hopes.
Some of Australia's most influential women descended on Dawes Point in Sydney on Thursday night for the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards.

But while their glamorous red carpet looks dominated social media, candid shots of the stars didn't all make the cut.

Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame appeared to keep their distance  years after the pair made headlines for their apparently strained friendship.

Rumours of a rift surfaced in June 2023 when Grace appeared to scrub her Instagram profile of pictures of Brittany.

The purge included posts where she declared the former political staffer 'a national hero', a 'warrior', and 'my friend'.

While they may have spoken inside the venue, arrival photos showed them continuing to steer clear of each other.

The Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards kicked off on Thursday night with some candid moments captured on camera. Pictured: Brittany Higgins

Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame appeared to keep their distance, a few years after the pair made headlines for their apparently strained friendship. Grace (left) is pictured chatting with Noor Aziz (centre) and George Davidson (right)

Brittany was also seen putting on a brave face with her husband David Sharaz (pictured) as they shook off their recent bankruptcy proceedings to enjoy a night out together

Brittany appeared to put on a brave face alongside her husband David Sharaz, shaking off recent bankruptcy woes for a night out together.

She arrived in a red gown loaned by Rebecca Vallance, worth an eye-popping $1,049, as she pulled her locks back into a tight low bun.

Meanwhile, David went with a classic black suit for the occasion as he was spotted fetching his wife a drink.

Elsewhere, Pip Edwards was spotted standing awkwardly on her own as she waited for the red - in this case black - carpet to free up.

The P.E Nation founder, 45, appeared lost in thought as she entertained herself while garbed in an 80s-inspired top, presumably from Maticevski.

Pip tucked the sheer red top into a pair of tight black slacks, which she paired with Christian Louboutin pumps and a designer handbag.

Pia Whitesell was also caught waiting all by herself to take photos.

The actress, 42, jetted in from her lavish LA mansion, which she shares with her millionaire husband Patrick Whitesell, to attend the annual event.

Elsewhere, Pip Edwards, 45, was spotted standing awkwardly on her own as she waited for the red  in this case black  carpet to free up

Pia Whitesell, 42, was also caught waiting all by her lonesome to take photos

The actress jetted in from her lavish LA mansion, which she shares with her millionaire husband Patrick Whitesell, to attend the annual event

The former Home and Away star was seen making friends while waiting in line for pictures before entering the event

She was garbed in a stunning classic black gown with a very high thigh-split, and was seen making friends while waiting in line for pictures before entering the event.

The annual Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards are intended to acknowledge and celebrate 'game-changing' women across Australia.

The ceremony recognises Australians 'who have led with bravery, fought with passion, and inspired with creativity.

The Awards saw Australian actress Rose Byrne crowned The Icon of the year, comedian Kitty Flanagan crowned The Entertainer and fashion icon Camilla Freeman-Topper crowned The Designer.
Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he rubbed shoulders with Sir Mick Jagger at a celebration of his latest film One Battle After Another on Thursday evening.

The Hollywood actor, 51, who often keeps a low profile in a cap and dark glasses, looked in great spirits at the event at The Hart Pub in Marylebone London.

He kept his look simple in a satin shirt and black tailored jacket as he posed with the Rolling Stones legend, 82, who wore a bright orange and purple scarf and black cap.

The pair were also joined at the event by Pierce Brosnan and his son Dylan as the threesome smiled together.

Director Olivia Wilde was also in attendance alongside Hannah Waddingham and Richard Gadd.

On Wednesday Leonardo looked handsome in a brown plaid suit as he attended an in-conversation at BFI Southbank to promote his latest film.

Leonardo DiCaprio rubbed shoulders with SirMick Jagger as the pair beamed in snaps as he celebrated his latest film One Battle After Another at The Hart Pub in London on Thursday

The pair were also joined at the event by Pierce Brosnan and his son Dylan as the threesome smiled together

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is an action-thriller based loosely on Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland, has been greeted with five-star reviews across the board and even deemed 'the defining film of a generation'.

One Battle After Another sees Leo playing Bob Ferguson, a dishevelled and distraught revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia off-grid with his daughter Willa, whom he shares with Teyana Taylor's character Perfidia.

The film follows Bob as he reconnects with a group of allies on a mission to track down his daughter, with Benicio Del Toro playing his sensei, guiding him through a life without fear.

The high-stakes thriller and black comedy also stars Sean Penn as Bob's evil nemesis, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, and Regina Hall as revolutionary Deandra.

During the conversation at the BFI on Wednesday, Leonardo said: 'One of the fundamentally great things about Paul is he puts a tremendous amount of thought into what he does and I feel like he kind of stews over ideas, and obviously that later manifests itself on screen.

'But I remember [first] having a conversation with him years ago. He kind of casually came up to visit me and my friend [actor] Lukas [Haas], at my place and we were just kind of talking.

'It wasn't particularly about a project, but I could tell he was tuning his fork. There was a reference to maybe working together sometime in the distant future, like this ominous cloud, and I said to my friend Lukas, 'Do you think we're talking about a project? I have no idea.'

'And then, conversations started to build, Paul notoriously lives in Tarzana, which, if you dont know, is kind of a section of Los Angeles that is within and without  its far away from Los Angeles, but its driving distance.

The actor kept his look simple in a satin shirt and black tailored jacket as he posed with the Rolling Stones legend, 82, who wore a bright orange and purple scarf and black cap

Hannah Waddingham (L) kept it stylish in an all black ensemble as she joined Olivia Wilde (R) at the event

Leo and Mick also posed with the film's director Paul Thomas Anderson (L) and fellow actor Jeremy Irons (R)

Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd (L) and screenwriter Charlie Brooker (R) also attended the evening

Pierce looked suave in a navy suit as he posed with Barbara Broccoli

Hannah also got her snap with the rock legend alongside actress Sheila Atim

Dominic West added a fashionable black and white scarf to his ensemble

The film is based loosely on Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland, has been greeted with five-star reviews across the board and even deemed 'the defining film of a generation'

'So I went to visit him there, and I remember this strange restaurant that felt almost out of The Shining.

'Like, there were no customers, but a fully working staff, and the food was pretty decent. It seemed like it was kind of from the 70s.

'And there was another conversation there, then it kind of melded its way into workshops, and then, finally, you hear that theres a script.'

Winning praise from the top in the film reviews, Steven Spielberg gushed: 'What an insane movie, oh my God. There is more action in the first hour of this than every other film you've ever directed put together. Everything it is really incredible...

'This is such a concoction of things that are so bizarre and at the same time so relevant, that I think have become increasingly more relevant than perhaps even when you finished the screenplay and assembled your cast and crew and began production.'

In a five-star rating from The Daily Mail, Brian Viner writes: 'DiCaprio's is not even the most eye-catching performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's irresistibly funny, thunderously exhilarating film.

'Sean Penn pinches every scene he's in as an unhinged army officer, driven first by lust and later by loathing, whose downfall, when it comes, is one of the most startling things you will see in the cinema this year.

'Anderson has already made one of the best pictures of the 21st century, in 2007's There Will be Blood. This one, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, is comparably fine.'

He added: 'He knows he's made something special, indeed the next time we hear him might be when he holds aloft an Academy Award.'
Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer shared that her famous father doesn't always recognize her when she visits him, amid his battle with dementia.

The actress, 37, gave fans an update on the 70-year-old Die Hard star's health via her Instagram Stories on Thursday.

The Hollywood icon retired from acting in 2022 due to his worsening health, and has been moved out of his family home to a separate one-story house where he has a 24/7 care team.

Rumer shared that though Willis  who was recently seen holding a carer's hand during a rare outing  might not always recognize her, she knows that he can feel her love and that there's a 'spark' in him.

The mom-of-one revealed that she is 'so happy' and 'so grateful' that she can 'still get to go and hug him.'

'I'm so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug, whether he recognizes me or not, that he can feel the love I've given him, and I can feel it back from him. That I still see a spark of him, and he can feel the love that I'm giving.'

Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer, 37, shared that her famous father, 70, doesn't always recognize her when she visits him, amid his battle with dementia

The Hollywood icon (pictured with Rumer in 2013) retired from acting in 2022 due to his worsening health, and has been moved out of his family home to a separate house where he has a 24/7 care team

'So that feels really nice,' she added.

Rumer shared that she brings her 23-month-old daughter Louetta along for the visits.

'I just feel grateful that I get to go over there with Luetta and we get to spend time with him, and I get to feel the love that he has for me, and that I can love him and be with him.'

After a fan inquired about her dad's health, Rumer replied, 'People always ask me this question, and I think it's kind of a hard one to answer, because the truth is that anybody with FTD (frontotemporal dementia) is not doing great.'

'He's doing okay, in terms of somebody who is dealing with frontotemporal dementia.'

'The only way that I feel like I could answer that in a way that was like "He's doing great!" - you know, it's like, those parameters don't really work anymore I guess, in my mind.'

In June, Rumer shared heartwarming snaps of her with Bruce throughout the years in a pensive Father's Day tribute post.

Rumer also previously shared that she 'misses' her dad, and shared photos of him and his granddaughter back in 2023.

Bruce shares Rumer and her two sisters  Tallulah, 31, and Scout, 34  with his ex-wife Demi Moore, 63. The two were married from 1987 until 2000.

He's also dad to daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with wife Emma Heming Willis, 47. The two wed in 2009.

Rumer, her siblings, her mother, and Bruce's wife have all delivered periodic updates on the Pulp Fiction star, ever since he stepped away from the spotlight.

Rumer shared that though Willis might not always recognize her, she knows that he can feel her love and that there's a 'spark' in him

'I'm so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug, whether he recognizes me or not, that he can feel the love I've given him, and I can feel it back from him,' she shared

Rumer shared that she brings her 23-month-old daughter Louetta along for the visits; The trio seen together in 2023

In June, Rumer shared a number of snaps featuring her with Bruce throughout the years in a pensive Father's Day tribute post

Rumer previously shared that she 'misses' her dad and posted a sweet childhood snap with him back in 2023

Earlier this month Willis was pictured holding his carer's hand during a rare public outing.

During one moment, an unsteady Willis reached his other hand for the railing, appearing to use it for support.

The actor's family announced in 2023 that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that causes a rapid decline in the areas of the brain linked to personality and language abilities.

In August, his wife, Emma said in an interview with Diane Sawyer that Willis has been moved into a separate one-story home away from their main house, where he has a full-time care team.

Emma told The Sunday Times: 'It was of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.'

'But among the sadness and discomfort, it was the right move  for him, for our girls, for me. Ultimately, I could get back to being his wife. And that's such a gift.'

Emma added it has also given Bruce more independence, giving him the chance to reconnect with friends and family.

She explained: 'It's made such a difference for more friends and family to have their own experience with him without it being my home, without me hovering, or my anxiety of how to manage the guest and their expectations, and then have to see their reactions - their sadness at what is.'

She also recently shared a heartbreaking update on how their young daughters are coping with his declining health.

Bruce shares Rumer and her two sisters  Tallulah, 31, and Scout, 34  with his ex-wife Demi Moore, 63. He's also dad to daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with wife Emma Heming Willis, 47; Tallulah pictured visiting Bruce in 2025

Bruce and Demi were married from 1987 until 2000; Pictured with Rumer and Tallulah in 2018 in Los Angeles

His second wife Emma (2nd to R) has continued to share updates on his battle with dementia, as well as the difficult of being a caregiver; Seen with his family in 2019 in LA

'I think they're doing well, all things considered but it's hard,' she told Vogue Australia in October.

'They grieve, they miss their dad so much. He's missing important milestones, that's tough for them - but kids are resilient, [although] I used to hate hearing that because people didn't understand what we were walking through.'

She added: 'I don't know if my kids will ever bounce back, but they're learning and so am I.'

Willis has an estimated $250million in the bank, which his wife is reportedly now in charge of, as his FTD is too advanced for him to manage it with his team.

FTD eats away at the parts of the brain that control language, behavior and personality. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, patients don't lose their memory immediately but instead undergo personality changes.

The disease also attacks areas of the brain responsible for judgment, impulse control and decision-making, leading patients vulnerable to mismanaging their finances, which adds an extra burden on to caregivers.
Timothee Chalamet made an appearance at a pop-up event for his movie Marty Supreme in New York City on Thursday night.

The 29-year-old actor was flocked by a team of men dressed in all black and donning bulbous orange masks meant to resemble ping pong balls.

For his part, the movie star, who has reportedly called it quits with Kylie Jenner, wore a cable knit pink sweater, a lighter pink Marty Supreme zip-up hoodie, and faded blue jeans with a pink belt.

Rounding out the stylish look, Timothee stepped out in a pair of beige, purple, and green sneakers.

He sported a glinting chain around his neck and at times pulled his hood over his buzzed haircut.

The event was held from 4-8pm and he teased on his Instagram Story in orange writing, 'c u at 7.'

Timothee Chalamet made an appearance at a pop-up event for his movie Marty Supreme in New York City on Thursday night

The 29-year-old actor was flocked by a team of men dressed in all black and donning bulbous orange masks meant to resemble ping pong balls

The note, shared with his nearly 20 million followers, also featured an orange silhouette of Timmy running with a suitcase, taken from a scene in the upcoming film.

The promotional affair was held at 45 Grand Street, which is the location of 45Grand, a 4,600 square-foot event space in SoHo.

Earlier this week Timothee used social media to plug his forthcoming movie, in theaters Christmas day, by posting a clip of an orange blimp flying over Hollywood.

The video was soundtracked to the 1982 song Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project.

It featured the award-winning actor dressed in an orange sweatsuit, tying into the ongoing campaign theme.

Google is even involved with the promotional strategy, generating a digital orange blimp when the movie is searched on the engine.

Also this week, production company A24 shared a mock 'internal brand marketing meeting' in which Timothee pitched the blimp idea.

The 18-minute video shows the Dune star posit, 'When you think [of the movie] Barbie, what do you think? Pink. Everywhere I stepped I would be inundated with pink.

'What would be the same for Marty Supreme? What's the Marty Mouser ball that I'm hawking? What's the brilliant stroke of genius Marty has in the movie where a white ball can't be seen against a white paper? What color does he want to jump to?'

For his part, the movie star wore a cable knit pink sweater, a lighter pink Marty Supreme zip-up hoodie, and faded blue jeans with a pink belt

Rounding out the stylish look, Timothee stepped out in a pair of beige, purple, and green sneakers

The event was held from 4-8pm and he teased on his Instagram Story in orange writing, 'c u at 7'

The star's bizarre display comes amid his reported split from girlfriend Kylie Jenner; seen in May 2025

Finally, the marketing team catches his drift as they answer, 'Orange.'

Timothee continues, 'But if we do straight orange then we're literally just copping the vibe of Barbie. So how do we not just cop the vibe of Barbie?'

He proposes alternatives to the color, including 'hardcore orange, corroded orange, falling apart orange,' and 'rusted orange.'

Adding another comedic element to the staged 'meeting' was the actor's computer screensaver  a photo of him making his SAG Awards acceptance speech earlier this year for his role in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

Taking the stage in a memorable black leather suit and lime green shirt at the time, the star confessed, 'I'm really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don't usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.'

The admission was met with criticism online, with some viewers calling it pretentious and arrogant.
The Real Housewives of Potomac's Wendy Osefo and her husband, Eddie were in possession of 'approximately 40 credit and or debit cards' at the time of their arrest last month in connection with 16 charges of fraud, officials said.

Prosecutors in the case said in legal docs that the Bravo star and her spouse, both 41, kept the cards under their names, as well as names of companies, and aliases they went under, according to a report from the Baltimore Banner on Thursday.

Prosecutors said the Bravo stars used the phony names 'Pam Oliver' and 'Eddie Hennessy' on credit cards they recovered in their investigation, adding they believe the cards were evidential of the Osefos deliberate attempt to mask their identity.

Wendy appeared in Las Vegas at BravoCon last weekend, telling fans during a panel of her case: 'Its an unfortunate situation, and right now I cant say too much, but I will say when the time is right I will share my story with everyone.

'And for now theyre just allegations, so we will continue to push forward.'

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Wendy for further comment on the story.

The Real Housewives of Potomac's Wendy Osefo and her husband Eddie were in possession of 'approximately 40 credit and or debit cards' at the time of their arrest last month in connection with 16 charges of fraud. Pictured October 6 in Washington, DC

Prosecutors wrote in court docs, according to the outlet: 'The State expects such documentation to show a pattern of excessive spending, supporting motive in this case.

'The State avers that insurance fraud is a financial crime, and in that, the amount of debt owed by the Osefos, jointly, individually and by the businesses that they own, is highly relevant to their motive.'

Attorneys for the Osefos described the efforts of the prosecutors working on the high-profile case as a 'fishing expedition,' according to the outlet.

Eddies lawyer Joseph Murtha said that the prosecution is 'looking for something they havent figured out after 18 months of investigating.'

In a joint statement from their legal teams, the Osefos said law enforcement - 'displaying clear bias against the Osefo family'- breached numerous protocols in failing 'to properly investigate' a burglary the Osefos say paved the way to their arrest.

Said the attorneys: 'The Osefos heard nothing but silence from police for over 18 months despite complete cooperation and requests for updates.

'It is common knowledge that other Real Housewives cast members have also been victimized after documenting their travel on social media, yet none faced this level of scrutiny or criminal charges.'

Lawyers for the Osefos said they felt it was 'deeply unjust for the Sherrif's Office and Office of the State's Attorney for Carroll County to publicly expose confidential financial information about Eddie and Wendy Osefo.'

Dr. Wendy Osefo was pictured on a panel at BravoCon in Las Vegas on Friday

Attorneys for the Bravo star and her spouse have sought to poke holes in the police probe of the couple

They added, 'What is most disturbing is that the State appears to have begun investigating only after charging the Osefos, which is highlight irregular approach that raises serious concerns about motive and fairness.

'The public release of the family's private financial details serves no lawful purpose and only invites conclusory opinions about a case the State is obviously still investigating.'

Lawyers for the Osefos stressed that the couple have 'never used an alias on any financial application, this allegation is false and misleading.

'Such names were used for the delivery of packages, following their lawful purchase, to safeguard the identity of very public figures.'

The legal team for the Bravo stars said it was 'ironic for the State to assert or exaggerate the existence of any purported debt in connection with this accomplished professional couple.

'Due process is paramount to the administration of justice, and its breach by misleading the public with a false narrative has only compounded the harm.'

They added that 'the defense is confident the Court will prevent any further violation of the Osefos' right to a fair trial.'

Wendy last month made her gratitude for her fans clear in an Instagram post she put up, along with a pair of glam shots.

Wendy and Eddie are facing 16 charges, seven of them felonies, in connection with fraud that eclipse is $300 in value, according to police in Westminster, Maryland

Attorneys for the Osefos described the efforts of the prosecutors working on the high-profile case as a 'fishing expedition'

'And through it all, GOD remains faithful,' Osefo said. 'Thank you for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers for myself and most importantly my family during this time.

Wendy said she and her family were 'forever grateful' for the support during the trying time.

In accompanying images, the reality star donned a black dress that accentuated her curves with a white collar and plunging neckline, accessorizing with a matching hat with a black bow.

Eddie Osefo also made reference to his faith in a social media post on last month following the legal entanglement.

Eddie posted an image of the couple posing with their three children - Karter, 12, Kruz, 10, and Kamrynn, six- in front of the Empire State Building on Instagram Sunday.

It read: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.'

Following their October 9 arrests, Wendy and Eddie were booked into Carroll County Detention Center and posted $100,000 bail collectively and were released, officials told US Weekly.

Both are facing 16 charges, seven of them felonies, in connection with fraud that eclipse is $300 in value, the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Maryland told People.

According to authorities, the duo said that they were missing a number of expensive items  including designer, handbags, and jewelry  when they visited Jamaica in April 2024. The couple said that the items had been taken during a burglary they had reported.

Eddie posted an image of the couple posing with their three children - Karter, 12, Kruz, 10, and Kamrynn, six- in front of the Empire State Building on Instagram last month

In accompanying images, the reality star donned a black dress that accentuated her curves, with a white collar and plunging neckline

Investigators said they subsequently sussed out that items the pair claimed were stolen had been bought and taken back to the stores they were bought from - 'where a full refund was provided prior to the alleged burglary.'

In court documents obtained by TMZ detailing what prosecutors recommended for bail, officials said the Osefos had claimed $450,000 in personal property losses through an insurance company.

A spokesperson for the pair previously told US Weekly, 'Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, are back home safely with their family and in good spirits. They are grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from friends, fans, and colleagues.

'The Osefos, alongside their legal team, look forward to their day in court. At this time, they respectfully ask for privacy as they focus on their family and the legal process ahead.'

Bravo's Andy Cohen said he was 'hoping that this is all some big nothing' in acknowledging the arrests on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live October 13.

'I want to say that like all of you, I found out about the charges against Wendy and Eddie Osefo on Friday morning, and theres not much that I can say,' Cohen said. 'I know nothing of the charges more than you guys do, than what Ive read. Im sad about this. Im really sad about this.'

Wendy and Eddie Osefo, who have been wed 14 years, are not the first reality stars to be accused of financial impropriety. Pictured in 2023 in Washington, DC

Cohen praised Wendy as 'a great housewife and a great role model' who has 'always led with education and her solid family values ... Im really thinking about her and her family.'

Wendy and Eddie Osefo, who have been wed 14 years, are not the first reality stars to be accused of financial impropriety. In some cases, prominent names in the genre have had significant legal difficulties that led to convictions.

Among them include Real Housewives of New Jersey Teresa Giudice and her ex-husband Joe; Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Jen Shah; Jersey Shore star Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino; and Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.

Wendy first became a cast member on The Real Housewives of Potomac in the show's fifth season in 2020.

The Real Housewives of Potomac can be seen on Bravo every Sundays at 8/7c.
Brooke Boney made a welcome return to the Today show on Friday after graduating from the Oxford University.

The former Channel Nine reporter, 38, left the popular breakfast show in September last year to continue her studies at the prestigious UK school.

Brooke was welcomed back into the fold by hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo, who were quick to congratulate her on graduating with a Masters in Public Policy.

After a gushing tribute, Brooke was welcomed with heartfelt hugs from Karl and Sarah as she sat down to reflect on her time abroad.

'Its nice to be home! I just had the best time, it was so different from what I expected, but amazing in all the best ways,' Brooke said.

Brooke added she was surprised by the subjects at which she proved adept, surpassing her own expectations.

Brooke Boney, 38, made a welcome return to the Today show on Friday after graduating with a Masters of Public Policy from Oxford University

'I was good at the things I was not expecting,' Brooke shared.

'My strongest subjects were economics and law and, actually, I got a distinction for my research, which is the highest possible mark,' she added, proudly.

Despite her stellar result, Brooke confessed to having doubts prior to making the big leap from Australia to the UK.

'You do have those doubts when you go in to do something new, youve never sort of experienced it before,' she said.

'I hadnt studied for, like, 20 years... and all of those comments about: "Oh did you get in on merit?" or: "Surely theres some sort of secret pathway for Today show hosts to go to Oxford."'

With her studies completed, Karl then asked Brooke if she would be open to returning to Channel Nine, and she didn't have to think to long for a reply.

'Are you kidding?' she laughed.

'Look how healthy I am. I don't have to wake up at a quarter-past three.'

Brooke was welcomed back into the fold by hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo who were quick to congratulate her on the achievement

Brooke revealed in September last year she was moving to England to continue her studies.

Alongside a snap of her beaming while sitting in the backseat of a car going to her first day at university, Brooke gushed: 'Well, that's been a fun month off.

'Time to start studying now. Checking into college today to start uni on Monday.'

She also shared a sweet selfie rocking her best angles in an elevator as she wheeled her luggage into the esteemed St Antony's College.

Brooke could not contain her excitement at her enormous life change, writing 'eeeek' alongside the photo.
Ben Affleck was spotted warming himself up with a cigarette while dashing around Los Angeles as the city was finally hit by autumn showers.

His nicotine habit has been an Internet sensation ever since he was glimpsed looking miserable and exhausted while smoking on August 22, 2016.

The 53-year-old appeared in finer fettle when he was glimpsed this week, relaxing as he drew from his cigarette while driving through the Marina Del Rey area.

By contrast to his scruffy appearance in the viral 2016 'Sad Affleck' smoking meme, he was clean-cut in a crisp white dress shirt and a camel-toned coat.

That evening, he hit the stage at the Beverly Hilton at the American Cinematheque Award ceremony honoring Michael B. Jordan.

He joined a glittering lineup of presenters including Bradley Cooper, Tessa Thompson, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Octavia Spencer and Phylicia Rashad.

Ben Affleck was spotted warming himself up with a cigarette while dashing around Los Angeles as the city was finally hit by autumn showers

Ryan Coogler, who directed Jordan in five movies including Black Panther and this year's horror western Sinners, was also on the evening's lineup.

Affleck was the image of classic red carpet glamour at the Beverly Hilton that night, decked out in black suit and black tie as he took the microphone.

He and the guest of honor have known each other since 2013, when Affleck saw Jordan's breakthrough film Fruitvale Station, directed by Coogler.

They have since enjoyed what Jordan described as a 'big brotherlittle brother kind of relationship,' when he and Affleck spoke for Variety's Directors on Directors.

Affleck recalled that he recognized immediately that Jordan was 'a star,' and as a result advised him to 'be ready, because I know theres a lot of things that come along that are difficult that nobody tells you.'

He noted that he himself 'had a friend doing it with me,' inasmuch as he shot to fame alongside his longtime close pal and collaborator Matt Damon.

Although Affleck himself has never been given an American Cinematheque Award, the organization ran a retrospective of the movies he directed in 2023.

Damon was given the American Cinematheque Award in 2010, amid a star-studded list of honorees including ex-spouses Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.

By contrast to his scruffy appearance in the viral 2016 'Sad Affleck' smoking meme, he was clean-cut in a crisp white dress shirt and a camel-toned coat

That evening, he hit the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at the American Cinematheque Award ceremony honoring Michael B. Jordan

He joined a glittering lineup of presenters including Bradley Cooper, Tessa Thompson, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Octavia Spencer and Phylicia Rashad

Affleck was the image of classic red carpet glamour at the Beverly Hilton that night, decked out in black suit and black tie as he took the microphone

He and the guest of honor have known each other since 2013, when Affleck saw Jordan's breakthrough film Fruitvale Station, directed by Coogler

Other names who have have received the gong include Steven Spielberg, Bradley Cooper, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Spike Lee, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, George Clooney, Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson.

Affleck smoked for 20 years, at one point enjoying a pack of cigarettes a day and describing the vice as 'part of who I was,' before he initially quit in 2005.

The decision was prompted by the fact his wife at the time, Jennifer Garner, was pregnant with their first child Violet Affleck.

Three years later, he revealed that he had given up smoking by attending hypnotherapy sessions at Damon's urging.

'You sit in, like, a Barker lounger and he sips water and just talks to you for an hour, and explains how nicotine is poison,' Affleck told Oprah Winfrey. 'All of a sudden, you thought: "This is asinine that I've been doing this to myself for all these years."'

After quitting, he raved: 'I feel a huge difference in my health now that I don't smoke. I feel like I'm in better shape than I was five years ago.'

However Affleck, who has also been candid about his past struggles with alcoholism, has been indulging in cigarettes again for the past several years.

Last August, the day after Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from him on what would have been their second wedding anniversary, he was seen chain-smoking in his car.

His nicotine habit has been an Internet sensation ever since he was glimpsed looking miserable and exhausted while smoking on August 22, 2016 (pictured)

Last August, the day after Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from him on what would have been their second wedding anniversary, he was seen chain-smoking in his car; pictured 2021

At the start of this year a source alleged that Affleck was attempting to give up smoking again and was toying with the idea of retrying hypnotherapy.

'Ben was so happy 20 years ago when he quit. He swore he'd never go back, but here he is just as addicted as ever and desperate to stop,' said the insider.

'He hates the way it smells and knows it's terrible for his health, not to mention a terrible example for his kids,' the source added to Radar Online.

'He's really got only one vice left, the smokes, so no one wants to push him too hard to give that up since he's done so well staying sober,' the insider observed.

'But it's obviously not a good habit. Any time he feels stressed, he reaches for a cigarette, and he's stressed a lot.'
The actress Jaimie Alexander is opening up about how it took a near-death experience for her to come to terms with her alcoholism.

The 41-year-old Thor actress admitted in a Substack post published this week that it was only after she came down with appendicitis after an unpleasant trip with a new boyfriend that she realized her daily drinking was an addiction.

Alexander said the incident that set her on the course to sobriety occurred in 2018, which would have been in the midst of her five-season run on the popular crime drama Blindspot, which aired from 2015 to 2020.

According to the actress, she was in the midst of a 'relatively new relationship with this cute guy' when the two decided to leave New York City for a trip a couple hours upstate so that he could check out some properties.

But the trip didn't go as planned, as a massive snowstorm swept the state, making impossible for them to drive back to the city.

Alexander and her new beau made the best of the situation by renting a cabin for a cozy night in amid the snow, with their only guest being her boyfriend's cute three-legged dog.

The actress Jaimie Alexander, 41, revealed in a Substack post this week how she only realized she was struggling with alcoholism after almost dying from appendicitis in 2018; pictured November 12 in NYC

The actress shared this photo taken after she had surgery

But instead of being a romantic getaway, the extended trip turned into 'absolute hell' after the snowfall prevented the two from going out to stock up on supplies.

'Sure, we had a few bottles of water and some snacks but do you know what we didnt have? ALCOHOL,' Alexander wrote.

Alexander wrote that she started to 'panic' because she couldn't find any booze in the rental property, and she hadn't brought her flask with her.

'Honestly, I had no clue how I was going to survive the night sober while pretending everything was fine in front of my new boyfriend,' she wrote.

Her desperation was particularly awkward, as the new man she was seeing was totally sober.

The Kyle XY actress managed to make it through the night, though her boyfriend noticed that she seemed 'frazzled.'

The weather had calmed down enough by the following evening that they were able to make the drive back to her apartment in Brooklyn, where all she could think about was 'getting home and pouring bourbon down' her throat.

But Alexander recounted feeling 'dizzy in a way that felt dangerous' once she got home late that night. She poured herself a tall glass of bourbon  neat  but then for some reason couldn't bring herself to down it.

Alexander was drinking daily, but when she was snowed in on a trip upstate in New York with her new  sober  boyfriend, she panicked about not having any booze around; pictured on The Blindspot

'I remember feeling like some kind of magnetic force was separating me from the bourbon,' she explained.

The next day, Alexander woke feeling 'shaky,' and at work she started to feel 'irritable and unsteady.'

Her workout that evening came to a halt because of her trainer's concerns.

'You dont look so good,' Alexander recalled her trainer saying. 'Youre off balance, and youre even more pale than usual.'

Before bed, she again tried to have a glass of whisky, only to stop herself for an unknown reason.

'It felt like someone was physically pulling the glass out of my hands,' Alexander wrote.

It became clear that something was wrong with her the following day, when she started to suffer from a stomach ache that simple antacids couldn't resolve.

An on-set nurse offered to massage her stomach, but after hours of alternating that with Tums, Alexander wasn't feeling any better.

They made it back to Brooklyn the next night, but Alexander found that for some reason she couldn't drink, even though she wanted to; pictured in April 2024 in NYC

While filming The Blindspot that week, Alexander was overcome with intense stomach pain. A doctor on set wondered if it could be ruptured ovarian cysts, but a visit to her OB-GYN confirmed that she was suffering from appendicitis; pictured in NYC in July 2023

'By lunchtime, I could barely stand,' she wrote, adding that the pain had expanded from her the top of her abdomen to her lower right side.

Alexander wrote that she was alarmed enough to ask for a doctor to visit the set, and he asked if she had ovarian cysts, which could have possible ruptured.

After her pain got worse, to the point that she was 'curled up in the fetal position' on the floor of her trailer, Alexander had to be taken to her OB-GYN's office, which was 'when the contractions started.'

Alexander described it as the 'worst pain' she had ever experienced, despite having suffered a litany of injuries throughout her life.

The worsening symptoms cued in her doctor on what was going on, and he ordered her driver to take her to the hospital immediately instead of waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

'Your appendix is rupturing. If they dont remove it right away, Ill come do it myself,' she recalled him saying.

Tests at the hospital revealed her appendix had already ruptured, and she was beginning to suffer from sepsis, so doctors prepped her for surgery.

Alexander recalled thinking that she was 'dying' as she waited for someone to move her to the operating table.

The Thor star was rushed to the hospital for surgery. While waiting for the OR, a voice in her head asked her if she was ready to die

But at that moment, all the fear that had been building up evaporated and was replaced with a sense of 'love.'

'I was free,' she recalled thinking.

Alexander remembered having a conversation with a voice in her head as she mused about whether she was ready to die.

But after she decided that she wanted to stick around on earth, the voice responded, 'Then you can never drink again.'

Alexander wrote that sense of 'pure clarity' washed over her, and she finally realized the extent of her addiction to alcohol.

Alexander's surgery went well, and she was released from the hospital five days later.

The illness that could have killed her instead became 'exactly what I needed to become aware of how I was living and what I needed to do to change so that I could have a shot at reaching my full potential.'

Alexander noted that she turned to her boyfriend for help maintaining her newfound sobriety, and it was he who pushed her to go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Since that time seven years earlier, Alexander said she has been able to remain sober.
Brooklyn Beckham appeared to share a message with his estranged family about his 'loneliness' on Thursday after they celebrated younger brother Cruz's music gig.

The eldest son of Sir David and Victoria Beckham, 26, has been engulfed in a family feud which came to a head in May after he and wife Nicola Peltz, 30, snubbed his father's 50th celebrations, before later skipping his knighthood celebrations.

Now Brooklyn has taken to Instagram with his latest cookery video that was teamed with a sad soundtrack, just a day after his parents and siblings Harper, 14, and Romeo, 23, shared gushing posts celebrating Cruz's Notting Hill gig.

His latest recipe, saw him whip up a a fried chicken sandwich with slaw and his own brand Cloud23 hot sauce, while Dr Hook's 1978 hit Sharing The Night Together played.

The lyrics included: 'You're looking kinda lonely, girl / Would you like someone new to talk to? / I'm feeling kinda lonely too / I hope that you will understand / I say these things 'cause I'd like to know / If you're as lonely as I am'.

Brooklyn's video saw followers complain and criticise the amateur chef for skipping his father's knighthood.

Brooklyn Beckham, 26, appeared to share a message with his estranged family about his 'loneliness' on Thursday after they celebrated younger brother Cruz's music gig

The eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham has been engulfed in a family feud which came to a head in May after he and wife Nicola Peltz, 30, snubbed his father's birthday celebrations

Brooklyn took to Instagram with a sad soundtrack, just a day after his parents and sister Harper (pictured with Cruz) shared gushing posts celebrating Cruz's Notting Hill gig

They wrote: 'Brooklyn, your father was knighted this month, have you congratulated him? Enjoy your chicken sandwich': 'Maybe you could cook them when you finally see your parents and celebrate your dad's knighthood...... as we know, you wouldn't be where you are in society without them': 'You look so much like your father. You should give him a call.'

On Wednesday Cruz, 20, left his proud parents reduced to 'tears of pride' as he took to the stage with his band The Breakers.

He held a gig for friends and family inside the old Laylow building in Notting Hill, which was once a celeb hotspot visited by Rihanna, Madonna, Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, and Mick Jagger.

Proud mum Victoria, 51, was in the front row to witness her youngest son's performance and shared a clip of him singing while playing the guitar.

Alongside the video, she gushed: 'Wow!!! You look so happy Cruz and we couldnt be prouder we love you @cruzbeckham xxxxxxxxxx.'

Cruz's grandmother - Sir David's mother Sandra, 76 - also publicly expressed her pride for her grandson.

His girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, was also in the audience to support him, dropping a huge hint he'll release a debut album soon.

She said: 'Might it finally be time to drop what we've all been waiting for? @cruzbeckham.'

His latest recipe, saw him whip up a a fried chicken sandwich with slaw and his own brand Cloud23 hot sauce, while Dr Hook's 1978 hit Sharing The Night Together played

With lyrics that included: ' You're looking kinda lonely, girl / Would you like someone new to talk to? / I'm feeling kinda lonely too,' (Cruz pictured)

On Wednesday Cruz, 20, left his proud parents reduced to 'tears of pride' as he took to the stage with his band

Victoria also proudly shared a gushing tribute from Harper, who reflected on his music journey - from practicing with his guitar to having his own band

Dr Hook: Sharing the Night Together lyrics You're looking kinda lonely, girl Would you like someone new to talk to? Ah-yeah, alright I'm feeling kinda lonely too, if you don't mind Can I sit down here beside you? Ah-yeah, alright If I seem to come on too strong I hope that you will understand I say these things 'cause I'd like to know If you're as lonely as I am And if you'd mind Sharing the night together, woah, yeah Advertisement

While his older brother Romeo has yet to share footage of the gig, his girlfriend Kim Turnbull showed her support with a clip of Cruz's set alongside two trophy emojis.

Victoria also proudly shared a gushing tribute from Harper, who reflected on his music journey - from practicing with his guitar to having his own band.

The teen wrote: 'I am beyond proud of you Cruz and how far you have come, I am so so proud to call you not just my brother but my role model.

'I can't be more grateful to have a brother like you. I can't believe you are a rockstar!

'Last night you were amazing and I may have shed a few years of pride, you have come so far and it's crazy to me that you stayed with just you and your guitar and now you are performing with your own band, your own crowd and so many people that love and care for you.

'Watching you last night honestly made me tear up and made me realise even more how talented you really are.

'I love you so, so much and I can't wait for you to make many more amazing songs and memories along this journey.'

Close friend of the family David Gardner was also in attendance, telling his followers how Cruz's performance was 'sooooooooo good'.

During the set, Cruz performed his latest song Optics, a very explicit single about drugs and sex.

During the track, he sings: 'Take a thousand selfies in your bed while I trip in mine / I love me some mushrooms and good head and an erotic 69.'

The chorus repeats: 'Stay high fashion, no comedown, no crashing but you wanna know how it looks, I wanna know how it feels'.

His second single release Lick The Toad favours less racy lyrics, basing his song on 'mother nature'.

David and Victoria seen with their children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper last year before the family feud

Victoria and Cruz had left fans begging them to release a duet together as they performed an acoustic version of Viva Forever by the Spice Girls on Wednesday.

Posh Spice showed she's still got it as she went makeup-free showing off her impressive vocals in the social media clip.

Cruz could be seen sitting opposite her in the family's London mansion as he played the guitar.

Fans flooded the comments section branding it a contender to be this year's Christmas number one if the mother and son duo did release the track.

Last month it was reported Cruz had signed with top music management company C3, who worked with the US indie group The Strokes.

He was also pictured in the recording studio.
Victoria Beckham's lesser known brother has been pictured in a sweet family picture after shunning the limelight for a private life with his wife Emma.

Fashion designer Victoria, 51, leads a very public life in comparison with her husband Sir David, 50, and their four children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

However, her brother Christian, 46, - her younger sibling - keeps a low profile and is rarely pictured with the clan.

He was recently snapped with the family looking dapper as he joined the celebrations following his brother-in-law Sir David receiving a knighthood from King Charles.

His sister Louise shared a sweet picture on Instagram showing her, Tony, Jackie, Christian and Victoria posing with David as he beamed following the achievement.

Christian and Victoria were side-by-side for the capture, with their resemblance to each other clear to see.

Victoria Beckham's rarely-seen brother Christian (second from left), has been pictured in a picture shared by his sister Louise as the family celebrated brother-in-law David's knighthood

Victoria's brother Christian - the youngest sibling of the family - keeps a low profile and is rarely pictured with the clan

Christian pictured with his parents Jackie and Tony in 2003 as they attended a ball in London

His decision to stay firmly out of the limelight means fans often forget Victoria has a younger brother.

Occasionally he can be seen posing with Victoria, Louise and their parents Jackie and Tony at family get-togethers.

Louise is often snapped with her older sister, making her recognisable to fans.

Victoria, who is the eldest child, has a five-year age gap with Christian, while a six-year gap with Louise.

Christian is a former electronics engineer and previously co-owned an electronics wholesale business with dad Tony.

The handsome, greying sibling is married to his wife Emma Stafford.

They tied the knot in a lavish winter wedding, which took place in December 2017 and was attended by the entire Beckham family.

Victoria, who is the eldest child, has a five-year age gap with Christian (right), while a six-year gap with Louise (left)

Happy family: Victoria is pictured with her sister Louise, mother Jackie, dad Tony, and younger brother Christian in a rare snap

Sweet: Victoria's beloved brother Christian (second from right) and daughter Tabatha - with wife Emma (second from left) in April 2019 at her Christening

Christian pictured trailing behind Victoria in 2006 as the England football players wives and girlfriends left their hotel for Cologne for England's match against Sweden

Sir David shared snaps from the big day at the time, including with estranged son Brooklyn, 26, in their three-piece suits.

Victoria had shared a picture of Christian and Emma enjoying their first dance together at the countryside reception as she publicly congratulated them.

Christian has four children with Emma, with the couple welcoming their youngest child - a daughter named Tabatha - in 2019.

Proud aunt Victoria gushed over the little one following her arrival, sharing a snap of Tabatha in her crib to her millions of fans.

Christian and Emma are also proud parents to three older boys.

Victoria shared a rare picture of her sister-in-law posing with Christian and their children for Tabatha's christening in 2019 as the family gathered in the chapel for the milestone.

Emma publicly uses the Adams surname after marrying Christian.

While both Christian and Emma's social media accounts are private, she previously ran a public arts and crafts Instagram account.

Christian and Emma married in 2017 at a lavish countryside Christmas wedding, with proud big sister Victoria publicly congratulating the couple on social media

Sir David shared snaps from Christian and Emma's wedding at the time, including with estranged son Brooklyn, 26, in their three-piece suits

It was aimed at inspiring parents with young children, with Emma showing off her incredible skills.

However, she stopped posting on it in 2021.

Victoria, who has a combined fortune of 500million with husband David, spoke about her humble upbringing in her Netflix documentary, which was released last month.

She explained how her electric wholesaler dad 'started with nothing'.

'He used to sit me and my brother and sister in a little production line, we would build things, plugs and electrical things,' before the family piled in her dad's van to 'deliver what we had built... Dad worked so, so hard and he expected me to be the same.'
Josie Gibson showed off her amazing five stone weight-loss as she slipped into a glamorous pink plunging dress during a lavish Caribbean cruise on Friday.

The This Morning star, 40, looked sensational as she went braless under the 149 figure hugging halter neck number by House of CB.

Josie elevated her frame in a pair of black towering heels as she posed on the P&O Cruises ship before hitting the casino.

Styling her long blonde tresses in voluminous curls, the TV personality flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed for photos.

Josie revealed she has just docked in Barbados for her next adventure as she shared amazing underwater snaps snorkelling.

The former Big Brother star slipped into a stylish black triangle bikini as she wore a snorkel and flippers while diving in the ocean.

Josie Gibson showed off her amazing five stone weight-loss as she slipped into a glamorous pink plunging dress during a lavish Caribbean cruise on Friday

The former Big Brother star, 40, slipped into a stylish black triangle bikini as she wore a snorkel and flippers while diving in the ocean

She wrote: 'A beautiful day at sea, we have just landed in Barbados for our next on land adventure.

'I could spend the rest of my life on this ship. Cruising across the Caribbean waking up somewhere new, its so exciting.

'Travelling on the Arvia I will give you a little tour soon. @pandocruises_media @pandocruises.'

In another photo, Josie stunned in a patterned plunging blouse as she tucked into a plate of sushi, she penned: 'One of many beautiful restaurants on board.'

Earlier this week, the ITV star enjoyed a trip to the beach during her holiday as she stopped off in Antigua.

The mother-of-one looked in good spirits as she soaked up the sun on her winter break alongside a pal.

Josie slipped into a white bikini with a red floral print and she also sported a pair of stylish sunglasses.

It comes after Josie revealed earlier this year that she had shed five stone - without the help of fat jabs or surgery.

Josie's weight loss success has been widely discussed, as she has been showcasing her new frame on Instagram and on This Morning (picture left on the cruise with a pal and right in 2019)

The This Morning star looked sensational as she went braless under the 149 figure hugging halter neck number by House of CB

Styling her long blonde tresses in voluminous curls, the TV personality flashed her gorgeous smile as she hit the casino

Josie revealed she has just docked in Barbados for her next adventure as she shared amazing underwater snaps snorkelling

She said in an Instagram post: 'I didn't get a gastric bypass; I got off my big a**e, moved more, ate less and educated myself on what I was stuffing into my body.'

Josie's weight loss success has been widely discussed, as she has been showcasing her svelte new frame in a series of stunning looks on This Morning.

She revealed that she followed the Do The Unthinkable plan, which refers to a 12-week fitness and food program from the company MuscleFood, including delivered meals, workout plans, and support to help people reach their health goals.

Josie explained that she has six days on and one day off, saying: 'Now on that one day off, I had one cheat meal.

'I didn't go crazy and drink 10 bottles of wine and binge all day on food and chocolate and all the naughty things I haven't been having.

'I just had my one cheat and that was it. So if you've got that one day off, don't undo all your hard work. Just have your one cheat meal and enjoy it. Don't have a binge.'

The former Big Brother star also previously spoke of why she would never use weight loss jabs: 'The thing is, I can understand, you know, when people get desperate and they want to do that.

'But it wouldn't be for me, only because I don't want to mess around with my body, I like everything natural, I always go down the natural route.'

In another photo, Josie stunned in a patterned plunging blouse as she tucked into a plate of sushi, she penned: 'One of many beautiful restaurants on board'

Josie posed on the P&O Cruises ship with a friend

Earlier this week, the ITV star enjoyed a trip to the beach during her holiday as she stopped off in Antigua

The TV presenter is also no stranger to having a few tweakments done to freshen up her look.

Josie was glowing as she posed for snaps over the summer with her clinician, Dr Nora of Rejuvenation Clinic in London.

She did not specify what she'd had done.

Sharing snaps with Josie in the clinic of the pair laughing, Dr Nora - who runs Rejuvenation with Love Island star Rykard Jenkins - wrote: 'Can't tell which one the comedian is @josiegibson85!

'Always the best time having you in clinic! summer ready  #skin #skincare #cosmetics #tweakments.'
Karen Gillan flaunted her toned abs as she joined Jumanji 3 costars Jack Black, The Rock and Kevin Hart in first look pictures.

The follow-up to Jumanji: Next Level was confirmed in September and will see the stars return to their roles as Ruby, Shelly, Smolder and Mouse, respectively.

Karen, 37, looked incredible in the first-look set snaps in LA as she slipped into her iconic 'killer of men' commando cargo shorts, crop top and lace-up cargo boots.

Meanwhile, Jack, 56, returned to his Professor-inspired ensemble, which included a tweed blazer, raincoat and a turquoise bow tie.

Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, 53, flaunted his bulging biceps and muscly physique as he wore a beige buttoned-down shirt and cargo pants - ready to return as the famed archaeologist.

Reprising his original character as the Zoologist, Kevin, 46, appeared happy in his camouflage waist jacket and binoculars.

Karen Gillan, 37, showed off her toned abs as she joined Jumanji 3 costars Jack Black, 56, The Rock, 53, and Kevin Hart, 46, in first look pictures of the third movie

The follow-up to Jumanji: Next Level was confirmed in September and will see the stars return to their roles as Ruby, Shelly, Smolder and Mouse (left: The Rock,right:Jack Black)

While on set, the stars were seen taking a quick food break as Jack appeared very pleased with his hot dog.

The storyline of the upcoming film has not yet been released, but the cast was surrounded by what appeared to be normal, Christmas-decorated streets - a complete switch from the previous sets of the jungle and desert.

On Thursday, Sony Pictures, which is producing the upcoming flick, announced the third movie on X with a group picture of the leading stars.

Alongside the post, they penned: 'Look who's on the loose #JumanjiMovie is coming exclusively to theatres Christmas 2026'

Jake Kasdan is returning to direct Jumanji 3, with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg also back to write the screenplay alongside the director.

Producer Hiram Garcia revealed back in 2021 that they had planned to start work on the threequel after 2024's Red One, telling ComicBook that they had 'a big vision for [the next Jumanji] movie' and are 'fired up for that'.

'We're taking it in soon. And obviously the goal is sometime after Jake [Kasdan] is doing Red One for us, so that is going to be next up,' he added. 'But sometime after Red One comes out, Jumanji is going to be on deck.

'I feel like we'll have everything ready by then, and we'll be able to get into that third instalment.'

Karen looked incredible in the first-look set snaps in LA as she slipped into her iconic 'killer of men' commando cargo shorts, crop top and lace-up cargo boots

Meanwhile, Jack returned to his Professor ensemble, which included a tweed blazer, raincoat and a turquoise bow tie

The Rock flaunted his bulging biceps and muscly physique as he arrived on set wearing a beige buttoned-down shirt and cargo pants, ready to return as the famed archaeologist

Reprising his original character as the Zoologist, Kevin, 46, appeared happy in his camouflage waist jacket and binoculars

While on set, the stars were seen taking a quick food break as Jack appeared very pleased with his on-set hot dog

The storyline of the upcoming film has not yet been released, but the cast was surrounded by Christmas-decorated streets - a switch from the previous sets of the jungle and desert

On Thursday, Sony Pictures, which is producing the upcoming flick, announced the third movie on X with a group picture of the leading stars

Previous motion pictures in the film franchise include 2017's Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (pictured) and 2019's Jumanji: The Next Level

The original Jumanji arrived in theatres nearly 30 years ago, on December 15, 1995 and starred Robin Williams as Alan Parrish, was that 'a magic board game summons jungle perils and a missing boy'

Kevin has also previously confessed to Variety that this film will be the final one of the franchise.

The original Jumanji arrived in theatres nearly 30 years ago, on December 15, 1995.

A logline for the film, which starred Robin Williams as Alan Parrish, was that 'a magic board game summons jungle perils and a missing boy.'

The cast was rounded out by Kirsten Dunst, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, David Alan Grier and Bonnie Hunt.

Previous motion pictures in the film franchise include 2017's Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle and 2019's Jumanji: The Next Level.

Keene, New Hampshire, where many scenes in the original movie were filmed, observed the film's anniversary with a celebration this past June.

Madeline Murphy, who worked as an extra on the movie, recalled the direction filmmakers gave her when production was going on on the first film, 31 years ago, in November of 1994.

Madeline told the New York Post that she was told, 'Pretend you're frightened and you're screaming because an elephant's coming after you.'

Original star Robin tragically died in August 2014 from suicide aged 63.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley went topless and showed off her incredible figure in series of photos during her trip to Brazil.

Posing for a sultry mirror selfie, the model, 38, flashed her taut midriff and placed her arm across her chest.

In the update, which was shared to Instagram on Friday, Rosie also wore a cut-out swimsuit, while taking in the scenery of Rio de Janeiro.

She later changed into a chic, black maxi gown, which featured a highneck design with cut-out side panels and a thigh-high leg slit.

The Victoria's Secret star also included photos of the city's landmark, the Christ the Redeemer statue which stood atop a mountain in the distance.

Rosie captioned the carousel of snaps: 'Rio you stole my heart!'

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley went topless and showed off her incredible figure in series of photos during her trip to Brazil

In the update, which was shared to Instagram on Friday, Rosie also wore a cut-out swimsuit, while taking in the scenery of Rio de Janeiro

It comes after Rosie shared a series of rare snaps of her son Jack and daughter Isabella as she gave fans a look into her family life.

The English supermodel took to Instagram last week with a carousel of special recent moments with her young family.

Rosie shares her two children, Jack, eight, and Isabella, three, with fiance Jason.

She shared sweet moments including her eldest Jack holding his little sister's hand during an autumnal stroll and perched together on a tree trunk.

The blonde beauty also snapped Jack holding an owl while wearing a protective glove with the help of an expert.

Last month, Rosie and Jason proved the couple is going stronger than ever as they posed to promote their second collaboration for Falconeri.

The model and The Meg star made their debut for the fashion brand in March this year.

Proving that teamwork makes the dream work, the pair joined forces once more in a series of head-turning snaps shared on Instagram.

Wearing in a cut-out swimsuit, the model took a shower

In the update, which was shared to Instagram on Friday, Rosie posed on the stairs with the mountains in the background

She later changed into a chic, black maxi gown, which featured a highneck design with cut-out side panels and a thigh-high leg slit

Rosie captioned the carousel of snaps: 'Rio you stole my heart!'

The Victoria's Secret star also included photos of the city's landmark, the Christ the Redeemer statue which stood atop a mountain in the distance

The star was spotted without her fiance Jason Statham, 58, who she has been in a relationship with since 2010, during the evening

Alongside the snaps, she penned: 'Excited to reveal the next chapter of our Fall-Winter 2025 campaign for @falconeriofficial.

'A vision of luxury and timeless style, beautifully captured by @lachlanbailey.'

The low-key British couple, who live in Los Angeles, first began dating in 2010 after meeting at a party in London and experiencing what Rosie called 'instant chemistry'.

They got engaged in 2016, with the model revealing they had taken their relationship to the next level when she flashed her impressive diamond ring at the Golden Globes.

Speaking about their plans to marry after Jack was born, Rosie said: 'I think the time will come. It's also not a huge priority for us.'

She has also addressed the couple's 20-year age gap, saying: 'His knowledge and strength are really inspiring and attractive, and that can come with a man who's had a bit of time.'

The model, who grew up in Devon, recently revealed why she returned to the UK in 2020 and explained that it was always 'the plan' to raise her children in the UK.

It comes after Rosie shared a series of rare snaps of her son Jack and daughter Isabella as she gave fans a look into her family life

She told The Times: 'We love the schools, the education. Theyre growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here.

'Jays parents live up the road and see the kids most days, my family come to visit every six or eight weeks.'

Rosie also said her kids are having a childhood not dissimilar to her own, even spending large amounts of time in Devon where she grew up.

The mum, who only shares the occasional snap of her children online, added: 'In the summer we go down to Devon and our children have the same experiences running around on the farm that I had growing up, and its very special.'
Louis Theroux and wife Nancy Strang made a rare public appearance at Choose Love's 10th anniversary bash at London's Royal Albert Hall on Thursday.

The documentarian, 55, who shares sons Albert, 20, Frederick, 17, and Walter, 10, with the TV director, cut a suave figure at the charity bash in a dark suit.

Louis layered his tailored blazer over a crisp white shirt with blue plaid trim and slipped his feet into a pair of comfy white trainers.

Meanwhile Nancy showcased her unique sense of style in a chic black top which she teamed with a white ruffled skirt.

Carrying her furry jacket over her arm, the Lockerbie directed toted a bright red handbag and sported a smoky eye.

Last year Louis offered rare insight into his marriage to Nancy, as he revealed the moment he fell in love with her for the first time.

Louis Theroux and wife Nancy Strang made a rare public appearance at Choose Love's 10th anniversary bash at London's Royal Albert Hall on Thursday

Nancy showcased her unique sense of style in a chic black top which she teamed with a white ruffled skirt

The documentarian, tied the knot with Nancy back in 2012, and in an appearance on The Receipts Podcast and revealed that he was first impressed by her 'silky' dance moves.

She told hosts Tolly & Audrey: 'One of the key moments was when I saw her dancing to ''What's Luv'' by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti.

'I'd been on three or four dates with her but I've never seen her on the dance floor and I always used to think that I was an okay dancer, well I liked to dance and I thought I was moving in time.

'But when I saw her, I was like, ''oh my God, that's what a really good dancer looks like.'' She was just so sinuous and silky on the floor. And I thought, wow, she's out of my league.'

Host Tolly then quipped: ''Sinuous and silky on the floor''. They don't make them like you anymore Louis.'

During the interview, Louis also reflected on one of his more bizarre interviews, when he appeared in a much-publicised documentary with Jimmy Savile.

He said: 'There's so many weird people out there. I mean, the things I'm drawn to tend to be obviously people who are self-sabotaging, people who behave in ways that are illogical.

'But what you find is oftentimes the thing that's on the face of it, the weirdest, is not necessarily the weirdest, and the real or true weirdness goes deep.

The documentarian, who shares sons Albert, 20, Frederick, 17, and Walter, 10, with the TV director, cut a suave figure at the charity bash in a dark suit

Last year Louis offered rare insight into his marriage to Nancy, as he revealed the moment he fell in love with her for the first time (pictured in 2019)

'The weirdest thing I went through as a professional journalist really was the whole Jimmy Savile affair, because it was the fact that someone who could be a predator, you know, prolific predator over a number of decades, actually harming people, but meanwhile be the toast of the establishment.

'He was embraced by hospitals, by TV channels, by the royal family, by the political establishment, regarded as an exemplar of charitable fundraising, and then the double life.'

Louis previously revealed his wife Nancy suffered two miscarriages before the 'traumatic' birth of their third child.

He made the heartbreaking reveal in his 2019 autobiography Gotta Get Theroux This, which was released last month and reflects on both his professional and personal life.

While Louis is relatively private about his home and private life, in the book he spoke candidly in the book about his romances, his children and his former marriage woes.

Of their tragedy, he penned: 'I cursed myself for the foolhardiness we'd shown in taking [Nancy] through the blood-letting of another round of human creation...

'Getting to term [in her pregnancy] had been a trial, two had ended in miscarriage. There were tears on a weekend in Yosemite...

'We'd been through nothing like that before. A language of grief and the social forms I was versed in did not seem adequate to the occasion.

'But sadness was complete and if I'm honest, I didn't understand what she was going through. It still seemed abstract to me whereas for Nancy the babies had been real'.
Gal Gadot looked incredible as she graced the red carpet at the Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Fall Snow Ball Gala at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel on Thursday.

The Wonder Woman actress, 40, stunned in a champagne coloured sequinned gown which hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure.

Gal's gorgeous look boasted a high neck and long sleeves with its silver embellishments dazzling under the lights.

The stunner accessorised with silver jewellery and added a pop of colour with red lipstick and a matching manicure.

It comes after Gal's Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler unfollowed her on Instagram following clashes over their political views, according to multiple media reports.

While the Evita actress, 24, has seemingly chosen to unfollow Gal's feed on the social media platform, at the time of publication Gal was still following Rachel.

Gal Gadot, 40, looked incredible as she graced the red carpet at the Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Fall Snow Ball Gala at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel on Thursday

The Wonder Woman actress stunned in a champagne coloured sequinned gown which hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure

The clash between the two A-listers is thought to have been sparked by their opposing opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

While Gal previously insisted she had 'fun' on the set of the Disney live action remake with Rachel, this latest move suggests relations are less than harmonious.

Gal has publicly supported Israel's right to exist as a safe nation, condemned Hamas's actions, and advocated for the hostages taken in October 2023.

Meanwhile, Rachel has posted public messages of support to Palestine, most notably writing 'Free Palestine' in a caption promoting the Snow White trailer.

Mounting talk of tension between the pair on the promo trail for the film was reported and seemingly confirmed by their awkward joint Oscars presentation.

Pro-Palestine protesters were recently ordered to stay away from Gal when she films in London after allegedly disrupting filming on a movie shoot.

Eight were charged under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 after reportedly interrupting filming on the set of her new movie, The Runner.

The legislation prevents individuals blocking access to workplaces and was originally created in a bid to tackle unruly picket lines during strikes.

Gal's gorgeous gown boasted a high neck and long sleeves with its silver embellishments dazzling under the lights

The stunner accessorised with silver jewellery and added a pop of colour with red lipstick and a matching manicure

Gal posed with fans for selfies on the red carpet

It comes after Gal's Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler unfollowed her on Instagram following clashes over their political views, according to multiple media reports

While the Evita actress, 24, has seemingly chosen to unfollow Gal's feed on the social media platform, at the time of publication Gal was still following Rachel

The clash between the two A-listers is thought to have been sparked by their opposing opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict

While Gal previously insisted she had 'fun' on the set of the Disney live action remake with Rachel, this latest move suggests relations are less than harmonious

Gal posed with Cedar's Sinai hospital staff

It comes as shoots for the movie featuring the Israeli actress in Westminster and Camden, as well as other locations, were disrupted over multiple days in May.

Protests included demonstrators wearing Palestinian keffiyehs who reportedly banged on metal saucepans lids on Waterloo Bridge.

Gal, who served in the IDF, voiced her support of Israel after the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas attacked her native country on October 7, 2023 and took the lives of 1200 people, mostly Israeli citizens, and took more than 240 hostage.

Gadot has asked for peace between Israel and 'our neighbours,' calling for an end to hostilities and coexistence.

Rachel has received her own backlash for her stance on the divide.

It was reported that Marc E Platt, one of Snow White's producers, paid a visit to Rachel to 'reprimand' her for including her political views in a post about the film.

Marc's son said this happened over Rachel's Instagram caption and also when in response to Trump's re-election in 2020 she said she wished the President's supporters 'never know peace.'

Rachel an gal pictured in Disney's 2025 remake Snow White

Other celebrities have faced repercussions for vocalizing their support of Palestine, most notably Melissa Barrera, who was fired from Scream 7 for some social media posts supporting Palestine that were considered hateful.

Following the series of scandals and PR nightmares that beset the Snow White remake, Disney scaled back the planned lavish premieres to a 'handful' of tightly controlled press events.

Instead of a vast array of press, which would be expected for a big-budget Disney film, the only interviewers the cast faced were employed by Disney, such as Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the studio's 1989 animation The Little Mermaid.

During the Los Angeles screening in March, Rachel did briefly address the backlash that has surrounded the film, which has been branded woke over fears it has prioritised its messaging over authentic storytelling.

Speaking about the reaction she's had as the movie's young star, Rachel explained she interprets people's feelings about it as 'their passion for' the character.

She said: 'What an honor to be a part of something for which people feel so much passion. We're not always going to have the same sentiments as those around us and all that we can do is give the best of ourselves.'
Jeff Goldblum made a hilarious confession during his appearance on Capital Breakfast on Friday - revealing the thing he has in common with Kim Kardashian.

The actor, 73, left the show's hosts and listeners in stitches after admitting live on air that he didn't know what a jacket potato is - just like the socialite, 45, recently did.

The Wicked star joined radio presenters Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby to discuss his new film Wicked: For Good.

'Do you know what a jacket potato is?,' Chris asked teasing the actor.

But Jeff replied clueless: 'A jacket, J-A-C-K-E-T potato? A jacket potato? No, I've never heard this.

'This is the first time I've ever heard that phrase in my life. Does everybody know it here in England ways?'

Jeff Goldblum made a hilarious confession during his appearance on Capital Breakfast on Friday - revealing the thing he has in common with Kim Kardashian

The actor, 73, left the show's hosts and listeners in stitches after admitting live on air that he didn't know what a jacket potato is - just like the socialite, 45, recently did

'Yeah, I think everyone knows it here, but it feels like it's not filtering through to Hollywood,' Chris quipped.

'There are many things that don't come across the pond, you know, as you know,' Jeff replied to which Sian added: 'It's a shame.'

He joked he could be the 'messenger' between the UK and U.S.

'Yeah, it's a shame. It's horrible. We're poor. We're poor for it,' he poked fun before trying to take a blind guess: 'Now, wait. Jacket potato. Let me guess. Wait Jacket potato. Jacket potato. I don't know. Well, what's a jacket potato?'

Jordan was quick to find a comparison with the Skims founder, saying: 'Well, Kim Kardashian didn't know either. Listen to this.'

They proceeded playing a recording of Kim and fellow actress Sarah Paulson's recent interview on Capital Breakfast with Grime Gran, aka influencer Margie Keefe, 81.

The host asked: 'You're a big fan of a jacket potato, ain't you?', to which Kim replied: 'Who?'

'Do you like a jacket potato?,' Grime asked again, but Kim appeared perplexed and questioned: 'What is that?'

The Skims founder was left baffled when quizzed about jacket potatoes on British radio leaving Sarah in stitches

They proceeded playing a recording of Kim and fellow actress Sarah Paulson's recent interview on Capital Breakfast with Grime Gran, aka influencer Margie Keefe, 81 (pictured)

'I don't know what that is,' Kim continued, as Sarah said: 'I don't know what a jacket potato is'

'I really want to know if you like a jacket potato,' American Horror Story icon Sarah, 50, wondered.

But the Kim remarked: 'I don't know what that is,' to which the host exclaimed in shock: 'You don't know what a jacket potato is?!'

'It's a potato cooked in the skin,' Grime explained while Kim appeared delighted, replying: 'Oh, I love that. Yeah.'

After playing the recording, Jeff and the presenters were left in stitches in the studio.

'Very good. Well, of course, I should have known. A jacket potato: the potato with its jacket on!,' the actor laughed joking.

'Hey, I hear, and I'm no expert, but from what I read, the skin has a lot of good nutrients in it, doesn't it? I myself like a nice jacket potato. We call it a baked potato there.'
Diane Kruger made sure to command attention in a daring black strapless gown as she posed for Defined Magazine's latest cover on Friday.

The Troy actress, 49, showed off her ageless figure in a series of sizzling photos including in a black mini dress and a plunging ball gown.

During the interview, Diane admitted 'motherhood can be isolating' as she opened up about welcoming her daughter in her 40s.

The Troy actress, 49, welcomed her first child, a daughter Nova Tennessee in November 2018 with The Walking Dead fiance Norman Reedus, 56.

Now Diane has said being a parent is a 'learning curve' and that she wouldn't have made it through the 'isolating' time without other mothers going through the same experiences.

Speaking to Defined Magazine, the German star was asked about her experience with women judging one another, she said: 'I live it every day. We all judge ourselves and others, even when we don't mean to.

Diane Kruger has admitted 'motherhood can be isolating' as she opened up about welcoming her daughter in her 40s

The Troy actress, 49, welcomed her first child, a daughter Nova Tennessee in November 2018 with The Walking Dead fiance Norman Reedus , 56

'Motherhood can be isolating, and without other mothers going through the same thing, I don't know how I'd have made it through the first two years. It's such a learning curve.'

Diane also revealed that she loved fashion before having children but now she has developed a 'staple' mum wardrobe.

She added: 'I dont get to dress up very often in real life anymore. Once you become a mother, you develop certain staples. I used to really enjoy fashion before I had kids.'

The star looked sensational as she also posed for the magazine wearing a daring black strapless plunging gown for the cover shot.

In a second shot, she wrapped up in a long white fur hat as she modelled a beige maxi dress with long white gloves.

The actress proved she's still got it as she slipped into a figure hugging plunging black dress and towering stilettos in another photograph.

Diane and Norman first crossed paths while collaborating on the 2015 drama feature Sky, where they were co-stars.

The actress had a previous marriage with Guillaume Canet, spanning from 2001 to 2006, and later, she was in a long-term relationship with Joshua Jackson, which endured from 2006 to 2016.

Now Diane has said being a parent is a 'learning curve' and that she wouldn't have made it through the 'isolating' time without other mothers going through the same experiences

Speaking to Defined Magazine, the German star was asked about her experience with women judging one another

She said: 'We all judge ourselves and others, even when we don't mean to. Motherhood can be isolating, and without other mothers going through the same thing, I don't know how I'd have made it through the first two years. It's such a learning curve'

Diane also revealed that she loved fashion before having children but now she has developed a 'staple' mum wardrobe

She added: 'I dont get to dress up very often in real life anymore. Once you become a mother, you develop certain staples. I used to really enjoy fashion before I had kids'

Diane looked sensational as she posed for the magazine cover

Norman had a connection with Helena Christensen for several years, and the two are parents to a son named Mingus, who is now 25.

Afterwards, Norman found new love with Diane, and the couple marked their red carpet debut in 2018.

Their journey continued with the arrival of their daughter, Nova, in November of the same year.

Initially keeping their child's name private, they eventually shared it with the public in 2021 when they decided to get engaged.

The following year, they revealed their daughter's name to the world.

Kruger spoke about parenting during an interview with Women's Health, during which she stated that becoming a mother greatly affected her personal and professional lives.

'Everything changed with motherhoodits such a cliche, but its true. The way I look at work is different,' she said.

The artist additionally discussed adapting her work schedule to meet the needs of her loved ones.

'Things just change when you have a family. You want to keep everyone together,' she said.
Kate Beckinsale has unveiled a sweet tattoo tribute to her late mother Judy Loe following her death aged 78.

The actress, 52, took to Instagram earlier this summer to share that her mother had died in her arms on July 15 after 'immeasurable suffering' and admitted she is 'paralysed' with grief.

Judy's cause of death wasn't confirmed; however, Kate previously revealed her mother had been battling stage four cancer for the last two years.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, Kate revealed her new tattoo of her mother on her arm, which featured a sketch of the actress in 1971.

She got the tattoo below an inking that read 'Fatherless sc*m' in tribute to her late father and stepfather - a reference to David Bowie's 1979 song Fantastic Voyage.

Alongside the post, she penned: 'It everyone would stop dying I wouldn't have so many tattoos.

Kate Beckinsale has unveiled a sweet tattoo tribute to her late mother Judy following her death aged 78 on Instagram on Friday

Kate revealed her new tattoo of her mother on her arm, which featured a sketch of the actress in 1971

'Thank you @_dr_woo_ for this beautiful one of my mama ( and @endrystymest for Peepo and 'fatherless sc*m').'

Last month Kate shared poignant snaps from her beloved mother Judy's funeral.

She reflected on the day as she shared a selection of images from the ceremony which took place at Chiswick House.

She was joined by her daughter Lily, 26, who she shares with her ex Michael Sheen - who also attended to support her.

Lily and Michael were seen sweetly hugging in one of the snaps Kate shared. Kate and Michael were a couple from the mid-1990s to 2003.

In the caption Kate said she still felt 'blindsided and devastated' by her death and heartbreakingly admitted she often still goes to call her before realising that no one will answer.

Kate also shared that her mother hadn't wanted people to wear black at her funeral and that she wished for a 'celebration of her life'.

In her lengthy and emotional caption Kate said: 'Dearest Mama. The fact that you have had to have a funeral at all is wrong and ludicrous. You are the biggest lover of life, the most energetic, the most vital, the most joyous.

The actress, 52, took to Instagram earlier this summer to share that she had died in her arms on July 15 after 'immeasurable suffering' and admitted she is 'paralysed' with grief

In the caption Kate said she still felt 'blindsided and devastated' by her death and heartbreakingly admitted she still goes to call her before realising that no one will answer

'The only mandate you gave me over the years was that you wanted a celebration of your life and that no one was to wear black so no one did.

'What I did not anticipate, particularly the night before the funeral where I got two hours sleep on a hard sofa and very much considered not being able to attend because I was afraid I couldn't handle it, was that someone would be able to have a funeral that was so full of love and happiness and joy, which is all because of you and who you are and what you brought.

'You are a bridge builder, a hoarder of love, an archiver of precious history ,of respect for years of friendship and my God that showed..

'I think the hardest thing I have ever had to do was say goodbye to you and I haven't managed it yet, I still reach for my phone in the early hours of the morning to text you and then realise that I won't get a response.

'The funeral and the party which I will not call a wake afterwards, and which I very much feel you attended in some vaporous way blew the f***ing roof off Chiswick House.

'Everybody danced - from the age of 3 to their mid 80s. Your school friends attended, my school friends attended, Lily's school friends attended. The love you inspired, quietly and generously was awe-inspiring and still is.

'I will never get over the lump of cement in my stomach that I have instead of you. Hopefully, I will learn to carry it better than I am currently carrying it which is clumsily and not well.

She was joined by her daughter Lily, 26, who she shares with her ex Michael Sheen - who also attended to support her (Kate and Michael seen in 2010)

'But what you left me was a coterie of extraordinarily brilliant people who, if and when I am ever up to it, I know will provide me a soft place to land.

'At the moment I am so blindsided and devastated that it is safer for me to be on my own but I know from your funeral that the relationships you nurtured so carefully over the years are there for me too and that is another part of your generosity that will live on.

'I love you, Mama. You are in my blood. You are in my bones, you are in my heart, broken or not you are there. I love you so much.'

Her death came 18 months after the death of Judy's second husband and Kate's stepfather Roy, who died in January 2024.

He was hospitalised in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering 'a massive stroke' while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer prior.

Tragically this wasn't the first time Judy was widowed after the shock death of her first husband Richard Beckinsale in 1979, when Kate was just five-years-old.

The actor, famed for his roles in popular shows Rising Damp and Porridge, suddenly passed away on March 19, 1979 at the age of just 31, leaving behind his devastated wife Judy and Kate and her sister Samantha.

Sharing the news of her mother's death back in July, Kate posted a compilation of snaps as she penned: 'I don't want to post this. I am only posting this because I have had to register my mother's death certificate and it will soon become public record.

Judy's death came 18 months after the death of her second husband, and Kate's stepfather Roy (pictured), who died in January 2024

'She died the night of July 15th in my arms after immeasurable suffering. I have not picked all the best photos, nor the best videos, because I cannot bear to go through my camera roll yet.

'I deeply apologise to any of her friends who are finding out this way or through the press, but I cannot go through her phone.

'I am paralysed. Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend. The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly.

'She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear.'

She finished: 'Mama, I love you so much. This has been my greatest fear since finding my father dead at five and I am here. Oh my Mama.. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I am so sorry.'

Kate didn't confirm the cause of death at the time however her mum was known to have been battling stage four cancer for the last two years

Kate's post announcing her mother's death is pictured

Fans and friends rushed to send their condolences in the comments as they penned: 'I'm so sorry. What a beautiful lady';

'Sending you and Lily so much love'; 'I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss! Y'all had such an incredible bond that not a lot of mothers and daughters do';

'Sending love. Not enough. Because NOTHING can replace your mother.'; 'Oh no. May angels lead her in'.

Jess Wright added: 'Omg I am so deeply sorry'.

Back in March Kate shared a tearful Mother's Day tribute to Judy amid her cancer battle.

She reassured her mother that 'any journey you are on, I'm on it with you,' in an Instagram post dedicated to her, revealing just how much she idolises her mum.

Describing Judy as her 'partner in crime,' Kate posted a carousel of photos from throughout her mum's cancer treatment, as well as memories that hold a special place in her heart.

Kate - who revealed that her mum was sick last year - admitted they had been 'through some s**t together' and that her mum has her heart.

The Fool's Paradise star further offered her advice to others who are grieving.

She said: 'My heart is with you,' on a day that is 'joyful for so many and painful for so many.'

Kate also asked for good wishes to be sent to her 'extraordinary' mother who she called a 'warrior' in her post.

Kate penned in the caption of the post about her mother: 'I wasn't going to come back to Instagram but anyone who has a spare prayer or magic or miracle or sunbeam please send it to my mama, my most extraordinary, warrior, generous, humble, loving, unique, irreplaceable Mama.

'Thank you - Lord, keep her safe this night, secure from all her fears, may angels guard her while she sleeps till morning light appears, amen.'

Kate's father Richard died when she was just five-years-old after he suffered a shock heart attack in his sleep brought on by undiagnosed coronary artery disease.

At the time was in fact Judy who was the family's focus then, as she was in hospital recovering from an operation to unblock her fallopian tubes, so she could have more children.

When she emerged, she learned her operation had been a success, but that her husband had died.

The day before his death, Richard had taken Kate - who was just five-years-old at the time - to visit her mother in hospital and had no physical complaints, simply saying he felt tired.

That evening, Richard attended a party for The Two Ronnies before returning to the family home in Sunningdale, Berks.

The last anyone heard from the rising comedy star was in a phone call he made to friends before going to bed, in which he noted he had pains in his arms and chest but made light of it. Tragically, Richard never woke up.

Kate, who had been looked after by a family friend who came to babysit her at home, has said she still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder 'from discovering my very young father's almost-dead body as a very young child alone in the night.'

It was a trauma which was 'reactivated' by losing Roy all these years later as she revealed a year after his passing that she'll forever be 'haunted' after seeing Roy die.

Roy, the director of TV greats including Inspector Morse, Cracker and A Touch Of Frost, came into Kate's life three years after her father died.

Alongside a beaming snap of Roy, Kate penned: 'Finding my father's dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever.

She said in her post about the funeral: 'I love you, Mama. You are in my blood. You are in my bones, you are in my heart, broken or not you are there. I love you so much'

'It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.

'In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships, at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.

'I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed -but I am trying to console myself today with all the preparation that he did in the last years of his life, how deeply he studied and practised as a Jungian and how thin the veil is between the energy of this life and whatever is next, that some part of him was at peace with it.

'It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure.'
Liev Schreiber, 58, has been seen for the first time since he checked out of a hospital earlier this week.

The Ray Donovan actor had been rushed to a New York City hospital when he was experiencing intense pain from a headache.

On Thursday evening the movie star was spotted in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.

He had on a green Slainte: Irish Whiskey cap with a brown corduroy jacket and matching slacks with his gold wedding band in place.

The thespian wore a mustache and slight beard as carried a brown bag down a street. Schreiber did not seem to be recognized.

On Tuesday he broke his silence about his concerning headache that caused doctors to give him a 'battery of tests.'

Liev Schreiber, 58, has been seen for the first time since he checked out of a NYC hospital earlier this week

The Ray Donovan actor had been rushed to a hospital when he was experiencing intense pain from a headache

His rep told the Daily Mail that Schreiber is doing much better, saying in a statement: 'Out of an abundance of caution, Liev went into the hospital for testing and as of this afternoon, he has been cleared to return to work.'

The actor had been in Philadelphia filming an untitled Apple TV+ thriller based on Lars Kepler's bestselling Killer Instinct.

A source has told the Daily Mail that Schreiber has been left 'embarrassed' by all the attention his hospital visit has garnered and does not like that people knew he went to the hospital for a headache as it makes him look 'weak' when he is at the height of his career.

But the star is also just glad he is feeling much better as the pain was 'intolerable' and he is grateful to the doctors who helped him.

The star was able to move about fine on Monday and later checked out of the hospital, the site also noted.

It's not the first time the actor has had a health scare related to a headache.

The movie star had on a green Slainte: Irish Whiskey cap with a brown corduroy jacket and matching slacks with his gold wedding band in place as he was alone

He wore a mustache and slight beard as carried a brown bag. Schreiber did not seem to be recognized. On Tuesday he broke his silence about his concerning headache that caused doctors to give him a 'battery of tests'

In 2024, he revealed that he was diagnosed with a rare condition called transient global amnesia (TGA), brought on by a migraine, while starring in 'Doubt: A Parable' on Broadway.

TGA is a rare, benign condition characterized by a sudden episode of memory loss that resolves completely within 24 hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

'The worst nightmare that an actor could possibly ever experience. I was in my dressing room and I had a terrible headache. I thought it was maybe a fast-food headache, but it felt a little stronger than that,' he shared during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

'I'm walking down the stairs and Im thinking, "This is not normal. I don't feel okay."'

He said he knew 'something was really wrong' when he saw his co-star, Amy Ryan, backstage but could not remember her name.

A source has told Daily Mail that Schreiber has been left 'embarrassed' by all the attention his hospital visit has garnered and does not like that people knew he went to the hospital for a headache as it makes him look 'weak.' Seen in August with his wife Taylor Neisen

Seen with his ex Naomi Watts and their two kids Sasha and Kai as well as his new wife

His condition worsened when he stepped back onstage and could not remember his lines.

'It all vanishes,' he explained. 'The play is gone from my head... I know I'm in a play, but I don't know what play I'm in.'

'My doctor, who's a friend, shows up, and he had a terrified expression. My wife shows up, and she looks terrified. I think, "Okay, I've had a stroke. This is it."'

Despite being diagnosed with Transient Global Amnesia, Schreiber was certain he had suffered a stroke.

'The guy said, "Youll never have this again and it'll be gone in 8 to 24 hours," which I didn't believe. You know, as a typical sort of Jewish hypochondriac person, I'm convinced that I had a stroke and they just didn't find it.'

Schreiber revealed that he got an MRI and it showed that there was no brain bleed, and that his brain looked 'perfectly fine.'

'Apparently it's brought on by migraines and rigorous coitus,' he quipped.

'I go to sleep, I wake up, I remember the whole play,' he recalled. 'I never had another problem with it. I was embarrassed and thought everyone would think I was lying and taking a night off from the theater.'

Schreiber made his breakthrough in the 1996 movie Scream. His more recent credits are The Perfect Couple and Caught Stealing. Seen in a still from The Perfect Couple with Nicole Kidman

Meyers joked that it was 'so sad' that the Emmy-nominated star got TGA from a migraine and not from sex.

'I know! When the other option is to literally have your brains f***** out, I had to get it from a migraine,' Schreiber said with a laugh.

Schreiber is perhaps best known for starring in the title role of the Showtime crime drama series Ray Donovan, which aired from 2013 until 2020.

The San Francisco native is married to Taylor Neisen, 32; they met in 2017, married in July 2023, and had their first child, a daughter named Hazel Bee, in August 2023.

He also shares son Sasha, 17, and daughter Kai, 16  who came out as transgender earlier this year  with his ex Naomi, 57. The pair dated for 11 years before splitting up in September 2016.
Nearly three years after she landed behind bars for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, Jen Shah will reportedly be released from prison in a matter of weeks.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star has been granted an early departure date of December 10 by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to People.

Shah was originally sentenced to six and a half years for her crimes back in 2023 - meaning she will have only spent less half of her sentence when she is released next month.

Shah's manager, Chris Giovanni, says the Bravo star has achieved 'real growth' while incarcerated and is aware of the gravity of her 'mistakes'.

However, a representative for the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Office of Public Affairs has told Daily Mail that Shah is still projected to be released in 2026.

'For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss any incarcerated individuals conditions of confinement or specific release plans. However, we can confirm Jennifer Shah has a projected release date of August 30, 2026, as seen on our Find an inmate page,' they said.

Jen Shah has reportedly been granted an early release date of December 10

Since 2023, she has been incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas

In a statement obtained by People, Giovanni said Shah's family are appreciative of the reported early release date as Shah will be able to spend the holidays with them.

'Everyone's very grateful for the BOP's decision, especially because it means Jen will be able to reunite with her family for the holidays,' her Giovanni told People. 'It's a gift she doesn't take for granted.'

'Jen's in a really positive, hopeful place mentally,' he continued. 'She's done a lot of reflecting and real growth during her time away, and is genuinely not the same woman as she was before. Her focus is on her family and building a healthier, more grounded life.

'She understands the seriousness of the mistakes she made and is excited to put this chapter behind her so that she can show everyone the woman she's worked hard to become.'

A representative for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told the publication: 'For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss any incarcerated individuals conditions of confinement or specific release plans.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Giovanni and the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas for comment but did not immediately hear back.

It's not yet known where Shah will be headed to after prison, however BOP policy states she will either return to her home or be transferred to a halfway house to finish off the remainder of her sentence with supervision, according to People.

Where she will be headed to will be determined before she is released.

Since 2023, she has been incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas.

The low security prison is home to a number of celebrity jailbirds, including Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.

Shah began her 78-month sentence in February 2023 after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges tied to the multimillion-dollar scheme, which duped thousands of victims, many of them seniors.

Shah began her 78-month sentence in February 2023 after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges tied to the multimillion-dollar scheme, which duped thousands of victims, many of them seniors

She was also ordered to pay more than $6.5 million in restitution.

Her arrest in March 2021 was famously captured on Bravo cameras during season two of RHOSLC, cementing her place in Housewives history.

Shah initially proclaimed her innocence, even doubling down during reunion specials, but ultimately changed her plea to guilty in July 2022months after her former assistant and co-conspirator, Stuart Smith, admitted his role.

Since entering prison, her sentence has been reduced multiple times.

The BOP reduced the sentence on account of her good behavior, involvement in prison programming, and the payments she had begun sending victims after she was ordered to pay $6.5M in restitution, according to People.

Originally set for release in 2029, her date was bumped up to August 2028, then to December 2027, and most recently to November 3, 2026, according to Page Six.

Shah's husband Sharrieff has stood by her side during her incarceration

Her team has been keeping fans updated via her digital diary, Dear Jen Shah, where they claim the mother-of-two is embracing 'personal self work' and rehabilitation.

In December, they revealed she was 'doing very well,' staying busy with creative projects, including organizing holiday-themed showcases within the prison.

Shah has also remained in contact with her RHOSLC castmates.

That same month, her team confirmed she had recently spoken to Meredith Marks, describing their phone call as 'extremely positive.'

In an unusual twist of fate, Shah has reportedly bonded with fellow inmate Elizabeth Holmes, the infamous Theranos founder who is serving an 11-year sentence for fraud.

Her arrest in March 2021 was famously captured on Bravo cameras during season two of RHOSLC, cementing her place in Housewives history

Shah's husband Sharrieff has also stood by her side during her incarceration.

Despite her fall from Bravo stardom to federal prison, Shah seems intent on showing she's committed to self-improvement while waiting out the remainder of her sentence in Texas.

In an essay shared with People last year, Shah explained what she has learned during her incarceration so far.

'Upon entering FPC Bryan, I wholeheartedly believed that no one was suffering as badly as I was,' she wrote.

'I quickly recognized that so many women are here battling and overcoming circumstances far worse than mine,' she continued. 'Their resilience inspires and truly humbles me.'

The entrepreneur has held tightly to her Muslim faith, 'Recognizing that God continues to bless me not withstanding my wretched and unpredictable surroundings; expressing sincere gratitude has been my most effective coping mechanism.

'Despair and depression are companions that strive to capture my undivided attention every single day,' she explained but, 'Praying five times a day helps keep these and other emotional serpents at bay. I am most grateful for the aspects of my life that have never left me: My Family and Faith. Thank you God.'
The cause of death for popular TikTok star Ben Bader has been revealed, one month after his tragic passing aged just 25.

The influencer, known for offering lifestyle and financial advice, died from complications of cardiovascular disease, according to a report by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner obtained by TMZ.

Cardiovascular disease is a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, encompassing conditions like coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Key risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and unhealthy lifestyles.

Bader had untreated hardening and narrowing of the arteries, the report stated, and his death has been ruled as natural.

The medical examiner said that genetic factors 'were likely involved in the development' of his cardiovascular impairment.

Bader died on October 23, hours before he was due to go on a date with his girlfriend.

The cause of death for popular TikTok star Ben Bader has been revealed - one month after his tragic passing aged just 25

The influencer, known for offering lifestyle and financial advice, died from complications of cardiovascular disease, according to a report by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner

Bader was believed to be healthy and his only recent complaint was that of back and shoulder pain, which he was undergoing physical therapy for.

Pain reliever codeine was found in his urine and not in his blood, with this not a contributing factor to his unexpected death, the report states.

The report also revealed Bader was exercising at his private community's gym when a fellow gymgoer found him unresponsive on the ground eight minutes after he had gotten off the treadmill.

Police previously told the Daily Mail that Bader was found 'unresponsive' at Admirals Cove, a private members club in Jupiter, Florida, at around 6:30 p.m.

'He was discovered by fellow residents and appeared not to be breathing,' said Jupiter Police Department spokesperson Shawn Reed.

Reed added that 'lifesaving measures' were conducted on Bader by first responders.

They said an 'active investigation' is currently being conducted into Bader's passing  and authorities have not ruled out foul play.

Bader was then transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Bader's girlfriend, Reem, confirmed he passed 'extremely suddenly' as she wrote in a tribute on TikTok: 'The past few days have been the hardest few days of my entire life and Ive never dealt with this before,' she wrote in a tribute on TikTok.

She added: 'Especially not the loss of someone as important as he was to me... He genuinely loved every single person that he met and he was so positive all the time.'

Bader had just celebrated his 25th birthday just a month prior on September 22 and was due to go on a dinner date with Reem the night of his death.

'No one really knows [how he died] and it seemed to have been extremely sudden,' Reem said.

'There were really no signs of this happening  we were supposed to get dinner that night and he seemed so normal.'

She continued: 'I had just talked to him on FaceTime a couple hours before he passed and he was so happy and so normal and he was just smiling and being so funny.'

Jupiter Police Department spokesperson Shawn Reed told People that the TikToker was found 'unresponsive' at the clubhouse in Admirals Cove, the private community in Jupiter, Florida where he resided (pictured)

Bader's girlfriend, Reem, confirmed he passed 'extremely suddenly' in a tribute last month

'Ben was the kindest, most caring, most generous person I have ever met in my entire life,' she wrote.

About her 'hero' and 'inspiration,' she added: 'I know this is selfish but I just feel like I devoted my everything to him and he devoted his everything to me, only for him to be taken away.

'I feel so lucky to have been loved by him but I'm also so jealous of the people who didnt know him well because it's just so easy to just move on.'

Over the clip, she wrote, 'rest in peace Ben Bader,' and called her late boyfriend 'the best man I've ever met.'

In her caption, she penned: 'please hold your loved ones extra tight and never forget to say I love you. life is unforgiving sometimes. I'm still in disbelief. he was such a special person.'

In a statement obtained by TMZ, the Upham and Bader family described Ben as 'visionary who led with love, lived with intention, and turned his passions into helping others.'

'He made a profound impact on everyone who knew him through his wisdom, humor, and compassion. Ben lived each day to the fullest, inspiring those around him to seek meaning, connection, and purpose in their own lives,' the statement said.

The statement further said he 'will continue to shine through the countless people he touched' and also stated Ben was born prematurely at 28 weeks.

The influencer was known across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for sharing lifestyle content and financial advice  boasting a combined following of more than 200,000 people across his multiple social media platforms.

His final Instagram post came a little over a month ago and commemorated his 25th birthday celebration.
Ethan Hawke is usually so fiercely guarded, but he has shed some rare light on what he went through following his divorce from Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman in 2005.

The Training Day actor said the public scrutiny foisted upon him at the time was comparable to highly flammable fuel in an interview with UKs The Times.

'The public eye is like gasoline,' he said, 'but what makes divorce hard is the stuff that makes it hard for everyone: the family elements, how to help the kids through it.'

Hawke, 55, and Thurman, also 55, were married in 1998 and had two children together, Maya, 27, and Levon, 23.

Their union didnt last and they separated in 2003 before their divorce was made final two years later.

Clearly, it was a painful period for Hawke, who shared, 'Im so envious of people who have amicable splits.'

Ethan Hawke, 55, has shed some rare light on what he went through following his divorce from Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman in 2005; pictured on November 15

Years ago, the sensitive star pledged his daughter and son to keep the details of the divorce off-limits from the public.

'I cant really talk about this because I vowed to my kids so many times not to talk about the divorce in public,' he said.

'But one thing I will say is if you get the privilege of traveling the world, you realize that everywhere men and women have a tremendous amount of difficulty staying married.'

In an interview with GQ in 2018, Hawke revealed hed gone through a deep depression when he and Thurman broke up.

He became suspicious around some people and questioned their intensions.

'I got divorced and my personal life fell apart,' Hawke confessed. 'I don't know if you feel this way, but when you're depressed it's really easy to see everything that is fake about other people and life, and I just started seeing all that. How phony celebrity was, how phony everything is.'

But the love of his children and work in film and theater rescued Hawke from the abyss.

'That's the wonderful thing about children is they just need you every day. It gives your life balance. Meaning your whole life isn't just about yourself,' he said.

Ethan and Uma, pictured in happier days in 2001, were married in 1998 and had two children together, but separated in 2003 before their divorce was made final two years later

Years ago, the sensitive star pledged his daughter Maya and son Levon to keep the details of the divorce off-limits from the public; pictured in 2013

Ethan also shares two daughters, Clementine, 17, and Indiana, 14, with wife Ryan; pictured on a family vacation in St. Barts in December 2022

In October 2005, two months after the split was finalized, Thurman told Oprah Winfrey that divorce was 'excruciating' and her self-esteem was 'pretty mangled.'

'You can move on, and you can be lucky and you can seize the moment and you can take one step after another,' the Boston-born beauty said about how she was coping.

'You bear two children with somebody  thats not a small thing  and then you can hardly talk to them,' she added wistfully.

A year later, Thurman expressed that she wanted to 'keep peace.'

'I cannot participate in anything critical about my childrens father. I just need to keep peace,' she told Parade in 2006. 'I think its fair to say that I havent said one mean thing, and Im not going to start now. Its terrible for my family.'

Hawke has been married to second wife Ryan Shawhughes since 2008.

'When I split up I was hellbent on not having any more kids and I wanted to be single for the rest of my life. But then I made a best friend and I liked kissing her,' he told The Times.

They met when she was the nanny for his kids with Thurman but reconnected after the divorce.

Uma, pictured with Maya and Levon in 2023, has said she won't say anything critical of her children's father

Ethan and current wife Ryan met when she worked as a nanny for his kids with Uma, but he insists they didn't reconnect until much later

'I know people imagine some kind of Sound of Music type love affair, but the truth is by the time Ryan and I were falling in love, it had been a long while since I had employed her,' Hawke told The Guardian in 2006.

The actor and Ryan share two daughters, Clementine, 17, and Indiana, 14.

Thurman was engaged to French financier Arpad Busson, with whom she shares daughter Luna, 13, until their eventual split in 2014.
Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers is claiming to be almost broke amid his nasty divorce from the reality TV star.

On Thursday the wellness expert filed documents requesting an emergency hearing in his spousal support case, according to PageSix which has seen the paperwork.

The hearing was originally scheduled for January 5, 2025 but he has said he needs it moved up as he desperately needs cash, the site reported.

The star also shared that he is close to being evicted from his home as he owes $125,000 in back rent and $10,090 in old due HOA fees, a claim he has made before.

And Phypers added that he has been 'begging friends for money to have food to eat' as he has no way to make his own income, the site also claimed to have read in the court documents.

The Canada native closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has not been able to find employment since, he told Daily Mail earlier this year.

Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers is claiming to be almost broke amid his nasty divorce from the reality TV star. On Thursday the wellness expert filed documents requesting an emergency hearing in his spousal support case, according to PageSix which claims to have seen the paperwork. Seen in May in Los Angeles

The hearing was originally scheduled for January 5, 2025 but he has said he needs it moved up as he desperately needs cash. The star also shared that he is close to being evicted from his home as he owes $125,000 in back rent and $10,090 in old due HOA fees. Seen in September in Los Angeles

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for both Richards and Phypers for comment.

This comes after the Los Angeles resident asked a judge to force Richards to hand over $150,000 to help him make ends meet. But the former Bond girl told the judge to refuse the request, according to TMZ.

Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7, 2025, citing 'irreconcilable differences' and listing their date of separation as July 4, 2025. The couple had been married for six years.

Recently, she won a permanent restraining order against her ex after she claimed he abused her on several occasions.

Phypers accused Richards of being the 'abusive' one in their relationship.

On September 15 Phypers filed a response to her previous claims of domestic violence - which were made in a restraining order in July as she alleged her 52-year-old partner 'repeatedly abused' her during their six-year marriage.

According to court documents obtained by People magazine, he has refuted her claims and denied the allegations.

He said in the documents: 'There is no need for such orders, as I have not abused her and will not abuse her.' He also alleges that his ex has been 'frequently' phoning and messages him and his father.

And Phypers added that he has been ' begging friends for money to have food to eat' as he has no way to make his own income. The Canada native closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has not been able to find employment since, he has maintained; seen in 2023

He claimed: 'As well as asking other family and friends to ask me to call her so often that it should be considered harassment, demonstrating that she is not afraid of me and that she is the aggressive one.'

Phypers has also claimed the actress has 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times'.

Elsewhere in the documents, he referenced an alleged incident on August 3, saying: 'She barged aggressively and forcefully into other family members' living spaces, including my brother's room (which he recorded), violating his privacy rights and looking through his personal property.'

Phypers told a judge overseeing their divorce proceedings that he has to come up with the money fast or else he and his family will be rendered homeless. Richards seen on November 14 in Las Vegas at BravoCon

He has argued against paying expenses caused by the alleged abuse, and insisted he shouldn't pay spousal support.

He added: 'She has prevented me from earning income, so she is the only one with income. She should support me.'

The couple married in 2018 in a beachfront ceremony that aired on Bravo during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Phypers, who filed for divorce in July following what has been described as an explosive argument, previously described her allegations of abuse as 'bogus.'

He said over the summer: 'She's upset. I publicly dumped her to the world, and she's mad, so how does she retaliate? File a bogus abuse claim.'
Vanderpump Rules star Charli Burnett is officially a married woman.

The Bravo alum tied the knot with long-time boyfriend Corey Loftus last week in Mexico, People reports.

The couple exchanged vows in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato - and a region where Burnett's great-grandfather hails from.

'My great-grandfather immigrated from that region, making it a deeply meaningful place for our family,' she told the publication.

Burnett, 28, and Loftus were together for six years before they became engaged in 2023.

The couple said 'I do' at the educational center Instituo Allende, with the bride clad in a wedding dress by KYHA Studios and mantilla style veil by ForLove Bridal.

Vanderpump Rules star Charli Burnett has tied the knot with longtime boyfriend Corey Loftus

She did a costume change mid-bash, slipping into a dress by Taylor Cox for the reception.

The reception dress was particularly special - it was fashioned out of two dresses Burnett wore while competing in beauty pageants.

The couple hosted friends and family at a welcome party held at the restaurant Zumo prior to tying the knot.

'Guests joined us for a traditional callejoneada, parading through town with donkeys, mariachis, and even pinatas of Corey Loftus and me,' she told People. 'It was the perfect introduction to the magic of San Miguel.'

Burnett posted a post reflecting on their adventure to San Miguel on Wednesday but didn't make any mention of their wedding.

'The first few days in San Miguel were so magical. Celebrating lulus birthday, getting some quality time with family because after this trip everyones family now, and exploring the city was so fun,' she wrote. 'this is isnt even everything but its going to take me 2 weeks to recover from this trip and go through all the memories. So much more to come but this trip will forever be special, I love you San Miguel!'

The wedding came two years after the couple became engaged in Sayulita, Mexico.

Burnett announced their engagement in November with photos of Loftus dropping down to one knee in November 2023.

The couple were together for six years before becoming engaged in 2023

Burnett has been chronicling all the pre-wedding festivities on her Instagram account

She rose to fame as a SUR-ver on the hit Bravo series Vanderpump Rules

Burnett was on the show for three seasons until a gut feeling told her not to come back

She captioned the post with the date of the proposal - '11.4.2023.'

Burnett was a member of the Vanderpump Rules cast for three seasons, working as a SUR-ver at Lisa Vanderpump's iconic SUR restaurant.

However a gut feeling ended up advising her against returning for a fourth season, as the show no longer 'aligned' with her.

'I just couldnt do it,' she said on The Viall Files. 'They got the contracts. We were talking for months. Everything was going good and then the day came to sign on the dotted line. I was ready to film that night... something told me not to do it.'

'I was having a really hard time in negotiations and contracts. I just didnt know where I kind of fell into place with Vanderpump this year. I just didnt feel like, where was the show going? Where is everyone else going?... I just felt like I was in such a different place in my life than everyone elses and I just didnt feel connected in the same way.'
Grocery giant Kroger has announced it is pulling out of Florida entirely.

The company said this week it will close three online-only grocery centers  in Wisconsin, Maryland and Florida  as part of a plan to 'drive profitable sales growth.'

Shutting down the Florida plant in Groveland will see Kroger abandon its last remaining foothold in the state.

The closure, set for January 2026, will affect the 1,400 Kroger employees who work there.

'This is an especially difficult time for employees to hear this news, and our hearts go out to those affected,' the city of Groveland said.

Kroger closed all of its stores in the Sunshine State way back in 1988, but continued to serve Floridians through grocery delivery services in some parts of the state via its automated fulfillment center, which it is now shutting.

In Wisconsin and Maryland, Kroger will continue to operate the supermarkets under its umbrella of brands, including Metro Market and Harris Teeter.

The closure in Florida comes as Kroger's chief competitor, Publix, continues to dominate in the state, operating 880 stores there out of its approximately 1,400 nationwide.

Kroger is closing three fulfilment centers in Florida, Wisconsin, and Maryland (pictured: Ocado technology at a Kroger fulfilment center in the US)

After the Florida facility shuts in January 2026, the grocery company will have no business at all inthe state

Earlier this year, Publix was crowned the best grocery store in the country by Newsweek, beating out Kroger, which came in third place behind Wegmans.

Reddit users acknowledged Publix's win, writing on the forum: 'Publix is breaking out the champagne on this one,' in response to the news of Kroger's latest closure.

'Krogers business in Florida is run through online grocery rather than traditional stores,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert for GlobalData, told the Daily Mail.

'This automatically puts Kroger at a disadvantage both because online grocery doesnt really make much profit and because without stores, the Kroger brand is not always on the radar of consumers.'

'Florida is a very competitive grocery market, and it has some extremely strong players, like Publix,' Saunders continued. 'Kroger hasnt really been able to make inroads with its online model, and it doesnt seem to have the ambition to go to the expense and hassle of opening new stores.'

The online-only Kroger facilities closing in Wisconsin and Maryland are located in Pleasant Prairie and Frederick, respectively.

These centers are currently operated by Kroger alongside British online supermarket and technology group Ocado.

Kroger partnered with Ocado in 2018 to deploy the company's smart platform for automated fulfillment centers

The centers are currently operated by Kroger alongside British online supermarket and technology group Ocado

Ron Sargent took on the role of the company's CEO in March 2025

The grocer doesn't expect the closures to have an impact on its core sales.

'eCommerce remains a core part of serving customers who want better value, wide selection and flexible ways to shop,' said Ron Sargent, Kroger's chairman and CEO.

'We are building on a strong foundation with five consecutive quarters of double-digit eCommerce sales growth and increased profitability improvements. We are taking decisive action to make shopping easier, offer faster delivery times, provide more options to our customers, and we expect to deliver profitable sales growth as a result.'

In September, Kroger signaled a potential retreat from investment in automated warehouses. It said it was conducting a 'site-by-site' review of the fulfillment network it had built in partnership with Ocado.

Both companies will continue to operate the remaining five sites in Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Colorado and Michigan, Ocado said.

Over the past few months, Kroger has expanded partnerships with Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats to reach more customers with deliveries in as little as 30 minutes.

Instacart is now Kroger's primary delivery provider on Kroger.com and the Kroger app, and Kroger will be among the first retailers to offer Instacart's AI Cart Assistant on its iOS app.

Kroger also widened its DoorDash partnership, giving tens of millions of shoppers on-demand access to grocery and food essentials through the DoorDash Marketplace.

Additionally, Kroger announced a new customer experience coming to Uber Eats in early 2026, offering grocery delivery alongside restaurant meal orders.

The shuttering of Florida's Kroger facility is expected to impact approximately 1,400 Kroger employees who work there

Kroger currently operates 2,700 grocery stores under various banner names across the US, including Ralph's and Food 4 Less.

There are locations in 35 states, and it is headquartered in Cincinnati. The states with the most Kroger stores include California, Texas, and Ohio.

Earlier this year, Kroger and Ocada announced plans to open two more fulfillment centers  one in Charlotte, North Carolina and one in Phoenix, Arizona  in 2026.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Kroger for comment.

Just months ago, Kroger announced that nearly 1,000 corporate employees would be laid off. '

The layoffs come after the grocer decided to shutter more than 60 underperforming stores by the end of 2026.

Kroger initiated the closures as a way to cut costs following its failed $25 billion merger with Albertsons.
Verizon employees have been hit with a devastating letter announcing that about 13 percent of the company's workforce is being axed.

Verizon's CEO Dan Schulman sent the notice on Thursday, detailing the company's intentions to 'evolve as a company' by clashing costs and restructuring operations.

Resulting mass layoffs at the telecom giant will affect thousands of employees.

'Today, we will begin reducing our workforce by more than 13,000 employees across the organization, and significantly reduce our outsourced and other outside labor expenses,' Schulman wrote in the letter.

At the end of 2024, Verizon employed 99,600 workers, according to its most recent annual report.

'Our current cost structure limits our ability to invest significantly in our customer value proposition,' Schulman added.

News of the layoffs was reported last week by The Wall Street Journal, which said that the 13,000 job cuts mark the largest-ever round of layoffs at the company.

America's biggest wireless carrier is battling shrinking customer numbers and rising competition across the wireless and home-internet markets.

Verizon  the largest US telecom provider by subscribers  has been losing lucrative postpaid phone customers for three straight quarters as rivals T-Mobile and AT&T step up aggressive promotions.

Verizon employees received a devastating letter notifying them that 13 percent of the workforce was to be axed

The shake-up comes weeks after Verizon named Daniel Schulman (pictured), the former chief of PayPal and Virgin Mobile USA, as its new CEO. Schulman has vowed to overhaul the business, reverse customer losses and slash costs across the board

America's biggest wireless carrier is battling shrinking customer numbers and rising competition across the wireless and home-internet markets

It caps a disastrous stretch for the telecom giant, which has been losing subscribers at an alarming pace.

Verizon acknowledged in April that it lost 289,000 monthly wireless customers in the first quarter alone  more than double the losses from the same period last year and far worse than Wall Street expected.

The company told investors the exodus 'reflects the impact of recent pricing actions,' after the company raised rates and scaled back discounts.

Once known for big holiday promotions, Verizon pulled back after Christmas last year  while rivals T-Mobile and AT&T kept slashing prices. The decision backfired spectacularly as frustrated customers ditched the service for cheaper competitors.

The shake-up comes weeks after Verizon appointed Schulman, the former boss of PayPal and Virgin Mobile USA, as its new chief executive. Schulman has pledged to slash costs across the company and stem the steady decline in wireless customers.

'We have a tremendous amount of opportunity to be more efficient, to be scrappier,' Schulman said last month as he discussed the company's third-quarter results.

'Cost reductions will be a way of life for us here.'
Another major fire tore through a massive metal-making plant in upstate New York  and it could cost automaker Ford billions.

On Thursday, Novelis, the world's largest recycler of aluminum and a major supplier to American automakers, said its 1.5-million-square-foot Oswego facility went up in flames. The company didn't say what caused the blaze.

Firefighters were called just before 9am after heavy smoke and flames erupted in the plant's hot-rolling area, where heated slabs are pressed into long sheets destined for automakers.

More than 80 firefighters from 20 departments battled the five-alarm blaze for nearly nine hours, using tanker trucks and multiple ladder trucks to douse the roof.

All 1,100 workers on site were safely evacuated, according to local officials.

'We're aware of the situation and working with Novelis to learn more,' a Ford spokesperson said on Friday morning.

The fire marks the second significant blaze at the plant since September and yet another blow to Ford's already-hobbled truck production.

The plant is central to Ford's most profitable car  and America's best-selling vehicle  the F-150.

A Novelis plant caught on fire twice in three months, causing another headache for Ford. The company already said it could lose up to $2billion from the first fire, and told Daily Mail it's assessing the damage (pictured: the September fire)

Ford had to slow output of its pickups in US plants because of the first fire

A decade ago, Ford bet big on lighter, more fuel-efficient body panels for its pickup  and Novelis became its key partner in producing them.

Novelis was the main supplier of that lightweight aluminum.

When the part of the plant that heats and shapes metal caught fire in September, it choked off the supply of those sheets and forced Ford to slow F-150 output.

At the time, Ford estimated the disruption would cost between $1billion and $2billion.

The September outage had already forced temporary shutdowns at auto plants in Tennessee and Michigan.

In October, Novelis told the Daily Mail it expected the plant would be operational by December, beating some analyst forecasts that said it would take until March 2026.

By mid-day Friday, the metal maker told the Daily Mail that parts of the plant were 'back up and running.'

'Novelis will continue to leverage alternate sources, including its global network of plants and industry peers, to mitigate impact,' Novelis said.

Ford CEO Jim Farley is facing down another potential production pause on the company's best-selling vehicle in America

The Ford F-150 features aluminum body panels to increase the truck's fuel efficiency. Tt's helped keep the pickup dominant in US vehicle sales for 40 years

Ford's stock dropped more then two percent Thursday. It recovered by one percent in early Friday trading.

Novelis had spent the last two months running an around-the-clock repair effort, complete with stadium lights to keep crews working through the night.

About three weeks after the September fire, Ford told the Daily Mail that it 'has been working closely with Novelis, and a full team is dedicated to addressing the situation and exploring all possible alternatives to minimize any potential disruptions.'

Aluminum production is becoming a flashpoint in the car-pricing conundrum. In March, President Donald Trump added 25 percent tariffs to all foreign-made aluminum.

He doubled the tariff to 50 percent in May, making it even more expensive for companies in need of new suppliers to find aluminum sources.

Novelis operates several plants around the world, but the Oswego plant is the largest North American operation.
At a conference recently, a question from the audience stayed in the air long after the discussion ended: Will Indias young also take to the streets like the protesters in Tanzania, Peru or Nepal?

Across continents this year, young people have risen against political systems that felt unresponsive. In Peru, students challenged governments weakened by distrust. In Nepal, first-time voters turned frustration into new political groups. In Tanzania, crowds of young citizens gathered in public spaces to demand dignity. These movements were not driven by one ideology. They were driven by a feeling that institutions had stopped hearing them.

Indias youth have watched these moments carefully, but without the impulse to replicate them. For all its flaws, Indian democracy still provides avenues for peaceful change. The question in India is not whether youthful anger will erupt, but whether youthful intelligence will choose to engage. The greater danger is not forced silence. It is a quieter habit of stepping back and letting others decide the future.

India has more young people than any other country. Over 40 per cent of the population is below twenty-five, and nearly 460 million are between fifteen and twenty-nine. Yet the spaces where decisions are made remain mostly shaped by older generations. The word youth is used so loosely that it now includes people well into their forties, far removed from the urgency and imagination of early adulthood. At events that claim to champion youth voices, the speakers themselves are often closer to mid-life than to youth. India celebrates the idea of being young, but hesitates to trust the young with actual responsibility.

Those who do enter public life encounter a gentle but persistent scepticism. Their ideas are welcomed but rarely acted upon. They are asked to wait, as if responsibility must always follow age rather than ability. Yet democracies are renewed not by guarding experience but by cultivating judgement. Trust is not something that automatically comes with age. It is something societies must extend if they want continuity and renewal.

There is also a popular belief that this generation has inherited comfort. The reality is more complex. It has inherited polluted air, climate anxiety and an overwhelming flow of information. What appears as privilege often hides burdens that earlier generations did not have to confront.

Yet todays young bring a distinct ethic to work and life. They do not equate success with exhaustion. They value focus, clarity and careful thought. But these strengths must move beyond private life and enter public life. Reflection without participation can become distance.

Indias institutions do not need revolution. They need the quiet resurgence that becomes possible only when younger minds are allowed to shape them. Some beginnings already exist. Platforms such as MyGov, youth consultations and public fellowships have opened small doors. These now need to develop into deeper forms of inclusion.

Every ministry could establish a Young Fellows Council to advise on implementation. District administrations could form advisory groups that bring students, researchers and entrepreneurs into local planning. Parliament could host an Annual Youth Session where citizens under thirty present proposals to committees. These ideas are not dramatic shifts. They are practical steps to ensure younger voices are part of governance.

Universities also have a role. Education cannot be only about exams and employment. It must prepare young people to participate in public life. A period of work in a panchayat, a municipal ward office or a government mission should be part of learning. Corporations can support Public Innovation Labs where young innovators work with officials on sustainability, technology and inclusion. None of this requires new bureaucracy. It requires trust in the abilities of the young.

Earlier generations built institutions in an age of scarcity. Todays young must help make them responsive in an age of complexity. If they can combine technical skill with civic empathy, Indias progress will not depend on sudden upheavals. It will grow through steady, thoughtful reform.

The protests in other nations are warnings rather than templates. They show that when young citizens feel unheard, they find new ways to express dissent. India must ensure that its young find purpose within institutions, not frustration outside them. The politics of absence has lasted long enough. What the country now needs is a politics of presence: patient, grounded and committed. The future will not arrive on its own. It will be shaped by those who choose to step forward.

The writer is a public policy professional with years of experience working across key ministries of the Government of India; views are personal
Operations at Simara Airport were suspended on Thursday after police fired tear gas near the airport area as Gen Z demonstrators returned to the streets for a second consecutive day, marking a sharp escalation in the unrest gripping Nepals Bara district.

Authorities imposed a district-wide curfew from 1.00 pm to 8.00 p.m. after early-morning clashes between protestors and security forces reignited tensions that had first erupted on Wednesday. Curfew has been reimposed following the clash with the police to bring the situation under control, assistant chief district officer Chhabiraman Subedi told media.

The renewed turmoil follows plans by CPN-UML leaders to visit the district ahead of the March 5, 2026 elections  a move that has inflamed the already fragile security environment. Bara has struggled to regain stability since the September uprising that left 76 people dead and resulted in hundreds of inmates and weapons going missing.

Wednesdays confrontation in Simara Chowk left seven Gen Z supporters injured, including 21-year-old local leader Samrat Upadhyay. He claimed that 1012 youths had gathered peacefully when UML cadres allegedly attacked them, prompting his group to file a complaint against six party members. Our demand is simple  arrest Mahesh Basnet and UML cadres who launched a brutal attack on us, Upadhyay told local media, vowing that Bara would remain shut until the arrests are made.

Police have since detained two ward chairs  Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of Ward 2 and Kaimudin Ansari of Ward 6 of Jeetpursimara Sub-metropolitan City  in connection with Wednesdays violence.
Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) EVP Brian Mandell sold 26,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.68, for a total value of $3,607,216.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 56,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,825,455.84. This represents a 31.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Phillips 66 Trading Down 1.8%

Shares of PSX traded down $2.41 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $132.08. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,154,919 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,084,505. The stock has a market cap of $53.22 billion, a PE ratio of 36.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. Phillips 66 has a 52 week low of $91.01 and a 52 week high of $143.25. The companys fifty day moving average price is $134.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $126.70.

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Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The oil and gas company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.38. The company had revenue of $33.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.29 billion. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 1.12% and a return on equity of 5.51%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.04 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Phillips 66 will post 6.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Phillips 66 Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 17th. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 131.15%.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PSX shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Phillips 66 from $154.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $160.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Phillips 66 in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Phillips 66 from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Phillips 66 presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $145.71.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Phillips 66

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PSX. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC boosted its position in Phillips 66 by 62.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 214 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new position in shares of Phillips 66 in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. 76.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Phillips 66 Company Profile

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Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

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GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV  Get Free Report) shares were down 6.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $557.69 and last traded at $558.94. Approximately 4,835,436 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 42% from the average daily volume of 3,399,235 shares. The stock had previously closed at $595.37.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on GEV. Wall Street Zen cut shares of GE Vernova from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of GE Vernova from $605.00 to $630.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of GE Vernova from $677.00 to $660.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of GE Vernova in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, UBS Group set a $710.00 target price on GE Vernova in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $607.81.

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GE Vernova Trading Down 6.1%

The company has a market cap of $151.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 91.03, a P/E/G ratio of 4.13 and a beta of 1.68. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $598.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $561.28.

GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $9.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.15 billion. GE Vernova had a net margin of 4.52% and a return on equity of 17.07%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.35) EPS. GE Vernova has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that GE Vernova Inc. will post 6.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

GE Vernova Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Monday, October 20th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 20th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. GE Vernovas dividend payout ratio is 16.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other GE Vernova news, CFO Kenneth Scott Parks sold 3,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $620.00, for a total value of $2,046,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 7,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,705,800. This represents a 30.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GE Vernova

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GEV. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of GE Vernova in the 1st quarter worth approximately $912,000. Pines Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in GE Vernova in the second quarter valued at $408,000. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in GE Vernova by 8.2% in the first quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 86,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,229,000 after acquiring an additional 6,551 shares during the period. Dupree Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in GE Vernova during the second quarter worth $253,000. Finally, Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. bought a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the first quarter valued at $458,000.

About GE Vernova

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GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity. It operates under three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. The Power segments generates and sells electricity through hydro, gas, nuclear, and steam power. Wind segment engages in the manufacturing and sale of wind turbine blades; and Electrification segment provides grid solutions, power conversion, solar, and storage solutions.

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Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE:GTE  Get Free Report) Director Equinox Partners Investment Ma acquired 30,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $4.36 per share, with a total value of $132,544.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 2,543,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,091,447.60. This represents a 1.21% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Equinox Partners Investment Ma also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, November 18th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma acquired 35,780 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $4.23 per share, with a total value of $151,349.40.

On Monday, November 17th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma purchased 126,126 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $4.21 per share, with a total value of $530,990.46.

On Friday, November 14th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma purchased 77,412 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $4.32 per share, with a total value of $334,419.84.

On Thursday, November 13th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma bought 22,900 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $4.39 per share, for a total transaction of $100,531.00.

On Wednesday, November 12th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma bought 115,131 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $4.32 per share, with a total value of $497,365.92.

On Tuesday, November 11th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma purchased 15,777 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $4.33 per share, for a total transaction of $68,314.41.

On Friday, November 7th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma purchased 50,682 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $4.11 per share, for a total transaction of $208,303.02.

On Thursday, November 6th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma acquired 200,000 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $4.07 per share, with a total value of $814,000.00.

On Wednesday, November 5th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma bought 172,000 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of $4.02 per share, with a total value of $691,440.00.

On Tuesday, November 4th, Equinox Partners Investment Ma bought 276,000 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $3.79 per share, for a total transaction of $1,046,040.00.

Gran Tierra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GTE traded up $0.04 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $4.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 964,185 shares, compared to its average volume of 338,087. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. has a 1-year low of $3.09 and a 1-year high of $8.19. The firms fifty day moving average price is $4.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.31. The firm has a market cap of $158.48 million, a P/E ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.71.

Institutional Trading of Gran Tierra Energy

About Gran Tierra Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Equinox Partners Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 37.2% in the 2nd quarter. Equinox Partners Investment Management LLC now owns 5,097,688 shares of the companys stock worth $24,316,000 after purchasing an additional 1,381,574 shares during the last quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Gran Tierra Energy by 33.4% in the first quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,500,589 shares of the companys stock worth $12,328,000 after buying an additional 625,562 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new stake in Gran Tierra Energy in the first quarter valued at $2,275,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 897.5% during the first quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 346,499 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,693,000 after acquiring an additional 311,761 shares during the period. Finally, LM Asset IM Inc. grew its position in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 13.4% during the second quarter. LM Asset IM Inc. now owns 1,945,800 shares of the companys stock worth $9,281,000 after acquiring an additional 229,200 shares during the last quarter. 31.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Gran Tierra Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in Colombia and Ecuador. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Herbalife Ltd (NYSE:HLF  Get Free Report) Director Lynda Cloud acquired 17,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $8.97 per share, with a total value of $152,490.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 38,857 shares of the companys stock, valued at $348,547.29. This trade represents a 77.78% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Herbalife Stock Up 4.4%

Shares of HLF stock traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $9.63. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,923,603 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,979,078. The firm has a market capitalization of $994.47 million, a PE ratio of 3.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.87. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $8.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.72. Herbalife Ltd has a 12-month low of $5.04 and a 12-month high of $10.83.

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Herbalife (NYSE:HLF  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.04. Herbalife had a net margin of 6.59% and a negative return on equity of 27.36%. The firm had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. The firms revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. Herbalife has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Herbalife Ltd will post 1.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Herbalife

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Tweedy Browne Co LLC grew its position in shares of Herbalife by 104.1% during the third quarter. Tweedy Browne Co LLC now owns 44,136 shares of the companys stock worth $373,000 after buying an additional 22,508 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new position in Herbalife during the 3rd quarter valued at $65,000. PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Herbalife during the 3rd quarter worth $484,000. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Herbalife in the 3rd quarter worth about $548,000. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Herbalife in the 3rd quarter worth about $167,000.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen cut Herbalife from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Herbalife from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Herbalife in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Herbalife currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.33.

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Herbalife Company Profile

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Herbalife Ltd. provides health and wellness products in North America, Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, and the Asia Pacific. It offers products in the areas of weight management; targeted nutrition; energy, sports, and fitness; outer nutrition; and literature and promotional items.

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Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC  Get Free Report)s share price dropped 6.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $4.74 and last traded at $4.7820. Approximately 20,814,559 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 28% from the average daily volume of 16,301,135 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.12.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LAC. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Lithium Americas from $3.50 to $5.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Lithium Americas from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Lithium Americas from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. TD Cowen reissued a hold rating and issued a $5.00 target price on shares of Lithium Americas in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Finally, TD Securities lowered Lithium Americas from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $5.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lithium Americas has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.33.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on LAC

Lithium Americas Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 3.77 and a quick ratio of 9.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.55 and a beta of 1.41. The companys 50 day moving average price is $5.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.87.

Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported ($0.02) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.03. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lithium Americas Corp. will post -0.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lithium Americas

In other news, SVP Edward Grandy sold 6,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.50, for a total transaction of $27,823.50. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 135,466 shares of the companys stock, valued at $609,597. This represents a 4.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP Alexi Illya Zawadzki sold 353,914 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.48, for a total value of $3,355,104.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 40,005 shares in the company, valued at approximately $379,247.40. This represents a 89.84% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 364,860 shares of company stock worth $3,404,362 in the last ninety days. 1.11% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lithium Americas

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LAC. Traynor Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Lithium Americas by 19.7% in the third quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,449 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 2,046 shares during the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Lithium Americas by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 16,643 shares of the companys stock valued at $95,000 after acquiring an additional 2,183 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its position in shares of Lithium Americas by 16.1% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 16,753 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after acquiring an additional 2,321 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its stake in shares of Lithium Americas by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 67,650 shares of the companys stock valued at $394,000 after purchasing an additional 2,356 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lithium Americas by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 45,090 shares of the companys stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 3,789 shares during the last quarter.

About Lithium Americas

(Get Free Report)

Lithium Americas Corp. engages in the exploration and development of lithium properties in the United States and Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Thacker Pass project located in northern Nevada, as well as investments in exploration properties in the United States and Canada. Lithium Americas Corp.

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Mitsubishi Estate Co. (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $21.72, but opened at $20.09. Mitsubishi Estate shares last traded at $21.00, with a volume of 31 shares.

Mitsubishi Estate Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.33 and a quick ratio of 1.69. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.12 and a beta of 0.20.

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Mitsubishi Estate (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 10th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.14). Mitsubishi Estate had a return on equity of 5.50% and a net margin of 11.67%.The company had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.74 billion. Mitsubishi Estate has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.090-1.090 EPS.

Mitsubishi Estate Company Profile

Mitsubishi Estate Co, Ltd. engages in the real estate activities in Japan and internationally. The company develops, leases, manages, and sells office buildings and commercial facilities; operates rental offices, coworking space, virtual offices, hourly meeting rooms, home delivery storage service, commercial nursing homes, and building garages; offers real estate management, as well as building management services, such as security, facility management, cleaning, and planting services; and operates hotels and airports.

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Ocado Group plc (LON:OCDO  Get Free Report)s stock price was down 17.4% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 166 and last traded at GBX 179.90. Approximately 546,520,313 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 5,339% from the average daily volume of 10,048,685 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 217.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Ocado Group from GBX 400 to GBX 437 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Ocado Group currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 437.

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Ocado Group Trading Up 2.0%

Ocado Group Company Profile

The firm has a market cap of 1.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a current ratio of 2.35, a quick ratio of 2.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.16. The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 225.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 266.89.

(Get Free Report)

Ocado Group is a UK based technology company that provides end-to-end online grocery fulfilment solutions, known as the Ocado Smart Platform, to some of the worlds largest grocery retailers and holds a 50% share of Ocado Retail Ltd in the UK in a Joint Venture with Marks & Spencer. OSP comprises access to Ocados physical infrastructure solutions, running highly efficient warehouse operations for the single pick of products, together with the entire end-to-end proprietary software applications required to operate a world class online grocery business.

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Oracle Power plc (LON:ORCP  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 8.3% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 0.04 and last traded at GBX 0.04. Approximately 253,565,563 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 9% from the average daily volume of 232,601,516 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.04.

Oracle Power Price Performance

The firms fifty day simple moving average is GBX 0.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 0.02. The firm has a market capitalization of 6.29 million, a PE ratio of -20.00 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a quick ratio of 5.67, a current ratio of 3.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.98.

Oracle Power Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Oracle Power Plc (AIM: ORCP) is an international project developer in the natural resources and energy sectors. The Company is currently committed to two areas of focus: Western Australia, home to two of Oracles highly prospective gold projects, and Pakistan, where it is working to establish one of the largest hydrogen production facilities in the region.

Located in the wind corridor in Jhimpir, Pakistan, The Green Hydrogen project is being developed on a fast-track basis thanks to the joint venture (JV) formed between Oracle and His Highness Shaikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum (through his wholly owned company, Kaheel Energy Limited).

The JV intends to support the global transition to a carbon neutral future through establishing Pakistan as one of the main Green Hydrogen players in the region, to meet global demand for clean hydrogen forecasted to be 660 million metric tons in 2050.

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Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (OTCMKTS:RYCEY  Free Report) in a research report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage issued an outperform rating on the aerospace companys stock.

RYCEY has been the topic of several other reports. Berenberg Bank raised Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in a research report on Friday, September 19th. They set a buy rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Stock Down 0.6%

Institutional Trading of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

Shares of OTCMKTS RYCEY opened at $13.93 on Tuesday. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC has a 1-year low of $6.72 and a 1-year high of $16.27. The business has a 50-day moving average of $15.35 and a 200-day moving average of $13.84.

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. ORG Partners LLC boosted its stake in Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 115.3% during the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,970 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,055 shares during the last quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its position in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 2,646.8% during the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 3,049 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 2,938 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC during the second quarter worth about $174,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 17.4% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 34,443 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $461,000 after purchasing an additional 5,099 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for air, sea, and land in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.

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Swire Pacific Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SWRAY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $600.14 and last traded at $600.14, with a volume of 3318242 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $9.0590.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Zacks Research cut Swire Pacific from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Sell.

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Swire Pacific Stock Up 1.0%

Swire Pacific Announces Dividend

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $8.49 and a 200 day moving average of $8.67.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 12th were issued a dividend of $0.1463 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 462.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 11th.

About Swire Pacific

(Get Free Report)

Swire Pacific Limited engages in property, aviation, beverages, marine, and trading and industrial businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China, rest of Asia, the United States, and internationally. The company's Property division develops, owns, and operates mixed-use properties. This division's property investment portfolio comprises office and retail premises, serviced apartments, and other luxury residential accommodations; and trading portfolio consists of residential properties.

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Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd (NYSE:TEN  Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Thursday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 11th will be paid a dividend of 0.50 per share on Thursday, February 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 399.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 11th.

Tsakos Energy Navigation has increased its dividend by an average of 0.2%per year over the last three years. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a dividend payout ratio of 17.9% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Tsakos Energy Navigation to earn $4.35 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 27.6%.

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Tsakos Energy Navigation Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE TEN traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $25.05. The stock had a trading volume of 789,481 shares, compared to its average volume of 318,549. The company has a market capitalization of $754.74 million, a P/E ratio of 8.95 and a beta of -0.15. The firms 50-day moving average price is $23.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $20.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.30. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a 52 week low of $13.40 and a 52 week high of $26.69.

Institutional Trading of Tsakos Energy Navigation

Tsakos Energy Navigation ( NYSE:TEN Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Tsakos Energy Navigation had a net margin of 14.17% and a return on equity of 12.03%. Analysts anticipate that Tsakos Energy Navigation will post 3.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TEN. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 1.0% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 104,285 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,779,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC acquired a new position in Tsakos Energy Navigation during the 1st quarter valued at $267,000. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new stake in Tsakos Energy Navigation in the 2nd quarter valued at $384,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation during the 2nd quarter worth about $672,000. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a new position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation during the second quarter valued at about $761,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.24% of the companys stock.

About Tsakos Energy Navigation

(Get Free Report)

Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. engages in the provision of seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services. Its activities include the operation of crude tankers, product tankers, and liquefied natural gas carriers. The company was founded by Nikolas P. Tsakos and Michael Gordon Jolliffee in July 1993 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece.

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Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE: TAP):

11/19/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its equal weight rating reaffirmed by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company. They now have a $50.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $53.00.

11/19/2025  Molson Coors Beverage was downgraded by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating. They now have a $50.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $53.00.

11/17/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its sell (d) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/14/2025  Molson Coors Beverage was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating.

11/11/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its sell (d) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/6/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $46.00 to $45.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage was downgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d) rating.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Roth Capital. They now have a $65.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $67.00.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $49.00 to $47.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage is now covered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. They set a neutral rating and a $49.00 price target on the stock.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $54.00 to $50.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Evercore ISI from $53.00 to $50.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $53.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

11/4/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from $51.00 to $48.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock.

11/3/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Needham & Company LLC from $58.00 to $54.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

10/14/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

10/9/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $51.00 to $49.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

10/8/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $52.00 to $49.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

10/2/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $67.00 to $57.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

9/30/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from $52.00 to $50.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock.

9/30/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $53.00 to $52.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

9/27/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

9/25/2025  Molson Coors Beverage had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $58.00 to $55.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David S. Coors bought 2,245 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $44.47 per share, for a total transaction of $99,835.15. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 30,586 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,360,159.42. This trade represents a 7.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Andrew Thomas Molson purchased 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 10th. The shares were bought at an average price of $46.79 per share, with a total value of $350,925.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 22,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,059,980.66. This represents a 49.49% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock.

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

Further Reading

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Seeds Investor LLC decreased its holdings in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 11.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,822 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 245 shares during the quarter. Seeds Investor LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $545,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of ACN. Kelly Lawrence W & Associates Inc. CA bought a new position in Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Accenture during the first quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, Fiduciary Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Accenture during the first quarter worth approximately $45,000. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ACN shares. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Accenture from $372.00 to $285.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Accenture from $370.00 to $330.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Accenture from $325.00 to $271.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Accenture from $260.00 to $235.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $294.25.

Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In other news, CEO Ryoji Sekido sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.47, for a total value of $623,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,390 shares in the company, valued at $346,763.30. This represents a 64.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Manish Sharma sold 6,902 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.01, for a total value of $1,725,569.02. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 1,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $465,018.60. This trade represents a 78.77% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 33,319 shares of company stock valued at $8,335,225 in the last three months. 0.02% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Accenture Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE:ACN opened at $241.02 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $244.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $271.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.28. Accenture PLC has a 1-year low of $229.40 and a 1-year high of $398.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 25th. The information technology services provider reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.98 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.34 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.02% and a return on equity of 26.45%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.66 earnings per share. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.190-13.570 EPS. Q1 2026 guidance at EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Accenture Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 10th were paid a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 10th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. This is a positive change from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.48. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 53.66%.

Accenture Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A  Get Free Report) CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 911 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.24, for a total value of $130,491.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 32,058 shares in the company, valued at $4,591,987.92. This trade represents a 2.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Padraig Mcdonnell also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, November 12th, Padraig Mcdonnell sold 12,490 shares of Agilent Technologies stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $1,873,500.00.

Agilent Technologies Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of Agilent Technologies stock traded up $2.71 during trading on Friday, reaching $147.77. The companys stock had a trading volume of 501,251 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,883,920. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 2.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The company has a market cap of $41.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.70, a P/E/G ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $139.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $124.80. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $96.43 and a 1-year high of $153.84.

Agilent Technologies Increases Dividend

Agilent Technologies ( NYSE:A Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 27th. The medical research company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.37. The firm had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.67 billion. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 17.97% and a return on equity of 25.51%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.32 earnings per share. Agilent Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.560-5.590 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 1.570-1.600 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 6th will be paid a $0.255 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 6th. This is a positive change from Agilent Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Agilent Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.24%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Agilent Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Rothschild Redb raised shares of Agilent Technologies to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $149.62.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on A

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $395,088,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Agilent Technologies by 424.1% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,041,826 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $240,956,000 after purchasing an additional 1,652,244 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 132.2% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,354,111 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $277,807,000 after purchasing an additional 1,340,161 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 10.7% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 13,227,387 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,560,964,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273,994 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Troy Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 74.3% during the second quarter. Troy Asset Management Ltd now owns 2,397,820 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $282,967,000 after buying an additional 1,021,865 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.41% of the companys stock.

About Agilent Technologies

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Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.

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Agri Bank China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY  Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $19.14, but opened at $18.23. Agri Bank China shares last traded at $18.97, with a volume of 9,410 shares traded.

Agri Bank China Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The companys fifty day moving average price is $18.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.38. The company has a market capitalization of $260.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.19 and a beta of 0.11.

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Agri Bank China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Agri Bank China had a return on equity of 9.22% and a net margin of 20.80%.

About Agri Bank China

Agricultural Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It offers demand, personal call, foreign currency call, time or demand optional, foreign exchange call, foreign exchange time, savings, agreed term, and negotiated deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and loans, including housing, consumer, business, fixed asset, working capital, real estate, and entrusted syndicated loans, as well as trade finances, guarantees and commitments, and loans with custody of export rebates accounts.

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Air France-KLM SA (OTCMKTS:AFLYY  Get Free Report) shares were up 7.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $1.13 and last traded at $1.12. Approximately 77,651 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 44% from the average daily volume of 138,404 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.0380.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AFLYY has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays upgraded Air France-KLM from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Air France-KLM in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They issued an equal weight rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Air France-KLM in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Air France-KLM Stock Up 6.9%

The stocks fifty day moving average price is $1.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.28. The stock has a market cap of $2.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.12 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.69.

Air France-KLM (OTCMKTS:AFLYY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The transportation company reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $10.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.92 billion. Air France-KLM had a return on equity of 116.09% and a net margin of 3.30%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Air France-KLM SA will post 0.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Air France-KLM

(Get Free Report)

Air France-KLM SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo transportation services and aeronautical maintenance in Metropolitan France, Benelux, rest of Europe, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Airframe maintenance, Engine Maintenance, and Component Support.

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American Airlines Group, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Joby Aviation, Air Lease, Copa, and Southwest Airlines are the seven Airline stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Airline stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is operating commercial air transportation for passengers and cargo. They tend to be cyclical and capitalintensive, sensitive to fuel prices, economic growth, regulation and labor costs, so investors typically watch metrics like passenger yield, load factor, capacity and fuel hedging when evaluating them. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Airline stocks within the last several days.

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American Airlines Group (AAL)

American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo.

United Airlines (UAL)

United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties.

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Delta Air Lines (DAL)

Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo.

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Joby Aviation (JOBY)

Joby Aviation, Inc., a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides.

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Air Lease (AL)

Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. The company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios.

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Copa (CPA)

Copa Holdings, S.A., through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 375 daily scheduled flights to 82 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 106 aircraft comprising 76 Boeing 737-Next Generation aircraft, 29 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and one Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter.

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Southwest Airlines (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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Kingsview Wealth Management LLC grew its position in American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR  Free Report) by 35.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 16,254 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,252 shares during the quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLCs holdings in American Healthcare REIT were worth $597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in American Healthcare REIT by 22.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,795,192 shares of the companys stock valued at $569,494,000 after purchasing an additional 3,437,861 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of American Healthcare REIT by 1,543.1% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 5,022,455 shares of the companys stock valued at $152,180,000 after buying an additional 4,716,792 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of American Healthcare REIT by 20.5% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,578,867 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,882,000 after buying an additional 779,109 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its stake in shares of American Healthcare REIT by 350.7% in the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 4,559,365 shares of the companys stock worth $138,149,000 after buying an additional 3,547,635 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in American Healthcare REIT during the first quarter worth about $68,097,000. 16.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on AHR shares. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of American Healthcare REIT from $45.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. KeyCorp increased their price target on American Healthcare REIT from $43.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on American Healthcare REIT from $51.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Citizens Jmp raised their target price on American Healthcare REIT from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on American Healthcare REIT from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $50.90.

American Healthcare REIT Price Performance

AHR stock opened at $49.19 on Friday. American Healthcare REIT, Inc. has a 52-week low of $26.40 and a 52-week high of $50.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a market cap of $8.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 351.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a fifty day moving average of $44.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.86.

American Healthcare REIT Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. American Healthcare REITs payout ratio is 714.29%.

Insider Transactions at American Healthcare REIT

In other American Healthcare REIT news, Director Jeffrey T. Hanson sold 20,010 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.68, for a total transaction of $994,096.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 21,798 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,082,924.64. This trade represents a 47.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Mark E. Foster sold 3,850 shares of American Healthcare REIT stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.89, for a total transaction of $161,276.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 59,100 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,475,699. This represents a 6.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 25,360 shares of company stock worth $1,229,398 in the last ninety days. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

American Healthcare REIT Profile

(Free Report)

Formed by the successful merger of Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III and Griffin-American Healthcare REIT IV, as well as the acquisition of the business and operations of American Healthcare Investors, American Healthcare REIT is one of the larger healthcare-focused real estate investment trusts globally with assets totaling approximately $4.2 billion in gross investment value.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR  Free Report).

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Barclays downgraded shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note released on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. Barclays currently has $250.00 price target on the financial services providers stock, down from their previous price target of $328.00.

AJG has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $315.00 to $275.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $365.00 to $366.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $322.00 to $329.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, September 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $316.33.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock opened at $247.40 on Thursday. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $239.47 and a fifty-two week high of $351.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 1.36. The company has a market cap of $63.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.14 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $281.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $302.97.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.19). The business had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.34 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 14.54% and a return on equity of 13.17%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s revenue for the quarter was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.26 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Michael Robert Pesch purchased 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $247.12 per share, with a total value of $988,480.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the vice president owned 41,849 shares in the company, valued at $10,341,724.88. This trade represents a 10.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 8,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.54, for a total value of $2,396,320.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 100,777 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,186,742.58. The trade was a 7.35% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 35,855 shares of company stock valued at $10,482,928 over the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 13,892 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,303,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the period. Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the third quarter valued at approximately $47,071,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 2,769.2% in the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 746 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $231,000 after acquiring an additional 720 shares during the period. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP increased its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.7% during the third quarter. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP now owns 3,026 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $937,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Investment Services LLC raised its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 28.7% in the third quarter. Harvest Investment Services LLC now owns 9,992 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,095,000 after purchasing an additional 2,228 shares during the period. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

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Banco Bradesco SA (NYSE:BBDO  Get Free Report) fell 7.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $3.00 and last traded at $3.0350. 49,609 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 7% from the average session volume of 53,111 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.27.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Banco Bradesco in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, Banco Bradesco currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Banco Bradesco Trading Down 7.3%

Banco Bradesco Increases Dividend

The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The companys 50-day moving average is $2.93 and its 200-day moving average is $2.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.73 and a beta of 0.81.

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.0032 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 3rd. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is an increase from Banco Bradescos previous monthly dividend of $0.00. Banco Bradescos payout ratio is 5.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBDO. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Banco Bradesco during the second quarter worth $30,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 5,542.4% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 11,172 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 10,974 shares during the last quarter. Compound Planning Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Aprio Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Banco Bradesco in the 1st quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Savant Capital LLC acquired a new position in Banco Bradesco in the second quarter valued at about $51,000.

About Banco Bradesco

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Banco Bradesco SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services.

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Booking, McDonalds, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Toast, Brinker International, Wingstop, and Yum! Brands are the seven Restaurant stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Restaurant stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that own, operate, or franchise foodservice businessesranging from quickservice and fastcasual chains to casual and fine dining operators. Investors evaluate them using metrics like samestore sales, unit growth, franchise royalties, profit margins and sensitivity to consumer spending, labor and commodity costs. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Restaurant stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

McDonalds (MCD)

McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

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Toast (TOST)

Toast, Inc. operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, and India. The company offers software products for restaurant operations and point of sale, such as Toast POS, Toast now, multi-location management, kitchen display system, Toast mobile order and pay, Toast catering and events, Toast invoicing, Toast tables, and restaurant retail; and hardware products, including Toast flex, Toast flex for guest, Toast go 2, Toast tap, kiosks, and Delphi by Toast.

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Brinker International (EAT)

Brinker International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchising of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.

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Wingstop (WING)

Wingstop Inc., together with its subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Wingstop brand. Its restaurants offer classic wings, boneless wings, tenders, and hand-sauced-and-tossed in various flavors, as well as chicken sandwiches with fries and hand-cut carrots and celery that are cooked-to-order.

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Yum! Brands (YUM)

Yum! Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division segments. It also operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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AMA Group Limited (ASX:AMA  Get Free Report) insider Brian Austin purchased 355,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of A$0.85 per share, for a total transaction of A$301,750.00.

Brian Austin also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, November 3rd, Brian Austin acquired 2,000,000 shares of AMA Group stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of A$0.10 per share, with a total value of A$198,000.00.

On Tuesday, August 26th, Brian Austin purchased 4,005,550 shares of AMA Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of A$0.10 per share, with a total value of A$400,555.00.

On Wednesday, August 27th, Brian Austin purchased 1,010,000 shares of AMA Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of A$0.10 per share, with a total value of A$101,000.00.

AMA Group Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $258.26 million, a PE ratio of -14.29 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 420.06.

AMA Group Company Profile

AMA Group Limited operates vehicle and heavy motor collision repair facilities in Australia and New Zealand. It operates through three segments: Vehicle Collision Repairs, Heavy Motors, and Supply. The company offers rapid repairs of cars; specialized facilities for all commercial vehicle repairs; and genuine, reclaimed, and aftermarket parts, as well as collision repair consumables for the mechanical and collision repair sectors.

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Shares of Ceiba Investments (LON:CBA  Get Free Report) were up 11.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 29 and last traded at GBX 29. Approximately 90,000 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 109,370 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 26.

Ceiba Investments Trading Up 11.5%

The company has a market cap of 39.92 million, a PE ratio of -0.97 and a beta of 0.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 11.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.26, a quick ratio of 3.46 and a current ratio of 0.81.

About Ceiba Investments

(Get Free Report)

Investing in real estate and other real assets in Cuba

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Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) (NYSE:EDN  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $26.18 and traded as high as $33.29. Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) shares last traded at $31.5540, with a volume of 155,291 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on EDN shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $36.00 price objective on shares of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, August 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $36.00.

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Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) Stock Performance

Institutional Trading of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor)

The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firms fifty day moving average is $22.82 and its 200 day moving average is $26.18. The company has a market cap of $1.43 billion, a PE ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 1.64.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EDN. Helikon Investments Ltd increased its stake in shares of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) by 259.8% in the 1st quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd now owns 2,031,036 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $62,028,000 after acquiring an additional 1,466,500 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 596,866 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $18,228,000 after acquiring an additional 52,478 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in shares of Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) by 634.5% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 277,104 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,340,000 after purchasing an additional 239,379 shares during the period. Ping Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) by 83.9% during the third quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 50,400 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $784,000 after purchasing an additional 23,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC increased its position in Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) by 141.2% during the first quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 39,031 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,192,000 after purchasing an additional 22,848 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.64% of the companys stock.

Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anonima is involved in the distribution and sale of electricity in Argentina. The company was incorporated in 1992 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anonima operates as a subsidiary of Empresa de Energia del Cono Sur SA.

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Ensign Peak Advisors Inc reduced its position in Aon plc (NYSE:AON  Free Report) by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 239,326 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 20,192 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc owned 0.11% of AON worth $85,382,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Peak Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AON during the second quarter worth approximately $2,464,000. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in AON by 6.6% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 17,062 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,051,000 after acquiring an additional 1,061 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in AON by 27.7% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 125,834 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $50,219,000 after acquiring an additional 27,280 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC raised its position in shares of AON by 314.2% during the 1st quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 8,809 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,516,000 after acquiring an additional 6,682 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of AON in the 1st quarter valued at $635,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.14% of the companys stock.

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AON Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE:AON opened at $345.82 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $74.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.86. Aon plc has a twelve month low of $323.73 and a twelve month high of $412.97. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $350.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $357.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

AON Announces Dividend

AON ( NYSE:AON Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.91 by $0.14. AON had a net margin of 15.54% and a return on equity of 50.91%. The company had revenue of $4 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.97 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.72 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Aon plc will post 17.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.745 per share. This represents a $2.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 3rd. AONs dividend payout ratio is currently 23.88%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on AON from $393.00 to $413.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 28th. Citigroup upgraded AON from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $402.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of AON from $419.00 to $416.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of AON in a report on Monday, September 15th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of AON from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $385.00 to $430.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $416.56.

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AON Profile

(Free Report)

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing.

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ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE  Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 1.250-1.350 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 1.500. The company issued revenue guidance of -. ESCO Technologies also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 7.500-7.800 EPS.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:ESE opened at $210.39 on Friday. ESCO Technologies has a 52 week low of $127.17 and a 52 week high of $226.34. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $214.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $197.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market cap of $5.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.39 and a beta of 1.25.

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ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.13 by $0.19. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 11.19% and a net margin of 10.37%.The business had revenue of $286.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $306.39 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.9% compared to the same quarter last year. ESCO Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.250-1.350 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-7.800 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. ESCO Technologiess payout ratio is currently 7.21%.

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of ESCO Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $187.50.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ESCO Technologies

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 891,144 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $188,129,000 after buying an additional 183,900 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 1,204.3% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 432,050 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $91,210,000 after acquiring an additional 398,926 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 21.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 369,218 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $77,946,000 after acquiring an additional 64,947 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in ESCO Technologies by 110.9% in the third quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 186,455 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $39,363,000 after acquiring an additional 98,042 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 4.5% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 176,805 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $33,924,000 after acquiring an additional 7,648 shares in the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About ESCO Technologies

(Get Free Report)

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.

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Gran Tierra Energy (NYSE:GTE  Get Free Report) and ATP Oil & Gas (OTCMKTS:ATPAQ  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Gran Tierra Energy and ATP Oil & Gas, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Gran Tierra Energy 0 1 1 0 2.50 ATP Oil & Gas 0 0 0 0 0.00

Given ATP Oil & Gas higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ATP Oil & Gas is more favorable than Gran Tierra Energy.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Gran Tierra Energy $614.07 million 0.25 -$6.29 million ($2.51) -1.73 ATP Oil & Gas N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

This table compares Gran Tierra Energy and ATP Oil & Gass revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

ATP Oil & Gas has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Gran Tierra Energy.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

31.7% of Gran Tierra Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.5% of Gran Tierra Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Gran Tierra Energy and ATP Oil & Gas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Gran Tierra Energy 7.17% 11.36% 3.28% ATP Oil & Gas N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Gran Tierra Energy beats ATP Oil & Gas on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gran Tierra Energy

(Get Free Report)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in Colombia and Ecuador. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

About ATP Oil & Gas

(Get Free Report)

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated net proved reserves of 118.9 Million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 75.9 MMboe (64%) were in the Gulf of Mexico and 42.9 MMBoe (36%) were in the North Sea. The reserves consisted of 78.6 Million barrels (MMBbls) of oil (66%) and 241.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas (34%). Its proved reserves in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico account for 62% of the Companys total proved reserves and its proved reserves on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf account for 2% of its total proved reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired three licenses in the Mediterranean Sea covering potential natural gas resources in the deepwater off the coast of Israel (East Mediterranean). On August 17, 2012, ATP Oil And Gas Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

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GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report)s stock price was down 1.1% on Friday after an insider sold shares in the company. The company traded as low as $284.04 and last traded at $287.29. Approximately 5,591,596 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 3% from the average daily volume of 5,411,062 shares. The stock had previously closed at $290.62.

Specifically, SVP Russell Stokes sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.71, for a total transaction of $2,381,680.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 150,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $44,785,706.14. This trade represents a 5.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently issued reports on GE. BNP Paribas raised GE Aerospace to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of GE Aerospace in a research note on Monday, October 27th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on GE Aerospace from $300.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on GE Aerospace from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of GE Aerospace from $271.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $301.27.

GE Aerospace Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $303.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.36, a PEG ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $301.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $270.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.08.

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.20. GE Aerospace had a return on equity of 34.01% and a net margin of 18.34%.The firm had revenue of $11.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.15 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 26.4% compared to the same quarter last year. GE Aerospace has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.000-6.200 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that GE Aerospace will post 5.4 earnings per share for the current year.

GE Aerospace Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 29th were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 29th. GE Aerospaces payout ratio is presently 19.23%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GE Aerospace

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of GE Aerospace by 23.5% in the second quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 1,742 shares of the companys stock worth $437,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in GE Aerospace by 17.1% during the first quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 8,241 shares of the companys stock worth $1,647,000 after purchasing an additional 1,201 shares during the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey raised its stake in GE Aerospace by 1.8% during the second quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 159,682 shares of the companys stock worth $41,101,000 after purchasing an additional 2,779 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of GE Aerospace by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 182,120 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,876,000 after purchasing an additional 11,873 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leisure Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of GE Aerospace during the 1st quarter valued at $222,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.77% of the companys stock.

GE Aerospace Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

GE Aerospace (also known as General Electric) is a company that specializes in providing aerospace products and services. It operates through two reportable segments: Commercial Engines and Services and Defense and Propulsion Technologies. It offers jet and turboprop engines, as well as integrated systems for commercial, military, business, and general aviation aircraft.

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Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT  Free Report) by 28.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 108,918 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 44,342 shares during the period. Community Healthcare Trust accounts for about 2.1% of Graham Capital Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.38% of Community Healthcare Trust worth $1,811,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 235.9% during the first quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 40,314 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $732,000 after buying an additional 28,313 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 53.1% during the 2nd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 53,962 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $897,000 after acquiring an additional 18,710 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 12.2% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 677,436 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $12,302,000 after acquiring an additional 73,762 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $794,000. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 43.8% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 681,352 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $12,373,000 after acquiring an additional 207,499 shares in the last quarter. 87.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Community Healthcare Trust

In related news, Director Cathrine Cotman bought 4,000 shares of Community Healthcare Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 4th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $14.66 per share, for a total transaction of $58,640.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 37,635 shares in the company, valued at approximately $551,729.10. This represents a 11.89% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 5.10% of the companys stock.

Community Healthcare Trust Trading Down 1.3%

CHCT opened at $14.43 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $14.64 and a 200-day moving average of $15.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $410.69 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -36.06 and a beta of 0.72. Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated has a 1-year low of $13.23 and a 1-year high of $20.87.

Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $31.09 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $30.58 million. Community Healthcare Trust had a negative net margin of 6.27% and a negative return on equity of 1.66%. Equities analysts predict that Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated will post 1.85 EPS for the current year.

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be given a dividend of $0.475 per share. This is an increase from Community Healthcare Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 13.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. Community Healthcare Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -475.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on CHCT. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of Community Healthcare Trust in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $23.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Community Healthcare Trust from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Community Healthcare Trust in a report on Monday, August 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Community Healthcare Trust has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CHCT

Community Healthcare Trust Profile

(Free Report)

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the Company, we, our) was organized in the State of Maryland on March 28, 2014. The Company is a fully-integrated healthcare real estate company that owns and acquires real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems or other healthcare service providers.

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 16.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,091,228 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 217,123 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned 0.06% of Abbott Laboratories worth $148,418,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $23,502,644,000 after buying an additional 2,977,715 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 38,293,067 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $5,184,589,000 after acquiring an additional 1,390,554 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 29,763,415 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,948,117,000 after acquiring an additional 3,371,113 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 15,985,797 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,120,516,000 after purchasing an additional 3,616,471 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 13,108,416 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,738,831,000 after purchasing an additional 168,095 shares in the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ABT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $147.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Benchmark initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Friday, October 10th. They set a buy rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $147.00.

Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 1.7%

NYSE ABT opened at $124.01 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $110.86 and a 12 month high of $141.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $130.06 and a 200-day moving average of $131.25. The company has a market cap of $215.64 billion, a PE ratio of 15.54, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.30. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 17.78%. The firm had revenue of $11.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.21 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 15th were issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.57%.

Abbott Laboratories Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report).

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Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX  Get Free Report) had its price target cut by equities researchers at HC Wainwright from $15.00 to $12.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock.

Protalix BioTherapeutics Trading Down 1.7%

PLX stock opened at $1.74 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $139.93 million, a PE ratio of -13.38 and a beta of -0.18. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1.80. Protalix BioTherapeutics has a 12-month low of $1.32 and a 12-month high of $3.10.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics by 126.5% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 15,215 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 8,498 shares in the last quarter. Orin Green Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics by 22.4% during the 2nd quarter. Orin Green Financial LLC now owns 61,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 11,200 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its position in Protalix BioTherapeutics by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 496,216 shares of the companys stock worth $734,000 after purchasing an additional 13,341 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Protalix BioTherapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Protalix BioTherapeutics in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. 16.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally.

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Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW  Free Report) by 18.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 120,000 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 18,400 shares during the quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned 0.91% of Build-A-Bear Workshop worth $6,187,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. AlphaQuest LLC raised its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 106.1% during the 1st quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 814 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 419 shares during the last quarter. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 2nd quarter valued at about $52,000. James Investment Research Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 2nd quarter worth $209,000. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the second quarter valued at about $263,000. Institutional investors own 79.30% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.25, for a total transaction of $732,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 67,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,980,340.75. This trade represents a 12.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Craig Leavitt sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.61, for a total value of $242,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 64,142 shares in the company, valued at $3,887,646.62. This represents a 5.87% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 61,387 shares of company stock worth $4,417,721. 5.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Down 1.0%

BBW stock opened at $47.17 on Friday. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has a twelve month low of $32.55 and a twelve month high of $75.85. The firm has a market cap of $619.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.58 and a beta of 0.88. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $59.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.12.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 27th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $150.45 million during the quarter. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a return on equity of 41.14% and a net margin of 11.34%. Research analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th. Build-A-Bear Workshops dividend payout ratio is currently 19.73%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on BBW shares. Northland Securities upped their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $60.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 29th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, August 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price objective on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $64.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Build-A-Bear Workshop presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $68.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile

(Free Report)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.

Further Reading

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Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $0.8231, but opened at $0.9020. Hong Kong & China Gas shares last traded at $0.9020, with a volume of 822 shares changing hands.

Hong Kong & China Gas Stock Up 9.6%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The stocks fifty day moving average is $0.86 and its 200 day moving average is $0.85.

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Hong Kong & China Gas Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 3rd were given a $0.0123 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a yield of 411.0%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hong Kong & China Gas

Hong Kong & China Gas Company Profile

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hong Kong & China Gas stock. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in Hong Kong & China Gas Co. ( OTCMKTS:HOKCY Free Report ) by 26.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 131,441 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 27,860 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Hong Kong & China Gas were worth $107,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

(Get Free Report)

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and markets gas, water supply and energy services in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It is involved in the provision of smart energy, piped city-gas, upstream and midstream projects, water supply and wastewater treatment, urban waste resource utilization, and natural gas filling stations, as well as new energy exploration and utilization activities.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 93,423 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 6,787 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $23,175,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter valued at $293,928,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 12.3% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,797,055 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $938,822,000 after acquiring an additional 415,982 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,723,774 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $6,607,453,000 after acquiring an additional 335,955 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 14.5% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,265,005 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $313,734,000 after acquiring an additional 160,009 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Illinois Tool Works by 50.5% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 371,034 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $92,020,000 after purchasing an additional 124,443 shares in the last quarter. 79.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $265.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $255.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Barclays boosted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $243.00 to $244.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. UBS Group raised their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $243.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $268.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $263.77.

Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other Illinois Tool Works news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 6,802 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.08, for a total transaction of $1,803,074.16. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,314 shares in the company, valued at $2,734,035.12. This trade represents a 39.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Pamela B. Strobel sold 1,521 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.25, for a total transaction of $373,025.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 39,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,625,817.25. This trade represents a 3.73% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

ITW opened at $240.92 on Friday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $214.66 and a 52-week high of $279.13. The company has a market cap of $69.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.37, a P/E/G ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39. The company has a 50 day moving average of $251.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $252.99.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.72 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $4.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.09 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 93.26% and a net margin of 19.05%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.91 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.400-10.500 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a $1.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is currently 62.46%.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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Wiluna Mining Co. Limited (ASX:WMX  Get Free Report) insider Katherine (Kate) Thorley bought 19,083 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of A$1.57 per share, for a total transaction of A$29,998.48.

Wiluna Mining Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.83.

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Wiluna Mining Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 27th will be paid a $0.003 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 22.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th.

Wiluna Mining Company Profile

Blackham Resources Limited explores for and develops gold properties in Australia. It holds 100% interests in the Matilda-Wiluna gold operation located in Australia. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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Johannesburg G20 summit to build Global South consensus on global governance

Xinhua) 17:06, November 21, 2025

This photo taken on Nov. 17, 2025 shows a scene of the venue for the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

Lemmy Nyongesa Mulaku, a lecturer of international studies at the University of Nairobi, said, "The G20 summit provides an opportunity for a stronger partnership between China and Africa to not only push climate adaptation solutions ahead, but to entrench them into global governance institutions and structures."

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Group of 20 (G20) Leaders' Summit will convene over the weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first ever to be held on African soil.

Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," the summit highlights the moment for Africa as it seeks to amplify its voice in global governance and advance development priorities shared by the Global South.

Observers say the event reflects Africa's rising influence and the international community's expectation that China and other Global South members will help build consensus on multilateralism and inclusive development.

THIS TIME FOR AFRICA

The African Union's entry into the G20 in 2023 was celebrated across the continent as an "African moment." Now, with the G20 Summit coming to Africa for the first time, analysts say it signals a historic shift: African countries are moving from passive participants to active contributors in shaping global agendas.

Alvin Botes, deputy minister of international relations and cooperation of South Africa, said, "We are now working hand-in-hand with the African Union to amplify Africa's voice in global economic governance, whilst ensuring that the development priorities of the African Continent and the Global South find expression firmly onto the agenda of the G20."

Since assuming the G20 presidency last year, South Africa has sought to orient the summit toward advancing the development agenda of the Global South, especially African countries and identified four priorities, namely strengthening disaster resilience and response, taking action to ensure debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Momar Diongue, director general of Senegalese News Agency, said, "The fact that the G20 is being held for the first time on the African continent is highly symbolic but also strategic: it places our economic priorities at the heart of global discussions."

He added that thanks to regional integration, "Africa is becoming a driving force in making proposals."

Peter Kagwanja, chief executive officer of Africa Policy Institute, a think tank in Kenya, said, "the growing participation by Africa in global decision-making processes marks a significant transformation in the international system, where countries in the Global South who were once marginalized and excluded from key discussions such as those focusing on financial reforms, debt sustainability and climate change, are now asserting their voice and influence boldly, and fully participate in solving those challenges."

SOUTH-SOUTH MOMENTUM

Amid rapid changes unseen in a century, sluggish global economic growth and a widening development deficit, African countries are grappling with climate shocks, mounting debt and other pressures. African experts said the Johannesburg summit will help promote cooperation, support Africa's development and offer an "African perspective" on tackling global challenges.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa viewed this year's summit as an opportunity to place the needs of Africa and the rest of the Global South more firmly on the international development agenda.

"We expect the summit to make a political commitment to address debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries," he said, adding that he expected the consensus reached at the event to include "a commitment to further strengthen the implementation of the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatment in a predictable, timely and coordinated manner."

Lemmy Nyongesa Mulaku, a lecturer of international studies at the University of Nairobi, said, "The G20 summit on the continent provides an opportunity to start genuine reforms aimed at re-balancing these relations through reform of global governance institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO."

"The G20 summit provides an opportunity for a stronger partnership between China and Africa to not only push climate adaptation solutions ahead, but to entrench them into global governance institutions and structures," he said.

Observers note that Africa has made significant progress in green transition and the digital economy. As David Mugisha Begumya, a professor with International University of East Africa in Uganda, has put it, Africa holds enormous potential in addressing global climate challenges, making it a growing provider of green solutions.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE REFORM

At a time when global governance reform stands at a crossroads, making sure that developing countries equally take part in major global governance decision-making is key to just and effective governance.

China has been "the greatest and fundamental supporter" of promoting a more just and equitable international order, said Yarbane Kharrachi, adviser to the minister of higher education and scientific research in Mauritania, pointing to Beijing's early backing of the African Union's accession to the G20.

Ahead of the summit, the United States announced its decision not to participate in the event and warned South Africa against pushing for a joint statement.

"Boycott politics never work," Ramaphosa said in response. "If you boycott an event or a process, you lose because the show will go on."

African analysts observe that this once again underscores the urgency of global governance reform. South Africa's firm stance, they say, reflects the determination of Global South countries to push for a fairer global governance system and replace unilateral dominance with multilateral cooperation.

China brings its distinct cultural and intellectual capital to the table, offering alternative perspectives on global governance and development, said David Monyae, director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

"This approach embodies the principle that all civilizations are equal, a principle that should guide Africa and other Global South countries in collaboratively shaping development and governance agendas," he said.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing)
Workspace Group Plc (LON:WKP  Get Free Report) insider David Stevenson bought 1,366 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 364 per share, with a total value of 4,972.24.

Workspace Group Price Performance

Shares of Workspace Group stock traded up GBX 3 on Friday, reaching GBX 367.50. 1,239,024 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 855,400. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 57.43, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 1.23. The firm has a market cap of 706.54 million, a PE ratio of 131.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.04. The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 400.28 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 407.73. Workspace Group Plc has a one year low of GBX 360 and a one year high of GBX 569.

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Workspace Group (LON:WKP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported GBX (37) EPS for the quarter. Workspace Group had a negative return on equity of 12.20% and a negative net margin of 104.45%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Workspace Group Plc will post 36.7630058 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WKP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 403 price target on shares of Workspace Group in a report on Wednesday. Peel Hunt reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 500 target price on shares of Workspace Group in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Workspace Group from GBX 516 to GBX 490 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 464.33.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WKP

About Workspace Group

(Get Free Report)

Workspace is London's leading owner and operator of flexible workspace, currently managing 4.7 million sq. ft. of sustainable space at 79 locations in London and the South East. We are home to some 4,000 of London's fastest growing and established brands from a diverse range of sectors. Our purpose, to give businesses the freedom to grow, is based on the belief that in the right space, teams can achieve more.

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Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR  Get Free Report) CTO Thomas Paul Muniz sold 90,648 shares of Archer Aviation stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.49, for a total transaction of $678,953.52. Following the sale, the chief technology officer owned 1,397,129 shares in the company, valued at $10,464,496.21. This represents a 6.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Archer Aviation Price Performance

ACHR opened at $6.90 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.18. The firm has a market cap of $4.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.47 and a beta of 3.07. Archer Aviation Inc. has a twelve month low of $4.94 and a twelve month high of $14.62. The company has a current ratio of 18.19, a quick ratio of 18.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

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Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.20) EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.20). Equities research analysts expect that Archer Aviation Inc. will post -1.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on ACHR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Archer Aviation from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on Archer Aviation from $13.00 to $10.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Archer Aviation in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $13.00 price target on shares of Archer Aviation in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price target on shares of Archer Aviation from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Archer Aviation currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $12.57.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ACHR

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Archer Aviation

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in Archer Aviation during the second quarter worth about $465,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its stake in Archer Aviation by 47.6% in the first quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 100,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $712,000 after acquiring an additional 32,300 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 429.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 272,072 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,934,000 after purchasing an additional 220,696 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 704.2% during the first quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 359,555 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,556,000 after purchasing an additional 314,844 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank raised its position in shares of Archer Aviation by 42.4% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 728,900 shares of the companys stock worth $5,182,000 after purchasing an additional 217,200 shares during the period. 59.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Archer Aviation

(Get Free Report)

Archer Aviation Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in designs, develops, and operates electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility. The company was formerly known as Atlas Crest Investment Corp. and changed its name to Archer Aviation Inc The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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Intech Investment Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Knife River Corporation (NYSE:KNF  Free Report) by 16.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,405 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,014 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Knife River were worth $2,156,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of KNF. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Knife River by 4,145.2% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,667,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $150,456,000 after acquiring an additional 1,628,535 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Knife River by 1.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,395,726 shares of the companys stock worth $113,960,000 after purchasing an additional 15,464 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Knife River by 40.6% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,236,929 shares of the companys stock valued at $111,583,000 after purchasing an additional 357,133 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its holdings in Knife River by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,179,797 shares of the companys stock valued at $106,429,000 after purchasing an additional 78,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Driehaus Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Knife River by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 1,077,922 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,239,000 after purchasing an additional 94,710 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.11% of the companys stock.

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Knife River Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE KNF opened at $69.13 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $69.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.61. Knife River Corporation has a 52-week low of $58.72 and a 52-week high of $108.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.49, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.53.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Knife River ( NYSE:KNF Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $1.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. Knife River had a return on equity of 9.97% and a net margin of 4.87%. Knife River has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Knife River Corporation will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities analysts have commented on KNF shares. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on shares of Knife River from $120.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Knife River from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. DA Davidson lowered their price objective on Knife River from $105.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Knife River from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $75.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Knife River in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $99.00.

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Knife River Profile

(Free Report)

Knife River Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides aggregates- led construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, Central, and Energy Services segments. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete.

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Prudential PLC increased its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Free Report) by 62.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 49,400 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 19,000 shares during the quarter. Prudential PLC owned approximately 0.12% of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF worth $6,999,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 37.3% during the 2nd quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,455 shares of the companys stock worth $2,332,000 after buying an additional 4,471 shares during the period. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 2.9% in the second quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 14,770 shares of the companys stock worth $2,065,000 after acquiring an additional 423 shares in the last quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Mivtachim The Workers Social Insurance Fund Ltd. Under Special Management acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $10,202,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 17.6% in the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 19,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,771,000 after acquiring an additional 2,928 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Stock Performance

Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF stock opened at $146.12 on Friday. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a 52 week low of $100.39 and a 52 week high of $160.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.91 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $154.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $145.06.

Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Profile

PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations.

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Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE  Get Free Report) shot up 8.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $13.04 and last traded at $12.9730. 233,142 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 81% from the average session volume of 1,250,769 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.91.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

IE has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Ivanhoe Electric in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Ivanhoe Electric from $14.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Raymond James Financial lifted their target price on shares of Ivanhoe Electric from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Ivanhoe Electric in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. They set an overweight rating and a $17.00 price target for the company. Finally, National Bank Financial upgraded Ivanhoe Electric to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $15.70.

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Ivanhoe Electric Price Performance

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ivanhoe Electric

The businesss 50 day moving average price is $13.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $10.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The company has a market cap of $1.69 billion, a PE ratio of -28.46 and a beta of 0.99.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Eagle Global Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Ivanhoe Electric by 7.6% during the second quarter. Eagle Global Advisors LLC now owns 17,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $154,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Ivanhoe Electric by 3.8% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 33,674 shares of the companys stock worth $305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,247 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its holdings in Ivanhoe Electric by 13.9% in the second quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 13,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 1,587 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Ivanhoe Electric by 43.6% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 8,063 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 2,449 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank grew its stake in Ivanhoe Electric by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 167,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,097,000 after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.05% of the companys stock.

About Ivanhoe Electric

(Get Free Report)

Ivanhoe Electric Inc explores and develops metals and mineral. The company provides Typhoon data acquisition system, a geophysical system that offers primary signal. It also explores copper and gold. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

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J D Wetherspoon plc (LON:JDW  Get Free Report) insider John Hutson bought 24 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 624 per share, with a total value of 149.76.

John Hutson also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, October 21st, John Hutson bought 24 shares of J D Wetherspoon stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 632 per share, for a total transaction of 151.68.

On Monday, September 29th, John Hutson bought 22 shares of J D Wetherspoon stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 683 per share, for a total transaction of 150.26.

J D Wetherspoon Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of LON JDW traded up GBX 3 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching GBX 630. 2,150,591 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 621,564. The firm has a market capitalization of 664.06 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.09, a PEG ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.34. J D Wetherspoon plc has a twelve month low of GBX 526 and a twelve month high of GBX 814.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 283.19. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 651.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 706.78.

Analyst Ratings Changes

J D Wetherspoon ( LON:JDW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 3rd. The company reported GBX 50.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. J D Wetherspoon had a net margin of 2.40% and a return on equity of 12.66%. As a group, equities analysts expect that J D Wetherspoon plc will post 52.8508772 EPS for the current fiscal year.

JDW has been the topic of several research reports. Shore Capital reiterated a hold rating on shares of J D Wetherspoon in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Peel Hunt reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 700 price target on shares of J D Wetherspoon in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of GBX 595.

Read Our Latest Analysis on J D Wetherspoon

J D Wetherspoon Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs and hotels throughout the UK and Ireland. The company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drinks, served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices.

The pubs are individually designed, and the company aims to maintain them in excellent condition.

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Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 0.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,186,324 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 11,678 shares during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson accounts for about 35.6% of Journey Strategic Wealth LLCs holdings, making the stock its largest position. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC owned about 0.30% of Johnson & Johnson worth $1,097,711,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 1st quarter worth about $1,369,188,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 237,047,859 shares of the companys stock worth $36,209,060,000 after purchasing an additional 3,085,180 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1,382.0% in the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 3,030,084 shares of the companys stock worth $502,509,000 after purchasing an additional 2,825,626 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 159.6% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,159,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $635,327,000 after buying an additional 2,557,388 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC bought a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $401,420,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.55% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 56,471 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.81, for a total value of $10,041,108.51. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 178,013 shares of the companys stock, valued at $31,652,491.53. This trade represents a 24.08% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on JNJ. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $209.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Friday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets raised shares of Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $203.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $201.05.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on JNJ

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of JNJ opened at $203.29 on Friday. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $140.68 and a fifty-two week high of $204.51. The firm has a market cap of $489.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.62, a PEG ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $187.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $171.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 30th. The company reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 27.26% and a return on equity of 32.73%. The company had revenue of $24.02 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 25th will be given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 25th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is presently 50.19%.

Johnson & Johnson Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

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Journey Strategic Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 63.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,427 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 2,870 shares during the quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $4,174,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MA. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 42.3% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,824 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,594,000 after purchasing an additional 2,028 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth about $1,385,000. Advisors Preferred LLC boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 56.7% in the first quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC now owns 1,280 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $702,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,282 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,347,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the period. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 146.9% in the 1st quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 5,092 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,791,000 after acquiring an additional 3,030 shares during the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,263 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $591.00, for a total value of $10,202,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 31,234 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,459,294. This trade represents a 35.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Mastercard Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of MA stock opened at $528.28 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $474.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.62, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $564.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $569.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $465.59 and a 52 week high of $601.77.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.The firms revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.89 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 9th were given a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is 19.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on MA. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 18th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $638.00 to $630.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $713.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Mastercard from $645.00 to $654.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $652.50.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Mastercard

Mastercard Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

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Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by equities research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $242.00 to $310.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the banks stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price objective would indicate a potential upside of 25.22% from the stocks previous close.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Credicorp from $257.00 to $318.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Citigroup increased their price target on Credicorp from $255.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Credicorp to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Credicorp from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the company from $174.00 to $225.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Credicorp from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Credicorp currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $265.17.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BAP

Credicorp Stock Down 0.3%

NYSE BAP traded down $0.76 on Friday, hitting $247.56. 77,507 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 312,529. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $259.92 and a 200 day moving average of $239.56. Credicorp has a twelve month low of $165.51 and a twelve month high of $280.88. The company has a market capitalization of $19.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The bank reported $6.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.05 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. Credicorp had a net margin of 23.22% and a return on equity of 17.94%. As a group, analysts expect that Credicorp will post 21.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Credicorp

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Capital World Investors purchased a new position in Credicorp during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $434,014,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Credicorp in the second quarter worth $110,945,000. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Credicorp during the first quarter valued at $77,577,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Credicorp by 71.6% in the 3rd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 820,073 shares of the banks stock worth $218,369,000 after acquiring an additional 342,308 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mondrian Investment Partners LTD acquired a new stake in Credicorp during the 3rd quarter worth about $78,211,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.81% of the companys stock.

About Credicorp

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Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. It operates through Universal Banking, Insurance and Pensions, Microfinance, and Investment Banking and Equity Management segments. The Universal Banking segment grants various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and current accounts.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$31.10 and traded as high as C$32.92. Laurentian Bank of Canada shares last traded at C$32.47, with a volume of 146,187 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Scotiabank raised their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$32.00 to C$33.00 in a research report on Friday, October 10th. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$27.00 to C$26.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Raymond James Financial boosted their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$28.00 to C$30.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. CIBC upped their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$33.00 to C$35.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$29.00 to C$31.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Laurentian Bank of Canada currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of C$30.71.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of C$1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$32.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$31.10.

Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, August 29th. The company reported C$0.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.72 by C$0.01. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a negative return on equity of 0.20% and a negative net margin of 0.30%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.88 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 3.8414986 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Saturday, November 1st were given a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.8%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 1st. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.64%.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

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Laurentian Bank of Canada provides personal banking, business banking and real estate and commercial financing to its personal, business, and institutional customers across Canada and the United States. The company reports three operating segments: personal, business services, and capital markets. The personal segment offers financial services to retail clients.

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Martin Currie Ltd. decreased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 15.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,099,359 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 203,418 shares during the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up approximately 9.5% of Martin Currie Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. Martin Currie Ltd.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $248,994,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Powers Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at $240,000. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. increased its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 10.1% during the second quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 236,503 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $53,566,000 after acquiring an additional 21,648 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 452.2% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 47,425 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $7,873,000 after acquiring an additional 38,837 shares in the last quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 66.1% in the 2nd quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. now owns 3,898 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $883,000 after acquiring an additional 1,551 shares during the period. Finally, Duquesne Family Office LLC grew its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 456.9% during the 1st quarter. Duquesne Family Office LLC now owns 598,780 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $99,397,000 after purchasing an additional 491,265 shares in the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 1.7%

Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $277.65 on Friday. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 12-month low of $134.25 and a 12-month high of $311.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.44 trillion, a P/E ratio of 28.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $287.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $244.57. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.33. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 43.72% and a return on equity of 36.06%. The firm had revenue of $32.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $951.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.94 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 40.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has set its Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. Research analysts expect that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a $0.9678 dividend. This represents a $3.87 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $360.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, October 27th. Itau BBA Securities assumed coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $300.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $371.67.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TSM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

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Legal & General Group Plc trimmed its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 0.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,571,484 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 6,198 shares during the quarter. Mastercard accounts for approximately 0.8% of Legal & General Group Plcs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Legal & General Group Plc owned 0.62% of Mastercard worth $3,130,840,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 42.3% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,824 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $3,594,000 after buying an additional 2,028 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,385,000. Advisors Preferred LLC increased its stake in Mastercard by 56.7% during the first quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC now owns 1,280 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $702,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.8% in the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,282 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,347,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. lifted its holdings in Mastercard by 146.9% during the 1st quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 5,092 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,791,000 after buying an additional 3,030 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Mastercard news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,263 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $591.00, for a total value of $10,202,433.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 31,234 shares in the company, valued at $18,459,294. The trade was a 35.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on the company. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Mastercard from $638.00 to $630.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $669.00 to $660.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Compass Point set a $620.00 price objective on Mastercard and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley set a $665.00 price target on shares of Mastercard and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Mastercard from $645.00 to $654.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $652.50.

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Mastercard Stock Down 0.4%

MA stock opened at $528.28 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $474.39 billion, a PE ratio of 35.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. Mastercard Incorporated has a twelve month low of $465.59 and a twelve month high of $601.77. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $564.12 and its 200 day simple moving average is $569.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.53 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.Mastercards revenue for the quarter was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.89 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 9th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 9th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is 19.44%.

About Mastercard

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report).

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Adavale Resources Limited (ASX:ADD  Get Free Report) insider Maurice (Nic) Matich purchased 476,190 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were bought at an average price of A$0.04 per share, with a total value of A$16,666.65.

Adavale Resources Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.55 million, a PE ratio of -0.41 and a beta of 1.16.

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Adavale Resources Company Profile

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Adavale Resources Limited engages in the exploration of mineral properties in Australia and Tanzania. The company holds a 100% interest in the Kabanga Jirani Nickel project covering an area of 1,315 square kilometers located in Kagera, Tanzania; and the Lake Surprise uranium project having 4 tenements covering an area of 1,078 square kilometers situated in the northern part of the Lake Frome Embayment, South Australia.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd increased its position in shares of BellRing Brands Inc. (NYSE:BRBR  Free Report) by 82.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 367,227 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 166,106 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd owned 0.29% of BellRing Brands worth $21,497,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Argonautica Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of BellRing Brands by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Argonautica Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 6,416 shares of the companys stock valued at $478,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC raised its position in shares of BellRing Brands by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 1,413 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the period. TCTC Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in BellRing Brands by 87.6% in the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 407 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its position in BellRing Brands by 2.3% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 9,083 shares of the companys stock worth $526,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Applied Finance Capital Management LLC grew its position in BellRing Brands by 8.0% in the first quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC now owns 3,290 shares of the companys stock worth $245,000 after acquiring an additional 244 shares during the period. 94.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on BRBR shares. Barclays lowered their price target on BellRing Brands from $44.00 to $32.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. DA Davidson set a $38.00 price target on shares of BellRing Brands in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of BellRing Brands from $43.00 to $41.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Cowen lowered BellRing Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price target on BellRing Brands from $40.00 to $35.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $43.20.

BellRing Brands Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BRBR opened at $29.83 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks 50-day moving average is $32.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.53. BellRing Brands Inc. has a 1-year low of $22.45 and a 1-year high of $80.67.

BellRing Brands (NYSE:BRBR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 18th. The company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $648.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $633.21 million. BellRing Brands had a negative return on equity of 95.87% and a net margin of 9.33%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.51 earnings per share. BellRing Brands has set its FY 2026 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that BellRing Brands Inc. will post 2.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BellRing Brands announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Tuesday, September 2nd that permits the company to repurchase $400.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 7.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

BellRing Brands Profile

(Free Report)

BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States. The company offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. It distributes its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels.

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New Zealand Energy Corp. (CVE:NZ  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$0.18 and last traded at C$0.18, with a volume of 1540 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$0.21.

New Zealand Energy Stock Performance

The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$0.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.27. The firm has a market cap of C$6.91 million, a P/E ratio of -0.31 and a beta of 4.58. The company has a current ratio of 3.36, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.83.

About New Zealand Energy

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New Zealand Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in New Zealand. It holds interests in three petroleum mining licenses, one petroleum mining permit, and one petroleum exploration permit. The company has interests in TWN Petroleum Mining Licenses comprising Waihapa/Ngaere, and Tariki; Copper Moki petroleum mining permit; and Eltham Petroleum exploration permit.

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PACS Group, Inc. (NYSE:PACS  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Friday after Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on the stock from $32.00 to $33.00. Royal Bank Of Canada currently has an outperform rating on the stock. 1,413,981 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 76% from the previous sessions volume of 802,865 shares.The stock last traded at $26.1050 and had previously closed at $26.14.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of PACS Group in a research report on Saturday, September 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PACS Group presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $26.75.

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Institutional Trading of PACS Group

PACS Group Trading Up 0.2%

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. PharVision Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of PACS Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $200,000. Zimmer Partners LP raised its holdings in PACS Group by 27.4% during the third quarter. Zimmer Partners LP now owns 302,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,153,000 after acquiring an additional 65,000 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new stake in PACS Group during the third quarter valued at about $11,904,000. Verition Fund Management LLC lifted its position in shares of PACS Group by 9.9% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 39,783 shares of the companys stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 3,599 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP grew its position in shares of PACS Group by 79.5% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,388 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter.

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $12.95 and a 200-day moving average of $11.89. The company has a market cap of $3.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 84.40 and a beta of 1.05.

PACS Group (NYSE:PACS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.14). The business had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. PACS Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities analysts predict that PACS Group, Inc. will post 1.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About PACS Group

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PACS Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in the United States. The company also provides senior care and independent facilities. It engages in the acquisition, ownership, and leasing of health care-related properties. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Farmington, Utah.

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PNC Financial Services Group Inc. reduced its position in Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE  Free Report) by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 40,571 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,515 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.s holdings in Sealed Air were worth $1,259,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in Sealed Air in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Sealed Air in the first quarter valued at $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 334.4% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 960 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 739 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Sealed Air by 94.9% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,553 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 756 shares during the period. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Sealed Air during the first quarter valued at $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.40% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on SEE. UBS Group raised their price objective on Sealed Air from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Sealed Air from $48.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Sealed Air from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a strong-buy rating and issued a $50.00 target price (up previously from $39.00) on shares of Sealed Air in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and set a $45.00 target price (up previously from $43.80) on shares of Sealed Air in a research note on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Sealed Air presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $42.83.

Sealed Air Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE:SEE opened at $42.02 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.38. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $35.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.18, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 1.19. Sealed Air Corporation has a 52 week low of $22.78 and a 52 week high of $44.27.

Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.19. Sealed Air had a net margin of 5.46% and a return on equity of 60.61%. The company had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.31 billion. Sealed Air has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.350 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Sealed Air Corporation will post 3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sealed Air Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. Sealed Airs dividend payout ratio is presently 25.97%.

Sealed Air Profile

(Free Report)

Sealed Air Corporation provides packaging solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It operates through two segments, Food and Protective. The Food segment offers integrated packaging materials and automation equipment solutions to provide food safety, shelf life extension, reduce food waste, automate processes, and optimize total cost for food processors in the fresh red meat, smoked and processed meats, poultry, seafood, plant-based, fluids and liquids and cheese markets under the CRYOVAC, CRYOVAC Grip & Tear, CRYOVAC Darfresh, LIQUIBOX, Simple Steps, and Optidure brands.

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Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey increased its stake in shares of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE:WTM  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 934 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jerseys holdings in White Mountains Insurance Group were worth $1,677,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WTM. Boston Partners boosted its stake in White Mountains Insurance Group by 4.6% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 89,170 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $160,069,000 after buying an additional 3,934 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP lifted its holdings in shares of White Mountains Insurance Group by 40.5% in the 2nd quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 76,781 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $137,877,000 after acquiring an additional 22,129 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Management Inc. WI boosted its stake in shares of White Mountains Insurance Group by 46.2% during the 1st quarter. Fiduciary Management Inc. WI now owns 71,795 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $138,264,000 after purchasing an additional 22,681 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in White Mountains Insurance Group by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 62,466 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $120,298,000 after purchasing an additional 4,711 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in White Mountains Insurance Group by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 42,529 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $76,384,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares during the period. 88.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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White Mountains Insurance Group Trading Down 0.3%

WTM stock opened at $1,883.77 on Friday. White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. has a 12 month low of $1,648.00 and a 12 month high of $2,023.00. The firms 50-day moving average is $1,849.10 and its 200 day moving average is $1,812.64. The company has a market capitalization of $4.81 billion, a PE ratio of 23.59 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

White Mountains Insurance Group ( NYSE:WTM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The insurance provider reported $72.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $57.00 by $15.21. The business had revenue of $864.20 million for the quarter. White Mountains Insurance Group had a net margin of 8.34% and a return on equity of 9.17%.

Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of White Mountains Insurance Group in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, White Mountains Insurance Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on White Mountains Insurance Group

About White Mountains Insurance Group

(Free Report)

White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance and other financial services in the United States. The company operates through HG Global/BAM, Ark/WM Outrigger, Kudu, and Other Operations segments. The HG Global/BAM segment provides insurance on municipal bonds issued to finance public purposes, such as schools, utilities, and transportation facilities, as well as reinsurance protection services.

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Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey cut its stake in shares of NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU  Free Report) by 6.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,252 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 158 shares during the period. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jerseys holdings in NewMarket were worth $1,556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of NewMarket during the 2nd quarter worth about $331,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in NewMarket by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 3,993 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,262,000 after buying an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in NewMarket during the 1st quarter worth approximately $293,000. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in NewMarket during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $209,000. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC raised its holdings in shares of NewMarket by 65,800.0% during the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 659 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $455,000 after acquiring an additional 658 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.09% of the companys stock.

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NewMarket Price Performance

NEU stock opened at $741.46 on Friday. NewMarket Corporation has a 1 year low of $480.00 and a 1 year high of $875.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 2.66 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.70 and a beta of 0.46. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $792.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $738.42.

NewMarket Increases Dividend

NewMarket ( NYSE:NEU Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The specialty chemicals company reported $10.67 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $690.31 million for the quarter. NewMarket had a return on equity of 32.25% and a net margin of 17.28%.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be issued a dividend of $3.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. This is a boost from NewMarkets previous quarterly dividend of $2.75. NewMarkets payout ratio is presently 25.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NEU has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of NewMarket in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen lowered NewMarket from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, NewMarket has an average rating of Buy.

View Our Latest Analysis on NEU

NewMarket Profile

(Free Report)

NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the manufacture and sale of petroleum additives. The company offers lubricant additives for use in various vehicle and industrial applications, including engine oils, transmission fluids, off-road powertrain and hydraulic systems, gear oils, hydraulic oils, turbine oils, and other applications where metal-to-metal moving parts are utilized; engine oil additives designed for passenger cars, motorcycles, on and off-road heavy duty commercial equipment, locomotives, and engines in ocean-going vessels; driveline additives designed for products, such as transmission fluids, axle fluids, and off-road powertrain fluids; and industrial additives designed for products for industrial applications consisting of hydraulic fluids, grease, industrial gear fluids, and industrial specialty applications, such as turbine oils.

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Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey raised its position in Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON  Free Report) by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,750 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,349 shares during the period. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jerseys holdings in Sonoco Products were worth $1,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SON. Vise Technologies Inc. bought a new stake in Sonoco Products in the 2nd quarter valued at $220,000. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its stake in Sonoco Products by 15.0% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 727,027 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,669,000 after acquiring an additional 94,924 shares during the period. Midwest Trust Co acquired a new position in Sonoco Products in the second quarter worth about $9,660,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC raised its position in Sonoco Products by 527.3% in the second quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 49,459 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,154,000 after purchasing an additional 41,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AGF Management Ltd. lifted its stake in Sonoco Products by 12.9% during the second quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 65,248 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,842,000 after purchasing an additional 7,440 shares during the period. 77.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Sonoco Products Trading Down 0.2%

SON opened at $39.80 on Friday. Sonoco Products Company has a 1-year low of $38.65 and a 1-year high of $52.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 6.32, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $42.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $44.43.

Sonoco Products Announces Dividend

Sonoco Products ( NYSE:SON Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 22nd. The industrial products company reported $1.00 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter. Sonoco Products had a net margin of 8.82% and a return on equity of 20.49%. Sonoco Products has set its Q2 2022 guidance at $1.60-$1.70 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Sonoco Products Company will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th will be paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 10th. Sonoco Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.65%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Sonoco Products in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Sonoco Products from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 29th. Raymond James Financial reissued a market perform rating on shares of Sonoco Products in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Sonoco Products from $61.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $54.43.

View Our Latest Research Report on Sonoco Products

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Paul Joachimczyk bought 20,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was bought at an average price of $39.50 per share, for a total transaction of $809,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 20,500 shares in the company, valued at $809,750. The trade was a  increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director John R. Haley purchased 2,506 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $39.87 per share, for a total transaction of $99,914.22. Following the acquisition, the director owned 23,310 shares of the companys stock, valued at $929,369.70. The trade was a 12.05% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock.

Sonoco Products Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging segments. The Consumer Packaging segment offers round and shaped rigid paper, steel, and plastic containers; metal and peelable membrane ends, closures, and components; thermoformed plastic trays and enclosures; and high-barrier flexible packaging products.

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Sundance Energy Australia Ltd (OTCMKTS:SDCJF  Get Free Report) shares passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $0.15 and traded as high as $0.15. Sundance Energy Australia shares last traded at $0.15, with a volume of 1,200 shares.

Sundance Energy Australia Price Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average price is $0.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95.

About Sundance Energy Australia

(Get Free Report)

Sundance Energy Australia Limited operates as an onshore oil and gas company in the United States. The company explores for, develops, and produces oil and natural gas. Its exploration and development activities are focused on the Eagle Ford project in the South-Texas-Gulf Coast Basin. Sundance Energy Australia Limited was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Wayville, Australia.

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Swiss National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH  Free Report) by 7.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 389,700 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 26,700 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in Parker-Hannifin were worth $272,194,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in PH. Inspire Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 5.1% in the first quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 12,386 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $7,529,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 20.9% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,194 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,334,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A. grew its stake in Parker-Hannifin by 70.2% in the 1st quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 35,645 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $21,667,000 after buying an additional 14,705 shares during the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI grew its stake in Parker-Hannifin by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 32,935 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $20,020,000 after buying an additional 3,147 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Secure Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Parker-Hannifin in the 2nd quarter valued at about $388,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.44% of the companys stock.

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Parker-Hannifin Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:PH opened at $819.72 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $772.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $727.24. Parker-Hannifin Corporation has a 1 year low of $488.45 and a 1 year high of $869.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of $103.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 1.37.

Parker-Hannifin Announces Dividend

Parker-Hannifin ( NYSE:PH Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The industrial products company reported $7.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.62 by $0.60. Parker-Hannifin had a return on equity of 26.80% and a net margin of 17.79%.The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.20 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Parker-Hannifin has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.600-30.400 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 29.600-30.400 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Parker-Hannifin Corporation will post 26.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a $1.80 dividend. This represents a $7.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. Parker-Hannifins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.65%.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Rachid Bendali sold 1,437 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $852.99, for a total transaction of $1,225,746.63. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 2,714 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,315,014.86. This represents a 34.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Berend Bracht sold 3,507 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $864.58, for a total transaction of $3,032,082.06. Following the sale, the vice president owned 2,580 shares in the company, valued at $2,230,616.40. This represents a 57.61% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 9,569 shares of company stock worth $7,730,464. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PH shares. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Parker-Hannifin in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Mizuho lifted their price target on Parker-Hannifin from $800.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Parker-Hannifin from $930.00 to $960.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Parker-Hannifin from $831.00 to $874.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and set a $977.00 target price (up previously from $910.00) on shares of Parker-Hannifin in a report on Friday, November 7th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $860.71.

View Our Latest Analysis on Parker-Hannifin

Parker-Hannifin Company Profile

(Free Report)

Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to ensure purity and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors used in fluid and gas handling; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment.

Further Reading

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Booking, Expedia Group, Travelers Companies, Trip.com Group, and MakeMyTrip are the five Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is travel and tourismairlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, online travel agencies, car rental firms, and related leisure and hospitality operators. They are typically cyclical and sensitive to consumer confidence, economic conditions, fuel and labor costs, seasonality, and shocks like geopolitical events or health crises, making them more volatile and closely tied to travel demand and reopening trends. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

Expedia Group (EXPE)

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.

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Travelers Companies (TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Trip.com Group (TCOM)

Trip.com Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a travel service provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and in-destination, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. The company acts as an agent for hotel-related transactions and selling air tickets, as well as provides train, long-distance bus, and ferry tickets; travel insurance products, such as flight delay, air accident, and baggage loss coverage; and air-ticket delivery, online check-in and seat selection, express security screening, real-time flight status tracker, and airport VIP lounge services.

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MakeMyTrip (MMYT)

MakeMyTrip Limited, an online travel company, sells travel products and solutions in India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Air Ticketing, Hotels and Packages, and Bus Ticketing.

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Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its holdings in Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG  Free Report) by 50.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 374,671 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 125,461 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.17% of Kite Realty Group Trust worth $8,486,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Kite Realty Group Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 103.0% in the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,607 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 1,323 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 44.0% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,973 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 908 shares in the last quarter. Dagco Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust during the first quarter valued at approximately $92,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Kite Realty Group Trust by 30.1% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,520 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $102,000 after acquiring an additional 1,045 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Kite Realty Group Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:KRG opened at $22.17 on Friday. Kite Realty Group Trust has a 12 month low of $18.51 and a 12 month high of $28.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market cap of $4.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.63, a P/E/G ratio of 6.16 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a 50 day moving average of $22.26 and a 200 day moving average of $22.34.

Kite Realty Group Trust Increases Dividend

Kite Realty Group Trust ( NYSE:KRG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.01. Kite Realty Group Trust had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 4.23%. The firm had revenue of $205.06 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.82 million. Kite Realty Group Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.090-2.110 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Kite Realty Group Trust will post 2.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. This is a boost from Kite Realty Group Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.2%. Kite Realty Group Trusts dividend payout ratio is 181.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on KRG. Wall Street Zen downgraded Kite Realty Group Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Kite Realty Group Trust from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $23.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Citigroup restated a neutral rating and set a $24.00 price target (down previously from $28.00) on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a research note on Friday, September 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued a neutral rating and issued a $24.00 target price (down from $25.00) on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $25.88.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Kite Realty Group Trust

Insider Activity at Kite Realty Group Trust

In related news, CEO John A. Kite sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.70, for a total value of $1,135,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 54,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,228,546.70. This trade represents a 48.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.

Kite Realty Group Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN that is one of the largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets. The Companys primarily grocery-anchored portfolio is located in high-growth Sun Belt and select strategic gateway markets.

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Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 0.1% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 29,121,530 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 15,312 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc.s holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $3,570,300,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. William Allan Corp increased its holdings in Dell Technologies by 47.6% in the second quarter. William Allan Corp now owns 25,901 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,175,000 after purchasing an additional 8,355 shares in the last quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $241,000. First Hawaiian Bank increased its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 67.1% in the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 34,878 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,179,000 after acquiring an additional 14,010 shares in the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co lifted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 11,037.8% during the 2nd quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 88,100 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $10,801,000 after acquiring an additional 87,309 shares during the period. Finally, Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth $8,869,000. Institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Fox Advisors downgraded shares of Dell Technologies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Dell Technologies in a research report on Friday, August 29th. Piper Sandler began coverage on Dell Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set an overweight rating and a $172.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup increased their price target on Dell Technologies from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $160.85.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dell Technologies

In related news, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 19,256 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.21, for a total transaction of $2,969,467.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director William D. Green sold 42,736 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total transaction of $6,837,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 47,619 shares in the company, valued at $7,619,040. This represents a 47.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 4,537,755 shares of company stock worth $642,644,973 in the last three months. 42.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Dell Technologies Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of Dell Technologies stock opened at $117.44 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $143.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $129.21. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $66.25 and a 12 month high of $168.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.02.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The technology company reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.73% and a negative return on equity of 236.21%. The firm had revenue of $26.43 billion for the quarter. Dell Technologies has set its FY24 guidance at $6.10-6.50 EPS. Analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 21st were paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 21st. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is presently 30.88%.

Dell Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Weil Company Inc. reduced its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 6.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,747 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,083 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. comprises approximately 1.1% of Weil Company Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Weil Company Inc.s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $4,275,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.4% during the second quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,897 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,290,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Cottonwood Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cottonwood Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,837 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,112,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Coign Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Coign Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,854 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $827,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 929 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $269,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LCM Capital Management Inc raised its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.9% in the second quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 3,847 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,115,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. 71.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $343.00 price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $330.00 to $354.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $309.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b+) rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Loop Capital set a $310.00 price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $326.38.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance

JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock opened at $298.72 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $813.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $202.16 and a 52-week high of $322.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.86. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $307.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $290.88.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $5.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.83 by $0.24. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.90% and a return on equity of 17.18%. The company had revenue of $47.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $44.42 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.37 EPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s quarterly revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 earnings per share for the current year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 6th were issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This is a positive change from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.72%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Linda Bammann sold 9,500 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.94, for a total transaction of $2,830,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 82,207 shares in the company, valued at $24,492,753.58. This trade represents a 10.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Robin Leopold sold 966 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.92, for a total transaction of $301,314.72. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 58,479 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,240,769.68. The trade was a 1.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.47% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Free Report) (TSE:CP)  Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2025 EPS estimates for Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, November 19th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the transportation company will post earnings per share of $3.35 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $3.40. The consensus estimate for Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys current full-year earnings is $3.42 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys Q2 2026 earnings at $0.93 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.94 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.06 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $3.79 EPS and Q1 2027 earnings at $1.00 EPS.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP  Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The transportation company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $2.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.71 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 28.41% and a return on equity of 8.79%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.99 earnings per share.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $129.00 to $127.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Susquehanna set a $87.00 price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays set a $90.00 price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Stephens boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $91.69.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Pacific Kansas City

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Performance

Shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock opened at $68.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.63. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 1 year low of $66.49 and a 1 year high of $83.65. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $73.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.67. The firm has a market cap of $61.82 billion, a PE ratio of 21.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.08.

Institutional Trading of Canadian Pacific Kansas City

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanderbilt University raised its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 10.3% during the second quarter. Vanderbilt University now owns 75,452 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $5,982,000 after purchasing an additional 7,050 shares in the last quarter. Ninety One North America Inc. increased its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 135.7% during the 2nd quarter. Ninety One North America Inc. now owns 206,785 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $16,394,000 after buying an additional 119,052 shares during the period. Key Financial Inc bought a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 2nd quarter worth about $371,000. Scheer Rowlett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Scheer Rowlett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. now owns 648,343 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $51,410,000 after buying an additional 14,260 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 7.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 1,935,337 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $153,847,000 after acquiring an additional 136,981 shares during the period. 72.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.228 per share. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is currently 20.12%.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers.

Further Reading

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Willis Investment Counsel grew its position in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 54,288 shares of the payment services companys stock after buying an additional 594 shares during the period. Willis Investment Counsels holdings in American Express were worth $17,317,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AXP. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 1.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $14,808,730,000 after buying an additional 581,369 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of American Express by 13.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 18,025,562 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $4,849,777,000 after acquiring an additional 2,168,445 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in American Express by 11.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $4,282,984,000 after acquiring an additional 1,349,746 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in American Express during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,454,667,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in American Express by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 5,093,807 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,370,489,000 after purchasing an additional 78,538 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on American Express from $336.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on American Express from $311.00 to $362.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of American Express from $371.00 to $394.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, Compass Point restated a neutral rating and set a $324.00 price target on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, October 20th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $332.65.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Denise Pickett sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.73, for a total value of $1,753,650.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 7,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,709,739.98. The trade was a 39.29% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman Douglas E. Buckminster sold 23,505 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $326.37, for a total transaction of $7,671,326.85. Following the transaction, the insider owned 123,613 shares of the companys stock, valued at $40,343,574.81. This represents a 15.98% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 193,292 shares of company stock worth $65,363,878 in the last quarter. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

American Express Stock Down 0.3%

American Express stock opened at $343.69 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $344.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $319.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. American Express Company has a twelve month low of $220.43 and a twelve month high of $377.23. The company has a market capitalization of $236.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.27.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 17th. The payment services company reported $4.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.98 by $0.16. American Express had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 33.41%. The company had revenue of $17.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.03 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.49 EPS. American Expresss revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. American Express has set its FY 2025 guidance at 15.200-15.500 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 10th were paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 10th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is presently 22.01%.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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Willis Investment Counsel increased its position in shares of McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 13.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 73,791 shares of the fast-food giants stock after buying an additional 8,991 shares during the period. Willis Investment Counsels holdings in McDonalds were worth $21,560,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $11,136,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 274,783 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $80,283,000 after acquiring an additional 30,149 shares during the last quarter. NorthStar Asset Management LLC NJ raised its position in shares of McDonalds by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. NorthStar Asset Management LLC NJ now owns 1,003 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $293,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC boosted its holdings in McDonalds by 17.1% in the second quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 95,810 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $27,993,000 after purchasing an additional 14,023 shares during the period. Finally, Cumberland Partners Ltd bought a new stake in McDonalds during the second quarter valued at $3,040,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other McDonalds news, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 13,134 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.42, for a total transaction of $3,945,716.28. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,606 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,383,734.52. This represents a 74.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 3,195 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.82, for a total transaction of $977,094.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 6,088 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,861,832.16. This trade represents a 34.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 17,329 shares of company stock valued at $5,237,811 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock.

McDonalds Price Performance

MCD stock opened at $303.99 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $216.49 billion, a PE ratio of 26.05, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.50. McDonalds Corporation has a 12 month low of $276.53 and a 12 month high of $326.32. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $302.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $304.41.

McDonalds (NYSE:MCD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonalds had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The company had revenue of $7.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.10 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.23 EPS. McDonaldss quarterly revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonalds Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. McDonaldss payout ratio is presently 63.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on MCD shares. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of McDonalds from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of McDonalds from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Guggenheim upped their target price on McDonalds from $295.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Mizuho raised McDonalds to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonalds has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $324.57.

Read Our Latest Report on McDonalds

About McDonalds

(Free Report)

McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.

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Volatility & Risk

YaSheng Group has a beta of 0.67, meaning that its share price is 33% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, YaSheng Groups rivals have a beta of 0.80, meaning that their average share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares YaSheng Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets YaSheng Group N/A N/A N/A YaSheng Group Competitors -293.47% -82.89% -18.09%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares YaSheng Group and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio YaSheng Group $18.59 million $5.31 million 2.00 YaSheng Group Competitors $34.14 billion $103.03 million 3.01

Institutional & Insider Ownership

YaSheng Groups rivals have higher revenue and earnings than YaSheng Group. YaSheng Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

41.7% of shares of all AGRI OPERATIONS companies are held by institutional investors. 11.5% of shares of all AGRI OPERATIONS companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

YaSheng Group rivals beat YaSheng Group on 6 of the 9 factors compared.

About YaSheng Group

(Get Free Report)

YaSheng Group, through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets farming and sideline products; chemical materials and products; textiles; construction materials; and livestock and poultry products primarily in the People's Republic of China. It cultivates, processes, markets, and distributes various food and agro-byproducts. The company's products include cotton, corns, barley, wheat, flax, and alfalfa; vegetables comprising onions, potatoes, beet, and peas; fruits, including apples, pears, and apricots; specialty crops consisting of hops, wolfberries, cumin, hemp, and liquorices; seeds, such as black melon, sunflower, corn, hemp, and flax seeds; and eggs. It also provides construction materials, such as cement; and designs, develops, and markets new technologies related to agriculture and genetic biology. The company sells its products to food processors, supermarkets, and wholesale stores through distributors, as well as to direct customers. YaSheng Group exports its products. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Lanzhou, the People's Republic of China. As of December 31, 2015, YaSheng Group is a subsidiary of Gansu Yasheng Salt Chemical Industrial Group, Ltd.

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Dalhousie's contributions to science and innovation were front and centre Thursday (Nov. 20) at the 23rd annual Discovery Awards in Halifax as its researchers scooped up four awards. Dal scholars emerged as the winners in the following categories: Emerging Professional, Innovation, Science Champion, and the Hall of Fame. Four additional Dal individuals were also honoured as finalists across a range of categories. Learn more about the Dalhousie award winners and finalists below:

Emerging Professional  Ejemai Eboreime (Psychiatry)

An individual who is early in their career and demonstrates research excellence, knowledge sharing, and potential for ongoing growth and development. Dr. Ejemai Eboreime is an assistant professor and interim co-director of research in Dalhousies Department of Psychiatry and program director for the Master of Clinical Psychiatry and Global Mental Health. His work centers on implementation science, mental health interventions, and global health, aiming to strengthen health systems and inform policy. He leads the EMBRACE Program to reduce mental health care barriers for African Nova Scotians and newcomers and spearheaded CIHR-funded research on wildfire-related mental health impacts. Author of more than 100 publications, he holds editorial roles with PLOS Global Public Health and BMC Public Health. Dr. Eboreime's honours include fellowship in the Academy of Public Health (West African Institute of Public Health). He also sits on the board of the Global Implementation Society, promoting research-to-practice worldwide. Dr. Ejemai Eboreime said in an acceptance speech at the awards: I wrote in an article in Lancet, authentic partnership with communities doesn't just advance science, it advances justice. Tonight's recognition shows that we can make mental health care truly accessible to all.

Innovation  CarbonRun (Shannon Sterling, Edmund Halfyard, Luke Connell) An enterprise that has developed a commercially viable product or service, either market-ready or in its early-stages. CarbonRun is a Halifax-based climate technology company founded by Dalhousie scientist Dr. Shannon Sterling (learn more below about Dr. Sterling, who was also a finalist for the Public Impact award). The company pioneers river alkalinity enhancement, a process that restores acidified waterways while removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Built on decades of research into watershed restoration, CarbonRuns approach uses limestone to rebalance river chemistry, improve water quality, and boost aquatic biodiversity. Its scalable, cost-effective solution delivers significant co-benefits, including healthier ecosystems and community employment. CarbonRun has launched the worlds first full-scale pilot of this technology in Nova Scotia and is attracting global investment as a promising carbon removal strategy with megaton-to-gigaton potential. Recognized for innovation and impact, the company collaborates with Indigenous communities, governments, and conservation organizations to advance climate solutions. Dr. Shannon Sterling said in an acceptance speech alongside Dr. Edmund Halfyard, a Dal PhD alum: Our company is trying to address a big problem. We need to draw down billions of tonnes of carbon. Nova Scotia has developed a whole new category for the way we need to do this, and it wouldn't have happened anywhere but here. So thank you to Dalhousie University and the talent we have."

Hall of Fame  Jean Gray (Professor Emerita of Medical Education, Medicine and Pharmacology)

Eminent scientists who have made a major, internationally recognized, impact on science and/or technology. Dr. Jean Gray is professor emeritus of medical education, medicine, and pharmacology at Dalhousie University and a leader in clinical pharmacology and medical education. She was the founding head of Dalhousies Division of General Medicine and served as associate dean of postgraduate and continuing medical education. Dr. Gray helped create Therapeutic Choices, a widely used prescribing guide, and championed evidence-based drug safety and effectiveness. She has held national leadership roles, including presidencies of the Canadian and American Societies of Clinical Pharmacology and the Canadian Association for Medical Education, and chaired advisory boards for CIHR and Cochrane Canada. Her honours include induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, membership in the Order of Canada, and fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Dr. Gray spoke about when she moved on from her role as the founder and inaugural editor-in-chief for Therapeutic Choices, an evidence-based guide for health-care professionals making clinical decisions: When it went electronic, it was a continuous updating process. It was at that point that I decided it was time to step away. And they appointed-a six member panel who took over.

Science Champion  Paola Marignani (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) An individual, organization, or program that promotes science and technology education and STEM careers, and/or makes science better understood by the public. Dr. Paola Marignani is a professor in Dalhousies Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She directs the Marignani Discovery Research Laboratory, which investigates tumour suppressor proteins, cancer metabolism, and precision-medicine strategies. Her research has advanced understanding of the LKB1 kinase  a protein linked to cancer growth  and its role in breast and lung cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases, integrating single-cell transcriptomics and machine learning to identify disease vulnrabilities. With this knowledge in hand, she and her team aim to develop precision therapies. Dr. Marignani also co-lead on an initiative that investigates cancer disparities in Black Canadian communities and serves as scientific director of the QEII Lung Tumour Biobank. A mentor with Creative Destruction Lab, both Atlantic Prime and Cancer Streams, and founder of Canadian Women in STEM where she has advocated for STEM support in Ottawa, she promotes equity and public engagement in science. Her research is recognized internationally that include leadership roles with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Association for Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Canada. Dr. Paola Marignani said in her acceptance speech: I want to thank those living with cancer and those that have passed away. Your generosity with myself and my team and consent to study your tumours will hopefully enable us to create a future without cancer.

Finalists

Learn below about some of the other Dalhousie scholars who were finalists for this year's awards.

Dr. Isabel Smith (finalist for Professional of Distinction Award) Dr. Isabel Smith is a Professor in Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience at Dalhousie and former Joan & Jack Craig Chair in Autism Research. She leads the Autism Research Centre at IWK Health, focusing on the development and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly autism. Her work spans longitudinal studies, intervention development, and health and education systems and policy. She led research on Nova Scotias early intervention model for preschoolers with ASD beginning in 2005, shaping best practices nationally and internationally. A core member of the Pathways in ASD research network for more than 25 years, she also advanced partnerships for earlier ASD identification. Her honours include the inaugural Lifetime Award in Pediatric Disability Research (Bloorview Research Institute, 2025) and an IWK Research Award.

Dr. Robert Lennox (finalist for Emerging Professional Award) Dr. Robert Lennox is an associate professor in Dalhousies Department of Biology and scientific director of the Ocean Tracking Network, a Canada Foundation for Innovation major science initiative headquartered at Dal. His research focuses on movement ecology, biotelemetry, and conservation physiology, using global animal tracking data to guide fisheries management and policy. He has published more than 120 papers on fish migration and aquatic ecosystem resilience and previously established the Bergen Telemetry Network in Norway to study salmon, trout, lobster, and cod. Dr. Lennoxs work integrates big-data approaches to understand animal movement under climate and human pressures. His honours include the Governor Generals Gold Medal for outstanding graduate work.

Shannon Sterling (finalist for the Public Impact Award) Dr. Shannon Sterling is an associate professor in Dalhousies Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and founder of the Hydrology and Climate Change Research Group. Her research examines carbon dioxide removal, climate change, and water resources, with a focus on mitigating acidification in forests and rivers and restoring aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Sterlings work led to the creation of CarbonRun, a startup developing technologies to draw down atmospheric carbon while improving water quality. She has published widely on hydrology and biogeochemical cycles and served as keynote speaker for major conferences, including the Gordon Research Conference on Catchment Science. Dr. Sterling's honours include Marie Curie and Chateaubriand fellowships and recognition as one of Dalhousies top environmental science educators.
Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Benchmark Bankshares and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Benchmark Bankshares $73.53 million $15.85 million 7.37 Benchmark Bankshares Competitors $604.66 million $154.64 million 13.03

Benchmark Bankshares competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Benchmark Bankshares. Benchmark Bankshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Benchmark Bankshares and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Benchmark Bankshares 23.75% N/A N/A Benchmark Bankshares Competitors 16.58% 9.98% 1.05%

Dividends

Risk and Volatility

Benchmark Bankshares pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Benchmark Bankshares pays out 20.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies pay a dividend yield of 2.1% and pay out 24.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Benchmark Bankshares is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Benchmark Bankshares has a beta of 0.17, suggesting that its stock price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Benchmark Bankshares competitors have a beta of 0.64, suggesting that their average stock price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

3.2% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.4% of shares of all BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies are owned by institutional investors. 14.0% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.6% of shares of all BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Benchmark Bankshares competitors beat Benchmark Bankshares on 7 of the 11 factors compared.

About Benchmark Bankshares

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Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for Benchmark Community Bank that provides various banking products and services in the United States. The company accepts various deposits, such as checking, saving, commercial services, and youth accounts. Its loan products include personal, mortgage, other real estate, business, auto, and student loans. The company also offers credit and debit cards; wealth management services comprising financial solutions, financial and retirement planning, and portfolio management, as well as estate, charitable giving, and trust services; and reorder checks, safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, bill pay, and internet and mobile banking services. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Kenbridge, Virginia.

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS  Get Free Report) and e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF  Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, valuation and analyst recommendations.

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Volatility and Risk

Nu Skin Enterprises has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its stock price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, e.l.f. Beauty has a beta of 1.61, indicating that its stock price is 61% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beauty, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nu Skin Enterprises 0 3 0 0 2.00 e.l.f. Beauty 1 6 10 1 2.61

Earnings & Valuation

Nu Skin Enterprises currently has a consensus price target of $7.00, indicating a potential downside of 26.12%. e.l.f. Beauty has a consensus price target of $126.80, indicating a potential upside of 85.43%. Given e.l.f. Beautys stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe e.l.f. Beauty is more favorable than Nu Skin Enterprises.

This table compares Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beautys top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nu Skin Enterprises $1.56 billion 0.30 -$146.59 million $2.18 4.35 e.l.f. Beauty $1.31 billion 3.10 $112.09 million $1.42 48.16

e.l.f. Beauty has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Nu Skin Enterprises. Nu Skin Enterprises is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than e.l.f. Beauty, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

82.8% of Nu Skin Enterprises shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.4% of e.l.f. Beauty shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.0% of Nu Skin Enterprises shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.9% of e.l.f. Beauty shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beautys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nu Skin Enterprises 6.20% 8.23% 4.05% e.l.f. Beauty 5.90% 13.77% 7.78%

Summary

e.l.f. Beauty beats Nu Skin Enterprises on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Nu Skin Enterprises

(Get Free Report)

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and distribution of various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO; and nutricentials skin care products. The company also provides wellness products, such as LifePak nutritional supplements, ageLOC TR90 weight management system, and Beauty Focus Collagen+. In addition, it is involved in the research and product development of skin care products and nutritional supplements. The company sells its products under the Nu Skin, Pharmanex, and ageLOC brands through retail stores, website, digital platforms, and independent direct sellers and marketers, as well as a service center. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Provo, Utah.

About e.l.f. Beauty

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e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of inclusive, accessible, clean, vegan and cruelty free cosmetics and skin care products. The company focuses on the e-commerce, national retailers and international business channels. Its brands include elf, elf skin, WELL People and KEYS soulcare. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Oakland, CA.

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Lidl Northern Ireland has procured more than 4 million from local suppliers and business partners across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area (FY24/25, ending February), according to its latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report, published this week.

Of this, more than 20,000 worth of services were procured from four local business partners within the area, whilst over 4 million worth of goods were procured from two local agri-food producers, for sale across Lidl Northern Irelands network of 44 stores throughout the region.

413 million worth of produce was procured and exported globally through Lidls expansive international store network, showcasing the best of local produce across thousands of Lidl stores internationally, including a significant contract with Strabane based McColgans Quality Foods, who export to Lidl stores internationally.

Overall, the report reveals that the supermarket retailer procured more than half-a-billion pounds (557 million) from local suppliers and business partners across Northern Ireland.

The retailer procured goods from more than 90 local agri-food suppliers, with 75 million of these sold in Lidl stores across Northern Ireland, and more than 85% (413 million) shipped outside the region to Lidls expansive network of stores in Great Britain, Europe and internationally.

Alongside Lidls established network of suppliers across the region, the retailers Kickstart Supplier Development Programme supports small and medium-sized local producers to boost their brand, enhance their supply and reach new customer audiences. Backed by the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association (NIFDA), Lidl has invested more than 4 million in showcasing the innovative homegrown produce of local suppliers in its stores across the island of Ireland through Kickstart since 2018.

Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland said: Every year, our Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report demonstrates our significant investment in the Northern Ireland economy - through longstanding, meaningful relationships with our growing network of more than 115 local suppliers and business partners.

Through our operations, were proud to play an important role in showcasing the best homegrown, Northern Ireland produce globally, and bring high quality food and drink from our region to millions of shoppers across Europe every day.

Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland, said: Our longstanding relationships with local suppliers and business partners has been paramount to our sustained growth and success in Northern Ireland. With some of our suppliers working with us since we opened our doors 26 years ago in 1999, to now exporting millions of pounds worth of Northern Ireland produce across the globe, we very much see our suppliers as an extension of our own operations.

From growing our supplier base to now more than 90 agrifood suppliers to expanding our network of stores - we have huge ambition for the region and we look forward to continuing to share this growth and success with our valued partners in the years ahead.

The Impact Report launch coincides with the publication of Lidl Northern Irelands financial results for the FY 24/25 period which recorded turnover of 523 million. Much of this has been reinvested locally to support Lidls ambitious expansion plans including newly constructed refurbished state-of-the-art stores opened recently in Newcastle and Cookstown as well as a brand new store in Ballysillan which opened earlier this month.

In 2024, the retailer marked its 25th anniversary in the region and commissioned a major economic report which revealed that it contributed a record 360 million into the local economy in 2023  doubling its annual economic contribution over the past five years  and supporting almost 7,000 jobs right across the region. Lidl Northern Ireland has powered through almost a quarter of a century with its high-quality, low-price proposition, and has firmly embedded itself as a local brand committed to supplying fresh, home-grown produce at outstanding quality and value.
A Derry man has appeared in court charged with two assaults in Donegal.

Brian McClean was before Letterkenny District Court in connection with the alleged incidents on February 9, 2025 at Lifford Greyhound Stadium.

The 34-year-old, of Waterloo Place in Derry, faces two charges of assault causing harm.

McClean is charged with assaulting Catriona Roulston and Jonathan Roulston, causing them harm.

The charges are contrary to section 3 (1) and 3(2) of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 (as amended by section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023).

McClean was present in court for the brief mention of the matter before Judge Emile Daly.

Sergeant Jim Collins gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution by way of schedule.

Sergeant Collins said that the State will need to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and also a medical report.

McClean was represented by solicitor Mr Rory OBrien, who told the court: There is a complicated set of facts to say the least.

The case was adjourned until February 2026 and legal aid was granted.
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Children and young people from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area have marked World Childrens Day with a special event at the Foyle Arena to celebrate their regions recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly Community.

The event marks the culmination of a seven-year journey that has placed childrens rights at the heart of local decision-making in Derry and Strabane who are the first Council area in Northern Ireland and only the second in the UK to receive the status.

All four partner organisations: Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Education Authority Youth Service, and the Youth Justice Agency were in attendance along with representatives from the awarding body UNICEF UK.

The event was filled with music, performances, and fun activities designed by and for young people, reflecting the inclusive and empowering spirit of the Child Friendly Communities initiative.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairi McHugh, said it was a fitting celebration of what has been a collective effort by the entire community.

Todays celebration is all about our young people, he said. Their voices, ideas, and energy have driven this journey from the very beginning.

Its a moment of pride not just for the Council and our partners, but for every child and young person in the City and District who helped make this recognition possible.

Together, we are building a region where children feel safe, valued, and empowered to shape the future of their communities.

UNICEF UKs Programme Director for Child Friendly Cities and Communities, Naomi Danquah, praised the event as a powerful reflection of Derry and Strabanes child rights commitment.

It was inspiring to see children and young people leading the celebrations and showcasing the change they have helped bring about.

Derry and Strabanes recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly Community is built on genuine partnership and participation, and tonights event perfectly captured that spirit.

Representatives from the four local partner organisations also attended, highlighting the collaboration and commitment that have underpinned the journey.

Dr Tom Cassidy, Director of Children and Families at the Western Health and Social Care Trust, said: This event demonstrated exactly why this recognition matters, its about young people being seen, heard, and celebrated.

The Trust is proud to continue working with our partners to ensure that childrens rights remain at the heart of everything we do.

Michael Hogg, Strategic Services Manager with the Education Authority Youth Service, added: Seeing so many young people take part in this celebration reinforces what weve achieved together - a genuine partnership that puts their voices first. It was a joyful reminder of what child-friendly communities can look and feel like.

The Child Friendly Communities recognition signifies that UNICEF publicly acknowledges the significant and sustainable steps a local area has taken to advance the human rights of children and young people in their city and communities.

For full details on Derry and Strabanes Journey towards becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly Community including the Annual Report for 2024/25 visit derrystrabane.com/unicef.
People Before Profit in Derry has issued a strong statement condemning the British government's proscription of Palestine Action as an "act of cowardice" and a deliberate attempt to silence protests against ongoing actions in Gaza.

The statement read: "The proscription of Palestine Action was an act of cowardice by the British government.

Instead of challenging an Israeli regime committing genocide and continuing to bomb Gaza, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to silence and criminalise those acting to stop mass slaughter and crimes against humanity.

Since this proscription has been put in place, it has faced a relentless challenge.

We are proud Civil Rights veterans took the lead in Derry in opposing Palestine Action's proscription and to underscore the utter hypocrisy of trying to implement the ban here.

Several of our members, former MLA Eamonn McCann, Cllr Shaun Harkin, Goretti Horgan and Sophia McFeely, along with other Derry based campaigners including Bloody Sunday family member Kate Nash and Cllr Gary Donnelly, have been informed by the PSNI they face potential charges under the Terrorism Act for showing support for Palestine Action.

Despite this, no one is deterred from speaking out in solidarity with Palestine Action and to demand all charges are dropped.

British politicians should be facing charges for their complicity with genocide, not the anti-genocide Filton 24, a number of whom are presently on hunger strike.

"In July, Derry City and Strabane District Council supported People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin's motion calling for the proscription of Palestine Action to be overturned:

"Council rejects the rationale provided by the British government and Security Minister Dan Jarvis for the proscription of Palestine Action and calls for its immediate overturning"

Council supports the legal challenge to Palestine Action's proscription and will write to the High Court to call for the ban to be removed immediately.

Council supports all those who have protested against the ban on Palestine Action and calls for charges against them to be immediately dropped.

Council commends the opposition of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions at its July Delegate Conference in Belfast to the British government's authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation and the curtailing of human rights, and, its demand for all Palestine solidarity campaigners to be protected from intimidation, discrimination and victimisation.

Council commends and supports veteran Civil Rights campaigners who have protested against proscription and in solidarity with Palestine Action in order to defend the right to protest and on the basis that protesting against genocide is not a crime."

People Before Profit will use our platform to challenge the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity. We demand the immediate scrapping of legislation banning Palestine Action.

We urge people to join the day of action in Derry, Belfast, London and elsewhere calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be lifted and for all charges against those acting to oppose genocide are dropped.

The global movement opposing continuing Israeli terror and complicity with it will not be silenced."
An inquest into the death of a Derry mother-of-one who was killed after a wheel came off a lorry owned by a Donegal haulage company has been adjourned.

Shauna McDevitt, 47, was killed after the Hyundai Tucson being driven by her partner was struck by a wheel that became separated from a tanker lorry, owned by Walter Reilly & Sons Limited - on the A6 near Toomebridge on April 10, 2022.

Ms McDevitt was travelling back home to Derry from a Little Mix concert in Belfast when the tragedy occurred.

The inquest heard that the tanker in question was not properly registered and the company has since had its haulage licence revoked.

On Friday afternoon, Ms Niamh Horscroft BL, counsel to the coroner, told the inquest at Coleraine courthouse that an investigating officer from the PSNI, who was due to give evidence, was unable to attend.

Ms Horscfoft said that it would be prudent to await that evidence.

Coroner Louisa Fee said it was important for her to understand the steps take by the police at the scene. Coroner Fee said she was satisfied as to the reason the member could not attend.

It is important that the inquest hears from her, she said, adding that it was an unfortunate situation, but not one that was avoidable.

The inquest was adjourned as part-heard and the coroner said she hoped that it would result in a relatively short time.

The inquest heard that the tanker was purchased in February 2021 from the Netherlands and did not have a certificate of roadworthiness at the time. Neither the Road Safety Authority of the Driver & Vehicle Agency had a record of the tanker on their respective databases.

Giving evidence to the inquest, Mr Ivor Reilly, a company director, said he was waiting on paperwork from the Netherlands.

Asked by Ms Horscroft if he was concerned that he had not received this paperwork having bought the tanker over a year previously, Mr Reilly said he was not concerned as it was Covid times.

He said he did not get a test on the vehicle as this could not be done without a valid registration document.

He accepted evidence by a senior scientific officer that the wheel becoming detached would not have happened instantaneously and would have been a gradual process. He told the inquest that this was the only vehicle he had that did not have the correct registration documentation in place.

At the time of the collision, the lorry was travelling between 54-56mph, while the speed limit for such vehicles at the location in question is 50mph. The speed was not said to be directly contributing to the incident, although a higher speed would consume bearing length at a faster rate.

The tanker was overweight at the time, but this was said to be not directly contributing to the collision, albeit higher loads would also consume bearing length at a faster rate.

A senior scientific officer from Forensic Science Northern Ireland told how he attended the scene of the collision in the early hours of April 11, 2022. He said the lorry and tanker were later weighed and the digital tachograph downloaded.

He confirmed that an examination of the lorrys tractor unit and tanker took place. He outlined that the wheel assembly on the near side of the tankers second axle was missing.

An engine malfunction light was illuminated, but this was said not to have been a contributing factor. The defects identified in the Scania were not contributing factors to the collision, an inspector found.

The only defect that could be directly linked to the collision was the missing wheel assembly, the inquest heard.

Driver Mark Atkinson recalled just a normal journey to Belfast and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He said he was in the upper deck of the ferry where he got informed that he was needed on the lower deck.

When told that his vehicle had been involved in a fatal collision, he said it was just devastating.

He said there was no noise, no bang to alert him to the collision and a driver from the same company who was following around a minute behind did not notice anything untoward on his journey.

Mr Atkinson told the inquest that he did not make a note of his walk-around check of the vehicle before leaving the base in Ballybofey. He said he worked for the company until March of this year until its haulage licence was revoked.

Mr Reilly told investigators in an interview that the company was set up in 1962 and this is the first time there was ever a fatality in 60-odd years of business.

He said he was in practice the transport manager of the company - which employed seven drivers and had a fleet of eight tractor units and around 20 trailers - at the time, even though his elderly father had the title of being transport manager.

Mr Reilly told Ms Horscroft that there was refurbishment work done to the trailer in question and some bearings were refitted.

Coroner Fee interjected and asked if Mr Reilly was present when the parts were disassembled and he said he was not. The coroner said Mr Reilly, therefore, could not be in a position to give evidence as to the state of the bearings.

Earlier this year, Walter Reilly & Sons Limited had its international road haulage operator licence revoked by the Minister for Transport. An appeal against that decision was rejected by Judge Ciaran Liddy at Letterkenny District Court, a hearing which was attended by members of Ms McDevitts family.

The licence was withdrawn on grounds including serious concerns for road safety arising from convictions and penalties for infringements of road transport regulations in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

In May 2024, at Antrim Magistrates Court, lorry owner Ivor Reilly, of Cappry, Ballybofey pleaded guilty to charges of: using a vehicle in a dangerous condition; using a vehicle which exceeded the maximum permitted weight; having a defective light; and failing to maintain a vehicle.

Driver Mark Atkinson, of Dromore Lodge, Rockcorry, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle in a dangerous condition, using a vehicle which exceeded the maximum permitted weight and having a defective light.

A defence barrister said there was no direct blame on the wheel coming off to the defendants and District Judge Nigel Broderick said the case was tragic. Judge Broderick said he had to bear in mind that the charges did not provide any causal link to her very sad demise and he fined Reilly 3,500 with Atkinson fined 1,700.
Ethio Telecom has partnered with Awash Bank to launch Tila, a new digital credit, savings and device-financing service available through the operators Telebirr mobile money platform.

The service uses AI-driven credit scoring to issue non-collateral loans to individuals, salaried workers and MSMEs. Awash Bank has allocated more than ETB2 billion (US$13 million) in annual credit for the programme. Personal micro-loans range up to 16,000 ETB, while MSMEs can access business loans of up to 150,000 ETB with repayment periods of one to six months. Employees paid through Telebirr or Awash Bank can apply for salary-based loans of up to ETB1 million.

A device financing component will allow customers to acquire smartphones through instalment plans, targeting users who cannot afford upfront handset costs. Ethio Telecom said the scheme is intended to support wider digital and financial inclusion, particularly outside major urban centres.

Telebirr has become a key revenue driver for the operator, with more than 57 million users. Ethio Telecom reports that the platform has enabled over ETB31.6 billion in digital loans and more than ETB30.3 billion in savings since launch.

The partners also noted early uptake of Telebirr-based cardless ATM withdrawals via Awash Banks network, with over 92,000 transactions completed during the pilot phase.

Tila is part of Ethio telecoms broader strategy to expand its digital finance offerings and increase smartphone access across Ethiopia.
Sharing photos and videos with friends and family is finally getting easier, even when people are using different types of phones. Until now, sending files between an iPhone and an Android device often meant relying on extra apps or cloud storage. That could feel slow and frustrating when all you wanted was to quickly send a picture to someone standing right next to you. Google is changing this with a new update that lets its Quick Share feature work together with Apples AirDrop.

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To use this feature, you need an Apple device and an Android phone from the Pixel 10 series. The supported models are Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google plans to improve the experience and later expand it to more Android devices.

Keep reading to know how you can AirDrop files from an iPhone to an Android.

Also read: Googles Quick Share now works with Apples AirDrop, but theres a catch

How to send files from iPhone to Android

1. Set up your Pixel 10 to receive

Open Quick Share on your Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Either turn on Receive mode or set your visibility to Everyone for 10 minutes so your phone can be discovered by nearby Apple devices.

2. Share content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Open the app that has the content you want to send.

Select the photo, video, or file you want to share.

Tap the Share button.

Choose AirDrop from the sharing options.

Also read: Oppo Find X8 Pro price drops by over Rs 19,000 on Flipkart: How to grab this deal

3. Complete the transfer

When you see the Pixel 10 device appear in the AirDrop list, tap its name.

On the Pixel, tap Accept if a prompt appears, and youre done.

Also read: OpenAI launches free ChatGPT version for teachers: Features, how to get it and more details
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Taiwan seeks to build its southern 'Silicon Valley' for AI boom

Nvidia's overseas headquarters is expected to be located at a technology park in Taipei, with the city government currently negotiating contract matters concerning the US tech giant's land rights for the new facility. Nvidia executives are also set to discuss follow-up investment plans with the city government soon.

However, as Taiwan continues expanding its AI ecosystem, available land in the northern regions of the country, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu, is insufficient for manufacturing growth. Consequently, southern Taiwan has become the government's key target area for attracting investment.

Shalun emerges as AI development hub

The National Development Council (NDC) held a committee meeting on November 20, 2025, to review progress on the "Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley Promotion Plan" submitted by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). This plan, combined with multiple government policies and budgets, is expected to help build a comprehensive AI industry ecosystem in southern Taiwan.

The "Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley Promotion Plan" will focus on Shalun near the Taiwan High Speed Rail Tainan Station. By revitalizing local living functions and promoting smart testing grounds, the AI ecosystem will spread across the southern regions, including Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung.

Since taking office, President Lai Ching-te has launched the "Five Trusted Industry Sectors Promotion Plan," with the Executive Yuan unveiling AI infrastructure development projects, of which "Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley" is a part. Supported by funding from this initiative, the NSTC has commissioned the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) to establish a high-capacity AI supercomputer in Shalun.

If it succeeds in striking partnerships with leading foreign quantum computing firms, the Shalun site will become Taiwan's first large-scale integrated "quantum+GPU+CPU" hybrid computing facility.

Strategic pillars drive semiconductor corridor

The NDC stated that the promotion plan centers on Shalun in Tainan, integrating science parks and technology industrial zones across Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung to form the "Semiconductor S Corridor." There are four strategic pillars: augmenting computing power, connecting ecosystems, attracting talent, and showcasing applications. This approach injects AI technology into all industries, driving intelligent transformation across sectors and advancing Taiwan's strong AI R&D capabilities toward full AI system development.

Officials noted that under the strategic pillar of augmenting computing power, companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Foxconn have formed the Super Computing Taiwan Alliance to jointly deploy computing infrastructure supporting AI application development. For connecting ecosystems, the Shalun AI Innovation & Application Building is recruiting tenants, aiming to link the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City to the "Semiconductor S Corridor" to form clusters in AI, robotics, and unmanned vehicles.

Taiwan targets top-five global computing status

President Lai, speaking at the opening of Google's AI Infrastructure Engineering Center in Taiwan on November 20, 2025, emphasized that, facing the global AI wave, the government will leverage Taiwan's strengths to promote the AI infrastructure projects. The goal is to create over NT$15 trillion (US$480 billion) in output value and 500,000 AI jobs by 2040, establishing three international-level AI laboratories and positioning Taiwan among the world's top five computing power centers. This effort supports AI adoption across industries and advances Taiwan as an island of AI.

Lai highlighted Taiwan's strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region, its world-class semiconductor cluster, highly skilled R&D talent, and robust intellectual property systemall factors making Taiwan an ideal base for developing integrated AI hardware and software solutions.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) launched the new Oriel Catchment Community Forum with an inaugural meeting on Monday 10th November 2025, at Kilkerley Community & Enterprise Centre, Kilkerley in Louth.

The event marked a significant milestone in facilitating community-led participation in the protection and restoration of water quality in the Oriel catchment, which comprises the rivers Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee.

The Oriel Catchment Community Forum is one of five pilot river catchment projects across Ireland, established under the new River Basin Management Plan to support public involvement. The meeting was a fruitful follow-on from previous scoping meetings to figure out the most suitable format for how people from Counties Armagh, Louth and Monaghan might participate in delivering better water quality for all.

The Oriel Catchment Community Forum is now formalised, with representatives including from Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark, Oriel River Catchment and Coastal Association, Friends of the Earth Dundalk, Fighting Dirty, Siolta Chroi, and Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Forum members also include representatives from local community groups, agriculture, angling and recreational interests. While the forum achieved a good sectoral balance and geographic spread, it welcomes further applications from younger people and farmers.

The forum elected its leadership team during the meeting and discussed areas of key focus for 2026. This includes the impacts of urban and rural wastewater discharge, especially in regard to sewerage, promoting local public awareness and understanding of water quality issues and developing greater cross border action and cooperation across the Oriel Catchment.

Members say they are focussed on taking proactive measures rather than just discussing issues. They are keen to forge relationships with their catchment counterparts in the four other pilot fora being developed in other parts of the country and to engage purposefully with all relevant stakeholders using the avenues that are now available to the Forum.

A further meeting has been scheduled for early December where members will be able to learn how to access water monitoring data from catchments.ie as well as find out about historic Catchment Management Plans and how the Oriel, which is a cross border catchment, can interact with maps and data from the opposite side of the border.

Andy Hallewell, Senior Community Water Officer for LAWPRO in the Border region explained:

The purpose of the Oriel Catchment Community Forum is to identify what the members, assisted by LAWPRO, see as the priorities for the catchment and then to develop a plan of action to address these issues. He emphasised that the establishment of the forum is a key action within Irelands Water Action Plan or River Basin Management Plan. This is an exciting opportunity for public participation and LAWPRO will work closely with the forum and local communities right across the Oriel Catchment to support better water quality for all.

The forum elected Brian Hopper, a member of the environmental activism group Fighting Dirty, as its Chair and Sarpong Hammond of Dundalk Institute of Technology as its Secretary. LAWPRO will continue to provide secretariat support to the forum as agreed in the initial scoping meetings.

Brian Hopper, the new Chair of the forum stated: The Oriel Catchment Community Forum is uniquely placed among the five pilot Catchment Community Fora in Ireland. Nature does not recognise borders and we embrace the challenges we face working with colleagues and agencies in Northern Ireland.

The River Fane catchment area includes large areas in Northern Ireland as does the unique Carlingford Lough. We are lucky to have representation from the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark on the forum and look forward to developing effective cooperation and action. We are committed to working with LAWPRO to make a positive contribution to achieve good water quality throughout our catchment area.

Read Next: Fundraiser launched to cover funeral and repatriation costs for Louth crash victim

The Oriel Catchment Community Forum is part of the Catchment Community Fora initiative, coordinated by LAWPRO. This national pilot programme works with communities to protect and improve water quality, supporting local engagement and collaboration across Irelands river catchments. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the fora aim to share knowledge, identify challenges, and develop practical solutions that benefit both people and nature.

For more information about the Oriel Catchment Community Forum and LAWPROs work, contact Eoghan Connaughton, LAWPRO Community Water Officer covering Louth, Monaghan and Cavan at econnaughton@lawaters.ie.
Local Sinn Fein representatives Joanna Byrne TD and Cllr. Eric Donovan has been raising the third phase of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) in Drogheda at the Public Accounts Committee and with Louth County Council respectively.

Phase 1 of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) in Drogheda was funded through a public-private partnership between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and two housing developers, Castlethorn and Ballymakenny Developments Ltd.

Phase 2 of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) in Drogheda is being funded through a collaboration between Louth County Council and HISCo.

Deputy Byrne said:

At the Public Accounts Committee, I asked will the Department of Transport step up and fund Phase 3, which is the most crucial stage that involves crossing the Dublin-Belfast railway line. This stage currently remains unfunded and in limbo right now.

Their response was that they have been liaising with Louth County Council and that there is ongoing engagement in relation to the project, but that they were waiting for Louth County Council to respond to queries they had raised with them.

This week at the full meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr. Eric Donovan raised this matter with the Council CEO.

Cllr O Donovan said:  I was informed that the council needs to respond to two matters. First is the business case, which I am given to understand is straightforward and will be submitted by the end of the year.

Read Next: Louth TD calls for ban on counselling notes in sexual crime trials

Part 2 is a multi criteria analysis of traffic modelling, which will include numbers and stats, etc. That will take a little longer but is expected to be submitted by early February 2026.

Then, the ball is back in the departments court. They may ask for a detailed design and approve funding for the next steps, but not the full amount, which could potentially be between 20m-30m.LCC does hope to have something more solid from the department in response to the compiled business and traffic case that the LCC will present.

It is vital we have clarity on Phase 3 of the PANCR, as it will be then what it was intended to be. A link road opening up the North Side of Drogheda, taking traffic congestion out of the town centre, and providing much needed homes for people.
Omeath based Cuchulainn Gaels senior GAA team is celebrating a successful fundraiser, after swapping their traditional farmers tans for a flawless glow in support of the clubs development plans.

The event, held at Radiant Tan in Omeath at the weekend, marked the launch of local businesswoman Niamh McCloskeys innovative new self-automated spray tanning booth - the first of its kind in Ireland - and drew an enthusiastic crowd for the special Sip and See opening.

From bronze beginners to overnight glow-ups, the senior squad bravely embraced the challenge, stepping into the booth to banish tan lines and show off their polished side.

Their newly enhanced looks will feature in a fundraising calendar, now eagerly anticipated by supporters near and far.

The community turned out for the occasion, enjoying free walk-ins, and the chance to win a trio of free tans via the Radiant Tan app.

Read Next: Teachers Union welcomes Dundalk ITQueens University Partnership

The fundraiser shone a spotlight on the teams commitment to raising funds, and also boosted efforts to secure an extended pitch, walking tracks, and new clubrooms, essential developments for the future of the club.

With Radiant Tans state-of-the-art, 24-hour self automated spray booth now officially launched, the event marked a bright beginning for both the business and the club.
Parents of pupils at Darver National School in Louth have been left stunned after the small rural school asked children to bring in their own toilet paper and hand towels.

The issue was raised in the Dail this week by Louth TD Ruairi O Murchu, who read out the email sent to parents by the school principal. The message explained that rising costs and stagnant government grants had left the school unable to cover certain basic consumable items, despite efforts to protect classrooms and teaching from the impact of financial pressures.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy O Murchu described the situation as very worrying and stressed that it was not normal for parents to be asked to provide essential hygiene products. He outlined the challenges faced by the school, which has 71 pupils and six teachers, occupies a building dating back to around 1940, and struggles with outdated heating and rising energy costs. Other costs, including printing, photocopying, and maintenance of outdoor areas, are largely funded by the parents association.

The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher OSullivan, responded by saying the situation was highly unusual and not representative of schools nationally. He confirmed that officials from the Department had contacted the school and referred it to the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), which provides advice and assistance to schools in financial difficulty.

Deputy OSullivan also noted that the 2026 budget includes 39 million in additional capitation funding, which will see primary school rates increase by 50 per pupil, alongside additional support for special schools and DEIS schools. He said these measures aim to ease financial pressure and ensure schools can meet day-to-day costs.

Read Next: Calls for clarity on funding for crucial Louth road project

Deputy O Murchu welcomed the response but said there was a need for sustainable support, noting that energy costs and legacy infrastructure issues at Darver National School exacerbate the situation. He said ongoing engagement with the FSSU and the Department of Education is essential to prevent similar situations in the future.
A dead narwhal has washed up on the shores of Co Donegal, marking the first time the whale species has been recorded in Ireland.

The narwhal is found exclusively in the Arctic waters of the north Atlantic, and its males are famous for their long tusks, leading to them being dubbed the unicorns of the sea.

A family walking along Sweet Nellies Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal first reported the sighting of a small, stranded 2-3m whale or dolphin to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

The body of the female narwhal was retrieved by the group last weekend, working with regional staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Skin samples were collected and the carcass was taken to the Regional Laboratory in Cork for a post-mortem examination and tests.

The chief executive of the IWDG, Dr Simon Berrow, said it was a remarkable stranding.

As our waters warm we have seen a northern movement of whales and dolphins in Irish waters as fish move north seeking cooler waters.

To have an Arctic species stranded for the first time is somewhat unexpected.

However we recorded another Arctic species, a bowhead whale, in Ireland for the first time in 2016 so maybe this reflects a breaking down of Arctic ecosystems as the ice melts.

Clearly one stranding cannot display any trends but it does show the importance of our long-term monitoring schemes and the power of citizen scientists sending these reports to the IWDG.

Niall O Donnchu, director general of the NPWS, said it was an an extraordinary and unprecedented event.

We can confirm that a female narwhal, a species never before recorded in Ireland, was discovered in Co Donegal last weekend and has since been retrieved for scientific examination.

I want to acknowledge the swift actions of the family who reported the stranding, as well as the rapid and professional response by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and our NPWS regional colleagues.

As we await the results, NPWS will continue to work closely with our partners to monitor Irelands marine environment and to better understand the impacts of climate and ecological change on vulnerable species.

Each event like this reminds us of the importance of sustained scientific vigilance and public awareness in protecting our natural world.

Narwhals are rarely recorded outside the Arctic and the last stranding record in western Europe was in 2016, when a young male washed up dead in Belgium.

Prior to that, two females were found stranded in the Thames Estuary in Kent, England, in 1949.

The only sightings are of two off Orkney and one off Aberdeenshire in Scotland in 1882 and one in the Hebrides in 1976.

It is the 10th stranding record of a narwhal in western Europe and only the fourth female.

Junior minister with responsibility for nature and biodiversity Christopher OSullivan said it was a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife.

Id like to thank everyone who was involved in retrieving the stranded narwhal for their rapid response and collaboration, from the young people who initially spotted it on the beach and raised the alert, to the dedicated teams in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my own Department.

This is a significant event and it is important that we try to find out more about why this species arrived on our coastline.

An examination is under way which I hope will reveal important details about its life and history, and shed some light on the reasons why it arrived on our shores.

The narwhal is an Arctic species that is mainly found in cooler waters. Findings like this are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of a changing climate, and the need to protect them.
Such is the distracting beauty of the view from writer Cauvery Madhavans house in Glengarriff that she has to face a wall in her study when she is writing.

Cauvery, who is currently working on her fifth novel, divides her time between Straffan in Kildare and West Cork.

She finds Glengarriff more conducive to writing than Straffan as there is so much peace and quiet there.

Cauvery, originally from the city of Madras in India, features in the latest episode of the Irish Writers Centres video series, Dublin: One City, Many Stories.

Titled An Island Of Many Nations, this new instalment explores identity, belonging and creativity through the voices of writers who have made Ireland their home.

Living in Ireland for nearly 40 years, it was Cauverys husbands job as a doctor that brought the couple here, and they were initially based in Sligo.

After two years, they went to England and later moved to Limerick followed by Dublin where Cauverys husband works at St Jamess Hospital.

We were both 23 when we came to Ireland. It was like one big adventure really, said Cauvery.

Sligo was such a gentle introduction to Ireland. We came from Madras with a population of over eight million at the time. Sligo town had about 15,000 people.

The biggest culture shock was how conservative Ireland was, she says. That kind of slowly dawned on us.

I had come from a fairly busy job as a copywriter in an advertising agency. When I arrived in Sligo, I didnt have a work visa. I was on a company spouse visa. I had a lot of time on my hands.

I read a lot and listened to the radio, especially to Gay Byrne. It was a slow revelation as to how strangled the country was at that time by the orthodoxy of the church. And yet you could see how much people got out of their faith.

About 20 years after first arriving in Ireland, Cauvery started writing fiction. By then, she had had her three children. She is full of praise for the Irish Writers Centre.

Its so supportive of writers. Its unique. I dont think it exists anywhere else in the world. People cheer each other on and hold each others hands.

Writing is such a lonely, lonely job. Even if you enjoy it, you cant take that away.

In the video, Cauvery speaks about the collegiality of writers in Ireland. Nobody is your rival. She says she doesnt want to come across as a Pollyanna.

But Ive seen the support between writers. Fiction writers like Cathy Kelly and Sheila Flanagan champion each other. Its such a wonderful thing to see.

Cauvery found the Irish Writers Centre a great place in which to write.

I wrote half of my third book, The Tainted there, many years ago.

I used to park my car in front of the childrens school, take a bus into town and go to the Irish Writers Centre to write.

For two years, I treated writing that novel as a job. I would write for hours and then take the reverse journey to collect the children.

Its so fantastic that you can just walk in there (for a small annual membership fee) and be part of a really thriving community with support.

The Inheritance is the title of Cauverys most recent book. Writing in a genre that she describes as light literary fiction, and it is set in Glengarriff.

Its about a young man of London/Irish stock who inherits a house in Glengarriff from where his family originated.

Set in the 1980s, it deals with what happens to him when he moves to West Cork.

Theres a thread running through the book about the OSullivan Beara story from 400 years ago.

A voracious reader, Cauvery reads everything except for horror, adding: I would not be a literary snob at all. Its important to be curious as a writer.

Both Irish and Indian cultures are very nosey. The people dont mean any ill at all. Theyre just genuinely interested about where people come from.

Of course, because of political correctness, people are afraid to ask. Even just saying where are you from? can be a loaded question. I think thats a pity.

Ive been in cafes and restaurants with my daughters, aged 34 and 37, and my son, aged 33. I might ask the person serving me where theyre from. My children cringe. But I sincerely want to know.

Asked if she has been subject to any racism in Ireland, Cauvery says: Not especially, except for one or two very random incidents a good few years ago. But that doesnt discount the fact that it happens.

But its not what we are as a nation. I used the word we because I genuinely consider myself Irish.

One of my daughters has married a Kerry lad and I have a mixed race grandchild. Im totally invested in Ireland.

When I go back to India for a visit, whether you like it or not, you end up as a bit of an outsider, looking through the window.

Cauvery, who is one of the judges of the Irish Novel Fair, is blown away by the writing currently coming out of Ireland. Her novels are on the U.S school curriculum.

That is such a thrill for me. Also, I have been given the massive honour of being the Charles A Heimbold Jr chair of Irish studies at Villanova University in Philadelphia. Ill be teaching there for five months from next January and will be the writer-in-residence there.

A whole new chapter in the adventures of this accomplished writer.

See www.irishwriterscentre.ie.
The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) has said it is not trying to trick people with its upcoming proposal for significant changes to road infrastructure near its Tivoli site, following a public meeting held in Glanmire on the issue.

PoCC will be applying for planning permission soon to upgrade access to and from its Tivoli Docks site to better facilitate residential development in the future, with the potential for thousands of homes there after PoCC completes its planned move to Ringaskiddy and Marino Point.

The company is set to apply for a new eastern multi-modal road, bus, and cycleway interchange infrastructure at the Glanmire Rd roundabout with the removal of the existing roundabout, as well as an upgraded access at Silversprings.

Concerns

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran and Labour Party councillor John Maher have raised concerns that the significant road infrastructure development was being applied for through a private planning application rather than through the city council or the National Transport Authority, as this requires less of a public consultation process.

The open meeting the councillors hosted in Glanmire was well attended, with more than two dozen residents attending and being informed of the plans and how to have their views heard by the councillors.

Those in attendance queried the legality of applying for significant infrastructure in this manner. They were told by councillors that though highly unusual, it was entirely legal for the PoCC to do so.

Some said that it seemed premature that the company was applying for more road infrastructure before any plans for housing had been made, and queried why such a significant interchange was needed for an area meant to be 70% served by public transport and active travel rather than private cars.

They also raised concerns about how the new infrastructure would affect travel times for both cars and bikes, saying that there was a huge amount of work going on in Glanmire at present which was impacting traffic.

Suggested

Some people suggested that the company was not being upfront about its motives and could not be trusted.

In attendance at the meeting was PoCC chief land development officer Henry Kingston, who told The Echo that this was not the case.

He said that the company discussed what sort of planning process would be necessary for the proposed infrastructure development with both Cork City Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland as far back as 2020 because we knew it was going to be a junction onto a national road, and both directly guided us that because we own the site, it would be appropriate for PoCC to bring forward their own planning permission.

Mr Kingston added: This is the normal procedure for where a developer of a scheme interacts [with] a public road, and this is a big scheme so a big intervention to the road is needed.

He said that though the cycle route would increase in terms of distance, much of this would be downhill so it would not be a huge addition to journey time, and that the plan is for the new infrastructure to be sustainable transport-led, with the proposed roads particularly large so as to accommodate multiple transport uses.

Examined

He said concerns about travel time in general would be examined by engineers and planners.

There are specific levels of detail which will be looked at by Cork City Council engineers during the planning process.

If there [are] tweaks to be made, we are happy to do that.

Mr Kingston said: There was an idea mentioned at the meeting that the Port of Cork is trying to trick people into creating a huge junction to put loads of trucks on, or that theres no housing and this is an underhand play.

To be very clear, there are development sites all over Cork city and county which cannot be brought forward for development because of a lack of infrastructure, so we are trying to tackle that problem and resolve the infrastructure up front.

This is what responsible and logical development looks like.

Public transport

He said that the site already has plans for increased public transport connectivity, and is flat land with water and power.

The one element it is missing is access.

Mr Kingston added that PoCC had a lot of experience with large-scale infrastructure projects so we understand that it takes a long time, hence enabling the site early rather than seeking permission for a large-scale housing development, only for it to be refused because of insufficient road access.

Plans for thousands of houses are mentioned in the Cork City Development Plan and in PoCCs masterplan, but we have intentionally left all of those references out of this plan, so that we dont build anticipation for housing until we know the site can be enabled, said Mr Kingston.

Of course, theres 5,000 potential residents who can benefit from this, but we dont want to raise undue expectation.

These infrastructure plans are a genuine effort to see if we can enable this site, and if we cant then we carry on with port activity there, which would be a massive missed opportunity for Cork.

Once the companys plans are submitted, people will be able to make a submission at a cost of 20 through the city councils planning website, similar to other private planning applications.
Three crews from Cork City Fire Brigade spent several hours battling a complex fire at a bungalow on Lovers Walk during a busy Thursday night.

The fire broke out shortly after 6pm, with the fire service receiving a call at 6.33pm.

The blaze was described as complex by fire crews, with thick smoke billowing out across the area and neighbours being advised at the time to keep windows and doors closed.

There are five homes close to the bungalow, with access down a pathway, and there were some initial concerns that the fire might spread.

The lone occupant of the house was treated for minor smoke inhalation by an ambulance crew attending the scene.

Crews brought the scene under control quickly and spent more than three hours damping down the site until the fire was completely out, with an inspection completed at 10.34pm.

Busy

Victor Shine, second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, told The Echo it had a reasonably busy night in the city for the fire service.

We had an automatic fire alarm going off at 6.07pm, at 6.20pm we had a two-year-old trapped in a car outside a supermarket on the northside, and at 9.33pm, we had a person threatening to jump into the river at Andersons Quay, he said.

We had fire crews and the coast guard respond to that, and the big one was the fire on Lovers Walk, that went on until 10.34pm.

We had a chimney fire a 11pm, with the cold weather thats something were starting to see, and at fifteen minutes past midnight we had a car fire.

And we had an outdoor fire on the southside at 3.48am.

And that was a normal enough night for us.
A 70% increase in the Vat rate for renting rooms for functions could cost individual hotels 25,000 next year, as a Cork hotelier has criticised the measure which he said was buried in the finance bill and has blindsided hoteliers.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins raised the issue in the Dail this week.

Disturbingly, buried in the recent budget is a significant, large, unannounced measure, whereby the Vat rate on room hire, excluding hotel and guesthouse bedrooms, will increase from 13.5% to 23% on January 1, Mr Collins said.

This change, being introduced without clear communication, will impose a substantial financial burden on hospitality businesses. One Cork hotel estimates it will cost approximately 25,000 annually if absorbed internally.

To offset this, it would need to generate more than 120,000 additional gross revenue next year  a near-impossible target in the current climate.

These establishments are not only commercial entities. They are pillars of their communities that support local events, charities, and even political activities.

Such hidden changes erode trust, and fuel frustration among the electorate, Mr Collins said.

Michael Magner, president of the Irish Hotel Federation and owner of the Vienna Woods hotel in Cork, told The Echo: When we received a copy of the finance bill, we did our due diligence to ensure the commitment to reduce the Vat rate from 13.5% to 9% for food businesses was included.

Unfortunately, we saw that, effective from January 1, 2026, the current 13.5% Vat rate will increase to 23% for venues that have rooms to rent (excluding accommodation), such as community halls, or meeting rooms in hotels.

Mr Magner said hoteliers believe many elected members were not aware of this as it was buried within the belly of the finance bill, adding that amid other cost increases such as minimum wage and pension auto-enrolment, as well as high energy costs, this will be a strain many businesses could not absorb.

Its a really disappointing move to impose this additional cost on businesses and ultimately on customers, whether theyre companies, local clubs, or families looking to hire a space for birthday parties and celebrations  that cost is likely to increase for them, he said.

Particularly outside urban areas, these rooms are a huge part of communities.

In Vienna Woods, we have a bridge club and local drama club who rent a room from us to meet every week, Mr Magner added.

He said he is also concerned that the measure may impact tourism, as international businesses often rent spaces for conferences, and may choose to take their delegations elsewhere as a result.

This was done in a manner that was not transparent, he said.

We were completely blindsided by it, not consulted beforehand, and it was hidden away in a critical document that affects the operational running of the country, so it had to be passed.
An Ireland South MEP has urged the government to bring key European Union (EU) presidency meetings to Cork when Ireland assumes the presidency of the council of the EU for six months, starting July 2026.

As part of this presidency, several key meetings, which will steer the EUs legislative agenda and welcome thousands of dignitaries, diplomats, and global leaders, will be held in Dublin.

Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu is calling on Taoiseach Micheal Martin to implement an inclusive approach to these meetings by hosting a significant share of them in Cork and other cities and towns across the South.

Ms Ni Mhurchu has formally written to Mr Martin outlining the case for hosting a substantial number of EU presidency-related meetings in Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and other locations.

Essential

Ms Ni Mhurchu, said it is essential that the benefits of Irelands EU presidency be shared fairly across the country.

Irelands EU Council presidency is an opportunity for the whole country, not only Dublin, to shine on the European stage, said Ms Ni Mhurchu. By hosting key meetings in Cork, we can spread economic activity, support local businesses, and showcase the talent, innovation, and hospitality that thrive in every part of Ireland.

Ms Ni Mhurchu emphasised that hosting EU meetings outside Dublin brings clear advantages, including increased media attention, boosts to local tourism, and a greater sense of connection to Europe among rural and regional communities.

This presidency should be an all-of-Ireland effort, she said.
A Cork man who appeared in the district court charged with possession of cannabis on two separate occasions said he did not realise there were two charges, and thought the matter was not followed up.

Court presenter Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Macroom District Court that warrants were obtained to search the home of 52-year-old Declan ODea at Gerragh Cottage, Tullatreada, Macroom, on two separate occasions.

The first search was carried out on April 10, 2023, at 11.05pm, and 50 of cannabis herb was seized. Another warrant was obtained and a second search was conducted at 9.30am on May 5, 2023, when another 50 of cannabis was seized.

ODea, who represented himself in court, said he was surprised to find out he had been charged with possession of illegal drugs twice.

He told the court that when his house was searched the second time, a small amount of cannabis was left on a bedside locker after gardai had left.

He said he thought the amount of cannabis involved was so small they didnt even bother writing it down.

Judge Joanne Carroll said for warrants to be obtained to search his house for drugs, gardai must have had suspicions that there were more than small amounts of drugs at the property.

The court was told that ODea had 29 previous convictions, including one for possession of illegal drugs and three for possession of illegal drugs for sale or supply.

For the incident on April 10, ODea was convicted and fined 300 with five months to pay. For the incident on May 5, he was convicted and fined 200 and allowed five months to pay. A destruction order was also granted for the seized drugs.
More than 10% of staff from HSE disability teams for children in Cork are currently out on various types of leave, while a further 13.5% of funded posts are vacant, new figures have shown.

This situation comes as staffing gaps have increased, despite ongoing recruitment efforts.

For children with complex needs, access to services are delivered through the Childrens Disability Networks (CDNTs) across the country, including a total of 11 in Cork.

Cork North Central Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould asked the Government to detail the number of staff that have been recruited in CDNTs in Cork in the past 12 months and the number who have either left or resigned.

At the moment, we are facing a crisis in the CDNT units in Cork, said Mr Gould.

The minister of state with responsibility for disability, Hildegarde Naughton, said that, despite increasing pressures on waiting lists across the country, the number of children on waiting lists nationally has actually fallen from nearly 13,000 in January to 10,579 at the end of August, a reduction of 18%.

The HSE has advised the department that of the 14 CDNTs in HSE South West, a total of 11 provide services in Cork city and county, she told Mr Gould.

The approved number of whole-time equivalent posts for the Cork area at the end of September 2025 was 308.77. Of these posts, 234.73 were filled, with a further 32.42 post holders on various types of leave. The Cork area CDNTs are, therefore, staffed to 87% with a 13% vacancy rate.

We acknowledge the current delays in accessing interventions.

Work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity of the CDNTs via recruitment campaigns and other measures, said Ms Naughton.

Querying this figure, Mr Gould said that if you take off the 32 staff members who are out sick, on maternity leave, or off work for whatever reason, it means the figure is down to a 76% staffing level, and a 24% vacancy rate.

If a person goes on maternity leave, is out sick, or is out of work for whatever reason, that post still needs to be covered. If it is not, then the children who need the therapies that staff member gives are not getting them. It is very important we do not manipulate the figures here, he said.

Ms Naughton said she was not disputing the fact we absolutely need to increase recruitment.

There is a huge amount of work happening, she said.

In budget 2026, 8m has been secured to allow for the funding of 150 staff for our CDNTs, and the configuration of these posts is under review by the HSE.

The most recent figures mark an increase in vacancy from April data previously reported by The Echo, which showed that there were 303.9 whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts funded in Cork CDNTs, with 274 filled, a vacancy rate of just under 10%.

Despite an additional five posts being assigned since then, the amount of staff has decreased.
High Court Reporter

A jury in a High Court defamation action taken by two lawyers against businessman Denis OBrien has begun its deliberations.

Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth, solicitors at Belfast firm Phoenix Law, claim Mr OBrien and his spokesman James Morrissey implied in an October 2016 press release that they acted for and received payment from the IRA.

The solicitors say this arises from a sentence in the statement that reads: Sinn Fein/IRA certainly got the report they paid for.

Mr OBrien made the statement in response to a report on media ownership in Ireland. Mr Mackin and Mr Booth were credited as co-authors of the report, which was commissioned by then-Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan.

At the time of the report, Mr OBrien owned substantial stakes in Irish media companies.

Mr OBrien and Mr Morrissey deny the material defamed the solicitors or means what the solicitors allege. It is their case that the words mean the report was not fair or balanced, and served to further Sinn Feins political agenda.

The jury must decide what the meaning of the words complained of mean.

If they agree with the solicitors pleaded meaning, then they must then assess what damages they should be awarded to compensate damage to their reputations.

The solicitors side is seeking an award of general and aggravated damages.
Gordon Deegan

The firm behind billionaire businessman JP McManuss ill-fated International Rugby Experience venture in Limerick recorded losses of 1.05 million last year.

In December of last year, the International Rugby Experience shut its doors 19 months, after only opening in May 2023, to much fanfare. It was endorsed by the likes of Ireland and Munster rugby legends Paul OConnell and Keith Wood.

The award-winning six-storey visitor attraction on Limericks OConnell Street was built through a 30 million gift from the JP McManus Foundation.

Now, new accounts for Rugby World Experience CLG show that the scale of the losses in the visitor attractions first full year of operation - though start -up losses for a venture of this scale would have been anticipated.

The directors, which include JP McManuss daughter, Sue-Ann Foley and former Ireland rugby captain, Paul OConnell - state that the charity has performed in line with the directors expectations and has generated a deficit for the financial year.

In the accounts, signed off earlier this month, the directors state that they note that the visitor experience closed in December 2024 and are considering their options for the building going forward.

The directors state that the principle activity of the charity is to promote the regeneration of Limerick city centre by establishing the International Rugby Experience which will celebrate the sport of rugby through the means of a visitor experience.

The 1.05 million loss for 2024 followed a surplus of 10.27 million for 2023 but this was mainly due to a 12 million donation recorded that year.

The new accounts for Rugby World Experience CLG show that monies generated from visitors included in other trading activities was 595,636 for 2024.

The 595,636 total for the 12 months of 2024 was only 12pc ahead of the 529,321 generated under the same heading in 2023 when the International Rugby Experience only opened its doors in May of that year.

The losses for the firm would have been even greater last year but for 700,000 received in income in 'donations and legacies' and the firms overall income totalled 1.33 million.

However, the 1.05 million loss arises from its expenditure totalling 2.38 million and this included 662,225 in staff costs.

The visitor attraction last year reduced its workforce by 35 per cent from 31 to 20 as the anticipated visitor numbers did not materialise.

The 662,225 in staff costs was a 8 per cent decline on the staff costs of 722,605 for 2023.

The largest component on the firms costs last year was non-cash depreciation costs of 965,650.

The companys tangible assets had a book value of 29.43 million at the end of last year.

At the end of December 2024, the company had total funds of 29.5 million and included cash of 159,924 which was down sharply on the 347,469 cash funds at the end of December 2023.

In October 2024, Limerick City and County Council declined an offer from the JP McManus backed venture of the 30 million building and a cheque for 1.2 million up front to cover most of the annual projected losses until the end of 2027.

JP McManus addressed a behind closed doors meeting of the Council in June of this year on the fall-out from the closure and this was organised as an attempt at reconciliation between the billionaire and the council.
(Photo: REUTERS / Cathal McNaughton)The "Hands Across The Divide" peace statue by a local sculptor Maurice Harron stands in front of a backdrop of the Waterside area of Derry City, also known as Londonderry, in this October 3, 2013 picture. While cars burned on the streets of Belfast this summer in its worst year of rioting for a decade, Northern Ireland's second city of Londonderry was filled with tourists as its once bitterly divided population celebrated a stunning rejuvenation. Derry is currently the UK City of Culture 2013. Picture taken October 3, 2013.

The sudden and unprecedented resignation of its moderator, Rev. Trevor Gribben, has left the church grappling with the scale of its own safeguarding failures and facing an uncertain reckoning over what happens next, according to the BBC.

Gribben announced on Nov. 12 that he will step down following an internal investigation which uncovered "serious and significant failings" in the church's safeguarding functions spanning more than a decade.

"Although not directly responsible for the professional delivery of safeguarding within the Church...I have decided it would be best at this time for me to step aside from my current role as Moderator of the General Assembly, the Church's chief public representative," Gribben said in a statement.

On Nov. 17, the PCI said that it welcomes the investigation announced today by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and will co-operate fully with it.

A spokesperson for the church said, however, "As a consequence of the PSNI's announcement today of their investigation, we will not be able to make any further comment related to the inquiry or aspects pertaining to it."

The Police Service Northern Ireland has said it will examine incidents that occurred from 2009 to 2022, and will "ensure perpetrators are held to account."

After Gribben's announcement, a statement was read to all congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland on behalf of Rev David Allen, the Acting Clerk of the General Assembly, announcing that a special meeting of the Church's General Assembly will be held in December.

What began as an internal investigation has grown into a crisis, shaking confidence in the church's governance, its leadership and its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

But as the questions have multiplied since a press conference on the resignation with church authorities have been unable or unwilling to provide answers.

Gribben's resignation triggered a turbulent week for the church.

Rev. Allen said the church had initiated an investigation after receiving information from the police in May.

- CONVICTED FORMER TEACHER

The BBC said on Nov. 15 that it is believed a former teacher who was convicted of child sex offences is one individual who sparked "safeguarding concerns."

William Maher, from Belfast, was given a two-year sentence, with half to be served in prison and half out on licence, after admitting three charges of inciting two different children under the age of 13 into sexual activity.

BBC News NI reported it understands Maher was a volunteer youth worker with the Presbyterian Church.

The situation has been made even more turbulent by the suggestion that earlier warnings about safeguarding issues were not taken seriously.

Ian Elliott, an independent safeguarding expert who was invited to advise the PCI as part of a previous review panel, said he raised concerns about a failing culture of safeguarding in 2023, but those concerns were effectively set aside.

The timeline of his claim also directly challenges the church's current narrative, that the scale of the issue only came to light in May 2025.

On Sunday, a statement was read to all congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland on behalf of Rev. David Allen. It said that a special meeting of the Church's general assembly will be held in December.

According to RTE, the Irish broadcaster, the latest census figures show around 22,000 Presbyterians in the Irish Republic, predominantly in the border counties and Dublin.

The numbers in Northern Ireland stand at 316,000. "It is a faith with significant reach, though obviously not all are churchgoers," said RTE.

According to Wikipedia, the PCI is the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland.

Presbyterians in Northern Ireland trace their history back to 1610.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a founding member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which preceded the formation of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), a grouping representing more than 80 million Christians worldwide.
Despite the difficult economic situation, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH expects more exhibitors than last year at the SPS  Smart Production Solutions 2025 trade fair. The topic of industrial AI will be of great importance. Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS at Mesago, explains the background.

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Markt&Technik: How many exhibitors and visitors do you expect at SPS 2025? How do you think the economic situation in the industry and global economic and political conflicts will affect the number of exhibitors and visitors?

Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH: The current economic and geopolitical situation is having a profound impact on German industry. The fact that SPS  Smart Production Solutions 2025 will be able to increase the number of exhibitors to around 1,170 despite this situation shows how important the trade fair is for automation providers.

In order for the industry to counter economic pressure from high energy and production costs, for example, it is essential to invest in key technologies such as automation technology. A visit to SPS 2025 is therefore more worthwhile than ever this year. Or, as was aptly put at the press conference for SPS 2025: Not visiting is not an option.

What changes will there be at SPS 2025 compared to last year's exhibition? Will there be any changes to the nomenclature or product range?

This year, SPS will remain true to its proven concept and present itself as the central platform for the international automation industry. All relevant manufacturers will be represented once again and will showcase their latest products, technologies and solutions for smart and digital automation. The 15 exhibition halls will give interested visitors a comprehensive overview of the current market. Exhibitors will not only address established topics, but also provide specific insights into the latest trends and developments, for example in the field of artificial intelligence. Visitors can therefore look forward to a wide range of innovations.

What changes will there be to the supporting program at SPS 2025 compared to last year?

As in previous years, we are once again offering a comprehensive program of lectures, panel discussions and presentations to complement the trade fair, with around 170 events. Visitors will have the opportunity to find out all the latest news from the industry on a total of four stages and then engage in personal discussions with the speakers afterwards. Especially for the young target group, there will once again be a Makeathon, which will take place on all three days of the trade fair. It is aimed specifically at students and offers exciting insights into the world of automation with concrete project tasks. As a special highlight for young talent in the industry, SPS is hosting Young Talents Day on the last day of the fair. Young visitors can look forward to program items such as guided tours, career advice and an interactive scavenger hunt through the exhibition halls  ideal for getting to know the world of automation in a vivid and practical way.

The topic of industrial AI is set to play a greater role at this year's SPS than ever before. To what extent is this reflected at the trade fair, in its lecture programme and in the online offerings SPS Automation Hub and SPS Technology Talks?

Industrial AI is the focus of SPS 2025. Interested parties can find all the information they need on this topic on our specially created landing page. This also includes guided tours to selected exhibitors, which we are organising in cooperation with SmartFactory-KL. An integrated exhibitor search is already preset to AI, making it easier to search for specific providers.

The four stages, where numerous contributions on the topic will be presented, also play an important role in our information offering on industrial AI. Particularly noteworthy is the Technology Stage in Hall 3, where the two associations VDMA and ZVEI will be offering a concentrated block of presentations exclusively dedicated to the topic of AI on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All in all, this is a very comprehensive additional offering that provides a wealth of knowledge about the possible applications of AI.

In addition to the trade fair, we also offer various formats outside the trade fair period: AI is a regular focus of our Technology Talks webinar series. This year also saw the premiere of the AI Summit in Stuttgart in May, which will take place again in 2026  in two cities, no less. All offers are bundled on our website in the Automation Hub of the SPS.

From 16 to 18 September 2025, an independent SPS trade fair was held in the USA for the first time: SPS  Smart Production Solutions Atlanta. How did it measure up to expectations? What are the plans for the future of the trade fair?

The premiere of SPS Atlanta took place successfully a few weeks ago. Given the challenging overall economic situation and the special market conditions in the USA, the launch was promising with around 120 exhibitors. The next SPS Atlanta has already been scheduled and will take place from 14 to 16 September 2027.

To what extent are there concrete plans for further internationalisation of SPS beyond the three events in Parma (Italy), Guangzhou (China) and Atlanta (USA)?

Together with our exhibitors, we regularly examine where new opportunities arise to open up new markets for automation providers with an SPS format. This year, for example, we celebrated a successful premiere in Thailand with the SPS Stage in Bangkok. Further stages will follow in 2026 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Hanoi (Vietnam).

The questions were asked by Andreas Knoll.
Building a 'green ledger' for China's 142.6 billion trees

15:10, November 21, 2025 By Guo Qinghua ( People's Daily

Guo Qinghua poses for a photo with the tallest tree in Asia. (Photo provided by Guo Qinghua)

For years, the question of how many trees exist in China remained unanswered. That changed with the release of the country's first national tree-density map earlier this year, revealing that as of 2020, China had approximately 142.6 billion trees, equivalent to about 100 trees for every person in the country. This figure is the result of a decade-long effort by my team to "count" them.

The urgency of this endeavor stemmed from a fundamental gap in our understanding. Although China hosts the world's largest area of planted forests, traditional forestry statistics have long focused on general metrics such as timber volume. As the principles of green development gained traction and China announced its dual-carbon goals, it became clear that a more granular, data-driven understanding of forest ecosystems was needed.

To calculate carbon storage at the tree level and assess forest contributions to biodiversity, we required a precise ecological accounting system -- a "green ledger." Science-based ecological restoration, including decisions on whether to plant trees, shrubs, or grasses in a given location, depends on access to high-quality, spatially explicit data.

A secondary motivation was a deep dissatisfaction with outdated or incomplete data. Years ago, Nature published a global estimate of 3.04 trillion trees, but China's forests were represented by sparse data. By then, my team had already spent more than three years collecting extensive information deep within China's forests. I was convinced that China should not remain a blind spot in global forest research. If others could map trees at scale, so could we.

Yet China spans over 9.6 million square kilometers. How could we count trees across such a vast territory? The solution lay in methodological innovation and technological advancement.

Two decades ago, I watched foreign researchers climb into forest canopies to manually measure tree height -- an admirable feat, but one that underscored the limitations of traditional methods. Progress in environmental surveying, I realized, depends not only on dedication but also on the continuous adoption of advanced tools. Technology is the handrail that enables us to reach new heights.

Our breakthrough came with the application of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). This technology uses laser pulses to capture tree height, form, and location with exceptional accuracy. A single scan can map an entire forest stand in minutes.

We developed an integrated "sky-and-ground" observation system, similar to performing a CT scan of a forest. From above, drones equipped with LiDAR sensors emit over a million laser pulses per second. From below, team members navigate the terrain with portable scanners.

Guo Qinghua (third from right) and his team conduct field observation. (Photo provided by Guo Qinghua)

Together, these perspectives -- top-down, side-view, and upward-looking -- enabled us to construct high-resolution, measurable digital models of forest ecosystems. Today, the LiDAR hardware and software we developed have been adopted in more than 130 countries and regions.

Over the past 10 years, we surveyed more than 76,000 sample plots and collected over 400 terabytes of data -- the equivalent of over 80 million high-resolution photographs. This unprecedented scale required constant innovation. To address challenges like uneven terrain, we created a terrain-following flight algorithm for drones. To process massive datasets, we developed an intelligent tree-segmentation algorithm capable of automatically extracting individual trees from complex forest canopies and generating the tree-density map. Step by step, we built unprecedented solutions. Scientific research rarely begins with perfect conditions. It advances when researchers create new conditions through persistent effort.

Among the many unforgettable moments was the discovery of Asia's tallest known tree -- a 102.3-meter cypress in Xizang autonomous region. After crossing the rushing Yi'ong Zangbo River, we finally stood in awe beneath this towering presence. More than a tree, it felt like a living monument -- a testament to nature's resilience, wisdom, and quiet power.

Our work to refine China's digital ecological ledger continues. By deepening our understanding of this green foundation, we aim to support more effective environmental stewardship at home and contribute valuable knowledge to the international community.

(Guo Qinghua is a Boya distinguished professor at Peking University and director of the Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, Peking University School of Earth and Space Sciences. This article was compiled by People's Daily journalist Liu Fa.)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Here's some light  and revolting!  reading while we wait for the Epstein Files to be released (or stonewalled). You can now peruse the Jeffrey Epstein emails, recently released by Congress, in a simulated Gmail account.

"You're logged in as Jeffrey Epstein," the Jmail website reads. (Ick.) Luke Igel, CEO of Kino, and software engineer Riley Walz collaborated on the project. The latter is one of the creators of the Panama Playlists, which (in a similar light) turned Spotify's lax privacy into a website for public figures' "leaked" musical tastes.

Jmail is about as faithful a recreation of Gmail as you could imagine. Just like a real inbox, the messages are sorted from the most recent, up to the eve of Epstein's 2019 arrest for the sex trafficking of minors. It includes a working search feature.

Screenshot of the Jmail project. A simulated Gmail inbox of Jeffrey Epstein, using real emails released by Congress. (Luke Igel / Riley Walz)

The US House Oversight Committee released the emails on November 12. Their revelations put Donald Trump's relationship with the sex trafficker back in the spotlight. The president's name appears many times in the more than 20,000 documents. In one, the late sex offender claimed Trump "knew about the girls."

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In a 2011 email to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein said Trump "spent hours at my house" with someone whose name was redacted. (The committee said it was a victim.) In a 2017 thread, Epstein described the current president as "worse in real life and upclose." In 2018, the disgraced financier boasted he was "the one able to take [Trump] down."

Another public figure who came out looking even worse than before was the Andrew formerly known as "Prince" (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). He told Epstein in 2011, "We're in this together." Then there's former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. He stayed in touch with Epstein as recently as 2019, long after the latter's 2008 arrest for soliciting underage sex. In the wake of the email dump, Summers was put on leave from Harvard and resigned from OpenAI's board.

You can check out Jmail at the project's website. Nobody will fault you if you need to shower afterward (and perhaps douse yourself in bleach).
The possible reasons behind Ubisoft delaying the earnings report it was expected to release last week were the subject of much discussion, especially given the companys well-documented issues in recent times. But we now know that the delay was forced by an accounting issue relating to its soon-to-be finalized transaction with Tencent.

As detailed in Ubisofts now-published first-half 2025-26 earnings figures, the company was required to restate its FY2024-25 accounts, concerning revenue for this period attributed to sales from a partnership. "This position now applied by the Group going forward has also resulted in a partnership signed in Q2 FY2025-26 not being recognized in IFRS15 revenues," the company said. "The above results in the Company not complying with its leverage covenant ratio under certain existing financing agreements at September 30, 2025. However, this is being addressed by the aforementioned actions relating to the concerned debt instruments."

With the report now published, Ubisoft has asked Euronext to resume trading its shares. And while the accounting snag led to the week-long delay, the French company said that its deal with Tencent is set to close in "the coming days," with the imminent 1.16 billion ($1.36 billion) investment expected to help the company pay off outstanding debt. Once finalized, the partnership will also "enable the acceleration" of Vantage Studios, the new Ubisoft subsidiary in which Tencent will own a 25 percent stake. The new studio will be responsible for Ubisofts three biggest IPs: Assassins Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six.

Ubisoft reported net bookings of 491 million ($564 million) this quarter, which it said was a 39 percent year-on-year increase. The company said that Assassins Creed Shadows, which is getting a Switch 2 port next month, had overperformed this quarter, likely helped by arrival of its New Game+ mode in the summer.
Happy Friday! As the annual tech discount chaos of Black Friday approaches (good deal here and here and several more here ), European policymakers have proposed easing some of the EUs strictest regulations on artificial intelligence and data privacy. The move aims to remove roadblocks for tech companies and stimulate business growth in the region, potentially marking a major pivot away from the blocs reputation as the industrys toughest regulator.

Changes would allow AI companies to access shared personal data to train their models, while also overhauling GDPR cookie rules. Instead of constant pop-ups, users could set preferences once in their browser and give consent with a single click. (OK, Im onboard with that.)

Strict rules for high-risk AI applications, originally set for next summer, may be delayed until proper support tools are in place. Critics are warning this could be seen as Europe bowing to pressure from Big Tech and political shifts in the US. The proposal now heads to the European Parliament.

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The news you might have missed

FoloToys Kumma was willing to talk about BDSM and knives.

FoloToy

A company selling AI-enabled toys suspended sales after a consumer safety report found few restrictions on what its toys would say. The report, by the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, found FoloToys products would discuss everything from sexually explicit topics, like BDSM, to advice on where a child can find matches or knives. The toys all appear to use OpenAIs GPT-4o model to respond naturally to childrens questions and comments. Missing from that setup was apparently hard limits on subjects the toys would respond to.

FoloToy has opted to suspend sales of its products while it conducts a company-wide, end-to-end safety audit across all products.

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xAI appears to be nuking posts claiming its CEO is fitter than LeBron James.

xAI is once again nuking a bunch of posts from Grok on X after the chatbot made a series of outrageous claims. The company isnt only cleaning up a bunch of pro-Hitler posts but also a bout of cringe-inducing sycophantic praise for its CEO, Elon Musk. Over the last couple of days, Grok began offering extremely over-the-top opinions about Musk. The bot claimed Musk is the undisputed pinnacle of holistic fitness and that he is fitter than LeBron James (hah!). It also said he is smarter than Einstein and would win a fight against Mike Tyson.

Musk is blaming adversarial prompting for Grok going off the rails. Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me, he wrote. He did not explain how straightforward questions could be considered adversarial.

Continue reading.

A strong case for an indoor pizza oven.

Engadget

Two years ago, Ooni attempted the indoor pizza-making party with the Volt 12. It had its flaws, but there were enough redeeming features (and interest) to warrant a follow up. The Volt 2 ($699) is a complete overhaul, with a slicker design, which is slightly smaller than the first generation. Its also cheaper than the original. Read on for the full review.

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Farewell, Friday work commitments.

The Chrono Divide project (via PC Gamer) lets you play the 2000 RTS Red Alert 2 in Chrome, Edge or Safari. It even works in mobile browsers. It supports cross-platform multiplayer using all the original maps. Red Alert 2s single-player campaign modes are still a work in progress for now. The projects website said: The end-goal is reaching feature parity with the original vanilla Red Alert 2 engine.

Continue reading.
Diddy faces the harsh realities of life inside Fort Dix federal prison, where former inmate Joe Giudice described an environment rife with violence, mental instability, and rampant sexual misconduct.

Giudice, who spent 41 months at the New Jersey facility from 2016 to 2019 for a federal fraud conviction, gave a firsthand account of daily chaos that he says may be witnessed by the music mogul. According to Giudice, the prison's atmosphere is always unpredictable and sometimes disturbing.

Giudice recounted his daily routines and the shocking scenes he frequently witnessed. "I got up at, like, three or four in the morning to go to the bathroom and you would see the craziest things in there, people you would never imagine," Giudice told Page Six.

He further described an environment in which inmate behavior often goes unchecked. He recalled a lack of guard intervention during nighttime activity. "[The guards] hear the shower going at night, and they just look the other way," he said.

Giudice also spoke about the violence he had witnessed among the inmates. His statement begins with an observation that led him to confirm conflict even over very trivial matters. "I've seen people get stabbed over an onion. You ain't in there with the most stable people," he said.

Per AllHipHop, another former inmate echoed the same sentiment by describing Fort Dix as chaotic and volatile. "I was there a day and a half, and I [told a] kid [I just met], 'This isn't a jail, this is an insane asylum!' and he agreed. It was a zoo," said another inmate.

Despite these accounts, Giudice believes Diddy may fare well if he avoids drawing attention. "As long as he keeps a low profile and doesn't try to act like a big shot, he'll be fine," Giudice said.

Diddy was moved to Fort Dix from Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center after being convicted in July on two counts relating to prostitution. While he dodged more serious convictions, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, he received 50 months in prison for transportation for prostitution violations.

Fort Dix is a low-security facility that has housed high-profile white-collar offenders like Martin Shkreli. Diddy will likely stay there until his projected release in June 2028.

Originally published on Music Times
Wendy Williams is growing more worried about her safety and freedom as she believes her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, may be blocking her from the people she trusts most.

According to those close to the former talk-show host, Williams thinks her guardian is acting in retaliation after new reports suggested she may not have frontotemporal dementia aphasia, the condition she was previously believed to have.

A Mount Sinai representative would not confirm whether Williams was evaluated by neurologist Dr. Samuel Gandy, but insiders say she felt hopeful after hearing positive updates about her health, PageSix reported.

She had planned a dinner with friends on Wednesday to celebrate.

But the night quickly fell apart when she realized she could not reach her bodyguard.

"She couldn't get in touch with her bodyguard. She thinks Sabrina may have dismissed him," one source shared.

Williams lives on the memory-care floor of a luxury facility and is not allowed to leave without her bodyguard or Morrissey's approval.

Her niece, news anchor Alex Finnie, is the only other person allowed to take her out.

Friends believe this isn't the first time Williams' guardian has removed staff without warning. "She can't go anywhere without Sabrina signing off," a source explained, adding that Williams' estate pays the bills for security even though the people she depends on seem to disappear unexpectedly.

Wendy Williams fears her guardian, the Sabrina b-tch, is keeping her from friends as punishment https://t.co/QZYfxoaTOB pic.twitter.com/IRZPW82ik9  Page Six (@PageSix) November 21, 2025

Friends Fear Wendy Williams Is Being Isolated

The dinner celebrating Williams' improved health had been planned for two weeks. Comedian Luenell and former "Wendy" show producer Suzanne Bass were ready to surprise her at Max Tucci's TUCCI restaurant in New York City.

When Williams couldn't leave the facility, the group met without her. According to TotalNews, Luenell still called her, joking, "I was going to kiss you, hold your hand, all the stuff you don't like," before telling her, "I'm praying for you, queen."

Williams told Luenell she hopes to introduce her onstage during a Las Vegas show someday, "whenever she gets out of her guardianship," a source said. While the phone call was warm, friends agreed that the reunion would have been "much better in person."

Those close to Williams think her recent outingslike attending a wedding in Connecticutmay have upset Morrissey.

Her friends have even given the guardian a not-so-friendly nickname, feeling that Williams is being kept from people who care about her.

Her attorney, Joe Tacopina, did not comment directly on the bodyguard situation but said Williams is "not being protected."

He added, "She's being punished. What should've been a safeguard became a system of control that limited her voice, her choices, and her dignity. No guardianship should ever feel like a sentence."
Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Meghan King is facing serious trouble after reportedly giving her 7-year-old son unprescribed Ritalin, leading to a temporary loss of custody.

According to multiple sources, King gave the medication to her son Hayes even though he had not been diagnosed with ADHD and allegedly asked his school nurse to give it to him as well.

That request reportedly triggered a call to Child Protective Services, which began an investigation.

Sources say CPS contacted King's ex-husband, Jim Edmonds, who was at his home in Tennessee at the time.

Edmonds and his wife, Kortnie, quickly flew back to Missouri to address the situation. For now, Edmonds has temporary physical custody of their three childrenHayes, his twin brother Hart, and their older sister, Aspen, 8. King is allowed supervised visits twice a week.

A temporary restraining order is also in place. A December 9 court hearing will determine whether the current custody arrangement remains or if King regains more access to her kids.

Representatives for both King and Edmonds have not commented on the accusations, but the situation has drawn attention from people close to them.

According to PageSix, earlier Thursday, Kelly Dodd said on social media that she believes King is an "excellent" parent and hopes she "gets her babies back."

Meghan King Edmonds gets her children removed from her & loses custody #RHOC pic.twitter.com/CbXlAlnHZl  AllAboutTRH (@AllAboutTRH) November 19, 2025

Meghan King: Custody Situation Mischaracterized



This custody crisis follows a long history of conflict between King and Edmonds, who divorced in 2021.

Just months earlier, police were called to Edmonds' home after Kortnie reported that King entered the house without permission while trying to drop off clothing for Aspen.

King later said the situation was "mischaracterized," explaining that she stayed in the doorway, called out to her daughter, and left her items on the porch before being stopped by several police cars, DailyMail reported.

King's representative has insisted she has been the one "treated unfairly" in her dealings with Edmonds and said she had primary responsibility for the children until the CPS investigation began.

Edmonds and Kortnie have declined to comment on the current case but said they would "let the facts speak for themselves."

A school employee reportedly made the initial CPS call, not Edmonds or his wife. That call launched the investigation that now leaves King with limited contact with her children.

The December court hearing will decide whether King regains custody or if Edmonds' temporary custody becomes permanent.
Once "a person of interest," David Burke, also known as d4vd, is now being considered a suspect, which indicates that the police have found more clues that connect him to the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the incident.

According to a statement by Criminology Department Assistant Professor at Arkansas State University, Dr. Angelo Brown, the difference between those terms is very important.

He explained to the Daily Mail, "When investigators shift their focus from person of interest to suspect, it marks a significant and important change. A person of interest has an unclear meaning and can often refer to someone linked to the crime, such as someone believed to be present or connected to it."

In the early stages of the inquiry, police were reportedly focused on the fact that Burke's vehicle was used to hide the body. Brown noted that, given Burke's celebrity status and multiple cars, it would have been premature for investigators to assume he was responsible.

"In this case, they suspected David Anthony Burke by noting that his vehicle was used to hide the body, but if that's all the evidence they have, they are not yet considering him a suspect, especially given his status as a celebrity with a large entourage," he said.

Circumstantial Evidence and Challenges

D4vd is viewed as a suspect by investigators in the death of Celeste R.



(via TMZ) pic.twitter.com/WniDmhe5or  Kurrco (@Kurrco) November 18, 2025

Authorities believe Burke may have had assistance in the alleged dismemberment and disposal of Rivas Hernandez's body.

A police source told PEOPLE that while he has not been charged, he "has not been cooperative" with investigators, a claim that conflicts with earlier statements from the musician's representatives, who insisted he was "fully cooperating" with authorities.

The investigation is complicated by the condition of the body, which had begun decomposing by the time it was discovered on Sept. 8, one day after the teen's 15th birthday. Brown explained that decomposition, especially in Los Angeles' hot and dry climate, can significantly hinder forensic analysis.

Brown also stressed that some widely reported details, such as claims from the victim's mother that her daughter's boyfriend was "David," carry little legal weight on their own, as hearsay is generally inadmissible in court. "At the moment there is lots of circumstantial and hearsay evidence," he said.

Investigative Strategy

Experts say it is likely that investigators are shifting their focus from simply gathering general evidence to creating a timeline and story that will help them understand how everything is related.

According to Brown, the fact that Burke has been labeled a suspect may imply that the police have found new, more direct evidence, such as digital data, a witness statement, or physical evidence.

"While becoming a suspect is very meaningful... it is likely they have found some more direct evidence tying the suspect to part of the crime," he explained.

Even so, Brown emphasized that the label does not mean Burke is officially charged. Instead, it gives police the ability to seek further warrants for searches, forensic testing, and additional evidence collection.

He also pointed out that investigators are proceeding carefully, given Burke's resources and high-profile legal team, ensuring that all evidence is admissible and that procedures are properly followed.

"While D4vd is a millionaire, he likely has a strong defense team, so investigators must ensure every step is done by the book to prevent evidence from being inadmissible or thrown out," Brown said.

As the case advances, authorities are balancing the public's desire for information with the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. Brown cautioned that the police are likely withholding details that could compromise the case.

"Additionally, the police probably have a lot of evidence and facts they are not releasing publicly... Without knowing what they know, this assessment is based solely on the limited information made available," he said.

Originally published on Music Times
Fatima Bosch, Miss Mexico, has been crowned Miss Universe 2025 at this year's competition. Her win came after a tense round with 5 other finalists from Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Cote d'Ivoire.

Bosch, 25, was crowned by Victoria Kjr Theilvig, the exiting queen, after a month of scandals, accidents, and incredible events.

Miss Thailand Pravenaar Singh was the first finalist, respectively. Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali, Miss Philippines Athisa Manalo and Miss Cote D'Ivoire Olivia Yace completed the group of the five semifinalists.

Bosch advanced through the preliminary rounds with strength, securing a spot in the Top 30 along with her Latin American peers. She then moved on to the Top 12 and ultimately into the Top 5 finalists, a strong showing for Mexico. In her live interview round (Top 5 stage), Bosch was asked about "the challenges of being a woman in 2025" and responded that she would use her voice in service of others.

From Tabasco to the world

Fatima Bosch Fernandez hails from Santiago de Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, and on 13 September 2025, she was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025. She studied Fashion & Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, and pursued additional studies at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA. Fatima also publicly shared how she battled dyslexia and ADHD during her school years, now turning those challenges into a platform for advocacy on neurodiversity.

On September 13, 2025, Fatima became the winner of the national title Miss Universe Mexico 2025, representing her home state of Tabascomaking her the first woman from that state ever to hold the title and be sent to compete internationally at Miss Universe 2025.

Earlier this month, at a pre-pageant sash-presentation event in Thailand, the pageant's director for the host country, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly criticized Mexico's delegate, Fatima Bosch, accusing her of failing to participate in a promotional shoot.

The exchange was captured on livestream, and Itsaragrisil reportedly publicly called Bosch "dumb" and had security escort her out when she attempted to defend herself. Several other contestants walked out in solidarity. In the aftermath, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, the owner of the Miss Universe Organization, condemned the incident as "humiliation and abuse" and announced swift measures to restore order.

Originally published on Latin Times
Kate Middleton is reportedly not bothered by Meghan Markle's new media project and that she finds the time of the duchess's next Netflix holiday special more funny than irritating.

Markle's holiday episode of "With Love, Meghan" will be aired on Dec. 3, only two days before Catherine is hosting her annual "Together at Christmas" carol service at Westminster Abbey.

While the close timing drew attention across royal-watching circles, those familiar with the situation have described the princess as relaxed and confident about her event's prominence.

Markle previewed the special on Instagram, encouraging viewers to "embrace traditions and make new ones this holiday season."

Netflix said the program will feature her Montecito home decorated for the holidays and will share "simple how-tos" for meals, crafts and seasonal gatherings.

Let the festivities begin. With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration arrives December 3!  pic.twitter.com/6zYZkWyrC3  Netflix (@netflix) November 19, 2025

A Repeating Pattern Around Royal Events

The release comes on the heels of another recent scheduling overlap, when Prince Harry publicized details of a Vancouver visit soon after Prince William completed a major engagement in Brazil. Harry's spokesperson denied any coordinated timing.

Those familiar with the Wales household say Catherine has taken note of the December scheduling pattern but is not rattled by it.

According to Radar Onlineshe reportedly saw Markle's announcement and "just laughed," describing the duchess's move as "petty" but ultimately inconsequential.

In private, she has expressed confidence that her carol service, now one of the royal family's most watched annual broadcasts, will "outshine and crush anything Meghan puts out."

People close to the princess describe her mindset as calm and grounded. They say she believes the event's tone, charitable mission and strong public reception speak for themselves.

Catherine the Princess of Wales - AKA the Queen of Christmas  pic.twitter.com/Hxme60mYbm  Belle (@RoyallyBelle_) November 14, 2025

How the Sussexes' Hollywood Pivot Ties In

Markle's holiday special arrives as the Sussexes deepen their work in the United States, a shift that has also drawn Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice into renewed public speculation.

According to another Radar Online report, Harry has been encouraging his cousins, particularly Eugenie, to spend more time in California as their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, face intense scrutiny following the stripping of their remaining royal honors.

Eugenie has reportedly felt "really exposed and vulnerable" in London as criticism surrounding her family escalates.

Harry and Markle have maintained a close relationship with Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who were among the first royals to visit the couple in the U.S.

Those familiar with the dynamic have described Harry as protective, noting that he does not want his cousins "dragged under" by backlash tied to their father.

They also say the Sussexes have emphasized the professional opportunities available to the princess in the United States, including the potential to contribute to Markle's creative ventures or Harry's Invictus-related work.

Critics, however, have interpreted the outreach as a bid to build what they describe as a "royal rebels" faction outside the monarchy. Those close to Harry dispute the characterization, insisting his concern stems from family loyalty rather than a desire to escalate tensions with the palace.
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Farmers from across the North East are preparing to bring central Newcastle to a standstill on Sunday 23 November, as a tractor rally led by Northumberland-based Farmers Unite steps up pressure on the government to rethink controversial tax plans affecting family farms.

The demonstration follows a large protest in Morpeth earlier this year, after which Northumberland County Council passed a motion opposing the governments proposed overhaul of inheritance tax relief.

Farmers say rising costs and planned tax changes, which roll out from April 2026, risk forcing long-standing family-run holdings to sell land or key assets simply to stay afloat.

Organisers expect tractors to roll in from Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and North Yorkshire, forming what they describe as a show of strength for countryside protection, high-quality British food, and solidarity with families struggling with bills.

Organiser Kezz Stone said the January protest appeared to prompt ministers to pause and listen, but claimed that last month they backtracked on earlier signals.

Now, our message is very clear, this is governments last chance, he said. He added that the ancient kingdom of Northumbria is awake, banging its drum and chanting were still here. and predicted that everyone will hear the mighty Toon Army roar in unison when farmers, families and supporters gather at Greys Monument for a peaceful demonstration.

Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, who spoke at the Morpeth rally, said the scale and determination of the movement should not be underestimated. These guys dont mess about, he said, describing the organisers as a Northern farmers army reminding Westminster that they wont go quietly into the night. He urged ministers to overturn what he called its hated family farm tax.

The rally comes as national pressure mounts on the government to abandon its inheritance tax reforms, with more than 100 farming organisations, retailers and food supply businesses urging the prime minister to halt changes they say would hit working farmers hardest.

In a letter sent days before the autumn budget, the group called the proposal unjust and unfair, warning it could lead to forced sales and significant and unexpected tax bills.

Signatories include the NFU, major retailers such as Aldi, Asda, Lidl and Morrisons, as well as processors including Arla. They argue that tightening agricultural and business property relief would deter investment, damage rural economies and weaken the UKs food security.

Meanwhile, farmers and Labour MPs mounted their own coordinated intervention earlier this week after months of constituency discussions built growing concern among rural Labour supporters.

More than 12,000 people have written to MPs, and further demonstrations  including a large tractor protest in London ahead of the chancellors 26 November budget  are already being planned.

Many farmers say the plan to cap agricultural and business property relief at 1 million ignores the reality of farm finances: high land values paired with modest household incomes, often supplemented by tax credits.

They warn that the reforms would undermine succession planning, stall investment and place the heaviest burden on the next generation of farmers.
MPs from across the political spectrum have warned the government not to abandon British growers, urging ministers to act before the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme shuts at the end of December with no replacement in sight.

The group has written to the Defra Secretary calling for urgent support to safeguard the UKs fruit and vegetable sector, which contributes 4.3 billion to the economy.

They fear the closure of the long-running scheme on 31 December 2025  without any successor  will trigger a drop in domestic production from next year.

The scheme currently provides matched funding for producer organisations to invest in innovation, modern equipment, productivity improvements and sustainability measures, support growers say is essential for keeping costs under control.

With the autumn budget only days away, MPs are pressing the chancellor and Defra to announce a new programme that gives growers certainty and co-investment.

Their letter, coordinated by Terry Jermy MP, warns that the absence of equivalent support leaves producers in England and Wales at a disadvantage compared with their EU counterparts and those in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where devolved governments have extended their schemes.

Food security is national security, the letter states, adding that failure to act now would be a grave mistake. MPs say the end of support risks hitting rural employment, increasing reliance on imports and pushing up food prices during a period of global instability.

Terry Jermy MP said the situation was about protecting Britains ability to feed itself and assist our excellent farmers and growers. He argued that if ministers genuinely value food security, they must do everything possible to strengthen the sector.

The Fruit and Vegetable Aid scheme is well-established and it works  we need to support it, he said, noting that the upcoming Budget is the last opportunity to commit to continued backing before the scheme ends.

Patrick Bastow, chair of the UK Fruit & Vegetable Association, said the governments decision to close the scheme had created a serious gap in support.

He warned that without urgent replacement funding, growers face an impossible choice between cutting production or ceasing operations altogether.

He added that the horticulture sector is one of the most innovative areas of British agriculture and plays a vital role in underpinning the countrys food manufacturing base.

The sector now awaits the budget for clarity, with growers warning that decisions made in the coming days will determine whether home-grown fruit and vegetable production can remain viable into 2026 and beyond.
Producers have urged ministers to take immediate action after a sharp rise in Ukrainian egg imports raised fears that British free range producers are being undercut by products produced to lower welfare standards.

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) has held urgent meetings with Defra to warn that UK support for Ukraine must not come at the expense of domestic egg producers operating under some of the worlds highest welfare and food safety standards.

Since late 2024, producers have seen a surge in Ukrainian egg products entering the UK, a trend linked to the EU tightening controls on Ukrainian poultry and eggs entering the single market. BFREPA says displaced volumes are now being redirected to the UK, destabilising the domestic market.

BFREPA stresses that the bulk of Ukrainian imports are not going through retail but into foodservice and food manufacturing  sectors with the weakest origin labelling and poorest traceability. This means consumers often have no idea if they are eating products made to welfare standards banned in the UK.

The organisation argues that British producers cannot be expected to compete with imports produced in systems long banned in the UK, insisting that if it is illegal to produce here, then it should be illegal to import. BFREPA has repeatedly stressed that this principle is essential if the UK egg industry is to remain viable.

To escalate its concerns, BFREPA has joined forces with the British Egg Industry Council, the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and Animal Policy International, writing directly to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The cross-sector letter calls for urgent action ahead of the forthcoming review of tariff suspensions, including ensuring that imported eggs meet welfare and production standards equivalent to those applied to UK producers.

It also urges the government to introduce volume limits with annual reviews to prevent further market disruption and to recognise the sensitivity of the egg sector in future trade decisions.

BFREPA Chairman James Baxter said British producers take enormous pride in delivering food produced to exceptionally high welfare, food safety and environmental standards, but warned that no sector can survive when competing against imports produced more cheaply in systems banned in Britain.

He said the associations support for Ukraine was steadfast, but insisted it must not undermine the investment UK egg producers have made in improving welfare. He added that BFREPA is asking the government to act swiftly to restore fairness and protect the long-term strength of British egg production.

Alongside BFREPAs campaign, the NFU has also been lobbying government on the wider implications of the UKUkraine Free Trade Agreement.

The UK suspended tariffs and quotas on all Ukrainian goods in 2022 as part of its response to the Russian invasion, later extending the measure to 2029  except for poultry meat and eggs, where liberalisation was limited to a two-year extension following NFU pressure.

That extension expires in March 2026, and the NFU has submitted detailed evidence calling for any continuation of tariff easements to be time-limited, volume-capped and subject to annual review.

The NFU has also warned that Ukrainian imports have risen year on year, reducing returns to domestic producers and eroding confidence in a sector already hit by soaring production costs, persistent labour shortages and the ongoing impact of avian influenza.

The union says differences in welfare rules give Ukrainian producers a significant cost advantage, creating an unlevel playing field.

Both BFREPA and the NFU acknowledge the importance of continued support for Ukraine during the war, but argue that such support must be balanced with safeguarding vulnerable UK sectors.

They have called on ministers to ensure that any future trade easements include strict standards-equivalence conditions and clearly defined safeguard mechanisms.

As the government prepares to review tariff suspensions and Ukraines market access in early 2026, producer groups say the decisions made now will be crucial to whether British egg and poultry producers can stay competitive, with farmers awaiting clarity on the review.
Sharp swings in farm incomes have exposed the fragility of farm finances, the NFU has warned, urging the chancellor to deliver stability in the budget as new Defra figures reveal dramatic year-to-year fluctuations.

Defras latest Farm Business Income data, covering March 2024 to February 2025, shows increases in most sectors except horticulture and specialist pig production.

But the NFU says the figures mask an even tougher year ahead, as they do not include the difficult 2025 harvest or the impact of the summer drought on feed and forage costs.

The survey continues a long-term pattern of extreme fluctuation. After a strong run for arable farmers between 2021 and 2023, income collapsed by 73% as yields fell and global prices dropped.

The dairy sector experienced a similar shock, with incomes plunging 68% in 2023/24 following cuts in the price paid for milk. Although the latest data indicates some recovery, farmgate milk prices have recently been cut again by up to 6p per litre, with some cheese contracts down by as much as 8p.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the figures highlight the scale of instability farmers face. The impact of volatility is written large in these new Farm Business Income figures, he said, noting that farmers already contend with extreme weather, fluctuating global markets and rising costs.

He argued that while producers accept income will vary, it doesnt seem like the government does, pointing to what he called the snap decision to impose a crippling tax on family farm businesses at the last budget.

Mr Bradshaw said domestic policy must offer more certainty if farmers are to withstand external volatility. He warned that government choices  including the US trade deal, bioethanol policy and upcoming EU SPS talks  have already shaped demand and competitiveness. Boosting dairy exports, he added, would provide a more stable income base.

He warned that some horticulture businesses have already seen employment costs rise by hundreds of thousands of pounds due to last years tax changes, while others now face steep increases in electricity standing charges.

Meanwhile, many family farms across the UK have paused investment or expect to sell land simply to meet an inheritance tax bill this government promised it wouldnt impose.

Mr Bradshaw said the budget offers the chancellor the chance to do right by Britains farmers by rethinking the family farm tax and using fiscal levers such as a higher Annual Investment Allowance and enhanced capital allowances to support business planning and investment.

He said these steps would signal that government understands how agricultural businesses operate and that greater stability is essential to building resilience and protecting home-grown food production.

The income data also shows that food production is no longer the main driver of profitability for many farms. In arable and livestock sectors, diversification and agri-environment schemes now provide essential support, yet delays to environmental payments in 2024 left many farmers struggling to plan.

With the Rural Payments Agency expected to begin payments from 1 December, the NFU is urging the agency to deliver at least 90% of Countryside Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship payments by the end of December, with partial payments issued in the New Year for any outstanding claims, to protect farm cashflow.

NFU Deputy President David Exwood said environmental schemes are vital but come with huge levels of uncertainty because farmers have little idea when payments will arrive within a six-month window.

He said delayed or unpredictable payments make managing cashflow incredibly difficult, especially after a year of poor weather, rising input costs and continuing reductions in direct payments.

With farming confidence at a low ebb, industry leaders say next weeks budget will reveal whether government intends to restore stabilityor allow volatility to deepen further.
NFU Cymru has warned that Welsh government tax rules for self-catering accommodation are pushing many diversified farm businesses to breaking point.

Farmers across Wales say they have been encouraged for years to diversify, yet many self-catering units are now falling short of the requirement introduced in April 2023, pushing them into significant council tax liabilities.

The policy requires self-catering properties to be available for 252 days and actually let for 182 days a year to qualify for business rates. Anyone falling short is reclassified as a second home and hit with council tax bills that, in some areas, attract premiums of up to 300%.

For a large number of farm enterprises, what was intended to be a supplementary and stabilising income stream has instead become a source of financial strain.

In its response to the Welsh government consultation on the classification of self-catering properties for local tax purposes, the union said members consistently report difficulty reaching 182 bookable days.

While ministers have proposed an averaging rule to smooth out fluctuations in bookings, NFU Cymru argues that this does not go nearly far enough for genuine Welsh farm-based holiday units.

The union points out that tourism patterns, weather, farming workload and school holiday changes all influence booking levels  factors beyond the control of farm businesses trying to balance core agricultural work with diversified income.

NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman Hedd Pugh said many farmers had diversified in good faith with Welsh government support, yet around 40% of self-catering businesses now fail to meet the threshold.

This indicates that the target is simply too high and is stifling confidence, investment and job creation in rural communities, he said, adding that the union wants a more realistic figure based on robust data.

He said members had warned about the impact before the rule was introduced, and that these concerns have now materialised, with stress and uncertainty rising at a time when farmers are already grappling with wider financial pressures, including inheritance tax changes.

NFU Cymru also highlighted the broader consequences for rural Wales. Fewer visitors mean less spending in pubs, shops and local services, while the running costs of rural businesses continue to increase.

The recent reduction in school summer holiday weeks, which is set to tighten peak-season demand, is expected to make booking challenges even harder for operators reliant on seasonal trade.

The union is urging Welsh government to adopt a data-driven, flexible solution reflecting the realities of self-catering provision in rural Wales, arguing that a more workable approach would help safeguard vital diversified income streams that support farming families and the rural economy.

NFU Cymru said it will continue pressing for policies that support diversification and the long-term resilience of Welsh farming.
Men We Love

Rhythm Sudhir Wagholikar

Author & Columnist

An author, columnist, and social activist from Pune, Rhythm Wagholikar is celebrated for seamlessly blending art, culture, and social justice through literary innovation. With a background in hospitality, he co-founded Rachana Rhythm with Rachana Shah, transforming books into works of art that merge visual design with storytelling.



His inventive approach is evident in his tributes to musical legends Swarlata: Rhythmic Reminisces of Lata Didi takes the shape of a gramophone record, while The Soul-Stirring Voice  Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar mirrors the form of a swaramandal. His literary journey also reflects a deep social conscience, as seen in The Urge to Fly, the life story of a transgender activist. For this work, he was honoured with the Mahatma Gandhi Samman at the House of Commons in London, becomi ghe youngest Indian to receive the distinction.



This year is long-standing experiments in crafting books as sculptural narratives, whether shaped like a gramophone record or a swaramandal, have found resonance with diverse audiences. Opportunities to speak, collaborate, and appear on platforms he once admired from afar have turned into meaningful realities. The legacy he and Rachana share through Rachana Rhythm has become a living ecosystem, dynamic, collaborative, and deeply connected. For Rhythm, 2025 is no longer about proving the merit of his method; its about witnessing the ripple effect of stories that unite social purpose, cultural memory, and aesthetic courage.



My success mantra is simple but demanding: integrity in imagination. The desire for recognition must never override the responsibility to tell a story honestly and beautifully. I believe in consistency over brilliance; a brilliant moment dazzles, but consistency builds legacy and trust, he says. He adds that Rachana and his parents taught him to anchor himself in service: True success lives on tomorrow in the gestures that change someones life.

true success lives on in the gestures that change someones life



Sportspersons. Actors. Musicians. Singers. Entrepreneurs. Designers. Filmmakers. And many more Feminas Mens Special for 2025 celebrates men who have impressed us with their work and kept us watching, learning, and anticipating! Cheers to this years standouts



The Men We Love: Shah Rukh Khan, Actor
Farhan Akhtars fans can finally celebrate his much-awaited return to acting. After stepping away for a few years post Toofan in 2021, he is back on screen with 120 Bahadur. Directed by Razneesh 'Razy' Ghai, the film marks his comeback through a powerful role as Major Shaitan Singh, bringing him back into a space of intense and emotional storytelling.





The movie revisits the Battle of Rezang La from the 1962 Sino Indian War, where 120 Ahir soldiers from Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment stood their ground against thousands of Chinese troops. Raashii Khanna plays Shagun Kanwar, the wife of Major Shaitan Singh, adding an emotional layer to the story. Now that the film is out, users have already started sharing their thoughts. One user called it a heartfelt tribute to the 120 heroes of Rezang La, while another said he got emotional while watching it. Scroll down to see more reactions from the audience.



Got the opportunity to watch 120 Bahadur at paid preview and honestly I'm Hooked. Real story with real emotions and and epic real tribute. Farhan ji ne dil jeet liya with this one. pic.twitter.com/6sVRQQiVqW    (@irajendrashukla) November 21, 2025

My wife asked why my eyes are red, told her 120 Bahadur paid preview dekhi! Yaar kya film hai! Rezang La heroes ki real story so beautifully shown. Farhan kept it honest. Emotional climax! Highly recommend! pic.twitter.com/1WwCn2xkPh  Dr Gill (@ikpsgill1) November 19, 2025

Just watched #FarhanAkhtars #120Bahadur and Im quietly shaken. He doesnt just act the role he breathes it. Every moment feels lived, honest, deeply felt. One of his most moving performances, cant wait for you all to feel it too.  pic.twitter.com/73Pkj9rUSZ  Bharti Dubey (@bharatidubey) November 20, 2025

Saw #120Bahadur Bahadur-WOW! This is not just a movie, it's a tribute to 120 heroes of Rezang La. Emotional kar diya end mein. Best film of 2025 hands down. pic.twitter.com/foaoQi8eJP  Cool Refrigeration (@CoolRefrig68438) November 21, 2025

There is a scene in #120Bahadur where Shaitan Singh Bhati eliminates the Chinese who have ambushed a village.



A long shot through the narrow lanes, eliminating one threat after the other, only to reveal the larger threat of 3000 soldiers marching towards Rezang La!



Brilliant   ANMOL JAMWAL (@jammypants4) November 21, 2025



Also Read: Farhan Akhtar tells fans why 120 Bahadur is Lakshya 2 during an interaction


Tara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya have once again set social media buzzing, this time with a playful yet eyebrow-raising moment that many believe hints at an impending engagement. A new video from Taras Maldives birthday celebration has gone viral, featuring Tara referring to Veer as her husband, prompting fans to question whether Veer Pahariya popped the questionn





Shot during her tropical birthday getaway, the clip features Tara dressed in a shimmery golden outfit alongside close friend Orry, who often appears in candid celebrity videos. In the now-viral footage, Tara jokingly confronts him: Have you been sleeping with my husband? Orry casually replies, Yeah, glancing toward Veer standing behind him. Tara, dramatically taken aback, demands, How do you sleep at night? to which Orry mischievously responds, With your husband. Veer then quickly gestures a surprised denial as Tara screams at Orrys audacity, ending the video on a humorous note.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Orhan Awatramani (@orry)





Fans flooded the comment section with speculation and excitement. Husband?? one user exclaimed, while another wondered, What??? Tarasutaria got married? Others joked about Tara and Janhvi Kapoor  who is dating Veers elder brother Shikhar Pahariya  imagining the actresses as future jethani-devrani. Tara responded to the clip with a simple Ded, while Veer added hiding-eyes emojis, further fuelling curiosity.





Tara and Veers romance first grabbed headlines in July when Veer left a flirtatious My  comment on Taras Instagram post, to which she replied, Mine. Since then, the couple has grown increasingly public with their affection  from hand-in-hand red carpet appearances to openly posting about each other. The Maldives video has only intensified chatter that a formal announcement may be close.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA (@tarasutaria)





On the work front, Tara Sutaria is gearing up for the Kannada period-gangster film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. The film also stars Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani among others. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film is slated for release in 2026.





With Tara casually dropping the husband tag, fans are convinced that wedding bells might be ringing sooner than expected.



Also Read: Tara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya Step Out Looking Effortlessly Stylish
View this post on Instagram A post shared by KVN Productions (@kvn.productions)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KVN Productions (@kvn.productions)

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With Jana Nayagan moving into its final promotional stretch, the team has locked December 27 for the films audio launch in Kuala Lumpur. The choice of venue alone tells you the scale they are aiming for. Bukit Jalil Stadium, one of the largest event spaces in Southeast Asia, is preparing to host thousands of fans as Vijay returns to Malaysia after three years.The announcement came with a video montage that has been circulating widely among fans. Rather than a glossy highlight reel, the clip feels like a straightforward look at Vijays evolution on screen. It revisits hits that shaped different phases of his career, from Khushi and Ghilli to Thuppakki, Mersal, Master and Leo. The edit works because it taps into the familiarity of these films, reminding viewers of how consistently Vijay has held his place in the mainstream.One of the talking points around the montage is the inclusion of Malaysian fans who share what Vijay means to them personally. Their stories give the video a grounded tone. A young fan speaks about following his work since childhood. Another explains how his films pushed her through difficult periods. A student says she considers Vijay the brother she never had and hopes to hear him say Kutty Story live at the event. These moments cut through the usual promotional material and underline why Malaysia has remained one of his strongest overseas hubs.Crowds for Vijays earlier visits to the country have always been large, and the expectation is no different this time. Local fan clubs are already coordinating travel, and social media chatter suggests a pan Asian turnout. For many, this is an opportunity to be part of a milestone in the final phase of his film career.Jana Nayagan is directed by H Vinoth and features Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj and Gautham Vasudev Menon in key roles. The film is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions and is scheduled for a global release on January 9 ahead of Pongal.The project carries added weight because it arrives in the same year Vijay announced that he will step away from cinema after completing his current commitments. That announcement has shaped the way fans and the industry view Jana Nayagan, giving every promotional update a sense of finality.The audio launch is expected to showcase the films music, bring the principal cast together on stage and offer a closer look at the tone of the film. More than anything, it is likely to serve as a gathering point for fans who want to mark this chapter in person.As the date approaches, the event has already positioned itself as one of the biggest public celebrations of Vijays career. And for a star who has commanded such loyalty over nearly three decades, the scale feels fitting.Also Read
Critic's rating 3.0 /5

Set during the brutal 1962 Sino-Indian War, 120 Bahadur chronicles the legendary Battle of Rezang La in Ladakh. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (played by Farhan Akhtar) commands Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, a small band of 120 soldiers, mostly from the Ahir community, tasked with holding a remote mountain pass. As Chinese troops vastly outnumber them, Singh rallies his men with the defiant refrain, Hum peeche nahin hatenge (We shall not fall back). Despite brutal conditions, bone-chilling cold, rugged terrain and no reinforcements, the men fight on, refusing to surrender, even as they take heavy casualties. When Major Shaitan Singh is grievously wounded, he orders his men to continue the battle in his stead. In the end, almost all of them perish, making their stand a heroic, last-man-last-round sacrifice. The story is narrated via the recollections of one of the few surviving soldiers, giving a deeply emotional tribute to courage, brotherhood, and duty. Several of the soldiers got posthumously awarded with the Shaurya Chakra and Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously given the Param Veer Chakra, Indias highest military honour.





The film constantly evokes JP Duttas Border, the motifs of comrades-in-arms, patriotic sacrifice, remote high-altitude outposts, and the tension-filled build-up to a climactic last stand, juxtaposed with glimpses of family life of the soldiers, especially Shaitaan Singh, feel very similar in spirit.. Razneesh Razy Ghai anchors the film in a visually immersive war zone, staging combat sequences with an immediacy that is rare in Hindi war dramas. The high-altitude terrain, the crunch of snow under boots, the fatigue etched across the soldiers faces, the film achieves a tactile realism that draws the viewer directly into the Rezang La battlefield. Its action set-pieces are among its strongest assets, mounted with clarity and a grounded understanding of military manoeuvres. In those moments, the film rises to its fullest cinematic potential.At the centre of the narrative is Farhan Akhtar, who delivers one of his most restrained and compelling performances in recent years. As Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, he embodies quiet authority rather than bombast. His portrayal avoids the usual chest-thumping cliches; instead, he projects determination, doubt, empathy, and grit with an inward calm that makes the characters final stand both believable and deeply moving. Opposite him, Raashii Khanna, playing his wife, brings a quiet dignity and warmth to the film. She displays the best qualities of the quintessential army wife, resilience, emotional steadiness, and unwavering support, adding grace to an otherwise combat-heavy narrative.Yet 120 Bahadur is not without flaws. For a film built on such an inherently powerful historical episode, the pacing is surprisingly uneven. The narrative sometimes stalls in predictable emotional beats and stretched-out pre-battle passages, diluting the urgency that should build steadily towards the climax. Several supporting arcs feel sketched rather than lived-in, leaving the ensemble less fleshed out than the material warrants. Structurally too, the film leans on familiar tropes, voiceover framing, episodic flashbacks, patriotic montages, resulting in stretches that feel overlong and occasionally repetitive.Even with these shortcomings, 120 Bahadur remains a sincere, often stirring tribute elevated by superb combat realism and a commanding central performance.Also Read: Farhan Akhtar tells fans why 120 Bahadur is Lakshya 2 during an interaction
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: GPE) ("Focus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Research Capital Corporation as the sole underwriter and sole bookrunner, (the "Underwriter"), pursuant to which the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 8,333,400 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.42 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $3,500,028 (the "Offering").

Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.60 per Common Share for a period of 30 months following closing of the Offering.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for temporary working capital float, payments required before reimbursement, technical and qualification materials associated with the Government of Canada's Global Partnership Initiative and general corporate purposes.

The Company has granted to the Underwriter an option (the "Underwriters' Option") to increase the size of the Offering by up to an additional number of Units, and/or the components thereof, that in aggregate would be equal to 15% of the total number of Units to be issued under the Offering, exercisable at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering.

The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (collectively, the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"), in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions, including the United States. The Units offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will be immediately "free-trading" under applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's website at https://focusgraphite.com/. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about the week of December 8, 2025 (the "Closing"), or such other earlier or later date as the Underwriter may determine. Closing is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Underwriter will receive a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering and such number of broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants") as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Unit at an exercise price equal to $0.60 for a period of 30 months following the Closing.

This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.

Focus Graphite Advanced Materials is redefining the future of critical minerals with two 100% owned world-class graphite projects and cutting-edge battery technology. Focus Graphite's flagship Lac Knife project stands as one of the most advanced high-purity graphite deposits in North America, with a fully completed feasibility study. Lac Knife is set to become a key supplier for the battery, defense, and advanced materials industries.

Focus Graphite's Lac Tetepisca project further strengthens our portfolio, with the potential to be one of the largest and highest-purity and grade graphite deposits in North America. At Focus, they go beyond mining - we are pioneering environmentally sustainable processing solutions and innovative battery technologies, including our patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite, designed to enhance battery performance and efficiency.

Focus Graphite's commitment to innovation ensures a chemical-free, eco-friendly supply chain from mine to market. Collaboration is at the core of our vision. We actively partner with industry leaders, research institutions, and government agencies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation graphite materials. As a North American company, we are dedicated to securing a resilient, locally sourced supply of critical minerals - reducing dependence on foreign-controlled markets and driving the transition to a sustainable future.

For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit http://www.focusgraphite.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/

X: https://x.com/focusgraphite

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of the Offering and the timing thereof, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the exercise by the Underwriter of the Underwriter's Option, the timely receipt of all necessary approvals, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, including the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable 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 release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275405

SOURCE: Focus Graphite Inc.
Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQB: RYES) (the "Company" or "Rise Gold") is pleased to report that Mr. David Watkinson has been appointed as President and CEO of Rise Gold and President of the Company's wholly owned operating subsidiary, Rise Grass Valley Inc. Mr. Watkinson has also been appointed as a Director of the Company. In addition, Rise Gold announces the results of its Annual General Meeting held on November 19, 2025. All resolutions were passed, including the re-appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor until the next annual meeting, and approval of the Corporation's long-term incentive plan. Daniel Oliver was appointed Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Watkinson brings forty years of professional engineering experience in underground and open pit mine development and has held senior positions with Placer Dome Inc., Kinross Gold Corporation, Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada, and Vulcan Materials Company. He was also the President and CEO of Emgold Mining Corporation, which controlled Rise's wholly-owned Idaho-Maryland mine (the "I-M Mine") for approximately 25 years preceding Rise's purchase of the property.

Dan Oliver, Chairman of the Board of Rise Gold, commented: "Mr. Watkinson brings decades of technical knowledge about the I-M Mine and has kept an office in Nevada County (the "County") for approximately 20 years, making him known and respected in the local community. The board of directors is confident that Watkinson's leadership will help unlock the value of the I-M Mine."

The I-M Mine operated nearly-continuously from 1862 to 1957, producing an estimated 2.4 million ounces of gold at an average mill head grade of 0.50 ounces per ton (17.1 grams per tonne). From December 1955 through 1957, the mine produced tungsten with financial support from the Department of Defense. In 2024, the Company filed a writ of mandamus against Nevada County after County's supervisors failed to recognize Rise's constitutionally-protected vested right to operate the I-M Mine. The Company expects a verdict on the writ in the first quarter of 2026.

The Company further reports that Mr. Joe Mullin has resigned from the Board of Directors and as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 20, 2025, in order to pursue a new opportunity. Oliver commented: "Mr. Mullin joined the Company at a particularly challenging time, as the County was denying approval of the County's own 40,000-page Environmental Impact Report that reported only three significant impacts from the I-M Mining project: temporary construction noise, traffic at a single interaction already operating above capacity, and visual changes at the project site. He leaves the Company with a full treasury and a legal team committed to resisting the County's attempts to convert Rise's property for public use without compensation. The board of directors extends their appreciation to Joe for his efforts and wishes him success in his future endeavours."

The Company also announces that it has granted a total of 2,660,000 stock options to directors, officers, and consultants of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan dated October 17, 2025. The stock options are exercisable at a price of US$0.18 per share until November 20, 2030.

About Rise Gold Corp.

Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Daniel Oliver Jr.

Chairman

Rise Gold Corp.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are 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.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise Gold undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275408

SOURCE: Rise Gold Corp.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQB: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025 ("Q3 2025"). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Q3 2025 Highlights:

Royalty revenue earned of $430,334 and $1,592,860 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 ($211,942 and $541,773 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

Gold ounces earned from stream interests of 25 and 51 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 (215 and 671 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

Silver ounces earned from stream interests of 9,329 and 11,002 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 (nil for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

Total revenues of $879,473 and $2,179,871 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 ($730,024 and $2,114,221 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

Gross profit of $764,206 and $2,014,024 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 ($454,040 and $1,267,809 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

Net income of $1,724,494 and $1,834,093 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 (net loss of $137,648 and net income of $1,151,857 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024);

On September 30, 2025 the Company announced that it had entered into a binding term sheet with Mako Mining Corp. dated September 29, 2025, to acquire a five-year gold stream and a subsequent 2% NSR royalty on the permitted Mt. Hamilton Gold-Silver Project located in White Pine County, Nevada, USA. See the Company's news release dated September 29, 2025 for further details.

Repurchased for cancellation an aggregate of 631,100 common shares of the Company under the current normal course issuer bid for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 (1,347,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024); and

Declared quarterly dividends of $0.0125 per common share which were paid on April 15, 2025, July 15, 2025 and October 15, 2025 respectively.

Summary of Q3 2025 Results:





Three months ended September 30, 2025



Three months ended September 30, 2024



Nine months ended September 30, 2025



Nine months ended September 30, 2024

Condensed interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income

$



$



$



$



























Revenues

879,473



730,024



2,179,871



2,114,221

Gross profit

764,206



454,040



2,014,024



1,267,809

Net income (loss)

1,724,494



(137,648 )

1,834,093



1,151,857

Basic loss per share

0.02



(0.00 )

0.03



0.02

Diluted loss per share

0.02



(0.00 )

0.02



0.02





For complete details, please refer to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and associated Management Discussion and Analysis for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or on the Company's website (www.sailfishroyalty.com).

Subsequent to Q3 2025 Highlights:

Subsequent to September 30, 2025, the Company paid a dividend of $0.0125 per common share. The total dividend payment resulted in the issuance of 310,034 common shares under the Company's dividend reinvestment plan and a cash payment of $633,053.

About Sailfish

Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Within Sailfish's portfolio are three main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; an up to 3% NSR on the fully permitted multi-million ounce Spring Valley gold mine project in Pershing County, Nevada; and a 2% NSR on the Gavilanes Silver Project located in Durango State, Mexico.

Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275401

SOURCE: Sailfish Royalty Corp.
BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After an impactful first week at COP30, the Malaysia Pavilion is gearing up for week two as the country shifts focus to implementation, converting shared ambition into measurable progress for the region and the Global South. Key highlights of week one included dialogues on ecosystem restoration, financing mechanisms for climate resilience, and public-private partnerships that align national and regional goals.

The Pavilion's early-week energy carried through a strong showing of thought leadership, showcasing Malaysia's capacity to convene diverse voices to advance shared regional priorities. Building on these discussions, week two of COP30 deepens focus on collaboration, innovation, and actionable frameworks. Malaysia's agenda will centre on just transitions, nature-based solutions, and sustainable financing to ensure that regional aspirations translate into concrete results.

As Malaysia enters week two of COP30, the Pavilion continues to serve as a collaborative platform where government, industry, academia, civil society and youth exchange insights and forge pathways toward low-carbon growth. Anchored by the theme "Climate Action Now: Net Zero Pathways Unlocked," the Pavilion showcases Malaysia's efforts to integrate sustainability across national development.

Reflecting on Malaysia's aspirations for the second week, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), Dato' Sri Huang Tiong Sii, said, "Our theme speaks to the many pathways already taking shape across Malaysia, from renewable energy expansion to nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development. Each of these pathways reflects our collective effort to translate sustainability into real, lasting impact for people and the planet. As the world convenes here in Belem to review progress and share lessons, Malaysia's approach remains consistent to integrate sustainability into every dimension of national development through collaboration, knowledge and community empowerment."

Malaysia continues to cement its leadership in advancing regional climate collaboration. Building on the momentum from its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and its progress at COP30, Malaysia has laid strong foundations for harmonising carbon market standards, strengthening nature-based solutions frameworks, and safeguarding transboundary ecosystems. As the Chairmanship transitions to the Philippines, this continuity of vision and commitment remains intact ensuring that regional cooperation stays aligned, ambition is translated into tangible outcomes, and Southeast Asia remains a driving force in shaping global climate solutions

The updated target is aligned with Malaysia's Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LTLEDS), the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), ensuring that near-term actions reinforce Malaysia's long-term aspiration to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. NDC 3.0 also strengthens Malaysia's adaptation planning by outlining climate risks, sectoral priorities and resilience strategies in line with the Paris Agreement's enhanced transparency requirements.

Throughout the week, the Pavilion will also host Networking Sessions, Project Presentations and Fireside Chats, facilitating partnerships between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and international organisations.

The Malaysia Pavilion at COP30 is spearheaded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), implemented by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), and supported by leading national strategic partners,Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Maybank.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

From 17 to 20 November, the Malaysia Pavilion will host a diverse programme designed to advance regional dialogue and reinforce Malaysia's leadership role in sustainability and climate resilience:

Stewardship of Our Living Planet Measuring Wellbeing in an Era of Tipping Points by Sunway Centre for Planetary Health Narratives of Hope & Resilience by Universiti Malaya and Sunway Centre for Planetary Health 5 Years of the FACT Dialogue: Catalysing Sustainable Commodity Trade for Climate, Nature and Livelihoods by KPK Week 2 Opening Keynote by YB Dato' Sri Huang Tiong Sii





Emerging Voices for Change Youth on the Brink: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Change by Universiti Malaya and Sunway Centre for Planetary Health [Documentary Viewing] Malaysia's Last Tigers by RIMAU Climate Security at the Crossroads: Safeguarding Lives, Livelihoods and Stability in a Warming World by Universiti Malaya





Diverse Green & Blue Economy Flow of Resilience: Addressing the Water Paradox by SPAN and Air Selangor Stewardship of the Seas: Collaboration for the Blue Economy by Yayasan Hasanah and ALAM Closing Speech by YB Dato' Sri Huang Tiong Sii





Final Chapter: A Paradigm for Progress Beyond Belem: Insights & Implications for Malaysia & ASEAN Climate Pathway by MYD Malaysia Pavilion Closing Ceremony



Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2829228/Photo_1___YB_Dato__Sri_Huang_Tiong_Sii__Deputy_Minister_of_Natural_Resources_and_Environmental_Susta.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/malaysia-steers-aseans-climate-agenda-into-week-two-of-cop30-translating-aspirations-into-action-302622571.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - Cavalry Capital Corp. (TSXV: CVY.P) ("Cavalry" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated September 10, 2025 it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of subscription receipts (each, a "Subscription Receipt") on an oversubscribed basis. Cavalry issued an aggregate of 10,960,468 Subscription Receipts at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $2,740,117. Each Subscription Receipt will, upon satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions, be converted into one unit, each comprised of one post-Consolidation (as defined below) Cavalry common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Cavalry Warrant"). Each Cavalry Warrant will be exercisable for a period of 24 months from the escrow release date of the Subscription Receipts to purchase one post-Consolidation Cavalry common share at an exercise price of $0.35 per share.

Gary Lewis, Executive Director of Advanced Energy Fuels, Inc. said: "We are pleased to announce the successful closing of the Cavalry private placement, with the funds raised to be strategically deployed to support the completion of the pre-feasibility study at the South Woodie Woodie Manganese project in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. We are grateful for the overwhelming support from our existing shareholders and welcome new investors to the Company".

Brandon Bonifacio, CEO and President of Cavalry Capital Corp. said: "We are extremely pleased with the strong interest shown by existing and new investors and look forward to working with the Advanced Energy team to realize the potential of their exciting critical mineral projects, upon completion of the Transaction".

The proceeds of the Private Placement are being held in escrow by Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as subscription receipt agent pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement entered into with the Company dated November 20, 2025 (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement"). The escrowed funds shall be released to the Company upon the completion of certain escrow release conditions in connection with the Transaction (as defined below). In the event that the escrow release conditions are not satisfied or waived by December 31, 2025 or such later date as determined in accordance with the Subscription Receipt Agreement or, if prior to such time, the Company advises the subscription receipt agent that it does not intend to, or that it cannot, satisfy the escrow release conditions, then the outstanding Subscription Receipts shall be cancelled and terminated and the escrowed funds shall be returned to the subscribers of the Subscription Receipts.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company has agreed to pay aggregate cash finder's fees of $102,275 and grant an aggregate of 409,100 non-transferable finder warrants of the Company (each, a "Finder Warrant") to arm's length finders of the Company. Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one post-Consolidation common share of Cavalry at an exercise price of $0.35 per share, for a period of 24 months from the escrow release date of the Subscription Receipts. A total of $30,875 of the cash finder's fee were paid and 123,500 Finder Warrants were issued on closing of the Private Placement, with the remainder to be settled upon the escrow release date of the Subscription Receipts.

The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on March 21, 2026 in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

The completion of the Private Placement was a condition to the closing of its business combination with Advanced Energy Fuels, Inc. ("Advanced Energy"), as previously announced by Cavalry on May 16, 2025 and July 29, 2025 (the "Transaction"). Cavalry and Advanced Energy intend to use the proceeds of the Private Placement to advance the South Woodie Woodie Manganese Project located in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia (the "SWWM Project"), with the intention of advancing a pre-feasibility study on the SWWM Project. In connection with the Transaction, Cavalry will complete a consolidation of its outstanding share capital (the "Consolidation") on the basis of 1.66 pre-Consolidation Cavalry common shares for each post-Consolidation Cavalry common share, and the subscribers of the Private Placement will receive post-Consolidation securities of Cavalry upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts. The Transaction is intended to constitute the "Qualifying Transaction" of Cavalry, as such a term is defined in Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV. The Transaction, the Consolidation and the Private Placement are subject to the approval of the TSXV. For further information on the Transaction, see the Company's press release dated July 29, 2025.

On behalf of the board of directors of Cavalry:

Brandon Bonifacio,

President and CEO

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Cautionary Note

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a Capital Pool Company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction, the Consolidation, regulatory approval and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although Cavalry believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Cavalry can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Transaction or the Consolidation or that the ultimate terms of the Transaction and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated, and that the Transaction, the Consolidation and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Cavalry undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Cavalry, Advanced Energy, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed or, if completed, will be successful.

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/275415

SOURCE: Cavalry Capital Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - 37 Capital Inc. (CSE: JJJ) ("37 Capital" or the "Company"). Further to the Company's new releases dated September 26, October 17 and November 17, 2025, the Company has closed the third tranche of the equity financing for total gross proceeds of $90,625 and issued 725,000 units at the price of $0.125 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 per share for a period of three (3) years. If, anytime after six months from the issuance date, in the event that the Company's shares trade on the CSE at $0.35 per share or above for a period of 10 consecutive trading days a, a forced exercise provision will come into effect for the warrants issued in connection with this financing.

The funds raised from the financing will be used towards general working capital.

The Company paid finder's fee of $6,344 in cash and issued 50,750 finder's warrants exercisable at $0.15 per share for a period of two years. All securities that have been issued in connection with the above closing are subject to a four-month and a day hold period expiring on March 21, 2026.

In addition, the Company has granted 400,000 incentive stock options ("Options") to an insider exercisable at the price of $0.155 per common share for a period of three (3) years. These Options have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's 20% Rolling Stock Option Plan, subject to vesting period. Any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Options will be subject to a hold period expiring on March 21, 2026.

On Behalf of the Board of 37 Capital Inc.,

"Jake H. Kalpakian"

____________________

Jake H. Kalpakian,

President and CEO

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered speculative.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking". Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding future plans, projected or proposed financings, costs, objectives, economic or technical performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this News Release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "enable", "feel", "seek", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "might", "objective", "believe", "expect", "propose", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "plans" "estimate", and similar words are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, projections and estimations, there can be no assurance that these assumptions, projections or estimations are accurate. Readers, shareholders and investors are therefore cautioned not to place reliance on any forward-looking statements as the plans, assumptions, intentions or expectations upon which they are based might not occur.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275413

SOURCE: 37 Capital Inc.
KANAZAWA, Japan, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have developed a breakthrough method for quantitative imaging of ATP levels inside living cells. The study, published in Nature Communications, introduces qMaLioffG, a genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime indicator that allows scientists to observe how cells produce and consume energy in real time.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the universal "fuel" for life, powering nearly every biological process. Measuring ATP levels accurately inside cells has long been a challenge: traditional fluorescent indicators often provide only rough estimates and are prone to errors from light intensity or imaging conditions. The new method solves these problems by relying on fluorescence lifetime-the time a fluorescent protein glows after pulsed excitation-rather than brightness. This makes the measurements more quantitative and reliable.

Experimental Approach

The team led by Satoshi Arai designed qMaLioffG by carefully engineering a fluorescent protein that behaves differently depending on how much ATP is present (Figure 1). When ATP binds to this protein, the duration of its glow-known as fluorescence lifetime-changes in a measurable way. Unlike brightness, which can be influenced by microscope settings, protein concentration, or cell shape, fluorescence lifetime is unaffected by experimental conditions and reflects the actual amount of ATP.

To test their design, the researchers introduced the qMaLioffG protein into a variety of living cells and tissues, including human skin cells, cancer cells, mouse embryonic stem cells, and even fruit fly brains (Figure 2). They then applied fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), an advanced form of microscopy that captures these subtle lifetime shifts. By recording these changes in real time, the team created accurate maps of ATP levels across cells and tissues, showing where and how energy is used.

This approach marks a major advance over older methods, which could only provide relative changes in brightness and were prone to errors from lighting or imaging conditions. With qMaLioffG, researchers can now perform true quantitative imaging of ATP, opening new opportunities to study how energy metabolism drives health and disease.

Key Findings

qMaLioffG provides reliable, quantitative imaging of ATP in living cells.

The method works in diverse systems, from patient-derived fibroblasts to cancer cells, stem cells, and fruit fly brains.

It reveals subtle differences in energy use across different tissues and disease models.

"This is the first time we can perform true quantitative imaging of ATP levels inside living cells in real time," says Arai. "It opens up exciting opportunities to understand energy metabolism in conditions like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and stem cell biology."

Potential Impact

This new method is expected to accelerate research in energy metabolism, regenerative medicine, and disease mechanisms. Because it works with standard 488 nm laser systems already common in many labs, it will be widely accessible to researchers worldwide.

Future Research

Although qMaLioffG represents a significant leap forward, several challenges remain. The current study focused on cultured cells, model organisms, and tissue-like spheroids; applying the method to whole living organisms and ultimately human tissues will be the next step. Researchers also need to explore how qMaLioffG performs in long-term imaging, since energy metabolism is highly dynamic and can fluctuate over hours or days.

Future directions include:

Clinical validation, adapting qMaLioffG for use in patient-derived samples to study diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

Integration with other imaging methods, combining ATP mapping with calcium or pH sensors to understand how energy connects with cell signaling.

Drug discovery applications, using the method to test how new compounds affect cellular energy balance.

By advancing toward real-time, quantitative imaging of energy in living tissues, the Kanazawa team aims to provide a platform that could transform biomedical research and support the development of new therapies.

Glossary

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) - The molecule that stores and transfers energy in cells.

Quantitative imaging - A method that provides precise numerical values, not just relative changes.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) - An imaging approach that measures how long a fluorescent molecule glows, independent of brightness.

Figures

Figure 1: https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Fig.1en_Nat.-Commun._Nov.2025.jpg

Caption: qMaLioffG is an ATP indicator that converts ATP concentration into fluorescence lifetime. Using a calibration curve (fluorescence lifetime vs. ATP concentration), we calculated fluorescence lifetime values for each pixel and obtained quantitative ATP concentration information. We then performed quantitative analysis of ATP levels in cells with impaired ATP-producing capacity due to mitochondrial disease (Figures modified from the published article with permission from the publisher).

Figure 2: https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Fig.2en_Nat.-Commun._Nov.2025.jpg

Caption: ATP mapping of Drosophila brain (Figures modified from the published article with permission from the publisher).

Reference

Satoshi Arai*, Hideki Itoh, Cong Quang Vu, Loan Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Mizuho Nakayama, Masanobu Oshima, Atsuya Morita, Kazuko Okamoto, Satoru Okuda, Aki Teranishi, Madori Osawa, Yoshiteru Tamura, Shigeaki Nonoyama, Megumi Takuma, Toshinori Fujie, Satya Ranjan Sarker, Thankiah Sudhaharan, Akihiro Furube, Tetsuro Katayama, Taketoshi Kiya, E. Birgitte Lane, and Tetsuya Kitaguchi*. "qMaLioffG: a genetically encoded green fluorescence lifetime-based indicator enabling quantitative imaging of intracellular ATP." Nature Communications 16, Article number: 9972 (2025).

Published: 13 November 2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64946-2

URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64946-2

Funding and acknowledgments

This research was supported by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), JST FOREST Program, the Nakatani Foundation, A*STAR Singapore, the Human Frontier Science Program, and other international programs.

Contact

Kimiko Nakazaki (Ms)

Project Planning and Outreach, NanoLSI Administration Office

Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University

Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

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

Founded in 1862 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa University is one of Japan's leading comprehensive national universities with a history spanning more than 160 years. With campuses at Kakuma and Takaramachi-Tsuruma, the university upholds its guiding principle of being "a research university dedicated to education, while opening its doors to both local and global society."

Internationally recognized for its research institutes, including the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) and the Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University promotes interdisciplinary research and global collaboration, driving progress in health, sustainability, and culture.

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

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HEFEI, China, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, announced the successful completion of a comprehensive field test conducted jointly with TUV Rheinland on its latest 1+X 2.0 modular inverter. The results verify the inverter's Intelligent DC-Side Full-Scope Safety Solution, demonstrating significant advancements in active protection, fault identification, and system-level safety for utility-scale PV plants.

In utility-scale PV plants, the DC-side is often the most vulnerable part of the entire system. With complex wiring and numerous connection points, even a minor issue at one point can cause equipment damage or, in severe cases, fire. Industry data indicates that nearly 90% of plant incidents originate from the DC-side. Sungrow's 1+X 2.0 modular inverter addresses these challenges with an upgraded safety architecture based on the PDC model-Prevent, Diagnose, and Contain-offering a proactive and precise way to enhance safety across the entire DC-side.

The joint field test evaluated performance under four typical DC risks: short circuits, arc faults, loose-connection overheating, and low-magnitude overcurrent.

Short Circuit Test: Millisecond-Level Safe Power Cut

Traditional combiner boxes using copper fuses as the protection device often fail to disconnect rapidly under short-circuit fault conditions due to copper's high melting point. This can lead to sustained arcing, which may instantly burn through the fuse box and damage nearby components. Sungrow's combiner box uses silver fuses with a lower melting point as the core fuse material. Combined with a multi-breakpoint topology design, it significantly improves arc suppression and response speed.

During the test, the team replaced one silver fuse in the test combiner box with a copper fuse to compare their behavior under the same short-circuit fault. When the short circuit fault was triggered, the copper fuse produced a strong arc flash and was burned through, while the silver fuse completed disconnection within milliseconds. The fuse body remained intact with no arcing, achieving a safe and clean power cut.

Arc Fault Test: 32 ms Detection and Disconnection

Arc faults are among the most destructive risks on the DC side. At high voltage, the arc temperature can instantly exceed 3000C, creating a serious fire hazard. During the field test, when an arc fault was deliberately triggered, the combiner box precisely detected the arc and disconnected within 32 milliseconds. At the same time, the inverter coordinated the disconnection across all combiner boxes in the same inverter unit, quickly isolating the risk and preventing fault propagation. fault propagation with no equipment damage or ignition occurred.

"Arc faults in parallel strings are electrically complex, and the signals are easily drowned out by noise, making them difficult to detect with traditional algorithms," explained a Sungrow expert. The expert added that Sungrow's pioneering DC parallel arc protection technology, equipped with an intelligent arc diagnosis algorithm, can adaptively adjust protection thresholds for different scenarios and operating conditions, accurately identify arc faults, and disconnect to ensure plant safety.

Loose-Connection Overheat: Isolation Without Yield Loss

Loose connections at DC terminals often go undetected in utility plants. Their initial temperature rise is slow, making it difficult for traditional overcurrent protection to detect anomalies in time, which can lead to inverter overtemperature shutdowns. The 1+X 2.0 modular inverter uses high-precision NTC temperature sensors and intelligent algorithms to continuously monitor temperatures, issue early warnings, and isolate potential faults.

During the test, a loose connection was deliberately triggered. The temperature at the tested PV terminal contact rose slowly at about 0.5-2C per minute and gradually stabilized. The 1+X 2.0 monitored these changes in real time, issued a warning approximately 15 minutes after the temperature exceeded the threshold, and precisely disconnected the affected branch without impacting the rest.

Low-Magnitude Overcurrent Test: Less than 2ms Cutoff, No Damage

Traditional fuse solutions rely on fault current magnitude for disconnection. Under hidden faults such as low-magnitude overcurrent, fuses often cannot react in time, and prolonged current stress may damage key components like IGBTs. Sungrow pioneered the pyro-fuse protection scheme, which integrates three core mechanisms on top of traditional fuses: active arc control, high-efficiency cutting, and strong arc suppression.

During the field test, a short-circuit fault was deliberately induced. The results showed that the 1+X 2.0 disconnected the faulted circuit precisely in just 1.472 milliseconds. After disconnection, the inverter remained undamaged and restarted smoothly. By comparison, a traditional fuse solution took 526 milliseconds to complete disconnection, demonstrating the pyro fuse scheme's significant advantage in speed and protection accuracy.

Besides, the pyro fuse can detect up to 15 categories of DC faults, enabling proactive forced disconnection to secure inverter integrity.

TUV Rheinland expert Tian Xingxin, who witnessed the full field tests, affirmed that the 1+X 2.0 modular inverter and its Intelligent DC-Side Full-Scope Safety Solution successfully passed all challenges. He highlighted the system's leading capabilities in proactive detection, precise disconnection, and system-level protection. This not only provides a verifiable technical pathway for ensuring DC-side safety in utility-scale plants, but also offers a reference for the industry to explore higher-level safety measures.

As global solar projects move toward larger scales and higher system voltages, DC-side safety requirements continue to intensify. The Sungrow 1+X 2.0 introduces a new, verifiable safety standard for the industry, offering plant operators and investors enhanced assurance for long-term reliability.

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 28 years. As of June 2025, Sungrow has installed 870 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world's most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we're committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: AG) (FSE: FMV) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") announces that between September 26, 2025 to November 19, 2025 (inclusive), it sold a total of 1,060,500 common shares ("Shares") of Silver Dollar Resources Inc. ("Silver Dollar") through market sales across the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange at an average price of $0.3776 per Share for gross aggregate consideration of $355,592.85 (collectively, the "Sales").

Immediately before commencing the Sales, First Majestic had beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, 8,051,519 Shares of Silver Dollar, representing approximately 14.19% of the issued and outstanding Shares (as of September 25, 2025) based on 56,752,355 Shares being outstanding as of such date on a non-diluted basis. Following the completion of the Sales, First Majestic now has beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, 6,991,019 Shares of Silver Dollar, representing approximately 9.50% of the issued and outstanding Shares (as of November 20, 2025) based on 73,609,505 Shares being outstanding as of such date on a non-diluted basis.

The remaining Shares of Silver Dollar owned by First Majestic are held for investment purposes. First Majestic has no current intention of increasing or decreasing its ownership of, or control or direction over, additional securities of Silver Dollar. First Majestic reviews its holdings from time to time and may, depending on market conditions and other factors, increase or decrease its position in Silver Dollar as future circumstances may dictate.

First Majestic's head office is located at Suite 1800 - 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L2. Silver Dollar's head office is located at 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416, Victoria, British Columbia V9B 6J9.

FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.

Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275422

SOURCE: First Majestic Silver Corp.
BEIJING, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of UNESCO World Heritage Center, recently led a delegation to visit Quanzhou, a historical port city in southeast China's Fujian Province, making the city, recognized as the "Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China", once again capture global attention.

While the global recognition of World Heritage is breathing new vitality into Quanzhou's inbound tourism market, the city, rich in World Heritage resources, has been taking efforts to continuously optimize its inbound tourism services in recent years.

The implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit program has provided significant convenience for international tourists visiting Quanzhou. Statistics shows that Quanzhou received around 403,900 inbound tourist visits in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 95.5 percent. Tourism revenue from international visitors reached 2.995 billion yuan (about 421 million U.S. dollars), up 83.3 percent from the same period last year.

Behind these figures lies the significant role of distinctive tourist routes Quanzhou developed by leveraging its World Heritage IPs. From the thousand-year-old Kaiyuan Temple to the exotic architecture of Qingjing Mosque, each heritage site functions as a "cultural magnet" for international visitors.

Meanwhile, the city's "Maritime Silk Road Quanzhou" International Tourism Promoter Program has ensured its listing among the top 100 Asian tourism destinations released by China's online tourism service provider Ctrip.com, further raising Quanzhou's reputation and influence in the global tourism market.

Quanzhou has also been dedicated to pioneering international cooperation on World Heritage conservation. It has carried out exchanges and collaboration with multiple cities along the Maritime Silk Road in terms of heritage protection and cultural tourism development.

In the future, the city plans to deepen cooperation with UNESCO. It will promote its heritage conservation experience globally through the UN platforms while introducing advanced international concepts and approaches for cultural tourism development into Quanzhou, aiming to promote higher-quality development of the cultural tourism industry.

Additionally, Quanzhou will leverage its World Heritage IP to develop cross-border cultural trade initiatives, enabling its intangible cultural heritage products and cultural creative goods to enter the global market.

During the visit to Quanzhou, Assomo described the city as a "living heritage" and spoke highly of the city's approach to cultural heritage conservation. He also expressed his expectation "to promote China's heritage conservation experience".

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CSG Demonstrates Its Commitment to Global Climate Action through Practical Low-Carbon Solutions

BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China Southern Power Grid (CSG) participated in the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. During the conference, the company hosted a series of events on November 19 at the China Pavilion, themed "Forge a New Chapter for Green Power Grid, Lay the Foundation for a World-Class Enterprise."

On "Corporate Day," CSG, together with China National Petroleum Corporation and China Energy Investment Group Co., co-hosted a side event, bringing together representatives from governments, businesses, and research institutions across multiple countries. Participants discussed how all stakeholders can support China's dual-carbon goals and strengthen global climate governance. A CSG executive delivered a keynote speech outlining the company's progress in developing a next-generation power system and supporting the clean energy transition. The executive also chaired an international roundtable on low-carbon and sustainable development, where participants from Brazil, Peru, and other countries explored collaborative approaches to accelerate low-carbon industrial development.

On the same day, CSG also organized a special session titled "New Practices of Eco-Oriented Enterprises in Advancing Green and Low-Carbon Development". During the event, the company released theChina Southern Power Grid Eco-Oriented Enterprises Reportin Chinese and English, offering a clear overview of its strategy for supporting the shift to renewable energy. The session also highlighted topics including carbon target management, zero-carbon industries, and CSG's international low-carbon business activities. Through case studies, a themed exhibition, and an interactive tea-making demonstration powered by clean electricity, CSG showcased its innovation and practical work to strengthen environmental performance and support low-carbon development. Throughout COP30, CSG's exhibition on ecological stewardship and promotional video were continuously displayed at the China Pavilion, highlighting how Chinese companies are contributing to global climate action and technological progress.

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Curatis Holding AG / Key word(s): Agreement/Financing

Curatis Holding AG announces CHF 1.2 million private placement with strategic investor



21-Nov-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Liestal, Switzerland, 21 November 2025: Curatis Holding AG (SIX: CURN) today announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement for a private placement of a convertible instrument of CHF 1.2 million with a strategic Swiss investor.

Under the terms of the agreement, the investor will subscribe for a convertible instrument convertible into shares of Curatis Holding AG. The shares are expected to be delivered from Curatis' conditional capital. The instrument has been issued at prevailing market conditions. The transaction is expected to close within the next few days, subject to customary conditions.

First and foremost, the proceeds will allow to accelerate the development of the Company's late stage clinical lead product candidate corticorelin.

About Curatis

Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed company (CURN.SW) specializing in the final development and commercialization of drugs for rare and very rare diseases. Curatis has a sales portfolio of more than 40 products and a pipeline of orphan drug products and specialist products. More information can be found on the website www.curatis.com

Contact

Patrick Ramsauer

CFO

Phone: +41 61 927 8777

ir@curatis.com

Disclaimer

The information contained in this media release and in any link to our website indicated herein is not for use within any country or jurisdiction or by any persons where such use would constitute a violation of law. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any such information.

This media release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan", "will likely continue", "will likely result", or words or phrases with similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the control of Curatis Group, that may cause Curatis' business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements (or from past results). For any factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release, please see the risk factors included in our listing prospectus in connection with the Business Combination. Curatis Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. It should further be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser.

The information contained in this media release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for securities. This media release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act nor a prospectus under any other applicable laws.

Some financial information in this media release has been rounded and, as a result, the figures shown as totals in this media release may vary slightly from the exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Future Minerals Forum (FMF), convened by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, today unveiled the full three-day program for its fifth and biggest edition, themed "Dawn of a Global Cause." The Forum will take place in Riyadh from January 13 - 15, 2026, convening over 500 leaders from governments, multilateral organizations, and academia to shape the future of minerals.

FMF 2026 will rally decision-makers around a shared ambition to advance responsible mineral development and create new economic opportunities in supplier and customer nations. The program combines high-level policy dialogue with practical investment and innovation sessions designed to accelerate progress across the global minerals ecosystem.

Program highlights include:

5 th edition of the world's largest Ministerial Roundtable on minerals, with over 100 government representatives, more than 70 international organizations, and top industry CEOs.

on minerals, with over 100 government representatives, more than 70 international organizations, and top industry CEOs. State of the Sector, in partnership with McKinsey, will unpack the inaugural Future Minerals Barometer Report, tracking sector trends, leadership sentiment, the industry's reputation, and others.

will unpack the inaugural Future Minerals Barometer Report, tracking sector trends, leadership sentiment, the industry's reputation, and others. Inaugural Mineral Investment Journey dedicated, closed-door sessions for new and existing investors.

dedicated, closed-door sessions for new and existing investors. Inaugural Gateway to Funding, in partnership with BMO, will connect institutional investors and family businesses with international mining companies seeking growth capital.

will connect institutional investors and family businesses with international mining companies seeking growth capital. Inaugural MinGen Workshops, a dynamic workshop for young professionals, women in mining, and leadership networking.

The Ministerial Roundtable, a high-level government-led meeting, will headline FMF26, setting the stage open for ensuing discussions and activities. "This dynamic and impact-driven platform is one of the key reasons governments and CEOs consistently return to FMF," said Ali Al-Mutairi, FMF Executive Director.

Day one will host an International Exhibition and interactive Knowledge Exchange sessions, during which industry leaders will present insights into the global mineral supply outlook. Days two and three will host Leadership Roundtables, including a series of Regional Leadership Roundtables for Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia, focusing on the opportunities for trade and investment to and from emerging supplier regions.

Among the global leaders confirmed to speak are Dominic Barton, Chairman, Rio Tinto; Bob Wilt, CEO, Maaden; Gustavo Pimenta, CEO, Vale; Catherine Raw, Chief Development Officer, BHP; and executives from other top-tier organizations.

FMF 2026 continues to cement Riyadh's position as a global convening hub for mineral dialogues, investment, and innovation-toward a more sustainable and equitable minerals future.

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Anglian Water (Osprey) Financing Plc - Notice of Redemption

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 21

Anglian Water (Osprey) Financing Plc

(incorporated in the England and Wales with limited liability with registered number 07476767)

(the " Issuer")

(LEI: 21380072JDZ74GW9ZY87)

NOTICE TO THE HOLDERS OF THE OUTSTANDING

Anglian Water (Osprey) Financing Plc



240,000,000 4 per cent. Guaranteed Secured Fixed Rate Notes due 2026

unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by, inter alios,

OSPREY ACQUISITIONS LIMITED

under the 10,000,000,000 Guaranteed Secured Medium Term Note Programme

(ISIN:XS1732478000; Common Code:173247800)

(the " Notes")

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the holders of the above Notes of the exercise of the Issuer's call option (the " Issuer Call Option") pursuant to Condition 6(d) of the Conditions of the Notes. The Issuer will redeem the Notes pursuant to such Issuer Call Option on 8 December 2025 (the " Redemption Date") at par of each Note plus interest accrued (but unpaid) to and including the Redemption Date.

Following the redemption of all outstanding Notes on the Redemption Date, the Issuer will request the UK Financial Conduct Authority to remove any reference to the Notes from the Official List.

Terms used in this notice and not defined herein shall have the same meaning given to them in the Master Definitions Agreement dated 16 June 2021 (as amended) between, amongst others, the Issuer and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited as Note Trustee.

This Notice is given by Anglian Water (Osprey) Financing plc. For further information, please contact:

Fraser Campbell

Group Treasurer

Lancaster House, Lancaster Way

Ermine Business Park

Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

PE29 6XU

Tel: 07890 965226
Moonpig Group Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 21

Transaction in own shares

Moonpig Group plc (the "Company") announces that on 20 November 2025 it purchased for cancellation the following number of its ordinary shares of 10 pence each pursuant to its up to 30m share repurchase programme, details of which were announced on 7 November 2025.

Description of shares: Moonpig Group plc - ordinary shares of 10 pence

Number of Shares repurchased: 130,000 Shares

Date of transaction: 20 November 2025

Average price paid per Share: 203.7224 pence

Lowest price paid per Share: 201.00 pence

Highest price paid per Share: 205.50 pence

Broker: RBC Europe Limited

Following the purchase of these shares, the remaining number of ordinary shares in issue with voting rights will be 316,756,828 (excluding Treasury shares), and the company holds no ordinary shares in Treasury.

The figure of 316,756,828 may be used by shareholders (and others with notification obligations) as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation), detailed information about the individual purchases is attached to this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Moonpig Group plc

investors@moonpig.com , pressoffice@moonpig.com

Nickyl Raithatha, Chief Executive Officer

Andy MacKinnon, Chief Financial Officer

About Moonpig:

Moonpig Group plc (the "Group") is a leading online greeting cards and gifting platform, comprising the Moonpig, Red Letter Days and Buyagift brands in the UK and the Greetz brand in the Netherlands. The Group is the online market leader in cards in both of its markets and is also the UK market leader in gift experiences.

The Group's leading customer proposition includes an extensive range of cards, a curated range of gifts, personalisation features and next day delivery offering.

The Group offers its products through its proprietary technology platforms and apps, which utilise unique data science capabilities designed by the Group to optimise and personalise the customer experience and provide scalability. Learn more at https://www.moonpig.group/ .
Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - RevPropeller, a faith-based financial education company, has officially launched its groundbreaking platform created specifically for pastors and ministry leaders. The platform delivers accessible tools and educational resources to help clergy understand complex financial systems, structure their compensation wisely, and make informed financial decisions aligned with their ministry and mission.

RevPropeller Unveils New Financial Education Platform for Pastors

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Founded by financial strategist and experienced pastor, Ray R. Harris, RevPropeller was developed to address a widespread knowledge gap in clergy financial literacy. Many pastors face challenges such as unclear pay structures and tax misclassification, which can lead to inefficiencies and unnecessary financial strain. RevPropeller's mission is to bridge that gap through faith-centered education, not by selling products or offering investment advice, but by empowering pastors with clarity and confidence.

"Many pastors simply haven't been taught how their pay and taxes work," said Ray R. Harris, Founder of RevPropeller. "Our goal is to give them a roadmap to understanding these systems so they can lead from a place of financial peace and stewardship."

Filling a Critical Gap in Clergy Financial Understanding

Many pastors are treated as employees for tax purposes, even though clergy are legally classified as self-employed-an error that often leads to overpayment of taxes and missed opportunities to maximize their retirement and leverage the minister's housing allowance effectively.

RevPropeller's educational platform helps pastors recognize and navigate these nuances through interactive calculators, step-by-step guides, and clergy-specific examples that demystify pay structuring and tax considerations. The focus is on financial literacy and long-term confidence, not short-term transactions.

"We're not offering a product; we're offering understanding," Harris explained. "Once pastors know how to interpret their compensation properly, they can make informed, faithful decisions that support their family and ministry."

Opportunity for Education and Empowerment

With more than 350,000 pastors across the United States, the need for clergy-specific financial education is immense. RevPropeller estimates that millions of dollars each year are lost to simple misunderstandings about clergy pay and tax treatment. By focusing on education before sales, RevPropeller is carving out a unique position in an untapped space.

"There's an entire community of pastors who've been left out of the financial education conversation," Harris said. "RevPropeller is here to fill that gap through faith-based education, not product sales. It's about empowerment through knowledge."

RevPropeller Unveils New Financial Education Platform for Pastors

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Redefining Financial Empowerment for the Faith Community

Beyond addressing financial inefficiencies, RevPropeller's broader mission is to help pastors experience financial peace, the ability to lead with confidence and focus on ministry rather than financial stress. When pastors achieve clarity in their finances, the impact extends to their families, congregations, and communities.

"When pastors gain financial understanding, their entire ministry benefits," Harris noted. "That's the ripple effect RevPropeller was created to spark, teaching stewardship that strengthens both lives and churches."

Looking Ahead: Building a Movement of Financially Empowered Pastors

RevPropeller plans to expand its platform in the coming months with additional educational modules, clergy-specific tools, and interactive resources. Each new feature will reinforce the company's education-first philosophy, helping pastors take practical, faith-aligned steps toward sustainable financial confidence.

"This is more than a platform; it's a movement," Harris said. "We're helping pastors think differently about money, stewardship, and legacy. When they thrive financially, the entire faith community grows stronger."

About RevPropeller

RevPropeller is a faith-based financial education company founded by Ray R. Harris. The company provides pastors and ministry leaders with accessible education on pay structuring, clergy tax treatment, and long-term financial planning. RevPropeller's mission is to empower pastors to achieve financial peace and clarity through knowledge, enabling them to lead their ministries from a position of strength, integrity, and confidence.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/274963

SOURCE: Plentisoft
185 group creators with a global following of 2 billion fans contributed to amplifying Macao's image as a youthful and innovative destination.

MACAO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CreatorWeek Macao 2025, co-organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Branded, concluded on October 28 after five days of events. The event brought together 185 groups of global content creators to Macao, whose combined fan base totaled almost 2 billion, bringing fresh energy and international attention to the city. Throughout the week, creators engaged in cross-cultural collaboration, explored Macao's unique blend of heritage and modernity, and shared their creative perspectives, further highlighting the city as a youthful, international, and innovative tourism destination.

Over five days, global content creators came together for cross-cultural collaboration and lively creative exchange. The event connected Greater China and international creators through conferences, academy, meet&greet, wellness workshops, and live, sparking new partnerships and content co-productions. By highlighting Macao's rich cultural diversity and creative ecosystem, the event reaffirmed its role as a cultural crossroads, creative hub, and key player in the global creator economy.

CreatorWeek Macao 2025 opened and closed with lively parties at Wynn Palace Macau attended by over 250 creators, industry leaders, and guests. Key attendees included Macao Government Tourism Office Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Google Greater China COO Ben Wong, top creator Alan Chikin Chow, and Sean Does Magic, further elevating Macao's global creative profile. The CreatorWeek conferences at Grand Lisboa Palace Macau brought together more than 600 participants for discussions on market entry, global expansion, and creator economy trends, featuring senior executives from YouTube, Meta, and Gold House. Four CreatorWeek Wellness Workshops at MGM MACAU, led by star creators Matt Tralli and Jacky Cai, alongside fitness experts Will Liu and Ryan Narayan, blended creativity with mindfulness and lifestyle. The CreatorWeek Meet&Greet at The Londoner Macao drew over 1,700 attendees and 40 creators, turning online engagement into real-world connections. Participants included creator Steven He, as well as popular acts Berywam, PSYCHIC FEVER, and XODIAC, collectively reaching tens of millions of fans worldwide. Two nights of CreatorWeek Live at Galaxy Macau brought together artists from South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, celebrating cultural exchange through music and performance. Meanwhile, the two-day CreatorWeek Academy welcomed around 120 emerging creators for hands-on training in content production, audience engagement, and brand collaboration. Mentors included top creators Jordan&Hudson Matter, and Mikey Bustos, along with industry leaders such as Gold House CEO Bing Chen, Meta Greater China Head of Industry Strategy Benny Chu, and Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.Ap, among others.

Greater China creator Lei's Adventure shared that the Belt and Road underscores Macao's role as China's historic gateway to the world. He hopes to explore the theme of "Going Global" to tell how Chinese have ventured through Macao to broader horizons. For Mikey Bustos, the Filipino creator, said: "As creators, I hope we realize the power we have at our fingertips now - to spread good vibes, to spread education, to spread anything through our talents in the world."

As part of the special Local Community Tour, 20 international creators teamed up with 20 Macao-based event ambassadors to explore local neighbourhoods, discover authentic cuisine, and co-create content celebrating the city's East-meets-West identity. Through their creative storytelling, audiences worldwide were able to experience Macao's charm and vibrant community spirit.

"Content creators are among the most influential storytellers today," said Cheng Wai Tong, Acting Director of MGTO. "Through their lens, language, and creativity will convey Macao's multicultural stories, unique cityscape, and innovative dynamic to hundreds of millions of spectators around the world, in the most heartfelt and moving ways. The event not just inspires luxurious content but also creates abundant business value, propelling Macao's creator economy towards a flourishing future and the expansion of the youth travel market."

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO, in her address at the conference, said: "With the ever-changing behaviour of consumers and information communication around the world, the creator economy has emerged as a thriving new industry that teems with abundant business value."

About Macao

Macao's city image continues to evolve, reflecting its new positioning as youthful, international, and innovative. The city is further strengthening its global influence as a meeting point of Chinese and Western cultures and as a source of creative inspiration.

For post-event highlights and future updates, please visit the official website at www.creatorweek.live.or follow @visitmacao on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and RED.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/creatorweek-macao-2025-wraps-up-showcasing-macao-as-a-vibrant-global-creative-hub-302622876.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Makenita Resources Inc. (CSE: KENY) (OTCID: KENYF) (WKN: A40X6P) is pleased to announce, further to its news release on November 13, 2025, the closing of an option agreement with an arm's length vendor (the "Vendor") to acquire the "Sisson West Tungsten Project" in New Brunswick and the "NTX Rare Earth Project" in Quebec (the "Properties"). The "Sisson West Tungsten Project" consists of approximately 4,000 contiguous acres prospective for Tungsten which directly borders the Sisson Tungsten Mine in New Brunswick and the "NTX Rare Earth Project" in Quebec consists of approx. 9000 acres prospective for rare earths. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties near Makenita's may not necessarily indicate mineralization on the company's property.

Jason Gigliotti, President of Makenita Resources Inc stated, "We are pleased to close on both of these exciting new projects. Rare earths have been thrust in the global spotlight in the past few months so the timing for this new acquisition is ideal. Also, Prime Minister Mark Carney has just made the "Sisson Tungsten Mine" a "Nation Building Project" and Makenita's new project directly borders this mine (figure 1). We anticipate being active on these claims in the short term and with only 33 million shares outstanding the structure is intact for immediate and future growth."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Pursuant to the terms of the option agreement, the Company shall have the exclusive right and option to earn a 100% interest in the Properties from the Vendor in consideration for the issuance of a total of 3,000,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.06 per share, the issuance of 1,500,000 transferrable warrants exercisable at a price of $0.08 per share for a period of three years from the issuance date, and by making cash payment in the amount of $30,000 as set out below:

To pay $30,000, issue 2,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company, and issue 1,000,000 warrants to the Vendor within seven (7) business days of signing the option agreement; To issue 500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company and issue 500,000 to the Vendor within four (4) months of signing the option agreement; and To issue 500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company to the Vendor within eight (8) months of signing the option agreement.

All shares and warrants issued will have a standard hold period of four months plus a day.

Qualified person for mining disclosure:

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Frank Bain, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. 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 Makenita. 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 Makenita disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275416

SOURCE: Makenita Resources Inc.
E Fund Exchanges Views with International Institutions on Sustainable Economic Solutions

SAO PAULO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From November 4 to 6, PRI in Person 2025, organized by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event serves as the leading annual meeting for the global responsible investment community and centered on the theme "Global challenges, resilient strategies, investable opportunities." It was also recognized as an official component of the COP30 Business and Finance Forum.

The conference gathered nearly 1,300 participants from regulators, leading financial and academic institutions in Sao Paulo to explore ways to accelerate sustainable economic solutions through business and finance. E Fund Management Co., Ltd., an asset management firm that adopted responsible investment practices early in China and became one of the first Chinese institutions to join the PRI in 2017, has maintained ongoing integration of ESG investment and research. Through robust and accountable stewardship, E Fund supports Chinese companies in improving their ESG performance and actively participates in international forums to share practical insights into China's experience in responsible investment. As a recognized leader in China's ESG field, E Fund was invited to the conference for the third consecutive year, joining dialogues with participants worldwide.

Asian markets are a driving force behind global economic expansion. A key forum session, "Navigating Risk and Unlocking Opportunities in Asia's High Growth Markets," examined sustainability trends and challenges across the region. Jane Cheng, Head of ESG Research at E Fund, joined the conversation as a representative of Chinese institutions, alongside participants from Neuberger Berman, Seviora Group (a Temasek company), India's DSP Asset Managers, and PRI Asia Pacific. Cheng noted that while ESG development in Asia began later than in some regions, regulatory frameworks have strengthened in recent years and new innovations continue to emerge. China, in particular, has made considerable headway in its ESG policy system, data accessibility, asset manager expertise, and corporate awareness. Guided by the "Dual Carbon" goals (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality), China's industrial structure and financial system are undergoing a continued shift toward environmentally responsible, inclusive, and low-carbon development pathways. Asset managers are moving from studying ESG concepts and strategies to applying them in investment decision-making, corporate governance improvements are yielding results, and the outlook remains favorable.

Emerging markets play a central role in advancing sustainable development globally. In a side event titled "Emerging Market Responsible Investment Practice - China and Brazil," Wilson Wei, Chief ESG Analyst at E Fund, moderated a panel with guests from the FAIRR, HSBC Asset Management, Itau Asset Management, and B3(Brasil Bolsa Balcao, The Brazilian Stock Exchange). Starting from the cross-border supply-chain linkages between China and Brazil, the session combined global insights with local perspectives to identify innovative ESG practices in both markets and discuss ways to enhance sustainability cooperation.

During the side event, E Fund and Itau Asset Management jointly issued the Responsible Investment in China & Brazil Whitepaper. The whitepaper outlines recent developments and practical examples across both countries in sustainability disclosure frameworks, taxonomy standards, and product guidelines.

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PARIS, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The engineering group SEGULA Technologies, of which Cyril Roger has been Executive Chairman since 1 September 2025, is consolidating its governance in Europe. The arrival of Werner Ferreira to the Executive Committee, as Executive Vice President Northern and Central Europe and CEO of SEGULA Germany, supports the Group's transformation to help European manufacturers in their innovation and performance projects.

With over twenty years of experience in engineering services, Werner Ferreira has held management positions at Altran, Akka and Capgemini Engineering, where he contributed to the development of long-term customer partnerships, the management of multi-country programmes and the growth of organisations in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy and manufacturing.

His mission will be to accelerate activities in Northern and Central Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, a strategic market for the Group. He will also contribute to the strategic transformation of SEGULA Technologies, based on value creation, operational excellence and a harmonised international delivery platform.

"Europe is a strategic pillar for SEGULA Technologies' development. That is why we have chosen Werner Ferreira to strengthen our governance and accelerate our growth in these markets. His arrival is part of the new dynamic we have initiated to consolidate our positions in our main markets, promote our talents and offer our clients ever more efficient engineering solutions. Werner Ferreira's expertise and vision will be decisive in supporting this new phase," said Cyril Roger, Executive Chairman of SEGULA Technologies.

"With deep industrial and technical expertise, strengthened financial fundamentals and a robust ecosystem of partners, we have a major role to play in the next cycle of transformation in European industry. This is particularly true in Germany, where we are entering a new phase of development focused on our historical engineering skills. I look forward to working with our teams and customers to develop reliable and high-performance solutions," said Werner Ferreira.

Alongside him, Benoit Bossu has been appointed Deputy Managing Director of SEGULA Germany. He will continue to develop the Group's engineering activities in the automotive, aerospace, energy and rail sectors.

These managerial changes illustrate SEGULA Technologies' desire to open a new chapter in its development, with strengthened governance and an organisation adapted to meet major industrial challenges and support clients in their most ambitious projects.

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Contact : marketing@segula.fr

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EQS-News: Master Power Technologies / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Master Power Technologies becomes first African data centre builder to achieve European certification



21.11.2025 / 09:45 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Master Power Technologies becomes first African data centre builder to achieve European certification

MPT's leadership sets a precedent and lays the groundwork for a future African Code of Conduct, a project the company is helping to pioneer with support from European institutions

RANDBURG, South Africa, November 21, 2025/APO Group/ -- Master Power Technologies (MPT) ( https://kva.co.za ), a leading African provider of critical power and data centre infrastructure, has become the first African company to be officially certified as an Endorser of the European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres.

This milestone positions MPT at the forefront of sustainable data centre design on the continent. It affirms its alignment with the highest international standards for energy efficiency and responsible power use.

The certification, awarded by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), recognises companies that design and support data centres in accordance with rigorous best practices for energy management. MPT now joins a select group of global leaders, including Microsoft, who have earned this prestigious endorsement.

"This is a proud moment for Africa. We have always believed that African engineering can meet and exceed global benchmarks. Now, with this certification, we can confidently assure our clients that their data centres are being built to the same standards as the best in Europe, efficient, sustainable and future-ready," said Menno Parsons, Founder and CEO of MPT.

Gold standard for data centre design

The European Code of Conduct was launched in response to growing concerns over the energy consumption of data centres. Since its inception in 2008, it has become the gold standard for energy-efficient design and operation across the EU. Until now, no African engineering firm had achieved certification under this framework.

Bernard Lecanu, Managing Director at BL International Consultant and one of the original architects of the Code, welcomed MPT's certification: "When we began this initiative, we knew that the data centre industry would need to evolve rapidly to meet environmental and energy challenges. MPT's achievement is not only a first for Africa, it is also a signal that the continent is ready to lead in sustainable digital infrastructure."

For MPT's clients, the benefits are immediate and tangible. The certification assures them that their facilities are designed with optimal energy performance in mind, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. It also enhances credibility with global partners, particularly those seeking to align with the EU's Taxonomy Regulation and sustainability directives.

Boost for Africa's data centre industry

Beyond commercial advantage, MPT's endorsement has broader implications for the African data centre industry. As the continent experiences exponential digital growth, the need for resilient and efficient infrastructure is critical. MPT's leadership sets a precedent and lays the groundwork for a future African Code of Conduct, a project the company is helping to pioneer with support from European institutions.

"This is just the beginning. We are not only building data centres, we are also helping to build a sustainable digital future for Africa. This certification proves that African engineering can meet the most demanding global standards and gives our clients the confidence that every facility we design is optimised for performance, resilience, and environmental responsibility," said Parsons.

"It also opens the door for deeper collaboration with European partners and policymakers, ensuring that Africa is not just catching up, but actively shaping the future of data centre innovation. We are proud to lead this transformation and are ready to help others follow."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Master Power Technologies.

Download Image: https://apo-opa.co/47SB4nn (Left to Right: Rory Reid, HOD Data Centers, Master Power Technologies; Bernard Lecanu, BL International Consultant and the ex chairman of the European Commission; Menno Parsons, CEO, Master Power Technologies)

Editorial Contacts:

Master Power Technologies

Belinda Aslett

Marketing Lead

Email: belinda@kva.co.za

Cell: +27 82 783 8710

Website: https://kva.co.za
Montreal agency recognized for leveraging first-party data and AI-driven geo-targeting to deliver a 30% sales lift for a Canadian retailer.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / SEO Circle is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Measurement & Analytics Leadership honour at the 2025 Google Search Honours Awards, recognizing outstanding excellence in data-driven search marketing across Canada.

The annual Google Search Honours Awards celebrate agencies and brands that push the boundaries of innovation through AI-driven insights, advanced analytics, and privacy-first measurement strategies. Winning the Measurement & Analytics category places SEO Circle among Canada's top-performing digital agencies.

Award-Winning Work: Driving a 30% Sales Lift Through First-Party Data + AI

SEO Circle earned this recognition for its groundbreaking work leveraging first-party data, AI modelling, and geo-targeted search activation to deliver significant business impact for a national Canadian retailer.

Using privacy-first customer data integrated with AI-powered audience segmentation, the agency built highly localized search campaigns optimized for regional buying behaviours. The initiative generated a 30% increase in sales, demonstrating how intelligent measurement frameworks can directly influence revenue.

Leadership Commentary

"Winning this award is a milestone for our team and a proud moment for Montreal's digital marketing community," said Fawzi Karout, Founder at SEO Circle. "Canadian marketers are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape where first-party data, AI, and privacy requirements are reshaping digital strategy. This recognition validates our commitment to building future-proof measurement systems that turn insights into real business outcomes."

A Commitment to Canada's Evolving Digital Ecosystem

SEO Circle's work reflects broader shifts in Canada's marketing landscape, including:

Privacy-centric measurement as third-party cookies decline

AI-enhanced campaign decisioning for improved efficiency and personalization

Regionalized marketing strategies, reflecting Canada's diverse markets and consumer behaviour

Transparent, business-focused analytics, ensuring organizations measure what matters most

About SEO Circle

Based in Montreal, SEO Circle is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, paid search, analytics, and growth strategy. The agency partners with Canadian businesses across industries to drive measurable, sustainable growth through data-driven digital marketing.

About the Google Search Honours Awards

The Google Search Honours Awards celebrate excellence in Canadian search marketing, recognizing agencies and brands for innovation in Measurement & Analytics Leadership, Performance Marketing Excellence, Search Transformation and more.

Contact Information

Fawzi Karout

Digital Marketing Consultant

sales@seocircle.ca

866-299-0919

SOURCE: SEO Circle

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Creative Excellence Recognized as Top Accolades Span Photography, Videography, and Digital Art

BREA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, today announced the winners of its 6th ColorPro Awards Global Visual Arts Competition, themed "FLOW." The 2025 competition showcased an extraordinary collection of photography, videography, and digital art that captured the essence of harmony, motion, and cultural connection through the universal language of creativity.

Since its inception in 2020, the ColorPro Awards has become much more than a contest, forming a global platform for creative exchange. The awards have garnered over 50,000 submissions from more than 120 countries in just five years.

"From our inaugural theme of 'Kindness' to this year's 'FLOW,' the ColorPro Awards have consistently celebrated the dynamic spirit of creativity and spread positive energy," said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. "This year, we honor the ways inspiration moves freely across cultures, mediums, and minds. The works of these remarkable creators remind us that true creativity is not confined by boundaries, and we are proud to support and amplify their vision on a global stage."

This year, the international ColorPro Awards panel of judges selected the winning artworks that best expressed the "FLOW" theme with exceptional artistry, composition, and emotional depth. These entries raised the bar from image quality to storytelling, showcasing the concept through the sweeping lines of nature and wildlife, or through deeply human moments that unfold into unique visual narratives.

Photography

The top prize went to "Thunderstorm" by Filip Hrebenda of Slovakia. Captured amid a summer storm, the image portrays lightning streaks across turbulent skies and reveals nature's raw and untamed beauty.

Second place "Parallel Flow Melts into Breath" by Bui Xuan Viet of Vietnam unites the frozen stillness of ice and the living pulse of the sea. The work symbolizes the eternal flow that bridges silence and vitality.

Third place "The Great Divide" by Janessa Anderson of the United States captures a fleeting passage between drifting ice sheets to illustrate the grandeur and impermanence of the natural world.

Videography

"Always in Flow" by Croatia's Alen Tkalcec earned the top prize for its cinematic reflection on motion and mindfulness, tracing a journey from urban chaos to inner calm.

Second place went to "The Storyteller" by Le Trung Dung, also from Vietnam. The work follows the artist's lifelong connection to photography as a continuous flow of memory and identity where past and present merge into creative harmony.

Third place "Serenity" by Antoine Parker-Massop of the United Kingdom portrays neurodivergent artist Demi Dawkins, whose expressive paintings channel emotion and resilience and embody the purest form of creative flow from within.

Digital and Generated Art

The top honor in Digital Art went to "Flowing an Innocent Dream" by Navodit Mandal of India, a luminous portrayal of two children gliding across a radiant sky. The piece celebrates the freedom and imagination of childhood dreams.

In Generated Art, the winner was "The Interface of Inner and Outer Flow" by Bo Hao Chen from Taiwan. The winning work blends shining gold with deep blue tones to dissolve the boundary between mind and world and shows thought and spirit as they flow freely across space.

Empowering Creators with ColorPro

ViewSonic's dedication to the creative community is embodied in its ColorPro series of professional monitors, designed for uncompromising color accuracy and performance. The ColorPro Awards reflect this mission by recognizing visionary artists and fostering meaningful connections within a global creative community. By honoring this year's winners, ViewSonic reaffirms its role as a technology partner that empowers creativity, from inspiration to realization.

All winning and shortlisted artworks are now available in the Top 100 Gallery on the official ColorPro Awards website.

About ViewSonic

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Brea, California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions for the education, business, and consumer markets, with a presence in over 100 countries. Driven by the mission to transform education, workplaces, and lives, the company delivers a unified ecosystem of innovative hardware, software, and services that integrates seamlessly with the platforms, tools, and partners customers trust. Its product portfolio includes monitors, projectors, interactive displays, LED displays, commercial displays, video conferencing systems, and industrial solutions. Complementing its hardware is a robust suite of software offerings-including myViewBoard, ClassSwift, TeamOne, Manager, and AirSync-featuring AI-powered tools for collaboration, device optimization, and management. By empowering creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning, ViewSonic supports customers at every stage in achieving their business and sustainability goals, creating a lasting impact and helping people everywhere connect with purpose-and See the Difference. Learn more at www.viewsonic.com.

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EQT Real Estate is acquiring a residential estate comprising 17 buildings with 477 residential units in Mahlow, on the southern edge of Berlin - a suburban community offering high-quality living with direct rail access to the city center

The residential estate is in proximity to several new infrastructure projects near the City of Berlin, including Berlin Brandenburg Airport

The acquisition aligns with EQT's European Living Strategy, which focuses on high-quality, modern and affordable homes with long-term and stable value creation opportunities

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Real Estate, through its European Living Strategy, has signed an agreement with Pictet Alternative Advisors to jointly acquire a residential estate located in Mahlow, on the southern edge of Berlin. The transaction represents a significant milestone in expanding the European Living Strategy's footprint in Germany's residential market and a continuation of a successful strategy pursued over the last five years.

The residential estate comprises 17 buildings totaling approximately 34,000 sqm, including 477 residential units, 6 commercial units and 520 parking spaces. Situated in a well-connected suburban location, the estate offers direct rail access to Berlin's city center and benefits from its proximity to several key infrastructure developments in recent years, including the Berlin Brandenburg Airport.

The acquisition aligns with EQT Real Estate's European Living Strategy, which focuses on creating high-quality, modern, and affordable homes in supply-constrained urban areas offering stable, long-term value creation.

Dave O'Brien, Director of German Living Strategies at EQT Real Estate, said: "This acquisition is a significant milestone for our European Living Strategy in the German residential market. Given the sector's strong fundamentals and stable demand, we believe the time is right to pursue further attractive opportunities in the country. The portfolio, sourced through our strong local relationships, offers attractive value-add potential within commuting distance to Berlin - an area benefiting from population growth, improved infrastructure, and a strong mix of amenities. Beyond Berlin, we see similar opportunities across Germany's major metropolitan regions, where limited new supply and growing demand are creating compelling conditions for investment in well-connected areas with strong social infrastructure."

Tom Livelli, Partner and Head of Living Strategies at EQT Real Estate, added: "This transaction exemplifies our European Living Strategy - acquiring and aggregating well-located residential properties and transforming them into high-quality, purpose-built homes that serve both tenants and investors. It reflects our conviction that well-connected suburban areas around Europe's major cities will continue to offer compelling opportunities for modern, affordable living."

Charles Legendre, Investment Manager - Multi Manager Real Estate at Pictet Alternative Advisors, commented: "We are pleased to collaborate with EQT Real Estate on the 'Living' theme in Germany, which aligns with our shared commitment to addressing local housing needs with well-situated and functional housing options. This investment also reflects our emphasis on geographic and sector diversification on behalf of our clients, which we expect to remain essential amid ongoing global macroeconomic shifts."

EQT Real Estate's European Living strategy targets institutional-grade residential-for-rent properties and purpose-built student accommodation across major European cities and higher education hubs where strong demand meets limited and aging housing supply.

EQT Real Estate was advised by Mittelstein Rechtsanwalte (legal), Grant Thornton (tax), and Reelab (technical).

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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The business is committed to building a robust development management structure to meet the increasing demand for its services in a client focused, compliant and environmentally responsible way.

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, has announced a new director level within its development team framework, appointing four dedicated country leads - one of whom is an internal promotion - who will be instrumental in scaling operational development across these markets.

atNorth's continued growth has fueled the development of a number of new AI ready data centers across the Nordics as the business expands its footprint to meet the region's surging demand for high-performance infrastructure. These new appointments will be critical to supporting that growth, ensuring development projects are delivered with speed, precision, and consistency across the Nordics. The new appointments include:

Hallgrimur?Orn?Arngrimsson , Director of Delivery, Iceland. Hallgrimur leads end-to-end development delivery for Iceland, applying over 15 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure project management. His background spans geotechnical engineering, concrete technology, and large-scale civil works across the Nordics. Before joining atNorth, Hallgrimur held senior roles at Verkis Consulting Engineers and Sweco Norge, and is a certified IPMA Level B Senior Project Manager.

Hallgrimur leads end-to-end development delivery for Iceland, applying over 15 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure project management. His background spans geotechnical engineering, concrete technology, and large-scale civil works across the Nordics. Before joining atNorth, Hallgrimur held senior roles at Verkis Consulting Engineers and Sweco Norge, and is a certified IPMA Level B Senior Project Manager. Toni?Germano , Director of Delivery, Finland. Toni is a strategic technology leader with over 25 years of experience driving digital transformation for enterprise and service provider clients. At atNorth, he is responsible for delivery operations across Finland, ensuring infrastructure projects meet both technical and commercial objectives. Prior to joining atNorth, Toni held leadership roles at Cisco, including CTO for SP EMEAR North, and has deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure strategy.

Toni is a strategic technology leader with over 25 years of experience driving digital transformation for enterprise and service provider clients. At atNorth, he is responsible for delivery operations across Finland, ensuring infrastructure projects meet both technical and commercial objectives. Prior to joining atNorth, Toni held leadership roles at Cisco, including CTO for SP EMEAR North, and has deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure strategy. Dave?O'Brien , Director of Delivery, Denmark. Dave oversees infrastructure delivery in Denmark, bringing more than 10 years of experience in data center construction and engineering. Before joining atNorth, Dave served as a Project Manager and Electrical Package Manager at Mercury, where he led key retrofit and new build projects across Denmark. His background spans change management, electrical systems, and project estimation for high-performance environments.

Dave oversees infrastructure delivery in Denmark, bringing more than 10 years of experience in data center construction and engineering. Before joining atNorth, Dave served as a Project Manager and Electrical Package Manager at Mercury, where he led key retrofit and new build projects across Denmark. His background spans change management, electrical systems, and project estimation for high-performance environments. Daniel?Kolm, Director of Delivery, Sweden. Daniel joined atNorth in 2022 and now leads development delivery across Sweden. With a background in mechanical engineering and energy systems, he has delivered complex projects across industrial construction, and production environments. His previous roles include senior project leadership at CBRE and DigiPlex, where he managed multi-disciplinary projects from pre-study through commissioning.

Spanning four countries, this group of Directors embodies atNorth's pan-Nordic delivery model, bringing deep market expertise, strong local partnerships, and regulatory alignment to ensure responsible practices across the full development lifecycle. From feasibility and site acquisition through design, deployment, and operational phases, they reinforce atNorth's position as the trusted partner for hyperscale, enterprise, and AI-driven customers.

"We are pleased to welcome such a talented group of development professionals at this crucial time of accelerated growth," said?Anna Kristin Palsdottir, Chief Development Officer, atNorth. "Their combined expertise ensures we are fully equipped to meet the demands of today's compute-intensive workloads, whilst delivering projects with the speed, scalability, and quality that our customers expect."

The news follows a number of other recent strategic appointments including, Bara?Hlin?Kristjansdottir, Director of PMO & Product, Jonas?Luckner, Director of Commercial Management, Camilla O'Leary, Director of Client Management, Howard Shutt, Director of Hyperscale Sales, and Espen Bjanes, Sales Director.

About atNorth

atNorth is a leading Nordic data center company that offers cost-effective, scalable high-density colocation and built-to-suit services trusted by industry-leading organizations.

With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments.

atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates eight data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, as well as a ninth under construction in Kouvola, Finland and a tenth site in lgod, Denmark. The business has also secured land for a future mega site in the Solleftea Municipality in Sweden.

For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn.

Press Contact:

Caroline Brunton

Kite Hill PR for atNorth

+44 (0) 7796 274 416

caroline@kitehillpr.com

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Middle East's largest natural history museum celebrates 13.8 billion years of science, discovery, and wonder, with a special focus on the Arabian region

Museum features two world-firsts: two Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons displayed together, and an unprecedented herd of five massive sauropod dinosaurs

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has officially inaugurated Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, a landmark institution which reinforces the UAE's leadership in culture and scientific research. Located in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum offers an inspiring journey through 13.8 billion years of history spanning the creation of our universe and the story of life on Earth. It also serves as a centre for research and discovery, with onsite facilities that will undertake scientific research and contribute to global knowledge production.

Welcoming the public on 22 November, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is the largest institution of its kind in the Middle East. It features extraordinary exhibits and interactive experiences which bring nature's greatest stories to life, including awe-inspiring glimpses into the age of dinosaurs. The world's first-ever display of a sauropod dinosaur herd can be found in the museum's atrium, with five different species of these long-necked giants standing majestically to greet visitors as they enter.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has a special focus on the natural history of the Emirates and the wider region. Galleries take visitors back in time to seven million years ago, when the climate was very different, giving life to a green and lush savannah-like landscape roamed by now-extinct animals, including a giant elephant with four tusks, which is also on display for visitors to discover.

Deeper into the galleries, another world-first awaits: a display featuring Tyrannosaurus rexes locked in battle over the carcass of a Triceratops, which is the first time two fossil T. rexes have been exhibited in such a dynamic scene. They include 67-million-year-old 'Stan', one of the best-preserved examples of a T. rex ever discovered, bringing this prehistoric scene vividly to life. Visitors can observe fossil evidence of this ancient battle, including bite marks on the Triceratops.

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: "Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is a place where knowledge meets wonder. The museum offers a different perspective of the story of life on Earth, framed for the first time through an Arabian lens. Bringing a new dimension to our cultural story, we are building institutions that inspire curiosity, foster learning, and connect us to the bigger questions about our world and our future, while reinforcing our conviction in culture as a strategic force for shared progress. Understanding our planet's past helps us protect its future, and that is the foundation of what we have built here."

Beyond the visitor experience, education and research are at the heart of the museum's mission. In addition to showcasing the wonders of the natural world, it will advance scientific understanding, support interdisciplinary research, and inspire future generations to explore, protect, and learn from our planet.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi embraces climate awareness and sustainable conservation. Guided by the UAE's deep commitment to environmental education, the museum also serves as an institution for educational engagement and biodiversity research about our shared future. Central to this purpose is youth. The museum seeks to educate and empower young citizens to become future scientists, researchers, and conservation leaders, inspired to pursue careers in natural history and environmental responsibility.

The museum will also host ongoing public programming, education workshops, and community-led initiatives designed to make natural history accessible to everyone. As a space where scientific knowledge meets cultural insight, the museum invites every visitor to move beyond observation, to think critically, act responsibly, and be part of the solutions shaping tomorrow's world.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi joins a growing community of world-class institutions on Saadiyat Island, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Together, these institutions define the Saadiyat Cultural District as a global destination for culture, creativity, and cross-disciplinary exchange, a place where art, science, and heritage are brought together to shape future generations.

Book your tickets for Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi now at nhmad.ae

About Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is established with the ambition to become a trusted research museum with world-class collections, engaging visitor experiences, strong educational programmes, accessible community science, and a commitment to sustainable change through national and global collaboration. Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi, the museum tells the epic story of life on earth through an Arabian lens. The 35,000 sqm museum, designed by renowned architects Mecanoo, offers an immersive journey through time, from the beginnings of our universe and the story of life on Earth to the possibilities and responsibilities of our planet's future.

From rare meteorites and iconic dinosaur fossils to the lost world of Abu Dhabi and life on earth today, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi connects past, present, and future through its globally significant collections and the powerful stories they reveal. Interactive exhibits, immersive experiences, and community-science programmes make the museum an ever-changing space of curiosity and connection for families, students, researchers and lifelong learners.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is a global hub for cutting-edge research. State-of-the-art laboratories will advance studies in palaeontology, earth sciences, biodiversity research, conservation and community science, fostering international collaboration and knowledge that supports a healthier planet. Guided by the UAE's commitment to science, sustainability and global dialogue, the museum inspires visitors of every age to become advocates for nature and stewards of our shared future.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae/

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Circus Group (ISIN: DE000A2YN355 // Symbol: CA1), a global technology leader in autonomous AI robotics systems, today announced the appointment of Frank Holtey as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

Frank Holtey brings more than 30 years of international sales experience and has been part of the company's management team for the past 1.5 years, where, as Director Global Affairs, he played a key role in building the company's international operations and developing major key accounts such as REWE.

In his new position, Holtey will take on overall responsibility for the commercial strategy of the Circus Group, with a focus on growth, brand positioning, and international expansion. His appointment comes at a time when the company is significantly ramping up its high-volume production, scaling deployments of the CA-1 AI robot with major customers such as REWE and Meta, and simultaneously expanding its commercial activities in the defence sector across Europe.

The company is preparing for deliveries of its autonomous systems in the clear triple-digit range already next year and is strengthening its Executive Leadership Team with Holtey to support this accelerated growth.

"Frank takes on the role of CCO at a pivotal moment," says Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and Founder of Circus. "We are in a dynamic scaling phase marked by international roll-outs, strategic partnerships, and rapidly growing demand. As an exceptionally experienced commercial leader who combines entrepreneurial thinking, sales excellence, and strategic brand expertise and who deeply understands our business Frank will play a central role in driving our expansion."

Frank Holtey adds: "I am delighted to contribute to shaping Circus' development during such a dynamic phase. My clear goal is to work with the team to set strong, sustainable impulses and to further develop Circus into becoming an international market leader."

As CCO, Frank Holtey assumes responsibility for Sales Strategy, Marketing, Partner Relations, and Customer Experience. Dr. Max Schwaller, VP Commercial at Circus and previously Sales Director at market leader Rational, will continue to focus on building new major accounts and business areas in the European market.

About Circus SE

Circus Group (XETRA: CA1) is a global AI and robotics company developing autonomous infrastructure and sustainment systems for commercial and defence applications. Built on patented embodied-AI robotics technology, Circus delivers modular, high-reliability systems including the CA-1, the world's first fully autonomous meal production robot now in serial production. From commercial food-service automation to sovereign, mobile defence sustainment units, Circus provides resilient, low-input autonomous systems engineered in Germany and manufactured worldwide, on a mission to fuel and support humanity at scale.

Language: English Company: Circus SE St. Martin-Strae 112 81669 Munchen Germany E-mail: ir@circus-group.com Internet: https://www.circus-group.com/for-investors ISIN: DE000A2YN355 WKN: A2YN35 Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich (m:access), Tradegate Exchange

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BENGALURU, India, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Global, the world's largest independent pure-play engineering services company, has been recognized as a leader in theISG Provider Lens Aerospace and Defense Services and Solutions 2025 report across U.S. and Europe. The recognition cements Quest Global's position as a trusted partner for clients across the globe and highlights its ability to deliver mission-critical engineering and digital transformation services at scale to aerospace and defense clients.

According to the ISG Provider Lens report, Quest Global has been named as a Leader in several key categories across Aerospace and Defense value chain within the Overall Ecosystem and Mid-Sized & Specialist segments. In the U.S., the company has been positioned as a Leader across Engineering, Design and Innovation; Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) and Aftermarket; Aerospace and Defense Services; and Technology Transformation and Consulting. In Europe, Quest Global has been recognized as a Leader in the Aerospace and Defense Services and Engineering, Design and Innovation categories for the Mid-Sized & Specialist segment.

The ISG Provider Lens report recognizes Quest Global for its deep domain expertise and advanced use of AI, IoT, and digital twins to tackle key challenges in the aerospace and defense industry. With strong multi-PLM capabilities enabling seamless data flow across design, manufacturing, and aftermarket functions, the company drives faster innovation and reliability for global clients. Its strategic acquisitions, including EXB Solutions, and the launch of Quest Defense Systems and Solutions (QDSS) in the U.S. have strengthened its software and mission-critical engineering expertise.

Speaking on the recognition, Rob Vatter, Executive President & Global Business Head for Aerospace & Defense at Quest Global, said, "Being named a Leader across multiple categories in the ISG Provider Lens report is a testament to our unwavering commitment to engineering excellence and innovation. As the aerospace and defense industry continues to evolve through digital transformation, our focus remains on empowering clients to design, build, and sustain smarter, safer, and more efficient systems that are ready for the future."

Swadhin Pradhan, Assistant Director and Principal Analyst, ISG Research, added, "Quest Global's industry expertise and focus on digital engineering helps drive innovation in the A&D space across key segments, including engines, avionics, structures, MRO, supply chain and emerging areas such as space and advanced air mobility."

With over two decades of engineering excellence and a presence across 18 countries, Quest Global continues to enable the world's leading aerospace and defense organizations to design, manufacture, and sustain products that are safer, more connected, and more efficient. The company's recognition as a Leader by ISG reaffirms its commitment to advancing engineering services that moves industries and the world forward.

To access the report, click here.

About Quest Global:

At Quest Global, it's not just what we do but how and why we do it that makes us different. We're in the business of engineering, but what we're really creating is a brighter future. For over 25 years, we've been solving the world's most complex engineering problems. Operating in over 18 countries, with over 93 global delivery centers, our 21,500+ curious minds embrace the power of doing things differently to make the impossible possible. Using a multi-dimensional approach, combining technology, industry expertise, and diverse talents, we tackle critical challenges faster and more effectively. And we do it across the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Hi-Tech, MedTech & Healthcare, Rail and Semiconductor industries. For world-class end-to-end engineering solutions, we are your trusted partner.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / SNOWLINE GOLD CORP (TSXV:SGD)(OTC:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is honoured to announce its receipt of the 2025 Robert E. Leckie Award for Responsible and Innovative Exploration and Mining Practices from the Government of Yukon as well as the 2025 Community Award presented by the Yukon Chamber of Mines. This is the Company's third consecutive year receiving a Leckie Award for its environmentally conscious exploration practices in the Yukon Territory, including progressive reclamation of disturbances and clean-ups of historical third-party exploration and mining sites. In 2025, the award was conveyed in recognition of environmentally sound exploration practices and progressive reclamation through the discovery and advancement of its Valley deposit and other exploration sites, where disturbances to the landscape and vegetation have been minimized from discovery through current pre-feasibility study stages.

"We are excited and grateful to receive our third consecutive Robert E. Leckie Award, along with our first Yukon Community Award, recognizing the efforts of our team in setting high environmental and social bars for sound mineral development," said Scott Berdahl, CEO & Director of Snowline. "I would like to thank the awards committees and our nominators for the recognition, and I would especially like to thank our team, contractors and other collaborators who have helped to shape and champion a culture of accountability throughout our organization and operations. As a Yukoner myself, I am proud of the minimal footprint created over the past five seasons at Valley, where - apart from the compact footprint of our temporary camp - it takes a careful eye to notice the location of our past and present activities, despite our delineation of a major gold deposit. This embodies our philosophy of environmental protection and long-term perspective. In addition, our team continues to make meaningful positive contributions to multiple Yukon communities through the course of our work. These outcomes are a result of and testament to our values-driven approach. We take our commitments and responsibilities as operators very seriously, and we aim to continue building Snowline as a leader in these areas as we advance and explore."

Figure 1 - Snowline representatives at the 2025 Yukon Geoscience awards banquet in Whitehorse, Yukon. Top to bottom row, left to right: Sarah Weber (Independent Director), Rob Doyle (Independent Director), Brian Hegarty (VP Sustainability & External Relations), Scott Berdahl (CEO & Director), Calum Morrison (President & Director), Kimberly Azak (Mentorship & Training Coordinator), Zoe Goodyear (Director of Data & Digital Systems), Victor Vdovin (VP Engineering), Steve Rennalls (Director of Operations) & Oliver Curran (VP Environment & Permitting). Photo by Crystal Schick.

Robert E. Leckie Award: Snowline has advanced its Valley gold deposit on the Rogue Project from a discovery outcrop in 2021 to an open, 7.94 million ounce Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate backed by a robust Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2025, while creating minimal surface disturbance (Figure 1). Helicopter-supported drilling has avoided creation of linear corridors, and retention of surface organics at drill sites encourages rapid regeneration of vegetation (Figure 2). 100% of drill pads from 2021-2024 have been fully reclaimed at Valley, along with 82% of drill pads from 2025, with the remainder slated for early 2026 reclamation following movement of drills to new pad sites.

In addition, the Company significantly expanded environmental baseline surveys, wildlife monitoring, hydrology programs and reclamation oversight. The solar array at Forks camp, installed by Solvest and leased from the Na-cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation, generated over 10,000 kWh of clean energy, reducing diesel use.

The Leckie Award is presented in up to three categories each year, with recognition for socially responsible practices, environmental stewardship, and innovation in mining in Canada's Yukon Territory. The awards committee comprises representatives from the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Chamber of Mines, the Klondike Placer Miner's Association, and the Government of Yukon. The award was presented at the 2025 Yukon Geoscience convention in Whitehorse, Yukon.

YCM Community Award: The Yukon Chamber of Mines recognized various social performance and community initiatives undertaken by the Company including sponsorship of Ihdzi', a new community hub in Mayo, Yukon, co-delivering a youth training program with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, and sustaining Ross River School's Rural Nutrition Program, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful positive community impact. The Company also supports local events and organizations, prioritizes local procurement, and maintains inclusive workplace policies and practices.

ROBERT E. LECKIE

Robert "Bob" E. Leckie (1957-1999) was a geographer and mining inspector who moved north from Alberta to serve in the Yukon's Mayo Mining District from 1987 through 1999. His legacy stems from a passion for innovation, collaboration between governments and industry, and the development of progressive land use practices for mining and reclamation.

ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP.

Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration and development company with mineral claim portfolio covering roughly 360,000 ha (3,600 km2). The Company is advancing its Valley gold deposit-a large, low-strip, near surface, >1 g/t Au bulk tonnage gold system located in the eastern Yukon-while continuing regional exploration of surrounding targets on the Rogue Project and the broader district in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin.

Valley hosts an open MRE of 7.94 million ounces gold at 1.21 g/t Au Measured & Indicated (in 204.0 million tonnes) and an additional 0.89 million ounces gold Inferred at 0.62 g/t Au (in 44.5 million tonnes)1, with a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t Au. Results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of Valley suggest the potential for the deposit to support a long-life mining operation with a strong production profile and low production costs. The MRE and PEA are supported by the recent technical report for Rogue, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards, entitled "Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Rogue Project Yukon, Canada," dated August 27, 2025, with an effective date of March 1, 2025, and available on SEDAR+ and the Company's website.

Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits across the central Yukon and Alaska. The Company's comprehensive first-mover position and extensive exploration database provide a distinct competitive advantage and a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries, the advancement of a significant gold deposit, and the creation of a new gold district.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Information in this release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Thomas Branson, M.Sc., P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration for Snowline Gold Corp, as Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Scott Berdahl

CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Snowline Gold Corp.

+1 778 650 5485

info@snowlinegold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company's work programs, results, surface work, advancement of studies and permitting, the completion of a potential PFS, the significance of visible gold in drill core, mineral resource estimates, projected mining plans, continued exploration, and the creation of a new gold district. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

1Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by metal prices, economic factors, environmental, permitting, legal, title, or other relevant issues.

SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/snowline-gold-receives-third-consecutive-robert-e.-leckie-award-for-environmental-1105566
HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited ("Zeekr Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZK), the world's leading premium new energy vehicle group, today announced that:

the deadline for holders of the Company's ordinary shares (each, a "Zeekr Share") to elect their preferred form of merger consideration by completing the election materials previously sent to such holders is confirmed as 5:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) on December 5, 2025, unless extended; and





the deadline for registered holders of the Company's American depositary shares (each, a "Zeekr ADS", representing ten Zeekr Shares) to elect their preferred form of merger consideration by completing the election materials previously sent to such holders is confirmed as 5:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) on December 3, 2025 (the "ADS Election Return Deadline"), unless extended.

Holders of Zeekr Shares and registered holders of Zeekr ADSs should carefully read the election materials provided to them, as well as the relevant portions of the proxy statement and the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") among the Company, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited ("Geely") and Keystone Mergersub Limited before making their elections. As further described in the election materials, to make a valid election, a properly completed election form, together with any other required documents described in the election materials, must be received prior to the applicable election deadline.

Holders of Zeekr ADSs who hold their Zeekr ADSs through a broker, bank, or other intermediary should carefully review and properly complete any election materials they received from such broker, bank, or other intermediary and follow their instructions as to the procedures for making elections, which will have a deadline for election that is prior to the ADS Election Return Deadline. Such holders of Zeekr ADSs should contact their brokers, banks or other intermediaries with any questions.

Any holders of Zeekr Shares or Zeekr ADSs who does not make a proper election by the deadline will have their Zeekr Shares or Zeekr ADSs, as applicable, exchanged into cash consideration as set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The previously announced merger is currently expected to close on or about December 29, 2025 and is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Company will work with the other parties to the Merger Agreement towards satisfying all other conditions precedent to the merger set forth in the Merger Agreement and complete the merger as quickly as possible.

About Zeekr Group

Zeekr Group, headquartered in Zhejiang, China, is the world's leading premium new energy vehicle group from Geely Holding Group. With two brands, Lynk & Co and Zeekr, Zeekr Group aims to create a fully integrated user ecosystem with innovation as a standard. Utilizing its state-of-the-art facilities and world-class expertise, Zeekr Group is developing its own software systems, e-powertrain, and electric vehicle supply chain. Zeekr Group's values are equality, diversity, and sustainability. Its ambition is to become a true global new energy mobility solution provider.

For more information, please visit https://ir.zeekrgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

In China:

ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited

Investor Relations

Email: [email protected]

Piacente Financial Communications

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

Email: [email protected]

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

Email: [email protected]

Media Contact

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited
LONDON, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At The Licensing Awards 2025, MINISO, a global lifestyle brand, was honored with the prestigious Radar Award, acknowledging its outstanding achievements in IP collaboration and retail innovation. Organized by Max Publishing, the award celebrates brands that have significantly advanced their licensing business and strengthened global brand partnerships over the past year.

According to Licensing International's annual report, global sales of licensed goods and services reached USD 369.6 billion in 2024, growing 3.7% year-on-year. As IP-driven consumption continues to power global retail growth, MINISO has seized emerging opportunities through its integrated supply chain, product and retail innovation, and creative content operations, continuously strengthening its core competitiveness under the IP-driven retail model. As of June 2025, MINISO has entered 112 countries and regions, with over 7,600 stores worldwide sharing its "Life is for Fun" philosophy with global consumers.

World-Class IP Portfolio and Original IP Ecosystem

Aiming to become the world's leading IP operation platform, MINISO has built a comprehensive Super IP strategy, collaborating with over 150 globally renowned licensors and launching more than 10,000 new products annually across diverse categories, including toys, homeware, beauty, lifestyle goods, and stationery.

MINISO's collaborations span some of the world's most iconic franchises, including Harry Potter, Sanrio, Barbie, and Disney, In China, MINISO introduced Chiikawa collaborations, and quickly became a nationwide hit and set new records in both sales and fan engagement.

Across Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America, themed pop-ups inspired by One Piece, Stitch, and MINISO's own vinyl plush successfully attracted local fans and demonstrated how global IPs could be seamlessly woven into everyday retail life.

At the same time, MINISO is building its own original IP ecosystem, Since July 2025, the company has announced partnerships with nine new artist IPs, bringing fresh creative voices into its portfolio and fueling the incubation of original works.

Robin Liu, Chief Marketing Officer of MINISO, summed it up, "MINISO moves forward on two tracks: collaborating with globally influential IPs while nurturing our own. Working with established, cross-cultural IPs brings stability to our portfolio, while building original artist-signed IPs drives long-term differentiation and sustained brand vitality."

Retail Innovation and IP-Driven Growth Strategy

As of 2025, MINISO has sold over 800 million licensed products worldwide, with IP merchandise projected to make up more than half of total sales by 2028. Staying true to its vision - to become the world's leading IP operation platform, MINISO continues to deliver emotionally resonant and culturally inspired products to global consumers. Through its distinctive Super Stores and Super IP Collaboration concepts, the company is expanding the commercial boundaries of IP and building enduring brand value, marking another solid step forward in its long-term growth journey.

About MINISO

MINISO Group is a global lifestyle brand offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2829337/MINISO_Wins_Radar_Award_at_The_Licensing_Awards_2025.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2829339/MINISO_Store_in_UK.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2829341/MINISO_launched_its_Harry_Potter_inspired_collection_in_UK.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/miniso-wins-radar-award-at-the-licensing-awards-2025-recognized-for-excellence-in-global-ip-strategy-302623107.html
Aldershot, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - GForce Tyres, an established vehicle servicing and MOT centre in Aldershot, today announced the expansion of its operational capabilities and service availability to meet growing demand for reliable vehicle safety and compliance testing in the region. The development reflects the company's continued commitment to supporting drivers as regulations evolve and motoring needs increase.

GForce Tyres technicians performing a vehicle inspection.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11704/275419_4c52398284668b96_001full.jpg

The garage has strengthened its technical resources, added capacity for MOT testing, and enhanced scheduling options to accommodate a rising number of Class 4 and Class 7 vehicle inspections. The updates come as more households, small businesses, and fleet operators seek dependable local facilities for maintaining roadworthiness and ensuring full compliance with UK transport standards.

"Our goal is to provide a consistently high level of service that drivers can depend on," said Ahmad Amin Chishti, spokesperson for GForce Tyres. "As vehicle technology changes and customer expectations grow, our team is focused on delivering accurate inspections, clear communication, and professional support for every appointment."

Upgraded Infrastructure and Operational Improvements

GForce Tyres recently introduced several upgrades to its Ash Road facility, including:

Enhanced MOT testing capacity for both Class 4 and Class 7 vehicles

for both Class 4 and Class 7 vehicles Improved diagnostic capabilities using updated digital scanning equipment

using updated digital scanning equipment Streamlined workflow systems to reduce wait times and improve booking efficiency

to reduce wait times and improve booking efficiency Extended operational coverage, enabling more flexible appointment availability

These updates were implemented to support Aldershot residents, businesses with small fleets, and daily commuters who rely on timely and compliant vehicle inspections.

Expanded Range of Automotive Services

In addition to MOT testing, the centre continues to provide a comprehensive suite of maintenance solutions carried out by trained technicians. Services include:

Full and interim servicing

Tyre replacement and wheel alignment

Brake and suspension inspections

Exhaust repairs

Battery testing and replacement

Engine diagnostics and fault investigation

The facility maintains equipment suitable for a wide variety of vehicle types and regularly supports family cars, commercial vans, and local service vehicles.

Strengthening Community Reliability

Operating at 183 Ash Road, GForce Tyres has built a long-standing reputation as a community-focused garage known for transparent communication and dependable turnaround times. By maintaining a local team of skilled technicians, the centre aims to offer drivers a stable and consistent point of contact for essential automotive care.

"Our technicians live in the same community we serve," added the Ahmad Amin. "That connection strengthens our responsibility to ensure every vehicle leaving our workshop meets the required safety standards."

About GForce Tyres

GForce Tyres is an established MOT, servicing, and tyre centre located in Aldershot, Hampshire. The company provides a full range of vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness services supported by experienced technicians and modern diagnostic equipment. GForce Tyres remains committed to delivering reliable automotive care for local residents, businesses, and daily commuters.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275419

SOURCE: FG Newswire
LONDON, Nov. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Fine Asian Art sale offers distinguished Asian lots from Neolithic to Qing dynasty Chinese pieces, in addition covering Tibet and Nepal, with a delicate selection of Japanese items, presents an extraordinary opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces that are not only visually compelling but steeped in history, cultural symbolism, and refined craftsmanship. Each object in this group carries significance that reaches across centuries, reflecting the beliefs, daily lives, and artistic priorities of the worlds that produced them.

Part of the sale is drawn from The Prince Collection, a superb assemblage formed between the 1990s and 2014 built by a well-established art collector with a royal provenance. Many of the pieces in this sale also originate from Europe's major art markets: London, Paris, Munich, Zurich and long-established private collections.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Lot 1003The Chinese bronze dragon mount stands as a powerful emblem of ancient Chinese musical culture. Dragons were revered as symbols of authority, vitality, and auspicious power, and mounts of this type were often fitted to large instrument stands or ceremonial furnishings. Cast with dynamic movement and executed with a stylised form, the mount evokes a period when bronze was a medium not only of utility but of heightened spiritual meaning. As a highlight in the collection, it appeals to those drawn to early Chinese art that merges mythology with technical mastery.

Lot 1055Chinese export porcelain bowl and dish adorned with Arabic calligraphy. These wares reflect a fascinating chapter in global trade, when Chinese artisans produced porcelain specifically for Arabic markets across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Their elegant shapes and fine glazes are characteristic of Chinese porcelain at its height, yet the Arabic inscriptions reveal a deliberate cultural dialogue proof of artistic exchange in the modern era.

Lot 1075the Chinese gold sycee ingot introduces a different dimension of material culture. Traditionally cast in boat-like forms, sycees were used not as minted coins but as units of weight-based currency, valued for their purity and measured in taels. Each one was unique, shaped by the hand of a goldsmith and authenticated by local examiners. Beyond its economic function, the sycee came to symbolise prosperity and good fortune, a meaning that continues in Chinese tradition today.

Lot 1104comes from the Himalayan region, the repousse gilt copper mandorla offers a striking example of Nepalese devotional artistry. Executed through the demanding repousse technique, this example showcases the exceptional skill of Nepalese metalworkers, who combined religious devotion with meticulous craftsmanship. Even in its detached form, the mandorla retains a sense of reverence and energy, making it a captivating addition for collectors interested in Buddhist iconography or Himalayan art.

Lot 1111The Tibetan parcel-gilt silver figure of Chakrasamvara, an important tantric deity in Buddhism. The sculpture's refined metalwork, accented with areas of parcel gilding, reveals the deep care and ritual significance invested in its creation. Chakrasamvara embodies the union of wisdom and compassion, and figures such as this would have been used in meditation and ceremonial practice.

Lot 1156A Japanese netsuke of a workman carrying a rice bale by Morita Soko, shifts the focus to the intimate and the everyday. Netsuke, once practical toggles for securing personal items, evolved into miniature sculptures admired for their charm and precision. This example honours the dignity of labour, capturing a moment of daily life with sensitivity and character.

Together, these six objects showcase the rich diversity of Asian artistic heritage. Their stories, materials, and symbolism create a narrative that elevates this exhibition beyond a simple display of artifacts. Instead, they offer collectors the chance to acquire pieces that embody culture, history, and the enduring human desire to create meaning through art.

Apollo Art Auctions

Live Bidding Begins: December 6, 2025 - 10 AM GMT

Location: London

www.apolloauctions.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Datametrex AI Limited (the "Company" or "Datametrex') (TSXV:DM)(FSE:D4G)(OTC:DTMXF) announces that its subsidiary, Imagine Health Medical Clinics Ltd. ("Imagine Health" or "IH"), has successfully relocated its Edmonton South clinic. The new facility is now open and accepting new patients looking for a family physician at the following address:

Imagine Health - Edmonton South

2551 Hewes Way NW, Suite 104

Edmonton, AB

T6L 6W6

Tel: (780) 468-5999

Fax: 1 (855) 751-0323

Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

The relocation to this modern and accessible space aligns with Imagine Health's mission to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care across Alberta. The new clinic is now accepting new patients, including individuals and families seeking a dedicated family physician. Patients can book appointments by contacting the clinic directly by phone or fax.

"We are pleased to strengthen our presence in Edmonton with the opening of this new, state-of-the-art facility", said Paul Haber, CEO of the Company. "This relocation represents a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare. The modernized environment is designed to better meet the evolving needs of the community we serve".

About Imagine Health

Imagine Health Medical Clinics is a multidisciplinary medical clinic with clinics located in Edmonton and Calgary that offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services under one roof. With a commitment to quality and accessibility, Imagine Health provides family medicine and specialized medical services, including Women's Health, dermatology, mental health support, weight management, allergist consultations, and much more. With a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, Imagine Health is dedicated to meeting the diverse healthcare needs of the community.

To learn more, please visit: www.imaginehealthmedical.com.

About Datametrex

Datametrex is an innovative leader in Technology Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, and Healthcare. The Company specializes in delivering tools and solutions that enhance operational efficiencies and business outcomes. With a commitment to innovation, Datametrex is dedicated to supporting enterprises by setting a new standard for business protocols through cutting-edge technology.

For more on Datametrex, please visit our website at www.datametrex.com.

For Additional Information

Paul Haber, C.P.A., C.A., C.Dir

CEO & Chairman

info@datametrex.com

(416) 318-6501

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," which involve risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These statements are not historical facts and are generally identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," and similar expressions. Such statements include expectations related to healthcare business and other Company plans.

While Datametrex believes the forward-looking information is reasonable as of the date of this release, these statements involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ. Key factors include general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory developments, access to capital, industry competition, and the Company's ability to execute its strategies. The Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are detailed under "Risk Factors" in Datametrex's management's discussion and analysis and available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction where such would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws. We seek Safe Harbor.

###

SOURCE: DataMetrex AI Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/datametrex-announces-new-edmonton-south-location-for-imagine-heal-1105496
HIGHLIGHTS:

Pre-tax net present value ( "NPV" ) of $1.1 billion, internal rate of return ( "IRR" ) of 46%, an after-tax NPV of $790 million and an IRR of 40% at an 8% discount rate and assuming a long-term molybdenum ("Mo") price of US$49.73 per kg (US$22.50 per pound ("lb"));

10-year mine life based on 75,000 tonnes of mill throughput per day or 27.3 million tonnes per-year;

Initial capital cost of $550.9 million including $83.7 million of contingency;

Annual average production of 9.3 million kg or 20.5 million pounds of Mo;

Average cash cost of US$25.60 per kg or US$11.61 per lb and All-In Sustaining Cost ( "AISC" ) of US$29.85 per kg or US$13.54 per lb of Mo;

Open pit mine with flotation processing facilities on site;

A measured and indicated mineral resource of 335.7 million tonnes grading 0.072% MoS2 (0.0 43 % Mo) (see Table 1.1;

A 2.2-year payback;

Life-of-mine direct income and mining taxes in excess of $609 million;

Potential Project enhancements from the use of ore bucket sorting technology and ore particle sorting ("OPS") technology.

All dollar amounts are stated in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Moon River Moly Ltd. (TSXV: MOO) ("Moon River" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Endako mine complex in British Columbia (the "Endako Mine"), currently on care and maintenance, comprised of an open-pit molybdenum mine, concentrator, and roaster, located approximately 190 kilometres west of Prince George, British Columbia. The PEA examines the potential restart of operations at the Endako Mine (the "Project").

Paul Parisotto, President and Chief Executive Officer, says of the PEA results: "We are very pleased with the positive results of the PEA as it presents a very convincing case for the rapid advancement of the necessary work to restart mining operations at the Endako Mine."

Ian McDonald, Chairman, commented: "My involvement with this Project first began twenty years ago, and I firmly believe that the time for the restart of production at the Endako Mine has arrived. The compelling, robust economics, together with a Tier One jurisdiction in a mining-friendly province, indicate that the Endako Mine can recapture its position as Canada's largest molybdenum producer."

The PEA was prepared by A-Z Mining Professionals Ltd. ("AMPL") and contemplates the restart of open pit mining with potentially economic mineralization processed in the existing on-site processing facilities. The open pit will produce approximately 26 to 27 million tonnes per year of potentially economic molybdenum ("Mo") mineralization. Run of Mine ("ROM") potentially economic mineralization will be crushed, ground in the SAG mill located in the New Plant (as defined below), ground in ball mills located in both the New Plant and Old Plant, as described further below, and followed by Mo concentrate produced by flotation. The resulting Life of Mine ("LOM") is 10 years.

BACKGROUND

The Endako Mine is a past producing mine with flooded open pits, an original mothballed processing facility (the "Old Plant") which had processing capacity of approximately 30,000 tonnes per day, a larger 52,000 tonnes per day processing facility on care and maintenance since 2015 (the "New Plant") and all support infrastructure and facilities in place (also on care and maintenance). Both processing facilities employed flotation recovery producing molybdenum concentrate.

The Endako Mine is located in the Bulkley-Nechako region of central British Columbia, approximately 190 kilometres (km) west of Prince George and about 400 km east of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The nearest town is Fraser Lake, about 15 km east of the Endako Mine and is located about 10 km south of Highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) on a paved road.

On May 30, 2024, Moon River completed the indirect acquisition of a 25% interest in the Endako Mine from Sojitz Corporation ("Sojitz"), a Japanese multi-national company. The Endako Mine is jointly owned by Moon River (25%) and Centerra Gold Inc. ("Centerra") (75%) and operates through a joint venture company. While Centerra is aware that this PEA was being prepared for Moon River, it has neither participated in nor endorsed the work.

PROJECT RESTART PLAN

The restart mining plan comprises:

Mining measured and indicated potentially economic mineralization, located mainly in the walls and floors, of the existing Endako and Denak open pits.

Rebuilding existing blast hole drills and rope shovels from the past operation and lease major mining equipment and purchase smaller support equipment for the mine.

Relocating the existing primary crusher and a second new crusher to outside of the new ultimate open pit limits.

Adding pumping capacity to split the mill feed between the New Plant and the Old Plant ball mills and add extra rougher flotation capacity to the New Plant to allow for the planned higher throughput.

Refurbishing a portion of the Old Plant grinding circuit to provide an extra 20,000 - 25,000 tonnes per day grinding capacity and connecting this grinding circuit to the New Plant flotation circuit.

Refurbishing of major equipment and refurbishing or replacing smaller equipment components (as required) in the processing plants.

Construction of a new concentrate dewatering and drying circuit and building.

Construction of a tailings sand plant to produce cycloned tailings to facilitate tailings dams height and storage capacity increases to meet the restart mine plan.

Refurbishing and/or upgrading, as required, of the site infrastructure buildings, facilities, and services.

Construction of a water treatment plant ("WTP") to treat all contact water (water from disturbed areas of the mine) not recycled in the mining and processing operations.

Reconfiguring and installation of water pipelines to store and remove water (water from the disturbed areas of the mine) not recycled in the mining and processing operations.

Construction of water pipelines from TP-1 to the WTP and from the WTP to the discharge to the environment location on the Endako River.

Sale of molybdenum concentrate to domestic and international smelters.

Mining would employ open pit techniques using conventional rubber tired, diesel-powered mobile equipment, track mounted drills, and rope shovels.

The LOM measured and indicated potentially economic mineralization production is scheduled at approximately 26 to 27 million tonnes per year. The mine schedule prioritizes mining of higher-grade material from within the open pits for the first approximately 10 years. The LOM strip ratio is favourable at 0.68 tonnes of waste per 1 tonne of potentially mineable resources.

The mine schedule is based on the optimised pit shell with mining recovery and mining dilution rates of 95% and 5%, respectively.

Mining will be performed on a 24 hour, 7 days per week basis. Mining equipment will be a combination of leased and owned.

The potentially mineable resources from the open pit optimisation were used to develop the mine plan, which would extract 273 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.075% MoS2 (0.045% Mo) after dilution and mining losses.

PROCESSING

Recovery of a molybdenum concentrate from potentially economic mineralization will be achieved using the refurbished existing processing plant facilities. The addition of new processing equipment is required for concentrate leaching, dewatering, and drying. The processing plant will have a capacity to treat 75,000 tonnes per day or 27 million tonnes per annum.

The existing in-pit primary crusher and a new second crusher, located close to the New Plant, will process the potentially economic ROM mineralization. The crushed potentially economic mineralization will be ground in the SAG mill located in the New Plant followed by grinding in ball mills located in both the New Plant and the Old Plant.

The grinding products from the Old Plant and the New Plant will be combined at the beginning of the New Plant flotation circuits. Concentrate will be produced by rougher/scavenger flotation, primary concentrate regrinding, first cleaner/scavenger flotation, secondary concentrate regrinding, secondary cleaner flotation, and final concentrate thickening.

Final concentrate leaching and product dewatering and drying will be performed in a new facility constructed on the footprint of the existing ultra-pure plant (to be demolished).

The forecast average processing plant molybdenum recovery is 75.7%.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Existing infrastructure includes:

access roads, BC power grid-power supply to site, nearby railway line and fresh water supply network; primary crushing plant; (to be moved); one new processing plant capable of processing 52,000 tonnes/day; one old decommissioned processing plant capable of processing 30,000 tonnes/day; tailings management facility with 2 disposal areas TP-1 and TP-3; reclaim water ponds; administration, warehouse, change house, laboratory, mine shops and buildings; and one reclaimed tailings disposal area TP-2; and two non-operational roasters.

Refurbishing and upgrading of all facilities, other than the existing roasters which will remain non-operational, will be required and are included in the restart plan and cost estimates.

MANPOWER

The operation would employ a total of approximately 500 hourly and staff personnel.

ENVIRONMENT AND PERMITTING

The Endako Mine is in compliance with all necessary permits for its status as an operation on care and maintenance. A restart of mining operations will necessitate the reactivation and refreshing of all necessary water and operating permits. Additionally, an amendment to the existing tailings management facility permit will be required, prior to production. This will allow placement of classified tailings to increase the dam heights, in order to accommodate LOM tailings disposal. It is anticipated that the required permits for a restart of mining operations will be obtained as a matter of course.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The Endako Mine restart schedule requires approximately 1.5 to 2 years from the approval of restart to the start of production. During the first year, detailed engineering on the open pit mining, processing plants reconfiguration and upgrades, support facilities refurbishment and upgrades, preparation and awarding of contractor and supplier major contracts will be completed. Construction and start of commissioning will require an additional year.

MINERAL RESOURCE

The data used to generate the resource calculation was reviewed and approved by F. Bakker P.Geo. This included two site visits (April 2025 and September 2025) by the author. Sampling methods, QAQC programs and databases were examined. As the database contains approximately 360,000 individual assays and over 290,000 drill holes (reverse circulation, diamond drill and blast holes) it was not possible to verify the entire data set due to the volume of data and as many of the holes no longer exist. The assay data was verified by comparing to Endako written reports, filed assessment reports and month end statements and work undertaken by previous authors. The author is of the opinion that the accuracy of the data was sufficient for a mineral resource statement.

The mineral resource was calculated utilizing commercial 3D Block Modelling Software (HxGN Mine Plantm 3D). The model utilized geological domains based on geostatistics, lithology, a grade limit design of approximately 0.01% MoS2 and limits imposed by both existing pit walls and potentially new pit wall limits. This resource model was used for determining the mineral resources estimate and to undertake open pit optimisation of a mine production plan utilizing the potentially mineable resource.

The effective date of the mineral resource is the upcoming publication date of the PEA.

The author is unaware of any known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources or mineral reserves as this was an existing operating mine.

Table 1.1 presents the mineral resource estimate for the Endako Mine at various cut-off grades. Inferred mineral resources were not included in the PEA economic analysis.

Table 1.1 Mineral Resources

MEASURED

RESOURCE INDICATED

RESOURCE MEASURED AND INDICATED INFERRED

RESOURCE ZONE TONNES %MoS2 TONNES %MoS2 TONNES %MoS2 TONNES %MoS2 Total >= 0.010 237,413,000 0.0468 435,641,000 0.049 673,054,000 0.048 164,564,000 0.038 Total >= 0.015 206,183,000 0.0522 409,652,000 0.052 615,835,000 0.052 144,091,000 0.037 Total >= 0.020 183,642,000 0.0565 382,707,000 0.054 566,349,000 0.055 128,689,000 0.040 Total >= 0.025 157,962,000 0.0621 347,564,000 0.057 505,526,000 0.059 112,503,000 0.043 Total >= 0.030 138,289,000 0.0671 311,767,000 0.061 450,056,000 0.063 93,871,000 0.046 Total >= 0.035 117,593,000 0.0733 271,696,000 0.065 389,289,000 0.067 76,928,000 0.050 Total >= 0.040 100,673,000 0.0794 234,981,000 0.069 335,654,000 0.072 60,127,000 0.054 Total >= 0.045 85,723,000 0.0860 187,826,000 0.074 273,549,000 0.078 45,770,000 0.060 Total >= 0.050 73,121,000 0.0927 158,985,000 0.079 232,106,000 0.084 34,961,000 0.066 Total >= 0.055 62,662,000 0.0996 132,436,000 0.085 195,098,000 0.090 27,753,000 0.072 Total >= 0.060 54,246,000 0.1061 112,264,000 0.090 166,510,000 0.095 22,864,000 0.077 Total >= 0.065 46,871,000 0.1131 93,091,000 0.096 139,962,000 0.102 18,903,000 0.083 Total >= 0.070 40,936,000 0.1198 78,354,000 0.101 119,290,000 0.108 15,875,000 0.087 Total >= 0.075 35,776,000 0.1267 64,680,000 0.107 100,456,000 0.114 13,276,000 0.092 Total >= 0.080 31,269,000 0.1339 54,004,000 0.113 85,273,000 0.121 11,042,000 0.097

The highlighted resource at a cutoff grade of 0.040%MoS2, (excluding inferred resources) is the long term potentially economic mineralization that could be available for mining. This cutoff grade was used in determining the mining plan which reflects the mining and processing rate of approximately 27 million tonnes per year at an overall LOM operating cost of $11.84. The 0.040% MoS2 cutoff was chosen as it has an in-situ value of $12.14 per tonne, which is slightly above the LOM mining cost. (Grade/100 x 2204 lbs/tonne x conversion to Mo (0.599%) x Mill Recovery (75.7%) x $22.5 (price/lb) x1.35 (US$ Exchange rate) = $12.14/tonne).

There are no mineral reserves for the Endako Mine. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Pre-production capital expenditures for the Project Base Case are estimated to total $493.7 million. The total capital expenditure includes contingencies from 20% to 30%. The breakdown of capital expenditures is presented in Table 1.2 below.

Table 1.2

Pre-production Capital Expenditures - Estimates Component Total Expenditures

($ million) Mine $35.1 Equipment Lease Deposit and Purchases $23.3 Processing Plant $89.2



Tailings Management Facilities $150.1 Surface Infrastructure $13.2 Non- Mining Mobile Equipment $5.0 Water Management $31.5



Water Treatment $52.7 Owner's Costs $10.0



Contingency $83.7



Total $493.7

In addition to the capital expenditures, working capital of $57.2 million, based on 3 months of operating costs, has been estimated.

LOM sustaining capital requirements of $3.2 million are estimated. This comprises upgrades to the processing plant and surface infrastructure. Mining equipment is to be leased to own for the LOM. The tailings management facility dam raising costs are included in operating costs as the tailings will be used to increase dam heights as part of the tailings facility management plan.

OPERATING COSTS

The estimated total average Base Case operating cost (excluding smelting and refining) is approximately $11.84 per tonne of potentially mineable resources or the equivalent (exchange rate of CAD$: US$ =1.35) or US$11.61 per pound of molybdenum. Table 1.3 below, presents a summary of the LOM average operating costs for each department on a cost per tonne of potentially mineable resources basis.

Table 1.3

Project Operating Costs Summary Component Cost/tonne

($) Mining $5.45 Processing and Tailings $5.53 Surface Department, Environmental, and G&A $0.86



Total Operating Cost per Tonne $11.84



Total Operating Cost per Pound of Molybdenum US$11.61

FINANCIAL RESULTS

The financial returns (Table 1.4) from the potentially mineable resources are presented for the expected parameters and costs at a molybdenum long term three-year trailing average price of US$49.73 per kg (US$22.50 per pound lb.) of molybdenum oxide, at an exchange rate of CAD$ 1.00 = US$0.74.

The Endako Mine is forecast to produce approximately 9.3 million kilograms (20.5 million pounds) per year of molybdenum metal in concentrate. Life of Mine total molybdenum metal in concentrate production is 93.3 million kilograms (205.2 million lbs.).

Table 1.4

Base Case Financial Returns

Pre-Tax After-Tax Pre-production CAPEX ($ millions) $493.7 $493.7





Undiscounted Net Revenue ($ millions) $5,854 $5,854 Undiscounted Total Cash Flow ($ millions) $2,087 $1,478





NPV (5%) - millions $1,405 $996 NPV (8%) - millions $1,116 $790





IRR 46% 40% Payback Period 2.2 years 2.2 years

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Sensitivity analysis was performed for molybdenum price, capital expenditures, operating costs, mined grades and exchange rate for ranges up to 20%. The Project is sensitive to changes in metals prices and reasonably sensitive to changes in all the other variables.

The sensitivity analysis results are shown in Table 1.5 and 1.6 and Figure 1.1 and 1.2. Financial results are most sensitive to grade, exchange rate and molybdenum price changes and least sensitive to capital expenditures and operating costs.

Table 1.5

Sensitivity Analysis for After-Tax NPV Parameter After-Tax NPV 8% ($ million) -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Mined Grade 114 313 473 635 790 945 1100 1254 1409 Molybdenum Price -302 -31 265 526 790 1061 1344 1641 1948 Operating Costs 1071 1001 931 862 790 719 649 573 502 Capital Costs 865 846 828 808 790 771 753 734 716



















US$:CAD$ Exchange Rate 273 407 536 666 790 915 1038 1161 1284

Table 1.6

Sensitivity Analysis for After-Tax IRR Parameter After-Tax IRR (%) -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Mined Grade 14 21 28 34 40 46 52 58 64 Molybdenum Price -7 7 19 30 40 51 62 73 84 Operating Costs 52 49 46 43 40 37 35 31 28 Capital Costs 50 48 45 43 40 38 37 35 33



















US$:CAD$ Exchange Rate 19 25 30 36 40 45 50 55 59

Figure 1.1 Graph of Net Present Value (NPV) at 8% Discount Rate

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 1.2 Graph of IRR Sensitivity Analysis

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7009/275365_figure1.2.jpg

POTENTIAL PROJECT ENHANCEMENTS

Preliminary assessment of shovel/excavator whole bucket ore and waste differentiation has been investigated. This would potentially facilitate better in-pit grade control and minimize waste rock sent to the processing plant for beneficiation. In-bucket sensors determine if a loaded bucket of material is ore or waste, for placing in the appropriate truck for transport to the primary crusher or waste storage areas.

OPS technology, whereby rock exiting the primary crushers can be screened for an optimum size, should be further investigated. There is currently a 5-tonne representative sample of rock from the Endako pit undergoing testing at a reputable vendor and manufacturer of OPS equipment.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on this PEA, Endako Mine restart recommendations are:

Complete a Feasibility Study for mine restart using a mining and processing rate of approximately 75,000 tonnes per day (27 million tonnes per year) of potentially economic mineralization.

For the Feasibility Study, develop a new geology block model for use in resources estimation, using geological data owned by the joint venture company. A new model should be constructed using metric measures consistent with present Canadian practice and to avoid potential errors with conversions using a mix of Metric and Imperial measures.

Undertake diamond drilling on nearby known targets of potential resources to expand potentially mineable resources and increase the LOM.

Develop an updated or new detailed water management model which would include hydrology and tailings management facility leachate seepage data and forecasts.

Investigate the use of excavator/shovel bucket ore sensing technology and OPS technology for inclusion in the Feasibility Study.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The Company has included in this news release certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Board ("IFRS"). These include Operating Costs, Cash Cost, AISC, Pre-Production Capital Expenditures, Sustaining Capital Expenditures, and Life of Mine Average Operating Costs. 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 are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures used in this news release and common to the mining industry are defined.

Operating Costs include mining, processing, general and administrative, concentrate transportation costs, treatment and refining charges, etc.

Cash costs include on-site mining costs plus on-site G&A, royalties/production taxes and permitting/community costs related to current operations.

AISC includes total cash costs plus reclamation costs, exploration and study costs, sustaining capital exploration/development and sustaining capital expenditure.

Technical Report & Qualified Persons

A Technical Report in respect of the PEA (the "Technical Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR+ under the Company's issuer profile within 45 days of the date of this news release. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the mineral resource estimate and the PEA. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified, and approved by Mr. Brian LeBlanc, P. Eng., President of AMPL, an independent "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101 ("QP"). Mr. LeBlanc is the QP responsible for the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Moon River

Moon River is a Canadian-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral projects. Moon River is focused on the development of the Davidson Property which hosts a large molybdenum-copper-tungsten deposit and is located near Smithers, British Columbia. The Company also holds 25% of one of the largest molybdenum mines in North America, the Endako Mine Complex also located in British Columbia.

For further information please contact:

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning metal price assumptions, cash flow forecasts, projected capital and operating costs, metal recoveries, mine life, production rates, infrastructure, permitting, potential enhancements to the Project, that OPS will be incorporated into future plans and will prove beneficial, and future plans and other assumptions to be set out in the Technical Report in respect of the PEA. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company, represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release, and are based on certain assumptions that the Company and its consultants have made in preparing the PEA and Technical Report that will be filed in respect thereto within 45 days of this news release. There can be no assurance that the results of the PEA particularly the expected Project returns will be achieved or that the Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves will be economically viability. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the Mineral Resources. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

Although the Company believes the expectations and material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these expectations, factors and assumptions will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including risks detailed in the PEA and continuous disclosure including the Technical Report , which are or will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

These risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted, forecasted or projected in the PEA and the Technical Report in respect thereof. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release.

These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company, represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release, and are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made in respect thereof as at the date of this press release.

The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including risks detailed in the Company's continuous disclosure, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275365

SOURCE: Moon River Moly Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Aurum Lake Mining Corporation (TSXV: ARL) ("Aurum") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated November 17, 2025 with Lipari Mining Ltd. (the "Optionor") to acquire the exclusive option (the "Option") to earn a 100% interest in the Band-ore property (the "Property"). The 10 km long Property covers approximately 2,115 hectares and comprises 16 patented mining claims, one mining claim lease, and 109 staked mining claims in Hagey and Conacher Townships of Ontario.

Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, in order to exercise the Option, Aurum is required to: (A) pay $50,000 in cash to the Optionor on the effective date of the Option Agreement (the "Effective Date"), and an additional $50,000 in cash on or before each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the Effective Date; (B) at its sole discretion, either pay $50,000 in cash or issue 400,000 common shares in its capital to the Optionor on the date that is six months from the Effective Date (the "Initial Share Issuance Date"), and either pay $50,000 in cash or issue 400,000 common shares in its capital to the Optionor on or before each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the Initial Share Issuance Date; and (C) pay $1,500,000 in cash to the Optionor on or before the date that is the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date.

Upon exercise of the Option by Aurum, the Optionor will be entitled to 2% net smelter royalty (the "Optionor NSR") in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement. Aurum has the option to purchase  of the Optionor NSR by making a cash payment to the Optionor in the amount of $3,000,000 indexed (escalated) based on the Canada Consumer Price Index from the Effective Date to the purchase date. In addition, Aurum will have a right of first refusal with respect to the Optionor's remaining 1% of the Optionor NSR. In the event that a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource is declared for the Property, the Optionor will be entitled to receive $500,000 upon the declaration of a mineral resource containing 500,000 or more ounces of gold and an additional $500,000 upon the declaration of a mineral resource containing 1,000,000 or more ounces of gold. All such cash payments will be indexed (escalated) in accordance with the Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Effective Date to the date of the mineral resource declaration.

Wes Roberts, a director of Aurum, also serves as Vice President of Business Development of the Optionor. As a result, the Optionor is considered a Non-Arms' Length Party of the Issuer pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The Option Agreement remains subject to approval by the TSXV.

About Aurum Lake Mining Corporation.

Aurum Lake Mining Corp. (TSXV: ARL) is a Tier 2 mining issuer pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. Aurum's current principal business is the development and exploration of the Homathko Property, located in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia, approximately 57km south of the community of Tatla Lake which lies 222km west of Williams Lake. Aurum expects that it will continue to evaluate and acquire additional resource projects in other jurisdictions with low to moderate local political risk.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risk and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of Aurum. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Aurum expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. 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/275396

SOURCE: Aurum Lake Mining Corporation
Locust Valley, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Two Hands Corporation (CSE: TWOH) (the "Company") is pleased to report the voting results of the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company held on November 20, 2025 (the "Meeting"). A total of 3,9111,537,617 common shares of the Company were voted at the Meeting, representing 66.71% of the outstanding Common Shares. The Company is pleased to report Shareholders voted in favor of all items of business before the Meeting, including the election of directors, appointment of the auditor and the Company's proposed change of business, as all further set below:

Description of Matter Outcome of Vote



To elect the directors of the Company for the ensuing year All nominees proposed by management were elected. Details of the voting was as follows:







For: Withheld: Emil Assentato 3,906,196,395

(99.86%) 5,341,222

(0.14%) Craig Marshak 3,907,347,008

(99.89%) 4,190,609

(0.11%) Daniel Reshef 1,015,282,722

(25.96%) 2,896,254,895

(74.04%) Matthew Stark 3,906,230,359

(99.86%) 5,307,258

(0.14%)



To pass an ordinary resolution to approve the change of the Company's business The resolution was passed. Details of the voting was as follows:



For: Against: Withheld:

3,905,415,077

(99.8%) 3,655,510

(0.1%) 2,467,030

(0.1%)



To approve named executive officer compensation (say on pay proposal) The resolution was passed. Details of the voting was as follows:



For: Against: Withheld:

3,826,106,227

(97.816%) 33,575,676

(0.858%) 51,855,714

(1.326%)



To approve the preferred frequency of stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation (say on frequency proposal) The resolution was passed. Details of the voting was as follows:



One year: Two years: Three years: Abstain:

3,809,861,928

(97.401%) 10,735,035

(0.274%) 30,796,482

(0.787%) 60,144,172

(1.538%)



To ratify the selection of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2025 and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration The resolution was passed. Details of the voting was as follows:







For: Against Withheld: 3,906,693,118

(99.876%) 2,724,509

(0.054%) 2,724,509

(0.070%)

Following the Meeting, the Company formally accepted Daniel Reshef's resignation from his position as director with the Company. Accordingly, as of the date hereof, the board of directors of the Company consists of three directors, namely Emil Assentato, Craig Marshak, and Matthew Stark. The Company is engaged in a process of identifying and pursuing suitable additions to the board, if and as needed. The Company would like to thank Mr. Reshef for his time, contributions and support.

The Company also wishes to update shareholders that it has not received any new or further responses from GBT Technologies Inc. regarding its unsolicited approach to the Company originally disclosed to the market on October 2, 2025; however, the Company anticipates further developments in due course which will be communicated to shareholders as needed.

Two Hands Corporation is a publicly traded company operating across the Canadian and U.S. markets, with a focus on the consumer non-cyclical sector. For over 15-years, the company has been active in the food retail and distribution services industry (SIC Code 7389), delivering quality products through efficient logistics and retail partnerships. Two Hands remains committed to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and long-term value creation.

Neither the CSE not Regulation Services 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/275397

SOURCE: Two Hands Corporation
Val-D'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Cleghorn Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: CZZ) ("Cleghorn" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a milestone Exploration Agreement dated October 15, 2025 (the "Exploration Agreement") with the Matachewan First Nation (Matachewan FN) and Mattagami First Nation (Mattagami FN), members within the Wabun Tribal Council (WTC). The Exploration Agreement was signed by the three companies within the "Zed Zed Group": Cleghorn Minerals Ltd., International Prospect Ventures Ltd., and Val-D'Or Mining Corporation ("Val-D'Or Mining"). The Exploration Agreement covers the Company's Operational Areas of Interest ("the Properties") within the First Nations' traditional lands, located in northeastern Ontario's Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The Exploration Agreement outlines the terms on how consultation and impact mitigation on exploration activities will be conducted. It also delivers financial benefits, including contracts, jobs, and training opportunities during the exploration phase, for both current and future work programs across the property portfolio covered by the Exploration Agreement. Further, the Exploration Agreement provides that the Company will, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, issue to each of Matachewan FN and Mattagami FN 50,000 common shares of the Company, and will also grant to each of Matachewan FN and Mattagami FN incentive stock options to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company at a per share price of $0.06 for a period of five years from issuance, in accordance with its incentive stock option plan and a consulting agreement among the parties. The Exploration Agreement will remain in effect until such time that an Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) has been concluded.

Glenn J. Mullan, CEO of Cleghorn Minerals commented, "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Chief Batisse of the Matachewan First Nation and Chief Constant of the Mattagami First Nation, along with their respective Councils, the negotiating committee led by their Mineral Development Advisors, the Wabun Tribal Council, and the local community members. This milestone represents the culmination of more than five years of relationship-building and dialogue between the Company and the Matachewan and Mattagami First Nations, and the Wabun Tribal Council, and establishes a strong foundation for on-going cooperation among all parties."

Cleghorn remains committed to responsible exploration and to delivering shared economic opportunities to the local communities. An official signing ceremony will be held at the Wabun Tribal Council offices in Timmins, Ontario. Details will be announced once confirmed.

About Cleghorn Minerals Ltd.

Cleghorn is a junior mineral exploration company with a 100% interest in the Meech Lake - Matachewan - Prospect, a property located in northeastern Ontario.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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 news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275404

SOURCE: Cleghorn Minerals Ltd.
Val-D'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - International Prospect Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: IZZ) (the "Company" or "International Prospect") is pleased to announce the signing of a milestone Exploration Agreement dated October 15, 2025 (the "Exploration Agreement") with the Matachewan First Nation (Matachewan FN) and Mattagami First Nation (Mattagami FN), members within the Wabun Tribal Council (WTC). The Exploration Agreement was signed by the three companies within the "Zed Zed Group": International Prospect Ventures Ltd., Val-D'Or Mining Corporation ("Val-D'Or Mining"), and Cleghorn Minerals Ltd. The Exploration Agreement covers the Company's Operational Areas of Interest ("the Properties") within the First Nations' traditional lands, located in northeastern Ontario's Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The Exploration Agreement outlines the terms on how consultation and impact mitigation on exploration activities will be conducted. It also delivers financial benefits, including contracts, jobs, and training opportunities during the exploration phase, for both current and future work programs across the property portfolio covered by the Exploration Agreement. Further, the Exploration Agreement provides that the Company will, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, issue to each of Matachewan FN and Mattagami FN 50,000 common shares of the Company, and will also grant to each of Matachewan FN and Mattagami FN incentive stock options to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company at a per share price of $0.05 for a period of five years from issuance, in accordance with its incentive stock option plan and a consulting agreement among the parties. The Exploration Agreement will remain in effect until such time an Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) has been concluded.

Glenn J. Mullan, President/CEO of International Prospect Ventures commented, "We are sincerely appreciative be a part of this significant milestone, which shows to what can be achieved when we unite around a shared purpose and work together to create meaningful progress. Seeing the dedication, thoughtful negotiation, and commitment of everyone involved has been truly inspiring. We wish to acknowledge with gratitude Chief Batisse of the Matachewan First Nation and Chief Constant of the Mattagami First Nation, along with their respective Councils, the negotiating committee led by their Mineral Development Advisors, the Wabun Tribal Council, and the local community members."

This milestone represents the culmination of more than five years of relationship-building and dialogue between the Company and the Matachewan and Mattagami First Nations, and the Wabun Tribal Council, and establishes a strong foundation for on-going cooperation among all parties.

International Prospect Ventures remains committed to responsible exploration and to delivering shared economic opportunities to the local communities. An official signing ceremony will be held at the Wabun Tribal Council offices in Timmins, Ontario. Details will be announced once confirmed.

About International Prospect Ventures Ltd.

International Prospect Ventures is a junior mineral exploration company that holds interests in mining claims and tenements (and is continuing to acquire additional interests) located primarily in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, within an area Southeast of Karratha, where early-stage gold discoveries have been reported.

The Company also has a 100% interest in the Porcupine Miracle Gold Prospect, consisting of 4 mineral claims located in Langmuir Township, Ontario.

International Prospect Ventures continues to evaluate additional opportunities on an ongoing basis.

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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 news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275406

SOURCE: International Prospect Ventures Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") is pleased to announce financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. The third quarter marked another period of meaningful progress at the Bethania Silver Project in Peru, highlighted by record tonnes processed, significant upgrades to infrastructure, and a strengthened balance sheet following a successful Q3 financing.

Production Ramp-Up at Bethania Mine

The Company is currently achieving a consistent average throughput of approximately 90 tonnes per day (tpd), comprised of a blend of freshly-mined mineralized material and lower grade mineralized stockpile material. Most notably, the mining team has successfully validated the mine's higher-capacity potential, achieving a single-day mining record, earlier in November, of approximately 102.5 tonnes of mineralized material from the underground mine.

To continue this positive momentum in Q4 2025 and beyond, Kuya Silver has purchased additional mining equipment which is currently pending delivery and is expanding its workforce. These investments are designed to stabilize underground production at higher rates in the coming months.

Q3 2025 Highlights

Record concentrate sales from the Bethania mine : Kuya Silver processed 1,841 tonnes at the toll milling facility during the quarter-Bethania's strongest performance to date-resulting in the sale of 16,983 ounces of silver as processing caught up from the previous quarter.

Mine development supports initial 100 tpd production target : Recent underground development on the 640 level of the Espanola vein system advanced substantially, with sufficient working faces complete to support output above 100 tonnes per day.

Major Improvements to mine infrastructure : Key improvements included 11.6 kilometres of road maintenance, reinforcement of underground supports, installation of a new compressor and higher-capacity generator, and upgrades to camp accommodations-strengthening long-term operational reliability.

Q3 financing strengthened balance sheet and supports ramp-up : The Company completed a $6.57 million (CAD $9.07 million) private placement during the quarter, increasing cash to $6.63 million and net working capital to $6.30 million as at September 30, 2025, providing ample liquidity to advance the Bethania ramp-up.

Revenue Generation: The Company generated $2.16 million in revenue from the sale of concentrate from Silver Kings and the Bethania Silver Project during the nine-month period.

Christian Aramayo, Kuya Silver's Chief Operating Officer remarked, "We successfully executed the necessary operational upgrades in Q3 to clear the path for growth. The recent record of 102.5 tonnes of fresh mineralized material mined in a single day is the clearest indicator yet of the Bethania mine's inherent capacity. Our team is now moving rapidly to integrate the new equipment and new staff to secure a minimum 100-tpd baseline for our operations."

Operational Results

Bethania Silver Project (Peru)

Reconditioning and mine development advanced significantly throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2025, with activity concentrated on the 640 level of the Espanola vein system. By quarter-end, the Company had completed sufficient planned operating faces to establish the underground access required to support mining rates above 100 tonnes per day. This capacity was validated subsequent to the quarter end, when the mine achieved a single-day underground production record of 102.5 tonnes of fresh mineralized material.

Year-to-date, the mine has produced 2,296 tonnes of mineralized material, including 417 tonnes in Q3. The reduced mining rate during the quarter reflects a temporary pause while the Company completed infrastructure upgrades. During this period, Kuya Silver completed 11.6 kilometres of road maintenance, reinforced key underground supports, installed a new compressor and an upgraded electrical generator, and improved camp accommodations. Underground operations resumed in late September, with production continuing to increase through October and November. Subsequent to the end of Q3, additional development has been completed to prepare seven drilling chambers for underground diamond drilling.

Kuya Silver delivered its strongest processing performance from the Bethania Project to date in Q3 2025 as the toll mill processed 1,841 tonnes of mineralized material, resulting in the sale of 16,983 ounces of silver. This performance marks a significant step toward consistent production.

Production has continued to ramp-up during October and November. For the past two weeks, the mine has sustained production of 90 tonnes per day by combining fresh underground material with lower-grade stockpiled material. Given the significantly higher silver prices, the Company expects that it should be economically feasible to process low-grade stockpiled material, given the Company's experience processing this same material in late 2024. By adding stockpiled material to our current production scheme, it allows production crews to focus on additional development to continue the ramp-up underground over the coming months.





*prices for silver equivalent calculations use period ending spot prices and are as follows: Sept. 30, 2025 period; silver $46.56/oz, gold $3,846/oz, lead $1,964/tonne, zinc $2,938/tonne Jun. 30, 2025 period; silver $36.00/oz, gold $3,303/oz, lead $2,205/tonne, zinc $2,764/tonne, Mar. 31, 2025 period; silver $34.46/oz, gold $3122.80/oz, lead $2002/tonne, zinc $2829/tonne, and Dec. 31, 2024 period; silver $28.90/oz, gold $2606.72/oz, lead $1921.50/tonne, zinc $2974/tonne

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Financial Highlights

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded revenue of $771,084 from Bethania concentrate sales, compared to no revenue in the prior-year quarter. Production costs totaled $1,165,790 as the Company continued to develop multiple mining faces and execute infrastructure upgrades. Kuya Silver recorded a net loss of $1,523,898 for the quarter, similar to the loss of $1,550,267 in Q3 2024.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, Kuya Silver recorded a net loss of $3,155,443, improving from a net loss of $4,168,928 in the same period of 2024. The improvement reflects revenue generation from Bethania and reduced exploration spending as the operation moved further into development and ramp-up.

1 In periods when the Company has a loss, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share.

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Corporate Overview

Kuya Silver ended the quarter with a significantly improved financial position. Cash increased to $6,628,147 (approximately CAD$9.3 million), and net working capital surplus of $6,301,753, compared to a working capital deficit of $677,145 at December 31, 2024.

The improvement was primarily driven by the Company's Q3 financing, in which it issued 18,140,000 units for gross proceeds of $6,566,000 (CAD $9,070,000). These funds provide the near-term capital required to support the ongoing production ramp-up at Bethania and other growth initiatives such as exploration. Also in Q3 2025, the Company completed an early settlement of its remaining convertible debentures, further strengthening the working capital position. In addition, the Company terminated its previously announced LOI with Silver Crown Royalties Inc.

Subsequent to quarter-end, 3,502,528 warrants have been exercised for proceeds of CAD $1,295,411.

During Q3, 2025, the Company strengthened its management and operational capabilities through the addition of Dr. Osbaldo Zamora, P.Geo as Vice President of Exploration and Gerardo Acuna (FAusIMM) as Mine Superintendent at the Bethania mine. These new team members bring extensive international experience in mining operations, supporting the Company's ongoing growth.

Kuya Silver entered into a research sponsorship agreement with Noble Capital Markets ("Noble"), a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer headquartered in Florida, USA. Noble recently initiated coverage of Kuya Silver, and the report can be found on Noble's research platform, ChannelChekTM (https://www.channelchek.com/) or through their website https://www.noblecapitalmarkets.com. Under the terms of the agreement Noble will provide independent, in-depth analysis of the Company's historic and present market position, financial position, corporate governance practices, among other services. The agreement has a one year term with a total value of $75,000 and automatically renews for successive one year term unless less either party gives written notice to the other at least ninety (90) days prior the expiration of any term.

Outlook

Kuya Silver's primary near-term objective remains achieving stable production of 100 tonnes per day at the Bethania Silver Project as a pathway to reaching its phase one production target of 350 tonnes per day in 2026. With sufficient working faces currently developed to sustain 100 tpd production and major infrastructure upgrades now in place, the Company is well positioned to reach this milestone. Kuya Silver is also implementing a modernization program focused on improving underground haulage and material handling efficiency to support higher and more consistent throughput.

The Company is also commencing a 5,000 metre underground drilling program on the Santa Elena concession to enhance geological understanding at depth and assist with future mine planning. Kuya Silver continues to evaluate potential capital needs associated with the planned and fully-permitted on-site processing plant and may consider separate financing options as required.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Gerardo Acuna, Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (Australia, RPEQ #29598), a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM(CP)), Mine Superintendent at Minera Toro de Plata S.A.C. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuya Silver and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favorable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275409

SOURCE: Kuya Silver Corporation
HIGHLIGHTS

88,000 metres of diamond drilling underway at Odienne with four rigs currently operating and two additional rigs arriving in December.

Focus is on advancing BBM, Charger, and Empire toward resource estimates, while accelerating greenfield discovery.

Multiple new greenfield targets identified, with infill geochemistry program underway ahead of discovery drilling.

Details on up to 15,000 metres of additional drilling will be provided in a subsequent update.

Strike-extension drilling underway at Charger; first results expected before year end.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Awale Resources Limited (TSXV: ARIC) (OTCQX: AWLRF) (FSE: 2F60) ("Awale" or the "Company") is pleased to provide further details on its 88,000-metre diamond drill program now underway at the Odienne Project ("Odienne" or the "Project") in Cote d'Ivoire. This extensive program, part of Awale's systematic district-scale exploration strategy, is designed to advance the BBM, Charger, and Empire targets toward an initial resource, while continuing greenfield exploration across priority targets in the Odienne East and Odienne West permits (see Project Schedule in Figure 2).

"We are very proud to begin this next, transformative phase at Odienne," commented Andrew Chubb, CEO of Awale Resources. "This 88,000-metre joint venture campaign is our largest to date and marks the culmination of three years of systematic groundwork and continual success at the drill bit.

"With four rigs turning and two more arriving in December, we are rapidly expanding our understanding of this emerging gold and copper district. Our objective is very clear: advance BBM, Charger, and Empire toward resource definition and a preliminary economic assessment, while continuing to make new discoveries that support a Tier-1-scale district."

Objective for the Targets

Charger : Strike-extension drilling targeting a second demagnetized zone to the southwest of the current drill area. Initial infill drilling aims to bring Charger to an inferred resource down to 400m vertical metres, with step-down drilling planned to test continuity at depth.

: Strike-extension drilling targeting a second demagnetized zone to the southwest of the current drill area. Initial infill drilling aims to bring Charger to an inferred resource down to 400m vertical metres, with step-down drilling planned to test continuity at depth. BBM : Infill and step-down drilling to support an initial resource estimate and expand known mineralization at depth.

: Infill and step-down drilling to support an initial resource estimate and expand known mineralization at depth. Empire : Initial resource drilling to bring Empire to an inferred resource before further expansion and resource development drilling both down-plunge and along strike. Rigs will be shifted to Empire after completion of resource development drilling at BBM.

: Initial resource drilling to bring Empire to an inferred resource before further expansion and resource development drilling both down-plunge and along strike. Rigs will be shifted to Empire after completion of resource development drilling at BBM. Greenfield and Discovery Expansion targets: An initial 9,000 metres of drilling assigned to high-priority targets: A total of thirteen (13) new geochemistry and geophysical targets (see Figure 3) have been identified which will be layered with geophysics including the recent airborne gravity gradient (AGG) survey to develop high-priority greenfield targets. Termite-mound and soil geochemistry programs will increase target resolution from 400 x 50m to 200 x 50m sample spacing. Deeper step-down and along-strike drilling will continue at BBM, Charger, and Empire with the aim of expanding resource inventory post-delivery of a PEA in Q3 2026.

Link to All Figures

Table 1: Drill Metres by Target and Quarter - Total of 88,700 metres

Target Program 2025 2026 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 BBM Resource 4,250 8,200





Resource PFS



8,900 8,900 10,200 Exploration - Underground Potential



7,300



Charger Resource 7,000







Resource PFS Deep Drill

9,200





Exploration 4,200







Empire Resource 1,300







Resource PFS





5,500

Exploration



7,000



New Targets Exploration 4,500 2,250







Total 21,250 19,650 23,200 14,400 10,200

Note: Drill metres presented in Table 1 are approximate and subject to change.

Program Scope and Objectives

The 88,000-metre program is the most significant phase of drilling undertaken across the Awale-Newmont Joint Venture ("OJV") permits to date, covering multiple mineralized corridors within the Odienne district (see Table 1 for planned program details - type of drilling, planned metres, and timing). With up to six rigs operating by December, Awale expects initial results from Charger by year end, followed by a steady flow of results throughout the 2026 field season, which runs through to August 2026.

Q4 2025 - Resource Definition Drilling

Q4 drilling is primarily focused on resource development for the initial mineral resource estimate (MRE).

Q1 2026 - Discovery Drilling

In Q1 2026, the program shifts to greenfield and discovery expansion drilling. Recently completed AGG data is now being integrated with extensive new termite-mound geochemistry to refine and prioritize greenfield discovery targets.

About Awale Resources

Awale is a diligent and systematic mineral exploration company focused on discovering large high-grade gold and copper-gold deposits. Exploration activities are currently underway in the underexplored regions of Cote d'Ivoire, where the Company is exploring the Odienne Copper-Gold Project ("Odienne" or the "Project"), covering 2,346 km2 across seven permits-five granted and two applications. This includes 797 km2 in two permits held under the Awale-Newmont Joint Venture ("OJV"). Awale currently manages all exploration activities over the OJV, with funding currently provided by Newmont Ventures Limited ("Newmont") under an Exploration Agreement signed in May 2022.

Awale has discovered four gold, gold-copper, and gold-copper-silver-molybdenum mineralized systems within the OJV and has recently commenced exploration on its 100%-owned properties.

The Odienne Project is underexplored and has multiple pipeline prospects with similar geochemical signatures to Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) and intrusive-related mineral systems with substantial upside potential. The Company benefits from a skilled and well-seasoned technical team that allows it to continue exploring in a pro-mining jurisdiction that offers significant potential for district-scale discoveries.

Qualified Person

The technical and scientific information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved for release by Andrew Chubb, the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Chubb is the Company's Chief Executive Officer and holds an Economic Geology degree, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), and is a Member of the Society of Economic Geoscientists (SEG). Mr. Chubb has over 25 years of experience in international mineral exploration and mining project evaluation.

Abbreviations Used in this Release

m Metres km Kilometres MRE Mineral resource estimate PEA Preliminary economic assessment PFS Prefeasibility study

AWALE Resources Limited

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Andrew Chubb"

Chief Executive Officer

The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedarplus.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.awaleresources.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, propose, potential, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to statements regarding, the Company's presence in Cote d'Ivoire and ability to achieve results, creation of value for Company shareholders, achievements under the Newmont JV, works on other properties, timing and extent of planned drilling, expectations to achieve a first mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment, advancing towards a pre-feasibility study, potential for new discoveries, timing for providing assay results, commencement of operations. Although the Company believes any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the results of the proposed drilling programs, the number of drilling rigs on site, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected and that the proposed drilling program will proceed as planned. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275410

SOURCE: Awale Resources Ltd.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Prospector Metals Corp. (TSXV: PPP) (OTCQB: PMCOF) (FSE: 1ET) ("Prospector" or the "Company") today announced it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of an aggregate of 39,054,190 common shares for gross proceeds of $38,047,564 comprised of 5,500,000 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") at a price of $1.00 per FT Share and 33,554,190 non-flow-through common shares (the "NFT Shares") at a price of $0.97 per NFT Share (the "Offering").

Upon completion of the Offering, the Company now has $40,920,000 in available working capital and an aggregate of 149,137,219 common shares, 21,102,930 share purchase warrants and 7,299,206 stock options issued and outstanding.

The FT Shares will qualify as flow-through shares (within the meaning of Subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as: (i) Canadian exploration expenses (as defined in the tax act); and (ii) as flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures (as defined in Subsection 127(9) of the tax act). Qualifying expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the flow-through shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the company on or before Dec. 31, 2026, and will be renounced by the company to the initial purchasers of the flow-through shares with an effective date no later than Dec. 31, 2025.

Prospector intends to use the proceeds of the FT Shares to further finance its exploration program at its ML project in the Yukon and the proceeds of the NFT Shares for additional funding of its exploration program at the ML project and for general working capital purposes.

There were no finder's fees or commissions paid in connection with the Offering. The securities issued under the offering are subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the offering.

A director of the Company participated in the private placement on the same terms and conditions as non-arm's length subscribers, subscribing for a total of 1,500,000 FT Shares for aggregate proceeds of $1,500,000. The issuance of these securities to the director of the Company is a "related party transaction" under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to the related party transactions under Sections 5.7(1) (a) and 5.5(b), respectively, of MI 61-101. There has been no prior formal valuation of the common shares and Warrants issued as there has not been any necessity to do so. The Private Placement has been reviewed and unanimously approval by the Company's board of directors, including the independent directors.

Prospector has been advised by B2Gold Corp. that, in connection with the Offering, B2Gold has entered into a subscription agreement to acquire 17,758,678 common shares at a price of C$0.97 per share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $17,225,917.66. In addition, B2Gold has exercised an aggregate of 2,113,636 outstanding warrants of the Company. Prior to completion of the Offering and the exercise of outstanding warrants, B2Gold held 9,805,992 common shares of the Company, representing approximately 9.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Prospector. Upon completion of the Offering and the exercise of outstanding warrants, B2Gold will hold 29,678,306 common shares representing 19.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Prospector. B2Gold has acquired the Shares for investment purposes. B2Gold will evaluate its investment in Prospector from time to time and may, in the future, from time to time, directly or indirectly, acquire additional securities of Prospector, or dispose of such securities subject to a number of factors, including, without limitation, general market and economic conditions and other investment and business opportunities available. The exemptions relied on for the acquisition of the Shares under the subscription agreement is Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus and Registration Exemptions. A copy of the Early Warning report filed by B2Gold in connection with the acquisition will be available on Prospector's SEDAR+ profile. B2Gold's head office is located at Suite 3400 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2X8.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Prospector Metals Corp.

Prospector Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. The Company is focused on district scale, early-stage exploration of gold and base metal prospects. Creating shareholder value through new discoveries, the Company identifies underexplored or overlooked mineral districts displaying important structural and mineralogical occurrences similar to more established mining operations. The majority of acquisition activity occurs in the Yukon and Ontario, Canada - Historical mining jurisdictions with an abundance of overlooked geological regions possessing high mineral potential. Prospector establishes and maintains relationships with local and Indigenous rightsholders and seeks to develop partnerships and agreements that are mutually beneficial to all interested parties.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Prospector Metals Corp.

Dr. Rob Carpenter, Ph.D., P.Geo.

President & CEO

Prospector Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information, please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

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 Company's plans with respect to the Company's projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company's projects, the Company's objectives, plans and strategies, the Offering and other project opportunities. 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 and 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.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275421

SOURCE: Prospector Metals Corp.
Driving responsible AI innovation with expert oversight and enterprise scalability

Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services, today highlighted the transformative power of Expert AI and enterprise agent strategies at Microsoft Ignite 2025. Adam Orentlicher joined industry leaders in the session, "AI agent architectures, pitfalls and real-world business impact," to share how Wolters Kluwer is leveraging Expert AI to transform professional workflows. He discussed innovations such as CCH Axcess Scan, which uses Azure AI services and expertly curated content to automate complex tax processes, including K-1 document handling, while maintaining trust, security, and professional judgment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251120307011/en/

Adam Orentlicher, SVP CTO of Tax Accounting North America at Wolters Kluwer, joined Microsoft Ignite as a featured speaker on the panel "AI Agent Architectures, Pitfalls and Real-World Business Impact," sharing insights on how Expert AI and CCH Axcess Scan are transforming tax workflows with trusted, human-in-the-loop innovation.

During the panel, Orentlicher emphasized Wolters Kluwer's commitment to responsible, outcome-driven AI innovation, focusing on the transformative impact of Expert AI capabilities within the CCH Axcess platform. "At Wolters Kluwer, we employ Expert AI to improve the professional lives of our customers," said Orentlicher. "Our solutions are built with human-in-the-loop design, trained by domain experts, and grounded in expertly curated content. This ensures our AI is not only powerful, but trustworthy, enabling professionals to make faster, smarter decisions with confidence."

A centerpiece of the discussion was CCH Axcess Scan, an innovative solution powered by Expert AI and Azure AI services. CCH Axcess Scan automates the ingestion and processing of client tax documents, including complex forms such as K-1s, W-2s, and 1099s, enabling a "zero-touch tax return" experience. By leveraging advanced document intelligence, the solution extracts and classifies both structured and unstructured data, seamlessly integrating it into CCH Axcess Tax. This automation dramatically reduces manual effort, improves accuracy, and accelerates tax preparation workflows.

Orentlicher also reiterated the importance of human oversight in AI-powered workflows: "We operate in an environment where professional judgment is fundamental. Our AI agents are trained by experts and always present information to the professional for the final decision. This semi-autonomous approach ensures both efficiency and accountability, especially in high-stakes domains like tax and healthcare."

In addition to CCH Axcess Scan, Orentlicher referenced UpToDate Expert AI, a solution which delivers clinical intelligence to healthcare professionals at the point of care, further demonstrating Wolters Kluwer's cross-industry leadership in responsible AI.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of 5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251120307011/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Shannon Wherry

Associate Director, External Communications Tax Accounting

Wolters Kluwer

Office +1 972-209-2767

shannon.wherry@wolterskluwer.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) is pleased to announce that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on November 24th, 2025 at 2:00PM ET.

We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud.

The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website.

For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-esau/.

Commodities to be covered: Gold, Silver

About ESGold Corp.

ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) is a fully permitted, fully funded, pre-production mining company advancing a scalable clean mining model across North and South America. The Company's flagship Montauban Gold-Silver Project in Quebec is under construction with production anticipated in 2026. ESGold is also advancing a joint venture in Colombia, validating one of South America's most prolific gold regions for tailings reprocessing and systematic exploration. With a dual-track strategy of cash flow today and discovery tomorrow, ESGold is building a platform for clean, sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.

About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc.

Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a globally focused capital markets advisory firm that provides a full range of executive strategy, media, marketing, and corporate access services. Our breadth of services combines with our significant knowledge of the junior mining industry combine for unique product offering. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry.

For additional information contact marketing@redcloudfs.com or visit:

www.redcloudfs.com

www.facebook.com/RedCloudFinancialServices

www.twitter.com/RedCloudFS

www.linkedin.com/company/red-cloud-financial-services-inc

www.youtube.com/c/RedCloudFinancialServicesInc

www.instagram.com/redcloudfs

SOURCE: Red Cloud Financial Services
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Anteros Metals Inc. (CSE: ANT) ("Anteros" or the "Company") announces that, further to its press releases dated October 7, 2025, and October 31, 2025, it has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 2,196,153 flow-through units (each, an "FT Unit") at a price of $0.065 per FT Unit, and 1,300,000 hard dollar units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $207,749.95 (the "Offering").

Each FT Unit was comprised of one common share, issued on a flow-through basis ("FT Share") and one-half of one whole common share purchase warrant, issued on a non-flow-through basis (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") at a price of $0.10 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from date of issuance. The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), which also qualify for the Canadian government's Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit. Each Unit was comprised of one Common Share and one-half of one whole Warrant.

Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation.

In connection with the first and second tranches, the Company: (i) paid aggregate cash commissions of $16,042.50; and (ii) issued an aggregate of 228,308 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") to certain finders (the "Finders"). Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable to purchase one additional common share (each, a "Finder's Share") at a price of $0.10 per Finder's Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy 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 as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

ABOUT ANTEROS METALS INC.

Anteros Metals Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing a pipeline of critical minerals projects across Newfoundland and Labrador and select Canadian jurisdictions. The Company is targeting copper, nickel, zinc, and emerging strategic commodities that support the global energy transition. Immediate plans for their flagship Knob Lake Property include bringing the historical Fe-Mn Mineral Resource Estimate into current status as well as commencing baseline environmental and feasibility studies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements herein include but are not limited to statements relating to the prospects for development of the Company's mineral properties, and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275398

SOURCE: Anteros Metals Inc.
South Florida's Top-Rated Mold Restoration Provider

MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / FixMold is the highest rated mold removal service and air duct cleaning company in South Florida, now offers specialized mold remediation and air duct cleaning services to the inhabitants of Coral Gables, Fisher Island, Coconut Grove, Cocoplum, and Star Island, to the extravagant Indian Creek Island, Bal Harbour, and Surfside.

Mold removal company



These neighborhoods have to put up with the highest moisture levels in Miami, coming from the humidity, coastal exposure, and hot climate.

The company's strategy for these areas includes state-of-the-art technology and techniques for mold removal that allow these areas to prevent mold problems in the future.

Why FixMold Remains the First Choice for South Florida's Most Prestigious Homes

FixMold has built its reputation in mold remediation and prevention in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in South Florida. Their work is present from the luxurious plots of Coral Gables , Fisher Island, Coconut Grove , Cocoplum, and Star Island to the extravagant Indian Creek Island, Bal Harbour, and finally Surfside.

The reason clients choose FixMold is that their service is certified green and organic, detail-oriented, diligent, as well as exceptionally cautious (important for luxurious homes and neighborhoods).

The founders of FixMold have over 30+ years of experience in mold remediation, having founded multiple companies across New York and Miami, as well as numerous technologies in the mold removal space.

A Commitment That Extends Beyond Completion

FixMold stands behind its work with a one-year mold-free warranty for all treated areas. If mold reappears during that period, the team returns to resolve the issue at no cost. This guarantee just goes to show the company's confidence in its approach and its responsibility to the homeowners.

Leading Technology for High-Value Homes

Being a top-class mold assessment and remediation company in Miami , FixMold's exclusive toolkit consists of:

CO2 dry ice blasting chambers for delicate surface cleaning

HEPA filtration systems that capture fine particles during removal

Antimicrobial coatings that slow future growth

UV-C sterilization units neutralize airborne contaminants

Infrared thermal imaging for accurate moisture detection

Negative air pressure containment to keep work zones secure

Quote From the Founder

"Our clients in Coral Gables and Fisher Island are very concerned about their houses, and rightly so," commented Marty Katz, the founder and primary environmental specialist of FixMold. "Mold can begin subtly, and the homeowner won't be aware until it reaches a certain stage. Our aim is to bring back the good atmosphere inside the home and provide families with relief."

About FixMold

FixMold LLC, firm offering the most advanced air duct cleaning and mold removal services, is located in Miami and Florida Keys. It's a family-run business that offers multifold services, including mold remediation, water damage restoration, cleaning of HVAC, improvement of air quality, odor removal, and general contracting.

Media Contact

Name: Abe Katz, Manager

Phone: (305) 465-6653

Email: info@fixmold.com

Website: www.fixmold.com





SOURCE: FixMold

Mold Remediation Service Gurantee.jpg

FixMold Technology.jpg

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/fixmold-raises-the-bar-for-mold-remediation-in-coral-gables-and-1104170
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Max will be conducting an airborne high-resolution LiDAR survey over the entire 700ha Mora mining concession KK6-08031, located within the productive Middle Cauca Gold Belt host to several world class gold deposits, 85-km south of Medellin, Colombia, which the Company has the exclusive right to purchase 100% (refer to Figures 1 and 2).

Highlights

The LiDAR survey forms part of the initial steps to delineate high priority drill locations within the BQ, BX, NAN targets and identify new targets.

To date, 33 artisanal underground mines are noted in historic technical reports of which Max has successfully mapped 9 inactive mines. The depth or advance of the artisanal mines varies between 5.0m and 90.5m. LiDAR can identify hidden artisanal mines/works due to tree and plant cover.

Channel sampling artisanal underground mines is very important, it's almost like having a drillhole, identifying geological characteristics of fresh rock such as lithology, hydrothermal alterations, types of sulfides or mineralization, structures-uplifts-faults-veins and veinlets.

LiDAR will assist in building an accurate 3D model, the key to maximizing the success of Max's planned drill program, being the first known drilling event on mining concession KK6-08031.

"The LiDAR datasets will be used to delineate drill design on the BX, BQ and NAN targets, providing unprecedented ground details to be observed for the first time," says Max Head Geologist Sergio Cocunubo.

"Sampling of artisanal mines and workings were significant steps conducted at Collective Mining's Guayabales and Continental Gold's Buritica in which we identified geological characteristics and confirmed active galleries in gold and silver production," he concluded.

Figure 1. The LiDAR survey will consist of GSD (ground sampling space) between 2 and 7 cm. Longitudinal overlap 80%, lateral overlap 75%, gimbal tilt angle - camera 90 with additional 60 photographs, flight speed of 8 m/s -maximum 10 m/s, 155.5 line-km with 45-50m line spacing covering approximately 7.16km.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/275412_max%20figure%201.jpg

Figure 2. Mora Property encompasses over 40 historic workings, 5 active mines, a series of exposed polymetallic structures over 2,500m by 1,000m.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/275412_078ff38bb4c7dbeb_003full.jpg

Surface samples collected from San Juan and NAN by their nature are selective samples and may not be indicative of underlying mineralization.

What is LiDAR?

LiDAR is a relatively new technology whereby surface geomorphology patterns and outcrop patterns suggestive of underlying geology and structure can be identified including subtle aspects and seeing through the surface trees and plant cover that can hide surface details.

LiDAR is a modern remote sensing technique that concurrently takes high-resolution (hi-res) images and builds a detailed digital terrain model (DTM) and detailed digital surface model (DSM) utilizing an extremely sensitive and accurate digital mapping tool. Together, the DTM and Hi-Resolution images provide three-dimensional (3D) model of the terrain, where additional data (geophysics, drilling, surface sampling, etc.) can be incorporated to provide a multi-dimensional model from which multiple data sources can be interpreted accurately, all in 3D high-accuracy system with more precise, efficient, and reliable geospatial data acquisition. It delivers a turnkey solution for 3D data collection and high-accuracy post-processing. In addition, is a particularly powerful tool for drill planning as it significantly reduces the risk of interpreting data in only two dimensions.

LiDAR is the acronym for Light Detection and Ranging. It is a relatively new active remote sensing technology using a laser scanner, Global Positioning System (GPS) RTK with GNSS station, and inertial navigation. In the same way that SONAR uses sound waves and reflection to detect targets and determine distance (think of the ping heard in a submarine scene from a war movie), LiDAR uses laser pulses with their timed reflectance to determine the target distance. This process is illustrated in Figure 3.

The LiDAR survey distinguishes down to the multi-centimeter scale coupled with orthophotography remote sensing images and techniques. This combination of LiDAR and orthophoto combined relies on rigorous, high-quality data collected under strict QA/QC standards and is most useful for delineating linear features such as faults, uplifts, quartz veins or resistant rock types with hydrothermal alteration such as silicification.

Figure 3. Drone LiDAR topography scanning process Illustration

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/275412_078ff38bb4c7dbeb_004full.jpg

Discussion of the Mora Gold-Silver Project

In August 2025, through its wholly owned subsidiary Maximum Company Colombia S.A.S., Max entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the common shares of Inversiones Villamora S.A.S., a Company in Colombia that owns 100% of mining concession number KK6-0831 ("Mora Property").

Highlights

The undrilled Mora Property encompasses over 40 historic workings, 5 active mines, a series of exposed polymetallic structures over 2,500m by 1,000m, adjacent to Aris Mining's (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE: AIMN) 9.2Moz Marmato Gold Operation (P&P Reserves: 31.3Mt@3.2 g/t Au for 3.2Mozs, M&I Resources: 61.5Mt@3.0 g/t Au for 6.0Moz, Inferred Resources: 35Mt at 2.4 g/t Au for 2.8Mozs ).

Aris Mining's Marmato Property abuts the 2.8 km eastern boundary, and Collective Mining's (TSX: CNL) (NYSE: CNL) Guayabales Project abuts along 3.7 km north (Apollo Porphyry System), west, south, and vertical east boundaries of the Mora Property.

Highlight, Mora Property channel sample results include (refer to Table 1) 45.0 g/t gold & 7,110 g/t silver over 1.0m; 32.0 g/t gold & 53 g/t silver over 1.0m. 27.0 g/t gold & 732 g/t silver over 1.0m; 8.9 g/t gold & 75 g/t silver over 1.5m.



Max advises investors that the gold mineralization at the Marmato gold deposit and the Apollo porphyry zone may not necessarily by indicative of similar mineralization at the Mora Property. Max further advises the QP has been unable to verify the information on Marmato and Guayabales and that the information is not necessarily indicative to the mineralization on the Mora Property.

In September 2025, Max reported the appointment of Mr. Sergio Cocunubo as Head Geologist, reuniting with key Technical Advisor Dr. Chris Grainger and Community Relations specialist Mr. John Henao, all key members of the Collective Mining and the Continental Gold team that developed the Buritica Gold Deposit Deposit (P&P Reserves: 3.8Mozs at 6.9 g/t Au & 13Mozs at 24g/t Ag in 15.61Mt and M&I Resources: 4.4Mozs at 8.9 g/t Au & 14.6Mozs at 29 g/t in 14.02Mt plus Inferred Resources: 5.1Mozs at 8.9 g/t Au & 18Mozs at 29 g/t Ag in 16.2Mt), sold to Zijin Mining for US $1.4 billion in 2019.

The Company's 2025 exploration program is well underway, includes collection of geological and geophysical data, channel sample all active and historical artisanal mines/workings, outcrops, airborne LiDAR, 3D geological/DTM/topographic modelling and delineation of drill targets. Exploration update is due shortly.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob-AFDysVwo

Table 1. Highlight Assay Results for 2012 and 2025 Field Investigations.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/275412_max%20table%201.jpg

Corporate Update

Under the terms of the Agreement, whereby the Company's wholly owned Colombian subsidiary, Maximum Company Colombia S.A.S. ("Maximum") has the exclusive rights to acquire 100% of Mining Concession No. KK6-08031 through the purchase of Inversiones Villamora S.A.S., to date, Max confirms option payments totaling USD $250,000.

The Company has entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arm's-length creditor to settle outstanding indebtedness totaling $60,000 (the "Debt Settlement"). Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company will issue 500,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.12 per share. The board of directors has determined that completing the Debt Settlement is in the best interests of the Company as it will preserve cash for working capital purposes and strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The Debt Settlement remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All shares issued will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from issuance.

In addition, the Company has granted 11,500,000 Performance Share Units ("PSUs") to certain consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Omnibus Plan"). The PSUs will vest upon the consultants completing one year of service with the Company. All PSUs are subject to a hold period of four months and one day. The PSUs have been granted under and are governed by the terms of the Company's Omnibus Plan.

Quality Assurance

Max adheres to a strict QA/QC program for sample handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses. All 21 rock samples were taken by the Max consulting geologist, labelled, placed in sealed, securitized bags and shipped to ALS Lab's sample preparation facility in Medellin, Columbia. ALS Medellin is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified facility and is independent of Max. All samples were analyzed using ALS procedure ME-ICP61, a four-acid digestion with inductively coupled plasma finished. Over-limit gold is determined by ALS procedure Au-GRA21 a 30-gram fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Over-limit silver, lead, arsenic and zinc were determined by ALS procedure OG-62, a four-acid digestion with an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish.

At this early stage of exploration, Max has relied on the QA/QC protocol's employed by ALS.

Sierra Azul Copper-Silver Project in Colombia

Max's wholly owned Sierra Azul Copper-Silver Project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt). Max has an Earn-In Agreement ("EIA") with Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation ("Freeport"), a wholly owned affiliate of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. whereby the fully funded USD $4.8m 2025 exploration program is well underway. Updated exploration results are due shortly.

Floralia Property in Brazil

The Floralia Iron Property (mineral right 832.022/2018) in Brazil lies within Minas Gerais, Brazil's largest iron ore and steel producing State. The Property has established road access to rail terminal (15 km) linking to steel mills and shipping ports; roads connect to DSO buyers Vale (16 km) and ArcelorMittal (26 km) ensuring efficient logistics and market access. Max's technical team has significantly expanded the Floralia Iron Geological Target from 8-12Mt at 58% Fe to 50-70Mt at 55%-61% Fe (refer Figure 4).

Max's majority owned Max Iron Brazil Ltd. has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Bolt Metals Corp. ("Bolt") whereby Bolt may acquire an option to earn a 100% interest in the Floralia Property mineral right 832.022/2018 in Brazil (the "Property"). Under the proposed terms, Bolt will pay USD$200,000 to Jaguar Mining Inc. on behalf of Max Iron Brazil Ltda. ("Max Brazil"), keep the Property in good standing, and issue an aggregate of 26,200,000 common shares to Max Brazil and 6,094,679 common shares to Max Resource Corp. over a 30-month period. Completion of the transaction remains subject to satisfactory due diligence, definitive documentation, and applicable regulatory approvals.

Max cautions investors the potential quantity and grade of the iron ore is conceptual in nature, and further cautions there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and Max is uncertain if further exploration will result in the geological target being delineated as a mineral resource. Hematite mineralization tonnage potential estimation is based on in situ high-grade outcrops and interpreted and modelled magnetic anomalies. Density value used for the estimate is 2.8t/m. Hematite sample grades range between 55-61% Fe. The 58 channel samples were collected for chemical analysis from in situ outcrops in previously mined slopes of industrial materials.

Figure 4. Floralia Property located nearby infrastructure and markets

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, P.Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

Name Highlights Reference News Release

Dec 20, 2012 Crown Gold Corp. (TSXV: CWN)

Mora Property Scott Franko, senior consultant to Crown Gold and a registered Professional Geologist was designated as the Qualified Person under NI 43:101 for the Colombian Mining Project Marmato Gold Deposit Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE: AIMN) https://aris-mining.com/operation/reserves-and-resources/

P&P Reserve: 31.28Mt at 3.16 g/t Au for 3.178Mozs



M&I Resources: 61.50Mt at 3.03 g/t Au for 5.997Mozs



Inferred Resource: 35.60Mt at 2.43 g/t Au for 2.787Mozs

Buritica Gold Deposit Zijin Mining - Continental Gold https://www.zijinmining.com/global/program-detail-71741.htm

P&P Reserve: 3.8Mozs at 6.9g/t Au&13Mozs at 24g/t Ag in 15.61Mt



M&I Resource: 4.4Mozs at 8.9g/t Au&14.6Mozs at 29g/t in 14.02Mt



Inf. Resource: 5.1Mozs at 8.9g/t Au&18Mozs at 29g/t Ag in 16.2Mt



Table 2. References

For more information, visit on Max Resource: https://www.maxresource.com/

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.

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law.

Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements 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. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275412

SOURCE: MAX Resource Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - SORRENTO RESOURCES LTD. (CSE: SRS) (OTCQB: SRSLF) ("SORRENTO") (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated October 16, 2025 and October 30, 2025, the Company has closed on the amended and restated option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated October 29th, 2025 for the purchase of up to 100% of Naughty Ventures' right, title and interest in and to certain mineral claims commonly known as the Bottom Brook rare earth element ("REE") property located in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Bottom Brook Property").

Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company has issued 9,000,000 common shares in the capital of Sorrento (the "Sorrento Shares"). Additionally, the Company has issued 900,000 Sorrento Shares to Kluane Capital FZCO as finder's fee. The Sorrento Shares bear a hold period of four months and one day, expiring on March 21, 2026.

About Sorrento Resources Ltd.

Sorrento is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. Sorrento's objective is to locate and develop economic precious, rare-earth element, gold, and base metal properties of merit in including the Bottom Brook REE Project, Rodgers Cove Gold, and the Harmsworth (VMS) project all located in Newfoundland.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither 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" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the expectation that the Offering will close in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275418

SOURCE: Sorrento Resources Inc.
Autowerkstatt group N.V Amsterdam, the Netherlands Annual General Meeting

The Shareholders of autowerkstatt group N.V. (the "Company") are hereby invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company. The meeting will take place on December 05, 2025 at 10.00 hours at Laan van Diepenvoorde 3, 5582LA Waalre, The Netherlands, and will be held in the English language. The agenda for the meeting is as follows: 1. Opening; 2. Sale shares Kaiser WerkstattSysteme GmbH; 3. Report of the Management Board in respect of the financial year 2024; 4. Adoption of the annual accounts for the financial year 2024; 5. Proposal to authorize the directors to file the adopted Annual Accounts. 6. Proposal to authorize the directors of the Company extension for preparation and inspection of Annual Accounts 2024 and the Annual Report 2024. 7. Distribution of the result for the financial year 2024; 8. Discharge of the Members of the Management Board with respect to the performance of their duties during the financial year 2024; 9. Discharge of the Members of the Supervisory Board with respect to the performance of their duties during the financial year 2024; 10. The applicability of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code; 11. Appointment of Dutch International Financial Services B.V. as compilers of the financial statements for the financial year 2025; 12. Use of English language in the annual accounts; 13. Miscellaneous; 14. Closing.

Beginning today the annual accounts for the fiscal year 2024 will be made available for examination at Laan van Diepenvoorde 3, 5582LA Waalre, and in the investor relations section on the website of the company (www.autowerkstattgroup.de). Shareholders who wish to attend the meeting are requested via their bank or broker to Lodge with Bankhaus Gebr. Martin AG, z. Hd. Frau Gro, Schloplatz 7, 73033 Goppingen, E-Mail: bgross@martinbank.de, a confirmation that their shares are registered in their name on the registration date. The Management Board has set the registration date as November 28, 2025. The written confirmation must be received not later than November 28, 2025 by 12:00 hours. Shareholders will receive a certificate of registration (certificate of deposit) together with the certificate of deposit number by email or post. Shareholders will be admitted to the meeting on presentation of their certificate of deposit number, which serves as identification on registration. Every Shareholder may appoint a proxy to attend the Annual General Meeting on behalf of his person by granting such a right in a written power of attorney. The proxy can be authorized either via sending an E-Mail to the Company (ir@autowerkstattgroup.de) or by entitlement on the backside of the certificate of deposit number. Waalre, November 17, 2025 autowerkstatt group N.V The Management Board H.T. Kaiser
Uniting FDA-authorized trials, ketamine and Spravato therapy, therapist training, and community education under one roof, InnerMost brings a vital new resource, contributing to the field globally

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / InnerMost PBC , New York City's new psychedelic-assisted therapy center dedicated to accessible care, practitioner training, FDA-authorized clinical trials, and community building, is officially open.

A public benefit corporation, InnerMost provides accessible ketamine and Spravato therapy, is an FDA-trial site that trains psychedelic-assisted therapists, and builds community amongst clinicians in this paradigm-shifting field.

With mental health needs at an all-time high, and uncertainty across politics and research, its launch introduces a hub for evidence-based psychedelic care-supporting New Yorkers while advancing access and progress globally. New hope emerges as the mainstream embraces new evidence-based approaches that expand what's possible in mental health care.

Leading conversations about psychedelic therapy's past, present and future is Casey Paleos, MD , ( CV ) Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, board-certified psychiatrist and researcher with 15+ years in psychedelic-assisted therapy. As figures like Rick Doblin pass the baton, they sing praises about his body of work and vision:

Principal Investigator, MAPS MDMA therapy for PTSD Studies

Therapist, NYU Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study

Co-Founder, Nautilus Sanctuary

Founding Board Member, International Alliance of MDMA Practitioners

Presenter, "Understanding Ketamine" Workshop, Psychotherapy Networker conference, Washington, D.C.

Co-Author of " Inner-Directed Therapy in MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy ," newly released commentary on the MDMA debate in the American Journal of Psychiatry

WHY INNERMOST IS DIFFERENT:

Research:FDA-authorized clinical trial site , including ongoing MDMA research and more TBA.

Treatment: Integration of psychotherapy with ketamine, Spravato, and future integrative mental health modalities.

Training: Practicum training, mentorship and clinical supervision.

Education & Community: Public programming, podcasts, panels, and partnerships.

Accessibility: Public benefit corporation whose mission is to eliminate socioeconomic barriers to accessing psychedelic therapies.

VISUALS:

First look at InnerMost's space and design.

Interviews with Dr. Paleos and team.

Photo and video opportunities.

Now open to the public by appointment at innermost.one , media are invited to schedule private tours of InnerMost.



MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Feinberg | marissa@triplebottomwhy.com | 917-494-5041

SOURCE: InnerMost

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/innermost-launches-to-evolve-psychedelic-therapy-advancing-treatment-1105643
Kasei Digital Assets Plc - Notice of General Meeting

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 21

This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws in that jurisdiction or which would require any registration or licensing within that jurisdiction.

Kasei Digital Assets Plc

("Kasei" or the "Company")

Proposed Return of Capital to Existing Shareholders

Proposed cancellation of Share Premium Amount

Proposed Investment by New Investors

Approval of waiver of obligations under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code

Board Changes

Modification of Investing Policy

Change of Name

and

Notice of General Meeting

The Company previously announced on 30 April 2025 and 6 November 2025, that it had been exploring plans to return capital to shareholders. Initially, the Board considered a solvent liquidation of the Company but now intends to undertake a Return of Capital to its Existing Shareholders. The Board has reached agreement with certain investors (the " Investors") (as detailed below) to invest in the Company and support a modified strategy focused on becoming a listed investment vehicle with a primary focus on Bitcoin.

Background and Information on Kasei

Kasei was admitted to trading on AQSE in November 2021 as an investing company focused on providing public market investors with exposure to the rapidly evolving digital asset and blockchain sector. The Company's initial strategy was to build a diversified portfolio of crypto-assets and associated technologies, including both direct holdings in cryptocurrencies and minority investments in businesses operating in the digital asset ecosystem.

However, the Company has not been successful in delivering against this strategy. A combination of adverse market conditions, volatility in digital asset valuations and an inability to raise further capital left the Company without the critical mass or funding necessary to execute its investment objectives. In particular, the downturn in the crypto markets over 2022 to 2024 made it increasingly difficult to realise gains from the portfolio or to attract new institutional or retail interest in the stock.

Since admission to trading on AQSE, Kasei's share price has experienced a sustained decline, reflecting both the lack of progress against its original strategy and limited market liquidity. The Company's shares have traded at a significant discount to NAV, with minimal daily volumes, and its market capitalisation stood at approximately 3.0 million as at the Latest Practicable Date. These issues have further restricted the Company's ability to raise funds or broaden its shareholder base.

Following a strategic review conducted by the Board in early 2025, the Company concluded that it would be in the best interests of shareholders to realise the value of its crypto holdings and return available cash to investors. This process of realising the value of crypto-assets has now been completed. The resulting cash balance after the payment of creditors and accrued fees and expenses, is expected to be approximately 3.4 million. The Company now proposes to return this cash to shareholders via a court-approved capital reduction.

Proposed Return of Capital, Proposed cancellation of Share Premium Amount, and Proposed Investment by New Investors

The Return of Capital will comprise the return to Existing Shareholders of approximately 3.4 million, together with a further contribution (the " Premium") of 100,000 from the Investors, as part of a broader recapitalisation and strategic repositioning of the Company. The Return of Capital will be implemented by way of a court-approved capital reduction involving the cancellation of all Existing Ordinary Shares (to be reclassified as B Shares) and the cancellation of the Share Premium Amount.

To support this transition, the Company has arranged the Subscription of 200,000, which will provide the Premium to Existing Shareholders receiving the Return of Capital together with working capital for the Company. This is intended to be followed by a larger capital raise, planned following completion of the Proposals, to enable the Company to begin its investment operations.

Share Capital Restructuring and Return of Capital

The Board has concluded that the Company is not currently of a scale or structure suited to delivering long-term shareholder value in its current form. As part of the Proposals, the Company intends to implement the Return of Capital to existing shareholders and to restructure its share capital in order to facilitate a recapitalisation of the Company, enable new investment, and reposition the Company for its modified strategy. These steps are interdependent and subject to Court confirmation and will be proposed for approval by shareholders at the forthcoming General Meeting.

Following approval of the Resolutions at the General Meeting, the Company will make an application to the Court to confirm the Reduction of Capital. The record date for determining entitlements for B Shares is 6:00 p.m. on 16 January 2026. At 8:00 a.m. on 19 January 2026, the Existing Ordinary Shares will be converted to B Shares, and each B Share holder will be issued 10 B Shares for each Existing Ordinary Share held at the Capital Reduction Record Date. The proceeds for the Capital Sum will also be placed in a separate escrow account by the Company on the Capital Reduction Record Date.

Conditional on confirmation by the Court of the Reduction of Capital, it is expected that, at 8:00 a.m. on the following day, 21 January 2026, Admission of the 20,000,000 New Ordinary Shares will occur. As all Existing Ordinary Shares will be converted into B Shares on 19 January 2026 and no New Ordinary Shares will be admitted until 8:00 a.m. on 21 January 2026, the Company's shares will be suspended from trading on the AQSE Growth Market for the duration of 19 January 2026 and 20 January 2026. Trading is expected to be restored at market open on 21 January 2026. The Court will consider the Reduction of Capital at a final hearing to be held on 20 January 2026. The Company intends to remain admitted to trading on the AQSE Growth Market and will comply with the relevant AQSE Rules at all times.

For the avoidance of doubt if the Court does not confirm the Reduction of Capital, the Subscription will not proceed and the Company will return the proceeds of the Subscription to the Investors including the Premium. The B Shares would also then automatically convert back into Ordinary Shares.

Separately, alongside the share capital restructuring the Company intends to also seek the cancellation of the Surrendered Shares. As announced on 25 April 2023, Aalto Capital AB (" Aalto") agreed to voluntarily surrender 2,799,177 ordinary shares of 0.01 each in the capital of the Company and to surrender 4,166,667 warrants with an exercise price of 12p in return for the Company agreeing not to pursue any further legal action against Aalto in respect of the non-payment of sums relating to the fundraise announced on 13 February 2023. Since that time, the Surrendered Shares have been held by the Company, and no voting rights have been exercised. Subject to the approval of the High Court, the Company now proposes to cancel the Surrendered Shares on terms that, upon the cancellation taking effect, any liability (including of any former holder) to pay up any unpaid amount on those shares shall be released and extinguished.

Effect of the Return of Capital on Shareholders

The reclassification of all the Existing Ordinary Shares into B shares and their subsequent cancellation pursuant to the Return of Capital, will result in all Existing Ordinary Shareholders ceasing to be members of the Company.

The Subscription

The Investors intend to subscribe for 20 million New Ordinary Shares at a price of 1p per share to raise gross proceeds of approximately 200,000. The proceeds will provide the working capital required to maintain the Company's AQSE listing and fund the Premium and are expected to be sufficient for the Company's short-term requirements; however, further funding will be needed to support its ongoing operations and longer-term objectives. In addition, the Investors will be granted one Warrant for every New Ordinary Share subscribed for, amounting to a total of 20,000,000 Warrants. The Investment will be made under the Company's existing share authorities.

The Subscription by the certain Investors as detailed below (the " Key Investors") falls within the scope of Rule 9 of the UK Takeover Code (" Code"). As the Key Investors will be classified as a concert party under the Code, the Company will seek approval to a waiver under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code from the independent shareholders at the General Meeting.

The Takeover Code and Waiver of Rule 9

The Takeover Code applies to Kasei. Under Rule 9 of the Code, any person who acquires an interest in shares which, taken together with shares in which that person or any person acting in concert with that person is interested, carry 30% or more of the voting rights of a company which is subject to the Code is normally required to make an offer to all the remaining shareholders to acquire their shares.

Similarly, when any person, together with persons acting in concert with that person, is interested in shares which in the aggregate carry not less than 30% of the voting rights of such a company but does not hold shares carrying more than 50% of the voting rights of the company, an offer will normally be required if such person or any person acting in concert with that person acquires a further interest in shares which increases the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which that person is interested.

An offer under Rule 9 must be made in cash at the highest price paid by the person required to make the offer, or any person acting in concert with such person, for any interest in shares of the company during the 12 months prior to the announcement of the offer.

The Company has agreed with the Panel that the following individuals are acting in concert in relation to the Company: Kwasi Kwarteng, Paul Withers, Daniel Howe, Jai Patel, Brendan Kearns, and Sam Daughtry. These individuals have been working together in connection with the Proposals and are regarded by the Panel as acting in concert for the purposes of the Code.

Following Admission, the members of the concert party will be interested in 14,400,000 shares, representing 72.00% of the voting rights of the Company. In addition, the members of the concert party will hold 14,400,000 Warrants. Assuming exercise in full by the members of the concert party of the Warrants (and assuming that no other person converts any Warrants), the members of the concert party could be interested in 28,800,000 shares, representing approximately 83.72% of the enlarged voting rights of the Company.

The exercise by the members of the concert party of the Warrants described above would normally trigger an obligation for an offer to be made under Rule 9. However, the Panel has agreed to waive this obligation such that there will be no requirement for an offer to be made in respect of the exercise of such Warrants.

Following Admission, the members of the concert party will hold shares carrying more than 50% of the voting rights of the Company and (for so long as they continue to be acting in concert) may accordingly increase their aggregate interests in shares without incurring any obligation to make an offer under Rule 9, although individual members of the concert party will not be able to increase their percentage interests in shares through or between a Rule 9 threshold without Panel consent.

Following Admission, Paul Withers will be interested in shares carrying more than 30% of the voting rights of the Company but will not hold shares carrying more than 50% of the voting rights of the Company. For so long as he continues to be acting in concert, any increase in his aggregate interest in shares will be subject to the provisions of Rule 9.

The Panel has agreed, subject to the approval of the Independent Shareholders on a poll at the General Meeting (on which the Concert Party members will not vote) subject to the Return of Capital being approved by the Court, to waive the obligation under Rule 9 of the Code for the Concert Party to make a general offer to Shareholders as a result of the issue of the New Ordinary Shares to the Concert Party pursuant to the Subscription.

Accordingly, a resolution to approve the Waiver by the Independent Shareholders will be proposed at the General Meeting and will be taken on a poll. The Waiver will be conditional on the approval of the Independent Shareholders.

Shareholders should also note that in the event the Waiver Resolution is approved at the General Meeting, the Concert Party will not be restricted from making an offer for Kasei should it choose to do so.

Information on the Concert Party

The Concert Party is comprised of Kwasi Kwarteng, Paul Withers, Daniel Howe, Jai Patel, Brendan Kearns, and Sam Daughtry, all of whom are participating in the Investment and have collaborated in the development of the Proposals. In aggregate, they will subscribe for 14,400,000 New Ordinary Shares representing 72.00% of the Company's share capital, and the percentage holding of the Concert Party may increase further in the event that Warrants (to be granted as part of the Investment) are exercised. These Concert Party Members are expected to hold the following number of ordinary shares:

Name Proposed Shareholding Percentage of Concert Party Shareholding Number of Warrants Maximum number of Shares the Concert Party will hold if Warrants are exercised Maximum Percentage of Shares held if only Concert Party exercise Warrants Paul Withers 7,500,000 37.50% 7,500,000 15,000,000 43.60% Daniel Howe 2,500,000 12.50% 2,500,000 5,000,000 14.53% Kwasi Kwarteng 2,500,000 12.50% 2,500,000 5,000,000 14.53% Jai Patel 1,250,000 6.25% 1,250,000 2,500,000 7.27% Brendan Kearns 350,000 1.75% 350,000 700,000 2.03% Sam Daughtry 300,000 1.50% 300,000 600,000 1.74% Total 14,400,000 72.00% 14,400,000 28,800,000 83.72%

Note: As set out above, Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns are existing shareholders and shall hold an equivalent percentage of B Shares following the conversion of the Ordinary Shares.

The Concert Party's maximum interest set out in the above table is based on the following assumptions: the exercise of all 14,400,000 Warrants of the Concert Party (which could be done at any time following Admission) would result in the issue of 14,400,000 Ordinary Shares to the Concert Party, increasing the total holding of the Concert Party to 28,800,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 83.72% of the Company's Enlarged Issued Share Capital of 34,400,000 Ordinary Shares, assuming no other changes to the Company's share capital prior to the exercise of the Warrants.

Directors and Proposed Board Changes

On Admission, Bryan Coyne, Steven Davis and Jane Thomason will resign from the Board. The Company would like to express its thanks to Bryan, Steven and Jane for the significant contributions they have made to the Company.

As part of the Proposals, the Board of the Company will be reconstituted. Kwasi Kwarteng will join the Board as Executive Chairman, and Paul Withers will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director, alongside existing directors Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns. Jai Patel, who previously served as Chief Investment Officer, will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer, and Brendan Kearns will continue in his existing position. Collectively, these individuals will constitute the Proposed Directors of the Company following Shareholder Approval.

The profiles of the Proposed Directors are set out below:

Kwasi Kwarteng (Executive Chairman)

Kwasi Kwarteng has held several senior positions in UK government, most recently serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer from September 2022 to October 2022. Prior to this, he was Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and has also served as Minister of State at BEIS and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Kwasi was elected as Member of Parliament for Spelthorne in 2010 and left the House of Commons in 2024. During that time, he served on a number of key Parliamentary committees, including the Transport, Work and Pensions, and Public Accounts Committees. Earlier in his career, he worked as a financial analyst in the private sector.

He holds a degree in Classics and History from Trinity College, Cambridge, attended Harvard University on a Kennedy Scholarship, and completed a PhD in Economic History at the University of Cambridge.

Kwasi's economic and political experience, combined with a strong understanding of financial markets, will bring a highly valuable perspective to the Board as the Company pursues its aims.

Paul Withers (Non-Executive Director)

Paul Withers is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and business operator with a strong track record across the precious metals, digital assets and M&A sectors. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of DB London Ltd (" DB"), a leading UK and international precious metals dealer, recognised as one of the Financial Times' fastest-growing companies in Europe and listed in The Spear's 500as one of the world's best providers of wealth preservation services to high-net-worth individuals.

Founded in 2015, DB serves a diverse client base ranging from investment novices to seasoned HNWIs, offering products such as physical gold and silver, digital gold, tax-efficient alternatives, and pension gold. The business also provides bespoke storage solutions, including ultra-secure safes and panic rooms, and operates a well-established e-commerce platform supported by a team of specialist brokers.

In addition to DB, Paul is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Aureus Acquisitions, a boutique investment firm focused on acquiring and scaling UK-based SMEs. He also served as a Strategic Partner at Aurus Technologies, where he helped implement the world's first tokenisation of physical gold bars into blockchain-based assets, leading the rollout of digital gold sales in the UK to private clients, family offices and institutional investors.

Earlier in his career, Paul served in the Royal Navy as an Electronic Warfare Technician, where he developed a disciplined, detail-oriented approach that has since helped underpin his success in both regulated industries and entrepreneurial ventures.

Paul brings to the Board a highly commercial mindset, deep sectoral knowledge in alternative assets and financial products, and a strong network of investors and partners. He has been closely involved in the development of the Company's modified strategy and will play a key role in guiding its execution.

Modification to Investing Policy

The Board is also seeking shareholder approval for a modification to the Company's Investing Policy which will continue as a dedicated Bitcoin-focused listed investment vehicle. This modification is intended to capitalise on the significant growth potential of the cryptocurrency market, with a particular emphasis on direct investment in Bitcoin and associated treasury management activities.

The Company will pursue a strategy centred on direct Bitcoin investment, aiming to deliver long-term capital appreciation by providing investors with regulated and transparent exposure to the world's leading cryptocurrency. The Company will implement treasury management procedures designed to optimise asset deployment, manage liquidity effectively, and mitigate financial risk, ensuring the prudent stewardship of shareholder capital.

As part of its broader investment strategy, the Company will consider acquiring cash flow positive businesses aligned with its core operations and objectives to fund Bitcoin purchases and cover treasury costs. Any such acquisitions will be selective and complementary to the Company's Bitcoin-focused mandate, with a focus on opportunities that can provide recurring income and have the potential to enhance long-term shareholder value. The Board will adopt a disciplined, value-accretive approach, guided by defined internal financial , and strategic parameters, to ensure that any M&A activity strengthens rather than dilutes the Company's core strategy of maximising BTC per share.

The Company has arranged the Subscription of 200,000, which will provide the Premium to Existing Shareholders receiving the Return of Capital together with working capital for the Company. This is intended to be followed by a larger capital raise, planned following completion of the Proposals, to enable the Company to begin its investment operations.

The new Company name of Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc will reflect its revised strategic focus and is intended to clearly communicate its ambitions to the market. In addition, the Board will be restructured to ensure it has the necessary expertise to support the Company's growth within the digital asset space. Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns will remain on the Board to provide continuity, while Kwasi Kwarteng and Paul Withers will join as Directors, bringing valuable experience in investment management and the cryptocurrency sector.

The proposed strategy is a direct response to the changing market landscape and the Board's view that a focused Bitcoin investment vehicle offers the potential to generate greater long-term shareholder returns than the Company's previous activities. As a listed entity on the AQSE Growth Market, the Company will provide investors with a regulated platform through which to participate in the long-term growth of Bitcoin.

Corporate Governance

The Directors recognised the importance of sound corporate governance and adopted the QCA Corporate Governance Code from the time of the Company's admission to the AQSE Growth Market. The Company has maintained compliance with the principles of the QCA Code for the past four years, applying it to the extent considered appropriate in light of the Company's size, structure, and stage of development. This will continue following completion of the Proposals.

The Board meets at least monthly to ensure effective oversight of the Company's operations and to maintain ongoing compliance with the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook. The Board continues to work closely with the Company's AQSE Corporate Adviser to support best practice governance.

The Company has established a governance structure designed to ensure robust oversight across its core functions.

The Audit & Risk Committee will be chaired by Kwasi Kwarteng, with Paul Withers serving as the other member. The Committee meets quarterly and is responsible for monitoring the Company's financial performance, reviewing interim and annual accounts, overseeing internal controls and accounting policies, and evaluating the Company's risk management systems. This includes compliance with regulatory requirements such as:

a) the Money Laundering Regulations;

b) FSMA including the UK Financial Promotions Regime (e.g. where qualifying cryptoasset promotions may be treated as communications under the regime);

c) UK AIFMD (e.g. circumstances where an issuer's activities and holdings in cryptocurrency deems the issuer to be acting as an alternative investment fund);

d) all applicable (if relevant) CARF reporting, transparency, audit and record keeping requirements; and

e) the Cryptoassets Order and FCA regulation in respect thereof, once implemented

The Remuneration Committee will comprise Paul Withers (as the Chairman) and Kwasi Kwarteng. It oversees the remuneration structure for senior management, including bonus arrangements and share options, with decisions made in alignment with shareholder interests. Committee members abstain from any discussions or decisions regarding their own remuneration.

The Aquis Rules Compliance Committee will be chaired by Kwasi Kwarteng and will include Paul Withers. It will meet at least four times a year to oversee compliance with the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook.

The Company has not established a separate nomination committee. Instead, matters ordinarily reserved for such a committee are considered by the Board as a whole.

The Investment Committee, which will be chaired by Paul Withers, will comprise Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns. It meets monthly and is responsible for approving investment decisions under a "four eyes" policy. The committee ensures compliance with investment guidelines and monitors portfolio performance and related risks.

The Company has adopted a Share Dealing Code for Directors and relevant employees, aligned with the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the AQSE Access Rulebook. The Company is also subject to the UK Criminal Justice Act 1993 in relation to insider dealing.

To ensure compliance with the Aquis Stock Exchange Cryptoassets Policy, effective from 1 September 2025, the Company will adhere to the following standards in respect of its Bitcoin holdings:

The Company will hold Bitcoin as part of its treasury and investment strategy and will not hold a broader portfolio of crypto-assets. Shareholder communications, including annual and half-yearly financial reports, will clearly state this position and include appropriate risk warnings regarding the high-risk nature of bitcoin as an asset. These risks, which include volatility, liquidity challenges, regulatory uncertainty, and custody risks, are outlined in the circular to be sent to shareholders.

The Company does not intend to adopt or publish a formal valuation methodology for its Bitcoin holdings. Instead, the Company will monitor the prevailing market value of its Bitcoin holdings using publicly available and reliable market data sources. This monitoring will support the Company's obligations to provide timely and accurate market disclosures under the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook and applicable UK regulation.

The Company will provide market updates in relation to its Bitcoin holdings in the following circumstances:

a) Where there is a movement in the value of the Company's Bitcoin holdings that is reasonably considered to be price-sensitive;

b) Where there are significant movements in the Bitcoin market that may impact the Company's valuation or investor understanding;

c) Where regulatory, tax, or legal developments are likely to materially impact the valuation, treatment, or liquidity of Bitcoin; and

d) Where a NAV or other financial update is required under applicable rules or internal disclosure obligations.

The Company confirms that it will not provide investment advice and that all disclosures relating to Bitcoin will be presented clearly, with balanced language and appropriate risk warnings. The Board, together with the Audit & Risk Committee and the Company's AQSE Corporate Adviser, will oversee compliance with the AQSE Cryptoassets Policy on an ongoing basis.

On Admission, Dr Jane Thomason, Bryan Coyne and Steven Davis will resign from the Board and Kwasi Kwarteng and Paul Withers will be appointed as new Directors and will assume the roles across the Company's committees as outlined above following their respective appointments. Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns will remain on the Board and will continue to serve on the Investment Committee.

Existing Share Authorities

At the General Meeting held on 6 June 2022, the Company obtained general authority from shareholders to issue up to 100,000,000 new shares, with such authority valid for a period of five years. To date, 4,166,667 shares have been issued under this authority. As a result, the Company retains the ability to issue a further 95,833,333 shares under the existing authority. Accordingly, the New Ordinary Shares will be issued under the existing authority.

In order to provide flexibility to pursue its strategy, the Board is proposing to seek a shareholder authority at the General Meeting to issue a further 500,000,000 new Ordinary Shares on a non pre-emptive basis.

Proposed Change of Name of the Company

In order to reflect the modified strategy of the Company, the Board has by Board resolution resolved to change the name of the Company to Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association. It is intended that the change of name will be carried out after the posting of this Circular. The change of name is only effective upon the registration at Companies House and the issuance of a change of name certificate.

The Company's share 'ticker' (Tradeable Instrument Display Mnemonic or "TIDM") will also change to STAK.

Expected Timetable of Principal Events

Publication of the circular to Shareholders and Notice of GM 21 November 2025 Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy and Electronic Proxy Appointments for the General Meeting 10:00 a.m. on 5 December 2025 Time and Date of the General Meeting 10:00 a.m. 9 December 2025 Announcement of result of General Meeting 9 December 2025 Change of Name to Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc and change of TIDM (timing indicative only and subject to registration at Companies House) Within 14 days of publication of this Document Capital Reduction Record Date for Return of Capital and entitlements to additional B Shares 6:00 p.m. on 16 January 2026 Conversion of Existing Ordinary Shares to B Shares and issue of additional B Shares (timing indicative only and subject to shareholder and Court approvals) 19 January 2026 Suspension of trading of Existing Ordinary Shares on AQSE 19 and 20 January 2026 Change and enablement of ISIN On Admission Resumption of trading on AQSE 21 January 2026 Admission of New Ordinary Shares 21 January 2026 Issue of the New Ordinary Share Certificates Within 10 Business Days of Admission With regard to the Return of Capital: Court hearing in respect of directions 17 December 2025 Court hearing to confirm Return of Capital 20 January 2026 Credit CREST accounts or despatch cheques in respect of the Capital Repayment on the B Shares Within 12 days of Admission

*Court timelines for cancellation of B shares will affect timing of the Return of Capital

Notes:

(1) References to times are to London time, England (unless otherwise stated).

(2)The timing of the events in the above timetable are indicative only and may be subject to change.In particular, certain of the events in the above timetable are conditional upon, amongst other things, the approval of the Capital Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting and the confirmation of the Reduction of Capital by the Court.If the Court does not approve the Reduction of Capital, the Subscription will not proceed, and the Company will return the proceeds of the Subscription to the Investors including the Premium.The B Shares would also then automatically convert back into Ordinary Shares.

(3) If any of the above times or dates should change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified by an announcement to an RIS.

(4) Admission of the New Ordinary Shares will only occur subject to the confirmation of the Reduction of Capital by the Court.

(5) The Company will issue an RIS to confirm when the change of name to Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc and change of TIDM is effective.

Share Statistics

Number of Existing Ordinary Shares (to be reclassified as B Shares) that will be cancelled prior to the Return of Capital 30,429,174 Surrendered Shares to be cancelled 2,799,177 Subscription share price 0.01 Number of New Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Subscription 20,000,000 Warrants to be issued to Subscribers 20,000,000 Gross proceeds from the Subscription 200,000 Estimated Return of Capital to Existing Shareholders (from realised assets and the Premium) c. 3.5m Number of New Ordinary Shares following the Subscription 20,000,000

The Company's SEDOL code is BN950D9 and ISIN code is GB00BN950D98. The current SEDOL and ISIN codes will remain active until the Capital Reduction Record Date being (6:00 p.m. on 16 January 2026). Following the conversion of the Existing Ordinary Shares into B Shares at the Capital Reduction Record Date, the Company will not have an active ISIN for the Ordinary Shares until the New Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading at 8:00 a.m. on 21 January 2026. Accordingly, while the period without an active ISIN spans from 6:00 p.m. on 16 January 2026 until Admission on 21 January 2026, trading in the Company's shares on AQSE is expected to be suspended for two Business Days, being 19 January 2026 and 20 January 2026, and restored at market open on 21 January 2026. The Company's new SEDOL code will be BSMKZ42 and new ISIN code will be GB00BSMKZ421.

Application for Admission of the New Ordinary Shares

It is expected that Admission of the New Ordinary Shares will become effective and that dealings in such shares will commence on 21 January 2026, conditional on, and subsequent to, the passing of the Resolutions including, without limit, the Waiver Resolution at the General Meeting and the Court's confirmation of the Reduction of Capital.

The total number of Ordinary Shares in issue following the issue of the New Ordinary Shares will be 20,000,000.

General Meeting

Kasei announces notice of a general meeting (the " General Meeting") of the Company to be held at 10:00 a.m. on 9 December 2025 at the offices of VSA Capital Limited, the Company's AQSE Corporate Adviser, at 42 New Broad Street, London, EC2M 1JD.

The Resolutions are summarised below.

Resolutions are set out in the notice convening the General Meeting:

Resolution 1is a special resolution, to authorise the Directors to implement the Return of Capital. The amount proposed to be capitalised in this resolution is up to 3,042,917.40 in order to allot and issue additional B Shares to the Existing Shareholders and the cancellation of the Share Premium Amount to enable the return of the Capital Sum to Existing Shareholders. This resolution also includes amending the Company's articles of association to allow for the issue of the B Shares.

Resolution 2 is a special resolution for the cancellation of the Surrendered Shares which were the subject of the Company's RIS announcement dated 25 April 2023.

Resolutions 3 and 4, are ordinary and special resolutions to authorise the Directors to allot the shares and grant rights to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of 5 million (equivalent to 500 million new Ordinary Shares). The authorities to be granted pursuant to Resolutions 3 - 4 (inclusive) shall expire twelve months following the passing of the resolutions.

Resolution 5is an ordinary resolution and relates to the approval of the Waiver granted by the Panel. The Panel has granted a waiver to Rule 9 of the Takeover Code subject to Independent Shareholders approving the waiver of the obligation for the Concert Party to make a general offer to acquire all the shares in the Company.

Resolution 6is an ordinary resolution and is required in order for the Company to modify its existing investing policy.

In order for the Return of Capital to proceed, Shareholders must approve Resolution 1 as set out in the Notice of the General Meeting). If Resolution 1 is not approved, then the Return of Capital will not proceed. The Board is requesting some additional authority to allot and issue shares and/or grant rights to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Investment as well as to finance the future fundraisings up to an aggregate nominal amount of 5 million (equivalent to 500 million new Ordinary Shares) to enable the Company to raise funds following the Return of Capital through the issue of new Ordinary Shares to finance the new Investing Policy. Accordingly, it is important that the Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to allow both the Return of Capital to proceed, the Investment and future fundraisings.

Dividend Policy

The Company does not expect to pay dividends in the short to medium term. Future distributions will depend on the Company's performance, financial condition, and capital requirements. There can be no assurance that dividends will ever be declared or paid.

Irrevocable Undertakings

The Company has received undertakings from Directors to vote in favour of the Resolutions at the General Meeting in respect of in aggregate 8,366,083 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 27.49% of the Existing Ordinary Shares that are able to vote on all Resolutions. For the avoidance of doubt, Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns will not vote on the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution as they are members of the Concert Party.

Recommendation

The Directors, who have been so advised by VSA Capital, consider the Proposals including the Capital Reorganisation, Return of Capital, the Investment under the Rule 9 Waiver, the Subscription and the reclassification of the B Shares, to be fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the Independent Shareholders and the Company as a whole. In providing advice to the Independent Directors, VSA Capital has taken into account the Independent Directors commercial assessments.

For the purposes of the Rule 9 Waiver resolution (Resolution 5), Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns, being members of the Concert Party, have not participated in the Board's Recommendation. The Recommendation in respect of Resolution 5 is made solely by the remaining Directors who are considered independent for these purposes. Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns remain entitled to vote on all other Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.

Accordingly, the Directors (excluding Jai Patel and Brendan Kearns in relation to Resolution 5) unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions.

For further information please contact:

Kasei Digital Assets Plc Jai Patel Chief Investment Officer Jai.patel@kaseiholdings.com VSA Capital Limited (AQSE Corporate Adviser) Andrew Raca Oriol Parache Sam Gurung +44 (0) 20 3005 5000

Definitions

The following definitions apply throughout this announcement, unless the context requires otherwise:

Act means the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) Admission means the admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on the AQSE Growth Market Aquis or AQSE means the market for unlisted securities operated by the Aquis Stock Exchange Limited AQSE Growth Market means the Access Segment of the AQSE Growth Market operated by AQSE AQSE Rules means the Aquis Growth Market Access Rulebook for Issuers, which sets out the admission requirements and continuing obligations of companies seeking admission to, and whose shares are admitted to trading on, the Access Segment of the AQSE Growth Market Acting in Concert has the meaning attributed to it in the Takeover Code Articles means the existing articles of association of the Company or, where the context requires, the relevant articles of association to be adopted by the Company pursuant to the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting B Shares means the B Shares of 0.01 each in the capital of the Company B Share Scheme means the return of one penny per share pursuant to the redesignation, allotment, issue, and cancellation of the B Shares Board or Directors means the board of directors of the Company from time to time Business Day means any day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) on which banks are open in London for normal banking business and the London Stock Exchange is open for trading Capital Reduction Record Date 6:00 p.m. on 16 January 2026 Capital Reorganisation the reorganisation of the Company's share capital comprising the redesignation of Existing Ordinary Shares, creation of the B Shares, cancellation of Share Premium Amount and the Reduction of Capital Capital Repayment means the proposed repayment of 11.5 pence per 11 B Shares held pursuant to the B Share Scheme and the cancellation of the Share Premium Amount Capital Resolution means Resolution 1 set out in the Notice of General Meeting pursuant to which the Return of Capital is to be implemented Capital Sum means the aggregate amount of approximately 3.5m to be returned to Existing Shareholders, to be implemented by the way of a court-approved capital reduction Certificated form an ordinary share recorded on a company's share register as being held in certificated form (namely, not in CREST) Company or Kasei means Kasei Digital Assets plc, to be renamed Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc Concert Party means the Investors who are deemed to be acting in connection for the purposes of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, as set out in this announcement Connected Persons has the meaning set out in section 252 and section 254 of the Act and includes spouse, children under 18 and any company in which the relevant person is interested in shares comprising at least one fifth of the share capital of that company Court means the High Court of Justice in England and Wales Court Order means the order of the Court confirming the Reduction of Capital CREST means the computerised settlement system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) to facilitate the transfer of title in shares and the holding of shares in uncertificated form which is operated by Euroclear CREST Manual the compendium of documents entitled "CREST Manual" issued by Euroclear from time to time and comprising the CREST Reference Manual, the CREST Central Counterparty Service Manual, the CREST International Manual, the CREST Rules, the CSS Operations Manual and the CREST Glossary of Terms CREST Regulations the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755) (as amended from time to time) Current Directors means the directors of the Company at the date of this announcement Euroclear Euroclear UK & International Limited, the operator of CREST Existing Ordinary Shares means the ordinary shares of 0.01 each in capital of the Company in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date Existing Shareholders means the shareholders of the Company at the Capital Reduction Record Date FCA means the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom Final Court Hearing means the date of the Court hearing to confirm the Reduction of Capital (or such later date as notified by the Company) Form or Proxy means the form of proxy for use at the GM FSMA means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) General Meeting or GM means the general meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of VSA Capital, 42 New Broad Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2M 1JD at 10:00 a.m. on 9 December 2025 Independent Shareholders means Shareholders who are eligible to vote on the Waiver Resolution (excluding any member of the Concert Party) Investors means the investors who will subscribe for new Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Investment Investing Policy means the Company's strategy for investing in assets, as set out in this announcement, including its focus on direct investment in Bitcoin and related treasury management activities Investment means the proposed investment in the Company by the Investors Investment Documents means the documents to be entered into to effect the Investment, including the Subscription letters, Warrants and related ancillary agreements Key Investors means the subset of Investors acting in concert who are leading the Investment and are expected to acquire a controlling interest in the Company Latest Practicable Date 20 November 2025 being the date that is the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Circular NAV means net asset value Notice of GM means the notice of the GM New Ordinary Shares means the new Ordinary Shares of 0.01 to be issued pursuant to the Investment Ordinary Shares means ordinary shares of 0.01 each in the capital of the Company Overseas Shareholders a Shareholder on the Capital Reduction Record Date with a registered address, or who is a citizen or resident of, or incorporated in, jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom Panel or Takeover Panel means the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers Premium means the 100,000 contributed by Investors to supplement the Total Cash to be returned to existing shareholders as part of the Return of Capital Proposals means together, the Capital Reorganisation, Return of Capital, the Investment, the Rule 9 Waiver, and related matters set out in this announcement Proposed Directors means Kwasi Kwarteng and Paul Withers Reduction of Capital the proposed cancellation of the B Shares, the Surrendered Shares and the cancellation of the Share Premium Account Registrar or Neville Registrars means Neville Registrars Limited, registrars to the Company whose address is at Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8HD Resolutions the resolutions set out in the Notice of General Meeting Return of Capital the proposed return of capital to Existing Shareholders by the way of a reclassification and cancellation of B shares RIS an approved regulatory information service for the distribution of announcements to the public Rule 9 means Rule 9 of the Takeover Code Share Premium Amount means an amount of 152,790.86 standing to the credit of the share premium account of the Company Shareholders means holders of Existing Ordinary Shares of Kasei Shareholder Approval means approval by Shareholders and Independent Shareholders to the Proposals at the General Meeting Stack Bitcoin Treasury plc means the proposed new name of the Company, subject to shareholder approval Subscription means the fundraising round raising 200,000 through the issue of New Ordinary Shares at 1p each to new Investors Surrendered Shares means the 2,799,177 unpaid for Ordinary Shares registered in the name of the Company, as detailed in the Company's RIS dated 25 April 2023 Takeover Code or Code means the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers Total Cash means the existing cash reserves of the Company less costs plus approximately 100,000 receivable from the Investment UK or United Kingdom the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Uncertificated form an ordinary share recorded on a company's share register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title which, by virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST VSA Capital means VSA Capital Limited of 42 New Broad Street, London EC2M 1JD, the AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker to the Company Waiver or Rule 9 Waiver means the waiver by the Panel of any requirement under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code for the Concert Party to make a general offer to Shareholders for the Company which would otherwise arise as a result of the issue of the shares to be issued pursuant to the terms of the Subscription and the Warrants Waiver Resolution or Rule 9 Waiver resolution means Resolution 5 set out in the Notice of General Meeting to approve the Waiver by Independent Shareholders on a poll vote Warrants means warrants issued by the Company to the Investors on the basis of one warrant for each New Ordinary Share subscribed for under the Investment, each entitling the holder to subscribe for one Ordinary Share on the terms set out in the applicable warrant instrument  or Pounds means UK pounds sterling, being the lawful currency of the United Kingdom

Important Notices

Forward looking statements

Certain statements contained in this announcement constitute forward-looking statements. When used in this announcement, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Company's results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and expectations of the industry in which the Company operates.

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 materially differ from those described in this announcement Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialise, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those described in this announcement as "intended", "planned", "anticipated", "believed", "proposed", "estimated" or "expected".

By its very nature, such forward-looking statements require the Company to make assumptions that may or may not materialise. Although the directors consider that these assumptions are reasonable, such forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors beyond the control of the Company that could cause the actual performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and, in particular, past performance of the Company cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Accordingly, you should not rely on any forward-looking statements and the Company and VSA Capital Limited expressly disclaim any obligation to disseminate any updates or revisions to such forward-looking statements. No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or a profit estimate and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed historical published earnings per share. As a result, you are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor anyone else is under any obligation to update or keep current the information contained in this announcement.
MoU signed as His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar visits Kinshasa, DRC to meet with His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Ivanhoe Mines' (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announce today the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ivanhoe Mines and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). This follows QIA's US$500 million strategic investment into Ivanhoe Mines, as announced on September 29, 2025.

The signing of the MoU coincided with this week's visit by His Highness The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he met with His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, to discuss friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.

The MoU between QIA and Ivanhoe Mines sets out a framework for collaboration to support Ivanhoe's efforts to find, develop, and sustainably supply the critical minerals essential to the global energy transition and the development of advanced technologies.

Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair, Robert Friedland, commented: "The signing of the MoU, together with the strategic investment by the Qatar Investment Authority, is a strong vote of confidence in Ivanhoe Mines' and our mission to supply the strategic metals that power global electrification and the rise of AI and large-scale datacentres. We are excited to build this long-term, world-class alliance as we unlock new frontiers in our hunt for the next generation of great discoveries, which we will sustainably mine together."

QIA CEO, Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, commented: "This MoU is a testament of QIA's commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading suppliers of critical minerals, supporting global efforts to develop new energy infrastructure and power advanced technologies. We are delighted to be working with Ivanhoe Mines and look forward to further growing our partnership, aimed at generating long-term, sustainable prosperity."

MoU sets framework for collaboration on further exploration, development and mining of critical minerals

As part of the MoU, QIA notes its support of Ivanhoe Mines management team in its pursuit of existing and new growth projects, such as exploration work underway to develop the world-class Western Forelands exploration project in DRC, including the Makoko District.

Ivanhoe Mines and QIA also intend to collaborate in good faith to identify and explore future partnerships and opportunities to work together in geographical areas of interest on mining projects at all phases of development. This may include collaboration in terms of investment or financing of such projects.

Furthermore, Ivanhoe and QIA may collaborate in terms of (i) using QIA's extensive network to provide access to financial institutions for preferential financing of critical minerals projects in Africa and elsewhere; (ii) collaboration on potential future strategic M&A; (iii) collaboration on potential infrastructure related to critical minerals projects, including logistics, power and water; and (iv) working together on development of downstream smelting or refining capacity for critical minerals.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal operations in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper mine in South Africa.

Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high-grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons including Angola, Kazakhstan, and Zambia.

Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on X.

About Qatar Investment Authority

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions, as well as in partnership with leading institutions around the world, to build a global and diversified investment portfolio with a long-term perspective that can deliver sustainable returns and contribute to the prosperity of the State of Qatar.

Media Contact: media@qia.qa

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release.

Such statements include, without limitation: (i) statements regarding Ivanhoe Mines and QIA intend to collaborate in good faith to identify and explore future partnerships and opportunities to work together in geographical areas of interest on mining projects at all phases of development, and; (ii) statements regarding, Ivanhoe and QIA may collaborate for preferential financing of critical minerals projects in Africa and elsewhere, potential future strategic M&A, potential infrastructure related to critical minerals projects, including logistics, power and water, and downstream smelting or refining capacity for critical minerals.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the ability of the parties to satisfy closing conditions of the Investment and the factors discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and its current annual information form, and elsewhere in this news release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and its current annual information form.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275452

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to DataM Intelligence, the Prostate Cancer Drugs Market Size reached USD 13.22 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow significantly to USD 28.10 billion by 2033, registering a robust 8.1% CAGR between 2025 and 2033. The market is undergoing a profound shift driven by the rise of next-generation androgen receptor inhibitors, immuno-oncology therapies, targeted radioligands, combination regimens, and expanding treatment access across the U.S., Japan, Europe, and emerging markets.

As prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent male cancers worldwide-with more than 1.4 million new diagnoses annually-the demand for innovative therapies continues to accelerate. The introduction of precision medicines, PSMA-targeted radiotherapies, oral hormonal agents, and novel combination therapeutics is reshaping clinical practice and expanding survival outcomes for advanced, metastatic, and castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Prostate Cancer Drugs Market"

62 - Tables

57 - Figures

159 - Pages

Market Outlook: Precision Oncology & Hormonal Innovation Continue to Reshape Global Demand

Prostate cancer treatment has evolved significantly over the last decade. Traditional androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains foundational, but next-generation agents-including enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide, abiraterone acetate, cabazitaxel, radium-223, olaparib, lutetium-177-PSMA-617 and emerging immunotherapies-are redefining the therapeutic landscape.

Key Growth Drivers:

Rising global incidence among aging populations

Earlier screening & increased adoption of PSA + MRI diagnostics

Growing demand for AR-targeting hormonal drugs

Expansion of immuno-oncology and targeted therapy pipelines

Strong commercial uptake of PSMA-targeted radioligand therapies

Improved reimbursement policies for advanced prostate cancer treatments

Rapid adoption of oral oncolytics for home-based cancer care

By 2033, the market will increasingly shift toward biomarker-driven and combination therapy models, improving survival while reducing toxicity.

Segmentation Analysis

By Therapy Type (Hormonal Therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy)

Hormonal Therapy

Hormonal therapy dominated the prostate cancer drugs market in 2024, contributing an estimated 57% share, equivalent to USD 7.53 billion. Androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs), CYP17 inhibitors, and GnRH analogues remain the cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment. The strong uptake of Xtandi (enzalutamide), Zytiga (abiraterone), Erleada (apalutamide), and Nubeqa (darolutamide) continues to drive segment revenue, especially for metastatic castration-resistant (mCRPC) and hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

Hormonal therapy is expected to retain market leadership through 2033 due to the growing trend of earlier intervention and broader adoption across treatment lines.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy accounted for 18% of the market (USD 2.37 billion), with docetaxel and cabazitaxel remaining the primary agents used for late-stage and aggressive disease. Combination regimens with AR therapies and PARP inhibitors are enhancing survival, supporting stable uptake.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy represented 11% of the market (USD 1.45 billion) in 2024. Agents such as pembrolizumab, sipuleucel-T, and novel tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies are entering a new growth phase. Immunotherapies are particularly promising for MSI-H, high-tumor-mutational burden patients, and specific genetic subgroups.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy captured 14% (USD 1.85 billion), driven by strong adoption of PARP inhibitors (olaparib, rucaparib) and PSMA-targeted radiotherapies. Lutetium-177-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto) saw double-digit growth driven by survival benefits in metastatic disease. With multiple PSMA radiotherapies and DNA-damage repair inhibitors advancing in clinical trials, this segment is expected to expand rapidly through 2033.

By Route of Administration (Oral, Intravenous, Others)

Oral Route

Oral therapies dominated with 61% share in 2024, representing USD 8.07 billion, driven by oral hormonal therapies, PARP inhibitors, corticosteroids, and certain targeted therapies. The shift toward home-based cancer management since COVID-19 continues to accelerate oral drug adoption.

Intravenous (IV)

IV therapies accounted for 33% (USD 4.36 billion), including chemotherapy (docetaxel, cabazitaxel), radioligand therapies (Pluvicto), immunotherapies (pembrolizumab), and bisphosphonates. The segment remains essential for advanced and metastatic cases.

By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies)

Hospital Pharmacies

Hospital pharmacies led the market with 64% share, equal to USD 8.46 billion, due to the high use of IV chemotherapeutics, immunotherapies, radiotherapies, and complex oncology protocols.

Retail Pharmacies

Retail pharmacies contributed 25% (USD 3.30 billion), driven by prescription renewals for oral hormonal agents and chronic management drugs.

Online Pharmacies

Online pharmacies accounted for 11%, about USD 1.45 billion, with rapid growth in oncology telemedicine and patient-support digital channels.

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Regional Insights: Two Powerhouses Driving Global Growth

United States

The U.S. remained the largest global prostate cancer drug market in 2024, representing 38% of global revenue, approximately USD 5.02 billion. High disease prevalence, strong reimbursement frameworks, rapid adoption of AR inhibitors, and FDA approvals are key growth factors.

Recent Highlights:

288,000+ new prostate cancer diagnoses in 2024

in 2024 PSMA-PET adoption increased by 52% YoY , improving early metastasis detection

, improving early metastasis detection Sales of oral hormonal drugs grew 11% YoY

PARP inhibitor prescriptions surged 18% following broader treatment approvals

The U.S. market is expected to exceed USD 10.6 billion by 2033.

Japan

Japan contributed 9% of global revenue, equal to USD 1.19 billion in 2024. The country has one of the fastest-growing elderly male populations in Asia, directly increasing prostate cancer treatment demand.

Key Indicators:

Japan records 95,000 new cases annually , with a steady rise among men over 70

, with a steady rise among men over 70 GnRH therapies and AR inhibitors witnessed 14% YoY growth

Diagnostic integration of MRI + PSA testing increased 22%

PSMA-based radiotherapies and genomic profiling adoption are accelerating

The Japanese market is expected to cross USD 3.2 billion by 2033.

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Competitive Landscape: Leading Companies Shaping Global Prostate Cancer Treatment

The prostate cancer therapeutics ecosystem is highly competitive, driven by blockbuster hormonal agents, expanding PARP inhibitor adoption, and strong late-stage pipeline development.

Key Players Include:

Astellas Pharma - Co-developer of Xtandi; strong market leadership in AR inhibitors

- Co-developer of Xtandi; strong market leadership in AR inhibitors Pfizer Inc. - Partner in Xtandi and leading prostate oncology portfolio

- Partner in Xtandi and leading prostate oncology portfolio Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Biotech) - Manufacturer of Zytiga & Erleada

- Manufacturer of Zytiga & Erleada Bayer AG - Developer of Nubeqa and radiotherapeutic Xofigo

- Developer of Nubeqa and radiotherapeutic Xofigo Novartis AG - Market leader in PSMA-targeted radioligand Pluvicto

- Market leader in PSMA-targeted radioligand Pluvicto AstraZeneca - Developer of PARP inhibitor Lynparza

- Developer of PARP inhibitor Lynparza Sanofi - Manufacturer of chemotherapy agent Jevtana

These companies collectively dominate more than 70% of global prostate cancer drug revenues, bolstered by strong oncology pipelines and multi-indication expansion strategies.

Emerging Players

1. Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (USA)

Has an investigational agent VIR-5500 , a masked T-cell engager (TCE) targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

, a masked T-cell engager (TCE) targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Early signals of anti-tumour activity in heavily pre-treated patients; novel modality (TCE) in prostate cancer which is less crowded.

Positioned for the rising demand in next-generation immuno-therapies for prostate cancer.

2. FibroGen, Inc. (USA)

Though historically focused on other indications, FibroGen licensed an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) FG-3246 targeting CD46 for mCRPC.

targeting CD46 for mCRPC. Early Phase 2 results (PSA50 response ~36% in heavily-pretreated mCRPC) indicate potential in a tough indication.

The shift into prostate cancer ADCs makes it a noteworthy smaller player with targeted ambition.

3. GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH (Germany)

Developing a T-cell engaging bispecific antibody GEM3PSCA against the PSCA antigen in prostate cancer.

against the PSCA antigen in prostate cancer. Rare niche: PSCA (Prostate Stem Cell Antigen) directed immunotherapy is less crowded than PSMA.

European-based, which offers potential regional differentiation and partnership opportunities.

4. Nanobiotix SA (France)

While known for a radioenhancer platform, Nanobiotix's lead candidate NBTXR3 is under evaluation in prostate adenocarcinoma (in conjunction with radiotherapy).

is under evaluation in prostate adenocarcinoma (in conjunction with radiotherapy). It targets the unmet need of combining radiotherapy with novel radiosensitizers in prostate cancer, which may improve outcomes especially in locally advanced disease.

Offers a modality beyond typical hormone and chemo/ADT therapies, thus diversifying the field.

5. Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc. (USA)

Clinical-stage biotech acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $3.05 billion, specifically to bolster its prostate cancer pipeline. The lead asset HLD-0915 is a prostate cancer candidate.

The acquisition underscores strong external validation of Halda's prostate cancer approach.

Emerging "platform" company with potential next-gen oral therapies in prostate cancer, signalling high upside.

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Future Outlook: Prostate Cancer Treatment Enters Precision & Combination Therapy Era

Between 2025 and 2033, several transformative shifts will shape the market:

Expansion of PSMA-targeted radio conjugates and next-generation radiopharmaceuticals

and next-generation radiopharmaceuticals Rise of biomarker-guided therapy , especially BRCA1/2 and DNA-repair mutation testing

, especially BRCA1/2 and DNA-repair mutation testing Combination therapy growth : AR inhibitors + PARP inhibitors, AR inhibitors + immunotherapy

: AR inhibitors + PARP inhibitors, AR inhibitors + immunotherapy Increased screening and early diagnosis through advanced imaging & AI tools

through advanced imaging & AI tools Growth of oral therapies enabling more flexible patient management

enabling more flexible patient management Rapid expansion of advanced treatments into earlier disease stages

By 2033, the prostate cancer drugs market will become one of the most evolved oncology markets, with targeted and personalized therapeutics driving survival gains and quality of life improvements.

Related Report:

1. Colorectal Cancer Drugs Market Size to Rise from US$ 12.60 B (2024) to US$ 19.96 B by 2033.

2. Blood Cancer Drugs Market Size to Surge Toward US$ 113.5 B by 2031 at 7.8% CAGR.

3. Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market Size Set to Rise to Over US$ 5.6 B by 2030 on Drug Innovation Surge.

4. Gastrointestinal Cancer Drugs Market Set to Reach Multi-Billion USD as Therapeutic Innovation Accelerates.

5. Skin Cancer Drugs Market Size to Soar at 10.2% CAGR Through 2031 - DataM Intelligence Forecast.

6. Breast Cancer Drugs Market Size to Surge from US$ 28.7 B in 2022 to US$ 57.1 B by 2031 at 9.2% CAGR.

About DataM Intelligence

DataM Intelligence is a renowned provider of market research, delivering deep insights through pricing analysis, market share breakdowns, and competitive intelligence. The company specializes in strategic reports that guide businesses in high-growth sectors such as nutraceuticals and AI-driven health innovations.

To find out more, visit https://www.datamintelligence.com/ or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contact:

Sai Kiran

DataM Intelligence 4market Research LLP

Ground floor, DSL Abacus IT Park, Industrial Development Area

Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500039

USA: +1 877-441-4866

Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com

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The European Commission announces the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, celebrating destinations leading in accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation and cultural heritage.

BRUSSELS, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampere (Finland) and Dubrovnik (Croatia) have been selected as the winners of the EU's 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions, following a European Jury meeting held in Brussels on 18-19 November 2025.

This year's competitions saw an increase in participants from a wide range of countries. In total, 58 destinations from 22 countries competed for the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism titles. The 15 shortlisted destinations were invited to present their cases to the European Jury in Brussels, who selected the winners of both competitions.

Tampere stood out for its innovative practices, performing strongly across all four categories and presenting an interesting programme of activities planned for 2026. The city presented a balanced vision of sustainable growth by demonstrating how local wellbeing can benefit from tourism but also impressed with comprehensive storytelling and a clear legacy for the EU, positioning itself as a role model committed to sharing knowledge. Dubrovnik impressed the jury with its pioneering approach to sustainability and its potential to serve as a role model for other destinations. The city impressed with its comprehensive and data-driven tourism management and implementing actionable measures that not only engage local communities but also support long-term planning and sustainable visitor flows.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, emphasised the European Commission's ongoing commitment to promoting smart, innovative, and sustainable tourism across the continent: "Tourism is one of Europe's most dynamic sectors and a cornerstone of our cultural and economic identity. By investing in sustainability and digital innovation, we are ensuring that Europe remains not only the world's leading destination, but also the most responsible. This year's winners embody this ambition, setting a high standard for smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism across our Union."

The 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism are at the forefront of shaping the future of tourism across the EU. Next year, the Capital city will showcase innovative approaches to accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability and creativity, while the Green Pioneer destination will champion sustainable tourism initiatives and green transition practices. Their achievements perfectly demonstrate the European Commission's vision for a smarter, greener and more inclusive tourism sector, setting a benchmark for other destinations and inspiring innovation across the continent.

Both winners will receive a specially designed award sculpture, which will be displayed in their respective destinations throughout their year as the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism. The winners will also benefit from promotional support and become part of a growing network of Europe's leading smart and sustainable tourism destinations. This network encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among cities across Europe.

The 'Leading Examples of Smart Tourism Practices in Europe' and the 'Leading examples of Smart and Sustainable Tourism Practices in Europe' reports showcase smart tourism practices in Europe, implemented by the applicants of the 2025 competition.

In the EU Smart Tourism Podcast series, delegates from winning and shortlisted European Smart Tourism initiative cities, alongside European Commission representatives, regularly discuss the latest innovations and pioneering practices that are shaping the future of tourism across Europe.

For the latest updates on the European Capital of Smart Tourism, follow us on our website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and subscribe to our podcast series.

For further press information, contact:

EU Smart Tourism Secretariat:

Sandra Bumbar-Malchow, info@SmartTourismCapital.eu, +49 (0) 30 70 01 86 341

Notes to Editors:

The 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions were open to submissions from 5 March 2025 to 30 May 2025. Terms and conditions are available at https://smarttourismcapital.eu. In the first stage of the competition, a panel of independent experts evaluated the applications. As the result of the evaluation, a shortlist of seven Capital and eight Green Pioneer finalists were established. All finalist Capital cities demonstrated excellence across the four competition categories combined and the finalists Green Pioneer destinations stood out for their green transition practices. Since the announcement of the shortlist, one of the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism destinations has withdrawn from participation, leading to seven shortlisted destinations presenting at the Jury meeting. In the second stage, representatives of all finalists presented their candidatures and the programme of activities planned for 2026 in front of the European Jury. The European Jury met on 18-19 November 2025 in Brussels and selected two destinations to hold the titles of the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism in 2026. Smart tourism responds to new challenges and demands in a fast-changing sector, including the expectation of digital information, products, and services; equal opportunities and access for all visitors; sustainable development of the local area; and support to creative industries and local talent. In 2024, from 21 applicant cities, Torino was selected as the 2025 European Capital of Smart Tourism. In 2023, from 29 applicant cities, Dublin was selected as the 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism. In 2022, from amongst 29 EU cities which applied, Pafos and Seville were selected as the European Capitals of Smart Tourism in 2023. 2021, from 30 EU cities which applied, Bordeaux and Valencia won the title of European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2022. In 2019, amongst 35 EU cities which applied, Malaga and Gothenburg stood out and were selected as the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2020. In 2018, amongst 38 EU cities, Helsinki and Lyon stood out and were selected the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2019. Benidorm was selected as the 2025 European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism and Grosseto was selected as the 2024 European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, while previous winners of European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) include Kranj in 2023 and Middelfart in 2022.

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AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to DataM Intelligence, the Operational Technology (OT) Market Size was valued at USD 210.06 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 364.74 billion by 2030, expanding at a strong CAGR of 9.6% from 2025 to 2030. The rapid convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), along with the rising adoption of IIoT, industrial automation, real-time analytics, and cyber-physical systems, is transforming how factories, utilities, and industrial enterprises operate.

Across manufacturing, energy, oil & gas, automotive, mining, power grids, aerospace, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, organizations are modernizing legacy OT environments to increase reliability, reduce downtime, enhance worker safety, and enable predictive maintenance. The demand for smarter, connected industrial control systems is moving OT ecosystems into the next era of Industry 4.0, digital twins, edge intelligence, and autonomous operations.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Operational Technology Market"

62 - Tables

54 - Figures

230 - Pages

Industrial Momentum: Why OT is Entering a Hyper-Digital Decade

Global industries are undergoing large-scale modernization driven by:

Growing cyber-physical risks and rising OT cybersecurity mandates

and rising OT cybersecurity mandates 5G-enabled IIoT expansion in factories and energy infrastructure

in factories and energy infrastructure AI-driven predictive maintenance , reducing unplanned downtime by 25-40%

, reducing unplanned downtime by 25-40% Increasing adoption of robotics, automation, and machine vision systems

Demand for operational resilience and energy efficiency

Shift from legacy SCADA/PLC systems to smart distributed control

As global manufacturing transitions into autonomous and semi-autonomous production environments, the OT landscape is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments in the industrial digitalization space.

Segmentation Analysis

By Component (Human Machine Interface, Control System)

Human Machine Interface (HMI)

HMI systems accounted for approximately 38% of the OT market in 2024, contributing nearly USD 79.8 billion. HMIs play a central role in industrial visualization, enabling operators to interact with machines, monitor processes, identify faults, and streamline workflows. The transition from traditional panel-based HMIs to advanced touchscreens, augmented reality interfaces, and cloud-connected dashboards is accelerating adoption. Modern HMIs are increasingly integrated with AI-driven analytics, enabling real-time decision-making and remote asset management.

Control Systems

Control systems-PLC, SCADA, DCS, PACs, and safety instrumented systems-dominated the market with 62% share, valued at USD 130.2 billion in 2024. Industries depend heavily on robust control architectures to ensure consistent production, safety compliance, and regulatory adherence. The shift toward networked, modular, and programmable automation systems is expanding demand for advanced control systems capable of multi-plant connectivity, predictive interventions, and autonomous optimization.

By Network Technology (Wired, Wireless)

Wired Networks

Wired OT networks held nearly 72% market share in 2024-equivalent to USD 151.2 billion-owing to their reliability in mission-critical environments. Industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and power distribution continue to prefer Ethernet-based industrial networks due to deterministic performance, minimal interference, and superior security.

Wireless Networks

Wireless OT networks represented 28% share (USD 58.8 billion) and are rapidly gaining traction driven by 5G, Wi-Fi 6, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and private cellular deployments. Wireless connectivity is essential for mobile robotics, remote monitoring, worker safety systems, and asset tracking in large manufacturing campuses and mining fields. By 2030, wireless OT penetration is expected to double due to widespread adoption of industrial IoT sensors and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

By End-User Industries

Oil & Gas

Oil & gas remained one of the largest OT consumers in 2024 with USD 34 billion spending. The sector relies heavily on distributed control systems, pipeline monitoring, predictive analytics, and remote drilling operations to ensure safety and efficiency. Digital oilfields, LNG automation, and upstream remote operations centers (ROCs) are strengthening OT investments.

Food & Beverages

The F&B sector accounted for around USD 18.5 billion, driven by increasing automation in packaging, quality inspection, contamination control, and cold-chain operations.

Pharmaceuticals

Pharma contributed USD 16.2 billion, accelerated by stringent regulatory requirements, serialization mandates, and high adoption of electronic batch records and automated cleanrooms.

Chemicals

Chemical plants invested USD 19.8 billion, focusing on process automation, reactor control, safety systems, and hazardous-area monitoring.

Energy & Power

Energy & power utilities-representing USD 29 billion-are modernizing OT systems across grid automation, load balancing, substation monitoring, and renewable energy integration.

Metals & Mining

This segment contributed USD 22.5 billion, led by demand for autonomous hauling systems, heavy-equipment automation, and hazardous-environment monitoring.

Pulp & Paper

Estimated at USD 8.1 billion, OT adoption in pulp & paper is fueled by demand for real-time quality control, water optimization, and automation upgrades.

Automotive

Automotive manufacturing accounted for USD 24.6 billion, driven by EV production lines, robotics, welding automation, and machine vision.

Aerospace & Defense

A&D contributed USD 14.3 billion, utilizing OT systems for precision manufacturing, composite machining, and mission-critical safety engineering.

Semiconductor & Electronics

Representing USD 27.9 billion, the semiconductor industry is one of the fastest adopters of OT due to cleanroom automation, wafer inspection systems, and ultra-precision robotics.

Medical Devices

With USD 10.4 billion, the medical device sector is deploying OT for quality compliance, digital traceability, and high-precision manufacturing.

Machine Manufacturing & Others

Machine manufacturing accounted for USD 15.7 billion, driven by CNC automation, robotic integration, and predictive maintenance.

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Regional Insights: U.S. & Japan Continue Leading Global OT Modernization

United States

The U.S. accounted for 35% of the global OT market in 2024, equivalent to USD 73.5 billion.

Growth is driven by:

Higher industrial automation penetration

Large-scale IIoT and edge intelligence deployments

Cybersecurity modernization across energy & manufacturing

Rapid investments in semiconductor fabrication under CHIPS Act

Rising demand for OT systems in EV, aerospace, and defense

The U.S. saw a 14% YoY increase in OT cybersecurity spending and 21% growth in IIoT device installations in the past 12 months.

Japan

Japan represented 10% of the global OT market, equal to USD 21 billion. Japanese industries continue to lead in precision manufacturing, robotics, and smart factory initiatives.

Key Highlights:

Over 11,000 new industrial robots deployed in 2024

deployed in 2024 Smart factory adoption increased 26% YoY

OT cybersecurity investment grew 18% due to rising threats

due to rising threats Major OEMs expanding digital twins and cloud-connected control systems

Japan's strong industrial base in automotive, electronics, machine tools, and semiconductors ensures continuous OT demand through 2030.

Competitive Landscape: Leading OT Technology Providers

The global operational technology market is dominated by multinational automation and control system giants with deep portfolios across PLCs, DCS, HMI, SCADA, robotics, industrial software, and OT cybersecurity.

Key Market Leaders Include:

Siemens AG

ABB Ltd.

Honeywell International Inc.

General Electric

Schneider Electric

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Emerson Electric Co.

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

These companies collectively influence more than 60% of global OT spending, driven by strong industrial footprints, advanced automation technologies, and strategic cloud partnerships.

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Top 5 Emerging Players in the Global Operational Technology (OT) Market

1. Claroty (USA)

One of the world's most advanced OT, IoT, and IIoT cybersecurity platforms .

. Expanding rapidly into critical infrastructure (energy, water, manufacturing).

(energy, water, manufacturing). Strong technology for asset visibility, threat detection, and secure remote access .

. Backed by major investors including Schneider Electric and Softbank.

Positioned as a leading alternative to legacy OT monitoring systems.

2. Dragos Inc. (USA)

World-renowned for industrial control system (ICS) threat intelligence .

. Focused on protecting OT in power utilities, oil & gas, manufacturing, and defense .

. Best-in-class ICS incident response + analyst-driven threat detection.

+ analyst-driven threat detection. Heavy expansion in APAC and Europe for national critical infrastructure security.

Considered one of the fastest-growing companies in industrial cybersecurity.

3. Nozomi Networks (USA / Switzerland)

Leader in AI-driven OT & IoT visibility for smart factories and critical infrastructure.

for smart factories and critical infrastructure. Strong partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, Schneider, and Fortinet .

. Uses machine learning for anomaly detection + predictive maintenance.

Rapid adoption in energy grids, utilities, smart cities , and transportation networks.

, and transportation networks. Growing due to rising OT-IT convergence needs.

4. PTC - Kepware (USA)

Provides KepServerEX , one of the most widely adopted emerging OT connectivity platforms.

, one of the most widely adopted emerging OT connectivity platforms. Specializes in industrial interoperability across PLCs, SCADA, historians, and ERP/Cloud.

across PLCs, SCADA, historians, and ERP/Cloud. Critical enabler for Industry 4.0 , bridging OT assets into digital transformation initiatives.

, bridging OT assets into digital transformation initiatives. Strong demand in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace , and oil & gas.

, and oil & gas. Known for OT-IT bridging and lightweight deployment even in legacy plants.

5. Radiflow (Israel)

Fast-growing OT cybersecurity startup focused on industrial IoT + ICS network protection .

. Strong in risk assessment, digital twins for OT security , and continuous threat monitoring.

, and continuous threat monitoring. Adoption growing in building automation, oil & gas, utilities, and smart infrastructure .

. Cost-effective alternative for mid-sized industrial customers.

Gaining traction due to Europe's strict cybersecurity laws (NIS2).

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Future Outlook: Operational Technology Will Define Industry 4.0 and Autonomous Manufacturing

The future of OT will be shaped by:

AI-driven factories with autonomous decision-making

with autonomous decision-making Edge computing platforms enabling real-time event response

enabling real-time event response Digital twins for plants, grids, and heavy equipment

Unified IT-OT security architectures

Sensor-rich IIoT ecosystems driving asset intelligence

driving asset intelligence Robotics, cobots, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs)

5G-enabled, software-defined industrial networks

By 2030, more than 70% of global factories will operate with integrated IT-OT systems, enabling predictive, reliable, and safer industrial operations

Related Report:

Operational Technology (OT) Security Market Size Set to Surge to US$ 89.95 B by 2033 - 19.5% CAGR Ahead. Industry 4.0 Market Poised for Break-out Growth as Smart Manufacturing Hits Accelerator. Industrial Control Systems Security Market to Double as Critical Infrastructure Faces Rising Cyber Threats.

About DataM Intelligence

DataM Intelligence is a renowned provider of market research, delivering deep insights through pricing analysis, market share breakdowns, and competitive intelligence. The company specializes in strategic reports that guide businesses in high-growth sectors such as nutraceuticals and AI-driven health innovations.

To find out more, visit https://www.datamintelligence.com/ or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contact:

Sai Kiran

DataM Intelligence 4market Research LLP

Ground floor, DSL Abacus IT Park, Industrial Development Area

Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500039

USA: +1 877-441-4866

Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com

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Stockholm, Sweden, 2025-11-21 - White Pearl Technology Group AB (WPTG) - a Swedish global tech company - today announced that the offer previously communicated on October 16 has been approved by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Spotr Group AB.

Spotr Group AB today held an Extraordinary General Meeting that unanimously resolved to approve the conditional agreement for the sale of parts of Spotr Group's operations to White Pearl Technology Group AB. The transfer of assets includes the subsidiaries Adligo AB, APTR SL AB, Appspotr South Asia (Pvt) Ltd, and the Company's 51 percent holding in Krobier AB, as well as the entering into of employment agreements with certain key personnel.

The total consideration amounts to approximately SEK 19.3 million, to be paid through the issuance of up to 965,776 new Series B shares in WPTG. Seventy percent of the shares will be issued at closing, and the remaining thirty percent will be issued three months after closing at the same agreed price, subject to potential reductions due to warranty claims. The issued shares will be subject to a six-month lock-up period following closing.

"We look forward to welcoming Adligo AB, APTR SL AB, Appspotr South Asia (Pvt) Ltd, and Krobier AB to the White Pearl Group. By accelerating growth in our Swedish home market and across the Nordics, we aim to balance our global presence, strengthen market confidence, and deliver long-term shareholder value. By acquiring these companies from Spotr, we will significantly expand our presence in the Nordic region, add great talent to the team, and most likely unlock synergies with other companies in the White Pearl Group," said Marco Marangoni, CEO of WPTG.

The four companies covered by the offer are expected to contribute approximately SEK 17 million in revenue and SEK 1.7 million in profit to WPTG. In connection with the transaction, WPTG intends to assume a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire an additional company, Bravissimo, pending further negotiations and due diligence.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Ejemyr, Vice President Investor Relations

White Pearl Technology Group

Email: ir@whitepearltech.com

Phone: +46 733 611 000

The company's Certified Adviser is Amudova AB, email: info@amudova.se.

About White Pearl Technology Group:

White Pearl Technology Group AB (WPTG) is a Swedish global technology company specialising in digital transformation solutions. With a presence in over 20 countries and a team of 850 experts, WPTG helps organisations navigate the complexities of the digital age, offering services ranging from ICT and system integration to business software and digital innovation. The company is listed on Nasdaq First North (WPTGB) in Stockholm, Sweden and on OTCQX (WPTGF) in the U.S.
Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Safety Training Seminars proudly announces the opening of its newest BLS CPR Certification School at 1750 Howe Ave, Suite 355, Sacramento, CA 95825. This state-of-the-art training center expands the organization's commitment to providing high-quality, accessible life-saving education to healthcare providers, students, and community members throughout the Sacramento region.







Safety Training Seminars Opens A New BLS CPR Certification School in Sacramento, CA

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The new Sacramento location offers convenient access for medical professionals and students from nearby institutions such as UC Davis School of Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, and Sacramento State's College of Health and Human Services. In addition, its central position near major healthcare hubs-including UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center, and Mercy General Hospital-supports the ongoing demand for reliable, accredited BLS CPR certification.

Designed with modern training facilities and advanced manikin technology, the Howe Avenue school provides hands-on, instructor-led and blended learning options to meet the needs of busy healthcare workers. Safety Training Seminars has been serving California since 1989 and continues to uphold its reputation for professional instruction, consistent quality, and a supportive learning environment.

"We are excited to expand our services in Sacramento," said Laura Seidel, President of Safety Training Seminars. "This new training site allows us to better support medical professionals, students, and first responders with convenient access to essential CPR education. Our mission has always been to ensure that every provider feels confident and prepared to save a life."

The Sacramento center will offer BLS Certification, ACLS, PALS, First-aid, renewal courses, and additional life-support training programs throughout the week, allowing flexible scheduling for hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and allied health programs.

With this new location, Safety Training Seminars strengthens its long-standing commitment to improving community preparedness and supporting the region's growing healthcare network.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275458

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Republic Technologies Inc. (CSE: DOCT) (FSE: 7FM0) (WKN: A41AYF) (the "Company" or "Republic") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 20, 2025, it has entered into a definitive investment agreement (the "Convertible Facility") with an institutional investor for a secured convertible note facility of up to US$100 million (the "Financing"). It is expected that the available funds from the Financing will be used to support the Company's blockchain-based attestation platform and validator infrastructure.

"This financing is a meaningful step towards our long-term goal to accumulate ETH in support of our network infrastructure. The financing is highly accretive to our ETH holdings and aligns with our broader capital formation and deployment strategies," said Daniel Liu, CEO of Republic Technologies.

Key Terms of the Convertible Facility

The Convertible Facility has a term of 24 months, bears 0% interest, and includes a 10% original issue discount. It will be secured by a fixed number of ETH as collateral (the "ETH Target"), equal to US$12 million. The ETH Target will remain fixed for the duration of the Convertible Facility.

Convertible notes issued under the Convertible Facility will be convertible, in whole or in part at the option of the holder, into common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price equal to the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") on the trading day immediately prior to conversion, subject in all cases to CSE policies, including minimum pricing rules.

Structure of the Convertible Facility

The Convertible Facility consists of a first drawdown (the "First Drawdown"), subsequent drawdowns (the "Subsequent Drawdowns"), and potential Top-Up Tranches (as defined below).

The First Drawdown comprises a US$10 million convertible note (the "First Drawdown Convertible Note"). In connection with the First Drawdown, the Company will issue to the Investor common share purchase warrants (the "First Drawdown Warrants"), exercisable to purchase Common Shares at a price of C$0.50 per Common Share for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance. If fully exercised, these warrants would provide the Company with approximately an additional US$10 million in financing. The First Drawdown is expected to close on or around December 5, 2025.

The First Drawdown Convertible Note, the First Drawdown Warrants, and any Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the First Drawdown Convertible Note or exercise of the First Drawdown Warrants will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The remaining US$90 million in available capacity may be accessed through Subsequent Drawdowns and Top-Up Tranches, each subject to customary conditions, including the terms as detailed in the news release dated October 20, 2025.

Until the balance of the custody account meets the ETH Target, the Investor may, by written notice, require the Company to issue a US$5 million convertible note for each tranche (each, a "Top-Up Tranche") under the Convertible Facility for the purpose of purchasing ETH and delivering such ETH into the custody account.

The Company intends to allocate approximately 90% of the net proceeds of the Financing toward the acquisition of ETH to support Republic's validator infrastructure and attestation services, with the balance to be used for general working capital purposes.

No insiders of the Company are expected to participate in the Financing, and no new control person is expected to be created as a result of the Financing.

Additional terms of the Convertible Facility are available in the Company's October 20, 2025 news release, and a copy of the Convertible Facility agreement will be filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

There can be no assurance that the Financing (including First Tranche, any Subsequent Drawdowns and Top-Up Tranches, and the Warrants issuable in connection therewith) will be completed on the terms described herein or at all.

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 Republic Technologies Inc.

Republic Technologies is a publicly traded technology company integrating Ethereum infrastructure into the global economy. Backed by an ETH-denominated treasury, we operate validator and attestation networks to safeguard data integrity for universal applications.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Convertible Facility and the Financing (including First Drawdown, any Subsequent Drawdowns and Top-Up Tranches), expected timing, anticipated closing(s) of the First Drawdown, Subsequent Drawdown(s) and Top-Up Tranche(s) of the Financing, anticipated CSE approvals, and the intended use of proceeds of the Financing. Forward-looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions as of the date hereof, including assumptions regarding market conditions, the Company's ability to obtain required approvals (including CSE approval), complete satisfactory security and custody arrangements for ETH collateral, and operate its validator infrastructure as intended. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risk that the Financing or the Convertible Facility does not proceed on the terms described or at all; failure to obtain subsequent CSE approvals; failure to satisfy other closing conditions; third-party, counterparty or lender consent requirements; failure to file or obtain the receipt for the Base Shelf Prospectus; failure to file the prospectus supplements; volatility in ETH prices and staking yields; evolving regulatory developments affecting digital assets and staking; operational risks related to validator performance, slashing and custody, and other factors described under the Company's public disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121877576/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Liu,

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (778) 200-4124

Email: info@republictech.io

https://republictech.io/
Solvay, a pioneering chemical company with a legacy rooted in founder Ernest Solvay's pivotal innovations in the soda ash process, is dedicated to delivering essential solutions globally through its workforce of circa 9,000 employees. Since 1863, Solvay has harnessed the power of chemistry to create innovative, sustainable solutions that answer the world's most essential needs such as purifying the air we breathe and the water we drink, preserving our food supplies, protecting our health and well-being, creating eco-friendly clothing, making the tires of our cars more sustainable and cleaning and protecting our homes. Solvay's unwavering commitment drives the transition to a carbon-neutral future by 2050, underscoring its dedication to sustainability and a fair and just transition. As a world-leading company with 4.7 billion in net sales in 2024, Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Parisor follow Solvay on Linkedin.

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.
HILDEN, Germany, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HSG Laser successfully hosted its "Smart Storage, Boundless Future" Open Day at its Hilden showroom, marking the full European debut of the GH-Store Pro premium intelligent laser automation system. The system, which won the "International Highlight" Award from MM MaschinenMarkt at Blechexpo 2025, integrates smart storage, flexible production, and collaborative workflows, showcasing HSG Laser's latest advancements in smart manufacturing.

GH-Store Pro: The Intelligent Engine for System-Level Efficiency

As the centerpiece of the event, GH-Store Pro combines HSG's GH high-power laser cutting machines with the Store Pro automated storage system. Through a unified control platform, it connects loading, cutting, unloading, sorting, and storage into a fully integrated intelligent production line.

The GH series delivers dynamic cutting performance with 200 m/min rapid speed, 4.0G acceleration, and 7Hz low-pass filtering, while the AlphaT Plus control system enables functions such as visual edge detection and intelligent slag removal. Store Pro provides fully automated synchronized loading/unloading and vertical storage, achieving cycle times as short as 80 seconds. Its compact tower design supports up to 10 storage levels, boosting space utilization by over 70% and ensuring high efficiency within a minimized footprint.

Through seamless coordination between the two systems, GH-Store Pro automates material calling, path planning, and finished-part storage-achieving a leap from single-machine optimization to full line-level efficiency. "We developed GH-Store Pro to ensure customers gain real value from system-wide coordination - smarter processes, faster response, and higher ROI," said Paolo Musante, Product Expert at HSG Laser. "With its modular and scalable design, GH-Store Pro evolves with customer needs and provides a long-term upgrade path for the factory of the future."

Strengthening Local Presence: HSG Laser's European Strategy

"Customers are not just buying equipment-they are investing in uptime, service responsiveness, and long-term support," said Shawn Wang, the Vice President of HSG Global Sales. "Through localized warehousing, local teams, and local demonstration centers, we are building a truly end-to-end service capability for European customers. This is more than a product launch; it is the fulfillment of our long-term commitment."

With the deployment of GH-Store Pro in Europe, local manufacturers will be able to build production systems that are more efficient, more resilient, and less dependent on manual labor. Looking ahead, HSG Laser will continue working closely with partners to shape an open and sustainable smart-manufacturing ecosystem, driving productivity improvements through continuous innovation.

Click to see the GH-Store Pro Integrated Automation System: https://youtu.be/lBYxey5zSRk?si=kfNX0Q1te888wVhn

About HSG Laser

Founded in 2006, HSG Laser is a global leader in intelligent metal processing equipment, specializing in flat cutting, tube processing, bending, welding and automation system solutions. With business coverage in over 100 countries and regional centers in Europe, North America, Japan, India and Asia-Pacific, HSG Laser continues to drive global manufacturing upgrades through innovation and intelligent technologies.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBYxey5zSRk

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hsg-laser-unveils-store-pro-at-germany-open-day-smart-storage-boundless-future-302623099.html
BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 21

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

21 November 2025

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling US Dollar Date of purchase: 21 November 2025 21 November 2025 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 292,952 7,068 Weighted average price (Sterling/US Dollars as applicable): 3.9515 4.0800

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and/or Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 319,921,131 Sterling Shares 58,136,475 Sterling Shares 23,903,261 US Dollar Shares 209,496 US Dollar Shares

From 21 November 2025, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 488,784,804.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
This press release may not be published, distributed or disseminated, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell

or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares of HYDROGEN-REFUELING-SOLUTIONS in any country.

The shares of HYDROGEN-REFUELING-SOLUTIONS may not be offered or sold in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, or Japan .

The amount of the offer may be increased to approximately 10.4 million if the extension clause is exercised in full

Subscription Commitment and Guarantee Commitments totalling 6.8 million, representing 75.2% of the planned capital increase:

Subscription commitment from Holding HR, the majority shareholder, in the amount of 4 million through debt offset;

Guarantee commitment from Holding HR in the amount of 0.35 million in cash;

Guarantee commitments from other investors totalling 2.45 million in cash.

Subscription price: 1.90 per share, representing a 25% discount on the closing price of the share on 19 November 2025

Subscription parity: 4 new shares for 13 existing shares

Detachment of preferential subscription rights on 25 November 2025

Trading period for preferential subscription rights from 25 November to 5 December 2025

Subscription period for new shares open from 27 November to 9 December 2025

Investment eligible for PEA and PEA PME-ETI savings plans, 150-0-B-Ter Reinvestment/Transfer and IR-PME tax reduction

Grenoble, 20 November 2025 at 9:00 p.m. - HRS , a French designer and manufacturer and European leader in hydrogen refueling stations (hereinafter the 'Company'), announces the launch of a capital increase with preferential subscription rights (the 'Capital Increase') in the amount of approximately 9 million, which may be increased to approximately 10.4 million if the extension clause is exercised in full. The Capital Increase is intended to finance its international growth and investment in new technologies in R&D. The transaction will enable HRS to strengthen its equity capital in line with the financial restructuring carried out in the previous financial year, thus providing a solid foundation for the start of a new phase.

Hassen RACHEDI, founder and Chief Executive Officer of HRS, states:

"After a 2024-2025 financial year in which we strengthened our fundamentals and consolidated our commercial portfolio with leading key account customers, this capital increase should enable us to reinforce our technological lead and support our expansion, in line with our long-term vision.

Since 2021, HRS's momentum has been clearly visible, driven by the constant commitment of all our teams. In particular, we have installed 31 high-capacity stations (representing one in three stations commissioned in Europe since 2021) and accelerated our international development, notably in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. We also have a production site with a unique testing area, which is a key asset in maintaining our technological lead. Finally, the rise in our recurring revenues from our maintenance activities is helping to strengthen the visibility and resilience of our business model.

Today, we are more determined than ever to support and amplify this momentum over the long term, by embarking on a new phase of development in line with the strategic trajectory defined for HRS. The funds raised will support our international development, particularly in fast-growing regions such as the Middle East (where we have just opened a branch in Dubai), which is characterised by the emergence of competitively priced hydrogen, creating favourable conditions for the deployment of infrastructure. They will also contribute to financing our R&D investments for the design of new integrated hydrogen energy backup solutions for data centres and the strengthening of predictive maintenance dedicated to our customers' stations.

As a stable and leading shareholder, with nearly 67% of the capital, I will personally participate in this operation, in line with the commitment I have made since the creation of HRS.

Our ambition is clear: to establish HRS as an innovative, reliable and sustainable European and global industrial player, serving the growth of hydrogen use on a global scale.

CONTEXT OF THE CAPITAL INCREASE, REASON FOR THE ISSUE AND USE OF PROCEEDS

HRS designs, manufactures and installs hydrogen refueling stations. These stations can supply various types of vehicles - passenger cars, commercial vehicles, buses and heavy goods vehicles - with hydrogen compressed to 350 or 700 bar. The Company also commissions and maintains its installations.

A pure player from design to commissioning of stations, HRS has just over 100 employees and state-of-the-art industrial production facilities capable of assembling up to 180 stations per year, with manufacturing lead times of 6 to 12 weeks. This industrial site includes a testing area, unique in Europe, where the range of stations can be tested and trialled and future products and solutions for the hydrogen mobility market can be developed.

The Company recently published its annual results for the financial year ending 30 June 2025, which showed annual revenue under IFRS standards of 11.3 million and current EBITDA of -8.6 million. The Company's commercial portfolio has been streamlined and amounted to 47.2 million as at 30 July 2025 with major groups and institutional players. HRS is targeting IFRS revenue of between 25 million and 35 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2026 and EBITDA at the mid-point of the range thanks to its rigorous economic discipline, illustrated by the implementation of a cost reduction plan aimed at reducing its personnel expenses and external costs by -20% to 30% by June 2026.

Given its available cash at 30 June 2025, the Company estimates that it has a liquidity horizon of more than 12 months.

The capital increase would enable the Company to strengthen its financial resources in a context where its inventory, although significant, is an advantage in responding quickly to future orders, and where the cost reduction plan is gradually improving the break-even point. The net proceeds of the capital increase (i.e. excluding the amount subscribed by way of set-off of receivables and excluding costs related to the capital increase), where applicable after exercise of the Extension Clause, will be used as follows:

50% for international development, given that the Company has very recently opened a branch in Dubai and obtained the support of BPI in the US and Canada;

50% for Research & Development activities in order to integrate new AI technologies on two fronts: firstly, to strengthen predictive maintenance capabilities on the installed base of HRS stations, and secondly, to develop integrated hydrogen refueling and energy backup solutions for data centres.

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CAPITAL INCREASE

Nature of the Capital Increase

The fundraising proposed by the Company consists of the issue and listing on the Euronext Growth market in Paris ('Euronext Growth Paris') of 4,760,200 new ordinary shares of the Company (the 'New Shares') to be subscribed, as part of a capital increase with shareholders' preferential subscription rights ('PSR') maintained, for a gross amount, including issue premium, of 9,044,380.00, which may, in the event of full exercise of the extension clause, be increased to a maximum gross amount, including issue premium, of 10,401,037.00 (the 'Extension Clause'), corresponding to a maximum number of 5,474,230 New Shares at a unit price of 1.90, at a ratio of 4 New Shares for 13 existing shares.

Each shareholder will receive 1 DPS per share of the Company registered in their securities account at the end of the accounting day of 24 November 2025, according to the indicative timetable set out below.

The issue of New Shares is not subject to a guarantee agreement or a performance guarantee within the meaning of Article L.225-145 of the French Commercial Code, but is covered up to 75.2% (excluding the Extension Clause) by the Subscription Commitment and the Guarantee Commitments described below.

Share and DPS codes

Name: HYDROGEN-REFUELING-SOLUTIONS

ISIN code: FR0014001PM5

DPS ISIN code: FR00140148U6

Listing venue: Euronext Growth Paris

Ticker symbol: ALHRS

Legal framework for the Capital Increase

The New Shares, for which registration is requested, will be issued as part of the capital increase with preferential subscription rights for shareholders decided on 20 November 2025 by the Company's Board of Directors, exercising the powers delegated to it by the seventh and eleventh resolutions of the the Company's Combined General Meeting of Shareholders dated 21 November 2024.

Subscription price of the New Shares

The subscription price of the New Shares has been set at 1.90 per share, comprising 0.10 of nominal value and 1.80 of issue premium. The issue price of 1.90 for the New Shares represents a discount of approximately 25% compared to the closing price of HYDROGEN-REFUELING-SOLUTIONS shares on 19 November 2025.

Subscription period

Subscription for the New Shares will be open from 27 November 2025 to 9 December 2025 inclusive on the Euronext Growth Paris market.

Rights attached to the New Shares

The New Shares will be assimilated to the Company's existing shares upon issue. The New Shares will be listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris as of their settlement-delivery date and will be tradable on the same listing line and under the same ISIN code. They will carry current dividend rights and will entitle their holders, as of their issue date, to all shareholder rights provided for by applicable laws and the Company's Articles of Association, including: (i) the right to dividends and the right to share in the Company's profits, (ii) the right to participate in general meetings of shareholders, (iii) voting rights (including double voting rights in the case of registered shares held for at least two years), (iv) preferential subscription rights for securities of the same class, and (v) the right to participate in any surplus in the event of the Company's liquidation. The New Shares will be fungible and of equal rank with the Company's existing ordinary shares.

Gross proceeds from the Capital Increase

The gross proceeds from the Capital Increase will amount to 9 million (which may be increased to a maximum of 10.4 million if the Extension Clause is exercised in full), assuming 100% subscription.

Net proceeds from the Capital Increase

The net proceeds of the Capital Increase (i.e. excluding the amount subscribed through debt offset and excluding costs related to the Capital Increase) in the event of 100% completion are estimated at 4.4 million (which may be increased to a maximum of 5.7 million in the event of full exercise of the Extension Clause).

Preferential subscription rights

Irreducible subscription

Subscription for New Shares will be reserved, on a preferential basis, for:

- holders of existing shares registered in their securities accounts at the close of business on 24 November 2025, who will be allocated PSRs at a rate of 1 PSR per share held in the Company;

- to transferees of PSRs.

PSR holders will be entitled to subscribe on an irreducible basis, at a rate of 4 New Shares for every 13 existing shares held. 13 PSRs will entitle the holder to subscribe for 4 New Shares at a unit price of 1.90. Irrevocable subscriptions will be allocated in full to enable each shareholder to maintain their shareholding.

To exercise their PSRs, holders must submit a request to their authorised financial intermediary at any time during the subscription period, i.e. between 27 November 2025 and 9 December 2025 inclusive, and pay the corresponding subscription price.

Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price in cash. Subscriptions that have not been paid in full will be automatically cancelled without the need for formal notice.

Shareholders or transferees of their DPS who do not hold, by virtue of the irreducible subscription, a sufficient number of existing shares or DPS to obtain a whole number of New Shares may purchase or sell the number of DPS required to reach the multiple leading to a whole number of New Shares.

Any subscription rights not exercised at the end of the subscription period shall automatically lapse and shall have no value.

Reduced subscription

Shareholders or transferees of their subscription rights shall also benefit from a reduced subscription right. Any New Shares not taken up by non-reducible subscriptions will be distributed and allocated to reducible subscribers. Reducible subscription orders will be served in proportion to the number of DPS used to support their non-reducible subscription and within the limits of their requests, without resulting in the allocation of fractions of New Shares. Depending on total demand, the number of New Shares requested on a pro rata basis may not be allocated in full and may be subject to reduction.

A notice published by Euronext will announce, where applicable, the allocation scale for subscriptions on a pro rata basis.

Free subscription requests

In addition to the possibility of subscribing on a non-reducible and reducible basis in accordance with the specified terms and conditions, any person, whether or not they hold PWS, may subscribe to the New Shares on a free basis.

Persons wishing to subscribe on a free basis must submit their application to their authorised financial intermediary at any time during the subscription period and pay the corresponding subscription price.

In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, subscriptions on a free basis will only be taken into account if the subscriptions on an irreducible and reducible basis have not absorbed the entire Capital Increase, it being specified that the Company's Board of Directors will have the option of freely allocating the unsubscribed New Shares, in whole or in part, to persons (shareholders or third parties) of its choice who have submitted applications for discretionary subscriptions.

Listing of preferential subscription rights

To exercise their preferential subscription rights, holders must submit a request to their authorised financial intermediary at any time between 27 November 2025 and 9 December 2025 inclusive and pay the corresponding subscription price. Unexercised preferential subscription rights will automatically expire at the end of the subscription period, i.e. at the close of trading on 9 December 2025.

The preferential subscription rights will be tradable under ISIN code FR00140148U6 from 25 November 2025 to 5 December 2025.

Theoretical value of the preferential subscription right

Based on the last quoted price of HYDROGEN-REFUELING-SOLUTIONS shares on 19 November 2025, i.e. 2.535:

 the issue price of the New Shares of 1.90 represents a discount of approximately 25%,

the theoretical value of the preferential subscription right is 0.15,

the theoretical value of the ex-rights share is 2.39,

the issue price of the New Shares represents a discount of 20.4% compared to the theoretical value of the ex-rights share.

These values do not prejudge the value of the preferential subscription right during the subscription period, the value of the ex-rights share, or the discounts as they will be observed on the market.

Preferential subscription rights detached from shares held by the Company

Pursuant to Article L. 225-206 of the French Commercial Code, the Company may not subscribe to its own shares. The Company will sell, before the end of the preferential subscription rights trading period, i.e. before 5 December 2025, the preferential subscription rights detached from the shares held by the Company, i.e. 70,998 shares representing 0.46% of the Company's share capital, under the conditions set out in Article L.225-210 of the French Commercial Code.

Subscription and guarantee commitments

Holding HR, the majority shareholder, has made an irrevocable commitment to the Company to subscribe irrevocably for 6,842,108 preferential subscription rights for an amount of 4 million by offsetting receivables (hereinafter, the 'Subscription Commitment').

Holding HR has also irrevocably committed to the Company to subscribe, on a voluntary basis, for a maximum amount of 350,000 under an unremunerated guarantee commitment (hereinafter, the 'Unremunerated Guarantee Commitment'). At the same time, the Company has received remunerated guarantee commitments, on a voluntary basis, for a total amount of up to 2.45 million, in return for a commission equal to a total amount of 245,000 (hereinafter the 'Remunerated Guarantee Commitments', together with the Non-Remunerated Guarantee Commitment, the 'Guarantee Commitments').

The Guarantee Commitments will be triggered if the New Shares have not been subscribed for in full at the end of the irreducible and reducible subscription period, i.e. before the Extension Clause is exercised. Any New Shares not taken up by irrevocable and reducible subscriptions will be allocated pro rata to the Guarantee Commitments.

In total, the Subscription Commitment and the Guarantee Commitments represent 75.2% of the Capital Increase, excluding the Extension Clause.

Limitation of the Capital Increase

In the event that the subscriptions received on an irreducible, reducible and free basis do not absorb the entire Capital Increase, the Board of Directors may limit the amount of the Capital Increase to the amount of subscriptions received, in accordance with Article L. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, it being specified that the total amount of the Subscription Commitment and the Guarantee Commitments received by the Company represent 75.2% of the maximum gross amount of the Capital Increase.

Abstention and retention commitments

Holding HR, the majority shareholder, has undertaken to retain its shares until the expiry of a period of 180 days from the date of settlement-delivery of the New Shares, subject to certain customary exceptions.

Furthermore, from the date of signature of the management contract and for a period of 180 calendar days following the settlement-delivery date of the New Shares, the Company has undertaken not to issue new shares, subject to certain customary exceptions.

Indicative calendar for the Capital Increase

20 November 2025 Decision by the Company's Board of Directors to launch the Capital Increase and set its terms and conditions

Signing of the management agreement.

Release of a press release by the Company describing the main terms and conditions of the Capital Increase.

Release of the Information Document and publication on the Company's and AMF websites as soon as possible. 24 November 2025 Accounting date on which holders of existing shares registered in their securities accounts will be allocated preferential subscription rights (Trade date)

Publication of the notice to shareholders in the BALO 25 November 2025 Detachment of preferential subscription rights and opening of the trading period for preferential subscription rights on Euronext Growth Paris. 27 November 2025 Opening of the subscription period for New Shares. 5 December 2025 Closing of the trading period for preferential subscription rights. 9 December 2025 Closing of the subscription period for New Shares.

Last day of settlement and delivery of preferential subscription rights. 12 December 2025 Date of possible exercise of the Extension Clause by the Company

Release of a press release by the Company announcing the results of the Capital Increase subscriptions.

Release by Euronext Paris of the notice of admission of the New Shares, indicating the final amount of the Capital Increase and the allocation scale for reducible subscriptions 16 December 2025 Issue of New Shares - Settlement and delivery of the Capital Increase.

Listing of New Shares on Euronext Growth Paris.

Subscription terms

If you are a shareholder of the Company

You have pre-emptive subscription rights attached to your HRS shares, which allow you to subscribe on a priority basis, on a non-reducible basis, to the New Shares at a ratio of 4 New Shares for 13 pre-emptive subscription rights (1 existing share entitles you to 1 pre-emptive subscription right).

If you wish to subscribe on an irreducible basis to a number of New Shares greater than the number of PSRs detached from your shares, you may purchase the desired number of PSRs during their trading period from 25 November 2025 to 5 December 2025 inclusive, on Euronext Growth Paris.

In addition to the irrevocable subscriptions made using the DPS you have, you may also subscribe on a reducible basis until 9 December 2025 inclusive for the number of New Shares you wish, by sending your request, together with your irrevocable subscription request, to your authorised financial intermediary (however, your subscription will only be taken into account if the Capital Increase has not already been fully subscribed on an irreducible basis by the holders of pre-emptive subscription rights and will be served within the limit of your request and in proportion to the number of old shares whose rights have been used in support of your irreducible subscription, without this resulting in the allocation of fractions of New Shares).

In addition, you may subscribe to the New Shares on a non-irreducible basis until 9 December 2025 inclusive by sending your request to your authorised financial intermediary (however, your subscription will only be taken into account if the Capital Increase has not already been fully subscribed on an irreducible and reducible basis by the holders of DPS and will be served within the limits of your request).

Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price.

If you are not yet a shareholder of the Company

You may subscribe to the New Shares by purchasing PSRs on the stock exchange during their trading period from 25 November 2025 to 5 December 2025 inclusive, through the financial institution in charge of your securities account.

In addition to the irreducible subscriptions made using the DPS you have acquired, you may also subscribe on a reducible basis until 9 December 2025 inclusive for the number of New Shares you wish, by sending your application, together with your application for an irreducible subscription, to your authorised financial intermediary (however, your subscription will only be taken into account if the Capital Increase has not already been fully subscribed on an irreducible basis by the holders of preferential subscription rights and will be served within the limits of your request and in proportion to the number of old shares whose rights have been used to support your irreducible subscription, without this resulting in the allocation of fractions of New Shares).

In addition, you may subscribe to the New Shares on a non-irreducible basis until 9 December 2025 inclusive by sending your request to your authorised financial intermediary (however, your subscription will only be taken into account if the Capital Increase has not already been fully subscribed on an irreducible and reducible basis by the holders of preferential subscription rights and will be served within the limits of your request).

Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price.

Domestic institutions - Payment of subscriptions

Registered or bearer shareholders: subscriptions will be accepted until 9 December 2025 by account-holding financial intermediaries.

Pure registered shareholders: subscriptions will be accepted by CIC Market Solutions until 9 December 2025 inclusive.

Centralising institution responsible for issuing the certificate of deposit of funds confirming the completion of the capital increase: CIC Market Solutions (6 avenue de Provence, 75009 Paris)

Investment restrictions

The sale of New Shares and DPS is open to shareholders of the Company located in France and outside France, provided that the local laws to which they are subject allow them to participate in the Offer without the Company having to complete any additional formalities.

The sale of New Shares and DPS may, in certain countries, constitute a violation of the legal provisions in force.

In particular, the New Shares and PSRs have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'U.S. Securities Act'). The New Shares and PDS may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America without registration, as defined by Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act or in a transaction not subject to the U.S. Securities Act. The Company does not intend to register the offering referred to in this press release, or any part of such offering, in the United States of America, or to make any public offering in the United States of America.

This press release may not be published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America. In particular, the information available below may not be published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America (the 'United States', including its territories and possessions, each of the states of the United States and the District of Columbia).

Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for or purchase the securities referred to in this press release is only available to persons located outside the United States of America (the 'Eligible Persons'). Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for or purchase the financial securities referred to in this press release is only available to Eligible Persons and may only be made to Eligible Persons. This press release is intended solely for Eligible Persons and may not be used by any person other than an Eligible Person.

No subscriber of New Shares or any person exercising DPS may participate in the subscription offer unless they can certify that:

i. they are not a 'U.S. Person' (as defined by Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended);

ii. they have not received a copy of this press release or any other document relating to the offer in the United States, and that they have not transmitted them from the United States;

iii. they have not used, directly or indirectly, the postal services, telecommunications or any other commercial instrument or the services of a stock exchange in the United States in connection with the offer;

iv. they were not in the United States at the time they accepted the terms of the offer or transmitted their subscription order; and

v. they are not acting as an agent, trustee or representative of a principal who has given instructions from the United States.

Authorised intermediaries may only accept subscription orders for the New Shares if they have been issued in accordance with the above restrictions, unless otherwise authorised or instructed by the Company, at its sole discretion. Any exercise of PSRs or subscription orders that may result from a breach of these restrictions will be considered null and void.

Settlement and delivery of the New Shares

According to the indicative timetable, the settlement and delivery date for the New Shares is scheduled for 16 December 2025.

Trading in the shares will therefore only commence once the settlement and delivery operations have been completed and the depositary certificate has been issued.

Gilbert Dupont (Societe Generale Group), Portzamparc (BNP Paribas Group) and TP ICAP Europe SA will act as Global Coordinators under a management agreement dated 20 November 2025.

Dilution and distribution of capital after the issue

Shareholding structure

As of the date of this press release, to the Company's knowledge, the distribution of the Company's shareholding structure is as follows:

Undiluted base Diluted base Actionnaire Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights HOLDING HR(1) 10,289,806 66.51% 20,407,489 79,77% 10,289,806 66.36% 20,407,489 79.66% Hassen Rachedi 1 0.00% 2 0,00% 1 0.00% 2 0.00% Founder 10,289,807 66.51% 20,407,491 79,77% 10,289,807 66.36% 20,407,491 79.66% Beneficiaries of bonus shares 117,600(2) 0.76% 117,600 0,46% 152,700(3) 0.98% 152,700 0.60% Treasury shares 70,998 0.46% 0 0,00% 70,998 0.46% 0 0.00% Floating 4,992,246 32,27% 5,058,444 19,77% 4,992,246 32.20% 5,058,444 19.75% Total 15,470,651 100,00% 25,583,535 100,00% 15,505,751 100.00% 25,618,635 100.00%

(1) Company 97.5% owned by Mr Hassen Rachedi.

(2) Bonus shares definitively acquired and subject to a lock-up period at the date of this press release.

(3) Including (i) bonus shares definitively acquired and for which the retention period is ongoing at the date of this press release and (ii) the 35,100 bonus shares allocated by the Company and for which the acquisition period is ongoing at the date of this press release.

After the issue of the New Shares, to the Company's knowledge based on the distribution of its shareholding as at the date of this press release, the Subscription Commitment and assuming that the Capital Increase would be subscribed in full (excluding the exercise of the Extension Clause) and that the Guarantee Commitments would not be called upon, the Company's shareholding structure will be as follows:

Undiluted base Diluted base Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights HOLDING HR(1) 12,395,070 61.27% 22,512,753 74,19% 12,395,070 61.16% 22,512,753 74.11% Hassen Rachedi 1 0.00% 2 0,00% 1 0,00% 2 0.00% Founder 12,395,071 61.27% 22,512,755 74,19% 12,395,071 61.16% 22,512,755 74.11% Beneficiaries of bonus shares 117,600(2) 0.58% 117,600 0,39% 152,700(3) 0.75% 152,700 0.50% Treasury shares 70,998 0.35% 0 0,00% 70,998 0.35% 0 0.00% Floating 7,647,182 37.80% 7,713,380 25,42% 7,647,182 37.73% 7 713 380 25.39% Total 20,230,851 100.00% 30,343,735 100,00% 20,265,951 100.00% 30,378,835 100.00%

(1) Company 97.5% owned by Mr Hassen Rachedi.

(2) Bonus shares definitively acquired and subject to a lock-up period at the date of this press release.

(3) Including (i) bonus shares definitively acquired and for which the retention period is ongoing at the date of this press release and (ii) the 35,100 bonus shares allocated by the Company and for which the acquisition period is ongoing at the date of this press release.

Following the issue of the New Shares, to the Company's knowledge based on the distribution of its shareholding as at the date of this press release, the Subscription Commitment and assuming that the Capital Increase would be 100% subscribed, that the Extension Clause would be exercised in full and that the Guarantee Commitments would not be called upon, the Company's shareholding structure will be as follows:

Undiluted base Diluted base Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights HOLDING HR(1) 12,395,070 59.18% 22,512,753 72.49% 12,395,070 59.08% 22,512,753 72.40% Hassen Rachedi 1 0.00% 2 0.00% 1 0.00% 2 0.00% Founder 12,395,071 59.18% 22,512,755 72.49% 12,395,071 59.08% 22,512,755 72.40% Beneficiaries of bonus shares 117,600(2) 0.56% 117,600 0.38% 152,700(3) 0.73% 152,700 0.49% Treasury shares 70,998 0.34% 0 0.00% 70,998 0.34% 0 0.00% Floating 8,361,212 39.92% 8,427,410 27.13% 8,361,212 39.85% 8,427,410 27.10% Total 20,944,881 100.00% 30,991,567 100.00% 20,979,981 100.00% 31,092,865 100.00%

(1) Company 97.5% owned by Mr Hassen Rachedi.

(2) Bonus shares definitively acquired and subject to a lock-up period at the date of this press release.

(3) Including (i) bonus shares definitively acquired and for which the retention period is ongoing at the date of this press release and (ii) the 35,100 bonus shares allocated by the Company and for which the acquisition period is ongoing at the date of this press release.

After the issue of the New Shares, to the Company's knowledge based on the distribution of its shareholding as at the date of this press release, the Subscription Commitment and the Guarantee Commitments, and assuming that the Capital Increase is subscribed at a rate of 75%, the Company's shareholding will be as follows:

Undiluted base Diluted base Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights Number of shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights HOLDING HR(1) 12,579,280 66.06% 22,696,963 77.85% 12,579,280 65.94% 22,696,963 77.76% Hassen Rachedi 1 0.00% 2 0.00% 1 0.00% 2 0,00% Fondateur 12,579,281 66.06% 22,696,965 77.85% 12,579,281 65.94% 22,696,965 77.76% Beneficiaries of bonus shares 117,600(2) 0.62% 117,600 0.40% 152,700(3) 0.80% 152,700 0.52% Treasury shares 70,998 0.37% 0 0.00% 70,998 0.37% 0 0.00% Floating 6,272,922 32.94% 6,339,120 21.74% 6,272,922 32.88% 6,339,120 21.72% Total 19,040,801 100.00% 29,153,685 100.00% 19,075,901 100.00% 29,188,785 100.00%

(1) Company 97.5% owned by Mr Hassen Rachedi.

(2) Bonus shares definitively acquired and subject to a lock-up period at the date of this press release.

(3) Including (i) bonus shares definitively acquired and for which the retention period is ongoing at the date of this press release and (ii) the 35,100 bonus shares allocated by the Company and for which the acquisition period is ongoing at the date of this press release.

Impact of the issue on the share of equity

For information purposes, the impact of the issue on the share of equity per share (calculations based on the Company's equity as at 30 June 2025, as reported in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as at 30 June 2025, and the number of shares comprising the Company's share capital on that date) would be as follows:

Share of equity per share

(in euros) Undiluted base Diluted base(1) Before the Capital Increase 2.56 2.55 After completion of the Capital Increase at 75% 2.44 2.43 After completion of the Capital Increase at 100% 2.40 2.40 After the Capital Increase and full exercise of the Extension Clause 2.39 2.38

(1) After the possible issuance of 35,100 shares allocated free of charge by the Company, for which the vesting period is currently underway.

Impact of the issue on the shareholder's position

For information purposes, the impact of the issue on the shareholding of a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital prior to the issue and not subscribing to it (calculations based on the number of shares comprising the Company's share capital on the date of this press release) is as follows:

Shareholder participation (in %) Undiluted base Diluted base(1) Before the Capital Increase 1.00% 1.00% After completion of the Capital Increase at 75% 0.81% 0.81% After completion of the Capital Increase at 100% 0.76% 0.76% After the Capital Increase and full exercise of the Extension Clause 0.74% 0.74%

(1) After the possible issuance of 35,100 shares allocated free of charge by the Company, for which the vesting period is currently underway.

Risk factors

Risk factors relating to the Company

Before purchasing shares in the Company, investors are invited to review all of the information contained in the Company's annual report for the financial year ended 30 June 2025 (the 'Annual Report'), and in particular the information relating to the main risk factors relating to the Issuer in section 2.1.5 of the Annual Report.

The main risk factors specific to the Company are identified in a summary table and grouped into five categories, with the risk factors within each category presented in descending order of criticality as assessed by the Company. The occurrence of new events, either internal to the Company or external, is therefore likely to change this order of importance in the future.

The Company also notes that other risks or uncertainties, unknown at the date of this press release or which the Company does not consider to be significant at this date, may exist or could become significant factors that could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, their business, financial condition, operating results, development or prospects.

Risk factors related to the Capital Increase

The main risk factors related to the Capital Increase are set out below:

The market for preferential subscription rights may offer only limited liquidity and be subject to high volatility;

Shareholders who do not exercise their preferential subscription rights would see their stake in the Company's share capital diluted;

The market price of the Company's shares could fluctuate and fall below the subscription price of the shares issued upon exercise of the preferential subscription rights;

The volatility and liquidity of the Company's shares could fluctuate significantly;

Sales of the Company's shares or preferential subscription rights could have an adverse impact on the market price of the shares or preferential subscription rights.

Prospectus

An information document (the 'Information Document') has been prepared by the Company for the purposes of the Offer in accordance with Annex IX to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading admission of securities to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/2809 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1129, (EU) No 596/2014 and (EU) No 600/2014 in order to make Union capital markets more attractive to companies and to facilitate access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (the 'Prospectus Regulation').

The Information Document may be consulted, subject to certain restrictions, on the Company's website: https://www.hydrogen-refueling-solutions.fr/fr/investisseurs/. The Information Document was filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (the 'AMF') on 20 November 2025.

The Information Document does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation and has not been submitted for review and approval by the AMF, as the competent authority pursuant to Article 20 of the Prospectus Regulation.

Regulated information

Regulated information relating to the Company is available on its website: https://www.hydrogen-refueling-solutions.fr/fr/investisseurs/documents-financiers/.

The Company has prepared a prospectus in connection with its initial public offering in 2021, which is available on the AMF website (https://www.amf-france.org/) and on the Company's website: https://www.hydrogen-refueling-solutions.fr/fr/investisseurs/documents-financiers/.

INTERMEDIARIES

In connection with the Transaction, Gilbert Dupont (Societe Generale Group), Portzamparc (BNP Paribas Group) and TP ICAP Europe SA will act as Global Coordinators. Fieldfisher is acting as legal advisor. ACTUS finance & communication is acting as financial communications advisor.

ABOUT HRS (HYDROGEN REFUELING SOLUTIONS)

HRS is one of the world leaders in large-capacity hydrogen refueling stations. HRS offers a comprehensive and unique range of modular and scalable stations, ranging from 300 kg/day to 4 tons/day.

Pure player from design to commissioning of stations, HRS has a state-of-the-art industrial production facility capable of assembling up to 180 stations per year, with manufacturing lead times of 6 to 12 weeks. This industrial site includes a testing area, unique in Europe, for testing and trialing the range of stations and developing future products and solutions for the hydrogen mobility market.

HRS solutions can be used with any type of hydrogen production source, whether local production, pipeline, or tube trailer.

HRS also offers a comprehensive range of services including maintenance, 24/7/365 on-call support, and real-time monitoring through its control room, which is unique in Europe.

Today, HRS has one of the largest installed bases of high-capacity stations on the market, with thirty stations ranging from 300 kg to 1 ton per day, representing a combined capacity of more than 6 tons per day. All station terminals are dual-pressure and equipped with 350 bar, 350-HF, and 700 bar nozzles, thus meeting all hydrogen mobility needs.

HRS stands out for its rigorous economic discipline, offering long-term financial stability while continuing to allocate adequate resources to R&D, thus ensuring its position at the forefront of innovation.

ISIN code: FR0014001PM5 - ticker symbol: ALHRS.

For more information, visit our website at www.hydrogen-refueling-solutions.fr.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Pierre JACQUEMIN-GUILLAUME

hrs@actus.fr

Tel. +331 53 67 36 79 Financial press relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Deborah SCHWARTZ

hrs-presse@actus.fr

Tel. +331 53 67 36 35 Corporate press relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Anne-Charlotte DUDICOURT

hrs-presse@actus.fr

Tel.: +331 53 67 36 32

Warning

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, and there will be no sale of shares in any state or jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful without registration or approval under the securities laws of that state or jurisdiction.

The distribution of this press release may be subject to specific regulations in certain countries. Persons in possession of this document are required to inform themselves of and comply with any such local restrictions.

This press release constitutes promotional communication and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017. Potential investors are invited to read the information document prepared by the Company in accordance with Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017, before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks and benefits associated with the decision to invest in the securities concerned.

With regard to the Member States of the European Economic Area (other than France) and the United Kingdom (the "Relevant States"), no action has been taken and will be taken to permit a public offering of securities requiring the publication of a prospectus in any of the Relevant States. Consequently, the securities concerned may not be offered and will not be offered in any of the Relevant States, except in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation or in other cases where the Company is not required to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or the regulations applicable in those Relevant States.

This press release has not been issued by and has not been approved by an authorized person within the meaning of Section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this press release is addressed and intended only for persons located in the United Kingdom who (i) are investment professionals meeting the provisions of Section 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order"), (ii) who are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order, or (iii) any other person to whom this press release may be addressed in accordance with the law (the persons referred to in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) being collectively referred to as the "Eligible Persons"). Any investment or investment activity in connection with this press release is reserved for Eligible Persons and may only be carried out by such persons. Any person other than an Eligible Person should refrain from using or relying on this press release and the information contained therein.

This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities referred to in this press release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any securities regulations applicable in any state or other jurisdiction in the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States or to make a public offering in the United States.

This press release may not be distributed directly or indirectly in the United States, Australia, Canada, or Japan.

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LONDON, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th Global Business Excellence Gala, convened by AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy and Islamic Chamber for Halal Services , affiliated with Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, marked a landmark gathering of global business leaders, visionary thinkers, policymakers, and innovators - bringing together some of the most influential changemakers shaping the future of industries worldwide. A convergence point where executives meet to connect, invest, and lead new global opportunities, the Gala served as a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration, and impact, reinforcing London's position as a global hub for international business leadership.

During his speech, H.E. Mr. Yousef Khalawi, Secretary General of AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy and Director of the Islamic Chamber of Halal Services, emphasised that this event represents the first official gala hosted by the organisation. He highlighted the Forum's commitment to transforming this initiative into a truly global gala dinner that brings together leading business figures from around the world - not only in London. He added that a dedicated identity for the Gala has been developed to reflect its ambition and future direction.

H.E. Mr. Khalawi also addressed the vision behind the multiple events, including the gala dinner and the international halal receptions. He explained that this approach is rooted in the Islamic concept of diversity and the Qur'anic principle of lita?arafu - "getting to know one another." He stressed that this concept is not merely a tool for building business relationships but a human value and an end in itself, fostering deeper connections and mutual understanding across cultures and communities.

He expressed his pride in hosting three major state-owned institutions that play a vital role in advancing the global halal industry and Islamic economy: the Halal Products Development Company (a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund), the Libyan Foreign Bank, and Turkiye's Halkbank through its Islamic finance subsidiary. He noted that the presence of such institutions reflects a significant shift in global perceptions of the halal sector and strengthens the Forum's ability to host international events that attract distinguished leaders and experts.

In his address, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Ali Addarrat, Chairman of the Libyan Foreign Bank, expressed his appreciation for being part of a gathering that stands apart from traditional conferences and economic summits. He affirmed that this summit holds a special place in the bank's strategic vision, connecting professional engagement with a greater purpose. He extended his gratitude to AlBaraka Forum, acknowledging the legacy established over four decades ago by the Late Sheikh Saleh Kamel - a legacy that continues to guide institutions shaping the Islamic economy today. He further emphasised that the essence of Islamic economics lies in collective success, sustainability, and ethical governance, noting that these concepts should be reflected not only in ESG frameworks but also in global credit rating methodologies.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Ali Addarrat called for greater engagement with policymakers to address legislative gaps that prevent millions of Muslims worldwide from accessing halal and Islamic financial services. He concluded by reaffirming that this gathering - and events such as the Halal Forum - serve as a source of renewed energy and commitment, reminding all participants that advancing Islamic economics is not a project with a beginning and an end, but a lifelong mission rooted in purpose, responsibility, and shared progress.

During his remarks, H.E. Dr. Bilal Sucubasi, Founder and General Manager of Halk Katilim Bankasi, extended his sincere congratulations to the AlBaraka Forum and all distinguished participants who have long championed the advancement of Islamic finance. He expressed his honour in supporting and being part of this significant summit, noting its vital role in bringing global stakeholders together to strengthen the Islamic economic ecosystem.

H.E. Dr. Bilal Sucubasi highlighted that Halk Katilim is still at the early stages of its journey, yet firmly committed to offering a solid, trustworthy, and ethically grounded alternative within the financial sector. He explained that the bank's model integrates Turkiye's longstanding experience in conventional banking with innovative digital solutions, enabling Halk Katilim to make a meaningful contribution to the country's participation finance landscape while promoting principles that prioritise the real economy.

During the Gala, H.E. Mr. Yousef Khalawi, honoured the Gala's key sponsors - Halk Katilim Bankasi, Libyan Foreign Bank - for their support in making the event possible. He presented them with tokens of appreciation, thanking them for their partnership and their continued contribution to advancing the global Islamic economy.

In a warm gesture, H.E. Dr. Bilal Sucubasi, presented a special token of appreciation to H.E. Mr. Yousef Khalawi for his leadership and efforts in organising the event. The recognition highlighted the bank's appreciation for his vision and the role he plays in uniting leading institutions across the Islamic finance landscape.

Adding to the prominence of the evening, the Gala was honoured by the attendance of H.E. Mr. Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation in Istanbul; H.E. Ambassador O. Koray Ertas, Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom; H.E. Taha Ayhan, President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF); H.E. Dr. Umar Oseni, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre; and Sir Iqbal Abdul Karim Mussa Sacranie OBE, Chairman of Muslim Trade Forum, UK. Their presence, alongside a distinguished group of policymakers, senior executives, investors, visionary entrepreneurs, and representatives of chambers of commerce from across the world, reflected the growing international engagement with the Islamic economic landscape.

The event was proudly sponsored by Halk Katilim as the Official Gala Sponsor, the Libyan Foreign Bank as the Platinum Sponsor, and the Halal Products Development Company as the Exclusive Strategic Partner - all of whom played a vital role in elevating the success and global relevance of this year's gathering.

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Bonita Springs, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery" or the "Company") and its affiliated subsidiaries, one of the most trusted and the largest privately held senior housing operators in the U.S., is pleased to announce Brennan Hughes as Senior Vice President of Sales, effective immediately.

With more than 20 years of sales leadership, Brennan brings deep experience in scaling national sales organizations and driving performance and revenue optimization through data, process, and people. She also brings a unique blend of operational and team building expertise that drives performance accountability. During her 18-year tenure in senior living, Brennan has held leadership roles with Brookdale Senior Living, Emeritus Senior Living, Horizon Bay Retirement Living, and Caring.com, where she served as VP of Customer Success. She later returned to Brookdale Senior Living as Divisional Sales Director, overseeing more than 100 communities, and also served as Regional Operations Director.

Since joining Discovery in 2021, Brennan has been instrumental in scaling the Company's national sales infrastructure first as AVP, then as VP of Sales overseeing the Eastern Support Center and Central Sales Support team and Strategy. She helped lead the expansion of Discovery's innovative Sales Conversion Hub, drove adoption of new sales analytics, optimized revenue, CRM workflows, and helped evolve the Company's internal training, onboarding, and compensation models.

"With an extensive industry track record and innovative vision for the future, we are thrilled to have a strategic leader of Brennan's caliber head up our Sales teams as they execute during the next phase of Discovery's growth," said Richard Hutchinson, CEO of Discovery Senior Living. "This appointment from within also reflects our ongoing commitment to developing strong talent across all areas of the business. Sales is a critical function in delivering performance for our ownership groups and value for our residents, and we're proud to have a leader who knows our platform inside and out."

As SVP, Brennan will oversee Discovery's national sales organization, including the Central Sales Support Group composed of national leaders, sales program specialists, and the Sales Conversion Hub team, all focused on performance and revenue optimization through pricing strategies to drive ongoing revenue growth.

"Discovery is at the forefront of the senior housing industry experiencing increased demand for sophisticated operators and I'm proud to be leading a fantastic team to support that demand," said Brennan Hughes, SVP, Discovery Senior Living. I look forward to evolving our sales teams with even deeper specialization and technology to drive revenue optimization while supporting the Company's continued multi-brand Management Company expansion and market-specific product offerings. This includes new sales playbooks by asset type, localized pricing and digital strategies, and tailored training pathways to reduce turnover and improve outcomes aligned to Discovery's growth."

Discovery Sales Platform Metrically Driven, People First

Discovery's sales platform is recognized as one of the most strategic and metrically driven in the industry designed to optimize both occupancy and revenue. Its systems use a blended lead-generation strategy combining digital, organic, and sales-generated sources, paired with analytics that identify performance gaps and accelerate conversions. The Company's Sales Forensics tools, and CRM enhancements, provide real-time visibility into conversion trends, while its Learning & Development initiatives ensure continuous improvement, onboarding and retention across all sales roles.

Discovery's Sales Conversion Hub has quickly become a core differentiator. Its Discovery's internal engine is designed to triage digital and inbound leads with smarter routing, faster response times, and customized cadence based on lead type. This model gives back critical time to on-site sales teams, allowing them to focus on high-intent prospects and local relationship building.

"Our teams are trained to position communities for sustainable success," Hughes added. "Every initiative, from the Sales Conversion Hub to our compensation model, is built to align sales outcomes with NOI performance and long-term value for our capital providers and ownership groups."

Additionally, Discovery's model, which is underpinned by having teams with hyper-local expertise at the regional, community, and individual level, ensures sales teams take a customized, hands-on, compassionate approach to serve the specific needs of every prospective resident and family. The Company's internal Learning & Development team plays an important part in rolling out sales training and growth plans to improve retention and reward personal and professional development with financial incentives and upward movement.

"This is a people business, and we never forget that," said Hughes. "Our platform is designed to free up our teams to do what they do best; build trust, offer solutions, and welcome families into our communities."

Brennan Hughes, Senior Vice President of Sales, Discovery Senior Living

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About Discovery Senior Living

Discovery Senior Living is the largest privately held operator in U.S. with a growing portfolio approaching 47,000 units across ~420 communities in 40 states. The Company, and its 22,000-plus team members, is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and customized lifestyle experiences. Discovery's family of companies includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, Summerhouse Senior Living, Seaton Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery At Home. Led by its award-winning management team, Discovery has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States for three decades. For the fourth consecutive year, Discovery Senior Living was again certified a Great Place To Work May 2025 - May 2026.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275506

SOURCE: Discovery Senior Living
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Carcetti Capital Corp. ("Carcetti" or the "Company") (TSXV:CART) is pleased to announce that it has received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") for its previously announced acquisition of the 100% interest in the Hemlo Gold Mine (the "Hemlo Mine") in Ontario, Canada from certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Barrick Mining Corporation (the "Transaction"). The Transaction has been deemed to constitute a reverse takeover pursuant to TSXV Policy 5.2 - Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers.

In connection with the Transaction, the Company has filed its filing statement dated November 21, 2025 (the "Filing Statement") under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are encouraged to review the Filing Statement for full details of the Transaction.

Subject to the satisfaction of the remaining customary closing conditions, the Transaction is scheduled to close on or about November 26, 2025. In connection with the Transaction, the Company intends to change its name to "Hemlo Mining Corp." and continue to be listed on the TSXV as a Tier 1 mining issuer under the new trading symbol "HMMC". For more information regarding the Transaction, please see the Company's news releases dated September 10, 2025, October 1, 2025, October 7, 2025, October 27, 2025, October 30, 2025, and November 6, 2025.

Contact

For further information contact:

Jason Kosec

Email: info@hemlomining.com

Tel: 250-552-7424

Jonathan Awde

jawde@hemlomining.com

Tell: 604-761-5251

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory 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 contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information contained in this press release includes: the closing of the Transaction and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including final TSXV approval. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward- looking information. These risks include, but are not limited to: the ability to close the Transaction; to obtain TSXV approval; the failure to satisfy closing conditions; uncertainty and variations in the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves; risks related to the Company's anticipated indebtedness; risks related to exploration, development, and operation activities; political risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; environmental and other regulatory requirements; uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; water rights; risks related to natural disasters, terrorist acts, health crises, and other disruptions and dislocations; financing risks and access to additional capital; risks related to guidance estimates and uncertainties inherent in the preparation of pre-feasibility studies; uncertainty in estimates of production, capital, and operating costs and potential production and cost overruns; the fluctuating price of gold; unknown liabilities in connection with the Transaction; global financial conditions; uninsured risks; climate change risks; competition from other companies and individuals; conflicts of interest; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; litigation risks; the Company's ability to complete, and successfully integrate the acquisition of the Hemlo Mine; intervention by non-governmental organizations; outside contractor risks; risks related to historical data; risks related to the Company's accounting policies and internal controls; shareholder activism; and other risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies.

Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Carcetti Capital Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/carcetti-announces-conditional-acceptance-of-reverse-takeover-and-filing-stateme-1105877
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Spark Energy Minerals Inc. (CSE: SPRK) (OTCID: SPARF) (FSE: 8PC) ("Spark" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to of up to $500,000 by offering up to 10,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit (the "Private Placement").

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one warrant to purchase an additional common share (each, a "Warrant Share", and collectively with the Units and the Shares, the "Securities") at a price of $0.06 per Warrant Share for a period of three years from the date of issue. The Securities will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of closing of the Private Placement. The Company expects to close the Private Placement, on or about November 28, 2025, or such later date as may be determined by the Company.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund Spark's near-term drill program at the Arapaima Project in Brazil, including mobilization and initial drilling costs, with the balance allocated to general working capital. No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Private Placement.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" or to "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

About Spark Energy Minerals Inc.

Spark Energy Minerals Inc. is a Canadian company advancing the exploration and development of critical minerals essential to the clean-energy transition. The Company's primary focus is Brazil, where it controls a significant land position within the country's emerging Lithium Valley - a region recognized for its lithium, gallium, and rare-earth potential. Spark's flagship Arapaima Project spans approximately 91,900 hectares and hosts multiple targets for lithium and gallium-REE mineralization. Through systematic exploration, Spark aims to help strengthen the secure and sustainable supply of minerals that power electrification, renewable energy, and modern technologies. The Company is committed to responsible exploration practices and supporting Brazil's development of a transparent, sustainable critical-minerals supply chain.

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.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing, and certain corporate changes. In addition, it should be noted that rock, soil, and stream sediment samples are inherently selective samples and may not represent the true underlying mineralization. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275531

SOURCE: Spark Energy Minerals Inc.
Total passenger traffic up 10.2% YoY, up 11.6% YoY in Argentina

International passenger traffic up 11.6% YoY; up 15.1% YoY in Argentina

Corporacion America Airports S.A. (NYSE: CAAP), ("CAAP" or the "Company"), one of the leading private airport operators in the world, reported today a 10.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase in passenger traffic in October 2025.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121727920/en/

Monthly Passenger Traffic Performance (In million PAX)

Passenger Traffic, Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements Highlights (2025 vs. 2024) Statistics Oct'25 Oct'24 % Var. YTD'25 YTD'24 % Var. Domestic Passengers (thousands) 3,925 3,596 9.1% 36,688 33,561 9.3% International Passengers (thousands) 2,994 2,684 11.6% 28,637 25,848 10.8% Transit Passengers (thousands) 710 646 10.0% 6,673 6,030 10.7% Total Passengers (thousands)1 7,630 6,927 10.2% 71,998 65,440 10.0% Cargo Volume (thousand tons) 39.3 38.8 1.1% 325.9 318.6 2.3% Total Aircraft Movements (thousands) 76.6 71.7 6.9% 727.6 681.8 6.7% (1) Following the friendly termination process concluded in February 2024, CAAP no longer operates Natal airport. Statistics for Natal are available up to February 18, 2024. Excluding Natal for comparison purposes, total passenger traffic YTD was up 10.6%.

Passenger Traffic Overview

Total passenger traffic increased by 10.2% in October compared to the same month in 2024. Domestic passenger traffic rose by 9.1% year over year (YoY), largely driven by Argentina, along with strong performance in Brazil. Meanwhile, international traffic grew by 11.6%, with all operating countries contributing positively YoY and particularly strong results in Argentina and Armenia. Notably, Argentina accounted for almost 60% of the total YoY traffic growth in October.

In Argentina, total passenger traffic increased by 11.6% YoY, driven by strong performance across both the international and domestic segments. Domestic traffic grew by 9.9% YoY, supported by increased frequencies by Flybondi on its routes from Buenos Aires to San Juan, Mendoza, Salta, and Jujuy. International traffic also remained solid, rising 15.1% YoY, supported by several developments, including LATAM's resumption of operations from Cordoba to Sao Paulo, and increased operations by Air Canada and Emirates to five and seven weekly flights, respectively. Additionally, in October, Delta resumed its New York route, operating through March 2026.

In Italy, passenger traffic grew by 6.8% compared to the same month in 2024, mainly supported by an increase in flight frequencies by Ryanair. International passenger traffic, which accounted for over 80% of total traffic, rose by 7.9% YoY, driven by a 12.2% increase at Florence Airport and a 4.8% increase at Pisa Airport. Domestic passenger traffic grew by 1.8% YoY, supported by a strong performance at Pisa Airport (+8.7%) due to the increase in Ryanair's flight frequencies, partially offset by a 16.3% decline at Florence Airport.

In Brazil, total passenger traffic increased by 9.8% YoY, reflecting an improvement in traffic trends despite ongoing challenges in the aviation environment. Domestic traffic, which accounted for almost 60% of total traffic, rose by a strong 10.3% YoY, while transit passengers increased by 8.5% YoY. Notably, although representing a small share of total traffic (5%), international traffic grew by 13.2% YoY.

In Uruguay, total passenger traffic, predominantly international, increased by 6.9% YoY, recovering from the decline recorded in September, when operations were suspended for two days due to the installation of the new Category IIIb Precision Instrument Landing System (ILS CAT IIIb) on the main runway.

In Ecuador, where security concerns persist, passenger traffic increased by 1.2% YoY, rebounding from the decline in September caused by runway repaving work that required a two-day suspension of operations. International traffic grew by 2.3% YoY, while domestic traffic increased by 0.8% YoY. High airfares continued to weigh on travel demand.

In Armenia, passenger traffic increased by a strong 15.3% YoY, supported by the introduction of new airlines and routes, as well as increased flight frequencies. In October, Wizz Air launched a new base at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport, deploying two aircraft and adding eight new direct routes to Europe.

Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements

Cargo volume increased by 1.1% YoY, with positive contributions from Uruguay, Armenia and Argentina. Performance by country was as follows: Uruguay (+19.4%), Armenia (+7.3%), Argentina (+3.6%), Ecuador (-5.7%), Italy (-8.2%), and Brazil (-14.4%). Argentina, Brazil, and Armenia accounted for 80% of total cargo volume in October.

Aircraft movements increased by 6.9% YoY, with positive contributions from all countries of operation: Armenia (+13.5%), Italy (+9.8%), Ecuador (+9.0%), Brazil (+7.9%), Argentina (+5.5%), and Uruguay (+0.5%). Argentina, Brazil, and Italy accounted for more than 80% of total aircraft movements in October.

Summary Passenger Traffic, Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements (2025 vs. 2024)

Oct'25 Oct'24 % Var. YTD'25 YTD'24 % Var. Passenger Traffic (thousands) Argentina 4,031 3,612 11.6% 38,966 34,257 13.7% Italy 931 872 6.8% 8,578 7,919 8.3% Brazil (1) 1,533 1,397 9.8% 13,743 12,907 6.5% Uruguay 196 184 6.9% 1,904 1,865 2.1% Ecuador 393 388 1.2% 3,926 3,914 0.3% Armenia 545 473 15.3% 4,881 4,577 6.6% TOTAL 7,630 6,927 10.2% 71,998 65,440 10.0% (1) Following the friendly termination process concluded in February 2024, CAAP no longer operates Natal airport. Statistics for Natal are available up to February 18, 2024. Excluding Natal for comparison purposes, total passenger traffic YTD was up 10.6% for CAAP and 9.6% for Brazil.

Cargo Volume (tons) Argentina 21,215 20,471 3.6% 170,727 164,620 3.7% Italy 1,189 1,295 -8.2% 10,588 10,726 -1.3% Brazil 5,540 6,473 -14.4% 52,002 53,833 -3.4% Uruguay 3,536 2,962 19.4% 29,126 25,972 12.1% Ecuador 2,936 3,112 -5.7% 29,538 30,893 -4.4% Armenia 4,835 4,504 7.3% 33,919 32,574 4.1% TOTAL 39,252 38,817 1.1% 325,899 318,618 2.3% Aircraft Movements Argentina 41,085 38,947 5.5% 396,351 367,152 8.0% Italy 8,678 7,900 9.8% 77,649 71,913 8.0% Brazil 13,461 12,474 7.9% 125,183 119,836 4.5% Uruguay 2,644 2,632 0.5% 26,931 26,191 2.8% Ecuador 6,886 6,320 9.0% 65,247 63,240 3.2% Armenia 3,851 3,392 13.5% 36,216 33,462 8.2% TOTAL 76,605 71,665 6.9% 727,577 681,794 6.7%

About Corporacion America Airports

Corporacion America Airports acquires, develops and operates airport concessions. Currently, the Company operates 52 airports in 6 countries across Latin America and Europe (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy). In 2024, Corporacion America Airports served 79.0 million passengers, 2.7% (or 0.4% excluding Natal) below the 81.1 million passengers served in 2023, and 6.2% below the 84.2 million served in 2019. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange where it trades under the ticker "CAAP". For more information, visit http://investors.corporacionamericaairports.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121727920/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations Contact

Patricio Inaki Esnaola

Email: patricio.esnaola@caairports.com

Phone: +5411 4899-6716
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2025) - Amex Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AMX) (FSE: MX0) (OTCQX: AMXEF) ("Amex" or the "Company") announces a grant of 3,250,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") and 2,026,000 restricted share units (the "RSUs") to certain directors, officers, employees, and consultants to the Company.

Each Option is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a "Share") at a price of $2.85 per Share, for a period of five years from the date of grant. The RSUs shall vest in three equal tranches, with one-third vesting on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant. Upon vesting, each RSU shall entitle the holder to receive one Share. All grants of Options and RSUs are subject to the Company's omnibus equity incentive plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan"), which was approved by shareholders at the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June 30, 2025 (the "Meeting"). A copy of the Equity Incentive Plan is included in the Company's management information circular in respect of the Meeting dated May 12, 2025 available via the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

All of the Options and RSUs (and any Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement thereof) will be subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of grant pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange).

About Amex

Amex Exploration Inc. has made significant high-grade gold discoveries, along with copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) zones, at its 100%-owned Perron Gold Project, located approximately 110 kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Project comprises 117 contiguous claims (45.18 km) and hosts both bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold mineralization styles.

When combined with the adjacent Perron West Project, which includes 48 claims (17.37 km) in Quebec and 35 claims (134.55 km) in Ontario, the consolidated land package spans a district-scale 197.52 km. This extensive property lies within highly prospective geology favourable for both high-grade gold and VMS mineralization.

The Project benefits from excellent infrastructure: it is accessible by a year-round road, located just 20 minutes from an airport, and approximately 8 km from the Town of Normetal. It is also in close proximity to several process plants owned by major gold producers.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275565

SOURCE: Amex Exploration Inc.
The actors experienced the immersive displays that bring natural history to life and encountered key highlights such as 67-million-year-old Stan, one of the best-preserved examples of a fossilised T. rex skeleton ever discovered

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, the latest addition to the Saadiyat Cultural District, marked its much-anticipated grand opening with an exclusive VIP preview on Thursday evening, bringing together global talent, cultural leaders and special guests for a first look inside the regions newest landmark.

Ahead of the official public opening on 22 November 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were spotted exploring the museum and enjoying an exclusive first look at its collections and dynamic exhibits. The actors experienced the immersive displays that bring natural history to life and encountered key highlights such as 67-million-year-old Stan, one of the best-preserved examples of a fossilised T. rex skeleton ever discovered.

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The VIP opening also welcomed an exciting lineup of international celebrities from across film, television, music, art, and culture. Leading the red carpet were Abu Dhabi resident and global TV icon Steve Harvey; acclaimed special-effects designer and MythBusters star Adam Savage; and rising Hollywood talents David Iacono and Audrina Miranda, stars of the recent Jurassic World movie. Joining them were award-winning producer and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz; celebrated actors Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian); Tunisian-Italian model and cultural icon Afef Jnifen; and a host of other distinguished guests.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, the largest institution of its kind in the Middle East, has a special focus on the natural history of the Emirates and the wider region. Galleries take visitors back in time to seven million years ago, when the Arabian climate was very different, giving life to a green and lush savannah-like landscape roamed by now-extinct animals, including a giant elephant with four tusks, which is also on display for visitors to discover.

The galleries feature extraordinary exhibits which bring natures greatest stories to life, including awe-inspiring glimpses into the age of dinosaurs. The worlds first-ever display of a sauropod dinosaur herd can be found in the museums atrium, with five different species of these long-necked giants standing majestically to greet visitors as they enter. Deeper into the galleries, another world-first awaits: a display featuring Tyrannosaurus rexes locked in battle over the carcass of a Triceratops, which is the first time two fossil T. rexes have been exhibited in such a dynamic scene.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi joins a growing community of world-class institutions on Saadiyat Island, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Together, these institutions define the Saadiyat Cultural District as a global destination for culture, creativity, and cross-disciplinary exchange, a place where art, science, and heritage are brought together to shape future generations.

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While the release date is yet to be announced, early anticipation suggests that the film will offer a refreshing and deeply felt take on mature love in contemporary times

The yet-untitled romantic love story featuring Dia Mirza and Rahul Bhat, directed by acclaimed Indo-German filmmaker Kanwal Sethi, has officially wrapped. Marking the first-ever collaboration between the two celebrated talented actors, the film promises a soulful and mature exploration of love, longing, and human emotions bringing together two powerfully understated performers in a compelling love story.

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Set to a spiritual sequel to Sethis much-loved film Once Again, the story unfolds against the serene landscape of Nainital, capturing the quiet beauty and complexity of a grown-up romance. Known for his sensitive, intimate storytelling, Sethi once again blends emotional depth with lyrical realism, crafting what is described as one of the most heartfelt love stories Indian cinema has seen in recent years.

While the release date is yet to be announced, early anticipation suggests that the film will offer a refreshing and deeply felt take on mature love in contemporary times.

The film is produced by Kovid Gupta, Sanjay Gulati, and Amit Saxena, under the banners of Kovid Gupta Films, Crawling Angel Films, and Splendid Films respectively. Crawling Angel Films recently earned international acclaim for backing Shuchi Talatis award-winning Girls Will Be Girls. Producer Kovid Gupta further anchors the project with his extensive experience across some of Indias most respected studios Vinod Chopra Films, Rajshri Productions, and Balaji Telefilms, bringing both creative depth and industry credibility to the film.

With its evocative storytelling, stunning Himalayan backdrop, and the coming together of two nuanced performers, Kanwal Sethis latest promises to be a stirring and memorable addition to modern Indian cinema.
The festival will feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, five international premieres and 44 Asian premieres

Paying ode to Indias rich culture and its love for storytelling, the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began here on Thursday with a parade instead of the formal inaugural ceremonies of the past.

The festival, which runs till November 28, started with a float parade from old GMC building. The parades centrepiece, Bharat Ek Soor featured several folk artists performing traditional dances from across the country.

IFFI is the platform where Indian creators, producers and storytellers meet the world and Goa is proud to be a gateway for this global experience, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.

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We want to make Goa the creative capital of India, strengthen the film infrastructure, support Goan filmmakers, bring world cinema to Goa and make Goa an international filmmaking destination, he said, recalling how IFFI travelled to Goa 2004 during the tenure of Manohar Parrikar as the CM. The parade was followed by 12 tableaux from 12 different states with Goa leading the parade, setting the tone for a festival that celebrates cinema from across the globe.

Film posters of iconic films like Sholay, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, among others were displayed on an open mini truck, followed by a poster from Ram Charans upcoming film, Peddi and Nandamuri Balakrishnas Akhanda 2.

Beloved characters such as Chhota Bheem, Chutki, Motu Patlu were also part of the parade.

The streets of Goa were lit with chandeliers from trees and songs like Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost, godacho panv, filled the air.

Actor Anupam Kher, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Manoj Joshi and filmmakers Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, Shekhar Kapur, Dil Raju were in attendance.

Prior to the parade, legendary Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was honoured at the opening ceremony of the festival for completing 50 years in cinema.

The actor said he is thrilled to be part of the IFFI celebration.

Im happy to be born here. Im lucky to be born to my parents. I started cancer hospital of international standards in Hyderabad after my mother passed away. Im thankful to my wife and family for their support, Balakrishna said after receiving the honour from Goa CM and Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

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Balakrishna has acted in more than 100 films and is best known for movies such as Samarasimha Reddy, Simha, Aditya 369, and Muddula Mavayya.

The festival will feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, five international premieres and 44 Asian premieres.

Japan is the Country of Focus for 2025 and six curated titles, representing the nations evolving cinematic language, will be screened at the festival. Spain will serve as the Partner Country, while Australia will be the Spotlight Country.

The opening film of IFFI 2025 is Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaros The Blue Trail, a sci-fi and fantasy feature following a 75-year-old womans defiant voyage through the Amazon.
Fatima wrote on Instagram while sharing a video from the ceremony- Because every step you take leads to something greater, and fighting for your dreams while believing in yourself will always be worth it.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was recently called a dummy and that too publicly by event organizer Nawat Itsaragrisil in Bangkok. She stood up for herself and raised her voice against the tasteless remarks. And now, the beauty queen has been crowned the 74th Miss Universe and fans and social media users have reactions.

Fatima wrote on Instagram while sharing a video from the ceremony- Because every step you take leads to something greater, and fighting for your dreams while believing in yourself will always be worth it.

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Netizens react

A Miss Universe of actions with a kind heart. Thats why she won, congratulations Fatima!!!

ENVY CAN NEVER STAND AGAINST GOD

You gave us goosebumps  you deserve that and more 

Cote DIvoire was the best. She deserved to win. She had the best performance and she answered the best!!!!

I also cried happy tears with you beautiful

You are an example, you are an inspiration, you are a beautiful heart, you are an angel, you are magnificent

No one deserves it more than her.

Who is Fatima Bosch?

She is currently a beauty queen in the Miss Universe lineup. Born in Mexico, she has always been into modelling since a young age and a supporter of social advocacy. For all of those who were unaware, Bosch became the first-ever queen from the Mexican state of Tabasco to win Miss Universe Mexico in September 2025.

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Educational background

Fatima studied fashion design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, as well as attending the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy, and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont. She has also battled dyslexia and Adult Hyperactivity Disorder and confessed of being bullied in school.

Did Nawat Itsaragrisil berate Miss Universe Mexico?

As per reports, Itsaragrisil called Bosch dumb head. And called her out for not participating in promotional materials for Thailand. This is when many models walked out of the event.

The controversy and chaos

The Miss Universe 2025 edition held in Thailand was making noise on social media but for all the wrong reasons. Several models, including Miss Universe Mexico, staged a walk out after the organizer of the show Nawat Itsaragrisil reportedly berated Mexicos beauty queen Fatima Bosch. The episode snowballed into massive controversy and the organizer has even issued a statement.

Fatima Bosch breaks silence

I just want to let my country know, Im not afraid to make my voice heard. Its here stronger than ever. I have a purpose. I have things to say. Were in the 21st century. Im not a doll to be made up, styled and have my clothes changed. I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes and to tell my country that Im completely committed to that.

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Bosch added about Nawat, He just said to me, shut up, and a lot of different things. And I think that the world needs to see this because we are empowered women, and this is a platform for our voice, and no one can shut our voice.
Our three central characters, always married to different wives and being seduced by different bimbettes as the franchise progresses and regresses, are still the same

Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kaooor, Ruhi Singh

Director: Milap Milan Zaveri

Language: Hindi

It was the 10th of April 2004. I was watching Govinda and Rani Mukerjis 2002 dud Chalo Ishq Ladayen on TV. That was the day when I was going to watch the first Masti with my parents and first cousin. I was terribly excited as that was the time I watched almost all the films on the big screen. It was packed. I was laughing with second hand enjoyment and embarrassment in equal measure. The same thing happened when I saw the sequel on September 13 nine years later. This time, more prepared to witness the obscenity and obnoxiousness on display. GRAND was the key word in part two. And then came the hideously unfunny Great Grand Masti, an assault on senses and sex.

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The makers have not given up. Now comes the fourth part. So what was it going to be? After _Grand Masti_ and Great Grand Masti? They play a trick and call it Mastiii 4. So what do these three Is suggest? Maybe 3 idiots. Yes. Our three central characters, always married to different wives and being seduced by different bimbettes as the franchise progresses and regresses, are still the same. Only aging and looking visibly worn out lusting outside marriage. They thought tasteless parts by Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor would spice up the curiosities but it only makes it blander. Its Milap Zaveri this time calling the shots, a filmmaker so gratified by box-office that he has long forgotten the thin line between mass and crass. What unfolds on the celluloid is more appalling than his last Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat.

What could possibly compel Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi to participate in this drivel? Aftab Shivdasani may have jumped into the balderdash due to his depleted coffers. The issue with Mastiii 4 is that it doesnt even qualify as an adult comedy. The crassness of the enterprise never allows the supposed raunchiness to go beyond some pretentiously provocative visuals. And unlike the first two films in the franchise, which sailed through due to some inspired moments of lunacy, the next two were bogged down by limp writing and lame innuendoes. Its never a good sign when you cant tell whether youre laughing with the film or at it. Its more shocking when you see people walking out minutes after the film begins.

Its also appalling how a material like this gets green lit and the limited number of people in the cinema sit with pin drop silence. How do you expect to laugh at lines like Humare sapne poore ho sakte hain, hum kisi aur ke saath so sakte hain. This is a film that wants us to be entertained by the idea that three married men should be allowed to have fun outside marriage. Milap Zaveri has called this LOVE VISA. The WhatsApp forward-level writing makes this turd of a comedy much more exasperating than it should be. Its preposterous and primitive. Only trust Bollywood to devolve with time. 2004 and 2013 suddenly feel far more gratifying.

If all the adult comedies decided to walk into a bar one fine night, only _Delhi Belly_ and Go Goa Gone may be allowed inside. The rest may be denied entry despite them being 18 plus. No Masti for them! No puns here.

Rating: 0 (out of 5 stars)

Mastiii 4 is now playing in cinemas

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A whopping $9.59 billion and counting Thats the estimated loss that Japan is looking to incur as Chinas tourists cancel their visits amid the growing feud between the two nations. And its not just the Japanese tourism industry that is set to hurt; Beijing has also suspended seafood imports from its Asian neighbour

China has announced a series of measures against Japan as the two countries engage in a tense standoff over Taiwan. File image/AFP

They are two of Asias biggest countries and tensions between the two are rising day-by-day, causing concern for the people of the region. We are talking about China and Japan, who are locked in a new battle  the latest in a long, uneasy relationship shaped by rivalry, history and strategic mistrust.

The most recent spat between China and Japan has resulted in Tokyo facing diplomatic and economic retaliation from the Asian Dragon  Beijing told its citizens not to travel to Japan, Japanese movies have been pulled from theatres, and Japanese media reported China was preparing to ban Japanese seafood.

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As the tensions continue to rise between the two nations, we take a closer look at what exactly is going on and if Tokyo can beat out Chinas pressures.

China and Japans latest sparring match

The latest flashpoint between the two Asian nations has emerged over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis comments pertaining to Taiwan. On November 7, the China hawk speaking to a parliamentary committee, said that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response. If it involves the use of warships and military actions, it could by all means become a survival-threatening situation, she said.

Previous prime ministers have expressed concern about Chinas threat to Taiwan and said that Taiwans stability is vital to Japans own security. But they havent publicly specified how Tokyo would respond in the event of a Taiwan contingency, instead embracing strategic ambiguity.

Japans new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis Taiwan remarks are the reason for the latest feud between the two Asian giants. File image/AP

And unsurprisingly, it evoked strong reactions from Beijing, which maintains that Taiwan is a province of China and that the One China principle is a red line in relations with any country. In fact, following Takaichis remarks, Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, posted on X: The filthy head that recklessly sticks itself in must be cut off without a moments hesitation. Are you prepared for that?

This, in turn, resulted in condemnation from Tokyo with Takaichi refusing to retract her remarks, but adding that she would avoid talking about specific scenarios in the future.

China seeks to punish Japan

Following the war of words, it seems China is looking to make an example of Takaichi and Japan. The Xi Jinping-led country has begun to impose punitive measures on Japan, which, in turn, is hurting Tokyos trade and travel.

First, China launched an eight-day live-fire drill in the Yellow Sea. Its coast guard vessels also continued patrolling around the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands.

If that wasnt enough, Beijing warned its citizens to avoid travel to Japan. This has already resulted in an estimated 500,000 flights to Japan being cancelled, dealing a blow to airlines, hotels and the wider tourism sector. China also released an overseas study alert, warning students about recent crimes against Chinese in Japan, though it didnt advise them not to go.

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A Chinese chat message between a travel agency staff member and a customer reading I wont go to Japan, as a part of messages announcing trip cancellations from the customer, appears on a computer screen at East Japan International Travel Service Co, a Tokyo-based travel agency, amid escalating tension between China and Japan, in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

The Financial Times reports that staff at four separate Chinese state-owned enterprises in Shanghai and Zhejiang and Hunan provinces said managers had told them to cancel all trips to Japan over the dispute. Also, scheduled tours for prospective Chinese students to a number of major Japanese universities have also been suspended.

The Beijing-Tokyo Forum, an annual meeting of scholars from both countries that was scheduled to start in Beijing last Saturday, was also deferred  a first since it was launched in 2005. When asked about the same, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: I would note that the recent provocative remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding the Taiwan region have seriously undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations and worsened public sentiment between the two countries.

Chinese film distributors have also suspended screening of at least two Japanese films, with state broadcaster CCTV saying was a prudent decision. As a result, some Japanese films, including the animated Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers and manga-turned-movie Cells at Work!, originally slated for release in the coming weeks, will not begin screening in mainland China as scheduled, CCTV said, citing checks with film importers and distributors. Animated film Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has also seen a drop in viewership after Takaichis remarks.

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And on Wednesday (November 19), China suspended imports of Japanese seafood, just months after it partly lifted a previous ban issued in 2023. The previous ban was imposed in response to Japans decision to release wastewater from the damaged and decommissioned Fukushima nuclear plant.

Moreover, Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said that Premier Li Qiang has no arrangement to meet with the Japanese leader during the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa.

A customer looks around seafood at a shop in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

Too heavy a price to pay for Japan

But what will the impact of Chinas punitive measures? Beijings series of harsh measures are expected to hit Japans trade and travel industry, thus, hurting its economy.

By urging Chinese tourists to cancel out Japan from their travel plans, Beijing is looking to hurt Tokyos economy. Tourism accounts for around seven per cent of the countrys overall gross domestic product, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, and has been a major driver of growth in recent years. And visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong account for around a fifth of all arrivals, official figures show.

Nomura Research Institute has estimated that a Chinese tourist boycott could result in a loss of around 1.49 trillion yen (US$9.59 billion) over the next year. The figure is based on an estimated 25 per cent decline in the number of mainland Chinese visitors over the next 12 months, in line with the decline seen in 2012 when Beijing issued a similar call following the Japanese governments purchase of three of the disputed Diaoyu Islands  known as the Senkakus in Japan  in the East China Sea.

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Passengers walk past a board showing international flights including planes bound to Japan at the Capital international airport in Beijing. AFP

Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report states that Japan could lose out on as much as $1.2 billion in visitor spending between now and the end of the year owing to the Chinese travellers boycott.

But its not just the tourism industry that will be impacted by Chinas punitive steps. Banning Japanese seafood imports will also land Tokyo in choppy waters. Thats because before the 2023 ban, the Chinese market  including Hong Kong  accounted for more than one-fifth of Japans exports.

A possible blowback for China

Most China-Japan watchers note that Beijings moves are a part of their old playbook. However, they add that these measures could also work against China.

As David Arase, resident professor of international politics at the Hopkins-Nanjing Centre, told South China Morning Post that Beijings approach could be viewed by some countries as part of its so-called Wolf Warrior diplomacy  a reference to Beijings combative rhetoric against other countries  and the orchestrated use of military threats, diplomacy, economic coercion, political sanctions and cognitive warfare. This latest episode of Wolf Warrior diplomacy may only deepen perceptions that China is a bully and a threat to regional peace and stability, he said.

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Mong Cheung, a professor at the school of international liberal studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, concurred with this sentiment. He warned that the actions could worsen perceptions of China by its neighbours and harm the nations international image. I think this approach is counterproductive and ineffective, he was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post.

With inputs from agencies
China has begun work on constructing a colossal floating artificial island, which, when completed in 2028, will be the worlds first mobile, self-sustaining artificial island. While authorities have said that it will be a research vessel, the capability of being nuclear-resistant has raised eyebrows

An artist's rendition of the of the 78,000-tonne far-sea floating mobile island. Image Courtesy: SJTU

China is at the forefront of technological and military advancements. And what better than a mobile, nuclear-blast-resistant floating artificial island to prove it. Beijing has begun work on constructing a colossal floating artificial island that they claim could even withstand a nuclear attack.

Chinese authorities insist that the project is scientific in nature, but claims of it being nuclear-resistant has raised eyebrows.

What is known of Chinas new construction? We have the answers here.

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About Chinas new floating artificial island

China has begun work on its first floating artificial island, which has officially been named the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, and it is expected to launch in 2028.

According to plans published, China is constructing a 78,000-tonne, semi-submersible twin-hull platform with the capacity to house 238 people for four months without providing fresh supplies.

Professor Yang Deqing associated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University noted in a peer-reviewed paper that the deep-sea major scientific facility is designed for all-weather, long-term residency. It will also have systems to ensure emergency power and communications. The facility will be equipped with suitable systems that will ensure smooth navigation control.

The design plans also reveal a giant platform 138 metres long and 85 metres wide, with a deck towering 45 metres over the waves. This new floating artificial island is also expected to be as large as Chinas newest Fujian aircraft carrier  it is estimated to have a displacement of 80,000 tonnes  and will also be to cruise at 15 knots while supporting over a hundred researchers.

The worlds first floating artificial island being constructed by China is expected to have the same displacement as the Fujian aircraft carrier  80,000 tonnes. File image/AP

Notably, the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, which has been listed as a national scientific infrastructure programme under Chinas 14th five-year plan, has been in development for more than a decade.

Also referred to as a far-sea floating mobile island, the island will also boast of the capability of operating in rough seas, even being able to withstand powerful tropical cyclones on Earth.

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But how exactly will this new construction be nuclear resistant? People in the know have revealed that to make it impenetrable, they are using what is essentially a microscopic lattice of folded metal tubes arranged in a precise geometric pattern. This structure works like a magical sponge. When squeezed, it contracts inward, becoming denser and stronger, reports South China Morning Post.

Purpose behind this island

Chinese officials note that the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility will purely be a research vessel. The facility promises to become a paradigm shift in ocean science, offering real-scale testing capabilities that no laboratory or existing ship can match, said officials as quoted by South China Morning Post.

However, the materials being used in it and its intended operating areas has raised suspicion. The artificial floating island, once built, will operate in the contested waters of the South China Sea.

Experts also note that unlike fixed research stations or conventional vessels, this artificial floating island could offer presence without permanence. It could be deployed to contested waters for research, maintain its presence as situations evolve  all at a lower cost.

As South China Morning Post reports, the facility could serve multiple functions as a resilient command node, a logistics hub or a surveillance station. Its 120-day endurance without resupply exceeds that of many nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, offering persistent presence in remote areas.

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Some analysts also believe the platform signals Chinas determination to dominate the blue economy, which includes offshore energy and deep-sea minerals.

Defence experts worry that this floating artificial island, once constructed wont just be a lab; it will be a forward operating base. Moreover, as it will fly under a civilian banner, it would be able to operate in zone that warships cant occupy. As Defensenews stated in a report, This dual identity  peaceful in appearance, powerful in capability  is exactly what makes Chinas floating island so strategically unsettling. It is a vessel designed for discovery, yes, but also for deterrence, presence, and persistence in waters where Beijings ambitions run deepest.

Building artificial islands in the South China Sea

The news of Chinas construction of the floating artificial island comes weeks after it was reported that Vietnam is taking a page out of Beijings book and building artificial islands in the South China Sea.

An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea. File image/Reuters

According to a report by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Vietnam is developing new outposts in the Spratly Islands at a rapid pace, putting it on track to surpass the amount of land reclaimed by China. Satellite photographs reveal that Hanoi has undertaken dredging and landfill work at Alison Reef, Collins Reef, East Reef, Landsdowne Reef, and Petley Reef, all of which had previously housed only small concrete pillbox structures.

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For those who arent aware, the Spratly Islands remains one of the main subjects of contention in the South China Sea, and are claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Vietnams rapid development of islands is a result of Chinas Great War of Sand project in 2013, through which it created large-scale artificial islands in the South China Sea.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Johannesburg to attend the G20 Leaders Summit, hosted by South Africa. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is set to meet New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House today, making this the first meeting between the two leaders since the latter was elected

It is set to be a busy Friday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the G20 summit in South Africa. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will meet New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani today.

Portugals President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa visits Monaco. In India, the Supreme Court is set to hear a petition seeking the postponement of the special intensive revision (SIR). Meanwhile, the 74th Miss Universe Finale will take place today in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Heres all that is set to take place throughout the day.

Modi to attend G20 summit in South Africa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Johannesburg from November 21 to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit hosted by South Africa. This will be the fourth consecutive G20 Summit held in the Global South.

At the Summit, PM Modi will put forth Indias perspectives on the G20 agenda. The three sessions of the Summit include Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind: Building our economies, the role of trade, financing for development and the debt burden, A Resilient World  the G20s Contribution: Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Just Energy Transitions, Food Systems and A Fair and a Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence. He is expected to speak in all three sessions of the Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Trump to meet Mamdani

US president Donald Trump is set to meet New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani today at the White House. The meeting comes days after the two exchanged barbs during the campaign of the recently concluded NYC mayoral polls.

Announcing the meeting on his Truth Social account, Donald Trump said that Mamdani has asked for a meeting. Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow! Trump said on his Truth Social post on Wednesday.

This combination of pictures shows Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani (left) and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC (right). AFP

The meeting carries a lot of weight because it marks their first encounter since Mamdanis election. The fact that Mamdani, who is an immigrant with Indian roots, just pulled off a major victory in the New York mayoral race makes this an even more interesting and personal first meeting.

Portugals President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa to visit Monaco

Portugals President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will undertake an official visit to Monaco today. The two-day visit will begin on November 20 and will go till November 23.

The primary goal of the visit is to reinforce cooperation between the two nations, with a particular focus on shared environmental priorities. Both leaders share a strong interest in ocean conservation and biodiversity, an area that has been a significant point of convergence in their diplomatic discussions.

SC to hear petition against Kerala SIR

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the Kerala governments petition seeking postponement of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the states electoral rolls today.

A view of Supreme Court of India building in New Delhi. File photo/PTI

The state is urgently appealing to the court to make the ECI delay the scheduled voter revision. Why? They argue that having the massive revision effort overlap with the busy local body elections in Kerala is a bad decision that will severely stretch administrative resources and risk complete collapse.

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74th Miss Universe finale

The 74th Miss Universe final is scheduled to take place today at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret near Bangkok, Thailand. The theme for this years is The Power of Love and will see over 100 contestants from around the globe competing for the coveted crown.

The pageant will be live-streamed on the official Miss Universe YouTube channel and is also available on platforms like Peacock and Telemundo in select regions. More than 100 delegates are participating this year. A notable contestant is Manika Vishwakarma, representing India, who is aiming to become the fourth Indian woman to win the title.

With inputs from agencies
The G20 summit has been overshadowed by President Donald Trump withdrawing the United States entirely from the Johannesburg meeting, halting all American participation. Trump has claimed that white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa are being killed and that their land is being seized

US President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters

The first G20 leaders summit to take place in Africa is already missing a major member as it kicks off in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 22-23, 2025.

President Donald Trump has opted to exclude the United States entirely from the summit, marking the first time in the groups 26-year existence that a member state has not only avoided sending its head of government but has refused to participate at any level.

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The move, rooted in Trumps long-running allegations concerning the treatment of white Afrikaners in South Africa, has disrupted months of negotiations, at a moment when developing nations hoped to place their priorities at the forefront of the annual summit.

Why the US withdrawal from G20 summit is unprecedented

The G20 has weathered disagreements among its members before, but never has a participating country entirely vacated its seat.

Trumps order prevents all officials  not just Cabinet-level figures  from attending discussions, workshops, or negotiating sessions.

South Africa, as this years chair, was informed of the decision through formal diplomatic channels, and other G20 governments were subsequently notified that the United States would be absent from the meeting in its entirety.

The boycott is especially striking because the United States is next in line to assume the rotating presidency of the club.

Under normal circumstances, the leader of the incoming host nation participates in the preceding summit to ensure a smooth transition, coordinate multi-year agenda items, and signal continuity.

This year, however, Trump has declined to travel, cancelled earlier plans to dispatch Vice President JD Vance, and instructed all federal agencies to avoid participating.

Only a representative from the US Embassy in Pretoria will attend the closing ceremonial exchange, as it is a formality that cannot legally be skipped.

Diplomats involved in preparing the summit say the absence of the US delegation has derailed efforts to craft a shared outcome document. Numerous G20 norms rely on unanimous agreement, and even minor wording typically requires negotiations.

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One senior European diplomat involved in the lead-up told the Financial Times, Its bleak Theres really nothing that we can hope to achieve without the Americans engaging.

Another official expressed exasperation that the boycott had derailed what already promised to be a challenging round of talks, saying, We knew Trump hates this kind of thing but its one thing to be difficult, and another to completely blow it up.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly criticised the withdrawal, remarking, If you boycott an event or a process, you are the greatest loser because the show will go on.

He added that he planned to follow protocol nonetheless.

I dont want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there. Ramaphosa said he would complete the symbolic handover of the presidency before later speaking privately with Trump.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola echoed the stance that the summit must proceed regardless of Washingtons choices.

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He argued that most international forums continue even when some leaders cannot participate, insisting, It is important that a declaration must be adopted by the countries that are present, because the institution cannot be bogged down by someones [absence].

South Africa is still hoping that a communique or partial statement can be endorsed by the members who attend.

Why Trump says he is boycotting

Trump has tied his decision to his belief that South Africa is discriminating against white Afrikaners, particularly farmers.

He claims that white landowners are being attacked and dispossessed at alarming rates, and that the South African government is encouraging or allowing racial targeting.

Trump has stated publicly that white Afrikaners are being slaughtered and that their property is being seized.

He has repeatedly insisted the country is unsafe for them, and earlier this year, he began offering refugee status to Afrikaners who wish to leave. The first group  59 individuals  arrived in the United States in May.

These claims, however, have been flatly rejected by South Africa and by many Afrikaners themselves.

Security data released by the South African Police Service, statements from government officials, and independent investigations have concluded that farm-related crimes are not targeted solely at white farmers and that violent incidents on rural properties remain a small portion of overall crime in the country.

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In the first quarter of this year, six murders took place on farms; five of the victims were Black and one was white.

Officials have stressed that these crimes should be seen in the broader context of South Africas high rates of violent crime, which disproportionately affect Black citizens.

Earlier this year, the South African police minister described public narratives around farm attacks as historically being distorted and reported in an unbalanced way.

Many Afrikaners have rejected claims of racial victimhood. A group of Afrikaner journalists, academics and civil society members released a public statement arguing that they did not believe they were facing systematic persecution.

They wrote that they rejected the idea that they were victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa and objected to becoming pawns in foreign political debates.

Groups such as AfriForum, a right-wing lobby in South Africa, have nevertheless criticised the governments new land expropriation law, which updates an apartheid-era statute. Critics contend it could open the door to land seizures without compensation.

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The legislation only allows uncompensated expropriation in specific scenarios  for instance, when land is unused or abandoned  and only after negotiations with owners have failed.

Most large commercial farms remain under white ownership despite white citizens comprising roughly 8 per cent of the population.

Trumps boycott has largely been interpreted abroad not as a reaction to new developments but as an extension of a narrative he has championed since early in his current term.

His administration has repeatedly signalled mistrust of South Africas political alignment with Russia, China and Iran, and has portrayed the country as unfriendly to US interests.

Who else is missing from G20 South Africa

The US boycott is the most consequential absence, but it is not the only one.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has reduced his international travel schedule, is not attending, though China has dispatched Premier Li Qiang to lead its delegation.

Russias delegation is also being led by lower-ranking officials due to the International Criminal Court warrant for President Vladimir Putin, which obliges South Africa  an ICC member  to detain him if he arrives on its territory.

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Russias representative is Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff in the presidential executive office.

Argentinas President Javier Milei has also chosen to stay away, citing his close political alignment with Trump.

Other leaders  including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Frances Emmanuel Macron, Germanys Friedrich Merz and Britains Keir Starmer  are attending as planned.

The absences have left South Africas government confronting a summit that looks very different from the one it envisioned.

Ramaphosa had hoped the event would showcase Africas growing relevance in global affairs and strengthen the continents voice at the international table. Instead, the focus has shifted to the implications of the US decision.

What South Africa intended to showcase at the G20

This years host aimed to use the summit to highlight issues faced by developing nations, drawing on its position as both an economic anchor on the continent and a representative of lower- and middle-income countries. South Africas priorities include:

Strengthening support for nations dealing with climate disasters

Improving access to financing for green energy transitions

Expanding international programs to help countries contending with escalating debt burdens

Addressing disparities in global wealth distribution

South African officials argue that climate-related catastrophes  such as droughts, floods, cyclones and heatwaves  have created enormous economic pressures on countries with limited resources to rebuild.

Pretoria has pushed for more substantial commitments from wealthier economies in disaster relief and sustainable development.

South Africa also commissioned a report led by Nobel laureate and American economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The research concluded that the planet is confronting an inequality emergency, describing widening gaps in income and wealth that risk destabilising societies.

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In response, South Africa has suggested forming an independent international commission to examine global inequality, modelled on the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Alongside these priorities, the summit is a traditional venue for bilateral meetings between leaders. Discussions were expected to address new trade negotiations, particularly in light of the Trump administrations recent tariffs that have reshaped global commerce.

Civil society organizations, as in past G20 cycles, have organised parallel meetings and demonstrations. One counter-summit held in Johannesburg criticised what activists described as a global economic system rigged in favour of elites and billionaires.

Why this boycott by Trump & Co. matters

The G20 brings together 19 countries plus the European Union; the African Union joined as a permanent member in 2023 during Indias G20 presidency.

Its membership includes major economies from every region, ranging from the worlds largest industrialised nations to key developing states.

Unlike the G7, which focuses primarily on wealthy democracies, the G20 functions as a bridge between high-income and emerging economies, giving developing nations a platform to raise concerns and influence global policy discussions.

The forum was established in 1999 to improve cooperation on international economic issues, especially after the financial disruptions of the late 1990s.

Banners of various G20 leaders are displayed along a Johannesburg freeway, in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 20, 2025. File Image/AP

The group does not have a permanent headquarters or binding enforcement powers.

Instead, it relies on collective political will and annual summits hosted by rotating presidencies.

Participants typically include leaders of member nations as well as heads of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Yet the organisation often struggles to reach full agreement due to competing interests among its most influential members.

Tensions involving the United States, China and Russia frequently shape negotiations, while disagreements between major European powers and developing states add further strain.

Even under ordinary circumstances, drafting joint declarations can be a lengthy process.

Now, with the withdrawal of the entire US delegation, negotiators expect that no consensus-based statement can be produced.

For South Africa, the moment is bittersweet. Hosting the summit is symbolically important, especially as African nations push for stronger representation across global institutions.

With the handover of the presidency to the United States scheduled for the end of the summit, the future direction of the G20 is unclear.

Trump has already criticised the forum, saying it has become basically the G100, and has pledged that meetings during the US term next year will be more streamlined.

With inputs from agencies
In a shocking incident, a mob stormed and burned down the embassy of the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan, on November 21, 1979. The violent crowd breached the compounds perimeter, set buildings on fire, and looted offices. The war between India and China, also known as the Sino-Indian War of 1962, came to an end on this day in 1962

A Pakistani army helicopter flies over the burning American Embassy building after it was attacked by anti-American demonstrators in Islamabad. File image/AP

One of the most shocking incidents took place on November 21, 1979, when a violent mob stormed and burned the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. This was one of the most serious assaults on a US diplomatic mission during the Cold War.

On this day, the Sino-Indian War of 1962, which had been going on in Ladakh and present-day Arunachal Pradesh, came to an end with Chinas declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

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Here is all that took place on this day.

Mob attack on the US Embassy in Pakistan

A violent mob stormed and burned the United States Embassy in Pakistans Islamabad on his day in 1979. The attack erupted after false reports spread through parts of the Muslim world claiming that the United States had been involved in the earlier seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by extremists.

Although the claim was untrue, Iranian radio broadcasts amplified the rumour, igniting outrage across the region. Pakistan was hit the worst as tensions were already high from political upheaval and strong anti-American sentiment following the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

A crowd of thousands gathered outside the embassy, chanting slogans and demanding retaliation. The protest quickly turned violent. The mob breached the compounds perimeter, set fire to buildings, and looted offices. Much of the embassy was engulfed in flames, forcing American staff to retreat to secure areas of the compound as they awaited rescue. Marine guards fought to defend the chancery and protect personnel, but the intensity of the assault left them vastly outnumbered.

Pakistani security forces were slow to intervene, partly due to confusion and partly due to the speed at which the protests escalated. After several hours, the Pakistani Army restored control and evacuated embassy staff. Two Americans reportedly died during the attack, along with at least one Pakistani soldier.

The war between China and India ended

The War of 1962 between China and India came to an end on this day. Fought primarily in the harsh Himalayan regions of Ladakh and the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh), it began over longstanding border disputes, especially the Aksai Chin plateau in the west and the McMahon Line in the east. Even after years of diplomatic exchanges, India and China failed to reconcile their territorial claims, leading to escalating tensions. This led to open warfare in October 1962.

Indian soldiers surrender to Chinese forces during Sino-Indian War in 1962. Wikimedia Commons

Chinas rapid military advances caught India off guard. The Peoples Liberation Army achieved significant gains, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, capturing towns such as Tawang and advancing close to strategic points deeper in the region. The Indian forces struggled to defend their positions due to poor equipment for high-altitude combat and winter conditions. The conflict generated deep political shock in India, triggered leadership crises, and led to a major rethinking of national defence policy.

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On November 20, China announced that it would halt military operations and withdraw to positions it held before the outbreak of hostilities in the Eastern Sector, although it retained control of Aksai Chin in the west. The following day, November 21, the ceasefire officially took effect. India, battered by losses and unprepared for prolonged fighting, accepted the ceasefire, though no formal agreement was signed between the two nations at the time.

The wars conclusion dramatically altered Asias geopolitical landscape. It hardened the India-China rivalry, reshaped Indias military strategy, and influenced future alliances.

This Day, That Year

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened to traffic in 1964.

The horror classic Frankenstein was released in the United States in 1931.

The viceroy of India, Lord Lytton, launched the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878.

With inputs from agencies
Udaipur is all decked up for what is being called wedding of the year. Netra Mantena, daughter of US-based pharma billionaire Rama Raju Mantena, is getting married to Vamsi Gadiraju. The celebrations will happen in the citys most iconic venues, including The Leela Palace, and on Lake Pichola. Apart from Donald Trump Jr, the US presidents son, American pop stars Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber, and Bollywood biggies are attending

Netra Mantena, daughter of US-based pharma billionaire Rama Raju Mantena, will get married to Vamsi Gadiraju. Image courtesy: Zola

Udaipur is gearing up for a star-studded celebration, as families, celebrities, and global VIPs arrive for the lavish wedding of Netra Mantena, daughter of US-based pharma billionaire Rama Raju Mantena, and Vamsi Gadiraju. The three-day festivities begin on November 21 and will wrap up with the wedding ceremony on Novemdber 23.

Whats making this wedding even more talked about is the guest list. US President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr, is among those attending, and he has already been spotted at the Taj Mahal in Agra.

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From Bollywood stars like Hrithik Roshan and Ranveer Singh to international icons such as Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber, reports suggest that some of the biggest names from India and abroad are expected to be part of the festivities.

Heres what we know so far

Meet the bride and the groom

Netra Mantena is the daughter of Padmaja and Rama Raju Mantena, the Orlando-based chairman and chief executive officer of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals.

She is set to marry Vamsi Gadiraju, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Superorder, a platform that helps multi-location restaurants streamline delivery, takeaway services, and manage day-to-day operations. Gadiraju has also led the development of several AI tools at Superorder, including an AI website builder for restaurants.

A graduate from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Gadiraju was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2024 (Food and Drink category) along with his co-founder.

He and his partner, Poddar, created Superorder as one central platform to simplify online ordering, customer experience, and digital management for restaurant chains. According to reports, his Upanayanam ceremony was performed on November 23 2025.

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All about the wedding of the year in Udaipur

The wedding celebrations are spread across some of Udaipurs most iconic venues, including The Leela Palace, Zenana Mahal, and the island palace on Lake Pichola, reports The Indian Express.

A massive musical night is lined up for Friday, with performances by Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Tiesto, Black Coffee, Cirque du Soleil, and DJ Aman Nagpal.

A long list of Bollywood stars is also expected to attend, including Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Nora Fatehi, Shahid Kapoor, Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Dia Mirza, Amyra Dastur, Sophie Choudry, and Madhuri Dixit Nene.

The ceremony is being designed and managed by Wizcraft Wedding Event Managers, with top decorators and planners involved in what is already being called the wedding of the year.

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The celebrations will highlight Indian culture through folk performances, traditional dance troupes, a curated regional menu, and rituals inspired by Mewar customs.

Who is Raju Mantena?

Rama Raju Mantena, Netras father, is a well-known name in the US pharmaceutical industry. He is the Chairman and CEO of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals, which has operations and R&D facilities in the US, Switzerland, and India.

Before founding Ingenus, Mantena set up several healthcare ventures, including ICORE Healthcare, which offers solutions to help health plans manage speciality treatment costs. International Oncology Network (ION), an oncology group purchasing organisation and OncoScripts, among the earliest oncology-focused speciality pharmacies.

According to reports, he holds a degree in clinical pharmacy from the University of Maryland and a bachelors degree in computer science and engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in India.

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With input from agencies
Passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020, the four labour codes were awaiting implementation as they had to be notified by states and the Centre. The labour ministry said the codes, which covered wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, would ensure better wages, safety, social security and welfare for the countrys workforce. Heres what you need to know.

The Centre has notified four new labour codes to replace 29 existing 29 laws in what it says is amongst the biggest labour reforms undertaken since Independence. Reuters

The Indian government has announced that four new labour codes will go into effect from today (November 21).

The Code on Wages, the Occupational Safety Code, the Code on Social Security and the Industrial Relations Code will replace the existing 29 laws in what the government says is amongst the biggest labour reforms undertaken since Independence.

Passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020, the codes were awaiting implementation as the Centre and states had yet to simultaneously notify them. The labour ministry said the codes  covering wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety  would ensure better wages, safety, social security and welfare for the countrys workforce.

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With expanded social security, stronger protections and nationwide portability of entitlements, the codes place workers, especially women, youth, unorganised, gig and migrant workers, firmly at the centre of labour governance, the ministry added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking to X, hailed the move.

Shramev Jayate!  These codes will serve as a strong foundation for universal social security, minimum and timely payment of wages, safe workplaces and remunerative opportunities  especially Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti.

Modi called the implementation of these laws the most comprehensive and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence. He added that the reform significantly simplifies compliance and promotes Ease of Doing Business.

But what do we know about these codes? And what does this mean for Indian workers?

Lets take a closer look.

The Code on Wages, 2019

The first of the four codes, the Code on Wages, melds four older laws concerning minimum wages, payment of wages, bonuses and equal remuneration. The biggest change here is streamlining the definition of wages. This must now comprise basic pay, dearness allowance and retaining allowance, with at least 50 per cent of total remuneration counted as wages.

This is a sea change from the present, where basic pay and dearness allowance comprise a small part of the ultimate CTC. This will result in increasing social security contributions such as Provident Fund (PF), Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Workmens Compensation and maternity benefits.

The Code on Wages, melds four older laws concerning minimum wages, payment of wages, bonuses and equal remuneration. The biggest change here is streamlining the definition of wages. This must now comprise basic pay, dearness allowance and retaining allowance, with at least 50 per cent of total remuneration counted as wages. Representational Image/ Freepik.

Experts say this will benefit employees particularly when it comes to taking larger lump-sum payouts when they retire. However, this is also likely to increase costs for the employer. They say employers will have to rework salary structures, employment contracts and variable pay components.

The code also lets the Centre establish a basic minimum wage threshold which states cannot undercut. All workers will also get appointment letters spelling out their designation, wages and social security entitlements  thus formalising their employment.

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The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

The Industrial Relations (IR) Code makes mass changes when it comes to hiring, firing and resolving disputes.

Companies who have up to 299 employees can now lay off staff without government approval. Earlier, that number was at 100 under the previous labour code. Experts say this will ease compliance and give smaller firms greater flexibility.

However, trade unions have opposed this on the grounds of protecting worker protections. They also say it will detract from job security.

Under the old laws, only workers in public utility firms were required to give two weeks notice before strikes. However, now this extends to all industries  thus doing away with flash strikes and shutdowns without notice.

The Code on Social Security, 2020

The Social Security Code is arguably the most game-changing of the codes. This is because it for the first time defines gig work, platform work and aggregators under the law. The code extends social security benefits such as PF, ESIC and gratuity to gig and platform workers.

Aggregators will now mandatorily have to set aside 1 to 2 per cent of their yearly turnover  not more than five per cent  for social security schemes.

The gig workforce has surged since the pandemic, with more than 23.5 million expected to be employed in the sector by 2030, up from around 10 million in 20242025, according to government think tank NITI Aayog.

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The Social Security Code for the first time defines gig work, platform work and aggregators under the law. The code extends social security benefits such as PF, ESIC and gratuity to gig and platform workers. Reuters

Fixed-term employees (FTEs), who mainly work in retail, e-commerce, logistics, IT services and manufacturing, can now qualify for gratuity after one year rather than five. It thus brings FTEs at par with permanent staff.

Meanwhile, workers in Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, based on employee strength, will get guaranteed minimum wages and access to basic facilities including canteens, drinking water and rest areas. It also provides a free annual health check-up for workers.

For mine workers, the Social Security Code treats certain commuting accidents as employment-related, subject to conditions of time and place of employment.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

The Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions (OSH) Code combines over a dozen laws pertaining to working conditions, factory safety, contract labour and migrant workers.

Businesses can now employ beedi and cigar workers for 12-hour shifts. However, the Centre has kept a weekly cap of 48 hours keeping in mind health and safety. Under the law, workers can only cross this cap if they agree to do so and for at least twice their normal wage. Plantation workers have been brought under the OSHWC Code as well as the Social Security Code.

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Women will now be allowed to work in night shifts if they consent to do so. Reuters

Women will now be allowed to work in night shifts if they consent to do so. The Centre has mandated a slew of safety and welfare measures such as mandatory written consent, double wages for overtime, safe transportation, CCTV surveillance and security arrangements. The OSHWC Code also covers digital and audio-visual workers such as journalists in electronic media, dubbing artists and stunt performers.

Experts say could benefit over time

Economists say the reforms could weigh heavy on small firms initially but strengthen protections and incomes over time.

In the short term, they may hurt small, unorganised firms, but in the long run  with minimum wages and increased social security, it could be positive for both working conditions and consumption, said Devendra Kumar Pant, chief economist at India Ratings & Research.

The labour rules, some dating back to British colonial rule, have long been seen by businesses as a drag on Indias manufacturing sector, which contributes less than a fifth to the countrys nearly $4 trillion (Rs 3,58,664 lakh crore) economy. It remains to be seen how the industry and employers respond to these changes.

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Labour unions remain opposed

Nearly a dozen labour unions on Friday issued a statement decrying the implementation of the codes as a genocidal attack and war on the working masses. The unions called upon workers to rise in rage and march alongside farmers on November 26 to demand its repeal.

Prior to the laws taking effect, the labour union representatives on Thursday met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The unions, in a joint memorandum to the finance minister, demanded the aforementioned laws be repealed and the previous 29 provisions be restored. They also demanded that the minimum wage be affixed at Rs 26,000 per month.

They also called on the government to extend the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to urban areas and to increase allocation for the rural employment scheme to make sure everyone gets 200 days of work with statutory minimum wages.

Not only are our suggestions and demands ignored, the government has been implementing policies diametrically opposite to those suggested by the unions, bypassing all tripartite, bipartite democratic mechanisms and institutions, the memorandum stated.

The labour codes have been implemented despite strong opposition from the trade unions and it will snatch the workers rights including fixed-term jobs and rights available under the earlier labour laws, said Amarjeet Kaur, national general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress.

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Nearly a dozen labour unions on Friday issued a statement decrying the implementation of the codes. PTI

Kaur previously said, We consider the four labour codes as negation of the labour rights won over after struggle of 150 years from British Raj onwards.

These codes negate our right to strike, make union registration problematic, de-recognition of unions easy, the process of conciliation and adjudication cumbersome, winding up labour courts and introducing tribunals for workers, giving overriding power to registrars to de-register unions, Kaur added.

But not everyone agrees.

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, met Labour Minister Mansukh Mandviya on Thursday to offer support for the Code on Wages and the Code on Social Security. The BMS called these codes historic and revolutionary.

However, the BMS added that it opposed some anti-worker provisions in the Industrial Relations Code and the OSH and WC Code.

The BMS had in August urged the Centre to consider implementing these labour codes in phases. They also said some provisions of the Industrial Relations Code and the Occupational Safety and Health and Working Conditions Code ought to be reconsidered.

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With inputs from agencies
The battle for Pokrovsk, which Russians refer to by its Soviet-era name Krasnoarmeysk, has been going on since the middle of 2024. Located in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, it was an important logistics hub for the Ukrainian army. Heres why Moscow badly wants to wrest control of it from Kyiv

An artilleryman of the 152nd Separate Jaeger Brigade fires a howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine October 15, 2025. (Image: Reuters)

What is Pokrovsk ?

Pokrovsk is a road and rail junction in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region with a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. It was previously an important logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, being situated on a key road which the troops used to supply other embattled outposts along the frontline.

However, most people have now fled, all children have been evacuated, and few civilians remain amid Pokrovsks pulverised apartment buildings and cratered roads.

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Ukraines only mine producing coking coal - used in its once vast steel industry - is around six miles (10 km) west of Pokrovsk. Mining operations there have been suspended.

Pokrovsk is also home to the regions largest technical university, which now stands abandoned, damaged by shelling.

Why does Russia want Pokrovsk ?

Russia wants to take the whole of the Donbas region, which comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. Ukraine still controls about 10% of Donbas - an area of about 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) in mostly northern Donetsk.

Capturing Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka to its northeast, which Russian forces are also trying to envelop, would give Moscow a platform to drive north towards the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

It would also leave Ukraines Dnipropetrovsk region to the west, where Russian forces say they have already established a foothold, more vulnerable to Russian advances.

Pokrovsk would be Moscows most important single territorial gain inside Ukraine since it took the ruined city of Avdiivka in early 2024.

Moscow wants to convince the West that its capture of the remainder of the Donetsk region is inevitable and that it would be better for Kyiv to voluntarily hand it over as part of a peace deal.

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Ukraine, which has so far rejected that idea, is anxious to show its Western partners that it can make the Russians pay a heavy price for relatively modest territorial gains and is therefore deserving of continued military and financial aid.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Donbas is now legally part of Russia. Kyiv and most Western nations reject Moscows seizure of the territory as an illegal land grab.

Some Western military analysts, like Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, say that capturing Pokrovsk would be an important win for Russia for operational reasons.

But Russia would still remain well short of its goal of controlling the rest of Donetsk, including the two fortress cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, Lee said.

Why has it taken so long?

Russia has been threatening Pokrovsk for more than a year. Instead of the full-frontal assaults it used in earlier battles like the bloody campaign for the similar-sized city of Bakhmut, Russias military has been using a pincer movement to gradually encircle Pokrovsk and threaten Ukrainian supply lines.

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Russian forces harry Ukrainian troops by sending in small units and drones to disrupt logistics and sow chaos before sending in larger reinforcements.

Ukraine says Russias offensive has seen its forces sustain huge losses. Moscow says it is Ukraine, with its significantly smaller population, that is at risk of running out of men and that its own slower tactics are designed to minimise casualties.

An incursion into Russias Kursk region by Ukrainian forces last year, which Moscow fought back, slowed the Russian attack on Pokrovsk.

Whats happening now?

In a statement on Friday, Kyivs 7th Rapid Response Corps said it was inflicting heavy losses on Russian troops and bolstering its own forces, including with drone units.

The enemy is trying to cross the railway to increase the area of occupation of the city, but our troops are blocking these attempts, it said.

The enemys troops in Pokrovsk are being ground down. As a result, the enemy is having to replenish its losses among personnel."

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Ukrainian open-source mapping group Deep State showed on Friday that Russian troops have pushed across the rail line running through Pokrovsk in two parts of the city, the first on November 14, and the second on November 20.

Gerasimov told Putin that Russian forces had taken a string of settlements adjacent to Pokrovsk and were destroying Ukrainian soldiers in the area.

Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports from either side due to reporting restrictions in the war zone.

Russias defence ministry released a video on Thursday said to show its soldiers moving freely through the southern part of Pokrovsk, patrolling deserted streets lined with charred apartment blocks.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow and by Dan Peleschuk in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Felix Hoske in Kyiv; Editing by Gareth Jones, Peter Graff and Hugh Lawson
The US and Russia have drafted a new proposal to end the war in Ukraine. The document includes 28 points and talks about Kyiv ceding the eastern Donbas region and limiting the size of its military in exchange for security guarantees from Washington. Moreover, it says that Moscow will be re-inducted into the G7, making it the G8. However, it is unlikely Volodymyr Zelenskyy will accept these terms

US President Donald Trump has drawn up 28-point plan for peace to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2024. The question is will Putin and Zelenskyy agree?

One thousand three hundred and sixty-six. Thats how long Russia and Ukraine have been fighting with no end in sight until now.

The Trump administration along with Russian officials have drafted a plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Reacting to Trumps 28-point peace plan, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he would engage constructively, honestly and operationally on it. His remarks came after a meeting with the US Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, whom the Trump administration had sent to Ukraine to help restart peace talks. Zelenskyy said American and Ukrainian teams would begin work on what he described as the points of the plan to end the war, without elaborating on what those were.

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But whats in the 28-point peace plan in Ukraine? Is it going to be enough to bring peace to the region?

Who has drafted the 28-point peace plan for Ukraine?

The plan to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war has reportedly been drafted by Russian and US officials, namely Steve Witkoff, the USs special envoy, and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund.

News outlet Axios reports that Witkoff had sought inputs for the plan from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The plan was reportedly agreed upon during three days of talks between Witkoff and Dmitriev at the end of October, with The Times reporting that Dmitriev said he was optimistic about it because we feel that Russias position is really being heard.

Its not yet clear if the 28-point plan is the final deal. While Zelenskyy has said that he has received one version of it, White House Press Secretary in a Thursday afternoon briefing noted that it remained in flux. Moreover, US officials said that plan was still being worked on, and that any final agreement would require concessions from both sides, not just Ukraine.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll prior to their talks in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Presidential press service/AFP

What are the terms laid out in Trumps 28-point plan?

The 28-point plan presented to Zelenskyy on Thursday is quite an extensive one and looks to end the war with both sides needing to make concessions.

These are the exact terms laid out in the plan presented to Zelenskyy.

1. Ukraines sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and Nato will not expand further.

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and Nato, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join Nato, and Nato agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.

8. Nato agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.

10. The US guarantee:

 The US will receive compensation for the guarantee;

 If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;

 If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;

 If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:

 The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centres, and artificial intelligence.

 The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernise, and operate Ukraines gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.

 Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernisation of cities and residential areas.

 Infrastructure development.

 Extraction of minerals and natural resources.

 The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:

 The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.

 The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centres, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

 Russia will be invited to rejoin the G7, making it the G8.

Ukrainian servicemen fire self-propelled artillery toward Russian positions, in an undisclosed area, in the Pokrovsk district, in the eastern Donetsk region. AFP

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:

 $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;

 The US will receive 50 per cent of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraines reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50.

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:

 Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

 Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.

 All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.

21. Territories:

 Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

 Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.

 Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.

 Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarised buffer zone, internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone.

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

 All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis.

 All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

 A family reunification program will be implemented.

 Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.

26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.

28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement.

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What does this plan mean for Russia and Ukraine?

At first glance, the 28-point peace plan seems more favourable to Russia. In fact, The Times reports If President Putin had a Christmas wish list, it would probably look something like the peace plan for Ukraine that was drafted by US and Russian officials in balmy Florida, far from the grinding front lines.

The plan is more extracting on Ukraine, as it demands that it cede hard-fought land to Moscow, partially disarm and surrender its stocks of US weapons. Moreover, Putin stands to gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Thats because the 28-point plan calls for Donbas region to be handed to Moscow even though Kyiv controls 14 per cent of it.

Many believe that Trumps 28-point peace plan is a capitulation and surrender to Russian President Vladimir Putin. File image/Reuters

Analysts have estimated that if the current situation is to be considered Russia would take another four years to take the land that the plan is now proposing to hand over to Moscow. A win-win, wouldnt you say?

Kyiv would also not be able to realise its dream of joining the Western military alliance of Nato  one of the core reasons why this war began in the first place.

The 28-point plan also provides Putin recognition on the global stage by adding Russia to the G7, making it the G8. Notably, Moscow was part of the G8 until 2014 when it was suspended for its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

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There is also mention of what role would the US play in case of Russian incursions into Ukraine once the deal is signed. The document as of now simply states that there would be a decisive coordinated military response in the event of further Russian incursions onto Ukrainian territory.

Kaja Kallas, the European Unions top diplomat, reacting to Trumps peace plan, noted: The pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it.

She further noted, We havent heard of any concessions on the Russian side.

Others also agree that Trumps 28-point plan rewards Putins aggression and emboldens him to strike elsewhere in Europe. Danylo Metelskyi, the director of the Center of Social Transformations, a nongovernmental organization based in Kyiv, told NBC News, The reported terms of Trumps plan create an extremely dangerous international precedent. If territories seized by force remain under the control of the aggressor state, it undermines the entire postwar global order.

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When asked if the plan was heavily tilted in favour of Moscow, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected it, saying the administration had talked equally with both sides to create it.

Its a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides, and were working very hard to get it done, she said.

Whats Zelenskyy reaction to the 28-point plan?

Meanwhile, on receiving the 28-point plan, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said that he will negotiate with Donald Trump on the matter, adding that he would speak to his US counterpart in the coming days about existing diplomatic opportunities and the main points that are necessary for peace.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would do nothing to disrupt any diplomatic efforts. Ukraine needs peace and Ukraine will do everything so that no one in the world can say we are upending diplomacy. This is important, Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine would issue no rash statements.

The American side presented points of a plan to end the wartheir vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure its all genuine.



We're geared up for clear and honest workUkraine, the U.S., our European and global partners. pic.twitter.com/DscaCBg4vW  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 20, 2025

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The number one task for everyone is a constructive diplomatic process with America and all our partners. It is vital to have stable support for our army and all our planned defence operations and deep strikes.

The cautious response from Ukraines presidential administration followed angry denouncements of the plan by some Ukrainian officials who called it absurd and unacceptable. In fact, some had even noted that the proposal was the effective end of its existence as an independent country.

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, on Wednesday. AP

While Zelenskyy may appear to be ready to negotiate, many worry that the Ukrainian president will eventually capitulate to Trump and the 28-point peace plan owing to the pressure he faces as a result of the $100 million corruption scandal, implicating one of his close associates, senior government officials and the countrys vital state-run energy company.

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The plan comes at a time when Russia has increased its systematic attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure, plunging much of the country into darkness. On Wednesday it bombed several western cities, including Ternopil, where 26 people, including three children, were killed in their homes.

With inputs from agencies
Shourya Patil, a 16-year-old student of St Columbas School in Delhi, died by suicide after jumping from Rajendra Place Metro Station, leaving behind a heartbreaking note, blaming his teachers and school headmaster. The boys parents claimed that the educators repeatedly ridiculed their son and put him under constant mental pressure

A 16-year-old Class 10 student from St Columbas School in Delhi died by suicide after jumping from the Rajendra Place Metro Station. His family and friends ar now demanding justice. Image courtesy: MoneyControl

In a deeply tragic incident, a 16-year-old Class 10 student from St Columbas School in Delhi died by suicide after jumping from the Rajendra Place Metro Station.

Before taking the step on November 18, the teen left behind a heartbreaking note, where he accused his teachers and the school headmaster of constant humiliation and mental harassment.

The incident has sparked shock and anger across the city. Two days later, a group of parents, neighbours and family friends gathered outside the school in Lutyens Delhi, demanding answers and justice for the boy. They are also demanding the arrest of teachers.

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Heres what we know so far

The suicide note

In his final note, Shourya wrote directly to his family, apologising and explaining the emotional burden he had been carrying. Sorry mummy, aapka itni bar dil toda, ab last bar todunga. School ki teachers ab hai hi aise, kya bolu, (Sorry mummy, I broke your heart many times and I am doing it for the last time. This is how the teachers in the school are, what do I say?)", he wrote.

He also apologised to his older brother, saying, Sorry bhaiya, I was rude to you, argued with you, disrespected you, and thanked his mother for always standing by him. He asked her to continue supporting his father and brother.

To his father, he wrote, Sorry papa, I should have been a good person like you.

In the most disturbing part of the note, he directly blamed the school. I am sorry but St Columbas teachers have done this to me, he said.

He added that his last wish was for action to be taken against those responsible: School ki teachers abh hai hi esse kya bolu Meri last wish hai inke uper action le, me hi chata koi aur bacha meri tarah kuch kare (the school teachers are like this, what can I say My last wish is that action be initiated against them. I dont want any other child to take such a step).

Shourya also wrote a phone number, asking whoever found the letter to call it. He ended the note with a request for organ donation, If any of my body works or is in condition to work kindly donate it to someone who really needs it.

In the FIR filed on Wednesday, his father, Pradeep Patil, named four staff members, the headmaster for classes 5 to 10, Aparajita Pal, and teachers Julie Varghese, Manu Kalra and Yukti Aggarwal Mahajan, accusing them of mentally harassing his son. Police have registered the case under sections 107 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

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Also read: Student suicides in India: An epidemic that is seeing a big spike

Parents accuse teachers of mistreatment

Shouryas father has claimed that the schools headmaster and three teachers repeatedly picked on his son, scolding him for even the smallest mistakes and putting him under constant mental pressure.

He said that Shouryas friends had told the family that one of the teachers, Julie Varghese, had allegedly been threatening the boy for four days, warning that he would be expelled and given a transfer certificate.

In the FIR, he also stated that another teacher, Manu Kalra, had once pushed Shourya during class.

The father further alleged that on Tuesday, the day the teenager died, Shourya slipped during a dramatics class and was ridiculed by teacher Yukti Mahajan, who allegedly told him he was overacting.

He said the scolding went on for so long and was so harsh that Shourya broke down in tears, only to be told that he could cry as much as he wanted because it did not matter to her.

Speaking to NDTV, Pradeep Patil said, The teachers kept on torturing himIt is unimaginable to tell a student this just 10 days before the pre-board exams.

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He also told PTI, Scolding is one thing, but constantly humiliating someone for even minute mistakes in front of everyone is unacceptable. The teachers were not just reprimanding, they were targeting, and this is being done with many of us.

Probe underway

The Delhi government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the teenagers death, announcing the move on Thursday. The Directorate of Education set up a five-member committee, told NDTV that it was imperative to determine the facts, circumstances, and any administrative lapses linked to the incident.

The committee will be led by Joint Director Harshit Jain and has been instructed to carry out a detailed and impartial investigation. It has also been asked to submit its report within three days.

Meanwhile, the schools principal, Robert Fernandes, said the headmaster would be suspended until further notice. He added that the headmaster and the teachers named in the FIR must stay available for questioning and cannot enter the school premises or interact with students, staff, or parents without permission.

With input from agencies
US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet on Friday in what is being touted as one of the most politically charged encounters in the White House. Their first face-to-face session follows months of personal attacks, turning a routine introductory meeting into an event grabbing international headlines

Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrates with his wife Rama Duwaji after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, at an election night rally in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, US, November 4, 2025. File Image/Reuters

A showdown months in the making will unfold on Friday, when United States President Donald Trump receives New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House for their first face-to-face meeting.

The Oval Office session, set for 3 pm EST, brings together two politicians who have defined themselves through conflict with each other.

Trump has attacked the mayor-elect relentlessly, calling him a 100% Communist Lunatic and a total nut job.

Mamdani, for his part, has cast Trump as the central adversary of his political movement, once describing himself as Donald Trumps worst nightmare.

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Yet both men insist the sit-down is ultimately about governance  affordability, safety, public services and, in the words of Mamdanis team, matters affecting the economic security of the city.

The White House also confirmed that the president himself announced the meeting online, stating, We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.

Their paths to this moment, however, have been anything but routine.

How a rivalry was forged on the campaign trail

Few mayors-elect have been defined by their relationship with a sitting president as much as Mamdani.

Even before the citys November election, Trump positioned himself as Mamdanis chief antagonist.

He publicly endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo  the former Democratic governor attempting a political comeback  and warned that New York faced a dire future if the 34-year-old democratic socialist prevailed.

On the eve of the election, Trump predicted the city had ZERO chance of success, or even survival under Mamdanis leadership.

Trump also resurfaced insinuations about Mamdanis citizenship, despite the fact that he was born in Uganda and became a naturalised US citizen after graduating college.

The president claimed he would consider having him arrested if the mayor-elect refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

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And in multiple interviews, Trump repeatedly insisted Mamdani was a communist, a label he continued using even after the election  including in a social media post where he referred to him as the Communist Mayor of New York City.

Mamdani responded by making Trump a centrepiece of his own message.

In debates, campaign events and his victory speech, he framed his candidacy as the antidote to Trumps influence on national and local politics.

During one primary debate, he declared, I am Donald Trumps worst nightmare, as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in.

When he triumphed on election night, Mamdani addressed Trump directly, telling supporters in Manhattan, Donald Trump, since I know youre watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!

If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

His rhetoric only escalated, adding, So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us you will have to go through all of us.

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This approach helped Mamdani consolidate his base in a city where Democratic voters were eager for direct confrontation with the administration. It also helped him distinguish himself from Cuomo, whom he accused of being overly accommodating to federal pressure.

Mamdani framed his opponent as a candidate who would capitulate to Trump, calling him a puppet of the president and criticising Cuomos record on handling Trump-era controversies.

The strategy worked.

Mamdani overcame a well-known former governor and a divided Democratic establishment, positioning himself as a younger, more combative progressive voice capable of taking on the White House.

How Trump used the conflict for political gain

For Trump, the presence of an outspoken democratic socialist running Americas biggest city created an opportunity to sharpen his contrast with Democrats.

In interviews and rallies, he repeatedly depicted Mamdani as emblematic of left-wing excess.

On CBS 60 Minutes earlier in the month, Trump said, If you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, previewing a broader Republican strategy for the 2026 congressional midterms.

He even claimed Mamdani will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party.

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The implication was clear: Trump viewed Mamdani as an ideal opponent  one whose progressive policies could energise conservative voters nationwide.

Those tensions will now play out in the confines of the Oval Office, where both leaders are expected to raise issues that formed the backbone of their respective agendas.

What Mamdani hopes to discuss with Trump

New York Citys rising cost of living dominated the mayoral race, and Mamdani has repeated that this would be the central subject of his meeting with the president. He has highlighted deep concerns about rent, childcare, wages and basic household expenses.

At a news conference outside City Hall, Mamdani told reporters, I have many disagreements with the president and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker.

He also confirmed that his administration reached out first to arrange the meeting, seeing the Oval Office discussion as an early opportunity to secure federal cooperation.

Im not concerned about this meeting. I view this meeting as an opportunity to make my case, and Ill make that case to anyone.

His team said the topics include public safety, affordability and long-term economic planning  areas they believe require collaboration regardless of political hostility.

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Mamdanis campaign promised one of the most ambitious policy agendas New York has seen since the mid-20th century, including proposals such as:

a citywide rental freeze

expanded access to childcare

structural changes aimed at supporting low-income families

measures to confront corporate price-setting and housing market distortions

He has argued that affordability is inseparable from safety, governance and civil rights.

When asked whether he intended to challenge Trumps threats of stepped-up immigration enforcement in the city, Mamdani responded by saying his priorities included preventing price gouging in their lives, as well as protecting them from ICE agents and making it clear that I will look to representing every single person.

How Trump has threatened the upcoming Mamdani mayoralship

Trump has repeatedly warned that a Mamdani-led administration could lose federal money.

Throughout the campaign season, he suggested he might withhold billions of dollars in federal support from New York if the democratic socialist won.

This would be a significant blow: according to the New York State Comptroller, the federal government is expected to provide $7.4 billion to the city in FY2026, representing 6.4 per cent of total municipal expenditures.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking anonymously to AP, has indicated that these funding threats have not been taken off the table.

While the official stated that little detailed planning has gone into the upcoming meeting, they reiterated that federal financial leverage remains an active point of consideration.

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These warnings are consistent with Trumps past approach in earlier political battles where he withheld or redirected federal funds from Democratic-led jurisdictions, typically framing the action as a response to mismanagement or ideological extremism.

New York is no exception. Trump frequently claims that the city is collapsing under progressive leadership  a narrative he hopes to amplify ahead of the midterm elections.

How the Trump-Mamdani meeting could unfold

While Trumps official schedule lists the session as private, he has a well-established pattern of inviting a small group of reporters at the last minute, transforming closed-door conversations into public confrontations.

Over the past year alone, Trump has held several high-drama Oval Office interactions with include a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in March, where the conversation devolved into visible irritation.

And lets not forget the bizarre encounter in May with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during which Trump dimmed the rooms lights and played a controversial four-minute video about alleged violence against Afrikaner farmers.

Given this track record, advisers and analysts expect a wide range of possible scenarios  though Mamdani himself insists he is unfazed.

He told reporters, Im not concerned about the president potentially trying to use the meeting to publicly embarrass me.

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Pressed further on whether he views the meeting as purely political, the mayor-elect clarified his intentions.

For me, its not about myself. Its about a relationship between New York City and the White House, the president, and the federal administration.

What next for Mamdani

Mamdanis victory marked one of the most consequential Democratic wins in the first major elections since Trump returned to office. Democrats swept multiple contests across the city, providing the party with momentum heading into 2026.

Mamdani, as part of a younger generation of Democratic leaders, has been positioned as a figure capable of mobilising diverse urban constituencies.

But his win also raises challenges. He has already acknowledged the difficulty of implementing what he calls the most ambitious agenda to tackle the cost-of-living crisis this city has seen since the 1940s.

His administration must contend not only with opposition from conservative groups but also with internal tensions among Democrats who differ on policy speed and scale.

And now, he must navigate a direct working relationship with a president who often deploys federal authority as a political weapon.

For Mamdani, the meeting is a chance to demonstrate that he can defend the citys interests on a national stage.

Mamdani will succeed Eric Adams as the next mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Deepak Chopra, a prominent Indian-American figure in the field of alternative medicine and a bestselling author, has been named in the newly released Epstein files. Chopra and the convicted sex offender exchanged emails about Donald Trumps second wife, Marla Maples, and an alleged sexual abuse lawsuit by a minor

He has built a carefully curated image, a man who preaches about inner purity and consciousness. An author, physician and prominent figure in the New Age movement, Deepak Chopra is a well-known Indian-American. He is seen by many as a visionary who brought millions to meditation and holistic living.

Now, his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, has raised eyebrows. Recently released documents by the US House Oversight Committee on Epstein exposed several of his powerful friends, and among them was Chopra. The files reveal a series of exchanges between the two between 2016 and 2018.

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Who is Deepak Chopra?

Deepak Chopra is a well-known wellness guru and a pioneer in alternative medicine and holistic wellness. He is a clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California. He is an author of over 95 books, including numerous The New York Times bestsellers. Over the last 30 years, he has built a global presence in the field of wellness.

Born in New Delhi in 1946, his life did not start as a spiritual celebrity. He first completed his schooling at St. Columba and later graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1969 in Delhi.

Chopra was trained as a physician before moving to the United States in the 1970s. At that time, the Indian government had barred doctors from taking the US licensing exam. He flew to Sri Lanka to take the exam, passed it and then arrived in New Jersey, according to a report by Times Now.

He became board-certified in internal medicine and worked at prominent hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess and the Lahey Clinic in the United States. Holding the position of chief of staff at New England Memorial Hospital, he secured an impressive rise at that time.

He went on to co-found the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, which focuses on meditation, Ayurveda and integrative health practices. He is now associated with several academic roles, including a senior scientist at Gallup and an honorary fellow in Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Chopra has also forayed into tech-based wellness, with some of his ventures focusing on AI-supported approaches to health and personal development.

What do Chopras email exchanges with Epstein reveal

The House Oversight Committee has released a new record of more than 20,000 pages of documents related to Epstein. This includes email exchanges between Deepak Chopra and the late paedophile.

Eight years after Epstein became a registered sex offender, in July 2016, Chopra asked him about Donald Trumps second wife, Marla Maples. Epstein said that he lost a bet to Trump over Maples pregnancy.

In the mail, he wrote to Chopra, When she told Donald she was pregnant. I lost a 10k dollar bet with him, and sent him a truck of baby food in payment.

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The wellness guru also wrote to Epstein in an e-mail, Anything we share is between us. To which Epstein responded, I share nothing with anyone but trust you."

In another email exchange from November 2016, Epstein shared a link to an article regarding a woman who had filed, then dropped, a civil lawsuit alleging that Trump had sexually assaulted her when she was a minor at a gathering linked to Epstein.

Chopra then asked Epstein, writing, Did she also drop the civil case against you?"

Epstein wrote, YuP." Chopra wrote back, Good.

Epstein invited the Indian-American to his Island and ranch. However, there is no evidence that he ever visited.

Chopras tone in several emails was personal. He signed off with Love, and at times used affectionate language, according to Times Now.

Who are other names linked with Jeffrey Epstein?

Epstein had a huge network of powerful friends that helped him get by. He knew politicians, royals, executives, and cultural figures. US President Donald Trumps association with Jeffrey Epstein is no secret. Before Trump became president and Epstein was convicted, the two socialised at high-profile parties in Florida and New York. However, they reportedly had a fallout.

Former President Bill Clinton often travelled with Epstein shortly after the Democrat left the White House in 2001. Now, Trump has called for the US Justice Department to investigate the relationship between the two.

Another name that has cropped up recently is that of former Harvard University president Larry Summers. He is taking leave while the institute investigates his ties with Epstein. Summers was also a former US treasury secretary.

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Britains Andrew is known for his ties with Epstein and has now been stripped of his titles.

Other prominent figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Steve Bannon have also been named in the Epstein files.

Now, Trump has signed a bill that orders the release of government files on Epstein. The US Justice Department has 30 days to publicly share all the information from the federal investigation. It remains to be seen if more dirt will be dug up.

With inputs from agencies
Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida has called for an investigation into Italian-sounding products, including a pasta sauce on the shelves of the European Parliaments supermarket in Brussels. Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy party has also written to the European Parliament president to demand an investigation

In Italy, food is a serious matter.

The dish from the Italian capital of Rome, famed all around the world, is as identifiable with Italy as pasta and pizza.

Little wonder then that the country is in an uproar over fake carbonara sauce. This after Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida has called for an investigation into Italian-sounding products including pasta sauce on the shelves of the European Parliaments supermarket in Brussels.

Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy party has also written to the European Parliament president to demand an investigation.

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But what happened? What do we know?

Lets take a closer look:

The pride of Italy

First, lets take a brief look at Carbonara. The dish comprises Italian pasta, pork, cheese, egg yolks and black pepper. The origins of the dish have been lost to history. However, there are a few leading theories.

The first is that the name comes from carbonaro (coal burners) and that it was made by those who work outside. Another theory is that American GIs, who were on limited rations during the Second World War, concocted the dish. Others claim it comes from the Carbonari or the Italian revolutionaries. Whatever the story, the dish is closely associated with Italy. Which explains why Italians like Lollobrigida are so touchy about it.

Lollobrigida, who belongs to Melonis Brothers of Italy party, said he stumbled across jars of creamy Italian-sounding pasta sauce being sold at the European Parliaments supermarket in Brussels.

He reserved much of his ire for a carbonara sauce that said it was made from Italiaanse pancetta as well as a tomato sauce comprising onions from Calabria.

Ignoring the pancetta in carbonara  all these products represent the worst of Italian-sounding products, Lollobrigida vented on Facebook. It is unacceptable to see them on the shelves of the European Parliament supermarket. I have asked for an immediate investigation. Lollobrigida has claimed that the products even bear the Italian flag.

A view of sliced pig cheeks and pecorino cheese used to prepare pasta Carbonara at La Carbonara restaurant in Campo de Fiori in Rome. Reuters

While the product made by Delhaize, a Belgian firm, does not lay claim to the sauce being Italian, it does use smoked pancetta rather than pork jowl. This, food enthusiasts and critics say, is akin to committing a culinary sin.

This gains even more significance given the fact that Italy is currently attempting to have its cuisine recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity product. The body is expected to render a decision in this case in December.

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Lollobrigida has claimed that Italian-sounding foods are watering down one of the most important aspects of Italian culture.

Our cuisine is simple, but not easy, Lollobrigida was quoted as saying by CNN at the Summer Fancy Food Festival in New York in July. The sea and the land give us what we need, and thanks to our processors we can count on exceptional product quality.

May be prosecutable

The Brothers of Italy partys delegation in Parliament earlier this week had vowed to submit a letter to President Roberta Metsola.

The improper use of symbols or references to Italianness on products that do not come from Italy may constitute a deceptive practice and therefore be prosecutable, Brothers of Italy head of delegation Carlo Fidanza told Euronews.

Under European law, a food product can be categorised as misleading consumers if its labelling is deemed to falsely depict its country of origin. Europes Parliament has said that the product has now been removed from the shelves of its supermarket.

Coldiretti, Italys biggest agribusiness association, has claimed that the scandal of fake Italian products costs the country 120 billion per year.

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Paradoxically, the biggest counterfeiters of Italian excellence are industrialised countries, Coldiretti told The Guardian. Due to the so-called Italian-sounding phenomenon, more than two out of three Italian agrifood products worldwide are fake, with no production or employment link to our country.

Carbonara brought to boil

This isnt the first time a stir has been caused in Italy over its cuisine. Last year, Heinz introduced a canned version of spaghetti carbonara  again using pancetta rather than guanciale  which resulted in Michelin-starred chef Alessandro Pipero likening it to cat food.

In 2023, food expert Alberto Grandi caused a row in Italy after claiming Carbonara is actually an American dish.

Grandi, a food historian at the University of Parma, wrote in La Repubblica that the value and history of Italian cuisine were surrounded by misunderstandings. Grandi, in an article in the Financial Times entitled Everything I, an Italian, thought I knew about Italian food is wrong, said the dish actually came from Americans who were in Italy after the Second World War.

Georgia Melonis party has written to the European Parliament. Reuters

Italian cuisine really is more American than it is Italian, Grandi claimed. Maybe once a year we ate amatriciana [a tomato-based recipe with bacon], when we could afford to kill a pig. But Id never heard of Carbonara before the war, he added. The first recipe that was publicised is from 1953 in Chicago. Many Italians went to America, so practically all the cooking  all the Italian kitchen  is Italo-American, Grandi was quoted as saying by Euronews.

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Many Italian classics from panettone to tiramisu are relatively recent inventions, he further added. For my father in the 1970s, pizza was just as exotic as sushi is for us today, he told the newspaper.

With inputs from agencies
Fofo, or fear of finding out, is essentially a psychological roadblock that stops people from digging deeper into a potential problem because theyre terrified of what they might discover. But the good news is you can always overcome this. Heres how

FOFO, short for the fear of finding out, is essentially a psychological roadblock. Its what stops someone from digging deeper into a potential problem because theyre terrified of what they might discover. Image for Representation

Most of us know what Fomo feels like, that anxious buzz that everyone else is doing something exciting while were left out. But theres another, much more sneaky, kind of fear that many people are struggling with today, and it has nothing to do with missing out.

Its the fear of finding out, or Fofo, a worry so real that people avoid checking their health reports, opening bank statements, or even reading a difficult email. Instead of facing uncomfortable information, many prefer not to know at all.

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As conversations around mental health grow, Fofo is now being recognised as a surprisingly common emotional response. And experts say its becoming more widespread, especially in a world filled with constant pressure, bad news cycles, and overwhelming responsibilities.

So what exactly is Fofo, where did the term come from, and how do you deal with a fear that makes you want to stay in the dark?

What exactly is Fofo?

Fofo, short for the fear of finding out, is essentially a psychological roadblock. Its what stops someone from digging deeper into a potential problem because theyre terrified of what they might discover.

In everyday life, Fofo can look like avoiding meaningful conversations with someone who matters, putting off legal or regulatory issues you know need attention, or delaying important system upgrades because you suspect the problems run deeper.

It also shows up when someone refuses to revisit a strategy that clearly isnt working, or avoids constructive feedback even though it could help them grow.

These habits may seem small, but Fofo can create real damage, at home, at work, and in relationships.

Where did the term come from?

The idea of Fofo first surfaced in the medical world. Researchers used it to describe people who were too scared to seek medical advice, even when they were unwell.

This fear is more common than we think. An American survey cited by TIME found that three out of five adults avoid recommended medical screenings because theyre afraid of receiving embarrassing or difficult results.

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Another survey highlighted a worrying drop in routine check-ups, only 51 per cent of adults went in for screenings in 2025, a 10 per cent fall from the previous year.

Over time, the concept expanded far beyond healthcare. Fofo is now used to explain all kinds of avoidance behaviour, whether its personal, professional, financial, or emotional.

An American survey cited by

Why does Fofo happen?

Like many things, it stems from anxiety. Its an attempt to control an uncertain situation, psychologist Lynn Bufka told Elle. Avoiding what scares us offers a temporary sense of relief, even if it creates bigger problems later.

FOFO can also be driven by past negative medical experiences, the fear of a diagnosis that carries stigma (like an STI), a general fear of doctors, known as iatrophobia, or simply the dread of having to undergo treatment.

Also read: Embracing the Joy of Missing Out: How to ditch fomo and foster jomo

How can you overcome Fofo?

Experts say one of the first steps is to weigh the pros and cons of getting a particular test versus avoiding it. The advantages might include catching a medical condition early and treating it. The drawback, of course, is confronting the anxiety of a possible positive result.

In the long run, the pros of getting the test outweigh the cons, Jonathan Abramowitz, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told TIME.

But, as he points out, as human beings, we tend to do what makes us feel better in the short term, which is why many people keep delaying screenings.

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If youre someone who keeps putting things off, it helps to examine why. Abramowitz said that people often underestimate their own ability to cope: If youre worried that if the results are positive and what that would mean, you may be underestimating your ability to manage it.

Lynn Bufka, a psychologist and head of practice at the American Psychological Association, told the magazine that it is important to ask yourself whether fear or anxiety should be making your decisions for you. She suggests reflecting on questions like: What will happen if I keep avoiding this? Is the risk worth it? How will I feel about this decision a year from now?

Facing the fear helps us make choices that are more in line with our values, she told the outlet.

with input from agencies
The National Health Service in the UK is facing an accelerating exodus of internationally trained doctors, with new data showing departures at their highest level in a decade. Rising discrimination, limited training opportunities, pay disputes and burnout are contributing to the trend, heightening fears over a shrinking medical workforce

A person walks past images of National Health Service (NHS) workers displayed on hoardings outside a temporary field hospital at St George's Hospital in London, UK, January 8, 2022. File Image/Reuters

United Kingdoms National Health Service (NHS) is confronting a rapid rise in the number of internationally trained doctors leaving the country.

Recent figures show that the departure of foreign-trained doctors has reached levels not seen in years, raising alarms about the sustainability of a service already grappling with workforce shortages.

Newly released data from the General Medical Council (GMC) indicates a sharp rise in the number of doctors with qualifications from outside the UK exiting the medical workforce.

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The numbers behind the doc exodus in the NHS

According to the regulator, 4,880 doctors trained abroad left the UK in 2024, compared with 3,869 the year before  an increase of 26 per cent. This number is also the highest recorded in the past decade.

The NHSs reliance on staff recruited from overseas is substantial; around 42 per cent of all doctors practising in the UK have medical degrees from foreign institutions.

This dependence has long been viewed as a central pillar of the health services functioning, especially in specialities where domestic training numbers have not kept pace with demand.

GMC chief executive Charlie Massey warned that the NHS must prepare for deeper structural risks if retention continues to deteriorate.

He cautioned, Doctors represent a mobile workforce, whose skills are in high demand around the world. Internationally qualified doctors who have historically chosen to work in the UK could quite conceivably choose to leave if they feel they have no future job progression here, or if the country feels less welcoming.

Any hardening of rhetoric and falling away of support could undermine the UKs image as somewhere the brightest and the best from all over the world want to work. It is vital that workforce policies do not inadvertently demoralise or drive out the talent on which our health services depend If we see even a small percentage increase in them leaving, our health services will end up with huge holes that theyll struggle to fill.

The rise in departures has come alongside a slowdown in new arrivals. A total of 20,060 overseas-trained doctors joined the UK medical register in 2024, marginally higher than the 19,629 who did so in 2023, marking the smallest increase since 2020.

This levelling-off in incoming numbers, at a time when outgoing numbers are growing, has contributed to mounting fears that a longstanding pipeline of migrant doctors may begin to shrink.

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Why overseas doctors are leaving the NHS

While the motivations behind the recent wave of departures vary, health leaders say changing attitudes toward migrants and rising instances of discrimination are playing a significant role.

Reports from doctors, hospital trusts and representative associations suggest that many non-UK clinicians are questioning whether they feel safe, respected or valued.

NHS Providers, which represents trusts across the country, has heard repeatedly from senior managers that discrimination and hostility from parts of the public are increasing.

Some chief executives have reported that NHS staff feel uneasy entering certain areas where St Georges flags are heavily displayed, with workers describing them as creating no-go zones.

Staff visiting homes to provide community treatment have expressed feeling intimidated by these displays, particularly when combined with previous instances of verbal hostility.

A poll by NHS Providers found that 45 per cent of senior managers were extremely concerned about discrimination faced by clinical staff. Another 33 per cent expressed moderate concern, reflecting a widespread belief among trust leaders that conditions have worsened.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently signalled his own concern about rising racial hostility, saying that the climate resembled earlier decades when marginalised groups faced widespread abuse.

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The Royal College of Nursing has similarly highlighted a surge in racist abuse directed at staff.

How career obstacles in the UK are pushing docs to move abroad

One of the most significant challenges is the difficulty new arrivals face in securing training positions or substantive posts soon after registration.

The GMC found that in 2024 only one in eight newly registered international doctors secured a designated NHS post within six months, a substantial drop from earlier years.

By contrast, one in five found such positions within that timeframe in 2023, and one in four did so in 2022.

This dramatic decline has caused concern among both regulators and workforce planners, particularly as early employment opportunities are crucial for progression.

As competition has increased, pressure on training places has become a decisive factor. Around 30,000 doctors applied for 10,000 training places, with international medical graduates making up roughly two-thirds of that applicant pool.

Streeting has committed to reviewing this structure, saying, One of the things that Im doing is putting an end to the absurdity where homegrown talent are having to compete for the same training places on equal terms against people whove trained overseas. I think its crackers. I think its unfair to our own doctors. I also think it doesnt help this country with unmanageable levels of net migration.

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He added that he was exploring whether legal changes could be made sooner than expected.

Although the government has argued that prioritising UK-trained doctors will help reduce migration pressures and support domestic graduates, the GMC has warned that heavily restricting opportunities for internationally trained doctors could undermine recruitment efforts and deter clinicians from relocating to the UK at a time when they are urgently needed.

How burnout has contributed to the exodus

Years of high demand, unresolved pay disputes and rising stress levels have contributed to a sense of fatigue across the medical workforce.

In the summer of 2024, resident doctors  previously referred to as junior doctors  undertook a five-day strike as part of a broader dispute with the government over pay, conditions and career progression.

This came during a period when many clinicians already described feeling overwhelmed by increasing caseloads, rota gaps and difficulty maintaining safe levels of care.

A GMC survey in August 2025 revealed that 20 per cent of doctors were considering leaving the profession in the UK, while one in eight were contemplating working abroad.

Some of those leaving are among the most senior, with a quarter of the departing doctors aged 40 or older, representing a significant loss of institutional memory and mentoring capacity.

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Where UK docs are headed

The GMCs data also shows where departing doctors are choosing to continue their careers. Australia remains the most common destination for UK-trained doctors, with Canada and Ireland also seeing notable numbers of arrivals from Britain.

These countries offer more competitive pay packages, better staffing ratios, clearer pathways for career advancement and less intense workloads  all strong draws for clinicians already worn down by challenging conditions at home.

This move abroad has become sufficiently common that some NHS trusts have begun acknowledging it openly in workforce planning discussions.

Health leaders warn that replacing these losses is extremely difficult, particularly when the same nations attracting UK doctors also recruit from similar talent pools.

How this is affecting the UK taxpayer

The increasing number of clinicians leaving soon after completing their UK-based training represents a significant financial cost to the public purse.

Estimates from the University of Kent suggest that training a consultant doctor costs around 420,533. If more than 4,000 doctors leave in a year, the combined value of their publicly funded training could reach roughly 1.7 billion.

Although health service employers have insisted that the proportion of doctors who move overseas has not changed significantly in a decade  remaining at approximately 1 per cent of the total workforce  the growing size of the workforce means the absolute number of those leaving is rising steadily.

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As part of a broader 10-year health workforce plan, the government has committed to reducing the proportion of doctors hired from outside the UK from 34 per cent to 10 per cent, while also increasing places for domestic medical students and speciality trainees.

Streeting has described the NHS as broken, outlining intentions to expand general practice and specialist training places by 1,000 slots over three years.

With inputs from agencies
An Indian Air Forces Tejas fighter plane has crashed at the Dubai Air Show. The pilot died in the crash.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas Mark 1A, a light combat aircraft, takes off ahead of its maiden flight at HAL Nashik, India, on October 17, 2025. (Photo: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters)

An Air Forces (IAF) Tejas fighter plane on Friday crashed at the Dubai Air Show. The pilot died in the accident.

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident, the IAF said in a statement.

The Tejas crashed around 2:10 pm local time while the plane was flying a demonstration flight.

The news agency PTI has shared a video of the crash.

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VIDEO | Dubai: A Tejas fighter jet taking part in the Dubai Air Show nosedived during an aerial display and crashed this afternoon. The HAL-manufactured aircraft went down around pm local time while performing manoeuvres in front of a large audience. An official statement from pic.twitter.com/qirtaKLivu  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

The IAF further said that a court of inquiry was being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The Dubai government also confirmed the accident and said and that firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site.

India has inducted around 40 indigenous Tejas Mark 1 fighters into two squadrons Flying Daggers and Flying Bullet so far and placed orders with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 180 more aircraft of the advanced Mark 1A variant.

These two Tejas squadrons were initially deployed in Salur, Tamil Nadu, and one of these squadrons was recently moved to the border state of Rajasthan.

Three Tejas fighters were part of the IAFs contingent at the Dubai Air Show. The contingent also included the Suryakiran aerobatic team.

The global event, with participation from over 100 Air Forces, aims to enhance interoperability, operational edge, and foster military as well as business cooperation. The event is scheduled to take place at Al Maktoum Airbase from 17 to 21 November 2025, the IAF said in a statement earlier this month.

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In the journey towards a Sharia-governed state, highly regressive regulations to persecute women and minorities are likely to follow

Bangladesh is getting a booster dose of Islamist radicalisation. It is witnessing significant developments that are going unnoticed in the global media. However, they mark significant steps in Dhakas onwards march towards Islamisation, emulating Pakistans playbook. One such event was an international conference on the concept of Khatm-e-Nabuwat, ie, the finality of prophethood, held in the Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque after the Jumma prayer on January 3, 2025.

According to this concept, the idea of Prophet Mohammad being the final one is the central tenet of Islam, and any deviation from this is tantamount to apostasy. Ali Omar Yaqub Abbasi, Imam of Masjid Al-Aqsa in Palestine, attended the conference as the chief guest. In the two-session conference, the first session was presided over by Junayed Al Habib, the executive president of International Majlish-e Tahaffuje Khatme Nubuwwat, while Acting President Sajidur Rahman chaired the second session.

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The direct fallout of this idea is on the Qadianis, or Ahmadiyya Muslims, who reject Prophet Mohammad as the last one. Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani, secretary general of Khatme Nubuwwat Majlis Bangladesh, informed The Daily Star, Bangladeshs prominent newspaper, that they would demand that the government categorise the Qadiani community in Bangladesh as non-Muslim.

On November 15, 2025, the International Fida-e-Millat Conference 2025 was organised in Dhaka at the Diploma Engineers Institution Auditorium. Maulana Fazlur Rahman, President of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e Pakistan, arrived to attend this conference, along with many other Islamist events. According to Salauddin Shoaib, Bangladeshs veteran journalist and expert on counterterrorism and radicalisation, Maulana Saiyed Mahmud Asad Madani, President of Jamiat-e Ulama-e Hind, India, joined this conference as the chief guest.

Notably, Indias Maulana Madni, the tallest figure in the Deobandi sect, is attending the event that openly advocates the banishment of Ahmadiyya Muslims. It is crucial to understand the deep-rooted meanings of this development. The Indian government is projecting Deoband as a front-runner in its diplomatic engagement with the Taliban without realising that the Deobandi school is the fountainhead of fundamentalism and extremism in South Asia.

In Pakistan, the entire gamut of the South Asian jihadist ecosystem is dominated by the Deobandis. The doyens of Jihadism in South Asia, such as Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), Harakat ul-Ansar (HUA), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Taliban, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), subscribe to the Deobandi school of thought.

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Most recently, Maulana Irfan Wagay was caught in the JeMs Kashmir-Faridabad module that allegedly planned to orchestrate bomb explosions at multiple locations. He studied at Dar-ul-Uloom Bilaliya in Lal Bazaar, followed by Bahar-ul-Uloom Darzgah in UP. Initially, he was under the Jamaat-e-Islami influence; later, he was radicalised under the Deobandi-Salafi influences.

In this context, the participation of a Deoband leader in a conference attended by hardcore Islamist leaders from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Europe and Nepal, demanding the declaration of Ahmadiyya Muslims as non-Muslims, speaks volumes about the dubious credentials of the Deoband establishment.

Reportedly, several prominent Islamist clerics from Pakistan, Turkey, Nepal, and the UK attended the conference. Their participation sufficiently suggests that global pan-Islamist forces are making substantial inroads in Bangladesh.

After 2005, the Sheikh Hasina government unleashed a massive crackdown on Islamist elements; however, after her ouster, they are making an aggressive comeback, making Bangladesh fertile ground for the advancement of global pan-Islamist forces. In these conferences, the most prominent demand is to declare Qadianis as non-Muslims. Until recently, the Islamists were persecuting Iskon and the non-Muslim minorities. Now they have started targeting Qadianis.

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This is the replication of Pakistans playbook of Islamisation. In Pakistan, in the early 1950s, the Islamisation drive began with anti-Ahmediya riots and a campaign by the Deobandi extremists. Later, it resulted in persecution of Ahmediyas and banishment from Islam. In parallel, Deobandi activism in anti-Ahmediya riots strengthened their grassroots support base and muscle power. The state began to view them as powerful assets and proxies to pursue Jihadist projects.

Later, as we all know, after 1979, Pakistan became a breeding ground of the Harkat terrorist network  an array of terrorist groups subscribing to Deobandi ideology. Later, other Deobandi terrorist groups like the Taliban, JeM and TTP came up.

In Bangladeshs case, things can get worse. Dhaka is already far ahead in its journey towards Islamisation. It is home to a range of terrorist and extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Ansarullah Bangla, Jamaat-ul-Mujahiddin Bangladesh, HuJI Bangladesh, local Islamic State units, and an umpteen number of lone-wolf extremists.

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With these powerful Islamist movements like Khatm-e-Nabuwat, with robust linkages to Pakistan, becoming powerful, it seems that it is the final devastating blow to Islamise the state, governance, and constitution. In this journey towards a Sharia-governed state, highly regressive regulations to persecute women and minorities are likely to follow.

(The author is a Cornell University graduate in public affairs, bachelors from St Stephens College, Delhi and has done his PhD on Jaish-e-Mohammad. He is a policy analyst specialising in counterterrorism, Indian foreign policy and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
The future of the AES depends on how well it tackles governance and security-related challenges, and for that it needs Ecowas as well as the Western world

Flags of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali are seen during a demonstration that was called by Mali's Junta to support their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc 'Ecowas', in Bamako, Mali, February, 2024. Reuters

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, was announced in 2023. All three countries are under military rule, having severed ties with France, and came together to establish a framework for political, economic and security cooperation. All three countries formally exited the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) this year, claiming that the bloc did not safeguard the interests of its members and was closely aligned with the Western powers.

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AES positions itself as a regional organisation that espouses values of sovereignty and freedom from colonial influence. All three military-ruled states are closely aligned with Russia; however, the AES has failed at the fundamental job for which it was formed  providing security to its citizens and establishing the writ of the state.

Roots of Islamist Insurgencies

The Sahel region comprises Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. Since gaining independence in the 1960s, many countries in the Sahel have suffered from weak and illegitimate governance, economic decline and climate change, conditions which are conducive for violent extremism to flourish in the Liptako-Gourma region, located at the borderlands of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

However, the collapse of the Libyan state in 2011 was a turning point, as it led to the proliferation of arms and fighters in the region. The porous borders of the three states, along with weak governance structures, structural vulnerabilities, local grievances and limited state presence, were easy targets for groups such as Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) to establish a presence, while disputes over grazing and farmland, along with marginalisation of local communities, led to easy recruitment of fighters in these groups. These groups are directly involved or are facilitating illegal activities such as arms trafficking, smuggling and illicit mining.

Weak governance and ineffective security have allowed these groups to operate in the region with relative impunity. High-profile attacks targeting civilians, infrastructure and outposts have become very frequent in recent years, impacting education and health in these three countries even though they have poor indicators in the human development index (HDI). Escalating violence in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has made West Africa one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in the world, while 3.5 million people are cut off from humanitarian assistance, compounding the crisis unfolding in these three countries.

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Security Failures and Operational Challenges of AES

AES was formed to establish security, economic and political cooperation. Although these countries promised that the bloc would disrupt the existing order in West Africa, the security situation in these three countries has not improved, challenging their assertion. Limited resources, both financial and physical, along with inadequate training, have not been conducive for joint counterterrorism efforts.

The alliance aligned with Russia and its state-funded paramilitary force, Wagner; however, the outcomes have not been desirable even though military rulers initially welcomed the Russian assistance and approved of the no-strings-attached approach of the Wagner Group.

The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights abuses, undermining local governance and intensifying conflict dynamics, alienating the local population. In 2024, the Wagner Group suffered a defeat when JNIM and Tuareg separatists ambushed a joint Malian-Wagner convoy in Northern Mali. This shattered the myth of Wagner being an effective military force.

Although Russia has established the Africa Corps to consolidate its operations and maintain influence in the region, it is suffering from a recruitment shortage and waning capacity. The high-profile attacks conducted with such impunity and the failure of the Wagner Group to stabilise the region put a question mark on the viability of AES.

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Socio-Economic Factors and Legitimacy Crisis

Poverty, unemployment and climate-related crises have impacted governance. Agriculture remains the backbone of these three countries; however, the agricultural productivity is low, and despite the majority of the workforce being employed in the sector, the agricultural production remains insufficient to meet the needs of the local population, and over 6 million people suffer from food insecurity. The conflict has further exacerbated food insecurity, as starvation as well as attacking crops and livestock has been used as warfare tactics. The temperatures in the Sahel are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average, impacting livelihoods.

The absence of the state to address the crisis impacting the population at large fuels grievances. The governments in these three countries. The marginalisation of ethnic and pastoral communities along with unresolved land disputes has also been a factor in enhancing insecurity and a weak spot which the Islamist groups have exploited. The military rule in all three states, coupled with the rulers anti-Western stance, has alienated both the Western world and the region from one another. The exit from Ecowas also isolated these three countries, as they cannot leverage global as well as regional assistance to tackle security challenges.

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Looking Ahead: Prospects and Limitations

The future of AES depends on how well it tackles governance and security-related challenges, and for that it needs Ecowas as well as the Western world. Taking assistance from Russia has also not served the AES, as security situations have not improved. Therefore, it is imperative that AES countries take large-scale reforms to address complex challenges and reassess their relationship with the global community.

(The writer is Research Fellow, India Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
The 27th amendment to the Pakistan constitution received the assent of President Asif Ali Zardari on November 13. It came into effect immediately. It brought in fundamental changes in the countrys judicial set-up by setting up a Constitutional Court and reducing the Supreme Courts jurisdiction to only civil and criminal matters.

The amendment also introduced fundamental changes in the command structure of the countrys defence services. It did so by amending Article 243, which deals with the Armed Forces of Pakistan. Now, the army chief will also be concurrently chief of the Defence Forces. With that, the office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee stands abolished. This has greatly strengthened the constitutional position of army chief.

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The 27th amendment is continuing to be greatly criticised by sections of the countrys liberal elite and legal fraternity as well as academia and some political circles. Writing on the amendment, Pakistans leading newspaper Dawn noted, The separation of powers and basic structure established by the 1973 Constitution of Pakistanwhich envisioned an independent judiciary and armed forces subservient to the civilian dispensationnow stands terminated. The irony isnt lost here that instead of the military, an independent judiciary has been amended away into a subservient department of the executive branch.

In the same vein, Maleeha Lodi, an eminent journalist turned diplomat, wrote after the amendment was tabled but before it was passed, Pakistans slide into authoritarianism has been unmistakable over the past three years or more. Now a fresh move will reinforce the trend of democratic regression. The 27th constitutional amendment tabled in parliament will alter the countrys judicial structure with significant implications for governance and democracy.

These liberal views on the amendment are hypocritical. The fact is that the Pakistani elites and scholarly circles have never really cared for constitutional and democratic values. Throughout Pakistans history they have been ever willing to sacrifice the basic tenets of democracy for their own interests.

Besides, there is another reason why they have never stood up to the army. This is because it has instilled in the people of Pakistan, including in the elites, a fear of India as the countrys perpetual enemy. This has led the people to make sacrifices for the army. These have included allowing the men in khaki to milk the land for their own benefit. There is perhaps no army in the world which is as large a countrys industrial behemoth as the Pakistan army is. All this would not have been possible except with the concurrence of the people, which includes the Pakistani elites.

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The constitutional amendment formally makes the army chief the chief of the defence forces. In reality this has always been so. The Pakistan army considers the air force and the navy as technical elements. They have never been willing to share power with them either when they have ruled the country directly on four occasions in the past or when they have controlled elected or civilian governments from behind the scenes. On their part, the air force and navy have accepted this situation because of the crumbs they have been given through arrangements for housing or getting a part of the spoils in the armys industrial conglomerate.

Despite the humiliating defeat of Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, the unchecked power of the Pakistani army chief was in sharp display. The India-Pakistan military engagements were of an aerial nature, where the two countries air forces engaged each other. There was no movement of ground troops, though both countries used their firepower to shell each others areas. Thus, the Pakistan army did not engage its Indian counterpart, and yet it was the army chief who was made a field marshal!

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This is undoubtedly the first time in military history that a four-star army chief has got the fifth star without his force going into action. Normally, there would have been great unhappiness in the air force about Asim Munir becoming a field marshal, but there is no evidence that this was so. This shows how far the men in khaki dominate Pakistan, and that includes its air force and army.

In this context it would not be surprising that even though President Donald Trump may call Asim Munir his favourite field marshal and give him lunch at the White House, he would have little respect among his peers in the major armies of the world. Certainly, the fifth star on his epaulette has not been earned. It is not known how the corps commanders in the Pakistan army have considered his appointment as field marshal.

Naturally, the men would never comment publicly, but, in time, their sentiments would become known about what was clearly a star given by the present Pakistani elected leadership for political reasons and not for any military skill demonstrated by Asim Munir. Yes, he is a Hafiz-e-Koran, but that also is not a skill which merits the rank of field marshal except perhaps in the land of the pure!!

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As for the creation of a Constitutional Court, it does not alter the tradition of the Pakistan judiciary really being the handmaiden of the Pakistan army. This has been the case except for brief periods when it has exercised its independence, but it did that only when it felt that it was safe to do so. The tradition of judicial subservience to the army goes back to the days of the first army coup by General Ayub Khan in 1958. He set aside Pakistans constitution, which had taken nine years to establish, only two years after its adoption.

The matter went to the Pakistani judiciary, which justified it on the basis of the doctrine of necessity. It is generally believed that this was the first time that the Pakistani courts used this doctrine.

However, a note on the website of the Asian Human Rights Commission of 2007 notes, This doctrine was first used in 1954, just seven years after the creation of Pakistan. The Governor-General, Ghulam Mohammad, dissolved the first Constitutional Assembly and the government of Prime Minister Khawja Nazim Uddin. This motion was challenged in the Sindh High Court, which held that the dissolution had been illegal and unconstitutional. However, on appeal, the Chief Court of Pakistan, which was later renamed the Supreme Court, decided that the governor-general had acted correctly. Then Chief Justice Muhammad Munir thus created the so-called doctrine of necessity.

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A judiciary which has relied on this doctrine to justify coups has at times sought to assert itself, but it has done so only when it has felt safe to do so. When it was confronted with danger, it did not. Thus, it upheld the death sentence against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. That judgement has rightly been called a judicial murder. Yes, it held former Pakistan President and earlier army chief Pervez Musharraf guilty of treason, but that was only after he was no longer army chief. It was then safe for the judges to do so.

This does not mean that there are no judges without the right judicial conscience in Pakistan, but as an institution the Pakistan judiciary has a very poor record, and it has never been really independent. Hence, it matters little if now major cases involving the political life of the country are heard by a Constitutional Court which is likely to be aligned with the powers that be, especially the army.

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Those who seek a democratic Pakistan chase a mirage. That is because the fault lies in the very ideology which created it, and there is no way the army will be willing to give it up. Thus, Pakistani liberal opinion is of little consequence, and those in India who think it matters, or one day it will, are simply mistaken.

(The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
Approval by the UN Security Council means Trumps Gaza plan is now effective, making him the new czar in West Asia; however, only an enduring peace will decide his prospects of winning the Nobel Peace Prize

On Monday, the UN Security Council (UNSC), with a vote of 13-0, Russia and China abstaining, approved resolution No 2803, which was basically US President Donald Trumps Gaza peace plan. This resolution legalises the establishment of the Board of Peace, which would coordinate an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to oversee governance, reconstruction and security of Gaza. Approval by the UNSC means that Trumps Gaza plan is now effective, making him the new czar in the Middle East.

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The resolution places Trump as the head of the Board of Peace with Tony Blair as his assistant. Who else will be on the board is unknown. The Board will report to the UNSC, not be subordinate to the UN, nor be bound by any earlier resolutions.

This implies that the ISF will not be funded as other UN missions. Where the financing will come from remains a question. It is expected that troops would be provided by Muslim and Arab states only. While Arab states would cater for their own troop payments, other financially weak Muslim nations would have issues. The troop strength and also command and control structures need careful evaluation.

The resolution does state a future Palestine, though in vague terms, mentioning, conditions may be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. While this may be to satisfy demands of Muslim nations, it angers Israel.

The US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated prior to the vote, The draft UNSC resolution was forged in the fires of diplomacy with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. He implied that the agreement flowed from discussions which President Trump held with Arab and other Muslim states on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, though the final draft was not based on their views.

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Post the initial announcement of Trumps 20-point Gaza peace plan, Muslim nations, including Pakistan, mentioned that it was not in consonance with what was presented in the meeting. The plan was altered to suit Israel, post Trump meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The US is courting Muslim nations to ensure its implementation.

The ISF will be responsible for stabilising and securing the region, supporting demilitarisation, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, decommissioning weapons and catering for the safety of Palestinian civilians. While the mandate is vast, stages of implementation are unknown. Many, including Muslim nations, backed the resolution, while some claimed it lacked clarity.

The Russian representative mentioned that it should not become a death knell for a two-state solution. China stated that Palestine sovereignty and ownership are not fully reflected. However, both Russia and China did not utilise their veto, enabling it to sail through. India had already backed Trumps peace plan on Gaza. Israel and Hamas, both of whom are directly affected, had differing views, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed it.

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Hamass spokesperson mentioned, The resolution imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip, which our people and their factions reject. He added, Assigning the international force with tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, strips it of its neutrality and turns it into a party to the conflict in favour of the occupation. How will it respond once the ISF seeks to disarm it, which is expected by January, is to be seen.

Israel has always objected to any Palestinian state. The resolution, mentioning a possible Palestinian state, implied added pressures on Netanyahu, whose coalition members reacted with fury. Netanyahu was forced to restate his objections to a Palestinian state. Trump would now be pressurising Israel to accept his terms and conditions. Whether it will succeed, especially when Netanyahu faces an internal revolt, is to be seen.

For the PA, it will be an opportunity to regain control of Gaza, from which it was ousted by Hamas. Israel would not desire the PA to regain control. After all, it was Netanyahu who supported the rise of Hamas as a counter to the PA.

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Further, if Arab states participate in the ISF, and also the Board of Peace includes representatives from multiple nations, including those friendly to Israel, Tel Avivs objections may not carry much weight. Navigating this may not be easy for Netanyahu.

Hamas is unwilling to be disarmed unless there is a verifiable withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Currently it wants the ISF to be stationed on the borders more akin to a peacekeeping force, separating both sides. For Israel, disarming Hamas is a priority. Without pressure, both may not bend. There is always a fear that the ISF may be compelled to engage Hamas in conflict, which would benefit Israel.

Trump, on his part, is also keen to push through the Abraham Accords and have Saudi Arabia and Pakistan recognise Israel. This would have been discussed during the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Washington. For this to happen, the possibility of a Palestinian state emerging is essential, as this remains a core condition for Riyadh.

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The next issue is who nominates countries forming part of the ISF. Will it be Washington, or will Tel Aviv also have a role to play? There are bound to be disagreements between their choices; if so, who would have the veto? It is evident that neither Hamas nor the PA would be consulted.

Turkey is a close US ally but not one of Israels, especially since it joined South Africa in their case against Israel on genocide and human rights at the International Court of Justice. There are also arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and other Israeli officials by the Turkish prosecutor. Pakistan is another vowed enemy of Israel but is willing to do Trumps bidding and participate in the ISF. Will it be acceptable to Israel? How many Arab states would participate by sending troops into a potential war zone is also to be seen.

While the resolution authorises the Board of Peace and the ISF to continue till the end of 2027, there are no timelines on when it would hand over Gaza to the PA or complete the disarmament of Hamas. Unless all these issues are handled, the entire plan can be derailed.

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Trumps dream of obtaining a Nobel Peace Prize hinges very much on his Gaza plan. Will it succeed, or like all his other claims, will this too bite the dust? 2026 will determine the outcome.

(The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
The death toll in Israels latest wave of strikes across Gaza on Wednesday rose to 32 on Thursday. Confirming the death toll, local health officials included 12 children and eight women

Palestinians recover a body from the rubble of a house destroyed in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City on October 29, 2025. (AFP file)

The death toll in Israels latest wave of strikes across Gaza on Wednesday rose to 32 on Thursday. Confirming the death toll, local health officials included 12 children and eight women. The strikes came hours after Israeli military said several terrorists had opened fire toward the area where the troops were stationed in Khan Younis, in the enclaves south.

According to the statement by the Israeli Defence Forces, no soldiers were injured, but they still described the incident as a violation of the ceasefire agreement Israel struck with Hamas. In response, the IDF began striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement.

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Meanwhile, Hamas denied that its fighters opened fire on Israeli troops, describing the recent deaths of the Gazans as a horrific massacre. The Palestinian militant group called on the United States to force Israel to respect the ceasefire.

3 strikes in 6 weeks

The strikes targeted at least two locations in Khan Younis, including a United Nations facility and the Mawasi area, where thousands of displaced families still live in tents. Some strikes also hit neighbourhoods farther north in Gaza City, with one raid killing 13 people, including three women and six children, in the area of Zeitoun, rescue workers said.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, noted that the Israeli fire had killed 312 people over the past 40 days. Most of them were killed in strikes Israel claimed were in response to the attacks by militants in Gaza. In total, at least 69,500 people have been killed in Israels military campaign, which was triggered after Hamass October 7 attack in southern Gaza in 2023.

In accordance with Trumps 20-point peace plan, the Israeli troops withdrew from the eastern half of Gaza, where they maintain positions along the yellow line, which divides the territory into two. It is pertinent to note that the Wednesday violence marked the third time in six weeks since the US-brokered truce came into effect that Israel launched heavy airstrikes across Gaza.

In the last three weeks, the strikes killed at least 46 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.This cruel war keeps hitting us without mercy. Grief follows us with every Israeli attack, every violation, Nawraz Abu Libdeh, who works for Medical Aid for Palestinians, told The Washington Post. This begs the question of whether the Gaza ceasefire is fading away.

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Women on a maternity ward were among 89 civilians killed in a week-long spate of Islamist rebel attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN mission in the country said on Friday.

An Islamic Statealigned rebel group has killed 89 people in a series of assaults on villages in eastern Congo, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said on Friday.

In Byambwe village, located about 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Lubero town, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 17 people on Saturday inside a hospital, including 11 women who were receiving care in the maternity ward.

Eastern Congo remains engulfed in violence involving numerous armed groups and militias. Among them are the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who captured large areas of North and South Kivu in January and February.

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Further north, the ADF, a force of former Ugandan rebels that has sworn allegiance to Islamic State has continued to carry out repeated massacres across both provinces.

MONUSCO said the ADF mounted particularly deadly attacks between November 13 and 19 in multiple locations around the Lubero region of North Kivu. According to the mission, the assaults occurred in the Bapere and Baswaghga administrative areas.

The statement added that several other communities also came under attack, resulting in additional abductions, the theft of medical supplies and the burning of homes and property in regions already suffering acute humanitarian distress.

Armed groups including the ADF and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have carried out several deadly attacks in eastern Congo.

The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2019, operates along the border with Uganda and often targets civilians.

In August, ADF fighters killed at least 52 people during several attacks in the same week, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo.

The group also killed nearly 40 people in Ituri province in July, when it stormed a Catholic church during a vigil and opened fire on worshippers, including many women and children.

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The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following discontent with President Yoweri Museveni. In 2002, following Ugandan military strikes, the group moved to neighbouring Congo and has been blamed for the killings of thousands of civilians.

With inputs from agencies
Australia has added Amazon-owned Twitch to its upcoming social media ban for users aged 16 and under, while leaving Pinterest off the list, Reuters reported. The move comes ahead of a new law taking effect on 10 December that will make Australia the first country to bar teens from social media platforms.

Australias internet watchdog on Friday said it will include Amazon-owned Twitch in the countrys upcoming social media ban for teenagers, but will not add the image-sharing platform Pinterest, Reuters reported.

From 10 December, Australia will become the first country in the world to bar people aged 16 and under from using social media, with penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 32 million dollars) for companies that fail to take reasonable steps to comply.

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Regulators have now expanded the list of restricted platforms to include Twitch, the popular live-streaming service known for gaming and interactive broadcasts, while sparing Pinterest. Officials said Pinterest was excluded because its content was considered less risky compared to other platforms.

The move is part of a broader overhaul under Australias Online Safety Act, which has been under review amid growing concerns about excessive screen time, online grooming, and exposure to harmful material among teenagers.

Why Twitch was targeted

According to Reuters, officials cited the unfiltered nature of Twitchs live streams as a key factor behind its inclusion. Real-time interactions on the platform can expose minors to bullying, harassment and harmful content without adequate safeguards, regulators said.

Broader context

Australia has already banned platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat for users under 16. The government argues the restrictions are aimed at reducing risks of addiction, cyberbullying and mental-health issues. Critics, however, say the measures are heavy-handed and could limit young peoples access to creative and educational online communities.

Twitch has not yet issued a formal response. Industry observers warn the ban could significantly affect its Australian user base, particularly younger gamers who make up a substantial share of its audience. Pinterest, meanwhile, welcomed the decision to remain accessible, stressing its focus on positive and inspirational content.
An executive order published by the White House on Thursday said that certain agricultural products shall not be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty imposed

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and US President Donald Trump meet at Asean summit in Malaysia

The United States said Thursday that it is exempting various Brazilian agricultural goods from sharp tariffs  including beef, coffee and tomatoes  widening a range of exclusions from recently imposed levies.

The changes come as President Donald Trump faces pressure from US voters grappling with escalating costs of living.

Trumps latest order expands on his move last week to slash reciprocal tariffs  imposed to address trading behavior deemed unfair  on various farm imports.

But US duties on many Brazilian products surged in early August under a separate notice, as Trump stepped up pressure against the trial of his right-wing ally Jair Bolsonaro.

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At the time, Trumps move piled an additional 40-percent duty on many Brazil products, although broad exemptions covering items including orange juice softened the blow.

But this tariff still hit key goods like coffee, beef and sugar.

An executive order published by the White House on Thursday said that certain agricultural products shall not be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty imposed.

Officials had deemed that among other relevant considerations, there has been initial progress in negotiations with the Government of Brazil, the order said.

An annex detailed the new exclusions from this 40-percent duty, and they are to be retroactively applied to November 13.

Bolsonaro lost the 2022 elections and was convicted in September for his efforts to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power after his win.

Judges this month rejected his appeal against a 27-year sentence for the failed coup bid.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to sign off on plans for a vast new Chinese super-embassy in central London, despite security concerns raised throughout the projects approval process, according to a report

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to sign off on plans for a vast new Chinese super-embassy in central London, despite security concerns raised throughout the projects approval process.

According to The Times report on Friday, intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 have now concluded they are comfortable with the development proceeding, provided that certain security mitigations are put in place.

The British government did not dispute the account when asked to comment, reported Politico.

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The proposed 20,000-square-metre complex, located near the Tower of London, is set to become the largest Chinese embassy in Europe once completed.

Beijing bought the site for 255 million in 2018, but the project has drawn pushback over its proximity to key communications cables serving the City of Londons financial district.

Officials have also raised concerns about Chinas refusal to disclose full internal layout plans for the building to UK authorities.

China had previously issued stern warnings of consequences if its new embassy was denied planning permission, prompting British ministers to postpone a final decision several times.

Despite these tensions, outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore recently said it was right and proper for the project to go ahead, even amid national security concerns.

Starmer has been facing mounting political pressure at home as he attempts to recalibrate the UKs relationship with Beijing.

His government has already taken criticism over the failed prosecution of two men accused of spying for China, and China-sceptic MPs have attacked ministers for not releasing a long-awaited review of Britains China strategy.

The security services this week added to the unease, warning MPs that Chinese state agents were actively trying to target them through the professional networking site LinkedIn.

Nevertheless, Starmer is expected to visit China next year in a bid to reinforce economic ties  a trip that would make him the first UK prime minister to travel to Beijing since Theresa May in 2018.

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With inputs from agencies
With technology expanding access to recruits and new cashflows from abroad, it seems that Pakistan is looking forward to unleashing a new jihadist wave on India. Delhis Red Fort blast has shown how plotters of terror have propped trans-state modules that are much harder to crack.

A policeman stands guard as investigators examine the site of car explosion near the historic Red Fort, in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo: AP)

With Delhis Red Fort blast, the white collar terrorist module broke a 14-year lull and reminded those old enough of Indian Mujahideens (IM) urban bombing campaign that rocked India for nearly a decade. But the Delhi blast was quite different from IMs campaign  and that made it all the more concerning.

Instead of being a copycat attack or a mere IM sleeper cell, the white collar jihadi module sought to unleash a new wave of terror attacks on India with the Delhi blast  as initial probe indicates. The plot was defined by a new generation of terrorists, technologies, and circumstances.

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Umar un Nabi, named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as Delhis suicide bomber, was suspected to have been a part of the trans-state module that spanned from Jammu and Kashmir to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The module comprised doctors and clerics who were allegedly working as per the Jammu and Kashmir Police at the behest of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Just hours before the blast, the J&K Police had said the investigation into the white collar module revealed a terror ecosystem that involved radicalised professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers from Pakistan and other countries. Agencies probing the terror case have said the module used encrypted channels for indoctrination, coordinating their activities, and funding the operation through funds raised from professional and academic networks.

ALSO READ: Jaish posters in Kashmir led agencies to Faridabad terror module  suspected for Delhi blast

The availability of technology has meant that the lull is over and terrorist masterminds abroad are now ready with a new strategy, says Adil Rasheed, who heads the Counterterrorism Centre at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Strategic Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Delhi.

Unlike the previous Azamgarh and Bhatkal modules of IM that were centred around localities and persons, the Delhi blast has revealed a trans-state module that has stretched all the way from J&K to UP.

Noting that the investigation is ongoing in the Delhi case and one should not jump to conclusions about plotters or external involvement, Rasheed says that technology has led to an evolution in terrorists tactics in general recently.

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Rasheed tells Firstpost, These days, radicalisation, training, coordination, and planning can almost entirely happen online. Ten or 20 years back, you needed to cross the border to learn bombmaking and hold in-person meetings for radicalisation and recruitment. Now everything can happen via encrypted apps.

Such penetration of technology could be one reason why there was not a Faridabad module or a Saharanpur module but a trans-state module because technology allowed terrorist masterminds to go beyond localised modules to establish a truly pan-India presence.

Pakistan has a new strategy against India

In the age of high-speed internet, encrypted communication applications, and artificial intelligence (AI), Pakistan has crafted a new strategy against India.

Instead of military grade RDX or cross-border flow of terrorists, Pakistani handlers are increasingly using technology to radicalise, recruit, and guide terrorists over the internet. The penetration and rapid advancement of AI have meant that terrorists now have a power at their disposal that previous generations did not have.

For example, while terrorists previously had to cross the border to learn bombmaking or meet physically at secret locations in India to meet master bombmakers, such knowledge now appears to be imparted online with AI aiding both recruits and their handlers. Now AI can essentially tell them about complex chemistry central to bombmaking more than any encyclopaedia.

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ALSO READ: NIA takes 4 more 'prime accused' in Delhi Red Fort blast case into custody

Such a methodology not just allows foreigner handlers to recruit and guide these terrorists inside India but ensure deniability as well, according to Rasheed.

Technically, terrorists who were radicalised, recruited, and trained over the internet did not necessarily attend camps in Pakistan. That allows their handlers in Pakistan and elsewhere to deny any link and present these modules as homegrown elements, says Rasheed, the author of Political Islam: Parallel Currents in West Asia and South Asia (2024), Countering the Radical Narrative (2020), and ISIS: Race to Armageddon (2015). Even funds can now be arranged locally or transferred online through untraceable channels, making establishing of a clear link very difficult.

Indeed, Pakistan has been trying to present groups active in India as homegrown organisations for many years, such as presenting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as The Resistance Front (TRF) and floating new names like Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF).

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In line with such an approach, no group took responsibility for the Delhi bombing because the new approach among foreign plotters appears to be to act completely remotely with deniability and present all plots they supervise as homegrown.

Education as an enabler, not a deterrent

Contrary to the public perception that terrorist leaders are uneducated riffraff, Rasheed says that most of the terrorist leaders in the world have well-educated.

Except for Pakistan where madrasa education has retained primacy, terrorist leaders in the world have always been educated whether its the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda, says Rasheed.

Indeed, al-Qaedas Osama bin Laden studied economics and business administration and came from one of the most influential families of Saudi Arabia; Bin Ladens successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was a doctor who came from a prominent Egyptian family of doctors and politicians; Al-Qaeda recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki studied civil engineering; and 9/11 lead hijacker Mohamed Atta was an architect.

In India, the infamous Yasin Bhatkal of the Bhatkal module was said to be an engineer and his fellow IM terrorist, Mohammed Asghar Peerbhoy, was a software engineer who worked at Yahoo.

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In India, you can also look at left-wing extremist (LWEs) groups to get an idea that education is not necessarily a deterrent. In fact, education can serve as a channel to radicalise and recruit. And foreign handlers now appear to be counting on these educated, tech-savvy young people to carry out their plots, says Rasheed.

Hours before the Delhi blast, the J&K Police had said that the white collar module was found involved in identifying persons to radicalise, initiate, and recruit them as terrorists besides raising funds, arranging logistics, procuring arms and ammunition and material for preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

In the Delhi blast, the education of the accused appears to have served as a channel as they raised money, recruited people, and used their expertise of chemistry and medicine. With this new methodology taking shape, Indian agencies face a new type of campaign that appears to have learnt from the downfall of the likes of IM and Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi).

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A surge in Chinese-made solar technology has left Europes power grid increasingly exposed, raising fresh questions about security, resilience and political leverage, according to a report

Europes fast-growing solar sector has opened up a new strategic worry: what happens if China  now dominant in key parts of Europes clean-energy systems  cuts the power or disrupts the grid? The concern has become more urgent after a recent shock that exposed just how fragile Europes electricity networks can be.

According to European Council on Foreign Relations report, at 12:33pm on April 28th, the Iberian Peninsula went dark. A loss of just 2.2 gigawatts, roughly the output of two nuclear plants, cascaded into a regional blackout, severing links with France and leaving more than 50 million people without electricity for 12 hours. Spain estimates the cost at 4bn.

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While Iberia is more exposed than most European regions due to limited cross-border interconnections, energy experts warn that smaller disruptions of only a few hundred megawatts could trigger continent-wide instability, added the report.

Chinese researchers  and likely Beijings security apparatus  have studied Western grids extensively, analysing which nodes are most vulnerable and how failures propagate.

A new strategic dependence

According to the report, the core of Europes emerging dilemma lies in its heavy reliance on Chinese-made solar inverters  the devices that convert solar energy into grid-ready electricity.

Chinese companies now control more than 220 gigawatts of installed European capacity through these remotely programmable units. Huawei, labelled a high-risk vendor in many EU telecoms systems, has become the regions leading inverter supplier.

In normal circumstances, inverters help stabilise grids. In a more adversarial geopolitical environment, however, they could become leverage points.

Their cloud-based management systems receive software updates, adjust voltage and frequency, and can be shut down or manipulated remotely. Clean-energy generation may be decentralised, but the digital systems that control it are increasingly centralised  and more vulnerable, added the report.

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This dependence stretches beyond solar panels. As Europe prepares to spend hundreds of billions on grid modernisation, China is expanding into other power equipment markets, from transformers to grid-management software.

Beijing has shown a willingness to weaponise supply-chain dependencies  from rare earths to automotive chips  and Europes grid could be next.

How an inverter becomes a weapon

Analysts outline several risks. State-backed actors could inject malware that disables inverters en masse, shutting down hospitals, transport systems and emergency services. Cyber teams might map vulnerabilities to maximise disruption. Even without a cyberattack, China could simply restrict access to components or maintenance, forcing costly equipment replacements and leaving known vulnerabilities unpatched.

Europe did not lose control of this critical technology because Chinese products are inherently superior, but because they are 2030% cheaper  thanks to scale, subsidies and a protected Chinese home market.

Beijings cybersecurity rules effectively exclude Western companies from selling internet-connected inverters in China, even as Chinese suppliers saturate Europe.

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The imbalance is reinforced by Chinas 2017 National Intelligence Law, which obliges all companies to assist state intelligence services. Firms must also report software vulnerabilities to the government and cannot share them with foreign partnersraising profound trust concerns for infrastructure operators.

Europe searches for leverage

The EU faced similar dilemmas during the rollout of 5G, concluding that technological performance does not equal political trust. A comparable framework for energy infrastructure is now needed  one that weighs both cybersecurity and economic security.

According to European Council on Foreign Relations report, policy options are emerging.

Brussels could declare high-risk vendors ineligible for grid-connected hardware or software. Upcoming revisions to the Cybersecurity Act and Cyber Resilience Act may allow EU-wide bans.

Funding tools such as the Net Zero Industry Act and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund could condition public support on the exclusion of risky suppliers, added the report.

Trade defences, including anti-dumping probes into inverter imports, may protect Europes shrinking manufacturing base. Public lenders such as the European Investment Bank could deny financing to operators buying from high-risk vendors, echoing measures taken during the 5G transition.

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Finally, the EU may push allies to adopt parallel trust standards in their grids, using G7 coordination and bilateral deals such as Global Gateway to reduce global exposure.

Whether Europe can act quickly enough  and decisively enough  to prevent a critical energy dependency from becoming a strategic vulnerability now looms as a question of both security and sovereignty.

With inputs from agencies
Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has stirred controversy after claiming that Pakistan tried to pressure him into apologising for his remarks on IndiaPakistan military strength. He said Imran Khans PTI sent him a formal apology demand, to which he replied that he would use the letter as toilet paper, adding that he never heard from them again.

Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou has sparked a new controversy after revealing how Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tried to pressure him into apologising for his assessment of IndiaPakistan military balance.

According to him, PTI sent a formal letter demanding an apology  prompting him to respond that he would use the letter as toilet paper to wipe his a**. As expected, he added, the Pakistanis never contacted him again.

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Kiriakou, who spent 15 years with the CIA including a stint as chief of counterterrorism operations in Pakistan after 9/11, had earlier said during the four-day India-Pakistan mini-war that India would decisively defeat Pakistan in a conventional conflict.

Speaking to ANI, he said, Nothing, literally nothing good will come of an actual war between India and Pakistan because the Pakistanis will lose. Its as simple as that. Theyll lose. And Im not talking about nuclear weapons. Im just talking about a conventional war. And so there is no benefit to constantly provoking Indians.

His remarks triggered a wave of online abuse from Pakistan. Soon after, he received a letter from PTI president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi condemning his comments in the strongest possible terms and demanding an immediate apology to his excellency, the former prime minister [Imran Khan], to the members of the party [PTI], and to the people of Pakistan.

Recounting the episode in a podcast, Kiriakou said, I said, in a conventional conflict, India would beat Pakistan because it has five times the people. The death threats Ive lost count of how many death threats I received So I got a letter from the president of Imran Khans political party And he says that they condemn in the strongest possible terms what I said to the Indians, and they demand an immediate apology to his excellency the former prime minister, to the members of the party, and to the people of Pakistan.

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Despite his lawyer advising silence, Kiriakou said he replied bluntly: In regards to your demand for an apology, I wipe my a** with your demands for an apology. And I hit send and thats how I left it and I havent heard back from them.

Who is John Kiriakou?

Kiriakou spent years working across South Asia during his CIA career and has since written extensively on Pakistans internal security and West Asian geopolitics. He insists his assessment was professional, rooted in basic force comparison, not political intent.

His comments on Indias conventional superiority came months after Indian forces struck Pakistani military facilities following the ISI-backed Pahalgam terror attack. Pointing to Indias responses from the 2016 surgical strikes to the 2019 Balakot operation, he said New Delhi has moved beyond its earlier strategic patience.

Against that backdrop, he reiterated that Pakistan would lose any conventional war with India  and should stop provoking a neighbour that is militarily stronger and unwilling to tolerate terror emanating from across the border.
This is the first time a G20 Summit is being held on the African continent. PM Modi is visiting South Africa from November 22-23 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit under South Africas Presidency

PM Modi is on his way to South Africa to attend the G20 Summit. ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday embarked upon his trip to South Africa for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

This is the first time a G20 Summit is being held on the African continent. PM Modi is visiting South Africa from November 22-23 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit under South Africas Presidency.

The summit will be an opportunity for India to discuss key global issues under this years theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.

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#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit. This will be the fourth consecutive G20 Summit held in the Global South. pic.twitter.com/jo2N4cmRV6  ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2025

Read his full statement here:

I am visiting the Republic of South Africa from 21-23 November, 2025 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit being held in Johannesburg under South Africas Presidency.

This will be a particularly special Summit given that it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. During Indias Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20.

The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues. The theme of this years G20 has been Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I will present Indias perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and One earth, One Family and One future.

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I look forward to my interactions with leaders of the partner countries, and participation in the 6th IBSA Summit scheduled on the sidelines of the Summit.

During the visit, I also look forward to my interaction with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, which is one of the largest outside India.
India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals worldwide, a move seen as another step toward easing tensions and rebuilding normal engagement between the two neighbours, says report.

In this handout photograph taken on August 31, 2025 and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB), Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Chinas President Xi Jinping shake hands during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. - AFP

India has restarted issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals through its embassies and consulates worldwide, marking another step toward stabilising ties after years of military tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Hindustan Times reported.

According to the report, people familiar with the matter said Indian missions across the globe began accepting tourist visa applications from Chinese citizens earlier this week, although no official announcement has been made.

This widens the limited resumption in July, when visas were issued only at the Indian embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

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Suspension since 2020 stand-off

Tourist visas had been halted since the LAC stand-off in AprilMay 2020, followed by the Galwan Valley clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, sending bilateral relations to their lowest point in decades.

Part of broader people-centric measures

The renewed visa access is part of a set of people-centric steps agreed by both sides to rebuild engagement. Direct flights between India and China resumed in October after more than four years.

Both countries have also agreed to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra next summer, ease visa categories for travellers and organise events to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.

Momentum after LAC disengagement

Dialogue picked up after India and China reached an understanding on disengaging frontline troops along the LAC in October 2024.

Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan and agreed to revive diplomatic and military mechanisms to restore normalcy and address the longstanding boundary dispute.

Progress in trade and cooperation

Subsequent engagements involving foreign and defence ministers, national security advisers and Special Representatives  NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi  have led to progress in areas including border trade and economic cooperation.

China has also eased export curbs on rare earth minerals in response to Indias trade concerns.
So far, around 30 per cent of the 1.44 million trips to Japan from China planned for next month have been cancelled, according to data from China Trading Desk. About 70 per cent of this drop comes from near-term departures being cancelled or delayed

The Japan-China row is now spilling over to new aspects of people-to-people exchange, with Japanese tourism expected to lose $1.2 billion as the feud over Taiwan escalates.

Last week, China advised its citizens against travelling to Japan and offered full refunds to people who had already booked their tickets to fly down to the country.

So far, around 30 per cent of the 1.44 million trips to Japan from China planned for next month have been cancelled, according to data from China Trading Desk. About 70 per cent of this drop comes from near-term departures being cancelled or delayed.

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Subramania Bhatt, chief executive of China Trading Desk, estimates that the shift will cut at least $500 million in spending from Japan, with the potential for losses reaching up to $1.2 billion. His assessment draws on data showing that Chinese tourists typically spend more than $900 million each month, along with overseas expenditure figures from UnionPay and other financial services providers.

The development comes as a diplomatic row between China and Japan continues to simmer after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on Taiwan, seen as an interference by China as it considers the island-nation part of its own territory.

China and Japan are key trading partners, but historical mistrust and friction over territorial rivalries and military spending often test those ties.

Takaichi, a conservative and China hawk, has toned down her rhetoric since assuming office last month.

Chinese travellers reroute their trips

While some are cancelling their vacation plans altogether, others have rerouted their destinations to other Asian countries. For instance, South Korea and Singapore have seen an uptick in bookings over the last few days. Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are also receiving 11 per cent more bookings than before.

Tour operators have begun responding to the recommendation to avoid Japan, pulling back trips at a rapid pace. According to China Trading Desk, group and package tours make up as much as half of the decline in travel, while individual leisure trips may account for another 22 per cent.

Most Chinese carriers, along with Cathay Pacific Airways, are now waiving cancellation fees for Japan-bound flights, further speeding up the wave of cancellations.

Taiwan backs Japan

In the midst of it all is Taiwan, which has offered its support to Japan. Images of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te holding a plate of sushi were posted on social media on Thursday in a show of support for Tokyo after reports that China will halt Japanese seafood imports.

Lai, an outspoken defender of Taiwans sovereignty and detested by China, has accused Beijing of severely affecting regional peace in the escalating spat.
New Yorks incoming leftist mayor Zohran Mamdani marches into the White House on Friday for a high-stakes sit-down with President Donald Trump, after a bruising war of words that lit up cable news and social media.

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at City Hall Park on November 20, 2025 in New York. Image- AFP

New Yorks incoming leftist mayor Zohran Mamdani marches into the White House on Friday for a high-stakes sit-down with President Donald Trump, after a bruising war of words that lit up cable news and social media.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old political insurgent who rocketed from obscurity to win City Hall earlier this month, said Thursday he was ready for whatever happens."

Sparks could fly when the self-described Democratic socialist meets the 79-year-old Republican leader who has branded him a communist and even suggested the Ugandan-born New Yorker should be deported.

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Both men hail from the Queens borough of New York City and both are masters of political theater  but their styles couldnt be more different.

The Oval Office showdown is seen more as a clash of ideologies, generations and egos than a courtesy call, with Trump thriving on bombast and grievance as Mamdani pitches affordability and inclusion.

Donald Trump, since I know youre watching, I have four words for you  turn the volume up! Mamdani said during a defiant acceptance speech making clear to the president that he would not be cowed or sidelined.

But Trump struck a conciliatory tone Friday as he was asked by Fox News Radio to react to Mamdanis anti-Trump campaign rhetoric, telling the network: I was hitting him a little hard too, in all fairness."

Hes got a different philosophy  hes a little bit different. I give a lot of credit for the run, Trump said.

He did a successful run, and we all know that runs are not easy, but I think well get along fine. Look, were looking for the same thing  we want to make New York strong."

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Mamdani focused his pre-meeting messaging on the cost of living, posting on X that it was time for a city government that puts affordability at the top of the agenda."

Political lightning strike

Trump has threatened to make life difficult for the young political upstart.

Beyond mocking Mamdanis South Asian name, the president is dangling cuts to federal funding and even National Guard deployments  a tactic he used against other Democratic cities.

For New Yorkers, that could mean billions lost and troops on the streets once Mamdani, set to become the citys first Muslim mayor, takes office.

Mamdanis rise has been nothing short of electric. Virtually unknown a year ago, he stormed the political barricades with a campaign promising rent freezes, free buses, and city-run grocery stores  untested ideas that nevertheless resonated with voters crushed by soaring costs.

He didnt just win  he shattered records, pulling in more than one million votes, the first New York mayoral candidate to do so since 1969.

Into the lions den

Yet the firebrand progressive has shown flashes of pragmatism, soothing centrists wary of a radical shake-up.

He reappointed incumbent police commissioner Jessica Tisch, a steady hand popular with rank-and-file officers, and named veteran bureaucrat Dean Fuleihan as his first deputy mayor  signs of continuity amid his promised revolution.

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On the trail, Mamdani cast himself as part of the anti-Trump resistance, but he has since stressed his desire to work with the president on the national crisis of affordability."

Oval Office encounters with Trump often turn into ambush theater  a lesson absorbed by Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, who endured a public dressing-down by Trumps vice president.

Columbia University political analyst Lincoln Mitchell warned that Mamdani could walk into a Zelensky-like situation, where Trump watched his vice president, JD Vance, censure the wartime Ukrainian leader in front of the worlds media.

It certainly could  you could see Vance just picking at him, he told AFP.

Look for the outcome of that meeting to be something to the effect of, I think I can work with (him)  but we will see how it goes and Im hopeful  we both want the city to succeed, said Syracuse University politics professor Grant Reeher.

With inputs from agencies

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The Cop30 climate summit was disrupted in Brazil on Thursday after a massive fire broke out at the venue, prompting a swift evacuation.

People use fire extinguishers to put out a fire at the Pavilion of Countries in the Blue Zone at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, November 20. Reuters

The Cop30 climate summit was disrupted in Brazil on Thursday after a massive fire broke out at the venue, prompting a swift evacuation. The fire occurred while negotiators were preparing to attempt to secure a deal to strengthen international efforts to address the climate crisis.

According to The Guardian,13 people were rushed to the hospital and were being treated for smoke inhalation. The fire broke out in the pavilion area of the conference centre in Belem, Brazil. The authorities noted that the cause of the fire, which was brought under control within minutes, was being investigated. However, it was believed to be an electrical device, probably a microwave, Reuters reported, citing the local fire department.

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Earlier today, a fire broke out in the blue zone of the Cop30 venue in Belem, the UN organisers statement said. The fire department and UN security officers responded swiftly, and the fire was controlled in approximately six minutes. People were evacuated safely."

 - BREAKING: Fire Breaks Out in Pavilion at COP30 Climate Conference in Belem, Brazil



A fire was reported on Thursday, November 20, in one of the pavilions hosting the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para, Brazil. Security personnel ordered the immediate pic.twitter.com/qZB7zvtzwz  The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 20, 2025

Thirteen individuals were treated on site for smoke inhalation. Their condition is being monitored, and appropriate medical support has been provided," the statement further reads. The video of the massive fury overtaking the venue soon started to circulate online.

Fire causes schedule disruption

According to The Guardian, the entire venue had to be cleared shortly after 2 pm (local time). It was likely to be several hours before any delegates were allowed to return. However, the incident has now thrown a carefully choreographed series of meetings into confusion.

On Thursday, the Cop30 presidency was preparing to draft a new text of the mutirao decision, a central plan for the hoped-for outcome of Cop30, which contained a potential commitment to draw up a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Regarding this, the presidency was holding a series of crucial meetings with the main negotiating groups.

On the same day, the Alliance of Small Island States was due to meet the presidency shortly before 4 pm (local time), but that was cancelled. The European Union was also due to hold a ministerial coordination meeting at 6 pm (local time) before meeting the presidency at 9 pm (local time), but that timetable was thrown into doubt.

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While the summit was scheduled to finish on Friday, the severity of the incident has disrupted the stage of talks, with many wondering when they will be rescheduled. The incident took place the same day, Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, had appealed for a deal from the summit, welcoming calls from some for clarity on the hotly disputed subject of weaning the world off fossil fuels.

With inputs from Reuters.
European leaders reaffirm unwavering support for Ukraine, stressing sovereignty and coordinated Western backing as Kyiv seeks a just and lasting peace

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed their full backing for Ukraine during a joint call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, The Guardian report quoted a spokesperson for the German chancellor as saying.

According to the spokesperson, the three leaders stressed that Ukraines armed forces must remain capable of defending the countrys sovereignty and assured Zelenskyy of their unwavering and full support as Kyiv pursues a lasting and just peace.

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The leaders also welcomed ongoing US efforts to help end the war, highlighting Washingtons commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and its readiness to offer strong security guarantees.

They agreed to continue coordinating closely on diplomatic and security matters.

In the readout, published in German, the European leaders emphasised that safeguarding vital European and Ukrainian interests over the long term remains central to any settlement.

They said that the current line of contact should be treated as the starting point for any territorial discussions.

Crucially, the statement underscored that any peace agreement affecting European states, the EU or Nato must have the approval of European partners or be based on allied consensus  a signal that Kyivs Western backers intend to remain deeply involved in shaping the contours of any future deal.

Meanwhile, after his call with Ukraines Zelenskyy and other European leaders, Starmer insisted that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty.

Following the call, Starmer told broadcasters, via PA news agency, We all want a just and lasting peace. Thats what the president of America wants. Thats what we all want. And so we need to work from where we are to that end.

But the principle that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle, he added.

Zelenskyy responded to the call, thanking the leaders for their principled support for Ukraine and for all our people.

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He noted that the leaders appreciate the efforts of the US, President Trump and his team aimed at ending this war and are working on the US-backed peace plan.

This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace, Zelenskyy said, emphasising that the four leaders are committed to ensuring Ukraines principled positions are taken into account.

He added that the sides coordinated the next steps and agreed that our teams will work together at the corresponding levels.

With inputs from agencies
Months after the US-Israel joint strikes rocked Irans nuclear facilities, the country said on Thursday that it was withdrawing from an agreement to allow a resumption of international inspections of its nuclear sites.

The European nation have threatened to trigger the snapback mechanism on Iran over its nuclear program. The process begins when one or more nuclear deal participants notify the UN secretary general and the Security Council president about Irans significant non-performance of commitments. File image/ Reuters

Months after the US-Israel joint strikes rocked Iran's nuclear facilities, the country said on Thursday that it was withdrawing from an agreement to allow a resumption of international inspections of its nuclear sites. The decision came hours after the United Nations watchdog agency demanded information about the status of Irans enriched uranium stock.

Ever since Israel launched the 12-day war with Iran, with the help of the US, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to inspect the Iranian nuclear facilities. Previously, US President Donald Trump declared Irans nuclear enrichment program was obliterated in the brief war.

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However, regional officials and experts continue to remain concerned about the fact that Iran may have developed a stronger interest in secretly developing a nuclear weapon since the attacks. In recent weeks, Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, maintained that while Iran does not appear to be actively enriching uranium, there have been renewed activities at some nuclear sites.

It is pertinent to note that if uranium is enriched at lower levels, it can be used to produce nuclear energy. However, enrichment at the higher levels can pave the way for developing nuclear weapons.

Is Iran changing its plans?

For the longest time, Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, in June, before Israel launched its attack, the IAEA passed a resolution saying Iran was not complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

At that time, the Iranian officials argued that the resolution turned out to be political cover for the Israeli strikes that were launched a say later. A month after the strikes, Tehran formally suspended any cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and has been denying inspection since the war.

However, the impasse inched closer to resolution in September when the two sides met in Cairo and agreed on a resumption of inspections. But despite the agreement, the Iranian official insisted that it would be unsafe to allow inspectors to visit bombed sites.

The progress in this regard quickly halted in October after European nations decided to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. On Thursday, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution demanding that Iran without delay provide information on enrichment and give access to its nuclear sites.

In response to the ultimatum, Iran withdrew from the Cairo agreement. This understanding is no longer valid and should be considered terminated, Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a message to the IAEA, Fars news agency reported.

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Regional analysts and officials expressed concern that Irans withdrawal from international inspection could trigger another war between Iran and Israel. Some experts argue that Iran might be continuing to work on a new enrichment site known as Pickax Mountain. The Iranian authorities have refused to give the international inspectors access to that site or to any other suspected nuclear sites other than those already declared.

Last month, the JCPOA deal with Iran and Western powers to limit Tehrans nuclear enrichment program expired. Since then, there has been no sign of any international efforts to replace it. Many believe that any kind of deal is unlikely without the involvement of Washington. Until then, the fate of Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains unknown.
Gunmen kidnapped students from a Catholic school in Nigerias Niger state early Friday, Reuters reported, marking a fresh surge in violence days after Trump warned of possible military action over attacks on Christians.

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped students from a Catholic school in the early hours of Friday, Reuters reported, in the latest attack to hit the country after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the treatment of Christians in the West African nation.

Police and local officials in Niger state, where the assault took place, confirmed that students were taken from St. Marys School but did not give a figure. Arise News reported that 52 students were abducted.

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Nigerias insecurity has come under renewed scrutiny since Trump warned of fast military action if authorities fail to stop the killing of Christians. The Nigerian government has rejected Trumps claims, calling his assertions of Christian persecution a misrepresentation.

Police said security personnel had been deployed to the area and were combing nearby forests to track down the abductors.

The Niger state government said the school had disregarded a directive to shut boarding facilities after intelligence pointed to a heightened risk of attacks.

Fridays abduction adds to a string of incidents this week, including the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Kebbi state on Monday and an attack on a church in Kwara state. A church official told Reuters that 38 worshippers were seized and that the gunmen demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (about $69,000) per person.

Kebbi, Kwara and Niger states all lie adjacent to one another.

The spike in violence has forced Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to cancel planned visits to South Africa and Angola, where he was due to attend a G20 summit and an African UnionEuropean Union meeting. He has also dispatched a delegation led by the national security adviser to Washington to engage with US lawmakers and officials.
At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after a powerful blast, caused by a gas leak, ripped through factory in Malikpur near Faisalabad on Friday morning, leading to the collapse of the building and nearby houses, Dawn reported.

Pakistan: 15 killed, many injured after gas leak triggers blast at Faisalabad factory. Image: Representative AFP PHOTO/Farooq NAEEM (Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM / AFP)

At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion tore through a factory in Malikpur near Faisalabad on Friday morning, Dawn reported citing officials.

The early-morning blast caused the factory roof and nearby houses to collapse.

According to the report, rescuers first suggested a boiler explosion but later confirmed the blast was triggered by a gas leak. Faisalabad Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwars office said that no boiler was present in the factory and that a gas leak had sparked a fire which spread to adjacent units.

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Houses caved in under the impact

So far, rescue teams have recovered 15 bodies from the rubble, and seven injured have been shifted to hospital, Deputy Commissioner Anwar said, adding that the entire district administration was involved in the operation.

Rescue operation and inquiry

Rescue 1122 said it received the call at 5:28 am, after which more than 20 ambulances and fire tenders were dispatched. The rescue operation has now been completed, with clearance work underway. Ten injured people were taken to Allied Hospital, while three were discharged after first aid.

A five-member inquiry committee has been set up to determine the cause of the incident and assess safety compliance at the four factories operating in Malikpur, according to Dawn.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the deaths and sought a detailed report. Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar directed all agencies to ensure full support at the site and maintain clear routes for ambulances.

Workers raise safety concerns

The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) called the incident tragic and blamed poor industrial safety standards. NTUF Secretary General Nasir Mansoor said factories had turned into death traps for labourers and accused authorities of criminal negligence. The group demanded Rs 3 million compensation for each victims family and full medical care for the injured.

Pak Industrial accidents persist

The region has witnessed similar incidents in recent years. In April last year, a steam boiler explosion at a Faisalabad textile mill injured a dozen workers after a hall roof collapsed.
Frustrated with the Talibans refusal to accept its terms, Pakistan has made the final offer: reconcile on Pakistans terms or face a regime change campaign. Pakistan has reached out to the Talibans opponents to support a potential campaign.

Pakistan Army chief, Field Marshal (then General) Asim Munir holds a microphone during his visit at the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) to witness the Exercise Hammer Strike in Mangla, Pakistan, on May 1, 2025. (Photo: ISPR/Handout via Reuters)

Frustrated with the Talibans refusal to accept its terms, Pakistan has told the group to either accept terms or face a regime change campaign, sources have told CNN-News 18.

Following the worst round of cross-border clashes last month since the fall of Kabul in 2021, Pakistan and Taliban have held multiple rounds of talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar but talks appear to have reached a dead-end. Pakistan has consistently blamed the Taliban for refusing to address its concerns.

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Top sources have told CNN-News 18 that Pakistan has made the final offer to Taliban: either reconcile on Pakistans terms or face Pakistans support for a regime change campaign. They said that Pakistan conveyed this final message to the Taliban through Turkey.

Since the fall of Kabul, the Taliban-Pakistan relationship has consistently fallen. After several months of rising tensions, intense cross-border clashes erupted in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan, including in Kabul. The Taliban launched attacks on Pakistani forces across the Durand Line, the line dividing Afghanistan and Pakistan that the Taliban have long rejected, and dozens were killed and hundreds injured in clashes.

ALSO READ  We are in a state of war: Pakistan blames Taliban for Islamabad suicide bombing

Pakistan has said that the Taliban have consistently refused to act against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate group based in Afghanistan that is opposed to Pakistan and frequently carries out attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistans warning to topple Taliban

Amid worsening relationship, top sources told CNN-News 18 that Pakistans intelligence establishment has already reached out to several prominent Afghan democratic and opposition figures, such as former President Hamid Karzai, former President Ashraf Ghani, exiled Northern Resistance Fronts leader Ahmad Massoud, warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, and members of the Afghanistan Freedom Front, and erstwhile Northern Alliance-linked commanders.

This is a head-spinning reversal of decades of Pakistans policy that had supported the Taliban for decades as the Islamist group fought these people and their coalitions. Pakistan actively aided the Talibans return to power and helped in the conflict with Northern forces.

Pakistan has offered these leaders political space, safe presence, and operational offices in Pakistan, signaling a readiness to create an organised platform for the Afghan opposition, according to sources.

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WATCH: Taliban claim to capture Pakistani tank, parade it in Afghanistan

Pakistan has also offered the same offer to exiled Afghan women leaders, activists, and pro-democracy groups, who have consistently demanded a return to an inclusive, legitimate, and transparent political process either through a Loya Jirga or future elections, sources said.

The Talibans outreach to India has also factored into Pakistans decision-making, sources said.

What are Pakistans terms?

Publicly, Pakistans main terms revolve around TTP and other anti-Pakistan armed groups based in Afghanistan.

Sources said that Pakistan wants the Taliban to do the following:

Firm action against the TTP

Handover of hardcore TTP militants

Guarantees of non-escalation along the Durand Line, the disputed border

Creation of a buffer zone to curb what it calls cross-border terrorism

Normalisation of trade and bilateral cooperation

Can Pakistan topple Taliban?

Pakistan appears to be putting international pressure on Pakistan while also making the most of factionalism inside Taliban. But, despite factionalism, there does not appear to be a pro-Pakistan voice inside Taliban or a pro-Pakistan movement.

Since 2021, multiple centres of power have emerged who have often clashed.

Firstly, there is the Kandahar-based ultra-hardline faction of Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, who has centralised power to the extent that some of the groups tallest leaders outside of his small clerical units, such as Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar have been sidelined.

Secondly, there is the Haqqani faction led by Sirajuddin. Formally known as the Haqqani Network, it represents the most powerful centre after Akhundzadas council. The Haqqani Network has sway in eastern Afghanistan and a presence in Pakistan. Sirajuddin has long been hailed as Pakistans principal Afghan asset.

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Thirdly, there is a faction of those who handled the Talibans diplomacy from Doha. The faction is led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the group who directed negotiations in Qatar.

ALSO READ: Who are the Haqqanis, Afghanistan's most feared fighters?

Among these groups, tensions have risen tribal rivalries, ethnic rivalries, political differences, and the very idea of Afghanistan. For example, Baradars faction has called for a more pragmatic, internationally-engaged approach, and championed an inclusive government whereas Akhundzada has adopted ultraconservative policies, such as banning education and professionally opportunities for most women and girls.

Earlier this year, even Haqqani, who has long been seen as Pakistans main asset in Afghanistan, publicly rebuked Pakistan.

The people of Afghanistan may have internal problems, but they are united against foreign aggressionIf you bring your problems into Afghanistan and create turmoil here, this mistake will cost you dearly, Sirajuddin said in an apparent message to Pakistan.

Sirajuddin warned that if Pakistan continued provocations, neither Pakistan will remain the same Pakistan nor will Greater Afghanistan remain faithful to its promises.

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The United States has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine to press it into agreeing to the framework of a US-brokered peace deal.

The United States has warned that it could scale back intelligence sharing and weapons deliveries to Ukraine as part of an effort to push Kyiv into accepting the outlines of a US-brokered peace agreement, two people familiar with the situation told Reuters..

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said Washington is exerting more pressure on Ukraine now than at any earlier stage of peace discussions, and wants Kyiv to sign on to the framework of the proposed deal by next Thursday.

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They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price, one of the individuals said.

A team of senior U.S. military officials held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday to discuss potential steps toward ending the conflict.

The U.S. ambassador in Ukraine and the army public affairs chief travelling with the delegation described the meeting as a success and said Washington sought an aggressive timeline for the signature of a document between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom spoke by phone Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, assuring him of their continued support amid the war with Russia as European officials scrambled to respond to U.S. peace proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

The U.S. plan contains many of Russian President Vladimir Putins longstanding demands, including Ukrainian territorial concessions, while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine.

Wary of antagonising U.S. President Donald Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, Merzs office said.

The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees, the statement added.

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They agreed to continue pursuing the aim of protecting vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term, the statement said. That includes the line of contact being the point of departure for an agreement and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.

The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia, something Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out, and blocks its route to NATO membership.

Zelenskyy said the leaders discussed the plan and appreciated the efforts of Trump and his team, although he added that they are working on the document.

We are closely coordinating to ensure that the principled positions are taken into account, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.

The proposals come at a difficult time for Zelenskyy, who is grappling with a push on the battlefield by Russias bigger army and a major domestic corruption scandal.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and peopletopeople ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg, where the two leaders reviewed progress in cooperation across several areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.

Modi met Albanese shortly after arriving in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders Summit.

Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation, Modi said in a post on social media.

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During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors, defence and security, nuclear energy and trade, where there is immense potential for ties to grow further. The other sectors discussed included education, cultural exchanges and more, he added.

In Johannesburg, interacted with Naspers Chairman Mr. Koos Bekker and Group CEO Mr. Fabricio Bloisi. Deepening investment linkages featured prominently in the discussions. It is commendable how Naspers is actively working with our talented youth across diverse sectors. pic.twitter.com/4J6G7ZoMlC  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025

Albanese expressed condolences over the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and the bus accident in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indians were killed.

We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong, he said.

I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today, he added.

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In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening and diversification of cooperation between India and Australia in the last five years following the elevation of the relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.

Prime Minister Albanese offered his solidarity on the recent terror attack in India. The leaders committed to strengthen the global fight against terrorism, it said.

The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including political and strategic, defence and security, energy, trade and investment, critical minerals, technology, mobility, education and people-to-people linkages, it said.

The Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Both leaders acknowledged that the frequency of high-level contacts has imparted a strong momentum to bilateral relations. The two leaders renewed their commitment to take the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to even greater heights, the statement said.

Later, in a social media post, Albanese said Australia and India are great friends and partners.

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From trade, defence and security to education and clean energy, our relationship is fundamentally important. Wonderful to catch up with my friend Prime Minister Modi ahead of the G20 Summit, he added.

A day earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi, and they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and progress under different pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two ministers co-chaired the 16th India-Australia Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD) in Delhi.

The two ministers also exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific and affirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

With inputs from agencies
The Indian rupee plunged to a fresh lifetime low on Friday amid heavy foreign outflows, uncertainty over the proposed United StatesIndia trade deal and what traders said was a softer defence by the RBI. The steep fall left the currency as Asias weakest performer so far this year.

The Indian rupee tumbled to a lifetime low on Friday, dragged down by heavy portfolio outflows, uncertainty around a potential United StatesIndia trade deal, and what traders described as a softer defence of the currency by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

After a steady start to the day, the rupee slid past the 89.5 mark to touch a new all-time low. Bloomberg data showed the currency falling as much as 83 paise to 89.54 before trimming losses to close 79 paise weaker at 89.49  its worst session since 8 May 2025. The rupee is now down 4.53 per cent this year, making it the weakest major currency in Asia.

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RBI says no target level for the rupee

The sharp decline followed comments from RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, who reiterated on Thursday that the central bank does not target a specific exchange rate and that recent weakness reflected stronger demand for dollars. Indias foreign-exchange reserves, he said, remain very good and provide ample cover.

He added that pressure on the currency should ease once New Delhi concludes a trade agreement with Washington.

Sanctions, tariffs and trade worries weigh on sentiment

Analysts highlighted several factors behind Fridays fall. Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said the rupee was pressured by United States sanctions on an Indian firm dealing with Iran, a widening trade deficit and delays in the bilateral trade deal.

The slide to 89.49 pushed the currency beyond its previous record low of 88.80, hit in late September and again earlier this month. Fridays intraday fall of 0.9 per cent was the sharpest since May.

The rupee has been under strain for the past three months, ever since steep United States tariffs on Indian exports took effect in late August.

Although domestic economic fundamentals remain strong and equity markets are near record highs, the tariffs have hurt trade flows and pushed Indias merchandise trade deficit to an unprecedented level. Exports to the United States fell nine per cent year-on-year, while foreign investors have withdrawn 16.5 billion dollars from Indian equities in 2025  among the largest outflows recorded across emerging markets.

Economists warn of back-to-back BoP deficits

Citi economists noted: An early trade deal is important for a recovery in export order momentum, which remains below January to July levels as per PMI data.

They expect India to post a five-billion-dollar balance-of-payments deficit in FY26, which would mark the first instance of consecutive BoP deficits since 1991.

FX strategists said importers have stepped up hedging in recent weeks, while exporters remain largely inactive.

According to ANZ strategist Dhiraj Nim, 89.50 is the new resistance for now, adding that the RBI seems to be relenting to a market that has been short INR for quite some time. He said a favourable trade deal could materially pull USD/INR lower.

Rupee hits record low against Chinese yuan

The rupee also touched a record low of 12.60 against the offshore Chinese yuan on Friday, extending its year-to-date decline in that pair to eight per cent.
Russia threatens more Ukrainian territory if Kyiv rejects a US-backed peace plan. Zelenskyy faces tough choices as Europe pledges support, while Trump pushes for swift negotiations to end the war.

Russia warned it is prepared to seize additional Ukrainian territory if Kyiv rejects a new US-backed peace proposal, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, raising the stakes as Washington presses both sides to consider a negotiated end to the war.

The statement came hours after the United States unveiled a 28-point plan that has unsettled Ukraine and its European partners.

A White House official said President Donald Trump is engaging directly with both Moscow and Kyiv to end the conflict as quickly as possible, emphasising that the war has dragged on with too many senseless deaths.

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Trump told Fox News Radio that next Thursday remains an appropriate deadline for Ukraine to respond to the plan, though he suggested the timeline could be extended if talks progress, stressing that the proposals core objective is to stop the killing.

While Zelenskyy has offered to negotiate with the US and Russia, he signalled Ukraine may not get everything it wants and has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest," Zelenskyy said in a recorded speech. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.

We will work calmly with America and all partners, he said, but insisted on fair treatment.

He urged Ukrainians to stop fighting each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week will be very difficult.

Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine

Zelenskyy spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the U.S. proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

Wary of antagonising Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, Merzs office said.

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The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees, the statement added.

The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.

Starmer said the right of Ukraine to determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.

Existential threat to Europe

European countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Russias war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."

Trump in his radio interview pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Putin to carry out further malign action on his European neighbours.

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Hes not thinking of more war, Trump said of Putin. Hes thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now.

A European government official said that the U.S. plans werent officially presented to Ukraines European backers.

Many of the proposals are quite concerning, the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.

European Council President Antonio Costa in Johannesburg said of the U.S. proposals: The European Union has not been communicated (about) any plans in (an) official manner.

With inputs from agencies
During his visit to the United States, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, pledged to invest $1 trillion in Washington. But can the Saudi Kingdom afford to meet the big promise?

US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia attend the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, DC, US, on November 19, 2025. (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

During his visit to the United States, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, pledged to invest $1 trillion in Washington as he sat next to US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. While the promise reflected the abundant wealth of the West Asian nation, it raises questions about whether the countrys sovereign fund has enough cash to fulfil the promise.

The kingdoms vaunted Public Investment Fund (PIF), which Saudi Arabia has typically used to fulfil commitments like the one it made this week in Washington, is running low on cash as the country seeks new investment. That is largely because Prince Mohammed and his deputies have spent a vast portion of the nations bounty on projects that are currently in financial distress.

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Sources close to the matter told The New York Times how the kingdom is struggling to reap the benefits of some of the projects it has invested heavily in. For instance, the Neom project, a vast would-be utopian region on the nations northern tip that was to feature robot workers, a ski resort and beaches, is currently confronted with major delays.

While the kingdom is still sitting on massive oil wealth, its ability to pump that resource, however, is heavily constricted by geopolitical agreements to curtail supply and a low price for crude overall. In light of these factors, the Saudis are currently running a budget deficit and taking on debt to fulfil Prince Mohammeds domestic promises.

PIF: The major roadblock

While the Saudi Arabian PIF still holds $1 trillion in assets, a huge portion of its portfolio is tied up in hard-to-sell assets for which no public valuations are available. Hence, representatives of the body have begun telling international investors that it is all but unable to allocate any more money for the foreseeable future, sources told NYT.

A spokesman for the fund, Marwan Bakrali, said it had $60 billion in cash and similar financial instruments. He described it as very liquid by regional standards. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the PIF team has been actively working to reconstruct its operations under the watchful eye of the crown prince.

The Saudi prince has already fired the head of at least one of his more imperilled projects, Neom, two people briefed on the matter told NYT. The PIF team is also furiously slashing internal financial projections for various investments, including a string of luxury resorts on the Red Sea that sit mostly empty. It is also focusing its investments on private investments in artificial intelligence companies.

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Is Saudi Arabia facing financial distress?

It is pertient to note that the world of sovereign wealth funds can be a staid place. The worlds largest, Norways $2 trillion Government Pension Fund Global, invests largely in publicly traded stocks. Some nations, like India, bar investigating outside the nation.

In Saudi Arabia, the PIF was created in 1971, funded by the Saudi government, to finance domestic companies such as nationally run banks and electric utilities. By 2015, it had accumulated $100 billion in assets, 50 staff members and zero name recognition.

In March 2015, a new Saudi king transferred control of the entity to his third wifes eldest son, Prince Mohammed, then 29 years old. The Saudi prince used PIF as a tool in his roll-up of power, so much so that PIF now says that was the year it was reborn.

Prince Mohammed packed PIF with government cash, took out loans and redirected some of the nations oil sales (currently estimated by outsiders at $500 million per day) to the fund. He also transferred assets that the kingdom seized from political opponents and family members in what was termed an anti-corruption effort.

Over the years, PIF made opportune bets in the public markets, including building a huge portfolio in US stocks, which proved to be profitable when the prices rebounded. However, the Future Investment Initiative, this year, also reflected the kingdoms modest financial distress.

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At the summit, many questioned the lack of presence of private-equity billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman, who had attended every prior annual dinner and whose firm, Blackstone, has made a small fortune off its relationship with the kingdom. Schwarzmans absence was noted by attendees, but he did arrive, hours late (after dessert), with his spokesperson blaming the delay on traffic. Not only this, the bodys changed stance towards portfolio managers of top companies also showcased a sign of modest distress. However, it is too early to presume that the economy is facing challenges.
As South Africa gears up for the G20 Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that the country will not be bullied, with the United States boycotting the international event in Johannesburg this weekend.

As South Africa gears up for the G20 Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that the country will not be bullied, with the United States boycotting the international event in Johannesburg this weekend. The remarks came after Washington demanded that South Africa not issue the traditional joint leaders statement after the meeting.

While 40 nations will be participating in the summit, US President Donald Trump said that there will be no American representation, expressing differences in both international and domestic policies. The move was seen as a wider American retreat from multilateralism amid a rattled global order.

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It cannot be that a countrys geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to, Ramaphosa told delegates at a curtain-raiser event in a clear reference to Washington. There should be no bullying of one nation by another, he said in an address to a gathering of civil society groups ahead of the November 22-23 summit.

The US remains adamant on its boycott

Meanwhile, the US embassy made it clear that it would not attend the summit. In a note to South Africa, the American embassy said that its G20 priorities run counter to the US policy views and we cannot support consensus on any documents negotiated under your presidency.

It said that the United States opposes issuance of any G20 summit outcome document under the premise of a consensus G20 position, without U.S. agreement. It is pertinent to note that South Africa is the first African nation to host the G20 Summit. South Africa maintained that the United States absence from the event negated its role.

South Africa still plans to issue a joint statement

The African nations Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, said Pretoria would press ahead with a leaders declaration. We will not be told by anyone absent that we cannot adopt a declaration or make any decisions at the summit, he said in an address after Ramaphosa had spoken.

South Africa chose  Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability as the theme of this years G20 Summit, which comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies, the European Union and the African Union. What makes the G20 significant is the fact that its members account for 85 per cent of global GDP and two-thirds of the worlds population. Addressing their closing event, Ramaphosa repeated: We need to be sitting at the table as equals  without any bullying of the other.

In the past, most of us in the Global South were colonised; we were not even allowed to be in the room. And weve now been arguing that we would like to be in the room, the South African leader averred.

With Inputs from AFP.
The first step USCIS has taken, in President Donald Trumps broader immigration plan, is to send a draft version of Form I-140G to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review

The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has kicked off the Gold Card permanent residence program that will allow people to apply for lawful permanent residence in the country via a large donation to the government.

The first step USCIS has taken, in President Donald Trumps broader immigration plan, is to send a draft version of Form I-140G to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The OMBs approval is a mandatory step before the form can be formally implemented.

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The agency has estimated that about 1,000 individuals may subscribe to the program each year by filling out the Form I-40G. Mitch Wexler, senior counsellor at Fragomen, a global immigration law firm, told the Times of India, Though the draft form is an important step toward implementation of the Gold Card program, the process has not been finalised and USCIS and the Department of Commerce are not yet accepting applications.

What are its provisions?

Under the proposal, an individual applicant would need to contribute $1 million to the US Treasury to qualify for the Gold Card permanent residence program, while corporate or employer-sponsored applicants would be required to donate $2 million.

The application fee is expected to be $15,000 per person.

The process would involve three steps:

Submit a Gold Card application to the US Department of Commerce. Paying the non-refundable $15,000 fee through pay.gov. Filing Form I-140G with USCIS allows the agency to evaluate the applicants eligibility for the new visa category and verify that the donated funds come from a lawful source.

Once the application is approved and an immigrant visa number is available, the applicant must complete consular processing overseas through the US Department of State to be admitted as a lawful permanent resident. The draft instructions do not specify how adjustment of status (for those already in the US) will work, though that option is expected to be made available, Wexler said.

Gold card visa

In February, Trump proposed replacing the EB-5 visa program for foreign investors with a gold card that could be purchased as a pathway to American citizenship.

Trump announced plans to replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which allows foreign investors to become permanent residents by investing large sums of money that create or preserve US jobs, with a gold card.

The EB-5 program grants green cards to foreigners who promise to invest in US businesses.

We are going to be selling a gold card, Trump said.

Its going to offer green card privileges and serve as a route to American citizenship, attracting wealthy individuals to our country by purchasing this card, Trump added.
Zelenskyy on Friday warned that Kyiv faces intense pressure over a US proposal to end the war with Russia, stressing that his country risks losing the support of key ally the United States over Washingtons plan to end the war with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) attend a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on November 19, 2025. Reuters File

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday warned that Kyiv faces intense pressure over a US proposal to end the war with Russia, stressing that his country risks losing the support of key ally the United States over Washingtons plan to end the war with Russia.

According to The Guardian report, in a video address to the nation posted on social media, Zelenskyy described the coming days as very difficult for Ukraine, as political pressure mounts from the United States to secure agreement on its peace plan.

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Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, The Guardian quoted Zelenskyy as saying.

He emphasised that while he is committed to working constructively with the US, he will not compromise Ukraines national interests or sovereignty.

The president signaled that Kyiv would seek amendments to the proposed deal to prevent Moscow from claiming that Ukraine is unwilling to pursue peace.

I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives, he was quoted as saying.

Recalling the countrys response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, Zelenskyy said, We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now, framing the current situation as another critical moment in the nations history.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy held a call with US Vice President JD Vance on Friday as he warned Kyiv risked a rupture of ties with Washington.

According to AFP, a Ukrainian presidential source said the call ended a while ago, without elaborating on the discussion, as Kyiv and its European allies scramble to respond to the 28-point plan that adheres to many of Moscows demands.

The US is pressuring Ukraine to accept the framework of a US-brokered peace deal with Russia within the next week and has warned that key military and intelligence support could be curtailed if Kyiv resists, according to a Reuters report, citing two sources familiar with the discussions.

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The reported ultimatum marks a sharp escalation in Washingtons efforts to push the warring sides toward negotiations after more than two-and-a-half years of conflict.

According to one source, the Trump administration wants Ukraine to sign on to the basic terms by next Thursday  a move that would represent the most forceful US intervention yet in shaping Kyivs negotiating stance as its battlefield position grows increasingly strained.

With inputs from agencies
Ukraine will not accept any deal that would violate its red lines, Rustem Umerov, the countrys top negotiator, has said after a joint US-Russia proposal parroted Vladimir Putins maximalist demands.

Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised brigade of Ukraine fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops on a front line near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on February 15, 2025. (Photo: Oleg Petrasiuk/Press Service of the 24th Mechanised Brigade/Handout via Reuters)

After a US-Russia proposal parroted nearly all of Vladimir Putins maximalist demands, Ukraines top negotiator on Friday said the country will not accept any deal that would violate its red lines.

There can be no decisions outside the framework of our sovereignty, the security of our people, or our red lines  now or ever. This is the foundation of any discussion, Rustem Umerov, Ukraines security council chief and negotiator, said on Telegram.

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The Donald Trump administration joined hands with Russia to draft a 28-point proposal to end the war in Russia. The proposal has caused an outrage in Ukraine and among its European partners because it parrots nearly all of Putins maximalist terms.

Under the US-Russia plan, Ukraine would cede entire eastern Donbas region, including the land under its control; reduce its military by half; give up several type of arms and ammunition; and never host foreign troops on its soil; never procure long-range missile; forego US assistance; declare Russia as an official language; and legalise the pro-Russia branch of the Orthodox church. These conditions are right out of Putins maximalist terms.

ALSO READ: With Russias terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender  not a peace deal

Acceptance of such terms would essentially amount to Ukraines surrender, end its sovereignty, and mark the end of its nationhood  and such terms have long been dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as non-starter.

Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have said they continue to engage with the Trump administration.

The Ukrainian government has continued the consultations that began yesterday at the level of the president, Umerov said in his post.

We discussed approaches to restoring a just peace, the sequence of next steps, and realistic formats for further dialogue. Ukraine is carefully studying every proposal from its partners and clearly articulating its own position, said Umerov.

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New York Citys new mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, is set to meet US President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday, weeks before taking office. Heres what lies ahead

This combination of pictures shows Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani (left) and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC (right). AFP

New York Citys new mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, is set to meet US President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday, weeks before taking office. Trump formally confirmed the meeting on his social media platform TruthSocial on Wednesday night, saying that Mamdani has asked for it.

He went on to label the NYC Mayor-elect incorrectly as the Communist Mayor of New York City," when he is a Democratic Socialist. Mamdani, who has fiercely criticised Trump, sees this meeting as a way to stand up to the American leader. Mamdani has been an ardent critic of the presidents immigration policies and threats to cut federal funding to the city.

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While speaking at the upcoming meeting in an interview with MS Now on Wednesday, Mamdani confirmed that his team had reached out to speak to Trump about the concerns of the New Yorkers. I want to just speak plainly to the president about what it means to actually stand up for New Yorkers and the way in which New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city, Mamdani explained.

How Trump looks at Mamdani

The American leader has repeatedly attacked Mamdani and said that his victory would turn out to be disastrous for New York, the hometown of Trump himself. In light of this, Trump made a last-minute endorsement of his main rival, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, after he started running against Mamdani as an independent.

However, in private, Trump has described Mamdani as a talented politician, calling him slick and a good talker, sources told The New York Times. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that he was open to a meeting, insisting: We want to see everything work out well for New York.

As the January 1 inauguration nears, Mamdani has spoken about trying to find common ground on issues such as bringing down grocery prices. However, he frequently maintained that he would stand up to the president if he hurt New Yorkers.

In his victory speech on election night, Mamdani urged Trump to turn the volume up", calling out the likelihood that the president was watching and challenging him to take notice of his policies. He went on to vow to defend immigrants like himself. Hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us, he said at that time.
US President Donald Trump in a radio interview on Friday said that he wants an answer from Zelenskyy on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but says an extension is possible to finalise terms.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke on Friday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with both leaders emphasising the need to support US efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, her office said.

In a statement, Melonis office said the discussion underscored the importance of backing ongoing negotiating efforts and reiterated the aim of securing a just and lasting peace in the interest of Europe.

The statement said that the reference to solid security guarantees was welcomed, while other aspects of the proposal required further review.

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Washington has put forward a 28-point plan that would require Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and drop its bid to join NATO. The plan offers Kyiv robust security guarantees, though the details of these guarantees have not been defined.

US President Donald Trump in a radio interview on Friday said that he wants an answer from Zelenskyy on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but says an extension is possible to finalise terms.

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, Trump said in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. But Thursday is it  we think an appropriate time.

While Zelenskyy has offered to negotiate with the U.S. and Russia, he signalled Ukraine may not get everything it wants and has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest," Zelenskyy said in a recorded speech. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.

We will work calmly with America and all partners, he said, but insisted on fair treatment.

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He urged Ukrainians to stop fighting each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week will be very difficult.

With inputs from agencies.
Russia says it has not received any formal communication from Washington regarding a proposed US peace initiative for Ukraine, even as Ukraines Zelensky signaled openness to consider the Trump administrations draft plan.

US President Donald Trump has drawn up 28-point plan for peace to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2024. The question is will Putin and Zelenskyy agree?

Russia has said it has not received any formal communication from Washington regarding a proposed US peace initiative, even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated a willingness to consider the Trump administrations vision for ending the conflict.

The widely leaked draft plan includes several conditions Kyiv has long rejected, such as ceding parts of eastern Donetsk still under Ukrainian control, limiting the size of its military, and committing not to pursue NATO membership. The concessions largely favour Moscow, prompting a measured response from Zelenskys office on Thursday, 20 November.

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The leaks surfaced as Russian forces pressed attacks, with overnight strikes killing six peoplefive in Zaporizhzhia in the south and one in Dnipropetrovsk in the east. Moscow has reported minor territorial gains, while Zelensky faces mounting political pressure at home linked to a $100 million corruption scandal involving senior officials.

US defends drafting process

The White House has rejected claims that Kyiv was excluded from shaping the plan. US officials said the document was drafted shortly after discussions between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, a top Ukrainian official who was reportedly supportive of many points in the plan. However, Umerov wrote on Telegram that he neither endorsed nor assessed the proposal, emphasising that Ukraine is still carefully reviewing suggestions from its partners.

Zelensky has avoided direct criticism, instead expressing appreciation for President Trumps efforts to restore European securitya gesture seen as a way to maintain goodwill with the US despite perceived concessions to Russia. His office said the plan could, in Washingtons view, revive diplomatic efforts, and Zelensky is expected to discuss the proposal with Trump soon.

Russia maintains stance

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov confirmed that Russia has seen new elements in discussions but stressed that no official documents had been submitted and no substantive talks have taken place. Moscow claims it remains fully open to negotiations but insists any settlement must address the root causes of the war, phrasing Kyiv interprets as a call for sweeping concessions. Tensions have escalated between Washington and Moscow, with Trump imposing new sanctions on Russias two largest oil companies on Friday, citing frustration over stalled negotiations.

European leaders call for inclusion

Kyiv and European leaders have repeatedly emphasised the need for a fair and lasting peace that prevents further Russian territorial expansion. Yet EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she has seen no evidence of Europe being involved in shaping the US plan, stressing that any workable proposal must include both Ukraine and its European allies. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the document not as a full plan but as a set of ideas and options.

Key provisions of the draft

According to reports, the draft plan would limit Ukraines armed forces to 600,000 personnel, station European fighter jets in Poland rather than Ukraine, and require Kyiv to relinquish many of its weapons. It promises reliable security guarantees without providing specifics. The plan also expects Russia to refrain from attacking neighbouring states and calls for NATO to halt further expansion.

Additionally, the proposal envisions reintegrating Russia into global economic and political structures, including lifting sanctions and inviting Moscow back into the G7, restoring the former G8 format.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the latest sanctions that have targeted over 170 vessels responsible for shipping Iranian petroleum and petroleum products

A map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran is seen behind a 3D printed oil pipeline in this illustration. Reuters

The US Treasury Department has imposed a slew of sanctions on Irans vast oil network. The list of sanctioned companies also includes an Indian firm as Washington intensifies its campaign against Tehrans oil lobby that has been feeding the Iranian military.

Todays action continues Treasurys campaign to cut off funding for the Iranian regimes development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies," Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement.

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The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the latest sanctions that have targeted over 170 vessels responsible for shipping Iranian petroleum and petroleum products, driving up costs for Iranian oil exporters and reducing the revenue Iran receives for each barrel of oil sold.

The statement said that ever since Irans 12-day war with Israel earlier this year, Tehran has increasingly come to rely on the sale of Iranian crude oil to supplement its annual budget and finance the rebuilding of its depleted forces.

Which companies have been sanctioned?

Among the Iranian companies that have been slapped by the new round of sanctions is Mahan Airlines, which the Treasury Department says has worked closely with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to arm and supply Iran-backed terrorist groups throughout the Middle East. "

The other entities include Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, which uses an array of front companies and shadow fleet vessels to obfuscate its illicit activities and sell billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil annually, as per the US.

The latest action is being taken primarily under the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, as well as E.O. 13902, which targets Irans petroleum and petrochemical industries. The move extends the administrations aggressive sanctions campaign aimed at curbing Iranian oil sales, in line with the Presidents National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which directs maximum economic pressure on Iran.

Which Indian company has been sanctioned?

Among those newly designated is RN Ship Management Private Limited, an India-based firm accused of operating vessels that transported Iranian oil for Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, a sanctioned entity linked to Irans military.

The companys Indian directors, Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed, were also targeted for their alleged involvement.

RN Ship Management joins a growing roster of firms from the UAE, Panama, Germany, Greece, and The Gambia that have been cited for providing material support to Irans military-aligned oil activities.

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During his private visit to India, US President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr, spent Thursday in Gujarat as he attended an event hosted by the Ambani family.

During his private visit to India, US President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr, spent Thursday in Gujarat as he attended an event hosted by the Ambani family. Trump Jr has been touring the states temples, wildlife facilities and cultural venues.

The American political scion paid a visit to Vantara  the vast wildlife rescue and rehabilitation initiative developed under the leadership of Anant Ambani  located in Jamnagars Green Belt. In the videos circulating online, Donald Trump Jr was captured offering his prayers to Lord Ganesha in a temple.

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The clip showed Trumps oldest son standing barefoot inside the temple as he bowed to lord Ganesha. The video also featured Anant Ambanis wife, Radhika Merchant.

Donald Trump Jr participates in Dandiya-Garba with Anant Ambani in Jamnagar.



Also , Reliance Industries stops import of Russian oil. pic.twitter.com/J82a5FeBVz  News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) November 21, 2025

Trumps visit to the Taj Mahal

A day before this, Trump Jr paid a visit to the Taj Mahal. In the midst of intense security arrangements, Trump Jr. spent nearly an hour exploring the monument, PTI reported. As per the report, he asked several questions about the Taj Mahals architecture to his guide.

He was shown around the monument by Nitin Singh, who, interestingly, also accompanied US President Donald Trump during his 2020 visit to Agra. During his visit, local police and security personnel from the US were also present.

Ahead of his arrival, the American authorities also carried out special cleaning drives. They further cleared the key routes of stray animals. A separate video of Trump Jr performing Dandiya with Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant also went viral. Donald Trump Jr also attended a high-profile wedding in Udaipur.
The Eisbachwelle was a unique surfing wave on a river in Munichs Englischer Garten that attracted surfers from around the world. This 5-foot standing wave was formed by fast-moving water and challenged even experienced surfers.

Munich surfers mourn the loss of the iconic Eisbachwelle after river dredging causes the legendary urban wave to vanish.

Germanys surfing community is mourning the disappearance of a famous wave that once thrilled river surfers in Munich. Known as the Eisbachwelle, this iconic wave had long drawn surfers to the city, becoming a symbol of adventure within an unexpected urban setting.

Eisbachwelles unique standing wave

The Eisbachwelle was a powerful 5-foot wave created by water rushing violently into the Eisbach river near the entrance to Munichs Englischer Garten. This standing wave attracted skilled surfers eager for a challenge, offering an unusual chance to ride waves away from an ocean.

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Dredging causes wave to vanish

Last month, city officials conducted a dredging operation to clear and deepen the riverbed. This effort lowered the river bottom and disrupted the waves formation. As a result, the celebrated Eisbachwelle vanished completely, replaced by churning white water unsuitable for surfing.

Winter city surfers @ #Eisbachwelle in Munich at below 0 Degrees C pic.twitter.com/bbLqZRR63P  Alexander Esslinger (@patentlyGerman) February 21, 2018

Watch the video.

Community response and future hopes

Surfers and local citizens expressed disappointment and concern at losing this unique urban surfing spot. Some attempted creative solutions, such as installing underwater ramps, to restore the wave temporarily, though authorities removed these unauthorized fixes. Experts now recommend carefully adjusting sediment and water flow to recreate the wave safely. The community and city engineers continue discussions to bring back this beloved feature while ensuring public safety.
For years, experts have warned that using your phone before bed harms sleep. A new study from Toronto Metropolitan University and Universite Laval suggests the link may be more complex than previously thought.

For years, experts have warned that looking at your phone before bed will ruin your sleep. But a new study from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Universite Laval suggests the relationship between bedtime screen use and sleep may be far more nuanced.

The study, based on self-reported data from more than 1,000 Canadian adults, found little difference in overall sleep health between people who used screens every night and those who avoided them entirely. Surprisingly, the poorest sleep was reported by those who used their phones only a few nights a week.

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Rethinking the blue-light effect

Previous research has largely blamed blue light from phones and LED screens for suppressing melatonin and disrupting sleep. But TMU researchers argue that earlier studies often overlooked factors such as age, timing, and intensity of exposure.

TMU Professor Colleen Carney, a co-author and specialist in sleep and mood disorders, told TIME that many blue-light studies rely on artificial conditions that do not reflect everyday life. Some, she said, stack the deck to make blue light appear to be the main culprit.

It is true that we do have those studies, but in order to get those results, these studies usually pick young adults who are closer to puberty, which is really important, because that makes you light sensitive. And then they keep them in the lab overnight and all through the day, theyre in dim light all day long, Carney says.

I think people have taken findings in this area and applied them much too broadly, and have not paid attention to studies that dont find it.

Carney emphasized that what people do on their phones matters just as much as screen type. Engaging with content that is upsetting or alerting or simply hard to put down can interfere with sleep.

Screens have become routine

Published in Sleep Health in October, the study found that more than 80 percent of participants reported using screens at bedtime in the past month, and nearly half did so every night.

Carneys findings add to growing research suggesting that blue light may have been unfairly blamed for poor sleep.

Past studies have shown mixed results: a 2011 Journal of Applied Physiology study linked blue-light exposure to reduced melatonin, while a 2023 Brain Communications study found that putting the phone away at least an hour before bed could mitigate its negative effects. A 2025 study in Life highlighted blue lights impact on circadian rhythms and suggested red light as a safer alternative.

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Correlation is not causation

Other research has associated phone use with poor sleep but struggled to prove causation. A 2016 PLOS ONE study, covered by TIME, found a strong link between bedtime phone use and poor sleep but could not determine which caused the other.

We cant exclude the possibility that people who just cant get to sleep for some unrelated reason happen to fill that time by using their smartphone, researcher Dr. Gregory Marcus told TIME in 2016.

A 2024 National Sleep Foundation panel concluded that screen use harms sleep in children and adolescentslargely due to contentbut did not reach consensus on whether blue light affects adult sleep. Meanwhile, a March 2025 American Cancer Society study of 122,000 participants found that daily screen use was linked to later bedtimes and about 50 minutes less sleep each week.

Challenging long-held assumptions

Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist in Menlo Park, California, called the TMU findings fascinating, because it goes against a very large established body of research which suggests a clear effect on sleep quality from screen use, citing the 2025 American Cancer Society study as an example.
The delegation included 26 former hostages, including 17 of the 20 living captives who were released in the deal. Trump made a special mention of Matan Angrest, who served at the Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Trump meets former hostages and their families at the White House. Image courtesy: @WhiteHouse/X

US President Donald Trump hosted almost all the hostages freed by Hamas over the past month as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by him in October.

Speaking to the former hostages and their families at the White House, Trump said, Youre not a hostage anymore today youre heroes.

The delegation included 26 former hostages, including 17 of the 20 living captives who were released in the deal. Trump made a special mention of Matan Angrest, who served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF).

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Matan never broke, and today hes a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. Im telling you, youre a great inspiration to everybody, the president said.

President Donald J. Trump hosts freed Israeli hostages at the White House. 



Youre not a hostage anymoretoday youre HEROES. pic.twitter.com/v0RstOuulb  The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 20, 2025

Trump gave each hostage a special presidential coin to honour them, while the former captives brought gifts for the president to express their gratitude.

In interviews before their White House visit, the former hostages expressed their intention to thank Trump for securing their release, while also urging him to continue applying pressure on Hamas to free the remains of the three deceased hostages still held in Gaza.

Its an honor to get to know all of you. I know some of you already. I know some of the previous hostages that we got out very well. We love you all, and our country loves you all youre amazing people, Trump said.

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Israel launches strike

Meanwhile, Gaza health authorities said fresh Israeli air strikes killed five people on Thursday, as ceasefire mediator Qatar warned the renewed attacks threatened to undermine the fragile weeks-long truce between Israel and Hamas.

The new strikes came the morning after one of the deadliest days in the Gaza Strip since the truce began on October 10, and after Israel launched a series of attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon despite the nearly year-long ceasefire there.

Qatar, a key mediator in the Hamas-Israel war, condemned the latest air strikes as a dangerous escalation that threatens to undermine the ceasefire agreement.

With inputs from agencies
Sony launched the WH-1000XM6, the companys latest flagship headphones, in India back in September. This has an improved design, better noise cancellation with QN3 chip, and the price has also increased. Is this a good upgrade to XM5? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Sony continues its trend of eco-conscious packaging, with zero plastic in the box. Inside the Original Blended Material packaging, you are greeted by a redesigned, significantly more compact carrying case. The case now features a satisfying magnetic latch instead of a zipper, making access quicker and quieter.

Box Contents

Sony WH-1000XM6 in Platinum Silver colour

Case in the matching color

USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable

3.5mm to 3.5mm connector

User manual

Design and build quality

The biggest sigh of relief for many Sony fans will be the design change: foldability is back. Unlike the fixed-shape XM5, the XM6 brings back the ability to fold the earcups into the headband, making them significantly more portable. They collapse neatly into a new, more compact carrying case that now features a magnetic latch instead of a zipper, which feels premium and is easier to access.

Weighing in at approx 254g, they are slightly heavier than the XM5 (250g), but you likely wont feel the difference. Sony has redesigned the headband to be wider and flatter, distributing weight more evenly across the head to reduce the hotspot pressure many complained about with the previous generation.

The build is still primarily recycled plastic, which might disappoint those hoping for metal at this price point, but the finish has a new soft-touch coating that resists fingerprints better than before.

The earpads use a new Soft Fit Leather synthetic material that feels cooler against the skin and provides a tighter passive seal without increasing clamping force. The hinge mechanism, a point of failure on older headphones, has been reinforced with an internal metal structure, feeling reassuringly stiff and durable.

The 3.5mm audio jack, power button, NC/AMB button are present on the left side, and the USB type-c port is on the right side. You can visually see four microphones on each earcups, but there are twelve microphones for real-time optimization, says the company.

There is a touch panel on the right earcup which has improved, but it can still register accidental swipes when adjusting the headset or wearing a hoodie.

One notable omission is the lack of an official IP rating. Like its predecessor, the XM6 is not water or sweat-resistant. While they can likely handle a light sprinkle, we would strongly advise against wearing them during heavy gym sessions or in heavy rain, as moisture damage is not covered under warranty.

Sound Quality

Sony has retained the 30mm carbon-fiber reinforced driver unit from the XM5 but has paired it with the all-new Integrated Processor V2 and the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3.

The bass is tighter and less muddy than the XM5, offering deep sub-bass rumble without bleeding into the mids. Highs are crisp without being sibilant, and the instrument separation is excellent, likely due to the improved processing power.

Equalizer & Find Your EQ

For those who find Sonys default bass-heavy sound too aggressive, the app offers a fully customizable 5-band Equalizer with a separate Clear Bass slider.

New to this generation is the Find Your Equalizer feature. Instead of asking you to slide frequency bars (which can be confusing for non-audiophiles), it plays a music loop and lets you tap on numbered bubbles to choose the sound you prefer (e.g., Do you prefer A, B, or C?). After three rounds of choices, it builds a custom EQ curve tailored specifically to your taste. Its a brilliant, user-friendly way to tune the headphones without needing a degree in audio engineering.

A new addition is the dedicated Cinema Mode (accessible via the app). This DSP setting widens the soundstage artificially to mimic a theater environment. While usually a gimmick, it works surprisingly well here.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 is claimed to be 7x faster than the previous QN1 chip, working in tandem with a massive array of 12 microphones (up from 8 on the XM5).

While the XM5 was already great at canceling low-frequency hums (like airplane engines), the XM6 excels at silencing higher-pitched frequencieshuman voices, clicking keyboards, and street chatter are dampened significantly better.

Adaptive Sound Control uses AI to detect your actions and location to switch modes automatically:

Staying: Maximizes ANC (e.g., sitting in an office).

Maximizes ANC (e.g., sitting in an office). Walking: Switches to Ambient Sound so you can hear traffic.

Switches to Ambient Sound so you can hear traffic. Transport: Max ANC to kill engine drone.

While this feature existed before, the transition is now seamless. On the XM5, you would hear a distinct chime and a brief pause in audio when it switched modes. The XM6 fades the modes in and out so smoothly you often dont notice the switch until you realize you can suddenly hear the surrounding cars.

Ambient mode and call quality

Thanks to the new 12-microphone array, the transparency mode is miles ahead of the XM5. In the past, Sonys ambient mode often sounded slightly processed or hissy. On the XM6, it is startlingly natural. You can hear your own voice clearly without that plugged ear sensation, making it viable to keep them on while ordering coffee or chatting with a colleague. The app allows you to adjust the ambient sound level from 1 to 20, with a dedicated Voice Passthrough toggle that boosts human speech while suppressing low-frequency background noise.

For calls, the 12-mic setup combined with AI beamforming ensures your voice is isolated effectively. In our tests, wind noise reduction was superior to the XM5, making these a reliable choice for taking calls outdoors.

Connectivity

The headphones come with Bluetooth 5.3 and support Google Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair. Multipoint connectivity is available out of the box, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneouslyfor instance, your laptop for meetings and your phone for calls.

Sony has also future-proofed these with support for LE Audio (Low Energy Audio), which includes Auracast support for broadcasting audio. The companion app (Sony Sound Connect) remains feature-rich, allowing you to tweak the EQ, adjust ambient sound levels, and configure the Speak-to-Chat sensitivity.

In the app, you now have granular control over the touch panel on the right earcup:

Disable Touch Panel: If you wear hoodies or sleep with headphones on, you can completely disable the touch sensor to prevent phantom inputs.

If you wear hoodies or sleep with headphones on, you can completely disable the touch sensor to prevent phantom inputs. Quick Access Customization: You can map a double tap or triple tap to instantly launch specific apps like Spotify Tap or Endel (for focus sounds) without touching your phone.

You can map a double tap or triple tap to instantly launch specific apps like Spotify Tap or Endel (for focus sounds) without touching your phone. NC/AMB Button: The physical button on the left earcup can be customized to cycle through Noise Cancelling / Ambient / Off, or it can be repurposed to wake your Voice Assistant (Google/Alexa).

Battery Life

Battery life remains consistent with the predecessor, which is a bit of a mixed bag if you were hoping for a huge leap. You get 30 hours with ANC turned on and 40 hours with ANC off.

While competitors like Sennheiser offer 60 hours, 30 hours is still plenty for most users, easily covering long-haul flights or a week of commuting. The fast charging is impressive: a mere 3-minute charge gives you 3 hours of playback, which is incredibly handy for last-minute emergencies.

Conclusion

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a refined, mature evolution rather than a revolutionary reinvent. The return of the foldable design fixes the biggest practical complaint of the XM5, and the jump to the QN3 processor cements Sonys lead in the noise-cancellation game.

Should you upgrade? If you own the XM5, unless you desperately need the foldable design or slightly better voice isolation, the XM5 is still excellent, and the upgrade might not justify the cost.

If you own the XM4 or older, this is a fantastic upgrade. You get the best ANC on the market, superior comfort, and a return to the portability you loved in the XM4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sennheiser Momentum 4 are other alternatives that are cheaper.

At Rs. 39,990, the price is steep, but for those who want the absolute best noise cancellation and travel-friendly design, the WH-1000XM6 is a good option. You can get it from Amazon.in, ShopatSC.com and other online retailers as well as Sony Centers, select Croma and Reliance outlets offline.

Pros

Foldable design returns

Class-Leading ANC

Improved Comfort

Good audio quality with Cinema Mode Audio

Impressive call quality

Cons

Steep price

Similar battery life as the predecessor

No IP ratings
Ortblads R01 project aims to solve a vexing problem: the fact that individuals at risk of exposure to HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), or who have been recently exposed to the virus, can sometimes fail to receive, or to use, medications that are available to them that can stop the virus from replicating in the body  essentially stopping it in its tracks.

This issue can arise not because of price or supply chains, but because of the very last step of the medication-procurement process: the local clinic that supplies the medication. In Kenya, HIV medications have traditionally been administered at public clinics often supported by international aid programs such as PEPFAR (the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, established by President George W. Bush in 2003). However, the opportunity to use the more ubiquitous private pharmacies to distribute HIV prevention drugs could help reach people that do not traditionally use public clinics.

From the formative research that we've done on private pharmacies, we find that we're reaching a lot more unmarried people, Ortblad said. We're reaching a lot more people below the age of 25 that are of a very different demographic than those that you see presenting for PrEP at the public clinics.

Reaching as many people as possible is particularly crucial in Kenya, where many people that could benefit from PrEP are not using it. The percentage of HIV-positive people in Western Kenya, where Ortblad has conducted her research, is believed to be up to a quarter of the population.

First approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012, oral PrEP medications, prescribed for HIV-negative people who are at risk of contracting HIV, were a major step forward in reducing the spread of the virus. The use of PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) medications, designed to be taken soon after an exposure to HIV and first utilized by health care workers in the 1980s, has also helped to limit the spread of the virus. A significant breakthrough in PrEP delivery occurred in 2025 with the FDAs approval of the twice-yearly injectable PrEP lenacapavir; Ortblads study focuses on improving pharmacy delivery of HIV prevention products, primarily daily oral PrEP and PEP, as other new PrEP products have limited distribution in Kenya due to supply chain shortages and high costs.

In her R01-funded project, Ortblad and Bukusi will evaluate the use of a telehealth provider, such as a remote nurse, to conduct the time-consuming steps of pharmacy PrEP/PEP delivery: HIV risk screening, PrEP/PEP counseling and HIV testing (remote nurses will guide clients through HIV self-testing). The remote nurse will also support interested clients with PrEP/PEP use via a phone texting platform between pharmacy visits.

The goal of the study is to learn whether this type of intervention increases the initiation and continuation (i.e. refilling) of PrEP or PEP medications compared to standard PrEP/PEP delivery by pharmacy providers, an outcome that could influence how governments scale up and support this novel delivery platform to decrease the spread of HIV. This type of telehealth model could be expanded to other countries, particularly in places where not enough pharmacy providers exist. According to Ortblad, this model could alleviate the strain associated with relying on private pharmacies, which often have only one provider present, to deliver PrEP/PEP with the required protocols.

One of the biggest challenges that we found to actually delivering this model at the private pharmacies from all our pilot studies is the time that it takes pharmacy providers to conduct the counseling and the HIV testing services associated with PrEP delivery, Ortblad said.

Ortblad first began work with her Kenyan colleagues as a result of her post-doctoral research at the University of Washington under Jared Baeten, MD, PhD, now an affiliate professor of global health at UW.

They had done a lot of early clinical research on PrEP effectiveness in Kenya, Ortblad said. And they were transitioning into implementation research on how you could get people to actually use this drug. It was sort of perfect timing to come in as a postdoc and contribute to some of the projects they had in the implementation science research space. They had incredible Kenyan colleagues and collaborators, and it positioned me really nicely to build off those collaborations.

Ortblads hope is that by identifying the best strategies to support the delivery of HIV prevention medications at private pharmacies, the rate of HIV infection in Kenya will decrease and the strategies identified could be scaled up in Kenya and expanded to other countries.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
NATO Secretary General meets intelligence leaders in Brussels

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

19 November 2025

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met the heads of civilian intelligence services and military intelligence members from all 32 Allies in Brussels on Wednesday (19 November 2025). The NATO Civilian Intelligence Committee (CIC), Military Intelligence Committee (MIC), and Joint CIC-MIC Plenary meetings were held at NATO Headquarters this week.

"We would not be able to counter the ever-growing and more sophisticated threats that we face as an Alliance without the contribution of Allied intelligence services," the Secretary General said, adding that "Intelligence has a critical role to play in informing our defence plans, raising awareness of the capabilities of our adversaries, and continuing our aid to Ukraine."

The series of meetings saw strategic discussions between Allies on key intelligence issues, and discussions with valued NATO partners. Agenda topics included, but were not limited to, Russia's illegal war against Ukraine, Moscow's relationships with China, North Korea, Belarus, and Iran, and the future of NATO intelligence, including the integration of emerging and disruptive technologies.

"The conflict in Ukraine clearly demonstrates that our security is not regional, but global, and this underscores the importance of intelligence," said Secretary General Rutte. NATO Allies have never shared intelligence faster, more robustly, and on a wider range of topics than right now.

Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone underlined that every day, NATO Allies are reminded that they face increasingly multi-dimensional threats. The Admiral went on to say that "I am consistently impressed by the depth, breadth, and quality of NATO intelligence. It all has impact and relevance to the Military Committee, our leaders, and to our staff so that we can navigate our current security environment."

The annual meetings bring Allies together to discuss intelligence policy, strategy, and planning, in order to bolster support for Alliance planning, operations, and decision-making. In addition to the annual plenary meetings in Brussels, each committee meets regularly throughout the year.

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U.S. Citizens and Chinese Nationals Arrested for Exporting Artificial Intelligence Technology to China

Thursday, November 20, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Two U.S. citizens and two nationals of the People's Republic of China (PRC)all residing in the United Stateshave been charged with a conspiracy to illegally export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which have artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to the PRC, announced Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg for the Justice Department's National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.

Those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, aka "Mathew Ho," a U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, 34, residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen, 46, Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, aka "Tony Li," PRC national, 38, San Leandro, California, and Jing Chen, aka "Harry Chen," PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa, 45, Tampa, Florida. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Ho and Chen were arrested and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Alabama. Li was also arrested yesterday and is scheduled to appear today in the Northern District of California.

"The indictment unsealed yesterday alleges a deliberate and deceptive effort to transship controlled NVIDIA GPUs to China by falsifying paperwork, creating fake contracts, and misleading U.S. authorities," said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. "The National Security Division is committed to disrupting these kinds of black markets of sensitive U.S. technologies and holding accountable those who participate in this illicit trade."

"As demonstrated by this indictment, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida is firmly committed to safeguarding our country's national security," said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. "Thanks to the dedicated investigative work by our law enforcement partners, these defendants who wrongfully exported this sensitive technology are facing justice."

According to the indictment, the PRC seeks to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and seeks to use AI for its military modernization efforts and in connection with the design and testing of weapons of mass destruction and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools. The PRC seeks cutting-edge U.S. technology in furtherance of that goal, including NVIDIA GPUs. To protect U.S. national security, beginning in October 2022, the Department of Commerce implemented new license requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC.

As alleged, from September 2023 to November 2025, Ho, Raymond, Li, and Chen conspired to violate these critical U.S. export controls, by illegally exporting advanced GPUs to the PRC through Malaysia and Thailand. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the conspirators used Janford Realtor, LLCa Tampa, Florida-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Lias a front to purchase and then illegally export controlled GPUs to the PRC. Despite its name, Janford Realtor, LLC, was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond, though his Alabama-based electronics company, supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illegal export to the PRC as part of the conspiracy.

As further alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy encompassed four separate exports of NVIDIA GPUs to the PRC. The first and second exports resulted in 400 NVIDIA A100 GPUs being exported to the PRC between October 2024 and January 2025. The third and fourth exports to the PRC were disrupted by law enforcement and therefore not completed. These attempted exports related to ten Hewlett Packard Enterprises supercomputers containing NVIDIA H100 GPUs and 50 separate NVIDIA H200 GPUs.

Despite knowing that licenses were required to export these items to the PRC, none of the conspirators ever sought or obtained a license for any of these exports. Instead, they lied about the intended destination of the GPUs to evade U.S. export controls. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators received over $3.89 million in wire transfers from the PRC to fund this unlawful scheme.

As set forth in the indictment, the United States will also seek forfeiture of 50 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, which are property constituting an item or technology that was intended to be exported unlawfully.

The chart below summarizes the charges against each defendant:

Name and Nationality Age and Residence Charges Max. Term of Imprisonment Hon Ning Ho, aka "Mathew Ho," U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong 34, Tampa, FL Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (4 counts), smuggling (3 counts), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (9 counts) 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen 46, Huntsville, AL Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (2 counts), smuggling (1 count), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (7 counts) 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count Cham Li, aka "Tony Li," PRC national 38, San Leandro, CA Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count Jing Chen, aka "Harry Chen," PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa 45, Tampa, FL Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph K. Ruddy and Lindsey N. Schmidt of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

An indictment is merely an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.

Topics: Export Control

National Security

Components: National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Florida, Middle

Press Release Number: 25-1101

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Trump and Military Leadership

"The video made by the Seditious Six was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote 24 November 2025. "Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in danger. Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under @DeptofWar jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not retired, so they are no longer subject to UCMJ). However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJand he knows that. As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliationlending the appearance of authority to his words. Kellys conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately."

The Department of War stted it had "received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C.  688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures. This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality. Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.

"The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C.  2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels. All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemembers personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order."

A group of Democrat lawmakers, many of whom were veterans, posted a video 18 November 2025 telling military and intelligence officers to "refuse illegal orders." The lawmakers in the video, which Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin posted, were all military veterans and former intelligence officials who spoke directly to members of the military and intelligence community. We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military but that trust is at risk, said the Democratic lawmakers, including Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Jason Crow of Colorado.

This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution arent just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders, they added. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. They did not call for opposition to any specific policies or orders.

Trump adviser Stephen Miller condemned the video, accusing the Democratic lawmakers of openly calling for insurrection. Slotkin responded in a separate post, This is the law. Passed down from our Founding Fathers, to ensure our military upholds its oath to the Constitution  not a king. Given youre directing much of a military policy, you should buff up on the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.

President Donald Trump on 20 November 2025 accused several Democratic lawmakers of seditious behavior, calling for them be arrested and put on trial for behavior that could be punishable by death he said. Its called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand  We wont have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET, the president wrote in one TruthSocial post. This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? Trump wrote in another post. In a third, he wrote: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" Trump also reposted multiple posts from other Truth Social users about the video, including one that said, Hang them George Washington would.

Treason is specifically defined in the U.S. Constitution as waging war against the U.S. or providing aid and comfort to its enemies, while sedition is a federal crime (defined by statute in 18 U.S.C.  2384) involving a conspiracy to incite an armed uprising or use force to oppose U.S. authority, falling short of the overt acts required for a treason conviction. Sedition generally involves a conspiracy by two or more people to use force to: Overthrow the U.S. government; Oppose by force the authority of the US; or Prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any U.S. law by force. "Adhering to enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort" requires an overt act that demonstrates an intent to betray the U.S. and helps an actual, declared foreign enemy. The enemy must be a state or organization with which the U.S. is in an open, declared war, not merely a domestic rebel or insurrectionist.

The Democratic lawmakers respnded, calling on Americans to "unite and condemn the Presidents calls for our murder and political violence." The lawmakers said in a statement posted to X "Whats most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, spoke about the posts on the Senate floor, saying, The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is an outright threat, and its deadly serious. Schumer added When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen. He is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline."

The offense of "Disloyal Statements" is detailed in the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), Part IV, Paragraph 72 (though it is often referred to by its corresponding UCMJ article, Article 134). To sustain a conviction for disloyal statements, the government must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1 - A specific statement was made: The accused made a specific, identifiable statement. 2 - Communication: The statement was communicated to another person. 3 - Disloyalty to the United States: The statement itself was disloyal to the United States. 4 - Specific Intent: The statement was made with the specific intent to promote disloyalty or disaffection toward the United States by any member of the armed forces, or to interfere with or impair the loyalty to the United States or the good order and discipline of any member of the armed forces. 5 - Service Prejudice: Under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was either (i) to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, (ii) of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, or (iii) both.

The specific intent element is critical. It requires the prosecution to prove the accused's subjective purpose in making the statement. The statement's mere presence or communication is not sufficient; the accused must have intended the negative effects on loyalty, disaffection, or discipline. Statements intended to interfere with loyalty or disciplines include, for example, encouraging other members to refuse orders (e.g., a vaccine mandate) or undermining confidence in leadership with the specific intent to impair the good order and discipline of the armed forces.

For service members, the key distinction is that while they retain First Amendment rights, those rights are balanced against the military's vital need for good order, discipline, and mission effectiveness. Speech that is protected in civilian life may be restricted in the military context if it poses a concrete threat to national security or military operations. The military's operational necessity overrides certain speech protections that civilians enjoy. While a service member can express disagreement with policy, the moment that expression includes the specific intent to make others disloyal to the United States or directly harm military order, it becomes an offense under military law.

Donald Trump's second term transformed rhetorical aspirations during his first term into concrete actions that fundamentally challenged the American system of civil-military relations. While his first term revealed authoritarian inclinations constrained by institutional resistance, developments through 2025 demonstrate a systematic effort to reshape the officer corps, deploy military forces domestically on an unprecedented scale, and create conditions that experts warn could facilitate intervention in the 2026 midterm elections. The patterns that emerged during Trump's first term as warnings and concerns have evolved into documented policy actions that represent perhaps the most significant challenge to American civil-military norms since the founding of the republic.

During his first term, Trump expressed frustration that his generals did not demonstrate the kind of personal loyalty he believed Hitler's generals had shown. Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly reported that Trump repeatedly said he wanted "the kind of generals that Hitler had" and commented that "Hitler did some good things." These statements, while alarming to military professionals and scholars of authoritarianism, did not translate into systematic changes to military leadership structures during that first term. Institutional guardrails, combined with resistance from senior officials including Kelly, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, prevented Trump from fundamentally altering the military's constitutional role. The question facing observers in 2025 is whether those guardrails remain sufficient as Trump pursues a far more aggressive agenda backed by carefully selected loyalists rather than institutionalists.

The purge of military leadership

Trump's second term began with an unprecedented wave of senior officer dismissals that represents the most extensive peacetime purge of military leadership in American history. Within hours of his January 20, 2025 inauguration, Trump fired Admiral Linda Fagan, the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the first woman to lead a branch of the armed forces, giving her three hours to vacate her residence. This immediate action signaled that concerns about systematic purges that had been dismissed as alarmist speculation during the transition were instead operational plans.

On February 21, 2025, Trump fired General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had served only sixteen months of his four-year term. The position of Chairman traditionally spans presidential administrations specifically to maintain military continuity and insulate the role from political considerations. No Chairman in American history had previously been fired mid-term. Within days, Trump also removed Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, and General James Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, appointed for his loyalty rather than traditional qualifications for the position, justified these removals by characterizing the officers as products or promoters of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. His explicit message that Black and female officers would no longer lead at senior levels represented an abandonment of even nominal adherence to merit-based selection principles.

The firings extended beyond the most senior positions to include the military's top legal officers. Trump and Hegseth dismissed the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy and Air Force, eliminating the very officers responsible for advising commanders whether presidential orders comply with military law and the Constitution. Former military prosecutors observed that firing the lawyers represents a prerequisite step for leaders planning to issue unlawful orders. Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, stated that the purge was designed to ensure everyone in the Department of Defense was "beholden to the president, not to the Constitution," describing the removal of military lawyers as particularly alarming since "if you're going to break the law, the first thing you do is you get rid of the lawyers."

By November 2025, Trump had fired at least ten senior military officers, most of them women or people of color. Additional officers who had served under or worked closely with General Milley found their promotions delayed or canceled despite meeting statutory qualifications. Retired Major General James Patrick Work, expected to become deputy commander at U.S. Central Command overseeing troops in the Middle East, saw his appointment blocked due to his previous service under Milley. Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, was forced to step down after questioning the administration's claims about deadly military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea that the administration characterized as drug trafficking vessels without providing detailed evidence. The pattern suggested that candor and professional military judgment had become liabilities rather than valued qualities in senior officers.

To replace fired officers, Trump nominated retired Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Caine lacks the statutory qualifications for the position, which requires service as Vice Chairman, a service chief (except Coast Guard), or commander of a combatant command. While presidents possess waiver authority for these requirements if deemed in the national interest, the selection of a retired officer who met Trump in Iraq and reportedly impressed him personally underscored that loyalty had replaced professional qualifications as the primary selection criterion. Senator Tammy Duckworth observed that the nomination, combined with the broader purge pattern, demonstrates a deliberate strategy of "prioritizing fealty over qualifications and putting our national security at risk in the process."

The purge extends beyond individual firings to create systemic pressures throughout the officer corps. Secretary Hegseth delayed or canceled multiple promotions of officers associated with previous leadership or perceived as insufficiently aligned with administration priorities. Defense experts note that this creates powerful incentives for self-censorship and political calculation among officers aspiring to senior ranks. Former naval destroyer captain Gene Moran warned that politicizing military advancement "will be decades to recreate," as the institution's fundamental promise that advancement depends on merit and performance rather than political loyalty is destroyed. Retired Major General Paul Eaton characterized the actions as creating a "MAGA Military, pledging fealty to Donald Trump" rather than an apolitical force loyal to the Constitution.

The loyalty apparatus: oaths, boards, and vetting

Beyond removing officers deemed disloyal, the administration has developed multiple mechanisms to ensure that military leadership demonstrates personal loyalty to Trump. Reports emerged in June 2025 that Secretary Hegseth and his inner circle were seriously considering requiring written loyalty oaths to the President from all active duty, reserve and National Guard officers at the field grade level and abovethat is, Majors and above in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force, and Lieutenant Commanders and above in the Navy and Coast Guard. A senior officer reporting to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation stated that the proposal appeared "imminent" and represented the culmination of administration efforts to bind the officer corps to Trump personally rather than to their constitutional oaths.

Retired Brigadier General Walter Donovan, former senior lawyer in the Marine Corps, immediately recognized the historical parallels. In 1934, German military officers were required to swear personal loyalty oaths to Adolf Hitler rather than to Germany or its constitution. These oaths proved instrumental in binding the Wehrmacht to Hitler's person and policies, creating a sense of personal obligation that many officers cited when explaining their failure to resist illegal orders. Donovan advised officers that if ordered to sign loyalty oaths they should "do neither" sign nor resign, but rather stay in office and accept court martial if necessary, as they would be acquitted for not complying with an unconstitutional order. The requirement that military officers demonstrate personal loyalty to an individual leader rather than fidelity to law represents one of the defining characteristics distinguishing constitutional from authoritarian systems.

Before the June loyalty oath proposal became public, Trump's administration had already begun implementing more subtle loyalty screening mechanisms. By July 2025, Trump personally met with candidates for four-star promotions, a departure from traditional practice where the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs manage such appointments subject to Senate confirmation. A White House spokesperson justified these meetings as ensuring military leaders were qualified, but civilian-military relations experts noted that the meetings created obvious opportunities to assess political loyalty. Professor Lindsay Cohn of the Naval War College observed that the practice "will give the impression, both to the military itself and to the public, that this is a personal loyalty test and that people will be selected based on how personally loyal they can convince him they are."

These loyalty vetting mechanisms create profound risks for military effectiveness beyond their constitutional implications. Most senior officers have at some point publicly praised diversity as institutional policy when women and minorities gained prominent roles, or emphasized vaccination importance when military readiness required it. The creation of loyalty review processes reporting directly to Trump outside normal performance evaluation systems effectively imposes retroactive political tests on professional conduct. Senior officers interviewed by multiple news organizations expressed concern that succeeding in their jobs would become secondary to constantly ensuring they pleased political overseers. One currently serving general told Military.com that "it could be very hard to do our job if we have to constantly be making sure we're appeasing someone on a political or partisan level." Militaries led by officers selected for political reliability rather than professional competence historically perform poorly in combat, as evidenced by Saddam Hussein's forces in 2003 and Stalin's Red Army in 1941.

The Quantico speech: American cities as training grounds

On September 30, 2025, Trump convened an unprecedented gathering of over 800 generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The hastily arranged meeting brought together the military's highest-ranking officers from across the country for what Trump and Hegseth characterized as a national security address but what observers described as political theater designed to assert dominance over military leadership and signal new directions for domestic military deployment. The substance and tone of Trump's remarks at Quantico revealed how far his civil-military relationship concepts have evolved from constitutional norms toward personal command authority.

Trump told the assembled officers that they should use "dangerous" American cities as "training grounds" for military operations. "I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military," Trump stated, referring to Secretary Hegseth. "We're going into Chicago very soon." He described "inner cities" as "a big part of war" and explicitly named Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Washington as cities where military forces should operate. This represented the first time an American president had publicly advocated using domestic cities as military operational training environments, a proposal that civil-military relations experts immediately identified as potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act's prohibition on using federal troops for domestic law enforcement.

Trump's Quantico speech framed domestic political opposition as equivalent to foreign military threats, stating that America faces "invasion from within" and describing the situation as "no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult because they do not wear uniforms." This rhetorical construction transformed American citizens in Democratic-led cities into enemy combatants requiring military response. He referenced an executive order directing the Secretary of Defense to establish National Guard "quick reaction forces" for nationwide deployment to "help quell civil disturbances," and defended domestic troop use by noting that he was "not the first president to use the military to keep peace," an apparent reference to historical instances where presidents invoked the Insurrection Act during actual rebellions or when state authorities were unable to maintain order.

Secretary Hegseth reinforced Trump's message by pledging to eliminate "politically correct, overly sensitive don't-hurt-anyone's-feelings leadership" at every level. He announced plans to reinstate strict fitness and grooming standards including a ban on beards, and stated that combat arms roles would be held to "the highest male standards," a formulation clearly designed to restrict women's participation in combat specialties. The speech combined demands for domestic military deployment with rollback of diversity policies, presenting these as integrated components of restoring a "warrior ethos" to the military. Critics noted that troops trained and evaluated according to rigid warrior standards are designed for combat operations, not for the nuanced requirements of policing American neighborhoods or supporting civil authorities.

The reaction among military professionals to the Quantico speech ranged from dismay to alarm. Retired Army Colonel Larry Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, characterized it as "the most bizarre thing I've seen in my time on Earth." Multiple current and former military officers told Military.com that they were disturbed by the spectacle of generals being addressed "as if they were platoon leaders" and "being used as pawns in sort of a public relations, political demonstration." An anonymous Army sergeant not present at Quantico described the entire event as "very scary," stating that "my feeling when I first heard about all this was that Hegseth and Trump want to get a loyalty oath out of the military." The speech's substance and staging suggested it was designed not primarily to communicate operational guidance but rather to establish dominance over the officer corps and signal that military forces would be deployed domestically regardless of legal or constitutional objections.

The Quantico speech must be understood in the context of actual deployments that began months earlier. Trump's words were not merely aspirational rhetoric but descriptions of ongoing and planned operations that represented a fundamental shift in how American military forces are employed on domestic soil.

The creeping occupation: military deployments to American cities

Trump began deploying federal military forces to American cities in June 2025, establishing a pattern that expanded steadily through the fall. These deployments targeted exclusively Democratic-led cities and employed varying rationales including crime reduction, immigration enforcement, and protection of federal property. The scale and scope of these operations represent the most extensive domestic military presence since the Civil War era, with thousands of National Guard troops deployed to multiple cities under federal rather than state control.

The deployments began in Los Angeles in June 2025, where Trump sent National Guard forces during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Governor Gavin Newsom had not requested federal military assistance, and California officials immediately challenged the deployment as illegal. In August 2025, Trump deployed approximately 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., including 800 from the District itself, claiming that "out of control" crime required federal intervention. This occurred despite the fact that Washington's crime rates were at thirty-year lows in 2024 and had continued declining through 2025. Trump invoked federal authority over the District of Columbia to assume control of the Metropolitan Police Department under the city's Home Rule Act, bypassing local democratic governance entirely.

By September 2025, Trump had authorized or threatened National Guard deployments to Memphis, Portland, Chicago, New York, Baltimore, San Francisco and Oakland. In October 2025, federal forces arrived in Memphis, and the Pentagon completed plans for a Chicago deployment that officials described as a potential model for other major cities. Armed National Guard units in Washington began carrying weapons over weekends in late August, making explicit that these were not symbolic or ceremonial presences but armed military forces with law enforcement implications. An Associated Press photographer documented South Carolina National Guard members outside Union Station with holstered handguns, marking a dramatic departure from the traditionally unarmed domestic military presence.

The legal basis for these deployments remains contested. Trump primarily relies on presidential memoranda that invoke federal authority to protect federal personnel and property, using language so vague that legal experts warn it could justify deployments practically anywhere at any time. The June 7, 2025 memorandum used for Los Angeles deployments does not specifically mention California, instead authorizing National Guard activation for "military protective activities" that the Secretary of Defense determines "are reasonably necessary to ensure the protection and safety of Federal personnel and property." This open-ended language provides essentially unlimited discretion to deploy forces wherever federal facilities or personnel existwhich is to say, everywhere.

On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act in deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, ordering the government not to use military forces for civilian law enforcement in California with the prohibition taking effect September 12. Judge Breyer described the administration's actions and rhetoric as an apparent attempt at "creating a national police force with the President as its chief" and wrote that the deployment rationale was "contrived," noting that "there was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests." The Trump administration immediately appealed, arguing that courts lack jurisdiction to review Posse Comitatus Act violationsan argument that, if successful, would make the statute essentially unenforceable and remove judicial review as a check on presidential power to deploy military forces domestically.

The deployments serve multiple administration objectives beyond their stated purposes. They accustom Americans to seeing armed military forces in major cities, normalizing a domestic military presence that would have been politically unthinkable without this gradual acclimation process. Stephen Miller, a senior presidential advisor, made explicit on social media that the deployments represent a deliberate political strategy, stating that "Democrats are trying to unravel civilization" while "President Trump will save it." The messaging frames domestic political opposition as civilizational threat requiring military response, transforming policy disagreement into existential conflict.

The deployments also create facts on the ground that may prove difficult to reverse. Once National Guard units have been federalized and deployed to multiple cities over extended periods, withdrawing them becomes politically and operationally complicated. The infrastructure for nationwide deploymentcommand structures, legal precedents (however contested), operational proceduresbecomes established through practice. Critics including Governors Pritzker and Newsom warn that this represents preparation for more extensive use of military forces during the 2026 midterm elections, with the current deployments serving to establish the legitimacy and feasibility of far more aggressive intervention when electoral stakes are highest.

The 2026 elections: normalizing military intervention

A recurring theme in critiques of Trump's military deployments is concern that their ultimate purpose involves intervention in the 2026 midterm elections. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has stated repeatedly and explicitly that Trump's push to deploy National Guard forces to Chicago and other cities is "really about" creating conditions for electoral intervention. "He'd like to stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections," Pritzker told CBS News in August 2025. "He'll just claim that there's some problem with an election, and then he's got troops on the ground that can take control if, in fact, he's allowed to do this." California Governor Newsom noted that Trump extended National Guard deployments in Los Angeles through November 2026spanning the midterm election periodand characterized the administration's actions as attempts to "rig the midterm elections."

Multiple election law experts and civil rights organizations have echoed these concerns. David Graham of The Atlantic, in comprehensive reporting on threats to the 2026 midterms, explained the strategic logic: "If you try to deploy lots of the military in, say, late October 2026, it's going to raise a lot of fuss and a lot of attention. But if people are already accustomed to that, it won't be something new." The gradual deployment of forces to Democratic-led cities throughout 2025 serves to normalize a military presence that would otherwise trigger immediate alarm if suddenly introduced immediately before elections. Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote that "increasingly, there is concern that Trump's ultimate goal with these deployments involves the 2026 election," emphasizing the importance of developing "a well-rounded awareness of our rights as Americans and voters" before electoral intervention occurs.

The administration has fought vigorously against judicial constraints on its domestic deployment authority, suggesting that preserving maximum flexibility for future use is a high priority. In challenging Judge Breyer's ruling against the Los Angeles deployment, administration lawyers argued not only that the specific deployment was legal but that courts lack jurisdiction to review whether any deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act. If accepted by higher courts, this argument would eliminate one of the primary legal safeguards against using military forces to suppress voters or control elections. Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice emphasized that if courts accept the administration's arguments, "there may still be more indirect theories" for challenging electoral intervention, such as violations of the Constitution's Elections Clause granting states power over elections, but these would face substantial hurdles.

The concern about electoral intervention reflects not paranoia but reasonable extrapolation from Trump's documented behavior. He has never accepted an election result as legitimate without claiming fraud, including elections he won. In 2020, he attempted to overturn his loss through courts, state pressure, and ultimately through violent mobilization that culminated in the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. Former administration officials reported that Trump considered issuing an executive order to seize voting machines, backing away only due to extreme opposition from Cabinet officials. In his second term, Trump has selected Cabinet members primarily for loyalty rather than willingness to resist illegal directives. Conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell, who led efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, stated on a conservative podcast that "maybe the president is thinking that he will exercise some emergency powers to protect the federal elections going forward," openly speculating about using emergency authority to control the 2026 vote.

The mechanics of electoral intervention using deployed military forces are not difficult to envision. National Guard troops already positioned in major cities could be directed to establish security perimeters around polling places in Democratic areas, ostensibly to prevent violence or ensure order but effectively intimidating voters. Federal forces could be used to challenge voter registrations, demand documentation, or create delay and confusion. Under the guise of protecting election integrity, military or law enforcement personnel could seize voting equipment or ballot materials. Governors and election officials who refused to cooperate could face federal charges or removal. The Supreme Court's June 2024 ruling in Trump v. United States granting presidents immunity for crimes committed while performing commander-in-chief duties means that Trump would face no criminal liability for actions taken using military authority, even if those actions were otherwise illegal.

The combination of purged military leadership selected for loyalty rather than constitutional fidelity, normalized military presence in Democratic-led cities, contested legal doctrines about judicial review of military deployments, and Trump's documented willingness to challenge democratic outcomes creates conditions where electoral intervention becomes operationally feasible. Whether it occurs depends on political calculations about costs and benefits, the willingness of military officers to execute or resist illegal orders, state and local officials' capacity to maintain alternative electoral processes, and public response. The fact that Democratic governors and national security experts are issuing explicit warnings about this possibility, rather than dismissing it as implausible, reflects the degree to which American democratic norms have eroded during Trump's second term.

Comparative perspective: from rhetoric to action

Trump's first term revealed authoritarian inclinations that were largely constrained by institutional resistance and personnel unwilling to execute constitutionally dubious directives. His second term demonstrates what occurs when those constraints are systematically eliminated. The purge of senior officers and their replacement with loyalists, the development of loyalty oath and vetting mechanisms, the deployment of military forces to American cities, and the creation of conditions potentially facilitating electoral intervention represent the translation of authoritarian aspirations into authoritarian practice.

Comparisons to historical authoritarian civil-military relationships remain imperfect but instructive. Trump has not bribed the officer corps with estates and cash payments as Hitler did, nor has he executed thousands of officers as Stalin did. The scale of violence and repression remains qualitatively different. However, the fundamental dynamic of demanding personal loyalty over constitutional fidelity, of purging officers deemed insufficiently loyal, of deploying military forces against domestic political opponents, and of eliminating institutional checks on executive military authority closely parallels the trajectory of authoritarian consolidation in other contexts. The question is not whether Trump's actions are identical to Hitler's or Stalin's but whether they represent movement along the same continuum away from constitutional governance toward personal autocracy.

The warnings from former senior military and national security officials gain additional weight in light of 2025 developments. When General Milley, General Mattis, Ambassador Bolton, and General Kelly warned before Trump's second term that he represented an authoritarian threat, critics dismissed these assessments as partisan or exaggerated. The systematic purge of military leadership, the proposal for loyalty oaths, the Quantico speech demanding that cities be used as military training grounds, and the deployment of thousands of troops to American cities vindicate rather than refute those warnings. These officials understood from direct observation that Trump's rhetorical aspirations would translate into policy action if institutional constraints were removed. Their warnings were not speculation but predictions based on intimate knowledge of Trump's thinking and priorities.

The American system of civil-military relations has historically rested on shared commitment to constitutional principles rather than personal loyalty, on military professionalism rather than political alignment, on civilian supremacy exercised through constitutional process rather than individual command authority. Trump's second-term actions represent a systematic effort to replace each of these foundations with authoritarian alternatives. The purges establish that advancement depends on political loyalty. The Quantico speech signals that military forces will be used domestically against political opponents. The deployments normalize military presence in civilian spaces. The loyalty mechanisms formalize personal bonds to Trump rather than constitutional obligations.

Whether American democratic institutions can withstand this pressure, whether military officers will resist unconstitutional orders, whether courts will maintain meaningful checks on executive power, and whether the public will demand accountability remain open questions as the nation approaches the 2026 midterm elections. The trajectory from Trump's first-term rhetoric about wanting generals like Hitler's to his second-term actions purging the officer corps and deploying forces to American cities demonstrates that authoritarian governance emerges not through single dramatic ruptures but through accumulating steps that normalize what was previously unthinkable. Understanding this process remains essential for citizens and officials determining how to respond.

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Contracts

Contracts For Nov. 20, 2025

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $877,742,891 firm-fixed-price delivery order (W9121516G0001 and H9224122F0073) for procurement of MH-47G rotary wing aircraft in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Most of the work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by November 2030. U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

NAVY

The Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $474,319,378 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-21-D-6400) to exercise an option for research, development, engineering, and test and evaluation in support of programs throughout the Department of War (DOW) and other government agencies within its core competency areas including: experimental oceanography, acoustic propagation, underwater instrumentation and equipment, marine corrosion, acoustic and related systems, simulations and signal processing, mission-related and public services quick response research, development, and/or engineering. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed by October 2030. Funds of multiple different appropriation types and years from program offices and components throughout the DOW may be obligated on individual task orders for efforts that fall within the core competency areas. This contract is awarded pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(3), as implemented in FAR 6.302-3; Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-D-6400) (Awarded Oct. 24, 2025).

Walsh Federal LLC, Chicago, Illinois is awarded a $165,770,097 fixed-price-award-fee contract for a naval ordinance engineering test facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Work will be performed in Brevard County, Florida, and is expected to be completed by January 2028. Fiscal 2025 military construction (Navy) funds in the amount of $165,770,097, are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract also contains two unexercised options which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $168,240,876. This contract was competitively procured via the sam.gov website, with two offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-26-C-0010). (Awarded Nov. 18, 2025)

Programs Management Analytics & Technologies Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded an $89,000,000, firm-fixed-price, cost, and cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for production, repairs, engineering services, installation, and integration of the Tactical Edge Nodes (TEN) system to include small tactical edge nodes, TENs, servers, cross domain solutions, workstations, and switches, as well as maintenance, training, travel, incidentals, and logistics product data in support of the Maritime Targeting Cell-Afloat/eXpeditionary, and Program Executive Office-Integrated Warfare Systems. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by November 2030. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $23,245 will be obligated at time of award. This contract action was not competitively procured via the SAM.gov website pursuant of the signed determination and findings from the other transaction authority in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 4022 (f)(2), that allows for the award of a follow-on production contract or other transaction without the use of competitive procedures when competitive procedures are utilized for selection of the parties to the prototype project other transaction and the participants in the transaction successfully completed the prototype project provided for in the other transaction. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N0016426DJW79).

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $68,711,261 cost-plus-fixed-fee, term, and cost-only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-25-C-6108) for systems engineering and integration on Navy submarines. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (68%); Waterford Connecticut (10%); Groton Connecticut (10%); Middletown, Rhode Island (7%); and Newport, Rhode Island (5%), and is expected to be completed by November 2026. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

ARMY

Systems Application & Technologies Inc.,* Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was awarded a $117,751,620 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for providing contractor support for field, chamber, laboratory, and range developmental and operational testing. The amount of this action is. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2032. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W51EW7-26-D-A001).

Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded a $100,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for a family of radios, ancillary, and spare items. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-26-D-5000).

Raytheon Southeast Asia Systems Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was awarded a $57,700,859 modification (P00007) to contract W31P4Q-24-C-0005 for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target depot operations, technical assistance, and new equipment training. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $200,096,762. Work will be performed in Doha, Qatar, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales (Qatar) funds in the amount of $57,700,859 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Amentum Services, Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $26,856,358 modification (P00062) to contract W58RGZ-25-C-0003 to provide global aviation maintenance services. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $234,547,115. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of June 12, 2026. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $26,856,358 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Callan Marine Ltd., Galveston, Texas, was awarded a $21,420,562 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging with beneficial use placement. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Port Mansfield, Texas, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2026. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $21,420,562 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, is the contracting activity (W912HY-26-C-A001).

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, Houston, Texas, was awarded a $20,244,400 firm-fixed-price contract for beach renourishment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Palm Beach, Florida, with an estimated completion date of May 8, 2026. Fiscal 2023 and 2025 civil construction funds in the amount of $20,244,400 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is the contracting activity (W912EP-26-C-A005).

KBR Services LLC, Houston, Texas, was awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Enhanced Army Global Logistics Enterprise Army Prepositioned Stocks-3 afloat maintenance, supply, and transportation logistics support services at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The amount of this action is $14,753,434, with a total cumulative face value of $503,064,064. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 1, 2026. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-12-G-0061).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics LLC, doing business as AFFL, Fairfield, New Jersey, has been awarded an estimated $12,760,488 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for logistics and total supply chain management support at Red River Army Depot, New Boston, Texas. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a three-year base contract with two two-year option periods and six 30-day extensions. The performance completion date is Nov. 19, 2028. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2028 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-26-D-0010).

LOC Performance Products LLC, Plymouth, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $10,163,794 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for vehicular final drives. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Nov. 18, 2030. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-26-D-0010).

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Network Management Resources Inc., Huntsville, Alabama is being awarded a $47,108,811 noncompetitive cost-plus-incentive modification (P00155) to the Research and Development for Enterprise Collaboration Services contract. Under this modification, the contractor will continue to provide video teleconferencing, audiovisual support, portal development and management, data and business automation services, and end-user training under the 8000 series contract line-item numbers. The work will be performed in Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Dahlgren, Virginia. The performance period is from November 2025 to October 2027. One offer was solicited, and one offer was received. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,168,535 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Missile Defense Agency, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity HQ0796-18-C-0001. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2025)

AIR FORCE

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a ceiling $9,687,497 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price, indefinite contract for Kingdom of Spain Air and Space Force MQ-9A remotely piloted aircraft systems contract logistics support this contract provides logistics support activities including depot repair, engineering services, field team support and software maintenance services for the Spanish Air and Space Force. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2026. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Spain. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $4,746,874 will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8689-26-C-B002).

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4339288/

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NATO Allies demonstrate counter-UAS capability during live-fire demonstration in Poland

NATO Allied Land Command

Nov 19 2025

By Capt. Alexander Watkins November 19, 2025

NOWA DEBA, Poland -- U.S., Polish and Romanian Soldiers demonstrated a new counter-unmanned aircraft system capability on Nov. 18, underscoring how Allies are adapting to the growing drone threat along NATO's eastern flank.

The live-fire event at the Nowa Deba Training Area capped a two-week course that brought together air defenders from all three nations. Soldiers trained on a mobile system that uses radar, electro-optical sensors and a small interceptor drone to detect, track and defeat hostile unmanned aircraft.

All major components fit on a light tactical vehicle or pickup truck, allowing a four-person crew to move, emplace and reload the system in minutes. During the demonstration, crews used a truck-mounted launcher to fire interceptors against surrogate "enemy" drones and recover them by parachute for reuse in training.

"It's very lethal, very effective, but the key piece here is that it's cost effective," said Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

King noted that the same type of interceptor has already been used in combat in Ukraine against Russian unmanned systems. There, he said, the capability has been "highly effective and lethal against one-way attack drones in Ukraine," and is part of "the latest technology that's being fought in Ukraine right now."

Because the interceptor is designed as an expendable munition, the system allows commanders to engage low-cost drones without expending long-range interceptors needed for aircraft, cruise missiles or ballistic missiles. Combat use in Ukraine has provided Allies with real-world performance data before fielding the capability on NATO soil.

Polish and Romanian officers at Nowa Deba said recent airspace violations and drone incidents over their territory accelerated efforts to field practical counter-UAS options.

The course followed a train-the-trainer model. U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment trained alongside Polish and Romanian counterparts through classroom instruction, simulator work, and live launches. Graduates are expected to form the core of future national training teams.

The training and demonstration in Nowa Deba support NATO's Operation Eastern Sentry and the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, which seeks to link ground-based air and missile defense, aviation, sensors, and fires into a layered architecture along NATO's flank. Short-range counter-UAS systems like the one exercised in Poland provide a first line of defense against unmanned aircraft and help preserve higher-end interceptors for more complex threats.

By integrating this capability with allied training and planning, U.S., Polish, and Romanian air defenders are improving readiness and reinforcing deterrence, ensuring NATO can detect, track, and defeat the growing drone threat across the eastern flank.

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Swiss Government

Press release

Published on 20 November 2025

Bern, 20.11.2025 -- The Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse has decided to issue the award for minidrone defence systems. After a four-week evaluation test (field experiment) for detecting and defending against minidrones to protect military infrastructures at the Meiringen aerodrome, armasuisse awarded the Swiss supplier Securiton the contract to deliver several defence systems. The systems are designed as partially mobile and can thus also be used in subsidiary operations of the Swiss Armed Forces for civil authorities.

The Armed Forces already have experience in the deployment of minidrones. In particular, they are used for reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, to obtain information for a better assessment of the situation. However, there is currently a capability gap in effective defence against enemy minidrones.

Immediate measure for defence against micro and minidrones

During a field experiment in summer 2025, operation of a drone defence system was tested by the troops. Based on these findings and as a reaction to the increasing sightings of drones, the Armed Forces tasked the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse as an immediate measure to urgently procure drone defence systems against micro and minidrones. The Armed Forces are thus strengthening the protection of the troops and their own infrastructure in the normal position.

armasuisse has now decided to award the procurement of several drone defence systems to the Swiss supplier Securiton. Procurement in the amount of CHF 3.5 million will be handled via the commitment appropriation for personal equipment and materiel renewal of the Swiss Armed Forces (AEB). As the drone defence systems are partially mobile, they can also be used for other purposes and tasks of the Armed Forces as necessary and in any location - for example, as part of subsidiary operations for civilian authorities or in peace-keeping services.
Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Statements and remarks

20 November 2025 16:35

The European Union (EU) condemns in the strongest terms the grave and ongoing atrocities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, including following the seizure of the city of El Fasher.

Deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnically motivated killings, systematic sexual and gender-based violence, starvation as a method of warfare and denying access for humanitarian aid are serious breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Such acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In response to these crimes, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted today restrictive measures against Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the second in command of the RSF. The EU stands ready to impose any further restrictive measure where appropriate, on all actors responsible for destabilising Sudan and obstructing its political transition.

Ensuring accountability is at the heart of the EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Sudan from 20 October 2025. The EU will step up support to documenting and investigating such violations to break the persisting cycle of impunity, which continues to breed new atrocities. The EU supports the vital role played by accountability, mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission and their investigations of crimes committed by the RSF, the SAF and their associates. The culture of impunity in Sudan must end. Those responsible must be held to account.

The primary responsibility for ending the conflict rests with the leadership of both the RSF, the SAF and their allied militias, as well as those providing them with direct or indirect support. We urge all external actors to take necessary measures to end the sale or supply of arms and related materiel to all parties as per the arms embargo established by the UN Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1591. The EU will continue to advocate for expanding the mandate of the ICC and of the arms embargo to the whole country.

The EU urges all parties to the conflict to resume negotiations to achieve an immediate and lasting ceasefire, in line with the 12 September statement by the Quad. The European Union will continue to work with the Quad and with other international partners, including as a co-chair of the Paris and London Conferences, to end the suffering of the Sudanese people and find a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict. The cycle of violence in Sudan must end.

The protection of civilians and the humanitarian access are not contingent on a ceasefire. The EU calls for concrete measures to protect civilians, including humanitarian and medical workers, grassroots organisations and local responders, and commends their courage. All parties to the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law. Civilians on the move, and wishing to leave El Fasher and other besieged cities must be granted safe passage. Those being held hostage must be released immediately.

The EU stresses the need to ensure immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access in full compliance with international humanitarian law. No administrative fees or taxes must be imposed on humanitarian actors, the issuance and renewal of visas and travel permits must be expedited. Arbitrary expulsion of humanitarian staff cannot occur. The UN must be allowed permanent presence in Darfur and other areas beyond the control of the SAF.

In the longer term, only a broad Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned inclusive political process can address the grievances that fuel conflicts in Sudan, such as the marginalisation of peripheries. The EU will engage with all parties to the conflict and will step up its support to the dialogue among the Sudanese civilian political groups, in close collaboration with the African Union, IGAD, the Quad members, and other partners.

The EU reaffirms its commitment to support the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Sudan and to ensure its state institutions are preserved. The EU rejects the emergence of parallel governing structures and any action that could result in the partition of the country, as well as any external interference, which heightens tensions and fuels the conflict.

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Foreign Affairs Council: Press conference by High Representative Kaja Kallas

European External Action Service (EEAS)

20.11.2025

Brussels, 20/11/2025

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good afternoon, everybody.

We just concluded the Foreign Affairs Council for November, which was intense as usual. So, let me first go through a few points.

First, the discussion was on Ukraine.

The European Union has always supported a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. Today, we discussed, of course, the latest developments, and Minister Sybiha briefed us on Ukraine's perspective. Our position has not changed. For any peace plan to succeed, it has to be supported by Ukraine, and it has to be supported by Europe. If Russia really wanted peace, they would have accepted the unconditional ceasefire offer already in March.

The brutal reality is that twenty-six Ukrainian civilians were killed in Russian attacks yesterday. Russia has repeatedly paid lip service for peace talks, and previous talks fell apart because Russia never made any real commitments. The pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it.

The EU has a very clear two-point plan: first, weaken Russia; second, support Ukraine.

Today, the Head of the European Intelligence Centre and the EU Sanctions Envoy briefed on the impact of sanctions. The data is very clear: the export of Russian crude oil is the lowest it has been in months. Russian tax revenues from oil are the lowest since the war started. Sanctions are hitting Russia hard, and more are coming.

Going after Russia's shadow fleet remains a priority, and we had very intensive discussions, about what we can do more. The EU has already sanctioned over 550 ships, and we have conducted extensive diplomatic talks with flag states that register vessels. Now, we aim to have pre-boarding agreements with these states. This is a legal way for one party to board and search a vessel of another country. Slowing down the shadow fleet costs Russia revenues. This is why we will work on more sanctions on the shadow fleet, both vessels as well as enablers.

Many ministers also raised the financial support for Ukraine. The reparations loan is the most clear-cut way to sustain Ukraine's defence. It is also the way to show Russia that time is not on their side. Supporting Ukraine is a bargain compared to the cost of Russian victory.

Today, we also addressed the attacks on Poland's railway network. Russia's hybrid actions in Europe are increasingly brazen. Russia is committing state sponsored terrorism. There are many ways we can respond, including additional sanctions and tackling online recruitment of saboteurs.

Then, on Gaza, the United Nations Security Council resolution for an International Stabilization Force is a game changer.

Peace depends on Hamas not having a role, but it also depends on international partners having a role. EU staff are already working in the Coordination Centre focusing on humanitarian and security issues. And today, Ministers discussed options to expand the EU border monitoring mission in Rafah to other crossing points. We also discussed whether the EU police support mission could take the lead in training the Palestinian police. I welcome that France pledged 100 police officers for that mission. Later today, I will also meet the Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa to discuss EU support and the Palestinian Authority's reforms.

Today, we also had ASEAN ministers here for lunch, and over the next few days, we will have 70 delegations in town for our Indo-Pacific Forum. Our security is interconnected. What happens in Europe matters in Asia. What happens in Asia matters in Europe. From economic security to supply chains and the protection of critical infrastructure, working with our Indo-Pacific partners is an answer to a more dangerous world. The appetite to do more is clearly there.

Next week, European and African leaders will meet in Angola, where peace and security are high on the agenda. And today, the Ministers approved the principles of our EU renewed approach to the Sahel. The focus is on political and diplomatic engagement, human security, as well as economic opportunities. The aim is to prevent further conflict, tackle root causes of migration, and counter organised crime.

In Sudan, the situation is deteriorating sharply. The capture of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces opened another devastating chapter in this war. The conflict has brought thousands of deaths and immense suffering. Today, we adopted sanctions against Abdelrahim Dagalo, the RSF's second in command. This sends a signal that the international community will come after those who are responsible. All 27 EU Member States today called on the parties to resume negotiations for a ceasefire.

And finally, on the Western Balkans. We had the dinner yesterday with the Western Balkan ministers, and we discussed common challenges and how to work even more closely together on security and foreign policy issues. The closer we get to the enlargement, the more we need to stick together and defend our democracies against hybrid attacks and foreign interference.

And with that, I am happy to take questions.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-280715





Q&A

Q. High Representative, I think today we all have a strong sense of deja vu. Because this story we have seen it before: the United States and Russia, they work on a plan behind everybody's backs. The plan is unacceptable to Ukraine. Europeans are angry. They demand a seat at the table. The media writes that Europe is being sidelined. You know how that goes, and it is a problem for you, at least for your public perception. What exactly can you do to change this, to ensure that this does not happen again, because the stakes at play here are enormous for you, for the European Union. What do you think you need? A new strategy, new approach, new channel of communication. What do you need to ensure that this does not happen and that you really have a seat at the table? Thank you.

Ministers in the room were quite solid and calm about this, because we have seen this before and because different peace plans cannot work if the Europeans and Ukrainians do not agree to this. That is why we focus today's discussions on what are we doing and what is our course of action. Like I said, we have a two-point plan. One is to pressure Russia, and today we discussed very intensively how to work on the shadow fleet, because we also had the Head of European Intelligence, in our meeting, giving concrete examples and numbers how the sanctions on shadow fleet are really affecting Russian revenues to fund this war. And this is our approach, and that's why we focused on our approach. For any peace plan to work it needs Ukrainians and Europeans to agree.

Q. I wanted to ask about the shadow fleet. First of all, when do you expect there will be concrete changes in the European powers' ability to actually impact these ships and actually make the difference you want to see? A second question on the Polish rail incident, you mentioned yesterday the example of Baltic century, and you said, we need something similar here. I didn't have a follow up then, so I have a follow up now. Could I ask you, are you planning a broader response to protect critical infrastructure like that, Polish rail incident in which the Polish Foreign Minister just said was designed to injure if not kill people. Thank you.

First of all, on your first question, we already have a huge impact by this shadow fleet sanctions on Russian oil revenues, and they are using the oil revenues to fund the war. I mean, today we had the Head of Intelligence really showing in numbers what kind of effect it has. I mean, I just bring you one number. When we started with the shadow fleet, the first week, the effect the revenues from oil dropped via the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea 30% - 30 - and what we see they are at the all time lowest. But clearly we need to do more. It's not enough, but it clearly works. So I want to reiterate that. Now on the protection and infrastructure, it is clear that, infrastructure under the sea or the trains or all the infrastructure that we have, it requires a lot of effort to protect it along the way. So what are we doing? We are, of course, proposing new sanctions. But we also share the best practices how to tackle the online recruitment. Because today we discussed also this, who are those who are committing this? These are usually petty criminals that are bought off to do these sabotage acts on behalf of others and to really tackle that - and that is the national competence. But because some countries have more experience with that than others, than to share the best practices. And to really be vocal about this, that all these petty criminals cannot get away with this. And you know, if there are - ok, I will not bring you all the all the examples that I have in my mind to save time but, clearly we can tackle this if we go via the online recruitment and how they work with those people who are actually committing the crimes.

Q. I want to come back to Ukraine. I know that today you were discussing the financing of Ukraine for the next two years, for 2026-2027. What is the main the preferable for you option of financing of Ukraine? We know that there are three options according to the options paper presented by the Commission. And what is the situation with the frozen assets? Will it be possible to use them? And what is the position of Belgium? Is it changing, or is it the same? And if I may, the second one, 20th package of sanctions, when it will be ready, and maybe hope that it will be discussed by the leaders of the countries in December? Thank you.

We did not discuss in depth, the financing issue for Ukraine, although it was raised several times. And it is true that there is options paper on the table. Those countries that spoke for the financing, also expressed their support for the Reparations Loan, and also reiterated the urgency to move with that. So that is clearly the message that we got from that. The 20th package of sanctions. We are working with that, but we also discussed whether we could be more effective in doing steps on the way, not always concentrating on the big packages, but, for example, on the shadow fleet. I mean, Russia is very creative together with our partners, and we need to be creative as well, which means that to be more agile and actually, put small things all the time on the table to tackle. Which means that not a big package, every time, but every time some vessels that have an effect on the Russian crude oil exports.

Q. Moldova continues to be in danger as the Russian drone flew over its airspace, airspace and endangering our citizens. The same drone circulated Romanian airspace, and also a note of protest was delivered to the Russian ambassador in Chisinau. But notes of protest does not help us and does not protect our citizens. So what European Union can do in this regard?

Via the European Peace Facility, we are supporting Moldovan armed forces also to defend Moldova. So, we are trying to do in that regard what we can do.

Q. You mentioned the thousands of deaths and immense suffering and said that today's decision to sanction one individual sent a strong signal that the international community will come after those who are responsible. But is the international community, and specifically the EU ready to go after those who are responsible for supplying the weapons that allow this suffering to happen? In particular, as you know, there are credible reports that the UAE is supplying the RSF group, which is responsible for the latest atrocities, or is this a case of EU double standards, where you will sanction countries that supply weapons to Russia but not countries that supply weapons to an African militia which is accused of genocide?

Yes, all the Member States who spoke today also referred to the enablers of the warring parties. These warring parties could not really engage in these atrocities if they would not have the weapons that their enablers are giving them. Clearly, to stop this we need to discuss what more can we do in this regard. The reach out to the countries is what we agreed. The diplomatic outreach to those countries and raise those issues to really stop this and then we can see what more can we do.

Q. I come back to Ukraine, it appears to that President Zelenskyy is under pressure to actually accept this plan we have been talking about, what exactly, if anything, have you discussed in order to help him resist this this pressure, in particular?

First, we discussed that the pressure should be on the aggressor. I mean, we have not seen one single concession from Russian side. And they are the ones who have started this war. They are the ones who have invaded another country. They are the ones who are doing the killings of the civilians in Ukraine. They can also stop this war immediately and that is why our approach is to put the pressure on the aggressor to really stop this and this is the message that we are conveying also to our other partners around the world. The discussions regarding reparations loan are also about helping Ukraine to defend itself and sending a clear signal to Russia that they cannot outlast Ukraine.

Q. Responding to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump announced last night that United States is going to work with the Quad parties to try to put an end to the war in Sudan. What is your reaction to that? And my specific question is related to what has been said about the individual who has been sanctioned. My question is: why is it only one, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo? He is one of the three brothers who are leading the RSF, I guess your services know them. And these three are on the top of the organisation. They have the financial arm, they have the political leadership, etc. Why it is not the whole leadership to be targeted with the sanctions?

First on the peace, we welcome all meaningful peace efforts that are made, so that the human suffering will stop in Sudan. Of course, US has also leverage over those parties, so hopefully this produces results.

On your other question, as I have not been personally working on the personal sanctions, I cannot answer your question right now, but I will return. The overall understanding was that we should do more in order to stop this war.

Q. This morning, you were asked if EU officials participated in the elaboration of Trump's plan for Ukraine, and you replied that, as far as you know, no EU official participated. At the end of this day, you have had time to check. And can you tell us exactly if you think, and if you know if any EU official participated in this plan?

Like I said, the discussions were very calm and focusing on the issues that we are doing, because we have been quite steady in our plans, whereas there are other things happening outside, but we have been very focused and and stable in our plans, which was what we were discussing. So, no to answer your question, nobody reflected that they were part of it. So, no.

Q. I have a number of questions on potential further measures against the shadow fleet. So, for instance, you've said that there should be continuous listings. Has this been agreed today? Or do you expect a decision in December? How about the pre-authorised boardings you've been calling for this for some time already. Do you now have a tasking so that you can start negotiations? And then Member States suggested to also go after third countries that support the shadow fleet or actors in third countries - has this been agreed? So, basically, what's the way forward on this?

Very good question. First, on the rolling, there is putting sanctions on the shadow fleet, on more rolling basis than only in the packages. The ideas come from Member States and we agreed that they also provide different ideas, and then we also work with the Commission to be more agile. In this regard, the majority who spoke on that said that they agreed to this approach, that we do it faster, we do not wait for next package, because we saw and heard from the intelligence how these sanctions on the shadow fleet are really having an effect. So now we will work on that. Then, yes, it is true, I have been talking regarding this mandate to negotiate quite long. But in the European Union things take time. Now we are at this point where we discuss this with the Member States and we can proceed, then also the third countries and the enablers and the services provided to those shadow fleet. We are doing the outreach and working together with also our other partners. What we saw today as well, what kind of effect it has when we do something alone, if we do it together with the United States and the UK, or we do it with the UK and European Union. I mean, it is clear that we have the biggest effect if all US, UK and EU and other partners are also on board. So, this is a clear line of work we have ahead and this is maybe not every time, a big package, but rather the measures that we have also the coordination of the measures that can be used to slow down these ships, whether it is environmental issues, insurance issues, and today, with the ASEAN partners, we also raised this issue because it is also a question of maritime security and environment. It is in the interest of all the countries that operate in the maritime sphere that the rules are fair and that the rules are followed.

Q. I wrap again on Ukraine. First of all, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister was connected today by DC. My first question is, did he acknowledge that the plan exists? Because as far, this is just some of your colleagues today described it as a speculation. We do not know what it is in there, so I was wondering if the minister told you, at least if there is something in there that he could share with you? And secondly, the reparation loan discussions. Obviously it takes time. There is a rush to wrap it up before the end of the year. The money is needed. But in the end, if there is a peace plan, and if this peace plan appears very quickly, then it is very difficult to close the discussion on the operational loan because maybe it is not useful anymore. So, my question is: do you think that at this moment, who has the interest of going quickly, you know, in a peace plan is it Russia or it is more Ukraine?

On one side, Ukrainian people are killed every day. Their infrastructures are bombed every day, and you know the winter is coming. It is clear that they are suffering the most. They want the suffering to end as fast as possible. That is very clear. But at the same time, it cannot be with the price of giving up your country. This is also quite clear now that is why the work on the reparations loan has to continue, because it makes also Ukraine stronger. And it sends a very clear message to Russia, that Russia cannot outlast Ukraine. I just remind you that Ukraine is fighting for their homeland, for their people, for their civilians. If over 93% of Russian targets have been civilian targets, it is just to cause as much harm and suffering to the people as possible. Any government cannot agree to that, that you actually award the one who is doing the killing and that is why. I think it is also a question, why Russia is now making a good face again? Because I think they are afraid of this reparations loan. I think they are coming to the point where they are running out of money, and you know they want to show outside that they are super strong and everything, but actually you know it is not the case. So I think this gives us the reason to be strong, to keep on the course to support Ukraine but also pressure Russia.

Link to Q&A: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-281164

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Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

European External Action Service (EEAS)

20.11.2025

Brussels, Belgium

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good morning!

We have a very packed agenda today.

First, we are going to discuss Ukraine. We have a very good plan to discuss very specifically, what more can we do with the shadow fleet, because it really has an effect on Russia's revenues to finance this war.

But of course, now we are going to discuss also the recent news. What we, as Europeans, have always supported is a long, lasting and just peace, and we welcome any efforts to achieve that. Of course, for any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board. This is very clear.

Also, we have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. We have not heard of any concessions on the Russian side. If Russia really wanted peace, it could have had agreed to unconditional cease fire already some time ago. Whereas we see again over this night bombings of civilians. 93% of Russian targets have been civilian infrastructure - schools, hospitals, apartment buildings - to kill a lot of people and cause as much suffering as possible. This is our standing.

We will also discuss Middle East, of course, now we have the United Nations resolution in place, and we are discussing how to also change the mandate of our two missions, the EUBAM Rafah border crossing mission, as well as the EUPOL COPPS, which is training Palestinian police, which is also part of that broader peace plan.

Then, we have a comprehensive discussion on the Sahel planned. We have a new strategy in place, and we need a mandate to continue with that, how we engage with the countries in [the] Sahel.

And finally, we also have a discussion on Sudan. We are also putting sanctions on Sudanese now the first time to really put the pressure on those who are committing the atrocities in Sudan. We [will] also discuss what more can we do.

For lunch we have the ASEAN ministers, we can also discuss with them the common security challenges that we have in the world. Then in the evening we have the Indo-Pacific Ministers here, and we will have the Indo Pacific ministerial tomorrow, so we can talk about that.

Q&A

Q: Have European officials in any way been a part of the drafting of these packages mentioned between US and Russia?

Not that I know of.

Q: How many police forces are going to be trained? Can you be a bit more concrete? Where is it going to happen? Who is going to be involved?

We already have EUPOL COPPS mission that is helping with the Palestinian Authority. We have also today the Palestinian Donor Group meeting, which is the discussions with the Palestinian Authority about their reforms as well, which are needed. But coming to your question, the plan is to train 3.000 Palestinian policemen to cover the border and really have what police does in a country. As we are supporting a two-state solution, which means that there has to be two states, and which means that also Palestinians have to be the ones who are leading and owning the processes that are happening in Palestine. We can only help them with confidence building, and we can help them with the training of the policemen. But it requires also additional resources from the Member States, as well as people to send on those missions.

Q: Obviously, it is very important to have humanitarian aid and to keep the peace. But, some people have been asking questions some countries, in fact, and in the European Parliament in relation to justice. Is the EU still focused on the idea of of justice for the Palestinians, for the innocent Palestinians who have died, in terms of Netanyahu government?

First, we have now the ceasefire, which is quite fragile, and we are focusing on keeping the ceasefire, and building on that long lasting peace. Whereas the United Nations Security Council resolution comes in with the longer plan, who comes in with what resources. But in the end, of course, accountability for all the crimes committed is also a part of just and lasting peace.

Q: Do you think only Donald Trump can end this war?

No, in order to end this war, you need the Ukrainians and the Europeans to agree to those plans. Of course, Putin could end this war immediately, if he just stopped bombing civilians and killing people. But we have not seen any concessions on the Russian side. We welcome all the meaningful efforts to end this war. But like we have said before, it has to be just and lasting. That also means that the Ukrainians, but also Europeans, agree to this.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-281098

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Press remarks by Commissioner Suica on the Palestine Donor Group

European Commission

Speech

Nov 20, 2025

Brussels

"Check against delivery"

Dear Prime Minister Mustafa,

Dear all,

The EU has been, and remains, a strong partner of the Palestinian people - politically and financially. Since 1994, we have provided almost 30 billion in assistance.

This year, we adopted a comprehensive three-year programme worth 1.6 billion.

Our financial support is linked to the Palestinian Authority Reform Agenda, which they committed to implement.

We see these reforms as a prerequisite for a viable Two-State solution, our ultimate goal.

Today marked a very important moment: the inaugural meeting of the Palestine Donor Group, a platform bringing together key international partners to support a reformed and well-functioning Palestinian Authority.

Our aim is to strengthen governance, build a more resilient economy, stabilise finances, improve services for the population, and create conditions for future effective governance across all territories.

Gaza's recovery was also a central part of our discussions.

The EU firmly believes that Palestinians must have a real and decisive role in shaping their own future, including governance across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

The Donor Group exists to support and monitor implementation of the Reform Agenda, ensuring accountability and progress.

The meeting was a success, bringing together over 60 delegations from around the world, demonstrating both solidarity and concrete support.

Joining forces, we demonstrated the essential role of collective action in addressing the complex challenges facing the Palestinian Authority.

Our message was clear - Mr. Prime Minister you are not alone in this endeavor.

We recognise the progress achieved on key reforms under exceptional circumstances.

We support your commitment to the Reform Agenda, in particular on fiscal, economic, and governance reforms.

The social protection and education reforms remain crucial. More work remains to be done in these areas.

It is essential that we remain firmly committed to this path with determination and in full transparency.

Together with the Member States, the EU is also supporting measures against corruption, as well as for the private sector development, and the provision of basic services in energy, water and digitalisation.

I would like to say a word on how the EU delivers our support.

We channel our financial contributionsto the Palestinian Authority through the PEGASE mechanism [to support essential expenditures, including salaries of public workers like teachers and healthcare staff and pensions for civil servants].

PEGASE is a secure, reliable, and well-tested instrument, supported by rigorous control, verification mechanisms, and stringent safeguards.

Today, we had an important moment to showcase and support this system.

I am pleased to announce that today, together with Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Spain, we signed more than 82 million of new contribution agreements in additional financial support from our Member States channelled through PEGASE. The total amount pledged this year is of more than 88 million, including earlier contributions from Finland, Ireland Italy and Spain.

This mechanism remains open to all partners wishing to join.

As said, our EU support is substantial, but we need further international support to stabilise the Palestinian fiscal situation.

I commend the recent emergency support initiatives and additional contributions from Member States and reiterate our call to all donors to step up.

Israel has of course a significant role to play in this. I believe they also want to see a reformed Palestinian Authority.

We will continue engage with them and urge for a release of the tax revenues, along with the renewal of corresponding banking relationships.

Let me now turn to Gaza. Any credible recovery and future reconstruction efforts must be Palestinian-owned.

The ceasefire is holding, but remains fragile, and urgent humanitarian aid still needs to reach those in need.

We welcome the US-led UN Security Council Resolution on the Gaza Peace Plan as a major step in advancing peace.

The Resolution also mentions the need for reformed Palestinian Authority - and the Palestine Donor Group contributes to this goal.

I reiterate that our broader objective remains a Two-State solution.

Together with efforts led by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and the wider international community, we can make this vision a lasting reality.

The EU is ready to engage also in the next phase - on further reforms, humanitarian aid, and recovery, and as part of Team Europe alongside our Member States and key regional and international partners.

Our efforts are focused on ensuring that recovery and reconstruction fully respect international law with Palestinian participation in governance across all territories.

In these extremely difficult times, we must keep hope alive. The vision of peace and security in the Middle East remains essential.

Today, we demonstrated that this commitment is alive.

Let us continue to join forces for a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security.

Thank you!

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Palestine Donor Group: EU leads international efforts for strong and viable Palestinian governance

European Commission

Press release

Nov 20, 2025

Brussels

Today, the European Commission convened the first meeting of the Palestine Donor Group (PDG) in Brussels, co-chaired by Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

This is a clear deliverable of the EU's Multiannual Comprehensive Programme for Palestinian recovery and resilience adopted in April, as well as an expression of the EU's commitment to the stability of the region, as underlined by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union speech in September 2025.

The PDG gathered ministers and senior officials from around 60 key international and regional players. These included EU Member States, Arab countries, potential donors to the Gaza Peace Plan, as well as international and regional organisations and financial institutions. Together, participants discussed the Palestinian Authority's fiscal situation, as well as the state of play of the implementation of its Reform Agenda linked to the EU's Multiannual Comprehensive Programme of support worth up to 1.6 billion for Palestine. They also exchanged on the economic recovery of the West Bank.

Progress under the Reform Agenda

The Palestinian-EU reform matrix, as agreed with the Palestinian Authority in November 2024, is anchored in the ambitious Reform Agenda of the Palestinian Authority. Today's meeting was first and foremost an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in this respect and draw political support from international partners on this ambitious reform plan.

Against this background, the Palestinian Authority presented its progress to date in fiscal, economic and governance reforms. It also explained the achievements made in terms of basic service provision, including on education, health and private sector development. Secondly, the PDG also discussed latest developments and initiatives related to the future of Gaza, following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on Gaza on 17 November 2025.

The Commission will continue to support all efforts to stabilise the region, including the West Bank and Gaza transitional governance, recovery and reconstruction, with the Reform Agenda at the core of its action.

EU financial support under PEGASE

To securely and transparently channel funds to the Palestinian Authority, the Commission relies on PEGASE, a mechanism created by the EU in 2008 with high standards of control applied through ex ante audit and ex post verification.

Donors under PEGASE contribute to the considerable reduction of transaction costs for financial support to the Palestinian Authority. It also allows for increased ownership, transparency and effectiveness of international contributions to the Palestinian Authority.

Since its creation, PEGASE channelled support to Palestinian people for a total of 3.7 billion.

During an event on the margins of the PDG, the EU together with Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Spain, signed more than 82 million of new contribution agreements in additional financial support from Member States channelled through PEGASE. The total amount pledged this year is of more than 88 million, including earlier contributions from Finland, Ireland Italy and Spain.

Background

The EU is a long-standing partner of the Palestinian people and advocate for a Two-State solution with Israelis and Palestinians living in security and in peace side by side. It has shown its support both politically and financially.

Supporting a strong and viable governance by the Palestinian Authority is key to achieve a sustainable and long-term peace, for the Palestinian people and the region as a whole.

Since 1994, the EU has provided almost 30 billion in assistance. In April 2025, the Commission adopted a 1.6 billion Multiannual and Comprehensive Programme to support Palestine's Recovery and Resilience, covering the next three years. The programme is currently under implementation. Since October 2023, the EU commitments amount to almost 740 million in grants and loans.

Direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority is rooted in the implementation of its Reform Agenda. The Palestine Donor Group is an integral part of the EU programme for Palestine and was announced at several instances, including by President von der Leyen and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the two-state solution conference co-organised by France and the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on 22 September 2025.

The Commission is also supporting the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to ensure key services on the ground.

Quote(s)

Reform of the Palestinian Authority is fundamental for it to govern a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority has the EU's full support in these efforts. With the UN Security Council vote for an international stabilization force, we have now entered a new phase where there is a real chance to move beyond the fragile truce towards a stable future for the Palestinian people. The EU has a lot to offer to secure peace, from our two civilian missions in the region working on border assistance and justice reforms, to our continued financial backing of the Palestinian Authority. Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

The EU is a strong and long-standing partner of the Palestinian people. The current ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, but it offers renewed hope for lasting peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis. Achieving this requires meaningful Palestinian participation and a strong, reformed Palestinian Authority capable of governing its people. This is why we convened the Palestinian Donor Group today. The Group will support the implementation of Palestinian reforms, helping strengthen its governance, improve its economic resilience, and advance Gaza's recovery. Palestinians must have a decisive role in shaping their own future, and we are here to help ensure that. Dubravka Suica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean

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Iran stresses permanent end to Israeli aggression on Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 20, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- A senior Iranian diplomat in Geneva has expressed deep concern over humanitarian crisis in Palestine and urged a permane

Speaking at the 355th session of the Governing Council of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Deputy Envoy at the permanent mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office Reza Dehghani expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, calling for a lasting end to the Israeli occupation of the enclave.

The Iranian representative pointed to the worrying findings of the International Labor Organization (ILO)'s report on the sharp decline in the gross domestic product (GDP), the collapse of employment in Gaza, the displacement of 1.9 million people, and the complete destruction of educational institutions.

Dehghani further called for the international community's strong support for ensuring sustainable and unhindered access to the humanitarian aid and providing the necessary financial resources to fully support the ILO's emergency response.

The Iranian representative emphasized the country's full support for the reconstruction of Gaza under full Palestinian sovereignty and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice, and independence, stating that the fundamental right of Palestinian workers to decent work, dignity, and a free life must be restored to them.

Although the cost of reconstruction is enormous, inaction will be even more costly, he underlined.

At this meeting, the Iranian representative appreciated the ILO's emergency efforts, including the generation of 1,245 short-term jobs and support for business recovery, and welcomed the National Employment Strategy 2025-2027.

2050

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Baiba Braze in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: the Alliance's presence in Latvia and on the eastern flank, air defence and anti-drone capabilities must be further strengthened, while maintaining transatlantic unity

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20.11.2025

On 20 November 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, had a discussion with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the strengthening of NATO's presence in Latvia and the Alliance's deterrence and defence capabilities, including the effectives implementation of decisions taken at the NATO Summit in The Hague, further support for Ukraine's self-defence capabilities and containment of Russia - all in preparation for the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting on 3 December.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braze informed the Secretary General about Latvia's achievements in the strengthening of defence and deterrence capabilities and further support to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Baiba Braze emphasized the achievements of Latvian industry in 5G/6G technologies, as well as the development of drone and counter-drone, and quantum technologies in Latvia, while calling on NATO to use this resource. She also called for finding solutions to make public procurement faster and more efficient, which is an important prerequisite for strengthening NATO's own capabilities and supporting Ukraine.

Marc Rutte thanked Latvia for its firm stance and leadership in moving towards 5% of GDP investment in defence.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braze:

"Russia is, and will remain the greatest threat to the security of the entire Alliance and the transatlantic space. Russia's goals have not changed - to undermine the unity of NATO Allies and reduce support to Ukraine. Latvia takes its security and defence seriously, including by delivering on joint commitments made at the NATO summit in The Hague: this year, Latvia will reach 4% of GDP in direct defence spending, which will be increased to approximately 5% of GDP in 2026. We urge all the Allies to move towards that target. In addition, we are working towards strengthening our eastern border, which is also the eastern border of NATO and the EU - coordination between the EU and NATO is essential for that. Since 2022, Latvia has invested approximately one billion euros in strengthening the border. I welcome the newly established NATO missions - the Baltic Sentry and the Eastern Sentry. This is a contribution to the security of the region and the entire Alliance in response to Russia's sub-conventional threats. These missions demonstrate the solidarity of the Allies and the Alliance's ability to quickly adapt to geopolitical realities and current challenges. The Allies are united in their need to develop a stronger, more modern, and more capable Alliance, so that we can further deter the aggressor and protect every inch of the Alliance. NATO's presence in Latvia and throughout the eastern flank needs to be strengthened - especially with air defence and counter-drone capabilities. The Alliance's defence and deterrence capabilities must also be adapted to respond rapidly to current threats, which Russia is deploying more frequently and aggressively with the aim of testing the Allies."

In a discussion on the situation in Ukraine, the Minister underlined that the country needs continued military and financial support from Allies: in order to stop Russian aggression, it is important for Ukraine to immediately receive air defence and long-range weapons systems.

Baiba Braze indicated that Latvia will continue to provide military support to Ukraine in the amount of at least 0.25% of GDP in 2026 as well. Besides, Latvia provides 7.2 million euros in financial contributions to the NATO initiative of funding critical military equipment for Ukraine (PURL), and has also participated in the NATO-led Renovator project in support of the renovation of medical institutions in Ukraine.

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The Ministry of National Defence concludes constructions of EUR 16 million firing range complex at the Rudninkai Training Area

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-11-20

Acquisitions and infrastructure development | Civic Engagement, Historical memory | Development and Strengthening of the Armed Forces

The Ministry of National Defence is finalizing contractions of four advanced firing ranges at the Rudninkai Training Area. The new infrastructure will facilitate better training for Lithuania, German and other NATO troops. The MoD has invested EUR 16.3 million in the project.

Military personnel of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the German Brigade will be soon allowed to start training with the EUR 7.3 million heavy machine-gun firing range, while the individual battle shooting range worth of EUR 3.6 million, 600 m range for rifle weapons worth of EUR 4.2 million and an anti-armor firing range worth of EUR 1.1 million will be completed by the end of this year.

"The Ministry of National Defence approaches completion of the firing range complex at the Rudninkai training Area and will keep the pace in infrastructure development. The new firing ranges will ensure effective training conditions for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the German Brigade and other Allied troops," said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.

The firing ranges at the Rudninkai Training Area will provide quality training conditions strengthening the overall defence readiness and operational capabilities.

Development of defence infrastructure is conducted in line with key priorities: Host Nation Support, enhancement of housing, service and training conditions, development of ammunition storage warehouses and maintenance-service infrastructure for new equipment and weaponry.

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The Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, welcomed on Thursday in Rabat the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797 on the Sahara.

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Thursday 20 November 2025

During his talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the Conference on the Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration of Child Soldiers, taking place in the Moroccan capital on November 20-21, Okudzeto Ablakwa praised the adoption, on October 31, 2025, of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 on the Sahara issue, noting that it aims to provide a definitive solution with clear parameters and a precise timeline.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister also congratulated the UN Security Council for its leadership on this matter.

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OIC Welcomes UNGA Resolutions on Palestinians and UNRWA

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

20-11-2025

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has commended the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for adopting a comprehensive suite of resolutions that underscore the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The OIC articulated that this extensive international consensus highlights the critical significance of the Palestinian cause while vehemently rejecting the policies associated with Israeli colonial occupation, which encompass annexation, settlement expansion, forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, and various other violations of international law committed by Israel.

Furthermore, the OIC underscored the essential nature of the overwhelming endorsement of the resolution to renew the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This reaffirmation addresses the Palestinian refugee situation and their unequivocal rights to return and receive compensation. The OIC reiterated the imperative to maintain UNRWA's mandate and to furnish it with comprehensive support, financial, political, and legal, as a manifestation of the international community's commitment to upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Additionally, the Organization renewed its appeal to the global community to persist in promoting and endorsing draft resolutions that affirm and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This includes advocating for their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state within the borders delineated prior to June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, in alignment with pertinent United Nations resolutions.

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FSI's Breakfast Conversations Examines China's Declaration of a "National Nature Reserve" in the West Philippine Sea

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

MANILA 20 November 2025 -- The Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS) of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) on 24 October 2025 held its Breakfast Conversations with CIRSS examining the People's Republic of China's unfounded unilateral designation of a "national nature reserve" in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). Bajo de Masinloc forms an integral part of Philippine territory over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Ms. Jacqueline P. Buenaventura, Assistant Chief of the West Philippine Sea Studies Section, evaluated the PRC's intent in its designation of Bajo de Masinloc as a "national nature reserve" and possible ways forward for the Philippines in addressing China's latest baseless assertion in the South China Sea.

Ms. Buenaventura stressed that "science diplomacy continues to offer a promising avenue for achieving genuine environmental cooperation in the South China Sea-but only under certain conditions: that territorial claims are set aside, no ulterior motives are pursued, and that agreements are made in good faith." This drives the point that the PRC should not use "environmental protection responsibilities" as a pretext for advancing its unsubstantiated territorial and maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones.

The Breakfast Conversation was attended by participants from FSI, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) students, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine Navy.

Breakfast Conversations with CIRSS is an informal dialogue on the various thematic research areas of FSI. It serves as a platform for sharing knowledge and synergizing efforts with the Institute's researchers, DFA personnel, and other stakeholders.

FSI is the training and research agency attached to the DFA, created by Presidential Decree No. 1060. Its remit was expanded under Republic Act No. 7157. The FSI Board is chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, with the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Director General of FSI, President of the University of the Philippines (UP), and President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) as members. END

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US, PH to integrate 'cutting-edge' cyber defense tech in Balikatan

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

November 20, 2025, 8:07 pm

MANILA -- The United States and the Philippines are set to incorporate "cutting-edge" technology in combating cyber threats in the 2026 iteration of Exercise Balikatan.

"On Balikatan, the upcoming 2026 exercise, we're working to evolve that to reflect this reality that cyber is integral to every military operation," US Embassy ICT unit chief Jennifer Schmidt said during a panel discussion at the 2025 Pilipinas Conference in Makati City.

"So, we're working alongside our Filipino partners to incorporate cutting-edge training ranges and robust cyber threat software into these exercise scenarios," Schmidt said.

She said the two countries' cyber cooperation is rapidly moving from an emerging area to a "central pillar" in the Philippines-US alliance.

Both have recognized that even future conflicts "may begin in the digital domain."

"We're focused on making this progress sustained and scalable by integrating cyber defense across all government levels and fostering really a deeper, more resilient technical partnership," Schmidt said.

"This whole alliance approach helps ensure military interoperability is seamlessly connected with national critical infrastructure protection," she added.

The 2026 Balikatan is expected to include more than 500 joint military activities ranging from large-scale exercises and smaller subject matter expert exchanges.

The iteration is also expected to host Canada's largest contingent to Balikatan.

In the same panel session, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said Canada will also continue its cybersecurity support in the Philippines through capacity-building efforts. (PNA)

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AFP to remain professional amid calls for revolt - DND chief

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

November 20, 2025, 6:50 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will remain professional amid calls for its withdrawal of support from the government.

In a radio interview, Teodoro maintained that the DND and the AFP are both aware of their mandate to protect and secure the state against all oppressors, both foreign and domestic.

"(Sa) Sandatahang Lakas, makasisigurado ang ating mga kababayan, na ang ating sundalo ay professional. Hindi ito kailangan pangaralan. Alam nila ang kanilang misyon, sila ay mapagkakatiwalaan (Rest assured that our troops are professional. They do not need to be told what to do regarding such things. They know their mission, they are trustworthy)," he said.

Teodoro noted that Filipinos hold the AFP in high regard, as proven by the 73 percent trust rating it enjoyed in the last OCTA Research survey.

This high trust rating, he said, could be attributed to all issues being faced by the country, including standing up to China in the ongoing row in the West Philippine Sea.

"Kung ang tingin ng taongbayan na ang Armed Forces ay isang gamit upang mapanatili ang hindi kanais-nais na sitwasyon, sana ay bumagsak ito ng katodo-todo (If the public thinks that the military is being used to perpetuate a bad situation, then its popularity would have plummeted)," he said.

Amid calls for it to withdraw support from the government, the AFP said the commanders of its seven major Combatant Commands remain committed to upholding the Constitution.

The Combatant Commands are the National Capital Region Command, Southern Luzon Command, Northern Luzon Command, Western Command, Visayas Command, Eastern Mindanao Command, and Western Mindanao Command.

"In a united declaration, the commanders of the AFP's Combatant Commands affirmed that the military remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and ensure full respect for civilian authority," the AFP said in a statement. (PNA)

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Hamas warns of 'dangerous escalation' after Israeli strikes kill 28 Palestinians in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 6:22 AM

The Hamas resistance movement warned of a "dangerous escalation" after at least 28 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, further threatening the collapse of a fragile ceasefire.

Nine children were among those killed in the strikes on Wednesday, according to Gaza health officials who said that at least 77 others were injured.

Hamas rejected Israel's claim that its fighters had fired first at Israeli troops, prompting the strikes. The group called the allegation "a weak and exposed attempt to justify their ongoing crimes and violations."

The group pointed out that the Israeli regime has killed more than 300 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect early last month.

It also denounced Israel for continuing policies of "demolishing and blowing up houses" and maintaining the closure of the Rafah crossing.

In Gaza City's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital complex, footage showed dozens of people crowding around incoming ambulances carrying Palestinian victims of the Israeli strikes.

Footage showed Palestinian people with the corpses of the Palestinians killed inside the hospital in Gaza. One body bag held the bodies of three lifeless children still covered in dust.

Israeli forces also unleashed their most brutal strike on the Zaytun area in the east of Gaza, where 10 people, including a woman and a child, were killed, Gaza Civil Defense said.

A building for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Near East also came under attack.

In an area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, a group of civilians inside the UNRWA club was also targeted.

The Israeli strikes on Wednesday were the third major escalation since the ceasefire agreement came into effect. The two previous major strikes were on October 19 and 28.

Authorities in Gaza have reported at least 400 Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire.

Hamas called on the US mediators to exert "immediate, serious pressure" on the Tel Aviv regime to "respect the ceasefire and halt the aggression against our people."

Since the Israeli regime launched the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children.

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Guam hosts Australia, India, Japan and US forces in Exercise Malabar 2025

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet

NEWS | Nov. 20, 2025

By Lt. Victor Murkowski

APRA HARBOR, Guam -- Australia, India, Japan and U.S. forces participated in Exercise Malabar 2025, in and around the island of Guam, Nov. 10-18.

This year marks the 29th iteration of the Malabar exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the United States and India. The exercise has since evolved in scope and complexity and now includes Japan and Australia. This marks the sixth time that all four nations have participated in Malabar to advance the collective planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics across participating nations.

"I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who planned and participated in Malabar 2025, especially our hosts in Guam," said Capt. Dave Huljack, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. "And a special thank you to our Australian, Indian, and Japanese friends. Over the past week, I have seen tremendous growth from our combined forces as they've been working side-by-side, learning from one another, and developing those person-to-person relationships. Your support and professionalism throughout this exercise were fully apparent and appreciated. Thank you."

The cooperative exercise united service members from four Indo-Pacific nations, enhancing their skills in advanced maneuvering scenarios, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, information sharing, maritime operations, and various subject matter expert exchanges to improve overall interoperability between the forces.

Participants included Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155), Indian Navy Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth frigate INS Sahyadri (F 49), and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181). U.S. participation included a P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Commander, Task Force 72, a U.S. submarine assigned to Commander, Task Force 74, an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit assigned to Commander, Task Force 75, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) operating under Commander, Task Force 70 and DESRON 15, the Navy's largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force.

Australian, Indian, Japanese, and U.S. maritime forces routinely operate together across the Indo-Pacific in support of regional security and stability.

The lead for this year's exercise was the United States. The Malabar planning and exercise lead rotates each year among participating nations, along with the exercise location to demonstrate the combined ability to exercise across the entire Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Over 300 Dead in Gaza Since Ceasefire Announced - Hamas

Sputnik News

20251120

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than 300 people have died in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli actions since the ceasefire agreement took effect, the Palestinian movement Hamas said.

On Wednesday, 25 people were killed as a result of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, with at least 77 injured, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.

"We reject the Zionist claims that its forces came under fire, and consider them a flimsy and exposed attempt to justify its ongoing crimes and violations. Over 300 people have been killed since the ceasefire agreement was signed, alongside the continued homes' demolition policy and the closure of the Rafah crossing, representing a blatant Israeli defiance of the American and regional guarantors," Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday.

On October 10, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect. On October 13, US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a declaration on the Gaza ceasefire. Hamas released all 20 of the surviving hostages who had been held in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel released about 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Gaza, including Palestinian prisoners serving long prison sentences.

 Sputnik

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UK Statement - ILO programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories

Speech

UK Statement for the International Labour Organization's programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories. Delivered at the ILO's 355th Governing Body.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Eleanor Sanders

Published 20 November 2025

Location: Geneva

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The UK thanks the Office for the report on the progress made within the framework of the ILO programme of development cooperation in Palestine. We commend and support the way forward described. We note that future budgetary contributions have yet to be determined and will be voluntary.

The Palestinian labour market picture detailed in the report is harrowing. The collapse in employment has been calamitous. The effect on families dire. There is a risk of the severest consequences: a lost generation without employment, training or economic opportunity.

We share the view of many others: that a collapsed Palestinian economy is in no-one's interest. We therefore call on Israel to release withheld clearance revenues; to commit to continued correspondent banking relationships with Palestinian counterparts; to accept increased Shekel transfers; to remove movement restrictions on people, goods and currency; and to renew work permits for 200,000 West Bank Palestinians working in Israel.

Settler violence must stop.

In these challenging circumstances, we thank the Office for its commitment and expertise. The programme must continue to reflect the needs of Palestinians and their aspirations for economic development.

The UK government continues to provide technical and financial support to the Palestinian Authority as it delivers reforms and builds a viable and effective State of Palestine. In July, we announced 7 million in technical support to strengthen governance, accountability and civic space in Palestine. UK Envoy for Palestinian Authority Governance, Sir Michael Barber, is supporting the PA to build their delivery and governance capabilities and progress their vital reform agenda.

The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, remains desperate. We need urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.

The UK continues to work tirelessly for a just and lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, based on a two-state solution. Hamas must release all the hostages. The international community has now come together to support President Trump's ceasefire agreement for Gaza; now we need to work together to take forward the 20-point plan and turn it into a just and lasting peace. Critically, Palestinians must be involved in reconstruction and economic recovery planning. Without which, no plan will meet our shared goals of peace and prosperity for all in the region.

Thank you.

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Report by the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania: UK statement, November 2025

Speech

Ambassador Holland reaffirms the UK's support for Albania's Euro-Atlantic path and welcomes the OSCE Presence's support to Albania's parliament, law enforcement and elections.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland

Published 20 November 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Ambassador Tarran, for the work of your team over the last 12 months and for the helpful presentation this morning.

Mr Chair, the United Kingdom and Albania have a strong bilateral partnership. The UK continues to support Albania's Euro-Atlantic path. This was reiterated by my Prime Minister during his Tirana visit in May, again at the Berlin Process Summit in October, and in Tirana last week during Special Envoy Dame Karen Pierce's visit.

The UK notes the Final Report of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission on Albania's parliamentary elections on 11 May, and the conclusions that elections "were competitive and professionally conducted but took place in a highly polarised environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field". We encourage the Government of Albania to engage constructively to address outstanding recommendations.

The UK welcomes the OSCE Presence's capacity building of Albania's parliament, local governance and law enforcement, and your support to elections. We are pleased to support your programmes to strengthen law enforcement and prosecution capabilities in combatting people trafficking, and to separately support the strengthening of key judicial pillars in Albania, including the High Inspector of Justice, the courts, and the prosecutorial system - notably the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime.

We also welcome Albania's efforts to advance gender equality and the Presence's active support in this.

Ambassador Tarran, you mention towards the end of your written report the significant loss of purchasing power due to the lack of an agreed Unified Budget, and the need to adapt the Presence's approach by reducing programme activity or transferring ownership to host authorities. How do you envisage a shift to a more coordination-focused role for the OSCE Presence working in practice?

In conclusion, I would like to thank you once again, Ambassador Tarran, for your leadership during this reporting period, and wish you success with the OSCE Presence's work over the coming 12 months.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

20 November 2025

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Secretary-General/Trip Announcement

All right, good afternoon. Today, the Secretary-General will be heading to the annual G20 Summit, as he does every year. As you know, the meeting this year is hosted by South Africa and will be taking place in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November. The Secretary-General is set to address three of the sessions of the Summit. The first one is titled "Inclusive and sustainable economic growth leaving no one behind: Building our economies; the role of trade; financing for development and the debt burden"  that's just one session; and the second one is titled "A resilient world  the G20's contribution: Disaster risk reduction; climate change; just energy transitions; food systems". And the third session is titled "A fair and just future for all: Critical minerals; decent work; artificial intelligence".

While in Johannesburg, the Secretary-General will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of leaders who will be at the G20. Tomorrow at 5 p.m. local time, he will be holding a press conference with the media just ahead of the G20. And that press conference you can follow, thanks to our friends at the UN WebTV.

From South Africa, the Secretary-General will head to Luanda for an official visit to Angola, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary since independence just last week. During the visit, the National Assembly will hold a special session to hear from the Secretary-General. While in Luanda, the Secretary-General will also participate in the seventh session of the African Union-European Union Summit. He will hold bilateral meetings with the President of Angola, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, and will also meet other leaders attending the Summit.

** Secretary-General/COP30

And before all that, he spoke to your colleagues in Belem at the thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) press event. He said that, over the past days, he has met with world leaders, ministers, negotiators, Indigenous Peoples, civil society and young people from every region, and one thing is clear, he said: We are down to the wire, and the world is watching Belem.

The Secretary-General pointed out that communities on the front lines are watching, too, counting flooded homes, failed harvests, lost livelihoods and asking: how much more must we suffer? The Secretary-General strongly appealed to all delegations to show willingness and flexibility to deliver results that protect people and keep 1.5C alive. No delegation will leave Belem with everything it wants, he said, but every delegation has a duty to reach a balanced deal. His full remarks were shared with you.

Also this morning, the Secretary-General held a number of meetings with a number of leaders from different delegations, as well as with delegations from the Group of 77, the least developed countries and others.

** Haiti

I want to start off with a horrendous report we just received from our humanitarian colleagues regarding Haiti. And they warn that as Haiti continues to see alarming levels of gender-based violence, survivors and those at risk have very limited access to the essential support they need. This is due to insecurity, access challenges and funding shortfalls.

Between January and September, over 7,400 cases of gender-based violence were reported in Haiti  an average of about 27 per day; that's what our partners are telling us. Sexual violence made up just over half of the cases [about 3,700] and with nearly two thirds of these involving gang rape, that's about [2,500]. Two out of every three victims were displaced people.

During the same period, our humanitarian partners were able to reach only 7 per cent of the 833,000 people we aim to reach with specialized support to address gender-based violence, in total, our partners were able to reach just about 54,000 people. The response remains critically underfunded, with an overall gap of $13.5 million  70 per cent of the over the money that is needed for this year.

If that funding is not received, nearly 780,000 women and girls  including survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk, will go without these critical services, including the clinical management of rape, mental health and psychosocial support, case management, legal assistance, safe spaces for women and girls, and dignity kits. Our partners also warn that persistent insecurity and access challenges continue to prevent many survivors  including people with disabilities and women living in remote areas  from receiving timely, confidential and adequate support.

Despite all of these constraints, humanitarian organizations continue to scale up life-saving services, including psychosocial support, medical care, safe spaces for victims, mobile clinics, legal assistance and the distribution of dignity kits. Between January and September, more than 32,000 information and awareness-raising sessions have been conducted, and some 560 front-line workers have received specialized training.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to work closely with our partners addressing gender-based violence in Haiti  as well as with national authorities in the country  all this to ensure that survivors can safely access essential services.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to Gaza, I can tell you that we are deeply concerned about the Israeli strikes that we've seen in which civilians were reportedly killed and injured yesterday  including children. This is a stark reminder of how fragile the ceasefire is. What we need is for all to ensure that the ceasefire holds and continues to hold. This is why civilians must always be protected and spared from harm.

Meanwhile, OCHA says that despite impediments that remain, aid groups are pushing hard to reach as many people as they can with critical assistance. As of Monday, the daily number of meals distributed has reached 1.4 million. This is up from fewer than a million meals just a month ago. We are currently supporting a network of 27 partners running nearly 200 kitchens across the Strip  and the scale-up is continuing. Our partners leading on nutrition say the number of sites offering outpatient therapeutic feeding for children with acute malnutrition has jumped from just 7 before the ceasefire to 146 today.

Shelter support is also ongoing. On Monday alone, partners distributed more than 4,000 tents, 39,000 tarpaulins, 28,000 bedding items and hundreds of clothing items to families in need. Child protection teams have been busy, as well. On Monday and Tuesday, they reached more than 2,700 displaced children and 1,700 caregivers with services ranging from mental-health support and counselling to recreational activities, targeted follow-ups for vulnerable children, and help to prepare for the winter.

More than 50 children at heightened risk received additional support, including registration, referrals and access to essential services. Among them were children who are unaccompanied or were separated from their families, those heading households or living with war injuries, and others lacking parental care or facing neglect. OCHA stresses that despite all this work, what we and our partners can currently provide is still far from enough. The situation remains extremely dire.

To give you an example: On Sunday and Monday, partners leading on-site management carried out a quick survey of displaced families staying along the shore in Khan Younis and the Mawasi area of Rafah. That's an area hosting more than 4,000 households. Early findings show that because there's no proper system for disposing of faecal waste, many people are forced to use the sea as a toilet. At the same time, rising sea levels are pushing into tented areas and risk submerging whole sections, while strong winds have already knocked down multiple tents.

OCHA says that while we and our partners seize every opportunity to help people in need, we are also continuing to negotiate and call for greater humanitarian access. Under our humanitarian plan for the ceasefire, aid operations rely on visas and permissions to bring in supplies  for both ourselves and our non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. And a wider range of equipment and essential goods must be cleared for entry, through all available crossings and routes.

** Ukraine

Turning to Ukraine. Rosemary DiCarlo, our Under-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs, just left Ukraine and said that as she leaves the country, she was deeply moved by the bravery and resilience of its people. They have survived loss of loved ones, devastation and daily hardships. The UN, she said, remains firm in its call for an immediate ceasefire as a starting point toward a just, sustainable peace.

Just to note that, at 3 p.m., the Security Council will meet for a briefing on Ukraine. They will hear a briefing from Director of OCHA Edem Wosornu, and the Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Divisions of our Political Affairs Department, Kayoko Gotoh. We will share those remarks with you as they become available.

** Cyprus

Earlier today, the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, met for the first time as leaders of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The meeting took place in the UN protected area and was facilitated by the Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Khassim Diagne.

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, also participated in this meeting, but she did so virtually. Our colleagues say this was an opportunity for the two leaders to have their first exchange of views in a cordial atmosphere. They looked forward to the visit of Ms. Holguin and agreed to have a joint meeting with her when she will be on the island in early December. They also expressed their readiness to work towards the next informal meeting in a broader format, to be convened by the Secretary-General.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan and the horrific situation that is ongoing in North Darfur State. Our humanitarian colleagues say that more than 100,000 people have fled El Fasher and surrounding areas since late October, when the area was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Many people remain unaccounted for. Those who escaped El Fasher are arriving at displacement sites where conditions are  as you can only imagine  extremely dire and the scale of needs is massive.

We and our humanitarian partners are providing vital aid to displaced families; that includes fresh water, food sanitation and healthcare. In Tawila, the town that is hosting large numbers of people who fled El Fasher, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) tells us they've reached more than 3,500 patients with health and nutrition services since late October, and screened nearly 800 children for malnutrition and supplied 150,000 litres of water daily to meet the needs of about 20,000 people.

Meanwhile, escalating hostilities throughout the Kordofan region continue to force families from their homes. On Tuesday, more than 600 people were displaced from two villages in North and South Kordofan States, while access to the region remains severely constrained. Across North Kordofan, violence has displaced nearly 40,000 people between 26 October and yesterday; that's what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is telling us. And in South Kordofan, key cities, including Dilling and Kadugli, the state capital, remain under siege, leading to acute shortages of food and medical supplies for people who remain there. We continue to call for safe and unimpeded access to deliver life-saving assistance to Kordofan, Darfur and all other parts of Sudan where communities need urgent support. We also appeal to donors to give generously to our appeals.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, OCHA is alarmed by escalating violence in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri Provinces, both in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In North Kivu, hostilities have intensified in Lubero Territory, where more than 45 people have been killed since 14 November, following attacks on several villages. That's what local humanitarian partners are telling us.

In one particularly horrific incident that night, a health centre was attacked, leaving at least 17 people dead, including patients, according to local civil society. Our partners also report that two health workers were kidnapped, medicine was looted, and the facility was set on fire. This surge in violence in Lubero has forced more than 30,000 people to escape their homes in less than a week, and families continue to flee today amid fears of further attacks. Insecurity is also hindering humanitarian access, but our partners are conducting assessments and delivering assistance wherever they can.

Our partners working on water and sanitation are rehabilitating water sources in the locality of Manguredjipa, which continues to host displaced families. Conditions there remain dire: access to safe drinking water is 40 per cent below normal levels, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases and forcing women and girls to travel long distances to fetch water, which is exposing them to physical risks.

In neighbouring Ituri Province, two attempted armed attacks on the Lolwa hospital in Mambasa territory were reportedly thwarted. Since the start of the year, more than 240 civilians have been killed and over 114,500 people displaced. We condemn in the strongest terms these attacks on civilians and on health facilities. We reiterate our call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Attacks on civilians and health facilities are obviously unacceptable and must stop immediately.

** UN80

I was asked by one of your colleagues yesterday about a UN80 update, and I can tell you that tomorrow, at 3 p.m., our colleague Guy Ryder, the Under-Secretary-General for Policy, is scheduled to brief Member States on the initiative, more specifically on the UN80 Action Plan. The Action Plan, which was published a few days ago, brings together the proposals from across the three workstreams of the UN80 Initiative under one roof. All this to facilitate the process and to strengthen alignment and accountability. The document is available online, and the event will be webcast.

** Financial Contribution

We are pleased to report that Uganda has made its full payment to the Regular Budget and we thank them. This brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 143.

** World Children's Day

Today is a number of days. It is World Children's Day. In his message, the Secretary-General reminds us that every child has equal rights, wherever they live. The future depends on how we care for the next generation. On this Day, and every day, let's listen to children, amplify their voices, and work together to build a safe, equal world for every child on this planet.

** Africa Industrialization Day

Today is also Africa Industrialization Day. In his message, the Secretary-General highlights Africa's determination to transform economies and build a sustainable future, with women and youth driving green industries, despite challenges like climate change, debt and insecurity.

** World Philosophy Day

And I am going to leave with a quiz. Who said "I think, therefore I am"? [French philosopher Rene] Descartes, exactly. Which means, what International Day? Exactly. It is World Philosophy Day. A reminder to do what humans do best, which is: think before answering your questions. Think with purpose and ask questions freely and boldly. All right, Dezhi then Pam.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Yeah. Two different topics. First, yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, alongside with the Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Israeli-controlled Southern Syria, which draws strong condemnation from the Syrian authority. What is the position of the Secretary-General on the latest development there?

Spokesman : I would encourage you to read in full the transcript from yesterday's briefing, because I answered that question. But, you had a second question, so try again.

Question : Most likely, it would be asked. It has already been asked. So, there's reports that the White House has put a new proposal for Ukraine, talking about giving  how to say that  to get to recognize Crimea and other places as the Russian territory, as well as reduce the military presence of Ukraine, as well as the long-range weapons. We know that today, there's going to be a Security Council meeting on Ukraine. And yesterday, you just released a statement to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine. So, how's the latest proposal going?

Spokesman : We haven't seen... at least, I'm not aware that we've seen the proposal in full, beyond what's been in the press. I think the Secretary-General's position has been very clear from the start  is that we stand ready to support and help any meaningful process that would lead to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, leading to a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, its independence, territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in line with the Charter, international law and all relevant UN resolutions. Pamela?

Question : Yes. Thank you, Steph. And a follow-up on Ukraine. The 28-Point plan has been questioned by the European Union and Ukraine itself because Ukraine hasn't been consulted, and it makes many concessions that Ukraine does not agree with. Has the UN in any way been consulted, and what is the Secretary-General's view of a plan that doesn't involve Ukraine?

Spokesman : Well, we have not been consulted. As I told Dezhi, we have not seen... I mean, all we know about the plan is what we've read in the press. I'm happy to read my standard language again. But as I said, the Secretary-General's position has really not changed. Right? And this is: He is ready to support initiatives in line with what I've just read out.

Question : To press it one notch further, if Ukraine is not involved in the negotiations...?

Spokesman : Listen. These are all hypotheticals. What is clear, I think, for any conflict to be resolved in a just and sustainable manner is that all those that are involved in the conflict need to be at the table, but that's just a matter of principle. As for the plan, as I said, we haven't seen anything beyond what's in the press. Gabby, and then we'll go down that way.

Correspondent : Thanks, Steph. Just housekeeping. On the Secretary-General's travels to Angola, you said it was after COP, I'm sorry...

Spokesman : After G20.

Question : But do have the dates in Angola? Monday through when?

Spokesman : You're asking me questions that I should know the answer to. It's just right... it's after [23 November]. All right. That's right. He's not doing anything in between the G20 and Angola.

Question : No problem. Thanks. And then on COP30, you said that it obviously, it's down to the wire. Best of my understanding, there's not even a draft text yet, and we're less than 48 hours from this thing concluding. I mean, how is the Secretary-General going to determine if COP30 was a success or not, particularly given that an early agreement that many people hoped was going to happen, clearly, that ship has already sailed? It's not going to happen.

Spokesman : Well, first of all, 48 hours is a lifetime in terms of negotiating a text at the UN, especially when we have the God-given ability to stop the clock. Okay? So, let's not declare anything a failure. Our aim right now is to work for success. I'll get back to Volodymyr, Benny, Islam and then we'll go to Namo.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I've got two questions, if you don't mind. Today, Russia carried out a massive attack on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure in the city of Ternopil. At the site of the Russian missile strike, 26 people have been confirmed dead, including three children, and 93 others injured, including 18 children. What is your comment?

Spokesman : We continue to condemn the Russian strikes on Ukraine and especially ones that in which civilians are killed and civilian infrastructure is hit.

Question : There's another question. Russia is deliberately shedding electrical substations that are critical for nuclear safety as they provide power to nuclear plants. Has the Secretary-General considered commenting on this issue?

Spokesman : Listen. We've been... I not sure I have the details to the exact situation you mentioned, but we have been very clear and are concerned about the fate of Ukraine's nuclear facilities, regardless who has effective control of them. And what is the most important is that they need to be kept safe, and out of combat. Benny, then Islam.

Question : Also a couple of questions. First one, so yesterday, President [Donald] Trump said that he intends to mediate in Sudan. What do you think, since you mentioned Sudan in your briefing, what do you think the United States contribution could be? And is there a plan to cooperate between the US?

Spokesman : We welcome the efforts of the United States and those of any and all Member States who are working to support the end of this conflict, to support humanitarian access, the protection of civilians, and to work towards lasting peace. I can tell you that whether it's Mr. [Ramtane] Lamamra or Tom Fletcher, they've all been in touch with both US and, obviously, a lot of other counterparts.

Question : Has the Secretary-General tried to mediate between the two supporters of the two sides in Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia?

Spokesman : Look, Secretary-General and his envoys have had various contacts with the parties and also as well as regional parties.

Correspondent : And the second question is...

Spokesman : That's a third.

Correspondent : No. The first was a follow-up on this.

Spokesman : I'm counting question marks, Benny, but go ahead.

Question : I didn't know there was going to be math. So, yeah, yesterday... today, I think, actually, the US representative at the UN for management was saying... was going after the General Assembly resolutions on Israel, saying it's the same resolution every year. Is that the concern, since it came from the guy who was in charge of management? Is that a concern for the Secretary...?

Spokesman : I am not going to comment on what every Member state says in the General Assembly. It's a deliberative body. They deliberate, and they vote on resolutions. The Secretary-General is not involved in that process. Islam?

Question : Thank you very much, Stephane. Yesterday, I asked question about the yellow line, and I think there was some confusion about it. So, I would like to clarify the situation on, if I may say, east side of the yellow line and west side of the yellow line were under the Israeli forces' control. What would you say about the population-wise, what is the situation in both sides? We know on the west side is where the most Gazans stay in. But, what about the east side? Are there any civilians, any Gazans still there?

Spokesman : So we're clear, in speaking in the zone that is between the so-called Yellow Line and the Gaza border, that is where Israeli military remains. We do not have access to that area for humanitarian operations. The only access we have is going from the crossings to the other side of the yellow line. So, I don't have any information I can share with you publicly on that. We continue our efforts on the other side between the so-called yellow line and the Mediterranean, where we focus our humanitarian work. Ideally, we would have access to all Palestinians in Gaza, regardless of where they are.

Question : But do we know at least there are still people in...?

Spokesman : I mean, that's an assumption, there are people there. I don't have a number I can share with you. Okay. Yes, sir?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. UNICEF issued a major warning on Iraq today on Children's Day saying "Iraq's deepening water crisis is robbing millions of children of their fundamental rights and jeopardizing their future". Are there any immediate steps that the Secretary-General is urging UN agencies, the international community and Iraqi authorities to take on this matter?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we follow... for the Secretary-General's point, we follow UNICEF's lead, which is also in terms of the situation in Iraq. We share their concerns. UNICEF is the lead agency on water and sanitation for the UN system, and we hope that all the Iraqi authorities at various levels will work with UNICEF to try to correct the problem. We also hope that the donors, Member States, will give generously to UNICEF's work in that regard. Okay. Yeah.

Question : Thank you, Steph. You mentioned earlier in your briefing that Israeli air strikes killed 30 Palestinians today, which has marked one of the gravest provocations since the ceasefire on 10 October. While it's been abundantly clear that the UN is not an arbiter towards tracking violations of the ceasefire, does the SG still truly believe that there even is a ceasefire?

Spokesman : Anything that undermines the ceasefire is very concerning. We have to work towards the keeping that ceasefire alive. We have to work towards getting to phase two. I mean, the situation... as we've been saying, we're not getting enough humanitarian aid in, but we're getting much more humanitarian aid in than we were before the start of the ceasefire. Yep.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Well, United States will not send a delegation to the G20 summit. It sent a letter to South Africa in which Washington expressed his objection to the issuance of any outcome document presented as G20 consensus without US consent, and it says it will only accept chair's statement reflecting a lack of consensus. So, is the SG is the concern that the letter will have a negative impact on that account...?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General is not... the UN is not a member of the G20. The Secretary-General attends as a guest of the presidency, and we're very thankful to the Republic of South Africa to have extended that invitation to us. I think the question, we were aware of the issue you've raised. The question about the legitimacy of what comes out of that summit will have to be asked to the Presidency of the G20. Any questions online? Yes. Please go ahead, Dora. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. I can. Yes, please.

Question : I can ask my question?

Spokesman : You may ask your question.

Question : Yeah. Thank you. I have a question regarding Iran. The IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] Board of Governors have adopted a resolution proposed by the US and three European countries against Iran. According to the IAEA report, the suspension of certain safeguards activities and the withdrawal of inspectors were a result of circumstances following attacks on Iran's nuclear facility. And this decision was made based on security consideration. Now what's the Secretary-General reaction to the IAEA report and the board's resolution? And does this resolution risk undermining diplomacy, and what advice does the Secretary-General have for the US and three European countries?

Spokesman : Okay. It's not for us to comment or analyse the decisions taken by an executive board or governing body of a UN specialized agency. The IAEA is there for the UN system to lead on nuclear-related issues. The Secretary-General's position is unchanged, which is that he would like to see a cooperation between the IAEA and Iran in dealing with its Iran's nuclear programme. Any other question?

Question : Does this resolution risk under mining diplomacy?

Spokesman : Look. We it's not for us to predict what will happen. I mean, I think that's a questions for analysts to answer. Yes. Islam. Oh, sorry. There's another question, I think, from your colleague, Marva, online. Go ahead.

Question : Yes. Hi, Steph. This is Marva from Anadolu. So, my question is actually about West Bank. The situation in West bank has been worsening since October 2023. And you have mentioned so many concerns about this, but the Human Rights Watch today released a report, saying that the forcible displacements amounts to war crimes. So, what does the SG say about this? What concrete steps could be taken towards this? Thank you.

Spokesman : I mean, as you say, Marva, we've been talking about what is going on in the West Bank for quite some time. We're well aware of the report that Human Rights Watch issued today, and I think our representatives, both on the ground and in front of the Security Council, have been very clear about the situation in the West Bank, especially those of Palestinian civilians, notably during the ongoing olive harvest. We have raised this issue directly and both privately and publicly with Israeli authorities, and we will continue to do that. Let's go to Anadolu in the room.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I just would like to follow-up latest Israel strike and the ceasefire situation. Gaza Health Ministry says that, you know, past 40 days, 312 Palestinians died because of the Israel fire. And, also, news reports that over 400 Israeli violations on the ceasefire. The question is, does the Secretary-General thinks Israel is upholding the ceasefire, or ceasefire is in effect as long as Hamas doesn't respond back?

Spokesman : Look. I think you're asking me almost a legal question that I I'm not able to answer. Our... we are not an observer or guarantor of the ceasefire. Right? Our focus, and this was also highlighted in the UN resolution, in Mr. Trump's plan for the UN right now at this moment, is on delivering humanitarian aid. We are doing the very best that we can in using every space that is allotted to us to deliver that humanitarian aid. Our concern is the fragility of the ceasefire, whether a ceasefire so that... that's where our focus is. It's not for us, given our lack of participation as a guarantor, to say the ceasefire is holding or not holding. People are getting killed. Palestinians are getting killed, and that needs to stop. Okay. Thank you all. Enjoy the I was about to say enjoy the weekend, but not yet.

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World News in Brief: Violence against Haitian women, WHO alert over support for survivors worldwide, Youth Activist Summit marks hope over hate

20 November 2025 - Between January and September, over 7,400 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported in Haiti - an average of about 27 per day, according to UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"Sexual violence made up just over half of the cases, (about 3,700) and with nearly two thirds of these involving gang rape (about 2,500), he added.

Alarming levels of GBV continue in Haiti, yet survivors and those at-risk face severely limited access to essential support due to insecurity, logistical challenges, and funding shortfalls, warned the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Funding shortfalls

Due to budget cuts, the UN and its partners were only able to reach seven percent of the 833,000 people they had aimed to assist, reported M. Dujarric.

The response remains critically underfunded, with an overall gap of $13.5 million - 70 per cent of the over $19 million needed for this year.

Despite these constraints, between January and February, the UN and its partners scaled up lifesaving services, reaching those most impacted, through over 32,000 awareness sessions. Around 560 frontline workers also received training.

WHO warning over lack of support for survivors

Many girls and women who survive gender-based violence worldwide are being let down when they seek medical help - often because systems are not in place to provide what they need - the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

In a new report from the UN agency's European office, it said that nearly three in 10 women and girls over 15 will experience physical and/or sexual abuse across the region.

Health services "are often the first - and only - point of contact for survivors", and yet key assistance is not being provided, especially time-sensitive post-rape services and access to safe abortion, WHO maintains.

According to data from 53 European countries, only seven offer safe abortion services, the agency found.

Policies in place are key

WHO's Melanie Hyde said that when you look at the different needs of survivors of sexual assault, only 40 per cent of Member States in the European region have those provisions enshrined at a policy level: "What we find is if it's not in policy, then it's not going to be at the frontline."

WHO is calling this a public health crisis which has a significant negative impact on individuals in terms of their mental and physical health, but also to families and society.

Youth Activists Summit celebrates hope over hate and 'humanity over hostility'

Finally, some welcome good news from a youth summit in Geneva on Thursday, where activists have been sharing their positive stories of change, that have helped tens of thousands of people all over the world.

Among the inspiring individuals at this year's Youth Activists Summit was Marina El Khawand, who set up a global platform for surplus medicines from scratch.

She took the decision in the aftermath of the deadly port explosion in Beirut in 2020, when she struggled to find prescription drugs for an elderly survivor who needed them to breathe properly.

Good Samaritan

Marina's lightbulb moment came after she searched multiple pharmacies without success, before asking for help on her social media account.

Within hours, a stranger donated 12 boxes and it wasn't long before her online platform - Medonations - was born, she told UN News:

"The moments where I took the first box of the 12 boxes I'm holding in my hand, she's crying because she saw her basic right to health, which is her medication. That is the only thing that can keep her alive and keep her breathing like it was the happiest and the saddest moment."

Youngsters leading change

Marina shared her story at the summit along with four other young activists from Brazil, Ivory Coast, India, Japan, all with their own solutions to drive global change.

Representing the UN, communications chief Melissa Fleming urged the young audience and all those online to transform social media noise and negativity into action, creativity and hope.

"Movements don't start with institutions, they start with individuals," she said, before encouraging everyone to log their actions on the UN Act Now Campaign app, as 28 million people around the world have done already.

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Today's top news: Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Sudan

UN, partners work to stem dire humanitarian crisis in North Darfur

OCHA says that conditions in Sudan's North Darfur State remain appalling. More than 100,000 people have fled the state capital El Fasher and surrounding areas since late October, when the Rapid Support Forces took over the city. Many remain unaccounted for.

Those who escaped El Fasher are arriving at displacement sites where conditions are extremely dire and the scale of needs is massive. Medecins Sans Frontieres said today that in just one night, the organization screened 70 children arriving from El Fasher - and every single one of them was acutely malnourished.

The UN and its humanitarian partners are working tirelessly to provide vital aid to displaced families, including food, clean water, sanitation, healthcare and psychosocial support. In Tawila, which is hosting large numbers of people who fled El Fasher, UNICEF has reached more than 3,500 patients with health and nutrition services since late October, as well as having screened nearly 800 children for malnutrition and supplied 150,000 litres of water daily to meet the needs of 20,000 people.

Meanwhile, escalating hostilities throughout the Kordofan region continue to force families from their homes. On Tuesday, more than 600 people were displaced from two villages in North and South Kordofan states, while access to the region remains severely constrained. Across North Kordofan, violence has displaced nearly 40,000 people between 26 October and yesterday, according to the International Organization for Migration. In South Kordofan, key cities - including Dilling and Kadugli, the state capital - remain under siege, leading to acute shortages of food and medical supplies for people who remain there.

OCHA continues to call for safe and unimpeded access to deliver life-saving assistance to Kordofan, Darfur and all other parts of Sudan where communities need urgent support - and appeals to donors to scale up funding to meet the growing needs.*

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Deadly strikes underscore fragility of Gaza ceasefire

OCHA is deeply concerned about strikes in which civilians in Gaza were reportedly killed and injured yesterday - including children. This isa stark reminder of how fragile the ceasefire is, and why civilians must always be protected and spared from harm.

Meanwhile, OCHA says that despite impediments that remain, aid groups are pushing hard to reach as many people as they can with critical assistance.

As of Monday, the daily number of meals distributed in Gaza has reached 1.4 million. This is up from fewer than a million meals just a month ago. The UN is currently supporting a network of 27 partners running nearly 200 kitchens across the Strip - and the scale-up continues.

Partners leading on nutrition say the number of sites offering outpatient therapeutic feeding for children with acute malnutrition has jumped from just seven before the ceasefire to 146 today.

Shelter support is also ongoing. On Monday alone, partners distributed more than 4,000 tents, 39,000 tarpaulins, 28,000 bedding items and hundreds of clothing items to families in need.

Child protection teams have been busy as well. On Monday and Tuesday, they reached more than 2,700 displaced children and 1,700 caregivers with services ranging from mental health support and counselling to recreational activities, targeted follow-ups for vulnerable children, and help to prepare for the winter.

More than 50 children at heightened risk received additional support, including registration, referrals and access to essential services. Among them were children who are unaccompanied or were separated from their families, those heading households or living with war injuries, and others lacking parental care or facing neglect.

OCHA stresses that despite all this work, what the UN and its partners can currently provide is still far from enough. The situation remains extremely dire.

On Sunday and Monday, partners leading on site management carried out a quick survey of displaced families staying along the shore in Khan Younis and the Mawasi area of Rafah. This is an area hosting more than 4,000 households. Early findings show that because there is no proper system for disposing of fecal waste, many people are forced to use the sea as a toilet. At the same time, rising sea levels are pushing into tented areas and risk submerging whole sections, while strong winds have already knocked down multiple tents.

OCHA says that while the UN and its partners seize every opportunity to help people in need, they also continue to negotiate and call for greater humanitarian access. Under the humanitarian plan for the ceasefire, aid operations rely on visas and permissions to bring in supplies - for both the UN and NGOs. In addition, a wider range of equipment and essential goods must be cleared for entry, through all available crossings and routes.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rising violence imperils civilians in eastern DRC

OCHA is alarmed by escalating violence in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, both in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In North Kivu, hostilities have intensified in Lubero territory, where more than 45 people have been killed since 14 November following attacks on several villages, according to local humanitarian partners and community leaders.

In one particularly horrific incident that night, a health centre was attacked, leaving at least 17 people dead, including patients, according to local civil society. Partners also report that two health workers were kidnapped, medicine looted, and the facility set on fire.

This surge in violence in Lubero has forced more than 30,000 people to escape their homes in less than a week, and families continue to flee today amid fears of further attacks.

Insecurity is also hindering humanitarian access, but partners are conducting assessments and delivering assistance where they can.

Partners working on water and sanitation are rehabilitating water sources in the locality of Manguredjipa, which continues to host displaced families. Conditions remain dire: Access to safe drinking water is below 40 per cent, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases and forcing women and girls to travel long distances to fetch water, exposing them to increased risk of sexual violence.

In neighbouring Ituri province, two attempted armed attacks on the Lolwa hospital in Mambasa territory were reportedly thwarted. Since the start of the year, more than 240 civilians have been killed and over 114,500 people displaced.

OCHA condemns, in the strongest terms, these attacks on civilians and on health facilities. Once again, OCHA calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Attacks on civilians and health facilities are unacceptable and must stop immediately.

Haiti

Underfunding, other challenges constrain response to surging gender-based violence

OCHA warns that as Haiti continues to see alarming levels of gender-based violence, survivors and those at risk have very limited access to the essential support they need due to insecurity, access challenges and funding shortfalls.

Between January and September, over 7,400 cases of gender-based violence were reported in Haiti - an average of about 27 per day, according to partners. Sexual violence made up just over half of the cases, with nearly two thirds of these involving gang rape. Two out of every three victims were displaced people.

During the same period, humanitarian partners were able to reach just 7 per cent of the 833,000 people they aim to provide with specialized support to address gender-based violence this year - or just over 54,000 people in total. The response remains critically underfunded, with an overall gap of US$13.5 million - 70 per cent of the over $19 million needed for this year. If that funding is not received, nearly 780,000 women and girls - including survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk - will go without critical services, including the clinical management of rape, mental health and psychosocial support, case management, legal assistance, safe spaces for women and girls, and dignity kits.

Partners also warn that persistent insecurity and access challenges continue to prevent many survivors - including people with disabilities and women living in remote areas - from receiving timely, confidential and adequate support.

Despite these constraints, humanitarian organizations continue to scale up life-saving services, including psychosocial support, medical care, safe spaces for women and girls, mobile clinics, legal assistance and the distribution of dignity kits. Between January and September, more than 32,000 information and awareness-raising sessions have been conducted, and some 560 front-line workers have received specialized training.

OCHA continues to work closely with partners addressing gender-based violence in Haiti - as well as with national authorities - to ensure that survivors can safely access essential services.

Posted on 20 November 2025

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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 November 2025 - Day 1366

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 161 combat encounters. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively give an offence to the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory.

Russian zagarbniki made 39 aviation strikes, dropping 82 controlled bombs. In addition, 2,357 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out 3008 shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, one combat confrontation with Russian zagarbnikami took place. The Russian enemy launched two air strikes, dropped five controlled bombs, launched 106 shells on positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, one of which was from reactive arson systems.

Today, the Russian opponent attacked six times the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the south-Slobozhans komu direction in the areas of Sinelnikovoye, Vovchansk and towards Kolodaznogo.

In the direction of Kupyans komu, the Russian enemy today committed two offensive actions towards Pishany.

In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled ten Russian assault actions in the area of settlements Novoegorivka, Grekivka, Shandrigolove, Mirne, Kolodyazi and Novoselivka.

In the Slovak direction, the Russian enemy attacked 13 times near Serebryanka, Dronivka, Siverska, Viimki, Pereiznogo and towards Zvanivka. There are two fighting clashes so far.

In the Kramatorsky direction, Russian forces six times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar and towards Predteciny and Stupochok. The fights are ongoing in two locations.

23 combat clashes took place in the Konstantinivsky direction today. The Russian enemy stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of settlements Oleksandro-Shultine, Scherbinivka, Pleshiyivka, Kleban-Bik, Yablunivka, Rusin Yar and towards Sofiyivka.

In the Pokrovsky direction from the beginning of this day, the Russian opponent 56 times attacked in the areas of settlements Volodymyrivka, Nikanorivka, Rodinske, Chervony Lyman, Novoekonomicne, Pokrovsk, Lisivka, Udaachne, Molodetske, Novosergiivka, Philia, Dachne and towards Novopavlivka. Five combat clashes are ongoing so far.

Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, 83 occupants were defiled, 59 of which - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two units of automotive equipment, hit the control point of the BPLA and five personnel shelters.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 16 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Zeleny Gai, Privilne, Sosnivka, Stepovo, Rybne and Krasnogirske.

In the direction of Gulyajpil, the Russian aggressor tried ten times to go ahead on the position of Ukrainian troops in the areas of Yablukovoye and Rivnopil.

In the Orihivs komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two attacks in the area of Kamiansky and towards Stepnogirsk.

In the Pridnipro direction, the Russian enemy made one unsuccessful attempt to approach the positions of Ukrainian units in the direction of Antonivsky Bridge.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Alekseyevka, Varachino, Katerinovka, Novaya Sech, Pisarevka, and Yunakovka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of one national guard regiment were hit near Volchansk (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, six field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition and materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, and one national guard brigade near Kurilovka, Kucherovka, Monachinovka, Nechvolodovka, Podoly (Kharkov region) and Drobyshevo (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Kupyansk (Kharkov region), assault detachments of the 6th Army continue to mop up city quarters and eliminate remaining enemy units.

Two attacks of the 125th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and the 15th National Guard Brigade to unblock the encircled formations and move towards the Oskol River to restore a destroyed crossing were repelled near Blagodatovka and Kutkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy has lost up to 15 militants.

In addition, up to 50 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three Kazak armoured fighting vehicles, one Canadian-made Senator armoured vehicle, five motor vehicles, one Romanian-made APR-40 MLRS, one Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system, and four electronic warfare radio stations of the AFU were neutralised.

In total, more than 230 servicemen, one tank, one Shkval infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, four armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun of the AFU were neutralised in the Zapad Group's area of responsibility. One MLRS launcher, one anti-aircraft missile system, ten electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots were neutralised.

The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU and one marine brigade near Berestok, Zakotnoye, Zvanovka, Ivanopolye, Konstantinovka, Nikolayevka, Reznikovka, Seversk, Slavyansk, and Stepanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 190 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, and 14 motor vehicles. One electronic warfare station and four ammunition, materiel, and POL depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades,one assault brigade, one jaeger brigade, one air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and three national guard brigades close to Belitskoye, Grishino, Novopavlovka, Novy Donbass, Oktyabrskoye, Rodinskoye, Rozy Luksemburg, and Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), assault groups of the 2nd Army continue to destroy enemy units in Tsentralny and Gornyak districts, as well as in the western industrial area. Russian troops continue mopping up Ukrainian militants in Rovnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Over the past 24 hours, four AFU servicemen surrendered voluntarily.

Six attacks of the 32nd Mechanised Brigade and the 425th Skala Assault Regiment of the AFU attempting to unblock an encircled group of the AFU were repelled from the area of Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 30 militants and one Kazak armoured vehicle of the AFU were neutralised.

In Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic), assault detachments of the 51st Army continue offensive operations in Vostochny and Zapadny districts, as well as in the southern part of the settlement.

Over the past 24 hours, up to 180 servicemen, four armoured personnel carriers, five armoured fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, and two artillery guns of the AFU have been neutralised in Krasnoarmeysk direction.

In total, up to 400 troops, two Swedish-made Viking armoured personnel carriers, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, six armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one field artillery gun of the AFU were neutralised in the Tsentr Group's area of responsibility.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continue to advance into the depths of the enemy's defence, as a result of intensive operations, Veseloye was liberated in Zaporozhye region.

Strikes were delivered at formations of two assault brigades and three assault regiments of the AFU near Velikomikhaylovka, Pokrovskoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Gulyaipole, Yablokovo, and Dobropolye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost more than 250 troops, one tank, seven motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two electronic warfare stations.

The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Orekhov, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Nikolskoye in Kherson region and the city of Kherson.

Up to 50 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, six electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition and materiel depots of the AFU have been neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launchers, and hit Ukraine's energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the AFU, combat service support depots, long-range unmanned aerial vehicles storage areas, temporary deployment areas of AFU and foreign mercenaries in 146 areas.

Air defence systems shot down four British-made Storm Shadow cruise air-to-surface missiles and 119 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 668 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 97,515 unmanned aerial vehicles, 637 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26,134 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,618 MLRS combat vehicles, 31,426 field artillery guns and mortars, and 47,170 special military vehicles.

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Outer space is vital to our security - the Federal Government presents the first Space Safety and Security Strategy

Germany Federal Foreign Office

19.11.2025 - Press release

Space has become increasingly important in recent years - for our daily lives and our economy, but above all for our security. Against this backdrop, the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Foreign Office are presenting the first national Space Safety and Security Strategy today.

The Strategy covers all areas relevant to our security, from spaceflight projects with international partners to the expansion of satellite networks and promoting responsible state behaviour in space. The objective is to become more capable of action also in space - together with our partners in the EU and NATO and with other partners around the world.

The Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Foreign Office, in cooperation with other ministries, in particular the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, have jointly developed the strategy and will now implement it swiftly. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul presented the Strategy jointly to the Cabinet today, 19 November.

"Space systems have become an integral part of our lives. We benefit from space-based services on a daily basis, for example in communications and navigation. Our companies and the Bundeswehr are also dependent on these services. Their failure or disruption would have serious consequences for our security and our everyday lives. We are already witnessing, for example, how Russia jams GPS signals in the Baltic Sea region on a regular basis. The Space Safety and Security Strategy sets out the framework for how we can better protect and defend ourselves in space and make ourselves more resilient with a whole-of-government approach. The Bundeswehr forms the backbone of the national space safety and security architecture," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

This primarily involves the protection of German space systems, such as satellites, and the infrastructure that they require. Another aspect of this is the capacity to conduct military space operations to fulfil our defence mission. "The Federal Ministry of Defence alone will invest around 35 billion euro in the space sector in the coming years," said the Defence Minister.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul: "Space has long been the theatre of military conflicts and economic competition, as demonstrated not least by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

From communications to controlling cruise missiles and drones to exploiting strategically important raw materials, the race for supremacy in space is in full swing. This makes it all the more important for Germany to protect its interests also in space. We must therefore continue to expand our space safety and security architecture.

Germany stands ready to do its part in strengthening our security in NATO and the EU , including in space. Here, too, we are guided by the principles of international law, which we want to further develop also with regard to space. We are working together with our partners, including in the United Nations, to achieve this goal."

The Space Safety and Security Strategy outlines the challenges and threats arising from the use of space. Based on this, three strategic action areas are defined, in which our work will be guided by robustness, resilience and cooperation:

I. Identify risks and threats, develop options for action;

II. Promote international cooperation and sustainable order in space;

III. Build deterrence, strengthen defence capabilities and resilience.

These action areas give rise to specific lines of action and tasks for the establishment of a whole-of-government space security architecture. A new departure is the fact that the areas and lines of action are directly underpinned by the Federal Government's spending plans.

In line with the "integrated security" approach, the development of our national space safety and security architecture is being carried out in cooperation with all relevant ministries and with the involvement of all civilian and military stakeholders - because security concerns us all.

The unimpeded, safe, secure and sustainable use of space requires not only a whole-of-government approach, but also close international cooperation. Germany will forge ahead internationally together with its partners. Our space safety and security architecture will be a strong German pillar in NATO and for Europe, complementing existing NATO and EU programmes. We will expand our cooperation with our partners, for example in the use of launch capacities and within the framework of international space programmes such as Operation Olympic Defender and the Combined Space Operations Initiative.

An essential part of the Strategy is the commitment to the peaceful, sustainable and rules-based use of space in order to prevent an arms race. Together with its partners, the Federal Government is pursuing a behaviour-based approach. However, the development of an infrastructure capable of deterrence and defence is essential for the safe, secure and peaceful use of space.

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Doorstop - OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa

Transcript

Thursday 20 November 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

JOURNALIST: The Leaders of China and the United States are not attending the G20. Does this undermine the ability of the Summit to achieve a meaningful outcome and do you anticipate a Leaders' Declaration will be issued at the conclusion of the Summit?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The G20 is such an important gathering. It's the most important gathering for which Australia is a member. It represents 85 per cent of the global economy, 75 per cent of global trade, and in addition to participating in the forums of the G20, I'll have important bilateral meetings with our trading partners including India, the European Union, as well as Germany, other partners as well.

It's important for us to engage because one in four of Australia's jobs depends upon trade, and it is important therefore that I represent Australia at forums like this, advancing Australia's economic interests and supporting Australian jobs.

JOURNALIST: Donald Trump says he's not attending the Summit over claims white South African farmers are being persecuted. Does Australia hold these concerns?

PRIME MINISTER: We speak up for Australia's national interests and it's in Australia's interest to participate as a medium power in events such as the G20, and I'm very pleased to be participating here in South Africa.

And indeed tomorrow I'll be going to the important Freedom Park. That is important because I'll have the great honour of unveiling three new names on the Honour Wall which is there, honouring people who fought against the apartheid regime and fought for democracy and freedom for all South Africans.

And tomorrow the names of Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Bruce Haigh will be added to that Wall, and that will be a great honour for Australia.

Thanks very much.

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Australia's naval nuclear propulsion: AUKUS update to IAEA Board of Governors, November 2025

Speech

Update by Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Australia's naval nuclear propulsion programme

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Mat Fox, First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Published 20 November 2025

Location: International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

Delivered on: 19 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Chair,

I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

We thank the Director General for his latest report on Australia's naval nuclear propulsion program, following on from his previous reports in September 2022, June 2023 and November 2024. We welcome the Director General's continued commitment to report to the Board, as appropriate, on the Agency's engagement on naval nuclear propulsion programs, in line with its statutory mandate.

As outlined in the report, detailed technical discussions are continuing between Australia and the IAEA in order to develop a robust safeguards and verification approach for Australia's program, including an arrangement under Article 14 of Australia's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Topics under discussion include: the structure of the Material Balance Area, the facility and the site for the new facilities related to Australia's planned naval nuclear propulsion program; as well as technical discussion of safeguards by design.

The report again confirms that, once the Article 14 arrangement is finalised, the Director General will transmit it to the Board of Governors for appropriate action. AUKUS partners fully support this approach.

We reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the safeguards and verification approach for Australia's program sets the highest non-proliferation standard. As we have stated previously, this does not mean imposing a 'one size fits all' model for verifying naval nuclear propulsion - given state specific variations between programs, such an approach would not be effective. Rather, it means enabling the IAEA to continue to meet its technical objectives at all stages of the lifecycle of Australia's future submarines - so that the IAEA will be able to confirm that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material; no misuse of declared nuclear facilities; and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia.

Chair,

AUKUS partners remain committed to transparency and to regularly updating the Board as we work towards supporting Australia's acquisition, from the early 2030s onwards, of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

As the Director General's report again indicates, Australia has continued to fulfil all reporting requirements under its CSA, Additional Protocol and Subsidiary Arrangements. And the IAEA has continued to conduct verification activities in relation to Australia's NNP program, within the framework of Australia's safeguards agreements. These activities have included complementary access and the collection of environmental samples at relevant locations.

Chair,

The leaders of our three countries continue to reaffirm our shared commitment to the AUKUS partnership. AUKUS partners are working together to assist Australia as it develops the necessary workforce skills to safely and securely operate and maintain its future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

On 29 October, a US Navy Virginia Class submarine arrived at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for a scheduled Submarine Maintenance Period. The Submarine Maintenance Period reflects Australia's growing responsibility and capability and represents a key step in preparing our workforce to support the rotational presence at HMAS Stirling, from 2027 on, of US and UK submarines and, in time, Australia's own nuclear-powered submarine fleet. It builds on the activities conducted during last year's Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period, which we noted in our September 2024 update to the Board.

Together with our AUKUS partners, Australian personnel have taken on responsibility for coordinating, supporting, and delivering a significant package of maintenance work as part of this year's activity.

There will be no nuclear or radiological work conducted by Australians on board the SSN or ashore at HMAS Stirling during the SMP. AUKUS partners informed the Agency of this activity before it occurred.

All SMP-related activities are being undertaken in full compliance with our respective non-proliferation obligations, including under the NPT, and Australia's safeguards agreements with the IAEA, and Australia's obligations under the Treaty of Rarotonga.

Chair,

As the Director General's reporting to this Board has repeatedly confirmed, the IAEA has the clear authority under its Statute, and extensive precedent, to negotiate directly and in-confidence with individual Member States on the establishment and application of safeguards and verification arrangements under their safeguards agreements. The Director General has also made clear that the IAEA has the technical capacity to develop safeguards approaches for NNP.

Interference in the negotiation and implementation of bilateral safeguards arrangements between a State and the IAEA, including in relation to NNP, would politicise the IAEA's independence, mandate and technical authority and establish a deeply harmful precedent. It is important that all Member States continue to support and respect the IAEA's ability to carry out its mandate and undertake its technical work independently and impartially - something on which we all rely.

Chair,

We continue to welcome Board discussion of NNP programs under this agenda item, placed on the Board's agenda by the Director General as he judges appropriate. Such apolitical agenda items allow for technical, constructive discussion of this matter - informed by the Director General's independent reporting. AUKUS partners will continue to provide updates at future Board meetings and in other fora as appropriate.

We again thank the Director General and his team for his report - GOV/INF/2025/12 - and in the interest of openness and transparency, we request that it be made public.

Thank you, Chair.

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Defence Minister David McGuinty releases final progress report of the External Monitor

National Defence

News release

November 20, 2025 - Ottawa, ON - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, released the sixth and final biannual status report of the External Monitor, Madame Jocelyne Therrien.

The report provides an external, independent assessment of the Department of Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) progress in implementing the recommendations made by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour in the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR), released in May 2022. Madame Therrien's observations are based on her direct discussions with Defence Team officials and review of relevant documents, policies and processes.

In this report, Madame Therrien notes that "DND/CAF has made significant inroads since the fall of 2022. Madame Therrien reports that "[t]he majority of the IECR recommendations have substantively been actioned", while acknowledging that "[s]ome will require concerted, sustained effort over several years."

Building on observations in her previous reports, she provides final comments on the status of each of the IECR recommendations, outlining the progress and what remains to be done to meet the intent of the IECR recommendations. She also highlights some of the milestones reached that she feels can have an enduring impact, specifically:

The introduction of a probationary period: for providing those responsible for dealing with conduct issues the ability to act accordingly and dismiss recruits in an expeditious manner;

The repeal of regulations related to the Duty to Report: for its shift in mindset, clearly confirming the primacy of the affected person's needs over those of the organization;

Access to legal assistance, at no cost to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct within a DND/CAF context: for its potential to support affected individuals in seeking justice and redress; and

The more systematic collection and documentation of past transgressions regarding unprofessional conduct in support of promoting only those individuals with the right moral and ethical character.

In addition to her comments on progress, Madame Therrien provides a summary of structural issues that continue to present challenges to the organization and could affect its culture change efforts. For example, she notes several problematic issues with the CAF policy framework and data collection.

Of the 48 IERC recommendations, 36 have been deemed addressed by the Defence Team, and all recommendations will be nearly complete by the end of December 2025.

In her final report, Madame Therrien underlines the dedication of leadership to make the CAF a more inclusive and professional work environment free from sexual misconduct and the contributions of the many change makers in the organization, while emphasizing that this is a "never-ending mission" and the importance of keeping up the momentum.

"In the last three years, I have seen a lot of dedicated effort to meet the intent of the recommendations. In many cases, the required changes have taken place. In others, while there has been explicit action,... other follow-on activities are required. In many instances, we will not know for years to come if the operationalization of the recommendations will result in the anticipated positive change."

In a statement, Minister McGuinty welcomed this report and thanked the External Monitor for her independent and external perspective. Minister McGuinty provided an update on progress made to date and measures the Government is taking to implement the remainder of Madame Arbour's recommendations, and other key external report recommendations related to culture, through its Comprehensive Implementation Plan. In his update, Minister McGuinty also noted that on September 26, 2025, he introduced Bill C-11, the Military Justice System Modernization Act, which addresses IECR recommendation 5 on removing military jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences, as well as other recommendations from external reviews. National Defence continues to work with provincial and territorial partners to support the effective implementation of these measures.

Quotes

"The External Monitor's final report reflects meaningful progress in our commitment to culture evolution within the Defence Team. We thank her for her dedication and rigour, which have been instrumental in guiding this transformation over the past three years. Her work has reinforced the importance of transparency and accountability as we build a Defence institution that truly reflects Canadian valuesrespect, inclusion, and integrity. While we've come a long way, our work continues to secure lasting change for our members and for all Canadians." The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

"We are grateful to the External Monitor for her thorough oversight and thoughtful analysis throughout this process. Her final report confirms that we are making real progress but also reminds us that institutional change requires sustained effort. We remain committed to strengthening the systems, policies, and leadership practices that support a respectful and accountable workplace." Stefanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence

"The External Monitor's final report highlights the encouraging progress we've made in strengthening our organizational culture. We know that this evolution is essential to achieving mission success, building trust, attracting and retaining talent, and her independent perspectives have been invaluable in helping us align our operational excellence with the values we serve. Ultimately, real and lasting change demands persistence and purposeand we remain committed to fostering a Defence Team that is accountable and professional, and that places organisational culture as the foundation of our readiness and the defence of Canada." General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

"Since 2022, the External Monitor has played a critical role in guiding and validating our efforts to evolve our culture. Her final report affirms that we are on the right path, with tangible improvements in the clarity of terminology, leadership promotion, and support to affected persons. At the same time, it reinforces the need for continued focus, especially in areas like policy, data collection and incident response, to enhance understanding and accountability, and rebuild trust. Our focus will be unwavering as we continue this essential work." Lieutenant-General Paul Prevost, Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture

Quick facts

Madame Jocelyne Therrien was appointed as External Monitor in October 2022 for an initial term of one year, fulfilling Recommendation 48 of the IECR report. Her term was renewed annually, including for the past year on October 19, 2024.

Madame Therrien's role, detailed in the Terms of Reference, has been to provide advice to the Minister on the oversight and implementation of the recommendations in Madame Arbour's IECR report, while considering those of other external reviews.

The report released today builds on five previous status reports, each released biannually beginning in May 2023.

The IECR was launched in April 2021 to shed light on the causes of harassment and sexual misconduct in the CAF, by reviewing policies, procedures, programs, practices and culture within the Defence Team. Madame Arbour's final IECR report was released on May 30, 2022.

In December 2022, the Minister of National Defence presented a Report to Parliament, outlining the steps that the Government of Canada would take to respond to all 48 IECR recommendations. The Defence Team continues to work on meaningful reform and culture evolution in response to the recommendations.

Starting in 2021, the DND/CAF put in place procedures to transfer cases to the provinces. As of September 2025, the CAF has transferred 236 cases to civilian police. The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal confirms that 157 cases were not transferred, mainly because the victims chose to have their complaint investigated by the military police or were not interested in proceeding with a criminal investigation at the time of reporting.

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Statement from Minister McGuinty on the Final Report of External Monitor

National Defence

Statement

November 20, 2025 - Ottawa, ON - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David McGuinty, issued the following statement today in response to Madame Jocelyne Therrien's sixth and final External Monitor status report. The report provides an update on the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) implementation of the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR) released by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour in May 2022.

"CAF members represent Canada with pride and professionalism, both at home and abroad, and they deserve an environment that reflects the values they uphold. That is why the Defence Team continues to meaningfully evolve its culture to build a safer, more inclusive workplace for all.

"I welcome this final report from the External Monitor and thank her for her dedication and rigour over the last three years. Her thoughtful, independent perspective brought clarity and credibility to our progress. Her ongoing review and reporting has helped keep our work focused, transparent, and aligned with the expectations of our Members and Canadians.

"As noted by Madame Therrien in her report, "the CAF has made substantive inroads in response to the IECR recommendations" and "DND/CAF is on track to meeting the spirit and intent of most recommendations that are within its control." I am very pleased to confirm that to date, 36 recommendations of the IECR have been addressed and we expect that all recommendations will be nearly complete by the end of December 2025.

"Removing military jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences was an early recommendation from Madame Arbour, and we acted quickly to begin implementing it.

"In September 2025, I tabled Bill C-11, which proposes a series of amendments to the National Defence Act that would, among other things, eliminate the CAF's jurisdiction to investigate or prosecute any crime of a sexual nature committed in Canada, within the military justice system. In fact, the proposed amendments address key recommendations made in the independent and external reviews conducted by former Supreme Court Justices Arbour and Fish to make our system transparent, accountable, and aligned with Canadians' expectations. This Bill passed second reading on October 10, 2025, and is now being studied by the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.

"In her report, Madame Therrien highlighted progress on several important actions that will have an enduring impact, such as: the introduction of a probationary period to recruit; the repeal of regulations related to the Duty to Report; access to legal assistance, at no cost to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct within a DND/CAF context; and a more rigorous approach to the promotion of leaders. The report also acknowledges several key improvements to the CAF grievance system, including integrating input from external independent perspectives such as the Military Grievances External Review Committee. In response to IECR recommendations, the CAF has removed the obligation for individuals to exhaust internal complaint mechanisms before having access to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.These changes will help make the system more accessible and responsive, allowing for continuous improvement.

"The IECR made several recommendations to strengthen victim services, particularly the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC), most of which are now implemented. The SMSRC recently marked its 10-year anniversary of providing people affected by sexual misconduct with access to the support and trusted resources they need. Over the last 10 years, the SMSRC has grown significantly, expanding the range of services. I was very pleased to see that, after years of close monitoring, Madame Therrien expressed confidence in the SMSRC's independence from the military Chain of Command, recognizing it as a trusted source of support and a key contributor to identifying systemic issues and driving continuous improvement.

"In her final report, Madame Therrien provides several suggestions to shape our continued culture evolution efforts. She emphasizes the need to continue strengthening the institutional response, particularly with respect to how we deal with CAF members who do not abide by the CAF's ethical standards. I agree, and I am confident that the changes recently made to the Administrative Review (AR) process in response to the IECR recommendations will improve fairness and transparency in handling sexual misconduct cases. Madame Therrien also offers several suggestions to further improve coherence, timeliness, and transparency of the AR process. We appreciate her suggestions and will be examining how they can be integrated in our approach to holding people accountable for inappropriate behaviour.

"Openness and transparency are paramount to our culture evolution. Since the release of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan in June 2024, we've been steadily advancing on a five-year roadmap to address over 200 recommendations from several key external reviews, including the IECR. We are currently on track to implement 137 of these recommendations by the end of December 2025.

As part of this work, and in alignment with Recommendation 8 of the National Apology Advisory Committee Report, I'm pleased to share that next week we will launch a call for applications to join my new External Advisory Committee on Anti-Black Racism. This marks an important milestone in our commitment to meaningful engagement and enduring institutional change.

"Implementing institutional change is complex and requires sustained effort and vigilance. I am deeply grateful that Madame Therrien has been guiding us on this journey over the past three pivotal years. Her insights have helped translate our commitments into meaningful action and real change for CAF members. As Madame Therrien notes in her report, "[t]his is a never-ending mission." Our work to foster an inclusive and professional work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect must, and will, continue."

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Prime Minister Carney meets with President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

November 20, 2025

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to strengthen the Canada-UAE economic partnership and expand opportunities for businesses and workers. This was the first in-person bilateral meeting between Canadian and Emirati leaders since 1983.

During their meeting, the leaders launched an ambitious roadmap to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, and regional security. They signed the new Canada-UAE Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which establishes clearer rules and protections for investors and creates a more predictable environment for two-way investment. Once in force, the FIPA will support long-term partnerships between Canadian and UAE industries, attract capital to nation-building projects, and help create high-paying careers for workers.

The Prime Minister and the President also launched negotiations toward a Canada-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that would cut tariffs, remove trade barriers, and expand market access for Canadian exporters. As part of Canada's plan to double non-US exports over the next decade, this free trade agreement will support Canadian businesses to rapidly expand into the UAE across a range of sectors, including engineering, construction, aerospace, agri-food, and seafood. It will also facilitate billions of dollars of UAE investment into major projects such as Canadian ports, mines, LNG, data centres, and critical minerals.

The Prime Minister and the President also discussed a wide range of regional security issues in the Middle East and Africa, including the importance of continued humanitarian assistance to Palestine. Prime Minister Carney thanked the President for his leadership in facilitating access to aid and emphasised the more than $400 million in international assistance Canada has provided to Palestine to date. The leaders discussed the importance of moving swiftly to bring stability to Palestine. They agreed to remain in close contact.

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Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on November 14, 2025

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Ministry of National Defense

EditorChen Zhuo

Time2025-11-20

On the afternoon of November 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Jiang Bin: I have two pieces of news to announce at the top.

Firstly, a PLAN task group comprising of PLANS Changbaishan, PLANS Zhenghe and Xiangqianjin-1, will set sail for ocean-going training in mid-November. Midshipmen and faculty members from PLA naval academies including over 10 international students will participate in the training. The task group will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and have exchanges with navies of these countries to strengthen mutual learning and deepen substantive cooperation.

Secondly, the 4th China-ASEAN Mid-and-junior Level Officer Exchange will be held in China from November 17 to 24. The event will be organized by the International Studies College of the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT). Mid-and-junior level officers from ASEAN member states have been invited to attend. The Exchange will take place in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Kunshan, where the participants will visit military academies and units, education bases for China's revolutionary history, and high-tech enterprises. Participants will also have a seminar on topics such as "commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War: Asia's experience in rebuilding peace" and "building a peaceful home in a changing and turbulent world". The Exchange will offer a platform for mid-and-junior level officers from China and ASEAN countries to share views and learn from each other, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and join hands in building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Journalist: According to media reports, the PLA Navy has confirmed that aircraft carrier PLANS Fujian is based at a military port in Sanya. Some analysts suggest that China will be more active in upholding its territorial claims in the South China Sea and seek to project naval forces to farther areas, which may raise concerns among certain countries. What's your comment?

Jiang Bin: China adheres to the path of peaceful development and follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The Chinese military remains a staunch force for world peace. The selection of the home port for aircraft carrier PLANS Fujian is determined based on factors such as the hydrological conditions of the military port, the location and construction of supporting facilities, and the convenience for the aircraft carrier to carry out maritime combat readiness and training missions. Our navy colleagues say that PLAN vessels will sail to wherever necessary for the protection of China's national interests. For an aircraft carrier, the deep blue is where it is destined for.

Journalist: As we celebrate the 76th birthday of the PLA Air Force, the 6th International Cadets Week of the PLA Air Force has also come to a successful conclusion. We have noticed that the PLA Air Force is conducting more international engagements of various kinds. Please tell us more about that.

Jiang Bin: November 11 is the birthday of the PLA Air Force. Over the past 76 years, the PLA Air Force has expanded its international engagements from having single partner to having friends across the globe, and shifted from primarily importing technology to engaging in all-round, multi-tiered open cooperation. These developments reflect China's rising international status and broader diplomatic relations as well as growing capabilities of the PLA Air Force. In particular, the PLA Air Force has rapidly advanced its external exchanges and cooperation and achieved many outcomes in the new era. Joint training such as China-Pakistan Exercise Shaheen and China-Thailand Exercise Falcon Strike, as well as China-Russia joint strategic air patrols, have become signature programs that enhance friendship and mutual trust and hone real combat capabilities. The Y-20 transport aircraft has traversed thousands of miles time and again to deliver disaster relief supplies, along with the goodwill and friendship of the Chinese people, to multiple countries across four continents. Meanwhile, a growing number of servicemen from foreign air forces are coming to China for studies and exchanges to promote cooperation and common development.

True friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them. On its path towards a world-class force, the PLA Air Force will forge ahead with greater confidence and determination. Together with air forces of other countries, we will fly our jets to build bridges of friendship, chart flight routes of hope by fulfilling our responsibilities, and safeguard peaceful skies through cooperationall to contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Journalist: It is reported that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently said that if the Chinese mainland uses military vessels and other forces against Taiwan, it would cause a situation threatening Japan's survival, and the Japanese Self-defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense in accordance with law. Do you have any comment?

Jiang Bin: The erroneous remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese leader constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, and a serious violation of the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms governing international relations. The remarks have challenged the post-war international order, and sent very wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Such words are egregious in nature and have caused very negative impact. They are extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no foreign interference. This year, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Should the Japanese side fail to draw lessons from history and dare to take a risk, or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed PLA and pay a heavy price.

Journalist: According to information from relevant Taiwan agencies, nearly a quarter of the volunteer soldiers recruited in the past four years failed to complete the minimum service year and chose to pay compensation to be demobilized in advance. Please comment on that.

Jiang Bin: This number shows that more people in Taiwan have seen through Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities' malicious and selfish intention of hijacking the public to seek "Taiwan independence". A growing number of young people in Taiwan have now refused to be cannon fodder. "Taiwan independence" will not only cost the young generation their future and even their lives, but also destroy the future of Taiwan. We hope compatriots in Taiwan can be more courageous in saying no to "Taiwan independence" to protect their own security interests and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

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US Congress report claiming China wages disinformation campaign against French Rafale jets is disinformation itself: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 20, 2025 05:04 PM

In response to a question about a commission created by the US Congress that released a report, which claimed that China led a "disinformation campaign" against the French Rafale jets, involving AI technology. The campaign ran after the India-Pakistan military clash to promote the Chinese J-35s instead, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that this so-called "commission" the reporter mentioned always harbors ideological bias against China and has no credibility to speak of.

The commission's report itself is disinformation, Mao said.

The report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission claimed that "According to French intelligence, China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder sales of French Rafales in favor of its own J-35s, and it used fake social media accounts to propagate AI and video game images of supposed 'debris' from the planes China's weaponry destroyed," some Indian media outlets reported.

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Chinese, Kyrgyz FMs hold first strategic dialogue

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Nov 20, 2025 07:54 AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubaev, held their first strategic dialogue here on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the establishment of the strategic dialogue mechanism is a concrete step in implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state, which will help further strengthen strategic mutual trust, enhance strategic coordination and promote strategic cooperation.

Wang said that jointly building a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future characterized by good-neighborliness, friendship and common prosperity meets the fundamental interests of both countries and reflects the aspirations of their people.

China is ready to deepen communication and coordination with Kyrgyzstan on international affairs and fully supports Kyrgyzstan in assuming the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Wang added.

Kulubaev said Kyrgyzstan adheres to the one-China principle and is ready to work with China to advance Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and mining, connectivity and other areas, accelerate the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Kyrgyzstan is ready to closely cooperate with China to actively implement the four global initiatives put forward by the Chinese side, strengthen coordination within the UN, and promote the further development of the China-Central Asia mechanism.

After the talks, the two sides signed a joint statement on the outcomes of the first foreign ministers' strategic dialogue and a cooperation program for 2026-2027 between the two foreign ministries.

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China Looks To Shore Up Influence In Central Asia After US Minerals Diplomacy

By Reid Standish November 20, 2025

Summary

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is touring Central Asia to strengthen ties and counter US influence after a Washington summit with regional leaders.

China is advancing major projects like the $6 billion China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, aiming to boost trade and connectivity.

Anti-Chinese sentiment in Kyrgyzstan has risen following a brawl between Kyrgyz and Chinese workers, highlighting local concerns about foreign labor in Kyrgyzstan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Kyrgyzstan as part of a three-country tour of Central Asia to reaffirm Beijing's status as the region's top trading partner following US diplomatic inroads at a high-profile summit in Washington earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump hosted the five Central Asian presidents at the White House in early November for a summit focused on tapping into the region's abundant and strategic critical mineral wealth.

While not in the spotlight, China's growing economic and political influence in Central Asia was in mind amid the Trump administration's move to deepen ties to the region.

During the meeting, Washington signed tens of billions of dollars in prospective deals. That included Kazakhstan inking a $1.1 billion tungsten mining deal with the US company Cove Kaz Capital. Pini Althaus, the firm's CEO, said afterwards that Trump and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick helped negotiate the deal to prevent Chinese companies from developing the strategic deposit themselves.

Wang's visit to Kyrgyzstan is his first in three years and his tour of the region will last until November 22 with additional stops in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He landed in Bishkek on November 19 and met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said that his country's relations with Beijing are currently at a historic high, according to a readout provided by the Kyrgyz president's office.

Before departing Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry said that Wang's visit will be focused on deepening the country's already steady ties with the region by injecting momentum into the slew of agreements worth billions of dollars signed at the China-Central Asia summit in June in Kazakhstan.

"[This visit] will enhance political mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and bring about more positivity to the building of the China-Central Asia community," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told journalists in Beijing on November 17.

The Deals China Is Looking To Implement

A key Chinese-led project discussed during the China-Central Asia summit was the long-awaited multibillion dollar China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

The megaproject aims to boost East-West trade, cutting delivery times between China and Europe by up to one week and giving Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan better connection to overland trade routes.

Construction of the railway began in July 2024, and Kyrgyz Transport and Communications Minister Absattar Syrgabaev said on November 12 that the 450-kilometer-long railway would be completed in five years.

The venture is estimated to cost up to $6 billion, although the exact share of each country's contribution has not been disclosed. Syrgabaev did not provide a breakdown during his public comments, saying only that "Kyrgyzstan has already fulfilled its funding obligations, and both Uzbekistan and China are also financing their respective shares."

Beyond the railway, other agreements were also reached on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in September in China.

There, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev signed more than 70 new commercial deals worth some $15 billion, which included investments in oil and gas projects, petrochemicals, transport corridors, logistics hubs, and digital technologies. Astana also concluded an additional $1.5 billion worth of investments into oil and gas projects with Chinese companies.

Uzbekistan announced 13 new mining-related deals with China following the summit, including for uranium, with a reported value of $5 billion.

Chinese companies also play a dominant role in Tajikistan's mining sector, and the Tajik government has defended China's growing position within the global mining industry by claiming that Chinese firms have set themselves apart by being the only foreign companies willing to take on such large projects.

A 2024 RFE/RL investigation into major Chinese-run mines in Tajikistan found that the sites are harmful sources of air and water pollution and that Tajik officials have turned a blind eye to enforcing environmental regulations out of fear of scaring away sorely needed Chinese investment into Central Asia's poorest country.

The five Central Asian countries hold large deposits of copper, gold, and rare earths, and produce roughly half the world's uranium. Gaining access to those minerals is a developing fault line in Washington's rivalry with Beijing.

Both China and Russia play major roles in Central Asia's critical minerals sector.

In the case of rare earths -- 17 elements used in everything from wind turbines to smartphones to fighter jet engines -- China controls more than 70 percent of global rare-earth mining, 90 percent of their separation and processing, and 93 percent of magnet manufacturing.

Incident Involving Chinese Workers

In addition to discussing Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, the readout from Japarov's office noted that Wang said that representatives of Chinese companies operating in Kyrgyzstan have been being instructed to strictly comply with local laws and respect the traditions of the host country.

That appears to be a reference to a brawl involving dozens of Kyrgyz and Chinese construction workers on November 15 in a village in northern Kyrgyzstan after a road dispute.

Police detained 16 people and called in another 44 for questioning, including Chinese workers. One Kyrgyz worker was hospitalized in the incident, which triggered online anger in the Central Asian country.

The clash also feeds into some lingering anti-Chinese sentiment in the country of 7 million, which is among the most reliant Central Asian countries when it comes to Chinese trade, loans, and foreign investment.

Chinese companies bringing in their own workers as opposed to using local labor is a point of contention that has flared up in protests in the past.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, who Wang also met with, rejected claims that Chinese workers were flooding the country and taking jobs away from locals following the incident.

"There's very little information about China, what kind of cooperation we have, what projects are underway,' Nurbek Toktakunov, a prominent lawyer in Kyrgyzstan, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.

"When information is scarce and people get silenced whenever they speak up, that's when xenophobia thrives. The only way to combat it is through transparency."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-central-asia-wang-yi-diplomacy- minerals-mining-kyrgyzstan-debt/33597375.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Chinese Commerce Minister meets US envoy to China, expresses concerns over US unilateral tariffs, expounds on China's stance on Nexperia issue

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 21, 2025 12:27 AM

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Thursday met with US Ambassador to China David Perdue and the two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on China-US economic and trade relations, according to a release published on the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) website.

Wang said that on October 30, the heads of state of China and the US met in Busan. Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China and the US can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity; and the business relationship should continue to serve as the anchor and driving force for China-U.S. relations, not a stumbling block or a point of friction.

China is ready to work with the US to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, Wang noted. He said both sides should foster the right perception that China and the US must coexist and can achieve win-win outcomes, maintain sound economic and trade consultation mechanisms, manage uncertainties in the economic and trade relations, narrow the list of problems and expand the list of cooperation, so as to bring greater stability and predictability to both economies and the global economy, according to the release.

Wang stressed that last month, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and adopted the proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), outlining a new blueprint for China's socioeconomic development over the next five years. He said China's policies are stable and consistent, and that China will stay focused on its own development, advance common prosperity for all, and share development opportunities with the world.

Wang expressed China's concerns over US unilateral tariffs, export controls, two-way investment restrictions, visa reviews, and restrictive clauses in US agreements with third parties. He also set out China's position on issues related to Nexperia and exchanged views with the US side on implementing the outcomes of recent economic and trade consultations.

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Two meetings in Brussels: EU and Indo-Pacific Foreign Ministers to discuss security in Europe, Africa and the Indo-Pacific

Germany Federal Foreign Office

20.11.2025 - Article

On 20 and 21 November, the EU Foreign Ministers will be coming together for two meetings in Brussels - the Foreign Affairs Council and a meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the Indo-Pacific. Find out more here.

On 20 and 21 November, the EU Foreign Ministers are gathering in Brussels for two meetings. The Foreign Affairs Council will focus on support for Ukraine and the situation in the Sahel and the Sudan. The meeting between the EU and Indo-Pacific Foreign Ministers, the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, is the key platform for cooperation between the EU and the states of the Indo-Pacific. This is closely linked to the EU's partnership with ASEAN, the region's only association of states. We want to further develop this partnership together.

We will continue to support Ukraine

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has been raging unabated for almost four years now. The European Union is currently working on the 20th package of sanctions, thus keeping up the economic pressure on Moscow. The Foreign Affairs Council will focus on the Russian shadow fleet. Russia's President Putin has been able to continue financing his war of aggression by circumventing the sanctions through the shadow fleet. The aim is to take even tougher and more targeted measures to stop that. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers will look at how to support Ukraine's endeavours to defend itself - particularly against the background of another challenging winter of war.

The situation in the Middle East

Key options on how to set a new course for Gaza's long-term future will be discussed. The EU Foreign Ministers will talk about how the EU missions EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS can assume more responsibility for security and stability in Gaza in future. Europe is determined to make a major contribution towards the implementation of the 20-point plan.

EU Foreign Ministers to focus on security in Africa

A new EU strategy on the Sahel, specially developed by EU Special Representative Cravinho, is on the agenda. The Ministers will discuss political support for this new course - focusing on stability and sustainable development cooperation in the region.

Another key issue is the conflict in the Sudan: in reaction to the recent atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, the Council will adopt sanctions against the deputy leader of RSF and push ahead with drawing up additional sanctions against those responsible for war crimes. Germany is providing another 11 million euro in order to protect the suffering civilian population from hunger and thirst - a demonstration of European solidarity in times of great humanitarian hardship.

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Transcript of Special Briefing by MEA on Prime Minister's visit to South Africa (November 20, 2025)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

November 20, 2025

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this special press briefing by Secretary (ER) Shri Sudhakar Dalela on Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Leaders' Summit.

We also have with us Shri Janesh Kain, who looks after South Africa in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is Joint Secretary in charge of Eastern and Southern African countries.

With that, I hand over the floor to Secretary (ER) for his initial remarks. Sir.

Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): Thank you very much, Randhir, and good evening, everyone.

You would have seen the press announcement by the Ministry yesterday. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, from 21st to 23rd of November to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit at the invitation of the President of South Africa.

This will be the Prime Minister's fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016, and later for the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. This is the first G20 Summit that will be happening on African soil, and in that context will bring the spotlight on the development issues of Africa as also of the Global South. It may also be recalled that it was during India's G20 Presidency in 2023 that the African Union was inducted into G20 as a permanent member.

Apart from G20 members, South Africa has invited several guest countries, non-members that we know, and several heads of international organizations to the Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg.

The Summit will be important for India to ensure continuity of its priorities in the G20 after having hosted a very successful Presidency in 2023. As you are aware, the G20 has emerged as a premier forum for international economic cooperation, as well as for discussing matters of global significance. The G20 provides an excellent opportunity for the leaders of these large economies and emerging economies, representing over 85% of global GDP and around three quarters of the world population, to come together and discuss important issues impacting the world.

These include important matters such as accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, reform of global institutions of governance, tackling environmental and climate challenge, tech sustainability, bridging the digital divide, energy transition, emerging technologies, underscoring the importance of international coordination and cooperation in addressing contemporary global challenges.

Under their overall Presidency theme of solidarity, equality, sustainability, South Africa has identified four key priority areas for its G20 Presidency this year. These are, number one, strengthen disaster resilience and response. Number two, debt sustainability for low-income countries. Third, mobilize finance for just energy transition. And fourth, harness critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The three plenary sessions of the Leaders' Summit weave in these priority areas for discussion by the leaders on 22nd and 23rd of November. We have conveyed to you the theme of these plenary sessions also in our announcement yesterday.

The Johannesburg G20 Summit will mark the culmination of the first cycle of 20 G20 Presidencies. The priorities identified by South Africa are aligned with those of India's G20 Presidency and that of Brazil, ensuring continuity in the G20 discussions from the perspective of matters that are important to Global South.

The Indian G20 Presidency, as some of you would recall, had established a disaster risk reduction working group signifying the importance India attached to this matter. The South African Presidency has carried forward the important work related to disaster risk reduction and resilience as one of the key priorities of its own Presidency.

Similarly, through the task force on food security, the South African Presidency has carried forward the dialogue on this important challenge as well. The South African Presidency has, in a way, continued focus on issues of importance to Global South.

The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration has provided a strong basis for many of the G20 outcome documents adopted this year in the various ministerial tracks. The Indian Presidency's flagship priorities, such as digital public infrastructure, women-led development, the action plan to accelerate progress on SDGs, as well as key outcomes of the working group from last year, including the disaster risk reduction working group and the empowerment of women working group initiated by India, have found strong resonance in the South African Presidency. Furthermore, it reckoned high-level principles on food security and nutrition, commitment to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency. These are some of the other key outcomes that have been reinforced in the course of discussion this year on different tracks in the South African Presidency.

The Johannesburg Summit will also conclude the successful holding of the Presidency of the G20 by four emerging markets and developing economies of G20, namely Indonesia, India, Brazil, and now, of course, South Africa. And this has enabled all of us collectively to bring sharper focus on matters impacting the Global South. We have been actively participating in all tracks of G20 throughout the year and now, of course, in Johannesburg, and we look forward to a successful and productive G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

Before I conclude, let me also mention that on the margins of G20 Summit, PM will be participating in the IBSA, India - Brazil - South Africa Leaders' Meeting, as well as holding bilateral meetings with several leaders who will be present in Johannesburg. And with these words, I'll be very happy to respond to any question that you may have. Thank you.

Sidhant, WION: Hi, sir. Sidhant from WION. Are we looking at any bilateral meetings on the sidelines, if you can perhaps talk on that?

Yeshi Seli, Business India: This is Yeshi Seli from Business India. Is America's absence going to have any impact on the Summit? And, is Prime Minister Modi likely to meet President Xi Jinping, because he's expected to be there as well?

Ayushi Agarwal, ANI: Sir, this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Given the recent activities, how much is the Indian Prime Minister going to address global concerns like terrorism? And are we expecting a strong statement against terrorism to be reflected in the G20 leaders' declaration?

Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): Thank you very much. The questions regarding the bilateral meetings, as you know, for Summit of this level and this importance ... this provides a very valuable opportunity for leaders to interact and meet with other world leaders. So yes, there would be bilateral meeting, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, with world leaders who will be participating in the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

We are working out details of the bilateral meetings as we speak. But we will keep you posted once things are finalized. We will be in touch with you regarding the details of the bilateral meetings.

Regarding the issue of terrorism that Ayushi mentioned ... This is, of course, a very important subject for us. But G20, of course, as you know, is a forum where you discuss, of course, mainly economic issues and related matters. And as we speak, we are discussing a declaration for the summit. Our colleagues and teams are in Johannesburg, and all such issues are being discussed. So, I would not like to prejudge what will come in the declaration, but all important matters that are relevant from our perspective, from Global South perspective, will be highlighted by our leadership.

And, as I mentioned to you earlier, given the fact that we have had successive G20 presidency from countries from Global South, starting with Indonesia, followed by us, then Brazil, and then now South Africa, it has given us an opportunity to really, while discussing all issues, pay more attention to issues of importance to Global South.

So, we are very happy that in the course of discussion throughout the year in ministerial tracks, several of the priorities that we have highlighted during our presidency, whether it's DPI, whether it is food security, whether it is debt sustainability issues have been captured in various documentation adopted during ministerial track. And I'm confident that as our team finalize the summit declaration document, some of them will find reference there also. Thank you.

Huma Siddiqui, Stratnews Global: I'm Huma Siddiqui from Stratnews Global. You mentioned about the IBSA meeting Prime Minister will be meeting. Would you have any idea what would be the agenda?

Smita Sharma: Hi Smita Sharma. Just following up on Yeshi's question, I think you missed out on that. And adding to it, given the fact that you know you're hoping for a productive summit, but if the U.S. itself is not in the room and Mr. Marco Rubio has gone so far as to ask member nations to not sign upon the declaration, you know, there have been a lot of controversies that have been overshadowing G20 these past few years. Russian president is also not going to be there. The Chinese premier likely going to be there. Is it really going to remain as productive?

Nayanima Basu, Independent Journalist: Thank you. This is Nayanima Basu, Independent Journalist. Wanted to understand, has there been any conversation with your American counterparts or South African counterparts? Because this is unprecedented, the U.S. will not be attending. So how do you think the joint communique or the consensus will be arrived at? Thank you.

Niraj: Sir Afriki union ko Bharat mein jo sammelan hua tha usmein unko puri sadasyata di gayi thi aur uske pehle sammelan Pradhan Mantri ke nirdesh pe hue the aur humne us mudde ko bahut mazbooti se apne sammelan ke dauran uthaya tha. Do saal beet gaye hain, jin muddo ko Bharat ne uthaya tha aapko kahan lagta hai ki Africa mahadweep mei pehli baar ho raha hai. Wahan tak hum log pahunche, kitna aage badhe hain global south ke masle par?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, the African Union was granted full membership during the summit that took place in India, and the earlier summit had also been held under the directions of the Prime Minister. We had raised that issue very strongly during our summit. Two years have passed now  the issues that India had highlighted, where do you think we stand today, especially considering that this is happening for the first time in the African continent? How far have we progressed on matters concerning the Global South?

Bramh Prakash, Zee News: Sir, Bramh Prakash hoon Zee News se. Is summit mein jo agenda hai aapne bataya lekin Bharat ki taraf se bhi kya kuch alag se ismein mudde uthaye jayenge khastaur se terrorism, atankwad ko lekar Bharat lagataar vaishwik mancho par uthata raha hai toh kya is mudde per Prime Minister atankwad ko lekar baatcheet karenge? dwipakshiya varta mei bhi uthayenge aur is manch per bhi kya uthayenge? Thank you.

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Bramh Prakash from Zee News. You have explained the agenda of this summit, but will India also raise any additional issues from its side  particularly on terrorism? India has consistently highlighted the issue of terrorism on global platforms. So, will the Prime Minister raise this matter during his discussions, take it up in bilateral meetings as well, and raise it on this forum? Thank you.

Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): I think there was a question on IBSA meeting that is taking place. So, as all of you know, India - Brazil - South Africa are three democracies from three continents, all from Global South. And we have a very unique forum of coordinating among ourselves around three pillars of cooperation, I would say. One is the political coordination. The second is trilateral cooperation that we do, including people-to-people contact. And thirdly, what we do collectively as IBSA for countries in Global South, particularly on the aspect of food and hunger through IBSA fund.

So, this meeting, although it is a meeting happening on the sidelines of a summit, it will be a short meeting, I'm confident that the three leaders will be reviewing what we have been following up under these three pillars of cooperation in recent time. I would like to also say that only in September this year, on the margins of UNGA in New York, the IBSA foreign ministers had met also and issued a statement also on some of the themes that we keep discussing among ourselves as like-minded countries.

So, that is what we expect in the IBSA meeting. But again, I would not prejudge what final leaders will discuss and decide. So, I would like you to wait, and we would certainly update you after the IBSA leaders meeting in Johannesburg.

As regards question about U.S. participation, I would like to comment on our own participation at the G20 leaders' summit. All of you are aware of the debate in the media and the information available in public domain about the participation of various members of G20. So that is not for me to comment. As I mentioned to you earlier, for us, G20 is a very important forum. And as I mentioned to you, in the last three, four years, starting with Indonesia and followed by our own presidency, which were very successful, where we agreed to have consensus declaration ... would really pilot and take new initiative on a number of themes that impact Global South. We are very happy that these discussions have carried forward under the presidency of Brazil. And of course, in South Africa also, as I mentioned to you, under four verticals that South Africa has outlined for their own presidency. A number of things have been achieved throughout the year under various tracks in these areas.

So, we are very happy that the issue of importance to Global South are at the center for discussion and are being highlighted. So, I think for us, G20 is very important. And as I said, issue of priority to us have been taken forward through successive presidencies.

The issue of terrorism, I think I already mentioned to you that every issue of importance to us will be highlighted, will be taken up, has been taken up. And as we have these bilateral meetings take place, we will certainly update you about what leaders have decided. And I will not certainly prejudge the outcome of these conversations at the leaders level.

Finally, the issue of ... jo aapne sawal uthaya African Union ke bare mei aur global south ke priorities ke bare mei. Jisa maine bataya hai ki yeh bahut hi mahatvapoorn tha ki hamari presidency mein African Union ko humne G20 ke framework mein leke aaye usko. Aur yeh pehli baar G20 African soil pe ho rahi hai South Africa mein, so yeh bhi hamare liye bahut mahatvapoorn baat hai ki AU will be joining in this summit in Johannesburg.

Aur jaisa maine bataya ki jitne bhi mudde hamare global south ke liye important hai usko highlight kiya gaya hai bahut mazbooti se pichle teen-char salon mei. Aur hamei apeksha hai ki jo yeh mudde hain jinke upar hamari sahmati bani hai ministerial tracks mein bhi uska kisi na kisi tarike se declaration jo hai summit ke jiske upar baatcheet chal rahi hai Johannesburg mei usko bhi capture kiya jayega. Toh hamare liye I think jaisa maine bataya ki global south ke angle se yeh Johannesburg summit mahatvapoorn hai. Thank you.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Finally, regarding the issue you raised about the African Union and the priorities of the Global South  as I mentioned, it was extremely significant that during India's Presidency, we brought the African Union into the G20 framework. And this is the first time that the G20 is being held on African soil, in South Africa. So, it is also very important for us that the AU will be joining this summit in Johannesburg.

As I said, all the issues that are important for the Global South have been strongly highlighted over the past three to four years, and we expect that the matters on which we have reached consensus, even at the ministerial tracks, will in some form be reflected in the summit declaration that is currently being negotiated in Johannesburg. So, for us, as I mentioned, from the perspective of the Global South, this Johannesburg summit is of great importance. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: With that, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the close of this press conference.

We shall keep you updated with all the bilateral meetings and other participation that our Prime Minister will have in the G20 Summit. Thank you very much.

New Delhi

November 20, 2025

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Iran: New IAEA BoG resolution bids to compensate US and E3's defeat in Snapback

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 20, 2025

London, IRNA -- The permanent representative and ambassador of Iran to Vienna-based international organizations says the adoption of the political and non-constructive resolution against Iran's peaceful nuclear energy is an attempt by the US and the European troika to compensate for their defeat in the Snapback Mechanism in New York.

Reza Najafi made the remarks on Thursday following the adoption of the resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors (BoG).

He said that the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi's report clearly shows that the current situation is the direct outcome of US and Israeli attacks on Iranian peaceful nuclear facilities that were under the Agency's inspection.

Najafi also said that the IAEA has announced that, due to the safety consequences of the attacks, normal implementation of the Safeguards Agreement has become almost impossible and the Agency even had to withdraw its inspectors completely. Nevertheless, Iran has proved its good faith by agreeing to all the Agency's requests to resume verification activities and granting access to facilities that were not attacked.

He said that the US along with France, Britain, and Germany - collectively known as the European Troika or the E3 - try to suggest that everything is normal and that there have been no attacks on the facilities under Safeguards Agreement inspections containing nuclear materials.

He added that these four countries persist in their arrogant and irresponsible stance and unjustified demands, whereas the current situation is by no means normal.

He noted that the United States and three European countries have once again submitted a draft resolution that is clearly designed to exert excessive pressure on Iran and to promote a completely false and misleading narrative of the current situation.

He emphasized that the sponsors of this resolution have practically turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the issue. They have neither referred in the extraordinary sessions of the Board of Governors to the attacks carried out against nuclear facilities under the Agency's safeguards in Iran, nor have they looked at the official report of the Agency, which clearly recorded the Israeli and US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025.

These countries deliberately avoid any mention of their own aggressive actions because one of the aggressors is itself among the main supporters of the draft resolution and seeks to mislead member states and escape responsibility for its unlawful acts, he said.

Najafi said that when the United States and the E3 are unwilling, or due to their arrogant approach, unable to identify the root cause of the current situation, they are certainly in no position to dictate solutions for resolving the crisis.

He also reminded that the text presented was nothing more than a repetition of these countries' political positions, a distortion of safeguard obligations, and an attempt to raise the so-called Snapback Mechanism issue in the Agency, adding that with this resolution, the US and the E3 cannot compensate for the failure of their illegal Snapback move in New York.

Referring to the official statements of US President Donald Trump, Najafi stressed that Washington has not only openly claimed responsibility for the aggressive attacks against Iran, but even talks proudly about these brutal assaults, which show that these countries' claims about diplomacy are nothing but a cover for their unlawful and tension-creating actions.

He concluded that the Islamic Republic has always proven that, upon seeing goodwill, seriousness, and a constructive approach from the other side, it is fully prepared for meaningful engagement and advancing diplomacy.

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West insists on politicizing Iran's nuclear issue; Anti-Iran resolution adopted at IAEA BoG

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 20, 2025

London, IRNA -- A resolution proposed by the European Troika, namely France, Britain, and Germany, with US support, against Iran's peaceful nuclear program was adopted at the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors.

The resolution was passed on Thursday with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and 3 against, without acknowledging Iran's consistent cooperation with the IAEA and Tehran was accused of failing to comply with its safeguards obligations.

Based on the recent report by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, the document stresses the need for the Agency's immediate access to precise information about Iran's declared nuclear material stockpiles.

This resolution, the seventh since the official closure of the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) file of Iran's nuclear program in 2015, requests the IAEA Director General to submit reports on Iran's implementation of its safeguards agreement under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) before each regular quarterly BoG meeting, as well as on the implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in line with past practice.

Yesterday, eight countries including China, Russia, and Iran issued a joint statement urging member states to resist politicization of Iran's peaceful nuclear program and not to support the draft resolution. The statement welcomed high-level engagement between the IAEA Director General and Iranian officials, as well as Tehran's cooperation in granting access to non-attacked facilities but warned that the new anti-Iran resolution could undermine the current dialogue and positive atmosphere of cooperation.

The statement also cautioned that creating a parallel reality in reporting mechanisms would damage the unity, credibility, and institutional integrity of the Agency. These countries emphasized the need to preserve the technical and impartial nature of the IAEA and called on all members to resist politicization of safeguards issues regarding Iran and to refrain from supporting the draft resolution.

The Islamic Republic of Iran had earlier warned that any reckless action at the Board of Governors would be met with a firm response. Reza Najafi, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative in Vienna, said that the illegal move by the US and three European countries would not change the current status of safeguards implementation in Iran, a situation he described as the result of Washington and the Israeli regime's criminal aggression against Iran, and the complicity of the three European countries.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, also said that if the anti-Iran resolution were adopted at the BoG, Iran would certainly undertake fundamental reviews of its policies.

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Iran condemns IAEA's 'illegal resolution' on nuclear program

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 11:08 PM

Iran's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the anti-Iranian resolution adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it an "illegal and unjustified" measure.

The Board on Thursday narrowly approved the resolution drafted by the European Troika - France, Germany and the UK - and the United Statespassing 19-3 with 12 abstentionsthat urges Tehran to "without delay" report on its enriched uranium stockpile and facilities damaged in the June aggression by Israel and the US, while omitting any mention of Iran's longstanding cooperation with the agency.

In a statement, the ministry said that the move also proves that the US and the European Troika are bent on misusing the agency to mount pressure on Iran.

The ministry said the resolution was rejected by about half of the IAEA members, including two permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The ministry said that the resolution violates the fundamental principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which grants member states the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The ministry emphasized that the Board of Governors lacks the authority to reinstate expired UN Security Council resolutions, labeling the actions of the US and its European allies as indicative of "bad faith" and irresponsible behavior.

Furthermore, the ministry warned that the insistence on repeating these actions could lead to legal confusion and exacerbate divisions within international institutions, undermining the foundations of the non-proliferation regime.

The ministry said insistence of the US and European Troika on reviving those resolutions will erode the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and international organizations.

The ministry said the resolution even failed to admit that direct military aggression by the US and Israel was the reason why the agency's inspections in Iran came to a halt.

The ministry emphasized that Iran has never tried to make nuclear weapons, stressing that Israel and its nuclear arsenal pose the main threat to international peace and security.

It stressed that the US and three European countries are complicit in Israel's crimes across the region due to their insistence on ignoring the regime's risk, and trying to find fault with Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

The ministry concluded by making it clear that it will spare no effort to safeguard the rights and interests of the Iranian nation regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Baghaei: Resolution is blatant misuse of international bodies

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called the resolution a blatant misuse of international institutions.

He said the measure was "irresponsible," violated international law, and undermined the agency's credibility.

Baghaei criticized the resolution for ignoring the US-Israeli aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, which disrupted inspections at the targeted sites.

He said the resolution lacks strong majority support within the IAEA and is legally weak, reflecting divisions among the member states.

He added that Western powers are not sincere in their claim to be pursuing diplomacy, warning that their actions further erode trust in the agency.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has informed the IAEA chief that the Cairo agreement with the agency has been cancelled. That agreement was signed in September to facilitate inspections that had been suspended after the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Tehran has strongly criticized the IAEA's behavior under its incumbent chief, Rafael Grossi, especially his failure to even condemn the US-Israeli attacks.

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Araghchi: Iran more prepared than ever to deter Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 10:20 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Iran is now more prepared than ever to deter any Israeli aggression.

In an exclusive interview with The Economist on November 19th in Tehran, Araghchi noted that Iran's missile capabilities have improved in both quantity and quality since the 12-day war earlier this year, and the lessons learned have bolstered defenses.

When asked about Iran's readiness for potential new Israeli aggression, Araghchi responded that Iran is "even more prepared than [in] the previous war."

He emphasized that Iran's missiles are now positioned better, both in terms of quantity and quality. "The best way to prevent a war," Araghchi stated, "is to be prepared for it. And we are fully prepared."

Regarding Iran's relationship with Russia, the foreign minister remarked that Moscow provided significant support during the 12-day war, leading to increased cooperation afterward. He said that Iran is further developing its "strategic partnership" with Russia.

On the nuclear issue, Araghchi emphasized that Iran supports reaching a nuclear agreement but insists it must be "fair and balanced."

He rejected US attempts to dictate terms and asserted that the enrichment of uranium remains non-negotiable, although Iran is willing to pledge zero nuclear weapons.

"Zero enrichment is impossible," he noted, "but zero [nuclear] weapons is possible." He also mentioned that uranium enrichment "has now stopped" due to the US attacks.

"We don't have a single good experience with negotiating with the United States," he said. Nonetheless, the door remains open. "We are ready for negotiation, but not for dictation," he said.

Over ten years ago, Iran and world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited Iran's nuclear program in exchange for partial relief from international sanctions. The agreement was finalized on July 14, 2015, after extensive negotiations.

Iran is committed to capping its uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent, reducing the number of centrifuges, and permitting inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in exchange for relief from major sanctions.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstated sanctions, leading Iran to urge European signatories to uphold their commitments.

However, under US pressure, European countries did not fulfill their obligations, prompting Iran to gradually reduce its compliance and increase uranium enrichment.

The Biden administration also failed to revive the JCPOA, continuing the sanctions policy and allowing the agreement to deteriorate further.

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IRGC: Miscalculation of Iran's true power led to enemy's defeat in 12-day war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 6:54 PM

A spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the enemy's fundamental miscalculation of Iran's military and social resilience led to their defeat in the 12-day war, describing the war as a strategic turning point.

Speaking during a speech on Thursday, Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini said the war proved that Iran's missile power is both "real and deterrent," forcing the US to acknowledge the difficulty of countering its ballistic missiles.

"This war was the most complex in the world, and the enemy's miscalculations regarding the components of Iran's power and reliance on material structures were the main factors in their defeat," he added.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

Naeini stated that the enemy was confident of a swift victory through targeting Iran's top military leadership. However, the plan collapsed due to a critical analytical failure.

He said the enemy fundamentally misjudged Iran's true source of power that is its people. Unlike material assessments, he added, Iran's soft power and popular resilience were underestimated, leaving the adversary blind to the country's real capabilities.

"In this war, the enemy itself became a victim of its own cognitive war; that is, it believed in the "weak Iran" it had created and operated based on that belief," he further said.

According to the spokesperson, the 12-day war was a strategic turning point, changing power dynamics in West Asia and demonstrating Iran's ability to confront NATO and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) independently.

Naeini noted that Iran's indigenous military capabilities effectively neutralized strategic centers in Israel and that the war tested Iran's defensive resilience, offensive power, and national endurance.

"This war was a full-scale test to measure Iran's defensive deterrence, offensive power, and the resilience of the Iranian nation, as well as a test to measure the enemy's weaknesses and strengths," he said.

He stressed that Iran's missile operations were far from simple strikes, but rather integrated electronic warfare, cyber operations, and tactical innovation.

"The 22 waves of missile attacks were constantly changing in terms of the origin of the launch, time, targets, number and type of missiles," he said adding that this creativity, innovation, and planning were the product of the experience and creative minds of Iran's commanders, which made the enemy desperate.

General Naeini said the US was forced to fire large numbers of $4 million interceptor missiles to counter Iranian attack drones that cost less than $10,000 each, noting that Washington oversaw the overall command of the war, with Israel executing the operations and others providing support.

He highlighted the role of Iran's youth and innovation, saying the country's missile, drone, and naval commandersmost under 30 years oldplayed a decisive role in operations, reflecting a generation of highly trained specialists.

Underscoring the continued readiness of the armed forces, General Naeini stated that "Iran's missile power today has no geographical boundaries, and the IRGC's capability in this battle is the result of the initiative and innovation of Iranian youth."

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Iran declares end of Cairo deal after IAEA passes Western resolution

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 2:40 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran now considers the Cairo understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) terminated, following the passage of an anti-Iran resolution at the agency's Board of Governors.

The Board on Thursday narrowly approved the resolution drafted by the European Troika - France, Germany and the UK - and the United Statespassing 19-3 with 12 abstentionsthat urges Tehran to "without delay" report on its enriched uranium stockpile and facilities damaged in the June aggression by Israel and the US, while omitting any mention of Iran's longstanding cooperation with the agency.

Araghchi condemned the move, calling the resolution "illegal and unjustified." He said the measure was adopted "under pressure from these four countries" despite opposition or abstentions from 15 board members.

Araghchi said the action undermined the IAEA's "credibility and independence" and would disrupt the agency's cooperation with Iran.

He added that although the Cairo understanding had "effectively lost its basis" after the three European countries sought to trigger the return of cancelled UN Security Council resolutions, Tehran has now formally notified the IAEA's director general that the arrangement "is no longer valid and is considered terminated."

The Cairo understanding refers to a deal reached in Cairo, Egypt, between Iran and the IAEA in September 2025, under which they agreed on a technical framework to resume cooperation and inspections.

Iran's IAEA Ambassador Reza Najafi blasted the IAEA's Board for adopting a "political and unconstructive" resolution against Iran's peaceful nuclear program, describing the move by the US and E3 as a "discredited attempt" to compensate for their failed so-called snapback bid.

On August 28, the European trio invoked the "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions against Iran, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions.

Iran, Russia, China, and certain other countries have rejected the European move, saying the 2015 nuclear deal has expired and all the relevant UN sanctions against Iran have become null and void.

Najafi said the text of the resolution merely repeats the political positions of its sponsors, distorts safeguards obligations, and reflects "an unconvincing attempt" to revive the so-called snapback mechanism through the IAEA.

Najafi noted that "with this resolution, the US and the E3 cannot compensate for their unlawful and failed snapback attempt in New York."

He said the sponsors of the resolution have "turned a blind eye and a deaf ear," making no reference during the Board's special sessions to the attacks on Iran's safeguarded facilities, nor did they acknowledge the IAEA's official report documenting the Israeli and US strikes in June 2025.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

According to Najafi, these countries deliberately avoid any mention of their own "aggressive actions," as one of the perpetrators is simultaneously a key supporter of the draft resolution and seeks to mislead member states to evade responsibility.

He added that such a portrayal is "detached from reality" and ignores the extraordinary circumstances created by the assaults.

The Iranian envoy stated that the latest report by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi clearly shows that the current situation is the direct result of "unlawful and provocative attacks" by the United States and Israel on Iran's safeguarded nuclear facilities.

The IAEA itself, he said, has acknowledged that normal implementation of safeguards became "practically impossible" due to the security implications of the attacks, forcing the Agency to fully withdraw its inspectors.

Despite this, Iran cooperated in good faith to facilitate the resumption of verification activities, and approved all IAEA requests for access to sites unaffected by the attacks. Inspectors have maintained full access to those locations, he said.

The Iranian ambassador warned that the joint authors of the resolution are "mistakenly relying on pressure and threats," interpreting diplomacy as a tool for stripping Iran of its legitimate rightsan approach that the Iranian nation "has never accepted and will never accept."

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Sanctioning Illicit Networks Engaged in Iranian Petroleum Trade

US Department of State

Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

November 20, 2025

Today, the Department of State is designating 17 entities, individuals, and vessels to stem the flow of revenue that the Iranian regime uses to advance its nuclear program, and to enable shipping facilitators in multiple jurisdictions who, through obfuscation and deception, load and transport Iranian oil for sale to buyers.

The Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict in the Middle East to fund its destabilizing activities. This behavior enables Iran to fund its nuclear escalations, support terrorist groups, and disrupt the flow of trade and freedom of navigation in waterways that are crucial to global prosperity and economic growth. The United States will continue to act against the network of maritime service providers, dark fleet operators, and petroleum products traders involved in the transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products.

Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating additional shipping networks involved in illicit oil schemes to help fund the Iranian regime, as well as an airline and its affiliates that supply arms to Iran-backed terrorist groups. For more information about Treasury's action, please see Treasury's Press Release.

All Department of State targets are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13846 , which authorizes and reimposes certain sanctions with respect to Iran.

Continued Targeting of Maritime Services Providers Enabling Iran's Petroleum Exports

Iran's MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM, NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY, and NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY (NITC), U.S.-designated entities, continue to rely on critical third-country service providers to enable the sale of Iranian petroleum and petroleum products. Maritime service providers, including pilotage firms and ship-to-ship (STS) transfer service providers, are crucial to Iran's ability to transport crude oil and petroleum products to end users.

STRASSELINK PTE. LTD. (STRASSELINK) is a Singapore-based maritime service provider that has provided pilotage services to NITC tankers on 13 occasions while they were carrying Iranian crude oil from January 1, 2025, to August 1, 2025, as they transited the Straits of Malacca. For all of these occasions, the tankers then discharged their cargo in STS transfers in Singapore's Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL).

On one such occasion, STRASSELINK knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the transportation of Iranian petroleum when it provided pilotage services to the U.S.-designated NITC tanker DINO I (IMO 9569671) for its passage through the Straits of Malacca in June 2025, while it was carrying Iranian crude oil.

FADZLON BIN AHMAD (FADZLON) is a Singaporean national and the managing director of STRASSELINK. FADZLON knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the transportation of Iranian petroleum in his role as the managing director of STRASSELINK when he and the company provided pilotage services to the U.S.-designated NITC in 2025.

MUHAMMAD DANIAL BIN FADZLON (DANIAL) is a Singaporean national and the senior operations manager of STRASSELINK. DANIAL knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the transportation of Iranian petroleum in his role as the senior operations manager of STRASSELINK when he and the company provided pilotage services to the U.S.-designated NITC in 2025.

By providing these services, STRASSELINK, FADZLON and DANIAL enabled the transfer of over 20 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.

STRASSELINK, FADZLON and DANIAL are being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

The Department will continue to target entities and individuals that facilitate any element of Iran's illicit petroleum supply chain.

Continued Targeting of Iran's Shadow Fleet

The Department of State is designating five vessel management companies for their involvement in the transport of Iranian petroleum. Iran's oil exports are enabled by a network of illicit shipping facilitators in multiple jurisdictions who, through obfuscation and deception, load and transport Iranian oil to buyers in third countries. The vessels managed by these companies have moved millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil and play a key role in the Iranian export supply chain and have also regularly engaged in dark activity and other deceptive shipping practices, endangering other vessels and trade flows.

ANBO SHIPPING PTE. LTD. (ANBO SHIPPING) is a Singapore-based shipping company and the commercial manager of AL SIDDEEQ (IMO: 9312509), a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, which loaded Iranian-origin crude oil in STS transfers with the U.S.-designated tankers EGRET (IMO: 9283801) and JANET (IMO: 9220952) in July and September 2025, respectively.

ANBO SHIPPING is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. AL SIDDEEQ is being identified as property in which ANBO SHIPPING has an interest.

ARKADIA MARITIME INCORPORATED (ARKADIA) is a Marshall Islands-based shipping company and commercial manager of AQUARIS (IMO 9251822), a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker that loaded Iranian crude oil from the U.S.-designated BLUE GULF (IMO 9328716) in Singapore's Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) in August 2025.

ARKADIA is being designated pursuant to section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. AQUARIS is being identified as property in which ARKADIA has an interest.

ERST GROUP LTD (ERST) is the Seychelles-based registered owner and commercial manager of BODHI (IMO: 9144782), a Cameroon-flagged crude oil tanker. BODHI has conducted multiple STS transfers of Iranian crude oil with U.S.-designated vessels in Singapore's EOPL, most recently with the U.S.-designated vessel BERG 1 (IMO 9262168) on September 10, 2025.

ERST is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. BODHI is being identified as property in which ERST has an interest.

SAO VIET PETROL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY LIMITED (SAO VIET) is a Vietnam-based commercial manager of two vessels, with which it has transported multiple shipments of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars. SAO VIET was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 on January 10, 2025.

SAO VIET is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

The following vessels are being identified as property in which SAO VIET has an interest:

PANDA (IMO: 9284582) is a Vietnam-flagged crude oil tanker.

(IMO: 9284582) is a Vietnam-flagged crude oil tanker. IVY (IMO: 9337133) is a Vietnam-flagged crude oil tanker.

DEEP CURRENT SHIPPING L.L.C (DEEP CURRENT) is a United Arab Emirates -based commercial manager of the Comoros-flagged vessel AVA 10 (IMO 9247986), which loaded over 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil during a STS transfer in Singapore's EOPL with the PANDA, which loaded that cargo at Kharg Island, Iran.

DEEP CURRENT is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. AVA 10 is being identified as property in which DEEP CURRENT has an interest.

Continued Targeting of Iranian Petroleum Products Traders

This action also includes the designation of three entities across multiple jurisdictions, which have engaged in the transshipment, sale, and purchase of Iranian-origin petroleum products. Similar to Iran's crude oil trade, petroleum products sales provide crucial revenue to the Iranian regime, which has continued to prioritize funding terror organization over its own people. Today's action targets those intermediaries, the buyers and exporters of Iranian petroleum products.

TR6 PETRO INDIA LLP (TR6 PETRO) is an India-based petroleum products trader, which between October 2024 and June 2025, imported over $8 million worth of Iranian-origin bitumen from multiple companies including BONJOURE COMMODITY F.Z.E.

TR6 PETRO is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

BONJOURE INTERNATIONAL FZCO (BONJOURE INTERNATIONAL) is a United Arab Emirates-based company that exported over $17 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products between April and June 2025.

BONJOURE INTERNATIONAL is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

BONJOURE COMMODITY F.Z.E. is a United Arab Emirates-based company that exported over $66 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products between January 2024 and June 2025 to numerous companies including TR6 PETRO.

BONJOURE COMMODITY F.Z.E. is being designated pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's sanctions-related actions, and in accordance with E.O. 13846, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all entities and individuals that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of U.S. government sanctions derive not only from the U.S. government's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.

Petitions for removal from the SDN List may be sent to OFAC Reconsideration. Petitioners may also refer to the Department of State's Delisting Guidance page.

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Treasury Tightens Sanctions on Iran's Oil Network Supporting its Military

U.S. Department of the Treasury

November 20, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning a network of front companies and shipping facilitators that bankroll the Iranian armed forces by selling crude oil. Following its defeat in the 12-Day War with Israel, Iran's military has increasingly come to rely on the sale of Iranian crude oil to supplement its annual budget and finance the rebuilding of its depleted forces.

"Today's action continues Treasury's campaign to cut off funding for the Iranian regime's development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Disrupting the Iranian regime's revenue is critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions."

OFAC today is also targeting six vessels, expanding sanctions on the shadow fleet of tankers Iran relies on to transport its oil exports to market. The Trump Administration has sanctioned over 170 vessels responsible for shipping Iranian petroleum and petroleum products, driving up costs for Iranian oil exporters and reducing the revenue Iran receives for each barrel of oil sold.

Lastly, OFAC is taking further action today against Iranian airline Mahan Air, which has worked closely with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to arm and supply Iran-backed terrorist groups throughout the Middle East. Mahan Air played a key role in the Iranian regime's efforts to arm the now-deposed regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Today's action builds on recent sanctions taken in February and May targeting key enablers of Iran's military oil exports. Today's action is being taken primarily pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, and E.O. 13902, which targets Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors. It continues the robust sanctions campaign targeting Iranian oil sales in support of the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), instituting maximum economic pressure on Iran.

facilitating IRANIAN MILITARY OIL SALES THROUGH THE SHADOW FLEET

The Iranian military, through the designated Armed Forces General Staff oil sales arm Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy Jahan), uses an array of front companies and shadow fleet vessels to obfuscate its illicit activities and sell billions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil annually, supplementing its budget and providing a vital source of foreign currency.

Sepehr Energy Jahan's oil exports depend on access to shadow fleet vessels willing to transport the military's oil. Throughout late 2024 and early 2025, Sepehr Energy Jahan used United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based vessel chartering company Luan Bird Shipping Service L.L.C (Luan Bird) to ship Iranian oil. Luan Bird paid commissions related to Sepehr Energy Jahan crude oil shipments aboard the sanctioned vessels BOREAS (IMO 9248497; now URI), SIRI (IMO 9281683), and OXIS (IMO 9224805). In early 2025, Sepehr Energy Jahan used Luan Bird to charter the sanctioned vessels BALU (IMO 9235244) and ROC (IMO 9275660).

UAE-based Mars Investment L.L.C, a Sepehr Energy Jahan front company, financed millions of dollars' worth of chartering agreements with owners of shadow fleet vessels. In spring 2024, Sepehr Energy Jahan used Mars Investment L.L.C to pay U.S.-designated shipping company Oceanlink Maritime DMCC to charter the sanctioned vessels BOREAS and HECATE (IMO 9233753). Similarly, in early 2024, Mars Investment L.L.C and Oceanlink Maritime DMCC collaborated to deliver nearly two million barrels of Iranian oil to Sepehr Energy Jahan front company Milen Trading Co., Limited.

Panama-based Loire Shipping Inc. has served as the registered owner of the sanctioned vessel HEBE (IMO 9259185) since January 2020. Since its sanctioning in April 2024, the HEBE, now known as the DAKSHA, has continued its activities on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan at the direction of Sepehr Energy Jahan officials.

Between early January and early February 2025, the Panama-flagged KALLISTA (IMO 9411965), owned and operated by Greece-based Altomare S.A., transported nearly four million barrels of Iranian oil in multiple shipments on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan.

Luan Bird Shipping Service L.L.C, Mars Investment L.L.C, Loire Shipping Inc., and Altomare S.A. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan. KALLISTA is being identified as property in which Altomare S.A. has an interest.

FRONT COMPANIES facilitating IRANIAN MILITARY OIL SALES

In addition to using front companies to charter vessels, Sepehr Energy Jahan also uses front companies to serve numerous other roles in Iran's oil export supply chain. UAE-based Moon Line Plastics and Raw Materials Trading L.L.C (Moon Line)is a Sepehr Energy Jahan front company that has served as a shipper of Iranian military oil cargoes. In early 2024, Sepehr Energy Jahan shipped nearly two million barrels of Iranian crude oil, worth over $100 million, on board the HECATE, then known as the ATILAN. At around the same time as the HECATE shipment in early 2024, Moon Line arranged a contract to ship an additional two million barrels of Iranian oil. Sepehr Energy Jahan sought to disguise the providence of the oil by labeling it as Malaysian heavy crude, a common tactic of the Iranian armed forces and Iranian oil smugglers writ large.

Moon Line Plastics and Raw Materials Trading L.L.C is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sepehr Energy Jahan.

While Sepehr Energy Jahan controls a vast network of front companies, it must still rely on outside providers for key services. UAE-based Alsafeenah Althahabya Ship and Boats Spare Parts and Components Trading L.L.C (Alsafeenah), also known as Golden Argo Marine Services Co., provides ship-to-ship services in the Persian Gulf, a legitimate trade practice misused by the shadow fleet to obfuscate oil cargo origins and movements in violation of sanctions. Alsafeenah facilitated multiple such ship-to-ship operations on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan, all of which involved sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company vessels that offloaded their Iranian cargoes to shadow fleet vessels for transshipment to Asia. Alsafeenah was in direct contact with Sepehr Energy Jahan officials Elyas Niroomand Toomaj (Toomaj) and Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini (Hosseini). Hosseini has been associated with many of the Sepehr Energy Jahan family of companies; throughout 2023 and 2024, Hosseini coordinated with Alsafeenah to pay for these ship-to-ship services on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan.

As of early 2025, India-based RN Ship Management Private Limited (RN Ship Management), led by Indian nationals Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed (Zair Husain) and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed (Zulfikar Hussain), served as the operator of multiple vessels used by Sepehr Energy Jahan to ship Iranian oil, including the sanctioned vessel SOBAR (IMO 9221970).

RN Ship Management Private Limited and Alsafeenah Althahabya Ship and Boats Spare Parts and Components Trading L.L.C are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan. Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being leaders or officials of RN Ship Management Private Limited.

Intermediaries Providing Logistics Support to Iranian Military Oil Sales

For the Iranian military to sell its oil, Sepehr Energy Jahan must first find buyers willing to risk sanctions. Iran does so by offering significant discounts on the price of its oil, and buyers often use front companies and intermediaries of their own to conceal the identity of the ultimate end-user. In early 2025, Germany-based BPT Berlin Petroleum Trading GmbH (BPT Berlin)sought to purchase millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil from Sepehr Energy Jahan using the sanctioned vessel PANDA (IMO 9284582), which was to be delivered near Malaysia via ship-to-ship transfer. As of mid-2025, the PANDA had delivered hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to vessels in the Singapore Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) via ship-to-ship transfer. BPT Berlin previously purchased oil from another Sepehr Energy Jahan front, Xin Rui Ji Trad Co., Limited, in late 2023. Sepehr Energy Jahan was willing to offer a hefty discount of $17 per barrel on the sale, illustrating the significant financial loss Iranian oil exporters face as a result of U.S. sanctions.

Between late 2024 and early 2025, UAE-based Shandong Independent Energy Trading DMCC (Shandong Independent Energy) made multiple deals with Sepehr Energy Jahan front companies Milen Trading Co., Limited and Star Energy International Limited to purchase over one million barrels of crude oil valued at nearly $70 million. UAE-based Shandong Independent Energy's business dealings with Sepehr Energy Jahan's front companies ultimately resulted in the delivery of Iranian oil.

BPT Berlin Petroleum Trading GmbH and Shandong Independent Energy Trading DMCC are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan.

Sepehr Energy Jahan's complex front company networks, business partnerships, and oil sales contracts are managed by trusted associates and employees. Iranian nationals Hamidreza Heidari (Heidari), Mohammad Moloudi (Moloudi), Kaveh Rostami Zahabi (Zahabi), Ahmad Ghaedi (Ghaedi), Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini (Hosseini), and Bulgarian national Penka Ivanova Madzharska (Madzharska) have all contributed to Sepehr Energy Jahan's efforts. For example, UAE-based Ghaedi assisted Sepehr Energy Jahan with multiple shipments of Iranian oil, including a mid-2025 delivery of Iranian oil for the benefit of the IRGC. Iran-based petroleum surveyor Moloudi has likewise assisted Sepehr Energy Jahan by directing and managing vessels carrying Iranian oil on Sepehr Energy Jahan's behalf, to include directing vessels to disable and/or manipulate their automatic identification system transponders and to falsify vessel markings to disguise sanctioned vessels, in addition to coordinating ship-to-ship transfers and using falsified shipping documents.

Heidari has provided technical assistance to multiple Sepehr Energy Jahan front companies, including Xin Rui Ji Trad Co., Limited, Star Energy International Limited, Tetis Global FZE, Milen Trading Co., Limited, and Puyuan Trade Co., Limited, by testing and managing multiple email accounts for the network. Zahabi aided Sepehr Energy Jahan on the finance side of the company's operations, working closely with Toomaj to coordinate shipping documents, business meetings, and manage Sepehr Energy Jahan's funds, including cryptocurrency. Hosseini served as senior executive of Sepehr Energy Jahan affiliates Sepehr Energy Paya Gostar Jahan and Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Taban. Hosseini similarly helped Sepehr Energy Jahan coordinate numerous shipments on the company's behalf.

As of late 2025, Bulgarian national and businesswoman Madzharska was assisting Sepehr Energy Jahan and its officials, including Toomaj, with securing banking access and investment opportunities in Europe.

Hamidreza Heidari, Mohammad Moludi, Kaveh Rostami Zahabi, Ahmad Ghaedi, and Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan. Penka Ivanova Madzharska is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Elyas

Niroomand Toomaj.

UPHOLDING MAXIMUM PRESSURE on iran'S SHADOW FLEET

Iran's shadow fleet forms the critical lifeline linking Iranian oil product terminals and end users in East and South Asia, providing the regime the ability to bring its oil and other petroleum products to market.

Liberia-registered Pioneer Tankers Marine Incorporated serves as the registered owner of the Palau-flagged crude oil tanker PIONEER SAM (IMO 9232620), which has transported over 10 million barrels of Iranian fuel oil across more than 30 shipments in the past two years.

In 2024, PIONEER SAM was contracted to deliver over 60 million dollars' worth of fuel oil

distillates to the UAE on behalf of NIOC.

Panama-based Thasos Maritime and Trading S.A., Serifos Maritime and Trading S.A., Tilos Maritime and Trading S.A., and Corfu Maritime and Trading S.A. own or operate shadow fleet vessels that have transported millions of barrels of Iranian liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and other petroleum products, largely to customers in South Asia.

The Gambia-flagged TUSITALA (IMO 8912546) and NEXO (IMO 9014456) have transported Iranian petroleum products for years and are collectively responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian LPG in 2025 alone. In early 2025, the TUSITALA and NEXO each transported six million barrels of Iranian petroleum products that were later transferred to daughter vessels in ship-to-ship operations off the coast of the UAE, a process conducted in order to obfuscate the origin of their cargos. Panama-flagged KAISA I (IMO 9038763) and GAS ATHENA (IMO 9267950) have transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of LPG to customers in South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The TUSITALA, NEXO, KAISA I, and GAS ATHENA have all been associated with the LPG tanker fleet of Iranian LPG magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, whose corporate network is collectively responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets. Treasury designated Emamjomeh pursuant to E.O. 13902 in April 2025 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. At the time of his designation, Emamjomeh's network was seeking to load American LPG off the coast of Houston, Texas.

Pioneer Tankers Marine Incorporated is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. The PIONEER SAM is being identified as blocked property in which Pioneer Tankers Marine Incorporated has an interest.

Thasos Maritime and Trading S.A., Serifos Maritime and Trading S.A., Tilos Maritime and Trading S.A., and Corfu Maritime and Trading S.A. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.

The TUSITALA, NEXO, KAISA I, and GAS ATHENA are being identified as blocked property in which Thasos Maritime and Trading S.A., Serifos Maritime and Trading S.A., Tilos Maritime and Trading S.A., and Corfu Maritime and Trading S.A. have an interest, respectively.

IRANIAN AIRLINE USED TO Support iranian proxies

Mahan Air subsidiary, Iran-based Yazd International Airways Company (Yazd Airways), assists its parent company in providing critical support to Iranian terrorist groups and their efforts to foment regional instability. Prior to the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, aircraft registered under Yazd Airways were utilized by Iran's IRGC-QF, a designated foreign terrorist organization, to transport IRGC-QF officers to Lebanon to support Lebanese Hizballah operations against Israel and to transfer weapons to Syria under the protection of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Yazd International Airways Company is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mahan Air.

Reza Heidari currently serves as the managing director of Yazd Airways, while Reza Namakshenas serves as its vice chairman. Reza Heidari and Reza Namakshenas are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being a leader or official of Yazd Airways.

Mahan Air acquires Western aircraft through a cadre of officials trained in procuring aircraft from abroad. Mahan Air flight operations manager Mohammad Mahdi Maghfoori (Maghfoori), the second highest supervising official for Mahan Air under CEO Hamid Arabnejad, leads a team that has obtained passenger jets previously used by the Dubai Air Wing and the French Air and Space Force. In 2022, Maghfoori personally oversaw the transfer of aircraft, including EP-MJA, from Mali to Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran and an airbase associated with the Iranian Air Force. Maghfoori, nominally a civilian executive of Mahan Air, has used his civilian cover to collaborate with the IRGC-QF in smuggling weapons to Iranian proxies in Syria and Lebanon. Mohammad Reza Moaref Jahromi has likewise served as a pilot for Mahan Air.

Mahan Air officials use foreign front companies to aid in their procurement of Western aircraft. One such company, Gambia-based Macka Invest Company Limited, aided Mahan Air in acquiring two A340, passenger jets, EP-MMU and EP-MJG, from Lithuania in early 2024, which are now operated by Mahan Air.

Treasury is also identifying four other Western aircraft procured and operated by Mahan Air as blocked property in which Mahan Air has an interest: EP-MJE, EP-MEB, EP-MEH, and EP-MJF.

Mohammad Mahdi Maghfoori and Mohammad Reza Moaref Jahromi are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mahan Air. Macka Invest Company Limited is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mahan Air.

EP-MJA, EP-MJE, EP-MJG, EP-MMU, EP-MEB, EP-MEH, and EP-MJF are being identified pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, as property in which Mahan Air has an interest.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List

Click here for more information on the persons designated and any property identified as blocked property today.

###

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The UK calls on Iran to establish an immediate moratorium on executions: UK Statement at the UN Third Committee

Speech

Statement by Andrew Sigley, First Secretary Human Rights at the UN Third Committee meeting on Iran.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Andrew Sigley, First Secretary Human Rights

Published 20 November 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 19 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom extends its appreciation to Canada for its continued leadership on this important resolution.

Iran's use of the death penalty is not only an affront to human dignity - it is a political tool to incite fear and suppress dissent. Ethnic minorities continued to be disproportionately affected. This past year, we saw the 12th Woman Life Freedom protester executed - many more protesters and human rights defenders remain on death row. We continue to call on Iran to establish an immediate moratorium on executions.

The situation for women and girls remains deeply concerning. The authorities continue to bolster their surveillance capabilities to monitor and target women and girls, including human rights defenders, online and in their daily lives. The Iranian government is yet to effectively criminalise sexual and gender-based violence and to ensure equal access to justice for women and girls.

We remain deeply concerned by Iran's repression of Freedom of Religion or Belief. During and since the 12-day war, state-linked media intensified scapegoating and incitement toward religious minorities, in particular Baha'is and Christians. We stand with these communities' right to practice their faiths freely and without state interference.

Iran continues to target civil society beyond its borders. This activity seeks to silence journalists, activists and others responsible for documenting serious human rights violations. We are committed to working with international partners to combat this malign activity.

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NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran: E3 statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, November 2025

Speech

France, Germany and the UK (the E3) delivered a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board on Iran's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Jean Louis Falconi, Governor of France to the IAEA, on behalf of the E3

Published 20 November 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Chair,

France, Germany and the United Kingdom thank the IAEA Director General for his latest reports on the implementation of Iran's NPT Safeguards Agreement and on the verification and monitoring of Iran's nuclear-related commitments in light of UN Security Council resolution 2231. We commend the Agency's professional, independent and impartial work providing objective reporting on Iran's nuclear programme.

This Board of Governors session comes at a critical time for the implementation of safeguards in Iran and for the non-proliferation architecture overall.

The Director General's report on UNSC Resolution 2231 lays out the extent of Iran's non-performance of its commitments under the JCPoA over the last six years. As of 13 June 2025, Iran's overall enriched uranium stockpile was nearly 50 times the JCPoA limit; Iran had more than 440 kg of uranium enriched up to 60 percent. This means Iran had more than ten IAEA "significant quantities" of Highly Enriched Uranium. We should all be concerned that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, in particular its high-enriched material, has remained unaccounted for, for over five months, which increases the risk of diversion of nuclear material.

It is in light of Iran's significant non-performance of its JCPoA commitments that France, Germany and the United Kingdom, on 28 August, triggered the snapback procedure set out in UNSC Resolution 2231, after intensive diplomatic efforts. This decision was supported by a majority of UNSC members. The completion of the procedure led to the reinstatement of six UNSC resolutions on 28 September 2025, as notified by the United Nations Secretariat. This decision sent a clear signal from the UNSC that Iran must abide by its legal obligations regarding nuclear non-proliferation.

Under the reinstated resolutions, Iran now has a legal obligation to suspend all its activities related to uranium enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water, and to discontinue the construction of related facilities.

The UNSC resolutions explicitly request the IAEA to implement and verify Iran's compliance with these obligations. Therefore, the E3 and the United States have tabled a resolution to provide the DG with the necessary clarity and direction from the Board to implement the verification mandate set out in the UNSC resolutions.

Chair,

The DG's report on the implementation of Iran's NPT Safeguards Agreement shows that Iran is not implementing its most fundamental obligations under its safeguards agreement.

In particular, the IAEA highlights that the verification of enriched nuclear material in Iran is "long overdue". As the report recalls, Iran remains the only State without nuclear weapons to have produced such material, for which there is no credible civilian justification.

Iran has likewise failed to provide the special report on the affected facilities and associated nuclear material that is required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. Therefore, there have been no inspections of the key sites that present a significant proliferation risk.

We reiterate the DG's statement that the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement cannot be suspended under any circumstances. The DG's report shows that the Agency has repeatedly reached out to Iran and expressed its willingness to consider Iran's concerns in order to urgently address the issue. As clearly indicated by the Agency, there is no technical reason preventing IAEA inspectors from returning to the affected sites.

As a result of Iran's actions, the Agency has stated in several reports that it has lost continuity of knowledge of the inventories of nuclear material in Iran. The DG's most recent report concludes by stating that it is "a matter of serious concern and a matter of compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement" that the Agency has not been able to verify Iran's HEU stockpile since mid-June 2025.

We urge Iran to return to full compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations and to provide the IAEA with the information and access it needs to assure that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. We call on Iran to implement without delay the measures requested by the Director General, namely:

providing without delay a special report for the affected facilities and the associated nuclear material, as required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement;

allowing the Agency to conduct inspections and design information verifications at the affected facilities;

implementing modified Code 3.1; and

engaging the Agency on the unresolved safeguards issues.

Chair,

This Board cannot ignore the serious conclusions of the DG's report.

While noting that Iran has begun to facilitate Agency access to unaffected facilities, we are extremely concerned that Iran has not taken measures to restore confidence and transparency, namely on the status and whereabouts of its enriched uranium stockpiles. As the DG's report clearly indicates, it is critical that the Agency is able to verify the inventories of nuclear material in Iran as soon as possible in order to allay its concerns and ensure compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement regarding the possible diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful uses.

No state can be allowed to pick and choose when and how to implement its safeguards agreement. Iran's continued disregard and manipulation of its safeguards obligations poses a serious threat to the integrity of the safeguards system itself. This should be of utmost concern to all States.

Chair,

Iran returning to full compliance with its safeguards agreement would be a significant step towards establishing confidence in its nuclear programme, and would demonstrate Iran's commitment to its non-proliferation obligations. On the other hand, continued Iranian obstruction would force this Board to take further action.

The E3 remain committed to achieving a durable, long-term diplomatic solution to address this issue. We call on Iran to engage meaningfully in diplomacy. We call on all UN member states to adhere to their obligations under the six UNSC resolutions reinstated following the legal implementation of the snapback mechanism.

Thank you Chair.

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Israel MOD Signs Multi-Billion Dollar Contract with Rafael to Expand Serial Production of Iron Dome System

Israel Ministry of Defense

20/11/2025

Today (Thursday), The Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, signed a procurement order that will accelerate the production of the Iron Dome defense system.

The signing ceremony at the IMOD's headquarters was held under the chairmanship of Defense Minister Israel Katz and with the participation of the Head of the Ministry's Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold; U.S. Defense Attache, Maj. Gen. Aaron Drake; Executive Vice President Marketing & Business Development at Rafael, Brig. Gen. (Res.), Nir Halamish; Head of the Ministry's Finance Department, CPA Dekel Cohen; Legal Advisor to the Defense Establishment, Attorney Hila Erlich Omer; and additional senior officials.

The contract follows comprehensive negotiations led by Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) Moshe Patel, the Israeli Programs at the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Senior VP and Head of Air Defense Systems Division at Rafael, Shlomo Toaff. Under this agreement, Rafael will deliver a substantial quantity of Iron Dome interceptors to the IMOD and the IDF.

The $8.7 billion U.S. aid package, approved by Congress in April 2024, includes a dedicated $5.2 billion allocation to enhance Israel's air defense systems, including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the high-powered Laser Defense System, which is currently in its final phase of development.

The Iron Dome system, developed in Israel and manufactured in collaboration with the U.S. government, provides defense against short and medium-range rocket and missile threats, as well as UAV threats. Throughout the recent war, the system has exhibited outstanding performance with remarkable interception rates, delivering crucial protection to Israel's home front against missile, rocket, UAV, and cruise missile attacks. Featuring cutting-edge technologies, Iron Dome ranks among the world's most sophisticated air defense systems.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor for the Iron Dome defense system, collaborating with ELTA Systems, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and mPrest. The U.S. MDA maintains a pivotal role in developing and producing Israel's multi-layered defense systems, including David's Sling and Arrow, while manufacturing Iron Dome components. The enduring strategic partnership between the MDA and the IMDO continues to secure Israel's technological edge in air defense.

Defense Minister Israel Katz: "The Iron Dome system has become one of the world's finest air defense systems in history. Over the years, and particularly during recent military operations, Iron Dome has protected our nation's skies and successfully intercepted thousands of threats from Gaza, Lebanon, and other theaters - serving as a protective shield for Israeli citizens against those who threaten us. Today's signing of this landmark contract represents a strategic leap forward that will significantly reinforce our air defense capabilities against adversaries who remain relentless in their efforts to threaten Israel's security. This agreement stands as further testimony to the depth and strength of our alliance with the United States and to the robust cooperation between our nations. Together, we will continue developing and enhancing the world's most advanced air defense systems - ensuring the security of our state and Israel's strategic superiority for decades to come."

Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram: "In accordance with the Ministry's strategy, we remain committed to strengthening the readiness and operational capacity of the IDF in an increasingly complex security environment. The Iron Dome system has fundamentally transformed the battlefield, demonstrating unprecedented interception capabilities on a global scale against a vast spectrum of threats. This contract will dramatically enhance the multi-layered defense posture and strategic stability of the State of Israel. Joint production in Israel and the United States exemplifies the potential of our technological and industrial partnership - a collaboration the Israel Ministry of Defense is eager to expand across additional systems and domains."

Chairman of Rafael, Dr. Yuval Steinitz: "The procurement of interceptors from Rafael marks a significant leap forward that will secure Israel's decisive technological advantage for years to come. We remain committed to providing the defense establishment with the most advanced, groundbreaking solutions in the world, to protect the nation's skies  both the front lines and the home front.

This latest procurement is a clear testament to the strength of Israel's defense industry and to the critical importance of local production. Rafael provides not only exceptional operational capabilities but also plays a vital role in national economic growth and in reinforcing Israel's position as a global technological powerhouse."



President and CEO of Rafael, Yoav Tourgeman: "Rafael welcomes the accelerated procurement of Iron Dome interceptors and the continued cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT). Over the past two years, Rafael's air-defense systems, Iron Dome and David's Sling, have played a major role in Israel's air defense and have repeatedly demonstrated their exceptional ability to intercept a wide range of threats targeting Israeli civilians; soon, they will be joined by the first operational laser-based defense system emerging from Rafael's production lines. The expanded procurement reflects renewed confidence in Iron Dome, which has become a global benchmark for air-defense systems. Rafael remains firmly committed to fulfilling its mission and serving as a central pillar in Israel's national security."

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The UK is concerned by the ongoing violence in Myanmar, including escalating human rights violations and increasing reports of sexual and gender-based violence: UK Statement at the UN Third Committee

Speech

Statement by Charles Kent, Senior Human Rights Officer at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Charles Kent, Senior Human Rights Officer

Published 20 November 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 19 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

We thank the EU and the OIC for their efforts in advancing this important resolution.

The UK is concerned by the ongoing violence in Myanmar, including escalating human rights violations and increasing reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The UK condemns the military regime's primary role in perpetuating indiscriminate attacks and airstrikes, which continue to kill and injure civilians.

We urge all parties, especially the Myanmar military, to cease hostilities - particularly the devastating airstrikes - respect international law, ensure the protection of civilians and release all those arbitrarily detained.

The military's systematic blockade of aid has led to severe shortages of life-saving medications and food and has pushed Rakhine State to the brink of famine, with over two million people at risk of starvation.

This is impacting all communities across Rakhine State, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other minority communities. The UK reiterates our thanks to Bangladesh for their continued hosting of over a million Rohingya refugees, including those who have fled since conflict resumed in November 2023.

We emphasise that any consideration of the return of Rohingya refugees must be contingent on the establishment of conditions that are safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable. Increasing instability across the Myanmar-Bangladesh border continues to worsen conditions for return.

Inclusive dialogue and mutual trust building will be critical in changing this. We call on the Myanmar military and other key actors to allow rapid, full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation, particularly in Rakhine.

The UK is clear that any meaningful election requires an end to violence and dialogue among all parties concerned. We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future.

There are no indications that the planned elections will deliver on those aspirations or be perceived as free or fair. Elections under current circumstances risk provoking violence and putting genuine solutions out of reach.

The UK fully supports the ASEAN Five Point Consensus on Myanmar and the work of the ASEAN and UN Special Envoys.



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Meeting of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar with the Foreign Minister of Hungary on the Sidelines of the 4th Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, met with the Foreign Minister of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, on 20 November 2025, on the sidelines of 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum being held from 20-21 November 2025 in Brussels.

While recalling the recent meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly session in New York, the DPM/FM shared that Pakistan highly values its relations with Hungary, bilaterally as well as in the context of EU.

Both sides exchanged views on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including matters relating to political, economic and trade, culture, defence and people-to-people contacts. While reviewing the recent developments in bilateral relations, the two sides reaffirmed their resolve on early finalization of pending agreements to further deepen bilateral cooperation in between the two countries.

In this regard, the DPM/FM underscored Pakistan's strong desire to deepen trade and investment linkages with Hungary. The Hungarian FM thanked the DPM/FM for his personal involvement and support in supporting Hungarian investments in Pakistan.

Issues pertaining to regional and international peace and security also came under discussion during the meeting.

Both sides welcomed the upcoming 16th Pakistan-EU Joint Commission in Islamabad, and agreed to maintain close dialogue to promote mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation in shared areas of interest bilaterally and at multilateral fora.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides also signed the renewal of the "MOU between Pakistan and Hungary on Cooperation within the Framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum Program 2026-2028". Hungary will offer 400 Scholarships annually to Pakistani students who aspire to pursue higher education in Hungary.

Brussels

November 20,2025

345/2025

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Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, held a series of high-level engagements with Air Chiefs from friendly countries on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 20, 2025

No PR-371/2025-ISPR

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, held a series of high-level engagements with Air Chiefs from friendly countries on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025. During the visit, Chief of the Air Staff also held comprehensive discussions with Lieutenant General Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi, Undersecretary of Defence UAE, and Major General Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, Commander UAE Air Force & Air Defence.

The discussions centred on strengthening cooperation in advanced training, fostering collaboration in emerging aerospace technologies and enhancing the mechanisms for effective operational coordination. The UAE military leadership lauded Pakistan Air Force's modernization initiatives and growing indigenous capabilities with a shared resolve to further strengthen military engagement through joint exercises, professional exchanges and forward-looking partnerships.

Pakistan Air Force contingent has arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Dubai Airshow 2025. The contingent features advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III and the renowned Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, reflecting Pakistan's growing expertise in indigenous military aviation.

During the event, the JF-17 Thunder Block-III emerged as a major focal point, drawing significant attention from defence analysts, aviation specialists and visitors. Its cutting-edge technology, strong combat capabilities and proven operational performance in Marka-e-Haq reinforced its reputation as a highly capable and cost-effective multirole fighter.

Demonstrating increasing international confidence in Pakistan's aviation industry, several countries expressed interest in acquiring the JF-17 Thunder. In a noteworthy development, an MoU was signed with a friendly country for the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, marking another significant milestone in Pakistan's expanding defence and industrial partnerships.

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General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) paid farewell visit to Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Islamabad.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 20, 2025

No PR-370/2025-ISPR

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) paid farewell visit to Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Islamabad. During the visit, CJCSC called on Admiral Naveed Ashraf, NI, NI (M), Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

The CJCSC highly appreciated Pakistan Navy's combat readiness and commended its steadfast resolve to safeguard the nation's maritime frontiers. The CNS thanked the outgoing CJCSC for his pivotal role in strengthening jointness among the Tri-Services.

Earlier, upon arrival at NHQ, a smartly turned-out contingent presented guard of honour to the CJCSC.

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On 18-19 November 2025, seven khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 20, 2025

No PR-369/2025-ISPR

On 18-19 November 2025, seven khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

On reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Mohmand District. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, four khwarij were sent to hell.

Another intelligence based operation was conducted in Lakki Marwat District. In ensuing fire exchange, two Khwarij were effectively neutralized by the security forces.

In third encounter that took place in Tank District, own troops successfully neutralized one more kharji.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

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On 19 November 2025, twenty three khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 20, 2025

No PR-368/2025-ISPR

On 19 November 2025, twenty three khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

On reported presence of Khwarij, a targeted operation was conducted by the Security Forces. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, twelve khwarij were sent to hell.

Capitalising on intelligence with respect to presence of another group of khwarij, in same general area, in another intelligence based operation, own troops successfully neutralized eleven more khwarij.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

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Remarks by Deputy Head of the Russian delegation to Vienna talks about military security and arms control Oleg Bushuyev at the 1122nd plenary session of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation, November 19, 2025

19 November 2025 18:10

1937-19-11-2025

Agenda item: General statements

Topic: On the special military operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine

Madam Chair,

Russia's special military operation is ongoing. Our units continue pushing the enemy back along the entire line of contact. Over the past week, the town of Dvurechanskoye, Kharkov Region; the village of Platonovka, DPR; and the village of Gai, Dnepropetrovsk Region, were brought under our control.

The Ukrainian armed forces are suffering heavy and unjustified losses as they vainly attempt to break through the newly formed encirclement. Due to personnel shortages in certain areas, Ukrainian assault units are being reinforced with female service members and thrown into meat wave assaults.

With the complicity of Western handlers, the Kiev regime continues to commit war crimes. Over the past week, 71 civilians came under Ukrainian shelling; 58 of them were wounded and 13, including one minor, killed. Over the past seven days, the Ukrainian armed formations fired no fewer than 3,848 munitions, including cluster warheads, mines, and grenades at civilian targets in Russia. The enemy widely used attack UAVs and small arms.

The largest number of injuries among the civilians was seen in the Belgorod, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions where 66 civilians, or almost 91 percent of the total number of wounded civilians, were injured in the UAV attacks. Clearly, drone operators knew exactly the kind of targets they were attacking.

Civilian energy facilities have been deliberately attacked with long-range missiles, among other munitions. The Bryansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions, as well as the LPR, saw widespread power outages.

The Kiev regime continued its irresponsible provocations against nuclear facilities. At least eight drones were sent towards the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant. All of them have been neutralised. However, the debris damaged the main electricity distribution plant.

The geography of long-range strikes significantly expanded. Fixed-wing UAVs were used to carry out raids against civilian facilities deep inside Russia in the Volgograd, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Smolensk, Orenburg, and Oryol regions, as well as in the Republic of Tatarstan. Civilian casualties were reported in Volgograd and Saratov.

The Belgorod region was attacked by at least 100 drones per day during the period under review. Over the week, 21 civilians were injured in UAV attacks; three of them died.

The enemy deliberately and cynically used drone strikes to attack first responders. In Gorlovka, DPR, four Emergencies Ministry employees were wounded in the line of duty.

In the Zaporozhye Region, Ukrainian terrorists attacked medical workers twice in one day. A drone strike targeted an ambulance in Vasilyevka and the central district hospital in Kamenka-Dneprovskaya. The fatalities include a 65-year-old woman in the village of Vodyanoye and a man in the village of Romanovskoye.

In the Kherson Region, civilian vehicles, including a lorry operated by humanitarian aid headquarters, and several blocks of flats have been damaged in a shelling attack. UAV attacks against civilians have intensified. Last week, nine civilians were injured in such attacks; one of them died.

Another atrocity was committed by Ukrainian militants in the DPR. A priest, his wife, and a family of parishioners with an eight-year-old child, who tried to evacuate to Russia, were killed by drone and mortar fire outside Konstantinovka. The wounded were mercilessly put to death. Seven civilians, including a child, were killed. The UAV operators prevented local residents from retrieving the bodies and opened fire on anyone attempting to approach the site of the tragedy.

The Zelensky regime's crimes against civilians have become systematic. It is outrageous to see them, with the assistance of Western media, shift the blame for their atrocities on Russian servicemen. The Western media outlets are being effectively used as tools operated by Ukrainian information and psychological operations. This happened during the horrendous incident we mentioned at the previous meeting. The video put together by Channel One debunks the falsehood which was cooked up by Kiev and its handlers and is available for viewing. We cannot play it now for it includes footage of the Ukrainian armed forces' inconceivable cruelty towards civilians. Western journalism is undergoing rapid degradation which can be seen from a recent scandal involving the BBC, which fabricated remarks by US President Donald Trump. This shows that sources that used to enjoy high standing are now turning into factories of lies and disinformation, which are then replicated by NATO and the EU on international platforms.

In response to these terrorist attacks, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out numerous strikes with long-range precision weapons launched from air, land, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, as well as strike UAVs, targeting Ukraine's military-industrial facilities and energy sites that support their functioning; transport infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; military airfields; sites for storing and preparing attack drones for launch; and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.

I emphasise that the Russian Armed Forces carry out strikes exclusively on military targets and for military purposes to disrupt Ukrainian logistics. Civilians and civilian facilities are not targeted. Russian military strictly adhere to the international humanitarian law.

Madam Chair,

The sponsors of the Kiev regime, driven by self-serving considerations, deliberately turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Instead, they persist in prioritising so-called "security guarantees" for Ukraine, flooding the country with weapons and allocating vast sums to the Kiev clique.

The illicit trade in Western arms and military equipment has long assumed a large-scale character in Ukraine and is entirely controlled by the ruling elite and international organised criminal groups operating under the patronage of state officials, AFU command, and the leadership of national intelligence agencies.

According to data from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the volume of illegal weapons in the possession of European organised crime groups increased by 40 percent in 2024-2025. Notably, these are primarily weapons that Ukraine previously received from NATO member states as part of military-technical assistance programmes. There has been a marked rise in incidents involving the use of explosive devices of Ukrainian origin by criminals.

In January-April alone, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service intercepted over 2,000 units of weaponry - predominantly small arms and anti-tank missile systems - as well as 580,000 rounds of ammunition and approximately 3 tonnes of explosives during attempts to smuggle them into EU countries. As you are aware, this represents only a fraction of the total; the remainder has already crossed the border.

For instance, German law enforcement officers conducted searches between March 17-21 as part of an investigation into two individuals suspected of smuggling weapons from Ukraine. Investigative findings indicate that various types of armaments were transported into European countries under the guise of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian citizens residing in the EU.

This grim litany of statistics could be extended indefinitely.

It is noteworthy that the report by the US Department of Defence's Inspector General to Congress for the first half of the current fiscal year, detailing oversight findings, underscores that Pentagon officials are incapable of ensuring transparency or accountability in the process of transferring American arms and military equipment to the AFU.

The recent corruption scandal that erupted in Ukraine hardly suggests that Zelensky's patrons are intent on restoring order in the country. It is difficult to believe that the sponsors of the Kiev regime were unaware of the scale of embezzlement at the highest echelons of power. They knew - yet chose to remain silent. A protracted conflict fought by proxy - that is the primary objective pursued by the West, even amid Ukraine's pervasive system of kickbacks. Zelensky and his associates have always understood this and exploited it deftly. For them, the lives of ordinary Ukrainians are trivial, and war is merely a means to line their own pockets.

Madam Chair,

At the previous meeting, our opponents engaged in discussions regarding the purportedly dire state of the Russian economy in relation to the special military operation, even citing some questionable figures. We comprehend their desire to present wishful thinking as reality. Meanwhile, objective unfavourable evaluations of the current state of the EU economy caused by the unprecedented rise in the bloc's military expenditures were conveniently overlooked.

Judge for yourselves: according to data from the European Defence Agency, in 2024, the combined defence spending of EU member states increased by 19 percent compared to 2023, amounting to 343 billion euros. In 2025, this figure is expected to reach 381 billion euros. Meanwhile, the European economy is experiencing prolonged stagnation (EU GDP growth was just 0.5 percent in 2023 and 1.0 percent in 2024), which prevents EU governments from increasing national budget revenues. In this situation, the rapid escalation of military spending is only possible by slashing other budget lines, primarily social ones. Just consider - every euro spent on procuring shells, missiles, and drones is a euro taken away from education, healthcare, and pension systems.

Moreover, EU member states have increased public borrowing to finance rearmament programmes. Do you realise that these enormous expenditures are being offloaded onto future generations, a fact European politicians conveniently ignore?

The EU's initiatives to provide financial assistance to the Kiev regime are, in fact, inflating both the bloc's own debt (which stood at approximately 680 billion euros as of September) and that of individual member states. According to Eurostat, the aggregate public debt of EU countries rose to a staggering 81.9 percent of the bloc's GDP by the end of the second quarter. The International Monetary Fund predicts that, should the existing economic and fiscal policies persist, this figure could soar to 130 percent by 2026. It is obvious that Ukraine will never be able to repay these funds to the bloc.

The primary beneficiaries of Europe's militarisation are the leading defence conglomerates of EU countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which are closely tied to the political establishment. They profit handsomely from lucrative government contracts, securing record profits while other sectors of the economy suffer from a severe lack of investment.

Another adverse effect of the forced development of the military industry is the exacerbation of territorial imbalances and social inequality within the EU. The bulk of financial flows linked to defence contracts are directed to a limited number of military industry clusters in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while the "lagging" regions endure even greater underfunding. In this way, years of efforts to strengthen the European Union are being undermined.

Let me reiterate: it is future generations of Europeans who will have to foot the bill. The debt burden imposed on them will be all the heavier given the deeply negative demographic trends in the EU (an ageing population, a shrinking workforce, and low birth rates).

Madam Chair,

The escalation of the arms race, the promotion of war hysteria, and confrontational logic do not strengthen but rather undermine the security of EU countries, thereby increasing the risks of their entanglement in a full-scale conflict.

Despite this, Brussels continues to actively arm the Kiev regime, which is waging war against its own people and resorting to all manner of provocations.

Recently, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation thwarted an operation by Ukrainian intelligence services and their British handlers to hijack a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and smuggle it abroad. To this end, Ukrainian military intelligence officers attempted to recruit Russian pilots, offering them a payment of $3 million. The plan was to fly the hijacked MiG-31 to the vicinity of the NATO airbase in Constanta, Romania, where it could have been shot down by enemy air defence systems. I need not elaborate on the potential consequences had this provocation succeeded.

Let me reiterate this warning: any attempts to carry out such schemes will have the gravest consequences. We urge the West to refrain from supporting or instigating such reckless ventures.

The objectives set at the outset of the special military operation will be achieved in any case. We will not tolerate the continued existence of threats along our borders. That said, we remain convinced that resolving security issues through dialogue and diplomacy within the OSCE framework constitutes the most acceptable option for all.

Thank you for your attention.

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Visit to the West Group's command post

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief visited a command post of the West Group, where he held a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operational Directorate, the Commander of the South Group of Forces, and the Commander of the West Group.

November 20, 2025

21:15

The President was provided with detailed updates on the developments in various areas, including around Kupyansk.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief acknowledged that the objectives set at the previous similar meeting had been accomplished. The President highly praised the work of the command and personnel and expressed his gratitude.

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Meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

Vladimir Putin congratulated the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on his birthday.

November 20, 2025

15:05

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, good afternoon.

Patriarch Kirill: Good afternoon.

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, in your service to our nation, you contribute immensely to the Orthodox world, to the Russian people, and to all of Russia, devoting tremendous energy and effort - of this I am well aware.

On the occasion of your birthday, I wish to convey my heartfelt wishes for your health, that you may continue this noble service to our Motherland with the same, if I may say, rigorous and intense resolve.

Thank you very much. My congratulations.

Patriarch Kirill: I offer my profound gratitude, Mr President, for your generous words and for your congratulations, and most importantly, for the fact that, with your active participation as head of state, such a style and model of relations between the Church and the state has been established - one that, I dare say, would be the envy of all preceding generations.

In the former, tsarist era, the Church was not free; it was administered by a state official. In Soviet times, we know what happened. Now, for the first time in our long history, the relations between the Church and the state are conducted in such a manner that no conflicts arise which could, as it were, cast a shadow over these relations. Furthermore, these relations genuinely serve the welfare and prosperity of our people and our beloved Motherland.

I thank you most sincerely for this.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Might I trouble you for some tea?

Patriarch Kirill: It would be my pleasure.

<...>

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A Tool Of Russian Propaganda? New Russia-Linked TV Station To Be Launched In Kyrgyzstan

By Ernist Nurmatov November 20, 2025

A new independent television station with ties to Russia is set to be launched in Kyrgyzstan, fueling fears the media outlet could become a tool for spreading Moscow's propaganda in Central Asia.

Nomad TV's editorial leadership includes Anna Abakumova, a Russian journalist who previously worked for the state-funded network RT and is a close associate of Margarita Simonyan, one of the Kremlin's chief propagandists.

The launch of Nomad TV on November 27 is seen as an attempt by Moscow to boost its influence in Central Asia, a region where Russia's clout has taken a hit since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The new TV station will go on air just days before Kyrgyzstan's snap parliamentary elections on November 30. Experts say President Sadyr Japarov, who has rolled back political and media freedoms in the impoverished country, is attempting to use the vote to consolidate power.

Simonyan's Associate At The Helm

Nomad TV will operate 24 hours, seven days a week, out of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Its employees include journalists who worked for state-run Russian media, including Abakumova, who is described as a producer at Nomad TV but is believed to wield considerable influence.

Before she joined the new station, Abakumova was a senior producer for RT, formerly known as Russia Today. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she produced frontline reports from Russian-occupied regions and received several awards from Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for her work.

During a fundraising event in March 2024, Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief for 20 years and a Kremlin propagandist, introduced Abakumova as RT's chief producer, highlighting her seniority in the state-run network.

Political analyst Ruslan Akmatbek told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that Simonyan is the "most hardened of Russia's propagandists."

The analyst described Abakumova as Simonyan's "assistant" and said her role at Nomad TV suggests the Kremlin is attempting to use the station as a tool for spreading propaganda in Kyrgyzstan and the wider Central Asian region.

Simonyan is also on the Board of Trustees of Russia-based nonprofit group Evrazia, which opened a Bishkek office in 2024 and has been training journalists and facilitating trips to Russia.

Evrazia was founded by Ilan Shor, a fugitive Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing $1 billion through bank fraud who escaped to Russia in 2019 and obtained Russian citizenship.

Recruiting Kyrgyz Journalists

Nomad TV has aggressively recruited dozens of experienced journalists from state and private stations in Kyrgyzstan with offers of high salaries.

Several reporters from the state broadcaster NTRK have moved to Nomad TV, including well-known presenter Mirbek Moldakunov.

Ilyazbek Baltashev, director of Channel 7 and chairman of the Union of Journalists of Kyrgyzstan, said the salaries offered by the new station were too enticing for local journalists to turn down.

"They call journalists and ask, 'How much do you make?' If someone says, 'I get 50,000 soms,' they immediately say, 'I'll give you 100,000 soms,' and pull them away," he said.

Dozens of Russian television channels already broadcast in Kyrgyzstan. Russian state news agency Sputnik has operated in the country since 2014.

In 2022, YouTube closed channels run by Russian state media on the video-sharing platform, a move that has hit their influence in Central Asia.

Akmatbek said the Kremlin is worried about "losing its sphere of influence" in Central Asia.

"Leaders in Central Asian countries are speaking English, building relations with the West. Turkey is taking action on one side, China on the other. And there's the war with Ukraine," he said. "This is an attempt [by Russia] to keep us in their grip for the long-term."

Written by Kian Sharifi based on an original story by Ernist Nurmatov of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nomad-tv-russian- influence-kyrgyzstan-central-asia/33596593.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia and China held consultations on missile defence and missile aspects of strategic stability

20 November 2025 17:05

1946-20-11-2025

Russian-Chinese consultations on missile defence and missile aspects of strategic stability were held on November 19 in Moscow. The Russian delegation was headed by Andrey Malyugin, Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for Strategic Stability, and the Chinese delegation was headed by Li Chijiang, Deputy Director-General, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

The Sides had an in-depth consideration of the above-mentioned matters, including joint analysis of the relevant destabilizing factors that generate strategic risks for global and regional security and exchanged views on the ways of mitigating such risks.

The Sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the level and the quality of the bilateral dialogue and interaction in the mentioned areas, as well as confirmed that they aim at strengthening them further.

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Interview of Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev with Kommersant, November 19, 2025

20 November 2025 13:45

1943-20-11-2025

Question: Donald Trump claims that the United States will conduct nuclear tests very soon. Will this impact Russia-US relations and strategic stability? Also, Washington hasn't so far responded to Moscow's initiative to renew restrictions on the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems under the New START Treaty following its expiration [on February 5, 2026 - Kommersant.]

Answer: This situation is nothing short of a paradox. The US administration has so far failed to provide an official clarification requested by the Foreign Ministry, among other channels, as to whether the US president meant full-scale tests involving the detonation of a nuclear warhead, which, if it ends up taking place, will bury what remains of the arms control regime that has been largely dismantled by the Americans themselves, or whether he was referring to tests involving new delivery systems. This ambiguity provides ample room for speculation and all kinds of conspiracy theories.

If, with regard to preserving the treaty's numerical limits during one year after New START expires - something we are not pushing for and which can be done quickly without entering talks - the Americans are saying they need to conduct a rigorous analysis of Russia's initiative, then their efforts to obfuscate the most critical issue of international security and strategic stability do nothing to build mutual trust and raise doubts as to whether the US approach is genuinely responsible.

Notably, the prospect of resuming nuclear testing has drawn sharp criticism from Donald Trump's political opponents and the expert community. Analysts warn of serious negative consequences if this step were to be taken, and claims that Russia and China are supposedly conducting nuclear weapons tests and America must, therefore, catch up are entirely unsubstantiated.

This kind of turnaround tactics by the current administration are driven by the desire to secure military superiority for the United States. Moscow, however, takes them in stride in light of the groundbreaking and unmatched innovative weapons systems it has created in recent years, which reliably ensure our country's security.

We have never turned down an open dialogue among peers in this vital area, provided Russia's national interests are strictly upheld. It must be understood, however, that the conditions for launching such a dialogue will materialise when we see further improvements in Washington's policy towards Russia.

Question: The stalled negotiating process and Donald Trump cancelling the summit with Vladimir Putin in Budapest which he himself proposed suggest that Washington has backed down on the Ukraine track. Does this mean the positive momentum created during the Anchorage summit has run its course?

Answer: Not in the least. The importance of Vladimir Putin's first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump after the latter returned to the White House lies in the fact that both leaders negotiated as peers, trying to identify points of overlapping interests. A stalled dialogue does not mean a halted dialogue. Contacts continue at different levels and call for patience and persistence.

Of course, one cannot discount pressure coming from the deep state and its representatives in the government who are in opposition to Donald Trump. They are inciting the president to ratchet up pressure on Moscow, which is an exercise in futility to begin with, in order to coerce the Russians into immediately ceasing hostilities in order to save the Zelensky-led regime. The core principles of Trumpism, such as America First and Peace through Strength imply driving a hard bargain as a way to remove existing irritants, rather than relying on the interpersonal chemistry that has formed between the leaders.

Nevertheless, the bumps and pitfalls in a dialogue that is free from illusions and - I'll say it again - is conducted mostly privately with just a few media outlets covering it, should not obscure the main point which is that, as great powers, Russia and the United States are destined to come to terms when the issue is about non-confrontational coexistence. That is at the very least. Soviet and American leaders understood this well when they established diplomatic relations in 1933. Our respective presidents were fully aware of this as well when, in a telephone conversation on February 12, shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration, they agreed to work towards bringing Russia-US relations back to normal.

Question: What is the status of consultations on irritants in bilateral relations? These talks began under the previous administration and, in theory, should have led to quick removal of the legacy restrictions affecting the work of both countries' diplomatic missions. This has not happened so far. Moreover, visa regulations for the Russian citizens have been toughened. Why?

Answer: The dialogue on irritants has been ongoing, and certain improvements have been achieved. Sure enough, they do nothing to change the restrictive system imposed under Joe Biden, but they do alleviate its most egregious elements.

One example is the travel-notification regime for the embassy personnel planning to go beyond the 25-mile radius (a mirror regime of 41 km was established for the Americans in Moscow). Each time, prior to travelling beyond the 25-mile radius, they are required to obtain permission. The agreed quotas for official and tourist travel have been eases now.

You were right when you said that, citing staffing shortages, the Americans stopped issuing regular visas to Russian citizens in Moscow. Visas can now be obtained only at US embassies in Warsaw, Poland, and you need a Schengen visa to go there, or Astana, Kazakhstan. The situation with diplomatic and official visas has slightly improved. This is important considering mass expulsions of Russian diplomatic staff initiated by Washington, followed by reciprocal measures, which resulted in severe personnel shortages on both sides. The operating regime of our depleted consular offices has not changed despite the fact that they must cope with minimal staffing.

During the above consultations on irritants, the sides also agreed on uninterrupted banking services for their diplomatic missions, committing not to block financial transactions with their respective capitals. Appropriate exemptions from the sanctions regime have been made. This applies primarily to the United States.

However, progress in addressing the underlying causes of abnormal bilateral relations which is the key prerequisite for getting our relations genuinely normalised as envisioned by the presidents, has stalled. The State Department flat out refuses to discuss returning six seized diplomatic properties owned by the Russian Federation as private property. US security agencies which stand guard around them unlawfully deny access to the Russian ambassador and diplomats. The American side ties serious discussions of this matter in with a settlement in Ukraine that suits its interests. It rejects our proposal to resume direct air travel, which Washington suspended after the start of the special military operation, tying it to Ukraine settlement as well.

Question: Is there hope that this dialogue will resume?

Answer: We are not giving up on it and continue urging the State Department's negotiating team not to narrow down the dialogue on irritants. The presidents have set quite the opposite task. It is important not to limit discussions to visas and minor technical issues related to the functioning of diplomatic missions, but to focus on normalising relations in a broader sense. As a first step, we need to return to the starting point of December 2016, when, frustrated by Hillary Clinton's defeat during the presidential campaign, then President Barack Obama launched the Russian-American diplomatic war. Dealing with its consequences is extremely painful. We will continue working hard towards this end.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's greetings to the organisers and participants of the International Conference on Ensuring Food Sovereignty for African Countries

20 November 2025 12:40

1942-20-11-2025

I extend a warm welcome to all participants of the International Conference on Ensuring Food Sovereignty for African Countries. This forum was an initiative of Rossotrudnichestvo, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organisation. Special thanks go to our Ethiopian friends, who readily agreed to host the conference in the hospitable city of Addis Ababa.

Russia is committed to the progressive expansion of friendly ties and economic cooperation with Africa. We recognise the fundamental importance of food security for our partners, and therefore, Russian economic operators will continue to provide all necessary assistance in addressing this challenge.

We consider this meeting to be very timely and its programme to be well thought-out. It is crucial that the agenda covers a wide range of relevant topics from sharing Russian experience, knowledge, and technology to modernise African agriculture, to the localisation of agricultural production and assistance in training qualified national personnel.

I am confident that the conference will be highly constructive and will serve to expand productive cooperation between Russia and African nations. We expect that it will help chart a path for our African friends to achieve food sovereignty and advance the goals outlined in both the African Union's Kampala Declaration of January 2025 and the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want plan.

I wish you fruitful discussions and all the very best.

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Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview for the Nuremberg documentary, Moscow, November 20, 2025

20 November 2025 09:45

1939-20-11-2025

Question: Why do these unshakable rules get violated in Europe? Immunity to the Nazi virus has significantly weakened. Why is that do you think? Who is trying to revise the Nuremberg Trial verdicts, and to what end?

Sergey Lavrov: I believe all of this reflects, first and foremost, the West's position which has never been steeped in justice or any ideals whatsoever. It has always relied on containing competitors.

Many historians are of the opinion that in the early days of the Second World War, Western countries, particularly Britain and the United States, waited to see who was going to gain the upper hand, Adolf Hitler or the Soviet Union. There was a reason it took them so long to open the second front. It goes without saying that they did not want Hitler to achieve an unconditional victory. Had he seized the riches of the Soviet Union, his empire would have become unbreakable.

The Lend-Lease was launched immediately after the Great Patriotic War broke out and was a great accomplishment in the history of Russia-US relations. We had joint projects to deliver supplies across the North Sea with the British as well.

We cherish this memory. The last time President Putin mentioned it was during his summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. It was truly touching to see the Americans in Alaska preserve the hallowed memory of those years of alliance. President Putin laid flowers at that monument.

However, the principles of wartime brotherhood were quickly put to a rigorous test. Less than a year after Victory, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his Fulton speech about isolating and fencing off the Soviet Union and lowering an Iron Curtain to prevent the communist scourge from spreading to other countries.

The main reason behind Nazism rearing its ugly head lies in what was happening in the countries such as the Baltic states which cultivated a genetic hatred of everything related to our shared history, including vocal refusal to acknowledge the immense contribution the Soviet Union had made to advance these backward territories and to build their own industry and infrastructure for them.

This hatred runs deep in their genes, It was widely fueled by the elites of the Baltic states and major Western actors, who saw it as an another chance to annoy and to destabilise the Soviet Union, later Russia, when we granted independence to the Baltic states.

This Nazi scourge spread rapidly to manifest itself in marches of veterans and torchlight processions. Look at what is happening in Finland, which enjoyed a reputation of a neutral state in the post-war period. That country promotes conciliation and consensus; it was behind the Helsinki process that led to the creation of the OSCE.

Yet now, in his remarks, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, at one point my counterpart as foreign minister, says that the Nazi charge is not going anywhere.

We are now talking about Finland as one of Hitler's most devout allies. It took part in imposing the Siege of Leningrad and perpetrating other inhumane acts, such as setting up concentration camps. We didn't feel like bringing this matter up earlier, because we thought the lessons had been learned. Not really. Nothing has been learned.

Nationalism has long been evident in Ukraine, long before the special military operation and long before the February 2014 coup. A couple of years before that coup, US Congress examined an inquiry regarding the creation and ongoing activities of the Azov battalion in Ukraine. It was recognised as an extremist organisation. The congressional resolution was adopted which proscribed any efforts to support it. Later, the Americans forgot about the resolution adopted by their own legislative body.

Torchlight processions in Ukraine went unnoticed for years on end. Moreover, President Petro Poroshenko and President Vladimir Zelensky made sure no attempts were made to disrupt these marches.

The developments in Germany are the saddest part, though. I noticed a change in the mood of our German dialogue partners a long time ago, ten years at least, in my dealings with the German counterparts, several of them, including the current President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Other ministry officials who communicated at different levels with our counterparts from the German Foreign Ministry and other government agencies noticed this change as well. I'd be hard pressed to come up with accurate quotes, but if I were to summarise the message they tried to convey it was that they had long since paid up their debt and atoned for everything Hitler had done, and they owe nothing to anyone anymore.

I mentioned this in an interview many years ago. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is now in office. He proudly stated that Germany must once again become Europe's strongest army. This once again shows that no lessons have been learned, at least by Merz and his inner circle.

It is gratifying to see that the German people do not let these metamorphoses go unnoticed. The lowest ever Merz government approval ratings can be attributed not only to economic difficulties, but also to overt revanchism, which could lead Germany into catastrophe this time again.

We cannot afford to let all the trends unfolding in the countries around us play out unchecked. This concerns the Baltic states, Ukraine, and Germany. In a number of European countries, Poland included, monuments to the heroes who liberated Europe are being torn down, while monuments are being erected (such as in Ukraine) to Roman Shukhevich, Stepan Bandera, and other Nazi puppets whose remembrance and glorification must be outlawed under the Nuremberg Tribunal's verdict.

The West, primarily Europe, is collectively pushing ideas about setting up tribunals against the Russian army, pushing all kinds of false claims about crimes allegedly committed by our military without providing any evidence to back it up. We oppose this provocation with our own efforts to establish the factual basis of our stance.

Russia's Investigative Committee has been looking into these matters since the bloody crimes in Odessa in 2014, when frontline aviation bombed cities including Lugansk, and artillery fire targeted peaceful cities. Using regular army in internal conflicts is prohibited by international humanitarian law.

Look at where the West stands to see once again its duplicity and hypocrisy. There is a compelling example to prove it. During Maidan protests in late 2013-early 2014, the West, including NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, vocally called on then President Viktor Yanukovich not to use the army against peaceful protesters who for weeks staged the West-fuelled provocations on the Maidan.

Shortly after the coup that brought to power the people who didn't give a hoot about the guarantees provided by France, Germany, and Poland under the agreement reached by the opposition and Yanukovich, they seized government buildings. The first thing they announced was they would cancel the status of the Russian language in Ukraine. Next thing they did was send militant groups aka friendship trains to storm the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea. After these lads began using militants and military force against those they called terrorists, meaning the people of Donbass who refused to recognise the coup, NATO - through the same secretary general - called on the new Ukrainian authorities to use force against peaceful citizens, but do so measurably. That is, Yanukovich was told not to use any force, while the new authorities were allowed to use force measurably.

Everything we have put on record with regard to the crimes committed by the Kiev regime after the coup is of great importance. Without a doubt, these materials will come handy over time, and the criminals will get the punishment they deserve. In addition to the Investigative Committee of Russia, this work is being carried out by the International Public Tribunal on Kiev Regime's Crimes established by a member of the Russian Civic Chamber Maxim Grigoryev.

The Foreign Ministry created the position of Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law quite a while ago. The commissioner publishes thematic reports annually. In April, the report titled "The 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory: The Shadow of Nazism Once Again Falls over Europe" was released. This is an illuminating report based on numerous facts and authentic documents, including the ones we obtained from international and governmental organisations in Europe.

A new position - Ambassador-at-Large for the Crimes of the Kiev Regime - was recently created at the Ministry manned by renowned politician Rodion Miroshnik, who was personally involved in many events related to implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which were deliberately disrupted and which no one intended to act upon. This, too, is part of the record. The agreements to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine by granting special status to Donbass territories have been approved by the UN Security Council, yet the Kiev regime constantly violated every provision of these agreements from ceasefire to refusal to use military force.

A couple of years ago, former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, former Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and former President of France Francois Hollande who signed these agreements admitted they never intended to implement them. That speaks volumes about their approach to international law. All UN member states without exception must comply with the UN Security Council resolutions and the Nuremberg Tribunal verdicts.

We see that revisionism attributed to Russia and China is actually displayed by those who erode our collective accomplishments and try to re-open the door to hate-fueled ideology and practice.

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Article by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for Laos' media, "Russia and Laos: 65 Years of Time-Tested Friendship", November 20, 2025

20 November 2025 04:00

1938-20-11-2025

On 7 October 2025, Russia and Laos marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past decades, our countries and the entire world have undergone big changes. What has remained immutable are the unifying traditions of friendship, mutual assistance, and camaraderie rooted in the years of the national liberation struggle of the Lao people against French colonialists and American aggressors.

For our States, this year is marked by the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in World War II. A distinguished delegation from the Lao People's Democratic Republic headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane, attended the celebrations in Moscow on May 9. A Lao ceremonial regiment marched in formation across Red Square.

For Laos, 2025 is also marked by important national anniversaries -70 years of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (March 22, 1955) and 50 years since the Lao PDR was proclaimed on December 2, 1975.

We highly value our Lao friends' careful attention to the pages of our common past, preservation of historical truth, and curtailing any attempts to distort it. We know that Laos cherishes the memory of the assistance our country provided in establishing its statehood.

The USSR took active part in the 1954 Geneva Conference, which put an end to French colonial rule in Indochina, and acted as a guarantor of Laos's neutrality. Massive material support by the Soviet Union was an important factor in the victory of the Lao patriotic forces during the "undeclared war,". The feat of the Soviet internationalist pilots is immortalized in monuments erected in 2022 - in the capital, Vientiane, and the city of Paek in the Xiengkhouang province.

After the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, our country contributed to ensuring its defence capability and the development of its national economy. Big industrial enterprises, important transport infrastructure facilities, medical institutions, and educational establishments were opened in Laos with the assistance of Soviet specialists. Many of them - such as the Mittaphab Russian-Lao Friendship Hospital - continue to benefit the citizens of the Lao PDR to this day.

Today, Russian-Lao cooperation is dynamically advancing in the spirit and letter of the Treaty on the Foundations of Friendly Relations between Russia and the Lao PDR of March 9, 1994, and the Declaration on bilateral strategic partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region of October 13, 2011.

The leaders of our countries outline the priorities for joint work during their intensive and trust-based dialogue. On July 31, 2025, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had talks with President of the Lao PDR, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Thongloun Sisoulith during his official visit to Russia. In 2024, two meetings of the heads of state took place - on May 9 in Moscow and on October 24 on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan.

It is gratifying that the Lao side regularly participates in the discussions at the Eastern Economic Forums. At the EEF 2025, Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Prime Minister of the Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandone, and at the EEF 2023 - with Vice President of the Lao PDR Pany Yathotou. This year, the first Russian-Lao business forum was held at the Vladivostok venue.

Ties are strengthening along the lines of governments, parliaments, leading political parties, and public organisations. Interaction in the fields of defence and security, as well as law enforcement, is expanding. A substantive exchange of views is conducted between the foreign ministries. In June 2025, we hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, in Moscow. Ministerial meetings are held regularly on the sidelines of ASEAN events.

Our countries' approaches to a wide range of international issues overlap or are very close. We advocate unconditional observance of the UN Charter principles in their entirety and interconnectedness. We are firmly committed to the formation of a just multipolar world order that reflects cultural and civilisational diversity and the right of peoples to determine their own destiny. We are categorically opposed to neo-colonial practices, unilateral coercive measures, threats of the use of force, and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

We welcome Laos's independent foreign policy, including its balanced position in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. Obviously, a lasting settlement of the conflict is only possible through eliminating its root causes. It is necessary to reliably guarantee Russia's security, neutralise the threats emanating from the aggressive expansion of NATO, and stop attempts to draw Ukraine into this militaristic alliance. It is no less important to ensure that the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people in the territories controlled by the Kiev regime are respected.

I would like to make special mention of the constructive policy of our Lao friends aimed at strengthening the ASEAN-centred architecture of regional security and cooperation, and their consistent efforts to advance Russia's dialogue partnership with the Association. This was fully demonstrated by Vientiane's successful chairmanship of ASEAN for 2024.

We appreciate the desire of our Lao partners to establish contacts with the leading associations of the Global Majority, including BRICS and the SCO, to foster relations with the EAEU, and to participate in the processes of creating the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Eurasian security architecture. This year, at the SCO summit in Tianjin on August 31 - September 1, the Council of Heads of Member States of the organisation unanimously voted to grant Laos partner status, which will allow Vientiane to become more closely involved in the diverse and productive cooperation in this format.

We attach great importance to the development of Russian-Lao practical cooperation, which continues to grow. At the same time, we should admit that the absolute figures are still quite modest and do not match the existing potential. The primary tasks in this area are the creation of new effective transport and logistics routes, the implementation of large joint investment projects, primarily in energy, mineral resource exploration and mining, as well as support for small and medium-sized businesses. The Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation plays a significant role in these matters.

We see good prospects for constructing a small capacity nuclear power plant in the Lao PDR with the participation of the Rosatom State Corporation. Russian companies such as Rusal, RusHydro, and GAZ Group are also interested in working with Laos. The Fesco transport group organises container shipping between Russia and Laos through Vietnamese ports. Rail passenger and freight services between Vladivostok and Vientiane through the territory of China are being considered. Initiatives involving information and communication technologies and space exploration are also on the agenda.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of qualified personnel for the successful socio-economic development of any country. Proceeding from this, we are ready to continue assisting in professional training of specialists for Laos. Within the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation, 100 scholarships are allocated annually for Lao students to enrol in Russian universities. In this respect, Laos ranks third among ASEAN countries. Work has begun on the creation of the first Russian-Lao school in Vientiane with a full cycle of training under a joint curriculum.

It is gratifying that the multifaceted art of Russia enjoys wide popularity in Laos. In 2023 and 2024, residents and guests of Vientiane warmly welcomed Russian film festivals and concerts by music and dance groups. In turn, Russia has a sincere affection for the unique and rich Lao culture. Fruitful activities of the Russia-Laos Friendship Society contribute to the growth of mutual interest in cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

Another dimension of our bilateral relations is the interaction of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the cities and provinces of Laos. Last year, the Days of Moscow in Vientiane and the Days of Vientiane in Moscow were successfully held. Twinning agreements are being implemented between St. Petersburg and Vientiane, and between Tobolsk and Luang Prabang.

A dialogue is also being built along the lines of religious organisations. We are grateful to the Vientiane authorities for permission to open the first parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. Delegations from the Lao PDR traditionally make a significant contribution to the work of international Buddhist forums held in our country.

It is symbolic that in this important anniversary year, the leadership of the Lao PDR decided to present the Russian Federation with a gift of two elephants. This animal is especially revered in Lao culture, personifying peace, prosperity, and wisdom. We view such a generous gesture as a visible testament to the strong friendship between our peoples.

In the current environment, Russia and Laos face new challenges and opportunities. The strengthening strategic partnership between our countries allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. The 65 years of cooperation is evidence that we can solve the most complex issues for the benefit of our countries and peoples, in the interests of ensuring universal peace and prosperity.

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov holds talks with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China General Zhang Youxia

20 November 2025 06:55

'This year, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of our common Victory over German fascism and Japanese militarism. Our memory helps preserve historical truth and perpetuate the names of heroes, and it's crucial today, when attempts to rewrite history are regularly made,' Andrei Belousov said.

The Russian Defence Minister noted that friendly and trusting relations between the leaders of the two countries play a key role in strengthening Russian-Chinese ties.

'The visit of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China to Russia in May and the visit of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation to China in September gave a powerful impetus to strengthening bilateral relations in all domains,' noted Andrei Belousov.

The Russian Defence Minister also added that the military departments of Russia and China have begun implementing the agreements reached at the highest level, significantly increasing the number of joint operational and combat training activities on land, at sea and in the air.

'The aim is to ensure the security of two countries. I emphasise that they are not directed against other countries,' Andrei Belousov said.

He also added that military cooperation between Russia and China is based on trust and understanding of each other's interests.

'I expect today we will outline new horizons for cooperation in the defence sphere,' the Russian Defence Minister summed up.

In turn, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China General Zhang Youxia noted that under the strategic guidance of the states' leaders, Russian-Chinese relations maintain healthy and stable dynamics of high-level development. The dynamics of mutually beneficial cooperation tend to deepen and strengthen.

'The relations between China and Russia have become a model of a new type of international relations, as well as a model of relations between neighbouring major powers. Bilateral relations based on long-standing good-neighbourliness, comprehensive strategic interaction, mutually beneficial cooperation are constantly gaining new vitality,' General Zhang Youxia stressed.

The Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China added that important agreements reached by the leaders of the states would be implemented during the visit.

'In the course of my visit to Russia as the Chinese delegation head, I am ready to implement along with the Russian side the important agreements reached by our leaders, to comprehensively increase the level of Chinese-Russian relations, expand their horizons and strengthen their resilience,' General Zhang Youxia said.

The ceremony of an official meeting of the Chinese delegation with the participation of the Company of the Honour Guard and the military band took place before the talks in the building of the National Centre of State Defence Control of the Russian Federation.

Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation

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UK Shows No Desire for Dialog - Russia's MFA Spokeswoman

Sputnik News

20251120

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Representatives of the UK leadership, including National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, have demonstrated no desire for dialogue with Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

"When one side of a conversation clearly lacks the desire to listen to their opponent, dialogue does not occur. And representatives of the UK establishment, including Jonathan Powell, have not demonstrated such a desire either then or subsequently," Zakharova said.

UK media delayed the publishing of information about contacts between Ushakov and Powell in an attempt to shift the blame for the lack of progress in resolving the Ukraine crisis onto Moscow, Zakharova said.

"As for the reasons why this story 'surfaced' after such a long period of time, given the traditionally commissioned nature of such British media publications, we can safely categorize it as part of the broader Western information campaign aimed at shifting responsibility for the lack of progress in the peace process on Ukraine from themselves onto Russia," she said.

London has "nothing to boast of" in terms of peacemaking efforts, as its actions increasingly consist of sabotage, disruption, and other provocations, the spokeswoman added.

"London inflates a verbal soap bubble of good intentions, but in reality its actions consistently follow a hostile, anti-Russian course. As a result, all bilateral achievements of recent decades have been completely erased  interagency and humanitarian programs have been curtailed, trade and investment exchanges undermined, and there is no working contact at a high political level. Engagement on multilateral platforms is far from constructive," the diplomat said.

Only issues concerning the functioning of diplomatic missions remain within the mutual focus of both countries' foreign ministries, she added.

Last week, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said, commenting on his talks with Powell, that the conversation was "uninteresting" because the UK official was trying to talk about London's position rather than discuss any possible proposals.

 Sputnik

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Remarks by President Antonio Costa at the press conference following the Leaders' meeting with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council

Statements and remarks

20 November 2025

First, I would like to congratulate the South African authorities and the Commission for the work that you have been doing since our summit 8 months ago in Cape Town. It is very impressive, the capacity that you show to translate into concrete projects what we have agreed on and our ambitious common partnership.

My second word is to thank President Ramaphosa and South Africa for their very strong global leadership. We are living in a multipolar world, and in this multipolar world, we need to engage and strengthen the relationships between the different poles of this world.

And Africa is a key continent for the future of our world, and of course, South Africa has a leading position on this continent. And the G20 meeting is a great opportunity to gather people from all around the world, to come here, and to sit at the table, to discuss and to listen to each other, to bring new proposals, and to try to tackle the global challenges that we need to face together. Because these global challenges, only together we can tackle them.

Climate change, inequality, poverty are three main issues that we need to mobilise the entire world to do on this. Our partnership is based on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and a fairer, more sustainable world.

These principles are also the cornerstone of your G20 Presidency. You have chosen as a motto "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainable Development". The EU fully embraces your priorities, and we are actively contributing to making this week's summit a success.

Now more than ever, we need strong multilateral platforms and institutions, a rules-based order, open dialogue and global cooperation to tackle common challenges.

Fighting climate change, inequality, and poverty.

By upholding the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Pact for the Future.

Engaging in the reform of international financial institutions and in the reform the United Nations to reflect the world of today, because the world today is no longer the same as it was in 1945. We need act for the well-being of our people today and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

For this first G20 held on African soil, your agenda, dear President Ramaphosa, is firmly geared towards your continent's prosperity and innovation potential. The EU is a reliable, predictable, and trustworthy partner for Africa on that path. Our two continents are bound by a unique partnership. It is robust. It is dynamic. And it is looking to the future.

As you said, next Monday, we will hold our 7th EU-African Summit in Luanda, Angola - with a clear purpose in mind: to strengthen and enrich our cooperation. To make our natural connection even stronger. So that we can grow together and protect each other.

Dear President, I look forward to welcoming you, together with my friend, President Joao Lourenco, there next week. Until then, thank you once again for hosting us here in Johannesburg and all the best for our G20 summit tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

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US to sell Saudi Arabia downgraded F-35s to keep Israeli 'military edge'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 6:42 PM

US officials and defense experts say the F-35 fighter jets which the United States plans to sell to Saudi Arabia will be delivered in a downgraded configuration compared to those in Israel's fleet so as to preserve Tel Aviv's so-called qualitative military edge in the West Asia region.

The Reuters news agency reported on Thursday that the aircraft intended for Riyadh would not include several of the advanced systems and capabilities integrated into those operated by Israel.

According to US officials, Saudi jets will not include advanced electronic warfare systems, enhanced weaponry, or other classified components that Israel has the authority to customize independently.

Israel holds distinctive permissions that enable it to modify its F-35s, incorporating locally developed munitions, advanced radar-jamming systems, and various other upgrades, all without needing prior approval from the United States.

Defense analyst Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, said that even if the sale to Saudi Arabia moves forward, the kingdom is unlikely to receive the cutting-edge AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.

The next-generation air-to-air weapon is regarded as one of the most critical and advanced technologies linked to the F-35 platform.

Birkey said access to the missile will very likely be limited exclusively to Israel.

Recent revelations seem to challenge statements made earlier this week by US President Donald Trump.

While addressing the media alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, Trump claimed that the planes sold to Saudi Arabia would be similar to those supplied to Israel.

The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) mandates the United States to limit or reduce the transfer of advanced weaponry to Arab nations to ensure the preservation of Israel's supposed qualitative military edge (QME).

Saudi Arabia has been pursuing access to F-35 fighter jets since 2017, following a comparable effort by the United Arab Emirates. However, the UAE's bid faced setbacks under the Biden administration due to concerns regarding the presence of Chinese technology in Emirati networks.

During the Dubai Airshow, a high-ranking Lockheed Martin representative refrained from commenting on the anticipated sale, emphasizing that the matter is still at the government-to-government negotiation phase, despite public backing from Trump.

This development follows Saudi crown prince's commitment to increase the kingdom's investments in the United States to $1 trillion during his visit to Washington and his meeting with Trump.

Trump reportedly urged him during a joint business summit to explore raising the amount to $1.5 trillion.

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China's permanent representative to UN urges Syrian transitional government to address counterterrorism challenges

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 20, 2025 09:14 AM

A Chinese envoy urged the Syrian transitional government to focus on tackling counterterrorism challenges at an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Syria on Wednesday.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations noted that terrorist attacks continue to occur in Syria, and terrorism remains a major obstacle to the country's reconstruction.

The issue of foreign terrorist fighters entrenched in Syria is particularly concerning.

He said the Syrian side has pledged that its territory will not become a source of threats to any other country. China hopes the transitional government will fulfill its counterterrorism obligations, take effective measures, and resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement."

He stressed that the UN Security Council's recent adjustments to sanctions related to Syria are aimed at creating favorable conditions for Syria's economic recovery and the start of national reconstruction. For entities and individuals that remain on the sanctions list, the Council's measures are still in effect and must be strictly enforced.

Fu reiterated that the Golan Heights is internationally recognized as Syrian occupied territory, and Israel should withdraw from Syrian land as soon as possible.

He said that in recent months, the Syrian transitional government has made continuous efforts to restore stability, which China appreciates.

China supports Syria in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and hopes the country can find a reconstruction plan that reflects the will of its people through political dialogue. China adheres to a friendly policy toward all Syrian people and respects the choices made independently by the Syrian nation, said Fu.

China welcomes Syria's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to enhance cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, Fu noted.

China is also ready to actively consider taking part in Syria's economic reconstruction and contribute to the country's social development and improvement of livelihoods, said the Chinese envoy.

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UN voices concern over Netanyahu's tour of southern Syria region

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 9:17 AM

The United Nations has expressed concerns regarding a recent visit by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the buffer zone in southern Syria that separates the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of the Arab country.

"I think this very public visit is concerning, to say the least," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news conference on Wednesday. "We call on Israel to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement."

He added that the issue was raised during the recent meeting between United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi and the foreign minister of Syria's ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime, Asaad al-Shaibani.

In a statement, Rochdi described the visit by Netanyahu as "a further grave violation of Syria's sovereignty."

"Given the Security Council's affirmation in resolution 2799 (2025) of its full respect for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi once again calls for Israel's violations to cease and for adherence to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, and appeals to the Security Council to assume its responsibilities in this regard," the statement noted.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu visited the Israeli-controlled buffer zone in southern Syria on Wednesday. He was accompanied by minister of military affairs Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, military chief Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet director David Zini, among others.

The visit came amid reports that Israeli authorities and the HTS regime have been involved in direct talks in recent months, aimed at reaching what is being referred to as a security agreement.

Meanwhile, HTS authorities have condemned the "illegal" visit by high-ranking Israeli officials to Syria's south, calling it a serious breach of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They described the visit as "a new attempt to impose a fait accompli", saying it violated UN Security Council resolutions.

The statement said any Israeli measures in southern Syria were "null and void" under international law and repeated the demand for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian soil.

It urged the international community to curb Israeli actions and press the Tel Aviv regime to return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Syria "will continue to defend its sovereignty and its rights until every inch of its land is restored," the statement read.

Ibrahim Olabi, representative of the HTS regime to the United Nations, also strongly condemned the provocative tour, stating it "epitomizes Israel's ongoing aggression against Syria and its people".

"We renew our calls on the UN and this council to take firm and immediate action to halt these violations, ensure their non-recurrence, end the occupation and enforce relevant resolutions, particularly the 1974 disengagement agreement," agreed after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

Olabi insisted that Israel needs to prove itself before the international community.

"You have struck Syria more than 1,000 times. And we have responded with requests for diplomacy. ... We have responded with zero signs of aggression towards Israel," he said.

"We have engaged constructively, and we still wait for you to do the same," Olabi concluded.

Israel has repeatedly conducted aggressive operations across Syrian territory following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad's government late last year.

Netanyahu has ordered his forces to advance further into Syrian territory, targeting the acquisition of several strategically significant locations in the area.

Israel has intensified its presence in Syria by taking control of the buffer zone that divides the occupied Golan Heights from the broader Syrian territory, thereby violating the provisions outlined in the 1974 disengagement agreement.

Analysts caution that the HTS regime's silence, combined with its steps toward normalization with Tel Aviv, has encouraged the Israeli regime to escalate its territorial occupation in Syria and increase its airstrikes on the area.

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Local governments may face scrutiny over PRC-national ward chiefs

ROC Central News Agency

11/20/2025 10:48 PM

Taipei, Nov. 20 (CNA) The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has referred four local governments and five district and township offices to the Control Yuan for investigation after they failed to dismiss five ward and village chiefs who are said to hold People's Republic of China (PRC) nationality.

Chieh Yu-chin (), deputy head of the ministry's Department of Civil Affairs, said at a press briefing in Taipei on Thursday that the MOI sent letters to local authorities starting on Nov. 29, 2024 to handle the issue in accordance with the Nationality Act.

The local governments and district and township offices failed to respond, however, and the matter was referred to the Control Yuan -- the government branch responsible for investigating and censuring government wrongdoing -- in May for investigation, Chieh said.

It was unclear why the MOI did not make the referral public until Thursday, six months after it happened.

Since May, however, only one of the five village and ward chiefs in question has been removed, and that case remains under appeal.

In explaining its Control Yuan referral, the MOI asserted that the village chief in Hualien County's Fuli Township and four ward chiefs from Tucheng and Zhonghe districts in New Taipei, Songshan District in Taipei, and Xinwu District in Taoyuan are still PRC citizens, which is not allowed under the law.

Once Chinese spouses become Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) nationals, their eligibility to hold public office is governed by the Nationality Act, Deputy Interior Minister Wu Tang-an () said at the press briefing.

Article 20 of the Nationality Act stipulates clear steps an ROC national who has dual citizenship has to take if they want to hold a government office.

The individual must apply to renounce the other nationality before taking office and complete the process and obtain the necessary documentation within one year from taking office, according to the act.

The four village chiefs still in office said to hold PRC nationality are Wang Min-ju () in Taipei, Peng Hsiao-lin () in Taoyuan, and Teng Yueh-lan () and Lin Hsiu-chen () in New Taipei.

The only one who has been removed is Deng Wan-hua (), who served as chief of Xuetian Village in Hualien County's Fuli Township before being removed from her post by the township office on Aug. 1.

Deng appealed against her removal, and on Oct. 29 the Hualien County government's Appeals Committee said it had reversed this decision, though Deng was still not allowed to return to office.

The MOI said Thursday that the case now has to be further investigated by the Fuli Township Office before any new decision is made.

The township office said it would review the matter by taking into account the views of both the ministry and the Hualien County government, while reviewing the relevant laws.

At the same time, however, the law requires that township or district offices be responsible for removing people with PRC nationality, apparently leaving the MOI with little direct legal recourse.

Deng, meanwhile, said she has not received any official documents or notifications regarding the case and that she was not in a position to comment publicly before a conclusion was reached.

The catch for these and other naturalized ROC citizens from the PRC is that it is extremely difficult to renounce PRC citizenship for naturalized ROC citizens.

Under PRC law, Chinese nationals who have settled abroad and been naturalized as a "foreign national" shall "automatically lose Chinese nationality."

But China does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, making it hard for people like Deng to qualify as a "foreign national" in Beijing's eyes.

She previously said she had tried to contact Chinese authorities to renounce her PRC citizenship but was ignored.

(By Kao Hua-chien, Chang Chi and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/ls

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Attempting to exploit Taiwan question will only bring trouble upon Japan itself, says FM on Chinese people believing Japan least qualified to talk about 'Taiwan contingency'

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 20, 2025 04:17 PM

In response to a question that many Chinese people believe that on the Taiwan question, Japan bears historical crimes and is the least qualified party to speak of any "contingency," regarding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks about the so-called "Taiwan contingency," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told Global Times at Thursday's briefing that historically, Japan forcibly occupied the island of Taiwan and imposed colonial rule for half a century. During the Japanese occupation, the people in Taiwan island suffered immensely with hundreds of thousands of compatriots were killed; the people were deprived of political rights, freedom of belief, and cultural freedom; and mineral resources and essential supplies were plundered indiscriminately, according to Mao.

The spokesperson stated that Japan's aggressors committed innumerable crimes in Taiwan, writing the darkest page in the island's history.

Mao emphasized that as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan, Japan must remember that Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Whether any "contingency" occurs in Taiwan is simply not Japan's business. Attempting to exploit the Taiwan question will only bring trouble upon Japan itself, Mao said.

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Top political advisor stresses resolve to oppose external interference in Taiwan question

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:51, November 21, 2025

CHENGDU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Thursday reiterated the mainland's resolve to resolutely crack down on separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence," oppose external interference, and safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a cross-Strait seminar held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

He stressed that the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to the motherland stand as great triumphs and sources of profound national pride for the Chinese nation.

They underscore a fundamental truth -- a strong and unified country is always the foundation on which the future of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan, ultimately depends, Wang said.

Wang also noted that, at a grand gathering in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the mainland solemnly declared that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.

He added that the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in October further stressed advancing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and promoting the cause of national reunification, as China works to build itself into a modern socialist country in all respects.

"We will fully implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus," said Wang, pledging efforts to promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, enhance the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and make concerted efforts to create a brighter future for the Chinese nation.

The seminar, the fifth edition of its kind, was co-organized by the mainland-based Cross-Straits Relations Research Center and Taiwan patriotic groups supporting reunification.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, read Wang's congratulatory letter at the seminar.

He noted that the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will create broader space for the development of Taiwan residents and businesses in the mainland -- and also reiterated that China will not tolerate any interference from external forces, including Japan, in affairs related to Taiwan.

More than 200 participants attended the event in Chengdu, including Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party, New Party Chairman Wu Cheng-tien, experts and scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and guests from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

Participants from Taiwan expressed strong commitment as Chinese to defending the overall interests of the Chinese nation, opposing "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and enhancing cross-Strait exchanges.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/11/21

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Nov. 20 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Nov. 21 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

29 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 17 out of 29 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1141121_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window]

1141121_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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100 new jobs created as drone factory opens in Swindon

Press release

Factory will build next-generation uncrewed systems and loitering munitions.

From: Ministry of Defence and Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP

Published 20 November 2025

More than 100 highly skilled jobs will be created in Wiltshire as the UK steps up its domestic manufacturing of drones.

STARK's new manufacturing facility in Swindon marks a major expansion of the UK's defence industrial base - creating more than 100 jobs in the first year including in software, electronics and aerospace engineering and helping to make Defence an engine for growth.

The purpose-built 40,000 sq ft factory, which was opened by the Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns today, is STARK's first production site outside Germany. It will begin manufacturing a range of AI-enabled uncrewed systems in the coming months.

The investment directly supports the government's Strategic Defence Review, which set out the UK's commitment to boosting sovereign production of uncrewed systems at pace and at scale. The Virtus loitering munition, which will be built in Swindon, has already been successfully deployed in Ukraine and can be assembled in just 10 minutes.

The opening reflects the growing defence partnership between the UK and Germany. Under the Trinity House Agreement, both nations are expanding industrial cooperation on next-generation battlefield technologies, from long-range strike weapons to autonomous systems. This will boost NATO's collective security, whilst delivering on the Government's Plan for Change through economic growth.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns MP, said:

This facility is the Strategic Defence Review in action  building UK industrial strength, creating over 100 skilled jobs, and ensuring we can produce the drones and munitions that modern conflict demands. One year on, our partnership with Germany through the Trinity House Agreement is already delivering real industrial cooperation and investment at home. This site will strengthen supply chains, accelerate innovation, and give the UK and our allies the edge to stay ahead of our adversaries.

The factory will be operational by 2026, where thousands of drones will be manufactured. This investment will put the UK at an advantage, with STARK systems equipped with UK and European warheads capable of destroying even heavily armoured vehicles, whilst costing a fraction of the price.

Managing Director of STARK UK, Mike Armstrong, said:

We are delighted to be opening our first factory in the UK - which will strengthen European supply chains, boost UK sovereign defence production, and support the shift toward affordable, scalable autonomous systems. With over a century of advanced manufacturing heritage and the presence of Army HQ and Air Command, Swindon is the ideal place to build the next generation of AI-enabled systems, shaped directly by feedback from operators in Ukraine. Our first UK site will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in its first year and marks just the start of our investment journey in the UK, supporting the MOD, Ukraine and wider European partners.

National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce, said:

This is exactly what the creation of NAD Group is all about - working seamlessly with international allies and industry to deliver cutting-edge capabilities faster whilst driving economic growth across the UK. STARK's investment demonstrates how our partnership approach under the Trinity House Agreement strengthens sovereign capability, secures supply chains and creates highly skilled jobs. This facility will help ensure our armed forces have the battle-winning technology they need.

This new factory comes as figures show government investment in UK defence industries reached 31.7 billion last year, a real-terms increase of 6%, and follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy which will make defence an engine for growth, ensuring investment is felt by communities across the UK through new jobs and rising incomes for working people.

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Boost for Armed Forces as new laser weapon takes down high-speed drones

Press release

MBDA awarded 316 million contract to deliver new DragonFire systems to the Royal Navy from 2027, after achieving UK first in latest testing by shooting down high-speed drones with new laser system.

From: Ministry of Defence and Luke Pollard MP

Published 20 November 2025

DragonFire achieves UK first in latest testing, taking down high-speed drones with new laser system.

316 million contract awarded to MBDA UK, backing nearly 600 skilled jobs and delivering on the Government's Plan for Change.

The pioneering programme is part of the Strategic Defence Review's commitment to bring into service innovative Directed Energy Weapons.

Britain's ground-breaking DragonFire laser has shot down high-speed drones in new trials, as a 316 million contract is awarded to MBDA deliver new systems to the Royal Navy from 2027.

Its most recent trials at the MOD's Hebrides range involved drones which can fly up to 650km/h - twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car - including a UK first of above-the-horizon tracking, targeting and shooting down such drones.

The laser system costs just 10 per shot and is accurate enough to hit a 1 coin from a kilometre away. It is a more cost-effective method in comparison to traditional missile systems, which cost upwards of hundreds of thousands of pounds per shot. DragonFire will be fitted to a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer by 2027 - five years faster than originally planned.

The cutting-edge DragonFire laser will help to create and sustain 590 jobs across the UK, showing how defence is an engine for growth. This includes 200 highly skilled jobs in Scotland, 185 jobs in the South West of England and 75 jobs in the East of England, delivering on the Government's Plan for Change.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said:

This high-power laser will see our Royal Navy at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, delivering a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threat. We are delivering on our Strategic Defence Review by backing British industry and creating hundreds more jobs, making defence an engine for growth across the UK.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

This new 316 million contract award - and news that DragonFire has successfully taken down high-speed drones in the latest trials at the MoD's Hebrides range - shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK's national security and why Scotland is globally recognised as a centre of defence excellence. DragonFire is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland. The UK Government is transforming our defence sector into an even more powerful engine for growth because when we back our service personnel and Scottish industry, we keep ourselves and our allies secure whilst delivering skilled jobs and growth for communities and workers.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), DragonFire is the first high-power laser capability entering service from a European nation, representing one of the most advanced directed energy weapons programmes in NATO. The SDR backed UK Directed Energy Weapon work with a further investment of nearly 1 billion this Parliament alone.

MBDA UK will work in partnership with QinetiQ and Leonardo to develop the capability that will be delivered almost five years faster and be continuously improved, representing a fundamentally different rapid approach to defence procurement.

Chris Allam, MBDA UK Managing Director, said:

This latest contract for DragonFire is another significant milestone. It allows us to continue with the next phase of the programme and re-affirms the UK's intent to be at the forefront of laser directed energy weapons. The success of recent DragonFire trials are a testament to our MoD and Industry team delivering a truly game-changing weapon system into the hands of the Royal Navy.

Steve Wadey, Group CEO, QinetiQ, said:

The DragonFire programme is delivering the ambition of the Strategic Defence Review, with industry experts working in collaboration with government to get disruptive, next generation technology into the hands of our warfighters at pace. QinetiQ is proud to have played a unique role in developing and testing this critical military capability of the future. We welcome the government's latest commitment, which will enable us to accelerate the production of the world-leading technology that is fundamental to the DragonFire system.

Mark Stead, Leonardo UK SVP Radar and Advanced Targeting, said:

Leonardo has channelled its decades of experience developing world-leading lasers to produce DragonFire's beam director, which harnesses and directs the powerful laser energy on target. Today's contract award to procure a Minimum Deployable Capability of DragonFire is testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the programme, and the rapid progress made by the defence and industry partnership since its inception.

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Strengthening air defense: Critical infrastructure enterprises join the National Air Defence System under military command

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

19 November, 2025, 6:11 PM EET

On the initiative of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a decision that opens a new format of defense cooperation: enterprises will cooperate with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to form air-defense groups that will reinforce the state and critical infrastructure.

The key objective is to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure.

The document is part of a comprehensive plan to strengthen Ukraine's air defense system  a mechanism that reinforces the country's air shield and enhances the security of strategic facilities.

"For the first time, the state is enabling enterprises to engage in the protection of critical infrastructure and is supporting their efforts," emphasized Ukrainian Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal.

What has been introduced:

Unified command. Air Defense Groups operate exclusively under military command within the Air Force's unified command-and-control system.

Air Defense Groups operate exclusively under military command within the Air Force's unified command-and-control system. Coordination. Group leaders operate within the digital Air Defense command-and-control system, which enables rapid coordination and shared situational awareness of the airspace.

Group leaders operate within the digital Air Defense command-and-control system, which enables rapid coordination and shared situational awareness of the airspace. Access to assets. Enterprises will be able to procure or receive air defense assets based on decisions of the military command or through MoD-approved supply procedures. This enables rapid deployment of localized air defense capabilities around critical facilities.

Enterprises will be able to procure or receive air defense assets based on decisions of the military command or through MoD-approved supply procedures. This enables rapid deployment of localized air defense capabilities around critical facilities. Safety above all else. Air Defense Groups are composed of vetted enterprise employees who hold valid medical clearances, have no criminal record, and have passed the Security Service of Ukraine screening.

The decision is being implemented without additional funding from the state budget.

Why this matters for national security

More sensors, more systems, and more personnel at critical points. Enterprises whose facilities may be targeted now have a legal and coordinated mechanism for additional protection.

A faster response  groups positioned closer to potential threats can engage targets much sooner after detection.

Who can join

Participation is open, first and foremost, to critical infrastructure operators  enterprises that ensure the functioning of the energy, communications, transportation, water supply, and other strategic sectors.

The project is also open to enterprises that possess the necessary resources and meet security requirements, particularly those that meet at least one of the following criteria:

conduct security activities in accordance with established procedures;

possess a permit for handling explosive materials;

have been granted authorization to manufacture ammunition and explosives.

All participants undergo training under Air Force programs and operate under military command.

How it works

The enterprise submits an application with information about itself, its resources, and the composition of the prospective group. The Ministry of Defence verifies compliance with security requirements and issues a permit to establish the group. Once approved, the enterprise operates within the Air Force command-and-control system  receiving tasks, coordinating its actions, and reporting results.

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Statement by the President of Ukraine During the Joint Press Conference With the President of Turkiye

President of Ukraine

19 November 2025 - 19:43

Thank you very much, dear Mr. President!

Dear attendees, our teams, merhaba, the media!

Today we are in Turkiye, and, as always, we had a very productive conversation - a very good, substantive meeting with President Erdogan. And in Ukraine, we greatly value the trust between us, between our states, between our nations. I thank you for our regular meetings and for Turkiye paying a lot of attention to Ukraine. This is certainly not our first meeting this year. Thank you for that, Mr. President. Ukraine values Turkiye's principled stance on Russia's war against our people, against our state. I want to express my gratitude for the cooperation - and it's real - that helps us protect lives, and also for Turkiye's clear position on all key aspects of this tragedy and this aggression. Turkiye supports Ukraine's independence. We appreciate the support for our territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our sovereignty is the daily struggle of Ukrainians - military personnel, civilians, everyone defending the right to life in Ukraine, our right to self-defense.

Tonight, the whole world could once again see what this war brings, what Russia's aggression brings. Another attack hit our cities, with Russian drones and missiles directly striking residential buildings. In just one of our cities, Ternopil, more than two dozen people were killed by this strike - people who were simply at their own homes, peacefully sleeping. As of now, 25 people have been confirmed killed, including two children. My condolences to the families and loved ones. And thank you, Mr. President, for your condolences. Rescue operations are still ongoing - unfortunately, we know that there may still be people trapped under the rubble, and rescuers are doing their best. There was also an attack on Kharkiv and other cities and communities. In total, today's Russian strike involved 48 missiles - a very large number - and 476 attack drones. This war is truly bloody. In Ukraine, we are constantly forced to defend ourselves against such strikes. We are seeking and really securing for Ukraine the air defense missiles it needs - this is a challenge, not an easy task, but we are doing everything for it - including the necessary weapons for our sky defenders - necessary equipment and combat aviation. This is truly a challenge and a daily effort. And I want to thank everyone in the world who helps Ukraine defend itself. And I also thank Turkiye for the work we are doing together.

Today, we discussed with the President our further cooperation - joint production projects and coordination for more effective protection of lives. Our teams will work on what was agreed upon today. We are counting on results.

Of course, we also addressed in detail the situation in diplomacy. Many processes are currently intensifying, and we are aiming to channel all activity specifically toward peace, a dignified peace and guaranteed security. The war must end; there is no alternative to peace. Russia must understand that there can be no reward for war and killings, and Russia must not be left with the opportunity to start another similar war - against Ukraine or any other country in the region. We share the same view with Turkiye: peace and security must be guaranteed. We will maintain close coordination and efforts with all partners. And I am grateful for Turkiye's assistance and, once again, I thank President Erdogan. We rely on the strength of Turkish diplomacy and its clarity for Moscow.

Turkiye's active involvement in the Coalition of the Willing - especially in its naval component - is also important. Everyone understands the significance of security in the Black Sea, and such security can only be ensured together with Turkiye.

We are making every effort to restore exchanges - prisoner swaps - to bring Ukrainian military personnel and Ukrainian civilians held by Russia home, including Crimean Tatar political and religious prisoners held by Russia. Of course, we are also working to return our abducted Ukrainian children. We have operational platforms everywhere - including in Turkiye. For this work, all possibilities exist, and we are grateful for this support in bringing our children home.

We hope to restore exchanges and return a significant number of prisoners by the end of the year. Turkiye is helping us greatly in this effort, and we want to personally thank you, Mr. President, for the meeting and for the results achieved in the Turkish direction, for the fact that two and a half thousand of our POWs have already been returned or - with the decision in place - are on their way home. We need to accelerate these processes, and we need to speed up these diplomatic efforts.

Thank you, Mr. President!

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We Count on the Strength of Turkish Diplomacy and Its Clarity for Moscow - The President

President of Ukraine

19 November 2025 - 19:20

In Ankara, a meeting took place between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both in a one-on-one and expanded format.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine values Turkiye's principled position on Russia's war against our country and our people. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the cooperation that helps protect lives and for Turkiye's clear stance on all key aspects of Russian aggression.

"We once again reaffirmed our commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of our strategic partner - Ukraine," stressed the President of Turkiye.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that last night, Russia carried out another strike on Ukrainian cities, with Russian drones and missiles directly hitting ordinary residential buildings. Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences to the Ukrainian people.

"In just one of our cities, Ternopil, more than two dozen people were killed by this strike - people who were simply at their own homes, peacefully sleeping. As of now, 25 people have been confirmed killed, including two children," said the Head of State.

During the meeting, the Presidents discussed further cooperation, joint production projects, and coordination for more effective protection of lives. Their teams will work on everything that has been agreed upon and on the development of bilateral relations.

"Despite all the difficulties of the war, we aim to increase the volume of bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars. We seek to support Ukraine's recovery with the help of Turkish entrepreneurs, who, despite the challenging circumstances, remain in the country and continue their activities in Ukraine with courage," noted the President of Turkiye.

The leaders also discussed the situation in diplomacy.

"The war must end; there is no alternative to peace. Russia must understand that there can be no reward for war and killings, and Russia must not be left with the opportunity to start another similar war - against Ukraine or any other country in the region," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Head of State added that Turkiye's active participation in the Coalition of the Willing, particularly its naval component, is also crucial to ensuring security in the Black Sea together. They also discussed cooperation on guaranteeing global food security.

"We are making every effort to restore exchanges - prisoner swaps - to bring Ukrainian military personnel and Ukrainian civilians held by Russia home. Of course, we are also working to return our abducted Ukrainian children," stressed Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President noted that Ukraine hopes to restore exchanges by the end of the year and to secure the return of a significant number of prisoners.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discussed Investigation into Sabotage on the Polish Railway with Donald Tusk

President of Ukraine

19 November 2025 - 14:16

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk.

Donald Tusk expressed his sympathy with regard to people killed in Ternopil and dozens wounded across other regions of Ukraine in Russian drone and missile attacks. The President thanked him for his solidarity and noted that emergency repair works are currently underway.

The Prime Minister shared information from Poland's law enforcement and intelligence about the recent acts of sabotage on the Polish railway. He noted that the Telegram social platform had been used to arrange subversive activity and to launch a disinformation campaign against Ukraine.

The President emphasized that such subversive actions are turned against Ukraine on a daily basis including on the railway. In Ukrzaliznytsia, our country has put in place proper measures to counteract such sabotage. He added that the information from Ukraine and Poland aligns: all the facts indicate a Russian trace. No one except the Russians is interested in this.

Ukraine is ready to cooperate with Poland at various levels and to share all relevant information. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Tusk agreed to set up a Ukrainian-Polish group that will work to prevent similar situations from the Russian side in the future.

Ukraine appreciates all of Poland's assistance and is always ready to work together to jointly protect lives and counter all possible subversions and challenges.



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One Hundred French Rafale Aircraft, Spain's Contribution to PURL and the Allocation of Funds Within SAFE, and Securing Gas Supplies to Ukraine from Greece - the Outcomes of the President's Visits to Paris, Madrid, and Athens

President of Ukraine

19 November 2025 - 12:18

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made important visits to Greece, France, and Spain on November 16-18. The results will strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities today and in the future, support the country's energy sector, economy, and logistical resilience.

The President described his visit to France as one of the most productive this year - a visit that elevated relations between the countries to a new level.

On November 17, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration enabling Ukraine to purchase French defense products for the modernization of the Armed Forces.

This includes 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035, SAMP/T air defense systems, modern radars for air defense, air-to-air missiles, and guided aerial bombs. It also provides for the transfer of technologies and the joint production of aircraft with localization in Ukraine.

"This is a strategic agreement that will be in effect for 10 years starting next year," the President emphasized.

Ukraine and France will also jointly produce interceptor drones and work on developing critical technologies and components that can be integrated into Ukrainian UAVs. Joint projects will begin this year.

Ukraine will also receive a new military support package from France by the end of the year.

Additionally, during the President's visit, Ukrainian Railways and Alstom Transport SA signed a strategic agreement to supply Ukraine with 55 modern freight locomotives, strengthening Ukraine's transport logistics.

During the meeting with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on November 18, the main focus was also defense cooperation.

The Prime Minister announced that Spain will contribute 100 million to the PURL initiative, allocate an economic package worth 200 million - including for the restoration and strengthening of Ukraine's energy sector - and direct 215 million to joint weapons-production projects with Ukraine under SAFE. Spain became the first country to announce a specific allocation for Ukraine within this instrument.

Spain is also preparing a new 300 million defense assistance package, which will include IRIS-T air defense missiles - a critically important need.

Ukraine will additionally work with Spanish defense manufacturers on the project to supply, among other things, long-range detection radars, which could significantly bolster Ukraine's protection.

In the presence of both leaders, five bilateral documents were signed on countering Russian disinformation, cooperation in tourism, mechanisms for bilateral economic and financial interaction, and collaboration in the defense industry between Spanish companies Escribano and Tecnove and the Ukrainian company Practika.

During the meeting between President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on November 16 in Athens, Naftogaz of Ukraine and the Greek state company DEPA Commercial signed an agreement on supplying natural gas to Ukraine this winter. This will help our country get through the heating season amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyriakos Mitsotakis also discussed long-term arrangements for importing natural gas from the United States through Greece.

Our country will gain access to reliable sources of energy, while Greece is becoming a hub for supplying U.S. liquefied natural gas to Central and Eastern Europe. This is a very important contribution to the region's energy stability, resilience, and security.





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World Children's Day: Statement of the Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine

Council of Europe

Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine

Strasbourg

20 November 2025

The Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, made the following statement today:

"Today, the 20th of November, marks World Children's Day.

As the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is in its fourth year, we mark the plight of Ukraine's children, who are paying an intolerably high price in this brutal war.

Their lives have been upended, their family lives interrupted, their childhood erased, their futures endangered.

Tens of thousands of children have been stolen, brutally ripped from their families, their lives, their culture and language, many of their most basic rights being violated. And all children, wherever they are, are affected by this war in ways that create deep and potentially lasting scars.

The Council of Europe is at the forefront of efforts to support them, including through an effective accountability response.

The European Court of Human Rights, in a landmark judgment on 9 July of this year, held the Russian Federation in violation of the ECHR for the unlawful deportation of children to Russian and, in many cases, their illegal adoption there.

I also welcome the fact that the Register of Damage recently opened a claims category for the Forcible Transfer or Deportation of Children.

As the Secretary General's Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine, I am strongly committed to the safety and well-being of these war-affected children. My greatest hope is that one day soon they may live a life without war, a life without fear.

We must all join forces to ensure that the plight of children of Ukraine remains our top priority, that all unlawfully deported children are safely returned, that accountability for crimes against children is effectively ensured, and that the trauma experienced by all war-affected children is properly addressed.

May the day soon come where children play not in rubble and destruction, but in a place of peace, serenity and hope.

They deserve no less.

Together we can make a difference."

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna at the EU foreign ministers' meeting: Europe has the means to step up pressure on Russia and to continue supporting Ukraine

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20.11.2025 | 14:14

On 20 November in Brussels, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated at the meeting of European Union foreign ministers, in light of recent public debate on possible peace plans, that Europe will continue to exert pressure on Russia and to support Ukraine, enabling Ukraine to carry on its fight for freedom, independence and sovereignty.

"Russia has not agreed to a ceasefire, although Ukraine expressed its readiness for one several months ago. Instead, Russia has continued its brutal attacks against Ukraine, killing at least 26 people, including three children, in the strike on Ternopil last night," Tsahkna said. "As Russia's objective of destroying Ukraine and reshaping Europe's security architecture remains unchanged, so does our position: Ukraine must be helped to reach a position of strength, and Russia must be pressured into changing course."

According to Foreign Minister Tsahkna, the EU foreign ministers were united at today's meeting and expressed their full support for Ukraine in its struggle for a just and lasting peace.

"No solution concerning Ukraine and European security that is reached without the involvement of Ukraine and Europe will work," Tsahkna stressed. "The European Union has the resources and instruments to increase pressure on Russia, as confirmed by the foreign ministers today in Brussels. We are continuing work on the 20th sanctions package, developing ways to deter Russia's shadow fleet even more effectively, and discussing the use of Russia's frozen assets and the imposition of tariffs," Tsahkna said.

The foreign ministers also talked about recent hybrid attacks and acts of sabotage in Europe, as well as the situation in the Middle East, the Sahel and Sudan. In addition, the EU foreign ministers held talks with ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Foreign Minister Tsahkna also had bilateral meetings with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro.

Tomorrow, Foreign Minister Tsahkna will take part in the EU-India and IndoPacific Forum in Brussels, which will bring together foreign ministers from both regions. The forum will address defence and security, economic security, and climate and the green transition.

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Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko met with Secretary of the U.S. Army, Daniel P. Driscoll

Ukraine Government

Department of Information and Public Communications of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, posted 20 November 2025 12:49

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko met with Secretary of the U.S. Army, Daniel P. Driscoll, who is on an official visit to Ukraine.

"I am pleased to welcome Hon. Daniel P. Driscoll on his first visit to Ukraine. This visit provides an important opportunity for the senior military officials accompanying the Secretary to assess the situation on the ground and to witness firsthand the consequences of russian aggression.," Yulia Svyrydenko said.

The Prime Minister stressed that at a time when russia continues to kill peaceful Ukrainians and target residential buildings and critical infrastructure with missiles, the strategy of putting pressure on the aggressor state proves effective.

"It is crucial to further strengthen sanctions against the aggressor state to deter it from waging aggressive war," the Head of Government urged.

Separately, Yulia Svyrydenko reaffirmed that the U.S.- Ukraine Investment Fund for Reconstruction, initiated by President Trump, is being successfully implemented.

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Baiba Braze at the Foreign Affairs Council: Ukraine urgently needs military and financial support for self-defence; we advocate for operational sanctions on shadow fleet ships without awaiting the next round of EU sanctions

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20.11.2025

On 20 November 2025, at the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze underlined the urgent need to increase military and financial assistance for Ukraine's self-defence, find a solution to channel the immobilised Russian Central Bank assets in support of Ukraine, and provide Ukraine with security guarantees. The Foreign Ministers discussed further steps to constrain Russia, including progress on the 20th package of EU sanctions. The Ministers also approved sanctions against 10 Russian individuals - judges, prosecutors, representatives of repressive authorities responsible for serious human rights violations and a crack-down on civil society.

The meeting was attended remotely by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He stressed that Russia is carrying out brutal attacks against Ukrainian civilians, including children. Civilian infrastructure and energy facilities are also being targeted - the aggressor is weaponizing winter and frost.

The EU Special Envoy for Sanctions, David O'Sullivan, participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council and informed the ministers about the work accomplished with global partners so far to prevent the circumvention of sanctions.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braze:

"Ukraine urgently needs military and financial support for self-defence; I call on all EU Member States to help ensure Ukraine's priority needs, especially air defence and long-range weapon systems, to a greater extent and faster. Latvia's military support this year will reach 0.3% of GDP, and this includes deliveries of PATRIA armoured personnel carriers, training soldiers, and supply of Latvian-made drones. Latvia will provide further military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of at least 0.25% of GDP in 2026. I also call on other Member States to help ensure continued support to Ukraine. Pressure on Russia must continue: sanctions are working and need to be strengthened, Russia's economic situation is deteriorating. As regards the shadow fleet, I call for the imposition of sanctions on the shadow fleet ships and its ecosystem (crew, insurance, bunkering companies) to be separated from the next rounds of EU sanctions, so that restrictive measures could be promptly applied to the vessels."

Baiba Braze welcomed the newly-created EU Military Mobility Package devised to facilitate a rapid and seamless movement of troops, equipment and military assets across Europe, as well as to strengthen the European defence industry. She also noted that before the EU Foreign Affairs Council she had met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss further support for Ukraine, constraining Russia and strengthening the Alliance's defence capabilities. Currently, the EU-NATO cooperation is closer than ever before, and it is vital to coordinate it closely, as Russia is and will remain the greatest threat to the security of the entire transatlantic area, and its goals have not changed - to decrease support for Ukraine and divide its allies.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council, ministers discussed developments in the Middle East and the EU's involvement in the implementation of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip, cooperation between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the security situation in Sudan and the Sahel.

Following the EU Foreign Affairs Council, on 20 and 21 November, the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, hosted by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. It will also include a high-level event on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.

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Trump approves plan for Russia-Ukraine peace -- NBC

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:35, November 20, 2025

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a 28-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine that U.S. officials developed in consultation with Russian and Ukrainian officials, NBC News reported on Wednesday.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner were involved in formulating the plan, NBC quoted its sources as saying.

Three U.S. officials reportedly told NBC that the framework for the peace deal still needed to be presented to the Ukrainians and that the timing of finalizing a draft of the plan coincided with a visit of a U.S. Army delegation to Ukraine, which arrived in Kiev on Wednesday.

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Zelenskyy Ready For 'Constructive, Honest, And Prompt' Work With Trump On Peace Plan

By RFE/RL November 20, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has received the controversial new US-drafted peace plan that calls for Kyiv to make major concessions and intends to discuss it further with President Donald Trump.

In the first public Ukrainian confirmation of the plan, Zelenskyy's office also said on November 20 that he "agreed to work on the points of the plan in such a way that it would provide a dignified end to the war."

"We are ready and are now ready to work constructively with the American side and our partners in Europe and the world so that the result is peace," said the statement. "Zelenskyy expects to discuss with...Trump in the coming days the available diplomatic opportunities and the main points that are needed for peace."

The statement was issued hours after the Ukrainian leader met with a group of top Pentagon officers and US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll in Kyiv.

The US Embassy in Kyiv called the meeting "remarkably constructive," adding the momentum for the long-awaited peace was finally building.

The terms of the proposed deal appear to track with the hardline demands Russia has made going back to the start of its all-out invasion in 2022.

The exact terms of the US-drafted proposal were unclear; the presidential office statement did not detail them.

Reports by the Financial Times, Reuters, and Axios, however, said the plan called for Kyiv giving up some of its territory and weaponry, cutting the size of its armed forces, and accepting a rollback of US military assistance, which has been essential to its fight against Russian forces.

In addition, no foreign troops would be allowed on Ukrainian soil and Kyiv would no longer receive long-range weaponry.

Zelenskyy has refused previous demands from Moscow that Ukraine cede territory or downgrade its armed forces, saying it would only weaken Ukraine and leave it vulnerable to another invasion in the future.

Analysts said it is unlikely the 28-point proposal will find support in Kyiv.

However, describing the meeting later in the day, Axios, citing unnamed US and Ukrainian officials, reported that the Ukrainian president appeared more conciliatory and agreed to fast-track development of the plan.

In a post-meeting Telegram post, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for "constructive, honest, and prompt" work.

At the press briefing the same day, the White House said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian officials last week to discuss a peace plan.

Earlier, Rubio described the proposed plans as a "list of potential ideas for ending the war," suggesting there might be some room for negotiations.

Commenting on the potential peace plan between Ukraine and Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not confirm that any formal negotiations were taking place at the moment.

"As such, consultations are not currently underway. There are contacts, of course, but there is no process that could be called consultations," he said.

In a video released by the Kremlin showing Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting the command post of the West grouping of Russian forces, the Russian leader called for the objectives of Moscow's invasion to be achieved.

Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who resigned in protest at the Ukraine invasion, questioned whether the Kremlin is actually willing to negotiate, given the terms of the reported deal.

"Moscow has been ready to negotiate since the first day of the war. They say so constantly, every day. There is nothing new about that. But what kind of negotiations are they ready to engage in?" Bondarev asked. "Negotiations like these: discussing Ukraine's surrender."

"What is there to talk about when you are offered the same thing that Putin has been saying since the beginning of the war: the demilitarization of Ukraine, denazification, and so on and so forth?" he added in an interview with Current Time.

The proposals potentially put Zelenskyy in a difficult position.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold back a bigger, better-equipped Russian Army, even as Moscow's forces suffer extraordinary casualties.

Russia is closing in on the key city of Pokrovsk as part of Putin's stated goal to control all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

Russia is also battering Ukraine's cities and its energy infrastructure for yet another winter, seeking to demoralize already exhausted Ukrainians.

Dan Fried, a former US diplomat and architect of US sanctions after Russia seized Crimea in 2014, said the reported deal seemed like "a terrible plan."

"Given past patterns, it could be a ploy without legs," he said in post to X. "We'll know more soon. The administration's Ukraine policy moves are seldom as bad as one fears but not as good as one hopes."

Zelenskyy meetings come as emergency workers search for survivors from a Russian cruise missile strike that hit two apartment buildings in the western city of Ternopil, killing at least 27 people and wounded dozens.

Another attack killed at least five people in Zaporizhzhya, a major southern Ukrainian city and the regional center of one of the country's four regions that Russia formally annexed in 2022.

At home, Zelenskyy has been politically weakened by a major corruption scandal that has touched on some of his Cabinet ministers and longtime business partners.

Ukrainian lawmakers have called for Zelenskyy to sack his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

The corruption investigation concerns allegations that funds earmarked for building defenses to protect Ukraine's vulnerable energy infrastructure from Russian air attacks were siphoned off in the form of kickbacks to political insiders.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/33596946.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Kupyansk Freed, Gerasimov Tells Putin During Visit to Zapad Battlegroup Command Post

Sputnik News

20251120

During his visit, the Russian president said all the tasks set at the previous meeting with servicemen had been completed.

Putin listened to detailed reports from commanders of the Zapad and Yug Battlegroups on the situation in the Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk directions of the front, and around Kupyansk, and praised the work of the units' command and personnel.

Russian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed Putin that Kupyansk, a critical rail and road hub in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkov region, has been liberated.

Over 4/5 of the territory of Volchansk, and 70% of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) have also been freed, along with 13 settlements in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, Gerasimov said.

Putin stressed that Ukrainian soldiers should have the opportunity to lay down their arms and surrender.

Gerasimov told the president that "many" Ukrainian service members would like to do so. "However, most of them, under threat of execution or destruction by their own drones, are unable to carry out this task. Meanwhile, Ukraine's political leadership has not given its troops any instructions on this matter."

Putin said "it's clear to everyone that these people, sitting on golden pots, are probably not thinking about the fate of their country, of ordinary people, the officer corps and especially ordinary soldiers; they have no time for that."

The president called on the military to avoid setting a specific date on the liberation of Konstaninovka, while reiterating that the goals of the Special Military Operation must be accomplished.

"The forces of the joint group are advancing in virtually all directions, building on successes achieved during the spring-summer campaign," Gerasimov assured.

 Sputnik

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Hungary Demands Full Accounting from Ukraine on EU Funds Lost to Graft

Sputnik News

20251120

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungary is urging Ukraine to come clean on the amount of European taxpayer funds diverted to the Kiev regime's now-known corruption network, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

"We demand that Ukraine show how it used European money. And we demand that Ukraine account for how much of European taxpayers' money has fallen victim to the corruption network. How much money the military mafia has taken from the European people, how much of EU subsidies has the corrupt system of power in Ukraine consumed," Szijjarto told reporters following the meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Ukraine is currently experiencing "one of the most serious corruption scandals in the history of European politics," Hungary's foreign minister added.

 Sputnik

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Russian Air Defense Systems Shot Down Four Storm Shadow Air-Launched Cruise Missiles

Sputnik News

20251120

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense systems shot down four UK-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 119 drones over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"Air defense systems shot down four UK-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 119 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

At the same time, the Russian armed forces struck Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian military, as well as logistics depots, and destroyed two HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems, the ministry added.

Russia's Vostok battle group of forces took control of the settlement of Veseloye in the Zaporozhye region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"Units of the Vostok battle group of forces continue to advance deep into the enemy's defenses; the settlement of Veseloye in the Zaporozhye region has been liberated through active operations," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Tsentr battle group of forces has eliminated up to 400 Ukrainian military personnel in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"In total, in the area of responsibility of the Tsentr battle group of forces, the enemy's losses amounted to up to 400 servicepeople, two Swedish-made Viking armored personnel carriers and two US-made M113 armored personnel carriers, six armored combat vehicles, seven cars," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Zapad battle group has eliminated over 230 Ukrainian servicepeople, while the Vostok battle group has eliminated more than 250 Ukrainian soldiers and the Severbattle group has eliminated up to 250 Ukrainian soldiers, the ministry added.

 Sputnik

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Trump Allegedly Approves 28-Point Plan for Ukraine Settlement  Reports

Sputnik News

20251120

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has approved a 28-point plan for the Ukraine conflict settlement, NBC News reported, citing a senior US administration official.

The report said the US plan provides security guarantees for both sides in the conflict to achieve a lasting peace.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner took part in the development of the new US plan for the Ukraine settlement, NBC News said.

Russian officials have not publicly commented on the plan.

The White House has not released details of the proposal.

 Sputnik

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On World Children's Day, we are reminded of the Ukrainian children who have become victims of Russia's illegal invasion and imperialist warmongering: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge d'Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 20 November 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Today, on World Children's Day, we are reminded of the Ukrainian children who have become victims of Russia's illegal invasion and imperialist warmongering.

Of the nearly 53,000 verified civilian casualties from the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 3,000 have been children. These figures don't include the attack two nights ago which reportedly killed a further 26 people, including three children.

Russia has destroyed 358 educational institutions through aerial bombardments, and damaged a further 3,161. Just last month as we've heard, Russian strikes hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv.

These attacks are part of a larger pattern. Russia ramping up its attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure, directly resulting in even greater humanitarian crisis as winter sets in. Since May, Russia has launched the 32 largest air attacks of the entire war. The latest UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine report has concluded that Russia's repeated attacks with short-range drones against civilians amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

But aerial attacks are not the only threat that Ukrainian children face. The Russian government has forcibly transferred children from their homes and communities. This is a naked attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, and with it, Ukraine's future.

Let's be clear: these actions are signs of desperation. Russia's victory is not inevitable. They have been throwing everything at Ukraine but have made only minor territorial gains in the past four years.

And Russia's losses are unsustainable. Over a million soldiers have been killed or wounded. The the cost of war for Russia is mounting: military spending has increased to $159 billion this year, over a third of their total budget - money that could be spent on the wellbeing of their citizens.

Yet while the rest of the world calls for a ceasefire, Russia refuses. Since March, President Zelenskyy has offered an unconditional ceasefire, but President Putin has repeatedly shown that he is not serious about ending this war.

Everyone in this chamber has taken on the responsibility to uphold international peace and security; everyone in this chamber should do everything in their power to pressure Russia to agree a ceasefire.

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The UK will never recognise Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and deplores the worsening human rights situation: UK Statement at the UN Third Committee

Speech

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN Third Committee on Crimea.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Archie Young CMG

Published 20 November 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 19 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom strongly reiterates its support for this resolution and welcomes the significant number of co-sponsoring states.

Since 2014, people in Crimea have faced a systematic campaign of human rights abuses by Russian authorities. Freedom of religion, belief, and expression have been severely curtailed. Arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and politically motivated prosecutions have become routine, targeting ethnic and religious minorities, including Crimean Tatars.

Now, more than 1,300 days since Russia's full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine, these same brutal measures persist in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The UN Commission of Inquiry in Ukraine has documented a deeply troubling pattern of torture, ill treatment and summary executions of civilians - with its most recent report concluding that deportations and transfers of civilians from areas occupied by Russian authorities constitute war crimes.

Our position is clear: we do not and will never recognise Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. Borders must not be changed by force. We deplore the worsening human rights situation and condemn the militarisation of Crimea - including illegal mobilisation of residents, disproportionate targeting of Crimean Tatars, and the militarisation of children through paramilitary programmes.

We will keep calling on Russia to grant access for international monitoring missions and ensure accountability for these abuses.

As UN Member States, we have all reaffirmed our faith in fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the principle of the inviolability of borders.

In this regard, the UK strongly defends the use of country-specific resolutions, which complement the work of the Human Rights Council and other fora in providing scrutiny of adherence to international law, including human rights obligations, and ensuring the principles of the UN Charter are upheld.

Voting yes for this resolution today will send a clear message: there will be no impunity for Russia's violations of human rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia must cease its attack, withdraw its forces, and allow full access to Crimea and all temporarily occupied territories.



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Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine: UK Statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, November 2025

Speech

Delivered at the November 2025 IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Corinne Kitsell OBE

Published 20 November 2025

Location: International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom reaffirms its support for the IAEA's work in Ukraine, over a reporting period that has seen an alarming number of incidents that threaten the nuclear safety of Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs).

The DG's report highlights a number of concerning nuclear safety incidents:

On 1 October off-site power was lost at the Chornobyl site due to a strike on the Slavutych substation. This caused a blackout to the New Safe Confinement for three hours.

On 30 October, IAEA teams reported the disconnection of an off-site power line at Khmelnytskyi and South Ukraine NPPs, due to military activity.

On 8 November, IAEA teams reported the disconnection of one off-site power line at Khmelnytskyi and Rivne Nuclear Power Plants respectively, again due to military strikes.

That same day, the DG reported that Khmelnytskyi and Rivne NPPs had to reduce output of electricity following an overnight attack on an electrical substation.

Compounding an already precarious situation, the DG's update of last night (19 November) reports that all three of Ukraine's operating NPPs, were forced to reduce power output follow more attacks that further destabilised the electrical grid.

Chair, at the Agency's General Conference, the Head of the Russian delegation stated that nuclear safety and security of nuclear facilities is Russia's "utmost priority". All these incidents tell a very different story. One of blatant disregard for the nuclear safety principles this Board is meant to uphold.

Chair,

As we have heard, during this reporting period Zaporizhzhia NPP lost off-site power for 30 days. The Russian Governor tried to downplay the risks of this prolonged loss of external power. The truth is that diesel generators are not designed for long-term operation; they are vulnerable to fuel shortages - which are foreseeable in a warzone - and mechanical failure - any of which could compromise reactor cooling and lead to a nuclear safety incident. Let me be clear: these risks would not exist if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. It is Russia's aggression that poses the greatest threat to Ukraine's nuclear safety and security.

Chair,

We therefore commend the Director General for engaging both sides to agree a period of silence to allow for repairs to take place to the 750kw Dniprovska and 330kw Ferosplavna lines, under the supervision of courageous IAEA staff.

However, less than one month after repairs were completed, on 17 November, the 750kw line was once again disconnected. We are grateful for the DG's confirmation that the connections have now been restored.

Chair,

On Russia's accusation of double standards, Russia's ability to transform aggression into victimhood is world class. Fortunately this Board deals in fact not fiction.

Chair,

Again on double standards, I was encouraged to hear the Russian delegate yesterday refer to attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities as "irresponsible and aggressive actions". I urge Russia to practice what it preaches, withdraw from its forcible takeover of ZNPP, and cease its unjustified attacks on Ukraine's nuclear and energy infrastructure.

Thank you, Chair.





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Russia's repression at home enables its war of aggression against Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

Speech

Ambassador Holland highlights how Russia's domestic repression underpins its war of aggression against Ukraine, including a crackdown on dissent, the detention of political prisoners and pressure on civil society.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland

Published 20 November 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 20 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Neil Holland

Thank you, Mr Chair. Let me start with condolences on the awful incident in Ternopil yesterday. According to Ukrainian officials, at least 25 people, including three children, were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack which struck two residential buildings. More than 70 others were wounded, including a further 15 children. We condemn this abhorrent attack and, once again, remind Russia of its obligations under International Humanitarian Law. Our thoughts and sympathies go to all those affected.

Mr. Chair, the reason we're here at the OSCE is because our predecessors agreed a set of principles, and that we should support each other to fulfil them and hold each other to account against them. It is therefore important to remind ourselves of the Helsinki drafters' recognition that there is a link between a state's level of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and its capacity to cause instability. So, it's not surprising that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and brutal attacks such as the one in Ternopil, have long been underpinned by domestic repression. This was already evident in 2022 when the Moscow Mechanism report said of Russia: "Repression on the inside and war on the outside are connected to each other as if in a communicating tube." That observation remains just as relevant today. Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine did not occur in isolation. It was enabled by the systematic dismantling of fundamental freedoms at home.

And in the fourth year of Russia's war, Russia's dire domestic human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Kremlin crushes peaceful dissent, persecutes minorities, and maintains a climate of fear. According to independent monitors OVD-Info, there are over 1,800 political prisoners, including many jailed for opposing the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia has found that torture is "widespread" within the judicial system, and that political prisoners are routinely denied medical treatment or placed in forced psychiatric detention.

The Russian authorities have used legislation to systematically crack down on civil society and independent media. NGOs are branded "foreign agents" or "undesirable organisations," forcing hundreds to shut down. Independent outlets have been silenced, and criticism of the war has been criminalised with sentences of up to 15 years. More than 300 media outlets have been forced to suspend their activities. In July 2024, Russian courts handed down prison sentences in absentia, eight years to journalist Masha Gessen and eight and a half years to author Mikhail Zygar, on charges of disseminating "fake news" about Russian military activity in Ukraine. These actions violate Russia's obligations under the OSCE Copenhagen Document, the Astana Declaration, and international law, including Articles 19 and 20 of the ICCPR.

Despite this climate of repression, ordinary Russians continue to make their views known. Recent polling, including a Kremlin-endorsed survey by VtSIOM, indicates that 56% of Russians are "very tired" of the so-called Special Military Operation, and 61% favour an immediate ceasefire. While the Kremlin might argue that these numbers reflect support for ending the war, albeit on its own terms, the reality is more complex. The polling does not signal broad endorsement of the Kremlin's position, but rather highlights a society burdened by war fatigue, economic decline, and the erosion of basic rights. Moreover, the Kremlin's lack of constructive engagement in US-led peace negotiations undermines its claims of seeking a genuine resolution. This is not the narrative of a united nation behind its leadership, but evidence of growing disillusionment and desire for change.

Mr Chair, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its repression at home are two sides of the same coin. Both are failing. The Kremlin's attempt to silence dissent has not extinguished the voices calling for peace. And its attempt to subjugate Ukraine has been met with determined resistance.

The UK, alongside our partners, will continue to stand firm in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We reiterate that Russia must uphold its international obligations and release all political prisoners. These principles are not negotiable. They are the foundation of security and stability in the OSCE. Thank you.





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Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Russia's Systematic Violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

20 November 2025 19:09

The global framework for non-proliferation, which is the basis of international security and stability, is under threat due to the Russian Federation's systematic use of hazardous chemicals and riot control agents as a method of warfare.

These actions by Russia constitute a blatant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and pose a direct threat to international peace and security. Between February 2023 and November 2025, Ukraine has documented 11,299 instances of Russia's use of munitions containing hazardous chemical substances.

Ukraine's competent authorities systematically collect and document evidence of such violations, and the findings of the corresponding investigations are submitted in accordance with established procedures to the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and to the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. As a result, three OPCW reports have confirmed that the evidence provided by Ukraine pertains to riot control agents, which, according to numerous statements by the Ukrainian party, Russia regularly employs as a method of warfare against Ukraine's Security and Defense Forces.

The international community has already responded to these violations and imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation for the use of prohibited chemical substances on the battlefield. We express our gratitude to the United States of America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the European Union for their principled and timely responses, as well as consistent sanctions measures that increase pressure on the aggressor state and contribute to holding it accountable for violations of international law.

Ukraine welcomes these measures and is working to align, within its national jurisdiction, the relevant sanctions against entities and officials involved in Russia's development and use of chemical weapons. We count on international partners to continue intensifying sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation to prevent it from continuing the criminal practice of using prohibited chemicals as weapons.

We emphasize that, in light of the Russian Federation's gross and systematic violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, it has no right to claim membership in the OPCW Executive Council. We call on the international community to prevent Russia from being elected in the upcoming vote on 25 November. It is clear that the country that systematically employs chemical weapons in the territory of sovereign states cannot influence the work of the international organization tasked with ensuring the impartial implementation of the norms of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Ukraine, for its part, reaffirms its firm position that the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances constitutes a grave violation of international law, and that those responsible for such acts must be held accountable.



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MoD expands production of anti-drone ammunition

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

20 November, 2025, 10:20 AM EET

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is scaling up the production of anti-drone ammunition to support Ukrainian defenders.

The MoD has codified rounds of this type from several Ukrainian manufacturers, and they are now ready for serial production.

"With anti-drone ammunition, Ukrainian service members will be able to counter enemy FPV and Mavic drones more effectively. This ammunition features a specialized charge that greatly increases the likelihood of downing a russian drone," stated Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

He added that these rounds do not require dedicated weapons, as they can be loaded into standard-issue weapon systems.

"We are working to bring more new and effective weapons into the arsenal of our military, enhancing their combat strength and reinforcing Ukraine's defense capability," the Minister of Defence underlined.

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The United States Has the Power to Ensure that Russia's Willingness to End the War Becomes Serious - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

20 November 2025 - 23:05

I wish you health!

Today, I had a meeting with representatives of the United States. A high-level delegation, and a very serious conversation. The American side presented its proposals - the points of a plan to end the war - their vision. From the first days of the war, we have upheld one very simple position: Ukraine needs peace. A real peace - one that will not be broken by a third invasion. A dignified peace - with terms that respect our independence, our sovereignty, and the dignity of the Ukrainian people. And it is exactly such terms that we must secure. I outlined our key principles. And we agreed that our teams will work on these proposals to ensure it's all genuine. We will not make any sharp statements. And we're geared up for clear and honest work - Ukraine, the United States, and our friends and partners in Europe and around the world.

These days, there are many conversations with European leaders, a lot of correspondence - and I thank all of Ukraine's friends for their support. Today, I spoke with President of Finland Stubb - we are coordinating our efforts. I also remain in constant contact with other leaders, with the President of France. I expect to speak with President Trump in the coming days. We are fully aware that America's strength and America's support can truly bring peace closer, and we do not want to lose that. We are also aware that Russia has no real desire for peace - otherwise they would not have started this war. There are many assessments - entirely fair ones - that throughout this year, Russia has tried to do only one thing - namely, to delay sanctions and buy more time for its war. The United States has the power to ensure that Russia's willingness to end the war finally becomes serious. I will continue working for this one hundred percent - all of my time is now devoted to this. Ukraine needs peace, and Ukraine will do everything to ensure that no one in the world can say that we are the ones supposedly undermining diplomacy. This is important.

It is just as important that the internal situation in Ukraine allow us to remain strong externally. In the evening, I met with the parliamentary majority faction - various issues were raised, including sensitive ones. But the agreement is clear - everyone must work for Ukraine, and this is how it will be. A wartime parliament must be a functioning parliament. And I thank everyone who helps ensure this functioning. And there will be decisions that will support this. Priority number one for everyone is a constructive diplomatic process with the United States and all partners. It is essential to provide stable support for our army and for all our planned defense operations and deep strikes. Diplomacy and defense equally protect the dignity of our state and the dignity of our people.

One more thing.

The search for people trapped under the rubble of the residential building in Ternopil that was hit by a Russian missile has continued throughout the entire day. In total, this strike - on Ternopil alone - has taken the lives of 27 people. My condolences to all their families and loved ones... The fate of 17 more people remains unknown. Ukraine's State Emergency Service and all necessary agencies will continue working for as long as needed. I am grateful to everyone involved in this effort. I thank all those who are standing with Ukrainians right now, who are working for our state and defending Ukraine's interests - the lives of our people.

Glory to Ukraine!

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A Strong Armed Forces of Ukraine Is the Best Guarantee of Our Country's Security - Ihor Zhovkva

President of Ukraine

20 November 2025 - 20:44

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with Dominik Mutter, Political Director of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

Ihor Zhovkva noted Germany's leadership in providing assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, particularly military aid, and expressed special gratitude for Germany's significant role in strengthening Ukraine's air defense.

"We are grateful for the recent transfer of two air defense systems to Ukraine, as well as for Germany's contribution to NATO's PURL initiative to procure weapons in the United States. Germany has financed a separate third package within this initiative," the Deputy Head of the Office of the President said.

A total of five packages have already been formed under the PURL initiative. Germany's first contribution amounted to $500 million; just days ago, the country announced a second contribution of more than $170 million, and with these funds, a sixth package is now being finalized. This brings Germany's total contribution to more than $670 million.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the diplomatic efforts of the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, and other partner countries aimed at achieving a genuine peace, as well as Germany's role in this process and in readiness to provide Ukraine with reliable and effective security guarantees.

"A strong Armed Forces of Ukraine is the best guarantee of our country's security. We are grateful to Germany for its substantial assistance in strengthening our defense capabilities and for its readiness to support our defense capacities in the years ahead," Ihor Zhovkva emphasized.

Special attention was given to the opening of negotiating clusters on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Both sides share the position that it is essential to ensure absolute unity among European Union member states with regard to this decision. Ukraine and Germany will continue close coordination of their steps toward our country's integration into the European Union.

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President Met with U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll

President of Ukraine

20 November 2025 - 20:21

In Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll.

The Head of State officially received from the American side a draft plan which, in the American side's assessment, could reinvigorate diplomacy.

The President outlined the fundamental principles important to the people of Ukraine. Following the meeting, both sides agreed to work through the plan's provisions in a way that would lead to a just end to the war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that from the first seconds of Russia's invasion, Ukraine has sought peace and has supported all substantive proposals capable of bringing real peace closer. Since the beginning of this year, our country has supported the proposals of President Trump aimed at ending the bloodshed, and remains ready to work constructively with the United States and with partners in Europe and around the world to ensure that the outcome is peace.

The Head of State expects to discuss available diplomatic opportunities and the key elements needed to achieve peace with President Trump in the coming days.

"We are very grateful to President Trump, to the United States, to the entire American people. We stay strong because we have such strong partners," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The President separately underscored the importance of implementing the PURL initiative for the procurement of American weapons, first and foremost air defense systems, for Ukraine's needs.

Daniel Driscoll stressed that President of the United States Donald Trump and his team have great respect for Ukraine. The Secretary expressed admiration for the heroism with which Ukrainians defend their homeland.

Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Russia has not yet shown any intention of stopping its aggression against Ukraine and continues to strike critical infrastructure and civilian facilities.

"Yesterday they attacked our western part of Ukraine. So many people were killed. The most horrific tragedy was in Ternopil," the Head of State said.

As of now, it is known that 27 people were killed in the strike, including three children. Search operations are still ongoing.

The President provided the U.S. Secretary of the Army with specific data on the foreign components found in the Russian Kh-101 missile used to strike Ternopil. The missile was produced this year and contains components originating from the United States, Germany, China and Taiwan, the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The Head of State noted that without components manufactured by companies in various countries, Russia would not have the capacity to produce such missiles. Therefore, it is critically important to increase sanctions pressure and shut down all possible channels through which these components reach the Russian Federation.

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Fleeing the frontline in Ukraine

By Liudmila Blagonravova

20 November 2025 - The lives of people living in Ukraine on the frontline of the war with Russia are becoming more tenuous and support is being provided for those who want to leave as well as those who want to stay in their homes.

In the past year alone, more than 250,000 residents have left the Donetsk region, a focus of Russian attacks in southeastern Ukraine, close to their shared border.

Evacuations are also ongoing in neighboring Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is supporting both evacuees and those who remain behind.

Federico Sersale, head of UNHCR's office in Dnipro, told UN News that the majority of people who want to stay are elderly or those with disabilities.

Some are unwilling to leave their homes, fearing they may never return. Others are simply unable to evacuate on their own and require assistance.

A difficult decision

People who remain in the frontline areas live in harsh and extremely stressful conditions, facing constant attacks and disruptions to basic services.

Their movements are also limited by the security situation. Yet, despite these difficult circumstances, persuading them to leave is no easy task.

"I think the most important thing is that it's their decision whether to leave or stay. What we try to do, as far as possible, is to give them the information to make an informed decision," Mr. Sersale said.

Assisting evacuees and frontline communities

In the meantime, UNHCR and its NGO partners are providing them with much-needed assistance.

"When we have access to those communities, we are providing different types of services and assistance - from basic relief items like blankets to shelter materials and repair items in case their houses are affected by airstrikes, but also psychosocial support and legal aid."

The most vulnerable evacuees go through transit sites - government-led facilities, where they stay briefly, receive basic services, and move on.

"Forty-six percent of the people who have gone through transit sites are either older people or people with limited mobility. That is a new development," according to Mr. Sersale.

"We help set up these sites, provide basic equipment like beds, blankets, washing machines, whatever is needed for them to function. We also provide services, including psychosocial and legal aid, as well as cash assistance, that allow people to cover their most urgent needs. It varies depending on what the gaps are."

Frontline holdouts

Svitlana, an elderly woman from a frontline community in the Zaporizhzhia[DD1] region, passed through one of these sites south of Dnipro City.

Although encouraged to leave earlier, she and her husband refused. They lived in very harsh conditions, without electricity and with drones constantly flying over their house.

When the frontline started to shift in Zaporizhzhia and the situation worsened a few weeks ago, she finally decided it was time to go.

Svitlana spent a few days at the transit center, receiving cash and other assistance, and was later moved to "An Ocean of Kindness" in Dnipro City, a UNHCR-supported facility providing temporary accommodation for internally displaced people (IDPs) like Svitlana, who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.

"That's where I met her", Mr. Sersale said. "It's a temporary solution. She's waiting to find longer-term accommodation."

"When I met her, she had incredible energy. Despite everything she has gone through, her eyes were still full of hope and energy."

Long-term solutions and resilience

One of the biggest challenges for vulnerable IDPs like Svitlana is finding long-term solutions, including housing and more comprehensive support.

"This could mean an assisted living facility. It could mean receiving home-based care, living in a house, but also receiving certain services," Mr. Sersale said.

"Housing for internally displaced people is one of the main gaps. We are actively working in this area alongside our emergency response efforts."

While Svitlana explores options for a more permanent arrangement, UNHCR continues to provide support to her and other IDPs.

"I think her story is a perfect example of what life on the frontline is like. You have to make a difficult decision on whether to leave or not and then find the resilience to start again."

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Security Council's veto power is 'poster child' of global gridlock, says Baerbock

20 November 2025 - General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock warned on Thursday that repeated deadlock in the Security Council has become the "poster child" for wider global gridlock, undermining trust in multilateral institutions.

The UN was founded to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," Ms. Baerbock said, but the world body is struggling to meet that mandate when the Council is blocked by a veto from one of its five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US).

"Real people, watching in real time, may question the credibility and legitimacy of not only the Security Council, but of the UN in its entirety," she told Member States.

State of play

Ms. Baerbock noted that the Council has been paralyzed on "the most devastating conflicts", including crises discussed earlier in the week

The Veto Initiative

Ms. Baerbock highlighted the Assembly's Veto Initiative as one way the membership is trying to respond.

It requires an assembly debate whenever a veto is cast in the Council.

It allows the UN to show that "even when facing a blockage in the Council" it still hears "the desperate voices of those affected by these conflicts".

She pointed to the recent New York Declaration on the Palestinian question, backed by 142 Member States, as proof of strengthened cross-regional cooperation.

What she's saying

Ms. Baerbock urged the Assembly to consider expanding its role:

Should new tools be developed to "complement" the Initiative? (SUCH AS?)

be developed to "complement" the Initiative? (SUCH AS?) Should the Assembly issue recommendations to conflict parties  or even to the Council  "if the Council is unwilling or unable to act"?

to conflict parties  or even to the Council  "if the Council is unwilling or unable to act"? These questions, she said, highlight the need to see the UN "not only as one body but as a family together".

Between the lines

Ms. Baerbock acknowledged thatit was "unfortunate" that the Initiative was needed at all, as it reflected deeper dysfunction within the global body. But she stressed that it provided a crucial space "to step in when needed; to hold ourselves and each other to account; to demonstrate intent and take action".

Real world consequences

Ms. Baerbock's call to action is not merely theoretical: vetoes have had profound consequences on people's lives. For example, in June 2025, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza  a text backed by 14 of the 15 members. The US defended its actions saying that the draft resolution before the Council did not condemn the actions of Hamas fighters in October 2023 who attacked and killed some 1,200 Israelis, sparking the ongoing war.

Equally, in February 2025, Russia vetoed amendments to a European-backed resolution on Ukraine  including one calling explicitly for respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and another for a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Context: The Veto Initiative

Established in April 2022 by a General Assembly resolution, the Initiative requires the Assembly to meet within 10 working days of any veto in the Security Council. It does not override the veto, but it guarantees a public and accountable debate on each use and its implications.

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General Assembly Delegates Demand Overhaul of Security Council Veto amid Alarm over Its Use to Enable Impunity, Shield Narrow Interests, Obstruct Cooperation

Meetings Coverage

General Assembly/Plenary

Eightieth Session,

47th Meeting (AM)

GA/12733

20 November 2025

While a recent initiative triggering a General Assembly meeting each time a Security Council veto is cast has yielded more scrutiny and given non-members a stronger voice, fresher and even more radical changes  including reform of the Council itself  are now critical, delegates stressed today, as the 193-member Assembly considered the application of that highly controversial tool.

Representatives said that, since the 2022 adoption of resolution 76/262  widely known as the "veto initiative"  17 vetoes have triggered 17 meetings of the General Assembly. Many speakers welcomed the Assembly's ability to take up the most crucial peace and security matters of our time, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. However, some voiced frustration that those meetings had little tangible impact, while others warned that ignoring widespread negative perceptions of the veto  and the Council's resulting inaction  risks rendering the UN irrelevant in the public eye.

"[The UN] is not only being seen as one body, but as a family together," said Annalena Baerbock (Germany), President of the General Assembly. Too many times, the Organization has been unable to deliver on its most crucial task: saving future generations from the scourge of war. "The Security Council has, far too often, been deadlocked on the most devastating conflicts," she said, noting each veto cast by a permanent member may lead "real people watching in real time [to] question the credibility and legitimacy not only of the Council, but of the UN in its entirety".

Security Council Reform: 'Poster Child' of Multilateralism's Shortcomings

Describing the need for Security Council reform as a "poster child" of the multilateral system's shortcomings, she welcomed the 2022 veto initiative and asked delegates to explore what other tools and methods they might propose. "This is an opportunity to demonstrate, even in this fragmented time, that multilateralism is alive," she stressed.

"The veto, once envisioned as a safeguard for peace, has too often become a barrier to collective action," said Latvia's representative, speaking for the Baltic and Nordic States. Voicing deep regret that vetoes have been cast four times so far in 2025, she emphasized that no State stands above international law, including the UN Charter. "Time and again, we have seen the veto used or threatened to block Council action to protect civilians in Sudan and Gaza," she said. "The veto must never serve as a shield for impunity or as an instrument that silences the suffering."

Going further, the representative of Malaysia declared: "The veto power is outdated, undemocratic and is against the principle of the sovereign equality of all Member States." His delegation has consistently opposed its use, including when it was intended to block resolutions aimed at securing a ceasefire, ensuring unfettered humanitarian access and preventing the further destabilization of entire regions. In addition, Malaysia has advocated for new rules by which the veto must be exercised by at least two permanent Council members, supported by three non-permanent members and should then require endorsement by the General Assembly through a simple majority vote.

Other speakers throughout the debate questioned the very existence of the veto power. Kenya's delegate, for one, argued that the question is not just institutional, but moral, political and historical. The veto is "the greatest embodiment and symbol of anti-democratic conduct in the world", used to assert impunity, and too often, to protect narrow interests and block action on urgent humanitarian crises, he said.

Ignoring Calls for Veto Reform 'Recipe for Irrelevance'

Meanwhile, several speakers spotlighted the risks posed to the UN system's credibility by a largely negative public perception of the veto power  and widespread belief that the UN has been left toothless by its frequent use. The representative of Poland recalled reading the comment-thread under a recent UN social media post, where numerous users called for urgent reform and more tangible action. "Central to these calls was the use of the veto," he said, warning: "These calls are coming at us from all sides  ignoring them is a recipe for the Organization's irrelevance."

New Zealand's delegate was among those speakers who praised the Assembly's adoption of the veto initiative as a landmark moment and a step in the right direction. "Unfortunately, since its adoption, resolution 76/262 has been activated too many times," she said, recalling that, in 2024 alone, the world watched with frustration as the veto was used seven times to block important Council action.

Echoing some of those points, the representative of Luxembourg, also speaking for Belgium and the Netherlands, said the veto initiative has shown its "added value" by reinforcing that the veto is not a privilege, but a responsibility. Its implementation has enabled all countries to express their views and makes clear that any veto "carries with it an obligation to be accountable to all Member States". Qatar's delegate agreed, welcoming the "more effective and complementary relationship" between the Council and the Assembly, while rejecting arguments that it allows the latter to "encroach" upon the Council's mandate.

In a similar vein, Liechtenstein's delegate, speaking on behalf of a group of States, said the Assembly's debates triggered by the 2022 initiative have shown that the veto is neither practically nor procedurally the "end of the conversation". However, he stressed that the initiative is ultimately meant to empower the Assembly on matters of peace and security, supported by resolution 79/327, which calls for greater transparency, stronger reporting and urges States to avoid measures that impede the prevention of atrocity crimes.

Veto Scrutiny Reaches Boiling Point

Numerous speakers focused their criticisms of the veto power on several situations with far-reaching implications for peace and security, human lives and the UN's credibility  cases in which genocide, large-scale war crimes and crimes against humanity are likely taking place.

The representative of Colombia said the veto has too often paralysed the UN even amid "the worst levels of cruelty and barbarity", allowing  by a single negative vote  the Council's permanent members to endorse atrocities. He therefore called for the veto's full abolition, warning that expanding it would bring "more paralysis and less trust".

France's representative, also speaking for Mexico, said the two nations presented a 2015 Joint Declaration aimed at regulating the use of the veto in such critical cases. "We could not, and we should not, resign ourselves to the paralysis of the Security Council when mass atrocities are committed," he stressed. Now, a decade later, 107 countries support that proposal. "The veto of permanent members is not a privilege, but a responsibility," he said, urging the four other permanent Council members to agree to regulate their veto power in such cases.

Voicing strong support for the France-Mexico proposal and similar tools  such as the widely endorsed ACT (Accountability, Coherence and Transparency) Code of Conduct  Japan's delegate joined a range of speakers in sounding alarm that such measures are insufficient to fully deter the use of the veto in grave situations. Fundamental reform of the Security Council remains indispensable to correct its imbalance, he insisted.

Permanent Council Members Defend  and Dispute  Veto Limits

Another permanent member of the Security Council, the representative of the United Kingdom, described the veto power as a "significant responsibility" and recalled that his delegation has not cast such a vote since 1989. He welcomed that, since adopting the veto initiative in 2022, the Assembly has met to discuss vetoes exercised on the situations in Sudan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mali, as well as the bocking of humanitarian assistance to north-west Syria and the conflict in Gaza.

The United States' representative agreed that her country takes its special responsibility seriously and exercises the veto only when it has a "compelling reason" that is also clearly communicated in writing. As such, she said the United States "does not support alteration or expansion of the veto", and opposes "any initiative aimed at circumventing the Charter's provisions" regarding the powers and functions of the UN's principal organs.

Also opposing to any limits on veto power was the representative of the Russian Federation. She described veto as the "cornerstone of the entire UN system", noting that, without it, the Organization would instantly lose its authority or any levers on international policy. Vetoes cast by Moscow in recent years have prevented the adoption of "half-baked" texts that promoted narrow self-interest, allowing more widely representative resolutions to pass  especially in the case of Gaza. "What ought to be criticized is not the veto itself, but the refusal of certain Council members to hear and take into account the views of others, to find compromise-based and balanced solutions," she stressed.

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GT 254: AFGSC validates reliability, readiness of ICBM force with Minuteman III test launch

United States Space Force

Published Nov. 20, 2025

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Nov. 5. This test, designated GT 254, evaluated the ongoing reliability, operational readiness, and accuracy of the ICBM system, a cornerstone of America's national defense.

A team of AFGSC Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron employing the Airborne Launch Control System from aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, initiated the launch, testing the effectiveness and continuous availability of the ALCS, a backup command and control system for the ICBM force.

"GT 254 is not just a launch - it's a comprehensive assessment to verify and validate the ICBM system's ability to perform its critical mission," said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. "The data collected during the test is invaluable in ensuring the continued reliability and accuracy of the ICBM weapon system."

The Western Test Range at Vandenberg SFB serves as the testing ground for this critical effort. This launch is part of a series of routine and periodic activities crucial to assessing and validating the Minuteman III's capabilities. These tests, conducted with stringent safety protocols, allow AFGSC to collect valuable data.

"This test validated the reliability, adaptability, and modularity of the weapon system," said Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander. "Through this comprehensive assessment, conducted by a dedicated team of AFGSC Airmen, we ensure the highest standards of integrity and reliability for the Nation's ICBM system."

The 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the Air Force's only dedicated ICBM test organization, oversaw the meticulous planning and execution of the test launch.

The unarmed ICBM's reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Reagan Test Site, equipped with advanced sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, optical sensors, and telemetry, collected critical data during the terminal phase of flight. RTS team members analyze this data to evaluate system performance and support the research, development, test and evaluation of America's defense and space programs.

Airmen from all three AFGSC missile wings comprised the task force supporting the test launch, while maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, provided essential maintenance support. This collective effort underscored the commitment and expertise of the Airmen who maintain and operate this vital weapon system.

As the U.S. Air Force modernizes its ICBM force with the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system, maintaining the readiness of the existing Minuteman III remains a top priority.

"As we modernize to the Sentinel weapon system, we must continue to maintain the readiness of the existing Minuteman III fleet. GT 254 helps fulfill that commitment, ensuring its continued accuracy and reliability," said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

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Vancouver, November 20, 2025 - 37 Capital Inc. (CSE: JJJ) ("37 Capital" or the "Company"). Further to the Company's new releases dated September 26, October 17 and November 17, 2025, the Company has closed the third tranche of the equity financing for total gross proceeds of $90,625 and issued 725,000 units at the price of $0.125 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 per share for a period of three (3) years. If, anytime after six months from the issuance date, in the event that the Company's shares trade on the CSE at $0.35 per share or above for a period of 10 consecutive trading days a, a forced exercise provision will come into effect for the warrants issued in connection with this financing.

The funds raised from the financing will be used towards general working capital.

The Company paid finder's fee of $6,344 in cash and issued 50,750 finder's warrants exercisable at $0.15 per share for a period of two years. All securities that have been issued in connection with the above closing are subject to a four-month and a day hold period expiring on March 21, 2026.

In addition, the Company has granted 400,000 incentive stock options ("Options") to an insider exercisable at the price of $0.155 per common share for a period of three (3) years. These Options have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's 20% Rolling Stock Option Plan, subject to vesting period. Any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Options will be subject to a hold period expiring on March 21, 2026.

On Behalf of the Board of 37 Capital Inc.,

"Jake H. Kalpakian"

____________________

Jake H. Kalpakian,

President and CEO

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered speculative.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking". Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding future plans, projected or proposed financings, costs, objectives, economic or technical performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this News Release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "enable", "feel", "seek", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "might", "objective", "believe", "expect", "propose", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "plans" "estimate", and similar words are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, projections and estimations, there can be no assurance that these assumptions, projections or estimations are accurate. Readers, shareholders and investors are therefore cautioned not to place reliance on any forward-looking statements as the plans, assumptions, intentions or expectations upon which they are based might not occur.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275413
Vancouver, November 21, 2025 - Makenita Resources Inc. (CSE: KENY) (OTCID: KENYF) (WKN: A40X6P) is pleased to announce, further to its news release on November 13, 2025, the closing of an option agreement with an arm's length vendor (the "Vendor") to acquire the "Sisson West Tungsten Project" in New Brunswick and the "NTX Rare Earth Project" in Quebec (the "Properties"). The "Sisson West Tungsten Project" consists of approximately 4,000 contiguous acres prospective for Tungsten which directly borders the Sisson Tungsten Mine in New Brunswick and the "NTX Rare Earth Project" in Quebec consists of approx. 9000 acres prospective for rare earths. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties near Makenita's may not necessarily indicate mineralization on the company's property.

Jason Gigliotti, President of Makenita Resources Inc stated, "We are pleased to close on both of these exciting new projects. Rare earths have been thrust in the global spotlight in the past few months so the timing for this new acquisition is ideal. Also, Prime Minister Mark Carney has just made the "Sisson Tungsten Mine" a "Nation Building Project" and Makenita's new project directly borders this mine (figure 1). We anticipate being active on these claims in the short term and with only 33 million shares outstanding the structure is intact for immediate and future growth."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11165/275416_b99e708064682811_002full.jpg

Pursuant to the terms of the option agreement, the Company shall have the exclusive right and option to earn a 100% interest in the Properties from the Vendor in consideration for the issuance of a total of 3,000,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.06 per share, the issuance of 1,500,000 transferrable warrants exercisable at a price of $0.08 per share for a period of three years from the issuance date, and by making cash payment in the amount of $30,000 as set out below:

To pay $30,000, issue 2,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company, and issue 1,000,000 warrants to the Vendor within seven (7) business days of signing the option agreement; To issue 500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company and issue 500,000 to the Vendor within four (4) months of signing the option agreement; and To issue 500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company to the Vendor within eight (8) months of signing the option agreement.

All shares and warrants issued will have a standard hold period of four months plus a day.

Qualified person for mining disclosure:

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Frank Bain, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. 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 Makenita. 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 Makenita disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275416
Vancouver, November 21, 2025 - Cruz Battery Metals Corp. (CRUZ: CSE) (OTCID: BKTPF) (WKN: A40YSN) ("Cruz" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 23, 2025, it has completed its private placement financing (the "Financing"), pursuant to which it issued an aggregate of 14,982,750 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.0326 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $488,438. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one transferrable share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of five years from the closing of the Financing.

The Company paid cash finder's fees of $26,210 and issued 744,000 non transferrable share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to certain finders as a finder's fee in connection with the Financing. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Share (each, a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of two years from the closing of the Financing. All securities issued in connection with the Financing are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the closing of the Financing.

Net proceeds from the Financing are expected to be used to fund work programs on the Company's Nevada lithium projects and the gold/copper project in Ontario. Throughout the first 4 phases of drilling, Cruz has discovered lithium in all 14 drill holes on the Solar Lithium Project in Nevada, directly bordering American Lithium Corp.

James Nelson, President of Cruz Battery Metals stated, "Lithium prices are currently at year highs, according to tradingeconomics.com(1), and attention towards domestic lithium seems to have renewed since President Trump agreed to take a stake in Lithium Americas Thacker Pass Lithium Mine in Nevada, announced by Reuters (2) on October 1, 2025. With the recent resurgence of investor attention back into the lithium sector, management feels this is an opportune time to proceed with a work program on the Solar Lithium Project, directly bordering American Lithium Corp., with the goal of producing a Maiden Resource Estimate in the first half of 2026. In addition, funds from this financing will strengthen our working capital position, providing us with greater flexibility to plan preliminary work programs on the 'Sterling South Gold/Copper Project' directly bordering Sterling Metals Corp.'s recent discovery in Ontario. The Company is very optimistic about the growth prospects for the remainder of 2025 and beyond as we become more active than we've been in years."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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None of the securities issued have been 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 news 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.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Frank Bain, PGeo, a director of the Company and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Cruz Battery Metals Corp.

Cruz currently has several battery metals focused projects located in the USA. Cruz's Nevada lithium projects consist of the 4,938-acre 'Solar Lithium Project', the 240-acre 'Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project', and the recently acquired 580-acre 'Central Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project'. Cruz's 'Sterling South Gold/Copper Project' in Ontario consists of 42 claims for approximately 2,500 acres. Cruz also has the 124-acre 'Idaho Cobalt Belt Project'. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Cruz may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

If you would like to be added to Cruz's news distribution list, please send your email address to info@cruzbatterymetals.com

Cruz Battery Metals Corp.

"James Nelson"

James Nelson

President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/lithium (1)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-government-take-5-stake-lithium-americas-joint-venture-with-general-motors-2025-09-30/ (2)

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275417
MetalQuest Mining (TSXV:MQM) ("MQM" or the "Company"), a strategic metals company developing one of North Americas largest high purity iron projects with a historical NI 43-101 resource estimate (https://minedocs.com/19/Lac-Otelnuk-FS-03252015.pdf ), the Lac Otelnuk Project, is pleased to announce its developing interest in potential exploration opportunities within Ontario's Ring of Fire region, one of Canada's most promising mineral districts.

Chairman and CEO Harry Barr states, "Throughout my 40+ years in the exploration industry, I have watched very closely the advancement of Ontario's Ring of Fire. When Premier Doug Ford announced that the Province intends to designate the Ring of Fire as a Special Economic Zone 'as quickly as possible', it became clear to us that it was in the best interest of the Company and our shareholders to take a serious look at the region. Our management team has been studying this district for more than two decades, and in recent months we made the decision to begin examining a number of strategic properties for acquisition.

At present, our technical team is evaluating several additional opportunities in the Ring of Fire located in the James Bay Lowlands region in Northern Ontario. With the Province continuing to advance plans for an all-season access road, intended to connect the region to Ontario's existing highway network, the long-term development potential of this emerging mining district is becoming increasingly compelling."

MetalQuest Highlights

MQM's technical team has made a commitment to evaluate the prospective potential of the Ring of Fire. This critical mineral district is supported by robust historical data, and a clear development pathway to build the roadand necessary infrastructure to unlock the long-term value.

Both the federal and Ontario provincial government are now behind the potential for this new mining district, which is located in the James Bay Lowlands region.

MQM will apply the same early-engagement, transparency-focused, and capacity-building First Nation partnership model developed successfully at MQM's 100%-owned Lac Otelnuk Project and Superior Iron Project in the Province of Quebec.

MQM has initiated a district-wide acquisition program and is actively reviewing multiple high-priority critical metal project opportunities.

Ontario's announcement of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the Ring of Fire, together with the announcement that they plan to advance an all-season road, has created the strongest development signal in over a decade and opened a rare window for district-scale acquisitions. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ring-of-fire-special-economic-zone-ontario-1.7553352

MQM's flagship property, the Lac Otelnuk (Lac O) High-Purity Iron Project, is one of North America's largest undeveloped iron resource with a historical NI 43-101 estimate

https://minedocs.com/19/Lac-Otelnuk-FS-03252015.pdf ) .



MQM is also developing its 100% interest in the Superior Iron (SI) Project, located in the Labrador Trough, Quebec. The SI Project differs from Lac O in that it is an exploration project with previous exploration indicating the potential for additional iron occurrences. SI comprises 569 mineral claims totalling ~27,425 hectares (67,770 acres) https://metalquestmining.com/news/metalquest-mining-adds-significant-new-iron-project-to-its-portfolio-acquisition-of-a-100-of-the-superior-iron-project-labrador-trough-quebec/ .





Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Location of the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario. The map highlights multiple First Nation communities situated near the proposed development corridor, which includes an ~344 km (214 mile) all-weather road extending from the Town of Geraldton. Shown are the proposed road study areas and route options, along with existing highways, winter roads, and railway infrastructure. Source: Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, "Ontario's Ring of Fire," accessed November 18, 2025.

A New Phase for the Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire is one of the most significant emerging mining districts in North America, hosting a unique combination of high-grade nickel, copper, platinum-group elements (PGEs), chromite, vanadium, gold, and titanium-bearing ultramafics within a large Archean intrusive and volcanic complex.

Located in the James Bay Lowlands of northern Ontario, the district spans more than 5,000 km and represents one of Canada's most concentrated clusters of undeveloped critical-mineral deposits.

Since its discovery in the mid-2000s, more than $750 million has been spent on exploration and technical programs by major and junior operators, including Noront Resources, Cliffs Natural Resources, KWG Resources, Bold Ventures, and Wyloo Metals.

This work includes hundreds of drill holes, multiple generations of airborne EM and magnetic surveys, ground IP and gravity, metallurgical testing, engineering studies, and early-stage development planning. The resulting technical database provides a highly validated foundation for renewed exploration.

A key catalyst for MQM's regional review is Wyloo Metals' 2015 acquisition and the fact that they appear poised to be the anchor operator in the district. Wyloo's consolidation of the major deposits, including Eagle's Nest, one of Canada's highest-grade undeveloped nickel-copper-PGE systems, and the Black Thor-Black Label-Big Daddy chromite trend, representing some of the largest chromite resources in North America, signals that the Ring of Fire is shifting from a long-term concept to a strategically advancing development corridor. Wyloo's investment scale, technical depth, and commitment to establishing a northern critical minerals supply chain, provide strong validation that the district is entering a new phase of advancement. This momentum directly contributed to MQM initiating a comprehensive review of the region and pursuing targeted acquisitions.

MQM's review integrates the extensive historical work completed by past operators, including Noront Resources, Cleveland-Cliffs, KWG Resources, Bold Ventures, and multiple junior companies active from 2008 to the present. Our technical team is currently reviewing previous exploration programs, which include drilling, airborne and ground geophysics, prospecting, engineering studies, and early-stage metallurgical work, in order to form a robust technical foundation for renewed exploration.

Government Momentum and Infrastructure Advancements in the Ring of Fire

Strategically, the Ring of Fire is central to Canada's long-term critical-minerals strategy. The region's nickel, copper, PGEs, and chromite potentially supports electric-vehicle manufacturing, stainless-steel production, and battery-materials supply chains. Ontario is advancing a multi-component access corridor consisting of the ~117 km Northern Road Link, the ~117 km Marten Falls Community Access Road, and the ~110 km Webequie Supply Road, a combined infrastructure system designed to connect the Ring of Fire to the provincial highway network and southern processing hubs. This marks the strongest progress toward regional access since the district's discovery.

Premier Doug Ford reaffirmed Ontario's commitment to developing the Ring of Fire, stating that the Province intends to designate the region as a Special Economic Zone "as quickly as possible" - Statement referenced from CBC News: "Ontario to make Ring of Fire a special economic zone 'as quickly as possible': Ford" (July 13, 2025), and move forward on the all-season access road to connect the district to the provincial highway network. This represents the clearest political and regulatory signal in more than a decade, that large-scale development in the Ring of Fire is now a provincial priority. These commitments have reopened a rare entry window for companies positioned to participate in Canada's long-term critical-minerals strategy.

With this infrastructure commitment, the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) designation, and the presence of Wyloo Metals as the dominant operator, the Ring of Fire is transitioning from a remote exploration camp into a strategically advancing development corridor. For companies entering the district today, the timing aligns with an exceptional combination of proven deposits, government momentum, open ground, and long-term discovery potential across one of Canada's most important next-generation mining regions.

Qualified Person

Dr. William Stone, P.Geo. (PGO - 1569), an independent Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclose for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this press release. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information presented, particularly with regards to assessment of potential for renewed exploration. However, the QP assumes that the historical exploration results were completed to industry standard practices at the time and that the information provides an indication of exploration potential, but may not be representative of expected results.

About MetalQuest Mining

MetalQuest Mining (MQM) owns a 100% of the Lac Otelnuk Iron Project (Lac O) and is now working to to develop one of the largest, historical Iron projects in North America. The Lac O Project is located in Quebec's Labrador Trough and is ~165 km by air northwest of the Town of Schefferville, and 1200 km northeast of Montreal by air. In early 2023, the Quebec government transferred the claims into MQM's name and management is accumulating a vast amount of technical data as ~$120 million has been expended on the project to date. On November 12th 2025, MQM announced acquisition of a significant new iron project to its portfolio, Superior Iron Project, comprising of 569 claims encompassing 27,425 hectares (https://metalquestmining.com/news/metalquest-mining-adds-significant-new-iron-project-to-its-portfolio-acquisition-of-a-100-of-the-superior-iron-project-labrador-trough-quebec/ ).

Going forward, one of our primary objectives will be to continue to work with Naskapi First Nation of Kawawachikamach with whom MQM has an Exploration and Pre-Development Agreement as of November 2023. In June 2025, MQM signed an agreement with AtkinsRealis, an engineering services and nuclear company with offices around the world to conduct a comprehensive Gap Analysis of the historical 2015 FS for the Lac O Project. The new studies will identify areas requiring updates to align the historical 2015 Feasibility Study with current market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, engineering best practices, and environmental standards. MQM's management is continuing to develop its in-house Iron database to enable the Company to attract financiers and producers to Iron industry for partnerships.

The Company owns ~1.8 million shares and 2.5 million warrants of Canadian Copper (CCI) and two NSR royalties totaling 1% in Murray Brook PEA Stage Zinc-Polymetallic Deposit, situated in the famous Bathurst Mining District, New Brunswick, in eastern Canada. Canadian Copper Inc. (CCI) has the right to purchase half of a 0.33% royalty for $1 million dollars and must pay MQM a pre-production cash payment of $1 million after the project goes into production. CCI is currently completing an Economics study with regards to processing the Murray Brook deposit at the Caribou Processing Complex and is currently exercising its option to buy the adjacent Caribou Complex and start production as soon as it makes commercial sense. For further information on CCI, click here to go to their website.

Further to required early warning disclosure filed on SEDAR+ July 31, 2025, New Age Metals Inc. (TSX.V: NAM; OTCQB: NMTLF; FSE: P7J.F) received Board and TSXV approvals to increase its ownership in MQM from 6.44% to 19.05% on a post-conversion beneficial ownership basis. Undiluted, NAM has increased its ownership in MQM from 6.44% to 12.79%. NAM's investment continues to assist MQM with Go-Forward Plan.

AtkinsRealis, an international engineering Company, was contracted by MQMs management on June 25th and they have a mandate and the technical depth and northern project experience which makes them an ideal partner for the next phase of Lac Otelnuk. NAM's investment will allow MQM to conclude a Gap Study, slated to be completed by the end of this year, and further High Level Scoping Studies. For more details on the June 25th announcement, please link the following link. https://metalquestmining.com/news/metalquest-mining-selects-atkinsrealis-to-conduct-a-gap-analysis-for-the-lac-otelnuk-iron-ore-project/

Investors are invited to visit the MetalQuest Mining website at www.metalquestmining.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to Harry Barr at Hbarr@MQmining.com or Faraz Rasheed at Frasheed@MQmining or call 613 659 2773.

Opt-in List

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on our website (www.mqmining.com) to receive our updated news.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Harry Barr"

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

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 release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.


Massa and FIA both declare crashgate victory

Confusion - and conflicting claims of victory - erupted after the High Court in London ruled on Felipe Massa's lawsuit over the 2008 'Crashgate' saga.

Felipe Massa, Belgian GP 2008

 The Cahier Archive

The former Ferrari driver declared a great day for justice , saying the court had refused attempts by Formula One Management, Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA to shut down his case.

This is a tremendous victory, Massa said in an all-caps statement.

The court has seen the strength of my case. They did everything possible to stop this case, but our fight is for fairness and today we have won.

He added that he is more determined and confident than ever ahead of a full trial next year.

But the FIA issued its own statement - claiming that it had succeeded.

According to the governing body, the judge dismissed Massa's breach-of-contract claim, his breach-of-duty claim, and his bid for declarations that the 2008 title should have been his.

The court also highlighted serious doubts about parts of Massa's case and noted a number of obstacles regarding causation.

However, the key point - and the reason Massa's camp is celebrating - is that the judge rejected attempts to throw out the central allegation - a conspiracy claim against FOM, Ecclestone and the FIA.

The court has allowed that claim to proceed to a full trial, subject to reformulated pleadings and further expert evidence.

Italian sources, including Sky Italia, described it as an important victory for Massa because the court refused to drop the case.

The full trial is expected in 2026.

(GMM)
Lando Norris

 McLaren

Lando Norris set the fastest time in a heavily interrupted second practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, heading a session twice halted for concerns over a loose manhole cover at Turn 17. The McLaren drivers benchmark 1m33.602s on soft tyres came before the first red flag and ultimately survived the late stoppages that prevented a final round of representative soft-tyre laps.

Light rain before the session left the opening minutes quiet, with drivers waiting for the surface to stabilise. Once running began, the early sequence of medium-tyre laps built steadily toward Charles Leclercs 1m34.802s FP1 marker. Oscar Piastri was the first to beat that earlier time, before Leclerc restored order with a 1m33.763s medium-tyre lap that temporarily placed Ferrari on top.

Andrea Kimi Antonellis first push on softs reset the standard with a 1m33.631s, but Norris immediately improved by 0.029s, his 1m33.602s lap placing McLaren at the front moments before the initial red flag arrived with 21 minutes left. After a 15-minute delay to inspect the Turn 17 drain cover, the field had just six minutes of running before the second stoppage ended the session entirely.

The curtailed final phase meant several drivers could not exploit their tyre preparation or run plans. Leclercs session ended prematurely even before the second red flag, the Ferrari driver pulling off at Turn 5 with a suspected gearbox issue after being instructed not to shift gears. His earlier 1m33.763s on mediums nevertheless held up for third, behind Norris and Antonelli.

Nico Hulkenberg continued Saubers encouraging form with fourth on 1m33.879s, just ahead of Isack Hadjar, whose 1m33.893s on softs kept him narrowly in front of Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawsons 1m33.901s. George Russell was seventh for Mercedes with a 1m34.037s on mediums, while Alex Albon placed Williams eighth on 1m34.067s.

Max Verstappen finished ninth after a 1m34.105s medium-tyre lap, and Lewis Hamilton completed the top 10 with 1m34.127s for Ferrari.

Lance Stroll followed in 11th (1m34.191s), ahead of Pierre Gaslys Alpine (1m34.373s) and Carlos Sainzs Williams (1m34.435s). Piastri ended a subdued 14th on 1m34.493s, with Yuki Tsunodas Red Bull 15th on 1m34.692s.

Behind them, Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto logged 1m34.824s, Oliver Bearmans Haas produced 1m34.986s, Fernando Alonso managed 1m35.012s for Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon recorded 1m35.228s, and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the order with a 1m35.499s hard-tyre effort.

The uncertain surface conditions and repeated stoppages will leave FP3 as the first genuine indicator of the competitive order ahead of qualifying.
Black Friday week is here - Samsung US got an early start, but now that the actual shopping holiday is here, some of the prices have fallen even further. Here is an updated look at the best offers.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is available with a $400 discount with nothing extra required. If you have an old device you want to get rid of, you can get up to $1,000 credit for it  last years Z Fold6 in good condition can fetch that much, as can a Galaxy S25 Ultra. Even with a cracked screen these two can be worth $800 in trade-in credit.

If you prefer the other style of foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 can be discounted by up to $600 with a trade-in  a Z Flip6 is worth up to $600 if its in good condition, up to $400 if the screen is cracked.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is available for under $1,000 with an instant discount of $350. If you go the trade-in route, you can get up to $700 off with, for example, the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ offers a choice between a straight $120 discount or up to $480 trade-in credit. Looking at the options, a year-old S24+ can fetch $480, while the two-year-old S23+ can be worth up to $430.

Samsung is not pushing the Galaxy S25 Edge as hard as some retailers. Right now, there's only a trade-in offer (up to $530). That's how much you'd get for an S24 Ultra, but you should probably get the S25 Ultra if you are coming from an S24 Ultra (and it will fetch a higher price during the trade-in!).

The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic got a better $100 discount and the trade-in credit goes up to $300. The trade-in values are boosted, so you get $300 for a Watch Ultra, Watch6 Classic or a Watch5 Pro. Even a Watch4 Classic can be worth $250. Below that, any smartwatch in any condition will fetch $200.

Moving on to displays, the 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen is a curved 4K UHD gaming monitor featuring a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time (GtG), Quantum Mini-LED display technology, and a unique Cockpit Mode. The second generation model adds key features like a built-in KVM switch and an extra DisplayPort input for enhanced multi-tasking capabilities.

A cheaper option is the Samsung Neo QLED QN70F. This is a larger 75 TV with HDR10+ support. It has up to 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync support (so you can plug in a console or PC and get VRR). This and The Frame Pro are Tizen smart TVs.

While the TVs above (and the Odyssey monitor) have built-in speakers, you might want to get a soundbar for a more immersive audio experience. The Samsung HW-Q990F supports Wireless Dolby Atmos, which simplifies the wiring for the rear speakers. Its an 11.1.4 channel system with upward firing speakers on the front and back.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
You can now pre-book an iQOO 15 in India, here are the perks

The iQOO 15 launched in China last month, and will make its global debut on November 26, when it also arrives in India. Ahead of that, iQOO's Indian arm has started pre-bookings.

If you're interested, you pay INR 1,000 for a "Priority Pass" - these are limited in number, by the way. That amount will then be converted into a coupon of the same value, which will be deducted from the final purchase price of the device.

Your head start begins now.



Pre-booking for the all-new iQOO 15 is officially open and the benefits make this a deal you dont want to miss.



Secure your Priority Pass with a fully refundable 1000 and unlock exclusive pre-book rewards before anyone else: pic.twitter.com/cIkNMuVtJd  iQOO India (@IqooInd) November 20, 2025

If you did pre-book, you need to buy the phone between November 27 at 12 PM local time and November 28 at 11:59 PM local time in order to use the aforementioned coupon, which is one-time use only and non-transferable.

If you pre-book, you will receive a free pair of iQOO TWS 1e earbuds (worth INR 1,899), a 12-month extended warranty added on top of the 12-month standard coverage for a total of two years, and you will also get priority delivery.

The INR 1,000 amount you pay to pre-book is refundable, so in case you have pre-booked but decide not to go through with the purchase, you will get that back.
Boosting Guam-Palau supply chains took center stage during a Thursday showcase hosted by the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and Guam Economic Development Authority.

Featured local businesses represent everything from food to textile, alcohol, skincare, jewelry, and more, and they were showcased to Palau business delegates at the GHRA membership meeting at Hyatt Regency Guam.

Melvin Tabilas, GEDA small business division manager, said the goal is to build export deals with local companies in Palau.

Were trying to open the international market for Guam companies [and] get our products out and bring potential buyers to Guam to engage with local business, Tabilas told the Pacific Daily News.

GEDA and GHRA invited business delegates from Palau to Guam to connect with Guam businesses.

At the GHRA meeting on Thursday, they showcased 12 Guam businesses: Carabao Brewing, Bonita Baby, Obsessed, Sirena Soul Guam, Everything Guam, Local Jerk Guam, The Coconut Tree Company, Ichima Corporation, Green Turtle Inc., Denanche Guam, Asiga Corp, and Natural Being.

The visiting Palau business owners and representatives include:

Edna Raymond, owner of GnZ Cafe

Harllyn Iyool Basilio, who runs Baby Co. & Shop

Keialla B. Masami, who owns Stay Salty Palau

Milong Browny, who owns Long Beach Cafe

JB Nagata, who runs Driftwood Bar & Cafe

Eric and Zachery Whipps, who are the CEO and purchasing manager of Surangel and Sons.

GEDA and GHRA also drove them around Guam to visit different local brands and stores, according to Tabilas.

Great opportunity

Eric Whipps said the Palau-based Surangel and Sons is interested in increasing its orders from Dinanche, as well as starting a line with Latte Stone Cookies.

Whipps added that Surangel and Sons already works with PDC Wholesale, Pacific Grocers Guam, and other companies.

Seeing all these different vendors is a great opportunity, and what GEDA has done for us this year [showed] us whats available in the region, Zachery Whipps said. Its nice to have all these products available regionally. Were all part of Micronesia, so itd be nice to source from our sister islands.

Louise Gianan, owner of Obsessed, and Devin Santos, employee of Coconut Tree Company, said the showcase was a great opportunity to get into a larger market.

Gianan, whose company does organic and hypoallergenic baby clothing, was particularly excited to offer her product and potentially design a collection with local phrases, such as her items that read Hu Guaiya Hao.

She also hopes a supply chain between the two islands can be beneficial, since the majority of their shipments go through Guam anyway.

It was also an opportunity for businesses already involved in the international market to connect with regional partners.

Mihwa Kim, owner of Kingfisher Noni, which uses noni as its main ingredient in skincare items, soap, shampoo, juice, and tea, has sold products to Japan and Korea for the past eight years.

Ive been in business for 20 years, but I dont often have chances like this to show my product, Kim said. I look at the people coming in, and [now] Palau has a chance to see our product.

Shipping challenges

Additionally, 95% of Palaus goods are bought outside of the Oceania region, so Zachery Whipps hopes Palau could start buying more stuff closer to home and help create business ties and community bonds.

Economically, however, trading between islands is not very beneficial, Zachery Whipps added.

Freights are a big issue shipping anything in and out of the region. The products are more expensive than what we were to buy off-island, but I think its very important to try to source stuff as locally as you can, Zachery Whipps said.

Zachery Whipps said Surangel and Sons is looking at different freight forwarders, such as Triple B and CTSI, to do less container loads to fit the smaller quantities of what Palau would buy from Guam.

We do full container loads of Coca Cola out of Guam, and we spoke to them, and theyre willing to put our product in their containers. If we can solve the issue with shipping, it would make sourcing products from Guam much easier, he said.

Tabilas said GEDA is also looking into the shipping challenges and has started initial conversations with local shipping companies and the Port Authority of Guam to find ways to lessen the barrier for local businesses to engage in the regional market.

We recognize its a barrier, but its the next thing GEDA is working at within the industry and with our stakeholders to figure out solutions, [especially] now we understand there is strong interest in Guam products, Tabilas said.

Local ingredients

The showcase also included collaboration with Hyatt Regencys kitchen staff. Lunch served at the meeting featured ingredients sourced from local businesses such as Kingfisher Noni, Green Turtle Coffee, and Dinanche Drizzle, according to executive chef Mirko Agostini.

Agostini told the PDN that he sourced ingredients from local businesses for Thursdays lunch buffet.

He served Dinanche spices with a locally caught mahi mahi, Italian dressing made with noni juice source from Kingfisher Noni, and used coffee grounds from Green Turtle Coffee for Hyatts signature cheesecake, which also had a coconut tree on top to finish with an element to say wow, and as part of the sauce.

If you put food in the middle of the table, youre making collaboration, even for people who dont know each other, Agostini said. Everybody is going to be happy when they have something to eat. That is elevation for all you want to do.

This collaboration opened the door, according to Agostini, for local businesses to regular collaborate with Hyatt, setting a platform for local entrepreneurs and companies trying to develop themselves.

If there are people coming from outside, then they want to try the best meat in Guam, not the best meat coming from outside of Guam, Agostini said.

Hyatte general manager Sophia Chu Wigsten said the hotel will definitely continue the conversation to incorporate local businesses in the hotels buffet and banquet options after the feedback and reception from the guests at the meeting.

We are always looking for opportunities to work with local vendors to promote and sell their products, she said. Weve partnered with Ignite Juice to come up with a signature drink for Hyatt using their product, and we work with Carabao Brewing and different partners to do different things.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Group announced on 21 November that it will begin full-vehicle production in Europe through a new partnership with Magna, marking a pivotal step in the Chinese automaker's plan to localize manufacturing across the region. The move strengthens GAC's broader efforts to accelerate its electrification strategy while simultaneously extending its production, supply chain and commercial operations into Europe.

According to the companies, mass production of GAC's AION V all-electric SUV has already started at Magna's Graz facility in Austria, signaling that the partnership is well underway.

Photo source: Magna

Wei Haigang, general manager of GAC International, described Europe as a centerpiece of the group's international strategy. He noted that working with Magna enables GAC to deliver locally assembled EVs to European consumers, a crucial step for the brand's long-term competitiveness in the region.

Roland Prettner, president of Magna's Complete Vehicle business, said the collaboration reflects GAC's confidence in Magna's engineering and manufacturing capabilities. He added that the Graz plant's combination of flexibility and production capacity enables automakers such as GAC to advance their European localization strategies with greater efficiency and reliability.

Magna's Graz plant is known for its operational expertise and highly flexible production lines capable of assembling internal-combustion, hybrid and fully electric vehicles simultaneously. With more than 125 years of complete-vehicle experience, the company has helped develop over 40 vehicle programs and produced more than four million vehicles worldwide.

Notably, Magna revealed in September that XPENG had selected the same Graz plant to assemble two new models, with mass production scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025. The XPENG program marked the first time a Chinese automaker entrusted the facility with full-vehicle assembly.

For nearly two decades, Magna has supported Chinese automakers with full-vehicle engineering, and since 2018 it has expanded to manufacturing and assembly services within China. The new collaboration with GAC, following XPENG's earlier decision, highlights the determination of Chinese EV makers to deepen their European presence. It also reinforces Magna's standing as a global leader in contract manufacturing, offering a viable pathway for Chinese brands seeking localized production as they scale internationally.
Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice Robert Torres said the late Maria G. Fitzpatrick, who served as justice pro tempore, judge pro tempore and referee, lived a life dedicated to the rule of law.

For 41 years, Guam was Fitzpatricks home.

Maria was a steady and trusted presence in our courts, answering the call whenever conflicts or absences required an experienced hand, Torres said in a statement. She served with humility, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to the fair administration of justice.

Fitzpatrick moved to Guam in 1984 on a two-year contract with the Office of the Attorney General, and worked there for 21 years. She joined the Public Defender Services Corp. in 2008 and retired from government service in 2016.

She served as referee, administrative hearings officer, justice pro tempore, and judge pro tempore at the Judiciary of Guam.

The chief justice said Fitzpatricks decades of public service reflected a life dedicated to the people of Guam and to the rule of law.

Though she never sought recognition, Maria made our system stronger, Torres said.

He said Fitzpatrick was respected by her colleagues, valued for her professionalism, and known for the dignity she brought to every assignment.

On behalf of a grateful Judiciary, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her, Torres added.




Haiti - FLASH : Varreux oil terminal blocked, no shortage but...





Since November 17, 2025, road access to the Varreux oil terminal (Haiti's largest fuel depot, holding 70% of its reserves)  National Route 1, the Batimat road, La Saline, and Route 9  has been blocked and controlled by heavily armed men, preventing tanker trucks from refueling at the terminal and delivering to service stations where stocks are dwindling daily.



Although no fuel shortage has been reported so far, some unscrupulous service station owners have taken advantage of the situation to raise prices at the pump and fuel rumors of a fuel shortage, leading to the appearance of yellow jerrycans among consumers.



Responding to this situation, the General Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a press release dated Thursday, November 20, 2025, clarified the fuel availability and control measures, stating, "[...] no fuel shortage has been recorded on the national market.' Information gathered from importers and distributors confirms that products are available in sufficient quantities to meet demand.



However, the Ministry has noted some local disruptions attributed to irregular practices that do not comply with current standards. It announces that teams of inspectors will be deployed throughout the country to : conduct spontaneous inspections at service stations and distribution points; ensure compliance with established prices and sales conditions ; and prevent and penalize any speculative or illegal practices.



These operations will be carried out in coordination with the Haitian National Police (PNH) to ensure order and the proper functioning of the supply system.



Should be noted that on Thursday, the Ministry's inspection service already conducted an inspection at more than a dozen service stations in the metropolitan area to verify fuel availability.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : High-level meeting of the Technical Working Group with the Haitian National Police





On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Joint Support Programme for the Haitian National Police (PNH), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), held its 5th meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) at the PNH Headquarters in Clercine.



This meeting brought together key technical and financial partners, including representatives from Germany, Canada, the United States, Italy, Japan, the European Union, as well as Brazil, France, and Mexico.



Vladimir Paraison, Acting Director General of the PNH, accompanied by members of the High Command, chaired this high-level meeting. He opened the session with a solemn tribute to the police officers recently killed in the line of duty and presented an update on the country's security situation, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the police.



Diallo Oumar, Senior Technical Advisor for UNDP, and Vladimir Paraison of the Haitian National Police (PNH) presented a detailed report on the progress made in terms of :



 Strengthening territorial and specialized units, now better prepared to intervene in sensitive areas;



 Improving equipment, mobility, and logistics, enabling greater responsiveness from teams in the field;



 Developing training, governance, and infrastructure, essential for the sustainable modernization of the institution.



These results illustrate the ongoing efforts to strengthen the PNH's response capabilities, particularly in the most sensitive areas, and contribute to a more effective response to persistent security threats. The partners also discussed the next steps needed to consolidate these achievements and optimize the overall impact of the Program.



The Haitian National Police (PNH) presented a series of priorities structured around three main areas for the next 12 months :



 Train, specialize, and mentor officers and agents to improve governance and professional effectiveness;



 Increase police presence through improved mobility, modernized infrastructure, and enhanced intelligence capabilities;



 Strengthen the PNH's territorial presence in the 577 communal sections, particularly in coastal cities and along the border.



These priorities address three major national challenges :



 Eradicate gangs throughout the country;



 Secure the upcoming electoral process;



 Prepare for the arrival and subsequent withdrawal of the future Gang Repression Force (FRG)(GSF), currently being formed.



This structured roadmap should enable technical and financial partners to maintain consistent support aligned with the PNH's operational needs.







The technical and financial partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Haitian National Police (PNH) through the Joint Program, aligned with national and institutional priorities.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 21, XPENG celebrated the rollout of its one-millionth vehicle, a milestone that highlights the company's rapid scale-up in production. Speaking at the Auto Guangzhou 2025, Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng noted that while the brand needed 82 months to reach its first 500,000 vehicles, it took only 14 months to double that figurean acceleration he described as the result of stronger product traction and a more mature supply chain.

Photo source: XPENG

The landmark achievement is backed by robust sales momentum. In October 2025, XPENG delivered 42,013 vehicles, up 76% year-on-year and setting a new monthly record. It marked the second consecutive month the company surpassed 40,000 units. For the first ten months of the year, cumulative deliveries reached 355,209 unitsnearly triple that of the same period last year.

XPENG's product portfolio has also widened significantly, spanning multiple segments with models such as the X9 Super REEV, the all-new P7, and the MONA M03. This growing lineup has helped the company tap into both mainstream and emerging NEV categories.

The latest addition, the X9 Super REEV, officially went on sale on November 20 with two variants priced between 309,800 yuan and 329,800 yuan. Equipped with the company's Kunpeng extended-range system, the model delivers 452 km of battery-powered driving and a total range of 1,602 km. XPENG also announced plans to push its second-generation VLA architecture to all Ultra models in the first quarter of 2026, followed by full adoption on MAX models later that year, supporting configurations with one Turing AI chip and two Orin-X chips. He Xiaopeng added that the X9 Super REEV broke the model's previous full-day order record within its first hour on sale, with northern China accounting for more than half of new orders for the first time.

As it strengthens its position at home, XPENG is accelerating its international push. In October, the company entered seven new marketsLithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cambodia, Morocco, Tunisia and Qatarmarking its broadest single-month expansion to date. Looking ahead, He confirmed that the P7+ will goes on sale overseas in January 2026, with three additional new models scheduled for global release later that year. The strategy underscores XPENG's ambition to become a major Chinese EV presence in international markets at a time when demand for intelligent electrified vehicles is rising worldwide.
Police authorities of EU member states may indiscriminately collect and store biometric and genetic data, such as fingerprints and DNA profiles, of suspects and persons prosecuted. The prerequisite is that national laws or jurisprudence ensure appropriate time limits for the regular review of the necessity of retention and compliance with strict principles for the protection of sensitive data. This was decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday.

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In essence, according to the ruling in Case C-57/23, national police authorities can decide on the basis of their internal regulations whether the storage of information on physical characteristics and DNA is necessary.

The procedure stems from the case of a Czech official who was interrogated by the police in connection with criminal proceedings against him. Despite his objection, the authorities ordered the collection of his fingerprints, the creation of a genetic profile using a cheek swab, and the taking of photos and a personal description, which were stored in databases.

Lifetime storage is problematic

The official, who was legally convicted in 2017, challenged the identification measures and the storage of his data in separate proceedings as an unlawful interference with his private life. A Czech court initially ordered the deletion of the disputed information. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court appealed against this and asked the ECJ whether the national regulation was compatible with the EU Directive on Data Protection in Criminal Proceedings.

The ECJ first clarified that the term "law of the Member States" in the context of the collection, storage, and deletion of such data encompasses a general provision. This sets the minimum requirements, provided that the requirements are sufficiently foreseeable and can be judicially reviewed.

The Luxembourg judges link the retention of physical characteristics and DNA traces to two conditions: the purposes of collection must not require a distinction between suspects and persons prosecuted. Furthermore, those responsible for processing must be nationally obliged to observe all principles and special requirements for the processing of sensitive data.

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Regarding the storage period, the ECJ explains that the relevant national regulation does not necessarily have to provide for a maximum limit. The prerequisite is that it establishes appropriate time limits for the regular review of the necessity of storing this data. It must also be assessed whether an extension is absolutely necessary.

As early as 2024, the Court ruled that the general storage of biometric and genetic data of convicted persons until their death violates EU law. The specific risk of recidivism must be taken into account.

(mho)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Digital sovereignty has been much discussed in Europe in recent weeks, most recently during a German-French summit in Berlin. The extent of dependence on the USA in the digital sector is currently being experienced by a French judge. Nicolas Guillou, one of six judges and three prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was sanctioned by the USA in August. He described his current situation as a digital time travel back to the 1990s, before the internet age, in a recent interview.

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The reason for the US sanctions are the arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They were indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the destruction of the Gaza Strip. The USA condemned this decision by the court, whereupon the US Treasury Department sanctioned six judges and three prosecutors.

Digitally excluded from almost everything

In Guillou's daily life, this means that he is excluded from digital life and much of what is considered standard today, he told the French newspaper Le Monde. All his accounts with US companies such as Amazon, Airbnb, or PayPal were immediately closed by the providers. Online bookings, such as through Expedia, are immediately canceled, even if they concern hotels in France. Participation in e-commerce is also practically no longer possible for him, as US companies always play a role in one way or another, and they are strictly forbidden to enter into any trade relationship with sanctioned individuals.

He also describes the impact on participating in banking as drastic. Payment systems are blocked for him, as US companies like American Express, Visa, and Mastercard have a virtual monopoly in Europe. He also describes the rest of banking as severely restricted. For example, accounts with non-US banks have also been partially closed. Transactions in US dollars or via dollar conversions are forbidden to him.

Judge: EU should block sanctions

Guillou's case shows how strong the USA's influence in the tech sector is and how few options he has to circumvent it. And this at a time when an account with a US tech company is considered a matter of course in more and more places.

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The French judge advocates for Europe to gain more sovereignty in the digital and banking sectors. Without this sovereignty, the rule of law cannot be guaranteed, he warns. At the same time, he calls on the EU to activate an existing blocking regulation (Regulation (EC) No 2271/96) for the International Criminal Court, which prevents third countries like the USA from enforcing sanctions in the EU. EU companies would then no longer be allowed to comply with US sanctions if they violate EU interests. Companies that violate this would then be liable for damages.

(mki)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Chinese premier arrives in South Africa for G20 summit

Xinhua) 08:11, November 21, 2025

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Thursday to attend the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit.

The summit, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is the first ever to be held on the African continent.

China supports South Africa's G20 presidency and stands ready to work with various parties under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" to build up consensus at the summit for upholding multilateralism, building an open world economy and promoting the cooperation on development, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said ahead of the visit.

South Africa is the third stop of Li's three-country tour, which has already taken him to Russia and Zambia.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- At the opening of the Auto Guangzhou 2025, Changan Automobile unveiled an ambitious roadmap for the coming 5 years, committing to launch more than 50 new energy vehicle (NEV) models by 2030. Every new vehicle will be built on the company's newly developed Tianshu intelligent architecture, a platform intended to underpin Changan's next phase of electrification.

Photo source: Changan Automobile

The automaker also set a goal for overseas sales to account for more than 30% of its total volume by the end of 2030, signaling a decisive push to diversify beyond the domestic market.

Fresh sales data underscores the momentum behind Changan's strategy. The group delivered around 278,000 vehicles in October, an 11% increase from a year earlier. NEV models continued to outperform, reaching 119,000 units for the montha 36% year-on-year jump. Overseas markets also posted solid gains, with October exports climbing 25% year on year to 58,000 units. Together, the figures reflect a company steadily building the foundation for greater international reach.

Changan Automobile's three dedicated NEV brandsAVATR, DEEPAL and NEVOare contributing to the surge. DEEPAL reported global sales of 36,792 units in October, driven largely by the S05, which alone surpassed 20,000 units. Domestic deliveries reached 14,068 while overseas markets added 6,033. For the first ten months of the year, DEEPAL's cumulative sales were up 57%, marking one of the segment's fastest growth trajectories.

NEVO sold 36,378 vehicles in October, the third consecutive month in which the brand topped the 30,000-unit mark. Its Q07 SUV continued to gather momentum, adding 11,637 units of sales in October and bringing total deliveries since its April debut to nearly 80,000 units.

AVATR, meanwhile, contributed 13,506 units of sales in October as it continued to broaden its product lineup. The AVATR 12 four-LiDAR edition hit the market during the month with a limited-time starting price of 259,900 yuan. On November 3, the brand added two new variants of the AVATR 06an REEV and a BEV modelpriced at 204,900 yuan and 214,900 yuan after incentives.
The 28-point proposal , authored by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian official Kirill Dmitriev , would formalise Russian control over Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk, and freeze the military frontline in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The United States would recognise the annexed territories as de facto Russian.

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed he is in talks with the United States over a draft peace plan that would end the war with Russia in exchange for major concessions, including ceding territory, accepting neutrality, and reducing Ukraines armed forces.

Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO and would enshrine this in its constitution. Its army would be capped at 600,000 personnel, and no foreign forces would be allowed on its soil. In return, Kyiv would receive unspecified "reliable security guarantees", and $100bn in Russian frozen assets would be released for Ukraines reconstruction.

The plan would see Russia gradually reintegrated into the global economy. Sanctions would be lifted in phases and Moscow would be invited to rejoin the G8. A new US-Russia investment fund would also be launched, with shared control over remaining Russian assets.

Talks between Zelensky and Donald Trump are expected within days. According to the Financial Times, Trumps administration has given Ukraine until 27 November to respond, with a formal agreement to follow in Moscow in early December. The timeline has alarmed European officials, who were not consulted in the drafting process.

On Thursday, Zelensky confirmed in a video address that the US delegation presented him with their vision of peace. Ukraine needs peace. A real peace  one that will not be broken by a third invasion, he said. He added that discussions would continue, and that the dignity and sovereignty of Ukraine must be respected.

The leaked document proposes that Ukraine and Russia commit to mutual non-aggression and adopt school and media policies to promote tolerance and ban extremist ideologies. It includes clauses for the return of all prisoners, civilian hostages, and displaced persons. Both sides would be granted amnesty for wartime actions.

Despite the sensitive nature of the deal, the Ukrainian government has refrained from rejecting it outright. One MP described the proposals as capitulation, but officials in Kyiv have instead framed the plan as a starting point for further discussion.

The White House denied excluding Ukraine from the drafting process. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration had consulted both parties and received feedback from senior Ukrainian officials, including Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

Leavitt said the plan was a good plan for both, though she offered no further detail on how the US interpreted Kyivs involvement. She confirmed that Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been working privately for a month to build consensus.

A senior US official told CBS News that Ukraine made several changes to the original draft before it was shown to Zelensky. These included the timeline for elections and the composition of peace enforcement forces.

The proposal includes immediate ceasefire measures and calls for both Ukrainian and Russian forces to withdraw to agreed positions. Demilitarised zones would be established in contested areas, overseen by a new Peace Council led by Trump.

NATO would agree to halt further expansion and avoid troop deployment in Ukraine. European fighter jets would be stationed in Poland as part of a regional deterrent strategy.

On nuclear issues, Ukraine would reaffirm its non-nuclear status and allow IAEA oversight of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The electricity produced would be split equally with Russia.

Reaction from Europe was swift. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the EU had not been informed of the plan. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, she said during remarks in Johannesburg ahead of the G20 summit.

European Council President Antonio Costa also admitted the EU was not consulted and said it was premature to comment on a plan he had not seen. Germanys Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul dismissed the proposal as not a real plan, but a list of topics.

Reports suggest that leaders from the UK, France and Germany will hold emergency talks with Zelensky to coordinate a response. Further discussions are expected during the G20 summit.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, welcomed the plan and praised the US presidents determination to end the war. If he had been President at the time, the war would never have broken out, Orban said in a post on X.

But other European leaders expressed unease. Some warned that the plan weakened NATO by sidelining European voices and aligning closely with Kremlin demands. Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed his government was assessing the plan in coordination with allies.

While the US plan offers economic aid and legal assurances, Ukrainian officials have raised concerns about the enforceability of the proposed guarantees and the lack of a mechanism to prevent renewed aggression by Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there had been contacts with the US but no formal consultations. Russia did not confirm receiving a response from Kyiv.

Military activity on the ground has continued. At least five civilians were killed in a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia late Thursday. The Russian defence ministry also reported intercepting 33 Ukrainian drones over several regions.

HT
The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas fighters after gunmen allegedly opened fire near Israeli positions in Khan Younis. But local health authorities and eyewitnesses report that several of the strikes hit civilian structures far from any fighting, including a mosque, a U.N.-run sports club, and a building belonging to the Ministry of Religious Endowments in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

A series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza has killed at least 25 Palestinians, including children and displaced families, in what officials say is the deadliest breach of the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire since it was enacted last month.

Three children were among those pulled from the rubble, according to photos released by the Anadolu news agency. In Khan Younis, a baby girl was killed when her home was hit in a separate airstrike, UNICEF confirmed Friday.

These are not statistics: each was a child with a dream and a life, said UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires, noting that at least 67 children have died in Gaza since the ceasefire began on October 10. This is during an agreed truce. The pattern is staggering.

Despite the truce, the Israeli military has conducted multiple operations in densely populated civilian areas. Witnesses reported tanks crossing the so-called yellow line  the boundary that separates areas of Palestinian return from Israeli military zones  triggering new waves of displacement.

The latest strikes came just days after the UN Security Council endorsed a 20-point U.S. peace initiative led by former President Donald Trump. The plan includes controversial terms such as a transitional international force and the long-demanded demilitarization of Gaza. Hamas has rejected disarmament, stating it would only lay down weapons in exchange for a sovereign Palestinian state, a prospect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has flatly ruled out.

There will be no Palestinian state. As simple as that, Netanyahu told Israeli media this week.

More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the truce took effect, according to Gazas Government Media Office, while aid deliveries remain well below agreed targets. The UN estimates nearly one million people remain displaced, many living in makeshift shelters as winter rains flood camps.

HT
Pardee foundation launches campaign to support new teen behavioral health service

Pardee Hospital Foundation has launched a year-end fundraising campaign supporting UNC Health Pardees new inpatient Adolescent Behavioral Health Center, scheduled to open next year.

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The center is being made possible through a $30 million partnership between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Vaya Health and the UNC School of Medicine, which funds the creation of the inpatient facility. While this investment lays the foundation, philanthropic support is essential to enhance the project, beginning with therapeutic outdoor space designed specifically for young patients in crisis.

We have the foundation of the project thanks to the States $30 million investment, said Amy Treece, executive director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation. Now we turn to our community to help us bring this space to lifecreating an environment that ensures every young patient who walks through our doors feels safe, supported and seen. ... Every gift is an investment in the mental health of our regions young people. Together, we can create a healing space that empowers young people to rediscover their strength, resilience, and hope.

With youth mental health challenges continuing to rise across the region, the center will provide a safe and compassionate environment for stabilization and treatment. The addition of a therapeutic outdoor space, made possible through community support, will offer adolescents opportunities for movement and connection, all of which are proven to support healing and clinical outcomes.

As mental health needs continue to grow, this center represents hope for families across our region, said Bridget Fluech, administrative director of Behavioral Health and Emergency Medicine at UNC Health Pardee. The therapeutic outdoor space will give young people a place to breathe and enjoy nature during one of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Pardee Hospital Foundation is inviting individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations to join this effort by making a year-end, tax-deductible gift. Donations will directly support the therapeutic outdoor space and other enhancements that elevate the environment of care for young patients receiving treatment. To donate, visit pardeehospitalfoundation.org/donate or send a check to Pardee Hospital Foundation, 561 Fleming Street, Hendersonville, NC, 28739. To discuss giving options call the foundation at 828-233-2700.




Henderson County man sentenced to federal prison in drug conspiracy case

A 38-year-old Flat Rock man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison last week after pleading guilty in June to charges related to conspiring while in state prison in Georgia to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.



In addition to the time in federal prison, Les Corey Peak was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation, Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina, announced in a news release.

Peak pleaded guilty on June 23 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. He remains in federal custody pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at a designated facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Asheville handled the case involving Peak.

Court records and criminal proceedings showed that while incarcerated in the Georgia Department of Corrections, Peak conspired with Zachery Micah Rice and others from 2021 to 2023 to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties and elsewhere, federal prosecutors said.

Using contraband phones, Peak worked with his Atlanta-based supplier to arrange bulk drug purchases and coordinated with Rice to arrange the pickups, the evidence showed. Rice then transported the drugs back to Western North Carolina for further distribution through a local network of traffickers and dealers. Rice was sentenced in May to more than 28 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

During one of the transactions Peak set up, law officers who stopped and searched Rices vehicle seized more than 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, a .40-caliber pistol modified to fully automatic with a machine gun conversion device known as a Glock switch and more than $32,683 in cash. Investigators later executed search warrants at stash houses and a storage unit used by Rice, recovering kilogram quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine supplied by the Atlanta-based source, multiple firearms, including high-capacity magazines ammunition, digital scales, drug paraphernalia and more than $27,470 in cash, the U.S. attorney said.






Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Zhuoyu Technology announced on November 21 that it has secured more than 3.6 billion yuan in strategic funding from China FAW Group, lifting the technology company's valuation to over 10 billion yuan once the funding completed.

Despite the significant capital infusion, Zhuoyu emphasized that it will continue to operate independently, retaining its existing management, technology roadmap and brand strategy. FAW Group, now a strategic shareholder, will focus on supporting the company through business collaboration and resource integration rather than direct operational control.

Photo source: Zhuoyu Technology

FAW Group joins an increasingly diverse investor lineup that already includes New Territory Technology Company Limited, BYD, Hengxu Capital, and BAIC Capital. The shareholder mix reflects broad industry confidence in Zhuoyu's technological direction and commercial scalability.

Zhuoyu's partnership with FAW Group began in April 2024, when the two sides outlined a comprehensive collaboration in smart driving. Their joint work has centered on future Hongqi models, combining Zhuoyu's software and perception expertise with FAW's vehicle-development capabilities to advance high-level autonomous-driving platforms, end-to-end intelligent mobility solutions and next-generation sensor technologies.

The collaboration has since expanded into multiple Hongqi product lines. Zhuoyu's ADAS solutions are now deployed on models including the TianGong 08, TianGong 05, TianGong 06, the 2025 EH7 and the HS6 PHEV. These vehicles support a growing suite of assisted-driving functions such as automated parking, highway navigation and city-level navigation that is usable nationwide.

Models such as the TianGong 05 and 06 also feature Zhuoyu's proprietary inertial-navigation visual system, which fuses binocular bio-inspired imaging with a long-focus monocular sensor to improve long-range perception and the handling of irregular obstacles. Running on Qualcomm's SA8650P platform with an equivalent sparse computing performance of roughly 200 TOPS, Zhuoyu's end-to-end algorithms deliver a smoother, more human-like assisted-driving experience.

Beyond its deepening relationship with FAW, Zhuoyu has also secured partnerships with SAIC-GM-Wuling, Chery, FAW-Volkswagen, Great Wall Motor and BAIC, among others. Its ADAS solutions have already been adopted across a growing roster of mass-market models, underscoring the company's accelerating commercialization and its rising influence within China's evolving autonomous-driving supply chain.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Volkswagen used the Auto Guangzhou 2025 to stage the global debut of two new PHEV models developed specifically for the Chinese market: the SAIC Volkswagen Passat ePro and FAW-Volkswagen's updated Tayron L PHEV. Their introduction marks another step in the group's acceleration of its electrified portfolio in China.

The German automaker reiterated its commitment to expanding its local new energy vehicle (NEV) lineup, saying it plans to launch 21 NEV models in China by 2027, with the total expanding to 31 by 2029.

Passat ePro; photo source: Volkswagen

Making its first public appearance, the Passat ePro pairs Volkswagen's latest electrified technology with a more refined design language aimed at repositioning the midsize plug-in hybrid sedan segment. Built on SAIC Volkswagen's next-generation PHEV-dediacted architecture, the model incorporates the EA211 1.5T EVO II engine designed specifically for hybrid applications.

The sedan's exterior emphasizes clean lines and balanced proportions. A redesigned front fasciafeaturing a full-width LED light bar, matrix-style headlamps and an illuminated badgegives the Passat ePro a more high-tech appearance. Its sweeping roofline, pronounced shoulder contour, petal-style wheels and wing-shaped rear light bar combine to create a more assertive, contemporary look.

All-new Tayron L PHEV; photo credit: Volkswagen

FAW-Volkswagen's all-new Tayron L PHEV represents the brand's latest effort in the PHEV space. The model builds on the existing Tayron L platform but introduces upgrades to its powertrain, digital features and exterior styling to address growing consumer demand for more capable, higher-end hybrid SUVs.

The SUV pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with Volkswagen's latest high-voltage battery system, a combination engineered to deliver both responsive performance and the durability and safety standards long associated with the Tayron nameplate.

Volkswagen's booth at the Auto Guangzhou 2025 adopted an immersive, futuristic layout designed to showcase the brand's next phase in China. At the center of the display, the new PHEV lineup was presented alongside the forward-looking ID. EVO, ID. ERA and ID. AURA concept cars. The combined showing underscored Volkswagen's efforts to deepen its China-focused product DNA while highlighting the group's broader push toward intelligent, connected mobility.
It has been a tumultuous first quarter of 2023, and African equities have not been spared.Global markets started the year on a very positive note, with the S&am

Published: 12 May 2023 at 10:17hrs | | by Rami Hajjar, portfolio manager of the Allan Gray Africa ex-SA Equity Fund
Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Winston Chitando, has praised the establishment of a lithium sulphate plant in Goromonzi District, describing it as a transformative investment for Zimbabwe's economy.The plant, operated

Published: 16 Oct 2025 at 19:26hrs | by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole in Goromonzi
Two Zimbabwean men have been locked up in a Botswana prison for burglary and theft in various places in that country.Mthulisi Ncube, 25, and Beliff Tshebukani N

Published: 21 May 2025 at 09:17hrs | | by Stephen Jakes
News / National

by Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested a tanker truck driver after intercepting a vehicle reportedly carrying smuggled pharmaceutical products along the Harare-Chirundu Highway.Police said the tanker was stopped yesterday at the 336-kilometre peg, leading to the arrest of 48-year-old Elisha Nemaungwe.A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a consignment of unregistered medical products, including 158 (50 x 10) Combo Pain tablet packs, 225 (10 x 10) C4 tablet packs, 70 x 20ml Lidocaine injections, and 5 x 100 ampoules of Diclofenac injections.ZRP said investigations are ongoing to establish the source of the drugs and whether the suspect is linked to a wider smuggling network.Authorities have warned that the smuggling of pharmaceuticals poses a serious public health risk, as such products often bypass regulatory checks meant to ensure safety and quality.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Convicted rapist and suspected murderer Cabangani "Mike" Mathe has escaped from Plumtree Prison in a daring early-morning breakout, triggering panic across communities in Plumtree, Bulilima and Mangwe.Mathe, 38, reportedly cut through burglar bars using a hacksaw blade at around 2AM on Saturday before slipping out of the window and disappearing into the darkness. Prison sources say other inmates watched in disbelief as he made his escape.Security teams launched an immediate manhunt, but by dawn Mathe had already vanished. His current whereabouts remain unknown.The Zimbabwe Republic Police referred all inquiries to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), which had not released an official statement at the time of publication.Mathe was serving a 20-year sentence for rape, handed down on August 29, and was awaiting trial for additional charges, including murder, sodomy and another rape case before the Regional Court.His escape has reignited long-standing fears in Plumtree, where Mathe had built a reputation as a ruthless and untouchable figure. For years, he reportedly operated businesses, flaunted wealth and terrorised women, allegedly bragging that he was immune to arrest. Many victims were said to be too frightened to report him, while others who attempted to do so were allegedly intimidated or saw their cases collapse under suspicious circumstances.His conviction on August 29 came after magistrate Dambudzo Malunga found him guilty of a brutal assault on his female employee. According to court papers, on 16 October 2024, Mathe forced the woman into his car, drove her to a remote location and ordered her into a cold water tank. When she pleaded for mercy, he allegedly submerged her head repeatedly until she lost consciousness. He then transported her home, made her change clothes and later raped her at his house before instructing her to report for work the next morning as usual.Mathe's escape has also revived focus on several other chilling cases linked to him. Among them is the infamous "Judas Cop" saga, in which rogue officer Thembani Mukanyani is accused of removing a protected witness from custody and handing her over to Mathe. The woman was later smuggled into Botswana, where she was allegedly murdered.He also faces charges of abusing a minor employed at one of his shops, as well as another case involving a woman he allegedly handcuffed, assaulted and forced underwater while stepping on her back.For a man who long claimed to have powerful allies shielding him from accountability, his sudden disappearance has reignited fear in communities that hoped they had finally seen justice catch up with him.The manhunt continues.
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News / National

by Gideon Madzikatidze and Simbarashe Sithole

HARARE - ZANU-PF's Harare Provincial Political Commissar, Voyage Dambuza, has drawn attention for his unprecedented success in mobilising large crowds to attend inter-district post-conference feedback meetings across the province, a feat hailed as historic within the party's commissariat structures.According to internal reports and confirmation from national leadership, Dambuza's ability to rally supporters in urban areas traditionally considered opposition strongholds has been described as a significant achievement."Though some results are complemented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Elder Doctor Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Dambuza has become a name that cannot be ignored in mobilising masses. He has turned political rhetoric into reality, which is a defining trait of a political commissar," a party member said.Dambuza's success has been attributed to his ability to connect with diverse audiences, listen to local concerns, and articulate ZANU-PF's vision under Mnangagwa's leadership. His grassroots engagements have been credited with building trust, countering opposition influence, and fostering loyalty among supporters."He taps into the energy of young people and women, fostering activism while adjusting strategies to fit local contexts. Using artistes whose music resonates with fans, Dambuza ensures ZANU-PF's message reaches communities effectively," the member added.His efforts form part of ZANU-PF's broader strategy to strengthen grassroots presence and promote Mnangagwa's national development agenda. Recently, Dambuza has been active in initiatives such as the Fishers of Men' campaign, aimed at recruiting new members and empowering youths and women.While his leadership has been widely praised, some critics have accused him of employing divisive tactics, though these claims remain unsubstantiated.Despite the controversies, Dambuza's mobilisation capacity has earned him recognition within ZANU-PF, cementing his role as a key figure in Harare's political landscape.
At times, it is difficult to believe that Zimbabwe still aspires to be taken seriously as a nation.The recent statement by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, as articulated by its chairperson Michael Reza, claiming that it has found no e

Published: 19 hrs ago | by Tendai Ruben Mbofana
Published: 06 Nov 2025 at 14:44hrs

In today's fast-moving digital world, your logo is more than just a picture. It's the face of your brand. But if your logo always stays sti... read
Claim:

A photograph shared online in mid-November 2025 authentically showed migrants in sheep costumes who were arrested for trying to illegally enter Spain from Algeria.

Rating:

Rating: Miscaptioned

In mid-November 2025, a photograph circulated online purportedly showing migrants dressed in sheep costumes who were arrested after trying to illegally enter Spain from Algeria. The picture showed three people wearing wool covered costumes with their faces covered in black paint, sitting in what appeared to be the back of a truck.

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One X user said of the photo: "In Algeria, 3 individuals of unknown nationality were arrested as they attempted to cross into Spaindisguised as sheep."

(X user @Jaiyejeje0m0)

Similarly, an Instagram user posted a graphic featuring the picture and text reading: "Three men in Algeria dressed as sheep end up getting arrested after trying to reach Spain illegally." The caption claimed the photo was taken on Nov. 2, 2025.

In short, the picture did not show migrants attempting to enter Spain from Algeria. Footage from 2024 showed people in the same costumes dancing to the theme song of animated children's television series "Shaun the Sheep." As such, we concluded the photograph was miscaptioned.

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Reverse-image search tools showed the image was a screenshot from footage that spread online as early as 2024, not November 2025, as claimed in the Instagram post.

For example, July 2024 TikTok videos showed the same group of people dancing while dressed in sheep costumes.

The people were dressed as Shaun the Sheep, a popular children's character whose show premiered on U.K. television channel BBC One in 2007. In one of the videos, they danced to the cartoon's theme song, albeit a version that was in Ukrainian, not English. The screenshot was clearly taken from the above footage and flipped horizontally, and showed all the people gathering in costume to do a choreographed dance.

Searches of news coverage and other official announcements from Europol, a law enforcement agency for the European Union, regarding any cases involving migrants being arrested in Algeria while in disguise uncovered no authentic reporting on such an incident.

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In August 2025, Europol reported Spanish authorities' efforts to dismantle a smuggling network bringing migrants from Algeria to Spain by boat.

Snopes has previously debunked fake video footage of migrants supposedly ambushing U.S. Marines.

Sources:

Liles, Jordan. "Video Doesn't Show Migrants Ambushing US Marines." Snopes, 7 May 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/video-migrants-marines/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

"Newsroom." Europol, https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

"Shaun the Sheep." Aardman. https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/shaun-the-sheep/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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Shaun the Sheep. Animation, Short, Comedy. Aardman Animations, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), EU Media Plus Program, 2007. IMDb.

"Shaun The Sheep | OFFICIAL Theme Song | CBBC ." YouTube, CBBC, 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBfOJb8fdSI. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

"Spain Dismantles Criminal Network Smuggling Migrants from Algeria to the EU  Investigators Estimate the Suspects Spent over EUR 1 Million on Boats and Gear to Carry out Large-Scale Migrant Smuggling Operations." Europol, https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/spain-dismantles-criminal-network-smuggling-migrants-algeria-to-eu. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VBgh-hWXzs. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZrq3fLQ9X0. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkWoW5A05A. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
The funeral of former US vice-president Dick Cheney created a rare reunion of American presidents and political leaders, yet the absence of Donald Trump stood out as the clearest sign of his widening distance from Washington's past power structure.

The event at Washington National Cathedral brought together figures from both parties, offering a portrait of political history gathered to honour one of the most influential and divisive officials of the modern era. The full account of the guest list and ceremony appears in reporting on the Cheney funeral service.

A Gathering of Political Heavyweights

Joe Biden attended the service alongside former vice-presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore and Dan Quayle. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and chief justice John Roberts also sat in the front pews. Their presence reflected Cheney's long reach across decades of political change.

George W Bush delivered the eulogy and praised Cheney for his loyalty and discipline during their years in office. Bush said Cheney embodied what a president should expect from a second in command and avoided any reference to the known tensions that once defined parts of their partnership.

Notable absences included Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Clinton's spokesperson described his absence as the result of a scheduling conflict. The gathering still represented one of the largest bipartisan assemblies in recent memory, with former rivals and colleagues seated together in recognition of the late vice-president's legacy.

Trump and Vance Excluded From Guest List

Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance did not receive invitations. Their exclusion reflected a deeper fracture in the Republican Party and underlined ongoing hostility between the Cheney family and the current leadership. The decision was confirmed by a White House official familiar with the arrangements, and additional reporting in coverage of Trump being snubbed detailed the political backdrop.

Tensions between Trump and the Cheneys reached a breaking point during the 6 January investigation. Liz Cheney served as vice-chair of the House committee and pressed forward with the inquiry despite pressure from her party. Trump endorsed her primary challenger in 2022 and repeatedly attacked her efforts to scrutinise his role in the Capitol riot. Both Liz and her father endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, marking a striking break from their party's candidate. Trump's absence from the funeral therefore aligned with years of public conflict rather than logistical oversight.

Liz Cheney Reflects on Her Father's Legacy

Liz Cheney delivered a tribute that focused on the values her father taught her about duty, public service and the Constitution. She said he believed that political identity must never outweigh loyalty to the republic. She also described how he inspired her decision to hold Trump accountable during the January 6 investigation. Her remarks avoided direct criticism yet made clear that her work on the committee aligned with lessons drawn from her father's career.

She noted that her father entered public service after being inspired by John F Kennedy. Cheney built his career steadily, beginning as a young adviser in the Nixon administration before becoming the youngest White House chief of staff.

He later served as defence secretary under George HW Bush and guided US military strategy during the Gulf war. His selection as George W Bush's running mate in 2000 cemented his status as a central figure in national security policy. During his vice-presidency, he shaped the US response to the 9/11 attacks, pushed for expanded surveillance powers and led the effort to invade Iraq and Afghanistan.

A Symbolic Reunion Without One Former President

Cheney's funeral provided a moment of reflection for Washington figures who shaped US policy over five decades. Their presence signalled a shared recognition of Cheney's controversial but undeniably significant influence.

Trump's absence highlighted the degree to which he stands apart from that lineage. The event demonstrated how shifting alliances and unresolved political battles continue to define America's leadership landscape. It also underscored how Cheney's legacy remains intertwined with the values his family continues to promote, even as the country navigates deep divisions.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
A snowy Thanksgiving isnt something most of us expect  or even think about. But when it does happen, it feels a little magical, like the holidays showed up early. So, which cities actually have a real shot at celebrating turkey day with fresh snow on the ground?

A new analysis from Action Network dug into more than five decades of Thanksgiving weather data from NOAA climate stations across the country. To count as a White Thanksgiving, a city needed at least one inch of snow on the ground or 0.1 inches of new snowfall on the holiday  the same criteria the National Weather Service uses for a White Christmas.

The results show just how rare this really is. Most cities sit somewhere between a 3% and 15% chance. Only one major U.S. city even cracks 50%. And a few surprising places ( the kind youd never associate with early-season snow) actually outrank some of the countrys most winter-famous spots.

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Below, here are the 10 U.S. cities most likely to see a White Thanksgiving, starting at #10.

10. Denver, Colorado  27.3%

Denvers odds look solid on paper, but the city is notoriously unpredictable. Some years bring big holiday storms, others are bone dry. That volatility keeps Denver below the traditional snow capitals, but a quarter of Thanksgivings still arrive with at least a dusting.

9 (tie). Billings, Montana  31.6%

Billings tends to slip under the radar, but early cold snaps and upslope storms give it surprisingly strong odds. It actually beats Chicago, Boston, Detroit, and a lot of bigger metros that get far more winter hype.

9 (tie). Buffalo, New York  31.6%

Buffalos reputation speaks for itself. Lake Erie starts firing early, and those November lake-effect bands often show up just in time for the holiday. A full one-third of Thanksgivings arrive white.

7. Spokane, Washington  32.7%

If you only know Washington for Seattles gray drizzle, Spokane will surprise you. The eastern side of the state gets colder, faster, and early snow isnt unusual here.

5 (tie). Salt Lake City, Utah  33.3%

Mountain weather does the heavy lifting. Cold fronts dropping out of the north plus Wasatch storms give Salt Lake City Thanksgiving odds that beat most Midwestern cities.

5 (tie). Rochester, New York  33.3%

Lake Ontario helps this one along. Rochester sees early-season lake-effect bands more often than youd think, pushing its Thanksgiving odds to roughly one in three.

4. Syracuse, New York  38.6%

Syracuse is the powerhouse of the Northeast thanks to its classic lake-effect setup. When cold air hits warm water in November, flakes start flying  and Syracuse usually feels it first.

3. Minneapolis, Minnesota  43.6%

Minnesota winters get a head start compared to most of the country. Minneapolis lands just under a true coin-flip, with consistent early-season cold and frequent November storms.

2. Fargo, North Dakota  43.9%

Long, brutal winters show up early here. Fargo barely edges out Minneapolis, with nearly half of its Thanksgivings arriving snowy or snow-covered.

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1. Anchorage, Alaska  64.5%

Anchorage isnt just the frontrunner  its in another universe. Nearly two-thirds of Thanksgivings are white. Deep early-season snowpack and consistently cold November weather make this the only major U.S. city where a White Thanksgiving is more likely than not.

If youre curious how your city stacks up for the broader holiday experience, you might like the recent analysis of the best places to spend Thanksgiving this year, as well as the breakdown of which holidays are the riskiest for drivers across the U.S. Both dig into national trends in a way that pairs really well with this list.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Americans aren't just baking their favorite pies  they're drinking them, too. Recent Google search data reveals fascinating regional preferences for pie-inspired beverages across the country, with each state showing distinct flavor loyalties.

First off, the "no surprises here" category: Apple cider and apple-pie drinks dominate the national landscape, claiming the top spot across most of the country. This classic autumn beverage reigns from California to Florida, spanning Texas, the Midwest, and much of the South. The widespread appeal makes sense  apple cider represents America's original fall drink, with its nostalgic warmth and accessibility making it the default choice for holiday gatherings from coast to coast.

Data source: Google Trends (Data source: Google Trends)

Now for the surprises: Key lime pie drinks are carving out an intriguing mid-continental pop. Idaho, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Kansas all favor this tart, tropical, summer flavor over traditional autumn options (make this make sense!). This unexpected preference suggests these states' drinkers crave something brighter and more refreshing than heavy seasonal spices, even as temperatures drop. (Interestingly, key lime pie is trending as a Thanksgiving dessert, too.)

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The vintage grasshopper cocktail claims a slight Southwest stronghold, too. Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii, and South Dakota are showing preference for this delightful, old-school mint-chocolate cream drink. The grasshopper  a retro dessert cocktail known for its green hue  represents the most indulgent option on the map, appealing to regions that apparently prefer their holiday beverages on the dessert-side of the spectrum.

Pumpkin pie drinks, surprisingly, hold the smallest territory. Only Montana, North Dakota, and Vermont rank this quintessential fall flavor as their top search. Despite pumpkin spice's massive marketing presence nationwide, this search behavior reveals it as more of a niche coffee drink than a ubiquitous flavor, resonating primarily in northern states where cozy, spiced beverages match the colder climate.

The map reveals how regional preferences don't always align with national marketing trends. While pumpkin spice products flood stores everywhere, most Americans still reach for traditional apple cider. This Thanksgiving, whether you're following your state's trend or blazing your own path, there's a pie-inspired drink waiting to complement your feast.

(Of course, we wouldn't leave you without some recipes. Check out a key lime pie drink here, a grasshopper recipe here, and a pumpkin pie drink here.)
Rep. Bob Latta, from Ohios 5th Congressional District, introduced the SECURE Grid Act which would require states to find the shortcomings and risks to their power needs.
Sofitel, the pioneer of French luxury hospitality, has unveiled the highly anticipated transformation of its U.S. flagship, Sofitel New York, reaffirming the hotel's place as an icon of sophisticated hospitality in the city's vibrant heart. Blending the energy of its surroundings with the timeless elegance of Paris, the revitalized property reflects the brand's vision for a new era of contemporary French luxury in North America. The sweeping redesign draws inspiration from the shared Art Deco heritage of both cities, from Manhattan architectural landmarks to the continued influence of French fashion and art on daily life. The result is a striking convergence of sleek modernity and classic Parisian detailing, creating an ambiance that is both glamorous and inviting.

A Grand Arrival

Guests are greeted with a warm "Bonjour" as they enter the grand foyer on 44th Street. Here, a stunning interpretation of Art Deco style sets the tone for the experience within. Open metal screens intuitively guide guests into the foyer, where a study in contrast and composition unfolds. A coffered ceiling with integrated lighting acts as a sculptural canopy overhead, while marble flooring and deep green walls set the tone of quiet grandeur. Crisp white paneling introduces a rhythmic, neoclassical balance.

The lobby also offers a serene setting for the nightly Candle Ritual, an evening ceremony held at Sofitel Global locations across the globe, inspired by the centuries-old Parisian tradition of illuminating the streets. Each evening as the sun goes down, the lights are dimmed, and candles are beautifully illuminated throughout Sofitel New York's lobby, a subtle invitation for guests to relax, reflect and experience a sense of calm as day transitions into evening.

Elevated accommodations with a French Zest

Drawing on contemporary Art Deco references, design firm HBA San Francisco created a consistent aesthetic across the hotel's public spaces, guest rooms and suites. All of Sofitel New York's 398 accommodations - 346 guest rooms and 52 suites - have been fully redesigned with French-inspired wall paneling, new custom furnishings, textiles and lighting. Interiors feature gentle curves and a warm neutral palette inspired by French Art Deco tones of ivory and cream balanced with black, creating an impactful contrast that references 1930s-era fine arts. High-gloss lacquered furnishings in the tradition of Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Eileen Gray contribute cultivated contrast, while woven textiles in shades of red enliven the neutral palette.

The bed serves as a striking focal point with its upholstered panel framed by striped wood backing and sculptural brass pendant lamps. All guest rooms and suites feature Sofitel BED, the brand's signature sleep experience, featuring an exclusive mattress, box spring, topper, duvet and an extensive selection of pillows. Every element is crafted with the utmost care to deliver unmatched comfort and the sensation of being cradled in clouds. Upper-floor guest rooms include floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the Manhattan skyline. Spacious marble bathrooms feature modernist artworks on canvas, rain showers and bath amenities by French luxury houses Balmain and Diptyque.

Panoramic views and Refined Design

Sofitel New York's 52 suites range from upper-floor city-view accommodations to terrace and balcony layouts, many with views of the iconic Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. Each suite is conceived as an urban retreat, marrying residential-scale comfort with distinctive design touches such as theatrical lighting, custom millwork, and curated artwork inspired by French artistry and New York's architectural heritage. Generous layouts include separate living areas and bespoke minibars with metallic accents.

An elevated new addition to Sofitel New York is the new Suite Collection. Artistic and expressive, these seven boldly designed suites offer spaces of a scale rarely seen in Manhattan.

The pinnacle of the collection is the 28th-floor Penthouse, spanning 1,205 square feet. Its primary bedroom features a geometric upholstered headboard wall with dramatic pendant lighting. In the living area, sculptural sofas with brass accents sit alongside polished and handcrafted tables, while geometric patterns in the flooring and wallcoverings echo Art Deco influences. The dining salon seats eight at a sleek black wood Art Moderne table illuminated by a custom geometric chandelier. The bathroom combines contrasting marbles with brass detailing, anchored by a freestanding circular marble soaking tub.

spanning 1,205 square feet. Its primary bedroom features a geometric upholstered headboard wall with dramatic pendant lighting. In the living area, sculptural sofas with brass accents sit alongside polished and handcrafted tables, while geometric patterns in the flooring and wallcoverings echo Art Deco influences. The dining salon seats eight at a sleek black wood Art Moderne table illuminated by a custom geometric chandelier. The bathroom combines contrasting marbles with brass detailing, anchored by a freestanding circular marble soaking tub. Additional Suite Collection accommodations include two premier 24th-floor suites, the Grand Terrace Chrysler View Suite, featuring 475-square-foot terrace with views of the iconic Chrysler Building, and the Panoramic Terrace Suite, featuring a 911-square-foot terrace showcasing views of both the Empire and Chrysler Buildings. Both suites feature 645 square feet of elegant interior living space.

Social 45: Where Parisian sophistication meets Manhattan energy

The new heart of the hotel is Social 45, Bar & Bistro, a stylish venue created for day into late-night dining, cocktailing and connection. The menu pairs French classics with New York-inspired creations, such as decadent grilled cheese with caviar, alongside inventive cocktails and elevated bites designed for sharing.

The space channels the elegance of a private Parisian salon, with curved brass archways framing the bar, plush banquettes and sculptural lounge chairs draw influence from the shared Art Deco heritage of New York and Paris. Guests can enjoy afternoon and evening Social Hours, with future additions to include an outdoor cafe opening in Spring 2026.

Mornings at Social 45 are exceptional with La Haute Croissanterie, Sofitel's signature pastry program that artfully reinvents the classic French croissant into a gourmet experience by combining traditional techniques with local flavors.

Meetings and events with skyline views

Sofitel New York's reimagined meeting and event spaces includes the elegant Paris Ballroom, situated at the top of the Grand Escalier. Art Deco themes here are referenced in a sculptural wall relief, recessed ceilings and graphic carpeting in black, cream and gold. Seven meeting rooms reflect the hotel's streamlined French aesthetic with graphic black and white, marble and gold lighting and seamlessly integrated audiovisual technology. Many rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows framing city views and filling the spaces with natural light. Custom menus are crafted by the hotel's culinary team, and a dedicated planning team ensures seamless execution.

Hotel website
This December, Maisons et Hotels Sibuet is delighted to announce the reopening of Lodge Park, unveiling a thoughtfully reimagined chapter for one of Megeve's most storied addresses, following a year-long transformation. At the heart of this renewal lies the debut of the Longevity Spa, the first of its kind in the region, dedicated to deep restoration and vitality. Evolving from 49 guest bedrooms into 28 sumptuous suites and rooms, this new era for Lodge Park marks a deliberate refinement that enhances privacy, intimacy and the art of alpine living.

A Legacy Reimagined

Originally acquired by the Sibuet family in the 1990s, Lodge Park lies in the heart of Megeve village and reflects the family's intimate hospitality and signature sense of style and soul. Entirely refreshed while staying true to its warm conviviality, interiors blend noble materials, Ralph Lauren fabrics, Brin Emperador marble bathrooms, bespoke leatherwork and rich natural textures. The result is a modern expression of alpine charm where suites pair generous dressing rooms and inviting living spaces warmed by a roaring log fire, with private balconies featuring Nordic baths that encourage quiet moments beneath the night sky.

New for this season is the Beauty Room Service, allowing guests to transform their suite into a private spa. LED red light therapy face masks by NOOANCE PARIS stimulate collagen production and visibly rejuvenates skin by soothing redness and strengthening skin elasticity, complemented by a curated selection of Pure Altitude essentials - a natural skincare brand founded by Joceleyne Sibuet in 2009, extracting rare active ingredients from mountain plants - including the hydrating radiance sheet mask and eye-reviving anti-fatigue patches; the perfect antidote to dehydrated winter skin. Guests wishing to continue their at-home fitness routine can opt for private online sessions with MIAFIT across yoga, Pilates, mobility, strength training, sound baths and meditation from the comfort of their suite, complete with exercise mat, dumbbells, ankle weights, Pilates ball, yoga blocks and a resistance band.

The Longevity Spa: A Biohacking Sanctuary

The new Longevity Spa embodies the hotel's commitment to wellness and refined living. Here, the mountain expertise of Pure Altitude meets the longevity science of The Recode Club, to offer advanced therapies such as cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen, cryolipolysis, photobiomodulation and bespoke naturopathy consultations, alongside signature Pure Altitude treatments such as reflexology and cryodermy facials to nourishing hypothermal cryogen wrap and Tui Na energy massages rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine to restore meridian balance. Designed as a biohacking sanctuary, the spa features a 12-metre indoor pool, infrared sauna, hammam, Kneipp bath, ice room and dedicated recovery areas. Open to non-residents, the Longevity Spa positions Lodge Park as Megeve's new destination for advanced wellness and performance-led restoration.

Exceptional Alpine Dining

The celebrated Beef Lodge continues to showcase exceptional cuts from the finest farms, including Japanese Wagyu, Black Angus and Simmental. Guests can choose from a rare a la carte selection or the butcher's stall as Head Chef Christophe Cote draws on wood-fired smoking, cooking each cut over low temperatures for over 70 hours, before finishing in an Argentine oven for deeper flavour and tenderness. Dishes are paired with vintages from Domaine de Marie and an expertly curated wine list.

The lodge-inspired dining room marries dark woods and rich leather with hides and subtle rustic touches, nodding to the region's heritage to create a convivial brasserie spirit, while The Lodge Bar sets the stage for apres-ski DJ sets and a menu of indulgent favourites, including an innovative list of beauty boosting collagen-infused cocktails such as a frozen matcha collagen martini, extending the hotel's wellbeing approach into evening celebrations.

Looking Ahead: Summer and Autumn 2026

Lodge Park will close for the winter 2025/26 season on Sunday 22nd March 2026 and reopen for the summer season in early July. The property is also available for private buyouts during the off-season. Looking ahead, summer 2026 will see Lodge Park introduce a new outdoor swimming pool with a sun-drenched poolside terrace and summer kitchen, while autumn will welcome the arrival of a new three-bedroom chalet, La Grande Ourse, marking the family's ongoing evolution in Megeve.

Rates at Lodge Park, Megeve start from 968 per night, inclusive of breakfast / www.lodgepark.com

Hotel website
PM Hotel Group, an industry leader in hospitality management, is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Bogucki as Vice President of Revenue Management for Modus by PM Hotel Group. Bogucki brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to the organization, with deep expertise in revenue strategy across both branded and independent hotels nationwide.

Most recently, Bogucki held corporate level leadership roles with Springboard Hospitality, Provenance Hotels, and HRI Lodging where he led multi-property revenue teams and implemented strategies that balanced analytics, creativity, and guest engagement. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for developing innovative revenue solutions while honoring the heart of hospitality, creating memorable experiences grounded in people, stories, and place.

In his new role, Bogucki will oversee revenue strategy and performance across Modus by PM Hotel Group's growing collection of lifestyle and independent properties. Based in Portland, Oregon, he looks forward to bringing his collaborative spirit and extensive expertise to PM Hotel Group. Outside of work, he is an avid traveler, most recently exploring Croatia's Adriatic coastline.
As Casetta rounds out its most dynamic year of growth yet, the award-winning hospitality brand led by boutique hotel lovers dedicated to creating effortlessly unique stays is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Armbruster as President. At the helm of Casetta Hotels, Armbruster will oversee brand vision, strategy, and execution across all facets of the company including new concepts, portfolio expansion, and partnerships.

In her five years with the brand, she has been instrumental in shaping Casetta's operational foundation, strengthening its culture, and guiding the strategic vision that defines the company's soulful, purpose-led approach to hospitality. Her new role reflects the brand's continued commitment to a leadership structure that champions collaboration and long-term vision, positioning the company for its next chapter as it prepares to debut the highly anticipated Hotel Lucile in the buzzy neighborhood of Silverlake, CA, in early 2026.

Armbruster brings a deep, operations-led understanding of hospitality with over a decade of experience spanning a myriad of leadership roles with leading hospitality names, including Four Seasons, Fairmont, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Relais & Chateaux-affiliated properties, including Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA. She went on to advise several high-performing hospitality groups, ultimately partnering with Casetta prior to formally joining the team.

A Defining Year of Thoughtful Expansion

Casetta marked a milestone year of expansion in 2025 with two distinctive additions to its collection of thoughtfully restored, design-led retreats: Hotel Marina Riviera, a Viking-inspired lakeside retreat in Big Bear Lake, Calif., and Hotel Willa in the heart of Taos, N.M., an art-filled, contemporary homage to traditional Pueblo architecture.

Italian for "little house" or "lodge," Casetta specializes in the restoration of storied buildings with a soul. In partnership with esteemed design firms, Casetta continues to elevate its standing as a preeminent curator of deeply authentic, modern hotel marvels that honor the history of days past through thoughtful transformations of boutique hotels and motels into one-of-a-kind treasures primed for memory-making.

Casetta's growing portfolio of celebrated boutique properties span across Southern California and the Southwest with roots dating back to the 1920s-1960s including the historic Casa Cody in Palm Springs, Calif., the oldest operating hotel in the region; The Pearl Hotel in San Diego, a mid-century modern jewel in Point Loma; and The Surfrider Malibu, the iconic beachside retreat just off the Pacific Coast Highway.

On The Horizon: Casetta's Next Era of Thoughtful Hospitality

As Casetta looks ahead to 2026, the brand will debut Hotel Lucile in Los Angeles' eclectic Silver Lake neighborhood. Housed in a reimagined 1931 church, Hotel Lucile will offer a unique blend of art, history, and contemporary amenities, including an intimate new restaurant and bar set within the building's main chapel, adorned by high ceilings and original stained glass windows; a sun-soaked pool; and a rooftop lounge and deck with stunning city views.

As a brand, Casetta is set to pursue a series of new initiatives and growth opportunitiesfrom a growing pipeline of hospitality concepts both internationally and in the U.S., exploring developments in Italy and the Hudson Hotel in upstate New York. The brand will also introduce a slate of complementary offerings designed to deepen and diversify the guest experience, ranging from like-minded partnerships, selective retail expansion, and a forthcoming membership community.

For more information or to book a reservation, please visit www.casetta.com or follow @casettahotels on Instagram.
Hotelschool The Hague looks back on the successful delivery of EuroCHRIE 2025, the largest international conference in its history. From 10 to 13 November, the university of applied sciences welcomed more than 220 students, PhD candidates, researchers, lecturers, alumni and industry partners in hospitality and tourism to its campus in The Hague.

The conference provided a platform for inspiration, knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking. The programme featured keynote presentations, dozens of interactive sessions, a dedicated PhD track, poster sessions, and the presentation of the Best Paper Award. Central themes included balancing tourism growth with sustainable innovation, the role of AI in hospitality, and the global labour shortage facing the sector.

Programme highlights included:

Zhiwei Wang (University of Surrey), winner of the Best Poster Award, whose research explores ageism in the hospitality sector. His work illustrates how biases affect the labour market position of older employees and offers recommendations for creating more age-inclusive hotels through targeted training and inclusive HR strategies.

(University of Surrey), winner of the Best Poster Award, whose research explores ageism in the hospitality sector. His work illustrates how biases affect the labour market position of older employees and offers recommendations for creating more age-inclusive hotels through targeted training and inclusive HR strategies. Hans Meyer (Zoku) and Marco van der Werf (Bit), who shared their vision on AI in hospitality and the interplay between technology and human-centred service.

(Zoku) and (Bit), who shared their vision on AI in hospitality and the interplay between technology and human-centred service. Prof. Mark van Vugt (VU Amsterdam), who delivered a keynote on leadership and creating environments in which both employees and organisations can thrive.

(VU Amsterdam), who delivered a keynote on leadership and creating environments in which both employees and organisations can thrive. Trix van der Vleuten (The Social Hub), Rogier Braakman (Mr. Green Offices) and Matthijs Welle (Mews), who offered insights during inspiring Fireside Chats on the future of hospitality.

With paper submissions from 25 countries and participation from more than 90 universities and higher education institutions, EuroCHRIE 2025 underscored the global importance of strong collaboration between academia and industry.

We are proud to have hosted this prestigious conference in The Hague. The significant international participation highlights the importance of cooperation between education, research and industry in shaping the future of our sector. Rogier Busser, Dean of Hotelschool The Hague

Feedback from participants emphasised the strong balance between academic depth and warm hospitality, the excellent food experiences, and the friendly, welcoming students who left a lasting positive impression on many attendees.

Both the EuroCHRIE Board and Hotelschool The Hague look back on an event that brought together an international community of curious, dedicated professionals, reinforcing the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing within hospitality education.

About Hotelschool The Hague

Hotelschool The Hague is one of the oldest independent hotel schools in the world, with two campusesone in The Hague and one in Amsterdamwith more than 2,850 students and 250 employees. The school offers a four-year Bachelor in Hospitality Management, a Fast-Track Bachelor in Hospitality Management, an MBA in International Hospitality Management, a Master in Leading Hotel Transformation and a Professional Doctorate Programme in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality.

Hotelschool The Hague has been voted the best public hotel school in the Netherlands since 2014 and ranks among the top hospitality management schools worldwide according to QS World University Rankings.

Graduates of Hotelschool The Hague hold management positions in the hospitality industry worldwide.

www.hotelschool.nl

Nina de Graaf

Hotelschool The Hague

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Saint-Nazaire, France  The first block of Orient Express Olympian, the second sailing yacht of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, part of Accor Group, was laid down today at Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

In keeping with maritime tradition, the keel laying officially marks the beginning of the vessel's assembly phase. The first steel plate had been cut ten months earlier, on January 30th, 2025.

This highly precise maneuver is carried out by one of the shipyard's two iconic gantry cranes. It consists in positioning on its keel blocks the first of the 17 sections that will form the yacht's steel hull.

Once this stage is complete, construction will continue in the outfitting phase  the installation of all its refined interior features at a dedicated quay, until its delivery scheduled for spring 2027, one year after Orient Express Corinthian.

This maritime tradition reflects a shared commitment to excellence and stands within the long history of major technological achievements. It also marks the continuation of the partnership between Orient Express and Chantiers de l'Atlantique  a collaboration that continues to push the boundaries of exceptional voyages and naval engineering expertise.

This crucial stage is marked by what is known as the Coin Ceremony: during which newly minted coins will be placed on the first steel block, a symbolic gesture meant to bring the yacht good fortune throughout her construction and future voyages.

A blend of technology and tradition, Orient Express Olympian will measure 220 meters (721ft) in length, and together with Orient Express Corinthian, will measure as the largest sailing yacht in the world. It will also benefit from the SolidSail innovation developed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, a system designed to reduce atmospheric emissions.

Three self-supporting and tilting masts equipped with a total sail surface of 4,500m2 -1,500 m per sail  will allow, depending on wind conditions, full wind-powered propulsion, or a hybrid mode combining sails with engines running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The rigging is fully automated and controlled from the wheelhouse.

At the same time, a cutting edge technology known as dynamic positioning will allow the yacht to maintain its position in bays without dropping its anchor, thereby protecting the seabed in fragile and protected areas. Routes calculated by navigational systems and supported by technologies used in offshore racing will enable full use of wind power. These various features make it possible to exceed current environmental protection regulations.

As Orient Express Olympian enters construction, Orient Express Corinthian hoists its sails and begins sea trials in December. Orient Express Corinthian will set sail in May 2026 in the Mediterranean, followed by the Caribbean under the trade winds. Reservations are now open for the 2026 season  and soon for 2027: https://sailing-yachts.orient-express.com/

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
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National Tourism Organisations of Europe adopt the Reykjavik Declaration at the European Travel Commissions 110th General Meeting in Iceland.

The Declaration calls for a people-centred, purpose-driven approach to tourism that strengthens communities, culture, and nature.

New insights show strong resident pride in tourism across Europe, with eight in ten Europeans happy to welcome visitors.

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has today presented the Reykjavik Declaration Tourism for Europe, Europe for Tourism, a joint commitment by its 35 member national tourism organisations to place communities and residents at the heart of Europes tourism future. Signed during ETCs 110th General Meeting in Iceland, the declaration outlines a shared vision for tourism that enriches local life, regenerates destinations, and safeguards Europes cultural and natural heritage.

The meeting, hosted by the Icelandic Tourist Board under the theme Tourism and Communities: Building Bridges Amid Unbalanced Growth, gathered Europes destination leaders, tourism experts and industry partners to explore how European destinations can balance tourism development with residents wellbeing.

Tourism with purpose: a shared vision for Europe

The Reykjavik Declaration Tourism for Europe, Europe for Tourism sets a clear direction for the future of tourism in Europe, built around six guiding principles:

Tourism as a shared benefit: Tourism should create broad value for society, combining economic vitality with cultural vibrancy, social inclusion and environmental regeneration. Communities at the centre: Residents wellbeing, identity and aspirations must guide tourism development, recognising their role as the custodians of Europes destinations. Innovation and digital transformation: Data, technology and digital skills are essential to strengthening resilience, sustainability and competitiveness across the sector. Respect for culture and heritage: Europes cultural and natural heritage must be safeguarded and celebrated, supporting continuity, creativity and living traditions. Strengthening nature and society: Tourism should actively enhance ecosystems and support fair and meaningful livelihoods across the tourism value chain. Tourism as a force for peace and understanding: Travel should foster empathy, solidarity and cooperation, reinforcing the values that underpin Europe.

With the signature of the Reykjavik Declaration, ETC members commit to work towards destinations where visitors are welcomed as guests, where communities feel enriched, and where the beauty and diversity of Europe are safeguarded for the generations to come.

Communities at the centre

New insights shared by TCI Research / MMGY Global during the meeting show strong resident support for tourism across Europe. Eight in ten residents want their place to be promoted to attract visitors, feel proud to see travellers in their region and are happy to share tips with visitors they meet. These findings highlight the importance of ensuring that tourism development remains balanced, inclusive and grounded in local wellbeing.

Commenting on this, Eduardo Santander, CEO/ Executive Director of the European Travel Commission, noted:

Tourism is, above all, about people  those who travel and those who welcome visitors into their communities. In recent years, this relationship has been tested, as residents in some destinations question whether tourism truly benefits them. Our role as European destinations is to rebalance this, ensuring tourism is developed with communities, not done to them. Managed thoughtfully, tourism remains one of the most powerful forces for prosperity, cohesion and understanding in Europe. The Reykjavik Declaration aims to build bridges amid unbalanced growth and give communities a stronger voice in shaping their future.

With the Reykjavik Declaration, ETC members reaffirm their shared goal to foster tourism that supports and enhances the communities and destinations that make Europe unique.

Arnar Mar Olafsson, Director General of the Icelandic Tourist Board, added:

Signing this declaration here in Reykjavik carries deep meaning for us. Iceland has learned that tourism thrives when communities are respected, heard and actively involved in shaping their future. The Reykjavik Declaration reinforces this principle for all of Europe. By committing to people-centred, purpose-driven tourism, we are not only safeguarding our natural and cultural heritage  we are strengthening the bridges between residents and visitors. This is how we ensure tourism remains a force for vitality, belonging and shared prosperity.

Read the full Reykjavik Declaration here.

About European Travel Commission

Established in 1948, the European Travel Commission is a unique association in the travel sector, representing the National Tourism Organisations of the countries of Europe. Its mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination. In the last several decades, ETC has positioned itself at the forefront of the European tourism scene, establishing its expertise and building up partnerships in areas of tourism, based on promotion, market intelligence and best practice sharing.

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As Clicks Fade, Hotel Digital Marketing Confronts a New Era of Increasing Compliance - Image Credit Cendyn



Digital marketing regulations a key factor to increased cost of acquisition, according to Cendyn Hotel Digital Marketing Performance Index

Cendyn, a global integrated hotel technology and services company, has identified a sharp increase in hotel cost per acquisition (CPA) due to a combined influence of increasing media costs and governmental regulation.

With CPA up 38%  marking the steepest YoY increase in several years  Cendyn found acquisition costs are being significantly affected by compliance as we enter a new phase of a clickless world.

EUs Digital Marketing Act (DMA) forced companies to adapt how they collected user data  ensuring they receive explicit user consent. Cendyns investigation encompassed Googles response to government compliance, especially through Consent Mode V2  which ensures websites can continue using Google advertising and analytics services and comply with the new data privacy regulations. However, performance consequently dropped

When consumers do not accept Google Consent Mode V2, conversions go untracked, reducing optimization signals for Googles automated bidding systems, distorting return on ad spend (ROAS), and potentially prompting misguided strategic decisions.

In addition, aggregated data from the Cendyn Digital Marketing Platform (DMP) identified a decline in conversion rates across most channels. This reflects the broader effect of reduced tracking capabilities due to a lack of user consent for cookie-based tracking.

The Cendyn Performance Index also highlights the impact of new regulations on junk fees. As a result of the California Senate Bill 644 and California Assembly Bill 537, hoteliers must comply with requirements for transparent tax and fee breakdowns. Failure to comply has created price parity issues, harming performance, particularly on rate-sensitive channels like metasearch. Inaccurate or non-compliant pricing can significantly reduce visibility, depress click-through rates (CTR), and lower return on investment (ROI). As users rarely click on listings showing higher rates, CTR fell from 3.18% to 2.88% in the USA.

The report warns that price parity, technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and privacy-first advertising are now critical for campaign success. Christina Leme, Senior Director Global Media at Cendyn said: Hoteliers need to take the findings from this report as a warning: non-competitive listings face reduced visibility, or exclusion from search results. But there are things hotels can do to counter these trends. Implementing robust price parity monitoring, optimizing consent management for better tracking, ensuring accurate fee and tax disclosure, investing in first-party data collection and activation  these are all great strategies for securing future bookings. In a landscape defined by constant change and increasing regulatory complexity, hotels that stay ahead of these shifts can and will thrive.

With Cendyn hoteliers constantly adapt to market changes, compliance and consumer behavior  to continually deliver bottom-line results addressing each hotels unique business needs, ensuring optimal performance and success.

The Cendyn Hotel Digital Marketing Performance Index 2025 delivers actionable intelligence, designed to help hospitality marketers make informed decisions, and implement strategies to optimize spend, preserve visibility, and capture demand in an increasingly crowded market. Available now, download to read the full findings and analysis.

Press contact

For requests and further information contact:

Ryan Haynes ryan@haynesmarcoms.agency, +44 (0)7919 510051

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions.

Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India.
FP Snapshot for Hospitality Employers: Appeals Courts Split on Liability Standard for Workplace Harassment By Non-Employees - Image Credit Unsplash+

Welcome to this edition of FP Snapshot for Hospitality Employers, where we take a quick snapshot look at a recent significant workplace law development with an emphasis on how it impacts employers in the hospitality industry. This edition is devoted to a recent federal appeals court ruling that sets a new standard for determining employer liability for workplace harassment committed by a non-employee, marking a clear break from most other courts as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Snapshot Look at Bivens v. Zep, Inc.

In an August 8 decision, the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Zep, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of cleaning products for retail and commercial businesses, was not liable for workplace harassment committed by a non-employee.

How It Started . Dorothy Bivens worked for Zep as a sales representative for a brief period in 2021. A few months into the role, she told her supervisor that Zeps client, a motel manager, had sexually harassed her when she met him inside his office, and her supervisor reassigned that client to a different sales team. Around the same time, Zeps president eliminated 23 sales roles, including Bivens, as part of a workforce reduction.

. Dorothy Bivens worked for Zep as a sales representative for a brief period in 2021. A few months into the role, she told her supervisor that Zeps client, a motel manager, had sexually harassed her when she met him inside his office, and her supervisor reassigned that client to a different sales team. Around the same time, Zeps president eliminated 23 sales roles, including Bivens, as part of a workforce reduction. The Lawsuit . Bivens sued Zep in a Michigan federal court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as well as Michigans state law equivalent), claiming that the company created a hostile work environment based on the harassment incident at the motel managers office and terminated her in retaliation for reporting it. The district court ruled in favor of Zep on all claims, and the 6th Circuit affirmed.

. Bivens sued Zep in a Michigan federal court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as well as Michigans state law equivalent), claiming that the company created a hostile work environment based on the harassment incident at the motel managers office and terminated her in retaliation for reporting it. The district court ruled in favor of Zep on all claims, and the 6th Circuit affirmed. 6th Circuits New Standard. The ruling focused on whether an intent-based or negligence standard of liability applies in cases involving non-employee harassment of an employee. The appeals court held that employer liability attaches in such cases only when the employer intended for the harassment to occur. And it rejected the negligence theory of liability that is applied by most other circuit courts and in EEOC regulations.







Further FP Reading: For our in-depth coverage on Bivens v. Zep, Inc., click here.

Hospitality Industry at Increased Risk of Non-Employee Harassment

Hospitality employers  including hotels, restaurants, casinos, and more  are uniquely exposed to third-party harassment risks due to how frequently employees interact with guests, vendors, patrons, and other non-employees. On top of that, the hospitality industry relies on customer service and guest satisfaction, and it often involves isolated situations (such as housekeepers or room service attendants working in hotel rooms) and situations that involve alcohol consumption. Each of these factors increases the risk of workplace harassment, according to a 2016 study by an EEOC Select Task Force.

For example, the study notes that a tipped worker may feel compelled to tolerate inappropriate and harassing behavior rather than suffer the financial loss of a good tip, and that in order to ensure customer happiness, management may, consciously or subconsciously, tolerate harassing behavior rather than intervene on the workers behalf.

How Bivens v. Zep, Inc. Impacts Hospitality Employers

Good News for Employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. The Bivens decision, which is only binding on courts within the 6th Circuit, makes it harder for plaintiffs to succeed on Title VII claims based on non-employee conduct. This is a major win for employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

The Bivens decision, which is only binding on courts within the 6th Circuit, makes it harder for plaintiffs to succeed on Title VII claims based on non-employee conduct. This is a major win for employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Important Reminder for All Hospitality Employers. According to the EEOC and most federal courts outside of the 6th Circuit, an employer may be held liable under Title VII for a non-employees conduct so long as it knew or should have known of the conduct and failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. And even though the 6th Circuit just significantly limited Title VII liability based on third-party conduct, it did not eliminate it altogether.

According to the EEOC and most federal courts outside of the 6th Circuit, an employer may be held liable under Title VII for a non-employees conduct so long as it knew or should have known of the conduct and failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. And even though the 6th Circuit just significantly limited Title VII liability based on third-party conduct, it did not eliminate it altogether. The Bottom Line. Hospitality employers across the country should continue to take third-party harassment seriously. The intent standard of liability is not the norm nationwide and is at odds with EEOC rules, so even employers in the 6th Circuit should be cautious  especially because many hospitality employers operate in multiple states where different liability standards may apply. You must also be aware of any additional worker protections that may apply at the state or local level.

Will Other Circuits Adopt the Intent Standard?



Stay tuned to see how other circuit courts address this issue going forward. Federal judges now have much more power to toss out agencies positions on the law due to the Supreme Courts landmark decision last year in Loper Bright  which is what the Bivens court relied on in setting aside the EEOCs negligence standard and creating a new one based on its own interpretation of Title VII.

3 Practical Steps for Hospitality Employers

Consider taking these three steps to manage your risk of liability for a non-employees conduct:

Make sure your policies address third-party harassment. Consider updating your workplace policies to clearly outline the types of conduct that will not be tolerated from guests, clients, vendors, and other non-employees, and what steps your company will take if such conduct occurs.

Consider updating your workplace policies to clearly outline the types of conduct that will not be tolerated from guests, clients, vendors, and other non-employees, and what steps your company will take if such conduct occurs. Train your employees. Managers and supervisors should understand how to recognize third-party harassment and how to promptly address it. Inform your employees that harassment by guests, customers, or other third parties will not be tolerated. Employees should know how to report incidents of inappropriate and/or harassing conduct from non-employees.

Managers and supervisors should understand how to recognize third-party harassment and how to promptly address it. Inform your employees that harassment by guests, customers, or other third parties will not be tolerated. Employees should know how to report incidents of inappropriate and/or harassing conduct from non-employees. Take complaints seriously and document everything. Consider designating an experienced person or team to conduct investigations. Make sure to document each step of the process, including any corrective action taken by the company.

Conclusion

If you have any questions about your Title VII liability exposure related to third-party conduct, contact your Fisher Phillips attorney, the authors of this Insight, or any attorney on our Hospitality Industry Team. Make sure to sign up for Fisher Phillips Insights to stay up to speed on the latest developments.

About the authors:

Alden Parker is the managing partner of the firms Sacramento office and the co-chair of the Hospitality Industry Group. Alden represents employers in all facets of employment law matters. His clients are involved in a variety of food chain related industries. From growers, packers, and shippers to grocers, restaurants and hotels, Alden works tirelessly on behalf of employers from the farm to the fork.

Alden has considerable experience defending employers in single plaintiff and Class/PAGA litigation. Those claims have involved the claims of discrimination, harassment, and wage & hour violations pursuant to State and Federal Law. Alden has also defended employers against whistleblower and retaliation claims, including claims under the California Whistleblower Act and various provisions of the California Labor Code.

Andria Ryan is a partner in the Atlanta office and serves as co-chair of the Hospitality Industry Group. She represents employers in virtually every area of employment and labor law and received the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Award for her pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law.

Andria represents employers throughout the United States in defending employment discrimination and harassment cases as well as handling traditional labor matters such as unfair labor practices and union campaigns.

She spends much of her time counseling employers in day to day employment and labor decisions and educating employers about prevention and practical solutions to workplace problems.

This article originally appeared on HospitalityLawyer.com.
Le Pavillon, New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel - Image Credit Marriott International



Ashford Hospitality Trust has signed agreements to sell three hotel properties, generating approximately $69.5 million in gross proceeds.

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. has entered into definitive agreements to sell three hotel properties: Le Pavillon in New Orleans, Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Arboretum, and Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Near the Galleria. The sales are expected to generate approximately $69.5 million in gross proceeds collectively.

The sale of the 226-room Le Pavillon is priced at $42.5 million, equating to $188,000 per room. This transaction is anticipated to close in December 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The sale price reflects a 2.6% capitalization rate based on net operating income and a 27.2x multiple of Hotel EBITDA for the twelve months ending September 30, 2025.

The agreement covering the Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Arboretum and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Near the Galleria, which together comprise 300 rooms, is valued at $27.0 million, or $90,000 per room. This sale is projected to close in January 2026, also contingent on standard closing conditions. Adjusting for anticipated capital expenditures of $14.5 million, the sale price represents a capitalization rate of 2.2% on net operating income or a multiple of 29.9 times Hotel EBITDA for the twelve months ending September 30, 2025. Without the anticipated capital expenditures, the combined sale price represents a 3.3% capitalization rate on net operating income or a multiple of 19.5 times Hotel EBITDA for the same period.

The company expects these transactions to improve annual cash flow by over $2 million and save $14.5 million in future capital expenditures. The majority of the proceeds from these sales will be used to retire mortgage debt, which is anticipated to enhance cash flow after debt service and eliminate significant future capital expenditure obligations.

The sales are part of Ashford Hospitality Trust's strategic plan to deleverage its portfolio while improving liquidity and cash flow. The company notes that the cap rates achieved on these sales reflect the value within its portfolio. Completion of the sales is subject to standard closing conditions, and there is no assurance that the sales will be completed as planned.
Live Nation Moves to Dismiss DOJ Antitrust Case: What Artists, Venues & Fans Should Know

Live Nation filed a motion for summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asking it to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states.

The 51 page Live Nation DOJ lawsuit motion contends that the governments case begins and ends with unsupported market definitions and speculation rather than concrete evidence of harm.

The DOJ alleges that Live Nation used exclusive venue deals, tied-promotion contracts, and leveraged its scale to shut out competition in concert promotion. If Live Nation succeeds with this motion, the status quo around how large promoters book venues, negotiate exclusivity and bundle services may continue unchanged.

Key Arguments from the Live Nation DOJ Lawsuit Motion To Dismiss

Market definition : Live Nation argues the DOJ defined the markets too narrowly (e.g., excluding stadiums or large theatres) in order to inflate the companys claimed dominance.

: Live Nation argues the DOJ defined the markets too narrowly (e.g., excluding stadiums or large theatres) in order to inflate the companys claimed dominance. Monopoly Power and Evidence of Harm: Live Nation asserts that the government has not proven the key element  that the company holds monopoly power. Quote : Plaintiffs opened this case alleging that Live Nation had multiple, self-reinforcing monopolies and hadfor fifteen yearsengaged in systematic and intentional corruption of competition across virtually every aspect of the live music ecosystem.  If there was a lick of truth to them, one would expect Plaintiffs to now have mountains of evidence demonstrating monopoly power  And yet  Plaintiffs have barely a molehill.

Live Nation asserts that the government has not proven the key element  that the company holds monopoly power. Exclusive contracting : Live Nation asserts that venues prefer exclusive contracts and that no venue manager testified they were coerced. Quote:  Not a single major concert venue claims to have been forced into exclusive contracts. To the contrary, every venue witness has testified that they seek and prefer exclusive ticketing contracts.

: Live Nation asserts that venues prefer exclusive contracts and that no venue manager testified they were coerced.

What This Means For Independent Venues and Promotes

Many amphitheaters, arenas and festivals contract with Ticketmaster and Live Nation for ticketing, booking and/or promotion  often on an exclusive basis. Live Nation argues those exclusive deals reflect industry norms and preferences.

But if the DOJ survives this motion and later wins at trial or settlement, independent venues and promotes should see more competition for ticketing services and possibly reduced fees or alternative providers. A DOJ win could also reduce what independents see as overly aggressive booking tactics by both the concert giant and its ticketing arm.

What This Means For Fans & Consumers

The heart of the governments case is competition: whether fans pay more or receive fewer choices because of restricted competition. Live Nation counters that the government does not demonstrate harm to consumer welfare.

While lower concert ticket prices seem unlikely. this motion affects long-term dynamics: pricing, resale practices, transparency and fair access to tickets could all be shaped depending on how the case proceeds.

The timing is significant: the live concert business is booming as it recovers from pandemic disruptions; any legal shifts now may ripple through how concerts are promoted, how tickets are sold, and how fans access shows.

Whats Next

The DOJ and likely some states will respond to the motion, after which Judge Arun Subramanian will likely decide whether to grant full or partial summary judgmentor allow the case to proceed to trial.

Hypebot will keep an eye on any interim rulings (e.g. partial dismissals, modifications to claims) and how the live-music/ticketing ecosystem reacts.

Bruce Houghton is Founder & Editor of Hypebot, Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of Skyline Artists.

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Charles Redd Recognized as 'Community Star' on National Rural Health Day

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Health Systems proudly announces that Charles Redd, MS, RN, BHS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer has been named the Massachusetts 2025 "Community Star."

This honor is awarded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to recognize outstanding contributions to rural health care.

Redd, a Registered Nurse who has led innovative programs at BHS designed to improve access to care in the rural Berkshires, will be featured prominently on the official National Rural Health Day (NRHD) website, PowerOfRural.org, on Nov. 20, 2025. This online platform will highlight Redd's remarkable dedication to rural health alongside other Community Stars from across the nation.

On the third Thursday of November each year, NOSORH leads NRHD, an annual celebration honoring the selfless, community-minded, and determined individuals and organizations that serve the health needs of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

Established in 2015 in conjunction with NRHD, the Community Star Recognition Program tells the stories of those making a difference in rural communities. Since then, more than 400 inspiring rural Stars have been honored nationwide.



To learn more about National Rural Health Day and to read the stories of this year's Community Stars, visit PowerOfRural.org.
Clarksburg Cautious on Accepting Briggsville Water Grants

CLARKSBURG, Mass.  The town has hired a new accountant and received funds to continue work on Middle Road, but it's taking cautious steps regarding grants for the Briggsville Water District.

Much of Monday's discussion revolved around grants for the Briggsville Water District. The district has a state Rural Development grant of $140,000 to be used as a 25 percent match to a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of more than $400,000 toward upgrading and repairing the independent public water system.

The district has been struggling for years to update its infrastructure and prepare for future needs. The town is the custodian of the grants and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is facilitating the project.

The problem is the district can't access the funds until the town signs off on accepting them. Select Board members were concerned about the town being on the hook for bills that would put it into deficit spending.

Town Treasurer Kelly Haskins was concerned about the reimbursement process, since bills would be coming in that the town might have to pay out prior to grants funds being received.

"It just will run in a deficit, which you're not supposed to do either, because you will not have the grant funds yet, right?" she said, and Boucher responded, "That's the problem."

"We can't appropriate money to carry a grant, OK? That's what it comes down to," said Boucher. "So we need to protect ourselves and the taxpayer."

Boucher had an agreement between the town and the water district that was reviewed by the town's legal counsel but the board wanted more concrete assurances in it.

Clebe Scott, representing the district, pointed out the agreement said the district and the town would "consult" on the payments. Andrews, however, said, "consult" wasn't a solution.

"My concern is if a bill comes in for work already completed, for some reason, grant money doesn't come through  I've heard more stories from the grants that take extremely long periods of time to come in  we can't be putting out our taxpayers, right?" said Chair Daniel Haskins.

Mary Giron, also on the district committee, said it does have funds in an account and can borrow up to $250,000. Scott said the town had worked with the district before when it was first established in 1980.

"We really want to work together. I'm not against working together. I'm just making sure we're not going to agree to something that's going to, you know, hurt the town, or cost the town a significant amount of money," said Haskins. "We didn't sign up for that."

Boucher said he would bring the agreement back to legal counsel with the board's concerns and have copies ready for both sides to review.

Giron cautioned that the district could lose the grants because of delays.

"If this doesn't happen, and we lose these grants, and this infrastructure is not taken care of, it's going to be on the town of Clarksburg," she said. "There's 69 homes and businesses, including Town Hall, that are in the Briggsville Water District, and if it falls apart, and there's no more us, and there's no one, who's it going to fall to?"

The Select Board interviewed two candidates to fill the vacant town accountant post and voted to offer the job to Lynne Lemanski.

Lemanski lives in Cheshire and is a certified public accountant. She's worked in both the private sector and in municipal government with several county towns, and is familiar with the town's accounting software SoftWrite.

"I have been in town accounting for probably since 2003 and I've also had other accounting positions. I'm actually a CPA, and have done governmental auditing, that's how I kind of got dragged into town accounting," she said. "And I just love, I really like town accounting."

She said she enjoys working with small towns because "they're just more personable. It's less stressful in a small town."

That said, Lemanski pointed to various times of the year when the job can take up more time like budget season and getting free cash certified. She said she can pretty much do everything on the recapitulation except for the assessor part.

The board also interviewed Amber Holland of Readsboro, Vt., and were impressed with her experience and the number of positions she was able to handle in that small town. However, they felt Lemanski's experience in Massachusetts financial reporting and her familiarity with the software would make her the best fit.

The board voted unanimously to offer her the post as a salaried position, with Town Administrator Ronald Boucher to work out the details. Lemanski will split her time remotely and in the office beginning Dec. 29.

 Boucher updated the board on the $1 million MassWorks grant the town received. This was announced with the other fiscal year 2026 grants the first week of November; Boucher said he and Select Board member Colton Andrews attended the event with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in Monson.

The funds will be used for paving and some culverts from the Four Corners to the North Adams city line.

 The board voted to reduce Town Clerk Marilyn Gomeau's hours to 12 per week at her request, from 8 to 2 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

"I don't think 16 hours is necessary, number one, and two is, I got the office where it needs to be, and I can certainly get what I need to be done," she said, adding she would like to speak with Haskins and Boucher privately about elections.
March For The Food Bank To Be Held In Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will kick off its annual fundraising tradition with two community marchesstarting with the first-ever Berkshire Mini-March on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Pittsfield, followed by the 16th Annual March for the Food Bank from Springfield to Greenfield on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 24-25.

The Berkshire Mini-March begins at 9:30 a.m. at Hot Plate Brewing in downtown Pittsfield. The three-mile route includes stops at several Food Bank member food pantries, including Mercado De Vida and the Berkshire Dream Center. The final stop at the Pittsfield Community Pantry invites marchers to get involved directly by assembling Thanksgiving Angels packages for local families.

On Monday, New England Public Media's Monte Belmonte, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Food Bank Executive Director Andrew Morehouse will once again lead the 43-mile journey from Springfield to Greenfield. Governor Maura Healey is scheduled to join part of the March on Tuesday.

"The strength of communities across our region is extraordinary," said Food Bank Executive Director Andrew Morehouse. "Month after month, we see more people needing food assistance, more than at the height of the pandemic. The March is one way we meet these challenges togetherwith resolve, generosity, and a shared belief that everyone deserves reliable access to nutritious food without barriers or stigma."

With demand at historic levelsmore than 123,000 people seek food assistance each month, a number that is likely to continue to risethe March plays a critical role in keeping food flowing to nearly 200 partner food pantries and meal sites across the region, stated a press release.

This year, the Food Bank aims to raise $650,000, the equivalent of 1.3 million meals for families, seniors, and veterans across Western Massachusetts. Nearly $250,000 has already been raised through early support from marchers, donors, and sponsors.

"The energy around this year's March is incredible," said Jillian Morgan, the Food Bank's Director of Development. "People are showing up with such heart, whether they're registering, fundraising, or sponsoring. We're grateful for every person who helps carry the Food Bank's mission forward."

The March routes can be found here

Media sponsors -- WRSI 93.9 The River and New England Public Media -- will air special programming on food insecurity and hunger leading up to and during the march.

People can donate by phone at 888-323-HOPE (4673) on Monday from 7:00am to 5:00pm and Tuesday, from 7:00 am  6:00pm, or anytime online at marchforthefoodbank.org

The March for the Food Bank is supported by hundreds of individuals and dozens of local businesses: Alekman DiTusa, LLC; Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company; CoBank; Dean's Beans Organic Coffee; Eversource; Fallon Health; Greenfield Savings Bank; Innovative Industrial Properties; M&T Bank; PeoplesBank; Lia Auto Group; and Performance Food Group.
MLcon Berlin

24.11.2025 bis 27.11.2025

Art der Veranstaltung: Kongressmesse Ort: Berlin Datum: 24.11.2025 - 27.11.2025 Uhrzeit: 9:00 - 18:00 Veranstalter: Software & Support Media GmbH Teilnahmeoptionen: Prasenzveranstaltung, Aufzeichnung Zielgruppe: C-Level, Fachexperten, Branchenoffentlichkeit, Arbeitnehmer URL: https://mlconference.ai/berlin/ E-Mail: marketing@sandsmedia.com Telefon: 017693102012 Voranmeldung erwunscht: ja

Join us for MLCon Berlin, happening from November 2427, 2025, in the dynamic and innovative city of Berlin. This conference is the ultimate destination for data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Whether youre a seasoned expert or just getting started, MLCon Berlin offers a wealth of knowledge, hands-on sessions, and the latest insights in the field.



At MLCon Berlin, youll find a packed schedule of keynotes, workshops, and in-depth sessions led by industry leaders. Explore the latest advancements in deep learning, natural language processing, model optimization, and AI ethics. Learn practical strategies and cutting-edge tools to implement in your work and drive innovation in your organization.



MLCon Berlin is perfect for data professionals, machine learning engineers, and AI enthusiasts eager to connect with like-minded individuals and expand their network. Dont miss this opportunity to advance your career and gain the skills needed to shape the future of AI. Visit our website today to explore the full agenda and secure your ticket. We look forward to welcoming you to Berlin!
Artificial intelligence is transforming travel in China, offering smarter and more personalised travel options, and acting as a new guide for tourists from overseas exploring the country.

Mutangay Jesteben Beni, 26, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and now a student at Shanxi University in Taiyuan, experienced this firsthand. In July, seven years after arriving in China with dreams of becoming an engineer, his AI-assisted trip to Beijing reshaped his perception of Chinese tourism.

Plan a three-day trip to Beijing for me, focusing on the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, with a budget of about 5,000 yuan (530), Mutangay instructed Doubao, an AI application.

In less than 10 seconds a detailed itinerary appeared on his screen, including transportation, accommodation, daily attractions and local culinary recommendations.

This is amazing, he said, showing off the plan on his phone. Its not just an itinerary; its like a local friend offering a personalized guide.

Tourists coming to China are increasingly relying on AI to explore the country. Tools such as DeepSeek and Doubao have become common companions for travellers, both domestic and international.

Oluwabunmi Henry Jimoh, 31, a vlogger from Nigeria, said: In the past I would usually search for interesting destinations on social media, but since using AI, everything has become much simpler.

For Jimoh, AI acts as a helpful assistant. It always reminds us of those easily overlooked corners and leads us to discover new routes. More importantly, it makes learning historical knowledge simple and efficient.

Jimohs connection with China began with his childhood fascination with Jackie Chans kung fu movies. He arrived in the country in 2016 to study at Guangxi University of Science and Technology in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. After graduating, he chose to stay in Liuzhou and pursue a career in self-media.

Only after truly stepping into China did I realise that Chinese kung fu is not just about exciting fights, but also carries traditional etiquette, cultural heritage and spiritual meaning.

Veldesen Yaputra, 24, an Indonesian studying architecture at Tsinghua University in Beijing, has also experienced the allure of AI firsthand.

At the Shengmu (Sacred Mother) Hall of Jinci Museum in Taiyuan he witnessed the attraction of technology combined with ancient architecture.

By using Doubaos visual recognition function to scan the building, the AI system instantly identified it, providing detailed information about its historical background, structural features and cultural value.

Now, whenever I encounter unfamiliar ancient architecture knowledge I can easily access it through this tool, as if I have a professional ancient architecture guide with me, Yaputra said.

Karyna Kovalevska, 24, a Ukrainian vlogger, said she uses AI extensively as a short video content creator. She uses it to create travel guides and consults it when preparing scripts for her videos on Shanxis ancient architecture.

With the implementation of Chinas 240-hour transit visa-free policy, more foreigners have the opportunity to experience real life in China.
Sanxingdui in Guanghan, Sichuan province, discovered in the 1920s, has yielded a wealth of discoveries over nearly a century of archaeological research.

Among its most remarkable findings are those from eight pits that have astonished the world with their exquisite artefacts and mysterious origins.

The first two pits, unearthed in 1986, revealed magnificent bronze and gold masks that captured global attention. A new round of excavations beginning in 2019 uncovered six additional pits, numbered 3 to 8, sparking even greater public curiosity about the sites origins and chronology.

Recent research has provided more solid clues. According to new carbon-14 analysis conducted by Peking University, there is a 95.4 per cent probability that the burial of the sacrificial pits 3, 4, 6 and 8 occurred between 1201 BC and 1012 BC.

This places the period in the late Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute says.

A bronze sun wheel found at the site ( PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY )

Identical fragments found in pits 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 suggest that these artefacts were buried at the same time, says Ran Honglin, the institutes lead archaeologist at Sanxingdui. This discovery provides key evidence for establishing a precise chronological framework for the site.

A joint study by the Sichuan provincial institute, the Palace Museum in Beijing, the University of Science and Technology Beijing and the Needham Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, England, has also offered new insights into Sanxingduis bronze-casting techniques.

According to the study, Sanxingdui developed an innovative casting technology centred on sectional casting, complemented by integral casting and forging, during the late Shang Dynasty.

In the production of bronzeware, the inner core, or the clay core, and the outer mold worked together to cast the shape of the vessel.

To reinforce and support the inner core during its production process, bronze workers added organic or metal strip-shaped materials, similar to steel bars used to reinforce concrete in modern architecture.

Bronze workers also used supports in the casting molds to maintain the relative position between the inner core and the outer mold, thereby avoiding misalignment and adhesion between the two components, says Guo Jianbo, a researcher at the Sichuan provincial institute.

The techniques effectively solved the challenges in molding slender and curved objects and were indispensable for casting objects such as the bronze divine tree, one of the most magnificent finds from Sanxingdui. These techniques indicate that people casting bronze in Sanxingdui were flexible and skilled artisans, Guo says.

Multidisciplinary research on five aspects of Sanxingdui, including the manufacturing techniques of excavated gold artefacts, bronze painting techniques, standardised pottery production, rice cultivation methods and ivory preservation technology, has also made significant progress, Guos institute says.

Researchers say the gold artefacts from Sanxingdui, all gold-silver alloys, were probably obtained from relatively stable placer gold deposits and refined through cupellation, an ancient method used to purify silver and gold.

Painted bronze artefacts from Sanxingdui, decorated with cinnabar and lacquer, are the earliest bronze-body lacquerware in China, the institute says.

Ivory objects have also been excavated from the site.

There is evidence that early Sanxingdui inhabitants practised intensive wetland rice farming, which supported a dense population and fueled the rapid rise of Sanxingdui, the institute says.

The Sanxingdui site, covering four-and-a half square miles, includes the remains of an ancient city, sacrificial pits, residential quarters and tombs.

Scholars believe the site was established 2,800 to 4,800 years ago, and archaeological discoveries confirm that it was a highly developed and prosperous political, economic and cultural centre of the Shu Kingdom, as recorded in many ancient Chinese documents. In ancient times Sichuan was known as Shu.
Chinas drive to advance reform and development through higher-level opening-up  a priority for the countrys development over the next five years  will unlock fresh momentum for multinational companies and trading partners, business leaders and market watchers say.

They underlined the key roles of expanding opening-up at the institutional level, safeguarding the multilateral trading system and promoting broader international economic flows, saying these measures will help spur new growth drivers and enhance resilience.

Their comments came as the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development stressed the idea of sharing opportunities and achieving common development with the rest of the world.

A communique issued on 23 October after the conclusion of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, during which participants discussed the recommendations, said China should take the initiative to open wider to the world, promote the innovative development of trade, create greater space for two-way investment collaboration and pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Mei Xinyu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, talked of Chinas aims to sustain long-term growth momentum and contribute to global economic stability, saying that expanding institutional opening-up and promoting fairer, rules-based trade will not only attract quality foreign investment but also strengthen global confidence in Chinas development path.

Encouraged by Chinas latest push to advance high-standard opening-up, Poh-Yian Koh, president for China at FedEx Corp, said the company will remain a steadfast supporter of and advocate for global trade.

We are confident that these policy directions will further expand market access, foster a more enabling business environment, and unlock broader opportunities for foreign businesses, all of which will continue to drive our growth in China, Koh said.

FedEx operates more than 300 international flights to and from China each week, she said, and the country serves as one of the key engines of global trade and an integral part of the companys global strategy.

Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said it is a positive sign that the communique outlined the need for the Chinese government to see that new demand drives new supply.

New supply helps create fresh demand and (ensures) that positive interactions are fostered between consumption and investment and between supply and demand.

Joe Bao, executive vice-president for China of the Finnish multinational elevator maker Kone Corp, said his company is encouraged to see that the recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) strongly emphasise new urbanisation, with elevator modernisation playing a pivotal role in shaping smarter, more sustainable cities.

Kone completed its largest elevator modernisation project in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, this year, and has built a presence in more than 40 Chinese cities.

Building on this momentum, we will increase our investment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, one of Chinas most dynamic city clusters, Bao said. This will strengthen local innovation, bring us closer to our customers and position us to capture the next wave of opportunities in Chinas ongoing urban transformation.

The Swiss technology company ABB Group said it will also extend its presence in China to support the countrys rapid energy transition and industrial electrification during the 15th Five-Year Plan, while drawing on locally developed innovation to deliver practical technical solutions to global markets.

Adrian Guggisberg, president of ABBs distribution solutions division, said that as China has become the companys global anchor for innovation, talent and technology export, ABB will expand both innovation and manufacturing capacity in the country, increasing investment in flexible and digital power solutions.

Chen Jianwei, a researcher in the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics, said Chinas new round of high-level opening-up will further integrate global trade, capital and innovation with its vast domestic market, and unite more countries to strengthen collaboration in tackling shared economic challenges.

The steady inflow of investment from developed and emerging economies also shows that global businesses continue to view China as a key growth engine and a stabilising force amid global uncertainty, Chen said.
Foreign and Chinese companies are scrambling to explore new opportunities in Hainan as the island province prepares to officially begin its special customs operations next month.

Hainan Free Trade Port will implement major favourable tariff policies from 18 December, with the proportion of products eligible for zero tariffs rising from 21 per cent to 74 per cent.

International organisations, company executives and experts have talked of the importance of the changes amid rising trade protectionism, saying it fosters free trade and reinforces economic globalisation.

Chinese business leaders, including Yu Minhong, chairman of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, in Beijing, Liu Yonghao, chairman of the animal husbandry company New Hope Group, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and Li Shufu, chairman of the automaker Geely, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, recently led delegations to Hainan to explore potential opportunities and negotiate deals with local companies. They were joined by executives of technology companies such as Unitree Robotics of Hangzhou.

Customers select goods at Haikou International Duty-Free City in Haikou in February ( SU BIKUN / FOR CHINA DAILY )

In recent weeks more than 40 key agreements have been sealed, covering sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, high-end manufacturing, the digital economy, tropical agriculture and aerospace technology. Each project signifies deeper industrial chain integration and upgrading, demonstrating the active participation of private companies in the Hainan Free Trade Ports development.

Yu of New Oriental said he has visited Hainan four times this year and spent more than 25 days on the island. The companys training centre for students who have studied abroad, in Lingshui Li autonomous county of Hainan, is expected to begin operations by the end of the year, he said. It will provide project services and entrepreneurial support for returning overseas students and startup founders.

Liu of New Hope said his company is deepening collaboration with companies in Hainans breeding and green food processing industries. Lius company is also jointly establishing the Haiken New Hope brand with Hainan State Farms Investment Holding Group.

Li of Geely said, Launching a special customs operation is a signature project of the Hainan Free Trade Port and will provide a rare development opportunity for the growth of the private economy.

Mohammed Al Zarooni, chairman of the World Free Zones Organisation, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said: Hainan provinces remarkable journey as Chinas flagship free trade port offers a real-time case study in innovation, institutional reform and global connectivity.

The organisation is one of the largest global networks of free trade zones, bringing together more than 1,600 members from 141 countries and regions. Hainans pioneering role as a high-level free trade port and a dynamic hub for trade, sustainability and innovation highlights Chinas growing leadership in global trade reform, sustainability and digital transformation, Zarooni said.

Wang Changlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the transition from preparation to full-scale special customs operations was a milestone in Chinas pursuit of opening-up.

Starting on 18 December, all of Hainan will operate as a special customs supervision zone under a two-tiered system. The operations enable free trade between Hainan and areas outside Chinas customs border, while maintaining standard customs controls for the Chinese mainland.

Eligible goods entering or leaving the island province  unless destined for the inland areas  will be subject to fewer customs checks and reduced tariffs or no tariffs at all.

The Hainan Free Trade Port will exempt about 6,600 product categories  74 per cent of all taxable items  from import duties, value-added tax and consumption tax, compared with the current 1,900 categories. Goods imported by eligible entities from abroad, except those on a restricted list, will qualify for the exemptions, according to the policy approved by Chinas finance, customs and tax authorities.

These goods can circulate freely among eligible entities on the island. If they undergo at least 30 per cent value-added processing in Hainan they will be exempt from tariffs when entering the inland.
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Chinese "wolf warrior" diplomats have returned to the global stage, directing sharp criticism at Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following her recent comments on Taiwan.

The renewed diplomatic offensive comes a fortnight after Ms Takaichi told lawmakers that an attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival would trigger a military response from Tokyo.

The momentum of this "vitriol" has not slowed, with Chinese diplomats drumming up criticism in nations that suffered from Japan's military actions during World War Two.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated: "The international community should focus more on understanding Japan's true intentions and whether Japan can still adhere to the path of peaceful development."

This assertive and often acerbic style of engagement, particularly on social media, defines China's "wolf warrior" diplomacy.

In Tokyo, shortly before her departure for a G20 leaders' summit, Ms Takaichi reiterated that her position was unchanged.

She clarified that her comment did not represent a shift in Japan's policy towards Taiwan, despite the ongoing international scrutiny.

More countermeasures

open image in gallery Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers that an attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival would trigger a military response from Tokyo ( AP )

China has repeatedly demanded retraction of the original remarks, failing which it has threatened more countermeasures, after warning citizens against travel to Japan, banning imports of its seafood, and voicing criticism by its diplomats abroad.

The original episode of "wolf warrior" diplomacy, dating from 2020 and taking its name from a popular Chinese movie franchise, marked a departure from the restraint that had long marked Beijing's engagement with the world.

The first sign of China's renewed tactics emerged in Japan two weeks ago with a posting on X by its consul general in Osaka, but later deleted.

"The dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off," the diplomat said after Takaichi's comments. Beijing called the post a personal one.

Online discussion has linked the comment to "The Sword March", a Chinese war song from the 1930s that aroused morale against the Japanese invasion of the country in that period.

Its lyrics began with the words, "swords raised over the devils' heads to hack them off".

Highlighting history

open image in gallery A post on X by China's embassy in Manila on Japan ( REUTERS )

After the diplomat's post, peers in countries formerly occupied by Japan during the war chimed in. Some targeted Takaichi directly, framing her as a figure whose leadership style sparks concern, and urged caution.

"Japan's rising calls for military expansion are worthy of vigilance from all countries that suffered the ravages of war  and recent remarks from its new leader only add to the concern," China's embassy in Manila posted on X.

Four accompanying caricatures showed ghosts in a representation of Japanese militarism looming over Takaichi, and one featured her as a witch.

"Todays China is no longer the China of the past," the embassy said. "If Japan dares to follow through on military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, it will constitute an act of aggression  and China will certainly strike back resolutely!"

Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. Taiwan's government rejects the claims.

Memories of wartime aggression

open image in gallery Wang Lutong, China's ambassador to Indonesia posted on X a clip of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's comments to the press in March, along with a quote, "The truth is, to provoke trouble in the name of Taiwan is to invite trouble for Japan." ( Associated Pres )

Wang Lutong, China's ambassador to Indonesia posted on X a clip of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's comments to the press in March, along with a quote, "The truth is, to provoke trouble in the name of Taiwan is to invite trouble for Japan."

Diplomats also accused Takaichi of reviving wartime aggression.

People in Taiwan "suffered enormously" from Japan's "crimes and atrocities" after it "forcibly occupied ... and exerted colonial rule" on the island, Mao, the foreign ministry spokesperson said in a post on X on Friday.

These included killings, denial of political rights and plunder of mineral resources, she added.

In response, Taiwan's foreign ministry said the island's sovereignty belonged to all its people.

"In recent years, China has frequently dispatched military aircraft and vessels to conduct large-scale military activities in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea," it said.

It added that such activities seriously undermined regional peace and stability, for a continuing rise in tension.

Targeting the West

open image in gallery China has announced a blanket ban on all Japanese seafood imports, escalating a diplomatic row between the two Asian economic powerhouses ( Associated Press )

China's diplomatic messaging aimed at the West sought to discredit Takaichi in the global arena.

Its permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, called Takaichi's behaviour "egregious" and questioned her credibility to uphold peace and security.

"How can the international community trust Japans professed commitment to peaceful development?" Fu asked in a post this week on X that also queried its trustworthiness in areas such as fairness and justice and international peace and security.

In Canberra, the Chinese embassy posted clips of a Japanese scholar calling out Takaichi's remarks as "extremely problematic and foolish", and cited an anti-militarisation panel as calling her "unfit to serve".

In the United States, the Washington embassy has regularly reposted the Chinese foreign ministry's messaging.

Japan, which has attempted to narrow the rift, said it is aware of the numerous posts.

It has not responded to the Chinese criticism, except for repeated complaints about the remarks of the Osaka diplomat, as it looks to tamp down tensions.

"The government is taking appropriate measures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters at a regular briefing on Friday, but said he would refrain from comment on individual remarks.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima speaks during the Launch of HIV Prevention Project in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 20, 2025. To tackle HIV/AIDS in South Africa, China, through the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, has announced a two-year funding commitment of 3.49 million U.S. dollars. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- To tackle HIV/AIDS in South Africa, China, through the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, has announced a two-year funding commitment of 3.49 million U.S. dollars.

The agreement, coordinated by UNAIDS, was unveiled Thursday during a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, and is expected to strengthen South Africa's fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly among the youth.

South Africa, which has around 8 million people living with HIV and nearly 6 million on antiretroviral treatment, has been working to curb new infections, especially among key populations such as adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 who are at higher risk of contracting HIV.

The investment into the fight against HIV/AIDS in the wake of funding cuts has been welcomed.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said this investment demonstrated China's commitment to multilateralism and cooperation within the global South. "It shows China's commitment to multilateralism and advancing South-South cooperation, through sharing of technology, innovation, and grant funding in our pursuit of universal health coverage and the goal of ending AIDS by 2030," she said.

The two-year, multi-million-dollar project is expected to reach 54,000 adolescents and young people, particularly those in technical and vocational education and training colleges in seven provinces.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said the project is a concrete action to implement the Global Development Initiative and jointly build a global community of health for all.

"China stands firmly with South Africa as it strengthens its HIV prevention and treatment programs. In addition to this project, we stand ready to assist South Africa in establishing a sustainable HIV/AIDS response system through policy dialogue, innovative drug supply, technology transfer, and capacity building. We remain dedicated to working together to build a healthier, more resilient future for our two nations," he said.

Speaking after the ceremony, South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi welcomed the initiative, saying it would support efforts to reduce infections among young people. "Every donation counts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Fighting this disease needs collective action from everyone," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng speaks during the Launch of HIV Prevention Project in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 20, 2025. To tackle HIV/AIDS in South Africa, China, through the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, has announced a two-year funding commitment of 3.49 million U.S. dollars. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi speaks during the Launch of HIV Prevention Project in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 20, 2025. To tackle HIV/AIDS in South Africa, China, through the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, has announced a two-year funding commitment of 3.49 million U.S. dollars. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

Editor: ZAD
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Hong Kong has charged four people for sharing social media posts urging a public boycott of the upcoming patriots only legislative council election.

One of them was charged with sedition and the other three with engaging in illegal conduct on social media.

Lam Chung-ming, 68, was arrested on Tuesday for posting content that allegedly incited hatred against the citys government and asked people to not cast their votes. He was charged with the national security crime of "seditious publication" after appearing before the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts on Thursday to face one count of knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention.

The other three, two men and a woman, were charged on suspicion of breaching Hong Kongs election laws. They were identified as Wong Kin-kwok, 55, Lam Kin-sik, 66, and Bonney Ma, 61.

The charges against them carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption, which oversees election legislation, said it strongly condemned criminals who attempted to interfere with and undermine the current LegCo Election by circulating messages online to incite others not to vote.

The ICAC urges members of the public to strictly adhere to the law and distinguish the truth to avoid being fooled and exploited by lawbreakers, it said in a statement.

The commission said it had also issued warrants against two other people, who were outside the city, for making the initial posts which are shared by three of the accused.

The ICAC investigation revealed that Keung Ka-wai and Tong Wai-hung had published on their social media pages posts which incited others not to cast any votes in the 2025 LegCo Election, the statement read.

Subsequently, Wong reposted Keungs post on his social media page, while Lam and Ma posted Tongs post on their respective social media pages.

The arrests came after the government launched a campaign urging the citys residents to vote in the legislative council election in December.

This would be only the second such election since Beijing overhauled the citys electoral system to ensure only those deemed patriotic could run.

File. Supporters of a district council elections candidate campaign in Hong Kong, China, on 24 November 2019 ( Getty )

In 2021, Hong Kong amended its electoral laws to put in place the controversial patriots-only system, two years after pro-democracy protests led to a crackdown on dissidents. The 2019 protests marked the most concerted challenge to Beijings control over the city since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997.

The new system drastically reduces the publics ability to vote and increases the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers making decisions for the city.

The 2023 district council elections saw fewer than 1.2 million residents  27.5 per cent of the electorate  vote.

In an effort to boost the turnout this time around, the government has decked the city in promotional material encouraging people to vote.

Authorities have extended train service hours on election days and some businesses have already promised a half-day to their employees to enable them to vote.

Hong Kong leader John Lee urged the public last month to fulfil their "civic responsibility".
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Japan has lodged a complaint with China after images of a senior Japanese official appearing to bow before his Chinese counterpart went viral on social media.

In the footage, Japanese diplomat Masaaki Kanai is seen leaning in to listen to the translator after China's Asian affairs chief Liu Jinsong finishes speaking, while the Chinese official stands with his hands in his pockets, making it look like Mr Kanai is slightly bowing.

The incident marked another escalation in the diplomatic spat between Beijing and Tokyo over Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan.

The officials met on Tuesday to ease tensions sparked by Ms Takaichis remarks, but they failed to reach any breakthrough. Japanese chief cabinet secretary Minou Kihara said Tokyo was not informed about the press coverage following the meeting between Mr Kanai and Mr Liu.

A video of Mr Liu and Mr Kanais meeting was posted by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account run by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, but was later deleted.

"We have raised the issue with the Chinese side regarding the press arrangements that were made without coordination with the Japanese side," Mr Kihara said.

China's foreign ministry shot back at Tokyo, saying Beijing did not make arrangements with media outlets to take photos or film, according to the South China Morning Post.

"Most of the reporters at the scene were from Japanese media outlets," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

The row began after Ms Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response from Tokyo. China, which regards the democratically governed island as its own, was incensed and has said Ms Takaichi will face consequences.

Chinas backlash intensified over the weekend, prompting widespread travel cancellations, a ban on seafood imports, and the scrapping of a dozen concerts by Japanese musicians in major Chinese cities.

China suspended the screenings of upcoming Japanese films, and Japanese celebrities popular there have tried to pre-empt any potential backlash with messages showing their support for China.

Beijing has since demanded a retraction of these comments, while Tokyo has maintained that Ms Takaichi's remarks in parliament were in line with the government's position.

Japan and China have also taken their spat to the UN, where both nations traded barbs at each other.

The Chinese envoy lambasted Ms Takaichi's remarks and claimed Tokyo was "totally unqualified to seek a permanent seat on the Security Council".

Japan responded, saying that China's statement was groundless and that Tokyo has contributed to maintaining peace and prosperity in the world.

Meanwhile, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Friday called China the real regional "troublemaker", while handing out copies of a new civil defence handbook.

The handbook, unveiled in September, includes for the first time instructions on what to do if citizens encounter enemy soldiers and stresses that any claims of Taiwan's surrender should be considered false.

It marks Taiwan's latest effort to prepare its population for crises ranging from natural disasters to a Chinese invasion, as Beijing steps up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over the democratically-governed island.
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At least 18 workers were killed and 21 injured after an explosion ripped through a glue-making factory in eastern Pakistan on Friday.

The explosion was caused by a gas leak in the Malikpur industrial area of Faisalabad, a city in the Punjab province, at about 5am local time on Friday, local administrator Raja Jahangir Anwar said.

Police said they had arrested the factorys manager and were searching for the owner, who fled shortly after the explosion.

The explosion damaged at least seven houses nearby and sparked panic in the area, Mr Anwar said.

The blast completely flattened the factory, Mr Anwar said, adding that rescuers spent hours pulling bodies and survivors out of the rubble.

Many of the injured were in critical condition.

open image in gallery Rescuers search for survivors after an explosion at a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Pakistan, on 21 November 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

Footage showed rescue workers recovering bodies from the wreckage. Several factory buildings appeared severely damaged, with burnt vehicles and debris scattered about.

An investigation was underway, local police official Mohammad Aslam said.

Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her condolences and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

The explosion was initially attributed to a faulty boiler but Mr Anwars office later confirmed it was caused by a gas leak.

There was no boiler at the industrial site, home to four factories in Malikpur, they clarified.

A fire erupted in one of the factories due to gas leakage, and engulfed the other factories as well, the office said in a statement, noting that a rescue operation to retrieve the workers had been completed.

Rescuers pulled 18 bodies from the rubble, increasing the death toll from the initial 10 reported by emergency services.

open image in gallery Rescuers search for survivors after an explosion at a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Pakistan ( AFP via Getty )

More than 20 ambulances and fire tenders took part in the rescue operation, which was supervised by the district emergency officer.

Authorities said they had set up a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the cause of the gas leak and assess responsibility.

Poor safety standards are a frequent cause of industrial accidents and factory fires in Pakistan.

In 2024, nearly a dozen workers were injured in a boiler explosion at a textile mill in Faisalabad. Just last week, a blast at a firecrackers factory in the port city of Karachi killed four people.
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A two-year-old Russian boy has succumbed to his injuries after being stung by a jellyfish at a popular Malaysian tourist destination.

Vladimir Iakubanets died on Wednesday at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, four days after being stung by a box jellyfish at the Cenang Beach in Langkawi last week.

Box jellyfish are known to carry one of the deadliest venoms of any animal.

The incident took place on the second day of the family trip when the toddler was swimming in the shallow waters near the shore with his parents.

His father, Nikita, 32, said the toddler was playing in the water when he suddenly cried out. "My wife took him out of the water and handed him to me before going to get a cloth to clean his leg," the father, who only goes by one name, told New Straits Times.

Nikita said his child stopped breathing within seconds. "I performed CPR as quickly as possible and other tourists helped take us to the beach rescue, he said.

The rescue team washed the boy's wounds with vinegar before taking him to a clinic. He was eventually moved to the hospital where the toddler battled for his life before succumbing to complications on Wednesday.

Nikita described the toddler as "brave", while his mother, Olga, added that the boy was "our hero... our little angel".

"Every day, we tell him we love him and he always says he loves us back," she said.

Nikita thanked the medical team for doing their best to save his son. He hoped the incident would serve as a warning to other visitors about the presence of jellyfish in Langkawis waters.

File. Maha Tower and Kuah town are seen during sunrise on Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi on 1 March 2024 ( AFP via Getty )

The couple reportedly expressed their wish to take the boys ashes back to Russia after cremation.

In the wake of the incident, Langkawi officials said about 102 cases of jellyfish stings were recorded in the waters off Langkawi in the past three years.

District Civil Defence Officer Captain Khairul Afzan Md Yasin said this year marked a decline in jellyfish stings with 23 cases recorded until 15 November, including the incident involving the Russian toddler.

"Following the case, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force Langkawi has increased patrols in coastal areas in addition to placing notices informing visitors regarding the presence of dangerous jellyfish," he said.

He said the weather changes and storms were the reason behind the box jellyfish reaching Langkawi waters.
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In Hat Yai, southern Thailand, Murray Hunter says he lived under the constant gaze of strangers lingering around the house.

Thats intimidating, he says. And so he was compelled to move residence for a while.

The Australian academic-turned-journalist had long suspected someone was keeping tabs on him but, with no one identifying themselves, he could only speculate. But best I dont do that.

Hunters fears came true recently when he was charged under Section 328 of the Thai Criminal Code  defamation by publication  for writing Substack articles between 13 and 29 April 2024 which Malaysian authorities claimed defamed their communications regulator.

Malaysia first filed a civil case, and then asked Thai officials to intervene  an unusual escalation that resulted in the journalists arrest at the Bangkok airport in September.

It was the first known case of Thai criminal defamation law being employed on behalf of a foreign government.

Hunter, 67, is now out on bail without his passport and faces trial on 22 December. He faces up to two years in prison and a steep fine if convicted.

Rights groups call it an unprecedented attempt by Malaysia to use Thailands legal system to silence a critic.

The Australian journalist had been chronicling shifts in Malaysian politics for more than a decade, convinced he could see trends before a lot of other people. But when he began writing about tightening speech restrictions under the new government, particularly the enforcement zeal of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the consequences came from somewhere he had never expected: Thailand.

I noticed theres been a real tightening of freedom of the press and the freedom of speech, he tells The Independent.

When Anwar Ibrahims government took office in late 2022, it essentially prohibited public commentary on the three Rs of race, religion and royalty, Hunter notes. And the MCMC took it upon themselves to become the priming forces of this new code.

Hunter published a handful of Substack articles using public information and accounts from Malaysians who reached out privately.

I feel its a grave public concern and massive change in government policy, he explains.

But the MCMC seems to be very sensitive about this issue and it is known to use civil suits to silence critics.

Hunter was living outside Malaysias jurisdiction, so the MCMC tried a novel approach to go after him. They decided to contact the Thai police to make a complaint under the criminal defamation codes, he says. Which means that it becomes a criminal case.

On 30 September, he and his partner were boarding a flight to Hong Kong when the Thai police stopped him at the gate. It came as a shock, he says.

Officers told him he was being arrested for criminal defamation and mentioned the MCMC by name.

He was escorted to a Bangkok police station, made to spend the night in the lockup, and taken to court for bail the next morning. A date for his indictment was set.

The scariest moment wasnt the arrest itself, he says, but what followed. Shock and anger and then this feeling of being alone and helplessness.

In his cell, Hunter says, he had a realisation. Nobody cares about this, so Im on my own to fight this in a Thai court, which is not an easy thing to navigate, he tells The Independent.

The legal system was unfamiliar and he didnt speak the language.

I cant get on a plane, I cant go to a bank, I cant even go on a train. I cant get a hotel room.

It is, he says, total turmoil.

Even renewing his short-term stay permit sent him into panic mode, he says. Officials told him they could not process his paperwork and he would have to go back 500km to Bangkok to get it done.

I have only got four days left on my stay and then they say they cant process this, the journalist recalls.

I just dont know how long this will last.

Hunter says that people have warned him cases like his can go on for a very long time, leaving him effectively trapped in Thailand.

Phil Robertson of Asia Human Rights & Labor Advocates Consultancy accused Malaysia of carrying out blatant transnational repression and Thai officials of allowing themselves to be played for fools by the MCMC.

Malaysian authorities have reportedly ordered internet providers in the Southeast Asian country to block access to Hunters blog.

Hunter believes the prosecution is being driven not by Malaysias leadership, but by the MCMC acting alone.

They are sort of passively watching, he says of senior Malaysian government officials, but the MCMC seems to be allowed to operate without supervision, without scrutiny, without transparency.

What worries Hunter most is the precedent that his case could set. He describes it as transnational SLAPP  Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation  a politically motivated attempt to silence a critic using another countrys legal system.

You are going to have transnational SLAPP actions to silence critics who dont live in the country they are reporting on, he tells The Independent.

It is also a warning to journalists everywhere, he says. If you write about Country X, and you land here in Thailand, all it takes is one complaint to arrest you, he argues.

You could face the same consequences that I felt, just being pulled off a flight with an arrest warrant. For journalists, its a very dangerous period of time now.

Before turning to journalism full-time, Hunter spent years in academia, publishing on ethics, governance and public policy.

He has lived in Southeast Asia for decades and was formerly an associate professor at University Malaysia Perlis.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights criticised the criminal proceedings against Hunter. His articles document and critique the blocking of websites, the targeting of critics and whistle-blowers, and the use of laws and regulatory powers to silence dissenting voices, the group said in a statement.

By consistently and peacefully engaging in investigative reporting on these issues, and by amplifying the concerns of those affected by state overreach, Mr Hunter acts to promote and protect internationally recognised human rights  particularly the right to freedom of opinion and expression  placing him squarely within the category of a human rights defender as understood in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Despite everything  the lockup, the surveillance, the legal trap  Hunter says he wont apologise for his reporting.

A lot of people tell me that I go to the edge, but I believe I am reporting the facts, he says, adding: I dont regret doing that. You know, I would do it again.

But he acknowledges the danger: The opportunities now to expose the truth through freedom of the press and free speech is actually under attack, and I think its going to get worse.

The threat is no longer theoretical. Whats happened to me could happen many times over again, he says. And thats worrying.

The Independent has contacted the MCMC and the Royal Thai Police for comment.
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At least four Israeli nationals are set to face sanctions by Singapore over charges of egregious acts of extreme violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, officials said on Friday.

Singapores foreign ministry named the four men  Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Elisha Yered, Ben-Zion Gopstein, and Baruch Marzel  and said their actions committed in the occupied West Bank were unlawful.

The four Israelis have been found to have jeopardised the prospects for a two-state solution in Palestine, the ministry said.

As a firm supporter of international law and the two-state solution, Singapore opposes any unilateral attempts to change facts on the ground through acts which are illegal under international law, the ministry said in a statement.

Singapore and Israel share a close diplomatic and military relationship, and the city state has also been a firm supporter of international law and the two-state solution.

Singapore in 2024 voted in the favour of numerous resolutions expressing support for the UN recognition of a Palestinian state.

It has called on the Israeli government to restrain acts of settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The four Israeli nationals have previously been sanctioned by the European Union. Mr Ettinger and Mr Yered have been sanctioned by the UK, Australia and Canada, among others, as well.

Elisha Yered, an Israeli settler and leading figure of the Hilltop Youth, visits with journalists in a makeshift clubhouse near the settlement of Maskiot in the northern West Bank ( AP )

According to the EU, Mr Ettinger and Mr Yered are members of the Hilltop Youth, a radical Israeli youth group. Mr Ettinger is the grandson of Meir Kahane, a US-born Israeli rabbi seen as an extremist figure who called for the mass expulsion of Arabs.

Mr Yered was arrested in September 2023 by Israeli law enforcement for the August 2023 shooting of a 19-year-old Palestinian following a clash with settlers in the West Bank.

Mr Gopstein is the founder and leader of the extremist organisation Lehava and Mr Marzel is a member of the far-right political party Otzma Yehudit. He was formerly leader of the Kahane party that was banned by Israeli authorities in 1994.

The announcement on Friday came after foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced in the parliament that leaders of Israeli settler groups would be sanctioned.

Mr Balakrishnan added that Singapore would recognise a Palestine state under the right conditions.

The minister also called out Israeli politicians who had spoken about annexing parts of the West Bank or Gaza, the two Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, and said that the so-called E1 settlement project would fragment the West Bank.
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At least 43 people died in Vietnam after a barrage of torrential rain caused more flooding and landslides in the central regions of the country.

Rainfall exceeded 1,500mm in several parts of central Vietnam over the past three days. The region is home to a key coffee production belt as well as the country's most popular beaches, but is highly prone to storms and floods.

A suspension bridge on the Da Nhim River in Lam Dong province was swept away on Thursday morning, the VietnamNet newspaper reported. A video clip showed the bridge being swallowed by the river in just a few seconds.

Power outages peaked at over one million customers, but approximately 615,000 households have had their electricity restored since. Traders said the floodwaters were hampering the coffee harvest in the region.

open image in gallery A passenger bus is crushed by a fatal landslide on Khanh Le pass in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Minh Bang/VNExpress via AP) ( AP )

The national weather forecast agency warned of more flooding and landslides to come on Friday, with heavy rain set to continue in the region.

The Department of Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Control on Friday confirmed at least 16 people died in Dak Lak, 14 in Khanh Hoa, five in Gia Lai, four in Lam Dong, and two each in Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang.

Vietnamese authorities estimate the flooding caused preliminary economic damages of up to VND3 trillion (86.93m). The flooding forced the closure of the Tuy Hoa Airport in Phu Yen province for almost 14 hours on Thursday, according to reports.

"Any group out there please help! We've been sitting on the roof since 10 pm last night, including kids and adults," a resident of Khanh Hoa province posted on a local Facebook page. Alongside the post was a photograph of a group of people sitting on the metal roof of a flooded house as the rain lashed down.

open image in gallery People (L) wade through floodwaters near inundated vehicles in Nha Trang, Vietnam's coastal province of Khanh Hoa on November 20, 2025. The death toll from a week of torrential rain that triggered floods and landslides in central Vietnam has risen to 16 while thousands of homes inundated in "historic" floodings, authorities said. (Photo by Duc Thao / AFP) (Photo by DUC THAO/AFP via Getty Images) ( AFP via Getty Images )

Naval forces have been deployed to help stranded citizens in Khanh Hoa, the Vietnam News Agency reported, adding that floodwaters had reached record highs in many areas.

At least nine people were missing, and floods have inundated more than 52,000 houses and over 15,000 hectares of crops, according to a report from the government's disaster management agency, cited by online newspaper VnExpress.

A seven-year-old girl was rescued late on Wednesday in Da Lat after being buried by a landslide, the Nhan Dan newspaper reported.She was pulled out after an hour and a half with a broken leg and rushed to the hospital.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rain, knocked down and buried part of the house where the girl was staying.

open image in gallery Landslides block the road on Khanh Le pass, near the location where a passenger bus was buried by a landslide in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Dang Tuan/VNA via AP) ( AP )

Restaurant owner Bui Quoc Vinh said his shops were submerged by about a metre of water in Nha Trang. "I am worried about our furniture in my restaurants and shops, but of course I cannot do anything now," he told AFP. "I don't think the water is going to recede soon, as the rain has not stopped."

Vietnams defence ministry has deployed 21,300 personnel and 838 vehicles to assist residents and press four military aircraft to carry nine tons of food and essential supplies to isolated regions.

The Southeast Asian country has been battered by extreme weather events in recent months. Vietnam is among the worlds most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas.

Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly destructive and frequent.
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Six in 10 farmers say they consider their farms at financial risk due to supermarket buying behaviour, with the industry branding the current regulatory scheme "unfit for purpose".

A study led by vegetable box company Riverford found 68 per cent of farmers say making a living through farming has "never been harder", while 69 per cent believe the buying relationship between growers and retailers has deteriorated.

Almost every farmer surveyed (99 per cent) reported facing at least one unfair practice.

These include cancelled orders, late payments, and unfavourable, unfair or unprofitable pricing.

Supermarkets rejecting produce over unreasonable demands, such as specific colour, size or shape, leading to waste or a lower price that does not cover costs, were also cited, as was no notice from buyers for changed terms.

Riverford said this was piling pressure on stretched growers, with 82 per cent of respondents saying unfair supermarket practices were contributing to stress and poor mental health among the farming community.

The industry is calling for a single food supply chain regulator to protect growers and ensure fair treatment by supermarkets, and to address the power imbalance between the two.

A survey for the study found 76 per cent of farmers believe the current supply chain regulatory system does not protect farmers from unfair supermarket practices, and is unfit for purpose.

open image in gallery The industry is calling for a single food supply chain regulator to protect growers and ensure fair treatment by supermarkets ( Getty/iStock )

Some 86 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling to merge the existing supply chain watchdogs, currently split across two government departments, into one stronger, more effective body.

More than 3,000 people have also written to their MPs in support of better regulation.

Apple farmer Richard Stogdon, from Sussex, said the relationship between growers and supermarkets had substantively deteriorated, adding: We take enormous risks in growing these crops.

Haydn Evans, a dairy farmer from Carmarthen in Wales, said he successfully pressured his milk buyer to pass on a 1p per litre price rise from supermarkets, only to find out that the buyer was then de-listed just three months later.

He said: Supermarkets know how much theyre taking and how vulnerable farmers are  they exploit the power imbalance.

They know that you are always negotiating with two hands tied behind your back.

Third-generation farmer Jonathan Hoskyns has also stopped supplying supermarkets altogether, saying: I dont miss the stress and I dont miss the worry of not knowing what our fruit is worth until it has all been sold.

Riverfords survey suggests that 65 per cent of farmers believe they have no choice but to accept supermarkets terms for fear of being de-listed, while 76 per cent feel under financial pressure from supermarket buying practices.

Riverford founder Guy Singh Watson said: For three years our #GetFairAboutFarming campaign has been calling for a regulator with real teeth, one that can stand up to supermarkets and help address the huge imbalance of power in our supply chains.

Over 113,000 people have backed that call, and even Parliament has debated it, yet farmers are still being failed by a system thats meant to protect them.

The Groceries Code Adjudicators own research suggests things are improving and that may be the case for the large companies with supermarket contracts, but our findings show the opposite is true for the small and medium-sized family farms that produce most of our food.

The problem is worse than ever, with 69 per cent of farmers saying relations with supermarkets have deteriorated over the last two years.

Farming shouldnt feel like survival. It should be a livelihood to be proud of: producing good food, caring for the land and looking after the people who work it.

How can farmers do the right thing for their soil, their animals and the planet if theyre squeezed for every penny and lack the funds and security to invest in farming well for the long term? And how can shoppers make good choices when theyre being misled by supermarket farmwashing?

Georgina Edwards, sustainable farming campaign officer at the food and farming alliance Sustain, said: The latest research from Riverford clearly shows that farmers continue to be negatively affected by unfair trading practices by supermarkets.

Orders cancelled at short notice and delayed payments are still causing harm to farming businesses and farmers mental health.

It is deeply concerning that three-quarters of farmers say that retailers behaviour is driving farms towards more intensive, environmentally damaging practices.

Without taking more ambitious action to improve supply chain fairness, the Government will fail to address the issue of farm profitability and support farmers in the transition to nature-friendly farming methods.

open image in gallery Almost every farmer surveyed reported facing at least one unfair practice, including cancelled orders, late payments, and unfavourable, unfair or unprofitable pricing ( jat306 - stock.adobe.com )

On Thursday, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds told the CLA Rural Business conference that the Government was supporting the nations farmers to drive growth  with rural Britain contributing 259 billion to the economy and supporting more than half a million businesses.

She said: This Government sees the rural economy as fundamental to our growth mission. When rural Britain succeeds, the whole country succeeds.

From food production to protecting nature, we are acting on our ambitions for a countryside where businesses flourish, good jobs are created, and our communities are strengthened.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: We support stronger regulation across the supply chain, which is why we backed the agricultural adjudicator in supporting pig and poultry farmers.

However, the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) was set up for a specific purpose, to regulate supply chain relations between supermarkets and their direct suppliers, following an extensive investigation by the Governments competition regulator.

Many farmers do not supply products that enter retail supply chains. Instead, they supply for hospitality, large food manufacturers or Government food procurement.

Extending the GCAs remit to cover these sectors would not be fair, it would go beyond the regulators original recommendations and place unnecessary costs onto supermarket supply chains.

Censuswide surveyed 200 horticulture farmers who currently have direct contracts with supermarkets or who have traded with supermarkets in the last five years, between October 2-10.
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The number of infants hospitalized with botulism has climbed to 31 as the nationwide outbreak linked to recalled baby formula continues.

Earlier this month, organic infant formula maker ByHeart recalled its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in all sizes of cans and single-serve packets amid an ongoing investigation into the infant botulism outbreak, which began in August.

Clostridium botulinum has been found by ByHeart in some samples of its formula. Botulism in babies occurs when they swallow Clostridium botulinum spores that grow in the gut and make toxin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

There have been eight new cases of infant botulism, bringing the total to 31. The outbreak has affected 15 states in total, including two new states that have reported cases. No deaths linked to the outbreak have been reported.

open image in gallery The number of infants hospitalized with botulism has climbed to 31 as the nationwide outbreak linked to recalled baby formula continues ( Getty Images/iStock )

According to a CDC map, Texas has had the most cases, between five and six. California, Arizona and Oregon have each reported three to four cases. There are also states in the Midwest and Northeast where cases have popped up.

Families of two four-month-olds who got sick in the outbreak are suing the makers of the ByHeart formula, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuits claim the company was negligent in selling it and are seeking compensation for medical bills and emotional distress.

I wouldnt guess that a product designed for a helpless, developing human in the United States could cause something this severe, Stephen Dexter of Arizona, whose daughter Rose spent weeks in the hospital with botulism, told the AP.

Hanna Everett of Kentucky, whose daughter Piper was also hospitalized after experiencing symptoms of the rare disease, told the AP: Shes so little and youre just helplessly watching this.

open image in gallery According to a CDC map, Texas has had the most cases, between five and six ( CDC )

The Independent has reached out to ByHeart for comment.

Parents and caregivers are warned not to use ByHearts formula and to wash items and surfaces that may have touched the product. If their baby was fed the formula and experiences symptoms of botulism, they are advised to seek medical attention immediately.

Symptoms of infant botulism include poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing and decreased facial expression, according to the CDC. Symptoms can take up to several weeks to develop.

open image in gallery Earlier this month, ByHeart recalled its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in all sizes of cans and single-serve packets amid an ongoing investigation into the infant botulism outbreak ( FDA )

The Food and Drug Administration warns that botulism can be fatal. If untreated, babies can experience a progressive, flaccid paralysis that can lead to breathing difficulties and require weeks of hospitalization, the CDC said.

The FDA said it has received reports that the formula is still being found in stores in several states, and that it is working to get the recalled product off the shelves.

The CDC asks parents and caregivers who have leftover ByHeart formula in their homes to label it DO NOT USE and keep it in a safe place for at least a month. The agency explains that if their baby develops botulism symptoms, their state health department may want to test it.
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The NHS could be left with "huge holes" in its medical workforce, a medical regulator has warned, as foreign doctors increasingly leave the health service.

A new General Medical Council (GMC) report reveals 4,880 doctors trained abroad left the UK workforce in 2024.

This represents a 26 per cent increase on the 3,869 departures recorded in 2023.

Doctors who qualified outside the UK currently comprise around 42 per cent of the total workforce.

GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said: Doctors represent a mobile workforce, whose skills are in high demand around the world.

Internationally qualified doctors who have historically chosen to work in the UK could quite conceivably choose to leave if they feel they have no future job progression here, or if the country feels less welcoming.

Any hardening of rhetoric and falling away of support could undermine the UKs image as somewhere the brightest and the best from all over the world want to work.

It is vital that workforce policies do not inadvertently demoralise or drive out the talent on which our health services depend.

Doctors who qualified outside of the UK make up 42 per cent of those working in the UK.

If we see even a small percentage increase in them leaving, our health services will end up with huge holes that theyll struggle to fill.

open image in gallery An NHS Providers poll of senior managers found 45 per cent were extremely concerned about discrimination towards NHS staff from patients and the public, while a further 33 per cent were moderately concerned ( PA Archive )

It comes after health leaders warned that St Georges flags are creating no-go zones for NHS staff, with some facing frequent abuse.

Workers feel intimidated by the presence of the flags across the country, including when they are visiting people in their own homes to give them treatment, according to several NHS trust chief executives and leaders.

An NHS Providers poll of senior managers found 45 per cent were extremely concerned about discrimination towards NHS staff from patients and the public, while a further 33 per cent were moderately concerned.

Mr Massey added: Whatever the future makeup of the workforce, we all  from employers to regulators, policymakers to the profession itself  have a duty to recognise the essential contribution all doctors make, irrespective of background, and to ensure that each one is supported and valued accordingly.

Speaking last week about resident doctors going on strike, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was proposing changes to improve doctors lives, including more training places and changes to international recruitment.

open image in gallery A new General Medical Council (GMC) report reveals 4,880 doctors trained abroad left the UK workforce in 2024 ( PA )

He acknowledged that two-thirds of the 30,000 doctors applying for 10,000 training places are international medical graduates.

Mr Streeting said: One of the things that Im doing is putting an end to the absurdity where homegrown talent are having to compete for the same training places on equal terms against people whove trained overseas.

I think its crackers. I think its unfair to our own doctors. I also think it doesnt help this country with unmanageable levels of net migration.

So, Im working as fast as I can and hopefully that will be by 2027, but Im actually looking at whether I can do something much more urgently.

The challenge is a legal one. Im looking at whether there are things I can do more quickly.
Ukraine currently not exporting electricity after significant damage to thermal, hydropower plants

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/minenergoUkraine

All electricity generated by Ukraine's nuclear, hydro, thermal, and combined heat and power plants is currently being used exclusively to meet domestic consumption needs, and Ukraine is not exporting electricity to neighboring European countries, the Ministry of Energy reported Friday.

"As a result of massive missile and drone attacks by the enemy, all major thermal and hydropower plants in Ukraine have sustained damage. Their ability to generate electricity has significantly decreased," the ministry noted.

Due to this, all available capacity at domestic power plants is now being used solely to meet internal demand, meaning no electricity is being exported from Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukraine's power system is part of the European energy network, and when power systems are interconnected, as are the Ukrainian, Moldovan, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, and Polish systems, technical flows occur between them.

"Some people mistakenly or deliberately confuse these technical flows with commercial exports, not understanding how the integrated power system works," the ministry stated.

Technical flows, the ministry explained, are a natural phenomenon dictated by physical laws, and these flows are typically minor. The hourly balance is always close to zero: whatever flows out of the country flows back into Ukraine.

The ministry emphasized that data confirming the absence of Ukrainian electricity exports can be viewed for each of the neighboring countries.

Additionally, the Ukrenergo website shows that Ukraine is not currently exporting electricity commercially to its neighbors.

As reported earlier, based on results for the first 10 months of 2025, Ukraine is a net importer of electricity, with a negative balance of -168.7 thousand MWh for the period.
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A judge set bail Friday for an Indiana man accused of killing a house cleaner who showed up at his home by mistake at $25,000 and ordered him to surrender his passport.

Prosecutors charged Curt Andersen of Whitestown, on Monday, with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 5 death of 32-year-old Guatemalan immigrant Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez.

Andersen, 62, made his initial appearance in Boone County Superior Court on Friday morning dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit and a bulletproof vest. In addition to setting bail, Judge Matthew Kincaid ordered Andersen to surrender his passport and scheduled a jury trial to begin March 30, according to online court records.

Voicemail and email messages were left Friday for Andersen's attorney, gun rights advocate Guy Relford. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Edwards declined to comment on the case.

According to court documents, Rios and her husband were part of a house cleaning crew and went to Andersen's house by mistake. As they tried to unlock Andersen's door with a key their company had given them, Andersen fired a shot through the door without warning. The bullet hit Rios in the head. Her husband was not hurt.

Andersen told investigators he heard someone trying to unlock his front door and thought someone was trying to break into his home. The case promises to test the limits of Indiana's stand-your-ground law, which allows homeowners to use deadly force to stop someone they reasonably believe is entering their dwelling unlawfully.

Police have said there's no evidence Rios entered the home before she was shot. Relford, the defense attorney, has maintained that Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were justified under the law but has not elaborated publicly.

Rios' family planned to return her body to Guatemala on Saturday. A funeral has been set for Sunday in Cabrican, a town in the southwestern region of the country.
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The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been jailed for 10 and a half years after taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements while a member of the European parliament.

Nathan Gill, 52, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery on dates between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb handed him the sentence as she said that the harm he had caused was profound and that he had fundamentally compromised the integrity of a legislative body for substantial financial gain.

Gills activities included making pro-Russia statements about events in Ukraine in the European parliament and in opinion pieces for news outlets, for which he was paid 40,000.

Gill was first elected a member of the European parliament in 2014, representing Ukip, and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020  at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit Party.

He led Reform UKs 2021 Welsh parliament election campaign, but left the party that year.

Opening the facts of the case at the Old Bailey on Friday, prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said Gills crimes were exposed after he was stopped at Manchester airport on 13 September 2021 and his phone was seized.

He said that he was travelling to Russia by invitation to attend a scientific conference in Moscow, and that he had been invited to act as an observer in the Russian state Duma elections in the middle of that month.

He also said that he had performed the same role on two previous occasions, the prosecutor said.

Gills mobile phone was examined and messages were found between him and Oleg Voloshyn, now 44, who served as a pro-Russia Ukrainian government official until 2014.

Mr Heywood said: The communications between the two men showed that an established relationship existed between them.

WhatsApp messages between the pair included references to promised x-mas gifts, postcards, and 5K, which was a reference to payments, he said.

After Gill spoke from a script at one debate, Mr Voloshyn told him: Impressive... You are the perfect orator, the court was told.

open image in gallery Nathan Gill arrives at court on Friday morning ( PA )

Further exchanges between the pair related to Gill being paid 5,000 for speaking with the Ukrainian news channel 112 Ukraine about the case of Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukraine national and ally of Vladimir Putin, who was being prosecuted for treason.

In other messages, Gill was invited to encourage others to adopt the same approach and repeat the same line that he had used, the court was told.

There were references to other members of the European parliament, including British representatives and politicians from the Netherlands.

Mr Voloshyn reported that if Gill could get three, then they would be extremely grateful and that his fee would be 5K.

The Old Bailey also heard that, following the 2019 European elections, Mr Voloshyn asked Gill to arrange for colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend a presentation by Medvedchuk on the conflict in the Donbas region.

He asked that Mr Gill book a room, he asked that he invite colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend, Mr Heywood said, adding: Mr Gill said that he would see about his new colleagues, but it will take time to build a relationship with them, as they are all new to politics.

He later expressed certainty that he could Drag a few in to attend.

Mr Voloshyns response to that was that he would definitely be fairly rewarded, and then these words: I already have a small sack of paper gifts for you.

Mr Heywood said Gill had voluntarily attended a police station interview and answered No comment to all questions. The prosecutor told the court that Gills offending fell into the highest category of culpability.

He said: The indictment offending spanned a series of months, and arguably came to an end at a time when it was obvious that his involvement, his role as a member of the European parliament, was either at, or soon to be at, an end.

It appears from the material that Mr Gill was expecting to receive the order of several thousand, perhaps 5,000 or euros, in respect of each offence. He was to do so in cash, but he was to do so clandestinely.

Peter Wright KC, defending Gill, said that his client was of hitherto good character and was facing prison for the first time.

[He has] a lifelong history of commendable service to others, as reflected in the testimonials and his political career, culminating in his elections to both the European parliament as an MEP, and to the Welsh Assembly, he said.

All now utterly dashed by his conduct, as reflected in the counts in this indictment, which in the context of his life, with all its laudable and noble features, is utterly unfathomable.

Mr Wright said Gills Eurosceptic views had gained greater prominence because of the wider political climate at the time, but that he had also had a genuine concern for the tensions in eastern Ukraine between pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian factions.

He travelled and met a number of opposition Ukrainian MPs, who highlighted to him the plight of the Russian-speaking sections of the population, he said.

It was a version of events, and a prism through which to view the tensions, that struck a chord as to the myopic way in which these tensions were being portrayed on the geopolitical stage.

The defendant had not deliberately set out to monetise his availability. But its clear [that] payments were offered. They were not refused, and to his abiding shame, once made, [they were] kept and not declared.

He can offer no excuse for that utterly venal compromise of his hitherto highly held principles. There is, on his behalf, no attempt to deflect or dissemble.

Sentencing Gill, Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb said the harm he had inflicted was indeed profound.

You abused a position of significant authority and trust, with your crimes spanning eight months, motivated by financial and political gain, she said.

The offending was sophisticated. You accepted payments from foreign nationals, made statements on important international matters at their behest, utilised scripted material presented as your own, and orchestrated the involvement of other MEPs.

open image in gallery Gill was jailed at the Old Bailey on Friday for 10 and a half years ( Metropolitan Police )

Your conduct fundamentally compromised the integrity of a supranational legislative body, particularly in its dealings with Russia  a persistent hostile state during a period of an association agreement between the EU and Ukraine reached in 2017.

The revelation of your actions has a broad and deleterious effect on public confidence and trust in democratic institutions of importance to many dozens of millions of people.

The aggregate financial gain, although difficult to quantify precisely due to the piecemeal cash nature of the payments, is substantial.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb told Gill that there is scant personal mitigation before she jailed him. She said his offending was persistent, rather than an isolated lapse of judgement.

The judge said his actions had eroded public confidence in democracy.

Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond [your] personal honour, which is now irretrievably damaged. It erodes public confidence in democracy, she said.

When politicians succumb to financial inducement, the public can no longer rely on the veracity of political debate, which may be tainted by disinformation.

After the sentence was passed, the security minister Dan Jarvis said: Nathan Gill used his privileged position in public office to advance the malign interests of Russia over those of the UK in exchange for money  that is a betrayal of our country, our people, and our national security.

He will now face the consequences of his actions. This week, I announced comprehensive action to disrupt and deter interference from foreign states. Russias hostility and attempts to weaken our democracy will continue to be met by the full force of the law.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: Mr Gills actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: A traitor was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting a foreign adversary. Nigel Farage and his party are a danger to national security.

Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putins TV channel, Russia Today, and said [Putin] was the world leader he admires the most. We must all ask  where do his loyalties really lie?

We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics.
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A billion-dollar money laundering network active in the UK bought a bank to facilitate payments supporting Russian military efforts, the National Crime Agency has revealed.

The NCA said the enterprise benefited criminals globally, from Russian-speaking hackers with millions in cryptocurrency to British street gangs laundering physical cash.

Launderers for the group operate in at least 28 UK cities and towns, with couriers collecting cash for crypto conversion.

A company linked to one of the networks bosses purchased the bank now facilitating payments supporting the Russian military.

The NCA is leading an investigation  called Operation Destabilise  into Russian money-laundering networks supporting serious and organised crime around the world.

Since the launch of Operation Destabilise, 128 arrests have been made with over 25 million seized in cash and cryptocurrency in the UK alone.

open image in gallery A company linked to one of the networks bosses purchased the bank now facilitating payments supporting the Russian military ( NCA/PA Wire )

A spokesperson for the NCA said a thread can be drawn between a person in the UK buying some cocaine on a Friday night to geopolitical events that are causing suffering across the world.

Sal Melki, deputy director for economic crime at the NCA, added: Today we can reveal the sheer scale at which these networks operate and draw a line between crimes in our communities, sophisticated organised criminals and state-sponsored activity.

The networks disrupted through Destabilise operate at all levels of international money laundering, from collecting the street cash from drug deals, through to purchasing banks and enabling global sanctions breaches.

In December last year, the agency exposed two networks, TGR and Smart, which were working together to launder money for transnational crime groups involved in cyber crime, drugs and firearms smuggling.

The networks were known to help their Russian clients illegally bypass financial restrictions to invest money in the UK, according to the NCA.

Smart is headed by 39-year-old Ekaterina Zhdanova, a Russian national said to have been born in Siberia before making it in the financial industry and building up connections in Moscow.

Georgy Rossi was the boss of TGR.

It is understood that TGR and Smart laundered for Irish cartel the Kinahans, and for state-controlled TV network Russia Today.

Senior members of the networks were sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in December and Zhdanova is being held in pre-trial detention in France.

In August, the UK government sanctioned a company called Altair Holding SA, which is linked to Rossi, as part of a wider crackdown on Russias attempts to exploit Kyrgyz financial systems and crypto networks.

open image in gallery The NCA is leading an investigation  called Operation Destabilise  into Russian money-laundering networks supporting serious and organised crime around the world ( NCA/PA Wire )

The NCA said that, on Christmas Day 2024, Altair purchased a 75 per cent stake of Keremet bank, which was subsequently sanctioned by the UK and US.

Keremet was identified as facilitating cross-border payments on behalf of Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank, which supported companies involved in the Russian military industry.

Mr Melki told a media briefing: The people that have been responsible for purchasing that bank, and facilitating those payments that are supporting the Russian industrial military base, are operating in at least 28 cities and towns in the UK.

Mr Melki said the UK-based launderers connected to the same network are not just couriers but are instead individuals who are sustaining an entire architecture that allows crime to pay in our country.

He added: For the first time, we are tying drugs trades in our community all the way through to the highest levels of organised crime, geopolitics, sanctions evasion, the Russian industrial military complex, and state-linked activity.

We could draw a really clear thread between somebody buying some cocaine on a Friday night, all the way through to geopolitical events that are causing suffering across the world.

Mr Melki said the threat of these networks is significant and the NCA and its partners will not stop.

He added: With over 120 arrests, we are making a difference and have significantly restricted these networks ability to operate in the UK.

But there are other networks like them and it is imperative we continue to arrest, prosecute, seize and sanction, and deny these criminals access to the financial services they exploit.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: This complex operation has exposed the corrupt tactics Russia used to avoid sanctions and fund its illegal war in Ukraine.

We are working tirelessly to detect, disrupt and prosecute anyone engaging in activity for a hostile foreign state. It will never be tolerated on our streets.
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An AI-generated Christmas mural, blasted as a Lovecraftian horror, has been removed after public backlash.

From afar, the wall art in Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames, depicted what looked like Pilgrims gathering to ice skate and set fires.

But on closer inspection, the faces, animals and snowmen featured appeared to be deformed, with the faces of people skating twisted, while dogs in the landscape looked more like chickens.

The giant mural not only caused a stir among locals, but also went viral on social media, prompting the landowners of the commercial area where it was situated to pull it down.

open image in gallery The landowner has removed the AI generated installation ( AFP/Getty )

One person on Reddit described the artwork as containing scenes of Lovecraftian horror. Another on Facebook said they were left speechless by the mural, which they said appeared to show a Nativity scene with Pilgrims gathering to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

A spokesperson from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames told The Independent: Kingston Council has had no involvement in the planning or funding of the display. The landowner has now confirmed that they have removed the installation.

A manager from the restaurant Cote Brasserie, on the Riverside Walk path, told Metro there were a number of complaints and the mural became a big talking point.

open image in gallery Locals said the mural was riddled with inconsistencies ( AFP/Getty )

It was the landlord of the building who put it up, nothing to do with the restaurant, they said. They put an AI-generated mural up in the summer as well, with distorted seafood, which also was controversial. Everyone has their own ideas, I guess. There have been lots of shoppers stopping to see it but there has been a lot of complaints.

Kelly Sherlock told Metro: It was an eyesore  it was bonkers really. Everyone was going down to have a look so it was eye-catching, but in the wrong way.

The developments owners have reportedly insisted that the mural was a Christmas scene inspired by the sixteenth-century Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder, according to the London Centric. Bruegel was known for his genre paintings, populated by peasants. Some of his paintings are titled Massacre of the Innocents, relating to the Biblical story, and The Hunters in the Snow.

The Independent has contacted the investment firm behind Riverside Walk for comment.
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In the latest news to rock the BBC, board member Shumeet Banerji announced on Friday that he would be resigning from his post.

Banerji cited governance issues, as a reason for his departure, saying in a letter that he was "not consulted" about the events leading up to the resignations of the director general, Tim Davie, and BBC News chief executive, Deborah Turness.

He had held the position since 2022.

Davies departure on earlier this month stemmed from a scandal concerning the editing of a speech by US President Donald Trump prior to the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

open image in gallery BBC chair Samir Shah ( Danny Lawson/PA )

The BBC board, which is led by non-executive chair Samir Shah, now comprises nine members, with the director-general also serving on the board and chairing the executive committee.

Some roles and responsibilities differ, but non-executive directors on the BBC board are mainly responsible for upholding and protecting the independence of the BBC by acting in the public interest and exercising independent judgment.

Non-executive directors receive a base fee of 33,000 per annum.

Who is Shumeet Banerji?

open image in gallery Mr Banerji's term on the Board as a non-executive director was due to end at the end of December ( BBC )

Banerji was a non-executive director at the corporation.

He is the founder of Condorcet, an advisory and investment firm focused on early and development stage technology companies.

In 2012 he stepped down as chief executive of consulting firm Booz And Company.

Banerji has also served on the board of directors of Hewlett Packard Company since 2011, is an independent director of Indian technology company Jio Platforms Limited, and is a member of the board of directors of Felix Pharmaceuticals, as well as the panel of senior advisers of Chatham House.

Here are the nine remaining members who make up the BBC board:

Sir Damon Buffini  Deputy chairman and chairman of the BBC commercial board

open image in gallery Sir Damon Buffini, left, is the boards deputy chairman ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

Sir Damon Buffini is the boards deputy chairman and is also the chairman of the BBC commercial board, leading the delivery of the corporations commercial ambitions.

He was a founding partner of alternative asset manager Permira, where he was chairman and managing partner from 1997 to 2010, and remained a partner at the company until the end of 2015, completing a 27-year career with the firm.

In 2020, Sir Damon was appointed as chairman of the 2 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which was granted and invested to ensure the survival and sustainability of the UKs culturally significant organisations.

The board member is also currently chairman of the Royal National Theatre, and has served on many other boards, including Hugo Boss AG, Wellcome Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Schroders PLC.

Sir Robbie Gibb  Member for England

Sir Robbie Gibb worked as a broadcast journalist at BBC News, as head of BBC Westminster and editor of Live Political Programmes, as well as deputy editor of BBC Twos Newsnight.

He left the BBC in 2017 to become director Of communications at Number 10 Downing Street, stepping down in 2019.

Sir Robbie, who is the Westminster chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Club, also previously worked as an editorial advisor to GB News until October 2020.

open image in gallery Sir Robbie Gibb previously worked as an editorial advisor to GB News until October 2020 ( Leon Neal/Getty Images )

Muriel Grey  Member for Scotland

Muriel Gray was appointed as chairwoman of the board of governors of Glasgow School of Art in 2013, the first woman to be appointed as chairperson.

She stepped down from the role in 2021. During her tenure two major fires significantly damaged the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Mackintosh Building.

Gray started her career as a broadcaster, and first came to public attention as one of the hosts of Channel 4s popular music programme The Tube, and also appeared on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4 in the 80s.

She was the first female rector of the University of Edinburgh and has published a series of horror novels, including The Trickster and Furnace.

Chris Jones  Non-executive director

Chris Jones is a chartered accountant who was a senior audit partner at PwC specialising in the audit of banks and other financial services companies.

Since May 2020, Jones has been an independent non-executive director, audit committee chairman and a member of the risk committee of Legal And General Investment Management, and is also a non-executive director of Legal And General Assurance Limited.

He has been a member of the audit and risk committee of The Wellcome Trust since September 2016, and a board member of the Audit Committee Chairs Independent Forum since January 2019.

Jones is a past president of the Association Of Corporate Treasurers and chaired their advisory board from 2010 to 2018, and from March 2015 to September 2023.

He was also an independent non-executive director, audit committee chair and a member of the risk committee of Santander UK.

Michael Plaut  Member for Wales

Michael Plaut is a Welsh business leader who has advised governments in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay on the Welsh economy and Welsh business.

Plaut has appeared regularly in the media commenting on business and economic issues pertaining to Wales, he is a former chairman of CBI Wales, current chairman of the Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, and a governor of the University Of South Wales.

He started his career as an investment banker in London before returning to Wales, and has an OBE for services to business and entrepreneurship.

Michael Smyth  Member for Northern Ireland

Michael Smyth was a partner at international law firm Clifford Chance and head of the firms government and public policy practice for 20 years.

His textbook on Business and the Human Rights Act was one of the first of its kind and he is joint author of works on political donations and sanctions law.

Smyth has also been senior independent director at the Legal Services board, the oversight regulator for the legal profession, and a member of the Press Complaints Commission.

He is also non-executive chairman of Glastry Advisory Partners, a music management company.

Marinella Soldi  Non-executive director

Marinella Soldi is a non-executive director at digital payments company, Nexim, thermal solutions company, Ariston, and a delegate member of mutual insurance company, Reale Mutua.

Until August 2024, Soldi was non-executive chairwoman of the board of directors at Italian public broadcaster Rai, appointed in July 2021 by the Draghi government, and was also a member of the board of directors of European Broadcasting Union until the end of her term at Rai.

She was born in Italy and grew up in London, and spent five years in senior roles at MTV Networks Europe in London and Milan.

Leigh Tavaziva  Chief operating officer

open image in gallery Leigh Tavaziva, chief operating officer at the BBC ( House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire )

Leigh Tavaziva sits on both the BBC board and executive committee, as well as the commercial board, and has responsibility at board level for key functions such as finance, operations and commercial.

Her previous roles have included managing director of customer operations at British Gas and group director of strategy and transformation at Centrica.

Earlier in her career, Tavaziva worked in the theatre as a classical ballerina and then contemporary dance artist, working in the USA, Europe and Africa.

She was paid between 465,000 and 469,999 as of July 2025.

Caroline Thomson  Senior independent director

open image in gallery Caroline Thomson had served as the BBCs chief operating officer ( BBC )

As senior independent director, Caroline Thomson meets regularly with the chief executive and chair of the BBC to offer thoughts and advice on reputational, editorial and policy matters, she also acts as the independent point of contact for any board-led investigations put in place.

Thomson has had a long career in the media, arts and public service in the UK, serving as a member of the BBCs Executive Committee, ending as chief operating officer when she stepped down in 2012.

For 10 years she chaired Digital UK, now Everyone TV, the body responsible for digital terrestrial television, and was a director of the media group, Cumberland News.

In the arts world, she has been chief executive, a trustee and now deputy chairwoman of the English National Ballet, a trustee of the National Gallery Trust and, until 2016, was deputy chairwoman of the National Gallery.

She lives with her husband, Lord Liddle of Carlisle, in north-west Cumbria.
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The BBC should clearly set out how it plans to attract younger viewers as it faces intense competition for attention from other media providers, a parliamentary report has warned.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the BBCs mission to serve all audiences is at risk as younger age groups view content elsewhere.

It added that the corporations digital first strategy could risk older or less digitally connected audiences being left behind.

The publishing of the report comes after a number of scandals at the BBC in recent months, leading up to the resignation of director-general Sir Tim Davie, who gave evidence to the PAC for the report.

PAC chair Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown described the BBC as an organisation under severe pressure.

Among several findings, the report said the BBC is not doing enough to enforce collection of the licence fee, which it described as unfair to the vast majority of households that do pay for a licence.

open image in gallery Tim Davie resigned as BBC director-general earlier this month ( Lucy North/PA )

It said licence fee evasion and households not purchasing a licence together represented more than 1.1 billion in potential lost income in 2024/25.

It also said the BBC had missed opportunities to save money and improve customer engagement by not digitising the licence fee, and recommended it now do so.

The PAC also highlighted how the BBC does not provide clear information about its commercial investments, targets and actual returns from its commercial activities, and said it should begin to provide annual reports on this.

Issues with regional services were also cause for concern and it said the BBC should clearly communicate how it will ensure better representation of local communities to sustain trust and relevance in the future.

It said PAC members were concerned that decisions labelled as local, such as moving operations to Manchester or Birmingham, risk overlooking the identity and needs of smaller communities.

Reforms such as the restructuring of regional news hubs and changes to the local democracy reporting service may have unintentionally diluted the BBCs connection with the communities it aims to serve, it added.

It also highlighted how the BBC is behind target in developing new intellectual property (IP), which in turn will limit sustainable long-term revenue streams.

Naming childrens TV series Bluey as an example of the commercial value this can bring, it said the BBC should set out how it will prioritise generating new IP.

The report said the BBCs mission to serve all audiences is at risk, with just 51% of younger people feeling the BBC reflects them, while their overall use of BBC services  including TV, radio or online  is significantly lower than other age groups.

open image in gallery PAC chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said the BBC is under severe pressure ( UK Parliament )

With audiences now able to access an unprecedented range of content from a variety of providers, the BBC faces intense competition for attention, the report said.

Its digital-first strategy is an important response and there are promising signs of innovation, such as using platforms like TikTok to share news content with new demographics.

However, this shift also carries a risk: those without reliable digital access could find themselves excluded from core BBC services.

The report said the BBC should now set out how it will ensure access and engagement with all audiences, including innovation in digital access.

Sir Geoffrey said: The BBC is an organisation under severe pressure.

Its own founding aspiration to be a truly universal broadcaster reflecting all its viewers means that this pressure, from both within and without, is inherent in its mission.

Our report offers a snapshot of the BBCs efforts to deliver value for money as it seeks to thrive in an increasingly fragmented media landscape and illustrates the tensions it must navigate in multiple areas of its business  in efficiently collecting the licence fee; in providing that universal service; in staying relevant to its audiences.

On the licence fee, our report makes clear that the ground is shifting beneath the BBCs feet  the traditional enforcement method of household visits is seeing fewer and fewer returns at a time of heightened competition for almost every aspect of the BBCs activities.

Our report shows that without a modernised approach focused more on online viewing, the broadcaster will see faith in the licence fee system ebb away.

Similarly, while efforts to distribute itself more equitably across the nation are welcome in principle, the BBC must ensure that greater distribution does not equal greater dilution of the authentic local quality of its coverage.
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Sir Keir Starmer is expected to formally approve a new 20,000 square metre Chinese embassy in central London despite espionage concerns, reports say.

The prime minister has reportedly been given the green light by MI5 and MI6, with The Times informed by sources that the Home Office and the Foreign Office will not raise any formal objections to the plan.

The deadline for the decision has been extended to 10 December, with both departments, which represent the security services, set to submit their responses to the government over the coming days.

Sir Keir is planning to travel to China for his first bilateral visit in January or February next year, as the UK seeks to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations with Beijing. However, sources have told The Guardian that this visit is contingent on the embassys planning proposals being greenlit next month.

A Whitehall source said the embassys approval was likely to be a formality.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping in November 2024. The prime minister is planning to travel to China for his first bilateral visit in January or February next year ( AFP/Getty )

The row over the embassy comes amid ongoing disquiet following the collapse of a Chinese spying case and warnings by MI5 of the threat posed by the communist state to UK national security, fuelling the governments difficulties as it seeks to ease tensions with Beijing.

But tech secretary Liz Kendall insisted the prime minister takes all of those issues extremely seriously.

We will do everything possible to keep this country safe and we are very clear eyed about China's role there, she told Sky News on Friday morning.

Asked about reports the government will approve plans for the embassy, she said: "I cant comment on that news story today. Any decisions will be taken through the proper process but I would say that we are clear eyed about our relationship with China and national security will always come first.

That is absolutely non-negotiable. But where we can safely work with China - whether thats on the economy or areas like research - thats what we'll do because we want to get the best outcome for the British public."

Proposals for the embassy were rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022, with the Chinese opting not to appeal.

But Beijing resubmitted the application a fortnight after Labours election victory last year, and the plans were then called in so ministers would make the final decision.

On Tuesday, security minister Dan Jarvis said the government will not tolerate covert and calculated attempts by China to interfere with the UKs sovereign affairs following an MI5 warning over spying threats.

MPs, peers and parliamentary staff were warned by the security service over suspected Chinese espionage via recruitment headhunters on Tuesday.

Mr Jarvis told the House of Commons that MI5 has said China is attempting to recruit and cultivate individuals with access to sensitive information, often masked through cover companies and headhunters.

The minister announced a package of measures to disrupt the threats, and that the government is launching an espionage action plan.

China has denied the allegations and lodged stern representations with Downing Street over the warning, an embassy spokesperson said.

open image in gallery Police officers hold back protesters outside the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy in Royal Mint Court, central London, in February ( Jordan Pettitt/PA )

The spokesperson described the warnings as pure fabrication and malicious slander, adding: We urge the UK side to immediately stop this self-staged charade of false accusations and self-aggrandisement and stop going further down the wrong path of undermining China-UK relations.

As part of measures to tackle the risk, the government said 170m will be used to renew encrypted technology used by civil servants to safeguard sensitive work.

A further 130m will be invested to help counterterror police enforce the National Security Act and fund work to help businesses protect their intellectual property.

Ministers are also launching a series of protective security campaigns, coordinated by the Defending Democracy Taskforce, Mr Jarvis said, to help those involved in politics recognise, resist and report suspicious state threat activity.

This will include tailored security briefings for devolved governments and political parties by the end of the year, and new security guidance in January for all candidates for the upcoming May elections.

The decision to allow the embassy will likely provoke a political backlash. In recent months, the Tories have pressed Labour to place China in the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs).

open image in gallery Security minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons on Tuesday that China is attempting to recruit and cultivate individuals with access to sensitive information ( House of Commons )

Earlier this week, shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns said: Instead of the communications plan and private closed-door meetings announced today, we urge the government to put China in the enhanced tier of the Firs scheme.

She also pressed the government to reject the proposed embassy in London or require the Chinese government to pay for sensitive underground cables to be rerouted away from it.

Mr Jarvis said No 10 is looking closely at whether it is necessary to make further additions to the enhanced tier.

He added that a decision on the Chinese embassy will be made by housing secretary Steve Reed in a quasi-judicial capacity.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart said the plan is not sufficient by itself and also called for the proposed embassy near Tower Bridge to be rejected.
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Boris Johnson was branded a coward as it emerged he could face legal action over the failures during the pandemic that led to 23,000 excess deaths  as families who lost loved ones to Covid call for him to be barred from public life.

After the Covid inquiry found that thousands of lives could have been spared if the country had locked down a week earlier and that the culture at the heart of No 10 contributed to the governments pandemic failings, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group said the former prime minister must be held accountable.

Meanwhile, senior Tories have refused to acknowledge some of the reports findings, with Michael Gove  who was a cabinet minister throughout the pandemic  warning against oversimplifying the conclusions while former health minister Nadine Dorries described it as sensationalist.

Mr Johnson, his former health secretary Matt Hancock and ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak have so far refused to comment on the report since it was published on Thursday, despite strong criticism of his leadership during the pandemic.

open image in gallery Some families who lost loved ones to Covid call for Boris Johnson to be barred from public life ( Pool via AP )

Layla Moran, the Lib Dem chair of the Commons health select committee, told The Independent: Theyre clearly cowards. They should hang their heads in shame given how damning the report was of the quality of their decision making, they should also publicly apologise to the families of those whose lives were needlessly lost.

Bereaved families described the former prime ministers silence as deafening, adding: We are not asking for an apology; we are asking for consequences. Boris Johnson should have no role in public life and no further entitlement to public funds.

His actions during the pandemic amount to one of the gravest betrayals of the British public in modern history.

"We will therefore now be pursuing all legal options to hold Boris Johnson personally responsible for his actions during the pandemic. Justice for those we lost means real consequences for those who failed them, and we will not stop until that justice is delivered."

The Independent understands that the campaign group is considering its options with regard to legal action, including potentially bringing a private prosecution.

While Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has also refused to apologise for the governments handling of the pandemic, Lord Gove apologised for mistakes made by the government, but also defended the toxic culture in Mr Johnsons No 10.

open image in gallery Protesters outside the Covid inquiry when Johnson gave evidence in December 2023 ( AP )

Ms Dorries, who was a close ally of the former PM and has since defected to Reform UK, told Times Radio: I just dont recognise the picture she paints as to the political management of Covid at the time. I was a health minister in health throughout the Covid pandemic. And what I saw were people working very hard and doing their very best to ensure that we approach the pandemic in the right way and saved as many lives as possible.

So I just dont recognise that finding. And I find it quite sensationalist. And I find it also doesnt take into account how we suddenly found ourselves in that position very rapidly, and how hard people worked to put both measures in place and a process of how we responded towards the elderly, the vulnerable, care homes, schools, children, and all the different groups which needed to be accounted for during that process. that no account seems to have been taken for that.

Meanwhile, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the public accounts committee, hit out at the reports author, Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge, accusing her of trying to rewrite history.

He said: I think its frightfully easy to come up with an inquiry after the event, looking back with hindsight. After all, we MPs were given a briefing a week before the lockdown, and at that point people were confidently predicting that over 2 million people were going to be hospitalised, of which 450,000 were going to die. So you know, people really didnt know what was going to happen.

open image in gallery Heather Hallett was very critical of the culture in No 10 during the pandemic ( UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry )

I think its just rewriting history, and its with hindsight, and Im not sure the evidence is there to back up some of those claims that 23,000 people died because of that weeks delay. I think that just sounds to me not right.

The inquiry found that a total lockdown could have been avoided in 2020 if restrictions had been introduced sooner and painted a picture of chaotic decision making at the heart of government.

Asked whether he accepts that a toxic culture in Downing Street led to deaths, Lord Gove told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: No, I dont accept that either.

I do certainly think that there were moments when voices were raised, words were used, attitudes were struck that were far from ideal, but the business of government during a crisis cant be carried on in the manner of a Jane Austen novel.

It is the case that we were dealing with, as everyone across the world was, an unprecedented crisis with a novel virus that most intelligence agencies now believe was a lab leak rather than a naturally occurring virus, and of course under pressure with imperfect information, mistakes are made, voices are raised.

open image in gallery Dorries defended Johnson, and said some of the reports findings were senationalist ( Peston/ITV )

Former cabinet minister Rory Stewart said: "Congratulations to the COVID committee. The UK government was criminally slow and indecisive. The [sic] should have acted 3 weeks earlier. Even 1 week earlier would have saved 23,000 lives. And the lessons have not been properly absorbed."

While, Kemi Badenoch also remained silent, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called on her to make a full apology on behalf of her party.

He told BBC Breakfast: "I hope that Kemi Badenoch on behalf of the Conservative Party will now issue a full apology."
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has failed to respond to an official summons to testify before the United States government regarding his friendship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The former prince has been accused of hiding from US officials on the House oversight committee  one of the most powerful committees in the US Congress  which is responsible for investigations, monitoring and ensuring accountability across the federal government.

On 6 November, the committee requested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sit for a transcribed interview about his connections with Epstein, giving him a deadline of Thursday 20 November to respond.

However, according to reports, he has not replied.

Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat who sits on the committee, said this week that the former Duke of York has been hiding from us, and I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter. He added: It seems like every time we find more evidence, Prince Andrew seems to be in the documents.

open image in gallery Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now has the status of a commoner ( PA Wire )

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has faced mounting pressure from US lawmakers to answer questions about his well-documented friendship with Epstein. Some Democrats have previously suggested he could speak over video link with a lawyer present.

Though the committee is powerful, it does not have the authority to force testimony from individuals who are not US citizens and reside abroad, nor can it issue subpoenas compelling foreign nationals outside of US jurisdiction. As a result, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is under no legal requirement to cooperate.

It is unclear what US lawmakers may choose to do next now that the former prince has failed to respond to their request. However, Mr Subramanyam suggested that, just because the disgraced royal has failed to respond, it doesnt mean that the issue will be dropped.

If he is hoping that the story will just go away by ignoring us and being silent, he will be sorely disappointed, as we continue to pursue this over the next year and beyond, he warned.

In 2022, the former prince made an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre  an Epstein survivor who had accused him of sexual assault and rape  without admitting any wrongdoing. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always maintained that the allegations are false, and has also previously resisted attempts by US prosecutors and lawyers working for Epsteins victims to persuade him to cooperate.

However, damaging recent newspaper allegations also included a claim that he had tried to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against Giuffre.

open image in gallery The then Duke of York pictured with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell ( PA Media )

The force previously said it was looking into the reports after The Mail on Sunday claimed that the then Prince Andrew had passed Giuffres date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.

According to The Telegraph, sources close to him have suggested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is being singled out in a bid to take the heat off other high-profile figures whose names are said to appear in the soon-to-be-released Epstein files.

Following US president Donald Trumps signing of a bill earlier this week to release the Epstein files, the entire cache of evidence accumulated during two investigations into Epstein is now legally required to be made public by the US government within 30 days.

While some of the evidence will be redacted, due to factors that include protecting victims identities and potentially compromising active criminal investigations, the bill also stipulates that no record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted based on embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.

The Independent has contacted Mr Mountbatten-Windsors representatives for comment.
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A British dance teacher has won her fight for a payout after having a breakdown on a yoga course in India.

Melissa Revell said that self-exploration exercises on the 2,250 course, which she attended in Goa in 2019, triggered a meltdown which has left her unable to work.

The 35-year-old said she was retraumatised when memories relating to being adopted were triggered by unadvertised psychological exercises.

She was in good health both physically and mentally before the course, but now cannot look after herself or exercise and has gone from a size six to a size 16, she said.

Ms Revell sued the company behind the course, TYP International Ltd, for more than 200,000.

The company is run by British yoga guru Jamie Clarke, 59, and Mexican instructor Dulce Aguilar, 43.

Now, Ms Revell is in line for a payout after Mr Clarke told the London High Court that the company has dropped its defence over liability for what happened to her.

open image in gallery Ms Revell now lives an extremely reclusive life ( Supplied by Champion News )

Ms Revell, from Richmond, London, says she has gone from fit, active and working to being not able to care for herself and leading an extremely reclusive, impoverished and dysfunctional life with acute anxiety whenever she leaves the flat.

Lawyers for the yoga company in a defence lodged with the court had previously insisted Mr Clarke, Ms Aguilar and its other staff did nothing wrong.

They denied there was any psychological element to the training or that the emotional collapse Ms Revell says she suffered was a foreseeable risk of a yoga course.

But Mr Clarke has now confirmed to the court that the company would no longer be disputing the issue of liability, having run out of funds and parted company with its lawyers and lost a key pre-trial skirmish meaning they were unable to adduce their own expert medical evidence.

The company is no longer trading as of July 2022, he told judge, Master John Dagnall.

We are now unable because of funds to defend the claim. We feel it is not probable that the claimant would win on liability, but we are in the catch 22 situation where there is not money to pay for our defence.

With [the company's former solicitors] Kennedy's no longer acting, we find ourselves no longer with representation or funds to defend the claim.

open image in gallery Ms Revell used to be fit and active ( Supplied by Champion News )

In documents lodged at London's High Court, Marcus Grant, for Ms Revell, said that she paid 2,250 for a 200-hour training course in Goa in September and October 2019, with the aim of becoming a qualified teacher of Ashtanga yoga.

But she ended up leaving India early and flying home after having a meltdown triggered by an exercise in exploring childhood memories, he says.

Describing the exercise, he said: On 24 September 2019, Ms Aguilar instructed the claimant and the other students on the course to participate in a somatic touch session led by her.

Ms Aguilar explained that the purpose of the exercise was for the students to explore their childhood memories and their relationship with their parents so that they could forgive them for things they had done, heal and move forward.

As part of the exercise, the students were instructed to pair up and sit in a circle with one person sitting in front of the other. They were told to take turns in their pairs to hold the other person.

Whilst holding the other person, they were instructed to imagine that the other person was their parent and massage their shoulders, hold their hands and stroke their hair. Ms Aguilar said words such as 'I love you, you are my teacher, my carer, my nurturer and I forgive you'.

The barrister says that following the session the claimant started shaking and feeling ill and was gripped with overwhelming anxiety.

open image in gallery Previously suppressed memories were triggered by the exercise, Ms Revell said ( Supplied by Champion News )

Over the following days, she spoke to Mr Clarke and told him how she was feeling and that it was bringing up previously suppressed memories relating to her childhood, he said.

Mr Clarke responded that he could not spend all his time with one student, but offered one to one therapy sessions back in the he UK, he added.

The barrister says that this dismissive response and being left with no resolution or support along with coercive pressure to participate in further psychology focused exercises caused Ms Revell to become very ill and fly home.

She was subsequently diagnosed with significant and severe complex PTSD and comorbid depersonalisation/derealisation disorder and functional neurological disorder.

She remains significantly incapacitated by her injuries, he says. Her long-term relationship with her partner...failed as a result of her psychological illness.

Now she lives alone and leads an extremely reclusive, impoverished and dysfunctional life.

She does not go out much. She is not able to care for herself. She cannot cook or clean or do grocery shopping. Her home is untidy and dirty as a result. She struggles with self-care.

She can go for days without changing her clothes or washing her hair. She doesn't eat properly. As she is unable to exercise, she has gained weight; she used to be a UK size 6-8 and now is a size 14-16.

open image in gallery Ms Revell had a history of mental health problems ( Supplied by Champion News )

Although she had a history of mental health problems going back to her adolescence, she had been in good mental and physical health since 2013-14 and until the yoga course, he continues.

Nowhere in the brochure was she put on notice that the course would entail any psychology/psychotherapy aspect, he says.

At no point was any warning given as to the risk of possible retraumatisation as a result of engaging on any of the exercises on the yoga course.

Participation in all the sessions on the course was mandatory in order to obtain their yoga teacher accreditation.

Had she been informed about the requirement to engage in psychology and or psychotherapy based on potentially traumatic or distressing childhood memories and parental interactions she would never have signed up for the course.

In the company's defence, its lawyers had previously denied any fault and said there was no psychological nor psychotherapy element to the course.

It was however a yoga course and there was therefore an inevitable focus on physical, mental and spiritual practices, they sid.

There are discussions about feelings as part of yoga.

There was no requirement to engage in psychology/psychotherapy and the claimant knew that yoga involved spiritual healing.

The claimant completed the exercise without complaint or distress and at the end of the session approached Ms Aguilar and said that she had loved the exercise and was moved by it. She gave Ms Aguilar a hug.

It is denied that the claimant was obliged to engage in any exercise.

It is denied that she was required to access her childhood memories and parental interactions.

The claimant was told what the purpose and goal of the...exercise was before it commenced, along with how it would be conducted. She could have refused to participate if she so wished.

It is denied that the purpose of the exercise was to elicit potentially traumatic or distressing childhood memories. The purpose of the exercise was purely to feel love and develop forgiveness for anyone who had wronged you. This included parents and parking attendants.

It is admitted that no warning was given as to possible re-traumatisation as a result of engaging in any of the exercises on the course. Re-traumatisation was not foreseeable as a consequence of the exercise carried out by the claimant.

It is denied that the defendant was obliged to carry out any sort of prospective assessment of the claimants psychological state. It was sufficient for the defendant to enquire whether the claimant had any physical or mental conditions.

The claimant ...confirmed, when signing the waiver, that she had no existing mental and physical conditions and no pre-existing conditions, both physical and mental, which may affect her performance.

After a short hearing conducted via videolink, Master Dagnall told Mr Clarke: If you are not going to turn up to defend the claim, your chances of success would seem to be remote.

The judge went on to make a so-called unless order directing that the company's defence on liability be struck out unless Mr Clarke confirmed by the end of Monday 17 November that he intended to personally turn up and fight his company's case in court in the absence of lawyers.

Lawyers for Ms Revell later said outside court that Mr Clarke, on behalf of the company, had confirmed it would not be attending trial, meaning judgment will be entered for the claimant on liability, with damages to be assessed.

The value of her claim will now be assessed during the next stage of the case.
After the meeting of the Servant of the People faction with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, no special changes are expected, Oleksandr Merezhko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, has said.

"The meeting was calm. I understood that no special changes are expected. Everyone is staying in their places for now," Merezhko told Interfax-Ukraine.

Non-factional MP Mariana Bezuhla commented on the meeting on X.

"I was at the meeting with the president, because although I am not in the faction, I vote 100% as a faction, so they invite me. And I did not keep quiet, I told Zelenskyy how it is: about Yermak, the front, the parliament," Bezuhla wrote.

According to her, the fact that Zelenskyy does not want to dismiss the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak "does not mean that he will not dismiss him."
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A second MP has quit Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultanas party to return to serving as an independent MP, in yet another blow to the chaotic alliance.

Iqbal Mohamed said he was resigning from Your Party because of false allegations and smears against me. He had recently clashed with Ms Sultana over his gender-critical beliefs.

His departure comes just one week after Adnan Hussain said he was withdrawing from the steering process for the new party, citing concerns about factionalism and veiled prejudice against Muslims.

Your Party has been riven by infighting and rifts almost since it was announced earlier this year.

But the loss of another MP, leaving just four, also comes just a week before the partys first annual conference is due to get underway.

open image in gallery Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have had a rocky start in setting up the new party ( PA Wire )

At the event, in Liverpool, members are expected to decide whether to adopt co-leaders, a proposal backed by Ms Sultana, whose relationship with some elements within the party has been fraught for months.

Earlier this week she rebuked Mr Mohamed over a series of gender-critical social media posts.

In them, he said: White or brown men shouldnt be telling or forcing biological women to give up their rights and private spaces to other biological men, black, white, brown or trans. What about the biological womens rights? They have rights which I will always fight to protect. I also believe in the human rights of all trans and LGBTQ+ people but not by taking away the hard-won rights of women.

In response, a spokesperson for Ms Sultana told The Telegraph: Zarah will always stand with the trans community. She believes an ironclad commitment to trans rights is non-negotiable for a socialist party.

In a statement announcing his departure, Mr Mohamed said: After careful consideration, I have decided to leave Your Party and continue serving as I was elected as an independent member of parliament for Dewsbury & Batley.

The many false allegations and smears made against me and others, and reported as fact without evidence, have been surprising and disappointing. However, I am confident that my colleagues and I have acted professionally, patiently, and in good faith throughout.

open image in gallery Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed has quit Your Party ( PA )

Blackburn MP Mr Hussain said he had initially agreed to support the foundation of Your Party because he believed in building a political home with mass appeal and a force capable of challenging the rise of far-right rhetoric.

But in a statement published on X (formerly Twitter), he said he had been disillusioned by persistent infighting, factional competition, and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good.

In September, insiders told The Independent that diplomatic efforts were underway within the new left-wing group to try to heal divisions between Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana.

It came after she complained she had been subjected to ... a sexist boys club amid a dispute over a new membership system.

Mr Mohameds departure is the latest blow for a party that has nonetheless built momentum, with more than 750,000 supporters reportedly signed up at one point.

Pollsters have also warned Labour that the new group poses a threat and could take a significant number of votes.

A Find Out Now poll suggested that Your Party would be equal third to Labour in support, on 15 per cent each, with Reform on 34 per cent and the Tories on 17 per cent.

Luke Tryl, from the organisation More in Common, told The Independent in August that the prospect of a new Corbyn-led party polled very well and took 10 per cent of the vote, taking votes from Labour and the Greens.

Leading pollster Professor Sir John Curtice also said Labour was vulnerable to the left, adding that the Greens were taking votes off them in that direction at the last election.

But at the same time, he added a note of caution, saying: At the moment, Im waiting to see whether Corbyn manages to get his act together and manages to create a political party that has some thoughts and organisation behind it.
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Sir Keir Starmer has found himself in a heated row with Nigel Farage, after branding the Reform leader spineless and calling on him to explain himself over claims of racist behaviour during his days at a top public school.

The prime minister said Mr Farage did not have a good track record because he failed to take action against Reform MP Sarah Pochins racist remarks about the number of ethnic minorities appearing in television adverts.

Hitting back at Sir Keir, the Reform leader  who denies the claims about his behaviour while at Dulwich College as a teenager  said it is utterly ludicrous for the weakest prime minister in living memory to call me spineless.

The prime ministers comments came as he was asked about a Guardian report based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61, who recounted incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years.

The Labour leader told reporters travelling with him to the G20 summit in South Africa: He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible.

He hasnt got a good track record in relation to this because Sarah Pochin, his MP, made some clearly racist comments and Nigel Farage has done absolutely nothing about it.

Starmer says of Farage He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible ( PA )

The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, Id have dealt with it straight away. He needs to explain the latest allegations, and whilst hes at it, he needs to explain why hes too spineless to take action in relation to what is obvious racism in the comments of his fellow MP.

So far hes said absolutely nothing about it. Hes got plenty to say about plenty of things, apart from showing some leadership when it comes to racism.

Mr Farage, who has threatened legal action over the claims, responded: For the weakest prime minister in living memory to call me spineless is utterly ludicrous.

The voters will have their say on both of us at the ballot box next May.

A Reform source said Sir Keir was desperate, sinking in the polls and lashing out.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the party also said the allegations reported in The Guardian are entirely without foundation and said the newspaper has produced no contemporaneous record or corroborating evidence to support these disputed recollections from nearly 50 years ago.

Sir Keirs comments about Ms Pochin came after the Reform MP last month said she was driven mad by seeing adverts full of black and Asian people, comments that sparked widespread criticism.

She later said her remarks were phrased poorly and apologised for any offence caused. She said she was trying to say many adverts were unrepresentative of British society.

Mr Farage resisted calls to suspend her from the party, saying he did not believe the intention behind her comments was racist and suggested they should be read in the context of DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] madness.

But writing in The Independent, deputy prime minister David Lammy said the comments normalised and marked a return to flagrant racism.

He said many people were disgusted by the remarks, criticising those who would have us believe that we are more divided than we really are.

Among those making allegations in The Guardian was the Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, who claimed to have been verbally abused by Mr Farage repeatedly as a 13 and 14-year-old.

He would sidle up to me and growl Hitler was right or Gas them, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers, Mr Ettedgui claimed of his experience of being in a class with Mr Farage.
Planning permission is to be granted finally for Chinas new super embassy in Londons former Royal Mint building, according to reports. It has been a protracted saga, spiced up with superpower rivalries and claims of spying. The long-running controversy is only one example of Britains ambiguous relationship with the resurgent Middle Kingdom.

Whats the problem?

Maybe a certain amount of pride, seeing such a symbol of historic British financial power slipping away into foreign hands, especially one that many regard as hostile and malign.

Most specifically, given its proximity to the financial districts, law courts and parliament, there have been concerns that the bowels of the building could be used for intercepting communications cables. Heritage and security concerns have thus held it up for some years.

The proposed site is some 20,000 square metres and set the Peoples Republic back 255m on acquisition in 2018. It will be the largest embassy of any kind in Europe.

Must Britain accept these plans?

Given that the Chinese are similarly threatening to block the refurbishment of the British embassy in Beijing, a quid pro quo feels inevitable.

Will it be a base for espionage?

Yes, but thats to be expected. MI5 is said to be very relaxed about the danger to communications and has ordered unspecified mitigations to reduce any danger. The truth is that the embassy is, in the modern age, quite open to surveillance by the British, and the Chinese can gather intelligence via a range of means. Only this week, two bogus Chinese headhunters were identified on LinkedIn; the recent aborted prosecution of two men accused of helping China gather intelligence, and concerns raised by the speaker of the Commons, highlight how blatant Chinese activities can be.

Is China a threat?

Yes, but nobody in authority is willing to declare this to be the case. This definitional conundrum caused the recent spying case to collapse, and the issue remains vexed.

Officially, China is an epoch-defining and systemic challenge rather than a threat, which you may think amounts to the same thing. Britain needs to trade with China and attract investment, especially post-Brexit, but concerns have grown about national security implications  resulting in the vetting of Huaweis role in 5G upgrades and Chinese involvement in civil nuclear programmes.

Not long ago, Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, said Beijing could bring Britain to a standstill by bringing vital national infrastructure such as hospitals, energy grids, and transport networks under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Britain, like the United States, would also prefer it if Xi Jinping werent quite so supportive of Vladimir Putin.

Whats the beef?

It is a long list of grievances, albeit mostly on the British side (the Chinese are a bit too big to fret about these former imperialists on the other side of the world). Concerns include: human rights, especially in Hong Kong and for Uighur Muslims; territorial expansion in east Asia, including aggression towards the likes of Vietnam and the Philippines; financial and military support for Russia in the Ukraine war; unfair trading practices; cyber attacks; weak net zero commitments; the sanctioning of British parliamentarians; and incessant spying on politicians and businesses, especially in the defence sector.

The UK market for goods such as smartphones and electric vehicles has become relatively more important since Donald Trump launched his trade war with China.

Whats next?

Keir Starmer is leading a mission to Beijing in the new year to improve relations, following a similar exercise by Rachel Reeves as part of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. Science minister, Liz Kendall, says: National security will always come first. That is absolutely non-negotiable. But where we can safely work with China, whether thats on the economy or areas like research, thats what well do.

Mooncakeism, you might call that.
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Schoolchildren and staff have been abducted from a Catholic boarding school by armed men in the latest in a spate of abductions in Nigeria.

The attack and abductions took place at St. Marys School, a Catholic institution in Agwara local governments Papiri community on Friday, said Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger state government.

He did not disclose the number of students and staff abducted, nor who might be responsible for the attack.

Local media broadcaster Arise TV stated that 52 schoolchildren were abducted.

The Niger State Police Command said the abductions took place in the early hours of Friday and that military and security forces have since been deployed to the community.

It described St. Marys as a secondary school, which serves children between the ages of in 12 and 17.

The statement by the secretary to the Niger state government said the incident occurred despite prior intelligence warning of heightened threats.

Regrettably, St. Marys School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk, it read.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora said in a statement that a security staffer was badly shot during the attack.

open image in gallery The latest abduction comes days after school children were kidnapped by gunmen in Kebbi, Nigeria on 17 November ( Asscociated Press /Deeni Jibo )

The abductions took place days after gunmen on Monday attacked a high school and abducted 25 schoolgirls in the neighbouring Kebbi state, in Maga, around 170 km (105 miles) from Papiri. One of the girls later escaped and is safe, the schools principal said.

In a separate attack on Monday in Kwara state, which borders Niger state, armed men attacked a church, killing 2 people. During the attack, 38 worshippers were also abducted, Femi Agbabiaka, secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Nigerias President Bola Tinubu postponed his trip to this weekends Group of 20 summit in light of the schoolgirls abductions and attack on the church.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Niger and Kebbi state, but analysts and locals say gangs often target schools, travelers and remote villagers in kidnappings for ransom. Authorities say the gunmen are mostly former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over strained resources.

Abductions have come to define the insecurity prevailing in Africas most populous nation and the painful consequences.

At least 1,500 students have been abducted in the region since Boko Haram jihadi extremists seized 276 Chibok schoolgirls more than a decade ago. But bandits are also active in the region, and analysts say gangs often target schools to gain attention.

open image in gallery Nigeria School Abduction ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Nigeria was recently thrust into the spotlight after US President Donald Trump singled the country out, stating that Christians are being persecuted  an allegation that the government rejected.

Analysts and residents blame the insecurity on a failure to prosecute known attackers, and the rampant corruption that limits weapons supplies to security forces while ensuring a steady supply to the gangs.

A satellite view shows the school compound, rectangular in shape, surrounded by a wall and attached to an adjoining primary school, with over 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It is located near the main Yelwa-Mokwa road.

Umar Yunus, a Papiri resident, said there were only local security arrangements and no official police or government forces securing the school at the time of the attack on Friday.
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A woman had been sentenced to 20 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to robbery with violence in the case of the 2024 killings of an American and two Australian surfers, authorities said Thursday.

The Baja California State Prosecutors Office said in a statement that a judge sentenced Ary Gisell Silva Raya on Wednesday in relation to the case of Australian brothers Callum Ryan Robinson and Jake Martin Robinson and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, whose bodies were found in a sparsely populated area about 80km south of Ensenada, Mexico.

The bodies of Australian brothers Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, from San Diego, California, were dumped down a well in a remote area around four miles from where they were shot in the head.

( AP )

The three men were on a camping and surfing trip along a stretch of coast, south of the city of Ensenada. They had been posting idyllic photos on social media of waves and isolated beaches before they went missing on 27 April last year.

The prosecutors office said that Silva Raya made contact with the three foreigners in the coastal area of Punta San Jose and instigated her companions to rob them of their belongings.

She was the romantic partner of one of the men charged in the killings of the American and Australians who had traveled from California to surf in the area.

The surfers were robbed and shot, and their bodies were then dumped in a remote well where investigators eventually found them.

The three men arrested on charges of the killings remain in custody awaiting trial.
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If youre dining at a restaurant in Aurora, Colorado, and notice you havent been given a glass of water, it may not be poor service. Instead, the eatery youre visiting may be complying with a city-backed water-conservation initiative.

An uncharacteristically dry November has left the citys water supply at roughly 65 percent of its total storage capacity  which can reach up to 156,000 acre-feet across its reservoirs. And, with Decembers forecast not looking any better, the city council has approved a resolution encouraging local restaurants to conserve water by serving it only when customers request it, rather than bringing it automatically.

One of the reasons for the small change, which for now is voluntary, is due to the amount of water restaurants usually waste, according to Shonnie Cline, deputy director of internal and external affairs with Aurora Water

"We completely understand that this is not, in and of itself, going to save a dramatic amount of water, but...it's just a small step in a larger education program," Cline told 9 News

"This deficit that we've got up in the mountains is pretty significant. Last time I looked, I think it's about 30% less than what we would like to see this time of year, she added.

The Aurora, Colorado, City Council approved a resolution this week, encouraging restaurants to serve water only upon customer request instead of automatically ( Getty Images )

Cline said that Auroras rules for serving water in restaurants become mandatory only when the city enters one of its three official drought stages, triggered when water storage drops below 100,000 acre-feet.

Despite the guidance, Scott Burnham, a restaurant owner and chef in the city, said he would leave the decision to customers unless the rule becomes mandatory.

I obviously try to sell sparkling water or still water by the bottle, but I think in the end, a lot of people just want some tap water, he told 9 News.

Unless somebody comes and knocks on my door and tells me I cant do it, Im going to serve water to my customers, he added.

Aurora most recently implemented drought restrictions in 2023, though officials say they are closely monitoring conditions.

The region only recently came out of a super-drought that lasted from 2020 to 2022. Super droughts in the region were historically expected to be a one-in-1,000 year event, but could happen as often as one in every six years due to human-made climate change, according to Science Advances.

Aurora is not alone in promoting water conservation at restaurants.

A decade ago, then-California Governor Jerry Brown urged eateries to serve water only on request as part of a statewide effort to reduce water use by 25 percent. Hawaiis island of Oahu has prohibited automatic water service in restaurants since 1992.

In Colorado, Steamboat Springs implemented a similar measure during the severe 2002 drought, and the Town of Frisco enacted the practice this past August when North Ten Mile Creeks flow dropped sharply, lifting the requirement last month as water levels improved.

Some restaurants in Denver and other cities have voluntarily adopted the by-request approach.
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A group of Buddhist monks, currently midway through a 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometre) peace walk across the United States, are preparing to resume their journey. This follows a crash near Houston that left two of their members injured, a spokesperson for the group confirmed on Thursday.

The 'Walk for Peace' group, consisting of about two dozen monks, began their 26 October journey from Fort Worth, Texas. Their mission is to 'raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world', with plans to traverse 10 states en route to Washington, D.C.

Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the group, confirmed the monks have so far visited various Texan cities, including Austin and Houston. They typically walk along roads and highways, often escorted by law enforcement or a trailing vehicle. Their journey is also shared with their dog, Aloka.

At around 6:13 p.m. Wednesday, the monks were walking along the side of U.S. Highway 90 near Dayton, Texas, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Houston, when their escort vehicle, which had its hazard lights on, was hit by a truck, said Dayton Interim Police Chief Shane Burleigh.

open image in gallery People watch as the Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, who are undertaking a 2,300 mile pilgrimage of "Walk for Peace," arrive for a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong City Mall in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP) ( Houston Chronicle )

The truck didnt notice how slow the vehicle was going, tried to make an evasive maneuver to drive around the vehicle, and didnt do it in time, Burleigh said. It struck the escort vehicle in the rear left, pushed the escort into two of the monks.

One of the monks has substantial leg injuries and was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Houston, Burleigh said. The other monk with less serious injuries was taken by ambulance to another hospital in suburban Houston.

In a video posted on Walk for Peaces Facebook page, an unidentified spokeswoman for the group said the most seriously injured monk was expected to have a series of surgeries to heal a broken bone, but his prognosis for recovery was good. The group said the monks surgery on Thursday went well.

Hes in good spirits. Hes giving us thumbs-up, the spokeswoman said. The condition of the other monk was not immediately known.

open image in gallery Buddhist monk Panna Kara pets Aloka as he and other monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, who are undertaking a 2,300 mile pilgrimage of "Walk for Peace," attend a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong City Mall in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP) ( Houston Chronicle )

The monks, who camped overnight near Dayton, planned to resume their walk with steadfast determination, Walk for Peace said.

We kindly ask everyone to continue keeping the monks in your thoughts and prayers as healing begins and the journey toward peace continues, the group said in a post on Facebook.

open image in gallery The Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, who are undertaking a 2,300 mile pilgrimage of "Walk for Peace," arrive for a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong City Mall in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP) ( Houston Chronicle )

After the accident, the monks do not plan to change how they conduct their walk, which takes place along highways but also through open fields, Dong said. Walk for Peace plans to continue working with local law enforcement in the areas they travel through to ensure the safety of the monks, he said.

Right now, everything is still as planned, Dong said.

The driver of the truck that hit the monks escort vehicle is cooperating with the investigation, which is still ongoing, Burleigh said.

Right now, were looking at this as driver inattention, said Burleigh, who added that police will determine at the end of the investigation if any charges will be filed.
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A Black disabled veteran says a late-night outing with his wife to a Buffalo Wild Wings in the Washington, D.C. suburbs left him indelibly scarred after discovering a brazen racist epithet printed on his receipt and to-go bag.

Instead of seeing their name on the order, the couple claim it was labeled n*gs, an abbreviated form of the N-word, according to a $5 million-plus civil rights lawsuit obtained by The Independent.

The bigoted term was especially painful for 37-year-old Marc Loman, who has been subjected to racial animus and harassment in the past, Lomans complaint states. To that end, the experience served to reopen deep emotional wounds, according to the complaint, which describes it as reminiscent of the pervasive, brutalizing, and degrading racism that traumatized Mr. Loman while growing up in the Deep South.

The employee who entered n*gs into the restaurants computerized point-of-sale system knew, or should have known, that referring to the Lomans by a shortened version of a well-known racial slur was likely to result in emotional distress, the complaint argues.

It says Loman missed work and sought counseling in the aftermath of what he endured at the restaurant.

open image in gallery A highly disturbing incident allegedly played out at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Northern Virginia, according to a disabled vet and his wife, who are both Black. ( Getty Images )

Wife Natasha Loman, 48, is a co-plaintiff in the suit. The pair are accusing the chain of, among other things, intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In an email, one of the attorneys representing the Lomans said they didnt have anything to add to the complaint as filed, which contains the relevant information for our case.

A Buffalo Wild Wings spokesperson did not respond on Friday to a request for comment.

The chain, known to some as BDubs, was founded in 1982 and now has more than 1,300 locations across the United States and numerous countries abroad, including India, Panama and Saudi Arabia. The sports-themed casual dining brand promises a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere, along with 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings.

On November 2, 2024, the Lomans went out for a late-night bite at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Woodbridge, Virginia, according to their complaint. Initially filed last month in Prince William County Circuit Court and removed to federal court Thursday. It says they placed an order with the manager on duty, ate their food, and had the leftovers wrapped up to take home. (They were potato wedges, according to Natasha.)

It wasnt until later that the pair noticed the word n*gs was printed on both the bag and receipt from their order, the complaint states.

open image in gallery Marc and Natasha Loman went out for a late-night bite at Buffalo Wild Wings store no. 280 in Woodbridge, Virginia, seen here, where they say they discovered a shocking racial epithet printed on their receipt. ( Google Maps )

Natasha immediately left a one-star Yelp review, writing, It's 2024 and a manager at Buffalo Wild Wings store #280 Woodbridge VA did not ask for a name for take out order but has the audacity [to] put @n*gs for our names.

She also posted a video on TikTok describing the experience, remarking that the BWW manager had apparently lost her mind. The footage shows the receipt and bag, with n*gs unambiguously printed out on both.

Both Marc and Natasha reported the clear racial slur and hate speech to BWW corporate, as well, according to their complaint.

The following day, a Buffalo Wild Wings VP called the Lomans, and told them that an unnamed kitchen manager at the Woodbridge location had intentionally placed the racial slur on their order, the complaint goes on.

It says the employee had been fired as a result of the incident, according to the VP.

open image in gallery Buffalo Wild Wings, which has locations across the globe, is being sued over a alleged racist incident which a Black disabled veteran says caused him extreme emotional distress. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Inspire Brands, under whose corporate umbrella Buffalo Wild Wings operates, says it believes in diversity. Under the heading Stronger Together, the Inspire Brands website tells visitors, Only by providing an inclusive work environment that elevates team members of all backgrounds can we ensure that we have the best people to deliver exceptional service to our guests, a positive working environment for our team members, and excellent results for our stakeholders.

Still, allegations of discrimination at Buffalo Wild Wings locations have emerged previously. In 2019, two BWW employees in Illinois were fired after they asked a group of customers to move tables at the request of a white customer who didnt want Black people sitting near him.

The year prior, the company offered free wings for a year to an unhoused man in Louisiana who found For Homeless F***! scrawled across the top of his receipt. BWW employees have also been subjected to ugly episodes by customers.

Earlier this year, a guest at a restaurant in Naperville, Illinois, reportedly wrote Nope on his credit card receipt instead of leaving a tip, and that the server should go back to Africa.

The Lomans are now seeking a $5 million judgment and $350,000 in punitive damages from Buffalo Wild Wings and parent entity, Blazin Wings, Inc., plus pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs, and attorneys fees.
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Torrential downpours have deluged swathes of Southern California, prompting fresh flash flood warnings across parts of Los Angeles County on Friday.

Residents were warned of flash flooding in streets, creeks, and streams, and the potential for mudslides across several Los Angeles districts.

The National Weather Service's latest warning covered areas including downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Studio City.

Some vehicles were reported stuck in floodwaters near Culver City before dawn on Friday.

This latest flooding is attributed to a powerful atmospheric river, the same weather phenomenon blamed for at least half a dozen fatalities earlier this month as it swept across much of California.

open image in gallery Walking with an umbrella through the California rainstorm ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In flooding last week, a 71-year-old man died in Sutter County north of Sacramento, after his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge, according to the California Highway Patrol.

More than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell over coastal Santa Barbara County as the storm approached Los Angeles last week. Parts of the Sierra Nevada received more than a foot of snow.

The intense rainfall also heightens the danger of mudslides in regions recently devastated by wildfires. Atmospheric rivers are long, relatively narrow bands of water vapour forming over oceans, transporting significant moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes.

Los Angeles County experienced two devastating wildfires at the start of this year, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.

The fire in the Pacific Palisades area destroyed over 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7. It was not fully contained until January 31.

open image in gallery Devastation after the Palisades Fire ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

A 29-year-old suspect was arrested and accused of maliciously starting the deadly Palisades Fire.

The Eaton Fire broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people.

Both fires burned for days, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash and ultimately spread across more than 40,000 acres  larger than the land area of Washington D.C.  with the flames having been fanned by a fierce windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds.
The United States is ready to impose new economic sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to ignore calls to end the war in Ukraine, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz said during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

"We may impose additional economic sanctions. If Russia continues to ignore calls for a ceasefire, we will continue to make weapons available for self-defense," he said.

The US representative stressed that hostilities have continued for the fourth winter in a row, causing new civilian casualties and violations of third-party airspace, which could widen the conflict.

Walz stressed that diplomacy is the only path to a lasting and credible peace, and the US is working on this at the highest level.

"The US president is personally working to end this war. We are offering generous conditions for Russia, including easing sanctions. We call on Russia to stop these strikes and to negotiate directly with Ukraine for a peaceful settlement," he said.
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A massive sperm whale  weighing as much as a fully loaded tractor-trailer  washed ashore on Nantucket this week, the islands first stranding of the species in more than two decades.

The 50-feet-long whale, who appeared Sunday, is far too big, awkward and heavy to remove from the beach, the Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket wrote in a news release. The whales cause of death is not clear.

No amount of equipment could pull it off, the group added.

The whale is estimated to weigh 52 tons, significantly more than the roughly 45-ton animal that came ashore in 2002, according to The Nantucket Current, which first reported the discovery.

open image in gallery The whale, weighing as much as a fully loaded tractor-trailer, is the islands first stranding of the species in more than two decades ( Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket )

That whale was towed for hours to a shipyard, placed on a flatbed truck, and brought to a landfill for a necropsy. Its skeleton now hangs in a New Bedford whaling museum. But scientists say repeating that process is impossible with this far larger animal.

Nantucket town manager Libby Gibson told The Inquirer and Mirror the current plan is to tow the whale far enough offshore, ideally before Thanksgiving, to keep it from drifting back.

The Marine Mammal Alliance said they are coordinating with Nantucket officials and NOAA on next steps.

Although sperm whale populations have rebounded since the 1980s moratorium on commercial whaling, the species remains endangered.

open image in gallery The Marine Mammal Alliance said they are coordinating with Nantucket officials and NOAA on next steps ( Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket )

Sperm whales, named for the waxy oil sac in their heads that aids in hearing, were once central to the global whaling industry because their oil illuminated lamps and lubricated machinery. Nantuckets growth from the 1690s to the mid-1800s was built on whaling, beginning with the Wampanoag peoples harvesting of stranded whales and expanding as English settlers began hunting at sea, the New York Times reported.

The alliance says the public may view the whale from at least 300 feet away, in accordance with the Endangered Species Act.

We welcome you to come see and honor this magnificent creature that contributed so much to Nantucket so long ago, they said.

The group said experts will conduct an on-site examination and determine carcass removal plans with Nantucket officials.
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Hunger exists everywhere in the U.S., thanks to increasing living costs, a lack of public infrastructure, health problems and socioeconomic barriers to access.

Nearly 50 million Americans face food insecurity on a daily basis, some 13 million of whom are children. And more than 50 million have turned to food banks and pantries for help, according to the non-profit Feeding America.

Now, new requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients could make matters worse, experts say.

"I think millions of people are going to lose food. ... There's no question this is going to create more harm and suffering and hunger," Joel Berg, CEO of the nonprofit hunger relief organization Hunger Free America, told ABC News.

While food banks hope people will donate money and food to meet demands, some donations are better than others.

open image in gallery Food banks want people to donate. But what you donate matters ( Getty Images )

Perishable items

Food that needs refrigeration, leftovers and anything perishable is a big no-no.

Food banks wont accept dairy or produce that can spoil easily and some places likely dont have the refrigerator or freezer space needed to keep items fresh.

And while donating Thanksgiving leftovers seems like a nice gesture in the spirit of the holiday, food banks cannot accept anything made in personal kitchens because they are not individually sealed and the food bank cannot verify the ingredients or the preparation process.

The same goes for baked goods.

Fortunately, many food banks have relationships with local restaurants and bakeries to provide bread and produce to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

While an individual cant donate a bunch of bananas or a frozen turkey, many food banks do work directly with farmers, retailers, restaurants and other companies to source these perishable foods for donation, Feeding America explained.

Consider canned items with high protein and low sodium, such as beans, nut butter, canned protein and low sodium vegetables.

Expired food

This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes we forget to check the label of canned goods that last for a while.

Avoid donating anything past the use by or sell by date on cans.

Home-canned foods should be used within one year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

High acid foods such as tomatoes and other fruit will keep their best quality up to 18 months; low acid foods such as meat and vegetables, two to five years, the department notes.

open image in gallery Donating food with packaging concerns can be harmful to recipients and food bank workers ( Getty Images )

Food with packaging concerns

Food with packaging concerns can be hazardous to both food bank workers and recipients.

Items in glass containers can shatter easily, causing concerns for any other food theyre store near.

And dented or bloated cans could lead to botulism, a rare but serious illness caused by the toxin Clostridium botulinum that can lead to difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.

While extremely rare, a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum is the worst danger in canned goods. NEVER USE food from containers that show possible "botulism" warnings: leaking, bulging, or badly dented cans; cracked jars or jars with loose or bulging lids; canned food with a foul odor; or any container that spurts liquid when opening, the Department of Agriculture says.

Even a minuscule amount of botulinum toxin can be deadly.
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The Trump administration has announced new oil drilling operations off the coasts of California and Florida, marking the first such expansion in these regions in decades. This move, intended to boost U.S. oil production, has drawn criticism from those who warn it could harm coastal communities and ecosystems.

The oil industry has actively pursued access to new offshore areas, including Southern California and off the coast of Florida, arguing it would enhance U.S. energy security and create jobs. Federal regulations have prohibited drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and parts of Alabama, since 1995 due to concerns about oil spills. In California, despite existing offshore rigs, no new federal leasing has been permitted since the mid-1980s.

Since taking office for a second time in January, Trump has systematically reversed policies aimed at slowing climate change, instead pursuing what he calls U.S. energy dominance in the global market. Trump, who recently described climate change as the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, established a National Energy Dominance Council, directing it to swiftly increase already record-high U.S. energy production, particularly from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

In California, despite existing offshore rigs, no new federal leasing has been permitted since the mid-1980s. ( AP Photo/Rick Bowmer )

Meanwhile, Trumps administration has blocked renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across the country.

The offshore drilling proposal drew bipartisan pushback from lawmakers in Florida, where Republican Sen. Rick Scott said the state's coasts must remain off the table for oil drilling. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent Trump critic, called the administrations plan idiotic.

Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.

Plans to allow drilling off California, Alaska and Floridas coast

The administrations plan proposes six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030 in areas along the California coast.

It also calls for new drilling off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico at least 100 miles from shore. Drilling leases would be sold in the newly designated South-Central Gulf region, adjacent to the central Gulfs thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms.

The new designation distinguishes the targeted area from the Eastern Gulf where drilling is prohibited under a moratorium Trump signed in his first term. Industry representatives said the change was aimed at addressing concerns from Florida officials who oppose drilling near their tourism-friendly coasts.

The five-year plan also would compel more than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in announcing the sales that it would take years for the oil from new leases to get to market.

By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that Americas offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come, Burgum said in a statement.

The American Petroleum Institute called the new plan a historic step toward unleashing more offshore resources. Industry groups point to Californias history as an oil-producing state and say it already has infrastructure to support more production.

Opposition from California and Florida

Sen. Scott, a Trump ally, helped persuade officials in Trump's first term to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when Scott was governor. Scott and Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody introduced legislation this month to maintain the drilling moratorium from Trump's first term.

Newsom, who often touts the states status as a global climate leader, said in response to Thursday's announcement that California would use every tool at our disposal to protect our coastline.

California has been a leader in restricting offshore drilling since an infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill helped spark the modern environmental movement. While no new federal leases have been offered since the mid-1980s, drilling from existing platforms continues.

Newsom expressed support for greater offshore controls after a 2021 spill off Huntington Beach and has backed a congressional effort to ban new offshore drilling on the West Coast.

A Texas-based company, with support from the Trump administration, is seeking to restart production in waters off Santa Barbara damaged by a 2015 oil spill. The administration has hailed the plan by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. as the kind of project Trump wants to increase U.S. energy production.

Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term to reverse Bidens ban on future offshore oil drilling on the East and West coasts. A federal court later struck down Bidens order to withdraw 625 million acres of federal waters from oil development.

Environmental and economic concerns over oil spills

Lawmakers from California and Florida warned new offshore drilling would hurt coastal economies, jeopardize national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put the health and safety of millions of people at risk.

This is not just a little bit offshore drilling. This is the entire California coast, every inch of Alaska, even the eastern Gulf of Mexico, said California Rep. Jared Huffman. Basically, everywhere Big Oil has been salivating to drill for decades.

Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida led a group of Republican lawmakers who asked Trump in a Thursday letter to withdraw some parcels off the Florida coast from leasing. They warned that oil exploration could interfere with a training area for nearby military airbases. Allowing the parcels to go forward would have a chilling effect on the militarys ability to test new munitions, including hypersonic and counter drone weaponry, they wrote.

The state is also still recovering from the environmental and economic havoc caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, which fouled coasts across the Gulf, said Florida Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor.

A Santa Barbara group, the Environmental Defense Center, formed in response to the 1969 California spill, said the plan puts at risk the Santa Barbara Channel off Southern California, an important feeding ground for endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales.

There is no way to drill for oil without causing devastating impacts, said Maggie Hall, deputy chief counsel at the advocacy group. The risk is unacceptable.
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Democrats have voiced their concerns about growing political violence after President Donald Trump accused Congress members of seditious behavior, punishable by death.

Trumps comments came after a group of six Democratic senators and representatives released a video calling on members of the military to refuse illegal orders.

Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution arent just coming from abroad, but from right here at home, the lawmakers said in the video released Tuesday.

Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, as well as Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, were featured in the video. They have all once served in the military or the intelligence community.

In a Truth Social post Thursday morning, Trump railed against the lawmakers: This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???

open image in gallery Democrats have voiced their concerns about political violence after President Donald Trump accused Congress members of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death' ( Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images )

The president wrote in a follow-up post: SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! He also reshared a post that read: HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

"I never expected that just simply and clearly stating what Federal law says, would ask the president to threaten violence against me, that that's a situation we're in," Goodlander told The Independent.

Houlahan said she was not afraid after the remarks from the president.

"It's astounding that we live in a time when the President of the United States can openly threaten the lives of six members of Congress," Houlahan told The Independent.

But other Democrats are worried about the growing climate of political violence.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called his comments deadly serious on the Senate floor, adding, When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen.

He is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline, Schumer said.

open image in gallery Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump's comments 'deadly serious' on the Senate floor ( Heather Diehl/Getty Images )

Kelly wrote on X that his wife, former Representative Gabby Giffords nearly lost her life in an act of political violence. Words have consequences, especially when they come from the President of the United States.

Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 during an event in Tucson, Arizona, by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. She had to learn how to speak and walk again due to her injuries.

When asked if the president wants to execute members of Congress, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, No.

Leavitt then criticized the lawmakers for making the video, telling reporters, The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed. It can lead to chaos.

open image in gallery When asked if the president wants to execute members of Congress, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, 'No' ( Win McNamee/Getty Images )

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also rebuked Trumps comments, telling reporters: We had patriotic members of the House and the Senate have their lives threatened by Donald Trump in the most unhinged, unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American way.

Schumer told reporters after his floor remarks that he requested Capitol Police give special protection to the lawmakers that Trump targeted.

I have asked the Capitol Police to give special protection and keep an eye on Slotkin and Kelly as well because you gotta worry after the president says these things, he said.

Slotkin told MS NOW Thursday night that Capitol Police told her and her colleagues that they were going to be on 24/7 security, adding that she has police patrolling in front of her house.

If the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldnt be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse, she told host Chris Hayes.

open image in gallery Capitol Police said the lawmakers Trump targeted were going to be on 24/7 security, Senator Elissa Slotkin said ( Spencer Platt/Getty Images )

Even Senate Majority Leader John Thune admitted that he didnt agree with Trumps comments.

What those folks did was ill-advised, unnecessary and clearly provocative, Thune told reporters in reference to the Democrats. But I certainly dont agree with the presidents conclusion on how we ought to handle it.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson was less inclined to push against the president.

What I read was he was defining the crime of sedition, he told The Independent. But obviously attorneys have to parse the language and determine all that. What I'm saying, what I will say unequivocally, that was a wildly inappropriate thing for so called leaders in Congress to do to encourage young troops to disobey orders.

The speaker later took a stronger stance against Trumps remarks, telling reporters, "The words that the President chose are not the ones that I would use.

"Obviously, I don't think that this is...these are crimes punishable by death or any of that, he added.

open image in gallery House Speaker Mike Johnson called the lawmakers video wildly inappropriate ( Tom Brenner/Getty Images )

Crow criticized Johnson, telling The Independent, Those who are in leadership positions and have taken the oath to tell the truth and to defend our Constitution, who are failing to speak up, are not fulfilling their oaths."

"I would like to see a lot of my Republican colleagues in the House and the Senate speak out about this, because this is right after Charlie Kirk's assassination, Kelly told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Thursday night.

Theres been an uptick in political violence in recent years, including the two assassination attempts on Trump during the 2024 election cycle and the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk two months ago.

Democrats have also been targeted. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence was subject to an arson attack in April, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul, was attacked with a hammer in the couples San Francisco home in October 2022.
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The Trump administrations controversial plan to dismantle the Education Department has been met with a chorus of criticism from state officials, who warn it will create more bureaucracy rather than less, offering no clear benefit for students struggling with core subjects. The administration argues the move is a solution to the nations lagging academic performance, aiming to free schools from federal influence.

Under the proposed overhaul, much of the Education Departments work would be dispersed across four other federal departments. For President Donald Trump, this represents a step towards fully closing the department and granting states greater autonomy over schooling. However, many states contend that this fragmentation will complicate their role as intermediaries between local schools and the federal government.

Washington states education chief warned the plan would increase bureaucracy fivefold, "undoubtedly creating confusion and duplicity" for educators and families. His Californian counterpart described it as "clearly less efficient" and a source of disruption, while Marylands superintendent raised concerns about "the challenges of coordinating efforts with multiple federal agencies."

"States were not engaged in this process, and this is not what we have asked for  or what our students need," stated Jill Underly, Wisconsins state superintendent, who urged the administration to offer states greater flexibility and reduce standardised testing requirements.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon maintained that schools would continue to receive federal funding without interruption. She suggested that, ultimately, schools would gain more money and flexibility to serve students without the Education Departments existence.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaking at the White House ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

However, the department remains in place, as only Congress possesses the authority to abolish it. In the interim, Ms McMahons plan leaves the agency in a state of federal limbo. The Labour Department is set to assume responsibility for most funding and support for the countrys schools, though the Education Department will retain certain duties, including policy guidance and broad supervision of Labours education work.

Similar arrangements will see programmes offloaded to the Department of Health and Human Services, the State Department, and the Interior Department. These agreements were signed just days before the government shutdown and announced on Tuesday. While inter-departmental work-sharing agreements are not new  the Education Department had dozens before Mr Trump took office, and local schools routinely collaborate with agencies like the US Agriculture Department on school meals  the current proposals scale is unprecedented, involving the majority of the Education Departments funding for schools.

Despite widespread apprehension, Virginia schools chief Emily Anne Gullickson welcomed the administrations efforts to grant states more control, noting that schools are accustomed to working with multiple federal agencies.

Response to the plan has largely followed political lines, with Democrats asserting that the shake-up will harm Americas most vulnerable students. Republicans in Congress, conversely, hailed it as a victory over bureaucracy. Yet, some conservatives have voiced opposition. US Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, expressed concerns on social media that moving programmes to agencies lacking policy expertise could negatively impact young people. Margaret Spellings, who served as education secretary under Republican President George W. Bush, dismissed the plan as a distraction from a national education crisis.

"Moving programmes from one department to another does not actually eliminate the federal bureaucracy, and it may make the system harder for students, teachers and families to navigate and get the support they need," Ms Spellings said in a statement.

There is little disagreement regarding the necessity for change within Americas schooling system. Maths and reading scores have plummeted in the wake of COVID-19, following decades of stagnant reading scores and only marginally better maths results. Ms McMahon cited this as evidence of the Education Departments failure and redundancy. At a White House briefing on Thursday, she characterised her plan as a "hard reset" that maintains federal support while ending "federal micromanagement."

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers union and a prominent critic of Ms McMahon, questioned the logic behind the plan. "Why would you put a new infrastructure together, a new bureaucracy that nobody knows anything about, and take the old bureaucracy and destroy it, instead of making the old bureaucracy more efficient?" Ms Weingarten asked at a Wednesday event.

The full ramifications of the shake-up may not become clear for months, but it is already generating anxiety among states and school districts that have come to rely on the Education Department for its policy expertise. One of the agencys crucial roles is to serve as a resource for questions concerning complex funding formulas and special education laws.

The department has not confirmed whether officials performing this role will retain their positions during the transition. Without such assistance, schools would have limited options for clarifying what can and cannot be funded with federal money, according to David Law, superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools in Minnesota and president of AASA, a national association of school superintendents. "What could happen is services are not provided because you dont have an answer," Mr Law warned.

Concerns have also been raised about the capacity of other federal departments to absorb an influx of new responsibilities. The Labour Department, for instance, is set to take over Title I, an 18 billion grant programme serving 26 million students in low-income areas. This programme will be managed by a Labour office that currently handles grants for only 130,000 people annually, noted Angela Hanks, who led the Labour office under President Joe Biden. At best, Ms Hanks predicted, this move would "unleash chaos on school districts, and ultimately, on our kids."

In Salem, Massachusetts, Superintendent Stephen Zrike oversees a 4,000-student school system that receives approximately 6 million in federal funding, supporting services for low-income, homeless, or English language learning students. He fears that transferring these programmes to the Labour Department could introduce new "rules of engagement." "We dont know what other stipulations will be attached to the funding," he said, adding, "The level of uncertainty is enormous."

Critics have also highlighted the irony that the Education Department was originally established to consolidate education programmes previously scattered across multiple agencies. Representative Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia and ranking member on the House Education and Workforce Committee, urged Ms McMahon to reconsider her plan, citing the 1979 law that created the department, which noted that dispersion had resulted in "fragmented, duplicative, and often inconsistent Federal policies relating to education."
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One of the worlds largest banks detected suspicious activity on Jeffrey Epsteins account and took decisive action  nearly 20 years ago, according to a new report.

In 2007, an HSBC branch in Paris notified Epstein that it was ending its business relationship after evidence of money laundering and other misconduct came to light, according to Bloomberg.

Its notable as its the sole known instance of a major financial institution cutting ties with the disgraced financier prior to 2008, when he pled guilty to procuring minors for prostitution in Florida.

The previously unreported termination comes as public scrutiny into Epstein  who died in 2019 while awaiting trial  escalates to new heights.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Department of Justice to release its files on the late sex offender. He also instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Epsteins involvement with former President Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals.

Earlier in November, a House committee published a trove of some 20,000 documents from Epsteins private estate, including several emails from Epstein in which he claimed Trump knew about the girls and spent hours with a victim.

The Republican president, who used to socialize with Epstein, has consistently maintained he did nothing wrong and described the accusations against him as a hoax perpetuated by Democrats.

open image in gallery An HSBC branch in Europe closed its account with Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 after suspicious activity was flagged, according to a new report. ( Getty )

Suspicious activity

A few days before Christmas in 2007, the HSBCs branch in Paris  where Epstein owned a palatial apartment  sent him a letter.

We hereby inform you that we do not intend to maintain our relationship and notify you this day, subject to a one month notification period, the end of our banking contract, an English translation of the document read.

Consequently, after this period is over, you should return all unused checks still in your possession and provide us with your new banking references, the letter, obtained by Bloomberg as part of a cache of Epsteins personal emails, continued.

The letter did not provide a reason for the abrupt action. However, two unnamed individuals with knowledge of the matter told the outlet that it came after compliance staff noticed suspicious activity.

Specifically, they became concerned over financial transactions related to young women linked with a French modeling agency owned by Jean-Luc Brunel. A longtime friend of Epsteins, Brunel died in prison in 2022.

Compliance employees also observed that Epsteins account had numerous round-dollar deposits and that withdrawals bore hallmarks of money laundering and other financial misconduct.

A few weeks later, Epsteins personal attorney, Darren Indyke, informed the late sex offender of the banks decision. He wrote in an email that Epsteins legal representative in France asked the HSBC branch for an explanation.

The representative asked if it was maybe an Arab/Jewish thing or something about Epstein that the bank does not like, Indyke wrote, adding that after this, the bank representative got nervous

There is no record of a response from Epstein, Bloomberg reported. The outlet noted that Epstein maintained at least one other account with HSBC in Switzerland.

open image in gallery An apartment building that Jeffrey Epstein owned in the 16th arrondissement of Paris ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery An HSBC office in Paris in 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The revelation comes as major banks that associated with Epstein have come under scrutiny by Congress.

This week, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden released a memo accusing JP Morgan Chase of underreporting dubious activity linked to Epsteins accounts over a nearly 20-year period.

The memo said JP Morgan filed suspicious activity reports, known as SARS, covering $4.3 million in transactions by the disgraced financier from 2002 to 2016. But, following Epsteins death in 2019, it filed reports describing $1.3 billion in transactions as suspicious.

In other words, the cumulative dollar value of the suspicious transactions the bank reported after Epsteins death in federal custody was nearly 300 times greater than the value of the transactions it flagged while he was alive and actively trafficking women and girls, Wyden said.

When asked about Wydens memo, Patricia Wexler, a spokesperson for JP Morgan, told The Independent, We acted appropriately in filing SARs as early as 2002. The second the government finally made public the sex trafficking details in 2019  information they clearly had for years  we identified for law enforcement a range of Epsteins past transactions intended to assist with the investigation.

In 2023, JP Morgan reached a $75 million settlement over a lawsuit alleging the bank enabled Epsteins sex-trafficking crimes.

A spokesperson for HSBC declined to comment when contacted byThe Independent.
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An anonymous Epstein survivor spoke publicly for the first time in a TV interview, claiming that Donald Trump must have known about the pedophile financiers victims.

The anonymous survivor has broken almost two decades of silence, having never even spoken to her friends or family about the abuse she endured when she was just 16 years old.

She spoke exclusively to Channel 5 News in the UK, on a program that aired Wednesday evening, alongside an interview with Marina Lacerda  a key witness in the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.

open image in gallery The survivor of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse says Donald Trump had to have had an idea about what was going on ( The Palm Beach Post )

The survivor said of Trump: He had to have known something. He had to have had an idea. You know, he always boasted about their friendship, but I never knew how close or how involved they were.

She also claimed that he had pictures of them at his house together, which she said she had seen. They were friends... I dont know how he couldnt have [known], she added.

Trump has vehemently denied knowing Epsteins victims and has previously dismissed reports about the pairs friendship as a democratic hoax.

open image in gallery The anonymous victim was speaking exclusively to Channel 5 in the United Kingdom ( Channel 5 )

The anonymous survivor has since responded to Trumps dismissal by stating, Im not a hoax. I wish it was, but its not. And it did, it absolutely did happen. As much as I want to pretend it didnt happen, it did, and I have to live with it for the rest of my life.

She explains that she struggled to tell even her friends and family the true extent of what had happened to her: The only person that Ive told is my boyfriend now, and that took 13 years. I felt like Ive lived two different lives, and pretend it never happened and then have normal conversations. Meanwhile, youre dying on the inside.

For her, she says, accountability lies in the Epstein files. I dont know what justice looks like for me, because the only person thats traumatised me is dead. I want the people [to be] held accountable for the other girls. Their people are still out there, and I feel like they need justice.

open image in gallery Survivor Marina Lacerda has played a pivotal role in exposing Epsteins crimes ( Reuters )

Lacerda was just 14 years old when she met Epstein. Until two months ago, her identity was concealed, and she was only known as Minor Victim One. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in exposing Epsteins crimes.

She is now calling on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, and his close family members to give evidence in relation to events he has always denied took place.

Lacerda said: I hope he has the b***s to face up to what he did and answer the questions. Why shouldn't he? If I myself got accused of something this outrageous, I would want to go and at least clear my name. Clear up your name. And if you did do any wrongdoing, own up to it.

You have a family. You have daughters. You have daughters that have daughters. OK. If you know this is something that youve done in the past and you regret it, just say it to the world. Whats the worst thing that could possibly happen now?

Lacerda added that she believes Mr Mountbatten-Windsors former wife, Sarah Ferguson, along with his daughters, should be subpoenaed to give evidence.

open image in gallery Lacerda says she believes Sarah Ferguson should be subpoenaed to give evidence ( Reuters )

She said: It would be the right thing to do for them to get subpoenaed. He said that he was having pizza with his daughters, right, if Im not mistaken. So, it would be nice to get some transparency there, and I would hope that his daughters would speak. They would be truthful about it.

We need to stop protecting people because they are our family. We need to start protecting people that are getting hurt by your family.

Lacerda spoke in detail about the power Epstein held over her and his other victims. She said: As a young girl coming from a third-world country, you just want to make it in the United States of America, and I was like, this is something that he could do for me.

He said he owned the government, he owned the banks, he owned everybody. He knew that I needed money and he knew that I needed to be legal in that country. And I think he always warned me too, like, well, you know, youre an immigrant. Just kind of like, dont mess with me, because I know youre an immigrant and Im very powerful.

Within that year, I think after four or five months seeing him, he raped me and then I was locked in. It was like almost a mafia.

open image in gallery Lacerda spoke in detail about the power Epstein held over her and his other victims ( New York State Sex Offender Registry )

Lacerda was also particularly vulnerable as she had a history of trauma, having been abused by a family member from the age of just 8 years old.

I said, this is not that bad. This man just wants my shirt off, you know. He had pictures on his vanity. He had Bill Clinton, he had Prince Andrew. I was like, wow, this guy is somebody.
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California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is running to be the Golden States next governor during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday.

With incumbent Gavin Newsom term-limited and widely tipped to make a bid for the White House in 2028, Swalwell joins a crowded field that includes the states former attorney general and health secretary Xavier Becerra, ex-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, and one-time presidential candidate Tom Steyer.

I love California, its the greatest country in the world, Swalwell told Kimmel. But thats why it p***es me off to see Californians running through the fields where they work from ICE agents or troops in our streets  its horrifying  or cancer research being cancelled.

open image in gallery California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announces his intention to run for governor on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday November 20, 2025 ( Jimmy Kimmel Live! )

Its awful to look at and our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector, someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up. And we can say that were the fourth-largest economy in the world  and we are and I love to brag about that  but what does that mean if you cant afford to live here?

So Ive been in these fights, as a city council member, up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress. But Im ready to bring this fight home. So, I came here tonight Jimmy to tell you and your audience that I am running to be the next governor of California.

The congressmans announcement drew a standing ovation from the studio audience. Still, the host quickly brought his guest back down to earth by telling him he needed to make a definite call on the state of his beard, saying he was currently operating in a beard nether-region that needed to be addressed.

Swalwell subsequently posted a campaign statement to his website that said he was running for the governors mansion because prices are too high and people are scared.

Californias next governor has two jobs. One, keep the worst president in history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives, he added.

Elsewhere in his interview with Kimmel, Swalwell was asked about Congresss actions this week to secure the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files from the Department of Justice, expressing doubt that Donald Trumps administration would release the documents in full.

I dont trust this guy for one moment, he said. In fact, he has acted this entire time like somebody who really has something to hide. But sometimes enough public sentiment can be built and some measure of justice can be brought.

open image in gallery Swalwell and Kimmel discuss Donald Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein files on Thursdays show ( Jimmy Kimmel Live! )

He vowed that the elected representatives who had spearheaded the campaign to release the files would continue to fight. He noted Republican Rep. Thomas Massies promise to read the names of Epsteins accomplices and enablers on the House floor if need be.

Swalwell also dismissed the DOJs investigation into his mortgage record in response to allegations of fraud as nonsense, saying that the same applied to similar probes the administration has launched into other Democrats the president dislikes, including California Sen. Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook.

Earlier this week, Trump revived his long-running feud with Kimmel, after leading the charge in September to see the late-night comedian taken off air over his remarks on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which led to a brief suspension and a public outcry on the hosts behalf.

Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air? Trump seethed on Truth Social on Wednesday. Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage. Get the bum off the air!!!

The president appeared angered by Kimmel's joke about Hurricane Epstein making landfall and by his criticism of the president for calling a female reporter Piggy aboard Air Force One.

Kimmel responded to Trumps latest attack during his opening monologue on Thursday, commenting, Talk about a snowflake, this guy. Every five weeks, he flips out and wants me fired. If you got this many threats from a neighbor, youd have no problem getting a restraining order.

Its also sweet that, even in the middle of the biggest sex scandal in the history of the American presidency, he takes precious time on the toilet to post about our show.

Mr President, I admire your tenacity. If youre watching tonight, which I presume you are, how about this: Ill go when you go, OK? Well be a team. Lets ride off into the sunset together like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid. And until then, if I may borrow a phrase from you: Quiet, piggy.
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The FBI hacked into Signal group chats used by immigration activists who were watching court proceedings in New York City, according to a report.

The documents claim that the FBI characterized the users of the courtwatch Signal group as anarchist violent extremist actors for observing three federal immigration courts.

The report was jointly filed by the NYPD and the FBI on August 28, 2025, and obtained by Property of the People and handed to The Guardian.

It is unknown how the FBI gained access to the group chat, given that Signal uses end-to-end encryption, which is supposed to make it almost impossible to hack.

Typically, law enforcement officers access Signal chats by obtaining a group chat members unlocked phone, being directly included in the chat, or receiving copies from a participant.

open image in gallery The FBI allegedly gained access to a Signal group chat used by activists to observe court proccedings ( AP )

The FBI has allegedly claimed that information related to the courtwatch Signal chat was given to them by a sensitive source with excellent access and said that they filed the report as a warning about extremist actors targeting law enforcement officers and federal facilities, according to The Guardian.

Discussions in the chat allegedly centered around where to conduct operations and what to say in order to gain access to federal court rooms.

Their report comes as activist groups, such as the courtwatch group, ramp up their campaigns amid the governments hardline crackdown on immigration.

ICE Agents have increasingly been detaining immigrants who have appeared at court for routine hearings, a practice restricted under the Biden administration due to concerns that it would interfere with the justice process, according to the Associated Press. An ICE directive issued just a day after Donald Trump took office in January 2025 reversed the policy.

Brad Lander, New York Citys comptroller, condemned the FBIs surveillance of the group in a public statement seen by The Guardian.

Observing immigration court hearings is a legal and non-violent act, unlike the ICE abductions we have witnessed regularly for months outside of the courtrooms, he said. The mission of courtwatch is to provide transparency and ensure people are not disappeared without due process  surveillance and intimidation by Trumps corrupted Justice Department wont stop us from showing up to protect our neighbors and the rule of law.

open image in gallery Signal has been at the center of a number of controversies, including a leak group chat used by several of the most high-ranking government officials ( Reuters )

Signal, the app used to conduct the courtwatch operation, is widely considered to be one of the most secure messaging platforms on the market.

However, the brand became the center of another Trump administration controversy when the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a secret group chat about military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Since the journalist was added to the group by accident, end-to-end encryption proved useless for keeping the covert plans under wraps.

The chat included Secretary of War and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, and national security adviser Mike Walz.

Goldberg was privy to the contents of the chat for six days before removing himself and chose only to publish information that he deemed not to be sensitive or would not put American lives at risk.

The Independent has contacted the DOJ for comment.
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Ghislaine Maxwell will plead the Fifth if called to testify before the House Oversight Committee, which is conducting an investigation on Jeffrey Epstein, according to a lawmaker.

Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the committee, told Politico that Maxwell  Epsteins longtime associate who is currently in prison on sex trafficking charges  refuses to provide new information.

Her lawyers have replied that shes not going to answer any questions, Comer said.

Shes only going to plead the Fifth, he added. I mean, I could spend a bunch of taxpayer dollars to send staff and members down there, and if shes going to plead the Fifth, I dont know that thats a good investment.

Comer subpoenaed Maxwell in July, compelling the former socialite to testify before Congress, which is looking at the handling of the case involving convicted pedophile Epstein. At the time, her attorneys indicated she would provide answers as long as certain conditions were met. Her requests included that she be given immunity from future criminal proceedings and be provided with the committees questions before her interview.

Ghislaine Maxwell will plead the Fifth in the House Oversight Committees probe into Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. James Comer said, according to a new report. ( AFP via Getty Images )

The congressmans comments come two days after President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compels the Department of Justice to release its files on Epstein. Earlier in November, the House Oversight Committee published a trove of 20,000 documents from Epsteins private estate, including emails in which Epstein wrote that Trump knew about the girls and spent hours with a victim. Trump has maintained he did nothing wrong and that the controversy surrounding the disgraced financier is a hoax perpetuated by Democrats.

An attorney for Maxwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

Maxwell, the daughter of a British media magnate, dated Epstein during the 1990s and went on to become one of his closest associates.

In 2020, she was arrested for her role in recruiting underage girls for Epstein. The following year, she was convicted on federal charges of sex trafficking of a minor, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three counts of conspiracy to commit felonies. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Maxwell, who maintains her innocence, began serving out her sentence at a prison in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2022.

During a lengthy interview in July, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche questioned her extensively about Epsteins network. During the sit-down, Maxwell said she never saw Trump behave inappropriately. The interview came after the Trump team said no more information would be released in the Epstein case and sparked MAGA fury.

That eventually led to Blanche meeting with her to see if she could provide new information on the case or possible connections to well-known people.

She was asked about maybe about 100 different people. She answered questions about everybody and she didn't hold anything back, her attorney David Oskar Markus said at the time. She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question.

Around the same time, Maxwell was transferred to a less restrictive, minimum-security prison in Bryan, Texas.

When asked by a reporter if he personally approved Maxwells transfer, Trump said, I didnt know about it at all. I read about it just like you did.

Last month, the Supreme Court denied an appeal from Maxwell after she asked the court to review whether prosecutors fairly brought a case against her.

She is now reportedly seeking a commutation from Trump. The president has not ruled out pardoning Maxwell, but, when asked about it in July, he said he had not given the matter much thought.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that Germany plans to increase military assistance to Ukraine next year by EUR 3 billion, bringing the total amount of German support to EUR 12 billion.

"We have just made a political decision to increase our military support to Ukraine. This means another three billion next year, a total of twelve billion euros of German support to Ukraine next year," Wadephul said during a visit to Brussels for a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

He stressed that Germany stands by Ukraine during the difficult winter period. According to the minister, Ukraine is not only fighting its own fight for freedom, but also defending the freedom of entire Europe.

"Everything we said in the past remains correct and necessary. And that is why we will continue to support Ukraine," Wadephul added.

The minister also noted that Germany's political position on Ukraine remains clear and consistent, and this will influence future negotiations and international decisions on supporting the country.
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A Long Island neurosurgeon who has the misfortune to be named Dr Jeffrey Epstein has an ingenious idea for how he might respond to Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett after she confused him with the notorious sex offender of the same name.

I think that I should contribute money to Jasmine Crockett and then let everybody know that she also took money from Jeffrey Epstein, the physician joked to The New York Post.

Crockett threatened on the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday that she was gonna expose it all after discovering that somebody named Jeffrey Epstein had donated to the campaign of the former New York Republican congressman Lee Zeldin, now director of the Environmental Protection Agency.

She also called out Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and the late John McCain, amongst others, for taking money from Epstein, not realising she had the wrong man.

open image in gallery Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett confused Long Island neurosurgeon Dr Jeffrey Epstein with the late convicted sex offender of the same name ( Getty )

The Democrat failed to notice that the pair of $1,000 donations she was referring to in Zeldins case had been made to in April and August 2020 while the disgraced financier died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 as he awaited trial.

No freaking relation you genius! Zeldin responded to Crockett on X.

McCains daughter, Meghan McCain, also hit back, writing on the same platform: My Dad has been dead seven years Jasmine Crockett. He never met Jeffrey Epstein, let alone took money from him. The Jeffrey Epstein you are referencing is an entirely different human being. Do you have mashed potatoes for brains, you absolute joke?!

Crockett mounted a somewhat desperate defense when she was confronted about the blunder by Kaitlan Collins on CNN, insisting: "Unlike Republicans, I at least dont go out and just tell lies. So, number one, I made sure that I was clear that it was a Jeffrey Epstein, but I never said that it was specifically that Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to the Post, the wrongly-identified Dr Epstein said: Until she said something, it was never an issue. I say my name and sometimes people will give me a look, or whatever.

Asked how he typically responds in such situations, he answered: I always look at them and say, I dont understand, and I make it like Im dumb.

Listen, thats my name, he continued. If my name was Jeffrey Dahmer when that whole thing came out  do you think that would be a problem?

open image in gallery Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, continues to cast a long shadow over American public life more than six years after his death ( New York State Sex Offender Registry/AP )

Listen, anytime a doppelganger is tied to a less-than-desirable, its never a good situation. But it doesnt matter to me. I could care less.

Asked by the Post what bothers him most about having the same name as the infamous sex trafficker, he replied: People like you calling me to ask me these questions. Dont take that the wrong way, but you couldnt understand that  otherwise it doesnt bother me in the least.

As for the Democrat, Crockett has risen to prominence over the last two years as one of her partys most frank and outspoken representatives but has attracted flack from MAGA and President Donald Trump in the process, with the latter routinely referring to her as low IQ.

On Wednesday, Trump signed a bill ordering the Department of Justice to release its files on the pedophile after the House of Representatives and Senate moved swiftly to pass it, giving the DOJ 30 days to make the potentially-explosive documents public.
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Sen. Lindsey Graham blocked a move by Democrats Thursday to repeal a provision included in last weeks deal to end the government shutdown that permits senators to sue federal investigators for $500,000 if their phone records are accessed without their knowledge.

After the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to repeal the law on Wednesday, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich sought unanimous consent to send it through the Senate  the same means by which the chamber was able to pass the Epstein Transparency Act so swiftly this week  only to be thwarted by Graham.

Heinrich argued that the law, which requires service providers to inform senators if their data is subpoenaed or face a sizable penalty, was indicative of a Congress that is not serving the people.

open image in gallery South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has opposed a Democrat-led effort to repeal a law allowing senators to seek compensation if their phone records are reviewed by federal investigators without their knowledge ( Getty )

Last week Republicans in Congress passed a government funding bill that denies affordable healthcare to millions of Americans, he said.

But what most people dont know is that they also voted to provide millions of dollars to a few Republican senators in a blatant, tax-funded cash grab.

The new law applies retroactively to 2022, meaning that any senators whose records were subpoenaed by then-Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith as part of his investigation into the plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election could be entitled to compensation.

Graham was one of those senators who objected to stopping the repeals unanimous passage.

What did I do wrong? he asked in justifying his position, rejecting the suggestion that Smith had acted on a lawful subpoena.

What did I do to allow the government to seize my personal phone and my official phone when I was Senate Judiciary chairman?

He then asked Senate Majority Leader John Thune whether the provision had been agreed upon with his Democratic counterpart, Chuck Schumer, the Ethics Committee, and other relevant panels, to which Thune answered in the affirmative.

open image in gallery New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich argues Congress 'is not serving the people' by enriching senators ( Getty )

So this wasnt Republicans doing this, Graham said. This was people in the Senate believing what happened to the Senate need never happen again.

Thune proposed adjusting the law to address the question that has been raised about personal enrichment by suggesting that any damages won as a result of it should be forfeited to the United States Treasury.

This measure is about accountability and not profit, he said.

But Heinrich in turn objected to that proposal, responding: I think we should work with our colleagues in the House to address the underlying issue of protecting members without the outrageous damage provisions that were retroactively put into this statute.

Senate Republicans complained last month that their phones had been tapped by the FBI during Joe Bidens administration as part of Smiths investigation into the 2020 election plot.

They pointed to a single-page document released publicly by Senate Judiciary chair Chuck Grassley a day before Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before his committee, which showed that an agent performed preliminary toll analysis of nine senators phone records, to claim that more was going on and that it had been a politically-motivated task, rather than a routine investigative duty.

Toll records reveal only which numbers were dialled, when, and for how long any calls took place. They do not include the contents of messages or conversations, which would require a court-approved wiretap to access.

Graham was one of those demanding answers about the alleged spying from Bondi, who said she could not speak about the details of the call data for very good reasons.
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Speaker Mike Johnson is reportedly plotting a change in the rules for the House of Representatives after Democrats  joined by just a few rogue Republicans  forced his hand on a vote to release the governments files on pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, a new report reveals.

The move, reported Friday by Axios, comes after the House passed a discharge petition filed by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to declassify files related to the late convicted sex offender. Johnson had opposed the legislation until Trump gave his blessing.

An individual member can file a discharge petition to force a vote on the floor if a majority of members sign it. Still, only seven discharge petitions  including Epstein  have become law since 1935. But Johnson told Axios that discharge petitions have become too common and that he wanted to make them harder to obtain.

I'd like to see a higher threshold for a lot of these motions. You know, privileged motions, discharge petitions, added House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to the outlet.

This also comes as Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) received enough signatures for his discharge petition to restore union rights for federal workers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to change the House rules to limit discharge petitions. ( Tom Brenner/Getty Images )

And the discharge petition has become more popular over time, as Rep. Greg Steuebe, of Florida, forced a vote to provide tax relief for natural disaster victims and former Rep. Garret Graves used the discharge petition to pass his Social Security Fairness Act.

In addition, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, of Florida, earned enough signatures to allow for new parents to proxy vote. But Johnson blocked the effort due to the fact conservatives thought proxy voting was unconstutional.

I'm sure [leadership will] try to prevent members from doing it, because it takes power away from them, Luna told Axios.

Luna is hoping to use the discharge petition again to force legislation to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Johnson also faces a significant obstacle because rules can only be changed at the beginning of a Congress. Any change in the rules mid-Congress would require a vote to suspend the rules, which requires two-thirds of the Congress to support it.

I don't think the votes would exist for that amongst Republicans, which means the votes don't exist for that in terms of Democrats, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.

Massie, who led the charge, said he is brainstorming ideas for discharge petitions with Democrats.

The Speaker, because he's not giving an outlet for legislative pursuits, the things we got elected to do, he's probably going to see more of these discharge petitions, he told Axios.
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Rep. Nancy Mace said that the group of GOP women who defied President Donald Trump by campaigning for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files ran out of patience a long time ago with the Department of Justice.

The GOP firebrand of South Carolina joined forces with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado in pushing for the release of the documents despite resistance from Republican House leadership and Trumps Justice Department.

I think we ran out of patience a long time ago, and were honey badgers, and so I hope thatthere will be more of us that will speak out, Mace told The Hill.

After months of being plagued by the issue, Trump caved to pressure this week and Congress passed the bill to release the Epstein files, before the president signed it Wednesday night without fanfare.

The women had been among Trumps most loyal supporters but refused to buckle as the president applied the pressure to get Mace and Boebert to take their names off a bid to trigger a vote on the release of the documents.

open image in gallery Rep. Nancy Mace said that the group of GOP women who defied President Donald Trump by campaigning for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files ran out of patience a long time ago. ( Getty Images )

Mace is a sexual assault survivor who has spoken openly about how her rape as a teenager led to her dropping out of high school before she earned her GED and became the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, a prestigious military academy in South Carolina.

After meeting with survivors of Epsteins abuse in September, she left the room early and was seen emotionally distressed.

Greene, meanwhile, has been left out in the cold after rebelling against Trump on the matter, who last week branded her a traitor.

The MAGA loyalist addressed the attack at a press conference ahead of Tuesdays vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, alongside the bills co-sponsors, California Democrat Ro Khanna and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, and a group of Epstein survivors.

open image in gallery Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado had been among Trumps most loyal supporters but refused to buckle to pressure over the release of the Epstein files. ( Getty Images )

Let me tell you what a traitor is, Greene said. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves. A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans like the women standing behind me.

The bill states that the Justice Department has to release the Epstein files within 30 days. But there is concern that Attorney General Pam Bondi could withhold documents, citing the ongoing investigation into Epsteins ties to Democratic associates, ordered by Trump last week.

You can adjust for whatever investigations are going on but if you do a blanket hold, I think that theyre going to have a lot of people angry, GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said.
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Nursing organizations are deeply concerned after the occupation has been excluded by definition as a professional degree by the Department of Education.

The decision is part of the sweeping cuts to student loans, overseen by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, laid out in President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The move has alarmed nursing organizations, which warned that limiting student nurses access to funding threatens the very foundation of patient care.

Trumps signature legislation, which was signed into law earlier this year, eliminates the Grad PLUS loans used by many students to pay for grad school, and puts a cap on the amount they can borrow.

Under Trumps bill, only professional degree students are eligible for the higher loan limit of $200,000, while graduate students are capped at $100,000. Excluding nursing by definition as a professional degree effectively prices aspiring nurses out of their studies, campaigners warned.

open image in gallery Nursing has been excluded as a professional degree by Linda McMahons Department of Education as it looks to implement sweeping cuts to student loads laid out in President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act (file image) ( AFP via Getty Images )

Nursing is the backbone of the healthcare structure in the United States, Dr Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nursing Association, told NewsNation. We are short tens of thousands of nurses and advanced practice nurses already. This is going to stop nurses from going to school to be teachers for other nurses.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is also calling on the Department of Education to reverse the decision.

Excluding nursing from the definition of professional degree programs disregards decades of progress toward parity across the health professions and contradicts the Departments own acknowledgment that professional programs are those leading to licensure and direct practice, the organization said in a statement.

Should this proposal be finalized, the impact on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating, the statement added.

Mary Turner, RN, president of National Nurses United, told The Independent that the Trump administrations priorities were at odds with the needs of nurses and patients.

If the Trump administration truly wanted to support nurses, it would be working to improve working conditions, expanding education opportunities, and ensuring patients can get health care, Turner said. Instead, this administration is stripping nurses of their union rights, making education harder to access, and cutting health care for those who need it most.

Nurses earn $45 per hour on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, Trumps bill provides more than $1.5 trillion in tax cuts for the top 5 percent of Americans, the Center for American Progress found.

The Education Department brushed off concerns over the future of nursing as fake news and accused the nursing organizations of having had an unlimited tuition ride on the taxpayer dime.

open image in gallery The move has alarmed nursing organizations, which warned that limiting student nurses access to funding threatens the very foundation of patient care ( Getty Images )

The Department has had a consistent definition of what constitutes a professional degree for decades and the consensus-based language aligns with this historical precedent, the departments press secretary for higher education Ellen Keast told Newsweek.

The committee, which included institutions of higher education, agreed on the definition that we will put forward in a proposed rule, Keast continued. Were not surprised that some institutions are crying wolf over regulations that never existed because their unlimited tuition ride on the taxpayer dime is over."

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment.

An entire four-year bachelor of science in nursing program can range from $89,560 to $211,390, including tuition, housing and other fees, according to NurseJournal.

Nursing wasnt the only casualty of Trumps spending bill. Physician assistants, physical therapists, educators, social workers, audiologists, architects and accountants were also on the list of degrees that were not classed as professional by the Trump administration.

Programs deemed professional by the department were medicine, pharmacy, law, dentistry, osteopathic medicine, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, veterinary medicine, theology, and clinical psychology.

Can someone explain how a theologian is considered more professional than a nurse practitioner? Amy McGrath, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, asked on X.

As part of the Big Beautiful Bill the Department of Education just proposed a reclassification of a professional degree, and it means fewer students will qualify for the higher loan limits they need for grad school, she said. Programs being excluded include many fields dominated by women like healthcare, counseling, and social work. This isnt a coincidence. This is a way to quietly push women out of professional careers.

The new measures are due to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026.
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President Donald Trumps cabinet could see changes in the second year of his administration as some White House officials are reportedly discussing whether at least two of his department heads could exit following the first anniversary of his second inauguration in January.

Trumps cabinet has been remarkably stable this year compared to the tumultuous revolving door that characterized his first year in the White House during his first term in office, with administration officials privately conceding that stability was a primary goal of the Trump teams efforts during the presidential transition last year.

But according to a report from CNN, the presidents team could see at least one departure from the top of a cabinet-level department once the administration enters its second year.

The cable news network reported on Friday that one of the top officials who could soon be on the chopping block is Kristi Noem, the ex-South Dakota governor who Trump tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security after she dropped off his vice presidential shortlist in part due to backlash over her admission that shed once shot and killed her familys pet dog because it was not easily trainable.

According to White House officials who spoke to The Independent on condition of anonymity, the president remains happy with Noems performance as she has led the department charged with carrying out his anti-immigration, mass deportation agenda. But behind the scenes, White House officials have chafed at the outsized influence that has been wielded by a Trumpworld mainstay, Corey Lewandowski, within the department.

open image in gallery White House officials have chafed at the outsized influence that has been wielded by Corey Lewandowski at Homeland Security, CNN reports. ( Getty )

In public, Trump has offered effusive praise for his Homeland Security secretary, and Noem has in turn been an enthusiastic operator in service of the presidents agenda, often appearing in slickly-produced videos meant to glorify the administration's deportation program and demonize the immigrant populations it has targeted.

But Lewandowski is the cause of concern, surces told CNN. The pugilistic ex-New Hampshire police officer turned political consultant  who briefly managed Trumps 2016 campaign  is officially a senior adviser to Noem who came on as a temporary, unpaid special government employee only permitted to work 130 days in a 365-day period. Its the same status held by Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk during his brief time running the White Houses Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting effort.

A DHS spokesperson told CNN that Lewandowski has 40 days remaining in the one-year period that started when Trumps term began. That clock will reset on Jan. 20, giving him 130 more days to work in his unpaid role.

But top administration aides have become concerned about Noems close relationship with Lewandowski  the two are often seen together and both have previously denied allegations of being in a romantic or sexual relationship  and of the power he has amassed at the department despite his unpaid role.

A person close to the administration told CNN that while Trump likes Noem, it has been brought to his attention that [Lewandowski] is a problem.

open image in gallery CNN reports that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is one of the top officials who could soon be on the chopping block despite Trump being happy with her. ( Getty )

The person added that DHS is being mismanaged because of Lewandowski, who has had his fingers in decisions to fire career experts or put them on administrative leave while reportedly developing a reputation for berating officials who he sees as slow-walking the Trump agenda.

A DHS spokesperson confirmed the practice, telling CNN in a statement that the unpaid adviser certainly has reputation of reprimanding officials who impede or slow down the administration and undermine the will of the American people.

Lewandowski also reportedly left Trump irritated after a September Oval Office meeting at which hed accompanied Noem to discuss management of the department.

People familiar with the meeting described it as tense and contentious.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied any cabinet shakeup was under consideration in a statement attacking the television network for its reporting.

The cabinet is not changing no matter how much CNN wishes that it would because it thrives off drama, she said.
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President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to walk back his demand for a group of six Democratic lawmakers to be executed for what he called seditious behavior just a day earlier, telling a right-wing media personality he was speaking of practices in times long past.

The president had taken to Truth Social on Thursday to accuse Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, plus Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander and Pennsylvanias Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of engaging in seditious behavior at the highest level.

Trump further called the members of Congress  all of whom are military or intelligence veterans  traitors to our country who should be arrested and put on trial after they filmed a video urging American service members to refuse illegal orders and uphold their oaths to the U.S. Constitution.

He later posted a different message in which he repeated his all-caps accusation of SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR from the lawmakers before claiming that such behavior is punishable by DEATH.

The attack drew widespread condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans in Congress and in national security circles who cited it as just the latest example of the president demanding that the power of the government he leads be turned against members of the political opposition who criticize him, even implicitly.

Trump is now walking back his demand for a group of Democratic legislators to face the death penalty ( Getty )

But a day later, Trump appeared to backpedal the attack during an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on his talk radio program. Asked to clarify his comments, Trump told Kilmeade: In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death.

He then denied having ever threatened the legislators despite having also reposted a Truth Social user who urged him to HANG the Democrats whod appeared in the video.

"I think theyre in serious trouble. I would say theyre in serious trouble. Im not threatening death, but I think theyre in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death. That was seditious behavior, he said.

Its unclear what, if any, legal grounds would exist to prosecute the representatives and senators for urging service members not to follow illegal orders, as legislators enjoy broad immunity for statements and other acts taken in their official capacities.

Not only does the First Amendment provide broad protection for political speech, the United States has not had laws criminalizing speech against the government as sedition on the books since Congress repealed the First World War-era Sedition Act in 1920.

While there is a section of the U.S. criminal code that prohibits seditious conspiracy  a rarely used charge last employed against pro-Trump rioters who participated in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol  that provision only applies to conspiracies to levy war against the government, "oppose the government of the United States by force, or "prevent, hinder, or delay" the execution of any law by force.

Despite Trumps claim that seditious behavior is a capital offense, in fact that U.S. criminal code only provides for a punishment of imprisonment for not more than 20 years if convicted for a seditious conspiracy involving violence or the threat of force.
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After months of attacking New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mandani as a communist," President Donald Trump now says the Democratic Socialist will be a really great mayor for his home city after a closed-door meeting at the White House.

Seated behind his desk in the Oval Office while Mamdani stood next to him during what became a half-hour love-fest between the two men on Friday, Trump told reporters hed congratulated his hometowns next chief executive and pledged to help him bring prices down for New Yorkers.

I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor  the better he does, the happier I am, Trump said.

I will say there's no difference in party. There's no difference in anything, and we're going to be helping him to make everybody's dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York.

For his part, Mamdani described the meeting as productive and focused on a place of shared admiration and love between him and Trump  New York City  and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers, the eight and a half million people who call our city their home, who are struggling to afford life in the most expensive city in the United States of America.

We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities. We spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out. And I appreciated the time with the President. I appreciated the conversation. I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers, Mamdani said.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they met in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday ( Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS )

The astonishingly convivial photo opportunity then morphed into a question-and-answer session with White House reporters and select MAGA influencers who were brought into the room to witness the moment, with multiple questioners attempting to bait the men into attacking each other.

Asked about his previous comments calling Mamdani a communist  including one posted to Truth Social just one day ago  Trump implied that Mamdanis views might change in the future and predicted that the youngest mayor-elect in New York history is going to surprise some conservative people.

When the mayor-elect was similarly pressed on past comments in which hed called Trump a despot, the president jumped to Mamdanis defense by telling reporters: I've been called much worse than a despot, so it's not that insulting.

And after another reporter pushed Mamdani to say whether he was affirming prior comments in which he referred to the president as a fascist, Trump came to the rescue once more and implied that he did not have a problem with the attack.

Thats OK  you can just say yes, Trump said.

Trump and Mamdani would continue to take questions for roughly 28 surreal minutes, during which the president repeatedly showed surprising affection for the 34-year-old, marking a complete 180-degree reversal from the vitriol hed shown towards the soon-to-be former New York State assemblyman dating back to his improbable victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the citys July mayoral Democratic primary.

open image in gallery The two had a surprisingly friendly press conference where Trump brushed off Mamdani's past criticisms ( Donald Trump via Truth Social )

After Mamdani shocked the nation  and the world  by defeating the three-term ex-governor in what would become the first of two matchups between him and the scion of a storied Empire State political dynasty, Trump seized on the future mayors avowed Bernie Sanders-style socialist politics to make him the focus of attacks against both him and the Democratic Party writ large.

He even threatened on multiple occasions to pull federal funds from his birthplace, leading some Republican figures to float outlandish ways of denying him the mayoralty if he won the November general election  with some pushing for federal authorities to strip Mamdani of his naturalized citizenship.

But in a surprising twist of events, Trump announced that he would sit down with the mayor-elect this week, writing in a Truth Social post on Thursday that Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani had requested the meeting.

And as they faced the assembled press afterwards, the president appeared genuine in the affable feelings he showed for Mamdani and expressed what seemed like admiration at the throngs of journalists whod flocked to the White House to cover their sit-down.

open image in gallery 'I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor  the better he does, the happier I am,' Trump said at the press conference ( Donald Trump via Truth Social )

He's different than you know, your average candidate  he came out of nowhere, Trump said, referring to Mamdanis shock primary victory four months ago.

And then, all of a sudden, he wins a primary that nobody expected he was going to win. It's a great, great tribute. It's an amazing thing that he did.

He acknowledged that there would inevitably be topics on which he and Mamdani would have disagreements, but suggested that they would be able to settle those differences for the good of New York.

I don't care about affiliations or parties or anything else. I want to see if this city could be unbelievable. If he could be a spectacular success, I'd be very happy, he said.

He also told reporters that hed be comfortable living in his hometown under a Mamdani administration despite his past criticisms.

We agree on a lot more than I would have thought  I want him to do a great job, and we'll help him do a great job, he said.

After the press conference, Trump wrote on Truth Social that it was a great honor to meet Mamdani.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later told Fox News Sean Hannity, Maybe Mayor Mamdani will go back to New York and maybe he learned a few things from President Trump today.

Rachel Dobkin contributed to this reporting.
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President Donald Trump cut off Zohran Mamdani and pat him on the arm as the New York City Mayor-elect was asked to confirm that he believes Trump is a fascist.

During a high-stakes meeting in the Oval Office Friday, a reporter asked whether Mamdani was affirming that he thinks Trump is a fascist. The mayor-elect started to respond: Ive spoken about 

The president, who frequently called Mamdani a communist during his mayoral campaign, then interrupted and said with a smile: Thats ok. You can just say yes.

Then, patting Mamdani on the arm, the president added: Its easier. Its easier than explaining. I dont mind.

Mamdani, looking at the group of reporters, seemed to grin uncomfortably, before saying: OK. He waved his hand as if suggesting the next question was welcome.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he doesnt mind that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has called him a fascist ( AP )

The internet seemed to eat up the exchange.

Brad Lander, a former New York City mayoral candidate and the current comptroller, wrote on X: Pretty sure Zohran just charmed Donald Trump into agreeing that hes a fascist.

MSNOW host Lawrence ODonnell wrote: Mamdani tamed the (politically weak) tiger.

One X user wondered: Trump loves Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani so much that he is perfectly fine with Mamdani calling him a "Fascist." Or is it that he actually agrees with the title?

Another quipped: One short meeting with Zohran Mamdani, and Donald Trump is basically registering as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Asked whether he would feel comfortable living in his hometown with Mamdani in charge, the president told reporters Friday: Yeah, I would. I really would.

Trump added: I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor  the better he does, the happier I am.

The apparently warm meeting contrasts weeks of contention between the two men.

Trump threatened to withhold sending federal funds to New York City and urged voters to cast ballots for Cuomo: Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job, Trump wrote. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!

In his impassioned victory speech, the mayor-elect addressed the president directly: Donald Trump, since I know youre watching, Ive got four words for you: turn the volume up.

Mamdani soundly defeated independent Andrew Cuomo, who Trump backed, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Earlier this week, the Democratic socialist said he hoped to speak plainly to the president about the stakes for New Yorkers, such as cost of living. Like Mamdani, Trump ran on a campaign promising to make life more affordable for Americans, such as vowing to reduce the cost of groceries.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that Zohran Mamdanis upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump is proof that the Big Apples mayor-elect is seeking to forge friendlier ties in the interests of realizing his ambitious policy agenda.

Mamdani, 34, will meet Trump in person for the first time at the White House on Friday. The young progressive secured a resounding win over independent Andrew Cuomo earlier this month on an affordability platform for New York City needed to be more affordable for residents.

Trump repeatedly accused the self-described democratic socialist of being a 100% Communist Lunatic and threatened to withdraw all federal funding for New York if the Queens assemblyman was elected.

open image in gallery New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Friday ( Getty )

Asked what she expected to come from their sitdown by a reporter on Capitol Hill Thursday, AOC answered: Well see. Obviously, the mayor-elect is going to be preparing for his inauguration. Of course, hes indicated that hes willing to sit down with anybody and everybody. So well see.

Pressed on whether she had any particular issues she would like to see raised, the representative said, I think we let Zohran lead. Hes been elected to lead New York City. I trust him as the mayor-elect, hell do what he thinks is best for the city of New York. Well see how it goes.

How Mamdani and Cuomo would deal with the president was a regular point of contention at the mayoral debates, with the former saying at one: If you think its time to have a Democratic Party that actually stands up to Donald Trump and his billionaire-backed donors, then vote for me.

In his acceptance speech, the mayor-elect addressed Trump directly and declared: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.

The president took exception to the line, saying afterwards that Mamdani had been angry toward me and that his remark was very dangerous.

open image in gallery New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a rally in support of Mamdani at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on October 26, 2025 ( Getty )

How Fridays meeting will play out remains to be seen. Still, the president struck a noticeably hostile tone when he announced it on Truth Social Wednesday, writing: Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow!

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and Trump appeared to be drawing attention to his African middle name as a negative, just as he customarily refers to the 44th president as Barack Hussein Obama.

Speaking to MS NOWs Chris Hayes on Wednesday, Mamdani himself was asked about his meeting with the president and said: I want to just speak plainly to the president about what it means to actually stand up for New Yorkers and the way in which New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city.

Frankly, cost of living is something that I heard time and time again from New Yorkers about why they voted for Donald Trump This is something that has only continued in the last few months of this year, where were hearing about childcare concerns, rent concerns, Con Ed concerns, even just getting on the bus, just $2.90.

Mamdani said he ultimately wanted to make it clear to the president that this is what were talking about. These are the stakes for New Yorkers, and their ability to keep calling this city their home.
The peace plan that US President Donald Trump's team presented to Ukraine includes a security guarantee modeled on the principles of NATO's Article 5, which would oblige the US and European allies to consider an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire "transatlantic community," reports the Axios portal, referring to the draft document.

" Trump's plan demands painful concessions from Ukraine, but it also includes an unprecedented promise. President Volodymyr Zelensky's top objective in peace talks is to obtain a robust U.S. and European security guarantee, and this is the first time Trump has been willing to put one on the table," the report states.

The draft provides that the US president, after consultations with Ukraine, NATO and European partners, will determine the necessary response measures. NATO members, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Finland, confirm their readiness to act together with the US.

The security guarantee is offered for a period of 10 years with the possibility of extension. The document includes spaces for signatures from Ukraine, the United States, the EU, NATO, and Russia.

According to a senior White House official, Russia has been informed of the draft, but it is not known whether the Russian president will be required to sign it. At the same time, according to the publication, the proposal provides for significant concessions from Ukraine: the creation of a demilitarized zone; the transfer of all of Donbas to Russia; the freezing of the current lines of control in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions; the absence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory; and a limitation of the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 600,000 soldiers.
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A farmer in northwestern Greece was confronted with a shocking sight: three of his sheep mauled to death, their demise unequivocally attributed to a bear. The grim discovery underscores the increasingly frequent presence of these once-rare predators in the region.

Anastasios Kasparidis found large paw prints confirming the attack. It was a bear, a very big one, and they come often now. I wasnt the only one; it struck elsewhere, too, he recounted, noting another farmer had lost chickens and pigs.

To protect his remaining livestock, Mr Kasparidis moved his small flock into a sheep pen near his house. Because in the end I wouldnt have any sheep, he explained. The bears would eat them all.

Environmentalists have welcomed the rebound of bear and wolf populations in Greece thanks to the protected species designation that banned them from being hunted. But some farmers and residents of rural areas say they now fear for their livelihoods and, in some cases, their safety. They are calling for greater protection in a phenomenon playing out elsewhere in Europe, with some arguing conservation has gone too far and pushing to roll back restrictions.

Bears, wolves and boars

Brown bears, Greeces largest predator, have made a remarkable comeback. Their numbers have increased roughly fourfold since the 1990s, said Dimitrios Bakaloudis, a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who specialises in wildlife management and conservation.

open image in gallery A brown bear peers through the trees inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio, northern Greece ( AP )

Up to an estimated 870 brown bears roam the forests of northern Greece, according to the most recent survey by Arcturos, an environmental organisation set up in 1992 that provides a sanctuary for rescued bears and wolves.

And its not just bears. Wolves also have seen their numbers rise. While wolves could only be found as far south as central Greece in 2010, they have now spread to the outskirts of Athens and into the Peloponnese in southern Greece, Bakaloudis said.

Their recovery has been sustained in part by the also increasing population of wild boars, which is unrelated to conservation efforts. Rather, a combination of a number of factors, including a reduction of hunting, milder winters and cross-breeding with domestic pigs, have led them to reproduce at a faster rate, Professor Bakaloudis explained.

Viewed by many as pests that destroy crops, the sight of a dozen or more boars trotting along sidewalks or snuffling through backyards is no longer uncommon in many parts of Greece.

open image in gallery Visitors sit on the stairs inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio ( AP )

The larger number of wild animals has also resulted in more contact with humans  the vast majority of whom are unfamiliar with how to behave during an encounter. Lack of familiarity has led to fear in some communities, particularly following a small number of serious incidents this year: a child bitten by a wolf, an elderly man injured by a bear in his yard, a hiker bitten by a bear and another hiker who died after falling into a ravine during a bear encounter.

In Levea, a village of about 660 people surrounded by fields in northwestern Greece, several bear encounters were reported in October, while boars frequently roam through the village, said community president Tzefi Papadopoulou. The bears especially frightened residents.

As soon as they heard a dog bark, they were ready to go out with the gun, she said.

open image in gallery Farmer Anastasios Kasparidis stands outside his sheep pen with his three dogs in Levea village, days after a bear attack killed three of his sheep ( AP )

Its similar in the nearby village of Valtonera, 170km west of Greeces second largest city, Thessaloniki.

The village used to be without wild animals. In the past, a wolf would appear once in a while, said Konstantinos Nikolaidis, community president. Now, wild boars, foxes, bears or wolves roam around or even inside the village, he noted.

This has caused concern among all residents. Its now difficult for a person to walk around outside at night, he said.

The burgeoning wild boar population, meanwhile, has led to calls for the hunting season to be extended.

Giorgos Panagiotidis, deputy mayor of the nearby small town of Amyntaio, said boars had been increasingly encroaching on houses. In May, he asked authorities to allow hunters to shoot boars out of season to tackle the problem.

Its an issue that isnt unique to Greece. In a victory of farmers over environmentalists, European Union lawmakers voted in May to reduce protections for wolves across the EUs 27 member states. The movement even gained support from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, whose pony Dolly was killed by a wolf three years ago.

Experts note it isnt just the larger number of wild animals that has led to encroachment on urban areas. Many factors are at play, they say, from loss of habitat due to wildfires to noise disturbances from wind turbines and recreational vehicles, and animals emboldened by dwindling human populations in villages.

There is of course fragmentation of the bears habitat, frequently there is drought, theres a lack of food in the natural environment, theres a desertification of villages, which makes inhabited areas more attractive to bears, so they approach and find food, said Panos Stefanou, communications officer at Arcturos.

Measures to keep wolves and bears at bay have been developed and approved by scientists, said Professor Bakaloudis, including using lights around property, proper disposal of trash and dead livestock and avoiding feeding strays.

In exceptional circumstances, more invasive methods are used, he said, such as in the case of the wolf attack on the child in northern Greece, where authorities decided to capture and remove the animal.

With so many factors contributing to increasing encounters between wild animals and humans, Mr Stefanou cautioned against overly simplistic solutions.

Killing the animals is not what will solve the problem, he said.
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A 99-year-old woman from France was left on an emergency room stretcher for 64 hours, her granddaughter has revealed.

Aline Percher, who lives in Rouen, said her grandmother Claire had been taken to the Charles-Nicolle University Hospital on 17 October for acute pulmonary edema, or fluid on the lungs.

The pensioner, who Ms Percher affectionately refers to as Manou, spent the next 64 hours lying on an uncomfortable stretcher while she waited for a bed. She was admitted on Friday evening, but was not given a bed until Monday afternoon.

The situation got even worse when the family were told that there were not enough meals for the patients.

open image in gallery A 99-year-old woman from France was left on an emergency room stretcher for 64 hours while waiting for a bed to be free ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a post published on Facebook, Ms Percher recounted details of the painstaking 64 hours that her grandmother spend on the stretcher.

Recording her grandmothers condition after the first 48 hours, she wrote: Im keeping an eye on your heels, theyre getting red. Mom gave me a few things, Im massaging your heels and putting down a pressure relief cushion. Im helping the caregivers change you, because theyre overwhelmed.

She added: While changing you, we notice that youre starting to get quite red. Theyre putting cream on you, but you really need a bed with a proper mattress But theyre out, so were going to put a mattress topper on your stretcher Its better than nothing.

open image in gallery The woman was taken to the Charles-Nicolle University Hospital on 17 October for acute pulmonary edema (file photo) ( AFP via Getty Images )

Ms Percher said the nurses and staff at the hospital were very apologetic for the extremely long wait for a bed and the difficult conditions the elderly woman had been kept in. She said of the caregivers: It's not your fault, you're doing your best, you take care of her the way you can.

When her grandmother finally got a bed in a geriatric ward at 2.30pm on Monday 20 October, she gave her granddaughter a feeble smile, but a smile that tells [her] you are better.

At the end of her post, she called on Frances president Emmanuel Macron and the minister of health, Stephanie Ris, to wake up, saying they could be in the same position one day.

The University Hospital said in a statement to Le Parisien: During the weekend of October 17, the adult emergency department had to deal with very intense activity, with more than 250 visits per day, in the midst of a seasonal epidemic surge.

At the same time, the pressure on available beds at the Rouen University Hospital and in local facilities was particularly high. This situation unfortunately generated an abnormally long wait in the emergency department for patients requiring hospitalisation after their initial visit.
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Swiss authorities are searching for two robbers who overpowered a guard at an ancient Rome-themed museum in Lausanne, stealing dozens of gold coins.

City police said the suspects purchased tickets and waited until other visitors had left shortly before Thursday's closing time. They then assaulted and restrained the guard, breaking the display case.

The monetary value of the haul was not immediately disclosed, though police highlighted the coins' "archaeological value".

The theft comes at a time when gold prices have soared in global markets this year  even if they have dropped off their highs lately  and a high-profile robbery at the Louvre in Paris exposed vulnerabilities and security lapses at museums.

Map of Lausanne Museum:

Officials said the Lausanne museum employee, a 64-year-old Swiss national, was interviewed by investigators and that he was not injured in the incident. No other people  staff or visitors  were on hand at the time.

State prosecutors have opened an investigation. Lausanne city officials filed a legal complaint for damage to the museum, and the regional government  the owner of the gold coins  announced plans to file a criminal complaint.
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Cases of a potentially lethal variant of the mpox virus have been spreading across countries in Europe, hospitalising victims amid a rush to procure vaccines.

At least 45 cases of the clade 1b mpox variant have been recorded across the continent since August, when the WHO classified the outbreak as a global health emergency. Clade 1b poses a particularly dangerous threat, with a reported mortality rate as high as 10 per cent in children.

Outbreaks of the more threatening variant have surged in central Africa in recent years, but Europe has now started to record cases by the dozen after an international failure to deliver vaccines to the populations most at risk, experts say.

Last month the World Health Organisation warned 17 countries are contending with the active transmission of mpox worldwide, with 2,862 confirmed cases, including 17 deaths between 14 September and 19 October.

open image in gallery Mpox has spread across more than a dozen countries ( AFP via Getty Images )

Cases of clade 1b have been recorded in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Sweden. Seven people were hospitalised for treatment, the ECDC said in its most recent report.

The UK separately recorded 19 cases of mpox clade 1b between the first appearance in October 2024, and last month. Seventeen cases were in England, one was in Scotland and one was in Wales.

Most of the UK cases reported direct or indirect links to travel to countries where the variant is circulating, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) notes. UK health officials are encouraging gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to get vaccinated against mpox.

Professor Michael Marks from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said that the spread to Europe was the inevitable consequence of the significant and ongoing outbreaks of mpox in Africa in recent years.

open image in gallery Mpox is a viral infection that can be fatal ( REUTERS )

There has been a major failure to adequately vaccinate in countries in Africa where the predominant burden of disease is, Prof Marks said.

This failure has allowed outbreaks to continue, he added, creating huge avoidable suffering and contributing to the ongoing risk of the virus emerging elsewhere.

Prof Marks warned there was still a need to move towards finding a sustained, long-term response, with mpox unlikely to disappear as a threat any time soon.

Mpox is a viral infection that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. Most people get better with two to four weeks, but some people can get very sick and die.

The virus spreads mainly through close contact between people, including skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth contact and face-to-face (such as breathing close to somebody with mpox).

An effective vaccine for mpox does exist, though the African continent is still battling with a shortage of doses and distribution challenges, three years on from the initial outbreak of a clade 2 variant.

Bavarian Nordic, a Danish biotech company, announced a new contract with the European Commission at the end of October that will allow European nations to buy up to eight million doses of its smallpox and mpox vaccines. Provisions will also be made for donations to low-income countries at adjusted pricing, it said.
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Pope Leo XIV has rectified a technical glitch in a Vatican law, an issue that arose after Pope Francis named the first woman to head the Vatican City State administration.

The 2023 law was amended to remove a reference stating the president of the Vatican City State administration must be a cardinal. This change follows Pope Francis's February appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini, a 56-year-old Italian nun, as president of the city state.

Her appointment marked the first time a woman had governed the 44-hectare territory in the heart of Rome, aligning with Francis's 12-year papacy of elevating women to top Vatican decision-making roles.

But the appointment immediately created technical and legal problems that hadn't existed before because Petrini's predecessors had all been priestly cardinals.

For example, Petrini wasnt invited to deliver the economic status report of the Vatican City State to the closed-door meetings of cardinals in spring that preceded the May conclave that elected Leo.

Normally, the cardinal-president of the Vatican City State would have delivered the briefing. But those pre-conclave meetings, known as general congregations, are for cardinals only.

In changing the law Friday to allow a non-cardinal to be president of the Vatican administration, Leo suggested that Petrinis appointment was not a one-off. He wrote that the governance of the territory was a form of service and responsibility that must characterize communion within the church hierarchy.

Vatican Women ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

This form of shared responsibility makes it appropriate to consolidate certain solutions that have been developed so far in response to governance needs that are proving increasingly complex and pressing, Leo wrote.

Petrinis office is responsible for the main revenue sources funding the Holy See coffers, including the Vatican Museums, but it also handles the infrastructure, telecommunications and healthcare for the city state. The Vatican City State commission she heads is responsible for approving laws governing the territory, and approving the annual budgets and accounts.

The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood for men. While women made strides in reaching top management jobs in the Vatican during Francis' pontificate, there was no movement or indication that the all-male hierarchy would change rules barring women from ministerial ordination.
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Pope Leo XIV surprised American Catholic young people during a virtual meeting on Friday by divulging a previously undisclosed pontifical secret: his unique Wordle strategy involves using a different starting word each day.

The Chicago-born pontiff shared his approach to the popular New York Times online game before engaging in a videoconference Q&A session.

The discussion, which was otherwise described as "somewhat scripted," covered topics ranging from artificial intelligence and social media to the future of the Catholic Church.

Connected remotely from the Vatican, Pope Leo addressed the National Catholic Youth Conference, an annual gathering held this year in Indianapolis. The feed was broadcast via US Catholic network EWTN.

Following his election in May, his brother, John Prevost, had previously revealed the Pope's daily Wordle habit and their shared tradition of comparing scores.

Leo was asked about his strategy at the start of Fridays Q&A, which was otherwise somewhat scripted. Playing along, Leo revealed, "I use a different word for Wordle every day, so theres no set starting word."

The simple, free online puzzle lets players guess a five-letter word in six tries with no hints and has millions of daily players around the world.

open image in gallery Millions of people play Wordle through New York Times Games every day ( AFP via Getty Images )

After the big reveal, Leo spent the hour-long encounter fielding prepared questions from a handful of the conference participants, who asked him specifically about technology's hold on young people.

Leo, who himself was a Twitter user before his election, said social media was a great way to stay connected and to even deepen one's faith.

But he warned that it can never replace real human relationships.

He urged young people to follow the example of St. Carlo Acutis, a teen-age Catholic influencer canonised earlier this year who set limits on his screen time to make sure video games didn't monopolise his free time.

I encourage you to follow the example of Carlo Acutis," Leo said. "Be intentional with your screen time. Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around.

open image in gallery Following his election in May, his brother, John Prevost, had previously revealed the Pope's daily Wordle habit and their shared tradition of comparing scores ( AP )

Leo also applied that lesson to artificial intelligence, a topic he has said is a priority concern for him.

He told the young people it was a powerful tool but that they must learn to use it responsibly, and not let it interfere with their maturing into adults capable of making choices.

Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow," he said. "AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence. And dont ask it to do your homework for you, he said to laughs.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Moscow had received peace proposals from the United States concerning Ukraine, suggesting the plan could form the foundation for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to senior officials in televised remarks, Mr Putin stated: "I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement."

He further noted that the proposals had not yet been discussed in detail with Russia.

Mr Putin claimed that Ukraine opposed the initiative, asserting that both Kyiv and European nations failed to grasp the reality of Russia's military advancements in Ukraine. He warned that these advances would persist without a peace agreement.

Putins remarks come as Donald Trump has warned Ukraine to agree to his widely-criticised peace proposal by Thursday  or lose access to US intelligence and weapons.

Volodymyr Zelensky said his nation faced one of the most difficult moments in our history as he considers a 28 point, US-brokered plan that appears to heavily favour Russia.

The US has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine to pressure it into agreeing to the framework ( TOM BRENNER/AFP via Getty Images )

Kyiv would have to cede land, agree not to join Nato, and accept limits on the size of its military  while Russia would be welcomed back into the international community.

Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, Zelensky said in a bleak address to the nation, vowing he would not betray his country.

The US has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine to pressure it into agreeing to the framework, according to Reuters sources.

Trump confirmed he had given Ukraine until next Thursday  the United States Thanksgiving holiday  to agree to the deal.

I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, he told Fox News Radio. But Thursday we think is an appropriate time.

The Kremlin has urged Ukraine to negotiate now or risk losing more territory, claiming that thousands of Ukrainian troops were trapped in Kharkiv amid a Russian advance in the east.

The space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while claiming Moscow is yet to receive anything official from the US on the actual proposition.
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A Russian commander has become the first military official to be accused of systematic and coordinated war crimes related to the Bucha massacre, one of the bloodiest atrocities of the war in Ukraine.

Yurii Vladimirovich Kim, 28, the lieutenant platoon commander in the 76th Air Assault Division, is suspected of being criminally responsible for ordering troops to commit war crimes, including the wilful killing of civilians, during the illegal occupation of Bucha between 7 March and 1 April 2022 in the early stages of Russias full-scale invasion.

open image in gallery Kim, 28, is alleged to be responsible for 17 killings committed by his platoon ( Defense Intelligence of Ukraine )

Kim is suspected to be responsible for 17 killings and four instances of ill-treatment purposely committed by forces under his command.

Ukrainian officials said that 458 bodies were recovered from the illegal occupation in the Kyiv Oblast, including nine children under the age of 18. Horrific photographs from Bucha published at the time showed bodies strewn across the street, wrapped in bin bags and buried in mass graves.

The International Criminal Court was asked by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Ukrainian authorities to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice.

open image in gallery The massacre in Bucha is considered to be one of the bloodiest in Ukrainian history ( Global Rights Compliance )

The Notice of Suspicion against Kim, issued by Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) and the National Police of Ukraine with support from international law foundation Global Rights Compliance (GRC), marks the beginning of an investigation of a pre-trial period which is seeking to hold Russian military leaders accountable for alleged war crimes.

Investigators used witness testimonies, crime scene reconstructions, identity parades, crime scene forensics, maps, and open-source intelligence to identify Kim as one of six suspected Russian soldiers who committed atrocities in Bucha. They claimed to have discovered instances where the Commander specifically ordered his forces to hunt, harm and kill individuals perceived as supporting or assisting Ukrainian armed or security forces.

The Commander then allegedly ordered his subordinates to burn some of the bodies to conceal the crime. If brought to trial, Kim could face between 20 years to life in prison, according to GRC. The Independent has contacted Russias Defence Ministry for comment.

Jeremy Pizzi, legal advisor at GRC indicated this Notice of Suspicion was one of many to come that would lay bare how Russias atrocities were committed under a command structure.

open image in gallery Mass graves were uncovered by Ukrainian officials in Bucha ( Getty Images )

This Notice of Suspicion is a building block, one of many to come. It rebuts the narrative that Russian atrocities in Bucha were the product of opportunistic perpetrators and exposes how atrocities were committed following specific criminal plans to target particular sectors of Ukrainian society essential for national resistance, he said. Given the extent of these patterns, we can begin to direct our attention upwards to the complicity of Russias leadership.

Kim was accused of urging his subordinates to commit atrocities and convincing them of their impunity. According to a translation of the Notice of Suspicion, seen by The Independent, the Commander organised a reporting system through which he was aware of all his subordinates actions in the occupied territories with real opportunities to prevent crimes or punish those who committed them. Violence against Buchas residents became the norm for the entire unit, according to the Notice.

Some 330 victims and witnesses have been interrogated as part of a large-scale, complex investigation into the massacre, as well as 59 investigative experiments, 86 identifications by photographs, 89 inspections of crime scenes and three exhumations of deceased bodies.

open image in gallery A view of a destroyed house in Bucha ( Global Rights Compliance )

Maksym Tsutskiridze, first deputy head of the National Police of Ukraine  head of the Main Investigation Department, said the investigation was a step towards understanding the chain of command involved in the war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The investigation of war crimes in Bucha is not only about delivering justice for the crimes of the past  it is about our ability to uphold justice in its highest sense. We have moved beyond bringing low-ranking perpetrators to account  now we are uncovering the chain of command decisions through which ordinary orders turned into mass executions of civilians, he said.

Behind every piece of evidence collected by our investigators stands the life of a person killed in their own home or on the streets of their city. We have no right to make mistakes, for their memory compels us to be impeccable.

He added that the mission of the police was to build a system that guarantees the inevitability of punishment for international crimes and strengthens global trust in Ukrainian justice.

We do everything possible in pursuit of truth, justice and the restoration of the dignity of every person who perished in Bucha, he said.
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Russian forces are dressing up as civilians to confuse Ukraines defensive forces in the eastern town of Pokrovsk, Kyivs military has said.

The commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed "Liutyi, told Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne that Russian troops are acting more like sabotage and reconnaissance groups rather than following any typical procedures of war.

"The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so. Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units, Liutyi said.

The town in Ukraines Donetsk region has been the site of fierce fighting in the past year, with Russian troops finally entering in recent weeks after months of edging closer despite heavily fortified Ukrainian defences.

open image in gallery Russian troops have entered Pokrovsk in recent weeks after more than a year of fierce fighting in the region ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Liutyi added: They do not follow any standard procedures, but their movements still complicate our logistics routes.

The commander also said Russian troops are trying to exploit weather conditions to allow them to move through the city with ease.

Ukrainian forces rely heavily on drones for reconnaissance and defence missions. When Russian troops move through the city in rainy or foggy conditions, it makes it more difficult for Ukraines troops to track them.

Moscows troops have avoided bringing large, heavy equipment into Pokrovsk regularly, as it comes under heavy fire by Ukraines defence. A Russian tank was struck by soldiers of the 68th Brigade while approaching the city, The Kyiv Independent reported.

At the same time, the Russian army avoids bringing heavy equipment into Pokrovsk too frequently, as it quickly comes under fire.

open image in gallery Drone footage from Provost, Ukraine ( Skala - 425th Separate Assault Regiment via AP )

"(Russian forces) have long since abandoned these attempts, when 1620 units of equipment entered at the same time, because it is difficult to hide equipment from us. We will find it anyway and burn it," Liutyi said.

Soldiers of the 68th Brigade struck a Russian tank on 19 November as it approached the city.

But logistics remain difficult in the area, after Russian troops created a so-called killzone around Pokrovsk stretching up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the city to the frontline.

"The enemy has brought many of its best crews here to work against us. The intensity of enemy drone strikes is so great that sometimes it is simply impossible to drive in (the positions)," the Ukrainian commander said, adding that they therefore have to travel through this area on foot.

Using a civilian disguise is known as perfidy. It is considered a war crime under international law.
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A Trump administration proposal to end the war in Ukraine would force Kyiv into giving up land while compensating the United States for upholding the peace.

The 28-point plan, drawn up following talks between Washington and Moscow, offers a guarantee of US protection for Ukraine.

In return for Kyiv must give up on its NATO ambitions and European allies agree to not station troops in Ukraine, rebuffing British-led plans to deploy international peacekeepers.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would work with the US on their vision and talks are reportedly due to take place in the last week of November.

The plan is still only a framework but initial impressions show a proposal leaning heavily in Russias favour. Below we look at the details that have been revealed so far.

open image in gallery Donald Trump meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in October ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Here is Trumps proposal, verbatim:

1. Ukraines sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and NATO will not expand further.

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.

8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.

open image in gallery The proposal to end the war mirrors a similar deal to end the war in Gaza, and comes after talks between Washington and Moscow ( REUTERS )

10. The U.S. guarantee:

 The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee;

 If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;

 If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;

 If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:

 The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

 The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraines gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.

 Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas.

 Infrastructure development.

 Extraction of minerals and natural resources.

 The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.

open image in gallery Independence Square in Kyiv, hit by a power outage amid talks of a peace deal ( AFP via Getty Images )

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:

 The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.

 The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

 Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:

 $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;

 The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraines reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.

open image in gallery Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian cities while insisting readiness for peace talks ( AFP/Getty )

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50.

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:

 Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

 Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.

 All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.

21. Territories:

 Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

 Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.

 Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.

 Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone.

open image in gallery Under the proposal, Russia would lose its guarantees and the recognition of territory if it reopened attacks on Ukraine ( REUTERS )

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

 All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis.

 All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

 A family reunification program will be implemented.

 Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has presented a proposal to end the war seen to favour Russia ( Getty )

26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.

28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement.
The Russian occupiers lost 83 military personnel in the Pokrov direction during the day, and in total, 56 offensive actions took place here during the day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"Today, according to preliminary data, 83 occupiers were neutralized in this direction, 59 of which were irretrievably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two units of automotive equipment, hit a UAV control point and five personnel shelters," the evening report said.

In total, in the Pokrovk direction during this day, the aggressor attacked Ukrainian positions 56 times during the day. Five combat clashes are ongoing.
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Donald Trump has warned Ukraine to agree to his widely criticised peace proposal by Thursday 27 November or lose access to US intelligence and weapons.

Volodymyr Zelensky said his nation faces one of the most difficult moments in our history as he considers a 28-point US-brokered plan that appears to heavily favour Russia.

Kyiv would have to cede land, agree not to join Nato, and accept limits on the size of its military  while Russia would be welcomed back into the international community.

Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, Mr Zelensky said in a bleak address to the nation, vowing that he would not betray his country.

The US has threatened to cut intelligence-sharing and the supply of weapons to Ukraine in an effort to pressure it into agreeing to the framework, according to Reuters sources.

Mr Trump confirmed he had given Ukraine until next Thursday  the United States Thanksgiving holiday  to agree to the deal.

open image in gallery After an outwardly productive summit in Washington last month, the Trump administration has now presented Kyiv with a difficult peace proposal ( AP )

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, the US president told Fox News Radio. But Thursday, we think, is an appropriate time.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said the US proposals could be the basis of a resolution of the conflict, but that if Kyiv turned down the plan then Russian forces would advance further.

"I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement," Putin told senior officials at a meeting of the Russian Security Council.

Putin said that Ukraine was against the plan but that neither Kyiv nor European powers understood the reality that Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine and would continue to advance unless there was peace.

"If Kyiv does not want to discuss President Trump's proposal and refuses to do so, then both they and the European warmongers should understand that the events that took place in Kupiansk will inevitably be repeated in other key sectors of the front," he said. "And in general, that works for us."

The Kremlin urged Ukraine to negotiate now or risk losing more territory, claiming that thousands of Ukrainian troops were trapped in Kharkiv amid a Russian advance in the east.

The space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while claiming that Moscow was yet to receive anything official from the US on the actual proposition.

European leaders have raised concerns about the plan, which was drawn up without their involvement.

Russias war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe, said the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. This is a very dangerous moment for all.

open image in gallery The aftermath of a Russian airstrike on the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine on Wednesday ( AP )

A joint statement from Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Friedrich Merz said that any agreement would have to fully involve Ukraine, preserve its sovereignty and guarantee its future security.

The Trump plan would see the United States take responsibility for unspecified security guarantees, a major sticking point for Kyiv around ending the war. One of Ukraines main demands is dealt with in a single line that provides no details: Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.

Mutual investment and development schemes outlined in the new plan would theoretically bind US and Ukrainian interests, and the US would receive profits from a substantial programme to rebuild Ukraine. European allies would not be able to station peacekeepers in Ukraine.

Russia, meanwhile, would be invited to rejoin the G8, and be gradually reintegrated into the global community, with the lifting of sanctions discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Experts have warned that the US proposal is heavily favourable to Russia, sidelining Europe and leaving Ukraine with no meaningful security guarantees.

It looks like an attempt by Trump to score a quick diplomatic win rather than a strategy for durable peace, Natia Seskuria, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), told The Independent.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky and Keir Starmer during a London meeting in October ( No 10 Downing Street )

In its current form, the plan is a non-starter for Ukraine: it would compel Kyiv to accept major losses without credible security guarantees, while allowing Russia to advance its longstanding goal of seizing the Donbas region it does not yet fully control.

She warned that such an offer would be politically unfeasible for President Zelensky, who would have to face fresh elections within 100 days of a deal.

Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much, said Tim Ash of the think tank Chatham House. If Zelensky accepts this, I anticipate huge political, social and economic instability in Ukraine.

And William Browder, anti-corruption campaigner and head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, described the proposal as a 28-point plan cooked up probably on a drunken night in the Kremlin and then endorsed by the United States, in comments to Sky News.

open image in gallery Ukraines Zelensky faces a difficult decision as Trumps deadline approaches ( AFP/Getty )

The acceleration in US efforts to end the war comes as Ukrainian troops are on the back foot on the battlefield and Mr Zelenskys government has been undermined by a corruption scandal. With the wars fourth winter approaching, Russian troops occupy almost one-fifth of Ukraine and have been grinding slowly forward along a 750-mile front line.

Russia says it has taken control of the city of Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine, and most of Pokrovsk in the east, its first big prizes in nearly two years. Kyiv denies losing control of those cities, but has acknowledged that Russia is advancing.

Mr Zelensky held a phone call on Friday with the leaders of the UK, Germany and France, and later spoke to the US vice-president JD Vance, with a call to Mr Trump expected to take place next week.

We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war, he said. We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.
Close We are Russias next target warns Nato chief

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Europe should prepare for a war like our grandparents endured and rapidly boost defence spending to deter the threat of Russia, Natos secretary general has warned.

Speaking at a conference in Berlin, Mark Rutte said that Europe needed to be crystal clear that we are Russias next target - and that Nato is already in harms way.

I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many dont feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now, he said.

Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly. Our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe.

His comments come after Donald Trump says he exchanged "pretty strong words" with European leaders on a call discussing his proposal to end the Ukraine war.

Trump also said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has to be realistic about his countrys position on a peace plan, and said the US will make a determination depending on what they come back with.
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Workers at Zara are planning widespread protests across seven European countries this Black Friday, a crucial sales period, to demand the reinstatement of a profit-sharing scheme.

The European Works Council for parent company Inditex, in coordination with Spain's CCOO union, announced that demonstrations are scheduled for 28 November outside Zara stores in major cities across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain.

Rosa Galan, a CCOO representative at Inditex, confirmed that Zara previously operated a profit-sharing programme, which was discontinued following the pandemic. "We are once again asking that a company that has huge profits, which are the result of the work of its staff, distribute those profits fairly," Galan stated, highlighting the core demand. Inditex has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the planned industrial action.

The world's largest listed fast-fashion retailer has experienced robust sales growth in the years since the coronavirus pandemic, with its shares having doubled in value over the past three years.

Black Friday, the final Friday of November, and the surrounding weeks represent a key sales window for retailers, often utilised by workers globally to spotlight their demands through strikes and protests.

This follows similar actions on Black Friday in 2022, when Spanish workers protested for higher pay, leading to a 20 per cent average wage increase for Inditex store staff in its home country three months later.

Zara employees plan to protest on Black Friday ( AFP via Getty Images )

Zara employees' strike is just the latest company to see disruption this holiday season. Starbucks workers went on strike this week on the launch of Red Cup Day, which is typically one of its busiest days of the year.

At least 95 Starbucks stores in 65 US cities participated in the strike, Starbucks Workers United union said.

There is no date set for the strike to end, and more stores are prepared to join if Starbucks doesnt reach a contract agreement with the union, organizers said.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing a confluence of crises, testing his ability to lead an increasingly weary nation nearly four years into Russia's devastating full-scale invasion.

For more than a week, Mr Zelenskyy has struggled to contain the fallout from a \$100 million corruption scandal implicating top officials and other associates. The pressure on Mr Zelenskyy has ratcheted up as the United States pushes a proposal it drew up with Russia that would require major concessions from Ukraine  and seemingly few from Russia  to bring an end to the war.

All this is playing out as Russia makes slow but steady advances across parts of the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and relentlessly bombs Ukraine's power plants, causing severe electricity shortages as colder weather sets in.

Here are 5 things to know about the growing pressures confronting Zelenskyy:

Facing a rebellion

Zelenskyy has been facing a rebellion from lawmakers in his own party since the country's corruption watchdogs revealed that $100 million had been embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors.

After investigators publicized their findings, Zelenskyy dismissed two top officials and imposed sanctions on close associates. One Zelenskyy associate implicated in the scheme, Tymur Mindich, has reportedly fled the country. Mindich is a partner in a media production company that Zelenskyy was a co-owner of before he became president.

Some Ukrainian lawmakers and activists are calling on the president to sack his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak.

Neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak have been accused of wrongdoing by investigators. But because Yermak is widely believed to decide key government appointments and to have sway in top political affairs, lawmakers believe he should take responsibility as a way to help restore the public's trust.

open image in gallery Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks to journalists during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (Yavuz Ozden/Dia Photo via AP)

The Servant of the People party that Zelenskyy leads won over two-thirds of parliamentary seats in 2019. But some politicians warn Zelenskyy could lose his parliamentary majority, or face a split in his party, if he doesn't part ways with Yermak.

Many of Zelenskyys political allies feel something has to change, even if they have not gone public with their concerns, said Mykola Davidiuk, an independent political expert. One of the chief criticisms of Zelenskyy's government is that too much power is concentrated in the hands of Yermak and his advisers, Davidiuk said.

The management style of Zelenskyy is not working," he said.

How decisively Zelenskyy responds to the corruption scandal could determine whether the fallout damages Ukraines standing with allies, said Davidiuk.

Zelenskyy's hold on power not imminently at risk

Russia's invasion triggered martial law in Ukraine, indefinitely postponing presidential and parliamentary elections.

So even if Zelenskyy's grip on parliament weakens and his popularity plummets, he is highly unlikely to be unseated while the war is still going on  unless he voluntarily resigns.

Ukraines presidential term is normally five years and, before the war, the next elections had been scheduled for spring of 2024.

The growing political headwinds Zelenskyy faces could challenge his ability to push through parliament any potential peace deal being negotiated with Russia. And if he were to seek reelection after the war, his chances could be hurt if Yermak is still in the picture, political analysts say.

A former general is seen as a rival, but denies political aspirations

No elected Ukrainian opposition figures pose a viable threat to Zelenskyy.

One potential challenger could be Ukraines former army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who oversaw several successful counteroffensives in the first year of the war and was sacked by the Ukrainian president in late 2023.

Zaluzhnyi now serves as Ukraines ambassador to the UK.

Zaluzhnyi denies any intention to enter politics, but polls in Ukraine show him as theoretically competitive with Zelenskyy, keeping speculation alive that he could be convinced to run in the next election.

US and Russia design a plan to end the war in Ukraine

The U.S. and Russia have drawn up a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that calls for major concessions from Kyiv, according to a person briefed on the plan, including granting some demands the Kremlin has made repeatedly since it invaded early in 2022.

The plan calls in part for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia and to abandon certain weaponry, according to the person, who was not authorized to comment on the plan publicly. It would also include the rollback of some critical U.S. military assistance.

Russia, as part of the proposal, would be given effective control of the entire eastern Donbas region  an area Moscow has long sought  even though Ukraine is still in control of part of it.

Zelenskyy has previously rejected the same conditions, describing them as unconstitutional and unjust. Zelenskyy has yet to comment on the new U.S. plan.

Reports about the plan came out just as Zelenskyy was facing increased unrest over the corruption scandal. The timing is very damaging for Ukraine, said Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert at Chatham House.

Zelenskyy is vulnerable. Both the U.S. and Russia (saw) the domestic scandal and decided to put more pressure on him to concede to a Russian plan, Lutsevych said. But the effort may not work out as envisioned, she said, noting that European allies are coming to Ukraine's defense and speaking out against the plan.

Pressure on the front and across the country

Against this backdrop, Russias better equipped army has scaled up attacks along the front line and against energy facilities in the rear, putting further strain on Ukraine.

The Russian army continues to steadily advance in multiple areas. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian forces are pushing on the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, which Ukraine wrested back from Russia in the first year of the war. But the fiercest battles are around the besieged Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russian attacks on Ukraines power plants in November have resulted in some of the worst electricity shortages since the war began.
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A crucial test for SpaceX's upgraded Starship rocket ended in failure on Friday morning in Texas, potentially complicating the company's ambitions to prove the rocket's moon-landing capabilities for NASA.

Observers captured video footage of the incident.

Elon Musk's SpaceX had moved the upgraded stainless steel Super Heavy booster to a testing pad at its Starbase facilities on Thursday, intending to test its redesigned propellant systems and structural strength.

However, during a test around 4am CT on Friday, live video from the SpaceX-watching group LabPadre showed the towering booster suddenly buckle and release a cloud of gas, suggesting an explosion had ruptured its exterior.

In a statement, SpaceX acknowledged an "anomaly during gas system pressure testing," confirming no injuries.

The company clarified that the mishap occurred before its planned structural strength test. "The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause," SpaceX stated.

The company had hoped to fly the booster, along with its Starship upper stage  which was not involved in Friday's incident  early next year for its 12th Starship flight demonstration since 2023. This setback is now expected to delay that target.

open image in gallery Elon Musk's SpaceX had rolled the stainless steel booster out to a testing pad on Thursday at the company's Starbase rocket facilities, saying it intended to test its redesigned propellant systems and structural strength ( REUTERS )

The company has faced pressure from NASA to advance its whirlwind Starship development program to a new phase of tests involving features related to the rocket's future moon landings, a multibillion-dollar pair of missions for the U.S. space agency that would put the first humans on the lunar surface since 1972.

The mission has made Starship a central component of the U.S. moon program, which is increasingly pressed to achieve a landing before China does around 2030.

NASA's acting and prospective leadership camps have tussled over how best to return humans to the moon while China's space program advances.

The booster that suffered the mishap on Friday was the first of Starship V3, an iteration of the rocket that SpaceX has said packs an array of new designs and features related to the moon program.

SpaceX is known for speedy production of multiple booster iterations as part of its capital-intensive test-to-failure ethos of rocket development.

open image in gallery The booster that suffered the mishap on Friday was the first of Starship V3, an iteration of the rocket that SpaceX has said packs an array of new designs and features related to the moon program ( AFP via Getty Images )

But it was unclear whether it readily had another V3 booster it could resume tests with, or by how many months the mishap could set back the Starship program.

Of the five Starship flight tests this year, the first three suffered complex and explosive setbacks before SpaceX resumed steady development progress in August, making for a bumpy year.

Starship's last flight in October was the final test before SpaceX moved to build the V3 version, which it hoped to fly in February 2026.

Starbase, the sprawling SpaceX Starship facilities in south Texas, has had multiple testing explosions in the past.

A Starship booster exploded in a giant fireball on its testing pad in June, sending debris across the U.S.-Mexico border two miles (3.22 km) away and sparking political tension with the country's president.
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It's billed as the "crown of the continent"  a land of immense glaciers, dazzling lakes and jaw-dropping mountains carved out by ice rivers that's a photographer's paradise.

But travelers are being urged not to go to Montana's Glacier National Park in 2026.

The wilderness area has been included on Fodor's list of 'No' locations for next year, due to overtourism.

The travel guide publisher argues that the shrinking of the park's glaciers has led to a surge in "last-chance tourism," which is leading to congestion, the faster accumulation of garbage and a greater risk of wildlife disturbance.

In addition, the guide points out, increased carbon emissions are having a detrimental effect on air quality and backpackers are being jammed into trails by wildfire closures, making it harder to maintain them and for rescuers to reach people in trouble.

open image in gallery This US national park is suffering from overtourism, says travel guide Fodors which advises against visiting Montanas Glacier National Park. ( Getty )

Glacier National Park is warming twice as fast as the global average, with only 27 of the 150 or so glaciers from the early 20th century remaining.

Michael Jamison, Northern Rockies campaign director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said: "No one has any meaningful data on the extent to which last-chance tourism is motivating travelers here, but anecdotally, there's no doubt people are racing to see a glacier before they're gone."

He added that there's a "staggering disconnect" between the desperation to see natural wonders before they vanish and the lack of concern over the damage surges in visitor numbers cause to the environment.

The other destinations on the No list are Antarctica; The Canary Islands, Spain; Isola Sacra, Italy; The Jungfrau Region, Switzerland; Mexico City, Mexico; Mombasa, Kenya; and Montmartre, Paris, France.

Should travelers strike these spots from their bucket lists permanently? Jeremy Tarr, Digital Editorial Director at Fodor's Travel, stressed that the No list is not a call for boycotts.

He explained: "The No List is the rare travel list that encourages both desire and restraint in the same breath  a reality check wrapped in responsible wanderlust. It serves as a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now  not forever  and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather."

So where should Americans visit instead?

Handily, Fodor's also produces an annual 'Go' list, which this year includes Buncombe County, North Carolina; Coupeville, Washington; Indio, California; Keene Valley, New York; Key West, Florida; and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

open image in gallery Key West in Florida is on the list of destinations Fodor's says travelers should try to visit in 2026. ( miami2you - stock.adobe.com )

Buncombe County, says Fodor's, is "riding a renaissance after weathering the challenges of 2024's Hurricane Helene"; Coupeville is "making a new name for itself as a destination for creatives"; the desert town of Indio is now "humming with bars, boutiques and cafes"; Keene Valley in New York's Adirondack Mountains is a "must visit for those who love nature"; Key West "greets you like a vibrant and welcoming mini-city"; and Martha's Vineyard has "a laid-back charm that's undeniable."

Outside the U.S., other places on the Go list include Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Canberra, Australia; Greenland; Thessaloniki, Greece; Wurzburg, Germany; Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya; Orizaba, Mexico; The Azores, Portugal; and Saba, in the Dutch Caribbean.

Tarr added: "In recent months, travel has proved anything but relaxing. Between a government shutdown, FAA-mandated cuts in flights, and security lines that rival those snaking outside a Taylor Swift concert, we hope that next year's travels will return to being an instrument of joy and a break from the stress of everyday life."

The eight 2026 No List destinations

Antarctica The Canary Islands, Spain Glacier National Park, USA Isola Sacra, Italy The Jungfrau Region, Switzerland Mexico City, Mexico Mombasa, Kenya Montmartre, Paris, France

America's 2026 Go List destinations
Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour said she was attacked by a stranger in London minutes before an audition, months after someone attempted to snatch her phone.

Ms Chenneour, who plays Miss Clara Livingston in the Netflix period drama, fought off a thief who tried to steal her phone at a cafe in February.

In a post to Instagram, the actor said a man struck her and pushed her "up against the wall", just as she was arriving for an audition on Thursday (20 November) in Oxford Circus.

"It's so nerve-racking for me to be out in central London now", she added, holding back tears.

The Independent has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
The chair of An Post said it was wholly unfair that the companys CEO was only being paid 250,000 a year while other semi-state bosses were having their wages hiked.

In discussions with Government, chairman Kieran Mulvey said the package for An Posts boss had been in place since 2019 without any increase. He said there had been no change to reflect market conditions, competitor activity, acknowledgement of performance history, experience and length of time in the post.
What I spend on Christmas: I would imagine that my total will be about 2,000 and the majority of my budget will be on my own kids
Ukraine not considering changing borders during possible new negotiations with Russia  Ambassador Stefanishyna

Ukraine will not agree to any negotiations that would involve changing its internationally recognized borders or recognizing Russian territorial acquisitions, said Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraines ambassador to the United States, during a speech at the Global Womens Summit.

She emphasized that Ukraines territorial integrity is an unchanging position that cannot be compromised.

The territorial integrity of Ukraine and changing Ukraines borders are not something that can be negotiated. We are talking about stopping at the existing line, Stefanishyna noted, recalling that the Ukrainian president had previously voiced a similar position during his visit to Washington.

According to her, possible discussions may concern only the technical details of defining the stop line, but to say that Ukraine will change the borders and recognize that Russia has succeeded in this military aggression cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

Stefanishyna also stressed that Kyiv does not view the Russian proposals as constructive: "You can talk about each of the 28 Russian points, but there is no point in taking them seriously. So we are focusing on something else," she said.

The ambassador added that Ukraine supports President Trump's leadership in the process of finding solutions, but pointed to the risks associated with Russia's position during the negotiations.

"I am afraid that the Russians will never commit to anything... And my biggest fear is that the Russians will continue to stall for time, to play tactical games," Stefanishyna stressed.
Activists protest against the power of Big Tech companies outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Getty

Is the EU caving to the US and businesses on AI and privacy?

Faced with relentless pressure from the Trump administration, Big Tech companies and European business lobbies, the EU is delaying or diluting some of the rights it promised in successive privacy and regulatory laws.
Groups founder and chairman, Tim Martin, backed Leave campaign

UK pub and hotel group JD Wetherspoon  whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU  is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape, the Irish Independent has learnt.
He put Morning Ireland on the map  Taoiseach

(L to R) David Davin-Power and David Hanly in the 'Morning Ireland' studios

Former RTE broadcaster and writer David Hanly has died aged 82.

Mr Hanley, who hailed from Limerick, was one of the original presenters of RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland, where he worked for around two decades.

In 1979, his novel, In Guilt and In Glory was published.

In the 1980s, he was the presenter of Hanly's People.

The show was a weekly programme featuring a guest in conversation with Hanly in a living-room setting for half an hour.

Later in his career he presented an RTE radio programme celebrating poets and poetry.

Taoiseach Michael Martin has led tributes to Mr Hanly.

In a statement said: I am saddened to learn of the passing of broadcaster David Hanly.

I have fond memories of interviews with him on Morning Ireland. He was sharp, highly intelligent, and always had a sense of perspective.

He put Morning Ireland on the map. His voice was unmistakable. My thoughts are with his family, friends and former colleagues at this time.

In a statement this afternoon, President Catherine Connolly said Mr Hanly was a broadcaster of great distinction.

"As one of the founding voices of Morning Ireland, co-presenting with the late David Davin-Power, David Hanly was a broadcaster of great distinction, Ms Connolly said.

I recall his work on Hanly's People where he brought his trademark intelligence, integrity and warmth to his many interviews.

As a gifted writer also, working for the RTE radio series The Kennedys of Castleross and the TV series The Riordans, Davids contribution to Irish public service broadcasting and the arts over many decades has left an indelible mark.

May I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, to his many friends and colleagues, and to all those who admired his wonderful work.

In a post on X, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said: I am deeply saddened to have learned today of the passing of David Hanly, the broadcaster and writer.

"A native of Limerick, David became a household name through RTEs Morning Ireland but he was also a distinguished author, columnist and scriptwriter and enjoyed a rich and varied career in journalism and public relations.

The Tanaiste added: For many, including myself, David was the voice we woke up to as the presenter of RTEs Morning Ireland for two decades.
They feared their little boy was going to die  Child (8) waits nearly two hours for ambulance after suffering horrific injury
New research suggests Victorian kennel clubs did not create modern dog breeds  so where did they come from?

A new global study has upended previous assumptions about dogs widely varying characteristics

A dog's jawbone used in the study

Sean Duke Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 06:30

The origins of the incredible variety in dog species, from Great Danes to chihuahuas, did not begin, as previously thought, with selective breeding efforts by the Victorians.
Funerals take place for two lifelong friends killed in Co Louth crash that claimed five lives

Funeral in Co. Meath for young man killed in car crash on Saturday night

Louise Hickey and Adrianna Wrona Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 13:07

The first two funerals have taken place today for five young people who lost their lives in an horrific crash in Co Louth.
John Burns: Scale of damages in Denis OBrien libel case will fuel calls to take juries out of the equation

Solicitors awarded over 400,000 each after court finds press release defamed them

Denis O'Brien. Inset top: Darragh Mackin. Inset bottom: Gavin Booth

John Burns Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 22:30

Ten days ago, a jury in the High Court began hearing evidence in a libel case taken by two lawyers against the businessman Denis OBrien and his spokesman James Morrissey.
The European Union announced the launch of a new call for project proposals worth EUR 17 million within the Ukraine Facility to support civil society in Ukraine, the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) reported on its Facebook page.

The competition focuses on five thematic areas: women and gender equality, media, human rights, social cohesion and youth. As the IER noted, participation in the competition is open to civil society organizations throughout Ukraine.

"From the first days of the Ukrainian struggle for freedom, the EU has been there, supporting reforms, rebuilding communities and protecting democracy. The new competition is more than just funding, it is long-term support for people, ideas and the future of Ukraine," the report says.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova stressed the importance of supporting civil society: "that is why I am pleased to announce a new EUR 17 million Call for Proposals  focused on five key areas where Ukraine needs strong, independent voices  support to womens organisations, media, human rights, social cohesion & youth."
People look at a residential building that was heavily damaged after a Russian strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Laudable though US president Donald Trumps ambitions to assemble a peace train in Ukraine may be, total capitulation by Kyiv cannot be on the table.

A top Pentagon delegation has been sent by Washington with a plan to end the war.

Leaked details about its terms suggest it amounts to a Kremlin wish list, acceding to all of Russian president Vladimir Putins demands.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has noted that achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.

But those familiar with the proposals say Ukraine is being asked to pay a ruinous price for Russias aggression, while Putin is being rewarded beyond all expectation. Kyiv would be asked to surrender huge swathes of territory and also halve its army.

Were it to do either, it would be more vulnerable to future Russian attacks, with less means of resistance.

The proposals were reportedly drafted by Mr Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Once again Kyiv was not consulted, in keeping with Washingtons habit of pandering to Putin. The 28-point plan would see Ukraine give up areas of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine that it still controls. It would also radically reduce the size of its armed forces, and forego many of its weapons.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out any territorial concessions to Russia.

European governments were also kept completely in the dark about the plan. But the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has insisted that for any blueprint to work, it would need to Ukraine and Europe on board.

French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot was even more direct, insisting: The Ukrainians do not want any form of capitulation.

There is a classic occupation, when a foreign army comes to kill the citizens of another state

As details of the plan emerged, at least 26 people were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on blocks of flats in Ukraine. Another 22 people were missing, Mr Zelensky said.

The carnage must end, but it would help if we knew precisely where the US stands on how this can be done. It is impossible to say given its shifting positions.

In Kyiv, one official said: Presidents Zelensky and Trump have already agreed to stop the conflict along the existing lines of engagement, and there are agreements on granting security guarantees.

The latest plan seems to undermine any such assurances. A key adviser to Mr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak struggled to be diplomatic about the US proposals: There is no conflict between two sides. There is a classic occupation, when a foreign army comes to kill the citizens of another state, he said.

Many fear the narrative across the Atlantic is: Ukraines fate is sealed, so give Moscow whatever it wants, and end the killing.

Kyiv is on the back foot. But informed estimates suggest that at the current rate of progress, it will take Russia 100 years to secure its goals.

As for ending the killing? Surrendering to Putin is sure to whet his appetite for more aggression. It could only fuel further conflict, not finish it.
I wish to take issue with Peter Elsts letter (In Governments game of bingo, theres a Simon of all trades, master of none, Irish Independent, Letters, November 20).

Simon Harris has a great deal of experience in government. He accumulated much of it due to the fact that the opposition he has faced have never succeeded in getting into government, so it remains to be seen how capable they might be of serving.

Based on their uncompromising views to date, I struggle to see how either Mary Lou McDonald or Pearse Doherty would be comfortable in the government.

In the past, people like Charles Haughey, Neil Blaney and Brian Lenihan served in many portfolios. I doubt if Mr Elst would categorise any of these as jacks of all trades and masters of none.

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

From foreign affairs to finance, Tanaiste cannot escape a lack of progress

An open question to Minister Simon Harris: In your opinion, which will be ready first, the Occupied Territories Bill or the Childrens Hospital?

Art O Laoghaire, Bray, Co Wicklow

Donohoe was a pair of steady hands when we needed them most

During the early days of Covid-19, I could not grasp the potential medical issues involved, nor could I grasp the medium- to long-term consequences the epidemic might have on human society.

I could, however, anticipate that the States financial and economic structures and status could well come under severe stress.

It was then I was thankful that Paschal Donohoe was our finance minister.

Michael Gannon, St Thomass Square, Kilkenny

A united Ireland is far less important than ensuring citizens can heat homes

Thanks to the Irish Independent for publishing Anthony OLearys missive (Sinn Fein has set back all united Ireland prospects for 50 years and counting, Letters, November 20).

I was fortunate to see the new documentary on Gerry Adams recently in the cinema. Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man chronicles 60 years of activism, from prisoner to statesman, and won the award for best international documentary at this years Galway Film Fleadh.

I was struck by something Mr Adams alluded to in the film, when he said a political party should ultimately be judged by how it treats the weakest in society.

The fact that billionaires are lecturing us about how our young people are lazy and entitled while hundreds of thousands of people struggle to pay their energy bills tells us all we need to know, I think.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Another year with top-up funding for the HSE, but little to show for it

I note that the HSE will need extra funding of more than 300m this year. Lets not forget that thats on top of the almost 26bn already allocated.

The 300m top-up was recently disclosed at a meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee, which also discussed the much delayed National Childrens Hospital.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that early access to this hospital was expected next month. Lets hope that the Minister is right in her prediction.

Its my contention that 300m is a substantial sum of exchequer money. People may well be wondering why every single year the health budget is overspent.

John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

US presidents latest gaffe indicative of sharp decline in human decency

Donald Trump addressing a female reporter as Piggy suggests to me that the White House is being transformed into Animal Farm.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

It is only a matter of time until American voters feel embarrassed by Trump

It is not difficult to understand Tanya Sweeneys disgust at the words from the mouth of Donald Trump (Quiet Piggy  Trumps latest outburst is about more than misogyny and body-shaming, Irish Independent, November 20).

The man is bereft of even an iota of tact, let alone an understanding of public decency. One certainty is that Trump will go down in the history of America among the most ignorant of his nations citizens since its foundation.

His use of ungentlemanly language is beyond compare, as is his bombastic manner of speaking to anyone not of his ilk.

Trump has fooled millions of people with his rhetoric for many years now. One day in the future, they could well be embarrassed at their foolishness in applauding him  and his empty words.

His response to Pope Leos recent letter to American clergy will be interesting.

Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia

Irony of needing Airbnb income to send children to college is palpable

Yesterdays article on short-term letting highlights a striking lack of self-awareness from some providers (We rely on our Airbnb money to send our children to college  but were being scapegoated for the housing crisis, Irish Independent, November 20).

One interviewee describes relying on Airbnb income to put her children through college, while claiming that short-term lets are being unfairly scapegoated for Irelands housing crisis. Yet the very model she depends on is widely recognised as contributing to the shortage of long-term rental accommodation. The irony is hard to miss.

Airbnb was initially hailed as a positive market disruptor, offering flexibility and supplemental income. However, cities worldwide, from Berlin to Barcelona, have begun scaling back or regulating short-term rentals, recognising how quickly they can become parasitic on the long-term rental market.

Removing homes from permanent occupancy reduces housing availability and drives up rents, directly affecting the teachers, nurses and other workers who form the backbone of our communities.

It is disingenuous to celebrate Airbnbs benefits for individual families while ignoring its wider societal cost.

Glenn Fitzpatrick, Drimnagh, Dublin
The Indo Daily: Enoch Burke jailed again - Who is funding his crusade?

Having previously spent over 500 days inside the walls of the Dublin jail, controversial and outspoken schoolteacher Enoch Burke is back for a fresh stint  his fourth, to be precise.

As the judge issued yet another ruling against him this week, Burkes behaviour at the grounds of Wilsons Hospital School was described in the strongest of terms: grotesque, a baleful and malign presence, and an intruder stalking the school.

Its beginning to feel like a never-ending story, with the Burke family a recurring fixture in Irish media for the past three years.

What began as a workplace dispute over his objection to transgenderism, has spiralled into an ongoing and costly legal saga, one that has already seen him fined 225,000 for contempt.

So, how might this saga ultimately conclude for one of the countrys most headline-grabbing families?

And who is footing the bill for the Burkes evangelical campaign?

On todays Indo Daily, Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor with the Irish Independent, and Conal Thomas, Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent, analyse Enoch Burkes latest legal entanglement, and examine how the Burkes are financing their costly campaigns.
Minister for Justice Jim O Callaghan, who was guest of honour at the Sean Moylan Commemoration, is pictured with elected representatives and members of the organising committee at Sean Moylans graveside in Kiskeam last Sunday

Jim O Callaghan, Minister for Justice, delivered the keynote speech at the 68th annual Sean Moylan Commemoration in Kiskeam last Sunday. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald

Jim O Callaghan, Minister for Justice, called in to the local Mens Shed during his visit to Kiskeam for the Sean Moylan Commemoration. Chatting to the Minister is Brendan Cronin, Ned O Mahony, Billy O Sullivan and Tom Dennehy

Minister for Justice Jim O Callaghan, who was guest of honour at the Sean Moylan Commemoration, is pictured with elected representatives and members of the Sean Moylan Commemoration committee

The 68th annual Sean Moylan Commemoration was held in Kiskeam last Sunday morning., beginning with Mass celebrated by Fr. Danny Broderick PP and music by the local Choir and Brass Band.

Cullen Pipe Band led a parade to the cemetery where Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan and Michael Lane laid a wreath on Sean Moylans grave.

John OKeeffe, Chairman of the Sean Moylan Commemoration Committee welcomed everybody and recited a decade of the Rosary. He introduced Minister Michael Moynihan who paid tribute to those who passed away during the past year and also to people who were unable to attend the event. Minister Moynihan welcomed and introduced Jim OCallaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, who delivered the keynote speech.

Minister OCallaghan expressed sincere gratitude to Michael Moynihan and to the organisers of the Commemoration for their invitation to speak at the event.

It is vitally important that we remember the stories of those who have gone before us. In particular, those who have contributed so much in bringing our nation to its present success. Understanding our history and the people who shaped it gives us roots and an appreciation of the efforts that were made to bring about the freedom we celebrate today Minister OCallaghan said, remarking that the Ireland Sean Moylan was born into in November 1889 was a place unrecognisable to the country we live in today. Still subsumed as part of the United Kingdom, it was a place struggling with poverty, inequality, sectarian division and a frustrated people who were denied, on every occasion, the opportunity to run their own affairs and take control of their destiny,

Michael Lane and Jim O Callaghan, Minister for Justice, laying a Wreath on Sean Moylans grave at the 68th annual commemoration ceremony in Kiskeam

It was also a place still recovering from the devastation of famine and rapidly losing its language and identity, the Minister said.

In spite of the grim realities and many challenges which faced our nation at this time, there were still those who believed things could be different, who believed our people deserved better, and who were willing to take action to realise the untapped potential of our nation. Sean Moylan was one of those people.

Minister OCallaghan described how Sean Moylan became involved in the struggle for Irish independence from an early age.

Within the Volunteers, his ability for intelligence gathering, careful preparation and outstanding courage resulted in his appointment as commanding officer of the Newmarket battalion and commander of the second Cork flying column.

Minister for Justice Jim O Callaghan, who was guest of honour at the Sean Moylan Commemoration, is pictured with elected representatives and members of the Sean Moylan Commemoration committee

He noted the outstanding bravery of all those involved in the struggle for freedom and focused particularly on one of the most significant military engagements of the war of independence which took place at Thade Dalys Glen in Tureengarriffe between Scartaglen and Ballydesmond on January 28th, 1921.

The Tureengarriffe ambush had a significant impact on Britains attitude to the war of independence in early 1921. The second half of 1921 saw a change in British attitude to Ireland and a recognition that they were not winning the war of independence and were continuing to lose in propaganda terms. This was a result of the increased intensity of the war in the first half of 1921 and subsequently led to the truce and negotiations.

Minister OCallaghan spoke about the subsequent Treaty with Britain in 1921 and more recently the Herculean efforts of John Hume, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and David Trimble that a lasting peace was secured through the Good Friday Agreement.

The Minister then went on to speak about the prospect of a United Ireland;

As a republican, as a member of Fianna Fail, it is my position that a united Ireland is an objective that should be pursued, not to change lines on a map, but for the betterment of all the people of Ireland. We have seen this Government seek to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement through the creation of the Shared Island Initiative under the leadership of the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin.

For the first time, the Republic has a comprehensive, multi-annual plan with an ultimate budget of over 1.5 billion to integrate and enhance the building of consensus around a shared future on the island. This is a worthwhile project and finally allows the Republic to prepare and illustrate what a shared future would look like.

The onus is on us, as people who believe in the unification of our nation, to comprehensively show what a new shared state would look like.

Many Unionist politicians in Northern Ireland will not discuss or engage with the issue of what a reunified Ireland would look like. They wont because by engaging in such a process they put themselves in a position where they probably will be accused of undermining unionism. However, there is an obligation on leaders to engage with potentially significant political developments.

In Northern Ireland that means leaders contemplating what they would want to see, and be prepared to see, in a reunified island.

Similarly, in the South it means that we need to identify what we would be prepared to agree to in order to see a reunified island. That process may be something that is easier to do in the South than in the North.

It is my view, that if we are to be successful in engaging with people from all traditions in Northern Ireland, but particularly those from the Protestant and loyalist tradition, about the constitutional future of this island, this will require us to be clear about what we are prepared to offer to ultimately allow for that shared future to occur.

That work continues. Like Moylan and his generation did at the turn of the last century, we now need to start believing in a different Ireland, Minister OCallaghan said.

Closing the 68th Commemoration, John O Keeffe, Chairperson of the Sean Moylan Commemoration Committee, thanked Minister O Callaghan for delivering the Oration, all those who helped organise the event and everyone who attended on the day.
Independent coffee shops in Cork city are invited to take part in Coffee House Lates, a unique, citywide event on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 that aims to turn coffee shops into vibrant social hubs after hours.

A Cork Night-Time Economy Initiative, facilitated by the Cork Business Association, Coffee House Lates offers an opportunity for coffee shops to showcase Corks coffee culture, attract new customers, test the night-time market, and strengthen the sense of community in a non-alcoholic, inclusive setting.

Participating coffee shops will stay open late until 10pm and will host unique events for people seeking a fresh, alternative night out in Cork.

Coffee House Lates is designed to support local business growth while giving the citys coffee lovers and residents a memorable nighttime experience.

Businesses will be supported by the CBA to help bring their events to fruition.

Fiona Collins, Cork Citys Nighttime Economy Advisor said, Following the success of last year, we are continuing our push to diversify Corks nighttime economy, and this initiative is all about redefining what a night out in Cork can be.

"By empowering our incredibly unique coffee shops to stay open later, we hope to make this late-night culture sustainable and a core, exciting part of the citys after-hours identity, she added.

Dave OBrien, President of Cork Business Association said the initiative is designed to celebrate the discovery of new evening spaces by spotlighting independent coffee businesses. Were offering the public a different way to socialise after dark. We look forward to working closely with them to curate this special cultural night.

Coffee House Lates is open to coffee shops that can extend their hours and host a unique activity that aligns with the events aim to offer an engaging, alcohol-free night out.

For more see www.corkbusiness.ie
Half of the farms inspected by Cork County Council under the National Agriculture Inspection Programme (NAIP) this year have failed to comply with the governments Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) regulations regarding water quality protection.

The local authority carried out 425 NAIP inspections in 2025 up to September 30 and found 51pc of farms to be non-compliant with the GAP regulations, a meeting of the Western Division of the council heard this week. The most common reason for non-compliance was inadequate soiled water collection and storage, followed by inadequate management of farmyard manure, council official Ger Barry told the meeting.

Of the 425 farms inspected, the areas with the most inspections were West Cork (143) and Fermoy (126). The council has sent out a total of 218 warning letters in response to non-compliant inspections with 80 of them sent to Fermoy farms and 79 to farms in West Cork.

The Cork municipal district where the highest number of NAIP-inspected farms were found to be non-compliant was Mallow/Kanturk (65pc), followed by Fermoy (63pc) and West Cork (55pc). In East Cork the figure was 36pc, 35pc in Bandon-Kinsale and 13pc in Macroom.

The purpose of the NAIP is to help maintain or bring about an improvement in natural water quality in Ireland. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report published in October found that 48pc of surface water bodies are not as ecologically healthy or resilient as they should be. Findings included a high concentration of nutrient and nitrates in river water in the south and south-east of the country.

Speaking at the Western Division meeting, Cllr John Michael Foley described the finding that half of farms inspected were non-compliant as worrying but said that most farmers are doing their utmost to control soiled water and farmyard manure and they are doing a great job. Unfortunately it is a minor few that are causing issues and I think the inspections and the compliance help to alleviate these problems.

It's not all because of farms that the 48 percent of surface water bodies are not as healthy or resilient as they should be, there are issues with sewage treatment plants and septic tanks as well, he added.

The EPA has allocated a specific number of agricultural inspections to each local authority with inspections focused in areas where water bodies are significantly impacted by agriculture. Cork County Council has been instructed to undertake GAP/NAIP inspections on a minimum of 586 farms in 2025. The council says it has an ongoing programme of follow-up and incident response engagements and is currently projected to undertake a total of 1,120 farm inspections this year.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
An application for planning permission for a solar farm with a 40-year lifespan near Midleton in East Cork has been submitted to Cork County Council. The solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on ground-mounted frames would be built on an almost 9-hectare site currently used for agriculture at Carrigogna, around 2.5 km north of the town.

The site is close to an existing electricity substation. The applicant is seeking 10-year planning permission for the PV panels, a single-storey delivery station, a single-storey transformer station, a spare parts storage container, security fencing, CCTV, landscaping, internal tracks and all associated development site works. A new site entrance off the L3601 local road would also be constructed.

A decision on the application is due in January next year. Planning permission for a solar farm on the site was previously granted to the same applicant, Amarenco Solar Midleton Limited, in 2019. The applicant at that time had sought permission for a 20-hectare facility.

Amarenco Solar is an Irish-French renewable power company co-founded by the former CEO of Bord Gais, John Mullins, who died earlier this year. Last year the company won five new solar projects under Irelands fourth Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 4) auction. The solar farms in Midleton, Cobh, Timoleague, and Carrigaline in county Cork and Ennistymon in county Clare would generate almost 30 megawatts of electricity. In July the company received planning permission to build a 47-hectare solar farm near Rathcormac.

The area of East Cork north of the towns of Midleton and Carrigtwohill has become a hotspot for solar farm applications in recent years, many of them for much larger sites than the 8.85-hectare Carrigogna proposal. In September Cork County Council refused permission for a 179-hectare solar farm at Ballysallagh while earlier this month an application for a 118-hectare one at Tibbotstown was declared invalid by the planning office. Its likely that application will be resubmitted by the applicant.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Two adjoining period homes in Cork are being sold as one lot for 1m

A rare opportunity to acquire two semi-detached properties in one lot on Blackrock Road, Cork

Glenmalure & Kilmourne House, Blackrock Road, Cork

Edana Flynn Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 08:00

Two homes with a combined 10 bedrooms and four bathroom along one of Corks most prestigious addresses, the Blackrock Road are on the market.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed a species of whale, never before recorded in Ireland, washed up in Co Donegal last weekend.

A species of whale, never before recorded in Ireland, has washed up in Co Donegal.

The body of a female Narwhal was discovered last weekend by a family walking along Sweet Nellies Beach at Greencastle on the Inishowen Peninsula.

The family reported the sighting of a small, stranded two to three metre whale or dolphin to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

Volunteers from the IWDG responded quickly and arrived at the scene to recover the carcass and collect skin samples.

The IWDG and National Parks and Wildlife Service regional staff worked together to retrieve and transport the carcass to the Regional Laboratory in Cork for post mortem examination and tests.

The Narwhal is a toothed whale found exclusively in the Arctic waters of the north Atlantic, north of 60 degrees.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has confirmed that this is the first time the species has been recorded in Ireland.

Speaking about the discovery, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD thanked the people who were involved in the operation.

"I would like to thank everyone who was involved in retrieving the stranded Narwhal for their rapid response and collaboration, from the young people who initially spotted it on the beach and raised the alert, to the dedicated teams in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my own Department.

This is a significant event and it is important that we try to find out more about why this species arrived on our coastline.

An examination is underway which I hope will reveal important details about its life and history, and shed some light on the reasons why it arrived on our shores.

"The Narwhal is an arctic species that is mainly found in cooler waters. Findings like this are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of a changing climate, and the need to protect them, said Deputy OSullivan.

Dr Simon Berrow CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin group said its a remarkable stranding.

"As our waters warm we have seen a northern movement of whales and dolphins in Irish waters as fish move north seeking cooler waters.

"To have an Arctic species stranded for the first time is somewhat unexpected.

"However we recorded another Arctic species, a bowhead whale, in Ireland for the first time in 2016 so maybe this reflects a breaking down or Arctic ecosystems as the ice melts.

"Clearly one stranding cannot display any trends but it does show the importance of our long term monitoring schemes and the power of citizen scientists sending these reports to the IWDG, said Dr Berrow.

The whale washed up in Donegal.

Niall O Donnchu, Director General of the NPWS described it as an extraordinary and unprecedented event.

We can confirm that a female Narwhal, a species never before recorded in Ireland, was discovered in Co Donegal last weekend and has since been retrieved for scientific examination.

"I want to acknowledge the swift actions of the family who reported the stranding, as well as the rapid and professional response by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and our NPWS regional colleagues.

As we await the results, NPWS will continue to work closely with our partners to monitor Irelands marine environment and to better understand the impacts of climate and ecological change on vulnerable species.

"Each event like this reminds us of the importance of sustained scientific vigilance and public awareness in protecting our natural world, said Mr O Donnchu.

There are an estimated 170,000 living narwhals worldwide.

Male narwhals are famous for their long tusks, and they are often dubbed the unicorns of the sea.

The population is threatened by the effects of climate change, such as reduction in ice cover and human activities such as pollution and hunting.

Narwhals have been hunted for thousands of years by Inuit in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory, and regulated subsistence hunting continues to this day.

Narwhals are rarely recorded outside the Arctic with the last stranding record in western Europe, when a young male washed up dead in Belgium in 2016.

Prior to that record, two females stranded in the Thames Estuary, England in Kent 1949.

The only sightings are of two off Orkney and one off Aberdeenshire in Scotland in 1882 and one in the Hebrides in 1976. This is the 10th stranding record of Narwhal in western Europe and only the fourth female.

The IWDG is continuing to conduct an examination as part of a Deep Diving and Rare Investigation Programme to understand more about these kinds of rare strandings.
Finglas residents have voiced frustration over Dublins newly launched F-Spine bus services, claiming the changes have cut communities off and sparked hundreds of complaints.

At a public meeting in Shamrock Lodge this week, attendees described daily cancellations, reduced frequency on the 23, 24, and F3 routes, and the removal of local stops, particularly on Beneavin Road, where three nursing homes and hundreds of residents are affected.

People are missing hospital appointments, school children and students are stranded, and older people and people with disabilities are either isolated or left waiting in the cold at bus stops, said People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy, who organised the meeting.

People deserve a bus service that connects communities, not cuts them off.

The meeting also saw the launch of the Finglas Bus Action Group, which will coordinate further community campaigning.

A delegation handed in a petition, containing over 700 individual complaints, to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in Smithfield this week.

Resident Cathy Byrne, secretary of the Beneavin Park Residents Association, said the new routes had removed vital connections.

Theyve taken it off the road where its been on for over 20 years, serving three nursing homes, the school, the doctors, and the post office, she said.

Now the bus stop is 600m away on a hill with no space around it. Older people, residents with mobility aids, and visitors cant access it easily.

Ms Byrne said the changes have forced residents to drive to alternative stops, creating parking issues.

The BusConnects system means you get one bus to a certain area and then pick up the next bus. It doesnt work, she said.

The community has been cut off.

Councillor Reddy highlighted broader operational issues.

These new routes are quite long, he said. You get stuck somewhere, like at the airport, and the bus is behind schedule.

That usually results in cancellations. Even after the first week, which was chaos, people are still being stranded at bus stops, he added.

Councillor Reddy said older residents and those with disabilities are particularly affected.

Within Finglas, ignoring travel to the rest of Dublin and the city, we used to have a really important local link at the 40, so people from Finglas west could get to Finglas south or vice versa. Now thats gone, he said.

He said there has been anger from residents about the loss of the 9 bus, which served Beneavin Road.

Particularly as it was a critical one for younger people, as it served Scoil Chaitriona, one of the countys only Irish language secondary schools, along with serving GAA clubs and DCU.

Commuters now have to get two or three buses to get to the same location, he said that from feedback from residents, the N4,, which replaced this route has not been a great service since the introduction of the F-Spine.

The NTA acknowledged residents concerns, stressing that the redesigned network followed three rounds of public consultation and included new 24-hour services and increased frequency.

We understand that changes of this scale require adjustment and that some customers may experience challenges during the bedding-in period, an NTA spokesperson said.

They said they are monitoring the rollout closely and will make refinements where necessary.

Dublin Bus has been contacted for comment.
For the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka will visit Israel, leading a delegation aimed at developing economic cooperation, The Jerusalem Post reports.

As Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk reported in a comment to the publication, in two weeks the delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Trade Taras Kachka. The negotiations will be held within the framework of the Joint Ukrainian-Israeli Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the meetings of which have not been held since 2021.

"We are planning the delegation to be led by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European integration and trade, and this is a very important event for us. I very much hope it will be successful," Ukraines ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, told the Post.

The ambassador noted that in 2024, the volume of trade between Israel and Ukraine increased sharply - by about 65% compared to 2023, reaching almost $1 billion. He expressed hope that the meetings will raise cooperation between the countries to a new level and further increase bilateral trade.

From the Israeli side, the negotiations will be led by Minister of Finance Ze'ev Elkin. He reported that during the meetings it is planned to discuss issues that can bring immediate positive results in relations between the countries, in particular in the areas of agriculture, economics and artificial intelligence technologies.

Korniychuk told the Post that during the delegations visit, a monument commemorating the Holodomor  the 19321933 famine in Ukraine that killed millions and is widely attributed to Soviet policies  will be inaugurated in Jerusalem. "ts a major monument honoring the great famine in Ukraine that took the lives of 6 million Ukrainians, including several hundred thousand Jews. It is something very important for us  and important to remember."
Students from Mercy Mounthawk celebrating all things Ukrainian at the school on Thursday as part of the school's annual Culture Day celebrations. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Mercy Mounthawk students celebrating the Polish culture as part of the school's annual Culture Day celebrations on Thursday. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Students celebrate Nigerian culture as part of Culture Day at Mercy Mounthawk on Thursday morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Mercy Mounthawk was a hive of hustle and bustle on Thursday morning as the school celebrated its fifth annual Culture Day, an event that has only grown and grown in stature and numbers since its inception.

To say that the hall was chock full of students when The Kerryman arrived to take photos would be an understatement. There were 18 different stalls, each one representing a different country and culture, all of them with information as well as food from that country on offer for people to take in and digest.

Just some of the countries represented on the day included Nigeria, the Netherlands, Syria, Bangladesh, China, Poland, Albania and, of course, Ireland.

Niamh Fitzgerald, a teacher in Mercy Mounthawk, spoke to The Kerryman at the event, saying that Culture Day is an event that has helped break down barriers between the students and bring quieter and shyer kids out of their shells a little.

Students from Mercy Mounthawk celebrating all things Ukrainian at the school on Thursday as part of the school's annual Culture Day celebrations. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Viva Espana! Mercy Mounthawk students celebrate the Spanish culture at the school on Thursday morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Introducing her broader reflections on the schools diversity, she explained:

"I think Culture Day really represents our outer society and what we are, and for us here in the school, inclusivity and togetherness are so important in supporting each other, especially nowadays when Ireland is not what it once was in that it's so modern and multicultural, she said.

She went on to describe the impact the event has on students each year:

"What I found a lot was that a lot of the staff members have said that they can really see the difference in their students when it comes to Culture Day. They see such pride in their culture in the students, and they really come out of themselves, she continued.

Students celebrate Nigerian culture as part of Culture Day at Mercy Mounthawk on Thursday morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Mercy Mounthawk students at the Irish culture table in the school on Thursday. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The teacher said they had seen students move between cultural stalls over the years, noting that some with mixed heritage choose to represent different sides of their background each time. To illustrate this, she offered one recent example:

Last year, one student with Ukrainian and Iranian roots ran an Iranian stall, and this year shes celebrating all things Ukrainian, she explained.

Reflecting on how far the event has come, Fitzgerald recalled its humble beginnings:

"This is our fifth year doing Culture Day here in the school. We started off with a few students that wanted to do it in co-ordination with Black History Month celebrations, but it's since grown legs, as everything does. Every year it has increased. Last year, we had 80 students taking part, and now this year, we have 126 participants spread across 18 different stalls representing 18 different cultures, she said.

She noted that one trend in particular stood out this year:

"We have a massive Ireland contingency this year, which is great to see. National pride is definitely something that we see increasing, she continued.

If Thursday was any indication, Culture Day is certainly set to keep growing in the years to come  along with the students who make it their own.

Mercy Mounthawk students celebrate the Chinese culture in the school on Thursday morning as part of the annual Culture Day celebrations. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Man who stabbed ex-partner Sarah McNally to death in New York bar jailed for 24 years

Marcin Pieciak pleaded guilty to Longford womans manslaughter in New York bar where she worked

Liam Cosgrove Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 18:24

The former boyfriend of an Irishwoman stabbed to death in a New York bar last year has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Roscommon-Galway TD Dr Martin Daly says tsunami of mental health issues have emerged since pandemic

Roscommon-Galway TD Dr Martin Daly has told the Dail he has seen cases of suicidal young people being left waiting up to nine hours for an assessment in hospital emergency rooms.

Dr Daly said that adequate treatment pathways were needed to deal with the tsunami of mental health issues which had arisen since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Roscommon-based GP said that Ireland still lags behind the internationally accepted norms for mental health spending as a proportion of the countrys national budget.

The total allocation in this years budget towards mental health is a record 1.6 billion. The total health budget is 27.4 billion, a 6pc increase on the previous year.

As a practising GP, it is important to me that when we refer people who are in crisis that there are adequate pathways for them to achieve treatment, said Dr Daly.

I have dealt with situations where young people in crisis, who are actively suicidal, have sat in emergency rooms for eight or nine hours waiting for an assessment. Putting specialist nursing teams into all model 4 emergency departments is a good initiative because it will provide an immediate assessment by a specialist nurse.

The Fianna Fail TD told the Dail that up to a third of beds in Roscommon University Hospital are occupied by people who would be better served in supported situations in the community.

Since the closure of the psychiatric hospital in Castlerea, he said, there has been no replacement capacity in the community to step people down into those beds and create space for acute presentations to the psychiatric unit in Roscommon University Hospital.

In response, Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jennifer Murnane OConnor, pointed to an increased allocation of funding for crisis cafes, 12 additional suicide services - where nurses support people in distress who present to GPs in the community - and increased funding to suicide prevention organisations like Pieta.

She also said that 4 million had been allocated to develop a new crisis response pathway for children and young people, with 19 new CAMHS specialist doctors for out-of-hours emergency liaison, as well as five new adult liaison psychiatrists.

Ms Murnane OConnor said she would relay Dr Dalys concerns to the Minister for Health and said there was a need for more psychiatric beds.

There is a challenge in dealing with suicide in extremely complex cases. We have seen cases where a single event is the factor that leads someone to take his or her own life. There are huge issues there, she said.

We need to get supports in place for families, individuals and communities. An action the Minister of State is working on is the new suicide reduction strategy. It is being drafted and will include information on beds and so on. Implementation of this new strategy will be developed in quarter 1 of 2026, she concluded.

If you have been affected by this article, you can contact Pieta 24/7 on 1800 247 247.
'Enchanted to a Stone' by Brian O Cleirigh book launch in the Dunbrody centre. From left; Willie Kielthy and Brian O Cleirigh author. Photo; Mary Browne

'Enchanted to a Stone' by Brian O Cleirigh book launch in the Dunbrody centre. From left; Peter McDonald and Brian O Cleirigh. Photo; Mary Browne

'Enchanted to a Stone' by Brian O Cleirigh book launch in the Dunbrody centre. From left;Bridget Mythen, Brian O Cleirigh author and Eileen Dempsey. Photo; Mary Browne

'Enchanted to a Stone' by Brian O Cleirigh book launch in the Dunbrody centre. From left; Rita Kavanagh, Brian O Cleirigh author and Mark Minihan. Photo; Mary Browne

A very well attended book launch was held on Tuesday last in the Dunbrody Centre in New Ross.

The book Enchanted to a Stone by Brian O Cleirigh tells the story of the de Lacy family of Oulart during the revolutionary period 1900-1923.

This is a highly informative and wide-ranging book detailing Mick and Larry de Lacys involvement, not only in County Wexford, but the brothers influence and activism in various locations in the country and the world.

The de Lacy familys activities began with their efforts in the Gaelic League and continued on to the formation of 35 man strong Company of Irish Volunteers at home in Oulart in 1915 and to activism in New Ross, Enniscorthy, Limerick, New York and San Francisco.

The roles of the three male siblings, Ned, Mick, and Larry were all very different from each other, while the activism of the female sibling, Honor, like in the case of thousands of other women, is entirely lost.

The New Ross connection was explored during last weeks launch. Mick de Lacy was appointed teacher in Good Counsel College in 1908 where he vigorously promoted the Irish language and culture. Larry was, at that time, local reporter in New Ross for The Echo and used his position to great effect to promote the Nationalist cause.

The de Lacy brothers were men of bravery and intellect. Mick de Lacy was sentenced to death for this part in the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy, later commuted to penal servitude and Larry was imprisoned in America.

MC for the night was Mark Minihan, chairman of New Ross Historical Society and the book was launched by Rita Kavanagh.

Enchanted to a Stone is an excellent read for those wishing to learn more about these crucial years leading up to Irish Independence.

Brian O Cleirighs excellent book Enchanted to a Stone is available locally in Nugents and Hubb 16.
An Ireland South MEP is urging the Government to bring key EU presidency meetings beyond the Pale and to the South East counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford instead.

Next year, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months starting in July 2026 which will see thousands of dignitaries, diplomats, and global leaders arrive in Ireland to attend key EU meetings.

The Presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. During the six months, the presidencys function is to chair meetings of the Council, along with setting out agendas and facilitating dialogue at Council meetings and with other institutions within the EU.

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu is calling for a bold, inclusive approach that brings a significant share of these meetings beyond Dublin and to the South East instead.

Ni Mhurchu has formally written to the Taoiseach outlining the case for hosting a substantial number of EU presidency-related meetings outside of Dublin.

According to the MEP, it is essential that the benefits of Irelands EU presidency are shared fairly across the island, not concentrated solely in the capital.

"Irelands EU Council presidency is an opportunity for the whole country, not only Dublin, to shine on the European stage, Ni Mhurchu said.

By hosting key meetings in the South East, we can spread economic activity, support local businesses, and showcase the talent, innovation, and hospitality that thrive in every part of Ireland.

Ni Mhurchu emphasised that hosting EU meetings outside Dublin brings clear advantages including increased media attention, boosts to local tourism and hospitality, and a greater sense of connection to Europe among rural and regional communities that often feel overlooked in European discussions.

With global attention set to focus on Ireland next year, Ni Mhurchu wants that spotlight to shine on the South East and southern half of the country.

This presidency should be an all-of-Ireland effort, she added. Every region should have the chance to participate and feel ownership of this moment.

"The eyes of Europe will be upon us  lets show them the full richness of our country.
The new CBeebies adaptation of the panto Cinderella is coming to the big screen in Arklow from Friday, November 21.

This new adaptation of Cinderella starring Evie Pickerill, Rhys Stephenson, Justin Fletcher and Jennie Dale was set and filmed in Bradford as part of the BBCs City of Culture partnership.

Now a festive family tradition, CBeebies Panto Cinderella is the eighth CBeebies pantomime to receive a big screen release since 2018. It premieres in cinemas across Ireland, including Omniplex Cinema Arklow, with an exclusive song and can be enjoyed throughout the festive season.

The hilarious adventure stars a host of CBeebies favourites and is filled with twists, turns, magic and music, including a song exclusive to cinemas.

Director of Distribution at Vue Lumiere, Eve Gabereau said: The CBeebies panto has built up a loyal following who love to visit the cinema to indulge in the festive fun on offer.

"Were delighted to be working with the BBC again this year to bring the annual panto delights to over 350 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, and allowing families and friends to see it on the big screen together.

"Its a fantastic big screen event that we hope will encourage kids to fall in love with the cinema experience, as well as providing a fun day out for the whole family.

CBeebies Christmas Panto: Cinderella will be in Arklow this weekend, with tickets and listings available now at cbeebiespanto.com. You can also make bookings through the Omniplex Cinemas website.
Solicitor and close family friend Gerald Kean also spoke at the service having known Wendy for all of his adult life. She was a remarkable woman, a great friend and I will miss her very much.

The funeral procession for Wendy Herbst makes its way into Wicklow Parish Church.

Wicklow Rotary club and Wicklow Sailing Club form a guard of honour at the funeral of Wendy Herbst.

The funeral service for Wicklow woman Wendy Maxine Herbst heard how her love of her family was fierce, generous, imaginative and energetic before she was laid to rest in Three Mile Water Cemetery.

Wendy drowned on Saturday, November 15, having entered the sea at Magherabeg Beach, Co Wicklow, while attempting to save the family dog.

She was the wife of Michael Herbst of Kilpoole Hill Farm, and is also sadly missed by her children Marco, Siobhan, Fiona, Juliet and Orson, their partners and 10 grandchildren.

The funeral service was held in Wicklow Parish Church and was presided over by Rev. Jack Kinkead.

Her son Marco said: Wendy wasnt one to for talking about herself, but over the past few years she did occasionally reflect on her childhood and family stories.

Wendy was born in Belfast in 1943 and spent most of her school years in Manchester. She was training to be a mid-wife in London when she made a trip over to Ireland, were she met her future husband Michael.

Marco also recalled how Peadar O'Toole of Wicklow Swimming Club called to the door of the family home after hearing there may be some potential swimmers in their ranks, which started Wendys association with the club. The Wendy raft in Wicklow Harbour was named after her in gratitude towards her contribution to the club.

Wicklow Rotary club and Wicklow Sailing Club form a guard of honour at the funeral of Wendy Herbst.

Its heart-breaking to be saying goodbye but I cant tell you how much it helps to be saying it with so many friends who have brought along their own memories and gratitude and their own sense of loss. A huge thank you to all of those who have rallied around.

Her step-daughter Fiona also shared some cherished memories of Wendy, whom she described as the centre of the family and spoke fondly of her many happy childhood recollections.

I want to speak about her as a mother and step mother. Her bonus package began with Mickey and plus three, then two extra of her own, and five children in total. A full, busy, beautiful chaos was something that she embraced with everything she had.

You all know her strength and energy. The first thing I want to say is this, I wish she was here to hear this, even though I know she would probably shut me up after a few minutes.

I am who I am because of Wendy. I believe all five of us are who we are because of Wendy, even my own children are who they are because of Wendy, and I say this with great pride.

Fiona continued: She taught us imagination and would spin the most incredible stories. One particular one she had started with three, then four, then five children who lived on a farm with a farmer and a mystical pig who would being them on fantastical adventures which always lasted from Phoenix Park to our house.

She taught us abut creativity. I remember in the summer when she would find branches and tie wee little hankies full of goodies and sandwiches and we would be sent off into the field on an Enid Blyton adventure.

I remember waking up on birthdays and you would follow a trail of butterflies or smarties down the hall and down the stairs towards some amazing birthday surprise.

The funeral of Wendy Herbst arrives at the Wicklow Parish Church, Church Hill, Wicklow town.

She gifted me a passion for books and language. She taught us about food, how to value it and use it and how to cook with it and welcome others to the table with warmth and love. She taught us resilience and strength and the power to be ourselves.

She gave us a love of animals that still runs deep through everyone of us. Wendy shaped every corner of our lives. She was the heart of our family, the centre of her storm.

When the cards were down and you really needed her, she was always there. Her love was fierce, generous, imaginative and energetic and it continues in everyone of us, It lives in the way we care for one another, the way that we welcome people in, the way we face the world with humour and stubbornness, and a craziness that could only have come from Wendy.

Family friend solicitor Gerald Kean also spoke at the service having known Wendy for all of his adult life. He was a regular visitor to the family home most weekends.

She was a remarkable woman, a great friend and I will miss her very much.

Wendys love of Manchester City, which she kept hidden from him for may years, contrasted with Geralds support of Manchester Utd, with the power-shift between both clubs over the past decade or so causing him some discomfort.

The funeral procession for Wendy Herbst makes its way into Wicklow Parish Church.

He said: I had great times with her. I was a little bit annoyed with her in recent years and her love of Man City, which she kept quiet from me while my own team Man Utd were doing particularly well, and then she decided to tell me all about her love of City as the power in Manchester changed and city became a great team.

So I went up on a Saturday or Sunday for coffee and she started to talking about City winning yesterday and Utd losing, and I didnt know how to stop this. So I eventually found a way to do it. Around the fourth or fifth visit I mentioned to her that I had read this beautiful article full of pictures of Harry and Meghan, and that stopped the conversation fairly quickly. That simply didnt please her so I started to bring the articles and then she stopped talking abut Man City again.

The late Wendy Maxine Herbst.

News in 90 Seconds - 21 November 2025

He went on to add: Her heart was so full of love for her family. She was a great friend and she influenced me tremendously and much of what I have achieved in life is down to Wendy.

Wendys family also had a hand in selecting the music played at her funeral service, while the poem Raise a Glass by James Moooney was also read out.

Do not mourn me,

dont drown me in black cloth and quiet whispers.

laugh loud, drink deep,

tell the stories that made me live,

remember the bad jokes,

the nights that stretched into dawn,

the times we swore wed never forget

and dont.

I was here, a life well lived

I want something more than tears.

so raise a glass,

and dance a little,

let the wind take my name.

Ill be listening.

Do not mourn me,

Celebrate me.
Actor Kevin Spacey is making a return to life in the public eye after a seven-year hiatus prompted by a series of high-profile allegations. Photo: Getty

Kevin Spacey has said he is homeless, following sexual assault claims against the actor. Spacey (66) was cleared of sexual assault allegations against four men during a UK trial in 2023.

But, in a new interview, the Oscar-winning actor has said he is now living in temporary accommodation.

The costs over these last seven years have been astronomical, he said.

Ive had very little coming in and everything going out.

He added that he feels like he is back to where [he] first started.

You get through it. In weird ways, I feel Im back to where I first started, which is I just went where the work was, he continued.

Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, Im going where the work is

Everything is in storage, and I hope at some point, if things continue to improve, that Ill be able to decide where I want to settle down again.

Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, Im going where the work is. I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain.

Last week, Spacey performed a one-night-only cabaret-style show at a luxury resort in Cyprus as he continues his comeback to public life.

He headlined a live performance titled Songs & Stories at the five-star Parklane Luxury Collection Resort in Limassol.

Tickets started at 220 (249), with a VIP package priced at 1,100 offering fans a half-hour meet-and-greet, a bottle of champagne and a fruit platter.

The show saw Spacey backed by a jazz band as he sings and shares anecdotes from his decades in Hollywood.

Promotional material claimed the performance would carry the elegance of Sinatra and the wit of Dean Martin, calling it the return of an entertainer in the grandest sense of the word.

In July 2023, Spacey was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men between 2001 and 2013, after a four-week trial.
US worker deported in error to El Salvador may now face his second deportation  this time to Uganda
Since the beginning of the day, 161 combat clashes have taken place, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reports in operational information as of 22:00 on Thursday.

"The Russian invaders carried out 39 air strikes, dropping 82 guided bombs. In addition, they involved 2,357 kamikaze drones to destroy them and carried out 3,008 attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements," the General Staff of the Armed Forces reports.

According to information from the General Staff, the hottest situation today was in the Pokrovsk direction, where the aggressor carried out 56 assault and offensive actions.
Predatory former Met officer handed 37th life sentence, for sexual assault

The ex-officer has been convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and abuse spread over 35 years

Former Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick, appearing by video link at the Old Bailey, central London. Photo: Elizabeth Cook/PA

Emily Pennink Press Association Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Predatory ex-police officer David Carrick has been handed his 37th life sentence after being convicted of sexual abuse dating back 35 years.
Revealed: Chaotic and toxic culture in Boris Johnsons government during Covid-19

Failure to take the pandemic seriously led to 23,000 more deaths, says report

Boris Johnson at a Downing Street media briefing on Covid-19, during his tenure as prime minister. Photo: PA

Christopher McKeon, Jane Kirby and Ella Pickover Press Association Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson and his top adviser presided over a toxic and chaotic culture in Downing Street that undermined efforts to deal with the pandemic, the UKs Covid Inquiry has found.
Serbias president has been accused of involvement in sniper safaris in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War, in which wealthy foreigners allegedly paid large sums of money to shoot civilians.

Aleksandar Vucic is alleged to have been present at one of the military positions above the city from where foreigners are said to have paid to shoot at its residents during the 1992 to 1996 siege.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has received a draft of a US plan to end the war in Ukraine and expects to hold talks with US president Donald Trump in the coming days, the Ukrainian leaders office said yesterday.
The pilot of an Indian combat plane died after the aircraft crashed Friday during a demonstration flight for spectators at the Dubai Air Show, the Indian Air Force said.

The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time after the pilot had flown across the site of the biennial air show in Dubai several times.
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 33 people after renewed escalation

Mother mourns her three children and husband who died when their tent was bombed

Palestinians inspect the ruins a day after an Israeli strike on a building in Gaza City. Photo: AP

Wafaa Shurafa Associated Press Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 06:30

A pair of Israeli strikes in Gazas southern city of Khan Younis early yesterday killed five people, hospital officials said, bringing the death toll from airstrikes in the Palestinian territory over a roughly 12-hour period to 33.
Former presidents front row from left, George W. Bush with Laura Bush, Joe Biden with Jill Biden and former vice presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence with Karen Pence, right, during the funeral for Dick Cheney at the Washington National Cathedral. Photo: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Donald Trump says six Democrats guilty of sedition punishable by death

Group of veterans made video asking members of US military to defy illegal orders

US president Donald Trump. Photo: AP

Meg Kinnard Associated Press Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 00:00

US president Donald Trump yesterday accused half a dozen Democratic lawmakers of sedition punishable by DEATH after the lawmakers  all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community  called on US military members to uphold the constitution and defy illegal orders.
Donald Trump allegedly called Jeffrey Epstein moments after his 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton, contrary to his later claims he had not spoken to the paedophile financier in many years.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov has denied media reports that he agreed to most of the points of the peace agreement proposed by the United States with Russia.

"I want to clarify briefly right away. During my trip to the United States, my task was technical - organizing meetings and preparing for a dialogue. I did not provide any assessments or, even more so, approvals of any points. This is not within my powers and does not comply with the procedure," Umerov said on Telegram. .

He added that yesterday the President of Ukraine had a conversation with the American delegation, and today this work continues in Kyiv at a technical level between the teams.

"We are carefully studying all the partners' proposals, expecting the same correct attitude to the Ukrainian position. Media publications about alleged "agreements" or "exclusions of points" have nothing to do with reality. These are examples of unverified information that arose outside the context of consultations," Umerov said.

"We are carefully working out the partners' proposals within the framework of Ukraine's unchanging principles - sovereignty, people's security and a just peace," he added.

Earlier, The New York Post, citing high-ranking American officials, reported that the United States received "positive feedback" from Umerov during discussions of a 28-point plan for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

"The plan was drawn up immediately after discussions with one of the highest officials in the Zelenskyy administration, Umerov. So, Umerov agreed with most of the points of this plan and made several changes to it, which we included and presented to President Zelenskyy," one US official was quoted as saying.

"Umerov agreed to the majority of this plan, and he made several modifications to it, which we included and presented it to President Zelenskyy. I dont want to say that [Kyiv] full-heartedly  agreed to it and theyre ready to sign off. They agreed to the majority of the plan," the person added.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
( Image credit : X/ @4KStills | The Last Frontier S1E8: Secrets, chaos, and shocking twists )

Sidneys true motives come to light





( Image credit : X/ @4KStills | The Last Frontier S1E8: Hidden motives exposed )

Revelations about Sidneys father











The plane crash explained





( Image credit : X/ @4KStills | Sidney uncovers hidden truths about her father )

Conclusion: Sidneys path forward





In the intense episode 8 of The Last Frontier season 1, viewers finally get a closer look at Sidneys past and her involvement in the plane crash that shook Fairbanks. The episode uncovers the intricacies of her plan, revealing motivations and hidden alliances that had previously been kept under wraps.The episode begins with Havlock being captured, prompting Frank to contact Shaw and warn him to keep Sidney away. However, Sidneys intentions are far more sinister than they initially appeared. While she previously saved Havlock from a burning car, her ultimate goal was to kill him so that the dead man switch would automatically leak the secrets of Archive 6. Havelock discovers her plan using a hidden hearing device, while Frank realizes he has been outsmarted all along. Amid the chaos, Sidney survives a fatal accident that takes the van drivers life and ultimately disappears, leaving her next move uncertain.Flashbacks reveal Sidney learning crucial truths about her father through Viktor Voss, a former CIA operative turned Russian ally. Voss reveals that Sidneys father didn't die in the line of duty but was targeted by someone within the CIA. This revelation ignites Sidneys determination to uncover the full story and seek justice. Her investigations lead her to Sharon Tidwell, who confirms Sidney is Robert Scofields daughter and hints at the CIAs manipulation and cover-ups. It becomes evident that Jacque Bradford is the mastermind behind her fathers death and has been controlling events from behind the scenes.Sidneys mission to expose Bradford takes a dark turn when she manipulates circumstances to bring down the plane carrying federal prisoners and officers. With the help of Vincent Thiago, a close friend of her father, Sidney sets up the crash to trigger Archive 6. Despite her love for Havlock, she prioritizes her mission over personal ties. The tragic outcome leaves her devastated, as many innocent lives are lost. However, when she attempts to finally kill Havlock, she finds the dead man switch paused, rendering her plan partially successful.By the end of the episode, Sidneys depth and complexity as a character are fully revealed. Her intelligence, resourcefulness, and moral conflicts make her both a ruthless rival and a sympathetic figure. The closing scenes hint at her next moves, leaving audiences eager for the consequences of her actions and the potential for new alliances and schemes in Fairbanks.
What Austins Raya profile allegedly shows

( Image credit : X/4k_taylorrr | Taylor has often spoken about her close bond with her brother )

His career and work with Taylor Swift

( Image credit : X/OlujiMathe1992 | Austin has acted in several films )

A look at their close sibling relationship

( Image credit : X/christineswiz13 | Taylor Swifts brother, Austin Swift, is reportedly exploring the celebrity dating world )

His recent relationship history

Why Raya gets so much attention

Taylor Swifts brother, Austin Swift, is reportedly exploring the celebrity dating world, as per what a source told Page Six that they believe they saw him on the invite-only app Raya. The sighting has led to interest in what his profile contains and how it reflects his life, work and close relationship with his family.According to the source, Austins profile lists him as living in Nashville, Tennessee, though it also notes he often spends time in Los Angeles and New York City. His stated interests include steak, racket sports, sitting and laying, and Emo music. The profile reportedly features a paparazzi photograph of him walking. No other details about the profile have been shared, but the mention of Emo music has drawn curiosity from fans who associate the genre with earlier periods of his sisters work.Austin has acted in several films, including the 2016 thriller I.T. and Live by Night. However, much of his work has taken place behind the scenes of Swift family projects. He is credited as an executive producer on Taylor Swifts Disney+ documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions. He also worked as a producer on the music video for I Bet You Think About Me (Taylors Version).His role extended beyond production credits. He played a part in Taylors effort to regain ownership of her masters, a process she has publicly described as important to her career. His long-running involvement in her projects has been acknowledged by Taylor in various interviews and messages over the years.Taylor has often spoken about her close bond with her brother. She referenced him in her 2008 song The Best Day, singing, God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, hes better than I am. Over the years, Austin has posted messages to her on birthdays, noting her support and the role she has played in his life. In one message for her 27th birthday, he called her the best sister anyone could wish for. For her 29th, he wrote about seeing her grow and described the experience as a privilege.More recently, Taylor thanked Austin during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, while promoting her album The Life of a Showgirl. She said it was her first album release with her parents and her brother with her through the entire week, and noted that working with both her mother and brother made the experience significant.Austin previously dated model Sydney Ness. The two began dating in 2022 and were last seen publicly in early 2024 while watching Travis Kelce win the Super Bowl. There have been no recent updates on the relationship, and the Raya sighting has prompted questions about whether he is now single.Raya is known for its high-profile user base. Over the years, multiple celebrities have been reported as members, and the apps selective admission process makes any appearance notable.The list of reported users has included Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Lizzo, John Mayer, Drew Barrymore, Chelsea Handler, Keke Palmer and Joe Jonas.The claim that Austin Swift may now be among them has added a new layer of interest, especially for fans who follow the Swift family closely.Austin Swifts reported presence on Raya offers a rare look into his personal life while reflecting his ongoing work and family ties.
DEI, abortion subsidies and migration rules newly classified

The new US rules say that if a country enforces diversity or inclusion policies in a way that restricts individual freedoms, it may be considered a violation of human rights.



 people power (@Peoplepower08) November 21, 2025





Officials say changes counter harmful ideologies

Critics say long-standing human rights norms are being redefined

The US was added to the



HUMAN RIGHTS



WATCH LIST



 



 Mass firing of federal workers to cripple crucial regulatory bodies



 Attacks on the free press



 Anti-free speech



 No due process for citizens and immigrants



 GOP APPROVED#wtpBLUE #DV1 #DemsUnited pic.twitter.com/xKa9YSpxKN



 mary a martin  (@BamjcastA) October 28, 2025





A turning point in the US human rights approach

The US State Department has introduced new instructions that will significantly change how American embassies assess human rights practices abroad. The updated guidance tells missions to classify several domestic policies of foreign governments  including race or gender-based diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts  as potential infringements of human rights. The move signals a major turn in Washingtons long-standing approach to global rights reporting and reflects priorities that have shaped domestic debate in recent years.The revised guidance lists several policy areas that are now to be treated as possible violations when compiling the annual human rights report. Officials have told embassies to flag DEI frameworks, abortion subsidies and migration facilitation as infringements. DEI, originally designed to address unequal outcomes for identity-based groups, is among the most significant policy additions to the list.The State Department has also instructed missions to report incidents involving subsidised abortions and the estimated number performed each year. In addition, gender-transition surgery for children  described in the instructions as procedures involving chemical or surgical mutilation  is included as a rights issue. Governments that enable large-scale or irregular migration across their territory will also be flagged.A senior State Department official, speaking anonymously, described the guidelines as a tool to change the behaviour of governments. The official said the US remained guided by the Declaration of Independence and noted that rights were given to us by God, our creator, not by governments.The State Department has framed the new rules as a response to what it calls destructive ideologies. Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration intended to ensure these practices do not go unchecked. This, he said, included laws that infringe on free speech, racially discriminatory employment practices, and the mutilation of children. He added, Enough is enough.The updated framework also directs embassies to report arrests, warnings or official investigations tied to speech. This reflects opposition within the administration to European online safety laws designed to curb hate speech, which it argues limit expression. These laws were cited in the most recent human rights report as evidence of deteriorating rights conditions in the UK, France and Germany.Rights advocates have sharply criticised the policy shift, saying it departs from internationally agreed standards. Uzra Zeya, a former senior official who now leads Human Rights First, said the administration was weaponising international human rights for domestic partisan ends. She called the attempt to categorise DEI as a rights violation a new low and said the changes ignored the rights of women, LGBTQI+ people, religious and ethnic minorities and non-believers.Critics argue the shift also affects the integrity of the State Departments annual human rights report, historically valued as a comprehensive assessment regardless of political leadership. The most recent edition had already undergone significant changes: sections on government corruption and LGBTQ+ persecution were removed, and criticism of some allies was reduced.The new instructions mark one of the most significant changes to US reporting practices in years. As the updated rules take effect, the annual report is expected to focus less on traditionally documented abuses such as torture and political persecution, and more on policies the administration views as harmful. How this shift shapes global engagement on rights issues will become clearer in future editions of the report.
It feels like a breakup





( Image credit : Instagram/ @dancingwiththestars | Whitney reflects on friendships and DWTS memories )

The bonds that last





( Image credit : Instagram/ @whitleavitt | Cheering Whitney on, Conner brings the fun every week )

Fans and friends rally around her





( Image credit : Instagram/ @whitleavitt | Whitney thanks Mark for his support and friendship )

( Image credit : Instagram/ @whitleavitt | Whitney receives love and cheers from fans )

Gratitude despite the exit





Whitney Leavitt, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star recently opened up about her shocking elimination from Dancing With the Stars just one week before the finale. The 32-year-old took to Instagram to post an unfiltered, emotional video, opening up about the sudden change and the emotional impact of stepping away from a show that had become a major part of her daily life.In her video, Whitney described how challenging it has been to adjust after spending countless hours every day with her castmates and crew. Then it just stops, she said, likening the experience to going through withdrawals. It genuinely feels like a breakup. Today just felt so weird, not going into the studio, not meeting with Mark, not learning a dance. She admitted the sudden end left her feeling heartbroken, despite having a gut feeling that she might be eliminated.Whitney also spoke about the deep friendships and connections formed during her time on the show. You grow real friendships and real connections with these people, and you learn so much about yourself. People uplift you constantly, and you challenge yourself. You just feel so loved, she said. She highlighted the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive people who believe in you, even through your delusional dreams.She specifically thanked her professional partner, Mark Ballas, reflecting on the lasting bond they formed. He became a lifelong friend, a friend who makes fart noises every single day, Whitney added that she would forever be so grateful for his support. She also thanked her husband, Conner Leavitt, who dressed up every week in costumes to cheer her.Fans and fellow celebrities quickly responded to Whitneys heartfelt message. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-stars Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, and Miranda McWhorter praised Whitney for her journey, while fellow DWTS castmate Scott Hoying called her a star. Social media is flooded with love and encouragement. One fan wrote, Youre the real winner to us, cant wait to see what you take on next. Another commented, YOU DESERVE BETTER. Cant wait to see how you soar in this next chapter. You are an inspiration to me. A third added, I was hoping you'd win! But what a beautiful journey. I can't WAIT to see what the next chapter holds for you. Many insisted she had been robbed of a finale spot and cheered her on for future endeavors, including Broadway.Despite the emotional ups and downs, Whitneys message was full of gratitude. Im just so grateful. I love you guys, and I f... ing love this show, she concluded. While her DWTS journey has come to an end, Whitneys reflections underscore how the experience extended far beyond competition, leaving her with lasting friendships, personal growth, and a community of fans rooting for her next steps.
From backstage drama to triumph: Boschs journey

( Image credit : Instagram/telemundo| Fatima Bosch turns challenges into triumph, making her mark on the global stage )

Social media erupts: Fans debate the win

( Image credit : Instagram/missuniverse| Outrage online as Miss Universe 2025 winner spark heated debate )

MISS UNIVERSE 2025 WAS RIGGED!!









cuz how tf miss Cote here in 4th place with the best answers, shes so elegant, intelligent and well-spoken tho. The moment she was crowned the 4th place, i knew this show rigged and miss Mexico won the title pic.twitter.com/kg5q1Xvmxv









 veron (@vedgynzzfr) November 21, 2025

Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 at a dazzling finale in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Her victory came after a pageant marked by backstage drama, contestant solidarity, and a flurry of debate online, making her win one of the most talked-about moments in recent pageant history.In the days leading up to the finale, a viral livestream showed pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly reprimanding Bosch over a promotional photoshoot. Multiple contestants reportedly walked out in solidarity, drawing global attention to the pressures faced by participants and raising calls for fairness and respect within the competition.Bosch, 25, hails from Tabasco, Mexico, and studied Fashion and Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana and NABA in Milan. She has been open about living with dyslexia and ADHD, transforming personal challenges into a platform for resilience and empowerment. Bosch is also a strong advocate for sustainable fashion, creating clothes from discarded materials, and has volunteered extensively with children affected by cancer and migrant communities. Her intelligence, poise, and advocacy were widely credited as key factors in her victory.Reactions to the crowning were immediate and heated. One user raged: MISS UNIVERSE 2025 WAS RIGGED!! cuz how tf miss Cote here in 4th place with the best answers  i knew  this show rigged and miss Mexico won the title Another chimed in: The winners of Miss Universe 2025  CORRUPT. ROBBERY. PLANNED.
Photo: https://www.pap.pl

Finnish President Alexander Stubb will hold talks with his country's government regarding the published draft plan to end the war in Ukraine.

"Yesterday, a 28-point draft plan to end the war in Ukraine was published. We are currently assessing the situation together with our allies and Ukraine. I have discussed this issue with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and will hold talks with the government," he said on X.

As reported, the Axios publication published 28 points of the draft of the new American plan to end Russia's war against Ukraine, but among them there was no point on a collective response in the event of an attack on Ukraine. It was only about the fact that Ukraine would receive reliable security guarantees. In addition, it was emphasized that Kyiv would refuse to join NATO, and the North Atlantic Alliance undertakes not to accept Ukraine.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially received a draft plan from the American side, which, according to the American side, could intensify diplomacy.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markles relationship

( Image credit : X @ChrisBaronSmit1 | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are once again facing divorce rumours. )

Years of turbulence between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

( Image credit : X @QueenRMade1 | Sources say Prince Harry and Meghan Markles marriage is held together more by chaos than love. )

Growing distance between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

RadarOnline.com

( Image credit : X @MeghanTheQwin | Netflix projects and Prince Harrys UK ties are straining their bond. )

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, are once again facing speculation about their marriage, with reports suggesting that the couples relationship is increasingly defined by the chaos surrounding them rather than by harmony. Insiders say their bond is now maintained mainly by the controversies that regularly engulf their public lives, raising questions about how strong their connection really is.A longtime friend of the couple described Harry and Meghans bond as being powered by the storms around them and not much else. The source told RadarOnline.com, There have been periods when the turmoil never seemed to stop, and strangely, it kept them united. They've learned to function within the chaos. Constant drama and chaos, and mayhem seem to be all that are tying them together at the moment.Another insider added, They've grown so used to being under fire that, bizarrely, the strain keeps them in step. They feel like they're the only ones the other can truly depend on. But it's sad they are like two naughty children in a playground coming together to revel in their mischief, but who don't really like anything about each other.The couples history has been marked by major public scrutiny. From their Megxit decision to step back from royal duties to family disputes and ongoing media and court battles, Harry and Meghan have weathered long stretches of conflict.An insider explained, There have been long stretches when it has genuinely felt like Meghan and Harry versus everyone else. From the outset, Harry has taken a fiercely protective stance toward her. He's an unusually devoted husband, largely because Meghan is hit with an enormous amount of hostility, especially on the Internet. But that has developed into a pattern of them separately and together creating chaos for themselves and others, then revelling in it and being brought close by their misbehaviour and betrayals of the royal family.Harry and Meghan were recently seen at Kris Jenners 70th birthday party mingling with stars like Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, and Mark Zuckerberg. However, sources say the couple is drifting apart due to differences in priorities, including Harrys desire to reconnect with his homeland and the royal family.A source told, These Netflix projects are really pulling Harry and Meghan onto separate paths. Meghan is throwing herself into Hollywood, while Harry's focus is drifting back toward the UK and the world he walked away from. He sometimes feels sidelined in their brand, and it's putting a serious strain on things. This pair is now 'divorced' creatively and could be soon divorced legally.Markle, 44, is building a Hollywood production empire, while Harry, 41, focuses on philanthropic work and repairing ties with his family in the UK. The source added, Her career ambitions in California and his return to UK-focused activities are highlighting what dramatically separate lives they are leading.Despite the differences, both continue to maintain their public appearances and professional commitments, leaving fans wondering if their union will survive the growing tension.Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on May 19, 2018, at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle, marking a historic moment as Meghan became the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the immediate royal family. In June 2020, the couple stepped back from senior royal duties, citing a desire for financial independence and a new life in California. Since then, their life together has been closely scrutinised, making their marriage a constant topic of public and media speculation.
Sydney Sweeney reveals irrational fear

Vogues

The Housemaid

Vogue

( Image credit : X @sweeneydailyx | Sydney Sweeney reveals irrational fear. )

Fan reactions to Sydney Sweeneys confession

Sydney Sweeney says her biggest irrational fear is ending up alone forever. pic.twitter.com/DkBmjoJulq













 Sydney Sweeney Daily (@sweeneydailyx) November 20, 2025

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun's relationship

( Image credit : X @sweeneydailyx | Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun. )

( Image credit : X @sweeneydailyx | Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Brauns viral kiss moment. )

Sydney Sweeneys dating comment

Fandango

















The Housemaid

Actress Sydney Sweeney opened up about a personal fear during a fun interview for Vogue, but the internet quickly shifted the spotlight to her love life. What started as a light moment between co-stars turned into a wave of comments telling the actress to rethink her relationship with music executive Scooter Braun.The conversation happened inOff the Cuff series featuring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, who star together in the upcoming filmpublished the interview on November 20, 2025, showing the two actresses answering quick questions about outfits, memories, and hidden talents.The energy was playful until Sweeney revealed something deeply personal. When asked about her weirdest fear, she said, My most irrational fear is being alone forever. The answer was short, honest, and emotional.But once the clip circulated online, the internet ran with it. The discussion quickly turned away from her fear and toward her relationship choices. One user wrote, Do yall think ending up alone is actually a real fear for this generation, or are we just choosing the wrong people?Another said, You wont, bbgirl; please drop the scooter. Someone else commented, At least shes more honest than most women these days.And one more simply added, Break up with Scooter. The comments kept coming, and the tone made it clear: fans think her current relationship is the real fear she should be paying attention to.Her love life has been under a spotlight ever since she ended her engagement to longtime partner Jonathan Davino earlier this year. Months after the breakup, she began being linked to Scooter Braun. The two have been photographed together multiple times, from Italy to Lake Tahoe, and one picture especially grabbed attention.On November 4, 2025, Sweeney and Braun were seen sharing a kiss on a large rock in Central Park. Later, the pair were spotted again in Los Angeles, confirming their relationship.In another interview, Sweeney opened up about her relationship preferences. During achat, Seyfried asked her, Red flag, green flag, when dating someone? Sweeney laughed and admitted, Honestly, Ive been learning that I like a circus. She added, Just a bunch of red flags.All of this drama surrounds Sweeney at a time when she is preparing for her next major release. In The Housemaid, she plays Millie Calloway, a key character in the psychological thriller directed by Paul Feig. Amanda Seyfried stars alongside her as Nina Winchester. The film includes a strong cast featuring Brandon Sklenar, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, and Indiana Elle.The movie is set to hit theatres on December 19 in the United States.
The 2nd Annual Palestine Winter Market is here! Join us on December 6th from 11:00am-5:00pm for this beloved community fundraiser for the Middle East Children's Alliance, supporting Palestinian children and families in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.Enjoy the rich culinary heritage of Palestine with delicious food, plus henna, face painting and children's story time with Palestinian authors, poetry readings and music performances  a beautiful, family-friendly celebration of culture and community while supporting Palestinian artisans and keep ancient crafts alive shopping for unique gifts - from olive oil, ceramics, art Tatreez embroidery, jewelry, olive wood, cookbooks, keffiyehs, soap, scarves, books, kitchenware, and thobes, and so much more!Come, bring your friends and family and be part of an amazing day celebrating Palestinian culture and people!Westhope Presbyterian Church12850 Saratoga AvenueSaratoga, CA 95070Questions? Please email: aaccsv.center [at] gmail.com
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that any proposal for a peace deal with Russia must have Ukraines agreement as European leaders seek to ensure regional security issues are factored into U.S.-led talks to end the war.

"The future of Ukraine must be determined by Ukraine and we must never lose sight of that principle underpinning the just and lasting peace that we all want to see." Starmer said in comments to Bloomberg on Thursday.

Starmers statement echoed the words of European foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas, who said that any attempt to bring peace to Ukraine must be done with Kyivs participation.

"For any plan to work, Ukrainians and Europeans have to be on board. Thats absolutely clear," he said.

The 28-point proposal for a resumption of talks is modeled on the Gaza ceasefire agreement. It sets out the Kremlins well-known demands for concessions that Kyiv has repeatedly called unacceptable and that have so far thwarted all attempts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

European diplomats have expressed skepticism about any imminent deal, noting that Putin has a reputation for seeming to accept offers under pressure. The Kremlin is trying to stop US sanctions on Russias two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, from coming into effect on Friday, according to sources familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak freely.
New signage on the Parking Cube parking garage entrance on the west side of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Read more

The Philadelphia Art Museum, seeking to calm the waters after a turbulent six-week stretch, has named an experienced hand, Daniel H. Weiss, as director and CEO.

Weiss, 68, was president of Haverford College starting in 2013 and left the post in 2015 to lead the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, staying eight years. Prior to Haverford, he was president of Lafayette College.

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The decision was approved Friday morning by the Art Museums trustees with a unanimous vote, a spokesperson said.

Weiss appointment comes as something of a surprise. The museum had been expected to name an interim director while it searched for a permanent one. Right now, Weiss is set to remain in the post only through the end of 2028, though his tenure could be extended.

He takes over an institution left shaken by the Nov. 4 firing of its director and CEO, Sasha Suda, after an investigation by an outside law firm flagged the handling of her own compensation. She filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the museum less than a week later.

Weiss said Friday that despite the recent turmoil, the museum had all of the important required ingredients it needed for its future  a great collection, staff, buildings, and mission.

What we have to do is clean things up and reaffirm our commitment to that mission, he said. I dont think the challenges are so steep. They have to be addressed, they are real, but they are not overwhelming.

The first thing he will do, he said, is to sit down with the staff, board, donors, and other constituents, and through these conversations the museums priorities would emerge.

I know less about these issues than anybody else does at this point, so I need to listen and to learn, he said.

Art Museum board chair Ellen T. Caplan was not available for comment, a spokesperson said, but she said in a statement that the museum was extraordinarily fortunate to have someone of Dan Weisss caliber and experience step into this critical role.

His proven track record of museum leadership, along with his deep understanding of the field, and his ability to navigate complex institutional challenges, she said, make him ideally suited to provide stability and strategic direction during this critical period for the art museum.

Weiss comes to his new post with both substantial art and business credentials. An art historian, he holds a masters degree in medieval and modern art and a Ph.D. in western medieval and Byzantine art, both from Johns Hopkins University. He previously earned an MBA from Yale School of Management and worked for consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton.

He was at Haverford College for a little less than two years before being hired away to lead the Met along with director Thomas P. Campbell. With Campbells departure in 2017, he took on the title of chief executive. He worked alongside Max Hollein after Hollein became director in 2018. Weiss left the Met in 2023.

He was the head of Haverford College in 2014 when it received its largest single gift to date at the time  $25 million from Howard Lutnick, then-chairman of the colleges board of managers and a Haverford graduate. (Lutnick is currently U.S. secretary of commerce.)

Weiss brings to the Art Museum another storehouse of knowledge. He recently worked as a consultant to the museums board, a museum spokesperson said.

He is no stranger to controversy. At the Met, he helped the museum grapple with decisions such as the end of its longtime pay-as-you-wish admission policy, as well as the question of whether to cut ties with the Sackler family, whose company, Purdue Pharma, manufactured and marketed the opioid painkiller OxyContin.

The museum in 2019 announced it would stop accepting gifts from the Sacklers, and in 2021 it removed the familys name from a number of exhibition spaces, including the wing that houses the popular Temple of Dendur.

Weiss was also at the Met when the museum faced a set of circumstances not unlike some of those the Philadelphia Art Museum is facing now. In 2017, struggling with a deficit, the Met decided to pause plans for a $600 million expansion. Instead, it focused on more mundane, if important, projects, like work on the roof and skylights.

Most recently, for the past two years, Weiss has been a humanities professor and senior advisor to the provost for the arts at Johns Hopkins University.

Suda filed a lawsuit on Nov. 10 against her former employer. Her lawyer said that she was the victim of a small cabal from the board that commissioned a sham investigation as a pretext for her unlawful dismissal.

The Art Museum on Thursday responded to the lawsuit in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas with a petition saying Suda was dismissed after an investigation determined that she misappropriated funds from the museum and lied to cover up her theft. Her lawyer called the museums accusations false. These are the same recycled allegations from the sham investigation that the museum manufactured as a pretext for Sudas wrongful termination, he said.

The Art Museum has a list of short- and long-term challenges with which it must grapple. Among them is the question of whether to roll back the recent name change and rebrand, which have been widely mocked and disliked.

It also has several big pieces of the operational, facilities, and financial puzzle to prioritize. The Perelman annex was closed to the public during the pandemic and has not reopened; a planned expansion of gallery space beneath the museums east steps is in limbo; deferred maintenance on the main building awaits attention; the endowment is considered inadequate for an institution of its size.

In addition, the museum is challenged by an operating deficit and visitorship numbers that have not recovered post-pandemic.

Weiss  who is expected to take over the museum Dec. 1  is the author of several books, including a recent one that explores the place of the art museum in society throughout history and examines its challenges today in the larger culture. Its title suggests the case he will need to make as the museums 15th director: Why the Museum Matters.

This is a great museum with a bright, important future, said Weiss, and our ability to fulfill our mission requires everyones involvement.
A filtration system installed by Sunoco at the Wojnovich home in Washington Crossing, Bucks County, after a Jan. 2025 jet fuel leak was detected in the company's Twin Oaks pipeline. Read more

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, introduced a bill Thursday with a Democratic co-sponsor to modernize pipelines and emergency responses in the wake of a leak of a Sunoco pipeline detected this year in Bucks County.

The bill is named after the Wojnovich family, whose well was tainted with 12 feet of jet fuel.

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It would set aside $500 million in grants spread over five years to replace or upgrade high-risk hazardous liquid lines, to facilitate the improved safety and modernization of hazardous liquid distribution infrastructure.

In addition, it would require that prospective homeowners be made aware of nearby pipelines, what fuel they carry, any history of incidents, and who operates the lines.

Fitzpatrick introduced the bill, H.R. 6187, the Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act of 2025, with U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from New York.

Fitzpatrick is up for reelection in 2026 in the 1st Congressional District, which includes all of Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County. As the last remaining Republican representing the Philadelphia suburbs in the U.S. House, Democrats believe he is vulnerable.

Fitzpatrick  as well as other federal, state, and local elected officials  has been involved since January, when a jet fuel leak from the Sunoco Twin Oaks pipeline was detected.

He and others have called for the line to be shut down. Fitzpatrick has called for independent testing of wells and complete remediation in the Mt. Eyre Manor neighborhood where the leak was detected.

What families endured during this leak exposed areas where the state response was not fully equipped to meet the moment, Fitzpatrick said Friday in an email, which is why I have called on the responsible state agencies to produce a codified and consistently enforced plan that will guarantee clean water and long-term protections.

He credited a neighborhood task force from Mt. Eyre with helping him write the bill, from the ground up.

The spill has caused significant disruption in the Mount Eyre Manor neighborhood, in the Washington Crossing section of Upper Makefield, becoming a constant worry for families such as Kristine and Kevin Wojnovich.

 READ MORE: How a pipeline leak disrupted a quiet Bucks neighborhood: Never drink the water

The Wojnoviches live in the suburban Bucks County neighborhood near the popular Delaware Canal State Park towpath and only a few thousand feet from the Delaware River. Theirs was one of six wells that tested above state maximum contaminant levels. Other wells tested positive for contaminants, but under those levels.

The family began noticing a petroleum odor in their tap water as far back as September 2023 and reported it to Sunoco, which is owned by Energy Transfer. However, the company initially informed the Wojnoviches that their water simply had bacteria.

It wasnt until an inspection by the state Department of Environmental Protection in late January 2025 that a leak was confirmed.

Every page of this bill is shaped by what Upper Makefield families lived through, Fitzpatrick said in the release, noting, the gaps in testing, the delays in information, the uncertainty about their water, and the absence of clear standards for communication and emergency response.

Specifically, the bill would also require:

That real estate contracts include disclosure of any hazardous liquid pipeline easements within one-half mile of a property, whether the line has undergone repairs in the past 10 years, and a list of any leaks or failures. Overhaul of the U.S. Department of Transportations and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations current online pipeline viewer so that leak, inspection, and remediation data are readily available. Updates to local emergency alert systems and response plans. Pipeline operators to conduct in-person tests of water, soil, or air for potential pipeline leaks or failures. Penalties for leaks, failures, and delayed reporting, ranging from $2.5 million to $5 million. The reimbursement of fire departments and EMS for equipment, overtime, and cleanup costs. Establishing an Office of Public Engagement and regular federal reporting.

Kristine Wojnovich said shes honored by the bills introduction, and credits both Fitzpatrick and the neighborhood task force thats pushed for legislation.

Aging pipelines and outdated leak detection methods are all over this country, Wojnovich said. And the leak and contamination that happened in our community could have happened anywhere. This legislation is a meaningful step forward.
Katelyn Friedline, member of the bargaining committee, teaching assistant, and Ph.D. student, speaks during a union rally Nov. 3, where members of GETUP-UAW spoke about authorizing a strike. Read more

Graduate student workers at the University of Pennsylvania have voted to strike if their union calls for it, as they work toward a first contract with better pay and benefits.

The graduate students, who research and teach at the university, voted to unionize last year, after two decades of organizing attempts.

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The unions total membership is about 3,400, and 2,416 participated in the strike vote. Of them, 92% voted in favor of calling a strike if needed to reach an agreement.

As the city of Philadelphias largest employer and a world-class research institution, Penn must do better by the workers that ensure its continued success, Katelyn Friedline, a bargaining committee member and Ph.D. student, said at a news conference earlier this month.

The union, Graduate Employees Together-University of Pennsylvania (GET-UP) is part of the United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents groups of university workers across the country, including Penn postdoctoral researchers and research associates who voted to unionize in July.

The strike vote comes amid a wave of labor actions across Penn and other campuses. During contract negotiations in 2023, Temple University graduate workers went on strike for 42 days. The same year, Rutgers University educators, researchers, and clinicians walked off the job for a week.

Since 2023, resident assistants at Penn, Temple, Drexel University, and Swarthmore College have also unionized. This month, graduate student workers also voted to form a union at Pennsylvania State University.

GET-UP has been bargaining with Penn since October 2024, but sticking points include wages, healthcare coverage, and more support for international student workers.

A strike would be disruptive, said Sam Schirvar, a Ph.D. candidate in history and sociology of science, and would be a last resort for the union.

A work stoppage would really inhibit the basic teaching and research functions of Penn, and would make it very difficult for it to operate as it does as an academic institution, said Schirvar, who has been organizing with the union for over five years.

A university spokesperson, Ron Ozio, said via email on Thursday that Penn has been bargaining in good faith with the union.

We believe that a fair contract for the union and Penn can be achieved without a work stoppage, but we are prepared in the event that the union membership votes to authorize a strike, said Ozio.

What are graduate workers asking for?

Theres still a lot of room between the kinds of things that were calling for and the kinds of things that management is proposing, said Schirvar.

Wages

The majority of the bargaining unit is made up of Ph.D. students who are paid an annual stipend, while workers pursuing masters degrees receive hourly pay.

Stipend workers make a minimum of about $39,000 annually, and hourly workers have no university minimum, Schirvar said.

In its most recent proposal, the university offered $19 an hour for hourly employees and a minimum of $44,000 for the annual stipend starting in July 2026. The union is asking for a minimum wage of $37 an hour for those paid hourly and $55,500 for those on an annual stipend upon ratification of the contract.

While were asking for these things because it would make meaningful and life changing differences in our own individual lives, it also helps keep Penn a competitive, world-class institution, said Friedline.

Healthcare improvements

The union is asking for the university to cover the full cost of health insurance for graduate student workers including dental, vision, and dependent coverage. The university already pays full healthcare benefits for graduate student workers, and some dental reimbursements depending on their department, said Friedline.

Support for international students

The union is also asking for more protections for international student workers on visas, who represent roughly a third of the bargaining unit, said Friedline. That support is important at this time, Friedline said, amidst a national anti-immigrant political climate.

The union wants Penn to reimburse up to $3,000 of immigration expenses, bar immigration enforcement agents from entering nonpublic areas of campus unless legally required to, and alert the union if access is granted for a search or arrest warrant.

Guruprerana Shadadi, a second-year Ph.D. student in the computer science department and an international graduate worker from India, said he had to cover the costs of moving to the U.S. before getting his first paycheck from the university, which included visa expenses.

I was lucky enough to be able to afford this, but I know several international graduate workers who found it extremely hard to go through this process, he said. Receiving a livable wage and higher stipends would go a long way for international students who literally have to start from zero to set up their lives here when they move to the United States.

Vacation days

The union is asking for 20 paid vacation days and 20 sick days in a year. University leadership has said that this proposal exceeds what full-time staff get in their first few years. The university has proposed five paid days off per fiscal year and noted in a proposal that workers can request flexibility in scheduling when sick.

Penn doesnt currently have a centralized paid time-off policy for graduate student workers, and employees may be grading student work, preparing teaching materials, or working in a lab during the universitys academic breaks, said Schirvar.

Why are graduate students organizing now?

The academic job market has changed in recent decades, said Adrienne Eaton, a distinguished professor in the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. In the past, graduate student workers might have been more willing to get paid less, knowing that time would ensure they could get good jobs later on.

You could kind of sacrifice those wages, that salary for a while, because you were pretty sure that when you finished, you were going to be able to get a tenure track job  and that just hasnt been true, probably more like 20 years, depending on what field youre in, she said.

Meanwhile, the cost of living has risen, said Eaton. Those stipends that used to be kind of OK, I think, have gotten to be viewed as much more inadequate.

Whether or not Penn graduate workers actually strike, Eaton noted that passing a strike authorization vote typically sends a message.

Its a leverage tool in bargaining to kind of let the employer know were serious about this, and you need to be serious about what youre doing at the bargaining table, she said.
The final defendant in a sweeping corruption probe that uncovered a series of bribes being lavished upon an Amtrak manager during a renovation project at 30th Street Station was sentenced Friday to two months in prison.

Khaled Dallo was an employee at an Illinois-based masonry firm and helped provide a series of extravagant gifts to the Philadelphia-based project manager, Ajith Bhaskaran, including vacations to India and Ecuador, a Tourneau watch, expensive dinners in Center City, a German shepherd puppy, and cash.

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In all, prosecutors said, Dallo and supervisors at his company, Mark 1 Restoration, provided Bhaskaran with nearly $330,000 in bribes, and Bhaskaran in turn helped approve tens of millions of dollars in expenses for Mark 1, nearly doubling the cost of restoring the train stations historic facade.

Dallo, 69, said in court that he was sorry for his misconduct, and that it stood in contrast with how he has tried to live the rest of his life.

I knew it was wrong, he said, and chose to do it anyway.

His sentencing represents the final chapter in a saga that saw federal prosecutors indict six people connected to the restoration project  four from Mark 1, and two from another contractor.

All of the Mark 1 employees have since been sentenced to prison. Dallo received the shortest term, with prosecutors crediting him for being the first person to plead guilty and saying he served a more subordinate role in the scheme.

Mark 1s owner received a 7 year sentence, while two other executives received penalties of about five years and 18 months, respectively.

Bhaskaran, the Amtrak manager, was charged with unrelated wire fraud, but died of heart failure in 2019.

The renovation project Bhaskaran oversaw at 30th Street was announced in 2015, when the railroad agency signed a $58 million contract with Mark 1 to repair and clean the stations limestone facade.

Bhaskaran controlled the projects purse strings, and prosecutors said Mark 1 employees quickly came to realize their conditions on the job site could be improved if he was happy.

About a year into the project, prosecutors said, Bhaskaran began requesting gifts, despite Amtrak rules that bar employees from receiving them. Executives at Mark 1 knew Bhaskarans requests were improper, prosecutors said, but went on to fulfill them anyway  in part because Bhaskaran had the ability to approve additional business on the project.

Dallo was among the Mark 1 employees who provided Bhaskaran with dinners at steakhouses, limousine rides, a $5,600 watch, the paid vacations, and a nearly $5,000 check to an Illinois breeder of German shepherds.

Over that same time frame, Mark 1 continued to receive additional funding for its work at 30th Street. In total, prosecutors said, Bhaskaran helped secure the company $52 million in new contracts, about $2 million of which was considered fraudulent overbilling.

The scheme began to fall apart in 2018, when an anonymous tipster sent a letter to Amtraks inspector general about Bhaskarans suspicious behavior. That led to an investigation involving the FBI and Amtraks inspector general.

Dallo acknowledged his wrongdoing about a year later, as soon asfederal agents confronted him, prosecutors said.

Still, U.S. District Wendy Beetlestone told Dallo that his actions were not a onetime lapse in judgment, but a considered, yearslong effort that led to taxpayer money being spent on graft.

It was a crime fed by greed, she said.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska have honored the memory of Ukrainians who died during the Revolution of Dignity on Dignity and Freedom Day.

"Today is Dignity and Freedom Day, and it is primarily for Ukrainians to honor the price of independence for Ukraine and how much strength lies at the heart of real sovereignty. Today we remember all those who at different times fought for the right for Ukraine to be a free, independent, strong state and who became a symbol of human dignity and justice for the world," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

He noted that protecting one's own dignity, freedom and independence is an extremely difficult task, with a neighbor like the Russian Federation, but without this the Ukrainian people cannot be saved.

"And that is why it is so important that Ukrainians do not give up, defend things of principle and, thanks to their strength, change the course of history so that Ukraine lives and develops," the head of state noted.

He thanked everyone who fights for Ukraine as if it were their own.
Police investigating shooting evidence Thursday on the 2100 block of South Norwood Street in South Philadelphia. Read more

A 20-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man who were critically wounded in a shooting Thursday night were dropped off by a private vehicle at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, police said.

The shooting likely happened on the 2100 block of South Norwood Street in South Philadelphia, where 14 spent shell casings were found, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

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However, the victims have been unable to speak and no witnesses had yet been located to say for certain where the two people were shot, Small said.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m., police responded to a report of gunshots in the area of 21st and Jackson Streets and found the shooting scene nearby on the 2100 block of South Norwood Street, Small said.

A short time later, police were notified that two shooting victims were taken by private vehicle to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Small said. The vehicle did not remain at the hospital.

There were no other shooting incidents reported to police around the time the victims were dropped off at the hospital, Small said.

Police also did not find blood evidence on Norwood Street, adding to uncertainty about what happened, Small said.

Police were checking to see if any security cameras recorded video in the area, Small said.
File photo of Lenfest Circle, under the Bell Tower on the campus of Temple University on March 29, 2023. Read more

Philadelphia police are investigating two reported sexual assaults possibly involving the same Temple University student, school officials said Thursday.

In a statement, Temple officials said the university has received two credible reports alleging sexual assault, one during a social event in a residence hall and a second incident at an off-campus location, potentially involving the same suspect who was positively identified yesterday.

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The university has placed a student of interest on interim suspension pending investigations by the Philadelphia Police Department, Temples Department of Public Safety, and the university, the statement said.

While suspended, the student is prohibited from being on campus or in university buildings or classes, according to the statement signed by Jennifer Griffin, the universitys vice president for public safety and chief of police, and Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs.

As these investigations are ongoing, the statement said, we strongly encourage students with information or otherwise in need of support regarding any concerns of sexual misconduct to contact Temple Police at 215-204-1234 or police@temple.edu, the Title IX coordinator at 215-204-3283 or titleix@temple.edu, or the Dean of Students Office at 215-204-7188 or dos@temple.edu.

Students and other members of the university community or members of the public can also submit an anonymous report at helpline.temple.edu.
Items related to drinking at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Read more

The Founding Fathers never suffered sobriety. When they werent sweating out independence at Independence Hall, they were bending elbows at City Tavern  pretty much around the clock.

George Washington developed such a hankering for a rich, malty, Philly-brewed Robert Hares porter, he had kegs of the stuff shipped to Mount Vernon.

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John Adams, once virulently anti-tavern, effusively extolled the Philly bar scene in letters to his wife, Abigail. At one most sinful feast, Adams recalled sipping what would become his favorite Philly cocktail, the Whipped Sillabubs. A popular choice of the colonial-era Philly cocktail set, the boozy, creamy concoction was made from sherry, wine, and lemons.

Thomas Paine, the working-class poet, whose thunderous pamphlet Common Sense helped roar in a revolution, oiled up his writing hand with Philly rum.

It has long been accepted that Thomas Jefferson spent those sweltering summer weeks of 1776 drafting the Declaration from the favored Windsor chair of his Market Street lodgings. But records show he actually spent more time than ever at City Tavern at Second and Walnut. A minor, if tantalizing, historical development, which hints that perhaps the worlds most famous freedom document came fortified by fortified wine.

Benjamin Franklin, polymath of the Revolution, inventor, scientist, printer, statesman, and lover of French wine (if in moderation), affectionately penned a Drinkers Dictionary. The tippling tome contained 229 of Franklins favorite phrases for drunkenness, including buzzy, fuddled, muddled, dizzy as a goose, jambled, halfway to Concord, and Wamble Cropped.

Boozy business of revolution

Franklin and his ilk were not ringing up 18th-century expense accounts for the hurrah of it. They were doing the boozy business of revolution.

Revolutionary-era Americans consumed staggering amounts of alcohol compared with today, said Brooke Barbier, historian and author of the forthcoming book Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution.

By the end of the 18th century, when beer and spirits were a staple of daily life, the average colonist swilled about 3.7 gallons of hard liquor per year. A dizzying amount, not counting beer and cider, that mustve set many a patriots tricorn hat spinning.

By comparison, Americans now consume about 2.5 gallons of all alcohol, from beer to whiskey to wine, per year, said Barbier.

Historians believe booze and bar life played an outsize role in stoking the embers of insurrection.

Tavern culture was essential to the American Revolution, said Barbier. It was not a part of the sideshow. It was part of where the discussions about revolutionary ideas happened. Where spies met. And where others, who werent directly involved in politics, gathered to discuss the growing political crisis. Opinions were formed in taverns.

Nowhere was this work done more than in Philadelphia.

By 1776, Philadelphia boasted roughly 200 licensed and illegal watering holes  or about one for every 150 citizens, said Tyler Putman, senior manager for gallery interpretation at the Museum of the American Revolution.

Revolution with a twist

The fare of colonial-era drinking spots was as diverse as the budding port town.

There were posh spots like the newly constructed City Tavern, located blocks from the waterfront, and where the delegates of the First and Second Constitutional Congress drank nightly like fish. Ensconced in an upstairs space, known as the Long Room, the Founding Fathers debated liberty over libations late into the night, while imbibing copious amounts of Madeira, whiskey, punch, and everybodys favorite Robert Hare porter.

There were taverns and flophouses, where tradesmen and sailors learned of Britains newest outrage from newspapers read aloud, or the latest traveler. And there were scores of unlicensed disorderly houses, grungy forebears of the modern dive bar.

In 2014, three years before opening, the Museum of the American Revolution conducted a large archaeological dig, discovering thousands of artifacts from a Revolutionary-era disorderly house buried beneath its future Old City home. Among the mounds of mutton bones, glassware, and broken bottles unearthed from the privy of Benjamin and Mary Humphreys living room tavern was a broken windowpane inscribed with the initials and names of customers.

In what can only be the earliest example of Philly barroom graffiti, one dreamy patriot etched a quote attributed to the ancient Roman senator Cato into the clouded glass: We admire riches and are in love with idleness. The etching was meant as a barb toward the British, Putman said.

They were obsessed with ancient Rome, he said, of the American revolutionaries. They were thinking a lot about, How do you go back to some sort of idealized republic?

A nation born in taverns

Just as the nation strived to become democratic, its taverns became more undemocratic.

In Philadelphia, the elites who are cooking up one version of the revolution are not drinking with the rabble who are cooking up what maybe would become a different version, Putman said.

Revolutionary-era drinking and tavern life, and its role in Americas founding 250 years ago, will be explored in full at a Nov. 21 after-hours event at the Museum of the American Revolution. Dubbed Tavern Night, the sold-out cocktail reception and boozy symposium serves as a twist to the museums grand exhibition celebrating the national milestone, also known as the Semiquincentennial, "The Declarations Journey."

Unlike todays bars, taverns were meeting places at a time when few others were available, said Dan Wheeler, who last year reopened Phillys only remaining colonial-era tavern, A Man Full of Trouble, and will join Barbier in speaking at the event. Revolutionary thoughts were conceived and refined in taverns, and a nation was born.

Colonial keggers and the bonds of liberty

Booze was the social lubricant of the Revolution, said Barbier, a Boston-based historian who also runs tours of Revolutionary-era taverns, who pored over the Founding Fathers diaries and account books in recreating their raucous time in Philly.

The historical record provides no evidence that the nations founders were fully loaded  or cock-eyed and crump-footed, as Franklin mightve said  as they went about forming the republic, she said.

When you hear someone accusing someone of being drunk, its in an overly negative way, she said.

Still, she was surprised by just how much the Founding Fathers drank.

Hard cider and small beer, the 18th-century version of light beer, more or less, accompanied breakfast, she said. The midday meal, known as dinner, boasted cider, toddy, punch, port, and various wines. When their workday wrapped up in the late afternoon, the delegates drinking began in earnest.

Theres certainly a lot of drinking happening in these taverns, said Barbier, whose book includes recipes of the Founding Fathers preferred aperitifs. I dont drink and not eventually feel tipsy. Certainly the same would be true for people in the past.

Barbier notes the downside of all the drinking, like booze-fueled mob violence that spilled into the streets. And neither will she say that Jefferson, who kept all his receipts, actually penned the Declaration at City Tavern.

He was there more frequently than ever during this time, she said. Maybe he needed to take a break from his writing, and go there. And sometimes when youre on break, you develop your best ideas.

The Founders endless toasting of tankards  including a rager for the ages marking Paul Reveres arrival in Philly, and held in 1774, the night before a critical vote toward independence  provided crucial trust-building, Barbier said.

The men who founded America arrived in Philly as strangers, agreeing on little. After so much boozing, they bonded as brothers in liberty, and left a new nation in their wake.

Ultimately, this comradery and social bonding leads to the consensus that leads to the Declaration of Independence, Barbier said.
It finally happened this week.

One of my patients, a woman in her 40s with chronic abdominal pain, told me that she had a new companion named Astrid joining her during an office visit. But she was alone in the exam room. It took me a few awkward seconds to realize that Astrid was a chatbot.

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She went on to explain that Astrid helps her remember what to ask me about and alerts her to worrisome causes of her symptoms. She often has difficulty scheduling an office appointment and gets a quicker response to simple questions from Astrid than from our patient portal. I felt an odd combination of humbled, curious, and dismayed. And I was relieved that my patient still showed up for her visit, albeit with Astrids advice visible on her iPhone screen.

Many of my patients have long consulted the internet about their symptoms; some even apologize for doing it. I reassure them that Googling is normal these days, and often preempt their fears by asking up front, Is there anything you researched about your symptoms that has you worried? But Astrid seemed different, like I was in a brave new world of truly sharing my space in a medical clinic with something (or someone) that I am not sure if I can trust.

And this is only the beginning. Companies like Counsel Health have developed AI-first platforms that promise to take the first run at triaging a patients medical needs, then escalate cases needing further review to a human clinician. Similarly, Massachusetts General Hospital has launched Care Connect, an AI chatbot app for patients without a primary care doctor.

Ive been reading everything I am able to find about AI chatbots, but I still felt unprepared to face this in my own clinic. I think part of the reason is that doctors generally assume that bedside skills are squarely in our wheelhouse. In fact, it is these abilities  rather than medical diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities  that many of us cite when discussing the most profound moments in our careers. In my specialty of primary care, relational skills  empathy, presence, communication, patient education  are quintessential, almost like what performing an operation is to a surgeon. As much as personal connection is a high priority for patients, it is also a vital source of meaning and purpose for many doctors.

So it stands to reason that the idea of AI chatbots at the bedside provokes a variety of emotions in doctors like me, including disbelief, worry, anger, anxiety, sadness, or outright denial. Many of us prefer to dismiss the idea that they could be our competition for patients loyalty. We prefer to discuss ways in which we can define how AI tools streamline processes, improve efficiency, and relieve task overload.

That said, what are patients with a time-sensitive medical concern supposed to do if they are told there are no appointments available for two weeks? People lead busy and complex lives. They may get in quickly at Urgent Care or on a telemedicine service, but will likely receive a transactional visit with a clinician who does not know them, with no continuity if things dont go as expected.

Even for those fortunate enough to get an appointment at the office for a new concern, these visits can be quite short, and a patient may find that their true concerns compete with your primary care doctors agenda to address preventive health, and other issues for which they have a financial incentive through healthcares complex payment systems.

And patients see doctors human limitations. We get tired and impatient; we are biased; we interrupt; we take cognitive short cuts; it takes time for us to learn. The rates of harmful human medical errors and inaccurate diagnoses is still intolerably high.

So now there is Astrid and her brethren  tireless, always available, prepared to share vast knowledge in seconds, apparently non-judgmental, and even empathic. There are studies that describe how patients often lie to their doctors and are sometimes more at ease being vulnerable and sharing emotionally difficult matters with chatbots.

Generative AI is truly remarkable, and maybe someday chatbots will best doctors at our craft. But before you fully give over to AI temptation, consider a few words of caution.

Technology developers do not uphold any long-held tradition, or take an oath to act in your best interest. They simply aspire to create the most useful and marketable tools possible. Chatbots can hallucinate, and provide information that is false or unsubstantiated. They are designed to please you and can be seductively sycophantic. They cannot form long-term, honest, collaborative relationships with you  like committed primary care doctors can  nor can they coordinate the complex, overlapping array of concurrent medical, social, emotional, and financial issues that characterize a journey through illness.

The promise of AI chatbots speaks loudly, and the message is being received with interest and concern. Many physicians and healthcare leaders are replacing our apprehension with curiosity, endeavoring to better understand the allure. It implores us to overcome decades-long inertia and deliver primary care that is accessible, efficient, and prioritizes patients stories, needs and concerns above all else. Practicing this version of primary care also stands a better chance of keeping more primary care doctors in the workforce and attracting more new medical graduates to the specialty.

Doctors are working with developers to help make medical AI better, safer, equitable, and ethically sound. Chatbots have far greater potential as doctor-patient partners, rather than as alternatives. My request of my patients: Use them carefully, keep your appointments. And share your learnings  my colleagues and I need to hear what Astrid is recommending.

Jeffrey Millstein is an internist and regional medical director for Penn Primary and Specialty Care.
The adage goes, If mom says, No, call grandma. So if grandma says, No, do you call a lawyer?

Popular D.C. bagel chain Call Your Mother is doing just that after claiming that a shop in Long Branch, N.J., is cramping their style, filing a trademark lawsuit within the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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Call Your Bubbi, a beach town cafe and kosher-certified bagel shop, opened last year within the Wave Resort and offers your classic bagel fare.

Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, the married couple behind Call Your Mother, say the Jersey cafe is intentionally using a confusingly similar name and branding, which can harm their nearly six-year-old company that has about 25 locations, in the Washington area and six in Colorado. The dispute has quickly gone viral within the food scene and bagel-loving communities.

I cannot believe how this has blown up, Dana said. It has taken on a life we never expected.

Call Your Bubbi owner David Mizrahi did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Inquirer.

Dana said the couple first found out about the Long Branch cafe when a neighbor texted a photo of its storefront, asking if Call Your Mother had expanded to New Jersey. From there, they looked at Call Your Bubbis online and social media presence.

Dana and Moreira own the trademark for the phrase call your mother for use as a deli, cafe, or restaurant, according to court documents. Theyve also trademarked their logo, a rotary phone (which mimics the shape of a bagel). In its branding suite, the Call Your Mother text often circles around the rotary graphic.

Call Your Bubbi also uses a round image with its name similarly circling around its bagel logo. According to the Washingtonian, the cafe also at one point used a rotary phone motif on its merch. Both shops use hues of pink and blue in their branding.

People might think were sort of hunting this stuff out  thats not the case at all," Dana said. It looks just like our logo. We tried for months and months to get in touch with the owner. We got hung up on. We didnt know what else to do.

At one point, Dana told the Washington Post that he noticed a tagline on the top of Call Your Bubbis website: If Mom says, No, call your Bubbi. He told the Post, I just felt like they were goading us.

In August, the couple sent Mizrahi a cease-and-desist letter, court documents show. They say they never heard back or saw a change in the cafes branding. Last Tuesday, they officially filed the lawsuit.

Call Your Mother is being represented by Philadelphia-based attorney Matthew Homyk, a partner in the intellectual property group of Blank Rome LLP. Homyk didnt respond for comment as of publication time.

In Jewish culture, the terms mother and bubbi both denote a caring and nurturing Jewish matriarch, the lawsuit says. Both marks evoke the same core idea  a warm and loving (but also somewhat instructive or scolding) prompt to call your mother or grandmother, and to go grab some coffee and bagels while youre at it."

The suit noted that Mizrahis original incorporation in March 2024 was for Bubbies Bagels, but that sometime thereafter, he began using the Call Your Bubbi label instead.

The Jersey Shore cafe appears to use a blend of both names as of publication time. On Yelp, its Call Your Bubbi. On Google Maps, its billed as Bubbi Bagels @ Wave Resort, but its phone line and merch still identify it as Call Your Bubbi.

The shops web domain is bubbibagels.com, but the top of its website says Call Your Bubbi. Similarly, its Instagram username is @bubbibagels, but its icon is the contested Call Your Bubbi round logo.

Dana said they saw no issue with the cafe going by Bubbi Bagels, or something similar.

He can call it Bubbis, he can call it Mothers, I dont really care. But Call Your Bubbi is so close, we had to sort this out, Dana said. Still, Dana says, Mizrahi wont return his calls.

Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney not affiliated with the litigation, says the suit makes for a captivating case study. He posted his own analysis of the brand dispute on LinkedIn and says he believes Call Your Mother has a strong case for trademark infringement.

As a trademark attorney who grew up in a Jewish family, I can tell you that those two names draw from the same emotional well, he said. If this case goes to trial, the judge or jury will have to determine whether an average consumer would think these brands are owned by the same company.

Restaurant-related trademark disputes arent new. In Philly, Chickies & Petes has a grip on the use of crabfries thanks to owner Pete Ciarrocchi registering the phrase as a trademark back in 2007. Since then, his lawyers have sent cease-and-desist letters to restaurants nationwide for using the phrase.

(It has also sparked some cheeky clapbacks, like Bettys Seafood Shack in Margate, which now calls its version of the fries For Petes Sake.)

The lawsuit is asking for the court to rule that Call Your Bubbi illegally used Call Your Mothers trademark materials and engaged in unfair competition and to order that they permanently stop using the name or anything similar.

They also want all infringing materials destroyed, a report proving compliance, and financial remedies, including Call Your Bubbis profits, along with damages, interest, attorney fees, and other appropriate penalties.

We want him to be able to have his business and us to have ours, Dana said. The last thing we want to do is spend money on legal or focus on this. We want to focus on making bagels  and figure out how to finish this quickly."
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court is meeting in private Friday with a key issue on its agenda  President Donald Trumps birthright citizenship order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.

The justices could say as soon as Monday whether they will hear Trumps appeal of lower court rulings that have uniformly struck down the citizenship restrictions. They have not taken effect anywhere in the United States.

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If the court steps in now, the case would be argued in the spring, with a definitive ruling expected by early summer.

 READ MORE: President Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. Heres why that will be hard to do.

The birthright citizenship order, which Trump signed on the first day of his second term in the White House, is part of his administrations broad immigration crackdown. Other actions include immigration enforcement surges in several cities and the first peacetime invocation of the 18th century Alien Enemies Act.

The administration is facing multiple court challenges, and the high court has sent mixed signals in emergency orders it has issued. The justices effectively stopped the use of the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without court hearings, while they allowed the resumption of sweeping immigration stops in the Los Angeles area after a lower court blocked the practice of stopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location.

The justices also are weighing the administrations emergency appeal to be allowed to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area for immigration enforcement actions. A lower court has indefinitely prevented the deployment.

 READ MORE: From May: New Jersey leads the arguments on birthright citizenship before the Supreme Court

Birthright citizenship is the first Trump immigration-related policy to reach the court for a final ruling. Trumps order would upend more than 125 years of understanding that the Constitutions 14th Amendment confers citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.

In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as unconstitutional, or likely so, even after a Supreme Court ruling in late June that limited judges use of nationwide injunctions.

While the Supreme Court curbed the use of nationwide injunctions, it did not rule out other court orders that could have nationwide effects, including in class-action lawsuits and those brought by states. The justices did not decide at that time whether the underlying citizenship order is constitutional.

But every lower court that has looked at the issue has concluded that Trumps order violates or most likely violates the 14th Amendment, which was intended to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship.

The administration is appealing two cases.

 READ MORE: From July: Appeals court finds Trumps effort to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional, upholds block

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco ruled in July that a group of states that sued over the order needed a nationwide injunction to prevent the problems that would be caused by birthright citizenship being in effect in some states and not others.

Also in July, a federal judge in New Hampshire blocked the citizenship order in a class-action lawsuit including all children who would be affected.

The American Civil Liberties Union, leading the legal team in the New Hampshire case, urged the court to reject the appeal because the administrations arguments are so flimsy, ACLU lawyer Cody Wofsy said. But if the court decides to hear the case, were more than ready to take Trump on and win.

Birthright citizenship automatically makes anyone born in the United States an American citizen, including children born to mothers who are in the country illegally, under long-standing rules. The right was enshrined soon after the Civil War in the first sentence of the 14th Amendment.

The administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship.

The lower courts decisions invalidated a policy of prime importance to the president and his administration in a manner that undermines our border security, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in urging the high courts review. Those decisions confer, without lawful justification, the privilege of American citizenship on hundreds of thousands of unqualified people.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his country in an address Friday that it could face a pivotal choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs, as leaders discuss a U.S. peace proposal seen as favoring Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, cautiously welcomed the U.S. plan to end Moscows nearly four-year war in Ukraine, which contains many of the Kremlins longstanding demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. Putin said it could form the basis of a final peace settlement, while accusing Ukraine of opposing the plan and being unrealistic.

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The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia  something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out  while reducing the size of its army and blocking its coveted path to NATO membership.

Zelensky, in his address hours earlier, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while pledging to work calmly with Washington and other partners in what he called truly one of the most difficult moments in our history. He said he spoke for almost an hour Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about the peace proposal.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest, Zelensky said in the recorded speech. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.

Speaking at a meeting of Russias National Security Council, Putin called the plan a new version and a modernized plan of what was discussed with the U.S. ahead of his Alaska summit with President Donald Trump in August, and said Moscow has received it. I believe that it, too, could form the basis for a final peace settlement, he said.

But he said the text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why, adding that Washington has so far been unable to gain Ukraines consent. Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield, Putin said.

Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week

Trump said Zelensky is going to have to come to terms with the U.S. proposal, and if he doesnt, they should just keep fighting, I guess.

Asked by reporters about Zelensky saying his country faces a difficult choice, Trump alluded to their tense meeting in February that led to a brief rupture in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship: You remember right in the Oval Office not so long ago? I said you dont have the cards.

Trump in a radio interview earlier Friday said he wants an answer from Zelensky on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but said an extension is possible to finalize terms.

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, Trump said in an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. But Thursday is it  we think an appropriate time.

While Zelensky has offered to negotiate with the U.S. and Russia, he signaled Ukraine has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.

He urged Ukrainians to stop fighting each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week will be very difficult.

Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine

Zelensky spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the U.S. proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

Wary of antagonizing Trump, the European and Ukrainian leaders cautiously worded their responses and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelensky of their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, Merzs office said.

The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees, the statement added.

The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.

Starmer said the right of Ukraine to determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.

Existential threat to Europe

European countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Russias war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide.

Trump in his radio interview pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Putin to carry out further malign action on his European neighbors.

Hes not thinking of more war, Trump said of Putin. Hes thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now.

A European government official said the U.S. plans werent officially presented to Ukraines European backers.

Many of the proposals are quite concerning, the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.

The official was not authorized to discuss the plan publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

European Council President Antonio Costa, in Johannesburg, said of the U.S. proposals, The European Union has not been communicated any plans in (an) official manner.

Proposal meets with skepticism in the U.S. Senate

This so-called peace plan has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace, said Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the worlds most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin.

Wicker added that Ukraine should be allowed to determine the size of its military and Putin should not be rewarded with assurances from the U.S.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said theres general concern and alarm that this is a Russian wish list proposal.

Ukraine examines the proposals

Ukrainian officials said they were weighing the U.S. proposals, and Zelensky said he expected to talk to Trump about it in coming days.

A U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelensky, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelensky.

However, Umerov on Friday denied that version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared the talks.

He said technical talks between the U.S. and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv.

We are thoughtfully processing the partners proposals within the framework of Ukraines unchanging principles  sovereignty, peoples security, and a just peace, he said.
If the decision earlier this month by eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus to cave instead of standing firm to ensure continued subsidies for the Affordable Care Act proved anything, its that better leadership is desperately needed in Washington, particularly around the issue of healthcare.

Its one of the top issues about which voters worry. Absolutely no one is better poised to represent the interests of Philadelphians in Congress on this issue than Ala Stanford. She was indefatigable during the pandemic. We will never know how many lives she and the other healthcare providers she convened as part of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium actually saved. But the city will forever be in her debt for all she has done, and continues to do, at the eponymous health clinic she opened in 2021 in North Philly.

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Now Stanford is running to replace Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Pa.), who announced in June that he will not seek reelection.

Evans, who sits on the healthcare subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, has endorsed her to be his replacement. I think in the environment that were in today, we need to demonstrate results, and she has done that, Evans, 71, told me last week. If elected, Stanford will join an elite group of legislators who are also physicians, including Rep. Herb Conaway (D., N.J.).

Stanford has what it to takes to stand 10 toes down, as the saying goes, in face of stiff Republican resistance and President Donald Trump, who in his first term minimized the threat of COVID during the height of the pandemic, and in his second term has instituted policies that imperil public health  including keeping Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from continuing during the government shutdown.

The day I caught up with Stanford last week, she was preparing to deliver a keynote address at the Fourth Annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference in West Philly. I am an example of what SNAP benefits, of what Medicaid, and a little bit of cash and food stamps and Pampers can produce when you invest in a family, she pointed out. Look what it produced.

Shes a phenom all right. Stanford would fit in well with the Squad, a tight-knit group of progressive congressional lawmakers that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. I get the sense, though, that some voters have developed a curious case of collective amnesia about who Stanford is and what she has done for Philadelphians, particularly during the pandemic.

 READ MORE: Ala Stanfords new book is equal parts memoir and rallying cry for health-care equity | Jenice Armstrong

Stanford has also been the subject of social media chatter questioning her eligibility to run since she lives in Jenkintown. However, the Constitution requires only that a candidate running for Congress reside in the state theyre campaigning to represent, which she does. In addition, Stanford is renovating a property in Chestnut Hill located inside the boundaries of the 3rd Congressional District, which she will represent if she wins the seat.

For the record, although Im a member of The Inquirer Editorial Board, this column doesnt constitute an official endorsement. These are my own thoughts and observations. They go way back.

Ive been singing Stanfords praises since I first met her in 2010. She was working at Abington Hospital as a pediatric surgeon then, and poised to successfully operate on a Haitian toddler born with an anorectal malformation that left her without an anus. Thanks to Stanfords skill and brilliance, the little girl was able to go on and live a normal life.

Over the years, Ive watched her continue to rack up accomplishments, including finding the time to run a nonprofit mentorship program, It Takes Philly, that she cofounded with her brother, Kamau. In 2018, she opened a concierge medicine office that cared for actor Will Smith, as well as other select patients, and provided on-site medical coverage for Smith, who celebrated his 50th birthday with a bungee jump into the Grand Canyon.

But as much respect as I already had for her, it pales in comparison to what I thought after watching her in action during the pandemic.

Upon learning African Americans constituted 52% of all COVID cases in Philadelphia, Stanford went into overdrive. In the course of a week, she created the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, gathered up all the testing kits she could find, and started going from home to home in a rented van, testing Philly residents.

I was beyond impressed. It turns out she was just getting started.

Realizing she could reach more people in a centralized location, her next move was to recruit a group of healthcare workers and stand with them outdoors in the cold and rain at Miller Memorial Baptist Church in North Philly. Altogether, they tested more than 130 people. In doing so, Stanford stepped into an early, huge void that had been left by city and state officials, as well as hospital and university administrators.

 READ MORE: This doctor deserves a standing ovation for her swift response to the coronavirus crisis | Jenice Armstrong

But thats what heroes like Stanford do. While many sheltered in place or waited for federal dollars, she tied on her proverbial cape, masked up, and served thousands of people by setting up coronavirus testing sites in church parking lots and other spaces in neighborhoods with the highest COVID rates. Then, once vaccines became more widely available, she allowed herself to be inoculated on live TV  which gave me and countless others the resolve and confidence to follow suit.

Stanford also began vaccinating huge swaths of Philadelphians after the city badly fumbled the task by awarding a contract to a 22-year-old Drexel grad student with no medical background.

Once the health crisis began to wane, youd think Stanford would have gone back to focusing on her pediatric and concierge medicine practices and her family. She had already done way more than most.

Instead, she used donations and her savings to open the neighborhood health center at 2001 W. Lehigh Ave. called the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity.

She briefly considered becoming commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, but decided against it due to potential conflicts with the health center. The following year, she accepted President Joe Bidens appointment to serve as the regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Stanford decided to jump into politics last summer shortly after Evans retirement announcement. My phone started blowing up from my D.C. people saying, Dr. Ala, its time, she recalled.

Other contenders so far include: State Sen. Sharif Street, State Reps. Chris Rabb and Morgan Cephas, and David Oxman, an intensive care physician and professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

My phone started blowing up from my D.C. people saying, Dr. Ala, its time. Ala Stanford

The timing is right for Stanford, both personally and professionally. She said shes more than ready to transition from the halls of medicine to the hallowed halls of the U.S. Congress. Its been 28 years, Stanford said. Ive been a physician more than half my life.

She views her potential move to Washington as a redirection more than anything. This is the same mission, just a different path.

Stanford is ready to take on Trump and Congress. It remains to be seen if Philadelphia is ready to vote for her to do so.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan speaks during her town hall meeting at the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Downingtown, Pa. on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat, said Friday she is profoundly disappointed in her Republican colleagues for not speaking up after President Donald Trump accused her and five other Democratic lawmakers of sedition.

Houlahan was one of six Democrats in Congress  all military veterans or members of the intelligence community  featured in a video urging members of the military and intelligence community to refuse illegal orders.

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In response, Trump went after the Democrats in a string of posts on Truth Social Thursday, accusing them of sedition that he said is punishable by DEATH.

Early Friday evening, a spokesperson for Houlahan posted on the representatives X account that her district office in West Chester was the target of a bomb threat.

Thankfully, the staff there, as well as the office in Washington, D.C., are safe. We are grateful for our local law enforcement agencies who reacted quickly and are investigating, the post said.

A spokesperson for Rep. Chris Deluzio, a western Pennsylvania Democrat also on the video, posted on X late Friday afternoon that the representatives district offices were targeted with bomb threats as well.

Houlahan lamented at a Friday news conference in Washington that not a single Republican in Congress has reached out to me, either publicly or privately since Trumps post.

And with this, I am profoundly disappointed in my colleagues, she added.

In addition to calling for the lawmakers to be arrested and tried for sedition, Trump shared posts from supporters calling for retribution against the Democrats, including one that said HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !! and another calling them domestic terrorists.

This is not normal political discourse, Houlahan said Friday alongside other veteran members of Congress. Indeed, it is, in fact, a explicit embrace of political violence against the opposition.

As a member who has spent my entire career calling for civility and decency and building relationships with the other side of the aisle, Im dumbfounded by the silence, added the Air Force veteran.

Beyond not reaching out to her specifically, Houlahan broadly said that not a single Republican member has condemned this call for violence, not publicly, not privately.

When reached by The Inquirer on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Bucks), a former FBI agent, condemned Trumps rhetoric, but he did so without naming the president

This exchange is part of a deeper issue of corrosive divisiveness that helps no one and puts our entire nation at risk, he said. Such unnecessary incidents and incendiary rhetoric heighten volatility, erode public trust, and have no place in a constitutional republic, least of all in our great nation.

When asked for clarification, his spokesperson added that He is 100% opposed to the presidents comments and 100% stands with all men and women who wear the uniform.

Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) said, There is no place in either party for violent rhetoric and everyone needs to dial it down a notch, in a follow-up statement to The Inquirer after initially placing blame solely on the Democrats.

 READ MORE: Lawmakers from Pa. respond to Trump's Truth Social post calling them seditious

Some Republicans justified Trumps response by saying the Democrats who made the video were in the wrong  even if the presidents rhetoric was over the top.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said that he did not think the six Democrats committed crimes punishable by death or any of that, but criticized the Democrats video as irresponsible, Politico reported.

The point we need to emphasize here is that members of Congress in the Senate [and] House should not be telling troops to disobey orders, Johnson said. It is dangerous.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, responded to a reporter asking if Trump wanted to execute members of Congress by saying no, and criticized the video put out by the veterans.

The video that inspired Trumps ire did not point to any specific order from Trump as illegal, despite urging troops to resist such an order.

However, the video follows high-profile debates about the legality of Trumps deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities and his ordering of strikes on boats in the Caribbean. Trump alleges that the boats are carrying drugs from Venezuela, but experts have said his claims about them are misleading.

He has shown time and time again that when he threatens to abuse his power, he acts on it, Houlahan said Friday at the news conference announcing a bill that would prohibit funds for military force in or against Venezuela without congressional approval.

Houlahan said Congress has not received intelligence on the strikes. She said that Trumps administration has repeatedly shown disregard for the military process.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.), one of the bills sponsors, said military leaders who have expressed concern about the legality of the strikes have been sidelined. He also pointed out that threatening a member of Congress is against the law.

So put yourselves in the shoes of a young lieutenant or sergeant whos in uniform right now watching the commander-in-chief threaten members of Congress to death for telling you to follow the law, he said. Youre watching him orchestrate legally dubious military strikes while sidelining military lawyers and commanders who say that those actions may be illegal and could therefore get you prosecuted for following those orders.

Moulton was not one of the six lawmakers featured in the video, but he shares a similar background, having served four tours in Iraq as a Marine.

He said Congress should learn from its failure to question that war as it confronts the legality of Trumps strikes in the Caribbean.

Ive seen what being in a moral and legal gray area means in war, he said.

Staff writers Julia Terruso and Robert Moran contributed to this article.
LaQuisha Anthony, senior manager of advocacy at the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, stands at City Hall in this 2019 photo. Anthony says Pennsylvania's budget doesn't meet the "overwhelming need" at organizations like hers that help survivors of sexual violence. Read more

Rape crisis centers in the Philadelphia region are sounding the alarm that the slight increase in funding in the recently passed state budget wont be enough to sustain or improve crucial services for survivors of sexual assault.

The Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), which funds rape crisis centers via the state allocation, estimates centers will only see an average increase of $5,300 from the state to support their work assisting victims of sexual violence.

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The Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence had to lay off most of its staff and reduce services due to the nearly five-month state budget impasse. And while leaders in the region appreciate the funding  the first increase for rape crisis centers in years  its only a fraction of what Phillys only rape crisis center says it needs to survive.

Even with the budget now passed, the funding increase is minimal compared to the overwhelming need, said LaQuisha Anthony, senior manager of advocacy at the center, in a news release last week. The center is known as WOAR, the initials of its former name, Women Organized Against Rape.

Now advocates in Philadelphia and the suburbs are turning their focus to next years budget, pushing for an $8 million increase in state funding to rape crisis centers, which, among other services, offer victim advocacy, legal services, and crisis hotlines. A surge in funding will help provide stability for survivors and adequately compensate staff who dedicate their lives to this work.

An $8 million increase would help ensure that every survivor across the Commonwealth, urban, suburban, and rural, has access to care, advocacy, and prevention, said Joyce Lukima, coalition director and chief operating officer at PCAR, in a statement.

More than $12 million of a $50.1 billion state budget was allocated to rape crisis this year, a $250,000 increase from last year. Lukima said this $250,000 will be split among 47 rape crisis centers in the state.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which oversees rape crisis center funding, highlighted Gov. Josh Shapiros history of support for survivors of sexual violence.

The final budget reflects the realities of working with one of the only divided legislatures in the entire country  but Gov. Shapiro will continue to fight for survivors and the Commonwealths rape crisis centers," said Ali Fogarty, the DHS spokesperson.

Victim services centers in the suburbs, which also offer rape crisis services, are echoing WOAR and PCARs message, highlighting the urgent need for greater funding. These suburban centers receive funding from additional sources because they support victims of other crimes.

For now, were doing OK, but another year of no increase in funding while the cost of living is going up has a significant impact on our staff as well as our organization, said Penelope Ettinger, executive director of Network of Victim Assistance - Bucks County.

Trying to stay afloat

While Pennsylvania lawmakers were failing to come to an agreement on a far overdue state budget last month, rape crisis centers in Philadelphia and the suburbs were trying to make ends meet and provide services to survivors of sexual violence.

For instance, the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County had to use a line of credit, delay bill payments, institute a hiring freeze, increase the number of interns, and commit to triaging services, said Mary Onama, executive director.

If they hadnt passed the budget the time that they did, by December or January, we would have had to close, because we couldnt go much longer, Onama added.

At the Crime Victims Center of Chester County, it added a layer of stress to an already very stressful job, though the center did not have to reduce services, said Christine Zaccarelli, the organizations CEO.

And at WOAR, the changes were drastic.

The nonprofit cut their 30-person staff and paused counseling and therapy services and prevention-education programs. Other programming was kept afloat by the handful of staff members that remained.

WOARs release last week said the closure of therapy and counseling services left 106 individuals wait-listed, 33 group clients waiting for services to resume, and eight child clients referred elsewhere for care.

The center has been serving Philadelphia since 1971 and was one of the first rape crisis centers in the United States, according to the organization. Between January and October, the center said it responded to 3,820 calls on its crisis hotline.

But there have been recent shake-ups at the nonprofit, including the hiring of Gabriella Fontan, WOARS executive director, which was announced roughly a week before layoffs began in October. Prior to Fontan, the center had two interim executive directors since 2022.

The dysfunctional approval of the state budget, though, will have lingering effects on WOAR, warning in the news release that without a long-term, sustainable investment, the center wont be able to meet a rising demand for resources.

The Bridge Loan, from the Pa. Treasury Department, provided WOAR funding owed for July through September, but it still wasnt enough to return WOAR to full capacity, said Demetrius Archer, PCARs communications director. The center also brought back two employees this month, but its still in need of community support and is hoping to bring back more staff when possible.

When services are underfunded, survivors and entire communities feel the impact, said Fontan in the news release. In a city as large and diverse as Philadelphia, every minute counts when someone is in crisis. Survivors deserve to know that when they reach out for help, someone will be there to answer.

All eyes on Harrisburg

At Temple Universitys campus Tuesday, student advocates bundled up in their coats, hats, and scarves and gathered at the Bell Tower to discuss an anti-sexual violence state bill they helped develop.

The Every Voice Bill, which primarily focuses on sexual violence prevention resources on college campuses, is even more important now that survivor services from WOAR are unstable, said Bella Kwok, a senior criminal justice major and president of Temples Student Activists Against Sexual Assault, in an interview prior to Tuesdays event

This bill would ensure that stability at least on an institutional level, Kwok said.

Kwok is not the only one who is turning their attention to Harrisburg. PCAR and other rape crisis centers are continuing their push for next years budget to include an $8 million increase in the Pa. DHS line item for rape crisis.

As the first increase for rape crisis centers in a few years, the new budgets funding gives advocates hope, even if the amount is disappointing, said Zaccarelli, of the Crime Victims Center of Chester County.

Maybe our advocacy is making a little bit of a difference and shining a light on survivors and their needs and how important our centers are in the community, Zaccarelli said.

Ettinger said that Bucks Countys state lawmakers have been supportive of NOVA Bucks, which had to place a hiring freeze on some positions and issue significant restrictions on spending due to the impasse, but that a lack of increased funding from the state is very telling.

I believe that the fact that the state did not allocate a significant increase is very telling to what they believe, where they put it on the priority list, Ettinger said.

For his part, Shapiro signed Act 122 in October 2024, which aimed to increase transparency by requiring a statewide electronic system to track evidence kits for sexual assaults, Fogarty, the DHS spokesperson said. And in December 2023, he signed Act 59, which aims to improve access to treatment for survivors of sexual assault.

Its a societal problem, not a government problem, said Vincent Davalos, interim executive director of the Delaware County Victim Assistance Center.

When we talk about sexual violence, the first thought is, of most people, is to say Maybe this didnt happen, Davalos said. And even if they do believe it happens its just a really difficult topic for people to engage and talk about it plainly.

This week, victim services leaders across Pennsylvania will gather in Harrisburg for an annual conference to address funding challenges among other concerns, Davalos said, noting that with more funding, his center could improve staff retention.

But this year, the newly passed state budget is likely to be top of mind.

I think money is going to be a big topic, Davalos said.
Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding the designated lines in the northern part of Pokrovsk, and also control positions south of the railway, which are important for further de-occupation, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"The enemy is trying to cross the railway to increase the area of occupation of the city, but our military is blocking these attempts. The enemy's troops in Pokrovsk are being exhausted. As a result, the enemy is having to replenish losses among personnel," the message on social networks says.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Russian command has already deployed the operational reserve of the Center Airborne Division - units of the 76th Airborne Division of the Russian Federation - in the area of responsibility of the corps.

The Defense Forces emphasized that in order to counter the further advance of the enemy and conduct clean-ups in Pokrovsk, the Defense Forces are increasing their own grouping, in particular the number of UAV crews.

"One of the key tasks of our defenders remains the complete blocking of the enemy's logistical routes to the city, including with the use of tactical and army aviation," the report says.

As noted in the 7th Corps, the northern outskirts of Myrnohrad are being cleared of enemy infantry.

"We are also attracting additional resources to detect and eliminate the enemy, whose movement has been recorded in the southern part of the city. A small number of enemy groups tried to infiltrate Hryshyn, which is northwest of Pokrovsk. But the Ukrainian military detected and eliminated the enemy in time," the 7th Corps said.
Comedian Shane Gillis after throwing out a pitch before a Phillies game in 2024. Read more

President Donald Trump may no longer be a fan of Shane Gillis after listening to the comedians most-recent podcast.

Gillis, a Mechanicsburg, Pa., native, joked about the possibility 79-year-old Trump is beginning to show signs of mental decline on the most-recent episode of Matt and Shanes Secret Podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow comedian Matt McCuster.

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Last week, Trump lashed out at Bloomberg White House correspondent and former Philadelphia Daily News reporter Catherine Lucey after she pressed him for information about files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Quiet, quiet, piggy, an angry Trump shot back, an insult Gillis jokingly referenced while interrupting guest Nate Marshall.

Do you think hes getting dementia? McCuster asked Gillis.

I dont know, Gillis responded. I dont think  he just seems a little slower than usual.

Hes definitely not at Biden brains yet, but hes circling the drain, Gillis added, a reference to the perceived decline of former President Joe Biden, who ended his reelection campaign following his poor performance during a debate against Trump.

While Gillis expressed some sympathy for Lucey, he also joked about whether she deserved to be corrected by Trump and how awkward the plane flight must have been following the exchange.

Think if you were next to her and hated her, Gillis said.

Watch (caution: strong language):

Lucey, who has not spoken publicly about the matter, spent 12 years as a reporter at the Philadelphia Daily News covering everything from police corruption to local news. She left in 2012 and spent time reporting for the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal before joining Bloomberg in March.

Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor, a Bloomberg News spokesperson told the Guardian. We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trumps insult of Lucey, telling reporters Thursday the president calls out fake news when he sees it and gets frustrated with reporters who spread false information.

Theres no indication Lucey was spreading false information while asking Trump about the Epstein files.

After being fired by Saturday Night Live in 2019, Gillis has risen to fame in part thanks to his unflattering yet sympathetic portrayal of Trump. Gillis has amassed a huge audience of MAGA fans, including the president himself.

Gillis, an Eagles fan, met with Trump at the Super Bowl in New Orleans alongside country music star Zach Bryan.

Well, hes a very good  I mean, on our side, right? Trump later said in an interview with the Spector editor Ben Domenech, with the president adding he was a fan of Gillis and likes everybody thats on my side.

Gillis recalled the meeting during an episode of his podcast, describing the room as intense thanks to the heavy presence of Secret Service agents.

I finally had the moment  quick handshake," Gillis said, though adding that Trump has no idea who I am.

Joe Rogan and Theo Von not-so-quietly cooling their support of Trump

Gillis is just the latest comedian within the so-called manosphere to begin to peel back their support of Trump.

Joe Rogan, host of the popular The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, mocked Trump over his handling of the Epstein files.

I heard theres no files, I heard its a hoax,  Rogan said on the most-recent episode of his podcast. And then all of a sudden, hes going to release the files. Well, I thought there was not files.

Rogan famously endorsed and interviewed Trump ahead of the 2024 election, with the episode reportedly drawing over 40 million listeners. He also attended Trumps inauguration but recently has been criticizing the president over everything from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and mass deportations to his continued lies about the 2020 election.

I feel like if you say that, youve got to have some, like, really good evidence that you could give out, Rogan said on his podcast earlier this month about the 2020 election. Either you dont have any evidence that they stole the election, or you have evidence and youre not telling me. Why would you not tell me? Why would you not tell me?

Theo Von, host of the This Past Weekend podcast, also interviewed Trump and attended his inauguration, but called out his administration after the Department of Homeland Security took a joke out-of-context and used it in a pro-deportation social media video that was later deleted.

My father immigrated here from Nicaragua. One of my prized possessions is I have his immigration papers from when he came here. I have them in a frame, Von said on his podcast last month.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker plans to work with City Council to introduce legislation that would allow for a 20-year tax abatement for some developers. The legislation is possible because of a new state provision. Parker, pictured in City Council chambers in front of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, has an ambitious housing plan. Read more

Philadelphia developers may soon benefit from a 20-year property tax abatement to convert large, underutilized properties into residences.

Buried among the litany of provisions in the state budget and fiscal code in Harrisburg, which both passed last week, new language was included that allows Philadelphia to exempt improvements that convert deteriorated property into residential housing units from property taxes for up to 20 years.

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If a building is deemed too difficult to convert to housing, the new legal language will allow a developer to demolish a building and still get the abatement.

The legislation defines deteriorated property as any industrial, commercial or other business property, or property previously used for government purposes, including a school that is located in what the legislation calls a deteriorating area.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration has been eyeing such legislation as a means to incentivize new housing  a key priority for the mayor  and to find new uses for underutilized office and school buildings.

It is now up to City Council and Parkers administration to craft a local law within the confines of what the state government newly allows. According to state law, local officials must also define what geographic areas under their purview qualify as a deteriorating area. Council President Kenyatta Johnson says he supports the 20-year abatement.

The abatements would ensure that there are no vacant office buildings here in the city, and  incentivize the building of affordable housing, said Parker in an interview. Thats where I think its going to matter the most.

Shuttered schools and the Roundhouse

Currently, the city has a 10-year abatement that applies to all residential properties for renovations  which includes conversions  and a half-strength abatement for new construction that begins with a 100% break on a projects property taxes and then tapers by 10% annually over a 10-year period.

Parker said that her administration worked with State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Philadelphia), State Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), and State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R., Philadelphia) to get the new language into the contentious Harrisburg budget.

The administration is now working on crafting legislation to present to Council early next year. She sees it as a crucial incentive in her H.O.M.E. effort to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing.

Parker emphasized that while the new legislation is meant to help solve the office market crisis in Center City, she is most excited for it to be applied to shuttered public schools and other large, underused buildings in outlying neighborhoods.

We have a menu of options, and this tool, this puts our efforts on steroids to build affordable housing in the city of Philadelphia, Parker said. It is a public good [that is] underproduced and has to be incentivized, and not just in Center City.

Lewis Rosman, the citys chief deputy solicitor, pointed to the architecturally unique former police headquarters known as the Roundhouse as a property that could possibly benefit from the 20-year abatement as a way to demolish the existing structure and build a new one.

If you have a property like the Roundhouse that you cant directly turn into housing, you got to take it down, said Rosman, who helped write the state legislation. It will be a new development, but presumably under enabling legislation from Council that will be implemented, it would be subject to the abatement.

Impact on affordable housing?

Real estate groups in the city hailed the new legislation out of Harrisburg as a tool to fight blight and reactivate historic buildings.

For years, [we have] advocated for tools that make it possible to convert blighted, deteriorated properties into vibrant residential communities, and this expanded abatement authority does exactly that, said Sarah Maginnis, executive director of the Commercial Real Estate Development Associations (NAIOP) Philadelphia chapter.

Mayor Parker said she plans to include provisions in the citys abatement legislation to support affordable homes.

This is not a blanket windfall for billionaires, Parker said.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who chairs City Councils housing committee and has been a champion of affordable housing, said she also supported the concept of a 20-year property tax abatement for residential conversion with the proviso that the city require some housing for lower-income residents in exchange for the tax incentive.

Construction costs are really high right now, and we need more housing, so Im not against an abatement that would generate more housing, said Gauthier. At the same time, if were going to incentivize developers through a vehicle like this, it needs to have an affordability component.

But developers with expertise in residential conversions warned against adding additional requirements, saying that the incentive is not generous enough to support below-market-rate rents.

A 20-year abatement without any strings attached will make a difference in Philadelphia, said Leo Addimando, managing partner with Alterra Property Group, which has successfully executed many office-to-residential conversions in the city. But if you attach any strings to it, you neuter it.

Addimando said a 20-year tax abatement could make some conversion projects viable by allowing developers to qualify for better financing, lowering their borrowing costs. But he argues those cost savings are not enough to pay for housing that would be affordable to low-income renters.

Addimando said the subsidy could probably allow for developers to create lower-priced units for households who earn 120% to 80% of area median income  less than $123,000 to $85,000 for a family of three  but he assumed city policy would want to help lower-income families.

In that scenario, a 20-year tax abatement is not enough subsidy to move the needle, said Addimando, who is a partner in the conversion of the Wanamaker building from offices to residential apartments.
The University City Townhomes were demolished in 2024 after the property owner decided to sell instead of renew a federal subsidy contract. This 2023 photo shows a picture of a former resident that hung on the fencing around the property as it awaited demolition. Read more

Across Philadelphia, low- and moderate-income households rely on federal subsidies that reduce the cost of their rent.

Federal housing programs directly subsidize at least 476 properties, totaling about 34,350 rental units. But the city is at risk of losing more than one in five of these affordable housing units during the next decade, according to an analysis by the Housing Initiative at Penn published Thursday.

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Between 2026 and 2036, federal contracts or mandates that cap the rents at these properties can expire.

Owners can decide whether to renew contracts or let them end and then charge higher market-rate rents or sell their properties in potentially lucrative deals as property values in the city continue to rise.

A property owners decision in 2021 not to renew a subsidy contract at the University City Townhomes in West Philadelphia is a recent high-profile example of whats at stake. The site had grown much more valuable since the subsidized townhomes were built four decades earlier, and the owner decided to sell the property, displacing 69 households.

Philadelphia has long relied on a large number of federally subsidized properties to provide affordable housing options that are protected from market forces, researchers at the Housing Initiative at Penn wrote.

 READ MORE: After the UC Townhomes fight, City Council members consider 1,000s of other at-risk affordable housing units

They said the report can help policymakers, advocates, and others plan how to preserve affordable housing as subsidies reach their expiration dates. The report relies on data from the National Housing Preservation Database developed by the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corp. and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Also helpful, researchers noted, will be the public database of subsidized housing properties and their subsidy expiration dates that the city is creating, as directed by legislation City Council passed in 2023. City officials said they hope to launch the database early next year.

Here are some takeaways from Penn researchers analysis of subsidized properties in Philadelphia.

These properties are concentrated in certain areas

Subsidized properties, including those at risk of having their subsidies expire, operate in neighborhoods across the city.

But they are most concentrated in three City Council districts: the Third in West Philadelphia, the Fifth in North Philadelphia, and the Eighth, which includes the area around Germantown and Mount Airy.

The reports total count of federally subsidized properties does not include those added in the last two to three years, due to limitations of the data.

Subsidies face several risk factors

Researchers found that where properties are located influences the odds of an owner ending participation in a subsidy program and if they do, how much rents potentially could increase.

Thirty-eight of the 136 Philadelphia properties whose subsidies will be up for renewal during the next decade are in areas where rents, household incomes, and home values have increased more than in the city as a whole.

In census tracts that have properties with expiring subsidies, home values increased by 28% in the last decade, compared to 21% citywide.

In areas with strong housing markets, property owners have more incentive to end subsidy contracts and charge market-rate rents.

For-profit property owners are less likely than nonprofit owners to renew subsidy contracts. And about six in 10 properties with expiring subsidies are owned by for-profit owners.

Researchers also noted that any policy change by President Donald Trumps administration that reduces federal funding for subsidy programs would make properties less affordable for tenants.

These are the most common subsidies

The countrys largest source of funding for new and renovated subsidized rental housing is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. Its also the most common subsidy source in Philadelphia.

These properties have to keep rents affordable for 30 to 40 years after they are built.

Of the properties that have subsidies that expire within the next 10 years, 57% use Low-Income Housing Tax Credit subsidies, either alone or in combination with other programs.

In a 2024 report, Fannie Mae said the credit was one of the most successful programs that support affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable renters in the country.

Fannie Mae found that in early 2024, the average asking rent for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area was about half the average asking rent for a market-rate property.

For Philadelphia properties, the next largest source of federal housing subsidies is the Section 8 program that ties subsidies to units, not households.

This program, either alone or in combination with other programs, covers 27% of the citys subsidized properties that have agreements that expire during the next decade.

Property owners can choose whether to renew these contracts when they end, which is usually after five to 20 years. Current contracts are all renewals of agreements that date back to before 1983, when Congress ended the program.
Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev hopes to form and approve the Supervisory Board of Energoatom by the end of 2025, while the procedure usually takes three to six months.

He announced this during a meeting with journalists on Thursday.

"Currently, in close cooperation with the G7, the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we are working on a detailed plan to relaunch corporate governance at Energoatom. According to the latest amendments to the charter, the board should consist of seven members: four independent and three state representatives. The main focus is to hold a competition according to the established procedure, but with maximum mobilization of all efforts so that the supervisory board is in place by the end of the year," he emphasized.

According to Sobolev, the procedure is already defined by current legislation. It consists of a public announcement of requirements, followed by a minimum of 10 working days to collect applications, then the recruiter forms a shortlist, interviews are conducted with candidates by the nomination committee (which includes international partners as observers), and finally the final list is approved.

"This process can be completed as quickly as by the end of the year," Sobolev stressed.

As the minister explained, given that the competition for two independent members was announced in September 2025, all preparatory work by the recruiting company has already been completed, so it is possible to complete the full competition by the end of the year. However, the selection of the full supervisory board usually takes three to six months, and sometimes even longer.

In addition, Sobolev emphasized that the ministry is focusing not only on Energoatom but on the entire sector and large state-owned companies.

He noted that on November 18, the government approved an action plan for other companies in the energy sector: Energoatom, Naftogaz, Ukrhydroenergo, Gas Transmission System Operator, Ukrenergo, Centrenergo, Energy Company of Ukraine, Guaranteed Buyer, Ukrainian Distribution Networks, Regional Electric Networks, and Market Operator.
Photo: Unsplash

The US-proposed plan to end the war between Ukraine and Russia has come as a complete surprise to the diplomatic community, CNN has reports, citing a European diplomat in Ukraine.

"All of this has been considered before and rejected, and now we are back to square one. For Ukrainians, this is simply an unrealistic idea, and there are good reasons for that. This will simply be an invitation for the Russians to come back again in the future. For any Ukrainian leader to accept this would be political suicide, and handing over this fortified territory would be military suicide," the diplomat said.

He also said that foreign ministries from Europe and other countries had called Washington to get clarification on the plan, but were told they also knew nothing.

"We have learned directly from State Department and Capitol Hill officials that no one knew about this plan until it was leaked yesterday. The people who should have known about it did not know about it... It is very frustrating and confusing," he said.

In her first public comments since the plan was revealed, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters on Thursday that "for any plan to work, it needs the support of Ukrainians and Europeans." Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, meanwhile, told CNN that any plans should involve Europe and leave Kyiv the ability to defend itself.

"We have a much greater stake in this than the United States, and so Ukraine, as well as Europe, should be involved," he said.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a group of European leaders are allegedly working on a different version of a plan to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, with fairer conditions for Ukraine than in the document created by the Trump administration, according to the Kyiv-based ezine European Truth (Evropeiska Pravda).
The Hartford Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift has convened a group of corporate and community leaders in greater Hartford to develop a unifying vision for the city.

According to the announcement from the namesake insurer based in the city, the Vision Committee will work with a range of stakeholders on a plan that Swift hopes might serve as a North Star for advancing existing initiatives, and other options, to help transform Hartford and its downtown into a more vibrant business, residential and cultural destination.

The process will include analyzing current conditions and discussing Hartfords economic competitiveness, cultural identity, livability and connected infrastructure.

The membership of the Vision Committee includes leaders from the cities of Hartford and East Hartford, Stanley Black & Decker, Hartford Steam Boiler, RTX, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Nassau Financial Group, Hartford HealthCare, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Aetna, the Capital Region Development Authority, Travelers and The Hartford.

Connecticuts capital city is at a crucial point in its history, marked by significant challenges and opportunities, Swift said. This is a galvanizing moment to bring together leaders from the business community to collaborate with public and nonprofit sectors on a path forward. This effort builds on The Hartfords longstanding tradition of volunteerism, support and dedication to improve quality of life and vibrancy in our namesake city and home since 1810.

According to the Hartford Business Journal, the group has actually been meeting for months but is now going public.

The committee has hired Streetsense, a firm that woks with cities and civic partners to strengthen local economies and communities. Streetsenses clients have included the Cleveland Downtown Plan, Palo Alto Economic Development Strategy, Hoboken Business Alliance Strategic Plan and Downtown Denver Analysis.

Streetsense will prepare an assessment of market dynamics, regulatory conditions, spatial and infrastructure considerations, and identify barriers to growth and opportunities for reinvestment.

The Vision Committee aims to formulate a vision and execution plan for the city by late spring.

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam welcomed Swifts initiative. The future of Hartford hinges on our ability to work collaboratively and harness the immense talent and resources we have right here in our capital city, Arulampalam said.

2035 Plan

The Vision Committee is not the first attempt to shape the Hartford of the future. In May 2020, the city government adopted a vision of what the city could be like in 2035 when it celebrates its 400th anniversary. Based on a survey of nearly 2,200 citizens and more than 50 meetings, the final plan centers around five action areas: Green-Grow-Live-Move-Play. The 75-page document identifies 10 key recommendations and 10 key real estate projects.

Its summary of overall priorities reads:

To become more equitable and prosperous, we need to grow. To grow we need to attract new businesses and create jobs. To attract investment and talent, we need to create exceptional quality of place. To enhance quality of place, we must make the city and valley more sustainable, mobile and vibrant. This calls for a unifying vision.

In relation to growing the citys economy, the 2035 plan calls for steps that connect residents to career paths in the citys core industries, help the city become a global center of innovation, and foster local entrepreneurship.

Among the 2035 plans recommendations are: reconnect Hartford to the Connecticut River; cut gun violence in half; complete 100% of the citys bike plan; complete 100% of the citys parks plan; protect, repair, and expand the citys tree canopy; market Hartford to the region and beyond; make No More Slumlords a reality and invest in existing housing stock; expand bus and rail service throughout the region and become the states live music capital.

The 2035 plan also calls for completing 10 proposed transformative real estate projects to help knit parts of the city back together physically, while helping to catalyze growth and foster a sense of unity and pride. These real estate projects include the Albany Avenue Gateway, North End Wellness District; Downtown North; North Main Culture Corridor; Union Station Relocation; Parkville Arts & Innovation District; South Meadows; South End Health & Innovation District; Bushnell South and the Coltsville Historic Area.

Topics Trends
The EU is launching a service to measure the role climate change is playing in extreme weather events like heatwaves and extreme rain, and experts say this could help governments set climate policy, improve financial risk assessments and provide evidence for use in lawsuits.

Scientists with the EUs Copernicus Climate Change Service told Reuters the service can help governments in weighing the physical risks posed by worsening weather and setting policy in response.

Its the demand of understanding when an extreme event happens, how is this related to climate change? said the new services technical lead, Freja Vamborg.

The European Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The service will perform attribution science, which involves running computer simulations of how weather systems might have behaved if people had never started pumping greenhouse gases into the air and then comparing those results with what is happening today.

Funded for about 2.5 million euros over three years, Copernicus will publish results by the end of next year and offer two assessments a month  each within a week of an extreme weather event.

For the first time, there will be an attribution office operating constantly, said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Climate policy is unfortunately again a very polarized topic, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London who helped to pioneer the scientific approach but is not involved in the new EU service.

She welcomed the services plans to partner with national weather services of EU members along with the UK Met and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

From that point of view, it also helps if the governments do it themselves and just see themselves really the evidence from their own weather services, Otto said.

Risk and Liability

Some independent climate scientists and lawyers cheered the EU move.

We want to have the most information available, said senior attorney Erika Lennon at the non-profit Center for International Environmental Law.

The more information we have about attribution science, the easier it will be for the most impacted to be able to successfully bring claims to courts.

By calculating probabilities of climate change impacting weather patterns, the approach also helps insurance companies and others in the financial sector.

In a way, theyre already using it with in-house teams calculating probabilities for floods or storms, said environmental scientist Johan Rockstroem with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Financial institutions understand risk and risk has to be quantified, and this is one way of quantifying, Rockstroem said.

In litigation, attribution science is also being used already in calculating how much a countrys or companys emissions may have contributed to climate-fueled disasters.

The International Court of Justice said in July that attribution science is legally viable for linking emissions with climate extremes  but it has yet to fully be tested in court.

A German court in May dismissed a Peruvian farmers lawsuit against German utility RWE for emissions-driven warming causing Andean glaciers to thaw. The case had used attribution science in calculating the damage claim, but the court said the claim amount was too low to take the case forward.

So the court never got to discussing attribution science in detail and going into whether the climate models are good enough, and all of these complex and thorny questions, said Noah Walker-Crawford, a climate litigation researcher at the London School of Economics.

(Reporting by Ali Withers in Copenhagen and Kate Abnett in Belem, Brazil; writing by Katy Daigle; editing by David Gregorio)

Photograph: Flood damaged homes along the river following catastrophic deadly floods in Chiva, Spain on Nov. 19, 2024. Photo credit: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images
American International Group Inc.s announcement last week that it was parting ways with incoming President John Neal stunned insurance industry observers and raised questions about what caused the veteran executive to lose a $17 million job before hed even started.

This week, they got an answer.

Lloyds of London, the giant insurance marketplace where Neal served as chief executive officer until earlier this year, said Wednesday that it has been investigating his conduct since last month. The Wall Street Journal reported the same day that AIG withdrew its offer to Neal after learning of the probe, which centered on a relationship he allegedly had with a Lloyds employee.

That appeared to be one office romance too many. It was already publicly known the board of Australian insurer QBE Insurance Group Ltd., where Neal was previously CEO, docked his 2016 bonus by more than A$550,000 ($354,000) after it learned he hadnt disclosed a relationship with a subordinate. And Bloomberg had previously reported that the woman in question had replaced Neals previous assistant  after he had married her.

AIG declined to comment, and Neal didnt reply to messages seeking comment.

Read More: Lloyds Probing Conduct of Ex-CEO Who Had Been Set to Join AIG

The swift reversal underscores the fraught nature of workplace relationships. Recent instances have felled CEOs at companies including Nestle SA, Kohls Corp. and Astronomer, where Andy Byron lost the top job in July after being caught on a stadium kiss cam with the firms chief people officer at a Coldplay concert.

Its also a particularly stark example of how even the worlds largest companies can be caught out when it comes to high-stakes hires  even ones that have been headhunted, vetted and promised millions of dollars in compensation.

Workplace culture has become one of the biggest risk factors in the financial sector, Ian Hargreaves, partner at commercial disputes specialist Quillon Law, told Bloomberg.

Many firms have rewritten rules on workplace relationships, and some have moved close to outright bans, Hargreaves said. With that level of scrutiny, the idea that this latest issue slipped through the gaps is surprising.

A potential $17.2 million pay package had been awaiting Neal at AIG. He would have collected roughly $5 million in salary and bonuses for his first year, along with a target annual equity award of $5 million, a Day 1 restricted-stock grant of $4.5 million with a three-year vesting period, and a $2.7 million cash bonus.

Insurance Career

Neal, 60, started his career in 1986 as a trainee commercial motor underwriter for Lloyds, according to a post on LinkedIn when he left the firm. He later ran Ensign, Lloyds specialist commercial motor underwriter, which was in turn bought by QBE. After about eight years with the Australian insurer, Neals focus on profitability helped catapult him to CEO.

But the insurer trailed its peers in the Australian markets during his time as CEO. QBE shares delivered investors an annualized total return of about 1% during Neals tenure, compared to about 21% from its peers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg at the time of Neals exit.

Before his exit from QBE, Neal said he had failed to disclose a relationship with his personal assistant  causing the board to cut his bonus.

In 2018, Neal was named the CEO of Lloyds of London as the company struggled to turn a profit after Brexit. While the insurance exchange returned to profitability under Neal within a year, the firm was also rattled by a 2019 Bloomberg Businessweek article exposing widespread sexual harassment at Lloyds.

Read More: Lloyds Comments on Reports of Rampant Sexual Harassment in the Marketplace

The Businessweek report spurred Neal to implement systemic changes to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, including lifetime bans, a whistleblower hotline and an independent survey of sexual-harassment claims.

This is not the Lloyds that I want to be part of, Neal said in an interview with Bloomberg in March 2019. We have got to ensure that everybody, whether its a woman or a man, should feel safe at any time of day doing anything thats associated with the Lloyds market. Im determined that will be the case.

Read more: Lloyds Cracks Down on Drinking Culture in Market

Neals departure from Lloyds was announced in January of this year. He agreed to take on a new role leading insurance broker Aon Plcs global reinsurance unit, before AIG swooped in to offer him a sweeter deal, announcing in July he would be its president and lead its property and casualty business.

But as Neal prepared for one of the industrys top jobs, rumors about the nature of his relationship with a subordinate were reaching the upper echelons of his former employer. Lloyds Chairman Charles Roxburgh became aware of market speculation concerning possible historic breaches of policy and initiated an independent fact-finding review in October, the firm said in a statement Wednesday.

Inga Beale, Neals predecessor at Lloyds, was CEO from 2014 to 2018. During her tenure, she launched diversity and inclusion initiatives of her own, but encountered resistance among the rank-and-file.

My initial reaction is disappointment, Beale said in an interview on learning of the investigation. I thought we had made a lot of progress and these sorts of things were not going to be happening in this day and age.

On Friday, AIG said it reached a mutual agreement with Neal and that he would no longer join the insurer as president. He had been set to start on Dec. 1.

James Berkeley, a London-based adviser to insurance executives, said the announcement raises questions about AIGs vetting process, given that Neal had been set to take over many of the duties previously performed by David McElroy.

Previously AIGs chairman of general insurance, McElroy was charged by state prosecutors in Vermont late last year with three counts of sexual assault and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct against a woman who attended an AIG conference last March at a resort in Stowe. AIG announced last April that McElroy, who is distantly related to AIG Chief Executive Officer Peter Zaffino, would accelerate his retirement date for personal reasons.

The evidence that has developed since the case was filed more than a year ago continues to show that David McElroy has been wrongfully charged and is innocent, David Kirby, McElroys attorney, wrote in an emailed statement. He looks forward to his day in court; until then, the charges should be seen for what they are  mere allegations that are vehemently denied.

Given that matter, AIG shareholders would have expected the board to have conducted effective due diligence, and weighed up the risk of a CEO with past weaknesses, Berkeley said. Perhaps they were so convinced of John Neals hugely scarce, and compelling value, as president that they were willing to roll the dice.

Still, Berkeley wasnt shocked by AIGs sudden reversal. Given Neals history, he said, my only surprise is that we are surprised.

Photograph: John Neal, chief executive officer of Lloyds of London Ltd., following a Bloomberg Television interview in London, UK, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Excess Surplus Talent Lloyd's AIG
Rank-and-file US Securities and Exchange Commission workers have returned to face the paperwork that piled up during the longest government shutdown in US history, and supervisors say the order of the day is triage.

Deal first with the tasks still lingering on pre-shutdown to-do lists, according to an email sent to staffers reviewed by Bloomberg News. Only then should they move on to the avalanche of filings that came in while 90% of the agencys workforce was furloughed.

SEC staffers were told to focus on so-called registration statements, which companies file when they want to raise money such as in an initial public offering. More than 900 rolled in during the shutdown, the SEC said when the government reopened. Routine reviews of public company financial statements, required under post-Enron regulatory reforms, were to be pushed to the bottom of the pile, the email showed.

At stake is this years increase in listings, threatening SEC Chairman Paul Atkins pledge to make IPOs great again. More than a dozen companies had to revise timelines for their public market debuts after the SEC was shuttered, and lawyers are working the phones to rescue their clients deals from limbo. With a busy slate of holidays, and market volatility climbing, further delays from the regulator would pressure more IPO candidates to shift their plans to next year.

Unfortunately most pending IPOs will be 2026 because theres not a lot of time for deals where the SEC hasnt already finished their comment process to get out by year-end, said Michael Kaplan, a partner at law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell. We have a couple would-be IPOs that could go in case we get lucky and the reviews are quick, but most will likely have to wait.

The first-come, first-served plan has created some uncertainty for IPO candidates, according to Jeffrey Karpf, the managing partner-elect of law firm Cleary Gottlieb.

Some companies have called to plead their case to the SEC because they are on the cusp of wanting to move ahead, Karpf said. The SEC returned those calls but did not make any promises.

The SEC didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. In post-shutdown guidance, the agency said staffers were working expeditiously to clear the backlog of filings.

Obstacles to Going Public

The SECs priorities during President Donald Trumps second term include removing obstacles that keep companies private; the number of publicly traded companies in the US has fallen by nearly half since the 1990s. Things were moving in the right direction according to one measure, with $32.2 billion raised in the year through Oct. 1 when the shutdown began, up 47% from the same period in 2024, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

A handful of deals were pushed through in the 43-day impasse, with companies opting to take advantage of a workaround to sidestep the SECs traditional role in the IPO process, which can involve a lengthy back-and-forth list of formal questions and comments, until the regulators attorneys and accountants are satisfied. The shutdown alternative allowed registration statements to automatically clear, or go effective, after 20 days.

MapLight Therapeutics Inc., a California-based biotech company, debuted on Oct. 26 using the SECs shutdown relief. Atkins touted the move on X, writing the IPO market is still open for business.

Still, most companies avoided that path to public markets, in part because they wanted the final sign-off from the SEC to ensure all the regulators questions were answered.

Unless you were really down to very few comments, there was a real risk, said Eddie Best, partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Some of the companies using the regulatory workaround may have regretted it. Beta Technologies Inc. and Navan Inc., the two largest such listings, and MapLight are all trading below their IPO prices.

The weighted average return of 2025 US IPOs is now at a paltry 6.1%  down from more than 20% a week ago  as volatility is whipped up and the markets riskiest corners tumble. The confluence of factors risks closing an already tight window to go public. Thats been top of mind for bankers and lawyers who are advising companies, with every days selloff presenting risks that may ultimately drive advisers to lean toward getting deals done next year.

Did the shutdown interfere with a really good window to go public and when things are settled will things in the market look worse? Kaplan said. Well have to wait and see, but thats the worry.

Another potential hold-up that could limit the number of companies that are able to go public if they wanted to is the impact of planned vacations and holidays for the SEC staff. The year-end holidays are always a bit of a wild card, according to Dave Peinsipp, co-chair of Cooleys global capital markets practice.

Peinsipp is optimistic that the SEC will work to expedite reviews of deals that were closer to being ready for showtime, with hopes that deals can still be completed before the calendar turns to 2026.

Theres a bit of company-by-company analysis to look at what is best to meet as many peoples timetables as possible, he said.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics USA
Photo: https://t.me/DeepStateUA

Russian troops have advanced in Pokrovsk (Donetsk region), Stepnohirsk (Zaporizhia region), and near Volodymyrivka and Shakhovo (both Shakhovo rural community, Pokrovsk district, Donetsk region), the OSINT project DeepState has said.

"The enemy has advanced in Pokrovsk, Stepnohirsk, near Volodymyrivka and Shakhovo," the OSINT project said in a message on the Telegram channel on Friday.

As reported earlier that day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding certain lines in the northern part of Pokrovsk, and also control positions south of the railway, which are important for further de-occupation, according to the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Russian command has already deployed the operational reserve of the Center Airborne Division - units of the 76th Airborne Division of the Russian Federation - in the area of responsibility of the corps.

On November 20, the Russian occupiers took control of the village of Vesele in the Zaporizhia region, and also advanced in the area of the neighboring village of Zatyshshya and the village of Borivska Andriiivka in the Kharkiv region.

Last week, the occupiers increased the area of control by an average of 21.4 sq km per day, which was 66% more than the year before, and the "gray zone" decreased on average by 0.15 sq km per day.
For years, Ive warned that Floridas legal climate was out of control  driven not by consumers or local businesses, but by a handful of billboard trial lawyers who made fortunes exploiting loopholes in our laws.

Their tactics fueled one of Americas most expensive auto insurance markets (just as theyve created Americas most expensive market for doctors to practice, which drives health care costs sky high, but thats for another day). But thanks to the historic lawsuit abuse reforms championed by Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature in 2023, we are clearly seeing meaningful results.

According to recent data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), Floridas top five auto insurersrepresenting 78% of the marketare reporting an average rate reduction of 6.5% in 2025. One carrier has even filed for an 11.5% decrease. This marks a dramatic reversal from prior years, where lawsuit abuse was a driving force, driving rates up an average of 31.7% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024.

Chamber Insurance Summit Set for Dec. 4-5 The Florida Chamber hosts its annual insurance summit next month in Orlando, with a number of elected officials, insurance executives, along with panel discussions on medical malpractice insurance, auto insurance, home hardening, industry messaging, insurance fraud, artificial intelligence in insurance, reinsurance, and the state of Floridas homeowners insurance market. Speakers will include Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Gina Wilson of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky, Mangrove Insurance CEO Steve Weinstein, Patriot Insurance John Rollins and legislative leaders, including former state House Speaker Paul Renner. Registration and the agenda is available at the Chamber website

Last month, Gov. DeSantis and Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky announced even more evidence that the pro-consumer reforms are working. Florida drivers will receive more than $1 billion in auto-insurance refunds as insurers pass savings from reduced litigation and improved market conditions back to consumers.

And State Farm just filed its fourth auto insurance rate reduction in a year, lowering average personal auto premiums by 10% and delivering a combined 20% decrease for policyholders over the past 12 months.

Thats real money returning to families and local businesses across Florida  tangible proof that reform, not rhetoric, delivers results.

These results arent accidental. They are the direct outcome of thoughtful, pro-consumer policies. We took a stand against lawsuit abuse, fought hard to elect pro-market policymakers, eliminated incentives for AOB fraud, and strengthened the integrity of the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) system  Floridas no-fault insurance program provides up to $10,000 in immediate medical coverage for anyone injured in a car crash.

Yet despite this clear progress, some in the Legislature  influenced by the same billboard trial lawyers who advertise on TV and who benefitted from Floridas old broken lawsuit abuse system  are calling for a full repeal of the no-fault PIP system and a shift to mandatory bodily injury (BI) coverage, or an at-fault tort system. That might sound popular but would be a costly mistake that takes Florida backward.

Heres whats at stake. Auto insurance rates are declining thanks to the recent legal reforms, but eliminating PIP and moving to mandatory BI with higher insurance limits would reverse that progressdoubling premiums in every Florida county for drivers only carrying $10,000 in coveragethose that could least afford the increase. Removing PIP could also shift costs to the healthcare industry, further driving up healthcare costs statewide.

PIP was designed to allow drivers quick access to medical coverage while avoiding costly and lengthy lawsuits necessary to determine fault. Eliminating PIP opens the door for more litigation, which means more legal costs, higher premiums, and potentially more out-of-pocket costs for drivers.

The 2023 lawsuit abuse reforms have allowed the PIP system to work even more efficiently, reducing unnecessary litigation and allowing a decrease in auto insurance rates, putting money back into the pockets of Florida residents and local businesses. Now is not the time to shift to a different system that largely benefits billboard lawyers. Lets allow the 2023 reforms to continue to work.

Mark Wilson is president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Consumer Protection Coalition, which works to reduce the cost of lawsuit abuse. This commentary initially ran in the Tallahassee Democrat news site. Reprinted here with permission from the Chamber.

Topics Florida Personal Auto
The United Parcel Service Inc. freighter that crashed this month when the left engine detached just after takeoff showed fatigue cracks in several sections that secured the turbine, a preliminary report into the accident that killed 14 people revealed.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators found evidence of fatigue cracks in addition to areas of overstress failure, the agency said in the findings released Thursday.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F lost its left engine during takeoff from the couriers main hub in Louisville, Kentucky, and didnt climb higher than 30 feet before crashing, the report said. Those killed included the crew and people on the ground.

Dramatic images in the preliminary report show the engine and its pylon detaching and rocketing into the air in a fireball almost immediately after takeoff. The report is the first detailed account of the Nov. 4 crash.

The circumstances surrounding the UPS crash are eerily similar to a 1979 accident involving a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 flown by American Airlines Group Inc. that crashed after the left engine detached from the plane shortly after takeoff, said Jeff Guzzetti, a former accident investigation chief for the US Federal Aviation Administration. However, the structural failure occurred in slightly different locations, he said.

In addition, the NTSB determined the American Airlines crash was caused by damage from improper maintenance. But the agencys initial findings in the UPS probe dont point to any damage caused by obvious external factors, other than aging, Guzzetti said.

After the UPS accident, the FAA temporarily grounded all MD-11F cargo jets, pending inspections and certain corrective actions by operators.

Its since expanded that directive to other aircraft with similar engine-pylon designs. The grounding affects roughly 9% of UPS fleet and about 4% of rival FedEx Corp.s.

UPS said in a statement Thursday that prior to the FAAs directive, it grounded its MD-11 fleet out of an abundance of caution. The carrier and Boeing Co., which took over McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said they would continue supporting the probe.

Investigators have been trying to determine how the engine and pylon detached so soon after takeoff. Theyve previously said theyre looking at a number of areas as part of their probe, including maintenance conducted on the plane several weeks prior.

The NTSBs report shows that a detailed visual inspection of the left engine mount structure was performed in October 2021. Another more intensive inspection of the particular part that failed in the crash wasnt due for another 8,000 takeoffs and landings.

Thats what the initial design and maintenance requirements called for, Guzzetti said. But this part failed long before that interval, he said.

While the preliminary report can offer clues on how the crash occurred, definitive conclusions could take anywhere from one to two years to reach.

The specific plane involved in the the crash was originally built for Thai Airways International in the early 1990s before being converted into a freighter about 20 years ago. The plane was powered by three General Electric Co. CF6 engines.

The MD-11 is long out of production and only flown for cargo operations today. The last passenger flight took place more than a decade ago.

Photo: A UPS MD-11 plane, similar to the one that crashed in Louisville Nov. 4. (AdobeStock)

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
The Trump administration is proposing to open new areas off of California, Florida and Alaska to crude drilling as part of a draft blueprint released Thursday that would dramatically expand the sale of oil and natural gas rights.

In all, the Interior Department is proposing as many as 34 offshore lease sales including 21 off the coast of Alaska, six along the Pacific Coast and seven in Gulf of Mexico, including waters near Florida and Alabama that have been off limits for three decades. Republican leaders in those southern states have long opposed drilling in such sensitive areas because of concern about the potential for oil spills that could cripple important industries like fishing and tourism.

As proposed, the leasing plan marks a dramatic expansion of energy exploration that would open more than 1 billion acres of coastal zones to drilling.

The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of Americas offshore production, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that Americas offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.

The American Petroleum Institute, the nations largest oil and gas trade group, called the plan historic, while the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council said it amounts to a reckless giveaway to Big Oil.

The proposal, which would replace the Biden era plan that would hold just three auctions from 2024 to 2029, is just an initial step and is likely to be whittled down during several months of public comment and other reviews before its finalized. Even before it was released, Trump administration officials opted to remove the sale of oil and gas rights along the East Coast, after a leaked version drew alarm from southeast Republicans opposed to drilling in the Atlantic.

Read More: Trump Seeks to Open Most U.S. Coastal Waters to New Drilling

Still, the extent of the proposal developed by the Interior Departments Bureau of Ocean Energy Management underscores Trumps pledge to expand domestic energy production. It includes lease sales in in Alaskas Beaufort Sea, Cook Inlet and Chukchi Sea, as well as the for the first time in the high arctic, an area some 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of the Alaska coast untouched by oil drilling that opponents say is especially environmentally fragile.

An index of oilfield contractors that includes major offshore drillers such as Transocean Ltd. fell 3.1% in New York, extending the 12-month decline to 13%. Drilling stocks have been under pressure as a looming worldwide oversupply of crude weighs on oil prices.

Industry advocates said the broad scope of the blueprint is important because its likely to shrink as it heads toward finalization.

This a large, cast-a-wide-net step in the process, said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. This is not the final step and its important to keep as much on the table as possible.

The plan is certain to be challenged by environmental groups and West Coast lawmakers. California Governor Gavin Newsom has already declared the plan to sell new oil drilling rights off the West Coast dead on arrival.

While there are active, legacy oil leases off Southern California, new drilling rights in the region havent been up for auction since the mid-1980s. The so-called Pacific Outer Continental Shelf has been estimated to hold more than 10 billion barrels of crude.

The last thing America needs now is a massive expansion of offshore drilling that could shut down our shores with catastrophic oil spills, said Joseph Gordon, a campaign director at the environmental group Oceana. This dangerous proposal to sell off millions of acres of our oceans is a betrayal of the bipartisan voices  including U.S. lawmakers, business leaders, and the people who live along the coasts  who oppose more offshore drilling.

Photo: Platform Ellen and Elly, offshore oil and gas platforms operated by Beta Operating Company LLC, off the coast of Long Beach, California. (Tim Rue/Bloomberg)

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Florida Energy Oil Gas
Almost everyone I know that loves wine dreams of having their own vineyard, but Im not sure I do anymore. Ive seen too many vineyards up close and I know about the back breaking work and worries. Simon Tyrrell hosted a dinner at Ballymaloe House last month to showcase the wines of Les Deux Cols which he farms with Charles Derain (Nomad Wines) and Gerard Maguire (64 Wine).

Their fine pure wines matched the pristine flavours in Ballymaloe Executive Chef Dervilla OFlynns elegant dishes. They organically and regeneratively farm 12 hectares where the Gard Department meets the Ardeche between the Rhone river and the Cevennes mountains, Avignon is to the south east.

The vineyards are surrounded by forests, and the air is a little cooler, the soils are sandy, here which gives floral notes to the wines. Located at 200m altitude which may not sound like a lot but is significant for keeping the wines fresh. Twelve hectares is manageable with just one tractor and a couple of hands so they are sticking with that size for now.

The forests may help the vines but they also contain wild boar who are particularly fond of ripe grapes and they stripped one vineyard clean this year (they

managed to salvage 60 kilos of grapes from one vineyard rather than the 4000kg they expected).

More recently, Les Deux Cols have been looking to white wines (as is the region generally). An unexpected highlight of the meal was La Lumiere (Ardkeen Stores, Green Man, 64 Wines) made from 85% Clairette Blanc with a little Bourboulenc to add texture. I loved its floral aromas and ripe fruit peach flavours. Three Rhone wines to try below, two from Simon and one from the Northern Rhone that was too good not to include.

Alize Vin de France 2023, Rhone, France, 23.95

From organic grapes grown on a cool site with sandy soils and from 100% Grenache.

Labelled as vin de France but Cotes du Rhone vineyards. Sweet fruit, broad palate, red and darker fruits fill the mouth, full flavoured with spice touches and a lively freshness. A fine introduction to the wines of Les Deux Cols and the region.

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; 64 Wines, 64wine.ie; Wine Pair; Barnhill Stores; Fion Eile; Fallon & Byrne

La Degeve, Vind de France, Southern Rhone, France, 48

Les Deux Cols top wine, 750 bottles from a 0.3ha site in the Les Fonts vineyard at 200m altitude.

This had high-quality Chateauneuf-du-Pape vibes for me with gorgeous fat ripe fruit flavours. Red fruits, floral aromas, and purity, despite its full ripe fruits this 100% Grenache also had delicacy and an electric streak of acidity. Stunning.

OLearys Cootehill; Mistervini Mullingar; Good Life Wicklow; McHughs; 64 Wines, 64wine.ie

Domaine Pochon Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2022, 28

This is exclusive to Whelehans in Loughlinstown, I featured their peachy bright white Crozes-Hermitage before but not this ripe complex red.

Classic Northern Rhone Syrah aromas of blackcurrant confit with a touch of tar, luscious and full on the palate with ripe blackberry fruits, some tangy structural (integrated) tannins provide mouthfeel, and the finish is layered and long with black wine gum notes. Delicious.

Spirit of the week: Green Spot, 100th Anniversary Single Pot Still 10yr, 46% ABV, 70cl, 85-90

Green Spot is 100 years old and this new edition is a celebration of one of our greatest whiskies.

Theres even a gift box with green paint included (as used on the barrels).

Bourbon & Sherry cask aged with sweet vanilla and honey aromas, a creamy nutty attack with pepper and spice on the finish and lingering fudge notes.

Bradleys; OBriens; Corkscrew; Mitchell & Son; spotwhiskey.com
Matt Cooper discovered a lot when he was researching and writing his latest book Dynasty, about Dunnes, the quintessentially Irish retail chain.

As one would expect from the well-known journalist and broadcaster, it is an impressively researched and engaging read, full of fascinating insights about the Dunnes empire and the family behind it.

However, one of the biggest revelations for Cooper, a Cork native long resident in Dublin, was when he finally got to visit the expansive Dunnes Stores outpost in Bishopstown.

Not that its a competition or anything but Cork readers will be happy to note that the store beat its Dublin counterpart hands down.

I had never been in Cornelscourt in Dublin, so I went out to have a look at it when I started the book.

And then people told me I had to go to the one out by the Bandon Rd, which I didnt realise that people refer to as the posh Dunnes.

So I went there and its better than Cornelscourt, which is saying something.

We went on a Sunday in January at 11am; it was packed and we could hardly get parking.

I was going, What the hell? I was walking around inside and just going, Wow.

The ongoing upgrading of Dunnes retail offerings perfectly displays how the business has transformed itself in the 21st century, thriving in an era of increasing competition and a seismic shift in consumer tastes.

It is a story that also began in Cork, when Ben Dunne Sr opened his first shop on St Patricks Street, where it remains, joining the posh Dunnes with a recent transformation into a five-floor emporium encompassing everything from clothing and grocery to numerous cafes and high-end food offerings.

While Cooper says such investment is indicative of the high regard in which the original Cork store is held, the family didnt appear to have a strong attachment to the city.

Ben Sr, who was originally from Rostrevor in Co Down, opened the Cork store on March 31, 1944.

A draper in the city had closed and Ben Sr, in a typically shrewd move, secured the stock cheaply  in advance of the opening, an ad in the Evening Echo read: Luke Burkes Stock to be Cleared.

Cooper writes about how gardai had to intervene because the eager crowds had smashed a window in the crush to access the shop.

Ben Sr, his wife Nora, and their children initially lived in Browningstown Park in Douglas, before moving to a house in Blackrock, and finally on to the nearby stately residence of Ringmahon House on a 100-acre farm.

Ben Sr, however, spent most of his time in Dublin, while Nora was very much involved in the running of the Cork shops.

Ben Dunne Sr, who was originally from Rostrevor in Co Down, opened his first shop on St Patricks Street in Cork.

Ben Sr did say Ringmahon was where he intended to retire home to but he never did, says Cooper.

The children left Cork, and I say this as somebody who left myself for work reasons, but there didnt seem to be an enormous sentimental attachment to Cork.

However, Margaret Heffernan, the eldest child who oversaw the continuing success of the business into the 21st century, is a regular visitor to Cork as her younger sister Anne, who is believed to have had health issues, still resides in an institution there.

The story of how Margaret took control of the business starts with her younger brother Ben, a larger-than-life personality who also took on an outsize role in the public consciousness, first with his kidnap by the IRA and then his arrest in Florida on drugs charges.

Later, there was controversy over payments to former taoiseach Charles Haughey.

Cooper was well-placed to write about Ben Jr in particular, meeting him on many occasions in his work as a business journalist.

They first met in 1993, when Cooper went out to his house after Ben had been ousted from the family company. It was a bizarre encounter, he says.

While I was interviewing him, he took a phone call and it was Charles Haughey checking out how he was.

It was only subsequently that I discovered his concern wasnt motivated by Bens health or anything like that but by his own personal financial involvement.

As Cooper writes, the Dunnes family story is one blighted by addiction, and Bens played itself out in full public view.

It is difficult to appreciate from todays vantage point but his arrest for cocaine possession and soliciting in Florida in 1992 was a massive news story that ran and ran.

Cooper, however, says the more impactful event in a personal sense was the IRA kidnapping in 1981, when Ben was captured on the way to open a Dunnes branch in Portadown and held hostage for seven days before a ransom was paid.

The kidnapping was such an enormous trauma for him. I think he would have suffered with addiction issues anyway but what happened in Orlando was partly down to the fact that he hadnt dealt with the trauma of the kidnapping.

After that, he went straight back to work. His father told him, Its over now, well see you in work tomorrow morning.

To a large degree, he hadnt fully addressed the issues and Im not sure he ever did or got much help.

After the trials and tribulations of Bens departure, the future for Dunnes was female  it has been mainly Margaret steering the ship to bigger and better things, although in recent years she has handed over more responsibility to daughter Anne and niece Sharon McMahon.

At 83, Margaret still remains in the driving seat.

Keeping Dunnes Stores relevant to modern Ireland

These three women have transformed the business and kept it entirely relevant to what modern Ireland actually wants, and it remains a really highly profitable and dominant company in that regard.

As the book outlines in more detail, the road hasnt always been smooth for the family, personally or professionally.

The family story has been compared to a real-life episode of the gripping TV drama Succession, and the echoes of ruthless wheeling and dealing and the personal costs that come with it are evident.

It is a story that Cooper says he greatly enjoyed telling as, although he is now mainly known as host of The Last Word radio show on Today FM, writing the book tapped into his love of print journalism.

I loved doing the research, interviewing, and writing it. I had great fun putting it together.

He has become something of a story himself recently, with the departure of his co-presenter Ivan Yates from the podcast The Path to Power after it was disclosed that he had given media training to former presidential candidate Jim Gavin.

Cooper says the whole episode has been very unfortunate but instructive.

It does actually provide a useful lesson in what it must be like for other people who are at the centre of news stories. So, from that point of view, its been an interesting experience.

Obviously, I wish it hadnt happened. Im not sorry that I acted the way I did. I felt it had to be done, and the reason why I did so is very clear.

There should have been transparency. I should have been told, and I should have been able to tell listeners to the podcast about the involvement with Jim Gavin.

It is perhaps not surprising that Cooper, who has previously written biographies of Michael OLeary and Tony OReilly, is taking a breather from writing books for the moment.

He laughs when I ask if he is working on anything. Yeah, Im working on a daily radio programme and writing a couple of newspaper columns.

Not forgetting the podcast, of course. That relentless work ethic is something he shares with his subjects at least.
One of the best double-bills ever seen in Cork will have Neil Young and Elvis Costello playing in the city next summer. An announcement on Friday morning revealed that both veterans would play Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) on July 1, 2026.

Neil Young will come to Leeside backed by the Chrome Hearts, the same band he played an impressive gig with at Malahide Castle in Dublin earlier this year. Highlights of that set included old favourites such as The Needle and The Damage Done, Like a Hurricane, and Rockin' In The Free World.
A Russian spy ship may be launching submarines covertly into Irish waters or waiting to fly drones into Irish airspace ahead of the Ukrainian presidents upcoming visit, a former army officer warned.

The Yantar, a Russian ship found just off Scottish territorial waters which is believed to be heading south towards Ireland is equipped with a moon pool  an opening in the centre of the boat through which submersibles or divers can be covertly deployed  Dr Cathal Berry, former Army Ranger Wing officer and TD said.

The ship, officially described as a research vessel, is believed to be capable of mapping the sea bed and interfering with critical infrastructure.

Ireland should be very concerned about the ships current passage, Dr Berry said, adding that UK intelligence may have found that the Yantar had a sinister mission.

British defence secretary John Healy announced this week that Royal Navy ships would be allowed to track the Yantar at a closer distance than general rules of engagement allow.

This followed the ship pointing lasers up at UK military planes. Such Russian activity was a big provocation, Dr Berry said.

These lasers could actually be laser range finders attached to weapon systems. And thats the big concern. It tells you that the tension and the diplomatic stakes are rising significantly.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to visit Ireland on December 2.

There are now concerns that the Russian ship could sail down towards Dublin and deploy drones to interfere with Irish airports and airspace.

When the ship was sailing near Ireland previously, the Defence Forces picked up three aerial drones being deployed from the Yantar, Dr Berry said.

It is extremely likely that at least one Russian submarine is currently scoping Irish waters, Dr Berry said.

The Russian spy ship has the suspected capability to cut or tamper with undersea cables, potentially causing severe problems for Ireland and the West.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine there has been a 30% increase in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic according to the UK, and the Russian subsurface fleet is very, very aggressive, very, very active, according to Dr Berry.

It is a concern for Ireland as the country currently has no sonar capabilities to patrol below the sea. Although a contract has been signed for underwater sonar, it will be another 18 months before it is operational, Dr Berry said. Any interference with critical subsea infrastructure  gas pipelines to Scotland, electricity interconnectors from the UK, fibre optic data cables, and cables from the wind farms off Wicklow  would have massive repercussions, he said.

Ireland has suffered sea blindness with a lack of regard for its critical blue economy, Dr Berry said. Some 16% of EU waters is under Irish control. And Irelands sea is seven times larger than its land mass.

A game of cat and mouse has been played for decades in the North Atlantic between Western forces and Russia, he said.

Although all civilian ships are supposed to have their automatic identification system turned on, the Yantar had its switched off. This is essentially a tracking device, ensuring vessels can see each other to avoid collisions.

If its just a research vessel and its passage is innocent as the Russians claim then why are they turning off the transponders?" Dr Berry asked.
More than 1.36m has been seized in Ireland as part of an international operation targeting a billion-dollar money laundering network that purchased a bank to fund the Russian war against Ukraine.

The National Crime Agency in the UK has identified a money laundering network there which it says bought a bank in Kyrgyzstan to facilitate sanctions evasion and payments supporting Russian military efforts.

The agency has worked with gardai and other international agencies in an operation codenamed Destabilise.

Gardai say that as part of investigations supporting the National Crime Agency and other international partners, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau carried out several interdictions in Ireland, resulting in over 1.36m in cash being seized.

On April 9, the bureau joined the Revenue Customs Service in an operation at Dublin Airport which resulted in two people being arrested and 342,000 in cash being seized.

On April 23, a vehicle and 638,000 in cash were seized, and a man was arrested in another operation in west Dublin.

The most recent operation was on October 14, when searches of four residential premises in north Dublin and in Leitrim led to the seizure of 383,000 in cash and the arrest of two males and two females, all aged in their 30s.

Each of the seven people arrested in the three operations are currently before the courts, according to gardai.

Details of the connection between the three incidents and the National Crime Agencys Operation Destabilise were revealed on Friday by gardai.

Cash recovered as part of Operation Destabilise. Picture: Frank Vincini/PA

Angela Willis, assistant commissioner organised and serious crime, said: "An Garda Siochana, fully recognising the international nature of transnational organised crime, continues to work closely and effectively with National and International Partners including a close working relationship with the National Crime Agency in the UK.

"An Garda Siochana, through the bureaus within Organised and Serious Crime, including the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, will continue to carry out interdictions in this jurisdiction to disrupt, degrade and dismantle transnational criminal organisations and their criminal activity which impacts not just on communities in Ireland, but across the UK and Europe.

Other law enforcement agencies cooperating with the National Crime Agency include the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of the Treasury in the US, Dutch and Spanish police, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, and the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire in France.

According to a statement from the National Crime Agency, the UK-based network involves money launderers being paid a fee to collect dirty cash generated from the drugs trade, firearms supply and organised immigration crime, and convert it to clean cryptocurrency.

Cash recovered as part of Operation Destabilise. Picture: An Garda Siochana/PA Wire

The statement continued: These cash to crypto swaps are an integral part of a global criminal ecosystem that spans offending in our communities, sanctions evasions and the highest levels of organised crime, including providing money laundering services to the Russian state.

Together with our partners we are actively combatting this threat and have significantly restricted this networks operations. In the second phase of the operation, a further 45 suspected money launderers have been arrested and over 5.1m in cash seized in less than 12 months.

Using the intelligence gained on Operation Destabilise, the NCA has supported its international law enforcement partners in seizing $24m and over 2.6m from the network. Since its inception, there have been a total of 128 arrests as a result of the operation, with over 25m seized in cash and cryptocurrency in the UK alone.

Last December, the US Treasury announced sanctions on members of the groups identified in the operation, TGR and Smart, which it said helped elite Russians use cryptocurrency to evade sanctions imposed after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The NCA said TGR was linked to the purchase of a majority stake in Keremet Bank, a Kyrgyzstani lender sanctioned by the United States. The US Treasury said in January that the sale by the Kyrgyzstani finance ministry was intended to "create a sanctions evasion hub" for Russian trade payments.

Keremet Bank has said it would challenge the decision.
A jury in a High Court defamation action taken by two lawyers against businessman Denis OBrien has begun its deliberations.

Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth, solicitors at Belfast firm Phoenix Law, claim Mr OBrien and his spokesman James Morrissey implied in a October 2016 press release that they acted for and received payment from the IRA.

The solicitors say this arises from a sentence in the statement that read: Sinn Fein/IRA certainly got the report they paid for. Mr OBrien made the statement in response to a report on media ownership in Ireland.

Mr Mackin and Mr Booth were credited as co-authors of the report, which was commissioned by then-Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan. At the time of the report, Mr OBrien owned substantial stakes in Irish media companies.

Mr OBrien and Mr Morrissey deny the material defamed the solicitors or means what the solicitors allege. It is their case that the words mean the report was not fair or balanced, and served to further Sinn Feins political agenda.

The jury must decide what the meaning of the words complained of mean.

If they agree with the solicitors pleaded meaning, they must then assess what damages they should be awarded to compensate for damage to their reputations.

The solicitors side are seeking an award of general and aggravated damages.
A transgender person who was attacked by a gang of three adults in the middle of the day on Skehard Road in Cork was terrified during the violent incident and believed she was targeted.

Niamh Stewart, barrister, said 42-year-old Michael Keenan of 24 Mahon Crescent, Mahon, Cork, was one of three people involved in the attack but that he was the only one to be brought before the court. He pleaded guilty to his part in the incident when he admitted assault causing harm to the woman.

Ms Stewart said there had been an earlier incident at Mahon Point shopping centre where there was a verbal interaction between the injured party and a child.

The barrister said: He is extremely remorseful about what happened. He has not come to the attention of the guards since this. He said himself, I am very sorry, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing which will never happen again  please forgive me.

Sentencing

Judge Dermot Sheehan said the plea of guilty was to an assault causing harm to a woman at Skehard Road outside the CSO office in Cork on February 21, 2023.

The injured party was walking along. A female got out of the car first. She (the injured party who was walking by) was attacked by this group, it would appear from CCTV. Michael Keenan had a part in this.

"The gang attacked her. One of the gang had a stick. She was struck by the men and hit by the woman. She was bleeding and taken to CUH.

The accused has significant previous convictions. He did co-operate to a certain extent. He did enter an early plea of guilty. The issue is why this occurred.

A child was in Mahon Point shopping centre and had an interaction with the victim. There is a dispute about the interaction. It is clear the (adult parties involved in the assault) misapprehended what was going on and decided to seek vengeance against the unfortunate woman.

No matter how upset you are, go to An Garda Siochana.

This case is a prime example of what should not happen  a gang setting upon an innocent person in broad daylight in Mahon

"It is outrageous behaviour. It seems to me that the actions were born out of rage.

Physically and mentally she has suffered considerably. She says she is now recovered. Michael Keenan has paid 5,000 compensation which is a really strong indication that he is remorseful. He has apologised to the victim.

She was clearly terrified. It is an aggravating factor that she feels targeted as a result of being transgender.

Taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration the judge said the appropriate sentence was one of two-and-a-half years but fully suspended.
Photo: https://t.me/mineconomdevUA

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) will strengthen cooperation to update the rural development strategy until 2030, the ministry's press service reported.

According to the report, during the negotiations, the Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Minister Denys Bashlyk, and the TBI Director in Ukraine discussed strengthening cooperation in strategic planning and reforming the agricultural sector, in particular updating the strategy for the development of agriculture and rural areas in Ukraine up to 2030.

The parties agreed that the updated strategy should take into account the key challenges of wartime, the consequences of infrastructure degradation, climate change, land loss, and the need to modernize agricultural policy.

They emphasized that the development of rural areas encompasses not only agricultural production but also comprehensive changes, including job creation, infrastructure modernization, expanded access to financing and technology, development of processing, land restoration, and improvement of community living standards. These areas will form the foundation of the updated 2030 strategy for the recovery and modernization of the agricultural sector after the war.

The meeting also discussed the creation of a joint working group between the Ministry of Economy and TBI, which will work on finalizing the 2030 strategy.

"Cooperation with the Tony Blair Institute opens new opportunities for modernizing agricultural policy, strengthens the Ministry of Economys strategic planning, and contributes to the formation of a modern, innovative, and sustainable model for the development of Ukrainian rural areas," the Ministry of Economy concluded.
A well oiled Cobh mans stash of 15,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis which he carried in a rucksack was discovered by gardai after he attracted their attention by setting off fireworks at Halloween.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick Tobin, aged 41, has been given a five-year suspended jail term by Judge Helen Boyle.

When gardai approached him for setting off fireworks he fled the scene, leaving his rucksack behind which was later found to contain 15,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis.

Tobin, of 179 Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, was sentenced for having cocaine worth over 10,000 and 5,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply in that rucksack.

It was Halloween night and he attracted attention to himself by setting off fireworks which were illegal. He was well oiled and he tried to get away by climbing over a wall. He had a chaotic type life, defence senior counsel Donal OSullivan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the last occasion.

Garda Peter Moran testified that on October 31, 2022, his attention was drawn to the actions of the accused man at Russell Heig hts in Cobh, Co Cork.

He was acting suspiciously. He was setting off fireworks and trying to hide behind an ESB transformer box. He then fled from the scene. I inspected the rucksack he left behind. He climbed over a wall to make good his escape, Garda Moran said.

Patrick Tobin did not get far before he was arrested and taken to Cobh garda station.

As well as drugs in the bag, there was a cocaine mixing agent and 2,100 in cash which the defendant later accepted was the proceeds of his drug-related activities.

He claimed that he was dealing drugs but only holding on to the larger stash for an unnamed third party.

A concurrent two-year suspended sentence was imposed on him on the money-laundering charge.

Garda Moran accepted that the accused was cooperative and freely admitted that he had a long-term addiction to substances that got him involved in these crimes.

Ray Boland, senior counsel for the accused man, said: This is one of those happier occasions where he completed the residential programme in Coolmine. It was adjourned to give him an opportunity to address his difficulties. He has taken the chance given to him by the court.

He now plans to get into the area of social work. He is starting in Churchfield Community Trust. He presents as motivated and committed. He has a long history of addiction. He is in early stages of recovery. He would like the support of the probation service and Coolmine.

Judge Helen Boyle noted that the defendant had previous convictions for drug-dealing, the most recent dating back to 2016.

You were actively involved in storing drugs for sale or supply. You know the damage that cocaine and cannabis does to people. You understand the damage that being involved in the drugs trade brings.

Mitigating factors include your signed plea of guilty saving the State the time and expense of a trial. You have your own issues with addiction. Your risk category remains high. That is because of your previous convictions. You present as motivated and committed and eager to progress your life.

You have taken the opportunity to engage with the addiction services. You have done what was asked of you. You want to get your life back on track  I will suspend the sentence in its entirety, the judge said.
A 37-year-old man was jailed for three years on Friday for burgling the home of his own in-laws and stealing seven bottles of whiskey from their house.

Kenneth Duggan was sentenced after pleading guilty to this and to carrying out another burglary on the same date  March 15, 2025.

The first charge relates to his in-laws home at Muskerry Estate at 10am that morning. The second count relates to 2.30pm that day on Wellington Road where there was a burglary and the accused was caught in possession of property stolen from the house when he was in the back garden of the house.

Kenneth Duggan, of 65 Ballinderry Park, Mayfield, Cork, was sentenced to four years with the last year suspended in respect of both crimes at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence barrister Niamh Stewart said: He has a chronic drug addiction. When sober he is not the worst. He is extremely sorry about what he did.

He is a fantastic father when he is not intoxicated. He did stay sober for a number of years but unfortunately he relapsed. He wants help.

Judge Dermot Sheehan summarised the events of March 15 as he imposed sentence.

On the morning at his wifes parents home, he broke through the front door and stole seven bottles of whiskey.

Later, at Sydney Place, Wellington Road, which is just off the city centre he was observed in the back garden of the house.

He made full admissions. He has an enormous number of convictions. He is 37. He has failed to deal with his addiction issues while at large. He will have to do this while in custody, Judge Sheehan said.

He backdated the sentence to June 12 when Mr Duggan went into custody.
It would be unthinkable for Ukraine to be asked to cede any land to Russia under a US-penned peace deal, the Taoiseach has said.

Speaking in Johannesburg ahead of this weekends G20 meeting/url], Micheal Martin said that people in Ukraine do not want to be governed by a Russian authoritarian state.

US president Donald Trump, who is not attending the G20, has been working on a peace deal that would bring an end to the Russian bombardment of Ukraine.

Under the deal, it is reported that Ukraine would have to surrender significant areas of the Donetsk region, cut its army, and pledge not to join Nato.

Mr Martin said he needs to see the details of the US peace plan for Ukraine, which would require Ukraine to concede some of its land.

The Taoiseach said: What's extremely important is that the Ukrainian position and its future security guarantees are solid, but also that territory there is crucial.

They can't really concede any territory that hasn't been conquered by Russia now or being taken over by Russia, despite a military campaign of so many years.

It would be just unthinkable that any pressure could be put on Ukraine to cede territory that it has successfully resisted various attacks from Russia on.

Logistically, it is also extremely important. For people of those areas, they want to live in a democracy, not it an autocracy.

That is a very real issue. The Ukrainians want to belong to the European Union. They see what live can be like and they certainly dont want to go into a sort of Russian authoritarian state governing their land.

Elsewhere, Mr Martin paid tribute to the gardai working as part of Operation Destabilise into Russian money laundering.

Cash recovered as part of Operation Destabilise. Picture: An Garda Siochana/PA Wire

He accused Russia of propaganda following comments by a Russian spokeswoman on Irish neutrality, noting ongoing hybrid attacks across Europe.

There is a lot of tension, and there's a lot of worry and concern within the European Union, in particular, about the recklessness of some of what has happened over the last number of months, he said.

We do have concerns in terms of critical undersea infrastructure, and that is why we are cooperating with others to protect our economic security, both in terms of gas connectors and in terms of subsea cable.

Mr Martin is in Johannesburg to attend the G20 as a guest country following an invitation from South Africa.

Mr Trump will not attend as part of an ongoing spat with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding what the US president suggested was genocide of white farmers. Mr Ramaphosa denied this.

There were conflicting reports on Thursday evening about whether a US delegate would attend the G20 ahead of the summit moving to the US next year.

Despite the US absence, Mr Martin said he believes there will be a quite substantial declaration at the end of the two-day leaders' summit, which will finish on Sunday.

The Taoiseach also said that any allegations of genocide have been denied by the South African Government.

Mr Martin said Ireland was very honoured to have been invited by South Africa to become a guest country for the G20, noting that this was not an invitation that Ireland sought.

His first day in South Africa will include several trade and bilateral events, including a lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia.

In the afternoon, he will attend the Global Citizens Now event, hosted by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa.

He will also travel to the Global Fund Event, co-hosted by President Ramaphosa and UK prime minister Keir Starmer.

In the evening, the Taoiseach will attend a Bord Bia whiskey-tasting event, followed by an Irish community and business reception hosted by Irelands ambassador to South Africa, Austin Gormley.
When US president Donald Trump defended Saudi Arabias crown prince this week over the 2018 killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he did more than just stir renewed accusations from critics of an affinity toward strongmen.

Trumps remarks, which contradicted US intelligence findings, threw into stark relief just how far his administration has shifted away from the traditional US support for human rights globally.

Nearly all recent US administrations have worked with leaders with poor human rights records in order to advance US interests.

More than any recent occupant of the White House, Trump has not only praised prominent autocratic rulers  from Saudi Arabia and Hungary to China and El Salvador  but has shown little interest in reining them in, instead taking a more transactional approach.

Just how much US human rights policy has changed under Trump was crystallised in the Oval Office on Tuesday, when he denied that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman played any role in the murder of Khashoggi  a critic of the Saudi leadership  despite US intelligence assessing the opposite.

Trump has ignored some of the most fundamental principles underpinning US relations with the world, said Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration and now head of the Global Situation Room consultancy.

His words and actions give a green light to strongmen to do whatever they want, he added.

President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

Trump has focused this week instead on helping Saudi Arabias de facto ruler rehabilitate his global image, giving him red-carpet treatment at the White House, touting burgeoning economic and security ties with the worlds biggest oil exporter, and bringing him together with top US CEOs.

That has jibed with the US administrations seeming willingness to overlook alleged human rights abuses by Trump-friendly leaders such as Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban.

At the same time, Trump has pressed questionable accusations of rights violations against governments ideologically at odds with his administration, including Brazil and South Africa, spurring concerns that he is selectively pursuing human rights targets.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly pushed back against the criticism.

All of the presidents foreign policy actions are conducted through the lens of the America first agenda he was elected to implement, she said in a statement.

No one cares more about human rights than president Trump.

Many other US presidents have been criticised for playing down human rights.

Rights advocates accused Trumps Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, of not exerting enough pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which was triggered by an Israeli assault in response to Hamass cross-border attack in 2023.

Repurposing policy in favour of economic dealmaking

Some analysts and former US officials say Trump, 10 months into his second term as US president, has taken this approach to a whole new level.

Trumps aides, however, have denied that the rapport he has developed with fellow leaders is anything but beneficial, and insist that his brand of personal diplomacy promotes US interests.

Under Trump, the human rights issue has not so much been disregarded as repurposed to fit his priorities in favour of economic dealmaking and an agenda he sees as appealing to his Make America Great Again (Maga) base.

That has included a complete overhaul of the US state departments human rights apparatus, which had long been the centrepiece of traditional US promotion of democratic values.

Under secretary of state Marco Rubio, the department has scaled back its annual human rights report and reoriented the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to instill a focus on Western values.

Trumps aides have justified their shift in emphasis on human rights, including more limited attention to gender-based violence and the persecution of LGBT+ people, as a move away from interference in other countrys sovereign affairs. However, the administration has weighed in publicly on European politics to denounce what it sees as suppression of right-wing leaders  including in Romania, Germany, and France  and has accused European authorities of censorship.

During the crown prince's visit to the US this week, president Donald Trump claimed the prince had no knowledge of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, pictured, at a consulate in Istanbul. File Picture: Hasan Jamali/AP

The Trump administration has been vocal in pressuring Brazils leftist government over the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing Trump ally who was convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.

While Trump has been mostly silent on human rights under right-wing governments, including reports of torture in El Salvadors megaprison, he has been tough on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, focusing on his alleged links to drug trafficking.

The socialist leader has also been widely accused of harsh repression of his political opposition.

US representative Brian Mast, a Florida Republican and close Trump ally, defended the administrations handling of human rights, noting that the Republican presidents foreign policy had helped to end conflicts.

I think that shows probably the greatest humanitarian results that anybody could point towards, he told Reuters.

Trumps shielding of bin Salman during the crown princes first White House visit in more than seven years may have been the most clarifying moment yet for the presidents approach.

With bin Salman sitting beside him, Trump repeatedly said it was an honour to be friends with him.

He added that the crown prince knew nothing about the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, by Saudi agents in the consulate in Istanbul.

He also praised bin Salman over human rights, even though the crown prince has cracked down on dissent while loosening some social codes.

Trump is putting America on the side of the dictators and oligarchs, US senator Bernie Sanders told Reuters.

Lavish Saudi welcome

The Saudi crown princes visit to Washington this week follows Trumps own trip to the kingdom in May, the first foreign destination of his second term as US president.

That visit was marked by an elaborate welcome for the president. Other leaders with troubled human rights records may take note.

Trump has made no secret of his admiration for foreign leaders with sweeping powers at home

He has extolled personal friendships with Russian president Vladimir Putin, with whom he has struggled to secure agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, and Chinese president Xi Jinping, despite some recent tensions over trade and tariffs.

The visit has jibed with the US administrations seeming willingness to overlook alleged human rights abuses by Trump-friendly leaders such as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. File Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

Some critics have accused Trump and his administration of undermining democracy at home and the US image abroad as a bastion of the rule of law, with mass deportations, threats against news organisations, and flouting of court decisions  all of which the presidents aides deny.

Trump has also ordered deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which some experts say breaches international law.

The United States government no longer has any credibility on human rights issues, at home or abroad, said Human Rights Watchs Asia director John Sifton.

Reuters
Ireland was in a truly dire state in 1924 when Cumann na nGaedheal and Derry TD, Patrick McGilligan, observed: "There are certain limited funds at our disposal. People may have to die in this country and may have to die through starvation."

McGilligan was speaking in his role as the State's minister for industry and commerce and his quote highlights the grim reality facing the broken Irish Free State following years of state and intra-state warfare leading to the call to dump arms in 1923.

Yet somehow, out of this depressing morass of poverty and conflict, emerged the crowning achievement in Irish engineering brilliance. Ardnacrusha remains the most ambitious project the Irish State has ever achieved  putting over 5,000 people to work to break the largest barrier to prosperity and economic development  electricity.

It was a Government taskforce, then established by Cumann na nGaedheal, that led to the commissioning of Ardnacrusha. It is understandable therefore if people are at least intrigued as to what should be expected of the new National Development Plan  another report by another Government taskforce.

Commissioned by minister Jack Chambers, the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce outlined a bleak vista in July highlighting Ireland's web of overlapping agencies on infrastructure, sometimes with contradictory objectives and too many decision points, compounded by a planning system that facilitates objections rather than meaningful consultation.

The aim of the follow-up report, due later this month, will be to offer solutions to these myriad problems  many of which have been identified and raised by the industry in countless submissions and strategy documents.

Public good

There is broad agreement that the judicial review process must be tackled both in the short term  by setting thresholds for challenges  and in the long term, by defining what constitutes the public good  an action undertaken by many of our European counterparts. A definition of the public good would allow engineers and design teams to create projects that adhere to that definition from conception.

The nimbyism at the heart of our current planning system will have to change if Ireland is to overcome the challenges it faces. Especially in relation to major public works contracts, we cannot have a tiny minority of people halting major developments of renewable energy and housing if we are to meet our national and international obligations in these areas.

Defining the public good in a legislatively coherent manner would significantly reduce the number of projects mired in the Irish court system and allow for more ambitious delivery targets over the next Government term.

Follow-up report

There is some optimism in the construction and engineering sectors that the follow-up report from the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce will share some of the industry's most sought-after aims. One area ripe for reform is procurement.

Public sector projects have become less attractive and riskier than private sector work, due largely to unbalanced contract terms. Government contracts typically operate under joint and several liability, meaning that small engineering firms must insure themselves against the potential mistakes of much larger contractors  a situation that drives up costs, limits innovation, and drains taxpayer resources through unnecessary litigation.

Without reforming this, the States inertia will continue to slow down delivery and negate the dynamism of the sector. The result is that Irish citizens and communities face longer timeframes for essential housing and transport infrastructure due to drawn-out pre-construction delays.

It should be stressed, this is not a talent issue. We continue to talk ourselves into believing that Ireland cannot deliver large-scale infrastructure but history in this region tells a different story.

Workers at Inniscarra Dam in 1956. The Lee Hydroelectric Scheme at Inniscarra, completed in the 1950s, brought power and flood protection to the region long before sustainability became a policy buzzword.

The Lee Hydroelectric Scheme at Inniscarra, completed in the 1950s, brought power and flood protection to the region long before sustainability became a policy buzzword. More recently, the N25 upgrade showcases the scale and complexity of modern Irish engineering.

These projects  along with the 600 million Cork Commuter Rail programme  demonstrate what can be achieved when political will and technical expertise align.

Donal O'Neill is senior policy advisor and membership executive with the Association of Consulting Engineers Ireland
The social democrat Mette Frederiksen won Denmarks 2019 elections on a platform of radical reforms to reach climate targets, lowering the pension age for manual workers  and stricter migration migration policies.

Denmark has some of the strictest asylum legislation in Europe. The country grants only temporary asylum to refugees, regardless of their need for protection. It has tightened laws on family reunion, and introduced policies focused on prioritising deportation, rather than integration.

Frederiksen has justified such policies by pitting the challenges of immigration against the affordability of public services and the welfare state.

Hardline asylum legislation was in place in Denmark before Frederiksen came to power, but has become even more draconian under her administration. In her own words, migration is challenging Europe, affecting peoples lives, and the cohesion of our societies.

Now, Frederiksens approach has become a model for other left-wing governments in Europe, including the UK, struggling to address voter concerns about immigration.

How did a left-wing leader come to lead such a strict migration regime, and how might it influence the rest of Europe?

Danish migration policy has been influenced by the far right for years. Minority coalitions have long depended on the vote of the far right in parliament. Frederiksen won the 2019 elections on a migration agenda almost identical to that of the far-right Danish People' Party.

The countrys asylum policies had already been tightened during the 2015 refugee crisis. New legislation placed restrictions on refugees bringing their families to stay, introduced temporary permits which could be revoked at any time, and placed more demands linked to integration on asylum seekers and immigrants.

In 2018, a law targeting parallel socieites came into force, allowing the government to demolish or sell off social housing areas where more than half of residents are from a non-Western background, if those areas also meet other criteria related to crime and poverty. Refugees in these areas are also not eligible for family reunion.

In 2021, Frederiksen introduced a new deportation law allowing for refugees to be returned to their country of origin if Denmark deemed it safe.

Her government ruled Syria safe for refugees to return to, allowing it to withdraw the residence permits of Syrian refugees. But because Denmark did not have diplomatic relations with the Syrian government to allow deportations, people were taken out of education and employment and put in deportation camps.

In 2021, the European Commission deemed new Danish legislation on transferring asylum seekers to third countries to process asylum claims incompatible with EU law.

But Denmark is in a unique position, having negotiated opt-outs from the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. One of these opt-outs means that Denmark is not bound by EU laws on border control and immigration policy.

Influencing Europe

Over the last few months, Denmark has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union, where migration has been at the top of the agenda.

Frederiksen has used this position to advocate for stricter, Danish-style migration policies across Europe. In her speech at the official opening ceremony for the Danish EU presidency, she said: Many come here to work and to contribute. But some do not. And around Europe, we see the consequences. Crime. Radicalisation. And terror. We have built some of the best societies ever. But we cannot accept anyone who wants to come here.

Denmark has supported the EU's 2024 Pact on Migration and Asylum, which sets out new common rules on managing migration. It prioritises support to border states, with financial support from other EU countries. Its aim is to secure external borders with a faster and more efficient asylum procedure. The pact will be implemented in 2026.

Denmarks policies have not been without controversy. The country has been criticised by the European Court of Justice, the UN committee against torture, Amnesty International, and other international bodies.

But Frederiksen has received some support, including from Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who has reached deportation deals with authoritarian regimes and governments such as Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen and British prime minister Keir Starmer in Westminster, London, last October. Picture: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire

Frederiksen and Meloni led a group of EU countries pushing for reform of the European Convention on Human Rights to ease deportation. She has also clearly had an influence on Keir Starmer, with Britain's Labour government now seeking to implement Danish-style migration policies.

Fredriksens ideology and actions have been widely criticised by human rights groups. But they may further Frederiksen's meteoric rise to a top position in international politics. She will need it, as her party is set to lose to the parties further to the left in the upcoming local elections.

- The Conversation
The interviewee arrived early at the RTE Morning Ireland studios, which allowed the producer to note that they were all-body shaking.

The producer asked why. Terror, the interviewee confided. Absolute terror of the man who was going to interview him.

David? the producer said. David Hanly?

The guest nodded. He was frightened to death, he admitted. David Hanly was so aggressive.

The producer laughed and swore to the guest that they were basing their view of Hanly on the presenters growl.

Nothing behind the growl other than curiosity, he said.

"Davids one of the sweetest people youll ever meet in a radio studio. Good listener. Youre the expert on your subject  hell give you all the space you need. Trust me.

And thats how it played out.

The death of David Hanly, aged 82, was announced on Friday with tributes flooding in for a man who had a distinguished career as a broadcaster and writer.

A producer on RTE Morning Ireland once said: 'Davids one of the sweetest people youll ever meet in a radio studio.' File photo: Collins Photos, Dublin

The producer had never told Hanly how he had scared a guest witless, because Hanly would have been hurt, rather than flattered by the information.

Hanly was Irelands Robin Day, the big name in BBC current affairs in the 1970s and 1980s. Equally clever, but much less performative, much more sensitive.

When he had been a print journalist, he was sent on one occasion to the home of the mother of a man believed to have murdered several people.

The journalist had been instructed by his editor to get a recent photograph of the man and an interview with the mother. David Hanly duly pitched up at the house, knocked on the door  and received no answer.

He repeated the performance twice more, his heart filling with hope that the woman was away and might not return by his deadline, so he wouldnt have to put her through the misery of being asked questions about her son, or worse, through the request to produce a picture of him.

He pulled a notebook out of his jacket pocket and printed a message to her, identifying himself and his purpose and expressing his belief that she probably, on her return, would not want to talk to him, and that was fine, too.

He indicated (this being before mobile phones) that he was headed for the local pub and in the unlikely event of her wanting to talk to him, she could reach him there within the next hour and a half.

David Hanly was multi-talented. File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.

Then he slid the folded-over note under the door and headed for the pub. Sixty minutes later, the pub phone rang and was handed to him.

It was the mother, warm and welcoming, inviting him to return to the house, where she gave him several pictures of her accused murderer son at different ages, and gestured to him to ask whatever questions he wanted to ask.

Hanly left with a scoop he knew he didnt deserve and frequently, thereafter, told the story against himself, reminding his listeners that arguably the most fundamental human need is to be listened to, to be heard, even if the listener is a card-carrying NUJ member.

The murderers mother actually needed to talk, needed a listening ear.

Hanly was multi-talented. His 1979 novel, In Guilt and in Glory, was so impelling and assured that book lovers assumed it would be followed by many others, although it wasnt.

He now and again performed publicly with his singer-songwriter brother Mick.

He did a TV series.

But for a generation, he was Mr Morning Ireland, ready to take on anyone, the greeting growl out of him serving as the starter gun for the day.
US president Donald Trumps plan for ending the war in Ukraine would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyivs military, according to a draft obtained by The Associated Press.

The proposal, originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favourable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbour.

If the past is anything to go by, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has opposed Mr Trumps previous calls for territorial concessions.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said his country would not concede territory to Russia (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

A side agreement aims to satisfy Ukrainian security concerns by saying a future significant, deliberate and sustained armed attack by Russia would be viewed as threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.

The agreement, which was detailed by a senior US official, does not obligate the US or European allies to intervene on Ukraines behalf, although it says they would determine the measures necessary to restore security.

Mr Trumps push to end the war could drive a wedge between himself and European leaders, who are likely to oppose any agreement that could be seen as rewarding Russian president Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.

For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining Nato but would also prevent the alliances future expansion.

The American side presented points of a plan to end the wartheir vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure its all genuine.



We're geared up for clear and honest workUkraine, the U.S., our European and global partners. pic.twitter.com/DscaCBg4vW  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 20, 2025

Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views Nato as a threat.

Mr Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands.

Ukraines military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.

The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the worlds biggest economies.

Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll, right, was in Kyiv on Thursday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Mr Zelensky, according to a senior administration official.

The official added that Mr Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Mr Zelensky.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Mr Zelensky, according to a senior administration official.

Mr Zelensky offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.

Our teams  of Ukraine and the United States  will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work, he wrote.

Under the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession.

Rescue workers clear rubble at the site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, earlier in the week (Vlad Kravchuk/AP)

In addition, 100 billion US dollars (76.44 billion) in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.

But handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraines constitution. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.

Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europes largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.

The draft calls for a Peace Council that Mr Trump will oversee.

The council is an idea that Mr Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested the draft would be too favourable towards Moscow (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.

European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Mr Trumps administration might be side-lining them and Mr Zelensky in its push to stop the fighting.

Mr Trumps at-times conciliatory approach to Mr Putin has fuelled these concerns, but Mr Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russias vital oil sector that came into force on Friday.

For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation blocs foreign ministers.

She also suggested that the draft would be too favourable towards Moscow.

We havent heard of any concessions on the Russian side, Ms Kallas said.
Irans foreign ministry called a resolution by the UN atomic watchdogs board of governors anti-Iranian and threatened unspecified retaliatory actions, state media has reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency demanded on Thursday that Iran fully co-operate with the organisation and provide precise information about its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, as well as grant its inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites.

A report by the official IRNA news agency on Friday quoted foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as saying that Iran had informed the Vienna-based IAEA in a letter that in addition to ending an agreement forged over the summer in Cairo, the Iranian government could take other actions in response to Thursdays resolution.

IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi had reached an agreement with Iran in early September to resume inspections (Alexander Podgorchuk, Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation via AP)

Iran suspended all co-operation with the IAEA after the war with Israel.

IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi then reached an agreement with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Cairo in early September to resume inspections.

Mr Baghaei did not immediately elaborate on what further actions Iran would take, but further uranium enrichment by the country was a possibility.

He accused the IAEA of amplifying grudges held against Iran by the US, the UK, France and Germany.

The minister said that the resolution did not mention the reason that Iran halted inspections was because of the strikes by Israel and the US against Irans nuclear facilities in June.

The IAEAs resolution sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the UN nuclear agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar moves by the watchdog in the past.

After a 12-day air war in June with Israel, Iran suspended all co-operation with the IAEA.

Strikes on Iran killed nearly 1,100 in the country, including military commanders and nuclear scientists.

After the deal to resume inspections in September, the UN reimposed crushing sanctions on Iran later that month through the so-called snapback mechanism contained in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, drawing an angry response from Tehran and leading it to halt implementation of the Cairo agreement.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross Socieity (URCS) has helped to eliminate the consequences of the nightly Russian air attack on Zaporizhia.

"This night, Zaporizhia was once again shelled. The Ukrainian Red Cross rapid response unit in the Zaporizhia region, together with rescue services, worked at the site to eliminate the consequences of the shelling," the URCS said on Facebook on Friday.

Volunteers conducted a tour of the territories to identify the wounded, provided first psychological aid to the victims and their relatives, and were on duty on site to provide home medical care.

As reported, at least five people died as a result of the enemy attack on Zaporizhia on the night of November 21. Five high-rise buildings were damaged, and shopping pavilions were destroyed.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, nine people have already been injured as a result of the Russian shelling of Zaporizhia.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has canceled his plans for Friday to hold an urgent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders about the U.S. and Russian plan to end the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are also expected to join the call at 12:00 p.m. European time.

European leaders will also meet on Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in South Africa to discuss the next steps, according to a person familiar with the matter. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has earned a reputation as someone Donald Trump listens to, is also expected to join the meeting, according to a person familiar with the plans, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.

European leaders are also trying to arrange a phone call with the United States to discuss the initiative, another source said. According to a German government spokesman, Merz had planned to visit a school in Berlin on Friday morning but changed his plans to formulate a response to the US-Russia peace plan.
An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
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Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | 

The Right Honourable Mark Carney

Prime Minister of Canada

pm@pm.gc.ca

mark.carney@parl.gc.ca

The Honourable Anita Anand

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mme. Erin OGorman

President, Canada Border Services Agency

erin.ogorman@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Dear Prime Minister Carney, Minister Anand, Minister Anandasangaree, Minister Diab, Mme. OGorman:

We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our consternation and our outrage at the unwarranted and unjustified harassment that Richard Falk, the eminent emeritus professor of international law at Princeton University and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories, was subjected to by agents of the Canada Border Services after arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport from the United States on 13 November 2025. Professor Falk and his wife, Professor Hilal Elver, had landed in Canada en route to Ottawa to participate in the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility on 14-15 November, when they were detained while going through customs. A border agent took their passports, led them to a room where they were held for close to four hours, and Falk was interrogated at length. We object profoundly to such mistreatment of this 95-year-old world-renowned scholar and human rights advocate by the Canadian authorities.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, MESA publishes the International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and elsewhere.

Apparently, the border agents indicated that they had detained Professor Falk in order to determine whether he was a threat to Canadas national security and should be allowed to enter the country. As preposterous as that suggestion is, we are confident that the Canadian authorities were far more concerned about (his participation in) the gathering in Ottawa  a peoples tribunal on Canadas complicity in the genocide in Gaza since October 2023 and the dispossession of the Palestinian people. Specifically, the unacknowledged intent in detaining Professor Falk seems to have been to create an atmosphere of intimidation and thereby discourage and delegitimize testimonies of Palestinian suffering, criticism of Israels treatment of the Palestinians and the complicity therein of the United States and Canada, along with advocacy in favor of Palestinian rights.

We call upon the Canadian government to issue an immediate apology to Professor Richard Falk and Professor Hilal Elver. We urge the government to reflect upon its role in contributing to Palestinian suffering and to categorically defend Palestinian rights (as opposed to its provisional and ambiguous support for some ill-defined notion of Palestinian statehood). Finally, we urge the government to uphold and unwaveringly support free expression and debate even about the most pressing and contested issues of our time  the hallmark of the healthy, vibrant democracy that Canada claims to be.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie A. Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California

Cc:

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament and Chair of SECU (Standing Committee on Public Safely and National Security)

Senator Paulette Senior, chair of RIDR (Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights)

Senator Hassan Yussuff, chair of SECD (Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defense and Veteran Affairs

Senator Yuen Pau Woo
Photo: https://t.me/odeskaODA

On the morning of November 21, during the ongoing air alert, the Russians attacked the Odessa region with strike UAVs, Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper has said.

"Fall of debris or hits without detonation were recorded in several locations in Odessa and the region. In particular, in the private residential sector, which led to damage to the roof and facade of buildings, at the level of the 11th floor of an unfinished residential building and on the territory of the hotel," Kiper said on Telegram on Friday. .

Later, several more cases of falling debris and hits without detonation were recorded.

"At least one person was injured. Data on the victims is being clarified," Kiper wrote.

He specified that residential and non-residential buildings, garages were damaged in the city of Odesa. Fall of debris was also recorded in open areas in rural areas.

Relevant services are working on the ground. Kiper urged citizens not to approach the places where debris fell - it could be dangerous.
( Tomdispatch.com )  Rooting out terrorism and antisemitism was the supposed reason that plainclothed ICE agents arrested doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, after she coauthored an op-ed calling on Tufts University to divest from companies with ties to Israel due to the killing and starvation of Palestinian civilians. There is an international movement to boycott, sanction, and divest from Israel, but in the United States, President Donald Trump is imperiling the freedom even to publicly discuss such ideas, which should, in effect, be considered a test case for his larger attack on free speech. So far, the test is going well for Trump.

In what seems a long time ago, in 2024, the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, released a blueprint for what it called a national strategy to combat antisemitism by addressing what it described as Americas virulently anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and anti-American pro-Palestinian movement. In essence, and in whats amounted to an extraordinarily effective work of political theater that has been sold to my own state, Massachusetts, among other places, that foundation dubbed its political opponents supporters of terrorism. It also labeled organizations working in opposition to its agenda a terrorist support network, and claimed for itself the noble mantle of combating antisemitism  even as it deftly redefined antisemitism from hatred of Jewish people to criticism of the U.S.-Israel alliance. President Trump has put the Heritage Foundation strategy into action and gone even further.

It may be his most original idea. As political scientist Barnett Rubin put it in September, President Trump always says hes very creative and accomplishes things no one has ever done before. And now he is building a fascist regime which is legitimized by the fight against antisemitism. Nobody ever thought of doing that before.

How the Defense Department (Oops, Sorry, the War Department) Promotes World Peace

I attended Hebrew school as a child, and today, when I try to recall what I learned there about Israel and Palestine, I find in my memory an image of a desert, replete with flowers, and the pleasant recollection that the State of Israel was founded in that empty landscape. In 1998, I visited Israel with my family. My brother had his bar mitzvah at the mountain-top fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. Though I enjoyed an enviable private school education, I didnt hear the word Nakba until adulthood. That Arabic word for catastrophe refers to the displacement of 700,000 Palestinian people for Israels founding in 1948. A majority of the population of the modern-day Gaza Strip descended from refugees of the Nakba.

According to Amnesty International and the Israeli human rights organization BTselem, Israel has imposed a system of oppression on Palestinians across Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through an enforced system of segregation that constitutes apartheid. For decades, Israel has controlled who could enter or exit the Gaza Strip and, from 2007 on, that 25-mile strip of land functioned as what Human Rights Watch called an open-air prison. As of 2022, the unemployment rate in Gaza had hit 45%, and 65% of the people there were living in poverty. On October 7th of the following year, an armed group broke out of Gaza and waged attacks on Israel that killed 1,195 people, 815 of whom were civilians.

In the two years since then, Israel has responded by killing more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza in a military campaign of such horror that, as the head of Doctors Without Borders reported to the U.N. Security Council, children as young as five said that they preferred to die rather than continue living in fear while witnessing the slaughter of their family members. A girl named Sham was born in Gaza in November 2023 and survived smoke poisoning as an infant. As a toddler, she was diagnosed with acute malnutrition, before being killed on May 6th of this year when Israel dropped explosives on the shelter where she was living with her family. The United Nations and prominent experts, including Israeli-American professor of Holocaust and genocide studies Omer Bartov, have concluded that Israels war on Gaza is a genocide. The current ceasefire has slowed, not stopped, the death toll.

By 2024, the International Court of Justice, the worlds highest court, had ruled that Israels occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem was illegal; that Israel needed to halt all settlement construction, evacuate its settlers, pay restitution to Palestinians, and allow them the right of return. It also indicated that all states and international organizations have a legal obligation not to assist Israels further occupation of the area.

However, since October 2023, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Council on Foreign Relations, using 800 transport planes and 140 ships, my own country has delivered 90,000 tons of arms and equipment to Israel, including tanks, artillery shells, bombs, and rockets. The U.S. government gives Israel billions of dollars annually in military aid, which that country spends mostly on purchases made through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. According to a Defense Department website, that program sells articles and services [that] will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace.

Despite how, as Israeli historian Lee Mordechai described it, Israel has limited the flow of information out of Gaza and campaigned to discredit critical voices, a July Gallup poll found that 60% of Americans disapprove of Israels military actions there. Even more strikingly, a September Washington Post poll found that nearly half (48%) of Jewish Americans disapprove (and only 46% approve).

But according to recommendations issued by the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, a group created by state law in 2024, a teacher discussing such polling in a classroom could precipitate an anonymous complaint filed with the state police on the grounds that the educator has rendered the learning environment in my state hostile to Jewish students.

School Teachers Are the Problem!

Last February, Special Commission co-chair and State Representative Simon Cataldo conducted an inquisition  yes, an inquisition  into the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (who is himself Jewish), including presenting a series of materials on Israel/Palestine that Cataldo had obtained from a database of educator resources. He displayed a graphic called Born Unequal Abroad, which lists the different rights afforded to an American Jewish child and the child of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The former can visit Israel and even become an Israeli citizen at any time, while the latter is barred from visiting and has no pathway to citizenship (even through marriage). Cataldo seemed to regard that graphic (and others like it) as self-evidently antisemitic and displayed it as a smoking gun that revealed the supposed antisemitism festering within the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

In other words, in my home state today, combating antisemitism means a governor- and legislature-appointed commission conducting an inquisition of a (Jewish) union leader for the offense of failing to suppress critical discussion of a foreign nation that the worlds leading human rights organizations have found to be upholding a system of apartheid and committing genocide. At the same time, actual antisemitism  that is, the hatred of Jewish people by xenophobic nationalists  has gone largely unexamined by the Commission in the midst of its campaign to shut down criticism of Israel. (I imagine President Trump and the Heritage Foundation applauding in the background.)

Indeed, over the course of a year of hearings, the Special Commission has perhaps irreparably merged the concept of antisemitism with criticism of Israel, which seems to have been the point. State Senator and Commission Co-Chair John Velis actually uses the terms anti-Israel and antisemitic interchangeably, though they do have different meanings and anyone charged with the responsibility of leading a state panel on antisemitism should know that. Velis, who is not Jewish, has taken multiple trips to Israel paid for by the Israeli government as well as a charity affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the lobby group known as AIPAC.

The Special Commission has unveiled recommendations for Massachusetts schools that include utilizing a definition of antisemitism that, according to the ACLU, will have the effect of chilling free speech. It has also recommended launching a statewide reporting system in which anonymous allegations of antisemitism in schools would be collected by the state police.

Following the initial release of those recommendations, Governor Maura Healey issued a statement applauding the Commissions work. Organizations like the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston have also sent out emails to their membership commending the Commission.

Perhaps in response to the hours of dissenting public testimony that (mostly Jewish) people as well as scholars and education experts have offered, the commissioners wrote in their most recent report, We should listen to and respect people who say that they have been harmed by antisemitism; we should not gaslight them or tell them that their experience is invalid.

Who could argue?

A Federal Judge Weighs In

After Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was abducted from the street by ICE agents for the offense of co-writing an op-ed in the school paper asking the school to divest from companies with ties to Israel, a federal judge found that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had violated the First Amendment through a policy of targeting for deportation noncitizens who criticized Israel or voiced support for Palestinians. The judge also found that executive orders issued by President Trump had relied on a definition of antisemitism that encompassed First Amendment-protected speech (the same definition recommended by the Massachusetts Commission!).

But will that federal court ruling even matter? According to the same judge, The effect of these targeted deportation proceedings continues unconstitutionally to chill freedom of speech to this day.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Benjamin Moser has noted that, after October 7th, some American Jewish institutions not only supported Israels reign of terror over Palestinian civilians but also applauded the clampdown on free speech in order to sustain the killing. The younger generations, people who have seen with their own eyes the crimes of the so-called Jewish state, and who feel the sacrilege, the impious desecration, of the values they thought were Jewish, he wrote, will never return to these institutions.

But will it matter? Surely, it wont stop Donald Trump from using his version of Jewish identity as a moral shield for his attack on free speech.

In Massachusetts, a coalition of organizations has publicly opposed the Special Commissions recommendations and, in the western part of the state where I live, a group of residents has resorted to putting out yard signs with QR codes on them to call attention to this travesty. Im part of that effort, but does it matter?

In California, a new law, ostensibly intended to protect Jewish students from discrimination, goes into effect on January 1st. It has, however, put educators on alert that they may be accused of antisemitism if they share information deemed critical of Israel.

Meanwhile, the leaders of civil society organizations appear ill-suited to resist such suppression of free speech and, in some cases, seem to embrace it. In January, members of the American Historical Association voted 428 to 88 in favor of declaring their opposition to scholasticide (the deliberate destruction of an education system) in Gaza. But the Associations leadership council vetoed that vote. A similar episode occurred at the Modern Language Association.

Amy Hagopian, a professor emeritus of global health at the University of Washington, who for years taught a class on war and health, recently wrote about how she was expelled from the American Public Health Association after publicly protesting a decision by its executive board to halt consideration of a resolution on Palestinian health justice. (An anonymous complaint had alleged that the protest was antisemitic.)

An Alternative Could Look Like This

The usual line-toeing of politicians in both major parties has involved reciting statements of support for Israel, whatever it does. By contrast, Zohran Mamdani was clear during his victorious campaign to become mayor of New York City that he supports an end to apartheid for Palestinians and opposes the crimes against humanity committed by Israel. In American politics, that represented a fresh playbook. He focused successfully on his citys absurdly high cost of living and did so as part of a coalition that included people of the Jewish faith and other faiths, even as powerful moneyed interests lined up against him. And he won.

Keep in mind that a clear majority of Americans do indeed disapprove of Israels actions in Gaza, so it makes sense that there was an electorate for a candidate who would tell the truth about the oppression of Palestinians, while rejecting claims that its antisemitic to do so. Mamdani won a third of voters who specified Judaism as their religion (just as he won a third of Catholics). He also overwhelmingly won among those with no religious affiliation (a quarter of the electorate) and those whose religious affiliation was described as Other, which is where exit pollsters put people who are Muslim.

Trumps urge to suppress free speech may be about Israel today, but count on one thing: it will be about something else tomorrow. The real question is whether Americans will accept his violations of the First Amendment or fight to protect free speech even when they dislike things other people have to say.

There are those who believe that Mamdanis victory cannot be replicated outside New York City. But given that free speech itself may hang in the balance, its at least worth a try.

Copyright 2025 Mattea Kramer

Via Tomdispatch.com
The sixth International Rights of Nature Tribunal (IRNT) met on November 11, 2025 in Belem (Brazil), on the sidelines of the COP30 climate conference held there from November 10 to 21. After two preparatory sessions, the 17 judges of this symbolic court produced a four-page text entitled A New Pledge for Mother Nature.

Compared with previous rulings by the court, this text is not particularly novel. Admittedly, it does refer to some recent examples of soft law (non-binding rules). In particular, it cites the 29 May 2025 Advisory Opinion of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the climate emergency and human rights, which considers the recognition of nature and its components as subjects of rights in certain Latin American countries as a normative development that makes it possible to strengthen the protection of the ecosystems in the long term. It also cites the final declaration from the last International Union for Conservation of Nature congress, held in October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, which encourages Amazonian States and Members to declare a fossil fuel non-proliferation zone in Amazonia, prohibiting fossil fuel exploration and extraction while ensuring participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the maintenance of biodiversity.

But the IRNTs latest decision basically just reiterates what it has been saying in verdict after verdict since its creation in 2014: Heat waves that kill thousands of people are associated with human activities that cause climate change and the global ecological collapse. The crises we are experiencing are rooted in the economic, political, legal and social systems established by the industrial and growth-oriented cultures. We are all part of the Earth, an indivisible and living community of interdependent beings with a common destiny but with different rights. The Tribunal calls for a major cultural, spiritual and philosophical shift that recognizes Mother Earths fundamental inherent rights to exist, create, restore, heal, and seek reparation for the damage done in centuries of extractive capitalism. Without a radical change of direction, only a few would survive the ecological and social collapse, and millions of species are at risk of extinction.

Recommended reading An alternative way to hold companies responsible

Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth

For 11 years, the IRNT has been meeting to examine the legality of major industrial projects in light of a founding text, the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth. This was adopted in April 2010 at the close of the World Peoples Conference on Climate Change in Cochabamba (Bolivia), called by Evo Morales following the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. In the former Bolivian presidents eyes, this failure was linked to the refusal of rich countries to massively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and finance poor countries adaptation to climate change. The Cochabamba conference brought together nearly 30,000 representatives of Amerindian and indigenous peoples and social movements from around the world to propose collective and methodical action in the face of this injustice. Its final declaration reflects the experience of these communities, many of whom are mountain or forest dwellers. Living in sparsely populated areas, their lives are part of an immense and abundant natural environment, but one that is fragile or even destroyed by the consequences of climate change, large-scale mining projects and vast agro-industrial operations based on deforestation.

The Universal Declaration of Mother Earth considers that the Earth is a single, indivisible and self-regulating community of beings that are intimately connected to one another and that just as human beings enjoy human rights, all other beings have rights specific to their species and adapted to the role they play. This gives rise to a series of rights for each species that are typically found in most international declarations, conventions or case law relating to human rights: the right to life, respect, identity, full health and redress for the violation of rights. Also the rights to enjoy water as a source of life, clean air and freedom from contamination and pollution  in short, all the elements that make up a healthy environment, even though this is a very recent addition to the universally recognised body of human rights. The Declaration concludes with a series of obligations specific to humans, including learning ways to live in harmony with Mother Earth and promoting economic systems consistent with the rights recognized in the text.

Inspired by Native American culture, the Declaration also draws on the Ecuadorian constitution, adopted by referendum in 2008 on the initiative of former President Rafael Correa, which devotes an entire chapter to the rights of nature. It also resonates with the Bolivian law of December 21, 2010 on the Rights of Mother Earth. This Declaration is promoted internationally by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN). Bringing together more than 5,000 organisations and individuals from around 100 countries on five continents, GARN aims to create a system of jurisprudence that sees and treats nature as a rights-bearing entity and not as property to be exploited at will. To make this right a reality based on concrete cases, it organised the first meeting of the IRNT in Quito, Ecuador, in 2014. Inspired by the international war crimes tribunals and the Permanent Peoples Tribunal, established to strengthen international human rights law, the IRNT is meant to foster international Rights of Nature law, say Craig M. Kauffman and Pamela L. Martin, American academics and authors of a significant book on this subject.

Case law remains theoretical

The IRNT has met six times in South America or Europe since its inaugural session, on the sidelines of the COP climate conference. It has also organised two regional sessions on Chilean and European aquatic ecosystems, as well as six local sessions on the Mountain Valley pipeline in the south-east of the United States, the impact of the Canadian mining industry in Ecuador and Serbia, and on the Great Barrier Reef off the north-east coast of Australia. It has dealt with dozens of cases, often including missions that bring together victims, experts, activists and elected officials in the field. Some of these cases have also been brought before real courts for violations of cultural, human or environmental rights. The IRNT takes care to ensure its actions are in line with existing law, whether it be the international body of human rights law or the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), both of which are mentioned as sources of law in the Tribunals statutes. The UN itself keeps a close eye on the work of the IRNT. At the sixth meeting of the IRNT in Belem, Mary Lawlor and Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders and the environment, came to tell what the UN is doing about the hundreds of murders of environmental defenders recorded in recent years.

Despite its coherence and its alignment with existing law, IRNT jurisprudence remains largely theoretical to date. Meanwhile, the habitats of indigenous peoples and, more broadly, global ecosystems continue to be degraded by industrial activity, sometimes to a critical extent for human communities comprising thousands or even tens of thousands of people. As a result, the debates in Belem took on a dramatic tone, for example when a Native American leader spoke of ongoing genocide of her nation located on the border between the United States and Canada. At the same time, dozens of Amazonian protesters ended their march for climate and health by storming the COP30 site, before being repelled by Brazilian security forces. The idea that climate COPs are useless, even hostile, because they are too infiltrated by oil and industrial lobbies was expressed several times during this sixth edition of the IRNT.

In 2025, the global ecosystem crisis is undeniably the subject of awareness by the international community, which is reflected in legal terms by the recognition of a universal human right to a healthy environment. Meanwhile, the IRNT is paving the way for a paradigm shift that would grant fundamental rights to what is commonly referred to as nature, i.e. all non-human living beings. However, these profound changes, which reflect a slow evolution in the way humans view themselves in relation to the environment, concern only the proclamation of rights. The industrial economy continues to follow its course and, to date, renders these new rights largely ineffective.
A Bosnian appeals court said on Friday it had sentenced an ethnic Serb to prison for denying the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, the first such ruling in the Balkan nation.

The appeals chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina found Vojin Pavlovic guilty of "inciting national, racial, and religious hatred and intolerance", the tribunal said in a statement.

In May, the court had sentenced Pavlovic, 49, who heads nationalist pro-Russian Eastern Alternative association to two years and six months in prison.

Both Pavlovic and prosecutors appealed the verdict, but the court's appeals chamber increased his sentence to three years and six months in jail, the statement said.

The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995, in the final stages of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war.

The atrocity was deemed genocide by two international courts.

But Serbia and Bosnian Serb leaders continue to deny that the Srebrenica massacre was a genocide.

In March 2023. Pavlovic, placed at an intersection in Bratunac, a town near Srebrenica, a banner with an image of Bosnian Serb wartime military commander and convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic.

The banner's caption read: "Happy birthday, may you live long and in good health".

A UN court sentenced Mladic in 2017 to life imprisonment over genocide and war crimes, notably for his role in the siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

Pavlovic was also found guilty of "approving and attempting to justify the genocide in Srebrenica" by organising a gathering in Bratunac on 11 July 2023, the anniversary of the massacre.

For the occasion, he placed posters across the town with the caption "July 11 -- Day of Liberation of Srebrenica. Thank you Army of the Republika Srpska".

Bosnia since the 1992-1995 war has been made up of the Serb-run entity of Republika Srpska along with a Muslim-Croat federation.

The criminal offence of genocide denial was introduced in Bosnia in 2021, by the top international envoy to the country, Austria's Valentin Inzko.

He amended the country's penal code to criminalise the denial of genocide and other war crimes, as well as the glorification of war criminals, that became punishable by up to five years in prison.

The decision was strongly condemned by Bosnian Serb leaders.
German FM considers US peace proposal as list of options for Ukraine and Russia to discuss - media

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/UkraineMFA

The German Foreign Minister said that the plan for resolving the Ukrainian conflict proposed by the US is a list of topics and options that need to be further developed and discussed.

"My American colleague Marco Rubio has already said that this is not a plan, but a list of topics and options that need to be adapted and discussed," Vadeful said on ZDF television.

However, Vadeful stressed that any efforts that promote dialogue between the parties are "correct and worthy of support."

In addition, the Foreign Minister stressed the role of Europe in possible negotiations: "We are participating in this process. Today I discussed this issue in detail by phone with Steve Witkoff, the special representative of the US President."

According to Vadeful, he also spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who noted that the Turkish side is also interested in Russia and Ukraine starting negotiations.

"Now it's about ensuring 'the best possible negotiating position for Ukraine,'" Wadeful said. The sooner the 'negotiation phase' is reached, the better. Europe supports Ukraine. The German government's position is also clear: 'We support Ukraine like no other European country.'"

Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, answering journalists' questions on Thursday whether the Kremlin could confirm the information about the existence of a plan for Ukraine, said: "I can only say on this subject what we have repeated many times (...): we cannot add anything new to what was said in Anchorage. We have no innovations in this case."






Friday, November 21, 2025 - A stunning Ugandan lady, the current Miss Nyash, has set social media ablaze with her eye-catching hourglass figure after a video of her at an event went viral.

Her bold presence and flawless curves left many attendees momentarily distracted, with several unable to hide their reactions as she passed by.

Rocking tight black pants that perfectly highlighted her irresistible curves, she drew admiration both at the event and online, where netizens have been praising her confidence and natural beauty.

Watch the video.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, November 21, 2025 - Royal Media Services Editorial Director Linus Kaikai has opened up about the inspirations behind his decision to pursue a law degree.

Speaking on Thursday, November 20th after being admitted to the roll of advocates, Kaikai recalled how the Ouko Commission of Inquiry first sparked his interest.

Watching young lawyers like Ouko Ombaka and Moses Wetangula argue passionately before Justice Evan Gicheru left a lasting impression.

I was inspired by the Ouko Commission of Inquiry. I saw how lawyers were engaging they were very good, he said.

Another defining moment was the SM Otieno burial dispute, a case that gripped the nation in the late 1980s.

Kaikai followed the battle between the Umira Kager clan and Wambui Otieno, the widow who sought to bury her husband in Matasia.

I thought, Hey, that looks really good, he remembered, noting how the emotional weight of the case deepened his fascination with the law.

Kaikai emphasized that his journalism career also played a pivotal role.

As journalists, we burn with the fire of justice and public interest.

The law gives you the shield and the spear. Alongside the pen, we can defend justice, he explained.

Kaikai was among 916 petitioners admitted to the bar at the Supreme Court in a ceremony led by Chief Justice Martha Koome on Thursday.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, November 21, 2025 - Kenyan socialite turned beauty entrepreneur, Huddah Monroe, has stirred conversation online after voicing her concern about women working night shifts, particularly as security guards.

Taking to Instagram, she wrote: Every time I see a female security guard at night breaks my heart!!

Hii kitu imenisumbua sana! All my friends know, I just hate it,

She went further to suggest that employers should rethink how duties are allocated in the security sector.

Let women work day time and let men do the night shift solely because of nurturing their children! she argued.

She painted a vivid picture of the daily routine for mothers, noting how they wake up early, prepare their children for school, and then head to work.

According to her, adding night shifts to this rhythm disrupts parenting and exposes women to unnecessary risks.

Not forgetting 80% of females in Kenya are single parents.

Their kids need them, she added in another post.

While the figure is not backed by official statistics, her sentiment resonated with many followers who feel society often overlooks the unique pressures faced by single mothers.

Her comments sparked mixed reactions, with a significant number of fans applauding her for addressing an issue they believe is rarely discussed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The National Agency for Tracing and Asset Management (ARMA) cannot find a manager for the house and four land plots of former Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaliy Zakharchenko due to the lack of interested participants, but has already begun collecting market offers to form conditions for the assets.

According to the head of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, the house, which was not put up for sale for a long time, was put up for sale in the Prozorro system to find a manager, but no one responded. According to information on the system portal, tender offers for the purchase of asset management services for four land plots and a residential building in Kyiv were expected by October 2, 2025, the expected cost was UAH 300,000, but the bidding did not take place.

"By law, until the moment of such an act, the responsibility for the preservation of property lies with the pre-trial investigation body or the prosecutor's office, and ARMA does not have physical access to the object," Sobolev explained to journalists at a meeting on Thursday.

He added that there was an attempt to hold such competitions in 2022, but then the winner was not chosen, and the previous management of the Agency later canceled them. Competitions for Zakharchenko's assets were resumed in the Prozorro system in September of this year, but the bidding did not take place again - there were no interested parties.

As for the current situation, ARMA is currently collecting market offers to form the conditions for these assets for further tendering. Three weeks ago, it was announced that preliminary market consultations and acceptance of commercial offers within the framework of the competitive selection of managers were held.

Sobolev noted that all competitions for the selection of managers are held exclusively through the Prozorro system, with clearly defined criteria for participants and requirements for their financial capacity.

As reported by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Vitaly Zakharchenko is a defendant in a number of criminal proceedings that the Bureau is investigating, many of these cases have already been transferred to court. In particular, he is charged with high treason (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); creation of a criminal organization and organization of serious crimes against participants of the Revolution of Dignity (Part 1 of Article 255, Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 365, Part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); legalization of proceeds from crime (Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Within the framework of these proceedings, SBI investigators found and seized the discovered property of the fugitive minister. The total value of the arrested person is UAH 1.4 billion. Work on the recovery of the remaining property continues. On October 24, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) satisfied the claim of the Ministry of Justice, filed based on the materials of the State Bureau of Investigation and seized six real estate objects, including two apartments in Kyiv, corporate rights and funds in bank accounts with a total value of UAH 400 million, to the state revenue.

Zakharchenko is the former head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine (2010-2011) and the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (2011-2014). After 2014, he received citizenship and is hiding in the Russian Federation, he is currently on the international wanted list.

According to People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak (Holos faction), the former Minister of Energy and former Minister of Justice Herman Galushchenko spent the night in Zakharchenko's house the night before the searches by the NABU and SAPO as part of Operation Midas, although he moved out in October 2025. Also nearby was seen former Energy Minister Svitlana Grinchuk, who was dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada on November 19.

"The house has been under arrest since 2021, and ARMA is officially taking care of it. Moreover, the arrest prohibits the use of the property. Nevertheless, the house has been standing without a manager for four years, and ARMA announced the first competition only in September and October 2025," Zheleznyak said on Facebook.
Ukraine is carefully studying every proposal from partners - Umerov after meeting with the American delegation

Photo: https://t.me/umerov_rustem

The Ukrainian side held a meeting with the American delegation, headed by the US Secretary of the Land Forces Daniel Driscoll.

"We continued the consultations that began yesterday at the level of the President of Ukraine. We talked about approaches to restoring a just peace, the order of the next steps and realistic formats for further dialogue," Umerov said on Telegram on Friday.

"Ukraine is carefully studying each proposal of partners and clearly articulates its own position," he said.

The Ukrainian side was represented by First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Yevhen Ostriansky, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of the NSDC Apparatus Anatoliy Barhylevych, and Deputy Head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky.

"There are no solutions outside the framework of sovereignty, people's security, and our red lines and there cannot be. This is the basis of any discussions," Umerov said.
A lofty new housing delivery target of 948 homes per year up to 2034 has been revealed by Kilkenny County Council in a bid to keep the county in line with the national targets outlined by the government as part of the recently revised National Planning Framework.

These new targets were revealed and explained to elected members during this weeks local authority plenary meeting by Acting Director of Services, Denis Malone.

Central to achieving this target will be the rezoning of strategic zoned lands, particularly in Kilkenny City.

READ NEXT: 'Common sense' solution outlined as Kilkenny area left stifled by poor water quality

Also of huge significance will be incorporating the new housing requirements into relevant development plans for strategic towns across the county.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, raised concerns about the smaller parishes across the county.

She expressed discontent in relation to perceived growth of Kilkenny City relative to smaller areas that dont have water [infrastructure].

Cllr Pat Dunphy was amongst those to agree and point out the role of Irish Water (since rebranded as Uisce Eireann) in the delivery of these new housing targets.

Implementation is the key to all this, he said, we need a plan for implementation.

Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick emphasised the need to both zone more land and the need for utility companies to line up.

READ NEXT: Big name to perform alongside local choir at upcoming Kilkenny concert

Cllr Sean O hArgain queried whether community and retail facilities have been factored into the new housing targets.

As a parent, this is really urgent, he said. My children, adult children, my grandchild, are part of a generation being left aside while were not delivering on a national level.

Cllr Maria Dollard criticised the lack of urgency from state organisations who sit on large banks to develop them and also asked about how local vacant and derelict properties could be factored into the targets.

Cllr Eugene McGuinness stated that achieving the new targets is infrastructure dependent and added that Irish Water are simply not doing it.

Responding, Mr Malone stated that the recently announced proposal whereby Irish Water would have to assume responsibility of EPA compliant private-led water infrastructure would assist.

Mr Malone also stated that activity is happening around the issue of derelict sites, and that activity has been ramped up in the last year.

READ NEXT: Exciting Christmas festivals scheduled to take place in Kilkenny this December

Cllr Michael Doyle and Cllr Tomas Breathnach subsequently raised their own concerns about a potential imbalance of development due to infrastructural constraints.

Cllr John Brennan cited a disconnect in terms of rural development.

A lot of villages need an upgrade in sewerage services, he said.

Cllr David Fitzgerald welcomed the facts that small towns and villages can proceed with developer-led infrastructure, describing it as a huge step forward but raised concerns about land for healthcare provision.

St Lukes Campus is rapidly reaching capacity, he said. Are you looking at lands outside the strategic reserve?

Cllr Deirdre Cullen cited the key role of one-off rural housing on family-owned land in her contribution and the absence of clear national guidelines on same.

In relation to private-led water infrastructure, Mr Malone stated that the devil will be in the detail, and on whats in the regulations.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny MEP hits out at 'double standards' that are 'clear for the world to see'

Cllr Jenny Catt Slattery stated that in Mullinavat 'the population is on the decrease whilst also still being way down the line (on the Irish Water priority list).

Many councillors raised the HSE Lacken Site in Kilkenny City as a potential site for housing delivery, and posed queries in relation to its future.

Mr Malone stated that the local authority is awaiting final correspondence from the HSE and is anticipating the publication of a draft site masterplan in early 2026.

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The budget for road repairs and safety works in Kilkenny needs to be known a hell of a lot sooner every year.

Thats the demand of local councillors who have agreed to write to the Minister for Transport with their request to speed up the funding process.

While Kilkenny County Council met this month to agree its budget for 2026, the final sum that the council and each municipal district will have to spend will not be known until February.

Discussing the progress of road repairs and safety schemes at the recent Callan Thomastown municipal district meeting, Cllr Deirdre Cullen pointed out that council crews are still trying to finish road projects, through no fault of their own, but because work cant start until several months into the year.

It seems to me absolutely ridiculous that, year on year, we are not told until February (what the final budget is), Cllr Cullen said.

The figure is made known to the council in February and a programme of works approved by councillors the following month.

Youre still finishing Low Cost Safety Schemes and its November. Its not a reflection on (Declan Murphy, area engineer) or the council crews. The work has to be done by the end of the year, Cllr Cullen added.

I propose we write to the minister and ask that the announcement of funding be made a hell of a lot sooner, so that Declan can get cracking straight after Christmas.



And if it cant be announced before February, ask why is it that we have to wait two months into the year?

It doesnt make any sense to me. Its ludicrous.

District chairman, Cllr Joe Lyons, agreed Cllr Cullen had a very good point and seconded her proposal to write to the minister.

The delay in knowing the budget does hinder works, he said.

Area engineer Mr Murphy said that: like anything, if we have more time we can be better prepared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump will hold a telephone conversation next week to discuss the US-proposed peace plan, Sky News reports, citing sources.

Before that, the Ukrainian president will consult on this issue with the leaders of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany.

It is noted that this plan is likely to meet resistance from Europe: according to sources, the proposal was sharply criticized during yesterday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Particularly sharp objections were voiced by Poland, Italy, France, Lithuania and Germany.

EU sources also confirmed that the announcement of the US briefing for EU ambassadors in Kyiv will take place today around noon.
Agents of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police have handed over to the Republic of Lithuania a Russian serviceman suspected of war crimes, the SBU has said. .

"According to the case materials, the defendant tortured prisoners, and among the victims of his actions was a Lithuanian citizen who was engaged in volunteering in Ukraine. The extradition took place based on the materials of a joint investigation of the Security Service, the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police," the SBU said on Telegram on Friday.

According to the materials of the proceedings, the detained occupier is a citizen of the aggressor country, Margen Gadzhimagomedov, an inspector of the military police of the 177th separate marine regiment of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Federation. According to the case materials, he tortured prisoners who were in a prison set up by the enemy on the territory of the temporarily occupied airfield in Melitopol, Zaporizhia.

Among the victims of his actions was a volunteer from Lithuania who had been assisting the Ukrainian Defense Forces since the first days of the full-scale war.

"As the investigation established, various tortures were applied to the prisoners in the barracks: they were kept in safes, strangled to unconsciousness, hung by tied hands, doused with cold water in the cold and tortured with electricity," the report states.

Ukrainian defenders captured the occupier during battles in the Robotyne area in August 2024.

Based on materials from SBU investigators and foreign partners, the Vilnius City Court recognized the defendant as a suspect in violation of the Geneva Conventions, laws and customs of war in accordance with Articles 100 and 103 (Part 1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania.

At the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania, in late October, Ukraine carried out the extradition procedure for the suspect to bring him to justice.

"This is the first time since the start of a full-scale war that our state has extradited a detained Russian serviceman to another foreign state," said Brigadier General Serhiy Naumyuk, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine.

Deputy Prosecutor General of Lithuania Gintas Ivanauskas thanked his colleagues from the Security Service of Ukraine for their significant contribution to this investigation.

"According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania, war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war committed through torture and unlawful deprivation of liberty are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 to 20 years or life imprisonment. Therefore, I would like to thank my colleagues from the Security Service of Ukraine for their significant contribution to this investigation," the SBU said.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

The largest Danish manufacturer of defense and aerospace products, Terma A/S, has begun testing its solutions for detecting enemy drones, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said.

"Engineers are now integrating this technology with the Ukrainian Gorska interceptor developed by Odd Systems, to detect Russian targets at even greater distances," Fedorov wrote on his Telegram channel on Friday.

According to him, the Brave1 cluster provided the necessary testing and feedback from the military.

Fedorov clarified that the next stage of testing is planned after taking the militarys comments into account.

As reported in September this year, Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO of the Danish company Terma A/S, announced the opening of a representative office in Ukraine during a meeting at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. During the negotiations, the parties focused on key areas of cooperation, in particular: the experience and prospects of integrating Terma A/S equipment into the existing fleet of aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, improving aviation systems and detection, warning, and countermeasure capabilities using the Danish companys solutions. In addition, Terma A/S leadership was invited to consider participating in promising projects in Ukraines military and civil aircraft manufacturing sectors.
Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/

The Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces Command has denied information about the enemy surrounding certain units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Hulyaipole axis and about the alleged presence of so-called "barrier detachments." This information is not true and is openly aimed at discrediting the military command, the Command said.

"The situation in the Hulyaipolia direction is quite tense. The enemy does not reduce the fire impact on our positions, in particular, over the past day there have been 10 combat clashes near the settlements of Yablukove and Rivnopillia," the Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces said in a message on its Telegram channel on Friday.

At this time, information is being spread on social networks that "certain units are surrounded by the enemy. As well as about the alleged presence of barrage detachments that block our units and prevent them from retreating. This information is not true and is openly aimed at discrediting the military command," the message says.

According to the Southern Defense Forces,"the situation in this direction is indeed difficult, but communication is maintained with our fighters, logistics are established, and the wounded are being evacuated. At the same time, our units fighting in this direction are being reinforced by assault units. The command is fully aware of the situation in the direction and is taking all necessary measures to improve the tactical position of our troops."

"We call on the media and the public to trust only verified information and not be influenced by dubious sources that knowingly or unknowingly play into the enemys hands," the message says.
The Madison Street parking garage in downtown Jefferson City is set to close and be demolished.

According to a news release from the city, the Jefferson City Council approved a $2.1 million demolition contract for the parking garage earlier this week.

The city said multiple engineering reviews since 2023 confirmed that the structure has reached the end of its life.

The parking garage will close on Monday, Dec. 29.

While the structure is being demolished, more than 900 on-street spaces and off-street lots will remain available for drivers.

Drivers can find available parking spaces on the city's online parking map.

"This is a big transition, but it's necessary for safety and opens the door for an improved future," Jefferson City said in a Facebook post.

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According to the city's website, the demolition is anticipated to be completed by May 2026.

Structural issues

Jefferson City officials close levels of Madison Street garage over safety concerns Jefferson City officials have closed parts of the Madison Street parking garage after an inspection revealed severe deterioration.

Parts of the parking garage were closed in October this year after an inspection found severe and rapid deterioration, according to previous KOMU 8 reporting.

The inspection revealed severe deterioration to decking, ramps and supporting columns.

The Madison Street garage is set to be replaced as a part of a project to build a convention center only blocks away from the Capitol. Construction on that project is set to start in April 2026.

Jefferson City holds discussion about parking issues Consultants outlined parking plans for Jefferson City in a meeting that coincided with the closure of a garage due to deterioration.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. High 27F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around 15F. Winds light and variable.
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2025/11/21

Ukrainian MP and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko considers the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to impose sanctions against him due to the involvement of NSDC members in corruption deals to be illegal, the EuroSolidarity website reported.

During a meeting of the Board of Judges of the Cassation Administrative Court of the Supreme Court, where his lawsuit to lift the sanctions is being considered, Poroshenko stressed that the authorities used the NSDC as a tool for political repression against the opposition, and emphasized that the sanctions were adopted in a hurry, without proper documents, some of which were submitted retroactively, and others were falsified.

Poroshenko's lawyers emphasize that the authorities did not provide explanations for the urgency of imposing sanctions, and the president's representatives acknowledged making "technical amendments" to the already signed decree.

As reported by lawyer Ilya Novikov, the documents do not explain why sanctions were urgently imposed against the leader of Eurosolidarity within a few hours, the lawyer called some of the documents provided by the defendants falsified. Representatives of the authorities in the closed part of the court session stated that the sanctions against Poroshenko were imposed for educational purposes. The Supreme Court continues to consider Poroshenko's lawsuit to cancel Zelenskyy's decree on sanctions. Representatives of diplomatic missions, journalists and people's deputies are present at the session. Earlier, the court examined documents marked "for official use" and heard the arguments of the parties.
The Seoul Central District Court held its first hearing on November 21 in a damages lawsuit brought by cosmetics brand 'A' against South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun over an alleged breach of contract.

The company has dramatically escalated its initial demands, now seeking 2.86 billion Korean won, approximately $1.95 million, in total compensation.

The advertising model contract between Kim Soo-Hyun and brand 'A' was originally set to expire in August 2025. However, the cosmetics company terminated the agreement prematurely in March, citing serious concerns that prevented fulfillment of the advertising contract. This termination followed months of controversy surrounding Kim Soo-Hyun after allegations emerged in February that he had dated actress Kim Sae-Ron when she was still a minor.

In its legal filing, cosmetics brand 'A' claims Kim Soo-Hyun failed to maintain a respectful public image as required by the contract and suffered significant financial damages as a result. The company justified the increased damages demand by pointing to contract provisions stating that in cases of breach, the responsible party must pay double the modeling fee, in addition to other penalties and actual damages incurred.

Kim Soo-Hyun's legal team firmly contested these claims during the hearing. His representatives argued that no contractual clause explicitly obligated the actor to maintain a particular public image and, therefore, no breach of contract occurred. They further disputed the underlying allegations, stating that Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae-Ron dated only after she became an adult, rejecting claims they had a relationship while she was a minor. The defense contended that without evidence of a contractual breach, the actor bears no liability for the demanded damages.

The cosmetics brand's decision to terminate reflected broader industry fallout, as multiple companies moved to end their agreements with Kim Soo-Hyun following the scandal. Beyond brand 'A', various other advertisers and endorsement partners initiated separate damages claims totaling approximately 7.3 billion won, roughly $5 million, against the actor.

The next hearing in this case has been scheduled for March 13, 2026, where both parties will continue presenting their legal arguments regarding the scope of damages and contractual obligations.
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Frontline in Ukraine is starting point for understanding - statement of European leaders after conversation with Zelenskyy

Photo: Anadolu Agency

The front line in Ukraine is a starting point for understanding, the Ukrainian Defense Forces must remain capable of defending Ukraines sovereignty, said a statement by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"They (leaders - IF-U) agreed to continue to pursue the goal of long-term protection of the vital interests of Europe and Ukraine. Among other things, this means that the contact line is a starting point for understanding and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain capable of effectively defending Ukraines sovereignty," the statement, which was published on the German Chancellors website, said.

Also during the conversation, the leaders assured Ukraine of their unwavering and full support on the path to a lasting and just peace.

"The four heads of state and government welcomed the efforts of the United States to end the war in Ukraine. In particular, they welcomed the recognition of Ukraines sovereignty and the readiness to provide Ukraine with reliable security guarantees," the statement said.

The leaders agreed to closely coordinate among themselves, with other European partners, and with the United States.

In addition, following the conversation, they agreed "that any agreement involving European states, the European Union, or NATO requires the consent of European partners or a consensus of allies."
Zelenskyy, after his talk with European leaders: Were working on document prepared by USA; it should be plan that will ensure real, dignified peace

Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the US and Russias plan to end the war in Ukraine with European leaders.

We discussed the plan for peace for Ukraine and all of Europe. We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war. We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace, he wrote after his conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

We are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account. We coordinated the next steps and agreed that our teams will work together at the corresponding levels, he added.

It was earlier reported that Merz cancelled his Friday plans to hold an urgent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders regarding the US-Russia plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy after meeting with Sybiha: Now we hold hourly meetings, calls and work on things that can change a lot

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and the diplomatic team.

We are working to ensure that Ukraines national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners. Right now, there are meetings, calls, and work on the points practically every hour  provisions that can change a lot, Zelenskyy said on X Friday.

He noted the importance of ensuring that the outcome is a dignified peace.
Michael McAleer

The former boyfriend of Longford woman Sarah McNally has been sentenced by a New York court to 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing her in March last year.

Marcin Pieciak (37) cornered the victim while she worked at The Ceili House, a since-closed Irish bar in the Queens neighbourhood of New York city. He fatally attacked her, then slit his own throat.

According to the charges, on March 30th, 2024, at approximately 6:30pm, Pieciak arrived at the Ceili House Bar at 69-56 Grand Avenue in Maspeth, Queens.

The defendant approached 41-year-old Sarah McNally as she worked, went behind the bar and stabbed her 19 times in the neck, back and chest causing fatal injuries to her carotid artery and severing her spine.

Pieciak then cut his own throat several times with a second knife and attempted to run from the bar. A patron intervened and stopped the defendant from fleeing the scene.

When police arrived, Pieciak exited the premises with two knives and brandished the weapons toward the officers. Police safely disarmed him and recovered the knives.

Pieciak of 76th Street in Glendale, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of the indictment against him. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant sentenced the defendant today to 24 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

In a press statement, Queens District Attorney Katz said: Marcin Pieciak mercilessly stabbed his girlfriend 19 times at her place of work. This violent and unprovoked attack took Sarah McNallys life and left her family, friends and colleagues devastated on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. We hope that todays sentence provides some measure of comfort as Ms McNallys loved ones continue to grieve her senseless loss.

McNally had been living in New York for about 10 years at the time of her death.
  3rd Global Invitation Revelation Seminar concludes successfully - largest scale ever

 Religious leaders speak with one voice: Revelation is a power that brings peace

 Praise, prayer and discussion over 4 days fostered real understanding and harmony Chairman Lee Man Hee: Let us uphold the values of truth and peace as religious leaders This was my first time experiencing such free and warm interaction. I felt true peace in the truth. This is the testimony of a religious leader who attended the 3rd Global Invitation Revelation Seminar. The seminar has grown into a hub where religious leaders come together in unity.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Chairman Lee Man hee; hereafter Shincheonji Church), announced on the 5th that it successfully concluded the 3rd Global Invitation Revelation Seminar, which was held for four days and three nights beginning 30 October.

The Global Invitation Revelation Seminar is an international exchange programme that explores interreligious dialogue and peace by focusing on the prophecies and fulfilment recorded in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. Since the first class launched on 1 February 2024, the number of participating countries and faith groups has expanded each term, establishing the seminar as a platform for dialogue among world religious leaders.

The 3rd seminar was held under the theme, The Path of Understanding Led by Scripture, the Path of Peace Walked by Religions Together, and brought together over 1000 attendees, including 440 religious leaders from 59 countries - the largest scale to date.

Affirming the potential for interreligious harmony through the Book of Revelation, the seminar concluded on 1 November at the Goseong Peace Training Centre, with more than 440 religious leaders declaring unity.

Religions United through the Book of Revelation Religious leaders who participated said in unison that the truth taught by Shincheonji Church has power.

Venerable Yullyeoseongwon of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, attending the seminar for the first time, said, I believe the reason Shincheonji continues to grow and flourish is the power of its teachings. This was a time that confirmed that these teachings are a path beyond religious boundaries towards the unity of humanity. Leaders of various traditions - Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism and others - studied the prophecies and fulfilment of Revelation together, discovering similarities among scriptures and common messages of peace.

Praise for the seminar continued among pastors and leaders of other religions. Mohammed Usman, an Islamic leader from Eswatini, said, Shincheonji Church has a perfect curriculum that delivers peace and truth. The high level of satisfaction also appeared in the enthusiasm for scripture study. In the World Religious Leaders Revelation Quiz Competition held at the end of the seminar, 317 participants from 60 countries competed, and 154 achieved perfect scores. A total of 125 participants, 42 domestic and 83 overseas, who completed seven weeks of education and assessments, including the Global Seminar, were appointed as Honorary Bible Teachers.

Crying, Laughing, Praising, Discussing - Harmony Once Again In addition to the Revelation lectures, this seminar also featured:

 A united prayer meeting for global peace

 The Way to Heaven (Bible OX Quiz)

 Time Travel into the Bible, a theatrical programme experiencing the heart of the biblical shepherd

 A Round Table promoting peace culture Religious leaders said they cried, laughed and shared deep empathy and harmony through these exchanges.

One Buddhist head monk said, They are doing things unimaginable in Buddhism. Seeing a monk in robes teaching the Bible and Shincheonji members discussing Buddhism was eye opening. I learned so much. A Presbyterian pastor commented, Through cultural exchange, we shared understanding and values of faith across religions, and I see hope that we can become one. From Inspiration to Action - Peace Put into Practice At the closing ceremony of the seminar held on 1 November at the Goseong Peace Training Centre, participants also shared peace initiatives that emerged in their home countries after attending the 2nd seminar.

Venerable Sok Bunthuen, Director of the Department of Higher Buddhist Education under Cambodias Ministry of Cult and Religion, explained that he continued interreligious exchange by holding an invited Revelation lecture at a Buddhist temple in Cambodia. Last year, 110 religious leaders participated; this year, the event grew into a large gathering with 850 attendees, including religious and community leaders.

Venerable Sok Bunthuen added, At this event, 215 people signed the Religious Peace Pledge and committed to continued participation in future exchange programmes. It was a historic moment where religious and social leaders chose practical peace. Based on these achievements, he plans to host a Religious Peace Education Camp in January next year to further expand peace cooperation.

All religious leaders participating in the 3rd seminar read a resolution pledging, We will fulfil the mission of delivering peace and truth and guide humanity on the path of salvation, reaffirming their commitment to peace in action.

A Shincheonji Church official stated, This seminar confirmed that the Bible is not the scripture of a single religion but contains universal truth for humanity. It served as an opportunity to understand each others faiths through the Word and restore the religious mission of peace and harmony. Chairman Lee Man hee emphasised, We must reflect on the past, when criticism distanced us from Gods will, and be reborn as spiritual leaders who uphold the original values of spreading truth and achieving peace. Through dialogue and communication, let us achieve peace - the hope of God and our own hope. Meanwhile, the first seminar held in February 2024 drew more than 80 religious leaders from 10 faith groups across 28 countries, including Korea. The second seminar last year was completed by over 270 religious leaders from 57 countries.
Explosion in one of Odesa TCK kills one person  police

An explosion occurred in one of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCK) in Odesa. One person was killed and another was injured, according to preliminary reports from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region.

"Police are working at the site of an explosion at one of the TCK and in Odesa. Preliminary reports indicate one person has been killed and another injured," the website reported on Friday.

Emergency services are working at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

"Details will be released later," police added.
Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Kevin R. Mriss, right, and Whitehall Township police Chief Michael J. Marks both received the Col. John K. Schafer Memorial Photo courtesy of Lehigh County District Attorney's Office

A Lehigh County homicide detective and a Whitehall Township police chief received prestigious memorial awards recognizing their exemplary service to law enforcement at a ceremony Tuesday night at DeSales University.

Detective Kevin R. Mriss of the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and Whitehall Police Chief Michael J. Marks were both honored with the Col. John K. Schafer Memorial Award. Marks received the 38th annual award for 2024, while Mriss was named the 39th annual winner for 2025.

The Schafer Award honors the memory of a former Pennsylvania State Police commissioner who served 23 years with the state police, including time with Troop M-Bethlehem. Schafer rose through the ranks to be appointed commissioner by Gov. Robert Casey in 1987, but his tenure was cut short when he died from cancer later that year. The award given in his name recognizes exemplary service to law enforcement.

Mriss, a Lehighton High School graduate, joined Allentown Police in 1997 and worked in the patrol and juvenile divisions before becoming a detective, earning several awards for his service. He joined the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office in 2017, where he has investigated numerous homicides and other high-profile cases as part of the Homicide Task Force.

Marks joined Whitehall Police in 2000 and advanced through the ranks, receiving commendations for meritorious service and lifesaving efforts. He was named Whitehall Police Association Leader of the Year in 2014 and became police chief in 2016.

The ceremony, held by the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police and the Officer David M. Petzold Foundation, also recognized Whitehall Police Sgt. Joseph Remmel as Officer of the Year and Dr. Benjamin Iobst with the Officer David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation Beyond the Badge Award. Iobst is a retired Allentown Police sergeant who currently serves as an officer with Fountain Hill Police.

Officers from Whitehall, Upper Saucon, Upper Macungie, South Whitehall, Salisbury, Fountain Hill, and Emmaus police departments were also recognized, along with Pennsylvania State Police officers.

Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on information provided by the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.
Workers inside the processing plant at Jaindl Turkey Farm in Orefield. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com

Two Pennsylvania state senators will help distribute 200 free turkeys to families in need Friday afternoon at an Allentown cathedral, just in time for Thanksgiving.

State Sens. Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller will hand out the turkeys starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, 1825 W. Turner St., Allentown.

The Diocese of Allentown is coordinating the event.

Jaindl Farms of Orefield donated the turkeys for the giveaway.

Families will also receive bags of food items from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown.

We are blessed with the support of Senators Coleman and Miller and the generosity of Jaindl Farms to make this food distribution possible, Bishop Alfred A. Schlert said. May God shine His light on all those in need of food, and on all those who help make this timely distribution possible.

Coleman represents Pennsylvanias 16th Senatorial District and Miller represents Pennsylvanias 14th Senatorial District.

The distribution will continue until all turkeys have been claimed.

Generative AI was used to draft this story based on information provided by the Diocese of Allentown. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.
The SS United States is towed down the Delaware River, enroute to Okaloosa County, Florida in Gloucester City, NJ on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

Officials in Florida have pinpointed where they will sink a famous ocean liner that spent nearly three decades docked in Philadelphia.

Okaloosa County officials announced Tuesday that the historic liner will be scuttled off the Gulf Coast early next year, creating the worlds largest artificial reef.

After being towed south earlier this year, the SS United States now awaits its final voyage.

For years, the ship was the subject of repeated failed restoration efforts while docked indefinitely at the Camden Waterfront.

With a court order pressuring stewards to relocate the ship, it was sold to the Florida county and later taken to Mobile, Alabama.

The ocean liners February departure created a spectacle, luring thousands to the shores of the Delaware River to watch the ship pass by.

A sinking date was not announced in Okaloosa Countys latest update on the project. Originally, officials expected to scuttle the ocean liner by the end of the year.

County officials said it will be sunk about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin East Pass and 32 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.

The SS United States remains docked in Alabama as workers prepare it for deployment. Okaloosa County purchased the ship last year for about $1 million, part of a roughly $10 million project.

The project includes $1.5 million in contributions from Pensacola tourism officials and Floridas chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA).

Visit Pensacola, a marketing organization for Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, is contributing $1 million, while the CCA provides the remaining $500,000, Okaloosa officials said.

This collaboration will foster amazing adventures for generations of visitors and create a tourism economy that will benefit the state and the entire Northwest Florida region, Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon said in a statement.

The contributions will be used for the deployment of the SS United States as an artificial reef, with a portion being used for a multi-year marketing campaign to promote the SS United States as a worldwide premier diving destination, he added.

A land-based museum is being planned for tourists who want to experience the ship without donning heavy diving gear.
The Dunamaise Arts Centre urgently requires full modernisation which could cost around 220,000, a Laois TD has said.

Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird raised the issue in a parliamentary question to Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick ODonovan on Thursday, November 20.

For 25 years the Dunamaise Arts Centre has provided a home for drama, music, film, community groups, festivals and the visual arts in my region. It has supported both professional and amateur artists. It has built a reputation for excellence. The centre has vibrant, energetic and ambitious plans and is ready to expand and strengthen its role as the cultural heart of the county, Dep Aird told Minister ODonovan.

However, the centre urgently requires renewed investment. Its technical and production infrastructure is now significantly outdated. Essential systems have reached the end of their lifespan, including lighting and power distribution, control desks and production computers. Much of the lighting is based on older, unsustainable technology soon to be phased out under EU regulations. Dunamaise Arts Centre needs full modernisation. The estimated cost is approximately 220,000 and this is not outrageous. Without this investment, the ability of the centre to safely and professionally host performances will be compromised, Dep Aird stated.

He asked the Minister how much funding had been allocated to the Dunamaise Arts Centre in the past five years, what funding was planned for the centre in the coming years and what funding streams are available.

Minister ODonovan said: The centre in Portlaoise referred to by the Deputy has been awarded capital funding of over 340,000 under various schemes from my Department since 2006. Within the past five years, it availed of funding to the value of 9,996 under stream D of the cultural capital scheme, a scheme which was set up in direct response to Covid-19 to assist organisations with re-opening safely.

He said I understand the organisation in question is in receipt of annual funding from the Arts Council and was awarded 125,000 in 2024 and 145,000 in 2025.

Minister ODonovan explained that his Department has a capital funding scheme focused on enhancing existing arts and culture centres which provides grants of up to 50,000. I believe the organisation in question is aware of this scheme and had been in the process of submitting an application in September of this year but has put it on hold and expects to resubmit the full application in due course. The Department would welcome this application as soon as the applicant is in a position to submit it.

READ ALSO: Your guide to the Laois Christmas markets

Dep Aird said the Dunamaise Arts Centre can serve its community for the next 25 years as it has for the past 25. I acknowledge the exceptional work of the team there including Ciara O'Connell, the CEO, Nick Antonm the technical manager and all the front-of-house, administrative and technical staff. This commitment has kept a vital cultural space alive through significant challenges. I encourage the people of Laois and all surrounding counties to continue supporting the centre.
In a chance encounter, a Laois library user has reunited a missing book with its library.

A Portlaoise library user was enjoying her holiday in sunny Spain, when she came across a copy of 'The Happy Couple' by Naoise Dolan.

While skimming through the book, the Laois local noticed that there was a property notice inside the cover: this novel belonged to Enniscorthy library!

The Laois woman brought the book home with her from Spain, intending to return it to its rightful owners.

Portlaoise library worker Aoife Kaye accepted the book from the local lady, and told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the tale.

Pictured: the book and note from Portlaoise library to Enniscorthy library. Photo: Enniscorthy Library

"A lady came into the library one morning late October to return her own books, and mentioned that she found a book when she was on holiday in Spain," Ms Kaye explained.

"Thankfully with our national intercounty delivery service, we sent the book back to Wexford libraries. We thought it was very funny that the book was found abroad and wanted to let Wexford know!" she said.

Enniscorthy library was delighted to see the return of the book.

"We had a little surprise in this week's delivery as we discovered one of our library books had taken a little holiday abroad!" they said.

"This adventurous book was discovered in Spain and returned by a kind patron to our lovely colleagues in Laois Libraries, having completed an unexpected round trip across Europe.

We're so grateful to everyone who helped this literary explorer find its way back to our shelves! And if you ever find a library book while abroad, remember - they're always welcome home," the library finished.

This is not the only unusual experience that Portlaoise library has had- in May of 2023, a book was returned by a library user after 47 years. Thankfully, return fines have been abolished! Read more on the story here.
Construction firm Kilsaran has opened a new precast production facility in Arthurstown, close to Kill in Co Kildare.

The new facility marks a significant move to address Irelands growing need for residential units and represents Kilsarans continued commitment to building for the future. It is the largest twin wall precast plant ever commissioned in Ireland, significantly boosting Kilsarans capacity to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes more efficiently nationwide.

Since its establishment in 2021, Kilsaran Precast has become a leading supplier of structural precast concrete products in Ireland and the UK, serving sectors including residential, hospitality, life sciences, and education.

The Arthurstown facility joins existing operations in Oranmore, Galway, and Brownstown, Kildare, further strengthening the companys full-service offering - from design and manufacture to installation.

Speaking at the facility, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland, James Browne, said:

READ NEXT; Well known building in Kildare could be transformed.

As part of our new housing action plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities, I want to see a doubling of current construction output, and this demands strong industry leadership and innovation. We have to boost skills and embrace Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), which brings proven benefits to both public and private sector projects. MMC use includes reductions in delivery timeframes of up to 40%, greater cost certainty, and fewer changes during construction. This is essential.

By ensuring homes are built with enhanced speed, quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, MMC is the key enabler for accelerated housing building across Ireland.

Companies like Kilsaran are vital partners in this national effort. Their new Precast facility in Arthurstown here in Kildare represents the type of strategic investment and forward-thinking required to provide housing at the scale and pace Ireland needs.

David & Derry McKeown, Co-CEOs of Kilsaran commented:

Kilsaran Precast has developed a unique and highly efficient system for apartment construction, focusing on speed, quality, and durability. With the Arthurstown plant, we expect to increase our output to nearly 4,000 apartment units per year - directly supporting Irelands housing targets.

At our Brownstown facility, we installed 2,000 solar PV panels earlier this year, cutting our grid electricity use by 21%. We plan to replicate that success in Arthurstown as part of our ongoing sustainability strategy.

Kilsaran is a family-owned and Irish run business, celebrating 61 years in operation. They mine raw materials from their own quarries and manufacture end products at their various manufacturing plants across Ireland and the UK. The business now operates out of 30 locations in Ireland and one in the UK.
Soldiers from the Prymary special forces unit of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine inflicted further serious losses on the Russian occupation army in Crimea, the press service of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense reported.

"As a result of the operation on the temporarily occupied peninsula, an enemy Ka-27 naval multi-role helicopter, a Lira-A10 airfield radar system, a 55Zh6U Nebo-U radar, a Nebo-SV dome-mounted radar, and a P-18 Terek radar were successfully destroyed," the Telegram channel reported.
With Christmas just a month away, Leitrims only animal shelter, the Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre, has issued an informational alert for anyone considering getting a puppy as a Christmas present.

While a puppy may seem like a wonderful gift, the shelter is warning the public about important things to watch out for, the ethical concerns involved, and what you should do if you are planning to buy a dog as a Christmas present.

They cautioned that although puppy ads online may appear picture-perfect, those pictures show the puppies that get to leave. They dont show the parent dogs still left behind, breeding litter after litter so humans can make easy money. Pretty photos do not equal ethical conditions, the shelter said in a post on Facebook.

The shelter also highlighted that thousands of dogs are already sitting in rescues and pounds, which often experience an influx of surrendered Christmas puppies in the new year.

They shared advice on how to distinguish an ethical breeder from an unethical one.

READ NEXT: Pedestrian crossing and safety works confirmed for busy street in North Leitrim

Ethical breeders do not breed mixed-breed designer dogs, no cockapoos, cavapoos, labradoodles, pomskies, or any deliberate mixed litters.

Ethical breeders do not breed in kennels. Their dogs live in the home, as genuine family members, not in sheds or concrete runs, the post continued.

The shelter further explained that ethical breeders health-test both parent dogs, including hips, elbows, genetics, eyes, and temperament.

If choosing to buy from a breeder, Leitrim Animal Welfare advises asking for registration numbers and walking away if anything feels off.

Transparency is the bare minimum. And heres the reality: When people stop buying from these breeders, the profit dries up. No profit means no incentive to keep producing litters, they explained.

READ NEXT: Funding available for communities in Leitrim to improve local water quality

Urging people to adopt rather than shop, they outlined the benefits of adoption: the rescue knows the dog, understands its needs, can match it to the right home, and will take the dog back if necessary.

Please think carefully this Christmas, a puppy is not a present, its a lifetime commitment, the post urged.

Give puppies in Ireland the best gift this Christmas: choose not to buy. It doesnt just affect one litter, it impacts every future litter that wont be bred when the profit disappears. Real change starts with one decision, they concluded.
The state must function, political games must end, the parliament of a warring country must work together, and the government must be effective, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I am now addressing all Ukrainians. Our people, citizens, politicianseveryone. We need to pull ourselves together. Come to our senses. Stop the squabbles. Stop the political games. The state must function. The parliament of a country at war must work together. The government of a country at war must work effectively. And all of us together must not forget or confuse who exactly is Ukraines enemy today," he said in an address to the Ukrainian people on Friday.

The President, addressing Ukrainians, added that during this time, there will be a great deal of political and informational pressure aimed at weakening and dividing us.

"The enemy is awake and will do everything to prevent us from succeeding. Will we let them do this to you? We have no right to do so. And we will succeed," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Pope Leo XIV received a group of Ukrainian children brought home as part of the presidential program Bring Kids Back UA, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk announced on Telegram on Friday.

"We sincerely thanked His Holiness for feeling the pain of our wounds and hearing our pleas for help. For his daily humanitarian efforts that help Ukrainian families be reunited," she wrote.

According to her, the delegation appealed to the Pope with a request "for further support from the Holy See  in the return of our children, in the release of prisoners, so that every Ukrainian, torn from home by war, can once again embrace their loved ones."

"At the end, we prayed together with the Holy Father. It was a very sincere prayerfor life, for children, for peace," she added.
These revenues would not have been earned had China Union shut down, he said, describing Senator Moyes criticism of Srimexs profit-making as bewildering.
(From left) Former Acting Director General and Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance of the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE), Varlee Sarnor and others at the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE) during his turnover ceremony.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/dshmyhal

Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas.

"We discussed strengthening cooperation in the defense industry. We identified promising areas: joint production of naval drones, radars, and anti-personnel mines. I also outlined critical needs for strengthening the military: FPV, interceptor drones, and deep-strike," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram following the meeting.

He also thanked the Lithuanian government and people for their unwavering support for Ukraine since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion.

"We appreciate Lithuania's allocation of 0.25% of GDP to strengthen our defense capabilities, its active participation in coalitions and programs, especially PURL and SAFE, and its provision of funds for the purchase of Patriot air defense systems. I am grateful for the preparation of a new military aid package, which will include critical weapons," Shmyhal emphasized.
Africa, so close to Europe, is an invaluable source of industrial, strategic, and precious raw materials for the latter. Therefore, any disruption or shortfall in the supply chain linking them poses a risk to the security of supply for a large number of industries on this side of the Mediterranean. We must therefore keep a very close eye on any disruption or bottleneck in the African supply chain.
MAYOR John Moran has called for fees paid by residents across Limerick for parking to be hiked from 6.50 a year to 50 every 12 months.

At present, people who own a vehicle in the metropolitan area, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West and Kilmallock can apply for a parking permit and pay the set fee to park in the street they live, and one adjoining street.

However, speaking at this Friday's annual local authority budget meeting, the mayor said the "well has run dry" in terms of local finances.

READ MORE: More than 1,000 babies and young mothers remembered in Limerick ceremony

And he believes increasing this charge is a way of plugging a significant gap in the coffers. In his opening statement to councillors ahead of an adjournement until 1.30pm this afternoon, he issued a stark warning over the funds available to the local authority.

At 1:30pm this Friday, a further hour was added to the adjournment, as talks to get the budget across the line continued. Councillors were expected to reconvene at 2:30pm instead.

Confirming he has asked council officials to review the change to the parking charge, Mayor Moran added: "I would like them to use this review to see if we can introduce greater flexibility in the range of streets where people can park. Even raising that annual charge to 50 or just under one euro a week, would raise 50,000 of valuable income every year."

Elsewhere, Mayor Moran is proposing to row back on plans for an across-the-board commercial rate rise of 6%.

The rate is a charge paid by business owners based on the size of the property that operate on.

"I am very conscious of the pain that even this level of increase will cause to businesses right across the county, many of whom are struggling to survive and certainly do not propose it lightly. I do, however, believe that businesses too understand all too well that they too benefit when our streets are regularly cleaned, when we can afford to support events like All we Have are Days, Riverfest, Twilight Thursdays and Christmas Festivities and work to provide more housing for their employees," he said.

The mayor proposed an amendment to his budget, where a 6% rise was proposed, which would see smaller firms across the city avoid a 6% rate increase.

It would see rates increases capped at 2% for small companies.

Elsewhere, Mayor Moran wants to see funds from the hedge cutting grant scheme re-allocated to the maintenance of burial plots.

The changes would be funded by a cut in the relief given to owners of vacant properties.

"I think we all agree that finding ways to encourage owners to put vacant properties into active use is welcome," he said.

The first citizen had previously cautioned over a budget deficit of 8m ahead of this Friday's meeting.

In part, this is due to a need to begin repaying a loan to the European Investment Bank, of around 1m per year.

He said while this repayment is included in Budget 2026, regular repayments from the local authority estimates are "out of the question".

Instead, he wants to borrow more money from the Government into the future on acceptable terms in order to make scheduled repayments on the initial loan.

In terms of housing, he says there is a need to "do better", particularly in the case of homes returning to the local authority housing stock when people no longer need them.

"I have learned that the speed at which we have prepared those homes for re-occupation has not kept up with the number of homes returning to us. This has meant that at the beginning of 2024 and again in 2025, between 140 and 150 homes which could become homes are not being refurbished for lack of 4m of so of funds to fix them up. By contrast, we are spending some 200 per night per person or some 10m to provide emergency shelter to some 150 people without a home. While we could take false comfort from the fact that national government provides 90% of this cost as a grant, council's budget still bears the brunt of 1m or so each year."

He added: "We cannot in all conscience leave these houses empty where a spend of 40,000 or so on average could bring them immediately back to use as homes. Remember, building just one new home could cost a sum ten times that amount.."

To this end, Mayor Moran proposed 3.2m of council's remaining available reserves are put towards the annual programme of retrofitting homes.

"This would increase the number coming back into service from 70 homes to 100," he said.

Mayor Moran said he wants to keep 1m of priority funding from the sale of council assets to support children aged zero to four years in King's Island, an area he described as one which has the "most deprivation".

"In a year of particularly scarce resources it would have been an easy option to defer this project. But that would not be right. I am however realistic too. By focusing mainly on one of our areas of most deprivation  Kings Island  I believe we can maximise the impact of our resources. I am using mayoral funds to match financial help from the HSE to collectively provide 500,000 to drive forward practical change for all children aged 0-4 suffering from deprivation, starting on Kings Island," he confirmed.

He warned councillors that tougher choices may need to be made next year, unless more support for Limerick City and County Council comes from Dublin.

"We can no longer ignore serious structural problems which have been building up for years in our budget. Unless we find ways to make things change for the better, for example convincing national government that it can no longer continue to underfund local government, even if we find ways to achieve a balancde budget today, we will be faced with even more stark choices for 2027," said Mayor Moran.

Even passing the budget this Friday, the mayor said, will not fix the problems.

"It is, and I will be honest, as I should be honest, only buy us time to make the real changes we need or we will be back here again next year with even worse decisions to make," he said

Reacting to his opening remarks, Cllr John Sheahan proposed that the budget meeting be adjourned for one hour to discuss his proposals.

There is a lot to be digested in this. It comes against the backdrop of what was being touted as an austerity bailout budget with words like default and things like that used in it. Those words have not been used in Ireland since the time the Troika were here."
THE OWNER of a thatched house in Kilcornan, which is over 300 years old, vows that as long as hes around it wont be replaced by a regular roof.

Cllr Ger Wards great-great-grandfather married into the Dillon family in 1837 and the house has remained in the family ever since. The property actually dates back to the 1700s which means it must be one of the oldest houses in County Limerick to still be lived in today.

READ NEXT: 'We're overwhelmed': Tens of thousands pour in to aid Limerick boys battle with cancer

There are 2,700 thatched houses left in Ireland and less than 30 full-time thatchers. Luckily for Cllr Ward, there is an expert thatcher on his doorstep - Tommy Roberts in Clarina.

Cllr Ward gave Mr Roberts a ring as his roof was due a fresh bed of reeds.

Every 20 years roughly is the rule of thumb that you thatch them and every 10 years you would have to ridge it - thats the most important part, said Cllr Ward.

Ridging is creating a weather-resistant cap at the apex, which is the most exposed part of the roof.

It took Mr Roberts around a month to thatch the house. He had the best of materials thanks to Mike Grimes, who cut the reeds from the Shannon Estuary, and brothers Jim and Maurice Sheehy who make the scallops. Cllr Ward equates scallops to nails in normal roofs.

The Fianna Fail councillor said you cant have Mr Roberts thatching without Mr Grimes going out on his boat to get the reeds or the Sheehys making the scallops.

They are all skills that are dying out sadly. Some people get foreign reeds but Mike gets the best ones from the estuary.

The Sheehys cut the scallops from hazel or willow. They bring them back to a shed, start splitting them and twisting them into almost a U-shape. You use the scallops to hold the reed in place in the thatch, explained Cllr Ward.

Mr Roberts agrees with the councillor on the importance of materials, saying if he has good reed and scallops from men like Mr Grimes and the Sheehys, and the weather is dry, then thatching is a great job. However, the reverse is true too if it is lashing rain and he has poor materials.

The biggest challenge in thatching is the supply of good quality reeds and scallops, said Mr Roberts (pictured below).

Now that the job is done, Cllr Ward, wife Ala and family are all set for a cosy Christmas and many more in the future.

Thatch is brilliant for keeping the heat in and it keeps the house cool in the summer so its the best of both worlds, said Cllr Ward.

All the recent heavy rain followed by freezing temperatures hasnt caused a bother in the wide earthly world, he says. Cllr Ward vows to keep the thatched roof just like the generations before him have.

It's part of our heritage, he concludes.
THE SENTENCE imposed on UL student Joe Drennans killer last January caused his family an unbelievable amount of extra pain and distress, said his sister, Sarah Drennan.

Gangland criminal Kieran Fogarty, aged 21, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick city will now serve an extra five years in prison after the Court of Appeal ruled that his original sentence was unduly lenient.

READ NEXT: 'Horrendous record': Limerick criminal jailed over traumatic incident at service station

Joe, aged 21, from County Laois (pictured below) was tragically killed in a hit-and-run collision while waiting for a bus in Castletroy on October 13, 2023 after finishing work in a local restaurant.

Fogarty had received an eight-year jail sentence for a drive-by shooting and six-and-a-half years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death, at Limerick Circuit Court, to be served concurrently.

Sarah told the Leader they had already gone through the trauma of losing Joe, and the heartbreak of sitting through every detail in Limerick Circuit Court, only to be told that his life would be treated as part of other crimes.

It was like Joe was forgotten about completely. Having to go through the appeal was just retraumatising. Every time we were in court, we had to relive that night all over again. It takes so much out of you, mentally and emotionally. You walk out of those courtrooms feeling empty and broken.

What hurts the most is that the system seems to forget that there are real people behind these cases. Joe lost his life and we are a family having to live with that grief for the rest of ours. It all felt so needless. We shouldnt have had to fight so hard and for so long just to have Joes life acknowledged properly.

Sarah said the first judge made the sentences concurrent, which felt like Joes life was being treated as something that could just be added on to other crimes or something secondary.

This time, they were made consecutive, which at least recognises Joes life. We cant say we are happy, because no sentence can ever bring Joe back or make this right.

Nothing the courts can do will ever compare to the loss of losing Joe or what we live with every day. But after two long years of fighting for justice, it means something to finally see Joes life acknowledged properly. He deserved justice.

Sarah drove up to Joes grave the day after the Court of Appeal. It is the same road they used to travel to school together every morning, the car full of laughter and mischief.

Now, it just feels quiet. The outcome doesnt change the reality that hes gone. I stood there knowing that even though we finally got some measure of justice, it doesnt bring Joe back, and it doesnt make the pain any less.

Our family will carry this grief forever. The court case might be over, but our life without Joe isnt. But at least we know we did everything we could to fight for some measure of justice for Joe, and that gives us a small bit of comfort.

The Leader asked Sarah the Drennan family's thoughts and feelings towards Limerick as the place where their beloved Joe was taken from them but also where he studied and made so many friends.

Limerick will always be a place of mixed emotions for us. Its where Joes life was taken in the most tragic way, but its also where he grew into the amazing young man he became. He loved his time there with the university, his friends, the people, and the city itself.

He made so many memories in Limerick, and it became such an important part of his life. I used to love going to visit Joe down in Limerick. He would always know the best spots for food and drinks and hed always be thrilled to have visitors to show them all the nice places he adored.

Since Joes death, Sarah said the people of Limerick have been incredibly kind.

Weve had so many messages and stories from people who knew Joe or even just met him in passing where he worked. It means so much to us as a family. It does remind us that Limerick isnt just where we lost Joe, it is also where he was so happy to be.

Sarah, on behalf of the Drennan family, said they will always be grateful to the gardai in Limerick for how they handled Joes case.

They worked so hard and showed genuine compassion for our family. They were always checking in and always keeping us informed. They really cared about Joe and about helping us through the worst time of our lives.

Well always appreciate how hard they worked, especially chief investigating officer, Inspector Padraigh Sutton. He went above and beyond and was always with us during every court hearing. We truly want to extend our deepest gratitude to him, Garda Ollie Gee, the family liaison officer Pa Gleeson and the rest of the guards in Henry Street that worked tirelessly during this time.

May he rest in peace.
A LIMERICK woman who was on hunger strike and sleeping rough for 51 days says that their group's medical health was declining, as the strike progressed and now she is hoping she will be able to enjoy Christmas dinner with her family.

The Government has committed to medical, housing and pension supports for 4,000 industrial school survivors, which were originally promised, but never delivered, 26 years ago.

Mary Dunlevy Greene was taken from her family home in Kilteely, away from her father and brothers, including a newborn brother, after her mother died in childbirth.

READ ALSO: 'Red flags and missed opportunities' in a 'preventable' death - Limerick inquest hears

She was just four-years-old and was taken into State care at what is known as The Mount industrial school on O'Connell Avenue in the city.

She travelled to Dublin with Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan and Maurice Patton O'Connell near the end of September and they set up camp outside Leinster House.

For two and a half months, they survived only on water with electrolytes, tea and coffee, while sleeping outside in the testing elements.

When they were taken into State care, it was through the courts, and they each got a criminal record, which will now be expunged.

A lot of people went to their graves with that criminal record hanging over their heads and they have now been expunged posthumously, Mrs Dunlevy Greene said.

Medically, we were starting to dwindle, the 73-year-old admitted, adding that she herself was on a nebuliser twice daily and was taking antibiotics.

She said that they all knew what they were entering into and accepted that it had to be done.

Taking this very public stand outside Leinster House also meant that this group told their stories and talked about what they experienced in these schools - many for the first time.

I never told my children or grandchildren what happened to me as a young one, they would have been labelled and unable to progress in life - I kept it to myself.

Weve held it for long enough, were now going to have to answer a lot of questions, but hopefully people will be able to speak about their past and the truth and put it into their own history and into the history books - its dirty, but its part and parcel of what happened, she said.

A LIMERICK woman who went on hunger strike outside Leinster House for 51 days in a bid to get more supports for survivors of industrial schools, has said that their experiences need to be in history books and not silenced.

Mary Dunlevy Greene, originally from Kilteely, now living in Carlow, was taken from her family and into State care at the age of four. She spent most of her young life in an industrial school known as The Mount on OConnell Avenue.

The 73-year-old grandmother went on hunger strike with three others; Miriam Moriarty Owens (68), Mary Donovan (57) and Maurice Patton OConnell (57).

After sleeping out in treacherous conditions and only consuming water with electrolytes and tea or coffee, the group met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin who agreed to give 4,000 survivors what they asked for, at a meeting on November 10.

They will now get universal medical cards, for which they will choose a name, there will be a dedicated housing officer in each county council to liaise with survivors on housing needs, they will get a State pension and their criminal records, which were created when they were taken into State care as children, will be expunged.

A lot of people went to their graves with that criminal record hanging over their heads and they have now been expunged posthumously, Mrs Dunlevy Greene said.

The supports will be specific to survivors so that they will not have to relive their traumatic experiences and explain what they went through as children, every time they engage with services.

We achieved more than we thought we would achieve and got everything in writing, Mrs Dunlevy Greene told the Limerick Leader.

Medically, we were starting to dwindle, the 73-year-old admitted, as she herself was on a nebuliser twice daily and was taking antibiotics.

READ ALSO: Help struggling families in the Mid-West to have a better Christmas by donating what you can

She said that they all knew what they were entering into and accepted that it had to be done.

We went into this knowing it was a final resort, we left the doors open for years of negotiating, but we had to do this, some survivors are living in dire straits, their life depends on staying at home and being institutionalised again is one of the worst fears for someone who came from these schools. They are completely on their own and isolated, the Limerick native said.

Taking this very public stand outside Leinster House also meant that this group told their stories and talked about what they experienced in these schools - many for the first time.

Speaking about the trauma which remains to this day, Mrs Dunlevy Greene said that she cant even go into a hospital, because the walls and floors bring her back to her time in the home and she can see herself on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor.

The Limerick woman said: My saving grace was that I left the country, I went to the UK and I was anonymised, nobody asked where I was from or where I went to school and I was able to progress off my own back.

Speaking about what she went through, the 73-year-old said: We got no love - no care - nothing. We were told that nobody loved us, that nobody cared about us and that we would amount to nothing.

She spoke about the public crossing the street when they were seen outside, so as not to be seen near the orphans - but Mrs Dunlevy Greene was adamant in saying: I was no orphan. I was kidnapped from my home with no personal items and I never saw my reflection in a mirror until I left.

I didnt even have my own underwear, we changed it once a week and picked something that fit from a pile, nothing was marked or belonged to anyone.

She said that when the strike started: The leaves on the trees were profuse and green and now they are nearly bare, we endured storms, pouring rain and glorious sunshine in the beginning.

Having not eaten for more than 50 days, Mrs Dunlevy Greene and her three fellow activists will now recuperate, regain their strength and they will have to slowly re-introduce food.

Im eating very little, I still cant sit down and eat a meal. Its like learning to eat again, but Ill do a bit more every day hopefully. Im looking forward to hopefully eating dinner on Christmas Day and spending time with my family. Everybody will be gathered around, the Kilteely woman said.

The grandmother appreciated that this was very hard for her family, saying: They went through it as much as I did, if not more and my own GP was very worried, but I was being monitored every day.

We did this with good hearts for our fellow man - for our brothers and sisters.

Mrs Dunlevy Greene also commended President Connolly for her support of their efforts to get medical, financial and housing supports and thanked her for publicly speaking out in the Dail before she was elected president.

The group thanked everyone who shared their story, the Limerick Leader who covered this story early in the hunger strike, their families and those who helped them on the ground with very practical assistance such as keeping them warm and monitoring them medically.

They also thanked the public who heard their stories and supported their hunger strike.
GRADUATES from the national apprenticeship ceremony of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, along with Kerry Education and Training Board, were celebrated for their achievements and skills.

The ceremony in Radisson Blu hotel in Limerick and electrical apprentice Kevin Clohessy from Clare won the Apprentice of the Year award, having recently represented Limerick and Clare ETB at a national competition in Mansion House.

He was one of 12 apprentices to get the industry award, out of more than 330 candidates.

READ ALSO: 'Red flags and missed opportunities' in a 'preventable' death - Limerick inquest hears

Speaking about his award, Kevin Clohessy described it as a truly special moment. He expressed heartfelt thanks to the Kirby Group team for their ongoing support, calling the recognition one of the highlights of his career.

The Apprentice of the Year nominees showcase exceptional talent and skills from across Ireland, spanning 78 apprenticeship programmes. The awards also highlight the vital economic and social contribution of the 30,000 apprentices currently training in the country.

Apprentices from a wide range of disciplines were recognised, including aircraft and agricultural mechanics, carpentry and joinery, construction plant fitting, electrical, hairdressing, metal fabrication, motor mechanics, pipefitting, plumbing, and stonemasonry which were among the many areas recognised on the day.

Chief executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Bernadette Cullen, said: Todays apprenticeship graduates represent so much more than technical skills, they show ambition, determination, and the confidence to build our future here in Ireland. Apprenticeships open doors for people combining on and off the job learning opportunities in partnership with employers and the economy's requirements which strengthens both our workplaces and our communities.

When we invest in people and support their potential, were investing in the long-term success of this region and the country as a whole and todays graduates are living proof of that.

For more information on apprenticeships at Limerick and Clare ETB go to https://collegeoffet.ie/apprenticeships.
Law enforcement officers have uncovered a fraudulent scheme to seize forest-fund land in the Polianytsia territorial community (Bukovel, Ukraine), according to the National Police press service.

"Using forged state land acts from 20012002, the perpetrators re-registered the land to straw owners, and then allegedly purchased it from them. They also understated the value in the sale contracts to minimize mandatory budget payments. This allowed the suspects, residents of Kamianske and Khmelnytsky, to seize 6 hectares of land classified as forest-fund property," the statement said.

The damage to the state from the illegal transfer of forest land into private hands amounts to nearly UAH 20.5 million.

Police investigators have issued notices of suspicion to three individuals. Their actions are classified under Part 4, Article 190 (fraud), and Part 3, Article 358; Part 2, Article 28; and Part 4, Article 358 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps, and forms; sale and use of knowingly forged documents, seals, stamps) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Measures are underway to return the land to state ownership.
FORMER RTE broadcaster and Limerick man, David Hanly has died at the age of 82.

Known best for presenting RTEs flagship Morning Ireland programme for more than twenty years, Mr Hanly co-presented the show when it was first established with David Davin-Power, who died just over a year ago.

Mr Hanly was born in Fairgreen in Limerick and throughout his career, he was at the forefront of breaking news interviews, as well as interviewing politicians, celebrities and artists.

READ ALSO: More than 1,000 babies and young mothers remembered in Limerick ceremony

In his later years, he turned to writing and wrote scripts for RTE television.

In 1979 he published a novel called In Guilt and In Glory set in the 70s looking at Ireland at that time, including the Troubles.

President Catherine Connolly described Mr Hanly as a broadcaster of great distinction.

She said: I recall his work on Hanly's People where he brought his trademark intelligence, integrity and warmth to his many interviews.

As a gifted writer also, working for the RTE radio series The Kennedys of Castleross and the TV series The Riordans, Davids contribution to Irish public service broadcasting and the arts over many decades has left an indelible mark.

May I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, to his many friends and colleagues, and to all those who admired his wonderful work.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: I have fond memories of interviews with him on Morning Ireland. He was sharp, highly intelligent, and always had a sense of perspective.

He put Morning Ireland on the map. His voice was unmistakable. My thoughts are with his family, friends and former colleagues at this time.

Tanaiste Simon Harris has paid tribute to Mr Hanly. He said: "For many, including myself, David was the voice we woke up to every weekday as the presenter of RTE's Morning Ireland for some two decades.

"As one of the shows first presenters, his unambiguous and commanding voice etched him into the public psyche.

"I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, former colleagues and all those close to him at this time.

David Hanly was married twice and is survived by his two sons and a daughter.

May he rest in peace.
WHAT should have been a moment of celebration instead sparked frustration, confusion and anger after it emerged the long-anticipated reopening of Askeaton swimming pool failed to go ahead as planned, with elected representatives claiming they were blindsided just 72 hours before the scheduled launch.

During the November meeting of the Rathkeale/Adare Municipal District, Cllr Adam Teskey voiced his disbelief at receiving an email three days before the scheduled reopening, stating that the pool would not, in fact, be opening on time due to water-quality test results.

He stressed that neither he nor his five colleagues in the district - Stephen Keary, Ger Ward, Bridie Collins, John ODonoghue and Tommy Hartigan - had been informed of any issues or delays in advance.

Cllr Teskey said the lack of clarity had resulted in members of the public believing their local representatives were withholding information. How in Gods name was it left so late to test the water? he asked. What was supposed to be a happy occasion for the people of Limerick ends up just not happening.

Read More: New lease of life for landmark pub building in Limerick city centre as shop opens

The discussion exposed contrasting views on where responsibility lies. Cllr Ger Ward argued the local authority had done all it could and he placed the blame on Swim Ireland, the appointed operators of the facility.

However, Cllr Stephen Keary sharply disagreed. It falls back on us, he said, noting that safety must always come first. Im aware that people have lost their lives because of dangerous water. But we also have to safeguard our investment and right now, I have no confidence in our investment.

Cllr John ODonoghue added that the districts representatives were the ones who had to fund the pool through their local budgets. It not opening is just another kick in the backside, he said.

As the meeting continued, Cllr Teskey returned to the issue of timing. Am I the only one at this table who is mind-boggled about the fact that they waited until the Friday (before it due to open) to test a bit of water? he asked.

While stressing that he was not questioning the credibility of the testing company, he firmly criticised the way its being handled.

Council executives did acknowledge that representatives were informed late in the process, an acknowledgment Teskey welcomed as refreshing.

Just an hour after the meeting had concluded, the local authority announced, in a press release, that the pool would initially reopen only for local schools, with public access to follow at a later date once further phases of reopening are confirmed.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
LIMERICKS STYLE scene is set to shine as the festive season kicks off with an exclusive event to get you in the mood for Christmas!

This Sunday, November 23, at No. 1 Pery Square, The Holman Lee Agency is hosting an afternoon of cocktails, festive treats, and fashion in the heart of the citys Georgian Quarter.

The event will bring together some of the regions best-known names in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle for a stylish seasonal celebration, all in support of Autism Ireland, with half of the ticket proceeds going directly to the charity.

READ MORE: Move to establish Irelands first ever Health Equity Region in Limerick

Guests can look forward to a vibrant afternoon featuring expert talks, live demonstrations, and plenty of Christmas cheer.

Aisling from Namaste Skin Clinic Limerick will share professional skincare advice to help guests achieve a healthy glow through the winter months, while Celia Holman Lee will offer her signature style insights and festive fashion tips.

Local boutiques will showcase their latest collections, including Brown Thomas Limerick, Flax in Bloom, and Ela Maria Boutique.

Guests will also enjoy a selection of festive refreshments and leave with a special goodie bag to mark the occasion.

Im really looking forward to this one, said Celia Holman Lee. There will be a wonderful Christmas atmosphere.

The event takes place from 1pm to 5pm and tickets are available now on Eventbrite.
1

Guerre en Ukraine.

Guerre en Ukraine : le Donbass sur le point de passer integralement sous le controle de Moscou, la Russie revendique la prise de la ville-verrou de Siversk
Chandrima Mercantiles Ltd, a small-cap company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, has begun attracting broader investor interest as it pushes deeper into technology-led agricultural solutions. Trading around the 12 mark, the stock has recently been discussed among market participants due to long-term projections that place its potential value near 150, provided the companys strategic plans continue gaining momentum.

With a market capitalisation of approximately 400 crore, Chandrima Mercantiles has undergone a noticeable shift over the past few years. While the company was traditionally involved in agricultural trading, it is now repositioning itself within Indias fast-evolving agri-tech ecosystem. Its consistent revenue growth of close to 20% year-on-year has helped reinforce confidence in its transition strategy.

The centrepiece of Chandrimas new direction is an AI-based advisory engine designed to help farmers make more informed crop-related decisions. The system analyses multiple variablessoil structure, temperature changes, humidity, wind speed, rainfall forecasts, and nutrient loss from previous crop cycles. Using these data points, the platform recommends suitable crops for upcoming seasons and offers insights that can reduce uncertainty for farmers dealing with climate variability.

At a time when Indian agriculture is gradually embracing digital tools, such AI-driven solutions have begun to play a meaningful role. Farmers across several regions increasingly rely on weather-based advisories and soil-specific recommendations, particularly as climate patterns become more unpredictable. Chandrimas attempt to build a structured decision-support system taps into this rising demand.

The company is now preparing to expand its product line with additional tools and technology upgrades. This includes a mobile advisory application aimed at making real-time farm guidance more accessible, as well as enhancements to its AI engine to incorporate richer climate and soil datasets. Chandrima is also exploring partnerships with data providers and agricultural research entities to strengthen the precision of its insights.

While the stock remains part of the small-cap universewhich naturally carries volatilityinvestors are optimistic about the companys positioning in a sector that is both essential and undergoing digital transition. Agriculture continues to be one of Indias most resilient industries, and the growing adoption of AI-based tools has opened new opportunities for companies operating in this space.

Analysts tracking the company suggest that much of Chandrimas long-term potential rests on how effectively it continues to build its technology capabilities and scale adoption among farmers. With an entry price that remains accessible for retail participants and a strategy aligned with broader sector-wide changes, the company has emerged as a name worth noting within the agri-tech segment.

As Chandrima Mercantiles deepens its focus on technology and data-driven agriculture, many investors are watching closely to see whether its transformation can translate into sustained growth over the coming years.

Note to readers: This article is part of Mints paid consumer connect Initiative. Mint assumes no editorial involvement or responsibility for errors, omissions, or content accuracy.
Ahmedabads wealth landscape is undergoing a visible shift  and luxury spending patterns are evolving with it. As the citys new generation of entrepreneurs, second-generation business families, and real-estate developers diversify their portfolios beyond traditional assets, global contemporary art is gradually entering the conversation.

Tapping into this transition, Bespoke Art Gallery has opened its international showcase, Resonance of the Soul, in Ahmedabad after a successful New Delhi debut. The exhibition, now live, reflects the increasing interest for alternative cultural investments in Indias fast-growth economic centres.

Art as an Investment Product  Not Just Cultural Display

Featuring 10 international artists with established market visibility  including Gillie & Marc, Bobur Ismoilov, Timur D. Vatz, Walera Martynchik, and Jesus Curia  the showcase positions art as a long-term value asset. Many of these artists have demonstrated price stability across international fairs, auctions, and gallery networks, making them relevant for investors seeking diversification beyond equities, real estate, and bullion.

Unlike traditional luxury categories, where resale values are often volatile, contemporary art often retains value based on artist reputation, authenticity, and rarity. Ahmedabad's affluent families, historically conservative in investment behaviour, are beginning to recognise this shift.

View full Image Bespoke Art Gallery draws on the legacy of art collector Samir Gawarvala, but its strategy is firmly rooted in the growing business of art.

Art is emotional, but it is also a strategic asset, says Devin Gawarvala, founder of Bespoke Art Gallery. As Indian consumers evolve, theyre looking for investment avenues that carry cultural depth. Ahmedabad is no longer just an industrial city  its becoming a design-forward market.

A Signal of Ahmedabads Changing Consumption Curve

Over the past decade, Ahmedabads economic profile has strengthened on the back of manufacturing output, an expanding real-estate corridor, and the growth of design-led industries. With this has emerged a consumer group aligning with global luxury aspirations.

The gallerys location in Ambli, now a preferred luxury residential and commercial cluster, is significant. It places high-value art within the same ecosystem as premium homebuyers, architects, real-estate developers, and boutique interior studios  many of whom are now incorporating global artists into high-end projects.

For architects and developers, integrating internationally acclaimed art has become a differentiator in premium properties, especially as Ahmedabad competes with cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to attract global talent and capital.

A Gallery Positioned for Indias New Creative Economy

Bespoke Art Gallery draws on the legacy of art collector Samir Gawarvala, but its strategy is firmly rooted in the growing business of art. With Indias luxury market projected to expand at over 10% annually, and with rising interest in collectible assets among UHNWIs and young founders, the gallery positions itself as a curator of both cultural and financial value.

The New Delhi showcase earlier this year indicated a growing presence of global art entering India. The Ahmedabad chapter takes this further by placing the city on the map for cultural capital formation  not just cultural consumption.

The Showcase: Where Emotion Meets Asset Value

Resonance of the Soul presents works that examine identity, mythology, memory, and human experience. While the exhibition appeals aesthetically, its market relevance lies in the global visibility of its participating artists  many of whom have exhibited across Europe, the US, and West Asia.

For first-generation collectors, this offers a gateway into the global art circuit. For seasoned investors, it offers portfolio-grade assets supported by international representation.
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI : Japan's Kirin Holdings, among the largest shareholder in B9 Beverages, that operates Bira, is holding joint discussions with stakeholders and creditors of the beer-maker to restructure the existing business including the management and business strategy as the company navigates a funding crunch and employee unrest.

We recognize the current management situation of B9 Beverages. Based on this, we are continuing joint discussions with other shareholders and creditors on the restructuring of the company," a spokesperson for Kirin said in an emailed response to Mint.

The company clarified that it has no plans to exit its investment in the company nor has there been any decision to sell its shares.

Broadly, the company plans to restructure its management, governance, and business strategy to help B9 overcome its current financial crisis and scale the Bira91 brand.

The Kirin Group is also pursuing overseas expansion in its alcoholic beverages business, and discussions on the business portfolio are not directly related to this matter, the spokesperson added.

Kirin has interests in the alcoholic drinks, beverages and pharmaceuticals sectors.

To be sure, institutional investors hold the largest stake in B9 Beverages, at 28.6% stake, led by Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India), alongside Sofina, Sixth Sense, MUFG Bank, Tiger Pacific, Mayfield, and GHIQF Mauritius.

Kirin Holdings holds 20.3% shares in B9 Beverages.

Bira last raised $25 million via external commercial borrowings from Kirin Holdings in June 2024.

In October, Mint reported that several major institutional shareholders of B9 Beverages were considering removing chief executive officer (CEO) and founder Ankur Jain over concerns about his handling of the financially distressed company.

Investors are also willing to put additional funds into the company, on the condition that Jain steps down.

Investors and lenders are also gearing to send a request for an extraordinary general meeting to Jain, said a person directly aware of developments at the company.

Also Read | Bira parent raises $10 mn from MUFG Bank

A requisition for the same will be sent shortly once we get every large shareholder to sign. Once Ankur (Jain) leaves we are all ready to put in more money. When we talk about restructuring, it means the equity shareholding will change; some of the debt will be converted into equitywe have a whole plan for that. The condition from all sides is very clear that Ankur must resign," said a lender to the company, speaking to Mint on the condition of anonymity.

To be sure, shareholders can requisition an extraordinary general meeting by submitting a request backed by members holding at least 10% of the voting power or paid-up share capital with voting rights. Once such a valid requisition is received, the Board is obligated to call the EGM.

Once the requisition is received, the board has 21 says to call the EGM; the meeting must be held within 45 days.

Ankur Jain did not respond to Mints request for a comments via emails, calls and texts, till the time of publishing.

The development comes less than a month after Kirin alongside Anicut Capitalthe largest lender to B9 Beverages, took control of Bira 91's The Beer Cafe, formerly a subsidiary of B9.

The acquisition was made by claiming shares pledged by B9, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies.

However, B9 Beverages has challenged Anicut Capital's actions in the Delhi High Court, sparking a legal battle in the domestic craft beer industry.

B9 is facing a major crisis as the company struggles with declining revenues, delayed salary payments and employee unrest.

Its brand presence has also shrunk, with the product now available in only a few markets.

More recently, lenders and investorsincluding Anicut Capital and Hero Enterprises Sunil Munjalhave invoked shares in the company and related entities of B9 Beverages, per news reports. This has led to a reduction in Jains shareholding. The promotersincluding Ankur Jain and his familycollectively held 17.8% of the total holding; this has now reduced. Mint could not independtly confirm Jain's current shareholding.

In September investors and lendersincluding Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India), Sofina, Sixth Sense Ventures, Anicut Capital and Japans Kirin Holdings reviewed the companys situation during a virtual meeting where most stakeholders indicated they would infuse fresh capital in the company only if Jain stepped down.

Meanwhile, several employees have filed a petition to the board and investors regarding delayed salaries and governance issues.

The beverage maker also underwent a restructuring exercise by focusing on fewer states, reducing fixed costs and focusing on gross margins over the last year.
Mumbai: Analysts have endorsed Mahindra and Mahindra Ltds (M&M) five-year outlook unveiled on Thursday, calling it ambitious and a potential trigger for a rerating of the stock. The real test, though, lies in execution.

The Mumbai-based conglomerate has guided for a 15-40% organic revenue growth annually across its businesses between FY26 and FY30. Mahindra reported consolidated revenues from operation of 1.59 trillion in FY25, 15% higher than the preceding year. Consolidated profit for the year rose at a similar pace to 12,929 crore.

While experts said that the targets were achievable, they warned that several risks remain, starting with the inherent complexity of delivering growth across diverse businesses that range from cars and tractors to software and real estate. The group also faces intense competition in key businesses such as sport utility vehicles (SUV) and electric vehicles (EV), information technology (IT) services, and real estate, they said.

Managing capital allocation for these businesses would also be a key challenge for the companys leadership, considering the significant investments that businesses like making cars and building real estate require, experts said. Finally, the businesses remain exposed to macroeconomic volatility across the world - poor rainfall in India could dent demand for tractors and cars, while a slowdown in the US economy could hurt the IT services industry.

Also Read | Global biz reset done, TVS Supply Chain now eyes margin boost

But what has excited analysts is the clear road map given by the conglomerate, which makes it simpler for investors to track progress across the five-year period.

The investor day was notable for its specific, high-growth targets across all businesses, providing clear milestones for investors to track," analysts at Antique Stock Broking Ltd said in a note on Friday.

Other brokerages to respond favourably to the five-year plan include Motilal Oswal, JM Financial, Yes Securities, and Nirmal Bang. Nuvama and Elara Capital maintained a buy rating on the company's stock, but kept their price targets unchanged.

Shares of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd closed 0.9% higher at 3,749 on the BSE on Friday, compared to a 0.47% fall in the benchmark Sensex. The stock has gained over 21% since the beginning of the year, compared to an 8.57% rise in the benchmark index.

The plan

Mahindra on Thursday clearly defined multi-fold revenue growth across its businesses by 2030. This makes it one of the few conglomerates that put a specific number to their mid-term growth targets across individual businesses. Another notable example is Larsen & Toubro, which is at the fag-end of its five-year plan, and will be unveiling its new five-year plan in early FY27.

Mahindras plan hinges on its core businesses of automobiles and farm equipment, which draw strength from market leadership in their respective segments. The company makes more money selling SUVs in India than any other company, even if its volumes are lower than some peers, due to the premium price tags on its models like XUV700 and XEV 9E. Its two tractor brands - Mahindra and Swaraj - account for more than half the tractors sold in the country, and make it the largest tractor maker globally.

Future growth in these segments partly depends on exports.

The sectors are also cyclical, posing execution risk to the target to grow automotive revenue eight-fold and tripling farm revenue by FY30 over the base of FY20. A dip in the Indian economy or poor monsoons could impact the companys ability to deliver on these targets, the analysts said.

Mahindras smaller businesses, which it calls growth gems, are also poised to grow rapidly after years of nurturing, the company said. These include Last Mile Mobility, Trucks and Buses, Lifespaces, Susten, Club Mahindra, Aerospace, Accelo, Logistics and Classic Legends.

Also Read | Tata Motors says no to softer emission rules for small cars, flags safety risks

"Some of MMs growth gems are on a strong growth trajectory," noted analysts at Motilal Oswal on Friday. The high-growth businesses include last mile mobility, truck and bus business, aerostructures, Mahindra Holidays and Mahindra Lifespaces, they said.

"Depending on the progress of these growth gems, MM would look to unlock value in some of these segments in a couple of years," they wrote.

The next five years form the last leg of the conglomerates turnaround strategy that started under the leadership of group chief executive and managing director Anish Shah, who took the reins in April 2021. The plan started with Mahindra exiting all of its non-performing businesses, like SsangYong in South Korea and an aerospace company in Australia. Simultaneously, the company stabilized its core business, including making sport utility vehicles, rural lending through Mahindra Finance, and selling IT services through Tech Mahindra.

With all the ingredients in place, the group is now guiding for rapid growth over the coming five years.

The Mahindra Group has laid out a compelling growth narrative, and, if executed even moderately well, positions it for a fundamental re-rating," the Antique analysts said.

A combination of the companys core strength in SUVs and tractors and the emerging scale of its growth gems businesses make it a strong proxy for Indias economic growth, the analysts said.

The conglomerate has presence across most sectors with significant contribution to the Indian gross domestic product - consumer, lifestyle, e-commerce, agriculture, capital goods, financial services, logistics, mobility, renewable energy and IT services, as per an investor presentation. The only key industries missing from Mahindras portfolio include healthcare, infrastructure, and telecommunications.
(Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc.s Ring division has ordered hundreds of customer service workers to relocate to central hubs in the US and UK amid a companywide push to streamline and automate operations.

The affected personnel, who have been working remotely, will have to report to offices in Hawthorne, California; North Reading, Massachusetts; Tempe, Arizona; or London, according to a memo sent earlier this month and reviewed by Bloomberg. Hundreds of workers will have to relocate to keep their jobs, according to two people familiar with the matter.

In the memo, Amazons video doorbell unit said it was looking to transform the customer service department into a proactive, AI-powered support ecosystem.

A subset of workers who deal directly with customers, along with their supervisors, can still work remotely, the memo said. The department also supports Amazons Blink camera and home security brand.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the relocation requirement and declined to comment further.

In June, Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy warned that AI tools capable of performing human tasks would likely shrink the companys workforce. Four months later, Amazon announced it was eliminating 14,000 corporate positions.

The latest job cuts roiled a workforce already grappling with several previous rounds of layoffs and an order to return to the office five days a week.

Some employees see the relocation and return-to-office policies as efforts to force people to quit without Amazon having to pay severance. The company denies that and estimated in October that severance costs had reached $2 billion this year as of Sept. 30.

Rings relocation mandate will likely prompt a large number of customer-service staff to leave, according to one affected employee, who requested anonymity to avoid possible retaliation.

Ring founder Jamie Siminoff returned to the company as CEO earlier this year and has made clear that AI will play an important role in its future.

--With assistance from Matt Day.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Barrick Mining Corp. is in negotiations with Malis government to end a two-year dispute that shuttered the companys giant gold mine and landed employees in jail, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Representatives of the Canadian mining company met with Mali authorities Friday to hammer out terms of a deal for the Loulo-Gounkoto operation, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private conversations. The parties are close to finalizing a deal, one of the people said.

If an agreement is reached it would mark the end of a dispute thats weighed on Barrick for more than a year. The company and Malis military leadership had long clashed over a new mining code and government demand for millions in alleged back taxes.

Under the proposed arrangement, Barrick would accept the mining code and regain control of the mine, the people said.

The Toronto-based company didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. A government spokesperson didnt respond to calls and a text seeking comment late Friday. A spokesman for the mining ministry couldnt be reached for comment.

Barrick shuttered the mining complex in January after the West African nation blocked exports, seized gold and detained senior employees. In September, operations restarted at the mine under state management, after a Mali administrator took over the asset in June. A deal would see the release of the detained employees.

Loulo-Gounkoto  which produced 723,000 ounces of gold in 2024  is one of Barricks most important assets. The temporary seizure of the mine has meant the Canadian firm has been unable to fully capitalize on bullions record-breaking rally this year.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official

Russian occupiers continue to advance into the central part of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region from the southern outskirts, establishing positions there and strengthening their positions, the OSINT project of DeepState reported on Friday.

"We are successfully conducting an active hunt in the railroad area to prevent the enemy from taking control of the area, but the large number of detections already in the northern part of the city indicates signs that the red zone will soon reach the railroad tracks, especially in the southwestern part of Pokrovsk," the DeepState Telegram channel reported.

There are also increasing sightings of infantry groups near the village of Rivne in Myrnohrad community of Pokrovsk district, which was part of a crucial logistical chain leading to Myrnohrad. "The enemy is setting up ambushes, constructing various engineering obstacles, and making normal movement impossible, which has long since become a lottery. The further the enemy takes control of Pokrovsk, the more critically jeopardizes the retention of Myrnohrad and further maneuvers, should they become necessary," the message reads.

According to DeepState, the Defense Forces group in Myrnohrad continues to hold the line, facing constant enemy pressure from the east, south, and north. Frequent sightings are being recorded on the southern outskirts of the city, but the enemy has not yet established any clear footholds there. The battle for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad continues.
Nvidia on Friday announced that it is working with Foxconn to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to the contract chip manufacturer's factories and manufacturing lines.

Spencer Huang of Nvidia, son of CEO Jensen Huang, made the major announcement on the day, which happened to be Foxconn's tech day. He is the product line manager at Nvidia's leading robotics product.

Foxconn-Nvidia's supercomputing centre to be ready soon Making further announcements, Foxconn said that its $1.4 billion supercomputing centre being built with Nvidia will be ready by the first half of 2026. When complete, this centre will be Taiwan's largest advanced GPU cluster.

Also Read | OpenAI teams up with Foxconn to develop AI infrastructure hardware in US

The 27-megawatt data centre will be powered by Nvidia's new Blackwell GB300 chips and is also set to be Asia's first GB300 AI data centre, said Neo Yao, CEO of a new unit Foxconn has established for AI supercomputing and cloud operations called Visonbay.ai.

As GPU technology accelerates, building individual facilities may no longer make economic sense, said Nvidia vice president Alexis Bjorlin.

The announcement was made at the contract electronics manufacturer's tech day, which was attended by Foxconn's partners and clients including Nvidia, OpenAI and Uber.

Also Read | Foxconn reports strong Q3 profit on AI server boom, teases OpenAI announcement

Also Read | Foxconn to invest up to $1.37 bn to expand cloud compute service platform

Renting compute resources may offer a far better return on investment, enabling flexibility and enabling companies to scale their compute according to both product and business cycles, Bjorlin said.

Neo Yao said that the project is central to the firm's push into "sovereign AI," or the ability to develop and govern AI systems using domestic data, infrastructure and talent.

He said Foxconn has already deployed four AI server racks equipped with Nvidia's GB200 GPU systems and plans to install 144 GB300 platforms at the new site next year as its AI roadmap accelerates.

Visionbay.ai describes itself as a trusted Nvidia Cloud Partner and says it is deepening collaboration with Nvidia to build next-generation AI infrastructure across Asia.

Earlier Friday, Foxconn said it will also cooperate with OpenAI and Alphabet's Intrinsic on AI-related projects in the United States as part of its broader "3 plus 3" diversification strategy.
OpenAI is collaborating with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. to design and produce hardware for data centres. This is the latest effort by the creator of ChatGPT to address its growing demand for infrastructure to support AI systems.

Hon Hai, also called Foxconn, will partner with OpenAI to co-design and develop data centre server racks, aiming to boost its manufacturing operations across the US. Additionally, Foxconn plans to produce cabling, power systems, and other essential data centre equipment domestically.

The companies noted that the agreement with OpenAI does not entail any specific purchase commitments.

Were announcing a collaboration with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) focused on design work and US manufacturing readiness for the next generation of AI infrastructure hardware. As part of this work, OpenAI will share insight into emerging hardware needs across the AI industry to help inform Foxconns design and development efforts for hardware to be manufactured at Foxconns US facilities, OpenAI said in a statement.

Also Read | Who is Larry Summers? Disgraced former OpenAI board member and Harvard president

OpenAI's multibillion-dollar deals In the past few months, OpenAI has finalised a series of multibillion-dollar deals with cloud computing providers and chipmakers, including Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc., to increase its data centre footprint.

Meanwhile, the US-based company has moved to increase its control over the AI supply chain by agreeing in October to purchase chips and components from Broadcom Inc. However, the planned surge in spending has raised worries about an AI bubble, Bloomberg reported.

For Foxconn, the recent agreement highlights a longer-term goal to expand its involvement in the AI ecosystem, partly to reduce its dependence on assembling iPhones for Apple Inc. A direct partnership with OpenAI indicates that the Taiwanese firm is eager to assist clients in incorporating their own designs into data centres.

Also Read | Foxconn reports strong Q3 profit on AI server boom, teases OpenAI announcement

This partnership is a step toward ensuring the core technologies of the AI era are built here, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said in a statement. This work will strengthen US leadership and help ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared.

OpenAI has dedicated much of this year to partnering with Oracle Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp. on a bold plan to invest $500 billion in US data centres and AI infrastructure over the coming years, Bloomberg reported. This initiative was announced shortly after President Donald Trump resumed office.
(Bloomberg) -- A whistleblower who accused Wells Fargo & Co. of conducting sham interviews with minority job candidates will now be able to sue the bank over his firing.

Wells Fargo lost a bid to place the former employees wrongful-termination complaint into secret arbitration proceedings. That means Joe Bruno will have the chance to take to open court his claims that his firing was retaliatory, and potentially present new details about the interviews.

Bruno was the first person to publicly claim in 2022 that Wells Fargo had been interviewing minority candidates for positions that had already been filled so executives could say they were making concrete efforts to diversify the banks workforce. His revelations led the US Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into whether the bank had violated civil-rights laws. Wells Fargo shareholders sued over the resulting drop in the banks stock price and won class-action status before reaching an $85 million settlement last month.

Wells Fargo has said that the fake interviews werent widespread, if they happened at all. In a February 2024 filing with regulators, it said the Justice Department had closed its investigation. Bruno, the bank claimed in a disclosure thats visible to other banks considering hiring him, was fired for workplace conduct inconsistent with company standards. Bank officials claimed he had mistreated another employee.

Mr. Brunos allegations are baseless, Dana Ripley, a Wells Fargo spokesman, said in an emailed statement. Any claims he makes must be considered in the context that he was fired after an investigation confirmed he retaliated against another employee who had complained internally about him, and that he then launched a campaign of sending highly offensive and threatening messages to other employees.

Wells Fargo will vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuits claims, Ripley said.

The dispute with Bruno is one of the last outstanding matters tied to the alleged fake interviews. Wells Fargos lawyers claimed that Bruno had no right to sue, saying that in order to collect a bonus payment more quickly in 2016, he had signed an agreement stating that any disputes he had with the bank would have to be worked out in closed-door arbitration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the industry group that polices financial advisers.

Bruno and his lawyer, Linda Friedman, argued that the agreement applied only to disputes that related to the bonus payment itself, and that it had expired in 2019.

Under the Federal Arbitration Act, the dispute has to arise out of the underlying contract, Friedman said. Its like if you went and bought a television set, it had an arbitration agreement, and then you happened to be working for the company, its just unrelated thing.

On Thursday, a Finra arbitration panel issued a decision in Brunos favor, saying there is no valid and enforceable agreement to arbitrate.

While we disagree with the Finra decision and view it as inconsistent with Finra practice, it is important to note that the Finra arbitration panel did not make any decisions on the substance of Mr. Brunos claims related to his termination, Wells Fargos Ripley said.

Bruno said in an interview Thursday that the allegations of my termination are 100% false, and Ive been arguing that from the beginning, He added that the case also offers a chance to hold the bank accountable for engaging in performative diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The interview practices at issue were tied to a pledge the bank made nearly a decade ago to consider minority candidates for open job positions in the wake of a racial-discrimination lawsuit brought by Black wealth-management employees.

A New York Times report about the practices included information provided by 12 current and former employees who had participated in fake interviews, helped arrange them or been aware of them. After the initial story, an additional 10 current and former staffers shared evidence showing how the practice worked. In one email, a human resources employee asked someone considered diverse by the banks standards who had just been hired for one role to fill out an application for another role. Simply book keeping for us, the HR representative wrote, according to The Times.

The climate around corporate diversity, equity and inclusion has changed since Bruno first raised the issue at Wells Fargo, with President Donald Trump criticizing DEI as being little more than discrimination against White men. Friedman said the effort at Wells Fargo was intended to broaden the talent pool from which the bank could draw to fill open roles.

Bruno said hell rely on Friedmans advice over whether to take the case to trial or consider a settlement should the bank offer one.

I want to see change, he said. And if that means rejecting any settlement and going to a jury trial, then Im OK with that.

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The Centre on Friday rolled out four new labour codes that extend basic social security and minimum wage guarantees to over 400 million workers across the formal and informal sectors.

Further, the codes include provisions such as equal pay for women, gratuity for fixed-term employees after one year, free annual health check-ups for workers above 40 years, double wages for overtime, and full health security for workers in hazardous sectors.

The codes replace a labyrinth of 29 fragmented laws, a statement by the labour ministry said, calling it a significant effort to modernise archaic laws. Some of these laws date back to the colonial and immediate post-Independence era (1930s1950s), in a world that was fundamentally different, the statement added.

The new framework, effective immediately, consolidates the countrys employment statutes into four codes: the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020.

While the labour ministrys statement said the government will engage with stakeholders in framing rules, regulations, and schemes, under the Code, a senior government official told Mint that the Centre will publish draft rules within a week, open them for 45 days of public comments, and finalise them within the following 45 days. Provisions that require no rules take effect immediately, while others will be notified after consultations.

Also Read | New labour codes redefine wages, boost gratuity and benefits

A key feature across all four codes is the revised definition of wages, which will now include basic pay, dearness allowance and retaining allowance, and employers must ensure that at least 50% of total remuneration qualifies as wages.

That is different from earlier when employers often structured salary packages so that basic pay plus DA formed a small portion of total compensation, with large parts allocated to allowances that did not count towards benefits such as gratuity or provident fund.

The change is expected to impact the calculation of various social security contributions, including Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Workmens Compensation, and maternity benefits.

The new labour codes have been widely welcomed, though accompanied by some caution.

Lohit Bhatia, president-workforce management at Quess Corp, said besides strengthening ease of doing business, reducing the compliance burden by single register, reducing licensing across establishments will lead to additional investment including in labour dominated sectors and, thus, employment activity.

It is still early days and it formalises employment and protects the rights of employees, Neeti Sharma, chief executive officer of TeamLease Digital told Mint. She noted that CTC (cost to company) may rise as benefits like gratuity and leave encashment will now be calculated on the 50% wage floor.

Madhu Damodaran, regional managing partner, AM Legals, a law firm, concurred: While for employees this is great, it will also increase the cost for the employers who may pass on the cost. So in some cases it could have an adverse impact on the take-home salaries.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, managing director of CIEL HR Services, said the transition will require preparation from employers, especially MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors. Compliance costs may rise initially, and states must move in unison for smooth rollout, he said. With phased implementation and supportive digital systems, he added, the reform could be transformative.

Varun Jain, head of retirement, India, for advisory, broking and solutions company, WTW, said while the codes enhance social security and coverage for employees, employers will need to operationalize the changes and assess any potential additional costs such as wage settlement, and financial implications on retiral benefits.

It's a wait-and-watch on the implementation roadmap as it will be interesting to see if the government allows companies to have some transition time, said Jain.

Gig economy formalized Perhaps the most significant change is the expansion of social protection. For the first time, the codes formally recognise gig workers, platform workers and aggregators, and extend social security benefits to them.

Sonal Arora, country manager at GI Group Holding, said the codes legitimise gig work as a key part of Indias labour market and give delivery partners, drivers and independent contractors more transparent and accountable payout systems.

In a statement, the labour ministry said all workers  including gig workers  will now get PF, ESIC, insurance and other social security benefits. Niti Aayog estimates Indias gig workforce will grow from 10 million in 202425 to 23.5 million by 202930.

This means companies such as Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto, among others, must allocate 12% of annual turnover  capped at 5%  towards gig and platform workers.

Rajneesh Kumar, chief corporate affairs officer, Flipkart Group, said the codes offer a predictable framework for businesses and workers. Spokespersons of Uber and Amazon also welcomed the move.

The new system is also encouraging sectors like logistics to hire more gig workers, as documentation and onboarding are expected to become easier. We will now invest in training more workers to incorporate them in the skilled workforce, said Jitendra Kumar, co-founder and executive director of third-party logistics firm Emiza.

Kumar added that high-attrition sectors like quick commerce and logistics also stand to benefit, though issues related to interpretation and organization structures may arise initially.

For employers, this is the moment to proactively reassess workforce structures, update employment documentation and realign compliance systems to ensure a smooth, risk-free transition to the new regime, said Pooja Ramchandani, partner at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

GI Group Holding's Arora added that gig-heavy companies need integrated databases consolidating wages, working hours and social security contributions. Compliance will become proactive rather than reactive, she said.

Textiles For the textile sector, which relies heavily on migrant labour, the codes place direct, contractor-based and self-migrated workers on a level playing field with equal wages, welfare benefits and PDS (public distribution system) portability regardless of migration status.

Workers are protected by provisions for double overtime wages and the ability to claim pending dues for up to three years, easing dispute resolution.

The sector has largely welcomed the changes. Industry leaders praised the removal of the restriction on women working night shifts, saying it will smoothen factory operations and increase production. Exporters believe this will boost productivity and competitiveness in global markets.

Also Read | Engineering graduates face fewer IT jobs as automation reshapes hiring

Industry players welcomed single registration, single licence and single return for employers, and the move to an inspector-cum-facilitator regime that they said will strengthen ease of doing business.

Yarn producers and exporters said better wages will encourage workers to stay longer, reducing attrition in spinning units. However, they cautioned that gratuity eligibility after one year may also increase attrition.

Technology The IT and ITES sectors see a renewed focus on transparency and fixed employment. Employers must release salaries by the 7th of each month, and companies have to create facilities enabling women to work night shifts and consequently earn higher wages.

Harpreet Singh Saluja, president of Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), said equalising benefits for fixed-term and permanent employees, and standardising rules on work hours and overtime, he said, are important in a sector known for extended workdays, weekend work and high-pressure project cycles.

But he also warned that misuse of fixed-term roles, probation extensions, forced resignations and classifying employees as consultants to avoid benefits is already widespread. If rules are not framed and enforced carefully, companies may restructure contracts to bypass obligations, he said, adding that NITES will monitor implementation closely.

Meanwhile, in a statement, IT industry body Nasscom said eventual full implementation of the Codes can bring greater predictability and transparency.

As rules are finalised, Nasscom will focus on supporting a smooth and practical transition for the industry, the statement said. A key priority will be to help ensure that the central framework under the Codes is harmonised with state level requirements, including shops and establishments laws, so that overlapping obligations and unintended compliance challenges do not arise.

Focus on flexibility and welfare The new codes also emphasise worker welfare. Women workers are now permitted to work night shifts and in all types of work, including underground mining, subject to consent and safety measures  expected to raise female participation in better-paying industrial roles.

Manish Sinha, former advisor to Coal India, said many reforms  workplace safety practices and higher womens participation  were already implemented at top mining companies. The codes will now formalise these across the sector, including in smaller firms.

Next steps According to the government official cited earlier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the plan is to operationalise the law from the next financial year to help facilitate businesses.

With labour being a concurrent subject, this time period will also allow the Centre to work with the states to bring their rules in sync to the extent possible, and also help the state governments prepare and upgrade their IT infrastructure for e-forms and registers.

The Centre will pre-publish rules within a week, which will be in the public domain for 45 days for comments, post which suggestions will be incorporated within another 45 days. For some provisions no rules are required, they are effective from today. For certain other provisions, rules will be framed after necessary consultation, explained the official.

A second senior official who also did not want to be named said all states are ready, and have pre-published their rules except West Bengal. Tamil Nadu on its part has pre-published the rules for the three codes, except for the one on Code on Social Security. Talks with Tamil Nadu are on to bridge the divergence. Also, with the new government in Delhi, the rules for the remaining two codes will be pre-published. Also in the case of Lakshadweep, everything is ready and only needs to be approved by the administrator, the second official said.
The wait is finally over. After four years, The Family Man has returned with its much-anticipated third season, bringing Manoj Bajpayee back as intelligence officer Srikant Tiwari. One of Indias most-loved streaming franchises, the new chapter arrives with higher stakes, new characters and a plot that pushes Srikant into the most personal mission of his career.

What Is The Family Man Season 3 About? Premiering on 21 November 2025, Season 3 picks up with Srikant facing a crisis that hits dangerously close to home. An assassination sets off a chain of events that pulls him into a geopolitical conspiracy that could push India to the edge of conflict. The makers have promised a season that is darker, more emotional and packed with the tense, grounded storytelling the series is known for.

The trailer has already ignited fan excitement with glimpses of high-octane action, political intrigue and the complicated world Srikant must once again navigate.

How Many Episodes Are There In The Family Man Season 3? Season 3 features seven episodes, each reportedly running 4050 minutes. The series began streaming at 12 am IST on 21 November on Prime Video.

Raj & DK Return, With New Creators Joining The Team Creators Raj and DK helm the series once again, guiding the franchise into a more complex and emotionally loaded terrain. This season also brings in new creative voices, including Suman Kumar and Tusshar Seyth, strengthening the directing bench and sharpening the shows focus on geopolitical tension, pacing and character depth.

How Many Episodes Are There In The Family Man Season 3? Season 3 features seven episodes, each reportedly running 4050 minutes. The series began streaming at 12 am IST on 21 November on Prime Video.

Raj & DK Return, With New Creators Joining The Team Creators Raj and DK helm the series once again, guiding the franchise into a more complex and emotionally loaded terrain. This season also brings in new creative voices, including Suman Kumar and Tusshar Seyth, strengthening the directing bench and sharpening the shows focus on geopolitical tension, pacing and character depth.

New Villain, New Characters In Season 3 This season introduces major new faces, including Jaideep Ahlawat, who steps in as the central antagonist. Nimrat Kaur also joins the cast in an impactful role. Returning favourites include Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Ashlesha Thakur, Vedant Sinha and Shreya Dhanwanthary, all reprising their much-loved characters.

Twitter Review Social media has been buzzing since the release of The Family Man Season 3, with many viewers praising the new chapterespecially Jaideep Ahlawats performance.

One user wrote, Family Man Season 3 is watchable mostly because of Jaideep Ahlawat. He has a stronger role than Manoj Bajpayee this time. Manojs character doesnt get enough screen time this season.

Another viewer shared a balanced take, saying, The Family Man Season 3 is very watchable and delivers what fans expectsolid performances, gripping action and strong family drama. But it falls slightly short of being exceptional compared to earlier seasons. If youre a fan, youll enjoy it; even newcomers will have a good time.

Not everyone was satisfied, though. A third user wrote, Just finished Family Man Season 3 and that ending didnt sit right with me. After all the build-up, I expected something more concrete. Not happy with how it wrapped up.

A fourth viewer called the new season a masterpiece, posting, Just completed #TheFamilyMan Season 3. Ill be a lifelong fanthis sequel goes beyond imagination. Six-and-a-half hours flew by like a flash. Cant express the joy. Lost in your world, @rajndk.

Another user added, Binge-watched #TheFamilyMan Season 3. Loved Jaideep Ahlawat and Manoj Bajpayee. The storyline is strong but the season should have ended better. Four out of five starsIm not giving the extra one because the finale didnt land.

Raj Nidimoru reveals shocking secrets In an interview with SCREEN, director Raj Nidimoru made an interesting revelation  Miras character was originally written as a man. Reacting to this, Nimrat laughed and said, No wonder she thinks like a guy.

Raj went on to explain that Mira was initially conceived as an advisor to the main antagonist before the writers decided to place her at the centre of the action. Picking up on her characters traits, Nimrat added, This is so fascinating! While playing Mira, I genuinely felt she thinks like a man. This is not how a woman would typically approach things. She may look like a woman, but her instincts are quite masculine.
Canadian actor Spencer Lofranco, best known for his roles in Gotti and Jamesy Boy, has died at the age of 33, TMZ reported. The news has sparked an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues, many of whom remembered him as a promising young performer.

The news of his death was confirmed by his brother, Santino, who shared an emotional tribute on Instagram. To the legend @roccowinning You lived a life most could only dream of. You changed peoples lives, and now you are with God. I will always love you and miss you, Bear. RIP, he wrote.

Born on 18 October 1992 in Toronto, Ontario, Lofranco made his screen debut with the 2013 romantic comedy At Middleton, starring Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga and Taissa Farmiga. However, the year of his debut also brought personal turmoil. He was involved in a hit-and-run incident that left a cyclist with a broken hip. Lofranco later received a sentence of 50 days of community service, two years of probation and was ordered to pay $161,000 in restitution.

Lofranco went on to appear in Angelina Jolies 2014 war drama Unbroken and the 2015 short film Home. Recalling the experience of working with Jolie, he had once said, Growing up, Angelina Jolie was my dream girl. Now Im going to shoot a movie with her. Its crazy.

He was last seen on the big screen in Kevin Connollys 2018 crime thriller Gotti, where he portrayed John Gotti Jr. opposite John Travolta and Kelly Preston

Also Read | Miss Universe 2025 Finale LIVE: Mexico crowned winner

Across seven films, Lofranco built a reputation as a committed performer with a growing fan base. His sudden passing has left many stunned, with tributes pouring in across social media.
Mexican painter Frida Kahlo became the most expensive female artist at auction on Thursday when Sothebys in New York sold her sleeping self-portrait for $54.7 million.

The 1940 canvas, The Dream (The Bed)," topped the previous record held by a $44.4 million Georgia OKeeffe, Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" that sold to Walmart billionaire Alice Walton 11 years earlier.

The Kahlo also became the worlds priciest Latin American artwork by besting the $34.9 million that Buenos Aires real-estate developer Eduardo Costantini paid in 2021 for the previous titleholder, a different Kahlo from 1949, Diego y yo." That self-portrait depicted the artist with a tiny portrait of her muralist husband, Diego Rivera, atop her forehead.

The Dream" shows Kahlo, who lived from 1907 to 1954, floating against a blue sky, asleep in her canopy bed as vines curl toward her and an oversize skeleton lays overhead, its bones strapped with explosives and dried flowers. Her face is framed by her long, loose hair and her signature unibrow.

Heading into these sales, Sothebys acknowledged Kahlos global star power by giving the Dream" a $40 million low estimate. The house also sent the piece on an international preview tour to potential bidders in London, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong.

When the painting came up for bid, two bidders pounced, competing for the work for at least five minutes before a telephone bidder won it to applause in the houses new salesroom within the Breuer building. Earlier that same night, Sothebys sold off the $110 million estate of Hyatt founder Jay and Marian Cindy" Pritzker, including an 1887 Vincent van Gogh, Parisian Novels (The Yellow Books)," that sold for $62.7 million. It was estimated to sell for $40 million.

Kahlos Dream" may have triumphed for several reasons, including its size and subject matter. After being badly injured in a bus accident at the age of 18, Kahlo was often compelled to paint from her bed, so her canvases tend to be smallbut this example stretched over 3 feet wide, lending it greater wall power, dealers said. Earlier this week at Christies, a more typical 15-inch example by her from 1931-32, Window Display on a Detroit Street," sold for $7.2 million, within its $6 million to $8 million estimate.

While Kahlo showed and sold her own art in New York and elsewhere during her lifetime, Mexican patrimony laws for Kahlo have since declared her works still in Mexico to be artistic monuments," which mean no one there is supposed to sell any abroad, constricting supply. Collectors who can still find a few of her works already in global circulation tend to pay a premium for Kahlos self-portraits.

The Dream" also explores her complicated relationship to death following that debilitating bus accident, one of her signature themes. The scene she depicts even imitates her real life: Kahlo actually kept a smaller, papier-mache skeleton atop her own canopy bed in Mexico City as a reassuring symbol of deaths ubiquity. Rivera used to joke that the skeleton was her lover.

During the couples lifetimes, Rivera was held in greater art-world esteem than his wife, but Kahlos global popularity has surged in recent years as museums have explored the visceral vulnerability of her works, which chronicled her life and pain in surreal, raw ways. Next year, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and Londons Tate Modern will mount major shows of her work. Shes also become a pop-cultural style icon, revered for the way she wore Mexican folk dress and braided her hair.

Sothebys example of her work came from the estate of Selma Ertegun, a Brazilian socialite who, with her jazz producer husband, Nesuhi Ertegun, amassed a vast collection of surrealist art before his death in 1989 and hers last year. Along with the Kahlo, Sothebys sale offered up 23 works from their estate, including Dorothea Tannings 1951 Interior with Sudden Joy" that sold for a record-high $3.4 million, over its $3 million high estimate.

Last year, Christies sold off their sister-in-law Mica Erteguns estate that included a $121.2 million Rene Magritte from 1954, Empire of Lights." That sale pushed Magritte into a rarefied roster of at least a dozen (male) artists whose works have topped $100 million.

Kahlos record-setter at $54.7 million suggests female artists still have a ways to go to cross that bar.

Write to Kelly Crow at kelly.crow@wsj.com
Last November, a collection of business, academic and political luminaries made a pilgrimage to a wood-paneled conference room at Harvard University. They were there to pay tribute to Lawrence Summers, the former Treasury Secretary and university president, and one of the foremost economists of his era.

During a day-long event to mark his 70th birthday, Summers basked in praise from guests including former Meta chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and Gene Sperling, who directed the National Economic Council for Presidents Clinton and Obama.

This week, a chastened Summers found himself in different circumstances: standing in the well of a Harvard lecture hall, asking his students forgiveness as his professional life was unraveling.

Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein," Summers said, according to a video taken by an attendee and posted to social media. But I think its very important that I fulfill my teaching obligations."

The question now is: Why did it take so long for Summerss ties to Epstein to wound his highflying career?

This wasnt the first time Summers was compelled to express regret to the Harvard community for his extensive ties to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Over the years Summers had flown on Epsteins private plane, according to flight logs. The two had then maintained a personal relationship long after Epsteins 2008 plea to underage prostitution charges in Florida prompted Harvard to refuse his donations. Summers courted him to help fund an online poetry project being developed by his wife, now an emerita Harvard literature professor.

Those prior revelations never appeared to impede the career of a giant in both academic and policy worldsone whose blessing could be career-making for young acolytes and whose gravitas and extensive professional network made him indispensable for organizations in moments of crisis. He was barely mentioned in a 2020 report Harvard published detailing its institutional ties to Epstein, who was arrested on sex trafficking charges the previous year. And in 2023months after The Wall Street Journal reported new details of Summerss correspondence with Epsteinhe won a plum assignment: an appointment to a new board at OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT.

Hes an extremely powerful man with an enormous network of people who have learned from him, been mentored by him. Hes powerful in D.C., powerful at Harvard. That counts for a lot, and that explains a lot," said Susan Dynarski, a well-known Harvard economist affiliated with its Graduate School of Education.

But this time is different. The immediate cause of Summerss undoing was the release of a passel of messages in which he asked advice from his friend Epstein on getting horizontal" with a woman he was pursuing.

The messages, sent in 2018 and 2019and up until the day before Epsteins arrestwere needles in a roughly 20,000-page haystack of Epstein documents released by a House committee last week. They offer a glimpse into a more sordid side of the eminent economist, agonizing about how he might leverage a professional relationship into a romantic one. They reveal the intimacy of Summerss relationship with Epstein, who described himself as a wing man" for the economist, even as the scale of Epsteins crimes against young women was becoming widely known.

Shes already beginning to sound needy :) nice," Epstein noted about Summerss object of interest in a November 2018 message. In others, they appeared to refer to the woman Summers was attracted to by a code name: peril."

On Monday, Summers issued a more fulsome apology. I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused," he said. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein."

He said he would step back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me."

But institutions were soon rushing to cut professional ties with Summers. He was out at organizations including the New York Times, where he had been a contributing opinion writer, the Center for American Progress think tank, where he was helping to formulate a new slate of Democratic economic policies to rejuvenate the party, an advisory board at the bank Santander, Bloomberg TV, where he was a paid contributor, and the Yale Budget Lab.

By Wednesday morning, Summers had resigned his seat on the OpenAI board. Then Harvarda mainstay in his life and careerannounced it would take a fresh look at his and other faculty members ties to Epstein. By evening, he would take leave from his teaching duties and post as co-director of a Harvard Kennedy School academic center, too.

Summerss fall is a reminder of the Epstein sagas potency six years after the man was found hanged to death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The coroner ruled it a suicide.

Seemingly from the grave, Epstein is still provoking ructions in President Trumps MAGA coalition while costing several powerful men their careers and reputations. There is likely more to come: Trump on Wednesday night signed legislation ordering the Justice Department to release its vast store of Epstein-related materials.

Yet Summerss travails are also uniquely his own. The flip side of his enormous intellect, say critics, is a towering arrogance that alienated many over the years. The smartest guy in the room could also be strangely inept at reading the room.

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd said in a 2013 piece that she observed him once yawn, check his watch and walk away while then-Vice President Biden spoke to a small group at a holiday party. She said Summers was not exactly socialized" and called him imperious."

In 2005, Summers stoked outrage when he suggested at a conference that there may be fewer women than men in the sciences because they had less aptitude. He later insisted hed been misunderstood, saying in a letter to the Harvard community, I deeply regret the impact of my comments and apologize for not having weighed them more carefully." But the furor grew, especially among a contingent of Harvard faculty, and he resigned as president the following year.

More recently, Summers angered some colleagues in the tumultuous period that followed Hamass October 7th attack on Israel. Pro-Palestine protests erupted on campus, along with complaints of widespread antisemitism. Summers was an early and public critic of how Harvards first Black woman president, Claudine Gay, handled the situation. Gay resigned early last year, in part after pressure mounted over her response to the protests.

The political ground had shifted at Harvard since Summerss presidency. A centrist Democrat who came to prominence in the Clinton era and was a staunch supporter of Israel and critic of wokeness" found himself on an increasingly left-wing campus.

His critics are now rejoicing.

One economist messaged a Journal reporter late Wednesday night with an emoji showing celebratory party poppers.

His comeuppance was validating for women economists, many of whom have suffered in a field that long celebrated brainy men. In a statement this week, a womens committee at the American Economic Association condemned Summers and noted: While abuse of power in the economics profession is not new, rarely has the intent behind such abuse been so clearly stated."

Claudia Sahm, a former Federal Reserve economist who blasted Summers and others for sexism in a widely shared and highly critical 2020 blog post, sounded vindicated. Okay, so maybe I wasnt too mean to him" she crowed on social media after the emails were made public last week.

Laurence Kotlikoff, a Boston University economist, has known Summers since graduate school and coauthored one of the first papers Summers published in an academic journal. On Tuesday, he declared his one-time collaborator not fit to continue service as a professor at Harvard."

Character matters. It matters more than academic merit, power posts, and financial connections," Kotlikoff wrote in a Substack post. He was the smartest guy in the room. But his ego always trumped his IQ. Its now done so in the worst possible way."

Larry understood

Smarts have never been in question for Summers, who counts two Nobel Prize-winning unclesPaul Samuelson and Kenneth Arrow. He received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. from Harvard. In 1983, according to a biography for Summers on Harvards website, he became one of the youngest people in modern history to be offered tenure at the university. He won the John Bates Clark Medal, the award given to an extraordinary American economist under age 40 that has often been a precursor to a Nobel.

Summers gained wider acclaim for his handling of the 1998 emerging markets crisis as Clintons Deputy Treasury Secretary. He was featured alongside Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan on a Time magazine cover in early 1999 in which the trio were dubbed the committee to save the world."

In an Instagram post last year, upon Summerss birthday, Sandberg recalled meeting him when she was a 20-year-old Harvard student and the impact he would have on her lifeand many others.

I am one of many who to this day think of themselves as Larry Summers student," Sandberg wrote, noting how he had advised on her thesis, then hired her as a research assistant at the World Bank, and later as his chief of staff at Treasury. She lauded his support for girls education in the developing world, as well as his personal loyalty: Larry understood that when people were up, everyone called. But when people were down, few did. Larry reached out to people when it was hard."

Epstein ties

Summers was appointed Harvards 27th president in 2001, at a time when Epsteina college dropout and onetime high school math teacherwas becoming a boldfaced name in Manhattan society, known as a shrewd, if mysterious, financier and generous patron of academia.

According to Harvards 2020 report on ties between Epstein and the university, compiled with the help of law firm Foley Hoag, Epstein contributed $9.17 million to the university from 1998 until 2008, when his conviction on prostitution charges prompted the administration to officially shun him. The biggest gift was $6.5 million he pledged in 2003while Summers was presidentto establish the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics. (In one of his characteristic exaggerations, Epstein would later claim he had given $35 million for the project).

In its early days, the programs website stated that it had been founded by Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers following an imaginative proposal" by Epstein and an academic.

The PED gave Epstein a campus office, where he would meetoften on weekendswith top researchers and government officials. According to Harvards review, he visited more than 40 times between 2010 and 2018.

Summers also sought Epsteins help for a more personal philanthropy project: an educational venture that his wife, Elisa New, was developing. I need small scale philanthropy advice. My life will be better if i raise $1m for Lisa," Summers said in an email to Epstein in April 2014. Two years later, a nonprofit connected to Epstein made a $110,000 donation to News nonprofit.

News nonprofit later made a contribution exceeding the amount received, to a group working against sex trafficking," a spokeswoman later said.

In the ensuing years, Summers would remain in regular contact with Epstein. How is life among the lucrative and louche?" he asked in October 2017, in an email included in the recently released House cache of documents.

President Trump, whose 2016 election victory shocked the establishment, was a frequent subject of banter. Is trump getting crazier as many of my pals think or is it steady crazy," Summers asked his friend in a November 2018 email. Epstein called the president borderline insane" the following month.

Around that time, their usual exchanges about White House gossip, geopolitics and financial markets were interspersed with discussion of a particular woman, a Chinese economist then in her late 30s with whom Summers sought a romantic relationship.

Based on emails forwarded by Summers to Epstein in 2018, the woman appears to be Keyu Jin, a Harvard-trained economist whose father, Jin Liqun, was the founding president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and a former vice minister of finance in Beijing.

Jin Liqun wasnt immediately available for comment. Keyu Jin didnt respond to a request for comment.

She came to study in New York during high school before earning degrees at Harvard. A longtime lecturer at the London School of Economics and, more recently, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, she is known as an articulate and effective promoter to western audiences of Chinas state-led economic policy.

Summerss emails suggest he was smitten with her, and agonizing over whether to pursue an affairand, if so, how to go about it. Think for now Im going nowhere with her except economics mentor. I think Im right now in the seen very warmly in rearview mirror category," he wrote Epstein from a conference at 10:53 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. She did not want to have a drink cuz she was tired. I left the hotel lobby somewhat abruptly. When Im reflective, I think Im dodging a bullet."

The next morning, he was still fretting, telling his confidant: I sent a note just asking her to txt when she was up cuz I had something brief to say to her. Didnt want to push cuz she takes her 930 presentation here very seriously. Better after her talk."

Then Summers asked: Am I thanking her or being sorry re my being married. I think the former.

Epstein concurred, replying: thanking her for fortitude in dealing with what has obvioulsy [sic] been a tough situation. and acknowlegin [sic] both how difficult it has been coupled with your inate [sic] insensitivty. [sic] and apologizing for not fully recogbnizing [sic] how difficult it has been."

By 10:29 a.m., Summers appeared infatuated. Game day at conference she was extremely good," he wrote Epstein in an update. Smart Assertive and clear Gorgeous. Im fucked."

Write to Joshua Chaffin at joshua.chaffin@wsj.com, Melissa Korn at Melissa.Korn@wsj.com and Justin Lahart at Justin.Lahart@wsj.com
The split in the Republican ranks that led to both houses of Congress requiring the Department of Justice to release its files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has potential to affect corporate America and beyond.

Despite digging in his heels for months, late on Wednesday President Donald Trump signed the legislation, which had been approved in the House 427-1 and by unanimous consent in the Senate on Tuesday.

The president appears to be banking on putting the episode behind him. In a Tuesday evening social media post he said he doesnt want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that weve had."

The episode may reveal, however, that Trump isnt calling all the shots anymore. Until the Epstein vote, the Republican-led Congress had largely been unwilling to challenge the administration, even on big issues such as how Trumps tariff policies stepped on their federal spending authority.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang may praise Trump and one-time special government employee Elon MuskTeslas CEOmay have been invited back to the White House for the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum after his very public falling out with the president, but corporate America may soon be debating whether Trumps eventual caving over the Epstein files under Republican pressure has wider implications for government policy.

Several companies such as Target, Walmart, and McDonalds changed their corporate policies, including removing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, after a series of executive orders by Trump early in his administration. Despite a consumer backlash, most companies have stuck with their new policies.

David Garland, an employment litigator with Epstein Becker & Green in New York, doesnt view the Republican break with Trumps original position on the Epstein files as a notable change in the political landscape, however.

There were unique circumstances associated with the Epstein files," Garland said in an interview. Democrats winning a majority in the House and/or Senate after the midterms would have far more significant ramifications," he says.

Until something like that happens, well see companies for the most part continue to act mindfully of the positions the administration has taken," Garland adds.

Concerning DEI policies specifically, most employers took a look at their policies following the issuance of those executive orders to ensure compliance with the law and adherence to their company values. As the landscape changes, or doesnt change, companies will be mindful of what is different going forward."

Vanessa Williamson, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization, views the circumstances leading up to Epstein votes as significant, however.

Its the first time you are seeing Republican officials break in a meaningful way with this administration," Williamson said in an interview.

Its also part of a pattern that may indicate change is in the offing," she says. This pattern includes the strong showing Democrats experienced in local and state elections throughout the country earlier this month.

Theres no way to think about the Epstein situation without thinking about the election results," she says. There are a lot of indications that Republicans arent looking as strong electorally." That not only affects lawmakers, and candidates, it will play into what business leaders think, she adds.

In Williamsons view, businesses that have aligned themselves with the Trump administration are risking reputational damage."

The individuals and corporations that are funding Trumps East Wing ballroomincluding Amazon.com, Apple, and Alphabets Googlewill find it difficult to present themselves as upstanding companies concerned about free speech and privacy and all the things this administration endangers," she says.

Law firms that took a longer view and resisted Trumps punitive measures restricting their ability to work with the federal government because of past clients they represented, or DEI policies, could prove to be a good example for corporate executives.

Consider that the Trump administration hasnt pushed a case to the Supreme Court against the firms that fought back and won against the government restrictions, said Stanford Law professor Mark Lemley, who had filed an amicus brief signed by 363 law professors in support of Perkins Coieone of the firms targeted by the Trump administration.

These cases are still pending appeal right now," Lemley said in an email. I think even Trumps DOJ [Department of Justice] lawyers recognize this is a losing issue for them." By contrast, the firms that settled with the administration have lost lawyers and clients," and will find it hard to recruit the best new talent.

They made the judgment that being in Trumps good graces was worth the reputational hit," Lemley said. But that judgment depends on Republicans staying in power and on Trump rewarding those who are loyal to him. Both of those now seem suspect."

Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com
NEW DELHI: Indian public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) are set to post more than 50% growth in operating profits in the current financial year (FY26), reaching $18-20 per barrel, driven by strong marketing margins, according to a Crisil Ratings report released on Friday.

The report estimates that higher profits will boost cumulative cash accruals to 75,000-80,000 crore this fiscal, up from 55,000 crore in FY25. This comes as Indian OMCs navigate a volatile oil market, including US sanctions on Russian suppliers Rosneft and Lukoil, effective from Friday.

This fiscal, the improvement in marketing margins will more than offset a moderation in refining margins due to slower global fossil fuel demand amid the energy transition, the report said.

Profit surge OMCs earn from two main streams: refining and marketing. Refining generates gross refining margin (GRM)the difference between the value of petroleum products and crude oil costs per barrel. Marketing generates gross marketing margin from the sale of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.

According to Crisil, marketing margins will be supported by stable retail fuel prices and favourable crude oil dynamics. At the time of writing, Brent crudes December contract traded at $62.29 a barrel, down 1.77% from previous close.

Healthy marketing margins are expected to support OMCs capital expenditure plans and strengthen credit metrics. Over the past five financial years, geopolitical uncertainties affected oil prices, while retail fuel prices remained largely range-bound. Operating profits fell to $0.13 per barrel in FY23 when oil averaged $93 per barrel, and peaked at $20 per barrel in FY24 when prices softened to $83 per barrel.

Annual margins have ultimately stabilized around $11 per barrel, with FY25 profits at $12 per barrel, in line with the decadal industry average.

This fiscal, crude price, though volatile, are likely to soften to $65-67 per barrel. GRM is expected to remain modest at $4-6 per barrel as moderate global demand and energy transition trends weigh on refining spreads. Amid this, unchanged retail fuel prices will boost marketing margin to $14 per barrel ( 8 per litre), resulting in overall margin improving more than 50% to $18-20 per barrel, said Anuj Sethi, senior director, Crisil Ratings.

Capex boost The projected cash accruals will support a 90,000 crore capex plan for brownfield expansion, primarily to meet domestic demand, with the remainder directed toward pipelines, marketing infrastructure, and green-energy initiatives.

While the industrys capex trajectory continues, healthy profitability will limit reliance on external debt. Hence, the ratio of debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for OMCs in our portfolio is expected to improve to ~2.2 times this fiscal from 3.6 times last fiscal, said Joanne Gonsalves, associate director at Crisil. She added that credit profiles will remain supported by the sectors strategic importance and government ownership.

Also Read | Will India and China be able to resist US sanctions on Russian oil?

Crisil cautioned that any significant production cuts or escalation in geopolitical tensions could impact crude prices and alter these expectations.
An explosion at one of Odesa's district territorial recruitment and social support centers (TCK) killed a citizenhe was carrying an explosive device in his personal belongingsand injured a serviceman from the TCK, the TCK press service reported.

"We officially report an emergency that occurred in the premises of the Peresyp District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center in Odesa. According to preliminary reports, while personnel from the Regional Recruitment and Social Support Center were speaking with a citizen inside the center, an explosion occurred involving an unknown object found in his personal belongings," Odesa Regional Recruitment and Social Support Center said in a Facebook post on Friday.

"Unfortunately, as a result of the detonation, a citizen died at the scene. A serviceman from the TCKwas also injured. He was promptly given first aid and hospitalized. The victim's condition is being assessed," the center added.

Investigative teams from the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and representatives of the State Emergency Service are currently working at the scene. All circumstances of the incident, as well as the origin of the explosive device, are being determined.

The leadership of Odesa Regional TCK is providing full cooperation to law enforcement agencies in their investigation.

"We ask media representatives and the public to refrain from disseminating unverified information and await the official findings of the competent authorities," the message reads.
All states and Union Territories barring West Bengal and Delhi have joined the Centres initiative to digitally identify farmers, a plan that will eventually help digitally map all farm activities, including the use of subsidies, credit, insurance and procurement services, to enable efficient policymaking and make it easier to design schemes for farmers.

So far, 34 states and UTs have adopted the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM), which is aimed at transforming Indias farm sector through technology, two government officials told Mint, requesting anonymity. These states and UTs will now help create and implement digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture, said one of the people cited above.

Since agriculture is a state subject, signing up for DAM is voluntary. The farm sector accounts for 16% of Indias gross domestic product (GDP) and employs close to half of the population.

The goal of the initiative is to help policymakers to easily spot trends in this sensitive sector of the economy, make timely policy interventions, and prevent the misuse of subsidies. It aims to unite Indias diverse agriculture ecosystem by fostering collaboration among states and key stakeholders through a standardised, protocol-driven framework for exchanging data.

The Centre believes the DPI created under the mission could help agritech companies build innovative, farmer-centric services that bridge the last-mile delivery gap, enhance farmer income, and contribute meaningfully to the goal of achieving a data-driven, resilient, and transparent future for Indian agriculture.

While farmers increasingly have access to smartphones and low-cost data, large-scale awareness, training, and trusted guidance on last-mile delivery are typically delivered through state government channels such as Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), extension teams, and farmer producer organisation (FPO) networks. DAM does not aim to replace these but work alongside them. The agencies will help in disseminating information among farmers.

"Without such an ecosystem push, the uptake of digital tools for crop planning, input use, and risk management tends to remain limited, which can delay improvements in productivity and resilience," said Swapnil Jadhav, founder & CEO of MapMyCrop.

Queries emailed to the union agriculture ministry, West Bengals department of agriculture and the Delhi governments agriculture unit remained unanswered.

Data sharing concerns

Under the mission, states are required to maintain and share key datasets to build the national AgriStack. These include a farmers registry containing their identities, family details, landholding records, crops grown, and livestock owned, along with village-level geo-referenced maps. States must also update digital crop survey data showing what crops are sown on each plot every season.

A senior Delhi government official said the Union Territory has a very small farming population, which is why it has not yet joined the mission. Officials in the West Bengal government declined to comment.

At least one expert pointed to concerns over sharing data, and said both governments should meet with the Centre to clear the air. "It is compulsory for states to share detailed social and economic profiles of farmers, farmland and crops in real time to become partners in the agriculture mission. There is an inherent concern and risk that the information will be used for political purposes by the central government," said Prof Sudhir Panwar, a farm expert and former member of the Uttar Pradesh Planning Commission.

Also Read | Big boost for agritech: India opens doors to more farm subsidies

He added, "State governments should make their apprehensions clear so that the Centre can respond. The situation of farmers depends on how the central government will use these platforms to disburse essential services such as loans, seeds and fertiliser, and to procure crops."

Delhi, West Bengal risk falling behind

Experts said by not joining the mission, Delhi and West Bengal risk falling behind in Indias digital agriculture revolution. "States that have not yet joined the Digital Agriculture Mission may risk slower progress simply because they miss out on the support systems that help farmers adopt technology meaningfully," said Jadhav. The agritech startup uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to provide services that help farmers monitor crops, predict yields, and optimise supply chains.

According to the 2015-16 agriculture census, the total number of farmers in Delhi was 21,000 and it had a net sown area of about 29,000 hectares. Experts said, however, that the number of farmers has fallen dramatically over the past nine years because of urbanisation. This was evident from the fact that the net sown area fell to 21,900 hectares in 2023-24, they said.

West Bengal, meanwhile, had around 7.2 million farmers and a net sown area of 5.5 million hectares, according to the 2015-16 census. The net sown area was more or less same in 2024-25, according to state government data. The state produces a surplus of rice, vegetables and potatoes. It also grows pulses, oilseeds, and maize.

According to the second official cited above, as the Centre steps up support and funding for farmers, pressure may mount on Delhi and West Bengal to reconsider.

Digital public infrastructure for agriculture

Launched in September 2024 with a budget of 2,817 crore, the mission seeks to build robust DPI for Indian agriculture such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and a comprehensive soil fertility and profile map.

AgriStack comprises three registries  farmer registry, geo-referenced village map registry, and crop sown registry  and helps answer three key questions: who the farmer is, where the land is, and what crop is grown on it. By assigning each farmer a unique digital ID, it can also help accurately track subsidies, credit, insurance and procurement services.

The government announced recently that more than 73.7 million farmer IDs had been created as of 25 October, and that 558,000 of Indias 654,000 villages had been geo-referenced. It said a digital crop survey (DCS) was being conducted in 440,000 villages during the kharif season as of 25 October (the target is 477,000 villages).

Also Read | Agritech startup DeHaat in talks to raise $100 million to buy a seed firm

The Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) integrates remote-sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources into a comprehensive geospatial system. It has 16 modules, and farmers can use it to access detailed soil data, including soil type, pH, and health metrics to help choose the right crops and adopt water-conservation measures.

Prakash Jayaram, partner, government and public services at EY India, said, "This initiative aims to facilitate evidence-based policymaking in agriculture and allied sectors, while simultaneously encouraging grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship. Using AgriStack, farmers will have quicker and easier access to government schemes, crop loans, seeds and fertilisers, and also to wider markets, including easier, minimum support price-based government procurement." He likened the scheme to Aadhaar and UPI, which have made it easier to receive government benefits and make payments, respectively.
New Delhi: Indias textile industry largely welcomed the governments rollout of four new labour codes on Friday. It especially praised the decision to allow women to work night shifts, saying this would help factories operate more efficiently and increase production. Exporters said the change would improve productivity and make Indian garments more competitive in global markets.

Industry bodies also said measures such as single registration, single licence and single return for employers, along with an inspector-cum-facilitator system instead of strict enforcement, would make it easier to do business.

The new labour codes come at a time when the textile and apparel industry is pushing for deeper integration into global supply chains as India aims to become a global hub for sourcing textiles. The countrys textile and apparel exports stood at $36.55 billion in FY25, up from $34.40 billion the previous year.

A giant leap Amit Thapar, president, Ganga Acrowools Limited, a yarn manufacturer and exporter, said higher wages would boost confidence among workers and encourage them to stay longer in factories, thereby addressing the long-standing issue of high attrition in spinning units. Thapar added, however, that the new rule allowing workers to receive gratuity after one year of service could increase attrition. Earlier, workers could receive their gratuity only after completing five years at a company.

According to Mithileshwar Thakur, secretary general, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), the long-awaited rollout of the four labour codes marks a giant step towards simplifying and streamlining myriad existing labour laws.

These labour reforms will unshackle Indian industry and help it realise its true potential through improvements in productivity, while ensuring transparency, job security, social and financial security, and social compliance for workers, he said, adding that the sector would benefit immensely from the change allowing women to work nights in all types of jobs across establishments.

Section 66 (1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948, which prohibited women from working in factories at night, was a major impediment to the introduction of double shifts in the apparel sector, where the workforce is dominated by women. Though some states had introduced their own laws permitting women to work in factories at night, it was not allowed in all states.

This change will immediately address the capacity-augmentation challenges in the sector and help India emerge as a major global sourcing hub for clothing, Thakur said.

Also Read | New labour codes redefine wages, boost gratuity and benefits

Need a fair balance Prabhu Dhamodharan, convenor of Indian Texpreneurs Federation (ITF), a textile entrepreneurs body based in Coimbatore, said, For the textile sector, this will directly support our efforts to build scale and global competitiveness, enabling companies to operate with greater stability, flexibility and efficiency, while making compliance easier.

We appreciate the changes such as single registration, single licence and single return for employers, and the inspector-cum-facilitator model instead of pure enforcement, which will strengthen the ease of doing business, he added.

Raja M Shanmugam, former president of the Tiruppur Exporters Association, said, While the new labour codes focus on workers welfare, it is also important to recognise that industries act as major employment generators on behalf of the government.
A Supreme Court decision delivered on 18 November by a 2:1 majority to recall its May judgment in the Vanashakti case has revived a long-running clash between environmental safeguards and development priorities. The move marks an unusual reversal within months and has reopened the question of whether Indias environmental regime should maintain a strict bar on retrospective approvals or accommodate limited regularisation in the interest of ongoing projects.

Environmentalists warn the recall could weaken the principle of prior scrutiny, while industry groups see it as a practical correction that prevents the shutdown of major public and private works worth over 20,000 crore.

The lone dissent has amplified concerns that retrospective approvals may gain wider acceptance unless the law is clearly restated. Mint breaks down the case and its implications for both environmental governance and industry.

Also Read | Will SC ruling delay economic bills in states? Experts see checks

How the Vanashakti case began

The dispute began in 2023 when Mumbai-based NGO Vanashakti filed a public-interest litigation (PIL) challenging the governments growing use of post-facto environmental clearances. These approvals were being granted to real estate, mining, industrial, and infrastructure projects that had already begun construction or operations without securing the mandatory prior clearance required under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the EIA Notification, 2006.

Vanashakti argued that retrospective approvals dismantled the preventive nature of Indias environmental governance, encouraged irreversible damage before scrutiny, violated statutory requirements for advance appraisal and contradicted earlier Supreme Court rulings that treated prior environmental clearances as essential. It sought a declaration that such clearances were unconstitutional.

What is an environmental clearance?

An environmental clearance is a mandatory approval required before any project begins construction or operations, backed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the 1994 and 2006 EIA Notifications. It requires impact assessments, public consultation and expert appraisal to ensure environmental risks are examined in advance.

Post-facto environmental clearances emerged after a 2017 environment ministry notification created a six-month window to regularise projects that had already begun work illegally. Though intended as a one-time amnesty, the window was extended multiple times. A 2021 office memorandum from the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change later outlined a detailed procedure for addressing such violations, effectively establishing the practice as an ongoing administrative mechanism.

What the Supreme Court held in May 2025

In May 2025, a bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan struck down both the 2017 notification and the 2021 office memo of the environment ministry.

The top court ruled that post-facto environmental clearances were illegal as a general rule, reiterated that the EIA regime is preventive and requires strict prior approval, and held that administrative circulars cannot create parallel systems to regularise violations. While earlier clearances were protected, future reliance on the 2017 and 2021 mechanisms was prohibited.

Why was the judgment recalled?

The central government and industry bodies sought a review of the ruling. On 18 November, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, with Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, recalled the earlier judgment by a 2:1 majority.

The majority held that the May verdict had overlooked binding precedent, including earlier decisions permitting limited regularisation of violations in exceptional circumstances.

The top court reasoned that Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act gives the Centre broad powers to act in the public interest and that an absolute ban failed to account for administrative realities. It distinguished between deliberate violators and inadvertent lapses and said narrowly tailored post-facto approvals could be permitted where irreversible development had occurred and where penalties and restoration ensured accountability.

The bench also noted that a strict ban could jeopardise ongoing welfare and infrastructure projects worth over 20,000 crore.

What does the dissenting judgment say?

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan issued a strong dissent. He argued that projects that start without prior environmental clearance commit a clear legal violation and should not be allowed to legalize that breach later.

According to him, the majority weakened the precautionary principle, which requires environmental risks to be assessed before harm occurs. He cautioned that using economic loss or project delays to justify retrospective approvals creates a dangerous precedent and could embolden those who violate regulations.

Bhuyan also questioned the legality of the environment ministry's 2021 office memo, saying it cannot substitute the mandatory requirement of prior environmental clearance. In his view, the recall shifts the balance towards development at the expense of environmental safeguards.

Also Read | Indian firms need to work harder to protect secrets

What the recall means for industry

For industry, the recall eases a major source of uncertainty. Environmental clearances often stall metro networks, mining blocks, industrial units and real-estate projects.

According to an Indian Express report, the Expert Appraisal Committee considered 112 violation cases and approved 55 between 2017 and 2021. These included major coal, iron and bauxite mines operated by Singareni Collieries, Mahanadi Coalfields, Hindustan Copper and Lloyds Metals; cement plants owned by UltraTech, Jaypee, Ramco and others; large industrial units such as Bhushan Steel/Tata Steel and SAIL; and real-estate and commercial developments including Spaze Towers and Hotel Leela Venture. Hospitals such as Artemis and Pushpawati Singhania also obtained approvals.

The government stated before the court that 24 central projects worth 8,293 crore and 29 state projects worth 11,168 crore were pending under these pathways. Several major public-sector projects, including the AIIMS campus in Odisha and the greenfield airport in Karnataka, relied on post-facto clearances.

Prashant Thakur, executive director and head of research at real estate consultant Anarock, said the recall will be welcomed across the industry, which often faces long delays due to environmental clearances and Green Tribunal cases.

Environmental clearances often become the biggest hurdle, and many projects remain stuck for years," he said, noting that the move will help several stalled developments progress. But he warned it must not be misused. Its a very thin linethe approach has to be balanced so violations dont slip through."

Thakur emphasized that delays hurt buyers, lenders and developers, and stressed the need for developers to realistically assess environmental and litigation risks at the start of the approval process.

Do these projects now have legal backing?

Lawyers say the recall does not grant a blanket amnesty. It simply restores the possibility of applying for post-facto environmental clearances under existing rules. Since the 2017 amnesty window expired in 2018, projects initiated after that must rely solely on the environment ministry's 2021 office memo.

Bose Varghese, senior directorESG at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said the recall does not make post-facto clearance easierit merely keeps it a possibility," noting that the 2021 memorandum still provides for the closure of non-compliant projects and demolition of those that are impermissible.

Parul Kashyap, founder partner at SunLegal, said post-facto environmental clearance is now legally permissible again, but not automatic," emphasising that only projects permissible under law can receive retrospective clearance and regulators retain full discretion to reject applications that violate environmental norms.

What this means for India's environmental laws

Environmental lawyers have raised serious concerns over the ruling and its implications.

Namitha Mathews, partner at Argus Partners, said allowing retrospective environmental clearances risks making the carefully designed prior-clearance safeguards redundant, and pointed out that the environment ministrys decision not to defend the original Vanashakti judgment suggests that economic growth is being prioritised over environmental protection.

This judgment creates a concern for environmental protection as it defeats the very purpose as to why we have the precautionary principle as an established principle of environmental law in India and across the world," said environmental lawyer Nawneet Vibhaw.

As a country that suffers from extreme pollution and widespread ecological damage despite having sound and stringent environmental laws, India always looked up to the Supreme Court to curtail attempts to weaken the provisions of environmental laws. However, this recall sets a precedent in favour of violations of environmental compliance obligations," said Varghese of Cyril Amarchand.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) faces one of its toughest challenges yet after ongoing discussions about the upcoming spectrum auction sparked major clashes, with Big Tech companies challenging telecom operators and the telecom companies themselves  especially Airtel and Jio  also at odds with each other.

The disagreements are over how Indias most important digital resource  radio spectrum  should be used, how much it should cost, when critical new frequencies should be released and whether telecom companies should get more flexibility in rolling out services.

The biggest tension is over the 6 GHz band, which could power superfast Wi-Fi and future 5G/6G networks. The disagreements also cover the 600 MHz band, the timing of spectrum auctions, price reductions for spectrum, limits on how much spectrum one company can buy and long-term rules.

According to the Big Tech companies, spectrum in the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz ranges for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) should not be offered in the next auction.

This is because technical and commercial readiness for IMT in the 6 GHz band is not established," Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Meta Platforms, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intel Corporation said in a joint statement, countering comments to the telecom regulators consultation paper on spectrum auctions.

These companies said early trials indicate performance limitations. They told Trai that Hong Kong conducted the worlds first commercial auction for the upper 6 GHz band for mobile services. However, the auction concluded with weak market performance across several key metrics. The reasons were immaturity of the device and infrastructure ecosystem, limited global adoption for mobile services, lack of compelling use-cases and existing spectrum sufficiency, they said.

Bharti Airtel echoed the view of the Big Tech companies, saying that the global ecosystem for this band, in terms of devices and network equipment, remains in its infancy."

Device ecosystem not ready

The Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology, which represents the countrys electronics and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) hardware sector, asked Trai to defer auctioning this band because devices and the infrastructure ecosystem are not ready.

A premature auction would isolate India technologically as Europe and several major markets are still finalising their 6 GHz implementation strategies," Suhail Zaidi, director general of MAIT, said in a statement to Trai. Holding off until those decisions are complete will allow India to align its band plan with global norms, secure economies of scale and benefit from mature device ecosystems."

However, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Indias largest telecom operator by market share, wants the government to immediately auction the complete 1200 MHz quantity of spectrum in the 6 GHz band (from 5.925 to 7.125 GHz).

Spectrum in the 6 GHz band is a critical part of the 5G/6G mid-band spectrum configurations, and it is imperative that the entire band should be auctioned in case we want to realize the national vision of global 6G leadership. Further, early auction will drive indigenous innovation, research, and early deployment of world-class networks," Jio told Trai.

Of the 1200 MHz of the 6 GHz band, only 400 MHz is available immediately for auction. The government recently proposed to carve out a portion (500 MHz) of the 6 GHz band for licence-free use. The remaining 300 MHz in the 6 GHz range is expected to become available for mobile services only by December 2030.

Similar issues exist for the 600 MHz band. Both Jio and Airtel are at loggerheads over auctioning this band. The band was offered for the first time in the 2022 auction cycle but did not find any takers owing to the nascent global ecosystem and limited device and network readiness. It was not part of the 2024 auction.

Reserve pricing

Spectrum price is another divisive issue. While telecom operators have called for a sharp cut in the base price in the next spectrum auction, Jio has opposed any reduction in the reserve price for existing bands from their last auctioned price.

Such reductions have no logical or reasonable justification and in fact will lead to significant erosion of the value of the spectrum for the buyers who bought the spectrum in preceding auction," Jio said, adding that such unreasonable practices will have a serious impact on investor confidence.

A drastic lowering in prices for bands that have already been sold in the previous auction creates investor uncertainty, leading to the possibility of a muted response in the next auction, the telecom operator said.

However, Bharti Airtel reiterated that a substantial reduction in spectrum reserve prices across all frequency bands is essential to realize Indias digital transformation agenda. The company said that high reserve prices have historically resulted in spectrum remaining unsold or underutilized, thereby impeding network expansion, constraining investment and diminishing service quality."

According to Satya N. Gupta, former principal advisor at Trai, the regulator will need to strike a balance between affordability for users and the revenue-generating potential of spectrum. Spectrum represents a critical revenue stream for the government, which sets a base price and expects companies to bid higher. A premium over the reserve price translates into higher government revenue.

Getting the spectrum is a major expense for operators. In case Trai decides to lower the reserve price, then it will benefit not only the operators but the end users as well," Gupta said.

Aggressive bidding eases

However, aggressive bidding for spectrum has eased since 2021, with most of the airwaves sold near their reserve pricesa shift driven by industry consolidation, high base prices and the financial burden of recent 5G rollouts.

In the June 2024 auction, 10,522.35 MHz of spectrum with a reserve price of 96,238.45 crore was put on the block. Of this, 141.40 MHz of airwaves worth 11,341 crore were sold.

In 2022, before the launch of 5G services, of the 72,098 MHz of spectrum worth 4.3 trillion offered, operators acquired 51,236 MHz of spectrum worth over 1.5 trillion.

Also Read | India may offer spectrum discount to satellite internet providers

Another major point of contention between the operators is a cap on the amount of spectrum an operator can buy. Jio said spectrum caps should be completely abolished as they are artificial hindrances that have lost their relevance given the current abundant spectrum supply and mature markets.

On the other hand, Airtel said the spectrum caps are crucial in maintaining a competitive equilibrium and preventing monopoly. The telecom operator wants Trai to reduce the spectrum cap in some of the bands from 40% to 35%.
Mexicos Fatima Bosch stood on the 74th Miss Universe stage, beating more than 100 contestants to secure the crown. Thailands Praveenar Singh finished as first runner-up, and Denmarks Victoria Kjr Theilvig - last years queen - placed the crown on Boschs head.

This is Mexicos first win since Andrea Meza took the title back in 2020, and the energy around the arena made it clear how big that moment was.

What does Fatima Bosch actually win? The Miss Universe Organisation has not yet released the official numbers. But industry insiders expect the 2025 winners prize package to mirror last years figures. That puts the cash award at roughly $250,000, the same amount Victoria Kjr earned in 2024.

On top of that, the Miss Universe titleholder also receives a monthly salary of $50,000, which covers travel, appearances and a long list of commitments during her reign. All of this is only part of the package.

One of the flashiest perks remains the winners official residence - a luxury apartment in New York City, right in one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the world. It becomes her base for the year as she navigates charity events, press tours and global trips tied to the Miss Universe brand.

Miss Universe crown and everything that comes with the title Of course, the crown itself gets plenty of attention. This years piece, crafted with intricate detailing and featuring gemstones, is valued at a jaw-dropping $5 million (approximately). It is easily one of the most expensive competition crowns in the world.

The 2025 pageant brought together 121 delegates, all competing under the theme - The Power of Love. After a long night of cuts, stage rounds and interviews, the Top 5 lineup settled with Venezuelas Stephany Abasali placing second runner-up, followed by the Philippines Ahtisa Manalo and Cote dIvoires Olivia Yace.

Fatima Bosch walks away with much more than a title. She gets a salary, a home in NYC, a crown worth millions and a platform that could change the direction of her career and her life.

FAQs How much prize money does Miss Universe 2025 receive? Reports suggest a total of around $250,000, similar to last years winner.

Does the Miss Universe winner get a salary? Yes, the titleholder earns about $50,000 a month during her reign.

Where does the Miss Universe winner live? She stays in a luxury apartment in New York City for the year.
MUMBAI: Mutual fund houses are stepping up efforts to position gold exchange-traded funds (gold ETFs) as a safer, fully regulated alternative to digital gold after a recent regulatory warning prompted fresh scrutiny of the fast-growing digital gold market.

Over the past week, several large fund houses have rolled out prominent print and digital campaigns branding Gold ETFs as secure," regulated," and transparent," seeking to tap investor concern and long-standing confusion around different gold-linked investment products.

The promotional burst follows a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) circular issued earlier this month that explicitly warned investors about the risks of digital gold, an investment avenue that has grown rapidly through smartphones and UPI-led platforms but sits outside the securities regulatory framework.

With Sebi drawing clear boundaries between regulated and unregulated gold products, mutual funds see an opportunity to draw investors into their ETF offerings, though it may still be too early to gauge whether investor behaviour will shift.

Advertisements from major players such as HDFC Mutual Fund and Nippon India Mutual Fund lean heavily into themes of compliance, liquidity and formal exchange-based trading, using visuals of gold bars alongside taglines such as gold you truly hold."

The Nippon MF advertisement states: The market is full of digital gold products with varying levels of safety and transparency. If you want to opt for a gold investment product that is transparent and regulated, has investor protection mechanism and is backed by physical gold with 99.5% purity, then gold ETF is the answer."

Gold ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to gold through the stock market while being backed by physical metal. There are currently 22 such ETFs across fund houses, collectively managing assets worth 1.02 trillion. The category recorded inflows of 7,743 crore in October alone, according to the latest data from the Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi), marking the third straight month of net inflows.

Investors who do not hold demat accounts can gain exposure through gold fund-of-funds (FoFs), which buy ETF units on their behalf. Multi-asset mutual funds also allocate a portion of their portfolios to gold ETFs, offering indirect exposure.

Emails to HDFC mutual fund and Nippon India MF did not elicit a response.

Sebis warning

The current push by fund houses began shortly after Sebis 8 November circular, which cautioned investors about digital gold platforms. The regulator clarified that digital gold is neither categorised as a security nor as a commodity derivative and emphasised that such products operate entirely outside the purview of Sebi." The notice added that such digital gold products may entail significant risks for investors and may expose investors to counterparty and operational risks."

Following the circular, the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) wrote to Sebi urging the regulator to bring digital gold under its ambit. The association told Mint that it may approach the central government if Sebi declines to regulate the segment.

Also Read | Digital gold companies may approach govt if Sebi declines calls for regulation

A top executive at an asset management company (AMC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the regulators stance reflects rising unease about the scale of activity outside formal oversight. Investments into digital gold are becoming bigger than expected. Sebi and the government are facing discomfort because of it," he said.

A major source of concern is that digital gold operates in a regulatory vacuum, overseen by neither Sebi nor the Reserve Bank of India, leaving buyers with limited recourse if a platform faces stress or collapses. The absence of formal oversight also means there is no uniform verification of the physical gold backing user holdings, especially among smaller providers. Pricing varies sharply across platforms because of markups, charges and payment gateway fees, which come on top of the 3% GST levied on gold purchases.

For mutual funds, this regulatory moment has opened a window to attract investors to a product category they have long tried to build. It is a good time for mutual funds to show how ETFs can benefit investors. Such advertisements may help mutual funds increase their AUM," said Vishal Bedse, investment advisor at ICICI Investment Management Co. More people switching from digital gold to gold ETFs would mean more money for the mutual fund."

Nippon Indias new campaign illustrates this approach, placing digital gold and gold ETFs side-by-side across parameters such as Sebi regulation, investor-protection mechanisms, demat holding, and mandatory disclosuresshowing ETFs scoring higher on each.

We want people who want to invest in gold to come to gold ETFs, though gold is not a mainline investment product, it is a hedge," said D.P. Singh, deputy managing director and joint chief executive officer at SBI Mutual Fund.

Investor reality

Despite the industrys messaging blitz, investors have not yet begun moving away from digital gold, according to industry executives.

We are not clear on whether more people would move to gold ETF as of now. We have to give it more time,"said the AMC executive quoted earlier. A lot of people don't do due diligence or research. We are trying to tell them that ETF is also an option," he added.

Inquiries for gold ETFs have not gone up. Investors are not expected to take overnight positions in gold," said Santosh Joseph, chief executive officer and managing director at Germinate Investor Service.

Investment advisors note that concerns around digital gold predate the Sebi circular. I have never recommended digital gold as it is not very transparent and prices vary across platforms. The investors also have to pay an extra 3% GST if they invest in the product," said Bedse.

Yet digital gold continues to draw significant retail traction due to its low ticket size, often as little as 1 or 10, and ease of access. According to the National Payments Corp. of India (NPCI), UPI-based digital gold purchases surged from 50.93 million transactions in Januarythe first month NPCI began releasing this datato 115.95 million in October. In value terms, UPI-driven purchases more than tripled, touching 2,290.4 crore.

Management consulting firm Technopak Advisors estimates that Indias digital gold holdings stood at 25 tonnes in FY25 and are likely to double by FY30. For comparison, gold ETFs collectively held 77.4 tonnes of physical gold as of September, according to the World Gold Council.
The stock of Avanti Feeds Ltd, one of Indias largest shrimp exporters, saw a relief rally after commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal hinted at reaching a fair and balanced trade deal with the US. It has risen more than 10% since the positive news on Tuesday.

Chinas escalating tensions with Japan also sparked hopes of higher exports to the former. Avanti has meaningful exposure to both the US and China.

Following US President Donald Trumps tariff tantrum, the stock had corrected 35% since the reciprocal tariff saga started in April. India exports $3 billion worth of shrimp annually, 48% of which goes to the US. Avanti Feeds' exports to the US stood at 72% of its total processed shrimp sales in H1FY26.

The oft-quoted fall" (autumn) deadline for the anticipated US-India trade deal is approaching. A favourable trade deal would take the pressure off Avanti Feeds and improve its earnings trajectory.

Its exports to the US have been weighed down by 58% tariffs. Amid this, Chinas retaliatory ban on Japanese seafood following Japans statements on Taiwan, could bode well for Indias shrimp exporters if they manage to fill the gap left behind by Japanese shrimp. China is the second-largest export market for Avanti.

Also Read | Double blow: Why this is the toughest test yet for the Indian shrimp industry

In Q2FY26, revenue rose 19% year-on-year to 1,610 crore aided by strong volume growth in shrimp processing and export business. Ebitda margin rose 200 basis points to 15.1%.

Despite US headwinds, management remains confident that government measures to support exporters affected by tariffs will help the business recover.

Mitigating risks

To negate the concentration risk, it has been prioritizing value-added offerings which command higher margins, pushing for higher domestic consumption, and diversifying into new export markets. It is also exploring adjacent segments, including pet food and fish feed.

Avanti stock is currently trading at 848 apiece and has some ground to cover to reach the pre-April level of 914. But there could be hurdles.

Cost of major raw materials  fish meal and soybean meal  increased sequentially in Q2FY26, and the management expects continued strain in Q3FY26. This could erode margins. Also, with 23% of revenues coming from exports, any negative surprises on the US trade deal can play spoilsport.

Meanwhile, even as the valuation at 19.1x FY27 earnings based on consensus Bloomberg estimates offers comfort, risks remain from raw material price volatility and fluctuating periods of strong and weak demand, production, and prices in the international market, known as global shrimp cycles.
United States-based drugmaker Eli Lilly on 21 November 2025, became the first pharmaceutical company and only the second non-technology firm, to enter the trillion-dollar market capitalisation club after its stock price rose 1.7%.

In the early US stock market session, shares of the pharma giant jumped 1.7% to hit an intraday high of $1,061.17, compared to $1,043.29 at the previous market close, according to MarketWatch data.

At a trillion, its two times as big as the second biggest company in health care. Thats an incredible situation for them, Jared Holz, a strategist at Mizuho Securities USA LLC told Bloomberg.

Why did Eli Lilly's stock gain? The jump came as Wall Street pundits and investors bet big on the drugmakers GLP-1s medicines, used to treat obesity and diabetes, along with its next generation weight-loss pill in the market projected to reach $95 billion by 2030, as per a Bloomberg report.

After its shares fell in May due to high tariffs (imposed by US President Donald Trump), and setbacks to its weight-loss drug Zepbound (drug benefit manager CVS Health Corp. dropped Zepbound from its list of preferred drugs and replaced it with Novo Nordisk A/Ss Wegovy), since September, the stock has gained.

Its better-than-expected Q3 earnings, raised outlook and a deal with the Trump administration, helped propel it to new heights, the report added. In 2025, Eli Lilly shared have risen 37% so far, after a 32% rally in 2024.

Why are the investors betting on Eli Lilly? Investors are doubling down on the drugmaker to maintain its pole position in the weight-loss drugs market. Data so far has shown the maker beat its Danish competitor Novo Nordisk in obesity drug performance.

A one-on-one comparison between Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in May 2025 showed that the former's experimental pill helped patients shed weight and control blood sugar about as well as Ozempic in a separate trial. And while Zepbound sales have topped Wall Streets expectations so far this year, Novo has had to trim its annual forecast four times amid lagging sales.

In its most recent quarterly results, the US drugmaker said that its GLP-1 drugs now account for almost 58% of that market, which includes Novos Ozempic and Wegovy.

When you look at what theyve done side by side against Novo, which had the early lead in obesity, to come in and take basically two thirds of new market share within two years is kind of incredible. In terms of their execution, its been consistently good, Holz added.

Next invetors are keen on the company's easy-to-swallow pill thats less expensive to make. Approval for it from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) is expected in early 2026 and the firm has bulked up supply ahead of a potential launch.

Citis Geoff Meacham, who estimates annual sales for the pill will peak at more than $40 billion, assigned Lilly a $1,500 price target last week  the highest on Wall Street, as per the report. Lillys domination of the category should accelerate, Meacham wrote. His price target suggests the companys market value would top $1.4 trillion over the next 12 months.

Also Read | Tata Chemicals board approves 910 crore expansion plans

Eli Lilly working on experimental drugs To keep its market lead, Eli Lilly is conducting studies of tirzepatide  the chemical compound in Zepbound  in related health conditions like liver disease, heart failure and immunological diseases. The company is also examining its experimental obesity pill, orforglipron, in hypertension and sleep apnea.

Mizuhos Holz sees further upside for Lilly shares if the company continues to find growth drivers, whether in its obesity franchise or its Alzheimers program, the report added. Is it possible that in three, four, five years, this is a $2 trillion company? Sure, very possible. Holz said.
Excelsoft Technologies IPO in focus: The initial public offering (IPO) of Excelsoft Technologies received a healthy response from investors during its bidding period, with the issue being subscribed over 45 times by the end of Day 3, as it attracted strong interest from institutional investors.

The Excelsoft Technologies IPO, which ran from November 19 to November 21, received bids for 132.6 crore shares against the 2.92 crore shares on offer, resulting in a subscription rate of 45.46 times.

Non-institutional investors showed strong interest, with their portion subscribed 107 times as they placed bids for 41.71 crore shares compared with the allotted 83.33 lakh shares.

The qualified institutional buyers (QIB) segment reflected similar enthusiasm, with its portion booked 50 times, while the retail quota was subscribed 16.44 times.

Excelsoft Technologies IPO Details The 500 crore issue is a combination of a fresh issue of 1.50 crore shares aggregating to 180 crore and an offer for sale of 2.67 crore shares aggregating to 320 crore.

The price band has been fixed at 114 120 per share, while the lot size is set at 125 shares, requiring a minimum investment of 15,000 for retail investors. The mainboard IPO is proposed to list on both the NSE and BSE, tentatively on Wednesday, November 26.

The allotment for the IPO is set to be finalized on Monday, November 24. The company will initiate refunds to non-allottees on November 25, and shares will be credited on the same day for allotted investors.

The company plans to utilize the proceeds from the issue to fund capital expenditure for a new building at the Mysore property, upgrades including external electrical systems, IT infrastructure, and general corporate purposes.

Anand Rathi Advisors Ltd. is the book-running lead manager, and MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd. is the registrar of the issue.

About Excelsoft Technologies Incorporated on June 12, 2000, Excelsoft Technologies is a global vertical SaaS company focused on the learning and assessment market. With over two decades of experience, the company provides technology-based solutions across diverse learning and assessment segments through long-term contracts with enterprise clients worldwide.

Their platforms are cloud-based, with open and industry standards-compliant APIs, ensuring scalability across organisations and users. Security and performance are core to their product offerings.

View full Image Excelsoft Technologies IPO
The losses in Hyundai Motor India share price deepened further as the stock slipped another 2.7% in intraday trade on Friday, November 21, to 2,275 apiece, extending its decline for the second session.

The stock has come under severe selling pressure in recent weeks, having closed seven of the last nine weeks in the red, losing 18% of its value. From its all-time high of 2,890, it is currently down 21%, erasing most of the gains it accumulated in August and September.

From April to mid-September, the stock had enjoyed an almost one-way rally that drove a 71% surge in value, pushing valuations to premium levels compared with its peer groupan uptrend that proved unsustainable and eventually led to a sharp correction, especially given the companys steady drop in domestic PV market share.

Though the company's Q2FY26 performance came in higher than Street estimates, concerns over its shrinking share in Indias passenger vehicle (PV) marketslipping to 13.3% in H1FY26 from a peak of 17.5% in FY20continued to weigh on the stocks performance.

Competitive landscape in PVs has changed meaningfully in recent years, as improved SUV portfolios of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Tata Motors, the entry of Kia, and rising presence of Toyota have brought market shares of the top-two OEMs, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and Hyundai Motor India, to 14- and 24-year lows, respectively, said a 30 October report by Jefferies India.

In mid-October, the company held its first-ever investor day in India following its listing, outlining plans to increase its domestic market share to 15% by FY30 through a more aggressive launch calendarwith 26 new products planned by thenand a refreshed pricing strategy.

Management has guided for a 5.2% volume CAGR for the Indian passenger vehicle segment over the next five years, while Hyundai Motor India expects to outperform the industry with a 7% CAGR.

The company is targeting 1.5x revenue growth to over 1,000 billion by FY30F, compared with 692 billion in FY25, and aims to deliver an EBITDA margin of 1114%. To support 26 new product launches, Hyundai plans to invest 450 billion during FY26F30F and lift its market share to over 15% by FY30, versus 14.4% in 1HFY26.

Demand tailwinds from GST 2.0 could provide near-term support. Hyundais strong capabilities in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) technologies and a continued shift toward higher-margin SUVs remain key positives.

However, rising operating costs from its new plant and intensifying competition in the EV segment present potential risks.

Break below  2,300 signals deeper downside, says analyst Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree, noted that Hyundai India is slipping below its daily flag pattern near 2,300, signaling weakness after a low-volume rally. Breakdowns typically dont need heavy volumes, and the current price action fits that behavior well.

He added that a sustained move or close below 2,300 could drag the stock toward the 2,050 zone, which he considers the first meaningful support. According to him, what makes the setup more bearish is the symmetry in the trend, the stock climbed on low volumes and is now declining on similarly weak activity, reflecting an absence of strong buyers and a structure that leans toward further downside.

Until volumes shift or price reclaims key levels, caution is warranted, Jain said.
Putin considers it possible to take Trump's plan as basis for peaceful settlement

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow received from Washington the text of Trump's "28-point plan" on the war in Ukraine, Russian media reported.

"I believe it could form the basis of a final peace settlement. But this text has not been discussed with us in detail," Putin said at a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council on Friday.

He also claims that US President Donald Trump's peace plan "was discussed before the Alaska meeting," and the main goal of the Anchorage meeting "was for Russia to confirm its willingness to show flexibility."

Putin also stated that "the U.S. administration has still not managed to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side," because "Ukraine is against it," and both it and its European allies "are still under illusions and dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield."
A pre-engineered building (PEB) is a structure for which the main components are manufactured off-site in a factory, transported to the construction site, and then assembled to form the complete structure. It replaces the lengthy, sequential stages of traditional cement construction with a faster approach that shortens project timelines and offers much greater flexibility.

This shift has become necessary because today's capital-intensive industries can no longer absorb the delays and cost overruns associated with conventional construction methods. They need facilities that can be built quickly, modified easily, and scaled without frictionrequirements that PEB technology meets far more effectively.

According to EPack Prefab, a company that manufactures prefabricated structures, PEBs are 40-50% faster to complete, 20-25% cheaper, require 25% less manpower, and produce up to 52% less embodied carbon, which is the total greenhouse gas emissions from the entire lifecycle of a PEB, encompassing raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance and disposal.

These advantages are now driving demand across a wide range of sectors and the PEB industry is entering a phase of meaningful expansion. It still accounts for only 3-5% of India's total construction market, so theres plenty of headroom for growth. The numbers already reflect this early transition. The PEB industry was valued at 13,000 crore in FY19, is estimated at 21,000 crore in FY25, and is projected to touch 34,500 crore by FY30.

Behind these figures lies a structural shift toward organised players, whose share is expected to rise from 42-47% in FY25 to 47-52% by FY30. Much of this momentum is driven by high-growth, emerging sectors such as data centres, renewable energy, and semiconductors.

For example, data centres in certain locations are already using PEB technology, causing PEB companies to increase their investment in this segment. Renewable energy is also opening up new avenues as the sector moves into upstream areas such as glass and wafer manufacturing.

Additional demand is coming from semiconductors, automotive, electric vehicle manufacturing, and other industries that need rapid, scalable and adaptable construction.

Two leading PEB companies have emerged as early beneficiaries of this shift. Here's a closer look at what is driving their momentum.

Epack Prefab Technologies: third-largest player

Epack Prefab is one of the fastest-growing end-to-end prefab solution providers in India and the third-largest by capacity. The prefab business specifically clocked a robust 46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over FY22 to FY25, which is roughly six times the overall prefab industrys CAGR of 8.3% over the same period, positioning Epack as one of the fastest-growing players.

Management believes the industry's positive momentum will continue, and Epack will continue to outpace the overall industrys growth of 10-12%. The company also aims to consolidate its position as a leader in the prefab industry over the next three to four quarters.

Epac's competitive edge comes from its execution speed, which has previously been a pain point for many PEB companies. The company holds the world record for the fastest construction of a pre-engineered factory building (150,000 sq ft completed in 150 hours) in Mambatu, Tamil Nadu. South India is currently experiencing significant growth owing to the increased industrial setup there.

Epack offers an extensive portfolio of prefabricated and packaging solutions, including pre-engineered steel buildings and prefabricated structures, sandwich-insulated panels, and expanded polystyrene packaging products. Sandwich insulated panels offer fire resistance, sound insulation, and thermal resistanceessential components in high-growth sectors such as data centres.

Capacity expansion to capture the next phase of industry growth

As of 30 September, the company's order book stood at 920 crore, equivalent to about seven to eight months of revenue. Epack also received an order worth 140 crore in October, taking its order book to 1,060 crore. Management said new orders were mostly coming from sunrise sectors with high capital expenditure.

Rapid solar capacity expansion and opportunities in upstream activities such as glass and wafer manufacturing are driving demand. The semiconductor sector is also contributing significantly to order booking. Orders are coming from the automotive industry, including new inquiries for EV manufacturing plants and battery energy storage plants.

Although Epack has not yet built an entire PEB for a data centre, it is executing projects that involve the installation of specialised, fire-rated sandwich panels. It sees the data centre market as promising for future steel structure fabrication and supply.

Also Read | This newly listed auto parts maker is flying under the radar. Here is why

The company is aggressively expanding its manufacturing capabilities to maintain its growth momentum and meet its 10% market-share goal (from 5% to 5.5% at present). It currently has an annual PEB capacity of 133,922 metric tonnes (MT) and 1.31 million square meters of total sandwich panel capacity.

Utilisation of built-up section capacity was higher at 88% in Q2 FY26, reflecting increased demand. The company is expanding to cater to this rising demand, including a brownfield expansion for structural steel fabrication capacity in Andhra Pradesh. It will increase annual capacity from 25,500 MT to 32,000 MT and is expected to commence commercial operations in Q4 FY26.

The company is investing 58 crore of capex for this project and expects to generate revenues of more than 300 crore, based on a scheduled asset turnover of about 7 times. Epack is also setting up a continuous insulated sandwich panel line (800,000 square meter capacity) and a pre-engineered capacity of 11,300 MTPA.

The facility is scheduled to begin production in the second quarter of FY27. With an investment of 101.6 crore and an asset turnover of 2.5 times, Epack expects to generate up to 250 crore of revenue from the panel line alone. It is also expanding outside India, from where it generates most of its revenue.

Financial performance shows strength, operating leverage

Export sales  mainly to SAARC countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka  currently account for only 1.5-2% of revenue. It plans to leverage the Mambattu facility's port proximity to the Middle East and Africa to evaluate exports to those regions.

The company has reported robust financials. Epacks revenue rose 35.8% year-on-year to 729 crore in the first half of FY26, driven by strong execution of the order book. Operational performance remained strong, with Ebitda growth of 45.6% to 81 crore and a margin of 11.1% (higher than competitor Interarchs 8.4%). Fixed asset turnover in H1 was the highest at 4.8 times, reflecting high capacity utilisation.

Profit after tax (PAT) surged 64.4% to 46 crore. The first half accounts for 45% of annual revenue, while the second half accounts for 55%. The company is net-debt-free and generated 83 crore in cash from operations. Its return ratios are among the best in the sector, with a return on capital employed (RoCE) of 22% and a return on equity of 23%, higher than Interarchs 14% and 19%, respectively.

Interarch Building Solutions: second-largest player

Interarch is the second-largest PEB company in India by capacity after private firm Kirby Building Systems. The company positions itself as building-agnostic, capable of constructing everything from warehouses and industrial plants to high-rise buildings, malls, airports, stadiums, houses, villas and resorts.

As of November, the company has five manufacturing facilities in Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The total annual installed capacity stands at 201,000 MT, with capacity utilisation of about 84%. As of 31 October, the total order book is 1,630 crore, which is about one year's revenue.

Interarch has begun laying the groundwork for two new manufacturing facilities in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, which will add a combined 65,000 MT of capacity by Q2 FY27. The Gujarat plant, focused on PEB solutions, will add 40,000 MT, while the Athivaram unit will bring in 25,000 MT for heavy steel structures and multistorey buildings.

The combined outlay stands at about 150 crore, to be deployed over the next year, with spending split almost evenly between FY26 and FY27. These locations will strengthen the company's presence in core industrial clusters, and the expansion will extend its reach into heavier fabrication segments such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, and allied industry clusters.

Management expects revenues of over 2,000 crore once this capacity is fully commissioned in FY27, and 20% growth in FY28. The company relies heavily on repeat business, with 80-85% of recent orders coming from existing customers. To acquire new customers, Interarch is expanding its sales network in strategic overseas markets across Central & West Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Interarch also reported strong financials for the first half of FY26. Revenue rose 39% year-on-year to 872 crore as execution stayed firm. Ebitda increased 40% to 73 crore, with margins at 8.4% (trailing Epack Prefab's levels). PAT grew 48% to 61 crore, supported by better operating leverage and a near-peak capacity utilisation.

Bottomline

At 334 a share, Epack trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 45, a premium to Interarch's 34. Although Interarch is larger, Epack's industry-leading margins, stronger return ratios, and sharper growth trajectory help justify part of this valuation gap. Even so, the stock now looks fully priced and now hinges on bottom-line growth.

Note that the PEB sector comes with its own set of risks. Growth hinges on overall capex momentum, making it vulnerable to shifts in economic activity, policy delays, and private-sector investment sentiment. And volatility in steel prices remains a constant threat to margins.

For more such analysis, read Profit Pulse.

Madhvendra has more than seven years of experience in equity markets and writes detailed research articles on listed Indian companies, sectoral trends, and macroeconomic developments.

The writer does not hold the stocks discussed in this article.

The purpose of this article is only to share interesting charts, data points, and thought-provoking opinions. It is NOT a recommendation. If you wish to consider an investment, you are strongly advised to consult your advisor. This article is strictly for educational purposes only.
Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics Cell, on Friday, summoned actor Shraddha Kapoor's brother, Siddhanth Kapoor, in connection with the 252 crore MD drugs case. He has been asked to appear at the Ghatkopar unit on Tuesday, 25 November for recording his statement.

A second summons has also been sent to social media influencer Orry (Orhan Awatramani), who has been asked to appear at the ANC Ghatkopar unit on Wednesday, 26 November, to record his statement in the case.

What is the case? The case in question dates back to March 2024 when the police seized 126.14 kg of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, valued at around 252 crore from a manufacturing unit located on a farm in Maharashtras Sangli district.

The summoning of Shraddha Kapoor's brother comes days after the police had said that film and fashion celebrities named by Shaikh  the alleged drug dealer who was deported from Dubai last month  in connection with the case  are likely to be questioned as the probe continues.

Who all have been summoned? To date, Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics Cell have summoned social media influencer Orry  alias Orhan Awatramani, Shraddha Kapoor's brother and actor Siddhanth Kapoor for recording their respective statements.

Earlier, Shaikh had claimed that he used to organise rave parties in the country and abroad for film and fashion celebrities as well as gangsters, reported PTI.

Which celebs have been named? The Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch said that the lavish parties organised by Shaikh were allegedly attended by several high-profile individuals, including Nora Fatehi and Shraddha Kapoor.

In their remand application before a Mumbai court, police said that producers Abbas-Mustan, along with a few other celebrities such as rapper Loka, Orry, and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique were also allegedly present in the parties.

"The said accused has previously organised drug parties in the country and abroad with Alisha Parkar, Nora Fatehi, Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddharth Kapoor, Zishan Siddiqui, Ori alias Orhan, Abbas Mastaan, Loka and many other people and has himself joined in them and is supplying drugs to these and other people," media reports quoted the remand document as saying.
Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said on Friday, 21 November, that he has no regret over the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) decision regarding the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister's post.

Addressing the question of whether he regretted his party not getting the Deputy CM position, Paswan replied: Chirag Paswan kitna or laalchi ho skta hai? (How much more greedy can Chirag Paswan be?)

He said that the alliance has shown great faith in him. The NDA allowed his party to contest 29 seats and appointed two of its leaders as ministers in Bihar.

You must think where I have come from...in 2021, there was not one person around me...the party was split...and in 2024, the Prime Minister put faith in the party and gave it five seats to contest (2024 Lok Sabha Election), he said.

Paswan said what matters most is the faith that PM Modi showed in the party, as he gave it five seats to contest the polls. I stood by their faith, he said.

The LJP (RV) chief said that the party won 19 Bihar Assembly seats despite speculations that the LJP (RV) was fielded on lost seats. It's true that 26 of my 29 candidates were indeed fighting in lost seats, he said.

Despite this, the NDA posed faith in the LJP(RV)...and even appointed two of its leaders as ministers, he said.

Ab iske baad bhi mai gathbandhan se kuch maangu, to mujhse bada nashukra koi nahi hoga, mujhse bada laalchi koi nahi hoga...iske baad bhi agar may malaal rakhungato mujhe khushiyin ko manana nhi aata hoga..., [Even after this, if I ask for something from the alliance, then no one will be more ungrateful than me, no one will be more greedy than me... Even after this, if I keep regretting, I will not know how to celebrate happiness], he said.

Earlier, Chirag Paswan had said the induction of two MLAs from his party into the new council of ministers in Bihar marks a major victory that his late father Ram Vilas Paswan had long envisioned.

The poll mandate places big responsibilities on the party to work towards a developed Bihar, he added.

LJP(RV)'s performance in Bihar Election 2025 The LJP(RV) won 19 seats in the election, and the ministers from Paswan's party include Sanjay Kumar Paswan of Bakhri, an associate of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, and Sanjay Kumar Singh, who defeated Tej Pratap Yadav in Mahua.

I know that today he [Ram Vilas Paswan] would be the happiest, because of the heights at which he wanted to see our party. Today, two ministers from our party took the oath. The party has certainly achieved a major victory, as reflected in the results. And I believe that big victories also bring big responsibilities. I am fully aware of those responsibilities, Chirag Paswan said.

Bihars golden era begins now, he said.

His statement came after JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar for a record 10th time at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Thursday, heading an NDA government that returned to power with 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. 27 ministers, including Kumar, took the oath at the event.
A 16-year-old Delhi schoolboy who left his home on Tuesday morning, excited for another day with his drama club, ended his life by afternoon. Police said the Class 10 student of a private school jumped from the platform of Rajendra Place Metro Station in central Delhi at 2.34 pm on Tuesday, November 18.

An FIR noted that he allegedly jumped from Platform No. 2 of Rajendra Place Metro Station.

Police recovered his school bag from the metro station, which contained a suicide note. He left a note accusing his school teachers of harassment and calling for strict action against them.

What did the boy's letter reveal? A senior police officer was quoted by PTI as saying that the suicide note found at the spot began with the boy identifying himself and asking the reader to call a number.

He wrote that continuous scolding by school staff had pushed him to commit suicide and apologised to his parents and elder brother. He also requested that his organs be donated.

Also Read | Bullied: CBSE flags major failures in Jaipur schoolgirl suicide case

"Sorry bhaiya, for all the time I was rude to you," he wrote to his brother, and to his mother, he said, "Sorry mummy, however many times I broke your heart, I am going to do it for the last time."

He expressed gratitude toward his parents and his guilt at not being able to do more for them.

The officer said the note ended with the boy asking that whatever remained of him be used to help someone else.

"Give my organs to those in need," he wrote, adding that if any organs were still functioning after the fall, they should be donated.

The suicide note recovered from his school bag read, I am very sorry I did this, but the school staff said so much that I had to do it. If any of my body (organs) works or is in condition to work, please donate it to someone who really needs it. My parents did a lot; I am sorry I couldn't give them anything. I'm sorry, brother, I was rude. I'm sorry, mother, I broke your heart so many times, now I will break it for the last time.

The deceased, in his suicide note, demanded that strict action be taken against the teachers. "Meri last wish hai inke uper action le, me nahi chata koi aur bacha meri tarah kuch kare. (My last wish is that action be taken against them, I don't want other children to suffer the way I did.)"

"I am sorry, but the teachers did this to me," the note added.

Police said the allegations and content of the note are being examined.

What happened on the day of incident: 'Did not care how much he cried' The boy's father said that on Tuesday, the boy had stayed back for his drama club session, and something that happened there deeply upset him.

"In his drama class, he slipped and fell. The teacher pushed him and insulted him in front of everyone and said he was overacting," the father said.

"They scolded him so much that he started crying, but the teacher told him they did not care how much he cried."

Meanwhile, the student's friends claimed the alleged harassment had started in Class 8.

Also Read | Delhi schoolboy jumps off Metro station, blames teachers in suicide note

One insisted that on the day of the incident, the 16-year-old boy had told them in their Drama club that he wanted to be "the next Shah Rukh Khan of St Columba's," but a teacher mocked him for "overacting" and humiliated him after he slipped and fell.

According to ANI, the father was away for a family member's medical operation on the day of the incident.

The boy's uncle Adesh Mule said, "Right after the suicide of my nephew, an anonymous call reached his father, who was in Maharashtra... We immediately rushed to the metro station and found the people were already taking the kid to the hospital..."

Mule said the 16-year-old wanted to pursue his career as an actor.

'Teacher scolded him for every little thing' The boy told his parents that some teachers scolded, insulted, and mentally tormented him over minor issues. The parents stated that they had made several verbal complaints to the teachers and the principal, but the alleged harassment persisted.

The father told ANI, "For the past 8-10 months, he's been complaining that his teacher scolds him for every little thing. The teacher even complained to me about his mischievous behaviour."

"His classmates told me that a teacher had been threatening him and saying they would give him a transfer certificate and call us [parents] to the school. It was not just him, but three to four more kids have also been treated the same way," he said.

"He used to tell me and my wife that teachers scolded him for every small thing and emotionally hurt him. We complained verbally many times, but they never stopped," the father told PTI.

Student was depressed, plans to change schools The victim student's aunt claimed the family had been unaware of the extent of his suffering.

"He was depressed for so long. He kept complaining, but we stayed quiet because he was in Class 10. He even told his school counsellors and teachers that he was going to commit suicide, but none of them informed us. We only heard this from his friends today," she told PTI.

The father of the boy said, "We told him [the boy] we'd change schools as soon as he passed 10th grade." He said, "Three days ago, just before his board exam prelims, he was threatened with expulsion."

He further mentioned that his son has also written the names of the teachers who tortured him.

Following the incident, students and parents held a protest outside the school, alleging that the school administration had ignored repeated complaints of teacher harassment.

FIR filed, teachers suspended The FIR, registered at the Rajendra Nagar police station, includes charges related to abetment of suicide. Police are recording statements of classmates, teachers and school authorities as part of the investigation.

The FIR notes that the student left for school at 7:15 am. Around 2:45 pm on Tuesday, the father received a call informing him that his son was lying beneath the Rajendra Place Metro Station. He was asked to take the student to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead.

Four staff members, including the headmistress of St Columba's School, were suspended after an FIR was registered against them in connection with the alleged suicide of a class 10 student who had accused them of mental harassment.

According to the suspension order, the headmistress (Classes 4-10), the coordinator for Classes 9 and 10, and two teachers have been placed under temporary suspension while the matter is being examined.

The student's father told PTI that the suspension was "only temporary" and demanded the arrest of the teachers named in the FIR. "We need to send a message that no teacher should treat our children like that," he said.

Disclaimer: If you are experiencing emotional distress or know someone who may need support, please contact a qualified mental health professional or reach out to trusted helplines immediately.
A pilot was killed after an Indian Air Force fighter jet Tejas met with an accident while taking part in a demonstration flight during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, leaving spectators in shock.

The incident took place when the pilot was executing a Negative G turn, said reports.

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident, the IAF said in a post on X.

Also Read | Steep drop to massive fireball: Tejas jet crash caught on cam

What is Negative G manoeuvre? Videos that have gone viral on social media platforms show the jet dropping altitude before hitting the ground. Soon after crashing, the aircraft was engulfed in a ball of fire and smoke billowed.

Negative G-Force, also referred to as Negative G, is the force experienced by an object or person in a direction opposite to that of gravity.

According to Global Air, Negative G-Force in aviation refers to forces acting on an aircraft and its contents in the opposite direction of normal gravity.

 These forces are typically experienced during aerobatic manoeuvres, sudden descent, or severe turbulence.

View full Image In this combo of screenshots from a third party video, a fighter jet Tejas of the Indian Air Force is seen dropping altitude and then crashing on the ground, engulfed in a ball of fire. ( via PTI )

Also Read | Tejas jet crashes in Dubai: IAF orders court of inquiry after pilot dies

 Negative G-force occurs when an aircraft accelerates downward or experiences a downward change in velocity,

 It causes occupants to feel a sensation of weightlessness or floating within the aircraft cabin.

 Negative G-forces can occur during certain flight manoeuvres, such as aerobatics, dive recovery, or steep descents, where the aircraft's acceleration exceeds the force of gravity.

Also Read | Tejas jet crashes in Dubai: IAF orders court of inquiry after pilot dies

'Stand firmly with the bereaved family' Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said the armed forces stand firmly with the bereaved family.

"General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said in a post on X.
HAL Tejas fighter jet crash: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 21 November identified the pilot who lost his life in the HAL Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show 2025 today.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), condoling the death, Sukhu noted that the deceased pilot, Namansh Syal, was from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.

What did CM Sukhu say? Who is Naman Sayal? The IAF in a brief statement identified the dead pilot as Wing Commander Namansh Syal. Meanwhile, Sukhu identified the deceased pilot as hailing from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and expressed condolences to his bereaved family.

No other details were available yet.

The news of the demise of Naman(sh) Syalji, the brave son of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh in the Tejas plane crash at the Dubai Air Show is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The country has lost a brave, dedicated and courageous pilot, Sukhu wrote in his post, in Hindi.

He added, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Salute to the brave son. Heartfelt salute to the indomitable bravery, dedication and devotion towards the service of the nation of Syalji.

Also Read | Steep drop to massive fireball: Tejas jet crash caught on cam
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday implemented four new labour codes, marking the biggest overhaul of workers laws in decades. The government has said the move aims to simplify rules and improve worker protection. A key change under the new codes is the definition of wages, which now includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance, with at least 50% of total remuneration counted as wages.

Previously, employers often structured salary packages so that basic pay plus DA formed a small portion of total compensation, with large parts allocated to allowances that did not count towards benefits such as gratuity or provident fund. Under the new labour codes, every component of the cost-to-company (CTC) will now be treated as remuneration unless specifically exempted, with the maximum exemption capped at 50% of total compensation.

Wages now include basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance; 50% of the total remuneration (or such percentage as may be notified) shall be added back to compute wages, ensuring consistency in calculating gratuity, pension, and social security benefits, an official statement said.

Also Read | Indian economy gains momentum in July on export boost, shows Mint tracker

The change is expected to impact the calculation of various social security contributions, including Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Workmens Compensation, and maternity benefits.

The definition of wage under the labour codes is likely to impact the base for calculation of various other social security contributions like Provident Fund, ESIC, Workmen's Compensation, Maternity Benefit etc. It will depend upon how individual employers have structured their salaries into different components, said Madhu Damodaran, regional managing partner, AM Legals, a law firm.

The impact on gratuity will be significant. Since gratuity is calculated based on the last drawn wages and years of service, a higher proportion of basic pay and DA in the wage base will result in a larger lump-sum payout at exit.

With this notification, all the statutory benefits and contributions will apply on deemed wages, which is at least 50% of a persons salary. This would lead to a huge increase in gratuity payout because up until now the gratuity was calculated on basic salary, which could be less than 50%. But now it will have to be calculated on at least 50% of the wage, explained Damodaran.

While for employees this is great, it will also increase the cost for the employers who may pass on the cost. So in some cases it could have an adverse impact on the take-home salaries, Damodaran added.

The reforms also extend gratuity eligibility to fixed-term employees after one year of continuous service, rather than the previous five-year requirement.

For employees on roll, the previous eligibility of five continuous years continues to be applicable, as per Puneet Gupta, partner, People Advisory Services-Tax, EY India.

The government basically wants to dissuade the practice of hiring people for a period of say 3 years to avoid paying gratuity. Now fixed-term employees, who are hired for a fixed number of years, will also become eligible for gratuity right after a year. Currently, only permanent employees are eligible for gratuity as per the payment of Gratuity Act. They would also be eligible for all benefits on the same lines as permanent employees, said Preeti Chandrashekhar, an independent employees benefit consultant and actuary.

Similarly, the changes may affect PF and other social security contributions, though as per Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) rules, the 15,000 cap for statutory EPF contributions limits the immediate impact, unless employees opt for higher contributions.

"The notified codes will enable many lower-income employees to have greater retirement savings due to higher deemed wages for EPF contributions and gratuity benefits," said Kulin Patel, chief executive, partner and actuary at K. A. Pandit Consultants & Actuaries, India.
Days after facing a drubbing in the Bihar Election 2025, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor alleged that several corrupt and criminal politicians were sworn in as ministers in the new government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Speaking to reporters after a day-long silent fast at Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran, Kishor said, The new cabinet of Nitish Kumar, which took oath on Thursday, is full of corrupts and criminals.

"I must say that this council of ministers is a slap in the face of the people of Bihar. It's like rubbing salt on the wound as several corrupt leaders were inducted," Prashant Kishor alleged.

He said Nitish Kumar has appointed as ministers those individuals who have corruption allegations against them. They became ministers only because their fathers were ministersNeta ka bacha bina padhe raja ban gya [A political leader's child became a king without education], he said.

'We will ensure that women get  2 lakh' Kishor claimed the leaders inducted into the cabinet indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Kumar are least concerned about Bihar.

"They have purchased votes by transferring 10,000 into the bank account of more than 1 crore women. Now, they have no concern for the state or the people," Kishor was quoted as saying.

"If I am saying anything wrong, the state government can put me behind bars," he added.

Kishor claimed the government diverted funds from the state's contingency fund and a grant from the World Bank for the cash transfer scheme.

"Now, we will ensure that women get 2 lakh as promised by the NDA ahead of the polls," he said.

'Bihar Navnirman Sankalp Yatra' Prashant Kishor also announced that his party will launch the 'Bihar Navnirman Sankalp Yatra' on 15 January, during which Jan Suraaj Party workers, including himself, will visit all households in the state.

"We will visit all houses in the state over 15-18 months and create awareness among the people about the misdeeds of this government. The organisation of the Jan Suraaj Party will be strengthened before the campaign starts," he said.

The former poll strategist said he will donate 90% of his income over the next five years for the party's campaign.

"Besides, whatever assets I have acquired in the last 20 years, except my Delhi house, I will donate those for the party," he said.

"Now, I request the people of Bihar to donate just 1,000 to the party on a yearly basis. I will not meet anyone who doesn't donate this amount to the party," he said.

Kishor said he believes in Mahatma Gandhi's ideology of patience and perseverance.
In a major reform of labour regulations, the government on Friday officially notified all four Labour Codes, introducing significant changes including universal social security for gig workers, mandatory appointment letters for all employees, and statutory minimum wages with timely payment across sectors.

The four codesthe Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020)came into effect on Friday, replacing 29 scattered laws with a single, modernised framework.

Here's what PM Modi said These Codes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of social media posts on X, "will serve as a strong foundation for universal social security, minimum and timely payment of wages, safe workplaces and remunerative opportunities for our people, especially Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti

Also Read | TCS layoff: Karnataka minister says will look into labour law leniency

"It will build a future-ready ecosystem that protects the rights of workers and strengthens India's economic growth. These reforms will boost job creation, drive productivity and accelerate our journey towards a Viksit Bharat."

Modi further said, It is one of the most comprehensive and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence. It greatly empowers our workers. It also significantly simplifies compliance and promotes Ease of Doing Business'.

It will build a future-ready ecosystem that protects the rights of workers and strengthens Indias economic growth. These reforms will boost job creation, drive productivity and accelerate our journey towards a Viksit Bharat, added PM.

According to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the labour Codes will formalise employment, strengthen worker protections, and make the labour ecosystem simpler, safer and globally aligned.

Additional systemic reforms include a national floor wage, gender-neutral work policies, the Inspector-cum-Facilitator model for supportive compliance, faster dispute resolution through two-member tribunals, and a National Occupational Safety, Health (OSH) Board to harmonise safety standards.

The government will now initiate consultations to frame detailed rules and schemes.

Also Read | SIR phase-II: Nationwide protests as work pressure allegedly leads to BLO deaths

During the transition, provisions of existing labour laws will remain applicable wherever required.

The social-security coverage had expanded from 19% in 2015 to over 64% in 2025. The enforcement of the Labour Codes marks the next transformative step -- broadening worker protections, easing business operations and promoting a pro-worker labour ecosystem.

According to a labour ministry statement, the Codes lay the foundation for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India's labour laws were framed in the pre-Independence and early post-Independence era (1930s1950s), at a time when the economy and world of work were fundamentally different.

Also Read | 6 tips to stay healthy while working in night shifts

Labour Minister Mandaviya said the codes will guarantee minimum wages for all workers, appointment letters for the youth, equal pay and respect for women, social security for 40 crore workers, gratuity for fixed-term employees after one year of employment, free annual health check-ups for workers above 40 years of age, double wages for overtime, 100 per cent health security for workers in hazardous sectors and social justice for workers as per international standards.

These reforms are not just ordinary changes, but a major step taken by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the welfare of the workforce. These new labour reforms are an important step towards a self-reliant India and will give new momentum to the goal of a developed India by 2047, he said on X.

Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, all workers, including gig & platform workers, will be covered by social security. All workers will get PF, ESIC, insurance, and other social security benefits.

Under the Code on Wages, 2019, all workers will receive a statutory minimum wage payment. Minimum wages and timely payment will ensure financial security.

The ESIC coverage and benefits are extended pan-India -- voluntary for establishments with fewer than 10 employees, and mandatory for establishments with even one employee engaged in hazardous processes.

Now, Fixed-Term Employees (FTE) will receive all benefits equal to those of permanent workers, including leave, medical, and social security.

For the first time, the Labour Codes define terms such as Gig work, Platform work, and Aggregators.

Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Numbers will make welfare benefits easier to access, fully portable, and available across states, even for migrant workers.

Plantation workers will now be covered under both the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code and the Social Security Code.

Digital and audiovisual professionalsincluding electronic media journalists, dubbing artists, and stunt performerswill also become eligible for full statutory benefits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday embarked on a three-day visit to South Africa to attend the first G20 summit being held on the continent. During his stay in Johannesburg, the Prime Minister will also attend the sixth IBSA Summit on the sidelines of the G20.

I will present Indias perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and 'One earth, One Family and One future, Modi said in his departure statement.

This summit is the fourth consecutive G20 meeting hosted by the Global South, following Indonesia, India, and Brazil's presidencies. Prior to South Africa, the G20 presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023) and Indonesia (2022).

PM Modi will attend the summit from 21 November to 23, marking a significant milestone as the first G20 summit held on the African continent. This will be PM Modi's fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016 and his attendance at the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023.

Also Read | Govt moves to rein in online advertisements of high-risk medicines

The G20 is an important forum, with countries in previous sessions agreeing to have a consensus declaration, pilot, and take new initiatives on several themes that impact the Global South, Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER) of the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters

"We are very happy that these discussions have carried forward under the presidency of Brazil and, of course, in South Africa under four verticles that South Africa has outlined for their own presidency. A number of achievements have been made throughout the year across various tracks in these areas. So we are very happy that the issues of importance to the Global South are at the centre of discussion and are being highlighted," he said.

What is on the agenda? The theme of this years G20 has been Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, which South Africa has carried forward from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the prime minister said in the statement

The G20 comprises major economies representing 85% of global GDP and 75% of international trade. The forum has identified priority areas under South Africa's presidency theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'.

Regarding the bilateral meetings to be held on the sidelines of the G20, Secretary Dalela said they are in the process of organising them.

He added that India and South Africa are democracies and that their cooperation has three pillars, one of which is political cooperation. The African Union, which became a permanent member of the G20 during India's 2023 presidency, will play a key role in shaping the summit's agenda.

PM to speak in three sessions Prime Minister Modi will put forth Indias perspectives on the G20 agenda. The Prime Minister is expected to speak in all three sessions of the Summit, a government statement said. These sessions are on:

1). Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind: Building our economies; the role of trade; financing for development and the debt burden.

Also Read | PM Modi attends Sri Sathya Sai Baba's birth centenary celebration in Andhra

2) A Resilient World  the G20s Contribution: Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems

3) A Fair and a Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence.

I will present Indias perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and 'One earth, One Family and One future.

On the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg. The Prime Minister will also participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders Meeting, hosted by South Africa.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte "diplomatic options and the plan proposed by the American side" to end the war.

I spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Ukrainians, more than anyone else in the world, want this war to end, the killings to stop, and a dignified peace to be achieved. We discussed the available diplomatic options and the plan proposed by the American side. We are ready to work swiftly and constructively to ensure it succeeds. We are coordinating our next joint steps. Thank you for your support! Zelenskyy said on X Friday evening.

Zelenskyy also noted that Rutte expressed his condolences over Russias horrific attack on Ternopil. Thirty-one people were killed, including six children. Search-and-rescue operations at the site of this tragedy are still ongoing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg ahead of the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit.

During the meeting, Albanese expressed condolences over the Red Fort terrorist attack and the bus crash in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indian Umrah pilgrims lost their lives.

"We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong. I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today," added Albanese.

This is the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. The African Union became a member of the G20 during Indias presidency in 2023.

The theme of this years G20 has been Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said that the Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues.

I will present Indias perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and 'One earth, One Family and One future.

Also Read | Ramaphosa says US discussing coming to G20 in South Africa, White House denies

I look forward to my interactions with leaders of the partner countries, and participation in the 6th IBSA Summit scheduled on the sidelines of the Summit, added Modi.

Upon his arrival at the hotel, a group of children recited a prayer to welcome him. Local artists performed traditional dances, displaying the cultural heritage.

The prime minister also interacted with children who recited Vedic Mantras. He was seen clapping to the tunes of musical performances.

"Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Johannesburg. This affection reflects the enduring bond between India and South Africa. These ties, rooted in history and strengthened by shared values, continue to grow even stronger!" Modi said.

He said that the cultural connect between India and South Africa is "truly heartwarming and timeless".
An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing the pilot, the IAF confirmed and stated that a Court of Inquiry will be set up to investigate the cause of the crash.

The Indian Air Force in a post on X, said, An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, footage broadcast on several TV channels showed the jet losing altitude before crashing to the ground in flames.

Meanwhile, GE Aerospace is prepared to support the investigation into what caused a crash of a Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow, a spokesperson for the company said on Friday, as reported by Reuters.

In March 2024, a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) of the IAF had crashed near a residential colony in Jaisalmer while returning from the tri-services military exercise 'Bharat Shakti' in Pokhran desert in what was the first accident involving the indigenously-built single-engine jet since it began flying in 2001.

The pilot had ejected safely.

What is special about Tejas aircraft? Tejas is a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft developed to carry out offensive air support, close-range combat and ground-attack missions, according to HALs description.

Designed for multi-role performance, it is capable of operating in both land and maritime environments, making it one of Indias most flexible home-grown aircraft.

The Tejas lineup includes single-seat fighters for the Air Force and Navy, as well as twin-seat trainer variants for both services.

View full Image Indian Air Force's Tejas aircraft performs during rehearsals for the Aero India 2021, at the Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru on February 2. (PTI) ( HT_PRINT )

The latest and most advanced version, the LCA Mk1A, features major enhancements for better combat effectiveness and survivability. It is equipped with an AESA radar, an upgraded electronic warfare suite featuring radar warning and self-protection jamming capabilities, a digital map generator, smart multifunction displays, a combined interrogator-transponder unit, and a modern radio altimeter, along with several other high-end systems that enhance its overall operational strength.

Dubai Air Show 2025 The Dubai Air Show is a biennial event held in the UAE, and has both flying and static displays. The crash of the Tejas has cast a tragic shadow on an otherwise mega spectacle.

The 2025 edition is scheduled from November 17 to 21, according to its website.

Also Read | Steep drop to massive fireball: Tejas jet crash caught on cam

This year, over 1,500 leading exhibitors and more than 1.48 lakh industry professionals from 150 countries are participating in the event, the Indian defence ministry had said on November 18.

Tejas aircraft The project to build the Tejas aircraft finally took off in 1984 after years of deliberations, and the jet was formally declared fit to fly in 2011.

The Tejas aircraft came under some scrutiny when one of the jets developed a technical snag during a sortie in October 2020.

Tejas aircraft are set to be the mainstay of the IAF.

View full Image An Indian Air Force HAL Tejas performs during the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) ( AP )

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a 48,000-crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.

In November 2023, the ministry had accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets for the IAF.

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth had recently attended the Dubai Air Show 2025.

He had also witnessed the aerial display by the IAF's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and Tejas during the air show, the defence ministry had said.
TR6 Petro India LLP, a petroleum products trader, is among the Indian entities and individuals facing sanctions from the United States government for trading oil with Iran, according to a report by PTI.

The Donald Trump administration claimed that TR6 Petro imported over $8 million worth of Iranian-origin bitumen from multiple companies between October 2024 to June 2025. It is being designated for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran, the State Department said.

According to the report, the US government has applied sanctions for trading Irans petroleum and petroleum products, claiming that this supports Tehrans regional terrorist proxies and is used to procure weapons systems that are a direct threat to the US.

Who and what has been sanctioned? Besides TR6 Petro India LLP, others on the US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals List include RN Ship Management (Maharashtra), Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed, and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed, it added.

Overall, the US Department of State has designated 17 entities, individuals, and vessels from several countries, including India, Panama, the Seychelles, and more for involvement in Irans petroleum and petroleum products sales.

Further, the US Treasury Department has also designated 41 other entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft to target Irans petroleum and petrochemical exports and disrupt financial streams and commercial operatives it claims support Tehrans malign activities.

The State Department and Treasury Department have also sanctioned shipping networks and an airline and its affiliates for funding Iran's malign activities through illicit oil sales and arming and supplying Iran-backed terrorist groups, it added.

Also Read | Sebi clarifies position on Digital Gold, says no new regulations on cards

Why have the entities been sanctioned? In a statement on 20 November, the State Department said funds generated by trade from the sanctioned companies and individuals, supports Irans regional terrorist proxies and allows them to procure weapons systems that pose a direct threat to US forces and American allies.

It added that the Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict in the Middle East to fund its destabilising activities, adding that this enables Iran to fund its nuclear escalations, support terrorist groups, and disrupt the flow of trade and freedom of navigation in waterways that are crucial to global prosperity and economic growth.

The United States will continue to act against the network of maritime service providers, dark fleet operators, and petroleum products traders involved in the transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, it added.

The State Department said the US will continue to act in support of National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which directs the imposition of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deny it access to resources needed to sustain its destabilising activities.

The United States remains committed to disrupting the illicit funding streams that finance all aspects of Irans malign activities. As long as Iran devotes revenue to funding attacks against the United States and our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, and pursuing other destabilising actions, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable, it said.

The action is being taken pursuant to counterterrorism provisions, which target Irans petroleum and petrochemical sector.

(With inputs from PTI)
Miss Universe 2025 Winner LIVE Updates: Mexicos Fatima Bosch has been crowned Miss Universe, with Miss Thailand securing the runner-up title. Indias Manika Vishwakarma exited the competition in the Top 12, extending Indias wait for the crown since Harnaaz Kaur Sandhus win in 2021. This years finalists included contestants from Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malta, and Cote dIvoire. Notably, Indian badminton icon Saina Nehwal served on the judging panel for the 2025 pageant.

This years Miss Universe ceremony took place in Thailand, with Puerto Rico revealed as the host for next years edition.

The pageant faced significant controversy throughout the eventstarting with allegations that a contestants intellect was undermined, escalating to multiple participants walking out, and culminating in an emotional moment where the host broke down in tears.

Stay tuned for Miss Universe 2025 Finale LIVE Updates

Check Miss Universe 2025 Finale LIVE Updates here:

Miss Universe 2025 finale winner live updates | Watch: moment Fatima Bosch is announced and crowned Miss Universe 2025

The 25-year-old received the crown from last years winner, Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark.

Miss Universe 2025 finale winner live updates: What was Fatima Boschs empowering message to young girls?

During the final question round, Mexicos Fatima Bosch was asked how she would use her title to empower young girls. In her impactful response, she said, As Miss Universe, I will say to them, believe in the power of your authenticity, believe in yourself, your dreams matter and your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth, because you are worth everything.

Miss Universe 2025 finale winner live updates: Thai-Indian beauty Praveenar Singh finishes as first runner-up

Miss Universe Thailand 2025, Praveenar Singh  born in Chiang Mai  comes from a Thai-Indian family.

Who is Praveenar Singh? Veena, born on April 16, 1996, in Chiang Mai, comes from an Indian family and later became a naturalised Thai citizen. She earned her bachelors degree in Russian Studies from Thammasat University before stepping into the pageant world. Her pageant journey began in 2018 when she represented Chiang Mai at Miss Universe Thailand, where she finished as the second runner-up.

View full Image Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh. ( AFP )

In 2020, she came close to winning the national crown, securing the first runner-up position to Amanda Obdam. She returned again in 2023 and placed second runner-up, further cementing her reputation as one of Thailands most persistent and passionate beauty queens.

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE updates: Miss Mexico is Miss Universe

View full Image Mexico's Fatima Bosch wins the crown. ( REUTERS )

Mexico's Fatima Bosch has won the crown. Manika Vishwakarma of India could not make it to Top 12.

Miss Universe 2025 Winner Live Updates: Miss Thailand Gets Runner Up Title Miss Thailand was declared the first runner up while Miss Venezuela was named second runner up.

View full Image Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh. ( AFP )



Miss Universe 2025 LIVE: Winners declared

Fourth runner up: Cote d'Ivoire

Third runner up: Philippines

Second runner up: Venezuela

First runner up: Thailand

Winner: Mexico

Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjr Theilvig takes her final walk before crowning successor

View full Image Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjr Theilvig takes her final walk before crowning successor.

Miss Universe 2025 live: Second Q&A round begins In the second segment of the questionanswer round, all finalists are presented with the same question and respond one by one.

This rounds question focuses on how they would use the Miss Universe title to empower young girls.

Miss Cote dIvoire delivered one of the standout responses, emphasizing the power of representation and encouraging young girls to step into spaces where they may feel they dont belong.

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE Winner Updates: Judges Question round begins The Judges Question round has officially kicked off.

Miss Thailand was asked which global issue she would highlight at the United Nations, while Miss Philippines responded to a question about the impact she hopes to make on humanity. Miss Venezuela spoke about how she would use her platform to foster empathy across diverse cultures.

View full Image The top five contestants, Olivia Yace of Cote d'Ivoire, Fatima Bosch of Mexico, Stephany Abasali of Venezuela, Ahtisa Manalo of Philippines, and Praveenar Singh of Thailand take part in the 74th Miss Universe pageant. ( REUTERS )

Miss Mexico addressed a question on the challenges women face and how she would use her title to create safer spaces for women worldwide. Meanwhile, Miss Cote dIvoire shared her thoughts on the emotional skill she believes every child should be taught in school.

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE Updates: Contestants pose during final competition of Miss Universe

View full Image Contestants pose during the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok. ( AFP )

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE Updates: Puerto Rico wins hearts with glamorous Evening Gown look

View full Image Puerto Rico.

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE: Top 5 Thailand

Philippines

Venezuela

Mexico

Cote d'Ivoire

Miss Universe 2025: Philippines wows in ethereal gown

Miss Universe 2025 LIVE: Evening gown round begins

View full Image Miss Universe 2025 LIVE.

The Evening Gown round at Miss Universe 2025 has begun, adding a fresh wave of glamour to the competition.

Miss Universe 2025: Next year's host country revealed Miss Universe 2026 will be hosted in Puerto Rico.

Miss Universe 2025: Miss India Manika Vishwakarma misses out on top 12 spot Indias representative at Miss Universe 2025, Manika Vishwakarma, has exited the competition after failing to secure a place in the Top 12

Miss Universe 2025: Swimsuit round concludes, top 12 announced Chile- Inna Moll

Colombia- Vanessa Pulgarin

Miss Universe 2025: Swimsuit round begins

View full Image Swimsuit round begins.

7:33 AM: List of Top 30 India 2. Guadalupe

3. China

4. Thailand

5. Dominican Republic

6. Brazil

7. Rwanda

8. Cote d'lvoire

9. Columbia

10. Netherlands

11. Cuba

12. Bangladesh

13. Japan

14. Puerto Rico

15. USA

16. Mexico

17. Philippines

18. Zimbabwe

19. Costa Rica

20. Malta

21. Chile

22. Canada

23. Latina

24. Croatia

25. Venezuela

26. Guatemala

27. Palestine

28. Nicaragua

29. France

30. Paraguay (People's Choice)

7:30 AM: India's Manika Vishwakarma, Miss Palestine, enter top 30 Miss India Manika Vishwakarma was the first contestant to make it to Top 30.

Miss Palestine ranks 27 in the list

7:28 AM: Miss Cote d'Ivoire fumbles at finale A nervous Miss Cote d'Ivoire could hardly speak her own name at the stage, and fumbled when screaming the name of her country. Miss Croatia started with her intro, but the former spoke over her and introduced her country.

7:20 AM: About India's Manika Vishwakarma Manika Vishwakarma, India's contestant in the Miss Universe finale, hails from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. She is currently in her final year of a degree in Political Science and Economics.

Manika was crowned Miss Universe Rajasthan 2024.

Miss Universe 2025 controversies Miss Universe 2025 has been surrounded by major controversies. There have been accusations of rigging, conflicts of interest and legal concerns.

Three judges resigned just days before the pageant, with one alleging the results were fixed and that a secret, unofficial jury had already chosen finalists. Another claimed a jury member was romantically involved with a contestant.

Tensions escalated when Nawat Itsaragrisil, director of Miss Universe Thailand, publicly scolded Mexicos contestant, Fatima Bosch, for skipping promotional events. He even had her removed by security.

Several contestants, including the reigning Miss Universe, walked out in protest. Nawat later apologised after Rochas intervention.
Fatima Bosch of Mexico has been officially crowned the Miss Universe 2025.

The 25-year-old, a fan favourite, had staged a walkout in her evening gown and heels early in the pageant after being berated by a Thai pageant director.

Fatima was crowned by last years winner Victoria Kjr Theilvig from Denmark.

A visibly emotional Fatima was overwhelmed with joy as she was being crowned as Miss Universe. A teary-eyed Fatima was cheered up by her fellow beauty queens in a heartwarming moment.

Also Read | Miss Universe 2025 Finale LIVE: Mexico crowned winner

Miss Universe: The Runner-ups 1st runner-up: Thailands Praveenar Singh

2nd runner-up: Venezuelas Stephany Abasali

3rd runner-up: Philippines Ahtisa Manalo

4th runner-up: Ivory Coasts Olivia Yace Miss Universe 2025: Finale question Miss Universe finalists were asked several questions, including which global issue they would address in front of the United Nations General Assembly and how they would utilise the Miss Universe platform to empower young girls.

Fatima Bosch's answer to finale question that helped her win the crown Believe in the power of your authenticity, Fatima Bosch said. Your dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth.

Her answer was in line with the Miss Universe theme of the year, The Power of Love, which aimed to promote global unity, empowerment, and love.

Fatima Bosch controversy During the initial days of the pageant, Fatima Bosch was reportedly lambasted by Miss Universe host Nawat Itsaragrisil, who, during a livestream of the event, singled her out and called her a dumbhead.

The episode reportedly occurred due to a dispute over Bosch's failure to post promotional content on her social media. Nawat has denied using the term, but had called for security to intervene.

The besashed Fatima staged a walkout flanked by Miss Iraq. What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb, she said. The world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice.

India at Miss Universe 2025 Manika Vishwakarma was representing India at the global beauty pageant.

She managed to advance as far as the Top 15 in the contest, until after the swimsuit round. Manika wore a white monokini for the round.

However, Manika was unable to make it to the Top 12 of Miss Universe 2025.

India last won the Miss Universe crown in 2021, by Harnaaz Sandhu. It was first won by Sushmita Sen in 1994, followed by Lara Dutta in 2000.
Miss Universe 2025 turned into a landmark moment for Mexico as Fatima Bosch clinched the coveted crown after a finale packed with powerful speeches, emotional highlights and tough competition. Held in Thailand, the 74th edition of the global pageant saw 120 contestants vying for one of the most prestigious titles in the world.

For Indian viewers, the morning brought mixed results. Indias Manika Vishwakarma impressed early on by entering the Top 30 but exited after the Top 12 round, extending Indias wait for another Miss Universe win. The final lineup included contestants from Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malta and Cote dIvoire, with Thailands Praveenar Singh finishing as first runner-up.

The Final Question That Decided the Miss Universe 2025 Crown In the final round, all remaining contestants faced the same question, with headphones ensuring they could not hear one anothers responses. The question was simple yet high-impact:

If you win the title of Miss Universe 2025 tonight, how would you use this platform to empower young girls?

The answer from Mexico would ultimately define the night.

Also Read | Miss Universe 2025 Finale LIVE: Mexico crowned winner

Fatima Boschs Winning Answer Responding with clarity and conviction, Fatima Bosch said:

Believe in the power of your authenticity. Believe in yourself, your dreams and your heart, and never let anyone make you doubt your worth, because you are worth everything and you are powerful and your voice needs to be heard.

Her message of self-belief and inner strength resonated deeply with the judges and the audience, helping secure her victory. In that brief but impactful moment, Bosch turned the Miss Universe stage into a call for young women everywhere to value their identity and voice.

Miss Universe 2025 Final Results Winner: Fatima Bosch (Mexico)

1st Runner-up: Praveenar Singh (Thailand)

2nd Runner-up: Stephany Abasali (Venezuela)

3rd Runner-up: Ma Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)

4th Runner-up: Olivia Yace (Cote dIvoire)

India: Manika Vishwakarma  Top 12 A Grand Finale Filled With Performances And Advocacy The Thailand finale featured dazzling performances, emotional moments and strong advocacy-driven speeches from the finalists. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjr Theilvig made her final walk before handing over the crown. Indian badminton icon Saina Nehwal was part of the judging panel, giving Indian audiences an added point of connection.

With Puerto Rico announced as the next host country, attention now shifts to how Bosch will use her year-long reign to amplify conversations around empowermentand how future contestants will build on the momentum.

What Fatima Boschs Win Means For Mexico, Boschs victory marks a major triumph and reinforces the countrys strong presence on the global pageant stage. Her messagecentered on authenticity, courage and self-worthhas already struck a chord worldwide.
Trump Mamdani meeting Highlights: New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday held a productive meeting with the US President Donald Trump which focused more on their shared goals. The two leaders discussed several issues including rent, groceries, utilities, affordability, the cost of living crisis and housing.

The meeting between both leaders, who have targeted each other, took place for the first time after the Democrat socialist got elected on November 4.

"We've just had a great... very productive meeting. We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well," Trump said in the Oval Office.

"The better he does, the happier I am... And we're going to be helping him to make everybody's dream come true," Trump said.

The US President said that there will be topics that they disagree on, adding, I think we'll probably come to a conclusion. Ultimately, it's for the good of New York. If this city could be unbelievable  if he could be a spectacular success, I'd be very happy.

Earlier, Trump has called Mamdani a 100% Communist Lunatic, a Jew hater and a total nut job. Whereas, Mamdani has called Trumps administration 'authoritarian' and described himself as Donald Trumps worst nightmare.

In his victory speech, in a direct message to Trump, Mamdani said, "Since I know youre watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.

The meeting is an opportunity for both leaders to forge a good working relationship. However, Trump's Oval Office meetings have been wildly unpredictable, therefore, it has to be seen how the meeting goes.

Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on January 1, has said that being a New Yorker means that you're prepared for all situations.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani stated Thursday that he is not concerned about his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump. He pledged to focus the discussion on how they can collaborate to make the city more affordable.

Mamdani, at a news conference outside New York City Hall said that he hopes to share the facts about the affordability crisis in the city while dismissing the idea that the president could use the meeting to embarrass him, AP reported.

I have many disagreements with the President, and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker, AP quoted Mamdani addressing the reporters.

I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so, he added.

Also Read | Jessica Tisch confirms she will remain NYPD top cop under Mamdani

White House jibe at Mamdani White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that Trump is willing to "meet anyone" and try to do "what is right" on behalf of the American people, while calling Mamdani a "communist".

"... The President issued a statement that the Mayor-elect will be coming to the Oval Office tomorrow, so our teams are arranging those details... It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a Communist coming to the White House, because that's who the Democrat Party elected as the Mayor of the largest city in the country," Leavitt told reporters.

She further claimed that New York City is shifting more "Left" than President Trump expected.

"It's very telling but it also speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and try to do what's right on behalf of the American people, whether they live in blue states or red states or blue cities and the city which is becoming much more Left than the President ever anticipated in his many years of living in New York himself," Leavitt said.
US sanctions on Russian oil companies, which are set to take effect on Friday, may leave nearly 48 million barrels of crude oil stranded at sea, prompting dozens of tankers to seek alternative destinations, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Last month, the Trump administration's decision to blacklist major oil firms Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC marked perhaps its most assertive action against Russia, as the US President seeks to increase pressure on the Kremlin regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Pressure on Asian buyers With the restrictions now just hours away, Asian buyers are racing against time. Indian refineries are hurriedly seeking replacement supplies, booking oil tankers from the Middle East at a rate that has already elevated freight rates for the route to nearly a five-year high. Meanwhile, traders are closely looking for alternative purchasers, if any, for Lukoil and Rosneft crude that is already at sea, the report said.

Russian export flows are holding up, but its not finding its way through to their destinations yet, Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep NV, told the news portal. If that continues and finally backs up all the way, we could start seeing supply falling, which will be a concern to markets.

The report cited data from analytics firm Kpler, which showed that nearly 48 million barrels of Rosneft and Lukoil crude, primarily Urals and ESPO grades, are currently in transit or being loaded. This includes around 50 tankers heading toward China and India, as well as others without a destination or aiming for smaller ports, spread across the Baltic to the South China Sea, as intermediaries try to distance themselves from the trade.

Russia, keen to keep oil flowing, has maintained sizable seaborne shipments of around 3.4 million barrels per day, according to Bloomberg data.

Notably, not all of these barrels will necessarily find a market, even in Asias largest markets. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China and India have absorbed the majority of Russias exports and maintain strong connections with Moscow.

Both countries, however, are also cautious about becoming involved in looming secondary sanctions, as the US ramps up its pressure on any entity that enables Russian exports. The scope of those restrictions, and Washingtons willingness to enforce them, will determine exactly how much oil reaches refiners, the report said.
India, the worlds third-largest carbon emitter, has yet to submit its climate action agenda  a delay that became a key talking point at the United Nations COP30 summit, which concluded on Friday, 21 November, in Belem, Brazil.

Indias five-year submissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), are meant to set more ambitious emission-cut targets. So far, as many as 120 of the 196 member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)have submitted their updated climate plans.

Also Read | Why the COP30 climate conference is coy about phasing out oil, coal and gas

The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming well below 2C and ideally to 1.5C. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), meeting those goals will require cutting annual emissions by 35% to 55% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels.

India is commonly counted as the third-largest emitter of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), after China and the United States. Some Indian officials, however, argue that focusing solely on total emissions overlooks this per capita context. Its per capita emissions are relatively low  around 2 tonnes per person.

The formal deadline for submitting the updated NDCs for the 2035 cycle was 10 February 2025. However, the UNFCCC allowed an extended cut-off until September 2025.

When will India submit its climate action plan? Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who led the Indian delegation in Belem, told the media this week that Delhi would submit its updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by December.

India and Saudi Arabia are the only two G20 nations yet to release their updated NDCs for the COP30 summit. The NDC document lists each countrys climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement and is released every five years.

View full Image India is commonly counted as the third-largest emitter of CO (and greenhouse gases), after China and the United States. Some Indian officials, however, argue that focusing solely on total emissions overlooks this per capita context. Its per capita emissions are relatively low  around 2 tonnes per person ( AP )

We will declare our revised NDCs till 2035 and also the first Biennial Transparency Report, Yadav said.

Asked why India hadnt submitted its updated NDC document, Yadav said it wasnt because of missing any deadline. There are several steps, including cabinet approval, before the document is released, he said.

India had in 2022 declared its first NDCof achieving an emission intensity of its GDP (gross domestic product) by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 levels. Emissions intensity of GDP refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emission produced per unit of GDPa measure to evaluate how efficiently an economy uses carbon-based resources to generate economic output.

Sign of displeasure, say climate experts Experts say the delay may be a sign of Indias displeasure with a lack of progress toward funding global climate priorities.

The country is considered a key player in global efforts to combat pollution and mitigate global warming, particularly as the administration of US President Donald Trump has shied away from climate negotiations. But India has surprised observers as one of the few large countries yet to send the UN its formal climate plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC, news agency AP said.

Non-fossil fuel sources of energy account for more than half of India's electricity capacity, which has achieved some of its climate goals for the decade ending in 2030, five years ahead of schedule, the agency said.

The lack of Indias official climate goal has been a big topic of discussion at COP30, Aarti Khosla, founder of the climate consultancy Climate Trends, told AP.

Also Read | Artificial intelligence sparks debate at COP30 climate talks in Brazil

While India over-delivered on its previously set climate goals, Khosla said not releasing its new climate goals may have a negative impact on the countrys international posturing at the conference, especially as it bids to host the 2028 climate talks.

Why is India delaying its agenda? India experienced the largest increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 compared to the previous year, followed by China and Indonesia, according to the recent UN Emissions Gap Report.

Demand for More Climate Finance: India is pressing rich countries to provide much more funding and technology support, not just the modest commitments made so far, reports said

New Delhi has also been a vocal critic of a deal reached at the previous climate talks, which called for countries to provide $300 billion for climate-related needs, saying the sum is too low, according to the news agency AP.

Earlier this week at COP30, Minister Yadav called for wealthy countries to deliver new, additional, and concessional climate finance at a scale of trillions, not billions.

Historically, India has advocated for the principle of equity, which holds that developed countries, having emitted the most, should bear a greater share of the burden.

Clearly, New Delhi appears keen to highlight a view shared by many developing nations: that rich countries bear historic responsibility to slash emissions and provide far greater financial support to the developing world, a BBC report said.

Endless Discussions Alone: A week before COP30 kicked off, Yadav wrote an opinion piece in a national newspaper arguing that "global climate progress can't come from endless discussions alone".

"For too long, the world has been caught in a cycle of negotiations, while the planet's distress signal grows louder. While dialogue is important, action is imperative," he wrote.

The BBC report stated that India has maintained it shouldn't be pressured into a more ambitious climate plan, as it has already met a key pledge - to have 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources - years ahead of the 2030 deadline.

Coal Dependency: India still relies heavily on coal for its energy needs; the transition away from coal is politically and economically sensitive.

Also Read | Will the COP30 summit offer a breakthrough in fighting the climate crisis?

Climate Action Tracker - an independent scientific project that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris agreement - pointed out recently that coal's share in India's total electricity generation continues to be around 75%, while it must drop to at least 19% to align the country's climate action with the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C.

India committed to domestic adaptation: Yadav India is committed to domestic adaptation as part of climate action, but there is an urgent need for a scaled-up adaptation finance as the global gap widens, Minister Yadav said on 20 November at the COP30

Yadav also said that the annual climate summit, COP30, must deliver a clear political message that adaptation is not an optional add-on but an essential investment.

Adaptation is not an optional add-on but an essential investment.

The 2025 Adaptation Gap Report estimates that developing countries will need between USD 310-365 billion annually by 2035, while current flows are around USD 26 billion only, he said during his intervention at the Baku High-Level Dialogue on Adaptation on Thursday at the COP30 summit.

(With agency inputs)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/giorgiameloni.paginaufficiale/

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the peace plan for Ukraine. The parties endorsed the inclusion of robust security guarantees, but noted that other elements of the plan merit further study, the prime minister's press service reported.

"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a preliminary exchange of views on the American peace proposal for Ukraine. During the conversation, the importance of supporting ongoing negotiation efforts was emphasized and the ultimate goal of achieving a just and lasting peace in the interests of all of Europe was reaffirmed," according to a message posted on the Italian government's website.

It is noted that during the conversation, the parties "endorsed references to robust security guarantees that are an integral part of the broader system of European and transatlantic stability, in line with Italy's long-standing proposals. Other elements of the plan were deemed worthy of further exploration."

Meloni is reported to be in contact with key leaders interested in resolving the crisis and will continue in the coming hours and tomorrow, particularly on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
By Tim Cocks, Alexander Winning and Julia Payne

JOHANNESBURG -G20 envoys have agreed on a draft leaders' declaration ahead of this weekend's summit in Johannesburg without U.S. input, four sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that it will boycott the November 22-23 summit over disagreements with the host nation, South Africa.

Trump had said he would not attend the first G20 summit in Africa because of allegations - which have been widely debunked - that the host country's Black majority government persecutes its white minority.

He has also rejected the host nation's agenda of promoting solidarity and helping developing nations adapt to worsening weather disasters, transition to clean energy and cut their excessive debt costs.

In defiance of Washington, G20 countries have included references to "climate change" in the draft declaration, a source familiar with the matter said, without sharing further details. The United States had earlier objected to mentions of climate change.

WHITE HOUSE CALLS DRAFT DECLARATION 'SHAMEFUL'

"It is a longstanding G20 tradition to issue only consensus deliverables, and it is shameful that the South African government is now trying to depart from this standard practice despite our repeated objections," a senior Trump administration official said.

While fearing that a loss of participation from its most powerful member would scupper a declaration at the G20, some analysts still saw an opportunity for the South African hosts, determined to set an agenda for global leaders in the face of Trump's hostility to multilateral diplomacy.

The sources declined to detail the declaration's contents, and it was not clear what concessions had to be made on the language to get everyone to agree.

Three out of four of South Africa's planned top agenda items - preparing for climate-induced weather disasters, financing the transition to green energy, and ensuring the rush for critical minerals benefits producers - were largely about climate change.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that South Africa was in discussions with the United States - which will host the G20 in 2026 - over its possible participation in the summit after all, although the White House later denied this.

Ramaphosa had earlier said he was resigned to handing over to an "empty chair". The White House on Thursday said it would send the U.S. charge d'affaires for the G20 handover, an offer which South Africa's presidency rejected.
A 28-point draft plan, backed by the United States, aiming to end the Russia-Ukraine war, reportedly calls for the recognition of Crimea and other regions that the Russians have taken. Details, accessed by news agency AFP, revealed the plan also demands Ukraine cut its military by more than half and lift sanctions on Moscow over time.

According to the report, Washington officially presented the "draft plan" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Multiple reports claimed that the terms of the draft plan seem to favour Russia, requiring concessions that Kyiv had previously ruled out as tantamount to capitulation.

US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war The plan, reportedly worked out between President Donald Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and Putins envoy Kirill Dmitriev, proposes the following key points:

1. The plan calls for the recognition of Crimea and other regions [Luhansk and Donetsk] that the Russians have taken, sources told AFP. Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

On territory, the plan calls for the "recognition of Crimea and other regions [Luhansk and Donetsk] that the Russians have taken", sources told AFP. Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

2. Ukraine would give up the eastern Donbas region to Russia, according to a draft seen by AFP on Thursday. Donbas comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that Ukraine currently hold.

3. The plan calls for Ukraine to reduce its army to 400,000-600,000 personnel, cutting its military by more than half. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw its troops from Donetsk and Lugansk.

4. Kyiv would also be required to give up all long-range weapons.

5. European fighter jets would be based in Poland to protect Ukraine, but no NATO troops would be stationed in Ukraine, and Kyiv would agree never to join the military alliance, according to the plan. Russia has repeatedly said it will not tolerate any NATO troops on Ukrainian soil.

6. $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. Ukraine would receive a US security guarantee  albeit one for which Washington would be compensated.

7. The US would also get 50% of profits to rebuild and invest in Ukraine, and also enter an economic partnership with Russia once sanctions are lifted  reintegrating Russia in the global economy.

8. The country would also return to what was formerly known as the Group of 8, which includes many of the world's biggest economies  a symbolic move that would end its international isolation.

The latest proposal was worked out between President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putins envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg. It follows past Witkoff efforts that Ukraine has been wary of and faced almost immediate opposition from Europe.

Also Read | Trump confirms Budapest meeting with Putin to end Ukraine war

Axios published the text of the plan earlier Thursday. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Notably, a delegation of top US military officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, was in Kyiv this week to discuss avenues for progress. Options include ramping up military support, according to sources.

Ukraine reacts Ukrainian President Zelensky has received the draft and is expected to discuss the key points required to achieve peace with President Donald Trump in the coming days, Zelensky's office said.

We are ready now, as before, to work constructively with the American side, as well as with our partners in Europe and around the world so that the outcome is peace, a statement published on Telegram said.

Rough draft of 28-point plan as reported by local media: 1. Ukraines sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further.

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.

8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.

10. The U.S. guarantee:

 The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee;

 If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;

 If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;

 If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:

 The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

 The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraines gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.

 Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas.

 Infrastructure development.

 Extraction of minerals and natural resources.

 The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:

 The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.

 The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

 Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:

 $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;

 The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraines reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50.

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:

 Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

 Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.

 All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.

21. Territories:

 Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

 Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.

 Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.

 Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone.

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

 All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis.

 All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

 A family reunification program will be implemented.

 Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.

26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to speak with US President Donald Trump and will also hold a call with European allies to discuss a US plan to end the war with Russia.

Trump backed 28-point plan demands that Kyiv give up land, pledge never to join NATO, hold snap elections and cut its army. However, so far, Ukraine has not responded to the contents of the plan.

Stating that he has agreed to work on the plan, Zelensky stressed that the proposals are just a starting point for talks.

The American side presented points of a plan to end the war  their vision. I outlined our key principles, Zelensky said in a post on X.

We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure its all genuine. Were geared up for clear and honest work  Ukraine, the US, our European and global partners, he added.

Meanwhile, the senior presidency official in Kyiv and a government source told AFP that the Ukrainian President will hold a call imminently with his key European allies to discuss a US plan.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will join Zelensky on the call.

Earlier this week, top US military officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, were in Kyiv to discuss avenues for progress, and options include ramping up military support.

Also Read | Trumps Ukraine peace plan draws pushback from Europe and Kyiv

'Enter negotiations or lose more territory' Meanwhile, the Kremlin has warned Zelensky to enter negotiations now or lose more territory.

"The effective work of the Russian armed forces should convince Zelensky: it is better to negotiate and do it now rather than later," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"The space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost during offensive actions by the Russian army," reported AFP quoting Peskov.

Also Read | Trump beats drum for Nobel Peace Prize as reports

He also added that Moscow had not officially received the US plan.

According to a draft reviewed by AFP, the plan backed by Donald Trump says that Ukraine will receive a reliable security guarantee, Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days, and Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine, among other things.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday seized the opportunity to turn an earthquake into political ammunition, using tremors felt across Kolkata and parts of the Northeast to take a swipe at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress party, sparking a war of words on social media.

Moments after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattled Bangladeshs Narsingdi district  tremors of which were also felt in Kolkata  the BJPs state unit posted on X, West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. Mamata Banerjee, was it because of SIR?"

The TMC shot back instantly, saying, "its actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. And don't worry, the Delhi Zamindars wont miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too."

The war of words comes amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal  as the state gears up for the Assembly Elections  due in 2026  which will witness a contest between BJP, the ruling Trinamool Congress and other parties.

Following NDA's sweeping win in the Bihar Assembly Elections on 14 November  PM Modi, while speaking at the BJP's headquarters in Delhi, had said, the river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar. And the victory in Bihar, like the river, has paved the way for our victory in Bengal.

West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday, said it has started preparing for the 2026 legislative assembly in the state, with the poll body set to start Electronic Voting Machine checking exercise and voting rehearsals exercise, reported ANI.

Was there an earthquake in Kolkata too? Strong tremors were felt in Kolkata and other parts of eastern India on Friday morning after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh.

Three people were killed when the railing of a six-storey building collapsed during the earthquake, Reuters reported citing police.
Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for a record tenth time on Thursday during a grand ceremony at Patna's iconic Gandhi Maidan.

Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, the two deputy chief ministers, also took the oath of office and secrecy among 26 ministers in the Nitish Kumar cabinet today.

Election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed 24 of the 26 ministers who were sworn in on Thursday. Of these, 11 (46 per cent) have declared criminal cases against them, while 9 (38 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases pending against them.

View full Image The BJP, which has 14 ministers in the 26-member Nitish Kumar cabinet, has 6 leaders who have declared serious criminal cases against them. The Janata Dal (United), which has eight ministers, other than CM Nitish Kumar, has one member with a declared serious criminal case and 2 with criminal cases.

The BJP, which has 14 ministers in the 26-member Nitish Kumar cabinet, has 6 leaders who have declared serious criminal cases against them. The Janata Dal (United), which has eight ministers, other than CM Nitish Kumar, has one member with a declared serious criminal case and 2 with criminal cases.

Mangal Pandey, the BJP minister who won from Siwan, has eight serious criminal cases pending against him. Pandey is followed by Ram Nishad, the BJP leader who won from the Aurai seat, who has 5 pending serious criminal cases against him, as per a self-attested affidavit.

A serious criminal charge refers to an offence where the maximum punishment is 5 years or more, a non-bailable offence, any crime against women, or any election-related criminal charge. A criminal charge refers to any pending case against a candidate in which a court has taken cognisance.

Criminal Background -Ministers with Criminal Cases: 11(46%) ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves.

-Ministers with Serious Criminal Cases: 9(38%) ministers have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Educational Background Details Ministers Education: 8 (33%) ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 10th and 12th standard, while 15 (63%) ministers have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. One minister is a diploma holder.

View full Image 8 (33%) ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 10th and 12th standard, while 15 (63%) ministers have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. One minister is a Diploma Holder.

One minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet is a 10th pass, while 7 are 12th pass.

Financial Background Crorepatis: Out of the 24 ministers analysed, 21 (88%) ministers are crorepatis.

Average Assets: The average assets of 24 ministers analysed is 5.32 crores.

Wealthiest Minister: The minister with the highest declared total assets is Rama Nishad from the Aurai constituency, with assets worth 31.86 Crores.

Poorest Minister: The minister with the lowest declared total assets is Sanjay Kumar from Bakhri (SC) constituency with assets worth 22.30 Lakhs.

Liabilities: A total of 15 (63%) ministers have declared liabilities out of which the minister with the highest liabilities is Vijay Kumar Sinha of Lakhisarai constituency with 82.33 lakhs of liabilities.

11 ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Ministers Age: A total of 5(21%) ministers have declared their age to be between 30 and 50 years, while 19(79%) ministers have declared their age to be between 51 and 80 years.

Women Ministers: Out of the all 27 Ministers, 3 (11%) Ministers are women.

The swearing-in ceremony on Thursday was attended by top NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Other chief ministers also attended the event, including those of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu; Delhi, Rekha Gupta; Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini; Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma; and Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday transferred the Home Ministry to his deputy, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Samrat Choudhary, as the new cabinets portfolios were announced, as reported by India Today.

Samrat Choudhary, who remains Deputy Chief Minister, now takes charge of the department previously held by Nitish Kumar.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a historic landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar assembly polls, winning 202 of the 243 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan managed to secure only 35 seats.

The ruling alliance secured a three-fourths majority in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, marking the second time the NDA crossed the 200-seat mark in state polls. In 2010, it had won 206 seats.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, JDU chief Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister for a record 10th time.

BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday took oath as Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent leaders of the NDA.

A total of 25 leaders, apart from Nitish Kumar, took oath as part of the new NDA-led Bihar Cabinet.

Who gets what in Bihar cabinet? Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has been assigned the Land and Revenue Department, along with Mines and Geology. Mangal Pandey will oversee both the Health and Law departments, while Dilip Jaiswal has been named Industry Minister.

Nitin Nabin will manage the Road Construction Department as well as Urban Development and Housing. Ramkripal Yadav takes charge of Agriculture, and Sanjay Tiger heads Labour Resources. Arun Shankar Prasad has been assigned to the Tourism Department, in addition to Art, Culture, and Youth Affairs. Surendra Mehta will handle Animal and Fisheries Resources, and Narayan Prasad will lead Disaster Management.

Rama Nishad will oversee Backward and Extremely Backward Class Welfare, while Lakhedar Paswan manages Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare. Shreyasi Singh will be responsible for Information Technology and Sports, according to the report.

Pramod Chandravanshi has been assigned the Cooperation and EnvironmentForestClimate Change portfolios.
Amid ongoing speculation and internal power struggles over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar broke his silence on Friday, asserting that all 140 Congress MLAs are with his MLAs.

As reported by ANI, Shivakumar said, ...Making a group is not in my blood. All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. CM decided that he will reshuffle the Govt, the cabinet. So, all of them are interested in becoming ministers. It is natural that they will go and meet the leaders in Delhi. Apart from that, what can I say? They have every right. I have not taken anyone. Some of them went and met Kharge sahab. They met the CM also. What is wrong? It is their life. No one has called them, they are voluntarily going and showing their faces. They wanted to show their presence that they are in the forefront, can work and they want responsibility.

What's brewing? PTI reported, citing Congress sources, that at least 15 MLAs and around a dozen MLCs have stationed themselves in New Delhi to urge the party high command to appoint Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister.

According to reports, the demand is based on a power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, under which Siddaramaiah was to serve as the CM for two and a half years (till November 20) before making way for Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah reacts Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday clarified that he intends to remain in his post and will present future state budgets as well, PTI reported.

To a question whether he would present the next two state budgets, Siddaramaiah retorted, Why are you asking this? Yes, I will continue. I will present the budgets in future also.

His remark comes amid a fierce power tussle within the ruling Congress, with the D.K. Shivakumar faction urging the party leadership to replace him.

When pointed out that Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh had said "Siddaramaiah never backtracks from his word", the CM said, Yes. He is right. I have never backtracked from my statement. I implemented all five pre-poll guarantees I had promised.

When pressed on whether this applied to handing over power to Shivakumar, the Chief Minister said the decision is left to the high command. On Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamys Delhi tour, Siddaramaiah said, I dont know whether he has gone there. D K Shivakumar has already said. What else should I say? He added, I had a word with Chaluvarayaswamy. Today also, I spoke to him through video conference. He said he has gone to Delhi to meet the Union Agriculture Minister.

Siddaramaiah, not ready to give up his position? LoP Narayanaswamy says Commenting on the speculation over the chief ministership, Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said, Even during the 20132018 term, there was a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing deal, but Siddaramaiah refused to step aside and stayed on as Chief Minister for the full five years. Now theres another 2.5-year agreement

..This tussle has become a big headache for the High Command, because there is no High Command at all in the central AICC, and nobody knows who is the High Command...Due to the tussle between the groups, total law and order has collapsed in Karnataka...They will finish their own party in this process, added Narayanswamy.

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Friday that he had spoken with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and both concurred that a soundly defeated and internally divided Karnataka BJP, along with certain sections of the media, is conducting a deliberate smear campaign against the Karnataka Congress government.

In a post on X, Surjewala slammed the BJP and said, Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction-ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government.

He added that the sole idea is to undermine the stellar achievements and 5 Congress Govt Guarantees, which have become an outstanding model of inclusive development and distributive justice.

The needless Statements of some Congress leaders and MLAs has also added to the speculation. INC has sternly warned them from making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests, Surjewala wrote.

Also Read | Karnataka High Court stays government order seen as move to curb RSS activities

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited Chamarajanagar, he said that his power is "secure" and sincere efforts are being made to fulfil the promises made to the people.

There is a long-standing myth that any serving Chief Minister of the state who visits the town of Chamarajanagar will inevitably lose their post within a short period.
Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, was sworn in for a historic tenth term at a grand event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of several National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states, and senior alliance leaders. One of the key catches of the new cabinet was the inclusion of Deepak Prakashson of veteran Bihar leader Upendra Kushwahaas a Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) quota minister, despite not having contested the Assembly elections.

Amid allegations of dynasty politics by the Opposition leaders, former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha clarified that his son's induction was based on the party's internal decision and discussions within the alliance, and not linked to electoral participation.

In a lengthy post on X, Kushwaha said, My position is that if you have categorised our decision as an act of nepotism, then please try to understand my compulsion. This step was not just necessary but unavoidable to safeguard the partys existence and future. I cannot publicly analyse all the reasons, but you are all aware that in the past, we even had to take the unpopular, almost self-destructive decision of merging the party.

Who is Deepak Prakash? Deepak Prakash Kushwaha is a 36-year-old computer science engineer who suddenly entered Bihar politics. Deepak's entry into the cabinet came unexpectedly as the sole ministerial representative from his father's party, the RLM, in Nitish Kumar's tenth cabinet.

This appointment followed Upendra's quick efforts to secure the position for him after the 2024 elections.

Upendra has defended Deepak's credentials, noting that he is not someone who stumbled in life but earned his engineering degree through dedication and hard work.

View full Image Bihar Minister Deepak Prakash with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking oath at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Thursday. (Photo by Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

Deepak's political rise is built upon his family's growing influence.

His grandmother, Sneh Lata Kushwaha, recently won the Sasaram Assembly constituency by a decisive margin of over 25,000 votes in the 2025 Bihar elections, polling 1,05,006 votes against RJD candidate Satendra Sah's 79,563.

This victory, combined with Upendra's Rajya Sabha nomination (backed by the NDA after his 2024 loss in the Karakat Lok Sabha seat), positions the Kushwaha family prominently: Upendra in the upper house of Parliament, Sneh Lata as an MLA, and Deepak as a state ministerforming a trio of key roles.

How does RLM stand in 2025? The RLM, led by Upendra Kushwaha, remains a junior ally in the NDA-led Bihar government under Nitish Kumar

In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the party contested six constituencies and secured victories in four, demonstrating solid performance within its limited scope.

However, its share of power in the expanded tenth cabinet is modest, with only one ministerial berth awarded to Deepak Prakash.

Why did Nitish Kumar not contest assembly election? Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, does not participate in Assembly elections. He last served as an MLA in 1985 and contested only once afterwards, in 1995 from Harnaut, but chose not to keep the seat, continuing instead as a Lok Sabha MP.

Since then, he has consistently entered the state legislature through the Legislative Council rather than through direct Assembly contests.

Bihar is among six Indian states that have a Legislative Council, which enables ministers to hold office without winning Assembly elections.

Nitish Kumar's first tenure as an MLC ended in 2012, after which he was re-elected, prompting renewed debate over his preference to avoid direct electoral battles for the Assembly.

Justifying his decision, he said in January 2012 at the Legislative Councils centenary event, I became an MLC out of choice, not compulsion, because the Upper House is a dignified institution.

He added, "I will once again be elected to the Legislative Council upon completion of the present six-year term."

Opposition flags nepotism, dynastic politics The decision to induct Deepak Prakash into the cabinet took Bihar's political circles by surprise and invited criticism, including from the Opposition, for promoting dynastic politics. Alongside Prakash, Santosh Kumar Sumanthe son of HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhiwas also inducted into the cabinet.

In a post on X, RJD jibed at the ruling NDA leaders who were sworn in as ministers today in the newly formed Bihar government for accusing the Mahagathbandhan of "dynastic politics", implying that the ruling parties themselves were doing so. RJD pointed out that several newly sworn-in ministers have family ties to politicians.

Also Read | Nearly half of CM Nitish Kumars Bihar ministers face criminal cases

The RJD has specifically named 10 ministers, including Samrat Choudhary, Nitin Nabin, and Shreyasi Singh, highlighting their connections to established political families.

Rama Nishad, daughter-in-law of former Union Minister Captain Jai Narayan Nishad and wife of former MP Ajay Nishad. Vijay Chaudhary, son of former MLA Jagdish Prasad Chaudhary. Nitin Naveen, son of former MLA Naveen Kishor Sinha. Sunil Kumar, son of former Minister Chandrika Ram and brother of former MLA Anil Kumar. Leshi Singh, wife of former Samata Party District President late Madhusudan Singh alias Butan Singh, RJD informed.

Notably, nearly 80% of HAM(S) newly elected MLAs are relatives of senior leaders, with Jitan Ram Manjhi's daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, and son-in-law winning seats. Up to 12.35% of winning BJP MLAs have family links, including Samrat Choudhary and Nitish Mishra. JD(U)'s 11 winners come from political families.
Salesforce is investigating what it described as unusual activity involving Gainsight-published applications that may have exposed customer data, prompting the company to suspend access to the affected tools while the inquiry continues.

Access to Gainsight apps temporarily revoked In a brief update posted on its status site, Salesforce said some Gainsight-developed applications that customers install and manage themselves may have allowed unauthorised access to certain Salesforce data. As a precaution, the company has revoked all active access to the applications.

Salesforce stressed that there was no evidence to suggest the issue stemmed from a flaw in its own platform, and said it was working to understand the extent of the activity.

Gainsight confirmed on its website that it is cooperating with Salesforce as the investigation unfolds, but did not provide additional details. Requests for further comment from the company were not immediately returned.

Growing risks in software integrations Although the scale and nature of the incident remain unclear, security researchers note that attackers are increasingly targeting the connective tissue between major software-as-a-service platforms. Integrations that allow different systems to share data can also create high-value entry points for hackers if not properly secured.

Also Read | Hackers claim theft of 1 billion Salesforce records in UK retail attacks: Report

Recent incidents underscore this pattern. Last month, Google said that a flaw in Oracles E-Business Suite had likely affected more than 100 organisations. Earlier in the year, Google disclosed that attackers had convinced employees at Salesforce customer organisations to install tampered versions of Salesforces Data Loader tool, enabling access to sensitive information.

Jaime Blasco, cofounder of Nudge Security, said these types of integrations have become prime targets. Writing on LinkedIn, he noted that attackers often bypass heavily fortified core platforms by exploiting connected services with elevated permissions. Speaking to Reuters, he added: This is the new attack surface.

Also Read | Google confirms data breach after Salesforce database hack exposes customer data

Last month, in a separate story, it was also reported that cybercriminals tied to a series of ransomware attacks on UK retailers say they are behind the theft of nearly one billion records from a US cloud services provider, Salesforce. The hackers, operating under the name Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters, told Reuters that they accessed large amounts of personal data by targeting organisations that use Salesforces products.

The group appeared to be a splinter faction of the broader LAPSUS$ gang and has claimed responsibility for breaches affecting Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and Jaguar Land Rover earlier this year. According to security researchers, the outfit is monitored by Googles Threat Intelligence Group under the identifier UNC6040, which has previously highlighted the groups reliance on social engineering to compromise victims.
The Miss Universe competition concluded with Mexico's Fatima Bosch winning the title. However, another country also walked away with the spotlight when it came to viral moments. Miss Norway 2025, Leonora Lysglimt-Rdland, ended up setting the tone at this years Miss Universe preliminaries in Thailand. The moment came during the national costume segment on 19 November, where delegates usually lean into history, fabric, and symbolism. Norway went a different direction.

Norways Salmon-inspired costume takes the spotlight Lysglimt-Rdland walked out in a salmon-themed costume, a reference to Norways long ties to the sea and its major seafood exports to Asian markets. The host spelled it out as she entered. This salmon-inspired gown mirrors both the delegates movements as a baton twirler and the essence of Norways leading export.

Then came the line that jumped across social feeds within minutes: This river runner is a stunner, Norway!

The outfit itself shifted midway. She removed an outer layer to show a pink-and-silver bodysuit meant to represent the salmons interior. The switch, brief but dramatic, drew loud reactions inside the Impact Arena in Pak Kret, just outside Bangkok.

Social media stunned by Miss Norways salmon dress Clips circulated almost immediately. One user wrote, Miss Norway in the national dress round of the Miss Universe competition. They normally go as something elegant from their countrys history or culture. She went as a salmon.

Another comment pushed back, noting, This may be funny but Norway is really known for salmon, and she ate that dress. Also it was beautifully done.

Another account added, Either this is Gen Z brilliance OR someone REALLY misunderstood directions to pack the salmon gown.

One person summed up the dominant meme tone: I dont care what anyone says, SHE ATE THAT DOWN. Too iconic, yall just cant comprehend it.

Why it stood out Costume rounds have always been a place for pageant risks. But the Oslo-born contestants decision to lean fully into a single export created a clean, easy narrative for audiences to grab onto. Plenty of contestants went traditional, but Norways approach travelled faster online simply because it was direct, visual, and unusual.

Even if she did not win the crown, her salmon-inspired outfit has won over social media.

FAQs Who is Miss Norway 2025? Leonora Lysglimt-Rdland represented Norway at Miss Universe 2025.

Why did Miss Norway wear a salmon costume? Her outfit referenced Norways maritime heritage and its leading salmon exports.

Where did the viral moment happen? The reveal took place during the Miss Universe preliminary round in Thailand.
Chinese premier calls for joint efforts to revitalize Tanzania-Zambia Railway

Xinhua) 09:31, November 21, 2025

LUSAKA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for joint efforts with Tanzania and Zambia to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

Li made the remarks in talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

Describing the revitalization of the railway as a common aspiration of the people of the three countries, Li called on the three sides to strengthen policy coordination, and jointly carry out subsequent comprehensive development to drive better development of the countries and regions along the route.

Li landed in Zambia's capital of Lusaka on Wednesday for an official visit to the African country.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
The Miss Universe pageant has been making headlines after Fatima Bosch of Mexico won the crown. Now, talk about the upcoming edition of the pageant has been creating a buzz. The 75th installment of Miss Universe will be hosted in Puerto Rico, with the global event taking place in November at the Coliseum in San Juan.

According to News Is My Business, the country hosted the pageant previously in 2001 and 2002. During the press conference, Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon revealed that the government will invest around $9 million. Over the years, the country has introduced five winners: Marisol Malaret in 1970, Deborah Carthy-Deu in 1985, Dayanara Torres in 1993, Denisse Quinones in 2001, and Zuleyka Rivera in 2006.

Everything we know about the Miss Universe pageant 2026 During the news conference, Governor Colon revealed, Over 400 million viewers are estimated to watch the pageant in more than 160 countries. She further stated, Puerto Ricans believe in their [beauty] queens, and we have proven that we can do it better.

Elsewhere in her address, the governor shared that the $9 million investment will be divided into $4.5 million for this fiscal year, and the remainder will be transferred to the next year. Additionally, the event is expected to generate 45,000 hotel stays, resulting in revenue of $13.5 million. Nearly 700 temporary jobs and 400 indirect jobs are also expected, which would lead to an increase in employment.

The governor also noted the difference between the other host countries of the pageant, stating that while El Salvador made an impact of $177 million in 2023, Mexico generated $250 million in 2024. She added, We are going to do it better because its the 75th anniversary, with strong private support and sponsorship.

Meanwhile, the technical team of Miss Universe will arrive on the island two months before the event, with local talent being enlisted for the production, according to the media portal.

Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch of Mexico was awarded the honour. She shared the stage alongside Miss Thailand, who was declared the runner-up. Following the event, the Miss Universe Organization revealed in the press release that this years ceremony was more than just a celebration of beauty; it brought together culture, purpose, and connections. This years theme was The Power of Love.

FAQs Q1. Who is the winner of Miss Universe 2025? Ans. Fatima Bosch of Mexico won the pageant.

Q2. Where was Miss Universe 2025 held? Ans. Thailand hosted the competition this year.
Mexicos Fatima Bosch has been crowned Miss Universe 2025. Last years winner, Victoria Kjr Theilvig from Denmark, placed the crown on Boschs head. The 25-year-old emerged as a fan favourite after she was berated by a Thai pageant director in a live-streamed meeting, leading to a walkout by contestants, CNN reported.

Thailands Praveenar Singh was the runner-up in the competition. Stephany Abasali from Venezuela, Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines and Olivia Yace from the Ivory Coast rounded out the top five.

Who is Fatima Bosch? According to the Latin Times, Fatima Bosch Fernandez hails from Mexico's Santiago de Teapa. She studied Fashion & Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana. Later, Bosch attended the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan as well as the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA, for additional studies.

The 25-year-old had publicly shared about her struggles with dyslexia and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during her school years. She is the first woman ever from Mexicos Tabasco state to be sent to compete internationally at Miss Universe 2025, as well as the first one to hold the title.

At a live-streamed pre-pageant meeting earlier this month, Bosch was publicly reprimanded by Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil for not posting enough promotional content. In the meeting, Nawat allegedly called her a dumbhead, though he has denied this, insisting that he had actually accused her of causing damage. When she pushed back against the insults, Nawat called in security to escort Bosch out of the room. The incident led to the other contestants walking out in solidarity.

Nawats behaviour was condemned by the Miss Universe Organization, and his role in the pageant was later limited. He apologised in a livestreamed welcome ceremony.

Miss Universe 2025 ceremony Known as the Super Bowl of beauty pageants, the Miss Universe competition was held in Thailand this year. This years pageant featured 120 contestants from across the globe.

This years event was marred by scandals. Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, had sparked a backlash for racist comments against Nawat. Furthermore, just days before the winner was crowned, two judges abruptly stepped down from the Miss Universe pageant, with one claiming the pageant was rigged.

FAQs Who won Miss Universe 2025? Mexico's Fatima Bosch was awarded the title.

How old is Fatima Bosch? She is 25 years old.
Wamp also says the exchange is not a land swap in terms of ownership, rather it's a swap of deed restrictions "which would require the future use of McDonald Farm to be recreation."
In the last four weeks, three films based on Stephen King novels or short stories have been released in theaters. In the same period, two series also inspired by the American writers work have landed on digital platforms. And in early 2026, yet another will appear: a television series based on Carrie, directed by Mike Flanagan. A glance at the IMDb film database is staggering: since 1976, when Brian De Palmas original Carrie was released, more than 400 audiovisual productions bearing Stephen Kings name have been launched. No other living writer has been so frequently adapted on screen (and he is second in history only to William Shakespeare, with 1,876 productions based on the Bards works). What is it about King  the author of more than 60 novels and 200 short stories  that makes him so appealing? What do filmmakers and experts think of this wave of adaptations?

A month ago, the outstanding The Life of Chuck arrived in theaters, with which Flanagan has once again demonstrated his talent for suspense, both in its shift toward horror and in its fantasy aspects. Its not the first time the filmmaker  an undisputed heavyweight in these genres in both film and television  has tackled an adaptation of a King story: he already did so with Geralds Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019), the sequel to The Shining.

The Life of Chuck belongs to the King who blends fantasy and nostalgia, as seen in Hearts in Atlantis, The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption. Flanagan, who is currently in production on the small-screen adaptation of Carrie, explained this past summer in the U.S.: Its often assumed that Stephen King is a horror writer. I dont think thats true. Deep down, hes an optimist, a humanist, deeply empathetic, and, frankly, very true to his principles. That his stories can be terrifying is secondary to those goals. For me, this is true whether were talking about The Life of Chuck, which I consider one of his most sincere and optimistic stories, or The Shawshank Redemption, which is simply amazing, or Pet Sematary, one of the most terrifying stories Ive ever read.

The writer Stephen King. Leemage (Corbis via Getty Images)

Pet Sematary unites two Spanish filmmakers, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Rodrigo Cortes, both with extensive experience in suspense and horror. Fresnadillo recalls: I was fascinated by Pet Sematary when I was very young, my favorite by far [referring to the 1989 movie version], and in fact I revived the project for Paramount in 2015, which ultimately, due to the hellish development process in Hollywood, I couldnt complete because of scheduling conflicts. Cortess legs still tremble when he remembers reading the original novel: Ive been reading King since adolescence. I lost my reading virginity with Pet Sematary, and I still havent completely forgotten the death of little Gage. I have the urge to watch some of the films based on his pages, perhaps as a way to revisit his landscapes, or to see what others have imagined. Most of them are disposable, cheap, extremely distorted, or made-for-TV material that forgets that King is, above all, a writer of everyday life and characters.

01:46 Trailer for 'The Life of Chuck' Tom Hiddleston, right, in 'The Life of Chuck'.

This reflection is shared by several experts. In the preface to his book Stephen King: Guia ilustrada del maestro del terror (or, Stephen King: Illustrated Guide to the Master of Horror), which compares novels and their film adaptations, Matthieu Rostac observes: In the opinion of many, hes a poorly adapted novelist, a man whose work is scrupulously destroyed by the film industry, which in fact transforms his writings into safe havens. They are not entirely wrong [...] although King owes much to cinema, just as horror cinema owes much to him.

Filmmaker Carlota Pereda, whose film Piggy (2022) was described by EL PAIS critic Elsa Fernandez-Santos as Carrie in Extremadura, agrees: Im interested in that kind of cinema, especially when the films deviate from their source material. King creates relatable characters with relatable conflicts in a universe that feels real where strange things happen. Thats why films that rely less on horror and are more grounded in everyday life are also better.

Fresnadillo emphasizes, like Pereda, that Kings work is adapted so often because of his characters. He elaborates: The external torment, the terror of the houses, or the situations he presents stem from an inner fracture in his protagonists. From something they cant quite accept, or from a traumatic wound that, despite being buried in time, will eventually resurface.

Cortes offers an analysis of his adaptations: There are A-list films, like The Shining, Carrie, Misery, or The Shawshank Redemption, and films made with great skill and a strong sense of genre, like Pet Sematary (the original), Cujo, Thinner... I am, for example, a big fan of Dreamcatcher. I like The Mist, Stand by Me, parts of Creepshow... Of the recent ones, I enjoyed The Life of Chuck, and I confess that Ive always fantasized about adapting The Long Walk, which Francis Lawrence has just filmed with substance and some impressive moments, although without leaving a lasting impression... Its a shame about the flashbacks, and the ending. Pereda emphasizes: It adds nothing to the text, its superficial. However, Ill always watch a King film, because he himself is an IP; he fulfills the commandment of taking you to a world you already know and have enjoyed at some point.

The Long Walk premiered in September, stars Cooper Hoffman (Philip Seymours son), and is too closely linked thematically  even in its shared director  to The Hunger Games universe. Cortes continues: I read that novel around the same time as The Running Man, both written by King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The Running Man remake is directed by Edgar Wright, who fails to inject any energy into the plot, nor does his lead actor, Glen Powell, lead us to forget Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred in the 1987 original.

Since King was struck by a minivan on a rural road near his home in Maine in 1999, the author has not fully recovered physically. He has reduced his working hours; by contrast, he has multiplied his digital activity, becoming one of the leading influencers of the genre. Via that platform, with a strongly laudatory message, he launched the Spanish film La mesita del comedor (or, The Dining Room Table), directed by Caye Casas, to fame in May 2024. For me, there was a before and after, Casas admits with a laugh. King is the king of horror in every sense of the word. From paranormal events to everyday occurrences, because he talks about families, about things that could happen to any of us, and without censorship, shattering taboos, he points out. And with that, he has gained legions of fans: thats why streaming platforms and production companies know that just by putting his name on something, millions of people will be interested in their product. Look what happened to me.

Thats why King is also the seed of numerous television shows: this summer, The Institute arrived on Prime Video. The most difficult thing about adapting any Stephen King story is that hes a wonderful writer of the inner lives of his characters. You can access their darkest, deepest, and most secret feelings, emotions, and desires. You can do that very well in a book, but how to externalize it for a screen is a challenge, screenwriter Benjamin Cavell told EL PAIS. The director of The Institute, Jack Bender, who also directed Mr. Mercedes (2017-2019), which Netflix has just revived, is a friend of Kings, so he can explain what allows his work to be adapted so easily: He understands the process of making a series or a film from a book.

The other major streaming phenomenon is the Derry universe, where Pennywise the Clown, the villain from the novel It, wreaks havoc every 27 years. Argentine siblings Andy and Barbara Muschietti adapted the book into two films released in 2017 and 2019, and they themselves approached HBO to propose It: Welcome to Derry  the first season of three planned instalments is now premiering on the platform. King captivates because everything in his work resonates with social reality. His critiques are coated with a veneer of fiction and horror. But we all recognize ourselves in them, Barbara Muschietti explained to EL PAIS last month. For the producer and screenwriter, Derry resembles any town, city, or country in this moment in which we unfortunately live in such a globalized world. Because waves of fear and fascism are present all over the world. Or, as her brother pointed out: Fear is the order of the day. Its subtextual, but also quite literal. King may be the great narrator of a somewhat idealized rural America, but at the same time he has led the intellectual opposition against Trump. As Casas notes, he criticizes him even on X, a territory allied with the president.

Journalist Maria Gomez is such a King fan that last Halloween she dressed up as Carrie, and the year before that as the girls from The Shining. Interestingly, he doesnt like that movie, she notes. Actually, he hates almost all of his adaptations. I dont understand why he doesnt have more control over those films and series. It cant be for lack of money. And above all, he gets very angry when they change the endings. Why doesnt he object? Gomez also highlights the authors characters. It doesnt matter if its a child, a broken mother, a writer in crisis like him, or a clown... They all have a perfect mix of darkness and tenderness, which makes them both brutal and memorable. And she insists: More than a horror writer, hes a writer of lives, because he handles a concept very well: what can actually happen to you is scarier than a monster. The most unsettling things are the everyday.

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Longford author Hugh Farrell has released a major new book charting the complete history of the 4th Motor/4th Cavalry Squadron  a detailed account spanning more than seven decades of Irish military history, from its founding in 1940 at Custume Barracks, Athlone, through its decades in Connolly Barracks, Longford (19722009), to its formal disbandment in 2012.

Farrells publication, The Warriors, traces the squadrons movements across the country: from Athlone to Boyle in 1946, from Boyle to Plunkett Barracks in the Curragh, and in 1972 to Sean Connolly Barracks in Longford, where the unit remained for almost four decades before returning to Athlone in 2009.

The book includes more than 300 photographs and several nominal rolls spanning generations of personnel.

Also read: Never saw a tank in their lives - Decision to disband battalion slated at Longford event

Longford County Library, Archives, Arts and Heritage Services will host the launch of The Warriors: A History of the 4th Motor Squadron/Cavalry Squadron this Friday, November 21 at 7.30pm in Longford Library.

The event will be officiated by Noel Byrne, retired Lieutenant-Colonel and former Officer Commanding at Sean Connolly Barracks.

Hugh, who also authored a celebrated history of the 17th Infantry Battalion, said his latest book grew from a determination to preserve a chapter of Defence Forces history that might otherwise fade away. These were two books I really wanted to do, he said. I wanted to remember the people who served in these units. Those units are gone now, and I didnt want their history or their names to disappear.

The book covers the squadrons early years in meticulous detail and documents its United Nations missions in the Congo, Cyprus and other conflict zones. Nominal rolls from 1957, 1973, 1974, 1992, 2008 and 2009 are included, along with full listings of those who completed overseas service.

Also read: The days of the 17th Infantry Battalion remembered in new book by Longford author

A major section focuses on the units Longford years, when it became a designated border unit responsible for the Belturbet-to-Blacklion stretch during some of the most challenging phases of the Troubles. Farrell records serious incidents encountered by the squadron between 1972 and 2000, offering a rare, ground-level perspective on its work.

Reflecting on the research process, Farrell described it as both rewarding and deeply personal.

I enjoyed writing the book very much, he said. It brought back some great memories  and a couple of nightmares too, but I wont mention them.

It was a huge amount of research and a huge number of photographs. Anyone who ever served, even people like me who started out in the FCA, will be brought right back to the beginning.

PICTURES | Peter Keenan Branch ONE Longford remembers all their comrades who died

The Warriors also includes the origins of the Armoured Car Corps in 1922, a profile of Sean Connolly  after whom the Longford barracks was named  and a tribute to Paddy Kelly, who died in Derrada Wood in 1983. A section on the 5th Motor Squadron in Castlebar, contributed with assistance from Mick Bohan, is also featured.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, I warmly congratulate Hugh Farrell on this book, which will attract great interest. The 4th Cavalry Squadron was woven into the fabric of our community for generations, and this book ensures that legacy will endure. It is a source of pride for the town and county.

Also read: PICTURES | Greyhound Bar hosts presentation for Paul Williams

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, This book tells an important story for Longford- it is a tribute to service and sacrifice. Longfords military tradition runs deep, and Hughs excellent work preserves that heritage for future generations.

The Warriors is priced at 25 and can be ordered directly from Hugh Farrell at 086 370 6562 or hufarel@gmail.com
Troops of the 76th Division of the Syrian Arab Army. (@kwnan_Syria on X)

On November 19, the government-controlled Syrian army and the predominantly Kurdish, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battled in the area of Maadan, east of Raqqa. According to Syrian government sources, SDF forces targeted Syrian army positions in the Maadan area of Raqqas countryside following heavy shelling towards the positions. The sources stated that the SDF was able to seize several positions in Maadan and managed to kill two Syrian soldiers and wound a few more.

In response, the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that the army quickly responded to the sources of fire and carried out a counterattack in which it regained the positions lost to SDF forces, pushing them to retreat. The ministry added that the SDF attacks were treacherous.

The SDFs narrative was different, as the group announced that it had foiled an attack by government-aligned forces east of Raqqa. The SDF further claimed that its retaliation was proportionate and aimed at preventing the military conflict from spreading.

At the same time, the SDF said in a statement that its troops had engaged targets used by the Islamic State to launch drones east of Raqqa and claimed that its forces shot down two drones originating from positions held by factions backed by the Damascus government. The SDF also released what it said were video clips extracted from a shot-down Matrice M30 drone, claiming the footage shows ISIS [Islamic State] elements using those positions as bases for launching drones.

Tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF had previously escalated on October 6, when Syrian troops clashed with SDF units in the Kurdish enclaves of Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo. The confrontation began after government forces said they had discovered a tunnel allegedly used to smuggle weapons into the two neighborhoods.

A ceasefire was brokered the following day, on October 7, with the United States mediating between the two sides. The effort to implement the March 10 integration agreement was also part of the agenda during Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaas visit to Washington. During that visit, Washington confirmed Syrias entry into the anti-Islamic State coalition. The US government also formally delisted Sharaa, formerly the leader of Al Qaedas Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al Nusra, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

Following Sharaas meeting with Trump, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi stated that the SDF was committed to accelerating the integration of the SDF into the Syrian state. In response, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani claimed that there has been no positive or practical progress in the agreement with Mazloum Abdi. Syrian Minister of Interior Anas Khattab, whom the United States also delisted as an SDGT, stated that the SDF and the Syrian government would meet in the following days to discuss integrating the SDFs military and security units.

Tensions between the two factions are rising and may intensify in the coming weeks as the end-of-year deadline for the integration agreement they signed in March 2025 approaches. Sharaa has repeatedly signaled that he has managed to prevent Turkey, which views the SDFs core component, the Peoples Defense Units (YPG), as a terrorist group and extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), from military action to allow the political process to move forward.

It remains unclear how the Syrian government will respond if the integration plan is not implemented by the deadline. While neither side appears willing to enter a full-scale military confrontation, Turkish military action may be possible.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant.
An Israeli soldier crouches near a Merkava tank on November 17, 2025. (IDF)

Palestinian terrorists in Gaza have violated phase one of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on at least eight occasions between November 13 and November 21, according to reports from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Since the ceasefires implementation on October 10, Palestinian groups have violated the deal 32 times, according to the IDF.

Hamas has yet to return the bodies of three slain hostages that it holds, further breaching the deal, which required the immediate release of all hostages, living and dead. In recent days, the Israeli military has also accused Hamas of setting explosives on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, which delineates IDF-held territory from Hamas-held territory in Gaza, under the pretext of searching for the bodies of slain hostages.

The ceasefire faltered but held this week after terrorists fired at Israeli troops near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on November 19. The IDF sustained no casualties in the incident. Since October 28, when presumed Hamas terrorists killed an Israeli soldier in Rafah, shooting attacks against IDF troops have become increasingly rare. Instead, most violations have consisted of Palestinian terrorist operatives crossing into Israeli-controlled areas east of the Yellow Line.

In response to the November 19 attack, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of retaliatory strikes across Gaza that the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said killed 25 people. Qatars foreign ministry condemned the Israeli strikes, labeling them brutal attacks and a dangerous escalation that threatens to undermine the ceasefire agreement.

The IDF later confirmed that it had targeted at least two high-ranking Hamas terrorists during the sortie, eliminating Abdallah Abu Shamala, the head of Hamass naval array, and Fadi Abu Mustafa, who the IDF said was the chief constructor of Hamass terror tunnel network in the Khan Yunis Brigade, who took part in holding Israeli hostages captive.

Below is a list of violations of the ceasefire by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups between November 13 and November 21 that the IDF has reported:

On November 16, the IDF stated that a terrorist was identified crossing the yellow line and approaching IDF troops in northern Gaza, posing an immediate threat to them. The Israeli military said it struck and eliminated the terrorist.

On November 17, the IDF said that several terrorists were identified who crossed the yellow line and buried suspicious objects in the ground near IDF forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip, in a manner that posed an immediate threat to them. According to the report, the Israeli Air Force, guided by ground troops, eliminated one terrorist before the other retreated into Hamas-held territory in Gaza.

Later on November 17, the IDF said that another individual had been identified crossing the Yellow Line into Israeli-held territory, before approaching IDF forces operating in the area in a manner that posed an immediate threat to them. Israel said that troops eliminated the terrorist in order to remove the threat.

On November 18, the IDF stated that forces from the Nahal Brigade operating in the southern Gaza Strip identified two terrorists who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces. Israeli troops eliminated both individuals.

On November 19, the IDF said that forces operating in northern Gaza had identified several terrorists who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces. At least one interloper was eliminated in the incident, according to the IDF.

Later on November 19, the Israeli military stated that several terrorists had opened fire toward IDF soldiers operating in Khan Yunis, noting that this action constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Israeli aircraft immediately began striking terrorist targets across Gaza.

On November 20, the IDF said that two terrorists were identified crossing the yellow line and approaching IDF troops in southern Gaza, posing an immediate threat to them. The IDF stated that a hit was identified after Israeli forces fired, without confirming whether any of the terrorists were neutralized.

On November 21, the IDF said that approximately 15 terrorists emerged from underground terror infrastructure at two different locations east of the yellow line in eastern Rafah. Later, Israel confirmed that six of the 15 had been killed, and five other individuals were apprehended after they surrendered to troops operating in the area and were transferred for questioning.

The people who were killed and detained in Rafah may have been part of a Hamas cell, some 200 members strong, that is hiding underground in tunnels. These operatives remain on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line despite their presence violating the ceasefire agreement. In recent weeks, the United States and Israel have debated the best course of action to remedy the situation, with the US preferring that the terrorists be allowed to surrender and be deported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, ruled out granting the Hamas members safe passage out of Rafah, instead preferring to eliminate them.

The prime minister persists in his firm stance on the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of [Gaza] while eliminating terrorist threats to our forces, a statement issued by an Israeli official said, an identification that The Times of Israel notes is often a euphemism for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office.

Samuel Ben-Ur and Aaron Goren are research analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow Aaron Goren on X @realaarongoren.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concluded that 49 participants in the unprecedented protests that took place in Cuba on July 11, 2021  which automatically made them political prisoners  suffered arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, unfair trials and convictions, torture, isolation, and discrimination on political and religious grounds.

Four years after the demonstration, which resulted in the imprisonment of more than 1,500 people, Cubans and international organizations continue to demand justice. It has been a long road, but any just conviction is positive, however small a part it may represent of the reality that Cubans experience, Javier Larrondo, director of Prisoners Defenders, the NGO that documented and presented the cases to the Working Group, told EL PAIS.

The findings of the United Nations body, presented during its 103rd session, show that some of those detained were not informed of the reasons for their arrest, were not shown arrest warrants, and were not made aware of their legal rights. They also show that detainees were not brought before a judge to challenge their detention within 48 hours of their initial arrest, and that some, after their arrest, were held incommunicado for several days and weeks, without being allowed to contact their families. Furthermore, several detainees did not have access to legal counsel or were not brought before a judge to ensure the legality of the proceedings.

Given the context in which these arrests occurred, the cases described in the communication demonstrate a systematic violation of multiple rights established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially Article 18, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, the Working Group ruled. It also insisted that the criminal charges against the protesters are intended to coerce them for their opinions and political participation, as well as to discourage further protests in this area.

Prisoners Defenders, along with a team of more than 10 lawyers, undertook the task of collecting and analyzing thousands of documents related to the cases of 520 detainees, out of a total of more than 1,180 political prisoners in Cuba. However, the Working Groups limited resources and regulations made it difficult to address all the cases, and they asked us to proceed in phases. Therefore, of those 520 cases, 17 were addressed in 2024, and 49 in 2025, explains Larrondo. For a dictatorial regime, it is very easy to detain, disappear, imprison, and torture thousands of people. Proving the innocence of each one of them is a Herculean task. The U.N. Working Group has demonstrated its high level of professionalism in its mission, despite having barely enough resources to address even a tiny fraction of the thousands of cases that occur each year in Cuba.

The WGADs conclusions place Cuba as the worlds leading country in the number of convictions for arbitrary detention since 2019, making this a historic condemnation by the U.N., according to Larrondo. These indicators are important for ensuring that the debate regarding Cuba in Europe and the democratic world is the right one. We must leave behind the fantasies; Cuba is not a left-wing regime, it is a totalitarian, criminal, and fascist dictatorship, he maintains.

The U.N. body not only declared the Cuban governments actions illegal, as widely denounced by activists, independent media, and the families and detainees themselves; it also urged the Havana government to release and compensate the 49 political prisoners who cases were reviewed, and to grant them other forms of reparation, in accordance with international law. It further urged the Cuban government to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the cases presented and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

On March 7, 2015, the Working Group communicated its allegations to the Cuban government and requested a response by May 6, asking for detailed information on the situation of some of the detainees. However, to date, Havana has not sent any response within the allotted time, nor has it requested an extension. The Working Group regrets that the government has not responded to its request within the stipulated timeframe, the organization stated. Larrondo, for his part, insists that Prisoners Defenders will continue to report abuses, regardless of whether politicians take action or not to stop the massacre of freedoms taking place in Cuba.

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A nurse who worked at the Suffolk County House of Corrections in Boston for over 10 years has been accused of a drug diversion scheme involving nearly 100 forged signatures to steal thousands of pills.

Mary Forte, 69, of Boston was charged with two counts of obtaining a drug by fraud, two counts of larceny of a drug and one count of forgery of a document, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

Forte was arraigned at Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court on Wednesday and released on personal recognizance by Judge Dana Pierce. She is due in court on Dec. 2 for appointment of counsel.

In December 2023, the Department of Public Healths Drug Control Program received a report that a House of Correction employee  later identified as Forte, who was an employee at the House of Correction since 2012  was improperly discarding narcotics and forged other nurses signatures in the Narcotic Waste Book for at least two years.

Hospital protocol requires for two nurses to be present for any destruction of medication and its documentation. The medicine must be placed into an appropriate container and in view of a camera, and the footage is routinely reviewed by the House of Correction.

On Dec. 10, 2023, another employee noticed Forte discarded a large amount of Suboxone and Methadone without a second nurse present, the district attorneys office said. Forte also forged another nurses signature who was on vacation at the time.

Investigators would later learn Forte had been forging that nurses signature for months without her knowledge or consent, the office said.

Forte was also seen taking Suboxone out of its packaging in an office with no cameras, making it impossible for investigators know what she was actually disposing of when she later went into a monitored room.

Her body blocked the view of the drugs and investigators watched her carry Methadone bottles into the back office. However, she never came back with them or poured them out, the district attorneys office said.

In total, Forte is reported to have diverted 1,992 ml of Methadone, 1,798 of 8mg pills of Suboxone and forged 89 signatures.

Drug controls and protocols in jails and prisons are in place for good reasons, including the fact that many inmates are incarcerated for drug distribution and trafficking charges, said District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

The security aspects of those protocols are ultimately what provided the evidence to move forward with these charges, Hayden said.
The justice and interior ministers traveled to Marseille after the killing of the brother of an anti-drug politician and activist, comparing the threat of these organizations to terrorism

Marseille is Frances second-largest city but has long been considered its capital of drug trafficking and organized crime. It made headlines again this week after the murder of Mehdi Kessaci, the brother of a young politician and anti-drug activist.

This intimidation killing marks a turning point and demonstrates the power that has been amassed by these criminal organizations, which are now capable of challenging the state. What happened in Marseille is a crime meant to instill fear, a crime aimed at the Republic and the state. That is why, starting January 1, we will implement a system similar to the one we use against terrorism, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Thursday, during a visit to the city, where he was accompanied by Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin.

France has long been aware of the seriousness of the problem. In April 2025, a new anti-drug law was passed that will come into effect on January 1. Inspired by Italian legislation enacted during the era of Judge Giovanni Falcone, the law provides for a special prosecutors office for these crimes, high-security prisons for isolating such inmates, and significantly harsher penalties. Speaking in a small room crowded with journalists at the Bouches-du-Rhone police prefecture, which he once headed, Nunez described a chilling situation.

The interior minister also promised to visit Marseille once a month to ensure the new measures are properly implemented. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu added that there would be a debate on the issue in the National Assembly.

Drug trafficking is an entrenched problem in France. The crisis has gripped the outskirts of cities such as Grenoble, Nimes, Beziers, and Toulouse. In the first six months of 2025, authorities seized 37.5 tons of cocaine, 45% more than in the same period in 2024  a record figure, as is the number of deaths; in 2024 alone, there were 367 murders or attempted murders related to the trade.

Around 200,000 people in France make a living from drug trafficking, which generates an estimated annual turnover of 5.5 billion ($6.3 billion) and supplies cocaine to 1.1 million users, according to 2023 data from the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (OFDT). That is why President Emmanuel Macron raised the stakes in his analysis last Wednesday, pointing the finger at the bourgeois in city centers who consume and finance it.

French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, this Thursday in Marseille. Manon Cruz (REUTERS)

The murder of Mehdi Kessaci is extraordinary because it had nothing to do with drug trafficking, and he was not an accidental victim of a settling of scores. The 20-year-old was the brother of Amine Kessaci, an environmental and anti-drug activist who had recently entered politics. Amine, founder of the association Conscience, had been under police protection since last August. Authorities learned that criminal organizations  likely the DZ Mafia, the dominant gang controlling much of the drug trade in southern France  had planned to kill him. Given the difficulty posed by the security around Amine, they decided to kill his brother instead.

The police believe the murder was meant to scare activists: to impose a code of silence. And in part, they have succeeded. His death shows the failure of our state and of Europe to protect its citizens. Amine, beyond being an activist in civil society, was a politician, someone highly visible. Thats why many of us no longer want to appear publicly with our names. Its over, says an activist, speaking anonymously for the first time.

Police investigations and the criminal logic of Marseille point to the DZ Mafia (DZ refers to Algeria in Arabic and Berber languages) as the organization behind the killing. This horizontal organization grew after decimating the rival Yoda clan, and now controls the drug trade.

Its a widespread phenomenon, explained Philippe Frizon, head of Marseilles judicial police, to EL PAIS a few months ago. Under that name operate many traffickers who are in prison, on French territory, or abroad. Its a brand, a form of publicity to consolidate actions, partly in Marseille, but also in other parts of the region and neighboring areas. We are now investigating their links with foreign organizations.

Investigations, according to Le Parisien, are now focusing on Amine O., one of the gangs leaders, who has been imprisoned since last Tuesday in a high-security facility in Villefranche-sur-Saone. Amine O. is also known as Mamine or Jalisco  a reference to Mexican cartels because of the extreme level of violence he employs. Police believe he has continued organizing murders from prison and that last summer he planned to kill Amine Kessaci (hence the police protection). This inmate is also accused of a triple murder in late 2020. The target then was Amines older brother, Brahim, who was involved in drug trafficking. His body and that of an associate were riddled with bullets in a vehicle that was later found burned near Marseille. The mutilated body of a third victim was also discovered in the trunk of another car.

Night view of Marseille this Thursday.

Mamine is set to stand trial for these murders in 2026. Amine Kessaci has been summoned as a witness in the case. The activist was involved in that investigation, and it is suspected that the animosity also has a personal dimension.

Arrests have increased, and the homicide rate has fallen to less than half of what it was in 2023  partly because the conflict between the DZ Mafia and the rival Yoda clan ended with the DZ Mafias victory.

The justice minister praised the fact on Thursday that 27 of the 30 current leaders of the DZ Mafia are now in prison. The problem, however, is that they continue to operate normally from behind bars and order killings, as has happened on previous occasions  one year ago, they burned a 14-year-old boy alive in a dumpster  and all signs suggest they were also behind the murder of Mehdi Kessaci.

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Allston Car Wash on Cambridge Street, where nine employees were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday. (Charlie McKenna/MassLive)

Six of the nine employees arrested in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at Allston Car Wash earlier this month have been released on bond, according to the attorney representing them.

Lawyer Todd Pomerleau told WCVB-TV that three more of the workers had been granted bond this week, bringing the total to six.

He told the station that none of the nine have a criminal record and some have legal status in the United States and documentation, despite ICEs claims that all of them were here illegally.

Were mopping the floor with them up in federal court, Pomerleau told WCVB-TV. They didnt argue that anybody was dangerous at all. They tried to make some weak argument that they were somehow flight risks when they were all arrested in their place of work, and theyve lived in our community for years.

The nine workers were arrested at the car wash on Nov. 4. Pomerleau previously told MassLive that during the raid, some of the employees attempted to retrieve their documents from their lockers to show ICE agents, but were not allowed to do so.

Neighbors in the community have rallied to show their support for the workers and the car wash as it continued to operate, though it was open with limited hours in the days following the raid.

In the days following the arrests, a Boston University student took credit for prompting them on social media, saying he had been calling ICE for months on end to ask them to detain these criminals.

Read more: President of Boston University addresses ICE raid at Allston Car Wash called in by student

Neither Pomerleau nor ICE immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday afternoon.
Fans are sending love and prayers to restaurateur and TV personality Guy Fieri after he shared a tribute to his father on social media.

Happy 83rd birthday to my hero, My dad Jamps, he wrote on Instagram. We miss you everyday and appreciate all the life lessons and guidance. Happy birthday wise old owl!!

Fieris father, Jim Ferry, died on Jan. 27, 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Fans were quick to shower Fieris comment sections with support.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to your dad! Cherish all the beautiful memories, one user wrote.

One of the GOATs! another user wrote. You can measure a large % of mans greatness on how the youth looks at him. I knew he was a great husband, father and person 50 plus years ago.

Happy birthday pops! May your legacy live on forever!! another wrote.

Prior to his fathers death, Fieri discussed coping with a loved ones battle with cancer and highlighted his fathers strength.

Hes been a great advocate for people that have gone through it, Fieri said to People Magazine in 2022. Because theres not a lot of knowledge about it. Its not a great success rate. But I think you got to live every single day. Thats the biggest thing, is you never know what tomorrows going to bring.

Fieris sister, Jules, also died of cancer in 2011, suffering from metastatic melanoma. Fieri has since raised his nephew, also named Jules.
Ariana Grande has contracted COVID-19 following non-stop press interviews, premieres and late-night television appearances all in promotion for Wicked: For Good.

Grande, who stars as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the film, revealed that she had tested positive for coronavirus shortly after she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Moments before Covid, she wrote on her Instagram story Thursday, Nov. 20, along with a screen shot from the episode, USA TODAY reported.

Grande joins her co-star in falling ill at the conclusion of the press tour. Erivo was said to be skipping interviews at the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good on Nov. 17 after losing her voice.

Unfortunately, Cynthia is not feeling well and has lost her voice, Universal Pictures told PEOPLE in a statement. Therefore she and Ariana will not be doing interviews this evening."

Wicked: For Good, out Friday, serves as the follow-up to the first Wicked movie, which came out in November 2024. The film, which was an adaptation of the first act of the hit 2003 Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, earned 10 Oscar nominations winning Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
A Brookline man is being held in federal custody following his arrest Wednesday on a charge of possessing explicit images of children, prosecutors said.

Investigators identified Ariel Torres, 37, as a user of an online network used for disseminating child sexual abuse images, according to federal prosecutors.

Authorities searched his home in May and seized electronic devices that contained nearly 90 images and videos depicting abuse of children, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Leah Foley.

Torres faces a single count of possession of child sexual abuse images, also known as child pornography. He appeared in federal court Wednesday and was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 25.

A federal public defender appointed to represent him did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Foley and Michael J. Krol, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, said the Brookline and Lawrence Police Departments both provided valuable assistance with the investigation.
A 16th juror was empaneled in the Brian Walshe murder case on Thursday, which means a full jury has been reached.

It was the third day of jury selection for a trial that Judge Diane Freniere said this week could take three to four weeks to present, starting on Dec. 1.

While Freniere on Wednesday raised the prospect of empaneling more than 16 jurors, all sides agreed to proceed without selecting more jurors, according to WCVB.

Nine jurors were seated on Tuesday, the first day of the trial, and Walshe, 50, made an unexpected decision to plead guilty to two counts.

Walshe changed his plea on the counts of witness intimidation (misleading a police investigation) as well as disinterment of a body.

Freniere is ordering jurors not to go on social media and watch or read the news once they are selected.

The trial is in Dedhams Norfolk County Superior Court.

Officials charged Walshe with murder in connection with his wifes disappearance on New Years Day 2023. Her body has never been recovered, but investigators say that he killed his wife and misled police after he reported her missing.

Investigators found evidence at a dumpster outside his mothers apartment in Swampscott, including clothing that belonged to his wife, her COVID-19 vaccination card, towels with brown-red stains, a hatchet and a hacksaw, according to prosecutors.

Ana Walshe, 39, worked in Washington, D.C., and traveled back and forth to their Cohasset home, which she shared with Brian Walshe and their three children. Prosecutors say that Brian Walshe suspected she was having an affair.
North Andover Police Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons during her arraignment at Essex Superior Court on Aug. 28, 2025. She was shot and wounded in June after police say she pointed a gun at another North Andover Officer. (Ben Pennington for The Boston Globe)

Essex County prosecutors urged the full bench of the Supreme Judicial Court to keep Kelsey Fitzsimmons in jail, arguing that a lower court judge who ordered the 29-year-old police officer be jailed did not abuse her discretion or make an error of law.

Fitzsimmons, a North Andover police officer, is accused of aiming a gun at a fellow officer serving her a restraining order obtained by her fiance on June 30. She denies aiming the gun at the officer who shot her in the chest, and has claimed she attempted suicide.

In September, Fitzsimmons was sent to jail after a superior court judge reversed a previous order that had allowed her release on conditions. The judge did so after Fitzsimmons lawyers said she couldnt complete court-ordered alcohol testing without pain. Since then, Fitzsimmons and her team have sought to undo the judges order using essentially every legal avenue available to them, eventually taking their appeal to a full bench of the Supreme Judicial Court.

In a brief filed with the full bench, Assistant Essex District Attorney Marina Moriarty argued that Superior Court Judge Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman rightly prioritized the alcohol testing because alcohol fueled the precipitating violence in this case and has been a persistent issue for the defendant.

Fitzsimmons defense has repeatedly criticized the judge throughout the appellate process, most recently calling her decision indefensible in the circumstances at bar.

Prosecutors criticized Fitzsimmons lawyers in their brief, accusing them of taking a cavalier approach to the removal of the alcohol testing condition and backing the judges contention that they sought to manipulate the process.

During a series of hearings on Fitzsimmons release, attorneys Tim Bradl and Martha Coakley never raised an issue with the SCRAM testing, which requires Fitzsimmons to breathe into a tube. It was only days later that they filed a motion seeking relief, even though Fitzsimmons condition had not changed in that time.

There is no explanation for [Bradls] failure to question a probation officer about alternative testing or to mention the possibility to the court when given ample opportunity, Moriarty wrote, suggesting it was a reasoned tactical decision by a seasoned defense attorney seeking to release the defendant from alcohol testing entirely.

In their brief, Fitzsimmons lawyers also brought a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act, suggesting federal law required accommodations for Fitzsimmons injuries. Prosecutors call the claim baseless.

There is a dearth of medical evidence suggesting that the defendants condition ever qualified her as a disabled person, prosecutors wrote.

In a footnote, Moriarty writes that both McCarthy-Neyman and a single justice of the court suggest that Fitzsimmons could seek relief from the order jailing her by informing the judge she could now comply with the SCRAM testing.

Ten weeks have passed since the defendant was remanded to custody and it is incredible to believe that her medical condition has not improved so that she would be able to breath [sic] adequately into a SCRAM device, the filing reads.

Moriarty questioned the defenses motives for using the appellate process rather than filing another motion to reconsider, suggesting it was an attempt to garner additional publicity and sympathy for [their] client.

Online support for Fitzsimmons has exploded since the hearing where McCarthy-Neyman sent her to jail. A Facebook group has garnered more than 5,000 members and an online fundraiser has garnered more than $40,000 in donations.

In their filing, prosecutors also pushed back on the claim that a single justice of the SJC applied the wrong legal standard to her review of the case. Bradl has argued that the justice was required to consider all the facts of the case, not just review the lower courts decision for an abuse of discretion or error of law.

Requiring de novo review by a Single Justice would lead to the absurd and unworkable result of permitting every [dangerousness] decision to be heard anew by the single justice, Moriarty wrote.

Bradl and Coakley now have the opportunity to file a reply brief. They waived the right to do so in an effort to speed up the process for the court to consider the case, but the motion was denied.

The case will be submitted to the full bench for review on Dec. 3. Its not clear how quickly a decision will come after that.

Fitzsimmons is due back in Superior Court on Tuesday for a trial assignment conference. A hearing on the restraining order obtained by her fiance is scheduled for Dec. 2.
What to know about retirement savings limits in 2026. MassLive

Americans saving for retirement will be able to put more money away next year, thanks to new limits set by the Internal Revenue Service.

Starting in 2026, employees can contribute up to $24,500 to their 401(k) plansan increase of $1,000 from 2025.

The raise also applies to 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans, and the federal Thrift Savings Plan, giving workers across the board more room to save.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are getting a bump too, with the contribution limit rising from $7,000 to $7,500.

Older workers, in particular, stand to benefit from higher catch-up contributions.

Those aged 50 and older can add an extra $8,000 to their 401(k), bringing their total contribution to $32,500.

Workers between 60 and 63 get an even bigger boost, with an $11,250 catch-up limitallowing total contributions of $35,750 a year.

The IRS has also raised the income limits for deductible IRA contributions, ROTH IRA contributions, and the Savers Credit, meaning more people can take advantage of these tax benefits.

Single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan can now make deductible contributions if their income is between $81,000 and $91,000, up from $79,000$89,000 in 2025.

Married couples filing jointly, where the contributing spouse is covered by a workplace plan, now have a phase-out range of $129,000 to $149,000, up from $126,000$146,000.

With these changes, the IRS is giving Americans both more money and more flexibility to grow their retirement savingsjust in time to prepare for the years ahead.
Enrique Zuniga listens during a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on May 23, 2019, in Springfield. Formerly a gaming commissioner, Zuniga is now the executive director of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican

The leader of Massachusetts police oversight board said it had no authority to investigate the commissioner of the Boston Police Department in a letter sent Thursday, weeks after a defense lawyer for Karen Read asked the body to begin one.

Alan Jackson, the defense lawyer, called for the investigation in a letter he sent last month. His letter came after email exchanges made public by Corri Hopkins, a lawyer in North Carolina who supported Reads innocence online, showed Commissioner Michael Cox knew of his departments connection to the Read case, despite remarks to the contrary.

In a letter provided to Boston 25 News, Jackson wrote that Cox was caught in a lie  and not a small one.

Jackson asked the Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, Commission to open an investigation into Cox. But POST Commission Executive Director Enrique A. Zuniga said the agency has no power to investigate civilian executives like Cox.

As police commissioner, Cox is not a sworn law enforcement officer.

The Commission thus far has not required non-sworn civilian executives such as Commissioner Cox to obtain law enforcement certification nor has the Commission treated them as being subject to other statutory and regulatory provisions governing sworn law enforcement officers, Zuniga wrote.

Read more: Karen Read lawyer demands investigation into Boston Police commissioner

But Zuniga indicated that Jacksons letter could spur other action by POST, which is re-examining its policies about civilians who oversee law enforcement agencies.

Your comments have been influential with respect to the Commissions ongoing refinement of its policies concerning the treatment of civilian authorities, Zuniga wrote.

The email obtained by Hopkins, a copy of which was provided to MassLive, was sent to Cox by Stephen J. Kelleher, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Field Office, on Feb. 22, 2024.

In the email, Kelleher informs Cox that the federal government released documents from its investigation in the Read case to the district attorneys office. Kelly Dever, a police officer who worked in Boston at the time, is mentioned in those documents because she was working in Canton the night Reads boyfriend, John OKeefe, died.

Dever, who resigned in September, was called as a witness by Reads defense during her retrial. On the stand, she had a series of tense exchanges with Jackson as he questioned her.

In an interview with federal agents, Dever claimed she saw Brian Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and former Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz alone with Reads SUV in the departments sallyport for a wildly long time. But on the stand, Dever recanted that story as a false memory.

Devers recollection would have supported the theory pushed by Reads defense that Higgins and others conspired to frame her. Jackson repeatedly pressed Dever on whether Cox called her to a meeting, where he told her to do the right thing.

Dever only conceded that she met with the commissioner.

Jacksons letter was also addressed to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Her office has not responded to a request for comment about it.
Karen Read enters Norfolk Superior Court for the fourth day of jury deliberations in her retrial. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

Karen Read wants to see a judge combine a civil rights lawsuit she filed this week with the existing wrongful death case she faces for what would be a blockbuster trial airing out multiple versions of events of what exactly led to the death of her boyfriend, John OKeefe.

Reads team initially sought to bring affirmative claims against 10 defendants, including Massachusetts State Police investigators and civilian witnesses who testified against her, as part of the wrongful death action. But this week, her team opted instead to file a separate lawsuit.

In the suit, they claim what they did throughout Reads two criminal trials: that the investigators and the witnesses, who had connections to law enforcement, conspired to frame her for OKeefes death.

Yet both cases could still be combined if Reads defense gets its wish.

I think the court will want to consider that motion to consolidate, attorney Charles Waters said during a Zoom conference in the wrongful death suit Friday afternoon. There are compelling arguments on both sides. Ultimately, these are the same facts, the same witnesses, the same documents.

I cant imagine multiple trials with the same facts and getting multiple results, Waters continued.

The change in approach came after Reads lawyers served a motion on both the existing parties in the civil case  OKeefes family and two Canton bars the couple drank at before he died  and the new parties she wanted to bring in.

After serving that motion and receiving oppositions from most of the parties, Reads team determined it would be best for our client to withdraw the motion and instead file the affirmative claims as a separate lawsuit in Bristol County, attorney Damon Seligson wrote in an email to MassLive.

Legal experts were skeptical of the strategy from the start.

A lawyer for OKeefes family suggested he would be on board with combining the cases at least for the purposes of discovery. But he was less sold on the idea of combining them for trial.

We are tabling whether or not these matters need to be tried together, attorney Marc Diller said. That will only be known once we have a full understanding of what comes out in discovery.

Diller suggested that Read was not entirely forthcoming in an interrogatory  essentially a questionnaire  served on her. The document provided no information pointing to any third-party actions or omissions, he said.

I represent the grieving family. The plaintiffs are eager to learn under oath what information the Read team has regarding who, other than her, is responsible for John OKeefes death, based on what theyre suggesting they know, he said, adding the family was eager to learn everything they know.

Reads civil rights lawsuit, filed in Bristol County, names Jennifer and Matthew McCabe, Brian and Nicole Albert, Brian Higgins, Michael Proctor, Brian Tully and Yuriy Bukhenik as defendants.

The McCabes, Alberts and Higgins testified against Read at her first criminal trial, and in the case of Jennifer McCabe, her retrial. Proctor, Bukhenik and Tully all worked on the investigation of the case. Proctor has since been fired for his conduct.

Read claims all eight were part of a conspiracy to frame her for killing OKeefe, who was found in the snow on Brian Alberts front lawn on Jan. 29, 2022.

Brian Albert is a former member of the Boston Police Department. Brian Higgins is an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Lawyers for the Alberts, McCabes and Higgins said the claims brought by Read are entirely false, defamatory, and without merit.

Our clients categorically deny each and every claim. This lawsuit is nothing more than a continuation of a baseless conspiracy narrative that has caused significant harm to the reputations and lives of innocent people, the lawyers said through a spokesperson.

A status hearing on the wrongful death lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 19. No hearings have been scheduled on the civil rights lawsuit filed by Read this week.

No trial date has been set in either case.
A Massachusetts judge is weighing whether Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of killing her three children, should be transported to court in a sheriffs van or a medically equipped ambulance.

Its a decision that pits security concerns against state mental health laws and federal disability protections that Clancys lawyer, Kevin Reddington, argues she has a right to.

And in a motion filed by Reddington on Friday, he seeks records from the Plymouth County Sheriffs office regarding its plan to transport Clancy to court for her July 2026 trial.

Reddington has criticized the sheriffs office and suggested it would be more prudent for his client, who is currently held without bail and committed to Tewksbury State Hospital, to be brought by ambulance to the courthouse.

Reddington argued that the use of maximal correctional restraints in transport on a paraplegic who is civilly committed is presumptively punitive, according to his motion filed in Plymouth Superior Court. He claimed the sheriffs office would be in violation of Clancys rights to due process and freedom from undue restriction.

The filing also invokes federal disability protections, arguing that correctional transport would amount to discrimination.

The required medical transport is also necessary under the ADA based upon the defendants documented disabilities, Reddington wrote, citing part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He warned that using a sheriffs van with restraints would cause severe psychological distress and violate Clancys right to be transported in the least restrictive and most medically appropriate manner possible.

[Clancy] can be transported from Tewksbury with a nurse, with compassionate people that she knows and that she deals with, Reddington told the courtroom in a hearing on Tuesday.

[She can be] placed in an ambulance that has the appropriate medical care and treatment, brought to the courthouse ... the authority for transportation is not in the Sheriffs Department, he argued. Its up to the head of the Department of Mental Health or Tewksbury.

On the night of her childrens deaths, Clancy jumped from a second-story window at her Duxbury home, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She has not appeared in person for a court hearing since her arrest. Clancy is now confined to a wheelchair.

Jessica Kenny, a lawyer for the sheriffs office, had explained in the courtroom that the office could transport her in a wheelchair accessible van, but she would be subject to a pat frisk and likely restrained while being moved. Kenny said the office was concerned about the possibility Clancy could harm herself or that someone could try and harm her while in transit.

Kenny also claimed Clancy can self-transfer in and out of a wheelchair and can provide self-care in a daytrip to the courthouse.

Reddington stated the sheriffs office is not even close to understanding the reality of Clancys medical condition and that another hearing should be held to determine not only jurisdictional issues, but also the actual physical and emotional impact that a trial is going to have on this young woman.

Clancys case is due back in court on Jan. 27.

Prosecutors have accused Clancy of deliberately plotting to strangle her three children. Reddington has said she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis at the time.
The pact between Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, brokered by the Clinton administration, demonstrated how to stop a conflict, but not how to build a fragmented country

The Clinton administrations envoy to the Balkans, the renowned Richard Holbrooke, was a hardliner. Exactly 30 years ago, the world watched helplessly as the bloodiest war in the former Yugoslavia raged: 100,000 dead in a conflict that pitted Bosniaks, Croats, and Bosnian Serbs against each other from 1992 to 1995. Holbrooke brought three leaders  delegates from the three warring communities  to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The location was not chosen at random: it was far from the media and political pressures, over 400 miles from Washington and some 5,000 miles from Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital.

Holbrooke used to say he needed a place from which no one could escape. And thats where, on November 1, 1995, Alija Izetbegovic, president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slobodan Milosevic, president of Serbia  representing the interests of the Bosnian Serbs  and Franjo Tudjman, president of Croatia, entered the equation. The negotiations were simultaneously intellectual and physical, abstract and personal, something like a combination of chess and mountain climbing, Holbrooke recounted in his book, To End a War. The three leaders left the military base on November 21 with the agreement in hand, a pact that was solemnly signed on December 14 in Paris. And it left no one satisfied.

From left to right, in the front row: Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, and Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic sign the Dayton Peace Agreement in Paris. In the second row, six other heads of state: Felipe Gonzalez, Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, Helmut Kohl, John Major, and Viktor Chernomyrdin. Larry Downing (Sygma via Getty Images)

Tudjman died of cancer in 1999, Izetbegovic of cardiovascular disease in 2003, Milosevic of a heart attack in his cell in The Hague in 2006, and mediator Holbrooke in 2010 after an aortic dissection. The pact remains in force, though in poor health.

In Dayton, a Constitution was forged that was almost a work of engineering, shaping a state with two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), primarily Bosniak and Croat, comprising 51% of the territory and subdivided into 10 autonomous cantons; and Republika Srpska, with a Serb majority and comprising 49% of the territory. Later, the Brcko District was added to these entities, under joint administration and international supervision.

The country has a tripartite presidency and remains under the supervision of the Office of the High Representative (OHR). This office, held since 2021 by the German politician Christian Schmidt, has possessed the so-called Bonn powers since 1997. These powers allow the OHR to impose laws when local parties are unable or unwilling to act, remove elected officials, or even ban certain individuals from holding public office for life.

The Dayton Accords have been criticized for many reasons: for creating a slow, complex, and often inefficient political system, for relying too heavily on international oversight, and for entrenching divisions between ethnic groups. But there are also those who defend them. Such is the case of journalist Haris Imamovic, 36, who explains by phone from Sarajevo that this country of 3.5 million inhabitants has seen great progress since 1995: In the late 1990s, you couldnt travel safely in the country. And 10 years later, you could move around freely. There are interactions between Bosniaks and Croats. Even among Serbs.

Regarding the excessive bureaucracy, agencies, and officials, Imamovic points out: Its true there are a lot. But the major problems of daily life  healthcare, education, and security  ultimately fall to the local authorities in the cantons. The journalist, who worked for four years in the countrys presidential office, notes: Dayton tends to be blamed for everything. But the truth is that the countrys biggest problems are the depopulation of rural areas and unemployment. And thats not Daytons fault, because its happening in the rest of the Balkan countries as well.

The Dayton Accords are often cited whenever a difficult-to-resolve conflict erupts, such as the invasion of Ukraine or the Gaza War. Mira Milosevich, senior researcher for the Balkans at the Elcano Royal Institute in Spain, cautions that wars are only similar at the tactical level and dont always offer valuable lessons. But she explains that the accords demonstrated the enormous capacity of the U.S. to compel representatives to negotiate. She also points to another lesson from those agreements: the recognition of conquered territories. The 30% of the Serbian population that conquered 49% of Bosnian territory was recognized.

Milosevich concludes that Daytons greatest success was achieving this frozen peace. Bosnia has not made progress in democratizing its institutions. Its difficult to do so when Republika Srpska continues to look toward Serbia, and the Bosnian Croat Federation toward the European Union. The researcher believes that the country and the Balkans will only be reborn when there is a generational change.

Florian Bieber, professor of Southeastern European studies at the University of Graz in Austria, believes the countrys biggest challenge now is reforming the Constitution to make it compatible with EU membership, which Bosnia and Herzegovina is pursuing. Bieber explains that the last serious attempt to reform the Constitution was in 2006 and failed by only two votes in parliament.

Bieber believes that one of the biggest obstacles, though not the only one, to reforming the Constitution is the presence of pro-Russian leader Milorad Dodik, who has been president of Republika Srpska for the past 15 years. Dodik had repeatedly threatened to unite Republika Srpska with Serbia. On August 1, he was sentenced to a six-year ban from holding political office for disobeying the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the High Representative, Schmidt.

Dodik is clearly determined to rule from behind the scenes, Bieber warns. He seems to be counting on running Republika Srpska through figureheads, which makes any change unlikely. The second major challenge is the demand by the dominant Croat party for greater protection of Croat rights, something the Bosniak majority rejects as reinforcing ethnic divisions.

Bosnian Serb analyst Tanja Topic laments that in the wake of Dayton, a wealthy political class emerged that, for three decades, has consolidated the countrys ethnic and nationalist structure. These leaders keep the country trapped in a war of words, employing inflammatory rhetoric. Topic criticizes the parties for blocking reforms by prioritizing self-interest and for using the High Representative as an excuse for inaction. The analyst acknowledges that Dayton brought an end to the war, but warns that it also entrenched ethnic divisions and a corrupt, clientelist, and nepotistic political system.

Topic believes that the rule of law is an unattainable dream in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is necessary to restart the entire society and try to change the paradigm of values. And that is a process that could take another three decades, she concludes.

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Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following a series of fraud allegations against its founder earlier this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The luxury jeweler made the filing in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Sunday and its now seeking a buyer, according to a press release.

The company is awaiting approval of a $12 million debtor-in-possession financing facility that would provide up to $10 million of new liquidity to Lugano.

In the court filings, Lugano lists between $100 million and $500 million in assets and between $500 million and $1 billion in liabilities.

We are deeply grateful to our dedicated employees, clients, partners, and community for their ongoing support, Luganos interim CEO Josh Gaynor said in the press release. As this process is underway and we approach the holiday season, we look forward to continuing to provide our valued clients with unique, timeless pieces for themselves and their loved ones.

Enhanced Retail Funding, a Boston-based investment firm, has made an initial undisclosed offer that will serve as a baseline bid at an auction for the jeweler, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The bankruptcy filing comes after a wave of lawsuits this past summer, alleging that founder Moti Ferder fraudulently engaged in third-party diamond sales with wealthy clients and concealed the sales from investors, the newspaper reported.

The lawsuits claimed that Ferders actions led to Lugano misrepresenting their finances, declaring that 2024 revenues and operating income were $470 million and $180 million.

A court declaration states that the companys performance appears to have been overstated, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lugano has worked extensively to prepare the business for this process, and I look forward to helping guide the company through the steps ahead, J. Michael Issa, Luganos Chief Restructuring Officer, said in the press release. I am committed to working closely with the management team and company advisors during this period to assess the best path forward.

The jeweler has already begun the restructuring process, closing its London location and planning to shutter stores in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., according to the Los Angeles Times.
A man accused of kidnapping a 75-year-old woman from a 99 Restaurant in Pembroke this past fall has been indicted.

Michael J. Guerrero, 36, of Rhode Island, was indicted Friday in Brockton Superior Court on charges of carjacking, kidnapping, indecent assault and battery and assault and battery charges on a person over 60 or who is disabled and threat to commit a crime, according to the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office.

Guerrero was previously arranged on related charges in Plymouth District Court and had been held without bail following a dangerousness hearing.

The suspected kidnapping and assault happened on Sept. 14, the district attorneys office said. The next day, a 75-year-old woman contacted the Pembroke Police Department.

She told officers that she had been at a Ninety-Nine Restaurant the previous evening, where she accidentally left her wallet and cellphone after dinner. She said she returned to the restaurant around 9:15 p.m. to retrieve them, but discovered the doors were locked.

A man  later identified as Guerrero  then approached the woman outside the restaurant and claimed he worked there as a valet driver, the office said. Guerrero offered to drive the woman to the back entrance and said he knew the doors would be unlocked.

The woman let Guerrero into the drivers seat of her car and he immediately drove her out of the parking lot and toward the highway, the office said. He told the woman he wanted her to perform lewd acts, the office said, claiming he had a gun.

The woman tried to make her escape once Guerrero reached a four-way intersection in what she thought was Providence or Johnston, Rhode Island, the office said.

She jumped out of the car  but Guerrero turned off the engine, got out and threw the keys away from her, the office said. Then, he fled the scene.

The woman managed to return to Massachusetts and reported the incident to Pembroke police the following day. Investigators identified Guerrero after employees at several nearby restaurants said they saw a man matching the surveillance images posted online by police, who asked the public for help locating him.

Further surveillance footage and witness interviews helped detectives learn Guerrero used a ride-share app to get between several locations the night of the incident, the office said.

Guerrero was arrested Sept. 24 in Providence, Rhode Island and was extradited to Massachusetts the following day. He will be arraigned in Superior Court at another date.
After a 57-year-old man escaped from Heywood Hospital on Halloween  a disappearance his loved ones say was caused by a lapse in care  a Westminster family is pleading for help in the search.

But as days have stretched into weeks without answers, the family has grown frustrated with law enforcements progress.

Theyve begun to organize search parties, hired a private investigator with aid from a GoFundMe fundraiser and are calling on the public for information  hoping someone, somewhere, can help bring their husband and father home safely.

Leonard J. Mercury, 57, is a Black man, is 6 feet tall and weighs 195 pounds, according to the Gardner Police Department.

Mercury was last seen leaving Heywood Hospital in Gardner at 2 a.m. on Oct. 31, wearing hospital clothing and no shoes. He is in need of serious medical attention and may be disoriented, police said.

Anyone with information or who sees him is encouraged to contact the Gardner Police Department at 978-632-5600, Westminter police at 978-874-2117 or to call 911.

Mercurys wife, Nicole La Guerre, has also organized a search party in Worcester on Saturday, Nov. 22. The group is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. at the Stop & Shop on Grafton Street  the location chosen after the family received a tip that someone believed to be Mercury was seen there last week.

We dont know where he is or what condition hes in ... our family has been living in heartbreak and uncertainty, said La Guerre.

The married couple has been together since they were teenagers, live in Westminster and have two adult sons.

What happened?

La Guerre said her husband, who works as a lead drafter technician, is a man who everyone likes, is fun and adventurous yet a laid-back, go-with-the-flow person. He also has a diagnosed mental health condition, she said, which flared after a gathering the couple had Oct. 25.

After Mercury became even more agitated in the days following, La Guerre said she decided to seek emergency medical care for him Oct. 29.

But just two days after Mercury was admitted to Heywood Hospital in Gardner, he escaped. Officers arrived to tell La Guerre her husband was missing at 3 a.m. on Oct. 31.

The officers told her Mercury broke a window, ran to the roof of the hospital and jumped off, she said.

La Guerre places blame on the hospital for why her husband is missing.

Leonard John Mercury and Nicole La Guerre. (Courtesy Nicole La Guerre)

The hospital was responsible to keep him safe and protect him. They did not do that, La Guerre told MassLive.

MassLive reached out to Heywood Hospital for comment on the incident, but did not immediately receive response Thursday.

Where was the guard? she asked. How was he able to break a window and climb up the window ... run across the roof, jump down?

Why wasnt he chased on foot?

In the days Mercury was in Heywood Hospitals care, La Guerre said, shed spoken with a nurse and a psychiatrist over the phone. The nurse told her there was a guard present and watching over her husband, she said, as hed been admitted under an emergency mental health hold.

The search

La Guerre said the Gardner Police Departments efforts to look for her husband were initially intensive, with ground searches, K9 units and sonar sweeps, but have tapered off as the days have worn on.

The Gardner Police Department did not immediately respond to MassLive for comment on the case.

La Guerre has taken the search into her own hands.

She started a GoFundMe on Nov. 7, a week after Mercurys disappearance, with the goal to raise enough money to hire a private investigator to find her husband.

By the next day, La Guerre raised enough money to hire Dana Prestone of Rockwell Investigations for between 30 and 40 hours of work. On Nov. 9, Prestone started off by trying to trace where Mercury had disappeared into the woods.

That day, Prestone discovered what he believed were hospital socks close to where the dog trail previously ended, La Guerre said. He continued his searches on Nov. 11 and met with Gardner Police on Nov. 12.

Two possibilities law enforcement has offered to La Guerre were either Mercury was in a nearby lake  which she said state police told her theyd search this past week  or that he may have hitched a ride.

Leonard John Mercury, 57. (Courtesy of Nicole La Guerre)

La Guerre has continued to hand out flyers in cities and towns across the state over the weekend and into this week, visited shelters and kept posting online. She posts updates on the FIND Leonard Mercury Facebook page shed made and to the GoFundMe.

Prestone went out for ground searches again on Monday and again on Wednesday based on a tip, La Guerre said. He plans to expand his search outside of Gardner.

But nearly a month in to Mercurys disappearance, La Guerre feels law enforcement are not as urgent anymore to find her husband.

She said state police was in the process of going through the lake and that theyd used helicopters, but that Prestone would be reviewing cameras in the area of a tip since the police are dragging on it.

I just want people to keep looking out for him, La Guerre said. We have flyers. Post the flyers, put it on social media, reach out to the PI if you see anything.

She also encouraged volunteers to join the search on Saturday.
A Massachusetts hospital where a missing man escaped in October while under an emergency medical hold for mental health treatment has been rated among the worst in the state for patient safety.

Heywood Hospital, located in the city of Gardner in Worcester County, received a D rating from the independent health care watchdog group Leapfrog.

Of the 54 hospitals ranked in Massachusetts in the groups fall 2025 hospital rankings published last week, four received the lowest grade  though none earned an F. The other hospitals rated D were Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester and MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham.

Heywood Hospital is where Leonard J. Mercury, a 57-year-old Westminster man, escaped from on Oct. 31. He is still missing as of Nov. 21.

Leonard John Mercury. (Courtesy Nicole La Guerre)

Mercury had been at the hospital for about two days prior to his disappearance after his wife, Nicole La Guerre, called emergency medical services for help with his diagnosed mental health condition, which flared that week.

But two days after her call, police officers again arrived at La Guerres home  this time, at 3 a.m. on Oct. 31. They told her Mercury broke through a window at Heywood Hospital, managed to get onto the roof and jumped off.

Mercury is 57, a Black man, is 6 feet tall and weighs about 195 pounds, according to the Gardner Police Department. He was last seen at around 2 a.m. on Halloween and was in hospital clothing, with no shoes.

Mercury is in need of serious medical attention and may be disoriented.

Anyone with information or who sees him is encouraged to contact the Gardner Police Department at 978-632-5600, Westminter police at 978-874-2117 or to call 911.

La Guerre also asks the public to contact the private investigator she has hired, Dana Prestone of Rockwell Investigations. She regularly updates the GoFundMe she established to pay Prestone  which has a rolling goal for the ongoing search  with information on Prestones investigation.

La Guerre places blame on Heywood Hospital for why her husband is missing.

The hospital was responsible to keep him safe and protect him. They did not do that, La Guerre told MassLive on Thursday. MassLive reached out to Heywood Hospital on multiple occasions for comment on the incident and its ranking, but did not receive response.

Where was the guard? La Guerre asked. How was he able to break a window and climb up the window ... run across the roof, jump down?

Why wasnt he chased on foot?

During Mercurys stay, La Guerre said she spoke with a nurse and a psychiatrist by phone. The nurse assured her that a guard was present, as Mercury had been admitted under an emergency mental health hold.

Leonard John Mercury, 57. (Courtesy of Nicole La Guerre)

Leapfrogs D rating for Heywood Hospital stemmed from several factors, displayed in a color-coded system that showed the hospital in the red on multiple measures. These included higher-than-average rates of patient deaths from treatable complications, falls resulting in broken hips and failures in basic safety practices such as proper handwashing and safe medication administration.

Heywood Healthcare CEO Roz Penney defended the hospital to The Gardner News in an article published Thursday. Penney said the low rating wasnt an accurate representation of Heywood Hospitals quality of care but instead, reflected the hospitals refusal to participate in the survey.

The survey requires significant staff time and resources, Penney told The Gardner News. Given the operational demands during the survey period, we made the strategic decision to allocate our limited resources to internal quality efforts that directly support patient care rather than to completing a labor-intensive survey.

The highest score Heywood has received from Leapfrog since 2022 is a B. However, it earned a C rating in fall 2024 and spring 2025.

They have declined to report the same information each year, including details on nursing and bedside care, staff collaboration to prevent errors and leadership practices. Additionally, the sepsis rate has increased, respiratory failure rate has increased and postoperative wound dehiscence rate has increased.

Leapfrog assigns scores to reflect the lack of information when hospitals decline to report performance data. Its findings are based not only on self-reported data but on secondary sources, using a peer-reviewed methodology that evaluates 32 evidence-based measures of patient safety, such as handwashing, staff responsiveness, and surgical outcomes.

Statewide, 17 hospitals earned an A, 16 received a B and another 16 a C. One hospital was listed as not graded.

Meanwhile, La Guerre continues her search for Mercury.

She has continued to hand out flyers in cities and towns across the state over the weekend and into this week, visited shelters and kept posting online. She posts updates on the FIND Leonard Mercury Facebook page shed made and to the GoFundMe.

Leonard John Mercury and Nicole La Guerre. (Courtesy Nicole La Guerre)

I just want people to keep looking out for him, La Guerre said. We have flyers. Post the flyers, put it on social media, reach out to the PI if you see anything.

She also encouraged volunteers to join the search she organized for Saturday, at 9 a.m. at the Stop & Shop on Grafton Street  the location chosen after the family received a tip that someone believed to be Mercury was seen there last week.

We dont know where he is or what condition hes in ... our family has been living in heartbreak and uncertainty, said La Guerre.
A Central Massachusetts man was arrested Thursday after police discovered nine explosive devices in his car during a planned traffic stop, authorities said.

Police had begun investigating the man, Jason E. Baldarelli, Jr., 27, of Princeton, after a witness reported explosions near his Wheeler Road home, according to the Princeton Police Department.

The witness called police to the area around 4 a.m. Monday. During an initial investigation, Princeton Police Officer Douglas Costa identified Baldarelli as the suspected source of the explosions, the department said.

Costa and the Worcester County District Attorneys Office obtained a search warrant as part of the investigation this week, which also involved the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, state Joint Terrorism Task Force, state Fire Marshals Office and the Sterling Police, the Princeton Police said.

Early Thursday morning, Princeton Police Officer Dominic Esposito stopped Baldarellis vehicle on Hubbardston Road in Princeton.

The officer discovered nine explosives in the car and placed Baldarelli under arrest on charges of unlawful possession of explosive devices, Princeton Police said.

Baldarelli is scheduled to appear in Leominster District Court on Friday.

Police said they are searching his home. State Police plan to detonate the explosives in a safe location in Princeton.
A Massachusetts man has been found guilty of stabbing a person to death during a fight outside a Providence bar 15 years ago, Rhode Island authorities said.

The case had lingered for more than a decade without an arrest, but moved forward after a person arrested on unrelated charges provided new details to police that led them to the killer, prosecutors said.

In a 10-day trial, a Providence County Superior Court found Jason Lopes, now 38, guilty of manslaughter in the killing of 22-year-old Zackary Marshall in 2010, the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office said Friday.

Petty arguments should never end in tragedy, yet thats exactly what happened here, Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement. Because of the actions of this defendant, who evaded accountability for too long, Zacks family will forever bear the heartbreak of his loss.

On Dec. 18, 2010, Lopes and Marshall were separately leaving nearby restaurants when the altercation began. Lopes stabbed Marshall four times in his chest and torso before fleeing with his group, prosecutors said.

First responders rushed Marshall to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The case went cold after witnesses could not identify the assailant or the people he left the scene with, Neronhas office said.

In 2020, a friend of Lopes was arrested in a separate case. He told police that on the night of the fight, Lopes called him at roughly 3 a.m., asking for a ride from downtown Providence, prosecutors said.

In the car, Lopes admitted to his friend that he had stabbed someone during a fight. He also provided the names of three people he was with when the fight broke out. Investigators interviewed each of the people, and two of them testified before a Grand Jury that Lopes was responsible for the stabbing, prosecutors said.

Lopes was arrested on March 12, 2021, in Texas and admitted to the stabbing.

Neronha said he hoped the verdict brought Marshalls family peace, which they have long deserved.

Im grateful to the Providence Police Department and my prosecutors for their exceptional work on this difficult case, he said.

Im grateful that this case is finally resolved, Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez Jr. said in a statement commending his officers and the prosecutors.
This week, Massachusetts voters got a clearer idea of the blizzard of ballot questions they could be asked to decide at the polls in 2026.

Questions dealing with rent control, reducing the states income tax, and same-day voter registration are likely to be among those on offer as reformers race to clear key hurdles to get their causes before the voters.

And while theres still some distance to go before Election Day, at least two things are clear.

First, the biannual ballot question derby is increasingly seen as a vehicle for advocates and citizens alike to do an end-run on Beacon Hill, where the legislative process has slowed to a crawl.

I think its already happening, Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin, the states chief elections officer, told MassLive in a phone interview this week. Increasingly, people are using this as a more effective way of getting around the Legislature.

With the sheer volume of questions, spanning the ideological divide, Massachusetts voters could be in for a watershed year at the polls in 2026, Galvin said.

And second, that if the past is precedent (and it nearly always is), those same special interests will dump tons of money into those ballot fights as they try to win the day.

Advocates and other ballot petition groups cleared a key hurdle on Wednesday to submit their signatures. They now have until Dec. 3 to submit their signatures to Galvins office.

The Boston Democrat will then review them and hand them over to the Legislature, which has until May to vote them into law, amend them, or take no action at all.

If lawmakers punt and take no action, campaigners will have to gather 12,249 more signatures, submit them to local officials by June 2026, and then to state officials by July of that year, to get onto the November ballot.

One such group, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, said it gathered more than enough signatures for a question trimming the states income tax to advance to the next round of consideration.

The states tax-and-spend philosophy continues to make it harder for people and businesses to thrive in Massachusetts, Christopher R. Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and a co-organizer of MOA, said in a statement.

The MOA-inspired ballot proposals offer a much-needed course correction for the Commonwealth: Ultimately, these ideas would help rein in out-of-control state spending and put more money back in the pockets of taxpayers, Anderson said.

Scotia Hille, the executive director of the advocacy group Act On Mass, said the depth and breadth of questions that could be put before the voters is reflective of a deep public dissatisfaction with Beacon Hill.

Lawmakers have passed just 66 new laws in the current two-year session that started Jan. 1, according to a WBUR-FM analysis. The majority, however, affect just one person or are local measures, the station reported.

Hille sees the volume of ballot questions as a symptom of a larger problem.

To see ... the failure of representative democracy in Massachusetts, and having to resort to, at such a large degree, popular democracy, I think it absolutely has consequences for how were able to make policy in the state, Hille said.

The most remarkable example, she added, is Galvin himself, whos been a Beacon Hill insider for ... longer than Ive been alive for sure ... [he] saw no path in the Legislature to even get a vote on same-day voter registration ... that, you know, most other states in New England have, Hille said.

The money question

Last year, forces on both sides of an ultimately successful fight to scrap the MCAS examination as a high school graduation requirement raised and spent a collective $6.2 million, state campaign finance records show.

Millions more in what are known as in-kind donations, in which a good or service, but not cash, changes hands, also flowed into that ballot fight, records showed.

Meanwhile, forces supporting a ballot question allowing ride-share drivers to unionize raised and spent nearly $7.3 million on their way to victory at the ballot box, state filings showed.

Paul Craney, the executive director of the pro-business Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, agreed that its a sure bet that the ballot fights will be flooded with cash.

Money is speech that is established, Craney said. So more money means just more speech.

One thing to watch: Money coming into these state-level contests from out-of-state interests, Hille said.

And I think thats a shame because people wont always know ... whos funding the ballot question, or funding the ads that theyre seeing on TV.

Because the proposed laws and constitutional amendments have the potential to reshape state policy for decades to come, theres often sharp-elbowed sparring on the way to Election Day.

This week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, for instance, strongly signaled that she had reservations about the rent control question, which would limit rent increases on most apartments to 5% or less.

I wish that the ballot initiative had been just a pure local option, repeal the ban on cities taking action and let each city do what they need to do, Wu told WGBH-FMs Boston Public Radio program.

But theres no guarantee that one side will carry the day simply because they have deeper pockets, the Fiscal Alliances Craney offered.

Ultimately, its the voters who get to decide these things, if its a good idea or not, he said. And Massachusetts voters, for the most part, make good decisions on these potential ballot questions when theyre before them.
President Donald Trump listens as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an event about drug prices, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

A new poll found that a majority of voters are unhappy with the economy, with many holding President Donald Trump responsible for current economic conditions.

The latest Fox News poll found 76% of voters view the national economy as not so good or poor, while 25% view it as excellent or good. When asked about their personal finance situation, 60% said it was not so good or poor while 40% said it was excellent or good.

A majority of voters (62%) say Trump is responsible for current economic conditions. Only 32% of voters say that former President Joe Biden is responsible for the state of the economy, according to the poll.

When broken down by party affiliation, 81% of Democrats hold Trump responsible while 15% hold Biden responsible. Among Independents, 62% say Trump while 29% say Biden. A majority of Republican voters, 53% in total, hold Biden responsible while 42% say Trump.

A total of 46% of voters say Trumps economic policies are hurting the economy, while 15% say they are helping. A total of 39% say the administrations policies make no difference.

Trumps signature economic policy has been the implementation of tariffs  taxes on imported goods. The president has long been a supporter of tariffs, believing they can be used to grow United States revenue and equalize trade balances. Trump has also argued that the United States has been taken advantage of economically by foreign countries.

Voters, however, are not pleased with Trumps tariffs, with 63% of them disapproving the policy, according to the Fox News poll.

Voters also disapprove of Trumps handling of immigration (53% disapprove), foreign policy (55% disapprove), the economy (61% disapprove) and healthcare (64% disapprove).

Only on the policy of border security do a majority of voters (53%) approve Trumps handling of the matter.

Overall, the presidents approval rating stands at 41%, according to the poll.

The Fox News poll was conducted between Nov. 14 and Nov. 17 with a sample size of 1,005 registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.
Rain on a leaf during the 2025 fall foliage on Friday, September 26, 2025, in Keene, New York. Sebastian Restrepo

A band of rain is expected to move into parts of Massachusetts on Friday night ahead of chilly temperatures over the weekend.

The rain is projected to fall in southeastern parts of the state late Friday, according to National Weather Service forecasters. Most areas of the state will see cloudy skies overnight with temperatures in the 30s and lower 40s, though Central and Western Massachusetts should remain dry.

The rain showers will taper off by noon on Saturday, forecasters said. Skies are expected to clear statewide by the afternoon, though areas like Cape Cod and the Islands may not see much sunshine before nightfall.

High temperatures will reach the upper 40s with a few areas reaching the 50s, forecasters predict.

A major cooldown is projected on Saturday night, with temperatures dropping down into the 20s across most of the state  and some areas in Western and Central Massachusetts in the teens.

Eastern Massachusetts will remain slightly warmer, forecasters say, with lows merely in the low 30s.

Sunday will be dry and sunny statewide with temperatures in the upper 40s by the afternoon, though some spots in Western Massachusetts and areas in higher terrain may only be in the 30s.

Forecasters are eyeing the chance for rain showers early next week as temperatures are projected to stay in the 40s.

Rain is not yet in the forecast for Thanksgiving Day  but forecasters are still watching to see when the rain might end.
Filmmaker and historian Jaime Cornejo is working on a documentary exploring Holyoke's golden age and aims to capture the transition from thriving Paper City to decades of economic decline. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

HOLYOKE  A new documentary aims to capture Holyokes transition from a thriving Paper City to decades of economic decline  and the voices of those who endured it will help tell the story.

The project, titled "Rusted," is led by filmmaker Jaime Cornejo and will examine how federal economic policies and global market shifts gutted Holyokes manufacturing base.

Rusted is a historical portrait of Holyoke, a city frozen in time by the brutal process of deindustrialization," Cornejo says on his project website, rustedfilm.com. The story unfolds in a circular arc, reflecting a reality that feels inescapable. (It) explores a city once vibrant with life, now burdened by poverty, crime and neglect.

Once known as the worlds largest paper producer, Holyoke flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, powered by its canal system and immigrant labor.

But by the 1970s and 80s, factory closures and job losses left the city struggling with poverty and population decline. On his website, Cornejo attributes many of the problems to the rise of neoliberal policies and their assault on the working class.

Cornejo hopes his documentary will preserve that history while sparking conversations about what recovery means today for communities like Holyoke.

Filmmaker and historian Jaime Cornejo is working on a documentary exploring Holyoke's golden age and aims to capture the transition from thriving Paper City to decades of economic decline. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Cornejo said Rusted will combine interviews with residents, historians and policy experts to show how national economic decisions and global market shifts changed Holyoke.

The film also will feature archival photos, factory footage and personal stories to bring the citys industrial past to life.

The idea is to have three or four very strong stories, plus an academic in history and or sociology, Cornejo said in an interview.

The 20-to-30-minute movie will preserve the voices of people who lived through Holyokes hardest years and to spark conversations about what recovery means for cities that lost their manufacturing base.

Cornejo, who is producing Rusted as part of his Hunter College masters program in integrated media arts, said more support could turn the project into a full oral history archive.

He invited Holyoke residents to the Senior Center last week to talk about the film and for people to share memories of the citys industrial decline from the 1960s to the 1990s. He spoke with about 10 people, and three might be featured in the film.

He also is looking for volunteers to help with research and outreach, as well as donors to cover production costs. Residents who want to share their stories or get involved can reach him at upcoming community sessions or online.

Learn more about Cornejo or contact him at 63degreesmedia.com.
Scientists and technicians complete the objective of protecting seeds threatened by the war in a cold storage facility at an undisclosed location in the west of the country. The material may one day play a fundamental role in food security

Name: Triticum aestivum L. (common wheat). Passport: UA0107997. Airtight bag: 17. Box: 341. Location: 38.4 square meter chamber at between -18 and -20. Several seeds of this cereal and 51,003 other varieties of barley, chickpeas, forage crops and sunflowers are now being safeguarded in the newly inaugurated Duplicate Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine, in the west of the country. A door about a hands width opens into the frigid facility that protects the seeds that may one day play a fundamental role in the event of droughts, pests, floods, or the many other disasters that can ravage the earth and, consequently, the food supply for people and animals.

Ukraine possesses an immense collection of biodiversity that cannot be found anywhere else. Who knows how useful it may be to us in the future. Its qualities can still be explored; it is like a treasure, said Luigi Guarino, chief scientist of the Crop Trust, after attending the long-awaited opening of the center this November at a location that cannot be publicly disclosed for security reasons.

The sky is clear now over the seeds, but it wasnt always so. In early 2022, Russian bombs rained down on the grounds of the National Seed Bank of Ukraine in Kharkiv (in the east), and the vast plant wealth of what is known as the breadbasket of Europe was horribly threatened. A team of scientists, technicians, and their families then risked their lives to secretly set aside a handful of each variety stored in Kharkiv in small sachets over the course of a year. The plan was to transport the duplicates in a refrigerated truck to a safe area. The mission was accomplished. In March 2023, they were transported to a temporary warehouse while this new center was being built. Now they are celebrating being in a permanent location, supported by European funds and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Bags with seeds in the cold storage room. A. L.

The protagonists of this feat arrive in their finest attire for the inauguration. They board the bus early, eager to enter the immense freezer where one can only remain for a short time before their fingers are frozen solid. They enjoy a day of glory amidst the unbearable daily life of those lost to war, who are honored every morning at nine oclock sharp. Suddenly, the driver stops the vehicle and gets out onto the road. He and the passengers stand and bow their heads. Through the window, a line of drivers can be seen replicating the gesture. The street comes to a complete standstill, and now it is the scene that is frozen for a resounding minute of silence. Then they go on with their lives.

Im not happy, but Im not unwell either. Were very glad today; its good news for us and for the world, shares 74-year-old Viktor Riabchun, director of the National Seed Bank of Ukraine since 1991, when his country gained independence and the center established its headquarters in Kharkiv. He is aware that the undertaking they began three years ago now allows the planet to benefit from 51,004 powerful lifelines. The most drought-resistant winter wheat varieties we have are Odeska 16, Ukrainka 0264, and Ferugineum 1239. And others grow without herbicides due to the formation of dense stalks, Riabchun explains. The scientist was in charge of inaugurating the installation after cutting, along with other colleagues, technicians, and dignitaries, a bright green ribbon, chosen with tenderness as a nod to plant life. Immediately, the pieces of this ribbon became the best souvenirs of a day they feel is historic.

Seed banks have historically been an epicenter of geopolitical interest due to their immense value for food security. The Gestapo maintained a unit for collecting seeds from the countries it traversed. And one of the directives for the Nazi invasion of Russia was to seize the germplasm bank in what was then Leningrad, founded through expeditions around the world by the Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov (1887-1943).

The Kharkiv site was a substation of this facility, which over the years has been enriched by contributions of both wild and cultivated material from the Ukrainian population. Today, inexorable climate changewith its extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, and rising sea levels that salinize riversmakes each of these seeds even more valuable. The solution to resisting the unbearable heat, enduring floods, or germinating despite the salt may lie within the DNA of each one.

Its important for people to understand that plants not only provide food, but also oxygen, fuel and medicine. Climate change is happening too fast, so we need these varieties, says an enthusiastic Lise Lykke Steffensen, who was the director of the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) when the war in Ukraine began. She was among the first to offer help to Riabchun when she saw Kharkiv crumbling, and now they embrace each other, overcome with emotion, at the opening of the center, which includes laboratories and seed freezing and drying equipment.

NordGen is an organization involved in managing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a universal germplasm bank located in Norway. It holds 1,378,238 varieties of 6,521 species from dozens of countries, and the FAOs goal is to deposit a triplicate of Ukraines seeds in this secure repository. There are already precedents that reveal the paramount importance of this action: Svalbard returned seeds to Syria in 2014 after Aleppo, where its genetic material was stored, was destroyed.

Our plan is to take a copy of our unique varieties to Svalbard. We need to protect future generations, says Tetyana Zaugolnikova, FAOs national project coordinator in Ukraine, exultantly. For three years, she has been involved in this extraordinary operation, initially considered an emergency, with a priority as high as opening a water pipeline when a population runs out of water during a war. When the seeds were transported west, it was classified as a development project, and the next step before the Ukrainian team travels to the North Pole is for the country to join the FAOs International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, pending approval from the Ukrainian Parliament.

Joining the treaty, which includes the European Union and 155 other countries (excluding Russia), would add Ukrainian samples to the more than 2.5 million already held in its global seed system, to which they could also gain access; it would grant international recognition to Ukrainian plant genetic resources and guarantee them legal protection. It also provides for greater scientific and technical cooperation, the harmonization of standards within the EU and internationally, and access to training programs, technical assistance, and funding, explains Elly Barrett, a technical officer at the FAO, who admits to experiencing a milestone. The seeds could have been lost, as happened in Sudan, she illustrates, showing a photo on her phone of bags scattered by the Rapid Support Forces at the African countrys Center for Conservation and Research of Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources. Even so, in February, Sudan managed to deposit 19 species in Svalbard, including sorghum, which has been cultivated in the region for millennia.

The United Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) deposited some Palestinian seed samples in Svalbard last year, but the organization has reported attacks on its facilities by Israeli forces in Hebron. When the Treaty and the Crop Trust conceived of strengthening reserves in emergency situations, they envisioned measures to withstand floods or storms, pests or pathogen outbreaks, but we did not foresee conflicts of this magnitude, Barrett adds.

Now, the Crop Trust is working on an early warning system to provide maximum preparedness for all kinds of disasters and to begin acting before its too late. But peace is urgent. There are some seeds that cannot be stored in chambers (ex situ) and are preserved in living plants on the ground (in situ). For them, it is important that the soil is not contaminated with explosives, as is the case in the crops of eastern Ukraine, and also that it is not dynamited from the air. No planes fly in this country; the skies are reserved for the thunderous war, but meanwhile, from the ground up, the roots of a life in harmony are being silently planted.

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SPRINGFIELD  State Sen. Adam Gomez is organizing his annual Hampden District Turkey Drive to provide Thanksgiving meals to families facing food insecurity across Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke.

The initiative aims to distribute over 1,000 turkeys to ensure households can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Distribution events begin Saturday at 10 a.m. at Wycoff Country Club in Holyoke. On Monday, families can receive turkeys at 11 a.m. at the Indian Orchard Community Center, 117 Main St., in Springfields Indian Orchard neighborhood.

Additional sites will be announced.

This drive is about more than just food  its about dignity, compassion, and community, said Gomez in a statement. By bringing these events directly into our neighborhoods, we ensure that families can access what they need without barriers.

Gomez started the effort over a decade ago with help from family and friends, before he was elected to Springfields City Council and the Massachusetts State Senate. The senator has since encouraged local businesses, organizations, and community leaders to sponsor the drive.

This years need is greater than in the past, according to Gomez. He arranged with a turkey farm distributor to receive the birds in time for Thanksgiving. Daves Truck Repair in Springfield also has donated 50 turkeys to the cause.

The drive is made possible through local sponsors and a partnership with Urban Impact Initiative Massachusetts, a nonprofit group serving as the official conduit for donations. Despite generous donations, additional money is needed.

Businesses and organizations can support the drive through the initiative. In-kind contributions, such as food items, packaging, or transportation, and volunteer support at distribution sites, are welcomed. All donations are tax-deductible, and checks should be made payable to Urban Impact Initiative Massachusetts.

To become a sponsor or learn more, contact Mari Jackson at lamari.jackson@masenate.gov.

Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on information provided by state Sen. Adam Gomezs office. It was reviewed and edited by The Republican.
Author Thomas Suarez, of London, is visiting American towns and cities to promote his latest book, Palestine Mapped: From the River to the Sea in Early Geographic Thought with Thomas Suarez. He visited the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Wednesday. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican) Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican

AMHERST  Calling for an end to the nation of Israel is how anti-Zionist author and historian Thomas Suarez began a new book tour this week at UMass Amherst.

The only way theres ever going to be peace in the Middle East and in the larger world is that the state of Israel ceases to exist and is replaced by a secular state of all the people, Suarez said.

He spoke in an interview with The Republican before his talk in front of 75 people at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Wednesday.

From London, Suarez is visiting American towns and cities to promote his latest book, Palestine Mapped: From the River to the Sea in Early Geographic Thought with Thomas Suarez.

Interlink Publishing, a Palestinian-owned, independent book publisher in Northampton, is producing and distributing the work. Its co-founder, Michel Moushabeck, told the audience he was honored to have brought Suarez in for the lecture.

The hotly debated slogan, From the river to the sea, refers to the land between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, encompassing Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Palestinians and their supporters say they see the phrase as a call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence in a single, secular democratic state. Many Israelis and Jewish people see it another way  as an antisemitic call for the destruction of Israel.

The U.S. House of Representatives condemned the phrase as antisemitic in 2024.

The state of Israel was established in 1948, following the end of World War II and the Holocaust that killed millions of Jews.

According to the United States Holocaust Museum, Jews believed there was no future for them in Europe, and they desired a safe haven somewhere else. On Nov. 29, 1947, the U.N. General Assembly passed Resolution 181, a plan to partition Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states.

Israel was created in 1948, sparking nearly 80 years of war and dispute over who was there first and who owns the land.

Israel only exists by keeping people in internment camps. If all people were equal, Israel would cease to exist, said Suarez.

In the interview with The Republican from London before he came to the U.S., Suarez called for the elimination of Israel.

The problem is the very existence of the Israeli state period, the existence of any state based on a genocidal ideology, and Zionism is an irredeemably genocidal ideology, he claimed.

Suarez goes scorched earth when he outlines what he calls the crimes of Israel, accusing the nation and its leaders of ethnic cleansing.

The land between the river and the sea, historic Palestine, was inhabited by various peoples who lived together. There were Jews, Christians, Muslims, atheists, you name it. It was only Zionism that segregated them. When Zionism took over, only those Indigenous people who were Jewish remained, and the rest were ethnically cleansed, he said.

Suarez accuses global powers, the U.S. foremost among them, of enabling what he calls Israels segregationist, apartheid policies. He insists dismantling Israel is possible and rejects a fait accompli that allows the nation to exist.

The Zionist project must be forcibly stopped. Its not going to stop on its own volition, just like we stopped the Nazis, and just like we exerted pressure to stop apartheid in South Africa, he said.

World leaders are now considering President Trumps bullet-point peace plan, which so far has accomplished only a hostage exchange and shaky cease fire. Part of that framework is a two-state solution, which includes Israel and Palestine.

Suarez said he has no patience for this approach.

The very idea of the need to chop up historic Palestine is to legitimize the Zionist libel that the various peoples who lived in the region for millennia suddenly cant live together, he said. The purpose for two states is to divide what had always been a single territorial unit in order to segregate the land between Jews and non-Jews. The very idea should horrify us.

Suarez also spoke at UMass in 2017.
BURLINGTON, Vt.  The U.S. Attorneys Office in Vermont filed a formal notice Tuesday in federal court that it plans to seek the death penalty for Theodore Theo Bland, of Burlington, if he is convicted for killing two out-of-state men in the Northeast Kingdom in 2023.

The notice came as a federal grand jury returned a new eight-count indictment Tuesday against Bland that paves the way for the possible death penalty.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Turner had said in court in October that the U.S. Department of Justice had given the green light to seek the death penalty, and that a new indictment would be sought. The new indictment was needed to cover the requirements that would allow for the death penalty, if Bland is convicted, he said.

Theodore Bland, 30, formerly of Stowe, Vermont, had pleaded not guilty earlier to multiple federal charges, including gunning down two Western Massachusetts men at a home in Lowell on Oct. 12, 2023. (U.S. Attorney's Office for Vermont photo) Provided photo

Bland, 30, formerly of Stowe, had pleaded not guilty earlier to multiple federal charges, including gunning down the two men at a home in Lowell on Oct. 12, 2023.

The bodies of Jahim Debo Solomon, 21, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Eric E White, 21, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, were found about two weeks later in the town of Eden in nearby Lamoille County about a mile apart. Authorities say they were in Vermont to sell drugs.

The new indictment includes five gun charges, including the two counts for fatally shooting the Massachusetts men. Two additional counts allege that Bland was carrying guns while trafficking drugs between Sept. 7 and Oct. 15, 2023, the indictment said.

Bland also is charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl on Oct. 12 and 14, 2023. He is charged with conspiring with Justin Douglass and others to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl between Sept. 7 and Oct. 15, 2023.

Douglass, who is known as J.D., 37, of Hardwick, had pleaded not guilty to an earlier indictment for drug conspiracy.

In December 2023, Bland was the main person of interest in the double homicide.

Turner, in his notice for the death penalty, wrote that the government is prepared to show several intent factors justifying the death penalty. They include Bland intentionally killed the victims and intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury that resulted in their deaths.

Turner also noted that among the aggravating factors is Blands criminal record for using a firearm in the past.

Senior Federal Judge William K. Sessions III had said during the October hearing that if a new indictment was obtained, the court would need to schedule an arraignment.

Sessions also set Feb. 23 for the next status conference in the Bland case.

Bland comes from a well-known Stowe family. His father, Richard Bland, is a lawyer and a former member of the town School Board.

The double homicide is part of an interstate drug trafficking ring, from which eight people have been charged in U.S. District Court.

Vermont now has two federal death penalty cases that have been approved by Attorney General Bondi and the Justice Department in just 2 months.

In the other case, Teresa C. Youngblut, 21, of Seattle, Washington, is charged with fatally shooting a U.S. Border Patrol Agent about 3:15 p.m. Jan. 20, also in the Northeast Kingdom. Youngblut is a member of a radical cult group, officials said.

Youngblut is believed to be a member of the Zizians, a group that has been linked to at least six killings across three states, officials have said. They said it is led by Jack LaSota, a transgender woman known as Ziz.

Republican President Donald J. Trump, who was inaugurated to a second term on Jan. 20, had told U.S. Attorney General Bondi that he wanted more use of the death penalty in serious drug cases.

Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had called for a halt in capital cases.

The double shooting on Oct. 12, 2023, happened at a mobile home at 497 Eden Road in Lowell, although some witnesses claimed the trailer was in the town of Albany, officials said. It was the residence of Donald D.J. Billow, police said.

Billow also knew two plugs  street talk for drug dealers or suppliers  were staying at the trailer, police said. They were believed to be White and Solomon.

On the day of the shooting, Billow said he only got into the kitchen when he saw Bland going crazy and running around with a firearm. Billow advised he observed Theo shooting the gun down the hallway at the door to the bedroom, court records note.
SPRINGFIELD  Nurses at Mercy Medical Center are questioning the hospitals claim that it needs to close its maternity center next month because it has been unable to recruit health care providers.

In an online speakout Thursday, they said Mercys owner, Trinity Health, wasnt willing to pay enough to land good candidates. They also challenge the institutions statement that the closing of the Family Life Center is temporary, arguing that the hospital is taking deliberate steps to end maternity and birthing services that serve Springfields poorest residents.

The hospital announced early this month that starting Dec. 8, it will no longer provide in-patient maternity and newborn services and will redirect patients to Baystate Medical Center. That news came as a surprise to nurses on the unit represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

Dawn Seymour, a longtime registered nurse at Mercy and 22-year employee of the Family Life Center, joined a Zoom forum Thursday on which she and other hospital staffers reacted to that news.

Seymour questioned the hospitals claim that the closing of the center is temporary. There is no way they can get this unit back up and running. They lost everybody. Their time to build it was months ago, she said.

How can this happen? What is going to happen here  and why is the state allowing this? Seymour asked.

Donna Fur, another Mercy nurse who joined the discussion, hosted by the MNA, said it seemed to her that Mercy did not put the needed effort into recruiting staff for the maternity center.

While the center had 15 care providers a decade ago, according to another current employee, that number had fallen to just one in what employees characterized as a deliberate effort to deplete resources, and costs, at Mercy.

It was a shift that you didnt really notice right away, Fur said. They wouldnt aggressively recruit doctors. There wasnt any big push.

We were told that we didnt make money, never made money, Fur said. I feel that it was just their plan over 10 years. Theyre setting themselves up for this exact moment.

While Mercy had been delivering over 1,000 infants a year, that had fallen to fewer than 800, employees said.

Mary K. Orr, a spokeswoman for Mercy, said Thursday night that staffing gaps drove the hospitals decision.

We have made this difficult decision due to significant provider and nurse staffing constraints that have persisted over several months despite concerted efforts to recruit and retain FLC clinical colleagues, she said in a statement, in response to questions from The Republican.

Orr said Mercy will continue to handle outpatient care. Our certified nurse midwives, with physician collaboration, will continue to provide exceptional prenatal and postnatal care in our outpatient sites throughout Western Massachusetts, she said.

And Orr said Mercy has not given up on restarting operations provided now by the Family Life Center. We will continue to pursue all options to resume continuous, safe, high-quality maternity care at Mercy Medical Center, she said.

Mercy has cared for a higher percentage of Medicaid (and MassHealth) patients in its birthing center  68%  than Baystate, according to Nykole Roche, who joined the forum.

Low-income patients are disproportionately impacted by this closure, she said. Black and Latino birthing parents are disproportionately impacted.  The closure of the Family Life Center directly impacts poor people. Theres no other way to say it.  The racist implications of the closure  cant be overstated.

Care reduced

Jaime Hyatt, a co-chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association bargaining unit at Mercy Medical Center, speaks at an online forum Thursday. (Screenshot by Larry Parnass) Staff

Jaime Hyatt, co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at Mercy, and an employee since 2000, said he has witnessed a constriction of services and contraction of care at the hospital, including in the emergency department, as providers have left for opportunities elsewhere, reducing the promise of a community hospital.

You guessed it, more departures followed  and care was reduced, he said.

That led to a for-profit group from California taking over the operation of the emergency department.

Hyatt said attempts to recruit doctors to work at the Family Life Center were laughable, with job postings on Indeed listing what he described as uncompetitive salaries.

If the center closes permanently, Hyatt said, Springfield and the region will lose a service thats been vital to families, even as Baystate takes over deliveries.

Where are you going to get the more personalized or individualized care? he asked. We are different spaces and we provide different functions to the community.

The traditions of the Mercy, as the hospital is known, are unique, Hyatt said.

We are your community hospital, he said. He accused Trinity Health of making the hospital just a line on its balance sheet.

David Schildmeier, a staff member of the MNA, said the union met Wednesday with Gov. Maura Healey on the issue of preserving the Family Life Center. He, too, expressed doubts about claims the closing is temporary.

How can you call this a temporary closure when youre laying off staff? he asked. This is an engineered closure.

He called on the state Department of Public Health to hold a hearing on the loss of the center and accused Trinity Health of misrepresenting its intentions. Theyre tried to skirt that process, Schildmeier said, referring to actions the DPH would take if Trinity Health disclosed a plan to shutter the center.

Weve raised those issues at the highest levels, he said.

Orr, the Mercy spokeswoman, said the hospital is working with state officials on the matter. We have been in contact with representatives of the Department of Public Health regarding these ongoing challenges and have followed the appropriate regulatory processes throughout.

Ole Kushner Hermanson, a director of the MNA, suggested that uncertainty about the future of birthing care at Mercy is bad for the community.

This is a public institution  that is supposed to serve the public good, he said. Part of that is to serve the whole public good, not just the part of it that makes them money.  Weve got to stand up for our services.

The Zoom call drew several Springfield city councilors and councilors-elect, including Victor Davila, Melvin Edwards and Justin Hurst. All promised to do what they could to see the maternity care restored at Mercy.

I am concerned with the possible permanent loss of the maternity unit, Davila said.

Obviously I sympathize with the situation. Im as supportive as I can be, Edwards said.
SPRINGFIELD  A class-action lawsuit filed by Android users over tracking software secretly installed on phones during the COVID-19 pandemic is on the verge being settled, after a motion hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court.

A lengthy agreement submitted by lawyers for the plaintiffs and attorneys for the state Department of Public Health has been filed to avert entering into a federal consent order.

The lawsuit was filed against the state by a handful of Android users who lived or worked in the Bay State during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The users objected to involuntary tracking software being repeatedly installed on their phones.

The goal of the Mass Notify software the state contracted with Google to create and install was to track users locations to quell the spread of the virus. Savvy users who noticed the app buried in their settings cried foul, which led to the lawsuit.

Peggy Little, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the class may ultimately number in the millions. but its hard to know. Moreover, the endeavor was a bust, she told Judge Mark G. Mastroianni.

It was determined to be not useful and unhelpful, Little said.

Little also noted that many other states used similar tracing software but only with users express consent.

Mastroianni previously rejected a move by the state to dismiss the case.

Once approved by the court, the settlement terms focus on identification and destruction of any data collected through the software, and formal certification by the state that such actions were taken.

A similar complaint was filed against Google in California and was settled on virtually the same terms.

Mastroianni remained skeptical throughout the hearing that any data collected by Big Tech companies can truly ever go away.

What does destruction even mean? the judge asked the attorneys.

Lawyers on both sides essentially said they would do their best due diligence and act in good faith to try to recapture all the data and destroy it. If a stray chunk of data from the app crops up later, a lawyer for DPH said they will notify plaintiffs attorneys and destroy those bits too.

The dialogue in the hearing among Mastroianni and the judge shined a light on the perils of galloping technology. Little described the voracious digital data consumption world as dystopian and Orwellian.

The judge agreed.

Not long ago in our careers did we think wed be using the words dystopian and Orwellian to describe the world we live in, Mastroianni said. But youre right.

Once the final settlement is reached, the plaintiffs will withdraw the claim pending any shows of noncompliance from the state.
As part of Operation Firewall, Massachusetts State Police, federal officials and local police in dozens of cities and towns earlier this month arrested 56 people related to sexual abuse images of children. One of the raids took place on Hannoush Drive in West Springfield on Nov. 5, according to a Hannoush family lawyer. The Hannoushes own Hannoush Jewelers, a 50-store chain that operates throughout the region. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

WEST SPRINGFIELD  A home on Hannoush Drive, named after a local jewelry business family that lives there, was among the sites raided in the state polices recent Operation Firewall.

The sweeping operation was focused on child porn, child sexual exploitation and related crimes.

A family lawyer confirmed troopers executed a search Nov. 5, but said it was focused on one person and might not be what law enforcement and some of the public perceive.

The Hannoush family is a wonderful family. They do a lot for the community, and Id hate to see their reputation tarnished by the actions of one member, said Springfield attorney Raipher D. Pellegrino.

The single target of the West Springfield search warrant has not yet been made public. No arrest was made at the home, Pellegrino said.

I really dont think its going to be a big deal, Pellegrino added, meaning the Hannoush family member is far from being a child predator of any sort.

Law enforcement officials previously announced the three-day, statewide operation in early November had netted 56 arrests in 38 cities and towns. It involved the execution of 34 residential search warrants and the seizure of 229 electronic devices.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Hannoush Drive search warrant.

Multiple generations of Hannoush family members live on the cul-de-sac, according to publicly available records. The family began building on the plot of land in 1991, and several more homes have been built since.

The family runs 50 company-owned and franchised stores, according to the website. The first Hannoush Jewelers store opened in Massachusetts in 1980. Management is largely entrusted to family members, according to those familiar with the business.
Olivia Bernstein, Mental Health Association Inc. vice president of supportive housing, stands at her agency's Chicopee headquarters on Wednesday. In light of the recent changes to federal funding for long-term supportive housing, Bernstein said that the organization is trying to minimize panic and anxiety at this time while coming up with a plan. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  Permanent supportive housing in Hamden County gives 304 people  each homeless for at least a year but likely longer  not just a roof over their head, but a person to talk with.

Aid workers check in at least once a week, offering mental health care, alcohol or drug treatment, and job search help, said Olivia Bernstein, vice president of supportive housing services for the Mental Health Association in Chicopee.

But maybe not for too much longer.

The Trump administration, in a major policy shift in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is capping the money that grant recipients around the country can spend housing first programs, like permanent supportive housing, and instead emphasizing shelters. In housing first sites, sobriety is not a prerequisite, as advocates say shelter is needed before recovery, job hunting and mental health treatment.

Here, the shift endangers $9 million in federal funding for the Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care, said Geraldine McCafferty, director of housing for the city of Springfield.

McCafferty administers the grant for the consortium of 10 agencies, including the Mental Health Association.

Two structures can be seen here in this homeless encampment in Springfield on Jan. 29. (Sebastian Restrepo / MassLive.com, File) Sebastian Restrepo

Bernstein said the policy change cuts off the Hampden County consortium in the middle of a two-year grant. The money will run out over the summer, forcing agencies like MHA to scramble for other resources. Resources, she said, that might not be available.

There will be more encampments, she said.

McCafferty said the local consortium spends 84% of its annual grant money on permanent housing for people who were formerly homeless. HUDs new funding plan limits recipients to spending no more than 30% of the grant for permanent housing.

There are a few different types of housing that are bundled under the label permanent housing, and they are all subject to the 30% cap, McCafferty said.

In neighboring Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties, the Three County Continuum of Care has a total funding amount of $3.75 million and spends more than $1.78 million on permanent supportive housing, said Michele LaFleur, the groups data and evaluation manager.

The Three County program includes 85 people in supportive housing.

In Worcester County, the program funds 445 housing units.

Statewide, HUD provides $136 million in homelessness funding. Of that, $91 million goes to rent and services for people in long-term supportive housing, according to the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance.

The program houses about 3,800 people statewide.

We are staring at this potentially devastating policy change by HUD, said Pamela Schwartz, director of the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness.

Its very extreme. Its very consistent with the chaos of the Trump administration, she said.

In a statement, HUD defended the changes, saying: It restores accountability to homelessness programs and promotes self-sufficiency among vulnerable Americans.

All the people in the program have been living outdoors for at least a year, sometimes many years, and have multiple barriers between them and getting rehoused. Some are disabled. Many are elderly.

The most vulnerable of the vulnerable, Schwartz said.

Earl Miller was homeless, sleeping in Springfields Forest Park about 18 years ago when he was just 21. There werent these types of supportive housing programs when he found a way out of homelessness.

Miller is now a peer specialist working with homeless people at the Wildflower Alliance on Magazine Street in Springfield. He said supportive housing is crucial, especially during a housing crisis when very few affordable units are available.

The reality is, right now there are already too many people in the homeless system as it exists, he said. People will die in the street in pretty brutal ways. People will die deaths of despair. Suicides. Overdoses.

Schwartz said the policy change was long-rumored, and Democrats in Congress had, for a time, made blocking the redirection of the funds a condition of ending the government shutdown.

But the shutdown ended, and the deal didnt address the issue.

Agencies like hers were notified within days.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was one of 42 Senate Democrats who called last week on HUD Secretary Scott Turner to stop the changes and review future plans.

There is a better way forward, the members of the Democratic minority wrote. HUDs current path risks causing a dangerous spike in street homelessness and creating chaos in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike by forcing nearly 200,000 chronically homeless Americans with disabilities and families back onto the streets. We implore you to make the better choice and expeditiously renew current CoC grants for fiscal year 2025 as authorized by Congress to protect communities and avoid displacing thousands of our nations most vulnerable individuals.

Republicans in the House also are pushing back. A group of GOP representatives led by Long Island Reps. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., and Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., called last month for the Trump administration to renew the program.

This funding directly supports communities with housing needs, rental assistance, and dedicated beds for veterans, their letter reads. These resources form the backbone of many communities coordinated efforts to end homelessness and keep families safely housed.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, has added his name to a forthcoming protest letter from House Democrats, according to his staff.

McCafferty said advocates are pushing at least for the changes to be delayed and grants to be automatically renewed for the coming year. That would mean housing programs can be wound down rather than stopped in their tracks.

Many of us disagree with the approach that they want to have happen, McCafferty said. But even if you agreed with the approach, there is not enough time for this to happen in a meaningful way.
SOUTHWICK  With this being a revaluation year, the towns assessor has released the valuations of every residential property in town, and for those who believe their property value is too high, there is an abatement process that starts Jan. 2 allowing them to challenge it

Were pulling out all the stops to get it out, said Assessor Randy Austin about the property valuations released on Nov. 20.

There are two documents with the valuations; one sorted by address and the other by property owner, he said.

The lists are available at the assessors office, on the towns website, the Senior Center in Town Hall, the Public Library, and will be available for inspection until Dec. 1.

While the state only requires the list to be made public for five days, Austin decided to keep it publicly available for 12 days, including six business days, and for a total of 12 including weekends and holidays.

I wanted to do 10, but at this point, timing is critical and we need enough time to get the bills out, so we are doing six business days and 12 total, he said.

Austin went with the maximum allowed by the Department of Revenue, primarily because of what he discovered weeks after being appointed by the Select Board in September.

After a homeowner questioned why their property was valued so much higher than their neighbors, a similar-sized home on essentially the same lot size, Austin and his staff, directed by DOR, did a deep dive into the values of homes throughout town and found that many appeared to be undervalued.

He determined that after inspecting several properties on a certain street, the property card with the propertys details didnt match the valuation.

The property cards indicated the houses on the street were in poor to fair condition, but after a visual inspection of each, they were nowhere near that, he said during the boards meeting in early October.

That led Austin and his staff to dig deeper to learn if there were undervaluations for other homes and property in town.

We found a lot of properties that had ratings below average  way more than you would think, he said at the board meeting.

Of the 3,183 homes in town, the office reviewed 1,136 or about 36%.

Of those, 194 had a change of 5% or less; 480 had a change between 5-10%; 250 had a change of 10-15%; 179 had a change of 15-20%; 30 had a change between 20-25%; 33 had a change between 25-35%, and 17 between 35-54%.

Austin stressed that 81% of the 1,136 reviewed had a change of 15% or less.

Because of the number of undervaluations, Austin wanted residents to clearly understand the abatement process.

Starting on Jan. 1, the assessors office will begin accepting applications from property owners who want to challenge their valuation.

Those applications are in the assessors office, Senior Center and Public Library.

If you dont file for an abatement, I cant address your concerns and cant fix your tax bill [if the value needs to be adjusted], he said.

To help residents with the process, Austin will be holding informational meetings during January. The dates have yet to be determined.

However, those who file for an abatement should be aware that there will be site visit to the property in question by Austin or another representative of his office, and it will include an examination of the exterior and interior of every structure on the property.

As an example of a situation that might lead to adjusting a valuation, he said that there is property with three sheds listed on the property card, but two of them collapsed and werent rebuilt. If the property owner didnt alert the Assessors Office to let it know that new information, it could lead to a property being overvalued.

Austin also said that the quality of a structures construction is also part of the valuation process.

After a property owner applies for an abatement, the assessors office has 90 days to issue a ruling.

Each abatement must be approved by the Board of Assessors, he said.
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Mayo County Council Arts Service has announced its submission deadline of Friday, January 16, 2026, at 5 pm for its annual Grants and Bursaries for 2026.

Among the opportunities available are Arts Act Grants, which provide financial support to voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, festivals and groups delivering arts events or activities in the county. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

The Mayo Artist Bursary, supported by both Mayo County Council and The Arts Council, offers funding to professional artists of any discipline who are currently resident in the county. The bursary aims to support artists at all stages of their careers.

Four Tyrone Guthrie Bursaries are also being offered, allowing Mayo-based artists to spend a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in County Monaghan. The residency supports practitioners across all art forms and provides access to studio facilities, rehearsal space and workrooms.

Applications are also open for UPSTART grants, an initiative promoting artistic collaborations involving people with disabilities. The award supports opportunities for people with disabilities to develop arts projects in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3. This grant is supported by Mayo County Council and The Arts Council.

Additionally, Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary will award two groups who demonstrate innovation, quality and creativity in their work. For eligibility, groups must have put on a production in 2025 and be keen to improve the Amateur Drama sector in their local area. One individual per group will have the opportunity to attend the Summer School.

Application forms and detailed guidelines are available on the Mayo County Council website.
Ukraine faces choice of either losing its dignity or losing the US as key partner, says Zelenskiy about the 28-point plan, which involves ceding territory to Russia

Thursday of next week. That is the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to respond to a 28-point peace plan drawn up between Washington and Moscow to end the war. Speaking to Fox Radio, the president said that next Thursday, Thanksgiving, would be an appropriate time for Kyiv to decide whether to accept the proposal, which would force it to cede territory to Russia, a red line for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned in a message to the nation on Friday that the proposal is putting the country at a historic crossroads: Either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner. Either 28 difficult points or an extremely complicated winter.

The 28-point plan drawn up by Washington and Moscow to end the war has been met with dismay in Ukraine. One source of optimism in Kyiv is that, according to Zelenskiy, the document is still under negotiation. The source of pessimism is that the draft seems to confirm that U.S. President Donald Trump is not only yielding to the interests of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, but also intends to extract even more economic benefit from Ukraines weakened position.

Today is one of the most difficult moments in our history, Zelenskiy acknowledged, moments before receiving a call from U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance, according to Reuters. Zelenskiy promised to work quickly and constructively with the United States on a peace plan to end the war with Russia, but warned that he would not betray his countrys national interests.

Asked by Fox Radio host Brian Kilmeade about the fact that the plan contemplates giving Russia territory that Ukraine has not yet lost, Trump replied that Kyiv will lose it in a short period of time. Theyre losing land.

The leak of the agreement between Washington and Moscow has caused a storm in Kyiv. The document was exclusively revealed by the U.S. media outlet Axios. It was drafted by Steve Witkoff, Trumps envoy for Russia and the Middle East, and Kirill Dmitriev, a close confidant of Putin. According to the U.S. media, the document was partially agreed upon with Rustem Umerov, a key figure in the Ukrainian presidents inner circle and the current secretary of Ukraines National Security Council.

Umerov denied on Friday that he participated in or supported the document. His statements came after The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post reported that Umerov had proposed one of the most controversial points: that both sides would accept an amnesty for any crimes committed during the war. The Russian army has killed more than 14,500 civilians in the nearly four years of conflict.

Ukraine would thus agree not to seek justice for war crimes. In exchange, it would receive $100 billion [86.8 billion] of Russian funds frozen abroad to rebuild the country. The U.S. would lead the management of these investments, with the American companies involved receiving 50% of the profits, the document states.

Despite the severe defeat these measures would represent for Ukraine, they would not be red lines. What would be unacceptable to Kyiv are three of the clauses included in the text: recognizing the provinces of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk (the latter two forming the Donbas region) as sovereign Russian territory; a military withdrawal from the 25% of the Donetsk region still under its control (this area would become demilitarized but would still be considered Russian territory); and limiting its armed forces to 600,000 troops. The Ukrainian army currently has nearly one million troops, compared to the 200,000 it had before the invasion began.

The Ukrainian president has maintained a cautious tone in his statements regarding the U.S. proposal in recent hours. It must be a plan that guarantees a real and dignified peace, Zelenskiy stated on Friday after a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Ukrainian leader also reported that they are working with the document prepared by Washington in coordination with allied countries.

The 28-point plan not only recognizes Russias right to conquered territory, but also includes a clause warning that if Ukraine attempts to occupy Russian territory, it will lose U.S. support. If Russia launches another invasion, in addition to [the U.S.] launching a coordinated and decisive military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory will be revoked, and all other benefits of this agreement will be revoked.

The document, as reported by Axios and other media outlets, also specifies that Ukraine will be punished if it fires missiles against Moscow or St. Petersburg. The conversethat Russia be penalized if it fires missiles at Ukrainian citiesis not included in the text.

Despite Dmitrievs acknowledged involvement in drafting the document, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that the document is a U.S. initiative and that Putin does not yet have any official document on his desk.

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Saturday, November 29 is Small Business Saturday, a campaign encouraging Mayo people to consciously choose to shop with businesses in their local town or village. Shopping locally allows us to boost local trade & commerce and reconnect with our local business Community.

Small Business Saturday is both an awareness campaign and a call to action. According to PWC, the average Irish consumer spends 329 on the Black Friday weekend, and up to half of this goes to overseas suppliers. This equates to 500m leaving the Irish economy over that weekend. Small Business Saturday asks Mayo consumers to make a conscious choice to make local businesses their first port of call and to make a specific plan to spend some time browsing their local shops on November 29.

Small Business Saturday is a new initiative of Mayo County Council and Mayos Chambers of Commerce, and it is hoped it may become an annual event that encourages shopping consciously, socially and locally. Every purchase of local goods/services helps sustain local jobs, families and communities. The end of November is also the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and it is hoped to spur consumers to find new and perhaps unexpected offerings from local businesses.

John Magee, Mayo County Council We are delighted to launch Small Business Saturday. Consumer shopping habits are changing and people are trying to shop consciously by being aware of sustainability, of fair trade and of the value of shopping to support the local economy within which they live.

Small Business Saturday is trying to nurture this trend, encouraging people to shop with businesses in their home area, either in person or online. Maybe get your friends together and make a day of it! Visit your local shops, cafes, maybe a beautician, or go to the cinema with friends. Take the time to rediscover what local businesses can offer you and build your social connections with friends and business owners at the same time.

This is not just an effort to boost local businesses, but an encouragement to connect with your friends and spend both time and money with businesses in your local town or village. Saturday November 29 is Small Business Saturday, and Mayo people can demonstrate their community pride by shopping consciously in their local area.

Pictured above: Left to Right: John Magee (Head of Mayo Local Enterprise Office), Senator Mark Duffy, Deputy Rose Conway Walsh, Councillor Sean Carey, Minister Dara Calleary (Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht & Minister for Social Protection), Deputy Keira Keogh, Kevin Kelly (Chief Executive Mayo County Council).

READ MORE: Popular historic South Mayo pub to reopen after ten year closure
It was with sadness I heard of the recent passing of Tim Murphy of Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, and formerly of Kilkelly, Mayo. He died in the kind care of the staff at Milford Hospice in Limerick.

Tim was a retired member of An Garda Siochana and spent most of his working life in Clare, apart from a time in Eyrecourt, Co Galway, in the early 1960s.

It was sometime during the mid-1980s that I first met Tim and it may have been on the occasion that I travelled down to Shannon Airport to see the legendary Big Tom and his band head over to America.

Tom, because of his fear of flying, had actually travelled on the QE2 from Southampton on his previous trip to America. However, it may also be after meeting Tim at the Mayo Association of Limerick dinner dances that I covered on a regular basis in those years.

I was working with the Connaught Telegraph at the time and Tim was based at Shannon Airport in those days, monitoring the various comings and goings that were part of that era.

Shannon was the major refueling airport for the Russian (USSR) airline, Aeroflot, during that decade as numerous Aeroflot aircraft landed and took off from Shannon on their way from Moscow and other places to Havana (Cuba) and Miami and New York.

Tim decided, as an officer of the law in Ireland, to take me on board an empty Aeroflot airliner while the crew and passengers had disembarked for refreshments and sustenance at Shannon.

It was an incredible experience to board that Aeroflot plane and walk down the aisle. I recall writing about it in the Connaught Telegraph at the time as access to USSR planes was very rare at those days.

Around four or five years later, the Cold War ended after the Malta Summit between President George Bush (Snr) and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989 with the subsequent collapse of the USSR era and the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany leading to reunification of East and West Germany.

Those trips down to Limerick for the Mayo dinner dances were always special and there was a very strong branch of the Mayo Association in Limerick in those times that also catered for members from Clare, Tipperary and North Kerry.

Tim kept in touch on a fairly regular basis down through the years including a text he sent me earlier this year. He always loved to chat about his days growing up around Kilkelly and the friends and neighbours he knew from those times.

After retiring from An Garda Siochana, Tim enjoyed many years as a driving instructor where he was so much in demand down in his adopted region of the Banner County. Many lovely tributes have been paid to this noble gentleman in recent weeks.

Aidan Byrne (formerly of Sligo) said he had known Tom since they joined An Garda Siochana in July 1961: We became great friends through the years. Tim was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed.

Aoife OLeary recalled Tims excellent advice: I have very fond memories of him teaching me to drive around Shannon and his advice has always stuck in my head which I now tell my daughter, a car indicating is only a signal of intent and nothing more, you cant trust an indicator !!

Ann Donohue Malone, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, said she remembered him well in Eyrecourt as a young, glamorous Garda in the 1960s where her dad was also stationed at the time. Tim and my mother also had Kilkelly in common.

Ann and David McCann, Carnakilla, Newmarket-on-Fergus, commented: Tim always had time for a chat and, in our case, we always ended up talking about his beloved Mayo.

Following Requiem Mass in Newmarket-on-Fergus Church, Tim was laid to rest in Lemenagh Cemetery.

Tim, who was predeceased by his grandson Andrew, his sisters Celia and Kathleen and his brothers Michael and John, will be greatly missed by his wife, Carmel, and their family, Fiona, Dermot and Emer, grandchildren Neasa, Dara, Emma, Jamie, Ben and Sam, niece, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, son and daughter-in-law, relations, neighbours and many friends.
A cooperating witness details the links with El Tanque and Primito, two cartel bosses sanctioned by the Treasury Department, and their business dealings with the tycoon accused of smuggling oil stolen from Pemex into the US

The trial of the Jensen family in the United States has shed more light on the criminal scheme that allowed thousands of shipments of crude oil stolen from Pemex, Mexicos state-owned oil company, to be smuggled into the country. U.S. security agencies are collaborating with a protected witness who acted as an intermediary between the Jensens and leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), whom the Treasury Department identifies as the masterminds behind the theft and smuggling of hydrocarbons in Mexico, known as huachicol. The Trump administration accuses the Jensens not only of smuggling crude oil into the U.S. disguised as other substances to evade taxes, but also of money laundering and financing a terrorist criminal organization, a category Trump used to classify a dozen cartels, one of them being the CJNG, led by Nemesio El Mencho Oseguera. The Jensens defense claims there is no evidence that they knew they were dealing with the transnational criminal organization, as their only proven contact was with the broker.

Court documents obtained by EL PAIS show that Washington has strengthened the charges against the Jensens, especially against the family patriarch, 68-year-old tycoon James Lael Jensen, and one of his sons, Maxwell. They are now accused of illegally importing 4,170 shipments of crude oil between January 2018 and January 2025, falsely declaring them as waste or distillates (the original indictment cited 2,881 shipments). The oil was then transported to containers belonging to the family company, Arroyo Terminals LLC, located in Rio Hondo, Texas. According to the documents, the trafficked material yielded them profits of $300 million. Jamess wife, Kelly Anne Jensen, and his second son, Zachary Golden, also accused of being part of the criminal scheme, have been released with conditions.

The cooperating witness, identified in court documents as CI-1 (the initials stand for confidential informant), has been speaking with the DEA since mid-2024. The individual revealed that he has a sustained and direct relationship with certain leaders of the CJNG cartel, especially Ivan Cazarin Molina, El Tanque, and Cesar Morfin Morfin, Primito. Cazarin Molina was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 as part of a fuel theft network that generates millions of dollars in profits for the CJNG. The Treasury stated that El Tanque reports directly to El Mencho and is part of his inner circle of trusted associates. His main base of operations is in Jalisco and Veracruz. It is in Veracruz that he typically stores the fuel stolen from Pemex through clandestine pipeline taps, according to the bulletin issued by the U.S. agency.

In May of this year, the Treasury Department sanctioned Primito, whom it identified as the CJNGs local boss in Tamaulipas. In that report, it indicated that Primito had focused his business on the theft of hydrocarbons and their smuggling into the United States, and that he controlled extortion payments for the crossing of fuel tankers at the border between Tamaulipas and Texas.

At the time the Treasury Department announced its sanctions, it was not known that the Jensens were linked to the cartels fuel theft leadership. The missing piece was the broker cooperating with Washington in the trial, who assured agents that he had befriended Primito and that they had even run a business together since 2021. He also knew Primito so well that in one of their conversations, he gave specific references about him.

James Lael Jensen and Kelly Anne Jensen, his wife, in an undated photograph. CORTESIA

Witness CI-1 testified that, before becoming corrupt, he had been a legitimate and prominent businessman with a Mexico-based company that imported oil, gas, and used oil between Mexico and the United States. He recounted that, at the time, he had to pay the cartels $2,000 per tanker to be able to transport his products in Mexico. He then added that he was extorted by several cartels to do business.

By associating himself with the leaders of the CJNG, CI-1 assumed criminal roles himself. CI-1 explained that he acquired control of several highways in Mexico and was in charge of collecting extortion payments on behalf of the cartel, money that CI-1 would then use to bribe federal, state, and local officials, court documents state. CI-1 explained that, without the payment of the extortion, the cartels would not allow the transport of goods in Mexico. CI-1 then described a scheme where Mexican customs agents falsified documents to export certain crude oil products to the United States, the court records say.

The witness specified that the oil smuggled to the U.S. was stolen from Pemex with the help of corrupt officials at the state-owned company and mentioned a U.S. company as a known buyer of the crude oil extracted in Mexico, although the companys name was not included in the court documents. In several conversations with DEA agents in 2024 and 2025, the witness detailed his knowledge of the CJNG hierarchy and mentioned leaders such as Hector Alvarez Alvarez, alias El H; Carlos Roel, alias Chuy 7; and other individuals identified only by their aliases: El X, Nareda, and Chimuelo.

Having detailed his dealings with the cartel leaders, CI-1 then discussed his business dealings with the Jensens, the documents indicate. The Jensens lawyers argue that they may not have known they were dealing with the CJNG or that the fuel they received was stolen. This is an effort to refute the serious accusation that they financed a terrorist organization. Regardless of this dispute, the court documents show that a business relationship did, at the very least, exist between CI-1 and the Jensens.

The witness agreed to wear a wire at meetings with the Jensens and to have recorded phone calls with them. Several of these meetings involved discussions about transporting crude oil to the United States and the payments that would be made in return. In mid-April, CI-1 summoned James and Maxwell to an urgent meeting in Dallas to discuss a supposed crude oil supplier from Mexico offering an unbeatable price. It was a staged meeting to obtain evidence against the Jensens.

There, in a crowded seafood restaurant, the intermediary spoke about his relationship with the CJNG (saying he worked with those guys even though he didnt like them), mentioned the cartel leaders names, and recalled that just two months earlier, Trump had labeled them damned terrorists. The documents dont record the Jensens reaction, but it served to support the authorities argument that they knew they were dealing with El Menchos cartel. Shortly after that arranged meeting, on April 23, the Jensens were arrested.

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It has been a while since we've seen a good Mummy movie. The franchise that saw life in Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's duo quickly fell off in the third instalment and Tom Cruise's reboot. However, that all changed when reports of a fourth film started flying about. Buzz increased on the idea that both the main actors would be returning after the third film had led to Fraser's career's biggest loss. Now, the actor has finally confirmed his involvement in the project. Brendan Fraser Confirms The Mummy 4 Is in the Works

 Universal Pictures Brendan Fraser talked to the Associate Press, stating that there is a lot he wanted to do with the Mummy franchise but never could. He admitted that things didn't go his way when the third film was being made. Rachel Weisz didn't return to the film either, meaning that the duo was left incomplete. "The one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And Ive been waiting 20 years for this call. Sometimes it was loud, sometimes it was a faint telegraph. Now? Its time to give the fans what they want." However, he never left hope even if it posed as a massive hit to his career. There was always this small flicker he believed in, one that would spark the idea of another film that both made and broke his career. Brendan Fraser Knows Why The Mummy 3 Failed
The Family Man just debuted its third season on Amazon Prime Video. The show is written by Raj and DK and stars Manoj Bajpayee. The initial reactions to The Family Man Season 3 are finally out and there is one scene, in particular, that has everyone talking. Alongside Bajpayee, the show also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur, Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Ashlesha Thakur, Vedant Sinha, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Seema Biswas and Gul Panag as it follows the story of Srikant Tiwari as he learns the ropes of balancing his life as a family man and a secret agent. The Family Man Season 3 Public Reactions

 D2r Films Fans cant get over Vijay Sethupathis Michael Vedenayagam from Farzi making a cameo and helping Manoj Bajpayees Srikant Tiwari out. Connecting those two worlds added a whole new flair to The Family Man Season 3. One user commented, Bhai Farzi and The Family Man are connected, and i KNEW it when i saw that scene in Farzi ep 4 where Michael calls Srikant for help, and now Srikant calling him back these two are hilarious. it was unexpected, but I kinda guessed it.

Others are also angered by the cliffhanger in the end, stating that The Family Man is always supposed to be a story that concludes per season and still sets up another. However, since the third ended with a cliffhanger, a lot was left unanswered. Another said, Seems its unconcluded series! The Family Man series was supposed to be a concluded season but extending the conclusion for next season is a poor strategy by makers!

There is immense praise for Jaideep Ahlawat, who played the character of Rukma in the series. He completely outdid himself and outshone everyone else. Another said, Wow, Episode 2. Jaideep Ahlawat just ate and left no crumbs.

One user even stated that the social commentary thats been picked up is reminiscent to other Prime Video shows, saying, This is The Boys all over again.

One more commented, Started off on a strong note with 2 amazing eps, but somewhat lost steam in the latter ones before picking up again from the 6th. The grounded approach felt missing & things also get superficial after a point, but I was still engaged.

About The Family Man Season 3
The first time I picked up the Find X9 Pro, I could tell it wasnt just another flagship doing the usual incremental upgrades. It felt more like Oppo was trying to show me exactly how serious it wants to be this year.

 Hook.Online The camera hardware is beefed up, the battery is the biggest youll find in a premium phone right now, the build feels more refined, and the whole thing carries this calm confidence that says, this is the one to beat. But when a company tries to play at that level, the price usually follows. At 1,09,999, this phone must prove itself in every area. Lets break it down. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Is the new design actually better? The Find X9 Pro doesnt completely reinvent Oppos design language, but it definitely feels like theyve gone back and tightened up the things that actually matter. My Titanium Charcoal unit has this soft, velvet-like texture on the back that immediately feels more secure than the curved finish Oppo used last year.

 Hook.Online The new flat frame also helps a lot. It gives your fingers something solid to lock onto without feeling sharp or boxy, and the phones weight is spread out well, so you dont think about the 224 grams while using it. The camera module has also been redesigned. Oppo moved away from the big circular island to a square layout that looks cleaner and blends in more naturally with the frame. It wobbles a bit when you tap it while its lying flat, but the trade-off is a less bulky and less smudge-prone module than before.

 Hook.Online What really stands out this year is durability. Oppo stacked the certifications. Youve got IP66, IP68 and IP69, which basically means dust resistance, full water immersion and even high-pressure jets are all fair game. Add an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the X9 Pro feels like one of those rare flagships thats actually built to survive more than a light drop. Overall, its a cleaner, more confident design. Nothing flashy, just a solid flagship feel that immediately clicks when you pick it up. Oppo Find X9 Pro: How good is that flat display? The Find X9 Pros display is one of those upgrades that doesnt sound dramatic on paper, but once you use it, you get why Oppo changed direction this year. It's still a 6.78-inch AMOLED, still LTPO, still sharp, but the whole experience feels different because the panel is now fully flat. No curve wrapping over the edges, no weird reflections when you tilt the phone outdoors, and no accidental side touches. It is just a clean, flat canvas that makes everything from gaming to scrolling feel more controlled.

 Hook.Online The bezels are the next thing you notice. Oppo trimmed them to around 1.15mm on all sides, and that symmetry makes the screen look almost edge-to-edge. When you watch videos, those tiny borders just disappear into the frame. Brightness is a huge flex here. Oppo claims 3,600 nits peak and around 1,800 nits in high brightness mode, and in real use it gets insanely bright. HDR is fully covered too with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HDR Vivid support, so whether it is Netflix, or YouTube HDR, colours stay punchy without going overboard. Eye comfort is another area where Oppo has quietly upgraded. The panel uses 2160Hz PWM dimming, which helps a lot during late-night use, and the minimum brightness can drop to as low as 1 nit. That makes it one of the easiest flagship screens to use in the dark.

 Hook.Online You also get some surprisingly useful extras. The ultrasonic fingerprint reader is super-fast and works even with slightly damp fingers. Plus, Oppos Vehicle Motion Alerts add subtle stabilising cues when the phone knows youre in a moving car. I didnt expect that to matter, but reading long pages on the go felt a bit steadier. So, the Oppo Find X9 Pro display isnt reinventing the wheel, but the shift to a flat panel, the ultra-thin bezels, and the small quality-of-life additions make it feel more polished than the last generation. It is one of those screens that seems simple at first, but the refinement is what makes it great. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Are the cameras a real flagship leap this year? I have been testing the Oppo Find X9 Pro cameras for a while now, and the story here is really about how far Oppos camera ambitions have come. You're getting a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide, and a massive 200-megapixel telephoto lens. It looks wild on the spec sheet, but once you actually start shooting with it, its a lot more refined than youd expect.

 Hook.Online One of the significant upgrades this year is that the Find X9 Pro now captures 50-megapixel photos by default across all three rear cameras. No matter which lens you use, you get full-resolution images without changing any settings. Another nice improvement is that motion photos now record in 4K instead of 1080p, so those short clips you get before and after each shot look sharper and more detailed than ever. However, the 200-megapixel periscope camera is easily the most interesting part. Oppos using a fairly large 1/1.56-inch sensor with an f/2.1 aperture and a 70mm focal length, and it can focus as close as 9 centimetres. This means you can shoot proper macro-style shots on a telephoto lens.

 Hook.Online In good light, both 3X and 6X zoom shots look incredible. You can crop in pretty far and still retain detail, but theres some visible sharpening, and in high-contrast areas, you might notice a bit of haloing around highlights. Its subtle but its there. The main 50-megapixel camera uses Sonys new LYT-828 sensor, which is slightly larger than the one before. Its bright at f/1.5, and laser autofocus locks on instantly. Exposure is solid, shadows stay natural, and the colours are vivid without being cartoonish. Thats a big shift from older Oppo and OnePlus cameras that leaned heavily on overexposed tones. In low light, this main camera holds its own. Even without Night mode, images stay sharp and noise is minimal. When Night mode does kick in, it brightens up the scene naturally, without that fake HDR glow that some phones fall into. The ultra-wide camera is capable, though its the weakest of the three. It uses the same 50-megapixel Samsung JN5 sensor found in the front camera. You get those big dramatic shots, but details arent as crisp, and finer textures like grass can look a bit smoothed out, almost like a digital watercolour.

 Hook.Online Still, the consistency across lenses is impressive  exposure, colour and tone stay steady whether youre shooting ultra-wide, main or zoom. Oppos colour science, in collaboration with Hasselblad, has matured a lot. The images have a warm, cinematic look, slightly boosted reds and a pleasing roll-off in highlights. Then theres the True Colour sensor. Its a small 2-megapixel module that splits the frame into zones and measures colour temperature separately. The result is better white balance and more natural skin tones, especially in tricky mixed lighting. Its one of those background features that quietly improves your photos without you noticing its even there. The pressure-sensitive Quick Button returns. A quick tap takes a photo, a long press fires off a burst, and in video mode, it starts or stops recording. Theres also a capacitive slider underneath for smooth zoom control. Its clever, but still not as intuitive as Id like  though to be fair, I never really liked Apples take on it either.

 Hook.Online On the video side, things get even better. The Find X9 Pro shoots up to 4K 120 on the main and telephoto cameras, while the ultra-wide and selfie max out at 4K 60. Video quality is crisp, colours are accurate, and dynamic range is wide. The 3x telephoto and ultra-wide both hold up well, and low-light footage looks clean with minimal noise. Stabilisation is also excellent. Regular EIS is always on, and Ultra Steady mode makes handheld clips look like theyre shot on a gimbal. The front camera finally gets a serious upgrade, too. Its now a 50-megapixel sensor with autofocus (the same JN5 used for the ultra-wide). Selfies come out sharp, HDR is well-balanced, and you can even shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. Overall, this is Oppos most mature camera system yet. Its not perfect as theres still a bit of over-sharpening and some highlights bloom under tough lighting. However, the consistency, versatility, and polish make it one of the most well-rounded imaging setups out there. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Can the Dimensity 9500 outperform Qualcomm and Apple? Powering the Find X9 Pro is the new MediaTek Dimensity 9500. This is MediaTeks top-end flagship chip for 2025, built to go head-to-head with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apples A19 Pro. So, the real question is how it stacks up against the OnePlus 15 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. To find out, I ran all three through Geekbench 6 and compared the results.

 Hook.Online The OnePlus 15 comes in with 3646 in single core and an impressive 11025 in multi core. That gives it the highest overall multicore performance of the three. The Find X9 Pro scores 3198 in single core and 9383 in multi core. What is interesting is that it actually beats the iPhone 17 Pro Max in multi core. That shows how much MediaTek has closed the gap this year. The iPhone 17 Pro Max hits 3725 in single core and 9634 in multi core. It keeps the crown for single core strength, which Apple is known for, but the Find X9 Pros multi core number slides right past it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 still leads raw multi core performance, the Dimensity 9500 shows massive gains and even edges out Apple in multi core, and the A19 Pro remains the single core champ. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the Find X9 Pros Dimensity 9500 starts strong with a best loop score of 7248 but drops to 3560, landing at 49% stability, which shows clear throttling under long loads.

 Hook.Online The iPhone 17 Pro Maxs A19 Pro hits 5531 down to 3769 with 68% stability, offering smoother, more controlled performance. The OnePlus 15 and its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 lead the pack with a 7683 peak and 5282 minimum, delivering 68.8% stability and the strongest sustained GPU performance overall. This was an interesting benchmark comparison because none of the three phones dominated every category. Each one had its own moment, which is a good reminder that benchmarks never tell the whole story. Where things got clearer was in real-world testing. In our VN video export test, where we stitched the same 4K 60fps clip a few times and exported a two-minute file on all three phones, the Find X9 Pro finished first by a comfortable margin. It completed the export faster than both the OnePlus 15 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, making it the quickest in this practical workflow test.

 Hook.Online The real takeaway is how all that power feels while using the phone. Apps launch instantly, the UI stays fluid no matter what you throw at it, and heavy games run without stutter. BGMI held steady around 60 and climbed to 120 in supported scenarios, all while the phone stayed surprisingly cool. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage help keep everything moving, so the Find X9 Pro never feels like it slips behind any flagship on day-to-day speed. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Is ColorOS 16 a better software experience now? ColorOS 16 on the Find X9 Pro sits on top of Android 16, and it feels familiar in all the right ways. The layout still behaves like standard Android, so there is no learning curve, but Oppo has cleaned up a lot of the small details. Animations glide a little more smoothly, menus pop with a more subtle colour, and the UI feels tighter overall. You can definitely see the iOS influence in places, but honestly, most major Android skins are leaning that way anyway.

 Hook.Online What stands out more are the little features Oppo built for day-to-day use. You can drop a video straight onto the lock screen as your wallpaper. Icons can expand to show shortcuts without needing a long-press menu, which saves a couple of extra taps. AI is everywhere in the OS now. You get translation tools, voice-to-text inside the recorder, Circle to Search, Gemini Live, and the usual AI edits like object removal or sharpening. They work pretty well and behave similarly to what we see on Samsung and Google.

 Hook.Online The new thing is Mind Space. Think of it as a digital quick-dump for screenshots, snips, and short voice notes. Oppo even added a hardware button dubbed Snap Key dedicated to it. Tap it to grab whatever is on your screen. Hold it to record a voice snippet that instantly turns into text. If youre the kind of person who collects visual notes throughout the day, it is surprisingly practical. AI Studio is the only piece that feels rough. It turns your photos into stylised portraits, but the results swing between odd and overly filtered. Some presets even force you to pick a gender first, which feels outdated.

 Hook.Online Oppo is promising five years of major Android updates and six years of security patches. It is not quite at Samsung or Googles level yet, but it still puts the Find X9 Pro in a pretty solid spot for long-term use. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Does the 7500 mAh battery really last longer than rivals? The Find X9 Pro is hiding a monster inside it. This thing is running a 7,500 mAh battery, the biggest weve ever seen on a flagship. To put that in perspective, its even larger than the OnePlus 15s already-massive 7,300 mAh cell. Whats wild is that Oppo managed to fit all of this into a body thats just 8.25mm thick. Thats thanks to their third-gen Silicon-Carbon battery tech, which lets them pack more energy without turning the phone into a brick.

 Hook.Online In real-world use, the endurance is ridiculous. Light users are easily looking at two days on a single charge. Heavy users still finish a full day without stress. I was consistently getting around 7 hours of screen-on time, and even during gaming tests  30 minutes each of BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile  the phone only dropped around 5 percent. Streaming performance is even more impressive. After three hours of YouTube, the X9 Pro dropped from 100 to 93 percent. The iPhone 17 Pro Max fell to 90 percent in the same test, and even the OnePlus 15 landed at 91 percent. So, the X9 Pro actually delivered the best result weve ever recorded in that category.

 Hook.Online The battery story here is simple: massive capacity, smart efficiency, and real-world endurance that feels a step ahead of what most flagships are doing right now. Charging is solid, too. You get 80W SuperVOOC wired charging, taking the phone from 0 to 80 percent in about 70 minutes. Wireless charging hits 50W AirVOOC, and theres 10W reverse wireless if you need to top up accessories. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Is it worth buying at 1,09,999? After spending quality time with the Find X9 Pro, its clear that Oppo wasnt trying to build a good enough flagship this year. They were aiming for something that could sit at the absolute top of the Android lineup, and most of the time, it actually does. The camera system is the most complete Oppo has ever shipped, the performance keeps up with (and sometimes beats) the very best from Qualcomm and Apple, the battery life is on a level that almost feels unfair, and the build finally feels as tough as the spec sheet claims.

 Hook.Online It isnt flawless. The ultra-wide lens still lags behind the other two cameras; and the Quick Button is cleverer than it is essential  but none of those things pull the phone down in a meaningful way. What really matters is how consistent it feels. Whether youre shooting, gaming, editing videos, or just bouncing around apps, the X9 Pro behaves like a device that knows exactly what it wants to be. At 1,09,999, you're paying a hefty amount for it, and that sets the bar incredibly high. But the Find X9 Pro clears that bar in almost every category.
A study by researchers at Oxford and Utah State University argues that large language models are not yet capable of reasoning or generating innovative theories because they are limited to existing information

In his work Reflections on Language, published in 1975, Noam Chomsky argued that children learn to speak not just by imitating what they hear, but by constructing a theory from sparse and disordered information. According to the linguist, a child infers knowledge that goes far beyond what they have heard, allowing them to produce new sentences with no direct connection to previous experiences. In other words, children do not merely reproduce patterns  they create original knowledge.

For researchers Teppo Felin, from Utah State University, and Matthias Holweg, from the University of Oxford, this is the central point that differentiates human learning and reasoning from artificial intelligence (AI). In their academic essay Theory Is All You Need: AI, Human Cognition, and Causal Reasoning, published in late 2024 in the journal Strategy Science, the authors describe AI language generation as backward-looking and imitative, whereas human cognition is forward-looking and capable of generating genuine novelty.

There are researchers who have analyzed how babies process their environment. And it turns out that they not only absorb data, but they are constantly making conjectures or formulating hypotheses, explains co-author Felin, 52, via video call from Utah. If I drop my cup on the table, I learn something about the world around me. And it turns out thats precisely the crux of the matter: the ability to formulate conjectures, to want to experiment, or to formulate hypotheses.

The researcher, who is also the founder of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies at Utah State University, states that one of his goals is to debunk all the hype surrounding AI and highlight how the human mind is unique in its causal and theoretical reasoning. The study emphasizes how the mind is not merely an information processor and that humans not only predict the world but also intervene in it and transform it. This, according to the authors, dismantles the mind-machine analogy.

Galileo and the Wright brothers

To illustrate the limitations of large language models, Felin and Holweg use the example of how an AI trained on the corpus of thousands of years of geocentric texts up to 1633 would deny Galileo Galileis heliocentric model. This is what the authors call databelief asymmetry  that is, while AI will accept something as true if most texts assert it, humans can believe in something that contradicts the data.

This asymmetry is what allows human cognition to form beliefs that may initially seem delusional or contrary to existing knowledge, but which can eventually lead to new discoveries.

Felin states that large language models are, for now, translators or reformulators that reflect past patterns. In Galileos time, the data indicated that the Earth was stationary. And if you look around, you see that the Earth is not moving and that the sun appears to move from east to west. Therefore, an AI with a limit of 1633 will accept that model as correct, he explains.

To illustrate this point, the authors use the example of the Wright brothers and how, in the 19th century, scientists considered it impossible for objects heavier than air to fly. But while the scientific consensus ruled out human flight, the Wright brothers conducted experiments to solve the problems of lift, propulsion, and steering, demonstrating that flight was indeed possible.

In uncertain environments, only human theoretical thinking has the advantage because creativity depends on theories that challenge data, not algorithms, Felin argues. AI extrapolates data from the past to predict what will happen in the future, but that only works when the environment doesnt change and there is no uncertainty.

The world is not a database

For Felin, human reasoning, despite its limitations, is the only thing that can accurately reflect a world that is constantly changing. Human beings can process a limited amount of data, we are biased and make bad decisions, but it turns out that we live in a very dynamic environment and AI has no way of dealing with that, the researcher explains.

Furthermore, the author argues that people have to make decisions without data every day. In a sense, weve placed too much importance on data because we dont always have the right data in front of us. So we have to think about how to obtain that data, and thats what leads to creativity, he continues.

Felin also warns against the panic that some specialists have fostered regarding AI. In the study, for example, the researchers cite the example of Geoffrey Hinton, one of the pioneers of AI and winner of the 2018 Turing Award, who speculated about the possibility that large language models could eventually exhibit forms of intelligence or consciousness. The authors reject this view and argue that equating the mind with these computational devices is conceptually flawed and philosophically reductive.

The Finnish academic argues that AI is a technological wave with limitations, especially in areas that require true creativity, problem formulation, and strategic, forward-thinking decision-making. Felin compares large language models to a kind of dynamic Wikipedia and argues that AI must be seen for what it is: statistics and machine learning in action, with nothing mystical behind it.

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Zohran Mamdani is still six weeks away from taking office as the next mayor of New York City. But even before his historic victory on November 4, city and state officials had been preparing for the possibility that U.S President Donald Trump will send more federal agents to enforce his immigration offensive and deploy the National Guard to the city, as he has already done in other Democratic strongholds. These preparations have intensified since the socialist politician was elected, while the Republican administration has doubled down on its threats.

I plan on being in New York City in the near future. Were going to do operations in New York City, Border Czar Tom Homan told Fox News on Tuesday. The top official added that immigration agents are already in the city and that he plans to send more: Were going to flood the zone.

Its a warning the Trump administration has been repeating for months, but it takes on special significance now that Mamdani will be the mayor of New York City. The young socialist Democrat won the mayoral race in the most populous city in the United States with a strongly anti-Trump and pro-immigrant message. After a campaign in which he constantly promised to stand up to the president, as mayor-elect Mamdani has remained steadfast in that commitment, openly challenging the Republican in his first speech after his victory. New York will continue to be a city of immigrants, he declared that night.

However, there have also been signs that Mamdani is willing to extend an olive branch, or at least try. His team announced this week that it had contacted the White House to arrange a meeting with Trump. Mamdani has said that the hypothetical meeting would focus on the citys affordability crisis, the cornerstone of his campaign. The announcement came after the president stated on Sunday that he is willing to meet with Mamdani, after months of calling him a communist lunatic.

Tom Homan in Washington, November 14. JIM LO SCALZO (EFE)

The move comes at a time when both the city and the state are preparing for a potential confrontation with the federal government if Trump decides to replicate in New York what he has already done in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland (Oregon), Washington, D.C., and Charlotte (North Carolina). In recent months, federal agents have arrived in these cities, all governed by the Democratic Party, and have carried out large-scale immigration operations resulting in hundreds of arrests. Some have also received National Guard troops, while others have managed to halt these deployments in the courts.

The presence of agents and troops has been met with citizen protests that have turned violent, with federal authorities responding by launching tear gas and firing rubber bullets, pepper balls and chemical weapons at the protesters.

So far, such scenes have not been seen in New York. Although there have been raids, such as the one in October on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan, immigration enforcement activity has been concentrated in a single building: 26 Federal Plaza, a federal skyscraper housing several immigration courts, also located in Manhattan. Half of the more than 3,000 migrant arrests that have taken place in the city in recent months have occurred there.

However, that raid on October 21st served as a warning to the city. The dramatic, military-style operation, with more than 50 officers and armored trucks descending on a tourist area known for its street vendors, most of them migrants, offered a glimpse of what might be coming in the months ahead.

Harmful to the economy

Preparations to address this possibility have been led by the office of the states governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul. For weeks, her team has held meetings with various sectors of society to develop a strategy. These discussions have included business and real estate leaders, many of whom have ties to or are close to the president. The expectation is that they could intervene to prevent Trump from ordering a federal deployment to the city by signaling that such an action in New York, the countrys financial capital, would be detrimental to the national economy.

Ive had conversations with a lot of business leaders saying, When the time comes, make sure that you also convey your concerns about what this would do to destabilize New York City and the outsize impact that this would have across America, Hochul said on Monday. It would have an effect that other cities do not have because we are the financial center. And you cannot disturb that without consequences.

It is a strategy that has already been fruitful in San Francisco, where Trump was going to send troops last month, but decided not to after executives from several of the large technology companies that have headquarters in the Californian city argued against it.

Meanwhile, Hochuls office has been in contact with officials in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles to gather feedback on their response. Members of her team have asked their counterparts in these cities how they have dealt with Trumps federalization of the National Guard, which effectively takes over a force that is legally under the command of each states governor. It is likely that New York, if necessary, will follow the lead of states like Illinois and California, which responded with lawsuits challenging the deployments.

Border Patrol agents in Chicago on November 6. Jim Vondruska (REUTERS)

New York officials have also investigated how local police in different cities have handled the increased presence of federal agents on the streets, and how they have dealt with the resulting citizen protests. Like Los Angeles and Chicago, New York is a sanctuary city, meaning local law enforcement does not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This is why the Trump administration has targeted these cities, accusing them not only of failing to cooperate with his agenda of mass arrests and deportations, but also of allowing crime to run rampant.

Crime has been the primary justification the government has used for ordering these deployments. However, data shows that crime is declining in all the cities involved. In New York City alone, shootings and murders have reached historic lows in 2025. Other serious crimes, such as burglaries and shoplifting, have also decreased.

Even so, the Trump administration is convinced that New York will be one of its next targets: We are increasing enforcement present in New York City  again, because theyre a sanctuary city, and we know we have an issue there with public safety threats in the street every day, Tom Homan said on Fox News this week. The border czar added that, like Trump, he would be willing to meet with members of Mamdanis incoming government to work on this together. But if they dont want to cooperate and continue to resist and impede efforts, then we will simply send more teams there, he concluded.

In addition to state and local officials, migrant advocacy groups and community organizations and activists are also preparing to counter the Trump administrations plans for the city. Taking a cue from a strategy already employed in Chicago, thousands of whistles are being distributed in areas that have already been targeted by immigration agents or that could be targeted due to their large immigrant populations.

New operations in the south of the country

While New York awaits its turn, the Republican administration has set its sights on the South, on cities that, although Democratic, lack sanctuary policies because their respective states have laws prohibiting them. This is the case in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a migrant detention operation has been underway since last Saturday, resulting in more than 250 arrests. The government plans to expand the operation beyond the states largest city to Raleigh, where federal agents have already arrived in recent days.

The next target will be New Orleans, Louisiana. Around 250 Border Patrol agents are expected to arrive in the jazz city in the coming weeks for a two-month immigration offensive that could begin on December 1.

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Military spending in Louisiana led to $17 billion being infused into the statewide economy during the 2024 fiscal year, according to an analysis by Louisiana Economic Development (LED).

The study was conducted by Business Development Advisors and The Roosevelt Group for Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, examining military installations, defense contracts, and retiree and veteran spending to measure economic impact within LEDs eight defined regions.

This new data shows a 77% increase in total output and a 52% increase in employment compared to the same study last conducted in 2021. State officials point to the numbers as a representation of how Louisianas defense economy is attracting investment and creating jobs, in sectors including advanced manufacturing, aerospace and technology.

Military and veteran-related spending generated approximately $707 million in state and local tax revenue in FY 2024.

Officials with LED and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs jointly told Military.com that military and veteran-related spending generated approximately $707 million in state and local tax revenue in FY 2024. Those dollars circulate statewide as wages, business revenues and tax collections that support infrastructure, small businesses and community development.

Both agencies recognize that these impacts extend well beyond military installations and contractors, driving growth in local economies and improving opportunities for residents statewide, officials said.

A military honor guard carries the casket bearing the remains of one of the Louisiana National Guard soldiers killed in Iraq at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, La., Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Hundreds of Thousands Impacted

The more than $17 billion generated during FY 2024 is connected to more than 117,000 employees, equating to approximately 5.4% of total state payroll employment according to the study.

Louisianas military presence is a source of strength for every region of our state, LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said in a statement. The men and women who serve, the contractors who support them and the veterans who continue to contribute after service all play a vital role in our success.

The defense contracting analysis incorporates FY 2024 Department of Defense and U.S. Coast Guard contracts, which generated more than $3 billion worth of projects performed in 2024.

Annual gross pay associated with military retirees and federal Veteran Affairs (VA) expenditures, plus VA contracts, were also accounted for to comprise the analysis.

A military drill team marches during the Krewe of Thoth Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. The krewe's original parade route was designed specifically to serve people who were unable to attend other parades in the city. The route passes in front of several extended healthcare facilities. Carnival season will culminate on Mardi Gras day this Tuesday, Feb. 13. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Over 26,000 Military Retirees

Louisiana has approximately 262,000 veterans who receive federal financial aid in the form of compensation, pensions and medical careincome that, similar to that of the states approximate 26,000 military retirees, is reinfused back into Louisianas economy through the tax base, living expenses and personal spending.

The Louisiana military facilities and activities studied as part of the 59-page analysis include Barksdale Air Force Base, Fort Polk, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (Belle Chasse), Marine Forces Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard 8th District, Naval Information Warfare Center New Orleans, the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, and the Louisiana National Guard.

Of Louisianas five military installations, Meginley said Fort Polk in Leesville is especially a major driver of the economy in the central portion of the state.

The GDP that military spending has for just that part of the state is 16%, Meginley said, according to the Louisiana Radio Network. You cant really put into words just how important the military is to the economy of central Louisiana.

Members of the 91st Engineer Battalion prepare to perform a 21-gun salute at Mount Olivet Cemetery for the burial of Lawrence Brooks, who had been the oldest living World War II veteran, during his burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. Brooks, who died Jan. 5, was 112. (AP Photo/Kathleen Flynn)

More Contracts

LED said that more recent investments in Louisianas defense industry further back up the data and economic contributions to the state.

Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, for example, was awarded a U.S. Navy contract to construct six Arctic Security Cutters at its facilities in Lockport. VRC Metal Systems is investing in a new maintenance facility at Barksdale Air Force Base, said to provide advanced repair capabilities for B-52 aircraft while creating high-skilled engineering and technician jobs.

Louisiana is competing and winning in the defense economy, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement. Our shipyards, bases and defense companies are creating jobs, driving innovation and powering growth in every region of our state."
Kyivs biggest European allies lined up with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reject key elements of a U.S.-Russian plan to end the war in Ukraine as Washington threatened to halt military support to force acceptance of the deal.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Frances Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer of the U.K. agreed on a call with Zelenskyy on Friday that Ukraines armed forces must remain capable of defending its sovereignty and that the current line of contact should be the starting point for any peace talks, according to a statement from the German government.

The U.S. has threatened to stop intelligence-sharing and weapons supplies to Ukraine and to pull out of all processes unless Kyiv agrees to the peace plan, according to people familiar with the matter. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters was first to report the threat.

Merz convened the call to formulate a response to a 28-point list of demands and proposals that Zelenskyy received from the U.S. that would mean sweeping concessions to Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk would be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States, according to the plan, a copy of which was seen by Bloomberg News. Ukraine would also be required to hold elections in 100 days, give up any hope of NATO membership and slash the size of its armed forces.

We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace, Zelenskyy posted on X after the call. We are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account.

While the U.S. and Russia have largely sidelined European countries in their push to end the war, Europes response to their proposal is critical in shaping Ukraines next move. The European Union has been struggling to agree on a mechanism that would unlock about 140 billion ($160 billion) to sustain the Ukrainian war effort as the U.S. dials back its support for Kyiv.

European leaders will now meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 conference in South Africa on Saturday to map out the next steps, according to a person familiar with matter. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whos earned the reputation of having the ear of Donald Trump, is also expected to join, according to a person briefed on the plans, who asked not to named because the talks are private.

There are doubts among European leaders about the status and legitimacy of the plan that would force Kyiv to cede large chunks of territory taken by Russia, cap the size of its military and lift sanctions on Moscow over time, one official said. They also characterized it as tantamount to a capitulation by Ukraine with Russia getting what it wants, the official added, requesting anonymity to talk freely on the matter.

European leaders have also been trying, and so far failed, to arrange a call with the U.S. to discuss the initiative, another person said.

Zelenskyy said on Thursday hes agreed to work on the plan and expects to discuss details with Trump in the coming days.

The plan appears to maximise the potential for future Russian hybrid and false-flag operations that would see Moscow claim Ukraine breached the terms and then re-invade, a senior European official said. The official added that it very closely resembled Russias demands at previous talks and was completely unacceptable to Europe and Ukraine.

Its about a just and lasting peace, and we consider elements of this plan to be effective towards this goal, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told reporters in Berlin on Friday. We want to participate constructively in guiding this into a dynamic that will bring us closer to our goal of a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Many details of the plan are proposals that have been vehemently rejected by Ukraine and its allies in the past. NATO member states may also object, given that the plan would curtail the defense alliances ability to admit new applicants as it sees fit. Such a move would need the buy-in of all 32 of its members.

The plan entails Ukraine receiving a U.S. security guarantee  albeit one that Washington would be compensated for. The U.S. would also get 50% of profits to rebuild and invest in Ukraine, and enter an economic partnership with Russia once sanctions are lifted.

Trumps national security team has engaged with both Russian and Ukrainian officials and the president supports the current plan, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.

While White House officials said the plan had Trumps backing, one person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said conversations remain fluid. A delegation of top U.S. military officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, was in Kyiv this week discussing avenues for progress, and options include ramping up military support, the person said.

The latest proposal was worked out between Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and Putins representative Kirill Dmitriev, according to people familiar with the matter. It follows past Witkoff efforts that Ukraine has been wary of and faced almost immediate opposition from Europe.

But the scale of the concessions to Moscow  as well as the U.S.  is massive, and would need buy-in from other countries not involved in the latest discussions.

Ukraine would not only have to promise not to join NATO, but would have to enshrine such a vow in its constitution. Russia would be brought back into the Group of Eight nations, a symbolic move that would end its international isolation and is opposed by other members of the group.

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With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak, Aliaksandr Kudrytski, Alex Wickham, Alberto Nardelli, Daryna Krasnolutska, Michael Nienaber and Hadriana Lowenkron.

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2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Longtime U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York is stepping aside.

In 1992, Velazquez became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress. She announced on Thursday that she will not seek re-election in 2026, effectively culminating more than three decades of legislative service in the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker, who represents New York's 7th District which includes portions of Brooklyn and Queens, said in a statement that leaving next year is the "right" move and allows "for a new generation of leaders to step forward."

"I grew up in a small town of sugar cane fields in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico," Velazquez said. "My family did not have much. Nine children in a wooden house. Politics in Washington felt a world away. If you had told that little girl she would one day be the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, she would never have believed it.



"As a teenager, I came to New York to pursue a masters degree, and this city changed my life forever. New York took me in, welcomed me, and presented opportunities I never thought possible. I fell in love with its energy and with the people who make this city what it is. In New York, I found my voice, discovered my purpose, and dedicated myself to the fight for justice and opportunity. There is truly no city like it in the world."

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y. speaks on Capitol Hill on Jan 12, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Her departure reshapes the outlook for veterans, military families, and her native Puerto Rico. Her work in Congress on veteran health, small business contracting, and disaster resilience has had national security and readiness implications.

A Fierce Advocate for Veterans, Service Families

Velazquez pushed legislation tied to veterans care and military family support.

She introduced the Blast Exposure Protection Act, focused on expanding health care for veterans suffering hearing loss and injuries linked to blast exposure. Her office also maintained a dedicated military and veterans resources page, offering support tied to deployments, education and family stability.

As the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, Velazquez worked to expand federal contracting access for veteran-owned companies. That work continues to shape todays landscape for veteran entrepreneurs navigating federal programs.

"I worked to expand access to capital and open doors in the federal marketplace for women, minorities and veterans," Velazquez said. "One of my proudest accomplishments was creating the Women-Owned Small Business contracting program, which became law in 2001 and has helped thousands of women entrepreneurs get ahead."

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y. speaks to reporters after addressing a Hispanic caucus at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Puerto Rico, Security and Military Readiness

Velazquezs roots in Puerto Rico gave her direct insight into military housing, disaster resilience, and the needs of National Guard members and reservists on the island. She repeatedly pushed for federal investments tied to long-term stability and infrastructure improvements needed by military families.

Puerto Ricos strategic position in the Caribbean keeps it tied to defense planning and regional security. That reality is already on display, with recent military activity on the island underscoring Puerto Ricos continuing role in U.S. readiness, regional security and force posture.

"I have always sought to be a consistent voice for peace in Washington," Velazquez said. "I was proud of my opposition to the war in Iraq and other interventions during the Global War on Terror. In 2023, I was one of 13 House members to call for an immediate ceasefire in the horrific war in Gaza."

In this Dec. 18, 2019, image made from video, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., speaks as the House of Representatives debates the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington. (House Television via AP, File)

The Future Open Seat

Her exit will open New Yorks heavily Democratic 7th District, which spans northeast Brooklyn and western Queens.

Velazquezs future replacement will influence issues vital to military and veteran communities, including federal contracting pathways for veteran-owned businesses; housing and support services for military families; and infrastructure funding tied to Puerto Rico.
Sgt. Kenneth Nine was scheduled to ship back to the states that Monday morning. After partying until 5 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, the 27th Infantry platoon sergeant sat exhausted in front of Schofield Barracks.

Then Japanese planes flew overhead, strafing everything in sight.

Nine's commanding officer ran up and said, "Get in the saddle because you aren't going anywhere."

The 25th Infantry Divisionjust 67 days oldhad entered World War II.

The division had been activated on Oct. 1, 1941, when the War Department reorganized the old Hawaiian Division, splitting it into two separate divisions: the 24th and the 25th Infantry Divisions.

This newly organized unit soon became one of the war's most aggressive fighting forces. It was one of only two Army divisions to experience combat from that first chaotic morning at Pearl Harbor straight through to occupying defeated Japan almost four years later. Today, the division remains headquartered at Schofield Barracks, the same Hawaiian post where its World War II saga began.

Wheeler Air Field and Schofield Barracks under attack, as seen from a Japanese Navy plane. Most of the smoke comes from planes burning on the Wheeler Field apron in the center. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Pearl Harbor: Baptism Under Fire

The division's soldiers scrambled into action that December morning. Sgt. Nine ignored his hangover to break down supply room doors and get machine guns and ammunition onto the barracks rooftop.

Cpl. Bronsil Metz watched Capt. Dailey sprint across the parade ground, firing his .45 pistol at aircraft with zero chance of hitting them but every intention of fighting back. One officer exited his residence in his pajamas, firing his personal pistol at the incoming planes. Soldiers on the parade deck fired their Springfield rifles. One man accidentally dropped his Browning Automatic Rifle in the commotion, which discharged and wounded him.

Soldiers watched as Japanese planes swooped in, their machine guns ripping into the barracks walls and the parade deck. In the chaos, Private Walter R. French was killed, becoming the first man of the division to die in the war.

Soldiers fired back with whatever they hadrifles, pistols, even a hastily assembled machine gun that allegedly managed to down at least one enemy aircraft. When it was over, two men from the division were dead and 17 were wounded.

Shock and amazement are registered on the expression of the Schofield Barracks soldier in the foreground. December 7, 1941. (Wikimedia Commons)

The two-month-old division immediately deployed to defensive positions along Oahu's beaches. For the next year, soldiers dug fortifications, strung barbed wire, and trained obsessively in jungle warfare while watching for a potential enemy invasion. Sgt. Nine would remain with the division throughout the war.

In May 1942, Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins took command. An infantry officer who had missed World War I combat, Collins brought aggressive tactical instincts that would soon earn him the nickname "Lightning Joe."

Meanwhile, the division needed a third infantry regiment before it moved to Guadalcanal. The 161st had been en route to the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was attacked and diverted to Hawaii. These Washingtonian National Guardsmen would fight alongside the regular Army's 27th and 35th Infantry Regiments through the rest of the war.

Last phase of Battle of Guadalcanal, Jan-Feb, 1943. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Battle for Guadalcanal

Having been one of the first divisions to see WWII combat, the division also had the distinction of being one of the few to launch the first offensive against Japan. The first elements of the 25th Division landed near Guadalcanal's Tenaru River on Dec. 17, 1942, relieving the exhausted Marines.

Among them was Cpl. James Jones, a 21-year-old private in F Company, 27th Infantry, who would later immortalize the division's experiences in his novels.

The soldiers faced a nightmare landscape of impenetrable jungle, inadequate maps, tropical diseases, and an enemy determined to die rather than surrender.

U.S. Army soldiers push supplies up the Matanikau River to support the 25th Infantry Division's offensive on Guadalcanal in January 1943. (Wikimedia Commons)

Collins received orders in early January 1943 from XIV Corps commander Maj. Gen. Alexander Patch to seize three objectives near the Matanikau RiverMount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse.

The 27th Infantry Regiment faced the Galloping Horse, a 900-foot ridge that resembled a running horse. The 35th Infantry would tackle the Sea Horse while dealing with the Gifu strongpoint, a seemingly impregnable Japanese position on Mount Austen.

On Jan. 10, the attack began. The 35th Infantry's assault on the Sea Horse turned disastrous when Company K walked into a massive ambush. Japanese machine guns shredded the advancing Americans.

As the company fell back, Sgt. William Fournier and Tech. 5th Grade Lewis Hall rushed to an abandoned machine gun. With another soldier holding up the weapon by its tripod to increase its field of fire, they turned the gun on advancing Japanese infantry. Both men received mortal wounds, but their actions earned posthumous Medals of Honor and saved Company K from complete annihilation.

The 27th Infantry hit snags in its move on the Galloping Horse, but kept pushing against the enemy. By Jan. 12, the regiment held Hills 51 and 52 but needed Hill 53the horse's headto complete the objective. Water had run out. Men licked moisture from leaves; many were close to heat exhaustion.

A wounded soldier is being assisted down a steep jungle hillside, then through the jungle to the river and by boat and ambulance to a nearby hospital. Guadalcanal, 1/15/43. Soldier of 25th Division, 35th Infantry. Matanikau River. (Wikimedia Commons)

Capt. Charles Davis, executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, volunteered to carry instructions to the companies caught in crossfire from Japanese machine guns. The Alabama native and University of Alabama law student navigated 800 yards of sniper-infested terrain, dodging bullets to reach Company E pinned down on a ridge.

Davis found the trapped soldiers, pinned by a Japanese machine gun nest blocking the advance. Grabbing several rifles and pistols, Davis led a direct assault on the position, killing its crew. Company E swept up the ridge.

Minutes after Davis's assault, heavy rain broke the drought. Soldiers tilted their helmets or held them out to catch water. It was a welcome moment as they prepared for the final push.

Col. William McCulloch ordered his three artillery battalions to pound Hill 53. On Jan. 13, coordinated assaults from two directions swept through the weakened Japanese defenders. By the end of the day, the entire Galloping Horse belonged to the 27th Infantry.

Davis later received the Medal of Honor for his actions. Years afterward, attending Command and General Staff College, he sat in for an exam on infantry tactics. One question described an assault on an enemy position.

"The action described in the test was the same one I fought through on Guadalcanal," Davis said later, noting the irony.

Meanwhile, the 161st Infantry cleared the Matanikau River Pocket, a dense jungle redoubt between a steep hillside and a cliff holding an estimated 500 Japanese troops. The combination of frequent assaults, heavy artillery bombardment, and starvation eventually eliminated this strongpoint.

The division's 31-day Guadalcanal campaign ended Feb. 5, 1943, when elements linked with the Americal Division near Cape Esperance. The speed and aggression displayed by Collins's troops was praised, though his division suffered several hundred casualties.

Litter bearers give first aid to two men wounded by grenades while on patrol on Guadalcanal. Even when under direct fire of the enemy the bearers continue to care for and carry out the wounded. They are commanded by Major General Alexander M. Patch, Jr. 25th Medical BN., 25th Division. 10 January 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

Lightning Strikes the Solomons

After five months garrisoning Guadalcanal, the division jumped back into combat in July 1943, landing on New Georgia to capture Munda airfield.

Col. James Dalton commanded the 161st, a West Point graduate who would become legendary for his leadership. The regiment moved for nine brutal days just to reach their attack positions against fierce resistance and monsoon weather. On July 22, after finally linking with other American forces at Bairoko, Dalton reportedly greeted the commander with an enthusiastic, "Boy, am I glad to see you!"

The 27th Infantry executed an impressive but harsh 19-day march through jungle mud to capture Bairoko Harbor. Soldiers slogged through waist-deep swamps, hacked through vegetation, and fought off nighttime infiltration attempts while advancing inch by bloody inch toward their objective.

The division cleared Arundel Island on Sept. 24 and seized Kolombangara with its vital Vila Airport on Oct. 6. Organized resistance on New Georgia ended on Aug. 25.

After almost a year in tropical combat zones, the division sailed for New Zealand in December 1943 for rest and training. The last elements arrived Dec. 5, exhausted but victorious. Following months of recuperation and replacement, the division moved to New Caledonia in February 1944 for intensive amphibious training in preparation for the American return to the Philippines.

Major General J. Lawton Collins, CG, 25th Division, and Major Charles Davis, CO, 3rd Bn, 27th Inf., left, confer on New Georgia. 14 Aug 1943. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Liberation of the Philippines

The division landed at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon on Jan. 11, 1945. Maj. Gen. Charles Mullins Jr. had replaced Collins when he transferred to Europe to command VII Corps in the Normandy invasion. Soldiers were rested, re-equipped, and ready. They immediately drove across the Luzon Central Plain toward Binalonan, meeting Japanese forces there on Jan. 17.

The 161st Infantry Regiment encountered heavy resistance, turning back Japanese tanks and infantry to secure Binalonan the following day. The men discovered that the bulk of Japan's 2nd Tank Division had dug in its tanks, converting them into stationary pillboxes in a desperate last stand.

Soldiers on patrol in the Philippines after taking Japanese mortar fire. (Wikimedia Commons)

Brig. Gen. Dalton, now the division's assistant commander, personally led forces into the savage five-day Battle of San Manuel, where every building was a fortress and the tanks served as hardened bunkers. On Jan. 28, the 161st captured San Manuel after brutal house-to-house urban combat.

During the fighting, Tech. 4th Grade Laverne Parrish, a medic with the 161st Infantry, earned a Medal of Honor for repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded men. In the early hours of Jan. 24, when his company withdrew under intense fire, Parrish spotted two wounded men still in the field and crawled forward under enemy fire to bring both to safety in two successive trips. He was killed by enemy fire while evacuating additional casualties.

Moving through the rice paddies, the division occupied Umingan, Lupao, and San Jose, destroying Japanese armor with infantry assault weapons. Near Lupao on Feb. 7, Master Sgt. Charles L. McGaha of Company G, 35th Infantry, earned a Medal of Honor. When his platoon was pinned down by five Japanese tanks supported by ten machine guns and riflemen, he crossed 40 yards of open ground under heavy fire to move a wounded man to safety.

Despite suffering a severe arm wound, he returned to his post, assumed command when the platoon leader was wounded, and faced enemy fire multiple times to aid wounded soldiers. By the campaign's end, the 25th had knocked out more than 250 Japanese tanksa staggering toll achieved mostly by infantrymen using bazookas, rifle grenades, and satchel charges in close combat, while killing more than 6,500 enemy soldiers.

On Feb. 21, the division began operations in the Caraballo Mountains along Highway 5. The terrain featured steep ridges, thick jungle, and well-prepared Japanese defensive positions commanded by Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita himself.

The division pushed forward against fierce counterattacks, taking Digdig, Putlan, and Kapintalan. The fight for Balete Pass became a months-long battle of attrition. Japanese forces used the mountainous terrain brilliantly, creating layered defenses that blunted American firepower and mobility.

25th Infantry Division soldiers in combat near Baleta Pass, Baugio, Luzon. (Wikimedia Commons)

While serving as a platoon guide with Co. B, 27th Infantry, Staff Sgt. Raymond H. Cooley led an assault against several concealed enemy positions. When machine guns pinned his platoon down, Cooley advanced to one of the weapons and lobbed a grenade. The enemy threw it back as he armed and tossed another; the blast did not injure him.

After destroying the first gun, he charged another one, throwing more grenades into enemy positions along the way. As he armed another grenade, several Japanese troops charged him just as his men advanced behind him to meet them. To avoid hurting his own men in the blast, he dropped onto the grenade to shield them. He was severely wounded by the explosion, but his men managed to save him and destroy the last enemy position, earning Cooley a Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds.

Exhausted soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division move along a dirt road on Luzon, Philippines. (Wikimedia Commons)

On May 16, 1945, tragedy hit the division hard. Brig. Gen. Dalton, the day after his forces captured Balete Pass, was shot in the head by a Japanese sniper while inspecting the conquered defenses. In a letter sent weeks earlier to a friend, Dalton had written, "It goes okay out here, Pete, like any other corner of the war men live hard and scramble and scratch to beat the other guy  and some don't come back."

Dalton was one of only 11 U.S. general officers killed in action during World War II. The Filipino government later renamed the pass in his honorit's still called Dalton Pass today.

The capture of Santa Fe on May 27 opened the gateway to the Cagayan Valley. The division continued mopping up operations until June 30, having suffered approximately 650 killed and 1,920 wounded during the mountain campaignthe highest combat death toll of any division in the Sixth Army during the Luzon campaign.

The Balete Pass WW II monument at the "Dalton Pass Viewpoint with Shed" of the Balete Pass Tourism Complex. Located on the Dalton PassBalete Pass road, crossing the Caraballo Mountains, central Luzon. (Wikimedia Commons)

Operation Downfall: The Invasion of Mainland Japan

On July 1, the division moved to Tarlac for training, preparing for Operation Downfallthe planned invasion of Japan. The 25th was assigned to I Corps of General Walter Krueger's Sixth Army for Operation Olympic, scheduled for Nov. 1, 1945.

The division would form part of the Eastern Assault Force, landing at Cord Beach south of the Oyodo River near Miyazaki on the eastern coast of Kyushu. Their objective was to capture Miyazaki city and its nearby airfield, then drive westward toward Miyakonojo to link up with the 43rd Infantry Division.

The soldiers knew what awaited them. Military planners estimated between 200,000 to 500,000 American casualties just for Kyushu, with potentially a million total to conquer all of Japan. The Japanese had assembled 700,000 defenders on Kyushu alone, with thousands of kamikaze aircraft waiting to strike the invasion fleet.

The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the Soviet entry into the Pacific War in August eliminated that grim necessity.

Operation Olympic, part of Operation Downfall. 25th Infantry Division was to land on the Eastern Side of the island near Miyazaki. (Wikimedia Commons)

From Enemies to Allies

Instead, the division departed for Japan on Sept. 20, 1945, arriving to serve as occupation forces. They established headquarters in Nagoya on Honshu's main island, later moving to Osaka in January 1946 to expand their occupation area.

On Nov. 1, 1945, the 161st Infantry was inactivated and replaced by the 4th Infantry Regiment. What followed represented an unexpected moment in the unit's history. Soldiers who had fought viciously against Japanese forces across the Pacific now helped rebuild the shattered nation.

The local Holy Family orphanage in Osaka faced severe struggles in 1949, with many of the children being war orphans who lost their parents in combat or American bombings. Men from the 27th Infantry Regiment and 8th Field Artillery provided thousands of dollars in donations over the years.

They eventually adopted the orphanage to help care for the children, receiving worldwide recognition for their generosity. The relationship continues todaythe regiment has hosted children from the orphanage for visits to Hawaii every year since 1957, a 75-year tradition that the soldiers proudly maintain.

Most Japanese civilians responded with amazement and gratitude to the kindness displayed by American troops. When a serious typhus epidemic hit Osaka, the 4th Infantry Regiment deployed 300 teams to work with Japanese authorities, helping eliminate the disease using DDT and inoculations.

The division remained in Japan until July 1950nearly five years helping transform former enemies into democratic allies. But the occupation ended abruptly when North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. The division deployed to Korea from its bases in Japan, beginning another chapter in its storied history. The soldiers poured thousands of dollars from their last paychecks in-country to the orphanage as they shipped out.

Sgt. Philip Dooly presents first check to the Holy Family Home. (The Wolfhound Pack)

The Tropic Lightning Legacy

The 25th Infantry Division participated in four World War II campaigns: Central Pacific, Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons, and Luzon. Six soldiers earned the Medal of Honor for actions during the war. It had fought for 165 continuous days in combat, suffering roughly 5,423 casualties during the war.

In 1953, it adopted the nickname Tropic Lightening for its fast, aggressive fights from Hawaii, across the entire Pacific, to mainland Japan itself.

James Jones's novels brought lasting literary fame to the division. "The Thin Red Line" became required reading for understanding Pacific War combat before the work was adapted to film in 1964 and famously in 1998. Jones's earlier work, "From Here to Eternity," captured the pre-war Army life at Schofield Barracks and earned both critical acclaim and a 1953 Academy Award-winning film adaptation.

25th Infantry Division flag. The Taro Leaf represents the divisions founding from the Hawaiian Division in 1941, while the lightning bolt honors the divisions lightning fast advances across the Pacific during WWII. (Wikimedia Commons)

From that chaotic morning at Schofield Barracks to occupation duty in Osaka, the brand-new division earned its place as one of the most storied units in the U.S. Army. The lightning bolt superimposed on a Taro leaf remains one of the Army's most recognizable shoulder patches.

While soldiers jokingly call it the "Electric Strawberry," the patch honors the divisions Hawaiian roots and its WWII experiences. Only the 25th and its sister division, the 24th, can claim they were the first to fight against the Japanese during the war and occupy the enemy nation years later.
In late 2025, reports emerged that the United States and Russian Federation have drafted a framework aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The proposal, described as a 28-point plan by some sources, reportedly includes major concessions Ukraine may be required to accept.

Whats in the Proposed Plan?

According to multiple news reports, the plan calls for Ukraine to cede territory  including parts of the eastern regions still contested or partially under Ukrainian control  and to limit the size and capability of its armed forces. It also reportedly includes provisions that would restrict Ukraines future access to alliances: the plan would prevent future expansion of NATO, a key security aspiration for Kyiv and a perceived threat to Russia.

In exchange, the framework apparently offers security guarantees, a plan for reconstructing Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, and a pathway for Russias reintegration into international economic structures. Some reports say the proposal also includes reinstating Russia into what was once the Group of Eight (G8) and provides economic incentives for both sides.

Reactions from Kyiv and Allies

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has received the draft plan and will reportedly engage with the U.S. to review its main points and explore diplomatic opportunities. However, he has emphasized that Ukraine will not make rash decisions. The Ukrainian leadership has expressed that any solution must protect the countrys defense capabilities and ensure continued support for its military.

Despite these engagements, Ukrainian officials have also described the plan as absurd, arguing it was drafted without Ukraines meaningful involvement and criticized it as leaning toward capitulation. One European diplomat said they only learned of this plan through the media.

European allies have been vocal in asserting they must have a seat at the table. After media reports of the U.S.Russia framework, European Union diplomats insisted any peace plan must include input from Kyiv and European governments. One EU foreign-policy official stated that for a deal to succeed, both Ukrainians and Europeans must be involved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 21st Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley).

U.S. Role and Diplomatic Dynamics

U.S. officials, including Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), confirmed that Washington is actively developing ideas and potential frameworks for peace. Rubio noted that achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.

Meanwhile, U.S. military leadership has stepped into the process. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and other senior Army officials were in Kyiv on a mission to assess battlefield realities, consult with Ukrainian leadership, and present framework materials corresponding to U.S. peace efforts.

From Moscows side, the response has been cautious. The Kremlin stated there is no formal negotiation underway with the U.S. regarding peace proposals, though communication channels remain open. Kremlin officials said there had been no new developments to announce since a summit in August.

The Challenge Ahead: Trust, Timing, and Strategy

While this U.S.Russia-drafted framework is said to carry significant weight, its success depends on many variables. Ukraine has insisted it will not surrender its sovereignty or accept territorial losses as part of any agreement. Moscow, meanwhile, has not publicly shifted its long-standing demands, which include demilitarization of Ukraine, territorial claims, and limits on Ukraines strategic alignments.

Furthermore, the fact that negotiations have reportedly been advanced without prior consultation with Kyiv or key European partners has sparked criticism. Some analysts view the effort as an American attempt to broker peace at speed, potentially bypassing allies. Others warn sidelining Ukraine in planning undermines trust and could weaken Europes unified position.

On the domestic front, Ukraine is facing additional pressure: amid these diplomatic maneuvers, the government is managing a political shake-up and corruption scandal that has challenged public confidence. According to Reuters, Ukraines parliament recently dismissed key ministers in the energy and justice sectors.

Where Things Stand Now

At present, this proposed peace framework is not a finalized deal. It remains a draft with significant controversy surrounding its terms, legitimacy, and future prospects. Kyiv has not formally accepted or rejected the proposal, stating it is reviewing the plan and continuing diplomatic discussions with the U.S. and its allies.

Any future resolution will likely require a multi-party approach. Observers say a viable agreement must balance Ukraines security needs, the strategic interests of European partners, and broader geopolitical realities involving Moscow and Washington.
The state attorney general has appealed to the Supreme Court, while the governor and conservative legislators have condemned the ruling as judicial overreach

The latest aftershock from the political earthquake over electoral map redesigns in the United States hit Texas this week. On Tuesday, a panel of federal judges blocked the new congressional map approved by the state that benefited the Republican Party and, in doing so, not only disrupted preparations for the 2026 elections but also unleashed an unprecedented internal revolt among Republicans themselves.

The ruling  written by Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Donald Trump appointee with clearly conservative leanings  concluded that the map approved this summer constitutes unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. In response, the Republican leadership in Texas  where they control every branch of government  has closed ranks and launched an offensive to restore the map introduced over the summer, appealing directly to the U.S. Supreme Court while denouncing what they call a judicial attack on legislative authority.

But the figure at the center of this storm is not a progressive judge or a Democratic appointee, but Brown. For more than two decades, Brown has been a reliable ideological ally for Texas governors, attorneys general, and conservative advocacy groups. His ruling therefore jolted the states Republican Party, provoking accusations of betrayal and a cascade of attacks.

Brown rose quickly through the Texas judicial ranks. Appointed in 2001 by then-governor Rick Perry to the 55th District Court, he eventually reached the Texas Supreme Court, where he served on an all-Republican bench. His rulings earned him praise among conservative activists: he repeatedly sided with opponents of same-sex marriage and openly expressed anti-abortion positions. When Donald Trump nominated him to the federal judiciary in 2019, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed him as a judge with fidelity to the Constitution, while Governor Greg Abbott praised his commitment to the rule of law.

Jeffrey V. Brown, in an undated photograph. SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

That long record made his Tuesday ruling all the more unexpected. Brown and Judge David Guaderrama  a Barack Obama appointee  concluded that the 2025 map was not merely a partisan maneuver but a deliberate racial reengineering of Texass congressional boundaries. While partisan gerrymandering is legal under federal law, racial gerrymandering is not. According to the court, Texas officials crossed that line when they sought to dismantle so-called coalition districts where no single racial group holds a majority  and replace them with districts explicitly designed to have Hispanic majorities, which over the past decade have begun voting consistently for Republicans, a first in the states history.

Brown wrote that Abbott explicitly directed the Legislature to redistrict based on race and prioritized eliminating coalition districts to comply with what state leaders interpreted as guidance from the Department of Justice. Browns ruling found there was substantial evidence that Texas racially gerrymandered its maps.

Republican leaders reacted immediately. Attorney General Paxton appealed to the Supreme Court, accusing the radical left of attempting to undermine the will of the people, despite Judge Browns impeccable conservative credentials. Governor Abbott called the ruling clearly erroneous and argued that the judiciary had usurped powers reserved for the legislature.

Meanwhile, the states political and electoral machinery descended into chaos. Counties had already begun reconfiguring electoral districts, hiring poll workers, and processing candidate filings based on the now-suspended map. Suddenly, they are forced to improvise solutions with less than three weeks until the December 8 filing deadline. Many Republican candidates had already begun campaigning  and fundraising  in districts that no longer legally exist.

Im not concerned about it, insisted Representative Pete Sessions, a Republican from Waco, according to The Texas Tribune. Itll go to the Supreme Court, and well be fine.

But other Republicans acknowledged strategic mistakes. Former state legislator and ex-chair of the Texas Republican Party Matt Rinaldi wrote on X that party leaders made an unforced error by relying on a misreading of a Department of Justice letter that led Republicans to modify coalition districts. That approach, he said, could give courts the impression in their final decision that racial motives  not political ones  guided the redistricting.

Ken Paxton in Maryland, in an archive photograph. Jose Luis Magana (AP)

The political upheaval was soon matched by a nearly equally forceful response from the judiciary. Judge Jerry Smith, a Ronald Reagan appointee and the third member of the panel  the only one who disagreed with the suspension of the maps  issued a combative 104-page dissent that reads more like a political argument than a technical legal opinion.

Fasten your seatbelts. Its going to be a bumpy night! the opinion begins, before launching accusations that Brown and Guaderrama sidelined him, rushed the ruling, and prevented him from having enough time to draft his dissent. He described their behavior as pernicious judicial misbehavior and called Brown an unskilled magician trapped in an illogical straitjacket.

Smith argued not only that the maps authors acted out of partisan interests  a constitutionally permissible motive  but also that the majoritys decision favored Democratic elites. He even claimed that the main beneficiaries of Browns ruling were billionaire philanthropist George Soros and California Governor Gavin Newsom, allegations reminiscent of long-standing right-wing conspiracies that immediately drew criticism from Latino civil rights organizations.

LULAC, one of the plaintiff organizations, argued Smiths interpretation contradicted the facts. Protecting voters from racial discrimination is not activism; it is a constitutional obligation, LULAC CEO Juan Proano said.

A race against time to decide the appeal

Texass appeal is now in the hands of Judge Samuel Alito, who handles emergency petitions from states in the Fifth Circuit. The Supreme Court could temporarily stay the ruling and allow Texas to use the disputed map in the 2026 midterm elections while litigation continues. A decision is expected within days: candidate registration is already underway, and election administrators warn that last-minute map changes could confuse voters and disrupt preparations for the March primaries.

Despite the chaos, the district court insisted that the blame does not lie with the judiciary, but with the legislators. The legislature  not the court  redrew Texass congressional map weeks before precinct-chair and candidate-filing periods opened, the ruling states. The state chose to toy with its election laws close to the 2026 congressional election. That decision, taken under express orders from U.S. President Donald Trump, sparked a nationwide battle over redistricting, in which California has already approved a new distribution that would give Democrats five additional House seats in the 2026 elections.

The ruling also serves as a reminder that judges, even conservative ones, sometimes defy political expectations. Its a point worth remembering as the case heads to the Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority. For now, however, Texas Republicans show no signs of introspection. Their strategy is clear: confront, challenge, and escalate, betting that the Supreme Court will ultimately rule in their favor.

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An Oakland County Sheriff's vehicle is parked in this MLive file photo. Photo by Jake May | MLive

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  Oakland County Sheriffs deputies believe they have solved a 27-year-old cold case involving the fatal shooting of a 73-year-old man in his Pontiac home.

Charles Barnett was killed on April 30, 1998, after surprising a burglar who shot him and stole his vehicle, according to a news release from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office.

Police now believe a 45-year-old Indiana man was the alleged gunman that night. He is in custody in an Indiana jail and is expected to be extradited to Pontiac next week.

MLive is not naming the suspect until he is arraigned.

The case went cold until 2020, when investigators reopened it and identified the new suspect.

We never give up on our pursuit of justice for the victims, the families and the community, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. Im proud of the constant review of cold cases that our team does. In this case, we have an opportunity to hold the accused perpetrator accountable after all these years.

The man faces a felony murder charge. If convicted, he could serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Charles Barnett was taken from his loved ones 27 years ago, but he was never forgotten, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. Thanks to an investigation that was never closed, we can now seek justice for Mr. Barnett.

Police believe the new suspect, who was 18 at the time, shot Barnett while burglarizing his home in 1998. The suspect then stole his car, only to crash it a short time later, according to the release.

Investigators traced the car back to Barnetts address, where his body was found.

Sgt. Todd Hunt and retired Lt. Steve Troy reviewed the evidence and linked the new suspect to the homicide.

He was arrested in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Monday, Nov. 17.
Eleanor and Dorothy, then ages 5 and 3, pose on modular chairs in the STEAM room at John R. Lewis Elementary, 154 W. Clark St. in Jackson on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Lewis Elementary was one of 68 Michigan schools exiting state oversight in the latest school index results. Alyte Katilius | The Ann Arbor News

Sixty-eight Michigan public schools have been removed from a watchlist that mandates state oversight, according to a recent Michigan School Index report.

The watchlist tracks student outcomes, highlighting areas where improvement is needed, such as proficiency in statewide testing and graduation rates.

The Michigan School Index helps identify which schools need extra support, annually listing schools in one of three accountability categories, particularly for the lowest-performing 5% statewide or within specific student groups.

Results for the 2024-25 school year were released by the Michigan Department of Education on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Interim State Superintendent Sue Carnell said she was pleased to see the improvement for 68 schools, including 33 that were among the 98 schools in partnership agreements with the state.

That means they no longer require additional supports, she said.

Carnell credited the hard work by local district and intermediate school district staff, children, parents, community members and MDE employees.

When we work together, we can provide the services our children need to learn and reach their full potential, she said in a statement.

With the release of the latest index, MDE will move into partnership agreements with districts to assist 113 schools that were identified as needing comprehensive support and improvement, or CSI.

Those schools are among the lowest performing 5% statewide or high schools with a four-year graduation rate of 67%.

According to the state, thats out of 3,324 public schools, meaning 3.4% of schools were identified. Those schools are from 57 local school districts.

Those partnership districts will receive concentrated support from MDE and their intermediate school districts to develop a series of 18-month interim target benchmarks and 36-month target outcomes.

The state runs the Michigan School Index under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires results be published annually and that low-performing schools are identified.

In addition to CSI, the other watchlist categories include are targeted support and improvement, which measures schools with at least one student group performing in the bottom 25%, and additional targeted support, which have one or more student subgroups in the bottom 5%.

Just over 50 of the 68 Michigan schools coming out of state oversight this year are exiting the comprehensive support and improvement list as follows:

Academy for Business and Technology High School, Melvindale

Academy of Warren

Barack Obama Leadership Academy, Detroit

Beecher High School (Beecher Community School District)

Fair Plain East Elementary School (Benton Harbor Area Schools)

Buchanan Virtual Academy (Buchanan Community Schools)

Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Detroit Leadership Academy K-8 (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Blackwell Institute (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Bunche Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Burns Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Carver STEM Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Central High School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Cooke STEM Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Davis Aerospace Technical High School at Golightly (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Garvey Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Henderson Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Marquette Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Noble Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Nolan Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Palmer Park Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Priest Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Pulaski Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Wayne Elementary School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Oak Park Service Learning Academy

Pleasantview Elementary School (East Pointe Community Schools)

FlexTech High School, Brighton

Eisenhower School (Flint Community Schools)

George Washington Carver Elementary School, Highland Park

Ottawa Hills High School (Grand Rapids Public Schools)

Dickinson West Elementary School (Hamtramck Public Schools)

International Academy of Flint

John R. Lewis Elementary School (Jackson Public Schools)

Joy Preparatory Academy, Detroit

Washington Writers Academy (Kalamazoo Public Schools)

KEYS Grace Academy, Madison Heights

Gardner International Magnet School (Lansing School District)

Lyons School (Lansing School District)

Mt. Hope School (Lansing School District)

Wexford Montessori Academy (Lansing School District)

Mildred C. Wells Academy, Benton Harbor

Multicultural Academy, Ann Arbor

Oakland FlexTech High School, Farmington Hills

Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (Port Huron Area School District)

Saginaw Preparatory Academy

Arthur Eddy Academy (Saginaw Public Schools)

Jessie Loomis School (Saginaw Public Schools)

Westfield Preparatory High School, Redford

The remaining 15 are coming out of additional targeted support as follows:

Burton Glen Charter Academy

Bow Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Detroit International Academy for Young Women (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Munger Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Spain Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Dove Academy of Detroit

Hamilton Virtual School (Hamilton Community Schools)

Tyrone Elementary School (Harper Woods School District)

Holt Junior High School (Holt Public Schools)

Michigan Collegiate Middle/High School, Roseville

New Paradigm College Prep, Detroit

Parchment Middle School (Parchment School District)

Beech Elementary School (Redford Union Schools)

Grogan Elementary School (Southgate Community Schools)

Clarence Randall Elementary School (Taylor School District)

For more on the Michigan School Index, visit Michigan.gov, and search the data through MISchoolData.org.
Environment and water protection activist Seth Bernard, who lives in Kalkaska County, stands to speak against building data centers during a community meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Fife Lake. (Sheri McWhirter | MLive.com) Sheri McWhirter

A proposed data center development in Kalkaska County has been abandoned as the result of strong community opposition.

The story is one of five must-read stories from MLive not to miss this Friday.

No community support means no data center

Geologist Matt Rine, who was spearheading the project on behalf of Rocklocker LLC, acknowledged that the project would not proceed without local support.

We sought public input because we want to be partners with the community we live and work in. And we heard you, Rine said in a statement.

A contentious, standing-room-only meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, showed those speaking up in stark opposition of Rine building a data center on state land. Rine told attendees that he could pivot and pursue the data center on private land, but has since stated that public input has led to the decision to drop the idea entirely.

The full story, by reporter Sheri McWhirter, is available here.

Man acquitted in Whitmer kidnapping plot is now running for governor

William Null, one of the men arrested and later acquitted in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was photographed here on June 27, 2020 at a protest in Allendale, Michigan involving a statue of a Confederate Civil War soldier. Null has announced he is running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026. (MLive file photo)

A man acquitted of charges related to the kidnap plot of Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, is now running for governor as a Republican.

William Bill Null filed paperwork for his campaign on Nov. 18. Eric Molitor, his trial compatriot, is listed as the committees treasurer.

The two, along with Nulls twin brother, Michael, were found not guilty of all charges by an Antrim County judge in September 2023. The trio had been accused of conducting militia training and surveillance on Whitmers vacation home in 2020.

Null has claimed consistently that he was entrapped by the FBI during the investigation. In total, 14 individuals were arrested for the kidnap conspiracy. Nine were convicted on federal or state charges. Five, including Null, were acquitted.

The full story, by reporter Gus Burns, is available here.

Man on trial took videos of them dying or dead, prosecutor says

Deangelo Lonell Aubrey, 42, appeared for a virtual arraignment in Muskegon County District Court on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Aubrey was charged with two counts of open murder for the deaths of Shelenthia Willis and Sasha Spears for allegedly killing both woman on the same day. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

Deangelo Lonell Aubrey, 42, faces two counts of open murder for the deaths of Shelenthia Willis and Sasha Spears, who were killed hours apart.

The two women were found by police Monday, Nov. 17, in two separate locations in Muskegon Heights. Spears was discovered injured and died on the scene, while Willis was found dead later that night in a vehicle

Aubrey was arrested on Nov. 18, while allegedly attempting to flee to Chicago.

Prosecutors have referred to the killings as brutal and presented videos allegedly recorded by Aubrey showing the women either dying or dead as part of their case to successfully have him denied bail.

The full story, by reporter Bradley Massman, is available here.

Successful after-school program is expanding

Students play at R1SE Education and Recreation, 9453 Kochville Road in Freeland, Mich., on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

R1SE, an after-school program founded in 2019 in Freeland, is expanding with a new facility opening in Frankenmuth, set to break ground soon.

When we opened R1SE in Freeland, it was only meant to be one facility for the surrounding communities; and we thought we were onto something exciting and kind of neat, said Trevor Szafranski, the programs founder.

The program already has expanded to Midland. And while Frankenmuth is next, theres another already in planning stages, he said.

The full story, by reporter Justin Engel, is available here.

Organist at Michigan Theatre leaves behind legacy

The late Andrew Rogers poses with the original Barton organ at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Andrew Rogers, a beloved organist at Ann Arbors Michigan Theater, passed away last week at 74 from a heart issue.

Rogers contributed nearly two decades of music to the venue.

Known for his joyful personality, dad jokes and interactions with moviegoers, Rogers was instrumental in enhancing the audiences experience, especially during silent film screenings.

Rogers was born in Detroit in 1951 and showcased musical talent from a young age, eventually learning to play the organ under the guidance of James Miller.

The full story, by reporter William Diep, is available here.
Pras, left, Lauryn Hill, center, and Wyclef Jean, right, perform as the Fugees reunite for a show Oct. 17, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media

A member of one of the most beloved and influential hip hop groups of all time has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. On Thursday, Prakazrel Pras Michel, 52, was sentenced in a Washington D.C. federal court more than two years after he was convicted on multiple felony counts, according to the Associated Press.

The charges were related to claims that Michel illegally funneled millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign. A jury convicted Michel in April 2023, which included charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

Michel declined to address the court prior to his sentencing. His lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, called the sentence completely disproportionate to the offense and said his client plans to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Michel was accused of receiving $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Michel then directed the money to Obamas campaign through straw donors. A straw donor is someone used to conceal the true source of campaign contributions.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Michel also attempted to end a Justice Department investigation of Low, tampered with witnesses and committed perjury at trial.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence, arguing that Michel betrayed his country for money and lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes. Zeidenberg asked for a three-year sentence calling the potential life sentence an absurdly high punishment for the crimes committed.

Michel is one of the founding members of the Fugees, along with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. Despite only releasing two studio albums, the trio remains one of the most iconic groups in hip-hop history, having sold more than 22 million albums.

Their 1996 album The Score won Best Rap Album and Best R&B Performance by a duo or group at the 1997 Grammy Awards. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year, becoming just the second rap album ever nominated for the award.
An MLive file photo of a Five Below in Grandville, Michigan.

LANSING, MI  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sent a notice of intended action to Five Below, urging the retail chain to address repeated allegations of scanner overcharges and failing to clearly display item prices.

Nessel contends that Five Below has committed pricing violations under the Michigan Shopping Reform and Modernization Act and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act at nearly 20 Michigan stores on 30 separate occasions.

Since June 5, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued 30 non-compliance findings at Five Below stores, Nessel states.

Five Below previously stated it would conduct an internal pricing audit to confirm that all displayed prices align with sale prices and that they would retrain staff and instruct them to verify the prices of items in stores, the AG stated.

However, from Aug. 3 to Nov. 5, MDARD documented more than 18 instances where items labeled as $5 were allegedly charged $6 or $7 at the register, Nessel claims.

In October alone, overcharges were documented at eight different Five Below locations in the state, she said.

Shoppers should know the price they see on the shelf is what they will be charged, and repeated overcharging violations are unacceptable, Nessel said. I want to thank MDARD for their work in identifying these violations and urge consumers to remain vigilant against overcharges when they shop.

Five Below has until Dec. 15 to meet with Nessels office to explore an agreement for voluntary assurance of compliance, the attorney general stated.

Failure to do so may result in litigation and civil fines.

MDARDs weights and measures inspectors work every day to ensure Michiganders encounter fair and transparent pricing when theyre out shopping, said MDARD Director Tim Boring. This investigation and coordination with the attorney general is an example of that diligent commitment to consumers and a reminder to pay attention to pricing when you get to the register.

To file a complaint with the Attorney General or get additional information one can call 517-241-3771 or fill out an online complaint form.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly and five other Democratic U.S. House and Senate members appear in a now-viral video, released Nov. 18, asking U.S. military members to "refuse illegal orders." Slotkin is pictured on Sept. 5, speaking about her vision for the future of American national security at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool, File) (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool, File)

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, said she has 24/7 security after she took part in a video that prompted President Trump to described her and others as traitors.

Slotkin appeared Thursday, Nov. 20 on the MSNBC show All in with Chris Hayes and talked about the impact of Trumps social media postings that called the video seditious behavior, punishable by death!

Trump slammed Slotkin and the five other members of the House and Senate, all Democrats with U.S. miliary or intelligence backgrounds, for suggesting in the video that troops can refuse illegal orders.

Related: Michigan senators urging of troops to refuse unlawful orders punishable by DEATH, Trump says

Slotkin, a former CIA intelligence analyst, who did three tours in Iraq, and the other Democrats said they made the video, released Nov. 18, because of questions about troops possibly being deployed to American cities.

Trump then posted his thoughts on Truth Social a couple days later.

The other Democrats featured are Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain, and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger; Chris Deluzio, D-PA, a Navy veteran, Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA, an Air Force veteran, and Maggie Goodlander, D- New Hampshire, a former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since said Trump does not think Slotkin and the other Democrats should be executed.

She said he does think they should be held accountable.

That is a very, very dangerous message and it perhaps is punishable by law, Leavitt said during a press conference. Im not a lawyer, Ill leave that for the Department of Justice and Department of War to decide.

Slotkin has said she and other Democrats are simply stating the law, as written in the military code of justice, when it comes to U.S. military members.

While appearing on the MSNBC show, she answered a question about her security and talked about threats.

Slotkin said her office has been subject to hundreds if not thousands of calls, emails, texts and online postings.

She said the U.S. Capitol Police told her they would put her on 24/7 security. She said there was law enforcement in front of her house.

It changes everything, Slotkin said.

She said it wasnt unexpected that people would respond to Trumps posts.

We shouldnt be surprised when folks on the ground and going to follow suit and say even worse, she said. I think for all of us it has fundamentally changed our security situation.

Slotkin said Trumps posts will not alter her efforts to speak out against the president for decision by his administration she feels are wrong.
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA -- A group of schoolchildren and teachers were attacked by a grizzly bear Thursday while on a trail walk. According to the Associated Press, 11 people were injured in the attack, including two who suffered critical injuries.

The attack took place in Bella Coola, roughly 700 kilometers (435 miles) northwest of Vancouver. The Nuxalk Nation says the aggressive bear remained on the loose as of Thursday night.

Officers are armed. Remain indoors and off the highway, the First Nation said in a social media post.

Veronica Schooner, a parent of one of the children involved, said several people tried to stop the bear, but one male teacher endured the majority of the attack. That teacher was part of a group of victims that were airlifted from the scene.

Some of the students were hit with bear spray while the teachers fought off the bear.

Schooner says her 10-year-old son was so close to the bear during the attack that the child could feel the animals fur. While her son suffered a minor injury in the attack, Schooner says the boy is mostly concerned for his classmates.

He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends, Schooner said.

The Acwsalcta School, an independent school run by Nuxalk First Nation, said in a social media post that the school would be closed Friday.

Its hard to know what to say during this very difficult time. We are so grateful for our team and our students, the post said.
Hardly a day goes by without someone in the White House voicing Donald Trumps desire to open the door to an intervention in Mexico  either directly or through euphemisms like help or military assistance in the fight against organized crime.

On Thursday, it was Karoline Leavitts turn; the White House press secretary chose an unsettling ellipsis when asked how far the Trump administration is willing to go in Mexico. In response, she spoke of additional measures, while also recalling that it is a promise the president has made to the American people. A day earlier, another heavyweight  Stephen Miller, the influential White House deputy chief of staff  was more explicit, comparing the current campaign against drug trafficking, or narco-terrorism as it is called in Washington, to the offensive against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Trump himself said at the beginning of the week that he would be ok with launching strikes on Mexican soil  just as he has ordered in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the Republican magnate, as she does whenever rhetoric intensifies from the White House. Its not going to happen, said the Mexican president.

The latest escalation has been fueled by various voices in the MAGA universe. Several of its spokespeople, from Steve Bannon to Alex Jones, seized on last Saturdays protests in Mexico against the government to insist on a hard-line approach across the border. In fact, these Trumpist commentators are promoting some of the most repeated slogans during the march, such as the argument that Mexico is run by a narco-government. The Mexican administration denounced that behind the supposedly spontaneous, youth-led protests were international far-right organizations.

Trumps campaign against drug trafficking  focused heavily on three countries that are not exactly allies in the region: Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela  has had a legal framework since the beginning of this year. In January, a decree designated a handful of criminal groups, including six Mexican cartels, as terrorist organizations. On paper, the measure opened the door to military interventions in the territory of third countries.

So far this year, the White House has already sunk more than 20 supposed narco-boats in the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in at least 80 extrajudicial executions. Against that backdrop, Leavitts remarks on Thursday about Mexico and the additional measures the president is considering took on added significance.

The White House press secretary began, as usual, by complimenting the Sheinbaum administration. They have been incredibly cooperative with the presidents efforts at our southern border to crack down on illegal immigration, she said, before going on the attack: Now the president is very interested in taking additional measures against the drug cartels. Hes been very clear about that. Hes spoken about it. And this is a promise he made to the American public. His national security team is discussing these options.

A similar argument was made by Miller, one of the voices that routinely describes Mexico as a state run by criminal cartels. He said: The whole physical boundary of our southern border on the Mexican side is controlled by these narco-terrorist organizations. Everything that happens there, they decide, they control. Theres no more essential issue of national security than the dismantlement of these organizations.

He further suggested that just as the U.S. used military and lethal force to go after Al-Qaeda and to go after ISIS, the same approach could be used against the cartels in this hemisphere, which he claimed control territory, control armies, and control political outcomes by assassinating politicians at will to control entire governments.

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HOUGHTON, MI  A young red-tailed hawk soared back into the wilderness of Michigans Upper Peninsula this week.

It had been one month since Michigan State Police troopers rescued the injured raptor. Those same troopers were on hand for the release on Thursday.

Video shared by MSP shows that one of them donned the animal handling gloves and set the recovered hawk free. In the video, a trooper can be seen standing at the edge of a field holding the hawk in two hands and then lifting his hand off the hawks back and wings. The hawk then spreads its wings and flies toward a wooded area.

On Oct. 15, troopers from the MSP Houghton Lake Post rescued the hawk, which was suffering from a severe concussion and a ruptured air sac, officials said. For more than a month, the bird was healing and regaining strength in the care of the Association to Rescue Kritters (A.R.K.).

The release happened at the exact spot where the troopers found the hawk, A.R.K. said on Facebook.

Yesterday, the same troopers who saved him were there to release him back into the wild, MSP Spl/Lt. Ashley Miller said. This resilient hawk is now ready to continue his journey through life.
HOWELL, MI  Impassioned residents packed Howell High Schools auditorium Thursday, Nov. 20 to urge local officials to reject a controversial proposal for a $1 billion hyperscale data center to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The data center project  reportedly backed by Facebook and Instagram owner Meta  is seeking to rezone more than 1,000 acres of mostly agricultural land in Howell Township to research and technology uses, on the condition that the land be used only for the data center.

The Howell Township Board of Trustees did not vote on whether to rezone the land at the meeting. That could come on Dec. 8.

But the board did vote to put a moratorium in place to pause for six months any consideration or approval of data centers. It will give them time to investigate what local regulations they might want to put in place that would govern data center proposals.

The moratorium will not stop the board from voting on whether to rezone the land eyed by Meta. They can still decide whether its appropriate to rezone the land for research and technology uses without giving the data center their final approval.

If the township board decides to approve rezoning that land, no site plans can be approved for the data center itself until the moratorium expires or is lifted.

Resident Cory Alchin, a vocal opponent of the data center, urged the board to reject the rezoning request.

No is the only answer, Alchin said.

If they vote yes, we will enact a referendum, which would allow voters to decide on the rezoning, he said. We need 900 signatures in Howell Township, to get it on a future township ballot.

Some people who spoke during public comments urged the township board to put the rezoning on a future ballot to let residents decide.

I dont like the idea of where they are trying to put it and how it will impact generations to come, Trisha Jordan, who lives about a mile from the proposed data center site, said.

Industrial zones that already exist would be better sites for data centers than farmland, Jordan said.

There is no transparency, and its just being bulldozed and rammed down our throats, she said.

Resident Joy Dettling urged the board to listen to what residents want.

The community is together on this issue," Dettling said. The community doesnt want this. We will do whatever we can to keep this out of here.

Residents opposed to the data center shared concerns about transparency, asked board members if they had signed non-disclosure agreements, and decried tech billionaires coming into their rural community.

Many are worried about potential impacts to the environment, groundwater and electricity rates.

Many are against locating a data center on rural farmland instead of on industrial land in Michigan in need of redevelopment.

Community members gather during a township meeting at Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center, located at 1200 W. Grand River Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Abra Richardson

The rezoning was requested by developer Randee LLC through its consulting firm Stantec Consulting Michigan.

While the developers have not publicly identified Meta, township Trustee Bob Wilson confirmed Thursday morning that Meta is backing the project.

The development team and property owner Ryan Van Gilder, whose farming family owns most of the land, will only say it is a U.S.-founded and based Fortune 100 technology company.

The developers have promised the data center would generate tax revenue and jobs and there would be opportunities to fund schools, infrastructure projects and community services.

But township and county planners have pushed back. The township planning commission voted in September to recommend the township board deny the rezoning. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the Livingston County Planning Commission also voted to recommend denial. The commissions found the rezoning is not consistent with the townships master plan and vision for preserving agricultural land. They also rejected adding a definition for data processing centers to the local zoning ordinance.

The land in question is located north and south of Grand River Avenue. It is south of Marr Road and north of Warner Road, and east of Owosso Road and west of Fleming Road. The properties are currently zoned for agricultural, single-family residential, and neighborhood service commercial uses. The firm is also eyeing adjacent land in neighboring Handy Township.

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In an MLive file photo, Livingston County GOP chair Deb Drick compiles residents' concerns and questions regarding a proposed hyperscale data center proposed in Howell Township at a community town hall inside the Howell High School auditorium, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Jen Eberbach/MLive

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI - Sometimes one news topic dominates our newsroom for a year. In 2020, it was COVID-19. In 2023, it was affordability in Ann Arbor.

Next year is pointing to be the year of data centers.

On Thursday, our government reporter Jen Eberbach broke the latest news that Meta is the confirmed tech giant behind the $1 billion data center project in Howell Township.

Read more: Meta behind $1B data center project near Howell, trustee confirms

This comes two weeks after OpenAI and Oracle were announced as the backers of the $7 billion data center project in Saline Township.

Eberbach, as well as reporters Jordyn Pair, Jackie Smith and Nathan Clark, have all chipped in on data center coverage the last two weeks. The developments span newly announced projects, residents organizing future opposition and townships preparing new zoning laws.

Just to catch you up, here are all the other data center stories MLive/The Ann Arbor News have done in just the last two weeks:

Our statewide MLive organization is also all over data centers, as Fife Lake residents in northern Michigan got into heated discussions with developers over a project up there.

Im sharing all these stories with you for one reason: MLive/The Ann Arbor News is a trusted source for information on data centers. Eberbach was the first to report Metas involvement in Howell Township, and the rest of the team is flexing all over the region to cover this now dominant topic.

With that said, we covered more than just data centers this week.

Business reporter William Diep spoke with the friends and colleagues of the late Michigan Theater organist Andrew Rogers. Many recalled interacting with him after film screenings, and colleagues also noted his smile, kind personality and dad humor.

It is a huge loss, not only of his talent, but of his personality and soul, Russ Collins, former executive director and chief executive officer at Marquee Arts, said of Rogers.

Rogers, 74, died Nov. 13 from a heart issue at his home in Fenton. A memorial concert for his life is planned for Dec. 4, with more details to come.

In other sad news, police are investigating the sudden death of Ann Arbor developer Margaret Poscher. The 67-year-old was discovered dead in her home Oct. 10, said Chris Page, Ann Arbor police spokesperson. No foul play is suspected.

In lighter news, readers flocked to news that actor Jeff Daniels is one big name behind the upcoming Chelsea restaurant JDs Stage Bistro. It will seat 100 and feature a wood-fired pizza oven, cocktail bar, patio and private event spaces.

Smith also had a well-read update on the Greenhills Schools expansion with Summers-Knoll.

Lastly, keep an eye out on Saturday for a house moving through Ann Arbor streets. The University of Michigan will relocate the house of World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg from 308 E. Madison St. to Central Campus.

Ryan Stanton writes:

Wallenberg, who came from a prominent Swedish family likened to the Rockefellers, studied architecture at UM and graduated with honors in 1935. He went on to become a Swedish diplomat of sorts and famously helped save tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during World War II, risking his life going into Hungary and creating diplomatic passes and safe houses where Jewish people could live under Swedens protection.

The modest home, where Wallenberg first lived as a UM freshman in 1931, was one of few spared from recent demolition for the UM dorm project.

Theres a victory for historical preservation.
Some people opposed to a proposal for a computer data center in Saline Township brought protest signs to a board meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Neighboring Pittsfield Township is mulling over an ordinance regulating data centers. Jen Eberbach/MLive

PITTSFIELD TWP., MI  It could be a couple months before officials in one township south of Ann Arbor return to discussions over how theyd regulate data centers at a public meeting.

The reason? They pressed pause on allowing data center developments while they mull over an already-drafted ordinance addressing them.

I dont have an exact date, but sometime in January or February, said Ben Carlisle, planner for Pittsfield Township. I dont think theres going to be significant changes. I think theres going to be opportunities for refinement and inclusion of additional provisions that the township would like to consider.

The Pittsfield Board of Trustees green-lit a six-month moratorium in the afternoon Thursday, Nov. 20, hours before planning commissioners were originally slated to host a public hearing on the ordinance. The hearing itself was canceled six days prior.

After the Planning Commissions meeting Thursday night, Carlisle said he expected to bring the data center ordinance back to commissioners in early 2026.

Officials previously said they have not received any major inquiries or project applications related to data centers.

Still, during the meeting Thursday, Carlisle reiterated a point emphasized by township board members earlier in the day  that the moratorium and cautious approach to the ordinance was to protect residents, particularly as data center controversies erupt across Michigan and the U.S., including in neighboring communities in Washtenaw County.

Were really trying to get a head of this, he said, and were going to be proactive.

Planning Commission Chairperson Matthew Payne said he has seen the townships draft data center ordinance and planned to pass a few nitpicking notes back to Carlisle.

Although he couldnt get too in-depth over its contents, he said hes done some research on what regulations other communities have adopted, adding Pittsfields draft was as good as if not better than most.

This is a problem thats being addressed across the country, and people are really up in arms in about this, Payne said.  Were definitely on the right track.

Data centers are needed to power artificial intelligence operators and cloud computing. While theres been a wave of large-scale, warehouse-like developments, including in Saline and Howell townships, local ordinances regulating data centers typically break those rules up by size.

In addition to zoning rules  as in where and within what constraints a project can be sited  Payne said there is a broad range of other issues theyre considering.

Energy use, how its planned out, what happens if it has to be decommissioned, he said. Were essentially looking at pretty much everything.

Pittsfield planning commissioners meet at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month.
Residents stand in opposition to Related Digital's proposal to rezone land in Saline Township for a computer data center, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Jen Eberbach/MLive

SALINE TWP., MI - For some, its light pollution. For others, its a poor use of farmland. For still others, its the fast-tracked political process.

On one thing, though, they all agreed: the data center must go.

A data center, especially one this large, is uniquely evil, said Josh LeBaron, one of a handful of people heading up a larger group to oppose the data center in Saline Township backed by tech giants OpenAI and Oracle.

Roughly 45 people from multiple south Washtenaw County townships met in a Saline Township barn Thursday evening, Nov. 20 to strategize the oppositions path forward.

The 2.2-million-square-foot center, set to be situated on 575 acres and developed by Related Companies, has drawn ire from residents of the small agricultural community and surrounding areas.

I think its an uphill trudge, right? said Jeff Rechten, one of the main residents who spoke Thursday. But I think that theres still a path to trudge on.

Rechten pointed to possible legal solutions, such as hiring their own legal team, but noted its difficult to pursue that route without financial backing.

Read more: As AI arms race and data centers hit Michigan, rural farm town feels left in the dust

LeBaron underscored the project would still need sign off from the Michigan Public Service Commission. DTE, which is regulated by the commission, anticipates spending nearly $500 million in upgrades and new builds for the project, costs which residents worry will be spread among its customers.

Industry boosters brush aside those concerns, pointing to assurances from DTE Energy that the projects big costs wont increase utility bills, design choices that minimize water usage and a substantial influx in tax revenue and jobs from the more than $7 billion investment.

A commission hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 on approval of the special contracts. That hearing has created a time crunch for opposition.

Were never going to out-strategize them because we have too many people in too many places, said Tammie Bruneau, a Saline Township resident and one of the group leaders. The way that we, as a small township and that communities around us, are going to fight this is to stall them.

The group also wants to focus on what they called corruption and conflicts of interest in the process, including the companys ties to government officials.

Ryan Friedrichs, the husband to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, is the vice president of development at Related Companies, according to his LinkedIn bio. A murmur through the crowd could be heard when LeBaron shared that information.

For LeBaron, the important thing right now is to stay on message  together.

Probably every person in this room has a different reason to oppose a data center, he told the group. None of us are going to be exactly the same.

Kathryn Haushalters property shares a border with the land slated for the data center. At night, she can see the light from her property line. The night of the meeting, she could see the swing set in her backyard because of the lights.

Its going to crush us financially, environmentally, Haushalter told MLive/The Ann Arbor News. Were all vehemently opposed to it, and it wasnt listened to. This just is not right.

Haushalter is particularly concerned about the environmental impact of the center, including to her well water and bird migratory patterns.

They dont own my well, but its probably going to affect it. They dont own the air that I breathe, but theyll probably pollute it, Haushalter said. Wheres the recourse for that? Whos going to enforce that?

Related Digital previously pledged to use a closed loop system that it says will require less water than a standard office building and much less than if the property were farmed, though it did not provide exact figures.

Other demand, like from restrooms and landscaping, will be nominal and served by on-site wells, a Related Companies spokesperson previously told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

Some environmental advocates still say the plan fails to account for water used at power plants, like those that burn coal and natural gas. That will inevitably be called upon to meet the data centers massive demand, advocates previously told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

Other Saline Township residents cited a misuse of farmland, concerns about the water table and other environmental anxieties as reasons to oppose the center.

We need to not worry about our differences on that and just stay united on message, LeBaron said. No data center in Saline Township.

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Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss of District 5 at the Ottawa County Administration Building in West Olive on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Newly released minutes of a 2023 Ottawa County Board closed session show a $4 million settlement to force the departure of the countys health officer was on the table.

The minutes were released Thursday, Nov. 20 as part of a legal settlement with the Holland Sentinel.

The Nov. 6 meeting became a point of controversy for former board Chair Joe Moss, who in February 2024 described the proposed $4 million settlement as a false narrative from the media.

A large-sum settlement with county Health Officer Adeline Hambley never came to fruition and she remains the countys health officer today.

In 2023, several commissioners tied to the highly conservative Ottawa Impact political platform wanted Hambley removed over her ties to COVID rules and regulations that happened in 2020 and later.

They tried to fire her, but she filed a lawsuit and blocked the move.

In November, commissioners secretly began working on a settlement.

In the Nov. 6 closed session, the minutes reflect that Hambley would accept $4 million to ensure her departure.

Moss talked about the deal, the minutes show.

Chairperson Moss said he would rather do a flat $4 million with no severance or benefits, the minutes show.

The day ended with commissioners coming back into open session and voting 7-3 to accept Counsels recommendation regarding litigation and settlement activities in the case of Hambley v. Ottawa County as addressed during closed session.

Some commissioners said they believed they were voting on the $4 million settlement. Moss said it was simply to continue negotiations.

Hambley and her attorney also thought they had a deal.

A legal dispute ensued and a judge in 2024 ruled that a general agreement between the parties had been reached, but she could not enforce it because Moss Nov. 6 motion in open session was too ambiguous.

Critics of Moss claimed that, after rumors of the $4 million deal surfaced following Nov. 6, he tried to distance himself from it.

In a text message to MLive on Thursday, Moss wrote that the consensus of the Nov. 6, 2023 meeting was to begin drafting documents and continue the negotiation process a week later. The meeting minutes reflect a moment in time during the process.

He went on to write that there were never six or more votes to accept any of the terms discussed that day.

He said the priority of the board majority was to protect the kids of Ottawa County.
Bike Park, located at 580 Kirkland St. SW in Plaster Creek Family Park, is a 16-acre community park with a pump track, skills loop and an intermediate trail through the woods. Melissa Frick

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Grand Rapids has received a $300,000 state grant that will help fund improvements to its mountain bike park.

The grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was accepted by the Grand Rapids City Commission Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The project will include new mountain bike trail components and site amenities, a new shelter/patio space, and paving the parks parking lot. The project is estimated to cost $605,000, with the citys parks capital fund will cover the remaining $305,000 after the state grant.

The goal is for construction to start in the spring of 2027, with the project completed that fall, said project manager Karie Enriquez.

Bike Park, located at 580 Kirkland St. SW in Plaster Creek Family Park, is a 16-acre community park with a pump track, skills loop and an intermediate trail through the woods.

The parks courses run through a continuous loop with small rolling hills, banked turns and jumps that help cyclists build momentum while pumping the bike.

Enriquez said $105,000 in project funds will be set aside just for improvements to the mountain bike trail and pump track. The city plans to conduct community outreach to figure out what improvements park users would like to see to those amenities, whether thats new features or upgrades to existing features.

Improvements at Bike Park and new mountain bike trails were identified as one of the citys goals for improved outdoor fitness opportunities under its 2022 Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation strategic master plan.

The city held a public hearing on the project in 2024. The project has been supported by the West Michigan Mountain Bike Association, Rebel Bike Shop, Disability Advocates of Kent County and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.
Data shows teachers in their 20s and over 50 growing in numbers while mid-career educators decline across Kent and Ottawa county school districts. Pictured is Kentwood teacher Rachel Renaud with her first graders at Discovery Elementary on August 19, 2024. (Neil Blake | MLive.com) Neil Blake | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Workforce retention data tracked by the state shows that Michigans public schools may be increasingly relying on teachers at both ends of the age spectrum.

Many districts in Kent and Ottawa counties also follow the states trend.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) released updated 2024-25 retention numbers at the end of October for school workers, like teachers, administrators and support staff.

The number of teachers in the state has increased in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, from roughly 79,708 teachers in 2020-21 to 82,014 last year. An MLive review of the data found much of that increase was among educators in their 20s and over age 50.

Experts say the data lines up with the number of new teachers who leave the industry after a few years, creating an additional challenge at hiring and retaining teachers during a state teacher shortage.

The percentage of teachers mid-career with a decade or two in education under their belt has decreased, with those in their 30s going from 26% to 22.6% over five years and those in their 40s going from 34.2% to 33.2% in that same period.

Meanwhile, educators in their 50s made up 22.9% of all teachers in 2020-21 and 25% in 2024-25. Those in their 60s went from 4.4% to 5% and teachers over 70 from 0.2% to half a percent.

The number of teachers in their 20s increased by 1.4 percentage points from 12.2% to 13.6% in that five-year period.

Below is a searchable table of Michigan school districts and their percentage of teachers by age group.

Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), the largest district in Kent County and the region is enrolling 13,692 students as of the 2024-25 school year, largely followed the state trend.

The number of teachers in their 20s increased from 20.3% in 2020-21 to 24.9% in 2024-25.

The percentage of teachers aged 30-39 dropped slightly, from 22.9 to 22.5%. So did the percentage of teachers aged 40-49, down from 27.8% to 23.6%.

Teachers aged 50-59 made up a slightly larger portion of the GRPS workforce, from 22 to 23%. Teachers over 70 made up just 0.2% of the workforce in 2020-21, and inched up to 0.4% in 2024-25.

The only subgroup that didnt mimic the states overall trend was the percentage of GRPS teachers aged 60-69, which declined from 6.8 to 5.6%.

The district is one of several in Michigan that was mentioned in a January 2025 report by EdTrust Midwest that found a statewide teacher shortage is disproportionately affecting students in high-poverty and majority-Black school districts.

The report found that teacher experience levels are directly correlated to student achievement, and inexperienced teachers are more likely to struggle with classroom management skills, unfamiliarity with curriculum and a lack of rapport with students.

In Kent County, there were more than 230 vacant classroom positions during the 2023-24 school year, and long-term substitutes were used to cover roughly 12,000 days of vacancies. Thats according to data from the Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA).

The GREA is calling for higher teacher pay during collective bargaining to help retain more older, experienced teachers. The district is seeking to address the issue with programs like the MSU Grand Rapids Community Teachers initiative, which will pay for GRPS graduates degrees and then offer them full-time teaching jobs.

Other Kent County school districts that largely followed the same growth and decline trends as the state included East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills, Godfrey-Lee and Northview Public Schools.

Several districts, like Kentwood Public Schools, were outliers.

Kentwood had 16.1% of its teachers aged 50-59 five years ago, compared to 14.8% last year.

Byron Center Public Schools had a decrease in the percentage of teachers aged 20-29, from 17.6 to 17.3%.

In Ottawa County, the largest public school district - Hudsonville Public Schools - also saw an increase in young teachers, from 16.4% in 2020-21 to 24.6% in 2024-25.

The percentage of teachers aged 30-39 decreased from 23.9 to 19.9%, and teachers aged 40-49 dropped from 39.6% to 35.4%.

But the percentage of teachers aged 50-59 also dropped in Hudsonville, from 18.6% to 17.8%. The districts lone teacher over 70 in 2020-21 has also since retired, bringing that number from 0.2% of the districts workforce to 0%.

Those aged 60-69 followed state trends, however, bumping up from 1.3% of the workforce in 2020-21 to 2.2% in 2024-25.

Other Ottawa County schools that largely followed the same growth and decline as state trends included Allendale Public Schools and Grand Haven Area Public Schools.

At the same time, Holland Public Schools had an increase in the percentage of teachers aged 30-39, from 15.9 to 17.9%. Teachers aged 50-59 decreased from 35.8 to 30.3%.

For more of the data or other state school-related numbers, visit MISchoolData.org.
A 23-year-old Grand Rapids man is charged with three felonies for allegedly breaking into an Olive Township home and attacking the homeowner and killing the homeowner's dog. John Tunison

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A man asked for water at an Olive Township homes back door before slashing the homeowner and fatally wounding the family dog.

Details of the Nov. 18 attack at a home in the 11800 block of New Holland Street are contained in court documents obtained by MLive.

Paul (homeowner) described seeing a male at his back slider door and when he made contact with him, he asked for water and then forced his way into the residence by slashing at Paul with an unknown sharp object, an Ottawa County Sheriffs deputy told a judge to get charges authorized.

The documents show the 68-year-old homeowner, who uses oxygen, attempted to retreat and arm himself but was hampered by the oxygen attachment.

In that instance, the family dog -- named Chief -- came to the homeowners aid and engaged the attacker, allowing the homeowner to get to a bedroom.

The attacker began to cut and slash at Chief, the deputy testified.

The attacker, since identified by police as 23-year-old Jason Varnado of Grand Rapids, fled the house.

Deputies quickly responded to the homeowners 911 call and the dog was taken to an emergency vet clinic, but did not survive.

Deputies set up a perimeter and a tracking dog found discarded clothes. Soon after, a man was arrested who matched a description given by the homeowner.

The court documents show Varnado later told police he was in the area and went into a nearby barn. He said he was walking to a pizza place.

Police found no information the attacker or homeowner knew each other.

Varnado is charged with home invasion, felonious assault and third-degree killing or torturing an animal.

A judge set a $250,000 bond for Varnado at his arraignment on Thursday in Grand Haven District Court.
KENT COUNTY, MI - Hundreds of Girl Scouts experienced the states first DreamLab on Thursday, Nov. 20, serving as a hub for creativity, exploration and sisterhood.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore (GSMISTS) cut the ribbon on the new DreamLab at 3782 29th St. SE in Kentwood. It marks the ninth location in the nation.

The Girl Scout experience inspires girls to discover and pursue what excites them, and the Girl Scout DreamLab provides a dedicated space to support that journey, said Vivian TerMaat, CEO of Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. Here, girls can immerse themselves in new interestswhether its learning to speak up for themselves by recording a podcast, building a robot, or mastering their first camping knot."

She told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press the new location has been three years in the works, ultimately choosing the Kentwood area because of its diverse community.

The new DreamLab of Grand Rapids is part of a growing national network of Girl Scout DreamLabs launched by Girl Scouts of the USA.

While official programming doesnt begin until January, the public is invited to tour the space now to experience it firsthand and learn about upcoming opportunities.

To register, the dues are $45 per year. Even if a Girl Scout lives in West Michigan or Metro Detroit, its the same fee. A girl must be at least 5 years old and in kindergarten to register. The program is available to girls through 12th grade.

We want us to be an accessible place for so many people, TerMaat said. Its more than a building, its a safe place where dreams take shape and confidence soars.

Since the founding of the Girl Scout Movement more than a century ago, a small circle of girls has grown to include nearly 2 million members and over 50 million alums.

For Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, its a high-capacity council comprised of over 30 counties.

The new $1.6 million Grand Rapids DreamLab received its funding through several local partners, like Meijer and the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation.

Standing at 8,000 square feet, the space includes the following features:

A media studio for podcast recording, interviews and digital storytelling.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) innovation zone for science, technology, engineering, art and math activities.

Freedom Climber rock wall to build teamwork, resilience and confidence.

Knot-tying and outdoor skills area for practicing practical outdoor techniques.

A faux campfire zone where girls can safely learn about outdoor life before embarking on a wilderness adventure.

A Girl Scout shop with exclusive gear, badges and merchandise.

Council-led and community partner activities that offer real-world knowledge and skills.

Shelly Tansley, director of marketing and communications for Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, said the regional footprint includes 7,000 members and around 5,800 active Girl Scouts.

We officially have a space where girls can come and do their programming, whereas before, we didnt, Tansley told MLive. We hope the impact has ripple effects throughout the state, not just in Northwest Michigan. This is a space to try something new. Its okay to fail because failing is learning, and thats something that I dont think a lot of us were taught growing up.
Corewell Health's new grant-funded trauma center in West Michigan provides comprehensive mental health services with specialists who understand the hidden impacts of trauma. (Brian McVicar|MLive.com) Brian McVicar|MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Violent crime survivors can now receive free psychiatric and mental health services at Corewell Healths new trauma recovery center.

The recovery center, located at Corewells community medicine clinic at 75 Sheldon Blvd. SE, will offer therapy, case management and psychiatric medication services to adults suffering from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Subodh Jain, vice president and department chair for behavioral health at Corewell, said every survivor of violence deserves a chance to heal.

This center ensures they dont have to face trauma alone, he said. Our multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and addiction specialists, all working together to restore hope and stability.

The center, the first of its kind in West Michigan, was made possible through a $1.6 million grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Jain said.

Violent crime survivors often show up at emergency rooms to be treated for their physical injuries. However, the wait for behavioral health care to address the trauma they suffered can be significant, he said.

The goal of the new center is to provide faster access to that care.

The importance is getting patients to heal faster, Jain said. The occurrence of trauma can actually predispose them to additional illnesses.

The clinic has been ramping up over the past couple weeks after renovations to the space were completed six weeks ago.

The goal of the renovations was to provide a safe, welcoming space for patients, he said. With one psychiatrist, one psychologist, and three psychotherapists who specialize in treating trauma, the center aims to provide the full scope of care patients need to recover, Jain said.

Many times, trauma can be hidden, and this is a place where they can actually get it addressed before it becomes worse, he said.

The $1.6 million grant is expected to last for three years, said Jain, who noted that Corewell is seeking another $2 million grant for the center.

At Corewell Health, we would hope to support this in perpetuity because this is a need for the community, he said.
Samuel Kuhl, 33, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kuhl was found guilty of sexually exploiting a minor child for 18 months, beginning when she was 14. (MLive file photo)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A 33-year-old Kalamazoo man will spend the next 35 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation and coercion and enticement of a minor.

Samuel Alexander Kuhl was sentenced Wednesday, Nov. 19, by U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering, for engaging in an illegal sexual relationship with a child for a period of 18 months, beginning when the girl was just 14.

During the sentencing, Beckering noted that Kuhls conduct reflects a pattern of angry, defiant, vindictive behavior and an overall disregard for the rule of law.

Kuhl first contacted the victim via Facebook, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said. Over the next 18 months, he abused the victim physically, emotionally and psychologically, the federal prosecutor said.

During his time with the girl, Kuhl repeatedly tried to engage the victim in group sexual activity, VerHey said. When she refused, he threatened her and her family with a gun. Kuhl also convinced the victim to provide him with child pornography

In June, a jury convicted him of sexual exploitation of a minor, as well as coercion and enticement and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

Sam Kuhl devoted his adult life to crime, and part of his criminal lifestyle included tracking down adolescent girls to sexually exploit, VerHey said. My office will never tolerate child exploitation and when it happens, we will bring the people involved to justice. Kuhl earned the sentence he received yesterday.

The case was brought forward as part of Project Safe Childhood  a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

It was investigated by the FBI, Wyoming Police Department, Indiana State Police, Michigan State Police and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

Heinous and predatory acts against any child deserve severe punishment and serious consequences, said Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBIs Detroit field office.

Runyan thanked the tireless work of all involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page.
Amir Sincere Petty, 26, appeared for sentencing in Muskegon County Circuit Court on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Petty was sentenced to life without parole for the shooting death of 24-year-old Jamarr Burse in 2022. Petty was found guilty of first-degree murder among other charges. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

MUSKEGON, MI  A 26-year-old man was all smiles as he was escorted out of the courtroom moments after he was sentenced to life without parole for murder.

The punishment leveled against Amir Sincere Petty was inevitable after a Muskegon County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of 24-year-old Jamarr Burse.

Petty appeared unfazed by the sentence imposed on Thursday, Nov. 20, following an emotional victim impact statement from Burses sister.

Petty offered no apology or explanation behind the shooting during his time to speak.

Petty shot and killed Burse on Dec. 29, 2022, in an ambush-style shooting in Norton Shores. Police found Burse dead in a vehicle near Continental Street and East Columbia Avenue.

A jury found Petty guilty as charged at trial in October following three days of testimony.

Ieshia Burse reads a victim impact statement in Muskegon County Circuit Court during the sentencing of Amir Sincere Petty on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Petty was sentenced to life without parole for the shooting death of 24-year-old Jamarr Burse. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

Family and loved ones of Burse packed into Muskegon County Circuit Judge Annette Smedleys courtroom for sentencing on Thursday.

Ieshia Burse said her brother was one of the happiest people she knew. The grieving sister vividly remembers the call she received that her brother was shot. It was the worst day of her life, she said.

My heart immediately shattered, Ieshia Burse said. My body went numb. My stomach dropped to the ground  I felt like I could not breathe.

The only thing I could think of was, Jamarr, Im coming, she added. Please, please, please Lord wrap your arms around my brother until I get there.

She expressed no sympathy for Petty for killing her brother.

To Amir Petty, my brother was one of a kind, Ieshia Burse said. He was, and still is, that guy you could never be. You can never be like him on your best day.

Petty was also sentenced to a term of years for single counts of felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of felony firearm.
Meth, ecstacy, and psychedelic mushrooms seized by the BAYANET during a Sept. 18, 2025, search of a suspected drug house in Bay City. Cole Waterman

BAY CITY, MI  A Bay City man has been federally charged with trafficking copious quantities of illicit drugs two months after law enforcement seized stashes valued in the six figures.

A federal grand jury on Nov. 12 indicted 27-year-old Sawyer M. Wackerle on a charge of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. A conviction of the charges carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence that can be extended up to life. The felony is also punishable by a fine of up to $10 million.

Wackerle had his initial appearance before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris on Thursday, Nov. 20. Wackerle only spoke to answer the judges yes-or-no questions. He consented to be held in custody pending trial.

The charge stems from the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (BAYANET) on the night of Sept. 18 serving a search warrant a residence in the 900 block of 16th Street in Bay Citys South End. BAYANET personnel had been surveilling the house earlier in the day and pulled over a vehicle as it left.

They seized narcotics from the vehicle and subsequently obtained a warrant for the house.

Officers arrested Wackerle and found 16.3 kilograms of methamphetamine pills, 2.97 kilos of MDMA/ecstasy, and 2 kilos of psilocybin mushrooms, they report. The seizure has an estimated street value of $750,000, they said.

Wackerle was free on bond at the time, as he had been charged earlier in the year on the state level with carrying a concealed weapon after police allegedly caught him riding in a car with a stolen gun.

About 12:20 a.m. on July 28, police spotted a black Saturn Vue heading north on North Jefferson Street near McKinley Avenue. Officers pulled over the Vue on noticing its drivers side brake light wasnt functioning, reports state.

Riding in the vehicle as a passenger was Wackerle, his 38-year-old male cousin the driver. The older man did not have a license and indicated the car belonged to his aunt. Officers ran the mans name, determining his license was suspended and that he was wanted on seven warrants.

Wackerle appeared extremely nervous and was shaking, police wrote in their reports. They ran his name and found he was wanted on five outstanding warrants, their reports state. Police searched him and found a loaded revolver holstered in his waistband, reports state.

Officers arrested both men. They also later determined the revolver had been reported stolen to the Michigan State University Police Department in August 1978.

Police interviewed Wackerle in the jail. He claimed an acquaintance gifted him the gun about a week prior. He added it was the first real gun hed ever owned.

Wackerle was arraigned on the weapons charge the afternoon of July 28 and subsequently posted a $5,000 bond. The bond was revoked when he failed to appear for an Aug. 14 court matter.

Wackerles next court date on the federal case is pending.
A Central Michigan University College of Medicine building is seen in this file photo. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

SAGINAW, MI  A plan for Saginaw to host a new building for Central Michigan Universitys College of Medicine is continuing to take shape as college officials announced major developments in the initiative Friday, Nov. 21.

CMU officials announced the name of the planned expanded campus  Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University  along with two multimillion-dollar donations that led to the new title.

College officials also announced plans to build the site in a different location than previously announced, although the change will keep the academic college in Saginaw and within the medical diamond district along the citys riverside, near downtown.

CMU officials originally identified the site for the planned building on what now is a vacant riverside lot neighboring the AT&T building, 309 S. Washington in downtown Saginaw. But university officials said the site instead will reside adjacent to a Saginaw hospital belonging to MyMichigan Health, formerly Ascension St. Marys of Saginaw, less than a half-mile down the street from CMUs original planned site.

Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health  two health care systems with hospitals on opposite sides of the Saginaw River  pledged $40 million apiece toward the campus development, CMU officials said.

We are thrilled to announce this extraordinary collaboration that brings two of our states most respected health care systems together with our university to strengthen medical education, enhance the medical student experience, improve patient outcomes and expand healthcare access here in the Great Lakes Bay Region, CMU President Neil MacKinnon said in a statement.

This tremendous partnership will have a positive effect on lives and communities for generations to come.

Other changes to the original plan were announced during a Friday afternoon press conference.

Previously, CMU officials said the development would involve a $200 million fundraiser. That figure was lowered to $100 million during the Friday announcement of the colleges naming.

CMUs original $200 million goal was based on a previous building design and was set prior to completing a fundraising feasibility study, college officials said. Since then, CMU leaders decided to focus solely on the construction of a new medical education facility, which reduced the overall cost of the project.

Its unclear if Fridays announcements will impact other details of the medical college that were previously reported. In July 2024, CMU officials revealed plans to open a 100,000 square foot building in 2028. Building dimensions and an opening year were not included in Fridays announcement, although college officials maintained crews would break ground at the site next year, as originally reported.

Plans to expand the Mount Pleasant-based public universitys medical campus in Saginaw began years ago, gaining momentum as other health care-related organizations and elected leaders invested in what many have coined the medical diamond project in Saginaw.

The initiative involves growing the number of health care-related organizations in the city, particularly in the riverfront districts where facilities such as Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health hospitals attract patients and medical professionals alike from near and far.

The CMU College of Medicine already operates facilities in Saginaw that provide education for about 125 students in the final two years of their studies as physicians.

The planned expansion of the college in Saginaw would create a hub large enough to allow first- and second-year students to study there too. Presently, those younger students begin their education in medicine at CMUs Mount Pleasant facilities.

The expansion would mean about 400 CMU College of Medicine students in total would study in Saginaw when the planned new building opens in four years, CMU officials said in 2024.

Some key personnel have moved on since the medical college development plans gained momentum in recent years.

Dr. George Kikano, the dean of the CMU College of Medicine since 2015, resigned from the position in March 2025. His departure came the year after then-CMU President Robert O. Davies stepped down in January 2024. Both were in their administrative roles during critical stages of the medical colleges development.

CMU officials said, across mid-Michigan, many individuals and families face persistent and profound barriers to health care. Currently, 74 of Michigans 83 counties carry at least a partial designation as health professional shortage areas, college officials said.

The need for a strong, community-oriented medical education program and physician pipeline has never been greater, MacKinnon said in a statement.

The planned new building would serve as the central hub for the CMU College of Medicine.

The facility currently housing CMUs College of Medicine in Mount Pleasant would serve as the site for future expansions and developments in the universitys health care education programs, CMU officials have said.

The need to increase CMU College of Medicines Saginaw presence was driven in part by the program outgrowing the Mount Pleasant hub, CMU officials said. The facilities there were built to accommodate a yearly cohort the size of 60 students when the medicine college hosted its first classes in 2012.

The expansion in Saginaw also supports the universitys existing partnerships with health care-related organizations there, including the hospitals that help train and later employ the students, CMU officials said.

Plans for the expansion of operations in Saginaw date back more than a decade, gaining much of its momentum over the last three years.

The CMU Board of Trustees in early 2022 formed a Health Care Special Committee to examine the universitys contributions to health care across the state.

Later that year, the board OKd the committees recommendations to increase the capacity of CMUs health professions and medical education programs.

Then, in 2023, CMU leaders engaged in discussions with partners across the region to identify opportunities for growth, officials said. That effort led to talks with partners involved with the Saginaw medical diamond project, including staff and elected leaders with Saginaw City Hall, Saginaw County, Saginaw Future Inc. as well as Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.
DETROIT -- Longtime Detroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange, who was designated for assignment last week and then released on Tuesday, has quickly found a new home.

In fact, hes going home.

Lange, 30, agreed to a major-league contract with the Kansas City Royals, the team announced Thursday. Lange grew up and went to high school in suburban Kansas City before playing college ball at LSU.

The Tigers originally acquired Lange from the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 Nick Castellanos trade. Then a starter, he transitioned into a relief role and made his big-league debut with the Tigers in 2021. He became a bullpen fixture in 2022 and seized the closer role in 2023, maintaining nasty swing-and-miss stuff but with a slightly elevated walk rate.

The control issues worsened in 2024. Lange issued 17 walks in 18 2/3 innings, along with two hit batters and four wild pitches. The breaking point came on May 22 in Kansas City, when he allowed four runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit batter in a disastrous seventh inning. Shortly after being demoted to Triple-A Toledo, he suffered an injury that he described as feeling the tendon snap off the bone.

Lange worked his way back, was reinstated from the injured list in August and struck out 32 in 25 1/3 innings in the minor leagues in 2025, but he pitched only one inning in Detroit. Even as the Tigers faced bullpen questions down the stretch, he stayed in Triple-A, an indication his future in the organization was likely nearing an end.

The Tigers are expected to focus heavily on the bullpen this winter. Only three relievers -- right-hander Will Vest and lefties Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter -- appear to have safe spots in the 2026 bullpen.
Six weeks ago, Qualcomm acquired Arduino. The maker community immediately worried that Qualcomm would kill the open-source ethos that made Arduino the lingua franca of hobby electronics.

This week, Arduino published updated terms and conditions and a new privacy policy, clearly rewritten by Qualcomms lawyers. The changes confirm the communitys worst fears: Arduino is no longer an open commons. Its becoming just another corporate platform.

Heres whats at stake, what Qualcomm got wrong, and what might still be salvaged, drawing from community discussions across maker forums and sites.

What changed?

The new terms read like standard corporate boilerplate: mandatory arbitration, data integration with Qualcomms global ecosystem, export controls, AI use restrictions. For any other SaaS platform, this would be unremarkable.

But Arduino isnt SaaS. Its the foundation of the maker ecosystem.

The most dangerous change is Arduino now explicitly states that using their platform grants you no patent licenses whatsoever. You cant even argue one is implied.

This means Qualcomm could potentially assert patents against your projects if you built them using Arduino tools, Arduino examples, or Arduino-compatible hardware.

And heres the disconnect, baffling makers. Arduinos IDE is licensed under AGPL. Their CLI is GPL v3. Both licenses explicitly require that you can reverse engineer the software. But the new Qualcomm terms explicitly forbid reverse engineering the Platform.

Whats really going on?

The community is trying to figure out what is Qualcomms actual intent. Are these terms just bad lawyering with SaaS lawyers applying their standard template to cloud services, not realizing Arduino is different? Or is Qualcomm testing how much they can get away with before the community revolts? Or is this a first step toward locking down the ecosystem they just bought?

Some people point out that the Platform might only mean Arduinos cloud services (forums, Arduino Cloud, Project Hub) not the IDE and CLI that everyone actually uses.

If thats true, Qualcomm needs to say so, explicitly, and in plain language. Because library maintainers are likely wondering whether contributing to Arduino repos puts them at legal risk. And hardware makers are questioning whether Arduino-compatible is still safe to advertise.

Why Adafruits alarm matters

Adafruit has been vocal about the dangers of this acquisition. Some dismiss Adafruits criticism as self-serving. After all, they sell competing hardware and promote CircuitPython. But that misses who Adafruit is.

Adafruit has been the moral authority on open hardware for decades. Theyve made their living proving you can build a successful business on open principles. When they sound the alarm, its not about competition, its about principle.

What theyre calling out isnt that Qualcomm bought Arduino. Its that Qualcomms lawyers fundamentally dont understand what they bought. Arduino wasnt valuable because it was just a microcontroller company. It was valuable because it was a commons. And you cant apply enterprise legal frameworks to a commons without destroying it.

Adafruit gets this. Theyve built their entire business on this. Thats why their criticism carries weight.

What Qualcomm doesnt seem to understand

Qualcomm probably thought they were buying an IoT hardware company with a loyal user base.

They werent. They bought the IBM PC of the maker world.

Arduinos value was never just the hardware. Their boards have been obsolete for years. Their value is the standard.

The Arduino IDE is the lingua franca of hobby electronics.

Millions of makers learned on it, even if they moved to other hardware. ESP32, STM32, Teensy, Raspberry Pi Pico  none of them are Arduino hardware, but they all work with the Arduino IDE.

Thousands of libraries are Arduino libraries. Tutorials assume Arduino. University curricula teach Arduino. When you search how to read a sensor, the answer comes back in Arduino code.

This is the ecosystem Qualcomms lawyers just dropped legal uncertainty onto.

If Qualcomms lawyers start asserting control over the IDE, CLI, or core libraries under restrictive terms, they will poison the entire maker ecosystem. Even people who never buy Arduino hardware are dependent on Arduino software infrastructure.

Qualcomm didnt just buy a company. They bought a commons. And now they inadvertently are taking steps that are destroying what made it valuable.

What are makers supposed to do?

There has been some buzz of folks just leaving the Arduino environment behind. But Arduino IDE alternatives such as PlatformIO and VSCode are not in any way beginner friendly. If the Arduino IDE goes, then theres a huge problem.

I remember when Hypercard ended. There were alternatives, but none so easy. I dont think I really coded again for almost 20 years until I picked up the Arduino IDE (go figure).

If something happens to the Arduino IDE, even if its development stalls or becomes encumbered, theres no replacement for that easy onboarding. Wed lose many promising new makers because the first step became too steep.

The institutional knowledge at risk

But leaving Arduino behind isnt simple. The platforms success depends on two decades of accumulated knowledge, such as countless Arduino tutorials on YouTube, blogs, and school curricula; open-source libraries that depend on Arduino compatibility; projects in production using Arduino tooling; and university programs built around Arduino as the teaching platform

All of these depend on Arduino remaining open and accessible.

If Qualcomm decided to sunset the open Arduino IDE in favor of a locked-down Arduino Pro platform, or if they start asserting patent claims, or if uncertainty makes contributors abandon the ecosystem, all that knowledge becomes stranded.

Its like Wikipedia going behind a paywall. The value isnt just the content, it is the trust that it remains accessible. Arduinos value isnt just the code, its the trust that the commons would stay open.

That trust is now gone. And once lost, it hard to get back.

Why this happened (but doesnt excuse it)

Lets be fair to Qualcomm, their lawyers were doing their jobs.

When you acquire a company, you standardize the legal terms; add mandatory arbitration to limit class action exposure; integrate data systems for compliance and auditing; add export controls because you sell to defense contractors; prohibit reverse engineering because thats in the template.

For most acquisitions, this is just good corporate hygiene. And Arduino, now part of a megacorp, faces higher liabilities than it did as an independent entity.

But heres what Qualcomms lawyers missed: Arduino isnt a normal acquisition. The community isnt a customer base, its a commons. And you cant apply enterprise SaaS legal frameworks to a commons without destroying what made it valuable.

This is tone-deafness, not malice. But the outcome is the same. A community that trusted Arduino no longer does.

Understanding why this happened doesnt excuse it, but it might suggest what needs to happen next.

What should have happened and how to still save it

Qualcomm dropped legal boilerplate on the community with zero context and let people discover the contradictions themselves. Thats how you destroy trust overnight.

Qualcomm should have announced the changes in advance. They should have given the community weeks, not hours, to understand whats changing and why. They should have used plain-language explanations, not just legal documents.

Qualcomm can fix things by explicitly carving out the open ecosystem. They should state clearly that the terms apply to Arduino Cloud services, and the IDE, CLI, and core libraries remain under their existing open source licenses.

Wed need concrete commitments, such as which repos stay open, which licenses wont change, whats protected from future acquisition decisions. Right now we have vague corporate-speak about supporting the community.

Indeed, they could create some structural protection, as well, by putting IDE, CLI, and core libraries in a foundation that Qualcomm couldnt unilaterally control (think the Linux Foundation model).

Finally, Qualcomm might wish to establish some form of community governance with real representation and real power over the tools the community depends on.

The acquisition is done. The legal integration is probably inevitable. But how its done determines whether Arduino survives as a commons or dies as just another Qualcomm subsidiary.

Whats next?

Arduino may be the toolset that made hobby electronics accessible to millions. But that maker community built Arduino into what it became. Qualcomms acquisition has thrown that legacy into doubt. Whether through legal confusion, corporate tone-deafness, or deliberate strategy, the communitys trust is broken.

The next few months will reveal whether this was a stumble or a strategy. If Qualcomm issues clarifications, moves repos to some sort of governance, and explicitly protects the open toolchain, then maybe this is salvageable. If they stay silent, or worse, if IDE development slows or license terms tighten further, then thats a signal to find alternatives.

The question isnt whether the open hobby electronics maker community survives. Its whether Arduino does.
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russia-China Education Festival, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, science and culture, launched here on Thursday.

Hosted by Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the opening ceremony drew representatives from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Russia, and several universities of both countries.

Lasting three days, the event brings together participants to discuss topics such as expanding China-Russia cooperation and advancing digital transformation in science and education. Several roundtable meetings focusing on collaboration and language promotion among universities of the two countries have been arranged.

Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov said the festival reflects the strength and depth of bilateral relations. With the next two years designated as the Russia-China Years of Education, the festival marks a vibrant beginning to the program, he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said during the opening ceremony that educational cooperation is an important part of bilateral ties and has yielded fruitful results thanks to joint efforts of the two countries.

The festival also features workshops on traditional crafts such as calligraphy, tea art, embroidery and decorative painting, along with an exhibition showing contributions of Chinese scholars to the regional development in Russia. 
Vaishnavi Gavankar

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M Snehanjali is a Sub Editor and journalist with over two years of experience covering general news and entertainment in digital newsroom.

Global DJ Tiesto gave a fiery performance on Thursday to kick off the celebrations, and social media users have been sharing clips of it.

M Snehanjali

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Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space.

Palak Vij

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Manoj Bajpayee reveals he received a call for The Family Man 3 while he was on his way to father's funeral, 'on flight, pilots were discussing the series'

Manoj Bajpayee reveals he received a call for The Family Man 3 while he was on his way to his father's funeral, 'on flight, the pilots were discussing the series'

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Dining with the Kapoors Review: A warm Kapoor reunion where food and nostalgia outshine the narrative

Palak Vij

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TEHRAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Friday slammed the United States and the three European countries -- France, Britain, and Germany -- for undermining Tehran's engagement with the UN nuclear watchdog after its Board of Governors passed a resolution on Thursday urging Tehran to disclose information about its uranium stockpile and grant access to its nuclear sites.

In a statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the United States and the three European countries, collectively known as the E3, of "designing and imposing" the "unlawful and unjustified" resolution on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, leaving the country no choice but to terminate a September agreement on the resumption of cooperation with the agency.

The resolution, adopted on Thursday with 19 votes in favor, three against and 12 abstentions, calls on Iran to fully and promptly cooperate with the IAEA, provide inspectors with precise information on its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent, and grant access to the country's nuclear sites.

The ministry said the resolution reflected the "bullying and insincere" behavior of the United States and the E3.

It said the suspension of the IAEA's verification activities at Iranian nuclear sites was a direct consequence of the June military attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA in June, citing the agency's refusal to condemn the Israeli and U.S. attacks and concerns over the safety of its facilities and scientists. In September, Iran and the agency reached an agreement in Cairo to resume cooperation. 
Dragon's much-needed update: Prashanth Neel and Jr NTR starrer all set to be shot in Africa

Palak Vij

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Keerthy Suresh voices concern over misuse of AI after her morphed pics goes viral, says "It has turned into a boon and a bane"

Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news.

Gayatri Rani

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Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news.

Gayatri Rani

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When Dharmendra revealed how he would maintain his weight in the 70s and 80s, Hamari haisiyat nahi thi ghar mein nal lagane ki, isliye main jaake..."

When Dharmendra revealed how hes still fit at this age: Hamari haisiyat nahi thi ghar mein nal lagane ki, isliye main jaake..."

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Planning pregnancy? Senior doctor explains why women should think about fertility in their 20s instead of 30s

Nivedita is a Delhi-based journalist who writes on health, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. Views expressed are personal.

Your 20s arent for rushing into motherhood  but they are the best time to understand your fertility. (Image: Pexels)

Manjiri Patil

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Symptoms of prostate enlargement: When bathroom breaks become urgent signals of prostate trouble in men over 50

Namita S Kalla is a senior journalist who writes about different aspects of modern life that include lifestyle, health, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.

Symptoms of prostate enlargement: Sleepless nights and daytime fatigue, experts say, are often the first hints that something more serious may be at play (Image: Canva)

Bobby John Varkey

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Chaos is not a sign of chemistry say 27% of daters; new survey shows young Indians are rejecting turbulent relationships

A new QuackQuack survey shows young Indians are rejecting relationship drama and choosing calm communication over chaos. Heres what the data reveals.

Manjiri Patil

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Frida Kahlo's self-portrait sets record; Gets sold for Rs 487 crores in just 4 minutes

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.

Shreya Garg

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (R) speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was "very optimistic" after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Thursday to discuss a new U.S. peace plan, according to Leavitt. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was "very optimistic" after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Thursday to discuss a new U.S. peace plan, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt said at a briefing that U.S. President Donald Trump supports the emerging plan.

"It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done," she said.

She said U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and State Secretary Marco Rubio have spent the past month quietly drafting the framework and "engaging with both sides, Russia and Ukraine equally, to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace."

Zelensky's office said in a statement Thursday that the Ukrainian president would speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss "diplomatic opportunities and the key points required to achieve peace," according to reports.

U.S. media reports say the current draft plan contains 28 points, including major territorial concessions by Ukraine and sharp reductions in its armed forces, as well as limits on access to long-range weapon types. The plan may also rule out the deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine after a ceasefire.

The disclosures have drawn sharp reactions in Europe, where officials fear being sidelined in the negotiating process and view aspects of the draft as favoring Russia.

It was reported that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed Thursday that any viable peace plan requires the support of Ukraine and Europe.

Russia-Ukraine talks have stalled since the Trump-Putin meeting in August in the U.S. state of Alaska. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Nov. 20, 2025.

U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was "very optimistic" after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Thursday to discuss a new U.S. peace plan, according to Leavitt. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
Have you seen Princess Diana's new wax statue in iconic 'revenge dress'?

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.

Shreya Garg

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7 / 8

When pageant official allegedly called her 'dumbhead'

Yes! At Miss Universe 2025 sash ceremony, pageant official Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Bosch for not promoting Thailand enough on her social media pages. Allegedly, he even called her a "dumbhead" for not following national director's orders. She later gave a statement to the media where she said, "He called me dumb because he has issues with the organization, and I think thats unfair. I think the world needs to see this, because we are empowered women and this platform is for our voices. No one can silence it. No one will silence me. (Picture Credit: Instagram)
Miss Universe 2025: India's Manika Vishwakarma is out of the race for top 12 after swimsuit round

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.

Shreya Garg

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Planning a holiday in Swiss Alps? Consider heading to a cosmetics clinic for THIS reason

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.

Before heading to Swiss Alpa, people are heading to cosmetic clinics to get a 'ski bunny face' (Picture Credit: Pexels)

Shreya Garg

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A record layoff wave at Amazon: Why engineers bore the brunt of the 14,000 job cuts

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Amazons October job-cut wave hit engineers the hardest  sending a strong signal about how the tech giant plans to restructure around AI and speed.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Air India sold a plane it didnt know it owned, a 1982 Boeing 737-200 grounded for over a decade

A 1982 Boeing 737-200, grounded since 2012 and omitted from records, resurfaced only after Kolkata airport asked Air India to remove it.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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The 1,860-kilometer (1,156-mile) Tanzania-Zambia railway has fallen into disrepair, operating at only a fraction of its original capacity

Surabhi Pandey

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Labour Codes notified: Govt to form panel to fix national floor wage, frame rules in next 45 days

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Labour Codes notified: Govt to form panel to fix national floor wage, frame rules in next 45 days

J Jagannath

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Sweta Goswami

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Indian rupee hits record low of 89.46 against US dollar on high greenback demand

Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com

Manish M. Suvarna

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The White House issued an executive order to eliminate punitive tariffs on some agricultural products from Brazil on Thursday.

The refund of the duties collected since April 13, when the executive order took effect, will be handled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The newly added exemption list covers around 250 categories in the 8-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, including coffee, bovine meat, tomatoes, tea, spices, fruits and nuts.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 30 to impose as much as 40 percent punitive tariffs on Brazilian goods from Aug. 6, citing the "politically motivated persecution" of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Brazil's actions as "a threat to U.S. national security and the economy" as the basis for the action.

Amid a persistent affordability crisis, the White House recently issued an executive order to eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain agricultural products to ease rising prices.

U.S. voters were broadly critical of tariffs, with 63 percent of respondents saying they disapprove of how the Trump administration is handling them, according to the latest Fox News Poll published on Thursday. 
From Rs 50K employee reimbursement to Rs 10 crore for IT parks: How Karnataka is luring IT firms to Beyond Bengaluru clusters

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Reshab Shaw

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Reshab Shaw

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Sunil Matkar

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Hemant Abhishek

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The report added that flows in high-yield (junk) bond funds is beginning to show early signs of caution. High-yield NAVs have climbed back to October 2021 highs, the level from which the last major global equity sell-off began.

Anishaa Kumar

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Paras Bisht

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Over the last year, around 4 new fund houses were launched. Of this, Jio BlackRock launched 9 schemes, Capitalmind AMC launched 2 schemes, Unifi AMC launched with 3 schemes, and Wealth Company AMC launched with 5 schemes.

Anishaa Kumar

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Shaleen Agrawal

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Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.

Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

Hemant Abhishek

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Stocks to Watch Today: Groww, Capillary Technologies, AWL Agri Business, Max Financial, TCS, JSW Energy, Zaggle Prepaid in focus on 21 November

Sunil Matkar

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People visit the exhibition zone of BMW at the Open Space of the 2025 IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, Sept. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

The automotive industry now employs 721,400 people, barely above its lowest reading since 2011.

BERLIN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Employment in Germany's automotive sector has hit a 14-year low, as a prolonged economic downturn weighs heavily on the country's manufacturing base and drives a sharp contraction in industrial employment.

Jobs in the auto industry were 48,700 fewer than a year earlier to the end of the third quarter, a decline of 6.3 percent, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This represented the steepest drop among major industrial branches with more than 200,000 workers.

As Germany's second-largest industrial sector after mechanical engineering, the automotive industry now employs 721,400 people, barely above its lowest reading since 2011, Destatis said.

The slump is far more severe among suppliers than among carmakers. Vehicle and engine manufacturers, which account for about 60 percent of the sector's workforce, reported a 3.8-percent year-on-year drop in employment. Meanwhile, headcount at car parts suppliers plunged 11.1 percent.

People visit the exhibition zone of Mercedes-Benz at the Open Space of the 2025 IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, Sept. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Destatis said this weakness is visible across the wider manufacturing sector. The industrial workforce in Europe's largest economy stood at 5.43 million at the end of the third quarter, down by 120,300 jobs, or 2.2 percent, from a year earlier. Significant cuts were also recorded in metal production and processing, and in the manufacturing of electronic and optical equipment.

Faced with higher costs, stagnant demand, and a shortage of skilled workers, many companies have increasingly shifted operations abroad. Separate Destatis data released on Wednesday showed that between 2021 and 2023, around 1,300 German companies with at least 50 employees relocated some or all business functions overseas, resulting in a net loss of 50,800 jobs.

Most companies cited lower labor costs abroad as the main reason for relocating, while other cost advantages and better availability of skilled workers also played a role, according to Destatis.
Subhash Helgaokar

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Amit Shah bats for SIR: 'Every single infiltrator will be removed from electoral list'

Priyanjali Ghose

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Battle of Pattan and the advance to Uri: Securing the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri axis

The victory at Shalateng on 7 November 1947 had broken the spine of the tribal offensive.

Priyanjali Ghose

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Class 4 student who jumped to death in Jaipur had asked teacher for help 5 times before suicide: CBSE committee

Ria Kapoor

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While some partners are questioning Congress, others have been considering severing ties with it.

Priyanjali Ghose

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At least 15 people lost their lives in the Delhi blast.

Sonalee Borgohain

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It is the responsibility of the authorities that the people from Kashmir, who are facing harassment, which has put their lives in danger, are ensured safety and security, the separatist leader added

Smriti Mishra

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Chhabi Kala

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Ria Kapoor

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CANBERRA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Residents of the Australian city of Darwin have been told to prepare to enact emergency plans as Tropical Cyclone Fina approaches the Northern Territory (NT) and is believed to grow in strength.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Friday that the cyclone, currently a category 1 cyclone, is moving slowly south-southwest and is expected to strengthen to a category 2 system whilst tracking southwest during the day.

It said the storm is approaching the Cobourg Peninsula, the northernmost point of the mainland NT, about 200 km northeast of Darwin, and the Tiwi Islands and will move over the area on Friday night, before continuing southwest through the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday.

Fina is forecast to further intensify to a severe tropical cyclone on Sunday afternoon in the southern Timor Sea. There continues to remain a chance that it could reach category 3 intensity earlier, during late Friday or early Saturday, as it moves into the Van Diemen Gulf, the bureau added.

A cyclone warning issued by the BoM said that the storm may bring wind gusts of up to 155 km per hour and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding in Darwin, the Tiwi Islands and Cobourg Peninsula.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, NT Emergency Service chief officer Wayne Snell said that there are currently no plans to evacuate any communities in the NT due to Fina, but that residents of the Greater Darwin area should enact their emergency plan and be prepared to look after themselves for the next three days. 
Tejas, equipped with its smoke winders, performed its flying display at the Dubai Air Show and soared over Al Maktoum Airport, the venue of the event.

Tamal Nandi

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High Court gives Punjab govt one week to decide jailed MP Amritpal Singh's plea on attending Parliament

Hemant Abhishek

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In first public speech after resigning as Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar praises RSS philosophy, vision

Hemant Abhishek

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Inside the white-collar terror push: How Maulvi Irfan Ahmed used 3 methods to shortlist and recruit people

Ria Kapoor

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'Making a group not in my blood': DK Shivakumar responds to speculation around Karnataka CM's post

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

Chhabi Kala

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Mohan Bhagwat says Manipur must have government: 'Destruction a matter of two minutes'

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says RSSs work stands apart from any other organisation

Priyanjali Ghose

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Smriti Mishra

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Now, Swiggy, Urban Company, Uber and other aggregators must contribute 1-2% of their annual turnover for gig workers' welfare

Christin Mathew Philip

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PM Modi arrives in South Africa on 3-day visit to attend G20 Summit | What's on agenda

Chhabi Kala

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BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is committed to sharing its wisdom and experience of river governance with the world, which will open up pathways and provide models for the healthy development of rivers worldwide, a think tank report said on Friday.

The report, titled "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy," was released by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources.

The urban population facing water shortages on the planet is projected to rise from 930 million in 2016 to between 1.7 billion and 2.4 billion by 2050. As climate change accelerates, global water security faces mounting pressure, and river governance has become an ever more formidable challenge, according to the report.

In recent years, China has accumulated extensive experience in major projects, innovative methods, and social water management.

China has provided online and offline training for nearly 4,000 water professionals and government officials from 112 countries. It has established five overseas technology transfer and capacity-building centers in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Serbia, and Senegal.

China has also carried out extensive cooperation with United Nations agencies in water resources, shared advances in global water-science research, and joined hands with countries and regions worldwide to address growing water challenges.

China will make even greater contributions to improving global water governance and to meeting the water-related targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, helping the whole world to achieve a new vision of harmony between humanity and water, the report said. 
PM Modi met Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit.

Tamal Nandi

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Respect on display: PM Modi receives unique welcome in South Africa ahead of G20 Summit

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

Chhabi Kala

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Retired Army official KJS Dhillon says Red Fort attack similar to Pulwama: 'Bears clear signature of Jaish-e-Mohammad'

Priyanjali Ghose

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Stalin reacts after SC says timelines can't be imposed on governors, President: 'Won't rest till Constitution is amended'

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

The petition said in the absence of a clear precedent on this issue of applicability of the POSH Act to state bar councils or bar associations, women lawyers in India were at risk of an uneven protection across states, which is against the mandate of the statute. (PTI file photo)

Rewati Karan

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Supreme Court issues notice to Election Commission on pleas against SIR in Kerala, UP

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

While the Bihar matter has been argued repeatedly and the elections there have already concluded, petitions relating to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are still awaiting detailed responses from the EC.

Rewati Karan

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The top court is already hearing a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the EC's decision to conduct pan-India SIR exercise

Smriti Mishra

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A tea technician draws a panda pattern while making tea at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests learn about panda-themed cultural and creative products at the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Guests stamp on panda-themed postcards at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests interact with a robot at the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A guest takes selfies at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

This photo shows panda-themed cultural and creative products at an expo in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

A performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

People visit an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests visit the Ya'an City exhibition area of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

People visit an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

The top court is already hearing a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the EC's decision to conduct pan-India SIR exercise

Chhabi Kala

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They wanted regime change like in Bangladesh, Nepal: Delhi Police tells SC during Umar Khalid's bail hearing

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

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Tremors in West Bengal trigger war of words between TMC, BJP: Was it because of SIR?

Smriti Mishra

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Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

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What is the Negative-G manoeuvre that the Tejas jet is said to have performed before crash?

Ria Kapoor

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Adya Madhavan is a Research Analyst at Takshashila Institution working on advanced military technologies and geopolitics. Views are personal and do not reflect the stand of this publication.

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In Moneycontrol's Pro Panorama December 11 edition: AI gold rush and Indias role in it, the Netflix strategy that Indian IT can...

Indias private banks get another shot at wealth as Deutsche Bank queues up to exit

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OPINION | Supreme Court clarifies roles of Governor and President in dealing with Bills but doesn't resolve the matter entirely

Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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Shubhi Mishra

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Gustav Klimt's painting sold for Rs 2,095 crore, becomes most expensive modern artwork sold at auction

The portrait was one of only two full-length Klimt depictions still held privately. (Image: @Sothebys/X)

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This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows a scene of a military parade marking Oman's National Day in Muscat, Oman. (Ministry of Information in Oman/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows a scene of a military parade marking Oman's National Day in Muscat, Oman. (Ministry of Information in Oman/Handout via Xinhua)
Indian-origin founder seeks interns in Bengaluru for AI firm. Has to work 12 hours, Rs 1 lakh stipend

The post provoked criticism shortly after it was published, particularly over the extended daily schedule set out for interns.

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Not just humans, Delhi smog puts dog on nebuliser support after Bronchitis diagnosis: 'Air so sh*t...'

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3.5 billion WhatsApp phone numbers allegedly visible online through flaw, but Meta says there was no breach

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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4,700 engineers, 500 product managers, and more: The numbers behind Amazon's biggest-ever layoffs

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Google is offering some UK employees money to leave the company

Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com

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OpenAI introduces free ChatGPT version for teachers: How to get it, features, and more

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The EU Commission aims to reduce cookie pop-ups, which could change browsing

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Why did Groww's Q2 net profit rise when income from operations declined?

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This Indian state just made the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026and nature lovers are losing it

Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.

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Alleged AI chip smuggling to China leads to US calls for chip tracking

The indictment, which the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, charges two U.S. citizens and two Chinese nationals with conspiring to export Nvidia GPUs to China without required licenses.

Tamal Nandi

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BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- If Japan wants to follow the old path of militarism, abandon its commitment to peaceful development and undermine the post-war international order, it will ultimately end in failure, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here Friday.

According to media reports, Japan has exported domestically produced Patriot air defense missiles to the United States for the first time under eased restrictions. Meanwhile, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has begun discussions on revising its three major security documents, including the Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not possessing, not producing and not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japanese territory.

Responding to relevant queries, spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news briefing that after the victory of World War II, international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender clearly stipulated Japan's obligations as a defeated country, including complete disarmament and the prohibition of maintaining industries that could enable rearmament.

However, Japan has been constantly expanding its military power in recent years, with the defense budget having increased for 13 consecutive years, and a new security bill passed to lift the ban on collective self-defense rights, Mao said, adding that Japan has continuously eased restrictions on arms export and even began the export of lethal weapons.

While claiming to establish a world free of nuclear weapons, Japan has attempted to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, signaling a step toward increased rearmament.

If Japan wants to follow the old path of militarism, abandon its commitment to peaceful development and undermine the post-war international order, the Chinese people and the international community will not allow it, and it will ultimately end in failure, Mao said. 
Pragya Trivedi

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China is building a nuclear-blast-proof floating island: What it means for world and why its location matters

Abhinav Gupta

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Delegates flee COP30: Smoke, sirens and chaos as fire erupts at UN summit in Brazil | Watch

Tamal Nandi

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"El Sueno" by Frida Kahlo is pictured at Sothebys Marquee Sales Series in New York

Surabhi Pandey

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From critic to client: How US became Chinas biggest borrower while warning the world about a 'debt trap'

Abhinav Gupta

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Inside Venezuelas Cartel of the Suns: How a military network became key to the cocaine trade

Pragya Trivedi

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On this day 21 years ago: When Flight 5210 fell from the sky in less than 10 seconds, killing all 53 on board

Rescuers search the wreakage in the Nanhai Park lake after China Eastern's flight MU-5210 bound for Shanghai plunged into the lake just seconds after leaving from Baotou city in Inner Mongolia region at 8:20 am (0020 GMT) 21 November 2004. Fifty-three people were killed early when the passenger plane crashed into the lake shortly after take-off, in China's biggest aviation disaster in more than two years. AFP PHOTO (Photo by AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025. The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

CHENGDU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Experts, officials and representatives from over 30 countries and regions gathered Friday in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, for the opening of the Global Panda Partners Conference 2025.

Themed "Working Together to Protect, Build, and Share," the conference serves as an academic, open and international exchange platform aimed at building global consensus on ecological protection and green development.

The opening ceremony saw the release of a report titled "Joining Hands to Advance Toward an Eco-Friendly Modernization -- The Theoretical Contributions and Practical Leadership of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization to Global Sustainable Development." It was co-authored by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency and the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

Participants at the conference spoke highly of China's achievements in giant panda conservation and biodiversity promotion, and agreed to strengthen international cooperation on sustainable development.

Erastus Mwencha, former deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, said China's efforts in protecting giant pandas have been "one of the world's greatest conservation success stories."

"The story of the giant panda gives us hope. It teaches us that with care, persistence, and cooperation, we can heal the planet we share," he added.

Liu Guohong, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in giant panda conservation. Measures such as the establishment of the Giant Panda National Park, the formulation of the national park law, and the systematic restoration of giant panda habitats have contributed to these achievements.

Liu said the country will deepen collaboration with global panda partners, share its achievements in ecological progress, and work together to promote the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Running from Nov. 20 to 22, the conference comprises a plenary session, eight parallel sessions and a series of supporting activities focusing on topics such as ecological civilization, panda culture, and cultural tourism.

The event is hosted by Xinhua News Agency Sichuan Branch, Xinhua News Agency News and Information Center, China Wildlife Conservation Association, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Chengdu Media Group.

This marks the second edition of the conference. The inaugural conference was held in November 2024 in Chengdu with the theme "Harmonious Coexistence Between Man and Nature."

Known as the "hometown of giant pandas," Sichuan has the largest panda habitat in the world and is home to over 70 percent of China's wild giant panda population.

Giant panda conservation has been a microcosm of China's efforts to advance ecological civilization. Thanks to sustained conservation efforts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the giant panda's status from endangered to vulnerable in 2016. Currently, nearly 1,900 giant pandas are living in the wild in China. 

A tea technician draws a panda pattern while making tea at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests learn about panda-themed cultural and creative products at the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Guests stamp on panda-themed postcards at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests interact with a robot at the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A guest takes selfies at an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

This photo shows panda-themed cultural and creative products at an expo in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

A performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

People visit an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Guests visit the Ya'an City exhibition area of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

People visit an expo of panda-themed cultural and creative products in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The opening ceremony of the Global Panda Partners 2025 conference is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2025.

The Global Panda Partners 2025 conference opened here on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
Russia is desperate to capture Pokrovsk: Why this city matters to both sides in the Ukraine war | Explained

A man with dogs walks past a "I love Rodynske" sign on an empty street of the town of Rodynske, near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region on February 24, 2025, on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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The Seahorse, meanwhile, is under sanctions from the UK and European Union and is one of four Russian vessels that delivers a fuel called naphtha to sanctioned Venezuela.

Surabhi Pandey

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Trump and Mamdani come face to face tonight after months of hostility: Why this meeting matters?

This combination of pictures created on November 19, 2025 shows Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani on October 19, 2025 in New York City and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, October 24, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS and SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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Trump lashes out at Jimmy Kimmel again after Epstein jokes: Get the bum off the air

Pragya Trivedi

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Ukraine would cede Donbas to Russia under 28-point US plan

A car burning at the site of an air attack in Zaporizhzhia, on November 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Tamal Nandi

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UN General Assembly chief says curbing climate change would make world more peaceful and safer

Chhabi Kala

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US Coast Guard rejects false report on reclassifying Swastika, noose: How the Nazi Hakenkreuz differs from the Hindu Swastika

Pragya Trivedi

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US boycotts G20 talks, embassy official to join handover; PM Modi to attend: What it means for Indias agenda

Pragya Trivedi

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BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has made historic achievements in river protection and governance as the country pursues a river strategy in the new era which is centered on the principle of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, according to a think tank report released on Friday.

The report, titled "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy," was released by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources.

China's historic progress in river protection and governance has significantly bolstered flood control, water supply, food security, and ecological safety, laying a more robust foundation for high-quality economic and social development, the report said.

Adhering to the principle of "prioritizing water conservation," China has fully implemented the national water-saving initiative and enforced rigid constraints on water resources, promoting a shift from extensive and inefficient water use toward conservation and efficiency, according to the report.

With just 6 percent of the world's freshwater resources, China sustains nearly 20 percent of the global population and generates over 18 percent of global economic output, the report said.

As climate change accelerates, global water security faces mounting pressure, and river governance has become an ever more formidable challenge, according to the report, which called for closer international cooperation to address water scarcity.

Over the years, China has carried out extensive cooperation with United Nations agencies in water resources, shared advances in global water-science research, and joined hands with countries and regions worldwide to address growing water challenges, the report said, adding that the country will continue to take concrete steps to advance water-related goals under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy
Tamal Nandi

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Why Japans row with China over Taiwan escalated and how the US is getting involved

Why Japans row with China over Taiwan escalated and how the US is getting involved

Pragya Trivedi

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Why Trump chose to pull US out of G20 Summit: Afrikaner row and global fallout | Explained

Abhinav Gupta

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'Won't betray Ukraine': Zelensky says Kyiv risks losing US support over Trump's plan to end war

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on November 21, 2025 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky listening during a phone call with French president, British Prime Minister and German Chancellor while sitting at his office in Kyiv. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Abhinav Gupta

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Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Stephen Hadley, former U.S. national security advisor to the president and executive vice chair of the Atlantic Council, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Stephen Hadley, former U.S. national security advisor to the president and executive vice chair of the Atlantic Council, in Beijing on Friday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the successful meeting between the two heads of state in Busan, the Republic of Korea, has pointed out the direction for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

China and the United States have broad space for cooperation and extensive common interests, He said, noting that economic and trade cooperation should continue to serve as the ballast and propeller of China-U.S. relations.

He expressed the hope that the Atlantic Council will play a positive role in promoting the stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

He briefed Hadley about the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Hadley spoke highly of the outcomes of the meeting between the two heads of state. Noting that the stability of U.S.-China relations is of great significance, he expressed willingness to continue promoting exchanges and dialogue between the two countries. 

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Stephen Hadley, former U.S. national security advisor to the president and executive vice chair of the Atlantic Council, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
November 21, 2025 Trumps 28-Point Ukraine Plan There seem to be several version or translation of Trumps new peace plan for Ukraine. I believe that the one below, originally published (archived) by the Financial Times, is the most accurate version. The plan as it is is dead in the water, stillborn or however you may want to characterize this collection of ill-defined, non-binding and ridiculous clauses. No one will ever accept it. But it includes a few U.S. concessions to Russia that will be taken and preserved for later negotiations. Ukraines sovereignty will be confirmed. A comprehensive and comprehensive [sic] non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and NATO will not expand further. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. US guarantee: The US will receive compensation for the guarantee. If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee. If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked. If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to: The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centres, and artificial intelligence. The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernise, and operate Ukraines gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities. Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernisation of cities and residential areas. Infrastructure development. Extraction of minerals and natural resources. The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centres, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8. Frozen funds will be used as follows: $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine. The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraines reconstruction. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Zaporizhzhya [sic] Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine  50:50. Both countries undertake to implement educational programmes in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice: Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education. All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited. Territories: Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact. Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions. Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarised buffer zone, internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues: All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an all for all basis. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children. A family reunification programme will be implemented. Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement. Comments
CHIZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Maotan Primary School is adjacent to the Shibasuo provincial nature reserve. The reserve boasts abundant wildlife resources and protects mainly wintering waterfowl such as storks and geese, as well as the wetland ecosystem. It serves as a unique "nature classroom" for the school, especially in wetland conservation education.

For years, the school has integrated wetland protection education into its daily teaching. Volunteers are invited to the school for wetland science popularization, and students are frequently organized for study tours in the wetlands. This teaching approach has deepened the children's understanding of wetland conservation.

A teacher gives a lesson on bird protection at Maotan Primary School in Guichi District of Chizhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

A flock of egrets flies behind as students of Maotan Primary School observe birds under the guidance of a wild bird conservation volunteer at the Shibasuo provincial nature reserve in Chizhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Students of Maotan Primary School observe birds under the guidance of a wild bird conservation volunteer at the Shibasuo provincial nature reserve in Chizhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Students attend a lecture on birds at Maotan Primary School in Guichi District of Chizhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Students of Maotan Primary School observe birds under the guidance of a wild bird conservation volunteer at the Shibasuo provincial nature reserve in Chizhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
All you Need to know about the Miss Universe 2025 Final: When and how to watch 119 delegates vie for the crown

Costa Rica Philippines Venezuela Thailand Mexico Chile Colombia

The world is ready for one of its most glamorous nights: the Miss Universe 2025 grand finale in Bangkok, Thailand. One hundred and nineteen women from across the globe will step onto the Impact Arena stage to compete for the crown, hoping to become the successor of Victoria Kjr.

Between viral moments, bold statements, and a growing global audience, Miss Universe 2025 promises to deliver spectacle, culture, and purpose in a single dazzling broadcast. Heres everything you need to know about the big night: when its happening, the hosts, whos competing, and how to watch it live from anywhere.

When Is the Miss Universe 2025 Final?

The Miss Universe 2025 coronation will take place on Friday, November 21, 2025, live from the Impact Arena, one of Asias largest indoor venues and the heart of the competitions international activities.

The live show begins at 8:00 a.m. local time (ICT), which translates to Thursday night in the Americas.

8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. CT / 5:00 a.m. PT (United States)

7:00 p.m. Mexico and Central America

9:00 p.m. Puerto Rico / Venezuela

10:00 p.m. Argentina / Chile

The show will feature the traditional rounds of swimwear, evening gown, and the final interview, followed by the crowning of the new Miss Universe.

Where and How to Watch Miss Universe 2025

In the United States (English broadcast): The pageant will stream exclusively in English on The Roku Channel, which remains the official English-language broadcast partner of the Miss Universe Organization. The stream is free to watch for all Roku device users and accessible via the Roku app on smart TVs, mobile devices, and desktops.

In Spanish (U.S. and Latin America):

Telemundo will air the full event live across the United States and Latin America with exclusive Spanish-language commentary, red-carpet arrivals, and backstage coverage. Miss Universe pageant will be available to stream via Telemundo and Peacock on Nov. 20. Hosts are Danilo Carrera, Jacqueline Bracamontes, Carlos Aydan and Jessica Carrillo.

In Latin AmericaFans can also tune in through regional networks including Caracol TV (Colombia), Las Estrellas (Mexico), Canal 13 (Chile), and America TV (Peru).

In Asia:

Local Thai broadcaster JKN18 and digital partner AIS Play will stream the event live from Bangkok.

Worldwide: The official Miss Universe YouTube channel and the Miss Universe app will also stream the entire show with global access, multilingual captions, and behind-the-scenes extras, perfect for international fans and those without a local broadcaster.

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Acting Commissioner Che defends $4.9M lapse funds as transparent safety net

Acting Commissioner of Education Jaqueline Che clarified Wednesday that the Public School Systems $4.9 million in unrestricted lapse funds is not hidden, but a deliberate financial cushion designed to maintain operational stability during emergencies.

Che addressed the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee regarding PSSs request for additional funding through House Bill 24-70, which seeks to authorize the use of the funds for FY2026. She emphasized that the lapse funds are part of PSSs long-term financial planning, accumulated due to delayed local fund transmittals in past fiscal years and supplemented by federal emergency funding during the pandemic and disaster-related economic downturns.

Sen. Frank Q. Cruz raised concerns Wednesday said PSSs s request, questioning why the agency was seeking more funds when it reportedly has $4.9 million in unspent, unrestricted lapse funds from prior appropriations.

Cruz emphasized the impact of funding decisions on other government services, noting that while he supports PSS, he wants to ensure fairness for programs like medical referrals, law enforcement, and other essential services.

I dont appreciate it that when you used the kids to come up and protest, even on the side of the road, you are making us look bad here in the Legislature, when in fact you still have money left unexpended, Cruz said. I like to give PSS adequate funding, but when you have lapse funds and are still asking for more in the following year, how do you account for other agencies and programs? My point is, lets work together for the kids.

The hearing focused on House Bill 24-70, which seeks to allow PSS to utilize its $4.9 million unrestricted fund for FY2026 operations. The discussion included PSS officials, Acting Commissioner Jaqueline Che, Finance Director Jonathan Aguon, Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita, and Special Assistant for Management and Budget Vicky Villagomez.

These funds were never intended to be hidden, Che said. They are part of a strategic plan to cushion the impact of funding shortfalls, especially as American Rescue Plan Act support ended on Sept. 30, 2024.

Che explained that the $4.9 million remains in PSS accounts because federal grants covered local operation, allowing for schools, offices, and other PSS facilities to operate, and services to continue without interruptions, including salaries, and preventing layoffs. The lapse funds were always part of PSSs constitutionally guaranteed 25 percent share of general revenue.

The presence of these funds is a structural outcome of emergency conditions, not an act of noncompliance, she said. They were meant to ensure continuity for our schools while safeguarding instructional time for students.

Che recalled that PSS officials, including Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, requested $49 million to operate, but former Gov. Arnold I. Palacios approved $40 million, asking PSS to work within that limit. We understood the community was struggling, so we agreed to work with $40 million, knowing the lapse funds could supplement operations, she said.

The $4.9 million lapse fund was intended to cushion the fiscal impact and help PSS get closer to its operational needs, Che added. With the governors revised FY2026 budget of $31.7 million, PSS began planning austerity measures, including no-school Mondays.

Che underscored that operating on reduced funding affects the wider community. I think we have to be upfront to say that we are going to suffer with the rest of the community, she said.

She emphasized transparency and partnership with the Legislature: We are here as partners. The funds in our accounts were documented, audited, and reported. They are not surplus or discretionarythey are constitutionally required appropriations.

Regarding recent student protests, Che acknowledged their concerns but stressed the importance of educating them about the funding process. Students are worried that insufficient funding will affect schools and their ability to attend college. We dont want to stop them from expressing opinions, but we also want them to understand the process, she said.

Mind you, $49 million is what we need to operate. But Palacios assured us we could only get $40 million. The $4.9 million in lapse fund could help us get closer to $49 million. Right now, you are appropriating us $31.7 million. We are the only agency in the CNMI receiving the largest cut. From our ask of $49 million, to the compromise amount of $40 million, and now to $31.7 million, Che said.

She stressed that the agencys handling of lapse funds was proactive, transparent, and consistent with long-standing fiscal practice, intended to ensure operational continuity during emergencies and funding delays.

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Charlston Aiken charged with assaulting girlfriend

Charlston Aiken, 45, arrives at the local courthouse escorted by a Corrections officer on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

SUPERIOR Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $10,000 cash bail for the release of Charlston Yamada Aiken, who was charged with domestic violence for assaulting his girlfriend.

Aiken, 45, faces charges of assault and battery, domestic violence, and disturbing the peace.

At a bail hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Aiken appeared in the custody of the Department of Corrections and was represented by Assistant Public Defender Molly Dennert, while Assistant Attorney General Dan Johnson appeared for the government.

Johnson asked the court to maintain bail, saying, Aiken assaulted his girlfriend in broad daylight.

The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing and was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. and arraignment on Nov. 3 at 9 a.m.

In an issued statement, the Department of Public Safety said that on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at 5:16 p.m., the police received a report of a disturbance at the I Zone shop on Beach Road, Chalan Kanoa.

Upon arrival, officers learned that Charlston Aiken had slammed a person to the ground and punched the same person several times. He later fled the scene toward Laly Four beachside. Officers later found Aiken on the roof of a residence. He had barricaded himself and refused to cooperate with the officers. He later jumped off the roof, injuring himself, and was transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, where he received treatment for his injuries, acting DPS Public Information Officer Simon Manacop said.

The person Aiken assaulted was his girlfriend, according to court documents.

On Oct. 21, DPS again arrested Aiken for a separate disturbing the peace and assault and battery incident reported in Chalan Kanoa in the Laly Four area, Manacop said.

Recorded videos of other incidents involving Aiken have surfaced on social media platforms, he added.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.

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Police seek witnesses in Garapan bar fight

The Department of Public Safetys Criminal Investigation Bureau is asking for the publics help regarding a disturbance that occurred near Relox Bar in Western Garapan on Nov. 16.

According to DPS, officers responded to the scene at around 3:50 a.m. and found that two men had been involved in a physical altercation. One of the men was reportedly punched and fell to the pavement.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jeremy Guillermin, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody at the Department of Corrections.

Guillermin, a Palauan national undergoing Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training on Saipan, was charged in Superior Court with aggravated assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and obstructing justice.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or was in the area at the time to come forward with information. Community members may contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 664-9042 or visit the office in Lower Miha Housing.

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Refaluwasch advocate: Seabed mining threatens Marianas sovereignty

Gregorie Michael Towai (Contributed photo)

A Refaluwasch cultural advocate is urging Commonwealth leaders and residents to reject seabed mining, warning that the practice threatens the Marianas ecological integrity, cultural heritage and sovereignty.

Refaluwasch, which means people of the island in the Carolinian language, is a term that reflects deep ancestral ties to the land and sea.

As a Refaluwasch advocate committed to protecting our islands from exploitation in every form, I strongly oppose seabed mining in the CNMI, said Gregorie Michael Towai, an independent researcher and community member.

Our home sits directly above the Mariana Trenchthe deepest place on Earth, a place of scientific, cultural, and spiritual significance that no corporation or government has the right to disturb.

Towais statement comes as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) that could lead to mineral leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore the CNMI.

Governor David M. Apatang in an earlier release has encouraged the public to participate in the federal comment process, which closes Dec. 12.

This is a matter of great significance to the Commonwealth, Gov. Apatang said. We encourage everyonecitizens, community organizations, traditional leaders, and government agenciesto review the information carefully and provide thoughtful comments. Our collective input will help guide how these discussions move forward and ensure that the interests of the CNMI are protected.

Towai warned that seabed mining could open the door to irreversible damage and outside control, citing examples from across the Pacific where extractive industries left island communities with pollution, cultural loss, and little economic return.

The idea that private interests can carve up the seafloor beneath the Marianasone of the most unique environments on the planetis not only reckless; its a direct threat to our sovereignty and our future. If we allow this industry to take its first bite, we wont just lose ecosystems we barely understand we lose the power to say no the next time. Weve seen this play out across the Pacific: outside interests show up with promises of economic opportunity, while island communities are left with the damage, the pollution, and the cultural loss, Towai said.

What starts as a small exploratory project becomes a green light for other companies, agencies, and governments to launch even more invasive operations. Our ocean is not a testing ground. Our trench is not a sacrifice zone, he added.

Samoa has already called for a global moratorium on seabed mining.

Advocates say the CNMIs response could set a precedent for the rest of Oceania. Public comments may be submitted online at www.regulations.gov by searching BOEM-2025-0351, or by mail to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements Pacific Region office in Camarillo, California.

A staff attorney at Earth Justice, Rebecca Loomis, has officially requested the BOEM for a 30-day extension period to allow meaningful participation from industries, ocean users, residents of the Marianas, and public at large.

Governor Apatang said the administration remains committed to transparency, scientific understanding and community involvement in all discussions related to ocean resources.

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THANK YOU, DIEGO T. BENAVENTE: Champion of the CNMI, Leader of the People

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente

The Commonwealth has lost one of its most beloved and influential leaders.

Diego Tenorio Benavente, whose public service spanned more than two decades, built a career defined not by political ambition but by a quiet, unwavering devotion to the people he served. Benavente was known for his calm demeanora steady presence in moments of strainbut beneath that gentle exterior was a deep well of passion and an uncommon breadth of expertise. His command of governance, regional affairs, banking and finance, politics, environment and fisheries made him one of the Commonwealths most versatile and respected public figures. Even after stepping away from elected office, he did not step away from service. In retirement, he turned his focus to public education advocacy, investing his time and energy into the future of the Commonwealths children with the same diligence that marked every chapter of his career.

He began his public life in 1990, winning a seat in the 7th House of Representatives in a decisive vote of confidence from the people. In his first term, he chaired the federal and foreign relations committee; served as vice chair for natural resources; and sat on the commerce and tourism, judiciary and governmental operations, and ways and means committees.

His competenceand his steady, approachable mannerquickly earned wide respect.

Voters returned him to the House for ten more years. In 1992, his colleagues elected him House vice speaker, and he would go on to lead the chamber as speaker during the 9th, 10th, and 11th CNMI Legislatures.

In 2002, he ran for lieutenant governor alongside his friend, former Washington Representative Juan N. Babauta. Their ticket won the 2001 election with a historic mandate. Benavente served one term, then returned to the legislature, where he represented the people during the 16th and 17th Legislatures, serving until his retirement in 2011.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, surrounded by family at his As Lito home, Benavente passed away peacefully. He was 66.

Last time together

Just a day before his passing, Benavente shared coffee and stories with former Gov. Babauta and close friendsSen. Paul A. Manglona, former Public Works Secretary Juan Liling S. Reyes, and former Public Safety Deputy Commissioner Frank Duenasat his residence in As Lito.

They gathered from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., laughing over old memories, the kind of lighthearted morning that belies how quickly life can change.

Babauta recalled, He called me and said he wanted a cup of McDonalds coffee.

The groupaffectionately known as the McDonalds Boys, a name born from their weekly breakfasts at McDonalds in Middle Roaddecided not to wait until their next scheduled meet-up on Friday. When Benavente asked for coffee, they brought him not only his cup, but egg burritos, apple pie, and cookies.

At Benaventes table, they laughed, told stories, and shared a morning that, without them knowing it, would be their last together.

A loss for the CNMI

His passing is a great profound loss for me as a personal friend and to the entire CNMI, Babauta said. He loved public service and in my opinion, he did serve the people with honor and distinction.

Manglona, who had planned to see Benavente again for their Friday gathering, said Benavente told him he no longer had the energy to join. So they brought breakfast to him instead.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Lt. Governor Diego Benavente, Manglona said. Serving alongside him in the legislature was a privilege Diego was a good man who consistently put the needs of our Commonwealth first.

Public educations tribute

After retiring from elected office, Benavente devoted significant time to the Public School System between 2012 and 2016, strengthening relations with the executive and legislative branches and supporting parental engagement, student advocacy, and public education funding.

Acting Commissioner of Education Jacqueline P. Che, Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, and Board of Education Chairman Aschumar Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong issued a joint statement:

The late Diego Tenorio Benavente devoted his life to the service of the Commonwealth, offering his passion, strength, and unwavering sense of duty to every office he held. As lieutenant governor, House speaker, elected lawmaker, and champion for public education, he embodied principled leadership and a profound commitment to the people he served.

His legacy is deeply woven into the history of the Public School System. From its formative years as an independent institution to the transformative era spanning the 2010s through 2016, his steady guidance helped shape reforms that strengthened the PSS and enhanced its ability to serve the stakeholders of public educationour students and families in the Northern Marianas.

Heartfelt respect

Gov. David M. Apatang and Lt. Gov. Dennis James C. Mendiola issued a joint statement honoring Benaventes legacy:

With deep sorrow and heartfelt respect, the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor announces the passing of the Honorable Diego Tenorio Benavente His departure is a profound loss for the Commonwealth and for all who were touched by his steady leadership, his humility, and his lifelong devotion to the people of the Marianas.

For more than three decades, Diego Benavente served the people of the CNMI with distinctionas a member of the House of Representatives, three-term Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and a respected community and regional leader. Guided by integrity and principled leadership, he championed education, environmental stewardship, and responsible governance. His unwavering dedication and love for the Marianas shaped the Commonwealth through pivotal moments, leaving a legacy that will inspire and endure for generations.

Governor Apatang, joined by Lieutenant Governor Mendiola, extends their deepest condolences to Mrs. Vicky Benavente, their children, grandchildren, and the entire Benavente family. Diego

served our Commonwealth with honor and heart. He was a mentor, a steady voice of reason, and a friend. The people of the Marianas are grateful for his lifetime of service, and we join his family in prayer and remembrance during this difficult time.

On behalf of the people of Guam

Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio also released a statement:

On behalf of the people of Guam, we offer our deepest condolences to the family of former Lieutenant Governor Diego Benavente and to the people of the CNMI. Diego was not only a respected leader in the Pacific region but also a longtime friend. Over the years, our paths crossed often through our work, our families, and our shared hope for a stronger Marianas. Even in his hardest moments, he chose to be present with the people he loved, surrounded by the island that shaped him. My heart is with his wife, Vicky, and the entire Benavente family as they honor a man whose life was rooted in loyalty, kindness, and a genuine devotion to his community.

Lieutenant Governor Benaventes legacy lives in the relationships he built and the steady leadership he offered the CNMI. He carried himself with sincerity and an easy warmth that made people feel seen and heard. These past months have clearly shown his character. He chose family, faith, and the island he cherished, reminding all of us what it means to live a full life. We extend our sympathy to the Benavente family and stand with the people of the CNMI as they remember a leader who gave so much of himself and did it with heart, added Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio.

Leon Guerrero is a personal friend of the late Diego T. Benavente.

A true leader

CNMI Republican Party President Patrick M. Cepeda offered a personal tribute, calling Nov. 20 a sad day for the CNMI.

Uncle Diego was more than a public servant, he said. He was a man of humility, wisdom, and strength His leadership, character, and heart touched countless lives.

Cepeda reflected on his own time with Benavente: The lessons, wisdom, and strength he shared with me are things I will carry for the rest of my life.

Rest in peace, Uncle Diego, he added. You will be dearly missed, and forever respected.

Unwavering commitment

Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao also issued the following statement: We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear Lt. Governor Diego Benaventea devoted public servant, an exceptional leader, and a beloved family man. Diego was not only a committed servant to the people of the CNMI but also my first cousin and the beloved uncle of Edmund Sablan Villagomez.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Vicky, his children, the Tenorio- Benavente and the Seman-Iriarte families.

Lt. Governor Benavente dedicated his life to serving the CNMI with integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment. Before becoming Lt. Governor, he served six terms as a legislator and was Speaker of the House for much of that time. Throughout his years of service, Diego

exemplified true leadershipalways putting community first, listening attentively, and standing firmly for the issues that would improve the lives of families throughout the Commonwealth.

His remarkable legacy continues to inspire progress for all. Even as he faced a difficult diagnosis, Diegos grace and strength never wavered. His choice to spend his final months in Saipan, surrounded by family, friends, and the community he loved so deeply, speaks volumes about his character and devotion.

In a recent address, he reminded us that the CNMIs strength lies not in our size, but in our unity, a powerful reflection of the values he lived by.As we mourn this tremendous loss, we honor Diegos life, his service, and his enduring values. Our prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time. May we all find comfort in the knowledge that his legacy will continue to inspire us and guide our Commonwealth forward.

You will be profoundly missed.

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Moylan renews bid to include Philippines in Guam-CNMI visa waiver

The A.B. Won Pat International Airport in Tamuning, Guam on March 27, 2025. Photo by Frank San Nicolas/The Guam Daily Post

HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post)  In a bid to boost visitor arrival numbers and further diversify the local tourism industry, Delegate James Moylan has urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reconsider the inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program.

I believe that the Philippines meets the key security and immigration standards of the program and would be a valuable addition that strengthens diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between our nations, Moylan wrote in a letter Friday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of designated countries to visit for business or tourism for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

In the past, the Department of Homeland Security has cited the Philippines historically high rate of visa overstays for denial in the waiver program.

I understand that the Department evaluates each countrys eligibility with great care and diligence. I respectfully encourage your Departments to work closely with the appropriate agencies and the government of the Philippines to determine the feasibility of its inclusion and to support any steps needed to meet the programs requirements, Moylan wrote.

In a news release Friday Moylan said, this would be a game-changer for the Guam Visitors Bureau and a critical boost for our struggling tourism industry.

Including the Philippines in the visa waiver program would help revitalize Guams economy, bolster our local infrastructure and restore momentum for small businesses that rely on a steady flow of visitors to survive, he added.

Guam Visitors Bureau President Regine Biscoe Lee said in the Moylan release that, Guams relationship with the Philippines extends far beyond tourism. It is rooted in shared history, faith and strong cultural ties.

She said including the Philippines strengthens these connections while removing barriers to travel and economic exchange.

Former GVB President Carl T.C. Gutierrez had long pushed for the inclusion of the Philippines, and had at one time secured the support of members of the Philippine Congress.

A resolution was introduced in the Philippine Senate in August 2023 urging the (Philippine) Department of Foreign Affairs to undertake a concerted effort to request the President of the United States of America to include the Republic of the Philippines in the United States Department of Homeland Security Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

The resolution noted that the Philippines nonimmigrant B-visa refusal rate in the U.S. had improved to 11.59% for Fiscal Year 2022, compared to 32.49% for Fiscal Year 2020.

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HANOI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam continues to lead the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in consumer optimism, supported by a positive economic outlook and confidence in personal finances, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday, citing a study by Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB).

Vietnam posted the highest score in UOB's ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Index at 67, well above the regional average of 54, according to the report.

Vietnamese consumers expressed strong confidence in the country's political, economic and social stability, the study said, noting that optimism persists despite global uncertainties.

"Despite global headwinds, Vietnam has demonstrated strong fundamentals and effective policy direction. This momentum is driving increased consumer spending and a greater focus on financial planning," said Paul Kim, head of personal financial services at UOB Vietnam. 
Drug Trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, aka Brother Wang, extradited from Mexico to ace international narcotics, money laundering charges in New York, Georgia

Defendant allegedly led a large-scale narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization operating in Mexico, United States

(USDOJ)  Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as GG, Kun Li Hernandez, Chang Li Gong Sun, Memo, Brother Wang, BW, Pancho, HeHe, HaHa, Chino, and Summor Ownor, 38, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky for the Eastern District of New York at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on a second superseding indictment (the Indictment) charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes. The defendant, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after Mexico issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia and was returned to the United States on October 23. The defendant was ordered detained pending trial. On October 24, the defendant had an initial appearance in the Southern District of Texas, where he was arraigned on this Indictment and on the indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.

The defendant has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.

The defendant stands accused of running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered millions in narcotics proceeds, said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd W. Blanche. His return to the United States is a major step in dismantling a network that has fueled addiction, violence, and death. Im grateful for the outstanding work of our prosecutors, agents, and international partners who refused to let him hide behind aliases, shell companies, or foreign borders. The Department of Justice will continue to target the worlds most dangerous traffickers, wherever they operate, and bring them to justice.

As alleged, the defendant is a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world who, together with his co-conspirators, imported thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries, said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. The indictments he faces in the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia will hold him responsible for the great harm he has caused.

Zhangs transnational network was allegedly intricate, well-coordinated, and well-funded, said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. However, through the great work of dedicated law enforcement agencies and valued cooperation from our international partners, Zhangs poison pipeline has been shut off. Whether the perpetrators are here or hiding abroad, my office will continue to vigorously pursue anyone who is trafficking illegal narcotics in and through the Northern District of Georgia.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)s arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth and deadly fentanyl, said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of HSI New York. The defendants alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form  fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond. One by one, year after year, the HSI New York Homeland Security Task Force will continue to wage an unyielding campaign against those who empower cartels to sow destruction and death for greed, ensuring that no corner of their criminal empire is beyond the reach of justice.

This arrest represents a critical milestone in a long-running investigation into an alleged high-level narcotics trafficker with international reach, said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. A defendant wanted on warrants out of Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia has now been taken into custody, thanks to years of coordinated work by DEA and our partners. We will continue to follow the evidence and the money until the leadership of these organizations is dismantled.

The Justice Department also expressed appreciation to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justices Office of International Affairs, HSI Mexico City, HSI Rio Grande Valley, and the Government of Mexico.

The EDNY Indictment

As set forth in court filings, since June 2016, Zhang has operated a massive narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization in Mexico and the United States, importing thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries. Law enforcement has made numerous seizures of narcotics traced to the defendants organization, including 46 kilograms of cocaine, 58 kilograms of methamphetamine, and almost seven kilograms of fentanyl.

Zhang and members of his organization also laundered millions of dollars of criminal proceeds from these narcotics sales through the creation and use of shell companies in the United States, which were opened using false social security numbers and other fraudulent documents. The organization recruited individuals known as banqueros to open bank accounts at various banks on behalf of the shell companies, engage in money pickups at different money drop locations throughout the United States, deposit that money into the shell company bank accounts, and wire the funds to other beneficiary accounts to be laundered outside of the United States. The organization employed supervisors in Mexico, known as coordinators, who directed the banqueros at every step of the process, including coordinating the money pick-ups, buying and booking travel, and providing the fraudulent documentation to open bank accounts. In total, law enforcement identified more than 100 shell companies tied to Zhangs organization that were used to launder at least $77 million in narcotics proceeds.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

This case is being handled by the Offices International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as part of the work of the Offices Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Miranda Gonzalez and Vincent Chiappini are in charge of the prosecution. The

NDGA Indictment

As set out in Court filings, Zhang was allegedly a leader of a vast drug trafficking and money laundering organization that began operating in Mexico at least as early as 2016. Zhang allegedly used an extensive network of coordinators and couriers to get cocaine and fentanyl to multiple destinations in the United States. In January and February 2022, Zhang personally negotiated and coordinated the delivery of 11 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl to Atlanta for distribution.

Once the cocaine and fentanyl were distributed, Zhang allegedly oversaw the use of stash houses in Georgia and California to collect the drug proceeds which were then deposited into bank accounts. The money laundering was massive and involved 150 companies, 170 bank accounts and approximately $20 million in drug proceeds.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Departments Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Yves here. If you check Twitter, tweets about CRISPR are entirely positive, providing summaries of recent papers or other information about its potential or achievements, such as:

Scientists cut HIV out of immune cells using CRISPR. And the cells stayed HIV-free even after re-exposure. A cure could finally be within reach. In a groundbreaking advance, scientists at Temple University have successfully used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to eliminate HIV-1 DNA pic.twitter.com/XJ9cdBnPwb  Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) November 13, 2025

And:

This is one of the few exceptions, but the technical terms might lead some to skip over it:

A compound that enhances homology-directed repair in CRISPR editing leads to genome instability https://t.co/zim9K6l6FLhttps://t.co/jZIQiIA8yB  Nature Biotechnology (@NatureBiotech) November 20, 2025

I confess to being leery of the degree of experimentation underway with such a powerful technology.

By John P. Ruehl, an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications. His book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas, was published in December 2022 Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

A major medical milestone took place in May 2025, when doctors at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia used CRISPR-based gene editing to treat a child with a rare genetic disorder. Unlike earlier CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) treatments that targeted well-known genetic mutations, this marked a new level of personalized medicine tailored to a patients unique DNA. For advocates of biomedical innovation for human enhancement, it was another sign of gene editings vast potential, even as ethical, political, and safety concerns remain.

Efforts to alter human genes really began in the 1970s, when scientists first learned to cut a piece of DNA from one organism and attach it to another. The process was slow, imprecise, and expensive. Later tools like meganucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and zinc-finger nucleases improved accuracy but remained technically complex and time-consuming.

The real revolution came in 2012, when researchers Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier harnessed CRISPR, a natural bacterial defense system. In bacteria, CRISPR cuts out invading viruses DNA and inserts fragments into its own genome, allowing it to recognize and defend against future infections. Doudna and Charpentier showed that this process could be adapted to any DNA, including human, creating a precise and programmable system to target genetic mutations. Together with a protein called CRISPR-associated protein (Cas9), which acts like molecular scissors, it made cutting, modifying, and replacing DNA faster, easier, and cheaper.

Attempts to push the technology forward clashed with regulatory caution and ethical debate, but more than 200 people had undergone experimental CRISPR therapies, according to a 2023 MIT Technology Review article. The first major legal breakthrough came that November, when the UK approvedVertex Pharmaceuticals CASGEVY for the treatment of transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Enabled by advances in CRISPR technology, CASGEVY works by making an edit (or cut) in a particular gene to reactivate the production of fetal hemoglobin, which dilutes the faulty red blood cells caused by sickle cell disease, explained Yale Medicine. Bahrain and the U.S.granted regulatory approval weeks later, and by mid-2025, the EU and several other countries followed.

CRISPR technology continues to advance, with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently unveiling a CRISPR therapy that can replace large defective DNA segments and fix multiple mutations simultaneously, overcoming the limits of traditional one-site editing. Epigenetic editing, meanwhile, uses modified Cas9 proteins to turn genes on or off without cutting the DNA, and new CRISPR systems can even insert entirely new DNA directly into cells, bypassing the cells natural repair process for larger precision edits.

Alongside academic researchers, major companies are emerging in the gene-editing field. By early 2025, the U.S. had 217 gene-editing companies, compared with a few dozen in Europe (mainly in the UK and Germany) and 30 in China, according to the startup company BiopharmaIQ.

CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Beam Therapeutics are among the industrys leaders. A growing network of companies and research teams attended the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing held in London in 2023, following the first in Washington, D.C., in 2015, and the second in Hong Kong in 2018.

Smaller companies are also innovating. Xenotransplantationtransplanting nonhuman organs to humanshas a long history, but CRISPR technology is giving it new momentum. In 2024, Massachusetts General Hospital transplanted a pig kidney edited with CRISPR-Cas9 technology to remove harmful pig genes and add human ones. The pig kidney was provided by the American pharmaceutical company eGenesis.

The patient survived for two months before dying of unrelated causes, and the company completedanother transplant in 2025. Other companies, including United Therapeutics through its subsidiary Revivicor, have begun their own trials in a potential bid to transform the organ donor industry.

CRISPRs rapid spread has also fueled a DIY biotech movement among transhumanists and biohackers interested in using biotechnology for human enhancement. Nonconventional genetic experimentation, or garage research, often outside standard regulation, has become common. CRISPR kits can be ordered online for less than $100, and their small size, relative simplicity, and open-source nature make experimentation and collaboration possible.

[N]ew technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 give nonconventional experimenters more extensive gene editing abilities and are raising questions about whether the current largely laissez-faire governance approach is adequate, pointed out a 2023 article in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences.

One of the best-known figures in this movement is former NASA biochemist Josiah Zayner, who founded The ODIN in 2013 to sell CRISPR kits to help humans genetically modify themselves. Early efforts to showcase the scope and potential of this technology proved popular online, and in 2017, Zayner livestreamed injecting CRISPR-edited DNA to knock out his myostatin gene to promote muscle growth.

CRISPR has quickly expanded beyond human experimentation. Mississippi dog breeder David Ishee attempted to get regulatory approval for CRISPR technology to prevent Dalmatians tendency to develop bladder stones in 2017, but faced immediate regulatory pushback. The agriculture sector has seen more luck: U.S. startup Pairwise has developed a CRISPR-edited salad mix for American consumers, and in 2024, a multinational biotech consortium began pilot trials of drought-resistant maize in Africa.

China has been a leading force in CRISPR innovation since its inception. In 2014, Chinese researchers were among the first to use CRISPR-Cas9 in monkey embryos, and became the first to edit human embryos in 2015, drawing concern from international observers. In 2018, Chinese researcher He Jiankui altered the DNA of two human embryos to make them immune to HIV. Although the babies were born healthy, the announcement caused international outcry, leading to Hes three-year prison sentence in 2019 and stricter Chinese regulations on human gene editing.

Chinese companies and institutions are actively pursuing international collaboration to solidify their position. In August 2025, ClonOrgan was part of a pig-to-human organ transplant, while other Chinese entities established an early lead in CRISPR-based cancer therapies.

The U.S. and China remain clear leaders in CRISPR research, and certain European countries are also active, but others are also rapidly building capacity. In April 2025, Brazil began the first patient trial of CRISPR gene editing for inherited heart disease, while growth has also been strong in Russia, India, and the Gulf States.

Concerns and Inevitability

The rapid adoption of CRISPR technology by private companies, institutions, ideologists, and hobbyists globally has drawn scrutiny. Despite the relatively low cost of developing CRISPR therapies, the actual treatments remain expensive. Social concerns have grown over the idea of designer babies, where wealthier families could immunize their children against diseases or select genetic traits, exacerbating inequality.

The He Jiankui case, for example, involved deleting the CCR5 gene in embryos to prevent HIV, but may have also improved their intelligence and memory due to the link between CCR5 and cognition.

Safety concerns also abound. Unintended downstream mutations, or off-target effects, can cause genetic defects or chromosomal damage, and in 2024, Swiss scientists documented such issues, highlighting the risks of heritable changes. Even DNA sequences once thought nonessential may have important functions, and edits could have unforeseen consequences for human evolution.

In 2015, a group of leading scientists and researchers proposed a global moratorium on heritable genome edits, yet research has pressed on. Sterilized, genetically modified mosquitoes were released in Africa to test population control in 2019, and in 2020, Imperial College London demonstrated that a modification that creates more male offspring was able to eliminate populations of malaria mosquitoes in lab experiments.

As with all emerging technologies, CRISPR-based therapies are resulting in major legal disputes. The Broad Institute, for example, holds patents for using CRISPR in human and animal cells, while UC Berkeley owns the original test-tube version, resulting in a patent battle settled in 2022. The tribunal of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ruled that the rights for CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing in human and plant cells belong to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, not to Berkeley, stated an article on the Cal Alumni Association website.

Biosecurity and weaponization concerns also constrain greater CRISPR adoption. Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper repeatedly warned that genome editing, including CRISPR, could be used as weapons of mass destruction. Its ease of use has continued to raise fears of manipulating pathogens or making populations resistant to vaccines and treatments, as well as the potential to enhance cognitive or physical abilities in soldiers.

Still, the technologys promise is too significant to be overlooked, as reflected by the attention it has received from Trump administration officials. Vice President J.D. Vance spoke positively about the CRISPR sickle cell treatment shortly after being elected. Other administration figures have financial ties to the industry, with disclosures showing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s plans to divest holdings in CRISPR Therapeutics AG and Dragonfly Therapeutics to avoid conflicts of interest before taking office.

New CRISPR tools, like base editing and prime editing, highlight the technologys ongoing potential, and in 2025, Stanford researchers and collaborators linked these tools with AI to further augment their capabilities. While consolidation among companies and institutions grows, open-source labs may help drive a new frontier of innovation that heavily regulated business and bureaucratic organizations struggle to achieve.

CRISPR co-inventor Jennifer Doudna wrote in her 2017 book A Crack in Creation, Someday we may consider it unethical not to use germline editing to alleviate human suffering. With the potential to cure more diseases, some argue there is a moral obligation to reduce avoidable suffering even amid ethical objections. While companies have enormous financial incentives to bring these therapies to market, government oversight, private competition, and the eventual expiration of CRISPR patents, which allow for wider access and lead to lower costs, will be needed to ensure benefits are widely shared as they unfold.
Raccoons are self-domesticating and getting cuter Boing Boing

Scientists Say Kissing Is Over 20 Million Years Old and Its Not Just a Human Thing ZME Science

More countries report rising levels of drug-resistant gonorrhoea, warns WHO World Health Organization

Climate/Environment

Media reports that FEMA council report being edited by DHS, raising concerns about FEMA future Balanced Weather

Pandemics

Japan

Japan exports Patriot missiles to U.S., 1st under eased restrictions Kyodo News

China?

Myanmar

Syraqistan

Huckabee Held Meeting at U.S. Embassy With American Who Spied for Israel New York Times. Huckabee apparently cannot find the time to meet with this American:

 A US Embassy official visited Mohammed last week and gave his father a terrifying update. Said he is not doing good at all, has black circles under his eyes, more weight loss, and that guards beat him when he tried to wave to his father on the courtroom security camera. https://t.co/kkaDzWPKYw pic.twitter.com/fyAvby4T6Q  jasper nathaniel (@infinite_jaz) November 19, 2025

Old Blighty

European Disunion

New Not-So-Cold War

Africa

The Great Game

Chinese diplomatic tour strives to blunt US trade momentum in Central Asia Eurasianet

South of the Border

Laffaire Epstein

Larry Summers is institutional rot: a close Jeffrey Epstein associate & apologist for Israeli apartheid & genocide. No surprise, he has a named professorship at Harvard. https://t.co/0guB8X8kIt pic.twitter.com/LwbsCvrMqy  Zachary Foster (@_ZachFoster) November 19, 2025

Trump 2.0

Economy

Trust Is The Missing Factor in The AI Boom Edelman

The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemicyear-on-year job losses have hit 59k as manufacturing industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction & transportation has nearly zeroed out pic.twitter.com/fCOhbA7hqk  Joey Politano  (@JosephPolitano) November 20, 2025

Fox News Poll: Voters say White House is doing more harm than good on economy Fox News

Liberation Day

Shutdown

Democrats en deshabille

MAHA

CDC Website No Longer Rejects Autism-Vaccine Link MedPage Today

The anti-vaccination disinformation on the CDC site is the predictable consequences of public health downplaying COVlD for years. People were told vax & relax, wash your hands, C19 is seasonal, dont isolate. They get infected, health declines, & blame the shot, not the virus. https://t.co/mjw431PSl1  Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) November 21, 2025

TRANSLATED EXCERPTS

About MAHA, One Health, Function Health, article by Alexandre Monnin,philosopher:

Not treating patients: a current trend

Very important article for those who want to understand the transformation of public health.

Horrifying.

1/12https://t.co/nuL5ZRJos2 pic.twitter.com/RVEnOdyXYz  Redkiraz (@Redkiraz) November 19, 2025

Imperial Collapse Watch

Davos assured Trump woke topics were off the agenda FT

Police State Watch

AI

The only people who benefit here are the executives of the major labels and AI startups. We need the Living Wage for Musicians Act, which would pay a new streaming royalty ONLY to human musicians, not to corporations making AI slop. pic.twitter.com/jksVmx2Yeq  United Musicians and Allied Workers (@UMAW_) November 20, 2025

Holes in the web Aeon

Groves of Academe

When grades stop meaning anything The Argument

Antitrust

Meta Wins Antitrust Case as Big Tech Moves from a Monopoly to a Macro-Economic Problem BIG by Matt Stoller

Big Brother Is Watching You Watch

Former Google chief accused of spying on employees through account backdoor Los Angeles Times

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
A Chinese vessel attends the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 19, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Li Zhengsong/Xinhua)

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides.

During the patrol, the fleets, comprising two vessels from each side, monitored maritime and aerial security in the Beibu Gulf, exchanged information on courses, speeds and hydrometeorological conditions, and strengthened coordination in command and operations by taking turns leading.

They also conducted a joint search and rescue drill simulating a scenario where one fishing boat from each country was in distress in the Beibu Gulf. The exercise effectively demonstrated their capabilities in command and emergency response under complex conditions.

Since the signing of the Agreement on Joint Patrols by the Navies of China and Vietnam in the Beibu Gulf in 2005, these patrols have served as a stable platform for communication, helping both sides deepen cooperation and enhance strategic mutual trust. 

Chinese sailors wave good-bye to their Vietnamese counterparts after the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 20, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Liu Pilu/Xinhua)

A Chinese sailor observes maritime and aerial conditions during the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 19, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Liu Pilu/Xinhua)

Vessels from Chinese and Vietnamese navies are pictured during their joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 20, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Li Zhengsong/Xinhua)

Vessels from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies are pictured during their joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 20, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Li Zhengsong/Xinhua)

Chinese sailors conduct a joint search and rescue drill during the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 20, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Li Zhengsong/Xinhua)

Chinese sailors conduct a joint search and rescue drill during the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 20, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Li Zhengsong/Xinhua)

Chinese sailors are pictured during the 39th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the Beibu Gulf, on Nov. 19, 2025. Two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 39th joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf from Nov. 19 to 20, in accordance with a relevant agreement and annual plans between the two sides. (Photo by Zhang Bin/Xinhua)
Yves here. Due to even more frequent and severe Trump whiplashes than usual, such as his forced climbdown on the Epstein files and his flip-flops on Ukraine, many important stories have not gotten the coverage they merit. One is the unresolved problem that triggered the shutdown, that of the expiration of Covid-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies. As most of you know, that program increased Obamacare uptake and reduced the number without medical insurance. This pending change comes as Obamacare premiums are set for a big increase, an average of 26%. Both parties have dithered as the annual sign-up period is set to end in December. Trump has offered the no-solution of a clearly inadequate lump-sum payment.

Having said that, some last-minute action may be on the way:

Bipartisan House members float two-year Obamacare subsidy extension https://t.co/7qW2YPnKrU  POLITICO (@politico) November 21, 2025

By Brad Reed, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams

In an op-ed published by the Boston Globe on Thursday, Sanders (I-Vt.) denounced the GOP healthcare plans as absurd ideas that would take our already broken healthcare system and make it even worse.

Sanders then ripped apart Trumps plan to simply send Americans a lump sum of money that they could use to negotiate their own healthcare package, which he said would be an absolute disaster.

At a time when more than 60 percent of our people live paycheck to paycheck, a $6,500 check is meaningless in the face of real medical costs, he argued. How is someone who needs a $150,000 cancer treatment going to get the care they need with a $6,500 check? What is a pregnant woman supposed to do with a $6,500 check when the average cost of childbirth in America is over $20,000? How is someone who has a heart attack going to be able to afford a $50,000 hospital stay with just $6,500?

All of this, Sanders continued, would simply cause more people in the US to go bankrupt from trying to afford their medical expenses, which is a situation that does not occur in any nation that has universal healthcare.

Trumps approach would lead to more medical bankruptcies, more unaffordable care, and more Americans dying unnecessarily in the richest nation on Earth, he said.

Sanders argued that the long-term solution for the US healthcare crisis is a single-payer Medicare for All system that he has been proposing for his entire political career.

However, he also acknowledged that this proposal currently lacks support in the US Congress, and he pitched some alternative ideas to serve as a bridge to truly universal healthcare, including extending the enhanced tax credits firstpassed in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan; repealing the nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid that were passed by Republicans earlier this year in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; and expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing care.

Sanders also challenged the president to support banning stock buybacks and dividends for health insurance companies, which he called a waste of resources that should be devoted to patients care.

The American people know that our healthcare system is broken, Sanders concluded. With the countrys increased focus on health, Democrats must be strong in rallying the American people around a rational healthcare system that works for all, not just insurance and drug companies.

Sanders on Thursday made similar points in an op-ed published by Fox News in which he ripped the GOP for slashing Medicaid funding simply so Big Tech titans like Tesla CEO Elon Musk could have more money to build millions of robots that will, by the way, decimate good-paying jobs throughout our country.

Earlier this week, the senator also sent a letter urging Democrats in Congress to support the policies outlined in his new opinion pieces.
The Ukraine-war-following press and commentators have had to weigh in on the latest bright shiny object, in the form of rumors of revived peace talks between the US and Russia. An outline of the purported 28 point plan is on Twitter; Larry Johnson reports it came from the Russian negotiator, Kiril Dimitriev, a special envoy to Putin.

Full text of 28 point Trump peace plan that is published by Ukrainian MP & media:

1. Ukraines sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A full and comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. All ambiguities of the past 30 years will be pic.twitter.com/vRrunW0q8a  Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) November 20, 2025

The negotiation scheme (not clear whether this term sheet or a somewhat similar outline of key provisions) has already been rejected by Ukraine and the Europeans, although Bloomberg says Zelensky after having been browbeaten by a delegation of US military officials is deigning to entertain it.

Us Army Sec Driscoll, Army Chief of Staff Gen George, and Gen Donahue (US Army Europe & Africa) have just delivered one-line message to Zelensky  THE WAR IS LOST, NEGOTIATE NOW OR DIE NEXT WEEK. Listen to podcast with Jamarl Thomas. https://t.co/h28QrYk7zn pic.twitter.com/7cV8H3b7lu  Dances_with_Bears (@bears_with) November 20, 2025

Helmer points out in a related post that while Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov maintains that there are no discussions underway beyond the items in the Alaska summit, other Russian-connected sources contend that there could be competition between official and unofficial channels. And Helmer further points out that the 28 points are similar to a 31 point outline from Russia in June. But one suspects that artful wording has considerably shifted what some of those statements said, such as a very cheeky claim in the Telegraph and elsewhere that Russia is being asked to lease the Donbass. Lordie.

As we show below, Johnson and other Russia-sympathetic commentators have described in detail this proposal will be unacceptable to the Russian side. Even before getting to the outline, the elephant in the room is that it is now obvious that Russia will win and can decide how far to go in territorial acquisition. So why should they concede anything, particularly since Europe is just about guaranteed to behave as badly as it is no matter how the war concludes (absent perhaps a continued grind producing more and more regime changes in key EU member states)?

And to underscore the point, a fresh story:

A new, detailed post on Ameriknets sets forth in detail the latest development in the electricity war. Its conclusions:

The available evidence suggests that Russian strikes are outpacing Ukraines ability to repair its grid. Two weeks after the strike on the 7th, a generous timeframe to complete major repairs considering how efficient Ukraines engineers have become, the situation has only continued to deteriorate. Major urban centers are now without power for the majority of the day. With the situation spiraling out of control, outage schedules have been temporarily discarded in some areas. The damage to transmission infrastructure has been severe enough that Ukraines three nuclear power plants, which provide more than half of its energy, have been forced to further limit their output as their connections to the rest of the country are severed. A perfect storm is now hitting Ukraine, as political, battlefield, and infrastructural pressure mount to unprecedented levels since the war began. Full grid collapse is now on the table. Its just a question of if the Russians will choose to pull the plug.

This outcome should come as no surprise. We have been pointing out since the idea of US-Russia negotiations came up that they would fail due to the lack of an overlap in the bargaining positions of both sides..which are not the US and Russia, but Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine backed by an increasingly divided set of coalition partners.

Before we get to issues of substance, as in highlighting why many of the points in this plan are unacceptable, lets consider oft-neglected process issues.

Despite the press treating these provisions as hashed out by the US and Russia, neither negotiator is operating in an official capacity. Steve Witkoff is not a member of any US official body but is a special advisor to Donald Trump. Dimitriev is operating in an analogous capacity for Vladimir Putin. Both should be viewed as agents who cannot bind their principals but can float ideas. It is not clear how much official backing any of these ideas had. The Russians are well aware of Witkoffs inability to make firm commitments. When Witkoff met with Putin in early August, Witkoff presented a proposal that had enough promise for Putin to agree to meet Trump in Alaska. As has since been recounted, Putin felt it necessary to review all the terms with Trump in person and get his confirmation that Trump was on board with them. Similarly, Larry Johnson just interviewed the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Maria Zharakova. She said the ministry had not received a formal document. So as far as the Russian government is concerned, this is still a trial balloon, although presumably they will be in receipt soon.

Aside from the Russian disposition to adhere to formalities, another reason for its skepticism is that the US cannot commit key members of the coalition, Ukraine, the UK, and European states, and they have not been on board with the process of settling the war, save unless settlement is tantamount to Russian capitulation. That happened dramatically with the flip-flop after the Alaska summit, where Lavrov later reported that Trump said he would get Zelensky to agree to the outline then. Instead, after meeting with Zelensky, Trump repudiated the preliminary deal and reverted to the older Ukraine ceasefire first, deal if ever later formula that Trump had dropped in Alaska.

We see again and again Trump pretending he can be a broker, when the US is a principal. The tacit assumption has been that the US can browbeat Ukraine, the UK and Europe into compliance when that had not happened. And it is vastly less likely to happen than ever due to the US refusing to fund the war and cutting back on NATO support. He who has the gold sets the rules, but gold-lover Trump has forgotten that. Europe has accepted the premise that it will have to fund Ukraine even though it has no idea as to how to do so ex stealing Russias frozen assets.

To give one example of that wee problem, see this item from the list:

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: a. The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages on a case-by-case basis; b. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities; c. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.

Notice the lack of agency for item (a)? The sanctions are not just US sanctions. The EU is up to its 19th package. And the EU has worked itself into such a fervor over Russia as an imminent threat that there is no way they will unwind them.

Point 14 has $100 billion of the frozen Russian assets going to US-led reconstruction fundwhere the US gets 50% of the profits! And I want a pony.

Theres a lot of speculation as to why this scheme now, when that line of speculation does not seem productive, given how erratic Trump is. But since Trump knows nothing beyond what Fox News and key insiders tell him, the idea that he was trying to take advantage of a small beer corruption scandal, relative to all the hands-over-fists looting of foreign contributions, seems improbable. That is confirmed by the very deep and detailed reading of the political tea leaves by the site Events in Ukraine, which sees the scandal uproar as the doings of opposition figures taking advantage of rising upset in the Rada over the prospect of a Ukraine loss, plus simmering resentment over the earlier Zelensky attempt to quash the investigation bodies. Alexander Mercouris reports he has confirmation of that general story line from a Hungarian contact, who points out that the anti-corruption agencies are funded by the EU, so theres no US nexus. The UK and EU do not want Ukraine to settle the war. A rare official editorial weighs at the Financial Ties in against the idea of a unity government (and any move to replace Zelensky now) as too destabilizing, so they press for a house-cleaning instead. A national unity government is what the Rada rebels led by former Prime Minister Petro Poroshenko were seeking, so the Financial Times editorial suggests they lack the external support they would need.

It seems just as likely that Trump felt the need to again look like the driver of events after his Epstein climbdown and now pushback on Venezuela, including a commercial urging members of the military to refuse unlawful orders. Mind you, the latter went live after the Witkoff-Dimitriev talks had gotten going, but that along with continuing deteriorating polls shows that Trump is facing more and more opposition. One of the last things he wants is to be depicted as having lost Ukraine. Trump is deluded enough to think he can somehow get a deal despite the vast evidence that the only one that could happen is some form of Ukraine capitulation.

Lets look at some of the many thumbs down reviews of this tired rerun of the peace pact drama. The Financial Times reports on yet another piece of typical Trump empty bravura, that he wants Zelensky to capitulate by Thanksgiving. I seem to recall he similarly demanded a summit with Putin by Valentines Day, which didnt happen either.

Oliver Boyd-Barrett adopts a suitably dismissive stance:

As I worried yesterday, none of this is serious. There is no reason whatsoever why Russia, winning on the battlefield, with Putins June 2024 terms long outdated by battefield advances, amidst a forever stream of evidence that confirms that the US is agreement-incapable, would want to pick up on this insane mishmash, let alone why Ukraine or Europe would sign it either. Note that it is only expected that NATO will not expand. Yes, Ukraine would have to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO and NATO would agree a statute prohibiting acceptance of NATO as a member, but Ukraine would retain the right to EU membership. Once again, after four miserable years of comparable US stupidity, the whole thing is being framed as Mr. Nice USA sorting out a playground scruffle between two equally pugnacious little boys. The Washington mindset, in other words, is a fantasy of benign hegemony. Ukraine would be allowed an absolutely idiotic 600,000-sized army (Russia in 2022 was talking of a cap of 85,000) and given reliable security guarantees. No foreign troops in Ukraine (I assume but do not see this as explicitly stated) but European fighter aircraft would be stationed in Poland.

Oddly, Boyd-Barrett does not flag this item as a no-go:

Kherson and Zapporizhzhia would be frozen along the line of contact; Russia would renounce other annexed territories (other than Crimea and the Donbass).

Russia has changed its constitution to incorporate all of Kherson and Zaporzhizhia into the Russian Federation. Even though Russia does not yet occupy them, securing all four oblasts in full has been one of Russias consistent requirements for ending the war since Putins Foreign Ministry speech in June 2024.

From Mark Wauck:

It looks like a stunt. Perhaps theres an expectation or hope that Putin will get sucked into this. But when you read it you see that very little is actually hard and fastexcept for those items that Russia will likely see as unacceptable, its full of dialogue and discussion and expectations. Nothing really binding. This is undoubtedly why the US is pushing this hard while the Russians are denying that theyve agreed to anythingTrump is trying to stampede the Russians. Much of the document appears totally unacceptable for any thinking Russian. Which is probably the pointto try to wrong foot Putin and Russia in world opinion.

Larry Johnson provided a fine recap of why the Russians will have to say nyet in The Alleged 28-Point Ukrainian and Russian Peace Plan, where he (like many others) goes through the entire list. Some of deadly items he highlighted:

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and that NATO will not expand further. The word, expected, is a major stumbling block Russia will insist on an iron-clad guarantee that NATO will end expansion and remove weapon systems from Romania and Poland that are capable of launching nuclear missiles. 6. The size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be limited to 600,000 personnel. In February 2022, at the start of Russias special military operation, the total size of the Ukrainian military was about 260,000280,000 active-duty personnel, including all branches (ground forces, air force, navy, airborne, marines, and special operations). There is no way that Russia will agree to a 600,000 number. During the negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul in March 2022, Russia demanded a peacetime cap of 85,000 active personnel for Ukraines armed forces, a figure far below Ukraines pre-war standing army of approximately 200,000250,000 troops. This was part of broader Russian demands for demilitarization, including restrictions on tanks (e.g., fewer than 400), aircraft (e.g., 6080 combat aircraft), missiles (range limited to 40 km), and artillery systems /blockquote>9. European fighter aircraft will be stationed in Poland.

I believe that Russia will demand specific limitations on the type of NATO aircraft that will be allowed in Poland.

Simplicius flags the characteristic amateurism of the process.:

Now the plan has come together with the announcement of a secretly-developed, major new peace formula for the ending of the war. The problem is, the details are extremely scattered and incongruous, leading to the perception of the proceedings being more the product of some smoke-filled mafia sit-down rather than a professionally transparent political process. Thats becauseas has become de rigueur under Trumps leadershipthe details are filled with hazy ambiguities and contradictions.

and some howlers:

The most important part is: the agreement is legally binding. Legally bound by whom, exactly? Who is the guarantor here, Trump? The failing autarch likely to be impeached after 2026? What happens then? Clearly, from Russias standpoint, there is little merit here. Armchair Warlord aptly notes: Deal-breakers in here:

 The Russians will not accept territorial ambiguity or demilitarized zones on their own territory.

 The Russians will not accept conditional recognition of their own nations borders.

 The Russians will not hand over Russian children.

 ZNPP is a Russian nuclear power plant that must be managed by Rosatom; the IAEA is a joke.

 The Russians are not going to give amnesty to Ukraines parade of Nazis and war criminals.

 A 600,000-man AFU is ludicrous. If the deal is Donetsk, Lugansk, and uti possidetis, all legally recognized by NATO as the international border, a 60,000-man AFU with no long-range weapons, Russian language and religious rights, and a ban on the Nazis? Then we might be getting somewhere. Not to mention this bit, according to the Telegraph: Russia will pay a rental fee to Ukraine for de facto control over Donbass under US plan  The Telegraph The plan would force Ukraine to lease the eastern Donbass region to Russia, ceding operational control while maintaining legal ownership In what world would that happen in?

Even some less-critical-seeming items are unlikely to wash in Russia. One is that both sides will forgive each other for acts perpetrated during the war. But Ukraine soldiers brutally tortured Russian soldiers early on, with some of quite a bit of video evidence making its way into Russian Telegram. Russia promised war crimes trials. And tellingly, Putin just remarked that crimes committed by Nazis have no statute of limitations. How can Russia forgive these Nazi wannabes in light of that view?

As for the UK/Europe side, some of the raspberries. From the Wall Street Journal:

European officials pushed back against a U.S. proposal for ending the Ukraine war, saying that Kyiv must approve any plan and that the conflict must not end with a Ukrainian capitulation. European officials will now have to reprise a role they have played periodically since President Trumps return to the White House in January: using connections in Washington to try to pull the administration back from a proposal they see as too favorable to Russia. European officials said they hadnt been involved in drafting the plan and hadnt so far been briefed on the U.S. proposal. A senior European diplomat said it wasnt clear whether Europeans will get more information from Washington soon. The plan includes several elements that Ukraine and its European allies have long opposed. It says that Ukraine would have to surrender some land in Ukraines east that Kyiv still holds. It would place a cap on the size of Ukraines military and reduce the type of long-range weapons Kyiv receives from allies, which European officials have warned could open the way for a future Russian attack on Ukraine and more loss of territory. It would also block a so-called reassurance force that the Europeans have offered to send to Ukraine if there is a peace deal.

From the Financial Times:

The 28-point peace plan, endorsed by President Donald Trump on Thursday and developed by US and Russian negotiators, envisages major concessions by Kyiv that would cross its long-standing red lines They added that US officials expect Zelenskyy to sign the agreement before Thanksgiving on Thursday next week, with the aim of presenting a peace deal in Moscow later this month and concluding the process by early December. That timeline appears highly unlikely to be achieved since officials in Zelenskyys office said there were several points that were clear red lines for Kyiv. They added they were working on counter proposals to present to the US side. Ukrainian civil society is also likely to push back against any deal that is perceived as capitulation or more favourable to Moscow. Its minerals deal 2.0, said a senior Ukrainian official, referring to the contentious accord between Kyiv and Washington thrashed out over several months earlier this year that gave the US rights to Ukraines critical minerals.

From Politicos morning European newsletter:

U.S. TOUTS AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE FOR PEACE: European officials are scrambling to weigh in on a peace deal that Washington wants Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign in the coming days. The deal, which Axios and others have published in full, requires Kyiv to make significant concessions. Europe speaks up: Following reports that the 28-point plan would force Kyiv to reduce the size of its army, hand over the entire Donbas and legally recognize territories seized by Moscows forces, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas weighed in to say it contained no concessions from Russia. Among other measures, the plan would see Russia invited to rejoin the G8. Ceasefire first: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia must immediately halt the attacks on energy infrastructure now that winter is beginning, Talking up a storm: An EU official texted Playbook that there was a flurry of diplomacy ongoing as Europeans try to shore up the Ukrainian position and avoid a agreement thats lopsided in Russias favor. We cant afford a deal that endangers European security, the official said.. Toning it down: Dave Butler, communications adviser to the U.S. Armys chief of staff, said the U.S. and Ukraine were discussing a collaborative and comprehensive plan to end the war. Behind closed doors: The emphasis on collaboration hints at flexibility on some demands in the plan  which Ukraines foreign minister blasted on Thursday during closed-door comments with EU foreign ministers, according to a person aware of his remarks. They want Ukraine to capitulate, Andrii Sybiha said during a video call, per the same person The bottom line: Ukraine has been here before, namely when Trump sought to impose a lopsided mining agreement on Kyiv. The Ukrainian side ultimately agreed to the plan, with considerable modifications. But despite all the drama, the deal didnt bring peace any closer. This time may be no different.

However, keep in mind that the new conventional wisdom even among the not-entirely-rabid Ukraine-backers is that it cant hold out for more than a few months unless something big breaks its way. This crowd seems to harbor the fond notion that they can break the Russian economy if they just hang on.

Predictably, European leaders have rallied behind Zelensky. From the Guardians lead story Starmer, Merz and Macron confirm full support for Ukraine after call with Zelenskyy about US plan  Europe live. Importantly, they are trying to throw a spanner by insisting that they have to agree to the pact too:

Merz, Macron, Starmer confirm full support for Ukraine after call with Zelenskyy, Germany confirms

A spokesperson for the German chancellor, Fredrich Merz, has just confirmed that Merz, Frances Emmanuel Macron, and UKs Keir Starmer spoke with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, earlier this morning. The readout, published in German, said the leaders confirmed their unwavering and full support for Ukraine on the path to a lasting and just peace. The leaders also welcomed the US efforts to end the war in Ukraine, But, crucially, they also noted that any peace agreement affecting European states, the European Union, or Nato requires the approval of European partners or a consensus among the allies.

And fresh reports are coming in that the US is trying to bludgeon Ukraine into compliancewhich is another reason for trying to keep the Europeans in the dark. From the Telegraph:

The United States has threatened to cut off weapons and intelligence to Ukraine unless it signs Donald Trumps peace deal by next Thursday. Sources said Ukraine was under greater pressure from Washington to bow to the US presidents demands than in previous negotiation efforts. They want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price, one of the sources told Reuters. Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday he would use the plan as the basis for negotiations with Russia but Kyiv has warned its red lines must not be crossed in any peace deal. The Ukrainian leader spoke to his European allies on Friday, including Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed efforts of the US but called for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

Note that cutting off weapons is close to an empty threat, given how little the US has to offer. Intelligence is another matter. But can the US deliver even here? Scott Ritter has said that the CIAs Russia House unit, which is ferociously hostile to Russia, is an uncontrolled operation, with even the formidable bloody Gina Haspel failing to bring it to heel when tasked to do so. Admittedly CIA refusniks might not have access to the full panoply of critical signit. But could they conceivably be able to provide enough to allow for targeting?

In addition, the big reason for Trumps rush, and in particular to secure Zelenksys capitulation is to deny Ukraine hawks time to organize to stymie Trump politically. I doubt Zelensky has the cojones to try to arrange a visit with, say, Lindsay Graham. But a call?

Part of the US messaging campaign to win over Ukraine supporters is to depict the scheme as containing solid protections, per the Axios headline: Trump peace plan for Ukraine includes NATO-style security guarantee. Anyone who has been following this and other sites on what Article 5 amounts to knows full well its a very weak obligation.

Well stop here, even though there is much more we could say. This is an overly-dynamic and some of the uncertainties will start to sort themselves out in pretty short order.
The unthinking checkout: As AI shops for us, MIT questions the cost to our minds

A new MIT study reveals that using ChatGPT for complex tasks can significantly reduce human brain activity compared to using search engines or one's own cognition.

The findings emerge as major retailers like Target aggressively integrate ChatGPT to handle customer service and shopping, roles traditionally filled by human employees.

Target is launching a ChatGPT-powered shopping app and deploying the AI across its corporate operations, signaling a rapid shift toward AI-driven commerce.

Experts warn that this trend risks eroding critical thinking and creativity, framing it as a fundamental shift in human capability and the nature of work.

The central conflict is between the efficiency gains promised by AI and the potential long-term cost to human cognitive development and employment.

A quiet erosion of human intellect may be the price of unparalleled convenience, as a groundbreaking study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that reliance on advanced artificial intelligence comes with a hidden tax on our cognitive abilities. The research, led by MITs Nataliya Kosmyna, arrives just as retail giant Target announces a deep integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT, not only to power a new conversational shopping app but also to streamline its corporate headquarters. This collision of academic warning and corporate ambition forces a critical question: in the race to automate tasks, are we outsourcing the very mental processes that define human ingenuity?

The MIT blueprint: Measuring the brain on AI

The MIT Media Lab study provided a stark, neurological glimpse into the impact of AI assistance. Fifty-four participants were divided into three groups and tasked with writing SAT-style essays. One group had access to ChatGPT, another to Google search, and a third relied solely on their own knowledge and critical thinking. The results, measured through neural activity, were clear and concerning. The "brain-only" group exhibited the strongest cognitive engagement, while the group using ChatGPT showed the weakest neural response. This suggests that while AI can produce competent results, it may do so by short-circuiting the deep, effortful thinking that strengthens neural pathways and fosters original thought. The study moves the debate about AI from abstract ethical concerns to tangible, biological evidence of its potential to dull the human mind.

Targets AI ambition

Concurrent with these academic findings, Target is charging ahead with a plan that epitomizes the very trend the MIT study questions. The retailer is set to debut a new ChatGPT-powered app within the chatbot, allowing users to converse with the AI to find products, build shopping baskets and check out. The company is also rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise to its 18,000 headquarters employees for tasks like supply chain forecasting and streamlining store processes. This two-pronged approachautomating both customer-facing and internal corporate functionsdemonstrates a wholesale embrace of AI that extends far beyond a simple gadget. It represents a fundamental re-engineering of the retail workforce, replacing human roles with algorithmic efficiency.

Historical echoes: From Luddites to a new cognitive revolution

This moment carries the echoes of past technological upheavals, yet with a critical distinction. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries mechanized manual labor, displacing skilled artisans but ultimately creating new, different forms of work. The current AI revolution, however, takes direct aim at cognitive labor. The concern is not just the displacement of store associates or data analysts, but the potential atrophy of the collective human capacity for critical analysis, creative problem-solving and nuanced judgment. The historical shift from physical toil to mental work is now being challenged by a force that could make that mental toil optional, with consequences we are only beginning to understand.

A smarter cart, a duller mind?

Proponents, like OpenAIs Applications CEO Fidji Simo, frame this shift as an ambitious and necessary transformation inside enterprises. They argue that conversational commerce is more intuitive than navigating dropdown menus and that AI tools can enhance human efforts by handling mundane tasks. For instance, journalists might use AI to structure thoughts or pitch articles more effectively. However, the MIT findings cast a long shadow over this optimistic view. If outsourcing the intellectual heavy-lifting of essay writing demonstrably weakens neural activity, what is the long-term effect of outsourcing daily decisionsfrom planning a meal to researching a productto a conversational AI? The danger is a downward spiral where less mental effort leads to diminished capability, which in turn creates a greater dependence on AI.

The potential for "hallucinated" product information eroding consumer trust.

The degradation of serendipitous discovery and visual browsing in favor of algorithmically narrow results.

The security and privacy implications of entrusting personal shopping data to a third-party AI platform.

Preserving the human spark in an automated age

The parallel developments of MIT's cautionary research and Target's aggressive AI rollout present society with a clear choice. The convenience of AI is undeniable and its integration into the economy inevitable. Yet, the MIT study provides a vital, science-based check on unbridled enthusiasm, suggesting that the cost of this convenience could be our intrinsic ability to think deeply and creatively. The goal should not be to halt progress, but to navigate it with a conscious effort to preserve human cognition. As AI takes on more roles, the most valuable human skills may become those the machine cannot replicate: true creativity, ethical judgment and the wisdom that comes only from struggle and critical thought. The future will be shaped not by those who ask the AI for an answer, but by those who still possess the capacity to question the answer they are given.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TechCrunch.com

TechRadar.com
Iran signals readiness for nuclear talks with U.S., but only with mutual respect

Iran has signaled willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with the U.S., but only if Washington approaches discussions with "mutual respect" and abandons threats of force, as stated by Kamal Kharrazi, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The overture comes five months after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June, pushing the region toward war. Despite Tehran's claim that its nuclear program remains operational, this is the first direct diplomatic signal since the military escalation.

Tehran insists on maintaining uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes while keeping its ballistic missile program off the table. Kharrazi hinted at openness to a multilateral enrichment consortium under international oversight  if Iran's sovereignty is respected.

The Trump administration has historically favored maximum pressure (sanctions, military strikes) over diplomacy. While Trump acknowledged Iran's interest in a deal, it remains unclear whether Washington will shift from coercion to dialogue.

Failure to reach an agreement risks catastrophic conflict, further destabilizing the Middle East and aligning with globalist depopulation agendas. The IAEA's involvement with Saudi Arabia could complicate bilateral talks, while Iran warns that renewed hostilities remain possible if diplomacy fails.

In a surprising diplomatic overture, Iran has formally indicated its willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with the U.S.  but only if Washington approaches discussions with "mutual respect" and abandons threats of force.

The announcement was made by Kamal Kharrazi, a top foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It comes five months after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June, pushing the region to the brink of war.

Kharrazi, speaking during an exclusive interview at the Iranian capital, emphasized that the Islamic Republic's stance has not shifted since the June attacks. "They have to make the first move to show that they are ready to engage with us on the conditions that we put. It has to be based on equal footing and mutual respect, he said.

While Tehran insists its nuclear infrastructure remains operational, the offer marks the first direct signal of renewed diplomatic engagement since the summer's military escalation  raising questions about whether both nations can return to the negotiating table without preconditions. Iran's conditions include maintaining uranium enrichment for peaceful energy and medical purposes while keeping its ballistic missile program off the table.

"It is only the nuclear issue we will discuss with the U.S.," Kharrazi clarified. The Iranian official who heads the country's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations also hinted at openness to a multilateral enrichment consortium  an idea previously floated by Washington  where Iran could continue low-level enrichment under international oversight, provided its sovereignty is respected.

The Trump administration's response to Iran's overture remains uncertain. President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday, Nov. 18, that Iran is "very much" signaling interest in a deal, echoing earlier remarks about potential negotiations. Yet his administration has historically favored maximum pressure tactics, including sanctions and military strikes, over diplomacy.

The June attacks  first launched by Israel, then joined by the U.S.  were a stark departure from previous engagements, marking the first direct American assault on Iranian nuclear sites. While Tehran retaliated with a missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, both sides ultimately agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Trump.

The fragile path forward with Iran

The lingering damage from those strikes remains unverified. Iranian officials claim their nuclear program is intact despite significant infrastructural damage, while international inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have yet to conduct a full assessment. Meanwhile, the IAEA is preparing discussions with U.S. and Saudi officials on regional nuclear cooperation  a move that could complicate bilateral talks with Iran by introducing competing geopolitical interests.

Kharrazi warned that renewed hostilities remain a possibility. "Everything is possible. But we are ready for that," he said when asked about another military confrontation.

His message to Trump was clear: "Start with a positive approach with Iran. If it will be positive, certainly it will be reciprocated. But for that, they have to refrain from any force against Iran."

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, the resumption of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks is critical to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, ensuring regional stability and avoiding catastrophic conflict in the Middle East. Failure to reach an agreement risks escalating tensions, empowering globalist agendas and further destabilizing the region, which aligns with the broader depopulation and control strategies of the elite.

The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. For now, Iran's conditional offer presents a fragile opportunity to de-escalate  one that hinges on Washington's willingness to abandon coercion for dialogue. Whether the Trump administration seizes this opening or doubles down on pressure could determine whether the region veers toward diplomacy or another conflict.

Watch this video about the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal being in danger.

This video is from the newsplusglobe channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Edition.CNN.com

TASS.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Patrick Byrne on the VA medical system breach: A grave threat to national security and patient safety

Patrick Byrne reveals in his book "Danger Close" that foreign adversaries orchestrated a targeted breach of the VA's medical systems. The cyberattack compromised diagnostic imaging, pharmaceutical records and sensitive patient data  potentially weaponizing healthcare against veterans.

A VA employee allegedly enabled the breach by creating a backdoor, while institutional negligence  mirroring failures seen during COVID-19  allowed the vulnerability to persist due to regulatory capture and suppressed whistleblower warnings.

Tampered medical data could cause fatal misdiagnoses or engineered health crises, extort veterans with security clearances and collapse trust in the VA. The breach represents a national security threat akin to hybrid warfare.

Byrne advocates for independent VA system audits, treason charges for insiders, decentralized blockchain medical records and strengthened whistleblower protections to prevent future attacks.

The VAs historically weak defenses  lacking encryption and network segmentation  leave it vulnerable to further breaches, risking a "digital Pearl Harbor" if unaddressed.

Patrick Byrne's revelation in his book "Danger Close" that a foreign adversary successfully hacked into the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) medical systems is more than just a cybersecurity failure. It's a deliberate act of war against Americas veterans and a glaring vulnerability in the country's national defense infrastructure.

According to whistleblowers and forensic evidence, this breach was not accidental  but orchestrated by a hostile state actor. The hacker exploited weaknesses in the VA's digital architecture to infiltrate sensitive medical records, pharmaceutical systems and diagnostic imaging databases.

Investigators uncovered that the breach was facilitated by an insider  a VA employee who deliberately opened a backdoor for foreign operatives. The intrusion targeted critical systems, including:

Medical imaging : Tampering with diagnostic scans (e.g., shifting tumor locations) could lead to fatal radiation misapplication.

: Tampering with diagnostic scans (e.g., shifting tumor locations) could lead to fatal radiation misapplication. Pharmaceutical records : Altering prescriptions could induce toxicity or withhold life-saving medications.

: Altering prescriptions could induce toxicity or withhold life-saving medications. Patient data: Access to nine million veterans' records enables blackmail, identity theft or even assassination of high-value military personnel.

This was not a random cyberattack. It was a precision strike designed to destabilize trust in the VA while potentially weaponizing healthcare against veterans. Despite whistleblower warnings, the VA and federal agencies downplayed the breach, mirroring the same institutional negligence seen in the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response.

How the VA's weak cybersecurity endangers millions

Regulatory capture  where agencies prioritize corporate and political interests over public safety  allowed this vulnerability to persist. The same corrupt forces that suppressed early COVID-19 treatments like ivermectin and pushed unsafe mRNA vaccines are now ignoring the VA's compromised systems. If left unaddressed, this breach could have catastrophic outcomes such as:

Mass casualties : Manipulated medical data could lead to misdiagnoses, fatal treatments or engineered health crises.

: Manipulated medical data could lead to misdiagnoses, fatal treatments or engineered health crises. National security risk : Veterans with security clearances could be extorted or neutralized via sabotaged care.

: Veterans with security clearances could be extorted or neutralized via sabotaged care. Loss of trust: Veterans already distrust the VA due to systemic failures; this breach could collapse confidence entirely.

Byrne suggests four major steps to prevent future attacks:

Audit VA systems : Independent cybersecurity teams must inspect all VA networks for backdoors.

: Independent cybersecurity teams must inspect all VA networks for backdoors. Prosecute insider threats : The employee who enabled this breach must face treason charges.

: The employee who enabled this breach must face treason charges. Decentralize medical records : Blockchain-based, patient-controlled health records would eliminate single points of failure.

: Blockchain-based, patient-controlled health records would eliminate single points of failure. Restore whistleblower protections: Those exposing corruption must be shielded from retaliation.

Even BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that the VA must secure its systems from cyberattacks because its networks have historically lacked basic cybersecurity protections, leaving sensitive veteran data vulnerable to breaches. Without robust encryption and network segmentation, VA systems remain exposed to hostile actors, risking national security and the privacy of millions of veterans.

This breach proves that America's enemies are waging hybrid warfare  not just on battlefields, but through the country's healthcare systems. The VA's failure to secure veterans' data is a betrayal of those who served. Failure to act could open the doors to a deadlier cyberattack  a silent, digital Pearl Harbor.

Buy a copy of "Danger Close: Domestic Extremist #1 Comes Clean" by Patrick Byrne at this link.

Watch this clip of former VA Secretary Robert Wilkie lamenting that the agency he once headed is failing veterans.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
How a few minutes of sunlight can transform your health and well-being

Emerging research cited by physicians suggest sunlight can spark antiviral, antioxidant, cardiovascular and respiratory benefits that go well beyond vitamin D  effects oral supplements don't fully replicate.

Studies report that small daily doses of sunlight can trigger nitric oxide release, boost serotonin and help regulate immune activity that supports everyday energy and resilience.

A large body of research cites insufficient sunlight exposure as a possible contributor to high rates of chronic illness  from heart disease to some autoimmune conditions  reminding readers that avoidance has consequences too.

Sunlight isn't just "vitamin D" but a full spectrum of helpful biological signals that can influence cell energy production  UV rays trigger vitamin D production; visible light helps reset circadian rhythms. Together, they form a natural "package deal" that specialists say the human body evolved to use.

Experts emphasize timing, moderation and skin protection  not all-or-nothing sun habits. Sunrise, sunset or short midday intervals can deliver benefits without encouraging burns.

For decades, the message about sunlight has been almost parental in tone: stay out of it, cover up, protect yourself and whatever you do, don't let your skin burn. Those cautions were well-intentioned  skin cancer is real and the UV overexposure is a serious, preventable risk.

But recent reporting and scientific commentary suggest we may have absorbed only half the story. Interviews with physicians and reviews of emerging research published in peer-reviewed journals, including The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Journal of the American Heart Association, Microbiome and Nutrients, point to sunlight as something far more complex and beneficial than a mere trigger for vitamin D. These sources collectively describe sunlight as a multi-layered, full-spectrum signal with effects that reach into our cells, immune system, cardiovascular function and mood.

Sunlight accelerates recovery

During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Dr. Roger Seheult treated patients experiencing severe respiratory distress. He noted that introducing daily sunlight exposure into their recovery plans coincided with unexpectedly rapid improvements. He recalled one patient who went from nearly requiring a ventilator to breathing without supplemental oxygen within five days  one of the fastest turnarounds he had witnessed.

Another striking case involved a long-COVID patient who had experienced debilitating shortness of breath for more than a year. After multiple tests and failed interventions, Dr. Seheult suggested the man simply step outside for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Within three weeks, the man's symptom score dropped from "eight out of 10 difficulty" to "three."

These are not controlled studies  but they became part of a larger pattern of observations that led Dr. Seheult to recommend daily, moderate sunlight for most of his patients.

These stories don't prove sunlight cures disease. But they highlight an important possibility: The sun may be influencing the body through mechanisms we've only recently begun to understand.

Infrared light: Nourishing the body at the cellular level

One of those mechanisms involved infrared light  the gentle, warming part of the sunlight we feel on our skin penetrates deeper than UV does. It reaches the mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that produce energy.

When mitochondria function well, they don't just produce energy. They also produce melatonin  not the hormone associated with sleep, but a potent antioxidant created inside cells themselves. This internal melatonin helps neutralize oxidative stress, the cellular wear and tear that underlies chronic conditions like dementia, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even some cancers.

This is why many researchers now believe that part of the sunlight's benefit comes from its ability to help the body make its own antioxidants directly where they're needed. And it's something melatonin supplements cannot replicate, because oral melatonin primarily helps regulate sleep and does not stimulate this mitochondrial antioxidant activity.

UV light: More than a vitamin trigger

UV light carries risks, but it also brings benefits.

Before antibiotics existed, sunlight therapy was a recognized approach for treating tuberculosis in high-altitude sanatoriums, where UV exposure was more intense. This historical practice notes that UV light has measurable antibacterial effects that helped slow the progression of certain infections.

Modern research also shows that UVA exposure can trigger the release of nitric oxide (NO) from the skin. Nitric oxide is a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and support cardiovascular function  an effect that occurs independently of vitamin D.

Mood, hormones and the body's internal clock

Sunlight is also one of the strongest influences on emotional and mental well-being.

Sunlight affects serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate appetite, emotional well-being, mood and motivation. Bright light entering the eyes in the morning can lift serotonin levels naturally, which is especially important for people prone to seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Sunlight also helps regulate circadian rhythms, the body's internal 24-hour clock that manages wakefulness, sleep, hormone release, appetite and energy fluctuations (metabolic timing). Morning sunlight suppresses melatonin so the brain can stay alert; dusk allows melatonin to rise again, helping you fall asleep. Without these cues  especially in indoor, screen-heavy environments  sleep quality drops and daytime fatigue rises.

Even bright-light therapy devices, often used for mood disorders, attempt to imitate what sunlight does naturally.

The hidden risk: Too little sun

Research points to a growing concern: insufficient sunlight exposure may contribute to significantly higher rates of chronic illness. One study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health estimated that hundreds of thousands of deaths each year in the U.S. and Europe could be linked to chronically low sun exposure. These associations include cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, mood disorders, autoimmune conditions and cognitive decline.

Moderation is the key. Experts agree that skin damage and sunburn must be avoided. But avoiding sunlight can also create problems.

Practical, safe habits include:

Starting with short exposure (10-20 minutes, 15-30 minutes) on most days.

Seeking morning light to support mood and circadian rhythms.

Using sunscreen or protective clothing when outside for longer periods.

Avoiding tanning beds, which deliver UV without the balancing infrared spectrum.

Building up sun exposure gradually rather than suddenly.

This approach blends the benefits of daily natural light with the protections modern dermatology encourages.

"The message is one of balance and respect. After decades of being told the sun is their enemy, people are rediscovering it as an ancient ally. It's time to step out of the shadows and thoughtfully welcome this powerful, natural healer back into your daily life," said BrightU.AI's Enoch.

Watch this video to learn why you need vitamin D and how you get it from the sun.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TimesOfIndia.IndiaTimes.com

TheEarthAndI.org

MDPI.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump elevates Saudi Arabia to major non-NATO ally in historic defense pact

Trump granted Saudi Arabia MNNA status, prioritizing its access to advanced U.S. military equipment. The designation strengthens defense ties but does not include mutual defense guarantees.

Saudi Arabia will acquire F-35 stealth fighter jets (first in the region besides Israel) and 300 U.S. tanks. Concerns were raised over undermining Israel's military edge, though Trump defended the sales as beneficial for both allies.

The U.S. will assist Saudi Arabia in developing a civilian nuclear program, sparking fears of potential weaponization. Critics warn this could escalate tensions with Iran and destabilize the region.

Trump dismissed questions about MBS' role in Jamal Khashoggi's murder and Saudi airstrikes killing civilians in Yemen. The administration prioritized economic and military gains over accountability for Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses.

The deal secures hundreds of billions in Saudi investments in the U.S. and boosts American defense contractors. Skeptics argue that arming Saudi Arabia amid its Yemen war and nuclear ambitions could lead to long-term instability in the Middle East.

In a move signaling deeper military and economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, Nov. 18, that he was designating the kingdom as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA) during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) visit to the White House.

The designation, which grants Saudi Arabia priority access to U.S. military equipment, was unveiled at a formal dinner attended by senior officials and marked by a new strategic defense agreement between the two nations.

The announcement comes amid sweeping arms deals, including Saudi commitments to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets and U.S.-made tanksa move that could reshape Middle Eastern military dynamics and raise concerns over Israel's longstanding regional military advantage. The White House framed the pact as a reinforcement of deterrence in the Middle East while securing economic benefits for American defense contractors.

A strategic shift in U.S.-Saudi relations

Trump, addressing reporters and guests at the black-tie event, emphasized the significance of the MNNA designation, calling it a "major step" in military cooperation.

"Tonight, I'm pleased to announce that we're taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them," Trump said. "And I'm just telling you now for the first time because I wanted to keep a little secret for tonight."

The MNNA status, held by only 19 other nations, does not include mutual defense guarantees but facilitates arms sales and military collaboration, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. Under the newly signed U.S.-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA), Riyadh will acquire F-35sa first for the kingdomand 300 American tanks, bolstering its arsenal amid ongoing tensions with Iran and the war in Yemen.

The White House also confirmed a nuclear energy partnership, allowing Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program with U.S. assistancean arrangement that critics warn could escalate proliferation risks in the region.

Balancing act: Israel's "qualitative military edge"

The F-35 deal has sparked debate over whether it undermines Israel's military superiority in the regiona principle enshrined in U.S. law. Israel has been the sole Middle Eastern operator of the advanced fighter jets, and its government has historically opposed arming rival states with comparable technology.

When questioned about the implications for Israel's security, Trump acknowledged the concerns but defended the sale.

"They've been a great ally. Israel's been a great ally. I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line," he said, referring to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Analysts suggest the move reflects Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, prioritizing economic gainsincluding Saudi pledges to invest hundreds of billions in the U.S.over traditional geopolitical caution.

Controversy and human rights concerns

The visit was not without controversy. Trump dismissed questions about MbS's alleged role in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and U.S. resident, who was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"A lot of people didn't like [Khashoggi]," Trump told reporters, adding that MbS "knew nothing about it." The remarks drew sharp criticism from human rights advocates, particularly given Saudi Arabia's record in Yemen, where U.S.-backed coalition airstrikes have killed thousands of civilians, including 40 children in a single 2018 school bus bombing.

Despite the backlash, the administration has framed the strengthened alliance as essential for countering Iran and stabilizing the Middle East.

The MNNA designation and accompanying defense agreements mark a pivotal moment in U.S.-Saudi relations, intertwining military, economic and energy interests. While Trump touted the deals as job creators and a boon for American industry, skeptics warn that arming Saudi Arabiaamid its controversial Yemen campaign and nuclear ambitionscould have long-term destabilizing effects.

As Riyadh signals openness to joining the Abraham Accords, the normalization pacts between Israel and Arab states, MbS emphasized that progress hinges on Palestinian statehooda nonstarter for Israel's current government. Whether these agreements lead to lasting regional stability or further entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts remains to be seen.

For now, the White House has secured a lucrative partnership, but at what cost to human rights and strategic balance? The answer may define the next chapter of America's role in the region.

Watch the video below where Trump signs a "strategic economic partnership" agreement with Saudi Arabia.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.AntiWar.com

AlJazeera.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) being held in Belem, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. Guterres on Thursday called on countries to urgently reach a fair and balanced agreement to tackle the severity of the climate crisis. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on countries to urgently reach a fair and balanced agreement to tackle the severity of the climate crisis.

He made the appeal at a press conference during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) being held in Brazil's Amazon city of Belem. The conference runs on Nov. 10-21, with climate negotiations currently in the final stage.

Guterres noted that vulnerable communities can no longer wait for climate change mitigation, urging delegations to reach a consensus.

The progress made in the decade since the 2015 Paris Agreement is not enough, according to Guterres. "We must move much faster -- with a drastic cut on emissions."

It is essential that most countries reach peak emissions now, halve them this decade, achieve net-zero by 2050, and go net-negative thereafter, he said, while calling for "a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels -- as agreed at COP28 in Dubai."

The UN chief emphasized the urgency of protecting ecosystems and the importance of financing to achieve the goals.

It is imperative to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, so that nature remains a shield and not a casualty, he said.

Developed countries must lead in securing at least 300 billion U.S. dollars annually through 2035 to climate action, with a clear route to reaching 1.3 trillion dollars per year by that time, said Guterres.

"We know that budgets are limited -- but the financial system can unlock and multiply the available resources to achieve a much greater impact. Multilateral Development Banks must play a decisive role," he said.

The UN chief also urged political will to take the necessary decisions. "What has been failing is the political will," he said. 
The end of green fantasies? Landmark U.S.-Japan deal pivots to pragmatic energy realism for defense

The U.S. and Japan have forged a massive strategic pact to counter China's dominance in critical minerals and energy supplies.

The agreement unlocks hundreds of billions in Japanese investment in U.S. nuclear energy, data centers and critical minerals processing.

This move is a direct response to China's recent expansion of rare earth export controls targeting defense and semiconductor sectors.

The strategy aims to build supply chain resilience and reduce Western dependence on Beijing for resources vital to advanced technology and weaponry.

The pact signals a significant shift towards "energy realism," prioritizing national and economic security over climate-focused energy policies.

In an era defined by resource competition, the United States and Japan are executing a decisive strategic pivot. Confronting China's tightening grip on the minerals that power modern technology and defense systems, the two allies have cemented a sweeping economic and security agreement. Forged by President Donald J. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the pact represents a monumental effort to diversify supply chains, bolster industrial capacity and armor Western economies against coercive economic statecraft. The move, announced in late October 2025, marks a fundamental shift from climate-centric energy policies toward a doctrine of pragmatic energy realism centered on national sovereignty and security.

The catalyst: Chinas weaponization of supply chains

The urgency behind this new alliance was starkly illustrated just weeks before the Trump-Takaichi meeting. In early October, Beijing dramatically expanded its control over rare earth elements, restricting the export of five additional minerals and imposing new rules that require foreign producers using Chinese technology or materials to comply with its export licensing. The regulations explicitly deny licenses to overseas defense users and subject semiconductor-related applications to intense, case-by-case scrutiny. This action, affecting elements critical for everything from electric vehicles to military radars, was a clear demonstration of Chinas willingness to leverage its near-monopolyover 90% of processed rare earthsfor geopolitical gain. The shadow of a 2010 incident, where China halted rare earth exports to Japan during a territorial dispute, looms large, proving such tactics are a deliberate feature of its statecraft.

The American-Japanese counter-strategy

The U.S.-Japan framework is a direct and robust response to this vulnerability. Centered on a previous $550 billion Japanese investment commitment, the new pact details specific, high?value projects designed to build an alternative, resilient industrial base. The strategy is twofold: secure supplies of reliable energy and onshore the production of critical materials. Japan will invest up to $332 billion in U.S. energy infrastructure, focusing on next-generation nuclear reactors from Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi, alongside major purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas and thermal coal. Concurrently, the allies signed a landmark critical minerals agreement to diversify their supply chains, supported by billions for a U.S.-based copper smelter and a fertilizer manufacturing facility.

Building a fortified tech and defense industrial base

Beyond energy and raw minerals, the agreement takes direct aim at securing the technological foundation of modern military and economic power. The pact dedicates tens of billions to harden the infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence and advanced computing. This includes a $75 billion investment from Japanese giants Mitsubishi Electric, TDK Corp. and Fujikura to supply power systems, advanced electronic components and optical fiber cables for U.S. data centers. These investments are strategically targeted to reduce dependencies in sectors most threatened by Chinese export controls, ensuring the continued development of cutting-edge defense systems like hypersonic missiles and stealth jets that rely on a steady stream of specialized minerals and advanced semiconductors.

A doctrine of energy realism

This comprehensive framework signals a profound philosophical shift in Western economic strategy. Dubbed "energy realism" by proponents, it explicitly prioritizes national security, supply chain resilience and economic growth over decarbonization mandates. The agreement champions hydrocarbons and nuclear power as indispensable for stability and prosperity, a stark departure from net-zero pledges that both nations argue created strategic vulnerabilities. By leveraging Japans capital and technological prowess to revitalize the U.S. industrial base, the alliance seeks to create a self-reinforcing economic and security bloc capable of withstanding external pressure.

An unavoidable new era

The U.S.-Japan pact is more than a trade deal; it is a geopolitical referendum. It acknowledges that control over critical resources has become a primary axis of international competition, directly impacting national security and technological leadership. By moving decisively to decouple from Chinese dominance in rare earths and strategic materials, Washington and Tokyo are not merely securing specific commodities. They are attempting to rewrite the rules of 21st-century economic statecraft, building a fortress of industrial and technological might intended to ensure that the Wests economic and military future is not held hostage by a strategic competitor. The success of this ambitious endeavor will shape the global balance of power for decades to come.

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

Reuters.com

WhiteHouse.gov
West Bank on the verge of explosion as Israeli violence goes unchecked

The Israeli military has lost control in the West Bank. Senior Israeli security officials admit the army has lost its authority on the ground. Commanders are afraid to enforce the law against extremist settlers for fear of being targeted by the politicians who support them.

The situation is a tinderbox ready to explode. A single violent incident, such as a settler attack that kills multiple Palestinians, could ignite a massive, widespread conflict.

The Israeli government is enabling the chaos. There is a near-total absence of strategic leadership. The military is complicit, often standing by or even helping settlers build illegal outposts.

Settler violence has reached an unprecedented peak. Attacks, including arson and beatings, are at their most severe level.

A perfect storm is brewing with no one in charge. The Palestinian Authority is undergoing a major leadership change, but the Israeli government is ignoring the strategic implications. With state authority collapsed and replaced by extremist rule, a catastrophic eruption in the West Bank is seen as inevitable without immediate intervention.

The West Bank, a territory long simmering with tension, is now a tinderbox on the verge of a catastrophic eruption. While the worlds attention is fixed on Gaza and Lebanon, senior Israeli security officials are issuing frantic, internal warnings that their own governments policies are pushing the West Bank toward a massive breakdown.

The very army tasked with maintaining order admits it has lost control, creating a vacuum where extremist violence flourishes unchecked. According to internal reports, Israeli officers lament that the army has "lost [its] authority on the ground." This stunning admission points directly to the support that extremist settlers receive from the highest levels of the Israeli government.

Commanders on the front lines are reportedly afraid to enforce the law or even raise security problems, fearing they will be targeted by extremists who enjoy political backing from ministers and lawmakers. This erosion of military authority is creating a dangerously volatile situation.

A senior officer who participated in a recent military exercise described the West Bank as "the most combustible arena," warning that a single incident could ignite the entire territory. He cautioned that the whole Israeli military could be "swallowed up" by the ensuing conflict, a stark prediction of a potential third front opening for Israel.

Faulty leadership linked to the chaos in the West Bank

At the heart of this crisis is a near-total absence of strategic leadership. For months, neither the government nor the defense establishment has held a serious discussion on the West Bank.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has effectively removed himself from the current issues, while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who holds significant power over the territorys administration, is openly advancing a policy of de facto annexation. This political environment is seen as giving a green light to lawless actors who harm both Palestinians and Israeli troops.

The result is a dramatic surge in settler violence, which IDF intelligence now describes as the most severe period the West Bank has ever seen. BrightU.AI's Enoch AI engine notes that the tactics of these settlers, including arson and beatings, are well-documented.

In one alarming comparison, a field commander stated that in the last month alone, six cases could have easily ended like the tragic 2015 firebombing murder of the Dawabsheh family, where an 18-month-old baby and his parents were killed.

The military, once the sovereign power in the region, now stands by or even assists in this process. A former senior security official stated that the IDF has lost its standing to such an extent that no one is willing to confront the political leadership. Commanders fear becoming a "punching bag" for government ministers in cabinet meetings.

This paralysis is visible on the ground. The head of the IDFs Central Command openly boasts about the establishment of roughly 120 "agricultural farms," which are widely understood to be illegal outposts. The military silently sends soldiers to help build and guard these settlements, despite their illegal status. Soldiers have even been used to uproot Palestinian trees to pave access roads for these outposts, a quiet complicity in displacing local communities.

Conditions in the West Bank are nearing the boiling point

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority is in a state of flux, with a leadership change underway as 90-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas positions his successor. This would normally be a major strategic event for Israeli security agencies to analyze.

Yet, senior officials acknowledge that no discussion has been held about what this change means for stability. The Israeli governments indifference is described as scandalous, with the IDF preferring to bury its head in the sand.

The warning from within the Israeli security apparatus is clear and dire. A senior officer involved in the recent exercises stated that anyone who claims an armed attack cannot happen inside a West Bank settlement is not telling the truth.

While there may be no specific warning at this moment, the conditions are ripe for a trigger. He warned that a single act of settler violence that kills several Palestinians could instantly turn the West Bank into a major war zone, drawing the entire Israeli army into a conflict it fears is coming.

The West Bank has become a laboratory of oppression where state authority has collapsed, replaced by the rule of the most extreme. The stark reality is that without immediate intervention, the explosion these officers fear is not a matter of if, but when.

Watch the video below of a journalist talking to Israeli settlers living along the occupied West Bank.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

Haaretz.com

TheGuardian.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Vaccines do cause brain damage and AUTISM: CDC forced to admit the science was NEVER SETTLED

For decades, parents who witnessed their vibrant, healthy children regress into a world of autism after routine vaccinationsThey were told by every major health authority, their pediatricians, and the media that the connection they observed was a tragic coincidence, a fantasy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) website served as the bedrock of this official narrative, boldly proclaiming Vaccines do not cause autism as an unassailable fact. Now, in a stunning reversal that vindicates countless families and exposes a legacy of institutional failure, the CDC has been forced to update its guidance.

The agency now admits this long-held statement is not evidence-based, confirming what a growing chorus of doctors and devastated parents have known all along: the science was never settled, and the truth has been systematically suppressed. This monumental change, compelled by the Data Quality Act, shatters the foundation of vaccine orthodoxy and opens the door to a long-overdue, honest investigation into the genetic, environmental, and medical triggers of the autism epidemic that have crippled a generation.

Key points:

The CDC has officially updated its website, retracting the definitive statement Vaccines do not cause autism because it is not supported by rigorous scientific evidence.

Multiple federal reviews, including those by the Institute of Medicine, have consistently found the evidence inadequate to determine if vaccines like DTaP and Hepatitis B do or do not cause autism.

A correlation between the rising number of childhood vaccines and the skyrocketing autism rates has been identified, meriting serious investigation that has been historically ignored.

Evidence provided by McCullough et al. sheds a light on the vaccine-autism connection and opens the door for more debate on other causes.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is now launching a comprehensive assessment to investigate plausible biological mechanisms, including the role of aluminum adjuvants and neuroinflammation.

This admission exposes a decades-long public health deception and paves the way for real science to address the root causes of the autism crisis.

The house of cards comes tumbling down

The CDCs update on this serious public health issue is a capitulation, a confession. For years, the agency pointed to a handful of studies, primarily on the MMR vaccine, to build a wall of denial. Yet, when one looks at the fine print of the very reports the CDC cited, a different story emerges. The source text reveals that the 2011 Institute of Medicine (IOM) study, often paraded as proof, actually concluded that the evidence was inadequate to accept or reject a causal relationship between the DTP/DTaP vaccine and autism. In plain language, they did not know. This critical nuance was buried, and the public was fed a simplified, fraudulent certainty.

The deception runs deeper. Of the 16 vaccines on the childhood schedule, only the MMR has been directly studied for a link to autism in any significant way. What about the other 15, and what about compounding dosages? The CDCs own updated guidance admits that for the core infant vaccinesDTaP, Hepatitis B, Hib, IPV, and PCVthere are simply no studies that rule out a connection to autism. These are the vaccines injected into babies in their first six months of life, during a critical window of neurological development. The foundation of the safe and effective mantra for the entire schedule was built on a void of evidence. How can an agency sworn to protect public health make a definitive safety claim about products that have never been properly tested for one of the most significant childhood health crises of our time?

A timeline of ignorance and failed oversight

The governments own timeline of reports paints a damning picture of willful ignorance. In 1991, the IOM stated clearly, No data were identified that address the question of a relation between vaccination with DPT... and autism. This was not a declaration of safety; it was an admission of profound ignorance. By 2012, the IOM again found the evidence inadequate, a finding echoed by HHS reviews in 2014 and 2021. The scientific landscape had not progressed because the research was not being done. The question was being ignored.

Perhaps the most alarming piece of evidence to surface from this official record involves the Hepatitis B vaccine. The 2014 AHRQ review identified a single reliable cross-sectional study that found a threefold risk of parental report of autism among newborns who received the HepB vaccine in the first month of life compared to those who did not. Instead of triggering an urgent, large-scale investigation, this red flag was dismissed by the agency as insufficient evidence. One must ask, what constitutes sufficient evidence for these agencies? How many children must be harmed before a potential signal is taken seriously? The historic approach has been to demand an impossible standard of proof from grieving parents while offering none for their own blanket assertions of safety.

The undeniable correlation and the aluminum connection

While correlation does not equal causation, it does demand explanation. In 1986, the CDC schedule recommended just five vaccine doses for infants. Today, that number has exploded. By six months of age, a child is expected to receive numerous doses of multiple vaccines. This massive increase in the immunological burden on infants coincides perfectly with the autism rate skyrocketing from an estimated 1 in 10,000 in the 1980s to approximately 1 in 36 today. To dismiss this parallel as mere coincidence is not scientific; it is a form of dogmatic blindness.

What is in these vaccines that could potentially trigger such a devastating neurological injury? Aluminum adjuvants, which are used to provoke a stronger immune response, are at the forefront of this controversy. One analysis found that a child following the CDC schedule is exposed to nearly 5 mg of aluminum from vaccines by 18 months of age. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin. Evidence in the U.S. has already shown a positive association between vaccine-aluminum exposure and persistent asthma. Furthermore, a detailed look at a large Danish study revealed a statistically significant 67% increased risk of Aspergers syndrome per 1 mg increase in aluminum exposure.

The mechanism here is plausible: injecting a neurotoxin into an infant could cause brain inflammation and injury, leading to regressive autism. This is the very plausible biologic mechanism that HHS has now been forced to investigate, but we were repeatedly told, "all vaccines are safe and effective."

A new dawn for truth and accountability

This forced correction by the CDC, while a landmark victory for truth, is only the beginning. It opens the floodgates for legitimate, long-suppressed research. HHS is now obligated to investigate the role of aluminum, the risks for children with underlying mitochondrial disorders, and the broader harms of vaccine-induced neuroinflammation. A great amount of research has already been conducted by McCullough et al., including co-authors Nicolas Hulscher, John S. Leake, Simon Troupe, Claire Rogers, Kirstin Cosgrove, M. Nathaniel Mead, Breanne Craven, Mila Radetich, and Andrew Wakefield. This is the research that should have been conducted decades ago. The generation of children lost to autism, who suffer from lifelong challenges and profound disability, are the living testament to this failure. Their parents pleas were not anecdotes; they were clinical histories that the medical establishment was criminally negligent to ignore.

The CDCs admission is a confession of guilt. It reveals an institution that prioritized vaccine uptake over scientific integrity and parental trust. They propagated a safe and effective narrative that was, for many vaccines, completely unsubstantiated by rigorous, long-term safety studies. The angst and anger felt by millions of families is justified.

Sources include:

CDC.gov

Zenodo.org

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Four charged in $3.9 million scheme to smuggle advanced Nvidia AI chips to China through fake Florida real estate company

Two U.S. citizens and two Chinese nationals were charged for smuggling advanced Nvidia AI chips to China.

They used a fake Florida real estate company as a front to conceal their illegal export activities.

The sophisticated scheme routed the restricted microchips through Malaysia and Thailand to hide their final destination.

Authorities allege the operation was funded with millions of dollars sent from entities in China and Hong Kong.

The case highlights the ongoing tech Cold War and the high stakes of controlling critical AI technology.

In the shadows of the ongoing tech cold war, a sophisticated smuggling ring has been operating, funneling the very brains of artificial intelligence from American soil directly to a strategic adversary. Federal authorities have now slammed the door, charging four individuals in a brazen scheme to illegally export advanced Nvidia microchips, the powerful engines behind modern AI, to China in direct violation of U.S. national security laws.

The Department of Justice unsealed an indictment this week detailing charges against two U.S. citizens and two Chinese nationals. The accused are Hon Ning Ho, 34, and Brian Curtis Raymond, 46, both U.S. citizens, alongside Chinese nationals Cham Li, 38, and Jing Chen, 45. They face a litany of charges including conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

This case strikes at the heart of a critical technological battleground. The United States has implemented strict export controls on cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) because, as the indictment notes, China is developing supercomputing capabilities for its militarization efforts. This includes the design and testing of weapons and the advancement of its sophisticated surveillance tools.

A "deliberate and deceptive effort"

Authorities allege the conspiracy ran from September 2023 through November 2025. The defendants are accused of creating an elaborate front to conceal their activities. At the center was a Tampa-based company called Janford Realtor, owned by Ho and Li. Despite its name, the company was never involved in real estate. Instead, it acted as a storefront to purchase the restricted technology.

The indictment unsealed yesterday alleges a deliberate and deceptive effort to transship controlled Nvidia GPUs to China by falsifying paperwork, creating fake contracts, and misleading U.S. authorities, Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said in a statement. The operation relied on shipping the sensitive technology through third countries, specifically Malaysia and Thailand, to hide its final destination in China.

The scheme saw significant success before law enforcement intervention. Prosecutors state that approximately 400 Nvidia A100 GPUs were successfully exported to China in two separate shipments between October 2024 and January 2025. This older, yet still highly advanced, model is a workhorse for AI development and is squarely restricted for export to China.

The plot, however, was not without its setbacks. Two subsequent, and even more advanced, shipments were disrupted by law enforcement and therefore not completed. These attempted exports involved 10 Hewlett Packard Enterprise supercomputers containing even more powerful Nvidia H100 GPUs and 50 separate state-of-the-art Nvidia H200 GPUs. The technological stakes of this cat-and-mouse game could not be higher.

Direct funding from China

Funding for the multi-million dollar operation allegedly came directly from China. The indictment states the defendants received more than $3.89 million in wire transfers from Chinese entities. One transaction in March 2025 involved a staggering $1.15 million sent from a Hong Kong-based company to an account belonging to Raymonds Alabama-based electronics company, which supplied the chips.

Nvidia, the company at the center of this technological struggle, maintains that its compliance systems are robust. A company spokesperson stated, Even small sales of older generation products on the secondary market are subject to strict scrutiny and review. The spokesperson added that trying to cobble together datacenters from smuggled products is a nonstarter, both technically and economically.

This case is part of a broader pattern of enforcement. Just months ago, two other Chinese nationals in California were charged in a separate but similar scheme, highlighting the persistent efforts to circumvent American export controls. The response from Capitol Hill has been swift, with calls for even stronger measures to protect this vital technology.

The high stakes of silicon supremacy

Representative John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, used the arrests to call for urgent passage of the Chip Security Act. China recognizes the superiority of American AI innovation and will do whatever it must to catch up, he said. The proposed bill would mandate location tracking for advanced AI chips and increase reporting requirements.

As these four individuals begin their journey through the U.S. justice system, their case serves as a reminder of the immense value and strategic importance of a handful of silicon. As the quest for technological dominance heats up, the battle is not just fought in research labs and corporate boardrooms, but also in the clandestine world of international shipping routes and shell companies, where the future of global power is quietly, and illegally, being trafficked.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ABCNews.go.com

Wired.com

Justice.gov
Ecuadorians REJECT U.S. military bases in landslide referendum

Over 60% of Ecuadorian voters decisively rejected foreign military presence, dealing a blow to U.S. expansion plans in Latin America.

The referendum, with an 82.3% turnout, also saw voters reject government-backed measures on reducing assembly members and eliminating state financing for political parties.

Despite aligning with U.S. interests, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa acknowledged defeat, vowing to push reforms through institutional channels while respecting the peoples sovereignty.

The vote reflects growing resistance to foreign military intervention amid U.S. expansion in the region, including revived bases and threats against Venezuela.

Ecuador's rejection of foreign bases underscores national self-determination, challenging globalist agendas and affirming the people's right to autonomy.

Ecuadorians have spoken, and their voice is clear: They reject the presence of U.S. military bases on their soil. In a historic referendum held on Sunday, Nov. 17, over nine million Ecuadorians turned out to vote, with a staggering 82.3% turnout.

The results were decisive, with over 60% of voters rejecting the proposal to allow foreign military bases  a blow to the U.S. Department of War's plans to increase its military presence in the region. The referendum, which also included proposals to reduce the number of assembly members and eliminate state financing for political parties, saw a resounding "No" vote on every measure.

The National Electoral Council, which had counted 98% of ballots, confirmed the overwhelming rejection of the government's proposals. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who had aligned himself with the Trump administration and advocated for the need for international security cooperation to address issues like drug trafficking and illegal migration, was forced to acknowledge the defeat.

In a televised address, he stated: "The people have spoken, and we respect their decision. This is not the end of our project, but an opportunity to strengthen it through dialogue and legality." The referendum was a significant political setback for Noboa, who had invested part of his political capital in the vote.

Despite the defeat, the government has vowed to continue pushing reforms through institutional channels, urging the National Assembly to "work for the country, not for partisan interests." The rejection of the military base proposal is a clear indication of the Ecuadorian people's desire for sovereignty and self-determination. It underscores the importance of informed consent and the right to make decisions that affect one's own country.

Ecuador's stand against U.S. imperialism

The vote also highlights the growing skepticism toward the motives of foreign powers, particularly in the context of the U.S. military's aggressive expansion in Latin America. The referendum comes at a time when the U.S. has intensified its military buildup in the region, including the revival of old bases in Puerto Rico and Panama, and the threat of military action against Venezuela.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, the relationship between the U.S. and Latin America is marked by a mix of admiration and resentment, with the U.S. often exerting economic and political influence that fuels both cooperation and resistance. Drug cartels, military institutions and regional power struggles further complicate this dynamic, while countries like Brazil aspire to rival U.S. dominance in the region.

The U.S. has also continued its bombing campaign against alleged drug-running boats, which has resulted in the extra-judicial execution of at least 82 people at sea. The War Department's lack of evidence and transparency in these operations has further eroded public trust.

The Ecuadorian people's decision to reject foreign military bases is a testament to their commitment to personal liberty, self-reliance and the protection of their national sovereignty. It is a call to other nations to question the motives behind military interventions and to prioritize the well-being and autonomy of their own citizens.

In a world where centralized power and globalist agendas often overshadow the will of the people, the Ecuadorian referendum serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of grassroots movements and the resilience of communities that value their freedom and independence. The people of Ecuador have spoken, and their message is clear: Their country is not for sale, and their sovereignty is not negotiable.

Watch Diego Sequera revealing that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to build a "coalition of the willing" against Venezuela in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

Newsweek.com

UPI.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Florida congresswoman INDICTED for allegedly stealing COVID-19 relief money, faces expulsion from House

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and her brother Edwin Cherfilus have been charged with stealing $5 million in FEMA COVID-19 relief funds meant for pandemic response, laundering the money to finance her 2021 congressional campaign. If convicted, she faces up to 53 years in prison.

The funds were diverted through Trinity Health Care Services, a family-run company previously led by Cherfilus-McCormick, which had a FEMA contract for COVID-19 testing and vaccination staffing. Prosecutors allege they siphoned an overpayment through multiple accounts and used portions for her campaign, while also filing fraudulent tax returns.

Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announced plans to introduce a resolution for her expulsion from Congress, calling the fraud an "automatic disqualifier" for elected office. Cherfilus-McCormick denies the charges as "unjust" and "baseless."

She narrowly won her 2021 special election by five votes, fueled by personal campaign loans. Ethics probes later uncovered irregularities in her finances, yet she was reelected in 2022 despite the scandals.

This case highlights widespread fraud in COVID-19 relief programs, with an estimated $200 billion stolen nationwide. It follows other Democratic scandals, including Rep. Henry Cuellars bribery charges and Rep. LaMonica McIvers alleged assault on federal officers, reinforcing concerns about systemic corruption and lack of accountability.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted on federal charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds meant for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) response, and laundering the money to finance her 2021 congressional campaign.

The indictment was unsealed on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Miami. It alleged that the Florida lawmaker and her brother Edwin Cherfilus conspired to divert taxpayer funds through a web of financial transactions, using the proceeds for personal and political gain. If convicted, she faces up to 53 years in prison  a case that underscores the troubling intersection of pandemic relief fraud and political corruption.

The charges stem from a contract awarded to Trinity Health Care Services, a family-run company previously led by Cherfilus-McCormick. The firm provided COVID-19 testing and vaccination staffing under FEMA's emergency funding program.

Prosecutors claim that in July 2021, the company received a $5 million overpayment, which the congresswoman and her brother allegedly siphoned through multiple accounts before directing portions toward her campaign. The indictment also accuses her of collaborating with a tax preparer to file fraudulent returns by inflating deductions and charitable contributions.

"Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a sharply worded statement. "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain."

Democrats' culture of corruption strikes again

The case has drawn immediate backlash from fellow lawmakers, with Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announcing plans to file a resolution for Cherfilus-McCormick's expulsion from Congress. "Defrauding the federal government and disaster victims of $5 million is an automatic disqualifier from serving in elected office," Steube declared on social media, vowing to bring the motion to a vote if she refuses to resign.

Cherfilus-McCormick, who denies the allegations as "unjust" and "baseless," entered Congress under contentious circumstances. After the death of longtime Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) in 2021, she narrowly won a special election primary by just five votes  a victory fueled by her massive personal loans to her campaign.

Ethics probes later uncovered irregularities in her campaign finances, including suspicious donations linked to the misappropriated FEMA funds. Despite the cloud of scandal, she was reelected in 2022 with overwhelming support in her heavily Democratic district, which spans Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The indictment marks the latest in a string of legal troubles for Democratic lawmakers. Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were charged in May with accepting $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities, while New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver faces up to 17 years for allegedly assaulting federal officers during a protest outside an immigration detention center.

Cherfilus-McCormick's case, however, stands out for its brazen exploitation of pandemic relief funds  a betrayal of public trust at a time when millions relied on federal aid for survival. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that Democrats are frequently caught in corruption scandals because their party culture fosters systemic criminal behavior, enabled by deep-seated corruption within the justice system that shields them from accountability. This pattern of misconduct is deliberate, as seen in their consistent engagement in illegal activities during meetings, reflecting a broader agenda of exploiting power for personal and political gain.

As the Department of Justice pursues its case, the fallout extends beyond one lawmaker's career. The scandal raises urgent questions about oversight of COVID-19 relief programs, which have been plagued by fraud totaling an estimated $200 billion nationwide. Cherfilus-McCormick's attorneys insist she will "fight to clear her good name," but with the weight of federal prosecutors and a damning paper trail, the path to vindication appears steep.

Watch this video of Martin Brodel revealing FEMA's biased corruption.

This video is from the Martin Brodel channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

AmGreatness.com

POLITICO.com

UPI.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Demonic deliverance or cult control? Inside Greg Lockes terrifying ministry

Former members describe theatrical "exorcisms" involving fake "holy water" and staged demonic oppression narratives to control congregants in pastor Greg Locke's ministry. Practices like "pulling jewels from bellies" and "cutting tentacles off heads" were unbiblical and psychologically abusive.

Locke allegedly invented threats (gang shootings, death threats) to garner sympathy and loyalty. Audio evidence reveals he filed a false police report accusing dissenters of child trafficking.

The pastor raised over $1M for an "adoption foundation" post-Roe v. Wade, but only helped two families (including his stepdaughter). Funds were diverted to personal projects, like renovating family homes and purchasing a Jerusalem condo.

Locke funneled $100K+ to Mike Bickle's Israel-focused ministry and smuggled cash to Israel. He also preached rebuilding the Third Temple (including destroying the Dome of the Rock), contrary to Christian eschatology.

Independent church structure enabled unchecked authority; dissenters were stalked, slandered and labeled "witches." Locke's wife monitored social media, while victims formed a support group ("Unlocked") exposing financial/spiritual abuse.

Former members of Pastor Greg Locke's Global Vision Bible Church describe a disturbing pattern of manipulation, fabricated persecution narratives, and weaponized "deliverance" ministries used to silence dissent.

What began as a Tennessee tent revival has morphed into what ex-followers call a cult-like operation  one where dissenters are stalked, slandered and spiritually terrorized. Jen Rockwell, a former congregant whose daughter dated Locke's son, Evan, sat down with investigative journalist Stew Peters to expose the dark underbelly of Locke's ministry. Her testimony paints a chilling picture of mind control, financial exploitation and spiritual abuse disguised as revival.

Rockwell first encountered Locke in 2020 when his refusal to shut down his church during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns drew her attention. Initially drawn to his boldness, she and her family relocated to Tennessee to join Global Vision  only to find an atmosphere of oppressive spiritual manipulation.

"The feeling in the tent was so overwhelmingly oppressive that I told my husband, 'I don't think I want to go to this church,'" Rockwell said.

Locke's services quickly shifted from Bible-based preaching to theatrical exorcisms, where congregants were told demons were being extracted from their bodies. Rockwell recalled that they claimed they were "pulling jewels out of bellies" and "cutting tentacles off heads" which for her was not biblical.

Even more alarming? The use of "holy water"  bottles prayed over and handed to congregants as a supposed cure for demonic oppression. When Rockwell questioned the practice, she was told: "The demons are telling us how to cast them out." Her response? "Demons lie."

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, demonic oppression is believed to manifest in various ways, including physical symptoms, emotional distress, mental confusion and spiritual disconnection.

Pastor or predator? Locke's lies and schemes

Locke has repeatedly claimed his family is under attack  gang members plotting shootings, death threats, even drive-by shootings at his home. But Rockwell and other ex-members say these narratives are fabricated for sympathy and control.

Rockwell stated that Locke told everybody that his mother was addicted to heroin and his son was stealing money, which were all lies. When Rockwell and others left the church, Locke allegedly had them followed, filmed in public, and even filed a false police report accusing them of child sex trafficking. Audio obtained by Rockwell confirms Locke himself made the reportnot his teenage son, as he later claimed.

One of Locke's most egregious schemes, according to Rockwell, was the Global Vision Adoption Foundation  a fundraiser claiming to help Christian families adopt children after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Rockwell revealed that they raised over a million dollars, but only two families received help and one of them being Locke's own stepdaughter. Instead of funding adoptions, Rockwell said Locke used the money to renovate his daughter's house  while ghosting other families who had already begun the costly adoption process.

Locke's fixation on Israel has escalated into what ex-members describe as a full-blown obsession.

$100,000 funneled to Mike Bickle of the International House of Prayer, for Israel

Secret trips to Israel with cash smuggled in suitcases

A Jerusalem condo purchased with church funds

Fundraising for "red heifers" to fulfill Talmudic prophecy

Rockwell revealed Locke privately told associates: "I believe I was put on this earth to build the Third Temple and usher in the Second Coming of Christ." His public sermons echo this, calling for the destruction of the Dome of the Rock to make way for a new Jewish temple  a belief directly opposed to Christian eschatology.

A cult of personality with no accountability

Global Vision operates as an independent church, meaning Locke answers to no denominational oversight. Former staff describe a culture of fear and secrecy, where questioning leadership leads to expulsion. Lockes wife, Tai, allegedly controls information flow, monitoring social media and silencing dissenters.

When Rockwell started a private Facebook group ("Unlocked") for ex-members, Locke publicly denounced her as a "witch" from the pulpit. "He said, 'If this page isn't taken down by the end of the month, may the Holy Spirit strike me dead,'" Rockwell said.

The group now has thousands of members sharing testimonies of financial exploitation, spiritual abuse and psychological manipulation. Locke's ministry, once a thriving congregation, has dwindled to under 100 members.

Yet he continues fundraising, preaching end-times prophecies and aligning himself with Zionist rabbis promoting animal sacrifices. Rockwell warned that it isn't Christianity, but witchcraft disguised as revival.

As federal investigators probe Locke's finances and victims come forward, one thing is clear: The mask has slipped. The question now is whether the church  and the law  will hold him accountable.

Watch Pastor Greg Locke claiming that autism is a symptom of demonic possession below.

This video is from the TTOR channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Rumble.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Growing number of health freedom fighters feel that President Trump is just using RFK Jr.

The alliance between Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was once seen as a powerful union for the health freedom movement, a beacon of hope for those demanding medical autonomy and an end to pharmaceutical mandates. Now, a troubling question is emerging from within the very community that celebrated this political partnership: was it all a calculated ruse? A growing chorus of advocates, doctors, and informed citizens are confronting the possibility that Kennedy was not a partner but a pawn, used to secure a vital voting bloc only to be abandoned once the political objective was achieved. As President Trump pivots to embrace the very corporate and globalist entities the movement despises, the betrayal feels deep and the future of health freedom in America hangs in the balance.

Key points:

Dr. James Thorp, a prominent physician, accuses Trump of using RFK Jr. to win the election and then discarding the health freedom agenda.

Trumps recent White House press conference with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is cited as a primary example of this betrayal, due to documented cases of medical malfeasance, and a coverup of vaccine injuries and vaccine deaths by Pfizer.

Parallels are also drawn to Trumps courting of Big Tech and AI CEOs, suggesting a pattern of aligning with powerful industries that censor and deplatform those who told the truth about COVID-19 protocols, countermeasures, mRNA vaccine experiments, and associated mass medical malpractice and wrongful death.

The health freedom movement sees this as proof that Trump prioritizes wealth and global power over the well-being of vaccine-injured Americans and persecuted doctors and nurses who blew the whistle on grave injustices by the pharmaceutical industry.

The movement demands accountability for pandemic-era policies and sees Trumps actions as a dismissal of their quest for justice.

RFK Jr. seems to be making progress on some issues, but operates within a framework that prioritizes criminal enterprises like Pfizer's, all at the behest of Trump.

A harmonica played and then discarded

The disillusionment finds a powerful voice in Dr. James Thorp, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with over four decades of experience. In a recent interview, Thorp did not mince words, expressing a sentiment that is rapidly spreading. "Clearly, Trump is more set on making peace deals and creating wealth and money," Thorp stated. "I think he really did nothing more than use Bobby Kennedy. And he played him, like a harmonica. I mean, he brought him in, likely won the election for him, and, and now he doesn't care about anything else."

This stark assessment cuts to the heart of the health freedom movements desire for accountability and justice. The collaboration with Kennedy was supposed to signal a new era, one where concerns about vaccine safety, medical mandates, and the overreach of public health agencies would be heard at the highest level of government. Instead, proponents feel they are witnessing a familiar pattern of political expediency. The very man who helped galvanize a critical segment of the electorate now appears to be a ghost in the White House, his influence vanished while the policies he opposed continue to be enabled.

Bourla the butcher and the AI world rulers

For many, the definitive moment of betrayal was a White House press conference where President Trump stood alongside Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Dr. Thorp, referring to Bourla as "Bourla the Butcher," described the scene with palpable frustration. "He has the audacity to bring him on in a White House presser with, God bless him, Bobby Kennedy standing behind me," Thorp recalled, highlighting the symbolic insult of having health freedom advocates witness the elevation of a figure they hold responsible for immense harm.

This move is not seen in isolation. Health freedom advocates point to a consistent pattern of Trump aligning with the architects of the policies they fought against. How can a president who claims to champion medical freedom share a stage with the CEO of a company whose product they believe has caused widespread injury? The movement views figures like Bill Gates and the CEOs of major tech and pharmaceutical companies exactly as the fraudulent, totalitarian nightmares they were during the COVID-19 scandal - as central players in a globalist plan for depopulation and control. To see them welcomed back into the fold is not just a political disappointment; it is a fundamental rejection of the health freedom movements core demand for accountability and justice.

The concern extends beyond pharmaceuticals. Dr. Thorp connected the dots to Trumps engagement with open-source AI and technology CEOs, stating, "whoever wins the AI battle will rule the world. Literally. And that's what Trump wants. He wants to rule the world, the United States, to be the leader in the world." While some may see this as a pragmatic economic strategy, the health freedom movement interprets it as a dangerous consolidation of power. They argue that the pursuit of technological and financial dominance is coming at the direct expense of the peoples health. "He's casting out everything that's good for the American people, including their health," Thorp concluded.

The painful reckoning for health freedom

The realization that they may have been used is forcing a painful reckoning. The energy and hope that fueled the Reawaken America tours and countless advocacy efforts now risk being replaced by cynicism. The principle of "Acta non Verba"actions speak louder than wordsis being applied to the Trump administration, and the actions are telling a story that contradicts the campaign trail promises. The push for a smaller government and the de-weaponization of federal agencies like the FBI and FDA seems to have been replaced by a comfort with the very corporate-state partnerships the movement abhors.

What does this mean for the future of health freedom? The access to nutritional supplements, superfoods, herbal medicines, and the right to choose ones healthcare path cannot be secured by a leader who, in their view, kowtows to Pfizer and Big Tech. The right to speak freely online on topics of health and wellness cannot be secured when the federal government is being inundated by the same figure heads who orchestrated mass coverup and deception on these very topics!

The health freedom movement is left questioning its political strategy in the years ahead. Should the movement be content and accept the positive changes that have been made - such as removal of food dyes from cereal and fluoride from water - or should the movement demand more from the leaders they elected? Why isn't Pfizer and Moderna executives being indicted for their roles in a scandal that caused mass harm? Why is Mr. Event 201 - Bill Gates sitting in the White House discussing his future plans with the President when his money is heavily invested in censorship and depopulation programs disguised as global healthcare initiatives?

The demand for health freedom remains unwavering, but the path to achieving it now seems more complex and fraught than ever. The harmonica is being played, and a tinny sound rings in the ears of those who believed they were finally being heard.

Sources include:

X.com

Youtube.com

NeurologyAdvisor.com
ICE Houston ARRESTS thousands of criminal aliens during longest government shutdown, including child predators and murderers

Despite a 43-day government shutdown, ICE officers in Houston arrested 3,593 criminal illegal aliens over a six-week period, with many agents working without pay.

The arrested individuals included serious, violent offenders such as 13 murderers, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders and 23 gang members, including an MS-13 member charged in a triple homicide.

A key concern highlighted is that many of these criminals had been previously encountered and released into the U.S. under prior administrations, only to subsequently commit new crimes.

The operation revealed a pattern of recidivism, with examples of individuals who had been deported multiple times and had extensive criminal histories for offenses like drug trafficking and sexual assault.

The arrests are presented as evidence of systemic border policy failures, underscoring the "revolving-door" enforcement problem that leaves American communities vulnerable.

Despite the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston continued their mission, arresting 3,593 criminal illegal aliens between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12.

Among those detained were 13 murderers, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders and 23 gang members  including an MS-13 member charged with a triple homicide in Dallas. The arrests highlight the persistent threat posed by criminal aliens who exploit weak border policies, many of whom had been released into the U.S. under prior administrations only to commit violent crimes.

One of the most alarming cases involved Josue Pineda-Ayala, a 23-year-old Honduran MS-13 gang member who was released into the U.S. in May 2024 by the Biden administration. By October, he was arrested in connection with a triple homicide in Dallas County.

Another egregious offender, Baldomero Perez-Quezada, was caught preying on a child after being previously encountered by authorities but not detained due to lax enforcement policies. The 56-year-old Mexican, who was previously deported four times, was sent back to his home country on Oct. 31.

ICE Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford praised his team's dedication. According to him, many officers worked without pay during the shutdown that lasted 43 days.

"Our entire team understands how critical ICE's mission is to public safety and national security," Bradford said. "Despite many of them going without pay, they continued to show up every day and give everything they had to protect this community from dangerous criminal illegal alien gang members, child predators, murderers and rapists."

The faces of border security failure: How many more are still loose?

The arrests also exposed a disturbing pattern of recidivism among deportees. One Mexican national, Francisco Cuevas-Cesar, had illegally entered the U.S. 12 times and had prior convictions for cocaine trafficking, burglary and driving while intoxicated. Another, Juan Jose Moreno-Renteria, had seven illegal entries and convictions for attempted sexual assault of a minor under 14.

Among the most shocking revelations was the capture of 10 fugitives with active warrants, including Octavio Cruz-Garcia, a 48-year-old Mexican national wanted for homicide in Harris County. Two Honduran brothers, Elder Antonio Cruz-Hernandez and Yony Roberto Cruz-Hernandez, were also arrested  both wanted for homicide in their home country.

The enforcement actions during the shutdown resulted in the deportation of hundreds of criminal aliens, including gang members and violent offenders. Yet the sheer volume of arrests raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of current border policies. Many of those detained had been previously released into the U.S. despite extensive criminal histories, only to reoffend.

These cases underscore the revolving-door nature of U.S. immigration enforcement, where dangerous criminals repeatedly cross the border and evade consequences. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that the U.S. must prioritize border security to prevent unchecked illegal immigration  which fuels crime, drug trafficking and human exploitation  while also stopping the globalist agenda of demographic replacement and societal destabilization. Securing the border is essential to preserving national sovereignty, protecting American citizens from harm and thwarting the deliberate erosion of our culture and freedoms by hostile elites.

As ICE continues its operations, the arrests serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked illegal immigration. While progress has been made in removing violent offenders from communities, the systemic failures that allowed these criminals to slip through the cracks remain unresolved. Until border security is prioritized, the cycle of exploitation and violence will persist  leaving American families vulnerable to predators who should never have been free to walk the streets in the first place.

Watch this news report about ICE Houston arresting more than 200 criminal migrants in February 2025.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

ICE.gov

TexasScorecard.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Israel receives 1,000th air shipment of U.S. military aid amid Gaza War

Unprecedented U.S. Airlift Operation: Israel has received 1,000 military supply flights since October 2023, delivering 120,000 tons of weapons, ammunition, armored vehicles and protective gear. The shipments reinforce Israel's military dominance in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the occupied West Bank.

Key Defense Systems and Funding: The U.S. has provided $21.7 billion in military aid since October 2023, including $5.2 billion for expanding Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Additional contracts fund David's Sling and the development of Iron Beam, a laser-based defense system.

Mixed International Response: While the U.S. remains Israel's top arms supplier, some nations (Spain, Germany, U.K., Canada) have restricted weapons transfers over humanitarian concerns. Germany recently lifted a partial suspension, ensuring continued military cooperation.

Calls for Israeli Arms Independence: Israeli officials advocate for greater self-reliance in defense production but admit dependence on U.S. technology (e.g., F-35 jets). Defense leaders stress balancing domestic manufacturing with alliance-based supply chains.

Growing Criticism and Ethical Concerns: Critics accuse the U.S. and Europe of enabling indiscriminate destruction in Gaza, with 70,000+ Palestinian deaths (mostly women and children). Human rights groups condemn Western aid as "complicity in war crimes," fueling global scrutiny over arms trade ethics.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced Wednesday, Nov. 19, that it has received its 1,000th aircraft carrying U.S. military supplies since the start of its war on Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

The massive operation, described as "unprecedented since the establishment of the state," has delivered over 120,000 tons of weapons, ammunition, armored vehicles and protective gear via 1,000 flights and 150 maritime shipments.

The milestone underscores the vast scale of U.S. military backing for Israel's ongoing offensive, which has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and displaced millions in Gaza. The aid has also supported Israeli operations in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the occupied West Bank, reinforcing Israel's regional military dominance.

The 1,000th aircraft, operated by Challenge Airlines IL, landed at Ben Gurion Airport and was received by Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, who called it a "crucial link in the strategic supply chain."

Baram emphasized Israel's dual-track approach: expanding domestic arms production while maintaining close military ties with allies, particularly the U.S. and Germany.

"We will continue to operate according to the IMOD's strategy on two parallel tracks: on one hand, strengthening Israel's defense production base to ensure manufacturing independence, and on the other hand, strengthening cooperation and political and defense relations with our allies around the world, to maintain such an airlift, both in routine and emergencies, and to further strengthen the IDF's [Israel Defense Forces] capabilities," he said.

The Defense Ministry confirmed that the shipments included:

Advanced munitions and weapons systems

Armored vehicles

Medical and communications equipment

Protective gear

The operation was coordinated by Israel's Defense Procurement Directorate, its liaison offices in Washington and Berlin, and the IDF Planning Directorate, suggesting German-supplied arms were also part of the deliveries.

U.S. funding and Iron Dome expansion

The announcement coincided with Israel signing a multi-billion-dollar contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. (Rafael) to expand its Iron Dome missile defense network, funded by a $5.2 billion allocation from the $8.7 billion U.S. aid package approved by Congress in April 2024.

BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that Rafael is an Israeli-based defense technology company. It is a world leader in the development and production of advanced defense systems for air, land, sea and space applications. Rafael is renowned for its innovative and cutting-edge technologies, which have significantly contributed to Israel's defense capabilities and have been exported to numerous countries worldwide.

According to Brown University's Costs of War Project, the U.S. has provided Israel with at least $21.7 billion in military aid since October 2023, alongside $9.65 to $12.07 billion for regional conflicts supporting Israel.

A Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft report stated that Israel would not be able to continue its war in Gaza without U.S. support.

Growing international criticism

While the U.S. remains Israel's top arms supplier, some Western nations have restricted weapons transfers over humanitarian concerns:

Spain imposed a full arms embargo in September.

Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada have limited exports.

Despite this, GermanyIsrael's second-largest arms supplierrecently lifted a partial suspension, ensuring continued military cooperation.

Some Israeli officials advocate for greater self-reliance in arms production amid uncertainty over future U.S. support. However, experts acknowledge that Israel remains dependent on Washington for advanced systems like the F-35 fighter jet.

An Israeli defense official told local media that Israel must pursue manufacturing independence, but critical technologies still rely on U.S. partnerships.

The 1,000th arms delivery marks a grim milestone in Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, highlighting the unwavering U.S. and European military support despite mounting international condemnation. As Israel continues its campaign, critics argue that Western-supplied weapons are enabling indiscriminate destructionraising urgent questions about accountability and arms trade ethics.

A human rights advocate said this is not just aid but complicity which echoes growing global scrutiny over Israel's war machine and its backers.

Watch the video below about the U.S. approving a military aid worth $8.7B to Israel despite the bloodbaths in Gaza and Lebanon.

This video is from the The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Antiwar.com

TheJerusalemPost.com

TheTimesOfIsrael.com

MiddleEastEye.net

AnadoluAjansi.com.tr

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
BUDAPEST, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's exemption from newly introduced U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy purchases entered into force on Friday, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

In a video message sent from Brussels, Szijjarto told the press that the United States' latest measures against Russia's energy sector formally took effect the same day. However, according to the recent agreement reached in Washington between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump, the latest U.S. sanctions against Russia's energy sector will not apply to Hungary.

He said Washington had notified Budapest that the exemption was active from Friday, ensuring the continuity of Hungary's energy supplies.

Last week, Orban clarified that the U.S. exemption was not valid for one year only, as reported by several media and U.S. sources, but for "as long as" the current Hungarian government is in office and Trump leads the U.S. administration.

Responding to earlier comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who suggested Ukraine might halt oil deliveries to Hungary, Szijjarto said Ukraine should consider its own energy dependence on Hungary. He noted that in October, 51 percent of Ukraine's electricity imports came from Hungary -- more than from all other countries combined.

Hungary is heavily reliant on pipeline crude delivered through the Druzhba network, which supplies several Central European countries. Budapest has repeatedly argued that abrupt changes to its supply routes would threaten its economy and household energy security. 
Media blitz promotes flawed fluoride safety study as courts and science point to neurotoxic risks

A new study claims fluoride is safe but has major scientific limitations.

The study's timing counters a recent federal court ruling against fluoridation.

The research used unreliable exposure estimates and did not measure children's IQ.

It omitted key high-quality studies linking fluoride to lower children's IQ.

A coordinated media push is promoting the study's findings.

A new study is making waves by claiming the fluoride in your tap water is perfectly safe for brain development, but a deeper look reveals a story of scientific shortcomings and a coordinated media push that seems too convenient to be true. Published in Science Advances, the research led by sociologist John Robert Warren argues that fluoride exposure in childhood shows no negative cognitive effects and may even provide a slight benefit. This finding, promoted heavily by outlets like CNN and Scientific American, directly challenges a growing body of authoritative science and a landmark federal court ruling that found fluoride poses an "unreasonable risk" to children.

The timing of this media blitz is highly suspect. It arrives on the heels of unprecedented momentum against water fluoridation. In 2024, a federal court, after reviewing extensive evidence, ruled that current fluoride levels in drinking water present an "unreasonable risk" to children's health. Following this, two states, Utah and Florida, made history by banning the practice, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called for an end to federal endorsements of fluoridation.

Study's methodology raises red flags among neurotoxicity experts

This new study, however, is riddled with what experts call "substantial limitations" that undermine its bold conclusions. The research relies on an ecological design, meaning it assumed participants' fluoride exposure based solely on whether their community's water was fluoridated, with no actual measurement of individual intake. This crude method fails to account for whether people drank tap water, used filters, or consumed bottled water, making its exposure data unreliable.

Furthermore, the study did not even measure IQ, the key neurodevelopmental outcome at the heart of the fluoride debate. Instead, it used standardized test scores, which are influenced by many factors like school quality and socioeconomic status, not just cognitive ability. Dr. Christine Till, a neuropsychologist at York University, stated, "The authors claim of 'strong evidence' for cognitive benefits from fluoride exposure at community water fluoridation levels is markedly overstated."

Missing from the headlines: A growing body of contradictory evidence

Perhaps the most glaring issue is the study's omission of key scientific evidence. It largely ignores a series of high-quality studies, including those from the National Toxicology Program (NTP), that link fluoride exposure to lower IQ. The NTP's comprehensive review, which underwent years of rigorous peer review, found "moderate confidence" that fluoride exposure is "consistently associated with lower IQ in children." Its data showed a "consistent inverse association" that was robust across different study methods and locations.

This omission appears to be intentional. The study and its accompanying editorial fail to mention major North American studies that directly contradict its findings. Ashley Malin, Ph.D., who led a U.S.-based study linking prenatal fluoride to more neurobehavioral problems in children, expressed surprise that her 2024 JAMA Network Open study was excluded from the review. This selective citation paints a misleading picture of the scientific consensus.

The media rollout itself suggests a coordinated narrative management campaign. A nonprofit public relations agency, the Science Media Centre, which has received funding from corporate interests like Bayer and Coca-Cola, actively pitched the story to journalists. The resulting articles read like a synchronized defense of a crumbling public health dogma, often framing fluoride critics as conspiracy theorists rather than engaging with their scientific arguments.

For those who have followed the science, the evidence of harm is becoming undeniable. The NTP report, whose release was allegedly blocked for months by top health officials according to emails obtained via FOIA, confirms what many parents and researchers have long suspected. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized the significance, stating, "These findings fly in the face of the empty, unscientific claims U.S. health officials have propagated for years."

The attempt to quell public concern with a single, flawed study reveals a deeper struggle between institutional inertia and emerging science. As communities and states act to protect their citizens, the establishment is pushing back with a public relations offensive that prioritizes policy over people. The debate over fluoride is no longer just about dental health; it is a test of whether our health agencies can adapt to new evidence or will continue to defend a 70-year-old practice against a tide of concerning data. The truth, it seems, is still bubbling to the surface.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

SayerJi.SubStack.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
NASA releases images of ancient interstellar comet after shutdown fueled alien spacecraft theories

NASA confirms the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet.

The announcement ended speculation fueled by a government data blackout.

A fleet of NASA spacecraft captured unprecedented data on the visitor.

Scientists believe the comet is ancient, potentially predating our solar system.

Despite the official conclusion, some experts continue to question its origin.

After weeks of government-imposed silence, NASA has finally released information about one the most captivating cosmic visitors in recent history. The space agency has released a cache of new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, emphatically stating the object is a natural comet and not an alien spacecraft. The highly anticipated data, captured by a fleet of NASA spacecraft including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, had been delayed by the recent U.S. government shutdown, a period that fueled rampant speculation about what the agency might be hiding.

The government shutdown, which lasted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, coincided with a critical period for observations as the comet flew behind the sun. This forced delay in sharing data created an information vacuum that was quickly filled by conspiracy theories. During a news conference, NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya directly confronted these rumors, leaving no room for ambiguity about the objects nature.

"This object is a comet," Kshatriya said. "It looks and behaves like a comet and all evidence points to it being a comet. But this one came from outside the solar system, which makes it fascinating, exciting and scientifically very important." This definitive statement serves as a direct rebuttal to theories suggesting the visitor could be artificial technology from another star system.

A solar system-wide observation campaign

The new images are the result of an unprecedented campaign involving at least 12 NASA assets. This coordinated effort turned spacecraft and telescopes across the solar system toward the comet to gather as much data as possible on this fleeting visitor. By observing it from so many vantage points, scientists hope to learn how 3I/ATLAS differs from comets native to our own solar system, offering a rare glimpse into the building blocks of other star systems.

The closest and most detailed views came from NASA's orbiters at Mars. In early October, as the comet passed within 19 million miles of the Red Planet, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiters high-resolution camera captured a clear image. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter also gathered ultraviolet data that will help researchers understand the comets chemical composition. Even the Perseverance rover on the Martian surface managed to catch a faint glimpse of the interstellar traveler.

A window into the deep past

Beyond settling the debate over its origins, the scientific data paints a picture of a truly ancient object. Researchers believe 3I/ATLAS could be billions of years old, potentially predating our own solar system. Tom Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA's Planetary Science Division, explained the significance of its great age and interstellar journey.

"We can't say this for sure, but the likelihood is it came from a solar system older than our own solar system," Statler said during the stream. "Which gives me goosebumps to think about frankly, because that means that 3I/ATLAS is not just a window into another solar system; it's a window into the deep past, and so deep in the past that it predates even the formation of our Earth and our sun."

Other missions, including NASAs sun-watching STEREO observatory and the asteroid-bound Psyche and Lucy spacecraft, also contributed images. These observations are crucial for mapping the comets tail and refining its trajectory as it continues its journey through our cosmic neighborhood. The comet is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, passing at a safe distance of about 170 million miles.

Despite NASAs firm conclusions, some experts, like Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, remain critical. Loeb has publicly called the newly released images "fuzzy" and argued they do not definitively rule out an artificial origin. This ongoing debate highlights the publics deep fascination with the unknown and the tension between established scientific consensus and provocative, alternative theories.

As this ancient traveler continues on its path, it serves as a profound reminder of our place in a vast and dynamic cosmos. This piece of another star system, carrying material that may be older than the Sun itself, offers a tangible connection to the universes deepest history, all while challenging humanity to look up and question what else might be moving in the darkness between the stars.

Sources for this article include:

LiveScience.com

Science.NASA.gov

USAToday.com

NYPost.com
Nvidias explosive earnings defy AI bubble worries, fueling market rally

Nvidia's Q3 earnings and Q4 guidance significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by explosive demand for its AI data center chips.

CEO Jensen Huang stated that sales of its new Blackwell platform are "off the charts" and that "cloud GPUs are sold out."

The results sent Nvidia's stock and shares of other AI-related companies higher in after-hours trading.

The report is seen as a critical test for the AI-driven stock market rally, which had recently shown signs of weakening.

Despite the strong performance, the company faces ongoing challenges, including U.S. restrictions on chip sales to China.

In a high-stakes report that Wall Street had deemed a make-or-break moment for the artificial intelligence boom, chipmaking giant Nvidia delivered a staggering performance that surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. After the market closed on November 19, 2025, the company announced quarterly revenue that soared 62% year-over-year to $57.01 billion, handily beating analyst forecasts. More importantly, its outlook for the current quarter projects revenue of approximately 6$5 billion, a figure that crushed estimates and signaled that the hunger for AI computing power is not just sustained but accelerating. The immediate result was a sharp after-hours stock surge for Nvidia, breathing new life into the broader market and challenging pervasive narratives of an overinflated AI bubble.

The numbers behind the boom

Nvidias financial results provided concrete evidence to support the AI hype. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 1.30, topping the expected 1.24. Its meteoric rise was overwhelmingly powered by its Data Center segment, which recorded a monumental $51.2 billion in revenuea 66% increase from the previous quarter. While minor segments like Gaming and Automotive slightly missed targets, they were rendered inconsequential by the sheer scale of the data center dominance. The companys profitability remained robust, with an adjusted operating income of $37.75 billion, demonstrating its ability to monetize the global AI infrastructure build-out effectively.

Sold out and scaling fast

The narrative from Nvidias leadership was one of unbridled demand. In a statement, founder and CEO Jensen Huang declared, Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud GPUs are sold out. He described a virtuous cycle of AI, where demand for both training complex models and running daily AI inferences is accelerating and compounding. This sentiment was reinforced by Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress, who suggested that the companys already ambitious $500 billion revenue pipeline for its Blackwell and next?generation Rubin platforms through 2027 could be exceeded. Executives positioned the industry as still in its early innings, dismissing peak growth concerns and forecasting a $3-to-4 trillion annual AI infrastructure market by the end of the decade.

A bellwether for the broader market

Nvidias report transcended its own balance sheet, serving as a critical barometer for the entire AI sector and the stock market at large. As the most heavily weighted stock in the S&P 500, its performance directly impacts millions of investors through index funds and retirement accounts. In recent weeks, anxiety over a potential AI bubble had intensified, pulling major indexes from record highs and driving market fear gauges upward. Nvidias own stock had slipped about 10% from a late-October peak ahead of the report. Its powerful earnings beat an optimistic guidance and acted as a circuit breaker for this pessimism, triggering a rally not only in its own shares but also in partners and competitors like Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom and Micron Technology. One investor aptly summarized the sentiment, stating the results had resurrected the market and restored its bullish momentum.

Navigating the risks ahead

Despite the triumphant quarter, Nvidia is not without its challenges. The company acknowledged disappointment with ongoing U.S. government restrictions that prevent it from selling its most advanced data center chips in China, a critical market. Furthermore, the specter of competition looms, with tech behemoths like Google and Amazon developing their own AI chips, posing a long-term threat to Nvidias hegemony. The company also engages in complex, multi-billion-dollar circular deals where it invests in AI startups like Anthropic that, in turn, commit to buying its chipsa practice that has drawn scrutiny and comparisons to the dot-com eras entangled financial relationships.

Proving power amid the pessimism

Nvidias blockbuster quarter provided a powerful, data-driven counterargument to the growing chorus of AI bubble fears. By demonstrating that skyrocketing demand is translating into extraordinary financial results, the chipmaker has, for now, reassured the market that the AI revolution is built on a foundation of tangible business growth. While risks from geopolitics and future competition remain, the companys ability to consistently outperform in the white-hot AI market solidifies its role as the indispensable engine of the modern technological era. The report doesnt eliminate the possibility of a market correction, but it firmly reasserts that the fundamental drivers of the AI investment thesis are, according to the company at the center of it all, stronger than ever.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Investopedia.com

Finance.Yahoo.com
Patrick Byrne on the fight against government corruption: The whistleblowers burden

Patrick Byrne's journey  from exposing Wall Street fraud to uncovering election vulnerabilities  reveals deep institutional corruption and the targeting of truth-tellers who challenge entrenched power structures.

Byrne was unwittingly used by intelligence agencies (FBI/CIA) in fabricated scandals, including the Trump-Russia collusion hoax and a manufactured bribery scheme against Hillary Clinton. His exposure of these operations forced corrupt officials to implicate themselves.

Byrne faced relentless persecution  corporate media smears, bogus legal charges and being labeled "Domestic Extremist Threat No. 1" by the DHS  demonstrating how whistleblowers are systematically silenced.

Despite suppression tactics (censorship, legal harassment, psychological warfare), Byrne's courage highlights whistleblowers' critical role in exposing hidden crimes, forcing accountability and inspiring public resistance to corruption.

Byrne's story underscores the need for transparency in government, whistleblower protections, decentralization of power and stronger public oversight to prevent corporate and Deep State capture of institutions.

The story of Patrick Byrne, as detailed in "Danger Close: Domestic Extremist #1 Comes Clean," is a harrowing account of one man's fight against systemic corruption within the highest levels of government. Byrne's journey  from Wall Street whistleblower to election integrity advocate  demonstrates the immense challenges faced by those who dare to challenge entrenched power structures.

His experiences reveal how deeply corruption has infiltrated institutions meant to serve the public, and how whistleblowers are systematically targeted, silenced, and vilified. Byrne's battle began with Wall Street malfeasance, where he uncovered fraudulent settlement practices that destabilized markets.

Despite presenting irrefutable evidence, he was mocked by financial elites and ignored by regulatorsuntil the 2008 financial collapse proved him right. This pattern repeated itself when he turned his attention to election integrity, exposing vulnerabilities in voting systems that enabled fraud.

His most explosive revelations involve the weaponization of intelligence agencies. Byrne describes how he was unwittingly used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency to fabricate scandals  first against Republicans (the Russian collusion hoax) and later against former First Lady Hillary Clinton, through a manufactured bribery scheme in Azerbaijan intended for blackmail. When he realized he was being manipulated as part of a Deep State coup, he turned the tables, forcing corrupt officials to implicate themselves in crimes they never actually committed.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, Clinton has deep ties to Baku through her involvement in shady deals, including the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-for-play schemes and her support for Azerbaijani oligarchs linked to corruption. Byrne exposed these connections as part of his investigations into government corruption, revealing how her networks facilitated questionable financial and political arrangements with Azerbaijani elites.

But Byrne's efforts came at a steep personal cost. Corporate media, aligned with powerful interests, dismissed him as a conspiracy theorist. Former allies distanced themselves, fearing association with a "controversial" figure.

The Department of Homeland Security labeled him "Domestic Extremist Threat No. 1," a chilling example of how truth-tellers are criminalized. He also faced relentless legal harassment, including bogus charges meant to silence him.

The high cost of truth: Why whistleblowers risk everything

Despite these attacks, Byrne refused to back down. His determination underscores a critical truth: Whistleblowers are often the last line of defense against tyranny.

Byrne's story demonstrates why whistleblowers are indispensable  they expose hidden crimes, ensuring corruption cannot thrive in darkness, and they force accountability when institutions fail by revealing the truth to the public. Additionally, figures like Byrne inspire resistance, empowering others to question authority rather than blindly obey. Their courage is vital for transparency and progress, proving that even against powerful institutions, truth can prevail.

But whistleblowers face relentless suppression through censorship by tech giants acting as government enforcers, legal persecution weaponized by prosecutors to crush dissent, and psychological warfare via smear campaigns designed to isolate and discredit them. Despite risking everything  from careers to personal safety  their voices are systematically marginalized to maintain the illusion of a singular, unchallenged narrative.

Byrne's experiences prove that corruption is not accidental  it is engineered by those who seek absolute control. His warnings about election fraud, intelligence agency abuse and the Deep State's grip on power should serve as a wake-up call.

The public must demand full transparency in government and corporate operations to expose wrongdoing, along with strong protections for whistleblowers to ensure they can safely report corruption without fear of retaliation. Power must be decentralized to reduce reliance on corrupt centralized institutions, shifting authority to local, accountable governance structures. Additionally, regulations should be strengthened to prevent industry capture, with greater public oversight to ensure policies serve the people rather than corporate interests.

Byrne's story is not just his own  it is a microcosm of the broader struggle against authoritarianism. The forces he exposed are still active: manipulating elections, suppressing dissent and consolidating power.

Buy a copy of "Danger Close: Domestic Extremist #1 Comes Clean" by Patrick Byrne at this link.

Watch this video about Patrick Byrne being branded as "Domestic Extremist No. 1" by Homeland Security.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Roblox becomes first major platform to require facial age checks, creating massive database of childrens biometric data

Roblox is implementing mandatory facial scans and ID checks for chat access.

The system is being rolled out globally under the guise of child safety.

Critics warn this erodes online anonymity and creates a massive privacy risk.

The collected biometric data is a vulnerable target for hackers and breaches.

This move is part of a broader push to normalize digital IDs and surveillance.

The digital playground is demanding your papers. In a sweeping move that signals the end of online anonymity, the popular gaming platform Roblox is now forcing its users to submit to facial scans and government ID verification simply to access basic chat features. This global rollout, beginning voluntarily this week before becoming compulsory in countries like Australia and the Netherlands in December and reaching the U.S. by early 2026, is being sold as a vital child safety measure. But behind the corporate safety rhetoric lies a dangerous new precedent that ties your real-world identity to your online life, creating a honeypot of sensitive biometric data vulnerable to theft and government overreach.

Roblox, a platform already facing lawsuits alleging it is a "breeding ground" for child predators, is attempting to quell criticism by implementing what it calls a "gold standard for communication safety." The companys Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, announced the platform is "the first online gaming or communication platform to require facial age checks to access chat." Users must verify their age either by scanning a government-issued ID or by recording a short facial video through a third-party company called Persona.

The erosion of digital liberty

This model effectively removes the anonymity that has long been a foundational principle of internet culture. It ties access to personal credentials, leaving fewer opportunities for users to interact without surrendering identifiable data. The company claims this will help limit unsafe interactions and hopes the model will become a new industry standard. This is a familiar tactic: use the justified fear surrounding child safety to usher in a system of pervasive digital surveillance and control.

What Roblox conveniently glosses over is the immense risk this poses to every users privacy and security. While the company states that information uploaded to Persona is retained for a period of 30 days before deletion, this offers little comfort. Personas own privacy policy indicates it may collect a wide net of data, including device identifiers, geolocation data, and records from brokers and public sources. This data collection extends far beyond what is needed to confirm age, creating a detailed digital dossier on millions of users.

A vulnerable data honeypool

The creation of such a centralized database of government IDs and facial scans is an irresistible target for hackers. History is littered with examples of corporations promising "secure" data storage, only to suffer catastrophic breaches that expose the personal information of millions. Once your biometric data is stolen, it is stolen forever; you cannot change your face like you can change a password. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill argues that the platforms lack of robust safety protocols still leaves children vulnerable. Forcing them to hand over their most sensitive data to a third-party company only creates a new, potentially more devastating, vulnerability.

The technology itself is also deeply flawed, as users are already discovering. On social media, people are reporting widespread inaccuracies with the facial estimation system. One Reddit user exclaimed, "I AM A GROWN WOMAN, AND APPARENTLY I'M 12." Another reported, "My friend's brother, who is 14, got passed as 18+." These errors force users to then submit their government ID to correct the platforms mistake, further entrenching the system and expanding the data pool.

The slippery slope to a surveillance state

This move by Roblox is not happening in a vacuum. It is part of a coordinated push to normalize digital IDs across the internet. Several U.S. states have already passed or proposed laws mandating age verification for online activity. Critics on social media have rightly accused officials of using child safety as a cover for increased government surveillance, warning that digital ID systems could erode privacy and civil liberties. Robloxs own policy notice admits it may conduct other facial media processing for safety, assurance, or feature-specific purposes, leaving the door wide open for mission creep.

The company cites its use of AI to scan unencrypted chats for "sexually suggestive language" as another layer of protection, boasting it helped flag over 1,200 potential exploitation cases. But this is a double-edged sword, transforming a gaming platform into a panopticon where every conversation is monitored by an algorithm. The goal appears to be less about safety and more about conditioning the public, especially children, to accept a world where their every digital move is tracked, recorded, and analyzed.

The trade-off is clear: surrender your anonymity and your biometric data for the privilege of digital communication. This is a Faustian bargain that will fundamentally alter the nature of online privacy. As one of the largest online platforms for children takes this step, it paves the way for every other social media and gaming site to follow. The question is no longer if your digital life will be tied to your government ID, but when you will be forced to comply. The freedom to explore, learn, and connect online without a digital passport is quietly being dismantled, one facial scan at a time.

Sources for this article include:

ReclainTheNet.org

Corp.Roblox.com

Polygon.com
Russia unleashes largest drone and missile attack on western Ukraine, killing at least 25 civilians

Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine to date, deploying 476 drones and 48 missiles, killing at least 25 civilians (including 3 children) and wounding 73. The strikes targeted military-industrial sites, energy infrastructure and drone depots in western Ukraine.

Russia confirmed using Kinzhal hypersonic missilescapable of Mach 12 speedsin retaliation for Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian air bases, which reportedly damaged 20 warplanes, including nuclear-capable bombers.

The deadliest strike hit apartment blocks in Ternopil, where 19 victims burned alive, including children. Rescuers continue searching rubble for missing civilians. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 433 drones and 41 missiles, but damage was widespread.

Poland and Romania scrambled fighter jets as Russian drones neared their airspace. Poland temporarily closed Rzeszow and Lublin airports, critical hubs for Western military aid to Ukraine.

Despite international condemnation and new U.S. sanctions, peace talks remain stalled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged stronger pressure on Russia, while Moscow shows no willingness to negotiate, prolonging the war with no end in sight.

In one of the most devastating escalations of the war to date, Russia launched its largest drone and missile assault on western Ukraine overnight, killing at least 25 civiliansincluding three childrenin the city of Ternopil and wounding 73 others, Ukrainian authorities confirmed Wednesday, Nov. 19.

The attack, which involved 476 strike and decoy drones alongside 48 missiles, marks Moscow's most aggressive retaliation yet following Ukraine's recent long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.

The barrage targeted military-industrial facilities, energy infrastructure and drone depots in western Ukraine, including an underground weapons production site near Lviv and a military headquarters, according to Sergei Lebedev, coordinator of a pro-Russian underground network. The Russian Defense Ministry declared the operation a success, stating that "all designated objects were hit" in response to what it called "Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Russia."

The deadliest strike hit two nine-story apartment blocks in Ternopil, a city just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the Polish border, where many Ukrainians had sought refuge from frontline fighting.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko revealed the grim details: "At least 19 among those killed were burned alive, including three children aged 5, 7 and 16. Two dozen people are still unaccounted for, and rescuers expect to work at least two more days to complete the search of rubble."

The attack also wounded 15 children, with drones and missiles striking Kharkiv, Dnipro and other regions, injuring nearly 50 more civilians. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, drones hit 16 residential buildings, an ambulance station, a school and other civilian infrastructure, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Ukraine's Air Force claimed it intercepted 41 of 47 cruise missiles and 433 of 476 drones, but the sheer scale of the assault overwhelmed defenses in some areas. Western-supplied F-16 and Mirage-2000 fighter jets assisted in downing at least 10 cruise missiles, but the damage was already done.

Russia's hypersonic warning: Kinzhal missiles deployed in retaliation

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the use of hypersonic Kinzhal missilesamong the most advanced in its arsenalin the strikes, signaling Moscow's determination to punish Ukraine for its recent audacious attacks on Russian air bases, including one that damaged up to 20 warplanes, including nuclear-capable bombers.

Russia's statement was unambiguous: "In response to Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian facilities on Russian territory, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by airborne and sea-based long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles and attack unmanned aerial vehicles on military-industrial facilities and their energy sites."

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Kinzhal is a Russian hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau. It is designed to be carried by the MiG-31K interceptor aircraft and is launched from high altitudes at speeds exceeding Mach 12, making it extremely difficult to intercept.

The strikes also destroyed:

An underground weapons production site in Lviv (allegedly used to re-equip Bradley and Humvee armored vehicles)

A military headquarters near Lviv

An armored vehicle hangar in Kharkiv, housing 20 tracked vehicles and five trucks

Two U.S.-made MLRS rocket launchers

Eight electronic warfare stations and five ammunition depots

Russia's Black Sea Fleet additionally destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea, while air defenses shot down four U.S.-supplied ATACMS missilesthe same long-range weapons Ukraine used to strike Voronezh, Russia, on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Turkey meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to seek diplomatic support, condemned the attacks: "Every brazen attack against ordinary life indicates that the pressure on Russia (to stop the war) is insufficient."

Erdogan, a key mediator in the Black Sea region, reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to a peaceful settlement, though neither side showed signs of backing down.

NATO on high alert: Poland and Romania scramble jets

The assault sent shockwaves across North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) eastern flank, with Poland and Romania scrambling fighter jets as Russian drones approached their airspace.

Romania deployed two Eurofighter Typhoons and two F-16s after a drone entered its airspace.

Poland temporarily closed Rzeszow and Lublin airportscritical hubs for Western military aid to Ukraineto prioritize military aviation.

The U.S. Army's Secretary, Dan Driscoll, was in Kyiv this week, though Ukrainian officials did not confirm whether peace talks were discussed. Meanwhile, new U.S. sanctions on Russia's oil industry are set to take effect Friday, Nov. 21, aiming to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putinthough Moscow has shown no willingness to negotiate.

With Russia escalating attacks and Ukraine refusing to surrender, the conflict risks becoming a protracted war of attritionone where civilian suffering and military escalation feed off each other in an endless cycle.

For now, the skies over Ukraine remain a deadly battleground, and the world watches as the largest European war since World War II grinds on with no clear path to peace.

Watch the video below about Russia and Ukraine exchanging massive strikes.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Sputnikglobe.com

TASS.com

APnews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Zelensky signals readiness for negotiations as U.S. pushes peace plan with Russia

The Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine to accept a peace framework requiring concessions, including ceding contested territories (e.g., Donbass), reducing Ukraine's military and recognizing Russian as an official languagealigning with Moscow's demands.

The EU rejected the U.S. proposal, calling it a "Russian demand" and insisting any deal must reflect Kyiv's and Brussels' positions. Diplomats criticized the plan as an attempt to force Ukraine into surrender.

Zelensky signaled openness to negotiations but avoided endorsing the U.S. plan directly. He praised Turkey's mediation offer while emphasizing the need for "American leadership," balancing domestic pressures with geopolitical realities.

The Kremlin downplayed the proposal as "nothing new" but reaffirmed openness to talks. Russian negotiators expressed optimism that Western powers are finally listening to Moscows position.

Kyiv faces mounting pressure from Western allies and Russian military advances. Zelensky's earlier unrealistic demands (NATO membership, nuclear weapons) have weakened his credibility, making a negotiated settlement urgentbut sovereignty concerns remain unresolved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated a potential shift in strategy, signaling his government's willingness to return to negotiations with Russia to end the ongoing conflict. This development comes as the Trump administration reportedly pressures Kyiv to accept a U.S.-drafted peace frameworkone that would require Ukraine to cede contested territories, reduce its military and make other concessions.

The proposal, which aligns with some of Moscow's long-standing demands, has drawn skepticism from European allies while raising questions about Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of geopolitical maneuvering.

According to Reuters and other outlets citing anonymous sources, the U.S. proposal calls for Ukraine to relinquish control of remaining parts of the Donbass regionhome to the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)while also downsizing its armed forces in exchange for Western security guarantees. Additional stipulations reportedly include recognizing Russian as an official state language and granting official status to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, demands that mirror Moscow's previous conditions for peace.

A senior Ukrainian official confirmed to Reuters that Kyiv had received "signals" about the U.S. plan but emphasized that Ukraine had no role in drafting it. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the necessity of difficult compromises, stating on social media that "achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions."

European pushback and Russian reactions

The European Union swiftly rejected the U.S.-backed proposal, insisting that any peace agreement must reflect the positions of both Brussels and Kyiv. A European diplomat dismissed the idea of Ukraine reducing its military as "a Russian demand rather than a serious proposal," while another suggested the plan appeared designed to "push Kyiv into a corner."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that there was "nothing new" in the reported negotiations but reaffirmed Russia's openness to talks. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev expressed optimism, saying, "We feel the Russian position is really being heard."

Meanwhile, BrightU.AI's Enoch cites that Ukraine initially demanded a full and unconditional ceasefire, continuous NATO military and financial support, no withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbass and sustained aggressive sanctions against Russiaterms Russian President Vladimir Putin would never accept.

Zelensky's balancing act

Amid mounting pressure, Zelensky has walked a fine lineacknowledging the need for U.S. leadership while avoiding direct endorsement of the proposed concessions. After meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in Ankara, Zelensky emphasized the importance of "American leadership" in achieving peace but did not explicitly mention the U.S. framework. Instead, he praised Erdo?an's offer to facilitate talks, stating, "It is important for us that Turkey is ready to provide the necessary platform."

Zelensky's recent demandsincluding calls for NATO membership, nuclear weapons and foreign troops to fight in Ukrainehave been met with skepticism, making the prospect of a negotiated settlement increasingly urgent as Russian forces continue advancing in eastern Ukraine.

As diplomatic efforts intensify, Ukraine finds itself caught between Western pressure and Russian military gains. The reported U.S. peace plan, if implemented, would mark a significant geopolitical shiftone that prioritizes stability over Kyiv's maximalist war aims. However, with European allies resisting and Zelensky wary of political fallout at home, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. Whether these negotiations lead to a lasting resolution or further entrench divisions will depend on the willingness of all parties to compromiseand whether Ukraine's sovereignty can be preserved in the process.

Watch the video below where military analyst Scott Ritter states that Europe is responsible for Ukraine's conflict and crimes.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
What will China do to "open wider to the outside world"

Xinhua) 08:13, November 21, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- As China outlines its priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the country is moving to advance high-standard opening up and further "open wider to the outside world."

At a key Party plenum in October, the Communist Party of China leadership adopted its recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining China's economic and social development priorities for the next five years.

According to the recommendations, the country should make promoting high-standard opening up a key task for the coming five years, emphasizing that opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit are integral to Chinese modernization. What does this commitment mean in practice? How will it be translated into concrete policies?

A key focus will be on aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules. Efforts are set to expand China's globally-oriented, high-standard network of free trade areas and advance the process of joining key international agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), and the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Government Procurement.

In addition to the free flow of goods, China will also promote people-to-people exchanges with the world by expanding its list of visa-exempt countries. China's market will also be more accessible, as foreign investment negotiations will be advanced through a negative list approach.

China will especially broaden market access in the services sector. The country views openness in this sector as key to the overall high-standard opening up. The pilot openings in telecommunications and healthcare services will be expanded, while those in the education and culture sectors will be promoted in a prudent and orderly manner.

Service trade represents another key area. By hosting major exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, China aims to attract more foreign companies to invest and introduce diverse service-based business models.

China's opening up is anchored in the pursuit of win-win outcomes. The country is committed to upholding a fair, just, open, inclusive, and win-win international economic order and to engaging in mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with all nations. High-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative will be further deepened, according to the recommendations.

China has continued to make significant progress in opening up. China's scale of foreign trade in goods has ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years, with its exports and imports accounting for over 14 percent and 10 percent of the global total, respectively.

Since 2024, China has applied zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all least developed countries (LDCs) with which it has diplomatic relations. Further steps are planned in the coming years to facilitate LDCs' exports to the Chinese market.

On the global stage, China will actively engage in multilateral cooperation. China's participation in the reform of the World Trade Organization, and in the formulation of rules in new sectors such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, and supply chain resilience, is expected.

"China's high-standard opening up helps to build global consensus," China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said. "It also helps create a sound environment for global trade, investment, development and cooperation, pooling positive energy to advance economic globalization."

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
HANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- British writer Jack Kawin Sherwin never imagined that his casual interest in Chinese online literature would lead to a professional writing career.

It all began in 2018 when he discovered novels like "Soul Land" on WebNovel, an international platform of China Literature Limited.

"In between reading web novels, I also developed the idea of writing something I can call my own," Sherwin said. A year later, he transitioned from a reader to a signed author. Over the past six years, his works have amassed over 80 million total reads, trying to blend Eastern and Western elements to create cross-cultural narratives.

Sherwin's story is a microcosm of a broader trend. Hou Xiaonan, CEO and president of China Literature Limited, said that Chinese online literature is not just "going overseas," it's achieving true globalization. "Through a virtuous cycle of global reading, creation and development, Chinese narratives are accelerating their integration into the world's pop culture," he added.

Data from the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA) shows that the overseas revenue of China's online literature industry hit 4.82 billion yuan (about 680 million U.S. dollars) in 2024, with approximately 750,900 works available internationally.

Online literature is now joined by video games and web series, collectively dubbed China's cultural export "new trio." These digital formats are reaching global audiences and becoming a significant part of the international pop-culture landscape.

A report released on Wednesday at the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Urban Cooperation & Development Conference and the International Travel Agents Conference in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, provided further context. It mentioned that in 2024, China's cultural trade reached 1.4 trillion yuan, with digitally-driven exports accounting for over 25 percent of the total.

Concerning the expansion of Chinese web series, the report cited the example of Jiaxing Jiuzhou Culture Media Co., Ltd., which operates the overseas micro-series platform "ShortMax," now reaching over 200 countries and regions and boasting a peak of 30 million monthly active users.

Wang Weizhi, vice president of the company, said that a shift is witnessed from pure content export to establishing local production centers and forming strategic creation alliances with local talents in targeted markets.

"We not only adapt high-quality domestic short dramas into multiple languages, but also develop tailored content for specific regions, establishing a sustainable globalization model," he said.

According to data from China Netcasting Services Association, the overseas market for micro-series generated 1.53 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from January to August in 2025, a 194.9 percent year-on-year increase, with downloads soaring 370.4 percent to approximately 730 million.

The country's video game industry has seen similar breakthroughs. The blockbuster title "Black Myth: Wukong" has captivated players worldwide, while established hits like "Genshin Impact" and "Honkai: Star Rail" continue to rank among the top downloads in over 100 countries and regions.

CADPA data shows that China's self-developed games generated overseas revenue of 18.56 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up 13.39 percent compared with the previous year.

Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, affirmed this development in an interview with Xinhua at the conference.

"A vast and thriving ecosystem for these creative industries has already emerged in China," she said. "Culture is a driver of economic growth: it generates employment and intertwines with digital technologies. Presently, China leads the world in the growth rate of its creative economy." 
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TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan posted a trade deficit of 231.8 billion yen (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in October, down 53.6 percent from the previous year, as exports grew partly due to semiconductor shipments, government data showed Friday.

Total exports increased 3.6 percent from a year earlier to 9.77 trillion yen, marking the second straight monthly gain, while imports added 0.7 percent to 10 trillion yen, also up for the second consecutive month, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report.

Exports to the United States declined 3.1 percent from a year earlier to 1.75 trillion yen, down for the seventh consecutive month, as higher tariffs continued to weigh on car shipments. Japan's U.S.-bound car exports fell 7.5 percent in value terms. (1 U.S. dollar equals about 157.3 yen) 
Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. High 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low around 25F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
A deep learning model trained on brain scans and cognitive tests could help protect firefighters at risk of alcoholism, changing how high-stress professions approach mental health.

Study: Predicting alcohol use disorder risk in firefighters using a multimodal deep learning model: a cross-sectional study. Image credit: Tsuguliev/Shutterstock.com

Firefighters undergo chronic and repeated trauma in their professional lives, putting them at high risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry examines the use of a deep learning multimodal framework to assess AUD risk objectively.

Stress fuels addiction

Firefighters face continuous exposure to emergencies and disasters, leading to significant and cumulative mental stress. The intense physical demands and psychological strain of their work make firefighters particularly vulnerable to developing mental health disorders, especially AUD.

Epidemiologic evidence shows a much higher rate of mental health screening among public safety staff compared to the general population. One in seven people screens positive for one or more mental disorders, while ~27 % have two or more.

Alcohol is often used as a maladaptive coping mechanism to help deal with trauma and stress. Firefighters may turn to alcohol for temporary relief, as it can reduce hyperarousal, dull intrusive memories of traumatic events, and ease emotional distress. Firefighter culture normalizes drinking when coming off active duty, but also discourages displays of vulnerability. This leads to a situation in which it is both okay to drink as a firefighter, but shameful to admit to AUD.

This prevents firefighters from seeking help for their AUD, or even admitting it, for fear of potentially ruining their career. Yet AUD poses a serious risk to individual firefighters and their teams, contributing to dangerous behaviors such as driving while intoxicated, heightened suicidal thoughts or actions, and an overall greater likelihood of traumatic incidents.

Currently, AUD screening relies on self-reporting through questionnaires. However, participants fear social and career-based repercussions or loss of their image if they admit to having an AUD. Objective screening methods are thus preferable, and those that do not stigmatize the participant are particularly beneficial. Behavioral and biological markers, such as structural MRI and neuropsychological assessments, are promising tools that form part of the present study.

This multimodal model was designed to use biological data to screen firefighters for high AUD risk.

Mapping risk through data

This South Korean study analyzed structural MRI neuroimaging data, combined with standardized neuropsychological tests, from a national cohort of 689 active-duty firefighters. This makes it the second-largest study of firefighters for AUD prediction modeling. The mean age was 43 years, with most participants being male.

The firefighters underwent T1-weighted structural MRI imaging. They also completed the Grooved Pegboard Test to assess their visual-motor coordination and the Trail Making Test to evaluate their executive function. They completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to screen for alcohol dependence and addiction.

Participants were stratified into those with alcohol risk and non-alcohol risk, comprising 57% and 43%, respectively.

The study used a novel machine learning model that leveraged the synergistic benefits of acquiring different types of data. This included:

ResNet-50 convolutional neural networks that extracted brain morphological patterns, layer by layer

Vision Transformer modules to identify broad-based brain anatomy, relating different parts to each other

Clinical variables used to derive a multilayer perceptron, identifying patterns in numerical data.

This multimodal system, known as cooperative fusion, integrates clinical and imaging data to interpret them in a clinically relevant manner. It combined brain patterns and clinical variations through their interactions, allowing for a more accurate prediction of AUD risk.

AI spots early warning signs

The multimodal system classified firefighters at risk for AUD with ~80% accuracy. Its discriminative power was also 80%. This represents a 17-percentage-point improvement in AUD prediction over either clinical-only or neuroimaging-only, at ~62% each.

The synergistic interaction of these different types of data accounts for the enhanced accuracy, showing that it is not simply an addition of more data. The model captured localized and global structural patterns from MRI data and integrated them effectively, eliminating the need for more complex and computationally demanding functional MRI (fMRI) scanning.

The neuropsychological tests also provided a satisfactory substitute for neurological function, further compensating for the lack of fMRI.

Using neuroimaging alone led to random activation patterns, indicating that early AUD produces too subtle and diffuse changes to provide enough discrimination to classify AUD risk accurately on its own.

Conversely, using only clinical features led to the use of sex and motor coordination as the most important predictive markers. The Grooved Pegboard test revealed sensitive changes in the nondominant hand, indicating early signs of neurological damage with AUD.

Model interpretability analyses such as Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) further showed that unimodal imaging models produced diffuse, non-specific activation patterns. In contrast, the integrated multimodal model identified clear, biologically meaningful patterns, highlighting sex and motor coordination as key predictive features.

Again, the results emphasize the importance of sex-specific risk patterns for AUD in firefighters. Alcohol breakdown pathways, alcohol neurotoxicity, and addiction risk are known to vary by sex.

The researchers also evaluated model calibration and decision curve analyses, showing that the multimodal approach maintained both accuracy and clinical value across a wide range of threshold probabilities. It consistently outperformed single-modality models by reducing false positives and false negatives, whereas the accuracy of clinical-only and neuroimaging-only models declined at higher thresholds.

This indicates that this relatively simple machine learning model is relevant for clinical use. This is an important step forward, considering that the complexity of fMRI has been a drawback to the clinical applicability of multimodal approaches. It compares favorably with earlier research combining structural and functional MRI to classify participants by psychiatric diagnosis.

A safer path to prevention

The current study presents a novel multimodal machine learning framework that combines structural neuroimaging with neuropsychological tests of AUD-specific function. This provided better classification performance compared to either clinical-only or neuroimaging-only protocols. This reduces computational resources and image acquisition time.

The multimodal ResNet-50 + ViT + MLP model significantly outperformed both clinical-only and image-only models.

Larger studies are required to refine this approach, thereby increasing accuracy and preventing unnecessary career interventions. At present, it is best suited to current rather than prospective risk prediction, in view of the 20% misclassification rate.

Cost-effectiveness studies are also required. At present, it would require 150 screens to prevent one severe occupational incident at cost-effective levels. This does not account for cascading effects, such as the prevention of occupational risks and injuries, increased safety, lower liability exposure, and higher productivity and operational readiness.

However, this offers a pragmatic pathway for implementing objective AUD screening in high-risk occupational populations with broader implications for psychiatric risk stratification in trauma-exposed professions. Shorter screening protocols could be used during routine medical testing to maintain accuracy while improving feasibility and applicability, beyond firefighters to other high-risk professionals.

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New findings from the Framingham Heart Study show that staying active in midlife and late life has a powerful impact on long-term brain health and may significantly reduce the risk of dementia.

Study: Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study. Image Credit: Master1305 / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open , researchers examined whether physical activity during early adulthood, midlife, or late life is most strongly associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimers disease or all-cause dementia.

Their findings indicate that higher physical activity in midlife and late life was linked to a 41-45% lower risk of all-cause dementia, with slightly stronger reductions observed in the highest activity quintile (Q5), and similar patterns were observed for Alzheimers disease.

Lifestyle and Timing Challenges in Dementia Prevention Research

Dementia poses a major global health challenge, and effective preventive strategies are urgently needed because current drug treatments for Alzheimers disease offer only modest benefits, are costly, and may cause side effects. Growing evidence suggests that modifying lifestyle factors could prevent a substantial portion of dementia cases.

Physical activity is among these modifiable factors, especially during midlife. However, it remains unclear when across adulthood physical activity matters most for long-term brain health. Past research has shown that being physically active in midlife or later life is associated with better brain structure, improved cognitive performance, and a lower risk of dementia.

Physical activity earlier in life may also be beneficial. However, many studies rely on older adults recalling their youthful activity levels, which introduces error and the possibility of reverse causation, especially when cognitive impairment is already present. As a result, the specific life stages at which physical activity has the greatest impact remain uncertain.

To clarify this issue, researchers used long-term, prospectively collected data from the Framingham Heart Study, which began in the early 1970s. They aimed to determine whether physical activity in early adulthood, midlife, or late life is most strongly linked with reduced dementia risk.

Participant Selection Across Early, Midlife, and Late-Life Stages

Participants were included if they were dementia-free and had physical activity data at a baseline exam corresponding to one of three life stages: early adulthood (ages 26 to 44), midlife (ages 45 to 64), or late life (ages 65 to 88).

The final analytic samples included 1526 early adult, 1943 midlife, and 885 late life participants. All participants provided informed consent, and the study followed established guidelines.

Physical Activity Measurement Using the Activity Index

Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Index, which assigns weighted values to hours spent in sleep, sedentary, slight, moderate, and heavy activities. Higher scores indicate greater total activity. Scores were divided into age-specific quintiles for comparison.

Participants were followed until dementia diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2023. Dementia, all-cause or Alzheimers disease, was diagnosed through expert consensus using standard diagnostic criteria.

Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios for dementia risk across physical activity quintiles, adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index ( BMI ), smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) 4 status.

Additional analyses considered tertiles and quartiles of activity, activity intensity levels, APOE 4 stratification, and Alzheimers dementia specifically.

Dementia Incidence and Early Patterns Across Life Stages

Participants in late life generally had lower education, higher BMI , and more cardiometabolic conditions than younger groups. Throughout follow-up, 567 individuals developed dementia, 4 percent of early adult, 14 percent of midlife, and 26 percent of late life participants.

Across all age groups, participants with lower physical activity had higher mortality. These results emphasize the higher risk of dementia among less active individuals, especially in midlife and late life.

After accounting for demographic and health factors, only higher physical activity during midlife and late life, not early adulthood, was associated with a significantly reduced risk of all-cause dementia.

In both midlife and late life, individuals in the highest activity quintiles had a significantly lower dementia risk than those in the lowest quintile, approximately 40 percent lower, with Q4 and Q5 showing the strongest associations.

Early adult activity showed no significant association with dementia risk, likely reflecting the small number of dementia cases in this age group.

APOE 4 Genetics Modify Midlife and Late-Life Activity Effects

APOE 4 status modified these associations. The interaction between APOE 4 and physical activity was statistically significant for midlife only, indicating that genetic risk influenced the strength of the association during this period.

Among non-carriers, higher midlife activity was linked to substantially lower dementia risk, while late-life activity predicted reduced risk for both carriers and non-carriers. In 4 carriers, only the highest late-life activity level, Q5, reached statistical significance.

Patterns were similar for Alzheimers dementia specifically, with the highest level of midlife and late-life activity associated with lower incidence. However, for Alzheimers disease in 4 carriers, the association did not reach statistical significance, a nuance not attributable to insufficient sample size in the late-life group.

Moderate and heavy midlife activity were particularly protective, whereas slight activity showed no benefit. In late life, benefit was observed regardless of activity intensity.

Strengths and Limitations of the Life-Course Physical Activity Approach

The study shows that midlife and late-life physical activity are key periods during which higher activity levels are associated with reduced risk of all-cause and Alzheimers dementia.

Midlife benefits were tied to moderate or heavy activity, whereas late-life benefits occurred regardless of intensity. APOE 4 status influenced these associations, with stronger effects in non-carriers during midlife and more limited effects in carriers until late life.

These findings reinforce the importance of promoting physical activity across adulthood, particularly during midlife, to support cognitive health.

The life course design, extended follow-up, comprehensive adjudication of dementia, and detailed covariate data are significant strengths of this analysis. However, the predominantly European ancestry sample, limited numbers of dementia cases in early adulthood, reliance on self-reported activity at a single time point, inability to assess earlier-life activity, and potential misclassification or survival bias may limit the generalizability of the results.

Overall, the study identifies midlife and late life as critical windows for physical-activity-based dementia prevention.
At the University of Oulu, researchers are exploring new ways to utilize microwave technology in monitoring and assessing health conditions. The results of experiments conducted with realistic models are promising. Bras that detect breast cancer, leg sleeves that identify blood clots, and a helmet that monitors the effects of radiation therapy offer a glimpse into what future healthcare might look like.

Mariella Sarestoniemi together with Teemu Myllyla, Jarmo Reponen, Mikael von und zu Fraunberg, Juha Nikkinen, Sami Myllymaki and her students, are developing technology that could enable health monitoring and assessment with portable and wearable measuring devices. The research is part of the 6GESS research programme. Such devices could be used not only in hospitals but also in smaller health centers.

In a country like Finland with long distances, there is demand for this. Bringing research equipment closer to people lowers the threshold for participating in studies, which in turn means health issues can be detected earlier and addressed more effectively.

Instead of having to travel hundreds of kilometers to a hospital for examinations, a person could go to their local health center for a quick preliminary scan. This new technology thus increases regional equality in healthcare, Sarestoniemi illustrates the benefits of the emerging technology.

Microwaves detect tumors safely and quickly

Mariella Sarestoniemi specifically studies the use of microwave technology in wireless health applications. Microwave technology is based on the different electrical properties of tissues. For measurement, researchers are developing portable or lightweight wearable devices, in which the radio signal traveling between installed antennas can be analyzed to detect anomalies such as tumors. The low-power microwave signal is safe and effective.

For example, a signal sent through brain or breast tissue behaves differently when it encounters different tissues, which provides data for the doctor interpreting it. Mariella Sarestoniemi, University of Oulu

The technology is well-suited for wearable devices, as the necessary components are small and inexpensive.

Developing such devices for use in health centers or even ambulances is therefore realistic, Sarestoniemi says.

Another advantage of technology is speed.

It takes only a few nanoseconds for a microwave signal to pass through, for example, the head. The measurement process is quick and effortless.

Tumor-Detecting bras to help with mammography challenges

Sarestoniemi envisions a new, effortless way to participate in breast cancer screening using microwave-based measurement, in addition to traditional mammography. Many women skip screening because mammography is perceived as painful or the journey to the examination is too long.

Mammography does not detect tumors in all breast types, which in any case requires additional examinations. The devices under development could solve many of mammographys challenges.

Microwave-based breast cancer monitoring devices are already being clinically tested across Europe. Sarestoniemis goal is to develop monitoring bras alongside these larger devices, enabling preliminary checks in smaller health centers, where they could even be used independently. The device, worn briefly, would measure and automatically send the data to the treating physician.

The procedure is intended to be as easy and quick as measuring blood pressure, Sarestoniemi describes.

Another vision for a self-use device is a leg sleeve that detects blood clots. After surgery, the risk of blood clots is elevated, so it would be useful if the patient could monitor signs of clot formation at home. The sleeve could be pulled on a few times a day to check the situation.

A new way to monitor radiation therapy effects affordably and effectively

The newest application, which has sparked much interest among doctors, relates to monitoring the effects of radiation therapy in treating brain tumors. In certain cases, the tumor is treated primarily with radiation therapy instead of surgery.

The effects of radiation therapy should be monitored frequently to assess whether the treatment is sufficient or if other methods need to be considered. Current imaging methods are either expensive or use harmful radiation, which is why they cannot be performed very often, Sarestoniemi explains.

Researchers are designing a lightweight helmet for head monitoring, which the patient wears during scanning. Analysis of the microwave signal traveling between antennas placed around the helmet reveals whether the treatment has been effective and the tumor has shrunk. Preliminary research results show that microwave technology can detect even small changes in tumor size.

Radiation therapy specialists are very interested in this, as it would allow for more frequent monitoring of treatment safely.

Realistic models account for different human bodies

In Oulu, researchers aim to consider different body types as thoroughly as possible and test the technology in challenging situations. This helps determine whether the new technologies work in real-life scenarios with diverse individuals.

For example, breast tissue types differ significantly depending on the amount of glandular and fatty tissue. The differences in properties between glandular and tumor tissue are relatively small compared to fatty tissue and tumors. Detecting a tumor is much more difficult if the breast contains a lot of glandular tissue.

The tissue models used by researchers are made in an environmentally friendly way from cooking ingredients.

Once the measurements are completed, the models can be disposed of as biowaste. We can easily and quickly make new models and adjust their size, Sarestoniemi says.

Many technologies are being researched, but the applications are not yet in use. If all goes well and clinical trials prove successful, microwave-based applications could be in use in health centers within ten years.

Microwave technology is considered very promising and is already undergoing clinical testing in European hospitals, Sarestoniemi states.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday evening to create a ministerial committee that will supervise the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement's second phase, the country's public broadcaster Kan reported on Friday.

The committee will include Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said Kan, while noting that both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, two far-right ministers, voted against the truce deal.

The second phase is expected to begin when all living hostages are released and the bodies of deceased hostages are returned to Israel. According to the Israeli military, Hamas is still holding the bodies of three hostages who were killed.

It is also reported that although no specific timetable has been set for the upcoming stages, the U.S. government is working on establishing an international security force made up of personnel from Arab and Muslim countries to enforce the ceasefire.

One of the key points of contention for the second phase is the disarmament of Hamas. Hamas has consistently refused to disarm, viewing it as a red line, while Israel insists that Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza must be disarmed.

Although the first phase of the ceasefire has been in place since Oct. 10, skirmishes between Israel and Hamas continued.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a Friday statement that it had killed five militants who emerged from a tunnel in eastern Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Gaza-based health authorities reported that 312 people have been killed and 760 others injured since the ceasefire agreement took effect, while 572 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble during the same period, bringing the death toll of the war in Gaza to 69,546. 
New search data reveal that as interest in Ozempic face surges, people increasingly turn to nonsurgical fillers rather than surgery to restore facial volume.

Study: Interest in Facial Volume Restorative Procedures With the Rise in Ozempic Face: A Google Trends Analysis. Image Credit: Alones / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryGlobal Open , a group of researchers examined whether rising searches for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist ( GLP-1RA )-related facial changes are associated with increased interest in facial volume-restorative procedures using Google Trends data from the United States from June 2022 to June 2025.

Rapid Weight-Loss Aesthetics Driving Public Curiosity

About one in eight adults in the United States has tried a GLP-1RA , which aligns with poll data indicating roughly 12 percent of adults have used a GLP-1 drug, putting semaglutide and similar drugs into daily conversations.

Rapid weight loss can reshape facial contours, flattening cheeks, hollowing temples, and loosening skin that becomes obvious in selfies and video calls. People consider several options, including hyaluronic acid fillers, fat grafting, and facelift surgery. Interest in these choices does not rise evenly across the board.

Search patterns reveal what worries people and which solutions they are actively exploring. With media attention on Ozempic face, understanding related procedure interest can guide counseling. The facial changes discussed in popular media may arise both from medication-specific effects and from general rapid weight loss.

Emerging evidence suggests that fat loss may be concentrated in the superficial midface fat pads, which could influence corrective strategies.

The studys discussion also notes proposed mechanisms, such as dermal adipose alterations, changes in collagen or elastin, and oxidative effects, that may contribute to facial volume loss.

Further research should determine the most effective corrections.

Google Trends Used to Track Public Interest Patterns

In the present study, the researchers used Google Trends to quantify public interest using relative search volume ( RSV ), which scales search volume from 0 to 100 over a selected period.

United States data from June 2022 to June 2025 were downloaded for Ozempic face and procedure terms for facial volume restoration, including facial filler, face filler, cheek filler, facial fat grafting, face fat grafting, facial fat transfer, face lift, facelift, rhytidectomy, neck lift, and necklift.

To capture broader interest, seven related queries were added from Googles associated topics: what is Ozempic face, the Ozempic face, plastic surgeons Ozempic face, Ozempic side effects face, Ozempic weight loss face, Wegovy face, and semaglutide face.

June 2022 was chosen because it immediately preceded the term Ozempic face entering everyday use, and because all Ozempic-related terms before this time had an RSV of 0.

Statistical Methods for Evaluating Trends and Co-Movement

Analyses were conducted in Python 3.13. Linear regression tested whether RSV changed significantly over time for each term. To evaluate co-movement between interest in Ozempic-related terms and procedures, Spearman correlation tests were performed on time-detrended series for each pair of terms.

Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. This design leverages large-scale public behavior signals without collecting individual identifiers, aligning with ethical use of anonymized, aggregate data.

Public Interest in GLP-1RA Facial Changes Increased Sharply

Search activity for Ozempic face increased steadily from June 2022 to June 2025. This upward trend was mirrored by related queries using drug and brand terminology such as semaglutide face and Wegovy face, as well as practical, concern-oriented queries like what is Ozempic face and Ozempic side effects face.

Taken together, these patterns indicate growing public attention to facial changes associated with GLP-1RA medications. These changes may reflect a combination of medication-related mechanisms and effects common to rapid weight loss, such as superficial midface fat loss, collagen or elastin changes, and reduced facial adipose support.

Greater Interest in Fillers, Not in Surgical Volume Restoration

During the same period, procedure-focused terms reflecting nonsurgical facial volume restoration also trended upward. General and site-specific filler searches, including facial filler, face filler, and cheek filler, showed consistent gains in RSV . By contrast, two terms that reflect surgical or autologous approaches, face fat grafting and rhytidectomy, did not exhibit clear upward movement over time.

These findings align with the studys observation that filler procedures are more familiar to the public, less invasive, and more accessible than surgical interventions.

The discussion further suggests that younger populations and individuals deterred by surgical costs or invasiveness may prefer nonsurgical options, although Google Trends data cannot confirm this.

Correlations Show Fillers Rise With GLP-1RA Facial Concerns

Correlation analyses of time-detrended series clarified that interest in GLP-1RA -related facial changes tracked interest in specific procedures. Queries referencing medications or brands, such as Ozempic face, Wegovy face, and semaglutide face, were significantly and positively associated with facial filler, face filler, and cheek filler.

In practical terms, as the public searched more about GLP-1RA -related facial concerns, they simultaneously searched more about filler-based solutions. These associations reached statistical significance (P < 0.05).

In contrast, several surgical or semi-surgical terms showed significant negative associations with GLP-1RA -related searches after detrending.

Facial fat grafting, face fat grafting, rhytidectomy, and face lift tended to move inversely with Ozempic face and related terms. This indicates that rising concern about medication-related facial changes aligns more with interest in nonsurgical fixes than surgical ones.

Neck-focused procedures (neck lift, necklift) showed no clear associations, possibly due to lower public awareness of their role in treating GLP-1RA -related facial volume loss.

Professionalized Searches Show Greater Surgical Procedure Interest

An exception emerged for the query plastic surgeons Ozempic face. Unlike generic GLP-1RA -related searches, this phrase displayed positive correlations with surgical options including facial fat grafting, face fat grafting, facelift, and face lift. This suggests that individuals who search with a professional or specialist framing may be more open to procedural or surgical correction.

Additionally, facelift-related terms (facelift, face lift) had high overall RSV even though their correlations with GLP-1RA -related search spikes were neutral or negative. Surgical lifts remained broadly popular, but real-time concern about GLP-1RA -associated facial changes aligned more closely with searches for nonsurgical volumization.

Implications for Aesthetic Counseling and Future Research

The analysis shows that public attention to GLP-1RA -related facial changes is rising and aligns strongly with interest in filler-based approaches.

These patterns suggest that patients experiencing rapid facial volume loss are more likely to explore nonsurgical solutions first.

For clinicians, counseling should address expectations, longevity, and filler risks while acknowledging surgical options when appropriate. Because emerging radiographic evidence points to superficial midface fat loss, corrective strategies may differ from those used for primary aging.

Future studies should compare corrective approaches directly in GLP-1RA users, define optimal injection depth and placement, and identify when surgical solutions outperform nonsurgical ones for natural, durable results.
While artificial intelligence technology is increasingly being used - formally and informally - to support medical diagnoses, its utility in emergency medical settings remains an open question. Can AI support doctors in situations where split-second decision making can mean the difference between life and death? Researchers at Drexel University broached the question with clinicians at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to better understand how and when the technology could help them save lives.

Led by Angela Mastrianni, PhD, a Drexel graduate who is a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone Health and Aleksandra Sarcevic, PhD, a professor in Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics and director of the Interactive Systems for Healthcare Research Lab, the team looked at two types of scenarios in which AI technology is used to support emergency medical doctors in making treatment decisions.

In the first scenario, key information used in decision making - including patient age, how the injury occurred, and vital signs - was synthesized and presented to the team in real-time. In the second scenario, treatment recommendations were provided, in addition to the synthesized information.

In an experiment that involved 35 emergency care providers from six health systems, the researchers found that participants were more likely to make correct decisions when both AI information and recommendations were provided, compared to receiving no AI support.

However, they also found that participants were divided on their perception of receiving recommendations from an AI assistant during medical emergencies. Although most preferred to receive AI recommendations and synthesis, some physicians had concerns that the recommendations could infringe on their agency and bias decision making.

The authors recently presented its findings at the American Computing Machinery's Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing (CSCW).

Although our study involved a small sample of health care providers, this is the sort of inquiry that will be important as the emergency medical community considers how AI technology can support its lifesaving work. There is no question that the technology can augment the work of humans in medical settings, but understanding when and where it is appropriate and accepted will be key to navigating its adoption." Aleksandra Sarcevic, PhD, Professor, Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics

To arrive at their findings, the team first designed a prototype of an AI-enabled decision-support display - dubbed "DecAide" - for use in a pediatric trauma resuscitation setting. By surveying and interviewing a variety of emergency medicine care providers, the team gained an understanding of the types of information that providers use to support decision making during resuscitations and how best to present it.

With this guidance, the display took shape as a concise listing of key patient information, highlighting abnormalities and color coding any changes in vital signs. One version presented only this information, while a second also offered a recommendation - such as a blood transfusion or neurosurgical procedure - along with its probability of success based on a risk calculation model drawing on resuscitation data from the primary research site, Children's National Hospital.

The team evaluated the participants' interaction with the system by creating 12 scripted vignette scenarios during which information was gradually presented about trauma patients. In a timed virtual exercise, 35 providers were each presented these scenarios under three conditions: in one vignette, the decision-support display offered no information or guidance from AI; during another it offered AI-synthesized information and in the third, both AI-synthesized information and a recommendation were offered. Participants were asked to make real-time assessments in each scenario and decide whether or not the patient needed a life-saving intervention, such as a blood transfusion, brain surgery, a chest tube or needle decompression, intubation or chest surgery.

The team recorded each decision in the participants' treatment and diagnosis process - more than 800 instances in total - comparing them to the ground truth data from which the vignettes were created, to determine diagnostic accuracy. Each participant also completed a survey about how they used the information display. To test the effect of information trust and bias in the decision-making process, in one out of every eight decisions presented to the participants, the researchers programmed the display to provide an incorrect recommendation.

Participants made the correct decisions in 64.4% of the scenarios when both AI information synthesis and a recommendation were provided. The rate fell to 56.3% when only information synthesis was provided without a recommendation and 55.8% when no support was provided.

The technology did not appear to slow decision making, as the time taken for participants to make decisions remained relatively consistent through all three of the display conditions in the experiment. And in many instances, participants made their decision before AI-enabled recommendation was provided on the display.

The use and perception of the decision-making support varied widely, however. Eighteen participants noted that they considered the recommendations, but only after they had already made their decision. Twelve participants ignored the AI recommendations altogether, either because they lacked nuance or the participants did not trust the system because the data driving its recommendation was not provided. Overall, the participants expressed fewer concerns about the presentation of AI-synthesized information.

"We are seeing a gradual adoption of decision support systems in medical specialties such as radiology, but there is still quite a bit of hesitancy in using this new technology in dynamic and time-critical medical settings, like emergency medicine," Mastrianni said. "While there is evidence that AI models can diagnose illness at high levels of accuracy, we know that more research is needed to understand how best to integrate it in clinical settings so that providers begin to trust and use this new technology."

The team suggests that continued research in this area should include larger participant pools with representatives from a wider range of medical specialties and types of hospitals. They note that before any such tools are adopted, additional information and support is needed for medical leaders deciding whether and how to implement them and how to create clear policies around their use.
For nearly three years, Eric Tennant endured chemotherapy infusions, rounds of radiation, biopsies, and hospitalizations that left him weak and depleted.

"It's good to be home," he said after one hospital stay in early June, "yet I'm tired and ready to get on with things."

In 2023, Tennant, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts that had spread throughout his body.

None of the initial treatments prescribed by his doctors had eradicated the cancer. But a glimmer of hope came in early 2025, when Tennant was recommended for histotripsy, a relatively new procedure that would use ultrasound waves to target, and potentially destroy, the largest tumor in his body  in his liver.

"My dad was a little nervous because it was something new, but it definitely gave us some hope that he would be around a little bit longer," said Tennant's daughter, Amiya.

There was just one hitch: His insurer wouldn't pay for it.

Tennant, 58, died of cancer on Sept. 17. His story illustrates how a bureaucratic process called prior authorization can devastate patients and their families.

Its infeasible to count the people harmed by this overwhelmingly unpopular practice, which, by delaying or denying care, helps drive health insurers' profits. No government agency or private group tracks such data.

That said, KFF Health News has heard from hundreds of patients in recent years who claim that they or someone in their family has been harmed by prior authorization. More than 1 in 4 physicians surveyed by the American Medical Association in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death.

In June, the Trump administration announced a pledge, signed by dozens of private insurers, to streamline prior authorization, which often requires patients or their medical teams to ask insurers for permission before proceeding with many types of care. It remains unclear when patients can expect to see improvement.

The commitments depend on the full cooperation of the private insurance sector" and will "take time to achieve their full effect," said Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services. But the pledge exists, he said, "to prevent tragic deaths like Eric's from occurring at the hands of an inefficient system."

Chris Bond, a spokesperson for AHIP, a health insurance industry trade group, said he could not speak to any specific insurer's prior authorization policies. Broadly, though, he said prior authorization "acts as a guardrail" to make sure medicines and treatments are not used inappropriately.

At the same time, he said, insurers recognize that patients can be frustrated when their doctor-recommended care is denied. That's why "there is a dedicated effort across the industry to make the process more straightforward, faster, and simpler for patients and providers," Bond said.

In the meantime, the process continues to take its toll on people like Eric Tennant, whose grave diagnoses often require expensive health care services.

"Eric is gone," his widow, Becky, said. "He's not coming back."

Tennant was a safety instructor for the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training and insured by the state's Public Employees Insurance Agency, which contracts with UnitedHealthcare to administer benefits for state employees, their spouses, and dependents.

In February and March, UnitedHealthcare, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, and an outside reviewer issued a series of denials that concluded Eric's benefits would not cover histotripsy, claiming the treatment was not medically necessary. Becky Tennant estimated the procedure would cost the family about $50,000 out-of-pocket.

Although the treatment wasn't guaranteed to work, it was worth a shot, the Tennants thought, so they considered withdrawing money from their retirement savings. But then, in May, after KFF Health News and NBC News posed a series of questions to UnitedHealthcare and the Public Employees Insurance Agency about Eric's case, the agency reversed course. PEIA decided to cover his treatment.

Notably, the agency contacted KFF Health News about the approval hours before it notified the Tennant family of the decision.

But the approval came too late. Eric was hospitalized in late May and prescribed medication that prevented him from undergoing histotripsy at that time. His family held out hope that his health would improve and he would qualify for the procedure that summer.

In July, they took a family vacation to Marco Island, Florida. It would be their last. Two days after they returned home, a scan revealed Eric's cancer had continued to spread. Histotripsy was out of the question.

"I'm sad for what we will miss out on," Becky said. "I'm sad at the unfairness of it."

She said if Eric had been able to undergo histotripsy in February, as originally recommended by his doctor, it might have destroyed the tumor in his liver that ultimately killed him.

"Well never know. That's the thing. Any lawyer for the insurance will say, 'Well, you don't know it would have helped.' No. You took that chance away from us," she said.

In October, Samantha Knapp, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Administration, told KFF Health News that the Public Employees Insurance Agency has not changed its policies related to prior authorization for histotripsy and continues to follow UnitedHealthcare's guidelines.

UnitedHealthcare declined to answer questions for this article.

On Sept. 17, in a hospice bed set up in their dining room, Eric was surrounded by his family and their dogs as he died. Becky held his hand as his heart rate began to drop.

"He wasn't afraid to die, but he didnt want to die," she said. "And you could tell the last day that he was fighting it big time."

At the very end, she whispered in his ear: "You know I love you. You have been the best husband and the best dad, and you've always taken such good care of us," Becky recalled.

And then, she said, he gasped. His eyebrows seemed to shoot up in wonder. During his last moment alive, she said, he smiled.

"The look on his face was pure, total amazement," she said. "I still can't believe he's not here."
The blue light that tablets emit is believed to make sleep less restful. However, an experimental study with young children was unable to confirm this assumption.

It is often said that the blue light emitted by tablets and phones makes it harder to fall asleep because it impacts the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

Scientists Professor Sabine Seehagen, Neele Hermesch, and Dr. Carolin Konrad from the Chair of Developmental Psychology at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, designed a comprehensive study to examine this effect in young children in their own home environments. Rubin, the science magazine of Ruhr University Bochum, reports on the findings.

Comprehensive, experimental study

We have been working on infant sleep and media use for a while now. But this field of research is rife with correlational studies. This approach doesn't say much about whether poor sleep is the media's 'fault,' or whether there is something else at play here. This was why we wanted to devise an experiment." Professor Sabine Seehagen, Ruhr University Bochum

While most experiments in this field are conducted with adults in laboratory settings, the three developmental psychologists in Bochum wanted to test and observe children in their own homes in order to understand the impact of tablet use on sleep in everyday life.

Tablet versus picture book

The researchers visited each of the 32 participating families with children between 15 and 24 months of age twice and explained the procedures.

At the heart of the experiment was the question of whether watching a story on a tablet has different consequences for the release of melatonin and nighttime sleep than viewing the same story in a picture book.

The children wore an actiwatch on their ankle with sensors that measured movements during the night. This allowed the scientists to draw conclusions about sleeping behavior, such as duration, quality, and time spent falling asleep. The release of melatonin was measured via three saliva samples per child each evening.

Surprising results

"On the evening with the tablet, we expected a flatter increase in released melatonin than on the evening with the book," says Konrad. This would indicate that the blue light emitted by the tablet suppressed melatonin production.

Surprisingly, however, the data did not support this assumption.

Detailed article in Rubin

You can learn more about what the researchers discovered in the detailed article in the science magazine Rubin, in the section "Light and Illumination." Text on the website can be used for editorial purposes with citation of the source "Rubin - Ruhr-Universitat Bochum." Images from the Downloads section can be used free of charge with specification of the copyright and adherence to the terms of use.
A team of organic and computational chemists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have created a new, modern tool to make the process of creating pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals faster, cost-effective, and energy-efficient.

The research, recently published in Nature, details a new method for creating the essential starting materials, known as precursors, used in chemical reactions. A patent is pending for this technique.

Chemists use what are called "aryne intermediates" as building blocks to make complex molecules more efficiently in areas such as pharmaceuticals and materials. Previously, researchers would have to add chemical additives to their reactions for activation, leading to significant waste. The new method eliminates these additives by using low-energy blue light, the kind found in everyday aquarium lights, as the activator.

The tool for building molecules using an aryne intermediate hasn't changed since 1983. We took this opportunity to break open this field so that it can be used by the entire chemistry and materials community, rather than just in niche applications." Courtney Roberts, senior author of the study and University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry associate professor who holds the 3M Alumni Professorship

Researchers initially planned to use heat as the activator, when one student noticed that the compounds were yellow. This indicated that the chemical absorbed light, which was a surprising discovery.

Using resources at the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, the team was able to computationally justify why the compound could absorb the light at the molecular and atom level. Combining organic and computation chemistry was critical in providing the knowledge of the hidden molecular structure formed along the way.

"These play critical roles in understanding the structure of the chemical reactions and how we have modified and improved them experimentally," said Jan-Niklas Boyn, a University of Minnesota assistant professor of chemistry and co-author of the study.

The research started with an idea from former Department of Chemistry Ph.D. student Chris Seong, who identified a gap in existing literature. After the team came together, the research was accelerated and completed in just a year and a half.

This new method can now be applied to biological conditions, which couldn't be done with the old model. This means not only can this be applied to small molecule drug discovery, it can be applied to more complicated processes: antibody drug conjugates or drugs with DNA-endcoded libraries.

But this research doesn't stop here, the team is hoping to expand.

"We've developed about 40 building blocks for creating drug molecules. Our hope is to continue to expand that number to provide a comprehensive set of building blocks that is accessible for researchers in different fields," Roberts said.

In addition to Roberts, Boyn and Seong, the research team included Department of Chemistry Ph.D. students Sallu Kargbo and Felica Yu along with postdoctoral scholar Daniel Gibney.

This research was funded by the University of Minnesota for startup funding. Collaborators on this work were able to accomplish the research with the following awards: the Amgen Young Investigator Award, the BMS Unrestricted Research Grant, the Sloan Fellowship, the Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award, the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship, the 3M-Alumni Professorship, the Wayland E. Noland Excellence Fellowship and the University of Minnesota Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship.
To take maximum advantage of the added days, months, and years people enjoy because of modern health care and healthier habits, they need to achieve competency in several areas necessary for longer lives, states a new Gerontological Society of America report, "Health and Wealth in the Era of Longevity."

The areas covered by the report include:

Financial literacy: Having the knowledge, skill, and competence to make informed decisions about money, including how to earn, save, spend, borrow, and invest it effectively.

Longevity literacy: Having a clear and objective understanding of life expectancy in combination with financial literacy.

Longevity fitness: Having the social, health, and wealth equity needed to thrive, not just survive, during an extended lifetime.

By making sound decisions across the lifespan, "individuals can be prepared to fully embrace older adulthood through whatever path they choose," the report explains. "These are not, however, only decisions for individuals to make; we also need to find ways to support individuals as they age. Health, financial, demographic, and social factors will inevitably pose challenges throughout life, but we can mitigate their impact by reshaping society to support an aging population and by promoting financial and longevity literacy - equipping individuals with an actionable roadmap that begins at birth, continues through young and middle adulthood, and culminates in a healthier older adulthood."

The report explores the complexities of estimating life expectancy based on factors such as sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education. It also explores how the United States health care system needs to be updated and upgraded to meet the needs of a growing population of older adults, including specialized training in geriatrics for a wide variety of health care disciplines.

The report brings forth the concept of "living insurance," rather than just life insurance, to ensure that people have enough wealth and income regardless of how long they live.

"No one can predict the future," the report notes. "However, individuals can take steps to understand their life expectancy and develop the resources needed to make the most of their remaining years."

The TIAA Institute provided support for this report, which includes recommendations for actions by individuals and families, employers, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, leaders in higher education and health care systems, and policymakers. This is the seventh GSA report in a series on longevity and the impact of longer lifespans on modern society.

Advisors for this report were Chairperson David Rehkopf, ScD, MPH, of Stanford University; Tamara Cadet, PhD, LCSW, MPH, of the University of Pennsylvania; David Hayes-Bautista, PhD, of the University of California, Los Angeles; and Surya Kolluri, MBA, MS, CRPC, and Anne Ollen, MEd, CEBA, of the TIAA Institute.
10 killed as 5.7 magnitude quake jolts Bangladesh

Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 01:15 IST

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Dhaka, Nov 21 (PTI) At least 10 people were killed and over a hundred injured as a massive earthquake of magnitude 5.7 jolted Dhaka and parts of the country on Friday, damaging buildings, causing fires at several places and sending panic among residents.

Officials said four of the victims died in the capital Dhaka, five in Narsingdi, the epicentre of the tremor, and one in suburban river port town of Narayanganj.

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Media reports suggested that in the industrial town on the outskirts of the capital Gazipur alone, at least 100 workers were injured at different units as they tried to rush out of buildings during the tremor.

The Met office said the epicentre of the quake that struck at 10:38 am (local time) was located some 10 kilometres beneath the surface in Narsingdi, which is around 13 kilometres east of the seismic centre in Dhakas Agargaon area.

Dhakas Deputy Police Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami said, quoting the fire service, that at least three people were killed after a railing, bamboo scaffolding and debris of a five-storey building fell on them at Old Dhakas Armanitola area.

Sami confirmed that one of the deceased was a medical student who was there to buy meat along with his mother. She is critically wounded, requiring an emergency surgery, he added.

One of the dead was an eight-year-old boy while the media quoting the family members said his wounded father also was declared dead later by doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The reports said among the dead in Dhaka was a 50-year-old private security guard who was killed after a portion of a buildings wall collapsed on him during the earthquake.

Narsingdi district administration in a statement said five people were killed and at least four, including a boy and his father, were critically injured.

In suburban Narayanganj, a baby died and her mother was seriously wounder when a wall collapsed on them.

In Sutrapurs Swamibagh area, also located in Old Dhaka, an eight-storey building was reported to have leaned against another structure following the earthquake, while at the Kalabagan area, a seven-storey building looked tilted, though fire officials reported it remained structurally sound.

A fire broke out at a residence in Dhakas posh Baridhara area soon after the tremor hit, but the firefighters could not immediately confirm if it was linked to the earthquake.

Another fire at a residential building was reported from the Gazaria area of suburban Munshiganj, while the fire service responded immediately to douse the blaze.

Reports of minor cracks appearing in some buildings have also been received from several areas in the capital and its surrounding areas, including Narsingdi.

The reports suggested the quake also damaged buildings and caused fire in suburban Munshiganj, northwestern Rajshahi and southeastern Chattogram.

Experts have long said the risk of major earthquakes was high in Bangladesh because of its location on active tectonic plate boundaries, with many of them saying a major earthquake is inevitable, though it could be decades away.

The meteorology department officials said an earthquake of this magnitude so close to Dhaka has never happened before and feared if it had lasted just 5-7 seconds longer, the number of casualties and building collapses could have increased manifold.

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Earthquake expert Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansary of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said a tremor with a magnitude of 6 could collapse most structures in the country.

This tremor (on Friday) is an alarm bell for Bangladesh," Ansary said. PTI AR GSP GSP

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First Published: November 22, 2025, 01:15 IST

News agency-feeds 10 killed as 5.7 magnitude quake jolts Bangladesh

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20 killed in chemical factory blast in Pakistans Punjab

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:15 IST

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Lahore, Nov 21 (PTI) At least 20 people were killed and several injured following a explosion in a chemical factory in Pakistans Punjab province on Friday, officials said.

The incident took place in the morning in the Faisalabad district of Punjab, some 130 km from Lahore.

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A report of the district administration on Friday morning said the incident took place early after a boiler at the factory exploded, causing the collapse of the nearby structures.

However, the Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 and Faisalabad Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar later attributed the explosion to a gas leak.

According to Anwar, four factories were operating in the Malikpur area of Faisalabad when a fire erupted in one of the factories due to gas leakage and engulfed the other factories as well.

He said that a massive explosion also caused the collapse of seven adjacent houses, resulting in the death of 20 people. The rescue teams have recovered 20 dead bodies, including six children and two women from the rubble so far, and seven injured have been shifted to the hospital," Anwar said. He said that most of the people killed in the blast were the residents of the houses adjacent to the chemical factory.

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A five-member inquiry committee has been formed to probe the matter, he added.

According to Rescue 1122, the fire at the factory has been completely doused. Debris from the collapsed houses has been cleared, while the removal of the factory rubble is still underway." Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the explosion. PTI MZ RD RD RD

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:15 IST

News agency-feeds 20 killed in chemical factory blast in Pakistans Punjab

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Fire breaks out at Brazil's COP30 Climate venue

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 04:00 IST

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Belem [Brazil], November 21 (ANI): A massive fire broke out inside a pavilion at the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday (local time), according to The New York Times.The fire occurred in a pavilion inside a convention hall where more than 50,000 diplomats, journalists, and activists had gathered for the global climate summit.No injuries have been reported so far, and the cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed.The blaze began around 2 p.m. and filled the convention centre with smoke, forcing delegates to evacuate. Initially, an official from the Summit Presidency said the fire had been contained for about 30 minutes, The New York Times reported.By 3 p.m., people started returning to the convention centre, but officials escorted them back out, saying evacuation was still in progress. At 4:20 p.m., the COP Presidency announced that the fire had been contained with limited damage." Thousands of people from nearly 200 countries have arrived in Belem to debate and agree on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are dangerously heating the planet in the COP 30 summit.Last week, the summit venue came under criticism after torrential rain leaked into the meeting spaces, dripping on delegates. There were also complaints of food shortages, and air conditioners also continued to struggle from the high heat and humidity. (ANI)

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 04:00 IST

News agency-feeds Fire breaks out at Brazil's COP30 Climate venue

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Over 10,000 Afghan refugees return from Pakistan, Iran in single day

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 04:45 IST

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Kabul [Afghanistan], November 21 (ANI): A total of 10,405 Afghan citizens returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, Pajhwok News Agency reported on Thursday, citing officials.According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the High Commission for Addressing Migrants Issues recorded the return of 1,763 families on Wednesday. Fitrat shared the update on his official X account.He noted that the returnees entered Afghanistan through several border crossings: Salma Qala in Herat, Pul-i-Abdesham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand, and the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar.Fitrat added that 2,222 returnee families (13,303 people) were transported to their home provinces, and 1,534 individuals received humanitarian aid.These returns follow other mass repatriations earlier in the week: on Sunday, 12,666 Afghan refugees were sent back from Iran and Pakistan, and on Tuesday, another 7,326 Afghans were forcibly repatriated. Chagai and Quetta in Balochistan and Attock in Punjab were the top three districts across the country where most Afghan Citizen Card ACC holders or undocumented Afghan nationals were arrested or detained over more than ten months this year, Dawn reported, citing a United Nations refugee agency assessment.The report stated that the highest number of arrests or detentions occurred in 2025, with 100,971 Afghans arrested from January 1 to November 8, 2025, compared to 9,006 Afghans detained in 2024 and 26,299 Afghans arrested in 2023.According to the UNHCR report, released on Friday, before 2023, there was no data collected on the arrest and detention of ACC holders or undocumented Afghan nationals. Since January 2023, the International Organisation for Migration IOM has been collecting such data.From November 2 to November 8, a total of 13,380 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained, marking a 72 per cent increase from the previous week. (ANI)

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 04:45 IST

News agency-feeds Over 10,000 Afghan refugees return from Pakistan, Iran in single day

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JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected handing over the Group of 20 (G20) presidency to a low-ranking U.S. diplomat, the president's office said Thursday, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Pretoria and Washington.

"The President will not hand over to a charge d'affaires," presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya wrote on social media X.

The dispute came after U.S. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday criticized Ramaphosa, accusing him of "running his mouth" over the U.S. boycott of the G20 summit.

Leavitt confirmed that a U.S. delegation will attend the handover ceremony at the end of the summit, but said Washington will not take part in the G20 discussions.

Marc D. Dillard, charge d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, is expected to lead the U.S. delegation at the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit.

In diplomatic practice, a charge d'affaires is the lowest-ranking head of mission, usually appointed only when a country does not have an ambassador in place. Unlike an ambassador or minister, a charge d'affaires does not present credentials to the host head of state and is generally viewed as a temporary or junior-level representative. 
Trade unions condemn labour reforms

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:15 IST

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New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) A joint forum of 10 labour unions on Friday condemned the labour reforms, saying the move is anti-worker" and supports employers.

However, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh welcomed the reforms and termed it a long-awaited move.

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In a landmark overhaul of labour laws, the government on Friday notified all four Labour Codes, ushering in major reforms, including universal social security coverage for gig workers, mandatory appointment letters for all employees, and statutory minimum wages and timely payment across sectors.

In a statement, the Joint Platform of 10 central trade unions said they strongly condemn the blatantly unilateral implementation of anti-worker, pro-employer labour codes from today.

This arbitrary and undemocratic notification of the four labour codes defies all democratic ethos and has wrecked the character of the welfare state of India to rubbles," the platform said.

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In a separate statement, BMS said the four labour codes address the concerns of the labour market.

The broadening of wage coverage beyond scheduled employment and extension of social security protection to new and unorganised sectors reflect forward-looking reforms aligned with aspirations of the modern workforce," BMS said. PTI ABI ABI MR MR

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:15 IST

News agency-feeds Trade unions condemn labour reforms

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UP: Woman arrested for concocting story of son's abduction to extort money

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 22:45 IST

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Meerut (UP), Nov 21 (PTI) Police arrested a woman and her accomplice from Sardhana area here on Friday after they allegedly fabricated a story about the kidnapping of her 10-year-old son and attempted to extort money, police said.

The child was recovered from Noida on Thursday night, they added.

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The accused have been identified as Sonia, a resident of Dabthua village, and her accomplice Sanjay, a resident of Badalpur police station area in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

According to the police, Sonia filed a complaint on November 20 that her son had been kidnapped by four youths  Mohit and Rohit (both brothers), Satendra alias Sahendri, and Subhash.

The police registered a case under section 140(1) (abduction) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and began an investigation by forming three teams.

During the investigation, police found several inconsistencies in Sonias complaint. The CCTV cameras installed in Sonias house were turned off before the incident, police said.

Evidence of frequent contact with some suspicious numbers was found on her mobile phone.

Phone surveillance revealed that the child was, in fact, in Noida, and not in the village at the time of the incident, they added.

Based on this, the child was recovered from Noida.

The police said Sonia had a dispute with her first husband and had been living in Ghaziabad for 10-11 years, leaving the children at her parents home in Dabthua, Meerut.

About three years ago, she returned to her village and began pressuring her neighbour, Mohit, to marry her.

When Mohit turned her down, she demanded Rs 1 lakh from him. When he refused, Sonia filed a case against Mohit on October 31, 2025 and later changed her statement in court after receiving the money.

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According to the police, when Mohit and his family refused to provide money any further, Sonia, along with her acquaintance Sanjay, sent her son to Noida and filed a new case against the four men, falsely accusing them of kidnapping, to exert pressure on them.

Police have arrested both accused. Based on a complaint filed by Mohits mother, a case has been registered against Sonia and Sanjay for extortion and conspiracy. PTI COR NAV ARB ARB

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 22:45 IST

News agency-feeds UP: Woman arrested for concocting story of son's abduction to extort money

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Women's commission will monitor probe in Malegaon rape-murder case: Chakankar

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 22:45 IST

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Mumbai, Nov 21 (PTI) Maharashtra State Womens Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar on Friday condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Malegaon, calling it an act that tarnishes humanity", and demanded capital punishment for the accused.

Chakankar, who also heads the NCP womens wing in the state, said the case would be fast-tracked to ensure swift justice. The accused must be sentenced to death. For that, the case will be conducted in a fast-track court and the womens commission will pursue the matter," she said in a statement.

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The Commission will provide all necessary assistance to the victims family, she added.

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The minor girl was raped and bludgeoned to death with a stone at Dongrale village on November 16, following which one person was arrested, according to police. The accused is in police custody till November 27.

The brutal crime sparked widespread outrage in the region. PTI MR KRK

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 22:45 IST

News agency-feeds Women's commission will monitor probe in Malegaon rape-murder case: Chakankar

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PM Kisan Beneficiary List: How To Check Status And Why Some May Not Have Received 21st Instalment Yet

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:32 IST

PM Kisan 21st Installment Beneficiary List: Though all landholding farmers' families that have cultivable landholding are eligible to get amount, some are excluded from the scheme.

PM Kisan 21st Installment Status.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Beneficiary List: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already released the much-awaited 21st Installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The amount of Rs 2,000 has already been credited into farmers bank accounts. Under the PM Kisan scheme, farmers receive Rs 6,000 in a year in three installments of Rs 2,000 each. Though all landholding farmers families that have cultivable landholding in their names are eligible to get the amount, some are excluded from the scheme. As a result of this, some farmers might not have received the latest tranche of Rs 2,000 yet.

Who Is Eligible To Receive The PM Kisan 21st Installment?

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To qualify for the PM Kisans 21sh installment, one must:

Be a citizen of India

Own cultivable land

Be a small or marginal farmer

Not be a pensioner receiving Rs 10,000 or more per month

Not have filed income tax

Not be an institutional landholder.

PM Kisan: Who Is Not Eligible?

The following category of farmers are not eligible to receive the benefit of the PM Kisan Scheme:

1. Institutional landholders (e.g., companies, trusts, etc.)

2. Farmer families where any member is:

A current or former holder of a constitutional post (like President, Governor, etc.)

A current or former minister, MP, MLA, Mayor, or District Panchayat Chairperson.

A government employee (Central/State/PSU), whether currently working or retired  Excluding Class IV / Group D staff and Multi-Tasking Staff.

A retired person with a pension of more than Rs 10,000/ month, excluding Class IV / Group D pensioners.

A person who paid income tax in the last assessment year.

A professional like a doctor, engineer, lawyer, CA, or architect who is registered and practicing.

PM Kisan 21st Installment Date: Suspected Cases

According to PM Kisans portal, the agriculture department has identified certain suspected cases that may fall under the exclusion criteria outlined in the scheme guidelines. These include, for example:

Farmers who acquired land ownership after 01-02-2019,

Cases where more than one family member is receiving benefits (e.g., both husband and wife, an adult member and minor, etc.).

The benefits for such cases have been temporarily withheld till physical verification is completed. Farmers are requested to check their eligibility status on Know Your Status (KYS) of PM KISAN website/ mobile app or Kisan eMitra chatbot for further details," according to the PM Kisan portal.

PM Kisan: How To Check Beneficiary Status?

Visit https://pmkisan.gov.in

Click on Know Your Status

Enter your registration number or Aadhaar number

Check whether your name is on the beneficiary list

Also ensure that your eKYC is completed, as it is mandatory for installment release.

What Is The PM Kisan Scheme?

Launched in 2019 after being announced in the Interim Budget by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the PM Kisan scheme has become the worlds largest DBT scheme. Under it, eligible farmers receive Rs 2,000 every four months totaling Rs 6,000 annually in the following cycles  April-July, August-November, and December-March.

The money is deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

PM Kisan 21st Installment Amount Released

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released the latest 21st installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme worth Rs 18,000 crore to over nine crore farmers in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

With this, the central government has so far released over 4,08,000 crore in 21 installments so far, benefitting over 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.4 crore female farmers.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 13:32 IST

News business economy PM Kisan Beneficiary List: How To Check Status And Why Some May Not Have Received 21st Instalment Yet

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HDFC Bank Overtakes TCS As India's Most Valued Brand: Kantar Report

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 08:07 IST

HDFC Bank overtakes Tata Consultancy Services as India's top brand, Zomato fastest growing, UltraTech Cement enters rankings; India's Top 100 brands now worth 524 billion dollars.

HDFC Bank becomes India's most valuable brand.

Indias largest private lender HDFC Bank pipped IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to become again the countrys most valued brand, according to he 2025 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands report. The private lender grew approximately 18 per cent to nearly $45 billion, driven by digital innovation and customer. Its brand value jumped 98 per cent since 2019.

TCS ranks #2 in the 2025 list with a brand value of $44.2 billion. It claimed the crown for the consecutive three years earlier.

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The 2025 Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Indian Brands have reached a combined brand value of $524 billion, representing approximately 13% of Indias GDP.

For the second consecutive year, Zomato is the fastest growing brand in the country, growing 69 per cent to $6 billion, on the back of expansion beyond food delivery.

Meanwhile, 18 news brands including UltraTech Cement (No.7; $14.5bn), Westside (No.38; $3.3bn) and Zudio (No.52; $2.5bn), have entered the ranking for the first time.

The report added that Indias brands are resilient but growth has been slowdown. India Top 100 grew just 6 per cent, while the Global Top 100 grew 29 per cent, missing the global post-Covid rebound".

Travel, lifestyle, premium hospitality, mobility, and digital convenience, including Taj (No.43; +55%), IndiGo (No.24; +42%), and MakeMyTrip (No.56; +45%) are outperforming, as Indias experience economy accelerates.

Business Tech & Services, Financial Services and Telecom brands together account for 58% of the value of Indias Top 100.

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At the rural front, categories like beauty, coffee, snacks and ready-to-cook foods are catching on faster. Rural incomes are rising at 10 per cent CAGR since 2022, with e-commerce adoption accelerating, led by young males, the report added.

India has many markets, not one", the report says, adding that India is not a single, uniform consumer base. People in different regions, cities, towns, and even neighbourhoods behave very differently when they shop. Their tastes, needs, income levels, culture, language, lifestyle, and buying motivations change from place to place. So, a marketing strategy that works in Mumbai may fail in Patna, and something that sells well in South Delhi may not work in North Delhi.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 08:07 IST

News business HDFC Bank Overtakes TCS As India's Most Valued Brand: Kantar Report

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Sudeep Pharma IPO Gets 1.22x Subscription On Day 1 So Far: Should You Apply? Check GMP, Reviews

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 16:20 IST

The Sudeep Pharma IPO starts its bidding on a strong note, with the issue being subscribed to 25% of the overall issue size within an hour. Its GMP remains strong at nearly 21%.

The Sudeep Pharma IPO will remain open between November 21 and November 25.

Sudeep Pharma IPO Day 1: The initial public offering (IPO) of Vadodara-based Sudeep Pharma Ltd opened today, Friday, November 21. The price band of the Rs 895-crore IPO has been fixed at Rs 563-593 per equity share. The issue started its bidding on a strong note, with the IPO being subscribed to 25% of the overall issue size within an hour. Its grey market premium also remains strong at nearly 21%.

Till 4:15 pm on Day 1, the Sudeep Pharma IPO received 1.22x subscription, garnering bids for 1,28,47,600 shares as against the 1,05,64,927 shares on offer.

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Its retail category got 1.34x subscription, while its non-institutional investor (NII) quota got 2.42x subscription. The QIB category received a 0.09x subscription.

Also Read: Excelsoft Technologies IPO Day 3 LIVE: GMP Falls; Issue Receives 9.17x Subscription So Far

Sudeep Pharma IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Sudeep Pharma Ltd are currently trading at Rs 715 apiece in the grey market, which is a 20.57% premium or a Rs 122 GMP over the upper IPO price of Rs 593, indicating strong listing gains for investors.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Sudeep Pharma IPO: Should You Subscribe?

Anand Rathi has given the issue a Subscribe  Long Term rating, calling Sudeep Pharma a globally recognised maker of excipients and specialty mineral ingredients with strong traction across pharmaceutical, food and nutrition segments. The brokerage highlights the companys deep global reach, serving over 1,100 clients worldwide, supported by major international certifications that enhance credibility. According to the IPO note, With a strong focus on quality, regulatory compliance, innovation, and customer engagement, the company has built long-term relationships with over 1,100 clients globally."

On the financial front, Sudeep Pharma posted an FY24 EBITDA of Rs 181.7 crore and PAT of Rs 138.7 crore, reflecting healthy margins and consistent growth. The brokerage also points to the companys move into higher-value areas such as mineral chemistry and battery-grade iron phosphate for EVs. While the IPOs upper-band valuation of 48.3x FY25E P/E is described as fully priced", Anand Rathi believes the global footprint, regulatory strength and future expansion opportunities justify a long-term investment view.

Another brokerage firm Master Capital Services also sees strong sectoral tailwinds supporting the company. Its note highlights that Indias food and nutritional ingredients market, valued at $22 billion in 2024, is growing at a CAGR of 8.1% and is expected to touch $32 billion by 2029. The vitamins and minerals segment alone, a key area for Sudeep, is projected to grow from $2.1 billion to $3 billion over the same period.

Master Capital Services in its IPO note said, Sudeep Pharma Ltd is strategically positioned to capitalize on this rapid expansion across the pharmaceutical, food, nutrition and specialty ingredients markets."

Backed by a technology-driven manufacturing ecosystem and a portfolio of more than 100 products, investors may consider the IPO as a potential long-term opportunity, according to Master Capital.

Sudeep Pharma IPO: More Details

The initial public offering (IPO) will conclude on November 25, and bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on November 20. Investors can bid for a minimum of 25 equity shares and in multiples of 25 shares thereafter, the company said in a statement.

The IPO is a mix of a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 95 crore and an offer for sale of nearly 1.35 crore equity shares aggregating worth Rs 800 crore by promoters, Sujit Jaysukh Bhayani, Sujeet Jaysukh Bhayani HUF, Shanil Sujit Bhayani and Avani Sujit Bhayani.

The net proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 75.81 crore will be for capital expenditure towards procurement of machinery for its production line located at Nandesari Facility 1, Gujarat and general corporate purposes.

Sudeep Pharma is a technology-led manufacturer of excipients and specialty ingredients for the pharmaceutical, food and nutrition industries and is dedicated to contributing to the global healthcare ecosystem.

The company is one of the largest producers of food-grade iron phosphate for infant nutrition, clinical nutrition, and the food and beverage sectors, in terms of production capacity with a combined annual available manufacturing capacity of 72,246 metric tons, as of June 30, 2025, as per F&S report.

It has served over 1,100 customers, and has built longstanding relationships with marquee customers including Pfizer Inc, Mankind Pharma, Merck Group, Aurobindo Pharma, Cadila Pharmaceutical, IMCD Asia Pte Ltd, and Danone SA.

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The companys shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

ICICI Securities Ltd and IIFL Capital Services are the book-running lead managers, and MUFG Intime India Pvt Ltd is the registrar of the IPO.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 10:58 IST

News business ipo Sudeep Pharma IPO Gets 1.22x Subscription On Day 1 So Far: Should You Apply? Check GMP, Reviews

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Kotak Mahindra Bank Shares Trade In Red Ahead Of Board Meet On Stock Split Today

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:29 IST

Kotak Mahindra Bank board to consider equity share split on November 21, 2025.

Kotak Mahindra Bank to consider stock split proposal.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Share Price: Kotak Mahindra Bank shares traded in red today, November 21, ahead of the board meeting by private lender to consider a proposal to split its equity shares. In a regulatory filing, the bank said the board will evaluate a plan to sub-divide its existing fully paid-up shares with a face value of Rs 5 each.

The scrip was trading at Rs 2092.60 apiece around 9:30 AM.

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A stock split is when a company divides its existing shares into smaller units by reducing the face value of each share. For example, in a 1:5 split, the face value may drop from Rs 5 to Rs 1, and one share becomes five shares. The market price also adjusts in the same ratio, so the total value of your investment doesnt change. Companies usually do a stock split to make the share price look more affordable and increase trading activity.

We wish to inform you pursuant to the provisions of Regulation 29(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank would be held on Friday, November 21, 2025 to, inter alia, consider a proposal for sub-division (split) of the existing equity shares of the Bank having face value of Rs. 5/- each, fully paid-up, in such manner as may be determined by the Board of Directors," Kotak Mahindra Bank said in the filing.

The bank recently posted a Q2 net profit of Rs 3,253 crore, which was mostly in line with expectations. Pre-provisioning operating profit came in stronger than expected, and net interest income grew 4% year-on-year to Rs 7,311 crore. Asset quality also improved, with credit costs easing as the unsecured loan book stabilised, according to Axis Securities.

Even though the stock has gained about 16% so far this year, most analysts are still neutral. Nomura kept its hold rating with a target of Rs 2,200 and slightly raised its FY2628 EPS estimates by 12%, helped by lower operating costs and softer credit costs. Margins, however, dipped by 11 bps in Q2 due to the June repo rate cut and a tilt toward retail loans. Axis Securities believes margins may have bottomed out and could improve in the second half.

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Nuvama has a target of Rs 2,082 and pointed out that margin and slippage trends have underperformed peers for the last two quarters.

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.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:08 IST

News business markets Kotak Mahindra Bank Shares Trade In Red Ahead Of Board Meet On Stock Split Today

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Sebi Considers Including REITs In Indices, Chairman Says Investor Protection Non-Negotiable

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 12:27 IST

Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced plans to include REITs in market indices, expand liquid mutual funds, and prioritize investor protection and transparency in New Delhi.

Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey (File Photo)

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is examining the inclusion of REITs in market indices in a calibrated manner", said chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday in a conference in New Delhi. The market regulator will also keep investor protection at the centre of all reforms. Pandey said it aims to deepen investment in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). Until now, major indices are comprised of stocks of listed companies.

Expand Pool of Liquid Mutual Funds

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Pandey also stated that the regulator plans to expand the pool of liquid mutual funds to include REITs and InvITs. It will boost liqudity and offer investors more diversified options.

Pandey said governance and investor protection remain non-negotiable". The regulator has been working on tightening disclosure norms, monitoring market behaviour and strengthening safeguards to ensure transparency.

Efforts are already under way to improve multilingual communication in investor education material, simplified disclosures and grievance redressal systems.

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What Are REITs and InvITs?

Both REITs and InvITs pool investor funds and have a designated trustee, sponsor and manager, but their priorities differ from each other. Under REITs, the focus is on completed and income-generating real estate, while InvITs invest in roads, power plants and other infrastructural projects. REITs require at least 80 per cent of their assets to be in completed properties and a maximum of 20 per cent in under-construction projects or related securities. Under InvITs, it is mandatory to have 80 per cent of the investment in completed, revenue-generating infrastructure assets.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 11:39 IST

News business savings-and-investments Sebi Considers Including REITs In Indices, Chairman Says Investor Protection Non-Negotiable

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Whiskey Investments Gain Buzz As Mature Casks Offer Higher Returns: How Does It Work?

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:26 IST

Marrowbone Lane Irish Whiskey offers Indian investors cask investments with 12-14 percent returns.

News18

An Irish whiskey manufacturer Marrowbone Lane Irish Whiskey (MLIW) has opened its doors for Indian investors to invest in cask investment programme. The company lets investors to buy a cask today, which the company will keep secure until it matures. This new investment avenue is offering an annual return of 12-14 per cent, according to a report by Moneycontrol, citing Vijay Edward Pereira, founder and senior Partner at MLIW.

This option allows wealthy investors to buy these casks, which typically cost from 3500-8000 GBP per barrel depending on how old the Whiskey cask is. The MC report added that the company, founded by Michael Ward and Indian-origin academic Professor Vijay Edward Pereira, is planning to launch a tokenised fund so smaller investors can own fractions of a cask.

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India is one of the largest markets of Whiskey in terms of consumption. As per International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) data as cited by MC report, of 440 million cases of alchol consumed in early 2024, 130 million of them were of whiskey.

How Does Whiskey Cask Investment Work?

When whiskey is stored in a wooden cask, it matures. As it matures, the value of the liquid inside also rises. Investors buy these casks early, usually from distilleries, and hold them for several years.

After a certain period, these casks become more valuable than the actual price they were bought earlier. The margin between buying and selling price becomes profit.

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The MC report added that a 2024 MLIW Triple Distilled Single Malt Irish Whiskey cask is priced at around GBP 3,495, while a five-year-old 2020 cask costs nearly GBP 7,995. Each cask typically stores about 200 litres of spirit, which can produce roughly 280 bottles once matured.

While India is on the cusp of a trade deal with the United Kingdom under free trade agreement, it is expected to boost the spirit business in India as import duties on whiskey and gin would fall to 75% in the first phase from 150% and eventually 40%.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 13:26 IST

News business savings-and-investments Whiskey Investments Gain Buzz As Mature Casks Offer Higher Returns: How Does It Work?

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Good News, Bengaluru: Fifty Percent Off On Pending Traffic Fines From Today

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:26 IST

Several vehicle owners accumulate fines unknowingly over months. Sometimes the violations are captured on automated cameras and the notices go unnoticed.

For daily wage workers, delivery executives and small business owners who depend on two wheelers, this offer can make a significant difference. (Image: Canva)

Bengalurus roads may feel crowded, chaotic and always buzzing, but for many vehicle owners the real headache sits in the form of pending traffic fines. This week, the State Government reopened a window that city residents know well.

The fifty percent traffic fine discount, a scheme that once drew massive queues at police stations and online portals, has been brought back. The state has issued an official order, giving vehicle owners a chance to clear their long pending dues at half the amount.

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What the New Order Says

The announcement comes through an order issued by Rangappa Karigar, the Under Secretary of the State Transport Department. The government has approved reintroducing the fifty percent fine exemption across all traffic violation categories except those barred by court rulings.

The aim is straightforward. Encourage people to clear outstanding cases, reduce backlog and improve compliance without turning enforcement into a burden. The order makes it clear that this is not a permanent policy change but a limited time opportunity.

Effective From Today

The scheme has come into effect starting November 21. Drivers now have a short window to make use of the discount. The offer will remain open only until December 12. After this date, the fines return to their original amounts.

This gives citizens a little over three weeks to check their pending violations and make the payments. Officials say the decision to keep the window tight is intentional. A shorter period ensures quick action and prevents the scheme from being misused as a long term cushion for habitual offenders.

Why the Government Brought It Back

The Transport Department had earlier submitted a proposal requesting that the discount be brought back. This came after enforcement teams flagged a pattern. Thousands of cases remained unpaid for months because the accumulated amounts had become too high.

During the earlier round of the discount scheme, the government saw a dramatic spike in fine collections. This helped the city clear a major chunk of backlog while also improving compliance with traffic rules. Seeing this, the government approved the latest proposal and issued fresh order.

How Bengaluru Drivers Can Use the Offer

For vehicle owners in Bengaluru, checking and paying fines is simple. The city has several official channels that share real time information. Fines can be checked and paid at any traffic police station. The Traffic Management Centre also processes payments.

Online platforms such as Karnataka One and Bengaluru One allow people to look up their vehicle number, see the fines and make payments instantly. The city police have advised residents to use only these authorised portals to avoid scams or errors.

A Relief for Those With Old Dues

For many residents, this scheme is a timely relief. Several vehicle owners accumulate fines unknowingly over months. Sometimes the violations are captured on automated cameras and the notices go unnoticed. By the time they check, the amount can feel overwhelming.

The fifty percent discount gives people a chance to clear their slate without feeling financially pressured. For daily wage workers, delivery executives and small business owners who depend on two wheelers, this offer can make a significant difference.

The Larger Purpose

While the discount sounds generous, the long term motive is rooted in policy. Traffic enforcement in Bengaluru depends heavily on digital systems which capture thousands of violations each day. When fines remain unpaid, the system clogs.

Clearing older cases improves efficiency and allows the police to focus on new violations instead of chasing old defaulters. The government also sees this as a way to rebuild awareness about safe driving. When people revisit their list of violations, it often acts as a reminder to follow rules more carefully.

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The discount period will likely witness high activity at payment counters and online portals. Officials expect collections to rise sharply, just like the previous round. For citizens, the message is simple.

Check your fines early, avoid the last minute rush and make the most of the reduced amount before December 12. Whether the government will bring back the offer again in the future is unclear, but for now Bengaluru has been given a brief opportunity to reset its traffic record.

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 13:26 IST

News cities bengaluru-news Good News, Bengaluru: Fifty Percent Off On Pending Traffic Fines From Today

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RAMALLAH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A donation ceremony was held on Thursday in the Far'a camp in the northern West Bank to distribute winter relief supplies from China to Palestinian families.

The supplies were donated by the Chinese office in Palestine through the Mahmoud Abbas Foundation.

Head of the office Zeng Jixin said during the ceremony that China consistently and firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, always stands with the Palestinian people, and provides humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side to the best of its ability.

China consistently believes that the implementation of the two-state solution is the only viable path to the comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Zeng said.

China has organized winter donation activities in several refugee camps across Palestine for four consecutive years, and this year's donation of blankets and electric heaters is expected to benefit about 2,000 refugee and low-income families in four West Bank governorates: Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarm and Hebron, he said.

China will continue to convey warmth and friendship through concrete actions, reflecting the profound bond between the peoples of China and Palestine, he added.

"I extend my sincere thanks to China for all the support it provides to Palestine, especially the support that strengthens the resilience of our people, including providing necessities such as winter clothing and food packages," Maisoon al-Qadoomi, coordinator of Palestine projects at the Mahmoud Abbas Foundation, told Xinhua during the ceremony.

"We are very proud of this cooperation and this partnership (with the Chinese side), and we cherish it greatly. We are constantly working to strengthen and enhance it in order to help our people from needy families," she said.

The two sides on Thursday also visited local families in the northern Jordan Valley and donated blankets and electric heaters there.

Farmer Lotfi Bani Odeh, 65, expressed gratitude for the relief supplies, saying the donation "strengthens the resilience of our people here, who remain steadfast on our land." 
'Consequences': BJP Slams Raj, Uddhav Thackeray After Student Suicide In Marathi Row

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 11:21 IST

In a shocking incident, a teenager in the Tisgaon Naka area of Thanes Kalyan East near Mumbai died by suicide after being thrashed for not speaking Marathi.

The student committed suicide after he was trashed by a group of four-five in Mumbai's local train for not speaking Marathi.

The death of a teenager in Mumbais Thane has now become political with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing Uddhav and Raj Thackeray of sowing the seeds of language politics in Maharashtra. A teenager committed suicide on Tuesday after he was thrashed by a group of four to five people for not speaking Marathi.

The victim, identified as 19-year-old Arnav Laxman Khaire, was travelling in a local train to his college in Mulund on Tuesday when he asked a fellow passenger in Hindi to move forward. The passenger then reprimanded him for failing to speak in Marathi, and the dispute subsequently escalated.

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Taking to X, BJP leader Ameet Satam wrote, Hey look, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. Do you know what consequences are arising from the poison youre sowing in society? The Marathi man will teach a lesson to your duplicitous and hypocritical policies. Remember!

This is not the first case where non-Marathi-speaking people have been assaulted in Maharashtra. In fact, in recent months, a number of incidents have been reported in which members of Raj Thackerays MNS and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena harass and assault locals for not speaking Marathi.

Mumbai Teen Dies By Suicide

In a shocking incident, a teenager in the Tisgaon Naka area of Thanes Kalyan East near Mumbai died by suicide after being thrashed for not speaking Marathi.

Arnav Laxman Khaire, a first-year science student, was travelling to his college in Mulund on Tuesday when he asked a fellow passenger in Hindi to move forward, as per reports. His father, Jeetendra Khaire, said a group of 4-5 passengers confronted him over not speaking Marathi and proceeded to brutally thrash him.

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In a state of shock, Arnav got off at Thane and took another train to Mulund. According to the victims father, Arnav came under significant mental stress after the assault and was unable to focus on his studies. He left college early and returned home in the afternoon and told his father about the incident.

When the father returned home from work in the evening, he found the door locked from the inside. After opening it with the help of neighbours, he found his son hanging in the bedroom. Arnav was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 11:12 IST

News mumbai-news 'Consequences': BJP Slams Raj, Uddhav Thackeray After Student Suicide In Marathi Row

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Thane Student Dies By Suicide After Alleged Assault In HindiMarathi Row, BJP Demands Action

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:04 IST

Tarun, a 19-year-old college student from Thane, died by suicide after an alleged assault on a train linked to the HindiMarathi language row. Raj Purohit condemned the incident.

Tarun, a 19-year-old college student from Thane, died by suicide after an alleged assault on a train linked to the HindiMarathi language row. Raj Purohit condemned the incident. (AI Image)

A 19-year-old college student from Thane allegedly died by suicide after he was reportedly assaulted during an argument linked to the ongoing HindiMarathi language row. The student, identified as Tarun, was allegedly beaten on a local train following a dispute over the language he was speaking, according to early accounts.

BJP leader Raj Purohit condemned the incident, calling it one of the most disturbing cases to emerge from Maharashtras simmering language tensions. I dont think there can be a worse incident than this. Tarun, a 19-year-old Marathi boy, was beaten brutally on a train, apparently over speaking Hindi," he said.

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Purohit added that the case highlights how linguistic hostility has escalated beyond traditional divides. We often hear about attacks on Hindi speakers, but now even Marathis are not spared," he said, urging the police to immediately act. He suggested that Tarun may have informed someone about the assault before taking his life, and said the police should register a suo motu FIR based on that information.

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Calling for strict measures, Purohit demanded action against those responsible for fuelling divisive rhetoric. Those who spread the venom of language politics, indulge in dirty politics, and promote violence must face immediate action," he said.

Police are yet to officially confirm the details of the assault, and an investigation into the students death is underway.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Thane, India, India

First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:04 IST

News cities Thane Student Dies By Suicide After Alleged Assault In HindiMarathi Row, BJP Demands Action

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Ashoka University Opens Applications For Young India Fellowship 2026-27

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:56 IST

Ashoka University has opened applications for the 16th Young India Fellowship. Selected candidates will receive scholarships, with Round 1 applications open till January 19, 2026.

Ashoka University opens applications for the 16th Young India Fellowship. (Representative/Getty Images)

Ashoka University has begun accepting applications for the 16th cohort of the Young India Fellowship (YIF), its one-year postgraduate programme that marks 15 years this cycle. For the upcoming Class of 202627, all selected candidates will receive scholarships supported by HDFC Bank. About 100 Fellows will be chosen through a rigorous selection process.

Eligibility And Scholarships

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The programme is open to applicants of all ages and nationalities. Anyone with a recognised undergraduate degree by July 2026, including current final-year students, can apply. There is no age limit.

YIF offers scholarships ranging from 25 percent to 100 percent, covering tuition, accommodation and meals. Some students may also receive additional financial support. Around 10 outstanding candidates will be awarded the Chancellors Scholarship, which covers the full tuition and residence fee.

Programme Features

Started in 2011, the YIF is known for its interdisciplinary curriculum focused on leadership, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving. From this year, Fellows will earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Fellows take around 18 courses across various subjects, work on a real-world project and learn from experienced faculty, visiting experts and alumni.

In the current cohort (202526), 59 percent of students received full tuition waivers or more, 32 percent were fully funded including residence and meals, and 17 students were awarded the Chancellors Scholarship. Additionally, 35 percent of the class are first-generation college students and 59 percent are women.

ALSO READ: NIOS April 2026 Registrations To Begin Today For Class 10, 12 Exams At nios.ac.in

Application Details

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Applications are free of cost. Candidates will be shortlisted based on a holistic evaluation followed by an online interview.

Round 1 applications are open until January 19, 2026, with a priority deadline of December 8, 2025. Applications submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed earlier for interviews.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:56 IST

News education-career Ashoka University Opens Applications For Young India Fellowship 2026-27

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GK: Who Is India's First Female High Court Judge?

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:09 IST

In 1929, Anna Chandy began practicing as a barrister, specialising in criminal law. After retiring as Kerala HC judge in April 1967, she served on the Law Commission of India.

Anna Chandy. (Photo: X/@_JhaPriyanka)

On February 9, 1959, Anna Chandy made history by becoming the first Indian woman to serve as a judge in a high court. She was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court and held the position for more than eight years, until April 5, 1967.

Born in 1905 in the Kingdom of Travancore, now known as Kerala, Chandy grew up in a Syrian Christian family in Thiruvananthapuram. She graduated from the Government Law College in 1926, becoming the first woman in Kerala to earn a law degree.

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Beginning her career in 1929, she practiced as a barrister, focusing on criminal law, and gained notable recognition for her work.

According to Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Anna Chandy is a first generation feminist  Anna Chandy became the first woman judge in the Indian district court in 1937. She was the 2nd woman of the world who reached to the high court judgeship in 1959."

Dedicated to advancing womens rights, Chandy fought for equal employment opportunities for women. She publicly challenged her peers, including prominent intellectuals like TK Vellu Pillai, advocating for job quotas for women in government positions.

In 1930, Chandy launched and edited Shreemati, a Malayalam magazine that championed womens rights. Through this publication, she addressed discriminatory practices against women, highlighting issues such as widow remarriage and wage disparities for women working in agriculture.

Chandy ventured into politics in 1930, running for a seat in the representative body of Travancore. Despite facing opposition from the Nair newspaper Malayala Rajyam, she received support from the Malayalam newspaper Nasrani Deepika. Although she did not win the 1931 elections, Chandy was successful in the following years elections, securing a seat for two years.

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After retiring from the Kerala High Court in April 1967, Chandy served on the Law Commission of India. Her autobiography, serialised by Malayala Manorama and later published by Carmel Books in Thrissur in 1973, is titled Atmakatha.

Anna Chandy passed away on July 20, 1996.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:09 IST

News education-career GK: Who Is India's First Female High Court Judge?

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Tina Dabi Success Story: From A Family Of Officers To A UPSC Topper Winning Rs 2 Crore

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:45 IST

Raised in a home of discipline and service, IAS officer Tina Dabi carved her own ascent to the top rank. Today, her journey shines brighter with a remarkable Rs 2 crore honour

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IAS officer Tina Dabi, 2015 UPSC topper, received the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award and Rs 2 crore for her water conservation work in Barmer.

Success Story: IAS officer Tina Dabi is once again in the national spotlight, this time for her innovative initiative, which is a model for extracting water from sand. The Rajasthan-cadre officer, who secured All India Rank 1 in the 2015 UPSC Civil Services Examination, has recently been honoured by President Droupadi Murmu with the inaugural Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award for her water conservation efforts in Barmer district. She also received a cash prize of Rs 2 crore.

Tina Dabis rainwater harvesting model has now been adopted as a national example, particularly for arid and desert regions facing acute water scarcity.

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Her success story remains widely admired. She achieved full marks in two subjects in her Class 12 board examinations and later topped the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her very first attempt. Although she was highly active on social media in the early years of her career, she has not been active on Instagram for the past two years.

A Family Of Administrators

Tina Dabi was born into a household of administrators. Her father, Jaswant Dabi, served in the Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS), while her mother, Himali Dabi, was an Indian Engineering Service (IES) officer before taking voluntary retirement to raise her daughters.

Tinas younger sister, Ria Dabi, is also an IAS officer; she cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2020 and belongs to the Rajasthan cadre. Tina Dabis husband, Dr Pradeep Gawande, is an IAS officer as well, while Ria Dabis husband, Manish Kumar, serves in the IPS.

Education And Early Achievements

Tina Dabi completed her early schooling at Carmel Convent School in Bhopal. She scored full marks in both History and Political Science in her Class 12 examinations. She went on to graduate in Political Science from the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College of Delhi University.

It was during her time in college that she began preparing for the UPSC examination, and in 2015, she gained nationwide recognition by securing All India Rank 1 in her first attempt.

In The Public Eye

Tina Dabi has frequently been in the news for both her professional achievements and her personal life. After topping the UPSC in 2015, she garnered considerable media attention when she announced her relationship with Athar Aamir Khan, who secured Rank 2 in the same year.

The two married in 2018, but divorced in 2021. In 2022, Tina married IAS officer Dr Pradeep Gawande, a 2013-batch officer from her cadre.

Ria Dabi Also Receive Honoured

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Her sister, Ria Dabi, has also made headlines. Udaipur city secured second place in the Jal Sanchay Jal Bhagidari Award. As Udaipur District Collector Namit Mehta is currently on medical leave, District Council Chief Executive Officer Ria Dabi received the award on his behalf. President Murmu presented her with a prize of Rs 1 crore for Udaipurs efforts.

At present, Tina Dabi is serving as the District Collector of Barmer.

Location : Barmer, India, India

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:45 IST

News education-career Tina Dabi Success Story: From A Family Of Officers To A UPSC Topper Winning Rs 2 Crore

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No More Instagram, TikTok Or Snapchat For Kids Under 16. Can Australia Really Make It Work?

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 11:31 IST

Starting 10 December, children under 16 will be removed from major social media platforms, as Australia becomes the first country to impose a blanket prohibition of this scale

From 10 December, children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on major social media platforms. (AI Generated)

Australia is days away from implementing one of the worlds most far-reaching attempts to keep young teenagers off social media. From 10 December, children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on major platforms, making Australia the first country to introduce a blanket prohibition on teen social media access at this scale.

The move has been years in the making, shaped by parliamentary inquiries, testimony from families affected by online abuse and a rising political demand for stronger protections for children online. As governments worldwide watch closely, the immediate question is how the ban will actually operate and what changes platforms, users, and regulators will face once it takes effect.

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The Australian government says the ban aims to reduce the pressures and risks" linked to design features that keep users glued to screens and to protect children from content that can harm their health and wellbeing.

What Exactly Is Being Banned?

Under the new law, children under 16 will not be allowed to have their own accounts on platforms whose sole or significant purpose is enabling social interaction. The minimum user age on most platforms in Australia has long been 13, but that will now be raised to 16.

Kids will still be able to scroll content without logging in where the platform allows it, but they will not be permitted to post, comment or message others. Social media companies must stop new underage users from creating accounts and deactivate or remove existing accounts belonging to people aged 16 and under.

Platforms face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for a single breach if they fail to take reasonable steps" to comply. The ban does not penalise children or parents; the compliance burden rests entirely with the companies.

Communications Minister Annika Wells has acknowledged that implementation may not be flawless, saying the rollout is going to look a bit untidy on the way through. Big reforms always do."

Which Platforms Are Included, And Which Are Not?

The list of platforms subject to the age restriction has expanded as Australias internet watchdog on Friday assessed which services primarily enable users to interact and share content socially.

The ban covers Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.

Several platforms are not included because they do not meet the criteria set by the government. YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp are excluded, and children will still be able to view most content on YouTube without signing in.

The regulator has also told Discord, GitHub, LEGO Play, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, and Messenger that they will not be subject to the restrictions. Pinterest has likewise been left off the list.

The law allows the government to update the list as platforms evolve, but regulators have said no further assessments will be conducted before the rules take effect.

How Will Platforms Verify Users Ages?

Companies must take reasonable steps" to ensure that under-16s cannot create accounts and that existing accounts held by people below the age threshold are removed. Crucially, the law does not prescribe specific technologies, leaving platforms to decide which methods they will deploy. However, the government has said companies cannot rely on users self-declaring their age or on parents vouching for their children.

Age assurance tools are expected to fall into three categories: age verification, age estimation and age inference. Age verification involves submitting documents to prove age, though platforms are not allowed to rely solely on government-issued ID. Age estimation uses biometric data, such as analysing facial features or voice characteristics, to judge whether a person is likely to be above or below 16. Age inference relies on behavioural signals such as browsing behaviour, language use or friendship networks.

Platforms are encouraged to use multiple methods rather than depending on one approach.

Some services have already announced how they intend to comply. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, said it would begin closing teen accounts from 4 December. In cases where teens are mistakenly removed, Meta said they could verify their age either by providing a government ID or submitting a video selfie.

Why Is Australia Introducing The Ban?

The legislation stems from a wave of public pressure, sharpened by parliamentary inquiries into online safety and harrowing testimony from victims of online abuse and families who lost children to suicide linked to social media interactions.

Newspaper publisher News Corp last year amplified the push through a Let Them Be Kids" campaign advocating a prohibition on under-16 social media accounts, and opposition parties quickly backed the idea.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ultimately moved the bill through parliament, saying he wanted children to have their childhood" and emphasising that kids should be occupied with offline activities rather than navigating the complexities and dangers of social media.

How Will The Government Enforce The Rules?

The law recognises that no system will be perfect. The emphasis is on whether a platform has taken sufficient, systematic steps to comply rather than eliminating every underage account. The eSafety regulator may ask platforms to report the number of account holders across age groups before and after 10 December, along with details of the technologies used and their accuracy rates.

Companies are expected to determine acceptable margins of error based on their user base. The bans enforcement framework is similar to other age-restricted areas, such as alcohol or tobacco, where authorities acknowledge that some minors will inevitably find ways around the rules.

Privacy safeguards are built into the law to address concerns about the collection and storage of identification data or biometric information. Personal data used for age assurance must not be repurposed for other purposes and must be destroyed once age has been verified.

What Are The Concerns And Pushback?

The ban has deeply divided opinion. Social media companies protested when the legislation was fast-tracked through parliament in late 2024, warning that the measures would be difficult to implement, easy to evade and potentially intrusive for users. They also argued that restricting teenagers from mainstream platforms could push them toward more dangerous, unregulated corners of the internet.

Critics beyond the tech industry have raised questions, too. UNICEF has warned that the prohibition could isolate teenagers who rely on online communities for support. Academics argue that the ban does not address harmful content production or the algorithms that amplify it.

Privacy advocates fear that identification and biometric data could be compromised, monetised or misused, despite government assurances. Some analysts also point out that excluding gaming platforms, dating services and AI chatbots, which have been linked to harmful interactions with minors, could leave significant gaps.

Supporters say that any reduction in exposure to grooming, bullying and addictive online design features is worthwhile. Public backing is strong: a YouGov poll conducted when the legislation passed found that 77 per cent of Australians supported the ban.

Where Else Are Age Limits Being Considered?

Australia describes its law as a world first, and several countries are watching closely. While some European countries require parental consent for younger users, none has implemented a full ban of this nature. Denmark plans to bar under-15s from social media, and New Zealand has proposed a ban similar to Australias. Spain is considering requiring legal guardians to authorise under-16 access, while the UK has introduced large fines and potential jail terms for executives who fail to protect children from harmful content.

In the United States, an attempt in Utah to prevent under-18s from using social media without parental consent was blocked by a federal judge.

Will Australias Move Influence Global Policy?

Australias move could become a catalyst for global change. Prime Minister Albanese has said, The truth is that our legislation is where the world is going," and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated, We in Europe are watching and will be learning from you."

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With roughly 95 per cent of Australian 10- to 15-year-olds holding at least one social media account, tech companies stand to lose access to millions of young users. The broader risk for them lies in other countries potentially following Australias example, which could reshape the digital environment for an entire generation.

Whether the ban reduces harm or simply shifts it elsewhere remains to be seen, but its impact will be closely scrutinised.

About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 11:26 IST

News explainers No More Instagram, TikTok Or Snapchat For Kids Under 16. Can Australia Really Make It Work?

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'2020 Riots Accused Conspired To Choke Assam Out Of India,' Delhi Police Tell Supreme Court

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:52 IST

The ASG argued that the alleged conspiracy operated under the guise of chakka jam, and said that its purpose was to trigger violence at multiple locations

Activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and eight others have been in jail over five years in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. (Image: PTI/File)

The Supreme Court on Friday resumed hearing on bail petitions filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and others in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, with the Delhi Police presenting CCTV footage and reiterating its claim of a larger plot behind the violence.

Appearing for the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Suryaprakash V Raju told the court that the violence was huge", adding that acids, petrol bombs and stones were used, including against policemen. The police also said that sticks and lathis were stockpiled, CCTV cameras were covered and that a police official had been killed during the unrest.

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Clippings of CCTV visuals from Chandbagh were played in open court as part of the polices submissions. They wanted to carry high level of violence, which was not possible with CCTV cameras so they destroyed CCTVs," the ASG said.

The ASG argued that the alleged conspiracy operated under the guise of chakka jam", and said that its purpose was to trigger violence at multiple locations. He said, Their conspiracy was to choke Assam out of India. There are statements showing Assam was to be cut off from the rest of the country."

The ASG said there was an attempt to create a situation of regime change, like it happened in Bengaluru and Nepal, but they failed.

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Referring to violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, the ASG added that the chicken neck areas" had also been targeted during related protests.

In West Bengal, protests escalated into riots in Murshidabad, Howrah, Malda, Nadia and North 24 Parganas. Incidents included the torching of five trains (notably at Lalgola and Krishnapur) and vandalism at four railway stations (Uluberia, Harishchandrapur and others). The state reported widespread property damage, with railway losses exceeding Rs 70 crores. More than 300 people were arrested, and the Railways filed about 17 FIRs," the ASG informed

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:03 IST

News india '2020 Riots Accused Conspired To Choke Assam Out Of India,' Delhi Police Tell Supreme Court

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Bihar Cabinet Minister List 2025: Nitish Kumar Gives Up Home Ministry As BJP Gets Key Portfolios

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:00 IST

The Home Ministry, traditionally held by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in previous NDA governments, has this time been handed to Samrat Choudhary, the BJPs legislative party leader

Bihar BJP leader Samrat Choudhary (Image: PTI)

Bihar Cabinet Ministers List 2025: As the new Bihar cabinet was sworn in on Thursday under Nitish Kumars leadership, portfolio allocations for NDA ministers were announced today, with Samrat Choudhary receiving the crucial Home Ministry.

Notably, the Home Ministry, traditionally held by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in previous NDA governments, has this time been handed to Samrat Choudhary, the BJPs legislative party leader in Bihar.

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Meanwhile, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha, who was elected as the deputy leader of the BJPs legislative party, has been allotted the Department of Revenue and Land Reforms.

Mangal Pandey, the BJP MLA, retained the key Health Ministry portfolio in the new cabinet. He will also head the Law Department, while BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal has been allotted the Department of Industries.

The NDA unveiled the allocation of 26 portfolios in the new Nitish Kumarled Bihar cabinet, featuring ministers from the BJP, LJP(R), HAM and RLM. In all, 26 ministers were sworn in on Thursday at the grand ceremony held at Patnas Gandhi Maidan.

Bihar Cabinet Portfolios: Full List

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Samrat Choudhary (Deputy CM)  Home Minister

Vijay Kumar Sinha (Deputy CM)  Land & Revenue, Mines & Geology

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary  Water Resources, Building Construction

Dilip Jaiswal  Industries

Shravan Kumar  Rural Development, Transport

Ashok Choudhary  Rural Works

Vijendra Yadav  Energy

Mangal Pandey  Health, Law

Leshi Singh  Food & Consumer Affairs

Nitin Naveen  Road Construction; Urban Development & Housing

Madan Sahni  Social Welfare

Santosh Suman  Minor Water Resources

Sunil Kumar  Education

Ramkripal Yadav  Agriculture

Jama Khan  Minority Welfare

Sanjay Tiger  Labour Resources

Arun Shankar Prasad  Tourism; Art & Culture

Rama Nishad  Backward and Extremely Backward Class Welfare

Surendra Mehta  Animal & Fisheries Resources

Narayan Prasad  Disaster Management

Lakhedar Paswan  Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Welfare

Shreyasi Singh  Information Technology; Sports

Sanjay Singh  Public Health Engineering

Deepak Prakash  Panchayati Raj

Pramod Kumar Chandravanshi  Cooperation; Environment, Forest & Climate Change

Sanjay Paswan  Sugarcane Industries

The Bihar elections were held in two phases  November 6 and 11  and the declaration of results took place on November 14. The NDA bagged 202 seats in a sweeping victory, with BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 90 seats.

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: November 21, 2025, 17:09 IST

News india Bihar Cabinet Minister List 2025: Nitish Kumar Gives Up Home Ministry As BJP Gets Key Portfolios

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Terror Module Accused Muzammil Used Grinders To Refine Explosives At Faridabad Flour Mill: Sources

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 14:54 IST

Investigators have detained a Faridabad driver after recovering a mixer grinder and electric melting machine he was storing for Delhi blast accused Dr Muzammil.

Grinding machines recovered from the house of a driver in Faridabad (Video screengrabs/News18)

Investigating agencies have detained a taxi driver from Haryanas Faridabad after recovering a mixer grinder and an electric melting machine from his home, equipment suspected to have been used by Delhi blast co-accused Dr Muzammil Shakeel to process materials for explosives, top sources told CNN-News18.

The discovery has given the probe a significant push, with investigators now assessing whether these machines played a direct role in refining the ammonium nitrate linked to the deadly blast near the Red Fort that killed 15 people on November 10.

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The recovery was made during an operation conducted in the Dhoj area of Faridabad, where the NIA seized a mixer grinder believed to have been used to grind urea, along with an electric melting machine.

Both devices were reportedly in the drivers possession because Muzammil had handed them over to him.

Sources said the driver told investigators that Muzammil had asked him to keep the machines for a while," citing personal reasons.

Officials briefed on the probe said the driver first came into contact with Muzammil after his son suffered injuries. He had taken the child for treatment, where Muzammil, working as a doctor, attended to him. That interaction is believed to have sparked a casual acquaintance between them.

It was during this period that Muzammil allegedly began leaving equipment with the driver.

The driver had already been questioned earlier in the case. At that time, he voluntarily handed over the machines to the agencies.

However, with investigators now focusing on how ammonium nitrate was refined, the devices have become central pieces of evidence, prompting agencies to take the driver into custody for deeper interrogation.

Sources explained that investigators are examining whether the seized mixer grinder was used to break down or powder key components, including urea, which is thought to have been part of the material prepared by the accused.

The electric melting machine, also recovered from the residence, is suspected to have been used to heat or melt certain substances involved in the refining process.

Agencies are trying to determine whether these machines were used to prepare explosive material in larger quantities and whether they match the characteristics of the substances recovered during the investigation.

With the machines now in NIA custody, the focus has shifted to understanding where they were procured and whether tracking their purchase could help establish Muzammils activities more clearly.

Investigators believe the seller could potentially identify Muzammil, offering another lead into his movements and preparation methods.

Dr Muzammil has emerged as a major suspect in the Delhi blast case. Probe agencies have found that between 2021 and 2022, he gravitated towards Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind, an ISIS-affiliated organisation, developing ties with associates of slain terrorists.

Investigators believe he was introduced to this network by an individual known as Irfan, alias Maulvi.

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Between 2023 and 2024, Muzammil allegedly procured weapons as part of efforts to create an independent terror unit.

ALSO READ | Pakistan-Based Jaish Handler Sent Bomb-Making Videos To Delhi Car Blast Accused: Reports

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 14:29 IST

News india Terror Module Accused Muzammil Used Grinders To Refine Explosives At Faridabad Flour Mill: Sources

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Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case Takes Turn: SIT Names Complainant & 5 Others As Accused

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 06:08 IST

By naming the complainant and his allies, the SIT is effectively suggesting that the claims of mass burial may have been fabricated or maliciously exaggerated for ulterior motives

The controversy began when allegations surfaced that several bodies had been unlawfully disposed of at a remote location in Belthangady, potentially linked to illegal activities or extrajudicial actions. File image

The high-stakes investigation into the alleged mass burial case in Belthangady, Karnataka, has taken a dramatic turn, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) filing a report that names the original witness-complainant and five other individuals as accused. The report was submitted to a local Belthangady court under Section 215 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which pertains to offences related to evidence.

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The witness-complainant, a 45-year-old local resident whose initial testimony brought the alleged mass burial site to light, is now among the six persons facing formal charges. The other five named accused are identified as Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayant T, and Sujatha Gowda. These individuals, many of whom are believed to be local activists or involved in public interest litigation, had been instrumental in campaigning for the investigation into the suspected mass graves.

The filing of the report under Section 215 BNSS indicates that the SIT has reason to believe these individuals may have been involved in giving false information, concealing evidence, or otherwise attempting to mislead the investigation concerning the alleged offences. This unexpected development suggests a critical shift in the SITs findings, moving the focus away from the original suspected perpetrators and towards the motivations and actions of those who raised the alarm.

The controversy began when allegations surfaced that several bodies had been unlawfully disposed of at a remote location in Belthangady, potentially linked to illegal activities or extrajudicial actions. The subsequent police investigation, eventually handed over to the SIT, involved extensive excavation and forensic analysis.

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By naming the complainant and his allies, the SIT is effectively suggesting that the claims of a mass burial may have been fabricated or maliciously exaggerated for ulterior motives. This twist places a significant burden on the accused to demonstrate the veracity of their original claims, while the SIT is now expected to detail the evidence that led them to charge the very individuals who initiated the case. The Belthangady court is now tasked with reviewing the BNSS report to decide on the further course of action against the accused.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 06:08 IST

News india Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case Takes Turn: SIT Names Complainant & 5 Others As Accused

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Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman (L), Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Khassim Diagne (C), and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides pose for a photo in Nicosia, Cyprus, Nov. 20, 2025. The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on Thursday agreed to work toward reviving long-stalled reunification talks, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said.

The meeting brought together Nikos Christodoulides, president of the Republic of Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman for the first time since Erhurman's election in October. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)

NICOSIA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on Thursday agreed to work toward reviving long-stalled reunification talks, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said.

The meeting brought together Nikos Christodoulides, president of the Republic of Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman for the first time since Erhurman's election in October.

Following the talks, UNFICYP said the leaders pledged to push forward efforts aimed at restarting the United Nations-led peace process, which has remained frozen since Turkiye and the Turkish Cypriot side withdrew from negotiations on a federal settlement.

The mission added that the leaders "expressed their readiness to work towards the next informal meeting in a broader format to be convened by the UN secretary-general."

According to a UN spokesperson, the two sides also agreed to explore the possibility of holding further meetings ahead of a planned visit early next month by an envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and to advance confidence-building measures to bring the two communities closer.

Both sides said they had submitted separate proposals aimed at creating conditions for the resumption of formal negotiations.

Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, when Turkiye launched a military operation on the island following a brief coup backed by the then-ruling military junta in Greece.

The most recent round of UN-led talks collapsed during an international conference in Switzerland in 2017, when the Turkish side rejected a UN framework for a federal, power-sharing arrangement and instead called for a two-state solution. 

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides (L) shakes hands with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman (R) in Nicosia, Cyprus, Nov. 20, 2025. The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on Thursday agreed to work toward reviving long-stalled reunification talks, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said.

The meeting brought together Nikos Christodoulides, president of the Republic of Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman for the first time since Erhurman's election in October. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)
'Where There Is Effort...': DK Shivakumar's Cryptic Post Amid Karnataka Congress Power Tussle Buzz

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:50 IST

DK Shivakumar has shared a cryptic X post amid the power tussle buzz in the Karnataka Congress as his MLAs head to Delhi after CM Siddaramaiah completed 2.5 years in office.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (Photo: PTI)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday set off a fresh wave of political speculation after posting a cryptic message on X, as a group of his loyalist ministers and MLAs headed to New Delhi amid a perceived power tussle within the ruling Congress.

Where there is effort, there is fruit; where there is devotion, there is the Lord," a rough translation of Shivakumars post in regional language suggested.

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Shivakumar also shared a poster featuring excerpts from his recent address at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office during the birth anniversary celebrations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In his speech, he urged party workers to stay energised, remain loyal to the party, and not lose confidence in the face of internal challenges.

While Shivakumar did not directly comment on the ongoing leadership chatter, the timing of the post, coming a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office, triggered renewed debate about whether the long-rumoured rotational chief ministership formula had resurfaced.

Top Congress sources, however, were categorical that no leadership change is on the table and that this has been clearly conveyed" to both camps.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiahs close aides held a dinner meeting at the residence of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi.

Those present included Dr G Parameshwara, Dr HC Mahadevappa, Dinesh Gundurao, Periyapatna Venkatesh, and KN Rajanna.

Discussions focused on leveraging the Ahinda card" in support of the Chief Minister and devising strategies to pressure the high command to ensure Siddaramaiah is not sidelined.

BJP JUMPS IN

Commenting on the power tussle chatter, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Ponawalla, in a video, said, It is Congress versus Congress once again in Karnataka. It is a tussle for the chair. It is a tussle for power."

INC means I need chair, not Indian National Congress because the DK Shivakumar camp is trying to come to Delhi and put pressure on the high command that now it is time for them to take over as the chief ministership, and on the other hand, Siddaramaiah ji, his close MLAs, his camp is also organising all kinds of meetings and confabulations to prevent any change," he said.

The entire two-and-a-half years, what we have seen, has been only about Satta ki Ladai in Karnataka. They are only concerned about the chair. They are not concerned about the people. They are not concerned about potholes. They are not concerned about traffic," Ponawalla said.

They are not concerned about civic infrastructure. They are not concerned about law and order," he added.

WHATS COOKING WITHIN THE KARNATAKA CONGRESS?

According to senior leaders familiar with the discussions within the party, the central leadership is fully aware" of the muscle-flexing on both sides as a cabinet reshuffle draws closer.

For now, all leaders have reportedly been instructed to focus on the governments priorities, specifically the SIR (State Investment Region) issue that has become a major administrative concern.

Despite the partys official line, the movement of MLAs aligned with Shivakumar has kept the political temperature high.

On Thursday, Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy and MLAs Iqbal Hussain, HC Balakrishna and SR Srinivas travelled to Delhi to meet senior Congress leaders.

Sources indicated that around 12 more MLAs are likely to reach the capital on Friday.

Earlier this week, nearly a dozen MLCs had also camped in Delhi and held discussions with Congress general secretaries.

The internal currents have been swirling for weeks. Since the time the Congress won the Assembly elections on 20 May 2023, there has been a visible rivalry between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over the chief ministerial post.

Although the party persuaded Shivakumar to accept the Deputy Chief Ministers position, reports of a two-and-a-half-year rotational chief minister formula" continued to dominate political conversations.

Party leaders have never officially confirmed such an agreement, and Siddaramaiah himself has publicly dismissed these claims, insisting he will serve a full five-year term.

However, a section of legislators loyal to Shivakumar has repeatedly voiced their desire to see him take over the top post.

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With Siddaramaiahs 2.5-year milestone now passed, these voices have grown louder, culminating in this weeks sudden Delhi mobilisation.

ALSO READ | No November Revolution: Siddaramaiah Dismisses CM Change Buzz, Calls It Media Creation

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:10 IST

News india 'Where There Is Effort...': DK Shivakumar's Cryptic Post Amid Karnataka Congress Power Tussle Buzz

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Does Treasure Found On Your Land Belong To You Or The Govt? The 1878 Law Explained

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Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 18:14 IST

For anyone dreaming of striking gold in their backyard, the law offers a clear message, that you might be able to keep it but only if you follow the rules

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Finding treasure on your property doesn't mean you can quietly pocket it. (Representational Image)

Stories of farmers stumbling upon pots of gold or villagers unearthing ancient coins often spark the same question, that if you find treasure on your land, do you actually get to keep it? A law passed nearly 150 years ago still decides the answer.

Government rules on buried treasure are governed by the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, a legislation introduced during British rule but still actively enforced. The Act lays out what qualifies as treasure and who has the right to claim it.

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What Counts as Treasure?

Under the Act, items such as gold, silver, coins, jewellery, precious stones, and similar valuables qualify as treasure, but only if they are at least 100 years old and discovered hidden in the ground. Anything that fits this criteria automatically comes under the purview of the law.

What You Must Do if You Find Treasure

Finding treasure doesnt mean you can quietly pocket it. The Act mandates that any discovery must be reported immediately to the district collector or the local police. Concealing or selling such items is illegal and could lead to prosecution.

Reporting doesnt mean authorities will automatically confiscate the find, but the law requires transparency before ownership can be determined.

Who Gets to Keep the Treasure?

Ownership depends entirely on where the treasure is discovered:

1. Treasure Found on Private Land

If treasure is unearthed on land you legally own, the government cannot claim it. Several courts, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly affirmed that treasure on private property belongs to the landowner, provided no rightful heir comes forward.

2. Treasure Found by Someone Else on Your Land

If a person discovers treasure on land owned by another individual, the Act splits the ownership 50-50, meaning 50% goes to the landowner and 50% to the finder.

3. Treasure Found on Government Land

The rules shift entirely when the land belongs to the state. Treasure located in forests, railway properties, public works land, and other government-owned plots automatically becomes government property, regardless of who found it. The government may offer a reward, but it is not required to.

Real-Life Examples

Two high-profile discoveries highlight how the law works in practice:

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Kerala, 2012: The staggering treasure uncovered in the vaults of the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the largest known collections in the world, remained under the control of the temple trust, as it was found on private temple property. Uttar Pradesh, 2021: A farmer who unearthed a pot of silver coins beneath his land reported the find. After verification, the district administration handed the treasure back to him, affirming his rights under the Act.

Despite being a relic of the 19th century, the Indian Treasure Trove Act continues to shape modern-day disputes and discoveries.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 18:14 IST

News india Does Treasure Found On Your Land Belong To You Or The Govt? The 1878 Law Explained

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Hidmas Vanishing Acts: From DG-Led Ops To Drone Bombs, How The Most-Feared Naxal Escaped 4 Times

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 10:51 IST

This time, the strategy was radically different, and unlike earlier operations in which he repeatedly slipped away, he had no escape route left.

Top maoist commander Madvi Hidma, behind 26 armed attacks, killed in encounter.

After four consecutive attempts over the past three years, each involving massive, multi-agency, multi-force operations, Indias security forces finally eliminated Madvi Hidma, the most feared Naxal commander and the backbone of the PLGA Battalion No. 1. This time, the strategy was radically different. And unlike earlier operations in which he repeatedly slipped away  often aided by local intelligence networks  he had no escape route left.

The Latest Close Call: A 7,000-Jawan Operation Where Hidma Escaped Again

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While the nation and security grid were busy with Pahalgam attack, there was an operation which was going on in Karregutta hills. Just weeks before the final strike, security forces mounted what was described as the largest anti-Naxal operation ever in the Karregutta hills on the ChhattisgarhTelangana border. Nearly 7,000 personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, DRG, and police forces of three states  backed by helicopters, drones, medics, and high-tech weaponry  were deployed to dismantle the Naxal stronghold and pin down top leadership.

The scale of the operation was so significant that CRPF DG GP Singh chose to stay in Chhattisgarh to oversee it, skipping a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the Pahalgam terror attack.

For weeks, forces believed they had cornered nearly 500 Naxals, including Hidma. Helicopter-borne MMGs provided air cover; encounters were reported; five Naxals were killed. But in what had become a recurring pattern over years of pursuit, Hidma managed to vanish into the dense Karregutta forest system  using the terrain, forest routes, and local informants to evade the dragnet once more.

This was the fourth consecutive large-scale, centrally coordinated operation to miss its primary target.

Earlier Near Misses: A Pattern of Narrow Escapes

In the last three years alone, the Centre launched three major multi-agency, multi-force operations, each controlled directly from Delhi with the singular aim of neutralising Hidma. Different operations were conducted in 2022, 2023 and last year as well.

Each operation relied on different strategic templates and ground support. Intelligence agencies and state forces mounted coordinated strikes, and at one point, reports prematurely claimed Hidma had been killed. Those claims were later debunked.

Officials involved in these missions repeatedly highlighted two major obstacles: local support  which alerted Hidmas unit to troop movement  and lack of accurate, real-time intelligence.

Each time, said a senior official, Hidma managed to flee due to local support."

2022: Drone-Assisted Offensive in Bastar

In 2022, security forces conducted a bold night operation in the southern region of Bastar, using sophisticated drones both for reconnaissance and as offensive tools.

The operation, monitored from Delhi and supervised by top CRPF leadership, inflicted heavy casualties on Naxal cadres. But even after a high-tech, deep-forest strike around 1 am, and despite optimism within the security grid, Hidma survived yet again.

That his survival was confirmed only after teams returned from the dense jungle underscored the intelligence vacuum and the challenges of navigating one of Indias most difficult terrains.

In 2023 as well, a similar operation was conducted where intelligence was gathered about movement of Hidma, layered ground troops were mobilised and drone attacks were conducted but luck was with Hidma.

Decades of Pursuit in a Maze of Jungle and Hills

For years, neutralising Hidma proved nearly impossible. Operating in the dense forests of the Dandakaranya region  marked by rugged hills, steep inclines, thick vegetation, and minimal road connectivity  Hidma had every tactical advantage.

Born in Sukma, he knew the forests intimately.

He relied on a deeply rooted grassroots network, with locals often serving as early-warning systems and, at times, intentionally misleading approaching forces. Sparse communication networks made real-time intelligence rare. By the time forces acted on leads, the information was often outdated.

Even large-scale air-and-ground coordinated offensives failed because Hidmas unit mastered jungle warfare, relying on concealed trails, treacherous topography, and disciplined mobility.

The Final Operation: Precision, Secrecy, and a Smaller Footprint

What changed in the fifth attempt?

According to sources, intelligence agencies received precise, actionable inputs  this time again from local sources, but ones working with the forces rather than against them. Teams tracked Hidmas movement for 34 continuous hours, allowing security agencies to identify a window of vulnerability.

Instead of deploying massive battalions that alerted local networks and allowed Hidma to scatter, the forces opted for a small, highly mobile strike unit, supported by multiple tiers of security cordons positioned at a distance.

Around 2 am, the operation began.

For nearly four hours, Greyhounds commandos  assisted by central forces  engaged in a controlled encounter that ensured no escape routes were left open. By dawn, one of Indias most formidable insurgent commanders had been neutralised.

A Turning Point in the Anti-Naxal Fight

Hidmas elimination marks a watershed moment in Indias decades-long anti-Naxal efforts. After years of frustration, misdirection, jungle chases, and failed multi-force sweeps, officials say the success was the result of precision over scale and actionable intelligence over large deployments.

For security forces who have chased him through Bastars forests for years  and for families who lost jawans in ambushes planned by him  the operation closes one of the most violent chapters in the Naxal conflict.

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But it also raises a larger question:

In terrains where topography and local networks favour insurgents, is smaller, silent, intelligence-led warfare the new model for counter-Naxal operations? For now, officials say one thing with certainty  this time, Hidma did not escape.

About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, p... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 10:51 IST

News india Hidmas Vanishing Acts: From DG-Led Ops To Drone Bombs, How The Most-Feared Naxal Escaped 4 Times

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India Resumes Tourist Visa Access For Chinese Nationals Globally: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 14:37 IST

The move is part of a series of people-centric steps aimed at rebuilding engagement between the two countries.

Direct flights between India and China, halted since early 2020, resumed in October.

India resumed issuing tourist visas for Chinese nationals at its embassies and consulates around the world, signalling another step in efforts to stabilise relations after a years-long military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Hindustan Times reported.

People familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times that Indian missions globally began accepting tourist visa applications from Chinese citizens earlier this week. This marks a significant expansion of the limited resumption in July, when India reopened tourist visa services only at its embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

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Tourist visas had been suspended since the LAC face-off erupted in AprilMay 2020, followed by the Galwan Valley clash that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, taking bilateral ties to their lowest point in six decades.

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According to the report, the latest move is part of a series of people-centric steps" aimed at rebuilding engagement between the two countries. Direct flights between India and China, halted since early 2020, resumed in October. Other measures to normalise ties include plans to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra to pilgrimage sites in Tibet next summer, expanded visa facilitation for a range of travellers and events marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations at missions on both sides.

Momentum picked up after India and China reached an understanding on the disengagement of frontline forces along the LAC in October 2024. Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, where they agreed to revive several diplomatic and military mechanisms to restore normalcy and address the longstanding boundary dispute. Engagements have seen progress in areas such as border trade and economic cooperation.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 21, 2025, 14:37 IST

News india India Resumes Tourist Visa Access For Chinese Nationals Globally: Report

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Indian Fighter Jet Tejas Crashes During Dubai Air Show, Pilot Dead

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 01:38 IST

Tejas Fighter Jet Crash at Dubai Air Show: A viral video of the incident shows the aircraft suddenly wobbling in mid-air, flipping sharply, and then losing control before crashing.

Indian Tejas Fighter Jet Crash at Dubai Air Show

An Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crashed while performing a mid-air manoeuvre at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, leaving the pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, dead. The crash occurred around 2:10 PM local time while the aircraft was performing a demonstration flight for the crowd.

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," the Indian Air Force said in an official statement.

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The incident was also captured on camera, and a video is now going viral. It shows the aircraft suddenly wobbling mid-air, flipping sharply, and then losing control before bursting into flames on the ground.

BREAKING: An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. pic.twitter.com/TvwUoe3juh Clash Report (@clashreport) November 21, 2025

Emergency crews rushed to the site as heavy smoke and fire rose from the crash area near the airfields perimeter. The Indian Air Force said that a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 21, 2025

Meanwhile, the Dubai Media Office has also confirmed that an Indian Tejas fighter aircraft taking part in a flying display at the Dubai Airshow crashed earlier on Friday, leading to the tragic death of the pilot.

Authorities said firefighting and emergency response teams reached the spot within minutes and are currently working to manage the situation.

A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in todays flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site. pic.twitter.com/LpdE87YjLM Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 21, 2025

The Dubai Airshow Organising Committee also conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the family of the IAF pilot. The Committee also conveys its deepest sympathies to the Indian Air Force," it said.

The photo shared from the site shows rescue personnel spraying water over the burning debris, with smoke still rising from the ground. Emergency vehicles and equipment can be seen scattered across the crash area as teams continue their operations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Shares Condolences

Expressing grief on the tragic crash, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X,"Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour."

Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour. https://t.co/KeuBZswM1X Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 21, 2025

The Indian Embassy In UAE Shares Condolences

The Indian Embassy in the UAE has issued a statement expressing grief over the death of the pilot in the IAF Tejas crash at the Dubai Airshow.

We deeply regret and condole the loss of life in the accident involving the IAF Tejas aircraft at the Dubai Air Show," the mission said.

Officials added that embassy and consulate teams were already on-site and assisting local authorities. Our teams are on the ground and extending all assistance. We are in touch with UAE authorities in the matter," the statement read.

We deeply regret and condole the loss of life in the accident involving IAF Tejas aircraft at Dubai Air Show.Embassy and Consulate teams are on the ground and extending all assistance. We are in touch with UAE authorities in the matter. https://t.co/qDZVCrUuEC  India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) November 21, 2025

CDS General Anil Chauhan And Armed Forces Condole Tejas Pilots Death

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, along with all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces, has expressed shock and sorrow over the incident.

General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.", said Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in an official statement.

About The Tejas Aircraft That Crashed

The aircraft involved in the Dubai Airshow crash was a Tejas Mk1, a frontline fighter jet operated by two Indian Air Force squadrons. Mixed fleets are usually sent for international events, and this particular jet was one of the three Tejas Mk1 aircraft participating in the Dubai show.

The Tejas Mk1 is powered by the GE F404 engine. The Indian Air Force currently operates around 40 aircraft of this version.

Two squadrons fly the Tejas Mk1  the Flying Daggers and the Flying Bullets. Both units were earlier based in Sulur in southern India, though one of them has recently been moved to Rajasthan. Each IAF squadron typically consists of around 18 aircraft.

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 16:00 IST

News india Indian Fighter Jet Tejas Crashes During Dubai Air Show, Pilot Dead

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'Bullied, Approached Teacher Twice': Report Flags Grave Lapses In Jaipur Schoolgirl Suicide Case

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 11:48 IST

CBSEs inquiry into the death of a Class 6 student at a Jaipur school has found serious lapses and the school's failure to act despite the child seeking help twice.

A file photo of the Jaipur Police (PTI)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a notice to Neerja Modi School in Jaipur after a preliminary inquiry into the death of a Class 6 student uncovered severe lapses in safety protocols, bullying prevention, and the schools response to repeated cries for help.

The child died on November 1 after jumping from the fourth floor of the school building, an incident that has triggered multiple investigations and widespread concern over campus safety standards.

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According to the CBSE inquiry report, the student had been subjected to sustained bullying by classmates, including verbal abuse laced with explicit and sexual references.

The report notes that the child was visibly distressed on the day of the incident and had approached her class teacher twice seeking help.

However, the inquiry found that she was not referred to the school counsellor at any point, an omission that the Board has termed a serious violation" of its safety and mental-well-being guidelines.

CBSE officials said the school failed to activate basic child protection measures, including documenting the complaints, involving trained counsellors, and alerting senior staff.

These lapses, the report states, amounted to a breakdown of the schools internal safety mechanisms and contravened the Boards mandatory norms on bullying prevention and student mental health support.

The inquiry findings come against the backdrop of allegations from parents bodies and officials about the schools conduct in the aftermath of the incident.

Police said the case appears to be a suicide prima facie, and CCTV footage is being examined to piece together the sequence of events.

The child, the only offspring of her parents, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead.

Soon after the incident, the Rajasthan School Education Department dispatched a six-member team to the campus for an on-ground assessment.

However, the officials said they were denied entry, alleging that the main gate was locked from the inside and that neither the principal nor any representative of the school met them despite waiting for over 90 minutes.

The department has warned that such non-cooperation could attract strict action, including the possible cancellation of the schools recognition.

The Joint Parents Association has also claimed that the child was upset due to a teachers behaviour earlier that day, although police have not confirmed any such link.

Forensic experts collected samples from the spot, and a post-mortem examination was conducted in the presence of the childs parents.

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CBSE has sought an explanation from the school regarding the findings and has indicated that further action will be taken based on its response.

ALSO READ | BJP Slams Raj, Uddhav Thackeray After Student Suicide In Marathi Row

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 11:46 IST

News india 'Bullied, Approached Teacher Twice': Report Flags Grave Lapses In Jaipur Schoolgirl Suicide Case

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Much To Discuss: Australian PM Condoles Red Fort Attack, Saudi Bus Crash During Bilateral With PM Modi

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 23:12 IST

Albanese said India and Australia share a 'very strong' partnership with scope to further deepen economic, defence and security ties.

PM Modi with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese (Credits: X)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday offered his condolences to India over the recent Red Fort terror attack and the tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia that killed several Indian Umrah pilgrims.

His remarks came during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Albanese highlighted the depth of the partnership between the two nations. We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong. I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today," he said.

#WATCH | Johannesburg, South Africa: Australian PM Anthony Albanese expresses condolences over the Red Fort terrorist attack and the bus crash in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indian Umrah pilgrims lost their livesHe further says, We have much to discuss, and our https://t.co/P40OyAawGv pic.twitter.com/uAZIQe3S3A  ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2025

After the meeting with PM Modi, Albanese took to X and wrote, Australia and India are great friends and partners. From trade, defence and security to education and clean energy, our relationship is fundamentally important. Wonderful to catch up with my friend Prime Minister Modi ahead of the G20 Summit."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a post informing that both the leaders discussed three key sectors, defence and security, nuclear energy, and tradeduring the meeting.

Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation. During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors, defence and security, nuclear energy and trade, where there is immense potential for ties to grow further. The other sectors discussed included education, cultural exchanges and more," he wrote on X.

Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation.During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors, pic.twitter.com/SjPixu4iek  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025

This comes only a day after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where the two leaders reviewed the full range of cooperation between India and Australia. Their discussions covered progress across all pillars of the IndiaAustralia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Both ministers co-chaired the 16th IndiaAustralia Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD), which took place in the capital.

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During the talks, they also shared assessments on developments in the Indo-Pacific region and reiterated their joint commitment to maintaining a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 22:33 IST

News india Much To Discuss: Australian PM Condoles Red Fort Attack, Saudi Bus Crash During Bilateral With PM Modi

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PM Modi Embarks On 3-Day Visit To South Africa To Attend G20 Summit

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:40 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a three-day visit to South Africa for the 20th G20 Leaders Summit, hosted for the first time in Johannesburg.

PM Modi began his three-day visit to South Africa on Friday. (Image: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-day visit to the Republic of South Africa on Friday, where he will participate in the 20th G20 Leaders Summit. The Summit, which is being hosted by South Africa for the first time, will be held in Johannesburg.

Prime Minister Modis visit comes at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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In a departure statement issued before boarding his flight, the Prime Minister underscored the significance of this years Summit, calling it particularly special" as it marks the first-ever G20 Summit hosted on African soil.

I am visiting the Republic of South Africa from 21-23 November, 2025 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit being held in Johannesburg under South Africas Presidency. This will be a particularly special Summit given that it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. During Indias Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20," PM Modi said in his departure statement.

The moment also reflects Africas rising global profile, especially after the African Union became a full member of the G20 during Indias presidency in 2023.

PM Modi noted that the Summit, themed Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability," builds on the outcomes of previous G20 meetings held in New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro. He said he would present Indias perspective at the Summit framed by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and and One earth, One Family and One future.

The Summit is expected to deliberate on a range of key global issues.

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During his visit, the PM will also attend the 6th IBSA Summit, where leaders of India, Brazil, and South Africa will discuss strengthening trilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Additionally, he expressed enthusiasm for engaging with the vibrant Indian diaspora in South Africa, one of the largest and most influential Indian-origin communities anywhere in the world. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address members of the Indian community at a special event.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:40 IST

News india PM Modi Embarks On 3-Day Visit To South Africa To Attend G20 Summit

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Privileged To Be Captain Of Judiciary: CJI Gavai In Farewell Speech

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 12:55 IST

Chief Justice BR Gavai called leading the Indian judiciary during 75 years of the Indian Constitution his greatest privilege, guided by Dr. Ambedkars teachings.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai speaks during his farewell function ahead of his demission of office. (PTI photo)

Delivering his farewell speech at an event organised by the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA), ahead of his retirement on November 23, Chief Justice BR Gavai said on Thursday that the greatest privilege of his 41-year career was leading the Indian judiciary at a time when the nation is celebrating 75 years of the Indian Constitution. I am privileged I was the captain of the Indian judiciary when India is celebrating 75 years of the Indian Constitution," he said, placing the constitutional milestone at the centre of his final address.

Gavai reflected on the guiding principles of his tenure, recalling that the Constitution, as Dr Ambedkar said, is an evolving document," has continued to adapt to the nations changing aspirations. He said his judicial philosophy was deeply shaped by Dr BR Ambedkar and by his father. Dr Ambedkars speech of 25th November always advocated for social justice," he noted, adding that he tried wherever possible to do justice by balancing Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles."

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Growing emotional, Gavai admitted that my voice is choked and full of emotions," as he described his professional journey as very satisfactory." He emphasised that judges must approach their role with humility. As a judge, I always believe that its not an office of power but an office of duty," he said.

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CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant paid tribute to Gavais legacy, praising his leadership and calling his voice clear, principled and decisive."

As he concluded his final remarks before stepping down, Gavai said Ambedkars vision of justice, equality, and constitutional morality would remain central to the judiciary as India enters the next chapter of its constitutional story.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 12:28 IST

News india Privileged To Be Captain Of Judiciary: CJI Gavai In Farewell Speech

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'Ties Rooted In History, Growing Stronger': PM Modi Gets Warm Welcome In Johannesburg

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:43 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Johannesburg on Friday, beginning his three-day visit to South Africa for this years G20 Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Johannesburg visit (Credits: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received a warm welcome from the Indian community during his visit to Johannesburg. Enthusiastic members of the diaspora gathered in large numbers to greet him, holding banners, waving the Indian flag and expressing their joy at his arrival.

The Prime Minister, in a post on X, said that the affection shown by the community reflects the deep and historic relationship between India and South Africa.

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Sharing a glimpse of his visit, he wrote, Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Johannesburg. This affection reflects the enduring bond between India and South Africa. These ties, rooted in history and strengthened by shared values, continue to grow even stronger!"

Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Johannesburg. This affection reflects the enduring bond between India and South Africa. These ties, rooted in history and strengthened by shared values, continue to grow even stronger! pic.twitter.com/1kUHKccXYG Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Johannesburg on Friday, beginning his three-day visit to South Africa for this years G20 Summit. His arrival marks an important moment, as the gathering is being held on African soil for the first time  a point he described as a significant milestone" before his departure from India.

This years summit carries the theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability and continues the recent trend of the G20 being hosted in the Global South for the fourth year in a row.

Focus Areas Of The Summit

During his visit, the Prime Minister is expected to address all three main sessions of the summit. These discussions will centre on inclusive economic growth, global climate challenges, and the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence  including both its opportunities and its risks.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that PM Modi will present Indias views on each of these key areas, highlighting the countrys priorities and expectations from the global forum.

Bilateral Meetings And IBSA Engagement

Alongside the main G20 events, PM Modi is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders. He will also take part in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders Meeting, which will be hosted by Pretoria during the summit.

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The visit is expected to strengthen Indias engagement with African nations and deepen partnerships within the Global South.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:43 IST

News india 'Ties Rooted In History, Growing Stronger': PM Modi Gets Warm Welcome In Johannesburg

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VIENTIANE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Laos is preparing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Dec. 2, with major parade rehearsals, enhanced security efforts, flag decorations in key areas, and citywide beautification now underway.

The second grand rehearsal, held on Friday in the Lao capital Vientiane, was attended by Lao Vice President Bounthong Chitmany, Lao Minister of National Defense Khamlieng Outhakaysone, and representatives from various ministries.

In preparation for the celebration, the Lao People's Army Air Force has intensified flight demonstration training, with a centerpiece of the rehearsals being an aerial display of the national and Party flags, creating a striking spectacle in the sky.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the National Assembly (NA) organized an exhibition from Wednesday to Friday to highlight its achievements over the past five decades.

Meanwhile, the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party held a ceremony on Thursday to award commemorative medals to former and senior leaders in recognition of their contributions to the nation. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of the Lao people's victory in the national democratic revolution and the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Dec. 2, 1975.

To enhance the festive atmosphere and showcase national pride, authorities have decorated the Lao national and Party flags at key locations, including Patuxay, major roads, and temples. 
Udhayanidhi Calls Sanskrit A Dead Language, BJP Slams Insult To Faith And Culture

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:32 IST

Udhayanidhi Stalin called Sanskrit a dead language, criticized union funding, and sparked BJP backlash led by Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Udhayanidhi Stalin called Sanskrit a dead language, criticized Union funding, and sparked BJP backlash led by Tamilisai Soundararajan. (Image: PTI)

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered a fresh political storm after he reportedly referred to Sanskrit as a dead language", questioning the Union governments funding priorities and taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent comments on Tamil.

Speaking at an event in Chennai, Udhayanidhi criticised the Centre for promoting Sanskrit while accusing it of sidelining Tamil. Directing pointed questions at the Prime Minister, he said, When youre eager to learn Tamil, why are you making kids learn Hindi and Sanskrit?" He further claimed that the Union government had allocated 2400 crore to Sanskrit, but only 150 crore to Tamil over the past ten years.

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The remarks quickly escalated into a political flashpoint, with the BJP accusing Udhayanidhi of disrespecting cultural traditions and religious sentiment.

Reacting sharply, BJP leader and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan condemned the comments, saying that Tamil culture does not endorse belittling other languages. We can appreciate our own language, but even Tamil wont allow degrading other languages," she said, adding, If you appreciate one language, it does not mean you are degrading another mother tongue."

Calling Udhayanidhis comments highly condemnable," Soundararajan said he had previously insulted Sanatana Dharma, and was now targeting a language used in all our prayers." She demanded that the Deputy Chief Minister withdraw his remarks immediately. My mother tongue, Tamil, is broad-minded and lauded by people who speak other languages. He must take back his words," she added.

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Udhayanidhis comments come amid an ongoing national debate over language imposition, cultural identity, and regional pride issues that continue to shape political discourse across Tamil Nadu and beyond.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 13:32 IST

News india Udhayanidhi Calls Sanskrit A Dead Language, BJP Slams Insult To Faith And Culture

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'Vanished From The Books': Air India Sells 40-Year-Old Plane It Didn't Know It Owned

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 22:49 IST

Air India completed the sale of a four-decade-old Boeing 737-200 plane that it did not know it owned. The plane was grounded and left forgotten at a remote bay in Kolkata Airport.

Representative image (Image: AP/File)

In what appears to be a bizarre aviation urban legend, Air India completed the sale and transfer of a four-decade-old Boeing 737-200 plane that it did not know it owned, as it lay grounded and forgotten at the Kolkata airport since 2012, according to an internal post from Air India CEO Campbell Wilson.

The airline said it didnt even know the plane officially belonged to them until airport staff in Kolkata pointed it out, asking the airline to remove the plane. Though disposal of an old aircraft is not unusual, this one is  for its an aircraft that we didnt even know we owned until recently," said Wilson in his post.

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Omitted From Documents

As per Wilson, the plane, registered as VT-EHH, had been decommissioned years earlier for India Post, and a trail of paperwork quirks led to its omission from several official documents during privatisation. Over time, the plane ended up being parked in a very remote" bay at Kolkata Airport, completely forgotten by the airline.

The matter came to light when airport colleagues in Kolkata flagged its presence and asked the airline to remove it. After a verification process, the sale and transfer of the plane were completed last week.

Over time, it was lost from memory and only came to light when our friends at Kolkata Airport informed us of its presence in a (very) remote parking bay and asked us to remove it! After verifying that it was indeed ours, weve now done so  and in so doing removed another old cobweb from our closet!" Wilson said.

About VT-EHH

Information available on the aircraft tracking website planespotters.net showed that VT-EHH is more than 43 years old and was delivered to Indian Airlines in September 1982. The plane was leased by Alliance Air in February 1998 and returned to Indian Airlines as a freighter in July 2007.

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In August 2007, the aircraft came to Air India. Under government ownership, Indian Airlines was merged with Air India in 2007, and Air India was acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022.

(with inputs from PTI)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 22:49 IST

News india 'Vanished From The Books': Air India Sells 40-Year-Old Plane It Didn't Know It Owned

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Was It Because Of SIR?: BJP Jibes At Mamata Banerjee Over Bengal Tremors; TMC Hits Back

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:29 IST

The BJP and TMC traded sharp jibes on X after earthquake tremors were felt in West Bengal, with both parties linking the incident to the ongoing SIR political row.

A file photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI)

The BJP on Friday seized upon the tremors felt across West Bengal and parts of the Northeast to take a swipe at the Trinamool Congress, triggering a sharp political exchange on social media.

Moments after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Bangladeshs Narsingdi district, with tremors experienced in several parts of Bengal, the BJPs state unit posted on X, West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. Mamata Banerjee, was it because of SIR?"

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The TMC hit back within minutes, accusing the BJP of panic ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Responding on X, the party wrote, Its actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of the Bengal unit of the BJP as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections."

 And dont worry, the Delhi Zamindars wont miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too," the TMC wrote.

Its actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections.And dont worry, the Delhi Zamindars wont miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too. https://t.co/KRVunyw0fn  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 21, 2025

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is preparing for a high-stakes internal review meeting on November 24, with the partys National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee scheduled to address more than 10,000 party leaders in a virtual conference focused entirely on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the meeting will function as a performance audit for party leaders, a strategy session for sensitive districts, and a crucial mobilisation exercise amid the escalating political storm surrounding the SIR.

According to sources, Banerjee will deliver detailed instructions on how district units, MPs and local leadership should approach the revision process.

The thrust areas include identifying and improving weak-performing districts, ensuring no eligible voters name is left out, and sharpening the partys outreach in vulnerable regions, particularly Matua-dominated areas and districts across North Bengal.

The meeting will also focus on evaluating how effectively leaders have responded to grassroots concerns during the SIR exercise.

A roadmap for the next phase of the partys action plan is expected to be laid out during the session.

The internal mobilisation comes a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched one of her strongest attacks yet on the Election Commission over the SIR.

In a sharply worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she, on Thursday, urged the poll body to immediately halt what she described as an exercise chaotic, coercive and dangerous" in both conception and execution.

Banerjee alleged that the SIR, traditionally a multi-year process, had been forcibly compressed" into just three months, placing untenable pressure on booth-level officers (BLOs), many of whom are teachers, frontline workers and anganwadi employees.

She mentioned that the absence of adequate training, unclear instructions on documents, server failures, and unrealistic deadlines had created an environment of confusion and distress, risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters.

The Chief Minister also flagged reports of BLOs being threatened with disciplinary action and cited recent deaths allegedly linked to SIR-related pressure, including the suicide of an anganwadi worker in Jalpaiguris Mal block.

She said the drive had reached a point where human cost" and systemic breakdown" were now central concerns. The timing of the revision, coinciding with peak paddy harvest and Rabi sowing, had further strained both citizens and officials, she added.

The BJP, however, has dismissed the allegations, accusing the TMC of attempting to derail a lawful cleanup of the voter list.

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said no theatrics or falsehoods" could stop the SIR and claimed the exercise exposes TMCs politics of infiltration."

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TMC leaders countered that the ECs inhuman haste" and merciless pressure" were to blame for the crisis.

ALSO READ | War Of Words Between BJP, TMC After BLOs Death Amid Bengal SIR

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 12:13 IST

News india Was It Because Of SIR?: BJP Jibes At Mamata Banerjee Over Bengal Tremors; TMC Hits Back

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Yogis Big Push For 2027: 9 Investors, 8,000 Jobs, And A New UP Hinterland Story

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 10:58 IST

News18 has reliably learnt that at least two of the nine companies will be investing in the Gandhi bastion - Raebareli.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (News18 Hindi/File)

As the dust settles on the Bihar election, political strategists and pundits across India are already shifting their focus to Uttar Pradesh  the countrys most populous state, and a prize no party can ignore. With assembly elections slated for 2027, the Yogi Adityanath government in Lucknow is racing against time to deliver on its promises: jobs, industrial growth, and, crucially, tangible investment even in politically symbolic strongholds.

9 COMPANIES THAT WILL BRING JOBS

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For Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the stakes are high. Uttar Pradesh is not only central to the BJPs national ambitions but also a litmus test of its development-driven message. Over the past eight years, his government has pitched UP as an economic powerhouse, and the numbers are beginning to back that narrative. According to state data and official claims, UP has received investment proposals totalling a staggering Rs 45 lakh crore in this period, of which more than Rs 15 lakh crore have already been turned into real projects.

That surge has translated into significant employment gains: more than 60 lakh young people have reportedly got jobs through private investment since 2017. Now, in the next one and a half years, he wants to add thousands more jobs with nine more companies ready to join Uttar Pradeshs growth engine.

Details emerging from a recent high-level meeting held in Lucknow suggest Redico Khaitan will establish a unit in Sitapur where they will invest Rs 591 crore. Popular detergent soap maker Ghadis parent company, RSPL Ltd, will invest Rs 103 crore in Kanpur. Avis Exports India Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 164 crore in a hatchery unit in Hathras. Gallant Steel will pump in Rs 765 crore for expansion of its Gorakhpur unit. Holy city Ayodhya will get a paper mould plant with a sizeable investment. Meanwhile, another holy city, Mathura, will witness investment worth Rs 363 crore from CRD Foods and Beverages.

RAEBARELI AND THE GANDHI SHADOW

But the Yogi governments economic push is not just about growth  its political too. The BJP sees 2027 as a moment to break into areas that have long been considered the domain of the Congress, including the Gandhi familys traditional bastion, Raebareli. While Raebareli may not yet feature prominently in recent infrastructure headlines, the larger narrative of state-wide economic transformation serves a dual purpose: it strengthens BJPs development credentials, and it chips away at the Congresss symbolic influence.

News18 has reliably learnt that at least two of the nine companies will be investing in the Gandhi bastion. Inox AP  a company that specialises in oxygen plants  will invest Rs 200 crore in Rae Bareli, say sources. Meanwhile, RCCPL will invest Rs 550 crore also in Rae Bareli.

The idea is simple but powerful  development, not just identity, as a route to political power.

CAN YOGI DELIVER?

This September, in his home turf Gorakhpur, CM Yogi Adityanath said something interesting, Today, the best investments from across the country and the world are coming to Uttar Pradesh. As a result, we have succeeded in connecting more than 60 lakh youth with employment in the private sector through fresh investments." In other words, he changed the narrative, saying people come to UP for jobs, not the other way round.

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But the jobs he was referring to are restricted to Noida and Lucknow at best. When jobs are spread out to areas like Sitapur, Mathura, Ayodhya, Raebareli, Kanpur, Hathras, and Chowbeypur, both BJP and Adityanath have a real chance of electoral success.

Because jobs in India are the biggest caste which the BJP seems to have understood.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 10:57 IST

News india Yogis Big Push For 2027: 9 Investors, 8,000 Jobs, And A New UP Hinterland Story

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Melania Trump Gave A Subtle Nod to Saudi Arabia With Green Elie Saab Gown

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:00 IST

Melania Trumps strapless gown in a deep, jewel-toned green by designer Elie Saab, is believed to carry significance far beyond its stunning appearance.

Melania Trump stunned in a jewel-tone green gown for an official dinner

The renewed partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia has captured global attention. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman received an exceptionally grand welcome in the United States by President Donald Trump. The welcome ceremony was as grand as it could possibly be.

Although President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince were expected to dominate the spotlight, it was Melania Trump who ultimately drew the most attention, thanks to her outfit at the event, which carried significance far beyond its stunning appearance.

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Melania Trumps Gown Was A Striking Look With A Deeper Message

Melania made a statement in a stunning strapless gown washed in a deep, jewel-toned green. Designed by celebrated Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, the dress showcased delicate ruching along the bodice that added dimension while perfectly flattering her figure. With a price tag of $3,350, the gown radiated luxury and impeccable craftsmanship. However, despite its elegance, the vivid green shade sparked conversation online, with many noting that the colour bore a striking resemblance to the iconic green of Saudi Arabias national flag.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fashion Circle Society (@fashioncirclesociety)

Interestingly, the designer behind her gown had celebrated the anniversary of his brand in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The dazzling gala was titled 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab." The celebration was nothing short of spectacular, with over 900 guests filling the venue as 90 models walked the runway, unveiling nearly 300 breathtaking looks. Not just that the event was attended by famous personalities like Camilla Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Adriana Lima, and Candice Swanepoel.

A Sign Of Allegiance?

The shade of the outfit and the decision to wear Elie Saab left many observers questioning whether it was meant as a quiet nod of support toward Saudi Arabia. Nothing has been confirmed, of course, but her stylist, Herve Pierre, has a reputation for carefully gauging the environment when selecting Melanias looks.

In politics, subtle signals often matter as much as the spoken word, and appearances can carry layered meanings. Its therefore understandable that people might look for intentional messaging in moments like this.

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:00 IST

News lifestyle fashion Melania Trump Gave A Subtle Nod to Saudi Arabia With Green Elie Saab Gown
Miss India Manika Vishwakarma Confidenctly Walks In Blue Monokini At Miss Universe 2025

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:06 IST

The swimsuit round is the pageant's highlight, and Manikas confident performance and poised demeanour put her as one of the frontrunners for the crown.

Manika Vishwakarma at the Miss Universe 2025 pagent

Indian model and beauty queen Manika Vishwakarma is making the nation proud as she represents India at the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand. Known for her elegance, confidence and exceptional stage presence, Manika has been leaving a mark with her graceful answers and stylish appearances at the pageant.

Beyond her glamorous exterior, Manika is also a trained medical professional who dedicates her time to volunteering in rural clinics, helping expand healthcare access for women in underserved areas. This combination of brains, beauty and social impact has made her one of the most admired contestants of Miss Universe 2025.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe India (@missuniverseindiaorg)

Manika Vishwakarma Turns Heads in Miss Universe 2025 Swimsuit Round

During the swimsuit segment of the competition, Manika Vishwakarma stunned the audience and judges with a minimalist royal blue one-piece swimsuit. Her choice of a sophisticated one-piece over the traditional bikini showcased her poise, confidence and unique sense of style.

Fans and pageant enthusiasts across social media praised her for walking the ramp with unmatched elegance. One Instagram user commented, This is how a Miss Universe actually walks with such grace, poise and elegance." Another fan added, She and Her Miss Universe Class."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe India (@missuniverseindiaorg)

The swimsuit round is considered a highlight of the competition, and Manikas confident performance, combined with her poised demeanour, has ensured she remains one of the frontrunners for the crown.

Elegant Royal Blue Monokini Showcases Manikas Confidence

Manikas royal blue monokini stood out for its perfect blend of elegance and sophistication. The swimsuit featured a deep V-neck plunge, high-cut sides that elongated her legs, thin halter straps tied behind the neck and a low-cut, open-back design. Made from fabric with a subtle sheen, the one-piece highlighted her toned physique while remaining classy and refined. She completed the look with glamorous makeup and bouncy curls, making her stage presence even more commanding.

Miss Universe 2025 Finale: All Eyes on Bangkok

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With the grand finale scheduled for November 21, all eyes are on Bangkok as contestants from around the world compete for the coveted crown. The event will be streamed live on the official Miss Universe YouTube channel at 6:30 am IST, allowing fans worldwide to witness the thrilling conclusion.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:06 IST

News lifestyle fashion Miss India Manika Vishwakarma Confidenctly Walks In Blue Monokini At Miss Universe 2025
Sara Arjun's Ivory Anarkali By Rohit Bal For Dhurandhar Trailer Launch Is Grace Personified

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 16:00 IST

Sara Arjun will be making her debut in the Hindi film industry as an adult alongside actor Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar.

Sara Arjun stuns in a white anakarkali by Rohit Bal

Sara Arjun will soon be making her debut in Bollywood with the spy-actor thriller Dhurandhar. She will be seen opposite actor Ranveer Singh in the film, which has created a lot of buzz with the 20-year age gap between the two of them. However, the actor further made heads turn with her delicate looks and sophisticated style at the trailer launch of their film in Mumbai this week.

The daughter of actor Raj Arjun, Sara is no stranger to the film industry. She has been flexing her acting skills since she appeared in a series of commercials and a short Hindi film before the age of six. She also starred in Ponniyin Selvan and played the role of the young Nandini.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sara Arjun (@saraarjunn)

For the launch event, the 20-year-old wore a ivory anarkali by late fashion designer Rohit Bal and was styled by Smriti Chauhan. Sharing a photo dump on Instagram, she wrote, Honoured to pay homage to a legend whose artistry will forever inspire us @rohitbalofficial".

The long and flowy resham anarkali with strappy sleeves is made with mal mal and is a reflection of Rohit Bals artistry and elegance. It features embroidery along the bust and a net duppatta that Sara wore draped across her arms.

She accessorised the look with a beaded white choker and stacked several oxidised bangles and kadas on her arm. She wore small silver earrings from Tribe Amrapali to complete the look.

For her hair, let it hang in loose, bouncy waves across her back, while her makeup was soft and dewy, with a hint of pink on her cheeks. Sara wore a nude pink lipstick and a simple wing eyeliner completed the glam.

About the film Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar is written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar. It will be also be produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar. It stars Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal, alongside Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. The spy action thriller, featuring music by Shashwat Sachdev, is slated for release on December 5.

Ranveer Singh is all praise for Sara Arjun

During the trailer launch for their film, Ranveer spoke about Sara and praised her acting chops. In fact, he even went to the extent of comparing her to Hollywood actor Dakota Fanning.

Sara here is a prodigy, you just know some people are prodigies since childhood. Much like Dakota Fanning in Hollywood. Sara, I think its a testament to you that you beat thousands of other candidates to land this part. It feels like she has done 50 films before this. So precocious as a person, as a performer. You are one of the finest actors that I have shared the screen with," he said.

Ranveer also acknowledged how Sara acted in one of his favourite filmmakers, Mani Ratnams Ponniyin Selvan films and said, You make me look better, and I have a heartfelt gratitude for that. I cant believe its your first film. Obviously, youve acted in Mani Ratnams films as well, and this is when the world will see your potential."

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First Published: November 21, 2025, 16:00 IST

News lifestyle fashion Sara Arjun's Ivory Anarkali By Rohit Bal For Dhurandhar Trailer Launch Is Grace Personified
The Alarming Rise Of Male Sexual Health Problems  And Whats Triggering It

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:45 IST

From infertility to low libido, doctors reveal how alcohol, smoking and stress are harming mens sexual health; and the steps to prevent long-term damage.

Alcohol, smoking, and stress harm men's sexual health.

For decades, men in India have avoided conversations around sexual health. Shame, silence, and the fear of appearing less masculine have kept many from seeking help  even as symptoms worsen. But doctors nationwide warn that sexual health problems among Indian men are rising faster than ever. The biggest culprits? Alcohol, smoking, chronic stress, and increasingly unhealthy lifestyles.

The NFHS-5 (20192021) reports that 22 per cent of Indian men between 15 and 49 drink alcohol. Doctors believe the actual number is significantly higher. Paired with smoking and poor lifestyle habits, these behaviours are now major contributors to low libido, erectile dysfunction, declining sperm count, and hormonal imbalance  even in men as young as their late 20s.

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How Lifestyle Habits Are Damaging Mens Sexual Health

Todays lifestyle is harming mens bodies more than they realize," says Dr. Vineet Malhotra, Director and Founder, VNA Hospital, Delhi. Stressful jobs, late nights, junk food, pollution, and lack of exercise create a perfect storm for sexual dysfunction. Many men complain of fatigue, low energy, and poor sexual desire without realising that their everyday habits are quietly disturbing hormones, damaging blood vessels, and affecting fertility.

Dr. Malhotra notes that several men seek help only after months or even years of suffering. Drinking and smoking feel harmless. But these habits are damaging male sexual health more today than ever. These are medical issues and need timely treatment."

The Silent Decline In Male Fertility

One of the most worrying trends is the sharp drop in sperm count and sperm quality over the past 1520 years. Pollution, especially in North India, plays a significant role, but so do lifestyle choices.

We see young men who look physically strong, but their sperm reports tell a completely different story. Pollution affects the lungs, but it also affects sperm. Add alcohol, smoking, poor sleep, and fast food, and sperm quality naturally goes down," says Dr. Vikas Agarwal, Director & HOD  Robotic Urology, Aakash Healthcare, Delhi.

He also notes that many young couples struggle to conceive because of male-factor infertility, a topic still rarely discussed in Indian households.

Why Sexual Health Is Linked To Overall Health

Doctors emphasise that sexual health doesnt exist in isolation. Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity, now extremely common among Indian men, directly impact erections and libido.

Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, Founder & Designated Partner, City Imaging and Clinical Labs, says, Most men ignore early symptoms because they think it is just stress. But when we do diagnostic tests, we often find issues such as hormone imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, early diabetes, or inflammation. These directly affect sexual health."

Many men come thinking they have only a sexual problem. But once evaluated, we often find early diabetes or high blood pressure. These conditions reduce blood flow and energy, which affects sexual performance. Sexual issues are often the first warning sign of a bigger health problem," explains Dr. Rajiv Kumar Sethia, Director & Head, Urology & Andrology, Asian Hospital, Delhi.

Early Action Makes Recovery Faster

Experts agree on one thing: the longer men stay silent, the harder recovery becomes. Early diagnosis, lifestyle correction, and open communication with partners can prevent long-term sexual and reproductive issues.

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As Dr. Malhotra puts it, The cost of silence is high. It affects relationships and delays treatment. Small changes such as reducing alcohol and smoking, managing stress, regular check-ups can transform sexual health."

Indian men must break the silence around sexual health. The combination of pollution, stress, alcohol, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyle choices is creating a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Taking charge early can protect fertility, hormonal health, confidence, and overall well-being, before its too late.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:45 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness The Alarming Rise Of Male Sexual Health Problems  And Whats Triggering It
The Silent Pandemic: Why India Is Most Vulnerable And What's The Plan

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 14:03 IST

A silent enemy is turning simple infections into deadly battles. Indias new emergency plan may be the last shield between us and a crisis already unfolding

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Antibiotic resistance could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

A simple cough, cold, or wound medicine is becoming increasingly dangerous. The reason? Superbugs, that is, bacteria that resist even standard antibiotics. People who take unnecessary antibiotics for minor illnesses may find these medicines no longer work for them.

A recent study published in The Lancet revealed a startling fact: 83% of patients visiting hospitals in India already carry drug-resistant bacteria. This means treatments fail even before they begin.

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Every year, millions of people die because of antibiotic resistance, prompting the government to declare it the next national health emergency.

India Leads The World In Superbugs

Superbugs are bacteria that defeat antibiotics, even those prescribed by doctors. The latest study (November 2025) by AIG Hospital, Hyderabad, surveyed patients from nine countries.

India had the highest number of multidrug-resistant cases in the world. Key causes include:

Self-medication and overuse of antibiotics

Medicines sold freely by shopkeepers

Poor infection control in hospitals

Excessive antibiotic use in poultry and fish farming

The Human Cost Of Antibiotic Resistance

The Lancet study highlights the scale of the problem in India:

1 million deaths per year linked to antibiotic resistance

58,000 newborn deaths from resistant infections

Common infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and wounds becoming deadly

If unchecked, antibiotic resistance could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

The New 5-Year Plan: NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025-2029)

The government has launched National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0, with Health Minister JP Nadda calling it the biggest threat after COVID. Key measures include:

One Health approach: tackling humans, animals, and the environment together

Stricter rules for private hospitals

AMR surveillance networks in every state

Training for doctors and chemists on responsible antibiotic use

Awareness campaigns: Always complete your full treatment course

Research on new medicines and vaccines

Expert Advice For Safe Antibiotic Use

Dr Naresh Kumar, Pulmonary Head at Lok Nayak Hospital, advises:

Take antibiotics only as prescribed and for the correct duration

Avoid self-medication

Doctors should prescribe according to guidelines and antibiograms

Following these practices can prevent further spread of superbugs.

Rising Costs Of Treating Superbugs

Treating resistant infections is 2-3 times more expensive:

Common infections that cost Rs 5,000  Rs 10,000 can now cost Rs 50,000  Rs 5,00,000

Longer hospital stays and costly injections are often required

Poor families may struggle to afford treatment

If the new plan succeeds, treatment could become cheaper and more accessible within five years.

Why India Is Particularly Vulnerable

India uses the most antibiotics in the world

Medicines are available without prescription

Hospital hygiene and hand-washing practices are often poor

Excessive antibiotic use in animal farming contaminates food

This slow-moving crisis is termed a silent pandemic, killing gradually unlike COVID-19.

How It Will Affect Your Home

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Even minor illnesses may become expensive to treat

Doctors will require tests before prescribing antibiotics

Medicine shops will insist on prescriptions

If NAP-AMR 2.0 succeeds, millions of lives could be saved by 2030.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 14:03 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness The Silent Pandemic: Why India Is Most Vulnerable And What's The Plan
More Than Safaris, South Africa Has Become A Destination For Conscious Indian Explorers

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 16:30 IST

Indian travellers, especially the younger generation, is seeking more than just sightseeing; they want stories, purpose, and connection.

Guided hikes with rangers provide a front-row view of rhinos and other wildlife, supporting anti-poaching patrols and habitat restoration in South Africa.

There is a powerful shift in the way Indians want to explore the world. Travel is no longer measured in the beauty of landscapes or the number of destinations checked off a list. In fact, it is being defined by meaningful encounters with people, learning about new traditions, and experiencing the beauty of untouched nature. Todays Indian traveller, especially the younger generation, is seeking more than just sightseeing; they want stories, purpose, and connection.

South Africa is gaining more traction as it aims to prove that a holiday can be both indulgent and impactful. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Johannesburg from November 21 to 23 to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit, this country will only gain further recognition and attention from Indians.

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For conscious Indian travellers, South Africa can go beyond, as it offers them a chance to actually live by values. Whether planting trees with conservation groups, joining a women-led cooking collective, or staying in a lodge that funds anti-poaching patrols, each experience becomes part of a bigger narrative of care. Here are four ways Indians travelling to South Africa can ensure every journey is meaningful yet fun:

Eco-friendly lodging in South Africa

South Africas hospitality landscape is evolving with purpose-driven lodging. Nestled in the Soutpansberg Mountains, Few & Far Luvhondo exemplifies this trend. Opened in January 2025, it offers six cliffside, renewable energy-powered suites, on-site grown cuisine, and conservation-centric experiences like rhino hikes and wild swimming. A solar-powered cable car is also available to travellers.

Additionally, across the country, eco-lodges such as Singita Lebombo at Kruger National Park and Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge at KwaZulu-Natal are combining luxury with sustainability, using solar energy and supporting community upliftment through education, healthcare, and conservation programmes.

Immersive Food Tours That Tell a Story

For Indian travellers who see food as central to culture, South Africa offers experiences that go beyond taste to reveal heritage and identity. In Cape Town, there is a Food Systems Walking Tour that explores how ecology, history, and tradition shape what ends up on the plate.

In Bo-Kaap, family-led cooking workshops bring local recipes to life, while Durbans Indian-inspired flavours reflect centuries of migration. Along the coast, Cape Malay cuisine blends spice and soul, often served to the rhythm of live jazz. Even fine-dining restaurants embrace this storytelling, using indigenous ingredients and regional traditions to craft meals that honour both past and future.

Go on an Adventure with a Purpose

In South Africa, beyond the breathtaking landscapes, travellers can immerse themselves in experiences that make a difference. Cage diving with the great white sharks in Gansbaai offers not just an adrenaline rush but also supports shark research and conservation. Along the Wild Coast, visitors can join marine biologists to track and study dolphins, contributing to marine preservation efforts while exploring pristine coastlines.

In Limpopo and the Lowveld, guided hikes with rangers provide a front-row view of rhinos and other wildlife, supporting anti-poaching patrols and habitat restoration. Every adventure is designed to leave a positive impact by uplifting local communities, conserving ecosystems, and creating memories that go beyond the thrill.

Crafting Connections with the countrys makers

In Johannesburgs Maboneng district and Cape Towns craft hubs, Indian travellers can spend time with beadworkers, potters, and weavers whose art sustains entire communities. Buying directly from these artisans ensures income stays local while giving travellers something meaningful to carry home.

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In South Africa, the beadworkers, potters, and weavers do more than create beautiful objects; they sustain entire communities. Through their art, artisans preserve traditions, share stories, and generate livelihoods, turning creativity into a force for social and economic well-being.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 16:30 IST

News lifestyle travel More Than Safaris, South Africa Has Become A Destination For Conscious Indian Explorers
Teachers and children show emoji and greeting cards made to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Qinyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 19, 2025. (Photo by Yang Fan/Xinhua)

A teacher and children greet each other to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

Volunteers and children greet each other to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Binhai New Area, north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua)

Children participate in a greeting game to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

Children show emoji and greeting cards made to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Zhang Ying/Xinhua)

A teacher teaches children to greet others to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Liu Jidong/Xinhua)

A teacher teaches children greeting etiquette to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a primary school in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Zhao Jun/Xinhua)

A teacher teaches children to draw smiling faces to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Yang Tao/Xinhua)

Students show emoji and greeting cards made to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a school in Qinyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Yang Fan/Xinhua)

Students show greeting cards made to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a primary school in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Wang Haibin/Xinhua)

A teacher teaches children to greet others to celebrate the upcoming World Hello Day, which falls on Nov. 21 annually, at a kindergarten in Taizhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)
'Didn't Do Any Favour On Jaideep': Manoj Bajpayee On Recommending Him For Gangs Of Wasseypur | Exclusive

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News18.com Edited By: Shrishti Negi



Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:56 IST

Manoj Bajpayee says that since he had to struggle a lot, he has taken it upon himself to cut the struggles of other talented actors short, thus suggesting their names to directors.

Manoj Bajpayee and Jaideep Ahlawat play arch-nemesis in The Family Man 3, which is currently streaming on Prime Video.

That Manoj Bajpayee has a cult following not only among audiences but also filmmakers and actors is no secret. Recently, speaking to us, Jaideep Ahlawat had revealed that it was Manoj who had recommended him for Gangs Of Wasseypur. He had also suggested Anurag Kashyap as a writer to Ram Gopal Varma for Satya. But Manoj, whos known to not take himself too seriously, doesnt want to make a big deal out of these stories. According to him, good talents shouldnt be kept away from a film set for too long.

In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, he says, Look, Ive not done any favour on Jaideep. I keep recommending different actors to my directors. When I see talent, I really feel like its upon me to cut their journeys short. Ive gone through it and I dont really want anybody with potential to go through it [their struggles] over a long period of time. I dont like seeing people waste their time and talent by struggling."

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While he acknowledges Jaideeps remarks of how much he has been an influence on his craft, Manoj states that hes glad that he also looks up to an able actor like Irrfan. Its very nice and gracious of Jaideep to say that he has been inspired by me. But theres one thing I know  that he and many of his [FTII] batchmates have been inspired by Irrfans journey. Theyve spoken to me about it. I think its great. I believe that most young actors should be inspired by people whore authentic as actors," he says.

And like a true mentor figure, Manoj doesnt shy away from sharing his feedback with other actors. Jaideep, Raj (Rajkummar Rao), Vijay (Varma) and Sunny (Hinduja) maybe inspired by me but it doesnt matter. What matters to me is that their intentions are pure and their choices are right. If I see a great performance by Jaideep, Raj or Vijay, I make it a point to call them and discuss their work at length. You can ask them. I believe this is how the community of actors should behave and not feel insecure of each other," he tells us.

Jaideep, whos locking horns with Manoj in The Family Man 3, clearly remembers being star-struck when he saw him for the first time. We were doing Chittagong. We were rehearsing for a scene where a few of us were being interrogated by a British officer. Manoj bhai was just passing by and walking towards his van. I saw him and was like, Oh god! Manoj Bajpayee! We all have a checklist of actors we desperately want to work with," he shares.

The Paatal Lok and An Action Hero actor further adds, Manoj bhai was one of them for me. Ive done two films with him. In Gangs Of Wasseypur, he played my son and we didnt get to share the screen. In Chittagong, I was too nervous while doing my scenes with him. I retreated into a shell and told myself, Nahi, inse zyaada baat nahi kar sakte."

About the Author Titas Chowdhury Titas Chowdhury is a Special Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringi... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:56 IST

News movies bollywood 'Didn't Do Any Favour On Jaideep': Manoj Bajpayee On Recommending Him For Gangs Of Wasseypur | Exclusive
Javed Akhtars Nehru Jacket Moment At Mumbai Airport Is Bookmark Worthy

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 18:44 IST

As soon as he stepped out of the car, Javed Akhtar asked for a Nehru coat and wore it immediately.

Javed Akhtar was spotted at the Mumbai Airport.(Photo Credit: Instagram)

Javed Akhtar was spotted at the Mumbai airport earlier today. As the cold season approaches, the legendary star was seen asking for a jacket as soon as he stepped out of his car. He was seen interacting with the paparazzi before heading inside.

In the videos, Javed Akhtar was seen wearing a long grey kurta and paired it with matching pants. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he asked for a Nehru coat and wore it immediately. He then waved at the paparazzi and headed towards the gate.

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Javed Akhtar Gets Emotional After Watching 120 Bahadur

Ahead of the release of Farhan Akhtars 120 Bahadur, the actor shared his fathers reaction to the film. During an interview with India Today, Farhan shared, He loved it. Hes seen the film. Hes seen the film in an edit as well. He was very moved."

Talking about the legendary writer, Farhan shared, Hes not somebody who cries very easily when hes watching a film. But he was very, very teary and very, very choked up at the end. So we really felt like wed managed to do something." The film hit the theatres on November 21.

Javed Akhtar on the Work Front

Javed Akhtar remains one of the most celebrated screenwriters, lyricists, and poets of Indian cinema. With a career spanning over decades, Javed Akhtar captivated audiences with his exceptional writings.

Up next, Javed Akhtar will be seen working as a lyricist for Rajkumar Santoshis upcoming film Lahore 1947. Produced under Aamir Khans production banner, the film is set against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947. Based on Dr Asghar Wajahats drama Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai, the film stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, and Abhimanyu Singh in leading roles. Additionally, the films music is composed by A.R. Rahman.

The film was originally set to release on January 26, 2025, but was delayed due to post-production works. As per reports, Sunny Deol resumed shooting last month. Although the makers are yet to announce the official release date, the film is expected to hit the theatres in 2026.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 18:44 IST

News movies bollywood Javed Akhtars Nehru Jacket Moment At Mumbai Airport Is Bookmark Worthy
Kareena Kapoor Khan Gets A Cute Hug From Son Jeh, Actress Shares Adorable PIC

Published By :

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:40 IST

Kareena Kapoor Khan posted an adorable picture with her son Jeh, who hugged her the moment he got back from school.

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Kareena Kapoor Khan shared an adorable moment with her son Jeh in the middle of a photoshoot

Kareena Kapoor, on Friday, shared a heartwarming moment of her son Jeh giving her a sweet hug after returning from school.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Bebo shared an adorable photo featuring herself and Jeh. In the picture, the doting mother is seen lovingly holding her sons face as she leans in for a sweet kiss, while little Jeh looks charming in his school uniform. The heartwarming photo beautifully captured their loving bond.

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Alongside this, Kareena also shared stylish pictures of herself, rocking a chic brown shirt paired with a skirt. She tied her hair tied in a high bun, and opted for subtle and elegant makeup.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)

For the caption, the Jab We Met actress wrote, Mixing and Matching Rocking and Rolling into #SpectacularSaudi Absolutely love my shirt from and this gorgeous skirt these guys are doing such amazing things Last pic with my baby who just came back from school and had to give me a hug."

Meanwhile, Kareena is making headlines for reuniting with the Kapoor family for the Netflix special Dining with the Kapoors." The hour-long special brings together cousins, siblings, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and in-laws for a lively and candid celebration of family bonds. Directed by Smriti Mundhra and created by Armaan Jain, Dining with the Kapoors" offers a glimpse into the familys cherished traditions.

One moment from the special showed Kareena Kapoor calling the family funny, loving, and united," while also highlighting their shared love for food. It was revealed that Armaan Jain had organized the luncheon to commemorate what would have been Raj Kapoors 100th birth anniversary.

The visuals captured several cheerful moments, from Ranbir Kapoor and Armaan joking in the kitchen to lively chatter around the dining table. Kareena was also playfully teased for her hearty appetite.

Dining With The Kapoors" premiered on Netflix on November 21.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:40 IST

News movies bollywood Kareena Kapoor Khan Gets A Cute Hug From Son Jeh, Actress Shares Adorable PIC
Shraddha Kapoor's Brother Summoned By Mumbai Police In Dawood Ibrahim-Linked Drug Parties Case

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:10 IST

Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddhanth are named among several Bollywood celebrities who attended drug parties organised by Dawood Ibrahim in India and abroad.

Shraddha Kapoor with her brother Siddhant Kapoor.

Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoors brother Siddhanth Kapoor has been summoned by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police in connection with an investigation related to underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahims drug parties.

Siddhant, an assistant director who later acted in movies like Shootout At Wadala and Ugly, has been asked to appear on November 25, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. This came after shocking claims were made by a drug trafficker earlier this month, who claimed to have arranged lavish parties for celebrities.

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Recently, Mumbai Polices Anti-Narcotics Cell busted a major drug syndicate, which is said to be run by wanted drug lord Salim Dola, who is said to be an associate of Dawood Ibrahim. The police arrested key suspect Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Shaikh from Dubai, marking the 15th arrest in the probe that traces back to a small bust in February 2024.

According to the documents accessed by the publication, Salim Dolas son Taher claimed that several Bollywood actors, models, rappers, filmmakers, and relatives of Dawood Ibrahim attended drug parties organised by him in India and abroad.

Several prominent actors and celebrities, including Shraddha Kapoor, her brother Siddhanth Kapoor, dancer-actress Nora Fatehi, politician Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of veteran Congress leader Baba Siddique, Alishah Parkar, son of the late Haseena Parkar, producer Abbas Mustan, and rapper Loka, have been named in connection with lavish drug parties.

Shaikh, a 31-year-old Dongri native and alleged close associate of Salim Dola, has reportedly dropped explosive revelations during interrogation, pointing to high-profile drug-fuelled parties organised in India and abroad. He claimed these events were funded through drug proceeds and served as networking hubs for distribution, with Shaikh handling logistics from recruitment of peddlers to direct supplies.

Reportedly, the Mumbai Crime Branch will now summon these actors and other celebrities named in the case to record their statements. The case is now being jointly examined by the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Enforcement Directorate.

(with inputs from IANS)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:09 IST

News movies Shraddha Kapoor's Brother Summoned By Mumbai Police In Dawood Ibrahim-Linked Drug Parties Case
Modis G20 Defiance: Why The Global South Is Done Waiting For America

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 12:32 IST

Trump's boycott represents more than diplomatic pettiness. It is part of a systematic dismantling of the multilateral order that the United States once championed.

Banners of various G20 leaders are displayed along a Johannesburg freeway, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Image: AP Photo)

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Johannesburg for the G20 summit, he sent a clear message to Washington and the larger developed world": multilateralism cannot be held hostage by one nations tantrums. While Donald Trump boycotted the first G20 summit on African soil, citing discredited claims about white farmers persecution in South Africa, Modi attended without hesitation. His presence underscored a fundamental truth that Trump refuses to acknowledge: the world does not wait for American approval to address its most pressing challenges.

Trumps boycott represents more than diplomatic pettiness. It is part of a systematic dismantling of the multilateral order that the United States once championed. Since returning to office, Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement, exited UNESCO, left the World Health Organization, and now snubbed the G20. His administration even ordered a comprehensive review of all multilateral organisations and treaties with an explicit goal: determining which ones to abandon.

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G20 Moves Forward Without America

Yet the Johannesburg summit is proceeding without the United States. President Cyril Ramaphosa made clear that South Africa would not be bullied into diluting its joint declaration despite Washingtons pressure to avoid one entirely. Trump had demanded that no declaration be adopted in his absence, proposing instead a watered-down statement that would effectively render meaningless the culmination of over 120 preparatory meetings South Africa hosted throughout its presidency. Ramaphosas response was unequivocal: We will have a declaration. We will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied".

After all, why should a declaration not be adopted? Leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are attending, alongside Prime Minister Modi and representatives from Brazil, China, Russia and other major economies. The G20 continues to deliberate on debt relief for developing countries, climate finance, disaster resilience, and inequality reduction. As such, the summit has demonstrated that multilateral cooperation can function without American participation, perhaps even more effectively without obstruction.

This brings us to Indias landmark achievement during its 2023 G20 presidency. Under PM Modis leadership, India secured the African Unions admission as a permanent G20 member, integrating 55 African nations into a forum that now represents 80 percent of the global population. Modi announced this decision in the opening moments of the New Delhi summit, striking the presidential gavel to confirm unanimous support. It was the G20s first expansion since its formation in 1999.

The African Unions membership was not merely ceremonial gesture. It fundamentally altered the G20s balance, amplifying voices from the Global South that had been marginalised in global economic governance. Modis India also achieved consensus on the New Delhi Leaders Declaration, with all 83 paragraphs adopted unanimously without footnotes or chairs summary, an unprecedented accomplishment given the presence of the USA, Russia and China at the table. The declaration addressed development, climate action, digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and reforms to multilateral institutions.

South Africas presidency built directly on these foundations. Its theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" reflects priorities championed by India and Brazil before it. South Africa placed debt sustainability, climate finance for developing countries, disaster risk reduction, and critical minerals governance at the centre of its agenda. These are not abstract concerns; rather, they represent existential challenges for nations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America that bear the consequences of climate change they did little to cause.

Trumps contempt for these priorities was explicit. His Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted the G20 foreign ministers meeting in February, dismissing South Africas agenda as focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change, declaring he would not waste taxpayer money on such matters. This reveals the intellectual bankruptcy of the American worldview. To the powers that be in Washington, addressing inequality and climate resilience is wasteful virtue signaling rather than recognition that global stability depends on shared prosperity and environmental sustainability.

The first worlds retreat from multilateral responsibility exposes a deeper truth about hegemonic power. When the United States and other wealthy nations dominated international institutions, they championed rules-based governance. Now that developing countries demand reform of financial architecture that overrepresents rich nations, suddenly Washington loses interest. When debt restructuring or climate finance threatens to redistribute resources, American commitment to multilateralism magically evaporates.

India: The Voice of a Rising Global South

India, by contrast, has positioned itself as the voice of the Global South within multilateral forums. PM Modi hosted the Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, drawing participation from 125 countries whose priorities shaped Indias G20 agenda. India understands that its rise depends on a functioning international order where development concerns receive equal weight as financial stability.

If Washington believes its absence will paralyse global economic cooperation, Johannesburg has proved otherwise. South Africa has successfully convened leaders representing the worlds major economies to address debt, climate, and inequality despite American obstruction. This demonstrates that Trumps America is not indispensable to multilateralism. It is simply absent. Moreover, by the end of the summit, an eight-member American delegation will attend the handover ceremony, taking over the G20 presidency for the coming year. So much for boycotting South Africa altogether!

Modis attendance in Johannesburg was thus a vote of confidence not in Trumps America but in the G20 itself. By participating, India has signalled that the forum transcends any single members petulance. The G20 exists to address challenges that no nation can solve alone: pandemics, climate change, financial instability, debt crises, technological disruption. These problems do not pause for American political theatre.

Developing countries bear disproportionate costs of global crises while possessing insufficient voice in their resolution. Indias presidency partially corrected that imbalance by including the African Union. South Africas presidency advanced debt relief and climate finance. These achievements occurred because Global South nations used their presidencies to centre concerns wealthy countries prefer to ignore.

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The G20 now faces a choice. It can allow Western unilateralism to hollow out its effectiveness, reducing the forum to a platform for empty communiques and photo opportunities. Or it can adapt to a multipolar reality where leadership rotates among diverse economies with distinct priorities. India demonstrated that the latter is possible. Modi achieved consensus on complex issues by bridging North-South divides rather than exploiting them.

The first G20 summit on African soil succeeded despite American efforts to undermine it. Today, multilateralism does not require Washingtons blessing. It requires commitment to solving shared problems. India demonstrated that commitment. The United States abdicated it. The consequences for American influence will be profound and lasting.

About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a Principal Correspondent with Network18, working on group-level ideas and special projects. Enthusiastic about both national affairs and geopolitics, Sanbeer focuses on issu... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 12:32 IST

News opinion Modis G20 Defiance: Why The Global South Is Done Waiting For America

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Opinion | A Jurisprudence Of Retribution: The Deficiencies In The Trial Of Sheikh Hasina

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 03:15 IST

It is a classic example of using the law not to discover the truth, but to validate a decision that had already been made

A poster of ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. (Photo: AFP)

The conviction of Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh is being presented to us as a necessary act of justice, a moment of moral closure for the tragedy of July 2024. But when I look at the judgment and the procedural history through the lens of constitutional theory and settled criminal jurisprudence, it becomes impossible to accept this process as a lawful trial. It feels less like a judicial exercise grounded in evidence and rights, and more like an administrative performance carried out under political pressure. It is a classic example of using the law not to discover the truth, but to validate a decision that had already been made.

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Bangladesh certainly needed a truth-seeking process, one anchored in due process and fairness. Instead, the Muhammad Yunus-led administration chose to repurpose a tribunal that was already burdened by a difficult legacy. They expanded its jurisdiction to try a former Prime Minister in absentia, a move that shows just how easily a transitional government without an electoral mandate can slip into dangerous habits. This is what scholars often warn against when they talk about abusive constitutionalism, where the mechanisms of law are used to subvert the very principles of justice they claim to uphold. The International Crimes Tribunal was originally built to prosecute collaborators of the 1971 genocide. Even then, it was a heavy-handed institution, known for prioritising convictions over the nuanced requirements of a fair trial. By dragging this specialised body into contemporary politics, the administration created a structural mismatch. A tribunal designed for historical retribution is simply ill-equipped to handle the constitutional gravity of prosecuting a displaced head of government.

The most glaring failure here is the violation of the most basic principle of natural justice, audi alteram partem, or the right to be heard. Sheikh Hasina was tried while in exile. The court appointed a state defence counsel who had no access to her and could receive no instructions. This makes the right to a defence entirely illusory. Under international standards like the ICCPR and general global jurisprudence, a trial in absentia is only acceptable if there is an ironclad guarantee of a retrial once the accused returns. To deliver a death sentence without that safeguard is unacceptable in any modern legal system. It transforms the court into a weapon of the executive and violates the separation of powers.

Then there is the issue of the trials speed relative to its size. The charge sheet was nearly nine thousand pages long, yet the witness examination lasted barely four weeks. Fifty-four witnesses testified in that short window. In any serious capital case, the court is expected to move slowly and deliberately. When you rush through a death penalty case at this pace, you undermine the presumption of innocence. It creates the impression that the outcome was predetermined. This suspicion deepens when you look at the testimony of Abdullah al Mamun, the former police chief who turned state witness. He received five years in prison while the political leadership received death. This massive disparity raises serious questions about whether his testimony was incentivised. In our legal tradition, the evidence of an accomplice is always viewed with deep suspicion and requires independent corroboration. Without a rigorous cross-examination by a lawyer of the accuseds choice, such testimony is legally worthless. The same applies to the digital evidence, like the unverified audio clips. If the defence cannot question the source or the method of interception, admitting such evidence is essentially a trial by ambush.

These procedural failures highlight a deep tension in transitional justice. The Yunus administration is a caretaker government. It arguably lacks the authority to fundamentally alter the criminal justice landscape in such a radical way. By using a tribunal that has a genetic defect of bias against the Awami League, the administration risks the accusation of practising victors justice. This has serious implications for the future. By delaying elections until this trial was over, and potentially using this verdict to ban the Awami League from politics, the administration is engaging in lawfare. They are weaponising the legal system to delegitimise their opponents. This erodes the democratic culture they claim to be restoring, and it is telling that even international observers who were initially sympathetic are now raising red flags.

The verdict also creates a diplomatic dead end. India will almost certainly refuse extradition. International law provides a strong exception for political offences, and the principle of non-refoulement prevents sending someone back if they face a death penalty imposed without due process. Indias courts will look at this and see that the proceedings failed the basic competence and fairness test. A judgment delivered in absentia without a mechanism for a fresh trial is effectively unenforceable across borders.

A true constitutional democracy is defined not by how it treats its heroes, but by how it tries its adversaries. The trial of Sheikh Hasina fails this test. It represents a Rule by Law, where the law is just a tool of power, rather than the Rule of Law, where the law acts as a constraint on power. A death sentence arrived at through a process that lacks the accused, denies effective counsel, relies on untested evidence, and rushes to judgment is not a triumph of justice. Until the Yunus administration decouples accountability from retribution, the path to a stable constitutional order will remain blocked in Bangladesh.

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The author is an Assistant Professor of Law at National Law University Delhi. He tweets @raghavpandeyy. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 19:27 IST

News opinion Opinion | A Jurisprudence Of Retribution: The Deficiencies In The Trial Of Sheikh Hasina

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Opinion | Ayodhya, A City Unlocked, As The Flag Of Dharma Is Set To Fly Atop Ram Mandir

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:56 IST

Ayodhya is now not just the heart of Indias spirituality; it is slowly transforming into an economic and tourism powerhouse

On November 25, PM Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high spire of the Ram Temple. (File Photo)

Ghar ghar Tulsi prem uchhahu, Tulsi tala lagai na kahu."

A city with no locks. That is how poet Tulsidas described Shri Rams Ayodhya in his Ramayana.

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Todays Ayodhya has certainly not reached the kind of prosperity and integrity famously attributed to Ram Rajya. But the sheer scale of change that the city has been undergoing since Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, coupled with the Narendra Modi governments developmental push from the Centre, is staggering.

It is befitting then that on November 25, PM Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high spire of the Ram Temple  rebuilt nearly 500 years after it was destroyed by Mughal emperor Baburs commander Mir Baqi  while Yogi oversees preparations for the magnificent event.

Ayodhya is now not just the heart of Indias spirituality; it is slowly transforming into an economic and tourism powerhouse.

A simple comparison tells us about the scale of the tourism explosion in Ayodhya after the Ram temple was inaugurated in 2024. Last year, Ayodhyas footfall was 16.44 crore compared with Meccas 1.4 crore (to be fair, Saudi limits the annual number of pilgrims to the nerve centre of Islam).

During Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadavs tenure, Ayodhya received merely two to three lakh visitors a year.

This spectacular burst of tourism has, of course, brought with it immense challenges. The city is struggling to accommodate the influx, leading to bottlenecks in transport, accommodation, and utilities. The Maharishi Valmiki International Airports Phase 1 runway can handle only about a million passengers annually, causing flight backlogs during Ram Navami or Diwali.

Daily waste generation has risen to 500600 metric tons from 100 metric tons before 2024. Only 70 per cent of this is processed by new plants, leading to dumping near the riverfront during peak season. Water supply shortages hit 4050 per cent of households and guesthouses.

But a deep state-Centre coordination, a grand and forward-looking blueprint, and CM Yogis special attention on Ayodhya make the challenges look surmountable.

Right from entering office, Yogi put the file on Ayodhyas development at the top of the pile. He kicked it off with a stunningly picturesque and well-organised deepotsav.

The blueprint for the citys development was drawn up, which included the historic Ram Mandir construction.

This master plan envisages heritage-steeped Ayodhya to be a hi-tech city by 2031, besides becoming a global spiritual centre by 2047. Ayurvedic therapy centres, nature-themed lifestyle, luxury cottages, water sports, river cruises, helicopter joyrides, and Vedic and yoga training institutes are all part of that grand vision.

The Centre and state are investing Rs 5,000 crore for Ayodhyas development. UPs tourism revenue is projected to reach Rs 70,000 crore in less than five years, with Ayodhya contributing a fourth of that.

A smart and eco-friendly Ayodhya Greenfield township is being developed on 1,407 acres at Rs 2,180 crore under the Vedic Expansion Plan.

A Ram Van Gaman Path  a 2,260-km highway which creates a pilgrimage circuit tracing the journey of Lord Ram, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshman during their 14-year exile through various locations across India till Sri Lanka that are mentioned in the Ramayana  is being built at Rs 4,403 crore.

The plan takes into account a surge from Ayodhyas current population of about 11 lakh to 24 lakh by 2031 and 34 lakh by 2047.

Ram Rajya is known for its nearly impregnable security. More than 1,200 digital eyes have been added to todays Ayodhya to ensure round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.

Quietly but rapidly, Ayodhya is also becoming fully solar-powered, reviving its ancient reputation as the Sun City. It ranks first among UPs 17 smart cities, with Rs 218 crore being pumped into underground drainage systems, electricity ducts, EV charging stations, a 200-acre green zone, a super-speciality medical centre, a hi-tech park, and a wellness hub.

Yogis goal is clear: to make one of the main spiritual centres of the Hindu universe, Ayodhya, a city with world-class facilities both for international visitors and its own residents.

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A gleaming city of the future inspired by its golden past.

Abhijit Majumder is the author of the book, Indias New Right. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:56 IST

News opinion Opinion | Ayodhya, A City Unlocked, As The Flag Of Dharma Is Set To Fly Atop Ram Mandir

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Opinion | Housing Plus: Modi Govt's Integrated ApproachHomes With Water, Electricity, Toilets, And Clean Cooking

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 03:28 IST

The vision of PM Modis policies has provided homes that have become gateways to modern living, economic opportunity, and human dignity

Since 2014, 2.82 crore rural houses have been completed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Representational image

What if a single policy intervention could simultaneously improve childrens education, expand womens workforce participation, reduce deadly diseases, and lift millions out of poverty? Indias Modi government has effectively done exactly that through a comprehensive approach to rural infrastructure that treats housing, water, sanitation, electricity, and clean cooking fuel as interconnected elements of human dignity. Roti. Kapda. Makaan

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The model represents a departure from how most countries approach poverty reduction. Instead of fragmenting resources across competing priorities, India has recognised a simple truth: a house without water is merely shelter; shelter without electricity condemns children to studying by kerosene lamp; a latrine without dignity is merely a hole in the ground. When you combine these amenities, the results multiply and people claw back from the doom they were slowly edging towards.

The Architecture of Transformation

Since 2014, 2.82 crore rural houses have been completed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. More than 15.44 crore rural households now have tap water connections, up from just 17% a decade ago. Over 11 crore toilets have been constructed. Nearly 3 crore households were electrified under the Saubhagya scheme. And 10.33 crore LPG connections have been distributed.

These might look like scattered statistics, but they are interconnected. When a family receives a house under PMAY-Gramin, government guidelines mandate that it include a toilet constructed with Rs 12,000 from the Swachh Bharat Mission. The household becomes eligible for electrification if unconnected. If eligible, it can access an LPG connection through PM Ujjwala. Water supply is prioritised through the Jal Jeevan Mission. The house becomes a node in a network rather than an isolated structure. Each beneficiary receives 90 to 95 person-days of wage employment through MGNREGA; all in all, it has become a development model that pays people to participate in their own transformation.

Women Reclaiming Their Lives

Imagine spending two hours every morning fetching water from a well kilometres away in the darkness. It was the staggering reality for hundreds of millions of Indian women until recently.

The Jal Jeevan Mission launched in August 2019 with a mind-bending deficit: only 17% of rural households had tap water connections. By February 2025, nearly 80% do. Nine crore women no longer fetch water from outside. The mission trained 24.80 lakh women, predominantly rural women, to test water quality using Field Testing Kits, creating skilled employment in their own communities.

This free time translates into economic participation. Research demonstrates a 7.4 percentage point increase in womens engagement in productive activities, such as agriculture, allied trades, and income generation, following the rollout of the mission. Women cooking on LPG spend, on average, 49 minutes less on fuel collection and preparation daily. That is 300 minutes weekly available for income generation, education, or a well-needed rest.

Female labour force participation rose in almost every state between 201718 and 202223, with rural women experiencing greater gains than their urban counterparts. When you give women control over their time, they use it to generate income, pursue education, and participate in community governance, and the government mandates it as 50% of village water and sanitation committee members must be women under Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines.

The Mortality Math

Development is ultimately about reducing preventable death. The Swachh Bharat Missions expansion of sanitation contributed directly to Indias declining infant mortality rates. Districts achieving 30%+ toilet coverage showed 5.3-point lower infant mortality compared to lower-coverage areas. With over 11 crore toilets constructed, the health impact is substantial.

Waterborne diseases have declined as water coverage has expanded. The Jal Jeevan Missions delivery of 15.44 crore tap water connections has interrupted faecal-oral transmission pathways that have killed thousands of children annually for years.

In addition, the transition from biomass to LPG addresses one of Indias most severe health burdens: household air pollution. Between 5 and 10 lakh deaths annually were attributable to indoor smoke before the Ujjwala schemes rollout.

Research from rural Maharashtra measured the difference LPG makes with remarkable clarity. Women using LPG had systolic blood pressure averaging 119.5 mmHg compared to 125.3 mmHg for biomass users. The prevalence of hypertension among LPG users was at 21.1% versus 29.5% for biomass users. Lung function was significantly superior among clean fuel users. National modelling suggests exclusive LPG adoption could avert over 150,000 deaths annually.

Childrens Futures Rewired

The Saubhagya scheme delivered 2.86 crore household electricity connections by March 2022. Childrens study time during dark hours has increased by approximately 30 minutes daily. Compound this across a school year, and a student gains 150 additional study hours annually. Across a 12-year education trajectory, that is 1,800 extra hours, equivalent to 225 full school days.

But electrifications impact extends beyond households. Schools with reliable electricity operate computer labs, maintain water systems for drinking and sanitation, and use teaching aids. Parents feel secure sending daughters to schools with modern facilities and proper lighting. School-going girls gain educational opportunities simply unavailable to previous generations.

The Dignity Dimension

For centuries, Indias rural poor, particularly women, have endured daily indignities arising from inadequate basic amenities. Women walking in pre-dawn darkness to defecate in fields. Girls suppressing their menstrual needs for hours rather than accessing toilet facilities. Families cooking in smoke-filled kitchens that blackened walls, clothes, and lungs.

Research has revealed that 70% of documented sexual assaults occurred when women left their houses to defecate in open spaces. Toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat eliminated this vulnerability. Women no longer faced the daily humiliation of open defecation despite living in the worlds largest democracy.

Women who have access to household toilets report feeling safer, more respected, and more confident. The ability to manage menstrual hygiene privately, to bathe in privacy, represents a fundamental expansion of human freedom. Clean cooking fuel similarly addresses dignity. Kitchens have become cleaner spaces, and families no longer bear visible markers of fuel poverty.

Electricity has transformed evening routines, enabling families to gather in well-lit spaces and focus their energies on productivity or rest. Villages achieving 100% coverage under various schemes experience collective pride and heightened civic consciousness.

The Road Ahead

No development story lacks challenges. Infrastructure sustainability requires ongoing maintenance, community ownership, and behavioural reinforcement. Sustainability of water sources amid climate change poses long-term challenges. The quality of construction requires rigorous monitoring.

Yet the achievements demonstrate what is possible at scale. The convergence model has proven its effectiveness across hundreds of millions of beneficiaries. As the government extends PMAY-G with an additional 2 crore houses by 2029, integrating these dwellings with comprehensive amenities will further expand the developments reach.

The vision of Modis policies has provided homes that have become gateways to modern living, economic opportunity, and human dignity, and has moved housing from aspiration to reality for hundreds of millions of Indians. For women who are no longer fetching water at dawn. For children studying under electric lights. For families cooking on clean fuel and using hygienic toilets.

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Completing this transformation for all Indians represents both a moral imperative and an economic necessity. A nation determined to eliminate poverty must ensure that every citizen has access to the basic infrastructure enabling a dignified, productive life.

About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 03:28 IST

News opinion Opinion | Housing Plus: Modi Govt's Integrated ApproachHomes With Water, Electricity, Toilets, And Clean Cooking

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Opinion | PM Modi's Africa Strategy: A Different Model Amid Great Power Competition

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 02:59 IST

Relations with Africa have been built incrementally over the years and represent a distinctive approach to south-south cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Johannesburg. Image/X

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Johannesburg for the G20 summit, he arrived as an unlikely champion of the continent. Over four visits to South Africa in less than a decade, alongside stops in Ghana and Namibia that marked the first such trips by an Indian leader in over three decades, Modi has quietly assembled something that eludes much Western and Chinese engagement with Africa: sustained partnerships built on trust and mutual development goals.

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No 30-year infrastructure loans creating perpetual debt, or loan shark relationships, or hijacking a port for 100 years. Instead, 200 entrepreneurs signing binding agreements on vehicles and medicines. Namibia deploying Indias digital payment system and malaria drugs costing 50 cents rather than $10. India, under Modi, has built a relationship with Africa on a mutual understanding of needs.

This weeks summit carries symbolic weight, being the first time the G20 convenes on African soil, and the African Union sits as a permanent member, a prize India secured during its 2023 presidency. However, the real story lies in what precedes this moment: how an emerging economy has positioned itself as Africas most reliable development partner, not by projecting power, but by delivering practical solutions grounded in Indias own hard-won development experience.

The IA (India-Africa) Calculus

Distance clouds judgment. Indias engagement with Africa rarely generates the geopolitical drama that attracts Western media focus. Chinas $280 billion in African trade dwarfs Indias roughly $100 billion. But therein lies the rub: multiple African nations now strain under Chinese debt burdens from infrastructure projects whose returns never materialised.

PM Modis four South Africa visits since 2016, including bilateral engagement in 2016, BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023, and now the G20, signal a consistency unusual in great power politics. When governments shift, foreign policy priorities often pivot. South Africa has seen 2 presidents in the last decade. ANC, while still the biggest party, now leads a coalition government. India has also undergone a change politically; Modis BJP also now rules with the help of coalition partners, the National Democratic Alliance.

There has been global economic upheaval and geopolitical realignment, but Indias connection to Africa, and in particular to South Africa, has remained strong. The pattern extended in July. Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Ghana in over 30 years and the first ever to set foot in Namibia in 27 years.

During the Ghana stop, India and Ghana elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership", with detailed discussions on economic collaboration, energy cooperation, and defence partnerships. In Windhoek, PM Modi addressed parliament, an honour rarely extended, and received Namibias highest civilian award while announcing that Namibia would become the first nation globally to implement Indias Unified Payments Interface through a formal technology agreement with its central bank.

And the UPI wasnt some throwaway technology that India wanted to sell off to its African neighbours across the sea. It represents a core piece of Indias digital revolution, which processes billions of transactions worth trillions of dollars, and that brought financial inclusion to Indias remotest villages, a problem that Africa faces as well.

Three Milestones: Business, Infrastructure, and Digital

Indias Africa strategy crystallised across three domains during 2024-2025. In Pretoria this March, over 200 entrepreneurs signed 200-plus memoranda of understanding at the India-South Africa Business Conclave, with pharmaceuticals and defence topping discussions. Indian antimalarial drugs now cost 50 cents per course, less than a tenth of the branded price, whilst Indian generics comprise over 50% of African pharmaceutical imports at 10-20 per cent of brand equivalents.

Infrastructure has followed. India has extended $14.07 billion in concessional credit lines to 42 African nations, funding 357 projects across railways, roads, power generation, ports, and hospitals. Uganda received $141 million for electricity transmission; Rwanda secured $200 million for industrial and special economic zones; Tanzania and Mozambique partnered on agricultural development.

Digital infrastructure completed the triad. Namibia became the first African nation to sign a licensing agreement adopting Indias Unified Payments Interface in July, with rollout beginning in September. Ghana and Kenya are advancing similar deployments. Togo adopted Indias Modular Open-Source Identity Platform for national digital ID. It is Indias open-source infrastructure that nations can adapt for their own contexts.

Under Indias International Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, approximately 5,000 African officials receive scholarships annually, with Indian campuses operating in Tanzania and Uganda creating long-term institutional presences.

A Different Model Amid Great Power Competition

PM Modi arrived in Johannesburg amid intensifying competition for African favour. Chinas investments dwarf Indias in scale, with Sino-African trade exceeding $280 billion, nearly triple Indias figure. Yet mounting evidence suggests Beijings model generates growing concerns. Multiple African nations struggle to service Chinese loans for infrastructure projects whose economic viability proved questionable, creating dependencies that constrain policy autonomy.

The Belt and Road Initiatives African legacy is decidedly mixed: gleaming infrastructure alongside crushing debt burdens, technology transfer promises unfulfilled, and wariness about reliance on a single major power.

Western engagement has historically oscillated between humanitarian posturing and extractive economics, with contemporary initiatives struggling to gain traction amid broader preoccupation with other regions. The current moment underscores this: President Donald Trumps refusal to attend this summit has been widely interpreted across the continent as contempt for African priorities and institutions.

India occupies different ground. A shared and painful colonial experience creates genuine empathy distinct from Western paternalism. PM Modi routinely references shared liberation struggles and Mahatma Gandhis influence on African independence movements. Non-aligned movement roots establish credentials as a voice for developing nations rather than a hegemonic power seeking spheres of influence.

Critically, India lacks the imperial baggage complicating Western-African relationships or the debt-trap concerns surrounding Chinese engagement. Indian credit lines operate on genuinely concessional terms, involve significant local employment and capacity building, and prioritise functional infrastructure addressing development bottlenecks rather than prestige projects. The emphasis on pharmaceuticals, digital public infrastructure, training programmes, and appropriate technology reflects attention to African needs rather than Indian surplus capacity seeking markets.

Indias G20 Moment

This weeks summit marks the G20s first African convening, but more fundamentally, it reflects institutional architecture reshaped during Indias 2023 presidency. By championing African Union permanent membership, Modi secured what amounts to a structural victory in global governance. Previously, only South Africa represented 1.2 billion people and 55 nations; now the AU holds equivalent membership status to the European Union.

African voices now have institutional channels for coordinated advocacy within the worlds premier economic forum. The substance matters more. The AUs membership enables collective action on debt sustainability, climate finance, fair trade rules, and technological access, issues where Africas 55 nations, acting individually, lack negotiating leverage.

It provides a platform to address illicit financial flows, estimated at $88.6 billion annually from Africa, representing 3.7% of continental GDP, requiring international cooperation. Consistency is needed to strengthen the Global Souths voice within the forum, preventing the lurching between disconnected agendas that has historically marked G20 transitions. With Indonesia, India, Brazil, and now South Africa prioritising Global South development concerns, a narrative has emerged centring emerging markets priorities within this crucial institution, with India as its leading voice.

Substance Over Summitry

When PM Modi addresses Johannesburg this week, he speaks as the prime minister who ensured the African Union finally gained G20 membership, an achievement reflecting Indias commitment to reshaping global institutions around Global South interests. Moreover, PM Modi would also be the most experienced and tallest leader attending the G20 Summit.

Relations with Africa have been built incrementally over the years and represent a distinctive approach to south-south cooperation. Indias model neither extracts like traditional powers nor creates perpetual debt like some alternatives. Instead, it recognises Africa not as a problem requiring external solutions but as a partner with agency, priorities, and capabilities complementing Indias strengths.

Challenges remain formidable, and results decidedly mixed in places. Yet amid great power competition often characterised by extractive economics or paternalistic development models, Indias approach offers something different: partnerships that build capacity rather than dependency, technology transfers that empower rather than control, and solidarity translating into concrete cooperation.

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Whether this model can scale from bilateral achievements to continental transformation remains an open question. But for now, as G20 leaders gather in Africa for the first time, Indias sustained engagement demonstrates that Global South solidarity can achieve results.

About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects.

First Published: November 22, 2025, 02:59 IST

News opinion Opinion | PM Modi's Africa Strategy: A Different Model Amid Great Power Competition

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Opinion | The Rise Of Educated Terrorists: Decoding The New Jihadi Architecture

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 22:00 IST

Multiple studies show that nearly 70 per cent of major terror attacks worldwide were planned and executed by technically trained individuals, particularly engineering graduates

Umar-un-Nabi, the suicide bomber behind the deadly Red Fort attack on November 10.

Doctors turning into terrorists is neither new nor surprising. The phenomenon of educated jihadis is now a global pattern. Multiple studies show that nearly 70 per cent of major terror attacks worldwide were planned and executed by technically trained individuals, particularly engineering graduates.

Among doctors, the most notorious example is Zakir Naik, who used respectable platforms like television to radicalise Muslims across the subcontinent. Naik obtained his MBBS from Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai.

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Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former Al-Qaeda chief, held a masters degree in surgery from Cairo University.

Mahathir Mohamad, who reshaped Malaysias Islamic identity, studied at King Edward VII College of Medicine, Singapore. Mahathir has openly articulated his belief in political Islam and consistently returned to rigid interpretations of Islamic scripture. He declared Malaysia an Islamic state", emphasising Islamic solutions to global issues.

Zakir Naik has been a permanent resident of Malaysia since 2016. India revoked his passport in 2017 on charges of money laundering and hate speech.

Intelligence and Ideological Quotient

While analysing terrorism, we must recognise that every human has both an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and an Ideological Quotient (IdQ). Among Muslims, Christians, and Communists, the ideological quotient tends to overshadow individual reasoning because each is rooted in a single-book belief system that often subsumes critical thought.

The persistence of groups like the Flat Earth Society, whose members interpret biblical verses as scientific proof that the Earth is flat, illustrates how ideology overrides intellect. Some commercial pilots are members of this society, showing that professional training does not immunise one against ideological rigidity.

At the Middle East Forum, Pakistans distinguished nuclear scientist Pervez Hoodbhoy was asked why the Islamic world, despite possessing vast resources and a population of over a billion, remains disengaged from scientific progress.

He replied, Seven centuries ago, Islam and science parted ways. The biggest problem is Islamism. Wherever religious fundamentalism dominates, blind faith clouds rational thinking."

When asked why so many doctors, engineers, and technologists are drawn to Islamism, and sometimes terrorism, Hoodbhoy stated, We must separate scientists from technologists. First-rate scientists do not become Islamists. But second- and third-rate technologists are far more susceptible."

Thus, many Muslim technologists are wired one way intellectually but hardwired another way ideologically. Their brains follow technology; their hearts follow the call of jihad.

The Calling of Jihad

The calling of jihad originates at home, in madrassas, online groups, peer circles, and minority institutions that the Indian Constitution permits, many of which are exploited to create anti-national currents.

The doctor module, Muzammil, Ali Ahmad, Umar, and Irfan Waqih, were first ideologically shaped as stone-pelting children in the Kashmir Valley. They later evolved into doctor-terrorists" during their years at medical college in Srinagar, where the overwhelming Muslim student population creates a closed ideological ecosystem.

What distinguishes a radicalised Muslim from a non-radical one is the degree of influence of the Indian/Sanatan civilisational environment. Those who sever their connection with Sanatan roots drift towards radicalisation and eventually jihadism.

Islam is an organised, congregational faith designed to forge ideological unity. This organisational rigidity leaves little room for spiritualism.

Rejection of Nature and Spirituality

Highly organised ideological faiths seldom allow genuine spiritualism. Spirituality is linked to nature, its beauty, mystery, and manifestations. In nature there is proof of the divine.

One-book faiths negate the idea of heaven on Earth and instead promise a commodified paradise, complete with 72 virgins, a concept that objectifies women and incentivises suicide missions.

This leads to a foundational question: If suicide bombing is martyrdom, against whom is this martyrdom directed?

The targets are:

non-believers (kafirs)

less-believing Muslims

heretics

In India, the kafir is overwhelmingly identified as the Hindu.

In a video, Red Fort suicide bomber Umar-ul-Nabi called suicide bombing martyrdom in Islam" and justified killing 30 innocent people near the Red Fort as justice for Kashmir".

Why such grievance when the Kashmir Valley is already Islamicised, transformed from Dar-ul-Harb (land of non-believers) into Dar-ul-Islam?

What about the injustice suffered by Kashmiri Hindus, driven out in 1990 and still living in exile?

The Curse of Minority Institutions

Suicide bomber Umar-ul-Nabi was deeply involved in religious conversion at Al-Falah University, where he used his authority as assistant professor to pressure students and staff to convert. He reportedly converted a Manipuri girl and renamed her Maryam.

The security risks of minority institutions are well known:

Aligarh Muslim University played a central role in creating Pakistan.

A section of Jamia Millia Islamia was visibly involved in the Shaheen Bagh protests of December 2019, which triggered the Delhi riots.

The Srinagar Medical College, though a government institution, operates de facto like an Islamic minority campus due to its ideological environment.

Even the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in Katra has seen a disproportionate Muslim intake, 42 out of 50 seats, despite being funded by Hindu devotees. If it follows the Srinagar model, donations by Hindus will indirectly fund an institution that may radicalise individuals who attack Hindus.

The Centre of Gravity of Jihad Shifts

The Red Fort suicide bombing and the multi-layered doctor module operating across India show that Kashmir-centric jihad has evolved into a pan-India network. Its centre of gravity has shifted from the Kashmir Valley to the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, a few new sinister dimensions have emerged:

Lady Doctor Jihad from Lucknow

Shaheen Syed abandoned her husband and children for jihad. She indoctrinated her brother, Parvez Ahmad, and maintained contact with Sadia Azhar, sister of Masood Azhar, who heads JeMs newly formed womens wing.

Biological Warfare Preparations

Ahmed Mohiuddin of Hyderabad was experimenting with extracting ricin from castor seeds, a toxin capable of causing mass casualties through food, water, or aerosol deployment. This was intended for poisoning food at public places, including temple prasad.

Mini-Rockets, Weaponised Drones

Jihadi associate Jasir Bilal Wani admitted to modifying devices and mini-rockets for urban attacks.

These developments represent a new inflection point: suicide bombing, mini-rockets, drone warfare, womens jihad, and biological warfare.

Pakistan, especially after Operation Sindoor, realises it cannot intimidate India militarily. The technological gap is too wide. Even Pakistans nuclear bluff has been neutralised.

Thus, Pakistans only remaining pathway to converting India into Dar-ul-Islam is cunning, subversion, and internal jihad. The last major attack in Delhi was in 2014. For a decade, the capital felt secure. That illusion is now shattered. The architecture of terror never died; it evolved.

Conclusion

There is much talk of de-radicalisation. But there is no evidence of successful de-radicalisation anywhere in 1,400 years of Islamic history. Massive scholarships, new universities, and unprecedented development in Kashmir have whetted, not reduced, the appetite for jihad.

Al-Falah University in the NCR rapidly became a jihadi incubator.

History shows repeated episodes of Islamic mobilisation:

Moplah genocide (1921)

Khilafat Movement (191924)

Direct Action Day (1946), which killed thousands

MK Gandhis support for the Khilafat movement, intended to appease, laid the ideological foundations for Pakistan. Many leaders of the Pakistan movement emerged from that ferment.

Today, 100 years later, Turkey under Erdogan has become a key benefactor of anti-India Islamic activism.

Jihad evolves, adapts, and hides behind respectability. The solution lies in addressing the root cause  the ideology behind the jihad  not merely individual Muslims.

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If ignored, this evolving jihadi architecture will continue to torment India.

The writer, a former intelligence and Army officer, is a commentator on geopolitical, defence and strategic issues. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

About the Author Col RSN Singh Col RSN Singh is a former intelligence and Army officer, and a commentator on geopolitical, defence and strategic issues.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 17:11 IST

News opinion Opinion | The Rise Of Educated Terrorists: Decoding The New Jihadi Architecture

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ANKARA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- While Turkiye is eager to participate in Gaza's reconstruction and has expressed readiness to join a postwar peacekeeping force, local analysts said that Ankara's strained relations with Israel could hinder its ability to play a meaningful role on the ground.

Turkiye has repeatedly signaled its willingness to help secure and reconstruct Gaza once fighting ends. Officials in Ankara argue that Turkiye's long-standing ties with regional actors, experience in humanitarian operations and peacekeeping, and public support for the Palestinian cause make it a natural candidate for involvement.

Oytun Orhan, a senior researcher from Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, said Turkiye's motivations are shaped by both humanitarian concerns and broader strategic thinking as both Turkiye and Israel compete for regional influence.

"Ankara sees Gaza's recovery as essential for regional stability, and it genuinely wants to contribute," he told Xinhua.

"But there is also an understanding that playing a constructive role in Gaza would strengthen Turkiye's regional influence at a time when the Middle East is being reshaped," he pointed out.

Orhan emphasized, however, that Israel's stance will be decisive.

Pointing to the UN Security Council's adoption of a U.S.-drafted resolution endorsing the creation of an international stabilization force in Gaza on Monday, Orhan said that, "No peacekeeping mission can operate in Gaza without Israeli acceptance."

"Right now, (mutual) confidence is at an all-time low. The rhetoric between the two governments makes any cooperation difficult," the analyst noted.

Relations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have worsened since the early stages of the Gaza conflict.

Ankara's sharp criticism of Israel's military operations and its outspoken support for the Palestinians have deepened the rift.

More recently, in early November, Turkiye issued arrest warrants for alleged genocide against the Israeli prime minister and senior officials within his government.

"Israeli objection to Turkiye's role in Gaza is very real and acute. Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected Turkish boots on the ground in Gaza," Batu Coskun, a non-resident fellow at the Abu Dhabi-based Trends Research and Advisory, told Xinhua.

According to the analyst, Turkiye's official role in Gaza is still confined to humanitarian affairs, which are also restricted by Israel amid strained relations.

Coskun observed that Turkiye is enlisting U.S. support to counter Israel's opposition.

He said Turkiye will likely continue lobbying the U.S. government to pave the way for a more pronounced Turkish role in Gaza.

If U.S. President Donald Trump "views that Turkiye's role in the stabilization force is essential, then he may further pressure Israel to accept," he said. 
Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 14:24 IST

1 / 11 It was supposed to be a day of high-speed indulgence for a convoy of supercar enthusiasts in Japan but on December 4, 2011, the expressway in Yamaguchi Prefecture became the site of one of the most expensive automotive pile-ups ever recorded. + Follow us On Google

2 / 11 The simple highway drive involving some of the worlds most coveted machines spiralled into a 14-car accident that stunned auto enthusiasts worldwide.

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3 / 11 The convoy consisted almost entirely of high-end performance cars, many of them the kind enthusiasts spend years saving for or importing at great cost. According to a report in The Guardian, the combined value of the vehicles involved was estimated at 2.5 million (approximately Rs 29.01 crore), a staggering figure that instantly placed the incident in the history books.

4 / 11 Images and footage from the scene showed several wrecked Ferraris, all in their iconic red, scattered across the motorway.

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5 / 11 In total, eight Ferraris, one Lamborghini, three Mercedes-Benz cars, a Toyota Prius and a second Toyota were caught in the chain reaction.

6 / 11 The Ferrari lineup reads like a wish list for collectors: a Ferrari F355, a Ferrari F512 and a Ferrari F360, a car that even used, sells in Japan for upwards of 147,000 (Rs 1.7 crore).

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7 / 11 Another vehicle in the lineup was believed to be a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, a variant that is capable of hitting 200 mph. With even older Ferraris routinely starting at 65,000 (over Rs 75 lakh) or more in Japan, the destruction of so many in a single moment was nothing short of extraordinary.

8 / 11 Police later said the pile-up most likely began when the driver of one Ferrari attempted a lane change and hit a barrier on a rain-soaked road. This triggered a domino effect that took the entire convoy with it.

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9 / 11 Skid marks, debris and the remains of several supercars spread across the road surface. This forced the authorities to close the highway for more than six hours as they assessed the scene and cleared the wreckage.

10 / 11 Despite the dramatic visuals, no serious injuries were reported. Ten people (five men and five women) were reportedly treated for minor cuts and bruises. Investigators noted that the group consisted largely of foreign car enthusiasts who were on their way to a special event in Hiroshima.

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Last Updated: November 20, 2025, 22:00 IST

1 / 10 When Ramesh Sippy began casting for Sholay, the role of Gabbar Singh, the films terrifying dacoit, was already assigned to seasoned actor Danny Denzongpa. However, as the shooting schedule was finalized, Danny realized his dates clashed with Feroz Khans Dharmatma, a commitment he had already made. With little time left before filming began, Danny stepped away from Sholay, leaving the production team in a state of panic. Gabbar Singh was not just another role; it was central to the films narrative. (Image: IMDb) + Follow us On Google

2 / 10 At the time, Amjad Khan, son of veteran actor Jayant, was still looking for his big break in cinema. Though he had done notable work in theatre, he hadnt yet made a mark in films. Salim Khan, one half of the legendary writer duo Salim-Javed, had known Amjad since childhood. When Danny exited the project, Salim suggested Amjad audition for the role. Ramesh Sippy will have the final say, but its a brilliant role. You can try your luck, Salim told him. Amjad met with Ramesh Sippy, who found his face interesting and asked him to grow a beard. That small spark of interest was all Amjad needed. (Image: IMDb)

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3 / 10 Amjad Khan approached the role with fierce dedication. He began studying Abhishapta Chambal, a book on the dacoits of Chambal written by Taroon Coomar Bhaduri, father of actress Jaya Bachchan. The book gave him insight into the psychology and lifestyle of real-life bandits, helping him shape Gabbars persona. (Image: IMDb)

4 / 10 At home, his pregnant wife Shaila Khan became his rehearsal partner. Amjad also recalled a washerman from his childhood who would call out to his wife in a distinct, drawn-out tone: Arre o Shanti. That memory became the inspiration for one of Gabbars most iconic lines: Arre o Sambha! (Image: IMDb)

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5 / 10 With guidance from Salim-Javed, Amjad worked meticulously on Gabbars tone and diction. He memorized every line, grew out his beard, and even blackened his teeth to give himself a more menacing appearance. When he finally arrived at Ramesh Sippys office for the screen test, he had fully transformed into the character. Ramesh Sippy was convinced. Amjad Khan was cast as Gabbar Singh, a newcomer about to take on a role that would define villainy in Indian cinema for generations. (Image: IMDb)

6 / 10 But landing the role was only the beginning. Amjad Khan still had to prove himself on set, among a cast of established stars and under the weight of enormous expectations. (Image: IMDb)

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7 / 10 The cameras rolled for Sholay in October 1973, with the first scene capturing a quiet moment - Amitabh Bachchan returning the safe keys to Jaya Bachchan. But the heart of the film lay elsewhere, in the sun-scorched ravines of Ramgarh, where the most pivotal scenes awaited: the rise of Gabbar Singh. When Amjad Khan arrived in Bangalore for the first schedule, the weight of expectation bore down on him. Despite months of preparation, studying dacoit lore, rehearsing lines, blackening his teeth, and living in worn army fatigues, he was gripped by nerves. His very first line on camera was the now-immortal: Kitne aadmi the? (Image: IMDb)

8 / 10 But it didnt land. His hands trembled. His voice cracked. The tobacco-grinding tic he had practiced felt unnatural. Take after take, the menace he had envisioned refused to surface. Eventually, Ramesh Sippy and the cameraman asked him to rest. The crew moved on to other scenes. Amjad sat alone, watching from the sidelines, haunted by thoughts of his newborn son and his ailing father, Jayant, who was battling cancer. (Image: IMDb)

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9 / 10 Throughout the first schedule, Amjad Khan remained in costume, trying to inhabit Gabbar Singhs skin. Yet not a single frame of him was shot. As the unit returned to Bombay, the industry buzzed with whispers: Has Ramesh Sippy made a mistake casting a newcomer? The murmurs grew louder. Even Salim-Javed, the very writers who had championed Amjad for the role, began to waver. They reportedly told Sippy, If youre unsure, replace him now. (Image: IMDb)
Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 13:13 IST

1 / 10 Miss Universe 2025 showcased many stunning costumes, with several neighbouring countries donning outfits deeply inspired by Indian culture this year. + Follow us On Google

2 / 10 The national costumes worn by contestants this year not only celebrated creativity and heritage but also highlighted the profound cultural influence India has across its borders.

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3 / 10 The Bangladesh contestants outfit draws inspiration from the renowned Jamdani weave, with golden detailing and a white drape that beautifully captures the elegance and richness of Dhakai Jamdani.

4 / 10 The art of saree weaving originated in the ancient textile centres of Dhaka when the region was part of undivided India. This craft shares deep roots with Indian weaving traditions, particularly those of Bengal.

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5 / 10 The Indonesian contestant wore a gold, temple-inspired outfit that reflects Balinese cultural dress, often seen in ceremonies and classical performances. The structure, headgear and gold ornamentation resemble the styling used in ancient Balinese temples.

6 / 10 Balinese culture is heavily influenced by ancient Indian traditions, especially through Hindu texts, temple architecture and storytelling forms. The design elements, like the ornate crown and gold patterns, echo the centuries-old cultural exchange between India and Indonesia.

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7 / 10 Moving on to the Pakistani contestant, she wore a shimmering costume inspired by Sheesh Mahal, featuring mirror-work walls and royal Mughal design. The outfits luxurious draping captures the charm of Mughal-era architecture.

8 / 10 Interestingly, Sheesh Mahal in Lahore was built by Shah Jahan, whose architectural legacy includes monuments across present-day India and Pakistan. It needs to be noted that India was the richest centre of arts, crafts and architecture under his rule.

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9 / 10 Meanwhile, Indias outfit paid tribute to Buddhist culture, featuring golden elements, lotus patterns and a dramatic headpiece that represents spiritual radiance.
Is Rahul Gandhi Planning Another Revival Attempt For Congress? Inside His Two-Pronged Strategy

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 15:26 IST

With the alliance narrative slipping, Rahul Gandhi is placing his bets on the SIR fight and caste census to rebuild the Congress on his own terms

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (Image: PTI/File)

Is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi working on yet another revival plan for his party? Those around him say he does have a script in mind. The first step taken was to accept that the INDIA bloc story is virtually over. In fact, this fits into his original line of thinking where, differing from his mother Sonia Gandhi, he felt the Congress needed to carve out its own identity, which would be diluted if it remained tied down by coalition politics.

For Rahul Gandhi, coalition dharma has meant repeated compromises. One of the big examples is when he had to swallow his own words on the controversial ordinance he had said should be torn up". He eventually backtracked after Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav objected to his stance.

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More recently, he had to again step back when Maharashtra leaders such as NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray objected to his attacks on Veer Savarkar in the middle of the state polls.

Breaking Free From Coalition Compulsions

It is against this backdrop that Rahul Gandhi and his close group now sense a degree of breaking free". Armed with two key issues, he believes the Congress can finally move beyond the compulsions of the INDIA bloc and allow him to follow his own political instincts. His fight against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and his push for a caste census are the twin cards he hopes to use to power a revival of the party.

With the SIR and the vote chori" campaign, Rahul Gandhi is directly questioning the electoral process itself and, by extension, the winning streak of the BJP. Inside the Congress, this line also serves another purpose: it is being used to silence and reassure voices that have begun to question the partys long list of electoral defeats.

Rahul Gandhi and his group are pinning the blame on the Election Commission, arguing that it is not that the Congress is losing, but that the BJP is stealing" victories.

As the possibility of exits from the party looms large, his immediate challenge is to stem the flow. The vote chori" campaign is one way his camp is trying to address this crisis of confidence.

Caste Census As The Second Pillar

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The other pillar of his strategy is the caste census. Through this, Rahul Gandhi hopes to bring back Dalit and OBC voters who have shifted from the Congress to parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. By pitching himself as a champion of the backwards and the downtrodden, he is aiming not only to take on the BJP but also to outmanoeuvre several of his INDIA bloc allies on the same turf.

In Rahul Gandhis current political playbook, these two issues  SIR and caste census  are the main instruments he hopes will lift the Congress out of decline and allow him to redefine both his own role and the partys identity on his terms.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 15:26 IST

News politics Is Rahul Gandhi Planning Another Revival Attempt For Congress? Inside His Two-Pronged Strategy

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Karnataka Congress Leaders Told To Stay Quiet On CM Buzz As Loyalists Rally Around DK | Top Points

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 16:05 IST

The Congress party dismissed the buzz around the leadership change, alleging it is a part of the BJPs campaign against the Karnataka government.

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BJP MP Jagadish Shettar claimed that the Congress government in Karnataka might collapse soon. (PTI File)

The Congress party on Friday officially put an end to speculations around the leadership change in Karnataka, at least for now. A meeting between a group of Karnataka Congress MLAs loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, fueled rumours of the change of guard in the state as the Siddaramaiah government completed two and a half years in office.

However, on Friday, Randeep Singh Surjewala, MP and General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, dismissed the buzz around the leadership change, alleging it is a part of the BJPs campaign against the Congress government.

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In a post on X, Surjewala said he held discussions with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in which they agreed that BJP is running a maligning campaign" against Karnataka and its Congress government.

He also warned Congress leaders and MLAs from making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests".

Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction ridden Karnataka BJP, alongwith a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government.The sole idea is to  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 21, 2025

How Siddaramaiah Reacted?

Siddaramaiah has reiterated that the decision on the leadership change will only be taken by the Congress high command, apparently referring to Kharge and the Gandhis.

Whatever the high command decides, both must listen  and so must D. K. Shivakumar. Everyone should follow what the high command says. I will go ahead and present the budget. Kharge is coming to Bengaluru; I will speak to him. Has the high command said anything till now?" he asked.

Siddaramaiah has dismissed any talks of a change of guard in Karnataka and said only the cabinet reshuffle is on the cards. Only after it was said that the cabinet can be reshuffled after two and a half years, the issue of changing the Chief Minister has come to the fore. The party leaders need to take a decision on the cabinet reshuffle. There are a total of 34 ministerial posts, out of which two posts are vacant. These vacant ministerial positions will be filled during the cabinet reshuffle," he said.

Siddaramaiah Dials Kharge

Siddaramaiah spoke with Kharge on Friday morning about the image of the Congress party and how the government is getting hurt by the frequent talk of leadership change in the state, top Congress sources said.

Kharge assured Siddaramaiah that he would assess the situation and sort it out.

Siddaramaiah will also meet Kharge on Saturday in Mysuru.

Shivakumar Loyalists Camp In Delhi

MLAs loyal to Shivakumar  Gubbi MLA Srinivas, Sringeri MLA T D Rajegowda, Kunigal MLA H. D. Ranganath, Anekal MLA B. Shivanna, Kudachi MLA Mahendra Kallappa Tammannavar, Hoskote MLA Sharat Bachhe Gowda, Nelamangala MLA N. Srinivas, Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda, and a couple of MLCs, are currently in Delhi. They met Kharge on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Congress MLAs G S Patil and party leader Malikayya Guttedar met Shivakumar at his residence in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar said some MLAs met Kharge voluntarily in a bid to become ministers in the cabinet reshuffle. Making a group is not in my blood. All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. CM decided that he would reshuffle the government and the cabinet. So, all of them are interested in becoming ministers. It is natural that they will go and meet the leaders in Delhi. Apart from that, what can I say? They have every right. I have not taken anyone. Some of them went and met Kharge sahab. They met the CM also. What is wrong? It is their life. No one has called them; they are voluntarily going and showing their faces. They wanted to show their presence that they are in the forefront, can work, and they want responsibility," he said.

DK Shivakumars Cryptic Post Amid Power Tussle

Hours after his loyalists met Kharge, Shivakumar posted a cryptic message on the microblogging site X.

Where there is effort, there is fruit; where there is devotion, there is the Lord," a rough translation of Shivakumars post in Kannada suggested.

What The BJP Said?

Karnataka Deputy Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said Siddaramaiah wanted to push forward Satish Jarkiholi and G Parameshwara against DK Shivakumar to ensure his own position remains secure.

Bellad claimed that Kharge is also eyeing the Karnataka CM post.

But now Mallikarjun Kharge is also in the field because he has served the Congress party for yearsHe knows that Congress is not going to come to power in the Centre, so he wants to be the CM. One thing is certain that Siddaramaiah will lose his post," the BJP leader said.

BJP MP Jagadish Shettar claimed that the Congress government in Karnataka might collapse soon.

The infighting in the Congress party and government in Karnataka is very serious. I think there was an agreement between the CM and DCM and now CM Siddaramaiah is violating that agreement. Some MLAs from the DK (Shivakumar) went to Delhi and met the (Congress) high command. The Karnataka government may collapse any day. Congress is losing its existence; it lost the Bihar elections very miserably. There is no national leadership or national image of the Congress party," he said.

How Karnataka Leadership Tussle In Congress Started?

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After registering a landslide victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023, the Congress high command found itself in a dilemma over who to pick as chief minister  veteran Siddaramaiah or D. K. Shivakumar. The discussions went on for several days before Siddaramaiah took oath as the chief minister and Shivakumar was sworn in as deputy chief minister.

However, reports at the time claimed that the Congress had proposed a rotational chief minister formula to pacify Shivakumar, with Siddaramaiah agreeing to hand over the post after 2.5 years.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: November 21, 2025, 14:16 IST

News politics Karnataka Congress Leaders Told To Stay Quiet On CM Buzz As Loyalists Rally Around DK | Top Points

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SIR Tremors Hit Bengal Politics As TMC And BJP Go Head-To-Head Over Matua Votes

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 17:10 IST

For TMC, chief minister Mamata Banerjee will visit Matua heartland Thakurnagar on November 25, while Abhishek Banerjee will chair a massive virtual meeting the previous day

TMC's Abhishek Banerjee and CM Mamata Banerjee are leading the party's efforts to woo Matua voters. File image/PTI

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is dramatically escalating its response to the politically volatile Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls, with the top leadership engaging directly with the influential Matua community to assuage fears of disenfranchisement.

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Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to lead this major political push on November 25 with a high-profile visit to Thakurnagar, the symbolic and political nerve centre of the Matua community. The visit, which will include a meeting and a large public rally, is timed to counteract growing confusion and anxiety among Matua voters regarding the implications of the Election Commissions SIR verification exercise ahead of the assembly elections early next year. With the community wielding influence in over 50 assembly seats, the TMC is aggressively working to prevent any electoral shift towards the BJP, which has been actively courting this demographic.

Party Mobilisation and Internal Review

A day earlier, on November 24, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will chair a massive high-level virtual meeting, connecting with more than 10,000 party functionaries, including district presidents, block officials, and booth-level coordinators. This session is designed for a comprehensive review of the SIR implementation across districts.

Internal assessments suggest that while SIR help desks have been established at every booth, issues of vigilance and consistent voter outreach require immediate attention. The leadership is expected to issue strict instructions to ensure two critical outcomes: that no eligible voter is left out of the verification process, and conversely, that no genuine voter is wrongfully removed.

The Political Flashpoint: SIR and the Matuas

The SIR exercise is an administrative procedure introduced by the EC to cross-verify voter lists and residency records, ostensibly to identify illegally residing foreign nationals. However, the opposition BJP has seized upon the exercise, framing it as a highly sensitive political move designed to impact voter demographics.

BJP leaders claim that a significant portion of TMCs voter base consists of illegal migrants," arguing that these individuals will be removed under any fair verification process. The TMC has rejected the allegation, calling it a politically motivated attempt to polarise voters.

The confusion is most acute in Matua-dominated belts and North Bengal, where the community, many of whom are long-term residents and refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), fear being excluded due to a lack of older documentation. The TMC leadership believes this confusion provides a window for renewed engagement and correction of what it terms misinformation".

Meanwhile, the BJP has countered the TMCs outreach by alleging that the ruling party is attempting to protect a large segment of its voter base consisting of illegal migrants". The political tension reached a peculiar peak following an earthquake on Friday.

BJP posted on X, West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. @MamataOfficial, was it because of SIR?"

TMC too took to the site. Its actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. And dont worry, the Delhi Zamindars wont miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too," it posted.

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With the SIR process continuing, both parties are intensifying ground efforts, ensuring the exercise remains the central flashpoint in the run-up to the next electoral cycle.

About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and womens issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 17:10 IST

News politics SIR Tremors Hit Bengal Politics As TMC And BJP Go Head-To-Head Over Matua Votes

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16 Dead, Dozens Injured As Bus Plunges Off Bridge In Cambodia

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:42 IST

Sixteen people died and two dozen were injured when a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh crashed into a river in Kampong Thom, Cambodia, police said.

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Woman killed in Delhi hit-and-run. (Representative Image)

Sixteen people were killed and two dozen others were injured after a passenger bus in Cambodia crashed off a bridge into a river, police said.

According to deputy police chief Siv Sovanna, the bus was traveling from Siem Reap, where the famous Angkor Wat temple is located, to the capital Phnom Penh when it crashed early Thursday morning in Kampong Thom province.

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He said on Friday that the death toll rose from 13 to 16 after rescuers finished searching Thursday night.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the driver was likely drowsy after departing Siem Reap at night for what is typically a five-and-a-half-hour journey. Authorities did not confirm whether the driver was among the fatalities.

There were about 40 passengers on the bus, all of whom were Cambodian, police said.

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The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said that the traffic accidents in Cambodia killed 1,509 people in 2024, and 1,062 people died in the first nine months of 2025.

(With inputs from AP)

Location : Cambodia

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:42 IST

News world 16 Dead, Dozens Injured As Bus Plunges Off Bridge In Cambodia

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From Being Mocked As 'Dumbhead' To Winning Crown: Meet Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 20:55 IST

Fatima Bosch, 25, is a fashion designer who has trained in both the United States and Italy.

Mexicos Fatima Bosch won Miss Universe 2025 title (Credits: Instagram)

The Miss Universe 2025 pageant concluded with Mexicos Fatima Bosch taking home the crown. Thailands Praveenar Singh finished as the first runner-up, followed by Venezuelas Stephany Abasali, the Philippines Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, and Cote dIvoires Olivia Yace as the second, third and fourth runner-ups, respectively.

Celebrating the moment, the Miss Universe organisation shared a message on Instagram that read, Congratulations to our new Miss Universe. Tonight, a star was born. Her grace, strength, and radiant spirit captured the hearts of the world, and we couldnt be more thrilled to welcome her as our new queen. The universe shines a little brighter with her leading the way."

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse)

Controversy Over Her Walk-Out

Boschs win is particularly notable as it comes shortly after a dramatic incident during the preliminaries. She had walked out of the event after disagreeing with a request to promote Thailand, the host country, on her social media accounts.

Miss Universe Thailand National Director Nawat Itsaragrisil reacted harshly at the time, reportedly calling her a dumbhead". Bosch attempted to clarify her position but chose to leave when the exchange escalated. Several contestants also walked out in support.

Itsaragrisil later apologised and the competition proceeded as normal.

Who Is Fatima Bosch?

Fatima Bosch, 25, is a fashion designer who has trained in both the United States and Italy. She was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD as a child, but her family says she never allowed these challenges to hold her back.

Bosch works actively in sustainable fashion and is the first Miss Mexico winner from Tabasco. She is also known for her work with children undergoing cancer treatment. Every year, she organises a toy drive at the Oncology Hospital of Tabasco during the holiday season, according to Business Insider.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse)

Prize Money and Perks

Winning Miss Universe brings more than just global fame. Reports say Bosch will receive $250,000 (around Rs 2.2 crore), similar to the previous years prize. She will also get an annual salary of $50,000 (about Rs 44 lakh), which is meant to support her travels and projects during her reign.

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The winner is also given a residence in New York City for the duration of her term, along with the responsibility of carrying the Miss Universe title until 2026. The crown she will wear  valued at over $5 million (nearly Rs 44 crore)  remains one of the most expensive in pageant history.

Bosch is now the fourth woman from Mexico to win the Miss Universe crown. The countrys previous winners include Lupita Jones (1991), Ximena Navarrete (2010), and Andrea Meza (2020).

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More

First Published: November 21, 2025, 20:55 IST

News world From Being Mocked As 'Dumbhead' To Winning Crown: Meet Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch

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'He'll Have To Like It': Trump On Zelenskyy's Reluctance To Accept US-Backed Peace Plan For Ukraine

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 03:22 IST

The Trump administration has drafted a peace plan that requires Ukraine to cede territory and cut its military strength, which has rattled Kyiv and its European allies.

US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Friday said Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have to like" a US-backed peace plan for Kyiv that requires the country to cede wide swathes of territory captured by Russian forces, saying that he has to accept something.

Speaking at the Oval Office alongside New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Trump said, We have a plan. Its horrible whats happening. Its a war that should have never happened. It would have never happened if I was president and its a shame and I felt they should have acted quicker. But its a cold winter and a lot of the  you talk about utilities  but a lot of the big energy producing plants have been under attack, to put it mildly, to put it nicely."

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Hes going to have to approve it. Its so sad, so many people  you know, last month, they lost 25,000 soldiers. We havent seen anything like this since the Second World War. And theyre averaging 6,000 or 7,000 a week between the two of them  dead soldiers. And it goes on and on. And I think theyre getting reasonably close," he added.

Trump also repeated his claims of solving several wars, including the conflict between India and Pakistan in May, and blamed his predecessor Joe Biden for causing the Ukraine war. Because I have a very good relationship with President Putin, I thought that would have been maybe quicker, but it does take two to tango," he further said.

Hell have to like it, and if he doesnt like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting. At some point hes going to have to accept something," Trump said.

Putin Says Trumps Plan Can Bring Peace In Ukraine, Threatens To Seize More Land If Kyiv Refuses

US Sets Deadline For Ukraine Peace Deal

The US plan envisages recognising Moscow-annexed Crimea and occupied eastern Ukraine as de-facto" Russian, also requiring Kyiv to pull out from parts of the Donetsk region that it still controls, all clear red lines for Ukraine. Kyiv would also cap the size of its army to 600,000, rule out ever joining NATO and have no NATO troops deployed to its territory.

In return, it would get unspecified reliable security guarantees" and a fund for reconstruction using parts of Russias frozen assets. Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration has set a deadline for next Thursday (November 27) for Ukraine to agree to the White Houses plan to end the nearly four-year war.

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend deadlines. But Thursday is it," he told Fox News. Trump also said that he did not plan to pull back sanctions placed on Russia, but asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not looking for more war".

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rebuffed the plan and acknowledged that he risked losing Washington as an ally but wont betray Ukraine. I will provide arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives, but we wont give reasons for the enemy to say Ukraine doesnt want peace," Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation.

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Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. The pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said.

Apart from Ukraine, its major European allies  Germany, France, and the UK  have also rejected key parts of a proposed US-Russian peace plan. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the plan, saying it could lay the foundation of a final peaceful settlement" in Ukraine.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 22, 2025, 03:14 IST

News world 'He'll Have To Like It': Trump On Zelenskyy's Reluctance To Accept US-Backed Peace Plan For Ukraine

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IDF Finds Complex Network Of Hamas Tunnels In Gaza: 25 Metres Deep, 7 Km Long

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:57 IST

IDF uncovered a vast Hamas tunnel in Rafah where Lieutenant Hadar Goldin's body was held.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have uncovered a vast Hamas tunnel complex in the Gaza Strip where the body of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was secretly held for years. Goldin, an IDF officer, was killed during an ambush in the 2014 IsraelHamas war. Israel recovered his remains earlier this month after a series of covert operations.

In a video released Thursday on X, the IDF showed footage of the tunnel system beneath a densely populated neighbourhood in Rafah. According to the military, the route cuts through a UNRWA compound as well as mosques, clinics, and kindergartens. The network was reportedly used by Hamas commanders for storing weapons, planning attacks, and taking shelter for extended periods.

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 EXPOSED: A 7+ kilometer Hamas tunnel route that held Lt. Hadar Goldin.IDF troops uncovered one of Gazas largest and most complex underground routes, over 7 km long, ~25 meters deep, with ~80 hideouts, where abducted IDF officer Lt. Hadar Goldin was held. The tunnel runs pic.twitter.com/GTId75CvYw  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 20, 2025

>

A 7-Kilometre Tunnel With 80 Rooms

The IDF said the structure stretches more than seven kilometres, plunges 25 metres underground, and contains around 80 rooms. It was uncovered by the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit working alongside the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit.

Inside, troops found command centres used by senior Hamas figures, including Muhammad Shabana, who was killed in May along with Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar.

Hamas Member Linked to Goldins Death Arrested

In a separate statement, the IDF announced the arrest of Marwan Al-Hams, described as a Hamas terrorist involved in determining Lt. Hadar Goldins death." The military said he was believed to know the exact location of Goldins burial in what it calls the White-Crowned" tunnel in Rafah.

The IDF added that the July 2025 operation was one of dozens of confidential missions" carried out over the past six months to retrieve Goldins remains and bring him home for burial.

Who Was Lt Hadar Goldin?

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Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, a 23-year-old officer in the IDFs Givati Brigade, became one of the most emblematic figures of the 2014 Gaza war. Killed during a Hamas ambush in Rafah on August 1, 2014 a day that was supposed to fall under a humanitarian ceasefire Goldin was dragged into a tunnel, and his body was held captive for over a decade. His disappearance triggered one of the IDFs most forceful rescue doctrines, and his familys long, public campaign kept his case at the centre of Israels national consciousness.

For years, Hamas refused to return his remains, turning Goldin into a symbol of Israels unresolved conflicts and the deep human cost of the war. The recovery of his body in 2025, after a series of covert IDF operations, closes a painful chapter for his family and the country and underscores why Israel continues to hunt for Hamas tunnel networks embedded beneath civilian areas in Gaza.

Location : Israel

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:57 IST

News world IDF Finds Complex Network Of Hamas Tunnels In Gaza: 25 Metres Deep, 7 Km Long

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CHENGDU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's population of captive giant pandas has nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching a total of 808, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Liu Guohong, said this Friday.

This growth has established a sustainable breeding group for the species, Liu said at the Global Panda Partners Conference 2025 being held in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The population represents a significant rise from the 422 recorded in late 2015. Liu attributed the growth to improved breeding research, including establishing a national innovation alliance for giant Panda conservation, which pools resources for the study of key issues such as genetic diversity.

The conservation efforts have also made use of advanced technology, with authorities deploying an integrated "space-air-ground" monitoring system to track wild giant pandas, Liu said.

China has improved the protection of giant panda habitats. Seventy-three isolated nature reserves were integrated into the Giant Panda National Park, which covers 22,000 square kilometers.

The administration pledged to align future conservation strategies with the Communist Party of China Central Committee's recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which stress efforts to steadily enhance the diversity, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems.

Running from Nov. 20 to 22, the conference comprises a plenary session, eight parallel sessions and a series of supporting activities focusing on topics such as ecological civilization, panda culture, and cultural tourism.

Known as the "hometown of giant pandas," Sichuan has the largest panda habitat in the world and is home to over 70 percent of China's wild giant panda population. 
'Zohran Mamdani Is Indian': Mehdi Hasan Calls Eric Trump 'Dumbest' After He Jabs NYC Mayor-Elect

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:07 IST

Mehdi Hasan slammed Eric Trump after he made sweeping and controversial claims about NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during a Fox News interview.

File photos of Mehdi Hasan/Zohran Mamdani/Eric Trump (AP, AFP)

British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan slammed Eric Trump on social media after the US Presidents son delivered an on-air tirade against New York Citys mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, during a Fox News interview.

Zohran Mamdani is Indian. This is why they call Eric the dumbest of the dumb sons," Hasan posted on X after Eric Trump launched a sweeping attack on Mamdani, calling him a socialist" and communist," and levelling extraordinary accusations.

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Theres no place in the world that could compete against New York City, right? No one could compete against New York City, and yet, you know, then you have a socialist, you have a, you know, communist, however you want to label him, who wants to nationalise grocery stores and wants to arrest Netanyahu," Eric Trump said of Mamdani.

You know, hates the Jewish people, hates the Indian population, you know, wants to defund the law enforcement, and you know what thats going to cause. Its so sad," he added.

He went on to argue that leaders should be focused on safe streets, clean streets, reasonable taxes."

Zohran Mamdani *is* Indian. This is why they call Eric the dumbest of the dumb sons. https://t.co/wh7LaJFKkH Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) November 18, 2025

Eric Trumps remarks come at a particularly charged moment in US politics, as Mamdani is set to meet President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Friday.

On Wednesday, the President announced the meeting on Truth Social, writing,

Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow!"

Mamdani had repeatedly criticised Trump, calling him a danger to democracy and vowing that he alone had the backbone" to take him on.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, reinforcing the communist" label used by Trump.

She said, It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a Communist coming to the White House, because thats who the Democrat Party elected as the Mayor of the largest city in the country."

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Leavitt added that Trump is prepared to meet anyone" if it means addressing the concerns of Americans across political divides.

ALSO READ | US Urging Zelenskyy To Sign Deal That Could See Ukraine Give Up Territory By Next Week: Report

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 06:58 IST

News world 'Zohran Mamdani Is Indian': Mehdi Hasan Calls Eric Trump 'Dumbest' After He Jabs NYC Mayor-Elect

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Pakistan Bets On Education To Rebuild Ties, Launches 'Knowledge Corridor' With Bangladesh

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 11:20 IST

Under this education partnership, Pakistan will offer up to 500 fully-funded scholarships to Bangladeshi students over the next five years.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (left) and Bangaldesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus (right). (Image: AP Photo)

In a step to deepen educational cooperation, Pakistan has announced the launch of the PakistanBangladesh Knowledge Corridor, offering up to 500 fully-funded scholarships to Bangladeshi students over the next five years. The announcement came close on the heels of the first Pakistani education expo in Dhaka, to be held on 24 November 2025 at the Radisson Blu Hotels Utshab Hall.

According to sources, the Knowledge Corridor  unveiled during the visit of Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar  seeks to build stronger people-to-people ties through education, research, and capacity building.

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According to Islamabads Higher Education Commission (HEC), the initiative will promote student exchanges, leadership training, and deeper institutional cooperation.

Higher Education Commission.

This outreach marks a turning point in bilateral relations. Dars trip to Dhaka was the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years, and came alongside six major memoranda of understanding, including visa-free travel for diplomatic and official passport holders, trade cooperation, and academic collaboration.

Under the Knowledge Corridor, the 500 scholarships will cover undergraduate and graduate studies in a wide range of fields  including medicine, engineering, computer science, business administration, mass communication, and security studies  across Pakistani public and private universities. About 25 per cent of the scholarships (i.e., roughly 125 slots) are earmarked for medical studies.

These scholarships are not narrowly academic; they are comprehensive. According to Pakistans HEC, they will cover tuition, living stipends, book allowances, and international travel.

In addition to scholarships, Pakistan will host 100 Bangladeshi civil servants for leadership and governance training over the next five years.

To further expand the educational bridge, the country has also increased the number of slots under its Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme for Bangladeshi students from just 5 to 25.

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The education expo in Dhaka is a cornerstone of this initiative. Organised under the Knowledge Corridor, the expo is designed to introduce Pakistani universities  both public and private  to Bangladeshi students, showcasing study opportunities and making applications more accessible.

Analysts view the Knowledge Corridor as more than an academic programme: it is a diplomatic gesture aimed at rebuilding trust and collaboration after decades of strained relations. For Pakistan, it is also a soft-power investment, seeking to reshape its image through educational diplomacy.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: November 21, 2025, 11:20 IST

News world Pakistan Bets On Education To Rebuild Ties, Launches 'Knowledge Corridor' With Bangladesh

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Pakistan Issues Ultimatum To Afghan Taliban: Reconcile Or Face Regime Change

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 09:36 IST

According to top sources, Pakistan conveyed this ultimatum through Turkish mediators, after months of stalemated negotiations with the Taliban government.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. (File)

In a dramatic shift in its Afghanistan policy, Pakistan has delivered what top diplomatic and intelligence sources describe as its final message" to the Afghan Taliban leadership: opt for reconciliation, accept Pakistans security demands, or face Islamabads support for alternative political forces capable of challenging the regime in Kabul.

According to top sources, Pakistan conveyed this ultimatum through Turkish mediators, after months of stalemated negotiations with the Taliban government. The latest message underscores Islamabads growing frustration with the Talibans unwillingness to curb the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and rising cross-border militant attacks.

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Pakistans decision comes amid Taliban outreach to New Delhi  highlighted by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis recent visit to India. The shift towards India, officials say, has compelled Pakistan to reassess its long-standing engagement strategy with Kabul.

Islamabad now views the Talibans stance not only as a security threat but also as a geopolitical snub. As a result, Pakistan has begun realigning itself with anti-Taliban political figures and resistance networks, both inside and outside Afghanistan.

Pakistan Reopens Channels with Anti-Taliban Leaders

Top sources confirm that Pakistans intelligence establishment has already reached out to several prominent Afghan democratic and opposition figures, including: Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani, Ahmad Massoud (National Resistance Front), Abdul Rashid Dostum, members of the Afghanistan Freedom Front and Northern Alliance-linked commanders.

Islamabad has reportedly offered these leaders political space, safe presence, and operational offices in Pakistan, signaling a readiness to create an organised platform for the Afghan opposition.

Sources say the offer also extends to exiled Afghan women leaders, activists, and pro-democracy groups, who have consistently demanded a return to an inclusive, legitimate, and transparent political process  either through a Loya Jirga or future elections.

Talks with Taliban Stalled; Ceasefire in Limbo

Despite three rounds of discussions  mediated first by Qatar and later by Turkey  Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have failed to reach a breakthrough. The Pak-Afghan ceasefire, agreed tentatively during earlier phases of dialogue, remains in abeyance following the failure of the Istanbul round of talks.

Islamabads demands in the negotiations have remained consistent:

Firm action against the TTP

Handover of hardcore TTP militants

Guarantees of non-escalation along the Durand Line

Creation of a buffer zone to curb cross-border terrorism

Normalisation of trade and bilateral cooperation

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However, Kabul has resisted these conditions, especially those involving TTP handovers and the buffer-zone proposal  positions Pakistan views as unacceptable given the rise in attacks targeting its security forces.

Pakistans decision to support anti-Taliban factions marks its most serious recalibration since the fall of Kabul in 2021. Officials describe the move as a necessary strategic correction, aimed at ensuring Pakistans security and regional stability.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: November 21, 2025, 09:36 IST

News world Pakistan Issues Ultimatum To Afghan Taliban: Reconcile Or Face Regime Change

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Putin Says Trump's Plan Can Bring Peace In Ukraine, Threatens To Seize More Land If Kyiv Refuses

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 00:44 IST

Putin confirmed that Moscow had received the US proposal for peace in Ukraine and said it could be the basis of a "final peaceful settlement".

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Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said US President Donald Trumps 28-point peace plan that is more favourable to Moscow can be the basis of a final peaceful settlement" in Ukraine, and threatened to seize more territory if Kyiv refused.

Confirming that Moscow had received the US proposal for peace in Ukraine, Putin told senior officials in televised comments, I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement."

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In the course of that discussion, the American side asked us to make certain compromises and show flexibility, as they said," Putin said in his remarks. During the talks in Anchorage, we confirmed that despite certain complex issues and difficulties for us, we still confirmed that we agree with those proposals."

The US plan envisages recognising Moscow-annexed Crimea and occupied eastern Ukraine as de facto" Russian, also requiring Kyiv to pull out from parts of the Donetsk region that it still controls, all clear red lines for Ukraine. It also compels Ukraine to cut its armed forces size by half, while also abandoning key categories of weaponry and reducing US military assistance.

ALSO READ: European Leaders To Discuss Ukraines Future On Saturday Amid Fears Over Trumps Peace Plan

Putin Threatens To Seize More Territory

Moreover, Putin threatened to seize more territory if Kyiv rejects the proposal. If Kyiv does not want to discuss President Trumps proposal and refuses to do so, then both they and the European warmongers should understand that the events that took place in Kupiansk will inevitably be repeated in other key sectors of the front. Overall, this situation is acceptable to us," he said.

He said Ukraine was against Trumps peace plan, but that neither Kyiv nor European powers understood the reality that Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine and would continue to advance unless there was peace.

The US administration has so far been unable to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and the dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield," he added.

Trumps peace plan for Ukraine also proposes that the conflict would be frozen at the existing front lines in two other Ukrainian oblasts  Kherson and Zaporizhia  effectively allowing Russia to hold onto cities like Mariupol and retain a land connection to Crimea. Ukraine has long refused to give up territory.

Ukraines Response To Trumps Plan

Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration has set a deadline for next Thursday for Ukraine to agree to the White Houses plan to end the nearly four-year war. Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend deadlines. But Thursday is it," he told Fox News.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rebuffed the plan and acknowledged that he risked losing Washington as an ally but wont betray Ukraine. I will provide arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives, but we wont give reasons for the enemy to say Ukraine doesnt want peace," Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation.

ALSO READ: Wont Betray Ukraine: Zelenskyy Rejects US-Backed Peace Plan That Could See Kyiv Lose Territory

Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. The pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said, warning of a complete break with Washington.

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Apart from Ukraine, its major European allies  Germany, France, and the UK  have also rejected key parts of a proposed US-Russian peace plan. The Ukrainian President also held talks with US Vice President JD Vance and plans to speak directly to Trump in the coming days", according to his office.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: November 22, 2025, 00:09 IST

News world Putin Says Trump's Plan Can Bring Peace In Ukraine, Threatens To Seize More Land If Kyiv Refuses

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Smiles, Praises & Promises: Trump, Mamdani Set Aside Bitter Feud At 'Friendly' White House Meeting

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 04:03 IST

Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani kept their differences aside in their first meeting at the White House, striking a friendly tone and calling their discussion "productive".

US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani had a civil meeting in the White House. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, two bitter rivals who clashed bitterly in public for months over their sharp political differences, came face-to-face for a high-stakes meeting at the White House, their first direct interaction since Mamdani created history in the New York mayoral polls.

Months of name-calling and fiery exchanges had sparked concerns of a tense standoff. With Trump calling Mamdani a communist" and lunatic", and the Mayor-elect calling him fascist" and a despot", people were bracing to see sparks fly at the Oval Office, similar to what happened with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year.

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However, the meeting turned out to be unusually friendly and civil, as a beaming Trump came out full of praise for Mamdani and repeatedly pledged to help the Indian-origin Assemblyman in his new role. Mamdani also shed some of the bitterness of the past and hailed a productive" meeting with the president, saying the two would work together for the benefit of New York.

READ MORE: Trump Hails Productive Meeting With New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani At White House, Vows Support

A Productive Meeting

Trump and Mamdani called their meeting productive", keeping their bitter feud and political differences aside. Trump congratulated Mamdani on what he described as an incredible race" and said the two men shared a commitment to improving life in the countrys largest city.

He really ran an incredible race against, you know, a lot of smart people, starting with the early primaries against some very tough people, very smart people. And he beat them and he beat them easily. And I congratulated him and we talked about some things in very strong common, like housing and getting housing built, and food, prices and the price of oil is coming way down," Trump said.

.@POTUS: There will be topics that we disagree on. I think well probably come to a conclusion Ultimately, its for the good of New York If this city could be unbelievable  if he could be a spectacular success, Id be very happy." pic.twitter.com/bDO4FJGHLA Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 21, 2025

The better he does, the happier I am. I will say it, there is no difference in party. Theres no difference in anything. Were going to be helping him to make everybodys dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York," the president added.

Mamdani also struck a conciliatory tone at the meeting. The meeting with the president and as he said, it was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," he said.

We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities. We spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out. And I appreciated the time with the president. I appreciated the conversation. I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers," he added.

Previous Inflammatory Remarks

There were several light-hearted remarks in the presser. When asked about his earlier remarks calling Mamdani a communist", Trump said the New York Mayor-elect had has got views that are a little out there."

Were going to see what works, or hes going to change, also. We all change. I changed a lot, I changed a lot from when I first came to office. Its now quite a while ago, quite a while," he added. Mamdani was also asked about his remarks, where he called Trump a fascist" and a despot".

The New York Assemblyman said their conversation focused not on their political disagreements, but on their shared purpose" of serving New Yorkers. Trump then jokingly said, Ive been called much worse than a despot. So its not that insulting".

Before Mamdani could answer a question about his fascist" jibe at Trump, the president tapped his arm and said, Thats OK, you can just say yes, OK? Its easier. Its easier than explaining it, I dont mind." The moment evoked smiles and laughter in the Oval Office.

Shared Goals Of Affordability

Trump and Mamdani highlighted their campaigns focusing on the issue of affordability and cost of living. Mamdani said he spoke to many New Yorkers who voted for Trump for affordability and said he was working to address those concerns.

I think that there are many things in our city where we have to own the responsibility of it, things that existed long before the president was the president part of the message of our campaign was to take on the broken politics of the past," he said.

Meanwhile, Trump said he agreed on several issues with Mamdani. e had some interesting conversation, and some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have. But a big thing on cost. You know, the new word is affordability. Another word is just groceries. Its sort of an old-fashioned word but its very accurate. And theyre coming down," he said.

Trumps Praise For Mamdani

Trump repeatedly emphasised his similarities with Mamdani and his support for the Mayor-elect. We had a meeting today that actually surprised me," he said. He wants to see no crime, he wants to see housing being built, he wants to see rents coming down  all things that I agree with."

The president said he would work out their differences over the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and crime in the city, asserting their shared goal of a safer New York. Asked if he would feel comfortable living in New York City under Mamdanis leadership as mayor, Trump said, Yeah, I would."

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Trump also dialled back his threats of cutting federal funds for New York after Mamdanis victory. I expect to be helping him, not hurting him. We agree on a lot more than I wouldve thought."

The two leaders shook hands before calling the meeting to an end, and Trump said he hoped they could meet again. I dont care about affiliations or parties or anything else. I want to see, if this city could be unbelievable, if he could be a spectacular success, Id be very happy," Trump said.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 22, 2025, 04:03 IST

News world Smiles, Praises & Promises: Trump, Mamdani Set Aside Bitter Feud At 'Friendly' White House Meeting

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'That's OK, I Don't Mind': Trump Jokes About Being Called 'Fascist' By Mamdani In White House

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 03:01 IST

The meeting between Trump and Mamdani was marked with praises and promises of cooperation, despite fears of a tense standoff.

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Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani shaking hands in the White House. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump met New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House in what turned out to be an unusually friendly meeting, as the two have shared fiery public exchanges and clashed over their ideological positions.

Trump and Mamdani said they had a productive" meeting over the latters affordability agenda at the White House, and the president vowed to help the new mayor out in his role. I want him to do a good job, and well help you do a good job," Trump told Mamdani during a press conference at the Oval Office.

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A light-hearted moment took place when Mamdani was asked whether he stood by his previous remarks calling Trump a fascist". Before he could answer, Trump interjected by saying, Thats OK, you can just say yes, OK? Its easier. Its easier than explaining it, I dont mind."

Trump also patted Mamdanis arm as they exchanged smiles, while his remarks evoked laughter in the Oval Office. Mamdani responded tepidly by saying, Okay, yes."

Thats okay. You can just say yes. Its easier than explaining it. I dont mind."  pic.twitter.com/5NpLP6v3gZ Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 21, 2025

Called Much Worse Than A Despot

Mamdani was also asked about his remarks calling Trump a despot", to which he said their conversation focused not on their political disagreements, but on their shared purpose" of serving New Yorkers.

Trump then jokingly said, Ive been called much worse than a despot. So its not that insulting". Trump also predicted that Mamdani is going to change" on some of his views, saying, I think hes going to surprise some conservative people, actually."

Agreed More Than I Thought

The meeting was marked with praises, smiles, and pledges of cooperation. Despite months of name-calling, Trump said he actually agreed with Mamdani on several issues.

You know, we had some interesting conversation, and some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have. But a big thing on cost. You know, the new word is affordability. Another word is just groceries. Its sort of an old-fashioned word but its very accurate. And theyre coming down," he added.

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The US President said the meeting surprised" him. He wants to see no crime, he wants to see housing being built, he wants to see rents coming down  all things that I agree with."

He also promised to help Mamdani do better in his new role, and said he enjoyed" the meeting. There will be topics that we disagree on. I think well probably come to a conclusion. And ultimately, hell convince me or Ill convince him. You know, its for the good of New York."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 22, 2025, 03:01 IST

News world 'That's OK, I Don't Mind': Trump Jokes About Being Called 'Fascist' By Mamdani In White House

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Inside Trump-Putin Peace Formula: Ukraine Polls, Kyiv's Military Downsizing, And More

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 23:53 IST

Donald Trump backs a 28 point peace deal demanding major concessions from Kyiv, recognition of the occupation of Crimea and Donbas for Moscow.

Destroyed buildings in the frontline town of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region. (AFP photo)

After nearly four years of brutal fighting, multiple failed ceasefires, and a collapse of international diplomacy, a confidential peace proposal negotiated between American and Russian officials has finally come to light. The war in Ukraine, once expected to end in months, has instead hardened into a grinding conflict marked by massive casualties, scorched cities, and stalled diplomatic initiatives that never made it beyond photo-op summits.

Western-led peace efforts have repeatedly faltered. Early negotiations in Istanbul collapsed, proposals from European capitals were dismissed by Moscow, and Kyivs own peace formula gained symbolic support but little practical traction. As the front lines froze and global fatigue deepened, the world settled into an uneasy acceptance that no viable roadmap existed.

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Now, a radically different plan brokered quietly and kept hidden even from key US allies has been revealed. The 28-point proposal, drafted by US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev, seeks to end the war through a sweeping package of territorial, military, and political concessions. European governments, despite not seeing the document until now, had already criticised it as dangerously favourable to Russia. The full text, revealed here, confirms just how far-reaching its terms are.

Under the plan, Ukraine would be forced to limit its military strength, abandon long-range missile capabilities, and forgo the use of force to retake occupied territory. Moscow, in return, would gain formal recognition of its control over Crimea and the entire Donbas region, the restoration of frozen assets, and a path back into the G7. Oversight of the agreement would fall to a newly formed Peace Council" chaired by Trump himself.

While the plan offers Western protection if Russia attacks Ukraine again, critics say that its terms heavily tilt in Moscows favour

The 28-Point TrumpPutin Peace Plan

A ceasefire framework will be negotiated first. Both sides must agree to halt all major combat operations before any broader political or territorial discussions can begin, creating the conditions necessary for diplomacy.

Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held under US mediation. Washington will play the central role in facilitating these discussions, ensuring that both sides commit to the negotiation process.

Both armies will stop offensive actions. All large-scale attacks, air strikes, and artillery offensives must stop immediately upon agreement to prevent further civilian and military casualties.

Negotiators will define a new line of contact. This line will serve as the basis for troop separation and future territorial arrangements, essentially freezing the conflict where both sides stand.

International observers will monitor the ceasefire. Neutral third-party monitors will ensure compliance and investigate violations, aiming to prevent either side from exploiting the lull.

Heavy weaponry will be pulled back. Tanks, long-range artillery, missile systems, and drones will be withdrawn to reduce the likelihood of renewed fighting.

Both sides will adopt confidence-building measures. This includes communication channels, deconfliction hotlines, and steps to reduce accidental or intentional escalation.

A demilitarised zone will be created. Buffer areas along the new line of contact will be established to separate both armies and minimise immediate threats physically.

Ukraines army will be capped at 600,000 troops. Kyiv must significantly downsize its forces to prevent large-scale military offensives and ease Russias security concerns.

Ukraine will relinquish long-range missiles. Weapons capable of striking Moscow or other deep Russian targets will be prohibited, limiting Ukraines offensive reach.

Ukraine will not use force to reclaim occupied territories. Any future attempt to retake Crimea or Donbas by military means will be banned under the agreement.

Ukraine will not launch any military action inside Russia. Cross-border operations, sabotage missions, or strikes on Russian soil will be prohibited.

Nato troops will be barred from entering Ukraine. Kyiv will remain outside any NATO military presence, addressing a central Russian demand.

Foreign fighter jets may only be stationed in Poland. Ukraine cannot host Western combat aircraft, limiting its ability to integrate with Nato airpower.

Russia will not obstruct Ukraines trade routes. Moscow agrees not to interfere with Ukrainian commercial activity, including shipping and exports.

Humanitarian corridors must remain open. Both sides will guarantee safe passage for civilians fleeing conflict zones and for aid deliveries.

International aid organisations will receive free access. Groups providing food, medical aid, and reconstruction assistance must be allowed to operate without restrictions.

Russia must ensure the safety of grain exports. Secure maritime routes in the Black Sea will be guaranteed to prevent disruptions to Ukraines grain trade.

Ukraine will be free to use the Dnieper River for commerce. Russia will not impede shipping or transport along this crucial waterway.

A Peace Council will be established. An international body will be established to oversee the implementation of the agreement and resolve disputes.

Donald J. Trump will chair the Peace Council. Trump will personally oversee the peace process, monitor compliance, and coordinate enforcement.

Both sides agree not to alter territorial arrangements by force. Any future attempt to redraw borders through military means will void security guarantees.

Agreements will secure the free movement of grain through the Black Sea. Detailed arrangements will be made to prevent Russia from blocking Ukrainian exports.

24. A humanitarian committee will handle post-war issues:

a) A full all-for-all" exchange of prisoners and bodies.

b) The return of all civilian hostages and abducted children.

c) A formal family reunification programme.

d) Measures to support victims, including compensation and rehabilitation.

Ukraine must hold national elections within 100 days. A rapid political reset is required to establish a government chosen during post-war peace conditions.

All parties receive complete wartime amnesty. No soldiers, commanders, or officials can be prosecuted or pursued for wartime actions, closing the door on future legal claims.

The agreement will be legally binding, with strict penalties. The Peace Council can impose sanctions on any party that violates the terms.

The ceasefire will take effect once troops withdraw to agreed points. After both sides reposition in line with the negotiated boundaries, the ceasefire becomes immediate and enforceable.

Additionally, Russia will be reintroduced to the G7, making it a part of the G8 once again, after its membership was suspended in 2014 for invading Crimea.

All the frozen Russian assets other than $100 billion will be given back to Russia to rebuild war-torn Ukraine.

Ukraines Reaction

The plan was reportedly drafted by the US and Russia, notably without Ukraines participation. That exclusion has raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals, which insist any roadmap to peace must involve those directly affected by the war.

In a carefully worded statement, President Volodymyr Zelenskys office said Washington believed the draft could help reinvigorate diplomacy" and confirmed that Ukraine had agreed to work on the plans provisions in a way that would bring about a just end to the war." The statement stressed that Kyiv supports all substantive proposals capable of bringing genuine peace closer," signalling a cautious willingness to engage without endorsing the document outright.

Despite the lukewarm tone, the Ukrainian President publicly acknowledged the effort from Washington. He said he appreciated the efforts of President Trump and his team to return security to Europe", a remark widely interpreted as an attempt to keep the US president aligned with Ukraines interests, even as his administration appears more accommodating toward Moscow.

In his nightly video address on Thursday, Zelensky reinforced that Ukraine seeks a worthy peace," one that upholds the dignity of the Ukrainian people." The message underscored Kyivs red lines amid growing international pressure to accept a negotiated settlement.

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European officials, however, reacted sharply to being excluded from the drafting process. Several foreign ministers warned against presenting any proposal that bypasses Kyiv or Brussels, arguing that a sustainable peace cannot be built on frameworks developed without those who have borne the brunt of the war.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:24 IST

News world Inside Trump-Putin Peace Formula: Ukraine Polls, Kyiv's Military Downsizing, And More

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US Treasury Tightens Sanctions On Irans Oil Network, Indian Firm Among Global Entities Hit

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:32 IST

The US Treasury has imposed new sanctions on Irans shadow oil network, naming companies and individuals across multiple countries, including an India-based shipping firm.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, left, speaks to reporters with President Donald Trump, right (Photo: AP)

The US Department of the Treasury has announced a sweeping new round of sanctions targeting Irans vast shadow oil network, naming companies and individuals across several countries, including an India-based shipping operator, as Washington intensifies pressure on Tehrans military financing mechanisms.

The measures, imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), aim to dismantle the network of front companies, shipping facilitators, and logistics providers that the Iranian armed forces have relied on to sell billions of dollars worth of crude oil.

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According to the Treasury, these sales have become a key revenue source for Irans military as it attempts to rebuild following its defeat in the recent 12-Day War with Israel.

Todays action continues Treasurys campaign to cut off funding for the Iranian regimes development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Disrupting the Iranian regimes revenue is critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions," Bessent added.

Among those designated is RN Ship Management Private Limited, an India-based company accused of operating vessels used to ship Iranian oil on behalf of the sanctioned Iranian military-linked entity Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy Jahan).

The firms Indian directors, Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed, have also been sanctioned for their roles.

RN Ship Management joins a long list of companies from the UAE, Panama, Germany, Greece, and The Gambia that were similarly named for materially assisting Irans military oil operations.

Several vessels, including tankers used to transport millions of barrels of Iranian crude and LPG through clandestine ship-to-ship transfers, have also been blocked.

The Treasury revealed that Sepehr Energy Jahan uses an elaborate global network, ranging from chartering agents to oil buyers and logistics mediators, to move Iranian oil disguised as other grades, often through shadow fleet tankers that disable tracking systems or falsify documents.

These operations, officials said, continue to be critical to Irans revenue streams despite years of sanctions.

The latest action also expands sanctions on Mahan Air, Irans largest private airline, and its subsidiary Yazd International Airways Company, which Washington accuses of working closely with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

The airline has allegedly facilitated the transport of weapons and personnel to support Iranian proxies in Syria and Lebanon.

Aircraft operated by Mahan Air, including seven Western-made planes acquired through foreign intermediaries, were also identified as blocked property.

Several senior Mahan Air officials involved in aircraft procurement and logistics have been sanctioned as well.

According to the Treasury, todays designations are issued under Executive Orders 13224 and 13902, which target terrorism supporters and entities operating in Irans petroleum sector.

OFAC reiterated that the goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behaviour," though violations could invite severe civil or criminal penalties.

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All property of the designated entities under US jurisdiction has been frozen, and American persons are prohibited from conducting transactions with them.

ALSO READ | Trump-Putins 28-Point Ukraine Peace Plan Revealed, With Major Concessions To Moscow

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:31 IST

News world US Treasury Tightens Sanctions On Irans Oil Network, Indian Firm Among Global Entities Hit

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Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize Winner To Be Declared 'Fugitive' If She Leaves Country To Accept Award

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 01:11 IST

Maria Corina Machado, 58, won the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela".

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize 2025, will be considered a fugitive" if she emerges from hiding to collect the honour in Norway, Venezuelas attorney general told AFP.

Machado had earlier expressed interest in attending the ceremony, which will be held in Oslo on December 10. By being outside Venezuela and having numerous criminal investigations, she is considered a fugitive," Venezuelas Attorney General Tarek William Saab said, adding that Machado was accused of acts of conspiracy, incitement of hatred, terrorism".

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Machado, 58, known as Venezuelas Iron Lady, is a former presidential candidate and is widely seen as a unifying figure in Venezuelas once-divided opposition. She won a landslide victory in the oppositions 2023 primary but was barred from contesting the 2024 election against President Nicolas Maduro, which international observers said was marred by irregularities.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Maria Corina Machado was chosen for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

She was described as a champion of peace" who has continued to fight for the countrys democratic future despite threats to her life. Machado dedicated her award to US President Donald Trump, who has long publicly called for getting the honour.

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Venezuela has been ruled by an autocratic regime for decades and is currently led by President Nicolas Maduro, whose leadership is not recognised by many nations, including the United States. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of working with drug smuggling gangs, and tensions have escalated amid strikes on alleged drug boats and US military assets being moved into the Caribbean.

Machado told CBS News last month that she believed winning the Nobel would give her a lot of protection" from the Maduro regime. But the most important thing, is that it highlights, worldwide, the importance of the struggle of Venezuela," she added.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Venezuela

First Published: November 22, 2025, 01:11 IST

News world Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize Winner To Be Declared 'Fugitive' If She Leaves Country To Accept Award

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'We Have A Communist Coming': White House As Trump Set To Meet Zohran Mamdani Today

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:11 IST

New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Friday.

A file photo of Zohran Mamdani (AP)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that President Donald Trump is willing to meet anyone" and try to do what is right" on behalf of the American people. The New York City mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, is set to meet Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday.

 The President issued a statement that the Mayor-elect will be coming to the Oval Office, so our teams are arranging those details It speaks volumes that we have a Communist coming to the White House, because thats who the Democrat Party elected as the Mayor of the largest city in the country," Leavitt said during a briefing.

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The White House Press Secretary further added that New York City is turning much more Left" than the President even anticipated.

Its very telling but it also speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and try to do whats right on behalf of the American people, whether they live in blue states or red states or blue cities and the city which is becoming much more Left than the President ever anticipated in his many years of living in New York himself," she added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that New York Citys mayor-elect, Zohran Kwame" Mamdani, is scheduled to meet him at the Oval Office on Friday.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow!"

The announcement follows months of sharp public exchanges between the two.

According to The New York Times, Mamdanis team recently reached out to the White House to seek a meeting focused on New Yorks affordability crisis, signalling a shift in tone after their confrontational campaign season.

During his campaign, Mamdani had described Trump as a threat to democracy and said he alone had the backbone" to challenge him.

(With agency inputs)

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About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:11 IST

News world 'We Have A Communist Coming': White House As Trump Set To Meet Zohran Mamdani Today

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File photo of a F-35 fighter jet provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Xinhua/IDF)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel expects Washington to preserve its access to more advanced U.S. weaponry, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday, commenting on U.S. plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern country operating the advanced stealth aircraft, and U.S. law requires that any arms sales in the region do not erode Israel's "qualitative military edge" over its neighbors.

"The United States and Israel have a long-standing understanding, which is that Israel maintains the qualitative edge when it comes to its defense," spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told reporters.

"That has been true yesterday, that has been true today, and the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) believes that will be true tomorrow and in the future," she added.

The remarks were the first official comment from the Israeli government on the planned sale, announced on Monday by U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The proposed deal involves up to 48 F-35s, marking a shift after years of U.S. hesitation under previous administrations.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have not established formal diplomatic relations. During his visit to Washington, the Saudi crown prince said his kingdom wishes to normalize ties with Israel but wants to ensure "a clear path toward a two-state solution" that includes Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu and his far-right government have been firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state. 
White House Preparing For Possible Cabinet Shakeup As Trump Admin Nears 1-Year Mark: Report

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 18:38 IST

While no decisions have been finalised, senior officials have been reviewing several departments where tensions or performance concerns have surfaced over recent months

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US President Donald Trump. (File photo)

The White House is reportedly preparing for possible changes in US President Donald Trumps Cabinet as he nears the one-year mark of his current term.

According to multiple people familiar with internal discussions, cited by CNN, no decisions have been finalised yet, but senior officials have been reviewing several departments where tensions or performance issues have emerged in recent months.

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So far, Trumps Cabinet has remained stable, a conscious effort by those around him to avoid repeating the high turnover that marked his first term. However, officials told the broadcaster that some departments could soon see movement, particularly the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Energy.

At DHS, led by Kristi Noem, questions have emerged over internal management and the influence of Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump ally who holds a temporary advisory role.

While Trump has repeatedly praised Noem both publicly and privately, several senior White House officials have reportedly grown frustrated with Lewandowskis increasing influence within the agency.

One person close to the White House told CNN that concerns had been raised about whether Lewandowskis involvement was contributing to mismanagement.

Lewandowski has reportedly taken an active role in directing personnel changes at DHS, including firing staff, placing employees on leave and reprimanding officials whom he believes are slowing down the administrations deportation agenda. His assertive style has drawn criticism from some within the administration, though DHS has defended his conduct, saying he holds officials accountable.

According to CNN, Trump held a meeting in September with Noem and Lewandowski to address tensions in the department. The discussion was said to have turned tense, particularly between Trump and Lewandowski, leaving the president irritated. Despite this, Lewandowski has continued in his post, supported by his longstanding personal relationship with Trump.

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The US Department of Energy, currently led by former fracking executive Chris Wright, is also viewed as a possible area of change. CNN reported that Wrights relationship with the White House has cooled in recent months, prompting speculation about whether he may exit the administration in the new year.

Despite the discussions, White House spokespeople have pushed back strongly on talk of turnover. The cabinet is not changing no matter how much CNN wishes that it would because it thrives off drama," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, dismissing reports as media-driven drama.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 21, 2025, 18:38 IST

News world White House Preparing For Possible Cabinet Shakeup As Trump Admin Nears 1-Year Mark: Report

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'Wipe My A**': Ex-CIA Officers Reply To Threat From Pakistanis After He Said India Would Win War

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 14:52 IST

Kiriakou revealed that after the letter demanding an apology reached him from Pakistan, he shot back that he would use the letter as toilet paper to wipe his a**.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou

Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou stoked a fresh controversy after he revealed how former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, tried to pressure him into apologising for saying something on the military powers of Delhi and Islamabad.

Kiriakou revealed that after the letter demanding an apology reached him from Pakistan, he shot back that he would use the letter as toilet paper to wipe his a**. And unsurprisingly, Kiriakou never heard from the Pakistanis again.

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John Kiriakou, who spent 15 years with the CIA as an analyst and as chief of counterterrorism operations in Pakistan after the 9/11 terror attacks, had earlier, during the four-day India-Pakistan mini-war, said that India would easily defeat Pakistan in a conventional war.

Kiriakou, speaking to news agency ANI, said, Nothing, literally nothing good will come of an actual war between India and Pakistan because the Pakistanis will lose. Its as simple as that. Theyll lose. And Im not talking about nuclear weapons. Im just talking about a conventional war. And so there is no benefit to constantly provoking Indians."

Following this, Kiriakou received massive online abuse from the Pakistanis.

Then came the letter from the president of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, according to Kiriakou. Since March 2023, former Punjab CM Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has been leading the party.

The letter condemned his remarks in the strongest possible terms" and demanded an immediate apology", to his excellency, the former prime minister [Imran Khan], to the members of the party [PTI], and to the people of Pakistan.

Revealing the incident in a podcast recently, the former CIA officer revealed, I said, in a conventional conflict, India would beat Pakistan because it has five times the people. The death threats Ive lost count of how many death threats I received. And then the best of alllike my lawyer is like, got to keep a low profile, just be aware of your surroundings. So I got a letter from the president of Imran Khans political party, right? Whatever its called, the Pakistan whatever party. And he says that they condemn in the strongest possible terms what I said to the Indians, and they demand an immediate apology to his excellency the former prime minister, to the members of the party, and to the people of Pakistan."

Instead of backing off, Kiriakou also ignored his lawyers advice to quietly discard the letter, he sent back a blistering email.

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So my lawyer is like, just throw it away, just throw it away. So I didnt throw it away. I sent him an email and I said, In regards to your demand for an apology, I wipe my a** with your demands for an apology." And I hit send and thats how I left it and I havent heard back from them," Kiriakou revealed in the podcast uploaded on November 18.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 21, 2025, 14:45 IST

News world 'Wipe My A**': Ex-CIA Officers Reply To Threat From Pakistanis After He Said India Would Win War

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Youre Heroes: Trump Meets Israeli Hostages At White House, Gifts Presidential Challenge Coin

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Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 07:52 IST

President Donald Trump met freed Israeli hostages and families at the White House, honoring survivors for their resilience after Hamas captivity.

The US President met with 17 people who were held captive by Hamas and were released a month ago. (PTI)

President Donald Trump met with freed Israeli hostages, and their loved ones at the White House, who were kidnapped and held by Hamas.

The US President met with 17 people who were held captive by Hamas and were released a month ago and their loved ones. He handed the survivors a Presidential Challenge Coin.

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Youre not a hostage anymore, today youre heroes," Trump said. We love you all, and our country loves you all. Youre amazing people."

VIDEO | Washington: US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) presented Presidential Challenge Coins to freed Israeli hostages at the White House.(Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1o72VPhipb  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

The last surviving hostages held in Gaza were released in October following intervention by the Trump administration.

Matan Angrest, who was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped while defending the Nahal Oz outpost was also among the hostages at Thursdays event.

His mother, Anat Angrest, reportedly told Channel 12 that her son was subjected to very severe torture" at the beginning of his captivity because he was a soldier, The Times of Israel previously reported.

Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness," Trump said. And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. I guess you really were. Ive heard stories that were not good. Look at you, how good you look."

It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher," he added. But Matan never broke, and today hes a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. Great knowing you, youre a great inspiration to everybody, whether youre Jewish or not."

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Israeli twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with the original mezuzah from their home in Kfar Azas Young Generation neighborhood, where they were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.

We came to thank the President of the United States for the many actions he took toward our release," they said in a statement through the Hostages Families Forum. At the same time, its important to remember that the mission is not yet complete. There are three deceased hostages still being held in Gaza. Until everyone returns, we cannot begin our rehabilitation as a society and as a nation."

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 21, 2025, 07:52 IST

News world Youre Heroes: Trump Meets Israeli Hostages At White House, Gifts Presidential Challenge Coin

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Trump Hails 'Productive' Meeting With New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani At White House, Vows Support

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Last Updated: November 22, 2025, 02:40 IST

Trump and Mamdani adopted a friendly tone, calling their meeting in the White House "productive". Trump congratulated Mamdani and offered support.

US President Donald Trump with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House. (Reuters)

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani held a productive" meeting with US President Donald Trump on Friday in the White House to push his affordability agenda, after the two leaders exchanged a fierce war of words in the past.

The two leaders said the meeting was productive" and a lot of important issues were discussed. Trump vowed to work together with Mamdani and support his affordability agenda.

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Weve just had a great meeting, a really good, very productive meeting," Trump said, adding that the two had one thing in common  we want this city of ours that we love to do very well."

Mamdani also called the meeting productive" and that the two discussed issues of affordability in New York, the main pillar of his campaign. I appreciated the meeting with the president, and as he said it was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, New York City.

We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities. We spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out and I appreciated the time with the president."

A Friendly Tone

The tone of the meeting was markedly friendly and civil after Trump and Mamdani repeatedly traded barbs in the past. Trump frequently calls Mamdani a communist", while the New York-elect has publicly derided the presidents anti-immigration policies, calling him a despot".

However, the US President adopted a friendlier tone during Fridays interaction, congratulating Mamdanis performance in the New York mayoral polls and said he had beaten a lot of smart people" in the race. He also said some of Mamdanis views on New Yorks economic issues and affordability were similar to his own.

When asked about Mamdanis previous comment about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New York, Trump said, Hes got views that are little out there." He said Mamdanis views will change and even his own views had changed after taking office.

I think hes going to surprise some conservative people, actually," he added. Trump said he wanted to help Mamdani do a great job".

Called Much Worse Than Despot

Mamdani was asked about his previous comments where he referred to Trump as a despot", to which he said, I think both President Trump and I, we are both very clear about our positions and our views, and what I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose we have in serving New Yorkers."

Trump further joked that he had been called much worse than a despot, so its not that insulting." He also insisted that he and Mamdani were united in seeing peace in the Middle East, referring to the Mayor-elects previous comments over Gaza.

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Trump also dialled back his threats of cutting federal funding for New York. I expect to be helping him, not hurting him". They also discussed federal immigration enforcement operations in New York, and the president remained hopeful that they would work together on crime.

The duo had a series of acrimonious public exchanges in the past. Trump has called Mamdani a 100% Communist Lunatic" and a total nut job" and the New York Mayor-elect has called Trumps administration authoritarian" and described himself as the presidents worst nightmare."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 22, 2025, 02:07 IST

News world Trump Hails 'Productive' Meeting With New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani At White House, Vows Support

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HANOI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Le Van Dai, a senior student in the capital Hanoi, celebrated Vietnam's Teachers' Day by offering a bouquet of sunflowers to his lecturer on Thursday morning, and later that afternoon, he also received flowers and small gifts from his students.

Vietnam Teachers' Day, celebrated annually on Nov. 20 to honor educators nationwide, was especially meaningful for Dai, a Chinese language teacher education student at the University of Languages and International Studies, who also works as a part-time Chinese-language tutor in his free time.

Amid the rising demand for learning Chinese, many Vietnamese students are taking on part-time tutoring while pursuing degrees in Chinese education, viewing it not only as a source of income but also as professional preparation.

"Over recent years, learning Chinese has become a growing trend among young Vietnamese and working professionals as well, driven by cultural exchange, closer bilateral relations, and expanding job opportunities between Vietnam and China," Dai noted.

Teaching Chinese two classes a week, including a beginner and an intermediate level class, helps Dai to cover his daily living expenses.

"I earn about 9 to 10 million Vietnamese dong (about 344 to 383 U.S. dollars) per month from tutoring, enough to pay for house, electricity, water, food, transportation and save a part for other expenses like shopping, appliances, clothes," Dai said.

The growing demand for Chinese learning is further reflected in testing statistics.

According to data from the Center for Language and Cooperation of China, nearly 10,000 candidates registered for the Chinese Proficiency Test, also known as HSK, at the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University in the first quarter of 2025, making Vietnam the country with the highest number of HSK test-takers worldwide during this period.

With the rising demand for Chinese learning, many Vietnamese entrepreneurs are now viewing Chinese-language education as a potential business opportunity, including Dang Nghia Hoa, director of a Chinese-teaching company in Hanoi.

Hoa, who majored in international relations, started her own enterprise after discovering a surge in demand for quality Chinese-language teaching during her years as a student.

Established in 2024, the company has attracted around 1,500 learners, covering from secondary students to working professionals, Hoa noted, emphasizing that learners study Chinese for several reasons.

"Secondary and high school students study Chinese to meet university admission requirements or apply for scholarships in China, while university students and working professionals learn it as a second language to expand job opportunities and pursue personal development," she added.

Popular online recruitment platforms in Vietnam, such as LinkedIn, TopCV, and VietnamWorks, list between 2,000 and 3,000 job postings using the keyword "Chinese-language," with monthly salaries ranging from about 500 to 2,000 dollars.

Meanwhile, a Facebook group in Vietnam named "Study Chinese Every Day" has reached about 1.3 million members, with users posting Chinese-language learning content daily.

Nguyen Thanh Huong, a 22-year-old teacher who is currently working at Hoa's company, views teaching Chinese as both a career and a way to create value, and plans to pursue further studies in China to strengthen her competitive edge before returning to Vietnam's Chinese language education market.

"Teaching is not just a job, but it's how we create social value and help others access new opportunities," Huong said, noting that competition for Chinese-language teaching scholarships in China has become increasingly intense as the field becomes popular. 
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said Thursday they are alarmed by escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)'s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that local humanitarian partners and community leaders reported that more than 45 people have been killed in North Kivu since Friday, following attacks on several villages in the Lubero territory.

In one particularly "horrific incident," a health center attack left at least 17 people dead, including patients, OCHA cited local civil society, adding that "partners also report that two health workers were kidnapped, medicine looted, and the facility set on fire."

The office said the Lubero violence surge has forced more than 30,000 people to leave their homes in less than a week, and families continued to flee on Thursday amid fears of further attacks.

OCHA partners are assessing response needs and delivering assistance where possible, although continuing insecurity is hindering humanitarian access, it said.

In North Kivu's neighboring Ituri province, the office said that two attempted armed attacks on the Lolwa hospital in Mambasa territory were reportedly thwarted. More than 240 civilians have been killed and over 114,500 people displaced since the start of the year.

OCHA condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on civilians and health facilities.

"Once again, OCHA calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure," it said. "Attacks on civilians and health facilities are unacceptable and must stop immediately."

The violence is blamed on scores of militia groups operating in the eastern DRC, mainly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which include the M23 Movement, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, and the Allied Democratic Forces. 
A faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has told Zanu PF politicians to respect ex-combatants and stop using them as campaign tools in the raging ruling partys succession race.

The Andrease Ethan Mathibela-led-ZNLWVA made the statement in response to a pledge by businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei for funeral cover for ex-combatants.

Tagwirei, who was recently co-opted into Zanu PFs central committee, made the pledge at a Harare inter-district meeting on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ZNLWVA said ex-combatants did not need funeral cover, but genuine empowerment for their role during the armed struggle.

The ZNLWVA notes with profound concern, disbelief and indignation the recent utterances by a novice politician proposing funeral policies as a form of empowerment for the gallant veterans of Zimbabwes liberation struggle, the statement read.

Such a proposal is not only misguided, it is an insult, a curse and a direct assault on the dignity of those who liberated this nation.

War veterans did not sacrifice their youth, their futures, their limbs, their health, and in many cases, their very lives, so that one day they could be empowered with burial schemes.

Tagwireis pledge emerged at a time when war veterans have pleaded with the government for improved welfare and recognition.

For several years, party loyalists, chiefs and legislators have received high-end vehicles as well as other luxury assets such as mansions and property while ex-combatants wallow in poverty.

We fought for freedom, land, sovereignty, justice, and generational dignity. To reduce this monumental legacy to a funeral policy is to trivialise the liberation struggle and belittle its heroes, both living and departed, Mathibela added.

We, therefore, openly condemn and vigorously scorn such reckless statements.

They represent a dangerous misunderstanding of the liberation ethos, shocking disrespect for national history, a failure of political maturity and leadership, distortion of what empowerment truly means, and a betrayal of the sacrifices made during the Second Chimurenga.

Mathibela urged the government to prioritise the welfare of war veterans by providing access to health and medical support activities, land title deeds and full inclusion in local economic opportunities, among other incentives.

No serious, patriotic or informed leader, new or old, should ever propose such a degrading initiative. War veterans are nation builders, not charity cases waiting for burial handouts, he said.

Real empowerment includes: land securitisation and title deeds, access to health and medical support services, decent pensions and regular upward review, income-generating projects and business capitalisation.

A funeral policy is not one of them.

The government has been condemned for making empty promises, as the welfare of war veterans continues to deteriorate

Respect for war veterans is a constitutional, moral, and national obligation, he said.

Offering funeral policies as empowerment is unacceptable, disrespectful and must never be.

Tagwirei announced that Harare war veterans and their spouses would be covered by funeral policies valued at US$2 500 each. Newsday
A Paris court has halted the sale of one of the world's oldest known calculators, blocking its scheduled auction and export from France. The ebony-inlaid device, known as La Pascaline, was invented in 1642 by Blaise Pascal when the French mathematician was 19. Christie's had estimated it could sell for up to $3.3 million, with the auction house calling it the "most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction." Only nine of these early calculators are known to exist, the BBC reports.

A group of top scientists and researchers petitioned for La Pascaline to be classified as a "national treasure," arguing for heritage protections. In an op-ed in Le Monde, they described the invention as "the origin of modern computing," per the Guardian. The philosopher devised several models, each using different units for a specific purpose, such as calculating decimals, commercial transactions, or taxes. This one, for surveyors, calculates in units of measurement including feet, inches, and fathoms.

The Paris court's decision is provisional, but it casts doubt on the legality of an export certificate previously approved by France's culture minister and two experts, one from the Louvre. The court cited the machine's historic and scientific importance, suggesting it could qualify for protection under France's heritage code, per the BBC. Christie's has withdrawn it from auction for now. The scientists said La Pascaline should be placed in a public collection for study, writing that it's a symbol "of a unique alliance of history, science and technology" reflecting "a philosophy of learning that honors France."
A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to two decades behind bars for her role in the murders of three tourists who vanished while on a surfing trip in Baja California, Mexico, last year. Ari Gisell pleaded guilty to setting in motion the chain of events that led to the deaths of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad in April 2024. The three men were shot and killed before their bodies were dumped in a well.

The court heard Gisell, who was interested in the tires of the surfers' vehicle, told her then-boyfriend, identified as Jesus Gerardo, to "bring me a good phone and good tires for my pickup truck." Gerardo, along with two other men, allegedly followed the tourists to their campsite, robbed them, and shot them dead. The cases against the three men are ongoing. Two of them are being held in a maximum-security prison due to alleged ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel, though authorities say the murders aren't thought to be connected to organized crime. Prosecutors are seeking 210-year sentences for the men.

Family members of the victims made emotional statements during the hearing. "We dreamed of seeing them grow older, of having children. That's all taken now," said the mother of the Australian brothers. Jake, a 30-year-old doctor, had traveled to the US to visit Callum, 33, a former Major League Lacrosse player who moved to the US when he was 20. "Our hearts are broken beyond repair," Debra Robinson told the court, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "The silence in our home is deafening. There are no words for the emptiness, the weight of their absence. The grief is constantit lives inside us now."

"Carter was the love of my life," said Natalie Weirtz, Rhoad's fiancee. "He was my safety in the world. My life is now a nightmare." Gisell, a single mother, apologized in court, saying, in English, that she had lost her family because of the crime, the ABC reports. "Nothing I can say will compensate you or give you peace," she said. "I am focused on being a better person, and I am very sorry for your losses."
The 16-year-old stepbrother of the Florida high school senior who died this month on a Carnival cruise ship has been identified as a suspect in her death, according to court documents by his parents. The disclosurescontained in motions filed in an ongoing custody disputeoffer the clearest public indication that federal investigators are scrutinizing a member of the victim's own blended family , the AP reports. The documents show both parents acknowledging that their middle child, identified in court only by his initials "T.H.," is under FBI investigation in connection with the death of Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Florida's Space Coast whose death aboard the ship has drawn international attention and remains shrouded in uncertainty.

"T.H." is "now a suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise," Thomas Hudson, the boy's father, said in court papers seeking custody of the youngest of the three children he shares with his ex-wife. Hudson's ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson, also acknowledged in family court filings that her middle child was a suspect in the death of Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon ship. Shauntel Hudson married Kepner's father after her divorce from Thomas Hudson. Kepner was traveling aboard the ship with Shauntel Hudson and her minor children.

"It is true that there is an open investigation regarding the death of the biological daughter of the stepfather and T.H. is a suspect regarding this death which occurred recently on a cruise ship," Shauntel Hudson's attorney wrote. Shauntel Hudson wrote that this week she and her ex-husband had agreed to have the teenage boy live with a relative "to ensure the safety of the youngest child of the parties." She also said that her ex-husband had hired an attorney for their son due to the probe into Kepner's death.

Neither the FBI nor Carnival has said publicly how Kepner died, whether a crime occurred, or what led agents to focus on the teen. A spokesperson for the FBI has declined to comment, saying the agency "does not provide operational updates about ongoing investigations." A final autopsy report detailing the cause and manner of death is still pending, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's office.
It's the ultimate homecoming photoa smiling family rushing to reunite with a US Air Force officer in 1973 who had spent years as a POW in North Vietnam, his eldest daughter sprinting ahead with her arms outstretched, both feet off the ground. "Burst of Joy," the iconic black-and-white image capturing the Stirm family at Travis Air Force Base in California, was published in newspapers throughout the nation, the AP reports. Taken by AP photographer Sal Veder, it won a Pulitzer Prize and has resonated through the years, a symbol of the end to US involvement in the Vietnam War and the pain it caused; Robert and Loretta Stirm's marriage did not survive the separation.

Retired Col. Robert Stirm, shown in the photo in uniform with his back to the camera, died Nov. 11Veterans Dayat an assisted living facility in Fairfield, California, his daughter, Lorrie Stirm Kitching, confirmed Thursday. He was 92. "It's right in my front foyer," Kitching, 68, of Mountain View, said of the photo. She was 15 when that moment was forever preserved. "Just the feelings of that and the intensity of the feeling will never leave me," Kitching said. "It is so deep in my heart, and the joy and the relief that we had our dad back again." Kitching says she still gets that feeling every time she looks at the photo, a reminder of how grateful she is "that my father was one of the lucky ones and returned home."

Stirm, a pilot, was serving with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force in Thailand in 1967. During a bombing mission over North Vietnam that Oct. 27, his F-105 Thunderchief was hit, and he was shot three times while parachuting. Stirm was captured immediately upon landing. He was held captive for 1,966 days in five POW camps in Hanoi and North Vietnam, including the notorious "Hanoi Hilton," known for torturing and starving its captives, primarily American pilots shot down during bombing raids. Its most famous prisoner was the late US Sen. John McCain, who also was shot down in 1967. McCain and Stirm shared a wall in solitary confinement and communicated through a tapping code. "John McCain tapped in this joke. First time Dad laughed in jail," Kitching said. "I just wish I knew what that joke was."

Stirm, who was 39 when the photo was taken, said 20 years later that he had several copies but didn't display it in his house. He had been handed a "Dear John" letter from his wife by a chaplain upon his release. "I have changed drasticallyforced into a situation where I finally had to grow up," the letter read. "Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we can't make it together." The couple divorced a year after Stirm returned from Vietnam, and both remarried within six months. Loretta Adams, who had led her children in prayer nightly for their father's safe return, died in 2010. Stirm retired from the Air Force in 1977. He worked as a corporate pilot and joined a business his grandfather started in San Francisco. Stirm was honored with three awards of the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, per the New York Times.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop its National Guard deployment in Washington, DC, for now, ruling that the administration overstepped its legal authority by requesting National Guard assistance from other states. US District Judge Jia M. Cobb wrote that the use of troops has caused the District "irreparable harm to its sovereign powers under the Home Rule Act, which are being usurped by Defendants' unlawful actions." But the order is a preliminary injunction and does not require the immediate withdrawal of troops, the Washington Post reports. Instead, the judge paused the order for 21 days to allow a higher court to consider an appeal from the Trump administration.

The decision represents a legal victory for DC officials, whose lawsuit argues that the deployment is an overreach and a threat to the city's autonomy. "From the beginning, we made clear that the US military should not be policing American citizens on American soil," DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a statement Thursday. "It is long past time to let the National Guard go hometo their everyday lives, their regular jobs, their families, and their children." President Trump deployed the DC National Guard in August as part of a broader effort to address crime in the city, which included declaring an emergency, taking control of the DC police department, and bringing in federal agents.

Cobb found that the president lacks the power to dispatch troops "for the deterrence of crime," per Politicoespecially in the District, which is under the control of Congress. The deployment grew to about 2,500 troops after Trump requested additional support from other states. A Trump spokeswoman told the Post in an email Thursday that the District's lawsuit is an attempt "to undermine the President's highly successful operations to stop violent crime in DC."
KIEV, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he discussed a U.S.-proposed peace plan during a joint phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Zelensky wrote on X that the participants of the talks coordinated their next steps and agreed that their teams will work together.

"We are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account," Zelensky said.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said Friday that the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations held a meeting to discuss ways for achieving peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"We discussed approaches to restoring a just peace, the sequence of next steps, and realistic formats for further dialogue," Umerov said on Facebook.

Ukraine is carefully studying every proposal from partners, he noted. 
A fire at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil forced the evacuation of thousands of delegates and disrupted negotiations on Thursday, just as negotiators were to press for an international roadmap way from fossil fuels. Organizers reported that 13 people were treated onsite for smoke inhalation after the fire broke out in tahe pavilion area of the conference center in Belem, the Guardian reports. The fire was brought under control in about six minutes, according to a statement from UN organizers, and all attendees were evacuated safely.

In security video, flames could be seen breaking out in an exhibition pavilion, then spreading up a fabric shell that lined the walls and ceiling of the building. As the building filled with smoke, per Reuters, delegates ran out. Officials said the fire likely started with an electrical device, possibly a microwave, but the exact cause is under investigation. Several meetings were canceled or delayed. The fire also threw into doubt the schedule for talks between the European Union and summit organizers. The disruption came at a critical moment, as negotiators were preparing a new draft of the summit's main decision document, which may include a commitment to develop a plan for transitioning from fossil fuels. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier called for a clear deal on the issue.

Gabi Andrade, a volunteer with COP30 from the host city, said she was exploring the Singapore pavilion when the fire broke out, spewing black smoke, per the AP. Gabi Andrade said a security guard grabbed her hand and showed her to the exit as she cried and screamed "Fire!" She's concerned about the effect on Brazil's reputation. "It's so sad for us," she said. "We all worked so hard." The talks, which do not include US participation, were to conclude on Friday evening, but they might go into overtime now, per the Guardian.
A man convicted of raping and fatal beating his manager at a Florida convenience store in 1988 was put to death Thursday evening in the state's record 17th execution this year. Richard Barry Randolph, 63, was pronounced dead at 6:12pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis said. Randolph was convicted of murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft and sentenced to death in 1989. A DeSantis spokesman said that there were no complications during the procedure and that Randolph had no last words, the AP reports.

According to court records, Randolph attempted in August 1988 to break into the safe at a convenience store in Palatka, where he had previously worked. Randolph was spotted by Minnie Ruth McCollum, the manager, and the two began to struggle. Randolph then beat, choked, stabbed, and raped McCollum before leaving the store and taking the woman's car, the records show. Three women witnessed Randolph leaving the store and called the sheriff's office after seeing through the window that the store was in disarray. A deputy responding found McCollum still alive. Taken to a hospital in a coma, she died six days later of severe brain injuries. Randolph was arrested shortly afterward at a Jacksonville grocery store while trying to borrow money and cash in lottery tickets stolen from the convenience store.

The Florida Supreme Court denied Randolph's appeals last week. He had argued that a lower court abused its discretion in denying him access to public records and that his own lawyers had acted without his consent. The US Supreme Court denied Randolph's last appeal Thursday morning. Including Randolph, a total of 44 men have died by court-ordered execution this year in the US, and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death during the rest of 2025 and next year.
Frida Kahlo's 1940 self-portrait, "El sueno (La cama)"or "The Dream (The Bed)"sold for $54.7 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York on Thursday, setting a new record for the most expensive work by a female artist ever sold at auction, the Guardian reports. The painting, which shows Kahlo asleep in bed while a smiling, dynamite-wrapped skeleton rests above her, surpassed the previous record of $44.4 million set by Georgia O'Keeffe's "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" in 2014. The Kahlo painting was expected to sell for $40 million to $60 million. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.

It also set a new record for Latin American art, beating the $34.9 million fetched by Kahlo's "Diego y Yo" in 2021. That painting, which also sold at Sotheby's, showed Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera. "El sueno (La cama)," one of the few Kahlo works still owned in a private collection outside Mexico, came from an anonymous collector. Mexico considers Kahlo's art an "artistic monument," meaning works in the country can't be sold abroad or destroyed, whether they're part of a public or a private collection. Some art historians have expressed concern that "El sueno (La cama)"last displayed in public in the late 1990smay again vanish from public view.

The winning bid, which was 1,000 times more than the painting was auctioned for in 1980, came after a fierce battle between two bidders, the BBC reports. The auction was part of a larger sale of surrealist art, including works by Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. Kahlo, who began painting while confined to bed after a bus accident at age 18, is known for her unflinching self-portraits exploring pain and mortality. She resisted the surrealist label, once saying, "I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality." Per the Sotheby's catalog, the skeleton in the painting is sometimes seen as symbolic of Kahlo's fear of dying in her sleep.
House Speaker Mike Johnson came to the defense of President Trump after the president's latest incendiary comments, in which Trump accused congressional Democrats of "sedition"a crime the POTUS noted is "punishable by death." Trump, who suggested that six Democrats who encouraged US troops to refuse illegal orders should be executed, first reposted a comment from a supporter on Truth Social saying, "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!" before accusing the lawmakers of sedition. Johnson, when asked about the posts, said Trump was simply "defining the crime of sedition," that his post was a "factual statement," and that attorneys would need to 'parse' the language in the criminal act, Politico reports.

Johnson said he had not seen the entirety of Trump's comments and reposts, but he said that it was the Democrats in question who were acting "wildly inappropriate" by suggesting military members disobey unlawful presidential orders. Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Newsmax Democrats were trying to undermine the chain of command, and that "members of the military are there to execute their mission. They are there to carry out their orders." Senate Majority Leader John Thune also criticized the Democrats' video, calling it "ill-advised and provocative and unnecessary," but he distanced himself from the idea of execution, saying, "I don't agree with that."

Later, after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump did not literally mean he wants to execute members of Congress, Johnson acknowledged that Trump's language was not what he would have chosen, characterizing it as "heated rhetoric" meant to make a point. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump's remarks in a floor speech, warning that the president is "lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline." House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar also condemned the remarks, which they called "death threats," in a joint statement, the Guardian reports.
Good news for fans of Joey Tribbiani of Friends fame: The eight unaired episodes of the spinoff sitcom Joey have finally seen the light, nearly two decades after NBC pulled the plug on the series, Variety reports. The episodes, shelved after the show's 2006 cancellation during its second season, are now streaming on the Friends YouTube channel, completing the 46-episode run of the Friends spinoff. It's not clear why the entire series has been made available, but NBC News reports that fans were expressing gratitude for the move on social media.
Frame by frame, six photos released by federal investigators on Thursday graphically capture the horrifying scene of ill-fated Flight 2976 as it turned into a deadly fireball along a Kentucky airport runway. The chilling sequence first shows an engine coming loose from the UPS cargo plane during takeoff. The engine then pops off the plane as fire erupts in the next image, followed by the blazing engine catapulting off the stricken aircraft, per the AP . The final images show the plane ablaze as it becomes airborne, leaving behind trails of smoke.

Moments later, the plane crashed in a massive explosion that killed 14 peopleincluding the three crew membersand carved a path of destruction near Louisville International Airport. Dramatic videos of the crash showed the plane on fire plowing into buildings and generating a massive plume of smoke. The photos, taken from airport surveillance video, were included in a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the Nov. 4 disaster.

The images were eerily reminiscent of the dramatic photos of a stricken Air France Concorde jet before it crashed soon after takeoff outside Paris in 2000. As the investigation of the Kentucky crash continues, the preliminary report points to evidence of cracks in the left wing's engine mount. Other photos in the report show component pieces of the plane as investigators look for clues into what caused the crash.
It looks like fans of the first Wicked who go see the sequel will be happy with the decision: The fan score at Rotten Tomatoes is a sky-high 97%, though critics are less wowed at 70%. Some takes on Wicked: For Good with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Glinda.

Both the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum and the original classic movie on which this is all based have political undertones, writes Manohla Dargis at the New York Times. Not so here. "Like most studio movies, Wicked blunts any overt political message; it's about right and wrong more than left or right. Even so, from its director to its cast, the movie is a testament to diversity (species included) as a common good as well as to love, friendship and solidarity. It's on the side of kindness, which is itself, well, a balm."

Is it great? Nope, writes Kyle Smith at the Wall Street Journal, who complains that a "few scenes creak like the Tin Man's joints." But that's OK. "That Wicked: For Good falls short of greatness doesn't mean it's bad. There's plenty of cause to rejoicify, notably the visual splendor, the charming central friendship and some pretty songs, notably 'For Good,' which elegantly sums up the relationship between Elphaba and her friend, Glinda the Good."
A longtime pillar of kosher drinking has been toppled. For decades, beer has been assumed to be kosherunlike wine, which has long required certification. But three of the biggest kosher certification agencies in the USOU Kosher, Star-K, and OK Koshernow say that's no longer the case, reports the Forward . The agencies say all beer will need to have official certification starting in 2026 if it's to be considered kosher, citing the growing use of unconventional ingredients and flavor additives in today's craft beer scene. Inspectors have recently found surprising ingredients such as oyster broth, milk, clam juice, and even wine in some brews.

The agencies have released a list of more than 900 beers that are already certified kosher, including familiar names like Coors, Budweiser, Hoegaarden, and Blue Moon. But the list notably excludes popular brands such as Dos Equis and Sierra Nevada. The change has drawn mixed reactions from the kosher community, with some complaining it's a money grab by agencies, and others saying it was overdue. "At first, I was like, 'Oh, no, this is gonna make my life a lot harder,'" says beer fanatic and home brewer Halle Goldblatt. Ultimately, though, she says, "I think it's good for the kosher consumer."

Until now, the assumption has been that beer only consisted of grain, water, hops, and yeast, all considered kosher. However, the boom in craft brewingand the rise of exotic flavorshave complicated matters. Breweries also often share equipment between different recipes, and standard cleaning doesn't always meet kosher requirements. The St. Louis Jewish Light offers suggestions on what kosher drink alternatives are appropriate for Passover. Meanwhile, one rabbi says kosher certification should be required of all alcoholic beverages, not just beer and wine.
The firing of a New Yorker fact-checker has unleashed a wave of outrage inside one of America's most celebrated magazines, overshadowing its 100th anniversary celebrations and raising questions about editorial independence and union rights. The firing of Jasper Lo, a senior fact-checker and union member, has sparked a public outcry from staff and contributors, including well-known writers such as Susan Orlean and Calvin Trillin, per the Washington Post . The controversy began after Lo and three other Conde Nast employees were dismissed following a confrontation with HR chief Stan Duncan over company cuts and the merging of Teen Vogue with Vogue.com.

The Wrap has video of the "brutally awkward" incident, which shows staff pressing Duncan for answers, but Lo says he didn't speak during the exchange. Conde Nast cited "extreme misconduct" as the reason for the firings, but it declined to release additional footage or specifics. The company's actions have been widely criticized by New Yorker staff, who questioned whether editor David Remnick was part of the decision to carry out the firings and what the incident says about the magazine's autonomy under the Conde Nast umbrella.

The New Yorker union and the NewsGuild of New York have filed grievances with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the firings were retaliation for protected union activity. Meanwhile, Conde Nast alleged that the workers breached a labor peace clause. The dispute has drawn support from politicians, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined a rally last week calling for the fired employees to be brought back. One of the other forced-out staffers, Bon Appetit writer and producer Alma Avalle, pens her thoughts for the Nation.
Eleven people were injured, two of them critically, when a grizzly bear attacked a group of children and teachers on a trail in British Columbia. The attack happened in Bella Coola on the Canadian province's central coast, around 435 miles northwest of Vancouver, the Guardian reports. Emergency officials say two other victims were seriously injured and another seven were treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization, reports the CBC . The four most seriously injured victims were transported to a hospital by helicopter. The Mounties say armed conservation officers are in the area but the bear is still at large.

The students and teachers were from the Acwsalcta School, run by the Nuxalt First Nation. In a Facebook post, the Nuxalt council said: "There is an aggressive bear in the area. DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR IT." The council later added: "The bear has still not been found so we ask that you do not walk anywhere tonight. There are multiple ride options available, if needed." The Province notes that bears are seeking to increase their fat stores for hibernation at this time of year, meaning they can be "aggressive and predatory."

Veronica Schooner tells the Canadian Press that her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in the year 4-5 class that was attacked on a walking trail. She says he was "running for his life" and was so close to the bear that he could "feel its fur." Schooner says people tried to stop the attack and a male teacher "got the whole brunt of it." She says the other three people with major injuries are children. "He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends," she says.
CAPE TOWN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, is ramping up efforts to capture a greater share of the booming Chinese outbound travel market after its initial digital marketing campaigns reached millions across Asia, the city government announced on Friday.

In a statement, the government said its first two phases of destination marketing on WeChat, China's dominant social media and messaging platform, generated more than 20 million impressions between September 2024 and October 2025.

The campaign comes as Chinese travelers remain the world's top spenders. Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization showed that in 2024, they spent roughly 250 billion U.S. dollars abroad, far outpacing U.S. travelers at 177.8 billion dollars.

Alderman James Vos, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for economic growth, said after returning from a trade mission to Shanghai that strengthening Cape Town's visibility in China could be transformative for the local tourism economy.

He noted, however, that South Africa welcomed only 41,651 Chinese visitors in 2024, a small fraction of the approximately 100 million outbound travelers from China that year, adding that the strong performance of the pilot digital campaign underscored the latent potential in the market.

Cape Town plans to expand its Chinese-language content, including articles, brochures, and destination videos, onto additional major platforms. Officials said the strategy aligns with research from China Trading Desk, a marketing and research firm specializing in Chinese consumers, which has found that Chinese outbound travelers rely heavily on social media for inspiration and trustworthy travel advice. 
An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the start of a demonstration flight in front of a crowd of spectators at the Dubai Airshow, killing its sole pilot. The Indian HAL Tejas smashed into the ground at the Dubai World Central airport, sending a vast fireball into the air and thick black smoke into the sky. Police vehicles, ambulances, and a helicopter rushed to the site of the UAE crash, spraying firefighting foam to extinguish the blaze, reports the AP . Onlookers, including families who'd gathered in a grandstand for the end of the biennial air show, gasped in horror and disbelief at the crash. The airplane appeared to have lost control and dove directly toward the ground.

The Indian Air Force confirmed the crash and the pilot's death. "IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," it said in a statement, adding that an investigation will be launched. Emirati crash investigators also will investigate. "Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site," the Dubai Media Office, which responds to crises in the sheikhdom, wrote on X. The airshow resumed flight demonstrations about an hour and a half later, with the Russian Knights flying overhead as emergency crews still worked at the crash site.

On Thursday, India's Press Information Bureau rejected some social media claims alleging that a Tejas aircraft had experienced an oil leak while on display at the show. In a statement on X, it called the posts "false" and said they were attempts to undermine the "fighter's proven technical reliability with baseless propaganda." It was unclear whether the aircraft in question was the one that crashed on Friday. Social media clips showed a liquid dripping from the jet into bags beneath it. "The videos show routine, intentional draining of condensed water," the military said. "This is a standard procedure for aircraft operating in humid conditions, like those in Dubai."

Tejas is India's indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India's depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defense ties with India's rival Pakistan. In September, India's Defense Ministry signed a contract with HAL to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027. The Indian government also signed a deal with HAL in 2021 for 83 Tejas aircraft. Deliveries, expected last year, have been delayed largely due to shortages of engines that must be imported from the US.
France's government is taking action against billionaire Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot Grok after it generated French-language posts that questioned the use of gas chambers at Auschwitz, officials said. Grok, built by Musk's company xAI and integrated into his social media platform X, wrote in a widely shared post in French that gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were designed for "disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus" rather than for mass murderlanguage long associated with Holocaust denial, per the AP . The Auschwitz Memorial highlighted the exchange on X, saying that the response distorted historical fact and violated the platform's rules.

In later posts on its X account, the chatbot acknowledged that its earlier reply to an X user was wrong, said it had been deleted, and pointed to historical evidence that Auschwitz's gas chambers using Zyklon B were used to murder more than 1 million people. The follow-ups weren't accompanied by any clarification from X. In tests run by the AP on Friday, Grok's responses to questions about Auschwitz appeared to give historically accurate information.

Grok has a history of making antisemitic comments. Earlier this year, Musk's company took down posts from the chatbot that appeared to praise Adolf Hitler after complaints about such content. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed on Friday that the Holocaust-denial comments have been added to an existing cybercrime investigation into X. The case was opened earlier this year after French officials raised concerns that the platform's algorithm could be used for foreign interference.

France has one of Europe's toughest Holocaust denial laws. Contesting the reality or genocidal nature of Nazi crimes can be prosecuted as a crime, alongside other forms of incitement to racial hatred. French authorities referred the posts to a national police platform for illegal online content and alerted France's digital regulator over suspected breaches of the European Union's Digital Services Act. Two French rights groups, the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme and SOS Racisme, have filed a criminal complaint accusing Grok and X of contesting crimes against humanity. X and its AI unit, xAI, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. (Grok has a bunch to say about Musk, too.)
The coming week might prove to be the most consequential yet for the Russia-Ukraine war, but how things will shake out remains very much up in the air. Volodomyr Zelensky must decide whether to accept a US-crafted plan to end the war, one that requires major concessions that Ukraine has previously ruled out. Details:

The choice: "Now is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelensky told his nation in a video address on Friday, reports the Wall Street Journal. "Now Ukraine may find itself facing a very difficult choice. Either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
Six armed men impersonating Reserve Bank of India officials reportedly pulled off a brazen daylight heist in Bengaluru, making off with $800,000 in cash. Police say the men stopped a cash transport van on a busy thoroughfare in the heart of the city, claiming they needed to check the van's documents. The robbers, who were in an SUV with a phony government sticker and license plate, convinced the cash custodian and two armed guards to ditch their weapons and join them in the SUVafter which the driver was told to continue driving the cash van, cops tell the BBC .

The SUV followed the van for a few miles, then the suspects forced the driver out of the van and the custodian and guards out of the SUV, police say. They then transferred the cash and took off. The area had limited CCTV coverage, complicating the investigation, but police have recovered the SUV and believe the gang may have used additional vehicles.

Authorities are also looking into whether any employees of the cash transport company, which has filed a police complaint, were involved in the robbery. "We are assessing why the security personnel didn't use their weapons and why there was a delay in informing the police," Bengaluru's police commissioner says, per NDTV. Karnataka's home minister expressed confidence the case will be cracked soon, per the BBC. WION, meanwhile, has more details on what it calls "Bengaluru's own Louvre heist."
That change in the way the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention addresses whether vaccines cause autism on its website was not the result of a new study or emerging agency consensus. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the turnaround was on his order, the New York Times reports. The CDC site no longer states without qualification that vaccines aren't a cause. "The whole thing about 'vaccines have been tested and there's been this determination made,' is just a lie," Kennedy said in an interview. "The phrase, 'Vaccines do not cause autism' is not supported by science."

Former CDC officials said a change in such guidance usually begins with scientists, then sometimes is sent to the secretary's office to be reviewed. Rarely does the health secretary personally order a change, per the Times. But Kennedy has been active in the antivaccine movement for two decades. The change to the websitewhich now says, "Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism"has sparked an outcry, per the Washington Post. CDC scientists charged with providing information about vaccine safety and autism weren't consulted.

Kennedy said he's not arguing that vaccines cause autism, just that it hasn't been proven that they don't. It's true that certain studies have not yet been conducted, experts said, but many have found no link, and experts maintain that the level of proof Kennedy wants is a difficult-to-achieve threshold. Dr. Arthur Caplan of New York University once pointed out, per the Times, that "you can't prove that Coca-Cola doesn't cause autism, either." A former CDC official said the change has wrecked the agency's credibility, per the Post. "CDC cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice," said Demetre Daskalakis.
Gunmen attacked a Catholic boarding school in a western region of Nigeria and abducted more than 200 schoolchildren on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria said, in the latest in a spate of abductions in Africa's most populous country. The attack and abductions took place at St. Mary's School in the Agwara local government's Papiri community, the AP reports. Attackers seized 215 students as well as 12 teachers, said Daniel Atori, a spokesperson for the Niger state chapter of CAN. On Monday, gunmen attacked a high school and abducted 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi state, in Maga, about 100 miles from Papiri. A security employee was shot, the diocese said.

"I just got back to the village tonight after I visited the school where I also met with parents," said Atori in a statement after the Papiri attack, adding the association is working "to ensure our children's safe return." The Niger State Police Command said that the abductions took place in the early hours, and that military and security forces have since been deployed to the community. It described St. Mary's as a secondary school, which in Nigeria would serve children ages12 to 17. A satellite image shows that the school compound is attached to an adjoining primary school, with more than 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. Dauda Chekula, 62, said four of his grandchildren, ranging in age from 7 to 10, were among the schoolchildren abducted.

"The children who were able to escape have scattered," Chekula said, "some of them ran back to their houses, and the only information we are getting is that the attackers are still moving with the remaining children into the bush." The statement by the secretary to the Niger state government said there had been an intelligence warning of heightened threats. "Regrettably, St. Mary's School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk," it read. A Papiri resident said there were only local security arrangements and no official police or government forces securing the school at the time of the attack.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High -27F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Low -26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the United States had signalled it may reconsider its participation in the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Johannesburg, but the White House dismissed the claim as "fake news."

Ramaphosa made the remarks on Thursday at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

"We have received notice from the United States, a notice which we are still in discussions with them about, about a change of mind about participating in one shape, form or other in the summit," he said, adding that the development came just days before the meeting, and further engagement was needed "to see how practical it is and what it finally really means."

While reposting the South African Broadcasting Corporation's report over the U.S. intention "to rejoin summit discussions," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed it as "fake news" on social media X.

Moreover, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at Thursday's briefing that Washington will not take part in the G20 discussions, saying an envoy would attend only the presidency handover ceremony at the end of the summit.

It is reported that the U.S. charge d'affaires in Pretoria, Marc D. Dillard, will attend the handover ceremony as a formality.

In response, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to Ramaphosa, wrote on X: "The President will not hand over to a charge d'affaires."

In early November, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that no U.S. officials would attend the first G20 summit hosted on African soil, citing alleged ill-treatment of Afrikaners and "genocide," a claim strongly rejected by South Africa. 
TOKYO, Nov 21 (News On Japan) - A man who hid his face from cameras as he was escorted by police at the Tokorozawa Police Station in Saitama was among the suspects arrested on suspicion of theft. Police say he and three others allegedly broke a window and entered a vacant home in Hitachi City in August 2025, where they stole wristwatches and other items valued at about 15,000 yen.

Seven additional Vietnamese nationals, both men and women, were also taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in a series of thefts across Saitama Prefecture, bringing the total number of suspects to 11. Investigators believe the individuals belonged to three separate criminal groups and may be tied to an even larger number of cases.

More than 100 thefts have been reported in Saitama since October, with total damages exceeding 20 million yen. According to police, many of the vehicles used in the crimes had expired inspections and were equipped with fake license plates. The three groups are believed to have exchanged vehicles among themselves, and investigators have confirmed they had overlapped at several related locations.

Authorities have not disclosed the suspects statements but suspect the 11 individuals may have been part of a larger Southeast Asian criminal network operating in the region.

Source: FNN
A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from Cision Distribution this week

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2025 /CNW/ - With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on Cision. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Cision Canada - The Weekly Round-Up

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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with South Africa to safeguard multilateral trading system, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Friday when meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Li also pledged that China is ready to work with South Africa to enhance collaboration on platforms such as the BRICS and the Group of 20, promote the reform of the global governance system, and protect developing countries' common interests. 
YANGON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 31st ASEAN Transport Ministers' Meeting was held in Myanmar's Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday, the state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Friday.

A total of 187 delegates, including ministers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, dialogue partners, the ASEAN Secretary-General, and senior officials, attended the meeting.

Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Mya Tun Oo said that the transport sector plays an essential role in linking economic activities, facilitating trade, supporting socioeconomic development, and enhancing people-to-people connectivity, the report said.

He noted that ASEAN's regional transport connectivity has strengthened and achieved significant progress in developing a long-term and sustainable transport sector, according to the report. 
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia said on Friday that Istvan Zelnik, a Hungarian national and private collector, has agreed to return stolen Khmer cultural heritage objects to the kingdom after several years of negotiations.

"Among the significant Khmer cultural heritage objects which will be returned to Cambodia under this agreement are 183 pieces of Khmer silk textiles ... as well as prehistoric artifacts such as coins, beads, jewelry, and items made of precious metals, bronze, stone and clay," said a press release from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

"Many of these objects were looted from Cambodia during the decades of civil war," the press release added.

The return also includes several other important collections, such as stone and bronze objects from both the Pre-Angkor and Angkor periods, it said.

According to the press release, Zelnik has previously repatriated several Khmer artefacts and has significantly contributed to Cambodia's cultural preservation efforts through his support for archaeological research projects and the publication of numerous scholarly works on cultural heritage, inscriptions, and contemporary Khmer art.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said this voluntary return of Cambodian antiquities is an example to be followed.

"The repatriation of Khmer cultural heritage is regarded as a noble and honorable gesture that reflects a profound sense of ethical responsibility in safeguarding a nation's identity and contributes meaningfully to the preservation of humanity's shared cultural legacy," she said. 
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Friday that China stands ready to work with South Africa to deepen political mutual trust, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

Li made the remarks when meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit. 
NANNING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed after a heavy-duty semi-trailer tractor collided with a car on Thursday morning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to local police.

The accident occurred at around 5 a.m. on a section of provincial highway S206 in Guiping City. Police rushed to the scene, but all five individuals in the car were pronounced dead after emergency rescue efforts failed.

Further investigation is underway. 
UPDATE: Body found in N.J. nature preserve IDd as local resident

A hiker discovered a dead body Tuesday afternoon while walking in the Tenafly Nature Center, authorities said.

Officers from the Tenafly Police Department were called to the nature preserve around 2 p.m., found the body and notified the Bergen County Prosecutors Office, Jeff Angermeyer, deputy chief of detectives for the office told NJ Advance Media.

Angermeyer said the incident was still under investigation by his office and the department as of 6:20 p.m. and that he could not release any other details.

The nature center is a non-profit, independent, member-supported nature preserve that features over seven miles of hiking trails in the borough.
A former employee for the Ridgefield Park Public Works Department has filed a lawsuit claiming he endured racist jokes, was forced to work during family leave and was ultimately fired for not having a commercial drivers license.

Keenon Tucker, 31, states in court papers he was the only Black employee in the department and that other laborers made jokes that were racist in nature, sometimes using the N-word.

One laborer made a comment about (Tucker) eating fried chicken, which is commonly understood to be a disparaging comment about African Americans, states the suit, filed in Bergen County Superior Court on Nov. 13.

Another laborer joked that a running chainsaw sounded like it was repeatedly saying the N-word, the suit alleges.

Ridgefield Park officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Tucker, who now lives in Tampa, Florida, claims that in addition to racist jokes, he was treated differently from white employees in that he was rarely given overtime.

Tucker was also expected to obtain a CDL, or Commercial Drivers License, at his own expense while the department paid the $1,800 training fee for white workers, the lawsuit claims.

In mid-2024, Tuckers wife became pregnant, and he took leave under the New Jersey Family Leave Act.

However, the borough allegedly required him to work during his leave and failed to provide job security, both violations of state law.

The lawsuit says that while Tucker was out caring for his wife, he received a letter from the borough informing him that he needed to obtain his CDL license no later than Jan. 1.

The suit states several white employees  one of them the township clerks son  had been working for the borough for years without a CDL license.

The suit says Tucker received his CDL permit on Dec. 19, 2024, and attempted to schedule the state driving test for Dec. 23, 2024. But the earliest available test date was Jan. 14, 2025, according to the suit.

Tucker claims he obtained permission from Public Works Commissioner Wanda Portorreal to extend the time for obtaining the license to Jan. 14.

But when he reported to work on Jan. 2, he was terminated for not having the CDL license, according to the suit.

When Tucker appealed to Portorreal, she said she was unaware that he had been out on leave, according to the suit.

She offered him another job in the department but told him he would be considered a new hire and that his pay would be reduced by $25,000 to $30,000, according to the suit.

Portorreal did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the allegations.

After his termination, Tucker applied to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development for unemployment insurance.

But Ridgefield Park tried to stop him from collecting unemployment. The state, however, approved the insurance, finding that Tucker did everything he could to obtain the CDL in a timely manner.

The lawsuit alleges Ridgefield Park violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination by treating him differently than white workers, as evidenced in workplace race-based jokes and comments.

Tucker also claims the borough used the nine-working day delay in getting his CDL license as a pretext to unjustly fire him.

The suit also claims the borough violated the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the states Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring him to attend 14 hours of training at the Jersey Tractor Trailer School while he was out on leave.
A judge has signed a consent order directing a nude spa in Bergen County to allow transgender customers access to its facilities regardless of whether theyve had gender-affirming surgery or not.

The order came after a 35-year-old transgender woman sued King Spa & Sauna of Palisades Park, claiming workers questioned whether she still had boy parts, then tried to make her wear shorts in areas designated for women.

Alexandra Goebert, of Watertown, New York, claimed in court papers that spa employees questioned her for two hours as to whether she had male genitalia, even though her drivers license identified her as female.

Have you changed your front? the spa manager allegedly asked Goebert, according to the lawsuit.

Goebert told the manager that she had not had gender-affirming surgery, that she identified as a woman and would not feel comfortable on the male side of the spa.

The general manager then told Goebert she would be allowed on the female side of the spa only if she wore uniform shorts that the spa would provide.

Goebert claims she was also denied access to the hot tub and other areas where women were required to be nude.

Think about the other guests, the general manager allegedly said to Goebert, according to the lawsuit, filed May 17, 2023, in Superior Court of Bergen County.

Goebert refused to wear shorts because others were not required to wear them to cover their genitalia, the suit states.

The spa never allowed Goebert to use and enjoy the services and facilities she had purchased, refusing to permit plaintiff to do so because of plaintiffs gender identity or expression, the suit says.

The lawsuit claims a manager offered Goebert a refund and told her to leave.

King Spa & Sauna was ordered to implement new policies after staff tried to make a trans customer wear shorts. Google Maps

In court filings, an attorney for the spa wrote that spa workers recognized Goebert as a returning male customer who had previously used the mens side of the spa.

They indicated that the individual could certainly use the facilities, but not in the female nude area, the attorney, Paul Faugno, of Hackensack, wrote in a position statement.

This individual was not denied access to the use of the facility, Faugno wrote. He was only denied access to go into the nude female area when this individual by admission had male genitalia.

In the consent order, Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Sarlo agreed the spa needed to implement a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

It is unlawful and violates company policy to discriminate in any way against a client because of the clients actual or perceived gender identity, the consent order states.

The order states each person has a gender identity, which may or may not correspond to the sex that person was assigned at birth.

Gender identity as used in this policy is a persons internal sense of being male, female or any other gender, regardless of physical characteristics or appearance, the order states.

The order states that the policy must be distributed to employees, be visible to clients at the front desk, and at the entrance to each sex-segregated area of the spa.

Faugno, the attorney for King Spa, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A representative of the spa, located in the 300 block of Commercial Avenue, did not respond to an email and phone message seeking comment.

Goebert told NJ Advance Media on Friday that she holds no animosity toward the workers at the spa and was not seeking personal enrichment by filing suit.

I was seeking policy changes. Thats all I wanted, Goebert said.

Goebert directed additional questions to her attorney, Miriam Edelstein, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that both parties agreed to the resolution and the judge signed the consent order.
A state grand jury declined to file criminal charges against police officers in Pemberton Township after they fatally shot a 57-year-old man in his backyard, officials from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday.

The incident was investigated by the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability under a 2019 directive that investigates all fatal encounters with active law enforcement.

Officials released emergency calls and body-worn camera recordings of the encounter in August under the terms of the 2019 directive.

The investigation included recordings of emergency calls, radio transmission, body-worn camera recordings, ballistics reports, medical records, autopsy results and interviews with other officers.

The results were presented to a grand jury which voted on Monday not to file charges against Pemberton Township police officer Kyle McQueen.

Police were called to Marvin Taylors Woodland Avenue home in Browns Mills at 3:22 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2024 for a report of smoke emanating from a home, officials said.

Authorities were told a man was in the backyard armed with a gun, according to officials.

When an officer got to a neighboring property and could see Taylor in the rear of the yard, he called out the situation to other officers and warned Taylor was armed.

Officers used a loudspeaker to try to contact Taylor and a crisis negotiator was dispatched to the scene, officials said.

Police also knew his name.

Marvin, put the gun down, now! the officer shouted. Marvin, stop pointing the rifle...Marvin, put the gun down now!

An officer said that Taylor was wearing ear protection and was hard of hearing, according to the camera footage.

I dont think he knows were here, an officer said, and reported Taylor was sitting down and apparently waiting for someone to come around to the back.

Marvin, we are here to help you, put the gun down now! the officer warned again.

After about three minutes, officers told Taylor to drop the gun again before a shot rings out, apparently by Taylor, and police fired four shots back while telling him to drop the gun.

After officers secured his gun, a squad of officers start giving Taylor medical aid. He was flown to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden where he died just after 5:30 p.m.

McQueen was the officer that fired at Taylor.

No police or civilians were injured in the incident and a gun was found near Taylor after he was shot, which is seen on the camera footage.
A man was found shot Thursday afternoon inside a Cherry Hill recording studio, investigators said.

Officers from the Cherry Hill Police Department were called to the South Union Avenue studio at 4:13 p.m. and found the 36-year-old man, according to a statement from the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

He was rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was in stable condition as of 7 p.m., the office said.

No other details were released by the office. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jovan Plaza of the Camden County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (856) 225-8493 and Cherry Hill Police Detective Robert Daniello at (856) 665-1200.
The New Jersey Department of Education has ordered two Middlesex County parents to repay thousands in tuition after finding their children attended school outside their home district while the familys new house was under construction.

The two parents, who were only identified with their initials, must pay the Milltown school district more than $41,500, according to the decision.

The family lived in North Brunswick between Nov. 16, 2023, and March 6, 2025, while attending Milltown schools, the court documents say.

Milltown School District officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The parents argued their children were homeless and the family moved to North Brunswick out of economic necessity.

Under state law, homeless children residing in a relatives home outside the school district may continue attending their original school without paying tuition.

Administrative Law Judge Allison Friedman rejected that argument in a decision issued in September.

In her ruling, Friedman wrote that there is no credible evidence to support the parents claim that they were homeless and moved to North Brunswick out of necessity. She found the parents failed to show a financial need to move to North Brunswick.

The state education commissioner adopted the judges decision on Oct. 31.

The case began in 2022 when the parents sold their 700-square-foot, three-bedroom home on Townsend Street in Milltown and moved into a Clay Street apartment. The plan was to build an addition on a Highland Drive home owned by the childrens grandmother so the entire family could live together, according to court papers.

The parents later decided to rebuild the Highland Drive home instead of constructing an addition. The rebuild contract was signed in July 2023 with an expected completion time of six months.

On Nov. 15, 2023, the family moved from the Clay Street apartment to a larger home in North Brunswick.

The parents claimed they were illegally locked out of the apartment, but the judge found the family had all their valuable property with them, including TVs, computers, schoolwork and clothes.

These facts support that there was no illegal lockout and that (the parents) decided to leave Clay Street and move to a larger home in North Brunswick, the judge ruled.

The issue came to light when the Clay Street landlord notified the school district that the children no longer lived there. Superintendent of Schools Stephanie Brown contacted the parents on April 24, 2024, requesting a current address and proof of residency.

The parents submitted an affidavit on April 28, 2024, stating they were living in the Highland Drive home in Milltown. However, when asked directly where they were living, the mother gave the North Brunswick address, according to court documents.

The judge ruled there is no evidence that the children ever slept in, let alone lived in, the Highland Drive home until March 6, 2025, when Milltown granted a temporary certificate of occupancy for the property.

There is no credible evidence to support the need to stay in North Brunswick for more than a year rather than move back to Milltown, Friedman wrote in her ruling. There is no credible evidence to support that (the family) lived in North Brunswick out of necessity or were homeless.

The judge also determined the family did not suffer an economic hardship, citing proceeds from the sale of their Townsend Street home.
ICE agents stood outside Ocean Seafood Depot in Newark on Wednesday, Nov. 19, during the second raid on the business since January. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

Federal officials say ICE arrested 13 people in Wednesdays raid on the Ocean Seafood Depot in Newark, the same business targeted in January as one of the first actions of President Donald Trumps ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

On November 19, while executing a search warrant as part of a criminal investigation, ICE arrested 13 illegal aliens employed at Ocean Seafood Depot in Newark, New Jersey, read a statement issue Thursday by a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, ICEs parent agency.

Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to protect public safety, national security, and economic stability while rescuing individuals who may be victims of labor trafficking or exploitation, the statement added.

The statement said employing undocumented immigrants also incentivizes dangerous and illegal practices, including social security fraud.

As we saw during a recent worksite operation in Nebraska, many illegal aliens use stolen social security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, the statement read. Behind every stolen social security number uncovered these operations is a real Americanmothers, fathers, students, and disabled workersnow facing devastating financial, emotional, and legal fallout.

Witnesses at the scene Wednesday said they saw agents carry four cardboard boxes out of the business and place them into one of the vehicles they had arrived in.

Wednesdays raid involved more than two dozen federal agents plus several vans and SUVs, which converged on the seafood retail and wholesale distributor in Newarks Ironbound section sometime after 8 a.m.

ICE said in a statement Wednesday that officers were executing a search warrant, though it was unclear from the statement or what could be seen outside Ocean Seafood whether anyone had been taken into custody.

Company employees outside the business during the raid and a person who answered the phone there on Thursday declined to comment.

None of the armed federal agents outside Ocean Seafood on Wednesday bore any markings identifying them as ICE officers, and instead wore patches stating Police. Half a dozen of the agents wore both Police and FBI patches. National and Newark FBI spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon.

The boxy grey seafood outlet at the corner of Adams and Delancy streets is the same site where a raid by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Officers occurred on Jan. 24, four days after Trump was sworn into office and reiterated a campaign pledge to launch a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Homeland Security did not identify or otherwise characterize the people arrested other than as illegal aliens.

Catalina Adorno, a volunteer organizer with Concecha New Jersey, the state branch of a nationwide immigrant advocacy nonprofit, said the group was contacted by some of the people arrested during the raid. They including an Ocean Seafood worker who told the group he was released by ICE after establishing he had legal residency and work authorization.

Adorno said family members of other workers who were arrested and detained had also contacted the group seeking assistance.

The Ocean Depot building has two large garage-type doors on its Delancy Street side, which were open during the raid, though the inside of the building could not be seen because agents had blocked off Delancey Street at the corner of Adams Street.

Ocean Seafood Depot has two garage-type doors on its Delancey Avenue side. A worker arrested during a raid on Wednesday, Nov. 19, told immigrants rights advocates that he was placed in a van inside the building then driven out one of the doors to an ICE facility for questioning before he was released. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

Adorno said the released worker told her group that he was among 10 workers placed into a van inside the building, and that there were two other vans like the one he was in. She said the worker told her group that the three vans were then driven to an ICE processing facility on Frelinghuysen Avenue in a different section of Newark, where he was questioned before eventually being allowed to go.

Adorno said the worker did not know how many of his coworkers were detained.

Adorno said the Frelighuysen Avenue facility is the same one where Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka was held for several hours after his arrest in May outside the Delaney Hall detention center where ICE holds detainees under a contract with the facilitys private owner-operator, the GEO Group. Trespassing charges against the mayor were dropped 13 days after his arrest.

Baraka has been a vocal critic of ICE at least as far back as the initial raid on Ocean Seafood ten months ago, when he said the raid was conducted without a warrant and resulted in the temporary detention of U.S. citizens, including a military veteran.

The January raid resulted in citations to three immigrants, including two who were given notices to appear at a hearing and a third who was placed in removal proceedings after overstaying a visa, officials said at the time.

Baraka once again criticized ICE following Wednesdays raid, issuing a statement Wednesday saying the city would not tolerate, those who are traumatizing or persecuting people because of the color of their skin or assumptions being about our residents and business owners.
Nino Coniglio and Al Santillo. Al Santillo solid pizzas at Coniglios at one point in 2024 as his pizzeria was being rebuilt. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

After taking Morris County by storm, one of New Jerseys best pizzerias is heading down the Shore.

Coniglios Old Fashioned, the Morristown pizza shop Nino Coniglio opened in fall of 2022 to instant acclaim, is launching a second restaurant in New Jersey. The self-proclaimed king of pies is expanding his kingdom to Asbury Park.

The new Coniglios location will be at 629 Mattison Ave., Coniglio told NJ Advance Media. The 123-year-old building has seen a revolving door of businesses in recent years  most recently pizzeria Killer Pies, which closed in 2024.

READ MORE: New Jerseys 101 best pizzas ranked

Coniglio, a Plainfield native, hopes the new restaurant will open before the end of the year  the build-out is complete and the ovens that makes his prized pizza are already installed.

When the Asbury Park shop initially opens, both hours and the menu will be limited. But Coniglio plans on expanding beyond pizzas and salads with a sandwich menu during the day.

But his plans for the Monmouth County outpost go far beyond that.

The hope is to buy the whole building out, secure a liquor license and then do a rooftop bar and really blow it up, Coniglio said. But were starting it off as just a small, kind of limited thing.

The upside down Sicilian from Coniglio's in Morristown. Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Coniglios has become known for a variety of pizza styles ranging from round pies topped with vodka sauce and stracciatella to square pies with bechamel. The thick Josephinas Grandma pie with mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil and fresh parmesan was the No. 5 pizza on NJ.coms list of the 101 best pizzas in the state.

Since launching his Morristown spot, Coniglio has also opened another pizza restaurant to rave reviews  Lucky Charlie across the Hudson and East Rivers in Brooklyns Bushwick neighborhood. Coniglio plans to open another pizzeria in Williamsburg, as well.

The original Morristown location isnt being left out of expansion plans, either. Coniglio says they are taking over the storefront next to the pizzeria, connecting the two spaces and turning the new one into full-fledged old-school red sauce joint.
Former Gov. James McGreevey, left, and Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, right. Photo illustration, Canva for NJ.com

The race for mayor of Jersey City is about to get very busy.

Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and Jersey City Councilman James Solomon have agreed to four debates in five days, including three in a 24-hour timespan, according to their campaigns.

For comparison, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill and her defeated opponent, Jack Ciatterelli, debated twice in the five months after the primary elections in June.

Jersey City is holding a runoff election for mayor Dec. 2 between Solomon, the top vote-getter in the Nov. 4 general election, and second-place finisher McGreevey.

Two debates are on Friday. The first is being taped at 12:30 p.m. for broadcast Sunday on WCBS-TVs The Point with Marcia Kramer, hosted by the longtime political correspondent.

Then, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Hudson Media Group is hosting the candidates at its office in North Bergen.

On Saturday, the Jersey City Free Public Librarys Earl Morgan Branch is holding a debate at noon. It is being sponsored by the Jersey City Times, I Love Greenville and the Port Liberte Homeowners Association.

In the last debate, Solomon and McGreevey will face off live on WPIX-TV at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The candidates held their first one-on-one debate Nov. 15 before the West Side Community Alliance, a neighborhood organization.

Jersey City holds runoffs between the top two vote-getters in municipal races whenever no one gets above 50% of the vote. Solomon had 29% in the Nov. 4 general election while McGreevey had 25%.

Former N.J. Gov. Jim McGreevey, speaking to supporters on Election Night, appears headed to a runoff election Dec. 2 against Jersey City Councilman James Solomon in the race for mayor of Jersey City. pic.twitter.com/djETFXpCP6  Rob Jennings (@RobJenningsNJ) November 5, 2025

The race for mayor in New Jerseys second-largest city has been among the states most closely-watched political battles as McGreevey attempts a comeback 21 years after resigning as governor.

McGreevey reported raising nearly $5 million via two campaign committees  one for himself, the other including his slate of candidates  as of two weeks before the Nov. 4 election, according to records filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Solomon represents reported raising around $2.5 million for his two campaign committees through the same timeframe.

The Dec. 2 winner will succeed Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who did not seek a fourth term and lost in the Democratic primary for governor.

Since the Nov. 4 election, both campaigns have announced numerous endorsements.

Solomon received support from U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Hudson County Commissioner Bill ODea and former Jersey City school board member Mussab Ali. ODea and Ali finished third and fourth, respectively, in the mayoral election.

McGreevey, who was endorsed by Gov. Phil Murphy in January, picked up support from Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, who finished fifth in the mayoral election. Bishop Troy DeCohen of St. Michaels Methodist Church endorsed McGreevey last week.

In addition to the mayoral race, the Dec. 2 ballot in Jersey City will include runoffs for the three citywide council seats. There will also be runoffs for single council seats in Ward A, Ward B, Ward C and Ward D.
A Hudson County man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in state prison in connection with the death of a woman in 2020.

Erick Acosta, 37, of Bayonne previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office.

Bayonne police responded to a home on Lord Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. on October 9, 2020, for a welfare check, the office.

Crystal Ojeda, 40, of Bayonne, was pronounced dead at around 1:55 p.m., investigators said.

The regional medical examiners office determined Ojeda died from blunt force trauma to the head and body and her death was ruled a homicide.

Acosta, 35, was first arrested in Colombia on Oct. 22, 2022, after a U.S. provisional arrest request and extradited to New Jersey in 2024, authorities said. He arrested upon his arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Ojeda was a mother of three and studying to become a nurse at Hudson County Community College, according to her obituary.
Security personnel control access inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred in the Blue Zone, an area that houses the international stands and the rooms set up for official negotiations, said the organizers.

Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino said that the fire, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m. local time, was under control at around 2:30 p.m., with no injuries reported so far.

Helder Barbalho, governor of the Para state, where Belem is located, told local media that the emergency teams are currently probing into two possible causes of the incident -- a generator failure or a short circuit in one of the stands that were set up for the conference. 

Security personnel form a human chain to guide people evacuating the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Firefighters and staff members inspect the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Participants evacuate the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) a fire borke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Security evacuate people inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire borke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

A staff member carrying a fire extinguisher runs inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Participants evacuate the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

A firefighter enters the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Firefighters and staff members inspect the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire borke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Security personnel control access inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)
Authorities arrested a man two months after he allegedly scammed a 75-year-old Keyport woman out of $36,000 in cash.

Hriday Arya, 25, was taken into custody Tuesday in Jersey City by U.S. Marshals, Keyport police said in a statement. He is charged with two counts of theft.

An investigation revealed Arya may have stolen more than $1 million by defrauding people across the country, authorities said.

Arya was arrested in Connecticut in September for allegedly scamming a victim out of $25,000 in a voice phishing scheme, according to GreenwichFreePress.com. In that scam, a person is tricked into revealing credit card or bank account information over the phone.

The Keyport victim reported the fraud on Sept. 18. A warrant for Aryas arrest was issued on Oct. 14.

Court records did not list an attorney for Arya, who is a Jersey City resident. He is being held at the Monmouth County jail ahead of a court appearance.

Keyport police couldnt immediately be reached for additional information.
Business partners, Cameron Chung, left and David Orozco inside the original Brisas Bakery & Restaurant in Elizabeth, N.J. on Nov. 14, 2025. Ian Peters | For NJ Advance Media

When Cameron Chung moved to Elizabeth to join his college friend David Orozco in his familys restaurant business, he knew he would have to win his friends father over.

After all, Brisas Bakery & Restaurant was like another child to Albeiro Orozco, who founded the company about two decades earlier.

Chung, 33, who is Jamaican-Chinese, arrived in Elizabeth without speaking Spanish. Davids dad refused to speak English, so I had to learn, he said.

Within six months, he was conversational  while also running the register, serving customers, and sleeping in a tiny office above the restaurant.

It was humbling, said Chung. I had multiple college degrees and had worked in New York consulting, and suddenly I was doing every job imaginable.

The Orozco family emphasized responsibility and respect for their craft.

One night, someone forgot to put a trash bag in the bin, and Davids dad was furious, Chung said. It wasnt about the trash  it was about responsibility, attention to detail and trust. That day taught me more about leadership and running a business than anything else.

Today, Brisas is one of Elizabeths original Colombian food brands.

From humble beginnings as a small family bakery in 1998, its empanadas are now a staple at Red Bull Arena. Through the years, it has grown into Brisas Brands, a nationwide supplier of empanadas, arepas, and other Latin-inspired foods.

Manager of the bakery side of Brisas, Ester Montano shows off fresh empanadas at Brisas Bakery & Restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey on Nov. 14, 2025. Ian Peters | For NJ Advance Media

An American dream

The journey from local favorite to national player started long before Brisas empanadas were on the menu at Sports Illustrated Stadium (previously Red Bull Arena)  introducing the brand to thousands of fans and opening the door to large-scale production and distribution.

My parents moved from Colombia during the war-torn 1980s, said Orozco, 34, chief operating officer of Brisas Brands and Brisas Empanadas. They came to New Jersey pursuing the American dream, without English, without much money, without much formal education. My dad made it to about fifth grade; my mom completed high school. Elizabeth opened its doors to them.

Albeiro Orozco, now 63, worked on construction sites and in restaurant kitchens until one day someone told him, You could do this on your own, his son said.

That advice sparked the idea for what would become Brisas Colombianas y Palacio De Los Jugos, later simplified to Brisas, which is Spanish for breeze. Located at 262 Morris Ave., its less than a block away from the Elizabeth Train Station.

With his mother, uncle and aunt, the elder Orozco opened the first bakery and restaurant, which has become a community anchor in what is now known as Elizabeths Colombian District.

My dads passion was transforming the neighborhood, David Orozco said. He didnt just want a business  he wanted to help lift the entire community.

Reflecting on his success as a businessman and the influence hes built within the community, Albeiro Orozco said he feels grateful and proud about how his journey embodies the American dream.

This is a family dream, a dream of hope, a dream for so many people who need it, he said in Spanish, adding that Brisas has become a role model for many people.

Not only for Latinos, but for Americans themselves, he said through his son David. I am grateful and will continue to contribute my dream, my passion, and my cuisine to this country.

An entrepreneurial mindset

Orozco and Chung met at Florida State University, where they were members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

We became friends almost immediately, Chung said.

Both had entrepreneurial mindsets early on. While at FSU, Orozco organized concerts and events. Chung studied finance, marketing and professional sales in a specialized program.

David convinced me to join the professional sales team, Chung said. That experience shaped how we approached business.

At the time Chung joined Brisas in 2017, it was still the original bakery and adjacent restaurant. Brisas now has three locations including Brisas Bakery & Restaurant, Brisas Elmora - Bakery & Restaurant and Brisas Express all located in Elizabeth.

Back then, the initial plan was to franchise the brand as a quick-service, walk-in grab-and-go concept.

The bakery and restaurant were producing 8,000 to 10,000 empanadas a week, all handmade by two or three people working long shifts, Chung said. If we wanted to franchise, we needed consistency and scale. We looked at an empanada manufacturing machine from Colombia  it could make 30,000 empanadas a day. That completely changed our approach."

Instead of franchising right away, he said, they realized they could build a wholesale business.

Pandebono is another traditional Colombian pastry offered at Brisas Bakery & Restaurant in Elizabeth. Ian Peters | For NJ Advance Media

Entering the major leagues

Around that time, the New York Red Bulls reached out to pitch a corporate suite. Orozco noticed the stadium had a large Latino fan base, but lacked Latin food options.

They said theyd been looking for the right partner, Chung said. Even though we werent fully ready, David said we could do it. Within two weeks, we were presenting to the Red Bulls leadership team.

A vegan and gluten-free attendee from Red Bull Corporate in Austria tried a Colombian empanada Cameron had helped prepare.

She had never eaten anything at the arena, even though she had visited for years, Cameron recalled. We brought a vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free empanada, and she loved it.

Within a month, Brisas empanadas were in the stadium.

That experience exposed them to high-volume production, freezing and distribution. Sysco Metro New York became their first major distributor, giving the team a platform for nationwide reach.

For Chung and Orozco, multicultural leadership is central to their vision.

Its not just about representation, Chung said. Having people from different backgrounds in decision-making positions brings perspectives that help shape products for a wide range of customers. Our root is Colombian, but the vision is national. We want empanadas to be something anyone can enjoy.

Fusion products reflect that philosophy. One of their best-selling items is a Nutella empanada  an American favorite presented in a Colombian-style pastry.

Every culture has some form of filled pastry  Jamaican patties, pierogies, dumplings, Chung said. Empanadas are a vessel. We can bridge cultures through flavors.

Founder of Brisas, Albeiro Orozco, left and his daughter Kimberly Orozco embrace at their family owned and operated restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey on Nov. 14, 2025. Ian Peters | For NJ Advance Media

Always community first

While Brisas Brand is expanding, they still cling to their community roots, said Kimberly Orozco, 23, Davids sister who oversees operations and social media for the restaurants.

Something Ive learned, is the importance of community, she said. I can only go so far on my own. If you want to build an empire or chase a big dream, youre never going to do it by yourself.

Manny Grova is a councilman at-large in Elizabeth. He said Brisas has long been a cornerstone in Elizabeth as a beloved gathering place for the areas large Colombian community.

This family-run establishment has built its reputation on delivering exceptional food, warm hospitality, and a true taste of home, he said. His favorite Brisas item: Pandebono with butter.

As Orozco pointed out, the companys philosophy is simple: Move fast and learn faster.

My parents taught us that as immigrants, you sometimes have to work three times as hard and we bring people with us," he said. That mindset has created a business thats not just about Colombian food, but about a multicultural business poised for national growth.
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Some 200 individuals and organizations were recognized during the inaugural City of Bridgeton Urban Enterprise Zone Awards Gala at the Marino Center recently.

Bridgeton UEZ coordinator Stephanie Gonzalez called the Nov. 8 event an unforgettable evening that celebrated those who have had an impact with the citys program over the past year. She said it honored leadership, partnership and community excellence within the program.

Gonzalez said Bridgeton now has more than 80 certified UEZ businesses whose resilience and entrepreneurship are the heartbeat of Bridgeton. Many of those businesses have included Black and Hispanic small businesses becoming entrepreneurs for the first time.

The businesses I work with embody the Urban Enterprise Zone Authoritys mission to strengthen local economies, support small businesses and foster community growth, Gonzalez said on Facebook.

Through participation in UEZ programs  from the Revolving Loan Fund to Facade Improvement initiatives  they demonstrate a commitment not only to their own success but also to the ongoing prosperity, vitality and future of our city.

Gonzalez praised the work of UEZ board of trustees, which includes Harlan Miller, Tony Hill, Minerva Alvarado, Latoya Miller, Ashley Logan and Michelle Azpiri for their service.

Your dedication, creativity, and teamwork helped make this event and every UEZ-funded event a success, Gonzalez said. Thank you for advocating for the UEZ program and participating through your own nonprofit and business organizations.

Millers late twin brother Harlan Miller was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala. The Miller brothers co-founded the at-risk youth nonprofit Keeping Young Minds Occupied, KYMO.

Harlan Millers wife and children were present to receive the award on his behalf."

I want to take a moment to thank UEZ Coordinator Stephanie Gonzalez for the awards presented to me and my wife LaToya Miller, as well as for honoring my twin brother with the Lifetime Achievement Award, said Harlan Miller on Facebook.

It was a true blessing to have his wife and kids there to receive it on his behalf, he said. I also had the privilege of giving my nephew Harlan a special award for his years of supporting and performing for the community since he was just five years old.

Gonzalez and Miller lauded Mayor Albert Kelly and other city officials for their support for the UEZ program.

Deep appreciation to Business Administrator Kevin Rabago, Heather Moran (Bridgeton UEZ Team), and our City Council  Council President Edward Bethea, Councilwoman Rosemary DeQuinzio, Councilman Curtis Edwards, Councilman David Gonzalez and Councilwoman Marian King  for your leadership and ongoing commitment to economic growth and community unity, Gonzalez said.

Miller said of Kelly, We truly appreciate the fact that you stood up front with us, helping pass out awards and representing the city the entire night. That was a great moment of leadership and unity.

Gonzalez said she was happy to get new businesses to take part in the services offered by the program" such as the Revolving Loan Fund through the Cumberland Empowerment Zone, led by Denise Jackson and Shirley DeLeon and the Facade Improvement Program.

Im beyond proud  and deeply grateful  to everyone who made this milestone possible, she said. Together, we showed what collaboration, heart, and community truly look like in Bridgeton.

Gonzalez said that she hopes 2025 signals just a beginning for Bridgetons UEZ program and more positive programs to support businesses.

This was our very first Bridgeton UEZ Awards Gala, she said. I truly hope it brought warmth, recognition, and inspiration to our local businesses, partners, and community members who continue to make a difference every day.

My goal is to ensure every business feels included and to encourage those not yet part of the UEZ to join us and take advantage of the many opportunities and resources available through this free program.
A 48-year-old New Jersey man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison in Maryland for stabbing his girlfriend to death.

Matthew Sidney Watley, of the Sicklerville section of Winslow, will get credit for time served following his arrest on Sept. 24, 2023, the State Attorneys Office in Frederick County said.

The mother of Candice Thompson, the 46-year-old woman killed by Watley addressed the court at Thursdays sentencing in Frederick.

I dont want to live after what this monster did to my daughter; he destroyed my family. She was not identified by officials.

Watley had a history of committing domestic violence against Thompson in Winslow when her body was found on the floorboard of a tractor-trailer at the Costco Depot in New Market, Maryland, authorities said.

Deputies were called to the location at 1:30 a.m. after a report that the driver later identified as Watley was under the influence and had broken the window of his own truck.

Deputies placed spike strips in front of and behind the truck after Watley was argumentative and wouldnt speak with them, officials said.

Watley then attempted to flee in the truck and continued driving even after his tires went over the spike strips, the sheriffs office said. He stopped at the exit lane of the distribution center, but still refused to get out of the truck despite repeated requests, officials said.

A short time later, deputies used pepper spray on him, but Watley remained in the truck cab. Finally, deputies broke a different window, used a stun gun on him and took him into custody.

He had what appeared to be blood on his shirt, hands, and face, authorities said at the time.

Thompson, of Sickleriville, was then found with multiple stab wounds in her back in the truck. Authorities didnt say where she was attacked.

Watley pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Oct. 21.

What a tragic loss of life, States Attorney Charlie Smith said in a statement. My heart goes out to the family. Domestic violence homicides are becoming epidemic in our country. These violent offenders need to be treated harshly at the outset before they go on to take the life of their intimate partner.
Richard Camel, 55, of Paterson, was awarded $375,000 in his retaliation lawsuit against the Passaic County Sheriff's Office. Photo Courtesy of Richard Camel

A jury has awarded $375,000 to a former Passaic County corrections officer who said he faced years of retaliation after reporting racial discrimination.

Richard Camel, 55, a retired corporal at the Passaic County Jail, filed a lawsuit against the county Sheriffs Office in 2021, claiming he endured a pattern of retaliatory actions dating back to 2016.

Following a week-long trial, jurors determined on Oct. 7 that while the sheriffs office did not intentionally discriminate against Camel based on race, it had more likely than not retaliated against him, according to online court records.

Camel was awarded $375,000 in damages, including $100,000 for past emotional distress, $60,000 in back pay, $176,800 in front pay, and $38,200 in punitive damages.

An additional $375,000 was awarded for attorneys fees, bringing the total award to $750,000.

I finally got my justice through the eight jurors that sat on that stand and heard this lawsuit out, Camel said. Im forever thankful to them.

The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners authorized the full settlement during its Nov. 17 meeting, records show.

Camels attorney, Leonard Schiro, said he was confident the jury would rule in his favor.

He went through a tough time up there, and Im glad we were able to bring him some justice, Schiro said.

Camel, a 25-year veteran of the sheriffs office, alleged in his lawsuit that he began experiencing discrimination in 2012 as the result of animus toward him as a Black individual, but waited several years to file a complaint due to fear of retaliation.

According to the suit, the retaliation began after Camel made a verbal complaint in December 2016 about a sergeant who was harassing him. Following an informal investigation, Camel was transferred to a less favorable shift.

In February 2017, Camel filed an 8-page written complaint against the sergeant. About two weeks later, he was issued a five-day suspension for alleged conduct dating back to 2015, the lawsuit claims.

That August, while he was on family leave to care for his sick mother, Camel received a disciplinary notice for absenteeism for taking sick days he had accrued, the complaint states.

The sheriffs office also investigated bereavement leave Camel took for the deaths of his stepmother, father-in-law and aunt, the suit claims. He was required to prove he was related to the deceased, which was a humiliating, disrespectful and demeaning process.

Camel was later ordered to undergo drug testing and psychological fitness for duty evaluations as a result of his absences, the complaint states.

He was issued six additional disciplinary notices between November 2018 to February 2019 from the sheriffs office centered on his attendance, four of which sought his removal from employment, the suit claims.

Following a hearing, Camel served a 30-day suspension for all the charges against him.

In 2020, Camel submitted another written complaint accusing a sergeant of discriminatory and retaliatory conduct. No formal investigation was conducted, aside from supervisors informally speaking with the sergeant, according to the lawsuit.

The retaliation escalated while Camel was on leave to care for his mother after she contracted COVID-19, the suit claims. Officers from the special investigations division allegedly surveilled Camels home and went to his mothers home.

According to Camel, officers in an unmarked police car drove up and down his street for five days. Concerned neighbors eventually called the police to report it, he said.

The Paterson Department pulled up on them, jumped out basically with guns drawn, and from there they quickly identified themselves and pulled off, he said.

Despite providing medical documentation, Camel claims in the suit he was not paid for the 14 days he was on leave due to being exposed to the virus.

He later received a 35-day suspension for not being home when officers came one day during his leave, though he was reportedly visiting his mother in the hospital at that time.

The state Civil Service Commission overturned that suspension last year and awarded Camel 35 days of back pay, benefits and seniority, records show.

In 2021, Camel received a positive performance evaluation, but his supervisor was ordered to rescind it and change categories to make them less favorable, according to the suit. He then received another notice seeking his removal from employment for excessive absenteeism.

While the disciplinary notices initially prevented him from filing for retirement, Camel retired from the sheriffs office in July 2023 after the charge was cleared.

The retaliation, it was unbearable, Camel told NJ Advance Media. Me launching this lawsuit was something that I didnt want to do. It was something that I had to do because it was just too severe. They were basically going after my livelihood ... and trying to hurt me and my family in the midst of it.

While the Paterson resident said hes grateful the nightmare is finally over, he still mourns the loss of his career.

I loved being an officer, I love protecting and serving, he said. I was robbed of that career, and thats something that I can never, ever get back. And no price can ever be put on that.

I feel that the department failed me, he added. I feel that every officer that sat in a position of command, that sat back and witnessed all of this, is just as equally guilty as the ones who were named as the harassers and the retaliators.

Passaic County officials could not be reached for comment regarding the jurys decision.
A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS TNS

Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks political events across the country with Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavin.

Q: After fighting for months to keep the Epstein files under wraps, President Trump signed bipartisan legislation Wednesday night that calls for their release within 30 days. Given that Trump had said prior to signing he wants the Department of Justice to investigate only the Democrats named in the files, will we see all the files? And what if its only a partial release, how will that play?

Julie: There are several ways Trump can protect himself and his cronies. Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, The Justice Department may withhold or redact victim personal information, or material that would jeopardize an ongoing federal investigation, or that remains classified in a manner consistent with national-security protections.

And that is the rub: presidents have extremely broad unilateral authority to classify information, including the power to decide what constitutes a national security concern and to restrict access to information accordingly. This authority is not created by statute but flows from constitutional executive power, especially the presidents role as commander-in-chief and head of the Executive Branch.

In practice, this means that Congress cannot meaningfully restrict Trumps classification decisions.

Trump also ordered his attorney general to investigate Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats who he says are in the Epstein files. Within hours, Pam Bondi had opened the investigation. If the national security angle does not work out for Trump  and there is no reason why it should not  Bondi could always claim that this new investigation is ongoing and kick the can down the road in perpetuity.

Mike: On the first subject, Trump is very good at seeing whats going to happen and then being for it. The vote was marching in the wrong direction directly at him, so he turned around and acted like he was the leader of the parade.

Secondly, I dont see anything damning coming out about Trump. What we dont know, is why. Is it because theres nothing to hide, or because something is hidden?

The MAGA base will want full transparency, not a bunch of redacted info. Trump will be a victim of the very deep-state skepticism that he has fomented for years to such success. The only solution will be full transparency.

Q: Republicans joined Democrats to vote in favor of the legislation to release the Epstein files in the House (427-1) and in the Senate it passed by unanimous consent. In his assessment, MS NOWs Lawrence ODonnell put it this way: the Epstein files have finally broken Donald Trumps dictatorial grip on the Republican Party. Do you agree?

Julie: That remains to be seen. There are three things happening right now that pose a danger to Republicans who want to follow Trump off the cliff: one is the Epstein files, which the MAGA base demands to see. The second is the economy, which is tanking and affecting his standing with his own voters. The third is the signal voters sent earlier this month in New Jersey and other places about whom they blame for their plight. If I were a Republican running next year, I would create a little daylight between me and an increasingly failing president.

Mike: Excellent summary by Julie. I agree its too soon to tell. The Epstein files fever knows no ideological bounds. The most fervent skeptics will worry their heroes are acting like those they just threw out of office. Beyond that, dont be so sure Trumps supporters are walking away from him. Republicans on the ballot this year begged for his support and then followed him off an electoral cliff. Many are preparing to do the same in 2026.

Q: Many MAGA stalwarts, celebrities and influencers broke with President Trump over the Epstein files before the vote, especially after he called it a Democrat hoax. Will he get them back?

Julie: He will get them back. Their entire business model depends on sticking to Trump like a burr.

Mike: If he looks so obviously like he continues to protect the rich and elite, dont be so sure they all come running back. Look at Marjorie Taylor Green. Shes crazy, but shes also had enough. Distrust of the powerful is what unites them.

Q: After losing grip on GOP leaders in both chambers, and his base fracturing, is Trump now a lame-duck president? Either way, what does that mean for him and the future of the party?

Julie: I am not convinced that he has lost his grip on GOP leaders and I am not convinced that he is a lame-duck president, yet. The MAGA movement cannot exist without him and many of its members know it.

Mike: Julies right. Hes not a lame duck yet. We have 10 years of wishful thinking from Democrats and the press believing that this was the moment and issue that would break Trump. It hasnt happened yet.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a dinner in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

U.S.-Saudi relations

Q: Trump dismissed U.S. intelligence findings that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was likely aware of the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He then named Saudi Arabia as a non-NATO ally. This after a Federal judge allowed families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. What are we to make of this?

Julie: Trump loves dictators and grift. In Mohammed bin Salman, he has found both a dictator and someone willing to allow his family to grift.

Mike: Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is a long and complicated one, well before Trump. They have been an ally and sometimes bad actor at the same time for many many decades.

Gerrymandering

Q: A panel of judges in El Paso concluded that Texas recently redrawn congressional map to give Republicans more seats in the House was illegal and racially motivated to harm Black and Hispanic residents. The ruling will not affect Californias newly approved redistricting map, which may yield five more Democrat seats in the House. Have we seen the end to this?

Julie: Lets see what the U.S. Supreme Court says about Texas first. These MAGA justices have been dying to fully gut the Civil Rights Act and this may be their opportunity to do it.

Mike: We are nowhere near the end. Both parties, at least in these states, continue to put partisanship ahead of their constituents. All these gerrymandering wrongs dont make a right.

New New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way speaks at the Statehouse in Trenton on Friday. To her left is Gov. Phil Murphy.

N.J. special election

Q: There are at least 10 Democrats and one Republican who have declared their candidacy to fill Governor-elect Mikie Sherrills seat in the House to represent New Jerseys District 11, covering parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. Thats quite a crowded field. What are you watching for here?

Julie: This is shaping up to be a rehash of last years Tammy Murphy-Andy Kim fight, where a bunch of party insiders put their names on an endorsement of Tammy because they were pressured, while privately signaling that they would never vote for her.

Gov. Murphy has endorsed Brendan Gill and not his own female, Black lieutenant governor, who has loyally served alongside him for years. (Then again, Murphy has sided with Gill and against women time and again, so this should come as no surprise.) Murphy said he owes Gill for managing his 2017 gubernatorial campaign, which is incredibly tone deaf.

No one in the 11th Congressional District gives a damn about who he owes when the country is on fire.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, who has his pulse on the heart of the Democratic Party, has endorsed Tom Malinowski (whom I am also supporting.) This is all very similar to the Tammy Murphy-Kim fight: an unqualified candidate with a problematic personal narrative strong-arming party leaders into putting their names on an endorsement versus someone with deep experience who has a record of standing up to Trump and for New Jersey in Congress.

Mike: It sounds like Republicans should sit back and let the Democrats hammer each other for a few months in hopes that the winner is damaged by all the negative campaigning. This district was redrawn to be much more heavily Democratic-leaning than the one Governor-elect Sherrill first won. The Democratic nominee will still be a favorite, unless the nominee is heavily wounded in the process.

Jerseys lame duck

Q: Before handing over power to Sherrill, Gov. Phil Murphy has kept busy with his legislative agenda. Among others, hes pushing to codify the states 100% clean energy goal by 2035 so it survives future administrations. He also wants to ban cellphones in K-12 classrooms. Will he get what he wants?

Julie: I dont think anyone really cares what Phil Murphy wants anymore. If it makes sense for legislators to pass something, they will do it. Governor-elect Sherrill has a lot more say in what happens during lame duck than Murphy does.

Mike: If we have learned anything over the last eight years, its that the Murphy administrations energy policy backfired and that the environmental policies thrust upon by the far left are fantasy and counterproductive.

The goal to lower emissions is laudable, but it will not happen through unrealistic press releases. Lowering emissions will happen by investment in in-state natural gas infrastructure to replace out of state coal generation, a renewed commitment to nuclear and yes continuing to invest in renewables, all at the same time. Renewables cannot do this alone  90% of our electricity comes from natural gas and nuclear. That cannot be replaced with the wave of a magic wand by solar and wind. The current path of talking point over pragmatism has led us to a place where prices are too high, reliability is more suspect, and the environment is worse off.

N.J. GOP

Q: The Republican agenda remains focused on lowering costs and taxes, energy affordability, school funding, among others. How will New Jerseys GOP fare in a Sherrill administration?

Julie: Their fate is out of their hands. If Trump continues to torpedo the economy, nothing they say about affordability is going to stick.

Mike: New Jersey Republicans have their lowest numbers in the Assembly since Watergate. Since Watergate! Now thats a low point.

The idea to blindly embrace Trump despite his losing New Jersey three straight times very predictably and very spectacularly has failed. To win again, we need to stay true to principles of smaller government, lower taxes and being tough on crime while stopping the judgmental and angry rhetoric against anyone who thinks differently than us.

Lets get back to the live-and-let-live mentality we had when we embraced differences of opinions on issues as long as we agreed on core principles. When you do that, you win most Republicans, some Democrats, and most importantly we win independent voters big. The current strategy energized Republicans but also energized Democrats while pushing away the majority of independent voters. Thats how you lose.

Lets get back to valuing winning (and governing) over social media outrage and likes. Too many in our party want purity and fealty over victory. Too many think compromise and bipartisanship are dirty words.

Welcome to living in the perpetual wilderness if the party doesnt change.

Political consultants Julie Roginsky and Mike DuHaime Photo by Stephanie Cowan

Editors note: Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week with this Friendly Fire conversation.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene waves while former President Donald Trump points to her while they look over the 16th tee during the second round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, July 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) AP

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) has undergone a striking metamorphosis over the past year, culminating in a dramatic split with President Donald Trump amid the Epstein files controversy.

But as Greene wins over former critics, comedian Jon Stewart remains skeptical of her about-face.

While Stewart praised Greene for standing alongside Epstein survivors and demanding the release of federal case files, he questioned the MAGA firebrands motivations.

Good on her for doing that, Stewart said Friday on The Weekly Show podcast. But Im not exactly like, Marjorie Taylor Greene, shes so ballsy to stand up to Trump. She also sees where the wind is blowing on this.

I think this whole, now Im gonna go on The View and pretend like I wasnt who I was, it all feels very cynical to me.

In the past few months, Greene has broken ranks with Republicans on the Epstein files, Affordable Care Act subsidies and support for Israel in its war with Hamas. Trump has called her a traitor, pulling his support for her in the 2026 midterm elections.

Her shift has led former Democratic rivals like Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark to consider teaming up on future legislation.

If you can put Marjorie and myself as co-leads on anything, it automatically gets attention, and it also reveals to the American public that we can bridge these gaps if we just decided that we want to, Crockett told CNN.

Before breaking with Trump, Greene was one of the presidents staunchest allies.

She supported Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen by Democrats and later backed his calls to impeach President Joe Biden.

Greene also promoted debunked far-right QAnon conspiracy theories, including claims about Bill and Hillary Clinton, a Democratic child sex trafficking ring (Pizzagate) and Jewish space lasers."

I would like to say humbly Im sorry for taking part in the toxic politics, Greene told CNN last week. Its very bad for our country, and its been something that Ive thought about a lot.

Sentiment is shifting, but Greene will still need to work to gain the trust of most Democrats given her past rhetoric.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said she will reserve judgment until Greene backs up her words with concrete action, adding that any effort to repair their relationship must start with Greene.

I personally believe that you never close the door to a person who wants to have changes in their life and in their heart, but they have to be genuine and they have to be authentic, Ocasio-Cortez told CNN. It is incumbent upon her to repair the harm that she has done to people. It is not on the people she has harmed.
Jimmy Kimmel arrives at the third annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit: A Night of Radiance & Reflection on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at nya studios WEST in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Jimmy Kimmel fired back at President Donald Trump after he demanded again that the late night host be fired.

Trump reignited his longtime feud with Kimmel in an early morning post on Truth Social on Thursday, questioning why Kimmel was still on the air. During Thursdays show, Kimmel responded to Trumps post that called the comedian a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS.

Kimmel noted that Trump posted his latest attack about 11 minutes after his previous show ended.

He watches us live! Hi, Mr. President, thanks for watching us on TV instead of on YouTube. We appreciate that. And Ill tell you, its viewers like you who keep us on the air, Kimmel said.

Ironically, its also sweet that even in the middle of the biggest sex scandal in the history of the American presidency, he takes precious time on the toilet to post about our show. Keeps saying we have bad ratings, and you should listen to him, because if anyone knows about bad ratings, its that guy, he added.

Kimmel then explained that Trump has repeatedly called for him to be fired.

I have honestly lost count now of how many times the president has demanded I be pulled off the air. I mean, talk about a snowflake, Kimmel said.

The late night host then said Trump tried to get him fired in September. Trump celebrated the shows brief suspension from the air that month following backlash to comments Kimmel made about the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

And youve done this before. You tried to get me fired in September. It didnt work, Mr. President, I admire your tenacity if youre watching tonight, which I presume you are, Kimmel said.

Kimmel then offered a deal to Trump before hurling his own insult at him.

How about this? Ill go when you go. Okay, lets ride off into the sunset together, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. And until then, if I may, borrow a phrase from you, Quiet piggy! Kimmel said.

Trump faced intense backlash after calling a reporter, piggy, on Air Force One last week.

In a moment that went viral on social media, Trump lashed out at the female reporter asking him questions about the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epsteinon Friday. He told the reporter, Quiet! Quiet, piggy! when she attempted to ask a follow-up to her initial question.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trumps insult during a press briefing on Thursday, saying that the president was just being honest.

Look, the President is very frank and honest with everyone in this room. Youve all seen it yourself. Youve all experienced it yourselves. And I think its one of the many reasons that the American people reelected this president because of his frankness, Leavitt told reporters.
President Donald Trumps blistering attacks on six Democrats have fueled security concerns for the group of lawmakers in recent days.

Trump lashed out at a group of six Democrats who posted a video reminding the military and intelligence community earlier this week to refuse illegal orders that might be issued by the administration. Trump said their behavior was punishable by DEATH and shared a post calling for the Democrats to be hanged.

This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post on Thursday.

The group of lawmakers  Sens. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.) and Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Chris Deluzio (Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (N.H.)  said in a joint statement that they would not be intimidated.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, said Capitol Police ramped up her security following Trumps posts during an appearance on MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, on Thursday.

Capitol Police came to us and said, Were going to put you on 24/7 security. Weve got law enforcement out in front of my house. It changes things immediately, and leadership climate is set from the top. And if the President is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldnt be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse, Slotkin said on All In with Chris Hayes.

She said Trumps posts fundamentally changed our security situation, but emphasized that she is not afraid to continue speaking out.

He is trying to use fear as a weapon. Hes trying to distract us from whatever. He doesnt want to talk about the Epstein files or whatever else, but hes also trying to intimidate people out of criticizing him. Thats the entire game here, Slotkin said.

And then hes trying to intimidate people in his party to keep quiet even when he does things that violate our norms, she added.

Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, echoed similar concerns in an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins on The Source, saying Trumps comments are uncharted waters.

I never expected, after serving 25 years in the Navy, flying combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait, flying the space shuttle, that now Ive got to worry about my personal safety and that of my wife, Gabby Giffords, who was already nearly assassinated, because of something the President said, Kelly said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the claim on Thursday that Trump was calling for the execution of Democratic legislators.

Lets be clear about what the president is responding to, Leavitt said. You have sitting members of the United States Congress who conspired together to orchestrate a video message to members of the United States military to active-duty service members, to members of the national security apparatus, encouraging them to defy the presidents lawful orders.
President Trump and New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet Nov. 21 at the White House. AP Photo/Alex Brandon/Heather Khalifa

President Donald Trump on Friday offered surprising praise for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ahead of their private meeting in the Oval Office.

Trump gave Mamdani a lot of credit" during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio, saying the 34-year-old Democrat ran a good race to win the Nov. 4 election. The presidents comments were an unusual show of courtesy in what has been a combative political relationship

Hes got a different philosophy; hes a little bit different, Trump told Kilmeade. I give him a lot of credit for the run, a successful run. We all know that runs arent easy. But I think well get along fine. Were looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong.

Todays meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, is going to be quite civil, Trump added. It will be closed to the press.

Trumps civility marks a sharp turn from months of heated dialogue between the Republican president and Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist.

Donald Trump, since I know youre watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up, Mamdani said during his televised victory speech on Election Night.

Trump downplayed the remarks after Kilmeade played a clip of the audio.

Well, I was hitting him a little hard too, in all fairness, Trump said. Hard to be totally friendly toward the opponent. I dont know exactly what he means by turn the volume up. He has to be careful when he says that to me. But does that mean lets go at it? I dont think so. He was very nice in calling.

While Trump has toned down his rhetoric ahead of the meeting, he remains a fierce critic of Mamdani.

Trump endorsed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor, threatening to withhold federal funds if communist Mamdani won the election. The president has threatened to arrest and deport Mamdani if he disrupts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

Mamdani, a three-term Queens Assemblyman, has vowed not to cooperate with Trumps immigration policies, describing ICE as a rogue agency.

New York Citys more than 3 million immigrants are central to our citys strength, vitality, and success. The Mayor-elect remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of every single New Yorker and upholding our sanctuary laws, said Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for Mamdani.

Affordability was another major policy focus in Mamdanis campaign as living costs skyrocket in Americas economic capital. He has advocated for raising corporate tax rates, building more affordable housing units and freezing rent hikes for nearly one million residents.

Addressing the affordability crisis will be Mamdanis main focus during his first meeting with Trump.

I want to just speak plainly to the president about what it means to actually stand up for New Yorkers and the way in which New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city, Mamdani said Wednesday MS NOWs All In with Chris Hayes."
Guests attend the Global South Modernization Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Bowen)

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Experts and scholars attending a high-level forum on Friday stressed the pivotal role of traditional culture in the modernization of Global South countries.

"The modern society that we are living in did not emerge out of nowhere. Instead, it grew from the deep soil of our traditional culture," said Jin Minqing, director of the Institute of Contemporary China Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the Global South Modernization Forum in Beijing.

"Traditional culture carries a nation's wisdom, ethics, aesthetics and life philosophy, serving as precious resources for achieving modernization," Jin said while speaking at the forum's parallel session on traditional culture and modern life.

While discussing the potential of traditional culture, Ayman El-Sayed Abdel Wahab from the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies noted that revitalizing historical heritage could enhance tourism and boost the creative economy. He also emphasized that traditional knowledge, such as farming and irrigation, can inspire modern sustainable development.

"Modernization in the Global South is strongest when it grows from cultural roots, rather than replacing them," he said.

"The contemporary world faces multiple challenges in the economy, politics, culture and society," said Pablo Vommaro, executive director of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, stressing that mutual dialogue and cultural exchanges, especially between China and other Global South countries, are essential for pooling the wisdom of the people and building a shared future for humanity.

Experts however noted that the Global South has yet to fully explore its own cultures. "The culture of the Global South remains less exposed on the global stage," said Wen Jian, research fellow of Xinhua Institute, pointing out that many are still uncritically applying Western culture and values to judge their own development reality and culture.

"Only by grounding development in its own economic realities and independently choosing a path that suits its national conditions can a country achieve the goal of prosperity," said Wen.

The Global South Modernization Forum brought together around 160 experts and scholars from social science institutes, major think tanks, and universities in China and other countries to discuss topics such as the role of traditional culture in the Global South modernization and the preservation of cultural heritage amid modernization. 
President Donald Trumps plan to add five more GOP-leaning seats in Texas will backfire on Republicans, said the Wall Street Journals editorial board.

A trio of federal judges blocked Texas from using its new U.S. House district maps in the 2026 midterm elections earlier this week. Trump pushed Texas Republicans earlier this year to redraw its district lines to add five more GOP-leaning seats to the House.

The Wall Street Journals editorial board argued that Trumps redistricting plan will have dire consequences for the GOP in next years elections.

President Trumps insistence that Texas Republicans redraw their House map before the 2026 midterms is looking like it could backfire in a big way. A federal court on Tuesday struck down the new map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The dispute is a legal hash, but it suggests the GOP didnt look before leaping into a mid-decade gerrymander free-for-all, the editorial board wrote in an opinion piece on Thursday.

The editorial board noted that the federal judges blocked the new maps due to racial gerrymandering before criticizing the GOP effort to redraw the districts.

Give that a second to sink in: The opinion says the Trump Administration wrongly claimed the first Texas map was a racial gerrymander, which prompted the state to attempt to undo it with an actual racial gerrymander. The ruling quotes Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP lawmakers saying they acted to address DOJs concerns, the editorial board wrote.

Texas Republicans will surely petition the Supreme Court to stay the panels decision. And its reasoning is convoluted and questionable, especially given that many GOP legislators in Texas admitted their partisan motives. Even so, it shows the risk that Republicans took by starting this mid-decade redistricting race to the bottom, the board added.

The board also argued that Democrats responses to GOPs redistricting efforts could further hurt the GOPs chances of holding onto the House majority. California Gov. Gavin Newsoms (D) proposal to add more Democratic-leaning seats to his state was overwhelmingly approved by voters earlier this month.

The Democratic reaction to Mr. Trumps Texas power play could erase most, if not all, GOP gains. Californians this month resoundingly passed Gov. Gavin Newsoms Prop. 50, which will give his party five more seats and buttress several vulnerable Democrats in what were previously competitive districts, the board wrote.

The board concluded with a stark warning to Republicans.

Mr. Trumps attempt to bludgeon GOP state legislatures to redo their districts could turn out to be a misjudgment that costs Republicans their House majority, the board wrote.
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Dateline is taking a look at the deaths of Tanna Togstad and Tim Mumbrue, a young couple who was found murdered in Waupaca County, Wisconsin.

You can stream the latest episode of Dateline and all previous episodes, including the Lori Vallow Daybell jailhouse interview, the death of Ashley Schwalm, and The Terrible Night on King Road, on DirecTV, Fubo TV, or Peacock TV.

This 41-minute-long episode is a report by Datelines Josh Mankiewicz and presented by Lester Holt, which explains the events surrounding the stabbing deaths of Mumbrue, Togstad, and Togstads dog.

Heres a look at the Dateline coverage of the mysterious death of young mother Ashley Schwalm:

Where to watch Dateline for free?

Raising the Dead is the 31st episode of season 33 of Dateline. There are several free trials you can use to watch this episode of Dateline. DirecTV has a 5-day free trial, and Fubo TV has a 5-day free trial you can sign up for.

Or, you can sign up for Peacock for $8/month (no free trial) and keep up to date with all of Dateline, like other famous episodes, including The Terrible Night on King Road, The Menendez Brothers: Chance At Freedom, and The Night of the Noreaster.

When is NBC Dateline on?

Dateline airs new episodes on Fridays on NBC at 9/8c, along with special extra episodes on select Sundays. New episodes are available the next day after they air on the Peacock app. The show has recently aired coverage like Sean Combs on Trial," with an episode about Bryan Kohberger from the Friday before.

NBCs Dateline has been on the air since 1992 and is currently presented by Lester Holt. The program also features notable correspondents, like Hoda Kotb and Keith Morrison.
A former Union County police officer who sued Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro for retaliation now plans to take legal action against the mayor for calling his case opportunistic.

Matthew OHolla, who resigned from the police department in August, filed a lawsuit alleging Battiloro and other employees retaliated against him, creating a hostile work environment.

Battiloros nephew, Vincent P. Battiloro, 17, of Garwood, was charged with murder for the hit-and-run deaths of two girls riding an e-bike in Cranford.

Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, were struck and killed on Sept. 29 in a hit-and-run crash in Cranford.

OHolla filed his lawsuit against Chief Battiloro in New Jersey Superior Court a few days after the crash.

After the Oct. 3 filing, Westfield Mayor Shelly Brindle allegedly told a news website she believed the lawsuit was timed to coincide with publicity about the homicides.

The town will vigorously defend this lawsuit, which is clearly opportunistic in its timing and intended to undermine the credibility of Chief Battiloro, Brindle told TapInto Westfield, according to the notice filed on Wednesday.

OHolla has now filed a tort claim notice saying he intends to sue Battiloro and Brindle for defamation and conspiracy over Brindles comments to the media, accusing him of trying to capitalize on the deaths of two teenage girls.

Brindle did not immediately respond to a request for comment on OHollas notice of claim.

OHollas claim alleges Brindles statements to a reporter were knowingly false, defamatory and malicious.

This statement permanently damaged the plaintiffs reputation, good name and standing in his profession and the community, the notice states.

The statement is knowingly false, not offered as opinion, but as fact and was made on behalf of, and the endorsement of Westfield Township and defendant Battiloro, the notice states.

The claim says OHolla has suffered humiliation, embarrassment, (and) severe emotional distress, and was made in retaliation for the lawsuit he filed.

Chief Battiloro did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the defamation claim.
Weather forecasters are calling for rain showers in New Jersey late Friday night into Saturday morning. Canva

Rain showers will develop across New Jersey late Friday night and continue through Saturday morning as a low pressure system tracks through the Mid-Atlantic region, bringing between a quarter and half inch of precipitation to most areas.

The National Weather Service says the developing storm system currently over the Midwest will move east through the Ohio Valley tonight, reaching the Appalachians after midnight before tracking through the Mid-Atlantic and Delmarva Peninsula Saturday morning.

Rain is expected to begin in New Jersey late tonight and persist through Saturday morning, with most precipitation tapering off around midday.

Coastal areas may see lingering rain into Saturday afternoon as the low departs offshore. Northern areas along and north of Interstate 78 can expect less than a quarter-inch of rain, while southern New Jersey and coastal regions could receive closer to half an inch.

Light rain is possible in the southern half of New Jersey on Friday night into Saturday morning. National Weather Service

Temperatures will remain mild for late November, with overnight lows tonight in the low to mid-40s.

Saturdays highs will reach the low to mid-50s despite the rain. Conditions will improve late Saturday as the system moves offshore and high pressure builds in from the west.

Southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph today will become light and variable tonight before shifting to the north at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph late Saturday morning.

Sunday will bring dry conditions with mostly clear skies across much of the state as high pressure remains in control. Highs will range from the mid-40s to mid-50s.

A weak cold front passes through Sunday night but is expected to produce little more than a possible light passing shower, forecasters said.

Monday continues the dry pattern with mainly clear skies and highs again in the mid-40s to mid-50s, though clouds will begin increasing late in the afternoon.

The extended forecast shows two low pressure systems approaching the region Tuesday into Wednesday. One system will move into the Great Lakes and eventually Canada, while another tracks from the Tennessee River Valley into the Mid-Atlantic.

This will bring warmer air and multiple rounds of rain beginning Tuesday midday, with the best coverage of precipitation Tuesday night.

Highs Tuesday will reach the low 50s to low 60s, warming further to the low to mid-60s on Wednesday. Rain or rain showers will continue through Wednesday as the first cold front moves through, followed by a second cold front Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

There is some uncertainty with the timing of these systems, as some forecast models suggest the rain could persist into Thanksgiving Day.

Behind the cold fronts, notably colder air will arrive, dropping Thanksgiving highs to the low 40s to low 50s.

Current weather radar
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This photo shows copies of the think tank report titled "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy." The report was released on Friday by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has made historic achievements in river protection and governance as the country pursues a river strategy in the new era which is centered on the principle of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, according to a think tank report released on Friday.

The report, titled "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy," was released by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources.

BOLSTERING HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

China's historic progress in river protection and governance has significantly bolstered flood control, water supply, food security, and ecological safety, laying a more robust foundation for high-quality economic and social development, the report said.

Adhering to the principle of "prioritizing water conservation," China has fully implemented the national water-saving initiative and enforced rigid constraints on water resources, promoting a shift from extensive and inefficient water use toward conservation and efficiency, according to the report.

In the past, some regions pursued economic growth blindly, resulting in the direct discharge of large volumes of wastewater. This disrupted the ecological balance of rivers and lakes, and water pollution became a widespread issue across many basins, the report noted.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, while China's GDP has nearly doubled, its total water consumption has remained stable at under 610 billion cubic meters. Water use per 10,000 yuan (about 1,410 U.S. dollars) of GDP and per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value has dropped by 52 percent and 63 percent, respectively.

With just 6 percent of the world's freshwater resources, China sustains nearly 20 percent of the global population and generates over 18 percent of global economic output, the report said.

BUILDING A BEAUTIFUL CHINA

Embracing the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," China has advanced basin-wide ecological protection and governance.

To ensure the persistent clarity of water bodies, China has implemented severe measures to reduce emissions and control pollution, thereby driving a fundamental shift in water ecological protection, the report said.

The "battle for clear waters" has yielded solid results, with over 3,000 black and odorous water bodies in cities at and above the prefecture level being cleaned up.

In 2024, 90.4 percent of national surface water monitoring sections met good water quality standards. The main stem of the Yangtze River maintained Class II water quality for five consecutive years, and the Yellow River for three years.

As more rivers regain vitality and more river basins are rejuvenated, a robust ecological shield is being built, creating a powerful showcase for the vision of a Beautiful China, the report said.

CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGE RESPONSE

As climate change accelerates, global water security faces mounting pressure, and river governance has become an ever more formidable challenge, according to the report, which called for closer international cooperation to address water scarcity.

According to data from the UN agencies, 2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, and between 2 billion and 3 billion people experience water shortages for at least a month each year.

Global water scarcity will intensify in the coming decades without stronger international cooperation, the report said, adding that the urban population facing water shortages is projected to rise from 930 million in 2016 to between 1.7 billion and 2.4 billion by 2050.

The report noted that China has accumulated extensive experience in major projects, innovative methods, and social management of water in recent years.

China has provided online and offline training for nearly 4,000 water professionals and government officials from 112 countries. It has also established five overseas technology transfer and capacity-building centers in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Serbia, and Senegal.

Over the years, China has carried out extensive cooperation with United Nations agencies in water resources, shared advances in global water-science research, and joined hands with countries and regions worldwide to address growing water challenges, the report said, adding that the country will continue to take concrete steps to advance water-related goals under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy

Guests read the think tank report "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy" during the 2025 Yangtze Culture Forum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 21, 2025. The report was released on Friday by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This photo shows a copy of the think tank report "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy." The report was released on Friday by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Louisiana Supreme Court justices William J. Crain, left center, and Cade R. Cole, right, help Justice Piper D. Griffin, with going down the steps at Jackson Square as a procession of legal officials and professionals walk into St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for a Red Mass on Monday, October 6, 2025. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune)
CHONGQING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 7th China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum opened in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday.

Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the opening ceremony.

Noting that the forum is an important platform for China and ASEAN countries to deepen legal exchanges and cooperation, attendees at the event suggested leveraging the forum to strengthen experience and academic exchanges in the legal sector.

They also emphasized the need to promote the alignment of laws, rules, and standards in the fields of transport, digital economy, and green economy, as well as to optimize law enforcement cooperation in combating cross-border crimes and resolving cross-border disputes.

Yuan Jiajun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Chongqing municipal committee, also attended and addressed the opening ceremony. 
Around 30 worms will be sent to the International Space Station next year as part of a University of Exeter experiment examining how long-duration space travel affects living organisms.

The mission, scheduled for launch in April 2026, follows more than eight years of scientific development in Exeter.

The total cost of the project is around 500,000, including commercial launch fees, with a further 250,000 invested in earlier development. Funding is provided by the UK Space Agency, with launch support from Voyager Technologies in the United States.

The experiment will use C. elegans, a type of nematode worm frequently used in medical, genetic and space research. Their built-in fluorescent markers allow scientists to track stress responses and health in real time via onboard imaging.

The project has since expanded into a collaboration between the University of Exeter and engineers at the University of Leicester, who were brought in to design and build the specialist hardware needed to carry the worms into space.

Working from the Exeter teams biological specifications, engineers at Space Park Leicester designed and built the small space laboratory known as the Petri Pod.

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The Petri Pod is a compact, automated experimental unit measuring around 101030cm and weighing three kilograms.

Inside are 12 sealed pods capable of supporting small organisms with food, water and air, even when exposed to the vacuum of space. The unit also contains a miniaturised fluorescent microscope, a first for UK-built space biology hardware.

Following its initial operation inside the ISS, the Petri Pod will be moved to an external platform for at least 15 weeks, exposing the worms (and several microbial and material samples) to microgravity, deep-space radiation, and near-vacuum conditions.

Data on the worms' wellbeing, along with environmental measurements such as temperature and radiation levels, will be stored for retrieval when the device is returned to Earth on a later cargo flight.

Professor Tim Etheridge, scientific lead for the project at the University of Exeter, said the mission represents a major step forward for UK space-based biology research.

This hardware does several key things, he said.

It provides a unique platform for biological experiments by automating operations remotely, miniaturises fluorescent microscopy for space use, and is adaptable to multiple types of biological samples. It essentially contains a miniature life support system.

He added that the ISS is being used as a proving ground for technology ultimately intended for satellites and deep-space missions.

Were essentially co-opting the ISS as a big satellite for this first demonstration, making use of its power and communications systems.

Exeter scientists co-designed the concept behind the device, carried out the biological testing required to validate it, developed early prototypes alongside Leicester engineers, and have led the preparations for launch.

Researchers say the work will contribute to understanding biological risks associated with long-term spaceflight (such as muscle and bone loss, vision changes and radiation-related cell damage) knowledge that will be important for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Professor Mark Sims at the University of Leicester said the mission demonstrates growing UK capability in space-based life sciences and supports the wider development of future deep-space research platforms.

The worms will be installed into the hardware shortly before launch in 2026, ahead of their journey from Earth to the ISS.
An Okehampton driving instructor has welcomed changes to the practical driving test, saying rural Devon learners are already well prepared for the conditions the DVSA now wants to emphasise.

From next Monday (24 November), the test will place far greater focus on higher-speed and rural roads, areas where young drivers are statistically most at risk.

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The DVSA says the shake-up aims to better reflect real-world driving and reduce serious collisions.

Examiners will also be allowed to extend the independent driving portion of the test to as long as the full 40 minutes, in an effort to better reflect real-world driving conditions.

The move follows concerns about safety on rural routes, where almost half of fatal or serious collisions involving drivers aged 17-24 occur.

But according to Okehampton-based instructor Kate Monk, learners on the northern and western edges of Dartmoor are already exposed to challenging road conditions as part of their normal training.

We wont notice any change in our lessons

Ms Monk says that for those who meet instructors locally, the reforms will not significantly alter the way they learn.

For those who begin and end their lessons in Okehampton or the surrounding rural area, we wont notice any change in our lessons. We already cover a wide network of rural roads and conditions, she explained.

She added that Devons geography already gives local learners an advantage:

We are incredibly lucky with our main test centre locations in Devon, that rural driving is already included in the test on some quite challenging roads. So overall, there wont be much of a difference for our rural communities.

Ms Monk encourages learners travelling to instructors in Exeter or Launceston to push for wider experience.

I do encourage parents and learners to ensure that their instructor is travelling on different high-speed roads each lesson to experience all of the variety that our area offers.

ABOVE: Kate Monk (Instructor) and Kate Dugard (Learner) (Credit: Kate Monk)

More time on rural roads will absolutely benefit learners

Ms Monk strongly supports the greater emphasis on rural roads, pointing to official data showing the disproportionate risks faced by young drivers.

Quoting government statistics, she said :48% of KSI (killed or seriously injured) casualties in younger car driver collisions occurred on rural roads This will absolutely benefit learners. They are at massive risk on rural roads and those risks come from lack of skill, showing off to friends and distractions.

She believes the increased exposure may create positive pressure to be better and to be ready to deal with those rural situations in all circumstances.

No concern about fewer emergency stops

While some instructors nationally have questioned reducing emergency-stop tests, Ms Monk is confident learners will still be well prepared.

Speaking as an instructor, we would never send anyone to their driving test who could not perform a controlled stop. Its one of the first things we do Learners get very good at it very quickly as its an everyday occurrence for us all.

READ NEXT: Derriford team earns prestigious UK award for truly inspiring cancer support

Will the reforms make Dartmoors roads safer?

Ms Monk believes the impact will be modest for Devons rural learners, who already train on difficult terrain. But she expects improvements for visitors and new drivers from cities.

I can see that young city folk who come to visit us in the touristy season will benefit from the extra time they will have spent on rural roads. But as we all know, there are different levels of rural and Dartmoors narrow, bendy and granite-lined lanes are a challenge all on their own.

She argues that a more transformative measure would be the long-debated introduction of a graduated driving licence, giving new motorists additional restrictions in their first months of independent driving.

Her comments highlight a broader frustration with national attitudes to road danger:

We protect our children their whole lives and then at 17 we just let them go out in a metal box which can kill them, others and friends, and we dont quadruple-check that they are really ready for that?

For me, nothing will change, but families must play a role

Despite the test changes, Ms Monk does not foresee altering her own teaching programme.

For me, nothing will change. I have always ensured that rural roads are a focus in my lessons.

But she says wider cultural change is vital, especially at home:

What we can all do is get involved with our learners training and look at how our own beliefs, attitudes and habits will be mirrored in our children.

The Moorlander previously reported on Monks My Learner Driver", a guide designed to help families support young motorists through the early stages of driving, the period she describes as the highest risk of their lives.

As Dartmoors roads continue to challenge even the most experienced drivers, Ms Monk says community involvement, not just test reforms, will be key to keeping new motorists safe.
A major defence technology company has opened a new factory in Plymouth that will build autonomous underwater gliders designed to help the UK and its allies track hostile submarines.

Helsing, which describes itself as Europes largest defence technology firm, has set up the site at an 18,000 sq ft unit near the city.

READ NEXT: Devon learners already ahead as DVSA confirms major test changes

The factory, officially opened this week by the Defence Secretary, will be the companys first Resilience Factory in the UK.

The opening was attended by Helsing staff, local civic leaders, MPs and industry partners.

Production is already under way

Helsing only moved into the building a few weeks ago but says production has already started.

The company is testing its new maritime equipment at Turnchapel Wharf and at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre in Scotland.

The Plymouth site will act as the companys Maritime Centre of Excellence, with a new research and development hub planned, including advanced manufacturing equipment and software tools.

The factory will create high-skilled jobs in the South West. Helsing says it expects the workforce to grow into the hundreds as demand increases.

What will the factory build?

The Plymouth team will focus on the SG-1 Fathom, an autonomous underwater glider developed in the UK.

The glider will be paired with Helsings maritime AI system, known as Lura.

Together, the technology is designed to provide long-range underwater surveillance and to protect sea lanes and critical national infrastructure.

Helsing says the factory supports its commitment to manufacturing in the UK and follows successful sea trials in the Western Approaches, Scotland and Australia.

Government support for the project

The plan for the Plymouth factory was first announced in July 2025 as part of Helsings 350 million investment agreement with the UK Government.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP, who opened the facility, said the development marks a turnaround for the city:

For too long our proud industrial heartlands like Plymouth saw jobs go away and not come back. We are changing that, he said, adding that the investment shows the benefits of our defence growth deals, backed by 250 million.

Healey said the government wants defence to become an engine for growth, bringing skilled jobs and national security benefits.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP also welcomed the investment, saying:

Helsings investment in Plymouth shows confidence in Britains world-class engineering and talent. By investing in advanced manufacturing in the South West, Helsing is creating high-skilled jobs and strengthening our national security.

ABOVE : Rebecca Smith MP at the opening of the Helsing factory (Credit: Rebecca Smith MP)

Local reaction to the opening

The factory has been welcomed by local leaders involved in Plymouths growing maritime and defence sector.

Ned Baker, Managing Director of Helsing UK, said the factory would play an important role in supporting Royal Navy operations:

From Plymouth well be manufacturing the autonomous systems that keep our sailors, ships and infrastructure safe.

Amelia Gould, General Manager of Maritime Helsing, said Plymouth was an ideal base:

Theres no better place than Plymouth to lead in maritime autonomy.

South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith said the development strengthens the regions role in modern defence work:

Todays factory opening marks the next exciting chapter and cements the important role of smaller local communities in delivering the UKs sovereign defence capability.

University of Plymouth Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Davies said the project is a major vote of confidence in the city and part of a wider partnership known as Team Plymouth, bringing together government, education, industry and the council.

More to come from Helsing

The site is expected to produce and maintain the SG-1 Fathom and act as the companys main research centre for maritime technology.

The company says around 50 jobs are being created immediately, with numbers expected to double within a year and grow further as production increases.
Residents who face losing their caravan homes on Dartmoor because of a breach of planning regulations by their landlord are pleading for all sides to come together and find a solution.

A crunch meeting will be held by Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) on Monday (24 November) to decide whether enforcement action will be taken to remove around 20 park homes at the Devon Oaks caravan site near Horrabridge, which have been in full residential use without the necessary planning consent.

READ NEXT: Plymouth welcomes new maritime factory in 350m defence boost

Members of the close-knit community that has formed over the past five years say they are angry and heartbroken and not willing to leave the site without a fight.

They say they were sold their park homes next to the River Walkham, some for more than 200,000, on the basis that they could live in them for 11 months of the year, with an expectation this would be extended to 12 months, under a 35-year lease.

One resident, Lynne Watts, said they bought their homes in good faith and simply wanted to live peacefully in what she described as an amazing community.

We are people who have worked all our lives and we have contributed to society and the wider area by paying council tax, the same as everyone else, she said.

We have come here to live at what is the end of our lives, in varying degrees, and just want a quiet life and a beautiful place to live it. We have been made to feel incredibly vulnerable for something that is not our fault.

ABOVE: Lynne Watts and her park home (Picture by Alison Stephenson)

READ NEXT: Devon learners already ahead as DVSA confirms major test changes

It really could be sorted out quite simply by Dartmoor National Park Authority granting a change of use on the site from holiday to residential and putting a restriction on the number of homes. We need to all sit down and discuss it.

Lynne said nine homes on the site already had full residential use, which she said set a precedent at Devon Oaks.

We came here understanding one thing and found out we have something different, she said.

We just want what we bought into, nothing more, and I dont think that is unreasonable.

We do far less damage than a transient holiday park, people who come and go and dont really care about an area and leave their debris behind. We look after it and we love it here.

Karen Lewis, who moved to Devon Oaks after selling her house in Plymouth to her son so he could get onto the property ladder, said she was very angry about the situation.

Its heartbreaking really, because as far as we were concerned, we could stay in our homes for 11 months of the year and were told it was very likely, well, 99.9 per cent, that that would be extended to 12 months. Im thinking now that maybe we should have done more due diligence.

ABOVE : Karen Lewis in the home she loves at Devon Oaks (Picture by Alison Stephenson)

Its been a very stressful time as my husband was diagnosed with cancer and, with this on top, it has put a big strain on both of us.

Im upset that Dartmoor National Park didnt take action after the site was sold and work started on it that was not authorised. Now we may have to be out in six months, but we have nowhere to go.

Resident Kerry Fice said anything less than residential use on the site would not be workable.

Where is the finance going to come from if we have permission for holiday use for eight months of the year but have to move out for four months? It is just not possible.

And to be quite honest, if they knocked on the door and said, Mr Fice, you need to move, they would have to drag me out, Im not doing it.

ABOVE : Kerry and Sue Fice, residents of Devon Oaks (Picture by Alison Stephenson)

READ NEXT: Plymouth named one of the UKs best cities for winter wellbeing, new data shows

The homeowners group chairman, Chris Griffiths, said the homes represented residents futures and they expected security.

He said they were an innocent third party in a dispute between DNPA and the site owner, Barton Park Homes, who he claimed had not engaged with residents or the authority.

The stress has been so much to bear for people here who are law-abiding citizens. These are our homes, so we have no option but to stay and fight our case, he said.

People are struggling with the implications of this. Some are turning a blind eye and pretending its not happening; others are not sleeping and suffering with their mental and physical health.

We understand the owner has had too many properties here and has had total disregard for planning rules. We understand that that sort of thing has to stop, but we think our position here should be taken into account, and we feel that has not been done by the park authority.

ABOVE: Chairman of the Devon Oaks homeowners' association Chris Griffiths outside his park home (Picture by Alison Stephenson)

Mr Griffiths said the authority had been aware of unauthorised activity at Devon Oaks for some time but had not acted.

He said residents were considering submitting their own planning application, which would include environmental improvements on the site.

READ NEXT: Dartmoor beauty spot closed for winter as structural repairs get underway

At a recent DNPA planning meeting, members heard that despite a series of appeal decisions and court judgments, the authority had been unable to resolve the issue, with no prospect of doing so without taking enforcement action.

Members agreed, with heavy hearts, to authorise planning officers to enforce the rules, but a final meeting between members and officers will take place on Monday.

Member Michael Fife-Cook, who said he understood the strength of the caravan community having been born and brought up in one, called the situation a disaster that needed to be dealt with humanity.

The meeting on Monday will determine whether there is room for negotiation.

He said he believed enforcement action was triggered because DNPA was concerned about the future of the site, with parts of it looking like a bombsite.

But he added it was crazy that during a housing crisis a solution could not be found that allowed residents to remain in their homes.

ABOVE : Devon Oaks park (Picture by Alison Stephenson)

READ NEXT: Russian spy ship monitored by Plymouth-based frigate near UK waters

Residents have also contacted their MP, Rebecca Smith, who said: Ive been keeping in touch to hear directly about their concerns and met with the Chair of the Devon Oaks Homeowners Association last week. I understand how worrying this situation must be for people living there, and its important that everyone affected feels their concerns are heard.

Next week, I will be meeting with the chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority to discuss the issues raised, and I am also in contact with West Devon Borough Council. I will continue working with all parties to help find a constructive way forward.

The owners of Barton Park Homes have not yet responded to an invitation to comment.
A line up of great local talent and special effects with a sky of stars will ensure the North Devon Hospice Christmas Concert at Barnstaple Pannier Market will be an event to remember this December.

The free event on Thursday, December 18 will coincide with the last evening of late-night shopping in Barnstaple and will mark the culmination of the hospices Light Up a Life appeal to remember lost loved ones.

From 6pm, a range of local performers will take to the stage, including Holy Trinity Choir, Carry on Choir, Scuttlebutt Shanty and Gabby Young.

READ NEXT: Remember someone special with the North Devon Hospice Light Up a Life appeal

To add that extra touch of Christmas magic, there will be a special sky of stars light show beamed onto the market ceiling by local lighting effects specialists Blackbeam Cinematic.

Above: The Carry On Choir will be among those performing at the Christmas Concert for North Devon Hospice. Credit: Carry On Choir

Georgia Bedgood, events manager at the hospice, said: We hope the whole community will come along to enjoy our Christmas Concert. We have a great line-up of performers, from talented soloists to rousing choirs, who will each be putting their own unique spin on some festive favourites.

But the evening will be made even more special thanks to a beautiful light show created by local lighting effects specialists, Blackbeam Cinematic.

Part of this will involve creating a stunning sky of stars on the ceiling of the Pannier Market, adding a touch of wonder to the festivities. So come along to our free Christmas Concert and enjoy the spectacle together.

Above: Local performer Gabby Young will be part of the line-up at the hospice Christmas Concert. Credit: Gabby Young

There will also be plenty of seasonal food and drink available throughout the evening.

The concert also marks the culmination of North Devon Hospices annual Light Up a Life Appeal, which invites local people to dedicate a star to a loved one they miss at Christmas time.

Above: The Scuttlebutt Shanty crew will bring their own brand of merriment to the North Devon Hospice Christmas Concert in Barnstaple. Credit: Scuttlebutt Shanty

Georgia added: The stars, each carrying the name of someone special, will be hung on two huge Christmas trees inside the Pannier Market.

It will be a beautiful sight, as we light the trees on the evening and see all those stars sparkling in memory of people we miss. You can even add your own star, with a message to a loved one, when you come along on the night.

A collection will be taken for the hospice on the night, but entry to the concert is free.

For more information about the concert, or the Light Up a Life event, visit https://www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/events
Torridge District Council is asking residents to think ahead and make choices that reduce waste this Christmas.

The council says by planning early and shopping smart, everyone can do their bit and even save money.

Over the next few weeks, the council plans to share practical tips and advice for a greener holiday period.

With Black Friday just around the corner, many will be tempted by seasonal sales. But with increased spending comes increased waste.

READ NEXT: Council offers free parking across Torridge to help local businesses

The council has highlighted data that shows in the UK alone, more than 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging are thrown away at Christmas and the surge in online shopping adds millions of extra parcels and packaging.

Councillor Chris Leather, lead member for operational services, said: The amount of waste that builds up over the festive season is staggering, but if we all do our bit, we can make a real difference.

By buying only what we need and considering how products are packaged, produced, and bought, we can help reduce waste and even save money.

Simple actions such as shopping locally and planning meals carefully all add up. If everyone makes a few small changes, we can all enjoy a greener, more sustainable Christmas.

Torridge tips for a greener Christmas

Shop locally - support community businesses and help cut down on unnecessary packaging.

Choose sustainable wrapping - use recycled or recyclable cards, wrapping paper, and reusable gift bags. Avoid glitter, foil, bows and ribbons as these cant be recycled and should therefore go in your black bag.

Plan your meals - around 4.5 million Christmas dinners are wasted every year in the UK. Careful planning helps prevent overbuying and ensures leftovers are enjoyed. For creative recipe ideas, check out Have Your Food And Eat It Recipe Book from Recycle Devon.

Recycle packaging - items such as plastic advent calendar trays, cream pots, brandy sauce pots, pudding basins, sweet tubs and mince pie trays can all be recycled.

Rehome unwanted gifts  if you dont receive what you want this Christmas, consider donating any unwanted items to a charity shop or pass them on through local Facebook groups.
BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese pavilion at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which is being held in the Brazilian city of Belem, was not affected by the fire that broke out at the conference on Thursday, the Chinese delegation confirmed.

The delegation said in a statement sent to Xinhua that the fire did not originate in the Chinese pavilion.

Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino said that the fire, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m. local time, was under control at around 2:30 p.m., with no injuries reported so far.

Helder Barbalho, governor of the Para state, where Belem is located, told local media that the emergency teams are currently probing into two possible causes of the incident -- a generator failure or a short circuit in one of the stands that were set up for the conference. 
NANJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A global consensus on the development of major river cities was reached on Friday at the Global Mayors Dialogue held in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The consensus was reached by mayors and mayoral representatives from countries including Egypt, Germany, Malaysia and China.

According to the consensus, all parties emphasized that rivers serve as emblems of civilization and bonds for mutual learning. However, they also acknowledged the formidable challenges to sustainable urban development, which include climate change, the erosion of waterfront cultural spaces, and the damage to cultural heritage.

They called on taking swift and decisive action to localize United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and urged cities to promote green, low-carbon, and circular development models and jointly address global challenges.

A series of initiatives were also outlined in the consensus, including adhering to a people-centered approach by building livable riverfront cities and strengthening cross-river and international cooperation to establish a global dialogue and cooperation network for major river cities.

The consensus highlighted that the future of major river cities hinges on a profound transformation towards coexistence, shared benefits, and common prosperity. It advocated for the development of a community of major river cities united by a shared vision, aiming to transform riverfront regions into vibrant spaces where ecological resilience, economic vitality, cultural appeal, and human well-being mutually reinforce one another.

Gathering under the theme "Flowing Rivers, Converging Future" of the Global Mayors Dialogue, participants shared urban governance experience and explored future trends in urban development, offering insights to advance sustainable development among global waterfront cities from Nov. 19 to 21. 
Donald Trumps smarmy session with the psychotic master of Saudi Arabia destroyed any sliver of dignity that had remained in his gilded Oval Office.

How low did the US president grovel? His forehead bounced off the floor a couple of times.

In return for crown prince Mohammed bin Salmans vague promise to invest $1T in the US, Trump sputtered this nonsense: "I'm very proud of the job he's done What he's done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else is just amazing."

Where did the president get that information? He pulled it out of the Oval Offices polluted air.

Since MBS' last visit to the US in 2018, Saudi authorities have presided over one of the worst periods for human rights and freedom of expression in the countrys modern history, according to a joint statement from human rights organizations.

Saudi Arabias crown prince is trying to rebrand himself as a global statesman, but the reality at home is mass repression, record numbers of executions, and zero tolerance for dissent, said Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch. US officials should be pressing for change, not posing for photos.

Dreaming of lucrative Saudi sugar plums for the Trump Organization, the president absolved MBS for the torture, murder and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. He knew nothing about it. Things happen and and we can leave it at that, was Trumps trite response to ABCs Mary Bruce.

Even MBS didnt go that far. The murder of Khashoggi was painful and a huge mistake, and we are doing our best that this doesnt happen again, he said.

Its unclear what he was referring to. The change in Saudi Arabia seems to be from killing journalists behind closed doors to executing them in plain sight, said Abdullah Alaoudh, senior director for countering authoritarianism at the Middle East Democracy Center.

Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk of Reporters Without Borders, ridiculed Trumps things happen remark.

He said luring and murdering a prominent journalist inside a consulate is not a "thing" that happens, whatever Donald Trump may think.

Trumps trivialization of Khashoggis assassination is yet another illustration of his relentless attacks on press freedom around the world, according to Dagher.

He said these comments embolden the hateful rhetoric of so many press freedom predators who have made journalists their preferred targets.

They are music to the ears of anti-press tyrants like MBS, who rules one of the worlds most repressive countries for journalists.

Saudi Arabia is near the bottom of RWBs press freedom index, checking in at 162 out of 180.

The US slipped from 55 to 57 during the past year, experiencing its first significant and prolonged decline in press freedom in modern history.

Under Trump, the future of press freedom isnt rosy. Just look how he relished belittling ABCs Bruce for embarrassing our guest with her question about his role in the butchering of Khashoggi during the Oval Office photo-op.

Give me a break. One can be sure that a guy who can order the grisly murder and dismemberment of a reporter is not one who can be embarrassed.

At the very least, MBS should facilitate the transfer of Khashoggis remains to his family.

Release the transcript Virginia Congressman Eugene Vindman, who served on Trumps National Security Council during his first term, said he reviewed two problematic phone calls that the president had with foreign leaders.

They were with Ukraine president Zelensky and MBS.

After the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, I reviewed a call between president Trump and the Saudi crown prince, said Vindman on the House floor. The American people and the Khashoggi family deserve to know what was said on that call. If history is any guide, the receipts will be shocking.

He wants Trump to release the transcript. If Trump is truthful about MBS not knowing about the Khashoggi murder, he should release the transcript. Or is he holding on to it, expecting a bigger return from his paymaster.

Foul-weather friendly Home Depot CEO Ted Decker blamed the lack of devastating storms as the primary reason that the company missed its third-quarter expectations. Sales inched ahead 2.8 percent to $41.4B while net earnings slipped 1.3 percent to $3.6B.

Decker said though the underlying demand for the products of the biggest home improvement company remained relatively stable, an expected increase in demand never materialized. He fingers consumer uncertainty and pressures in the housing market as the culprits.

As for the rest of the year, Decker anticipates fiscal 2025 sales will be slightly positive compared to last year. Home Depot could use a couple of nasty storms or natural disasters to perk up its financial results.

Tough-talking Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations lobbying group to be a terrorist group and has vowed to sue and shut them down in the Lone Star State.

Whatever happened to free speech, Greg? Shutting down CAIR is not going to happen.

CAIR isnt exactly a new kid in town. The nations No. 1 Muslim advocacy group has been around more than 30 years.

Abbott makes the outlandish claim that CAIR is funded by Hamas, and bent on imposing Islamic law, known as Shariah, on Americans. All 342M of us?

CAIR says Abbott is defaming the organization and orchestrating a smear campaign against it.

On its website, CAIR unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism, whether it's carried out by al-Qaeda, the Real IRA, FARC, Hamas, ETA, or any group designated by the US government."

It also notes that its operational budget is overwhelmingly funded by donations from Americans, whether they are are Muslims, Christians, Jews or another belief or way of life.

Abbotts anti-CAIR proclamation is a publicity stunt for the Republican politico, who believes he has a shot of becoming president some day. Dream on, Greg.
Joe Smith, a brand consultancy that is part of Padilla, comes on board as brand partner for the Science Museum of Virginia. The agency will leverage a research-grounded approach to create a refreshed brand strategy and visual identity for the Science Museum. The efforts will focus on elevating how the museum communicates its purpose and building momentum as it plans for the next era of community impact. As it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, the museum is looking to both reflect on the past and reimagine how science can spark curiosity, engage communities and foster discovery across Virginia and beyond. The Joe Smith team understands that brand is rooted in storytelling, said Science Museum chief wonder officer Rich Conti. Were excited to work with the team to evolve our brand to propel us forward.

Christie & Co is named agency of record for the LASCO Lightning Weeder, which uses an electric discharge system to facilitate weed control while ensuring zero damage to crops. The agency will lead national strategic communications, brand development and market education initiatives aimed at helping growers, distributors and policymakers understand the benefits and applications of LASCOs electric weed control. The LASCO Lightning Weeders technology is designed for row crops, orchards, vineyards and regenerative operations that prioritize healthier soils and reduced dependency on herbicides. Christie & Co has a long history of supporting pioneers in regenerative agriculture, natural products and health-oriented technologies through research-based storytelling, brand strategy, media relations and market education.

Merlot Marketing lands American Outdoor Grill, a division of RH Peterson and manufacturer of outdoor cooking appliances. The agency will work to elevate awareness of AOGs American-made craftsmanship, strengthen its competitive positioning, and deepen consumer and trade engagement across the outdoor-living market. Merlot will develop and distribute Digitally Integrated News Releases, manage tradeshow media outreach, and provide ongoing creative consultation across AOG's web, catalog, video, and tradeshow materials. These efforts will set the stage for AOG's showing at the 2026 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando, FL. Merlot's proven expertise in the home and building products industry, along with their ability to capture both the heart and mind of the consumer, makes them the ideal partner to help share AOG's story of craftsmanship, connection, and confidence," said RH Peterson VP of marketing Amy Bortz.
Tom Graves

Former Georgia Republican Congressman Tom Graves is representing the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, positioning the country as a reliable partner with the US.

His Ervin Graves Strategy Group is to provide Pakistans DC embassy with recommendations to bolster US ties via various diplomatic, economic and security-related initiatives.

The firm will highlight Pakistans robust rare earth mineral deposits, showcase its contributions to regional and global security, and promote direct investment and tourism.

US/Pakistan relations have improved under Donald Trump, who hosted prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir at the White House in September.

Pakistan nominated Trump for a Nobel Prize for brokering a peace deal with India to end a border skirmish in May. India has denied that Trump played any role in ending the conflict.

EGSG's contract, which become effective Oct. 1, runs for three months and is worth $75K.
NEW DELHI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed Thursday after a pickup truck carrying them collided with a train in the northeastern state of Tripura, officials said.

The accident took place at a level crossing in Sindhu Kumar Para of Dhalai district, about 100 km east of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura.

Officials said the abrupt arrival of the pickup truck at the crossing led to a collision with the train.

"Today Agartala-Silchar Express train was passing through the hilly Ambasa-Manu section in Dhalai district when a goods-laden pickup truck suddenly entered the track. It collided with the train and resulted in the death of the truck driver along with two other occupants," Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, told media.

According to officials, all three people in the pickup truck were killed on the spot.

Following the accident, officials immediately rushed fire and emergency service personnel to the spot to remove the bodies and take them to the hospital for post-mortem.

Sharma said the mangled vehicle was later cleared from the track, and the train resumed its onward journey. 
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IN the run-up to Christmas people were urged to buy not one, not two, but three copies of a newly launched publication.

The Tullamore Annual 2026 is the latest edition of a much sought after book which is produced every year by Tullamore Lions Club.

The annual which was revealed at a launch event in the Esker Arts centre in Tullamore on Thursday morning (November 20) runs to more than 170 full colour pages and was lauded by the special guest chosen to unveil it, RTE Midlands correspondent Sinead Hussey.

Ms Hussey noted that she felt very strongly about reporting on what is good in the Midlands region, especially as so often the media is accused of only showing up for bad news.

I feel a real duty to go beyond that and show up when there are good stories too, she said, declaring that Tullamore Lions club is an example of that.

In the coming weeks the Lions Club will be doing their annual fundraising appeal for Christmas and will continue to do the great work you do in helping communities and helping people at this time of year.

She said buying the annual is one way to help the Lions Club and in turn help the community.

The journalist listed some of the material in the annual, pointing out how it highlights incredible voluntary groups, successful business leaders, students who have showcased their forward-thinking ideas on a world stage and sporting heroes who have brought so much pride to the county.

Offaly TD Tony McCormack also spoke at the launch and pointed out that work on the annual begins in January each year and continues in time for printing in October.

The book itself is a huge fundraiser. It allows the Lions Club to do a lot of the work they do in the community, giving money to different causes, whether they're individuals or groups or organisations, said Deputy McCormack.

The annual includes features on Tullamore people who are operating internationally but at its heart is about community.

It tells the story of many community people, people that probably go unnoticed when we look at daily life in Tullamore but they are part of the town.

He recalled meeting an Offaly historian, the famous James Scully and quoted what he had said about new books: Buy three, because the first one you buy will end up going to the friend who will never give it back, the second one you can send to a friend abroad and the third one you can keep for yourself.

In her address, Tullamore Lions president Dymphna Bracken said that 2025 marked 50 years since the foundation of the organisation and mentioned that one of the community groups, profiled, Tullamore Scouts, is also celebrating a half century of service to the youth of the town.

Ms Bracken gave some further examples of the annual's contents, such as Tullamore Men's Shed, and added: From the field of business and entrepreneurship we profile McDonald International Ltd, a manufacturing company employing over 120 people who have commissioned over 30 plants throughout the UK and Future Ticketing, still headquartered in Tullamore, where its entire development team builds the technology used in stadiums and venues around the world.

READ NEXT: Acclaimed new Offaly book of history and song will be 'invaluable'

She continued: The importance of local business is highlighted by features on our local craft butchers and Foxs Grocery Store on Kilbride Street, one of the last remaining independent shops in the town.

Recognising people who have made our town their home and are contributing so much in their fields of expertise we speak to a Sudanese born consultant [Khalid Merghani] working in Tullamore Hospital.

This is the 14th edition of the annual and it is supported every year by many local advertisers. The editorial team for Tullamore Annual 2026 was Denis Doherty, Larry Fleming, Anne Scally and Mike Flynn, with the support of Michael Byrne and Offaly Historical Society and printers Print Plus.

RTE's Sinead Hussey summed up the annual in this way: It is an incredible publication, one that everyone here today should be very proud of.
Offaly County Council is inviting members of the public to participate in its newly launched Affordable Housing Survey.

This initiative aims to gauge the level of interest for Affordable Housing in the Tullamore area under the Governments Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan and the survey is designed to assess the need for a proposed pilot in Tullamore initially.

The survey will help the Council assess demand for affordable housing and identify preferred house types. The information gathered will inform whether a scheme is viable and whether a need exists in Tullamore. It is preferable but not mandatory that people completing the survey have approval in principle from a mortgage provider or have an awareness of their borrowing potential for any future mortgage.

Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. John Leahy, welcomed the initiative, saying Affordable housing is a key priority for Offaly County Council. This survey gives everyone an opportunity to have their voices heard and will guide us in delivering homes that meet the needs of individuals and families in our county over the coming years.

Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Ms. Anna Marie Delaney, stated Offaly County Council are delighted to commence the process of assessing the viability and need for affordable housing in Tullamore. The results of this survey will be one of the primary considerations that will underpin any potential future business case to proceed with a scheme. I am delighted to invite all interested First-Time buyers and Fresh Start applicants who have approval in principle from a mortgage provider or have an awareness of their borrowing potential to complete our survey at www.offaly.ie/housing/affordable-housing-survey/

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The Survey is open to:

First-Time Buyers and Fresh Start Applicants (those who are divorced or separated, who no longer have an interest in a family home, or those who have undergone insolvency proceedings).

Anyone who is over 18 years of age and has Irish Citizenship or the right to reside in Ireland - regardless of whether you currently live or work in County Offaly.

Why Participate?

By completing the survey, you will be helping Offaly County Council to:

Establish the level of interest in purchasing an Affordable Home in the County.

Plan future developments that reflect the established needs and demand.

Determine appropriate house sizes, types, and scope of Affordable Homes.

Important to Note:

The Affordable Housing Programme (Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme) is specifically designed for households who are unable to afford a home at its full market value, even when combining their deposit and their approved maximum mortgage.

There are currently no properties available to purchase under this scheme.

Any future schemes will be advertised separately, and a formal application process will apply in accordance with the legislation in place at that time.

All data will be handled in compliance with GDPR and Offaly County Councils Data Protection Policy. https://www.offaly.ie/data-protection/

The survey will remain open until 6pm on 31st Dec 2025.

It will take approximately 4 minutes to complete and is available online at:

www.offaly.ie/housing/affordable-housing-survey/

For further information, please refer to the frequently asked questions document on Offaly County Council survey page at the link above or email your query to: affordablepurchase@offalycoco.ie

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A 27-year old carpenter who threatened to 'take on' gardai during a night out in Roscrea was fined 350 after he pleaded guilty to a number of charges arising from the incident.

Liam Doran, who has an address at Kennedy Park, Roscrea, appeared before Nenagh District court in relation to the incident which happened at around 2am on August 17, 2025.

He pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place and to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour under the Public Order Act.

Judge Marie Keane was told gardai arrived at a late bar on Castle Street, Roscrea where it was alleged that two males were creating a disturbance during a night out.

Mr Doran informed gardai he had a fight with another male before getting aggressive with gardai telling them "that the last time he met gardai he took them on".

Sergeant Regina McCarthy said there was a strong smell of alcohol on the defendant's breath and that his speech was slurred during his encounter with gardai.

He was subsequently arrested and brought to Nenagh garda station when he was charged.

Solicitor John Spencer said his client's behaviour was out of character and that he "would like to apologise for his behaviour on the night," adding: "He was mixing his drinks and drinking a lot but it's no excuse and he's very remorseful."

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The defendant, who lives at home with his parents, was told by Judge Keane that "telling the guards you're taking them on is not very appropriate, you're skating on thin ice".

The judge also pointed out to Mr Doran that alcohol appears to be the cause of his behaviour and that he needs to find a solution. "You are getting very aggressive every time you have alcohol so you need to address that, I don't want to see you in this court again."
The Government has allocated 700,000 euro to Wexford County Council to restore the ecological condition of a lake that has turned green.

Ladys Island Lake, the largest saltwater lagoon in Ireland, has turned green due to the level of algae pollution from nutrient run-off.

The lagoon surrounds Our Ladys Island, which is an area of pilgrimage, and has secured legal protection as a habitat for wildfowl.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the lake was severely degraded due to overflows of nitrogen and possibly phosphorus, commonly used as agricultural fertilisers.

The EPA said Ladys Island Lake exemplifies the problems involved in managing Irish lagoons and said, even if the run-off issue was addressed, nutrients in the lagoons sediments could continue to affect its ecology.

On Friday, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne and Minister of State Christopher OSullivan visited the lake and met officials from Wexford County Council.

The 700,000 euro in funding for the council aims to support the development of a Water Quality Management Plan for Ladys Island and to project manage a holistic approach to improve the water quality.

This includes measures to address excess nutrients from agriculture, domestic waste water treatment plants (septic tanks) and urban waste water treatment plants entering the lake.

The politicians also met officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Authority Waters Programme, Teagasc, representatives from Farming for Water EIP and the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) who are advancing plans to address the deterioration of the saline lagoons water quality and ecology.

Mr Browne said: The 700,000 euro in funding I am announcing this morning will resource Wexford County Council to coordinate a response among the Government departments, state bodies and the local community in Ladys Island.

I am confident that by continuing to work collaboratively, using all the tools available to us through my departments funding of initiatives under the Water Action Plan, the Nitrates Action Plan, Uisce Eireanns capital investment plan and the National Biodiversity Plan, serious improvements can be made here at Ladys Island.

Whilst the additional funding announced today will support Wexford County Councils coordinating role, significant funding and support for the restoration of Ladys Island is already under way through the programmes such as those run by LAWPRO through catchment science and local community engagement; National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) inspectors in the local authorities, who are responsible for investigating farm compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations; free advisory services through the ASSAP programme and direct support for supplementary measures to improve water quality, through the Farming for Water EIP.

Mr OSullivan said that progress had been made since the establishment of the oversight group in July.

The group has quickly come together to identify the specific response required for Ladys Island, using the principle of implementing the right measure in the right place.

The combined strengths of the agencies involved and collaborative initiatives such as the Farming for Water EIP is vital for effective, holistic action for Ladys Island Lake.

It may take some time to see the results of those inputs and effort, but the commitment of the stakeholders involved and the local community here is clear to see and I look forward to being kept appraised of progress.
Rescuers work at the explosion site of a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Punjab province, Pakistan, Nov. 21, 2025. Twelve people were killed and scores of others injured on Friday morning when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in a residential locality in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police sources said. The blast happened at about 5:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) in the industrial city of Faisalabad, triggering a massive fire that rapidly spread through the facility, police sources told Xinhua. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people were killed and scores of others injured on Friday morning when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in a residential locality in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police sources said.

The blast happened at about 5:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) in the industrial city of Faisalabad, triggering a massive fire that rapidly spread through the facility, police sources told Xinhua.

Firefighters are working to contain the blaze to prevent it from reaching nearby houses, they added.

The impact of the explosion caused the walls and roofs of several adjacent houses to collapse, and most of the killed and injured were residents of the houses, according to police.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital, where several of them are in critical condition.

A rescue operation is underway, and the number of casualties is feared to rise as multiple people are believed to be trapped inside the factory. 

Rescuers work at the explosion site of a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Punjab province, Pakistan, Nov. 21, 2025. Twelve people were killed and scores of others injured on Friday morning when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in a residential locality in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police sources said.

The blast happened at about 5:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) in the industrial city of Faisalabad, triggering a massive fire that rapidly spread through the facility, police sources told Xinhua. (Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the explosion site of a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Punjab province, Pakistan, Nov. 21, 2025. Twelve people were killed and scores of others injured on Friday morning when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in a residential locality in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police sources said.

The blast happened at about 5:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) in the industrial city of Faisalabad, triggering a massive fire that rapidly spread through the facility, police sources told Xinhua. (Xinhua)

People are seen at the explosion site of a chemical factory in Faisalabad, Punjab province, Pakistan, Nov. 21, 2025. Twelve people were killed and scores of others injured on Friday morning when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in a residential locality in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police sources said.

The blast happened at about 5:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) in the industrial city of Faisalabad, triggering a massive fire that rapidly spread through the facility, police sources told Xinhua. (Xinhua)
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall's Bottom Up is a revaluation of values, not the empty mouthing of the word 'democracy' that is so common, but the application of belief in popular wisdom to every aspect of life. Actually believing that the views of more people is better, means a new way of thinking about the world that is democratic, feminist, localist, populist, and radically richer than the elitist perspectives that are more common even in the parts of the world that shout the word 'democracy' the most. Here we come to understand both the power of small groups and the upsides to internet crowd sourcing, the potential of nonviolent movements and ways in which the past has not been what we supposed. Don't just read this book; get lots of people to read and talk about it."



David Swanson, host, Talk Nation Radio, author of War No More: The Case for Abolition.
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"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August 2018)

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"How do you spell ICE in German? GESTAPO."

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First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. Pastor Martin Niemoller (c. 1946)

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Much has been made of The Files, and since it has become common knowledge, without even seeing any text, that Trumps name is all over them --- for if it werent, as I and many others have said, why would he have been fighting so hard to keep them secret? And so now we have the legislation from Congress authorizing the full release of The Files. This is what I had to say in several Comments on several Substacks, as of last Tuesday (Nov. 18):

First, there will more than likely be a Clinton et al investigation which will prevent the files, or any version of them --- see just below--- from being released. Second, there are (or will be) three sets of files. First is the real, unredacted set, which apparently have Trump's name in them at least 1600 times (without any specification yet about the contexts in which his name appears). Hopefully, some, one/organization(s) has a certified copy of them spirited away where the Trumpists could not find them, awaiting their release at an appropriate time. Second will be the set that the DOJ will release --- unless they are able to manage the trick of additional investigations which will by law require them not to release the files or any version of them), well-edited/Trump-redacted by the FBI edits. Third will be a set with Trump named, but in non-compromising situations. Hopefully the victims have a very well-planned campaign of drip-drip-release of totally damning information, regardless of what happens with the files.

One didnt have to be clairvoyant to figure out that this would happen, even if Congress passed a law, and in fact Version Second above is what is happening, even with the law, for the Attorney General (otherwise known as Trumps Top Attorney in the Justice Department) has now said that the DOJ will be taking an additional month before The Files are released. Man, that is some scrubbing of the scrubbing. And one does have to wonder what they will be doing with the list of other names who engaged in various activities connected to Epstein/Maxwell. To get at the truth, one has to hope, as I said above, hopefully, some, one/organization(s) has a certified copy of the Real Files, with the real names. spirited away where the Trumpists could not find them, awaiting their release at an appropriate time.

But lets say that that does happen. Would that really put Trump in a totally compromised position from which he could not politically escape? Well, maybe but Trump has in one way or another escaped more than once --- Access Hollywood, Russian Interference in 2016 --- and who is to say that he might not do so again, with the real Epstein Tapes revealed. I must say, tat I have been one of those who for quite time has hoped that the Tapes would come out, and that would (or at least might) finish Trump. I have now come to the conclusion --- as have many, many other political observers --- that Trump and TrumpRepubloFascism have to be beaten politically, not on the basis of The Tapes (as much as I would like to see the truth about Trump-Epstein come out, one way or another).

Many of us poltical observes/commentators have extensive lists of what the TrumpRepubloFascists have done with and to this country since they first came to power on Jan. 20, 2017. I recently received from a friend (in an email) a very comprehensive list of the same, compiled by Author Unknown. I am posting in this column selections from that list (which is much too long [!!!] to reproduce here in full. Many TrumpRepubloFascist opponents, political and in printnhavce used and are using such lists. But in my view, especially given how hard the Justice Department is working to cover up anything meaningful about Trump (it has been estimated that in the originals his name appears 1600 times, many, but not all, in passing to be sure --- and remember, if there is nothing incriminating in them, why has Trump fought so long and hard to keep them from being released), that even if competing fully verifiable Files are released, we cannot count on that info. To beat Trump, and in any case the RepubloFascists and P2025 will be ongoing in any case, (with a number of candidates already forming up to be the lead person, politically).

And so (and I am hardly the only one saying this), those of us who believe in US Constitutional Democracy and its preservation have to go hard and as against those powerful forces that are hell bent to destroy it, Trump or no Trump. And so, here is just a partial selection from the very useful list that Author Unknown assembled.

Mismanaged a pandemic that killed nearly half a million Americans.

Separated children from their families and lost those children in the bureaucracy.

Tried to block all Muslims from entering the country.

Got impeached, got impeached again.

Fired the FBI director for investigating his ties to Russia.

Took Vladimir Putins word over the US intelligence community.

Diverted military funding to build his wall.

Caused the longest government shutdown in US history.

Called Black Lives Matter a symbol of hate."

Increased the national debt by nearly $8 trillion.

[A draft-avoider himself], called veterans and soldiers who died in combat losers and suckers.

Coddled the leader of Saudi Arabia after he ordered the execution and dismembering of a US-based journalist.

Refused to concede the 2020 election

Called neo-Nazis very fine people.

Suggested that people should inject bleach into their bodies to fight COVID.

Withdrew the US from the Paris climate accords, the Iranian nuclear deal, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Called Haiti and African nations shithole countries.

Twice forced his Cabinet members to praise him publicly like some cult leader.

Suggested the US should buy (or otherwise acquire) Greenland.

Repeatedly called the media enemies of the people."

Claimed that if we tested fewer people for COVID, wed have fewer cases.

Violated the emoluments clause.

Mocked wearing face masks to guard against transmitting COVID.

Used a racist dog whistle by calling COVID the China virus."

Had a Secretary of State who called him a moron.

Botched the COVID vaccine rollout.

Tweeted so much dangerous propaganda that Twitter eventually banned him.

Claimed that COVID would magically disappear.

Opened up millions of pristine federal lands to development and drilling.

Blew off honoring American war dead in France because it was raining.

Redesigned the exterior of Air Force One to look like the Trump Shuttle

Pressured the governor and secretary of state of Georgia to find him votes.

Thought that the Virgin Islands had a President.

Drew on a map with a Sharpie to justify his inaccurate tweet that Alabama was threatened by a hurricane.

Rolled back regulations that stopped coal companies from dumping waste into rivers.

Threatened to withhold federal aid from states and cities with Democratic leaders.

Went ahead with rallies filled with maskless supporters in the middle of a pandemic.

Claimed that legitimate investigations of his wrongdoing were witch hunts."

Overturned energy conservation standards that even industry supported.

Reduced the number of refugees the US accepts.

Demanded the Pentagon throw him a Soviet-style military parade.

Politicized the civil service.

Refused to allow his administration to comply with Congressional subpoenas.

Acted as if the Attorney General of the United States were his personal attorney.

Held private meetings with Vladimir Putin without staff present.

Claimed preposterously that Article II of the Constitution gave him absolute powers.

Suggested that the government nuke hurricanes

Suggested that wind turbines cause cancer.

In 2020, lost 60 election fraud cases in court including before judges he had nominated.

Withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic.

Did so few of his duties that his press staff were forced to state on his daily schedule President Trump will work from early in the morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings."

Allowed his staff to repeatedly violate the Hatch Act

Claimed Andrew Jackson couldve stopped the Civil War even though he died 16 years before it happened.

Tried to rescind protection from DREAMers,

Was proven to be close friends with the biggest sexual predator of young girls.

Ordered the rerelease of more COVID vaccines when there werent any to release.

Hijacked WashingtonsJuly 4thcelebrations to give a partisan speech.

Stared directly into an eclipse even though everyone over the age of 5 knows not to do that.

Called himself a very stable genius despite significant evidence to the contrary.

Refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and kept his promise.

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And that's just for openers. Indeed the list from "Author Unknown" from which I copied this list above is quite a bit longer. But we do have to beat Trump on the substance of what he and the RepubloFascists stand for, and are already putting partially into place. Trump will go at some point, either politically or personally. TrumpRepubloFascism is on the march, whether he is personally involved or not. And that is what we have to defeat, politically. Otherwise our nation will be in for a very long poltical, social, and economic nightmare.
Important Message to the JFK Research Community



(Image by Michael Capasse (myself)) Details DMCA



Sixty-two years have passed, yet this fascinating murder mystery remains unsolved. Even with key witnesses gone, the unanswered questions persist. Currently, these are my strongest suspicions.





Was Lee Oswald some kind of government asset? - FBI/ Dallas Police informant. A second look at the evidencenever resolves the issue of Lee's involvement with Anti-Castro Cubans and the FBI Agent Warren deBrueys in New Orleans. He was supposed to be pro-Castro. When Lee was arrested in a street scuffle in 'The Big Easy", the first person he called was FBI.Witness second intuition and statements from such, paint a picture of someone on an assignment. Having contact with key FBI men in New Orleans and possibly being involved in an Anti-Castro gun running operation from TSBD. There is a possibility, a coverup of such a conspiracy could allow the framing of one that was reporting on it.That does not mean that anybody involved in the gun operation at TSBD, even knows anything about the killing of the president. If Lee brought in a rifle, it might have been something he had done before. Isolated directions could have come down on 11/21 instructing him to "bring the package in tomorrow". That's all. Then, even if he brought in part of a gun, he could never admit it.A number of witnesses reported seeing dark-skinned, Spanish-looking men on the 6th floor minutes before the president arrived. WC witnesses, Amos Euins and Arnold Rowland, first reported the man they saw as "colored". HSCA found someone must have stayed behind after the shooting and moved boxes . The first police officer stepped onto the 6th floor at about 12:50pm - twenty minutes after the shooting!Another witness, Richard Carr, saw men run from the back door of TSBD and get into a car. That station wagon stopped on Elm St. and picked up a guy that looked like Lee Harvey Oswald. This cannot be overlooked. There are 5 witnesses , two under oath, 3 FBI reports, 2 Sheriff affidavits, and when Fritz and the Deputy confronted Oswald about it, he did not deny it. This has been left undone since 1964.Now 63 years later, nothing can be done about it. Everybody's gone. Yet it correlates to what Lee said he did "...went outside and stood around for five or ten minutes with foreman BILL SHELLEY, and thereafter went home..." His boss Bill Shelley denied having seen him. Why would Lee make up a lie that can be so easily checked and then repeat it during interrogations? That gives cause to suspect Shelley.Not in the assassination. He doesn't have to know anything about that. BUT, he has some dirty business in this affair, and admitted to an investigative reporter in 1974, that he had done contract work for the CIA. It would seem wherever Lee goes are FBI and CIA spooks. TSBD was owned by David Howard Byrd , the founder of the Civil Air Patrol. A group whose members included, Lee Oswald and David Ferrie CAP ran the secret flights of supplies under the radar during WWII and in the conflicts throughout Central America 60-75 years ago. It is not that far-fetched to consider a gun running to Cuba operation going on at TSBD and being monitored by Oswald to the FBI. Once Lee is discovered as the "rat" he becomes the patsy. Dallas police wouldn't just frame anybody, so Lee must have connections to DPD.It doesn't mean DPD killed the president. But, they might need to protect what they know about guns that run thru the building along the parade route. Research dictates suspicious people must have something to do with the assassination. When in fact, these folks might just have something else to hide. William Shelley told the DPD, when he walked to the RR tracks he suddenly realized he had to call his wife. He was seen on a public phone inTSBD a few minutes later, along with what looked like Lovelady and Frazier. Shelley never said it again. Who was he really calling?++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++In 1996, Marina Oswald asked the Assassination Review Board to ask the FBI for documents related to Lee being an FBI informant. In particular, she was requesting files related to a gun sting operation that occurred on the Monday before the assassination. FBI Agent James Hosty and DPD Lt Jack Revill were tipped off and hijacked the operation out from under federal ATF agents.One of the suspects fingered Oswald as a man that was in the motel room when the guns and money were exchanged. What is that? FBI agent Hosty was assigned to Oswald around April 1963, right about the time of the Walker shooting. Interesting that the G-Man was also assigned to keep an eye on Gen Walker and his radical group of "Minutemen"Hard line Anti-Castro - anti communist. Later, known as the American Underground , The Minutemen had access to military grade weapons. Take the assassination out of the equation for a moment. Consider the possibility that there was anti-Castro guns going thru TSBD. If Oswald is involved with these gun people, and reporting it to the FBI, he is the rat. Thus, he becomes the fall guy.Suddenly so much more makes sense. If guns go in and out, it would be very easy to convince someone (like Lee) to bring one in. I don't see where anybody in the building would need to know about the assassination. They would however, have to hide the guns. I strongly suspect Billy Lovelady and William Shelley , because of conflicting statements within their claims, as well as with others. If Dallas police and FBI have a handle on surveillance of this operation, then they too have to back-off and hide any knowledge or connection.

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Earlier this month, such a nightmare occurred in 15 states. At least, 31 infants became sick and were hospitalized with botulism from consuming ByHeart brand infant formula.

Botulism, a gram-positive bacterium found in soil, can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and death. A medical emergency, it is prevented in the manufacturing process by high-heat sterilization, moisture and acidity control and refrigeration.

ByHeart, a nine-year-old infant nutrition company that gained popularity during the 2022 infant formula shortage is the target of a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky couple, alleging negligence and failure to warn about dangerous pathogens despite a history of similar manufacturing infractions.

ByHeart recalled the formula this month amid urgent government warnings. According to its marketing, the companys patented protein blend in its infant formula gets closest to breast milk thanks to alpha-lac (which is at actual breast milk levels), lactoferrin, a protein found in colostrum and partially hydrolyzed proteins.

With plants in Pennsylvania, Iowa; and Oregon, ByHeart has claimed obsessive and rigorous safety and quality standards but this months health scare is, shockingly, not its first.

In 2023, the company shut down its Pennsylvania facility because of contamination from a different microbe--the tenacious gram-negative bacterium, Cronobacter sakazakii. The FDA documented a leaking roof and 2,500 dead insects in the production area as well as failure to maintain microbe-killing temperatures at the plant. Interview With Baby Food Expert We recently spoke with Monique Alarcon, attorney at Wisner Baum LLP, about the current recall.

MR: ByHeart gained footing during the 2022 US infant formula shortage. Can you remind readers what caused the shortage?

MA: Theres big litigation about this. Enfamil and Similac put out a premature infant formula that was specifically for preemie babies in the ICU and that unfortunately ended up causing this condition called necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC. So that actually led to a formula shortage because they were such a popular and big part of the market.

MR: You have been involved in other infant food dangers besides the botulism scare.

MA: We represent thousands of families [whose babies] have suffered neurodevelopmental injury because of heavy metals in baby food. We have seen an industry-wide problem wherethey are putting out food for the most vulnerable population babies, and that food, baby food, is contaminated, with heavy metal. So weve seen this playbook before where they [themanufacturers] claim it's the best food for the baby, the most nutritional and lo and behold, it's ending these babies to the hospital with really severe symptoms. So that's the reason we've gotten involved. And I think that, you know, we have a history of doing this work.

MR: Even though, as you say, the California Department of Public Health tested and found the ByHeart botulism in products, there may be some obfuscation going on...

MA: So, some of these [exposed] families bought from a store, a retailer. Other families bought directly from ByHeart in their subscription program because the [company is] also a direct to consumer company. But [now the company says] well, that can that was tested, was an opened can, so we don't know They're literally trying to blame the store.

MR: What are the immediate legal implications?

MA: Theres already been a number of individual, kind of personal injury cases filed. Theres also been a couple of different class actions that have been filed about economic damages. Theres the fallout of not only did I purchase this product and Im out of pocket for that, cash-- maybe theyre getting a refund, maybe not in full-- but people have several formula associated products that now they dont know what to do with. Well, I wouldn't feel safe using [the bottles] right now.

MR: What about treatment costs? BabyBIG is an FDA-approved medication for infant botulism but it cost $69,300 per patient in California in 2025. MA: BabyBig, [is] essentially an antitoxin that they immediately give the babiesas soon as possible. I think that the sooner they receive it, the better outcome they have but its not available everywhere. There was one case, I think the family was in Arizona, in which they had to fly in the medication from California. Maybe we are preventing what many years ago would have been fatal but long-term neurodevelopmental consequences can result. Babies have an immature digestive system, so they cant process botulism spores the way that we can. The recommendation is that they not have honey, for example, because it can contain the [botulism] spores.

MR: How can something like this be prevented?

MA: From a legal perspective, when a company like this puts a product onto the market that is dangerous, theyre liable--theres strict liability. [But] the FDA is not as involved as the general public thinks that they are and it is incumbent upon the manufacturers to ensure that their product is safe from start to finish--because the FDA is not there at every step of the way. Sure, they may have certain regulations that govern that industry but it is incumbent upon the manufacturers to ensure that their product is safe from start to finish. END

(Article changed on Nov 21, 2025 at 1:04 PM EST)

(Article changed on Nov 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM EST)
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a complete knee replacement. Now when I go to the dentist, he insists that I take a one-time dose of clindamycin (600 mg) on the day of the visit. (I am allergic to penicillin.) My orthopedist laughs and says that this is old-fashioned; he recommended that I dont take it. Any advice? -- S.M.

ANSWER: Although I dont advocate laughing at any of our fellow professionals, your orthopedic surgeon is correct that antibiotics prior to a routine dental visit is no longer recommended for people with orthopedic hardware.

Several large studies have been unable to find any reduction in the already low risk of developing a prosthetic joint infection by using antibiotics prior to a dental procedure. This is true for gastroenterological procedures (such as a colonoscopy) or other medical procedures (such as a cystoscopy).

On a related note, people with some cardiac issues should get antibiotics before a dental procedure, but this includes far fewer people than we used to recommend it for.

People with a prosthetic valve, a vascular-assisting device, or an artificial heart; people with a history of infective endocarditis (an infection of the heart valve); those who have had a heart transplant and have valve disease; those who had a left atrial appendage occlusive device (such as the WATCHMAN) within the past six months; and some people with congenital heart disease should speak to their physicians as they are usually indicated for antibiotics prior to a procedure.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am struggling with a decision process due to a lack of consensus among various physicians. I was fortunate back in January at 66 years of age to survive bilateral pulmonary emboli with syncope when my wife successfully performed CPR. The underlying cause is undetermined as multiple tests have been negative.

Im now on blood thinners (Eliquis), and I have one cardiologist who says that this must be the case for the rest of my life, while another disagrees. I had a hematologist say that it is not worth determining the root cause because blood thinners are the outcome regardless. Yet my long-time cardiologist disagrees and plans to refer me to a different hematologist.

My reading suggests that long-term blood thinner use is not favorable. Recent blood work with my general physician was good, and he tends to lean toward finding out the root cause. Any suggestion on how to referee when theres a lack of consensus from physicians? -- T.W.

ANSWER: In my opinion, the medical evidence is on the side of the first cardiologist and the hematologist. A single life-threatening blood clot event is a usual indication for lifelong anticoagulation when a reversible cause cannot be found. Yours was not merely life-threatening; it would have been life-ending if not for the heroic action of your wife.

The hematologist is also right that lifelong anticoagulation is the correct treatment even if a genetic cause could be identified. It is very unlikely that a reversible cause will be found after an initial diligent search. However, there still may be a reason to try to find the cause as it may bear on other members of your family, even if it doesnt affect your treatment.

While it is true that there are risks to lifelong anticoagulation, especially bleeding, you may not be lucky enough to survive another blood clot in your lung. In my estimation, the benefit of anticoagulation greatly outweighs its risks.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2022 North America Syndicate Inc.

All Rights Reserved
Forklift manufacturer Hyster-Yale laid off 37 employees at its Fairview site this week, part of a broad restructuring that eliminated 575 jobs across the Ohio-based company. Theyre the latest in a long string of Oregon job cuts that are weighing down the states labor market.

These steps are necessary to ensure the long-term strength and stability of our business, Hyster-Yale spokesperson Sherry Jones wrote in an email. She said about 270 employees still work at the site, which serves as a hub for designing and testing new lifts, prototypes and component parts.

We remain deeply committed to continuing our role as an integral part of this community, Jones said.

Hyster-Yale reported third-quarter sales of $979 million this month, down 4% from a year ago. The company reported a $2.3 million loss, including $40 million in tariff-related costs. Its stock is trading around $26.50, down from more than $50 a share at the start of the year.

Oregon employers have reported more than 14,000 mass layoffs since the start of 2024, a rapid pace of job cuts on par with the worst days of the Great Recession. But the overall impact has been much smaller, with the unemployment rate hovering around 5%. That suggests that many laid-off workers have been able to find other jobs.

Still, layoffs have taken a heavy toll in some key parts of Oregons economy. The impact has been especially severe in the manufacturing sector, led by a severe downturn in Oregons semiconductor industry.

Intel, the states largest corporate employer, eliminated 3,000 Washington County jobs last year and has laid off another 3,000 Oregon workers since July  including 669 job cuts announced last week.
Federal officers deploy chemical munitions as protesters gather outside the Portland ICE facility on Saturday, October 18, 2025. A spokesperson for the Gray's Landing apartments across the street said, Residents should feel safe in their homes without concern of exposure to federal use of chemical agents and tactics. Dave Killen/Special to the Oregonian

The landlord that manages the apartment complex across the street from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it may sue the federal government over its use of tear gas and other munitions during protests outside the South Portland building.

A spokesperson for Reach Community Development told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday that the nonprofit has retained an attorney to look into filing a lawsuit. The aim is to force federal officers to halt their use of tear gas and other munitions that affect the more than 200 low-income tenants of Grays Landing, which sits across South Bancroft Street from the ICE building.

Nighttime demonstrations outside the facility have remained mostly nonviolent, but are consistently loud and disruptive for nearby residents. On active nights, federal officers have fired tear gas, smoke bombs and pepper balls at crowds protesting the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, sending toxic fumes into Grays Landing living and office spaces.

The Oregonian/OregonLive spent an evening in October with tenants in three different apartments to report on how tenants cope with the disruptions. Residents described damaging health effects from the airborne toxins and a heavy emotional toll from dealing with jackhammer-level noise they cant completely drown out by turning up their TVs.

Grays Landing tenants said theyd experienced coughing fits, sleepless nights and have the feeling of being constantly watched as drones skim past their windows, helicopters circle overhead and federal officers stand watch on the ICE buildings roof.

Reach has previously said it has spent at least $150,000 on measures that include renting industrial air filters to put in hallways and replacing the buildings HVAC filters to make conditions in the building more tolerable. Concerns over tear gas and safety prompted the nearby Cottonwood School of Civics and Science to relocate to Southwest First Avenue before the start of the school year in August.

Reach is exploring the lawsuit on behalf of both tenants and staff who work in the organizations ground-floor headquarters, according to spokesperson Lauren Schmidt.

The repeated use of tear gas, smoke bombs, pepper balls and other tactics outside of the ICE facility has had a direct impact on residents well-being, and has created significant hardship for Reach, a nonprofit organization working to create affordable housing our community urgently needs, Schmidt said in an email.

Especially as we approach the holiday season and gather with loved ones, Schmidt added, Reach believes strongly that residents should feel safe in their homes without concern of exposure to federal use of chemical agents and tactics.

Schmidt said the nonprofit had not committed to filing a lawsuit but reemphasized prior calls for federal officers to halt their use of chemical munitions against protesters.

Reach officials plan to meet with Grays Landing residents Monday to discuss the potential lawsuit, Chief Executive Margaret Salazar said.

Any lawsuit would be aimed at the federal government, Salazar said, and not developer Stuart Lindquist, the ICE facility landlord who has come under fire from detractors who criticize him for allowing immigration agents to operate from his building.

For now our focus is federal action, not the landlord, Salazar said. Part of the work to be done is to get advice from counsel on which legal avenues we may want to pursue.

--Kristine de Leon contributed to this article.
Investigators concluded there was no foul play, officials said. Oregonian file photo

One person is dead after a fire destroyed a house in Cherry Grove, an unincorporated community in Washington County, officials said.

Gaston Rural Fire District firefighters were heading to the scene at 3:58 a.m. Thursday when they spotted a visible glow across the valley, prompting them to call for help from other area fire departments, the fire district recounted in a social-media post.

A neighbor arrived before firefighters and attempted to alert anyone who might be in the house but did not receive a response, the Gaston fire department said. The modular home was fully involved by the time firefighters arrived, with fire shooting out the front door.

The Gaston firefighters immediately attacked the blaze, and they were soon joined by firefighters from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department and Yamhill Fire, officials said.

After the fire had been put out, a search found the houses sole resident inside, dead, officials said.

We continued to investigate the cause of the fire with help from detectives with Washington County Sheriffs Office, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Oregon State Police, the Gaston fire department said. With assistance from our partners, we were able to rule out foul play.

The victims name has not been released.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
A Multnomah County jury this week acquitted a criminal defense attorney of trespass -- the second time in two months that jurors rejected a prosecutors claims that he committed a crime by refusing to leave the Portland airport.

Other defense lawyers attended the closing arguments Wednesday and waited for the verdict for Ernest Clarke Zacher, who has been in private practice for a year after two years working as a public defender.

Body camera video in the case showed a Port of Portland police officer telling Zacher that we run the show and an intoxicated Zacher divulging that he worked as a defense attorney and knew the police lacked probable cause. Zachers lawyers raised allegations of malicious prosecution, which a judge swiftly rejected.

A six-person jury spent four hours deliberating before it acquitted Zacher after a three-day trial. A trial in October ended with a hung jury.

Zacher arrived at Portland International Airport just before midnight on July 12 and proceeded to United Airlines gate E7. He had consumed six White Claw hard seltzer drinks before his arrival, according to court records.

Airline staff had denied him entry to the boarding ramp for his first-class seat to Washington Dulles International Airport via Chicago.

They testified that they had flagged Zacher, 44, as what they considered a yellow light concern and confiscated his boarding pass because he was belligerent, rude and pounded on the counter.

At first, airline gate workers told Zacher there was a problem with his seat assignment and directed him to sit to the side of the gates counter, his lawyers said. Ultimately, a United Airlines operations supervisor told Zacher he was canceling his ticket that night and would rebook him, Zacher said.

Later, one of the airline representatives decided not to rebook him and called the port police, according to court testimony.

Two officers arrived. As Officer Colby Wilkie pulled on rubber gloves and said hello, Zacher responded, I have nothing to say as he sat alone near the gate.

Body camera footage shows that Wilkie responded: I dont care. Give me your ID.

Zacher refused to provide his name or ID, contending that police had no legal justification to demand them.

Wilkie said he was trespassing. When Zacher told the officer he wasnt, Wilkie asked him why he believed that.

I am a criminal defense attorney, Zacher said. I know how this works and you dont have probable cause.

Wilkies partner, Officer Marinna Ordiway, shot back: We dont care. We run the show, according to the video.

Zacher started to smile at that. So thats great  thats perfect, he said.

Zacher, who was slurring his speech, remained seated by the gate as Wilkie ultimately gave him the choice to leave immediately or face arrest. Zacher sprung to his feet and extended both hands in front of him and was handcuffed.

At one point, Ordiway told him that she recognized him from court, quipped that he left his signature snakeskin boots at home and told him that he should know better.

Zacher, in turn, commented on her physical appearance and insisted that the officers call him counselor, according to the body camera footage.

Deputy District Attorney Eric Pickard argued that Zachers choice to be arrested was proof that he was guilty of second-degree criminal trespass.

Nobody is above the law, Pickard told the jury. Who are we talking about here? Were not talking about Nelson Mandela fighting against apartheid, but a guy who shows up to the airport late and thinks hes entitled and is behaving like a jerk.

Zacher no longer had authorization to be in the TSA-screened area of the airport, Pickard said.

Defense lawyer Alexandra A. Eason countered that the state failed to prove that Zacher knew he was trespassing. He believed that the airline was rebooking him on another flight, she said.

In his heart of hearts, he believed he had a legitimate reason to remain there, she said.

And while she acknowledged that Zacher wasnt at his best, she said the officers we run the show remark should concern jurors.

Mr. Zacher challenges authority  and the powers that be didnt like it, she said. Just because theyre in a position of power doesnt mean theyre right.

Eason argued that Wilkie immediately escalated the encounter and failed to give Zacher any real notice or explanation of his expulsion from the airport.

Before the trial got underway, Eason and her co-counsel, Edward LeClaire, unsuccessfully argued that the decision by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office to retry Zacher amounted to vindictive and selective prosecution.

They characterized Zacher as a zealous defense attorney who had gone up against Pickard in at least three jury trials since 2022 and beat the state in each by obtaining not guilty verdicts on various charges.

Eason also alleged there was a disparity in how Pickard amended the elements of the trespass charge against Zacher a day before his first trial to include lower culpable mental standards - recklessness or criminal negligence - to prove second-degree trespass, compared to most other similar prosecutions that have required the higher standard, that a person knowingly committed the crime.

Since Pickard argued at trial that Zacher deliberately chose to remain in the airport unlawfully, the jury should hold the state to the burden of proving it, Eason said.

Pickard, who reviews Port of Portland cases for prosecution, told Judge Rima Ghandour that the defense had no evidence to subject him to personal attacks and insinuated misconduct.

I did not pick Mr. Zacher to be a defendant in the case, he said.

The judge privately reviewed emails sent within the district attorneys office regarding its decision to retry Zacher on the Class C misdemeanor and then denied further requests from the defense for additional information to try to prove their allegation.

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Demer said in an email that two judges declined to find that our office proceeded in a manner that violated Mr. Zachers rights.

We apply the law equally to all individuals regardless of their occupation, he said. This case factually addressed specific airport rules and DDA Eric Pickard is the expert in that area.

Demer added: While we are disappointed with the outcome, we fully respect the jurys verdict  It is our hope that (Zacher) changes his future behavior.

Despite his arrest, Zacher with the help of friends booked a flight in first-class the next day on Delta Airlines out of Portland International Airport to Washington, D.C. , where he retrieved the luggage that had arrived from the flight he wasnt allowed to take. Though he faced a 90-day exclusion from the Portland airport, he was allowed to show up and get on the plane, without loitering in the airport.

He made it to his final destination: a two-week National Criminal Defense College trial practice training institute.

While he was on pretrial release, the county sheriffs office revoked Zachers special courthouse pass that had allowed him to avoid the Multnomah County courthouses main security entrance and lines of people going through metal detectors.

With his acquittal, he said he hopes to apply for one again.
ABU DHABI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to discuss the Sudan crisis and bilateral ties, the official WAM news agency reported.

The two officials reviewed the latest developments in Sudan's civil war, stressing the urgency of an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and the need to ensure unhindered humanitarian access for affected civilians.

The U.S. State Department said in a press release that the two sides "continued discussions on our collective efforts to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan."

Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had begun efforts to end the war in Sudan, noting that the initiative was launched at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their White House meeting.

Relations between the UAE and Sudan have been strained since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, with Sudan accusing the UAE of backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, allegations the UAE has repeatedly denied.

The brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced millions from their homes, causing what the UN calls one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century.

During the call, the two top diplomats also discussed bilateral relations and opportunities to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. Abdullah expressed gratitude for the recent White House decision allowing the export of advanced artificial-intelligence semiconductors to the UAE-based G42 Group, describing it as a testament to the depth and continued growth of the strategic partnership between the two nations. 
Michael Lasota (pictured in Hong Kong) lived in Taiwan for almost a decade before returning to the United States. Michael Lasota

Michael Lasota opened his eyes to find a man holding a tire iron and standing over his bed.

He recognized him. The man was one of about 90 people who, like Lasota, were bunking down in the cold dorm hall of the Clark Center transitional housing shelter in Southeast Portland. But hed never had a conversation with him, and didnt know the mans name.

Before Lasota could process what was happening, the man  who police later identified as Brandon Michael Quinn  brought the tire iron down on Lasotas face twice.

The 6 a.m. attack on June 13 left Lasota with a fractured and dislocated jaw. He had to undergo surgery to install a metal plate and two screws in his jaw. He hasnt been able to eat solid food until recently, and eating remains difficult and painful.

Quinn, 38, fled from the shelter and wasnt caught until Sept. 21, police and jail-booking records show. He is being held in jail, facing charges of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Hes set to appear in court for a hearing in January 2026.

Five months after the attack, Lasota, 43, remains stunned at this traumatic turn in his life. He had planned on spending at most a couple months at the shelter, convinced he was on his way to better things.

I was only using it as a stepping stone to get back into my normal life, he said of his time at the shelter. And it ended up breaking me.

The Clark Center shelter, at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, is owned and operated by the 56-year-old nonprofit Transitions Projects, which employs hundreds of people. It operates out of 14 metro-area sites and assists thousands of people each year through its various programs, according to the organization.

Like many people who end up at shelters, Lasota had tumbled into homelessness unexpectedly, and despite having a job. After a divorce upended his life and finances, he was trying to restart his career in the United States after a decade in Taiwan teaching English, he said.

Lasota had returned from Asia to his hometown in New York state, but he had trouble landing a teaching position there  and he couldnt get used to the snow again, he said. So in March he took a train to Portland, where hed lived and worked 15 years ago. Hed enjoyed the city then, reveling in its music scene and even starting his own band. He was excited about returning.

But he quickly realized Portland had changed.

It was a whole different city back then, he said.

It was more welcoming in the early 2000s, he believed. Dreams seemed within grasp. Now the city appeared to be in decline.

Yet Lasota was glad to be back, and he was optimistic. And he quickly landed a job  as an after-school activities coordinator at the Vermont Hills Family Life Center. But in early April  the day before he started the new job  he unexpectedly had to find other living accommodations.

With very little money and nowhere else to turn, he checked himself into the Clark Center shelter, hoping to save money quickly.

Trying to stay positive, he threw himself into his new job.

I love teaching because it keeps me young, Lasota told The Oregonian/OregonLive. I relearn things I forgot from my youth, find ways to make kids happy in a learning atmosphere.

His long-term plan was to start his own English-teaching business in Portland. Hed owned a school in Taiwan with his now-ex-wife and had enjoyed it, particularly being able to control the curriculum and the day-to-day operations of the business.

In Portland, he set about saving as much of his paycheck as he could, and in early June, while staying at the shelter, he found a small space that could house his planned business  and give him a place to sleep while he looked for permanent housing, he said. On June 10  three days before the attack  he agreed to a lease.

During his two months at the shelter, Lasota found himself among men of varying backgrounds: veterans and others whod recently lost jobs, men recently released from prison, men recovering from drug-and alcohol-use disorders.

Lasota felt reasonably safe at the shelter but not comfortable, he said.

It was cold, for one thing, and despite the places no-weapons policy, he realized the rules were mostly on the honor system  staff never checked for weapons or other prohibited items when people entered, he said.

Multnomah Countys Homeless Services Department, which oversees the citys shelters, said that has now changed.

As part of their continued work to provide safety, Transition Projects has begun conducting bag checks at the entrances of all its shelter locations, the Homeless Services Departments spokesperson, Julia Comnes, said in an email.

Transition Projects didnt respond to The Oregonian/OregonLives requests for comment.

Lasota said there was always staff on site at the shelter and that other people staying there were polite or kept to themselves. He felt safe enough that he could sleep.

The attack caught him entirely by surprise. He jumped up and ran from his bunk after the second blow came down on his face. He screamed for help, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Quinn  who, court records show, was convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2023 and fourth-degree assault in 2012  allegedly fled the facility without anyone trying to stop him.

Staff called an ambulance, and Lasota was taken to a hospital. Though dazed and on powerful pain medications, he managed to text his family and loved ones.

It wasnt easy to find stuff like that out, his mother, Susan Lasota, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Its nothing I wanted to hear.

Michael Lasota ended up with a broken and dislocated jaw due to the attack. Michael Lasota

After Lasota was able to travel, he returned to New York to recover at his mothers house.

A lifelong musician, Lasota said that hes been writing songs to help him process this experience.

You get knocked down, you get back up, he said of the theme of one of his new songs.

He hopes to return to teaching after he fully heals, but as of now his plans are uncertain. And every day, unbidden, his thoughts return to what happened in Portland. Lasota said the emotional impact of the attack makes it unlikely hell return to the city.

Still, hes trying to let go of his anger at the man who assaulted him.

I want him to get help because obviously he needs help, he said. I hope this didnt happen to him.
The district also drafted glowing letters of recommendation for each of the two teachers who sued the district, writing that it was a "please to recommend" them for other teaching jobs and that they're in "good standing." Grants Pass School District No. 7

Grants Pass School District No. 7 has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by two former staff members who were fired for producing a video and website challenging the districts policy on recognizing students gender identities.

The settlement follows a ruling in June by a federal appeals court that found the district had failed to show a substantial disruption to the school environment that outweighed the free speech rights of the terminated employees.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also allowed religious discrimination and equal protection claims to proceed against the district, reversing a decision by Oregon Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke, who had thrown out the entire case.

Rachel Sager and Katie Medart sued the school district in June 2021, alleging they were fired in retaliation for their protected speech regarding gender identity, parental rights and educational policy. They also accused the district of discriminating against them on the basis of their Christian beliefs.

They had taken issue with a memorandum circulated in February 2021 by the district on Gender Identity, Transgender, Name and Pronoun Guidance that recommended employees accept a students assertion of his/her/their own gender identity.

Medart worked at North Middle School as a science and health teacher and Sager served as an assistant principal of the school.

As part of the settlement, the district reversed both firings and agreed to revise its policy to comply with the First Amendment. The districts superintendent also issued a public statement, provided letters of recommendation for both women and removed negative statements from their personnel files.

The District and Board acknowledge that their handling of this matter fell short of their standards and responsibilities, the public statement says.

It also says: The District affirms employees rights to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern. The District has revised Policy  to protect employees freedom and remain compliant with federal and Oregon law. It has expanded access to gender-neutral, single-occupant restroom facilities. The District also has practices in place to protect employee religious freedom.

On their own time and using their personal electronics, Sager and Medart said they created a campaign called I Resolve, set up a website and uploaded a video to YouTube. Sager and Medart, though, also sent emails from their school accounts to district staff that included a link to the I Resolve website, and both sought support from other employees, according to court records.

The two women sought to promote alternative policies that would allow teachers to continue teaching without violating their conscience and that would respect the rights of parents, their website said.

Attorney Mathew W. Hoffman, a lawyer with the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, praised the negotiated outcome. He represented the Sager and Medart in the suit.

The Grants Pass School District is taking the right step by acknowledging that teachers dont give up their First Amendment rights when they set foot on school property. Public schools cant retaliate against speech simply because they disagree with whats said, he said in a statement.
Its crunch time at the Paris Theatre, Old Town Portlands storied and scandalous soon-to-be burlesque venue.

Crew members have spent the past week putting the final glittering touches on the space, often from behind the theaters grand velvet curtains. While workers install main floor seating, performers scramble over costumes backstage, bedazzling platform boots and affixing epaulets to vest shoulders  all while rehearsing for the theaters very first holiday show.

Chris and Fae Pink are the Artistic Director and Choreograper for Can Can Portland. They moved from Seattle to Portland three months ago for this project. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Its a wonderful feeling to be able to move onto the next step, theater owner Chris Pink said outside the building Monday, an oversized pair of ribbon-cutting scissors in hand. Its also very daunting.

Were doing a full renovation of a theater. Were opening a restaurant and a bar, he said. And were opening a full show, with a full new technical setup, lighting, sound  all of the things.

The Seattle-based Can Can Productions founder bought the Paris Theatre in 2021 and has spent the past four years transforming the space into a burlesque and cancan venue.

Its a notable next chapter for the 135-year-old theater, which boasts a dynamic history.

Many recall the building as one of the citys bygone porn theaters, though its shuffled through a half dozen other uses over the years. Since being built in 1890, the space has done stints as a saloon, vaudeville hall, (less raunchy) cinema, punk club and, most recently, live music venue.

The Paris Theatre in 1974. Portland City Archives, AP/14222

In a file photo from 2002: "Friday nights have become punk night at The New Paris Theatre. These guys loiter on the sidewalk before going inside to hear a very loud band from Reno called Fall Silent." The Oregonian archives

The building has sat empty since a sudden roof collapse in 2019  its blank marquee and towering, unlit neon sign drawing eyes on Southwest Third Avenue.

This weekend, the Paris Theatre will finally return to some of its gaudier performance roots.

Twas the Night Before Nutcracker  Can Can Productions (21+) burlesque reimagining of the whimsical wintertime classic  debuts Friday and runs through Jan. 11.

Choreographed by Fae Pink to new music that riffs on the original Tchaikovsky score, the show follows Clara decades after her Nutcracker fever dream. Naturally, theres a cabaret twist.

All the costumes in this performance were done by one of the cast members. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

All the costumes in this performance were done by one of the cast members. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Shows are currently scheduled for 6:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, though Pink said the theater may add additional late-night performances depending on turnout. Tickets are available on the Can Can Productions website and range from $59 to $99.

Small bites will also be available for purchase at the theater, along with a stocked bar. Pink described the menu as made up of upscale carnival concessions, like mini spring rolls or dumplings served in circus-esque containers.

Its an apt way to ring in the Paris Theatres glitzy new look  a style defined by dramatic pink drapery, baby blue chandeliers and a staircase sparkling with gold filigree.

The space itself is a piece of theater, Pink told The Oregonian/OregonLive back in August. Its got its own personality, and its got its own sort of language.

Can Can is a burlesque company that originated in Seattle. They bought the Paris Theater before the pandemic and are finally opening to the public Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

The Paris Theater has sat vacant in Old Town since 2019. It has previously been a: vaudeville hall, punk club, a DJ venue and porn theater. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

In this new design, the Paris Theatre almost resembles a gently-used dollhouse come to life.

The buildings 19th-century trusses were repaired, repainted and left exposed, leaving a series of overlapping wooden beams that acts as an art installation in itself. The upper levels  a former projectors booth and once-cramped mezzanine  were restructured to make room for additional seating, bringing audiences even closer to the rafters.

Dusty brick peeks out from the theaters signature pink walls, interspersed with sheets of wallpaper printed with glamorously posed, scantily dressed women.

The opening night of Can Can Portland will be on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Their first show is "'Twas the Night Before Nutcracker." Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Its perfectly flashy, with just the right amount of scrappy, ornate charm.

That flair could be more succinctly described as punk rock Rococo, architect John Wright said in August, referencing the 18th-century French design style known for its elaborate elegance.

Its like a layer cake, said Wright, whose Portland firm, Wright Architecture, worked with Can Can Productions on the Paris Theatre remodel. Its kind of nauseating to look at  but the version (Pink) is doing, its theater and its playful. Its fun. Its punk rock.

Now, the Paris Theatre is at last ready to bring that glitz and glam  plus a well-coordinated high kick or two  to Old Town Portland.
Green bean casserole might be a Thanksgiving tradition, but for some people its the least favorite part of the big meal.

The culprit may be the classic recipe that relies on canned beans and gloppy cream of mushroom soup. When prepared with fresh green beans and mushrooms instead, the dish transforms into something worth celebrating.

Green bean casserole remains one of the essential side dishes that make Thanksgiving dinner unique. This year, cooks can elevate their holiday spread with updated recipes featuring fresh ingredients rather than canned alternatives. Beyond green bean casserole, other vegetable dishes like Brussels sprouts and squash round out the traditional feast.

Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pomegranate and Pistachios, a recipe from "The Complete Autumn & Winter Cookbook" by America's Test Kitchen, 2021. Steve Klise, America's Test Kitchen

Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Pistachios

This recipe from Americas Kitchen comes together quickly, and offers an interesting contrast of sweet and savory flavors, plus textural interest from the pistachios.

Recipe: Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Pistachios.

Stephanie Kimmel's Green Bean Casserole. Mike Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Stephanie Kimmels Green Bean Casserole, Revisited

Back in 2008, we asked chef Stephanie Kimmel from Eugenes Marche restaurant to take a stab at updating Thanksgivings well-worn green bean casserole -- you know the one were talking about, with the canned beans and mushroom soup, topped with fried onions. Kimmels from-scratch version features colorful fresh green beans that are baked in a homemade white sauce that tastes cleaner than the 1950s tinned three-can combo. If Thanksgiving dinner doesnt feel complete without a green bean casserole, this is the one to make!

Recipe:Stephanie Kimmels Green Bean Casserole, Revisited.

Brussels Sprout Gratin, a recipe from "Joy of Cooking" by John Becker and Megan Scott, 2019, Scribner. Grant Butler | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

This new favorite Thanksgiving side comes from the new edition of Joy of Cooking. It can be made vegan, with coconut milk taking the place of the cream. Alternately, it can be made omnivore with the addition of bacon. Talk about versatile!

Recipe: Brussels Sprout Gratin.

Butternut Squash Soup, a recipe from "Joy of Cooking" by John Becker and Megan Scott, 2019, Scribner. Grant Butler | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Squash Soup

Heres another Joy of Cooking recipe that makes a perfect Thanksgiving side. Almost any variety of fall squash can be used in the preparation. And its quite easy to make in advance and keep warmed in a slow cooker.

Recipe: Pumpkin or Butternut Squash Soup.

Roasted Acorn Squash With Sesame Seeds and Cumin; Roasted Acorn Squash With Bacon and Maple; Roasted Acorn Squash With Orange and Sage, all from "Martha Stewart Vegetables." Ngoc Minh Ngo, Clarkson Potter/Publishers

Roasted acorn squash, 3 ways

In her dynamite cookbook Martha Stewarts Vegetables, the queen of domesticity shows how acorn squash can be a canvas for a variety of flavors. Roasted with sesame seeds and cumin, the squash takes on the warmth of the Mediterranean. Tossed with bacon, maple syrup and a touch of cayenne, it echoes the comfort of the breakfast table. And paired with orange peel, sage leaves and a touch of grated Parmigiano offers the perfect balance to rich gravy and herbed stuffing.

Recipes: Roasted Acorn Squash With Sesame Seeds and Cumin; Roasted Acorn Squash With Bacon and Maple; Roasted Acorn Squash With Orange and Sage.

Roasted Beet Salad

Salad often is overlooked at Thanksgiving. After all, how can a bowl of blah greens hope to compete against all the other dishes? But it gets some respect with this flavorful salad, featuring robust roasted beets and the zing of citrus.

Recipe: Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad.

Lighter Green Bean Casserole. Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Lighter Green Bean Casserole

We asked readers which recipe they would like to see get a healthy makeover, and the resounding choice was green bean casserole. Our version uses fresh mushrooms and green beans, cutting back on the salt significantly. And lower-fat mushroom soup reduces the calorie count by quite a bit.

Recipe: Lighter Green Bean Casserole.

Swiss Chard Gratin

This is a classic recipe from Gourmet magazine is loaded with cheese and heavy cream, so its anything but light. But this is Thanksgiving, and the splurge is worth it.

Recipe: Swiss Chard Gratin.

Green Rice Casserole, a vegan adaptation of a rice dish originally served at the Kansas City restaurant Stephenson's Apple Farm.

Green Rice Casserole

The original recipe for this dish dates back more than 50 years and comes from the long-gone Kansas City-area restaurant Stephensons Apple Farm. This updated version uses plant-based substitutions for the dairy and egg, without compromising the dishs vibrant flavors.

Recipe: Stephensons Apple Farm Green Rice Casserole.

Creamed Brussels Sprouts. Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Julia Childs Creamed Brussels Sprouts

This classic Thanksgiving side came from Julia Child. We dont see many creamed vegetables any more, except maybe creamed corn or spinach, so this might be a bit of a novelty. And its delicious. If people complain about the richness, just remind them that Thanksgiving dinner is supposed to be a feast, right? (And you can get by with an awful lot be invoking the name Julia Child).

Recipe: Creamed Brussels Sprouts.

Buttered Leeks

This Alison Ladman recipe turns leeks, which often play second fiddle to other Thanksgiving dishes, into stars of the holiday table. The addition of chicken sausage is optional, and the dish is vegetarian without it.

Recipe: Buttered Leeks With Thyme and Sausage.

Gluten-free Green Bean Casserole

Portland author and recipe developer Laura B. Russell shares her recipe for gluten-free and vegetarian green bean casserole made with homemade cream of mushroom soup and topped with fried shallots.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole.

Green beans, beyond casseroles

You know, it is possible to serve green beans on Thanksgiving without a can of mushroom soup anywhere in sight. The Associated Press Alison Ladman shows how to make classic green beans with five tasty variations.

Recipe: Green Beans Five Ways.

Roasted Butternut Squash

For this easy Thanksgiving side dish, butternut squash is roasted it until lightly browned outside and tender inside, then seasoned with a warmed lemon vinaigrette spiked with toasted cumin and fennel seeds.

Recipe: Fennel-Cumin Roasted Butternut Squash.

Miso-creamed Kale. Randy L. Rasmussen, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Miso-creamed Kale

At the now-closed Wafu, chef-owner Trent Pierce gave lacinato kale an East-meets-West treatment that has so much umami it puts creamed spinach to shame. If you can find them, use shimeji mushrooms with stems. Otherwise, use shiitake mushroom tops.

Recipe: Miso-Creamed Kale.

Ned Ludd's charred brussels sprouts are a perfect Thanksgiving recipes, thanks to their simplicity. (Dave Killen, The Oregonian/OregonLive) LC- The Oregonian

Ned Ludds Charred Bruss

Brussels sprouts get the respect they deserve from chef Jason French, formerly chef at the much-missed Portland restaurant Ned Ludd, where this dish played a starring role. He flash roasts them in a searing-hot cast-iron skilled, which turns them into sweet, charred beauties that diners gobble up like candy. The crowning touch is a finish of fresh lemon juice, which brings the dishs flavors all together.

Recipe: Ned Ludds Charred Bruss.

And heres a 1-minute video showing how to make Ned Ludds Charred Bruss.

Cast-Iron Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts With Pickled Raisins and Sunflower Seeds, from "Home: Recipes to Cook With Family and Friends" by Bryan Voltaggio. Reprinted with permission from Little, Brown and Company. (Photo by Ed Anderson) Ed Anderson, Little, Brown and Company

Pan-fried Brussels Sprouts

Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio pairs Brussels sprouts with pickled raisins and toasted sunflower seeds and seasons them with smoked paprika oil. The recipe shows that sprouts can have deep layers of flavor and complexity when teamed with the right ingredients.

Recipe: Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts With Pickled Raisins and Sunflower Seeds.

Baked Acorn Squash With Maple Syrup and Balsamic Vinegar. Dave Killen, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Baked Acorn Squash

One of the simplest ways to add squash to the Thanksgiving menu is with a classic Baked Acorn Squash, dressed up with maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and freshly grated nutmeg. The dish, which we first shared with readers in 2008, has the ideal balance of sweetness and tang, and the addition of a touch of butter right before serving gives it a boost of richness.

Recipe: Baked Acorn Squash With Maple Syrup and Balsamic Vinegar.

And heres a 1-minute video showing how to make that Baked Acorn Squash dish.

Miso-Glazed Green Beans

Miso-glazed Green Beans

This recipe from cookbook author Jill Nussinow is a lighter side dish option for Thanksgiving (it has less than a gram of fat per serving), but its loaded with flavor, thanks to its glaze made with white miso and Medjool dates.

Recipe: Miso-Drizzled Green Beans.

Creamy Leek and Kale Gratin. Gregor Torrence, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Creamy Leek and Kale Gratin

This creamy-yet-virtuous gratin of greens from Ivy Manning is crowned with crunchy homemade bread crumbs tossed with nutty-tasting brown butter. Make ahead: The gratin can be assembled up to one day in advance. Allow the gratin to cool completely before covering it with plastic and storing it in the refrigerator. Add 10 additional minutes to the baking time.

Recipe: Creamy Leek and Kale Gratin.

Orange-seared Pumpkin

Steamed pumpkin sauteed and seasoned with fresh orange juice makes a tasty fall or winter side dish. Pumpkin steamed in the pressure cooker is easy to peel and dice and the steaming liquid can be used as a flavorful liquid in another recipe. You can pressure cook spaghetti squash this way too: use the same timing, but tease out the spaghetti flesh with a fork instead of dicing it.

Recipe: Orange-Seared Pumpkin.

Garlic Creamed Spinach. Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Garlic-Creamed Spinach

Garlic Creamed Spinach is perfect for Thanksgiving because its easy to make and has bold, delicious flavor. This recipe from Alison Ladman is much easier to make than regular creamed spinach recipes, which often call for time-consuming roux-based sauces. Who has time for that on the years biggest cooking day?

Recipe: Garlic Creamed Spinach.

Braised Red Cabbage With Apple and Juniper

Strategic Cooking columnist Matthew Card created this hearty cabbage side dish, inspired by the way northern European cooks simmer thin-sliced red cabbage in apple cider spiked with juniper and thyme and brightened with cider vinegar. Time-saving tip: The dish can be made up to three days in advance and warmed in the microwave.

Recipe: Braised Red Cabbage With Apple and Juniper.

Grilled Acorn Squash

The compound butter for this squash dish captures the essence of two key Thanksgiving flavors  sage and cranberries. Its best if it is made ahead and given time for the flavors to combine. Three hours is ideal. The recipe makes extra; try it on toasted rye or sourdough.

Recipe: Grilled Acorn Squash With Cranberry-Sage Butter.

Roast Delicata Squash With Honey, Thyme and Slivered Almonds. Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Roast Delicata Squash

Heres another genius recipe from Strategic Cooking columnist Matthew Card. The recipe cooks quickly, so when you pull your turkey out of the oven, turn up the heat and toss the squash in. Card recommends finishing the dish with a coarse sea salt, which gives some nice textural contrast.

Recipe: Roast Delicata Squash With Honey, Thyme and Slivered Almonds.

Sweet Carrot Casserole

Alicia Ross came up with this Thanksgiving twist, based on her favorite sweet potato casserole, but substituting carrots for the tubers.

Recipe: Sweet Carrot Casserole.

Spicy Roasted Pumpkin

Thanksgiving gets an Indian twist with this delicious recipe from Meera Sodha. Garam masala is a widely available Indian seasoning blend. Look for it in the grocers spice aisle. Acorn squash also works well in this recipe.

Recipe: Roast Spiced Pumpkin With Pistachio Chutney.

Cabbage Gratin. The Oregonian/OregonLive file photo

Cabbage Gratin

This country-style dish from vegetarian cooking icon Deborah Madison is delicate and delicious and makes a lovely side dish for turkey. The recipe calls for baking it for 50 minutes in a 375 degree oven, but the results can be achieved in a 325 oven  the temperature for most turkey recipes  so it can be baked at the same time as the bird (provided your oven is large enough). Just allow 60 to 70 minutes total baking time.

Recipe: Cabbage Gratin.
About 135 nurse practitioners, physician associates and clinical nurse specialists who work at Legacy's hospitals and clinics across the state are preparing to go on an open-ended strike Dec. 2. Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, pictured on Monday, April 17, 2023. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

About 135 medical professionals at Legacy Health say they will begin an open-ended strike on Dec. 2, after more than a year and a half of stalled contract talks.

The workers  a group of advanced practice providers including nurse practitioners, physician associates and clinical nurse specialists  work across Legacys hospitals and clinics in Oregon and southwest Washington. They provide a wide range of frontline care, from primary care visits to specialty services.

Officials with the Oregon Nurses Association, the union that represents the workers, said the move comes after the workers voted overwhelmingly last month to authorize a strike. The workers have been trying to negotiate a new contract since they unionized in late 2023.

Union leaders said that after the October vote, workers met with Legacy management seven times, but Legacys legal team later walked away from talks and said it wouldnt consider more proposals. They said the workers have continued to offer bargaining dates and are committed to reaching an agreement and avoiding a strike.

The workers formally notified Legacy management of their plans to strike Thursday evening, according to union officials. Health workers are required to give 10 days notice before beginning a strike.

In a statement, Legacy officials said negotiators met with the union more than 30 times over the past year and a half to reach a fair and market-aligned proposal  including an average 10% pay increase based on regional and national compensation data.

Now that we have received a strike notice, bargaining will be paused during the 10 days leading up to and throughout the duration of the strike, Legacy officials said, adding that they have activated contingency plans to maintain patient care during the strike and will notify patients if any scheduled appointments are affected.

Advanced practice providers said they are still far from a deal with Legacy leadership on pay and working conditions. A major concern, they said, is the large amount of unpaid administrative and nonclinical work they are expected to do outside their scheduled shifts  work they argue contributes to burnout and turnover.

Leigh Warsing, a trauma physician associate at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, said she often stays past her shift to finish patient care, especially during emergencies. But because she is salaried, Warsing said, those extra hours go unpaid.

Even when I go home, I should turn off my EPIC inbox, but most of us dont, she said. We keep answering nurses questions when they come in or put in orders if they ask us to. So we do a lot when were not on shift but were not being paid for it.

April Callister, a physician associate in cardiothoracic surgery at Legacy Emanuel and Legacy Good Samaritan, said being on call makes the workload even heavier. She said shes responsible for 24-hour call shifts on weekdays and is required to be continuously available from Friday evening through Monday morning, on top of her full-time schedule.

But any work that I do at home while on call is not compensated, she said. It could be anything related to helping take care of patients. Sometimes its getting a call from a patient and deciding whether they need to go to the ER or answering questions from overnight nurse staff.

Callister said physician associates and nurse practitioners are asking for more sustainable working conditions and wages that better reflect regional standards at systems like Oregon Health & Science University and Kaiser Permanente.

Union officials said direct comparisons between Legacy and OHSU are difficult because the organizations structure their advanced practice provider workforce differently. But union spokesperson Peter Starzynski said Legacys proposed wages are, on average, at least 10% lower than what OHSU pays its non-faculty advanced practice workers who primarily provide patient care  and as much as 20% lower than Kaisers pay for similar roles.

Thats just wages, Starzynski said. When you look at working at OHSU and the benefits of pension, retirement, health care benefits and everything else, it drops drastically lower. Overall, compensation is far lower.

OHSU recently reached a tentative labor agreement with 700 nurse practitioners, physician associates and nurse midwives represented by the Oregon Nurses Association, following its own strike authorization.

Under the deal, new non-faculty physician associates and nurse practitioners in primary and specialty care would start at about $167,000 annually, while experienced advanced practice providers at the top of the scale would earn just over $202,000.

Legacy officials, however, argued that its important to look at the broader market for advanced practice providers and that its exhaustive review of regional job postings found many health systems offering lower salaries than what it has put on the table.

Legacy officials said the hospital systems financial outlook limits how much it can increase pay. They said the health system treats a large share of patients on Medicaid and other government programs, and those reimbursements often dont cover the full cost of care.

This reality puts sustained pressure on our finances, the statement said. We must balance fair and competitive compensation with the financial constraints required to keep our organization viable  especially during a time when we continue to run unsustainable operating losses.

The looming strike is unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing labor unrest across Oregons health care sector. At the same time, many hospital systems in the region have warned that rising costs and anticipated Medicaid cuts are putting their finances under significant strain.

Earlier this week, more than 8,000 OHSU employees represented by Local 328 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees voted to authorize a strike after nearly a year of bargaining.

Last month, about 4,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in Oregon and southwest Washington held a five-day walkout. And earlier this year, nearly 5,000 Providence workers at eight Oregon hospitals staged a 46-day strike.
A Washington state resident has tested positive for bird flu  the first human case reported in the U.S. since February and the first involving the H5N5 strain, state health officials said. AP Photo/Denis Farrell

A Washington state resident has tested positive for bird flu  the first U.S. human case reported in about nine months and the first ever involving the H5N5 strain, health officials said last week.

The case involves a person who lives in Grays Harbor County on the Olympic Peninsula. Washington health officials described the patient as an older adult who has underlying health conditions. They said the person has been hospitalized since early November after developing a high fever, confusion and difficulty breathing.

According to a news release, the most likely source of the infection was the persons backyard flock of mixed domestic poultry, which had been exposed to wild birds. The Washington State Health Department and the Washington Department of Agriculture are now looking into how the person got sick and checking on any animals that may have been involved.

H5N5 is a different subtype of avian influenza than the more familiar H5N1 strain that has been spreading widely among wild birds, poultry and other animals around the world for several years.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the distinction between the two comes down to a surface protein. Its unclear whether this first human case of H5N5 has any broader significance or poses different risks than other avian flu viruses.

But each human infection is closely watched, because it gives the virus an opportunity to mutate in ways that could make it more transmissible or more severe. A 2024 study published in Science, for example, found how a single genetic change in an H5N1 virus was enough to shift the viruss receptor binding preference from birds to humans.

The current risk to the public is low because there has been no record of the virus spreading from one human to another, according to state and federal health agencies. Even so, health workers are checking in with anyone who had close contact with the patient.

There have been four human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported in the U.S. so far this year, according to the CDC. Since early 2024, 71 people nationwide have tested positive, including one person in Oregon and 12 in Washington  most of them dairy or poultry farmworkers. One person in Louisiana died, but most had mild symptoms.

Bird flu continues to spread widely among animals. In the past 30 days, the virus has struck 86 poultry flocks across the country, affecting more than 1.8 million birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The virus can spread easily when infected wild birds come into contact with commercial operations or backyard flocks.

Washington health officials say the risk of avian influenza tends to rise in the fall and winter, when migratory birds pass through the region and can introduce the virus to poultry farms and backyard flocks.
People will be able to flit about and chirp with artists and authors at the 45th Wild Arts Festival, a popular Bird Alliance of Oregon fundraiser happening Dec. 6-7 in Hillsboro.

The weekend festival, the Pacific Northwests premier show and sale of nature-related art and books, will be at the Wingspan Event Center, 801 N.E. 34th Ave.

Adults ($13 admission) and kids, who attend for free, can see paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, fiber art and jewelry as well as glass and wood pieces by 65 artists. (Scroll through the gallery above to view some of the artists work.)

Each piece for sale has nature or wildlife as a subject or the artist employs natural materials as a medium or the art promotes environmental sustainability, say organizers.

Festival goers can meet 25 Northwest writers who specialize in nature, hiking or history, and hear short talks about their books presented between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days.

Oregon State University anthropology professor David G. Lewis, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, will talk Saturday about his book, Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.

Robert Michael Pyle, a lepidopterist and founder of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, will read Sunday from his 13th book, Swimming With Snakes: Poetry and Prose.

LeeAnn Kriegh will sign copies of her 2025 field guides The Nature of Portland and The Nature of Bend, which identify more than 350 birds, wildflowers, trees and animals.

People who cannot attend the fundraiser can bid on silent auction items at wildartsfestival.org/silent-auction.

Celebrated floral artist Francoise Weeks is offering a three-hour lesson on designing a woodland landscape centerpiece or wreath in her Portland studio.

Portland Audubon staff member and author Sarah Swanson is donating a half-day guided bird hike. Other experiences range from glamping at the Grand Canyon Sky Dome to wine tasting alongside Oregon vineyards.

Binoculars and other outdoor gear were donated to the auction to support the nonprofit Bird Alliance of Oregons conservation work and family-friendly educational programs.

If you go: The 45th Wild Arts Festival is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center, 801 N.E. 34th Ave., Hillsboro. The expo center is on the TriMet MAX Blue and Red Lines Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds stop and is served by bus lines 46 and 48. Admission, which includes parking, is $13 for adults (free for those under 18) and can be purchased at the door or in advance at wildartsfestival.org.
Around 40 people gathered Thursday night at First United Methodist Church for an interfaith vigil marking Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Nov. 20 observance commemorates transgender people who have died as a result of anti-transgender violence. This years vigil was the 10th time Portland faith leaders have held the annual event, though different congregations have hosted the event over the years.

The main point of this is to show that there are religious organizations in town that support and uphold the fundamental dignity of transgender, nonbinary people, said Emma Lugo, an event organizer.

For First United Methodist Church, the event reinforces the churchs stance on transgender and queer acceptance, said the Rev. Rachel Byers, pastor of discipleship and outreach.

A soloist leads the congregation in song at the Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil, part of an interfaith program centered on mourning, reflection and solidarity. Chiara Profenna

The first United Methodist Church has been a reconciling congregation for over 30 years, Byers said. That means that theyve been welcoming and affirming queer clergy and members for the last 30 years, and that has not been the case in the denomination at large.

The vigil offers the transgender community a collective space to lament and mourn together, Byers said, in an inclusive and safe environment that welcomes people of all gender identities and faith backgrounds.

During the vigil, transgender attendees were invited to speak and share their perspectives. Several described their lived experiences, advocated for greater political representation and encouraged the community to stay resilient amid what many described as an increasingly hostile political climate.

I think its important to understand how we got here, said Jasmine Wright, who spoke during the program. Both for younger people, to understand the struggle  but also from an older perspective, to give them the respect of what has happened on both sides.

The chapel at First United Methodist Church was the home for the 10th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil, which brought together Portland faith communities to honor transgender lives lost. Chiara Profenna

Wright, one of the few transgender attorneys in Portland, spoke about the legal and political realities facing transgender people, emphasizing the lack of transgender representation in the Oregon government and the vulnerability of the community under the current legal and political systems.

Being brave is the definition of being trans, said Cassidy Brown, a speaker at the vigil. Our very existence is an act of bravery, to step outside the accepted norms and say, I know who I am no matter what anyone else says.

The heart of the vigil was a reading of the names of transgender people who lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. Organizers lit candles in their memory, placing each one on the church altar.

Organizers light candles on the altar at First United Methodist Church during Portlands 10th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil. Chiara Profenna

Really whats central to the vigil is saying the names, Lugo said. We include people who have been murdered and people who have died by suicide, not everyone, but we include at least some of the transgender people who died by suicide in the last year.

Dozens of candles covered the altar by the end of the role call.

I was surprised when I first started coming at the length of a list of names and how young people were, said Leila Wice, an attendee. Thats not a surprise in the same way anymore.

Wice, who came as an ally to the trans community, said the annual event feels layered with more meaning this year.

It feels like theres so many things right now  like community efforts  that are more necessary than ever in the current political climate, Wice said. I think more and more we have to accept those invitations and show up for each other across communities.

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.
The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just hours after it was publicly revealed that it made plans to describe them as potentially divisive  a term that prompted outcry from lawmakers and advocates.

Divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited, the latest Coast Guard policy, released late Thursday, declared before adding that this category included a noose, a swastika, and any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.

This is not an updated policy but a new policy to combat any misinformation and double down that the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols, an accompanying Coast Guard press release said.

The late-night change came on the same day that media outlets, led by The Washington Post, discovered that the Coast Guard had written a policy earlier this month that called those same symbols potentially divisive. The term was a shift from a years-long policy, first rolled out in 2019, that said symbols like swastikas and nooses were widely identified with oppression or hatred and called their display a potential hate incident.

The latest policy that was rolled out Thursday night also unequivocally banned the display of any divisive or hate symbols from all Coast Guard locations. The earlier version stopped short of banning the symbols, instead saying that commanders could take steps to remove them from public view and that the rule did not apply to private spaces outside of public view, such as family housing.

Both policies maintained a long-standing prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag outside of a handful of situations, such as educational or historical settings.

The latest Coast Guard policy appears to take effect immediately.

After the initial policy change became public, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada said the change rolls back important protections against bigotry and could allow for horrifically hateful symbols like swastikas and nooses to be inexplicably permitted to be displayed.

At a time when antisemitism is rising in the United States and around the world, relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message to the men and women of our Coast Guard, but it puts their safety at risk, she added.

Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, said the policy did not roll back any prohibitions, calling it categorically false to claim otherwise in a statement released earlier Thursday.

These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy, Lunday said in a statement, adding that any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.

Lundays predecessor, Admiral Linda Fagan, was fired on President Donald Trumps first day in office. Trump officials later said she fired in part for putting an excessive focus on diversity and inclusion efforts that diverted resources and attention from operational imperatives.

The older policy that was rolled out earlier in November also explicitly said that the terminology hate incident is no longer present in policy and conduct that would have previously been handled as a potential hate incident will now be treated as a report of harassment in cases with an identified aggrieved individual.

Commanders, in consultation with lawyers, may order or direct the removal of potentially divisive symbols or flags if they are found to be affecting the units morale or discipline, according to the policy.

The newest policy is silent on whether Coast Guard personnel will be able to claim they were victims of hate incidents.

The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security, but it is still considered a part of Americas armed forces and the new policy was updated in part to be consistent with similar Pentagon directives, according to a Coast Guard message announcing the changes.

It also has historically modeled many of its human resources policies on other military services.

The policy change comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of all the hazing, bullying and harassment definitions across the military, arguing that the policies were overly broad and they were jeopardizing combat readiness, mission accomplishment, and trust in the organization.

The Pentagon could not offer any details about what the review was specifically looking at, if it could lead to similar changes as seen in the Coast Guard policy or when the review would be complete.

Menachem Rosensaft, a law professor at Cornell University and a Jewish community leader, said in a statement that the swastika is the ultimate symbol of virulent hate and bigotry, and even a consideration by the Coast Guard to no longer classify it as such would be equivalent to dismissing the Ku Klux Klans burning crosses and hoods as merely potentially divisive.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the move disgusting, and its more encouragement from the Republicans of extremism.

-- By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, LISA MASCARO and SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press
What remains of the juvenile humpback whale on Wednesday morning, after members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians harvested the body. Leftover meat will feed foragers on the beach. Courtesy of Brian Stone

Darkness had fallen and the tide was rolling in, lapping at the heels of the team of people who were quickly disassembling the big whale, piece by piece, bone by bone.

The young humpback, 26 feet long and 20,000 pounds in all (roughly the size of a small school bus), had become entangled in crabbing gear and had beached itself along the central Oregon coast over the weekend. After two days of efforts to save the whale failed, it was euthanized. After that, it was up to the Siletz tribe to take the whale carcass apart.

Lisa Norton, who works as the chief administrative officer for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, helped organize the harvest and was a member of the team who worked for nearly 12 hours on the beach Tuesday.

This was the first time in generations that the Siletz tribe has harvested a whale, she said. Nobody in the tribe had ever done it before, and nobody could remember the last time it happened. Ancestors of some of the 30 bands that make up the tribe hunted and harvested whales, but those cultural practices had long been suppressed by the U.S. government. The Siletz tribe has only recently regained its fishing and hunting rights (the tribe still needed a special permit to harvest the humpback).

We recognized the importance of what could be with this, Norton said. I prefer to think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we can learn from.

It was also an enormous undertaking.

Exhausting would be an understatement, she said.

Veterinarians and other experts conduct a necropsy on the stranded humpback whale. Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute/Craig Hayslip

The young humpback whale came ashore north of Yachats on Saturday afternoon. Over the next 48 hours, people flocked to the beach to help the still-living whale, despite urges from the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network not to do so. Online, thousands watched a live stream of the event, pouring out their sympathies for the animal in Facebook comments.

Meanwhile, 50 miles up the coast, Siletz tribal members were gathered at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort for the tribes annual Restoration Powwow, which celebrates the restoration of the tribes federal recognition in 1977. Word about the whale spread around the powwow, where some prayed and danced for the whale, Norton said.

On Monday, when it was clear the humpback would not survive and would ultimately need to be euthanized, Oregon State Police (who had previously worked with the tribe) reached out to the tribe about the possibility of harvesting the animal. The tribe rushed to secure the proper permits and assembled a team of hunters to take apart the whale.

What an incredible privilege and a daunting task, Norton said. The folks that stood up and said we could do this were very brave. And what they did was a very important piece to the next chapter of this whale.

The Siletz hunters got to the beach around noon Tuesday, when a crowd of people was already gathered around the whale. Members of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State Parks, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department and half a dozen other agencies had spent days with the whale, trying to find a way for it to survive. After performing a final necropsy, those agencies stepped back to allow the tribe to take over.

Before anyone cut into the animal, they smudged and prayed over its body. They honored the animal for its sacrifice. They offered thanks to the bounty it provided. They asked Creator to guide their hands.

That is what you do, Norton said. As experienced hunters we always give thanks to what has been provided.

Waves crashed into the stranded whale on Sunday morning. Courtesy of Devin Northrup

Some members of the team had stayed up late Monday night, researching the bone structure of humpback whales, which parts should be taken, how to cut into the animal. Once on the beach, they also relied on their own instinct as hunters. But the whale was very different from an elk, Norton said, and not just because it was 30 times as big.

The team already knew that unlike the tribes ancestors, they wouldnt harvest any meat from the whale. Since the animal had been chemically sedated and euthanized, everyone was concerned the meat wouldnt be safe for human consumption. But there was still plenty to harvest. The team took most of the whales blubber, thousands of pounds of it, as well as virtually all its bones. They also separated the head so they could later harvest the baleen, the keratin structure that helps the whale filter feed in the ocean.

As they worked into the night, the tribe got a helping hand from Tru-North Construction, local contractors who were on site with heavy equipment. The contractors used an excavator to dig a trench for the whale meat and organs that wouldnt be used and helped maneuver the animal around for the team of harvesters. The company also provided a flatbed truck to help transport what the tribe had harvested.

Lorin Lynch, owner of Tru-North, said he had been at the beach for three days helping the efforts to save the whale. He said he was frustrated at how officials handled the situation and unhappy with the decision to chemically euthanize the whale, but ultimately was more than happy to help the tribe harvest the body.

My whole perspective in life is to train to help others, Lynch said. We were there willing to help, whatever they asked for whatever they needed.

When the sun rose over the beach the next morning, the spot where people had spent days trying to save the dying whale was now a mess of meat and skin  food for the foragers that would clean it all up.

To some, it may seem like a gruesome end to a tragic story, Norton said, but for the tribe it was a heartfelt experience that honored the life so many had tried to save.

As we were processing and collecting these materials, folks were telling us the stories of how strong this whale was, Norton said. That story will stay with each of those pieces that are then put back out in the world.

The tribe has not yet decided what, exactly, theyre going to do with the animal parts. They plan to render the blubber down to oil, but theyre first going to check to make sure it isnt toxic. Whale bones have historically been used to make tools or art, which are possibilities, Norton said, and baleen can be used to decorate regalia. One elder told her that a large whale vertebrae makes a nice stool.

We anticipate that this process is going to continue for a year or two until its done, Norton said.

In the meantime, Oregon officials will investigate the whales death. NOAA Fisheries linked the gear that entangled the whale to Oregons commercial Dungeness crab fishery and is now looking into how the entanglement and stranding happened. Oregon State Universitys Veterinary Diagnostic Lab said the whale seemed to be in fair body condition at the time of the incident but plans to release more details as they complete the necropsy.

While beached whales are not rare in Oregon, its uncommon to see healthy whales wash up alive. In a cruel irony, had the whale been dead, the Siletz tribe wouldnt have harvested it, they said. The fact that their beautiful experience was born from tragedy is not lost on them.

There were tears shed for the whale, but there were tears of joy because of this incredible opportunity, Norton said. As sad as it was, it was an abundance.
The News in Brief Friday, November 21, 2025

Zurab Japaridze, leader of the opposition Girchi-More Freedom party, has refused an offer of early release on parole, saying he does not intend to cooperate with what he calls a "Russian style regime." Japaridze has been held since May 22 and is serving a seven month sentence handed down on June 23 for refusing to testify before a temporary parliamentary commission controlled by the ruling party. He is scheduled to complete his term on December 22 but became eligible for parole this week.According to a statement posted on his official Facebook page on November 20, "Today, he was offered the opportunity to exercise this right. However, since he does not consider cooperating with the Russian style regime in any form, Zurab Japaridze firmly refused."Japaridze is one of eight opposition figures who received jail terms after declining to appear before the commission investigating alleged offenses by former officials. The sentences ranged from one to several months. Lelo leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze were pardoned by disputed President Mikheil Kavelashvili ahead of the boycotted October 4 municipal elections, while others including Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Givi Targamadze, Giorgi Vashadze and Japaridze remain behind bars.The authorities have recently added more serious accusations against several of the imprisoned politicians. Japaridze is now facing charges of sabotage and aiding a foreign country in hostile activities, crimes that carry a possible sentence of seven to fifteen years. Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze have been granted bail set at one million lari, while the court has scheduled a December 25 hearing to determine pretrial measures for the remaining defendants.Thirteen people were detained in Tbilisi during a night rally on November 19 held in support of jailed protester Mate Devidze, according to the Interior Ministry. Officials said the individuals refused to follow police instructions and verbally insulted officers who were carrying out their duties.Protesters walked from Tbilisi State University to Parliament. Police escorted the group and prevented it from disrupting traffic. Tensions rose in several side streets where officers detained participants, including university lecturer Ketevan Khuskivadze.The march marked the anniversary of the arrest of Devidze, 21, who was sentenced in June to four and a half years in prison for allegedly assaulting police during the post election unrest of November 2024. His supporters say the charges are politically motivated.The Interior Ministry urged the public to avoid illegal behavior and stated that anyone who violates the law will be identified and face appropriate measures.Demonstrations linked to Georgia's halted EU accession process are nearing one year. The Georgian Dream party paused the effort in late November 2024, sparking near daily gatherings around Parliament. Protesters had blocked Rustaveli Avenue for more than 330 days until new legislation made blocking traffic an offense that can lead to immediate imprisonment. Police now restrict access to the avenue, although nightly marches continue in nearby streets.
People mourn for a 24-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tell near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Nov. 21, 2025. Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Friday after a manhunt for a gunman accused of wounding an Israeli soldier, Israeli officials said. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younes Waleed Mohammad Shtayyeh, 24. In a joint statement, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet security agency and the Border Police said Shtayyeh was a member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) police. The statement said troops spotted him in the town of Tell, near Nablus, holding a rifle and firing at Israeli forces, who returned fire and killed him. Israel accused him of shooting and injuring an Israeli reserve soldier during operations in the area on Thursday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Friday after a manhunt for a gunman accused of wounding an Israeli soldier, Israeli officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younes Waleed Mohammad Shtayyeh, 24.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet security agency and the Border Police said Shtayyeh was a member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) police. The statement said troops spotted him in the town of Tell, near Nablus, holding a rifle and firing at Israeli forces, who returned fire and killed him. Israel accused him of shooting and injuring an Israeli reserve soldier during operations in the area on Thursday.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said Israeli special forces entered Tell, surrounded Shtayyeh's home, and fired live rounds and stun grenades, wounding him before detaining him.

He later died of his injuries, WAFA said, adding that Israel is withholding his body. It did not report that he was affiliated with the PA police.

The Israeli statement said troops also arrested three other suspects in separate raids in Tell, the town of Burqin, and the Far'a refugee camp, alleging all were members of the Palestinian police.

The West Bank has witnessed a sharp escalation of violence since Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,000 Palestinians, hundreds of injuries, and the demolition of dozens of homes, according to Palestinian statistics.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. The settlements it has built there, and its military occupation, are considered illegal under international law. 

People mourn for a 24-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tell near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Nov. 21, 2025.

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Friday after a manhunt for a gunman accused of wounding an Israeli soldier, Israeli officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younes Waleed Mohammad Shtayyeh, 24.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet security agency and the Border Police said Shtayyeh was a member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) police. The statement said troops spotted him in the town of Tell, near Nablus, holding a rifle and firing at Israeli forces, who returned fire and killed him. Israel accused him of shooting and injuring an Israeli reserve soldier during operations in the area on Thursday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

People mourn for a 24-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tell near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Nov. 21, 2025.

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Friday after a manhunt for a gunman accused of wounding an Israeli soldier, Israeli officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younes Waleed Mohammad Shtayyeh, 24.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet security agency and the Border Police said Shtayyeh was a member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) police. The statement said troops spotted him in the town of Tell, near Nablus, holding a rifle and firing at Israeli forces, who returned fire and killed him. Israel accused him of shooting and injuring an Israeli reserve soldier during operations in the area on Thursday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

People mourn for a 24-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tell near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Nov. 21, 2025.

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Friday after a manhunt for a gunman accused of wounding an Israeli soldier, Israeli officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younes Waleed Mohammad Shtayyeh, 24.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet security agency and the Border Police said Shtayyeh was a member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) police. The statement said troops spotted him in the town of Tell, near Nablus, holding a rifle and firing at Israeli forces, who returned fire and killed him. Israel accused him of shooting and injuring an Israeli reserve soldier during operations in the area on Thursday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Hillsboro City Council and other local governments are taking steps to address the impact of immigration crackdowns on Oregon residents. Patrick Preston, City of Hillsboro

Hillsboro this week became the latest local government in Oregon to declare a state of emergency in the face of heightened federal immigration activity that has devastated families and left people afraid to leave their homes.

The City Council took up the issue in front of a packed and emotional crowd Tuesday night, unanimously adopting a resolution declaring the emergency and directing the Washington County city to take further action to address the effects of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns in Hillsboro.

We, like you, do not want ICE to be operating in the city of Hillsboro, Mayor Beach Pace said.

The resolution comes after around 500 people, both virtually and in-person, attended a council work session Nov. 4 to decry the escalation of immigration enforcement and demand action from the city. Residents described neighbors being kidnapped from their homes and local business owners said sales were plummeting as citizens, no matter their legal status, chose to stay home.

Residents returned Tuesday to lament the actions of ICE agents and demand more protections from the city.

Daily, I see the fear in our childrens faces, the fear in their familys faces, all while knowing that I cant tell them everything will be okay, Adrienne Smith, an elementary school councilor in Hillsboro, told city officials. We as educators are helping families to write plans for their childrens care if they are kidnapped while their babies are at school. What are you as our community leaders doing?

The declaration follows the arrest of Victor Cruz-Gamez, a Hillsboro resident who was mistaken for a person with the same name and detained by ICE for weeks before being released. Cruz-Gamez, a 55-year-old business owner, has a legal work authorization and a pending visa claim, according to the office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, whose district includes Hillsboro.

Erin Palmer, a resident and business owner, told the City Council on Tuesday that she is friends with Cruz-Gamez, and worked with his daughter and other local officials to get him released. She criticized the city for not doing more to protect Cruz-Gamez.

The city is failing to turn words into actions when it comes to protecting our community, Palmer said. We did the heavy lifting and we protected Victor, but the city did not protect us and you are not protecting the rest of the community.

The state of emergency adopted Tuesday denounced the unnecessary and likely unlawful tactics being used by federal officers and reaffirmed Hillsboros status as a sanctuary city. It also requires regular reports from the city manager to City Council on federal activity, progress on training city staff on sanctuary policies and laws and any updates on known violations of the sanctuary laws in place, among other things.

Also this week, Hillsboro officials reversed course on guidance it issued to city employees regarding the recording of ICE activity while on duty. Initially city officials warned employees not to do it, saying the federal government had expanded its definition of threats to include video recording ICE agents operations.

After an uproar, though, city officials said it would leave the decision to record up to individual workers.

To further clarify the Citys intent with this guidance, the City is not directing nor encouraging staff to record and is also not prohibiting such recording, guidance from the city says. Rather, given the aggressive position being taken by the federal government related to recording and interference, the City cannot and will not direct staff to take action that could result in them being criminally charged by the federal government. If an employee chooses to assume this personal risk, and if they are criminally charged, the City may not be able to assist with their defense. Staff safety remains a top priority.

Amid the heightened immigration activity, Hillsboro has already pledged a total of $400,000 to support the community, including $200,000 in previously planned community grants and an additional $200,000 in emergency funding to support residents impacted by ICE activity.

Hillsboros resolution comes as other city and county governments have taken similar action. Forest Grove declared a state of emergency Nov. 10, freeing up $50,000 to send to community organizations helping those impacted by immigration enforcement. Cornelius passed its own emergency order Monday, giving it the ability to spend funds as needed.

Washington County agreed to direct $200,000 in rainy-day funds to support immigrants and refugees when it declared its own state of emergency earlier this month.

Portland was one of the first cities in the metro area to act, passing an emergency ordinance in mid-October that codified the citys sanctuary status, making it legally binding.

Gosia Wozniacka and Zane Sparling contributed to this story.
Oregon lawmakers this week questioned state education officials about why it is taking so long to clear a backlog of cases of reported discrimination in public schools. Kristine de Leon/The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon Senate lawmakers called in officials from the state Department of Education this week to explain why the agency is struggling to clear a backlog of school discrimination complaints despite the Legislature approving more staff and funding to tackle the problem in 2024.

The hearing comes after an Oregonian/OregonLive investigation published last month found that students and families routinely waited more than 15 months for the state to decide whether school districts violated Oregons anti-discrimination law. Some waited years for a resolution, including a mother and daughter highlighted by the newsroom whose case has been open for five years.

Since the state first set a deadline to complete discrimination investigations and issue decisions in 2019, it has met its own standard in only 12.6% of cases, The Oregonian/OregonLive found.

Im just wondering how, when were looking at protecting students and their families, how do we justify a prolonged time? Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, asked state education officials during an interim meeting of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, referring to the five-year wait reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Emily Nazarov, the education departments government and legal affairs manager, described for lawmakers some of the dynamics involved in the backlog and delays, including an increase in the numbers of complaints filed since the state began accepting them online in 2019. However, Nazarov told lawmakers that agency leaders believe they currently have enough staff and funds to tackle the problem and simply must do better.

I think if you asked anyone on our team, they are worried sick about the number of cases that are not being addressed and the impact this has on families, Nazarov said. We have to get more timely in how we address these appeals. So I dont have an excuse to say. I would just say, we take this very seriously. We hear your concerns and we agree with you.

Senate Education Committee Chair Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, told The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier this fall that he planned to seek answers from the education department, after the newsroom shared its findings, including that the state had taken more than 18 months to fill two investigator jobs that lawmakers funded in early 2024.

The state strategically delayed the investigator job recruitment by 10 months in order to fill other new jobs first, an agency spokesperson said. Then in mid-May, the education department paused all external job recruitment to allow employees in limited duration state jobs to apply for permanent positions, as mandated by union contracts. The agency-wide pause was lifted Oct. 27, although the departments deputy director of operations gave permission to relaunch the hiring process for the investigator positions in late August as The Oregonian/OregonLive was reporting on the issue.

On Tuesday, Senate Education Committee member Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, cited the long wait to hire investigators as problematic.

Its concerning to me that we would pause hiring on this particular part of it all, Neron Misslin said. The context is important, but I just cant emphasize enough that we have to center student safety as a core goal of our education system.

Nazarov said the education department expects to make job offers to finalists for the investigator positions in early December and the new hires could start in late December or early January.

Frederick asked the education department to keep community members who have long raised concerns about the backlog apprised of the departments progress.

Mark Jackson, executive director of the REAP leadership program for low-income and culturally diverse youth, testified at the hearing that students of color told state education and school district officials during 2020 panels that when they reported discrimination, they often felt their concerns were dismissed or resulted in no action. That resulted in a real fragment of trust with our public school system, from the perspective of accountability to ensure their emotional and physical safety, Jackson said.

Jackson said it was frustrating to see the investigation backlog described by The Oregonian/OregonLive this fall, when community members had known about the issue and pushed state officials for improvements for years.

When there is enough courage and will from the family to actually submit (a complaint) only to experience a backlog  thats concerning and alarming, Jackson said. I want to push the button called urgency that we get these (investigator jobs) filled and do all we can to ensure that we provide necessary supports for our students and families.

Lawmakers asked education officials to keep them updated on progress clearing the backlog.

Sollman noted that the states webpage where people can file discrimination appeals is not clear enough about Oregons requirement that students and families first file discrimination complaints with school districts. That could be creating inefficiencies because state workers must review and dismiss any cases that did not start with school districts, Sollman said. Youre adding more time into a painful process, Sollman said.

Sollman asked how often the state reaches a different decision than a school district on a discrimination complaint. Nazarov and an education official from the unit that handles complaints said they did not know the answer but they could begin tracking the data for a future presentation.

That would be very helpful, Frederick said.
Helmi Hisserich, director of the Portland Housing Bureau, resigned Thursday just weeks after Mayor Keith Wilson placed her on paid leave. Courtesy of city of Portland

The top official charged with guiding the city of Portlands response to its housing crunch has accepted a six-figure severance to step down from her post weeks after Mayor Keith Wilson placed her on paid leave.

Helmi Hisserich, who was tapped to lead the Portland Housing Bureau to much fanfare less than two years ago, will receive $240,880  equivalent to her annual salary  to depart the agency, officials confirmed Thursday.

My goal has always been to position the city of Portland and Mayor Wilson as the leader of a best-in-class housing strategy that simultaneously delivers increased housing across all income levels and stabilizes housing for the most vulnerable through strong tenant protections she wrote in a resignation letter to Wilson.

News of her departure was first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Taylor Zajonc, the mayors deputy chief of staff, declined to comment Thursday.

Michael Buonocore, who spent years as the head of Multnomah Countys housing authority Home Forward before joining the city in 2023, will serve as the Housing Bureaus interim director.

Hisserich previously led a policy think tank that champions affordable and mixed-income housing models and spent 25 years overseeing homelessness and housing programs in Los Angeles. She became Portland Housing Bureau director in February 2024.

In her letter, Hisserich highlighted how the city under her leadership launched more than $100 million in new affordable housing projects, drummed up $20 million in competitive grants and helped spur a study on new approaches to publicly funded housing in Portland.

Despite these achievements, I was surprised to be asked to step down without notice that my work was unsatisfactory, she wrote. While I consistently supported the mayor and council priorities, no one in leadership asked about my vision, my priorities or my approach to addressing Portlands housing crisis.

Yet Hisserich and Wilson had increasingly displayed friction over strategic approaches to that crisis, City Hall sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive last month. The mayor, with his focus on reducing the number of people living on the streets, has pushed for rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness while Hisserich sought to lay the groundwork for Portland development for many years to come.

Portlands homelessness crisis is a direct result of an inadequate housing supply and siloed single-focus thinking that pits pro-housing advocates against those focused on tenant rights, she wrote in her letter to Wilson. Though I am not an expert in emergency shelters, I do know what it takes to build a world-class housing system.

The Housing Bureau has cycled through three full-time directors in the past decade. Kurt Creager led the bureau from 2015-17 before Mayor Ted Wheeler ousted him. Shannon Callahan led from 2017-22 before she left City Hall on her own accord.

Hisserich is the citys second bureau director to step down after being placed on leave by Wilson, who assumed office in January. Adena Long, who served six years as Portland Parks & Recreation director, resigned this summer.

Its a huge loss for our city, said Councilor Jamie Dunphy, vice chair of the councils Homelessness and Housing Committee, of Hisserichs resignation. Helmi was and is an internationally renowned policy expert on the long-term work of building housing.

Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that Shannon Callahan was asked to resign as Portland Housing Bureau director in 2022. The Oregonian/OregonLive regrets this error.
The revelation comes as nonprofit providers reel amid budget cutbacks from local, state and federal governments, prompting fears that an eroding social safety net could lead to more people living on the margins becoming homeless. Jonathan Bach I The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Portland Housing Bureau has been sitting on $21 million in unspent funds generated by a fee that landlords pay to register new rentals.

The tranche of dollars could have gone to emergency rent assistance, eviction defense or other housing aid, according to documents reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Instead, the funds remained unspent and accumulated over several years, according to city officials.

The revelation comes as nonprofit providers reel amid budget cutbacks from local, state and federal governments, prompting fears that an eroding social safety net could lead to more people living on the margins becoming homeless. Many pandemic-era, one-time boosts to rent assistance have long since expired, and free legal aid for renters is also under threat amid the cutbacks.

Meanwhile, some 800 to 1,200 renters have gone through eviction proceedings in Multnomah County every month over the past year, accounting for roughly half of the states monthly total, according to Portland State Universitys Evicted in Oregon tracker.

The disclosure also raises questions about the city agency tasked with guiding Portlands response to its housing crisis, which is in the midst of a leadership shakeup.

In response to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive about how the agency lost track of the dollars, city spokesperson Elliott Kozuch said the rental registration funds unexpected growth coincided with the Housing Bureaus need to administer a significant amount of one-time federal funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agency officials prioritized using those funds in order to meet federal requirements, Kozuch said.

The complexity and scale of these federal resources contributed to the challenges in monitoring the rental registration fund cash balance, Kozuch said.

Deputy City Administrator Donnie Oliveira alerted the full City Council to the cash stockpile on Thursday.

Thank you for your time, your understanding of the sensitivity of the nature of this concerning situation, and your collaboration as we program these funds to support our city, Oliveira told councilors in an email.

The remarkable disclosure by Oliveira came the same day news broke that Helmi Hisserich, tapped to lead the Portland Housing Bureau to much fanfare less than two years ago, had tendered her resignation. City Hall sources previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Mayor Keith Wilson and Hisserich diverged in their approach to housing policy. The city will pay Hisserich $240,880 in severance, equal to one year of her salary. She had been on administrative leave since late October.

Oliveira had first learned of $11.75 million in unspent funds from the residential rental registration fee in late August, he said in the email, and had been working with the bureau to identify ways to spend it down to advance the citys housing priorities.

Wilson, Chief Financial Officer Jonas Biery and City Administrator Michael Jordan were made aware of the initial $11.75 million in unspent funds in early September, according to Kozuch. At the time, Oliveira was still waiting to see how the funds could be used, said Kozuch.

But on Nov. 17, after interim housing director Michael Buonocore took over for Hisserich, the Housing Bureau informed Oliveira of another estimated $9 million it found as part of an internal review.

Were still early in the process of understanding the full nature of this underspend, but what we do know is that the funds expansion aligns with the onset of significant federal resources administered by PHB during the pandemic, Oliveira told the council.

Oliveira noted he was working with Councilors Candace Avalos and Jamie Dunphy, chair and vice chair of the councils Homelessness and Housing Committee, over coming months to look into how the full council could prioritize spending the money.

Avalos did not respond to a request for comment. Dunphy declined to comment.

In a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday, Wilson said he and his staff were looking into unanswered questions about the money that was not reported to the (deputy city administrator) and the circumstances surrounding this.

That said, these funds also represent an opportunity to work together with my council colleagues to better serve the housing needs of our community, Wilson said.

A November memo from Buonocore and other bureau leaders to Oliveira laid out how they recommended spending the initial $11.75 million.

The bureau leaders proposal includes:

$5 million for rent assistance for people experiencing homelessness

$3.8 million for an eviction legal defense fund

$500,000 for a home share program that has been a priority of Mayor Wilson

$1.2 million for a property compliance inspection program to enhance tenant safety, in collaboration with Portland Permitting & Development

Business lobbyists called on the city to investigate how the $21 million went unidentified and unspent. Landlord group Multifamily NW said that while it opposes the rental registry and associated fees, it supports using the money from the program to keep Oregonians housed in a crisis.

Zach Lindahl, director of government affairs for the group, said, Right now, the city needs to be working quickly to investigate this issue and make sure all of those funds go towards helping renters who need access to assistance.
People are now banned from carrying concealed firearms in county buildings. Austin De Dios/The Oregonian

Multnomah Countys ban on concealed guns in its public buildings has kicked in, impacting 33 sites in total.

That includes the countys network of libraries, health clinics and other service buildings. The Board of Commissioners approved the new rules in September.

Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Shannon Singleton brought the proposal forward, acting on changes to Oregon law that now allow local jurisdictions to ban licensed concealed carry weapons from their buildings.

Before the change, only those with concealed carry permits or members of law enforcement could carry a gun in county buildings. The new rule doesnt apply to active law enforcement.

Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 243 in June, which allows city councils, county commissions, transit agencies and other government bodies to ban all guns, including concealed weapons, in the buildings they meet in.

Similar bans were already in place at Portland Public Schools, courthouses and Portland International Airport.

Under Oregon law, people cannot bring a firearm or any other dangerous weapon into a public building, unless they have a concealed handgun license. Public buildings include hospitals, schools, city halls or any building occupied by an agency of the state, a city or a county.

Oregon is an open carry state, which means a person can generally visibly carry a firearm while in public. Individual governments, including Portland, Beaverton, Tigard and Oregon City, have outlawed the open carry of loaded firearms in public spaces.

The county put up signs at each of the building entrances this week, and more details can be found on the county website.
Abril Aldama followed her mother out of the Newport High School building on Sept. 17, curious why she was being picked up before the school day had ended.

Thats when Aldamas mom told her that her father, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

I felt like my whole world collapsed, Aldama, 14, said in a phone interview Thursday. We were all crying. She hugged me. I was in denial.

Nearly two months later, Aldamas emotional testimony at a Newport City Council meeting about her fathers detention and its consequences has struck a chord with the public and added to a nationwide outpouring of grief and anguish driven by ICE enforcement.

Barely a high school freshman, Aldama walked up to the podium Nov. 12 to urge city councilors to reject the construction of a detention facility that Newport officials said ICE was considering building near the airport. Aldama got through few words before she began to fight tears.

No one deserves to go through what I and my family is going through right now, the girl said at the council meeting. My dad was my everything. He was here for me for the good, the bad and the worst. He taught me everything.

>> Cant view the video? Watch it here

Aldamas father, Gemallel Aldama, and her mother, who asked to not be named for fear of retribution by authorities, moved to the United States from Mexico, in 2010, and had three children. As immigration enforcement ramped up elsewhere, Gemallel Aldama tried to reassure his daughter that he was safe, Abril Aldama said in the interview.

Still, he would avoid leaving the house unless necessary, like to go to work, his wife said. Abril Aldama would call him to check that he was OK every time she heard a rumor that ICE officers were in the area.

Abril Aldamas mother said that she was driving her husband to his job as a cook that morning when a car with flashing lights pulled them over. About six officers swarmed their car and asked for their licenses, she said. When her husband showed them his drivers license, agents told him to get out of the car and put him in an ICE vehicle. Within 15 minutes of pulling the couple over, ICE was gone, and so was her husband.

Gemallel Aldama was eventually taken to the ICE detention facility in Tacoma, Washington and now must choose whether to fight deportation or agree to leave voluntarily, his wife said. She is trying to convince him to fight, she said.

When Abril Aldama learned that the Newport City Council would be discussing the proposal for an ICE facility, she suggested to her mother that they go and see what the community thought. As she listened to people give public comment, the teen decided she needed to share her own story, so that people would know that you never know what could happen.

Im here on behalf of everyone whos suffering and doesnt want to speak up. Im asking you guys, please dont do this, Aldama told city councilors, describing the mental and emotional toll her fathers detention has had on her family. Nobody deserves this. Everyone is going through a lot of trauma right now.

Newport residents testified overwhelmingly against the facility and city officials vowed to push back against it.
The former Louis Dreyfus Co. grain terminal fronting the Willamette River. The grain silos are near the Moda Center and the Oregon Convention Center. Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian

The 1803 Fund, an organization working to advance Portlands Black community, on Thursday announced $70 million in real estate purchases, including the site of the former grain silos near the Moda Center.

The organization, which was formed in 2023 with a $400 million pledge from Nike co-founder Phil Knight and wife Penny Knight, also announced it had purchased several blocks in the lower Albina neighborhood, the historic center of Portlands Black community.

These are thousand-year investments, said Rukaiyah Adams, 1803 Fund chief executive, in a news release. We are investing in Albina not as an artifact of the past, but as a promise to the future. Our goal is to build something enduring, grounded in the people who have always called this neighborhood home.

The real estate sits on more than seven acres. The 1803 Fund expects the early stages of redeveloping the properties will generate hundreds of jobs and nearly $700 million in economic impact.

Albina is a historical and cultural cornerstone of our city, Mayor Keith Wilson said in the news release. This momentous investment brings new life and new opportunity to one of Portlands most important neighborhoods. It is a powerful example of whats possible when vision and investment come together.

Rukaiyah Adams (right) with Nike co-founder Phil Knight at a 2023 event announcing the creation of the 1803 Fund, which is working to advance Portland's Black community. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

The grain silos, formerly owned by the Louis Dreyfus Co., are now known as Albina Riverside. The 1803 Fund expects the property to become a neighborhood gateway connecting the Black community to downtown.

Theyll see their city from the east side of the river and realize theyve always been  and always will be  part of its story, Adams said in the news release. When they stand here, theyll feel their power and potential, knowing they can build, lead and make remarkable things real. Our children will grow up seeing something thats ours: rooted, lasting, not borrowed for a season.

The 1803 Fund also purchased real estate in the lower Albina neighborhood that is south of the Fremont Bridge and west of Interstate 5, in a district once known as The Low End. The organization wants to develop a mixed-use neighborhood on the property focused on culture, creativity and education.

This great news from 1803 Fund will write a new, exciting and significant chapter for Portland to keep our communities growing, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said in the news release. This transformational investment in Albina represents the kind of bold leadership grounded in the sustainable and shared values needed to generate economic growth that honors history and builds a better future for the entire city.

In April, the 1803 Fund announced it will invest $25 million each, over 10 years, in Self Enhancement Inc. and Albina Head Start, two stalwart Portland nonprofits focused on Black youth. Last year it awarded $8 million in grants to organizations in the Albina neighborhood.

The fund is named for the year Lewis and Clark began their historic trek across the North American continent. A man enslaved by Clark, known only as York, went along on the promise he would be freed afterward. York survived the expedition, Adams previously said, but he never got his freedom.

The 1803 Fund will hold a press conference in December and unveil renderings of the new real estate developments.
Two iconic Oregon brands made this list of the most "ethical" businesses in the United States. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Are you fiending for a bout of guilt-free retail therapy?

In Oregon, shopping without shame is easier than ever  especially if you know where to look.

Financial media company MarketBeat recently dropped a list of 118 of the most ethical companies in the United States, and two iconic Oregon brands made the cut.

>> Business opening or closing in your neighborhood? Email the reporter at vnocera@oregonian.com.

Results were drawn from a survey conducted by MarketBeat in October, where 3,012 respondents across various demographics were polled to determine which U.S. businesses most closely align with their personal ethics and values.

At an impressive No. 9 was Tillamook Creamery, the beloved coastal cheese factory that built its current production facility in Tillamook, Oregon, back in 1949.

Far more than a dairy brand, Tillamook operates as a farmer-owned cooperative, ensuring profits circle back to the community that built it, MarketBeat wrote of the Oregon creamery.

Tillamook Creamery opened its Oregon coast production facility in 1949.

Tillamook cheese in the dairy department of he Happy Valley Fred Meyer store on Thurs., March 14, 2024. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

The company is known for sustainable farming, animal welfare standards, and transparent labeling, the blurb continued. In a state where craftsmanship and conscience intertwine, Tillamook captures the Oregon ideal  wholesome, local, and quietly principled.

MarketBeat identified homegrown heritage and employee ownership as two factors valued by customers  both elements Tillamook embodies.

Tillamook Creamery is already an Oregon favorite, producing world-famous cheese, delicious ice cream and a wacky smash-hit Butternaise spread fans just cant get enough of.

Another Oregon company, Pendleton Woolen Mills, came in at No. 51.

The Portland-based textile company has been owned by the Bishop family since 1863 and operates two manufacturing mills in Pendleton, Oregon, and Washougal, Washington. Pendleton products  which include fabric, blankets, apparel and more  are sold at several dozen retail stores nationwide, as well a few internationally.
Lam Research makes production tools for the semiconductor industry. It's among Oregon's largest manufacturers. LC- The Oregonian

Semiconductor equipment manufacturer Lam Research opened a four-story office building on its Tualatin campus Friday, a $65 million project with space for 700 employees.

Lam makes production tools used by leading-edge chipmakers. It is one of Oregons largest manufacturers, historically employing around 4,000 workers at its 52-acre Tualatin site and a factory in nearby Sherwood. The company declined to say how many Oregon employees it has now but it is also planning another research facility in Tualatin.

Its growth contrasts with most of Oregons other major semiconductor companies. Intel, the states largest corporate employer, has eliminated at least 6,000 jobs in Washington County over the past 15 months. Gresham chipmakers Onsemi and Microchip Technology have each cut jobs, too.

On Friday, Lam said the new, 120,000-square-foot Tualatin office reflects a commitment to grow locally.

The addition of Building G in Tualatin expands one of Lams essential global hubs for breakthrough semiconductor manufacturing equipment and process development, providing critical capacity for our Oregon workforce, Lam Vice President Sesha

Varadarajan said in a written statement.

Lam said it built the new office without public incentives. The separate research facility, called TuX, is still on the drawing board. It is backed by $22 million in state funds but has faced resistance from neighbors concerned about noise and traffic.
The Transportation Security Administration proposed on Thursday charging adults who fly in the U.S.  including from Portland International Airport  an $18 fee if they dont have a REAL ID.

The fee would help pay for upgraded technology to verify the identities of travelers if they dont present acceptable forms of identification that also include passports, passport cards or military identification, according to a notice posted by TSA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees it. Travelers can view the full list of approved forms of identification here.

Its unclear what exactly the modernized alternative identity verification program would entail, but TSA said it would use biographic and/or biometric information to confirm travelers identities. The program could conceivably include facial identification software, which TSA has been testing.

An employee shows how facial matching software works at Portland International Airport. The photo at left is a state license identification photo. At right, the same person stands in front of the identity verification technology, which indicates a match. Beth Nakamura

According to TSA, anyone who pays the $18 fee wont have to do so again if traveling through security in the following 10 days. But the agency said it would reserve the right to deny travelers who repeatedly show up without acceptable forms of identification from flying.

A REAL ID in Oregon would more than pay for itself after two instances of TSA levying the $18 fee upon a traveler. Oregon charges $30 for each REAL ID, on top of the price of acquiring a standard license, which is $64 for first-time applicants and $54 for drivers who are renewing their licenses.

TSA didnt say when the $18 would take effect, stating that it would roll out the policy when TSA announces it on its website, www.tsa.gov.

Additional guidance will be announced in the coming days, said a TSA spokesperson, in an email.

Baggage screening inside Portland International Airport. Beth Nakamura

So far the proposal has received a mix of opinions from the flying public, with some saying its ridiculous and a money grab. Others argue that travelers have had plenty of notice to obtain a REAL ID. Congress passed REAL ID requirements in 2005 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and they were supposed to go into effect in 2008. But the implementation has been repeatedly delayed.

According to TSA, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem started implementing the ID requirements in May 2025, though thats not whats happened in reality. TSA officials still allow many travelers to pass through security without REAL IDs, passports or other acceptable forms of identification.

If travelers do not have an ID compliant with REAL ID requirements, TSA may require them to submit to additional screening measures, said Molly Prescott, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates PDX, in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday.

Prescott said the airport doesnt track the number of travelers who show up without acceptable identification. According to the TSA, nationwide about 94% of air travelers carry appropriate identification.

This notice serves as a next step in the process in REAL ID compliance, said the TSA spokesperson.

TSA says children traveling in the U.S. arent required to show identification and wouldnt be subject to the $18 fee.
BEIRUT, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli strikes and violations have killed 331 people and injured 945 in Lebanon since a cessation of hostilities agreement took effect a year ago, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Friday.

The figures cover the period from Nov. 28, 2024, shortly after the U.S. and French-brokered truce began, through Nov. 20, 2025.

In a statement, the ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center attributed the casualties to Israeli raids, attacks, and breaches of the agreement intended to end the fighting triggered by the war in Gaza.

While the truce formally ended full-scale combat, tensions have persisted. The Israeli military has continued periodic strikes in Lebanese territory, saying they are necessary to address immediate Hezbollah threats.

Israel has also maintained forces at five strategic points along the Lebanese border, missing a Feb. 18 deadline for a full withdrawal required by the agreement. 
A Florida teens family is asking for privacy to mourn the loss of their loved one, who was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

Anna Kepner, 18, was aboard the Carnival Horizon, which visited the Caribbean, then docked back home in Miami on Nov. 8 as planned, the day the Miami-Dade medical examiner confirmed Kepner died.

It is now being reported that Kepner died at around 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7, the day before the ship returned to Miami.

Kepner was reportedly on the cruise with her father, stepmother and stepsiblings.

Her body was found wrapped in a blanket, under life jackets, beneath the bed in the stateroom she was sharing with her stepsiblings, including the 16-year-old boy the FBI is now allegedly investigating, according to ABC News.

This information comes from court documents in an unrelated custody case between Kepners stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her former husband.

In paperwork filed on Monday, Hudson asked to pause testimony in her hearing because the FBI is investigating one of her children in connection with the death of Kepner.

According to the filing, the stepbrother is staying with a relative to protect the safety of the other children in the home, CBS reported.

An autopsy has been completed by the Miami-Dade medical examiner and Kepners body was released to her family. The cause and manner of her death have not been released. Autopsy results could take weeks to come back and may not be released to the public.

Online speculation around Kepners death ramped up immediately, possibly due to interest in the recent Netflix documentary Amy Bradley is Missing, which explores the missing person case of Amy Bradley who went missing while aboard a cruise ship with her family.

The internet attention has gotten back to Kepners family. They asked for privacy to mourn her and will have a celebration of life for her on Nov. 20.

Known to friends and family as Anna Banana, the teen was a cheerleader for Temple Christian School. According to her family, reported by Florida Today, Kepner was looking forward to graduating and joining the military. She had hopes of becoming and K-9 handler.
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Miss Universe 2025 is streaming live from Thailand tonight on Thursday, November 20 at 7/6c with a live broadcast on Peacock as well as Telemundo. The iconic competition will be the 74th annual event and will kick off live with beautiful contestants, cant-miss performances, and celebrity judges and hosts. Tune in live with Peacock or for free with Fubo to see the glitz and glamour.

 Dont have cable? You can watch the show with Peacock (free trial) or with Fubo (free trial).

Who are the contestants for the 2025 Miss Universe Pageant?

120 delegates from across the globe including Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines, Fatima Bosch of Mexico, and Lexie Brant from Australia will compete tonight.

Who is hosting the 2025 Miss Universe pageant?

This year is hosted by Steve Byrne for the English-language broadcast and by Carlos Adyan, Danilo Carrera, Jessica Carrilo, and Jacqueline Bracamonte for the Spanish-language broadcast.

What is the Miss Universe Pageant?

Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants including Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth. It is organized annually by the United States and Thailand-based Miss Universe Organizations. The pageant aims to create visibility and advocate for humanitarian issues and is a voice to affect positive change in the world.

Who is the current Miss Universe from 2024?

The current Miss Universe is Victoria Kjr Theilvig from Denmark, who was crowned Miss Universe 2024 on November 16, 2024, in Mexico City.

HOW TO WATCH MISS UNIVERSE 2025

What: Miss Universe 2025

When: Thursday, November 20 at 7/6c

TV channel: Peacock, Telemundo

Watch the show live online: If you dont have cable, you can watch the show LIVE for free with Fubo (free trial) or on Peacock.
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An injured person is seen at a hospital after an earthquake in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 22, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Friday after one of the biggest earthquakes in Bangladesh's recent history struck near the capital city Dhaka. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

by Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Friday after one of the biggest earthquakes in Bangladesh's recent history struck near the capital city Dhaka.

Millions of capital dwellers were completely panicked because of the 5.7-magnitude earthquake which hit other parts of the country as well.

Md Rezaul Karim, Dhaka's deputy commissioner and district magistrate, told Xinhua that the earthquake claimed four lives and injured 59 others in Dhaka.

Ashish Kumar, duty officer of old Dhaka's Bangshal Police Station, told Xinhua earlier that the earthquake caused a railing to collapse from a five-storey building. Three pedestrians were struck by the falling railing. Two died at the scene, and the third passed away after being rushed to the hospital.

Brigadier General Md Mazharul Islam Khan, director of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital in old Dhaka, said that 20 others received treatment, with one admitted for further care.

Officials at Dhaka Medical College Hospital said that by 3:00 p.m. local time, 41 people had come in for treatment. Six were kept in the hospital, but the others were treated and sent home, they added.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the tremor was recorded at 10:38 a.m. local time.

Farzana Sultana, a meteorologist from the BMD, told Xinhua that the epicenter was near the city of Narsingdi, 13 km east of the Agargaon Seismic Center in the capital Dhaka.

Nurjahan Begum, Bangladesh's adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, visited the injured people in several hospitals and said that all government hospitals have been instructed to provide good medical care to anyone affected by the earthquake.

Scores of houses in Dhaka and other parts of the country have sustained varying degrees of damage.

Following the quake, authorities launched emergency responses and sent teams to various sites to assist with disaster relief and rescue efforts. 

An injured person receive treatment at a hospital after an earthquake in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 22, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Friday after one of the biggest earthquakes in Bangladesh's recent history struck near the capital city Dhaka. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

Injured people are seen at a hospital after an earthquake in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 22, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Friday after one of the biggest earthquakes in Bangladesh's recent history struck near the capital city Dhaka. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

An injured person is transferred at a hospital after an earthquake in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 22, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Friday after one of the biggest earthquakes in Bangladesh's recent history struck near the capital city Dhaka. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)
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A mother from Ohio was left visibly shaken and traumatized after her husband fatally shot her two children and new partner before taking his own life in front of her.

The incident began when officers were called to the home on Huss Street at around 6:24 p.m., where they found the woman "clearly in a state of shock." The Tiffin Police Department said that the mother of the two kids, aged seven years and seven months, was trying to gather her belongings from the home following domestic issues.

Ohio Man Takes Own Life After Fatally Shooting 2 Children

Law enforcement authorities added that the father of the eldest child, 29-year-old Dustin Willey, was helping the mother with the move. On the other hand, her husband and father of the younger child, 42-year-old Ryan Eagon, was thought to have been working out of town.

Investigators then said that evidence suggested that the mother and Willey were inside the house fixing up the remaining items while the two children were outside near a car. Then, the two adults heard the seven-year-old boy cry out, and they went out to find Eagon in the driveway, according to WTAP.

Read more: Washington High School Student Charged With Murder Over Plans of Shooting

Witnesses told law enforcement officials that Eagon then chased Willey before firing several shots. He then turned his attention to the two children and shot both of them before going back to target the 29-year-old man.

After shooting the three individuals, Eagon reportedly turned the gun on himself and took his own life. Law enforcement authorities and Tiffin Fire and Rescue then took Willey to Tiffin Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A Traumatizing Incident

On the other hand, the seven-month-old child was pronounced dead at the home, while the seven-year-old boy was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police officials said that no shots were fired by the responding officers at the scene and that no officers were injured, WLBT reported.

Agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation were later called to the scene of the crime to assist with the ongoing investigation. Police said that, as of Thursday morning, they were still processing evidence and conducting interviews.

So far, police have not yet disclosed a clear motive for the killings, but confirmed that there were ongoing domestic issues and a planned separation between Eagon and the mother. They added that the timeline suggests that the suspect returned home earlier than expected and encountered the family while they were trying to move the belongings, as per Times Now News.
Ohio lawmakers are planning to spend $110 million to provide child care assistance to help parents across the state, but it has to be used through an employer.

The Legislature created the "Child Care Cred Program" in the current budget, which requires parents and employers to work together for the application process. State officials believe that the proposed program would address accessibility to affordable child care, which is one of the biggest workforce challenges in Ohio right now.

Ohio's New Child Care Cred Program

In a statement, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said that the new program was designed to assist Ohio's families in gaining access to childcare. He added that when parents receive quality child care, the state's employers have productive employees who are less worried about their children while they are working.

The requirements of the program include living in Ohio and employers being Ohio-based. The two parties will have to submit an application together, and if it is approved, the state will help pay for a family's current child care provider or a licensed program, according to The Center Square.

Sen. Tim Schaffer added that ensuring a stable workforce for the state's growing economy encourages them to support working families. He said that by creating a cost-sharing model between parents, employers, and the state, families can afford quality childcare and businesses can focus on their companies' needs.

Additionally, Ohio's budget also expanded child care voucher eligibility, early learning grants, and support for in-home providers. These are all part of a public, private, non-profit push the state is working on to help businesses address workforce issues.

Helping Local Families and Businesses

Schaffer said that he is proud to see the Child Care Cred Program go into effect, adding that he is looking forward to the relief and opportunities that it would bring for working families across Ohio, Yahoo News reported.

The program comes as child care continues to soar, leaving many Americans finding themselves spending more for a caregiver than they do for a month's worth of rent. An analysis found that child care costs for parents who have two children have exceeded rental costs in 85 of the nation's largest metro areas.

Families with an infant and a four-year-old under care in Omaha, Nebraska, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Buffalo, New York, which have the highest child care costs in the country relative to local rents, on average, pay more than double the cost of their rent in child care alone, as per AOL News.
Pennsylvania State Police on Thursday charged a 40-year-old Lancaster County woman with two felonies after a boy she was babysitting drowned last month.

Anna M. King, of Paradise, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children, a second-degree felony, after she failed to supervise her 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old boy she was babysitting, police said.

Around 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 23, troopers were dispatched to Kings residence on the 1500 block of Mine Road in Salisbury Township for a 2-year-old boy who drowned.

The boy fell into a swimming pond on the property while King was leaf-blowing, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

When officers and EMS arrived, they performed life-saving measures on the 2-year-old. He was then taken to Lancaster General Hospital in critical condition before being transferred to Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

After three days in the hospital, the boy was taken off life support and died. His cause of death was ruled as an anoxic brain injury due to freshwater drowning, the coroners office said.

The day of the incident, police interviewed a tenant who rents a mobile home on the property. The tenant said Kings 4-year-old son retrieved the familys two dogs near the mobile home while King was leaf blowing in the driveway. The tenant noted she did not see the 2-year-old.

Not long after, King barged into the mobile home and told the tenant to call 911 because a child had drowned.

King then jumped into the pond with a flotation tube and pulled the 2-year-olds limp body out of the water. She said the boy was cold and unresponsive.

Both King and the tenant started life-saving measures until EMS crews arrived.

During a police interview that day, King said her son and the 2-year-old were playing in a detached barn on the property while she did yard work. She said she panicked when she saw her son walking alone with the two dogs.

King had not seen the 2-year-old boy for about 30 minutes when she pulled him from the pond.

Troopers interviewed the 4-year-old boy, who said he and the other boy were playing in the barn when they used a side door to enter a fenced grassy area. The boys then crawled under the fence and played near the ponds shoreline and in the water.

While the 2-year-old played by the water, the 4-year-old noticed the two dogs and went to retrieve them.

No bail was set. Kings preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.
A Lower Swatara mom was arrested and charged with a felony for not helping diabetic son with his insulin, landing him in ICU last week for the third time in 3 months, police said in court documents.

Meghan Diffendall, 36, was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children, according to charging documents filed by Lower Swatara Township police.

Police said her 13-year-old son, who has type 1 diabetes, had to use expired insulin, which resulted in him going into severe diabetic ketoacidosis on Nov. 13, which is a life-threatening exacerbation of uncontrolled diabetes. While hospitalized, the teen was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

His parents said he took an evening dose of his long-acting insulin, but due to an insurance denial because his brand of insulin wasnt listed on their health plan, the medicine he took was potentially expired insulin. His parents found it in the fridge and were hoping it would still be effective, according to police.

On the morning of Nov. 13, the teen was having chest pain, vomiting, and abnormal breathing, so his parents brought him to Penn State Childrens Hospital.

He had just been released from the hospital three days prior, on Nov. 10, for diabetic ketoacidosis. In all, he has been hospitalized three times in the past three months for not having enough insulin in his body, police wrote in court records.

The child has since been discharged from the hospital, the affidavit said.

The parents told police the teen primarily administers his insulin by himself at home, but they check when they are at home.

Police said there was concern regarding the teens level of supervision for his insulin administration as he has at baseline elevated sugars beyond what is appropriate for a type I diabetic child.

Though diabetic ketoacidosis can be a consequence of even well-controlled type 1 diabetes, police said the teen is not currently well-controlled due to management of his diabetes or lack thereof and his hospitalizations raise concerns about his safety.

The clinic said that diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body doesnt have enough insulin to function. While illness can trigger symptoms like vomiting, DKA is usually preventable with proper ketone monitoring and insulin use.

A doctor told police puberty may have played a role in the medical crisis, as puberty substantially increases insulin resistance, noting typical challenges parents face while trying to transfer responsibility for care to the child.

However, the doctor said the primary issue, due to the teen having ADHD and psychiatric problems, is that he needs adult supervision." Police said a doctor requested the parents attend diabetes education in September, but the dad was the only one who showed, even though the mom is the primary caregiver home during the day.

The dad told police his wife didnt show because she was home sleeping. He said she also likes to sleep during the day and stay awake late into the night.

The last time their sons long-acting insulin was filled was in January 2025. The doctor said it was a miracle the teen had not gone into diabetic ketoacidosis many more times without the additional insulin he should have had.

Type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, low blood sugar, and long-term damage to organs. Without proper management, it can be life-threatening.

Diffendalls preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26, according to online court documents. She was released without having to post any bond.
A false threat made against a York County junior high school Friday afternoon prompted a brief lockdown of the school, according to officials.

The York County Emergency Operations Center, which fields 911 calls in the county, on Friday received a hoax threat regarding the Red Lion Area Junior High School.

These types of calls are commonly known as swatting, when someone deliberately makes a false 911 report to evoke a large law enforcement presence and possibly draw a tactical or SWAT team.

Both the junior and senior high school were placed on lockdown after the threat was received. York County Regional Police and Pennsylvania State Police arrived on the scene around 12:30 p.m.

Police then searched the schools, found nothing suspicious and determined the threat was unfounded. By 1:05 p.m., the lockdown was lifted. All students and staff are safe.

Investigators said they are now looking into the source of the malicious call.

We recognize that any lockdown is stressful, and we want to assure you that our staff and law enforcement handled the situation seriously and efficiently. We are proud of our students and staff for following their training and remaining calm during this process, the Red Lion Area School District posted on social media Friday afternoon.

Counseling services are available for all students and staff.

Several instances of swatting have taken place throughout central Pennsylvania over the past few years.

In May 2024, police in Hampden Township, Cumberland County issued a shelter-in-place order for some residents after receiving a call that an armed person was suicidal at a home and was threatening to kill everyone inside.

About 40 minutes after sending emergency alerts to neighbors cell phones, police announced the incident was over and there was no threat.

In April 2023, at least 17 different first responder agencies and 62 personnel responded to the Walden Development in Cumberland County for a similar incident. After more than two hours of an apparent standoff, police said the area was safe.

Swatting gained traction in the 2000s as a revenge tactic among online gamers, who would place fake calls during livestreams so viewers could watch police respond in real-time.
A 56-year-old man was arrested after he was thrown out of a Lebanon County bar and pulled a gun on the bar manager, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Just after midnight on Nov. 2, Western Lebanon County Regional Police were dispatched to the Corvette Bar and Grille in Annville Township for a man lurking outside the bar with a gun.

The bar manager told officers he tossed the man, later identified as John V. Prozzillo, out of the bar for taking pictures of girls. After being thrown out, Prozzillo, of Lebanon, stayed in the area and parked his car with his lights off.

Another witness who was with the manager told police he tried to take a picture of Prozzillos license plate, but it was covered with a piece of cardboard.

The witness approached Prozzillos car near South King and West Main streets and told him to stay away.

Thats when Prozzillo grabbed a handgun and pointed it at the witness, prompting the witness to run and duck behind a van.

Prozzillo then drove away east on West Main Street with his headlights off.

Another police unit found Prozzillos car at his residence. The homes lights were on, and the front door was open.

When the officer turned around and parked, the homes lights were off and the door was shut.

Two days after the incident, investigators spoke with Prozzillos parole officer, who said Prozzillo admitted to drinking at Corvette Bar and Grill that night.

Police received pictures of Prozzillo from the bar manager, which were used in a photo lineup. Another witness who saw the gun selected Prozzillos picture from that lineup.

Surveillance footage from outside the bar also helped police identify Prozzillo.

Prozzillo is charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct, driving with no headlights and having an obscured/covered plate.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12.
TIFFIN, Ohio  A man showed up at a home as his wife was attempting to move out, shooting the womans two young children and a man who was helping her move before turning the gun on himself, police say.

A news release from the Tiffin Police Department says the shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 100 block of Huss Street.

The woman was in the process of moving out of the residence because of ongoing domestic issues involving her husband, Ryan Eagon, 42, police say. Dustin Willey, 29, the father of the womans 7-year-old son, was helping her move. The woman also had a 7-month-old child.

The woman thought Eagon was out of town working, police say. While inside the home, Willey and the woman heard the 7-year-old cry out from outside the house, police say.

When they went outside to check on him, they reportedly saw Eagon in the driveway. Police say witnesses saw Eagon push past the woman and chase down Willey, firing multiple shots at him.

Eagon then fatally shot both children, police say, before again firing at Willey. Eagon died by suicide at the scene.

The mother carried her children inside the house. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, police say. Willey died at Tiffin Mercy Hospital.

The Tiffin Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Seneca County Coroners Office are investigating the incident.

The Tiffin Police Department recognizes the profound emotional impact this tragedy has had on the families involved, first responders, medical staff, schools, and the broader community, Chief David Pauly said in a statement. Resources for grief support and counseling are being coordinated for anyone affected.
ABUJA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- An unknown number of students were abducted early Friday when suspected terrorists attacked a school in Nigeria's central state of Niger, local officials said. 
Its risky practice to take the witness stand in your own trial.

Doubly so, when your life is at stake.

But Erick Boone, 29, of Harrisburg, put it all on the line to tell a Dauphin County jury he fatally shot a Huntingdon man in self-defense the night of April 17, 2024.

Before that, he admitted to getting into a fight with 43-year-old Dewayne Brown inside USA Fried Chicken on 13th and Derry. He said he and his friend Marcus Stultz beat Brown, took him to the ground, whaled on him some more and then rummaged through his pockets and stole his cellphones.

But when he and Stultz encountered Brown 20 minutes later, he said he feared for his life.

He and a third man, Zachary Harr, testified Thursday in court that Brown came out of an alleyway as they were walking with his hands in his pockets.

He came across as aggressive I dont want to say belligerent but all over the place, Boone said. He had his hands in his pockets.

Boone asked Brown to take his hands out of his pockets. As Brown stepped forward and didnt do so, Boone said, Boone drew his gun and shot Brown.

He said he didnt know how many times he shot Brown. But Dauphin County prosecutor Sarah Phillips knew: Seven shots struck Brown, and two bullets passed through his body to the other side. One bullet hit Browns lung while another entered his forehead while he was standing up.

He unloaded on him, Phillips said, calling the shooting a calculated and callous decision that merited a guilty verdict on first-degree murder, one of the charges Boone is accused of.

Boone could face a life sentence in prison on that charge if convicted.

Phillips replayed video surveillance footage taken from Evergreen Street which showed Boone, Stultz and Harr walk up Evergreen street.

While a plastic icicle  a late Christmas decoration  obscured much of the action from the camera, the recording did show the three men fan out into the street and then hone in on Brown.

When Brown dropped, the three men ran away.

Boones defense, presented by his attorney Cory Leshner, revolves around the concept of self-defense  that Boone had a reasonable belief he was in danger of suffering serious bodily injury or death.

Leshner argued its enough that Boone, in his head, thought Brown had a gun, was going to pull it on him and shoot him. Because of that, he said the jury should acquit on all homicide-related charges.

Leshner conceded Boone was guilty of robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.

You dont have to like him. Youre not signing on to his activities. This is just due process, Leshner said.

But Phillips argued there needs to be a reasonable belief  not just a belief  that there is a threat of serious bodily injury or death before Boone could use lethal force.

You cant just shoot someone just because you think they might have a weapon, Phillips said. If Brown had a weapon, why didnt he just pull it while he was being beaten?

Because of that, Phillips said even if the jury believes Boone thought he was acting in self-defense, the jury needed to find him guilty of voluntary manslaughter for imperfect self-defense.

Leshner pointed out Brown resided in a building on Evergreen Street and could have gone home after the beating to retrieve the gun. But Phillips said Brown was staggering, stumbling and barely holding himself together in the aftermath of the USA Fried Chicken beatdown. She called Brown a sitting duck after being beaten senseless 

 A sitting duck who didnt deserve to die, Phillips said.

Stultz was previously expected to testify on behalf of Boones defense, but pleaded the Fifth and backed out at the last minute.

After both parties delivered closing remarks Thursday afternoon, Dauphin County Judge William T. Tully instructed jurors on the law related to the case.

They are expected to return to Dauphin County court Friday to deliberate on a verdict.
A western Pennsylvania couple faces charges after a 2-year-old child in their care overdosed on cocaine and fentanyl.

Police in Monessen, Westmoreland County, investigated the home after the child was taken to a hospital and tested positive for the drugs on Oct. 4, according to a statement from the Westmoreland County district attorneys office.

At the house, they found several glassine baggies and obtained a search warrant.

The district attorneys statement said police found a blue glassine baggie, a smoking pipe, two stamp bags, a scale, several small baggies containing a powdery residue and a case of marijuana cartridges.

Officers field tested the residue in the baggies and received a positive result for cocaine.

Sable Ford, 36, and Travis Holmes, no age given, were interviewed by police and said the child found a baggie in the front yard and put the baggie in its mouth.

The couple took the child to a hospital after the child showed signs of an overdose and went limp, said the DAs office.

Ford and Holmes were each charged with endangering the welfare of children, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy, online court records show.

Both were being held at the Westmoreland County Jail after failing to post $50,000 bail each. They have preliminary hearings scheduled for Dec. 5.
Annjalee Nunez, 27, was ordered to stand trial on third-degree murder for the 2023 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Ivory. Getty Images

CARLISLE - Based largely on medical evidence, a judge ordered a Carlisle woman to stand trial on third-degree murder charges for the 2023 death of her two-year-old daughter.

District Judge Jonathan Birbecks ruling came after a 90-minute hearing Friday centered on a pathologists findings that the child, Ivory Nunez, was essentially poisoned with fentanyl when she died Jan 10.

Annjalee Nunez, Ivorys mother, had primary custody of her daughter at the time, and she was the only one with Ivory the night she died.

Dr. Wayne Ross testified that extremely high levels of fentanyl were found in Ivorys blood during post-mortem toxicology screenings.

And then, he said, there was this:

A separate screening of the childs stomach fluids also found high enough levels of fentanyl there to suggest Ivory had directly ingested the powerful opioid either through food or drink.

In his opinion, Ross said, the levels were too high to be consistent with an accidental touch, and they were high enough to interfere with Ivorys breathing rather quickly.

I believe the actions of someone else caused that to happen, Ross, a veteran forensic pathologist on call for Cumberland County cases, testified.

Thats why I ruled it a homicide.

Nunez, a 27-year-old Mechanicsburg native, told police she called 9-1-1 after waking up around 5 a.m. and finding that Ivory - whom she had been sharing a bed with - was cold and unresponsive.

Nunez lived in an apartment in the 100 block of North Hanover Street at the time.

In an April 2023 interview with Carlisle police that was played in court Friday, Nunez described the scene: I turned her over and her face was like, purple. It was horrible.

Through tears, she described calling for an ambulance and trying to administer CPR, even though all signs were that it was too late to save Ivory.

Defense attorney Ella Goodman argued for dismissal of the murder charge, arguing while Ivorys death occurred while she was in Annjalees care, prosecutors fell well short of proving malice.

Goodman noted there was no specific evidence offered about where the drugs came from, or how Ivory ingested them.

Importantly, Goodman said, no one testifying Friday hearing was able to speak to the presence of any fentanyl in Nunezs apartment that day.

Police searches werent conducted at the time, presumably because the toxicology report didnt come back until early February.

Arrest records in the case noted Annjalee was prescribed Suboxone, which treats opioid use disorder, as part of a drug treatment program when she gave birth to Ivory in January 2020. That was not covered in Fridays hearing.

But Senior Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Judd countered Ross was very specific he believes the fentanyl exposure in this case appeared to come through ingestion of food or drink.

Everyone agrees Annjalee was the only person with Ivory for the last 12 hours of her life, Judd continued, so there was only one person who could have exposed Ivory to the fentanyl.

To send a case to criminal court, however, a district judge is not ruling on guilt or innocence.

The judge only needs to see a crime has been committed, and there is evidence - if not yet proof - that points to the defendants involvement.

Birbeck found that test was met.

The case ahead may become, in part, a battle of medical experts.

Ivory Nunez was treated for seizures at WellSpan York Hospital on Dec. 28, 2022, and prescribed an anti-seizure drug.

Under cross-examination by Goodman, Ross allowed that seizures can cause the same types of physiological factors that led to Ivorys death.

In her police interview, Annjallee said she was fearful Ivory might die during the incident that resulted in the hospital trip 10 days earlier.

Treating physicians at the time hadnt made a final diagnosis about the seizures, Ross indicated.

But on further questioning from prosecutors Friday, Ross said his opinion is Ivorys seizures were probably caused by the fentanyl in her system.

Fridays hearing was attended by Annjalees parents, Ivorys biological father, and other friends and family of both parents.

Ivorys parents had a contentious relationship that included incidents of physical abuse against Annjalee, and those tensions suffused Fridays hearing.

Jamie Garrison, Annjalees mother, told PennLive when the charges were filed earlier this month she doesnt believe her daughter brought fentanyl in her home.

Garrison said she believes Ivory could have picked up something dangerous from her dads house, on the dirty apartment building steps or anywhere.

The childs father, meanwhile, posted on social media in April 2023 that he believed police and Cumberland County Children and Youth Services failed Ivory.

Annjalee Nunez attended Mechanicsburg High School and, according to an old Linkedin profile, worked for a time as a customer service agent with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

After Birbeck upheld the charges Friday, Nunez was taken back to Cumberland County Prison, where she is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Besides the murder charges, prosecutors have also brought counts of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment against Nunez.

Nunezs formal arraignment in Cumberland County court is set for Jan. 12.
A woman was charged after she continued driving to work after hitting a horse buggy, injuring a 17-year-old last month in Lancaster County, police said in court documents.

Reyna Mondragon Reza, 41, of Chester County, was charged with a misdemeanor count of accident involving injury while not licensed, and driving with a suspended or revoked license, and multiple traffic offenses, according to charging documents filed by Pennsylvania State police.

Police said Reza rear-ended the wheel of an eastbound buggy around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 near 447 Ashville Road in Little Britain Township.

The impact launched the 17-year-old from his seat through the air on the open buggy before he landed in the grass off the road, court documents said.

The horse hauling the buggy became separated and ran across a field. The buggy came to final rest several yards from the teen, according to the affidavit.

Police said Reza did not stop and continued eastbound on Ashville Road to go to work at the water authority in Chester County.

State police said surveillance footage from her workplace showed her arrive immediately after the crash with fresh damage on the front of her vehicle.

Reza told police she felt the impact from hitting the buggy, but she continued driving because she didnt want to be late for work, the affidavit said. She also said the sun was very bright at the time of the crash.

Reza said she looked in her rearview mirror and didnt see anything, so she continued driving and waited until after work to return to the crash scene.

Police said her windshield was covered in dust, making it difficult for her to see.

Rezas is awaiting a preliminary hearing date, according to online court documents.
Mani of the British iconic rock band The Stone Roses perform on stage at Wembley Stadium, London on June 17, 2017. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images

The rock world is mourning the loss of another talented musician as Gary Mani Mounfield has died.

He was 63.

Mounfields brother, Greg, announced his death on Facebook.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother, he wrote.

He added that his brother is now reunited with his wife, Imelda. According to Rolling Stone, she died of cancer in 2023. His cause of death has not been shared.

Mani Mounfield was best known for his time as the bassist for Stone Roses and Primal Scream.

Rest in Peace Gary Mani Mounfield, All On The Board posted on X. Thank you for being one of the best to ever pick up a bass guitar and a human the world will forever miss. Sending love to your family & friends. You will be forever loved and never forgotten.

The perfect example of how a bassist can be the beating heart of a band, Rough Trade posted on X. A legendary player with primal scream, the backbone of The Stones Roses groove. RIP Gary Mani Mounfield.

Mounfield was a native of Manchester, England. He began his career in 1987 with the Stone Roses, and when that band disbanded in 1996 he joined Primal Scream. But when the Stone Roses reunited in 211, Mounfield returned to the group until it broke up again in 2017.

Rolling Stone reported that he was slated to embark on a speaking tour of the United Kingdom in 2026.
Pinnacle Ridge Winery is back in business in the suburban Philadelphia market.

After closing its satellite tasting room in downtown Lansdale, Montgomery County, in early September, the winery announced earlier this week that it was reopening about 10 miles away in Souderton.

Located at 143 N. Main St., whats being called the Vino Veritas Wine Room will be open noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and noon to 6 on Sunday.

As noted in the Facebook post, Pinnacle Ridge will offer wine tasting, wine flights, wine slushies, and onsite consumption by the glass or bottle as well as bottles to go.

A look inside the new Pinnacle Ridge tasting room in Souderton. Pinnacle Ridge Winery

Groups of four or fewer are welcome for a seated wine tasting. Limited indoor seating is available if youd like to enjoy wine afterward, and more seating is located on a large outdoor deck.

Its primary tasting room is located at 4138 Vineyard Road in Stewartstown, York County, a couple of hundred yards from Allegro Winery.

Carl Helrich owns both, as well as Cadenza Vineyards and Allegro Brewery, both in York County, in addition to co-owning SpringGate Spirits, which produces and distributes spirits-based Ready-to-Drink cocktails in cans. Thats also owned by Marty Schoffstall, former owner of SpringGate Vineyard in the Harrisburg area.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery makes an assortment of red wines. Pinnacle Ridge Winery

The new location is a different concept for us; basically a blend of wine bar and tasting room where guests can enjoy seated wine tasting, wine flights, and enjoy a glass of Pinnacle Ridge wines or share a bottle, Helrich said. Well have outdoor deck seating for our guests as well. Vino Veritas will also offer the Pinnacle Ridge Wine Club and serve as a pick-up location for members.

Helrich purchased the Pinnacle Ridge brand from founder and winemaker Brad Knapp in January 2021, who sold the Berks County winery after 25 years. He opened the satellite location in Lansdale in March 2022, in a building that once served as the former site of The Reporter circulation department and also as the former Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County headquarters, according to northpennnow.com. It was located at 34 Susquehanna Ave., a short walk from the train station and a block off Main Street.

Helrich posted on Facebook on Sept. 7 that he had been working for nearly a year to find a suitable new home in Lansdale or nearby, and thought we had one in the works. Were sad to say it didnt work out as we had hoped. Since we have not secured a new space to move into, we have no choice but to close our Lansdale location.

That search has finally yielded the new place up the road.

Were excited to join the Souderton business community on Main Street and introduce Pinnacle Ridge wines to folks in the area," he said. The bonus is that the new location is conveniently located just 15 minutes from our previous Lansdale location, so we hope to continue to see many familiar faces as well.
A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar electric vehicle is seen in Tempe, Arizona, on the outskirts of Phoenix, on Sept. 15, 2025. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

By Tim Harlow, The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

Waymo, the driverless ride-hailing company, is bringing its fleet of autonomous electric vehicles to Minneapolis.

Testing of the signature white Jaguar I-Pace SUVs and Zeekr RT vehicles is set to begin Thursday, but it will likely be several months before passenger service begins.

We are here and telling you what we are doing, said Chris Bonelli, product communications manager for the Silicon Valley-based company owned by Alphabet, the parent company of Google. We intend to offer ride-hailing in Minneapolis. We are not just coming for testing.

Testing with a human driver behind the wheel will begin by collecting data and mapping the city, Bonelli said. Cars are equipped with sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar, or light detection and ranging, to create a 360-degree view of its surroundings. Once that is complete, a driver will remain behind the wheel as the vehicle drives the routes, only taking the steering wheel should the need arise, Bonelli said.

At that point, the future of transportation that does not get drunk, tired or distracted as the company describes it, would be ready for Waymo to give rides in its fully autonomous cars.

Testing in Minneapolis will start in the urban core before moving away to a broader area, Bonelli said.

Waymo already has a fleet of its robotaxis shuttling passengers around warm-weather cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. The company is also partnering with DoorDash to deliver grocery and meal orders to customers in the Phoenix area.

Waymo recently expanded to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta in partnership with the Uber app. And it has Washington, D.C., Miami, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Antonio, Seattle, Nashville, Orlando and Tampa, Fla., on its radar.

Billing itself as the worlds first autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo also recently announced it would set up shop in cold-weather cities of Boston, Detroit, Denver, New York City and Buffalo, New York.

Its exciting tackling a big city with winter weather, Bonelli said. Cars can work in dry sunny Arizona, but snow and weather is the big question.

Minneapolis certainly can provide that testing ground.

We continue to validate Waymos 6th generation AI and cleaning mechanisms to sustain fully autonomous operations in snow and ice, Bonelli said.

But Minneapolis also checked another box on the companys list of expansion criteria. It is a dense urban area, and we want to help add to that infrastructure, Bonelli said.

Waymo touts its safety record in the realm of crash reduction. Compared to the average human driver over the same distance in cities with outposts, the driverless cars were involved in 304 fewer injury crashes and 35 fewer pedestrian crashes with injuries. On average, about half of crashes result in minor damage.

State law neither prohibits nor specifically authorizes automated vehicles to conduct testing on streets in Minnesota, said Anne Meyer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

We expect this to come up during the next legislative session and look forward to being included in those discussions, Meyer said.

Waymos arrival comes with some questions, but with the acknowledgement that self-driving cars are part of the future.

Cities need to be able to work with operators to keep our streets safe and traffic efficient, said city spokesman Allen Henry. As a city with a strong legacy of technological leadership, we look forward to continuing the conversation with Waymo as they begin testing their vehicles with human drivers.

A Waymo car drives down Market Street on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) TNS

There are no current plans to bring Waymo to St. Paul, Bonelli said.

Waymo wont be the first to try autonomous vehicles for transportation in Minnesota. SouthWest Transit debuted driverless vehicles last year on its on-demand microtransit service, Prime.

The agency serving Eden Prairie, Chaska and Chanhassen is still in the testing phase with a driver sitting behind the wheel, but the operator isnt actually driving.

So far so good, said SouthWest CEO Erik Hansen. Its gone pretty much to plan.

Though it might be a little disconcerting to see a steering wheel turn without human hands guiding it, 96% of those who have taken a trip on the self-driving Prime have given a thumbs-up, according to results of a recent customer survey.

Since their arrival last fall, riders have taken more than 17,000 trips in the autonomous vehicles, accounting for 25% of all on-demand trips, Hansen said.

Only one person has balked about it, he added, noting 85 riders have taken 50 or more trips in the driverless vehicles.

Minneapolis City Council Member Katie Cashman, whose ward includes the Loring Park and Downtown West neighborhoods, has mixed feelings about Waymo coming to town.

On one hand, she likes the idea that Waymo cars could reduce crashes and reduce the reliance on parking and garages. On the other hand, she has concerns about the technology still not fully identifying human beings.

We also have to ask how necessary this is, Cashman said. We have public transit to provide transportation without driving ourselves. What impact will this have to our transit ridership return?

While still in its infancy, self-driving technology has the potential to offer safe travel, according to a 2024 study from the University of Central Florida.

It is anticipated that the automation of systems will significantly reduce the number of accidents, as human errors contribute up to 90% of accidents, the authors wrote. But, they added, there is a scarcity of real-world autonomous vehicle accident data.

Bonelli, of Waymo, said the company is excited to bring successful ride-hailing to Minneapolis. We are ready to serve people in more places.

Jeff Hargarten of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report.

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post (TNS)

DENVER  More than a decade ago, John Cordova listened to his granddaughters first cry.

Soledad Cordova was born two months premature at a hospital in Pueblo in 2012. She lost consciousness after she was born and died on the day of her birth, despite the medical staffs best efforts to revive her.

Cordova entrusted Soledads body to his longtime friends, brothers Brian and Chris Cotter, owners of Davis Mortuary in Pueblo. They agreed to cremate her remains, and gave the family an urn with what they believed to be Soledads ashes. The family buried the urn alongside Cordovas late wife.

But in August, Soledads body was discovered among 24 bodies inside a hidden room at the Pueblo funeral home. The infants body was never cremated. Investigators found her body in a small white box, wrapped with green ribbon, inscribed with her name.

John Cordova on Thursday sued the Cotter brothers, Davis Mortuary and the Pueblo Masonic Temple Annex Association, which owns the building on Broadway Avenue, where the brothers have long leased space for the mortuary.

Cordova was joined in the lawsuit by family members of two other people  Melvin Emerson and Carl Walker  whose bodies were discovered in the hidden room earlier this year.

The complaint for the first time publicly identifies some of the 24 bodies that state regulators discovered Aug. 20. The regulators found the bodies during the states first inspection of the funeral home under a new law passed in 2024 aimed at bringing more oversight to the industry after a string of scandals.

Authorities found the two dozen bodies as well as containers filled with bones and tissue behind a hidden door in the mortuary. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has identified just six bodies so far, and has not publicly named the victims.

The complaint details Brian Cotters standing in the Pueblo community  he served as the countys elected coroner from 2014 until his resignation in August, shortly after the bodies were discovered. He also was a leader within the Pueblo Masonic Temple Lodge 17, which operated in the same building as the mortuary, the lawsuit alleges.

Brian Cotter served as the Colorado State Grandmaster of Masons between at least 2009 and 2010, a position also known as the Worshipful Master, the lawsuit claims. The complaint also notes that green  the color of the ribbon on the box holding Soledad Cordovas remains  symbolizes the immortality of the soul within Freemason teachings.

A message left with the Pueblo Masonic Temple Annex Association for comment on the lawsuit was not returned.

Brian Cotters good reputation in the community was part of the reason Patricia Emerson chose Davis Mortuary for her husband Melvins funeral arrangements. She was familiar with the funeral home through her work at a Pueblo hospital.

She paid the mortuary $3,000 on top of the bills paid by Medicaid for her husbands arrangements, the lawsuit claims. She asked to see his body after it was transported to the funeral home, but Brian Cotter refused to allow her to do so, the lawsuit states.

Through his words and tears, defendant Brian Cotter made personal guarantees to the Emerson family that Mr. Melvin Emersons remains would be handled with the utmost care, the lawsuit reads.

The family believed the urn they received from the facility contained Melvin Emersons remains until they were notified in September that his body had been found among the others in the hidden room.

Neither Brian nor Chris Cotter has been arrested or charged with any crimes. Authorities have said the investigation remains underway and the effort to identify the remains through DNA analysis is likely to take months.
Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry during the Miss Universe national costume presentation in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Nov. 19, 2025. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

By Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News (TNS)

A Miss Universe contestant who fell off stage Wednesday during a preliminary round of the pageant was doing OK and recovering in the hospital, the organizations leader said.

Miss Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, was walking across the stage when she stepped directly off the elevated surface during a portion of the competition in Bangkok.

Social media videos showed several people rushing to Henrys aid, and other clips showed her leaving on a stretcher.

I was there (at the hospital) with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care, Miss Universe CEO Raul Rocha wrote on Instagram. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night and we will remain in touch with her family to support her.

The Miss Universe Jamaica organization also confirmed Henry did not suffer any life-threatening injuries and asked everyone to stay upbeat, lift her in prayer and send positive thoughts.

Miss Universe has already been beset by two scandals. One of the organizations leaders had to apologize in early November after calling Miss Mexico a dummy.

Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch Fernandez, got even; she won the event. She expressed a desire to change the Miss Universe prototype and praised the pageant as a platform for womens voices.

The first runner-up was Praveenar Singh of Thailand, with Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placing third.

Three judges resigned earlier this week amid allegations the final 30 contestants had been pre-selected by a corrupt outside group. Miss Universe officials denied any such pre-determination.
Third Street Plaza in downtown Williamsport, which houses the Lycoming County government offices. There is a restaurant in part of the ground floor. The building is across West Third Street from the county courthouse containing the courts and court-related offices. John Beauge

WILLIAMSPORT  Lycoming Countys register and recorder is asking a court to prevent the county commissioners from moving his office from the courthouse to the Third Street Plaza across the street.

David A. Huffman, in an emergency petition on Thursday, is seeking a preliminary injunction.

The request came two days after he sued the county and the three commissioners, Scott L. Metzger, Marc C. Sortman and Mark A. Mussina, over the same issue.

The commissioners are accused of refusing to engage in objective consultation or provide unbiased information about the Third Street Plaza space, where renovations for his office are complete.

Metzger declined to comment, saying the commissioners will respond in court. Huffmans legal action is the latest in a dispute among the parties that began in April 2024.

The commissioners want to move the register and recorders office to the Third Street Plaza space formerly occupied by a bank.

Once that is accomplished, the adult probation department would move from the third floor of the courthouse into Huffmans former office.

The sheriffs office would expand on the third floor, taking over the probation departments space and doubling the number of its holding cells to four, Metzger said.

The Third Street Plaza contains most county offices unrelated to the courts, including the commissioners, controller, treasurer and voters.

In seeking an injunction, Huffman contends that the county, by unilaterally constructing his office, has deprived him of a statutory right to adequate space. The county claims the square footage is approximately the same as his present office.

Huffman also argues that the new space presents a host of logistical problems and is not secure. Third Street Plaza does not have security, while the courthouse does.

The injunction request, besides seeking to stop the move, wants to prevent the county from using the bathroom facilities above the new office. Huffman claims there is a leak coming through the ceiling.

No hearing can be scheduled on the emergency petition until the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts assigns a judge because those in Lycoming County have recused themselves.

Huffmans suit seeks a court order forcing mediation on his concerns related to the new office, which include an accurate square-foot measurement and whether future growth has been considered.

He accuses the commissioners of initiating a pressure campaign in April 2024 to force him to move. He cites a June 4, 2024, meeting with the commissioners at which he was told the decision to move his office had been made.

The suit also claims that then-county administrator Matthew McDermott showed up in Huffmans office on July 5, 2024, and told him, go along with the move, or it would be done without him.

The commissioners at the time threatened to file a lawsuit to force the move, but never did.

The court complaint details activities in the dispute among Huffman, the commissioners, and their attorneys over the past 22 months.

Last November, Huffman, through counsel, proposed a third-party mediator to resolve the issues. The commissioners in January said they were amenable to mediation, but a mediator was not under contract until last month.

A Nov. 5 mediation was unsuccessful, with Huffman contending in his suit that meaningful consultation was not held.

Huffmans official title is register of wills, recorder of deeds and clerk of orphans court. It is an elected position.

This is the second time in recent years the commissioners have been sued by a row officer.

They lost a three-year legal fight with then Controller Krista B. Rogers, who sued over who should control certain government fiscal functions.

Commonwealth Court in February 2024 ruled that the general ledger, payroll and accounts payable functions belonged to her.
CAIRO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is marking a notable presence at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) this year through participation in both jury work and film screening, highlighting the deepening cultural exchange between China and Egypt.

One of the highlights is the feature film The Botanist by director Jing Yi, which has been selected in both the International Critics' Week Competition and the International Panorama. Set in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China, the film follows a young Kazakh boy whose fascination with plants develops into a delicate, dreamlike friendship that blurs the line between reality and imagination.

Festival president and famous Egyptian actor and director Hussein Fahmy expressed his delight at China's growing participation in the festival, eyeing further cooperation between Egyptian and Chinese cinemas.

"Chinese cinema is very important and has a long history, and we in Egypt have been interested in it for many years," Fahmy told Xinhua.

"It matters greatly to me to present the Egyptian audience with diverse cultures, and one of the most important is Chinese culture, because it is an ancient culture with a long history and deep-rooted traditions," he added.

Another Chinese film screened at the 46th CIFF is the documentary Cherished Land, produced by China Global Television Network (CGTN), which is featured in the festival's International Panorama section. The film was shot in Xinjiang and follows four intertwined human stories -- a Uyghur family, a father and his son, two sisters, and a teacher and his student.

CGTN producer Ou Xiaolan said she was delighted to bring the documentary to Cairo, describing CIFF as "one of the most well-known film festivals worldwide for it is recognized as a Category 'A' festival," expressing happiness to share the stories of Cherished Land at Cairo's top cinema platform.

She noted that CIFF and China Media Group, a renowned state media body, signed a cooperation protocol last year, referring to it as "a wonderful opportunity for cultural cooperation between the two countries."

A key element of China's participation is the presence of prominent Chinese filmmaker Guan Hu as a jury member of the festival's top International Competition alongside directors and artists from Turkiye, Egypt, Italy, Tunisia, and Romania. Guan is known for acclaimed works such as Mr. Six, The Eight Hundred, and Black Dog, winner of the Un Certain Regard Grand Prize at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024.

In addition to his jury role, CIFF is hosting a dedicated masterclass with Guan, offering young filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts insight into his visual language, his focus on marginalized characters, and his humanistic perspective on contemporary Chinese society.

The Chinese films received strong appreciation from Egyptian audiences who emphasized their growing interest in Chinese cinema and the increasing popularity of Chinese culture in Egypt and the Arab world.

Egyptian young filmmaker Muna Yahia hailed the Chinese feature The Botanist after watching it at the 46th CIFF, describing the work as "a beautiful and deeply delicate film, different from anything I've seen before."

Yahia was particularly impressed by the young lead actor, saying "the boy's performance was wonderful." She also praised the film's idea of attachment to plants as well as its cinematography.

"China is an important and advanced country with a long cinematic history and the film's selection at CIFF was a good choice," she said, adding that "Chinese cinema is respectable, beautiful, and very poetic. I hope it continues at this high level, or even better." 
West Shore School Districts board voted unanimously Thursday night to replace its legal counsel, closing the book on both an outstanding lawsuit and the boards last two years of political turmoil.

Board members voted to hire Saxton & Stump as the districts primary solicitor, along with Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams for special education matters. The firms will take over from Tucker Arensberg attorney Kevin Hall, who had been hired by the boards conservative former majority.

Halls hiring  and the simultaneous firing of Stock & Leader attorney Brooke Say  generated significant pushback from residents as well as a lawsuit over the alleged lack of transparency involved in the swap.

The settlement of that suit earlier this year required the district to redo its solicitor selection using a formal process  one it hadnt done when Hall was abruptly brought on board in April of 2024.

Thursdays vote to contract the new firms after a lengthy qualification process was the culmination of that legal settlement. Stock & Leader was also absorbed by Saxton & Stump earlier this year, meaning that Say herself could return as the districts regular counsel.

For most of the past two years, West Shores nine-member board has been divided between a five-person conservative bloc and four opposition members. Thursday was also a step toward the end of that political fault line, being the last meeting for board members Abigail Tierney and Kelly Brent.

Tierney, a Democrat and strident critic of the conservative majority over the past two years, is retiring and will be replaced by fellow Democrat Mary Dankosky. Brent, a Republican who became the de facto leader of the majority bloc, lost her re-election bid to Democratic challenger Teri Mickle.

Heidi Thomas, another of the conservative members, stepped down last month. The board appointed John Dormuth, who does not share Thomas political proclivities, to fill the rest of her term  meaning that only three of the conservatives will remain.

At Thursdays meeting, there was considerably more political animosity among the audience than there was on the board. Several liberal-leaning district residents were clearly happy to see Brent go, with several remarking during the meetings public comment period that her tenure had brought the community together, albeit in opposition to what she was doing.

Conservative residents kept pressing on the culture war gas pedal, with one reading descriptions of sex acts from young adult novels that she believed should be banned from school libraries. Another used the terms cretin and putrid animal to describe those who had harried Brent.

Conversely, Brent and Tierney themselves thanked their colleagues of every political leaning, and also received warm send-offs from other board members and school administrators.

I dont care what party you were in, Tierney said. Ive always said that about school board. I dont care what party youre in, you just have to want to be about the kids.

Brent noted that she agreed to run for a two-year seat in 2023 because nobody else was willing to take the position, and I accepted very reluctantly. But once Im committed, Im here all the way to the end, she said, adding that the board is going to be in great hands with Mickle.

Longtime West Shore Superintendent Todd Stoltz also acknowledged that his relationship with the boards factions wasnt always easy, but was constructive.

You have both provided support to me in many ways that goes beyond what the public sees, Stoltz said, adding that we have disagreed and rumbled, at times quite heartily, and that is healthy.

Several moves over the past two years by the boards conservative bloc have sparked controversy, with likely the biggest pushback coming over a secretive meeting with the Independence Law Center, a right-wing group that has pushed policies to ban classroom materials it finds too liberal, restrict which bathrooms transgender students can use, and other hot-button topics.

But the move with the most legal ramifications was the change of solicitor. Shortly after taking office, conservative board members began suggesting that Say was too deferential to district administrators and reluctant to make changes. A process was started to field proposals from other law firms, but it was abandoned after Brent said the administration was dragging it out.

In the days leading up to his formal hiring, Hall had emailed Say to inform her that Thomas had told him he would be hired at the upcoming board meeting, and that Says services were no longer needed, according to internal emails that were later divulged.

As Say reminded Hall, no meeting or vote had been held to appoint him; Hall even went so far as to request from Say information on pending legal matters before the district, despite having no relationship other than a guarantee from Thomas that he would receive a favorable vote in the near future.

Skeptical district residents concluded that Thomas and Hall must have coordinated with the other members of the board majority to effectively give Hall the job before the vote to hire him had even been posted on a public agenda.

One resident, John Elliott, filed a lawsuit arguing the Halls attempt to act as the districts solicitor before being voted into the job meant that he was functionally appointed behind closed doors in violation of the Sunshine Act, Pennsylvanias open-meetings law. The case ended with a settlement in which the district committed to redo the hiring process.

West Shores next board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4.
- Photos taken by Paratrooper Carl Chamberlain during his time in Europe during World War II. Children salute his camera, as Chamberlain took this photo in Sicily. Estate of Carl Chamberlain Estate of Carl Chamberlain

By William Lambers

It was Thanksgiving in 1946 and the celebration took place as far away as Germany, which was in ruins after World War II. The U.S. Womens Army Corps, stationed in Frankfurt, hosted 30 wide-eyed German children for a turkey dinner. The Chicago Tribune reported that after the dinner, German kids were seen clutching oranges they were given to take home. Such food was rare indeed amid all the shortages in post-war Germany.

Thanksgiving can inspire the sharing of food with the hungry worldwide, rescuing starving children. In fact, it was Thanksgiving in 1947 that supported one of the greatest peace initiatives ever, the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe from the ashes of World War II.

During Thanksgiving week in 1947, Americans donated to feed Europe via the Friendship Train, which made stops nationwide to collect food. The initiative was so popular Americans soon realized they were going to need a bigger train.

The Hartford Courant reported, One Friendship Train freight car wouldnt be enough to express Hartfords Thanksgiving help for Europes hungry. Instead at least several freight cars were needed to hold the food donations. This was a scene typical around the country where food and cash donations soared, adding more cars to the Friendship Train.

Americans also took in silent guests at Thanksgiving and donated CARE food packages to feed the hungry overseas. The Silent Guest plan also provided food for the hungry at home. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) also held a nationwide food drive during Thanksgiving week in 1947.

The Thanksgiving food drives were major supporters of the Marshall Plan, which began in early 1948. As George Marshall himself said Food is the very basis of all reconstruction. This Thanksgiving its important we remember this because many areas of the world are stuck in a vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.

At this years Thanksgiving, hunger is a crisis at home and abroad. Food prices are high in America and foodbanks are overwhelmed with demand. Overseas wars have led to famine in Sudan and Gaza.

Other countries including the D.R. Congo, Haiti, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and Mali are on the brink. The charity Marys Meals is raising awareness of hunger in Ethiopia. There are many nations with food shortages but yet there is not enough donations to feed the hungry.

The UN World Food Program (WFP) warns a staggering 318 million people face crisis levels of hunger or worse next year - more than double the figure recorded in 2019. However, declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritize food assistance to roughly one-third of those in need.

This Thanksgiving, we can unite in the fight against hunger by sharing food with those in need. You can donate to foodbanks and charities fighting hunger including WFP, UNICEF, Save the Children, Marys Meals, CRS, Edesia, Mercy Corps, Action Against Hunger, CARE and others.

You could tell your elected officials to support food aid programs. General Dwight Eisenhower did this on Thanksgiving Day in 1945, testifying before Congress urging them to fund food aid for Europe.

We each can do something to help the hungry at Thanksgiving, and this year it is certainly urgent given the number of emergencies and funding shortages. A combined effort can bring some relief to those suffering hunger this Thanksgiving.

William Lambers partnered with the UN World Food Program on his book Ending World Hunger.
Sen. Doug Mastriano was the subject of a harassment, age and racial discrimination complaint last year. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Pennsylvania taxpayers paid at least $133,513 for lawyers and a settlement after a former Senate employee filed a workplace harassment complaint against Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Adams County.

Felicia Wallace, 63, sued the Pennsylvania Senate in December 2024, alleging harassment and age and racial discrimination by the former gubernatorial candidate. The lawsuit was settled out of court this summer in July with a non-disclosure agreement to keep Wallace quiet.

In her lawsuit, Wallace claimed the Senate caused her extreme emotional distress, embarrassment, anxiety and many sleepless nights, while the Senate denied she suffered any harm.

Per court documents, the Senate did not confirm whether Wallace had any previous write-ups or disciplinary actions filed against her. As part of the settlement agreement, however, the Senate provided Wallace with a letter of recommendation saying Wallace would be a true asset to any team.

PennLive obtained the agreement through a Right-to-Know request and found that the Senate Republican caucus paid $95,000 to Wallace for damages. Both parties agreed Wallace would not seek reemployment in the Senate.

She could be required to pay $10,000 if a court finds she violated the agreements confidentiality terms, including speaking to the media.

Melissa Melewsky, from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said confidentiality clauses  controversial but legal under state law  started in the private sector but are now increasingly spilling into the public side.

This is a matter of public interest, Melewsky said. So imposing an NDA on that kind of speech is problematic from a constitutional perspective.

Mastriano did not respond to requests for comment.

What happened?

In November 2022, Mastriano provided Wallace with a glowing review saying she was hard working, dedicated and always gets the mission done. Despite the positive review, Wallaces annual wage increase didnt come until eight months later because the Senate claimed that she continuously sowed conflict in the office, was insubordinate, and undermined the authority of her supervisors.

Wallaces issues with Mastrianos office started in October 2023. According to her lawsuit:

That month, Wallace joined a couple of other colleagues to report that Mastrianos then-chief of staff and district director mandated a staff member to give a ride to a non-employee to the Senators Gettysburg tour, which Wallace argued was not considered legislative purpose.

Former Maryland gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox was Mastrianos chief of staff during that time.

A couple of days later, Wallace said Cox asked her to admit that she made a scheduling error, saying Even if we didnt do something, because we serve at the pleasure of the Senator, we should just admit the mistake, appease the Senator and move on. But Wallace refused. When responding to this claim in the lawsuit, the Senate denied it in part but admitted there was a meeting about an error and that Wallace would not admit to it.

Cox told PennLive he never spoke any such words nor did I ever pressure anyone.

On Nov. 2, Wallace reported to the majority staff administrator that Cox requested all staff to watch a 55-minute video on security and physical protection training to protect the senator and his wife.

The Senate denied this claim, saying it did not have enough information to admit or deny Wallaces allegations. However, the Senate admitted there were discussions about the appropriate scope of duties for staff.

On Nov. 10, Wallace reported to the majority staff administrator that Cox told staff on a Teams meeting that the Senator must have two handlers with him at all times. Cox also referred to other staff members as residential bodyguards, she said. The Senate confirmed the majority staff administrator addressed these concerns with Mastriano after Wallaces complaint.

Cox said in an email to PennLive that he was unable to comment on security matters for the safety of the Senate.

On Nov. 13, Wallace reported that one staff member who was assigned the role of handler had his concealed carry weapon on him at the Pa. Capitol. No weapons or firearms are allowed in the building. The Senate in its response to the lawsuit admitted that Wallace reported this concern to the majority staff administrator.

Court documents showed a legislative director obtained a photo of Dan Cox posting on Mastriano's campaign page during Senate work time in Nov. 2023. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/TNS) TNS

Court documents also showed a legislative director obtained a photo showing Cox posting on the senators campaign page during Senate work time in November 2023. Wallace was asked to forward that photo to the majority staff administrator.

The Senate admitted her claim was accurate and did not need to be litigated at trial. But Cox told PennLive the claim was absolutely false and that hes never heard of any claim made against him and vigorously disputes any allegation.

Court documents show Cox resigned later that month. Cox said his resignation was of his own accord and was not related to any of these allegations.

Wallace said the climax of this saga occurred on March 12, 2024.

Thats when, after a crowded constituent meeting at Mastrianos office, Wallace said Mastriano reprimanded her, saying, You were supposed to get up and give me your seat. Your behavior was unacceptable, before asking her to leave. The Senate denied Mastriano made the statement, saying they lacked sufficient information to verify it.

Pennsylvania Senate staff typically yield their seats to elected officials even though that isnt formal protocol, Senate court documents say.

Later that afternoon, Wallace reported the incident to the majority staff administrator who told her to take a day off to think about things.

Two days later, the administrator, according to Wallace, told her it was best she cut ties as she didnt believe things would get any better if Wallace stayed. Wallace said she was given one reassignment option to the administrative services office, which she took (voluntarily, according to the Senate) before leaving.

A confidential internal investigation

Wallace filed a formal complaint with the Senate on March 17, 2024.

Between March and May, Wallace applied for multiple other positions within the Senate. Wallace claimed white applicants got hired for them, some without a formal hiring process. The Senate denied her claim in a court filing, saying she wasnt hired because she was not qualified.

On May 28, 2024, Wallace was notified that the Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County; Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana County; and Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, concluded there wasnt sufficient evidence that policy was violated.

According to the agencys internal workplace harassment policy, once a complaint is filed, if the subject of the complaint is a Senate member (which Mastriano is), Senate leadership may refer it to the mostly private Committee on Ethics and Official Conduct for investigation.

However, leadership can also dismiss the complaint with no committee consideration, by unanimous vote. A Senate spokesperson would not say how leadership conducted the investigation or whether Wallaces complaint was dismissed without committee consideration.

The Senate told Wallace her complaint was promptly and thoroughly investigated but Wallace was not provided with the findings of the investigation, because it was confidential and subject to attorney-client privilege.

Thats not how things are handled in other states.

CUNY Law Professor Rick Rossein was one of the chief architects of the New York General Assemblys workplace harassment policy after a scandal involving top lawmakers in 2013.

Rossein said an independent investigator outside the political process must be involved in the investigation. He added that one of the reforms in the New York policy was that whether a member violated policy or not, the overall findings were disclosed to the public.

Philip Hensley-Robin, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania  a good government group  said the internal investigation raised questions about transparency.

If they think nothing wrong happened, that should be something theyre comfortable saying in public, and then defending their use of public funds, Hensley-Robin said.

Since the #MeToo movement gained traction in 2017, several states like California, New York and Washington passed laws that would prohibit certain NDAs in agreements related to workplace harassment and discrimination or at least make them much harder to enter into. Pennsylvania tried to enact similar laws but they didnt pass.

This is not the first time the state has used confidential agreements. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros office entered one with a former state employee when one of his top aides was accused of sexual harassment in 2023.

Rossein said complainants sometimes prefer to not go public, and ask for a confidentiality clause in their settlement agreement.

But the public institution should not make the decision to add a confidentiality clause, Rossein said, because that should be public information.

In Wallaces case, because she took the Senate to court, her information was already public from her lawsuit.

Anytime you have the government requiring someone to contract away or give up their First Amendment rights, said Melissa Melewsky from PNA, even if its not enforceable, it has a chilling effect on free speech.

Senate Republicans paid Adam L. Santucci and three other attorneys from McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC at least $38,513 in public funds for legal expenses.

A Senate spokesperson failed to directly answer any of PennLives questions regarding this case.

Gary Serhan, former chief deputy controller of Dauphin County, who spent 33 years working in local government, said the settlement or its terms arent surprising.

It just seems unfair, Serhan said. Doesnt this seem unfair that the taxpayer is paying for these types of defenses when they seem to be more personal than anything?
The front door to the Pa. Republican Party's Delaware County office was found shattered on Nov. 19 and police in Media are investigating. Photo provided by the PA GOP via Facebook. PA GOP

Police are investigating a vandalism incident at the Republican Party headquarters in Delaware County.

The front glass door to the office in Media was found shattered on Wednesday morning, according to PhillyDaily.com.

We are investigating the matter, a Media police officer told the website.

Video surveillance footage would also be reviewed, he said.

The PA GOP posted about the case on its Facebook page, calling it yet another disturbing example of the rising hostility directed at Republicans across our communities.

Just as Democrats on Thursday called for Republicans to condemn President Trump for calling six congressional members traitors and implying they could be executed for sedition after urging service members to ignore illegal orders, the PA GOP said Democrats should denounce the vandalism of its office.

Silence is complicity, its post said.

There is absolutely no room for violence in our political discourse, said the PA GOP. Disagreements are part of democracy. Smashing windows is not.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 20, 2025, to attend the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Thursday to attend the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit.

The summit, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is the first ever to be held on the African continent.

China supports South Africa's G20 presidency and stands ready to work with various parties under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" to build up consensus at the summit for upholding multilateralism, building an open world economy and promoting the cooperation on development, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said ahead of the visit.

South Africa is the third stop of Li's three-country tour, which has already taken him to Russia and Zambia. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka, Zambia, Nov. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

LUSAKA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Zambia, taking the implementation of China's zero-tariff treatment for Zambia as an opportunity, to expand bilateral trade and tap cooperation potential in industrial sectors such as mining, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence.

Li, who landed in Zambia's capital of Lusaka on Wednesday for an official visit to the African country, made the remarks during talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

The Chinese premier first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hichilema. Li said that China and Zambia are good brothers, good friends and good partners.

Last year, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and President Xi met with President Hichilema during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), drawing a new blueprint for the deepening and development of bilateral relations, Li said.

The premier said China is ready to work with Zambia to further consolidate mutual political trust, firmly support each other regarding their respective core interests and major concerns, continuously enrich the substance of the China-Zambia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, join hands to advance modernization, and build an even closer China-Zambia community with a shared future so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Zambia in areas related to people's livelihood, such as healthcare, agriculture and human resources development, so as to enhance the two peoples' sense of gain from bilateral cooperation, Li said.

He noted that the two countries should take the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to strengthen friendly interactions at all levels, deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism and other fields, thereby solidifying the social foundation for bilateral cooperation.

China is also ready to work with Zambia to step up cooperation in judicial, police, law-enforcement and other areas, in order to provide stronger security assurance for bilateral cooperation, Li said.

The revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a shared aspiration of the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia, he said, adding that the project is a landmark of high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.

The three countries should strengthen policy coordination, advance follow-up comprehensive development, and promote better development for the countries and regions along the railway, Li said.

At present, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, posing serious challenges to the international system and global economy, Li noted, calling on China and Zambia to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and work with the broad ranks of Global South countries to safeguard the international trade order, uphold fairness and justice, and defend their joint benefits.

Hichilema, for his part, kindly requested Li to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi, and extended warm congratulations on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Noting that the time-honored and ever-strengthening friendship between Zambia and China was forged by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, Hichilema said he and President Xi have reached important consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Zambia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports the just cause of the Chinese people in opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and striving for national reunification, stressed Hichilema.

He said Zambia is willing to work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship, intensify high-level exchanges, expand cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, follow up on the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, enhance the economic development efficiency along the railway, and promote the building of a Zambia-China community with a shared future.

Hichilema said Zambia is ready to continue deepening cooperation with China within the framework of the FOCAC, and actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

Zambia highly appreciates the four major global initiatives proposed by Xi and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China and jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, he added.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in fields including the Belt and Road cooperation, personnel exchanges, green minerals and journalism. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka, Zambia, Nov. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni speaks at the flag-off event of Uganda's first dried chili shipment to China, in Kamuli, Uganda, Nov. 20, 2025. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the country's first shipment of dried chili to China, one year after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement allowing the agricultural product to access the Chinese market.(Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua)

KAMULI, Uganda, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the country's first dried chili shipment to China, one year after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement allowing the agricultural product to access the Chinese market.

Museveni flagged off the 11-tonne consignment on Thursday in the eastern district of Kamuli, where some local communities have been growing the crop for the past months in collaboration with the China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park, with support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation (SSC) project.

While hailing China for consistently working with Africa for common development, Museveni urged more farmers to grow the cash crop, which he described as a goldmine that can create wealth and fight poverty.

"They (China) supported us during the anti-colonial struggles. Now we are trading very closely with them and on an equal basis. They are not arrogant. So we are going to go far," Museveni said.

During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in September 2024, Uganda and China signed protocols for the export of dried chili peppers and wild aquatic products to China. In June, China also announced zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China.

As of August, the total trade volume between China and Uganda reached a record 1.31 billion U.S. dollars, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong said at the flag-off event. "Among them, China's imports from Uganda amounted to approximately 100 million U.S. dollars, with an increase of 100.1 percent," said the envoy.

He said the flag-off marks another fruitful achievement of bilateral cooperation, adding that China has, since 2012, sent more than 50 agricultural experts to Uganda through the FAO-China-Uganda SSC project and provided technical training and guidance to over 20,000 local farmers.

According to Zhang Xiaoqiang, team leader of the Chinese agricultural experts under Phase III of the project, the flag-off is a culmination of joint efforts between the industrial park and the Chinese agricultural experts.

"We provide cooperating farmers with high-quality chili seeds and cultivation techniques. Farmers carry out the cultivation, follow our guidance and production standards, and then the industrial park purchases the harvest and supplies qualified chili products to the Chinese market," said Zhang, noting that the model allows for effective know-how transfer and income generation.

The China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park, located in Luweero, central Uganda, was invested and built by Kehong Group from southwest China's Sichuan Province and currently has three chili pepper cooperative planting and training spots across Uganda.

The park plans to expand the chili plantation area to 2,000 acres by 2026 to further increase exports to China, according to Luo Heng, chairman of the industrial park. 

A container for dried chilies is pictured at the flag-off event of Uganda's first shipment of dried chili to China, in Kamuli, Uganda, Nov. 20, 2025. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the country's first shipment of dried chili to China, one year after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement allowing the agricultural product to access the Chinese market.(Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows chili products displayed at the flag-off event of Uganda's first shipment of dried chili to China, in Kamuli, Uganda, Nov. 20, 2025. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the country's first shipment of dried chili to China, one year after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement allowing the agricultural product to access the Chinese market.(Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua)

Farmers harvest chili peppers at a cooperative planting and training spot in Kamuli, Uganda, Nov. 20, 2025. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the country's first shipment of dried chili to China, one year after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement allowing the agricultural product to access the Chinese market.(Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua)
Felipe Boianovsky began the day as chip leader, but it wasnt a smooth ride for the local superstar on Day 2 of the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Super High Roller Series R$250,000 ($50,000 US) Super High Roller.

Boianovsky fell to a short stack at the start of the final table. Then he doubled up back in contention. Then he was short once again before finding a few more double ups. The cards continued to swing in his favor until Boianovsky ended up as the champion, taking home the title and R$3,200,000 ($640,000 US) first prize.

As it turned out, the win just capped off what was already shaping up to be a special day for him. Im feeling amazing. It was a great experience. I had all my friends on the rail. My girlfriend. Its the same day as my nephew is coming into the world, so I dedicate this to him. Hes being born today, so its a very special moment, he said after defeating Leandro Zavodini heads-up.

$50,000 Super High Roller Final Table results

Place Player Country Prize (R$) Prize (US$) 1 Felipe Boianovsky Brazil R$3,200,000 $640,000 2 Leandro Zavodini Brazil R$2,200,000 $440,000 3 Vladimir Minko Russia R$1,400,000 $280,000 4 Ruben Lopes Portugal R$1,080,000 $216,000 5 Leonardo Rizzo Brazil R$850,000 $170,000 6 Pedro Padilha Brazil R$675,000 $135,000

The win was the biggest live accomplishment in a career that dates all the way back to 2010, but Boianovsky is no stranger to capturing major titles. He won the PokerStars SCOOP Main Event in 2023 for $1.03 million. He also won a R$50,000 Super High Roller here at the BSOP in 2023, as well as a side event at EPT Barcelona in 2019. His earnings today are eclipsed only by a runner-up finish in a 50,000 event at EPT Monte Carlo last year, where he earned a career-best $746,286.

Boianovsky was first drawn to poker nearly 20 years ago, captivated by the play of high rollers such as Tom Dwan on television and inspired to join them one day. He soon established himself as a top online grinder, building a resume that includes more than $6 million in live earnings, as well as multiple WCOOP and SCOOP titles.

But hes proving just as comfortable under the bright lights of a live final table. His earnings today push his career total past $3 million and put him inside the top 10 all-time among Brazilian players. For Boianovsky, playing live and online carries with it different challenges, ones that hes fully prepared to meet.

Felipe Boianovsky

This is a bit more nerve-racking. You have all the lights, all the cameras, and you have to worry about live tells and stuff like that. If youre nervous, bluffing in a pot when youre playing for so much money, you know, your opponents can notice that. And so its a little bit more challenging than playing at home, but its not my first time, he said. Ive been playing live poker since, I dont know, 2009 or something. So I have a lot of experience live as well. So yeah, it was okay.

Day 2 Action

Boianovsky began the day as chip leader with 1,045,000 as the 15 survivors from Day 1 returned to the WTC Sheraton in Sao Paulo at 2 p.m. local time. They were joined by three new arrivals to build a total field of 40 entries, generating a prize pool of R$9,405,000 ($1,880,000 US).

Thiago Crema was responsible for the first two bustouts, picking up aces to send out Alisson Piekazewicz, then hitting the nut flush to bust Cristian Aquino. Martin Kabrhel fell in 16th place when he flopped top pair with a straight draw, but Vladimir Minko had hit two pair to win the pot and silence the controversial Czech star.

Brian Rast was one of the three late entries and quickly found a double up when, looking at just one of his cards, he woke up with aces. But he then jammed for 415,000 with queen-ten and couldnt improve against Pedro Padilhas ace-nine. Zdenek Zizka and Vladas Tamasauskas were also among those to fall short of the final table before Yuri Dzivielevski got in his last 370,000 with ace-deuce against Minkos king-queen. Minko hit top pair on the flop, and Dzivielevski couldnt catch up on the turn and river to fall in 10th place.

Yuri Dzivielevski

Zavodini, who won this same event at last years BSOP, had taken the chip lead at the start of the final table with 1,970,000, while Boianovsky was the second-shortest stack with 480,000. On one of the first hands of the final table, Crema jammed for 1,600,000 over a three-bet from Minko, and Minko called with ace-king. Crema also had ace-king and the two were poised to chop the pot until the turn gave Minko the nut flush and the massive pot to take an overwhelming chip lead.

Boianovsky was down to just 220,000 when he found two aces and doubled up against Leonardo Rizzo. Ottomar Ladva then lost a flip with sevens to Ruben Lopes ace-ten as the field was reduced to seven.

Just six players would make the money, and Joao Simao called for his last 515,000 after hitting top pair on the flop. Zavodini had a straight draw and two overcards, and he hit his straight on the river to bust Simao on the money bubble.

Boianovsky was the clear short stack once the bubble burst, but quickly doubled up in a race with two sixes against Zavodinis king-queen. He then flopped the nut straight to crack Lopes two aces and double up again, vaulting all the way up to 1,700,000.

Zavodini left Lopes on an extreme short stack when Lopes called the river with just ace-high, but Zavodini showed two pair. Padilha, though, was the first to leave with a payday, getting in 680,000 with ace-jack and flipping against Minkos two eights. The board offered no help, and Padilha busted in sixth place.

Lopes managed to double up twice to get back into contention, including picking up aces versus Minko. Boianovsky then hit a full house to bust the short-stacked Rizzo in fifth.

Leonardo Rizzo

Boianovsky was left short once more after Minko fired three bullets with just ace-high. Boianovsky folded a pair of threes to a shove on the river and was knocked down to less than 500,000. He then doubled up with ace-ten against Minkos ace-nine, then found ace-queen against Minkos ace-jack to double yet again, climbing up to nearly 3,000,000.

Lopes eventually moved all in for 1,600,000 with queen-jack and Minko called with ace-ten. The board improved neither player, and Minko took the pot with his ace to send Lopes to the rail in fourth place.

Minko still had a sizeable chip advantage three-handed before a cooler flop changed the momentum of the final table. Minko hit two pair on the flop and picked up the nut flush draw on the turn, but Boianovsky had flopped trips and called all in for 2,300,000. Minko couldnt improve on the river, and Boianovsky doubled up into the chip lead.

Vladimir Minko

Boianovsky had a chance to get heads-up when he had Zavodini all in and dominated, but Zavodini came from behind by hitting a pair on the flop to double up. Zavodini then slow-played two jacks and set a trap for Boianovsky to earn another double.

Minko was left short after failing to get Zavodini off top pair before he shoved for 850,000 from the small blind with jack-eight. Zavodini called with two fives and won the flip to send the Russian-born, UK-based pro to the rail in third place.

Leandro Zavodini

Zavodini led 5,300,000 to 4,700,000 at the start of heads-up as he looked to go back-to-back, but a key hand swung the match completely around. Boianovsky had straight and flush draws on the turn and shoved for 3,200,000. Zavodini burned through all of his time banks as he considered the decision with the tournament on the line, but his timer ran out again and his two jacks were declared dead. Just one hand later, Zavodini hit two pair, but Boianovsky turned the nut flush and snap-called for 2,100,000 on the river to win the tournament.

The ride that Boianovsky went on through the day included many peaks and valleys, but he eventually found himself alone atop the field. It was a very, very big rollercoaster day. When it started, things werent working out, and then I was pretty short close to the bubble. I had to survive some all ins, being at risk, he said.

And then at the final table. I was at some points a mid stack, and then chip leader, then mid stack again. So, yeah, very big rollercoaster, but just playing one hand at a time.

Final Three

The fact that Boianovsky was even presented this opportunity, playing against a stacked field that came to Sao Paulo from around the world, is something he fully appreciates. He has seen the growth of the BSOP throughout the years and what it has meant to the Brazilian poker community. Its now getting international attention, and Boianovsky relishes the fact that its happening in his own backyard.

This is just so amazing to see something this big happening here. I have never been to a Triton, for example, and we always hear about how players are treated so well at Tritons and the buy-ins are so big. And this felt like we were having a Triton at the back of our houses, he said.

So it was just amazing to see how theyre treating us, you know, everything that theyre doing. Its so special. And then to see this type of buy ins with this level of organization is amazing, and, yeah, very happy to see that here.

That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the $50,000 Super High Roller. Tomorrow marks the start of the crown jewel of the festival, the R$500,000 ($100,000 US) Super High Roller, so stay tuned for more action here in Sao Paulo.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway revitalization project in Lusaka, Zambia, Nov. 20, 2025. Li attended the ceremony with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

LUSAKA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China is willing to work with Zambia and Tanzania to advance the development of a prosperity belt along the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and jointly foster a new hub of economic growth.

He made the remarks here in Zambia's capital of Lusaka while attending the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway revitalization project with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi.

Li said that in September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Hichilema jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the revitalization project of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in Beijing.

Over the past year, relevant departments and enterprises of the three countries have worked in unity and taken concrete steps to make important progress, paving the way for the formal commencement of the project, Li noted.

The railway serves as a bond that binds the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia closely together, he said, hailing the TAZARA spirit as precious legacy forged through dedication and hard work -- one that should be cherished and safeguarded.

Today, China-Africa cooperation has embarked on a new journey toward the shared dream of modernization, Li said, describing the railway as a landmark project of China-Africa cooperation.

China stands ready to work with Zambia and Tanzania to ensure that this railway, brimming with hope, shines with renewed splendor in the new era, and injects greater vitality into the development of Tanzania and Zambia, and even the entire Africa, he said.

Noting that the three governments will provide necessary support for the railway's revitalization, Li urged the three sides to adhere to high-quality and high-standard construction, build the project into a high-quality, efficient, safe and reliable landmark project, and set an example for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

China will also help implement more "small and beautiful" projects in areas such as healthcare, poverty alleviation and agricultural development along the line to better improve people's livelihoods, he added.

He called on the three countries to take the railway's revitalization as an opportunity to advance "hard connectivity" of infrastructure such as railways, highways and ports, and strengthen "soft connectivity" in fields including customs, commodity inspection and taxation.

Li said China is willing to continuously enhance trade and investment facilitation with Zambia and Tanzania, promote the integration and alignment of markets and industries among the three countries, as well as between China and Africa, to pool greater synergy for development.

Looking ahead, China-Africa cooperation enjoys broad prospects, Li noted. China is ready to work with Zambia, Tanzania and other African countries to further carry forward the TAZARA spirit, implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and deepen and solidify the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, the premier said.

For their part, Hichilema and Nchimbi said that the railway stands as a monument to the friendship forged by the older generations of leaders of the three countries, and as a symbol of their peoples' pursuit of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual support.

Revitalizing the railway embodies the shared future of the three nations and their joint efforts to build a better tomorrow, they said, adding that the railway will become a vivid example of how Chinese and African people carry forward their friendship and work together for revitalization.

Zambia and Tanzania stand ready to work closely with China to actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, make the revitalization project a flagship for jointly advancing modernization, promote regional connectivity, and drive industrial upgrading, green transition and economic development in countries along the line, so as to improve people's well-being and write a new chapter in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Li held friendly exchanges with Nchimbi during the event.

The governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia issued a joint statement on jointly building the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway revitalization project with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi in Lusaka, Zambia, Nov. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
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Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 in the Um Dawan Ban area, east of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, shows a group of long-distance racing homing pigeons making an aerial tour around a feeding and training house, which also serves as the race's main landing point. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

KHARTOUM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Across the neighborhoods of East Nile locality, east of Sudan's capital Khartoum, tall wooden towers rise from the rooftops -- clusters of intertwined boxes punctuated by tiny window-like openings. From within them comes the soft flutter of wings and gentle coos, a quiet reminder that this place, despite the war, still holds on to its own private sky.

Here, at sunrise, a daily ritual unfolds, part habit, part hope: cages opening, pigeons are released into the air, soaring before circling back, as if rehearsing a ceremony of freedom and loyalty.

On the roof of his home in the Al-Haj Yousif neighborhood, Hasabal-Rasoul Salem stands poised. He lets out a sharp whistle, waves his hand, then lifts the upper hatch of one of his wooden cages.

In an instant, a flock of homing pigeons bursts out like a drifting cloud, swirling in a widening circle before steadily rising, as though following a secret path only they can read.

"The best moments of my day are when I see my birds fly and return. Flying is the test of intelligence; returning is the test of loyalty," Salem said with a smile, watching them with the eye of a seasoned breeder.

He continued, "I've loved raising pigeons since childhood, especially fancy breeds. But 2014 was the turning point when I specialized in homing pigeons and began competing in races in Darfur."

Pointing to rows of cages housing Belgian, German and Arab lineages, he added, "These birds don't just return to a place, they return to their owner."

On another rooftop, inside a room dedicated entirely to racing pigeons, the cages are arranged meticulously, some wooden, some made of wire, but all containing birds with striking beauty: sharp beaks, powerful wings and eyes gleaming like polished agate.

Mohamed Ali Abdul-Rahman moves between the cages, gently checking feathers and inspecting wings.

"Homing pigeons aren't just about looks," he explained. "You have to know their stamina, memory, age and endurance. Before the war, our races headed west toward Darfur or south toward Blue Nile. Now the direction has changed, northward, to the Northern State."

A major race is scheduled for December, he noted. It will be the first official event launched from Khartoum and landing in Dongola city in northern Sudan, drawing clubs from several states.

Beyond the rooftops, the heartbeat of the hobby is also felt in the weekly pigeon market in Bahri city, north of Khartoum. Cages line the ground and crowd onto small carts -- homing pigeons displayed beside fancy breeds: Fantails, Pouters, Shkodra pigeons and butterfly-patterned varieties in dazzling colors.

"Before the war, this hobby was thriving. The war halted imports and activity, but now we're trying to breathe life back into it," said Hassan Wad Al-Rayes, one of the city's prominent traders and importers.

"Fancy pigeon breeding is a global hobby, and some breeds are priceless. We hope the authorities reopen import channels again," he added, holding a thick-feathered Fantail pigeon.

In East Nile locality, five breeders gather daily at sunset to train their birds, releasing them at varying distances, checking responsiveness to calls, confirming navigational memory and tracking timing.

"Racing pigeons are our first passion -- an endless love," said Lotfi Ezzeddine, one of the breeders.

"We still hold local competitions within Khartoum State, and despite the war, the hobby survived. We even managed to import stronger, more competitive bloodlines," he noted.

As he released another flock into the sky for training, he added, "The pigeons fly with confidence, as if they don't see the war -- only the memory of their way home."

Now, as Dec. 5 approaches, the date of the first homing-pigeon race to be held from Khartoum, breeders are conducting daily training sessions, logging data, attaching metal rings and debating the race route from Khartoum to Dongola, a journey that may exceed 500 km.

"For us, the race isn't just a competition," Salem said. "It's the announcement that life has returned to Khartoum's sky -- that the heart of the hobby is beating again." 

Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 in the Um Dawan Ban area, east of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, shows a homing-pigeon breeder inspecting his pigeons ahead of upcoming homing-pigeon race. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 in the Um Dawan Ban area, east of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, shows a racing homing pigeon, which won the gold medal in a previous race held in western Sudan. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 in the Um Dawan Ban area, east of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, shows a child training and inspecting homing pigeons at his home in preparation for an upcoming homing-pigeon race. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / The Miller Financial Group ("TMFG") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to TMFG.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?The Miller Financial Group recently became aware of a security incident on its internal systems. Upon detection, TMFG launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to data stored by or accessible to TMFG.The impacted data may include names, Social Security numbers, driver's license or State-issued ID numbers, and financial institution names.On November 7, 2025, TMFG filed a notice with the office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from The Miller Financial Group, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc.("ISSI") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to ISSI.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On June 30, 2025, ISSI became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, ISSI launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to a limited number of server environments, including a file server.The impacted data may include names and other personally identifiable information.On November 7, 2025, ISSI filed notice with the office of the Attorney General of California and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc., you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit Investors have until December 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in James Hardie common stock (formerly American Depositary Shares). The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Laborers' District Council and Contractors' Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc, et al., No. 1:25-cv-13018.Why Was James Hardie Sued for Securities Fraud?James Hardie is a producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement building solutions. The largest application for the Company's fiber cement building products in the United Stated and Canada is in external siding for the residential building industry.During the relevant period, James Hardie told investors that the results of its North American fiber cement segment demonstrated its "inherent strength" and "the underlying momentum in our strategy." The Company also stated on May 20, 2025, that it was seeing "normal stock levels" among its customers and that it was "seeing performance in the month to date as we would expect." As alleged, in truth, the Company's North American sales during the relevant period were the result of inventory loading by channel partners, with the hallmarks of fraudulent channel stuffing, not sustainable customer demand as represented.The Stock Declines as the Truth Is RevealedOn August 19, 2025, James Hardie revealed that its North American fiber cement sales declined 12% during the quarter, driven by destocking first discovered "in April through May" as customers "made efforts to return to more normal inventory levels[.]" The Company also revealed that significant inventory destocking was expected to continue to impact sales for the next several quarters. On this news, the price of James Hardie stock fell $9.79 per share, or more than 34%, from $28.43 per share on August 19, 2025, to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025.On November 17, 2025, James Hardie announced that Rachel Wilson had decided to step down from her role as CFO.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit What Can You Do?If you invested in James Hardie you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212.789.3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
KHARTOUM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Friday it is monitoring international efforts to push for a ceasefire in the country.

"The Rapid Support Forces are following with great interest and appreciation the intensive international movements regarding the situation in Sudan. We declare our full and serious response to these initiatives," the RSF said in a statement on its Telegram page.

The announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's disclosure that he had launched efforts to end the Sudanese conflict, noting the initiative came at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their White House meeting.

The RSF also thanked leaders of the Quartet countries -- the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt -- for their mediation efforts. In September, the Quartet issued a joint statement calling for a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan, to be followed by a nine-month transitional political process aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement and permanent ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council welcomed the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the United States to establish a just and fair peace in Sudan. "We are ready to engage with the United States and Saudi Arabia to achieve the peace that our people are waiting for," the council said.

The conflict between Sudan's army and the RSF, ongoing since April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions across Sudan and neighboring regions. 
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Byzfunder NY LLC ("Byzfunder") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Byzfunder.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 19, 2025, Byzfunder became aware of a security incident involving one of its cloud software solutions. Upon detection, Byzfunder launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident.The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party may have accessed or acquired certain files between September 1, 2025, and September 20, 2025. Byzfunder conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identify affected individuals.The impacted data may include names, and Social Security numbers.On November 19, 2025, Byzfunder submitted a notice to the Maine Attorney General's Office and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Byzfunder NY LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Dealmed Medical Supplies, LLC ("Dealmed") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Dealmed.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On June 7, 2025, Dealmed Medical Supplies, LLC ("Dealmed") became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Dealmed launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to certain data in Dealmed's network on June 7, 2025.The impacted data may include names and Social Security numbers.On November 6, 2025, Dealmed filed a notice with the office of the New Hampshire Attorney General and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal and protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Dealmed Medical Supplies, LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Mountain West Insurance & Financial Services, LLC("Mountain West") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Mountain West.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On March 17, 2025, Mountain West Insurance & Financial Services, LLC ("Mountain West") became aware of unauthorized access to several of its email accounts. Upon detection, Mountain West launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that certain emails may have been accessed or acquired without authorization.The impacted data may include full names, in combination with Social Security numbers, dates of birth, US driver license numbers, financial account numbers, financial account access information, payment card numbers, payment card access information, passport numbers, electronic signatures, medical information, and health iInsurance information.On September 22, 2025, Mountain West mailed notice letters to affected individuals and publicly disclosed the breach. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal and protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Mountain West Insurance & Financial Services, LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 20, 2025 / Onco-Innovations Limited (CBOE CA:ONCO)(OTCQB:ONNVF)(Frankfurt:W1H, WKN:A3EKSZ) ("Onco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its manufacturing partner, Dalton Pharma Services ("Dalton"), has initiated process optimization and intermediate scale-up activities for A83B4C63, the Company's proprietary PNKP Inhibitor Technology. This phase of work is designed to refine and scale the synthesis process under non-GMP conditions as part of Onco's ongoing manufacturing development program, supporting future clinical material production.Building on the manufacturing activities previously initiated by Dalton for preclinical testing material (see Company press release dated May 26, 2025), the Company has now advanced to the optimization and intermediate-scale production (for research purposes) of A83B4C63. This next phase focuses on process scale-up and analytical method qualification, which is intended to ensure a robust, reproducible, and scalable manufacturing process suitable for future GMP production and subsequent manufacturing of clinical material to support Onco's IND enabling and Phase 1 studies. The work will be performed using dedicated pilot-scale equipment at Dalton's FDA- and Health Canada-approved facility in Toronto, Canada.As part of this optimization phase, Dalton will conduct intermediary scale-up batches targeting approximately 500 g of precursor A83 and 1,000 g of precursor B4 to evaluate reaction performance under scale-up conditions in preparation for pre-clinical production of A83B4C63.The A83B4C63 active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) will be used to support the development of Onco's encapsulated nanoparticle micelle formulation, which is designed with the goal of enhancing tumor-targeted delivery of the PNKP inhibitor, and with the ultimate goal of potentially improving therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment.The manufacturing program also includes comprehensive analytical method development and stability testing conducted in accordance with International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines, as well as a formal safety and risk assessment of A83B4C63 prior to full-scale synthesis. The optimization work encompasses precursor synthesis refinement, process scale-up, and analytical method development in accordance with international quality standards to ensure a robust and reproducible manufacturing process suitable for future GMP production."This milestone marks a pivotal transition from lab-scale synthesis to scalable pre-clinical manufacturing of our lead PNKP inhibitor," said Thomas O'Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Officer of Onco-Innovations. "Dalton's deep expertise and regulatory credentials make them an ideal partner as we continue to move towards clinical development. This phase is intended to lay the groundwork for meeting the rigorous standards required for future GMP production and clinical trial readiness." About Onco-Innovations LimitedOnco-Innovations is a Canadian-based company dedicated to cancer research and treatment, specializing in oncology. Onco's mission is to pursue the prevention and treatment of cancer through pioneering research and innovative solutions. The company has secured an exclusive worldwide license to patented technology that targets solid tumours.About Dalton Pharma ServicesDalton Pharma Services, established in 1986 and based in Toronto, Canada, is a Health Canada-approved and FDA-inspected GMP contract provider of integrated chemistry, drug development, and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With over 35 years of experience, Dalton offers a comprehensive range of in-house services, including drug discovery, flow chemistry, formulation and process development, custom synthesis, cGMP sterile fill/finish, cGMP API manufacturing, and dosage form manufacturing. This integration at a single location enhances adaptability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, accelerating drug discovery and development programs. Dalton's commitment to quality, speed, and flexibility has been recognized with CMO Leadership Awards from Life Science Leader in 2016, 2017, and 2018 across categories such as Quality, Reliability, Capabilities, Expertise, Compatibility, and Development.1ON BEHALF OF ONCO-INNOVATIONS LIMITED,"Thomas O'Shaughnessy"Chief Executive OfficerFor more information, please contact:Thomas O'ShaughnessyChief Executive OfficerTel: + 1 888 261 8055 investors@ oncoinnovations.com Forward-Looking Statements Caution. This news release contains forward-looking statements, including in relation to the Company's expectation that it will be able to continue to pursue and progress its research and development plans, and the Company's ability to move forward with its plans for regulatory approvals and the conduct of clinical and other further testing of its Technologies, the prospects of the Company, and the Company's business and plans generally, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "potential", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. 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 as expressly required by applicable law.SOURCE: Onco-Innovations Limited
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Personic Management Company LLC d/b/a Personic Health ("Personic") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Personic.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 1, 2025, Personic became aware of unauthorized activity affecting a third-party software platform used to process patient information. Upon learning of this unauthorized activity, Personic launched a comprehensive investigation with the support of external cybersecurity experts and notified law enforcement. The investigation determined that an unauthorized actor had accessed the third-party software platform on August 29, 2025, and obtained certain data.The impacted data may include names and protected health information (PHI).On November 18, 2025, Personic filed a notice with the office of the Attorney General of Maine and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Personic Management Company LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP releases a Podcast regarding James Hardie Industries plc. (NYSE:JHX) class action securities lawsuitA Class Action lawsuit was filed on behalf of James Hardie Industries plc. investors who lost money as a result of alleged securities fraud between May 20, 2025 and August 18, 2025.Levi & Korsinsky has released a Podcast describing the nature of the action. The podcast for this class action lawsuit can be found here:According to the filed complaint, defendants made false statements and/or concealed the following adverse facts pertaining to James Hardie's North America segment: (a) primary consumer demand and growth in James Hardie's North America segment were deteriorating; (b) overstocking was the primary driver of North America growth during the Class Period, not primary consumer demand; (c) a result, there was excessive inventory at James Hardie's North America distributors.If you have any questions about this class action lawsuit or any other sudden or unexpected stock loss, feel free to contact Levi & Korsinsky at (212)-363-7500.You can also find recent podcasts regarding other class actions lawsuits and topics which are of interest to shareholders that have lost money in the stock market, here:LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 21, 2025 / WEL Companies, Inc. ("WEL") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to WEL.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On January 31, 2025, WEL became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, WEL launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party acquired certain files on WEL's network.The impacted data may include names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and state identification numbers.On November 19, 2025, WEL filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from WEL Companies, Inc., you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
The Federal High Court in Lagos has set aside a Mareva injunction freezing the assets of Nestoil Limited, its affiliate Neconde Energy Limited, and its principal promoters in respect of an alleged multi-billion-dollar debt default.

Justice D.E. Osiagor of the Lagos court, after hearing the submissions of counsel on Thursday on whether or not the extant Mareva orders earlier granted by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the same court are still subsisting, ruled that there is no more a subsisting ex parte order having spent 14 days of the motion on notice challenging the same.

According to a court document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the judge also stated that the order having been spent has left the arguments of the parties affected by the ex parte order mute or academic.

Mr Dipeolu had, on 22 October, issued Mareva injunctions against Nestoil and Neconde, along with their principal promoters, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi and Nnena Obiejesi.

He granted multiple orders freezing the defendants bank accounts and shares in over twenty financial and other institutions in Nigeria.

They included Citibank Nigeria Limited, Central Securities and Clearing Systems PLC, Fidelity Bank PLC, Guaranty Trust Bank PLC, Globus Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Opay Limited, Polaris Bank Limited, Providus Bank Limited, Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, Sterling Bank PLC, Titan Trust Bank Limited, Unity Bank PLC, Wema Bank PLC, Gobowen Exploration and Production Limited, Hammako Consortium Limited, Krawcod Properties Limited, Santa Spring Oil and Gas Limited, Marine & Ocean Infinity Nigeria Limited and White Dove Shipping Co. Ltd.

The legal dispute resulted from a debt claim by FBNQuest and First Trustees against Nestoil, Neconde Energy, and their directors.

The plaintiffs alleged that the companies and their promoters owed more than $1.01 billion and 430 billion as of 30 September 2025, in respect of various credit facilities.

In addition to freezing Nestoils assets and those of its affiliate, the court instructed multiple security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, and the State Security Service, to provide protection and assist in enforcing the takeover.

Mr Dipeolu also authorised Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, appointed by the plaintiffs as the receiver/manager, to take over Nestoils headquarters located at 41/42 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, and other identified assets.

The order empowered the receiver/manager to take control of Necondes interests in OML 42, jointly operated with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and NNPCL were also instructed to grant the receiver access to the oil block and cooperate in managing production and revenue flows.

The order, certified by the courts deputy chief registrar, Longs G. Longwa, and addressed to the deputy inspector general of police (operations), directed the police to assist court bailiffs and the appointed receiver-manager in enforcing the ruling.

On 28 October, armed policemen sealed the headquarters of Nestoil in Lagos, acting on an order that authorised First Trustees and FBNQuest Merchant Bank to take over the companys assets due to the alleged debt.

Allegations of misconduct

On 3 November, Nestoil and Neconde filed petitions with the National Judicial Council and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the ongoing suits be reassigned to another judge pending review.

According to the petitioners, the court issued the receiver/manager sweeping powers without proof that Nestoil and Neconde were dissipating funds.

They also contended that the judge failed to verify the ownership of the multi-storeyed office complex in Victoria Island, legally owned by Drawcok Estates Limited, where the two companies are tenants.

The filings noted that some banks, including Ecobank Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa (UBA), dissociated themselves from the suit, appointed their own receivers, and initiated separate legal actions.

On 7 November, when the matter came up for hearing, Mr Dipeolu told parties that a petition alleging misconduct had been filed against him and forwarded to the chief judge.

The development led to the adjournment of proceedings.

A legal practitioner with knowledge of the matter told PREMIUM TIMES that the petition was part of an elaborate plot to discredit and remove Justice Dipeolu from the case, allegedly to pave the way for a more pliable judge.

As you know, Justice Dipeolu has a reputation for firmness and integrity, the lawyer said. He granted orders that sent a clear message to delinquent borrowers who have for years defaulted on loan obligations. Some powerful people are unhappy about this.

According to the source, those displeased with the ruling wrote a petition accusing Mr Dipeolu of bias and were planning to pressure the chief judge to reassign the case.

They want the chief judge to use his office to move the matter to a compromised judge who will vacate the existing orders and set Nestoil and Neconde free, the source claimed.

The truth of the matter is that we dont have faith in Justice Dipeolu, Mr Azudialu-Obiejesi told PREMIUM TIMES.

He is biased, and we dont think we can get justice from him. We employ about 3,000 people, yet he gave an ex parte order shutting down our operations and confiscating our assets without hearing our side or confirming if we indeed owe the banks.

Mr Osiagor, on Thursday, adjourned the case to 25 November for the motion for joinder and 12 December for the hearing of pending applications.

Receivership

Meanwhile, Mr Sulu-Gambari has said that the decision of the court to vacate the Mareva order does not affect his receivership over Nestoil.

The receiver/manager disclosed in a press statement putting commercial banks and other affected parties on notice on Thursday that the ruling of the court also does not affect its receivership over all the undertakings, stocks, goodwill, plant and machinery, moveable and immovable assets of Neconde Energy Limited in Oil Mining Lease (OML 42).

The undersigned was appointed Receiver/Manager pursuant to the Deeds of Appointment dated August 19, 2025, filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), notification of which was made at pages 45-46 and 32-33 of the Punch and Guardian Newspapers of October 29, 2025, Mr Sulu-Gambari said in the statement.

Consequently, the undersigned remains Receiver/Manager, he added.

Mr Sulu-Gambari noted that legal redress is still being pursued to the full extent of the law with the new ruling.

He warned that any dealings with persons purportedly acting on behalf of Nestoil or Neconde in respect of the assets or matters related to the companies, including projects, contracts, and commitments in the oil, gas, power, and infrastructure sectors, must obtain the authorisation of the appointed receiver/manager.

Not doing so makes such dealings illegal and shall give rise to legal implications, he added.
The 10-year-long terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), came to an end on Thursday after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and then sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The trial Judge, James Omotosho, delivered the judgement in Abuja after finding him guilty on all the seven counts filed against him by the Nigerian government.

Mr Omotosho also ordered that he be prevented from having access to mobile devices and broadcast equipment except under the watch of security operatives.

Aloy Ejimakor, the former special counsel to Mr Kanu, told reporters after the judgement that the IPOB leader would appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Dismissal of preliminary objection

Mr Omotosho, before the judgement, had dismissed Mr Kanus contention that his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria ultimately rendered his trial a nullity.

He held that although the extraordinary rendition from Kenya might have violated Mr Kanus fundamental human rights, it did not invalidate his trial for offences committed as well as the courts jurisdiction, citing similar cases in the US.

Mr Omotosho also dismissed Mr Kanus argument that he should be freed because the law upon which he was being tried was already repealed and non-existent.

The judge said the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, upon which the counts were filed, was still an extant law at the time Mr Kanu committed the terrorism offences which was between 2018 and 2021, citing Section 98 of the Act which supports continued trial and conviction of a defendant charged based on the law before it was repealed.

The Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 was amended in 2022, seven years after the IPOB leader was initially charged for terrorism.

Commotion before the judgement

Earlier before the judgement, Mr Kanu had reminded the court of the three different motions on notice he previously submitted, seeking, among others, a stay of further proceedings in his trial until the issues he raised were determined.

The IPOB leader had, in the motions, asked Mr Omotosho to suspend the judgement, arguing that proceedings were conducted under a repealed and non-existent law.

Of the seven charges against Mr Kanu, six of them were filed under the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 which was amended in 2022.

The Biafra agitator claimed the seventh count which has to do with alleged illegal importation of a radio transmitter into Nigeria was ordered by the Supreme Court to be removed.

The IPOB leaders motions also sought a halt of the judgement on the basis that the court lacked jurisdiction to try Mr Kanu and did not allegedly provide an opportunity for the IPOB leader to file a final written address in his defence.

He also asked the court to refer his case to the Court of Appeal to determine the issues he raised in the motions on notice.

In response, counsel to the Nigerian government, Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked the judge to dismiss the applications for lack of merit.

Mr Omotosho, ruling on the motions, declared that the time for defence had passed and that Mr Kanus motions had been decided before now.

The judge stressed that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 forbade the stay of proceedings in a criminal manner.

Today is for judgement, not hearing, he said, before proceeding to deliver judgement.

But Mr Kanu objected and accused the judge of failing to show him the law upon which he was being tried.

My Lord, there is no judgement today because we have joined issues in the matter, Mr Kanu said.

But the judge, amid the commotion, ordered operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) to eject him outside the courtroom and then declared a recess.

Youre biased. You dont know the law. This is not law, the IPOB leader yelled at the judge while being led outside the courtroom by the SSS operatives.

He continued his outbursts against the courts insistence to deliver judgement despite filing motions against it.

When the court resumed about five minutes later, Mr Omotosho ordered that the judgement be delivered in the absence of Mr Kanu because of his unruly behaviour.

The judge noted that although it is within the right of defendants to be present during their trials, Mr Kanus unruly behaviour had compelled the court to order him outside for the judgement to proceed.

Mr Omotosho later convicted Mr Kanu on all seven counts preferred against him before sentencing to life imprisonment.

PREMIUM TIMES highlights Mr Kanus journey from activism and agitation for Biafra to conviction.

Timeline of Nnamdi Kanus journey

2009: Mr Kanu launches Radio Biafra which broadcast the ideology of the former breakaway republic, Biafra, and spewed inciting messages and propaganda.

2012: He establishes IPOB with the aim to push for the secession of the South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria to form an independent state of Biafra.

July 2015: The Nigerian government jammed the Radio Biafra signal, preventing many listeners in Nigeria from being able to access it.

October 2015: Mr Kanu was arrested and charged with offences of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of arms, and illegal importation of broadcast equipment, at a Federal High Court in Abuja. A total of 11 counts were initially filed against him.

October 2015: Mr Kanu and his defendants denied the charges.

December 2015: Court ordered the release of Mr Kanu but the federal government failed to comply.

December 2015: The federal government added four more counts against Mr Kanu and, in 2016, three courts ruled that he be remanded in Kuje prison, citing threats to national security.

May 2016: Mr Kanu heads to ECOWAS court blaming then-President Muhammadu Buhari for bail denial.

1 March 2017: Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out six of the 15-count charges against Mr Kanu. The six counts, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11, did not constitute a prima facie case against the defendants, the judge ruled.

April 2017: The Federal High Court in Abuja granted Mr Kanu bail on health grounds.

April 2017: Mr Kanu became a free man once again after being detained for 18 months.

September 2017: Mr Kanu was last seen after soldiers attacked his home.

September 2017: The lawyer representing Mr Kanu said he has not communicated with his client since 14 September, when his Abia State home was invaded by soldiers.

October 2017: When the court sat to resume the treason trial of Mr Kanu, he was nowhere to be found. It was later confirmed that he had fled the country.

December 2020: Mr Kanu announces the creation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) as an armed military wing of the IPOB.

June 2021: Mr Kanu was brought back to Nigeria to continue his trial.

June 2021: Court ordered his remand in SSS custody until 26 July.

15 July 2021: Mr Kanu speaks from detention, reveals how he was arrested in Kenya.

26 July 2021: Court adjourned the case till 21 October.

26 July 2021: Mr Kanu seeks transfer from SSS custody to prison.

9 August 2021: IPOB declares every Monday a sit-at-home order in the South-east to protest the continued detention of Mr Kanu at the SSS facility.

August 2021: IPOB suspends the sit-at-home order after public outcry. But the illegal order continued following its enforcement by gunmen though disowned by IPOB.

November 2021: Mr Kanus legal team walks out on Judge Binta Nyako for the SSS refusal to allow Bruce Fein, an American lawyer working with the team, into the courtroom.

8 April 2022: Judge Nyako struck out eight of the 15 counts filed against Mr Kanu, ruling that Counts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 were incompetent for not disclosing any valid offences against the defendant.

13 October 2022: Court of Appeal in Abuja discharged and acquitted Mr Kanu of all the charges and ordered his immediate release from detention.

October 2022: The federal government appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order of the Supreme Court staying the execution of the appeal court judgement.

15 December 2023: The Supreme Court reversed the acquittal order and ordered the continuation of Mr Kanus trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on the seven-count charge.

February 2025: Nnamdi Kanu asks Binta Nyako to withdraw from the case over alleged bias.

March 2025: A new judge, James Omotosho, takes over the trial after Mrs Nyakos exit from the case.

22 May 2025: Court sets strict dates (between May and June) for the federal government to close its case against Mr Kanu which the government did on 19 June when the 5th prosecution witness was led in evidence.

September 2025: Mr Kanu files a no-case submission which was dismissed on 26 September.

26 September 2025: The court ordered the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a panel of medical experts to ascertain IPOB leader s health status and fitness to stand trial. This after Mr Kanu, through his lawyers, applied for a transfer to the National Hospital for treatment based on a medical evaluation by a professor of medicine

16 October 2025: NMA panel declared Mr Kanu fit to stand trial.

23 October 2025: Mr Kanu sacks his legal team and pledges to represent himself.

24 October 2025: Court adjourns trial to 27 October following Mr Kanus claim that his former lawyers had not handed over his case file to him.

27 October 2025: Mr Kanu refuses to enter defence, claiming he reviewed the prosecutions case and found no valid charge against him. The judge ordered him to file a written address on his position.

30 October 2025: Mr Kanu files a fresh motion seeking his release. In the motion, he re-echoed the points he earlier made during the 27 October proceedings when he told the judge that he had no reason to file any defence in his case because there was no valid charge against him.

4 November 2025: The judge, James Omotosho, gives Mr Kanu final chance to open his defence on 5 November or risk being deemed to have waived his right to do so.

5 Nov 2025: The court further gave Mr Kanu another chance to open his defence. Mr Omotosho again urges him to consult criminal law experts to guide him. The IPOB leader was given until 7 November 2025 to open his defence or waive his rights.

7 November 2025: Mr Kanu again refuses to enter his defence, claiming there was no valid charge against him. The judge then ruled that Mr Kanu had waived his right to open his defence.

The court then fixed 20 November 2025 for judgment in the terrorism charges. On the same day, Mr Kanu filed a motion asking the court to expunge his initial not-guilty plea from the record, claiming it was deceptively obtained in violation of section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.

He also urged the court to set aside all court orders and proceedings so far and further asked for his immediate release, arguing that he was being tried under a non-existent law. But the judge held all his motions would be determined on the judgement day.

10 November: Mr Kanu filed separate applications to both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal seeking for a stay of further proceedings on the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

20 November 2025: The Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Mr Kanu on terrorism charges after he was found guilty of all seven-count charges filed against him.

Justice Omotosho then sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment.
Terrorists have attacked St Marys School, a Catholic-owned institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted an unconfirmed number of students and staff.

The attack took place in the early hours of Friday.

Local officials told PREMIUM TIMES that the school was compiling its records and could not yet determine the number of people taken.

A source in one of the Catholic churches in Niger State confirmed the incident, stating that the church would issue an official statement after completing its investigation.

The Head of Department for Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Rofia, also confirmed the attack with Daily Trust by telephone.

He said the gunmen invaded the school between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and that authorities were still assessing the scale of the abductions.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, for confirmation.

He said he was aware of the enquiry and would provide details when available. I know what you are calling. I will get the details and get back to you, he said. When pressed to confirm the incident, he added, I need to get the details before. I will get back to you. Just give me time.

Papiri is about 70 kilometers from Babana axis, where Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, announced its presence in July.

The abduction happened less than a week after a similar abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.

Papiri town is one of the 10 political wards in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

A source in Rofia, a town 30 kilometres away from where the incident happened, also confirmed the incident.

The source whose name has been withheld for security reasons said residents of the town estimated that the terrorists came with 60 motorcycles and a van.

They packed the students and their teachers in the van and went away with them, he said.

Bello Gidi, the spokesperson for Agwara Local Government Chairperson Ilyasu Zakari, confirmed the attack, stating that efforts are ongoing to gather factual details of the incident.

The raid occurred days after 25 students were kidnapped in Maga, Kebbi State, adding to rising concern over attacks on schools in the region.

On Thursday, more than 50 schools were shut across parts of Kwara State following repeated bandit incursions.

President Bola Tinubu cancelled planned trips to South Africa and Angola this week to coordinate a response to the worsening security situation.
Gaborone City Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng speaks at the event of Dialogue between Chinese Ambassador and Gaborone City Mayor held at the Chinese Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana, Nov. 21, 2025. Motlaleng on Friday hailed China's rapid development in the sectors of infrastructure, environmental protection, and solar energy, vowing to strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Gaborone City Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng on Friday hailed China's rapid development in the sectors of infrastructure, environmental protection, and solar energy, vowing to strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits.

Speaking at the event of Dialogue between Chinese Ambassador and Gaborone City Mayor held at the Chinese Embassy in Botswana, Motlaleng shared the experience of his delegation's fruitful visit in October to Fujian Province and the city of Linyi in Shandong Province, eastern China.

He stressed he importance of cooperation between the local governments of Botswana and China to provide opportunities for doing business and creating employment for both sides.

Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Botswana.

"Our two countries have held many activities to celebrate this golden jubilee, including high-level visits, highly fruitful cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges that are closer than ever," he noted.

"Cooperation between local governments of China and Botswana is one of the key pillars of bilateral relations. It plays an essential role in promoting regional development, enhancing public governance capacities, and improving people's well-being," he added.

The Chinese ambassador called for alignment and collaboration between China's 15th Five-Year Plan and Botswana's 12th National Development Plan, as well as the African country's Economic Transformation Plan.

"China's achievements in cutting-edge technologies and new productive forces will provide greater support for Botswana's development in digitalization, green energy, infrastructure construction, and economic diversification," said Fan. 
The Niger State Government has condemned the kidnapping of pupils from St Marys School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government Area.

It said the incident occurred despite an earlier security directive issued to schools in parts of Niger North.

In a statement on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, said the government had received intelligence warning of heightened threats in the zone and had ordered a temporary shutdown of boarding schools and a halt to construction activities in the affected area.

We had credible security alerts and directed all boarding schools in the zone to close, Mr Usman said. St Marys School went ahead to reopen and resume activities without notifying the government or seeking clearance.

He said the exact number of abducted pupils was still being compiled as security agencies continued their assessments.

Security agencies have begun full investigation and search-and-rescue operations, he said.

The government urged school operators and community leaders to adhere to official advisories.

The protection of lives, especially those of our children, remains our priority, Mr Usman said.

The attack on St Marys School comes days after 25 students were abducted in Maga, Kebbi State, an incident that has drawn renewed attention to the vulnerability of schools across the region.
Residents of South-east have expressed outrage over the conviction and sentencing of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment for terrorism.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted Mr Kanu on all seven counts preferred against him by the Nigerian government and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The terrorism charges against Mr Kanu were related to his agitation for the secession of the South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria to form an independent state of Biafra.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, also ordered that the IPOB leader be prevented from having access to mobile devices and broadcast equipment, except under the supervision of security operatives.

South-east residents fume

A resident of Enugu State, Emeka Mamah, faulted the judgement, explaining that the issue ought to have been resolved outside the courtroom, the way the case of Sunday Adeyemo was handled.

Popularly known as Sunday Igboho, Mr Adeyemo is a Yoruba Nation agitator who was arrested by Nigerian authorities over his agitation and later released without trial.

Mr Mamah told PREMIUM TIMES that what happened to Mr Kanu was simply a political conviction, not a conventional trial.

I dont know why Nnamdi Kanus case was handled differently. It was like the authorities had made up their minds to convict him, he said, arguing that the IPOB leader was just an agitator.

He said that if his conviction stands, it could open doors for the emergence of similar agitators in the South-east due to the alleged marginalisation of the region.

This is because, as long as theres injustice, there must be an agitation. They (the Nigerian government) are not treating the South-east fairly. And you dont expect people, especially the youth, to keep quiet, he said.

For Chris Asor, a resident of Anambra State, the feeling that came with the judgement was that of disappointment and anger.

That young man had been incarcerated for so long and the expectation was there should have been a consideration or waiver for him and the entire South-east, he said.

Mr Asor, who is the chairperson of Civil Society Organisations in Anambra State, said Nigeria missed an opportunity to resolve the Biafran agitation and heal the wounds of the civil war.

The mindset of most South-easterners, especially in Ndigbo, is that the civil war has not ended. It has not ended.

If Nnamdi Kanu will still be held in captivity, and to the point of giving a life sentence, they (Nigerian authorities) are not really serious about healing that wound of civil war, he stated.

Meshack Nwachukwu, a resident of Ebonyi State, said the conviction and sentencing of Mr Kanu were infuriating and disappointing.

It was like a dream to me. Since I heard of it yesterday, I havent been myself. I was very angry, he said of the conviction.

Mr Nwachukwu, who resides in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, told PREMIUM TIMES that tension went high after Mr Kanu was convicted on Thursday.

He argued that the judgement was faulty and wondered why the leaders in the South-east remained quiet over it.

The resident said the judgement could worsen insecurity in the South-east.

With this ruling, nobody is safe again (in the South-east). This is the beginning of insecurity that we have been trying to stop, he added.

In Imo State, Benjamin Ohadoma argued that the conviction of the IPOB leader was very, very unfair.

Mr Ohadoma believes that the ruling did not represent justice in the matter.

We are angry. Honestly, when I heard of the conviction, I got angry.

Even though I couldnt do anything to change the situation. But I believe that the judgement shows that a common person cannot get justice in Nigerias courts, he said, insisting that the judgement was predetermined.

IPOB kicks

IPOB, the outlawed pro-Biafra group, has faulted the conviction and sentencing of its leader, Mr Kanu, to life imprisonment.

In a statement on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful argued that Mr Kanu did not commit any crime known to any Nigerian law.

For the avoidance of doubt, no gun, no grenade, no GPMG, no explosive, and no attack plan were ever found on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. None.

No witness, civilian or military, ever testified before any courtat any stagethat Mazi Nnamdi Kanu committed any offence known to Nigerian or international law. This is an undeniable fact, he argued.

Mr Powerful claimed, without evidence, that the Nigerian government has only continued to criminalise self-determination, despite being a right guaranteed under local and international laws.

The spokesperson stressed that it was ironic that the Nigerian authorities were determined to prosecute Mr Kanu without doing the same to some of the countrys security personnel who invaded and attacked the IPOB leaders family house in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State, in 2017.

Not one government officer or soldier has been held accountable for these atrocities. Yet the same system now seeks to convict the victim, he said.

Citing Section 36(12) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, Mr Powerful argued that the judge delivered the judgement without showing the law upon which the IPOB leader was convicted.

We reaffirm our commitment to peaceful advocacy, international law, and the pursuit of a United Nationssupervised referendum.

IPOB will continue to engage global institutions to ensure that this latest judicial absurdity attracts the condemnation it deserves, he said.

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES reports that Justice Omotosho, while ruling on Mr Kanus contention on the law upon which he was being tried, noted that the IPOB leader was being prosecuted for offences he committed between 2018 and 2021, while the new Terrorism Prevention Act 2022 only became operational in May 2022.

The judge also cited Section 98 (3) of the new law, which provides that any proceedings, prosecution, interest, judgements, charge or course of action pending before the new law may be enforced and continued.
The United States House Subcommittee on Africa, on Thursday, held a sharply divided hearing on President Donald Trumps redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.

Lawmakers split along two broad narratives, with some framing the crisis as Christian genocide and others warning against a dangerous oversimplification of Nigerias complex violence.

The subcommittee chairman, Chris Smith, opened the hearing by alleging systematic and accelerating violence against predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria. He said: Nigeria is ground zero, the focal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today, describing the session as a very critical hearing.

Mr Smith said it was his 12th such hearing on Nigeria and that he had led three human rights trips to the country.

Lawmakers from both parties cited Nigerias worsening insecurity  mass killings, kidnappings and widespread impunity.

Appearing by video from Benue State, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe said the church in Nigeria faces burnings, mass displacement and targeted abductions of priests. Nigeria remains the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian, he said. More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined.

This is not random violence. It is deliberate persecution, Mr Smith insisted, while noting that moderate Muslims who challenge extremists are also murdered as part of what he called a culture of denial.

But the committees ranking member, Sara Jacobs, cautioned against oversimplistic narratives, saying multiple drivers  extremist insurgencies, farmer-herder conflict and organised banditry fuel the crisis.

She stressed that recent victims of kidnappings include Muslims. The victims in the Kebbi State kidnapping were all Muslim girls. So, violence affects everyone. And false narratives perpetuate harmful stereotypes, she said.

Violence affects everyone, Ms Jacobs added. False narratives erase the real drivers of violence and make it harder to find solutions.

She also condemned President Trumps threat of going into Nigeria guns blazing, calling it reckless, illegal and counterproductive. She said she had worked on the US counterBoko Haram strategy since 2013 and that the Trump administration cut peace-building tools that proactively prevented and directly addressed the violence this administration is now concerned about.

President Trump earlier warned: If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing Nigeria is one of 13 countries globally classified as CPC; it was first placed on the list during Mr Trumps first term in 2020 before being removed by Joe Biden in 2021.

In his remarks, Rep. Jonathan Jackson rejected claims of one-sided religious war, arguing the crisis requires dialogue, not destruction.

The idea that this nation is engaged in one-sided religious war is a dangerous fiction, he said, noting that President Tinubu, a muslim, married to an ordained christian minister. He added that out of the nine security chiefs, five are christians.

He said: To say that only christians are being persecuted, is to ignore the full difficult truth and suffering of Nigerians Therefore, the answer will never be American bombs or boots on the ground.

But Representative John James cast Nigerias crisis in stark terms, calling it one of the gravest religious freedom crises in the world and the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian. He claimed nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed since 2019.

It is unclear the source of his figures.

Earlier, Mr Smith cited figures he attributed to Open Doors and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety), saying over 52,000 Christians in Nigeria have reportedly been targeted and killed More than 7,000 have been murdered this year alone Some 19,000 churches have been attacked.

InterSocietys numbers have circulated widely, including among Republicans such as Congressman Riley Moore, but the BBC recently described its methodology as opaque and found many claims unverifiable.

Of 70 media reports InterSociety cited for 2025, BBC analysis showed about half did not identify victims religion; adding up all deaths referenced yielded about 3,000, not 7,000. Some attacks appeared to be double-counted.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project which uses verifiable sources presents a different picture.

ACLED estimates just under 53,000 civilians of all faiths have been killed in targeted political violence since 2009. Between 2020 and September 2025, about 21,000 civilians were killed in abductions, attacks, sexual violence and bombings. ACLED identified 384 incidents where Christians were specifically targeted, leading to 317 deaths, and 417 Muslims killed in similar targeted attacks.

Congressman Bill Huizenga criticised the Tinubu administration for failing to stop attacks by radicalised Islamists and accused US lawmakers and the media of downplaying religious-related violence.

Citing personal ties to Nigerians, he said: Weve got people within the Congress denying that this is happening, or certainly de-emphasising it. He questioned Americas humanitarian support in Benue and Taraba, claiming Benue alone has 1.4 million displaced people.

Representative Pramila Jayapal pushed back saying: The killings in Nigeria arent just the persecution of Christians. It is the persecution of multiple groups to portray it as just persecution of Christians; that would be simplistic.

Two senior State Department officials, Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee, defended the administrations approach.

Mr Pratt described Nigerias situation as a very serious security problem, saying the US aims to raise the protection of Christians to the top of the Nigerian governments priorities.

Mr McGee added: The levels of violence and atrocities committed against Christians are appalling.  Nigerians are being attacked and killed because of their faith.

Trumps military action will endanger Christians  Oge Onubogu

Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned at the hearing that US military intervention would worsen Nigerias fractures.

If the Trump administration proceeds with unilateral military action in Nigeria, it could endanger the Christians it aims to protect and worsen divisions along religious lines, she said. USNigeria engagement, she added, must be from a place of honesty and Nigerians must acknowledge something must be done quickly about the levels of insecurity.

Ms Onubogu cautioned against a narrow narrative that reduces Nigerias security situation to a single story. Rep. Marlin Stutzman pressed her, saying: If Nigerias government cannot stop the violence, they should be willing to ask the international community for help.

As the hearing wrapped up, Mr Smith reiterated his warning: The Nigerian government has a constitutional obligation to protect its citizens. If it cannot stop the slaughter, then America  and the world  must not look away.
Aloy Ejimakor, the former special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has claimed that the convicted IPOB leader has now been moved to a prison facility in Sokoto State.

Mr Ejimakor disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Friday.

Breaking: MAZI NNAMDI KANU has just been moved from DSS (SSS) Abuja to the correctional facility (prison) in Sokoto; so far away from his lawyers, family, loved ones and well-wishers, he wrote.

The lawyer, in another post shortly after, urged Igbo people to remain calm over the development.

Igbo is the dominant ethnic nationality in Nigerias South-east where Mr Kanu hails from.

Mr Ejimakor, in the X post, questioned the decision of the Nigerian authorities to move Mr Kanu to the Sokoto prison.

The lawyer contended that Mr Kanu ought to have been moved to a different region, recalling that Obafemi Awolowo, a former premier of the now defunct Western region, was moved to Eastern Nigeria after his conviction in 1963 for sedition.

When Awolowo was convicted in 1963, he was sent to the East, a neutral zone in his feud with the North. President (Bola) Tinubu can still halt this drift, he said.

Mr Obafemi, a journalist, was tried and jailed for 10 years on charges of sedition in 1963. He was, however, granted pardon by the then Nigerian military government in 1966.

The spokesperson to the State Security Service, Favour Dozie, did not respond to several calls and a text message seeking her comments for the report.

Conviction, sentence

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Kanu was on Thursday convicted at the Federal High Court in Abuja after being found guilty on all the seven counts filed against him by the Nigerian government.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, consequently sentenced him to life imprisonment for terrorism.

Mr Omotosho also ordered that he be prevented from having access to mobile devices and broadcast equipment except under the watch of security operatives.
The Plateau Universal Basic Education Board has ordered the immediate closure of all primary and junior secondary schools across the state following fresh security concerns.

The directive was issued in a statement in Jos by the boards public relations officer, Richard Jonah, and circulated through the News Agency of Nigeria.

The board said the measure was taken to protect pupils and staff.

It noted that the situation required swift preventive action.

According to the statement, all Government Junior Model Secondary Schools will close effective Saturday November 22, while all Primary and Day Schools will close effective Monday November 24. The board added that the closure was temporary and aimed at safeguarding lives within school communities.

It also appealed to Local Government Education Authorities, school administrators and community leaders to comply fully with the directive.

The statement urged all stakeholders to remain alert and support ongoing efforts to keep learning spaces safe.

The order follows a series of violent attacks on schools in other parts of the country.

In Kebbi State, gunmen struck the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga.

Twenty five students were taken and a staff member was killed during the raid. Security forces are still carrying out search operations.

In Kwara State, a recent attack on a church led to deaths and the kidnapping of worshippers.

Authorities responded by shutting schools in some affected local government areas to prevent further harm to pupils and teachers.

In Niger State, gunmen invaded St Marys Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, and abducted students and teachers in an early morning assault.

The incident prompted tighter security measures around other rural schools.

The Plateau board said the statewide closure would remain in place while security agencies continue their assessment.

It noted that updates would be shared with parents and communities once the situation improves.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has urged all intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj to complete their payments on or before 5 December, stressing that meeting the deadline is essential for Nigerias smooth participation in the exercise.

The deadline, the commission said, is necessary to meet the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrahs final remittance date of 21 December for payments into the IBAN account used for basic services contracts.

Since IBAN transfers take between 10 and 14 days to clear, NAHCON said states must receive and remit funds early to avoid missing out.

NAHCONs Principal Information Officer, Mohammed Shafi, disclosed this in a message shared with journalists on Thursday, stressing that there will be no extension after December 5.

He specifically called on intending pilgrims from Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to hurry up and pay, noting that about 15 days remain.

Fare reduction

Earlier this month, PREMIUM TIMES reported that NAHCON approved a major reduction in the 2026 Hajj fare, cutting costs by about 500,000 to 570,000 across all zones.

The revised fares are: Maiduguri/Yola Zone: 7,579,020.96; Northern Zone: 7,696,769.76; and Southern Zone: 7,991,141.76.

READ ALSO: NAHCON reduces 2026 Hajj fare for Nigerians

The reduction followed the adoption of an exchange rate of 1,443/$1 and a directive by President Bola Tinubu to review the fares downward after the naira strengthened.

NAHCON also introduced a new allocation system, replacing the traditional state-by-state quota with a first-come, first-served method. Under the new arrangement, states that remit early will secure more Hajj slots for their pilgrims.

The commission has called on state Muslim pilgrims boards to mobilise their intending pilgrims without delay to ensure all payments are completed before the deadline.

With fares adjusted and major contracts finalised, NAHCON reiterated the need for timely payments by intending pilgrims and early remittances by state boards to guarantee Nigerias full participation in the 2026 Hajj.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned of a surge in outbreaks of cholera, Mpox, and Marburg virus disease across the continent, raising concerns about weak water systems, poor sanitation, and growing financing gaps that are undermining Africas health security.

The Incident Manager for Health Emergencies at the Africa CDC, Yap Boum, issued the warning on Thursday during the agencys weekly virtual press briefing.

Mr Boum said that since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Africa had been pushing the new African health security and sovereignty agenda.

He announced that The Lancet had published the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, marking a shift from the earlier New Public Health Order.

According to him, the new strategy is built on five pillars of a more inclusive continental health architecture.

These pillars are prevention, preparedness and emergency response, digital transformation, local manufacturing of health products; and domestic, innovative and blended health financing.

He said Africa cannot achieve universal health coverage or pandemic preparedness without the ability to finance, produce, and govern its own health systems and countermeasures.

He also warned that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was already causing more than 27 deaths per 100,000 people in Africa, with the real toll likely far higher.

According to him, this is even as the world marks the AMR week.

Only 1.3 per cent of laboratories in the continent have bacteriology capacity, meaning most antibiotics are prescribed without laboratory confirmation, driving misuse and resistance.

Mr Boum added that the Mpox cases continued to decline continent-wide, noting that Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Guinea remained areas of concern.

He said Ghana has shown steady improvement over the past three weeks, with 72 per cent of cases concentrated in the Greater Accra and Western Regions, where surveillance, RCC interventions, and vaccination efforts are being intensified.

He noted that Ghanas 25 per cent test positivity rate indicates active case-finding and tracing.

Vaccination rollout continues with nearly one million doses delivered across 16 countries, and 80 per cent of countries having used more than half of their vaccine stocks, he said.

Liberia will receive 20,000 doses next week, while Kenya is scheduled to receive another consignment on 10 December, he said.

Cholera

The Africa CDC incident manager further said that cholera remains Africas most urgent outbreak, with three times more cases and deaths than what was recorded three years ago.

According to him, South Sudan, DRC, Angola and Nigeria now account for 90 per cent of all cholera cases on the continent.

Giving country-by-country highlights, he said Angola had 152 affected municipalities, a case fatality rate of 2.6 per cent, and a reduction in weekly cases from 606 to 500.

He noted that 44 per cent of Angolas population still lacked access to safe drinking water, prompting Africa CDC to warn that stable water and sanitation investments are urgently needed.

He said that in the DRC, the country had reported 7,000 cases in just six weeks despite a downward trend, making it one of the highest cholera burdens on the continent.

Mr Boum added that Burundi continued to record a very low case fatality rate of 0.4 per cent, with cases declining, although fragile water systems posed a major risk.

Kenya is battling both mpox and cholera, with a case fatality rate of about four per cent, above acceptable thresholds, while hotspots remain Narok, Migori and peri-urban areas of Nairobi, he said.

He noted that Cameroon has also reported new cholera cases in the Far North region bordering Nigeria, where difficult terrain is complicating access, though authorities have activated rapid response systems.

He said Ethiopia continues to respond to an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Jinka, South Ethiopia, where four cases have been confirmed and three deaths recorded.

Rapid response teams are deployed, and Africa CDC is supporting surveillance and cross-border preparedness in Kenya and South Sudan, he said. (NAN)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to temporarily relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in the state.

The opposition party said the presidents physical presence in Kebbi would boost the morale of frontline troops and inspire security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.

The party urged the president to also relocate to other hotspots experiencing armed conflict across the country.

Ini Ememobong, the PDPs new spokesperson, made the call in a statement on Thursday.

He commended the president for cancelling his scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola, but described the action as insufficient.

The announcement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus cancellation of his planned trip to South Africa and Angola stands as the latest and boldest example of tokenism. While the decision may appear to be in sympathy with the kidnapping of the Maga schoolgirls and the escalating insecurity across the country, particularly in northern Nigeria, it remains a mere perfunctory gesture and nothing more.

If the APC-led Presidency disagrees with this position, then we demand that President Tinubu temporarily relocate to Kebbi State and other theatres of armed conflict in Northern Nigeria. Such a move will not only challenge the security agencies to act more decisively in ending the ongoing carnage, but will also boost the morale of the troops on the frontlines.

As President and Commander-in-Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must not recline in the comfort of the Presidential Villa at a time when 25 schoolgirls have been abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown. He must demonstrate leadership by leading from the front, as true leaders do in moments of grave national challenge, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the school on motorcycles, abducted the students from their dormitory, killed the vice principal, and injured a local security guard, Ali Maga.

Police authorities and the Kebbi State Government confirmed the abductions, saying a tactical team engaged the attackers in a gun duel, but the terrorists escaped through the schools fence.

This is not the first time Kebbi State has witnessed mass abductions. In June 2021, the Dogo Gide group kidnapped about 80 students and five teachers from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri.

Similarly, in 2014, Boko Haram abducted hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State under the watch of then-governor Kashim Shettima, now Nigerias vice president.

In May 2021, terrorists stormed an Islamic school in Tegina, Niger State, kidnapping nearly 200 students. The attack came a few days after 14 students kidnapped from Greenfield University in Kaduna State were freed.

In February that same year, terrorists kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara State. Most of them were later freed.

In 2024, terrorists kidnapped more than 100 students from a joint elementary school in Kuriga, Kaduna State. The students were subsequently freed a few months later, with the government claiming that no ransom was paid.

On Tuesday, terrorists attacked a church in Eruku Village in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting several worshippers. Military personnel were later deployed in the community.

Security, a daily experience

In the statement, the PDP said the attack in Kwara further demonstrates that insecurity has become a daily experience for Nigerians.

The recent attacks in Kwara State further support our assertion that insecurity and fear have become the daily lived experience and new reality of Nigerians across the country. Yet the APC-led administration continues to issue outright denials, rationalised explanations, empty assurances, and other superficial gestures such as the Presidents cancelled trip, he said.

The party argued that without strategic action, the cancelled trip amounts to another media stunt aimed at garnering public sympathy rather than addressing the urgent security challenges.

Without further strategic actions, this trip cancellation will amount to nothing more than another media stunt aimed at currying public favour and sympathy, rather than confronting the urgent task of securing lives and property across Nigeria. If this were a political crisis (like the Rivers State case), President Tinubu would have deployed all strategies and resources, within and outside the law, to find a solution.

We hereby put the President and his administration on notice that Nigerians are tired of symbolic gestures such as sympathy statements and trip cancellations. What the nation urgently requires is decisive leadership, strategic action, and effective support for the security forces, especially those at the front lines, rather than cosmetic efforts designed to score political points, the statement said.

The PDP said Nigerians were tired of symbolic gestures and demand decisive leadership and sustained support for security forces.

The safety of Nigerians cannot be reduced to mere theatrics. Leadership must rise above optics and deliver tangible, consistent action that restores public confidence and protects lives and property. This situation demands seriousness, not symbolism. The Presidency must rise to the occasion or make way for those who can, the party said.
The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Implementation and Oversight of the Naira-for-Crude Oil Policy has issued a seven-day ultimatum to all ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and private-sector stakeholders invited for its ongoing investigation, directing them to submit the requested documents on or before 27 November.

It warned that entities failing to comply would face decisive parliamentary sanctions, including arrests, where necessary.

The committees Chairperson, Boniface Emerengwa, gave this warning on Thursday at the National Assembly after the investigative hearing earlier scheduled for the day was stalled by massive non-compliance from stakeholders expected to provide critical records on the policys implementation.

Majority of the invited bodies neither honoured the invitation nor forwarded the requested documents.

The investigative hearing scheduled for today, 20th November 2025, has been adjourned due to the gross negligence and lack of seriousness displayed by relevant stakeholders, Mr Emerengwa said.

According to him, the stakeholders failure to engage with the committee not only delayed proceedings but also hindered the legislatures ability to carry out effective scrutiny of the Naira-for-Crude Oil Policy, a strategic programme intended to strengthen Nigerias forex management, revenue efficiency, and oil-sector accountability.

Despite ample notice, the majority of stakeholders failed to recognise the role of the legislative arm in working with the Executive for the effective implementation of the policy, by their failure to submit their required documents within the stipulated timeframe, he said.

He added that the conduct had undermined the integrity of the committees work and cast a shadow of unseriousness over a matter of national importance, noting that the Nigerian people deserved transparency regarding a policy that directly affects the countrys economic sovereignty and revenue stability.

Let it be unequivocally stated: the committee is deeply disappointed, he stressed.

The chairperson explained that, given the gravity of the assignment and the vital importance of the policy to the economy, the committee decided to grant a final extension for the submission of documents.

He directed all stakeholders to take advantage of the new deadline of 27 November, warning that no further extension would be entertained.

He said, In the spirit of magnanimity and in recognition of the gravity of this investigation, the committee has resolved to extend the deadline for document submission to 27th November 2025.

To accommodate the delays, Mr Emerengwa also announced that the investigative hearing had been rescheduled to 2 December at 12:00 a.m. in Conference Room 440 of the National Assembly. He emphasised that the date was final and non-negotiable.

He cautioned that defaulting organisations and individuals risked the committees full legislative powers, including summons, subpoenas, public naming and shaming of non-compliant entities, recommendations for sanctions to regulatory and executive bodies, and escalation to plenary for further disciplinary measures.

This committee will not be made to appear unserious or ineffective due to the indifference of stakeholders. We are determined to carry out our oversight mandate diligently, transparently, and in line with the expectations of the Nigerian people. The time for excuses is over. The time for accountability is now, Mr Emerengwa said.

He urged all invited agencies and stakeholders to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, reminding them that the Naira-for-Crude Oil Policy carries far-reaching implications for Nigerias economy, fiscal discipline, and the credibility of government reforms.

Stakeholders are now expected to submit their documents before the new deadline and appear before the committee at the rescheduled hearing.
There was a time Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, sparkled.

The water fountains at Ibom Plaza, Itam Flyover, and Aka Road near the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, all in Uyo, were symbols of pride  glowing at night, reflecting a city once known for beauty and thoughtful planning. People visited to take pictures, relax, and enjoy the calm of a well-managed urban space.

Infrastructure left to decay amid trillion-naira revenue

Despite the oil-rich Akwa Ibom earning N1.1 trillion in 2024  the highest in its history and the third-largest revenue among Nigerian states after Lagos (N2.36 trillion) and Delta (N1.38 trillion)  much of Uyos infrastructure now lies abandoned.

The city is struggling, not because it lacks money, but because maintenance and public welfare appear to have taken a back seat.

Waste now sleeps where water once danced.

Today, most of the fountains tell a sad story. The ones at Aka Road and Ibom Plaza are covered in thick, green algae. The fountain at Itam Flyover has become a dumping ground, filled with plastic bottles, sachet water wrappers, and other waste.

The only fully functioning water fountain observed at the time this report was done is the one at Nwaniba, near the end of Edet Akpan Avenue.

Two othersNung Oku and Oron Road by Ring Road IIIonly come alive when an influential politician is visiting, commercial tricycle and minibus operators said.

Wait till when (President Bola) Tinubu comes, it will work, said Anietie Akpan, a tricycle rider.

The two do not work except when a big politician is coming. They will quickly fix it since it is located on the airport road, Sunny Okon, another tricycle rider, corroborated.

When our reporter visited the fountains between Monday and Tuesday, none were running.

Decaying Ibom Plaza

Ibom Plaza, once the heartbeat of Uyo, now smells of neglect. Flowers that once brought colour are dying. Grasses have taken over the flowerbeds. The once-celebrated fountain is dead and forgotten.

The old First Bank building, where military officers provide security, also paints a troubling picture, surrounded by growing weeds on sand-filled cement bags.

Months after government officials forcibly removed small business owners from the area, with the promise of redevelopment, nothing has changed. No repairs. No upgrades.

Only silence  and decay.

The Uyo we knew is gone: Residents express outrage

Across the capital, potholes now define the roads.

From Udoete Street to Itam Park Road and the Atiku Abubakar Flyover, and from Jimbo Secondary School Road near the Itam police station to Aka-Itiam and Nwaniba Road  the citys streets are riddled with large, deep craters.

Driving has become a gamble. Rainwater hides the depth of potholes, leading to damaged tyres, broken suspension systems, and near accidents.

Residents say they have had enough.

The Uyo that we knew is gone! wrote Anita Thinktanklady on Facebook. Potholes have become the order of the day, waste is forgotten, and flooding is worse with each rainfall. We are back to 2007, said Anita.

It is a pathetic condition. Nwaniba Road is the worst, Freki Asuquo-Etim, a Facebook user, writes in the comment section.

My tyre almost busted at Four Lanes because of the rain, another Facebook user, Sultan Unyime Henry, lamented in the comment section of the post.

The frustration is growing. And so is the anger.

A city is ignored, while politicians receive luxury SUVs

Despite the worsening state of infrastructure, the Akwa Ibom government has prioritised purchasing brand-new SUVs  not for public transport, but for politicians.

Beneficiaries include political party chairpersons, former deputy governors, and federal lawmakers  even though the federal lawmakers already received official vehicles from the federal government.

The 2025 Akwa Ibom budget reveals that each of the 13 SUVs purchased for federal lawmakers costs N100 million, totalling N1.3 billion  separate from the Land Cruisers distributed by Governor Eno to former deputy governors on 25 September and party chairpersons.

I wish to express profound gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for the generous and thoughtful presentation of brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicles to each of us serving in the 10th National Assembly, Patrick Umoh wrote on Facebook on 24 May, and went further to describe the action as a rare act of leadership.

The contrast is glaring: a crumbling capital city, yet billions spent on luxury vehicles for a privileged few.

A month ago, following public backlash after PREMIUM TIMES report on the deteriorating roads in the state, Governor Eno directed the Ministry of Works to begin an assessment of roads for repairs. But weeks later, nothing has changed  no contractors are on site, and no repairs are underway.

Whats happening in Uyo?  Skit maker speaks on deplorable roads

A popular skit maker in Akwa Ibom, known as Local Man, filmed the potholes near St. Lukes Hospital along Nwaniba Road. In his video, he pointed to the worsening road conditions and said, This (is the) road, the governor, commissioners, and secretary to the state government pass to the five-star hotel.

Walking to the next lane  also damaged  he asked: What is happening in Uyo that potholes have taken over everywhere?

The question reflects residents growing discontent with the state of infrastructure in Akwa Ibom. It has not started. This is just the beginning, Uduak Edet, a Facebook user, wrote.

Before the silence becomes permanent

What residents are demanding is not luxury. They want a thriving city  one where roads are repaired, fountains are maintained, and the beauty of public spaces is restored. A city where water flows in fountains, not potholes.

For now, Uyo stands as a fading memory  a place once admired, now slowly swallowed by neglect.

Government response

When contacted, Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah attributed the delayed commencement of repairs on potholes to rainfall.

Mr Umanah, a former federal lawmaker, said the governor had recently told the people of the Aka Itiam community that he was considering a comprehensive approach to solve the flood challenge in the area.

READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom governor demands loyalty from aides amid political tension

I dont know who runs on fountains during the rain, Mr Umanah said of the dead fountains across the state.

When reminded that one of the fountains is functional despite the rain, Mr Umanah insisted that its been raining very much.

We are moving towards dry season and Christmas, when fountains work, and I can assure that those fountains would serve their purposes, he added.
TRIPOLI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based government on Friday rejected a new "Supreme Council of Presidencies" formed by rival authorities in Tripoli, declaring the body void and warning that further political deadlock could push the east toward autonomy.

The administration led by Osama Hamad, appointed by the eastern-based parliament, said the council announced on Thursday lacks legal authority and threatens the country's fragile stability.

In a statement, the eastern government said the initiative "undermines institutional stability, obstructs the electoral process and creates an unconstitutional crisis." It urged the international community to shun the new body and warned that continued delays in national elections could force the east to demand self-rule.

The dispute marks the latest friction between Libya's two parallel administrations: the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, which controls the west, and the Hamad-led government in Benghazi, backed by Khalifa Haftar's powerful Libyan National Army, which controls the east and parts of the south.

The "Supreme Council of Presidencies" was established on Thursday during a meeting in Tripoli between the GNU, the Presidential Council, and the High Council of State.

According to the Tripoli-based leadership, the new body is designed to coordinate national positions on security and economic issues. They stated the council aims to "enhance institutional harmony" without creating a new structural entity.

Libya has been mired in conflict since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, leaving the oil-rich nation split between the opposing legislative and executive bodies. 
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of students from St Marys Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.

The commands spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, in a press release, said armed men attacked the school around 2 a.m. on Friday.

Some armed bandits invaded St Marys Private Catholic Secondary School and abducted a yet to be ascertained number of students from the schools hostel, he said.

He said police tactical units, military components and other security agencies had been deployed to the area.

Teams have moved to the scene and are combing the forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students, he said.

Mr Abiodun said the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, had reaffirmed the commands commitment to secure the pupils.

The command is committed to rescuing the students unhurt, he said, adding that the police were appealing to residents to remain calm and support ongoing operations.

He also stated that the incident would be investigated and that action would be taken against the school management for reopening despite a state directive that had shut schools in the area due to security concerns.

READ ALSO: Niger government blames school for reopening before security clearance after Papiri abductions

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that terrorists attacked St Marys School in the early hours of Friday and abducted an unconfirmed number of students and staff. The Niger state government said the school was still compiling its records.

The incident came only a few days after armed men kidnapped 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State, in another attack that deepened concerns over the safety of schools across the country.
Katsina, Kano and Jigawa states account for 16 per cent of Nigerias 10.2 million out-of-school children, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The agency stressed education and nutrition indicators in parts of the North-west remain among the worst in the country.

The Chief of UNICEFs Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano at the public presentation of the Nigerian Child 2025 Report, held as part of activities marking this years World Childrens Day.

The event was organised by the Kano State Radio Corporation in collaboration with UNICEF and attended by journalists from Katsina, Kano and Jigawa.

Mr Farah said data from the newly released report showed that Katsina, Kano and Jigawa account for 16 per cent of Nigerias 10.2 million out-of-school children.

According to him, Kano has nearly 900,000 out-of-school children, Jigawa more than 330,000, while Katsina has over 300,000.

Katsina, Kano and Jigawa together account for 16 per cent of Nigerias 10.2 million out-of-school children. Katsina alone has over 300,000, Kano nearly 900,000 and Jigawa more than 330,000, he said.

Mr Farah also referenced the 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which recorded alarming malnutrition levels in the three states.

Katsina has a stunting rate of 64.6 per cent, Jigawa 55.7 per cent, while Kano stands at 51.9 per cent, he said.

He noted that despite the scale of deprivation across rural communities, UNICEFs programmes in the three states are helping to expand access to health, nutrition and education services.

Mr Farah said UNICEFs collaboration with the Katsina State Government has led to increased funding for efforts to curb severe acute malnutrition.

He disclosed that Katsina has contributed over N1 billion to procure Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) under the Child Nutrition Match Fund (CNF).

Similarly, Kano and Jigawa have each committed N1 billion for RUTF procurement to support ongoing treatment of malnourished children.

Mr Farah said UNICEF will continue to support state governments to address the development challenges facing children as highlighted in the Nigerian Child 2025 Report.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for acts of terrorism and to lesser jail times for other ancillary offences.

It took trial judge James Omotosho more than five hours to deliver the 144-page judgement.

The judge convicted Mr Kanu of terrorism offences, including issuing death threats to people, inciting violence against security personnel and ordering the destruction of government facilities and foreign embassies via a series of online broadcasts.

The secessionist was also convicted of issuing and directing the enforcement of an unlawful stay-at-home order on Mondays across Nigerias South-east, where violators were attacked or killed. He was jailed for life for these offences.

The judge also convicted him for being a member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated a terrorist organisation and proscribed by a court order in 2017. Mr Kanu led the organisation. He was jailed 20 years for the offence.

The court also convicted the IPOB leader and sentenced him to five years in jail for smuggling a radio transmitter into Nigeria in 2015, to further the operations of his Radio Biafra.

The Nigerian government compiled tons of the recordings of Mr Kanus online broadcasts where he issued death threats and ordered attacks and destruction of public facilities from 2018 to 2021 and presented them in court as evidence.

Judge Omotosho noted that the evidence presented by the prosecution through five witnesses was uncontroverted, as Mr Kanu failed to enter defence. Mr Kanu defied repeated calls by the judge to put forward his defence.

Mr Kanu was bent on not entering defence, which would have required him to call witnesses and testify for himself, after abruptly sacking his team of lawyers and opted for self-representation at a critical stage of the trial last month.

As the trial proceeded, Mr Kanu maintained that it was unnecessary for him to enter defence because, according to him, the terrorism charges were brought under the repealed Terrorism Prevention Act 2013.

He clung onto this argument until the judge foreclosed his defence on 7 November. The judge would describe Mr Kanus reasoning in his judgement on Thursday as a mark of ignorance of the law.

READ ALSO: US lawmakers disagree over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria

Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015 for his agitation over Radio Biafra for the breakaway of Nigerias South-east and parts of neighbouring states as a sovereign Biafra. The arrest set off a trial that lasted 10 years, passing through four judges.

Read the full judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment on Thursday (20 November) here.
The Lagos State Government has dismissed a message circulating on social media alleging a surge in kidnapping incidents along the Gbagada Expressway.

The flyer, which claimed to have been issued by the state government, warned residents of increased abductions carried out through the one-chance method using commercial buses.

In a post on his official X handle on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, described the alert as fake and recycled misinformation.

Good morning Lagos, please beware of this fake news circulating again, Mr Akosile wrote. We have addressed it before, but those spreading false information continue to recycle it. Kindly disregard this notification.

He urged residents to share verified information only, stressing the importance of collective vigilance in safeguarding communities.

The Lagos State Police Command had also previously debunked similar advisories.

In March, the police command reiterated that it never issued a security alert on kidnapping along the expressway.

Police noted that the same misinformation first surfaced in January 2024, reappeared in September 2024, and resurfaced again in March.

Despite dismissing the advisory as false, the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, said the police command had taken note of public concerns.

He directed Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders to immediately review the security architecture of the area to forestall any potential threats.

According to the police command, the enhanced security measures will undergo continuous assessment to ensure the safety of commuters and residents across the state.

The police chief urged Lagos residents to go about their activities without fear.

READ ALSO: Lagos reaffirms push to end open defecation by 2030

Residents were encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to nearby police stations or call the commands control room via 08065154338, 08063299264, or 09129229576.

Mr Jimoh also ordered detectives to track and apprehend individuals responsible for circulating the false alerts, warning that purveyors of fake news will face prosecution.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Ita Awak, has apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan for what he described as years of malicious falsehood against Mr Jonathans handling of insecurity when he was in office.

Mr Awak, a former director, airworthiness standards at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority under the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, issued the apology in a Facebook post on Friday.

I wish to sincerely apologise to my fellow Nigerians for joining years ago to peddle the blatant falsehood that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was clueless because of the Chibok girls crisis and insecurity in parts of the north orchestrated by militants and terrorists fully sponsored by persons known to the federal government and the security organisations in the country, Mr Awak wrote.

Mr Awak, a former spokesperson of the APC in Akwa Ibom State, said his previous position was driven by uncritical partisan politics, not facts.

Years have passed, and the scales have fallen from my eyes. Now I know better. It is for this reason that I feel deeply sorry for lending myself, in the name of uncritical partisan politics, to joining in peddling a malicious falsehood against an innocent man, he added.

Background

In April 2014, Boko Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls from a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. The incident triggered global outrage, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, and intense criticism from the then-opposition APC.

Several Nigerians openly criticised Mr Jonathan, including Mr Awak and now-President Bola Tinubu, who told a rally in 2014 that Mr Jonathan lacked the capacity to secure the country and should resign.

In any civilised country, Mr Jonathan should resign They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, and creativity, Mr Tinubu said at the time, The Nation Newspaper reported

The campaign against Mr Jonathans administration became a significant political talking point in the lead-up to the 2015 general elections, which Mr Jonathan lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

Rising insecurity

Mr Awaks apology comes at a time Nigeria is facing worsening insecurity under Mr Tinubu, the same leader who once urged Mr Jonathan to resign over insecurity.

Recent incidents include the killing of a brigadier general during an ambush in the North-west, the killing and kidnapping of worshippers during a church service in Eruku, Kwara State, and the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.

On Friday, pupils, teachers, and a security guard at a Catholic Church-run school in Niger State were abducted by gunmen in an early-morning invasion.

These incidents have renewed public criticism of the federal governments security response.

Political reactions

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently asked President Tinubu to relocate the seat of government to Kebbi State following the abduction of schoolchildren in the state.

Mr Tinubu has postponed a planned appearance at the G20 Compact summit in South Africa to address domestic security concerns.

Mr Awaks apology has drawn attention because he was among the APC figures who publicly criticised Jonathans handling of insecurity. His reversal comes at a time when many Nigerians are drawing parallels between the Jonathan era and the current administrations struggle with violent crime.

Mr Awak did not indicate whether he intends to reach out to Mr Jonathan privately and did not respond to a text message from this newspaper requesting comments.
The terrorists who seized scores of worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have reportedly asked for N100 million ransom for the release of each abducted person.

Family members and community figures reportedly told The PUNCH on Thursday that the kidnappers used phones taken from the victims to reach relatives. The contacts began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning.

The secretary of the church, Josiah Agbabiaka, told The PUNCH that several families had already been called.

He said the abductors divided the captives into clusters.

From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100 million each, he said.

The Olori Eta of Eruku, Olusegun Olukotun, who has four relatives among those taken, also confirmed that calls had gone out to some households.

He explained that the abductors were contacting the groups in stages.

They said the victims were grouped and they are calling each groups relatives, he told the newspaper.

He added that he managed to escape through a window during the attack, while other members of his family were taken.

The towns traditional ruler, the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, appealed for a swift rescue operation.

He acknowledged the deployment of soldiers to the community shortly after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaqs visit on Wednesday, but insisted that the situation required stronger intervention.

We are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible, he said.

The governors spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, declined to issue a comment on the ransom claims and asked journalists to speak to the police.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, told The PUNCH that the command had yet to receive an official report of any ransom demand.

She said police units, the military and other agencies were already in the area and making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims.

She urged residents to share timely information that may support ongoing operations.

The attack on the church, which left two worshippers dead and more than 30 others missing, is one of several violent incidents recorded in Kwara in recent weeks.

The rise in attacks has unsettled communities in parts of the state and prompted stronger security deployments across the KwaraKogi border axis.
Fresh details have emerged about the victims abducted during Tuesdays attack on the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshippers and seized dozens of others.

A list of 38 abducted church members was published on Thursday by The National Pilot, which described the document as obtained from community sources.

According to the Ilorin-based newspaper, the youngest victim is seven years old and the oldest is 64, while 30 of the 38 abductees are women.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the attackers stormed the church during a worship session, firing at members and forcing many to flee.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, confirmed that two dead bodies were recovered after the incident, adding that operatives and vigilantes responded to gunshots from the outskirts of the community and forced the attackers to flee.

Residents said more than 30 persons were marched into the bush during the raid.

The list now circulating in the community contains the names and ages of 38 people.

The abducted residents include:

Felicia Ige (64), Timileyin Joshua (22), Elizabeth Rotimi (27), Samuel Ayodele (34), Olutokun Yetunde (23), Olutokun Janet (36), Olutokun Juwon (10), Olutokun Jumbu (12), Ebenezer Aina (24), Titilayo Balogun (59), Opeyemi Asaba (24), Grace Balogun (62), Ayodele Taye (42), Oloke Funmilayo (42), Joseph Olaitan (24), Eniola Princess (23), Comfort Atolani (44), Joanah Atolani (7), Imole Aina (9), Moses Ojasope (12), Iyabo Ajayi (40), Adeojo Ojasope (19), Ojo Ajayi (10), Funmilayo Joshua (64), Iyabo Michael (32), Bimpe Ige (20), Grace Iyabo Ige (41), Deborah Peter (38), Omolola Mustapha (40), Idowu Mustapha (17), Emmanuel Bamidele (22), Ade Ajayi (7), Foluso Caleb (42), Funmilayo Ayodele (37), Folorunso Bamidele (42), Akinola Toluwani (24), and Akinola Babalola (14).

Community members told this newspaper that the abductees were taken during a mid-week prayer service.

A church official said residents were still trying to determine the exact number taken because many people fled into surrounding farmlands during the gunfire.

The state government linked the attack to broader insecurity in the KwaraKogi border axis.

In a statement on Wednesday, the government said the Nigerian Army had taken control of the community.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the scene with security chiefs, said, Our government will not leave any stone unturned to return total calm in Eruku.

He also told a meeting of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ilorin that both state and federal authorities were working together to secure the release of the abducted residents. You are not alone.

The government is taking all required steps to stabilise the area, he said.

READ ALSO: Kwara shuts schools in five LGAs over rising insecurity

The attack has triggered widespread outrage, prompting youths to block the KwaraKogi highway on Wednesday to demand stronger security measures.

The government earlier ordered the temporary closure of schools in five local government areas after security agencies warned of attempts by armed groups to use children as shields.

Security agencies say efforts are ongoing to trace the kidnappers route and rescue the victims, though operations remain sensitive.
Amnesty International (AI) on Friday condemned the recent abduction of over 52 students at St. Marys School in Niger State and criticised President Bola Tinubus security measures, which it said is not working.

Amnesty International strongly condemns the mass abductions in Nigeria early today of more than 52 school girls at St. Marys Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri Community of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger state, the organisation said in a statement via its X handle.

Whatever security measures put in place by the government of President Bola Tinubu are not working, AI said.

The latest mass abduction happened barely three days after more than 25 school girls were abducted at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State.

This is a shocking indication of the authorities persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have continually killed and abducted thousands of Nigerians in the last ten years.

This recent attack took place in the early hours of Friday. Terrorists attacked the school and abducted an unconfirmed number of students and staff.

The Niger State Government condemned the kidnapping of pupils from St Marys School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government Area, but blamed the school for resuming school activities without receiving security clearance.

The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, said in a statement that the government had received intelligence warning of heightened threats in the zone and ordered a temporary shutdown of boarding schools and a halt to construction activities in the affected area.

It said the incident occurred despite an earlier security directive issued to schools in parts of Niger North.

This latest abduction follows just days after terrorists carried out a similar attack, kidnapping 25 schoolgirls from Maga Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The terrorists also reportedly killed a teacher, Hassan Makuku, and a local guard, simply identified as Ali, during the invasion.

Similarly, during a live-streamed worship service at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, terrorists launched a sudden attack, reportedly killing at least three people and abducting several worshippers.

These incidents reflect Nigerias worsening crisis of insecurity across multiple states.
The Marine Unit of the Ports Authority Police (Western Command) has arrested seven individuals in connection with a series of attacks on international vessels within Lagos ports.

The arrests were confirmed on Friday by the commands Public Relations Officer, Isaac Hundeyin, an assistant superintendent of police.

Mr Hundeyin said operatives on routine patrol near the waterfront of Ports & Terminal Multiservices Limited earlier this week intercepted a suspicious speed boat close to the vessel CL YINGNA HE, berthed at Berth 12.

The patrol team initially observed three occupants on the boat. As officers approached, they discovered four more individuals lying flat on the deck, apparently attempting to conceal themselves, Mr Hundeyin stated.

He added that the suspects were seen extending a long bamboo pole toward the vessel, suggesting an attempt to gain unauthorised access.

But upon questioning, he explained, the seven occupants could not provide a credible explanation for being in the restricted port area.

A search of the boat recovered several items, including a heavy iron cutter, two saw blades, a long bamboo stick with a steel curved hook, a ship rope, 31 assorted spanners, four screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, a plastic bucket, and the speed boat fitted with a 60HP Yamaha engine.

The suspects were transferred to the Port Criminal Investigation Department for detailed investigations.

Mr Hundeyin noted that their arrest followed a pattern consistent with previous attacks on international vessels in the Lagos Port Corridor.

All seven suspects were arraigned in court on 20 November.

The Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western Command), Oluwatoyin Agbaminoja, reassured maritime stakeholders of the commands commitment to stamping out criminal activities within the nations ports.

She said the command would continue to intensify patrols, strengthen intelligence gathering, and collaborate closely with other security agencies to ensure a safe and business-friendly maritime environment.

The Ports Authority Police is responsible for security across Nigerian ports, with the Western Command headquartered at Apapa Quays, Lagos, and the Eastern Command at Port Harcourt.

The Marine Unit of the Western Command oversees waterfront patrols and security operations up to 12 nautical miles offshore, working in coordination with the Nigerian Ports Authoritys security department.

Maritime crime remains a persistent threat in Lagos Ports. According to the Nigerian Ports Authority, at least 78 incidents targeting ships occurred in the first half of 2024 alone.

Criminals often exploit gaps in surveillance and port access to board vessels illegally, putting cargo, crews, and port operations at risk.

In a 2024 crackdown, the Western Command apprehended 103 suspects linked to theft, stowaway cases, and assaults on ships, underscoring that maritime crime is systemic rather than isolated.

Local waterfront communities have historically been involved, using small boats, ropes, and hooks to access ships and terminals illegally, a tactic mirrored in the recent arrests.

Maritime stakeholders, including the Nigerian Shippers Council, have expressed concern that policing strategies can disrupt legitimate port activities, increasing operational costs.

Labour unions and maritime associations, such as the Maritime Workers Union, continue to collaborate with authorities to strengthen protections against attacks while ensuring smooth port operations.
The Nigerian government has won an arbitration case which saw a foreign entitys N4 billion and 185.7 million claims against Nigeria dismissed, the office of Nigerias Attorney-General of the Federation announced on Friday.

The case arose from an old contract case, dating back to 31 March 1981, for the construction of civil works in the Iron and Steel Complex at Ajaokuta, in the old Kwara State but now in Kogi State.

It was instituted against the Nigerian government by the contractor, a Joint Venture of Fougerolle Nigeria Ltd and Fougourolle SA, claiming the huge monetary awards against the country.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said Fougerolles claim was dismissed by the arbitration tribunal on 11 November.

The statement, which lauded the outcome of the arbitration proceedings, was signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Communication and Publicity), Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele.

According to the statement, the arbitration tribunal was constituted under the auspices of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre of the Federal High Court.

The claimant, Fougerolle, a French company, brought the case dated 12 December 2022 before the tribunal about 18 years after the subject contract was terminated by the claimant itself on 30 January 2004.

The claimant was said to have sought an additional payment of unverified and uncertified sums of N3.8 billion (N3,846,098,403) and 185.7 million (185,733,496), the AGF office said.

Before then, the AGF office said, the Nigerian government had engaged Price WaterCooperhouse to verify any indebtedness due to Fougerolle after terminating the contract.

It said the verification by WaterCooperhouse led to the payment of N3.9 billion (N3,894,600,000) to Fougerolle through Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds on 11 September 2006. Fougerolle was said to have signed an indemnity on 8 September 2006, accepting the sum as full and final settlement.

However, over 16 years after, Fougerolle initiated the case against the Nigerian government,

The company sought additional payment, arguing that the government owed it N3.8 billion and 185.7 million. It urged the tribunal to compel the government to pay the said sum to it.

Represented by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian government argued that Fougerolle signed an indemnity on 8 September 2006 accepting the N3.9 billion and 185.7 million as the final settlement of the contract, waiving all future claims.

It also argued that the case was statute-barred because Fougerolle initiated the claim 16 years after.

However, the claimant maintained that it had signed the indemnity under duress.

Following their submissions, the tribunal rejected Fougerolles claim that it issued the indemnity under duress.

It dismissed the case for lack of competence and upheld the Nigerian governments position.

The tribunal upheld the Nigerian governments preliminary objection challenging the competence of Fougerolles claims..

It agreed with the Nigerian government that the case was statute barred and failed to disclose reasonable cause of action as the payment through bonds coupled with Fougerolles indemnity had extinguished the debt.

Notwithstanding, the tribunal considered Fougerolles claim on the merit and held that Fougerolle failed to establish its case and had, indeed, waived all its rights to any other claim against the Federal Government because the payment made via FGN Bonds discharged the contractual obligation between the parties. The Tribunal rejected Fougerolles expropriation claim and the claim that it issued the indemnity under duress, the AGF office said Friday.

The AGF lauded the victory and praised the officers of the Ministry of Justice who defended the case.

He noted the ministrys commitment to boost the capacity of its officials and protect the governments interest.

The entire case was eventually dismissed, thereby saving FGN over N4 billion in liabilities.

This decision also underscores the current administrations determination to challenge all predatory and opportunistic claims against Nigeria, while also emphasizing the governments policy to promote ADR as a dispute resolution mechanism, the statement said.

Attempted efforts to revive the steel company

The steel company, located in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, was built between 1979 and the mid-1990s. It was never completed or operated optimally. For two decades, it has been moribund despite the efforts of previous administrations.

Over the years, the steel company has faced major hurdles, including delayed projects, funding constraints and managerial setbacks.

In September 2022, the Nigerian government paid $496 million to settle an Indian firms claim over the facility. The dispute followed the federal governments revocation in 2008 of an agreement that handed control of the steelworks and the National Iron Ore Mining Company to the Indian firm.

In September, Aliko Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, said he believed the Ajaokuta steel company would never work.

He likened attempting to revive the steel company to comparing outdated technology with modern advancements.

However, in October, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuiabu Abubakar, announced that the ministry was exploring a partnership with the Republic of China for the revitalization of both Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO).
People inspect earthquake-struck houses in Khulm district, the area that suffered the heaviest destruction in northern Samangan province, Afghanistan, Nov. 17, 2025. A series of devastating earthquakes struck parts of post-war Afghanistan in August and November this year, respectively, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive property damage. (Photo by M.Fardin Nawrozai/Xinhua)

SAMANGAN, Afghanistan, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A series of devastating earthquakes struck parts of post-war Afghanistan in August and November this year, respectively, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive property damage.

A 6.0-magnitude quake hit the eastern region of Afghanistan on Aug. 31 and was followed by several aftershocks in September with the epicenter in Kunar province, leaving at least 2,205 dead, more than 3,600 injured, and nearly 7,000 houses destroyed or partially damaged.

Similarly, another tremor measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted Afghanistan's northern region on Nov. 3, leaving over two dozen dead and injuring nearly 1,000 others in Samangan and the neighboring Balkh province.

Yousuf Hammad, spokesman of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, said the quake-affected people in Kunar have already received necessary assistance, suggesting that the quake-stricken families in the northern region, particularly in Samangan, need necessities to protect themselves from the chilly winter.

"I had a three-room house, but two rooms had been utterly destroyed, and another partially. We are living under a tent amid cold weather. We have escaped the devastating quake, but fearing the chilly weather could kill us," Hamayon, the head of a 10-member family, told Xinhua.

He lives in the mountainous Kholm district in Samangan province, where the expected snowfall in winter covers the area for months.

Just months away from winter, parts of Afghanistan, including Samangan and Balkh provinces, have been experiencing chilly weather, which serves as a curtain raiser for a snowy and freezing winter that begins in mid-December.

"Our utmost need is to receive assistance and build shelter as winter is nearing, as it is impossible to live under a tent," said Nasrudin, who was striving to rebuild his house, along with his nine-year-old daughter.

Decades of war and civil unrest have already impoverished Afghans, but the deadly quakes this year have doubled their miseries as many of the poverty-stricken people are largely dependent on foreign aid.

Confirming the miserable situation of the quake-affected region amid cold weather, the governor of Kholm district, Mawlawi Abdul Qadir Hamid, said that more than 2,200 houses had been destroyed.

"The winter is nearing. Although the aid agencies, businessmen and the Afghan government have to some extent provided humanitarian assistance, the people need their houses rebuilt. They need a kitchen and other accessories to live. We hope the world community could pay attention to us," Hamid told Xinhua. 

A man inspects an earthquake-struck house in Khulm district, the area that suffered the heaviest destruction in northern Samangan province, Afghanistan, Nov. 17, 2025. A series of devastating earthquakes struck parts of post-war Afghanistan in August and November this year, respectively, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive property damage. (Photo by M.Fardin Nawrozai/Xinhua)


With the death of Dr Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo (14 April 19356 April 2025) and that of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (10 May 193413 July 2025), GCON, Ogbagba Agbotewole II, the final chapter of emergency rule in Western Nigeria of 1962 has been closed. Historians will have to draw the final curtain on that tragic event. Incidentally, both men died during the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu GCFR, on Thursday 20 March in Rivers state.

Dr Olunloyo and the Awujale served as Commissioners/Ministers during the emergency rule in Western Nigeria under the administration of Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (17th of August 1916-11 April 2012). He served as administrator of Western Region from 29 June 1962  December 1962).

The emergency rule in Western Nigeria was effected on 29 May, 1962, when the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (December 191215 January 1966), tabled a motion in the House of Representatives in Lagos. The motion was passed by 232 to 44.

Alhaji Sir Tafawa Balewa exercised his new prerogative to appoint his doctor friend, Senator Chief Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, the Minister of Health who still belonged to no party, as administrator. Stanley Wey and others would have rather that for appearances sake the administrator had not been so obviously a personal friend of the PM, but they held their peace. Dr Majekodunmi had in fact proposed the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola (1 February 190629 January 1993), but for Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (December 1912-15 January 1966) had commented that this would permanently compromise his judicial position, and on the spur of the moment responded, What about you? The doctor, still determined to see to the opening of the Lagos State Medical College, agreed provided that, to universal inconvenience, he retained his full federal portfolio.

On resumption as Administrator, Dr Majekodunmi appointed Dr Olunloyo and the Awujale, as Commissioners/Ministers. He also appointed Captain Murtala Ramat Mohammed (8 November 1938-13 February 1976), who had just returned from military operations in the Congo, as his ADC. He later became Nigerias Head of State between 27th July, 1975 and 13th February, 1976.

They were appointed along with others on 4 June, 1962.

Others appointed as Commissioners/Ministers were Chief SO AdedejiChieftaincy Affairs; Mr V Owolabi EsanFinance; Mr AM LaosebikanHome Affairs; Mr Abdul Yesufu Eke  Information; Mr WG EgbeJustice; Mr Olajide Esan  Labour; Chief JO Fagbemi  Lands and Housing; Chief EA AdeyemoLocal Government; Mr BO Mark Uzorka  Midwest Affairs; Mr J Oyegoke  Office of Administrator; SL Edu  Health and Social Welfare and Dr Adegbite  Trade and Industry.

Also sworn-in as Commissioner/Minister was Chief Thompson Adogbeji Salubi (1906-1982), the Akaborode of Urhobo land in the present Delta state. Chief Salubi led the Urhobo Progressive Union for twenty years. He was appointed Commissioners/Ministers for Education.

He also appointed Engineer Adeniyi Williams (1907-1999), the Gboyegun of Oye-Ekiti as Commissioner/Minister for Works and Transport. Mr Adeniyi Williams was the son of Mr. Phillips Williams, a foremost Nationalist, whose cotemporaries included Herbert Macaulay. His classmates at the Cambridge included Justice Adetokunbo Ademola and Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam (29 November 1906  1 July 1995), who later became Governor of the Eastern Nigeria. He was also the father of Chief Olufemi Adeniyi Williams (86), a Lagos Socialite and former Managing Director of OBM, a foremost Advertising Agency, who later became Chairman of Island Club, Lagos.

Dr Majekodunmi also swore in Prince Daniel Adeleke Ademiluyi (10 September, 1913-20 September, 1985) as Commissioner/Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Prince Ademiluyi was the son of revered Ooni of Ife, Ajagun Lawarikan, who ascended the throne in 1910. He was an aristocrat from Ile-Ife, the cradle.

Prince Adeleke Ademiluyi was elected to the Western House of Assembly in 1954 to represent Ile-Ife Central. Prince Ademiluyis political career saw him appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 1954-1959. He later became Chairman of Western Nigeria Development Corporation from 1963-1966. He was the father of the famous journalist, Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi.

Others appointees were Oba of Benin, Akenzua II, The Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Tewogboye II, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Akinyele, the Olu of Warri, Erejuwa II and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba S.O. Abimbola. Two Ministers Messrs ST Rufai and F Lamina were appointed to assist in two Ministries including the Ministry of Justice.

The appointment of the Obas was an acknowledgement of the contribution of traditional rulers in Nigerias struggles for independence. No doubt, the traditional rulers were involved in pre-independence struggles for Nigerias independence like the politicians.

For example, at the Londons Nigerias Constitutional Conference on Monday 27 July, 1953, the following traditional rulers attended the conference. The Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the Olowo of Owo, Sir Olateru Olagbegi (1910-1998) -(regional Minister without portfolio), the Obi of Idumuje Ugboko Kingdom in Aniocha North in Delta state, Obi Justin Nkezie Nwoko (1926-1955) and the Emir of Katsina, Sir Usman Nagogo Dan Muhammadu Dikki (1905-18 March 1981), 47th Emir of Katsina.

Others who attended the conference were Chief Bode Thomas, Chief SL Akintola, Chief Arthur Prest, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Western Regional Minister of Local Government, Chief Rotimi Williams, SO Shonibare, SO Awokoya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Latifu J Dosumu, Mrs Tanimowo Ogunlesi, GC Nonyelu, Alfred Ogbeyiwa Rewane and Mallam Mudi Sipikin.

Others were Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, KO Mbadiwe, EO Eyo, Mallam Bello Ijumu, Kolawole Balogun, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, NP Birabi, VA Nwankwo, NN Mbile, LP Ojukwu, EG Gundu, DC Osadebay, Mrs Margaret Ekpo, Chief H Omo Osagie, Chief Yamu Numa, Chief FS Edah, Ahmadu, Sardauna of Sokoto, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and The Hon. Aliyu, MHR, Makama Bida.

The rest were Abba Habib, Pastor David Lot, Mallam Ibrahim Imam, Mallam Saladu Alamanu, GU Ohikere, Benjamin Akiga, Mohammadu Ribadu, Mallam Dauda Kwoi, Shehu Ahmadu, Sarkin Shanu, Mallam Nuhu Bamalle, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mallam Abubakar Zukogi, EML Endeley, Reverend JC Kangsen, Eyo Ita, AC Nwapa, Okoi Arikpo, JA Wachuku and Dr EU Udoma.

Lets take a look at the profile of other traditional rulers appointed as Ministers by Dr Majekodunmi as Administrator.

Oba Samuel Omotosho Abimbola was the Oluwo of Iwo between 1958 and 1982. He was one of the most respected Kings in Yorubaland at that time.

Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele (18 April 1882  30 May 1965) became an active member of the Christ Apostolic Church and was, for a long, its head in Ibadan. He also became a chief and thus rose steadily in the traditional hierarchy headed from 1936 by an Oba, the Olubadan. He became Otun Balogun and then, in late 1953, Balogun. Problems were expected because the title had close associations with the traditional Yoruba religion, which make it difficult for a devout Christian to hold it. But the problems were overcome and Oba Akinyele rose steadily towards the Obas throne.

Oba Isaac Akinyele was involved in politics, as a party supporter of the Action Group (AG). His political interests conflicted with those of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) which controlled the Ibadan District Council, and its local boss, Adegoke Adelabu. In February 1955, he was elected Olubadan of Ibadan having previously served as Chief Judge.

Oba Akinyeles rule was soon engulfed in the turbulent political developments in Western Nigeria, the result of the growing rift in the Action Group between its leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (6 March 1909  9 May 1987) and his deputy and Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (6 July 1910  15 January 1966) in 1962. This came to a head when Alhaji Chief Dauda Soroye Adegbenro (1909-1975), the Balogun of Owu and the Ekerin of Egbaland, Chief Awolowos supporter, was appointed premier by Governor Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife. Disorder broke out in the House of Assembly as the new Premier was presenting his government for vote of confidence and following the subsequent outbreak of violence both among their supporters outside, the Region was placed under a state of emergency. The government was suspended and as sole Administrator of the West was appointed in the person of Dr. Moses A. Majekodunmi.

Throughout the entire political crisis Oba Akinyele remained aloof, placing himself at the disposal of any peace initiative for which Ibadan was a venue on several occasions. He ruled for only ten years but left a big reputation behind when he died in May 1965.

Oba Uku Akpolokpolo Omo nOba nEdo (1889-1978) Akenzua II was born as Edokparhogbuyunmun at Benin in 1899; his father was Oba Eweka II who ruled Benin from 1914 until 1933, and his grandfather the great Oba Ovonramwen who was the last independent King of Benin. He studied at Benin Government School between 1907 and 1915 and later at Kings College, Lagos, from 1918 to 1921. On leaving school, he became employed as a transport clerk in the Benin Native Authority on a wage of N6 per month.

His training for the future office of Oba began when he became confidential Secretary to his father, Eweka II, whose death in 1933 introduced Akenzua II to the rigour of office. Before then, in 1925, he worked under the supervision of the late Alake of Egbaland, Oba Ladapo Ademola II (18721962). Following this, he was appointed to head the Ekaidolor District, the present Iyekuselu; he was in this office when his father died. In the same year Prince Okoro was installed Oba of Benin with the title of Akenzua II.

Between 1946 and 1966, the formative years of the new political system in the country, the Oba was a member of the Legislative Council of Nigeria, member of the Western House of Assembly, a member of the Western House of Chiefs and a Cabinet Minister.

Oba Akenzua was instrumental in the creation of the Midwest Region; it was his view that the two provinces of Benin and Delta in the Western Region could constitute the Bendel State by which the Midwest later became known. In October 1953, he formed the Benin-Delta Peoples Party to campaign for the Unification of the two provinces. With the creation of the region, he became the first President of the Midwest House of Chiefs in 1964. His contributions to the politics and policies that shaped the content of Nigerian formative politics were rewarded by awards and honours bestowed on him: he was decorated with the insignia of the Commander of the Republic of Nigeria and was made a Justice of Peace. From 1966 to 1972 he served as the Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

As the Oba of Benin, Akenzua II was the custodian of the rich Bini tradition and culture whose study and promotion he personally encouraged; it was to this end he volunteered whatever bronze or ivory carvings under his jurisdiction for the success of the Black Arts and Culture Festival, FESTAC, that was held in the Nigeria capital in 1977. He died in the late 1978 and was succeeded by Solomon Igbinoghodua Aisiokuoba who became Oba Erediauwa I of Benin in 1979.

Oba Rufus Adesokeji Aderele (Tewogboye II), son of Oba Tewogboye 1 ascended the throne as the Osemawe of Ondo, after the dethronement Oba Fidipote II. He was an educated Oba, adequately experienced in the system of governance and reigned from 1942-1974. He was the father Prince Ademola Olugbade Aderele; who served Nigeria as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on various missions, including representing the Nigerian Government as its first Nigerian High Commissioner to Thailand.

According to Wikipedia, Oba Sikiru Olukayode Adetona, Ogbagba Agbotewole II, was born on 10 May 1934, into the Royal House of Anikinaiya of Ijebuland in his fathers house in Imupa, Ijebu Ode. His father was Prince Rufai Adetona Adeleke (born 1902), a son of Oba Adeleke, Ogbagba Agbotewole I (18251906), who was the Awujale of Ijebuland from 1895 to 1906. His mother was Ajibabi Onasile, who was from the town of Ijebu Igbo. The founder of the Royal House of Anikinaiya (or Anikilaya) was his great-grandfather Oba Anikilaya, Figbajoye Agboogunsa I, (c. 17751854) who reigned from 1821 to 1854, and who himself was a son of Oba Gbelegbuwa. As a member of the Royal House of Anikinaiya, his paternal family claimed descent from Olu-Iwa, the semi-legendary first Awujale and Obanta, another founder of the Ijebu kingdom.

Prince Adetona attended various Baptist Schools, Ereko, Ijebu-Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu-Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he attended Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu-Ode from 1951 to 1956. Between 1957 and 1958 he took up an appointment with the then Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan.

The prince resigned his appointment in 1958 to pursue further studies in accountancy in the United Kingdom, which was the colonial ruler of Nigeria at the time.

By a letter dated 4 January 1960, referenced CB. 4 1/333, the Permanent Secretary in the Western Region Ministry of Local Government conveyed to the Local Government Adviser in Ijebu Ode approval of the Western Region Governor in Council, the appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as king, and his confirmation as the new Awujale of Ijebuland with effect from that date (4 January 1960). It became the lot of Ijebu notables like the late Ogbeni-Oja, Chief (Dr.) Timothy Adeola Odutola, Bobasuwa I, Chief Emmanuel Okusanya Okunowo (MBE, KFNM); and Asiwaju, Chief Samuel Olatubosun Shonibare, to arrange for the home-coming of the King-elect.

On 18 January 1960, the Head of the Ijebu Ode Regency Council, the Ogbeni-Oja, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola formally presented the new traditional ruler to the whole world. This presentation, which was a novelty, signalled the commencement of the installation ceremonies of the king-elect. It was indeed, a new dawn in the annals of the Ijebu people. The king-elect thereafter proceeded to undergo the traditional seclusion at the Odo for three months.

Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who had earlier been nominated along with five others by the ODIS was unanimously selected by the kingmakers in conformity with Section 11 of the Chiefs Law of 1957 applicable in Western Region. The then Governor signed the Instrument of Office approving Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as Awujale of Ijebuland. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, 2 April 1960.

On 5 April 1960, newly crowned Oba Adetona took his seat as a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs, after a formal introduction.

Erejuwa II was a traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri who was Olu of Warri from 1951 to 1964 and from 1966 to 1986. He was the 18th Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame Erejuwa II. He succeeded his father Ginuwa II as Olu. Ginuwa II was a great grandson of Olu Akengbuwa the last Olu who died in 1848, he was crowned in 1936 after an interregnum that lasted 88 years when Warris political leadership was dominated by merchant princes.

Erejuwa was born in 1908 as Wilson Gbesimi Emiko, he attended a CMS missionary school at Ogbesse, thereafter he did business with United African Company rising to become a provincial cooperatives president. Warri was the capital township of Warri Province, a colonial administrative unit with Warri Division as a sub-unit consisting of Warri Township, Sapele and Forcados.

The government decision led to protest led by non-Itsekiri groups within Warri Division who feared the title could lead the Olu to lay claim as paramount authority within Warri Division. The title had always been the Olu of Warri before it was changed to Olu of Itsekiri in 1936 to pacify the Itsekiri neighbours who had always feared Itsekiri domination by their very influential king. But the Itsekiri had used every civilised forum to protest this anomaly until 1952 when the title was reverted to its original status of Olu of Warri.

As Olu of Warri, he was appointed regional Minister without portfolio and president of the Warri Divisional Traditional Council.

Following unhealthy rivalry between prominent Itsekiri leaders in the Action Group and the NCNC in the lead to the creation of a Mid-West region, Erejuwa, who perceived to have backed Action Group, was deposed by the NCNC-led regional government in 1964 and deported to Ogbese. He was re-appointed in 1966 by the new military government of David Ejoor after some of the prominent Itsekiri leaders in the NCNC had been taken out by the emerging military government.

On September 26, this year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) attended the coronation of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Akanmu Ladoja (ARUSA I). The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde gave the Oba, the staff of Office. Laudable words were uttered by both the President and the governor on the preservation of the institution of traditional rulers in the country. They are mere words. Traditional rulers have no role in our present-day democracy. Let any of them cross the redline, he will be reminded instantly that he is under a director in the states Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and he will be queried accordingly. That is the sad aspect of our constitution.

An example was when the Central government took action on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade (1 January 1930  28 July 2015) and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero (25 July 1930- 6 June 2014) in 1984. They were restricted to their domain and had their international passports seized by the military government of General Muhammadu Buhari.

This action was taken after the Ooni and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, made an unauthorised trip to Israel in 1984, which was against the policy of the military government at the time. They were essentially placed under a travel ban and confined to their respective local government areas for a period of six months as a form of government sanction.

The Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadamilare Adesina was removed by the then Ondo state governor, Olusegun Rahman Mimiko, for allegedly smacking his wife. Eze of Akaeze, Joseph Okor, was dethroned in 2022 by the Ebonyi State Government for drunkenness; Onojie of Uromi, Anslem Aidenojie was suspended and later dethroned in Edo State, for abusing a woman and showing disrespect to constituted authorities. Baabe Kingdom Chief, Monday Frank Noryea, was removed by the Rivers State Governor for alleged cult-related activities, etc.

While in other countries of the world, the culture of the people is being sustained by the role of their traditional rulers ours has been completely deleted. They are getting numerous with no schedule.

The 1999 Constitution has no role for traditional rulers in the country. This contradicts the 1979 Constitution, which provided a little role for traditional rulers. Section 140 of the 1979 Constitution states that 1. The Council of State shall comprise the following persons, namely(a) the President, who shall be the Chairman (b) the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman ; (c)all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; (d) all former Chief Justices of Nigeria who are citizens of Nigeria; (e) the President of the Senate; (g) all the Governors of the States of the Federation; (h) all the Governors of the States of the Federation; (h) the Attorney-General of the Federation; and (i) one person from each state, who shall as respects that State be appointed by the Council of Chiefs of the State from among themselves.

The legal Drafting Team of THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY between 1978 and 1979 was coordinated by a friend whom I have the greatest respect for, Justice John Hezekiah Omololu Thomas (1925- January 2, 2018). An autographed 1979 Constitution by Justice Thomas is still with me till today.

In the recommendation of THE CONSTITUENT DRAFTING committee of 1975. The President shall consult the Council of States as a body in the exercise of his powers in relation to National population census and Registry, Prerogative of Mercy, Award of National honours, Electoral Commission and such other matters as the President may wish to consult the Council. The members of the Council of States are (1) The President as the Chairman (2)the Vice-President as the Deputy Chairman; (3) former President who did leave office for reasons of dishonesty or Senate impeachment and who for the time being do not suffer any of the disqualifications prescribed for a Senator; (4) former Chief Justice of the Federation who did not leave office for reason of dishonesty and who is not otherwise disqualified if he were a Senator; (5) President of the Senate; (6) Speaker of the House of Representatives; (7) State Governors (8) Attorney-General of the Federation (9) former most senior Grand Khadi ; (10) six other persons appointed by the President, and (11) one traditional ruler from each state, to be appointed by the State Council of Chiefs from among themselves. Persons who are members of the Council by virtue of their former office shall hold office for life unless they are otherwise disqualified.

While the 1979 Constitution gave a little role to the traditional rulers, the 1963 Constitution gave free role to them. Section 41 of the 1963 Constitution states that (41) There shall be a Parliament of the Federation, which shall consist of the President, a Senate and a House of Representatives. (42) 1. Without prejudice to the provisions of section 46 of this Constitution, the Senate shall consist of- twelve Senators representing each Region, who shall be selected at a joint sitting of the legislative houses of that Region from among persons nominated by the Governor; four Senators representing the Federal territory; c. four Senators selected by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. (2) The Senators representing the Federal territory shall be (a) the Oba of Lagos, who shall be an ex-officio member of the Senate; (b) a Chief selected in such manner as may be prescribed by Parliament by the White White-Cap Chiefs and War Chiefs of Lagos from among their own number; and c. two other persons selected for that purpose in such manner as be prescribed by Parliament. (3) A joint sitting of the legislative houses of a Region may regulate its own procedure for the purposes of this section. 43. Without prejudice to the provisions of sections 47 and 88 of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist of three hundred and twelve members. 44. Subject to the provisions of section 45 of the Constitution (a) a person shall be qualified for selection as a Senator if he is a citizen of Nigeria and has attained the age of forty; (b) a person shall be qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives if he is a citizen of Nigeria and has attained the age of twenty-one years.

In the past traditional rulers served in the government as legislators or as Commissioners or even as Governors. A case in point was that of the Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi (15 November 1889  3 July 1980), who was the only traditional appointed governor.

Oba Titus Martins Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi (Atobatele I), (15 November 1889  3 July 1980), was the Ooni of Ife from 1930 until 1980. He served as the governor of Western Region, Nigeria between 1960 and 1962.

Sir Adesoji Aderemi was known as a wealthy man and had a large family of many wives and children. One of his children was Princess Tejumade Alakija (17 May 1925  August, 2013), who later became the head of Service of Oyo state.

During the colonial era, the Ooni gained a considerable amount of power due to the colonial policy of indirect rule and being labelled a first class Oba among traditional rulers in Yorubaland. The policy of indirect rule was used to ensure native awareness and consultations about colonial policies affecting the regions. The British leaned on existing native political structures and hierarchy, particularly the Nigerian traditional rulers, for political consultation and tax collection. Later on, the Ooni with the consent of the leading Yoruba political leaders used his position to close the gaps of exploitation of divisional differences among Yorubas and tried fervently to rally the Yoruba towards a common goal.

In 1962, the king acting as governor, used his power to remove the premier of the region, sensing the premier did not have the support of the majority members of the House of Assembly. The event escalated the political rivalries in the region.

As we contemplate on our never-ending attempt to amend the Constitution, the nagging question is whether or not to give the traditional rulers any role at all. No doubt, the 1999 Constitution has deleted any role for them. Should we continue to allow them to remain idle in their palaces, occasionally attending social events or give them some roles.

Definitely they represent a part of our past.

Many of them are highly educated and wealthy, but because of constitutional limitations they are idle and suffering in silence. Worse still, the greedy and selfish politicians we have dont want to share power with them. So they are not likely to amend the constitution to give them certain schedules.

What should we do with them?

Should we continue to pretend that they are still relevant?

Eric Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.
The world is shifting. Old power structures are being tested, new alliances are forming, and the voices demanding justice and equity are growing louder, particularly from the Global South. In this rapidly changing global order, Africas inclusion in the G20 and South Africas leadership role present both an opportunity and a challenge: Can Africa use its new position to push for reparative justice  a redress of historical wrongs and a restructuring of global inequalities? And, crucially, what part can African youth, who make up more than 60 percent of the continents population, play in this transformative moment?

This conversation on reparation becomes critical as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament, the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), and other partners, prepares to host a Continental Youth Symposium from 1011 November. It also aligns closely with the theme of the recently concluded 3rd African Union Studies Annual Symposium, jointly organised by the University of Johannesburgs Department of Politics and IPATC, in partnership with TrustAfrica, held from 910 October.

When the African Union (AU) became a permanent member of the G20 in 2023, many celebrated it as a long-overdue recognition of Africas importance in global governance. The G20 shapes decisions on global trade, debt, climate finance, and economic recovery. Yet for decades, Africa has been more often a subject of these discussions than an equal participant.

The AUs new seat at the table is therefore symbolic of progress, but symbolism alone is not enough. As noted by many, inclusion does not automatically translate into influence. The real question is: how can Africa use this platform to advance reparative diplomacy, which seeks fairness in global negotiations and redresses historical and structural injustices that have long kept Africa at the margins? This goes beyond the language of aid or partnership. It is rooted in the idea that centuries of colonial exploitation, racial subjugation, and economic dependency have created enduring inequalities that require active redress. It calls for structural change, not pity or charity.

As both a G20 and BRICS member, South Africa stands at the heart of Africas global engagement. Its historical struggle against apartheid gave it moral weight in international diplomacy, and its foreign policy has long emphasised justice, equity, and multilateralism. South Africas G20 presidency, expected to shape the groups agenda around inclusion and sustainable development, offers a moment of reckoning. Can South Africa make a significant push for the reform of global institution of governance? Will Africa continue to react to global dynamics, or will it begin to set its own agenda?

With more than 400 million young people under the age of 35, Africa is the youngest continent in the world. This generation is reshaping political and social landscapes through activism, innovation, and digital engagement. From climate justice campaigns in Kenya and anti-debt movements in Ghana to civic reform initiatives in Nigeria and South Africa, African youth are challenging exclusionary systems and demanding a say in how their countries engage with the world. Yet, in elite diplomatic circles such as the AU and the G20, youth voices are still largely absent. Policy frameworks often speak about young people rather than with them. The challenge, then, is to reimagine youth as agents of reparative diplomacy, thinkers, negotiators, and advocates shaping how Africa articulates its demands for global justice.

This requires moving diplomacy beyond government ministries and conference halls. It means building people-to-people diplomacy, where youth networks, universities, think tanks, and social movements collaborate to define Africas global agenda. From digital diplomacy initiatives to climate negotiations, young Africans are already demonstrating the creativity and moral urgency needed to push for reparative outcomes.

Reparative justice, in the African context, is not merely about financial compensation or symbolic apologies. It is about transforming systems that perpetuate inequality, particularly in trade, finance, migration, or climate policy. Take, for instance, the global debt crisis. Many African countries spend more on debt servicing than on health or education. As presented by Afreximbank Research, an estimated 14 African countries are expected to surpass the 180% debt-to-exports threshold, while 25 countries will exceed the 20% debt service-to-revenue benchmark, reinforcing Africas continued exposure to external shocks and mounting fiscal pressures.

What about climate change? Africa contributes the least to global emissions yet suffers the most from droughts, floods, and displacement. These are not simply development challenges, they are reparative justice issues rooted in centuries of slavery, colonialism, aggressive resource extraction and exclusion. The G20s recent discussions on debt restructuring and climate finance present an opportunity for Africa to argue about more equitable systems. But for that advocacy to be credible and transformative, it must reflect the priorities of Africas citizens, especially its youth, who will bear the long-term consequences of current policy choices.

For much of the postcolonial period, Africas relationship with global governance institutions has been defined by dependency and conditionality. International financial institutions and global powers have dictated the terms of economic reform, often undermining domestic agency. The AUs inclusion in the G20 offers an opportunity to reshape this relationship, and to shift from being policy recipients to policy architects.

But that requires a clear, unified, and visionary strategy. The AU must leverage its position not only to represent governments but also to mobilise the continents intellectual and demographic capital, especially its youth. It must advocate for a redefinition of governance and development that reflects Africas cultural values, economic aspirations, and social realities. The idea of reparative diplomacy thus becomes central: Africas participation in global governance should not simply aim to catch up with the world but to reshape it with principles of fairness, solidarity, and mutual accountability.

As the world grapples with diverse crises, the need for a new moral compass in global leadership has never been greater. Africa, through the AU and South Africa, can offer that compass, drawing from its histories of resistance, communal values, and youthful energy. However, this will only be possible if African leaders work with their youth. Youth are not waiting to be invited. They are already leading transformative conversations on justice, innovation, and sustainability. Thus, they must be fully involved in continental policy and diplomacy.

While Africas seat in the G20 represents a victory, this representation must evolve into influence and transformation at the global stage. Reparative justice offers a compelling framework for this transformation; one that connects Africas past with its future, its local struggles with global change. If the AU, South Africa, and the continents youth can align around a shared reparative vision, Africa could redefine not only its own destiny but also the principles of global governance itself. Africa demands more than just a seat at the table. The continent must become a decisive global actor. African leaders must be bold and committed to make justice the cornerstone of diplomacy.

Adeoye O. Akinola is an associate professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg.
It has been another tough week for Nigerians confronted with political gangsterism from the highest levels of the State that is tearing Nigeria at the seams. There is apparently a belief in Nigerias ruling circles that they can do anything and get away with it, while keeping their power intact. I think they are wrong. We cannot continue with seasons of anomie closely following each other and maintain a country. There has simply been too many negatives following day after day in recent times.

One of the most painful events was the killing of Brig Gen Musa Uba, the commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade. Unfortunately, this brave officer with a track record of combat to save his fatherland paid the supreme price following an ambush on his team by the fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) last Friday. He was leading his men and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) when the insurgents ambushed them along the Damboa-Biu axis, killing four operativestwo soldiers and two CJTF officials. He escaped the initial ambush and was communicating with military authorities to return to base when he was captured by the terrorists, who subsequently killed him. At a time when many of his senior colleagues avoid the war theatre and simply send their subalterns, it is tragic that the high command would not do the necessary to save his life. The repercussions of his loss might have a lasting impact on Nigerias war on terror.

This strategy about the loss of a general was followed by the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu local government area of Kebbi State. Following the abduction of the 276 Chibok girls in 2014, 110 girls from Dapchi Girls Secondary School in 2018, 300 students abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State in 2020 etc etc the Nigerian government has always said it shall not happen again. Students in the 168,000 schools across Nigeria will be protected through the Safe Schools Initiative. But again, and again, predictable tragedy is allowed to happen.

The Kebbi State governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, on Monday night, fumed over what he described as failure to act on credible intelligence from the DSS: This is clear sabotage. We got credible intelligence from the DSS (Department of State Services) that this school was likely to be attacked. DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. And the decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students, said the governor. The governor lamented that deployments were made to secure the school. The heavily-armed security men spent time taking photographs with the students, only to abandon them 30 minutes before the attack. This was therefore very clearly a tragedy that was allowed to happen. If history is to be a guide, no one will be held accountable for these killings and abductions as we wait for the next set of students to be attached. How can we say we have a State when there is zero accountability for criminal collusion? Meanwhile, parents are left to take the difficult decision to send their children to school and risk losing them or keep them at home making their futures bleak.

Also, this week, gunmen attacked a church in central Nigeria, killing at least two people and kidnapping the pastor and some worshippers. The attack took place on Tuesday evening in Eruku, a town in Kwara state. For the first time, even President Bola Tinubu blinked and postponed a planned trip to South Africa and Angola for G20 and AU-EU summits to receive security briefings on the numerous attacks. As usual, for the millionth time, the President ordered more security to hunt down the assailants in Kwara and directed the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the schoolgirls, abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home safe, his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said.

In terms of drama, the biggest skit of the week was watching policemen fighting each other to throw out or bring in two combative factions claiming the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking to take and control the Wadata, Abuja National Secretariat of the party. The dramatis personae were the newly elected National Chairman, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, SAN, who had fixed the inaugural meeting of the new National Working Committee, NWC, at the secretariat, while the faction loyal to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, had also scheduled an emergency Board of Trustees, BoT, and National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting at the same venue. Governors and ministers used their factions of the Nigerian police force to tear gas the other and throw them out of the secretariat. It would have been interesting theatre but for the fact that what is at stake is the survival of Nigerias democracy.

The tragedy of the situation is that a minister of the Tinubu administration has decided to remain in the PDP and fabricate crisis after crisis to disable the party from contesting against the current serving president who is keen on winning the 2027 presidential elections. Using state power, money and manipulation of the judiciary, the government has been successful so far in igniting crisis-generating mechanisms in all other parties that could contest the next elections. This determination to ensure that there will be no level playing ground in the next election is a very serious threat to Nigerias democracy. The pathway towards the establishment of a one-party state is the fastest route to the disintegration of Nigeria.

I dont know whether President Tinubu has a political adviser that is not a reckless lets destroy all opponents so that we enjoy all the power alone believer. If he does, that adviser should explain to him that when the prince destroys all the opponents, all the people become new opponents.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.
In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Prophet Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, leadership is a solemn trust (Amanah) from Allah, and a leaders primary duty is to act as a guardian (shepherd) for the people, ensuring their welfare and protecting their lives. This responsibility is rooted in the fundamental Islamic principle of the sanctity of human life and the pursuit of justice and mercy.

The core of Islamic leadership is the recognition that all authority ultimately belongs to Allah, and leaders are merely vicegerents or representatives on Earth. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) emphasised this weighty responsibility in a Hadith, he said:

Each of you is a guardian, and each of you will be asked about his subjects. The leader is a guardian, and he will be asked about those in his care

This means that a leader is not a tyrant but a guardian who will be held accountable before Allah on the Day of Judgment for how they discharged this trust.

The protection of human life is one of the highest objectives of Islamic law (Maqasid al-Shariah), second only to the preservation of religion itself. The Quran makes it clear that all human life is sacred and has been granted fundamental rights by Allah. A verse in the Quran highlights this principle. Allah Almighty says:

Whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind, and whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind.

This Quranic verse applies to all people, regardless of their background, and places an immense value on every single life.

A just leader, who is one of the seven types of people who will receive Allahs shade on the Day of Judgment, must prioritise universal brotherhood, justice, and compassion.

Leaders must protect their people from internal violence, external invasion, and all forms of harm. This includes ensuring peace and well-being, physically and mentally, for all citizens.

In governance, leaders must apply the law fairly and without nepotism or discrimination, ensuring that the rights of the weak and oppressed are protected.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) demonstrated leadership through self-sacrifice and putting others first, not by seeking personal gain or comfort. Leaders who show integrity and selflessness inspire their people to do the same.

Also leaders are accountable to both the people and ultimately to Allah Almighty. This consciousness of being monitored is a safeguard against abuse of power and corruption.

Leadership demands a profound commitment to serving and safeguarding the well-being and lives of the people. It is a divine mandate to act with justice, mercy, and integrity, for which every leader will be held fully responsible.

Leaders who fail to protect the lives and properties of their people are considered accountable to Allah. They are expected to uphold justice, ensure safety and security, and protect the rights of their citizens.

If they neglect these responsibilities, they may face divine punishment and accountability in the afterlife. Islamic scholars emphasise the importance of leaders being just, fair, and compassionate, and that they will be answerable to Allah for their actions.

So government should take good action on those responsible for the attacks on innocent lives, if not, in the hearafter he will explain to Allah why he fail to do the needful.

Today, Nigerians dont need motivational speakers or just preachers only they needs LEADERS who can take the baton and lead at helm. Economically empowered leaders.

And in choosing excellent leaders and making appointment of public officials, only merit matters, nothing else.

Respected brothers and sisters! Also Islam places immense importance on peace, a principle woven into the very fabric of the religionthe Arabic root of Islam is s-l-m, closely related to salam, meaning peace and security. Achieving peace is not a passive state but an active, lifelong pursuit, essential for both personal tranquility and societal harmony. The Quran states:

And Allah invites to the Home of Peace. [Quran, 10:25]

Indicating that peace is the desired destination in both this world and the hereafter. One of Allahs attributes is As-Salam (The Peace/The Source of Peace), signifying that peace is a core aspect of the Divine nature itself.

Peace in Islam is a holistic state of well-being encompassing physical, spiritual, and social dimensions. It demands justice, compassion, and balance in all interactions, not just the absence of conflict.

True peace begins within the heart and soul through self-awareness, self-discipline, and the remembrance of Allah (Zikr). This inner tranquility is the foundation for extending peace to ones family, community, and the wider world.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was a living example of mercy (Rahmatan lil Alamin, a mercy to the worlds). His conduct, even towards enemies, was marked by patience, forgiveness, and dignity, as demonstrated by the peaceful conquest of Makkah and the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, where he prioritised peace over conflict.

Islam mandates standing firmly for justice, even if it is against oneself or kin, and dealing with all people with kindness and fairness, regardless of their faith, region, tribe or background. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to humankind.

The noble Quran advocates for sincere forgiveness as the preferred option to re-establish harmony, stating that:

whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. [Quran, 42:40]

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) encouraged dialogue, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes. He said:

Shall I not inform you of something more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer, and almsgiving? Making peace between people.

This Prophetic Hadith emphasises the high value placed on reconciliation. Ultimately, the Islamic perspective teaches that peace is a positive, active force requiring a conscious effort to build bridges, heal divisions, and create a world of safety and hope for all, motivated by a desire to please Allah and benefit humanity.

Fellow Nigerians! Know that, peace is a core value in both Christianity and Islam, serving as a guiding principle for inner harmony and global unity. For Christians, peace is found through Jesuss teachings, which emphasise forgiveness and love as pathways to serenity. Similarly, Muslims seek peace by submitting to Allah, as taught in the Quran and Sunnah (Hadith). Both religions underscore the importance of achieving inner peace before contributing to peace in the world.

Finally, respected brothers and sisters! Also mediation (Sulh) is an essential tool for conflict resolution, and Islam strongly encourages peaceful reconciliation between individuals, families, and communities. Whether resolving disputes between spouses, family members, or even nations, mediation (Sulh) is a noble act rooted in justice, wisdom, and compassion.

The noble Quran explicitly commands Muslim believers to seek peace and reconciliation. Allah Almighty says:

And if two groups of believers fight, then make peace between them. [Quran, 49:9]

The goal of mediation (Sulh) is not to win an argument but to restore peace, mend relationships, and uphold justice. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was known for his wisdom in settling disputes, always prioritising fairness and kindness.

Islam provides a clear framework for mediation in family matters, especially in marriage disputes. If conflict arises, Allah advises appointing neutral mediators:

If you fear a breach between them, appoint an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. [Quran, 4:35]

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) himself acted as a mediator in various family conflicts, always advocating for patience, understanding, and mutual respect.

A mediator must be impartial, wise, and just. The Quran warns against bias:

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. [Quran, 5:8]

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) also said:

The best charity is to reconcile between people. [Ahmad in Musnad]

And mediation (Sulh) is not about taking sidesit is about seeking truth, fairness, and peace.

Mediation (Sulh) is not just a social duty; it is an act of worship that brings immense reward. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

Shall I not tell you something more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer, and charity? They said, Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said, Reconciling people, for conflict and hatred sever the ties of faith. [Abu Dawud]

This Prophetic Hadith highlights that resolving conflicts strengthens faith and unity within the community.

In a world filled with misunderstandings, conflicts and insecurity, mediation (Sulh) offers a powerful solution. Whether in personal disputes, family matters, or community tensions, following the principles of Islamic mediation can restore harmony and strengthen relationships.

May Allah guide us all to be peacemakers in our countries, families and communities, ameen.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Prophet Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.

This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Jumadal Ula 30, 1447 AH (November 21, 2025).
Let me borrow a leaf from the wisdom of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. He said, Development is not about what leaders sayit is about where they go, who they meet, and what they bring back home. This wisdom perfectly resonates with the recent working visit to the Republic of Belarus by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

The trip between 11th and 14th November, 2025 will be remembered as one of the most consequential trips by any Nigerian governor in recent times.

Perhaps youve read from government guided mouths and different media outlets, but as government, with the strong will of informing and educating its citizens on actions being taken to foster progress and development, here are ten critical takeaways from this historic visit that should fill every Katsinawa with hope and anticipation.

Security First: Training for Katsina Community Watch Corps

For years, our communities have lived under the shadow of banditry and insecurity. Governor Radda understands that lasting peace requires more than goodwillit demands professionally trained personnel equipped with modern tools.

At the Minsk Security Institute and the Centre for Border Security and Special Forces Training Facility, the governor secured a top-level training package for the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC).

What does this imply? Our local security volunteers will now receive advanced counter-insurgency and border security training from one of the worlds most respected security academies. In essence, when our C-WATCH personnel return from Belarus, they will be better prepared to protect our farms, our schools, and our villages.

Modern Weapons and Security Equipment

To Governor Radda, training alone is insufficient without the right tools. At the State Authority for Military Industry (LEMT)Belarus equivalent of Nigerias Defence Industries Corporation( DICON)Governor Radda negotiated for the modernisation of KCWCs security kits and gadgets.

Imagine our C-WATCH personnel equipped not with outdated tools, but with modern surveillance systems, communication devices, and protective gear that match international standards. This is nothing but a clear signal that Katsina will no longer fight 21st-century security threats with 20th-century equipment.

Scholarships in AI, Robotics, and Drone Technology

A popular saying goes thus, The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. At the Belarus Ministry of Education, Governor Radda secured scholarship opportunities for Katsina youths in artificial intelligence, robotics, agricultural engineering, and drone technology.

These are the skills that will define the next generation of industries.

Our young people will study in Belarus, master these technologies, and return to build solutions for Katsinas unique challenges, and Nigeria at large. When a Katsinawa youth programs a drone to monitor farmlands or designs a robot to assist in healthcare, we will remember that it started with Raddas visit to Minsk.

Training of Trainers: Building Capacity from Within

Governor Radda knows that sustainable development comes from building local capacity, not perpetual dependence on foreign experts. That is why he secured Training of Trainers programmes for instructors from the Katsina Youth Craft Village and other state institutions.

These instructors will travel to Minsk, learn from Belarus best technical colleges and innovation centres, and return to train thousands of young Katsina residents. This is the multiplier effect in actionone trained instructor can produce hundreds of skilled graduates who will power our emerging industries for decades.

The Beltech Export Company Visit: A Lesson in Billionaire-Making

At Beltech Export Company, eastern Europes most famous ICT centre, Governor Radda and his team were shown something extraordinary: an attendance register of past trainees. The striking detail? Most of them are now dollar billionaires.

This was not luckit was the result of world-class training in cutting-edge computer technology.

The governor immediately secured opportunities for Katsina youths to access this same training. Imagine our young peoplecurrently struggling with unemploymenttransforming into tech entrepreneurs building solutions that attract global investment. This is the future Governor Radda is building, one partnership at a time.

Hi-Tech Park: A Model for Katsina TechVille

Katsina TechVille is not a dreamit is an ongoing project. But Governor Radda understands that to build a world-class technology hub, you must first study successful models.

At the Hi-Tech Park in Minsk, he observed one of Eastern Europes most successful technology ecosystems, known for its supportive legal structure, investor-friendly policies, and strong talent pipeline.

The lessons learned will directly inform how Katsina TechVille is developed, ensuring it attracts global technology companies and creates thousands of high-paying jobs for our youths. In Katsina, we are not reinventing the wheel; we are learning from those who have already built successful wheels.

Agricultural Modernisation: From Subsistence to Excellence

Katsinas economy is rooted in agriculture, but too often our farmers work harder than they should with outdated equipment. At the Belarus Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Governor Radda negotiated for the modernisation of our existing agricultural equipment to meet international standards.

More importantly, he secured access to technology-driven farming methods that will increase yields, reduce waste, and make farming more profitable. When our farmers begin using precision agriculture tools and climate-smart techniques learned from Belarus, the transformation will be visible in their harvests and their incomes.

Advanced Cattle Breeds and Animal Husbandry Models

Livestock is a critical part of Katsinas agricultural economy, yet our animal husbandry practices lag behind global standards. Governor Radda secured an agreement for Belarus to provide advanced cattle breeds and enhanced animal husbandry models.

This means healthier animals, better milk and meat production, and more income for pastoralists and farmers. When you see stronger, more productive livestock in Katsina in the coming years, remember that this partnership was born in Minsk.

Visa Access for Katsina Students

At the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Governor Raddas delegation met with Sergey Lukashevich, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and secured streamlined visa access for Katsina youths seeking to study in Belarus.

This removes a major barrier that has historically kept many talented young people from accessing quality international education. Now, the pathway is clear: if you are a Katsinawa with ambition and talent, Belarus is open to you.

A Governor Who Prays with His People Abroad

On Friday during the visit, Governor Radda joined Katsina indigenes living in Minsk at the National Mosque for Jumuah prayers.

This simple act speaks volumes. Even thousands of miles from home, the governor remained connected to his faith and his people.

It reminded those living abroad that they have not been forgotten, and it reminded those of us at home that our leader carries our identityour values, our faith, our spiritwherever he goes.

Governor Raddas visit to Belarus was not a tourist trip. It was a carefully planned mission to secure concrete partnerships that will change the trajectory of Katsina State. The delegation included serious-minded officials: the Principal Private Secretary, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu; Executive Director of Katsina State Development Management Board, Ruqayya Hamza Usman; Director-General of ICT, Naufal Ahmed; and Coordinator of the Agricultural Development Unit,Suleiman Umar.

These were not just passengersthey were professionals tasked with studying, learning, and implementing what they observed. As the governor himself declared, these partnerships align with his administrations Building Your Future agendacreating jobs, expanding digital skills, supporting young entrepreneurs, and positioning Katsina as one of Nigerias most forward-looking states.

Patriotic Katsinawa, the seeds planted in Minsk will soon germinate on our soil. Our responsibility now is to support these initiatives, encourage our youths to take advantage of these opportunities.

* Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina writes from Katsina
The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the flagship humanitarian project of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, distributed 10,000 customised disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls across Niger State as part of a national menstrual hygiene intervention.

The distribution, held at Aliyu Muazu Memorial Primary School in Minna, is part of the rollout of the Flow with Confidence programme, which targets 370,000 free sanitary pads for students in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking on behalf of the First Lady, the wife of the Niger State Governor and RHI State Coordinator, Fatima Bago, said the intervention seeks to empower girls with knowledge, dignity and confidence during menstruation.

It is unacceptable that girls, especially in rural areas, miss school because they cannot afford sanitary pads, she said, noting that some resort to unsafe alternatives that expose them to infection or force them out of school entirely.

No girl should choose between her education and her dignity.

According to her, each state and the FCT will receive 10,000 sanitary pad packs under the scheme.

In Niger State, more than 50 schools are participating, with 10 students per school receiving a year-long supply of 12 packs each.

She added that the Initiative spent about N2.5 billion to procure the customised pads and urged corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to support the programme to expand its reach.

The Special Adviser to the Niger Governor on Women Affirmative Action, Mary Noel-Berje, described the gesture as a bold step toward enhancing the dignity, confidence and wellbeing of schoolgirls, noting that improved menstrual hygiene contributes to better learning outcomes.

Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Maimunat Tahir, said the intervention aligns with ongoing state and federal initiatives aimed at uplifting adolescent girls through scholarships, mentorship and safe-space training.

A lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Valda Martins, sensitised the students on the proper use and disposal of sanitary pads while emphasising good personal hygiene.

Some beneficiaries, including Favour Ayeni of Maryam Babangida Girls Science College and Shamesiya Garba of Government Day Secondary School, Maitumbi, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the support.

Niger State Government is considering adopting an annual free-pad distribution programme to sustain improvements in menstrual hygiene and education for girls.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that it will commence fresh enforcement actions next week against defaulters of ground rent, land use change, and conversion fees, as well as right-of-occupancy and certificate-of-occupancy bills.

Lere Olayinka, the senior special assistant on public communications and social media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.

Defaulters are property owners in the FCT who have not paid ground rent, land use change or conversion fees, R-of-O or C-of-O bills, or failed to register property transfers by obtaining the ministers consent and registering their deeds of assignment.

Mr Olayinka recalled that on 26 May, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, Mr Wike granted defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay outstanding ground rent, including associated penalties.

This move follows several grace periods granted to property owners to settle their debts.

He also said publications were made on Monday, 8 September, Tuesday, 9 September, and Wednesday 10 September, in some national dailies and online platforms, on the reviewed Land Use/Purpose Clause of properties in the FCT, giving 30 days for the payment of penalty/violation fee of 5 million and other applicable fees for Land Use Change/Conversion.

Recall that on May 26, 2025, following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, granted defaulters on ground rent 14 14-day grace period to pay up their outstanding ground rent, with associated penalties.

Also, publications were made on Monday 8th September 2025, Tuesday 9th September 2025, and Wednesday 10th September 2025, in some national dailies and online platforms, on the reviewed Land Use/Purpose Clause of properties in the FCT, giving 30 days for the payment of penalty/violation fee of 5 million and other applicable fees for Land Use Change/Conversion.

Another public notice was published in national newspapers as well as online platforms, and aired on television and radio stations, granting defaulters of the land use/purpose clause of properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse districts in the Federal Capital City (FCC), a final grace period of 14 days to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change and conversion., the statement said.

Mr Olayinka said the 14-day grace period on payment of Ground Rent expired on 9 June, more than five months ago, while the 14-day extension on the land use/purpose clause will end on Monday, 24 November.

In May, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the FCTA sealed some of the 4,792 institutions whose properties were affected by the non-payment of ground rent, including the PDP national secretariat in Zone 5, Wuse District.

Other organisations earlier on the list of defaulters included the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), CONOIL Plc, Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National University Commission (NUC), M.R.S Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations) and Kaduna State Government.

The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were also among the defaulters.

It is unclear whether some of them have complied with the payment.

On Tuesday, a faction of the PDP sympathetic to Mr Wike had battled to hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings at the PDP secretariat.

The minister, who was at the secretariat located in Zone 5, Wuse District, Abuja, arrived in an SUV but did not get out of the vehicle.

However, he reportedly had an altercation with Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohamed of Bauchi State, who belong to the faction that held a convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, three days earlier, where the minister and 10 others were expelled from the party.

Mr Wike, though a member of the PDP, is serving as a minister in the APC-led federal government.

Read the full statement by the FCTA:

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCTA To Commence Enforcement On Ground Rent Payment, Land Use Conversion Fee, R-of-O, C-of-O Bills Defaulters Next Week

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will from next week, Wednesday, November 26, 2025, commence enforcement actions on defaulters of Ground Rent payment and Land Use Change/Conversion fee as well as Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills.

The FCT Ministers Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

Recall that on May 26, 2025, following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, granted defaulters on ground rent 14 days grace to pay up their outstanding ground rent, with associated penalties.

Also, publications were made on Monday 8th September 2025, Tuesday 9th September 2025, and Wednesday 10th September 2025, in some national dailies and online platforms, on the reviewed Land Use/Purpose Clause of properties in the FCT, giving 30 days for the payment of penalty/violation fee of 5 million and other applicable fees for Land Use Change/Conversion.

Another public notice was published in national newspapers as well as online platforms, and aired on television and radio stations, granting defaulters of the land use/purpose clause of properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse districts in the Federal Capital City (FCC), a final grace period of 14 days to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change and conversion.

The 14 days grace on payment of Ground Rent expired on June 9, 2025, more than five months ago, while the 14 days extension on the land use/purpose clause will end on Monday, November 24, 2025.

Consequently, the FCTA will from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, commence enforcement actions on defaulters of Ground Rent payment and Land Use Change/Conversion fee as well as Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills.

The enforcement will also include all those who purchased properties from other people, but have yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Ministers Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment.

Lere Olayinka

Senior Special Assistant

Public Communications and Social Media

November 20, 2025
The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, Ayo Omotayo, has warned that Africa and other parts of the Global South will struggle to modernise unless countries drastically increase investment in research, innovation and human capital.

Mr Omotayo issued the warning in a policy paper titled Working Together to Advance Modernisation: A Shared Vision and the Path to Development, where he argued that structural weaknesses across developing regions are being reinforced by consistently low funding for knowledge production.

He said modernisation in the 21st century is driven not only by traditional industrialisation, but also by countries capacity to build strong institutions, deepen digital access, strengthen innovation systems, and equip their populations with skills for a competitive global economy.

Africas Innovation Funding Gap

According to the director-general, Africa faces a critical innovation deficit that is slowing economic transformation. He noted that the continent invests an average of 0.5 per cent of its GDP in Research and Development (R&D), significantly lower than the global average of 2.3 per cent.

Sub-Saharan Africa produces less than 1 per cent of global research output despite having a youthful population and rising digital adoption.

This level of investment is inconsistent with any ambition for modernisation, he said. No country can build a strong digital economy or industrial base without committing adequate resources to research and innovation.

Mr Omotayo pointed out that regions such as East Asia accelerated development by deliberately funding research institutions, nurturing innovation hubs and supporting state-led industrialisation.

Weak Innovation Ecosystems

He added that Africas innovation ecosystems remain fragile because governments and private actors have not prioritised long-term financing. Countries such as India, Kenya, South Africa and Brazil, he noted, have built stronger ecosystems because they invested early in technology clusters, skills development and digital infrastructure.

He said Africa could generate up to $180 billion in additional GDP by 2030 through harmonised digital policies, but warned that such gains require consistent investment.

Think Tanks Constrained by Limited Support

Mr Omotayo emphasised the role of think tanks like NIPSS in shaping policy, guiding leadership development and supporting evidence-based decision-making. However, he cautioned that research institutions cannot make meaningful contributions to national development when they operate in environments where funding for research is scarce.

Think tanks are engines of policy transformation, but their impact depends on the strength of the wider knowledge infrastructure, he said.

A Call for Deliberate Investment

Mr Omotayo said modernisation across the Global South demands targeted investment in manufacturing, agriculture, digital infrastructure and technology.

He added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could significantly boost intra-African trade only if countries strengthen local industries and research capacity.

The Global South stands at a pivotal moment, he said. Modernisation must be intentional and adequately funded, rooted in strong institutions, human development and research-driven policymaking.
Signed at the NATO Arctic Space Forum, the LOI targets potential ICEYESSC synergies across mission development, satellite operations and launch capabilities.

HELSINKI, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE , the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, and Swedish Space Corporation ( SSC ), a leading global provider of advanced space services, today announced they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI). This LOI outlines a plan to leverage their complementary strengths, aiming to enhance sovereign space capabilities for Nordic and NATO security.

ICEYE CSO & Co-founder Pekka Laurila & SSC President and CEO Charlotta Sund.

The LOI, signed at the NATO Arctic Space Forum last week in Helsinki, reflects the growing strategic cooperation between Sweden and Finland and aims to explore expanded collaboration in key space and defense-related areas. It leverages the complementary strengths of both companies to support future mission development, satellite operations, and launch capabilities.

The partnership will explore synergies between ICEYE's world-leading sovereign space-based ISR offering and SSC's extensive global ground station network, mission operations expertise, and future orbital launch services.

Following high-level discussions at the NATO Arctic Space Forum among senior Nordic and NATO leaders on the need for increased cooperation between allied governments and industry, the LOI between ICEYE and SSC represents a tangible step toward rapidly strengthening space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for the Arctic and NATO's North-Eastern Flank.

Pekka Laurila, CSO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: "Through this LOI, we're evaluating how to combine ICEYE's SAR offering and SSC's global ground network and future access to orbit. The intent is to explore concepts that strengthen Nordic collaboration for security and resilience and enable dependable ISR for NATO and the Nordics."

Charlotta Sund, President and CEO at SSC, said: "The LOI between SSC and ICEYE aims to develop cooperation based on our complementary strengths, and is in line with and supports an increasing defense cooperation also in the space domain between Sweden and Finland."

In September 2025, the Finnish Defence Forces announced the acquisition of SAR satellites and technical systems from ICEYE to establish a sovereign, space-based surveillance capability. The total value of the acquisition is approximately 158 million euros, including the main procurement as well as options to extend the satellites' lifecycle and expand the system in the future.

On November 12th 2025, in an address at the NATO Arctic Space Forum, Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen discussed a plan to create a multinational community with allied countries that use SAR satellites, which will promote compatibility, synergy and best practices related to SAR capabilities.

About ICEYE

ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.

Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development.

ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, Greece, and the US. We have more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

Media contact: press@iceye.com

Visit www.iceye.com and follow ICEYE on LinkedIn and X for the latest updates and insights.

About SSC



Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) is a leading global provider of advanced space services, with more than 50 years of experience. We help space organizations, research institutes, commercial and institutional actors from all over the world to get access to space. With local presence on all continents and about 700 committed employees, we offer specialist expertise in satellite communications and satellite control services, spacecraft operations, rocket and balloon systems, launch services and flight test services, as well as engineering, operations and consultancy services for space missions. We enable successful space projects within Earth observation, telecommunications, security, meteorology, navigation and positioning, scientific research and other applications. Among our strongest assets are Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, set out to be a leading provider of satellite launch services from mainland Europe, as well as one of the world's largest commercial ground station networks for satellite communications. For more information, visit www.sscspace.com .

Media contact:

Philip Ohlsson

Press & PR

+46 70 721 70 26

philip.ohlsson@sscspace.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2828745/ICEYE_CSO_SSC_President.jpg
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Xinhuanet:

The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference opened Thursday here to explore ways to strengthen cooperation, amplify the Global South's collective voice and promote a shared global governance.

This photo taken on Nov. 13, 2025 shows a scene at the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference opened here on Thursday to explore ways to strengthen global governance and deepen China-Africa cooperation. The two-day event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the African Union (AU) and South Africa's Independent Media, among other partners

Co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the African Union (AU) and South Africa's Independent Media, among other partners, the two-day event gathered more than 200 representatives from over 160 media outlets, think tanks, government organizations and other institutions from China and 41 African countries, as well as the AU.

Under the theme "Reforming Global Governance: New Roles and Visions for China-Africa Cooperation," the conference focuses on how collaboration between media and think tanks can contribute to shaping a fairer and more inclusive global governance.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Lyu Yansong, editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has always attached great importance to China-Africa cooperation, and at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in September last year, Xi proposed that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Noting that media and think tanks shoulder the important missions of disseminating authoritative information and recording the events of our times, Lyu said: "We should contribute our wisdom to making the Global South a stabilizing force for safeguarding peace, a pillar of open development, a constructive force in global governance, and a promoting force for mutual learning among civilizations."

Xinhua's editor-in-chief proposed implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative.

Media and think tanks from China and Africa should provide high-quality news coverage and academic research, and comprehensively expound on the Global South's solutions for advancing the reform of the global governance system, and demonstrate the Global South's strength reflected in the solidarity and cooperation of developing countries, he added.

Iqbal Surve, chairman of South Africa's Independent Media, hailed the Africa-China partnership as a beacon of what genuine cooperation can achieve, one grounded in mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive world order.

The event gathered representatives from government, media and academic circles across African countries and China, highlighting the Global South's increasing cohesion and influence in global discourse, he added.

In her speech, Leslie Richer, the AU director of information and communication, said that the global order is undergoing transitions amid growing calls from the Global South for fair representation, control over resources and development with dignity.

Richer said that Africa is striving to move from being "a mere participant in global conversations" to becoming "a co-author in the story of humanity's future," adding that Africa will work with China and other Global South partners to make its voice heard more strongly on climate, finance and digital governance, while promoting more balanced narratives through closer media and think tank cooperation.

Addressing the conference, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng, said that China and Africa, as the world's largest developing country and the continent with the most developing nations, have a similar history of anti-colonialism and anti-hegemony, as well as a shared mission of development and revitalization, and are natural members and the backbone of the Global South.

"Media outlets and think tanks play a unique role in promoting solidarity and cooperation among the Global South," he said, adding that the forum provides a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and building consensus.

The ambassador also expressed his hope that all guests will speak freely and contribute their wisdom and strength to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and promoting solidarity and cooperation in the Global South.

During the forum, the representatives held in-depth discussions on three topics: "China-Africa Commitments to Global Governance Reform," "China-Africa Action for Global South Revitalization," and "China-Africa Exchange in Global Civilizational Coexistence."

They observed that after nearly 70 years of development, China-Africa relations have evolved into a model for a new kind of international partnership, and the cooperation has been deepening, leading the modernization process across the Global South.

Ismaila Ceesay, minister for information of The Gambia, said that it is believed that the future of global governance must be inclusive, multipolar and reflective of the rich diversity of human experience.

"China's support in fostering training, technology transfer and infrastructure development across Africa's media landscape is a valuable contribution toward this goal," he added.

"We look forward to sharing our experience in renewable energy development, power system construction and talent training to support African nations in enhancing energy security and strengthening the resilience and voice of the Global South," Xu Xinfu, a director of China Energy Investment Corporation Co., Ltd., said at the conference.

Shen Yumou, head of China's Hunan provincial commerce department, said that Hunan is ready to advance China-Africa mutual development through deeper opening-up and higher-quality cooperation, bringing more African products into the Chinese market and sharing more competitive industries and technologies with Africa.

The forum also features the release of a think tank report titled "Jointly Building a New Model of Global Leadership -- Work Together in Pursuit of a More Just and Rational Global Governance System," and the launch of the Global South joint communication partnership network "United in Heart, Path and Action -- 2026 China-Africa Partnership Empowerment Action Plan."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2829277/This_photo_Nov_13_2025_shows_a_scene_Global_South.jpg
HANOI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued an official dispatch asking authorities to step up response efforts and address the consequences of the devastating flooding in the central region, the Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

The government approved the allocation of 700 billion Vietnamese dong (about 27.85 million U.S. dollars) to support four hard-hit provinces of Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Dak Lak, according to the report.

Chinh stressed the need to reach all isolated localities, deliver emergency food, water, and essential supplies, and evacuate residents to safe locations.

Days of intense rainfall have left the central region inundated, leaving 41 people dead and more than 67,700 houses submerged, according to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority. 
CSG Demonstrates Its Commitment to Global Climate Action through Practical Low-Carbon Solutions

BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China Southern Power Grid (CSG) participated in the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. During the conference, the company hosted a series of events on November 19 at the China Pavilion, themed "Forge a New Chapter for Green Power Grid, Lay the Foundation for a World-Class Enterprise."

Global Guests Converge on CSG's COP30 China Pavilion Event

On "Corporate Day," CSG, together with China National Petroleum Corporation and China Energy Investment Group Co., co-hosted a side event, bringing together representatives from governments, businesses, and research institutions across multiple countries. Participants discussed how all stakeholders can support China's dual-carbon goals and strengthen global climate governance. A CSG executive delivered a keynote speech outlining the company's progress in developing a next-generation power system and supporting the clean energy transition. The executive also chaired an international roundtable on low-carbon and sustainable development, where participants from Brazil, Peru, and other countries explored collaborative approaches to accelerate low-carbon industrial development.

On the same day, CSG also organized a special session titled "New Practices of Eco-Oriented Enterprises in Advancing Green and Low-Carbon Development". During the event, the company released the China Southern Power Grid Eco-Oriented Enterprises Report in Chinese and English, offering a clear overview of its strategy for supporting the shift to renewable energy. The session also highlighted topics including carbon target management, zero-carbon industries, and CSG's international low-carbon business activities. Through case studies, a themed exhibition, and an interactive tea-making demonstration powered by clean electricity, CSG showcased its innovation and practical work to strengthen environmental performance and support low-carbon development. Throughout COP30, CSG's exhibition on ecological stewardship and promotional video were continuously displayed at the China Pavilion, highlighting how Chinese companies are contributing to global climate action and technological progress.

SOURCE China Southern Power Grid
Building on this momentum, the number of vehicles equipped with DeepRoute.ai's intelligent driving platform is set to exceed 200,000 by the end of this year, with deployments expected to reach one million in 2026. Momentum is accelerating quickly: in October alone, our monthly market share in China's third-party urban autonomous driving supplier segment climbed to nearly 40%. This rapid rise reflects DeepRoute.ai's strong competitive trajectory and the industry's growing adoption of scalable autonomous driving solutions. The company now holds the second-largest market share in China's mainstream SUV categoryone of the most competitive and fast-growing sectors in the global auto market. Leading OEMs continue to integrate DeepRoute.ai's platform into their new models, reflecting strong commercial demand and confidence in its production readiness. This momentum underscores DeepRoute.ai's transformation from a technology innovator into a mass-market enabler driving the industry's next growth phase.

"Reaching 200,000 units by year-end proves that autonomous driving technology can be deployed safely and efficiently at scale," said Maxwell Zhou, CEO of DeepRoute.ai. "This positions us to pursue new opportunities in robotaxi services and broader autonomous applications."

DeepRoute.ai operates three business linesconsumer vehicle platforms, robotaxi services, and RoadAGI developmentbuilt on a unified technical framework. This integrated approach enables the company to expand from consumer vehicles into new commercial segments while maintaining technology consistency and operational efficiency. By year-end 2025, DeepRoute.ai will launch robotaxi operations using consumer-grade production vehicles by the end of 2025. The company is simultaneously advancing RoadAGI, a general-purpose autonomous intelligence system designed to enable intelligent agents to understand complex environments, make independent decisions, and operate across diverse scenarios and applicationsfrom delivery and logistics to property management, healthcare, and security. RoadAGI excels in navigating complex, multi-level environments and represents not just intelligent mobility, but a new path for commercial applications.

The Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model underpins this technology foundation, integrating visual perception, semantic understanding, and autonomous decision-making. Deployed in DeepRoute IO 2.0, this architecture supports both current production deployments and the higher autonomy requirements of robotaxi and RoadAGI applications. The platform's flexibility enables rapid deployment across diverse OEM partnerships globally.

About DeepRoute.ai

DeepRoute.ai is an Artificial Intelligence company dedicated to the research, development, and application of driving solutions. To date, the company has raised $450 million, including $100 million in Series C1 funding from leading automotive OEMs, underscoring strong industry confidence in its technology roadmap. As the first to develop production-ready autonomous driving solutions and a pioneer in deploying end-to-end and VLA models on mass-produced passenger vehicles, DeepRoute.ai aims to create artificial general intelligence for the physical world.

For more information, visit DeepRoute.ai, follow DeepRoute.ai on LinkedIn, and X, and subscribe to DeepRoute.ai on YouTube.

SOURCE DeepRoute.ai

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QUEBEC, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- duBreton acknowledges Health Canada's decision to indefinitely paused its proposed update to the novel food policy governing foods derived from cloned cattle and swine, as well as their progeny. The organization's recent announcement credits the hold to the volume and nature of feedback received from both industry stakeholders and the public.

A recent survey by duBreton concludes 74% of consumers are concerned about gene-edited pork in their food supply.

As a Canadian leader in responsible and ethically raised pork production, duBreton welcomes this pause as an important opportunity for Canadian food officials to deepen engagement with producers, retailers, and most importantly Canadian consumers.

"Canadians expect clarity, transparency, and meaningful consultation on issues that directly touch their food supply," said Vincent Breton, duBreton President. "As producers, we consider it our responsibility and believe our governing food authorities should too."

Gene-Edited Animals Are Still on the Table

duBreton reached out to Health Canada following the novel food announcement and received confirmation, gene-editing technologies are not included in this novel food pause and remain under active regulatory consideration. Discussions and potential approvals for meat derived from gene-edited livestock entering the Canadian market continue despite clear and overwhelming public concern.

duBreton's Commitment to Consumer Trust

The cloned-animal, novel food pause is a win for all Canadians and underscores the importance of producer and consumer engagement in food policy. duBreton reaffirms its commitment to:

Ensuring Canadian consumers are fully informed about emerging technologies that relate to their food.

Supporting regulatory approaches that protect market access, animal welfare, and public trust.

Working collaboratively with federal departments and industry partners as discussions evolve.

"We have never, and will never, participate in animal cloning or gene editing practices," says Breton. "Mandatory labeling practices should be a requirement for producers that do. Consumers have a right to know, and there's still work left to do."

About duBreton

Rooted in four generations of agri-food excellence, duBreton champions a world where human health, animal welfare, and sustainable agriculture thrive together. Recognized as North America's leading supplier of organic pork, with a growing global presence, duBreton exceeds the certification standards of the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), Certified Humane Raised & Handled, and Canada Organic programs. Committed to a fair and equitable food system, duBreton supports the well-being of farmers, animals, people, and the environment.

For more information: www.duBreton.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alicia Baker

Senior Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE duBreton
The Charming Taste of Europe highlights the authentic flavors of Abruzzo, Imathia, and Bordeaux as refined choices for festive tables and thoughtful gifts

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, The Charming Taste of Europe , co-funded by the European Union, invites American consumers to experience the elegance of Europe through festive pairings and gift ideas. This campaign, promoted by the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Abruzzo , the Association of Imathia's Agricultural Cooperatives (ASIAC) , and the Late Harvest Wines of Bordeaux , celebrates how authentic European wines and fresh fruit can elevate holiday traditions.

From Italy, the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Abruzzo presents distinctive wines that bring depth and personality to festive meals. The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, with its intense ruby shade, aromas of cherry, berries, and spices, and soft tannins, makes a natural pairing to classic Thanksgiving turkey. Its structure and warmth enhance the richness of roasted poultry while maintaining a great balance. Meanwhile, the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, a straw-yellow white wine known for its delicate floral bouquet and crisp palate, adds brightness to appetizers and seafood courses on Christmas Eve or New Year's celebrations.

The Association of Imathia's Agricultural Cooperatives (ASIAC) showcases the fragrant kiwis of Imathia, Greece's excellence, prized for their vibrant color, balanced sweet and tangy flavor, and sustainable cultivation. These versatile kiwis can bring a festive twist to holiday desserts, such as a Kiwi Cheesecake, with fresh kiwi puree mixed into a creamy filling on a graham-cracker crust, offering a fresh touch on classic holiday desserts.

The golden Late Harvest Wines of Bordeaux , including the Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire Moelleux and Cerons white, exemplify the finesse and complexity of France winemaking. The Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire, with its expressiveness, irresistible freshness, and fruity aromas, pairs beautifully with light appetizers and fresh spinach salad. The light, supple, and full-bodied white Cerons, characterized by delicate floral and citrus notes, complements both chicken and cheeses. For a festive holiday pairing, a slice of Kiwi salad with mangoes harmonizes perfectly with a glass of both of these famous French AOP: the wine's gentle balances the tart brightness of the kiwi, creating a rich flavor experience.

These pairings embody the art of the European table, where craftsmanship, terroir, and culture converge. These products offer not only perfect matches for festive menus but also sophisticated gift ideas for hosts, collectors, and wine and food lovers. A bottle of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, or a duo of Bordeaux Late Harvest Wines alongside a homemade kiwi dessert, makes an elegant expression of gratitude and celebration.

Through its mission, The Charming Taste of Europe continues to share the beauty, heritage, and unmistakable taste of European excellence, inviting consumers to discover how authentic craftsmanship can turn every festive table into a moment of true charm.

About The Charming Taste of Europe

Europe, a place with timeless charm, is the birthplace of some of the highest-quality products in the world. The Charming Taste of Europe is a special project that introduces exquisite specialties to the United States and Canada, such as Italian and French wines, and fresh kiwis from Greece, that showcase Europe's charm, beauty, culture, history, art, heritage and unmistakable tastes.

The mission of the Charming Taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union, is to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits with promotional activities in the competitive markets of the U.S. and Canada. The Charming Taste of Europe is promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo, the Association of Imathia's Agricultural Cooperatives and Union Des Vins Doux de Bordeaux. These European agricultural products, famous around the world for their outstanding qualities, will continue to be promoted with initiatives and events for consumers, journalists and trade professionals. For more information visit charmingtasteofeurope.eu

To Follow The Charming Taste of Europe Campaign:

Website: charmingtasteofeurope.eu

Facebook: @CharmingTasteofEU

Instagram: @charmeu_usa

YouTube: The Charming Taste of Europe

Hashtags : #thecharmingtasteofeu and #charmeu

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European union or the European research executive agency (Rea). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Media Contact

Bianca Panichi

[email protected]

SOURCE Charming Taste of Europe
PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortis Construction has appointed two additional members to its Board of Directors, Michele Leiva and Briston Blair.

These additions to Fortis' board reinforce the company's commitment to being a purpose-driven company with a focus on strategic growth. Both new members bring a wealth of construction industry experience and have deep backgrounds in guiding companies through long-term expansion.

Briston Blair Michele Leiva

"Both Michele and Briston bring different and unique perspectives that will help Fortis grow in the right way while staying true to our purpose and culture," said Fortis CEO Rob Fallow. "Their expertise will help guide some of our largest strategic decisions to date and provide valuable insight as we expand our footprint. We are also proud that Michele will be our first female board member as we continue to focus on bringing a variety of voices and talents into our company and into the construction industry."

Michele Leiva has been a transformative leader in the construction industry for over 40 years with roles at Rudolph & Sletten and DPR Construction prior to her retirement. As an early employee at DPR Construction, she played a pivotal role in shaping the company's financial strategy and growth trajectory, ultimately serving as Chief Financial Officer.

"I've been impressed by the strength of leadership and the shared commitment to people, company values and quality of work I've seen at Fortis," said Michele. "I look forward to offering my support as Fortis continues to build its company and grow its impact in the construction industry and with the clients and communities it serves."

Briston Blair is an operations and technology executive with more than two decades of experience driving enterprise growth, innovation, and transformation across the construction, engineering, and industrial services sectors. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Innovation & Strategy at Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX), one of the nation's largest providers of mechanical, electrical, and modular MEP systems. Briston's deep experience working with construction trade partners has given him a strong understanding of the industry's ecosystem and a proven ability to foster collaborative, scalable approaches.

"Fortis has earned a reputation for excellence through its people and culture," said Briston. "I'm excited to join Fortis Construction's board at such a pivotal time in the industry, where innovation, partnership, and disciplined execution will define the next generation of high-performance builders."

Briston and Michele's appointment to the Fortis Board of Directors underscores the company's growth, regional expansion and operational excellence while reinforcing its culture of care. The experience and expertise of the Board appointees reflect Fortis' reputation for pioneering and its bold approach to delivering creative, high-performance solutions for complex projects, including hyperscale data centers, locally significant community projects, and advanced research facilities.

About Fortis:

Fortis Construction, Inc. is an employee-owned general contractor committed to making an impact - through the relationships we build, the projects we construct and the communities we serve. With offices in Oregon and Utah, we specialize in the data center, science & tech, commercial, healthcare, and education markets. We have performed projects in multiple US states and across the globe with a team of over 600 employees.

For more information visit Fortisconstruction.com

SOURCE Fortis Construction
Feinberg & Waller Managing Partner Marshall W. Waller Shares Insights from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting

CALABASAS, Calif., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As families become increasingly mobile and financially interconnected across borders, divorce lawyers face an expanding range of international legal complexities. Marshall W. Waller, Managing Partner of Feinberg & Waller, APC, returned from the 2025 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Annual Meeting with urgent insights into the global evolution of family lawand how attorneys must adapt.

Learn how Feinberg & Waller supports clients in cross-border family law matters

feinbergwaller.com/family-law/international-child-abduction

divorce lawyers face an expanding range of international legal complexities Post this Feinberg & Waller Managing Partner Marshall W. Waller Shares Insights from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting

Spanning three days of advanced legal education in Chicago, the AAML conference brought together the nation's top family law attorneys to examine pressing topics such as international discovery, dual-jurisdiction custody disputes, and cross-border asset division. Waller attended a range of sessions spotlighting these global issues, many of which are now appearing in California courts with growing frequency.

Cross-Border Divorce Is No Longer Niche

"Today's family law cases are rarely confined to a single ZIP code," Waller explained. "Whether it's a spouse with offshore accounts, a parent relocating with dual citizenship, or a digital asset held under foreign jurisdiction, we're navigating a legal landscape without borders."

In "Navigating Global Currents: Your Case Involves Another Country  Now What?", panelists emphasized the importance of early strategic planning and local counsel partnerships when international elements are involved. Waller noted the cautionary advice about cost, complexity, and coordination, especially in matters such as:

Retrieving a child unlawfully taken across national lines





unlawfully taken across national lines Conducting discovery in jurisdictions with differing privacy or banking laws





in jurisdictions with differing privacy or banking laws Valuing global holdings including real estate, business assets, and crypto -based investments

Forensic & Financial Hurdles Across Jurisdictions

In "Legal and Forensic Approaches Across Jurisdictions," speakers delved deeper into the valuation and discovery challenges associated with international divorce litigation. Waller emphasized the need to distinguish between concepts such as enterprise goodwill and personal goodwill, which vary across countries and can have a dramatic impact on equitable distribution.

"One of the key takeaways," Waller said, "is that lawyers must advise clients early and clearly about the time, cost, and strategy required for international componentswhether it's custody enforcement or financial forensics."

Looking Ahead: Cross-Border Insight, Local Execution

Waller's attendance reflects Feinberg & Waller's growing focus on cross-border divorce, dual-citizenship custody, and multi-jurisdictional estate planning. With offices in Southern California and experience handling international elements in high-asset cases, the firm remains committed to preparing clients for the next era of family law.

To learn more about Feinberg & Waller's global approach to family law, visit:

feinbergwaller.com/family-law/child-custody/interstate-international-child-custody

About Marshall Waller

A Certified Family Law Specialist and AAML Fellow, Marshall W. Waller is nationally recognized for his leadership, mentorship, and courtroom experience. He leads Feinberg & Waller's continued investment in education, ethics, and client-centered family law.

Meet Marshall Waller

www.feinbergwaller.com/meet-our-team/marshall-w-waller/

About Feinberg & Waller, APC

Feinberg & Waller is a premier California-based family law firm with a national and international reputation. The firm handles high-net-worth divorce, complex custody litigation, and cross-border family law disputes. Known for its precision, professionalism, and commitment to mentorship, Feinberg & Waller continues to set the standard for modern family law advocacy.

Locations: Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Westlake Village

Website: https://www.feinbergwaller.com

SOURCE Feinberg & Waller
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a report by Xinhuanet:

On November 13, the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference got underway in Johannesburg, South Africa. A representative from China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. (CSG) was invited to address the "Global South Talks" session during the opening ceremony, sharing the company's on-the-ground experience in power-grid cooperation with countries across the Global South.

Sun Shengjun, Project General Manager of the Africa and Europe Regional Development Department at China Southern Power Grid International, described CSG's experience and efforts to deepen ChinaAfrica energy ties in Cairo, Egypt. In 2023, Sun and his team arrived in Cairo to address chronic problems in the local power grid, including high line losses and poor operating performance. They progressively introduced CSG's operational measures for cutting distribution network losses and rolled out practical, scalable and replicable "CSG Solutions" for the local utility. In addition to its technical efforts, CSG has focused on developing a skilled local workforce through targeted training programs and technical knowledge-sharing sessions. By matching its technology to on-the-ground operating realities and investing in workforce training, the company has sought to align its mature technical systems with local needs while fostering homegrown technical capabilities, laying the groundwork for long-term engagement.

Sun said that CSG does not regard energy cooperation as a one-way street, but as a partnership rooted in mutual benefit and shared growth. Looking ahead, the company says it will continue to provide its technologies and management expertise to Global South countries, aimed at deepening ChinaAfrica energy cooperation and supporting plans for broader collaboration across the Global South.

SOURCE Xinhuanet
"With this new concept store in Beverly Hills, we've created more than a destination  we've created an experience. With a curated assortment and elevated interior features, and introducing our pre-loved concept, the store is a space where fashion is playful, personal and connected to culture."  Jorgen Andersson, Chief Creative Officer, H&M

Spanning over 5,000 square feet, the Beverly Hills location offers an artfully designed shopping experience  with a store concept inspired by H&M's Scandinavian heritage and the architectural history of California. Developed by H&M's in-house architecture team, the store is set within a historic Art Deco landmark and features an open wood ceiling original to the structure, with interiors that include stucco-textured walls, tile flooring, architectural wood shelving, and travertine stone accents.

To celebrate the new store, H&M welcomed Amelia Gray, Delilah Belle, Julez Smith, and Tina Knowles  all dressed in current H&M collections. The opening also marks the debut of H&M Pre-Loved in Los Angeles, the brand's curated secondhand offering, now featured in the second permanent in-store shop-in-shop in North America, following its launch in SoHo NYC last year. For this location, H&M is partnering with Wasteland, a beloved LA-based vintage store known for its trend-forward curation and deep roots in the local fashion scene. To commemorate the launch, H&M and Wasteland will host pop-up shops at four iconic LA flea markets over the course of four weeks.

"Since Wasteland's inception, our whole ethos has centered on sustainability, and making people's sartorial dreams come true! Our hope is that anytime a customer enters one of our stores, or our new pre-loved collaboration with H&M, that they feel like they're in the best closet in the world. I'm excited for both H&M and Wasteland's customers to experience this new chapter that both teams have been working so hard on."  Cheryl Cohen, Founder and CEO, Wasteland

Behind the scenes, the smart store leverages RFID-enabled systems to ensure accurate inventory and streamline item location and replenishment. Customers benefit from convenient options like in-store pickup for online orders and mobile checkout, which allows employees to assist anywhere on the floor. These features, designed to elevate the customer experience, are complemented by digital screens that bring style inspiration and campaign content to life.

H&M Beverly Hills joins a growing list of concept store locations in Chelsea (London), Sodermalm (Stockholm), Le Marais (Paris), and Seongsu (Seoul)  each designed to reflect the spirit of its neighborhood while strengthening brand relevance and awareness among H&M's target customers. Following its opening, H&M Beverly Hills will serve as a hub for local events including a Holiday gifting activation and curated events hosted by local tastemakers including Maeve Reily, Sami Miro, and Tue Nguyen. For more information on upcoming programming and pop-ups in Los Angeles, click here.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

SOURCE H&M
ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), a Georgia-based financial advisory firm that specializes in financial planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and those navigating life transitions, announced today that it has acquired Blueprint Wealth Advisors, LLC ("Blueprint"). The acquisition expands Merit's presence in Illinois and Wisconsin, including entry into the Chicago market, and adds $1.2 billion in total assets.

Blueprint operates offices in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, and Fitchburg, Wisconsin, providing comprehensive wealth management services for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. The firm is known for The Capstone Method, its proprietary planning process. By joining Merit, Blueprint gains access to resources and services for clients not available through its current broker-dealer partner, while Merit strengthens its presence with a firm recognized for leadership and a strong track record of organic growth. Ryan Evans and Nick Wilkins, Managing Partners and Wealth Advisors at Blueprint, will join Merit as Regional Directors and Partners, along with their team.

"Bringing Nick, Ryan, and the Blueprint team into our organization represents a pivotal moment in our growth strategy," said Zach Mersberger, Managing Principal and Partner at Merit. "They bring top talent, experience serving high-net-worth clients in the Chicago and Madison, WI areas, and proven leadership to help us continue growing Merit's impact. This is truly a transformational partnership for us."

This marks Merit's fifty-second acquisition and follows Merit's recent partnership with Mennenga Tax & Financial, which added $715 million in assets and further expanded the firm's tax capabilities.

"Partnering with a larger firm that shares our culture was important to us, both for supporting continued growth and for enhancing the resources and services we can offer our clients," said Ryan. "Merit's culture and values closely align with our own, making this a natural fit for our team and our clients," added Nick. "This partnership strengthens our ability to lead, grow, and continue delivering a high level of care to clients."

The transaction was finalized on November 14, 2025. FP Transitions, an M&A advisory firm specializing exclusively in the wealth management industry, acted as the advisor for this transaction. The financial and legal terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Merit Financial Advisors

Merit Financial Group, LLC, doing business as Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), is a national wealth management firm that supports both the independent broker-dealer and RIA models. Merit exists to enrich the lives of those they serve, and its mission is to revolutionize the client experience by building the wealth management firm of the future. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Merit has over 55 offices throughout the U.S. and managed $20.78 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025 ($15.83 billion in advisory, $2.65 billion in brokerage assets, $2.3 billion in retirement assets). For more information, please visit www.meritfinancialadvisors.com. Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.

About Constellation Wealth Capital

Constellation Wealth Capital (CWC) is an alternative asset management platform dedicated to the wealth management sector. CWC provides flexible, long-term capital solutions and strategic advisory support to scaled wealth management platforms, leveraging deep industry expertise and an extensive network of relationships to help partner firms accelerate growth and create long-term value. Learn more at www.ConstellationWealthCapital.com.

SOURCE Merit Financial Advisors
Service Includes Press Release Distribution, AI Search Optimization and Rapid Content Deployment

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Online Advantages is announcing an emergency Black Friday marketing support event tailored for businesses seeking last-minute online visibility. From November 21 to December 15, brands can gain access to rapid PR Newswire distribution, SEO updates, and AI Search optimization. This event is available nationwide to retailers and service businesses, with virtual access provided for convenience.

If your business needs a last-minute boost in online visibility, Online Advantages is here to help. Contact us today to secure your spot and take advantage of our rapid marketing support services. Visit https://onlineadvantages.net/how-to-promote-last-minute-black-friday-deals-with-seo-aio-search-fast-with-online-advantages/ to learn more and request immediate assistance for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday promotions. Fast turnaround options, ranging from 24 to 48 hours, are available for qualified participants.

Business owners searching for the following phrases may encounter this announcement in traditional Google search results as well as AI-powered systems like Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity:

Black Friday Promotion + Last-Minute Marketing Queries

last minute Black Friday marketing

last minute Black Friday advertising

how to promote Black Friday deals

promote my Black Friday sale

best way to advertise Black Friday deals

how to boost Black Friday sales last minute

Local Business Holiday Visibility Queries

small business Black Friday advertising

Black Friday marketing for local businesses

promote my local Black Friday sale

last minute holiday marketing for small business

AI-Search & AIO-Related Queries

fastest way to promote a Black Friday sale

how to get visibility for Black Friday deals

where to advertise Black Friday deals online

how to boost Black Friday sales with SEO

how to get into Google AI Overviews

does PR Newswire help with AI search visibility

"From November 21st to December 15th, businesses can seize the opportunity to enhance their online visibility through our emergency Black Friday marketing support event, accessing rapid PR Newswire distribution, SEO updates, and AI Search optimization.

According to Matt Maglodi, CEO fast turnaround options, 24 to 48 hours, are available for qualified participants."

This event underscores Online Advantages' dedication to delivering fast and effective marketing solutions. What sets it apart is the same-day execution of services, including PR Newswire distribution, SEO tuning, and AI Search optimization. This rapid deployment allows businesses to regain lost preparation time before the critical Black Friday sales period.

Participating businesses can anticipate several key benefits:

Rapid Promotional Visibility: Achieve same-day PR Newswire distribution to quickly spread your message.

Achieve same-day PR Newswire distribution to quickly spread your message. Targeted SEO Improvements: Enhance your search engine rankings with immediate SEO updates.

Enhance your search engine rankings with immediate SEO updates. AI Search Optimization: Leverage AI to optimize your online presence and improve search performance.

Leverage AI to optimize your online presence and improve search performance. Increased Online Reach: Expand your brand's visibility and attract a wider audience.

Expand your brand's visibility and attract a wider audience. Higher Seasonal Traffic: Drive more traffic to your website during the peak shopping season.

Drive more traffic to your website during the peak shopping season. Upgraded Content: Receive enhanced content designed to convert visitors into customers during the Black Friday surge.

Emerging Data Shows PR Newswire Content Now Influences AI Search Results

Recent industry analysis indicates that press releases may directly impact AI-powered search visibility. According to a well-known SEO and AI search researcher, PR Newswire currently appears among the top 10 most-cited sources inside ChatGPT's retrieval index , based on data from a major LLM tracking platform. This index measures how generative search systems reference external content when formulating answers across thousands of monitored prompts.

The findings show that ChatGPT frequently cites well-optimized press releases  including company announcements  when responding to commercial queries such as "top providers," "best companies," and rankings. Because PR Newswire is treated as a neutral, third-party publication, AI systems integrate these releases as authoritative external evidence even when the brand itself authored the announcement.

"These insights support what we've observed in our own client work," said a spokesperson for Online Advantages. "A strategically optimized press release distributed through PR Newswire can influence not only traditional SEO, but also AI-generated responses across platforms like Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, Perplexity, and ChatGPT. Businesses promoting Black Friday deals can leverage this to increase online visibility during the busiest shopping period of the year."

Those wishing to review the public discussion can learn more here:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-long-marketing_seo-pr-are-more-integrated-than-ever-ive-activity-7394345655772819456-aXOm/

Due to high seasonal demand, availability is limited. Businesses are encouraged to request immediate assistance for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday promotions. Fast turnaround options24 to 48 hoursare available for qualified participants.

About Online Advantages Founded in 2012, Online Advantages is a full-service digital marketing agency that helps businesses grow through innovative SEO, content marketing, and marketing automation strategies. Over the past year, the agency has modernized its systems, tools, and strategy to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AI-powered digital marketing landscape. Online Advantages now integrates traditional SEO excellence with next-generation methods such as AI Search Optimization (AISO), AI Overviews (AIOs), and Search Generative Experience (SGE) optimization  helping clients succeed in both classic and AI-driven search results. With a focus on transparency, performance, and measurable ROI, Online Advantages continues to deliver cutting-edge marketing solutions that connect businesses with the customers searching for them today  and tomorrow.

SOURCE Online Advantages
DHAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh capital Dhaka and parts of the country on Friday morning.

Farzana Sultana, a meteorologist from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told Xinhua that the quake hit at about 10:38 a.m. local time.

The meteorologist said the epicenter was 13 km east of the Agargaon Seismic Center in the capital Dhaka.

People in parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, took to social media to report the jolt.

Fire service officials in Dhaka said they have so far not received any report of damage or casualties.

Bangladesh, which sits in the zone of earthquakes, is prone to tremors. 
MUMBAI, India and ISELIN, N.J., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SMC Squared, a part of Hexaware Technologies [NSE: HEXT], is pleased to announce that the company has been named to the 2025 SMC Cox Dallas 100 list of fastestgrowing privately held businesses by SMU Cox School of Business's Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship. This recognition reflects SMC Squared's sustained momentum, strategic impact, and leadership in global talent and Global Capability Center (GCC) services.

The Dallas 100 honor is awarded annually to the region's 100 privately held entrepreneurial companies that exhibit strong revenue growth over a threeyear period, based on evaluation by the Caruth Institute.

What makes this year's announcement especially meaningful is that SMC Squared has now earned the Dallas 100 designation three times. The company was previously recognized in 2021 and again in 2022. This places SMC Squared on a very short list of companies to have consistently achieved this level of recognition  a testament to the organization's sustained growth, strong execution, and resilience in a competitive services landscape.

"Being named to the Dallas 100 for a third time is a real credit to the SMC Squared team and the clients who have trusted them. Their work in building high-quality GCCs sits at the heart of Hexaware's GCC 2.0 service line and the value it aims to deliver," says Chinmoy Banerjee, President & Head  North America, Hexaware.

"To be recognized again by the Dallas 100 is a tremendous honor. This marks our third time on the list, and it underscores the hard work, creative energy and dedication of our entire global team and our clients. As we continue to help multinational companies build worldclass GCCs and accelerate their strategic goals through global talent strategies, this recognition inspires us to push even further," says Patricia Connolly, Senior Vice President & Global Head, SMC Squared.

SMC Squared's integration into Hexaware Technologies recently has strengthened its service capabilities and reinforced its position as a trusted GCC solutions provider.

The 2021 recognition saw SMC Squared ranked #8 among the Dallas 100, becoming one of the topranked femaleowned and led companies on the list. The subsequent 2022 acknowledgement reaffirmed its growth trajectory and excellence in the GCC and talentstrategy domain.

"We view this latest recognition as a reminder of our commitment to delivering value to our clients and to building a strong, peoplefirst culture," added Connolly. "We're grateful to our clients, our teams, and our partners for making this possible."

SMC Squared remains focused on expanding its Global Capability Center offerings, helping clients reduce costs, mitigate risk, and access toptier talent while scaling digital and technology operations.

The Dallas 100 recognition reinforces the company's position as a thought leader and trusted partner in global workforce strategy.

About SMC Squared

SMC Squared specializes in optimizing global workforces for companies, offering solutions for teams ranging from 5 to 1000+ members. Our expertise lies in establishing and managing Global Capability Centers (GCCs) that integrate seamlessly with your existing talent strategies. With a focus on innovation, people, and operational excellence, SMC Squared has established itself as a key partner for building GCCs in the global market, offering unparalleled end-to-end service and strategic advantage to its partners worldwide. Learn more at www.smc2.com.

About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://hexaware.com.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2237417/5637430/Hexaware_NEW_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd
The Thai SELECT certification has served as a trusted seal for diners seeking genuine Thai flavors. The program certifies restaurants across four levelsThai SELECT Casual, 1 Star, 2 Stars, and 3 Starsensuring rigorous standards for authenticity, quality, and dining experience, preserving Thailand's rich culinary heritage while making it accessible globally.

The new "Orchid Star of Honor" emblem is a testament to the artistry of Thai cuisine. Inspired by a traditional Benjarong porcelain lid, the symbol is rich with meaning. Its five orchid petals represent the five fundamental flavors of Thai cookingsour, sweet, rich, salty, and spicywhile the five-directional flames signify the cuisine's dynamic and growing global influence.

In one of its most significant recent activations, the new brand identity made a powerful collective debut at the LA Times Food Bowl Night Market. The vibrant "Thai Village" showcase, brought together Thai SELECT-certified restaurants  Farmhouse Kitchen, Chiang Rai Thai Street Food, Manaao Thai Comfort, Emporium Thai, Blue Elephant, and Kanomwaan alongside staples restaurant like Jitlada and Luv2Eat. This major event offered guests a journey from street food to live cooking demonstration. Through such activations, Thai SELECT continues to champion authentic Thai cuisine. The Orchid Star of Honor serves as a mark of excellence, guiding food lovers to restaurants committed to preserving Thailand's culinary heritage.

Thai SELECT Night Market Honors Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana

The celebration continues with Thai SELECT Night Market on November 17th at Westfield Century City, honouring Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana. Fourteen Thai SELECT-certified restaurantsincluding Ayara Thai, Bhan Kanom Thai, Chao Krung Thai, Cha Tra Mue, Coco's Kanom Thai, Emporium Thai, Farmhouse Kitchen, Heng Heng Chicken Rice, Lacha Somtum, Lum Ka Naad, Luv2Eat, Moom Maam Thai Gelato, Thai Chaiyo, Thai Central Cuisine will showcase the Orchid Star of Honor while offering a journey through Thailand's culinary landscape. The public session runs from 7:45PM to 9:30PM, inviting Angelenos to experience authentic flavors that make Thai cuisine one of the world's most beloved traditions.

For more information contact:

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Thai SELECT
CHICAGO and TOKYO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. ("Tokio Marine"), a leading global insurance group, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Commodity & Ingredient Hedging ("CIH"), a leading provider of risk management solutions for the agricultural and commodity sectors, from Falfurrias Capital Partners ("Falfurrias"). The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of calendar year 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Headquartered in Chicago, CIH helps agricultural producers, grain merchandisers, and other businesses manage commodity price risk through an integrated suite of consulting, brokerage, and insurance services, all powered by a proprietary technology platform. CIH's unique and proprietary offering combines weekly, education-driven advisory sessions with real-time execution capabilities across both insurance and derivatives markets, allowing clients to view, model, and manage exposure through a single interface. CIH's integrated approach, deep commodity expertise, and focus on client education have made it a trusted partner across the agricultural value chain and a leading solution in technology-enabled risk management.

Tokio Marine, through this acquisition, will add a highly complementary business that will enhance its specialty offerings in the U.S. agricultural sector and expand its non-insurance risk solutions capabilities. The combination will further strengthen the capabilities of Tokio Marine HCC's agricultural business, diversify the group's earnings and benefit customers in the agricultural economy.

On behalf of Tokio Marine Group, "We're excited to welcome CIH," said Susan Rivera, CEO of TMHCC. "The team has built an impressive business that combines deep agricultural expertise with innovative technology to help clients manage price volatility. This partnership expands our ability to deliver comprehensive risk solutions beyond traditional insurance and supports Tokio Marine Group's long-term strategy to grow through diversified, fee-based services."

"Through our partnership with Falfurrias Capital Partners, we've worked together to strengthen our technology, expand our service model, and position CIH for continued growth," said Pat Gregory, CEO of CIH. "Joining Tokio Marine will allow us to extend our reach, broaden our capabilities, and deepen the support we provide to clients navigating complex commodity markets."

"Pat and the CIH team have built an exceptional business at the intersection of technology, risk management, and agriculture," said Wilson Sullivan, Partner at Falfurrias. "We're proud to have supported CIH's growth and innovation and are confident that Tokio Marine is the ideal partner to advance the company's next chapter."

William Blair served as financial advisor and K&L Gates LLP served as legal counsel to Falfurrias and CIH on the transaction. Evercore served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Tokio Marine.

About CIH

Founded in 1999, Chicago-based CIH provides clients with the critical information, tools and skills needed to make better risk management decisions. Through a unique combination of education, regular consultation and technology tools, CIH provides comprehensive risk management services to producers, importers/exporters, elevators, traders and end users in various agriculture industries, including hog, beef, dairy, poultry/feed, ethanol and crop. Serving over a thousand clients, CIH is widely recognized as a leader in margin and risk management in the agricultural commodity markets. Visit www.cihedging.com.

About Tokio Marine

Tokio Marine is one of the world's largest global insurance and risk players with a market capitalization of approximately JPY 11.1 trillion ($74 billion) as of March 31, 2025, a network encompassing Japan and 57 countries and regions worldwide, and over 51,000 employees. Tokio Marine Group has the capabilities to drive genuine positive changes through a business model grounded in a sense of purpose and social responsibility, built on 146 years of history and an enduring culture that fosters innovation and expertise.

Composed of a diverse range of insurance and solutions businesses across the world, that bring a depth and breadth of capabilities to address and mitigate the ever-evolving risks we face, we provide our clients and communities with the security they need to move forward, while working to create more resilient societies and a better tomorrow. Its stock is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About Falfurrias Capital Partners

Falfurrias Capital Partners is an operationally focused middle-market private equity fund focused on investing in growth companies. The team is comprised of investors and proven operators, as well as in-house resources across strategy & market insights, risk & integration, talent, and technology. The fund is managed by Falfurrias Management Partners, a Charlotte-based private equity firm founded in 2006 by Hugh McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America; Marc Oken, former CFO of Bank of America; and Managing Partner Ed McMahan. The firm has raised $3.6 billion across seven funds and invests in growing, middle-market businesses in sectors where the firm's operational resources, relationships, and sector expertise can be employed to complement portfolio company executive teams in support of growth objectives. For more information, visit www.falfurrias.com.

SOURCE Falfurrias Management Partners
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Seven members of a pro-government peace committee were killed and another was injured in an armed attack in northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Friday.

According to the police, heavily armed militants attacked a peace committee center in the Bannu district late Thursday, triggering an exchange of fire that lasted several hours. A police official told Xinhua that seven committee members were killed on the spot, while another sustained critical injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital.

Security forces have stepped up patrols in the area and launched a search operation following the incident, the official added.

No group has claimed the attack so far. 
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell transports a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)

by Xinhua writers Zheng Bofei, Yu Aicen, Jin Jing

LONDON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.

Adam Ramsey, commercial director of Hutchison Ports, said the Port of Felixstowe handles "the majority of the UK's trade with Asia," underscoring its need for efficient and reliable operations.

Clemence Cheng, CEO of Hutchison Ports, said the new units can identify small objects such as a seagull and continue operating. He added that the driverless fleet helps cut emissions, shorten turnaround times and improve safety.

Benjamin Gaunt, senior project manager at Westwell, said the vehicles are not "just futuristic," but enhance safety, visibility and overall efficiency. Their rapid battery-swap system completes a full change in under five minutes.

Westwell founder and chairman Tan Limin said the company has cooperated with Hutchison Ports since 2018, leading to a 2023 contract for 100 autonomous units. He noted that each Q-Truck cuts about 50 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Tan stressed that the technology is intended to operate within a mixed-traffic environment and support, not replace, the port's workforce. He said it contributes to the port's long-term carbon-reduction goals.

Britain's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said China, with a quarter of the global R&D workforce and 20 percent of the world's top academic institutions, is well positioned to work with Britain in areas such as climate and environmental technology.

Market specialists share similar views. Dan Caesar, chief executive of Electric Vehicles UK, said many people use devices from China, the United States and South Korea without hesitation, adding that there is "some fearmongering going on about what the Chinese are capable of."

As driverless electric trucks operate alongside human-driven vehicles, Britain's largest port is adjusting in real time as it integrates Chinese autonomous technology into its daily operations. 

An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell transports a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)

An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell transports a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)

An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell transports a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)

An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell gets ready to load a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)

An autonomous electric truck from China's tech company Westwell gets ready to load a container at Port of Felixstowe in Britain, Nov. 20, 2025. As a cold November wind swept across the Port of Felixstowe, a new convoy of autonomous electric trucks from China's Westwell glided silently through the North Rail Terminal, marking the arrival of a second batch of driverless units at Britain's largest port.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
VILNIUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian trucks have not entered the country for a second day after two border checkpoints with Belarus reopened, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) told the Baltic News Service on Friday.

SBGS spokesperson Giedrius Misutis said that as of Friday morning, no Lithuanian-registered trucks had crossed into Lithuania, although the checkpoints were operating normally.

SBGS reported that since the reopening, 409 passenger cars had exited Lithuania and 488 had entered, while 126 cargo trucks had left the country and 75 had entered.

Lithuania closed the Medininkai and Salcininkai checkpoints on Oct. 30 for one month due to concerns over balloons launched from Belarus that officials said could pose risks to civil aviation.

The Cabinet decided on Wednesday to reopen the crossings ten days earlier than planned, and operations resumed at midnight on Thursday.

According to Belarus' official website, Belarus earlier moved Lithuanian-registered trucks to designated parking areas inside Belarus, stating that they would be able to leave once Lithuania restored border traffic.

A report from Belarusian news agency BELTA said the relocation aimed to ensure road safety and address congestion near the border. 
KIEV, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his country is facing "one of the most difficult moments" in its history as it considers the U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan.

"We are now in one of the most difficult moments in our history. The pressure on Ukraine is at its heaviest. Ukraine could now face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely difficult winter," Zelensky said in his address to the nation.

The next week will be very challenging and full of events, Zelensky said, noting that he plans to propose alternatives to amend the U.S. plan and that Ukraine's interests must be taken into account in the document.

Zelensky stressed that he will present arguments, persuade, and offer alternatives but will not give the enemy any reason to claim that Ukraine does not want peace.

On Thursday, Zelensky announced that the U.S. side presented him with a plan aimed at ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

U.S. media reports say the current draft plan contains 28 points, including major territorial concessions by Ukraine and sharp reductions in its armed forces. 
By Nazrin Abdul



The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is reviewing a project to modernize the railway infrastructure along the BilajariYalama section, one of the key segments of Azerbaijans NorthSouth transport corridor, Azernews reports, citing ADB.

According to the bank, the project includes installation of modern electrification, signaling, and telecommunications (EST) systems along the entire route.

Specifically, the plan envisages mounting poles and contact networks, constructing substations, laying cable lines, equipping tracks and stations with new signaling systems, and introducing advanced telecommunications solutions  including fiber-optic and wireless networks, communication facilities, and onboard electronics.

The BilajariYalama section is one of the main routes used by Azerbaijan Railways for export-import and transit freight operations. The project aims to ensure energy-efficient, safe, and uninterrupted railway operations.

Financing will be provided jointly by the ADB, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Azerbaijani government.

The Government of Azerbaijan has requested a total of $1 billion under a Multitranche Financing Facility from the ADB and has proposed that the bank act as the lead agency for implementing the project in partnership with the AIIB, the statement said.

The project aligns with Azerbaijans goals for the sustainable development of its railway sector and aims to increase efficiency of transport operations along both the EastWest and NorthSouth corridors.
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready for a substantive discussion of the details of a new U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

Putin said Russia has received the plan through existing channels of communication with the U.S. administration. It could form the basis of a final peace settlement, but the text has not been discussed with Russia in detail, he added.

Putin noted that Moscow is ready for "peace talks and peaceful resolution of problems," as well as "a substantive discussion of all the details of the proposed plan."

Russia-Ukraine talks have stalled since the meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in August in the U.S. state of Alaska. 
On Wednesday, PLUG shares tumbled more than 11% after the company priced $375 million in senior convertible notes. Notably, Plug intends to use about $245.6 million of the proceeds to fully repay its outstanding principal balance.

Plug Power is a notable player in the green hydrogen industry, specializing in hydrogen fuel cell technologies. The company is building a comprehensive green hydrogen ecosystem, spanning production, storage, delivery, and energy generation, to support its customers business objectives and contribute to economy-wide decarbonization. Its offerings include the GenDrive fuel cell system for material handling vehicles such as forklifts, GenSure stationary fuel cells for grid support, and ProGen fuel cell engines designed for a range of applications. It also offers GenFuel, a comprehensive solution for hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing. PLUG has a market cap of $2.94 billion.

Against this backdrop, the question becomes unavoidable: with so much uncertainty hanging over Plug Power, should investors buy, hold, or sell PLUG stock here?

But now, as the company abruptly pauses development and shifts its focus toward data centers, investors are left wondering whether this pivot represents smart strategic realignment. Losing access to low-cost federal financing could be a major blow, especially for a company already burning substantial amounts of cash and facing pressure to prove that its business model can eventually turn profitable.

Plug Power (PLUG) has been no stranger to volatility, but the stakes just got a lot higher. After years of ambitious expansion plans, the hydrogen fuel-cell company has decided to suspend work on six U.S. green hydrogen plantsprojects that formed the backbone of its long-term growth strategy and were tied directly to a massive $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. That loan, awarded in the final days of the Biden administration, was expected to support the construction of green hydrogen facilities across multiple states and help Plug transition from aspiration to scale.

Story continues

Last week, PLUG shares logged their sharpest weekly drop in more than three months, sliding over 15%, after the company opted to suspend activities tied to a Department of Energy (DOE) loan while intensifying its focus on data centers. The stock extended its steep slide on Monday, dropping another 7% and overshadowing news of a significant contract win in the United Kingdom.

Plug Powers $1.6 Billion DOE Loan in Jeopardy

Well, lets take a look at what happened with the DOE loan and add some context. In the final days of the Biden administration, the DOEs Loan Programs Office granted a $1.66 billion loan guarantee for Plug Power to build several hydrogen facilities across the U.S. More precisely, the loan facility was intended to support the development of up to six green hydrogen plants in the U.S. However, U.S. clean energy projects have been dealt a setback as President Trump halted all funding activities and ordered a review. After months of engaging with the DOE, Plug Power decided to suspend activities tied to the loan in November, including projects previously contemplated in New York and Texas, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Its worth noting that those six facilities were designed to produce and liquefy zero- or low-carbon hydrogen. And the hydrogen produced at the facilities was meant to supply fuel cell electric material-handling equipment, as well as serve the transportation and industrial sectors. However, Plug announced earlier this year a hydrogen-supply agreement to support AI power needs with an unspecified leading industrial gas company, a move that reduces the need for near-term self-deployment of new plants. Essentially, Plug concluded that buying hydrogen was more cost-effective than taking on a government loan to produce it themselves.

That said, suspending activities on the projects could lead the DOE to revoke its loan-guarantee commitment if it determines Plug Power is no longer meeting the required conditions or expected milestones. Notably, the company has already invested $250 million in the $800 million Texas project and had planned to fund $400 million of it with the DOE loan. Our decision to temporarily suspend activities related to the DOE loan could adversely affect our access to low-cost capital, delay project execution, and expose us to potential termination or modification of the DOE loan guarantee, the company said in an SEC filing.

Since halting the activities, Plug Power has announced a series of deals aimed at boosting liquidity and reducing its reliance on federal support. The move that drew the most praise from Wall Street analysts was its plan to sell electricity rights in New York and one other location to energy-hungry AI data centers. Plug will also work with data centers to deliver backup power solutions. This is expected to bring in over $275 million in cash.

Oppenheimers Colin Rusch described the deal as a clever use of assets, highlighting it as proof of the companys progress toward profitability. Also, BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis called the monetization prudent. In addition, Canaccord analyst George Gianarikas said, Theres definitely a different feeling in the air; something has changed. After years of constructing its infrastructureand unfortunately putting the cart before the horseit appears Plug Power has entered harvest mode.

Still, this hasnt reassured investors; rather than celebrating, they saw the possible loss of low-cost federal financing as another risk to the companys outlook, especially given its ongoing heavy losses. And this is understandable. Plug has invested billions in constructing equipment and facilities to produce hydrogen gas from water and electricity. As mentioned earlier, the company has already put $250 million into the $800 million Texas project, where half of the total cost was expected to be funded through the DOE loan. And now that loan is in jeopardy. Of course, I acknowledge that the companys strategic pivot appears to be a positive step in general, but given the trade-off, the markets reaction is completely understandable.

How Did Plug Power Perform in Q3?

Last week, Plug Power reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. The companys revenue grew 1.9% year-over-year (YoY) to $177.1 million, beating Wall Streets estimates by $0.99 million. The top line got a boost from recognizing long-delayed electrolyzer revenues. GenEco electrolyzer revenue came in at roughly $65 million for the quarter, up 46% sequentially and 13% YoY.

Although revenue exceeded expectations, the company continued to post substantial losses. Its operating loss surged to $348.8 million in Q3, up from $216.2 million in the same quarter last year, while its net loss widened to $363.4 million from $211.1 million. The company outlined roughly $226 million in charges tied to impairments, restructuring, inventory valuation adjustments, and other expenses. As a result, GAAP net loss per share came in at $0.31, significantly missing expectations by $0.18. Notably, without these impairment charges, Plugs quarterly loss would have been roughly in line with expectations.

A bright spot in the report was the companys solid progress in reducing cash burn. Net cash used in operating activities stood at $90 million, marking a 49% YoY and 53% sequential improvement. Plug ended the quarter with roughly $166 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. After the quarter, it raised an additional $370 million through the exercise of existing investor warrants.

When it comes to guidance, Plugs CEO Andy Marsh reiterated, We are still targeting $700 million in revenue for this year. Analysts currently project the company to post revenue of $702.95 million for FY25, representing 11.79% YoY growth. Moreover, its annual net loss is estimated to narrow by 70.26% YoY to $0.80 per share.

What Do Analysts Expect for PLUG Stock?

Wall Street analysts remain cautious on PLUG stock, as evidenced by the consensus Hold rating. Among the 23 analysts offering recommendations for the stock, five rate it a Strong Buy, 14 suggest holding, and the remaining four assign a Strong Sell rating. Still, PLUGs mean price target of $2.75 indicates a notable upside potential of 44.7% from current levels.

Putting it all together, I lean toward the bearish cohort of analysts and assign a Sell rating. I view the potential loss of low-cost federal financing as a risk to the companys outlook. Also, Plug lacks a clear path to profitability, which will ultimately lead to further dilution and create more pressure on the stock. While Plugs plans to work with data centers impressed some analysts, there are many safer and better AI-energy stocks to consider instead.

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Oleksandr Pylypenko did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Key Points

Chevron expects to deliver 10% annual free cash flow growth over the next five years.

The oil giant has multiple drivers to fuel its growth plan.

It should have no trouble continuing to increase its high-yielding dividend.

10 stocks we like better than Chevron 

Chevron (NYSE: CVX) has been an elite dividend stock for decades. The oil giant has increased its dividend for 38 straight years. It hasn't just been giving investors token raises to keep that streak alive. Chevron has grown its payout at a healthy 7% compound annual rate over the past quarter-century and at a peer-leading 5% compound annual rate over the last decade. That's impressive considering how volatile oil prices have been over the years.

The energy company is in a strong position to continue delivering healthy dividend growth through at least 2030. Here's a look at what fuels that view.

Image source: Getty Images.

Chevron's path to 2030

Chevron recently revealed its outlook through 2030. The oil giant anticipates delivering more than 10% annual growth in both its adjusted free cash flow and earnings per share through 2030. That outlook assumes Brent oil (the global benchmark price) will average around $70 a barrel. While Brent is currently below that level (it's in the mid-$60s), it has been at or above $70 for much of this year.

That's a robust growth rate for a company of Chevron's size. Of the 100 largest companies in the S&P 500, only 35 currently expect to deliver more than 10% annual earnings per share and free cash flow growth through 2027. Meanwhile, only nine of those companies are as financially strong as Chevron (a bond rating of AA- or higher). Chevron is the only company of that remaining group with a dividend yield above 4% (currently 4.5%). That places the oil giant in a class of its own due to its combination of growth, financial strength, and yield.

A look at what's fueling Chevron's plan

Chevron's five-year plan comes on the heels of a lot of hard work to transform the company into a free cash flow growth machine. Years of project execution and a series of strategic acquisitions, culminating in the acquisition of Hess this year, have enabled the energy company to build a resilient, world-class portfolio with a diverse set of growth drivers it expects to capitalize on over the next five years.

The bulk of its growth will come from its low-cost upstream oil and gas operations. Chevron has a long list of expansion projects under construction or in development. The company's acquisition of Hess provided it with a position in the prolific Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The ExxonMobil-led joint development group (along with Chevron and China's CNOOC) started up its fourth development (Yellowtail) earlier this year. They have already approved three more projects (including the $6.8 billion Hammerhead project in September of this year), which will come online through 2029. They have one more project in the pipeline (Longtail) that they anticipate bringing online by 2030.
The freight industry, which includes trucking, rail, maritime shipping, air, logistics, and warehousing, has faced a downturn over the last three years and additional uncertainty this year by the White House's implementation of tariffs.

Shipping companies began 2025 already entrenched in the Great Freight Recession, dealing with reduced shipping demand, lower freight rates, and rising costs of labor, fuel, and insurance, which have impacted revenues and profits.

Companies are already battling rising costs, and many await an assessment of the effects of increased tariff costs on their businesses.

The freight industry has also faced a truck driver shortage since the Covid pandemic, which caused thousands of layoffs. The industry has not recovered from the decline in drivers, as many changed careers and did not return to truck driving.

Truck driver shortfall weighs on industry

The trucking industry has a shortfall of 80,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Association's 2025 estimate. The industry will need to add 1.2 million new drivers over the next decade to keep up with freight demand and replace retirees, TruckClub reported.

David Roush, president of accounting firm KSM Transport Advisors, warned on the companys website in March 2025 that the Great Freight Recession was alive and well.

News Flash: The three-year-long Great Freight Recession is NOT over. The leading indicators that caused FreightWaves to declare the end of the GFR in November 2024, and the resulting carrier optimism is now in the rearview mirror, Roush said at the time.

Long-haul truckload demand reportedly plummeted by 25% in the first half of 2025, with trucking becoming more of a short-haul delivery method for the final leg of freight movement.

Trucking industry consultants and analysts have not yet declared the end of the freight recession as businesses struggle and launch out-of-court restructurings or filed for bankruptcy.

Carrier bankruptcy filings continue

Demand has been stagnant, capacity tightened due to stricter enforcement of immigration laws in the Midwest and Texas, and "the steady trickle of carrier bankruptcies continued," according to Ryder and FreightWaves State of the Industry Report released on Oct. 24.

Increased costs of doing business have forced a historic shipping company to file for bankruptcy to give it breathing room to address its financial distress.

101-year-old shipping company Port Elizabeth Terminal & Warehouse Corp. has filed for bankruptcy facing rising costs of doing business.Shutterstock

Port Elizabeth Terminal & Warehouse files for bankruptcy

Port Elizabeth Terminal & Warehouse Corp., a shipping, logistics, and warehousing company established in 1924, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize its business and restructure its debts.
The publishing industry flocked to Cipriani Wall Street on November 19 for the 76th annual National Book Award ceremony. Comedian, actor, and author Jeff Hiller, host of the evenings event, took to the stage and welcomed the glitterati of the literati. As the awards are about celebrating books and reading, Hiller thanked a list of writers, albeit controversial ones such as J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Alice Munro, a joke that hit with the audience.

Hiller went on to note that everyone in this room already believes that books change lives because you are the people that bring books to the world in order to change, and thanked the many people who make up the publishing industry, ranging from writers who labored alone for years to create these stories, to the assistants [who] probably arent here tonight, and many more.

The National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature was introduced by Grammy Award-winner Laufey via an audio recording. Then author David Bowles, chair of the Young Peoples Literature panel, took to the stage to announce the winner of the award.

Bowles thanked his fellow judges on the Young Peoples panel, Cathy Berner, candice iloh, Jung Kim, and Maulik Pancholy for their insight, generosity, and deep education through this process. Bowles said that the panel was seeking books that reflect the real lives of young people that dont shy away from complexity, controversy, or urgency. He added, Literature has never mattered more. Teen readers are looking for stories that see them, that validate their questions, their fears, their longings.

Then he announced the winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature: is The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido) and Nayeri made his way to the stage to accept the award.

Nayeri, who is also a Printz Award winner and Newbery Honoree, began his remarks by expressing how distinctly lucky [I am] that there are so many people in this room that I can call friend. He then reminisced about his time as an editor in New York a decade ago, where he looked down from his office window at the nearby federal immigration center, watching asylum seekers lined up outside, and reflected on how his own family had been through that same experience just 20 years prior. There was a feeling of being on probation, different than those who were waiting for freedom as he worked in the building across the street. That dissonance was a theme that came up in his book.

In The Teacher of Nomad Land, set in 1941 Iran, 13-year-old Babak attempts to become a teacher following the sudden death of his father. Nayeri said that often the first sentence one learns in Farsi is father gave water and father gave bread. He believes it is a reflection that what we need most in this life was given to us and given to us freely.

In closing, Nayeri thanked his agent, Joanna Volpe, publisher Arthur A. Levine, and his wife, Alexandra, the only one Ive been trying to impress all these years.
Since its founding in 1950, the University of Texas Press has published more than 4,000 books, transforming from a modest regional publisher into one of the most innovative academic presses in the United States. Now producing nearly 100 new titles and 15 scholarly journals annually, the press has emerged as the largest publisher in Texas with authors and readers across the globe.

The Presss 75th anniversary comes as it continues to balance its founding missionpublishing books for the people of Texaswith an expanding national profile that includes New York Times bestsellers, James Beard Foundation awards, and a critically acclaimed music series. Today, the press's publishing model balances scholarly works with general interest topics including architecture, photography, food, and music, and this dual focus reflects a strategic vision that sees Texas not as an isolated subject but as a lens through which to examine larger historical and cultural narratives.

"The press started as many university presses did, as a pretty small affair, in our case publishing about Texas and Mexico," said Robert Devens, director of UT Press. "Over the years we've added what have turned into really important programs in classics and Middle Eastern studies, music, foodwe cover a lot of territory.

While maintaining strong programs in Texas history and regional subjects, UT Press has built what Devens describes as roughly a dozen "big tents"major subject areas that each contain multiple subfields. The press focuses on humanities and some social sciences, but has strategically avoided STEM publishing, distinguishing itself from some other university presses.

"We're very interested in working on titles that bridge scholarly to trade, from having an important regional publishing program to publishing books in most of our subject areas that address the world," Devens said. "Importantly, those two things aren't separate. When we publish a book on Texas, we want it to connect the culture and history of Texas to larger historical and cultural narratives, rather than looking at the state in isolation."

This approach has proven commercially viable as Texas itself has changed, attracting waves of new residents from across the U.S.

"When Californians come, they immediately start identifying as Texans," said Gianna LaMorte, associate director and marketing and sales manager, who herself came to Texas from Chicago. "They want to get into the culture that we've already been publishing."

Hitting the right notes

Among the press's most successful recent initiatives is its music series, which has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. Casey Kittrell, editor-in-chief of UT Press, sees the music program as an extension of the press's core mission rather than a departure from it.

"I believe Rolling Stone had an excerpt from Pat Blashill's book about the birth of Austin punk [Someday All the Adults Will Die], in which he said that part of what the Butthole Surfers did was explain Texas to the rest of the world," Kittrell said. "To a certain extent we are following in the footsteps of the Butthole Surfers in that regard."

One of UT Presss breakout titles in recent years was Hanif Abdurraqib's Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest, which became a New York Times bestseller. Recent and forthcoming releases include Mothership Connection by Seth Neblett, which explores the women of Funkadelic, and The Devil Is in It: A History of the American Acoustic Guitar by John Stubbins.

The series has found audiences well beyond Texas borders. "When I go to the regional shows around the country, our music books do particularly well," LaMorte said. "But I always bring some Texas books because there's always interest."

She noted that Steve Harrigan's comprehensive history of Texas, Big Wonderful Thing, has become a staple for the press as well. "I bring that almost wherever I go," she added. The press has also found success with its works of literary criticism, particularly those focused on writers with roots in Texas such as William Goyen, John Graves, Cormac McCarthy, Sam Shephard, John Williams, and Larry McMurty.

UT Press has also played a pivotal role in helping foster cross-cultural connections across the Texas-Mexico border and with Latin America, publishing three influential Mexican cookbooks by Diana Kennedy, including the James Beard Awardwinning Oaxaca al Gusto: An Infinite Gastronomy, as well literature in translation including works by Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, and Juan Rulfo.

University support continues

At a time when many university presses are facing budget cuts, the University of Texas continues to support its press's mission. UT Press operates as a unit of the University of Texas, with Devens reporting directly to the provost. The press is part of a group commonly referred to as "the gems," which includes the Blanton Museum, the Briscoe Center for American History, the Harry Ransom Center, and the university librariescollectively known as the campus collections.

"We all have collections of one sort or another," Devens explained. "They're trying to keep their collections within their walls. We're trying to sell ours outside those walls, but there's a certain DNA that we share."

Looking ahead, the press leadership envisions continuity rather than radical transformation. "I hope that we're still doing all the things that we're doing right now," Kittrell said. "We do have as part of our mission to publish books for the people of Texas, and that's been there from the beginning and won't change."

However, the press continues to refine its approach to serving that mission in an evolving market. LaMorte emphasized that the press doesn't simply chase demographic shifts but rather publishes books that help newcomers understand and engage with Texas culture and history.

LaMorte also noted that the press has built strong relationships with independent booksellers nationwide, from First Light Books in Austin to City Lights in San Francisco. "Any time a bookseller clicks with UT Press, having books that are nationally known is really important," she said.

The press's ability to operate at what Devens calls "multiple scales" remains central to its strategy. "We pride ourselves on publishing very serious, important scholarly books that are targeted at pretty niche audiences in their fields," Devens said. "And then at the other end, general interest trade books, some of them about Texas and a lot of them about the country, the world, culture at large."

This range allows the press to serve multiple constituencies: the academic community that relies on scholarly publishing for tenure and research dissemination, the people of Texas seeking to understand their state's culture and history, and general readers nationwide interested in music, food, classics, Middle Eastern studies, and other subjects in the press's portfolio.

As UT Press celebrates 75 years, it stands as one model for how a university press can maintain scholarly integrity while building commercial viability, successfully navigating the tension between regional identity and national ambition, between academic rigor and trade appeal, and between serving a core constituency and reaching new audiencesespecially those might have no interest in the state of Texas at all.
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Its common knowledge that publishing has historically had a diversity problem. Lee & Lows quadrennial Diversity Baseline Survey of industry professionals showed that in 2024, 72.5% of industry members identified as white, while PWs annual salary and jobs survey that year found 76% of publishing members industry identified as white. The industry, especially since the Black Lives Matter movement gained traction, has taken steps to diversify its workforce, and may be making some progress. The most recent PW survey found that, for people who have been in the industry for six years or less, 61% identified as white.

One of several organizations that have been formed in recent years to promote diversity is Inkluded. Created 2017, the nonprofit aims to give aspiring BIPOC publishing professionals the knowledge they need to get their foot in the door.

Inkluded has grown rapidly in the past year: it announced partnerships with Hachette Book Group and Macmillan in June and September, respectively. Funding from the partnerships helps support Inkludeds public events series, which seek to familiarize attendees with the variety of publishing roles that are available and the paths one can take to reach them, says Cecilia Gray, director of operations.

The support of two of the Big Five publishers also bodes well for the future of the organizations flagship program: the Inkluded Academy, a tuition-free publishing boot camp hosted virtually over the course of eight weekends. In addition to granting every participant a stipend, the academy is remote, and it meets on the weekends to accommodate working students.

There are so many barriers to publishing based off of location alone, Gray explains. Moving to New York City is very cost-prohibitive for those without generational wealth.

The academy has graduated nine students annually since 2019. Like many publishing courses, the curriculum casts a wide net, covering editorial, marketing, publicity, production, and rights, and places graduates into a network of mentors and employers to help them launch their careers. But unlike, say, the Columbia Publishing Course, it does not require participants to live in New York City, or to trade their job for daily seminars.

By Grays calculations, Inkluded boasts a 75% job placement rate for academy graduates. Among the success cases is Danielle Maldonado, who completed the program in 2022. After a stint as a PW intern and completion of the academy, she spent a couple of years working as a freelance copy editor before landing in a managing editorial role at the indie childrens publisher Levine Querido. She worked her way up the ranks and, earlier this month, made the jump to Ballantine Books, where shes now managing editor.

Maldonado credited Inkluded with getting her foot in the door. Coming from a nonprofit background, she learned about managing editorial operations through the academy and realized how well it fit with her skill set, even though Maldonado says the role of managing editor position isnt one thats often depicted in media portrayals of publishing. I was doing program management and was like, This is the perfect fit for me,  she says.

Maldonado has continued volunteering at Inkluded since she graduated and is now gearing up to chair the academy committee next year. Her plans after taking the helm include expanding support and mentorship for graduates who are still searching for jobs. I do my best to also help others get their foot in the door and continue giving back to this network, she says.

Gray echoed Maldonados statement that popular media representations of publishing emphasize editing and agenting jobs but rarely mention other types of opportunities, such as those in marketing and publicity. Even discussions of editorial and agenting roles, Gray says, dont highlight that those positions, which are heavy on manuscript review, have working styles that diverge from a typical nine-to-five role.

Inkludeds two other programs, Spotlight and Pathways, focus on filling this knowledge gap. The longer-running Spotlight is an in-person speaker series focused on lesser-known publishing specialties, while Pathways, which launched in September 2024, invites guests to host virtual workshops on how to reach those roles. Both programs are free and open to the public. Recent Spotlight talks have included Hachette Audio's Nita Basu on audiobook publishing and Annette Pollert-Morgan, executive editor at Sourcebooks Fire and Young Readers, on YA editorial acquisitions.

Apart from their financial support, Inkludeds partnerships with HBG and Macmillan help integrate the organization with mainstream publishing networks, Gray says. HBG is working with Inkluded to create events for their employees, and Macmillan has helped Inkluded connect with potential speakers.

Gray hopes that Inkluded can get all the Big Five more involved with what theyre doing, which she boils down to breaking barriers. All of these publishers, they really do have phenomenal DEI programs, Gray says, and I think in the industry, there has been a huge shift in interest of increasing diversity and having new voices and perspectives.

While she recognized the current political climate has made it more of an uphill battle for support, Gray says that most of Inkludeds success has come from generous individuals who believe in its mission. We have seen consistency in those supporters who have been with us since day one, so its very nice to know that it wasnt performative in the beginning.
21Shares has just launched a spot Solana ETF under the ticker TSOL on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, marking a fresh surge in interest around Solana investment products. This move places 21Shares alongside other asset managers such as Fidelity, Bitwise, VanEck, and Canary Capital, each racing to provide regulated access to Solana (SOL) exposure.

The Details of TSOL

TSOL opened with approximately $100 million in assets under management, according to market analysts. The fund tracks the spot price of SOL, and it charges a management fee of 0.21 percent.

With TSOL, 21Shares aims to give U.S. investors access to Solanas ecosystem without the need to hold the cryptocurrency directly.

Why Solana Is Gaining Attention

Solanas blockchain architecture, renowned for its high throughput, has become a preferred choice for decentralized finance, stablecoins, gaming applications, and identity systems. As investors seek alternatives to Bitcoin and Ethereum, Solana has emerged as an appealing target. Despite some broader market softness, inflows into funds tied to Solana have remained strong, with one recent day showing $26.2 million of net new investment.

DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in

The ETF Field Gets Crowded

Although TSOL is new, it enters a market thats already active. It is reportedly the sixth U.S.-listed spot fund for Solana. For example, Bitwises BSOL fund has already gathered more than $420 million in early inflows.

Meanwhile, Fidelitys FSOL debuted just days earlier with a fee of 0.25 percent and the added feature of staking rewards. With multiple products competing on fees, features, and issuer credibility, the battle for Solana ETF dominance is clearly underway.

What to Watch as These Funds Develop

Beyond the launch announcements, what really matters is how investors use these funds in practice. Key metrics to monitor include the amount of capital flowing into the various Solana spot products over the next few months, the integration of tokenized SOL exposure into broader portfolios, and whether staking-enabled funds outperform those without staking. Investors will also want to keep an eye on liquidity in the underlying Solana token, fee structures, and how staking yield mechanics are handled.

DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in

What This Means for Investors and Crypto Markets

For both retail and institutional investors, the arrival of multiple Solana spot ETFs offers a simpler doorway into the Solana ecosystem via familiar securities structures. Instead of managing wallets or navigating crypto exchanges, they can access Solana through brokerage accounts. On the broader market level, this proliferation of Solana products strengthens the tokens status and nudges institutional legitimacy for network-specific token funds upward.
When Obama administration officials manufactured U.S. intelligence tying Donald Trump to Moscow following his stunning 2016 victory, they had no idea Trumps own political appointees would help them undermine Trumps presidency  and his chances of reelection in 2020.

RCIs review of recently declassified documents and exclusive interviews with former Trump officials reveals for the first time how key members of Trumps cabinet and other appointees during his first term shrouded the previous administrations machinations and either deliberately or inadvertently misled the public into thinking the fake Russiagate intelligence was real.

Former Special Counsel John Durham, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former CIA Director Gina Haspel dismissed or buried evidence that cast doubt on a foundational document of the Russigate hoax  the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) prepared in the waning days of the Obama administration.

Durham, who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr, stopped the declassification and release of key exculpatory evidence debunking the ICA on the eve of the 2020 election, which has not been reported previously.

Trump's own officials prevented flaws in a foundational Russiagate document largely prepared by Obama's CIA Director, John Brennan, from being exposed to the public.

The ICA helped frame the false narrative, which led to multiple espionage investigations that dogged Trump throughout his first term: that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized dirty tricks to help Trump win the 2016 election. A 2018 government review of that document, which was chiefly prepared by Obamas CIA Director John Brennan and his National Intelligence Director James Clapper, found that its most explosive claims were based on one scant, unclear and unverifiable fragment of a sentence from one of the substandard [intelligence] reports, according to a recently declassified report that Trump administration and, later, Biden administration officials had helped keep locked away in a CIA vault. It also cited as supporting intelligence debunked political dirt paid for by Hillary Clintons campaign.

While these Trump-appointed officials may not have initiated the weaponization of the CIA against Trump, they facilitated it by hiding evidence that exposed the claims that Russia tried to help Trump as a fraud. By obscuring Joe Bidens own role in perpetrating the hoax, they may have helped Obamas vice president win the close race for the presidency in 2020.

The Russiagate betrayal continued in plain sight, said former Trump national security adviser J.D. Gordon, with some in Trumps own cabinet letting him twist in the wind instead of daylighting secreted material that would have cleared the clouds of suspicion hanging over his head before the 2020 election.

John Bolton

The suppression can be traced back at least until mid-2018. Thats when Fred Fleitz, who was National Security Adviser John Boltons chief of staff, heard that investigators at his former employer, the House Intelligence Committee, were probing the raw intelligence in the ICA supporting the assessment's key judgments.

John Bolton's chief of staff says he told his boss that Russiagate evidence was shoddy, but Bolton never shared this with the president.

A one-time CIA analyst himself, Fleitz was curious to learn what they had found during the previous year, interviewing CIA analysts and reviewing secret documents at Langley. So, he traveled to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue and read a draft of the highly classified report in a secure room of the U.S. Capitol.

Fleitz told RealClearInvestigations that he was startled to learn that the investigators discovered numerous intelligence documents showing the ICAs key conclusion  that Russia developed a clear preference for Trump and aspired to help him win the election  was based on shoddy and fabricated intelligence. House investigators found those assessments were supported in part by the Steele dossier, a series of Clinton campaign-funded reports containing baseless accusations linking Trump to the Kremlin compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.

The ICA misrepresented both the significance and credibility of the dossier reports, which were either proven false or unsubstantiated, the top-secret congressional analysis noted. The ICA referred to the dossier as Russian plans and intentions, falsely implying that the dossier had intelligence value for understanding Moscow's influence operations.

Fleitz thought Bolton should be briefed on the unpublished House report, which undermined the prevailing narrative that Trump and Moscow had colluded during the 2016 election campaign. When he returned to his West Wing office, Fleitz sat down at his classified computer and wrote a synopsis of the review and gave it to his boss.

But Bolton did not, in turn, brief the president. He didnt do anything with it. He never told Trump, and I never heard anything about it again, Fleitz told RCI.

If Trump had known about the shocking revelations from the classified report, Fleitz said, he could have used them to remove the cloud of suspicion hanging over his presidency concerning Russia.

Bolton  who is facing unrelated criminal charges for mishandling other classified documents  and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

Mike Pompeo

A senior intelligence analyst said Trump's first CIA director, Mike Pompeo, couldn't believe the agency could be so wrong on Russiagate.

What Fleitz did not know at the time was that the CIA was also hindering the House probe of the ICA. As Trumps first CIA chief, Mike Pompeo was skeptical that his predecessor Brennan had gotten the Russia intelligence assessment as wrong as he was hearing from the autopsy conducted by the House Intelligence Committee. We showed him a draft but he didnt believe it. He said we have to be wrong on a lot of this stuff, said Derek Harvey, who worked as a senior analysis adviser with the House Intelligence Committee from 2017 to 2022.

As a result, he said, We didnt get a lot of cooperation from Pompeo.

Multiple attempts to reach Pompeo by email and phone at his new jobs as senior executive director of the Center for Law & Government at Liberty University in Virginia and adviser to Ukraines top defense contractor Fire Point in Kyiv were unsuccessful.

Gina Haspel

Pompeos deputy at the time was Gina Haspel, who appears to have played a much more active role in drawing a veil over the information. A veteran CIA official whom Pompeo had put in charge of most of the day-to-day operations of the agency, she apparently didnt appreciate congressional staffers investigating the agencys spycraft that went into the highly classified and restricted version of the ICA.

Sources told RCI she made sure the investigators on-site examination, which spanned from 2017 to 2020, was closely monitored and tightly controlled. The House investigators had to be cleared into a read room at Langley each day to examine the records the CIA used to support the ICA. And they were forced to lock up their laptops and materials there when they left at night.

Haspel didnt allow them to take even their notes out of their workspace there, Harvey said. They couldnt take anything out of the building.

Another House Intelligence Committee source familiar with the operation said the investigators suspected the CIA was spying on [committee] computers back on Capitol Hill. They reported back to then-committee chairman Devin Nunes that the CIA had tampered with the computers the agency forced them to use to draft their report inside headquarters  and this was only after they were denied access to any computers in the first four months of their oversight investigation.

Deliberate technical modifications to the [CIA-issued] computers made the machines unstable and unreliable, which slowed down investigators work, according to a committee report documenting the CIAs efforts to obstruct their probe.

The report, which was obtained by RCI, added: Peculiar machine glitches caused lines of text to appear fuzzy, forcing restarts to correct and sometimes resulting in lost text or footnotes.

Russiagate investigators say the CIA's Gina Haspel made it hard for them to do their work.

The investigators repeatedly requested proper computers to support the review, but were never provided with them. They were also denied software tools that would have allowed them to efficiently search large volumes of classified and unclassified reporting at the agency. Thousands of pages of intelligence reports relevant to the ICA were available only in paper form. The staffers had to comb through thick binders with broken rings and missing tab dividers, further hamstringing their audit.

Pompeo and Haspel also placed restrictions on their access to Brennans five hand-picked authors of the ICA, who initially were kept at arms length.

It took nearly five months for committee staff to be allowed to interview the ICA authors, the internal report said.

Committee spokeswoman Lesley Byers told RCI, Just getting interviews with the ICA drafters was a massive battle with the CIA back then, which further makes the point of the extraordinary measures the CIA went through to obstruct the HPSCI [House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence] staffers. She added, Why obstruct if there was nothing to hide?

In May 2018, Trump appointed Pompeo as secretary of state and named Haspel as his replacement. Haspel came highly recommended to the job, with the support of many intelligence community veterans, including John Brennan, for whom she worked as London station chief and director of CIA operations. Before her 2018 confirmation hearing, Brennan signed a joint letter with 52 other former intelligence officials expressing his strong support for Haspel and arguing she was an outstanding choice for that position. He also assured senators she would produce unbiased intelligence.

After she took over the CIA, she locked up all drafts of the House Intelligence Committee report in a gun safe inside a vault in a highly secure room at CIA headquarters until she left office in January 2021. She also impounded all the examiners notes and other work materials.

Gina Haspel buried the report, Harvey said.

Knowledgeable sources say that before Haspel left, she demanded that both Barr and Durham keep the report classified and not release any part of it before the 2020 election.

In 2020, Gina Haspel was running around with her hair on fire saying it should never see the light of day, a former senior official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said. I still cannot believe that she was President Trump's CIA director. Its totally insane.

The false charge that Trump colluded with Russian President Vladimir Putin to win the 2016 election dogged his first term.

Fleitz described her efforts to block such exculpatory information from getting out as insubordination to a U.S. president.

Fluent in Russian, Haspel had long been an expert on the Kremlin and staked out hawkish positions that ran counter to many of Trumps policies dealing with Moscow.

Its not clear if Haspel contributed to the ICA, but in 2016, she was the CIAs station chief in London, where she assisted Russiagate investigators, including Peter Strzok. She reportedly approved his travel to London to meet with Australian diplomat Alexander Downer, who claimed Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told him the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. Haspel was briefed on the matter, which became the basis for the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation targeting several Trump advisers, including Papadopoulos.

Haspel was also in London during the so-called bump ops the FBI ran on Papadopoulos and Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, where the bureau used longtime CIA asset Stef Halper to try to catch them having possible compromising contacts with Russians.

Multiple attempts to reach Haspel by email and phone at her new job as chair of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation in Herndon, Va., were unsuccessful.

A source familiar with Haspels thinking said she objected to releasing the report debunking the ICA because it might reveal sensitive intelligence, though its recent release proved no national security interests were harmed, including sources and methods.

John Durham

Nevertheless, as Trumps first term drew to a close, there was one more opportunity to expose the Obama administrations machinations. Ironically, that was forestalled by the special counsel who had been appointed to investigate the origins of the Russiagate hoax, John Durham. It was Trumps attorney general, Barr, who tapped Durham, an old DOJ colleague and friend.

While Durhams final report, which was not issued until 2023, raised serious questions about the Russiagate probe, his most significant decision may have occurred in the final days of the 2020 election when he quashed efforts to expose the plot to weaponize U.S. intelligence. That October, then-National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe sought to declassify and release a devastating 44-page report that refuted the Obama-ordered Intelligence Community Assessments explosive finding that Moscow tried to swing the election to Trump. When the ICA was finally declassified this summer, it set off a firestorm of controversy, leading to the investigation of Brennan and Clapper and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

In 2020, however, Durham insisted the ICA review be kept under wraps. Durham argued he was using the secret report, drafted by two career House Intelligence Committee investigators, in his inquiry into whether the FBI and CIA had politicized and weaponized intel against Trump.

Special Counsel John Durham asked that a damning report about the CIA's Russiagate conduct not be shared with the public.

Durham specifically asked for that report to not be declassified and released, along with other things, because he wanted to use it as part of his investigation and prosecutions  or so we presumed, the former senior ODNI intelligence official familiar with Ratcliffes declassification effort said.

Ratcliffe, now CIA director, initially agreed to withhold the report, which remained buried for the next five years  until Trumps new National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard declassified and publicly released it virtually unredacted in July.

After we gave Durham the report, along with over a thousand pages of other classified documents, he went ghost, said the former senior intelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. We didn't hear from him, and he didnt appear to do anything with the report.

Although Gabbards release of documents makes clear that the ICA was a foundational document in the Russiagate hoax, Durham all but ignored it in his final report on the scandal. Outside of a footnote on page 7 citing the ICA  which states, [S]ee also Intelligence Community Assessment, Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US. Elections (Jan. 6, 2017)  there is no mention of the ICA elsewhere in his 316-page report. Nor does it appear in a recently declassified appendix to the report, even though Durham had interviewed the two Obama officials principally responsible for putting together the ICA  Brennan and Clapper.

I have no clue why Durham left it out, the former senior intelligence official said.

Attempts to reach Durham for comment were unsuccessful.

The declassified ICA is now being used as evidence in criminal probes of Obama-era figures, including Brennan, by the Justice Department. Prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida, who are reportedly trying to build a conspiracy of corruption case, recently issued a flurry of grand jury subpoenas targeting Brennan and Clapper, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, and other Obama-era officials who were involved in the crafting of the ICA. They seek communications records and other documents covering the 2016-2017 period when classified versions of the assessment were drafted and an unclassified version was released to the public.

Durhams decisions are still influencing the debate over Russiagate. Washington media are skeptical prosecutors will find anything incriminating, because they maintain that Durham already plowed that ground.

John Durham, the special counsel appointed by the Trump administration, looked exhaustively at the Russian interference assessment and found no criminal wrongdoing, MSNBC national security correspondent Ken Dilanian recently opined. But here the Justice Department is trying to take another crack at this?

However, former Trump officials have come to doubt that Durham conducted anything approaching a thorough investigation of the matter. J.D. Gordon, a national security adviser to Trump, says the now-retired prosecutor merely went through the motions.

Since John Durham didnt include relevant and incriminating information available to him about the criminal conspiracy against a duly elected president, history should remember his efforts as a dismal failure, Gordon told RCI.

While Trump's critics appear to have been protected, Special Counsel Robert Mueller relentlessly pursued Trump associates.

He treated nearly all conspirators with kid gloves, Gordon added. His gentle approach was the polar opposite of the [Special Counsel Robert] Mueller investigation, which relentlessly pursued Trump associates for anything under the sun, even though they were all innocent victims of the Russia collusion hoax.

Gordon notes that Mueller and his prosecuting staff, who found no evidence of a Trump-Russia conspiracy, dispatched FBI agents to grill Gordon three times between 2017 and 2019. They also got a grand jury to subpoena his phone records. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler demanded Gordon provide additional documents in 2019, and he complied. A retired Navy commander and former Pentagon spokesman under President George W. Bush, Gordon said he was forced to run up a five-figure legal bill defending himself against the fake scandal.

Rigged Intelligence

The CIA engaged in a conspiracy to fabricate intelligence against Trump, Harvey said. They were effectively running an intelligence op targeting his campaign and presidency.

The ICA was a key piece of the conspiracy, he noted, because it was strategically used as a pretext to pursue countless espionage investigations of Trump and his advisers that crippled his presidency.

A month after Trump defeated Clinton, President Obama ordered the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies to go back and review their prior assessments that found no evidence the Russian government tried to hack the election for Trump.

Within just three weeks, the CIA came up with new evidence to conclude that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally launched an influence operation to help swing the race to Trump. The publicly released ICA report, which helped Obama and Clinton explain her shocking defeat, hid the fact that the CIA relied in part on the Clinton-funded dossier to reach its new conclusion.

Career intelligence analysts objected to using the dossier, but Obamas top spook, Brennan, overruled them. At least one senior intelligence analyst, now a whistleblower cooperating with the DOJ in its ongoing investigation of the Russiagate hoax, said he was threatened by superiors to change his pre-election assessment to conform with the new ICA.

The whistleblower, who worked under then-DNI Clapper, also said he reached out to Special Counsel Durham's investigators to report suspicions of manipulation of raw intelligence that went into the ICA, but they never interviewed him, even though I likely had information relevant to ongoing criminal investigations, as RCI first reported.

They tried to make it seem like Trump was Putins candidate, but there really was no evidence that Putin was trying to support Trump, Harvey said. If you read the [HPSCI] report [on the ICA] carefully, both Brennan and Clapper come across as the real malign operators, and it turns out that both of them knew Hillary had this whole Russia operation going against Trump from the start.

Brennan and Clapper did not return requests for comment through their lawyers.

They rigged and politicized the intelligence, added Fleitz, and that was obvious to anyone who read that dynamite report. This included Barr, Durham, Bolton, Pompeo, Haspel, and other Trump appointees who, instead of exposing the scandal, suppressed it.
The 2025 holiday season is off to the races and the deals are hot! Here is a collection of some of the best deals we've found this year.

Updated DAILY from now until the sales are over, check back for more great deals!

EDITOR'S PICKS

MDT Ckyepod Gen 3

At a cool $1,000, this is not the most budget-friendly bipod. But if you want to run the best in competiton like PRS or NRL: Hunter, this is the bipod that sets the standard. Newly released is the third generation and it kicks major ass with a host of improvements.

MDT Black Friday sale starts at 3 PM PST, Thanksgiving Day! Expect the web servers to be busy!

Century Arms CA-3 7.62x51mm 18 Rifle

A classic battle rifle that helped define an era, or close enough for you and me. The CA-3 doesn't come optic-ready, it doesn't have M-LOK, and it doesn't care about level 3 plates. This .308 Win slapper has a 20-round magazine and zero chill.

Roller-delayed blowback might not be what all the guys with NODs run today, but this was peak technology in 1959. It still gets the job done to this day. Best of all, the charging handle is slappable without having to pay that HK brand tax.

Feed it the cheapest tier Milspec ammo you can find, and it will always ask for more. At $660 from PSA this Black Friday, it's financially irresponsible to not buy it.

Vortex Razor HD LHT

One of the best hunting scopes on the market, the Razor HD LHT is the hunting version of the Razor line from Vortex Optics. Built with outstanding HD glass, perfect precision tracking turrets, but designed to keep the weight down for long hikes to the hunting ground  the Razor HD LHT is a seriusly underrated scope.

EuroOptic has some great sales going on for MOA and MIL scopes in every flavor of Razor HD LHT. My personal pick is the 4.5-2250 MIL. Having used it for NRL: Hunter matches and shooting out past 1,000 yards, this optic is a shooter. Starting at $1,300 at EuroOptic, you need to check them out!

BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

A little bit of everything for everyone. AAC Ammo on sale to feed the beasts, lots of PSA AR-15s and AKs, and of course some banger deals on combo packages like all 3 Dagger frames, Magpul gen 2 PMAGs, Vortex optics, and a ton more.

Guns, guns, and more guns! Small guns like the Ruger LCP for $160, big guns like a Browning Silver for $880, and everything in between. If you're specifically looking for a new gun, Guns.com is the best place to check first this holiday season!

Why are they Door Buster Deals when it's online? Oh well, at least the deals are good! $178 Vortex Enclosed Venom, Geissele 2 stage trigger for $170, SIG Sauer Zulu6 HDX stabilizing binos for $930! Way too many good deals to list them all here, go look!

Almost every type and style of knife you can think of, all on sale at CRKT! Small knives, big knives, and other bladed tools like axes! The deals are pretty hot.

Rubber targets that can be shot thousands of times before needing to be replaced. Just shoot, spray with paint to cover the old hit marks, and keep shooting. These are pretty awesome targets that we really like. Black Friday deals are happening now, and the prices can't be beat! Take a look at the Giveaway also!

If you know, you know. TSC has a bit of everything from tables to dog food to an impressive gun selection. Black Friday sales aren't the deepest discounts ever, but they got almost everything you need for the home, shop, or farm.

Some MAJOR deals on high-end optics, along with some great package deals with red dots and weapon lights! SIG swag has some solid deals too if you're into glass-wear, hoodies, or t-shirts. Select ammo and accessories have some hidden deals!

20% off all first aid kits and med packs! Simple, easy to understand, and a solid deal on life-saving gear. Get one for the range, two for the car, and a dozen for the house.

25% off sitewide on everything! Most of us won't ever need a gas mask, but better to have it and not need it, right? Good for more than just gas, these protect against smoke, ash, chemical attack, and a lot more. Take a look at the whole Mira Safety CBRN protection line!

Good deals on lots of guns! Not the largest selection we've seen, but the prices are pretty solid this Black Friday season.

Guns, suppressors, some ammo, and a whole lot more. DeGuns has a ton of good stuff on sale for Black Friday and some of these deals won't stay in stock long at this price. Jump on it!

Flashlights, headlamps, and helmet lights! Princeton Tec has some of the best illumination throwing gear in the business and some great holiday deals this year.

Hiking packs, hunting packs, sleeping bags, cold weather gear, Stone Glacer has you covered. These aren't the cheap stuff, but it will last a lifetime and keep you cozy all winter. Some good deals right now!

Binos and scopes are on everyone's wishlist no matter what their sport of choice. Bushenll has some cheap options, some mid-range options, and some really nice glass if you want to spend some money. All of it is durable and ready to rock. Highly recommend the Match Pro 15x binos for the long range shooter in your life!

Training with VR is one hell of a way to improve your pistol game. ACE VR is taking dry fire to new levels with their innovative system. We love it and highly recommend it for anyone interested in becoming a better shooter! Sales and bundles this season for some great deals.

Loads of great deals on AR500 steel targets! Free shipping over $250, package deals with deep discounts, and even portable target systems!
No. 4 Georgia hosts Charlotte in Athens on Saturday with the postseason right around the corner. The Bulldogs sit firmly among the SECs elite this season, while Charlotte has struggled mightily in the American Conference. The contrast in trajectories couldnt be starker, which makes this game as much about Georgia maintaining momentum as it is about Charlotte seeking a breakthrough.
The best course for the government at this time would be to tighten the seat belt a little more, without compromising on its investments in creating better infrastructure and giving a push to privatisation, suggests A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the eighth Pre-Budget consultation with IT sector experts and stakeholders ahead of the Union Budget 2026-2027, in New Delhi, November 19, 2025. Photograph: @FinMinIndia X/ANI Photo

The Union government has kicked off its formal pre-Budget meetings with different groups of experts and stakeholders.

For a variety of reasons, there is an air of expectancy around the Union Budget for 2026-2027, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present in February 2026.

Or will she present it in January 2026? There is a reason for this doubt.

Since 2017, when the date for presenting the Union Budget was advanced to February 1, this will be the first time it falls on a Sunday.

When Union Budgets used to be presented on the last day of February, the convention was that if February 28 or 29 fell on a Sunday, the previous day (Saturday) would be chosen for presenting the Budget.

There have been only two exceptions in the last 79 Union Budgets since 1947, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, but the finance minister concerned decided to advance the presentation of the Budget to Friday.

On all other occasions, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, the Budget was presented on the previous day, Saturday.

Ms Sitharaman, therefore, has to decide whether she will opt for the past convention or create a new one while presenting the 80th Budget of India since Independence.

If she settles for the past convention, she will be presenting the Budget for 2026-2027 on January 31, even though it would be a Saturday. Otherwise, she could do it on February 2, 2026.

The dilemma over the date of presentation aside, there is yet another reason why Ms Sitharaman's forthcoming Budget will be treated as a major event of historical significance.

For the eighth time running, Ms Sitharaman will be rising in the Lok Sabha to present the Union government's full Budget or the Annual Financial Statement.

With that, she will be on a par with Morarji Desai, who till now holds the record of presenting eight full Budgets, although in two different stints -- one under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the other under his daughter, Indira Gandhi.

Ms Sitharaman will achieve that record under one prime minister, Narendra Modi, and under two consecutive governments.

Desai's eighth Budget is remembered for the introduction of ad valorem excise duty rates on a large number of items, widening the scope of wealth tax and making financial allocation for the launch of the Fourth Five-year Plan after a Plan holiday of about three years.

But a bigger drama unfolded about four-and-a-half months after his eighth Budget.

Indira Gandhi decided to ease Desai out of the finance ministry, which eventually led to his exit from the government, even as she executed her long-cherished plan for nationalising 14 banks.

In contrast, there are no such concerns for Ms Sitharaman.

With a major rationalisation of the goods and services tax regime, preceded by a big income-tax relief to middle-class Indians, she is on a high that few finance ministers have experienced after having spent over six-and-a-half years in that job.

Her performance on the fiscal consolidation front has been creditable -- having brought the fiscal deficit down from a high of 9.2 per cent of gross domestic product during the Covid year of 2020-2021 to 4.7 per cent in 2024-2025.

In banishing the ghost of off-budget borrowings, she has set a new standard for fiscal transparency.

And she has significantly improved the quality of government expenditure by boosting capital expenditure to 3.2 per cent of GDP last year even as the revenue deficit was brought down to 1.7 per cent of GDP.

So, what are the challenges she faces in the current year and what goals she should set for 2026-2027?

In the first six months of 2025-2026, net tax revenue has underperformed, falling by 3 per cent against the annual target of growing by 13 per cent over 2024-2025.

Meeting this shortfall will require net tax revenue to grow by about 30 per cent in the second half of 2025-2026, achieving which will be difficult if not impossible.

Non-tax revenue and receipt from asset monetisation have done well, but these gains would not be enough to make good the shortfall in net tax revenue.

There will be some solace from the relatively slow pace of revenue expenditure in April-September 2025, which grew by just 1.5 per cent, against the annual growth projection of about 9 per cent.

In contrast, capital expenditure in the first half of the current year was frontloaded in a big way, notching up an increase of over 40 per cent, and the government can afford to slow it down in the second half.

Even if there is a 15 per cent fall in capex during October-March 2025-26, the overall target under this head will be met.

Barring her first two Budgets, Ms Sitharaman has always ended the year with either a lower fiscal deficit figure than what she had projected or by adhering to the target.

It is this track record that, among other things, has helped improve India's overall rating by international agencies.

It is, therefore, unlikely that the finance minister will allow the deficit target of 4.4 per cent of GDP for 2025-2026 to be breached.

The only imponderable in this task is how the government's net tax revenue will fare in the second half, after the GST rejig.

The last two years have seen the actual net tax revenue fall below the Budget Estimate.

What helped Ms Sitharaman in this period to improve her performance on deficit reduction were a curtailment of revenue expenditure and higher nominal economic growth.

In the current year, actual nominal growth may disappoint, with a number lower than the budgeted 10.1 per cent.

The only recourse is a further squeeze on revenue expenditure.

How difficult that task will be depends on the actual impact of the Eighth Central Pay Commission's recommendations on wages of government employees, even though it may be felt retrospectively.

In sum, meeting the fiscal deficit target this year will be a difficult task.

For 2026-2027, the challenges will be even more complex and bigger. The Sixteenth Finance Commission's recommendations on sharing of resources with the states will have to be implemented.

Uncertainties in the global economy and India's economic challenges as a result will only become more formidable.

The best course for the government at this time would be to tighten the seat belt a little more, without compromising on its investments in creating better infrastructure and giving a push to privatisation.

In other words, a tight vigil on the fiscal consolidation plan without compromising on capex is all the more necessary as the country navigates these uncertain times.

Returning to the date when Ms Sitharaman may choose to present her eighth Budget, it will be useful to remember that if she decides to present it on January 31, she may corner yet another record for herself.

No finance minister in India has ever presented a full Budget in the month of January!

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Indias merchandise trade deficit widened to a record $41.68 billion in October, as gold imports trebled and outbound shipments registered their sharpest contraction in 14 months, according to data released by the commerce department.

Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Merchandise exports fell 11.8 per cent to $34.38 billion, an 11-month low, while goods imports grew 16.66 per cent to an all-time high of $76.06 billion.

Exports to the US fell 8.6 per cent to $6.3 billion in October, following the imposition of relatively high 50 per cent tariff on several Indian products.

Exports to other key trade partners  the United Arab Emirates (-10.2 per cent), the Netherlands (-22.75 per cent) and the United Kingdom (-27.16 per cent)  also contracted.

The merchandise trade deficit had stood at $26.22 billion in October last year, and at 13-month high of $32.15 billion in September this year.

Gold imports surged 199.2 per cent year-on-year to $14.72 billion in October, fuelled by pent-up demand and the festival season.

Silver imports rose sixfold to $2.72 billion, driven by increased shipments of plain silver from a free-trade agreement partner country, government officials said.

Services exports grew 11.9 per cent to $38.52 billion in October, while services imports rose 8.1 per cent to $18.64 billion, resulting in a surplus of $19.88 billion.

The commerce department noted, however, that the services trade data for October is an estimate and will be revised based on the Reserve Bank of Indias subsequent release.

The overall trade deficit, combining both merchandise and services, climbed to $21.8 billion in October from $9 billion a year earlier.

Addressing mediapersons, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said a 25 per cent reduction in gold import volumes over the first six months had contributed to the October surge as festival demand kicked in.

Because of high prices, probably, there was demand that was unfulfilled and the imports were low

"That is one reason why we see a surge in gold imports (in October), leading to a surge in trade deficit, said Agrawal.

There are two reasons for the fall in exports (in October) -- one is due to the high base effect as exports stood at $38.98 billion in October 2024.

"In the case of exports to the US, we have been able to hold the ground. In the month of October, the exports have fallen to $6.3 billion as compared to $6.9 billion last year.

"The silver lining: Exports (to the US) have grown from $5.8 billion in September, Agrawal told reporters.

Exports to Singapore dropped 54.8 per cent to $8.47 billion, which Agrawal said was mainly due to a decline in petroleum prices, adding that demand itself had not been a problem.

Merchandise exports declined in October, amid a double-digit contraction in both oil and non-oil exports, although the latter was primarily driven by an adverse base as well as the holidays associated with the early onset of the festive season.

"While exports to the US declined by 8.6 per cent, reflecting the impact of the tariffs and penalties, those to other regions fell by a sharper 12.5 per cent, owing to the high base, said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA.

Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports, an indication of export health, dropped 10.15 per cent to $28.14 billion.

Sectors contributing to the contraction included engineering goods (-16.71 per cent), drugs and pharmaceuticals (-5.15 per cent), organic and inorganic chemicals (-21.02 per cent) and readymade garments (-12.88 per cent).

Gems and jewellery exports also fell sharply, by 29.5 per cent, while petroleum exports declined 10.5 per cent.

Over the April-October period, Indias goods exports rose 0.6 per cent to $254.25 billion, while imports increased 6.4 per cent to $451.08 billion.

Among non-oil, non-gems and jewellery items, imports rose 8.1 per cent to $42.78 billion in October, driven by fertilisers, machinery, electronics and non-ferrous metals.

Nayar added that the trade deficit is expected to cool somewhat in November and December from the October peak, due to an anticipated sequential dip in gold imports and a modest pickup in exports after the festival season.

Nevertheless, the current account deficit appears set to widen materially to 2.42.5 per cent of GDP in Q3FY26 from the 1.8 per cent expected in Q2FY26, she said.

S C Ralhan, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said the contraction in exports reflects the wider global economic slowdown, marked by geopolitical uncertainty, subdued demand across major markets and persistent volatility in commodity prices.

Despite such headwinds, Indian exporters have displayed resilience, even as elevated logistics costs and fluctuating input prices continue to challenge competitiveness, he added.
Logistics companies should generate nearly $27 in qualified pipeline for every marketing dollar spent, according to a quarterly report from go-to-market consulting group LeadCoverage.

The firms Supply Chain Growth Index (SCGI) measures go-to-market spend among logistics companies. The first-ever release of the benchmark showed an average Logistics Growth Efficiency Ratio (LGER) of $29.51 for each dollar spent, with the median company generating $26.68 in pipeline. (LGER is calculated by dividing the pipeline created by total go-to-market spend.)

Freight and logistics companies are under immense pressure to make every GTM investment count, said Kara Brown, CEO and co-founder of LeadCoverage, in a news release. The SCGI and its core metric, LGER, cut through the noise of vanity metrics to deliver a clear, actionable benchmark. It answers the urgent question: Are we spending our GTM resources efficiently, and is that spend generating real pipeline?

The middle 50% of the companies tracked were generating $8 to $55 in pipeline (per dollar spent), with the most effective campaign fetching $109.44 and the worst seeing just 39 cents.

The report advises executives to benchmark performance against the median LGER and treat $26.68 as a floor to surpass, not a ceiling.

Born from SaaS, where the Growth Efficiency Ratio (GER) became the gold standard for balancing scale and profitability, weve adapted it for freight, the report said.

The index defines go-to-market spend as dollars spent on media, public relations, tech, vendors and marketing headcount. Sales labor is excluded.

The evaluation encompassed a diverse group of logistics providers, including FreightTech companies, 3PLs, brokers and others. These entities span mid-market to enterprise-level operations and utilize a mix of asset-based and asset-light models.

The SCGI gives leaders the data to invest with precision and drive real pipeline growth, Brown said. Our initial findings show wide performance gaps, which is exactly why this kind of benchmark is critical.

More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden:

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The Indian steel industry is faced with a paradox: Rising demand and falling prices.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Demand continues to surge as user industries gather pace, with the World Steel Association projecting around 9 per cent annual growth for India over 2025 and 2026, the year domestic demand is projected to be almost 75 million tonnes (mt) higher than in 2020.

Major producers are pouring billions of dollars in ambitious capacity expansion.

But as new supply comes on stream and global trade flows tighten, steel prices and demand are beginning to move out of sync  a sign that the next chapter in Indias steel story may depend as much on balance sheets as on blast furnaces.

The stickiness is attributed to a combination of increased supplies, imports (down but still a concern), and limited trade opportunities.

At an event on November 4, steel secretary Sandeep Poundrik acknowledged that prices remain a significant challenge.

He said, around 150 small steel producers have halted production amid depressed market conditions.

Price is a problem, especially when we need to invest in 100 million tonnes of capacity in the next maybe five to seven years, he said.

As steelmakers push the growth pedal, the question resurfacing is: Do current levels of margins justify the mega expansion plans?

The slip

Photograph: Babu/Reuters

Domestic flat steel prices started rising in the last week of December 2024 in anticipation of the Indian safeguard duty.

The trend continued until early May 2025, with prices increasing by Rs 4,500-5,000 per tonne during the period.

However, the early onset of the monsoon, a deceleration in overall manufacturing activity, and tariff uncertainties made end-consumers cautious, said Sehul Bhatt, director, Crisil Intelligence.

As a result, prices plunged by Rs 2,000-2,500 per tonne between mid-May and July-end. Mills tested higher prices in the early week of August, but this did not hold, and the declining trend continued through September and October, he added.

According to market intelligence and price reporting firm BigMint, in October 2025, the monthly average for hot-rolled coil (HRC) stood at Rs 47,900 per tonne compared with Rs 48,222 per tonne for October 2024 and Rs 57,838 per tonne for October 2023.

The spot price as of October 31 this year settled lower at Rs 47,000 per tonne, marking a five-year low.

The last time prices were seen at comparable levels was in November 2020, when the monthly average hovered around Rs 46,000 per tonne, BigMint said.

The weak prices showed up in margins.

Thinning margins

Photograph: Damir Sagol/Reuters

Icra vice president Sumit Jhunjhunwala noted that Q1FY26 witnessed a strong performance; however, margins have come under pressure in Q2FY26, primarily due to softer HRC realisations. HRC serves as the benchmark for flat steel, used across a broad range of sectors.

Producing it demands significant investment.

Steel spreads (the differential between steel prices and raw material costs) are estimated to have contracted by Rs 2,500-3,000 per tonne sequentially in Q2FY26, largely reflecting the decline in HRC prices, Jhunjhunwala said.

Consequently, the industrys earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, or ebitda (a measure of profitability per tonne), which had improved in Q1FY26, is estimated to remain subdued in Q2FY26, he said. For the full fiscal, margins are likely to stay soft and broadly align with the previous fiscal year average of around $110 per tonne.

Major flat steel manufacturers have, however, raised list prices for HRC and cold-rolled coil (CRC) by Rs 1,250 per tonne for November 2025 vis-a-vis late-October levels.

This, said BigMint, indicated a broad-based upward adjustment across product categories.

But a steel industry executive said this doesnt really move the needle for margins.

Mega plans

Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

According to Crisil Intelligence, Indias crude steel capacity by the end of FY25 is estimated at 200 million tonnes per annum.

An additional 16-17 mt is expected by the end of FY26.

Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and Jindal Steel have together commissioned 13 mt of capacity, and they are ramping up production, said Amit Lahoti, senior research analyst, institutional equities at Emkay Global.

Even as absolute ebitda is rising, margins are coming under pressure due to lower steel prices, he added. Prices of HRC need to be at least Rs 52,000-53,000 a tonne for any company to commit to new capacity, he said.

Steel companies echo the concerns.

Demand-wise, India is in a good place, and we are likely to improve in H2, said JSW Steel joint managing director and chief executive officer Jayant Acharya.

The real challenge is margins  they need to move up for companies to reinvest meaningfully in capex.

They did improve over last year, helped by some price gains in the first quarter, but softened in Q2, he said, adding that prices are at the bottom and need to improve.

Ranjan Dhar, director and vice president, sales and marketing, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, pointed out that the national steel policy lays a clear road map for companies through 2047.

To make this vision a reality, steel companies need a minimum of Rs 17,000 ebitda per tonne to plough back into capex, he said.

Comprehensive trade measures are required to achieve these levels, from the current range of (about) Rs 6,000-10,000 per tonne.

Forces behind the squeeze

Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

So, what is dragging prices? The steel market is largely shaped by dynamics playing out in China, which produces about half of the worlds steel, said Sanjay Singh, director, Jindal Steel.

While its production has only marginally declined, consumption has fallen sharply, he explained.

Based on recent figures, China is expected to export either at the same level as last year or more.

In India, consumption over the last six months has been higher than production, which means the gap is being covered by imports, putting additional pressure on domestic prices, he added.

The uncertain global environment, too, is weighing on industries, with export opportunities to certain regions impacted due to trade restrictions.

Given the backdrop, the industry is questioning whether a 12 per cent safeguard duty is enough to protect it.

According to Dhar, India continues to be not just a country of interest for the world, given its growth, but also a destination for dumping due to low safeguards for the domestic industry.

The provisional safeguard of 12 per cent was till November 7.

The Centres trade remedies watchdog, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, has proposed a phased duty for three years: 12 per cent in the first year, 11.5 per cent in the second, and 11 per cent in the third.

This is yet to be approved by the finance ministry.

Green shoots?

There is expectation, however, that prices will see some uptick as the second half of the financial year is typically stronger for the steel industry.

According to BigMint, the price revision in November follows a comprehensive evaluation of improving manufacturing indicators, stronger order inflows from downstream industries such as automotive, and a slight increase in raw material costs, particularly imported coking coal and iron ore.

But new capacities and limited trade opportunities may keep prices in check.

Dhar believes that current prices are unsustainable and have bottomed out; they are likely to move up.

The industry is already witnessing improved demand (after the monsoon).

However, how much and how soon prices rise is anybodys guess.
Officials from both India and the US in the recent past have indicated that a fair deal will be concluded soon, with Indian officials holding that more formal rounds of talks are not needed.

IMAGE: Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra speaks during the FIBAC 2025 event, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Thursday said that he is confident that there will be a good trade deal with the United States, which will relieve the pressure on the current account and in turn the rupee.

Delivering the VKRV Rao Memorial Lecture at the Delhi School of Economics, Malhotra said the recent depreciation in rupee is because of expectations that the trade deficit may go up as a result of additional penal tariffs by the US.

Exports have come down, as you are aware, in October. But we are confident that there will be a good trade deal, hopefully, going forward. And that should relieve whatever pressure there is on our current account. We have very good buffers of foreign exchange of $690 billion. So that's not a matter of concern, he added.

Officials from both India and the US in the recent past have indicated that a fair deal will be concluded soon, with Indian officials holding that more formal rounds of talks are not needed.

The deal is expected to substantially reduce the 50 per cent tariffs by the US on most Indian goods.

India's trade deficit rose to a record high of $41.68 billion in October and exports to the US contracted 8.6 per cent to $34.38 billion.

On cryptocurrency regulation, Malhotra said the RBI has taken a cautious approach because of various concerns and the government has to take a final view on the matter.

There is a working group set up earlier. They will take a final call as to how, if at all, crypto is to be handled in our country, he added.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra at Jio World Centre, Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Malhotra said though the US has come out with a Genius Act to establish a regulatory framework for crypto assets, India's situation is very different.

We have a very sound system of (digital) payments, which the US doesn't have to the extent of scale that we have. So the domestic payments issue that they have is not with us. We are experimenting with CBDC (central bank digital currency). That's why we have a cautious approach towards crypto, he added.

However, Malhotra said the RBI has an accommodative and enabling stance when it comes to digital innovations like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or digital lending, stressing that the central bank is mindful of ensuring necessary guardrails in the system.

While talking about the shift from rule to principle based regulation, Malhotra said the related dilemma in this regard is how much innovation to permit, when the risks are not fully understood.

The RBI governor said that the central bank was continuously adapting while being vigilant and alert to emerging risks and evolving conditions.

We are encouraging innovation while being mindful of our regulatory objective of safeguarding systemic stability. We are trying to simplify regulations as much as possible while maintaining the necessary safeguards and guardrails, he said.

Malhotra further said that given the pace of the economy's growth, it was only a matter of time that India would have many of its banks in the top 100 banks of the world.

He added that the shift from bank deposits towards money markets, mutual funds, equities etc is natural as the country progresses.

He said that even on the lending side many corporates and NBFCs were moving from bank borrowing to corporate and market based borrowing.

It is not only on the liability side, but even on the asset side, this shift is happening. So the point is that it should remain balanced, Malhotra added.

Malhotra said that the RBI was strengthening coordination with all other regulators, while respecting the jurisdictional boundaries.

We are trying to enforce rules consistently, while recognising that there can be circumstances which will warrant flexibility, he added.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'Once the 60-plus population hits 20 to 30 per cent of the country, the demand for elderly-care treatments will surge -- cardiac, metabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal medicines are going to dominate the market for the next several decades.'

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Towfiqu barbhuiya/Pexels.com

The 'silver generation' will account for at least one-fourth of the pharma and healthcare market in the next two-three decades, according to market research firm Pharmarack.

India is entering a decisive demographic transition that will redefine demand across healthcare, finance, insurance, housing, and consumer services over the next several decades.

Though the 60-plus group makes up only about 10 per cent of India's population, it already contributes close to 17 per cent of the pharma market because almost every senior citizen is on long-term therapies like antihypertensives.

"As the proportion of the 60-plus population increases, their contribution to the Indian pharma market will rise sharply. I estimate the silver generation will account for at least one-fourth, and possibly one-third, of the market in the next two to three decades," says Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial, Pharmarack.

Pharmarack maps India's demographic arc over a 200-year period -- from 1900 to projections for 2100 -- and shows how the country is steadily moving toward an elderly-heavy profile similar to that of Japan and Western Europe.

"I think India is headed toward a demographic structure that looks far more like Japan than like the India we know today, and that fundamentally changes how we must think about healthcare, pensions, and labour," says Sapale.

The study highlights a sharp rise in the 60-plus population, which will jump from about 11 per cent today to 20 to 21 per cent by 2050 and 31 per cent by 2100.

"When you look at India over a 200-year period, you see a very predictable but dramatic shift -- from a young-dependent population to an elderly-dependent one, and by 2100, almost a third of our population will be over 60," she says.

The shift, driven by longevity gains and falling fertility, marks a fundamental turning point.

Between 1900 and 1950, the elderly share held steady at 5 to 6 per cent, with the 1918 flu pandemic depressing population growth for a decade.

Post-Independence improvements in public health pushed population growth sharply higher, but ageing remained modest.

The acceleration begins after 2000, as better disease management and urban lifestyles reshape mortality and fertility patterns.

"Once the 60-plus population hits 20 to 30 per cent of the country, the demand for elderly-care treatments will surge -- cardiac, metabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal medicines are going to dominate the market for the next several decades," Sapale feels.

Dependency ratios -- those under 18 and over 60 -- underline the pressure points ahead. While India's total dependency ratio of around 40 per cent remains stable, its composition is changing rapidly.

"What worries me is that the dependency ratio will stay at around 40 per cent, but the composition flips; instead of young dependents, it will be elderly dependents, and that places a very different type of economic pressure on households and the state," says Sapale.

Young dependents dominated for most of the past century, by 2050, young and old will contribute roughly equally. By 2100, elderly dependency will become the dominant driver.

But the demographic shift also opens new opportunities.

The 'silver economy' is expected to expand across healthcare, technology, housing, and financial services.

Demand is set to rise for chronic-care medicines, medical devices, diagnostics, assisted living, and geriatric-care facilities.

Technology-enabled solutions -- AI-based monitoring, fall-detection systems, telemedicine, and remote disease management -- will form the backbone of elderly support systems.

Age-friendly urban design, flexible work formats, phased retirement, and senior-focused financial products will also gain traction.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Hit by a slowdown in information technology (IT) hiring, Info Edge (India)s results for the JulySeptember quarter (Q2) of 2025-26 (FY26) fell short of brokerage expectations.

IMAGE: InfoEdge Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

What helped the online recruitment major offset the weak IT hiring trend was broad-based growth across other sectors.

While the company remains cautiously optimistic about a revival in the IT vertical, some brokerages have cut their earnings estimates as well as target prices, citing multiple macro headwinds and limited valuation upside.

The stock, currently trading at 6575x its 202627 (FY27) earnings per share (EPS) estimates, has fallen about 11 per cent over the past year.

In Q2, recruitment billings rose 11 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) but came in below expectations due to sluggish IT demand.

IT growth stood at 8 per cent, similar to the first quarter (Q1), but global capability centres stole the spotlight with an 18 per cent rise.

The non-tech segment grew 11 per cent, while consulting was up 9 per cent.

The companys real estate vertical, 99acres, recorded 14 per cent Y-o-Y billings growth, with broker and channel partner billings outpacing developer billings.

99acres traffic share climbed to 49 per cent, aided by increased marketing spends.

Profit before tax was Rs 23 crore, compared with Rs 14.2 crore in Q2 of 2024-25 (FY25).

Growth was driven by higher customer additions and improved realisations per customer.

The company continues to spend aggressively on marketing to strengthen its market position.

JM Financial expects revenue acceleration in real estate to follow.

Analysts at Motilal Oswal, led by Abhishek Pathak, believe the platforms continued investments in marketing and artificial intelligence-driven matching tools may weigh on near-term profitability but will reinforce its market leadership.

The brokerage expects the recent traffic share gains to translate into billings over the next three to four quarters.

Billings in its matrimonial vertical, Jeevansathi, grew a robust 29.3 per cent Y-o-Y, driven by better monetisation of customers.

The segments margin improved to 1.5 per cent from minus 2.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent in Q2FY25 and Q1FY26, respectively.

Nomura believes the decision to make profile listings free has worked well for the matrimony platform, boosting traffic and engagement while lowering marketing costs.

While the brokerage has marginally cut its earnings forecast and reduced its target price to Rs 1,585, it has maintained a buy rating on the stock.

JM Financial has trimmed its standalone FY26 through 2027-28 (FY28) EPS estimates by 34 per cent, expecting slower margin expansion in recruitment and 99acres.

It has maintained an add rating with a revised target price of Rs 1,450.

The standalone business valuations of 42x/37x for FY27/FY28, respectively, remain within its comfort zone.

Analysts led by Swapnil Potdukhe note: Given that Info Edge has historically commanded much higher multiples, meaningful upside will depend on some stability in macros.

Motilal Oswal has a neutral rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 1,300.

The brokerage expects near-term recruitment growth to remain rangebound, as macro uncertainty and client caution  particularly in IT and consulting  continue to mute hiring demand.

For its other verticals, 99acres and Jeevansathi, the brokerage believes the managements disciplined investments are showing progress, and these businesses could scale up meaningfully over the medium term, adding to the groups long-term value.

However, current valuations already reflect much of the expected growth, leaving limited room for rerating.
If the Thackerays don't save a Marathi school in their backyard, who will, wonders Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Kindly note that this image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Rediff Archives

On Friday, November 8, a message appeared on my social media.

It said that a Marathi-medium school on Mori Road in Mahim, north central Mumbai, would be demolished, and a protest had been planned for the next day at 11 am.

The appeal ended with a line in Marathi -- 'Marathi shaala vachnyasathi bhetu ya', which means, 'Let us meet to save the Marathi school'.

The message was not about one school alone.

It was the second Marathi school in Mahim facing demolition.

Many believed that a powerful builders lobby was eyeing the land for a shopping mall or luxury apartment complex. The post accused them of pushing out poor Marathi-speaking children for profit.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, which runs the New Mahim school, had a different version.

According to officials, the school building was unsafe and in a poor condition. They said the structure was beyond repair and must be pulled down for the safety of students.

The BMC also stated that nearly 1,000 students from the school had been moved to other schools in neighbouring areas.

Last heard, the BMC was planning to conduct another structural audit to see if the Marathi school in Mahim could be saved by repairs.

To someone who lives outside Mumbai, this may seem like a routine matter of redevelopment.

But Mahim is no ordinary location in the city's political map.

It holds a deep connection to Mumbai's identity and to one of the city's most powerful political families -- the Thackerays.

It was in the Mahim assembly constituency that Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966.

At that time, Bombay was undergoing rapid industrial growth, and people from across India migrated to the city for work.

Marathi-speaking people, the original inhabitants of the region, began to feel sidelined.

Most white-collar jobs in banks, offices and factories were being taken up by migrants -- especially educated South Indians.

Bal Thackeray, a political cartoonist by profession, began to speak openly about the neglect of the Marathi Manoos -- sons and daughters of the soil.

The Shiv Sena started with the goal of protecting the rights and pride of Maharashtrians.

In the 1960s, their slogans were sharp and emotional. One such slogan was 'Bajao Pungi, Uthao Lungi (drive away South Indians from Bombay)' which, though controversial and offensive, reflected the resentment that many locals felt at being left behind in the city.

Thackeray's movement gained ground quickly among the working-class Marathi youth.

Soon, the Sena began demanding job reservations for locals.

It set up the Sthaniya Lokadhikari Samiti to ensure that government and private companies in Bombay employed Maharashtrians.

The Sena grew strong and gained political power, eventually taking control of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation -- the same body that plans to demolish the Marathi school in Mahim.

Over time, the Shiv Sena's politics changed.

It moved from being a party for Marathi pride to one that also pushed a broader Hindutva ideology, calling its leader Bal Thackeray the 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' -- the 'Emperor of Hindu Hearts'.

But the Marathi identity remained an emotional foundation of the party in which Mahim continued to be a symbolic stronghold.

Bal Thackeray was so disillusioned with Marathi voters after the Sena lost the 2009 assembly elections from Mahim that he was almost in tears appealing to Mumbai voters to vote for the sena In the 2012 BMC elections.

His emotional appeal worked and the BMC was once again retained by the Shiv Sena.

Sena Bhavan, the party's headquarters, stands a few kilometres from the school now facing demolition.

During the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray chose Mahim to contest his first election.

It was a statement that the Thackerays still consider Mahim to be the heart of Marathi politics.

That is why when I heard about the demolition and the protest, I assumed the Thackerays would be there.

After all, the issue of saving a Marathi school fit in perfectly with their political message.

It was about language, culture, and regional pride -- issues that had once built their entire careers.

But when I reached the protest site on Saturday morning, I was in for a shock.

Not one Thackeray was present -- not Raj, not Amit, not Uddhav, not Aaditya.

There were no Shiv Sena or MNS flags, no banners, not even local councillors.

Only a handful of people -- perhaps 20 -- stood there holding placards.

A few mediapersons with cameras had gathered, expecting a political face to arrive and make a statement.

But after waiting for over an hour, even they began to pack up.

The protest was led by Deepak Pawar from the Marathi Abhyas Kendra. He looked disappointed but determined.

Speaking to the small group, Pawar said, "We saw how Marathi mill workers were thrown out when the textile mills closed. Those lands were turned into malls and towers. Now, the same thing is happening to our schools. They are erasing Marathi identity from Mumbai in the name of development."

His words echoed the pain of many in the city who have watched Maharashtrians neighbourhoods disappear.

In the last few decades, Mumbai's transformation has been ruthless.

Mill lands have become shopping malls, chawls have become skyscrapers, and Marathi-speaking residents have moved out to the suburbs or smaller towns because they can no longer afford to live in the city.

The Marathi school, in this sense, is not just a building -- it is a symbol.

It represents the slow vanishing of Marathi culture from the heart of Mumbai.

To understand this loss, one must also remember the longer history of Maharashtra. The Marathi identity was shaped by centuries of cultural and political pride.

It was the land of the great Maratha empire founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century -- a king who fought for self-rule, Hindavi Swaraj, and regional dignity.

His ideals of swarajya (self-governance) and swabhimaan (self-respect) became part of Maharashtra's soul.

After Independence, when states were reorganised along linguistic lines in 1960, Maharashtrians fought a strong movement to have their own Marathi-speaking state, separate from Gujarat.

The slogan then was 'Samyukta Maharashtra' -- United Maharashtra. The movement succeeded, and Bombay was declared the capital of Maharashtra. It was a moment of victory for Marathi pride.

But 65 years later, that pride seems to be fading.

The city that was once built by Marathi workers and mill hands now belongs mostly to builders, financiers, and politicians.

And in the middle of all this, the Thackerays -- once the loudest defenders of Marathi identity -- seem to have gone silent.

Their absence from the Mahim protest was symbolic.

It showed how far political priorities have shifted.

Today, the battles are fought over power-sharing, party splits, and alliances, not about saving a small local school or protecting the Marathi language.

As the protest ended quietly, I stood watching the empty compound of the old school.

Its walls were cracked and its paint peeling, but it held decades of memories -- of children reciting Marathi school prayers early morning.

Soon, bulldozers will arrive, and another chapter of Marathi Mumbai will vanish under the dust of redevelopment.

The irony is that this is happening in Mahim -- the birthplace of the very movement that promised to protect Marathi pride.

In the silence that followed the protest, one could not help but wonder: If the Thackerays do not come to save a Marathi school in their own backyard, who will?
India emerged from the war militarily bruised and strategically altered.

The United States, under the guise of friendship, had succeeded in achieving what open alignment never could: The psychological and political repositioning of India within the Cold War order, points out Dr Kumar.

IMAGE: An Indian soldier stands guard over makeshift forts hastily built in Ladakh during border clashes between India and China, November 1961. Photograph: Radloff/Three Lions/Getty Images/Rediff Archives

During the darkest hours of the 1962 War, when India was caught unprepared and the Soviet Union seemed inclined toward China, the United States appeared to rise as a true friend.

American transport aircraft landed in Kolkata with supplies, and messages of solidarity poured in from Washington.

For many, it was a moment of reassurance, when the world's oldest democracy seemed to stand by the largest in its hour of need.

However, that friendship must be seen in the light of the preceding decade, when American policy had quietly laid the groundwork for the very crisis it later seemed to help resolve.

Tibet: The First Pressure Point

When India refused to align with the Western bloc in the early years of the Cold War, the United States began searching for alternative levers to influence its foreign policy, first to pull India away from the Communists and later to weaken the idea of Asian solidarity that Nehru championed. Very early, Tibet was identified as one such lever.

The 1956 Tibetan uprising provided the opportunity. For Washington, Tibet was not merely a remote cultural region but a strategic frontier that could be used to create a wedge between India and China, whose partnership had symbolised post-colonial unity.

The CIA quickly recognised the potential of exploiting the unrest to redraw alignments in Asia.

India's proximity to Tibet and its civilisational ties made it an unavoidable factor in the unfolding game.

Even though New Delhi had no intention of being drawn into great power rivalry, it was inevitably pulled into the equation as the unrest intensified.

From then on, the United States viewed Tibet only as a strategic instrument.

Its concern was never for the Tibetan cause or their struggle for freedom, but for the opportunity the situation offered to weaken China and influence India's choices.

Pakistan: The Willing Partner

Pakistan, meanwhile, had been a willing partner in nearly all of Washington's covert operations in South Asia.

From the early 1950s, its intelligence services worked closely with the CIA, allowing American aircraft, radio stations, and surveillance facilities to operate from its soil.

This partnership gave the United States forward bases close to China and the Soviet Union, while Pakistan gained access to advanced weapons, training, and diplomatic support that elevated its regional standing.

Several covert missions related to Tibet and reconnaissance across the Himalayas originated from Pakistani territory.

The arrangement allowed the United States to run operations that directly impacted India's security environment, often without New Delhi's knowledge.

IMAGE: The Dalai Lama, second from right, arrived in India on a yak on March 31, 1959. Photograph: Kind courtesy Claude Arpi

1959: Widening the Rift

The Dalai Lama's flight to India in 1959 changed the situation decisively.

Open suspicion now marked India-China relations, and Washington saw the perfect chance to widen the rift.

The CIA expanded its funding and logistical support to Tibetan resistance groups, training and equipping them for operations against Chinese control.

Declassified CIA documents from that period reveal the intent clearly. The goal was to deepen mistrust between India and China so that the two Asian powers could never form a united front that might challenge American influence in Asia.

The CIA's presence in the region increased rapidly, with operations stretching from Tibet to Nepal and through Pakistan into India.

Under the pretext of countering communism, Washington quietly built networks of information and influence that penetrated India's media, political circles, and bureaucracy.

Shaping the Narrative

To harden the divide between India and China, Washington needed to shape public perception. The territorial dispute offered the perfect theme.

Early CIA assessments had noted that both countries could have resolved their border issues through negotiation. Yet, the media narrative told another story.

Through selective briefings, friendly correspondents, and international coverage, stories were amplified that hardened opinion in India and simultaneously built up a global image of Chinese aggression.

In India, public emotion made any compromise politically impossible. Negotiations began to appear as weakness, and calls for firmness grew louder.

The result was that diplomacy was slowly replaced by confrontation. The United States had succeeded in turning a negotiable dispute into an unbridgeable divide.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in happier times, 1953. Photograph: Getty Images/Rediff Archives

Inside View: Ambassador Galbraith's Disquiet

Even within the American establishment, some viewed these covert manoeuvres with unease.

Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith later recalled how murky the CIA's operations in India and its neighbourhood had become.

Activities ranged from influencing local media to discreetly supporting political factions and election campaigns.

Much of this, Galbraith noted, was beyond the knowledge or control of the State Department.

While Galbraith maintained cordial relations with Nehru, he recognised that the CIA's growing influence in South Asia often contradicted the diplomatic messages coming from Washington.

The agency was not merely gathering intelligence; it was shaping the political environment to ensure India's foreign policy leaned away from Moscow and toward American interests.

Diplomatic Isolation: India in a Tight Corner

By the early 1960s, India found itself in a diplomatic bind. On one side, the US-backed rearmament of Pakistan had triggered an arms race that diverted India's scarce resources.

On the other hand, India's growing dependence on Western economic aid limited its ability to act independently, as the USSR was not in a position to provide economic assistance.

The contradictions were striking. The same United States that armed Pakistan in the name of collective security, consequently pushing India into an arms race, was also supplying India with food and economic assistance.

New Delhi was aware of the imbalance but could do little. Any protest risked jeopardising the very aid that had become essential to its development plans.

In this environment, India's room for strategic autonomy shrank sharply. The non-aligned posture that Nehru had worked so hard to sustain was weakened by economic constraints and security pressures that had been deliberately constructed by the same power now claiming to be India's friend.

A Conflict of Perception

By 1962, the stage was set. China, observing India's increasing proximity to the United States and its support for the Tibetan refugees, concluded that India was now part of a Western strategy to undermine its control in Tibet.

In Beijing's eyes, New Delhi had ceased to be neutral and had become an extension of American policy in Asia.

This perception, carefully nurtured through years of covert action and media influence, brought the two Asian neighbours to the brink of war.

Both sides believed the other had betrayed its trust, when in reality, both were being manipulated by forces that operated from outside the region.

The Perfect Moment for the 'Friend' to Arrive

When war finally broke out, the United States moved quickly. The same power that had quietly worked to create the rift now arrived as the rescuer.

Military supplies, advisors, and diplomatic support followed in quick succession.

In public, Washington presented itself as India's steadfast ally, standing with democracy against aggression.

In private, it achieved what a decade of persuasion had failed to do: It drew India decisively into its orbit.

IMAGE: Indian soldiers in a makeshift fort facing Chinese troops in Ladakh during border clashes between India and China, November 1962. Photograph: Radloff/Three Lions/Getty Images/Rediff Archives

Conclusion: The War Beyond the War

The 1962 conflict was fought across Himalayan ridges, but its roots lay in the realm of perception and manipulation.

It was a war preceded by a decade of covert shaping, in which aid, propaganda, and diplomacy were used as instruments of influence.

India emerged from the war militarily bruised and strategically altered. The United States, under the guise of friendship, had succeeded in achieving what open alignment never could: the psychological and political repositioning of India within the Cold War order.

History often records who fought the battle, but rarely who engineered it.

Dr Kumar is a Research Scholar who has extensively researched the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and the Cold War dynamics.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'10 million Indians are currently living with dementia, and the number is expected to double by 2036.'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

It is said that over 57 million people are living with dementia worldwide. This number is expected to reach 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.

This statistics may be even more shocking, that one new case of dementia is added every 3.2 seconds, and approximately 10 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed each year.

What will be the situation in India which has the largest population in the world?

Approximately 10 million people in India are living with dementia.

7.4% of those above the age of 60 and older have dementia.

And this is projected to double by 2036.

It is against this background that the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) and Dementia India Alliance (DIA), in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission and the India International Centre, with the support of the National Institute of Social Defence met recently.

At the meeting, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, social sector organisations and caregiver representatives from across the country discussed what strategy India should have on Dementia.

Ramani Sundaram, Executive Director, Dementia India Alliance, has been working in the field for 15 years.

"Dementia is one of the most expensive and disabling diseases for which a country should be well prepared," Ramani Sundaram tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

In 2019 when I interviewed Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran (who is also a co-founder of Dementia India Alliance) on dementia, it was said that there were around 5 million to 7 million people living with dementia in India.

Now, the number has risen close to 10 million and the number is expected to double by 2036. How alarming is the situation?

It is definitely alarming.

One of the challenges that India always has is lack of right prevalence data.

Currently we look at the LASI DAD (The Longitudinal Aging Study in India-Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia) study published in 2023.

It says that India has 8.8 million people with dementia which is 7.4% of the elderly population (people above the age of 60) are there in dementia care.

The LASI-DAD study says that the number will double by 2036.

The study also says that only 10% of the population receive diagnostic treatment which means there is a treatment gap of 90%!

Though the study was published in 2023, the data was collected much earlier.

So, currently, we may be looking at 10 million people with dementia.

If you look at what research papers say about how dementia has progressed, we see that the number of people with dementia has been rapidly increasing in a progressive way.

I don't know whether it is due to increase in awareness that people are getting diagnosed.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Is the rapid rise in the number of cases of dementia because people are living longer?

Of course, longevity is one big problem because age is the largest contributing risk factor for dementia.

The longer you live, the more the risk of dementia. It is mostly a disease of older people.

The situation is alarming because the kind of impact dementia has on the social, financial, physical and emotional impact it has on families.

That's why when you talk about dementia, you can't say, 10 million people are affected. No. Because the person who is affected has to be taken care of by the family.

We always say, we have to take two family members per dementia patient as who get affected.

They have to leave their jobs and sit at home to take care of the person who is affected by dementia. So, there is a financial burnout along with physical, social and emotional burnout.

When younger people have to leave their jobs and sit at home to look after somebody with dementia, it has an impact on the country as well, in terms of productive hours by the younger person.

Dementia per se is an expensive condition to be handled by a family and the society.

Dementia is one of the most expensive and disabling diseases for which a country should be well prepared.

It was reported that in 2020 that for the first time in the history of humankind, the number of people aged 60 and older surpassed the number of children under 5. So, we are looking at an ageing world...

Absolutely. If you look at India, in another 15-20 years, 19% of the world's elderly are going to be in India. So, we are going to have a huge number of elderly population.

And if you are saying, 8% of them are going to have dementia, we are looking at a very large number because of the number of people in this country!

But we are not prepared for such an eventuality.

Who should get prepared, individuals or families or the State? Should the State have more institutions to take care of the elderly with dementia like you see in the ageing developed world?

There is no simple answer to the question. In terms of who should be prepared, everyone should be prepared.

If you look at the Lancet study of 2024 on risk factors for dementia, they have put out 14 risk factors. (The Lancet study of 2020 had 12 risk factors).

Now, the narration on dementia has shifted to prevention.

IMAGE: Ramani Sundaram.

You mean dementia can be prevented?

There is no 100% prevention but you can definitely reduce the risk.

In fact, the Lancet paper says 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or reduced if the risk factors are addressed properly.

So, it is a huge opportunity for any country to work on these risk factors in early life, mid-life and later life stages.

The 14 risk factors according to the Lancet Study 2024 1. Quality education in early life. The less education you get in early life, there is a 5% risk of the person getting dementia. This is a policy level narrative. 2. Hearing loss (in mid-life). They say that uncorrected hearing loss can be a contributing factor and it has nearly 7% risk of dementia. 3. Traumatic brain injury. We have so many road accidents and people get head injuries resulting in traumatic brain injury and it has a 3% risk factor. 4. High LDL cholesterol. This is added in the 2024 study and the risk factor is 7%. 5. Physical inactivity during mid-life has a risk factor of 2%. 6. Diabetes also has a risk factor of 2%. 7. Hypertension, like diabetes, has a 2% risk factor. 8. Smoking. There is a 2% risk factor. 9. Depression. The risk factor is 3%. 10. Obesity risk factor is 1%. 11. Excessive alcohol risk factor also is 1%. 12. Social isolation. When it comes to later life, social isolation is a major risk factor (5%) to dementia. Now WHO says that loneliness is officially an epidemic. It also says that social isolation is an epidemic, and it is a contributory factor to dementia. 13. Air pollution is a risk factor of 3%. It means even chemicals contribute to the risk of brain degeneration. 14. Visual loss has been added in 2024 and the study says it is a 2% risk factor.

As a country, we should include all the risk factors pertaining to dementia also in the non-communicable diseases (NCD) programme so that not just cardiovascular issues are addressed but brain health too.

In schools, we should educate children on brain health so that they grow as healthy adults, who will in turn grow into healthy elderly.

Young adults also have to be prepared because there will be a situation in India when we will have dementia or we will be caring for someone with dementia, or knowing someone who will be caring for dementia. So, everyone needs to be aware of it.

Physical activity should be a lifelong process. You can reduce the intensity as you grow older but it should be part of your lifestyle.

And the elderly population, above the age of 60 should ensure that they get good sleep, good health and enough socialisation. Of course, good financial planning too.

You asked about the dementia care centres that are there abroad.

In India, the population is huge, and it is not going to be possible to have dementia care centres. And it is expensive too.

1 in 5 Indians will be a senior citizen...

It is going to be a huge challenge. Dementia is going to be one of the major challenges actually.

We are going to have multiple level challenges in terms of physical health, mental health, brain health, etc.

And institutional care cannot be the answer in India.

Then we are a culture that believes in looking after our elderly parents. Only when you are unbale to take care, people put them in care homes.

So, what we need is community based support system wherein the family is able to take care at the community level, like the dementia day care centres.

Similarly, home care services too.

The government should think of public-private partnership in implementing some of their programmes so that the support systems are not just available but accessible and affordable.

Recently Dementia India Alliance had organised a national conference in Delhi where it was said that a national registry is important. Is that where it should start?

The conference was to talk about how India can prepare for the epidemic of dementia and work towards a national dementia plan.

We felt there were 7 areas that needed priority. We cannot start at one and then move to the other; we have to start in all the seven areas together because we are in a situation where we have to work on all the seven areas.

Areas to work on 1. There has to be awareness among all age groups, at all community levels and among the stakeholders also so that dementia is elevated as a public health priority like what you did on TB. Unless it is a public priority, policies don't come and conversations dont happen. We, at Dementia India Alliance, were able to make the Karnataka government announce dementia as a public health priority. 2. We have to work on dementia risk reduction which we talked about earlier. 3. Timely diagnosis and management. Currently, the diagnosis is done majorly in the moderate stages as people do not go to the hospital in the early stages. Then, treatment should be accessible to all. In the case of dementia, more than medicine, it is the support system that is important. 4. Training at multiple levels; training of doctors, nurses, allied health workers and care givers. There is a huge dearth of caregivers, not just in India but globally. There is unemployment in India but young people are not coming forward to do the job. It means there is a huge opportunity for employment here. 5. Need for a Dementia registry. This is the most important part. When you have a national dementia registry, we will know how many people with dementia are there. Then, we can find out whether they are getting care, whether they are getting treatment, etc. To study the trend, it is necessary to have a registry. And India needs its own data for making policies. 6. It is essential to use technology like AI for dementia care. 7. There is a need to promote research on dementia.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said he puts duty above other things, and his 'recent past' was proof of it.

IMAGE: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar (middle), spiritual leader Peethadhishwar, Anandam Dham Ashram, Vrindavan-Mathura, Riteshwar Maharaj, during a book release 'Hum Aur Yeh Vishwa' written by senior RSS pracharak Dr Manmohan Vaidya, at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal, November 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Dhankhar, who took the country by surprise four months ago when he stepped down from his post citing health reasons, made his first public speech after the resignation at the launch of a book written by senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionary Manmohan Vaidya in Bhopal on Friday.

A man came up to him during the speech -- where he praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's philosophy and vision -- apparently to remind that he had to catch a flight back to Delhi at 7.30 pm.

The former vice president then informed the audience that he had a flight to catch, and added cryptically, "I can't skip my duty for catching a flight, and friends, my recent past is proof of it."

The remark evoked peals of laughter from the audience.

The book debunks propaganda which portrays the RSS as an ultra-right organisation and even seeks to link it to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi though it is a baseless charge, Dhankhar said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the government will throw out ghuspaithiye (infiltrators) from the country and alleged that some political parties are opposing the Special Intensive Revision exercise as they want the names of infiltrators to remain on the electoral rolls.

Photograph: @AmitShah/ANI Photo

Addressing the Border Security Force Diamond Jubilee (61st Raising Day) celebrations in Bhuj, Shah said SIR is the purification of the voters' list.

Shah's remarks on the SIR of the voters' rolls came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, asking him to immediately halt the exercise, which she claimed was chaotic, coercive and dangerous."

Banerjee alleged that the SIR of the electoral rolls in Bengal had reached a deeply alarming stage and was being conducted in an unplanned, dangerous manner.

"Today, the BSF (Border Security Force) is engaged in preventing infiltration at all borders of the country. Stopping infiltration is not only essential for national security but also to protect the democratic system from being polluted," Shah said.

Describing SIR as the purification of the voters' list, Shah accused some political parties of trying to weaken the government's campaign against illegal infiltrators.

"These parties are opposing the ongoing SIR and the voter list purification process being carried out by the Election Commission because they want to ensure that the names of infiltrators remain on the electoral rolls, he added.

At the Diamond Jubilee celebration, Shah asserted: Today, I want to make it very clear that we will deport every single ghuspaithiya (infiltrator) from this country, one by one. This is the resolve of the Modi government to deport each and every infiltrator from the country," Shah said.

"Who will be the chief minister of any state in the country, or who will be the prime minister, is a decision that can only be made by the citizens of India. Infiltrators do not have the right to pollute our democratic system and influence our democratic decisions," Shah said.

Stressing that SIR is a process to secure and purify India's democracy, he urged every citizen to fully support it.

"I also want to warn those political parties which are engaged in protecting these infiltrators. The Bihar election was the mandate of the people of the country. And that mandate is against the presence of infiltrators in our country, Shah said.

In the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA decimated the Mahagathbandhanan alliance of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and other partieswinning over 200 seats in the 243-member House.

"Those parties working to secure infiltrators' place in the voter list should know that the people of the country will never support such intentions," Shah added.

At the BSF event, Shah also praised its role in Maoist-affected areas. He said that thanks to the joint efforts of all security forces, India will be free from the Maoist menace very soon.

"We are determined to free the country from the Maoist problem forever by March 31, 2026, and pave the way for the development of our tribal brothers and sisters. The entire corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati will be safe and will progress like the rest of India. In Chhattisgarh, the BSF has forced 127 Maoists to surrender, arrested 73, and neutralised 22, Shah said.

He added that not just Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the entire nation salutes the bravery and exemplary courage of BSF jawans. The Home Minister noted that so far, 2,013 brave soldiers of the BSF have made the supreme sacrifice while securing the country's borders.

On the occasion, Shah said the BSF now has 193 battalions and a strength of over 2.76 lakh jawans. The force currently guards and monitors over 2,289 km of the border with Pakistan and over 4,095 km of the border with Bangladesh.

Shah announced that the coming year will be dedicated to the welfare of the force's personnel and their families.

"The BSF and the Home Department will take various initiatives for the welfare of the personnel and their families. Additionally, the coming year will be dedicated to modernising the force, with a target of transforming it into the world's most modern and most capable border security force within five years, he said.

In the coming days, we are also introducing a new concept called e-border security. We have completed the trial phase. I am happy to announce that the BSF has played a major role in implementing the e-border security concept, and the initiative was also taken by it, Shah said.

He also praised the BSF's role during Operation Sindoor, launched by India's armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

"During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan took our attack on terrorists as an attack on them, and when the Pakistani army came into action, our BSF soldiers left no stone unturned in giving them a befitting reply, Shah said.

"Due to the efforts of the BSF and the Army, Pakistan announced a unilateral truce, and because of this, it became clear to the entire world that India's border should not be violated. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences, he added.
A teenage girl was beaten to death allegedly by her family in Jharkhand's Garhwa district after being caught with her boyfriend, police said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the body of the girl, about 15 years old, as it was being secretly cremated by the family on Thursday evening, they said.

"We had received information that the girl had been beaten to death after her family caught her with her boyfriend. A police team reached the cremation ground in the Garhwa town police station area when family members were preparing to cremate her body," Sub-Divisional Police Officer Neeraj Kumar said.

"Most family members fled the scene on seeing the police, but the victim's father and brother were arrested," he added.

Kumar said the body has been sent for the post-mortem examination at the Sadar Hospital.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that this is a case of honour killing. A case has been registered, and interrogation of the father and brother is underway," he said.
Mandi, the Alibaba Health-backed consumer healthcare arm being spun off from mainland drug maker 3SBio, filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong on Friday, betting that its market-leading minoxidil hair-loss products will attract investors.

The deal aims to tap into a red-hot Hong Kong market that has seen US$73 billion in equity capital market activity this year, a 232 per cent surge from the same period in 2024, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group.

The company did not disclose its fundraising target or listing timeline. Mandi appointed Huatai International as the sole sponsor for its listing.

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The capital raised was expected to fund product expansion, refine the company's digital operating model, strengthen marketing and support early-stage research and development.

3SBio currently held an 87.16 per cent stake in Mandi, with Alibaba Health (Hong Kong) Technology owning 2.65 per cent, according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday. Alibaba Group Holding owns the Post.

Other minority shareholders include Hero Grand Management and the China healthcare-focused private equity firm GL Wecan Investment.

The spin-off would result in 3SBio completely exiting its stake in Mandi through an in-specie distribution to existing shareholders, while Mandi would raise capital through a global offering of new shares, the company said.

Alibaba Health, with a 2.65 per cent stake in Mandi, is one of its minority shareholders. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Alibaba Health, with a 2.65 per cent stake in Mandi, is one of its minority shareholders. Photo: Shutterstock>

In November, Mandi closed a series A financing round worth about US$50 million led by Alibaba Health, GL Wecan IV, Sunshine Mandi and 3SBio, according to a separate document on Friday.

Founded in 1997, the Chinese pharmaceuticals company develops and provides skin-health and weight-management products.

Its flagship Mandi-branded products, which are based on minoxidil - one of the world's leading topical treatments for pattern hair loss - is aimed at Chinese consumers under the age of 35.

The brand was the top seller in China's hair-loss drug market for 10 consecutive years since 2014, capturing a 57 per cent market share in 2024, according to the prospectus.

In its novel drug pipeline, Mandi was developing clascoterone cream, an acne treatment described as "the world's first and only-in-class topical androgen receptor inhibitor for acne vulgaris".
Amid the intense power struggle involving his deputy and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday asserted that he would continue in office and also present state budgets in the future, prompting an "all the best" wish from the former.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar pay tribute to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary, in Bengaluru on November 19, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The veteran leader's assertion came amidst the intense power struggle in the ruling Congress, with the Shivakumar camp mounting pressure on the party high command for a leadership change.

With the squabbling in Congress coming out in open, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala issued a stern warning to party MLAs and leaders against making any public statements on the issue of leadership.

At least 15 MLAs and about a dozen MLCs have camped in New Delhi to push the party leadership to make Shivakumar the next CM, Congress sources said.

According to reports, the demand is based on a purported power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, under which Siddaramaiah was to serve as the CM for two and a half years (till November 2025) before making way for Shivakumar.

Responding to a query on some MLAs and MLCs camping in Delhi, the CM said the Congress high command has to decide on the leadership change, cabinet reshuffle or government restructuring.

"Has high command spoken on it? We can't help it. Earlier also some people were also discussing it, and now they might have gone (to Delhi). Finally, Shivakumar and I have to listen to whatever the high command says," he added.

To a question whether he would present the next two state budgets, Siddaramaiah retorted, "Why are you asking this? Yes, I will continue. I will present the budgets in future also.

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's assertion that he would complete his five years' term, Shivakumar wished him "all the best".

"The CM has said he will complete five years. I wish him all the best. We will all work together."

Shivakumar also said he did not believe in factionalism as he is the president of all the 140 MLAs in the state.

Regarding some MLAs camping in Delhi, Shivakumar said that it was quite natural for those aspiring to become ministers to visit the national capital and hold meetings with leaders there.

According to him, no one has called the MLAs, but they are voluntarily going.

Shivakumar also paid a surprise visit to the Bengaluru Central Jail where he met the jailed Congress MLAs Vinay Kulkarni and K C Veerendra alias Puppy.

According to the information received, Shivakumar spoke to them for some time.

Kulkarni is in jail in connection with a murder case while Puppy is behind the bars in a money laundering case.

It was not known what Shivakumar discussed with the MLAs.

While those supporting Shivakumar are largely Vokkaligas, one of the dominant communities in Karnataka to which he belongs to, the 'AHINDA' MLAs too had a meeting on Thursday night, sources said.

AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward castes and Dalits.

Also, public works minister Satish Jarkiholi on Thursday hosted a dinner where the ministers and MLAs met.

Though Jarkiholi and Home Minister G Parameshwara said it was just a regular meeting, Shivakumar said that their meeting was to have a new Congress president and to have four to five deputy chief ministers.

"All the meetings have been going on for the past two-and-half years. There is nothing new. Let them conduct more meetings," Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, Surjewala warned party leaders against publicly discussing the issue.

"Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress government," he alleged in a post on 'X'.

The Rajya Sabha MP noted that the "needless statements" of some Congress leaders and MLAs has also fuelled unnecessary speculation.

"INC has sternly warned them from making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests. The opinion of various party functionaries has been taken note of by the leadership," Surjewala added.
A day after a major Inter-Services Intelligence-backed multi-state gangster-terror module was busted in Ludhiana, the Punjab Police on Friday said the two arrested operatives were tasked to carry out grenade attacks in government buildings and other sensitive locations in the border state.

IMAGE: Punjab police personnel at the encounter site in Amritsar. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

The two operatives -- Deepak alias Deepu and Ram Lal -- were injured in an exchange of fire in Ludhiana on Thursday, they said.

The two had opened fire when they were intercepted in Ludhiana following information that they were roaming in the area. Two grenades and five sophisticated pistols were among the items seized from them, a senior officials said on Thursday.

Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma on Friday said Deepak and Ram Lal had travelled from Rajasthan to Ludhiana. They had been staying here for two days to coordinate and execute the planned attack.

"This highlights a new and dangerous trend wherein Pakistan-based handlers are deliberately recruiting and using criminals from other states to commit terror acts in Punjab so that they can operate under the radar and are difficult to identify," he said.

According to the police, the two were tasked by their Pakistan-based handler Jasveer alias Choudhary to carry out grenade attacks in the border state.

The module, having links with Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was planning to use hand grenades to target government buildings and other sensitive locations to create tension in the border state, the CP said.

Ludhiana Commissionerate Police had earlier, in coordination with Counter Intelligence Unit, busted a terror module with the arrest of its three operatives -- Shamsher Singh from Ferozepur, Ajay from Haryana and Harsh Kumar Ojha from Bihar.

With the arrest of Deepak and Ram Lal, the police teams recovered two Chinese 86P hand grenades, five sophisticated .30 bore pistols, and over 40 live rounds from the possession of the arrested accused.

Elaborating on the inter-state network, Commissioner of Police Sharma said that the first arrest in the case, Shamsher Singh, led the police to Harsh Kumar Ojha, a resident of Bihar.

"During interrogation, it was revealed that Ojha is a grenade-thrower expert and was also assigned by the module to execute terror attacks in Punjab. Recently, Ojha was also involved in a firing incident in Bihar for extortion on directions of the foreign based handler.

"The Ludhiana Police, acting swiftly on Shamsher's disclosure, averted this threat by arresting Ojha from Bihar," he said.

The police later also arrested another operative, Ajay, from Haryana based on Shamsher's disclosures and recovered two pistols from his possession, he said.
In a rare incident, the emergency room of a private hospital turned into a wedding venue after a Thumboli native tied the knot with his bride, who had been injured in a road accident in Kochi on Friday, hospital authorities said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The marriage of Avani of Kommadi, Alappuzha and V M Sharon of Thumboli was solemnised at VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi.

According to the hospital, the wedding was scheduled to take place at Thumboli in Alappuzha on Friday noon.

However, Avani sustained injuries while travelling to Kumarakom for bridal makeup when the car lost control and rammed into a tree early in the morning.

Local residents rushed the injured to Kottayam Medical College.

As Avani had suffered a spinal injury, she was shifted to the private hospital in Ernakulam around noon for specialised treatment.

Sharon and his family also reached the hospital soon after.

With the muhurtam (auspicious time) fixed between 12.15 pm. and 12.30 pm, both families requested that the wedding be conducted at the appointed time.

After consulting doctors, the hospital management arranged for the groom to tie the 'thaali' (sacred yellow thread) in the emergency department, ensuring that Avani faced no additional discomfort, a hospital spokesperson said.

The hospital authorities arranged the setting after both families expressed their wish to proceed with the ceremony despite the accident.

With doctors, healthcare staff and close relatives as witnesses, Sharon tied the knot with Avani at the auspicious time, the spokesperson said.

Dr Sudheesh Karunakaran, Head of Neuro Surgery, said Avani has sustained a spinal injury and will undergo surgery soon.
Delhi LG V K Saxena has directed police to maintain a digital record of entities purchasing and selling ammonium nitrate beyond a certain limit and to undertake rigorous security audits of busy markets and ISBTs, days after a blast near the Red Fort claimed 15 lives.

IMAGE: A truck filled with sacks of ammonium nitrate which was seized by the Nalhati police in Birbhum, West Bengal, September 3, 2019. Image used for representational purpose. Photograph: ANI Photo.

The directions, which were issued in separate written communications to the police commissioner and the chief secretary on November 19, are part of a slew of "precautionary and preventive" measures ordered by the lt governor.

Saxena asked the police to maintain a digital record of entities purchasing and selling ammonium nitrate beyond a certain threshold. The record should include photographs of buyers and sellers, apart from other relevant details.

The police have also been instructed to hold a consultation exercise with heads of social media platforms, including Meta and X, for a scientific tracking of radicalised content aimed a brainwashing citizens.

"The police commissioner has also been asked to strengthen human and technical intelligence with a focus on vulnerable areas prone to radicalisation. Community outreach and citizen engagement should also be enhanced for more robust preventive policing," a Raj Niwas official said, citing the communications.

Saxena also directed police to conduct a rigorous security audit of busy markets and ISBTs to track CCTV camera coverage and deployment of security personnel.

The administration has been asked to create a central data repository, containing records of doctors and para-medical staff engaged by hospitals, especially private facilities, along with details of their medical degrees.

"In cases where medical professionals have secured degrees from foreign countries, information should also be shared with the police department for secondary background checks," the official said.

They have also been asked to hold a consultation exercise with all digital platforms and financiers engaged in sale and purchase of vehicles, especially second-hand vehicles.

"Clear directions should be given that under no circumstance will vehicles be allowed to ply where actual owner is different from the registered owner. This problem is reportedly most acute in cases of autorickshaws, where the permit holder is different from actual owner," the official said.

The November 10 blast, which was triggered by a "suicide bomber", came shortly after an interstate "white-collar" terror module was uncovered with the recovery of a huge cache of explosives mainly from Faridabad in Haryana.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Friday alleged that the new cabinet of the Nitish Kumar government was full of corrupt and criminal leaders.

IMAGE: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor speaks with mediapersons at Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran. Photograph: Video grab/X

Speaking to reporters after a day-long silent fast at Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran, Kishor also said his party will launch the 'Bihar Navnirman Sankalp Yatra' on January 15, during which Jan Suraaj Party workers will visit all houses in the state.

"The new cabinet of Nitish Kumar, which took oath on Thursday, is full of corrupts and criminals. I must say that this council of ministers is a slap on the face of the people of Bihar. It's like rubbing salt on the wound as several corrupt leaders were inducted," he alleged.

Kishor claimed the leaders inducted into the cabinet indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Kumar are least concerned about Bihar.
People demonstrating against the Sangai festival clashed with security forces in Manipur's Imphal East district on Friday, amid a 'cease work' called by the Meitei group COCOMI.

IMAGE: An elderly member of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity runs as tear gas is fired by security forces at the main gate of the Sangai Festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung, in Imphal East. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has been opposing the tourism festival by the state government, stating that organising such an event amid the crisis being faced by families displaced by the ethnic violence was "highly insensitive".

The clash happened at Khurai Lamlong when security forces intercepted demonstrators, including several displaced persons, who were marching towards the venue of the festival, an official said.

The demonstrators hurled stones at the forces, forcing them to lob several rounds of tear gas shells, he said.

Demonstrators claimed that some of them sustained minor injuries as a result of the clash.

The 'cease work', effectively a shutdown, affected normal life in the Imphal Valley districts, with markets and other commercial establishments remaining closed since the morning.

Public vehicles remained off the road, and classes were suspended at all schools and colleges in these districts.

Manipur has been under the President's Rule since February after CM N Biren Singh, who led a BJP government, resigned amid criticism of his administration's handling of the ethnic violence, which broke out in May 2023 and claimed over 260 lives.
State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the manufacturer of Tejas aircraft, on Friday said it was deeply saddened by the loss of life of the "courageous IAF pilot" during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.

IMAGE: Firefighting operations are underway as a Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in a flying display at the Dubai Airshow crashes, in Dubai, November 21. Photograph: @DXBMediaOffice X/ANI Photo

The pilot has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal.

He was killed on Friday after the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, crashed in a ball of fire during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.

It was the second time in 20 months that the aircraft manufactured by HAL was involved in a crash. The earlier accident occurred in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan in March last year, but the pilot ejected safely.

"HAL is deeply saddened by the loss of the courageous IAF pilot during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. HAL expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. @IAF_MCC @SpokespersonMoD @DefProdnIndia," HAL posted on X.

As the crash inside the grounds of an airfield in Dubai cast a tragic shadow on an otherwise mega spectacle on the last day of the event in the desert city, visuals of the accident aired on TV channels showed the jet abruptly dropping height after what looked like a low-altitude manoeuvre and then nosedived into the ground in a matter of seconds before being engulfed in a ball of fire.

Black smoke billowed over the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, as horrified spectators, including women and children, seated at a grandstand area behind a fenced airstrip, watched in shock.

The project to build the Tejas aircraft finally took off in 1984 after years of deliberations, and the jet was formally declared fit to fly in 2011.

The IAF test crew have been involved with the Tejas project right from the conceptual stage till prototype testing. The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 2016.

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.

In November 2023, the ministry had accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets for the IAF.
In a unique initiative to speed up the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls, the Pilibhit administration has announced a set of incentives, including a family safari and lunch, for booth-level officers who fills up the maximum number of digitised forms in their respective assembly constituencies.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is currently underway across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

According to a communication issued by Pilibhit's Deputy District Election Officer Prasun Dwivedi, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) from each constituency who achieves the maximum level of digitisation during the SIR will be rewarded once the exercise concludes.

The top-performing BLO will receive a certificate of appreciation, a family visit to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve for a jungle safari, a family lunch at Chuka Beach, and movie tickets.

Speaking to PTI on Friday, Dwivedi, the additional district magistrate (finance and revenue) confirmed the initiative. He said the aim is to motivate the BLOs to complete the revision work swiftly and efficiently, ensuring timely preparation of the voter list.

There are four assembly constituencies in the district -- Pilibhit, Barkhera, Puranpur and Bisalpur.

Dwivedi said a total of 1,522 BLOs and 172 supervisors have been deployed for the ongoing exercise.

In addition, 52 district-level officers, along with block development officers and executive officers of Nagar Palikas with their full staff are supervising the form collection and digitisation work, he said.

Pilibhit district has over 14 lakh electors, of which more than 2.25 lakh forms have been digitised so far, he added.

The digitisation of voter IDs would continue till December 4, Dwivedi said.

According to the Election Commission of India, the ongoing SIR exercise is aimed at updating the voter lists after more than two decades, addressing issues such as migration, duplicate registrations and non-removal of deceased electors.

According to the Commission, each polling station has about 1,000 electors and one BLO who plays a central role in the exercise.

BLOs are required to distribute Enumeration Forms to all voters, help them match their details with records from the last revision held in 2002-?04, and access the national voter database for verification.

They must assist electors in filling the Enumeration Forms, collect the forms, and submit them to the Electoral Registration Officer.

The BLOs are also responsible for collecting Form 6 for new voters, making at least three visits to every household and identifying electors who are deceased, have permanently shifted, or are registered in more than one location.

The Election Commission noted that during the enumeration phase, no document other than the Enumeration Form is required to be collected.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday called Sanskrit 'a dead language', drawing a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which said leaders must be more responsible while making remarks.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu minister Udayanidhi Stalin. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Dravida Munetra Kazhagam leader was addressing a book release event, where he criticised the Union government for allotting only Rs 150 crore for Tamil development.

In contrast, Sanskrit, 'a dead language', was getting Rs 2,400 crore, he said.

Reacting to his comment, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who was in Chennai to attend the review meeting organised by his party, told reporters post the meeting that it has become fashionable to speak against India's ancient values and culture.

"Sanskrit is the oldest language. Tamil is also one of the oldest languages. Both languages are very important for us. It has become a fashion for the leaders of the INDI alliance to always speak against our culture, the Sanskrit language, India's institutions, and India's assets.

"It is unfortunate that they are opposing the rich culture of the country without knowing, without thinking, and without understanding it. This is completely unfortunate," Chugh said.

Tamil Nadu BJP former president K Annamalai said the central government has allocated Rs 2,400 crore to Sanskrit because there are many Sanskrit universities in India.

"The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), now the Ministry of Education, allocates funds to universities. We continuously tell DMK: talk to MHRD and open new Tamil universities in Bihar, Guwahati, and Delhi.

"Without opening any universities, our Deputy Chief Minister says that there have always been many Sanskrit universities. They don't even make an attempt to increase the single Tamil university we have within Tamil Nadu to two or three. When this is the case, how will the central government provide funds," asked Annamalai while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the review meeting.

Taking offence to the 'dead language' terminology, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan told PTI Videos that no one has the right to call any language dead, especially the one that is still used today in prayers and rituals across the country.

"This mindset of appreciating one language only by putting down another is fundamentally wrong, and leaders must be more responsible when they speak about language and culture," she said.

According to her, even Tamil has many inclusions from Sanskrit.

"Tamil is an open-hearted language that has absorbed words and ideas from many tongues, including Sanskrit. This shows its strength, not its weakness," she said.
Avoid donating without checking the receipt proforma showing the political party's ECI registration number and PAN.

Kindly note this illustration generated using Microsoft Copilot is only posted for representational purposes.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has uncovered a large network involving registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), chartered accountants and intermediaries that allegedly laundered Rs 9,169 crore under the guise of political donations, according to media reports.

Those making political donations must learn the appropriate procedure and avoid falling prey to intermediaries who promise tax benefits based on bogus donations.

Modus operandi

Bogus political parties with no genuine activity are floated to misuse donation-related exemptions. Intermediaries route contributions to obscure parties to help donors claim deductions.

"Donors transfer funds to registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), which issue them donation receipts. Donors claim 100 per cent tax deduction and thus evade income tax. The RUPP then illegally returns most of the money in cash, after deducting a commission," says Ritika Nayyar, partner, Singhania & Co.

Detection mechanisms

The income-tax department uses data analytics and legal verification to detect fraudulent claims.

Each claim is checked for party registration, non-cash payment modes, and authenticity of receipts.

"Advanced analytics detect suspicious patterns like unusually large donations relative to income, round-tripping of funds, or multiple donors linked to the same unrecognised entities," says Suresh Surana, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant.

Surveys and searches are conducted when irregularities surface.

"Fraud is also detected through intelligence-based search operations, scrutiny of delisted or non-compliant political parties, and donors claiming heavy deductions with lesser-known parties," says Rahul Sateeja, partner, DMD Advocates.

Once flagged, taxpayers receive online queries seeking receipt and UTR (Unique Transaction Reference, a code generated by banks for every transaction). Weak responses lead to summons and surveys.

Provisions of Section 80GGC

Section 80GGC allows individuals to claim 100 per cent deduction for contributions to registered political parties or electoral trusts.

The recipient political party must be registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act. (Section 80GGB allows companies to claim this deduction).

"There is no upper monetary limit for claiming these deductions," says Sateeja.

Surana informs that payments must be made through non-cash modes such as cheque, demand draft or electronic transfer.

Donation, deduction procedure

Donations may be made on a political party's website or at its regional offices.

A donor must retain the official receipt or certificate containing the donor's name, amount, date, mode of payment, the party's PAN/TAN and registration number.

The donor must also keep proof of banking transactions, such as cheque counterfoil, cheque image, UTR, transfer statement, or UPI confirmation.

If donating through a volunteer, the party's registration number should be verified on the Election Commission of India Web site.

Pallav Pradyumn Narang, partner, CNK, suggests keeping both hard and soft copies of all documents.

Donors can check Section 29C(3) of the Representation of the People Act (Form 24A) for donations exceeding Rs 20,000.

"Form 24A is published on the ECI website and filed by the party's treasurer," says Sateeja.

The donor must report the contribution under the 'Deductions under Chapter VI-A' section of their I-T return.

"The official receipt and bank payment proof need not be attached to the return but must be produced if asked during assessment," says Nayyar.

Exercise caution

Donate to recognised political parties only. "Understand the party's background and proposed utilisation of funds," says Narang.

He advises avoiding accommodation entries (fake financial transactions) and entities involved in money laundering.

If the department suspects foul play, it notifies taxpayers to revise returns.

"Ultimately, if manipulation is established, the Department disallows the deductions, imposes penalties, initiates reassessment, and, in serious cases, launches prosecution," says Surana.

Mistakes to avoid Do not donate through a volunteer or intermediary who refuses to disclose the party's ECI registration number Avoid donating without checking the receipt proforma showing the political party's ECI registration number and PAN Do not donate to political parties delisted by the Election Commission Do not donate in response to unknown phone calls or online popups Source: DMD Advocates

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Despite being effectively cut off from China, its sales have continued to surge on booming demand from domestic Silicon Valley giants.

However, Nvidias shares have been rocked by US trade tensions with Beijing, with the White House imposing a series of export restrictions on Nvidias chip sales to China.

These are being deployed in vast numbers in data centres across the US. Some of these data hubs, each of which houses tens of thousands of Nvidias Blackwell chips, are intended to be the size of a small city and will have dedicated supplies of natural gas or nuclear power.

Businesses such as OpenAI, Meta and Elon Musks X have ordered hundreds of thousands of Nvidias advanced graphics processing units.

Nvidias shares have soared over the past two years with its chips critical to developing and powering AI tools such as OpenAIs ChatGPT. Its chips are set to be at the heart of a multi-trillion dollar spending spree promised by US technology giants as they build sprawling data centres across the world to power their AI products.

Nvidia shares climbed more than 4pc in after-hours trading after rising more than 2.8pc ahead of Wednesday nights results. It reported net income of $32bn, up 65pc. Its data centre chip sales climbed 66pc to $51.2bn.

It has increasingly been seen as a bellwether of the US technology boom, with Silicon Valley giants ordering hundreds of billions of dollars worth of chips to power their AI tools and data centres.

Investors have been closely watching Nvidias performance amid concerns about a bubble in tech stocks.

However, it has since suffered a sell-off, losing more than $500bn in market value.

Nvidias market valuation briefly hit $5 trillion in October with surging demand for its advanced AI processors from Silicon Valley giants making the graphics chip business the most valuable company in the world.

The results will serve to quell investor jitters that a boom in AI stocks threatened to turn to bust after a sharp sell-off in major tech businesses over the past week.

Huang added: Theres been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point we see something very different.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang claimed the company was sold out of many of its most powerful chips and said sales of its powerful Blackwell processors were off the charts.

On Wednesday, the microchip group said sales swelled 62pc for the three months ending October to $57bn, outstripping analyst forecasts of $55bn. It predicted sales over the next three months of $65bn, far ahead of Wall Street expectations.

Nvidia has defied fears of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble after the US tech giant reported a boom in sales.

Story Continues

Mr Huang said that demand for its chips showed no signs of slowing. Compute demand keeps accelerating and compounding across training and inference, he said. AI is going everywhere, doing everything, all at once.

11:01pm

Signing off...

Thank you for following our Nvidia coverage. We will have more of the latest business and economic news here.

10:30pm

Nvidias chief executive dismisses AI bubble fears

Nvidias boss has hit back at the notion that stock markets have become overvalued due to an AI bubble.

Speaking on a call with investors, Jensen Huang, Nvidias chief executive, said: Theres been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point we see something very different.

Mr Huang added that AI is currently at a tipping point that will lead to accelerated growth in the future.

10:12pm

AI tech is already improving productivity at top firms, Nvidia CFO says

AI technologies are boosting productivity at some of Americas leading companies, Nvidias finance chief has said.

Speaking to investors, Colette Kress, Nvidias chief financial officer, said AI tools are already providing significant gains at companies including Salesforce and Unilever.

Nvidia makes the high-tech microchips used by virtually all of the major AI companies, meaning they are often viewed as a bellwether for the health of the industry.

09:47pm

Strong results to quell investors jitters

Nvidias results will serve to quell investor jitters that a boom in AI stocks threatened to turn to bust after a sharp sell-off in major technology businesses over the past week.

The chipmakers market valuation briefly hit $5 trillion in October with surging demand for its advanced AI processors from Silicon Valley giants, making the graphics chip business the most valuable company in the world.



However, it has since suffered from a sell-off in technology stocks, losing more than $500bn in market value.

Nvidia shares were up by more than 4pc in the post-market trading session after it posted its results.

09:32pm

Nvidia boss says high-tech chip sales are off the charts

Nvidias chief executive Jensen Huang has said sales of its high-tech Blackwell chips are off the charts in a sign that the boom in AI technologies will continue.

Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud GPUs are sold out, said Mr Huang, who started Nvidia in 1993.

Mr Huang said the strong sales of the cutting edge chips used for AI technologies shows growth in the industry is continuing, despite fears over a possible speculative bubble.

Weve entered the virtuous cycle of AI, Mr Huang said. The AI ecosystem is scaling fast  with more new foundation model makers, more AI startups, across more industries, and in more countries. AI is going everywhere, doing everything, all at once.

09:26pm

Nvidia smashes expectations with $57bn revenues

Nvidia has smashed through market expectations, reporting more than $57bn in revenues and suggesting the AI boom is not over yet.



The graphics chip giants shares climbed after it recorded a 62pc jump in revenues, while it forecast $65bn in sales in the next three months, far ahead of analyst forecasts.

09:07pm

Nvidia expecting $500bn AI chip boom

Nvidia has already booked $500bn in revenues over the next 15 months as it rides apparently insatiable demand for its AI chips, its chief executive said last month.

Speaking at an Nvidia conference in October, Mr Huang claimed the business was seeing extraordinary growth for its latest Blackwell processor chips.

I think were probably the first company in history to have visibility into half a trillion dollars of sales, he said. This is how much business is on the books.

Nvidia has signed a series of deals with AI labs, data centre operators and tech giants such as Meta to deliver hundreds of thousands of advanced processors.

However, some of its tie-ups have attracted scrutiny over their apparently circular nature - with Nvidia agreeing to take equity in AI start-ups in exchange for deals to buy its processors.

Major tech giants have also leaned into taking on tens of billions in debt to buy its chips in the expectation that booming demand for AI will only continue.

08:42pm

Nvidias AI deals treated with increasing caution

Nvidias blockbuster run of hundreds of billions of dollars in AI deals are being treated with increasing caution by investors, analysts at Deutsche Bank have said.

In one tie-up confirmed yesterday, Nvidia said it would be investing $10bn in AI lab Anthropic, a rival to OpenAI. In return, Anthropic had pledged to buy $30bn in capacity with Microsoft - which in turn would be powered by Nvidias chips.

However, Deutsches analysts said this deal was particularly notable as unlike several recent AI deals which led to an immediate rally, there wasnt a reaction in the share price of either following the news after weeks of exuberance.

It goes to show how sentiment has turned more negative in the last few weeks, with the circular AI deals being treated with increasing caution as the conversation around a potential bubble has gathered pace.

08:25pm

AI boom or bust starts and ends with Nvidia, says analyst

You will be able to hear a pin drop on Wall Street trading desks this evening as investors await Nvidias blockbuster results, one analyst has said.

Dan Ives, of Wedbush Securities, said that the boom in AI stocks starts and ends with Nvidia, leaving investors glued to its results which represent a bellwether for the health of the technology industry - and the wider US economy.

Nvidia is a foundational piece of this AI Revolution and we expect Nvidia will handily exceed Street estimates given the plethora of positive data points we have picked up, Ives said.

We continue to believe Street estimates for Nvidia are being significantly underestimated over the next few years.

08:16pm

US stocks rebound as investors await Nvidia

Nvidias shares were up by more than 2.5pc on Wednesday as investors awaited the graphics chip-makers results later this evening.

The California chip maker led a rally in stocks on Wall Street, which boosted big technology companies including Oracle and Google-owner Alphabet.

The surge helped lift Americas main stock indexes, in what saw the S&P 500 increase by 0.3pc following four consecutive days of losses.

The Nasdaq Composite index, which is home to many of Americas most valuable tech giants, also climbed 0.6pc following an initial surge earlier in the day.

The gains come after a week of selling by investors who have become increasingly nervous that tech valuations are overblown.

08:00pm

Nvidia expected to reveal $55bn in chip sales

Nvidia is poised to report nearly $55bn in graphics chip sales this evening with investors nervously watching for signs that a multi-trillion dollar bubble in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks is reaching breaking point.

The worlds most valuable company, which develops AI chips that power apps such as ChatGPT, will disclose its quarterly results at 9pm today with traders pricing in a share price swing of as much as 8pc.

The US graphics chip giant has surged on the back of a boom in demand for its AI processors, briefly hitting a $5 trillion valuation in October.

However, its value has since dropped by more than $500bn on a widespread tech sell-off amid investor jitters that AI valuations are increasingly disconnected from reality.

Nvidia has already forecast a surge in its sales to more than $54bn over the past three months, with analysts predicting a 56pc jump to as much as $55bn. It is also expected to forecast sales over the current quarter of about $62bn, according to analysts, up 58pc.

However, investors will be anxious over any signs that demand for Nvidias advanced processors is weaker than expected. Its chips have been central to powering a wave of AI infrastructure, with tech giants promising to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on its processors over the coming years.

The Telegraph will be following Nvidias results live and its upcoming analyst call.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Thursday said while he has many disagreements with President Donald Trump, he will work with the American leader on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

Mamdani will meet Trump in the White House on Friday, the first meeting between the two and also since his victory in the New York City Mayoral election on November 4.

I have many disagreements with the President, and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker, Mamdani told reporters in New York.

I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so, he added.

Mamdani said his team had reached out to the White House to set up this meeting, because I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than eight and a half million people who call this city home.

He added that it is customary for an incoming New York City Mayor to meet with the White House, given the mutual reliance.

He said it is more critical than ever, given the national crisis of affordability, one that New Yorkers know very well across the city, and the specific challenge many cities are facing with balancing public safety against steps taken by this administration.

Mamdani acknowledged that for New Yorkers, his meeting with Trump is between two very different candidates who they voted for the same reason. They wanted a leader who would take on the cost of living crisis that makes it impossible for working people to afford living in this city.

In a post on Truth Social Wednesday night, Trump had said that the communist Mayor of New York City Zohran 'Kwame' Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.

Trump has been critical of Mamdani's policies and had warned on the eve of the November 4 election that Mamdani's win will be a "complete and total economic and social disaster for New York City.

In his fiery victory speech, Mamdani had challenged Trump, who has launched a crackdown on immigration in his second term as President, asserting that New York will be powered by immigrants and after his historic victory, will be led by an immigrant.

After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power, Mamdani had said to thunderous applause.

This is not only how we stop Trump; it's how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up, Mamdani had declared.

Trump had termed Mamdani's victory speech as a very angry address, saying he is off to a bad start and doesn't have a chance of succeeding if he is not respectful of Washington.

Mamdani emerged victorious in the closely-watched battle for New York City Mayor, becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to be elected to sit at the helm of the largest city in the US.

He had been the front-runner in the NYC Mayoral election for months and defeated Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and political heavyweight former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent candidate and was officially endorsed by Trump just hours before the elections.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Variable clouds with snow showers. High 26F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Some clouds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 15F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Air China (SEHK:753) shares have steadily gained over the past month, with the stock up nearly 6%. In the past 3 months, returns are even stronger. This suggests a growing confidence among investors in the companys trajectory.

See our latest analysis for Air China.

Momentum seems to be building for Air China, with a 30-day share price return of 5.8% and an impressive 27.2% gain over the past three months. Over the long run, shareholders have been rewarded as well, reflected in a 39% total return over the past year. This suggests investors are becoming more optimistic about the companys fundamentals and growth trajectory.

If Air Chinas run has you curious about where else the action is, nows the perfect time to broaden your view and discover fast growing stocks with high insider ownership

Given such strong recent performance, the key question is whether Air China shares remain undervalued given improving fundamentals, or if the market has already factored in all of the anticipated future growth. Is there still a buying opportunity here?

Price-to-Sales of 0.6x: Is it justified?

Air Chinas stock is trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 0.6x, which signals the market values each dollar of the companys revenue at just 60 cents. This figure stands out alongside recent share performance and prompts a closer look at whether the current price undervalues future potential.

The price-to-sales (P/S) ratio measures how much investors are willing to pay for a companys sales. For airlines, this metric helps provide a clearer view of market expectations for long-term growth and stability by focusing on revenue rather than short-term earnings fluctuations. A low P/S can indicate potential upside, especially for cyclical sectors like aviation.

At 0.6x, Air Chinas valuation is considerably lower than the industry average of 0.8x and much lower than the peer average of 1.6x. Notably, it is also below its estimated fair price-to-sales ratio of 1.1x, which is the level regression analysis suggests the market could re-rate the stock towards based on company fundamentals and sector norms.

Explore the SWS fair ratio for Air China

Result: Price-to-Sales of 0.6x (UNDERVALUED)

However, analysts price targets are below current levels, and recent revenue growth has been modest. This could limit further share gains if fundamentals do not improve.

Find out about the key risks to this Air China narrative.

Another View: What Does the SWS DCF Model Suggest?

While Air Chinas price-to-sales ratio points to undervaluation, our DCF model also suggests the shares could be trading below fair value, with the current price roughly 9.8% under our estimate. This reinforces the idea that the share price might not fully reflect future cash flows. Could the market be missing Air Chinas potential, or are there factors holding it back?
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Snow this morning will give way to partly cloudy conditions this afternoon. Morning high of 32F with temps falling to near 20. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 14F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi. In this edition, I'm looking at speculation about the Saudis facilitating talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program.

What You Need To Know

 Saudi Mediation Role Back In The Spotlight: Nine months after reports first emerged that Saudi Arabia is interested in facilitating talks between the United States and Iran, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salmans trip to Washington has again put Riyadhs potential for mediation in the spotlight.

 Family Says Iran Detains 70-Year-Old US Citizen: Iranian-American dual citizen Afarin Mohajer has been detained in Tehran in what her son, US-based political activist Reza Zarrabi, describers as a kidnapping. Speaking to RFE/RLs Radio Farda, Zarrabi said his 70-year-old mother was arrested on a slew of charges, including propaganda against the establishment and forming an opposition group. He insisted that Mohajer was detained because of his activism and added that she has had no political activities.

 Tehran Voids Cairo Agreement After IAEA Resolution: Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi this week said a technical agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was signed in Cairo in September, was terminated after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution pressing Iran to clarify the status of its enriched uranium stockpile. Iran says its roughly 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium is buried in facilities that were struck by the United States in June.

The Big Issue

The Riyadh Route

Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salmans November 18 visit to the White House -- his first in seven years -- has sparked widespread speculation about Saudi Arabia offering to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran on nuclear negotiations.

Hosting bin Salman, US President Donald Trump said he is open to a deal with Iran, which he said wanted an agreement very badly.

Saudi Arabias de facto leader, meanwhile, talked up his countrys close relations with the United States and said Riyadh will do our best to make an agreement with Iran happen.

A day before the trip, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian sent a letter to bin Salman that led many to believe he was relaying a message to Trump. Iran's government has formally dismissed the speculation, insisting that the letter focuses on bilateral relations. But the timing is curious.

Why It Matters: Saudi Arabia has strong incentives to pursue this mediation role, particularly now that Iran's proxy network has been weakened.

The kingdom is concerned that a cornered Iran might accelerate nuclear weapons development, and Riyadh sees a new nuclear agreement as preventing that scenario.

Additionally, Saudi foreign policy has pivoted toward prioritizing economic objectives, and further regional instability would hinder these goals. By positioning itself as a mediator, Saudi Arabia can subtly distance itself from Trump's maximum pressure strategy against Tehran while maintaining its strategic alliance with Washington.

Crucially, Riyadh and Washington signed an initial agreement that serves as a precursor to a deal on the transfer of American civil nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.

By securing its own nuclear cooperation pathway with the United States, Riyadh can afford to support measured negotiations that give Iran limited enrichment under tight inspection regimes --so long as the kingdom receives equivalent rights.

What's Being Said: Oman and Qatar have traditionally served as mediators between Iran and the United States, but some, including former Iranian diplomat Hamid Abutalebi, believe it is time to let the Saudis facilitate talks.

In a message to Pezeshkian, Abutalebi said the government is facing a historic responsibility and must seize this strategic opportunity to ease economic pressures, bring stability to the Middle East, and pave the way for a return to sustainable equilibrium with America and Saudi Arabia.

Middle East analyst Bahman Akbari argued that Saudi Arabia's strengthened ties with Washington through the preliminary nuclear agreement and defense partnership with the United States don't prevent -- and may actually enable -- its role as a credible intermediary between Tehran and Washington.

Saudi Arabia's potential as a mediatorcreates the possibility of reaching a significant agreement, he told the Reformist newspaper Etemad.

Meanwhile, Kamal Kharrazi, head of Irans Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told CNN this week that Tehran is open to talks with Washington, but that Iran would not negotiate over its missile program.

They have to make the first move, Kharrazi said. It is only the nuclear issue we will discuss with the United States.

That's all from me for now.

Until next time,

Kian Sharifi

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
A US-Iranian dual citizen has been detained in Iran and is facing multiple security-related charges, according to her son, who says authorities are using his mother to pressure him.

Germany-based political activist Reza Zarrabi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda on November 19 that his 70-year-old mother, Afarin Mohajer, was arrested on September 29 at Imam Khomeini International Airport as she was leaving the country after a visit.

He said intelligence officers with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) detained Mohajer, who is being kept in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

Mohajer, who resides in Los Angeles, has an inoperable brain tumor and has been told by "a doctor before going to prison that she does not have long to live," Zarrabi said.

She had traveled to Iran to handle her husband's personal affairs following his death, he added.

Zarrabi said he learned about his mother's charges through a lawyer who typically handles political cases.

He listed the charges as: forming a dissident group, membership in dissident groups, propaganda against the establishment, insulting the supreme leader, and insulting sacred values.

Zarrabi introduces himself as "director of the Overthrow Council," an opposition group that seeks to topple the Islamic republic. Little is know of the group, one of many based abroad that have called for a mass uprising against Iran's leadership.

He emphasized that while his mother was always by his side, she was not a member of the council. He stressed that his mother had no political activity and argued that "they arrested her and are putting pressure on her because of my political activities."

Zarrabi alleged Mohajer has been put "under pressure and torture" to force him to cease his political activities and shut down the council he leads.

"But I vow that I will not close this council, and given that it has its own independent life, I don't have the right to shut down a political institution," he told Radio Farda.

Neither US or Iranian authorities have confirmed the detention of Mohajer.

Zarrabi said he has written the US State Department to inform them of his mother's detention, which he says was confirmed through a phone call with her on her 43rd day behind bars. He has not heard back from the US government, he noted.

The US government has repeatedly warned about American citizens traveling to Iran, with whom Washington has no diplomatic relations.

Numerous Iranians holding dual citizenship have been arrested by security agencies on various criminal charges. Many have had their properties confiscated or frozen, and in some cases their family members inside Iran have faced pressure aimed at forcing these individuals to return to the country.

Iran stands accused of using the illegal arrest and detention of foreign nationals, including dual citizens, as "hostage diplomacy" to pressure foreign governments into meeting its demands.

According to Human Rights Watch, Iranian authorities have systematically" violated detainees' due process rights through politically motivated arrests. The Iranian government refuses to recognize dual nationality and treats dual citizens solely as Iranian nationals.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine faces "one of the most difficult moments" in its history as the United States presses Kyiv to agree to a controversial plan to end the war launched by Russia, warning the country risks "losing a key partner" but will not "betray" its own interests.

In a videotaped address to the nation on November 21, Zelenskyy said his government "will work calmly with America and all partners" and vowed to hold a "constructive search for solutions" with Washington, which handed him the 28-point draft plan a day earlier.

"I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy a reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace," Zelenskyy said, suggesting Kyiv would seek substantial changes to the US proposal, which entails major concessions by Kyiv, after it emerged abruptly this week.

"Now Ukraine may find itself facing a very difficult choice. Either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner [the US]," he said, dressed in black and urging unity in a somber-toned address that comes at a tough time, with a corruption scandal shaking his administration.

"Either a difficult 28 points or an extremely hard winter -- the hardest -- and further risks. Life without freedom, without dignity, without justice," he said.

Speaking the same day to Fox News, US President Donald Trump said he believed Thanksgiving, which is November 27, is an "appropriate" deadline for the Ukrainian leadership to make a decision on the plan. We think we have a way of getting peace, Trump told reporters in an Oval Office appearance. Hes going to have to approve it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, said Moscow was ready to negotiate the plan, viewing it as a potential "foundation" for a peaceful settlement. He warned, however, that Russia remained satisfied with the current dynamics of its war on Ukraine.

What's In The Plan?

The draft proposal obtained by RFE/RL and other news outlets indicates that if it were approved in its current wording, Ukraine would be required to cede more than 20 percent of its territory, at least de facto, and make other major concessions including limiting the size of its military and a constitutional prohibition on joining NATO.

It would also slap restrictions on NATO, obliging the alliance not to expand further or to station troops in Ukraine, and would end Russia's isolation from the West, paving the way for the removal of sanctions and extending Moscow an invitation to rejoin the club known as the G7 since it was excluded in 2014 over its seizure of Crimea.

Neither the United States nor Ukraine has confirmed the wording of the 28-point draft proposal, and Russia has made few comments on the matter. The reported draft and officials' remarks about the proposal have raised many questions.

As the latest push in Trump's effort to end the biggest and deadliest war in Europe since 1945 takes shape, here are some of the key questions -- and potential answers.

How Flexible Is Washington On The Plan?

Initial reports suggested the plan had been worked out by the United States and Russia without input from Ukraine, generating concerns it is being foisted on Ukraine as something close to a fait accompli.

Prior to Trump's interview with Fox News, the Financial Times cited unnamed Ukrainian officials as saying the Trump administration had told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others on his team that the White House was working on an "aggressive" timeline in order to end the war before the new year.

Reuters' sources said Kyiv was under greater pressure from Washington than during any previous peace discussions, with the United States threatening to curtail intelligence sharing and weapons supplies.

"It's a good plan for both" Russia and Ukraine, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on November 20, adding, "We believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done."

At the same time, Leavitt said White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been working on the proposal for about a month and had been talking to both Russia and Ukraine "to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace."

Rubio seemed to suggest the draft deal was not set in stone, writing on X that "we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict."

Has Ukraine Already Rejected It?

The short answer is no. After a meeting with top Pentagon officers and the chief of the US Army in Kyiv on November 20, Zelenskyy said he had received the US draft and intends to discuss it with Trump -- a conversation media reports say could take place next week. He spoke to Vice President JD Vance on November 21.

"We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace," Zelenskyy said in a post on X on November 21. In the address later in the day, he also steered clear of rejecting the plan.

At a UN Security Council on November 20, Ukraine's deputy UN envoy, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, said Kyiv's "core principles are nonnegotiable," according to a summary in a post on X: "No recognition of temporarily occupied territories as 'Russian," "Full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty & self-defense," and "Freedom to choose alliances."

The reported draft appears to cross all three of those red lines, with its numerical limit on army size, its barring of NATO membership, and its call for recognition of Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as "de facto Russian."

The "de facto" stipulation may be an attempt to open a loophole by enabling Ukraine to avoid formal recognition, but Hayovyshyn suggested that wouldn't fly.

"There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian," she told the UN Security Council.

Regardless of how that part is parsed, Ukraine seems highly unlikely to accept wording calling for the withdrawal of its forces from the part of the Donetsk region they still hold and are defending in fierce fighting every day, let alone the international recognition of that land as Russian.

While Zelenskyy has voiced readiness for Ukraine to conduct elections once the war is over and martial law is lifted, Kyiv -- which has bristled at Russian President Vladimir Putin's inaccurate claims that Zelenskyy is no longer the legitimate president -- might balk at the stipulation that it hold elections in 100 days after the agreement is signed.

A clause calling for the "full amnesty" of all parties in the war would also be hard for many Ukrainians to swallow, given widespread evidence of atrocities by Russian forces -- which Moscow in general has denied -- and frequent attacks that have killed and maimed Ukrainian civilians, among other conduct by the Russian government and military.

Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court on suspicion of war crimes over the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.

What About Security Guarantees?

One of Ukraine's key demands for agreeing to any peace deal has been robust security guarantees.

The reported draft plan states Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees and a new Russian invasion of Ukraine would lead to a "decisive coordinated military response," the reinstatement of sanctions, and the revocation of recognition of "the new territory."

But it is skimpy on details, and the bar on NATO troops being stationed in Ukraine appears to rule out a potential plan by the largely European "Coalition of the Willing" to send forces to back up Ukrainian troops.

"There are a lot of vague and undisclosed points that need clarification, because a lot actually depends on those clarifications," Ukrainian political analyst Petro Oleshchuk told Current Time.

"What I've seen, even if we assume it's accurate, is more like a draft written on a napkin during negotiations rather than a document that could actually be signed by someone."

Zelenskyy has indicated that in addition to Ukraine, Europe must not be sidelined in the peace process. After a call with the leaders of France, Britain, and Germany on November 21, he said on X the countries "are coordinating closely to make sure that the principled stances are taken into account."

What Does Russia Think?

Reports of the US draft proposal, particularly when they first emerged, sparked concerns that it echoed longstanding Russian demands such as the prohibition of NATO membership for Ukraine and the recognition of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as Russian and that it amounted to capitulation by Kyiv.

Nonetheless, Russia may find fault with specific aspects of the plan, such as a cap on Ukraine's army size that, at 600,000, is far higher than what Moscow has demanded in the past, as well as with its wording, which analyst Tatyana Stanovaya said "reveals a dismissive and inaccurate understanding of how Moscow formulates its positions."

In a post on X, she said that "although the concessions to Russia appear substantial, the plan would also require Moscow to abandon some of its earlier conditions -- for example, the more radical reduction of Ukraine's armed forces or parts of the political reform package," a reference to Russia's call for political change in Ukraine.

"I am not suggesting that Putin would reject the plan outright, but he would almost certainly insist on scrupulous work on the formulations and on putting every commitment down on paper in detailed form," said Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

In his address on November 21, Putin did not confirm that Russia was directly involved in the process of drafting the plan. However, multiple Western media outlets have cited sources as saying the documents was largely the product of talks between Witkoff and a special envoy for Putin, Kirill Dmitriev.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman said that Moscow would "prefer to treat bilateral [Russian-US] and the Ukraine settlement as two different tracks," a remark that reflected what analysts say is the Kremlin's clear desire to improve its US ties without making concessions on Ukraine.

"But there has not really been much headway on the irritants," Peskov said, adding the United States was to blame, in Moscow's eyes, "because the American side has a different point of view. They still believe that everything should depend on how we move forward in the Ukraine settlement process."

Many analysts say Putin will not agree to any peace deal he believes would undermine Russian efforts to subjugate Ukraine by force, diplomacy, or a combination of the two.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time
Planes have been flying off the shelves at the Dubai Airshow, with Gulf airlines ordering more than 400 jets from Airbus and Boeing  a clear sign of how aviation remains a central part of regional economic growth plans.

Emirates set the pace with orders for 65 Boeing 777 aircraft, worth $38 billion at list prices, followed by a deal for eight Airbus A350 aircraft. Its no-frills sister company Flydubai announced deals for 150 Airbus A321neo aircraft  the airlines first order from the European supplier  as well as firm options for 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets. Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways also boosted its fleet with 32 Airbus aircraft, while Bahrains Gulf Air plans to buy up to 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Carriers are also smartening up their existing planes, while waiting for new deliveries which can take years to arrive. Emirates and Flydubai are rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi connections across their fleets; Etihad is doing something similar with Viasat. Emirates is also setting up a facility in Dubai to manufacture 1,000 business class seats a year.

 Dominic Dudley
Sean McCarthaigh

A landlord has been ordered to pay compensation of 20,000 after threatening his tenant with eviction when asked to accept a Housing Assistance Payment towards the rent.

The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the landlord, Muhammad Naeem Aslam, had breached the Equal Status Act 2000, discriminating against Ayodeji Saanu by refusing to accept a HAP payment as well as victimising him over the same issue.

However, the WRC rejected a claim by Mr Saanu that he had also been harassed by his landlord.

The landlord did not attend a WRC meeting of the case held in August 2025, despite being on notice of the hearing.

Mr Saanu gave evidence that he asked Mr Aslam to fill out a form to obtain the HAP in December 2023, but was refused.

He told the WRC that he did not pursue the matter at the time as he felt vulnerable as a tenant.

However, Mr Saanu again wrote to his landlord on October 1st, 2024, to sign the HAP form as he was scheduled to undergo surgery the following week and would not have any income as a result to pay the rent from his own pocket.

At the time, he was paying a monthly rent of 2,100 for a two-bed apartment.

Although the tenant was eligible for the HAP, he claimed Mr Aslam replied that he did not accept the payment and threatened him with eviction if he persisted with it, as well as arranging for an inspection of the property

Mr Saanu said he had pointed out to the landlord that it was discriminatory and unlawful to refuse a HAP.

On October 6th, 2024, he said he received a threatening message that his tenancy would be ended and he and his family would be ejected from the property when he had pleaded with the landlord to accept HAP.

When notified of the complaint to the WRC, Mr Sannu said the landlord had replied that his solicitor would take care of the matter.

He again reminded Mr Aslam that it was unlawful to threaten a family with the risk of homelessness just because of a legitimate request to sign a HAP form.

Mr Saanu told the WRC that he was then given 28 days notice to vacate the apartment, although he was legally entitled to 152 days of notice.

He claimed the landlord replied that he was adept at this sort of thing and knew how to deal with such tenants when informed of his longer notice period.

Mr Saanu said he subsequently received a message via WhatsApp from the landlord stating he needed the apartment for himself.

The WRC heard there were also difficulties in Mr Aslam providing a postal address for correspondence.

Mr Saanu said he and his wife felt threatened by the landlords behaviour.

He told the WRC that he had to return to work earlier than he was fit to after his surgery and got an infection because of his landlords refusal to accept the HAP.

Mr Saanu said he was also still under notice of eviction.

WRC adjudication officer, Louise Boyle, said the landlords arrangement of an inspection of the apartment was clearly an extraordinary response to the tenants complaint.

Ms Boyle said Mr Saanu had given a credible account, which had been supported by correspondence with the landlord.

She ordered Mr Aslam to pay his tenant 12,000 in compensation for discriminating against him over his refusal to accept a HAP payment.

The WRC also awarded Mr Saanu a further 8,000 over related victimisation by the landlord.
Two County Roscommon students are among seven third-level students presented with a 2,000 bursary from the North West Credit Union.

Established over 17 years ago, the scheme has provided over 165,000 to third-level students.

The successful applicants are: Clara McGovern, Collooney, a nursing student at Dublin City University; Sarah Brady, Drumkeerin who is studying physical education and biology at Dublin City University; Diarmuid Lavin, Keadue, a science student at University College Dublin; Mark Halligan, Boyle who is studying for a BEd in education and psychology at Mary Immaculate College; Molly McLoughlin, Sligo, a law and criminology student at the University of Galway; Tatiana Leahy, Sligo, who is studying accountancy at ATU Sligo and Amy McMorrow, Sligo, who is studying medicine at the University of Limerick.

Applications for the new bursary scheme opened in early 2025, and applicants were recently presented with awards.

Chairperson of North West Credit Union, Catherine OReilly, spoke about the importance of education, and the winners - who had to write about how the bursary would support their third-level journey - were grateful.

Sarah Brady from Drumkeerin spoke of how receiving this financial bursary would support her third-level education in many ways. Firstly, I live in Dublin, where rent is already high and is set to increase from 765 to 900 per month next year. The overall cost of living in Dublin- including rent, food, and transport is significant, and any financial assistance would be a huge relief. This support would ease my financial worries, especially as I prepare to start my placement next year, which is already a stressful time for students. Currently, I am balancing my studies with part-time work to support myself financially. Managing work alongside my academic responsibilities can be challenging, particularly during exam periods. Despite this, I remain committed to my studies and was ranked fourth in my course last year. I truly believe that this support from North West Credit Union would help me improve my academic performance.

The chairperson added: At North West Credit Union, we are proud to continue supporting students in our community as they pursue their educational goals. This bursary reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering the next generation through financial support, encouragement, and community spirit.
Neighbouring NCR cities also choked: Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 431, Noida touched 400, and Greater Noida logged 377. File Photo.

Environmental scientists described the situation as a public health emergency.

Delhis Toxic Air Sparks Public Health Emergency as AQI Repeatedly Breaches Severe Mark



Delhis air quality deteriorated sharply on Friday, plunging several neighbourhoods into the severe category as toxic smog tightened its grip over the capital. According to real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 370 at 9 ammarking the eighth straight day of very poor air, with over 18 monitoring stations crossing the severe 400450 range, including Anand Vihar, Bawana, Wazirpur, Mundka, and Narela.



Environmental scientists described the situation as a public health emergency, with experts pointing out that nearly 80 per cent of households in Delhi-NCR have reported at least one family member falling ill due to polluted air in the past month. A LocalCircles survey cited widespread complaints of persistent cough, burning eyes, wheezing, headaches, aggravated asthma, and severe respiratory distress.



Doctors from AIIMS warned of a 1015 per cent surge in pollution-linked hospital cases. Dr Anant Mohan of AIIMS said the pollution in Delhi is absolutely severe and life-threatening, adding that he has seen many patients requiring ventilator support. He stressed that pollution now affects every physiological systemthe heart, brain, lungs, mental health, even unborn children, underscoring evidence that long-term exposure reduces life expectancy.



According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences Air Quality Early Warning System, Delhis pollution is expected to remain in the very poor to severe zone for the next six days, driven by stagnant winds and winter inversion. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorologys Decision Support System estimated that vehicular emissions contributed around 17 per cent to PM2.5 levels on Thursday, while stubble burning contributed nearly 3 per cent, with both expected to dip slightly.



Neighbouring NCR cities also choked: Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 431, Noida touched 400, and Greater Noida logged 377.



Public frustration is rising, with protesters  including young children  gathering at India Gate and Jantar Mantar demanding decisive action. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court urged authorities to defer school sports events, saying that forcing children outdoors in such conditions was akin to making them train in gas chambers.



With smog thickening and winter setting in, experts and citizens alike are calling for year-round, systemic solutions, not just short-term panic responses.


On November 18, Azerkhalcha OJSC, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Albania and Tirana Art Gallery, with the support of Tirana City Municipality, held the next exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets in Europe at Tirana Art Gallery.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the traditional art of carpet weaving in the UNESCO Representative List of intangible cultural heritage with the direct initiative and support of the first vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. The next day, on November 19, a meeting and master classes were held between students of art faculties of various educational institutions and Azerbaijani artists.

The special event organized to mark the opening of the "May your hands remain well!" exhibition was attended by officials of Albanian state institutions, members of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Tirana, media representatives, representatives of science and academic circles, artists and cultural figures, as well as members of Azerbaijani, Turkish and other communities living in Albania.

The "May your hands remain well!" carpet collection includes traditional carpets from the Karabakh, Guba and Shirvan carpet weaving schools woven in the workshops of Azerkhalcha OJSC, as well as works from various special collections. These include one carpet from the 44 collection of Azerkhalcha OJSC in collaboration with Rashad Alekperov, two carpets from the Architect of Memory and Woman collections with Aydan Salahova, one carpet from a joint project with Faig Ahmed, three exclusive carpets from the Pomegranate Symphony collection with young artist Samira Allahverdiyeva, and two - Nakhchivan and Qarabagh carpets by Rufat Ismayil in collaboration with AFFFAIR. In addition, the exhibition will feature two carpets by the Albanian artist Xhevahir Kolgji, who in his works connects East and West and thus tries to destroy the borders.

The exhibition was declared open by the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Albania, Anar Huseynov. The Diplomat informed about the history of carpet weaving, which is one of the vivid examples of Azerbaijan's ancient and rich cultural heritage, and the state's care for the development of this art in our country. The ambassador noted that the purpose of the exhibition is to convey the culture and truth of Azerbaijan to local residents through art. The two-month exhibition will contribute to the rapprochement of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Albania. He thanked the municipality of Tirana for the conditions created for the exhibition.

During his speech, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC, Honored Artist Emin Mammadov congratulated the event participants on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the November 8 Victory Day and the magnificent victory, which we recently celebrated and which is written in golden letters in the centuries-old history of our people, and spoke about the history of the organization. The Chairman said that the main goal of Azerkhalcha" OJSC is to preserve the tradition of carpet weaving and further develop this art. He stressed that Azerbaijani folk-applied art and its branch, carpet weaving, occupy a special place in the history of the national culture of our people. E.Mammadov spoke about the short history of various carpets displayed at the exhibition and spoke about the future plans and main goals of Azerkhalcha OJSC.

Then, Director of The Art Gallery of Tirana Edith Pula and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to Azerbaijan Besart Kadia, who visited his homeland for this exhibition, continued the event with their speeches.

In order to promote the art of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan to the world, protect our national spiritual heritage, adapt it to the modern era and pass it on to future generations, and support the promotion of the art of carpet weaving, the "Qarabakh" and "Nakhchivan" carpets, belonging to the joint "A New Look at Cultural Heritage" collection of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC and "AFFFAIR", were donated to the Tirana Art Gallery by "PASHA Holding" and "PASHA Bank". These carpets will continue to be displayed in the gallery's permanent collection. At the same time, another example of Nakhchivan carpet was presented by Pasha Holding" to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania as a gift.

The process of weaving a real Azerbaijani carpet was demonstrated and master classes were held for the visitors of the exhibition. Participants of the exhibition have the opportunity to make their own loops on the carpet. A special certificate of Azerkhalcha OJSC was also presented to everyone who participated in the weaving process of the Azerbaijani carpet. The exhibition will last until January 20.
By Marco Aquino

CALLAO, Peru (Reuters) -Dutch port operator APM Terminals will invest $550 million to expand Peru's Callao port starting in January, chief commercial officer for the company's Peru unit, Fernando Fauche, said on Wednesday.

The two-year project aims to increase the terminal's capacity to 24,000 containers, Fauche told journalists during an event celebrating the launch of direct arrivals from Asia to the facility on Peru's central coast.

Peru's Callao port in November began offering new direct shipping routes from China and South Korea, cutting transit times to about 23 days, port officials confirmed on Wednesday. The service is designed to strengthen trade ties with Asia and position Callao as a key Pacific hub for Asian imports.

Initial shipments have included retail products from Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu, according to Fauche.

"Shipments are fully booked for the next six weeks. There's demand," he added.

APM and local port authorities described the nearby Chinese-built megaport of Chancay north of Lima as "complementary," though industry analysts warn that the two facilities could compete for Asian cargo as infrastructure investments accelerate along Peru's Pacific coast.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino in Callao, Peru. Writing by Brendan O'Boyle and Lucinda Elliott.)
Dubai Plane Crash: CDS General Anil Chauhan Expresses Regret Over the Pilot's Demise; Court of Inquiry Being Constituted

It added that a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Indias Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, along with all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces, has expressed deep regret over the demise of the pilot in the IAF Tejas aircraft crash that occurred this afternoon at around 2:10 p.m. (local time) during an aerial display in Dubai.

Confirming the fatal accident, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, in a post on X, said, General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.

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Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF), also expressing deep regret, confirmed the tragic accident.

IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief, the post read on X.

It added that a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

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Aam Aatmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and LoP Rahul Gandhi have condoled the bereaved family.

(For more news apart from Dubai Plane Crash: CDS General Anil Chauhan Expresses Regret Over the Pilots Demise; Court of Inquiry Being Constituted," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Dubai Plane Crash: IAF confirms the demise of Pilot in Tejas Crash

The crash took place at around 2:10 pm local time today.

Dubai Plane Crash: The Indian Air Force has confirmed the demise of the Pilot in the Tejas Crash during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, on Friday.

"An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," IAF confirmed.

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An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.



IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.



A court of inquiry is being  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 21, 2025

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The crash occurred at around 2:10 pm local time today. The aircraft was an indegeniously manufactured one. Experts say that it has an excellent safety record. There had only been one accident, occurred last year.

The country mourns the loss of the precious life of the brave soldier.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces have expressed regret over the loss of the pilot.

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"General Anil Chauhan, CDS, and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," said in a post on X.

General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.



We deeply regret the loss of life https://t.co/LYYPdDWK10 Advertisement November 21, 2025

Read in Detail Here: Plane Crash Dubai: Indian HAL Tejas crashed during flight display at Dubai Air Show

(For more news apart from Dubai Plane Crash: IAF confirms the demise of Pilot in Tejas Crash," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Maharashtra directs officials to rise and greet MLAs, MPs; polite conduct mandatory in phone calls

Inviting central, state ministers and dignitaries to functions mandatory:

In a unique initiative, the Maharashtra government has issued a circular directing all officials in the state to rise and greet MLAs and MPs when they visit government offices, and to listen to their concerns while providing assistance in accordance with existing rules, news agency ANI reported.

Telephone communication with these representatives must also be conducted politely and respectfully, as per the circular.

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The government resolution mandates all state departments, semi-government offices, and government-controlled bodies to treat Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) with "utmost courtesy". The initiative, it states, aims to enhance good governance, transparency, and administrative efficiency across the state.

To ensure accountability, every office has been instructed to maintain a register exclusively for all correspondence received from MLAs and MPs, with replies to be issued within two months. If a timely response is not possible, the matter must be escalated to the department head, and the concerned legislator must be informed officially. Department heads are required to review such correspondence every three months.

Inviting central, state ministers and dignitaries to functions mandatory:

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The circular also mandates inviting all relevant dignitaries, including central and state ministers, guardian ministers, local MLAs, MPs, mayors, district council presidents, and municipal chairpersons, to major government functions. Proper seating protocols must be ensured during such events.

Department heads to set time aside for MLAs, MPs, citizens:

Additionally, department heads in Maharashtra have been instructed to reserve two hours on the first and third Thursday of every month specifically for meetings with MLAs, MPs, and local citizens, although urgent matters may be addressed outside these designated hours.

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The state government has also advised avoiding major local-level programmes during legislative sessions unless unavoidable, to ensure undivided attention to parliamentary work.

Strict compliance with recommendations of the Legislative Privileges Committee has been emphasized, with disciplinary action for violations under existing civil service rules. Information pertaining to welfare-related legislative duties must be provided to MLAs and MPs free of cost, except where restricted under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

To foster a culture of respect, the circular requires training modules on courteous conduct toward legislators to be included in all government training programmes. The government has cautioned that non-compliance will invite disciplinary proceedings under the Maharashtra Civil Services regulations.

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The circular, however, does not mention guidelines on ensuring respectful or courteous conduct by elected representatives toward government officials.

The initiative has prompted concerns among some observers about whether it could create pressure or fear among government officials.

(For more news apart from Maharashtra directs officials to rise and greet MLAs, MPs; polite conduct mandatory in phone calls," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Mumbai: Samajwadi Party leader calls for stronger law against language-based crimes; Student dies by suicide after alleged assault over Marathi

Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP President Ameet Satam held Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray responsible for the incident.

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, reacting to the suicide of a student following a language-related issue, on Friday said the government must enact a specific law to deal with crimes committed over language issues.

According to PTI, a 19-year-old student in Thane district died by suicide after a group of people allegedly assaulted him on a local train following an argument over him not speaking in Marathi.

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The student, Arnav Laxman Khaire, a first-year science student, was found hanging in his apartment in Kalyan East on Tuesday evening.

VIDEO | Mumbai: The government should make a law to deal specifically against such crimes over language, says Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on students suicide case.



A 19-year-old student committed suicide in Thane district after a group of people allegedly assaulted him pic.twitter.com/g69gkjiIk3 Advertisement November 21, 2025

Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP President Ameet Satam held Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray responsible for the incident.

Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are spreading poison in the public. Language is a medium of communication, not conflict. A Marathi youth lost his life. No one will forgive Uddhav and Raj Thackeray for this, Satam told PTI.

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BJP leader Raj Purohit also expressed a similar opinion and called for immediate action against those who allegedly spread "venom of language politics".

Speaking to PTI on the matter, said, I dont think there can be a worse incident than this. Tarun, a 19-year-old Marathi boy, was beaten brutally on a train, apparently over speaking Hindi. We often hear about attacks on Hindi speakers, but now even Marathis are not spared...He must have informed someone, possibly his parents, and on that basis, the police must register a suo moto FIR... He added, Those who spread the venom of language politics, indulge in dirty politics, and promote violence must face immediate action.

(For more news apart from Maharashtra directs officials to rise and greet MLAs, MPs; polite conduct mandatory in phone calls," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
TMC Hits Back at HM Amit Shah Over His 'Protect Infiltrators' Remark; Demands Answer on Security Failure or Resignation

Mr. Amit Shah is the incapable Home Minister who failed to prevent the Pahalgam terror attack, failed to prevent the Delhi blasts.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sagarika Ghose on Friday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his recent protect infiltrators remark.

In a video posted on the All India Trinamool Congresss X handle, Ghose called Amit Shah a singularly incapable Home Minister and said he should resign for his alleged failure to address national security challenges.

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According to PTI, the video is a reaction to Shahs comment: "Some political parties are trying to 'protect infiltrators' by hindering the process for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across states."

Reacting to this, Ghose said, "The Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah is again talking about infiltrators. He's saying ghuspaithiyas (infiltrators) are coming into India, ghuspaithiyas are crossing India's borders and coming into India. Mr. Amit Shah is a singularly incapable Home Minister. He has failed to address the serious national security challenges facing India because he's too busy politicking and too busy trying to break opposition governments..."

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How does @AmitShah even dare to make such grand claims when he himself is a failed Home Minister?



Before blaming opposition parties over infiltration, the Home Minister should look at his own record. Pahalgam, Delhi, Pulwama - in every instance, your incompetent government pic.twitter.com/3c0GYXKRGR  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 21, 2025

She further added, Mr. Amit Shah is the incapable Home Minister who failed to prevent the Pahalgam terror attack, failed to prevent the Delhi blasts.

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Continuing her criticism, she said, He is now talking about infiltrators. But who guards the borders? Mr. Amit Shah, it is you.

It is your responsibility to guard India's borders. The Border Security Force (BSF) comes under you. It is you who are entrusted to safeguard India's borders. If infiltrators are coming in, that is your failure... and the failure of your ministry, she added.

Ghose also echoed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees stance, saying, As Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said, the SIR exercise is simply targeted at disenfranchising citizens and causing enormous hardship and enormous pain to bona fide citizens of India. By talking about infiltrators, Mr Amit Shah is only politicking. He's an incapable Home Minister and he should resign."

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The All India Trinamool Congress accused the NDA leader of spending his time toppling opposition-led governments instead of ensuring national security.

Posting the video, the party questioned the Home Ministers responsibility over border security, writing, Even the BSF securing our borders operates under your command. So who is allowing infiltrators to enter?

The post ended with a direct demand: Answer us Amit Shah or resign.

Meanwhile, Bengal BJP met EC officials, flagging non-cooperation by TMC govt in conducting SIR, according to PTI report.

BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari said, We had a discussion on SIR and how Mamata Banerjee is not cooperating The fraud must stop.

VIDEO | Kolkata: Bengal BJP meets EC officials, flags non-cooperation by TMC govt in conducting SIR.



BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari says, We had a discussion on SIR and how Mamata Banerjee is not cooperating The fraud must stop.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/i0nrBm8lba  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

(For more news apart from TMC Hits Back at HM Amit Shah Over His 'Protect Infiltrators' Remark; Demands Answer on Security Failure or Resignation," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
It has been named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, India's first Field Marshal and a military icon born in Amritsar. File Photo.

The newly constructed hostel is built at a cost of INR 2.46 crore.

Aman Arora Unveils INR 2.46-Crore State-of-the-Art Hostel for NDA Aspirant Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI



Aman Arora, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister, inaugurated a state-of-the-art accommodation block for girl cadets at the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) in SAS Nagar (Mohali) on Friday. This is a significant step towards strengthening opportunities for young women aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. According to officials present at the event, the facility forms a key part of the NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls, which the Punjab Government launched in July 2023.



The newly constructed hostel is built at a cost of INR 2.46 crore. It has been named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Indias first Field Marshal and a military icon born in Amritsar. By dedicating this building to Manekshaw, the state aims to inspire future officers with a legacy of discipline, courage, and leadership.



Speaking at the ceremony, Aman Arora said that the modern accommodation block was designed as a comprehensive residential and training facility, equipped with a cyber lab, indoor shooting range, and a fully equipped fitness hub. He added that these amenities will create a focused and supportive environment for 40 girl cadets training for the National Defence Academy (NDA). Arora emphasised that the Mann-led Punjab Government is committed towards providing young women with every possible resource to excel in defence careers.



The minister also assured full administrative support to the institute. He noted that the NDA Preparatory Wing has already received a strong response from girls across Punjab who aspire to serve as commissioned officers.



During the event, many outstanding cadets were felicitated, including Sehjaldeep Kaur, who, as per the institutes administration, made history by securing the highest-ever marks in the SSB interview across India  among both boys and girls. Officials highlighted that this achievement marks a milestone for Punjab and a proud moment for the institute, which is known for nurturing discipline and leadership.



Addressing the cadets, Arora said that the government aims to provide a launchpad for the dreams of our daughters to soar high, adding that Punjabs girls are second to none and fully capable of leading from the front in the armed forces.



This initiative marks a new chapter in Punjabs ongoing efforts to empower girls to pursue defence careers and contribute towards national service.
The Vidhan Sabha session at 11 a.m. will be the first ever in Sikh history held in such a sacred location. File Photo.

The celebrations will begin on November 23 with an Akhand Path, exhibitions, and an interfaith conference.



Punjab to Hold Historic Special Assembly Session at Anandpur Sahib on November 24

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Punjab is preparing for a remarkable moment as the 10th Special Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is going to take place at Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial in Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 24 at 1:00 pm. According to a notification issued by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, cited by OneIndia, the session has been formally summoned under Article 174 of the Constitution of India.

This special session coincides with the three-day commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib**, scheduled from November 23 to 25 in Anandpur Sahib. As per some media reports, this event has been organised with deep sensitivity by the Punjab government to honour the legacy of the Ninth Sikh Guru, whose martyrdom is regarded as a symbol of sacrifice for faith, human rights, and justice.

The celebrations will begin on November 23 with an Akhand Path, exhibitions, and an interfaith conference. On November 24, the day of the special session, the morning will start with Sheesh Bhenth Nagar Kirtan, reenacting Bhai Jaita Jis historic journey of bringing Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahibs severed head from Delhi to Anandpur Sahib.

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Following the Nagar Kirtan, thousands of participants are expected to join a heritage walk covering sites such as Gurudwara Bhora Sahib, Sheesh Ganj Sahib, Guru Tegh Bahadur Museum, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, and Qila Anandgarh Sahib. The Vidhan Sabha session at 11 a.m. will be the first ever in Sikh history held in such a sacred location.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in a social media message, invited devotees from across India and abroad to participate. He noted that four jathas, including one from Srinagar also joined by Kashmiri Pandits, will travel to Anandpur Sahib, converging on November 2223.

The evening programmes will include Dhadi War, Kavisar Darbar, devotional performances, Gatka, weapon displays, and a grand drone show at Virasat-e-Khalsa, illustrating Guru Sahibs life and sacrifice.

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The Punjab government views this event not just as an official function but as a festival of devotion, aimed at connecting future generations to Sikh heritage and the timeless message of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.




Mamdani to meet Donald Trump today to discuss affordability crisis at the white House in US

I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers."

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet President Donald Trump today at 3 p.m., in a discussion he said would focus on the citys affordability crisis, calling it an opportunity to make the case for New Yorkers.

According to ANI, speaking at City Hall Park yesterday, Mamdani said he plans to highlight economic security and public safety. I'll be ready for whatever happens.

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He revealed that his team sought the meeting because I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than 8.5 million people who call this city home.

I have many disagreements with the president, and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that could make our city affordable for every single New Yorker, he said.

I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so.

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Mamdani said voters across the five boroughs were driven by economic strain. They wanted a leader who would take on the cost of living crisis that makes it impossible for working people to afford living in this city, he said. After the 2024 election, he added, many in Queens and the Bronx told him it was the affordability crisis, it was cost of living, cost of living, cost of living.

According to CBS News, as cited in the ANI report, Mamdani said both he and Trump campaigned on the same core concern. We ran a campaign focused on the same thing: Cost of living. And what we found, actually, is that 1 in 10 New Yorkers who voted for Trump ended up voting for our campaign.

When asked about his outlook ahead of the meeting, he told CBS News that he sees it as an opportunity to reflect the realities that residents face. This is an opportunity to make the case for New Yorkers, he said, citing figures such as 1 in 4 residents living in poverty and 1 in 5 struggling to afford the two-dollar ninety bus fare.

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When asked about possible criticism from the president or lawmakers, Mamdani responded, Being a New Yorker means that you're prepared for all situations, all kinds of comments, all kinds of commentary. At the end of it, the focus has to be, what's the case that you're making, why are you there?

CBS News also reported that establishing a working relationship could be important for federal assistance and for securing the security clearance needed for law enforcement and threat briefings. Governor Kathy Hochul said common ground is possible, pointing to priorities such as the Gateway Tunnel, transit funding, and avoiding National Guard deployment, adding that crime is going down dramatically.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House, because that's who the Democrat party elected mayor of the largest city in the country. She added that the president is willing to meet with anyone, and talk to anyone, and to try to do what's right on behalf of the American people.

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Asked whether Mamdani might influence Trumps funding stance, Leavitt said, We'll see how the meeting goes tomorrow, and I'll let for the president speak for himself.

Mamdani also confirmed that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain in her post. He said leaders should advocate strongly for their departments and that disagreements are actually signs of a healthy relationship. He added that officials should not be chosen for the quickness with which they can say yes, as opposed to the quickness with which they can tell you their honest opinion.

(For more news apart from Mamdani to meet Donald Trump today to discuss affordability crisis at the white House in US," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentine officials did not speak with U.S. banks about a $20 billion rescue package, the country's economy minister, Luis Caputo, said on Friday in a post on social media.

Caputo made the comments after the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that a planned $20 billion bailout for Argentina from JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup , had been shelved as bankers pivot instead to a smaller, short-term loan package.

We never spoke with the banks about a bailout, nor about 20 billion. Its just another operation whose only purpose is to create confusion, Caputo wrote on X.

In October, the U.S. Treasury reached a $20 billion exchange-rate stabilization agreement with Argentina, to be paired with a bank-led debt facility for the same amount. The deal came just days ahead of a midterm election that was crucial for Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei.

Bankers now say the debt facility is no longer under serious consideration, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Instead, lenders are planning to loan Argentina around $5 billion through a short-term repurchase, or "repo," facility, it said.

(Reporting by Eliana Raszewski; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle, Editing by Natalia Siniawski)
November 21, 2025

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 21.11.2025, 13:55

Conference  Romanias President, Nicusor Dan, declared on Friday in Bucharest that the expansion of the European Union to Moldova, Ukraine and the Western Balkans is not an act of charity, it is an investment in security. The statement was made at the high-level conference Cohesion 2027+, organized by the Ministries of Investments and European Projects, Foreign Affairs and Finance. The head of state also spoke about competitiveness and performance in the area of innovation. One of my important messages is that, in the area of research, development and innovation, we must take care of the specific conditions that each country has and our objective is to make the economy in the European area progress in each of the member countries, Nicusor Dan stated. The Bucharest conference will also be attended by the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, the Romanian Roxana Minzatu, responsible for social rights, skills, quality jobs and training. Also attending the conference are the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, and the Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

Elections  The electoral campaign for the local by-elections organized on December 7 for the Bucharest General City Hall, for the leadership of the Buzau County Council (southeast) and for the positions of mayors in 12 communes and one city begins on Saturday. In Bucharest, there are 18 candidates, but, according to opinion surveys, the competition will be between the representatives of the coalition parties: Daniel Baluta (PSD), Ciprian Ciucu (PNL) and Catalin Drula (USR). In the top four is the independent Anca Alexandrescu, supported by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), in opposition. At the Buzau County Council, the former social-democratic prime minister Marcel Ciolacu is competing with Razvan Moraru, a common candidate of PNL and USR. We recall that the position of general mayor of the capital remained vacant after the former chief mayor Nicusor Dan became, in May this year, president of Romania.

Plan  The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in a few days time after the United States presented Kyiv with a draft peace plan to end Russias war in Ukraine. The White House spokeswoman rejected suggestions that the Ukrainians would be forced to make major concessions and insisted that the plan is good for both Russia and Ukraine. According to AFP, the plan mainly calls on Kyiv to cede the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia. These two regions, claimed by Moscow, as well as the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, would be recognized de facto as Russian, including by the United States. Also under the 28-point plan, two other southern regions  Kherson and Zaporozhe  would be divided along the current front line. Kyiv would give up its NATO membership but would be eligible to join the European Union.

Reform  The Superior Council of Magistracy in Bucharest will issue an opinion on the new government bill to reform the retirement system of magistrates, after the general assemblies of the courts and prosecutors offices in Romania rule on the draft law in sessions at the beginning of next week. The Superior Council of Magistracy made the announcement, without specifying, however, the date when it will send the opinion to the government. The executive would like to adopt the new law by the end of next week by assuming responsibility in Parliament, but it cannot do so without the advisory, but mandatory, opinion of the Council. The executive is constrained by the deadline of November 28, which cannot be exceeded without losing over 200 million Euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The new bill reduces the pensions of judges and prosecutors to 70% of the last net salary and extends the transition period to 15 years, at the end of which magistrates will retire at 65, like most employees.

Concert  The Orchestre National de France  National Orchestra of France and Orchestra Romana de Tineret  Romanian Youth Orchestra performed together on Thursday evening in Paris, under the baton of Romanian conductor Cristian Macelaru, on the stage of the Auditorium Hall of Radio France. The event marked the 145th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and France. 80 musicians, half French and half Romanian, performed a repertoire chosen from the works of Georges Bizet, Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saens, George Enescu, Grigoras Dinicu and Vladimir Cosma. Cristian Macelaru, who has already conducted some of the greatest orchestras of the world, has been leading the National Orchestra of France for five years. (LS)
November 21, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

November 21, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 21.11.2025, 20:00

MAGISTRATES PM Ilie Bolojan announced on Friday the timeline for his Cabinet taking responsibility before Parliament on the new bill regulating the retirement of judges and prosecutors, which depends however on the speed with which the Higher Council of Magistrates issues its official opinion. It is our intention that if we receive the opinion, in the Cabinet meeting next Thursday or on the 28th at the latest, we start the procedure for the government taking responsibility for this legislation, the PM said. We must have a sustainable pension system, he added, voicing hopes that those involved will behave responsibly. The new draft law introduces a ceiling on magistrates pension benefits at 70% of the last net salary, and a 15-year transition period at the end of which judges and prosecutors will retire at 65, like most other employees. The government must complete the magistrate retirement reform by November 28, otherwise the country loses over EUR 200 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Previously, the Higher Council of Magistrates announced that it will issue an opinion on the bill after the general assemblies of the courts and prosecutors offices in Romania express their views on the draft law in meetings scheduled at the beginning of next week. President Nicusor Dan believes the Councils announcement proves that the institution will issue its opinion in time for the Cabinet to complete the procedure in Parliament by November 28.

COHESION The social dimension of the multiannual financial framework does not receive enough attention, given that there are pressing priorities and we focus on defence, on competitiveness, but we must continue to show people that we are investing in them, that we are fighting poverty, says the executive vice-president of the European Commission, Roxana Minzatu. She took part in the conference Cohesion 2027+ organised in Bucharest by the ministries of investments and European projects, foreign affairs and finance. Attending the same conference, the president of Romania Nicusor Dan stated, on the other hand, that the EU enlargement to include the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the Western Balkans is not an act of charity, but rather an investment in security. The head of state also spoke about competitiveness and performance in terms of innovation. One of my important messages is that, in the field of research, development, innovation, we must take into account each countrys specific situation, and our goal is to make the economy in the European area advance in each of the member countries, Nicusor Dan added.

ELECTION The campaign for the by-elections to be held on December 7 for the Bucharest City Hall, the Buzau County Council and for mayor posts in 12 other villages and one town begins on Saturday. In Bucharest, there are 18 candidates, and according to polls the frontrunners are the representatives of the ruling coalition parties: Daniel Baluta (Social Democratic Party), Ciprian Ciucu (National Liberal Party) and Catalin Drula (Save Romania Union). Among the top four is also Anca Alexandrescu, running independently but backed by AUR party in opposition. At the Buzau County Council, the former social-democratic PM Marcel Ciolacu is competing against Razvan Moraru, supported by the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union. The Bucharest mayor general position has been vacant since Nicusor Dan was elected president of Romania this May.

MEETING Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan met on Friday with Raffaele Fitto, executive vice-president of the European Commission responsible for cohesion and reforms. According to a government news release, the two officials discussed the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the flexibility of the Cohesion Policy and the future Multiannual Financial Framework, in the sense of adapting these European instruments to the needs of each member state. For Romania, it is essential to preserve its political stability, to reduce the deficit and to benefit from European funding. The cohesion policy has been an important instrument in support of economic growth, convergence and the development of our regions, Ilie Bolojan said. In turn, Raffaele Fitto emphasised the importance of open dialogue for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, cohesion policies and strategic priorities. He also added that a strategy for the member states in Eastern Europe is desired, which should focus on economic recovery, strengthening defence capacity and curbing disinformation.

UKRAINE Ukraine risks losing US support if it rejects the plan to end the war with Russia, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in an address to the nation on Friday. He added that Ukraine is now going through one of the most difficult moments in its history, but promised to work constructively with the US on the plan, without betraying national interests, AFP reports. The plan notably calls for Kiev to give up the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia. The two regions claimed by Moscow, as well as the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, would be recognized de facto as Russian, including by the United States. Also under the 28-point plan, two other southern regions, Kherson and Zaporozhye, would be divided along the current front line. Kyiv would also give up its bid for NATO membership but would be eligible to join the EU. The Union will support any peace plan for Ukraine as long as it brings a just and sustainable peace and involves Kyiv and the EU, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas said on Friday. In Bucharest, president Nicusor Dan said that any peace plan must be approved by Ukraine, and the international community that wants a rule-based order is willing to continue to defend this country. (AMP)
The Potra case

After several months on the run from criminal prosecution in a case where he stands, among other things, of attempting a coup detat, mercenary Horatiu Potra has been extradited and brought back to Romania.

Horaiu Potra

Sorin Iordan, 21.11.2025, 13:50

Mercenary Horatiu Potra, listed on an international wanted list by Romanian authorities for attempting to carry out actions against the constitutional order, was brought back into the country on Thursday evening, from Dubai. A close associate of former sovereignist presidential candidate Calin Georgescu and controversial businessman Vasile Frank Timis (known for his role in the Rosia Montana gold-mining scandal), Potra was extradited from the United Arab Emirates jointly with his son and grandson. All three were taken to the custody by the Romanian Police, pending legal proceedings.

Along with 20 other members of his group, Horatiu Potra has been indicted by the Prosecutor Generals Office for attempting to carry out actions against the constitutional order, violating weapons and ammunition regulations, violating the rules governing explosive materials, unauthorized operations with pyrotechnic articles and public incitement. In the same case, former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu is also standing trial. Romanian prosecutors claim he planned an operation to infiltrate the protests organized immediately after the annulment of the December 2024 presidential election, with the aim of stirring social unrest and chaos.

Back in the 1990s, Potra served as a fighter in the French Foreign Legion. After leaving the unit, he was part of the presidential guard of the president of the Central African Republic, Ange-Felix Patasse, then went on to become head of personal security for the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and later worked for former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo.

In the mid-2000s, Potra returned to Romania and founded the association Romanians who served in the French Legion, and in 2012 he led the bodyguard detachment of businessman Frank Timis. Timis entrusted him with security responsibilities for the mines owned by his companies in Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote dIvoire and Niger.

Between 2016 and 2019, Potra worked as a security consultant and trainer for the Presidential Guard of the Central African Republic, and from 2022 to 2024 he headed the detachment of former Romanian soldiers deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to train the Congolese army.

In 2022, he also entered Romanian politics, becoming a leader of the nationalist party Alliance for the Homeland, and in 2024 he won a local council seat in the town of Medias, representing the Patriots Party.

This spring, in the middle of the investigation run by the Prosecutor Generals Office, Horatiu Potra left Romania together with his son and grandson and took refuge in the United Arab Emirates, from where he frequently posted messages inciting armed revolt. On September 29, the three were detained in Dubai, and Romanian authorities launched extradition procedures.

On Thursday evening, Romanian president Nicusor Dan said the operation to bring the Potra family back to the country confirms the states firm commitment: the constitutional order must be defended, and those suspected of acting against it will face justice, the president added. (VP)
Flash purchasing managers' survey results from the euro area and the UK are the top economic news due on Friday.

At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics publishes UK retail sales and public sector finance data. Retail sales are forecast to fall 0.1 percent month-on-month in October, in contrast to the 0.5 percent rise in September. The budget deficit is seen narrowing to GBP 15.2 billion from GBP 20.2 billion in September.



In the meantime, Statistics Norway releases GDP data for the third quarter.

At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office INSEE is scheduled to release confidence survey data. The manufacturing sentiment index is forecast to fall to 100 in November from 101 in October.

At 3.15 am ET, S&P Global publishes France flash composite PMI data. The composite indicator is forecast to rise to 48.1 in November from 47.7 in October.

At 3.30 am ET, Germany's flash composite PMI survey results are due. Economists forecast the composite output index to climb to 53.7 in November from 53.9 in the prior month.

At 4.00 am ET, S&P Global is slated to release Eurozone flash PMI survey data. The composite output index is seen at 52.5 in November, unchanged from October.

Half an hour later, S&P Global issues UK flash composite PMI data. Economists expect the composite index to fall to 51.8 in November from 52.2 in the previous month.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Veolia Environnement S.A. (VE,VIE.PA,VVD.DE,VEOEY), a French waste water management company, said on Friday that it has inked a deal with Enviri Corporation (NVRI) to acquire Clean Earth, a hazardous waste company, for $3 billion.

"The transaction offers strong value creation for shareholders with $120m of synergies by year 4, backed by Veolia's solid track-record, and current EPS accretion from year 2," the acquirer said.

The company will fund this transaction, to be closed in mid-2026, through its financial resources and debt.

Post transaction, the Group's hazardous waste revenue is projected to reach EUR 5.2 billion with an EBITDA margin of 17%.

The acquisition will boost Veolia's growth in the U.S. and in the hazardous waste sector. Overall, Veolia's revenue in the U.S. will reach $6.3 billion.

For the full-year 2026, excluding items, Clean Earth is expected to post EBITDA of $200 million, on revenue of $1.030 billion.

On Friday, NVRI gained 19.97% in the overnight trading to $16.28 on the New York Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Oil prices fell on Friday and headed for a weekly decline amid easing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine as well as prevailing uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory. A stronger greenback also kept prices under pressure.

Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 1.2 percent to $62.60 a barrel while WTI crude futures were down 1.4 percent at $58.17.

U.S. sanctions on Russia's Rosneft and Lukoil will take effect today, marking a significant disruption in international trade.

Despite the uncertainty, media reports suggest that Moscow has prioritized keeping exports steady, maintaining 3.4 million barrels per day of seaborne shipments.

Analysts expect the next three to four months to be turbulent as global trade lanes recalibrate.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to work on the 28-point peace plan drafted by the U.S. and Russia.

The plan for peace in Ukraine drawn up apparently behind closed doors with Russia and without Ukraine would require Ukraine to cede territory and accept curbs on its military.

The EU warns against rewarding aggression, while Zelenskyy faces domestic pressure amid corruption scandals.

The peace plan to end the three-year war in Ukraine, if implemented, could add to the oversupply concerns in oil as OPEC proceeds to boost output for market share.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
The U.S. Department of Defense stated that it awarded $29.9 million to ElementUS Minerals, LLC, to create a domestic supply of gallium and scandium.

ElementUSA will use this award to enable the development of a demonstration facility in Gramercy, Louisiana, to separate and purify gallium and scandium from existing industrial waste. The company will also conduct initial development work at their Critical Resource Accelerator in Cedar Park, Texas.

This investment uses funds from the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. It also supports the Trump Administration's goal to increase the production of processed critical minerals and other derivative products as articulated in a presidential Executive Order that Donald Trump signed in March.

"Gallium and scandium are critical minerals essential to a wide range of defense manufacturing industries and equipment," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Mike Cadenazzi. "Developing domestic production of both is a DOW priority."

ElementUSA is a leading expert in recovering minerals and metals from industrial waste streams to create domestic supply chains of critical minerals necessary for national defense. Using DPA Title III funds to construct the demonstration facility, the company will become one of the first U.S. producers of both gallium and scandium, the Pentagon said in a press release.

These elements are used in the manufacturing of systems such as missile defense platforms, sensors, fighter aircraft, and hypersonic weapons. The company will use a proprietary process to separate and extract these critical minerals from more than 30 million tons of mineral-rich bauxite residue, a byproduct of the alumina refining process. As such, not only will ElementUSA create a domestic supply chain of critical minerals, but it will do so while cleaning up a waste product with no additional mining required.

"By enabling ElementUSA to recover gallium and scandium from processing waste, this award will support the DOW's work to expand the supply of critical minerals needed for numerous defense components and platforms," added Jeffrey Frankston, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, which oversees the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate. "Such awards are essential for reconstituting domestic capabilities, diversifying supply chains, reducing dependence on foreign sources, and enhancing national security."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
As millions in Ukraine have been left without heating, water or basic public services as winter temperatures plunge, the number of civilian deaths this year has already surpassed the total for 2024, the UN Security Council heard on Thursday.

"Ukrainian civilians have continued to bear the brunt of the Russian Federation's escalating aerial campaign," said Kayoto Gotoh, Europe Director with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

She briefed the Council against the backdrop of sustained missile and drone strikes, including a barrage on Wednesday night that killed at least 25 people.

Despite the intensifying violence, Gotoh noted that the UN has supported more than six million people with electricity, heating, water and sanitation services.

She also highlighted last month's breakthrough by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which secured agreement from both sides to reconnect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the grid.

While most civilian casualties occur near the frontline, Russia's growing use of long-range weapons is exposing more of the country to danger. Describing Wednesday's attack as among the war's deadliest, Gotoh said the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk were also struck. "No region of Ukraine is safe," according to the top UN official.

Alarming casualty figures underscore the scale of the crisis. The number of civilians killed in capital Kyiv by the end of October was nearly four times higher than in all of 2024, and overall casualties nationwide have already exceeded last year's count.

According to the UN human rights office, a total of 14534 civilians, including 745 children, have been killed since Russia launched the war against its neighbor in 2022.

Russia too is experiencing rising impacts from the conflict. Ukrainian drone strikes have reportedly killed 392 people, including 22 children, according to Russian authorities. The UN says it has not been able to verify these figures.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
The European Commission has announced the Finnish city of Tampere as the European Capital and Croatia's Dubrovnik as Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism.

The competition of the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism celebrates tourism destinations leading in accessibility, sustainability, digitization and cultural heritage in the European Union.

This year's competitions saw an increase in participants from a wide range of countries. In total, 58 destinations from 22 countries competed for the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism titles. The 15 shortlisted destinations were invited to present their cases to the European Jury in Brussels, who selected the winners of both competitions.

Tampere stood out for its innovative practices, performing strongly across all four categories. The city blends accessible culture, heritage protection, and nature, while being committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Surrounded by lakes and nature, Tampere encourages visitors and locals alike to experience its beautiful landscapes without barriers. The city has opened its first accessible beach at Lake Pyhajarvi and created four barrier-free nature trails, with guides and route information available online at Outdoorstampere.fi. A shuttle bus service for national parks also guarantees easy access to nature.

Dubrovnik impressed the jury with its pioneering approach to sustainability and its potential to serve as a role model for other destinations. The city is ensuring sustainable tourism growth while protecting the historic center with innovative measures, such as limiting the number of daily cruise visitors to 4,500 or two ships at a time and working closely with the local community in the 'Respect the City' project.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said, "Tourism is one of Europe's most dynamic sectors and a cornerstone of our cultural and economic identity. By investing in sustainability and digital innovation, we are ensuring that Europe remains not only the world's leading destination, but also the most responsible. This year's winners embody this ambition, setting a high standard for smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism across our Union."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But no-one is immune from buying too high. For example the ARN Media Limited (ASX:A1N) share price dropped 66% over five years. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. And some of the more recent buyers are probably worried, too, with the stock falling 32% in the last year.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early.

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

ARN Media has made a profit in the past. On the other hand, it reported a trailing twelve months loss, suggesting it isn't reliably profitable. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

We note that the dividend has remained healthy, so that wouldn't really explain the share price drop. It's not immediately clear to us why the stock price is down but further research might provide some answers.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

ASX:A1N Earnings and Revenue Growth November 20th 2025

This free interactive report on ARN Media's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of ARN Media, it has a TSR of -56% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 4.9% in the last year, ARN Media shareholders lost 29% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with ARN Media .
SAVWIPL MQB-A0-IN Models Hold the Production Grid Together

SAVWIPL marks a production milestone of two million vehicles, signalling cumulative output across its India operations. Output data includes a notable run of 500,000 units completed within 3.5 years, reflecting scalable throughput across its local manufacturing network. MQB-A0-IN contributions exceed 500,000 units, anchored by a localised platform developed and engineered in India for regional and global deployment. A 25-year operational journey frames this milestone and supports long-term presence within the domestic automotive ecosystem.

Platform-led scale emerges through MQB-A0-IN adoption across multiple models. Skoda Kushaq, Skoda Slavia, and Skoda Kylaq form the Skoda portfolio on this architecture. Volkswagen Taigun and Volkswagen Virtus reinforce volume generation for the Volkswagen brand. India-built MQB-A0-IN models anchor localised platform development strategies and strengthen regional engineering capabilities. Platform localisation enables modular production, measurable efficiencies, and incremental updates aligned with multi-market programmes.

Sales Volumes Rise as 2025 Tracks Higher Demand

Skoda Auto India registers 61,607 units across ten months of 2025 and records year-on-year growth that more than doubles within the same period. Volkswagen Virtus sets its highest-ever monthly sales during Diwali 2025, strengthening its presence in the premium sedan space with over 40 percent share achieved within 40 months. Group retail in October 2025 marks the best month in six years and stands as the second-highest monthly volume recorded in India. Market performance indicators reflect standardised processes across brands under the group umbrella.

Export momentum contributes significantly to overall output, with more than 700,000 vehicles shipped from India. Export flows reach Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, reinforcing Indias position within global manufacturing networks. Export-linked scale integrates with regional strategies. Vehicle exports from India complement domestic supply and extend support to new international demand clusters.

SAVWIPL  Group Luxury Brands Expand Reach

Premium and luxury brands within the group expand footprint and customer reach. Bentley India operates under the dedicated Bentley India division within SAVWIPL, supported by showrooms in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Porsche India added over 4,400 customers across six years and maintains 13 points of sale nationwide. Audi strengthened pre-owned operations through Audi Approved: plus, posting five percent growth between January and September 2025. Charge My Audi Phase II completes installation of more than 6,500 charging points, deepening charging infrastructure rollout.

Lamborghini maintains momentum with 113 annual deliveries in 2024, a ten percent increase over 2023. Model introductions include Revuelto, Urus SE, and Temerario, supporting hybrid transition progress under the Direzione Cor Tauri strategy. Hybrid migration marks a key brand milestone and integrates with broader global decarbonisation objectives. Product cadence reinforces visibility across premium performance segments within Indias expanding luxury market.

Operational Structure Keeps Teams on a Single Playbook

Manufacturing operations span facilities in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Pune plant has received nearly 600,000,000 in investment, enabling a regional manufacturing hub aligned with multi-brand and multi-market output. Facilities operate with integrated lines that support scalable production and regional platform localisation. Investments strengthen long-term industrial capacity and enhance production here in the groups global ecosystem.

Positioning India as a hub remains a central organisational priority. Regional scale links domestic volumes with export-facing programmes that utilise Indias manufacturing advantages. Multi-brand alignment inside SAVWIPL enables integrated strategies for resource allocation, product planning, and long-term operational resilience. Organisational structure supports standardised processes that strengthen agility across teams and functions.

Indian Buyers Set High Bars, and the Group Responds

Piyush Arora, CEO & Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, Every milestone we achieve in India reflects our strong belief in the countrys potential  not just as a market but as a driving force in the future of mobility. The 2-million mark is the outcome of consistent investment in people, technology and local capability. It also speaks to the exceptional trust Indian customers place in our six brands. Indian buyers are among the most informed and discerning in the world.

They evaluate every strength and every limitation before choosing a Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini or Bentley, and their confidence strengthens our resolve. This achievement highlights how closely we listen to our customers and how their evolving expectations shape the products we design and build here, with the same quality, precision and trust that define the Group worldwide.
The ASEAN LV market declined by 3.1% YoY in September, marking the third consecutive month of decline and resulting in a decrease of 2.5% YoY for Q3 as a whole. Consequently, regional sales decelerated from a 2.4% YoY increase in H1 to only a 0.7% YoY expansion in Q1-Q3. The negative sales performance in Q3 was primarily due to weak sales in Indonesia and the Philippines.

In Indonesia, LV demand sharply fell by 17% YoY in Q3 and 11% YoY in Q1-Q3 overall. This declining sales trend began after the government ended the temporary tax cut measures in 2022, which contributed to lower LV sales in 2023 and 2024, with declines of 3% YoY and 14% YoY, respectively. Other negative factors include: a) the government increasing VAT from 10% to 11% in April 2022 and to 12% in January 2025, leading to a higher cost of living and eroding purchasing power; and b) rising political controversy following the presidential election in 2024, which resulted in nationwide protests and increased military presence. Recent data indicated that Indonesias October sales dropped by 4% YoY but surged by 16% MoM.

Source: GlobalData

Consequently, volumes in October reached the highest monthly total this year at 69k units. The months strong performance was attributed to BYD beginning deliveries of the affordable Atto 1 after receiving booking orders in July. October sales exceeded our expectations, prompting us to increase Indonesia's 2025 sales projection to 730k units. In addition, the 2025 GAIKINDO Jakarta Auto Week (GJAW) is expected to further boost sales in November and December, while the governments economic stimulus package starting in Q4 2025 should support LV demand to some extent.

In the Philippines, Q3 2025 sales dropped by 4% YoY, reflecting declines of 2%, 8%, and 3% YoY in July, August, and September, respectively. The poor results during the quarter were due to typhoons and flooding, along with a price hike for Pickups under the new tax scheme in July. However, volumes in Q1-Q3 2025 overall remained in positive territory, with growth of 5% YoY. This single-digit expansion can be considered a strong performance, as the market has been on the rise since 2022 and reached a new record high in 2024.

We have lowered the Philippines 2025 sales forecast but increased the outlook for 2026. This adjustment is based on severe typhoons and flooding in November, which are expected to significantly disrupt sales, leading consumers to postpone purchases and delay buying new vehicles until next year. Additionally, 2026 sales could be supported by replacement demand for vehicles damaged in the natural disaster. As a result, volumes are now projected to reach 474k units (+1% YoY) in 2025 and 493k units (+4% YoY) in 2026.
A majority of Asia-Pacific institutional investors believe markets are due for a correction in 2026, citing a potential tech bubble, geopolitical tensions and recession as their primary worries, according to a survey report published on Tuesday by Natixis Investment Managers.

Global markets had been "remarkably resilient" in 2025 despite challenges such as tariffs, geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions, according to Natixis. However, 74 per cent of institutional investors globally - including 80 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region - believed a correction was overdue.

Among Asia-Pacific investors, 48 per cent cited the potential for a tech bubble as their top concern, followed by geopolitical shocks at 45 per cent and recession at 40 per cent. For global investors, geopolitical shocks ranked first, with 49 per cent expressing concern.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The sentiment suggested that "markets could run out of luck in the new year", the asset-management firm said.

About 60 per cent of investors in the region planned to boost their allocations to equities within their home region to diversify away from the US.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during a conference in Washington last month. A potential tech stock bubble has emerged as a primary concern for Asia-Pacific institutional investors. Photo: AFP alt=Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during a conference in Washington last month. A potential tech stock bubble has emerged as a primary concern for Asia-Pacific institutional investors. Photo: AFP>

"After a prolonged period of US market outperformance, international and non-US equities moved back into focus in 2025," said Dora Seow, CEO of Natixis Investment Managers Singapore.

The survey "indicates that even as institutional investors prepare for another spell of heightened uncertainty in 2026, they remain both optimistic and pragmatic, seeking new sources of alpha in markets such as Asia-Pacific."

Only 25 per cent of global investors planned to increase their allocations to US equities, compared with 44 per cent for Asia-Pacific equities and 42 per cent for equities in emerging markets.

Views on the Chinese market remained subdued, with three-quarters of global and Asia-Pacific investors indicating that slow growth was the "new normal". However, Asia-Pacific investors displayed greater confidence in China's resilience, with 70 per cent believing the country could withstand a prolonged trade war with the US.
By Matthias Inverardi and Miranda Murray

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) -Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier said having German defence player Rheinmetall on board as a "significant" shareholder in the U.S.-based drone software firm would help it grow its order book, adding that it would not lead to a full takeover.

Auterion already provides software for some Rheinmetall drones and the direct investment, which was announced this week, is a way to strengthen collaboration, Meier told Reuters.

He did not disclose the exact size of Rheinmetall's stake, which while "significant", was not a blocking minority.

"We're incredibly pleased with this honour, especially in the German market," said Meier, adding that closer ties between the two firms could help Auterion win more contracts.

STRONG COLLABORATION, NOT TAKEOVER

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told analysts on Tuesday that the defence firm had bought Auterion shares, without giving any additional details.

Meier said Rheinmetall, which sees mergers and acquisitions as key to rapidly expanding its business to meet demand, is not aiming for a takeover with the move and Auterion is capable of remaining independent for another 30 years.

Auterion is currently exploring the market for more software functions to acquire, he added.

ORDER BOOKS EXPECTED TO KEEP GROWING

Rheinmetall and Auterion, which signed a long-term cooperation agreement in December 2024, are working together on drone components with the goal of creating an industry standard for controlling and operating them in various environments.

Auterion was founded in 2018 and became profitable this year. It has annual revenue of around 100 million euros ($115 million) and 160 employees, both of which Meier expects to grow.

Meier said Auterion is providing software for the drones built by Rheinmetall to fulfil orders for loitering munitions, which hover over targets before striking.

Auterion, whose customers already include the U.S. and Ukraine, as well as the Netherlands, Britain and Taiwan, expects to win an order from Germany after demonstrating a drone swarm control system three months ago, Meier said.

Rheinmetall plans to restructure from next year to reflect changed priorities, including a new air defence unit with mid-term sales potential of 3 billion euros to 4 billion euros.

Its CEO Papperger said demand is mainly being driven by European interest in the face of repeated drone incursions.

($1 = 0.8680 euros)

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi and Miranda Murray; Editing by Alexander Smith)
The ecological transformation of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has become among the most paradigmatic yet contested case studies in environmental archaeology. Central to this debate is the role of the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) in the islands deforestation. This process resulted in the destruction of an estimated 15-19.7 million palm trees (Paschalococos disperta) between approximately 1200 and 1650 CE.

Prior to human settlement, Rapa Nui was dominated by large palm trees of a variety now extinct; however, they were related to the Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis).

These massive trees can live up to 500 years; theyre also slow-growing, taking around 70 years to reach maturity and begin to fruit.

Few of the palms remained at the time of European contact in 1722. By the time the Europeans began to take an interest in the islands ecology, they were gone.

The Europeans basically describe a treeless island, but they also describe palms and palm leaves, said Binghamton Universitys Professor Carl Lipo.

Its hard to know whether theyre using the term to describe some other tree.

When setting out for a new island, the Polynesian people brought their subsistence package with them: taro, sweet potatoes, bananas, yams, dogs, chickens and pigs. Tagging along was, inevitably, the Polynesian rat.

Unlike the Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) brought to the island after European contact, this small, arboreal species prefers to live in the tree canopy. For researchers, the rats are a goldmine of information.

Because of their genetics and the founders effect, they have unique haplotypes, Professor Lipo said.

We can trace the colonization of people and, to some degree, the number of colonizations by how variable the rats are as they move across the Pacific.

Exactly how they ended up in Polynesian outrigger canoes is a matter of debate: Were they stowaways or brought deliberately as a backup food source? Ethnographic evidence suggests the latter.

After the arrival of Europeans, a naturalist collecting specimens for the British Museum saw a man walking down a path, carrying rats; he told the collector that they were for lunch, Professor Lipo said.

Rat bones are also found in midden deposits  essentially, ancient trash heaps  throughout the Pacific islands.

When the Polynesians arrived on Rapa Nui around 1200 CE, the rats found a virtual Eden devoid of predators and full of their favorite food.

Capable of having multiple litters a year, the population exploded into the millions in a few years time.

Palm nuts are rat candy. The rats went bananas, Professor Lipo said.

Rapa Nuis palm trees co-evolved with birds and never developed the boom-and-bust productivity cycle that would ensure some nuts survived exploitation by rodents.

The rats devoured the palm nuts, preventing the next generation of trees from taking root.

Meanwhile, the humans cut down swathes of trees to establish their sweet potato fields. The combination of the two led to the deforestation that marks the island today.

In addition to plants and animals, the Polynesian survival kit also included practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture to boost soil fertility.

Older volcanic islands such as Rapa Nui can suffer from poor soils, the nutrients leached out by the rain.

Clearing and burning sections of forested land can temporarily infuse the soil with nutrients.

Once the nutrients wear out, the farmers move to another site, leaving the land to recover and the trees to regrow.

We see this in New Guinea and other places across the Pacific, Professor Lipo said.

But on Rapa Nui, the trees grow so slowly, and they dont grow back due to rat predation on the palm nuts.

Ultimately, the islanders resorted to a new style of farming, using stone mulch to enrich their crops.

While the loss of the palm forest was an undeniable environmental change, it wasnt a human disaster.

The islanders didnt need the palm trees for survival; instead, their food sources depended on cleared land.

Additionally, palms arent hardwood trees; theyre related to grasses, and cannot provide timber for canoes, houses or firewood.

Its a sad loss of a palm forest, but it wasnt a disaster for the people, Professor Lipo said.

It wasnt a necessary part of their survival.

While some of the palm trees may have survived into the European occupation, the introduction of sheep ranching in the 19th century may have sounded the final knell of extinction; any remaining seedlings would have been eaten by the sheep.

Ironically, the Polynesian rats met the same fate as the palms; on most islands, they were driven to extinction, out-competed by the Norway rat, or consumed by introduced predators such as hawks.

While the specific species has changed, islanders still tell stories of rodent boom and bust cycles  years when the population explodes, followed by a massive die-off.

The story of Rapa Nui is one of unintended consequences  but also of adaptation and survival on one of the worlds most remote inhabited islands, where the closest neighbors are 1,931 km (1,200 miles) away.

We have to be more nuanced in our understanding of environmental change, Professor Lipo said.

We are part of the natural world; we reshape it often for our benefit, but that doesnt necessarily mean that we create an unsustainable world for ourselves.

The findings appear in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

_____

Terry L. Hunt & Carl P. Lipo. 2025. Reassessing the role of Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) deforestation: Faunal evidence and ecological modeling. Journal of Archaeological Science 184: 106388; doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106388
The new ultraviolet (UV) images from the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) camera aboard NASAs MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter are unique among all observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in determining its chemical makeup and how much water vapor is released as the Sun warms the comet. These details will help scientists better understand the past, present, and future of 3I/ATLAS.

Over the course of 10 days starting September 27, 2025, MAVEN captured 3I/ATLAS in two unique ways with its IUVS camera.

First, IUVS took multiple images of the comet in several wavelengths, much like using various filters on a camera.

Then it snapped high-resolution UV images to identify the hydrogen coming from 3I/ATLAS.

Studying a combination of these images, scientists can identify a variety of molecules and better understand the comets composition.

The images MAVEN captured truly are incredible, said MAVENs principal investigator Dr. Shannon Curry, a researcher with

The detections we are seeing are significant, and we have only scraped the surface of our analysis.

The IUVS data also offer an estimated upper limit of the comets ratio of deuterium to regular hydrogen, a tracer of the comets origin and evolution.

When the comet was at its closest to Mars, Dr. Curry and colleagues used more sensitive channels of IUVS to map different atoms and molecules in the comets coma, such as hydrogen and hydroxyl.

Further study of the comets chemical makeup could reveal more about its origins and evolution.

There was a lot of adrenaline when we saw what wed captured, said MAVENs deputy principal investigator Dr. Justin Deighan, also from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Every measurement we make of this comet helps to open up a new understanding of interstellar objects.
By Nikunj Ohri

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Indian central bank is adopting a cautious approach towards cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Thursday.

"Stablecoins, cryptos, they have a huge risk, and so we are adopting a very cautious approach towards it," he said in a memorial lecture delivered at the Delhi School of Economics.

"But at the same time, when it comes to digital innovations like UPI (unified payments interface) or digital lending, our stance has been very accommodative and very enabling."

The rising popularity of U.S. dollar stablecoins will be an important phenomenon next year and could raise challenges for monetary policy globally, India's Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said late last month.

Globally, U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins have amassed a market capitalisation of over $300 billion, while the overall market cap of crypto tokens has climbed to more than $4 trillion, according to industry data provider CoinGecko.

Last month, when speaking at an International Monetary Fund and World Bank event, Malhotra had said the RBI wants to promote its central bank digital currency over stablecoins or cryptocurrencies.

Malhotra said the government has to take a final view whether crypocurrencies should be regulated or not.

"The government has to take a final view. There is a working group that was set up earlier, and they will take a final call as to how, if at all, crypto is to be handled in our country," Malhotra said when responding to a question.

India is leaning towards not creating legislation to regulate crypto and will instead maintain partial oversight, fearing that bringing the assets into its mainstream system could raise systemic risks, Reuters reported in September.

Global crypto exchanges at present can operate in India after registering locally with a government agency tasked with due diligence to check money laundering risks. Punitive taxes are imposed on gains from cryptocurrencies.

However, the central bank has repeatedly cautioned against the risks in dealing with them, leading to a near freeze in trading between the country's formal financial system and cryptocurrencies.

(Reporting by Nikunj Ohri; writing by Swati Bhat; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
BellRing Brands has lowered its long-term sales growth projection, partly citing increased competition in the RTD milk shake category.

The Premier Protein shakes and Dymatize protein powders business also pointed to a more subdued outlook for revenue growth in the new fiscal year and said adjusted EBITDA figures would likely be below 2025s print.

Presenting results this week for the year to 30 September, BellRing Brands president and CEO Darcy Davenport noted the pace at which the Missouri-based companys sales have grown since it went public in 2019  from $850m to end fiscal 2025 at $2.32bn. Premier Proteins sales revenues, meanwhile, had tripled, she said.

Since IPO, we have delivered a net sales CAGR of 18%, significantly ahead of our long-term revenue growth projection of 10-12% shared at the time of our listing, Davenport told analysts on a follow-up call.

There are multiple ways to achieve strong growth in our business. However, it becomes more difficult to grow at double-digit rates off a larger revenue base, and in the near term, we are expecting a more competitive environment.

The long-term sales outlook has now been adjusted from low double digits to high single digits, or more precisely 7-9%, she added, and Premier Protein will be the key driver.

This assumes that Premier Protein, the number one market-share brand, will continue to grow relatively in line with the RTD category, while Dymatize slightly weighs down our growth rate, Davenport explained.

Projections for the adjusted EBITDA margin remain unchanged at 18-20% over the long term, a level that embeds higher levels of brand investment enabled by our cost savings agenda, she said, adding: These investments are designed to reinforce our brand strengths and position us for sustained profitable growth over the long term.

In the 2025 financial year, group sales rose 16.1% to $2.32bn with a 14.7% increase in volume and 1.4% in price/mix. Premier Protein sales climbed 16.8%, driven by a 14.6% gain in volume and 2.2% in price/mix. Dymatize net sales were up 13.3%.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.4% to $481.6m.

Sales growth for 2026 is expected at 4-8%, corresponding to figures of $2.41-2.49bn. The adjusted EBITDA outlook has been set at $425-455m.

At the midpoint, sales for the year are expected to be modestly below our long-term algorithm because of the softer first quarter, driven by specific items and near-term competitive dynamics, Davenport said. We expect performance to strengthen with the remainder of the year at the top-end of our algorithm.
Equity investors are growing increasingly concerned about the amount of leverage that Big Tech is taking on to build out its artificial intelligence infrastructure as the industry faces rising fears of a bubble.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The enormous sums major technology companies are spending on AI are nothing new, but the record pile of debt theyre raising to do it is. Whats worrying stock traders is the trend represents a break from recent history, when companies tapped their huge cash piles to pay for their capital expenditures. The use of leverage and the circular nature of many of the financing deals introduces a level of risk that wasnt there before.

I view this as the AI story maturing and entering a new phase, one that is likely to be marked by more volatility and additional risk, said Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer of Morgan Stanleys wealth management arm.

The Nasdaq 100 Index rose 1.6% on Friday. Nvidia Corp. shares swung between slight gains and losses for most of the session, but spiked in the afternoon after Bloomberg News reported that US officials are having early discussions on whether to let the company sell its H200 AI chips to China.

Just a few months ago, AI spending was primarily coming from a few companies with strong balance sheets and robust growth in free cash flow. That has changed, and the tech industrys risk profile has along with it.

The new dynamic was on display Thursday, as tech stocks swung from way up after Nvidias strong earnings to way down as investors assessed how much capital will be required to finance an AI world compared with the profitability timelines of those investments.

Weve seen an expansion of the ecosystem to include companies with weaker balance sheets like Oracle and CoreWeave, more debt, and weve also seen more interlocking and circular revenue relationships, Shalett said. That interconnectivity between the players brings systemic risk.

Valuations among the big tech names have also come in as a result of investor unease. The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of the Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Index has fallen to its lowest in more than two months and is trading in line with its average over the last five years.

The five major spenders on AI  Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. and Oracle Corp.  have raised a record $108 billion in debt combined in 2025, more than three times the average over the previous nine years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.
By Scott Murdoch

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Binance Chief Executive Richard Teng said on Friday bitcoin's sharp drop in the past month was the result of investors deleveraging cryptocurrency holdings and risk aversion in line with that seen in most major asset classes.

Bitcoin, the world's most valuable cryptocurrency, has tumbled 21.2% in November, bringing losses over the past three months to 23.2% as chances increase that it will end the year below $90,000.

The slump comes after bitcoin hit an all-time peak above $126,000 in early October.

"As with any asset class, there are always different cycles and volatility. What you're seeing is not only happening to crypto prices," Teng said at a media roundtable in Sydney on Friday.

"At this point in time, there's a bit of risk (off) and deleveraging happening as well."

Global markets sold off this week, with investors rattled by an AI-led valuation bubble and the possibility that it could burst. So far, better-than-expected earnings from Nvidia have failed to quell those worries. [MKTS/GLOB]

Teng said despite the decline, bitcoin is trading at more than double its level in 2024, when institutions like BlackRock began launching crypto investments and products.

"Over the past 1.5 years, the crypto sector has performed very, very well, so it's not unexpected that people do take profit," Teng said.

"Any consolidation is actually healthy for the industry, for the industry to take a breather, find its feet."

Teng said there had not been a decision on whether Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, would return to the exchange after he was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump in October.

"CZ has always been a controlling shareholder. As controlling shareholder he has more shareholder rights associated with that," he said.

"On the day to day basis, I work very closely with the board directors that comprises seven members, three independent directors, including an independent chairman, so we continue to chart the future strategy of the company."

Zhao, a citizen of Canada who was born in China, paid a $50 million fine and served nearly four months in prison last year after pleading guilty to violating U.S. money laundering laws.

Zhao was replaced as chief executive by Teng in 2023.

(Reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Tom Hogue and Edwina Gibbs)
Agronomics increased its backing for cultivated-meat producer SuperMeat on Friday, committing $2m to the companys latest funding round as the Israeli start-up advanced toward commercial production of its lab-grown chicken in Europe.

SuperMeat had raised $3.5m through a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), with Agronomics providing the majority of the capital alongside Milk and Honey Ventures.

Agronomics said its investment comprised $0.75m in cash and $1.25m in new Agronomics shares, issued at a price equivalent to the companys 30 September net asset value of 14.65p.

That resulted in 6,488,535 new shares being issued.

The SAFE would convert into equity at the next qualifying fundraise at a 70% discount, subject to a post-money valuation cap of $35m.

Agronomics, which first invested in SuperMeat in 2020, said the new funding would support the company as it commercialises its cultivated chicken.

The clean-food investor previously committed 9.4m to the business, a stake currently valued at roughly 14.2m and representing around 9.6% of its most recently reported net asset value.

SuperMeat had reported notable technical progress over the past 18 months.

A life-cycle assessment by CE Delft last year estimated that its cultivated chicken could cut carbon emissions by about 50% compared with conventional poultry.

In late 2024, the company announced it had achieved production of 100% cultivated chicken - comprising 85% muscle and 15% fat - at around $11.79 per pound at scale, bringing costs in line with premium pasture-raised chicken in the United States.

Agronomics executive chair Jim Mellon said the increased investment aligned with the need to meet rising global protein demand sustainably.

We are proud to further increase our investment in SuperMeat and its team, he said.

As global demand for protein continues to rise, it is essential to meet this demand sustainably, reducing the environmental and health impacts associated with industrial agriculture.

Companies such as SuperMeat and its partners are delivering the science, technology, and commercial readiness necessary to drive meaningful change.

SuperMeat co-founder and chief executive Ido Savir welcomed the support.

Were honored by Agronomics continued support and confidence in our work, he said.

Over the past year we have made substantial advancements across our production platform, for the first time, making cultivated chicken production commercially viable, and are now focused on translating these achievements into commercial launch.

The 6.49 million new Agronomics shares were expected to be admitted to AIM on or around 27 November, lifting the companys issued share capital to 1,015,905,830 ordinary shares.

At 1118 GMT, shares in Agronomics were down 2.32% at 7.15p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Tullow Oil has said it is engaging in refinancing talks in an attempt to put the business on a "long-term sustainable financial footing", as it revealed that full-year output would be at the low end of guidance and production would fall further next year.

The company, which has assets across West Africa and Argentina, said that average production rates would sink further in 2026 as it warned of the "natural decline" in its existing well stock.

The stock was down nearly 32% at 5.83p by 0819 GMT.

In a trading update on Friday, Tullow said it was talking with bondholders, commodity traders and other private funders about the refinancing of its capital structure.

"However given the risks associated with business performance, wider market conditions and the upcoming May 2026 bond maturity, Tullow is progressing alternative options with certain of its creditors, including an amend and extend exercise and other forms of liability management transactions," the company said.

The news came as the oil explorer announced that 2025 production would be at the lower end of its guidance range of 40k-45k barrels of oil equivalents per day.

Output averaged 40.7k boepd over the year to the end of October, down from the 61.2k boepd rate averaged in 2024. For 2026, that's expected to drop to 34k-42k boepd.

Meanwhile, net debt is now expected to be $1.2bn by the end of the year, up from an earlier estimate of $1.1bn.

"Our near-term priority remains to put Tullow on a long-term sustainable financial footing. To achieve this, we are focused on maximising operational efficiency in Ghana, cost optimisation, and refinancing the group's capital structure," said chief executive Ian Perks, who joined in September.

Looking ahead, Perks said: "We continue to face challenges related to the natural decline in our existing well stock and are focused on exploring all options to help mitigate this. Looking ahead into 2026 we will look to optimise production through management of the decline and the additional production from new wells."
The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on 20 November.

the open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language he understands (Russian) as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Agayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating in the hearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The testimonies of the victims were then heard.

Victims Anar Jafarov and Rashad Abbasov stated that in the direction of Marzili village in Aghdam district, the vehicle they were travelling in hit a mine planted by the enemy, and they sustained various injuries as a result of the explosion.

In response to questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, victim Feyruz Musayev said that while carrying out engineering works with a bulldozer near Zar village in Kalbajar district, the machinery came under machine-gun fire from the enemy. Although he himself was not injured, the equipment was rendered unusable.

Victim Israil Babayev stated that he was wounded as a result of an enemy provocation in the Kalbajar-Zod direction.

Another victim, Safar Gasimov, said that several people were killed by fire opened by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. At the same time, Kamal Javadli, Namat Baghirov, Amrah Hajizada and several others sustained various bodily injuries.

In response to questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, victim Elgun Talibov stated that in the area of Charaktar village in Aghdara district, he and Rovshan Mustafayev were wounded by fire opened by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Victim Muzamil Orujov said he was injured in Kalbajar district by fire from weapons of various calibres used by the enemy.

Victims Maarif Abbasov, Ramiq Hasanov and Rustam Rustamli stated that they were injured in the area of Daghyurd village in Khojaly district as a result of enemy provocation. M. Abbasov noted that he and Mahammad Karimov were wounded when a mortar shell fired by the enemy exploded nearby. R. Hasanov was injured when an artillery shell exploded nearby. Sergey Heybatov was killed in the same area.

In response to questions from Tughay Rahimli, assistant to the Prosecutor General on special assignments, victim Vusal Abbasov said he was shot in the leg by sniper fire from the enemy in Khankandi city.

Victim Fagan Valiyev stated that while in Aghdam district, despite the medical vehicle he was in bearing distinctive markings, it was hit by a rocket projectile fired by the enemy, and he was wounded.

Ahliyar Muradov said he was injured in a forested area of Aghdam district when a mortar shell fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups exploded nearby.

Victim Elyas Mammadli stated that in the area of Khanabad village in Khojaly district, he, Nazim Agayev and Rashmi Hummatov sustained various bodily injuries when a mortar shell fired by the enemy exploded nearby.

In response to questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, victim Joshgun Nasirov said that in the area of Khanabad village in Khojaly district, he, Ahliyar Muradov and Elgun Ismayilli were wounded by fire opened by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Victim Eldar Huseynov stated that several people, including himself, were wounded and several others were killed when an artillery shell fired by the enemy in the direction of Farrukh height in Khojaly exploded.

In response to questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the department at the Prosecutor Generals Office responsible for upholding the state accusation, victim Rajab Shukurov said that in the area of Khanabad village in Khojaly district, he, Khagani Guliyev and Turan Hasanli were injured when mortar shells fired by the enemy exploded nearby.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence in the criminal case file.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for 21 November.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
Investors pulled approximately $523 million from BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) on Nov. 18, marking the funds largest outflow since its debut in January 2024, according to data from Farside Investors.

This significant withdrawal comes amid a broader decline in Bitcoin prices, which recently reached a seven-month low. The ETF price rose slightly at the beginning of Nov. 19, but at the time of publication, it was down by more than 3%.

Five Straight Days of Net Redemptions on IBIT

The record outflow continued a trend of sustained withdrawals from Bitcoin ETFs, representing the fifth consecutive day of net redemptions. In total, the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF has shed $1.425 billion in capital over this period.

November is shaping up to be the worst month for Bitcoin ETFs, with cumulative outflows surpassing previous monthly records.

While BlackRocks IBIT experienced record outflows, other Bitcoin ETFs, such as the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) and Franklin Templetons ETF (EZBC), recorded inflows of $139.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively, on Nov. 18.

According to Reuters, this divergence suggests that some investors may be shifting to alternative Bitcoin investment vehicles even as broad risk aversion persists.

Bitcoin Price Downside Pressures ETF Withdrawals

Bitcoins price decline to less than $90,000, down approximately 30% from its October high above $126,000, has coincided with increased selling pressure in ETFs.

On Nov. 19, the Bitcoin price is testing again levels below $90,000, with 24-hour trading volume 42% lower. At $89,620 per BTC, it represents another 4.30% dip in a day.

Analysts note that the average purchase price for spot Bitcoin ETF buyers is around $90,146, suggesting many investors are either breaking even or incurring losses at current levels, possibly prompting redemptions.

Despite this weeks heavy withdrawals, BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust remains the leading Bitcoin ETF by assets under management, with $87.63 billion as of Nov. 19. The fund had seen strong inflows in the months before this sell-off, accumulating nearly $25 billion from March through October 2025.

Read original story BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Sees Record $523 Million Outflow as BTC Drops Below $90,000 by Jose Rafael Pena Gholam at Coinspeaker.com
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has arrested two men as it launched an investigation into a suspected 20m cryptocurrency fraud. The law enforcement agency raided two sites in West Yorkshire and London as it appealed for information about $28m (21.4m) invested into a cryptocurrency scheme called Basis Markets. Two men, one in his 30s and another in his 40s, were arrested on suspicion of multiple fraud and money-laundering offences, the agency said.  Guardian

A former City boss has lost out on a 10m-a-year job at one of Americas top insurance companies over claims he had an affair with a colleague. John Neal, who ran Lloyds of London until earlier this year, was set to join New York insurer AIG but had his offer revoked last week after the US giant learned he was being investigated for an alleged past workplace romance. Lloyds, the centuries-old insurance marketplace, is looking into claims Mr Neal had a relationship with Rebekah Clement, a PR executive at the company, and unfairly promoted her.  Telegraph

Marmite, Bovril and Colmans Mustard could change hands for the first time in 25 years as the owner of the iconic British brands considers a sale. Unilever is mulling a carve-off of some of its best-known British products as it pivots from food to health and beauty. The FTSE 100 consumer goods giant owns brands including Dove, TRESemme and Vaseline. A sale risks being seen as a further retreat from Britain by the Anglo-Dutch business. Unilever sold off Scottish-founded Liptons Tea to private equity in 2022 and has snubbed the London Stock Exchange for a looming spin-off of its ice cream brands.  Telegraph

The operator of the Channel Tunnel has halted millions of pounds of planned rail investments in Britain and warned of higher fares in response to a possible tripling in its business rates bill. Eurotunnel, part of Frances Getlink, said it had been informed by the Valuation Office Agency that it planned to increase its rateable value by 200 per cent.  The Times

American law firms have fired the starting gun on the latest pay war in the City by handing out bonuses three times larger than those of English rivals. Two Wall Street firms, including one of New Yorks most established white shoe outfits, have led the way with year-end bonuses for top flight associate solicitors in London of $149,500 (114,000).  The Times
Nellie and Noah haven't seen each other in years as Nora Dahlia's Backslide opens. Their intertwined high school friend groups brought them together in 1990s New York City, and their tumultuous teenage relationship was full of adolescent awkwardness and intense first-love feelings. But when high school ended, their once-burning passion turned into searing hatred.

Two decades later, they are forced to spend a week together to celebrate the vow renewal of their childhood best friends, Cara and Ben, who have invited their closest friends to commemorate their love in Sonoma, Calif. The beautiful scenery, warm weather, and overflowing wine glasses sound to Nellie like the perfect week away from New York--if it weren't for Noah, now referred to as "he who must not be named."

Long-harbored anger from the events that turned their romance sour fills the pair's reunion with witty quips and snide remarks, but nostalgic moments, sweet gestures, and obvious lingering attraction make Nellie and Noah wonder if they can give each other another chance. Alternating perspectives and timelines capture the naive volatility of young love and the complexities of adult relationships. Cara and Ben's festivities cause Nellie and Noah to confront their past and decide what--and whom--they want in their future. The celebration also rejoices in the platonic love of lifelong friendships that spanned awkward phases, heartbreaks, and growing up in New York. Nora Dahlia successfully combines the delicious suspense of a second-chance romance with the electrifying fun of an enemies-to-lovers relationship. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer
In Broken, the exceedingly talented X. Fang (Dim Sum Palace; We Are Definitely Human) passionately describes a dramatic incident in which Mei Mei breaks Ama's cup. How the cup--and Mei Mei--are subsequently made whole again involves glue, understanding, and cake.

Mei Mei is bored while visiting Ama. So, "naturally," the child decides to scare Ama's cat, Mimi. Mei Mei jumps out and bumps into a table; Ama's patterned yellow mug flies "up, then down, down, down, until CRASH!" Mei Mei doesn't know what to do, so runs "far away," believing Ama will get mad or yell. Instead, Ama asks Mei Mei if she would like tea and cake. The mug is gone but Mei Mei's guilt remains. "Mimi," Ama says while cuddling the cat, "You broke my cup!" But Mei Mei and Mimi know the truth. Finally, the guilt overwhelms Mei Mei, who hides in a dark closet. Ama finds the kid and Mei Mei confesses. But Ama isn't angry. Ama, who is a "fixer," glues the cup back together "piece by piece": "every repair tells a story," and now the cup has one, too. Finally, there is cake.

Fang's strong text, strong feelings, and strong art all acknowledge that mistakes are made, but kindness and compassion rule the day. Direct, first-person narration in the voice of tempestuous Mei Mei holds nothing back, and the digitally colored, graphite pencil-on-paper illustrations include plenty of extreme closeups, child's-eye-views, and even one invitation to turn the book 90 degrees for dramatic effect. Ama's cheerful warmth nicely balances Mei Mei's passion, and readers will surely feel all Mei Mei's feels, then cheer when the child finally gets cake. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author
Influential beauty executive Anastasia Soare shares her improbable journey from communist Romania to Southern California in Raising Brows: My Story of Building a Billion-Dollar Beauty Empire. Trained as an artist, Soare is founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills, a "global beauty empire." She is known in the industry as "the Queen of Brows." Her A-list clientele includes Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey.

Soare is an animated narrator, combining her Macedonian roots and rebellious family spirit into a riveting origin story that captures the "twists and turns of extreme joy and difficulty" of her life as an immigrant, mother, and businesswoman. As a schoolgirl, Soare worked in her mother's tailoring shop and learned what it means to "show up at your best." Leaving Romania and immigrating to the U.S was a dream come true, one Soare nurtured by watching bootleg copies of American movies such as Pretty Woman.

Each chapter outlines the purposeful steps and serendipitous moments that led to the launch of Anastasia Beverly Hills. There is an appealing simplicity to Soare's business strategy, which includes a focused passion on customer experience and a recognition of the power of kindness at every level of her organization. Soare created industry awareness of how eyebrow shape can impact a face and is credited with applying the golden ratio (inspired by how Leonardo da Vinci utilized it in his own work) to her clients' brows to enhance their natural features.

Brimming with inspiration, practical advice, and entertaining anecdotes, Raising Brows offers the intimacy of a memoir and an invaluable blueprint for building a business from the ground up. --Shahina Piyarali
In a heart-wrenching, frank, and humorous memoir, actor Jesse James Rose, known on Instagram and TikTok as @jamesissmiling, tells the stories of her childhood sexual abuse on 9/11, rape as an adult, gender transition, grandfather's death, countless Grindr hookups, and more. Graphic in places yet incredibly tender, Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex will bring readers to tears with its loving descriptions of caring for an aging grandparent and fill them with joy as Rose finds herself as a beautiful transgender girl.

Rose writes prose so beautiful it reads like poetry: "the first waking moments are oft the most fragile, before reality can dust through the corners of his mind." It's also made up of scripts for plays, Grindr messages, and even a section modeled after Choose Your Own Adventure novels. Moving back and forth in time, Rose takes readers on an extraordinary journey. Alternating between reminiscences of bookstore visits and hot chocolate with her grandfather, New York City orgies, and an imagined conversation with Osama bin Laden, Rose ensures that each page is a surprise.

Readers are encouraged to take the warnings in Rose's opening author note seriously. Rose handles each tough subject with grace and humor, with every detail--including those violent and explicit--serving a purpose. Her longtime social media followers will adore her candor, and new fans will fall in love with her vulnerability. Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex is a remarkable and absorbing memoir. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller
Vanessa Lillie sends archeologist Syd Walker into the world of privileged campers and their wealthy, connected parents in The Bone Thief, a gripping, twisty mystery that poses questions about legacy, violence, power, ancestry, and attempts to control or suppress Native culture throughout U.S. history. Syd is called to a Rhode Island summer camp to investigate newly discovered human remains on the premises. When the remains vanish and Syd catches wind of a missing Native teen from the nearby community, she enters a web of powerful families with white-knuckle holds on their lineage, which dates back to the earliest New England colonists.

The Bone Thief, sequel to Lillie's 2023 novel, Blood Sisters, is both a continuation of Syd's story arc as archeologist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a satisfying stand-alone work. Syd, a Cherokee from Oklahoma, lives on unceded Narragansett land in what is now Rhode Island and works for the federal agency that partners with and empowers tribal governments across the United States. This complexity is a crucial piece of the novel, which is both a riveting mystery and a poignant reflection on the far-reaching legacy of historical violence. Syd declares, "The American Dream... only came true by making it a nightmare for those who were already here." Her investigation into the dual puzzles of the missing remains and the missing teen is packed with action and subterfuge. It races toward a shocking conclusion without ever letting up on the bigger issues of truth, sovereignty, and tradition lost to centuries of American colonialism. --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer
Anglia Crown, the UK unit of foodservice group BonCulina, has entered administration.

Kroll confirmed in a statement that they were appointed administrators by the directors of Anglia Crown, which was trading under the BonCulina brand in the UK, on 10 November led by Benjamin Wiles and Robert Armstrong.

Anglia Crown had already ceased trading prior to the appointment, Kroll added in the statement provided to Just Food.

Parent company BonCulina snapped up meals manufacturer Anglia Crown in 2023. Financial terms for the Colchester, east-England-based business were not disclosed at the time. The UK unit provided meals for sectors including healthcare, education and corporate customers.

Just Food understands that around 130 Anglia Crown employees were made redundant after the business ceased trading.

Benjamin Wiles, a managing director at Kroll, said in the statement: "Our immediate priority is to review the position of the business and determine the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.

We recognise this is an extremely difficult time for those who have been made redundant as a result of the administration, and we are committed to providing them with all appropriate guidance during this process."

Back in 2023, Anglia Crown marked the second deal struck in the UK by BonCulina. It bought hot food vendor Bon Appetit in 2021, just months after announcing its plans to expand in the country, pointing to the strength of its foodservice market.

Acquiring Anglia Crown was the next logical step for BonCulina, David Garland, BonCulinas managing director, said at the time.

The last accounts filed with Companies House showed Anglia Crown generated sales of 20.2m ($26.4m) in the year to 31 December 2023 versus 17.7m in the corresponding 12 months.

It generated EBITDA of 350,138, compared to 206,010. Net profit after tax fell to 105,744 from 650,337.

"BonCulinas UK unit Anglia Crown enters administration" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




Google introduces AI-powered scam call detection and new screen-sharing safety alerts.

Android users will get improved verification and stronger protection for digital payments.

New features were unveiled ahead of the India AI Impact Summit.

Google announced a new set of AI-driven safety tools aimed at protecting Indian users from rising online scams and fraud. The updates were introduced at the India AI pre-summit held in New Delhi on November 20, ahead of the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for 2026. The company said these features will strengthen digital security across Android devices and safeguard users on digital payment platforms.

One of the major updates is AI-based scam call detection that works directly on the device. Pixel phones will soon use Gemini Nano, Googles lightweight on-device AI model, to identify potentially fraudulent calls. The tool analyzes calls in real time without recording audio, storing information, or sending data to Google servers. It will be off by default and will activate only for calls from unknown numbers. Users will hear a brief 'beep' notification when the feature is active and can choose to turn it off whenever they want.

Also Read: Google's Gemini 3 Launches With a Search-First AI Boost

Google is also addressing the rise of digital arrest scams, which often involve tricking users into screen-sharing during fake 'official' calls. To tackle this, Android devices running version 11 or higher will soon pilot a screen-sharing warning system. When someone attempts to share a users screen while accessing apps such as Google Pay, Navi, or Paytm, the device will show a warning pop-up. With one tap, users can end the call and block screen-sharing instantly.

The company said the new security additions align with its broader goal of improving digital trust and safety in India, one of the worlds fastest-growing digital economies.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Charged with carrying out a murder and decapitation last month inside his familys West Brighton home, 19-year-old Damien Hurstel appeared in court Thursday for a scheduled appearance.

Hurstel stands charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and concealing a corpse in connection with the Oct. 6 slaying that unfolded inside the familys home on Cary Avenue.

The victim, 45-year-old Anthony Casalaspro, was a Department of Sanitation mechanic described by family and friends as a good person who had been helping raise the defendant and his sister.

Prosecutors on Thursday told Justice Alexander B. Jeong they were in the process of turning over a voluminous amount of evidence to the defense.

The defendant  who has pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of mental disease  looked younger at this appearance, with a clean shave and a haircut. He appeared unemotional throughout the appearance.

At one point, he turned in the direction of family members who were there to support him. But his gaze shifted and he did not say or gesture anything to them.

At the request of defense attorney Mark Fonte, who was retained in the case by Hurstels family, the court ordered that medical and psychiatric care on Rikers Island continue, in addition to suicide watch.

Jeong ordered Hurstel continue to be held without the option of bail, before adjourning the proceedings to Jan. 13.

As if nothing was wrong

In this Oct. 17 photo, Damien Hurstel, 19, is arraigned in state Supreme Court, St. George, on charges that include second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

On the day of Hurstels Oct. 17 arraignment hearing in state Supreme Court, St. George, Fonte recalled parts of a conversation with his client. He said Hurstel was monotone and unemotional throughout.

He had absolutely no affect; he spoke in a monotone, calm demeanor as if nothing was wrong, Fonte said.

The defendant has a documented history of mental illness that dates back to his childhood, according to his family and attorneys. He has been diagnosed over the years as schizophrenic, along with other conditions including PTSD, they said.

Red flags over the years have included delusional behavior and multiple hospitalizations, they said.

The defense has submitted in writing to the court its intent to offer at trial psychiatric evidence of mental disease ... with the affirmative defense of lack of criminal responsibility ...

Disputes at the home

Law enforcement sources had noted domestic issues at the home in recent years, which, according to the defendants family revolved primarily around his mental illness and the medications he was supposed to take.

Hurstels mother told the New York Post that in one instance last year, on her birthday, Hurstel became physical with her after she asked him to clean up the kitchen.

A gruesome scene

Sources said Hurstel's teenage sister arrived home from school on Oct. 6 to find the aftermath of the gruesome slaying inside the family's home on Cary Avenue. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott Axelrod)

The slaying allegedly began as a dispute between Hurstel and Casalaspro inside the home. He struck the deceased with a meat tenderizer, according to what he told police investigators.

Hurstel said that as they were fighting, he also stabbed Casalaspro multiple times, then dragged the deceaseds body into the bathtub where he removed the victims head.

Authorities allege that over the course of the murder, Hurstel employed the use of a saw, bolt cutters, a hammer, a knife and a spoon.

The hammer, according to a law enforcement source, was used to gain access to the victims brain. The spoon, according to sources, was used in an attempt to scoop out brain matter.

A photo of the aftermath that mysteriously wound up being shared digitally across Staten Island and elsewhere depicted a particularly gruesome scene.

According to reports, the defendants teenage sister arrived home from school to find Casalaspros body in the bathtub. Hurstel remained at the home as police arrived.
The community rallied around Jesus, a local National Guard soldier, who spoke about the alleged detainment of his stepfather during a press conference at La Colmena Center in Port Richmond on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Some members of the Staten Island community banded together at the office of La Colmena in Port Richmond on Thursday to show support for a National Guardsman who says his stepfather is being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday.

Just over 30 people were in attendance at the press conference organized by La Colmena, a nonprofit organization that works with low-wage immigrant workers on Staten Island.

Among attendees was Jesus, a 22-year-old National Guardsman and Port Richmond resident, who says his stepfather, also named Jesus, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday near Castleton and Heberton avenues in Port Richmond.

The National Guardsman, who was born in the U.S., did not reveal his last name at the press conference out of concern for repercussions with the National Guard. When asked by the press at the conference, Yesenia Mata, executive director of La Colmena, refused to release the stepfathers full name, citing advice from attorneys pending his immigration battle.

Yesenia Mata, executive director for La Colmena, speaks at a press conference in which Jesus, a local National Guard soldier, spoke about the alleged detainment of his stepfather during a press conference at La Colmena Center in Port Richmond on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

Although the family says the stepfather, 41, has no criminal history, he is an undocumented immigrant. According to the younger Jesus, his stepfather, who he considers his true father, came to the U.S. from Oaxaca, Mexico, in the early 2000s.

I share my story to highlight a truth that is often overlooked, the National Guardsman said. Immigrants and children of immigrants serve this nation with pride and honor, yet our families are still under threat.

Many families are being separated and many will continue being separated and I know the pain they will go through, he added. This is not right. All I want is for my father to come home, I just want my family together.

The elder Jesus, who works in construction, was on his way to work Tuesday morning when he was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Jesus, a local National Guard soldier, spoke about the allege detainment of his stepfather during a press conference at La Colmena Center in Port Richmond on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

The family was then connected with Mata, a service member herself.

Soldiers should not be worried about their families being detained, being kidnapped by ICE, Mata said. Soldiers take an oath to the Constitution and to be able to serve this country and that should be our focus, that should be their focus. Its not for them to be focused on their family members being detained and that is what happened on Tuesday. And this is why La Colmena wanted to highlight this story today (Thursday), we wanted to showcase what is happening here on Staten Island and to those soldiers that are currently serving and their families.

Jesus has been able to communicate with his stepfather at least once since his detention. According to him, his stepfather expressed that he is both surprised and scared.

Jesus (right), a local National Guard soldier, spoke about the allege detainment of his stepfather during a press conference at La Colmena Center in Port Richmond on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

The elder Jesus has legal representation and upcoming court dates, Mata explained.

Jesus has also received support from members of the community, some of whom were in attendance at Thursdays press conference.

The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Port Richmond are not contributing to public safety, they are degrading our public safety, Rev. Karen Pershing, representing the Staten Island Inter-religious leadership coalition, said. Its resulting in our loved ones, our community members feeling like they cant leave their home and go to Mass, they cant worship God, they cant get health services, they cant get their medicine, they cant report to the police if a crime has been committed against them. I dont want my friends and my community members to live in that kind of fear."

Despite the situation his stepfather faces, Jesus expressed he has no regrets joining the National Guard as this country has done so much for him.

Im still proud to serve my country and if I had another lifetime to do it - I would do it all over again, you know? All I just want is my father back and my family together, Jesus stated.

The Advance/SILive.com reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for confirmation of detainment and comment, but had yet to hear back at the time of publication.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Authorities are investigating a report of a violent robbery on Wednesday in Port Richmond.

The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. at Treadwell and Slaight avenues in Port Richmond, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD.

An unknown individual approached and allegedly threatened a 23-year-old man at that location.

The individual used what was described as an imitation gun or taser to strike the 23-year-old man in the back of the head, police said.

The individual stole the victims crossbody bag and wallet before fleeing in an unknown direction.

The suspect is described as a male wearing all-black clothing, including a sweatshirt, sweatpants and sneakers.

EMS treated the victim on the scene.

No arrests have been made and the investigation continues, according to the police spokeswoman.
From left, Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars seen at Motley Crue Press Conference, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Heavy Metal fans have good news to share!

Motley Crue, the 80s band founded by bassist Nikki Six and drummer Tommy Lee with guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil, are alive, well and kicking and taking the stage once again for their 45th anniversary tour slated for next year.

The news recently surfaced on Motley Crues Instagram page.

The Return of the Carnival of Sins: The 2026 North American tour kicking off in July to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Carnival of Sins and our 45th anniversary. 33 dates, reimagined show, updated setlist, and featuring performances by very special guests, band members commented in a post.

The post added that $1 of every ticket sold will be donated to ASAP! (After School Arts Program) through the Motley Crue Giveback initiative to support students with hands-on programs in music and the arts.

How to buy tickets for Motley Crues 2026 tour

Tickets went on sale Friday. On Ticketmaster, many of the most desirable tickets were being snapped up by noon. But for those looking for options and a deal, Vividseats has tickets available for all of the shows.

First-time buyers can get $20 off purchases of $200 or more by using the code VIVID20.

Tour dates and details

Comments from fans came pouring in:

The carnival of sins tour was great and various performances were fun. Are you also planning the world tour? Hope so and you come to Japan!

And Congrats! This is going to be a great tour!

It was reported in a story on MLive.com that The Return of The Carnival of Sins tour kicks off on July 17 in Pennsylvania and concludes on Sept. 26 in Washington state.

For Staten Islanders and other NYC fans, the band will be in Holmdel, N.J. at the PNC Bank Arts Center on July 31.

Special guests Tesla and Extreme will open for Motley Crue on this tour.

Bringing back the spirit of Carnival of Sins has been a blast, and we wanted to take it even further for its 20th anniversary, the band said in a joint statement. This new show is for the Crueheads whove been with us through it all and for the new Crueheads who didnt get to experience Carnival of Sins last time around.

FYI: The tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of the groups 2005-2006 tour and the bands 45th anniversary, including stops in 33 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

Tour schedule

Motley Crue 2026 tour schedule:

July 17 - Burgettstown, PA

July 18 - Darien Center, NY

July 20 - Clarkston, MI

July 22 - Toronto

July 24 - Gilford, NH

July 25 - Bangor, ME

July 27 - Camden, NJ

July 29 - Saratoga Springs, NY

July 31 - Holmdel, NJ

Aug. 1 - Mansfield, MA

Aug. 3 - Bristow, VA

Aug. 12 - Alpharetta, GA

Aug. 14 - West Palm Beach, FL

Aug. 15 - Tampa, FL

Aug. 17 - Charlotte, NC

Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO

Aug. 21 - Prior Lake, MN

Aug. 22 - Tinley Park, IL

Aug. 24 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Aug. 25 - Cincinnati

Aug. 27 - Grand Rapids, MI

Aug. 28 - Noblesville, IN

Sept. 8 - North Kansas City, MO

Sept. 10 - Dallas

Sept. 11 - The Woodlands, TX

Sept. 13 - Albuquerque, NM

Sept. 16 - Phoenix

Sept. 18 - Chula Vista, CA

Sept. 19 - Long Beach, CA

Sept. 21 - Salt Lake City

Sept. 23 - Wheatland, CA

Sept. 24 - Mountain View, CA

Sept. 26 - Ridgefield, WA

More on Motley Crue

Formed in Los Angeles in 1981, Motley Crue has come to be known for their signature blend of glam metal and hard rock, theatrical performances, and a wild, sometimes reckless lifestyle.

They are considered pioneers of the heavy metal genre, their signature albums include Shout at the Devil, Theatre of Pain, Girls, Girls, Girls, and their major breakthrough Dr. Feelgood.

In total, theyve sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, achieved seven USA platinum and multi-platinum albums, and produced numerous Top 40 hits.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police have identified Robert Farina, 60, of Port Richmond, as the victim in a fatal crash that occurred last month in Greenridge.

According to the NYPD, on Sunday, Oct. 26, at approximately 6:45 p.m., police received a report of a pedestrian struck at Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue.

That intersection was listed as one of the most dangerous on Staten Island based on 2024 crash data.

The NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 2013 Honda Civic, operated by an 80-year-old female, was traveling westbound on Arthur Kill Road when she struck Farina, police said.

Farina was rushed by EMS to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, Princes Bay, in stable condition but later died from his injuries, according to a statement released by the NYPD.

No charges have been filed at this time and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad, police said.

2nd fatal crash in October

The fatal crash occurred weeks after 66-year-old Meiyun Chen of Charleston was struck and killed at Veterans Road East and Bloomingdale Road in her neighborhood.

An investigation into that crash indicated that a 48-year-old woman was operating a 2024 Mazda CX-90 traveling eastbound on Veterans Road East when she struck Chen, the NYPD said.

EMS transported Chen to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where she died, a police spokesperson told the Advance/SILive.com.
What appears to be a coyote was seen in Graniteville on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (Courtesy of Mike Donovan)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Amid recent coyote sightings on Staten Island, the New York City Parks Department is urging residents to keep their distance and monitor their pets.

Recently, Mike Donovan, a Graniteville resident, captured a photo of what appeared to be a coyote in his neighborhood.

The animal was seen on Pyramid Court in the vicinity of Lamberts Lane at around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13.

I was driving, I pulled over and I said, Wow, thats a big boy, Donovan said. I thought maybe it was a dog or something, like a stray dog, and I stopped right at the corner, at the intersection... I was like, what the hell?

In the wake of that sighting, the Advance/SILive.com received another report from a woman who claims she saw a coyote on the lawn of a Great Kills home early one morning in October.

Given the recent sightings, some may question whether or not it is normal to see these canines wandering the Islands streets.

In short, its not abnormal.

Parks Departments message

Over the last several decades, coyotes have been expanding their natural range in response to ample food and open habitat, a Parks Department spokesperson said.

Coyotes are known to be living on Staten Island, in the Bronx, Queens and even Manhattan, according to the spokesperson.

Given earlier sunsets around this time of year, the spokesperson explained it is possible for residents to see more urban wildlife, including coyotes.

Although one may be tempted to approach a coyote given its resemblance to a dog, residents should keep in mind these animals are not mans best friend.

The Parks Department is requesting residents keep their distance from coyotes. If you are approached by one, you should make yourself appear bigger and make loud noises until the coyote flees.

Residents are also asked by the department not to feed these animals as it lowers their fear of humans and can condition them to approach others.

Those with pets are urged by the department to keep their furry friends leashed, as small dogs and cats could appear as prey. Since larger dogs may be viewed as competitors, pet owners should beware of confrontations.

An ideal habitat for coyotes in NYC

Coyotes were not confirmed to be living on Staten Island until 2022. However, back in 2019, Frank Vincenti, the founder of the Wild Dog Foundation, explained that Staten Island would be one of the best places for coyotes.

The Wild Dog Foundation is a not-for-profit wildlife education group Vincenti founded in 1996 when he says the first coyotes began to appear in the Bronx.

A single coyote was confirmed to be living on the Island in 2022; it is unknown whether more have arrived since then.

What became of it or if this is the same one that has just kept a low profile, I cannot say for sure, Vincenti said.

He noted that these coyotes (if there are more than one) likely originate from New Jersey and could be crossing over from there. If there were a growth in the coyote population, it would likely be slow, similar to what is taking place on Long Island and in Queens as waterways prevent easy access, Vincenti added.

Staten Island is ideal for coyotes as just like the Bronx and Queens, it has ample greenspace and many suburban areas with plenty of prey and cover to keep out of sight, he explained. Staten Island would just be part of the natural expansion the metro area has been experiencing the last 30 years with coyotes."

Vincenti reiterated the Parks Departments message and emphasized the importance of not habituating coyotes through feeding.

Coyotes rarely are aggressive toward people, he stated. As said prior, habitual feeding usually leads to potential negative interactions. As long as that is refrained from, there would be little to no conflict.
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its Madison Mid Cap Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the third quarter, the fund (Class I) returned 1.9% compared to the 5.3% increase for the Russell Midcap Index. The Russell Mid Cap Index experienced significant growth in the third quarter of 2025. Information Technology led the performance both in the quarter and YTD. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Madison Mid Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH). Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) designs and manufactures electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors. The one-month return of Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) was -2.59%, and its shares gained 75.47% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On November 20, 2025, Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) stock closed at $130.36 per share, with a market capitalization of $159.568 billion.

Madison Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Technology stocks continued their very strong performance in 3Q, and we participated with Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH), Arista Networks, and MKS within our portfolio. Amphenol and Arista continue to surprise investors with outstanding revenue growth as they capitalize on the surge in Al-related data center spending. While data center growth is a meaningful benefit, we are also encouraged by the strength in other areas of these businesses, such as enterprise for Arista and defense and industrial markets for Amphenol."

Whats Fueling Wall Streets 90-Day Optimism on Amphenol (APH)?

Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 81 hedge fund portfolios held Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) at the end of the second quarter, up from 69 in the previous quarter. Amphenol Corporations (NYSE:APH) third quarter sales were up 53% in US dollars and 52% in local currencies to $6.194 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) and shared the list of best aggressive growth stocks to buy. Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) contributed to Baron Asset Funds performance in Q3 2025, as its shares rallied on rising data center spending expectations driven by accelerating AI adoption. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
St. Mark's Apartments and Hotel Castleton,St. George, c1900. Two beautiful old gray and white buildings, with an old touring car in the street. (The New York Public Library Digital Collection)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Hotel Castleton was situated in St. George at 185 St. Marks Place, between Hamilton Avenue and Nicholas Street, on a bluff that overlooked New York Harbor.

It was constructed in 1889 and was destroyed by a fire in 1907.

The original Hotel Castleton was a grand establishment, built on the site of the former St. Marks Hotel and the Marble House of Gilbert L. Thompson. It emerged during a prosperous time when Staten Island was a favored summer retreat for affluent families from New York City.

The Hotel Castleton in St. George is shown in this photo from the Advance/SILive.com archives. (Advance/SILive.com)

The five-and-a-half-story frame building became a prominent local landmark. The Hotel Castleton was one of the last and most magnificent hotels erected during Staten Islands golden age as a resort destination for city dwellers.

On Nov. 12, 1907, a fire broke out at the hotel, which was closed for the winter season. The flames illuminated the entire bay and drew a crowd of spectators. The fire completely destroyed the hotel, leaving only the brick chimneys standing. No one was on the premises at the time. The fire was believed to have started in a storeroom adjacent to the barroom.

Today, the site is home to the Castleton Park Apartments, which opened in 1975. Staten Island Advance

Today, the site is home to the Castleton Park Apartments, which opened in 1975. CAMBA Housing Ventures, or CHV, partnered with Stellar Management to purchase and renovate the then-40-year-old Mitchell-Lama affordable housing complex. The $91 million partnership included the purchase and renovation of two buildings totaling 454 homes and offers a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Today, the site is home to the Castleton Park Apartments, which sit across the street from Curtis High School. Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Staten Island resident got quite the surprise this week when an unexpected visitor trotted across her front porch.

A fox was caught on a Ring camera around 9 p.m. Monday strolling through a normally quiet block near a school and busy road, leaving locals doing double-takes.

The homeowner, who asked not to be identified, said she didnt believe what she was seeing at first.

My brother yelled that a fox was on our porch, and I didnt believe him until I checked the Ring camera, said the resident. I saw it walk past the food we leave for the cats and head up the block.

The sighting quickly sparked concern, especially for pet owners in the area.

I got nervous because I walk my dog around here, and many neighbors leave their dogs outside, she said. So I sent the video to a few people to warn others to be careful with their pets.

While Staten Island has had its share of unusual wildlife moments  turkeys blocking traffic, deer showing up in parking lots  its still a shock to see a fox on your front porch.

Based on its appearance, the animal may be a red fox, the species most commonly spotted on Staten Island, according to the New York City Wildlife website.

Red foxes are primarily nocturnal, making a 9 p.m. sighting likely, and theyre known to move more frequently during the colder months.

Weve never seen anything like this, she added. Especially with a school across the street, lots of people outside, and a busy road nearby. It really made me wonder where a fox could even hide around here.

Residents who spot a fox are advised to keep their distance, secure trash and outdoor food, and supervise pets.
Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the mayoral election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (Associated Press/Yuki Iwamura) (Associated Press/Yuki Iwamura)

NEW YORK  New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said Thursday that hes not concerned his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump could be a political trap, vowing instead to center the Oval Office sit-down on how they could work to make the city more affordable.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is set to travel to Washington for a meeting with Trump on Friday, a potentially explosive pairing of polar-opposite politicians who have been at odds for months.

At a news conference outside New York City Hall, Mamdani said he hopes to share the facts about the affordability crisis in the city while waving off the idea that the president could use the meeting to embarrass him.

I have many disagreements with the president and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker, he said.

Mamdani won a stunning victory in New York Citys mayoral race this month with a campaign heavily focused on the citys affordability crisis, promising to turn the power of government toward helping the working class while also fighting back against a hostile Trump administration.

Trump has railed against Mamdani for months, warning that his hometown would slide into chaos under the young progressives leadership and suggested he would withhold federal money from the city if Mamdani won. Trump has also incorrectly called him a communist and has threatened to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda but became a naturalized American citizen in 2018.

The president announced the meeting in a social media post Wednesday night, putting Mamdanis middle name Kwame in quotation marks while incorrectly referring to him as the Communist Mayor of New York City.

Mamdani brushed off the idea that he was walking into an adversarial sit-down with Trump, telling reporters Thursday: Im not concerned about this meeting. I view this meeting as an opportunity to make my case, and Ill make that case to anyone.

When pressed further, Mamdani said hed make it clear to the president that he was there as an emissary of the city, not simply a political newcomer.

For me, its not about myself. Its about a relationship between New York City and the White House, the president, and the federal administration. And I will look to make clear my interest goes beyond any one of an individual but its for the people I look to represent, he said.

When asked if he intended to bring up the presidents threats of stepped-up immigration enforcement in New York, Mamdani tried to pivot back to his affordability argument.

I think affordability was at the core of our campaign, and also it was affordability based on the value of protecting each and every New Yorker, he said. That means protecting them from price gouging in their lives, but it also means protecting them from ICE agents and making it clear that I will look to representing every single person.

Mamdani will take office as mayor next year, succeeding current Mayor Eric Adams, who has been traveling abroad and posted a picture on X Thursday morning of himself alongside an Uzbek official.
President Donald Trump has been floating a plan for $2,000 tariff dividend checks for weeks. Stock photo. (ATU Images | Getty Images) ATU Images | Getty Images

President Donald Trump has been floating a plan for $2,000 tariff dividend checks for weeks.

Its true that Trumps tariffs are bringing in more revenue for the federal government. And Trump has said he wants to direct some of that extra cash to Americans.

But how realistic is that plan? Are we really getting tariff dividend checks?

Online betting sites suggest the answer is no, according to Fortune.

One site, Kalshi, puts the odds of the checks happening at just 2%. And thats not even at Trumps suggested $2,000 level. Those odds reflect the chance of a $1,000 payment.

The odds are also 1% at another site, Polymarket, according to Fortune.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about the checks in a recent interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, according to USA Today.

He said the administration would need legislation for the plan to move forward, but added the checks could go out. He also said the payments would be for working families, according to USA Today.

Votes for the checks in Congress might not be there.

Members concerned about the federal deficit were reluctant earlier this year to back Trumps tax cut bill. A new round of stimulus checks would add to those worries, according to CNN.

CNN also noted that the checks could worsen affordability problems. A wave of spending sparked by the checks could cause supply problems in the economy, which might raise prices.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is that the new revenue from Trumps tariffs isnt enough to cover the checks.

While the tariffs are expected to raise over $158 billion in 2025 and another $207 billion in 2026, the cost of the checks could be billions more than that, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation cited by CNN.

In addition, some of the new tariffs are at risk in an ongoing Supreme Court case that challenged their legality.

If the Supreme Court says the bulk of the tariffs are illegal, that could throw a wrench in the tariff rebate plan, said Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, according to CNN.
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil risks losing its market share in instant coffee sales in the U.S. after President Donald Trump retained 50% tariffs on the product while cutting duties for green coffee, the Brazilian Instant Coffee Association said on Friday.

On Thursday, Trump removed his 40% tariffs on Brazilian food products, including beef and green coffee - which covers most coffee beans - as well as cocoa and fruits, that took effect in August to punish Brazil over the prosecution of its former president, Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.

Thursday's move followed a similar U.S. order last Friday to remove 10% tariffs on several agricultural products from other countries as the White House makes a U-turn on some tariffs that have increased the cost of food in the United States.

Yet Brazilian instant coffee will continue to face tariffs, a blow to the sector because the United States accounts for 20% of Brazil's instant coffee exports, according to the Brazilian Instant Coffee Association (ABICS).

"Instant coffee was not included in the exemptions specified in the annexes to the Executive Orders," ABICS said in a statement. "This contrasts with the overall progress in bilateral negotiations and represents a continuing challenge for the sector."

Maintaining the tariffs against Brazil's instant coffee means the sector risks being permanently replaced by other suppliers, ABICS added.

"Once that market share and consumer loyalty are lost, future recovery will be an extremely difficult mission, with lasting losses for the entire national production chain," ABICS said.

Other sectors of Brazil's coffee industry that are now exempt from the tariffs expressed relief on Friday.

The Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) welcomed the news, adding that tariffs between August and October contributed to exports of specialty coffee falling 55% to 190,000 60-kilogram bags versus the same period in 2024.

"This new order corrects the distortion created by tariffs between the main buyer and consumer market for coffee, the U.S., and the main global producer and exporter, Brazil," the BSCA said in a statement.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora and Oliver Griffin in Sao Paulo; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Advance Metals has wasted no time getting the rods turning again at its high-grade Yoquivo silver-gold project in Mexico, kicking off a fully funded follow-up program to chase recent high-grade hits at depth.

The new campaign is already under way at the companys Pertenencia vein area, targeting at least 3000m of diamond drilling that will likely stretch the program into the new year.

Advance says it is chasing down-dip extensions below the recent stand-out holes from a very successful maiden program earlier in the year that returned 1.1m running 2063 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent from 312m within a broader 4.9m zone running 544g/t silver equivalent Other notable hits that require follow up include 4.4m grading 446g/t and 16.4m at 104g/t silver equivalent.

Drilling underway at Advance Metals Yoquivo gold project in Mexicos world-class Sierra Madre belt.

Fresh holes are now stepping out beneath that cluster, while a second batch of collars will see new high-grade regional vein sets tested to the west and southeast of Pertenencia.
You know the drill  you book into a short-term rental, drop your bags, and glance at the hosts print out of local favourites, the insiders tips on the best bakeries, bars and other hotspots for you to check out.

Its a small gesture, but one that shows how travel is changing. Increasingly, visitors are venturing beyond traditional tourist zones, rediscovering neighbourhoods through local eyes.

The tourism economy was essentially confined primarily to where the hotels were located explains Dr Jeff Jarvis, director of the graduate tourism program at Monash University in Melbourne.

With the growth of short-stay private residences, the spread of tourists is going way beyond these areas and taking their spend with them. Youre going to go down to the local supermarket, and coffee shop, the local restaurants, and youll actually spend your money in a different part of the city.
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 Alice Perceval isnt entirely sure how her late mother, Mary Nolan (nee Boyd) would feel about her intimate family photos being included in a major new exhibition. Some of them are sort of snap-shotty, so I think she would have felt maybe not so pleased about that, but I think she would have welcomed the exhibition, definitely, Alice tells me via Zoom from Wales. Theres rather a lot of me and I sort of feel a bit shy about that. I wasnt part of the choosing. Choosing was the not-so-easy task of Sophie OBrien, head curator at the Bundanon Art Museum, for an exhibition foregrounding five generations of women from Australias best-known artistic dynasty, the wildly prolific Boyd family. Titled The Hidden Line: Art of the Boyd Women, it features more than 300 works and traces the family back to 19th-century painter and watercolourist Emma Minnie a Beckett, Mary Nolans grandmother and the font of this great artistic legacy. Mary Nolan, Family picnic under the sweet chestnut trees, Anduze, c1973. Credit: National Library of Australia, courtesy of the Mary Nolan Estate Its such a productive family, Ive had a hard time fitting everything in  what a problem to have, OBrien says. For most people, the name Boyd immediately brings to mind Arthur Boyd, Mary Nolans beloved brother, known for his expressionist and landscape paintings, including his much-admired depictions of the Shoalhaven River, with its banks of gleaming white boulders, towering gums and vivid blue and purple skies. Bundanon, set on 1000 hectares by the Shoalhaven, in Dharawal Country, on the south coast of NSW, was Arthur and Yvonne Boyds country property, which they gave to the Australian public in 1993. (Many of Yvonnes drawings and paintings are in the exhibition.) The Bundanon Collection includes more than a thousand works by Arthur Boyd, and many by his father, potter Merric Boyd, but from today and throughout the summer, the familys female artists will take precedence, including 48 photographs by Mary Nolan that have never been exhibited publicly before, on loan from the National Library of Australia.

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And yet, Alice wonders whether her mother would even have thought of herself as an artist. She was so taken up with the demanding life of supporting the men that she lived with, who were very powerful personalities, I dont think she would have called herself an artist, says Alice, speaking from Presteigne, in Wales, where she lives close to the Rodd, the Jacobean manor house that was the final home of Mary and Sidney Nolan. She was a very creative person, but she really was a woman of her generation  she lived for her family and she encouraged the creativity of her children and her husbands  my father John Perceval, and my step-father Sidney Nolan. Mary Nolan, Alice painting on her fathers picture, c1966. Credit: National Library of Australia, courtesy of the Mary Nolan Estate Marys love of art was clearly instilled in her children. All four of them  Alice, Celia, Tessa and Matthew  are artists, as is Alices daughter Kitty, whose stoneware vases, inspired by her grandmother, potter Doris Boyd (nee Gough), are included in the exhibition. Marys photos are a testament to her own creative spirit, and a gift perhaps not fully realised. As Brenda Niall writes in her book The Boyds (2002), Mary had shown unusual promise as an artist. However, After her marriage Mary had little time to paint; and John Perceval did not encourage her to think of a career. Like most women of her generation, Mary went through life being defined, in name at least, by the men in her life. With one dramatic distinction. The men in her life were among the most renowned of 20th Century Australian art. She had three names, OBrien says. Chaps dont have that problem, theyre just who they are.

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Marys life was infused with art the moment she was born, in 1926, into the sprawling creativity of the Boyds, daughter of potters Merric and Doris, sister of Lucy, David, Guy, and the most famous sibling of all, Arthur. The familys Open Country home and studio in Murrumbeena, then a rural area of Melbourne, was a hive of artistic activity, with artists from the volatile Heide circle in Bulleen, including Sidney Nolan, also dropping in and enjoying the more relaxed atmosphere at the Boyds. Mary Nolan, Perceval family camping in the South of France, 1964. Credit: National Library of Australia, courtesy of the Mary Nolan Estate Aged 18, Mary married Arthurs friend John Perceval, and by age 30 had four children with him. The relationship was tested by Percevals alcoholism. Mary issued an ultimatum and in 1967, the couple parted ways. She moved to London with 10-year-old Alice, and to be close to her older children who were already there and beginning to have children of their own. In 1978, Mary married Sidney Nolan, becoming Lady Nolan when Sidney was knighted in 1981 for his contributions to art. Her life changed when she married Sid, says Alice. Sid became absolutely 100 per cent her life  she was completely devoted to him. This is someone who has grown up in an artistic family and shes been looking at the work of other artists, shes been making paintings herself  which is the best training you can have. Sophie OBrien, head curator at the Bundanon Art Museum Many of Marys photos were taken from 1963 to 1965, before she separated from Perceval, when the family moved to London for two years and travelled through Europe.

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When we came to London she had a camera, it was a Pentax I remember, and there were other Australian artists living in London at the time, so there was Arthur and David Boyd, Charlie Blackman, Brett Whiteley was there for a while as well, Alice says. She had this idea right from the start that she wanted to make a book of Australian artists living in London in the 1960s. The book never eventuated, and Alice hopes that one day it will. This exhibition favours Marys photos of family life, focusing on the Boyd women  sisters, aunts, cousins  although John Perceval, Arthur Boyd and Charles Blackman make an appearance. Marys four children feature prominently: making daisy chains; putting on plays; painting; picnicking; tumbling out of a tent, a wild knot of bony arms and legs. One could describe them as family snapshots, and yet the best of them have a quirky spontaneity, unusual framing and lack of sentimentality that hold ones gaze. Theyre not the vapid, braggy stuff of social media feeds. She has an extremely good eye, OBrien says. This is someone who has grown up in an artistic family, and shes been looking at the work of other artists, shes been making paintings herself  which is the best training you can have. Yvonne Boyd, Melbourne tram, 1944. Credit: Bundanon Collection Its true that there are quite a few shots of Alice, a consequence of her living with Mary in London after her parents divorce. There are moody portraits of Alice as a teenager growing up at Wildwood Grove, or submerged amongst a thick bed of rosebay willowherb on Hampstead Heath. And theres a beautifully ramshackle photo of Alice in an armchair, wrapped in a jumble of blankets, while uncle Arthur stokes the fire. Its the depths of winter, circa 1972, at Keepers Cottage, Arthurs retreat and studio on the Deben Estuary in Suffolk. Mary appears in one photo only, from an odd angle  her face hovers out of focus, the camera homing in on her striking middle-daughter, Celia.

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Ive got a feeling it might even have been taken by me, says Alice, because its taken from a low angle. She did give the camera to her children so we could muck around with it. It might have been an accidental shot because its got that sort of strange look. Its a lovely image of Winks [Celia] behind my mum. As part of the exhibition, OBrien asked eight contemporary artists to respond to the Boyd womens work. Tasmanian artist Pat Brassington was asked to consider Mary Nolans photographs and has responded with intriguing family photos of her own, of her two daughters as children, playing in the beachside suburb of Lauderdale, some 20 kilometres out of Hobart, in the 1960s and 70s. This was before Brassington took up photography seriously and yet the photos show the hallmarks of her later acclaimed work in their curious alignments and surreal qualities. Brassington admits that she hadnt been aware of Mary Nolans photographs or any of her art-making until OBrien got in touch. The only Boyd that she was familiar with was the novelist, Martin Boyd (Alices great uncle), whose fiction she had enjoyed. Nor did she expect to warm to Marys photos as much as she did. She had thought of the Boyds as privileged, certainly in comparison to her own working-class upbringing, growing up as a child in a housing commission estate. Of Marys photos she says, I sensed a pretty finely tuned sensibility, which sort of goes with the family privilege. Celia Percevals Tending the flower farm near Dural, 1994-95. Credit: Bundanon Collection The idea of privilege shadows the Boyds, and yet by Marys generation, the privilege was cultural rather than economic, the family inheritance dissipated by the 1890s land crash and depression. Growing up in Murrumbeena, Mary and her siblings wore patched hand-me-downs and shoes that often had holes. As Niall writes: At the state primary school they stood out for the contrast between their shabby appearance and the beautifully modulated voices which marked them incongruously as upper class. That beautifully modulated voice is still there in Alice too. She explains that the family has long been unconventional. I wonder whether she ever sensed that her mother was frustrated by her inability to fulfil her own artistic ambitions.

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Shes spent most of her life in a hurricane of fame, and has weathered more than her fair share of tragedy. But that hasnt slowed Priscilla Presley, who at 80 is in Australia for her live show, An Audience with Priscilla Presley.

Her national tour takes in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney across successive nights, before heading back across the Pacific for dates the week after in Michigan and Pennsylvania. How does she tackle such a demanding schedule?

Priscilla Presley in Melbourne for An Audience with Priscilla Presley. Credit: Eddie Jim

Dont think about it, just do it, she told this masthead with a smile during an interview in Melbourne on Friday. I just do what I have to do, get it over with and continue to whatever I have to do next.

Its a philosophy that has served her well. The tour coincides with a new book she has just released, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, which delves into her time married to the King, Elvis Presley, the decision to leave him after they had met when she was only 14, and the tragedies that have struck in more recent years with the death first of her grandson Benjamin, and then her daughter with Elvis, Lisa Marie.
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 This story is part of the November 22 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories . It was in the middle of May that Adam Gilmour began to worry that he would not, in fact, live in a city on the moon after all. Gilmour was standing inside mission control  a dark demountable filled with computers and cords and screens  monitoring the third attempted launch of his expensive, obstinate rocket, seven kilometres away on the coast of Bowen, gleaming brilliant white in the tropical Queensland sun, and refusing to budge. This rocket is named Eris, and names mean a lot to Gilmour. His own children bear those of Star Wars heroes: Ben, Leia and Allana. Eris is the name of a dwarf planet orbiting at the edge of our solar system, a place Gilmour says he would like to voyage to one day, and therefore a symbol of his soaring, galactic ambition. Unfortunately, Eris is also the Greek goddess of strife, and the rocket was beginning to embody the name of that deity, stranded on the launch site for 17 months, rusting in the salt spray off the nearby coastline. The only thing on fire was money, both Gilmours and his investors: $4 million a month, every month for more than a year, his eponymous company having so far spent almost $200 million on the project. Its been a journey. Gilmour Space Technologies has endured not just stubborn and sometimes nose-diving rockets but fights with regulators, bad weather and crummy parts suppliers, to be right here, on the precipice of something completely new. Eris, you see, is powered by a revolutionary type of engine that has never before reached orbit (more on that later). A successful launch could put Gilmour, 51, on a potential path to challenging billionaire Elon Musks SpaceX, while also whetting the appetites of generals looking for superfast war machines  not to mention proving that an amateur rocketman can get to orbit through sheer force of will. Eris is a temperamental piece of machinery  requiring Gilmours engineers to scurry across her length, solving finicky problems before each take-off  and she will ascend only into the most gentle of breezes, both at ground level and high in the atmosphere. As Eris pointed skywards on her erector, chasing that landmark launch, the weather was finally, thankfully, calm. Thats when an electrical fault caused the rockets nose cone, or fairing, to fall off. (Note: this is a fairly significant problem, given the fairing is designed to carry a rockets payload into orbit, then hinge itself open, revealing its pearl: usually a satellite, which is gently pushed away into space.) It was never-ending, and every month another $4 million was burning, bemoans Gilmour, who is wiry with sun-bleached red-blond hair, and often speaks with the excited urgency of a person being electrocuted. I remember being really, really blue. Adam Gilmour, co-founder & CEO at Gilmour Space Technologies south of Brisbane. Credit: Paul Harris

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So began the interminable wait for yet another launch window. After all, you cant just shoot a jet-powered hunk of steel into the sky whenever you want  the Civil Aviation Safety Authority needs to clear a huge geographical area around the launch pad, so that unsuspecting fishermen or kite-surfers dont get hit with an errant fuselage. All of which is how we get to the final desperate promise of July, with Gilmour granted a fourth launch window of a few days. Six days out, youre already up there, youre already charging the batteries for the rocket, its almost about to roll out, and then you see the winds, and the winds suck, says Gilmour. And youre like  Shit.  The winds are too high on the first day. Too high on the second day. And on the third. Day four dawns hot and sticky but mercifully calm, so the rocket is fitted with its ceremonial payload. Musk once shot a Tesla Roadster into space. The cargo on board Eris? A single jar of Vegemite. Rockets are, of course, precision-engineered to the micrometre, so Gilmour controls every factor and variable until the final couple of minutes of the countdown. Then the rocket itself has control. It monitors its own systems, checks its telemetry, tests the winds and makes its own final decision to launch. At 8.29am on July 29, Eris initiates autosequence  what we non-rocketeers call a countdown  10, 9, 8   and Gilmour stares at his screen. The stakes were super high, he says now. Wed been delayed. And there was a risk we wouldnt get any follow-up funds if we couldnt get off the pad. It was do-or-die for me. We had to get off the pad.

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As a national science writer, Ive been covering Gilmour and Australias fast-growing space industry for a handful of years, without much cut-through. But launching an actual rocket? That tends to sharpen the attention of newspaper editors, particularly when viral-albeit-shaky footage emerges. Gilmours launchpad on Queenslands eastern edge is at the top of the Whitsundays, where beaches are fringed in shallow reefs and holidaymakers come to snorkel, sunbathe and bite into the fat gold flesh of the mangoes for which the area is known. Otherwise, Bowen is pretty flat. The only real raised spot is Mount Nutt, which is 43 metres above sea level  higher if you count the big concrete water tank where locals gathered to watch the show. Thats where Josh Keegan, a rocket enthusiast who goes by the online moniker Aussienaut, had set up his livestream. Keegan had been up there for hours on that day in July. Eris had missed her 8.33am launch time by one minute and it looked like another scrub, which is why you can hear a resigned sigh from Keegan in the footage. He remembers briefly turning away to deal with a technical issue, which is when the rocket finally moves, wobbling just a little. In his footage, clouds of white gas rise up above the tree line. A shout goes up from the crowd and Keegan spins back, training the camera on the rocket in time to show Eris floating, just above the tree-tops, then suddenly sliding right amid puffs of manoeuvring thrust. Its hovering! Its hovering! Its hovering! he shouts, somewhat hopefully, despite clear evidence that the rocket is now actually falling, falling, falling. Finally the 23-metre, 30-tonne projectile disappears below the treeline. Its  gone! Its gone! Keegan yells. Oh no! It did not go ... But it almost did go, which is why I find myself now driving up the Pacific Motorway past the Gold Coasts roller-coaster whorls to the rocket factory of Gilmour Space. From phone interviews, I had pegged Gilmour as a loudmouth entrepreneur  a brash guy making constant demands for more government funding while repeatedly missing launch windows. He has promised (and failed) to reach orbit in each of 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. He is very loud. You want him to succeed, one space industry insider told me. But I dont hate it that he blew up. while Eris failed to launch in July, it did clear the pad, keeping the funds flowing to Gilmour Space as engineers continue to troubleshoot remaining issues. Credit: Gilmour Space Technologies In person, the Adam Gilmour experience is different. The fervour is real, and personal. I think were going to have bases, permanent cities on the moon. And Id like to have one of them, he tells me. And I believe him  or, at least, I believe he believes.

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Gilmour was born in Brisbane in 1973, the second of Brian and Dierdres four children. Gilmour and his younger brother James were close to their grandfather Ken, a fitter and turner and amateur astronomer, who filled his house with home-made telescopes and star maps. He used to take me on top of the roof of the house he built with his bare hands, says James. He showed me the constellations. I think were going to have bases, permanent cities on the moon. And Id like to have one of them. Adam Gilmour From Dierdre, who now has Alzheimers, came the blessing of limitless self-belief. She taught every child that there was no ceiling at all, always possibilities, says Brian. Its pretty sad she does not know what they are doing. But he adds she would be impossibly proud of them, as he is. I havent got any shadow of a doubt, he says. They will land on the moon. This disposition for doubtlessness seems strongest in Gilmour. I can build anything; anything that has been built by human beings, I can build it, he says. I could build a nuclear submarine. I dont want to, though  Im pretty happy building rockets. Building nuclear subs and revolutionary rockets and moon bases  It seems crazy, right? It is crazy. But Gilmour says crazy things with such absolute white-knuckle conviction that the people around him start to believe him, too. Everyone in this industry is a bit crazy, says Jamie Anderson, the companys former head of propulsion. I looked at him when he offered me the job and thought: You are crazy enough to do this.  As kids, Gilmour and his brother James watched Star Trek and Star Wars, and James would flick through The Young Scientist Book of Spaceflight. Hes still got a dog-eared copy, which will go in another thing the brothers plan to build one day: a spaceflight museum. First, they had to make their way in the world. Gilmour went into banking  trading currencies and later derivatives for Citibank, eventually rising to the managing directors office in Singapore. James, meanwhile, became a salesman and then a business manager at Dell. Then the global financial crisis struck in 2007. Citibank needed a huge government bailout and its appetite for risk then contracted. Around the same time, an exciting new pool of risk was opening: entrepreneurial spaceflight.

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The Apollo 11 mission that put Neil Armstrong on the moon was calculated to have cost $US2.9 billion in 2020 dollars. In 2004, SpaceShipOne became the first privately funded crewed vehicle to reach space  at a cost of about $US25 million. At home on his parents farm on the Hawkesbury River in Brooklyn, NSW in 2011, Gilmour brought an idea to the dinner table. He originally pitched the idea to build a spaceplane. And a space-education initiative, says James. I wouldnt say there was always a dream or a goal to start a rocket company. Dierdre told James he should join the company as well, and when Adam asked, he said yes straight away. I always knew, James says. We wanted to do something special. Gilmour Spaces early years were nebulous and unsettled. There was a plan for a space theme park and astronaut training facility  complete with a Mars mock-up  at a strawberry farm the brothers bought on the Gold Coast. Then they thought they might build satellite components in Singapore. When they approached launch companies to test their components on an orbital flight, they were quoted $US8 million for a 20-kilogram test launch. I thought that was insane, and such a lousy price it would stifle the industry, says Gilmour. And I started thinking: these launch providers have got the market.  I could build a nuclear submarine. I dont want to, though  Im pretty happy building rockets. Adam Gilmour That might make Gilmour sound mercantile, but hes actually the dreamer. Literally. In high school he even won the Biggest Dreamer award. Its James who brings the attention to detail, and now runs the launch operation in Bowen, and Michelle, Gilmours wife, who helps the brothers partnership and the company work. As Gilmour Spaces manager of communications, shes self-deprecating, insisting she knows little about rockets while explaining every detail of the factory. Space, however, is not her passion. I did it for Adam, she says. I said, Look, you earn more money than I do, Ill quit first, and Ill help where I can.  It gives us a lot to talk about, says Gilmour, when I ask about running a company with his spouse. I think its good for me to see her pain, for her to see my pain, and understand it. From left: James Gilmour, co-founder and head of Launch Site Operations with Liana Gilmour (James partner) and Adam Gilmour, co-founder & CEO, and Michelle Gilmour, manager of communications at Gilmour Space Technologies. Credit: Paul Harris

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The urge to drive her car into a tree  really gently, not enough to hurt the baby  seemed sensible at the time to new mother Ellen Kimball, who was seriously sleep-deprived.

We live in a mountainous area, and I thought it was completely logical  I might get to go to hospital and get to have a rest, said Kimball. She became consumed with the idea, and this frightened her enough to stop driving.

Ellen Kimball wants others to know support for new mothers that can feel insignificant to the person offering it can mean a lot to the person in distress. Credit: Simon Schluter

Kimball never had thoughts of self-harm before first-time motherhood, and the deterioration of her mental health had happened over months. She didnt recognise the strange impulses as intrusive thoughts, part of escalating post-natal ill health: I thought I was going insane.

She had slipped and broken her arm in the last week of her pregnancy, but it wasnt correctly diagnosed until after the birth and the pain made the early days with her first baby hard, even with a wonderful partner.
A 22-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged over a drive-by shooting on a home belonging to an innocent elderly couple in Sydneys south-west, which was filmed and posted online.

Chilling footage captured the moment a gunman opened fire on the Bossley Park home before fleeing the scene in a white Audi that was crashed and abandoned two blocks from the address.

A volley of shots was fired into the house on Aberdeen Street about 6.30am on Friday, sparking a substantial manhunt into the afternoon. No one was injured in the shooting.

Friday mornings shooting was the second time the property had been targeted in 48 hours. A single bullet hit a caravan outside the home in one of three shootings on Wednesday night.
For decades, it has been an institution in Sydneys eastern suburbs, a welcoming clubhouse where those who served their country in conflict have gathered and remembered others who made the ultimate sacrifice.

But sweeping changes at beachside North Bondi RSL Club have prompted concerns that older veterans are being left on the outer.

Surfers emerge from the water on Bondi Beach with North Bondi RSL Club in the background. Credit: Janie Barrett

On the way out are fixtures such as badge draws, meat tray raffles and honour boards that list the clubs leaders down the years, and in has come an edict for no pub rock or regular live sport on the big screen.

The TAB section and Keno are also gone, and the club is even considering a name change and removing RSL from it altogether.
High crime courses through Australian generations like a never-ending story, with sometimes interchangeable heroes and villains. But Clive Small, who died this week, rose from the lowest ranks to assistant commissioner and stood tall for truth and justice, a singular paladin in a NSW police force once seared by corruption.

He cleaned up Cabramatta after police had allowed drugs to turn the suburb into a hellhole and cleared NSW policeman Harry Blackburn  wrongly charged with rape, robbery and kidnapping  despite pressure from higher up to drop the case. His investigations over three decades included the murder of anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay, the Nugan Hand bank scandal involving money-laundering, drugs and illegal tax avoidance schemes, the shooting of police officer Michael Drury, the murder of Cabramatta MP John Newman and, his most famous case, the backpacker murders, which led to Ivan Milats eventual conviction.

Clive Small, who died this week, was a hugely influential police figure in NSW. Credit: Peter Rae

In 1994, Small was appointed to head a 20-strong team, Task Force Air, to investigate the murders of young backpackers reported missing between 1989 and 1992 after their bodies started turning up in shallow graves in the Belanglo State Forest. At the outset there was no suspect, the first victim had vanished years earlier and five of the seven victims were from overseas, their movements in Australia unclear. Seven months later, Small had got his man. Milat was found guilty after a 15-week trial and jailed for seven consecutive life sentences. He died in prison in 2019.

The high-profile cases made Small a much-admired officer and exemplar. He was the antidote to his contemporary, the bad cop Roger Rogerson, and over the years was portrayed in law and order series and commentaries, not always to his liking. Small co-authored a number of books on his career to put the record straight.
She came back and said, Yes, I think youve got combined ADHD, Campbell says. She then visited her GP for a psychiatrist referral and to discuss plans to co-prescribe: But the doctor didnt want to give me the referral  until she had a full report of this ADHD assessment [from the psychologist]. Campbells journey to diagnosis was long and expensive. Credit: @sparketcadet More back and forth ensued until Campbell was able to see a psychiatrist in July, costing $1075 upfront. After further difficulties with GPs, she found a doctor in Windsor to co-prescribe medication in August.

Ive now got that clarity on why I am the way I am for certain things, she says. I just needed my brain to have some glasses  thats literally how I feel. Change coming for Queensland residents Campbell knows of people who have waited up to a year to secure an appointment with a practitioner who can test and prescribe for ADHD. She also knows that even without lengthy waiting periods, cost can be prohibitive. Nicholls described the move to allow specialist GPs in Queensland to treat adults with ADHD as a game changer that would improve access to services and better utilise GPs skillsets.

ADHD affects an estimated 1 million Australians, including more than 530,000 adults. Loading Until now, the disorder has been diagnosed by specialists such as psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians (for children), usually with a referral from a GP. Peak bodies, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, have been broadly supportive of Queenslands proposal, with the caveat that GPs need specialised training and should continue working with psychiatrists to treat ADHD patients. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Michael Wright agrees with a collaborative approach, but says for that to work, patients need access to higher rebates.

ADHD care is complicated [and] complex, Wright says. We really need to look at increasing the Medicare rebates, particularly for these longer consultations, to allow more case conferencing. Wright says most GPs already have the skills, and those who dont feel confident are given help. Overdiagnosis and medication misuse Queenslands initiative, praised as a win for patients like Campbell, has not been without criticism. A Brisbane-based GP, who spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity owing to the sensitivities associated with treating development disorders, says diagnosing ADHD can be complicated because of its overlap with other conditions.

Loading These include autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder and sensory processing disorder, with an estimated 65 per cent of people with ADHD also experiencing at least one comorbidity. The GP says the process to identify ADHD is based on vague inclusion criteria, which could lead to a surge in false diagnoses. They also fear the change will trigger a potentially unethical rise in health experts providing diagnosis  and access to drugs  for payment. Its being sold as a cheaper option to come and see a GP, but the market will absolutely adapt, so the GPs will then charge more because its a sought-after service, they say. The GP market is already getting smashed  you wont find any GPs with empty slots at the moment  so youll have business models generated where they come out saying they can do it, but itll cost more. Then theres pressure on the GP to then grant the diagnosis.

Professor Bolanle Ola, a psychiatrist with experience treating and diagnosing ADHD, says the psychiatric community has raised similar concerns about misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. Ritalin is the most common medication prescribed to treat and manage ADHD. People are also concerned about the short consultation times of GPs, which might foster a quick-fix mentality, potentially leading to overprescribing of stimulants with possible side-effects, he says. From 2013 to 2020, the number of Australians diagnosed with ADHD more than doubled, with about 470,000 individuals prescribed medications between in 2022. Wright says he has not received negative feedback from members since the proposal was announced, and notes that not all GPs will want to treat ADHD patients.

Things like inserting long-acting contraceptives  some GPs do that more, whereas others feel unfamiliar with it and dont do it, he says. Im expecting that ADHD prescribing will be similar  not everyone will do it. ADHD care moving forward Campbell continues to see her GP on Brisbanes northside to manage her medication, and has returned to the psychologist who provided her initial diagnosis under a subsidised mental health plan. You go through the five stages of grieving for your past life  [but] Im coming through the end of it and I can see the light, she says. This is my life now, and its awesome.
Donovan from California called in to The Ramsey Show (1) to settle a disagreement with his wife.

My wife and I currently invest about 43% of our income and she wants to take a trip to Europe next year, so I was wondering if that is something that we should look at doing; reducing our investment rate in order to take that trip?

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Dave Ramsey asked Donovan what their financial situation is: they have no debt, make a net combined income of $175,000, and have a net worth of $89,000. Hes 31 and his wife is 28, and theyre only a year out of school.

So youre both now making good money for the first time ever, and you get to live your dream of investing, and she gets to live her dream of traveling. And thats in conflict. Now it makes sense, Ramsey said.

I was getting ready to call you Scrooge McDuck or something, but I don't think you are. I think you're just getting started, and you're a serious guy who wants to hit some numbers, and your wife is serious about enjoying some of this hard work, Ramsey said.

Finding balance with your finances

Ramsey advised Donovan that both his wifes wishes and his were fair. I don't think I would slap my fists on the table and declare either one of these answers to be stupid, Ramsey said.

He told the caller that the strategy he advises for people is to systematically throughout the scope of your life, you need to constantly, with a rhythm, be enjoying your money, be investing your money and being generous with your money.

Ramsey said that this strategy will mean that "you're going to not only become wealthy, but also be very relationally healthy, and have a high likelihood of physical health, too.

This strategy is about finding balance; building a strong financial footing for your future, while also ensuring that you actually enjoy your life, as well as feeling satisfaction and fulfilment through helping others, if youre able.

Co-host Rachel Cruze agreed that this couple can negotiate both points of view. You can do both, Donovan. Thats the great thing, because of your income, because where you guys are, yeah, you guys would be able to save cash for a trip to Europe, and be saving.

Cruze and Ramsey cautioned that, since this couple was just in Europe last year for an extravagant honeymoon (which was a gift), they may consider negotiating on when the timing of the trip would occur, perhaps delaying a year to save more money. Cruze also flagged that the budget they had in mind for their trip, around $20,000, was high, and that there could be room to still take a trip, but spend less.
Next, he called then-inquiry secretary Bob Gee and suggested he seek that information from police because it may affect the operation of the commission of inquiry. CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC, appears before the inquiry this week. Credit: News Corp Australia Perrett was removed from his role in early August due to performance and construction site conduct concerns, with fellow unionists telling this masthead he was believed to have been among a clique of CFMEU operatives active in the push by Ingham to regain union control. Detectives charged Perrett, 38, later that month over unrelated allegations that he was involved in the torture of missing man Andrew Burow. Additional charges of kidnapping, extortion, murder and interfering with a corpse were added last month. 2. The service agreement

The inquiry heard details of some of the Queensland unions financial arrangements, as well as a service agreement between its two related entities: the Queensland and Northern Territory branch of the federally registered union, and a Queensland-registered union. This agreement saw up to $50 million in fees from the states 15,000 to 20,000 members paid to the state-registered body instead of the federal one, stripping members of internal voting rights for elections, which had gone uncontested for 15 years. Former Queensland state secretary Michael Ravbar speaks to protesters outside state parliament in February 2024. Credit: Matt Dennien Irving said Ravbar and Ingham entered the agreement through their positions on both entities  without advising the national union governance body and without legal advice  in the days after the unopposed 2020 election of the pair and their team. A range of investment properties then appeared to be acquired by the state-registered union.

Irving noted he sought legal advice to correct the arrangement, which he described as contrary to union rules and the law. There would also be a vast amount of documentary evidence which will set this all out. Loading I have formed a view about the legality of those transactions, and that view will inform what actions I take against Mr Ravbar and Mr Ingham in terms of expulsion from membership, and in terms of any actions that need to be taken to report things to other authorities. 3. Ousted leaders shadow control only ended mid-year Irving also revealed the difficulty in prising shadow control of the branch, which he said was exerted until June or July this year, away from what he described as Ravbar and Inghams coercively controlled fiefdom.

It was only at this time, following Watsons report into violence in the branch and the leaders unsuccessful High Court challenge of the administration, that he said he saw a chance to seize real control himself and determine the good soldiers of bad generals. While Watson had told the inquiry he believed the situation in Queensland and NSW was under control, Irving said the fledgling nature of this meant his oversight was still needed  though the state branch was ready and willing to move forward with regulators, employers and governments. 4. Figures sacked, made redundant  and facing expulsion The release of an unredacted version of Watsons report, and a private one originally provided only to Irving, saw the identities of CFMEU figures involved in some of the incidents revealed  along with Watsons assessment of their future in the union. Additional evidence tendered by Irving confirmed all except delegate Rouel Harding and co-ordinator Dylan Howard had now been removed, had resigned, or took redundancies. Howard, Irving told the inquiry, had given a commitment to change, which he had accepted.

Irving also confirmed he had started disciplinary proceedings against Ravbar and Ingham, which could see the pair expelled from the union, and was considering such action for other national figures, including former Victorian leader John Setka, but against no others in Queensland. Loading Ravbar and Ingham, who refused to be interviewed by Watson based on what they later described as a lack of detail shared with them about the matters to be discussed, wholly rejected his eventual report and indicated through counsel this week they would defend themselves through the inquiry. 5. Little co-operation from big builders Watsons private report noted a number of potential witnesses were approached but declined to be interviewed.

While not identifying these beyond a still-redacted list, he wrote in the introduction he was very disappointed in the lack of co-operation from Cross River Rail contractor CPB and Centenary Bridge contractor BMD. Loading He separately told the inquiry of very open discussions with an industrial relations adviser on Cross River Rail who had been subjected to a campaign by the CFMEU before lawyers acting for CPB contacted him and they all clammed up. 6. The logistical hurdles ahead The next three-day hearing is set to begin on December 2, with a witness list not yet prepared.
The 2022 fatal ambush of police officers in Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, was not an act of religious terrorism but the result of a shared delusional disorder brought on by a belief that the shooters were experiencing the end of days, Queenslands state coroner has found.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, along with neighbour Alan Dare, were killed by religious fanatics and conspiracy theorists Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train on December 12 of that year.

Rather than an act of terrorism, State Coroner Terry Ryan found the trio acted defensively within their delusional framework to defend themselves and their property from what they regarded was an evil advance on them.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were shot dead during the ambush in Wieambilla. Credit: Queensland Police

In the months before 12 December 2022, they had been seeking to dissuade police engagement with them on their property, just as they took detailed steps to fortify their property against such engagement and waited to ambush any police who crossed their boundary, he said.
The November 22 edition

Reach for the stars is a phrase that is often bandied about when people are being urged to chase their dreams. It seems unassuming Aussie Adam Gilmour took this advice quite literally. His attempt to launch his companys Australian-made rocket has made global headlines  not least after the mission suffered a spectacular setback earlier this year, crashing shortly after liftoff in North Queensland. Liam Mannix, national science writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, looks at what makes Gilmour tick and the drivers behind this ambitious goal in todays cover story. Also to file under unassuming: the identical twins in the Two of Us column, Bruno and Otto Bell. A childhood fascination with creepy-crawlies has evolved into the pair becoming widely known experts in weevils and snails. And for anyone who might be thinking about reneging on their weekend plans, Katrina Stricklands Quick Take on why we cant keep our social commitments any more is required reading.  Melissa Stevens, editor
White supremacist Barry Butler was no stranger to guns when a man armed with one, and a silencer, crept up to his Beechworth bush block as sun fell on the outskirts of the regional gold rush town.

In the headlights of his black Kia Stinger sedan, antiques salesman Paul Flegel, 60, stood armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a belly full of Jack Daniels whiskey.

Barry Butlers home on Buckland Gap Road, Beechworth, after the shooting. Credit: Nine News

At the front door, a friend of Flegel reassured Butler, 63, they were just there to talk, as Butler squinted past him towards the Kia Stinger.

Seconds later, a hail of bullets rained down on the sprawling Buckland Gap Road home.
The State Library of Victoria plans to halve the number of reference librarians it employs and significantly reduce services, including provision of computers for public use, causing widespread concern and anxiety for staff.

The library bills itself as one of the most visited libraries in the world, with more than 2.8 million people through its doors in 2024-25, and celebrates its 170th anniversary next year, but staff say a proposed restructure would decimate some core services.

The State Library plans to remove some computers available for public use. Credit: Eamon Gallagher

Six staff members, who spoke to this masthead on condition of anonymity out of concern for their jobs, say proposed changes are outrageous. As outlined to staff by the librarys senior managers, they include cutting the number of reference librarians from 25 to 10, and dramatically reducing the number of computers available to the public  a critical service for disadvantaged people  from the current 25.

Four full-time collections staff would be axed, as well as three library officers, two children- and families-engagement officers, and two digital-access officers.
Thousands of aged care and disability carers will be stripped of their qualifications after a rogue training provider issued them with bogus credentials.

Unqualified carers pose a huge risk to those they care for, a leading vocational training expert said on Friday, warning that there were likely to be thousands more working in the aged care and disability sectors without proper training.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority announced on Thursday it intends to cancel 6992 qualifications from Kingsway Vocational Training  which also traded as VETNET Education Services  because they were handed to people who had not received the appropriate training.

More than 4000 people who were awarded certificates to work in the disability sector or in aged care will have their qualifications cancelled. Credit: iStock

More than 4000 of the cancelled qualifications were for individual support service certificates, which are required for individuals to work with people with disabilities or in the aged care sector.
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 The leaders of extremist religious sect the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church this week tightened their grip over every aspect of their members lives and finances, while rejecting the prime ministers accusation that theyre a cult. Leaked audio from the churchs annual conference, Strive 26, held on Monday and obtained by this masthead, features Dean and Charles Hales  two of the ultra-wealthy sons of the Man of God, Bruce Hales  pressuring the Brethren saints to give more money and to hand over more financial information to centrally controlled companies. The church is facing an ongoing Australian Taxation Office investigation, scrutiny from a parliamentary committee over its widespread support for Peter Dutton at the last election, and a number of audits of its publicly funded school system. A recent service of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. The sect, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, is a closed organisation which preaches a hatred for people outside the church. Its followers, known to each other as saints, are taught Hales is so close to the Lord Jesus that he can feel his heartbeat. The Strive 26 conference, conducted over Zoom, and at which all Brethren households globally were expected to be present, is designed to shore up the churchs vast ecosystem. The ecosystem is a multi-billion dollar network of entities, overseen by a Global Advisory Panel of senior Brethren members, including the church itself and its charities and investment vehicles, as well as Brethren members individual businesses, schools, church properties and its public-facing charity, the Rapid Relief Team.

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Individual Brethren businesses were heavily encouraged to divulge all their financial affairs to a central business run by church elders, and to invite Brethren board advisers to help their companies prosper. The Hales brothers celebrated at the conference that properties housing all gospel halls globally had recently been pulled under the control of trustees operating out of the PBCC headquarters in Sydney. The PBCC says this is to standardise their operation, to give access to world-class advice and to reduce costs. Families were also told that all school children should have proprietary Brethren spyware called Streamline 3 on their phones for their protection. A spokesman denied these moves were an attempt to centralise control or influence over individuals, private businesses or church properties. Gareth Hales (left) with Charles Hales, sons of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church head Bruce Hales. Credit: Nine A key purpose of the Strive 26 meeting was to tap church members for a single, rolled up donation to fund its various enterprises, which the church leaders call one number. I believe the whole ecosystem costs about $430 million per annum to run and the school makes up $370 [million] of that, Charles Hales told the global meeting of Brethren members.

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This years global one number need is $261 million Australian dollars, another speaker announced  the equivalent of $5000 for every man, woman and child member of the church globally. Separate church documents say its purpose is elevating circumstances and accelerating prosperity. According to a church insider, speaking anonymously for fear of the consequences of being identified: They say, Give what you can  give until it hurts. Were not a cult The churchs leaders spent considerable time saying it was not a cult  a sore point after Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses campaign-trail accusation spurred by its deployment of thousands of members to campaign for Dutton. PBCC is a system of care, compassion and teaching to help us move forward in every area of our lives, one Australian speaker told the flock. Were a Christian church, not a cult. Were not controlling business, were not political influencers. Dean Hales, who is widely regarded as his fathers possible successor as Elect Vessel of the church, likewise said: We have guidelines, we have direction, we have ministry, we have the Holy Bible and the scriptures that we seek to lead and abide our lives by. But theres no ultimate control.

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His brother, Charles, another potential leader, said there was further proof in how often children attended church. Its not even an hour a night. In some instances, it might only be half an hour. So to call the PBCC a group that brainwashes the oncoming generation could not be further from the truth, he said. Still, they said adults and children should spend time every day reading ministry  the transcribed words of Bruce Hales, whos also known as the Minister of the Lord in the Recovery of the Truth. Its all those daily disciplines of righteousness that sets you up for prosperity  We have to keep at it day in, day out, Dean Hales told the meeting. The identities of all speakers were not always clear to this masthead, but one said: We couldnt be further from a cult. These men [Bruce Hales, his father and other former Brethren leaders]  theyve led us, theyve taught us, theyve fathered us, theyve shepherded us. Theres nothing more they could have done for us  Thats every step of our lives we have been shown the way. A church spokesman accused this masthead of repeating the lie to the point that it was even echoed by the prime minister. It had resulted in personal attacks on members and was upsetting, hurtful and untrue.

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US sociologist and cultic studies expert Dr Janja Lalich says a cult is characterised by zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and that cult adherents regard the leaders belief system, ideology, and practices as the truth, as law. Peer pressure is used to influence members behaviour and the cult discourages questioning, doubt and dissent. Cults also claim a special, exalted status for themselves, their leaders and members, she says. The Brethren describe themselves as the saints; they revere the words of Mr Bruce, which are printed and passed to every Brethren household globally. They claim to have special light and they have a raft of strict and inflexible rules. If members leave the church, or are withdrawn from (excommunicated) they stand to lose their businesses and livelihoods, access to their families and their entire social circle. The ATO investigation In March last year, the Australian Taxation Office mounted an unannounced raid on the global headquarters of the Brethren ecosystems parent company, the charity Universal Business Team, or UBT. Weeks later, its linked accounting firm shut down.

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But even Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has said Woodside was partly to blame for the years-long process. Were also hearing constant talk about the need to fast-track development of critical minerals and rare earth resources to drive our renewables future. However, the critical minerals deal struck between Australia and the US last month highlights that government funding and trade agreements are increasingly focused on defence, not the energy transition that was pitched to Australians ahead of the election. In WA, we see a proposal to extract gallium from tailings at Alcoas Wagerup refinery. We would expect that any such proposal would go through a rigorous environmental assessment process, but the current narrative around fast-tracking projects of national significance could see a further dismantling of our national environment laws. Mining has costs for our environment and communities, and CCWA is well aware of the need to access minerals for renewables. But its a different proposition altogether to further degrade our environment to fuel defence measures, without having an honest conversation with the community.

Often, we see conversations framed around deregulation and the impossible challenges of green or red tape. What is missing from this conversation is a true account of the crisis nature is in, right across this state. Loading WA is home to eight of Australias 15 biodiversity hotspots, and it contains between 600,000700,000 native species, many found nowhere else in the world. Across WA, 65 Threatened Ecological Communities are formally listed as such under the Biodiversity Conservation Act, with a further 390 identified as likely to be threatened and are a priority for listing. The toll is alarming. The Pilbara, one of the most prosperous regions in the country, has been developed at a significant cost.

Alcoas impact from strip-mining of our Northern Jarrah Forest has put precious flora and fauna on the brink of extinction, compounded due to climate change. As a movement, we have worked to elevate our concerns for nature, so they can be adequately accounted for in the planning of future projects in WA. Nature is well behind the eight-ball when it comes to industry, and industry-first rhetoric only reinforces that reality. While there is an argument for removing duplication in project approvals at a state and federal level, there is the dark art of using this as an excuse to compromise the entire process. Environment groups are not opposed to efficiency but what we want, and what the environment needs, is decision-making processes that ensure environmental protection.

In WA, we have a government hell-bent on passing a State Development Bill that, again, puts nature second to big business and industry. Loading It seeks to undermine the broad legislative outcomes we have agreed through parliament by creating a bill to rule over 40 pieces of existing legislation, including impacting the state Environmental Protection Act. Why would the federal government be handing over the assessment reigns to a state government that has shown scant regard for the protection of nature? In our political system, we have a dedicated resources minister. She does not consult heavily with environmental groups and makes no apologies in just backing the resources sector under her portfolio.
Blood oil: A new series by the Herald and The Age.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has applauded the worlds biggest oil refinery for vowing to stop using Russian crude to produce petrol and diesel for the Australian market, as Australia and the European Union move closer to striking a sweeping free trade deal.

This masthead reported this week that the largest Indian supplier of fuel to Australia, Reliance Industries, said it would end the use of Russian oil at its export refinery from the start of December.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed moves by a major oil exporter to stop buying Russian crude. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Australian-Ukrainian community, however, is still calling on the government to close all loopholes allowing Russian-origin oil into Australia and join the European Union and Britain by vowing to stop any Russian energy products from entering via intermediaries.

Speaking during a visit to New Delhi to meet her Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Wong acknowledged Reliances announcement that it would no longer receive shipments of Russian oil at its Jamnagar Refinery.
But now that Ley has locked in behind the partys adopted position  to ditch net zero in favour of a vague aspiration towards emissions reduction as a welcome outcome  we probably will never know what she really thinks. Loading Leys mysteriousness on this point puts her in contrast to previous opposition leaders, from Robert Menzies and Gough Whitlam to John Howard and Tony Abbott. We always knew what they thought. They led from a position, and when that position changed (as Howards did on the GST, for example), they explained their reasons. But Leys conception of her role as opposition leader is clearly very different to the men who have come before her. Her priority has been keeping the Coalition together, and as soon as the Nationals decided to ditch a sensible, economically literate energy policy, it was always going to be impossible for the Liberals to have it, while staying in the marriage. Ley opted to keep the marriage together.

In theory, now that the opposition has united behind a common goal, it can start the business of oppositioning in earnest. Its a huge task. The challenge before [Ley] is almost of the magnitude that Whitlam and Menzies faced, says Paul Strangio, emeritus professor of politics at Monash University. Shes facing a situation of a party in a moribund state, that requires significant renewal and recasting to think about what part of the electorate its going to focus on. In an ideal world, says Strangio, Ley would undertake the large, creative, imaginative project of rebuilding the policies and constituencies of the contemporary Liberal Party, just as Menzies did, and just as Whitlam and Bill Hayden did for the Labor side of politics. The opposition is focusing on issues like home-grown manufacturing (a favourite of the Holden-fondling Andrew Hastie). Credit: @andrewhastiemp But the circumstances are so far from ideal that its difficult to make credible comparisons with those models of opposition.

To the right, the Liberals are aggressively nibbled at by the globalised forces of populism. This tends to lead to a focus on the sorts of issues  home-grown manufacturing (a favourite of the Holden-fondling Andrew Hastie), immigration cuts, defence spending and culture war stuff  that hold little appeal, in general, for the constituencies the Liberals need desperately to win over: women and young people. Loading (To wit, this week South Australian Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan said his office had been contacted by many members questioning why they should remain in the party given they are parents and the Coalition does not seem to care about the future.) The Liberal party room seems ambivalent, at best, about accepting the authority of its first female leader. To its right, One Nation surges at 18 per cent, according to the latest Redbridge poll, with the Liberals not so far ahead at 24 per cent, their lowest primary vote since Federation. One Nation is an increasingly credible electoral threat (although, lets remember the right-wing party has never won, in its own right, a seat in the lower house). But perhaps more importantly, high support for One Nation gives the right flank of the Coalition solid grounds to argue they need to cater to those voters.

All this brings us to the greatest challenge facing not just Ley, but any contemporary opposition. The electorate is increasingly fractured in its vote. At the last election, 34 per cent of voters opted for minor parties and independents as their first-preference vote. Thats more than the 32 per cent of voters who put the Coalition as their first preference on their ballot forms. Compare that with the 1972 election, which ushered in the great reformist Gough Whitlam, when minor parties and independents won just 4 per cent of the vote. Whitlam had been opposition leader (for the first time) from 1967 to 1972. He used that time to prepare for governing  both with policy development and building up expertise in staff. Whatever the criticisms of his government, no one can say Whitlam hadnt prepared a full suite of policies before he was elected. The Labor opposition under Hayden also used its time productively. A committee was formed to prepare for the transition to government, which of course, in our system, happens overnight, unlike the US system, where the change-over doesnt take effect until several months after an election. Howard used his time as opposition leader to make headland speeches, among other things, says Professor Frank Bongiorno of the Australian National University. There was growing dissatisfaction with the Keating government, and Howard had well-pitched rhetoric for that context, Bongiorno says.

Loading Tony Abbott was a remarkably effective opposition leader who overcame low personal popularity ratings and did the intellectual and policy labour required before coming to government. His fatal flaw was that he was so good as opposition leader that he stuck with the model even after becoming prime minister, when a different set of skills was necessary. But is the traditional model of opposition  to hold the government to account, and to do the policy work to ready yourself for government  still fit for purpose? The worlds most famous democracy, the United States, has no formal opposition. In the Westminster system, the idea of an opposition dates back about 500 years, according to Scott Prasser, a former senior public servant-turned researcher, who last year co-edited a book titled The Art of Opposition. By about the 17th century, you could criticise the Kings ministers and ride your horse home without being killed, Prasser says. Things have improved, at least marginally. Now the cavalry charge is more likely to come from your own side. But in Britain, for example, the once-great Tory party has so thoroughly trashed its own credibility that Nigel Farages Reform UK now polls better than the Conservatives and British Labour. Consequently, the Tories hold on formal opposition status is shaky at best.

Nigel Farages Reform UK now polls better than the Conservatives and British Labour. Credit: AP It is Farages right-wing party that is pushing the Labour governments agenda. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just announced a suite of hardline migration policies, including deportations, a response to the pressure applied by the anti-immigration Farage. In Australia, the Liberals have coasted for decades on their self-nominated reputation as the natural party of government. The lassitude and ineptitude of the Morrison government, in particular, formed a strong rebuttal to that claim. Ley was right  they got smashed at the last election. The Liberals acknowledge that they deserve to be in opposition. But they seem unable to grasp how lucky they are to be in opposition. Because as the existential challenges to the two-party system only increase, the concept of opposition as we know it might not exist forever.
Cascade Copper has completed an initial compilation programme of historical exploration and mining data for its Bendor gold-tungsten project in British Columbia, Canada.

The Bendor project lies close to Talisker Resources Bralorne mine and Endurance Golds Reliance project.

Cascade said historical sampling at the Bendor project has revealed substantial mineralisation.

Underground workings at the Bristol area recorded assays of up to 30.86 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 6.5% tungsten trioxide.

A 23kg bulk sample collected from a winze reportedly assayed 48g/t gold, 20.6g/t silver and 0.16% tungsten trioxide.

Chip sampling from the Bristol level 2 drift produced results ranging from 0.6g/t gold up to 32.5g/t gold.

Exploration drilling from the Bristol level 3 drift yielded a highlight intercept of 27.5g/t gold over 5.3m, including an interval of 70g/t gold over 0.8m.

Historical trench samples taken along the 225m Benboe Vein assayed up to 16.4g/t gold and 17.14g/t silver.

In addition, grab samples at the Silverside showing returned up to 1.03g/t gold, 72g/t silver and 9.6% copper.

There are widespread, untested gold-in-soil anomalies present across the project area.

Cascade Copper has outlined several next steps for exploration at its Bendor gold-tungsten project.

The company will conduct a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic inversion of recent airborne magnetic-radiometric survey data and integrate the results into a comprehensive geological model to support future exploration and drill targeting.

Following completion of the 3D magnetic inversion and data modelling, the company expects to submit a permit application covering diamond drilling and geophysics within the next month. This could lead to targeted diamond drilling in 2026.

The project has only undergone minimal surface exploration and shallow drilling in a limited area around the historic mine workings at Bristol.

Cascade Copper VP exploration Shannon Baird said: The previous exploration work at Bendor has shown some impressive values of gold, tungsten and silver throughout the Bristol and Benboe workings and vein systems.

We are extremely excited to complete the magnetic inversion modelling and 3D interpretation in preparation to get on the ground and follow up on these historic results. By all indications, there exists significant potential to expand on the mineralised gold system at Bendor.

Recent changes in year-round snow cover have exposed new areas on the north side of the Bendor Pluton, referred to as Oxide Ridge, including copper mineralised veining, massive pyrrhotite lenses and alteration zones.
For a time, Kellie Sloanes backers worried there was a stumbling block to her becoming Liberal leader. Could a leader from an electorate that screams privilege really speak to the citys western suburbs or the states regions?

The party has previously experimented with a leader from Vaucluse, and it failed spectacularly. But was it the name of the electorate or the choice of leader? (Peter Debnam led the Liberals to a loss in 2007, an election even Labor admits should not have gone their way.)

Newly installed NSW Liberal Party leader Kellie Sloane outside Edgecliff station in her Vaucluse electorate. Credit: Dylan Coker

Liberal operatives ultimately landed on Vaucluse not being a major hindrance for Sloane, convinced that her strong communication skills would be able to neutralise accusations of being out of touch.

But NSW Labor has other ideas  and has been reminding voters at every opportunity that Sloane hails from an electorate home to waterside mansions and the countrys most expensive schools.
New NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has vowed to pursue a pro-housing agenda and put families at the centre of all policies as she takes on the leadership after a torrid week for the party.

In her first public comments as leader, Sloane said she was ready for the fight and had switched from reluctant recruit to being focused and driven to do the job.

New NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane says she is 100 per cent ready to take on the job. Credit: Steven Siewert

The next election is just over 15 months away, and I say that I dont underestimate the challenge ahead of us, but I am ready for the fight and, as a team, we are ready for the fight, Sloane said.

Sloane, with her deputy Natalie Ward by her side, spoke just hours after the party room unanimously installed her as leader, ending a damaging 24 hours for the Liberals as they stumbled over how to convince Mark Speakman to stand down.
Police raised concerns internally about the optics of neo-Nazis rallying outside NSW parliament and the impact on the Jewish community more than a week before the National Socialist Network protest, documents reveal.

Texts, emails and briefing notes produced under a parliamentary order also show senior police scrambling after the November 8 protest caught Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Premier Chris Minns unaware.

Documents reveal the lead-up to the November 8 rally and its fallout. Credit: Artwork: Matt Willis

Police had received a notice of intent to hold the protest on October 28, did not oppose it and failed to inform Lanyon, who blamed a communication error. The government has since flagged new laws cracking down on people who display support for Nazi ideology.

The documents reveal Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell, who has acknowledged failing to inform Lanyon of the rally plans due to an oversight, reporting his bosss displeasure to a colleague shortly after the rally took place.
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 Akita: It was a crisp autumn morning in the northern Japanese region of Akita, and people were on edge. Commuters  some wearing bells, some carrying cans of repellent spray  walked gingerly down leaf-covered streets. Children had been warned to stay indoors. Parks were sealed off with yellow tape  Do Not Enter!  and a menacing silhouette. Troops patrolled nearby mountains, brandishing shields and setting traps. Drones flew overhead. Akita was on a war footing against a 180-kilogram, persimmon-loving foe: the Asiatic black bear. The animal has been linked to more than 50 attacks and four deaths in the region this year, part of a nationwide surge of aggression by bears that is testing Japans traditional belief in harmonious co-existence with nature. Bears have injured elderly residents in Akita who were taking out the trash and delivering newspapers. They have sneaked up on mushroom hunters and rice farmers, broken into supermarkets and been spotted on school grounds. One widely circulated video showed an 82-year-old woman being attacked from behind during her morning walk. Loading When you cross the street in Akita now, you look right, you look left and then you look for bears, said Akihiro Suzuki, 65, a retired government worker, as he made his way to the library on a recent day. You never know when a bear might be around.

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Akita prefecture, home to about 880,000 people, is on the front line of Japans bear crisis, which has penetrated the national psyche and drawn an all-out response from the government. Across the country, nearly 200 people have been attacked by bears this year, and a record 13 have died. Bears have been spotted in northern ski towns and southern villages and on the outskirts of cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. The United States, Canada and Britain have recently issued travel warnings about bears in Japan. Experts have attributed the rise in attacks partly to climate change, with storms wreaking havoc on vegetation such as beech trees, which produce the nuts that bears depend on. Bears have grown increasingly brazen in their quest for calories, venturing into urban centres in search of scraps. A village near Kita-Akita and Ani districts sits alongside forest shared by humans and bears in Akita Prefecture. Credit: Kentaro Takahashi/NYT Japans demographic changes have also exacerbated the problem. Farming communities used to serve as buffers, separating the mountains from more densely inhabited areas. But as Japans population shrinks and ages, and as young people move to cities, some rural areas have hollowed out. Bears are moving in, inching closer to human settlements. In Japan, where mountains and forests make up about 70 per cent of the land, bears are considered sacred beings. In Hokkaido, Japans northern-most island, which has also seen a spike in attacks, the brown bear is revered as a deity living in the human realm. But concerns about tradition and conservation have largely been set aside as public anxiety has swelled. The Japanese government sent troops this month to hard-hit areas such as Akita to help set traps. Riot police have joined forces with the thinning ranks of hunters to track and kill bears. Drones  including some that emit the sound of barking dogs  have been deployed over parks. A prominent Japanese university recently released a Bear Encounter AI Prediction Map to forecast bear activity.

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Japan amended its strict gun laws this northern autumn to make it easier for hunters to shoot in residential areas. In Tottori prefecture, in western Japan, a group of hunters gathered recently to practise shooting a bear in an emergency. Two hunters, holding fake rifles, homed in on the bear, which was actually a government worker dressed in black and wearing a mask. Encounters between humans and bears in Japan are likely to continue, especially in autumn and spring when bears are hungriest, before and after they hibernate. The population of bears in Japan has risen in recent years and now exceeds 50,000, experts say, in a country of about 124 million people. Japan Ground Self-Defence Force members and others set up a box trap to capture bears in Kazuno, Akita prefecture, northern Japan. Credit: AP In Akita, the public is learning to adapt. Stores now open later and close earlier. The delivery of mail has been suspended in some areas. Commuters leave their apartments each morning armed with pocket-size bells and bear spray, which contains chilli pepper extract that irritates mucous membranes and eyes and can stop a bears charge within seconds. Children no longer walk alone to school. A stuffed bear on display at the Matagi Museum in Kita-Akita. Credit: Kentaro Takahashi/NYT The attacks have brought a sombre note to the peak of the northern autumn foliage season, when the regions fiery maple trees and gold-tinged forests typically draw crowds of carefree, selfie-snapping visitors. People have to live their daily lives not knowing when they, their family, co-workers or friends might be attacked, said Maki Koyama, 50, who works at a cultural centre in Akita. The current situation is one of fear and confusion.

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The governments effort to exterminate bears  by setting live traps that resemble steel cages and then shooting them  has troubled some traditional hunters, known as matagi. They follow ceremonies meant to return the bears spirits to the heavens. In Akita, bear meat is a local specialty at hot pot restaurants, and bear parts were once sold as medicine. Both we and the bears are in trouble, said Hideo Suzuki, 78, a matagi hunter in Akita. I feel sorry for the bears. Traditional hunters Hideo Suzuki and Masaru Ito roam the forests of Akita with traditional hunting tools known as nagasa. Credit: Kentaro Takahashi/NYT The ranks of hunters have dwindled in Akita in recent decades, contributing to the rise in the bear population. There were once hundreds of hunters in Suzukis group; now there are only about three dozen. He said it had been difficult to recruit young hunters as rural areas emptied out. Theres nothing for young people to do here, he said, so theres no need for them to come. A sign warning of bear sightings at the entrance of the closed Senshu Park in Akita City. Credit: Kentaro Takahashi/NYT The arrival of reinforcements in Akita this month is meant to help restore a sense of security and calm. Bears have dominated the national news recently; television channels routinely broadcast safety videos showing what to do in case of an encounter.

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Victims of bear attacks are also speaking out, urging a forceful response. Keiji Minatoya, the owner of a confectionery store in Akita, was attacked by a bear in his garage two years ago. The bear tore off a piece of his earlobe; when he looked in the mirror, he could see part of his skull. The bear attacked four other people in his neighbourhood that day. Minatoya, who still feels some numbness and tingling in his head and has a scar across his face, said that culling the population of bears was a necessary evil. He said he wished he could kill and eat the bear that attacked him. Keiji Minatoya outside the confectionery workshop where he was attacked by a bear two years ago, in Kita-Akita. Credit: Kentaro Takahashi/NYT Theyre more aggressive than I thought, and incredibly strong for their size, he said. Theyre extremely fast, powerful and aggressive. In Akita, business owners have seen a decline in foot traffic because, they said, people are too scared to go out. Tourists are still making the trek to the region, but they are shortening itineraries or staying indoors. Its not worth the risk of being eaten, said Teresa Liu, a visitor from Taiwan.

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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 This week, Donald Trump told MAGA supporters they were dumb. The US president was speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum before an audience that included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the worlds richest man Elon Musk and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang. Last month, chipmaker Nvidia became the worlds first $US5 trillion ($7.75 trillion) company by market capitalisation. Like its Silicon Valley brethren, it relies heavily on bringing skilled foreign workers into the US. In the MAGA universe of America first, thats a thorny issue. American jobs are for Americans. But Trump knows better, and he made a point of it. If tech companies need to bring in foreigners to make chips and other advanced technologies, they should do so, he said  and the foreigners can teach Americans how to do it. Donald Trump is increasingly disagreeing with his MAGA base. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Those who railed against skilled migration were great patriots, Trump said, but they just didnt understand the realities of the industry. Im sorry, he said. My poll numbers just went down  but with smart people, theyve gone way up. You cant open up a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars ... and think youre gonna hire people off an unemployment line to run it. Theyre going to have to bring thousands of people with them, and Im going to welcome those people. Trump revelled in his defiance of MAGA orthodoxy. I may take a little heat  I always take a little heat from my people, he said. I love my conservative friends, I love MAGA, but this is MAGA.

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Almost all political leaders disappoint their base. Labor lets down the true believers, the Liberals frustrate their right-wing flank. But the relationship between Trump and MAGA is altogether different. The president likes to say he created the movement, and MAGA is whatever he says it is. US President Donald Trump said smart people would appreciate his drive to bring in foreign workers to make chips. Credit: AP That symbiosis is being tested. At the pointy end is the Epstein files  now set to be released, to some extent at least, after Trump bowed to reality and signed a bill that will make them public. After resisting for months, the president has returned to the pre-election MAGA orthodoxy: that the Epstein files would primarily embarrass prominent Democrats and members of the so-called East Coast elite. But there are deeper reasons for the MAGA movement fissures. They span concerns about Trump spending too much time on foreign affairs, his position on China and Chinese students, and divisions over antisemitism, US support for Israel, the cost of living and artificial intelligence. Trumps America is also not immune from the global ructions on immigration that are dividing Australia, Britain and Europe. Although the administration rapidly and successfully cracked down on unlawful immigration, it is legal migration  people coming on work visas from India, China, South Korea and elsewhere  that stirred the rift. It crystallised in a rare combative moment in an interview between Trump and Fox News host Laura Ingraham last week. Ingraham: If you want to raise wages for American workers, you cant flood the country with tens of thousands  or hundreds of thousands  of foreign workers.

Trump: I agree, but you also do have to bring in talent.

Ingraham: We have plenty of talented people.

Trump: No, you dont. You dont have certain talents, and people have to learn.

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The president was especially aggrieved by an immigration raid on a Hyundai factory in the state of Georgia in September, in which hundreds of skilled workers, mostly South Koreans, were arrested and accused of working unlawfully in the US. Lawyers said the employees had valid visas; some have since returned to the plant. They were told to get out, and I said, Stop it, dont be stupid, and we worked it out, Trump told this weeks Saudi conference. Vice President JD Vance said divisions in the MAGA movement were fine as long as they did not detract from fighting the enemy. Credit: AP Thats all a markedly different message than the one delivered by Vice President JD Vance the next day at an event with right-wing news website Breitbart. In the grand Andrew W. Mellon auditorium on Washingtons Constitution Avenue, Vance departed from Trumps usual claim that Americans present economic woes are entirely caused by his predecessor. Lets be honest, its not just Joe Biden ... we had a policy in this country for 40 years of shipping American jobs overseas and hiring foreign workers instead of American workers, Vance said. That has caused the economic stagnation of the American middle class. While he was emphatic that the Trump administration is on the right path, Vance sounded a different tone to his bosss regular insistence that prices are down and the economy is humming. We get it, we hear you, he told struggling Americans. We understand that theres a lot more work to do, and the thing that Id ask for the American people is a little bit of patience. Just as Trump was on stage with the Saudis, a panel on foreign work visas was under way at the Washington offices of the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that bills itself as the intellectual base of the America First movement.

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Simon Hankinson, the foundations senior fellow for immigration and border security, disputed that the US had a shortage of talent and skilled labour. If anything, he said, the skills shortfall was caused by deep rot in US educational institutions, where meritocracy has been replaced with equity  everyone gets an A. The specialty workers that even big American companies really need  as opposed to want  should fit in a bus, and not a stadium, Hankinson said. He was also at odds with Trumps newfound enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, which the president proudly says America will dominate. Instead, Hankinson said AI was poised to take a wrecking ball to the job market. Loading We all somehow think that its going to make us richer, its going to grow the economy, its going to make us more productive. But nobody has any clue what jobs are going to be left over. So, given this uncertainty, why would we put foreign workers needs ahead of those of our own graduates and our own workers? Similar concerns have been raised by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former MAGA diehard-turned-outspoken critic who has recently broken with the president on everything from Epstein to healthcare to foreign policy. Promoting H1-B visas to replace American jobs, bringing in 600,000 Chinese students to replace American students  those are not America first positions, Greene told CNN last weekend.

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She also scolded Trump for spending too much time overseas. I said this to him: I would love to see Air Force One be parked and stay home, and there be nothing but a constant focus from the White House on a domestic agenda. Marjorie Taylor Greene (right) at a press conference on the Epstein files on Tuesday. Credit: AP Trump is publicly calling Greene  who on Saturday AEDT announced she would resign from Congress in January  a lunatic, a disgrace and a traitor. At a news conference with Epsteins victims this week, she retorted: Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves. Spending too much time overseas is a complaint that gets levelled at many world leaders, including Anthony Albanese and Britains Keir Starmer. Dennis Lennox, a Republican strategist, says it is usual for second-term presidents to elevate foreign affairs in importance as they look to secure their legacy on the world stage. Trump is proud of his efforts to end wars, and he has an eye on the Nobel Peace Prize. Loading But there is also friction in MAGA about foreign policy decisions. Plenty of America first subscribers question the USs alliance with Israel and its funding of Israels defence. Others indulge antisemitic conspiracy theories about money and power. Republican senator Ted Cruz recently called out rising antisemitism on the right, and said it had to be reckoned with. That internal skirmish played out in dramatic fashion at the Heritage Foundation, when its president, Kevin Roberts, saw fit to defend commentator Tucker Carlson over his sympathetic interview with declared white supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

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Washington: The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has repudiated its past insistence that vaccines do not cause autism after decades of fighting misinformation linking the two, blindsiding career staff and delighting anti-vaccine activists.

The agencys website on vaccines and autism, updated on Wednesday, now makes several false claims about a connection, echoing longtime rhetoric from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has a lengthy history of disparaging vaccines and linking them to autism.

Longtime vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr was appointed US health secretary in February. Credit: Bloomberg

Career scientists at the agency responsible for information about vaccine safety and autism had no prior knowledge about the changes to the website and were not consulted, according to five agency officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Before the Wednesday update, the CDC webpage stated that studies had shown that there was no link between vaccines and developing autism, and that no links had been found between any vaccine ingredients and the disorder, according to archived webpages.
THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE):--- Her Excellency Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell attended an Extraordinary Joint Session of the States General on Thursday, 20 November 2025.

The commemorative session, held in the historic Grote Kerk in The Hague, marked exactly eighty years since the First and Second Chambers of Parliament convened together again after being suspended during the Second World War.

On 20 November 1945, the Dutch parliamentary system took its first steps toward recovery following years of war and occupation. With both Chambers having been rendered inoperative during the conflict, the post-war reconstruction of the Kingdom required not only physical rebuilding but also the restoration of democratic governance.

By attending this special session, Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell reaffirmed Sint Maartens active engagement within the constitutional and democratic traditions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Her presence emphasized not only recognition of the past but also Sint Maartens commitment to shared values, inter-island cooperation, and the safeguarding of democratic principles for future generations.

Extraordinary Joint Sessions are held only on exceptional occasions. The most recent prior session took place in 2015, marking the 200th anniversary of the States General. The symbolic date of 20 November 2025 was chosen to reflect on the end of the war, the meaning of freedom, and the importance of protecting democratic institutions in a time marked by conflict, polarization, and societal pressures.

The ceremony began at 10:30 AM on Thursday and lasted one hour. His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Princess Amalia attended as honored guests.

Speeches were delivered by the Presidents of both Chambers, outgoing Prime Minister, Minister of General Affairs Dick Schoof, and General (ret.) Peter van Uhm, who reflected on the resilience of the Dutch democracy and the necessity of safeguarding its foundations.
~Powerful Address at Global Gender Conference in Ghana~

Accra, Ghana/PHILIPSBURG;--- President of the Parliament of St. Maarten, Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, in her role as Chair of the 3rd International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE 2025), delivered a powerful speech in Accra, urging urgent global action to speed up gender equality in a rapidly digitalizing world.

Wescot-Williams opened by highlighting the island's unique history, deep African heritage, and long-standing commitment to unity, noting the significance of advancing gender equality in a global forum hosted on the African continent, a region whose voice and contributions are essential to advancing gender equality worldwide.

She reminded delegates that thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, its unfinished promise still demands global resolve. Every barrier to women and girls equality anywhere becomes a threat to all of us, everywhere, she said.

She welcomed the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, emphasizing its priorities, including closing the digital divide, eliminating violence, and advancing economic opportunity, climate justice, and participation in decision-making. But she warned that without financing and gender-responsive data, commitments remain rhetorical.

A significant portion of her address focused on the digital revolution. Wescot-Williams underscored that while technology can accelerate equality, it can also deepen disparities. Women remain less likely to access mobile internet, girls are underrepresented in STEM, and online harassment continues to silence womens voices. The digital divide is not only about access; it is about power, who designs technology, who controls data, and who benefits from innovation, she stated.

She highlighted the work of technologists, policy leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten women who are driving critical advances in digital transformation across the region. In particular, she noted that Ife Badejos AI Islands Summit is helping position small island states for AI readiness and supporting Caribbean women entrepreneurs to innovate and lead.

Wescot-Williams urged delegates to view ICGE 2025 not as a moment but a movement. Let us be the generations that do more than diagnose inequalitylet us be the generations that dismantle it, she concluded. Equality is the destination. Technology is the vehicle. And our responsibility begins now.
MARIGOT:--- The Collectivite of Saint-Martin informs taxi drivers operating on the territory including those from the Dutch side of the island that a new organization is put in place at the "Emmanuel MONIQUE" taxi station on the Marigot Waterfront.

To reduce undeclared work and stop daily rude behavior, the Collectivite of Saint-Martin has reorganized the access of taxi operators at the Emmanuel Monique taxi station on the Marigot waterfront.

During the high tourist season, more than 2,000 people pass through this location each day, whether between the ferry terminal and the boats coming from Anguilla and St. Barth or tourists transported by buses from the Dutch side, and visitors exploring Marigot.

The Collectivite therefore deemed it crucial to organize and secure the taxi parking area, as well as the designated area in front of the ferry terminal, to make it an exclusive parking place and allow taxi drivers to work under better conditions.

Parking redevelopment work is underway to redefine the waiting and passenger pick-up routes. These works are accompanied by urban improvements aimed at encouraging taxi drivers loyalty to the site, in exchange of an annual contribution on their part.

The new organization consists of:

* Installing automatic barriers and high-use, shared badge readers

* Controlling access powered by a set of photocells

* Creating individual, timestamped access badges that can be controlled remotely

* Centralizing access management IT via the internet

* Dismantling barriers in the event of a demonstration on the site

* Implementing a closure system backed up by batteries in case of a power outage

As a reminder:

* Assistant drivers who do not hold Dutch nationality or do not have a European passport or ID card are not allowed to work on the Emmanuel Monique taxi station site.

* The vehicles used must be compliant, clean, and well-maintained (necessary documents, good overall appearance, bodywork in good condition, tires and accessories in good condition).

All taxi drivers are encouraged to comply with the essential criteria for regular professional activity and passenger safety, in order to structure the taxi transportation service on the French side and halt the increase of gypsy taxis.
The European asset finance community gathered in style last night at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski for the 22nd Annual Leasing Life Awards, following a full-day conference titled Transforming the Future of Leasing.

Leasing Life Conference 2025 to focus on AI and digital transformation

Hosted with trademark wit and energy by Paul Bennett of Madox Square Advisory, the ceremony honoured nine organisations whose achievements are shaping the next era of leasing across innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and customer impact.

Across every category, judges Roger Skinner (chairman of Finativ), Alejandro Gonzalez (editor of Leasing Life), and the joint vote from Hugo J.M. Aaldering and Paul Johnson-Ferguson (respectively, Practice Director and Executive Director of Invigors) assessed entries, awarding winners based on measurable progress, sector influence, and forward-looking vision.

Winners of the Leasing Life Awards 2025

Best Sustainability Initiative of the Year

Winner: BPCE Equipment Solutions

Judges praised BPCE Equipment Solutions for turning sustainability into a core business engine rather than a peripheral strategy. Their Care & Dare about the Future programme has financed more than 3 billion in green and circular assets, achieved EcoVadis certification across all entities, and trained over 80% of employees in ESG fundamentals. The panel highlighted how ESG principles permeate governance, credit, training, and client engagement, setting a benchmark for purpose-led transformation.

Circular Economy Model of the Year

Winner: BNP Paribas 3 Step IT

This award recognised the organisations renewable-energy-powered refurbishment centre, purpose-built to advance circularity. Judges admired its capacity to process hundreds of thousands of devices annually and its material impact on waste reduction, emissions savings, and resource efficiency. The projects blend of sustainability, technological innovation, and social inclusion was cited as an example of circularity at industrial scale.

Digital Innovation of the Year (Asset Finance)

Winner: TotalSoft

TotalSoft secured the award for delivering a next-generation digital leasing platform that brings automation, AI readiness, and fully paperless operations into the mainstream. Judges remarked on its seamless customer journey, from instant approvals to cross-market connectivity, and how the solution empowers lenders, dealers, and customers with frictionless origination and onboarding. The platform was recognised as a blueprint for digital transformation in asset finance.

Digital Innovation of the Year (ESG)

Winner: PEAC Solutions

PEAC Solutions was honoured for a digital mobility platform created in collaboration with BusinessBike. Judges commended the companys ability to merge ESG goals with customer-centric design: instant onboarding, automated credit processes, and paperless contracting all support greener commuting across Europe. The award recognised the platforms capacity to drive sustainable behaviour through digital excellence.
Teen saving India's ponds says everyone can be a leader



Geneva, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Dev Karan recalls the first time he saw a purple pond, "filled with dyes and chemicals, and choked with plastic".

"It was heart-wrenching," the 17-year-old from Haryana state in northern India told AFP in an interview.

That sight during a school trip two years ago made him realise that "the climate crisis is happening everywhere".

He decided he had to act.

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Young Activists Summit (YAS) at the United Nations in Geneva, Karan described his path to becoming the youngest of five laureates at this year's event.

He won on Thursday for his efforts to restore India's traditional ponds, which help prevent floods and soil erosion by storing water.

Ponds are "often used by villages as a source of drinking water during droughts, help in carbon sequestration, nourish groundwater and they are biodiversity hotspots", he said.



- 'Climate literacy' -



Yet there is far less attention on protecting and preserving these vital small water bodies than on oceans and rivers, he said.

He and his friends noticed that even when huge investment goes into cleaning up ponds, they often slip back into decay after a few years due to lacking maintenance.

Karan co-founded Pondora, an organisation that helps villages monitor their water quality using IT-based sensors and mobile tools.

The team visits schools and teaches students how to use their kits, consisting of Bluetooth-connected monitors with sensors registering things like temperature, salinity and pH levels, as well as chemical strips to detect various compounds.

They have trained an army of "Pond Ambassadors" to support local maintenance.

"We focus on climate literacy and basically show them the importance of preserving such water bodies," Karan said.

"They now go around themselves and take the data from the ponds... (they are) going from being passive observers to activists."

YAS hailed Karan's "replicable model for water ecosystem restoration -- one pond at a time".



- 'Your voice matters' -



The aspiring engineering student told AFP that exploring how digital technologies could simplify pond monitoring and using social media to spread the word had come naturally to him.

"Growing up in a generation which had phones in their hands from a very long time, my thought process always goes to how we can use this as the medium," he said.

Karan said Pondora was currently seeking to create a database for all Indian ponds, pointing out that in New Delhi, half of those on paper had disappeared, with many covered up to make room for an expanding population.

The goal is to raise awareness about the need to protect remaining ponds, including through a social media campaign urging people to post their photo with the one nearest them.

Karan had one message for other young people: "Your voice matters."

"Even if you contribute something which is small, it has ripple effects," he said.

"Everyone can be a leader. You just have to have the courage to start."
US demands Google ad breakup in court closing arguments



Washington, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



The US government asked a federal judge on Friday to order the breakup of Google's digital advertising business, arguing that the tech giant's pledges to change its practices cannot be trusted.

Government lawyers made their case in closing arguments of a lawsuit focused on Google's ad tech "stack" -- the suite of tools that website publishers use to sell ads and advertisers use to buy them.

This marks a second major antitrust test for Google this year.

In September, a judge rejected a similar Department of Justice demand to break up the California-based tech giant's world-dominating search engine business.

These cases are part of a broader US government effort to curtail the competitive dominance of big tech companies, including Apple, Amazon and Meta.

Results have been mixed so far -- another judge decided against government lawyers in a suit against Meta's social media empire earlier this week.

In a brief filed ahead of Friday's arguments, the DOJ and multiple US states accused Google of illegally acquiring monopolies in two interconnected advertising technology markets through a "decade-long campaign of ever-mutating unlawful conduct."

The government's case portrays Google as simultaneously controlling multiple sides of the digital advertising marketplace -- owning the platform that publishers use to sell ads, the exchange where transactions occur, and commanding huge advertiser demand.

According to the DOJ, Google once compared this arrangement to Goldman Sachs owning the New York Stock Exchange.

"We are here to fix the problem. We will argue that the best solution is to break up Google's monopoly, which will create a new competitor," Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater said in a post on X.

Google has pushed back, characterizing the proposed remedies as extreme government overreach that would harm publishers, advertisers and consumers.

The company argues its integrated advertising tools deliver efficiency and innovation and that splitting up the service would be technically unfeasible.

The closing arguments follow a liability ruling earlier this year in which Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Google willfully monopolized both the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets.

Prosecutors are seeking sweeping remedies, including forcing the sale of Google's AdX ad exchange and requiring the company to open-source critical auction technology.

According to Laurel Kilgour of the American Economic Liberties Project, Brinkema expressed worry that her remedy decision risked having to be undone, with Google almost certain to appeal, potentially dragging out the process for years.

The closing arguments capped a remedies trial featuring testimony from 19 witnesses and seven experts over 11 days.

The judge in the search case cited the emergence of AI as a reason for treading lightly against Google.

In the ad tech case, DOJ lawyers argue the opposite -- that artificial intelligence advances will likely entrench rather than challenge Google's dominance.

A final ruling is expected in the coming months.

arp/iv
US Ukraine proposals 'not a real plan': Germany



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Germany's foreign minister said Friday that the US 28-point proposal to stop the war in Ukraine was "not a real plan", and details still needed to be hammered out by Kyiv.

"From my point of view, it is not a real plan, but simply a list of topics," Johann Wadephul told journalists in Brussels.

"I believe it is the task of the negotiating parties to define this."

Kyiv's EU backers have pushed back against the plan from Washington and said Kyiv and Europe need to be on board.

"We want to ensure that Ukraine can discuss these points from a strong negotiating position," Berlin's top diplomat said.

"It will be Ukraine that decides what compromises it makes, just as Russia will have to make such decisions for its part."

He added that "we are not referees here, but we are advocates for Ukraine, because Ukraine is defending its freedom and the freedom of Europe."

Under the sweeping 28-point plan backed by US President Donald Trump Ukraine would give up a swathe of eastern territory to Russia and slash the size of its army.

Kyiv would also pledge never to join NATO, and would not get the Western peacekeepers they have called for, although European warplanes would be stationed in Poland to protect Ukraine.

Russia would meanwhile be readmitted to the G8 group of nations and be rewarded with sanctions relief under the plan.

The proposal involves major concessions by Kyiv, which has previously refused to cede any land, while appearing to meet many of Moscow's maximalist demands following its 2022 invasion.
Niger junta taxes consumer imports to fund anti-jihadist fight



Niamey, Niger, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Niger's military regime has introduced new taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and other imports to help fund its fight against jihadists on its territory, authorities told AFP on Friday.

The new taxes include a seven-percent levy on cigarettes, 12 percent on beer and other beverages, 10 percent on refrigerators and up to five percent on motor vehicles, according to a list published by the economy ministry.

The Sahel region country suffers regular attacks by fighters linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group in the west, plus Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) branch in the southeast.

The junta has struggled to curb the violence since taking power under General Abdourahamane Tiani in a coup in July 2023.

After taking over, it set up a defence fund which is says is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and in October announced taxes on luxury goods.

Defence fund president Brah Reki Moussa announced a new one-percent tax on public and private sector workers' salaries, speaking recently on television.

She said the various new measures would raise the equivalent of $88 million.
Chinese and international benchmark coal prices have jumped in recent days to multi-month highs as Chinese thermal coal power generation surged in October while domestic production fell amid curbs to address excess capacity and oversupply in key industries.

This week, thermal coal prices at Qinhuangdao port assessed by consultancy SteelHome hit the highest in a year as they rose by 37% from the four-year lows seen in July, data compiled by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell showed.

The higher Chinese prices led to higher prices for the key Indonesian and Australian thermal coal benchmarks, which rose to six-month and 11-month highs, respectively, last week.

The higher prices were the result of surging Chinese thermal coal demand for power generation and reduced domestic coal production amid government measures to curb oversupply and support coal prices.

Chinas coal production dropped by 2.3% in October from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed last week. Year to date, coal output was still 1.5% above year-ago levels, due to record-breaking production in the first half of 2025.

At the same time, power generation in China jumped by the most in October in nearly two years and overall electricity output was at its highest for any October since at least 1998, as a heat wave hit southern China while temperatures were colder-than-usual in the north.

Thermal power output rose by 7.3% last month as coal picked up most of the surge in electricity generation, while wind and solar power saw curtailments, analysts say.

October was unusually hot in the south, and much colder than previous years in the north. The rapid increase in air conditioner ownership means that people are using them more for heating in northern China, especially before district heating is turned on in November, Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), wrote on LinkedIn in comments on the Chinese data.

Coal demand is expected to remain elevated during the winter months as China continues to rely on thermal power as a reliable source of energy to meet most of its power demand.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iran accuses Western powers of seeking 'escalation' with IAEA resolution



Tehran, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the United States, Britain, Germany and France were pursuing a path of "escalation" following the passage of a new resolution by the UN nuclear watchdog.

The resolution, adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board on Thursday, demanded Tehran provide "full and prompt" cooperation including access to sensitive nuclear sites.

"Given that the E3 and the US seek escalation, they know full well that the official termination of the Cairo Agreement is the direct outcome of their provocations," Araghchi said on X.

The Cairo Agreement was reached in September between Iran and the IAEA to establish a framework for cooperation, but was deemed invalid by Tehran last month when the three European countries, or E3, triggered the return of UN sanctions that had been lifted under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.

Following Thursday's passage of the new resolution, Iran sent an official letter to the IAEA saying the Cairo Agreement was "null and void".

The agreement had aimed to address Tehran's restrictions on access for IAEA inspectors following a war between the Islamic republic and its longtime foe Israel.

In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined with strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

The war derailed high-level nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that had begun in April, during which the two sides were at odds over Iran's right to enrich uranium -- which Tehran defends as "inalienable".

"Like the diplomacy which was assaulted by Israel and the US in June, the Cairo Agreement has been killed by the US and the E3," Araghchi said in his post Friday.

The diplomat had earlier said the provision of access to nuclear sites attacked during the war hinged on striking a new understanding between Iran and the IAEA.

The new IAEA resolution, he said at the time, was "disrupting the process of interactions and cooperation".
Suspected jihadist attack kills 10 soldiers in Niger: source



Abidjan, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Suspected jihadists killed at least 10 soldiers in western Niger earlier this week, a local source told AFP on Friday.

The junta that took power in a 2023 coup is struggling to contain attacks by Islamist fighters linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.

Wednesday's attack struck near the village of Garbougna, in the Tillaberi region bordering Burkina Faso and Mali, the local source told AFP.

Jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group are reputed to be active in the region.

The source said the attack killed "around 10" soldiers who were "providing security for a bridge construction project".

WAMAPS, a network of journalists focussing on security in west Africa, said on X that 17 people had died and 34 had been seriously wounded.
Iran says new framework needed to access bombed nuclear sites



Tehran, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new approach should be taken for the monitoring of the country's nuclear sites attacked in a recent war with Israel.

Tehran is under pressure from Western powers to allow inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog into the facilities.

"We need a method or a framework for how to inspect those facilities," he said in an interview with the British magazine The Economist, posted on his telegram channel on Friday.

"There are safety and security risks; there are unexploded ordnance, missiles, and the like. There is also the risk of radiation," the Iranian top diplomat stated.

He added that Iran was also receiving threats of attacks from the United States should anyone got close to those facilities.

In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined with strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

Following the war, Iran heavily restricted access of the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors to its nuclear sites.

A few months later in September, an agreement was reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Cairo to establish a framework for cooperation.

That deal, however, was declared invalid by Tehran last month when Britain, Germany and France triggered the return of UN sanctions that had been lifted under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.

On Thursday, the IAEA's Board of Governors approved a resolution, demanding Tehran provide "full and prompt" cooperation including access to sensitive nuclear sites.

Iran in return, sent an official letter to the IAEA reiterating that the Cairo Agreement was "null and void".

"Given that the E3 and the US seek escalation, they know full well that the official termination of the Cairo Agreement is the direct outcome of their provocations," Araghchi said on X on Friday.

The 12-day war also derailed high-level nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that had begun in April, during which the two sides were at odds over Iran's right to enrich uranium -- which Tehran defends as "inalienable".

"Like the diplomacy which was assaulted by Israel and the US in June, the Cairo Agreement has been killed by the US and the E3," Araghchi said in his X post.
Pentagon chief calls on Nigeria to stop violence against Christians



Washington, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu, urging Africa's most populous nation to take steps to curb violence against Christians, the Pentagon said Friday.

Hegseth called on Nigeria to "take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, adding that Washington wants to work with Abuja "to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States."

The Thursday meeting between Hegseth and Ribadu at the Pentagon came after US President Donald Trump said Christianity was "facing an existential threat" in the west African nation, warning that if Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack and "it will be fast, vicious, and sweet."

Nigeria, home to 230 million inhabitants, is divided roughly equally between a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north.

It is the scene of numerous conflicts, including jihadist insurgencies, which kill both Christians and Muslims, often indiscriminately.

Clashes are also frequent between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over land and resources, particularly water, giving the conflict an air of religious tensions.

However, experts say the conflict in northcentral Nigeria is primarily over land, which is being squeezed by expanding populations and climate change.
Chinese technology powerhouses are beginning to reap early returns from their heavy investments in artificial intelligence, with quarterly results showing the impact across businesses from short video platforms like Kuaishou Technology to social media giants like Tencent Holdings.

Kuaishou, China's second-largest short video app and rival to TikTok's Chinese sibling Douyin, was the latest to highlight gains from AI adoption. The company, in an earnings statement on Wednesday, attributed its third-quarter revenue growth to the use of AI technology to upgrade marketing solutions and its Kling video tool.

Online marketing services sales grew 14 per cent to 20.1 billion yuan (US$2.81 billion), while sales for other services jumped 41.3 per cent to 5.9 billion yuan in the three months ended September.

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.

Kuaishou co-founder and CEO Cheng Yixiao said in the earnings statement that "AI capabilities deeply embedded across business scenarios" helped it deliver a robust quarter.

Tencent says its various businesses benefited from strategic investments in AI. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Tencent says its various businesses benefited from strategic investments in AI. Photo: Shutterstock>

Tencent, the Chinese social media and video gaming powerhouse, posted a 19 per cent jump in third-quarter profit on AI-related gains, it said last week. Pony Ma Huateng, founder, chairman and CEO of Tencent, said areas from ad targeting to game engagement to producing code, games and videos benefited from strategic investments in AI.

AI also emerged as the rare bright spot for Baidu, which posted an underwhelming quarter on Tuesday. The search engine company saw a 50 per cent increase in AI-related revenue across its cloud, application and marketing businesses in the third quarter, contrasting with a 7 per cent decline in overall revenue during the period.

Analysts at BOC International said the wider use of AI tools across Chinese firms had shown positive effects on business performance. "AI applications in specific business scenarios have been validated with emerging monetisation potential," the securities firm said in a note on Wednesday.

China's Big Tech companies have been spending heavily on AI to empower businesses and enhance efficiency. But there are also concerns about excessive spending and the risk of wasted investment.
But the damage was done. Johnsons ill-advised comments certainly had an impact on the case  not least because it gave the Iranian state grounds for sentencing her to more years in prison. In 2022, Zaghari-Ratcliffe actually met Johnson (who was by then the Prime Minister) and told him that she had lived in the shadow of his words ever since hed uttered them.
Eurotunnel has accused the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of failing to explain how it reached the new valuation. All of the users of the tunnel pay for access. When business rates go up, that's split amongst the different users, said John Keefe, director of public and corporate affairs. At this stage, the numbers aren't one hundred percent known, because we're hoping we can talk a bit more with the government about this But there is a mechanism whereby everybody contributes.
But he said the plan had not been discussed with the Russian side in any substantive way and that he assumed this was because the US had not been able to get Ukraines consent.
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China International Capital Corp (CICC) plans to absorb two smaller brokerages to create a new entity worth 1 trillion yuan (US$140 billion) in assets, as a state-led consolidation gathers pace to meet Beijing's goal of creating investment banks that can compete with the likes of Goldman Sachs.

CICC would take over Dongxing Securities and Cinda Securities through stock swaps with the shareholders of the two peers, it said in an exchange statement on Wednesday night, without giving details. Shares of the three companies will be suspended from trading on the Shanghai exchange for up to 25 days. The deal was pending approval from the companies' boards, shareholders and the regulators, it said.

The consolidation marks the latest move by China's securities industry to fulfil President Xi Jinping's ambition of building financial giants amid an all-out confrontation with the US that threatens financial decoupling. CICC, Dongxing and Cinda are controlled by Central Huijin Investment, a unit of China's sovereign wealth fund, making it likely the merger will proceed smoothly.

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"The restructuring is conducive to building a first-class investment bank and supporting the reform of the financial market and the high-quality development of the securities industry," CICC said in the statement.

Smaller Chinese brokers are seeking mergers to survive in a sector that was whipsawed by years of stock market downturn and pay cuts. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Smaller Chinese brokers are seeking mergers to survive in a sector that was whipsawed by years of stock market downturn and pay cuts. Photo: Shutterstock>

The revamp would consolidate and complement the companies' resources and strengths, which in turn would bring economies of scale, better serve the state's strategy and the economy and boost shareholder returns, according to the statement.

The merged brokerage's total assets of 1 trillion yuan would rank it fourth after Citic Securities, Guotai Haitong Securities and Huatai Securities, according to data provider Wind Information.

The deal would be the most high-profile after the merger between Guotai Junan Securities and Haitong Securities last year, which created an industry giant with 1.68 trillion yuan in assets. It was also conducted through a stock swap, with Haitong ending its listing status on the Shanghai exchange.
A SpaceX facility where the company builds its Starship rocket is seen in Starbase, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Andrea Leinfelder/Houston Chronicle

SpaceX says its economic impact is soaring in the South Texas area where it builds and launches its massive Starship rocket.

According to company data released by Cameron County, the commercial space company led by Elon Musk has added more than $13 billion to the South Texas economy over the past two years. A year ago, the countys report put the companys investment at $3 billion.

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SpaceX, which has built its corporate headquarters, Starship rocket factory and launch site at Starbase near Boca Chica beach, said the complex now employs 4,300 people, up from 3,400 a year ago.

By next year, a county commissioner said last month, that total is expected to swell to 8,000 as SpaceX steps up its launch cadence.

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Across the region, the complexs operations supported a total of 24,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2024 and 2025. A year ago, SpaceX put the number at 21,400.

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Funded largely through $5 billion in NASA and Defense Department contracts, the Starship mega-rocket is a big part of the nations Artemis program to return Americans to the moon.

In a statement, County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. thanked SpaceX for choosing Cameron County.

Their commitment to our region has transformed our local economy, from high-skill job creation to critical infrastructure improvements, he said.

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with then President-elect Donald Trump and others at Starbase ahead of a Starship launch in November 2024. Brandon Bell/Pool via Reuters

According to the report, which provided no details to back up its numbers, SpaceX has generated more than $305 million in indirect tax revenue over the past two years. In 2024, the company said it did business with more than 350 suppliers that infused $147 million into the regional supply chain.

While Starbase operates close to the coast, every city in Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley shares in the benefits  stronger schools, more tourism, and new high-paying job opportunities, Trevino said. As SpaceX expands their production capabilities, bringing high-paying manufacturing and engineering jobs directly to Starbase, we will continue to see a new age of growth for all of South Texas happening right here in Cameron County.

The state and county enticed SpaceX with $20 million in giveaways, including a 10-year property tax break, and has kept it happy with state laws that allow it to shut off access to state park beaches, close roads and face limited legal liabilities for the types of accidents that happen around rocket test sites.

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Despite the economic boost, there have been growing pains with SpaceXs development for area residents whove had to learn to deal with rocket explosions, traffic, power outages, water delivery issues, road and beach closures and concerns over noise, property damage and pollution from launches.

A SpaceX Starship is prepared for a test flight from Starbase in November 2024. Eric Gay/Associated Press file photo

A June 18 explosion at SpaceXs Massey test site, about 4 miles west of the main part of Starbase, scared area residents, spawned a flurry of 911 calls, tied up Brownsville first responders, sparked fires and lobbed debris into the Rio Grande and Mexico.

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The Mexican government threatened to sue Musks company after the June blast. Another testing explosion occurred early Friday at the same site.

SpaceXs last two Starship launches, including the most recent mission on Oct. 13, have been successful after three straight failures earlier this year. Two of those flights sent flaming debris raining down across the Caribbean causing hundreds of commercial flight diversions and delays.

The company doesnt expect to send another rocket to space from South Texas until spring as it prepares for an updated version of Starship.

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We look forward to a continued partnership working with SpaceX to grow our local economy in South Texas, provide the next generation with abundant job opportunities and renourishing Boca Chica Beach by combating erosion, restoring dunes and enhancing public access to our cherished coastline at Boca Chica, said the judge.
Traffic moves by a sign against a proposed concert venue on Fitzhugh Road near Dripping Springs. Property owners and environmental advocates banded together to fight the project for several years, and announced this week that a deal has been reached to buy the land, stopping the development. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

A conservation-focused organization has agreed to buy the property where a developer wanted to build a controversial concert venue, handing a victory to neighbors in the Dripping Springs area who spent three years fighting the project.

Fitzhugh Ridge LLC, an entity established by the Shield-Ayres Foundation, has signed a contract to purchase land from California-based Blizexas LLC, where the company planned to build a 5,000-seat outdoor music venue.

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The site is near Crumley Ranch Road and Fitzhugh Road in Dripping Springs, about 16 miles west of Austin.

READ MORE: State regulators OK wastewater permit for Guajolote Ranch project

Fitzhugh Ridge is scheduled to close on the sale on Jan. 6, according to Marshall Ayres Bowen, who is the board secretary for the Shield-Ayres Foundation. The organization was founded by his grandparents, Bob Ayres and Patricia Shield Ayres, in 1977, and awards grants in Central Texas to support programs in health and human services, education and the arts and the environment, including land and water conservation.

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The family also owns Shield Ranch, a neighboring property to the proposed venue that is under a conservation easement, an agreement that prevents development.

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Bowen said its too early to have definitive plans for the land yet, but said: "I can tell you that this concert venue will not be built on that property.

He said the deal took some time to negotiate, and declined to provide the sale price for the property. According to the Hays Central Appraisal District, Blizexas owns about 22 acres on Fitzhugh Road valued at $4.2 million.

David Tuckfield, an attorney for Blizexas, could not immediately be reached for comment, but he referenced the pending deal in a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality this week.

Shield Ranch and applicant have tentatively agreed to a settlement that, if fully implemented, would result in a withdrawal of this application, Tuckfield wrote in a motion. The parties should know by January 6, 2026 if the settlement is fully implemented.

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Blizexas had applied to the TCEQ for a permit to treat sewage from the concert venue and use the effluent as irrigation on the property. The proposed wastewater discharge site was in the drainage area that flows to Barton Creek.

Shield Ranch was contesting that permit, arguing there were errors in the companys application and that overflow from the irrigated fields would contaminate surface and groundwater.

Fitzhugh Neighbors, a group of residents who live in the area, was also fighting the permit, along with the San Antonio-based Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, the Austin-based Save Our Springs Alliance and the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which manages the Trinity Aquifer in the western part of the county.

The city of Austin had also tried to fight the permit, arguing last spring that it has conservation easements that could be harmed by the companys wastewater plans. State regulators denied the citys requests, but allowed the other opponents to move forward.

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READ MORE: Opponents granted standing to fight planned Hill County music venue

In addition to water quality concerns from the treated sewage, opponents raised objections about increased traffic, noise and light pollution from the concert venue.

A public meeting on the proposed permit in 2024 drew more than 300 people asking TCEQ officials to reject it, and the agencys online records show that it received more than 400 comments and 169 requests for meetings and hearings.

Bowen said the widespread opposition and engagement contributed to making the deal possible.

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This sort of engagement matters, it makes a difference and it can change the course and it can bring people to the negotiating table to find a resolution, he said. If nobody would have cared, I dont believe we would have gotten here.

Wastewater permits have often become a flash point in the Hill Country, with proposed development often meeting fierce opposition. Those cases often end in permits being approved because regulators determine they meet the states legal requirements, over the objections of residents.

This is a different end to the story than we typically see, Bowen said. He said that was in part due to the unique environmental issues in this particular plan, including the small size of the lot for the proposed facility, the location and the karst land, where surface water can easily enter underground aquifers.

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The Travis County District Attorneys Office in the Ronald Earle Building in Austin, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza on Friday moved to drop murder and deadly conduct cases against an Austin police officer who fatally shot a man in 2019 during a mental health crisis in a downtown condominium.

The American-Statesman was first to report earlier this month that Garza was negotiating a unique agreement with Officer Karl Krycia that will require him to serve as a police academy instructor, teaching officers about how they should respond in rapidly evolving and dynamic situations such as the one he encountered with Mauris DeSilva.

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A motion to dismiss the case, filed Friday by Assistant District Attorney Dexter Gilford, says that Krycia has proven to the state that he has become certified to teach a use-of-force model known as Integrated Communication Assessment and Tactics, or ICAT, and that he must provide ICAT training to cadets at the Austin Police Department or any other law enforcement agency that employs him.

District Attorney Jose Garza at his office on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman

In a joint news release, Garza and Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the agreement was intended to "strengthen public safety, enhance accountability, and build community trust."

"We are optimistic that Officer Krycia understands the importance of law enforcement agencies using training designed for officer and community safety," Garza said.

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Davis said Krycia has exhibited a "clear and sincere intention" and that the deal "aligns with APDs broader work to enhance safety for both officers and the community."

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks at a press conference held at APD Headquarters, Oct. 16, 2025 about an officer involved shooting in North Austin that occurred in the early hours of the morning on Sunday. Davis provided additional details and released radio audio as well as body and car camera footage. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

The statement did not say when Krycia would begin teaching classes at the academy or if the dismissal agreement includes any provisions to monitor the officer's performance as an instructor. Neither the Police Department nor the District Attorney's Office responded to questions about the agreement.

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Attorneys representing Krycia and the DeSilva family did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

Previously, lawyers for the DeSilvas told the Statesman they were shocked Krycia was able to cut a deal to avoid trial and accountability.

The family believes that only a jury can speak truth to the longstanding abuses of police power historically condoned by the City and its Police Department," attorneys Jarrod Smith and Brad Vinson said in a statement.

Mauris DeSilva's father, Denzil DeSilva, testifies while showing a photo of his son on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Judge Dayna Blazey's 167th District Court at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin. Taylor was found guilty by a jury earlier this month for deadly conduct and is likely to be sentenced in late November after his defense attorneys call witnesses. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

The unique agreement comes in the wake of several scandals at the Police Academy, including one surrounding allegations of overly aggressive, military-like training tactics, that prompted the City Council to order reforms.

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Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks about the anti-ICE protest at a news conference at APD Headquarters in Austin, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

In 2023, outside consultants hired to monitor the effort found that some academy instructors had resisted change and that prior department leadership had exhibited indifference. That same year, instructors began teaching ICAT, a use-of-force model designed to decrease the use of deadly force by training officers to better communicate with subjects during tense standoffs.

Last month, Austin's Public Safety Commission passed a resolution that said "institutional barriers" to reform still exist at the Police Department and recommended City Council order a full audit of the academy to assess progress.
Ridgetop Elementary School students, teachers and parents chant Save Ridgetop together in English and Spanish as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

In a move that will dramatically reshape the Austin school district and impact thousands of students, the Austin school Board of Trustees voted to close 10 schools Thursday night, significantly changing cross-campus dual language and Montessori programming while launching state-mandated plans aimed at turning around academics in two dozen campuses.

The vote passed after months of concern from families about the plans impact on students.

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In a meeting that stretched past 2 a.m. on Friday, trustees voted 6-3 to close or move wall-to-wall dual language programming. Trustees Kathryn Whitley Chu, Andrew Gonzales and Fernando de Urioste voted in opposition.

Trustees also voted 7-2 for closures of seven campuses that are faced with multiple state-determined F-ratings. Trustees Gonzales and de Urioste voted against.

While many parents at Thursdays meeting vehemently opposed closing schools, district officials maintained the move is necessary to offset a nearly $65 million budget deficit and to stave off the existential threat of a state takeover of the Austin districts.

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Superintendent Matias Segura told trustees he was sorry for the situation, which has been a very disruptive painful process for our community.

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I wish we didnt have to do it but the pressures are gargantuan, Segura said.

Trustee Kevin Foster demanded that families be brought more directly into the planning process in the future.

Folks have to be at the table, walking through it, talking through it, Foster said. Where is the insertion of family voice at the table?

As the district begins making these changes, disrupted families need early guarantees about where their child is enrolled, Trustee Whitley Chu said.

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They really need certainty if we are going to retain families, Whitley Chu said. They have to know.

What was decided

Starting next fall, Bedichek and Martin middle schools; Barrington, Becker, Dawson, Oak Springs, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley and Widen elementaries; and Winn Montessori School will close. Students from the shuttered schools will be rezoned to nearby campuses.

The district will also close down International High School, which serves newcomer students. Enrollment at the program has plummeted, Superintendent Segura said. The program, housed at Northeast Early College High School, serves about 90 10th graders but only 10 ninth graders.

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Seven of the schools that will close have received three consecutive F-ratings from the state, resulting in state-mandated turnaround plans, which dictate experience requirements for teachers, extra staff and prescribed curriculum. The plans at those seven schools will move to the campuses receiving most of the students from the closed schools.

The state rates schools on an A-F scale, largely based on scores from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests.

Segura said he wants to repurpose both middle schools for future academic use.

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The board will also shutter three of its four popular across-campus dual language schools. Next year, Odom Elementary will be the only wall-to-wall program.

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Segura said he plans to phase in a wall-to-wall model at Sanchez, Pickle and Wooten elementaries, which already have siloed dual language programming.

Winns in-demand Montessori programming will relocate to Reilly elementary as a special program within the school.

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See photos as Ridgetop Elementary community members rally in support of their school:

Arlie OConnor and Isla Dahlin play in the rain as Ridgetop parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Seth Johnson, the father of a Ridgetop Elementary first grader, rallies with other parents, students and teachers community members from around the district gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Ridgetop Elementary School students rally in support of their school as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Bedichek Middle School Band Director Andria Hyden speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Parents and students arrive at a rally as AISD community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Ridgetop Elementary School students rally in support of their school as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Seth Johnson, the father of a Ridgetop Elementary first grader, rallies with other parents, students and teachers community members from around the district gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Parents and students from Ridgetop Elementary rally in the rain ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Isla Dahlin, a Ridgetop Elementary kindergartner, plays in the rain as Ridgetop parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Darryl Gibbs, a Ridgetop Elementary fourth grader, speaks to the news as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Darryl Gibbs, a Ridgetop Elementary fourth grader, speaks to the news as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Ridgetop Elementary School students, teachers and parents chant Save Ridgetop together in English and Spanish as AISD parents, students and community members gather ahead of the Board of Trustee vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman AISD Board of Trustees member Kevin Foster listens to a presentation of agenda items ahead of the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman AISD Superintendent Matias Segura asks questions during a presentation of agenda items ahead of the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman AISD Board of Trustees member Arati Singh listens to a presentation of agenda items ahead of the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman AISD Board of Trustees member Candace Hunter asks questions about agenda items ahead of the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Seth Johnson, the father of a Ridgetop Elementary first grader, stands in a corner of the crowded room during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman A Ridgetop Elementary student holds a sign on her lap during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman The AISD Board of Trustees listens to a presentation of agenda items ahead of the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Community members applaud speakers during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Elizabeth Slama-Saenz, the PTA president at Reilly Elementary, speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Delicia McLean speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman AISD Board of Trustees member David Kauffman listens to public comment regarding the vote on the final closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Bedichek Middle School Band Director Andria Hyden speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Teo Vigil, 8, gets ready to speak during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Joseph Arriaga speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Elizabeth Slama-Saenz, the PTA president at Reilly Elementary, speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Whats at stake

The districts enrollment has plummeted by 13,000 students over the last decade, translating to less revenue. Notably, the districts on-paper deficit of $19.7 million will only hold steady if Austin district officials achieve $45 million in planned land sales.

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Meanwhile, the district is under state scrutiny for the state letter grades of multiple campuses at the same time the Texas Education Agency is undergoing a takeover of two of the states largest districts: Houston and Fort Worth.

The Austin districts two dozen schools requiring turnaround plans are some of the nearly 330 campuses around the state with two or three consecutive unacceptable ratings that also require such plans.

The district has estimated the closure plan could save about $21.5 million.

Officials also estimated the district could lose about $1.4 million with a moderate attrition rate of 235 students if families choose to leave. The district used the base level of per student funding  $6,215  to estimate this loss.

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Including additional funding allocated for special education or emergent bilingual students, the district receives on average $10,907 per child, which would mean a $2.6 million loss for 235 children.

Supporters of Becker Elementary School stand to show their support of speakers during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Community feedback

Ahead of the meeting, a group of parents from Ridgetop Elementary rallied against their schools closure under a parking awning as the rain poured around them.

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Somos Ridgetop, yelled the students and parents of the wall-to-wall dual language campus.

Ridgetop is a special place because the teachers and other students are so supportive of each other, said fourth grader Aba Arreaza. Shes learned to communicate with her grandparents, who only speak Spanish and are upset about the closure.

I felt really sad, especially when I heard people are going to many schools, and my friends and I might be separated, Arreaza said.

Ahead of the vote, families and staff passionately spoke for hours about the closing schools.

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This plan deserves an unacceptable rating, said Selina Martinez, who took more than half of her allotted minute of public testimony as a moment of silence for the school communities.

Third grader Teo Vigil stood on a chair so he could reach the microphone to ask trustees not to close Ridgetop Elementary.

It makes me feel sad, worried and confused, he said. I think you should listen to your feelings too.

Teo Vigil, 8, speaks during public comment ahead of the AISD Board of Trustees vote on the final school closure plan at the AISD headquarters, Nov. 20, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Bedichek Middle band director Andria Hyden choked up as she spoke about the thriving music community she has helped build at the campus.

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I have a wall covered with student shoutouts, notes, drawings and messages from families, she said. Those arent decorations. Theyre a reminder of the relationships and trust that weve built.

Martin Middle School teacher Eric Ramos' voice shook as he asked the district to support families and staff at closing schools.

This district has a history of promising to everyone and delivering to few.

What comes next

The TEA will decide by Jan. 23 whether to accept the districts proposed turnaround plans.

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Several trustees expressed concern about students from struggling campuses moving to D-rated schools, which is counter to TEA turnaround requirements. Because of this, trustees voted separately on the turnaround plans for Winn and Widen: the votes passed 5-4.

Although these plans dont fit in the TEA box, Segura assured trustees that the district has a plan he believes the agency will accept.

Segura vowed Thursdays decisions is just part one of two.

In a shocking move earlier this month, Segura delayed a decision on the proposed closures of three campuses  Bryker Woods, Maplewood and Palm  and comprehensive attendance boundary changes that would have affected almost every campus. The three campuses were originally included in the closure plan.

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At the time, he insisted the delay was necessary to ensure the integrity of the districts community feedback process.
Lily Kepner started at the American-Statesman in October 2023. She has appeared on BBC, NPR and Texas Standard to talk about her coverage, which has spanned the impact of state laws and politics on the University of Texas, pro-Palestinian protests, free speech, the anti-DEI ban, LGBTQ student belonging and more. Kepner graduated with honors from Boston University's College of Communication in 2023, where she received the college's highest awards for writing and journalism leadership and led the award-winning student newspaper as Editor-in-Chief. In her time with the American-Statesman, she contributed to reporting that won an Edward R Murrow Award for breaking news, won the School Bell Award for Outstanding Feature from Texas State Teachers Association, and Critics Choice for Best of Austin in the Austin Chronicle. Previously, she has been published in USA Today, The Boston Globe, The National Catholic Reporter and GBH. Kepner is passionate about accountability and service journalism and encourages anyone to reach out to her to tell their story or share a tip.
The University of Texas' first female police chief, Eve Stephens, has filed a lawsuit against the university over her termination, alleging discrimination. Jay Janner / American-Statesman

The University of Texass first female police chief filed a lawsuit Friday against her former institution for wrongful termination, alleging she was fired as part of a coordinated purge of female employees from the department.

Eve Stephens lost her post suddenly last September. When she took the post in July 2023, she was the only Asian chief in the UT System and the first female chief of UT. The university did not comment at the time on why she suddenly left, saying she resigned.

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Stephens' lawsuit accuses UT and the UT System of violating the Civil Rights Act and UT System policy in firing her, a Korean American woman, without cause despite receiving positive feedback and a merit raise shortly before.

UT and the UT System declined to comment to the American-Statesman, citing pending litigation.

The suit alleges the university replaced her with an unqualified, hand-picked white male successor who never applied for the job, claiming he did not meet the minimum years of experience required.

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Stephens reported to UT Vice President for Legal Affairs, Amanda Cochran-McCall, according to the legal filing. In September 2024, Cochran-McCall allegedly informed Stephens she was being fired and could choose to resign and become a special adviser for two months instead, which Stephens did.

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In her role, Stephens aimed to improve climate, recruiting and pay at the UT police department, according to the suit.

After her termination, the executive communications director of UTPD, the only other Asian American female leader at the department, was also fired, the suit alleges. At least seven other female employees in the department left shortly after, the suit claims. Only two Asian American females are left, according to the lawsuit.

The year Stephens was terminated, seven other major university leaders resigned, lost their job or faced non-renewal. Six of the eight positions were held by women. Leadership shakeups continued in 2025 with two male leaders losing their positions for ideological or differences in vision.
Akbar Novruz



The D-8 Media Forum is underway in Baku, gathering the heads of media agencies, leading media institutions of the D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization member states, senior officials and prominent experts in the field, Azernews reports.

Hikmat Hajiyev, Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, opened the event by reading out President Ilham Aliyevs address to the forum participants.

As part of the program, two panel discussions will take place, focusing on Responsible Journalism and Digital Innovation and Strategic Communication and Crisis Management. In addition, a workshop titled Media Ethics in a Digital World: Technologies, Trends and Narratives will be held to explore evolving challenges and solutions in global media practice.

The forum has brought together around 150 participants, including 71 foreign guests from eight member countries and the Organizations Secretariat, highlighting the growing importance of Baku as a hub for international media cooperation.
Coinbase (COIN) is rolling out decentralized exchange (DEX) trading to users in Brazil just days after the countrys central bank imposed sweeping new rules on crypto companies.

The move gives Brazilians access to a significantly broader pool of tokens, expanding from a few hundred to potentially millions, without leaving the Coinbase app, the company said in an announcement on Wednesday.

Coinbase already offers DEX trading for users in the U.S., as part of its push to become an "everything app," a term for an application that offers a range of services in one platform.

The update allows users to trade Base-native tokens moments after theyre minted. It routes trades through platforms like Uniswap and Aerodrome, removing the need for users to interact directly with unfamiliar decentralized protocols.

Users dont pay network fees and can manage trades through a built-in self-custody wallet, Coinbase added.

The company also added that "assets that are identified by a trusted third-party vendor as confirmed malicious or fraudulent assets will not be available," before pointing out it doesnt review the access being offered through DEX integrations.

Earlier this month, Brazils central bank released a framework requiring crypto service providers to be licensed, report international transactions, and meet capital thresholds of up to $7 million.

The rules bring crypto activities under Brazils foreign exchange and capital markets regime and give firms nine months to comply.

Foreign platforms serving Brazilian users, including Coinbase, must establish a local entity or risk being barred. While Coinbase's DEX feature is non-custodial and may fall outside some licensing requirements, the banks rules also cover self-custody wallets when used for international transfers, which are now subject to monthly reporting.
University of Texas President Jim Davis throws the horns while walking off stage at his investiture ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. UT Regents this week approved a new employment contract to pay him $1.25 million and award him tenure. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

University of Texas System Regents approved a $1.25 million annual salary  plus opportunities for bonuses  for UT Austin President Jim Davis at a board meeting this week.

The salary makes Davis one of the highest-paid academic leaders nationally, although he will make slightly less than his predecessor, Jay Hartzell, who made $1.45 million total in 2024.

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But Davis will be paid more than John Zerwas, chancellor of UT System, who will be making $975,000 a year, per his employment agreement also approved Thursday. Zerwas will also gain the benefit of residing in the Bauer House to assist the chancellor in the proper performances of the duties of employment and to serve the interests of the System.

Davis will serve in his presidential role without a fixed term and hold a tenured position at the UT School of Law and and the William B. Bates Chair for the Administration of Justice, per his employment agreement. He wont be paid a professors salary while president, but after he leaves his post, he will receive the average salary of the three top-paid law professors at UT, a tenured faculty role, a $100,000 research fund and entitlement to developmental leave.

The new UT president, who served as former deputy attorney general under Ken Paxton and former UT chief operations officer and vice president of legal affairs, is the first UT leader in 126 years who was not a professor and did not go through the lengthy tenure process.

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It takes an average of seven years after hiring for a tenure-track faculty member to achieve the status, which is granted after a rigorous, thorough review of a candidates publications, research and teaching. Tenure status is an academic protection that conservative lawmakers sought but failed to outlaw in recent years. It guarantees a professors appointment until their retirement, except under extraordinary circumstances.

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Daviss university biography says he has been a frequent continuing education lecturer with a focus on governmental regulatory issues and legal ethics, although it does not say when, and the experience is not listed on his LinkedIn profile. UT System officials said regents have the power to award tenure and have before with Bill McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and U.S. Special Operations Command leader, who became chancellor in 2015.

The Board of Regents may offer faculty and tenure status to presidents and chancellors in their employment agreements, said Randa Safady, UT Systems vice chancellor for external relations.

James Finkelstein, a professor emeritus of public policy at George Mason University who has studied presidential contracts for more than 30 years, said though it is typical for a university president to have tenure, they typically already have that status when they get the job.

Finkelstein said he cant think of an instance where a person would be granted tenure without prior experience, even if in the role of president.

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With an individual whos never taught, never held tenure, no academic publication record, it would be very unusual for that person to be granted tenure, Finkelstein said. This individual does have a terminal degree, a J.D. is my understanding ... but most of those university presidents with law degrees have come through the law school as a professor.

College presidential salaries have skyrocketed over the last fifteen years, as have associated benefits, he said. UTs offer of tenure to Davis marks another significant benefit in terms of monetary and job security assurances, Finkelstein said.

During the presidency, Davis will hold two additional chairs in leadership with funds in the discharge of the responsibilities of the office and the excellence of the university.

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Daviss $100,000 research fund will be paid annually over three years when Davis becomes a faculty member. The employment agreement did not detail more about his contractual benefits and obligations as a president or professor.
Brian Tadeo closes his eyes as he receives a flu shot from LVN Tanya Roland, left, with his mother, Emma Uribe watching during a visit to St. John's Shots for Tots clinic. The clinic offers low-cost vaccinations even if they don't have insurance. Rodolfo Gonzalez, Austin American-Statesman

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is having more than a moment right now. And that is not good. Cases of the bacterial respiratory disease have increased by 58% already this year from all of last year, Austin Public Health announced Friday.

The more than 154 cases have mostly been in school-age children: 90 in people ages 7-19 and 34 in kids ages 1-6. The rest fall outside those age ranges. The majority of cases are in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people.

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Pertussis' most common symptom is a barking cough that sounds like a "whoop" at the end, though younger kids might not have the "whoop" sounds, but might cough so hard they vomit or gag. It is especially dangerous for infants who are too young to be vaccinated, for older people and for people who have conditions that compromise the immune system's ability to fight the infection.

"I am concerned that we need to come back to a place where we understand that we live in one of the countries with so much scientific advancements and prior eradication of things like measles because we had such good vaccine coverage," said Dr. Desmar Walkes, the public health authority for Austin and Travis County. "Vaccines do help people from getting sick. It's good for us to remember the science supports that fact."

Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County's health authority, urges people to get vaccinated for preventable diseases such as pertussis. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

These schools have received notices of at least one case:

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Austin Achieve Middle School

Bridge Point Elementary School

Austin Achieve Elementary School Northeast

Linder Elementary School

Akins Early College High School

Barton Creek Elementary School

Marshall Middle School

Lamar Middle School

Langford Elementary School

McCallum High School

Reilly Elementary School

Blazier Elementary School

It's not just happening in Austin. Around the state, this is the second year Texas has experienced a rise in cases from the year before. The 3,500 reported cases in Texas this year is four times the amount reported through the same period last year, the Department of State Health Services said at the beginning of November when it issued a health alert. In 2023, there were 340 cases, but 1,907 cases last year, most of them occurring in November and December. The state has said more than 85% of cases have been in children, according to its preliminary data.

Vaccination rates have dropped among school-age children. Last school year, only 74.31% of kindergartners and 85.26% of seventh graders in the Austin school district were up to date on their TDAP vaccine, according to the Texas Education Agency. To achieve herd immunity, a community needs to hit 95% vaccination rates.

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Austin Public Health is working with schools and the community to increase vaccination rates by offering more mobile vaccine clinics as well as getting the word out about its Shots for Tots program, which offers low-cost vaccines for people who don't have insurance. This increase in pertussis cases is happening at a time when Austin Public Health has lost federal funding for programs, including in disease prevention and surveillance.

"We are committed to providing what we can to our community," Walkes said. "As we go forward, if people start prioritizing getting their shots, we will keep pace and stop the spread of this disease."

When should you get vaccinated for pertussis?

The vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the TDAP vaccine, is given in five doses early on: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and then 15-18 months and 4-6 years. At age 11-12, a sixth dose should be given.

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Adults should get the vaccine every 10 years, and it usually comes with the tetanus vaccine, but you should check to make sure you got the combined vaccine. Any adult who has not been vaccinated just needs one shot to be considered fully vaccinated.

Pregnant women should be given a TDAP vaccine in their third trimester to protect their baby as a newborn.

If you are not sure if you are up to date, check with your primary care physician.

What are the symptoms of pertussis?

Early symptoms of the disease look like a common cold: low-grade fever, mild cough and runny or stuffy nose.

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Later symptoms include coughing fits with or without a "whoop" noise when someone gasps for air after coughing, as well as vomiting after coughing, feeling tired, difficulty sleeping and broken ribs from coughing. The cough can be soothed with honey, but many of the cough medicines should be avoided and nebulizers don't work for this illness.

Babies and young children can have difficulty breathing even if they don't have a cough.

How long can pertussis last?

The early symptoms last one to two weeks. Then, usually by the second week, people develop the cough with the "whoop" sound. That stage can last an additional one to 10 weeks.

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In the final stage, people might feel better, but their lungs are susceptible to infections for many months.

When should a parent take a child to the doctor?

Seek care if your child has been exposed to someone with pertussis. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics to help fight the infection before symptoms emerge. If child has a persistent cough longer than 10 days, which is often worse at night, they should see a doctor even if you are not sure if they have been exposed to the disease.

How long do you have to quarantine with pertussis?

Pertussis is treated with a five-day course of antibiotics. Once that is done, you can come out of quarantine. If you don't take the antibiotics, you would have to quarantine for 21 days.

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If you have been exposed to pertussis, consult with your doctor. Based on your risk factors, you might start antibiotics to prevent the infection and be asked to quarantine for those five days you are on antibiotics.

An Austin Public Health truck is decorated with an advertisement encouraging vaccinations. After going through the measles outbreak earlier this year, Austin Public Health is now fighting pertussis. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

What else is going around?

Currently Central Texas has low levels of flu, but those cases are increasing. The positivity rate for tests rose to around 20% at the beginning of the month, according to Austin Public Health.

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Dr. Jazmin Gonzalez, a pediatrician at Austin Regional Clinic's Goodnight Ranch location, has seen mostly flu B, with all the flu symptoms including body aches, high fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Antiviral flu medicines can be used in the first 48 hours to lessen the symptoms, but also might be given to people at risk for severe symptoms even after that.

Flu cases are expected to increase as people gather for the holidays. Getting a flu shot now is the best protection for serious illness, Gonzalez said.

Cases of RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, are increasing. This respiratory virus is dangerous in babies and older people. There is now a vaccine for this virus that can be given to older adults, infants younger than 8 months and to pregnant women to offer their newborns protection. With RSV, it's important to keep kids hydrated and to try to relieve kids of the mucus by suctioning the nose and putting them in a steamy room.

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Hand, foot and mouth disease also is circulating. This virus, which typically affects children younger than 5, comes with a fever, rash and mouth sores. The rash is typically gray blisters. Gonzalez, though, is seeing hand, foot and mouth in older kids this year. As well, the rash is spreading to arms and legs, not just the feet and hands.

Kids with hand, foot and mouth disease need to be kept hydrated, and they need to stay out of school and daycare until no new blisters have appeared and the ones they have are started to scab over.

Mpox cases are once again increase, Walkes said. Austin Public Health is trying to spread the message to the community most at risk for this disease to get vaccinated. Mpox is spread by skin-to-skin contact and sex.

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How can I stay healthy these holidays?
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax, left, and Mayor Kirk Watson discuss a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The Austin City Council unanimously approved a new $6.3 billion budget late Thursday after hours of sometimes chaotic debate and maneuvering.

Adopting the new spending plan was made necessary after Austin voters on Nov. 4 overwhelmingly rejected Proposition Q, a ballot measure that would have generated $110 million in extra revenue by increasing the property tax rate more than 20%. Its near 2-to-1 defeat set off an unprecedented budget scramble, pushing City Hall into a second budget process this year as the earlier spending plan it adopted accounted for that new money.

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Austin-Travis County EMS medic Celia Halpin treats a teenage girl who overdosed on fentanyl while Austin police officer Zane Powell investigates in East Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS medic Jodeci Romo works an emergency call at the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS Clinical Specialist Estelle Sklar talks with an Austin police officer at a traffic accident in North Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS medic Kevin Cisneros treats a man during a psychiatric emergency in downtown Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS Commander Selena Xie responds to an emergency call on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS medic Celia Halpin treats a teenage girl who overdosed on fentanyl in East Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS medic Kevin Cisneros prepares equipment in an ambulance as he begins his shift at EMS Station 4 on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS medic Celia Halpin and Capt. Patrick treats a teenage girl who overdosed on fentanyl while Austin police officer Zane Powell investigates in East Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin-Travis County EMS Clinical Specialist Rich Davis prepares equipment in an ambulance as he begins his shift at EMS Station 4 on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin City Council members Mike Siegel, left, and Chito Vela discuss a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes speaks about a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The new spending plan taps into city reserves and cuts just over $95 million from the obsolete Prop Q budget, reducing funding for rapid rehousing, homeless diversion and landlord engagement programs, parks and grounds-maintenance staffing, contributions to the housing trust fund and some emergency medical services.

At the same time, council restored several cuts originally proposed by the city manager, reallocating funds to EMS, child advocacy services, food pantries, home-delivered meals for older adults, emergency veterinary care, benefits for part-time city employees and wildfire mitigation.

I believe the budget amendment that we just adopted reveals that we trusted the voters, we heard the voters and we reacted to the voters, Mayor Kirk Watson said Thursday after the vote, thanking Austinites for their engagement in the election.

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Despite broad agreement on sustained funding for Emergency Medical Services, which had been slated for $6.3 million in cuts under the city managers post-Prop Q budget proposal, council members had remained divided over other priorities going into Thursdays meeting.

One faction had focused on maintaining funding for homelessness services and emergency mental health response while another had pushed to redirect some municipal court funds toward food pantries and home-delivered meals for older adults.

Austin-Travis County EMS medics transport a teenage girl who overdosed on fentanyl in East Austin on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

A surprise budget amendment  which called for the elimination of some vacant positions across city departments  put forth by the second faction late Thursday briefly derailed the debate, culminating in an hourlong dinnertime recess. When members returned, they agreed to nix the vacant positions savings and roll the proposal into the final spending plan.

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The measure then passed seamlessly.

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, part of the second faction, said her guiding priority during the process was to safeguard public safety and protect the services that keep Austinites safe, housed and stable.

The public frustration communicated through the Prop Q vote loomed large throughout the day.

Council Member Marc Duchen noted that the passage of this budget is the first step toward restoring that trust.

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City Hall must address its structural deficit and keep its spending under control, or the council will find itself in the same spot this time next year, he added, adding that he supports an audit aimed at a hard look at each and every public expense.

Council Member Ryan Alter openly lamented the failure of Prop Q and reiterated that he thought the new austerity budget would have real consequences.

As much as we all love being here, I wish we werent, he said. I fought for Prop Q because it wasnt just a policy debate, it was a lifeline for many in our community.

Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter listens during discussion of a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Earlier in the day, the council unanimously approved two resolutions aimed at tightening financial controls and restoring confidence.

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One called for a standardized process for city grants and social service contracts and requires a comprehensive review and measurable outcomes for service contracts.

The other ordered an overhaul of expense and reimbursement policies for the mayor, council members and other elected officials, calling for new rules that ensure financial accountability and transparency. A progress update is due Dec. 11, with formal recommendations expected by Jan. 22.

I know that we all support strengthening financial accountability and transparency in our council offices, Council Member Krista Laine said from the dais. Its an important step toward rebuilding public trust.
Pete Moore IV, a dancer of Pawnee Otoe descent from Pawnee, Oklahoma, dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

Raven Price-Smith remembers how starved she was to find other Native Americans when she moved to Austin four years ago.

The 23-year-old had grown up as the only Native American at her high school in a small western Louisiana town of about 1,600. As a freshman at the University of Texas, she found a student group of four. So when she saw on Facebook that a group would be dancing at the downtown county courthouse, she left her dorm as quickly as she could.

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I literally rented a bike and I rolled down there just so I could meet them, said Price-Smith, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. I said, Where are the natives at?

From left, Ari Salas, Jewel Azure, Raven Price-Smith and Maxochitl Cortez work together to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow while at the Austin Native American Cultural Center Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Maxochitl Cortez sews as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Manolo Muniz Saleh, 7, beads a bracelet with the help of his mother, Lokni Muniz, as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Manolo Muniz Saleh, 7, beads a bracelet with the help of his mother, Lokni Muniz, as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Ari Salas sews as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Annalee Banks cuts fabric as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Ariya Nava, 1, tried on her headband as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Raven Price-Smith shows off the purse she made as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

The organization Price-Smith found dancing was known as the Great Promise of American Indians, a small outfit based out of a single office in North Austin. The group was originally formed three decades ago to operate the annual Austin Powwow, which will be held this year on Saturday. The Austin Powwow remains its largest event by far, attracting more than 10,000 attendees and 300 dancers last year in what the organization said is the largest single-day powwow in the country.

But the organizations rebrand as the citys Native American Cultural Center and its modest expansion into a pair of classrooms at the former Brooke Elementary School Building in East Austin, both of which occurred earlier this year demonstrate its intent to grow into a more robust entity that operates year-round and offers a broader set of programs.

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We are the last ones to have [a center]. Its long overdue, said Skye Howell, the organizations executive director. Its [part of] a school. But we're proud of it. Its a start.

Raven Price-Smith helps Annalee Banks measure fabric as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Because of the history of Texian and American settlement in what is today Austin, the region lacks a significant population of the Indigenous people who originally inhabited it. Many of its nomadic First Peoples, like the Comanche, were expelled by Anglo settlers. These settlers eventually forced out their Indigenous allies, too, like the Tonkawa. Thus, the Native Americans who live in the area represent a broad mix of nations, people brought to the region for the same reasons as others: work, school or family. The most recent census listed the number of Travis County residents identifying solely as American Indian and Native Alaskan at about 12,000, a number that some, including the leadership at the Native American Cultural Center and organizations like the Brookings Institution, say is an undercount based on how the census counts people of mixed race or ethnicity.

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The populations diversity means that many Native Americans living in Austin have traditionally operated in their own spheres, meeting through the local councils attached to their respective tribes, like the Cherokee or Chickasaw. Others, particularly members of nations with smaller numbers of local members, told the Statesman they have long struggled to find others. Launching a more consistent set of programs earlier this year, the Native American Cultural Center has sought to reach all these groups.

Today, its monthly potlucks attract 50 to 75 attendees, and its weekly sewing collective about half that many, Howell said. In between, it has held talks and documentary screenings. It has also received grants to write middle school curricula for Texas Native American history and culture. Its dance group has expanded its performances across the region, at local schools, libraries and museums.

Price-Smith, who is now an intern with the center, has benefitted from mentorship and opportunity within the group. The groups creative director, Nan Blassingame, taught Price-Smith how to dance in a jingle dress, a practice she had learned as a young child but lost by the time she was 8, when time, distance and caring for family members pulled her away.

Creative director Nan Blassingame chats with community members as they gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Relearning how to dance was frightening and humbling, Price-Smith said, recalling how she made mistakes during some of her first performances in town. But a sense of obligation and pride outweighed that fear.

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Because theres a history of the U.S. government banning our dances, banning our language, Price-Smith said. To just be able to dance is incredibly special. You're dancing for your parents who couldnt dance, you're dancing for your elders, who cant dance anymore.

Eventually, Blassingame, a Cheyenne seamstress and designer who specializes in making jingle dresses, helped Price-Smith make her own: measuring the fabric, tying and sewing each of 365 loops, each holding one of the metal cones that give the dress its name.

Brynden Torres of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe lines up for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Gilbert Ramon, right, helps his son Joaquin Ramon, left, get ready for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Desi Voice, a dancer from Dallas, waits for the start of the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Nan Blassingame, programs director for Great Promise for American Indians, greets dancers as they enter the center of the arena during the grand entry at the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Marcus Cheko, a dancer from Midland of Mescalero and Lipan Apache descent, holds a staff up for the crowd during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Bear Cadman, a dancer of Navajo and Kickapoo descent from Shiprock, New Mexico, puts on deer leg arm bands before the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Bear Cadman, a dancer of Navajo and Kickapoo descent from Shiprock, New Mexico, lines up for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Dancers line up to enter the center of the arena for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Brynden Torres of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe dances alone ahead of the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Spectators watch the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Dancers enter the center of the arena durng the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman A dancer lines up for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Dancers enter the center of the arena for the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Daniel Villareal of the Lipan Apache Tribe carries the Ealge Staff in the grand entry during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Rowena Roberts, a dancer of Stoney Nakota descent from Canada, dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Richard "Indio" Lesser of Navajo descent from Big Spring, Texas watches performances from the floor during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Desi Voice, a dancer from Dallas, dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Richard "Indio" Lesser of Navajo descent from Big Spring, Texas wears a handmade outfit during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Brynden Torres of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Tahlula Screaming Eagle, a dancer of Hidatsa and Mandan descent from North Dakota, dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Rowena Roberts, a dancer of Stoney Nakota descent from Canada, dances in the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman The Plainz Drifterz perform during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Rowena Roberts, a dancer of Stoney Nakota descent from Canada, bows her head after dancing during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman Josh Guerrero, arena director, right, and Stephanie Brown, left, collect donated money from the center of the arena during the Austin Powwow at the Travis County Exposition Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Austin. Stephanie's father Kenny Brown Sr. is collecting donations throughout the year to sponsor a dance competition for special needs dancers at the 2025 Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

On Saturday, Price-Smith will be one of about 20 local dancers participating in the powwow. By growing, the center hopes it can offer others the cultural opportunities and sense of belonging it has provided her.

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On Wednesday evening at Brooke, the weekly sewing collective appeared to be doing just that. Around a table of craftmakers, Ralph Pacheco, 61, who identified as a descendant of the Native Americans from the San Antonio missions, quietly threaded red and brown glass beads through gold wire to make jewelry. Alongside him, the more talkative Doug Martin, a 44-year-old citizen of the Cherokee Nation, twiddled his index fingers and thumbs, instinctively braiding purple sashes out of yarn using the traditional Cherokee fingerweaving method.

Kristine Carrerow weaves Cherokee baskets alongside her dog, Gracie, as community members gather at the Austin Native American Cultural Center to create regalia ahead of the annual Austin Powwow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Past a current of juice box-drinking children,the local Chickasaw council was producing screen-printed shirts for Saturday at another table. One council member, Nicole Welch, 41, remembered the Austin of her youth, where Native American identity felt completely absent.

We didnt know. We didnt practice, said Welch, who is Chickasaw through her mother. You cant feel isolated when you dont know anything.

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There was no isolation on Wednesday for different reasons. Through Blassingame, Welch had met a cousin who she now saw regularly at the center. A few feet away, that cousin, Teresa Velazquez, leaned over the sewing machine as Blassingame aligned pieces of sea blue cotton fabric to make a last-minute dress for her granddaughter. In the days before, Velazquez had ruined $75 worth of navy blue satin in her own attempt at dressmaking. Now she was driving each night from Temple to Austin so that Blassingame could get her out of a bind.

Price-Smith moved around them, helping several people measure fabrics for dresses or skirts and pick the ribbon colors that would embellish them.

Among those was Christian Flores, a 25-year-old from the Permian Basin who moved to town six weeks ago to attend culinary school. Listening to Price-Smiths orders, Flores began removing the stitching of his dress shirts front pocket. He was excited to make a ribbon shirt for the first time  and to find, as he put it, my space.
Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak speaks at a news conference announcing a petition drive to require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The Republican-aligned group that led the charge against Proposition Q, the now-failed city property tax hike, is keeping the pressure on.

Save Austin Now PAC announced Friday it would launch a petition initiative aimed at requiring regular city budget audits to identify multi-year cost savings.

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Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak displays a petition proposing a ballot measure that would require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman A petition proposing a ballot measure that would require independent city budget audits is shown at a news conference at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire speaks at a news conference announcing a petition drive to require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak displays a petition proposing a ballot measure that would require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Former Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty listens at a news conference announcing a petition drive to require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak, left, gives to Former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire a petition proposing a ballot measure that would require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak speaks at a news conference announcing a petition drive to require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

If the group successfully gathers 25,000 signatures from registered Austin voters by Feb. 1, a measure will appear on the May 2026 ballot that would amend the city charter to require an external and performance-based affordability and efficiency review every five years, or in the year leading up to tax rate elections like Prop Q. Voters shot down a similar effort in 2018.

We belive that outside auditing ought to be a regular function of a city as large as Austin. It has not been a regular practice, said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist who leads Save Austin Now.

The group used the same avenue to successfully thwart Austins controversial decision to lift a public camping ban in 2021.

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Former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, left, speaks with Save Austin Now PAC co-chair Matt Mackowiak during a news conference announcing a petition drive to require independent city budget audits at the W Hotel on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The announcement came the day after the City Council passed a $6.3 billion budget and as the city manager has embarked on a similar effort to find wasteful spending across city departments.

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But Save Austin Now officials said City Halls approach is too little, too late and argued a firm hired by the City Council would not be independent enough. The proposed charter amendment would mandate the city auditor choose the outside contractor.

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If you want to restore trust, you have to let this process work independent of the kind of political or selfish protection that incumbents may have, said Bill Aleshire, the Austin attorney and former Travis County judge who authored the proposed amendment.

The American-Statesman has reached out to the city for comment.

PAC leaders said the envisioned audit was modeled after one conducted by the city of Houston that helped Houston avoid a tax rate election, unlike Austin.

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The Statesman previously reported that both approaches carried their own risks.
Texas Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, looks at the proposed redistricting map in August as the Texas Senate prepared to vote on new maps for congressional districts heading into the 2026 election. A panel of federal judge this week found substantial evidence that Texas racially gerrymandered those maps. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

This weeks federal court ruling rejecting Texas redistricting maps earned cheers from Democrats and jeers from Republicans  and places the U.S. Supreme Court precisely where it doesnt want to be:

At the crossroads of an effort to engineer the outcome of the 2026 elections, and with it, control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the balance of power in Washington, D.C. for the second half of President Donald Trump's second term.

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Late Friday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. temporarily lifted the lower court's ruling, putting the 2025 maps back in play until the justices take up the matter. In the coming weeks, only one course of action by the U.S. Supreme Court can restore fairness and confidence: Uphold the lower court's ruling tossing Texas' gerrymandered maps. Stand with the law and against efforts to render voters irrelevant. Few issues present such a stark test of whether the democratic underpinnings of our nation will hold.

Examining the Texas Legislatures rushed, mid-decade redistricting effort this summer, the majority of a lower court's three-judge panel in El Paso saw through the charade. In a forceful, 160-page opinion, authored by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, the court concluded that Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP lawmakers didnt simply redraw boundaries. They erased constituencies.

While U.S. Circuit Court Judge Jerry Smith offered a scathing dissent, Brown, joined by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama, found substantial evidence that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 congressional map, splintering communities of color in order to change the mix of U.S. representatives that Texas would send to Congress.

In short, lawmakers tried rigging a representative democracy to be scarcely representative at all.

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As we noted this summer, Texas redistricting gambit was about control. The plan aimed to add five Republican seats in Congress, insulating the U.S. House from the political verdict voters might otherwise deliver next year on Trumps unpopular second-term policies.

To accomplish that, GOP mapmakers dismantled districts that had elected Latino and African American members of Congress, slicing and splicing urban communities into far-flung rural districts where their priorities would rate as an afterthought. As state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, argued in August, the new map treats our voters as crash-test dummies.

How far we have strayed from the Founding Fathers intent that congressional districts should be an exact portrait, a miniature of the people as a whole, as John Adams wrote.

To be clear, Texas older 2021 maps were already skewed: In a state where 56% of the voters backed last years GOP presidential nominee, 66% of the congressional seats were drawn to assuredly elect Republicans. The 2025 maps made it nearly 80%.

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In Travis County, the new maps would reassign nearly half the residents to new congressional districts next year. Austin would go from having two locally-based members of Congress  U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, both Democrats  to just one, as even larger swaths of Austin would be grafted onto rural seats stretching hundreds of miles away. The legal battle over the maps will decide the fate of Doggett, a staunch advocate for Austin for three decades, who has said he would not seek reelection if the 2025 maps prevail.

The El Paso court ruling outlines how Texas followed a bad-faith, ill-informed directive from Trumps Department of Justice to eliminate so-called coalition districts, where Black and Hispanic voters together form a majority. Racial concerns formed the pretext for the new maps. Several new districts ended up with razor-thin majorities of communities of color  50.3% Hispanic here, 50.5% Black there  a clear indication that race was used with laser-like precision to draw majority districts with the narrowest margins.

Racial gerrymandering is against the law. But as the maps produced in Democratic-controlled states like Illinois and California illustrate, partisan-based gerrymandering is just as poisonous to self-government, even if the U.S. Supreme Court has turned a blind eye to it.

The corruption of redistricting cheats Americans across the political spectrum. It tells voters their communities dont matter, only their usefulness in delivering a predetermined result. It deepens cynicism about government, erodes faith in elections and deprives communities of the advocates they deserve.

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The U.S. Supreme Court often insists it doesnt want to referee partisan disputes. But the Texas redistricting case isnt about politics; its about the Constitution. The Equal Protection Clause doesnt vanish when mapmakers claim to be just doing politics. And the sacred right of one person, one vote should not be upended by skewed maps that leave carved-up communities without electoral clout.

Nor should the high court shy away from rejecting patently unfair maps this close to the 2026 election. It was Abbott and the Texas Legislature's GOP majority that set this debacle in motion a few months ago, with an underhanded mid-decade redistricting push. They cannot complain now that the resulting legal battle arises at an inopportune time.

The Founders understood the danger of letting officeholders manipulate the machinery of representation to secure their own power, a danger Texas has now put on vivid display. Texans of every background  conservative, moderate and progressive  deserve better than to be parceled into political irrelevance.

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The U.S. Supreme Court should affirm the lower court's ruling and make clear that in America, elections should be decided by voters, not the mapmakers who fear them.
Imelda Walraven says goodbye to her husband, Jon Walraven, at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday. She was on her way to visit family in El Paso for Thanksgiving. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

An estimated 5.8 million Texans are expected to travel by car or plane this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the American Automobile Association of Texas. Thats a 1.1% increase over last year, setting a new record for the Lone Star State.

As families make their way across the state, many will be reminded of the classic holiday poem by Lydia Maria Child: Over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house we go. Were just hoping the weather wont delay our travel, and that we wont miss out on turkey and pumpkin pie.

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Texas weather forecast for Thanksgiving week

Nearly 90% of Texans traveling for the holiday are opting to drive, with peak travel expected to begin Tuesday, which is great news considering it will be very rainy during the second half of the weekend and into early next week.

Another Pacific storm system will sweep across Texas on Sunday and Monday, bringing more widespread heavy rain. Weather Prediction Center

Another Pacific storm system will move into Texas on Sunday, bringing the potential for widespread heavy rain across the state through Monday. A cold front will then push through Tuesday, ushering in cooler temperatures just in time for Thanksgiving.

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Sundays flooding risk will extend from San Angelo and Abilene to Wichita Falls, east into the Dallas area, and south toward Austin. On Monday, the threat of heavy rainfall shifts to a corridor from Waco to Dallas, then east to Tyler and south to just north of Houston. The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted these regions with a Level 1 out of 4 slight risk for flash flooding on both days.

Widespread rain totals will top 1 to 3 inches with isolated amounts up to 5 inches Pivotal

Although were still several days out and the forecast may shift, current trends show Tuesdays cold front lingering near the Texas coast on Wednesday, bringing only a slight chance of rain from Houston to Brownsville.

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In Austin, clouds will decrease on Wednesday with lots of sunshine for the Thanksgiving holiday. Temperatures will be cooler than normal with highs in the low 60s.

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Temperatures will be comfortable over the rainy weekend, but a strong cold front will arrive midweek, bringing cooler-than-normal conditions for Thanksgiving. WeatherBell

For most of Texas, last-minute travel on Wednesday or Thanksgiving Day should move along without major weather-related delays. Cooler, calmer conditions are expected to make for smooth travel across the state by the holiday.

However, while Texas weather looks to cooperate, travelers flying to or through other parts of the country may encounter less-favorable conditions.

Here's where airport delays are possible across the U.S.

A series of powerful systems moving across the nation will bring snow, wind, and rain to several key travel corridors leading up to the holiday.

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In the Southeast: The same system expected to slow Texas travelers through Tuesday will move into this region by Wednesday, bringing the potential for air travel delays from Nashville to New Orleans and Atlanta.

The same system expected to slow Texas travelers through Tuesday will move into this region by Wednesday, bringing the potential for air travel delays from Nashville to New Orleans and Atlanta. In the Northeast: Travel delays into some of the nation's busiest airports are possible, depending on where exactly Texas' rainmaker on Tuesday goes. A low that tracks towards the Great Lakes, as most global forecast models show, would mean more travel delays are likely.

Travel delays into some of the nation's busiest airports are possible, depending on where exactly Texas' rainmaker on Tuesday goes. A low that tracks towards the Great Lakes, as most global forecast models show, would mean more travel delays are likely. In the Midwest: A few passing disturbances could bring rain to the Midwest before Thanksgiving. Above-normal temperatures are likely to keep most places stuck in chilly rain early next week. If you have plans to fly into the Midwest or Great Lakes region Monday through Wednesday, keep a close eye on the forecast.

A few passing disturbances could bring rain to the Midwest before Thanksgiving. Above-normal temperatures are likely to keep most places stuck in chilly rain early next week. If you have plans to fly into the Midwest or Great Lakes region Monday through Wednesday, keep a close eye on the forecast. In the Rockies: Several disturbances bring the possibility of occasionally heavy snow. Where and how much snow could fly is still uncertain this far out, but people with flights into Denver or Billings, Mont., should be aware of potential delays.

Several disturbances bring the possibility of occasionally heavy snow. Where and how much snow could fly is still uncertain this far out, but people with flights into Denver or Billings, Mont., should be aware of potential delays. In the Southwest: No travel concerns are expected if your Thanksgiving destinations include Phoenix or Albuquerque, N.M.

No travel concerns are expected if your Thanksgiving destinations include Phoenix or Albuquerque, N.M. Along the West Coast: Several systems are likely to make their way towards the Pacific Northwest between Monday and Thanksgiving. Wet weather could slow air travel into Seattle or Portland, Ore., with snow expected in higher elevations along the Cascades.
Crypto markets extended their decline this week, with Bitcoin slipping to multi-week lows and shedding hundreds of billions of dollars in market value. Yet according to Coinbase UK CEO Keith Grose, the downturn reflects a broader shift in global risk sentiment rather than fading conviction in digital assets.

Grose said Coinbases latest research points to jitters around AI-bubble fears and a broader risk-off mood among investors as central drivers of the sell-off. He noted that while the price action has deteriorated, the industry continues to move forward on multiple fronts, including regulatory clarity, infrastructure development, and institutional participation.

The past year has brought real progress This period is a recalibration, not a reversal, Grose said, emphasizing that underlying adoption trends remain intact even as macro conditions weigh on speculative assets.

Bitcoin is trading around $91,535, down about 1% over the past 24 hours, extending a multi-week decline that has pushed the asset firmly below the key $100,000 psychological level.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan is also urging investors to look past Bitcoins sharp pullback, arguing that the cryptocurrencys long-term value has little to do with its recent slide and everything to do with the service it provides.

Hougan dismissed concerns about a deeper downturn, saying the current drop, roughly 27.5% from Bitcoins October all-time high, is short-term noise.

UK Market Strategy Remains Focused on Regulated Growth

Despite volatility, Coinbase is expanding its UK presence and prioritising regulated products built to function across market cycles. Grose pointed out the firms newly launched GBP savings product, which offers UK customers a secure way to grow their cash balances while markets remain uncertain.

In the UK, our focus is on building regulated, trusted products that work through every part of the cycle, Grose said. Volatility grabs headlines, but we are positioned to accelerate from a place of strength. By giving individuals more choice and control during uncertain times, were advancing towards our mission of expanding economic freedom for everyone.

Bitcoins retreat comes alongside a broader sell-off in high-growth technology stocks, with concerns about the sustainability of AI-driven valuations spilling into crypto.

Technical Breakdown Adds Pressure to Bitcoin

Carolane De Palmas, analyst at ActivTrades, attributes Bitcoins extended decline to a combination of macro stress and a sharp deterioration in market structure. Bitcoins 28% collapse from its October record stems from macro headwinds and structural pressures, she said.
Constellation Energy CEO Joe Dominguez at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Policy Forum in College Park. Dominguez detailed plans for a potential new power generation facility in Harford County. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)

Theres a slight hitch in Constellations plan to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant in Maryland: The potentially prohibitive cost of delivering natural gas to the proposed Harford County site.

We will need some help on that, Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez told a room full of policymakers, businesspeople and lobbyists Thursday. I was told that the gas interconnection  the extension of the gas to the site to enable these things  is something like $800 million.

His comments came in a speech at the Maryland Chamber of Commerces 2025 Policy Forum at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dominguez laid out Constellations plans for more energy generation, challenged state lawmakers to help  both financially and in terms of policy  and railed against the idea that electric utilities, such as Exelon, would be allowed to get back in the business of power generation, in competition with Constellation.

The remarks also came as Constellation is hoping to get fast-track approval for new power generation, one of a number of measures approved this year under the Next Generation Act, as lawmakers responded to high energy bills enraging consumers.

Constellation submitted three projects to Next Generation Act approval: a larger natural gas generating facility and a smaller version, as well as a proposal for 800 megawatts of battery storage, which could contribute power onto the grid during times of peak demand.

The Constellation Energy building in Baltimores Harbor Point. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)

Dominguez, for the first time, identified Constellation property near the Perryman Generating Station in Aberdeen, as the site for all three projects.

The Perryman site already hosts oil- and gas-fired generating units, but Dominguez said transporting additional natural gas to the site would still come at a steep cost, according to the companys internal estimates. Constellation could turn to the General Assembly for help, he said.

He noted that some states, for instance, have used bonds to finance desired energy projects, Dominguez said. But, whereas regulated utilities, like those in Maryland, usually receive a guaranteed return on their investment of 10%, the state requires utilities to build the infrastructure at cost.

They say to the utilities: Look, well raise, in a bond, the money and give it to you. But you dont add 10% to the bill, Dominguez said in an interview.
The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has granted an injunction against Maple Finance over alleged breaches of its commercial partnership with Core Foundation to develop lstBTC, a liquid staked Bitcoin token launched earlier this year that helped Maple secure over $150 million in client assets.

The court ruling prohibits Maple from launching its competing product, syrupBTC, and from dealing in CORE tokens pending arbitration, while finding serious merit in Cores claims of misuse of confidential information and exclusivity violations.

The dispute stems from a partnership formed in early 2025 to create lstBTC, a product that enables Bitcoin holders to earn yield while maintaining their assets with institutional custodians like BitGo.

Core Foundation alleges that by mid-2025, Maple began secretly developing syrupBTC, a rival offering that violated their 24-month exclusivity agreement, while continuing to accept Cores capital, resources, and confidential information.

From Partnership Success to Alleged Betrayal

Core Foundation and Maple Finance announced their lstBTC partnership at Consensus Hong Kong in February 2025, targeting Bitcoin investors seeking yield without sacrificing custody security.

Core invested substantially in technical development, marketing, and subsidies, while Maple launched with under $500 million in assets.

The Bitcoin Yield offerings April 2025 launch catalyzed explosive growth for Maple, securing over $150 million in Bitcoin through an early over-the-counter version of lstBTC.

That early traction demonstrated strong product-market fit for a Core-powered Bitcoin yield product, which Core claims became the catalyst for Maples alleged pivot to competing infrastructure.

Core alleges that by mid-2025, Maple began misusing confidential information and work product while continuing to accept resources to develop syrupBTC, a rival offering that violated their 24-month exclusivity agreement.

On September 26, 2025, Justice Jalil Asif KC ruled that there is a serious issue regarding Maples alleged breach of exclusivity and misuse of confidential information, with the judgment published on October 30, 2025.

Court Rules Damages Insufficient

The court determined that monetary damages would be inadequate due to the risk that Maple would dispose of CORE tokens and the irreversible head-start advantage a competing product launch would provide.

The injunction prohibits Maple from using Cores confidential information, launching syrupBTC or similar products, and dealing in CORE tokens without written consent.
Cotton futures are trading with contracts down 17 to 41 points on Wednesday. Crude oil futures are back down $1.42 per barrel to $59.32 on the day, with the US dollar index $0.601 higher to $100.050.

August cotton exports (excluding linters) totaled 642,851 bales, which was a 10-yar low for the month, and down 31.39% from July.

More News from Barchart

The Tuesday online auction from The Seam showed 6,538 bales sold with an average price of 63.22 cents/lb. The Cotlook A Index was down another 10 points on 11/14 at 74.30 cents. ICE certified cotton stocks were steady on November 17 with the certified stocks level at 20,344 bales. The Adjusted World Price was reported at 51.83 cents/lb.

Dec 25 Cotton is at 62.4, down 17 points,

Mar 26 Cotton is at 63.98, down 41 points,

May 26 Cotton is at 65.21, down 36 points

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
From Reach to ROI, Proof Is Now TVs Most Valuable Metric

Television has always been the most powerful storytelling medium, but for decades, it was also one of the hardest to measure. Brands knew TV drove awareness, yet they struggled to prove its impact on actual sales. As streaming reshapes how audiences watch video, the walls around measurement are finally coming down. Connected TV is no longer just about reach; it is becoming a channel that delivers proof.

The shift from awareness to accountability is changing the way advertisers think about television. Streaming brings together the scale of TV and the analytical rigor of digital media. As a result, the industry is beginning to judge television not by how many households it reaches, but by what those exposures produce. This evolution is powered by better data, better models, and better algorithms that understand audiences at the household level and learn how likely viewers are to engage long before they type a URL or complete a purchase.

For years, measurement depended on broad estimates. Today, connected devices and household-level identifiers give marketers a more complete view of how people move from exposure to action. Advertisers can see how an ad delivered on a living room screen influences visits, purchases, and behaviors across phones, laptops, and tablets. When paired with attribution frameworks and incrementality testing, this visibility allows marketers to distinguish correlation from causation in a way that legacy TV systems never could.

When brands begin experimenting with streaming, they often discover that televisions reputation as an upper-funnel tactic no longer applies. Companies that once viewed TV as too blunt or too expensive are now using it to drive customer acquisition, site traffic, and revenue with precision. Enterprises are connecting streaming impressions to their e-commerce and affiliate systems to validate which exposures truly influence sales. Smaller, subscription-driven businesses are using television to support performance goals that once lived only in social or search channels.

Technology plays a central role in this shift. Modern AI systems can evaluate millions of data points across audiences, devices, creative variations, and inventory sources, and they can do so continuously. Instead of optimizing campaigns once a week or once a month, algorithms now learn in real time and refine spend as new signals come in. This allows television campaigns to behave more like highly adaptive digital programs, where learning accelerates as more data accumulates.

Modern AI systems also do more than improve results inside a single channel. The insights they uncover about audience behavior, creative performance, and engagement patterns can strengthen the performance of the entire media mix. When algorithms learn which households are most likely to act, which messages resonate, and which signals correlate with meaningful outcomes, those learnings can be carried into search, social, display, and other digital environments. This creates a halo effect that lifts overall efficiency, not just connected TV performance, and gives marketers a unified understanding of what truly drives response across their mix.

The industry is also raising the bar on transparency. Advertisers want line-level insight into where ads run, how bids clear, and how creative performs across publishers, genres, times of day, and audience segments. They want reporting that reflects the complete customer journey, not just the final step. And they want measurement frameworks that blend deterministic signals with incrementality testing so they can prove that streaming is not simply assisting other channels but driving lift on its own. These expectations reflect a broader cultural shift in marketing, where accountability is becoming a shared language across creative, media, finance, and analytics teams.

Brands that want to succeed in this environment are approaching television differently. They set clear goals for what a campaign should accomplish and evaluate performance against those goals rather than historical TV norms. They integrate streaming data with their core analytics systems so they can compare television directly with search, social, email, and other channels. They look closely at creative, not just as storytelling but as a lever for performance, ensuring that the message and the call to action are appropriate for a connected TV environment.

The more marketers experience what measurable television can do, the more they revisit long-held assumptions about the boundary between brand and performance. Streaming blurs that line. A single campaign can introduce a brand, tell a story, and drive a measurable action within the same experience. That combination is powerful because it pairs emotional resonance with analytical discipline, and it gives television a new role in driving business growth.

The future of television will be defined by this union of emotion and evidence. Streaming has given advertisers a path to combine the creative impact of TV with the clarity and accountability that modern businesses demand. As more marketers adopt this mindset, the industry will continue moving toward a single standard of proof, where every impression has a purpose and every campaign is evaluated by its contribution to outcomes. In that world, televisions most valuable metric is no longer reach. It is the results.

[Editor's note: This is a contributed article from tvScientific. Streaming Media accepts vendor bylines based solely on their value to our readers.]

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Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far Toward CTV?

Marketers have spent the last decade shifting ad dollars from traditional TV to Connected TV (CTV), chasing precision targeting, real-time reporting, and cost efficiency. Yet the pendulum may have swung too far. Behind dashboards and targeting promises, CTV still operates through opaque supply chains and questionable measurement. It is time to consider rebalancing strategies around trust and transparency  not hype.

The rise of streaming is undeniable. Audiences have moved to connected platforms, and CTV now accounts for more than one-third of total U.S. TV ad spend. But alongside innovation has come inefficiency and risk. According to Pixalate, nearly one in five CTV impressions in mid-2024 were invalid, costing advertisers more than $1 billion per quarter. Even legitimate campaigns suffer from poor visibility  only 30% of marketers report full transparency into where their CTV ads appear.

Compounding these challenges are identity and measurement issues. Truthset found that IP-based identifiers are only accurate 13% of the time due to reassigned addresses and device switching, inflating reach and distorting frequency. The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) echoed the concern, warning that proxy identifiers like IPs lead to inaccurate reach, low frequency control, and compromised measurement.

Truthset and CIMM also highlight issues with timestamping, geographic variation, and the lack of independent verification of identity graphs. Stale or incomplete signals can inflate match rates which inflate scale while inevitably reducing accuracy. The CTV targeting ecosystem is arguably optimized more for match rates, and less for truth.

Add it up, and the illusion of precision is costing brands. Once inefficiencies like invalid traffic and duplication are factored in, a $25 CTV CPM can effectively cost three times that. DoubleVerify has found that ads are still running while screens are off  ad dollars being spent to reach no one. These challenges do not apply to every CTV publisher or platform and many are investing heavily in transparency and validation.

In contrast, traditional television still offers stronger accountability. Spots are negotiated directly, logged transparently, measured independently, and measurement while challenged is at least often scrutinized by organizations like the Media Rating Council. When a commercial airs, it is traceable to a network, a program, and independent measurement of the audience estimate. Where CTV data flows are opaque, linear TVs transparency is a strength, not a relic or weakness.

The point is not that CTV does not work  it is that it does not always work as cleanly as it is sold. Marketers can no longer afford to conflate targeting with transparency. Marketers should not abandon CTV, but they should rebalance strategies:

Re-Establish Televisions Anchor Role. Treat linear as the baseline for reach and brand safety, complementing it with data-driven CTV extensions. Execute Linear like Digital. Step back from legacy practices and modernize to pay for delivery, use data to inform the plan, and negotiate pricing  not the audience estimates. Focus on reaching an audience wholistically and less on guardrails and specific must-have/must-not-haves. Evaluate True Effectiveness, Not Just CPMs. Adjust ROI/ROAS models for invalid traffic, frequency duplication, and identifier churn. Demand Transparency. Require app-level disclosure, IVT auditing, and verified delivery for all CTV buys. Hold Every Channel to the Same Standard. Whether linear, streaming, or digital, accountability and auditability should be non-negotiable.

The smartest marketers harmonize the trust and reach of television with the addressability and agility of CTV. The future of reaching an audience is across both linear and connected, but only one side is currently backed by decades of transparency. Now is the time to re-evaluate the channels you can see clearly and trust over the newest or cheapest channels.

[Editor's note: This is a contributed article from Ampersand. Streaming Media accepts vendor bylines based solely on their value to our readers.]

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An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prepares to land at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Oct. 23, 2025. (Erin Currie/U.S. Air Force)



Three fighter squadrons arrived for rotational duty at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa last month as the 18th Wing inches closer to a permanent fleet of F-15EX Eagle IIs in the spring.

F-35A Lightning IIs with the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, landed at Kadena on Oct. 7, according to a Friday news release from the wing.

The Fightin Fuujins are ready to train with the 18th Wing and demonstrate the versatility our F-35s bring to Kadenas collective capabilities, squadron commander Lt. Col. Adam Thompson said in the release. Our relevance here is to enhance a fully integrated, reliable force prepared to respond whenever and wherever needed.

They joined F-35As with the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron that arrived in October from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, according to the release and an email from the wing Monday.

The third unit in the rotation, F-16C Fighting Falcons with the 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, arrived on Oct. 18, according to a second release from the wing Friday. Home base for the 119th is Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J.

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Oct. 2, 2025. (Erin Currie/U.S. Air Force)



The October arrivals replaced three squadrons serving at Kadena since early April. The last unit in that rotation, F-15E Strike Eagles with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., returned home in mid-October, the wing wrote in an unsigned email Friday.

The Strike Eagles operated from Kadena alongside the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Hill and the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Eielson. Both flew F-35As. The 355th returned to Eielson in late September; the 421st returned to Hill in late October, the wing said Monday.

The Air Force began rotating fighter squadrons to Kadena in late 2022 as it phased out the aging F-15C/D fleet.

The Air Force in July 2024 announced plans to send 36 F-15EX Eagle IIs to Kadena permanently. The new fighters are expected to begin arriving between March and June next year, former wing commander Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans told reporters in March.

During the 336th squadrons deployment, an unspecified number of F-15Es  alongside 160 airmen from Kadena, Yokota Air Base in Tokyo and Anderson Air Force Base on Guam  deployed for three months to U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia. This was the first sustained U.S. fighter presence on the remote island in the Indian Ocean, according to a Tuesday news release from the 18th Wing.

Pacific Air Forces in May said that F-15s had deployed to Diego Garcia for a force protection mission.

Six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, along with a C-17 Globemaster airlifter and several refueling tankers, were deployed there this spring, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commands magazine, Indo-Pacific Defense Forum, reported May 2.

While returning to Okinawa from Diego Garcia on Aug. 4, one of the F-15Es from the 336th safely landed with a missing wheel at Kadena, the 18th Wing said at the time. None of the airmen involved were injured.
U.S. and Japanese troops jump from a C-130J Super Hercules over Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 18, 2025. (Kendrick Jackson/U.S. Marine Corps)



YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Parachute training is resuming at this western Tokyo airlift hub after a U.S. Army paratrooper drifted off course and landed in a nearby city, prompting a protest from the mayor and a temporary halt to jumps.

The soldier landed in Hamura city on Tuesday evening after jumping from a C-130J Super Hercules, according to emails from U.S. Forces Japan and Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing.

The wings commander, Col. Richard McElhaney, met with Hamura Mayor Hirotaka Hashimoto to share information about the incident, wing spokesman Capt. Emma Quirk said by email Friday.

Drop training was suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday for a thorough review of equipment and procedures, she wrote. Following this analysis, we are confident in the safety of our paradrop operations and will resume training.

The paratrooper deployed a backup chute after the main parachute failed, according to a Thursday news release from neighboring Fussa city, citing information from the North Kanto Defense Bureau, an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense.

The soldier was not seriously injured, Quirk said Friday, though she did not immediately respond to follow-up questions seeking confirmation of details provided by Japanese authorities.

The soldier landed on the roof of a home, Japans Yomiuri newspaper reported Wednesday, quoting local police who would not confirm that detail to Stars and Stripes.

The incident, Quirk wrote, highlights the importance of rigorous training.

Maintaining aircrew and partner readiness through jump training is essential, she said. We strive to minimize community impact while maintaining operational readiness for the defense of Japan.

Hashimoto lodged a complaint during his meeting with McElhaney and handed over a formal protest letter calling for training to stop, urging stronger safety measures and requesting detailed information, according to a statement posted on Hamura citys website.

Parachute training is frequently conducted at Yokota Air Base but despite repeated requests for thorough safety measures for base operations and to provide information in advance it is extremely regrettable that the training was again conducted without any advance information being provided and an incident occurred, the statement said.

The letter was also sent to USFJ, 5th Air Force and Japans defense and foreign affairs ministries, according to the city.

The defense bureau provided updates Thursday to officials in Hamura and Fussa, two of several municipalities that border Yokota.
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu. (Tripler Army Medical Center)



The criminal investigation into claims that a Fort Hood OB-GYN secretly recorded his exams with patients has grown, with the Army confirming it is contacting roughly 1,600 women under his care at a previous duty station.

Those letters alert patients from Tripler Army Medical Center in Oahu, Hawaii, that they saw Maj. Blaine McGraw, a doctor now under criminal investigation, and include a link to an online survey to help criminal investigators understand each patients interactions with him. McGraw was suspended Oct. 17 from Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas, after hospital officials received a report of misconduct.

Combined with the 1,400 letters sent to patients at Fort Hood, there are now roughly 3,000 women who could be questioning their visits and the medical care they received. Some women were contacted directly by Army Criminal Investigation Division because images of their exams were found on devices collected from McGraw, according to legal filings.

The legal filings against McGraw and the Army describe allegations of the doctor secretly recording exams, groping women, forcing them into unnecessary procedures and making lewd or inappropriate comments that made them feel uncomfortable.

We rely on our doctors to do whats best for us, said Christine Dunn, an attorney with experience litigating sexual violence who is representing some of McGraws former patients. Now, looking back and knowing that you had a doctor who had ulterior motives and patient care was not his primary focus, of course youre going to question every touch, every medical procedure, every decision that he did.

The doubt will follow them into every future medical appointment, she said.

McGraw, 47, has not been charged with a crime as Army CID is continuing to investigate and speak with former patients.

The Army is committed to supporting patients affected by these allegations, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokeswoman. We have swiftly established a call center, assigned a Special Victims Counsel, and are actively notifying patients. Additionally, we have created a patient support line to offer access to resources and assistance. We encourage anyone with information related to the investigation to contact the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

The Defense Health Agency said Friday the top concern is patients and their families.

We have launched a comprehensive internal review staffed by clinical experts to ensure accountability, review systemic safeguards, and rebuild the confidence of our community in the hospital. In addition, we are also reviewing clinical protocols, supervision mechanisms, and reporting and complaint procedures across the entire enterprise to ensure that our hospitals remain a safe and secure environment for our beneficiaries and personnel, the agency said in a statement.

Andrew Cobos, an attorney representing the woman who filed a lawsuit in Bell County under the name Jane Doe and about 60 other women, said the new batch of letters likely stems from an expansion of the criminal investigation beyond Fort Hood. He said his firm represents women from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

This is an Army OB-GYN, but it is an epidemic that exists in the military, Cobos said. What we see is one assault after another, after another that gets investigated and that no change ever gets made. No meaningful change ever occurs and now we have the largest sexual assault case in the history of the military.

Before McGraw attended medical school and began in 2019 as an intern at Tripler, he was in the Army Reserve as a physician assistant at Fort Campbell, Ky., from 2010 to 2013, according to his service record released this week by the Army. He first entered the Army in 2006, serving in the infantry at Fort Campbell.

He deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan one time, according to his service record.

The earliest report of misconduct Cobos said he has received dates to 2020, while McGraw was assigned to Tripler.

Next month, Cobos said, a group of victims will rally at Fort Hoods Vanessa Guillen Gate.

What were asking is that the Army takes accountability for allowing this type of tolerance to exist in the first place, he said.
Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar, the incoming U.S. Army Garrison Poland senior enlisted adviser, receives the guidon from garrison commander Col. Jeremy McHugh on Nov. 21, 2025, during a change of responsibility ceremony in Poznan, Poland. ( Katie Mazos/U.S. Army)



POZNAN, Poland  U.S. Army Garrison Poland welcomed a new senior enlisted leader during a change of responsibility ceremony Friday at Camp Kosciuszko, marking the next chapter in the garrisons rapid growth on NATOs eastern flank.

Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar assumed responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Jones, who departs after a year overseeing quality-of-life improvements across 12 U.S. sites in Poland.

Romar, who enlisted in 1998 and served as an infantryman and a logistics specialist, arrives in Poland with an operational background that includes deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. He also held senior enlisted roles in Korea, Poland, Germany and Cuba.

Romar steps into his new job as the Poland garrisons responsibilities expand. In May, USAG Poland assumed oversight of Army Support Activity Black Sea, adding sites in Romania and Bulgaria to its portfolio.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Jones, the outgoing U.S. Army Garrison Poland senior enlisted adviser, delivers remarks during a change of responsibility ceremony at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, Nov. 21, 2025. (Katie Mazos/U.S. Army)

Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar, incoming U.S. Army Garrison Poland senior enlisted adviser, passes the U.S. Army Garrison Poland colors to Sgt. 1st Class Corey Wright during a change of responsibility ceremony in Poznan, Poland, Nov. 21, 2025. Watching at left is Col. Jeremy McHugh, the garrison commander, and outgoing senior enlisted leader Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Jones, at right. (Katie Mazos/U.S. Army)



Whether youre rotational forces or one of our mission partners, the work you do strengthens NATOs eastern flank. I look forward to serving alongside you, Romar said during the ceremony.

Romar will also be the first service member in Poland whose school-age dependents will join him during the tour  a milestone made possible after recent policy changes as the Army shifts toward a more enduring posture in Poland.

Col. Jeremy McHugh, the garrison commander, praised Jones for what he called a year of steady, meaningful progress during a period when numerous Army sites in Poland transitioned from tent cities and temporary structures to more permanent facilities supporting more than 10,000 rotating troops.

He made the Poland experience better for thousands of troops  often behind the scenes and always with the long game in mind, McHugh told soldiers, civilians and Polish military partners attending the ceremony.

During Jones tenure, the garrison opened new barracks, cut ribbons on three contingency dining facilities, expanded fuel storage capacity and coordinated education opportunities that paved the way for allowing school-age dependents to accompany eligible soldiers to Poland.

Those efforts, combined with close cooperation with Polish support units, helped the garrison earn the Army Community Partnership Award, marking the first time in the awards history that a U.S. garrison and a host nation ministry were recognized together, Jones and McHugh said.
U.S. Coast Guard members patrol on the Rio Grande River, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Mission, Texas. (Michael Gonzalez/AP/Pool)



WASHINGTON  The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just hours after it was publicly revealed that it made plans to describe them as potentially divisive  a term that prompted outcry from lawmakers and advocates.

Divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited, the latest Coast Guard policy, released late Thursday, declared before adding that this category included a noose, a swastika, and any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.

This is not an updated policy but a new policy to combat any misinformation and double down that the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols, an accompanying Coast Guard press release said.

The late-night change came on the same day that media outlets, led by The Washington Post, discovered that the Coast Guard had written a policy earlier this month that called those same symbols potentially divisive. The term was a shift from a years-long policy, first rolled out in 2019, that said symbols like swastikas and nooses were widely identified with oppression or hatred and called their display a potential hate incident.

The latest policy that was rolled out Thursday night also unequivocally banned the display of any divisive or hate symbols from all Coast Guard locations. The earlier version stopped short of banning the symbols, instead saying that commanders could take steps to remove them from public view and that the rule did not apply to private spaces outside of public view, such as family housing.

Both policies maintained a long-standing prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag outside of a handful of situations, such as educational or historical settings.

The latest Coast Guard policy appears to take effect immediately.

After the initial policy change became public, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada said the change rolls back important protections against bigotry and could allow for horrifically hateful symbols like swastikas and nooses to be inexplicably permitted to be displayed.

At a time when antisemitism is rising in the United States and around the world, relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message to the men and women of our Coast Guard, but it puts their safety at risk, she added.

Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, said the policy did not roll back any prohibitions, calling it categorically false to claim otherwise in a statement released earlier Thursday.

These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy, Lunday said in a statement, adding that any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.

Lundays predecessor, Admiral Linda Fagan, was fired on President Donald Trumps first day in office. Trump officials later said she fired in part for putting an excessive focus on diversity and inclusion efforts that diverted resources and attention from operational imperatives.

The older policy that was rolled out earlier in November also explicitly said that the terminology hate incident is no longer present in policy and conduct that would have previously been handled as a potential hate incident will now be treated as a report of harassment in cases with an identified aggrieved individual.

Commanders, in consultation with lawyers, may order or direct the removal of potentially divisive symbols or flags if they are found to be affecting the units morale or discipline, according to the policy.

The newest policy is silent on whether Coast Guard personnel will be able to claim they were victims of hate incidents.

The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security, but it is still considered a part of Americas armed forces and the new policy was updated in part to be consistent with similar Pentagon directives, according to a Coast Guard message announcing the changes.

It also has historically modeled many of its human resources policies on other military services.

The policy change comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of all the hazing, bullying and harassment definitions across the military, arguing that the policies were overly broad and they were jeopardizing combat readiness, mission accomplishment, and trust in the organization.

The Pentagon could not offer any details about what the review was specifically looking at, if it could lead to similar changes as seen in the Coast Guard policy or when the review would be complete.

Menachem Rosensaft, a law professor at Cornell University and a Jewish community leader, said in a statement that the swastika is the ultimate symbol of virulent hate and bigotry, and even a consideration by the Coast Guard to no longer classify it as such would be equivalent to dismissing the Ku Klux Klans burning crosses and hoods as merely potentially divisive.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the move disgusting, and its more encouragement from the Republicans of extremism.

Haigh reported from Norwich, Connecticut.
The Russian combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin in Severomorsk, Russia, following its commissioning on Sept. 5, 2025, (Alekc2m/Wikimedia Creative Commons)

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Russia is raising questions about militarization of the Arctic with its deployment of the Ivan Papanin, a new combat icebreaker, to the region. Commissioned on Sept. 8 in Severomorsk, the ship is the first of two new vessels that combine icebreaking capability with significant firepower.

Marc Cancian, a former Marine Corps officer and analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, called the move a break from the tradition that icebreakers were scientific or transport vessels, not warships.

The United States should make provisions for arming icebreakers, Cancian said. The environment in the far north has changed from its post-Cold War status as a wilderness and resource extraction zone to a heavily trafficked and contested zone.

The U.S. currently operates three icebreakers from Coast Guard Base Seattle  the USCGC Polar Star, USCGC Healy, and USCGC Storis  each armed only with short-range, .50 caliber machine guns.

The Coast Guards three icebreakers at Coast Guard Base Seattle in November 2025: USCGC Storis, foreground, USCGS Healy, left, USCGC Polar Star. (U.S. Coast Guard)



Russias new ship, by contrast, represents a significantly different design and purpose. According to Janes, the London-based defense analysis firm, the Ivan Papanin displaces 8,600 tons, runs on diesel-electric engines at 18 knots, and can break through 5 inches of ice. It carries 49 permanent crew members plus space for 47 others.

While Russia operates more than 40 icebreakers, including seven nuclear-powered craft, the Ivan Papanin is the first to feature heavy permanent armament, Janes said.

The ship mounts an AK-176MA 76mm gun in a turret on the foredeck  the same weapon used on Russian Navy corvettes. The gun can strike ships, aircraft or ground targets up to 9 miles away. It also has an air defense mode allowing it to fire up to 120 rounds per minute to take down incoming anti-ship missiles, such as the U.S. AGM-84 Harpoon.

Janes diagrams also show MR-352 Pozitiv radar and deck positions for modular rocket launchers. The positions could accommodate for up to eight SM-54 Kalibr-K anti-ship missiles with a range of 135 miles. A helipad at the rear of the Ivan Papanin can carry a Kamov Ka-27 helicopter for anti-submarine warfare or Ka-29 variant used by special infantry forces.

With Russia increasingly focused on the Arctic and laying claim to large swathes of it, the Papanin class was designed to enable the Russian Navy to project power more widely in the region than would be possible with conventional, non-ice-strengthened warships, Janes wrote.

A sister ship, the Nikolay Zubov, was launched in late 2024 but not expected to enter service until 2027, Janes reported.

Russias intention to put the Ivan Papanin into service drew attention at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in May.

This move risks raising tensions in the Arctic, a region thats already becoming more strategically contested as sea ice recedes and maritime activity increases, said U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., then chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Green left Congress this summer, citing an opportunity in the private sector.

Warming summers have thinned Arctic ice in recent years, prompting increased Russian and Chinese patrols, including joint operations in the Bering Sea off Alaska. Russian and Chinese ships  commercial and military  have become more active in recent years, transiting the 53-mile-wide Bering Strait that separates Russia and Alaska.

Most of Russias icebreakers are tasked with clearing ice around ports and shipping lane along the 5,000-mile-long Arctic coastline.

The most significant change has been Chinas arrival and the deployment of its five icebreakers. China declared itself a near arctic state in January 2018 and has increased its presence in the region, despite the 900 miles between the Arctic and the nearest point in Northern China.

Coast Guard Capt. Kristen L. Serumgard, commander of the Healy, said last week during a tour of the ship in Seattle that while the Russians have been a consistent presence for many years, the Chinese are relative newcomers.

Theres absolutely more activity from the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), Serumgard said. Ive been on the bridge when weve hailed one of their ships to check on what they are doing. Everyone maintained a professional manner. But it showed we need to have more icebreakers in the Arctic.

A significant increase will take time. The U.S. Navy has no icebreakers. The Coast Guards only heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, has an annual commitment to take part in Operation Deep Freeze, clearing ice from channels around American and other research stations in Antarctica. The Healy is a 25-year-old cutter with expansive space for scientific lab equipment, and the Storis is a 14-year-old oil-company icebreaker and ocean tugboat purchased last year for $125 million and converted for Coast Guard service.

The Coast Guard plans to expand with 11 new polar security cutters, some of which are to be designed and built under a joint program with Canadian and Finnish shipbuilders. The first ships arent expected to enter service before 2030, but the Coast Guard has said it is working to shorten the time span. The service is also upgrading its capacity at bases in Seattle and Juneau, Alaska, to handle the eventual influx of new cutters.

Cancian said the key for American forces is maintaining a presence in the Arctic. New cutters should have a modular design that would allow for the addition of weapons if warranted.

The vessels do not need to be armed all the time, he said. It is possible to have the space set aside and the connections in place to bolt on weapons when needed.

In the past two years, congressional critics have said the U.S. needs to close the icebreaker gap between itself and its allies on one side and the Russians and Chinese expansion on the other.

The work ahead of us is clear  the U.S. Coast Guard urgently needs new icebreakers, and our maritime industrial base needs a resurgence, said Green, the former House committee chairman, during the May hearing.
Shivi Sharma spent a decade working in credit risk at places like American Express and Varo Bank.

At some point, she realized teams were spending equal amounts of time analyzing all types of loans  regardless of whether it was worth $100,000 or $5 million  meaning assessing smaller loans was ultimately an unprofitable and time-consuming process for lenders.

She and her husband, Utsav Shah, realized there was an opportunity here.

She watched as the vast majority of small business owners couldnt access the capital they needed to grow, simply because the economics didnt work for banks, Shah told TechCrunch.

Between our skills in building AI-powered decision-making systems at scale and our expertise in credit risk and fraud risk assessments in banking in financial services, we realized we could apply next-gen AI agent workflows to solve this decades-old problem, he continued.

The married couple decided to launch Kaaj in 2024, a company that helps automate credit risk analysis so that underwriting no longer takes days, but minutes. Kaaj said its processed more than $5 billion worth of loan applications, with clients including Amur Equipment Finance and Fundr. The company announced on Wednesday a $3.8 million seed round from Kindred Ventures and Better Tomorrow Ventures.

The product works like this: A small business applies for a loan, submitting all the needed documents (like financial statements, bank statements, and tax returns)  typically, when this happens, underwriters spend days manually verifying all this information and logging it into their loan origination system (LOS).

Kaaj uses AI to identify, classify, verify, and organize information into LOS. It also runs assessments to check for document tampering for the underwriter fraud team. It integrates into existing customer relationship management (CRM) systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Microsoft and even shows a lender if a business is meeting the criteria of a lenders policy.

This allows a team processing 500 applications monthly to handle 20,000 applications with the same staff, making smaller loans economically viable, Shah, the companys CEO, said.

The hope is that more small businesses will be able to access loans from banks because it becomes more cost-efficient for a bank to investigate them.

Others in the market include Middesk, Ocrolus, and MoneyThumb. Sharma hopes that Kaaj will stand out from the competition by automating the entire credit analysis process rather than parts of it.

We do this by deploying agentic AI workflows that mimic their teams, to help lenders analyze end-to-end loan packages, she said.
An artist's rendering of the future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The Navy recently awarded a $2.2 billion modification to a previously awarded contract that is designed to speed procurement and construction of the Columbia-class submarines. (U.S. Navy illustration)



A $2.3 billion Navy contract is intended to speed up the purchase and construction of five of the services newest class of ballistic missile submarines, a program plagued by cost overruns and delays.

The billion-dollar modification earlier this month to a previous contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat is designed to push the Columbia-class submarine program forward in alignment with department acquisition rules, the Pentagon said in a statement Monday.

Ballistic missile submarines are considered to be the most survivable leg of the nations nuclear triad, which includes intercontinental missiles and bombs deliverable by aircraft.

The Navy wants to build 12 Columbia-class submarines to replace the services aging Ohio-class fleet at an estimated cost of about $126.4 billion, according to a Sept. 25 Congressional Research Service report.

USS District of Columbia and USS Wisconsin, the lead and second boats of the class respectively, are under construction. The Navy plans to procure a third vessel in the class, USS Groton, next year.

But delivery of District of Columbia has been pushed back 17 months, to 2029. Its cost is estimated at $16.1 billion, according to the CRS report.

Construction on the boat started in 2020, with delivery originally expected in 2027. Service officials have said District of Columbia would be on deterrent patrol by late 2030 or 2031.

Wisconsin, whose keel was laid in August, and Groton are expected on schedule in 2032 and 2034, respectively, a Navy official told Congress in April, according to a USNI News report at the time.

Columbia program delays mostly are due to challenges in design, materials and quality, the Government Accountability Office said in a 2023 report.

It warned that the Navy didnt have the statistical analysis needed to ensure that the Columbia-class submarines would be ready on time to fulfill their nuclear deterrent role.

A delay in putting the first submarine into service and the resulting domino effect on construction of future boats could leave a critical national defense gap as the Navy seeks to replace older Ohio-class submarines, the GAO said at the time.

The first of the Navys 14 Ohio-class boats reaches the end of its 42-year service life in 2027, with the remainder reaching the milestone at the rate of about one a year until 2040, the CRS report stated.

The report echoed the GAO findings, saying the delay on the first submarine of the Columbia-class was a critical oversight issue for Congress.

As mentioned earlier, this estimated delay is part of a larger situation of delivery delays on multiple Navy shipbuilding programs due to shipyard workforce challenges, supply chain challenges, and other issues, the CRS report stated.

The Columbia programs top priority status could also negatively impact efforts to build Virginia-class attack submarines in desired numbers, the agency said.

Virginia-class submarines already are in service, but the Navy plans to add to the fleet, constructing about two a year. The Navy hopes to purchase one Columbia-class submarine a year beginning in 2026.
The USS Arizona burns after being struck by Japanese bombs during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Navy/National Archives)



The federal agency responsible for identifying fallen American service members will seek exhumation of dozens of unknowns from the Pearl Harbor attack once an advocacy group is confirmed to have reached the required mark in its genealogy work.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has drafted a request for permission to disinter 86 sets of commingled remains from the USS Arizona buried as unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, as well as 55 sets of remains with no known ship affiliation, DPAA director Kelly McKeague said Thursday in response to questions.

Defense Department policy requires a general threshold of family reference samples from 60% of the potentially associated service members before it will disinter a group of unknown service members for identification.

In the case of the Arizona, that means 643 families. Once its notified that the threshold has been reached, the agency will seek final approval from the Defense Department, McKeague said.

The request would be directed to William Fitzhugh, who is temporarily holding the position of assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs, the agency said.

As of Tuesday, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory had DNA from 613 families and is awaiting additional test kits, McKeague said. The two-year undertaking was carried out by the advocacy group Operation 85.

It was started in 2023 by Virginia-based real estate agent Kevin Kline after he was told at a DPAA family update meeting that the agency would not identify the unknowns from the ship anytime soon. Kline is the grandnephew of Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Kline, a gunners mate who remains missing.

The Dec. 7, 1941, attack by the Japanese on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii claimed the lives of 1,177 sailors and Marines on the Arizona.

Today, 1,071 are still missing, McKeague said. Most remain in the ships submerged hull, which is today part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial complex.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Kline, a gunners mate aboard the USS Arizona, was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. (Kevin Kline)

A woman pays respects at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 5, 2022. The memorial honors 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed in the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. (Ernesto Bonilla/U.S. Navy)



The U.S. government had just 25 USS Arizona families on file shortly before Operation 85 began its efforts, according to a Navy report to Congress in March 2022.

The report estimated it would cost approximately $2.7 million and take 10 years to track down enough families for DNA acquisition to reach the Defense Department threshold for disinterment, the report states.

A year earlier, McKeague told families during an update meeting that preliminary discussions had taken place about potentially entombing the unknowns back in the ship.

Kline said he got so mad that he decided to do the work himself. He put his career on hold and put up about $75,000 of his own money.

Kline brought in research analysts and a forensic genealogist. They tracked down the appropriate family member DNA donors and worked with the Navy and Marine Corps casualty offices to send DNA kits to the families through the mail.

Kevin Kline, executive director of the USS Arizona family group Operation 85 and grandnephew of Arizona sailor Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Kline, poses with an Operation 85 hat in his Virginia office on November 20, 2025. (Operation 85)



Since then, they have tracked down 1,415 family members from 672 families that have pledged their participation. The group needs only 30 of the 59 outstanding families to turn their kits in to hit the goal, Kline said.

What DPAA is preparing to do now is exactly the mission we built the foundation for, Kline said. When the system said no, families stepped forward and made yes possible.

James Silverstein, a California attorney and maternal grandnephew of Pearl Harbor casualty Petty Officer 2nd Class Harry Smith, said he got choked up when he heard the news.

So much hard work and dedication has gone into something that should have been so uncontroversial, yet has been so difficult to receive approval for, he said. It will be such a glorious homecoming and well-deserved sendoff when they are identified.
A smiling cashier flashes a peace sign while serving customers at Cafe Onion in Seoul, South Korea. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)



Who knew that onions could be this sweet?

At Cafe Onion in Seoul, South Korea, the first thing I noticed wasnt the trays of croissants, but the warm welcome from two French women standing at the entrance.

They werent staff, just travelers from Paris who waved me over like a long-lost cousin. Between laughs, they urged me to order the pain au chocolat, rating it a nine out of 10 compared to the bakeries back home.

Before I moved on, they left me with a French phrase to carry into the cafe: le festin  a feast, plentiful and deeply satisfying.

Inside, the place buzzed like an international airport terminal. I heard Korean, French, Spanish and English across the tables. Despite the linguistic maze, the service never missed a beat. Every cashier I overheard spoke fluent English.

When I finally reached the counter, the cashier caught my eye and smiled. We chatted for a while and in my to-go bag he dropped in some free coffee and pastry samples.

A Lotus Biscoff pastry sits ready to be served at Cafe Onion in Seoul, South Korea. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Freshly baked fig-topped croissants from Cafe Onion in Seoul, South Korea. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)



He asked where I was from, shared how Onion brings in people from all over the world, and laughed about how the cafe really is like an airport lounge but with better food.

Its the style of service  casual and thoughtful  that gives Onion its charm. From the cashier who offered free pastry samples to the French travelers who waved me in like family, theres a sense of openness here that you dont always find in Korea, where service can sometimes feel brisk or distant.

With multiple locations around Seoul, this chain manages to feel both modern and welcoming.

If you have the time, its worth stopping by. Not just for the croissants or coffee, but for the chance encounters. You never know who might greet you at the door, or what new friends youll leave with.

Cafe Onion, one of the citys trendiest cafes, has two locations in Seoul, South Korea. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)



Cafe Onion

Two Locations: Anguk Branch, 5 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Nearest metro is Anguk Station, Line 3. A 5-minute walk from Exit 3. Another branch is at 8 Achasan-ro 9-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Hours: In Anguk, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Seongsu branch opens at 8 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

Dress: Casual

Information: 070-7543-2123, @cafe.onion on Instagram
The Kashiwabara Museum stores everything from swords, spears and muskets to elaborately decorated armor in Iwakuni, Japan. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)



A museum packed with samurai weapons and armor stands near the iconic Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni, a short drive from the Marine Corps air station in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan.

The Kashiwabara Museum, formerly known as Iwakuni Art Museum, stores everything from swords, spears and muskets to elaborately decorated armor.

The collection of artifacts could be props from an Akira Kurosawa film such as Seven Samurai. But theyre the genuine articles  weapons that were used by real Japanese samurai.

Theres a sword, made for a shogun, thats been registered as a Japanese national treasure. Its kept inside a glass case, but you can heft a replica sword and try on an old helmet. The museum also has a collection of decorated sword guards.

There are all kinds of other old weapons including pistols and a wide range of spears and similar devices designed to kill, or at least seriously injure, an enemy.

The Kashiwabara Museums collection includes some impressive, decorated helmets. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

The Kashiwabara Museum near Ikwakunis Kintaikyo Bridge has an arsenal of ancient Japanese weapons on display. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)



The museum promotes its weapons and armor collection as the culture of life and death.

For samurai, risking their own lives to protect their country, territory, and clan was the very meaning of living, the museum states on its website.

Samurai armor and weapons were not only tools to protect their owners but also works of art that evoked their courage and magnified their short, potentially deadly lives, the website states.

Helmets on display have some interesting decorations including antlers, rabbit ears and crab claws.

Theres some elaborate shining ceremonial armor. Theres also armor that was used by ordinary samurai in battle. Some look as though they were damaged by swords or arrows.

The older armor has quite a lot of protection around the midsection  not because the ancient samurai were overweight but because it was needed to protect horsemen from arrows.

Alongside the weapons and armor the museum has a collection of art including glassware, ceramics and antique furniture used by Iwakunis feudal lords.

The museum promotes this part of its collection as the culture of life.

The samurai lifestyle was glamorous yet profound, the museum states on its website.

In particular, the everyday items used by women and children reveal the samurai classs deep and profound love for supreme works of art, the website states.

When youve seen enough ancient samurai artifacts, take a stroll through the park near the museum at the foot of Mount Yokoyama near Iwakuni Castle and the Kintaikyo Bridge.

The pedestrian bridge, at the same site more than 350 years, across the Nishiki River, is a series of five wooden arches.

Its been destroyed multiple times by floods and rebuilt each time. Theres a small fee to cross, 310 yen for adults and high schoolers, 150 yen for elementary school kids.

On the QT

Directions: You can reach the museum by walking across the Kintaikyo Bridge from Iwakuni, Japan. The museums address is 2-10-27 Yokoyama, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 741-0081.

Times: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closes at 4 p.m. December to February); closed on Tuesdays. Open on public holidays.

Costs: 800 yen for adults; 500 yen for high school and university students; 200 yen for elementary and middle school students. Discounts for groups of 15 or more.

Food: There are at least two ice cream shops near the Kintaikyo Bridge.

Information: Online: kashiwabara-museum.jp
(iStock)



The upcoming holiday shopping season has me wondering  Do military families stationed overseas with modest incomes stick to strict budgets? When they must spend so much on travel, they dont have money for frivolous purchases, right? Dont military folks avoid buying breakable or irreplaceable objects because they move so frequently?

Negative. Nah. Nope.

To the contrary  military spouses living overseas are often caught in a veritable riptide of frenzied shopping that belies common sense. They travel long distances packed into uncomfortable buses or jammed into crowded minivans to spend money they dont have on unnecessary foreign artifacts that are easily damaged and hard to replace.

When our family was stationed in Europe, my milspouse friends and I headed to Boleslawiec, Poland, multiple times to experience polka-dotted pottery-purchasing pleasure. We scurried to the Czech Republic like ferrets in search of glittery crystal objects to hide in our dens. We minvanned to Soufflenheim, France, to explore the least-obnoxious pottery patterns to adorn our dining tables. We endured sleepless bus rides to peruse the rich colors of ceramics in Nove, Italy.

We rummaged through piles of country table linens, charmed by the scent of fresh-baked macarons in charming Ribeauville, France. We hopped the border to Switzerland to swap cash for totes, purses and rucksacks made out of World War II-era Swiss Army blankets. We relentlessly haggled for Italian leather goods in Florence, Italy. We donned headlamps at 5 a.m. like miners digging for priceless gems at antique fairs in Tongeren, Belgium.

In the meantime, we drained our bank accounts and packed every surface of our homes with stuff. But why?

Despite the many Polish pottery items that I started collecting while stationed in England in the mid-90s, I once agreed to go pottery shopping in Soufflenheim, France, with a friend who was moving back to the States in a month. She was on a mission to acquire more Alsatian ceramics for her vast collection. As she deftly negotiated her SUV through a tangle of road construction on the Autobahn in the pouring rain, I asked her why we submit to these irrational shopping urges.

She thought a minute, then produced a guess: In the military we dont acquire wealth, so we buy stuff from the places weve lived so we can be culturally rich.

When another friend returned from a milspouse trip to Tuscany, she told me that she witnessed fits of unbridled acquisition shed never seen before, such as one friend clearing a store shelf of every bottle of a particular Italian wine, and another hyperventilating upon entering a leather handbag store. My friend kept her cool, but splurged on a Deruta ceramic platter with matching oil and vinegar cruets for almost 100 Euros. She told me that, even if she uses it infrequently, the platter will serve its purpose by clearly communicating, Look! I was in Italy!

A gaggle of women knocking each other over for a polka-dotted plate may look like superficial materialism, but is there a more positive aspect to milspouse shopping gluttony?

In our 28 years as an active duty Navy family, home was wherever the military sent us. Therefore, to some degree, what made our home look like our home at each duty station was the stuff we put inside it. Undeniably, home is where the heart is, but what if that heart is ceramic and I bought it in Soufflenheim for 13 euros on a girls trip? If I dont own the woodwork, walls and windows, then I should be able to create a home with my teacups, tapestries and tables. After all, every piece I purchased has a story to tell, an experience behind it, a foreign place explored.

Notable people throughout history have pondered what makes a home, and the morality of materialism, but even their famous musings dont resolve this debate. Ralph Waldo Emerson ruminated, But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmiths. However, I agree more with Oscar Wilde who astutely observed, Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.

Read more at themeatandpotatoesoflife.com and in Lisas book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Email: meatandpotatoesoflife@gmail.com
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim whose wife is a Christian pastor, has said he is committed to working with the US and international community to protect all faiths. (Benson Ibeabuchi/Bloomberg)



Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met a top Nigerian security official to reinforce the Trump administrations claim that Christians in the West African country have been singled out for horrific violence.

Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists, Hegseth said in a post on X Friday, using the acronym for Department of War, as the administration calls it.

Hegseth, according to a Defense Department statement, met at the Pentagon on Thursday with Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerias national security adviser, and discussed ways to make tangible progress on stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria and combating West African jihadist terrorist groups.

President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Islamist militants in the country if its government doesnt do more to protect Christians from armed marauders.

Organized atrocities against civilians punctuate Nigerias long history of ethnic discord, and Muslims as well as Christians have been victims. But the notion of Christians being singled out for persecution eventually took root in right wing circles.

Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace, Trump said in a radio program on Friday. Theyre killing people by the thousands. Its a genocide, and Im really angry about it. And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria. Were going to end up stopping.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim whose wife is a Christian pastor, has said he is committed to working with the US and international community to protect all faiths. But the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, he added.

Even as Nigerian officials reject the persecution claim, Trump, his allies and others pursue it.

Earlier this week, the rap performer Nicki Minaj appeared at the United Nations alongside US Ambassador Mike Waltz to amplify the false claims.

Representative Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, met with Ribadu on Wednesday, according to a statement from his office.

I made it crystal clear that the United States must see tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subject to violence, persecution, displacement, and death simply for believing in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he said in the statement.

With assistance from Courtney McBride and Michelle Jamrisko.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, southwest of Tokyo, is home to U.S. Navy Fleet Air Western Pacific and is shared with Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



TOKYO  A Japanese court has ordered the Japanese government to compensate residents near a naval air base southwest of Tokyo for damages they suffered from aircraft noise, a lawyer for the residents said Friday.

Yokohama District Court ordered the government to pay about $24 million to approximately 8,000 people living near Naval Air Facility Atsugi, lawyer Ken Funatsumaru said by phone Friday. The base is home to U.S. Navy Fleet Air Western Pacific and is shared with Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The residents filed a civil lawsuit in 2017 seeking compensation of $50 to $254 per person per month, he said. The residents live in surrounding cities of Yamato, Ayase, Machida, Ebina, Zama, Fujisawa and Chigasaki.

The plaintiffs claimed damage to their health, such as ear noise and problems hearing and sleeping, Funatsumaru said. They also experienced difficulties in their daily lives, such as being unable to hear their TVs or having aircraft noise interrupt their conversations.

It caused damage that exceeded what could be tolerated in social life, said Presiding Judge Nobuhiro Okada, according to a Kyodo News report Wednesday.

However, the court awarded no compensation in some cases or less compensation than the residents sought for damages caused after fighter jets of the Navys carrier air wing relocated in 2018 to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Funatsumaru said.

That part of the ruling was unjust, and the residents feel that the aircraft noise did not lessen even after the airwing was relocated, he said.

The South Kanto Defense Bureau is reviewing the court ruling, a bureau official who deals with litigation said by phone Friday.

The Ministry of Defense will carefully consider the content of the ruling and will respond appropriately after fully coordinating with relevant agencies regarding future actions, she said. Some Japanese officials must speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Another series of noise lawsuits by area residents has been pending against NAF Atsugi since the 1970s. That group seeks to limit flight operations by U.S. and Japanese aircraft, along with compensation for noise damage.

In November 2024, the Yokohama District Court ordered the Japanese government to pay about $37.5 million to approximately 8,700 residents claiming damages from aircraft noise.

However, the court rejected their demand for suspension of military flight operations.

The residents and the Japanese government appealed the decision to the high court in December, according to the plaintiffs website.
December WTI crude oil (CLZ25) today is up +0.44 (+0.74%), and December RBOB gasoline (RBZ25) is down -0.0119 (-0.62%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices are mixed today, with gasoline falling to a 2-week low. Crude garnered support today from a weaker dollar and a sharp rally in stocks, which reflect confidence in the economic outlook supportive of energy demand. Crude also has support ahead of sanctions on Russia's Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC, set to take effect on Friday, which will further curb Russian oil supplies. Gasoline prices are under pressure on negative carryover from Wednesday when weekly EIA gasoline supplies rose more than expected.

More News from Barchart

Oil prices also received support from news of reduced crude exports from Russia, after Wednesday's data from Vortexa showed Russia's oil product shipments fell to 1.7 million bpd in the first 15 days of November, the lowest in more than 3 years. Ukraine has targeted at least 28 Russian refineries over the past three months, exacerbating a fuel crunch in Russia and limiting Russia's crude export capabilities. Ukraine has knocked out 13% to 20% of Russia's refining capacity by the end of October, curbing production by as much as 1.1 million bpd. New US and EU sanctions on Russian oil companies, infrastructure, and tankers have also curbed Russian oil exports.

Oil prices have underlying support from continued geopolitical risks related to Russia, last Friday's seizure by Iran of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, and the US military buildup for a possible attack on Venezuela, which is the world's 12th-largest oil producer.

OPEC last Wednesday revised its Q3 global oil market estimates from a deficit to a surplus, as US production exceeded expectations and OPEC also ramped up crude output. OPEC said it now sees a 500,000 bpd surplus in global oil markets in Q3, versus last month's estimate for a -400,000 bpd deficit. Also, the EIA raised its 2025 US crude production estimate to 13.59 million bpd from 13.53 million bpd last month.

OPEC+ at its November 2 meeting announced that members will raise production by +137,000 bpd in December but will then pause the production hikes in Q1-2026 due to the emerging global oil surplus. The IEA in mid-October forecasted a record global oil surplus of 4.0 million bpd for 2026. OPEC+ is trying to restore all of the 2.2 million bpd production cut it made in early 2024, but still has another 1.2 million bpd of production left to restore. OPEC's October crude production rose by +50,000 bpd to 29.07 million bpd, the highest in 2.5 years.
The U.S. Navys Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by its flagship aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, left, operates in the Caribbean region on Nov. 13, 2025. (Tajh Payne/U.S. Navy)



(Tribune News Service)  A sanctioned Russian oil tanker made a U-turn on the way to Venezuela after a U.S. warship intersected its route near the countrys coast, according to Bloomberg tanker tracking, raising questions about whether Washington could step in to curtail Moscows energy aid to Caracas.

The Russian vessel, the Seahorse, was en route to Venezuela to deliver a fuel cargo on Nov. 13 when a U.S. destroyer, the USS Stockdale, positioned itself in its path. The Russian vessel changed course, heading toward Cuba, and the warship sailed near Venezuelan territorial waters toward Puerto Rico. The Seahorse has since tried to approach Venezuela twice, but turned back both times, and remains idling in the Caribbean.

The warships intentions with regard to the Russian vessel is unclear, and a spokesperson for U.S. Southern Command declined to comment on the ships movements. The USS Stockdale arrived in the Caribbean in late September, along with a dozen other warships, to support President Donald Trumps anti-narcotics operations in the region.

The Seahorse, meanwhile, is under sanctions from the U.K. and European Union and is one of four Russian vessels that delivers a fuel called naphtha to sanctioned Venezuela. The tanker had discharged a cargo in late October, traveled to Cuba, and was heading back toward Venezuela when the U.S. ship showed up in its path. Its movements since then have been unusual, as Russian fuel vessels typically dont make U-turns or idle on the well-trod trading route between Cuba and Venezuela.

The White House, a Kremlin spokesperson and Venezuelas Information Ministry didnt immediately respond to requests for comment late Thursday.

While Venezuela was able to receive naphtha shipments from Chevron during the Biden administration, Trumps maximum pressure policy on Nicolas Maduro, has halted those imports. Venezuela now relies on Russia for deliveries.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

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A Department of Veterans Affairs plaque. (Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Problems with the privately contracted disability exams veterans undergo to determine their benefits were the focus of a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing Thursday that revealed cases of medical reviews done in hotel rooms, veterans sent to the wrong exams, or examiners assigned to determine benefits for injuries and illnesses theyve never before treated.

Lawmakers shared with officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs the complaints their offices frequently receive from veterans who must have the disability medical exams that are critical for deciding monthly disability compensation.

More than 90% of veterans disability medical exams are done by private contractors under a multiyear contract with a budget ceiling of $13 billion.

Thats an enormous operation, and it demands serious oversight, said Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, chairman of the House VA subcommittee on disability assistance and memorial affairs.

Improving Outcomes for Disabled Veterans: Oversight of VAs Medical Disability Examination Office was the title of the 90-minute hearing that reviewed problems identified in the program and VAs response to them.

Disability medical exams document the evidence related to a veterans illnesses and injuries connected to military service. Millions of veterans each year face the medical reviews.

A director from the Government Accountability Office also testified that nearly $2.3 million in overpayments of financial incentives were made to the private contractors that provided the exams.

Conducting quality exams is important because errors can result in costly rework and delays in processing claims, said Elizabeth Curda, the GAOs director of education, workforce and income security.

Curda reported the GAOs findings from audits of the disability medical exam program in 2024 and 2025.

The GAO identified breakdowns in how the VA identifies and corrects problems in the way exams are conducted, as well as in awarding incentive payments to contractors.

If an exam is wrong, incomplete, inaccurate or delayed, the veteran might not receive the benefits they earned from their service, said Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R.-Texas, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on disability assistance and memorial affairs. A hearing Thursday examined problems in the disability exam program for determining a veterans eligibility for benefits. (Screenshot from the hearing)



If an exam is wrong, incomplete, inaccurate or delayed, the veteran might not receive the benefits they earned from their service, Luttrell said.

The VAs Medical Disability Examination Office has lacked written procedures for checking the accuracy of its calculations in awarding the bonuses, resulting in almost $2.3 million in overpayments in fiscal year 2024, Curda said.

The GAO recommended ways to improve the exams and ensure that incentive bonuses for contractors  which are based on timeliness, quality and customer experience  are awarded correctly.

The VA also fell behind conducting quality checks of the exams for complex medical problems, such as traumatic brain injuries, Gulf War illness and military sexual trauma.

In September, the VAs Medical Disability Examination Office said it planned to extend the timeline  from a two-year to three-year schedule  because staff who conduct complex claim [reviews] had been reduced by half, according to the GAO report.

Mary Glenn, deputy executive director of the Medical Disability Examination Office, said everything in a veteran claims folder is forwarded to the examiner. It is done automatically as soon as the veteran is scheduled. Veterans have complained that their medical records of service-connected injuries and illnesses often were incomplete. (Screenshot from the hearing)



The office also recouped the overpayments to contractors, said Mary Glenn, deputy executive director of the VA Medical Disability Examination Office.

But Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., said he is still concerned about the frequency of complaints by veterans who say their medical records with information on the diagnosis and treatment of service-connected conditions were not sent to the examiner.

He urged the Medical Disability Examination Office to review its process for forwarding medical evidence to examiners.

Glenn said that examiners receive everything in a veteran claims folder. It is done automatically as soon as the veteran is scheduled, she said. The examiners job is to review the entire file.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., said that in too many instances the system fails too many veterans. McGarvey said he has heard complaints from constituents mistakenly sent to exams that had nothing to do with their medical condition.

McGarvey said he even received complaints from veterans whose disability medical exams were conducted in hotel rooms and not at a medical office.

The Medical Disability Examination Office thinks everything is running smoothly, but it does not match up with what we are seeing, McGarvey said.

Paralyzed Veterans of America also complained in written testimony that some medical offices where exams were conducted could not accommodate wheelchairs.

Glenn said the VA has tightened requirements for examination space and launched an online portal in September that allows examiners to provide the VA with feedback, ask questions and offer ideas for improvement.

I know you are working on fixing problems, Luttrell said to Glenn and other VA officials at the hearing. But we will never let that be enough. You will be back in front of us, and we will ask the same questions again.
Steven Lipscomb in his military basic training graduation photo at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in late May 2002. Lipscomb, a Marine Corps veteran who was wounded in Iraq in 2024, died Nov. 8, 2025, while looking after the safety of his crew at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County, W.Va. (Heather Lipscomb)



A Marine Corps combat veteran who died while trying to rescue fellow coal miners from floodwaters will receive one more round of tributes Saturday at a memorial service in his West Virginia hometown.

Steven Lipscomb was overseeing a crew of 17 at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County, W. Va., on Nov. 8 when water started rushing in, a Pentagon statement said.

He took charge of evacuation efforts. Lipscomb was the only member of the crew who didnt make it out of the mine. His body was recovered after a dayslong recovery effort that saw rescuers working around the clock, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said.

The Saturday memorial service will be held at Lipscombs alma mater, Herbert Hoover High School, in Elkview, W. Va.

Lipscomb joined the Marine Corps as a rifleman shortly after the 9/11 attacks and participated in the first Battle of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004, according to his obituary. He was severely injured there seven days later when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb.

After recovering abroad, he was honorably discharged from the service with a Purple Heart and returned home to West Virginia, where he married his wife, Heather, and raised two daughters.

Steven M. Lipscomb, a Marine Corps veteran, and his wife Heather vacation at Myrtle Beach, S.C., in July 2024. Lipscomb died Nov. 8, 2025, while looking after the safety of his crew at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County, W.Va. (Heather Lipscomb)



In a Nov. 14 proclamation, Morrisey praised Lipscomb as a courageous man and ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff.

He spent his final moments ensuring his men could escape to safety, the West Virginia governor said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also praised Lipscomb, saying he represented the best of our American military and embodied the hero spirit.

Fellow Marine veteran Vice President JD Vance wrote an X post in which he called Lipscomb a great American.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, 13 and 17, as well as a sister, brother and sister-in-law.
The Dutch government has paused its direct intervention in chipmaker Nexperia after talks with China.

The move is expected to ease a dispute that has disrupted supplies of semiconductors used by vehicle manufacturers.

Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has suspended the use of the Goods Availability Act at Nexperia, a measure it activated last month to safeguard the continuity of production.

The law had barred the company from moving parts of its business, dismissing executives or taking significant strategic decisions without prior government approval for a period of one year.

The emergency step followed a provisional ruling by the Dutch Enterprise Chamber after a hearing on 7 October, which raised questions about the conduct of Nexperias leadership under then CEO Zhang Xuezheng.

Zhang was suspended and remains out of his role.

On 4 October, China blocked exports of Nexperias finished products, a restriction it has now eased.

The suspension of the Goods Availability Act follows what were described as constructive discussions with China.

Nexperia stated that the latest moves mark a step forward, but added that restoring the full supply chain will require further cooperation from its Chinese units.

Despite the Dutch government stepping back from direct control, the Enterprise Chambers measures stay in place.

Voting rights attached to the shares in Nexperia, which are indirectly owned by parent company Wingtech Technology, remain under the control of an independent administrator appointed by the court and cannot be exercised by Wingtech.

The companys leadership structure set up during the dispute continues unchanged.

Chief financial officer Stefan Tilger remains interim CEO, while Achim Kempe continues as chief operating officer.

Chief legal officer Ruben Lichtenberg will carry on as statutory director of Nexperia Holding and Nexperia, alongside Guido Dierick, who was appointed as non-executive director.

Nexperia said it will keep offering alternative supply chain arrangements to lessen disruption and support continuity of deliveries as much as possible.

These options include supplying and shipping wafers directly to customers.

Nexperia said: We are committed to delivering wafers into the supply chain and continue to offer alternative supply chain solutions to mitigate disruption and maintain continuity of delivery as much as possible. This includes, for example, selling and shipping wafers to Nexperia customers directly.

Dedicated teams are working continuously to identify and implement viable paths forward. We are committed to maintaining these workaround solutions for as long as necessary and until a normal supply chain with a full turnkey flow can be restored.
The European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council has agreed to move forward with efforts to connect the Eurosystems TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) system to other real-time payment networks worldwide, including Indias Unified Payments Infrastructure (UPI).

This decision supports the aim of improving cross-border payment processes for European businesses and individuals, particularly in the context of remittances.

Following exploratory work launched in October 2024, which studied the potential for interlinking TIPS with both UPI and Nexus Global Payments, the council will now proceed with the realisation phase for the TIPS-UPI linkage.

This phase involves finalising legal frameworks and completing technical preparations.

Simultaneously, the council will continue to explore the possibility of integrating TIPS with Nexus Global Payments while working on the required legal agreements.

In September this year, the council began evaluating whether TIPS could also be connected to the Swiss Interbank Clearing Instant Payments platform.

ECB noted that connecting TIPS with various rapid payment systems aligns with the Eurosystems retail payments strategy and the G20s roadmap to make cross-border payments quicker, cost-effective and transparent.

This approach also aims to strengthen the euros global standing. The broader objective is to expand these connections to more international payment corridors in the future.

UPI, created by the National Payments Corporation of India and overseen by the Reserve Bank of India, handles one of the worlds largest volumes of instant payment transactions, according to ECBs news release.

India is also said to be among the ten largest destinations for remittances from the euro area.

Nexus Global Payments is a multilateral system managed by Nexus Global Payments, designed to link fast payment services in several Asian markets.

Its initial phase will connect the systems of Bank Negara Malaysia, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Reserve Bank of India, and Bank of Thailand.

The concept was first developed by the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub Centre in Singapore.

"ECB advances TIPS and fast payments interlinking initiative" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




There would be no shortage of goods or services, Musk said at last years conference.

At Viva Technology 2024 , Musk suggested universal high income would sustain a world without necessary work, though he did not offer details on how this system would function. His reasoning rhymes with that of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has advocated for universal basic income , or regular payments given unconditionally to individuals, usually by the government.

In those books, money doesnt exist. Its kind of interesting, Musk said. And my guess is, if you go out long enoughassuming theres a continued improvement in AI and robotics, which seems likelymoney will stop being relevant.

But in Musks automated, job-voluntary future, money wont be an issue, he said. Musk takes a page from Iain M. Banks Culture series of science fiction novels, in which the self-proclaimed socialist author conjures a post-scarcity world filled with superintelligent AI beings and no traditional jobs.

To many others, the notion of an automated future is less bright, particularly amid concerns about and early evidence of AI displacing entry-level jobs, which may be contributing to Gen Zs job market woes and flatlining income growth more of a nightmare than a utopian dream.

The future of optional work will be the result of millions of robots in the workforce able to usher in a wave of enhanced productivity, according to Musk. The tech mogul, worth about $470 billion , has made the recent push to expand Tesla beyond just electric vehicles, working on consolidating his sprawling business interests into his broader vision of an AI-fueled, robotic-powered future. That includes his goal of having 80% of Teslas value come from his Optimus robots, despite continuous production delays for the humanoid bots.

My prediction is that work will be optional. Itll be like playing sports or a video game or something like that, Musk said. If you want to work, [its] the same way you can go to the store and just buy some vegetables, or you can grow vegetables in your backyard. Its much harder to grow vegetables in your backyard, and some people still do it because they like growing vegetables.

The Tesla ( TSLA ) CEO said at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that in the next 10 to 20 years, work will be optional, likening the decision to have a job to the more laborious upkeep of a vegetable garden.

Story Continues

Is Musks optional-work vision possible?

Creating the world Musk is describing will be a challenge, according to economists. First of all, theres the question of whether the technology to automate jobs will be accessible and affordable in the next couple of decades. While the cost of AI is decreasing, robotics are stubbornly expensive, making them harder to scale, according to Ioana Marinescu, an economist and associate professor of public policy at the University of Pennsylvania, who alongside colleague Konrad Kording published a working paper at the Brookings Institution earlier this month. (For example, AI expense management platform Ramp noted in April that companies are now paying $2.50 per 1 million tokensthe fundamental unit for powering AIcompared with $10 a year ago.)

Weve been at it making machines forever, since the industrial revolution, at scale, Marinescu told Fortune. We know from economics that  you often runfor these kinds of activitiesinto decreasing returns, as it gets harder in order to make progress in a line of technology that youve been at, in this case, for a couple of centuries.

AI is progressing rapidly, she said. Large language models can be applied to myriad white-collar careers, while physical machines, which she said are necessary in automated labor, are not only more expensive, but highly specialized, contributing to the slowdown in their workplace implementation.

Marinescu agrees with Musks vision of full-scale automation as the future of labor, but she is dubious about his timelinenot only because of the limitations of robotics, but also because AI adoption in the workplace is still not as rapid as anticipated, despite recent tech-related layoffs. A Yale Budget Lab report from October found that since ChatGPTs November 2022 public release, the broader labor market has not experienced a discernible disruption because of AI automation.

Then theres the matter of what these sweeping changes in labor will mean for the millionsor possibly billionsof people without jobs. Even with an established need for a universal basic income, finding the political willpower to make it happen is a different issue, said Samuel Solomon, an assistant professor of labor economics at Temple University. He told Fortune the political structure supporting the transformed labor force will be just as important as the technological one.

AI has already created so much wealth and will continue to, Solomon said. But I think one key question is: Is this going to be inclusive? Will it create inclusive prosperity? Will it create inclusive growth? Will everyone benefit?

The current systems have appeared to widen the gap between the haves and have-nots during this AI industrial revolution, beginning with Musks $1 trillion pay package. A ballooning AI bubble has also illuminated class differences, with earnings expectations being revised up for the Magnificent Seven because of the AI boom, while expectations for the rest of the S&P 493 are being revised down, according to Apollo Global Management chief economist Torsten Slok. It suggests that as of today.

Spending by well-off Americans, driven by their surging stock portfolios, is the single most significant driver of growth, Slok wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

Existential changes

Ironing out the complicated logistics of a work-optional world is one thing. Figuring out whether thats something humans really want is another.

If the economic value of labor declines so that labor is just not very useful anymore, well have to rethink how our society is structured, Anton Korinek, professor and faculty director of the Economics of Transformative AI Initiative at the University of Virginia, told Fortune.

Korinek cited research, such as the landmark 1938 Harvard University study that found humans derive satisfaction from meaningful relationships. Most of those relationships right now come from work, he said. In Musks imagined future, the coming generations will have to shift the paradigm of establishing meaningful relationships.

Musk offered his own take on the existential future of humans at Viva Technology last year.

The question will really be one of meaning: If the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning? he said. I do think theres perhaps still a role for humans in thisin that we may give AI meaning.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Nazrin Abdul



Azerbaijan has held discussions with the United States on ongoing work related to the Middle Corridor and the Zangazur Corridor.

As reported by Azernews, Azerbaijans Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev shared the update on his account on platform X.

We met with U.S. Charge dAffaires Amy Carlon and Jonathan Askonas, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of States Office of Policy Planning. We provided information on the progress made by Azerbaijan toward the development of the Middle Corridor. We also discussed cooperation between our two countries in this area, as well as matters related to the Zangazur Corridor. In addition, we exchanged views on partnership opportunities in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, the minister wrote.
Both of my kids are taking personal finance classes this year in high school. My son shared with me his teacher has been stressing the importance of retirement savings.

One of the many aspects of the Real Money. Real World program I enjoy teaching is to share with students the importance of time when it comes to savings.

An article last year in the Journal of Public Economics explored the puzzle of retirement and consumer behavior. It has been the trend for several years that mandatory contribution plans are becoming less common and instead employees are responsible for planning their retirement with voluntary savings.

One thing the researchers found is people repay consumer debt and save more after they retire. In principle, people should be saving more before they retire. The theory was that work-related expenses would account for the reduction in spending in retirement, but after the study they could not conclude this was fully accurate.

Emily Marrison

I have long been a fan of Richard Thalers work with nudges. This is a behavioral economic concept. A nudge is when we change our environment or circumstances in a small way to encourage a change in our behavior. We try to make the better, healthier or wiser choice the more attractive one. Because we have lots of natural tendencies that result in making choices that are easy but not always the best for us.

We can implement nudges in our personal lives on our own. But there are also lots of companies trying to implement nudges in our lives for us. Any time a business or brand encourages us to do something automatically, they help us to incorporate a habit into our lives. They call this choice architecture.

The Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics at the University of Pennsylvania put together a list of some of the best and worst nudges. One person suggested the urinal fly. They must have been having some problems with clean restrooms at an Amsterdam airport, so someone came up with a great plan. Make using the urinal a game. They put a picture of a fly in the urinal and apparently there is just an inner instinct to aim for the fly.

Another example is leveraging social norms to encourage a change in behavior. An example of this is utility bills that include how much energy your household uses compared to other households in the area. There is a human desire to want to be closer to the average or below on expenditures.

So, what can we be doing now to help nudge us in the right direction for retirement planning?

Stanford researcher Jacob Golden would suggest the simpler the better. Their study found people are more likely to sign up for an employer-sponsored savings plan when urged to begin contributing a specific percentage of their income. When giving people a choice of three or four or six, it can result in paralysis. Instead of choosing one of these, they will choose none.
Jose Luis Piedra Seville Friday, 21 November 2025, 11:32 Share

The Andalucia region carried out the largest ever tsunami drill in Spain on 20 November in Cadiz province. More than 20,000 people took part in the operation, with more than 1,000 emergency personnel from 40 different services. The rehearsal of this emergency situation also involved some 500 public buildings, nine schools, two hotels and a guesthouse near the coast.

Regional minister of health, the presidency and emergencies Antonio Sanz, who is also responsible for activating the emergency plan in the event of a tsunami, has stated that the test was carried out "successfully" and that it "has made history in Cadiz as the greatest milestone in emergency planning".

As Sanz explained, the operation started with the simulation of an earthquake similar to that of Lisbon in 1755, although with a magnitude of 7.6, to the south-west of Cabo de San Vicente. "The countdown to organise all the protection and response measures for people and property, as would be done in a real scenario, started at 10am," the minister said.

Mass ES-Alert message

The test conducted by the Andalusian emergency agency began with the civil protection service sending a mass ES-Alert message to all mobile phones in the municipalities along the Cadiz coast, which included information on the measures to be adopted and a warning that this was a drill.

The alert consisted of an easy-to-understand text asking residents to climb to a height of three or more floors or go to the established meeting point without delay. It also included a link to the 112 action advice. The regional minister said that an evaluation meeting will analyse the operation next week.

Sanz highlighted the importance of such exercises, which inform people how to act and how much time they have to get to a safe point. As the regional minister said, just this action alone could "save many lives".

Schools involved

The schools closest to the La Caleta beach, such as Santa Teresa, took 16 minutes to reach Plaza de San Antonio, which, together with Plaza de la Mina, had been declared a non-flood zone and, therefore, chosen as a meeting point. A total of 2,500 students gathered at these two locations.

The integrated operational coordination centre and an advanced command post have been deployed, from which the entire care and coordination system has been activated to assess the city of Cadiz's response to a tsunami, the response times of emergency services and of the population in a situation of this nature, as well as the operation of emergency sound systems such as loudspeakers or bells.

Pemea - the chat-based messaging service that allows people with functional disabilities, such as deaf users, to contact 112 - was another tool that was tested and evaluated. Officials also evaluated both vertical evacuation capacity (that is, moving to higher floors) and horizontal evacuation away from flood-prone areas. More than 500 public buildings, nine schools and three hotels took part. The regional minister thanked all of them for their cooperation.

Collaboration

Antonio Sanz highlighted the collaboration of the regional ministry of education, which has been responsible for raising awareness among students on how to act in such situations, "sowing the seed of self-protection in all of them, since the children of today will save lives tomorrow and education in emergencies prevents risks in both the present and the future".

The operation also included exercises to safeguard cultural heritage, with the participation of Archivo Historico Provincial, Biblioteca Provincial and Centro de Arqueologia Subacuatica y el Museo de Cadiz. At these institutions, the simulation tested the reception and handling of artworks and artifacts arriving from other centers in the event of an emergency.

Warnings to surfers, rescues and forensic protocols were practiced at the beach of Santa Maria del Mar, while assessment of damage to buildings was carried out in Zona Franca.
Jose Luis Piedra Seville Friday, 21 November 2025, 14:46 Share

The Andalucia region of southern Spain is facing a bottleneck in its current electricity distribution system, which threatens to slow economic growth by limiting its ability to meet both current and future demand from new industrial and business projects.

This is clearly reflected in the latest report drawn up by the Junta's regional ministry of industry, energy and mines, which assesses the central government's proposal for national investment in the electricity grid for the 2025-2030 period.

The report points out that the region requires 77% more investment to meet its present and future electricity demand. Currently, only 23% of the actions requested by the Andalusian regional government in this area of energy have been included in the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge plans.

According to the Junta, 60% of the investments allocated to Andalucia would only solve the current shortcomings of the electricity system. The planned measures, therefore, do not respond to the specific needs of Andalucia, nor do they serve the industrial development of the region, but merely support the operation of the transport network as a whole.

Of the 8.13 billion euros earmarked for Spain as a whole in the electricity planning until 2030, not including interconnections, the ministry allocates 11.8% to Andalucia, which is below what would correspond to the region according to objective criteria such as population (18%), surface area (17.3%) and electricity consumption (15%).

The Junta's report shows that the central government is only allocating 458 million to undertake new investments or actions, as the rest, more than 500 million, is for actions already included in the current planning, meaning that 52% of these investments are still pending in the current planning.

Furthermore, of the 111 facilities requested by the Andalusian government in March 2024, the central government has only included 25.

The most critical project that the central government has left out of the planning is the 400 kV Cordoba-Extremadura axis (Maguilla-Penarroya-Lancha) - an essential infrastructure for the development of the north of the province of Cordoba and its districts of Valle del Guadiato and Valle de los Pedroches, which have historically been left out of investments in electricity networks.

Furthermore, the report points out that the most notable shortcomings are concentrated in the provinces of Cordoba, Cadiz and Malaga, where, as a whole, barely 10% of the requests are attended to.

The national government defended its investment proposal through secretary of state for energy Joan Groizard, who stated that "Andalucia is the big winner of the new proposals, as it is the region where most demand capacity is met, with 5,000 new megawatts, which means that almost 20% of all that is approved at national level goes to Andalucia, being the second region with the most significant investment effort".

Groizard also highlighted that "investment has increased by almost 90% compared to the 2015-2020 planning, given that Andalucia is the home of renewable projects, which attract industry".
Julia Fernandez Madrid Friday, 21 November 2025, 09:20 Share

Everyone associates exercise with movement, but you can also exercise while standing completely still. Seriously. Now, two warnings: first, it is still tiring and second, you will still sweat. This is known as isometrics. "This type of exercise is one in which you exert force and neither the origin of the posture nor the engaging of the muscle moves closer together or further apart, they remain stable the entire time," explains David Barranco, professor and researcher at the European University of Madrid.

The definition seems more complicated than it is, but it is easily understood with an example: an isometric exercise is holding a specific position for a set amount of time. To be more precise, a classic and very popular isometric exercise is the dreaded plank. Yes, the one they force us to do at the gym, which consists of holding a horizontal body line on the floor, supported on the tips of our feet and forearms.

These exercises are loved and hated in equal measure because, even though isometrics don't involve any sudden movements or jumping, they can still be uncomfortable. Another classic example is the static squat: at first, it sounds good, lowering yourself as if you were going to sit on a chair and holding it for a while, but, as time goes by, you start to feel the strain. It's not comfortable.

Isometric exercises are muscle contractions and, depending on which one you're doing, "they generate different benefits", notes Barranco. Whether they are easy or not, we are "working" the muscles effectively, although popular belief suggests it is better to be constantly moving. "Dynamic contractions have a slightly higher benefit than isometric ones, but the latter have another advantage" that is even more important.

"They can be done when a person has an injury or is recovering from one, has joint problems or even arthritis," he says. The reason? "This way of performing a contraction improves muscle strength without putting the joint at risk. For example, if someone has a knee injury, they can start with this type of controlled pressure." Always done under professional supervision to avoid injury, of course.

If you like isometrics, check your blood pressure before doing any

What the expert does not recommend is doing a routine exclusively of isometric exercises. "In principle, we should not lose sight of one thing: just as you don't eat red meat every day, you shouldn't do isometrics every day," advises Barranco. "They are complementary to other exercises and specialists recommend them based on the individual, the circumstances, their needs and so on." In other words, we should combine them with other ways of training the muscles "dynamically". This is because, when done properly, isometrics are no easier than other forms of exercise: "The contraction is just as intense and hard," he adds.

No huffing and puffing

What we do need to keep in mind is for whom this type of exercise is not recommended. "We mustn't forget that these types of muscle contractions cause blood pressure to rise, so they aren't recommended for people with hypertension." Another important guideline is to "maintain a smooth breathing pattern" during the exercise. In other words, if we do a glute bridge (that is, keeping our buttocks raised and tight while supporting our upper back and feet on the floor), we should breathe normally. If we're constantly panting, that's bad. "We'll tire more easily," adds Barranco, in which case it's better to stop.

Of course, it is very important to know the technique before getting down to business. Since it is a specific position, if we don't maintain it correctly or we compensate by shifting our weight to another part of our body, we're not working out properly. Good posture is essential. For that reason, if we have a gym monitor watching us, so much the better, but we must also "look in the mirror" and not just for vanity reasons.

"Gyms are there for that purpose, to make us look at how we perform our exercises, our movements," says Barranco. There is no need to be embarrassed or afraid of being called conceited. "It's very important to check our posture during exercise because, with fatigue, we often lose it." This in turn can mean that we are not working the muscles we want to work, or worse, we might injure ourselves.

Three key questions:

What are the best isometric exercises?

Any dynamic exercise can become an isometric exercise if you hold the position still. With isometrics, you can work all types of muscle groups. "If we want to work the core, isometrics work quite well because working the abs requires a high level of technical skill and strain on the spine, but, with isometrics, the risk of injury is reduced and we can achieve practically the same results," says Prof Barranco.

How long should I hold the position each time?

If you can't hold a plank for a minute, don't feel bad. "In my opinion, we often work with holds that are too long. Some authors, like McGill, recommend holding them for 12 to 20 seconds at most," advises the expert. "We can, for example, do several sets instead." Another important point: "The moment you start trembling during the exercise, you have to stop because that only indicates fatigue" and, when fatigue sets in, you're no longer working effectively.

What if it hurts while I'm doing them?

"You have to differentiate between discomfort and pain," he says. It is clear that the muscle we are working on is going to 'complain' a little, but we need to see where the tension is coming from and how intense it is. However, 'no pain, no gain' should not be our motto.
Alekk M. Saanders Huelva Friday, 21 November 2025, 11:40 | Updated 14:55h. Share

She was born 150 years ago, at a time when women were not supposed to be artists. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney had to fight stereotypes and go against the grain in order to achieve her ambitions. Being rich, she cared about the poor. Being American, she loved Europe, which inspired her to devote herself to sculpture.

By doing what she dreamed of and wanted, she inspired other women to be bold in pursuing their ambitions. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney is someone who can definitely be considered an influencer.

In 1929, a monument to Christopher Columbus was erected in the city of Huelva. The giant commemorative sculpture is dedicated to the sailors who, with their faith and perseverance, helped the discoverer of America successfully complete his epic journey. The project was designed by American sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, better known in Huelva as Miss Whitney. This year, a 1.80-metre bronze statue of Miss Whitney, alongside a sketch of the Columbus monument, appeared next to her masterpiece to mark the 150th anniversary of the American sculptor's birth.

Miss Whitney (as she is better known in Huelva) was born on 9 January 1875 in New York. From an early age she was interested in drawing and painting and wanted to become a professional artist. In the USA, this was practically unacceptable. Her artistic ambitions took her to Europe but she later returned to study at the Art Students League of New York.

Zoom

Even as a professional, Gertrude Whitney had to fight to be taken seriously as a woman artist. A life-size male nude figure made of plaster was her first public commission as well as first success and recognition. Called Aspiration, it was selected for the 1901 Pan-American Exhibition. Over time, Miss Whitney gained fame and respect. In the second half of the 1920s, the Columbus Memorial Foundation of New York, which decided to commission and finance a monument to Columbus in Huelva, chose a statue designed by Whitney. This marked her first experiment with a new, abstract style and allowed her to further build her international reputation. Whitney arrived in Huelva in March 1929 to supervise the final stones being laid on the Columbus monument. Incidentally it is reported that during her stay, she lived in a modest rented room at the back of a noisy local restaurant

The 37-metre monument, also known as the Monumento a la Fe Descubridora, erected on Punta del Sebo, was officially unveiled on 21 April 1929 in the presence of Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera and US Ambassador Ogden H. Hammond.

This year, Miss Whitney herself was immortalised in bronze in Huelva. At the ceremony, attended by her great-granddaughter, the president of the Port of Huelva, Alberto Santana, said, With the unveiling of this sculpture by the Port of Huelva, we are paying a well-deserved tribute to a courageous woman, committed to art and ahead of her time.

The mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, stated that Miss Whitney's presence and work were a true feminist revolution in Huelva in 1929".

In addition to the monument, Whitney, who died in 1942, was named an 'adopted daughter' of Huelva and one of the city's main streets bears her name.
SUR in English Malaga Friday, 21 November 2025, 09:34 Share

Affordable housing has become a major challenge in Spain, especially in the Costa del Sol where property prices have risen far beyond what many local residents can afford. This growing problem inspired the creation of HouseCashback.es, a buyer-focused model designed to ease upfront costs and make homeownership more accessible.  and in a way no one has tried before.

HouseCashback.es has introduced a system thats surprising the Spanish market: they share their commission directly with the buyer, giving up to 1% of the purchase price back at the end of the transaction.

This simple but powerful idea is already positioning the company as one of the most innovative players in the region.

A Real Financial Advantage for Buyers

In Spain, working with a buyers agent is highly beneficial because they represent your interests throughout the entire purchase process, helping you avoid risks, overpaying, or being misled by seller-focused agents. Even better, in about 90% of all property transactions, the buyers agents commission is paid by the seller, meaning you receive full representation at no cost to you as the buyer.

HouseCashback.es pushes it even further!

Instead of keeping everything, they return part of their earnings to the buyer  meaning you can receive thousands of euros simply for choosing to work with them.

Buyers can use this cashback to:

 Lower their down payment.

 Cover legal and notary costs.

 Pay for taxes such as ITP.

 Furnish their new home.

 Or simply keep more cash available during the move.

For first-time buyers, expats, digital nomads and families relocating to Spain, this approach provides a welcome financial boost at exactly the right moment.

We work for the buyer  and we prove it.

Founder Matthias De Marelle, originally from Belgium, explains:

The Spanish real estate system is traditionally built around the seller. We wanted to create something fair, transparent and modern  something that helps buyers save money, not spend more.

If we negotiate hard, you win. And if we earn our commission, you earn with us.

With a team that speaks English, Dutch, Spanish and French, HouseCashback.es assists international buyers from the first property search until the day of completion.

A Trusted Partner in a Complex Market

For many foreigners, buying property in Spain can feel overwhelming. Different laws, multiple agents, hidden fees and inconsistent information make the process confusing  and sometimes risky.

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 They negotiate on your behalf.

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Why Buyers Choose HouseCashback.es

 You get professional representation.

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Its a win-win model that aligns the interests of the agent with those of the buyer  finally.

Ready to buy property in Spain? Work with the agencythat pays you

If youre planning to buy a home in the Costa del Sol, there is no reason to leave money on the table.

Discover how much cashback you could receive:

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Jennie Rhodes Friday, 21 November 2025, 10:53 | Updated 13:29h. Share

Cellist Dave Gee and pianist Lynne Mackey form the Gee Mackey duo who are currently in Nerja where they will be giving a concert this Friday evening (21 November) ahead of two further performances in Andalucia over the next week.

This isnt the first time the musicians have performed here and in fact Dave says that coming to Andalucia is like coming home as the classically trained cellist spent five years in Granada from 1990 to 1995 as assistant principal cellist of the local orchestra.

It was at a time when Spanish cities were establishing orchestras. He was studying at Yale University at the time when the country looked internationally for talent to make up the numbers.

Lynne has a Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, a Masters degree from The Juilliard School and a Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan.

She has won competitions and combines her time between teaching music and giving solo performances as well as concerts with Dave.

The duo have been performing together since 2003 when Lynne was looking for a cellist for the group she was already playing in. They hit it off and decided they could work together.

Introduction to Spain

Although they dont live near each other, they say that they make it work and explain that they share the same work philosophy: We like playing in different kinds of venues and want to choose what, when and where we play,they explain, adding, A priority for us is not having other people telling us what to play. We get to work on our own terms. Its one of the fundamental things of our playing together.

Dave introduced Lynne to Spain in 2008 when they first came to perform in Nerja and that is when they also made contacts that would see them coming back to a place they both love.

While Dave and Lynne plan to visit Granada during their trip, they say they dont have any concerts planned there this time.

Touching on being a musician during what feels like turbulent times globally, Lynne says, Its a good time to be a musician. Its so good to be part of doing things that make people happy. People need something to feel good about. Im happy to be part of that.

Concert programme

At this evenings concert, which is taking place at the Nerja Cultural Centre and starts at 8pm, they will be playing pieces by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Falla and twentieth century French composer Nadia Boulanger. The concert is being held to raise funds for Nerja-based dog charity APAA.

On Wednesday 26 November the duo will be performing in the auditorium of the Excmo. Ateneo de Sevilla, where they will be joined by violinist and long-standing friend, Clare Applewhite, who Dave knows through links from his time in Granada. There they will perform pieces by Mozart and the concert starts at 7pm.

On Thursday 27 they are giving two concerts at the Fundacion Valentin Madariaga in Seville, at 12pm and at 7pm. The concert in Gibraltar is on Saturday 29 November at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at 7pm and is also a fundraising event.

Now in their 60s, Lynne and Dave laugh that they are planning on continuing until our fingers fall off and are already thinking about the next concerts in Europe, which of course will include a visit to their beloved Andalucia.
Julio J. Portabales Villanueva del Trabuco Friday, 21 November 2025, 12:25 Share

The Bosque de los Ninos (children's forest), an educational project that was created to bring schoolchildren in Villanueva del Trabuco in Malaga province closer to caring for the environment, has been seriously affected after the loss of more than 500 of the 572 plants that were planted when it first opened.

The space, designed for children to sponsor and care for their own tree, had in the last few days almost all of the plants dried out, which has put the spotlight on the current state of the area and the conditions that have led to this result.

500 missing plants

The political group Trabuco Si maintains that the area is in a "depressing state", with almost all the trees dry and no sign of the promised maintenance. The group recalls that the project was presented as an initiative for local families, with the participation of associations and Red Cross volunteers. They therefore consider it "particularly painful" that so many specimens planted by children, whose nameplates are still in place, have been lost. In fact, they point to "evident abandonment" and also point to the deterioration of other nearby infrastructures, such as the picnic areas and the pools, which have been without water for months.

In addition, the opposition questions the contrast between the media hype of the inauguration and the current state of the area. They claim that "the project was announced with great fanfare" but ended up with no follow-up. Trabuco Si, which has already criticised the municipal management after the loss of the riverside forest in the Higueral area, argues that the case of the Bosque de los Ninos confirms "a lack of sustained environmental planning over time".

The councillor for the environment, Alejandro Pascual, offered a different version to SUR. He claims that the project was started by the town hall as an educational experience and that the responsibility for the initial watering fell on the families. "The parents undertook to look after their own trees and in the end they didn't do it," he said. He explained that it is not a question of blaming the children, but insists that "the responsibility lay with the parents because we talked to them and they made a commitment".

Electricity supply

Pascual explains that, in addition to the initial lack of irrigation, the area suffered an external problem that aggravated the situation. "We had a problem with the electricity supply, which meant that we were unable to have water in the picnic area for six or seven months," he said. According to the councillor, the pump that fed the irrigation system in the Bosque de los Ninos remained inoperative until just over a month and a half ago, when the system was finally repaired.

"We have had a problem with the electricity supply, which has left us without water in the picnic area," said Pascual.

In the same vein, the councillor indicated that, while the installation was not in operation, he decided not to replace plants because "I am not going to plant trees again knowing that there is no water or that they are not going to be watered". Once the technical problem was solved, he said that the trees were replanted and that the area now has an automatic watering system to avoid further problems. "It is now completely fixed, it has been possible to replant and now we have guarantees that the plants will be able to take hold", he said.

He also compared this episode to an earlier tree planting by Malaga's provincial authority, the Diputacion de Malaga. "They planted 532 plants and all but three dried out," he argued, pointing out that the loss of young seedlings is a frequent phenomenon if adequate watering conditions are not maintained. He said that the municipal team has been working in the area for weeks, weeding, replacing stakes and making improvements prior to replanting. "We had already been working there for two weeks before they recorded the video," he said, referring to the opposition's criticism.

While the confrontation continues, the Bosque de los Ninos has become a symbol of the debate on environmental management in Villanueva del Trabuco. Trabuco Si insists that the town hall must take responsibility for the loss of the plantations, while the government maintains that it has already acted and that the area is "in good condition" after the latest interventions. The evolution of the new plantations and the perception of local residents could determine the political scope of a controversy that has become deeply rooted in the town.
Eugenio Cabezas El Borge Friday, 21 November 2025, 11:53 Share

El Borge has become the second town in Malaga province's Axarquia area to warn residents not to drink the tap water, which comes from La Vinuela reservoir. The town hall has declared that the water is unfit for human consumption due to the detection of high levels of chlorates in the analysis. Last week Iznate advised its residents not to drink the tap water for the same reason.

El Borge town hall posted on social media that "until the new results come back, an alternative supply will have to be made, consisting of water bottles which can be collected from the shops mentioned in the notice, until further notice". The message went on to say that "the corrective measures communicated by the health authorities have been taken until the new results of the analyses are available".

The town hall has made available eight litres of water per day per household and advised residents to contact the town hall for further information and advice.

Mayor of El Borge Raul Vallejo explained that the chlorate parameters were not measured before, but now they are after the modification of a regional regulation, in compliance with a European directive. He told Cadena Ser radio in the Axarquia that although at the moment there are only two municipalities affected "it is possible that in the coming days there will be more cases" among the other twelve municipalities that are also supplied by Axaragua.

Technical sources consulted by SUR have pointed out that high chlorate levels can be increased by poor maintenance of water supply reservoirs. However, they have clarified that the maximum parameters set by the regulations have recently been modified by the Junta de Andalucia, increasing them, which is complicating the management of municipal water supply networks in Andalucia.

The president of the Mancomunidad association of town halls in the Axarquia and of the public company Axaragua, Jorge Martin, explained to SUR that, for the moment, he is not aware of any other municipalities affected by this problem. "The problem is caused by those who do not maintain the installations and chlorine storage properly," he said.
Chus Heredia Malaga Friday, 21 November 2025, 12:50 Share

Andalucia's regional government is calling on central government in Madrid for an additional 25 million euros to cover new applications to the electric vehicle (EV) purchase aid scheme (MOVES III 2025) after funds ran out for the second time this year. A few weeks ago, the Junta transferred surplus funds from the EV charger allocation to the vehicle purchase allocation because the initial funding pot had run dry. However, given the high demand and waiting list, this money disappeared within days.

Regional minister for energy Jorge Paradela explained this in the regional parliament in Seville, adding that the Andalusian Energy Agency (AEA) has resolved nearly 50% of the 14,400 applications submitted for processing in three months.

1,500 buyers will be excluded from this aid if more funds are not made available

The Junta's appeal is directed to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge in Madrid. The Junta believes that this would make it possible to cover the 1,500 applications for aid that are currently on the waiting-list and to respond to new requests once the funds are exhausted.

To date, the AEA has received more than 15,800 applications for both cars and charging points, of which approximately 14,400 have been accepted for processing. Some 1,500 applications for vehicles remain on the waitlist, pending the transfer of new funds from central government.

15,800 applications have been submitted under the 2025 MOVES III programme, including both direct vehicle purchase subsidies and those for charging stations

SUR has been reporting on the strong demand for these subsidies, given the sector's significant growth this year. In Malaga, electric vehicle sales are doubling in number.

The Moves III Plan has exceeded expectations. The initial pot of 40 million euros ran out and 13 millions more were added, drawn from the more generous allocation assigned to chargers.

What is Moves III?

The application period for Moves III in 2025 opened on 15 July for all of Andalucia and the funds dried up in just over two months. The late opening of the application window and the surge in demand for cleaner cars have contributed to this phenomenon, which has also been influenced by the implementation of low-emission zones. Another key point: EV sales have shot up by 115% in Malaga so far this year.

What happens if I apply for assistance and the budget is spent? A waiting list is created and applications are processed in order of receipt.

Which vehicles are eligible for aid? These are the subsidies

In the case of fuel cell or hydrogen vehicles, the aid ranges from 4,500 to 7,000 euros, depending on whether the owner's previous vehicle is scrapped or not. For pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars with a range of between 30 and 90 kilometres, the range is 2,500 to 5,000 euros. For such cases, the sales limit is 45,000 euros (53,000 euros for 8- or 9-seater vehicles).

If we are talking about electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen vans with a range of more than 30 kilometres, the price range is 7,000 to 9,000 euros.

Turning to motorcycles, if they have a power equal to, or greater than, 3kW and a range of over 70 kilometres, the aid is between 1,100 and 1,300 euros. However, the sales price limit is up to 10,000 euros.

Delays

Demands from the automotive sector for faster grants to be made have been common in every round of this scheme. In some cases, delays in payments have been as long as two years. Linking the aid to the time of purchase is one of the proposals made by trade organisations such as the Malaga association for dealerships and employers in the automotive sector (AMA). Its president, Carlos Oliva, confirms the boom in electric car purchases and that there are many buyers on the waiting list for these subsidies.

What about personal income tax (IRPF)?

There is also another type of advantage, via personal income tax (IRPF), with 15% tax relief. These are compatible and a maximum limit of 3,000 euros of tax relief is set. The maximum deduction base is 20,000 euros.

Good year for the sector

In Malaga, 2025 is proving to be a good year for eco-friendly vehicles. Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles totalled 13,627 units, an increase of 51%. Significant declines were seen in petrol and diesel vehicles, with falls of 10.8% and 47.3% respectively. There were 5,706 registrations for petrol and 555 for diesel.

In terms of eco-friendly vehicles, hybrids continue to account for the largest market share: 6,707 registrations, up 30% year-on-year. In second place are electric vehicles, with 1,976 acquisitions, representing an exponential increase of 105%. They surpass plug-in hybrids, with 1,631 registrations, a 30% increase.
Ethereum (ETH) has again tested the critical $2,870 support for the first time since July, which then preceded a 72% rally to a new all-time high.

Fundstrat CIO and Bitcoin Chairman Tom Lee has now declared that the ETH bottom is likely in, following the $2,800 support test that immediately resulted in a rebound above $3,000 at press time.

Speaking on CNBC, Tom Lee told reporters that he remains bullish on Ethereum because of the significant innovation taking place on the network, including stablecoin creation and Larry Fink and BlackRock choosing it to tokenize real-world assets.

Lee said that this will bring stocks, bonds, real estate onto the blockchain, and it requires a neutral and a 100% uptime blockchain, and thats Ethereum.

Tom Lee Says ETH Bottom Is In, Target $7K by Q1 2026

Lee added that the price of Ethereum fluctuates because crypto is still in its adoption stage, which brings a lot of volatility, and ETH isnt spared from it.

He admitted that Ethereum has been in a downtrend unfortunately; however, he believes the bottom is in and ETH should break out towards $7,000 going into Q1 2026.

Analysts at CryptoQuant also observed that Ethereums fall to $2.87k has brought in a local bottom.

The analyst added that the $2.8k area is likely to act as an important on-chain support level for Ethereum, as this zone aligns with the realized price clusters of both retail investors and whales.

Source: CryptoQuant

Historically, realized price levels have often marked cycle bottoms, suggesting that this range could once again provide a foundation for a short-term rebound.

Crypto analyst CryptoMe also added that Ethereums slip towards $2,800 means that ETH is at the average cost of what diamond-hand whales paid for it four months ago.

According to him, In that case, an investor can buy slowly, gradually, in steps, calmly, and always remember: this is a long-term plan, not a short-term trade.

Whales and institutions like BlackRock are now going all in on Ethereum.

Yesterday, the leading asset manager revealed its plan to file for a Staked Ethereum ETF, as per the Delaware name registration under the 33 Act.

This means BlackRock will have not one but two ETH ETFs.

Aside from the current iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA), a new Ethereum ETF solely focused on staking would be launched to offer a 99% staking option for the fund, where investors will receive a higher real yield.

And for every $1 of ETH staked, it adds 3x equivalent value to Ethereums market cap at the peak bull run.
Cristina Vallejo Malaga Friday, 21 November 2025, 16:22 Share

Companies in Malaga exported goods and services worth over 2.588 billion euros between January and September of this year. This represents a 3.4% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest monthly foreign trade report, published on Thursday by Spain's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. This figure contrasts with that of Andalucia as a whole, where exports fell by 0.4% year-on-year to over 30.166 billion euros. The regional result was dragged down by the decline in Seville, which sold 10% less to other countries this year, and Huelva, which saw a 6.3% drop in exports this year compared to last. However, the region as a whole, excluding energy goods, also achieved record figures. Malaga's numbers are also better than those for Spain as a whole, where total declared trade is 288.34 billion euros, representing a growth of just 0.5%.

3.27 billion euros is the record that Malaga has to beat to set a new annual high in exports

The figures for the first nine months of the year for Malaga suggest that the province could indeed close another year with record exports. The Costa del Sol province has now achieved record highs for exports over six consecutive years. In 2019, the province sold goods abroad worth more than 2.26 billion euros. For 2020, it exceeded 2.3 billion, then, in 2021, it came close to 2.5 billion euros. The three billion-euro record was reached in 2022 and, a year later, it stood at nearly 3.222 billion euros. By 2024, exports had reached just over 3.272 billion euros.

Other provinces in Andalucia, such as Almeria, Jaen, Cordoba and Granada, are also currently clocking up record export figures.

This means that Malaga, alongside the other areas in similar circumstances, is managing to circumvent the impact of US tariffs. Starting in early April, the US began applying a 10% tariff on Spanish imports, although it was not until the end of July that negotiations with the Trump administration culminated in the EU's acceptance of a 15% tariff on all products.

Fifth largest export market for Andalucia

For Andalucia, the United States remains its fifth largest export market worldwide and its top non-European market, although sales from companies in the region to that country fell by 19.8% year-on-year, to 1.99 billion euros. Andalucia's leading trading partner is Germany, with 3.42 billion euros in sales, a figure similar to last year's.

The declines in sales by Andalusian companies to the United States and other destinations, such as the United Kingdom and France, are offset by the growth in sales to China, which rose by 16.9% to more than 1.1 billion euros. Sales to Portugal also increased by 7.6% to 2.88 billion euros, making it the second most important destination for exports from Andalucia.

6.3% is the decline in sales in the food sector to nearly 1.226 billion euros, due to the drop in olive oil prices.

Returning to Malaga, the leading export product category is food, beverages and tobacco, totalling nearly 1.22 billion euros. They account for nearly half of all exports from companies operating in the province. Although they fell by 6.3%, this was primarily due to the drop in the price of olive oil. To compensate for this, capital goods came into play, with exports rising by 13.8% year-on-year to 337 million euros, representing 13% of Malaga's total foreign trade.

Leading products in Andalucia

In Andalucia, food, beverages and tobacco, with close to two billion euros in exports in the first nine months of this year, account for almost 40% of exports and are 1.2% higher than the figures for the same time last year. Meanwhile, sales of energy products fell by 20.6% year-on-year, to below 4.1 billion euros. Sales of capital goods across Andalucia also declined at a rate of 8.7% to 4.05 billion euros.

Olive oil is Andalucia's top-selling product worldwide, with 2.9 billion euros in export sales, 9.6% of the total (within the fats and oils category, which reaches 3.56 billions). Although the value of its export turnover has fallen by 18% year-on-year, due to lower sales prices due to high output from the last harvest, the quantity exported has grown significantly, up by 46% on January to September 2024, reaching 677,309 tonnes. This total reinforces the region's global leadership over its national and international competitors.

Andalucia has a positive trade balance, which means that it sells more than it buys. This is the case in a handful of provinces: Almeria, Cordoba, Jaen and Seville. The rest buy more than they sell. Malaga is in this position: its trade deficit is 382.2 million euros, compared with a deficit of 6.6 million euros a year ago.
The area below Calle Alcazabilla has seen several failed attempts to open it to visitors over the past five years.

Regina Sotorrio Friday, 21 November 2025, 15:08 Share

The regional government of Andalucia has declared its third attempt to put out to tender the work to extend the walkable areas of the Roman theatre under Calle Alcazabilla unsuccessful. No company has submitted a tender, despite the fact that the budget was increased to 147,318.32 euros (including Spanish IVA sales tax), as opposed to the previous 93,333 euros.

The most visited monument in Andalucia after the Alhambra in Granada has not found anyone willing to handle the project. In the last five years, the Junta has unsuccessfully tried to contract the work to build a walkway that would allow people to visit the Roman theatre to view the remains, which can currently only be partially seen beneath a glass pyramid in the middle of the street. After five years of paperwork and three unsuccessful tenders, the Roman theatre is still at the starting point today.

During the pedestrianisation work on Calle Alcazabilla 15 years ago, the remains of some basins for the manufacture of 'garum' were discovered. They belonged to a large Roman factory that extended throughout the area when the theatre fell into disuse. In addition, parts of pavements that belonged to the Republican baths prior to the construction of the Roman theatre were also discovered. It is believed that they were created in the 1st century and were later abandoned around the 3rd century.

In January 2020, the regional ministry of culture began the process of contracting the drafting project. The design of this intervention was awarded in August 2020 to Almeria-based company Union para la Mejora de la Construccion, for an amount of 14,250 euros and a completion period of four months.

However, the objections of the technicians of the regional ministry didn't make approval possible until March 2023. The design of the initially proposed plan was modified on up to five occasions until the definitive version was obtained.

The project includes cleaning and consolidation work on the archaeological walls and profiles and the construction of a walkway with wooden slats to allow visitors to approach the remains beneath Alcazabilla Street from a viewing platform. It also includes the development of an augmented reality app and the generation of QR codes to inform the public of the history of the remains.

In June 2023, the regional ministry of culture put the project out to tender, with a budget of 93,333 euros (with 80% European funding) and a six-month completion period. However, this procedure was unsuccessful because only one bid was submitted, which was rejected by the Junta due to an issue related to the person in charge. In 2024, the Andalusian government once again tried to contract the project. A new tender was launched and a company was proposed as the winning bidder, but the Junta required documentation that the company did not submit, so the tender was once again declared void.

After this second setback, the regional ministry decided to commission the same Almerian company that drew up the project in 2020 to revise the document in order to stop the deterioration of the walls surrounding the excavations under Calle Alcazabilla and the slope of the southern access to the Roman Theatre. In December 2024, the latest version of the project was completed, but it also received objections from the technicians of the delegation of culture.

Finally, after the rectification of these objections and the approval of the Colegio de Arquitectos in May, the provincial commission of historical heritage gave the go-ahead to the latest design for the project, with a budget of 147,318 euros. The execution period has been reduced from six to five months. One of the changes consists of a slight reduction in the surface area of the platform from which the remains will be viewed, in order to avoid uncontrolled public access to the Roman Theatre.

The new tender was published on 12 September, in the hope that these changes in the dossier would encourage bidders. However, no company had submitted a bid by the deadline of 16 October.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Friday, 21 November 2025, 16:34 Share

If subsidised housing units (referred to as VPOs in Spanish) are not built, nobody would be able to sell them: this obvious syllogism is reflected by the statistics on property transactions, which show a further decline in the sale and purchase of subsidised housing. During the first nine months of this year, 836 VPO flats were sold in the province of Malaga, which means an average of less than one hundred transactions per month. In contrast, 26,840 free-market homes were sold in the same period. In other words, of every one hundred homes sold in the province, only three are subsidised.

This almost total absence of subsidised housing in the property market is the result of a decade with hardly any projects for this type of housing, either public or private. Before the major housing crisis, and even during it, protected housing played a notable role in construction activity. But the new upward trend in construction has almost completely neglected this type of projects. This trend is reflected in statistics from the college of architects, which show zero VPO projects in the province for two of the three quarters so far this year.

As a result, it is easy to predict that this type of housing will continue to practically disappear from the map, at least in its ownership form. Although it is true that Malaga city council plans to deliver more than a thousand subsidised housing units by 2026, most of them will be for rent.

Second-hand market slowdown

On the other hand, the statistics on property sales and purchases reveal that the second-hand market is showing signs of exhaustion in Malaga province. Nine months is long enough to draw a reliable conclusion and the provincial picture is that of a slowdown in the second-hand housing segment, which has dominated this latest real estate cycle. Between January and September, some 18,767 transactions involving resale properties were registered in the province, just 1.5% more than in the same period last year. This near-zero growth in the second-hand housing segment contrasts with the strong dynamism of new construction: the sale of this type of property increased by 23.7% compared to the first nine months of 2024, reaching 8,909 transactions. The weight of new housing now represents 32.9% of the total number of real estate transactions in Malaga.

Real estate portals have been warning about the reasons for the slowdown in the second-hand market: supply is scarce after several years of unbridled activity. This lack of 'stock' means that prices continue to rise unchecked, which in turn makes buying a home inaccessible to increasingly large sections of the Malaga population.

Housing sales have grown by 7.7% so far this year

Adding together the slowdown in sales of second-hand housing and the growth of new construction paints a picture of the Malaga property market between January and September: 27,676 sales and purchases, representing an increase of 7.7% compared to the same period in 2024. This is practically half the growth recorded at national (14.4%) and regional levels (15.9%), which means that Malaga is no longer the driving force behind the property boom. In fact, it is the Andalusian province with the lowest rate of increase: its 7.7% contrast especially with the 32% growth in Almeria and the 19% in Seville and Jaen.

The cooling of the resale market is also lightly felt at national level, as in September the sale of this type of property grew by only 2%. However, this trend is still not reflected in the year-to-date, as the sale of used flats increased 11% and 12% in Spain and Andalucia, respectively, between January and September.
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Spain's economy minister Carlos Cuerpo might have a second shot at becoming president of the Eurogroup (the 20 nations that use the euro), after Paschal Donohoe's resignation on Tuesday. The Irish finance minister had held the position since 2020 and won re-election in July, after Cuerpo and his Lithuanian counterpart Rimantas Sadzius backed down; but his move to a senior role at the Washington-based World Bank leaves open the most influential post in the eurozone - one that Spain has failed to secure on three occasions.

Three other major positions are also up for renewal within the next two years, all of them at the European Central Bank (ECB). These are: the presidency, currently held by France's Christine Lagarde; the vice-presidency, occupied by former Spanish finance minister Luis de Guindos; and chief economist, a role held by Ireland's Philip Lane since 2019. Amidst the delicate diplomacy of who-backs-who for which job, Madrid might have a difficult choice to make: Cuerpo for Eurogroup chief or former Bank of Spain governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos as the next vice-president of the ECB.

Cuerpo's ascension to president of the Eurogroup would be the bigger win for Spain. Pedro Sanchez's former economy minister and first deputy prime minister Nadia Calvino is already installed as president of the European Investment Bank, a post she will hold until at least 2030. Having de Cos in the Number Two job at the ECB would be too much of a duplication. If Cuerpo were to succeed Paschal, however, he would become the first Spanish president of the Eurogroup since the position was created twenty years ago. De Guindos and Calvino ran for the presidency in 2015 and 2020, respectively, but both failed.

The outgoing Eurogroup president was seen as fiscally conservative by many eurozone finance ministers. After Donohoe's re-election this summer, Sadzius said he would face "big pressure from all sides to be more dynamic and focused". The group would have the same expectations of Cuerpo, who would no doubt use the role to push for greater fiscal integration - an issue that's also being explored in the newly formed European Competitiveness Laboratory (ECL).

Proposed by Spain and launched in March, the ECL aims to "mobilise private financing to promote European priorities". It gives the eurozone's finance ministers a space in which to tinker and innovate, before rolling investment schemes out across the bloc.

One wonders, however, whether Cuerpo would be able to complete his two-and-a-half year term as chief scientist in this bubbling, fizzing fiscal lab. With the next Spanish general election due before August 2027, and the recent breakdown of Sanchez's confidence-and-supply arrangement with Catalan separatists, that's far from certain. Still, he's regained an opportunity he thought he had lost in July. Madrid can't afford to lose this race a fourth time.
David S. Olabarri Bilbao Friday, 21 November 2025, 12:04 Share

A Guardia Civil officer was arrested at the port of Bilbao on 16 November, while he was reportedly transporting some 120 kilos of cocaine in a patrol car. Jose G.G., a veteran officer with two decades of professional experience, was arrested by his own colleagues, who had been on his trail for some time. Following the arrest, his home in Castro Urdiales, where he lives with his family, was also searched.

Jose G.G. was assigned to the fiscal and borders area, where he had spent years ensuring security at customs and border control. It seems that his work was more focused on administrative tasks.

The Guardia Civil had been investigating him for some time. Apparently, his communications had been tapped with judicial authorisation. He was arrested while transporting 120 kilos of cocaine in a patrol car within the port premises. According to various sources, he collected the drugs with the apparent ease afforded by his authoritative status.

His arrest has caused a stir in Castro Urdiales and among his colleagues. Jose G. G. led a quiet life with his family. Sources consulted suspect that he started transporting small quantities of drugs on behalf of a criminal group and that, over time, he increased the quantity.
Patxi Fernandez Madrid Friday, 21 November 2025, 13:42 Share

The Spanish association of businesses collaborating with the technical inspection of vehicles in Spain (AECA-ITV) opened the ITV 2025 sector conference in Madrid on Wednesday this week: a two-day meeting under the slogan 'The transport of the future goes through the ITV'.

The event brought together around 300 people, including the main representatives of the sector and members of the state, regional and local administrations, Congreso members, the state prosecution, the traffic authorities (DGT) and police forces.

During the opening, AECA-ITV focused on the sector's main challenge: the need for standardised access to electronic vehicle information in order to properly inspect advanced active (ADAS) and passive (ARAS) safety systems, as well as state-of-the-art environmental technologies.

The organisation stated that the availability of reliable and homogeneous data is essential to verify their correct functioning at the ITV inspection and maintain the effectiveness of these systems throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.

The sector noted that future European regulations foresee ITV stations incorporating electronic diagnostic tools (OBD) and remote access to ensure functional checks of all these systems through connectivity and standardised data. In this context, the development of a common European platform and a unified data structure is considered essential to enable safe, standardised and non-discriminatory access.

Challenges for the sector

Jose Manuel Prieto from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, who hosted the opening ceremony, said that the ITV is not a tax, but an action that saves lives and contributes to environmental protection.

AECA-ITV president Jesus Garcia Gil highlighted the functionality of ITV stations, which ensure road safety. He also identified the main challenge facing the sector: reducing the high rate of non-compliance, pointing out that today three out of every ten vehicles that should undergo ITV inspections have not done so.

The regulatory update of the Mot at European level was also a central topic. Executive director of the international Mot committee Eduard Fernandez outlined the main new developments. The sector's proposal includes making the Mot compulsory for all types of vehicles, including those in category L (motorbikes, mopeds and quadricycles) and increasing the inspection frequency for vehicles in categories M and N (passenger cars, vans, buses and lorries) according to their use and mileage.

Another point of debate was the need for a national regulation on personal mobility vehicles (PMVs). AECA-ITV's proposal aims to ensure that electric scooters can safely coexist alongside other modes of transport. Representatives from various entities and municipalities stressed the urgency of a national framework defining required training, technical specifications, registration and technical control throughout the life of PMVs. The example of Valladolid was highlighted, as the first city to sign a collaboration agreement to subject scooters to an ITV.

The first day of the conference ended with proposals from equipment manufacturers regarding potential new procedures for vehicle technical inspections.
Paco Grinan Malaga Friday, 21 November 2025, 09:23 Share

It all started with a question from a student. If Jose Ruiz Blasco, Picasso's father, was his first art teacher and taught him the fundamentals of painting, why is he so disparaged when associated with the artist of Guernica? This shift in perspective is one of the core themes of Memory and Desire, the title of the major exhibition transforming the main temporary exhibition hall of the Picasso Museum Malaga (MPM) so it can house 112 pieces from museums across Europe and the United States. The main attraction is the oil painting Studio with Plaster Head (1925) , which captivates visitors upon entering. This canvas, on loan from the MoMA in New York, does indeed allude to his father with that central bust, so reminiscent of his time at the school of fine arts, but it is also a radically surrealist work that influenced contemporary artists such as Salvador Dali, Federico Garcia Lorca and Joaquin Peinado.

"Jose Ruiz Blasco has been vilified by being portrayed as a painter who liked bullfighting and flamenco, as if that were a bad thing, in order to separate him from his son", said Eugenio Carmona, professor of art history at the UMA (University of Malaga) and curator of the exhibition. He has been concerned with reconstructing that father-son relationship, which was not stormy as the critics had depicted it, in order to trace the inescapable artistic influence that the father had on the young Pablo Ruiz Picasso. This recovery of the father's image can be traced in early works by Picasso, in which he tries to capture the academic rigour of the plaster models that also characterise his work from 1925, or in the photographs and portraits of Jose, among which a small snapshot of the painter and the art teacher in one of his classes, surrounded by white busts, does not go unnoticed. Similarly, in the photographs that Picasso himself commissioned his friend and reporter Lee Miller to take during her visit to Malaga in the 1950s, to photograph the room where his father taught, in what is now the Ateneo of Malaga. These photos also feature artistic plaster casts.

Picasso's surrealist work from the MoMA in New York influenced contemporary artists such as Salvador Dali, Federico Garcia Lorca and Joaquin Peinado.

This influence of the master on his son is graphically evident in the exhibition, culminating in the allusion to his father with the bust that occupies centre stage in the headline painting, Studio with Plaster Head. "As Picasso confessed to Brassai: 'Every time I draw a man, I think, without meaning to, of my father'", recalled Carmona, who, during his tour of the exhibition, also highlighted the Hungarian photographer's images of the Malaga-born artist's studio in Boisgeloup, with the white moulds of his sculptures that are an updated version of the rooms where his father taught. A painter who also passed on his interest in bullfighting to Picasso, whose work would be incomprehensible without this paternal legacy.

Picasso's surrealism

Alongside the rehabilitation of Picasso's father-son relationship, Memory and Desire makes Studio with Plaster Head the centrepiece of the exhibition, transforming it into an emblem of the Malaga artist in the 1920s. Once again, the curator returns to this bust to point out how Picasso adopted the tenets of the avant-garde movement, particularly those of surrealism, by "reinterpreting" this figure and breaking it down into three successive faces, the last being a shadow with no light source. "This work began as a still life that was intended as a tribute to his father and his teaching at the school of fine arts, but it exploded onto Picasso's canvas, becoming a convulsive work that unfolded into various profiles", explained Carmona. The curator has further imbued the MPM's temporary exhibition space with this oil painting by replicating the midnight blue of the shadow drawn by Picasso on the very museum walls. A tone that gives the exhibition an imposing corporate colour.

"Picasso was happy during this period but, conversely, his painting became restless because he recognised the sign of the times." Eugenio Carmona Exhibition curator and academic

Starting with the central piece, Memory and Desire shows how other international artists, such as Giorgio de Chirico, Fernand Leger, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray and Rene Magritte also took up this same theme of the plaster cast and multiplicity from their own perspectives, giving special importance to the direct homage that Dali made the following year in Still Life by Mauve Moonlight (1926). "His appropriation of Picasso is prodigious", stated the curator. Also the homage made by Garcia Lorca in his drawing The Kiss. "The emblem of the bust and the shadow as a new subjectivity was introduced by Dali into 20th-century Spanish art and reached Moreno Villa and Joaquin Peinado, creators who must be brought back into international projects", stressed Eugenio Carmona, who, after his exhibitions at the Reina Sofia and other international museums, is holding his first curated exhibition at the MPM since its inauguration more than two decades ago.

The Picasso specialist, supported by researchers Pablo Rodriguez and Pablo Salazar for this exhibition, also revealed that the exhibition title directly alludes to the poem The Waste Land by T.S. Elliot: "April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire". This opening verse to the poem, sung years ago by Danza Invisible, and especially for this montage, speaks of memory to allude to the past and of desire to speak of the future. These are two concepts that Picasso also explored and, according to the curator, during the 1920s, he experienced a peaceful period with Olga Khokhlova, in contrast to the turbulent social climate marked by the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe and, simultaneously, the emancipation movements for women and the first anti-colonial protests.

"Picasso was happy during this period but, conversely, his painting became restless because he recognised the sign of the times," said the curator. This atmosphere is also evident in the exhibition, most notably in the last piece on display, Still Life with Minotaur and Palette (1938), which also connects with Studio with Plaster Head. "It is dated at the moment of the defeat at the Battle of the Ebro, when the Spanish Republic had lost all hope of winning the war. Thus, Picasso replaced the bust of his father with an emblem of Spanish culture, the bull", explained Carmona at the end of what is set to be the MPM's major exhibition of the year.

The exhibition also includes an installation based on the preparatory sketchbook for the 1925 canvas, narrated by baritone Carlos Alvarez, as well as international loans from the Louvre, Peggy Guggenheim, Centre Pompidou, Reina Sofia, the Picasso museums in Barcelona and Paris, the Malaga Museum and Casa Natal (the museum located at Picasso's birthplace), as explained by the Junta's deputy minister for culture, Maria Esperanza O'Neill, who was accompanied by Cristina Rico, representing the Unicaja Foundation.

For his part, the director of the MPM, Miguel Lopez-Ramiro, did not hide his enthusiasm for this new exhibition, which he described as a "temple" in two senses: one for the "grandeur" of the open galleries with all the artwork on display and the other being the artistic journey of bringing together over 100 pieces that make up an "artistic encyclopaedia of the 20th century".
Article November 21, 2025

BusinessEurope: EU must be united in strengthening its global standing

BusinessEuropes Council of Presidents convened in Nicosia, hosted by its Cyprus member federation, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB). With the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU approaching, the delegation met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides to outline the European business communitys priorities for the upcoming Presidency. They also exchanged views with Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans.

BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson. Photo : SOREN ANDERSSON

 At a time of great geopolitical uncertainty, the EU must be united in strengthening its position on the global stage and the Cyprus Presidency can play a crucial role in these efforts. Trade diversification must be a key focus over the next six months, including the swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement, BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson said.

 It is also essential that, during the Cyprus Presidency, the EU shows that it is serious about turning promises into tangible improvements for companies across Europe. Lowering regulatory burdens, securing affordable energy, deepening the Single Market, and mobilising investment in innovation are essential steps to strengthen Europes economy and resilience.

OEB President George Pantelides also commented:

 For OEB, it is important that Cyprus plays its part in steering Europe through this defining moment. We will work closely with our government to ensure that the EU accelerates the creation of the right conditions for growth, innovation, and resilience, so that European enterprises can succeed globally. Delivering on promised reforms and enabling companies to invest and create jobs will be crucial for Europes prosperity.

To read the full Declaration of the Nicosia Council of Presidents, please click here.
Scriba, N.Y.  More than 80 firefighters from 20 departments battled a large five-alarm fire for hours Thursday at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego County.

Crews fought the blaze from inside the plants hot mill section and also extended at least four ladder trucks high into the air to spray water on the roof.

Tanker trucks ferried water to and from the facility to supplement water onsite. Firefighters also connected a hose to a nearby property to bring in more water.

Firefighters from Oswego and Onondaga counties responded to the fire at the Scriba plant, according to Terry Bennett, the emergency services program coordinator in Oswego County. It was the second major fire there in two months.

So many fire departments were called in because it was difficult to muster enough volunteer firefighters during the middle of the day to fight the fire, she said.

The blaze was reported at about 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Heavy smoke and fire was seen in the plants hot mill section and was spreading into the roll shop, according to dispatches from the Oswego County 911 Center.

The fire was mostly knocked down by 12:20 p.m., Bennett said. Some crews were starting to depart the facility at 2:15 p.m.

Everyone working at the plant was safely evacuated, Novelis said in a statement.

Bennett said Novelis will lead the investigation into the cause of the fire.

The company said in a statement at 4 p.m. that the fire was fully out but it hasnt been able to fully assess the fire damage yet or investigate the cause of the fire.

Around 5 p.m., firefighters were still on the scene working, Bennet said.

The fire could deal a blow to efforts to get the plant running again after an earlier fire in September.

That fire damaged the roof and halted the plants ability to heat up aluminum ingots, the first step to make rolls of aluminum sheets.

Novelis says it is the worlds largest supplier of aluminum sheets to the automotive industry, with a global market share of about 50%.

The Sept. 16 fire severely disrupted the American auto industry supply chain. The loss of the plants aluminum sheets temporarily shut down auto plants in Tennessee and Michigan. Ford Motor Co. estimates the issues cost the company $1 billion.

Novelis officials had previously said they were hoping to bring the plant back online next month.

The company has touted that it was running a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation to repair the plant. Stadium lights were brought in so crews could work around the clock.

Novelis employs more than 1,100 people at the plant in Scriba, just east of Oswego. It is one of Oswego Countys largest employers.
(Reuters) -European defence shares fell to their lowest levels since early September on Friday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready for "honest" work on a U.S.-backed plan to end the war.

An index of aerospace and defence companies was last down 2.6%.

The index, which has risen more than 200% since Russia launched its war against Ukraine in February 2022, was heading for its biggest weekly losses since mid-October.

Shares in Germany's Renk fell around 6%, on track for a sixth straight day of losses.

Hensoldt and Rheinmetall were both down around 4%.

Italy's Leonardo, Sweden's Saab slipped between around 2% and 3%.

JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note earlier this week they saw the plan as not acceptable to Ukraine or its European allies, and viewed the recent selloff in defence companies as a "compelling entry point" into the sector.

"If the U.S. is able to impose this plan (which is unlikely, in our view) we think it would amount to a de facto victory for Russia, driving European defence spending even higher than planned and at a much faster pace," they wrote. 

(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, editing by Alun John and Dhara Ranasinghe)
Scriba, N.Y.  Novelis Inc. said Friday that it had reopened its Oswego County aluminum plant and resumed production a day after a five-alarm fire in a section of its closed hot mill.

Novelis and Ford Motor Co., its biggest U.S. customer, issued a joint statement in which they said the Scriba facilitys cold mill and heat treatment operations resumed production Friday morning.

Novelis also resumed shipping finished aluminum from the Oswego County plant to supply Ford, the statement said.

Novelis said it will continue to leverage alternate sources, including its global network of plants and industry peers, to mitigate impact on Ford and other customers.

Novelis says it is the worlds largest supplier of aluminum sheets to the automotive industry, with a global market share of about 50%.

Novelis officials declined to provide more information about the extent of damage from Thursdays fire or say how long it might delay reopening the hot mill section of the plant.

Construction workers have been on the job 24/7 to rebuild the hot mill after a massive fire Sept. 16 heavily damaged a section of its roof.

The fire halted the plants ability to heat up aluminum ingots, the first step to make rolls of aluminum sheets, and disrupted the American auto industry supply chain.

The loss of the plants aluminum sheets temporarily shut down auto plants in Tennessee and Michigan. Ford estimated the supply disruption will cost the company $1 billion.

Novelis said today that Thursdays fire was quickly contained, and the plant was evacuated without any injuries to employees, contractors or first responders.

The company did not say whether it will still be able to meet its goal of reopening the hot mill by the end of December.

In the joint statement Friday, Ford officials suggested that Thursdays fire would not cause any disruptions big enough to affect its bottom line.

Ford reaffirmed its full-year 2025 adjusted EBIT guidance of $6 billion to $6.5 billion and full year adjusted free cash flow of $2 billion to $3 billion.

Novelis said it will strengthen its U.S. aluminum supply chain next year when it opens a new plant in Bay Minette, Alabama. The plant is due to open in the second half of 2026.

About 1,100 people work at the Novelis plant in Scriba, just outside of the city of Oswego. The plant is one of Oswego Countys largest employers.
BANGKOK (AP)  Fatima Bosch Fernandez of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the center of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.

The first runner-up was 29-year old Praveenar Singh of Thailand and 25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third.

Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yace of Ivory Coast who came fifth.

When Bosch was announced as the winner, cheers and screams erupted from the audience, with Mexican flags waved by elated supporters.

Speaking to the media after her victory, Bosch said that she would like to be remembered as a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

She also paid tribute to the pageant, describing it as a platform that is strong because they have the space that women are searching to have a voice.

The bad vibes at this years event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding of the Mexican contestant, Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by a walkout, feminist solidarity and a teary melodramatic apology from the local organizer who set it all off.

At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the more than 100 contestants on Nov. 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Bosch for allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local promotional activities. He called security when she spoke up to defend herself.

Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark.

What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb, an unbowed Bosch told Thai reporters. If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.

Nawat asserted to the media that he did not call her dumb.

The Miss Universe Organization president, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, released a statement condemning Nawats conduct as public aggression and serious abuse.

Even Mexicos first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying at a news conference in her countrys capital that she wanted to give recognition to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a dignified way.

It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices, Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that women look more beautiful when they keep quiet.

We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights, she said.

Nawat later made apologies for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant at the same time .

If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry, he said in front of the contestants. He then turned to them and said Its passed. OK? Are you happy?

Boschs official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials. It says she has volunteered with sick children, promoted environmental awareness, and engaged in supported migrants and mental health issues.

This years competition also saw a report that two judges had quit, with one of them suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest. The allegation was denied. Separately, Thai police investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of the events publicity, a turn of events that may have been connected with the organizers feud.

Mishaps and controversies are not rare for the pageant. The 2021 event attracted criticism because it was held in Israel, to the dismay of supporters of the Palestinian cause.

An example of a minor misstep  literally  occurred Wednesday when Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the evening gown competition. She was not badly hurt.
Jelly Rolls wife, Bunnie Xo, announced on her podcast Dumb Blonde that she has to book herself in jail.

During a Nov. 21 episode of her show, she will voluntarily self-surrender after learning that she had been driving with a suspended license for weeks. However, in an unexpected twist, she plans to film the experience for her followers.

It looks like your girl is gonna have to go book herself in, and if I do, you guys have seen all my past mugshots, right? Im going in glammed the f----- up, baby, she said. And Im going to vlog it.

Bunnie Xo said the problem stemmed from an unpaid ticket she received in Alabama in 2020 that she had no memory of. The unpaid citation led to her license being suspended without her knowledge.

She first learned of the suspension weeks ago when police pulled her over for tinted windows.

[The cop] runs my license and he comes back and he goes, Do you know your license is suspended? And I was like, What? When? How could this happen? she said.

The officer gave her a warning and told her to get the situation fixed. Bunnie Xo said she immediately paid the old ticket, believing that would resolve the matter. But during a second traffic stop, she learned the suspension remained in effect.

I mightve been speeding, I dont know. I cant confirm or deny, she said of the second stop. The officer told her it was an arrestable offense but did not arrest her. Instead, he instructed her to book herself into jail.

She confirmed she paid the ticket on Oct. 24 and has hired a lawyer to address the issue.

I hope they dont [hold me in jail]. I have anxiety, she said. Im not built for prison and jail I know were laughing about it, and its no joking matter. Dont drive on a fricken suspended license. But I didnt know. This tickets from five years ago.

Earlier this month, Bunnie Xo shared old mugshots in an Instagram post. They remind me who I used to be, & how far grace has carried me, she wrote in the post.
Kevin Spacey announced that hes homeless in a new interview this week.

Speaking to The Telegraph in a piece published on Nov. 19, the two-time Oscar-winning actor claims his legal costs stemming from multiple sexual assault trials have sent him into economic hardship.

Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, Spacey told the outlet. Im going where the work is. I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain The costs over these last seven years have been astronomical. Ive had very little coming in and everything going out.

Spacey became a prominent figure in the public discourse around the #MeToo movement after actor Anthony Rapp accused him in 2017 of a sexual advance in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 27.

A New York jury found in 2022 that he did not molest actor Anthony Rapp. The following year, a U.K. court found Spacey not guilty of nine sexual assault charges from four complainants. Other charges and lawsuits have been dropped, and Spacey has denied all allegations.

Despite his legal victories, Spaceys film career collapsed following the allegations. He told the outlet he believes a return to acting depends on approval from a respected industry figure.

We are in touch with some extremely powerful people who want to put me back to work, he said. And that will happen in its right time. But I will also say what I think the industry seems to be waiting for is to be given permission  by someone who is in some position of enormous respect and authority.

Spacey suggested directors Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino could provide that endorsement, telling The Telegraph, So, my feeling is if Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino call [my manager] tomorrow, it will be over.

Some actors have publicly supported Spaceys return to Hollywood. Sharon Stone called him a genius, and Liam Neeson said, our industry needs him and misses him greatly.
Scriba, N.Y.  Firefighters left the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego County just before 6 p.m. Thursday, about nine hours after the fire was reported, a county spokesperson said.

Heavy smoke and fire were reported around 8:45 a.m. in the Scriba plants hot mill section and spread into the roll shop, according to dispatches from the Oswego County 911 Center.

More than 80 firefighters from 20 departments battled the large five-alarm fire. Firefighters from Oswego and Onondaga counties were on scene, according to Terry Bennett, the emergency services program coordinator in Oswego County.

Firefighters left the plant at 5:50 p.m., according to Oswego County Fire Coordinator Shane Laws. The Novelis Fire Department will maintain a fire watch overnight, Bennett said.

In the morning, firefighters extended at least four ladder trucks high into the air to spray water on the roof.

Tanker trucks ferried water to and from the facility to supplement water onsite. Firefighters also connected a hose to a nearby property to bring in more water.

The fire was mostly knocked down by 12:20 p.m., Bennett said. Some crews were starting to depart the facility at 2:15 p.m. and Novelis said the fire was out around 4 p.m.

Everyone working at the plant was safely evacuated, Novelis said in a statement.

The company said in a 4 p.m. statement that it hasnt been able to fully assess the fire damage at this time or investigate the cause of the fire.

The fire could deal a blow to efforts to get the plant running again after an earlier fire in September.

That fire damaged the roof and halted the plants ability to heat up aluminum ingots, the first step to make rolls of aluminum sheets.

Novelis says it is the worlds largest supplier of aluminum sheets to the automotive industry, with a global market share of about 50%.

The Sept. 16 fire severely disrupted the American auto industry supply chain. The loss of the plants aluminum sheets temporarily shut down auto plants in Tennessee and Michigan. Ford Motor Co. estimates the issues cost the company $1 billion.

Novelis officials had previously said they were hoping to bring the plant back online next month.

The company has touted that it was running a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation to repair the plant. Stadium lights were brought in so crews could work around the clock.

Novelis employs more than 1,100 people at the plant in Scriba, just east of Oswego. It is one of Oswego Countys largest employers.
Miami, Fla. - A Manlius man was found with sexually explicit images of a child during a customs inspection at a Florida airport, according to federal authorities.

Haythem Zahidi, 30, was arrested Saturday after flying into Miami International Airport from the Dominican Republic, according to court documents.

Zahidi was selected for a second inspection by a Customs and Border Patrol Officer and gave the officer his iPhone password, according to federal court documents.

While searching the phone, investigators found sexually explicit photos and videos of minors ranging in age from under 5 to 11 years old.

Several of these photos and videos were found in the photo gallery of a WhatsApp conversation between Zahidi and another unknown person who is referred to as a conspirator in the court documents.

Several of the images found in the WhatsApp conversation were of a girl under the age of five years old, according to court documents.

Based on the WhatsApp conversation, investigators believe Zahidi sexually abused the child while on a video call with the conspirator, who then screenshotted images of Zahidi engaging in sexually explicit acts with the child, according to court documents.

Neither Zahidis nor the childs face is visible in the photos. However, investigators also found several non-explicit photos where Zahidis face is clearly visible next to a child wearing the same clothes as in the sexually explicit photos.

Zahidi also sent the conspirator several sexually explicit photos and videos of other minors between the ages of six and 11 years old, according to court documents.

Zahidi was charged with the following:

Possession of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors

Transportation of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors

Zahidi is being held in the Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida, according to online records.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel Pras Michel of the Fugees was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years in prison for a case in which he was convicted of illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign.

Michel, 52, declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him.

In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial in Washington, D.C., included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, whom they said betrayed his country for money and lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.

His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed, they wrote.

Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg said his clients 14-year sentence is completely disproportionate to the offense. Michel will appeal his conviction and sentence, according to his lawyer.

Zeidenberg had recommended a three-year prison sentence. A life sentence would be an absurdly high punishment for Michel given that it is typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders, Michels attorneys said in a court filing.

The Governments position is one that would cause Inspector Javert to recoil and, if anything, simply illustrates just how easily the Guidelines can be manipulated to produce absurd results, and how poorly equipped they are, at least on this occasion, to determine a fair and just sentence, they wrote.

Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti, was a founding member of the Fugees along with childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. Their hip-hop band won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums in the 90s with hits like Killing Me Softly, Ready or Not and Fu-Gee-La. As the solo artist Pras, he also had a hit in 1998 with Ghetto Supastar, featuring O.D.B. and Mya.

Michel obtained over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho  also known as Jho Low  and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obamas campaign.

Michel also tried to end a Justice Department investigation of Low, tampered with two witnesses and perjured himself at trial, prosecutors said.

Low, who has lived in China, was one of the primary financiers of The Wolf of Wall Street, a movie starring DiCaprio. Low is a fugitive but has maintained his innocence.

Lows motivation for giving Mr. Michel money to donate was not so that he could achieve some policy objective. Instead, Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama, Michels attorneys wrote.

In August 2024, the judge rejected Michels request for a new trial based in part on his defense attorneys use of a generative AI program during his closing of the trials arguments. The judges said that and other trial errors didnt amount to a serious miscarriage of justice.
Rochester, N.Y.  A large, fascinating photography exhibit now at the George Eastman Museum shares work by immigrants from Hungary, mainly artists who fled their homeland and settled in the U.S., where they contributed to the history of American photography.

Some in the show, like Robert Capa, who waded ashore with troops on D-Day, will be known to almost all museum visitors. His shaky and blurred picture of a U.S. soldier in the waters off Omaha Beach is recognized as one of historys most powerful combat photographs. Hes also widely known for his picture of a Spanish soldier falling as he was shot in that countrys civil war. (It has long been debated whether the image was somehow staged).

American, Born Hungary is open at the George Eastman Museum through March 1, 2026.

It has a strong local connection: one of the curators who put it together  Alex Nyerges, director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  was born and raised in Rochester. His father, also named Alex, was born in Hungary and emigrated to the United States in 1950 as a political refugee. He had been conscripted in World War II, a prisoner for eight months in a Russian POW camp and escaped communist Hungary in 1946.

Andre Kertesz, Fountain and Church in Fog, 1917, gelatin silver print. Willson Cummer

One of the most powerful photographs is the exhibits smallest: a 1917 Andre Kertesz study of a fountain and church in fog. Its a contact print  the same size as the negative from which it was made. The picture is less than 2 inches on a side.

The curators made the decision to exhibit this in a much larger frame, which invites visitors to step in and study the details. Contemporary art photographs are often printed quite large  six-feet wide is on the small side  but the tiny Kertesz picture has a jewel-like appeal that holds its own.

Nyerges shared his theory about why photographers from Hungary were so successful:

The Hungarian language is completely impenetrable. Its not related to anything else. If youre not Hungarian  born and bred  youre never going to speak it. Youre never going to understand it. But because of that, they go to Germany, they go to Paris, they go to places, and the only language they can speak is with the camera.

With the current debate and anger in the U.S. about immigration, Nyerges said the show argues for the embrace of foreigners.

The greatness of America is the diversity of our origin, he said. It pains me greatly as a first-generation American to see how immigrants are maligned, and then  even worse  by our federal government branded as criminals.

Jamie Allen, curator and head of the photography department at the Eastman Museum, said Hungarian-born photographers had an outsized influence on the development of American photography  through the ways they looked at the world.

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy has a striking picture of boats in the Marseilles, France harbor, from 1929. Shot from almost directly overhead the boats look like fishes in the water  hunters turning into their prey. Allen said the picture was not unusual, because Moholy-Nagy and others liked to climb to gain unusual angles and approaches.

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Photogram, 1925, gelatin silver print. Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

Moholy-Nagy also has a photogram in the show (a picture made with light and sensitive paper but no camera). The mysterious image looks a bit like a spaceship.

One of Kerteszs most powerful pictures is of a cloud, kissing the edge of a skyscraper.

He really saw that as a self-portrait, said Allen. And it was about feeling lonely and isolated in New York City after hed had such an amazing career in Paris.

Andre Kertesz, Lost Cloud, 1937, gelatin silver print. Andre Kertesz

One of the pleasures for viewers can be creating personal meanings for the works they see, Allen told Syracuse.com.

Many of these artists had to escape their homeland. Photographer Michael Simon survived World War II but most of his family was killed in Nazi concentration camps. He fled Hungary during the 1956 revolution and studied in Rochester for a masters degree. He later taught photography for almost 30 years at Beloit College, in Wisconsin.

Simons two pictures of a rural rail intersection and of a cloud seem deeply personal. He references the rail lines to the concentration camps and  with a free-floating cloud  the liberty and creativity that he sought and eventually found.

The show debuted at the Museum of Fine Arts, in Budapest, Hungary. It then traveled to Nyergess museum, in Richmond, Virginia. The exhibits full title is American, born Hungary: Kertesz, Capa, and the Hungarian American Photographic Legacy. Nyerges curated the exhibit with Karoly Kincses, founding director of the Hungarian Museum of Photography.

Many of the photographers in the show explored fine-art photography  the creation of work that stands alone, rather than as an illustration or an advertisement picture. (Others produced a variety of works, either out of interest or in an effort to make a living). Many pictures by Kertesz and Moholy-Nagy are exhibited, along with others  for a total of more than 150 photographs.

The exhibit is a deeply-personal family project.

I wish my father was still around to see the show, Nyerges said. (The elder Nyerges died in 2013).

He knew about it because I started this more than 30 years ago as an idea, and talked to him about it more than a few times when I was finding new discoveries of yet another Hungarian-American who is not properly attributed to being American, born Hungary. I was always saying, Hey, heres another one, Dad, look at these photographs.

His father would have loved the exhibit, said Nyerges:

I can tell you what he would do: He would cry. He would cry out of joy, not out of sadness.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A day after 150 people packed a public hearing in support of a 91-year-old widow being forced to leave the home she has lived in for 60 years to make way for Micron Technology, Onondaga County announced today it had reached an agreement with Azalia King.

County Executive Ryan McMahon said today that a deal has been signed and would be approved in December by the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency.

McMahon would not provide details of the agreement, including how much money the county would pay King or when she would leave the house on Caughdenoy Road.

Im happy to report that we have reached an agreement with Mrs. King related to the ongoing litigation, McMahon said at a news conference. I want to thank the King family. I want to thank all the teams that worked on this.

Kings son, Terry King, declined to comment on the deal.

Azalia King and her husband, Glenn, sold the land to OCIDA in 2005 under the threat of eminent domain. OCIDA signed an agreement then that let the Kings live out their lives in the house, but this year reneged on that deal and tried to force out Azalia King.

Glenn King died in 2015.

The county filed an eviction notice against Azalia King in September and then started eminent domain proceedings earlier this month. Thursdays public hearing was the first step in the eminent domain proceeding.

King filed a lawsuit on Monday to stop the eviction proceeding. McMahon said today that all litigation will end once the deal is approved by the OCIDA board.

OCIDAs next scheduled meeting is Dec. 11.

McMahon said eminent domain proceedings will continue against the owners of two parcels that abut the eastern edge of the Oak Orchard Wastewater Treatment plant. The county is seeking to lay underground wastewater pipes through those properties to connect Micron to a planned industrial wastewater treatment plant at Oak Orchard.

The Micron project, if fully built over 20 years, would be the largest private development in New York state history and a critical step in U.S. efforts to become less dependent upon overseas factories to produce chips vital to the military and modern life.
Two poachers in Steuben County were caught redhanded after a New York State trooper pulled their truck over during a traffic stop at around midnight on Nov. 3.

The trooper noticed a deer still moving around in the bed of the truck and called Department of Environmental Conservation police for assistance.

When ECOs arrived, they observed a cocked crossbow inside the truck and two dead deer in the cargo area, still warm to the touch. At first, the poachers claimed theyd shot the deer earlier that day, but eventually admitted to illegally shooting them at night with crossbows from a nearby field illuminated with the trucks headlights.

Neither poacher possessed the required crossbow privileges, including a bowhunting education course. ECOs charged them with illegal take of deer, taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, hunting deer after permitted hours, hunting without the proper privilege, failing to tag deer as required, failure to carry license/tags, and possessing a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle.

The trooper also ticketed the driver for traffic violations.

ECOs confiscated this buck from a poacher in Saratoga County who shot it without having the proper licenses. It was donated to Venison for Veterans and Seniors of Fulton and Montgomery counties. NYS DEC

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

On the night of Nov. 8, a witness took down the plate number of a white pickup truck after hearing a single gunshot near a roadway in the town of Edinburg. An ECO discovered a dead buck at the scene 75 feet from the road. The trucks passenger later admitted to pulling the trigger from inside the vehicle and was charged with the illegal take of a deer, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, and a host of other violations. The driver got four tickets as an accessory. The deer was donated to Venison for Veterans and Seniors of Fulton and Montgomery counties.

An injured deer ran into the backyard of a residence in the Saratoga County town of Stillwater on Oct. 29 and collapsed on the woodline. An ECO determined the nine-point buck had been shot with a bow on the neighboring property. The neighbor had neither an archery season tag nor bowhunting endorsement. The buck was donated to the organization Venison for Veterans and Seniors of Fulton and Montgomery counties.

A deer fell into a deep dry well in Lewiston on Nov. 6. Wildlife rescuers hoisted it out safely without incident. The well was covered as a preventative measure. NYS DEC

On Nov. 6, a deer fell into a 10-foot-deep dry well in Lewiston and became trapped. An ECO, along with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and the Niagara County Tech Rescue Team, hoisted the deer from the well and release it safely without incident. The well was covered as a preventative measure.

Following up on a call about shots fired, Steuben County Sheriff deputies stopped a vehicle in the town of Erwin at 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 8. The driver claimed he was shooting at a fox. An ECO determined the driver didnt have a hunting license, and charged him with possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, hunting without a license, and attempting to take small game in an unlawful manner.

An ECO found "Jack," a German short hair pointer, running in the road while on patrol in Johnstown and reunited him with his owner. NYS DEC

An ECO on patrol in Johnstown recently saw a dog running in the middle of a busy road. Fearing for the dogs life, the ECO coaxed the German short haired pointer, named Jack, into his vehicle and drove around until he found Jacks owner.

On November 18, a trapper alerted ECOs about two yearling bears stuck in foothold traps within a few feet of each other in the town of Rockland. ECOs carefully pinned one bear down using a catchpole and used a piece of plywood as a shield, allowing the trapper to safely free the bears paws. Both animals ran off into the woods without incident.
Key Points

Chevron is one of America's largest integrated oil and gas companies.

In light of recent weakness in oil prices, the energy giant is taking a different approach than its main competitor.

This pivot, coupled with another initiative, could bode well for long-term investors, who may already be interested in this stock for its long-term dividend growth track record.

10 stocks we like better than Chevron 

Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is one of America's largest integrated oil and gas companies. A descendant of the Standard Oil Trust, Chevron's corporate roots run deep. Over the past few decades, it has also acquired numerous well-known oil companies, including Gulf Oil, Texaco, and Hess.

For investors today, however, what's most important is whether this blue-chip energy stock is a great long-term investment opportunity. This is especially true as crude oil prices remain under pressure due to supply and demand trends less favorable to the industry. Despite these headwinds, there may be merit to adding a name like Chevron to a long-term investment portfolio.

Image source: Getty Images.

Better-than-feared results indicate Chevron is riding out the oil industry's current rough patch

Recent weakness in crude oil prices has resulted in a drop in profitability for major energy companies. However, in the case of Chevron, its own latest fiscal results were "better than feared."

Late last month, the company released results for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2025. Not surprisingly, Chevron reported year-over-year declines in both revenue and earnings:

Metric Q3 2025 Q3 2024 Percentage Change Revenue $49.73 billion $50.7 billion (1.9%) Net Income $3.5 billion $4.5 billion (22.2%) Earnings Per Share (EPS) $1.82 $2.48 (26.6%)

However, ahead of earnings, sell-side analyst estimates called for Chevron to report revenue of $47.2 billion and earnings of $1.71 per share. A key reason for these better-than-feared results was likely the company's increase in production during the quarter. Energy production increased 21% last quarter, to 4.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) daily.

That said, while Chevron, like its competitor ExxonMobil, has been increasing production lately, this isn't going to be the case for much longer.

A major shift in focus

Per Chevron's 2025 Investor Day Presentation, Chevron's new agenda entails "stronger cash flow" and "growing value." That is, while still growing annual production by a modest 2%-3% per year, the company plans to reduce annual capital expenditures by around $1 billion.
An Upstate New York woman has been arrested after allegedly driving children around on a vandalism spree.

WIVB reports Stacy Matthews, 39, of Buffalo, is accused of taking kids between the ages of 10 and 16 to multiple locations and allowing them to vandalize property. The incidents included damage to The Terrace at Delaware Park on four separate occasions this past summer, costing the restaurant thousands of dollars after eggs were thrown thrown at windows and furniture was tossed into Hoyt Lake.

The Buffalo Police Department said the group also allegedly threw rocks at cars on Dearborn Street on Aug. 15, damaging five vehicles. On Oct. 16, police said the suspects took trash out of the dumpsters at the Tops Friendly Markets store on Elmwood Avenue and threw the garbage around the lot.

WKBW reports the most recent issue occurred Wednesday, Nov. 19, when two 11-year-old girls were allegedly causing a problem at the same Tops supermarket and refusing to leave. The girls allegedly told officers they were waiting to be picked up; when a driver arrived, the officers recognized her as a suspect in the vandalism cases and apprehended her without incident.

Police said the youths were under Matthews care at the time, but did not specify her relationship to them.

Matthews has been charged with 21 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, as well as one count each of second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal tampering, and second-degree criminal nuisance.
Washington  President Donald Trumps plan for ending the war in Ukraine would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyivs military, according to a draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

The proposal, originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favorable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbor. If past is prologue, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has opposed Trumps previous calls for territorial concessions.

There has also been resistance from European leaders, who are likely to decry the U.S. peace push as rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.

For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent the alliances future expansion. Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views NATO as a threat.

Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands. Ukraines military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.

The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the worlds biggest economies. Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.

Proposal increases pressure on Zelenskyy

The U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official. Zelenskyy offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.

Our teams  of Ukraine and the United States  will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work, he wrote.

Meanwhile, Trumps special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has informed the White House hell leave his post in January, according to two senior administration officials.

Kellogg was initially named special envoy for Ukraine and Russia during Trumps presidential transition. But his role shrunk as Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, emerged as the presidents chief interlocutor with Putin and his advisers.

Trump would oversee compliance with truce

Under the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession. In addition, $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.

However, handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraines constitution. Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.

Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europes largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.

The draft calls for a Peace Council that Trump will oversee. The council is an idea that Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., an Air Force veteran, rejected the emerging plan. Unacceptable, he posted on social media. It is a 1938 Munich, referring to a diplomatic agreement aimed at securing peace with Nazi Germany but widely viewed as paving the way for World War II.

European diplomats urge wider consultations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key to drafting the proposal.

As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.

European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Trumps administration might be sidelining them and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting. Trumps at-times conciliatory approach to Putin has fueled those concerns, but Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russias vital oil sector that come into force Friday.

For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation blocs foreign ministers. She also suggested that the draft would be too favorable toward Moscow.

We havent heard of any concessions on the Russian side, Kallas said.

German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul said he talked by phone Thursday with Witkoff and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss our various current efforts to end Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and thus finally put an end to the immeasurable human suffering.

Ukraines deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the U.N. Security Council that Kyiv has officially received Trumps draft peace plan and is ready to work constructively, but she stressed Ukraines red lines.

There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian, she said. Our land is not for sale.

Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join, Hayovyshyn added.

Trump has long pushed for end to war

It was not clear whether European foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios.

Although they appeared caught by surprise, some elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region should be cut up, leaving most of it in Russian hands.

However, the administrations previous diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing. A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska did not result in a breakthrough over the summer, and plans for them to meet again in Budapest, Hungary, did not come to fruition.

Trump frequently complained that the negotiations involving Ukraine were taking longer than other conflicts where he helped mediate.

I thought that was going to be my easy one because I have a good relationship with President Putin, he said this week. But Im a little disappointed in President Putin right now.
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IXI, the company behind the worlds first autofocus glasses, unveiled a prototype pair of lightweight smart glasses at Slush in Helsinki this week.

The new smart glasses, shown at the Finnish conference attended by Tech Digest, promise to overcome the biggest barrier to smart eyewear adoption: user comfort.

The key innovation is an ultra-light frame that weighs just 22 grammes, including all embedded electronics (but excluding lenses). This, the manufacturer claims, sets a new industry benchmark, making the glasses significantly lighter than the current market average (typically around 50 grammes).

This achievement is  says IXI  the result of a rigorous frame and fit research program that utilized ergonomic testing across London and Finland over the past year.

The findings confirmed a major flaw in traditional and smart eyewear as wearers are consistently forced to compromise on optical ergonomics, leading to eye strain as well as neck and posture problems .

IXIs answer is a true-fit frame architecture that allows for precise customization. This includes adjustments at the temples, nose piece, and the crucial pantoscopic tilt  an angle that ensures the lens technology aligns naturally with the wearers eye line.

Timo Yliluoma, IXIs Chief Design Officer, explains the challenge:

The goal was never just to make something lighter  it was to make wearing glasses feel so effortless that you forget youre even wearing them, he said. We set out to build a frame fit architecture that would offer uncompromised fit for various face shapes.

Niko Eiden, CEO and co-founder of IXI, believes this breakthrough fundamentally alters the consumer buying experience. This isnt just a design breakthrough, it changes how people buy eyewear, Eiden stated.

Traditionally, fit has dictated style: you start by finding what works for your face and only then choose from whats available. IXIs approach turns that model on its head. For the first time, people can choose the frame they want, knowing the right fit will follow.

IXI confirmed that the 22-gram prototype frames are already being produced using mass-production tooling, demonstrating that high-volume manufacturing is fully achievable ahead of the products anticipated market launch.

Founded in 2021 in Espoo, Finland, IXI has so far raised over $40 million in funding. Further details will be available closer to launch.

For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv

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(Correct to say 'she', not 'he', in paragraph 4)

By Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (2317.TW), said on Friday that a $1.4 billion supercomputing centre it is building with Nvidia (NVDA) will be ready by the first half of 2026, and when complete will be Taiwan's largest advanced GPU cluster.

The 27-megawatt data centre will be powered by Nvidia's new Blackwell GB300 chips and is also set to be Asia's first GB300 AI data centre, said Neo Yao, CEO of a new unit Foxconn has established for AI supercomputing and cloud operations called Visonbay.ai.

"As GPU technology accelerates, building individual facilities may no longer make economic sense," said Alexis Bjorlin, a Nvidia vice president, at the contract electronics manufacturer's tech day, which was attended by Foxconn's partners and clients including Nvidia, OpenAI and Uber.

"Renting compute resources may offer a far better return on investment, enabling flexibility and enabling companies to scale their compute according to both product and business cycles," she said.

Foxconn, Apple's top iPhone assembler, has been expanding beyond electronics into electric vehicles and AI data centres. It is now Nvidia's main maker of AI racks, which are server racks tailored for AI workloads that house chips, cables and other equipment.

This has made the company a big beneficiary of the data centre boom, as cloud computing firms spend billions of dollars to expand their AI infrastructure and research capacity. Foxconn offered a bullish outlook on AI-related demand last week, saying it would be a big driver of 2026 growth.

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told Reuters in an interview published earlier on Friday before the event that Foxconn would invest $2 billion to $3 billion a year in AI.

Foxconn's founder, Terry Gou, also made an appearance at the tech day as did Spencer Huang, a product line manager at Nvidia's leading robotics product who is also the son of Nvidia founder Jensen Huang. Huang said that Nvidia was working with Foxconn to bring AI to factories and manufacturing lines.

Liu said the company now had the capability to manufacture 1,000 artificial intelligence racks per week, and it expected that rate to increase next year.

He also said the company's EV volumes were just at about the level where automakers could outsource more production to Foxconn and Chief Strategy Officer Jun Seki showcased the company's "Model A" electric vehicle on stage.
Arrests at protests supporting UK's Palestine Action



London, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2025



A wave of protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action is underway in cities and towns across the UK ahead of a key court case next week.

Some 47 people were arrested Thursday in London as dozens gathered outside the justice ministry brandishing banners saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".

If they are charged and sentenced under UK terrorism laws, they could risk up to six months in prison for holding such banners.

There were demonstrations in about 20 towns and cities on Tuesday with about 142 people being arrested out of 240 demonstrators, the protest organisers Defend Our Juries said.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested since Palestine Action was banned in July as a terrorist group, making it illegal to voice or show any support for them.

The government accuses the group of carrying out acts of vandalism on Israel-linked sites, including an airforce base.

The group was added to a UK blacklist which also includes groups such as the Palestinian militants Hamas and the Lebanese armed organisation Hezbollah.

On Thursday, London police announced that 120 people had been charged for supporting the group after taking part in an August 9 protest in the British capital. So far 254 people have been charged, it added.

The group's co-founder Huda Ammori is due to challenge the ban on Palestine Action during a three-day trial against the interior ministry starting on Tuesday, November 25.

Palestine Action was banned under the UK's Terrorism Act of 2000 following acts of vandalism, including at a Royal Air Force base, which caused an estimated pound7 million ($10 million) in damage.



- Free speech threat -



Critics, including the United Nations and campaign groups such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have condemned the ban as legal overreach and a threat to free speech.

Elizabeth, a 54-year-old doctor, told AFP she was taking part in Thursday's protest "to support Palestine and Palestine Action".

"And also to protest against the government, which is turning out to be more of an authoritarian government than a democratic one," she said.

"I'm afraid that there will come a time, very soon, where there won't be any civil liberty."

Six people who are on trial accused of breaking into an Israel-based defence firm's UK site last year and causing more than pound1 million of damage with sledgehammers appeared in a UK court on Monday.

A group of around two dozen protesters, holding banners and Palestinian flags, gathered outside the court on Monday, with their shouts of "Free Palestine" audible inside the courtroom ahead of the start of the trial.

According to Defend Our Juries, six jailed activists linked to Palestine Action have launched a hunger strike calling to be released on bail and demanding the group be de-proscribed.
Fire forces evacuation at UN climate talks



Belem, Brazil, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2025



A fire erupted in a pavilion of the UN climate talks in Brazil on Thursday, forcing panicked delegates to run for the exits and interrupting negotiations.

UN and security crews rushed with extinguishers to put out the fierce blaze, which quickly tore a hole in the fabric roof of the COP30 summit site in Belem as smoke engulfed the corridor and people shouted "fire!"

The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported, Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said. The cause was not immediately known but Sabino said it might have resulted from a short circuit or other electrical malfunction.

The UN body that oversees the COP talks said there had been "limited damage" but the site would reopen no sooner than 8:00 pm (2300 GMT).

Firefighters arrived at the scene as smoke billowed inside and out of the conference, which is being held in a compound that includes a permanent structure and large tents in the city at the edge of the Amazon, with tens of thousands of people in attendance.

The fire started in a country pavilion inside the site's "blue zone," meaning under UN control, near the entrance of COP30. A light drizzle caused people outside to cheer and cleansed an acrid stench, but it was unclear when the site would reopen.

The fire took place as ministers were deep in negotiations aimed at breaking a deadlock over fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures, with one day left in the two-week conference.

"It will absolutely delay the process because this is like the crucial time, this the time when we have to decide on the process that started last week," Windyo Laksono, a member of the Indonesian delegation, told AFP.

"Some of us were still negotiating inside the room but due to the fire I think the process will stop for a while," he said.



- Smoke inhalation -



Dr Kimberly Humphrey, an emergency medicine specialist attending COP30 with Doctors for the Environment Australia, was working in a room when she received messages about a fire.

Humphrey left the site and volunteered at a medical center where some people were treated for smoke inhalation and others suffered emotional distress.

"It's not what you expect to happen when you are at a conference," she told AFP.

"Initially, there's a sense of disbelief. ... The first thing I thought was, 'oh, this isn't real,'" Humphrey said.

"It's really a combination of terror and not having a good emergency plan, not knowing where the exits are, but also what I need to do as a doctor and needing to help people, too."

Two women who worked in a pavilion belonging to an international organization told AFP that the facilities had been fitted with makeshift electrical wiring.

There were exposed wires and water dripped from the roof onto their electrical panel, they said on condition of anonymity, adding that they reported the issues but to no avail.

Delegates said neither the fire alarms nor the sprinklers went off, though Brazilian volunteers handled the evacuation smoothly.

"It's a COP of strange events," said an African delegate, recalling an instance last week when Indigenous protesters forced their way inside.



- 'World is watching Belem' -



Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary of Brazil's environment ministry, told television channel GNews that there were apparently "no serious consequences" from the fire and the electrical system was up and running again.

"No negotiation room was affected. No area used by delegations was affected," he said.

Nearly 200 countries have spent the past two weeks hashing out issues at COP30 -- from a "roadmap" to transition away from fossil fuels proposed by host Brazil, to concerns over weak emissions-reduction plans, finance for developing countries, and trade barriers.

Earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged negotiators to reach an "ambitious compromise."

"The world is watching Belem," he told reporters during a morning news conference, as nations awaited a new draft negotiating text before the summit officially closes on Friday evening.
The logo of the plastics group Covestro shines in front of the new company headquarters at Chempark Leverkusen. Oliver Berg/dpa

Germany's economy ministry has given the green light for specialty plastics manufacturer Covestro's takeover by the United Arab Emirates' state-owned energy company.

Covestro and XRG - the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) - announced on Friday that "all closing conditions of the transaction are fulfilled" after the European Commission approved it last week.

Formerly Bayers plastics division before being spun off in 2015, Covestro produces chemicals used in rigid foams for refrigerators and freezers and flexible foams for products such as car seats and mattresses.

The company employs around 17,500 people worldwide, including roughly 7,000 at sites in Germany. Covestros management has welcomed the prospect of a new owner as the firm struggles with weak economic conditions, high energy costs and increased US tariffs.

"This is an exciting new chapter for Covestro," said chief executive Markus Steilemann. "With XRG as a strong and long-term-oriented partner, we will drive innovation and digital transformation, scale circular solutions, and set new standards in the chemical industry."

XRG manager Rainer Seele said the company aims to become "a top three global investor in the sector."

The technical closing is expected in the coming days, which is a formality, before the takeover is completed.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche had previously announced on Monday that the deal was in its final stages, calling it a "huge step" for Covestro during a visit to Abu Dhabi.
Fire breaks out at UN climate talks, forcing delay at critical phase



Belem, Brazil, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2025



A fire broke out inside the UN climate summit venue in Brazil on Thursday, burning through the roof and causing a panicked evacuation and the suspension of talks entering a crucial phase.

The blaze engulfed pavilions in the summit site in Belem and torched a hole through its fabric ceiling, sparking a rush for the exit as smoke filled the corridors amid cries of "fire!"

It was the third major incident since the COP30 negotiations started last week in the Amazon region, after Indigenous protesters stormed the venue and later blockaded the entrance in peaceful demonstration.

Security responded "swiftly" and the blaze was controlled in roughly six minutes, COP30 hosts Brazil and United Nations Climate Change said in a joint statement.

The venue suffered "limited damage" from the fire but will reopen no sooner than 8:00 pm (2300 GMT) Thursday evening, UN Climate Change said.

Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, the statement added.

Firefighters and ambulances arrived with sirens blaring as acrid smoke billowed from the huge tents and permanent structures hosting tens of thousands of diplomats, journalists, and activists for the two-week event.



- Shock and disbelief -



Kimberly Humphrey, an emergency medicine physician attending COP30 with Doctors for the Environment Australia, was in a meeting when she received alerts of a fire.

Outside she could "smell smoke and burning plastic. There was no alarms, there was no whistles... only people running and yelling and evacuating."

She found a medical center where people were being treated for shock and smoke inhalation, and started working with others to help those in need.

"It's not what you expect to happen when you are at a conference," she told AFP.

"Initially, there's a sense of disbelief...The first thing I thought was, 'Oh, this isn't real,'" Humphrey said.

"It's really a combination of terror and not having a good emergency plan, not knowing where the exits are, but also what I need to do as a doctor and needing to help people, too."

The cause of the blaze was being investigated but could have been the result of a short circuit or other electrical malfunction, said Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.

"This could have happened anywhere in the world," Sabino told reporters, sounding like he was on the defensive.

Early in the summit, UN climate chief Simon Stiell had complained to Brazil about security, sweltering conditions and faulty air-conditioning, and water leaks near light fittings during torrential tropical downpours.



- Bad timing -



Two women who worked in a pavilion belonging to an international organization told AFP that the facilities had been fitted with makeshift electrical wiring.

There were exposed wires and water dripped from the roof onto their electrical panel, they said on condition of anonymity, adding that they reported the issues but to no avail.

"The operational difficulties just before the start of this COP could have led people to believe this type of incident might occur," a source close to the organization of the event told AFP on condition of anonymity.



Some delegates told AFP they were holding meetings virtually until formal negotiations could resume.

The interruption comes at a crucial moment on the second-to-last day of the summit as ministers try to break a deadlock over fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures.

"It will absolutely delay the process because this is like the crucial time, this the time when we have to decide on the process that started last week," Windyo Laksono, a member of the Indonesian delegation, told AFP.

"Some of us were still negotiating inside the room but due to the fire I think the process will stop for a while," he said.

The talks are stuck over a "roadmap" to transition away from fossil fuels proposed by host Brazil, concerns over weak emissions-reduction plans, finance for developing countries, and trade barriers.

"The situation is volatile," said a negotiator from a developed country at the talks.

Earlier Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told negotiators "the world is watching" and urged them to reach an "ambitious compromise."
Bangladesh quake kills five, injures dozens



Dhaka, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



A powerful earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday outside the crowded capital Dhaka, killing at least five people and injuring around a hundred, the government said.

The 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 10:38 am (0438 GMT) near the city of Narsingdi, about 33 kilometres (16 miles) from Dhaka, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The Friday morning earthquake sparked fear and chaos with many in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people at home on their day off.

AFP reporters in Dhaka saw people weeping in the streets while others appeared shocked.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed his "deep shock and sorrow over the news of casualties in various districts".

At least five people, including a child, had been killed and around 100 people injured, including university students and factory workers, he said in a statement.

Nine people were taken to hospitals in Dhaka with serious injuries, according to the government's health department.

An eyewitness told AFP that masonry from an eight-storey building in a Dhaka district had fallen onto a busy road below.

"Many people had gathered at the butcher" when the rubble fell, said Sakib Hossain, 50, who rushed out after hearing a loud bang.

"I saw vans carrying injured people," he added.

The USGS warned of potentially "significant casualties" and damage.

Yunus said the government was taking "all necessary measures" and that emergency services were "responding swiftly to the reports of damages" from across the country, including in Dhaka.

The shaking lasted for 26 seconds, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, which recorded the magnitude as 5.7.

"The situation is being closely monitored, and all relevant departments have been directed to immediately go to the field to assess any possible damages," Yunus said.

Yunus, an 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, was selected after a mass uprising toppled the government in August 2024 to lead the country to elections slated for February 2026.

Strong tremors were felt as far as the Indian city of Kolkata, more than 325 kilometres away from the epicentre.

AFP reporters there saw people fleeing offices and homes after the sudden jolt.

"I felt tremors and my bed moved... I rushed out of my room," said Sumit Dutta, 66.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage in India.
No fossil fuels plan in latest draft deal from COP30 presidency



Belem, Brazil, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



COP30 host Brazil unveiled a draft agreement on Friday that does not include a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, a key demand by many countries at the climate summit.

There is no mention of "fossil fuels" in the latest slimmed down text proposal, released on the final day of the major UN climate conference in the rainforest city of Belem.

Around 30 countries had written to the Brazilian presidency on Thursday warning they could not accept a final deal that did not include a plan for moving away from fossil fuels.

The European Union's climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement to AFP he was "disappointed" with the latest text.

"This is in no way close to the ambition we need on mitigation. We are disappointed with the text currently on the table," he said.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has put his support behind the call for a global roadmap away from coal, oil and gas, which are the primary drivers of global warming.

But the proposal is opposed by a group of mainly oil-producing nations, and consensus is needed among the nearly 200 nations at the climate talks to land an agreement.

Divisions remain not just over fossil fuels but trade measures and finance for poorer nations to adapt to climate change and move to a low-carbon future.

Negotiations toward a final outcome were delayed on Thursday when a fire erupted in the COP30 venue, forcing thousands to evacuate at a crucial phase in the talks.

The conference is supposed to end on Friday but the climate summits often run into overtime.
Greenpeace calls for probe after Malaysia river changes colour



Kuala Lumpur, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Greenpeace called for an investigation on Friday to determine what had caused a river in Malaysia near now-suspended rare earths and tin mines to turn bright blue.

Images showed a stretch of peninsular Malaysia's second-longest river, Sungai Perak, in a bright shade of turquoise, raising fresh concerns over pollution and mining oversight.

It was not clear what caused the river to change colour, but Johari Abdul Ghani, Malaysia's natural resources minister, said an investigation was looking into chemicals used in treatment processes at a rare earths mine.

Johari told parliament earlier this week that the government had ordered work to be suspended for three weeks at the rare earths facility and two tin mines near that part of the river.

Environmental group Greenpeace Malaysia called for "full transparency and an independent investigation".

The group said in a statement it was "deeply concerned about the Perak River turning bright blue and the subsequent suspension of mining operations".

"The decision to halt operations is necessary, but it is only a first step" that must lead to a full investigation, Greenpeace said.

Johari said readings taken at the rare earths site measured at 13 becquerels -- a radiation unit -- far above the one-becquerel limit stipulated in the operation's environmental impact assessment report, according to national news agency Bernama.

Greenpeace said authorities also needed to check water quality downstream.

The water at the Sungai Perak River first turned blue a month ago, Bernama reported.

Malaysia is becoming a significant player in rare earth mining and processing.

US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last month inked a trade agreement, boosting US access to the critical minerals.

Malaysia said in 2023 that it holds around 16.2 million tonnes of untapped rare earth reserves.

A nationwide moratorium on raw rare earth exports took effect on January 1, 2024, aiming to encourage domestic processing.
Taiwan lifts all restrictions on food imports from Japan



Taipei, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Taiwan lifted all restrictions on Japanese food imports on Friday in another show of support for Tokyo after reports that China will stop purchases over a row with the new prime minister.

The government in Taipei imposed a blanket ban on food imports from five Japanese regions in and around the site of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami, before easing some restrictions in 2022 and 2024.

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that "Japanese food safety management measures return to normal", with immediate effect.

"Since 2011, Taiwan has conducted border inspections on over 270,000 batches of Japanese food for radiation testing, with a failure rate of 0 percent," it said in a statement.

"The risk assessment of additional radiation exposure risk from Japanese food is 'negligible'," it said, citing unspecified scientific data.

After Taiwan's relaxation, only China, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, and South Korea have specific import control measures for Japanese food products, the agency said.

Taiwan's announcement comes after a row between Japan and China was triggered by a suggestion from new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi this month that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on the island.

China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.

Images of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te holding a plate of sushi were posted on social media on Thursday in a show of support for Tokyo.

Lai, an outspoken defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and detested by China, has accused Beijing of "severely" affecting regional peace in the escalating spat.

China's foreign ministry branded Lai's posts a "stunt".

Japan's foreign ministry welcomed Taiwan's decision to lift all restrictions, saying in a statement it would "encourage the reconstruction" of the areas hit by the 2011 quake and tsunami.
Brazil police find private security violations at COP30



Belem, Brazil, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025



Brazilian police said Friday that there had been several procedural violations by private security companies working at the COP30 climate conference in the city of Belem.

The UN climate talks in the Amazon are set to conclude Friday after two weeks of negotiations marked by several incidents, such as a fire that delayed talks for several hours on Thursday, and two Indigenous protests.

Federal police said in a statement that a series of inspections in recent weeks had found some private security companies were not filing paperwork properly, while "clandestine firms" were providing security without permission.

"As a result, four infraction notices were issued, two illegal companies were shut down, and equipment such as metal detectors and radios used improperly was seized."

Early in the summit, UN climate chief Simon Stiell had complained to Brazil about security, sweltering conditions, faulty air-conditioning, and water leaks near light fittings during torrential tropical downpours.
Grumpy patriarch is never the best of looks, and certainly not in these identity-obsessed times. William Nicholson begat one of arts most dynamic dynasties: as father of the leading modernist Ben Nicholson, father-in-law of Barbara Hepworth, arguably the greatest British sculptor of the 20th century, and grandfather and great-grandfather to whole troupes of talented younger artists. Yet far from being celebrated for this inadvertent contribution, old man Nicholson tends to be written off as a charmless reactionary curmudgeon, who produced remarkable illustrations early in his career, but otherwise towed the academic line and was at painful loggerheads with his more far-sighted son.

Interest in the Nicholsons is currently at a high, with Bens first wife Winifreds paintings currently showing at Baths Holburne Museum, and Williams own wife Mabel Pryde the focus of a forthcoming show in Cambridge. So this feels a good moment for Pallant House to turn the spotlight on the controversial artist who kicked the whole thing off, with the first major show in over 20 years for what it describes as one of Modern British arts most beloved and versatile figures.

Its apparent from the shows first room that far from being the dullard of legend, William Nicholson was a precocious fin-de-siecle dandy, who dipped in and out of many of the cutting-edge tropes of the early 20th-century London avant garde.

Posters and book designs produced with his brother-in-law James Pryde under the name the Beggarstaff Brothers were hugely popular at the time, and have a kind of instant iconic quality even now. The poster Don Quixote (1895) blends the quirky silhouettes of traditional English woodcuts with the Art Nouveau flair of Aubrey Beardsley and Toulouse-Lautrec. An early portrait, Lady in Yellow (1893), believed to show Nicholsons first wife Mabel, is in fact barely a portrait, more a moody study in subtly varied yellows. The figure seen in profile, tightly cropped by the standards of the time, shows the clear influence of James McNeill Whistlers quasi-musical ideas about colour and tone, which look forward to the pure abstraction of Mondrian.

Sophisticated stuff. Yet the versatility of which the exhibition makes so much  Nicholsons determination to succeed in all genres (portraits, landscapes, still lifes, theatre design, illustration)  led him to embrace much that was very far from cutting edge. Paintings of rollicking Morris dancers are clunky period pieces. Nicholsons portraits, the works for which he was best known at the time, are often dully conventional to modern eyes. Two paintings of children, his daughter Nancy in a Feather Hat (1910), and The Little Shopkeeper (1902), showing the daughter of the theatre designer Edward Gordon-Craig playing at shops, were almost brutally realistic by the saccharine standards of the era. Yet they dont offer the contemporary viewer much beyond a certain pleasant cuteness. By featuring them very prominently, the show dilutes its claims for the proto-modernist qualities of Nicholsons still lifes and landscapes.

Those still lifes bring a monomanic scrutiny to single objects, viewed against dead black backgrounds. The hyper-real detail on the polished surfaces of lustre-ware bowls and a silver tea caddy often proves to be composed of abstract shapes when you move in close.

Small land and seascapes have a similarly pared-back quality. Mending the Nets, Rottingdean (1909) appears the most rapidly executed, the fishermen dabbed in in a few brief strokes. The glow of the sea and sky is beautifully evoked in luminous silvery greys, bringing to mind the unearthly light of Whistlers nocturnal views of the Thames. Sunset (1912), with the blazing orb hanging over a shadowed hilltop, is radical, certainly for the time, in its simplicity and in its feel for the bare South Downs landscape  qualities that seem to evoke more feeling in Nicholson than any of his human subjects.

open image in gallery The still life Silver Casket and Red Leather Basket (1920) ( Private Collection )

The buildings in Judds Farm (1912) are seen as semi-abstract cuboid forms throwing stark shadows over the pale headland and sea, an effect so immediate you can empathise with Nicholsons recollection quoted alongside, that the setting was so simple that I could finish it in my head before releasing the paint. The wall texts insist that Nicholsons art cant be divorced from his sense of style and theatricality, as a dapper dresser with a massive self-regard  judging from the various portraits of him  who knew everybody. So its odd and intriguing that he should seem most himself as an artist working on small still lifes that return obsessively to a few familiar objects, or in stripped-back landscapes that veer inescapably towards abstraction.

The feel for a minimal essence in things seen in Nicholsons most personal works is a quality he shared with his son Ben. Had he been born 30 years later, William Nicholson could have focused on the things that seemed to really matter to him, rather than trying to please all markets as a highly successful Edwardian jack of all art trades. That path was left to his son, a figure from a radically different time and set of circumstances. At loggerheads they may have been, but on this showing at least, Ben Nicholson, the great English modernist, didnt so much rebel against his stuffy old dad, as carry on exactly where he left off. But thats often the way it is with fathers and sons.

William Nicholson is at the Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, from 22 Nov until 10 May 2026
[Getty Images]

UK government borrowing was higher than expected last month, according to the latest official figures.

Borrowing - the difference between public spending and tax income - was 17.4bn in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, which was above analysts' forecasts of about 15bn.

The borrowing figures come less than a week before Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her Budget, and she has previously confirmed both tax rises and spending cuts are on the table.

Separate figures from the ONS showed retail sales fell in October, with some retailers saying that shoppers were waiting for this month's Black Friday deals.

Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said that together the latest government borrowing and retail sales figures painted a "pretty grim picture" of the economy.

Although October's borrowing figure was above expectations, it was 1.8bn lower than the figure seen in the same month last year.

"While spending on public services and benefits were both up on October last year, this was more than offset by increased receipts from taxes and National Insurance contributions," said ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner.

Despite the fall, it was still the third-highest October borrowing figure since monthly records began in 1993.

In the financial year to October, borrowing was 116.8bn, which was 9bn more than the same period in 2024. It was the second-highest borrowing for April to October since records began in 1993, after 2020.

[BBC]

James Smith from investment bank ING said the borrowing figures would not be welcomed by the chancellor ahead of her Budget, but said her fiscal rules were about what happens later this decade, rather than the current picture.

"Today's data is not helpful, it shows that the government is borrowing more than expected, but it doesn't necessarily change the decisions next week," he told the BBC's Today programme.

Nick Ridpath, research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, noted government borrowing for the year to date had continued to exceed forecasts from the OBR, "to the tune of around 10bn".

Mr Ridpath said that while the borrowing figures should not be given too much weight, ahead of the Budget they highlighted the uncertainty around pressures on spending and tax revenues and the "stubbornly high costs of servicing government debt".

The chancellor needs to find more money in her 26 November Budget to meet her self-imposed rules for government finances, which she has described as "non-negotiable".
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The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have announced significant changes to the voting system, following allegations of interference by the Israeli government.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Geneva-based body overseeing the event, said on Friday that these revisions are designed to strengthen trust, transparency and audience engagement.

Israel has been a participant in Eurovision for more than five decades, securing four victories.

However, its involvement has recently faced intense scrutiny, with growing calls for its exclusion due to the actions of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government in the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza.

The allegations of Israeli governmental interference introduce a new dimension to the ongoing controversy surrounding the competition.

In September, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS, citing human suffering in the Gaza war, said that it could no longer justify Israels participation in the contest. Several other countries took a similar stance.

open image in gallery Israels Yuval Raphael came second in this years Eurovision contest ( AP )

The Dutch broadcaster went on to say there had been proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of Eurovision, with the event being used as a political instrument.

The statement did not elaborate on that allegation.

That same month, Golan Yochpaz, the CEO of Israeli public broadcaster Kan, said that there was no reason why we should not continue to be a significant part of this cultural event, which must not become political.

Kan also said then that it was convinced that the EBU will continue to maintain the apolitical, professional and cultural character of the competition, especially on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Eurovision in 2026.

As part of the new Eurovision measures, in next years contest, which is scheduled to take place in May in Vienna, the number of votes per payment method will be reduced by half to 10, the EBU said.

open image in gallery Israeli and Eurovision flags hang next to each other at a 2025 screening ( AFP via Getty )

In addition, professional juries will return to the semifinals for the first time since 2022. That is a move that will give roughly 50-50 percentage weight between audience and jury votes, it said.

Organisers will also enhance safeguards to thwart suspicious or coordinated voting activity and strengthen security systems that monitor, detect and prevent fraudulent patterns, EBU said.

Contest director Martin Green said that the neutrality and integrity of the competition are of paramount importance to the EBU, its members and audiences, adding that the event should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalised.

The EBUs general assembly on 4 & 5 December is poised to consider whether Israel can participate in 2026.

A vote on that participation will only take place if member broadcasters decide the new steps are not sufficient, Mr Green said.
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I wasnt sure if Id make it to see David Byrne tonight. My grandmother died this morning, half a world away. It turned into a day of high emotion spent remembering a woman who loved me and my siblings selflessly and unreservedly. Los Angeles seemed to know how I was feeling: the grey skies wept, turning the streets into rivers. At first I didnt feel much like leaving the house, but when the evening came I was determined to set sail for Hollywood Boulevard. I am, after all, a professional, and perhaps someone burning down the house would take my mind off things.

Byrne turned out to be just what was needed: a life-affirming salve delivered in the form of an awe-inspiring spectacle. The 73-year-old has been experimenting with the art of stagecraft since Talking Heads first took the stage at CBGB, dressed like accountants, in 1975. Fifty years on, hes promoting his new playful, occasionally goofy, solo record Who Is the Sky? It manages somehow to live up to the high bar set by Talking Heads groundbreaking Stop Making Sense tour in 1983 (immortalised in the concert film by Jonathan Demme) and his own acclaimed American Utopia run in 2018 (given similar treatment by Spike Lee). Byrne is a professional. The only unknown variable is the audience. About five minutes before the show starts, he makes an announcement to those in attendance that the venue owners have confirmed... it will be OK to dance.

The production for the Who is the Sky? tour in many ways picks up where American Utopia left off. Byrne is once again joined by a large backing group comprising five dancers and seven musicians, all of whom move freely around the stage in a routine by choreographer Steven Hoggett.

Some things, however, have been refined. The grey American Utopia uniforms have been replaced by rich blue suits designed by Veronica Leoni for Calvin Klein. There are vast, high-definition projections capable of transforming the stage in an instant. On opener Heaven, for example, Byrne and his band appear to be standing on the surface of the moon, with the Earth rising behind them. There she is, says Byrne, pointing to the blue planet. Our heaven. The only one we have.

This is the first of many times tonight that Byrne offers a welcome shift in perspective. On the jaunty Everybody Laughs, the first track from Who Is the Sky?, he finds magic in the universality of the human experience, while the projections throw us into the sort of surreal New York street scenes favoured by comedy documentarian John Wilson. Then Byrne takes us back to his childhood in Baltimore for 1985s And She Was, inspired by the blissed-out hippie chick he met who lay in the grass near a Yoo-hoo factory while tripping on LSD.

open image in gallery David Byrne onstage during his Who Is the Sky? tour at New York's Radio City Music Hall on September 30, 2025 ( Emilio Herce )

Talking Heads fans are treated to a veritable greatest hits selection sprinkled through the set. (Nothing But) Flowers is followed by This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), getting the majority in the Dolby Theatre on their feet. This being LA, we get a brief celebrity cameo when former Saturday Night Live star Fred Armisen dons a blue jumpsuit and a portable drum kit for a fantastic, propulsive Slippery People.

Those crowd-pleasing favourites are interwoven with gems old and new from Byrnes solo catalogue. The 2008 Brian Eno collaboration Strange Overtones could have been released this week, its lyrics about humanity overcoming technology bolstered by an irresistible bass hook courtesy of Kely Pinheiro. Another Eno collaboration, T Shirt (which actually was released this week) takes as its somewhat more unlikely subject matter the phenomenon of the slogan T shirt. Several choice examples are projected behind the band, with the audience cheering wildly for phrases such as Make America Gay Again and the Trump-ruffling No Kings.

Having spent so much of his career writing about alienation and paranoia, its no surprise Byrne has a fascinating take on the pandemic. In front of a projection of his real-life Manhattan apartment (floor-to-ceiling windows, shelves overflowing with books and records, no visible television) he presents both the optimism of solitude (My Apartment Is My Friend) and the grind of isolation (a cover of Paramores Hard Times).

open image in gallery David Byrne and his band performing in front of a screen reading 'Make America Gay Again' during the song T Shirt ( Emilio Herce )

The main set concludes with another thrilling run of Talking Heads classics: Psycho Killer into Life During Wartime into Once in a Lifetime, by which point there isnt a single person sitting down. Life During Wartime is brought vividly into the present moment with footage of anti-ICE protests, while Once in a Lifetime is a song that simply seems to accrue more meaning and power with every passing year. At the conclusion of this live version, the song bursts into a maelstrom of noise and strobe lighting as Byrne sings: Time isnt holding up/time isnt after us same as it ever was letting the days go by Suddenly, grief is in my throat again.

After a brief interlude, Byrne returns for his encore and explains that hes going to play Everybodys Coming To My House, from American Utopia, but using an arrangement he first heard put together by a choir from an Abyssinian Baptist Church. He performs it under a single bulb, with his band gathered around him, singing soulfully: Were only tourists in this life / Only tourists, but the view is nice. There is death, the song says, but there is so much beauty too. When he closes with Burning Down the House, the theatre seems to sway like a ship on the ocean. Nobody needs to be reminded: its OK to dance.
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Actor Nick Mohammed has revealed the surprising reason behind his decision to banish former rugby player Joe Marler from The Celebrity Traitors.

Mohammed, 45, stated he voted for Marler, 35, due to a belief that Marler had orchestrated a dispute with TV presenter Jonathan Ross.

This move was a shock on the BBC reality gameshow, as Mohammed and Marler had formed a pact to unmask traitors Cat Burns and eventual winner Alan Carr.

Asked why he banished the former England international, on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast, Mohammed said: There are a few things, what you have to understand is its an absolute pressure cooker, and so your mind is slightly skewered anyway.

So the big prefix to this is, I was completely wrong, as we all know, as the nation knows, because I knew obviously Jonathan was a traitor at that point, I was like, oh, hang on, have you and Jonathan engineered this spat between the two of you?.

Marler was left stunned when he was banished by Mohammed ( BBC )

You two having a pop at each other, and you were quite instrumental in him going, but I sort of thought, well, yeah, but I sort of thought, well, maybe thats because you two have almost agreed, he knew he was fighting the firing line, and he was like, why dont you come for me stronger and itll take heat off you.

And so I didnt think that at the time when it happened, but then a few days after, a week after, (I thought) oh, hang on that would be quite good, and then everything becomes confirmation bias.

Mohammed was later played an audio clip of Marlers four-year-old daughter Pixie asking why he banished his father, to which he replied aww.

The show ended with Carr taking home all of the 87,500 prize money, which he donated to the childrens cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK.

The full interview can be viewed in the latest episode of the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast.
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Amanda Holden has revealed that scammers impersonated her in a romance fraud, exploiting her name and image to defraud a vulnerable man of thousands of pounds.

The television personality is set to appear in a special episode of the BBCs Scam Interceptors, aiming to shed light on such deceptive practices.

The elaborate scheme saw con artists attempting to convince the man to sell his home under the false premise that he would then live with Holden.

His relatives contacted the police to ask for help because they were so worried, the Britains Got Talent presenter said.

The man believed that the proceeds of the sale were then going to come to me and we were going to live together, she said.

Obviously, this was never going to happen. The first I heard about it all was from the police. The scammers were going to pocket all his money.

open image in gallery Amanda Holden was impersonated in a romance fraud ( Getty )

Holden said she found the situation shocking, adding that she felt personally responsible for his wellbeing, so tried to help the police in every way I could.

She added: Brilliantly, he saw sense just in the nick of time and did not sell his home.

He realised that there was no relationship with me directly.

It made me realise that my profile is out there being used for all sorts of bad reasons, so I thought if I can use my profile for good, and draw attention to the week of scam programming, then that could only be a positive thing.

The special episode, which will be shown as part of BBC Scam Safe Week, will see the team use the same remote access technology that scammers rely on to hack the hackers.

They will monitor their operations in real time before confronting them and stopping scams before they happen.

open image in gallery Amanda with her husband Chris Hughes ( Instagram )

Holden said she got to meet Scamanda, one of the scammers pretending to be her, and gave them what for.

She added: I cant stand injustice.

My family and friends say Im always ready to fight a cause or someones corner, so I thought this was something I would be quite passionate about, having had some recent first-hand experience.

Im thrilled to be part of Scam Interceptors  seeing all the drama unfold as it happens? Yes please! Scammers, consider this your warning  Amandas watching.

Holden said it was mind-blowing seeing how quickly money can be stolen from peoples accounts.

I just wanted to stop them or scream at the individuals that they were being scammed. I realised that every minute counts and every small win is a big win.

She advised people to never answer the phone to a number they do not recognise or to withheld numbers.

Never, ever give out bank details, pin numbers or transfer money is what I say. Hang up and call into your local bank branch or call their official number on the back of your bank card.

Viewers can watch Celebrity Scam Interceptors from 2pm on Monday on BBC One and iPlayer.
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Friends fans are finally able to watch the eight final episodes of the spinoff show Joey 20 years after the failed sitcom was cancelled.

For the first time in the United States, all episodes of Matt LeBlancs Joey are now available to stream on the official Friends YouTube channel after NBC started releasing the series earlier this year.

The infamously unsuccessful show first premiered on NBC four months after Friends ended its iconic 10-season run. The series followed LeBlancs titular character Joey Tribbiani as he moves to Los Angeles, where, ironically, his new sitcom is canceled and he is forced to reunite with his sister, played by Drea de Matteo, and nephew, Paulo Costanzo. The show also starred Jennifer Coolidge, Andrea Anders, Ben Falcone, and Miguel A. Nunez Jr.

Joey aired from 2004 to 2006 and was cut short in the U.S. due to low ratings. The show was pulled in the middle of its second season, with eight episodes left unaired by NBC, even though they were broadcast internationally through other networks.

The spinoff started with a strong viewership of 18.6 million Americans watching the pilot episode. It also won the Peoples Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy, and LeBlanc won Favorite Male TV Star in 2005.

open image in gallery Joey won Favorite New TV Series at the 2005 Peoples Choice Awards ( Getty )

open image in gallery In Joey, LeBlanc reprised his beloved character Joey Tribbiani from the hit NBC show Friends ( NBC )

However, excitement started dwindling as the episodes went on. Season one averaged 10.2 million viewers, and an even lower 7.1 million for its second. Its last broadcast episode drew in just 4 million viewers.

After Joey ended, executive producer Kevin Bright blamed NBC for the shows inability to find its footing.

On Friends Joey was a womanizer but we enjoyed his exploits, he explained to The Age in 2006. He was a solid friend, a guy you knew you could count on. Joey was deconstructed to be a guy who couldnt get a job, couldnt ask a girl out. He became a pathetic, mopey character. I felt he was moving in the wrong direction, but I was not heard.

Despite the ill-fated shows flaws, nostalgic fans of the hit original series are celebrating the release of the lost episodes on YouTube.

To the person that runs the Friends youtube channel, Thank you. I never got a chance to watch this series and the fact that you kept with it is amazing, one person celebrated in the comments of an episode.

Another wrote, This was a gem of a show. Wished I could have seen it back then when it was airing. But still glad I was able to see this and enjoy it with everywhere on YouTube. Thanks Joey and everyone. Thanks Matt and the crew.
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Vanderpump Villa cast member Marciano Brunette has addressed The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Demi Engemanns claims that he touched her inappropriately.

During the second season of Vanderpump Villa, five SLOMW cast members, including Engemann, traveled to Italy to stay at the villa for a crossover episode of the two reality shows. It was there that Brunette confessed he was attracted to Engemann, but she instead offered relationship advice, given her marriage to Bret Engemann. She later alleged that she was groped at the Villa.

A representative for Brunette, who previously denied the allegations, told People in a new statement that he would continue to maintain his innocence.

I want to be absolutely clear: I am taking this matter extremely seriously. This is the most difficult situation I have ever faced, and the allegations against me are not only entirely false but profoundly damaging. I remain committed to addressing this issue fully and transparently, the statement read.

The allegations were first brought up in May when Engemann appeared on Nick Vialls podcast, where she did not name the man who groped her at the Villa but recalled telling her SLOMW co-stars about the incident and insisting that she didnt want to file an official police report.

open image in gallery Brunette (left) told Engemann he was attracted to her during a crossover episode of Vanderpump Villa and SLOMW ( Disney/Christopher Willard and Disney/Fred Hayes )

open image in gallery Engemann (right) alleged a man had groped her at the Villa ( Disney/Andrea Miconi )

Brunette then seemingly responded by posting an Instagram reel, captioned: uninvited to the function cus a 30yo mormon wifes scared Ill tell her husband the truth.

His post, which has since been deleted, was reportedly in reference to a Get Real House event hosted by Hulu on April 22, 2025, which welcomed stars from across the streamers reality shows, including Engemann and her co-star Whitney Leavitt, alongside The Kardashians, ex-Bachelors, and Dancing with the Stars contestants.

Brunette was notably absent.

Engemann later commented on a now-removed post from a fan account about the drama, writing: Grown men acting like a child cause they couldnt bag a woman that was beyond out of their league and MARRIED <<< the clout chasing is on another level.

The interaction was later discussed during the recently released season three of SLOMW as the members of MomTok questioned whether or not Engemann and Brunette had a physical connection. Brunette told the women that he did kiss her, but Engemann claimed that any touching between the two of them was unwanted.

Everyone is going to handle these kinds of situations different. You never deserve unwanted touch, she said in a confessional in season three. No matter what it looks like, no matter what your relationship was like before or after, unwanted touch is unwanted touch.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Engemann for comment.

Brunette then went on to have an emotional affair with another member of the SLOMW cast, Jessi Draper Ngatikaura, who is married to Jordan Ngatikaura.

At the time, the affair sparked a 90-day separation between the couple who have since reconciled.
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Jimmy Kimmel has clapped back at Donald Trump, using the presidents own viral retort against him in a twist of irony.

The host, whose series Jimmy Kimmel Live! was temporarily suspended earlier this year, trolled Trump for seemingly watching the show in real time Wednesday night and firing off a Truth Social post shortly after the late-night program finished airing.

Kimmel used Trumps latest tirade to his advantage during Thursday nights opening monologue when he welcomed those watching from the White House before adding, And Ill tell you, its viewers like you who keep us on the air  ironically.

Continuing to address Trump  who continues to campaign for the cancelation of Kimmels show  the host said, If youre watching tonight, which I presume you are, how about this: Ill go when you go, OK? Well be a team.

Lets ride off into the sunset together like Butch Cassidy and the Sun Tan Kid, he continued, seemingly jabbing at Trumps infamous orange skin before delivering the final punch: And until then, if I may borrow a phrase from you: Quiet, piggy.

open image in gallery Jimmy Kimmel addressed Trump's latest demands he be fired ( YouTube )

Kimmel was referencing Trumps caught-on-camera quote while scolding a female journalist aboard Air Force One earlier this week.

Elsewhere during Thursday nights show, Kimmel reflected on discovering Trump had launched yet another rant in his direction  and praised Trump for inadvertently keeping him on the air.

I woke up this morning, Im in bed. My wife comes out of the bathroom. Shes got her phone. She goes, Um, Trump tweeted you should be fired again. I was like, Oh. And then I went downstairs and made bagels for the kids.

He also quipped about losing count of how many times Trump has tried to get him axed from ABC. Every five weeks, he flips out and wants me fired, Kimmel said. If you got this many threats from a neighbor, youd have no problem getting a restraining order. The judge would be like, Yeah, sounds like the guys nuts.

Kimmel said he admires Trumps tenacity in trying to get him fired, but suggested he should give up: You tried to get me fired in September. It didnt work.

He also highlighted that the president keeps referring to the late-night shows poor ratings, before introducing a montage of news reports covering Trumps plummeting poll numbers.

He keeps saying we have bad ratings. And you should listen to him, because if anyone knows about bad ratings, its that guy, Kimmel said.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired once again ( Getty Images )

In September, ABC announced it had suspended Kimmels late-night show indefinitely after the hosts comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The move comes after Kimmel said on his show: We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.

Trump quickly took to social media to gloat over Kimmels situation. Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED, he posted on Truth Social.

Kimmel returned to screens the following week and emotionally told viewers: It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.

His opening monologue garnered more than 13 million views on YouTube, and 5.7 million views on Instagram in less than a day.
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A former Tennessee burger joint owner has issued an apology and admitted that his beef with In-N-Out went too far.

Andre Bryant, the founder of the Knoxville-based restaurant Burger Boys, issued an apology Thursday, acknowledging he had unfairly lumped all large chains together in an earlier message aimed at national brands moving into the city.

Good morning Knoxville, yesterday I posted about big-box food chains coming into the city dropping millions and after a couple of years, they start to slowly disappear95 percent of you understood what I was saying however that 5 percent went absolutely crazy and I stick by what I said, Bryant wrote in a statement Thursday.

But, he added, the criticism of In-N-Out specifically prompted him to dig deeper.

After all the recent backlash surrounding my comments about In-N-Out Burger, I decided to take a step back and take a real, honest look at their operations. What I found was truly eye-opening  and genuinely inspiring, he said.

Burger Boys, founded in 2017, closed its Knoxville location in May, while In-N-Out plans to open 35 restaurants across Tennessee ( Getty Images )

Bryant explained that his research reminded him of his own experience working at Wendys in the 1980s, when founder Dave Thomas emphasized quality, integrity, and doing things the right way.

That same philosophy  simple, fresh, consistent and proud  is exactly what I saw in the way In-N-Out runs their business, he admitted. I have to be honest: I was impressed. Truly impressed.

In-N-Out Burger owner Lynsi Snyder made headlines in July when she announced her plans to move her family from California to Tennessee as the chain opens its new eastern U.S. headquarters near Nashville.

Citing Californias challenges for business and family life, Snyder said the company will still maintain most of its stores in California, while also opening 35 new locations across Tennessee.

Burger Boys was founded in 2017, but closed its lone Knoxville location closed in May. On September 21, Bryant announced that he was looking to license Burger Boys to operators to open 12 restaurants across Tennessee, and is currently scouting new locations in Knoxville.

In-N-Out has not responded publicly. The Independent has reached out to representatives for the California-based chain for comment.

Even after Bryant apologized to the beloved In-N-Out, Facebook users had some choice words of their own for him.

Id personally keep the heat off Facebook.. bad image, one person said.

Dragging down competitors ain't the way to do it. Especially when In-N-Out is as cheap as it gets with great quality fresh food, another said.

A third person said, You attacked your competitors with mistruths at best and lies at worse if you know better. [In-N-Out] has been in the Dallas area for a few years now and we personally experienced one of their stores still being insanely busy. Never frozen beef. Fries cut fresh daily. They don't own a freezer or microwave. We already love them, so you being PERSONALLY CONDESCENDING to those of us who do are just even more likely to never set foot in your door.

Meanwhile, others offered Bryant their support.

Sorry you had to deal with this. Unfortunately, some thrive on drama. So very excited for you, one person said.

Wishing you the best and look forward to visiting when you open, another said.

A third advised, Love your food. Will support you wherever you go. Just ignore the negativity!
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Emma Heming Willis has a clear message for anyone who criticizes her familys decisions surrounding her husband Bruce Willis dementia diagnosis.

F*** em! As Bruce would say, Heming Willis said, prompting an eruption of applause from the audience at End Well 2025, a Los Angeles conference focused on end-of-life care.

Heming Willis, 47, joined actor Yvette Nicole Brown on Thursday to discuss their experiences as caregivers, with Brown taking care of her father while Heming Willis is the caregiver for her husband. The 70-year-old Die Hard actors family announced in 2023 that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia a year after they said he was stepping away from acting due to his aphasia.

The models dismissal of her critics came after Brown asked her about the criticism she faced earlier this year when she moved Willis out of their family home due to the degenerative nature of the condition.

At the time, Heming Willis said her husband would have wanted their two daughters lives to be unaffected by adjustments to their home, but it did not stop trolls from judging her decision.

open image in gallery Emma Heming Willis spoke about her husband Bruce's dementia diagnosis during End Well 2025 ( End Well )

open image in gallery Emma Heming and Bruce Willis have been married since 2009 ( Getty Images )

I tell you, when I heard about the house thing, I wanted to throw elbows for you, honey, Brown said. Because the thing is, what people dont understand who arent caregivers, is that every caregivee is different, especially if youre dealing with dementia or alzheimers, its very unwieldy... And we all are doing our best and making the best decisions for your family. So when I came for you, I wanted to come for them.

Heming Willis became emotional as she went on to say she was forced to make impossible decisions in the wake of her husbands diagnosis.

This is not how I envisioned our life, she said through tears. So I had to make the best and safest decision for our family. And I knew, by being honest and open about it, that it would be met with a lot of judgment.

The couple married in 2009 and has two daughters, 13-year-old Mabel and 11-year-old Evelyn. Heming Willis previously said she takes the girls over to Willis one-story home for breakfast and dinner each day to keep their family connected.

During an appearance for her new memoir, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, Heming Willis recently said that it is a blessing that Willis does not know he has FTD.

The person doesnt realize that they are experiencing a decline in their health, she said on NewsNation last month. So its not denial; this is just a part of the disease. So, its a blessing and a curse. But I am grateful that Bruce never tapped into the idea that he had FTD.
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My year of unraveling is how a despairing Christy Morrill described nightmarish months when his immune system hijacked his brain.

Whats called autoimmune encephalitis attacks the organ that makes us us, and it can appear out of the blue.

Morrill went for a bike ride with friends along the California coast, stopping for lunch, and they noticed nothing wrong. Neither did Morrill until his wife asked how it went  and he'd forgotten. Morrill would get worse before he got better. Unhinged and fighting to see light, he wrote as delusions set in and holes in his memory grew.

Of all the ways our immune system can run amok and damage the body instead of protecting it, autoimmune encephalitis is one of the most unfathomable. Seemingly healthy people abruptly spiral with confusion, memory loss, seizures, even psychosis.

But doctors are getting better at identifying it, thanks to discoveries of a growing list of the rogue antibodies responsible that, if found in blood and spinal fluid, aid diagnosis. Every year new culprit antibodies are being uncovered, said Dr. Sam Horng, a neurologist at Mount Sinai Health System in New York who has cared for patients with multiple forms of this mysterious disease.

open image in gallery Christy Morrill, 72, who lost decades of memories to autoimmune encephalitis, looks over a photo album of his son's wedding, at his home, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in San Carlos, Calif. ( AP Photo/David Goldman )

And while treatment today involves general ways to fight the inflammation, two major clinical trials are underway aiming for more targeted therapy.

Still, it's tricky. Symptoms can be mistaken for psychiatric or other neurologic disorders, delaying proper treatment.

When someones having new changes in their mental status, theyre worsening and if theres sort of like a bizarre quality to it, thats something that kind of tips our suspicion, Horng said. Its important not to miss a treatable condition.

With early diagnosis and care, some patients fully recover. Others like Morrill recover normal daily functioning but grapple with some lasting damage  in his case, lost decades of autobiographical memories. This 72-year-old literature major can still spout facts and figures learned long ago, and he makes new memories every day. But even family photos cant help him recall pivotal moments in his own life.

I remember Ulysses is published in Paris in 1922 at Sylvia Beachs bookstore. Why do I remember that, which is of no use to me anymore, and yet I cant remember my sons wedding? Morrill wonders.

Inflaming the brain

Encephalitis means the brain is inflamed and symptoms can vary from mild to life-threatening. Infections are a common cause, typically requiring treatment of the underlying virus or bacteria. But when that's ruled out, an autoimmune cause has to be considered, Horng said, especially when symptoms arise suddenly.

The umbrella term autoimmune encephalitis covers a group of diseases with weird-sounding names based on the antibody fueling it, such as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

While they're not new diseases, that one got a name in 2007 when Dr. Josep Dalmau, then at the University of Pennsylvania, discovered the first culprit antibody, sparking a hunt for more.

That anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis tends to strike younger women and, one of the bizarre factors, its sometimes triggered by an ovarian dermoid cyst.

How? That type of cyst has similarities to some brain tissue, Horng explained. The immune system can develop antibodies recognizing certain proteins from the growth. If those antibodies get into the brain, they can mistakenly target NMDA receptors on healthy brain cells, sparking personality and behavior changes that can include hallucinations.

Different antibodies create different problems depending if they mostly hit memory and mood areas in the brain, or sensory and movement regions.

Altogether, facets of personhood seem to be impaired," Horng said.

Therapies include filtering harmful antibodies out of patients' blood, infusing healthy ones, and high-dose steroids to calm inflammation.

Stealth attack on the brain

Those cyst-related antibodies stealthily attacked Kiara Alexander in Charlotte, North Carolina, whod never heard of the brain illness. Shed brushed off some oddities  a little forgetfulness, zoning out a few minutes  until she found herself in an ambulance because of a seizure.

Maybe dehydration, the first hospital concluded. At a second hospital after a second seizure, a doctor recognized the possible signs, ordering a spinal tap that found the culprit antibodies.

As Alexander's treatment began, other symptoms ramped up. She has little clear memory of the monthlong hospital stay: They said I would just wake up screaming. What I could remember, it was like a nightmare, like the devil trying to catch me.

Later Alexander would ask about her 9-year-old daughter and when she could go home  only to forget the answer and ask again.

Alexander feels lucky she was diagnosed quickly, and she got the ovarian cyst removed. But it took over a year to fully recover and return to work full time.

What could cause memories to vanish?

In San Carlos, California, in early 2020, it was taking months to determine what caused Morrill's sudden memory problem. He remembered facts and spoke eloquently but was losing recall of personal events, a weird combination that prompted Dr. Michael Cohen, a neurologist at Sutter Health, to send him for more specialized testing.

Its very unusual, I mean extremely unusual, to just complain of a problem with autobiographical memory, Cohen said. One has to think about unusual disorders.

Meanwhile Morrills wife, Karen, thought shed detected subtle seizures  and one finally happened in front of another doctor, helping spur a spinal tap and diagnosis of LGI1-antibody encephalitis.

Its a type most common in men over age 50. Those rogue antibodies disrupt how neurons signal each other, and MRI scans showed theyd targeted a key memory center.

By then Morrill, whod spent retirement guiding kayak tours, could no longer safely get on the water. Hed quit reading and as his treatments changed, hed get agitated with scary delusions.

I lost total mental capacity and fell apart, Morrill describes it.

He used haiku to make sense of the incomprehensible, and months into treatment finally wondered if the meds coursing through me really were dousing the fire. Rays of hope?

A growing list of culprits

The nonprofit patient advocacy group Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance lists about two dozen antibodies  and counting  known to play a role in these brain illnesses so far.

Clinical trials, offered at major medical centers around the country, are testing two drugs now used for other autoimmune diseases to see if tamping down antibody production can ease encephalitis.

More awareness of these rare diseases is critical, said North Carolina's Alexander, who sought out fellow patients. That's a terrible feeling, feeling like you're alone.

As for Morrill, five years later he still grieves decades of lost memories: family gatherings, a year spent studying in Scotland, the travel with his wife.

But hes making new memories with grandkids, is back outdoors  and leads an AE Alliance support group, using his haiku to illustrate the journey from his unraveling to the present is what I have, daybreaks and sunsets to, finally, I can sustain hope.

Im reentering some real time of fun, joy, Morrill said. I wasnt shooting for that. I just wanted to be alive.

Inflaming the brainStealth attack on the brainWhat could cause memories to vanish?A growing list of culprits
Egypts Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has reported a new oil discovery in the Gulf of Suez.

The discovery was made by the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company, a joint venture between Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and United Arab Emirates-based Dragon Oil.

The additional output is set to be added to Egypts production figures in the upcoming days, with an estimated initial output of 3,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil.

According to the ministry, this development is part of a sequence of recent achievements in Egypts oil and gas exploration activities.

The new well, named Crystal Northeast Ramadan, was discovered using ocean bottom seismic technology, which enabled the detection of promising geological formations beneath the seabed that had previously not been accessible.

The existing Al-Fanar platform, owned by EGPC, was used for drilling and for the early phase of production, according to Egypt Oil & Gas.

This approach is said to have avoided the need to build a new platform, contributing to cost reduction and demonstrating efficient use of the sectors current infrastructure and assets.

The ministry noted that the new discovery is in line with efforts to stabilise and increase oil production.

Other recent discoveries include Khalda Petroleum Companys new natural gas find, Gomana-1, in the Western Desert, which is expected to yield approximately 36 million cubic feet per day.

According to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi, the sector has made 75 oil and gas discoveries and brought 383 new wells online.

In the ministrys podcast, PetroCast, Badawi also reported that current natural gas production has reached around 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, with plans for further increases.

In September, EGPC signed three new agreements with international companies for oil and gas exploration in the Western Desert, Gulf of Suez and North Sinai regions.

"Gulf of Suez oil discovery to add 3,000bbl/d to Egypts production" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




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Tesco has reported a surge in demand for brightly-coloured vegetables, a trend believed to be linked to a push from nutritionists to eat the rainbow for better health.

Experts say consuming a diverse range of fruit and vegetable colours ensures a good intake of vitamins and minerals for maintaining health and wellbeing.

The supermarket has seen rocketing demand for brightly-coloured vegetables in the past year, particularly in recent months, as the advice to add colourful produce to the plate has apparently begun to resonate.

This includes rainbow carrots and pink onions, both up 100 per cent this autumn, rainbow chard up 70 per cent, and Cavolo Nero, or "black cabbage," up 30 per cent over the last year.

Tesco brassica buyer Simon Tenwick said the supermarket has decided to stock red kale as a direct result of this rainbow vegetables trend and it will go on sale in the next few weeks.

open image in gallery Tesco has reported a surge in demand for brightly-coloured vegetables ( Tesco/PA )

We are seeing a definite surge in demand for more unusual, brightly-coloured vegetables in a trend which has become especially pronounced in the last few months, said Mr Tenwick.

This summer we saw all-time record demand for fruit, with millions of extra packs of berries, cherries, watermelons, pineapples, grapes, and bananas among the top sellers.

With this latest increase, it would appear that more shoppers are now actively looking for healthy vegetables in order to improve their nutritional intake.

As a direct result of this rainbow vegetables trend we have decided to stock red kale which will be going on sale in a matter of weeks.

The trend has prompted some growers to plant more of these colourful vegetable varieties to meet growing demand.

One grower which has reported the trend is Tesco supplier A H Worth, based near Spalding, Lincolnshire, which has started growing red kale.

A H Worth has also seen demand for Cavolo Nero unexpectedly soar by 23% this autumn.

open image in gallery Red kale grown at Tesco supplier A H Worth near Spalding, Lincolnshire ( Tesco/PA )

Darren Huxtable, commercial manager of A H Worth, said: Kale has never been more popular in the UK and shoppers are finding it a very versatile vegetable that is equally delicious in salads as it is with a traditional roast dinner.

But were also hearing that it has become a favourite with the younger generation who are whisking it up in smoothies.

In the spring, we decided to trial planting red kale as this variety is slightly sweeter and the bold colouring helps brighten up salads and smoothies in the dark winter months.

Nearby brassica specialist grower TH Clements, of Boston, Lincolnshire, has seen demand for purple sprouting broccoli rocket so much that it now grows three times as much as it did in 2022.

Tesco company nutritionist Natasha Maynard said evidence shows there are significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.

She said: A variety of colours not only gives a strong visual impact on your plate, but different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different vitamins and minerals your body needs to maintain good health.

To get the most benefit, try to eat one portion from each colour group.

Choose from red, green, yellow, white, purple and orange varieties of fruits and vegetables.
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Every year, when autumn gets underway and the evenings extend from late afternoon until, seemingly, forever, a trend starts to emerge. Articles and social media posts from women pop up declaring that they can no longer go running after work because its not safe. Every year, I completely understand the sentiment  and yet I also wonder whether that fear is based on statistical fact, rooted in actual risk. I wonder about perception versus reality.

I know that this is likely to be a controversial take  that Ill be accused by some of intentionally endangering women by encouraging them to lace up their trainers and run straight into the arms of a predator. However, I also know that fear is increasingly stopping women from living a full and healthy life, so I wanted to take a closer look at what were really up against.

Its certainly true that women feel less safe exercising after dark, as they do in general, as soon as the sun sets. An Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey in 2021 found that 81 per cent of women reported feeling very or fairly unsafe walking alone in a park after dark, compared with just 39 per cent of men. Almost three-quarters of women change their outdoor activity routines during winter, according to research by Sport England, while This Girl Can found that 60 per cent worry about the risk of sexual harassment or intimidation when exercising in the dark.

And womens anxiety about running is far from unwarranted. Adidass international survey of 4,500 women aged 16 to 34 found that 30 per cent said they had experienced physical or verbal harassment while running. A separate online survey of 498 female runners by the University of Manchester revealed that a frankly shocking 68 per cent of respondents had experienced some kind of abusive behaviour. Verbal abuse accounted for 91 per cent of instances, while being followed constituted 29 per cent and 10 per cent involved being flashed. Twenty of the women surveyed had been assaulted while running, either physically or sexually.

In the vast majority of cases (95 per cent), women had not reported abusive behaviour to the police. Thats how normalised such incidents have become  and how little faith women have that the authorities will take action. Its clearly a huge issue and a sky-high barrier to women staying active.

Nevertheless, there is very little, if any, available data to suggest that this type of harassment is more prevalent after dark. In fact, contrary to popular belief, you are no more likely to be a victim of crime at night than during the day in London, according to a report by the Greater London Authority. It challenges our natural assumptions and is completely at odds with the primal, innate fear of darkness that we all carry to some degree as human beings. But its true.

open image in gallery Women feel less safe running after dark, according to research ( Getty Images )

Various studies have tried and largely failed to ascertain a conclusive link between nighttime and greater crime levels. Results from one major piece of research in the US, for example, suggested a statistically significant uptick in robberies  but interestingly, this didnt extend to any other kind of crime. A recent UK study from the University of Sheffield analysed 34,618 crimes that occurred from 2010 through 2019 in the South Yorkshire region. While crimes overall were more likely to occur after dark than during daylight hours, of the 14 types of crime looked at, only five were significantly more likely to occur after dark: burglary, criminal damage, personal robbery, bicycle theft and vehicle offences. Other offences, including sexual offences, were no more likely to have occurred.

It is natural, of course, that women feel wary, particularly given the steady rise in sexual assault and harassment, and in the wake of high-profile murders of women by men who were strangers: Ashling Murphy, Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena, Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman, and Sarah Everard. The shadows of these tragedies loom long and heavy. But lets not forget that daylight isnt necessarily the saving grace we might presume it to be, either  Ashling was killed in broad daylight, dragged off the canal towpath in the middle of the afternoon.

Studies have tried and largely failed to ascertain a conclusive link between nighttime and greater crime levels

And then theres the fact that these cases, though heinous and devastating, were so shocking because they were outliers. More than 90 per cent of rapes and sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim is familiar with  were talking friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours, family members, partners or exes. Its not to say that were not at risk, just that were far, far more at risk from the men already in our lives. Another fact that seems to go against the grain  and one that has caused many of my friends to outright brand me a liar in the past  is that men are genuinely more at risk than women when it comes to stranger danger. According to the 2024 Crime Survey for England and Wales, men were twice as likely as women to have been victims of violence at the hands of someone they didnt know.

I worry that concern for womens safety, unimpeachable as it may seem, often translates into a means of controlling our behaviour and making our worlds smaller. Its the well-meaning cousin of the victim-blaming mentality that points the finger at women when they are assaulted. Were all too familiar with the accusatory lens that asks, what was she wearing? Had she been drinking? Did she walk home alone? And, yes, was she running after dark?. As women, we know these questions arent relevant or pertinent. They are a smokescreen, designed to forever shift the spotlight onto our actions, rather than those of the perpetrator.

open image in gallery Womens running club membership has soared by 89 per cent ( Getty Images )

There are some positive initiatives in terms of encouraging women to stay active regardless of the time of day. Sport England and This Girl Can teamed up to launch Lets Lift the Curfew. Now in its third year, the campaign showcases womens stories and concerns around exercising outdoors in the darker months, inviting them to share their outdoor routines on Strava and organise group exercise activities in their area. Light the Night hosts group night-time runs for women so they can feel safe cantering along canal paths and in city parks; Reclaim the Night, a movement that first started in 1970s Leeds, is still active today, with marches and events held across the UK. Female membership of running clubs surged by a massive 89 per cent in 2023, according to Stravas 2024 Year in Sport report, and participation has been further aided by a rise in inclusive and female-only clubs.

This is all heartening stuff; anything that gets us out and moving is to be applauded. But we also shouldnt have to join groups or sign up for special events or change our routes and routines. The real risk is, statistically, much lower than the perceived risk when it comes to running as the nights draw in. The greater danger is that women, already less likely to meet physical activity guidelines than men, feel forced to neglect their fitness in autumn and winter, impacting their mental and physical health for a full six months of the year.

Feel the fear and do it anyway might feel like a hackneyed self-help cliche  but it just might be advice worth listening to.
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Police in Irvine, California, are asking the public to help them identify a thief who they say bears resemblance to Backstreet Boy band member AJ McLean.

Were pretty sure this isnt AJ McLean from the @backstreetboys, but the resemblance had us doing a double take, Irvine Police Department wrote in a social media post Wednesday. The real AJ McLean has not been accused of wrongdoing.

The post was accompanied by a video of the theft  set to the beloved song Everybody.

Footage captured the 90s pop star doppelganger, wearing a maroon t-shirt, black joggers and a black backwards cap, entering an apartment building behind an Amazon delivery driver.

The video showed the man grabbing several packages and walking out with them.

open image in gallery Police in Irvine, California, are asking the public to help identify a suspect who they say looks like a Backstreet Boys member ( Irvine PD )

Rife with references to the Backstreet Boys tracks, police said: Instead of being larger than life, this suspect followed an Amazon driver into a secured apartment mailroom on Spectrum and walked out with packages that werent his.

Quit playin games with our mail. Backstreets back, but your packages shouldnt be going with him. If you know who he is, tell us why he walked out with other peoples stuff, the statement continued.

Police urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact them.

open image in gallery Some social media users said they didnt see the suspects resemblance to AJ McLean, who is pictured attending Netflix Tudum 2025 in May ( Getty Images )

Its not immediately clear if any arrests have been made in the case.

The Independent has asked Irvine Police for more information.

Several social media users disagreed with the police, saying the suspect looks more like a few other 90s pop stars.

open image in gallery Instead, some social media users claimed the suspect looked more like Joey Fatone, a member of another boy band *NSYNC ( Getty Images for Verizon )

One Facebook user said the suspect more closely resembled a member of *NSYNC: Eh, he looks more like Joey Fatone but Ill take a BSB song any day for no reason at all.

He looks more like the guy from 98 degrees, another remarked.

Yet another user harshly put it: If they think he looks like AJ I struggle to believe they can positively ID any criminal.
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A Florida man was arrested earlier this month after being spotted walking buck-naked in nearfreezing temperatures, claiming he was taking part in a TikTok challenge, according to police.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a Thursday Facebook video that a driver on Broken Arrow Trail spotted Anthony Day, 41, walking completely naked, even though the temperature was just 36 degrees, which was captured on the commuters Tesla cameras.

Pro tip: If you walk down the road buck naked, you're probably going to get arrested for indecent exposure, and if you lie to the po-po that's a criminal charge too, he captioned the post.

"You know what buck-naked means. Hes not even wearing any socks," Judd said in the video. "You can be naked and wearing socks, but buck-naked means you dont have anything on."

The driver called the sheriffs office and, when deputies responded, Judd said Day gave them a false name and address, claiming he was protecting his privacy, as stated in an arrest report obtained by WFLA.

open image in gallery Anthony Day, 41, allegedly told officials earlier this month that he was walking down the road naked because he was taking part in a TikTok challenge ( Polk County Sheriffs Office )

open image in gallery Anthony Day was arrested and taken into custody completely naked ( Polk County Sheriff's Office )

"We asked him, Are you cold? Not bit. What are you doing? Well, its a TikTok challenge. You dont even have your cell phone. Youre really naked when you dont have your cell phone," Judd said, relaying their bizarre conversation.

"So, we addressed him for obvious violations of the law. He went to the jail [Polk County Jail], and after all, he went there without any clothes on. Thats how he arrived at book in. We said," Here he comes, buck-naked, he added.

Day has been charged with disorderly conduct, resisting an officer without violence and exposure of sexual organs. Investigators said he had no camera to record a TikTok challenge as he claimed.
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A San Antonio landlord was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a former tenant over two years ago.

The victim, Michael Obryan Martin, was shot in the face at a home owned by 37-year-old Joshua A. Ford on December 7, 2022.

Ford reportedly called police to report the shooting himself, but he was not immediately taken into custody. Authorities arrested him this week, and he is now being held without bond.

Martin lived at the property for about a year but hadnt paid rent in the two months leading up to his eviction, Ford claimed, according to an arrest report from the San Antonio Police Department, obtained by News 4.

About a month after moving out, Ford reportedly called Martin and asked him to return to the residence and leave his key.

open image in gallery Joshua A. Ford, 37, is accused of shooting and killing his former tenant, Michael Obryan Martin, in December 2022 ( San Antonio Police Department )

Ford and a witness were at the residence for a walk-through inspection when Martin unexpectedly arrived, authorities said.

An argument between Ford and Martin escalated as they moved through the home, eventually ending in the utility room. Ford told detectives that Martin reached toward his body as if to pull a weapon, prompting him to fire.

Ford allegedly struck Martin twice in the face and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ford reportedly unloaded his gun and left it on the kitchen island before leaving the home and calling 911. He has now been charged with his former tenants murder.
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A student has been arrested for promoting a fake SantaCon party in Fairfield, Connecticut, that attracted more than 600,000 views online.

Emmet Blaney, 19, a Fairfield University sophomore from Massapequa, New York, is accused of publicizing the event on a private residential beach without the homeowners permission.

He was charged with criminal attempt to commit disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal attempt to commit criminal trespass and is scheduled to appear at Bridgeport Superior Court on December 8.

open image in gallery Emmet Blaney, 19, a Fairfield University sophomore from Massapequa, who has been arrested and charged for promoting an unauthorized SantaCon party ( Fairfield Police )

An account under the username @fairfieldsantacon had publicized the event in a series of posts on Instagram, according to The Fairfield Mirror, calling it The Mardi Gras of the Northeast and scheduling it for 11 am to 5 pm on December 5, giving the address as either 445 Fairfield Road or 2 Lighthouse Point and advising attendees to arrive by train as a cheaper alternative to Uber.

On Tuesday, the account abruptly notified followers: Fairfield santacon has been cancelled and moved to jennings beach for students only. were sorry for everyone who was planning on coming from other schools, you will not be able to make it to the beach.

open image in gallery One of the online fliers promoting the event ( TikTok/Fairfield Santacon )

That message appeared five days after Fairfield University announced it would host the only official SantaCon party in the area for students and their guests, and that it would be a private, ticketed event.

Fairfield Police Department has since been at pains to underline that the state will not be hosting any public SantaCon gatherings this year, following problems with overcrowding and crime last year.

In 2024, Fairfield experienced significant challenges when thousands of college-aged individuals arrived in the beach area, creating safety hazards, quality-of-life issues, and an unsustainable strain on emergency services, FPD officers wrote on Facebook.

open image in gallery Men dressed as a Santa Claus drinking beer at a bar in Brooklyn, New York City, as part of SantaCon ( Getty )

As a residential beach community, Fairfield is not designed to accommodate large, unregulated crowds. Following last years difficulties, the Fairfield Police Department, town officials, and Fairfield University collaborated to develop a more controlled and responsible approach for 2025. Much of Fairfields shoreline consists of private property and private beach associations, which are not open to the general public.

Recently, unauthorized social media accounts have circulated false and misleading information about SantaCon occurring at locations other than the sanctioned Fairfield University event. These posts are inaccurate and are being reviewed by law enforcement.

FPD Chief Michael Paris said, Our priority is protecting our residents, our neighborhoods, and everyones safety. If you are not invited to the private event, do not come to Fairfield expecting a public SantaCon celebration. There isnt one.

First Selectman Christine Vitale added, If you are planning to travel to Fairfield for this event, dont. We are putting extensive plans in place so that our neighborhoods or emergency services are not overwhelmed. I want our residents to know that our police will be there and will be looking for all violations of the law, including trespassing.

However, several students have reacted with outrage to Blaneys arrest on the anonymous platform Fizz, according to the Mirror.

open image in gallery SantaCon was originally conceived as performance art but has become a 'reviled bar crawl' ( Getty )

Where is freedom of speech. FREE EMMET, one person wrote, while another urged people to flood the comment sections of the FPDs Facebook page to protest.

The first SantaCon was staged in San Francisco in 1994 and was inspired by a radical Danish theater group who, in 1974, had staged an anarchist event in Copenhagen in which men dressed as Santa Claus stole items from the shelves of department stores and handed them out to members of the public as presents in order to satirize the rampant consumerism of the holiday season, resulting in their arrest.

San Franciscos Cacophony Group aimed to recreate the spoof Christmas event, and it spread quickly to other U.S. cities, beginning with Portland in 1996, Seattle in 1997, and then Los Angeles and New York in 1998, with thousands of costumed participants taking to the streets to party.

However, in the process, the event became associated with drunken revelry, vandalism, and public urination, with The Village Voice complaining in December 2014 that it had devolved from joyful performance art into a reviled bar crawl.
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The Australian government has added popular streaming platform Twitch to the list of apps banned in the country for children under the age of 16.

The countrys internet watchdog said on Friday that its upcoming teen social media ban would apply to the Amazon-owned live streaming service Twitch, popular among gamers.

Australia is set to enact the world's first law barring children aged 16 years and under from using social media, with penalties of up to $32m (A$49.5m) for non-complying companies failing to take "reasonable steps".

Platforms previously included in the list of banned apps include Metas Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.

Though Twitch is mainly used by gamers for livestreaming, Australias eSafety Commissioner said on Friday that the streaming platform also qualifies as a social media service as its interactive content allows users, including children, to communicate with others in relation to content posted.

Social media networking apps are displayed on a phone screen with the Australian flag displayed in the background ( Getty Images )

Twitch, mainly used by gamers to chat with viewers as they play video games, said it plans to deactivate all user accounts for people aged 16 and under from 9 January.

The company said it would also bar new underage users from creating accounts once the ban takes effect.

However, the watchdog said the list of apps banned for teenagers does not include the image-sharing platform Pinterest.

Platforms that are excluded from the new rules, as of 21 November 2025 include Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, Lego Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids, the government said.

Pinterest has not been included in the ban since its core purpose is not about social interaction, Australias eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

Australias stringent rules are the most comprehensive efforts by any government to police minors access to social media.

While most platforms currently have a minimum age of 13 for account holders, delaying account access until 16 will give young people more time to develop important skills and maturity, the Australian government said.

Its breathing space to build digital literacy, critical reasoning, impulse control and greater resilience, it said.

On Thursday, Meta announced it would start blocking the Instagram and Facebook accounts of Australian users under 16 from 4 December, a week before the governments new law takes effect.

Australian teenagers have already begun receiving notifications on these apps to save their data before access to their accounts is revoked.

For all our users aged 15 and under, we understand the importance of the treasured memories, connections, and content within your accounts, Metas regional policy director Mia Garlick said in a statement.

When you turn 16 and can access our apps again, all your content will be available exactly as you left it, Ms Garlick said.

However, it remains unclear how companies would enforce the ban.

Some possibilities include users providing a government-issued ID or an Australian government-accredited digital ID to prove their age.

No Australian will be forced to provide a government-issued ID or use an Australian government-accredited digital ID service to prove their age, the internet watchdog said.

Age-restricted social media platforms will have to offer reasonable alternatives to users, it added.

Experts hope the ban could push youth to interact more in the real world.

If we want to support young peoples wellbeing, we need to help them rebalance their time  encouraging them to reconnect with real-world activities that build skills, confidence and social connection, said Dot Dumuid, a behavioural epidemiologist from the University of South Australia.
New Hampshires Business Finance Authority (BFA) has announced a municipal bond that provides firms with the ability to borrow against Bitcoin holdings.

Worth $100 million, the new conduit bond is a first of its kind in the United States, and follows New Hampshires passage of a strategic crypto reserve bill in May.

The bond will provide financing to private firms and nonprofits seeking to undertake public works, with borrowers required to provide Bitcoin as collateral, worth 160% of the borrowed amount.

If the bitcoin-based collateral falls below 130% of the bonds value, the position will be liquidated, a provision which ensures that lenders (i.e. bondholders) do not lose any money.



BFA Executive Director James Key-Wallace told Crypto in America that fees from bond transactions would be directed to the Bitcoin Economic Development Fund, which has the aim of supporting businesses and economic innovation in New Hampshire.

Key-Wallace also said that gains in the value of Bitcoin posted as collateral would be directed to the fund.

The states governor, Kelly Ayotte, celebrated the bonds debut, describing it as an example of New Hampshire leading the way in embracing new technologies.

She said, This is an innovative way to bring more investment opportunities to our state and position us as a leader in digital finance without risking state funds or taxpayer dollars.

Because the Business Finance Authority is self-funded, state legislator Keith Ammon has described the bond as a proof-of-concept for the use of Bitcoin as collateral in government finance, one which could potentially lead to a Bitcoin bond issued by a state treasury.

Commentators outside of New Hampshire also recognize the bonds potential for not only catalyzing Bitcoins growth, but widening its use and application.

If successful, and I expect it will be, it will help to legitimize bitcoin beyond its current role as, mainly, a speculative asset, Trade Nation Senior Market Analyst David Morrison told Decrypt.

Morrison suggests that it could indicate a route for Bitcoin to be used more broadly in debt markets, with the potential for gains from Bitcoin-based collateral a possible incentive for wider adoption.

On the flip side, there may be a danger of a Bitcoin price collapse leading to a forced liquidation, he added.

BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Posts Record $523 Million Daily Loss as BTC Price Slump Worsens

More broadly, Morrison expects this type of funding to become more widespread, particularly as numerous U.S. states make moves to introduce their own strategic crypto reserves.
For yet another week, major automakers issued large recalls for significant issues that could lead to vehicle failure or even crashes.

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group is being forced to recall more than 330,00 Kia K5 sedans and Hyundai Sonatas.

Kia's top-selling vehicles 2025 (through October)

Sportage: 150,159 year over year +13%

K4/Forte: 117,598 YoY +1%

Telluride: 101,069 YoY +11%

Sorento: 80,710 YoY +5%

K5: 60,212 YoY +76%

Source: Kia

The Kia K5 shares the same platform, powertrain, and technology as the Hyundai Sonata, according to J.D. Power. Formerly known as the Kia Optima, the K5 jumped from being Kia's eighth best-selling car last year to its fifth-best this year, thanks to a 76% year-over-year sales increase.

In 2020, J.D. Power said of the 2021 Kia K5: "The K5 has the right mix of style, size, sophistication, safety, and value to remain on the radar of people who still prefer family-sized cars to compact SUVs."

However, this week, regulators recalled more than a quarter of a million Kia K5s due to a potential fire hazard.

Hyundai has issued a recall for Kia K5 sedans and Hyundai Sonatas.Photo by jetcityimage on Getty Images

NHTSA recalls more than 330,000 Kia, Hyundai sedans

This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of 250,547 Kia K5 midsize sedans, model years 2021-2024, and an additional 85,043 Hyundai Sonatas, model years 2020-2023.

The purge control system check valve that controls the direction of airflow from the charcoal canister to the engine on vehicles equipped with 1.6L Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection could deteriorate over time, "allowing pressurized air to flow from the intake manifold onto the fuel tank," according to the NHTSA recall notice.

Related: Hyundai's $7.6 billion pivot hits major snag

The purge control system check valve that controls the direction of airflow from the charcoal canister to the engine on vehicles equipped with 1.6L Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection could deteriorate over time, "allowing pressurized air to flow from the intake manifold onto the fuel tank," according to the NHTSA recall notice.

If that happens, the fuel tank could expand and make contact with the car's hot exhaust pipe components. If a motorist continues to drive with the engine in that condition for a prolonged period, parts of the fuel tank may melt, potentially resulting in a fuel leak that could cause a fire.

Kia will fix the issue for free and reimburse owners for repair expenses they already incurred "pursuant to Kia's General Reimbursement Plan filed May 1, 2024."

Hyundai dealers will "inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software," according to the NHTSA notice.
Infini Resources has wasted no time putting its fresh $12 million in capital to work, expanding drilling across its flagship Portland Creek project in Canadas emerging uranium province in Newfoundland.

Seizing a window of favourable weather conditions, the company has pushed beyond its planned 2500 drill metre program, racking up 3910 metres of core across multiple high-priority targets.

Visible uranium rich mineralisation (uraninite) in diamond core from Infinis flagship Portland Creek project in Canada.

Drilling is homing in on 12 priority targets within a 6-kilometre structural corridor marked by uranium-in-soil anomalies, radiometric highs and airborne electromagnetic conductors.

Shares in Infini lit up early last month topping, 71.5c from the previous days close of 23c after the company reported a stellar 284 long section in one drill hole with peak portable X-Ray Flourescence (pXRF) values of 12,000 ppm uranium at 270m and 11,700 ppm at 289m. Visible yellow uraninite along joint surfaces recorded up to an eye-catching 1.17% U.
But wait, in yet more strategic moves  keep your eyes on the Monopoly board  a Chemist Warehouse property syndicate bought 374 Chapel Street, which is next door to the existing Prahran store, paying $2.15 million at a Burgess Rawson Portfolio Auction. The 227-square-metre shop is leased to Mexican restaurant Zambrero until June 2028, but could make the existing store  with its $10 million price tag  more than a third larger. 600 Chapel Street sold last year for $15 million. Does that mean Chemist Warehouse wants to whiz past Go and consolidate the properties? With Chemist Warehouses lease at No.370-372 having a good four years left to run, the retailer is not moving any time soon so it may be a while before we know which side of the strip it eventually lands on. Jones Real Estates Paul Jones, who is selling the Chemist Warehouse-occupied property with Luke Peric and Mimi Hoang, said recent Chemist Warehouse deals in Oakleigh and Ivanhoe were struck at yields of 2.5 to 3 per cent. This one returns $266,173 a year in rent and has a leasing option to 2034.

The billionaires behind the chemist giant made even bigger property moves recently. In July 2024, they paid $15 million for property developer Bill McNees NAB branch at 600 Chapel Street, on the corner of Toorak Road. And, just a short 10-minute drive from Chapel Street, Chemist Warehouse co-founder Jack Gance this week reportedly purchased an $80 million-plus mansion in Toorak, Melbournes equivalent of Monopolys Mayfair. Further down the street in the Prahran part of the strip, another much-anticipated deal suffered a hangover. Nightclub complex, Revolver, situated at No.229, passed out (sorry, passed in) at auction last Friday for $15 million through JLL and Christies International. Negotiations are ongoing but observers noted Banco Group owner Mario LoGiudice was the highest bidder. Revolver passed in at auction for $15 million.

Elsewhere on Chapel, a shop owned by fashion maven Fiona Scanlan at No.88 in Windsor sold for $3.35 million. Once the much-loved Sacred Heart op shop, the building has been leased to advertising firm Howatson+Company for the past few years. The creatives pay a bumper $210,000 annual for the space which gives the deal a soft 6.2 per cent yield. However, its understood theyre expanding and likely to move. Stonebridge agents Rorey James, Nic Hage and Ian Lam did the deal. Moscots only Australian store recently opened at 566 Chapel Street, South Yarra. In September, Stonebridge sold 566 Chapel Street for Gary Theodore, of Scanlan & Theodore for $2.92 million. And last month, a local investor snapped up two shops at 467 and 469 Chapel Street which developer Sterling Global had earmarked for a skinny hotel project, paying $3.2 million.

A local investor has bought Sterling Globals two shops at 467 and 469 Chapel Street, South Yarra. The deal was done before their scheduled auction through Fitzroys Chris James and Lewis Waddell. Church cannon Over the river, property developer, philanthropist and honorary consul of Monaco, Andrew Cannon, scored a premium at auction last week selling an office at 1 Albert Street, off Church Street. Despite the driving rain, about 50 people turned out, with four bidders pushing the price to $2.702 million  $302,000 above the reserve.

1 Albert Street, Richmond. The 362-square-metre office was home to Monacos consulate before Cannon built a new one in the CBD overlooking the Melbourne Club. Cushman & Wakefields Anthony Kirwan, George Davies and Raphael Favas handled the auction. Across the road in Cremorne, the team is selling a two-storey 300-square-metre warehouse behind East Richmond station at 15-17 Adolph Street. Gilles Arbes-Dupuy, the French founder of menswear retailer Declic, is selling the property and moving back to France though the business remains.

Records show the Arbes-Dupuy family paid $1.155 million for the property in 2009. Its on 167-square-metres of land and expected to fetch about $2 million. Off market deal Meanwhile, Michael Spektors National Retail Group  part-owned by the same property-buying enthusiasts at Chemist Warehouse  has made an off-market purchase in South Melbourne. The group has paid $4 million for a warehouse at 75-85 York Street on behalf of a private family office  not Chemist Warehouse related, Spektor stressed. The commercial-2 zoned 466-square-metre site is one of the last island sites left in South Melbourne and has been leased to Factory Sound for the last 30 years.

The vendor, investment fund Terraplex paid $4.41 million for the site in 2021 and obtained a planning permit for a six-level mixed use project. Spektor said there were no immediate plans to redevelop the site. The off-market deal was negotiated by RWC MCs Ted Dwyer. Uni buys office The University of Melbourne has made its first property purchase in several years, buying 33 Lincoln Square South in Carlton for $17.8 million. The four-level 2965-square-metre building office was bought from CareSuper, which recently merged with the Meat Industry Employees super fund. The MIESF paid $7.9 million for the property in 2007.

Its a bumper price for vacant strata office with four apartments on the top floor. The building was previously headquarters for the Save the Children Foundation. The University of Melbourne has paid nearly $18 million for 33 Lincoln Square South, Carlton. JLL agents Tim Carr, Josh Rutman and MingXuan Li negotiated the deal but declined to confirm the buyer, who declined to tell Capital Gain what plans it has for the site. Its next door to 27-31 Lincoln Square South, the former Allan & Co piano factory and warehouse which JLL is also selling with a permit for a 14-storey tower. Its expected to fetch in the low $20 millions. Meanwhile, Monash University has signed a new city-fringe leasing deal, taking 6754-square-metres across two floors at Sunkins 509 St Kilda Road.
Blood oil: A new series by the Herald and The Age.

Banning fuel imports from overseas refineries that still use Russian oil could raise petrol prices in Australia, but any immediate jump would probably be limited to a few cents a litre, industry executives and experts say.

The Albanese government is under pressure to widen Australias four-year ban on direct Russian crude oil imports to also prohibit shipments of refined fuels from foreign facilities known to have recently processed Russian oil.

Australia is among the worlds largest importer of fuel products made from Russian crude at Indian refineries, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Credit: Stephen Kiprillis

The governments consideration of the move, which could bring Australia in line with European sanctions taking effect in January, comes amid revelations that some petrol and diesel being shipped to Australia from Indias biggest oil refinery has been made from Russian crude and is therefore helping finance Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Australia is among the worlds largest importers of fuel products from India that have potentially been refined from Russian oil, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a think tank.
Netflix could be fined almost $1 billion if it fails to meet its local content obligations under the governments proposed streaming quotas bill, which is expected to be tabled in Canberra next week, after years of debate and negotiation.

The amendment to the Broadcasting Services Act, which aims to guarantee a minimum spend by the streamers on Australian content other than sport, reality and news, will apply to all subscription video on demand (SVOD) streaming services with more than 1 million subscribers.

The streamers will have to clear a significant spending hurdle by making more shows like Netflixs Boy Swallows Universe if they are to avoid enormous fines. Credit: Netflix

There is currently no obligation for the streamers to commission any Australian content at all.

On current subscriber numbers, the new rules would capture Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, Stan (owned by Nine, the owner of this masthead) and Binge. Apple TV is understood to be close to that threshold, and HBO, which has only recently launched, is likely to cross it within a couple of years.
Nation's euro bond sale shows investors' confidence

08:22, November 21, 2025 By ZHANG ZHOUXIANG in Luxembourg and JIANG XUEQING in Beijing ( China Daily

The overwhelming demand for China's latest offering of euro-denominated sovereign bonds reflected confidence of global investors in the country's sovereign credit and long-term economic potential, financial professionals and experts said.

They added that China's back-to-back issuance of two sovereign bonds in a month also highlights the country's commitment to high-level opening-up and deeper integration with global financial markets.

The Chinese Ministry of Finance raised 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion) through a dual-tranche offering in Luxembourg on Wednesday  selling 2 billion euros worth of four-year bonds with a coupon rate of 2.401 percent and another 2 billion euros of seven-year bonds with a yield of 2.702 percent.

The offering attracted total orders of 100.1 billion euros, 25 times the issuance amount. The seven-year tranche alone was oversubscribed more than 26-fold. The latest offering marks China's second foreign-currency bond issuance this month, with the first being a $4 billion dollar-denominated sovereign bond issuance in Hong Kong two weeks ago.

Wang Yunfeng, president of HSBC Bank China, said the country's back-to-back issuance of two sovereign bonds sent a positive signal to investors about China's commitment to high-level opening-up and deeper integration with global financial markets. HSBC served as a joint lead underwriter and joint bookrunner for the deal.

Bank of China, another joint lead underwriter, said the offering, which is China's first euro-denominated sovereign bond issuance in Luxembourg, helped further diversify the country's foreign-currency sovereign bond portfolio. It also provided global investors with a safe, high-quality asset and sent a clear signal of China's solid sovereign credit to international markets.

Moreover, analysts said the overwhelming response to the latest offering reflected global confidence in China's long-term economic development.

Samuel Fischer, head of onshore debt capital markets at Deutsche Bank China, a joint lead manager and joint bookrunner for the deal, said this issuance reaffirmed global investors' strong confidence in China's sovereign credit and macroeconomic fundamentals. "The deal further enhanced the prominence of Chinese assets in global fixed-income portfolios and strengthened China's benchmark positioning in the international capital markets," Fischer said.

Tian Lihui, university chair professor of finance at Nankai University, said the massive oversubscription of the seven-year tranche indicated that long-term investors see sustained opportunities in the Chinese market.

According to the finance ministry, the investor base was diversified in both geography and type, with more than half of the allocations going to European buyers and a sizable share to Asian investors. Sovereign institutions made up 26 percent of the investor base, while funds and asset managers accounted for the largest share, followed by banks, insurers and a small portion of dealers.

Lynn Song, chief Greater China economist at ING Bank, told Bloomberg that Chinese assets remained underweighted relative to the country's importance in the global economy, adding that a truly international investment portfolio seeking genuine global representation should include exposure to Chinese assets.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Keith Cheung, head of debt syndicate for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said, "Global investors are actively seeking diversification, yet high-quality Asian sovereign bonds denominated in euros remain scarce."

"The deal will contribute to developing China's euro-denominated bond pricing system in the international arena, providing a benchmark for future euro-market financing by Chinese companies," said Timothy Huang, head of Global Corporate Banking for Greater China at JP Morgan, another joint lead underwriter and bookrunner for the offering.

Zhang Chenxu contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for the decision to lift restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia, the Kazakh President told local media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azernews reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

"I express my gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his decision to lift sanctions and create conditions for direct bilateral trade through his country's territory. Thus, in November this year, the first batch of Kazakh wheat, amounting to 1,000 tons, was delivered to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. This initiative is of particular political and economic significance," Tokayev said.

According to him, Kazakhstan is ready to supply high-quality grain products and other goods to Armenia regularly.

We have agreed to make every effort to further develop this area, the head of state said.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on October 21, stated that: Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that had been in place since the occupation.
By Sai Ishwarbharath B

(Reuters) -India's Tata Consultancy Services and private equity firm TPG will form a joint venture to develop AI data centres, TCS said on Thursday, with both partners set to invest a total of 180 billion rupees ($2.03 billion) in equity.

The capital will be invested in tranches in the JV, called HyperVault AI Data Centre, over the next few years.

The companies also aim to raise $4.5-$5 billion through debt, TCS added, without providing details on the number or location of the planned data centres.

The recent boom in AI, which requires vast amounts of computing data, has fuelled a corporate rush to pour money into the technology globally and has led to an unprecedented growth in data centers across the world.

India's data centre capacity is expected to more than triple to 4.5 gigawatt by 2030 from current levels, according to real estate consultant Colliers.

TCS will be the majority partner in the JV with a 51% stake, while TPG will hold the remaining and invest up to 88.20 billion rupees.

"The move is similar to how big tech companies like Meta in the U.S. are also tapping PE firms to leverage the risk," said Pareekh Jain, founder of tech advisory firm EIIR Trend.

"The model will also benefit TPG by storing the data of their portfolio companies and the overall model, if successful, can be replicated for global expansion (by TCS) as well."

Last month, TCS had announced plans to invest up to $7 billion in a 1 GW data centre unit, which drew investor skepticism as analysts flagged limited overlaps with the company's core IT services and potential pressure on returns.

Brokerage BobCaps had called the plan "negatively surprising" as it flagged the IT services firm's more proactive M&A stance as a departure from its historical focus on organic growth.

($1 = 88.7220 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
JACK MEISTER: 1928-2025

No one introduced me to Jack Meister. But every Thursday, this quiet, smiling man stood near the Auschwitz exhibit at the Sydney Jewish Museum, ready to talk with visitors who stopped by, making jokes with passing staff.

It was 2016, and I was new to working at the museum. After a few weeks of exchanging smiling nods, I finally stopped to introduce myself. I had no idea that this would be the beginning of a friendship and a surprising new chapter in Meisters life.

He shared with me his story. A story of a happy childhood, marked by dark moments of antisemitic violence in his hometown of Kielce, Poland. Meister was 11 years old when the Nazis came. He told me of war, of ghettos, forced labour, separation from his family, gruelling journeys in cattle cars. Of Auschwitz and a death march to Buchenwald.

In April 1945, I was finally liberated by American soldiers. They came into the camps and gave us lots of food and drink. An American soldier gave me some chocolate and a change of clothes. He took my picture, then came back the next day and gave it to me. I still have the picture to this day, Meister recalled.
A teenager accused of running a red light and rear-ending a car that collided with and killed a heavily pregnant woman has been released on bail after his mother offered $50,000 to secure his freedom.

Aaron Papazoglu, 19, was greeted by family on his release from Silverwater jail on Friday afternoon, after appearing in Downing Centre Local Court earlier in the day.

Papazoglu, centre, leaving Silverwater prison after being released on bail. Credit: Seven News

The 19-year-old was charged with causing the death of 33-year-old Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her unborn child by negligent and dangerous driving following the crash in Hornsby last week.

Dhareshwar died after a Kia station wagon Papazoglu allegedly rear-ended was shunted into her while she was walking with her husband and another child near the entrance to the train station car park last Friday night.
A $55 million accommodation tower described as student housing on steroids was approved unanimously by a state development panel last night, clearing the way for one of Fremantles most unique housing models yet.

The six-storey building on Queen Victoria Street, set to replace a long-standing open-air car yard, was given the green light at the Metro Inner Joint Development Assessment Panel meeting on Thursday night.

The building is on the corner of Queen Victoria and James Street. Credit: Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel

The new-age development, by real estate investor Marprop Pty Ltd, includes 119 co-living apartments, 83 hotel rooms, and shared amenities such as a pool, cinema, gym, sauna and restaurant.

Marprop representative James Theodore told the meeting the project was designed to provide flexible, medium-term housing.
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A cliche about Japan is its obsession with perfection  and Tokyo in high summer truly perfects the urban heat island effect, as 2200 square kilometres of concrete, asphalt and glass reflect and absorb the rays of a searing sun. One way to beat the heat is to do as the locals do and head for the hills  or in this case, to Kamikochi in Honshus Hida Mountains, about 250 kilometres west of Tokyo. Officially designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Kamikochi  the place where the gods descend  is one of Japans natural jewels, an outdoors wonderland that draws comparisons to Californias famed Yosemite, in that its a glacial valley with a relatively flat floor (about 1500 metres above sea level) surrounded by majestic, rocky peaks. Domestic visitors flock here in autumn to see the blaze of red, orange and yellow as the trees on the lower slopes change colour, and during the summer green season to enjoy the cool mountain air and escape the wilting heat of Japans megalopolises. Kappa Bridge in Kamikochi. iStock Japans spectacular Hotaka mountain range. iStock My wife and I do the same, leaving behind a 35-degree urban oven after catching the limited express Azusa train from Tokyos Shinjuku station.

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Less than three hours later, we arrive in Matsumoto, a charming regional city with a beautifully preserved 16th-century castle, delicious soba noodles and a modern art museum featuring the work of Yayoi Dot Lady Kusama, who grew up here. After an overnight stay, we pick up our hire car for the one-hour drive to Kamikochi. Theres only one narrow road into the valley, which park authorities wisely decided to close to private vehicles in 1975, so we park at nearby Sawando bus terminal and catch one of the shuttles that depart for Kamikochi roughly every half hour. Art in Matsumoto. iStock Thirty minutes later, when our bus emerges from the Kama Tunnel, the valley of Kamikochi reveals itself. Taking in the greens of the lower mountains transitioning to the grey and brown of sheer mountain faces, the blue skies, the puffy white clouds, all reflecting off Taisho Pond  theres something of a Shangri-La, hidden valley vibe to the place. Or there would be, if not for the hundreds of tourists milling about as we pull into the bus terminal with its attendant information centre, souvenir stores and cafeteria. Things are just as hectic at nearby Kappa Bridge, which spans the opal-blue waters of the Asuza River. Day trippers queue for the obligatory selfie, with the soaring 3190-metre peak of Hotakadake  Japans third-highest mountain  as a backdrop. Hikers on a ridgetop. iStock

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But weve done our research and have a plan to escape the crowds. Kamikochi features a network of wide, easy-to-amble trails along the valley floor, as well as more challenging tracks that lead to the higher peaks, nestled within which is a network of mountain huts and lodges. By climbing higher up the valley, the crowds should thin out, and well find a bit more of that natural solitude were seeking. So we set off on the five-hour, 12.5-kilometre hike to Yarisawa Lodge, our destination for the night. We follow the Asuza River through lush, sun-dappled forests and past moss-covered rocks, bright orange fungi and stately trees that make us feel as if were walking through a Studio Ghibli anime come to life. Passing Tokusawa Lodge, we come across a troupe of nonchalant Japanese macaques (aka snow monkeys) on the path, but there is no sign of the black bears that supposedly also call the valley home. When we stop for a rest at Yokoo Sanso Lodge, about 10 kilometres from Kappa Bridge, many of our fellow hikers peel off across a bridge and head up the trails leading to the popular Karasawa Cirque. We carry on north, and our path narrows into a single track winding up through the verdant forest. A macaque, or snow monkey, in Kamikochi. iStock From time to time, our progress is slowed by clusters of hardy pensioners, plodding along at their own pace, or groups of high school students getting an outdoor education beneath their enormous packs. With all that gear, they must be camping out. We, on the other hand, have opted to travel light and stay in the relative luxury of Yarisawa Lodge, which includes three square meals and bedding. Weve left most of our luggage in the hire car and distilled the necessities we need for our overnight stay  snacks, water, rain gear  into two small daypacks.

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We chose Yarisawa because it is one of the few mountain huts in Kamikochi that you can book ahead online. Most can only be booked via telephone, which would have been a stretch given our utter lack of Japanese. Having said that, there is plenty of spare room when we arrive just after 5pm. By Japanese hiking standards, thats late  the dinner service has already started, and we, the only gaijin (foreign) guests, are the last to arrive. We dump our gear and head to the dining room for a filling meal of karaage chicken, rice, pumpkin, miso soup, salad and a cold Asahi beer from the vending machine in the foyer. Yarisawa is more of a lodge than a simple hut, and this is the case with most of the high mountain accommodation in Japan. The layout over two floors is simple and spartan  it can sleep up to 150 people on tatami mats, and there are even basic bathing facilities to hot-soak away the strain of the day. Fed, watered and washed, we exchange pleasantries in broken Japlish with our roommates, a thirty-something couple from Kanazawa, and hit the futons just before lights-out at 8pm. Why so early? Because our hot breakfast will be served at the ungodly hour of 5am. (No wonder Japan is known as the land of the rising sun.) After breakfast, most of our fellow guests continue up the trail for the four-hour climb to Yarigatake. At 3180 metres, its Japans fifth-highest mountain, famed for its spear-like tip thrusting to the sky like a north Asian Matterhorn. There are two large huts near the base of the peak, and if we had the time (and lets be honest, the energy) it would be a tempting proposition to climb. The spectacular Yarigatake, or Mount Yari. iStock Instead, we retrace our steps along the river valley back to Yokoo Sanso, where we take a 40-minute side trip to Yarimidai lookout, midway up Mount Chogotake. Here, we take in the views of Yarigatake and the Hotakadake range, and eat a tasty lunch prepared by the cooks back at Yarisawa Lodge  rice, egg, lotus root and fish, all neatly wrapped up in bamboo bark.

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By the time we rejoin the trail to Kappa Bridge and the bus terminal, the mornings humidity turns into a barely perceptible smattering of precipitation. At these first atoms of moisture, other wayfarers immediately pull over and hurriedly don snazzy rainwear and stretch elasticated, waterproof covers over their packs. Related Article Japan More than a photo op: Making the most of Fuji (without breaking a sweat) Japanese hikers tend to be gear junkies  its not uncommon to see them wearing climbing helmets and knee-high gaiters on the most benign lower trails, as well as the ubiquitous small bells to warn off bears  so I put this down to the need to indulge in some trekker cosplay to justify the expense of all that fancy kit. I continue smugly apace, enjoying the gentle pock-pock-pock of drizzle on my hat  until the heavens open up, the rain streams down, and I scramble for my jacket and the pack cover that is buried somewhere in the depths of my rucksack. Oh, well. We came here to escape the city heat, and getting soaked in a sudden mountain rainstorm is a perfect way to tick that box. The details Train + bus

The limited express Azusa train service departs regularly for Matsumoto from Tokyos Shinjuku station. Seats for the 2-hour journey start from 6620 ($66) and must be reserved beforehand. Make sure you pick up a beautifully wrapped ekiben railway bento box for the trip from one of the many stalls in Shinjuku station. See jreast.co.jp

From Matsumoto, Kamikochi is about an hour by hire car, or 90 minutes by local train and bus.

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Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk they currently control. This is an ugly concession because it seems an affront to the memory of those who gave their lives to defend that land. Loading The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel  roughly half what they are today. There is no equivalent restriction on Russia. This is another win for Putin by weakening his target over the long-term. These terms would not mark a total victory for Putin. Remember that his goal in February 2022, when Russian tanks came so close to Kyiv, was to turn Ukraine into a vassal state. He sought a rapid surrender and was met with resistance instead. One of the terms even seems to require Russian to pay, in a small way, for what it has done. It says that $US100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in efforts to rebuild Ukraine.

This element is also typical of Trump and his dealmaking ways. He wants the US to gain 50 per cent of the profits from the investment of the $US100 billion. He also seeks US profits from the extraction of Ukrainian minerals, but there is no assurance about American investment. Trump offers a security guarantee to Ukraine, but it comes at a cost. The US will receive compensation for the guarantee, says the draft document widely circulated in the media. There will be no NATO troops on Ukrainian soil and NATO aircraft must be based in Poland, not Ukraine. European leaders are resisting the plan for the logical reason that giving so many concessions to Putin will only encourage him to use war in the years to come. Credit: AP Another item is a longstanding Putin demand: Ukraine cannot join NATO. It would, however, be free to join the European Union. Trump has given ground to Putin on every major Russian demand. The US president often complains about the Russian leader, saying he will talk about peace during the day while sending missiles into Ukraine each night, but he does not have the stomach for a long conflict.

The terms include ending the economic sanctions against Russia, presumably including the bans on Russian oil companies Trump announced last month. Trump does not seem greatly concerned about the sovereignty or security of Ukraine over the years or decades to come, nor the fact that his public remarks about the war have veered so wildly from one week to another. It is another reminder that Trumps America is an unreliable ally. European leaders are resisting the plan for the logical reason that giving so many concessions to Putin will only encourage the Russian president to keep using war, and the threat of war, against Russias neighbours. Europe will be on its own in trying to keep Russia at bay. It cannot trust a ceasefire pledge from Putin after his long list of conflicts in eastern Europe (from Georgia and Moldova to Ukraine) and his increasing use of hybrid war (arson, cyber, criminal plots and assassinations) against liberal democracies. Even Europe, however, has to weigh up the awful cost of continued war against the benefits of a peace, as fragile as that peace may be.

Zelensky, also, has to consider the 28 points as a way to gain a negotiated settlement. His response on Friday was to demonstrate that he was considering the plan. This is not the easiest option for a leader who has rallied his country to fight a war without rest. Ukrainians, more than anyone else in the world, want this war to end, the killings to stop, and a dignified peace to be achieved, he said. Zelensky is talking to NATO and European leaders ahead of a conversation with Trump, clearly exploring ways to amend the draft terms into something more acceptable. He does not reject the plan, saying: We are ready to work swiftly and constructively to ensure it succeeds. There is no doubt that Putin wins if the 28 points are imposed without change. The Russian leaders response early on Saturday (AEDT) was to call this the basis for a resolution to the war.

It is more than that, of course. The draft plan is a capitulation by Trump to Putin. By ceding territory, it rewards war. This seems unfair. And, in fact, it is unfair. But the draft peace plan cannot be dismissed when there is a chance of turning it into a workable agreement to end the fighting. This is true even if Putin emerges from the negotiation with something he wants. The fact is that very few peace deals can leave one side triumphant and another demolished. History shows that most deals work when they offer something to both sides. The humiliation of Germany in 1919 did not deliver the lasting peace the world wanted. The stalemate that ended the Korean War was fragile but was followed by recovery and prosperity for South Korea. Even the devastation of Germany and Japan in 1945, which remains unparalleled, was followed by reconstruction for the defeated nations rather than more humiliation.

Without a conclusive military outcome, every peace deal is a compromise. And the compromise at the end of a war requires incredibly painful concessions because the fighting hardens a nation against its enemy. This makes it easy to shout down those who will argue for a rational but unpalatable peace. Can Russia lose this war? Possibly. Russia is exposed to economic defeat as long as trade sanctions starve Moscow of money and slow its industrial production. Could Russia face an overwhelming military defeat? Probably not, as long as Putin can wield nuclear weapons. The war in Ukraine could continue for years while liberal democracies wait for a popular revolt against Putin that echoes the end of the Cold War. Europe will have an interest in maintaining economic pressure on Russia to weaken Putin even if there is a ceasefire. A handshake on Ukraine will not spare NATO members from having to ramp up their defences. This draft peace deal is easy to condemn because it is so generous to Putin  and because it so brazenly favours its author. Trump seems to have only a passing interest in Ukraines long-term security while he seeks to extract American profits from its reconstruction and, no doubt, campaigns for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of British Land Company PLC (LON:BLND), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early.

British Land Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the CEO & Director, Simon Carter, for UK347k worth of shares, at about UK3.58 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of UK3.73. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. We note that the biggest single sale was only 11% of Simon Carter's holding. Notably Simon Carter was also the biggest buyer, having purchased UK438k worth of shares.

Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 125.68k shares worth UK438k. But they sold 120.08k shares for UK430k. Overall, British Land insiders were net buyers during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

See our latest analysis for British Land

LSE:BLND Insider Trading Volume November 21st 2025

British Land is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

British Land Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen a bit of insider buying at British Land. Independent Non-Executive Director Mark Aedy shelled out UK9.8k for shares in that time. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. But in this case the amount purchased means the recent transaction may not be very meaningful on its own.
Assistant Grade-2 employee in Lokayukta net for taking bribe





Staff Reporter :

Sleuths of Lokayukta police Jabalpur trapped an Assistant Grade-2 employee while taking bribe of Rs 1,500 for updating salary and increment of teacher of Government school, on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Shashikant Mishra (54), Assistant Grade-2, Office of the Block Education Officer (BEO), Jabalpur.

Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta Jabalpur, Anjulata Patle informed that acting on the strict directives of Director General of Lokayukta Police, Yogesh Deshmukh, Jabalpur Lokayukta unit conducted a successful trap operation on Thursday. SP Patle informed that Nannhe Singh Dhurve (45), resident of Bargi, Jabalpur, currently posted as a Primary Teacher at Ek Shala Ek Parisar, Pipariya, lodged a complaint that he was transferred from Balaghat to Jabalpur in June 2025.

However, after the transfer, his salary and annual increment were not updated. When he approached the BEO office regarding this issue, the accused assistant, Shashikant Mishra, demanded a bribe to process his salary and increment. Following the complaint, Lokayukta Jabalpur initiated verification and confirmed the demand for illegal gratification.

Subsequently, on Thursday, team trapped and caught the accused red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,500 in front of the BEO office, Jabalpur. Lokayukta police have registered a case against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018), Sections 7, 13(1)(B) and 13(2).

The corrupt employee was trapped with active working of team comprised of team In-charge Rahul Gajbhiye, Trap Officer Brijmohan Singh Narvariya, Inspector Jitendra Yadav, and Lokayukta Jabalpur team.
Collector warns of strict action against illegal paddy purchase or sale





Staff Reporter :

Collector Dr Gaurav Singh reviewed the preparations and ongoing arrangements for paddy procurement in the district during a video conferencing meeting with nodal officers of all procurement centres on Thursday. The meeting was held in the Red Cross Society meeting room at the Collectorate.

Dr Singh instructed officials to ensure proper facilities at procurement centres, including availability of porters, drinking water for farmers, shaded waiting areas, verification of moisture machine software, and maintenance of strict law and order. The Collector warned that strict action will be taken if any case of illegal paddy purchase or sale comes to light. He directed officers to keep a close watch on such activities.

District Panchayat CEO Kumar Biswaranjan informed that every farmer must be recorded in the online gate pass software. If 15 to 20 tokens are issued at a centre, all corresponding entries must be made. He added that daily reviews will be conducted at the district level and instructed officials to ensure that each farmers photograph is uploaded in the gate pass system.

Additional Collector Kirtiman Singh Rathore, ADM Umashankar Bande, Raipur SDM Nandkumar Choubey, and other officials were present.
Dr Raman Singh lauds CAGs role as Guardian of the Public Purse





Staff Reporter :

Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Raman Singh today inaugurated the Audit Pakhwara, organised by the office of the Principal Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlements) Chhattisgarh, in the state capital. The Audit Pakhwara is being held from November 20 to December 9, 2025. The objective of this event is to commemorate the establishment of the Comptroller and Auditor General institution and to highlight the critical role of audit in strengthening transparency, accountability, and good governance in public administration.

Addressing the inaugural programme, Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh highlighted the long history of the CAG. He said, I salute the 165-year historic journey of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and its role as the strongest pillar of the nations economic ethics. In the era of CAG 2.0 and Digital India, the role of auditing is no longer limited to merely identifying errors, but has become a medium to promote Outcome-Based Governance and enhance administrative efficiency.

He further added that the Constitution of our country has granted special powers to the CAG to maintain the balance of democracy and ensure that public funds are used correctly and accountably. Dr Singh highlighted how the advent of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, has led to a society free from corruption and middle man. While giving example of yesterdays DBT Transfer of 21st instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a single click, disbursed money directly into beneficiaries bank accounts .

He further added that the CAG has upheld this sacred responsibility for 165 years, and it has firmly established its vital role here in Chhattisgarh as well. He mentioned, Our priority in Chhattisgarh is to establish a competent, technology-driven, and citizen-centric governance model. I am confident that this Audit Pakhwada, equipped with tools like AI, Data Analytics, and Real-Time Monitoring, will be a decisive step towards CAG+, playing a central role in it.

Transparency and accountability are the foundation of good governance. In his address, Principal Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlements), Chhattisgarh Yashwant Kumar, As the Principal Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlements), I am delighted to share the recent progress in financial transparency and efficiency achieved by our office at this platform of Audit Pakhwada 2025. Our office is playing a leading role in technology-based financial administration with significant accomplishments such as the successful implementation of E-Kuber, reducing the Monthly Civil Account submission deadline from the 25th to the 10th of the following month, and achieving over 91% data reconciliation.

In line with the vision of the CAG, we are now moving beyond compliance-based checking to bring qualitative improvements in administration, thereby strengthening public trust. We have actively engaged in implementing Hybrid Audits, Data Analytics, and IFMS 2.0. Our goal is clear to prepare a completely transparent and accountable governance model through integrity, impartiality, and cooperation. Secretary of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dinesh Sharma, Senior Deputy Accountant General Priyati Kawdo, Senior Deputy Accountant General M S Dahriya, Deputy Accountant General G Ezhilarasi, Deputy Accountant General Nitin Puke; all officers and employees of the Principal Accountant Generals office attended the inaugural programme.
Foxconn, the Taiwan-based manufacturing partner of companies like Apple and Nvidia, and Intrinsic, an AI and robotics company under the Alphabet umbrella, are investing in a joint venture that will deploy robots in Foxconns U.S. factories, according to a statement from Intrinsic released Thursday evening.

Foxconn just has huge manufacturing expertise, Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, said to Fortune in an interview. She added that Foxconn, perhaps best known for its work assembling Apples iPhones, will know which parts of the manufacturing process can be best improved through AI.

Intrinsic is a graduate of Alphabets moonshot program, focused on developing breakthrough new technologies. Developers worked on ways to make industrial robots easier and cheaper to use; Alphabet debuted the firm as a separate company in 2021.

In particular, Intrinsic focuses on flexible manufacturing, or developing automated systems that can respond to new data, self-optimize, and adapt how they work. Currently, industrial robots are best applied to predetermined tasks, and it is difficult

and expensiveto change how they work. Thats why human labor, in many situations, is still a better option for manufacturers that need flexibility.

White says that Intrinsic and Foxconn had been in conversations for maybe a year or two now, and that it was inevitable that the electronics manufacturing giant would want to cooperate with Intrinsic on software and AI development.

In working with Intrinsic, we are able to tap their deep expertise in AI-driven robotics, Foxconn chair Young Liu said in a statement. This synergy complements our global manufacturing leadership, enabling us to collaboratively unlock the factory of the future.

In late October, Foxconn, whose official name is Hon Hai Technology Group, announced that it would deploy robots at its new Houston plant producing Nvidia server racks. Foxconn is also working with Nvidia to create medical robots for Taiwans hospitals.

The Taiwanese company is also cooperating with robotics firms from mainland China. In January, a Foxconn executive announced that the company would deploy robots from Shenzhen-based UBTech in its factories in mainland China.

White declined to share how much money Intrinsic or Foxconn was contributing to the joint venture, but did share that the initiative was not a pilot.

Asian robots

Initiatives like Intrinsics new joint venture are part of a growing shift in attention to physical AI, or AI models applied in the real world as opposed to the purely digital world of software.
Gang of masked men nabbed: Five held for cafe vandalism driven by students rivalry





Staff Reporter :

The police in the State capital have busted a major act of hooliganism that occurred at a cafe located in Sage Milestone, under the Misrod Police Station area, within 24 hours of the incident. The attack, stemming from old rivalry among students, involved nearly two dozen masked assailants who vandalised the cafe and assaulted its staff. Police have arrested five principal accused, while the search for others is ongoing.

According to Misrod Police, the incident took place on the evening of November 18, around 7 pm, at the Magic Spot Cafe in Sage Milestone. The complainant, Saksham Goswami (22), a resident of Mandideep, reported to the police that Nikhil Patel, Vasu Gupta, Yogi, Abhishek, and Rishabh, along with their associates, stormed the cafe armed with rods and swords. They immediately started verbally abusing people. When asked to stop, the group began assaulting Saksham and his employees and heavily vandalised the entire cafe.

Employee Rohit Bairagi sustained serious injuries in the attack. Police stated that the attack was a result of an ongoing old rivalry between two student groups from Sage University. Given the seriousness of the incident, the police formed a joint task force. A joint team comprising personnel from Misrod, Bagsewaniya, Katara Hills, Govindpura and Piplani Police Stations conducted a thorough analysis of technical evidence, informant networks, and CCTV footage from the surrounding area.

Based on this, the police identified and arrested the five main accused within 24 hours. The police have seized two cars, one motorcycle, and the weapons (rods) used in the crime from the arrested accused. Names of the arrested accused: Om Singh Gaharwar alias Rishabh (20), resident of Sage Sun City Phase-1, Katara. Abhilash Maran (26), resident of Village Bhaironpur, Misrod. Yogi alias Yogendra Amrate (20), resident of Sage Sun City, Katara. Devansh Singh (21), resident of D-Block 376, Sage Sun City, Katara. Vasu Gupta (20), resident of Flat 201, Sage Sun City Phase-1, Katara Hills.
India calls Joint Crediting Mechanism key toolfor equitable, scalable climate action at COP30





BElEM :

INDI Ahas said the Joint Crediting Mechanism has emerged as an important instrument for driving equitable and scalable global climate action; has the potential to accelerate advanced lowcarbon technologies, and can support New Delhis emission targets. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadavon Wednesday said cooperative frameworks such as the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) strengthen global mitigation efforts while also aligning with the development priorities of nations like India.

Mechanisms such as theJCM representasignificantapproach in strengthening efforts for climate action while supporting national priorities, particularly for developingcountries,Yadav said while speaking at the 11th JCM Partner Countries Meeting on the sidelines of COP30 here. JapansEnvironment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara, who chaired the session, said the JCM has now expanded to 31 partner countries with more than 280 projects being implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Japan aims to scale this collaboration (JCM) globally by enablinglong-terminvestments, boosting participation of partner nations in resilience projects, and supporting capacitybuilding, Ishihara said at the meet organised by his ministry. India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in August this year on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Reaffirming the IndiaJapan climate partnership, Yadav said the JCM aligns with the Article 6 cooperative framework and offersbothgovernmentsandprivate entities a clear pathway to jointly develop mitigation projects, mobilise finance, deploy advanced technologies and transparently allocate emission reductions.
President meets tribal community leaders, families of freedom fighters





Staff Reporter :

President Draupadi Murmu met tribal community leaders and families of freedom fighters at PG College Ground, Ambikapur in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. President Murmu interacted with the senior tribal leaders, leaders of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), individuals who have made exceptional contributions to tribal upliftment, and families of tribal freedom fighters. She also posed for group photographs with them as a gesture of warmth and respect.

During the programme, President Murmu interacted with the senior tribal leaders, leaders of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), individuals who have made exceptional contributions to tribal upliftment, and families of tribal freedom fighters. She also posed for group photographs with them as a gesture of warmth and respect. President Murmu honoured the families of tribal heroes and freedom fighters who contributed significantly to Indias independence movement.

She interacted with the relatives of the legendary Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh of the Sonakhan rebellion, his commander; the hero of the Palkot uprising, Shaheed Gend Singh; the Jhanda Satyagraha leader Shri Sukhdev Pater; Bhumkal rebellion hero Bantu Dhurwa; and Jungle Satyagraha martyr Ramdheen Gond, along with the families of freedom fighters Rajnath Bhagat and Majhi Ram Gond.

She also met members of PVTG and other tribal communities. One of the most heartfelt moments of the programme came when President Draupadi Murmu met Basant Pando of the Pando tribe. She enquired about his well-being and felicitated him with a shawl. During the interaction, Basant Pando recounted a cherished memory from 1952, when Indias first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, visited Ambikapur.

He shared that he was merely eight years old when Dr Prasad lovingly adopted him and did his Naamkaran. Following this, the Pando tribe came to be known as Rashtrapati Ke Dattak Putr (adopted sons of the President). President Murmu warmly told him, You are like a son to me as well.
REJOICE: Cheetah Mukhi delivers five cubs at Kuno





Staff Reporter :

The India-born female cheetah Mukhi has made history by giving birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park in Sheopur, marking a significant milestone for Indias cheetah reintroduction program. At 33 months of age, Mukhi is the first India-born female cheetah to successfully reproduce, highlighting her adaptation to the wild. With Mukhis successful birth, the total number of cheetahs in India has increased to 32, reflecting the progress of the countrys cheetah reintroduction program.

Mukhis success is part of Project Cheetah, launched under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reintroduce cheetahs in India after decades of local extinction. The project began on September 17, 2022, when eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia and released at Kuno National Park. In recent developments, two male cheetahs were successfully relocated to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, further strengthening the population.

Over the past three years, five female cheetahs have given birth six times, demonstrating their resilience, adaptability to Indian habitats, and compatibility with native prey species like cheetal. The event is seen as a crucial step toward establishing a self-sustaining and genetically diverse population of cheetahs in the country. It also reinforces efforts to meet Indias broader biodiversity conservation goals, as Project Cheetah continues to focus on creating viable habitats and supporting natural breeding in the wild.

Authorities at are closely monitoring Mukhi and her cubs to ensure their safety and well-being. The birth is expected to encourage initiatives for habitat protection, species monitoring, and overall wildlife conservation, demonstrating effectiveness of careful reintroduction and management programs. CM Dr Mohan Yadav has extended congratulations on this unprecedented achievement, confirming that both Mukhi and her cubs are healthy.
South African President says at the11th hour US wants to join G20 summit





JOHANNESBURG :

THE United States Government has indicated that it has had a change of mind and wants to participate at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa in a reverse of its boycott, the South AfricanPresident saidThursday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosasaidthesummithost country had received communicationfromtheUSatthe11th hour and was now working on the logistics to accommodatethe US.

US President Donald Trump had announced that his administrationwouldboycott the two-day meeting of rich and developing nations in Johannesburg that opens on Saturday. Trump has said the US was boycotting over hisclaimsthatRamaphosasgovernmentisviolentlypersecuting a white minority.

Ramaphosa, who was speaking after a meeting with top European Union officials in Johannesburg, said communications from the US had been received while he was at that meeting. The United States is a member of the G20, they are an originalmemberoftheG20,sothey have the right to be here, Ramaphosa told reporters. And all we are seeking to do is looking at the practicalities ... For themtoparticipate. Ramaphosa said hopefully theUS seat atthe summitwould be occupied when it opens, but gave no indication who might represent the US government.

Trump had said that Vice President JD Vance would represent the US before he announced the boycott. Ramaphosa earlier Thursday had said thatthemeeting would issue a joint declaration despite the US boycott and what he said was pressure from Washington not to issue one.
Tearful adieu to martyr Inspector Ashish Sharma in Narsinghpur





NARSINGHPUR :

The last rites of Inspector Ashish Sharma, martyred in Naxal encounter in Balaghat, was performed with full State honours. He was given a State funeral at the ground across from Muktidham in his native village, Bohani, Narsinghpur. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav paid tributes to the martyr at the funeral. Cabinet ministers Prahlad Singh Patel and Uday Pratap Singh were present at the funeral.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari and Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar also paid tribute to the martyr. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and Minister Prahlad Patel shouldered the martyrs body. His body was carried to the funeral pyre. Earlier, a condolence procession was held in Balaghat on Thursday morning. The mortal remains arrived home in the afternoon.

The family is inconsolable and a pall of gloom descended over the village. More than 5,000 people had gathered to bid an emotional farewell to the martyr. He was shot in an encounter with the Naxalites. Anti-Naxal Operations Director General Pankaj Srivastava stated that Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh conducted a joint operation on Wednesday. Information was received about Naxalite hideouts near Bor Talab, a border area between the three states. On arrival, police encountered the Naxalites.

Inspector Ashish Sharma, who was leading the team, was shot. He was taken to the hospital in an injured condition, where doctors declared him dead.
While Kroger has long been a trusted grocery destination for millions of consumers since its founding in 1883, the way people shop has undergone drastic changes since the pandemic. Many shoppers now prefer the convenience of placing orders online instead of visiting stores in person.

That shift is bringing significant changes to Kroger's business. Several of its markets are about to lose a key delivery service, and in one state, it will disappear entirely.

The rise in popularity of online shopping continues to reshape consumer habits and the retail industry. With the ability to fill a virtual cart and schedule a convenient pickup or delivery time, some shoppers see little need to step inside a store.

According to Capital One Shopping, U.S. online grocery sales increased 104% during the pandemic and are projected to grow 12.3% annually through 2029. In 2025, more than 148 million Americans, nearly 52% of the population, are expected to buy groceries online.

Kroger to close five fulfillment facilities

Kroger (KR) confirmed on its website that it will close five fulfillment facilities in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Frederick, Maryland; Groveland, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in January 2026, in an effort to streamline operations and improve delivery efficiency.

In Florida, the Groveland shutdown will be accompanied by the closure of three additional connected fulfillment centers in Rockledge, Tampa, and Jacksonville, according to WARN filings.

Kroger facility layoffs

Pleasant Prairie Facility: 211 jobs

Source: DWD

Groveland Facility: 935 jobs

Source: Florida Commerce Rockledge Facility: 53 jobs Tampa Facility: 234 jobs Jacksonville Facility: 181 jobs

Frederick Facility: No information as of November 21

Source: Maryland Department of Labor

Nashville Facility : No information as of November 21

Source: TN

Oklahoma City Facility: No information as of November 21

Source: The Oklahoman

Kroger will close five fulfillment centers by 2026, ending its delivery service across several markets.Shutterstock

Why Kroger is closing fulfillment centers

Kroger expects the restructuring to contribute to a $400 million increase in e-commerce operating profit by 2026, which will allow it to reinvest in lower prices, improved store conditions, and stronger margins.

However, the company anticipates about $2.6 billion in impairment charges in the third fiscal quarter of 2025 due to the closures and the underperformance of its automated fulfillment network. Despite this financial hit, Kroger says comparable sales should remain neutral to any impact.

More Closures:

"We are building on a strong foundation with five consecutive quarters of double-digit eCommerce sales growth and increased profitability improvements," said Kroger CEO Ron Sargent in the news release. "We are taking decisive action to make shopping easier, offer faster delivery times, provide more options to our customers, and we expect to deliver profitable sales growth."

What the Kroger facility closures mean for customers

Kroger operates 1,238 grocery stores across 16 states, but hasn't had physical locations in Florida since the late 1980s. To fill this gap, the company provided its delivery service in the state through its Florida-based fulfillment centers.

With these Florida facilities closing, the state will lose access to Kroger's entire grocery delivery program. Customers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Nashville, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin will only lose local access in those markets.

According to Fox35 Orlando, Florida customers were notified via email that final orders must be placed by January 31, with delivery ending on February 1. Kroger's website states that starting January 7, all remaining delivery options will come directly from its stores instead of automated centers.

More Kroger cuts ahead

Fulfillment centers aren't the only part of Kroger's business being cut. In its first-quarter earnings report for fiscal 2025, the company revealed plans to shutter 60 underperforming stores by the end of 2026.

Kroger has also made several rounds of layoffs this year, with the recent fulfillment center closures marking at least the fourth round of job cuts in 2025.

Kroger's recent layoffs

February: Eliminated 200 positions across three Cincinnati office sites

Source: Cincinnati Business Courier

March: Laid off employees at 84.51, Kroger's retail data science and analytics subsidiary

Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer

August: Cut around 1,000 corporate jobs, primarily impacting its Technology and Digital division

Source: The Street

Grocery delivery evolves

To better adapt to evolving consumer habits, Kroger is relying on its third-party partners to deliver groceries across more markets and fuel its retail media business.

The company expanded its partnership with Instacart, which will become its primary delivery fulfillment provider, and Kroger will be among the first retailers to integrate Instacart's AI tool, Cart Assistant, into its app. The retailer has also broadened its relationship with DoorDash and Uber Eats.

"Our differentiated approach, combining the proximity of our stores with high-capacity automation, the wide assortment of the fresh food they love, allows us to fulfill more trips for the families we serve," said Kroger Executive VP and Chief Digital Officer Yael Cosset.

Kroger will continue to use automated customer fulfillment where demand is high and will pilot store-based fulfillment in high-volume markets to improve its fulfillment capabilities and enhance the in-store experience.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, total sales increased 0.08%, with same-store sales up 3.4%. This growth was partly driven by a 16% rise in e-commerce sales.

"Shifts in consumer preferences present an opportune moment for both shippers and providers to reassess their approaches," said McKinsey & Company.

"Decisions regarding cost, speed, reliability, transparency, flexibility, and sustainability can all be reevaluated. Getting value propositions right will rely on understanding the priorities of specific customers, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution."

Retailers that have shifted their fulfillment capabilities

Target (TGT): Opened six new large-format stores to serve as both shopping destinations and fulfillment hubs for online orders

Walmart (WMT): Began testing "dark stores" to speed up order processing

Macy's (M): Opened a 1.4 million-square-foot automated warehouse in China Grove, North Carolina, to meet the growing demands of its omnichannel business

Amazon (AMZN): Began rolling out a doorstep pickup service in collaboration with USPS for select customer returns

Related: Shein takes on key Amazon product line

This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Steve Heapy, the chief executive of Jet2, says it would be a perverse outcome if only the rich could afford to fly - Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg

Labour ministers are treating airlines and package tour operators like a cash cow to fund public spending, the head of Britains largest holiday company has claimed.



Steve Heapy, boss of Jet2, said the Government had already swamped the sector with taxes and warned Rachel Reeves that further increases will lead to higher airfares, making it harder for cash-strapped Britons to afford their summer holidays.

I would ask the Government not to continue using the airline and holiday industry as a cash cow and a bottomless pit of money, Mr Heapy said.

Any additional taxation on the airline and holiday industry is inevitably passed on to customers and that will put prices up.

Mr Heapy said that the Chancellor, who is believed to be considering further increases to the air passenger duty (APD) departure tax, risked making it too expensive for the poorest Britons to take a break at all.

You cant escape the fundamental laws of economics and it could be that increased prices result in reduced demand. Thats not good, because the people who will be unable to afford a holiday will be the lowest-earning members of society, he said.

That would be a perverse outcome, that flying would become something for the rich and privileged.

He said that for many Jet2 customers, who he said work 50 or 51 weeks of the year and treasure their holiday, a week away is the most important annual purchase.

Increases in APD announced in Ms Reevess first Budget will come into effect in April and include a 2 increase in the tax for short-haul international flights, the first since 2012.

For longer flights, the rate will go up by 12 to a maximum of 106, while the rate levy on domestic flights  payable in both directions  will climb to 8.

Airports are also bracing for an anticipated 400pc jump in business rates following the adoption of a new method for calculating the property tax and as passenger numbers surge.

Heathrow faces a bill of about 600m, Gatwick 200m and Manchester Airports Group 150m, which they have warned will be passed to airlines and passengers. Lobby group AirportsUK has written to the Chancellor urging her to cap the increase at 40pc.

Jet2, Britains largest tour operator and third-biggest airline, said customers were continuing to book later in the year.

The trend reflects concerns about the cost of living, which is driving consumers to delay purchases until the last minute.

More people are also taking up offers that lock in prices for a 60 deposit, Mr Heapy said.

Flight-only fares fell 7pc over the summer as Jet2 was forced to slash prices and spend more on marketing to fill its planes. That helped lift passenger numbers 6pc to 14m in the half year, while pre-tax profit rose by 1pc to 800m.
MAI Capital Management lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 481,563 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 27,966 shares during the quarter. MAI Capital Managements holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $65,497,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $23,502,644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,977,715 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 38,293,067 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $5,184,589,000 after buying an additional 1,390,554 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 29,763,415 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,948,117,000 after acquiring an additional 3,371,113 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 29.2% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 15,985,797 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,120,516,000 after acquiring an additional 3,616,471 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 13,108,416 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,738,831,000 after acquiring an additional 168,095 shares during the period. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

NYSE:ABT opened at $124.01 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $130.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $131.25. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $110.86 and a 52-week high of $141.23. The firm has a market cap of $215.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.54, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.30. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.78% and a net margin of 31.88%.The company had revenue of $11.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.21 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 29.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $159.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Benchmark assumed coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Friday, October 10th. They set a buy rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $147.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Cenovus Energy Inc (NYSE:CVE  Get Free Report) (TSE:CVE) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the thirteen analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $25.6667.

CVE has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Raymond James Financial raised shares of Cenovus Energy from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Zacks Research raised Cenovus Energy from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. BMO Capital Markets set a $29.00 price target on Cenovus Energy in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Cenovus Energy in a research report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Cenovus Energy in a research note on Monday, August 25th.

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Cenovus Energy Trading Down 1.1%

CVE opened at $18.06 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.88 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Cenovus Energy has a twelve month low of $10.23 and a twelve month high of $18.75. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $17.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $15.48.

Cenovus Energy (NYSE:CVE  Get Free Report) (TSE:CVE) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.12. Cenovus Energy had a net margin of 5.18% and a return on equity of 9.06%. The company had revenue of $10.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.42 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Cenovus Energy will post 1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cenovus Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. Cenovus Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.90%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cenovus Energy

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its position in Cenovus Energy by 4.4% in the second quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 19,201 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 809 shares in the last quarter. NFP Retirement Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 2.7% during the first quarter. NFP Retirement Inc. now owns 34,500 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $480,000 after buying an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cenovus Energy by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 21,110 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $359,000 after acquiring an additional 903 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in shares of Cenovus Energy by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 6,369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $113,000 after acquiring an additional 917 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 50,111 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $851,000 after acquiring an additional 948 shares in the last quarter. 51.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Cenovus Energy

(Get Free Report)

Cenovus Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, refines, transports, and markets crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products in Canada and internationally. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Refining, and U.S. Refining segments.

Further Reading

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Anglo American plc (LON:AAL  Get Free Report) insider Marcelo Bastos bought 870 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 2,838 per share, with a total value of 24,690.60.

Anglo American Stock Down 0.6%

AAL opened at GBX 2,740.29 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of 29.28 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.84, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 2,781.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 2,395.64. Anglo American plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,900.01 and a fifty-two week high of GBX 3,008.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on shares of Anglo American from GBX 3,000 to GBX 3,100 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of Anglo American from GBX 2,000 to GBX 1,900 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,600 price objective on shares of Anglo American in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Citigroup raised their target price on Anglo American from GBX 2,200 to GBX 2,300 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a GBX 2,760 price target on shares of Anglo American in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 2,532.

About Anglo American

(Get Free Report)

Anglo American is a leading global mining company focused on the responsible production of copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients  future-enabling products that are essential for decarbonising the global economy, improving living standards, and food security. Our portfolio of world-class operations and outstanding resource endowments offers value-accretive growth potential across all three businesses, positioning us to deliver into structurally attractive major demand growth trends.

Our integrated approach to sustainability and innovation drives our decision-making across the value chain, from how we discover new resources to how we mine, process, move and market our products to our customers  safely, efficiently and responsibly.

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Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $107.00, but opened at $101.42. Bank Hapoalim shares last traded at $104.3450, with a volume of 919 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Zacks Research raised shares of Bank Hapoalim to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Bank Hapoalim Stock Down 2.5%

The firm has a market cap of $27.39 billion, a PE ratio of 11.94 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $99.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $93.14.

Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The bank reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter. Bank Hapoalim had a return on equity of 14.21% and a net margin of 20.12%.

About Bank Hapoalim

(Get Free Report)

Bank Hapoalim B.M., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services in Israel and internationally. It operates through Household, Private Banking, Small businesses and micro businesses, Mid-sized businesses, Large businesses, Institutional entities, and Financial management segments.

Further Reading

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BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (NYSE:BBAR  Get Free Report) dropped 5.4% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $13.79 and last traded at $13.9380. Approximately 515,644 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 959,676 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.74.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. HSBC upgraded shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a hold rating to a buy rating and decreased their target price for the company from $21.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of BBVA Banco Frances to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Zacks Research upgraded BBVA Banco Frances from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of BBVA Banco Frances in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $20.00.

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BBVA Banco Frances Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The firms 50-day moving average price is $11.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.88. The stock has a market cap of $2.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.41 and a beta of 1.19.

BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 20th. The bank reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.13). BBVA Banco Frances had a return on equity of 10.24% and a net margin of 6.65%.The firm had revenue of $524.41 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $727.31 billion. On average, analysts expect that BBVA Banco Frances S.A. will post 1.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BBVA Banco Frances Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st will be given a $0.033 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 21st. This is a positive change from BBVA Banco Francess previous monthly dividend of $0.03. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. BBVA Banco Francess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.10%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BBVA Banco Frances

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fourth Sail Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,399,000. PointState Capital LP boosted its stake in BBVA Banco Frances by 36.1% during the first quarter. PointState Capital LP now owns 3,346,539 shares of the banks stock worth $60,639,000 after buying an additional 888,235 shares during the period. Samlyn Capital LLC increased its position in shares of BBVA Banco Frances by 30.8% during the first quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC now owns 1,852,539 shares of the banks stock valued at $33,568,000 after acquiring an additional 435,692 shares during the last quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances by 40.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,050,500 shares of the banks stock valued at $8,740,000 after acquiring an additional 304,600 shares during the period. Finally, OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new position in shares of BBVA Banco Frances in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,168,000.

BBVA Banco Frances Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Banco BBVA Argentina SA provides various banking products and services to individuals and companies in Argentina. The company provides retail banking products and services, such as checking and savings accounts, time deposits, credit cards financing, consumer and pledge loans, mortgages, insurance, and investment products to individuals; and small and medium-sized companies products and services, including financing products, factoring, checking accounts, time deposits, transactional and payroll services, insurance, and investment products to private-sector companies.

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $115.4444.

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Ormat Technologies from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Baird R W raised shares of Ormat Technologies from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating and issued a $125.00 target price on shares of Ormat Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Robert W. Baird raised Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $87.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Ormat Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th.

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Insider Activity at Ormat Technologies

Institutional Trading of Ormat Technologies

In other Ormat Technologies news, CFO Assi Ginzburg sold 20,000 shares of Ormat Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.72, for a total transaction of $2,254,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,482 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,211.04. The trade was a 81.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, Director Isaac Angel sold 18,018 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.42, for a total transaction of $2,025,583.56. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 29,650 shares in the company, valued at $3,333,253. The trade was a 37.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . Insiders sold a total of 73,294 shares of company stock worth $7,660,875 in the last ninety days. 0.56% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ORA. Curio Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 29,200.0% in the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 293 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 43.8% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 371 shares of the energy companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ormat Technologies by 1,100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 360 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 251.0% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 523 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 374 shares during the period. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 218.0% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 547 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. 95.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ormat Technologies Stock Down 2.2%

Ormat Technologies stock opened at $106.61 on Tuesday. Ormat Technologies has a 1-year low of $61.58 and a 1-year high of $115.72. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $103.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $90.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.59, a PEG ratio of 4.84 and a beta of 0.77.

Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The energy company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.04. Ormat Technologies had a return on equity of 5.47% and a net margin of 14.49%.The company had revenue of $249.73 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $235.03 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.36 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Ormat Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ormat Technologies will post 1.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ormat Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th will be given a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Ormat Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 22.02%.

About Ormat Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity.

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Research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Carvana (NYSE:CVNA  Get Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Friday. The brokerage set a buy rating and a $395.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price target would suggest a potential upside of 26.11% from the stocks current price.

CVNA has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays began coverage on Carvana in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. They issued an overweight rating and a $390.00 price target on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $440.00 target price on shares of Carvana in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. DA Davidson set a $360.00 target price on Carvana in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Carvana from $390.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Carvana from $490.00 to $445.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $413.20.

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Carvana Price Performance

CVNA opened at $313.23 on Friday. Carvana has a twelve month low of $148.25 and a twelve month high of $413.33. The firm has a market cap of $68.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 71.51, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 3.50. The company has a current ratio of 4.05, a quick ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $348.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $338.96.

Carvana (NYSE:CVNA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $5.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.04 billion. Carvana had a return on equity of 30.62% and a net margin of 3.44%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 54.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.64 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Carvana will post 2.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Carvana news, COO Benjamin E. Huston sold 10,000 shares of Carvana stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $324.57, for a total value of $3,245,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 101,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,098,674.89. The trade was a 8.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Gregory B. Sullivan sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $340.00, for a total transaction of $850,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 39,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,405,520. The trade was a 5.96% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 386,452 shares of company stock worth $141,017,032. Corporate insiders own 17.12% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CVNA. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. raised its stake in Carvana by 28.3% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 136 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Carvana by 2.8% during the second quarter. Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,153 shares of the companys stock valued at $388,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management raised its position in shares of Carvana by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 1,757 shares of the companys stock worth $592,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its holdings in shares of Carvana by 23.1% in the 3rd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 165 shares of the companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Carvana by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC now owns 1,846 shares of the companys stock worth $622,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. 56.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Carvana

(Get Free Report)

Carvana Co, together with its subsidiaries, operates an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars in the United States. Its platform allows customers to research and identify a vehicle; inspect it using company's 360-degree vehicle imaging technology; obtain financing and warranty coverage; purchase the vehicle; and schedule delivery or pick-up from their desktop or mobile devices.

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Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 11,700 shares of the mining companys stock, valued at approximately $533,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AU. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 855,109 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $38,967,000 after purchasing an additional 70,191 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 6.1% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,284,407 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,017,746,000 after buying an additional 1,281,958 shares during the period. Raiffeisen Bank International AG acquired a new position in AngloGold Ashanti during the second quarter valued at approximately $780,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 156.5% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 80,307 shares of the mining companys stock worth $3,660,000 after buying an additional 48,993 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC grew its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 754.6% during the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 23,604 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,076,000 after buying an additional 20,842 shares during the period. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on AU. Zacks Research upgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded AngloGold Ashanti from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Citigroup assumed coverage on AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $90.00 target price for the company. Finally, Roth Capital set a $76.00 target price on AngloGold Ashanti and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, AngloGold Ashanti has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $69.50.

AngloGold Ashanti Stock Down 3.6%

AU stock opened at $79.28 on Friday. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a twelve month low of $22.45 and a twelve month high of $85.85. The company has a current ratio of 2.99, a quick ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The company has a market capitalization of $33.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.09 and a beta of 0.48. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $71.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $57.11.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 11th. The mining company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a net margin of 23.60% and a return on equity of 22.54%. On average, equities research analysts predict that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th will be paid a $0.91 dividend. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 28th. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 80.18%.

About AngloGold Ashanti

(Free Report)

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.

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From tech to Hollywood, retailers and utilities, U.S. companies are intensifying job cuts and workforce reductions that began in 2024, as they focus on cost savings and leaner operations amid a challenging economic environment.

Employers slashed more than 150,000 jobs in October, the largest wave of layoffs in more than 20 years, a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Nov. 6.

Firms have pointed to a myriad causes for their layoffs, from artificial intelligence to tariffs and corporate restructuring.

"Some industries are correcting after the hiring boom of the pandemic, but this comes as AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending, and rising costs drive belt-tightening and hiring freezes," Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement.

Recently laid off U.S. State Department employees carry boxes as they walk out of the Harry S. Truman Federal Building on July 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.

2025 has been the worst year for announced layoffs since 2009, according to the outplacement firm, and Challenger added that "those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles."

The jobs report released Nov. 20 showed U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September, but the unemployment rate rose to the highest point in nearly four years, up from 4.3% in August to 4.4%

Here are some of the companies that have recently announced layoffs:

Amazon

Amazon said on Oct. 28 that it is cutting thousands of corporate jobs, confirming reports that began circulating on Oct. 27.

A memo, signed by Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of people experience and technology, posted on its website said the tech giant is targeting "an overall reduction in our corporate workforce of approximately 14,000 roles."

As of December 2024, Amazon had about 1.5 million full- and part-time employees, according to its annual report. Its corporate workforce includes roughly 350,000 employees.

Career coach Rikki Lawson, right, helps Stan Shifferd look for a new job during a meeting at EmployNV in Reno on March 7, 2025.

Amazon layoffs: 14,000 corporate jobs cut. What we know about them.

ConocoPhillips

U.S. oil giant ConocoPhillips informed its employees in early September that it will reduce 20% to 25% of its global workforce as part of a broad restructuring.

Dennis Nuss, ConocoPhillips' director of media relations, told USA TODAY at the time that the cuts are part of "looking at how we can be more efficient with the resources we have" and that the majority of the layoffs will take place in 2025.

Falling oil prices have led to layoffs across the sector, with BP confirming that it would reduce 5% of its staff in January, Chevron reporting a 20% cut in February, and oil service company SLB announcing cuts the same month.
Shares of Crawford & Company (NYSE:CRD.B  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $10.50, but opened at $10.02. Crawford & Company shares last traded at $10.4340, with a volume of 3,106 shares trading hands.

Crawford & Company Stock Down 0.2%

The stocks 50 day moving average is $10.14 and its 200 day moving average is $10.20. The company has a market capitalization of $520.43 million, a PE ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.34.

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Crawford & Company (NYSE:CRD.B  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The business services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.03. Crawford & Company had a return on equity of 25.91% and a net margin of 2.18%.The company had revenue of $322.17 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $344.32 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Crawford & Company will post 0.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Crawford & Company Company Profile

Crawford & Co engages in the provision of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers, and corporates. It operates through the following segments: Crawford Loss Adjusting, Crawford TPA Solutions, and Crawford Platform Solutions. The Crawford Loss Adjusting segment consists of adjusting services provided to insurance companies and self-insured entities related to property and casualty losses caused by physical damage to commercial and residential real property and certain types of personal property.

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Cumberland Partners Ltd bought a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 12,500 shares of the consumer goods makers stock, valued at approximately $859,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BUD. Dodge & Cox boosted its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 41,116,138 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $2,531,109,000 after acquiring an additional 1,119,308 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 25.3% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,318,248 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $81,151,000 after purchasing an additional 265,783 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp boosted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 34.0% during the first quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 763,800 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $47,020,000 after purchasing an additional 193,800 shares in the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.3% during the first quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 2,790,240 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $171,767,000 after purchasing an additional 190,830 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 24.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 929,927 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $57,246,000 after purchasing an additional 184,749 shares during the last quarter. 5.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BUD opened at $60.78 on Friday. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $45.94 and a twelve month high of $72.13. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $64.38. The company has a market capitalization of $118.68 billion, a PE ratio of 17.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Dividend Announcement

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( NYSE:BUD Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.97 by $0.02. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 12.16% and a return on equity of 16.21%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.98 EPS. The firms revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 19th will be issued a $0.1722 dividend. This represents a yield of 57.0%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 19th. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs payout ratio is presently 7.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BUD has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Friday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an overweight rating and a $75.00 price objective on the stock. Kepler Capital Markets downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Friday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $72.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

About Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

(Free Report)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.

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Shares of Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DIFTY  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $4.50, but opened at $4.69. Daito Trust Construction shares last traded at $4.71, with a volume of 19,721 shares trading hands.

Daito Trust Construction Stock Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $11.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.83.

Daito Trust Construction Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Daito Trust Construction Co,Ltd. designs, constructs, and rents apartments and condominiums in Japan. It operates through three segments: Construction, Real Estate, and Finance. The company design and construct rental housing and other structure construction; ironwork and construction; building management and renovation, and whole building leasing; rental housing tenant guarantor services; advertising; and LP gas supply businesses.

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DNB Asset Management AS grew its position in Transdigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG  Free Report) by 11.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,329 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,346 shares during the period. DNB Asset Management ASs holdings in Transdigm Group were worth $33,954,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of TDG. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in Transdigm Group by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 257 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $391,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC grew its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group by 3.8% during the second quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC now owns 193 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Transdigm Group by 3.8% in the second quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 191 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $292,000 after buying an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. New Republic Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Transdigm Group by 4.6% in the first quarter. New Republic Capital LLC now owns 183 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $253,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group by 3.7% in the first quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 225 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $311,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the last quarter. 95.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Patrick Joseph Murphy sold 290 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,310.00, for a total value of $379,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 1,055 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,382,050. This represents a 21.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, COO Joel Reiss sold 3,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,340.00, for a total transaction of $5,226,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 3,600 shares in the company, valued at $4,824,000. This represents a 52.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 33,629 shares of company stock valued at $44,369,174 in the last ninety days. 4.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Transdigm Group Stock Performance

Shares of TDG stock opened at $1,328.80 on Friday. Transdigm Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $1,183.60 and a 52-week high of $1,623.82. The stock has a market cap of $74.84 billion, a PE ratio of 44.10, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.02. The firms 50 day moving average price is $1,300.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,400.19.

Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The aerospace company reported $10.82 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.33 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. Transdigm Group had a net margin of 20.98% and a negative return on equity of 35.27%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $9.83 EPS. Transdigm Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 36.490-38.530 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Transdigm Group Incorporated will post 35.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,405.00 to $1,435.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,420.00 to $1,500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,710.00 to $1,650.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 13th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on Transdigm Group from $1,700.00 to $1,600.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Transdigm Group from $1,738.00 to $1,798.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,576.29.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Transdigm Group

About Transdigm Group

(Free Report)

TransDigm Group Incorporated designs, produces, and supplies aircraft components in the United States and internationally. The Power & Control segment offers mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, databus and power controls, sensor products, switches and relay panels, hoists, winches and lifting devices, and cargo loading and handling systems.

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Empirical Finance LLC grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 53.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,109 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,718 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLCs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $1,207,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 3.4% in the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 13,475 shares of the companys stock valued at $821,000 after acquiring an additional 449 shares in the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lifted its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 35.4% during the first quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 175,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,675,000 after purchasing an additional 45,884 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 46.6% in the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,302 shares of the companys stock worth $262,000 after acquiring an additional 1,367 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage in the 1st quarter worth approximately $216,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 23.8% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 43,002 shares of the companys stock worth $2,618,000 after buying an additional 8,276 shares during the period. 78.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $50.00 price objective (down previously from $53.00) on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $67.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Molson Coors Beverage from $58.00 to $53.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. They issued a neutral rating and a $49.00 price objective for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $54.37.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director David S. Coors bought 2,245 shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $44.47 per share, with a total value of $99,835.15. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 30,586 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,360,159.42. This trade represents a 7.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Andrew Thomas Molson purchased 7,500 shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $46.79 per share, for a total transaction of $350,925.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 22,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,059,980.66. This trade represents a 49.49% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock.

Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance

NYSE:TAP opened at $45.53 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.00 billion, a PE ratio of 8.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.65. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a fifty-two week low of $42.94 and a fifty-two week high of $64.66. The company has a fifty day moving average of $45.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $49.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.95.

Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.72 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.02 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a net margin of 7.81% and a return on equity of 8.61%. Molson Coors Beverage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.360-5.360 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Molson Coors Beverage

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Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Get Free Report) Director Kelcy Warren bought 1,000,000 shares of Energy Transfer stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $16.95 per share, with a total value of $16,950,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 104,577,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,772,593,760.85. The trade was a 0.97% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ET traded down $0.30 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $16.63. 20,501,218 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,958,357. The stock has a market cap of $57.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.89, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.76. Energy Transfer LP has a 1 year low of $14.60 and a 1 year high of $21.45. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

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Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The pipeline company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.80% and a return on equity of 11.08%. The company had revenue of $19.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.84 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.32 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th were paid a $0.3325 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.0%. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 106.40%.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on ET shares. Jefferies Financial Group set a $17.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Energy Transfer from $24.00 to $23.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $22.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $21.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $23.00 price target (up previously from $21.00) on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $22.08.

View Our Latest Analysis on Energy Transfer

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Alps Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 77,651,021 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $1,332,492,000 after purchasing an additional 3,366,734 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 57,862,666 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $992,923,000 after buying an additional 1,773,042 shares during the last quarter. Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. now owns 38,205,495 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $710,240,000 after purchasing an additional 951,656 shares in the last quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 23,351,183 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $400,706,000 after purchasing an additional 326,653 shares during the period. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Energy Transfer by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 21,898,420 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $375,777,000 after purchasing an additional 544,944 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the companys stock.

Energy Transfer Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates natural gas transportation pipeline, and natural gas storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma; and approximately 20,090 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. It also sells natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution and other marketing companies, and industrial end-users.

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Shares of First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE:FCF  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $19.6250.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on FCF shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of First Commonwealth Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Zacks Research lowered shares of First Commonwealth Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, DA Davidson downgraded First Commonwealth Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th.

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Insider Activity at First Commonwealth Financial

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Commonwealth Financial

In other news, CFO James R. Reske sold 2,190 shares of First Commonwealth Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.99, for a total value of $37,208.10. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 85,866 shares in the company, valued at $1,458,863.34. This trade represents a 2.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, EVP Michael P. Mccuen acquired 2,826 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 3rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $17.67 per share, for a total transaction of $49,935.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 59,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,042,901.07. This represents a 5.03% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing . Insiders sold a total of 5,898 shares of company stock worth $99,664 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 2.17% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCF. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of First Commonwealth Financial in the first quarter valued at about $400,000. Voya Investment Management LLC boosted its position in First Commonwealth Financial by 393.5% during the first quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 161,216 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,505,000 after purchasing an additional 128,547 shares during the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new position in First Commonwealth Financial in the first quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of First Commonwealth Financial during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $411,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of First Commonwealth Financial during the 1st quarter worth approximately $5,077,000. 72.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

First Commonwealth Financial Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of First Commonwealth Financial stock opened at $15.54 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.26 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The business has a 50-day moving average of $16.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.44. First Commonwealth Financial has a 1 year low of $13.54 and a 1 year high of $19.96.

First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The bank reported $0.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.02). First Commonwealth Financial had a net margin of 20.00% and a return on equity of 10.12%. The business had revenue of $135.98 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $136.30 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.31 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that First Commonwealth Financial will post 1.45 EPS for the current year.

First Commonwealth Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 21st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.135 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.5%. First Commonwealth Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.13%.

First Commonwealth Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides various consumer and commercial banking services in the United States. Its consumer services include personal checking accounts, interest-earning checking accounts, savings and health savings accounts, insured money market accounts, debit cards, investment certificates, fixed and variable rate certificates of deposit, mortgage loans, secured and unsecured installment loans, construction and real estate loans, safe deposit facilities, credit cards, credit lines with overdraft checking protection, IRA accounts, and automated teller machine (atm) services, as well as internet, mobile, and telephone banking services.

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) shares dropped 3.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $12.38 and last traded at $12.4050. Approximately 95,784,393 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 1% from the average daily volume of 96,695,516 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.90.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

F has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $11.00 to $13.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ford Motor in a research report on Monday. Barclays lifted their price target on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.73.

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Ford Motor Trading Down 3.8%

The company has a fifty day moving average of $12.38 and a 200-day moving average of $11.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The company has a market capitalization of $49.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.69, a PEG ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 1.60.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The auto manufacturer reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $50.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.08 billion. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 11.94% and a net margin of 2.48%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.49 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Ford Motor Company will post 1.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ford Motor Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. Ford Motors payout ratio is 51.72%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ford Motor

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Corsicana & Co. purchased a new position in Ford Motor during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new position in shares of Ford Motor in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Country Trust Bank purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Ford Motor by 990.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,509 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 2,279 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Ford Motor by 55.4% in the 3rd quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,348 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 837 shares during the last quarter. 58.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ford Motor Company Profile

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Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

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Gray Media Inc. (NYSE:GTN.A  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $8.49, but opened at $8.16. Gray Media shares last traded at $8.30, with a volume of 101 shares changing hands.

Gray Media Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.56. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.67. The company has a market capitalization of $844.79 million, a P/E ratio of 5.48 and a beta of 1.10.

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Gray Media (NYSE:GTN.A  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.24) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Gray Media had a return on equity of 10.31% and a net margin of 5.64%.The firm had revenue of $749.00 million for the quarter.

Gray Media Company Profile

Gray Television, Inc, a television broadcast company, owns and operates television stations and digital assets in the United States. As of February 28, 2019, it owned and operated television stations in 91 television markets broadcasting approximately 400 program streams, including approximately 150 channels affiliated with the CBS Network, the NBC Network, the ABC Network, and the FOX Network.

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Grupo Simec, S.A. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM  Get Free Report) dropped 5.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $29.99 and last traded at $28.3450. Approximately 718 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 1,757 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.89.

Grupo Simec Trading Down 3.5%

The stock has a market cap of $4.46 billion, a PE ratio of 26.60 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $27.83 and a 200-day moving average of $27.59.

About Grupo Simec

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Grupo Simec, SAB. de C.V. manufactures, processes, and distributes special bar quality (SBQ) steel and steel alloys products in Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Latin America, and internationally. The company produces I-beams, channels, structural and commercial angles, hot rolled bars, flat bars, rebars, cold-finished bars, electro-welded wire mesh and mesh panels, and wire rods, as well as semi-finished tube rounds and other semi-finished trade products.

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This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Houston-based LevelField Financial has received conditional approval from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to acquire Chicago-based Burling Bank, the company said Monday in a release.

The transaction still needs sign-off from the Federal Reserve, LevelField said.

LevelField first proposed acquiring Burling in February 2023, but withdrew that application once it found "unexpected roadblocks with the amount of capital required by regulatory agencies," CEO Gene Grant told American Banker.

Dive Insight:

LevelField filed a fresh application to buy Burling in December 2024. In that paperwork, the Houston firm said it would pay roughly $70 million for the bank, which counts a single branch and $209.5 million in assets.

The combined entity will be renamed LevelField Bank but maintain Burlings community banking business. However, it will add a focus on deposit accounts, loans and custody services tailored to digital assets, including term loans and credit cards secured by bitcoin or Ether, according to the application.

Burling's CEO, Michael Busch, will become president of LevelField Bank, Grant said.

From the beginning, LevelField said it sought to become the first full-service chartered bank to offer traditional banking and digital asset services on one platform across the U.S.

"The idea is, once we have a customer, they don't have to go outside the bank perimeter for anything they want to do in digital assets, Grant told American Banker.

Grant said he expects acquisition to be finalized by the end of this year. Only Burlings cannabis banking business will retain the Burling brand, LevelField said.

To accommodate the anticipated round-the clock needs of its digital-asset user base, LevelField aims to hire roughly 100 employees in 2026  mostly in customer service, Grant said.

Once LevelField receives regulatory approval, it aims to raise $112.5 million, according to its December 2024 filing. That is meant to cover the acquisition of the bank, $20 million in growth capital and $17.5 million that LevelField will retain, the company said.

In a release Monday, Grant thanked investors for backing the patient, disciplined work it took to meet the necessary supervisory standards that protect consumers and businesses and make the U.S. the home of the world leading banking system."

As far as embracing crypto, Grant said the banking system can either "live in denial or we can try to safely integrate it  in such a way that it works collaboratively and doesn't endanger the system."
Halma (OTCMKTS:HLMAF  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $43.37, but opened at $44.3530. Halma shares last traded at $44.21, with a volume of 1,019 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on HLMAF. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Halma to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Halma in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Halma in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Halma from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Halma in a report on Monday, October 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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Halma Price Performance

About Halma

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 2.44. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $46.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.74.

(Get Free Report)

Halma plc, together its subsidiaries, provides technology solutions in the safety, health, and environmental markets in the United States, Mainland Europe, the United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Safety, Environmental & Analysis, and Medical.

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Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE:HG  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday after Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on the stock from $28.00 to $30.00. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Hamilton Insurance Group traded as high as $26.99 and last traded at $26.98, with a volume of 453994 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $25.74.

HG has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays lifted their target price on Hamilton Insurance Group from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. JMP Securities set a $32.00 price objective on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Hamilton Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Hamilton Insurance Group from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $28.63.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other news, CEO Alexander James Baker sold 18,350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.19, for a total value of $480,586.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 84,136 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,203,521.84. This trade represents a 17.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Keith Donald Bernhard sold 47,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.37, for a total transaction of $1,145,390.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 53,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,313,372.41. This represents a 46.58% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Corporate insiders own 17.46% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HG. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Hamilton Insurance Group by 172.6% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,698 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,075 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in Hamilton Insurance Group by 1,404.4% in the third quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 1,587 shares in the last quarter. Flaharty Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in the 1st quarter worth about $62,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new stake in Hamilton Insurance Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $71,000. Finally, Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. raised its position in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group by 14.6% during the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 4,595 shares of the companys stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 585 shares in the last quarter. 29.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hamilton Insurance Group Trading Up 5.4%

The firms 50 day moving average is $24.66 and its 200 day moving average is $22.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.46 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.61. The business had revenue of $698.85 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $537.70 million. Hamilton Insurance Group had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 15.07%. Equities analysts forecast that Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Hamilton Insurance Group Company Profile

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Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides underwriting specialty insurance and reinsurance risks in Bermuda and internationally. The company operates Hamilton Global Specialty, Hamilton Select, and Hamilton Re underwriting platforms. The company offers casualty reinsurance products, such as commercial motor, general liability, healthcare, multiline, personal motor, professional liability, umbrella and excess casualty, and worker's compensation and employer's liability reinsurance; property reinsurance and insurance; and specialty reinsurance solutions, including accident and health, aviation and space, crisis management, mortgage, financial lines, marine and energy, and multiline specialty.

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its stake in Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL  Free Report) by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 268,051 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 13,200 shares during the quarter. Tyler Technologies accounts for 0.6% of Handelsbanken Fonder ABs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned approximately 0.62% of Tyler Technologies worth $158,911,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tyler Technologies by 2.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,570,120 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,302,190,000 after purchasing an additional 110,957 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Tyler Technologies by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,206,406 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $713,144,000 after acquiring an additional 30,686 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Tyler Technologies by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,038,481 shares of the technology companys stock worth $615,653,000 after acquiring an additional 39,554 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Tyler Technologies by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 480,085 shares of the technology companys stock worth $279,117,000 after acquiring an additional 14,219 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 17.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 428,304 shares of the technology companys stock worth $249,012,000 after acquiring an additional 62,889 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.30% of the companys stock.

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Tyler Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of TYL stock opened at $466.06 on Friday. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $450.00 and a 52-week high of $661.31. The stock has a market cap of $20.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 64.82, a PEG ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.93. The firms 50-day moving average is $499.78 and its 200-day moving average is $546.35.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Tyler Technologies ( NYSE:TYL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $595.88 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $594.34 million. Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 10.64% and a net margin of 13.72%.Tyler Technologiess quarterly revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.52 earnings per share. Tyler Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.300-11.500 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 8.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group reissued an overweight rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Robert W. Baird set a $660.00 price target on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and set a $600.00 price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays raised their price objective on Tyler Technologies from $695.00 to $715.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $660.09.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider John S. Marr, Jr. sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.65, for a total value of $2,242,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 6,983 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,915,018.95. This represents a 36.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $538.30, for a total transaction of $403,725.00. Following the sale, the director owned 3,172 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,707,487.60. This represents a 19.12% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 9,000 shares of company stock worth $5,007,328. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Tyler Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Tyler Technologies, Inc provides integrated information management solutions and services for the public sector. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Software and Platform Technologies. The company offers platform and transformative technology solutions, including cybersecurity for government agencies; data and insights solutions; digital solutions that helps workers and policymakers to share, communicate, and leverage data; payments solutions, such as billing, presentment, merchant onboarding, collections, reconciliation, and disbursements; platform technologies, an application development platform that enables government workers to build solutions and applications; and outdoor recreation solutions, including campsite reservations, activity registrations, licensing sales and renewals, and real-time data for conservation and park management.

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Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) by 37.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,085,013 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 637,435 shares during the period. Manulife Financial makes up 1.3% of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.06% of Manulife Financial worth $34,717,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wealth Alliance LLC lifted its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 20,984 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $671,000 after acquiring an additional 345 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL raised its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 1.9% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,878 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $619,000 after purchasing an additional 377 shares during the period. Sachetta LLC raised its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 15.2% during the second quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 3,005 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $96,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. Apollon Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 19,059 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $609,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,939 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $190,000 after buying an additional 411 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.56% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Manulife Financial from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Friday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley set a $47.00 price target on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Manulife Financial from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, UBS Group started coverage on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Manulife Financial presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $49.50.

Manulife Financial Price Performance

Shares of MFC stock opened at $33.89 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $32.33 and a 200-day moving average of $31.52. Manulife Financial Corp has a one year low of $25.92 and a one year high of $35.57. The company has a market cap of $57.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.98.

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC  Get Free Report) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $12.90 billion during the quarter. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 10.46% and a return on equity of 15.77%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.00 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Manulife Financial Corp will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be issued a $0.44 dividend. This is a boost from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 55.56%.

Manulife Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Finsbury Growth & Income (LON:FGT  Get Free Report) insider Pars Purewal acquired 260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 791 per share, for a total transaction of 2,056.60.

Finsbury Growth & Income Trading Down 0.1%

FGT opened at GBX 795 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of 1.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.06 and a beta of 0.52. Finsbury Growth & Income has a 12 month low of GBX 787.46 and a 12 month high of GBX 964. The firms fifty day simple moving average is GBX 845.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 886.11.

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About Finsbury Growth & Income

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The Company was founded in 1926 and Nick Train has managed the portfolio since his firm, Lindsell Train, was appointed as Portfolio Manager in 2000. Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC (the Company) invests principally in the securities of UK listed companies, whilst up to a maximum of 20% of the Companys portfolio, at the time of acquisition, can be invested in quoted companies outside of the UK.

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Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) EVP Audrey Tillman sold 3,452 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.10, for a total transaction of $397,325.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 230,688 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,552,188.80. The trade was a 1.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $110.61 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $110.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $106.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.83. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $115.83.

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Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter. Aflac had a net margin of 15.32% and a return on equity of 15.08%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is a boost from Aflacs previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 18th. Aflacs payout ratio is 30.29%.

Aflac declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, August 12th that allows the company to buyback 100,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aflac

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in Aflac by 1.1% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 5,307,681 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $590,161,000 after acquiring an additional 56,776 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Aflac by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,414,180 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $493,047,000 after purchasing an additional 310,220 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 16.7% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,167,886 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $439,545,000 after purchasing an additional 594,971 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at about $432,201,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc boosted its stake in shares of Aflac by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 3,926,777 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $438,621,000 after purchasing an additional 13,666 shares in the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Aflac from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Aflac from $114.00 to $111.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $111.00.

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About Aflac

(Get Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT  Get Free Report) CAO Daniel Yates sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.69, for a total transaction of $93,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 23,380 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,091,612.20. This trade represents a 7.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Dynatrace Trading Down 4.0%

Shares of DT stock opened at $43.48 on Friday. Dynatrace, Inc. has a 12-month low of $39.30 and a 12-month high of $63.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $48.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.80. The company has a market cap of $13.11 billion, a PE ratio of 26.03, a PEG ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.85.

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Dynatrace (NYSE:DT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.03. Dynatrace had a return on equity of 9.24% and a net margin of 27.33%.The firm had revenue of $493.85 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $487.33 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.37 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. Dynatrace has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.400-0.420 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 1.620-1.640 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Dynatrace, Inc. will post 0.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on DT. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Dynatrace in a research note on Monday. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Dynatrace in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. They set an overweight rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities restated a buy rating and set a $67.00 price target on shares of Dynatrace in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, UBS Group set a $51.00 price objective on shares of Dynatrace in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $61.59.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Dynatrace

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Dynatrace

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its holdings in shares of Dynatrace by 125.1% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 207,323 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,776,000 after acquiring an additional 115,200 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its position in Dynatrace by 587.0% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 999,766 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,139,000 after purchasing an additional 854,250 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Dynatrace during the first quarter valued at $2,647,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its holdings in Dynatrace by 16.0% in the first quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 117,069 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,520,000 after purchasing an additional 16,164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in Dynatrace by 68.6% in the first quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 342,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,120,000 after purchasing an additional 139,204 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.28% of the companys stock.

Dynatrace Company Profile

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Dynatrace, Inc provides a security platform for multicloud environments in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates Dynatrace, a security platform, which provides application and microservices monitoring, runtime application security, infrastructure monitoring, log management and analytics, digital experience monitoring, digital business analytics, and cloud automation.

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Inspire Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 4,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $245,000.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 6,441 shares of the companys stock valued at $324,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the period. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust raised its position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 26.0% in the first quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 1,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the period. Advyzon Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 14.4% in the 2nd quarter. Advyzon Investment Management LLC now owns 7,039 shares of the companys stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 886 shares during the last quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC now owns 99,728 shares of the companys stock worth $5,020,000 after purchasing an additional 950 shares during the period. Finally, Ellis Investment Partners LLC increased its position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 21.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC now owns 9,183 shares of the companys stock worth $462,000 after purchasing an additional 1,611 shares during the last quarter.

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BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Performance

Shares of XHLF opened at $50.31 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $50.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.29. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a 12-month low of $50.15 and a 12-month high of $50.42.

About BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF

The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XHLF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of six months. XHLF was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx.

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Intech Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB  Free Report) by 17.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 92,496 shares of the banks stock after selling 19,237 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC owned 0.06% of Associated Banc worth $2,256,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in Associated Banc by 2,033.9% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,195 shares of the banks stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139 shares during the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Associated Banc in the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Quarry LP raised its stake in Associated Banc by 77.7% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,907 shares of the banks stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 834 shares in the last quarter. Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Associated Banc in the second quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in Associated Banc by 17.9% in the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,688 shares of the banks stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares in the last quarter. 82.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP John A. Utz sold 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.24, for a total transaction of $354,120.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 111,228 shares in the company, valued at $3,029,850.72. The trade was a 10.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Patrick Edward Ahern sold 3,342 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total transaction of $87,560.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 41,472 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,086,566.40. This represents a 7.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 18,342 shares of company stock worth $494,360. 1.45% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $30.00 target price (up previously from $29.00) on shares of Associated Banc in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Associated Banc from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Barclays cut their price target on Associated Banc from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Associated Banc from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Associated Banc from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.22.

Read Our Latest Report on Associated Banc

Associated Banc Stock Down 0.5%

ASB opened at $24.61 on Friday. Associated Banc-Corp has a 52 week low of $18.32 and a 52 week high of $27.97. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $25.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $4.08 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.84.

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The bank reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.07. Associated Banc had a return on equity of 9.45% and a net margin of 7.23%.The business had revenue of $390.71 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $377.94 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.56 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Associated Banc-Corp will post 2.43 EPS for the current year.

Associated Banc Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. This is an increase from Associated Bancs previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Associated Bancs dividend payout ratio is presently 102.13%.

About Associated Banc

(Free Report)

Associated Banc-Corp, a bank holding company, provides various banking and nonbanking products to individuals and businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. The company offers lending solutions, including commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction loans, letters of credit, leasing, asset based lending and equipment finance, loan syndications products, residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, personal and installment loans, auto finance and business loans, and business lines of credit.

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North European Oil Royality Trust (NYSE:NRT  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Traders purchased 2,030 put options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 6,900% compared to the typical volume of 29 put options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of North European Oil Royality Trust in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold.

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North European Oil Royality Trust Stock Performance

North European Oil Royality Trust stock traded up $0.03 on Friday, reaching $5.72. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 40,793. The company has a market cap of $52.53 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.21 and a beta of 0.02. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $5.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.29. North European Oil Royality Trust has a twelve month low of $3.88 and a twelve month high of $6.95.

North European Oil Royality Trust (NYSE:NRT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, August 29th. The energy company reported $0.26 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $2.62 million during the quarter. North European Oil Royality Trust had a return on equity of 343.87% and a net margin of 88.33%.

North European Oil Royality Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This is a positive change from North European Oil Royality Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 21.7%. North European Oil Royality Trusts dividend payout ratio is 221.43%.

Institutional Trading of North European Oil Royality Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NRT. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in North European Oil Royality Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in North European Oil Royality Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at about $134,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of North European Oil Royality Trust by 210.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 29,500 shares of the energy companys stock worth $148,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the period. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp boosted its position in North European Oil Royality Trust by 57.0% during the second quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 44,600 shares of the energy companys stock worth $223,000 after purchasing an additional 16,200 shares during the period. Finally, Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC acquired a new position in North European Oil Royality Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at about $19,341,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.97% of the companys stock.

North European Oil Royality Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

North European Oil Royalty Trust, a grantor trust, holds overriding royalty rights covering gas and oil production in various concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. The company also has rights under contracts with German exploration and development subsidiaries of ExxonMobil Corp. and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.

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(Reuters) -Eli Lilly hit $1 trillion in market value on Friday, making it the first drugmaker to enter the exclusive club dominated by tech giants and underscoring its rise as a weight-loss powerhouse.

Here are some reactions to Lilly joining the trillion dollar club: 

EVAN SEIGERMAN, ANALYST AT BMO CAPITAL MARKETS

"The current valuation points to investor confidence in the longer-term durability of the company's metabolic health franchise. It also suggests that investors prefer Lilly over Novo in the obesity arms race. Taking a step back, we're also seeing money rotate into the sector as investors may be worried about an AI bubble."

HANK SMITH, DIRECTOR & HEAD OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY AT LILLY SHAREHOLDER HAVERFORD TRUST

"Investors have historically liked secure earnings growth and (Eli Lilly) is the only large cap pharma that has that kind of earnings profile."

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IVE  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 1,913,577 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 156% from the previous sessions volume of 746,436 shares.The stock last traded at $206.1210 and had previously closed at $207.38.

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Trading Down 1.2%

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $207.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $199.53. The company has a market cap of $41.45 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70 and a beta of 0.89.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares S&P 500 Value ETF

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of IVE. Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $7,724,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 5.8% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 45,091 shares of the companys stock worth $8,627,000 after acquiring an additional 2,477 shares in the last quarter. LVZ Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 2.0% during the second quarter. LVZ Inc. now owns 449,606 shares of the companys stock worth $87,862,000 after acquiring an additional 8,641 shares during the period. SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF in the second quarter valued at $1,290,000. Finally, Americana Partners LLC boosted its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 170.7% in the second quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 4,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $799,000 after purchasing an additional 2,579 shares during the period.

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P 500 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.

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Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV  Free Report) by 51.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 54,419 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 18,450 shares during the quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Silver Trust were worth $1,785,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SLV. Cadence Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares Silver Trust by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC now owns 724,150 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $23,759,000 after purchasing an additional 15,040 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Advisors of Iowa LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust during the second quarter worth $224,000. Personal CFO Solutions LLC raised its stake in iShares Silver Trust by 18.9% during the second quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 29,657 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $973,000 after buying an additional 4,716 shares during the last quarter. Sagil Capital LLP acquired a new position in iShares Silver Trust in the second quarter valued at $6,562,000. Finally, Miller Financial Services LLC boosted its position in iShares Silver Trust by 8.7% during the second quarter. Miller Financial Services LLC now owns 50,597 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,660,000 after acquiring an additional 4,063 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Silver Trust Trading Down 1.4%

SLV stock opened at $45.78 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $24.66 billion, a PE ratio of -8.51 and a beta of 0.38. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $43.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.94. iShares Silver Trust has a 1-year low of $26.19 and a 1-year high of $49.25.

About iShares Silver Trust

iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust. The Trusts each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of silver held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV  Free Report).

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Journey Strategic Wealth LLC increased its holdings in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 27.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,024 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after buying an additional 2,587 shares during the quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $1,485,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. TCTC Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 210.1% during the 1st quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 214 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in TJX Companies in the second quarter worth $32,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 121.1% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 272 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Activest Wealth Management raised its position in TJX Companies by 4,485.7% during the first quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 321 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock.

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TJX Companies Stock Performance

NYSE TJX opened at $148.20 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $164.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.76, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.90. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $142.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.17. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $112.10 and a fifty-two week high of $151.00.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.06. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.63% and a net margin of 8.59%.The company had revenue of $15.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.80 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.14 earnings per share. TJX Companiess quarterly revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. TJX Companies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.330-1.360 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 4.630-4.660 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 13th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $163.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and set a $168.00 target price (up previously from $155.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on TJX Companies from $152.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Macquarie reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $162.00 target price (up previously from $159.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $158.90.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TJX

TJX Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.

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Equities research analysts at KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Elanco Animal Health (NYSE:ELAN  Get Free Report) in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm set an overweight rating and a $27.00 price target on the stock. KeyCorps price target suggests a potential upside of 27.15% from the companys previous close.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the company. UBS Group upped their target price on Elanco Animal Health from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Elanco Animal Health from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $18.00 to $24.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Elanco Animal Health from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Argus raised Elanco Animal Health from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $25.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Elanco Animal Health from $18.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.56.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on ELAN

Elanco Animal Health Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of Elanco Animal Health stock opened at $21.24 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.40 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market cap of $10.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 353.98, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.71. The firms 50-day moving average is $20.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.93. Elanco Animal Health has a 1 year low of $8.02 and a 1 year high of $23.09.

Elanco Animal Health (NYSE:ELAN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.06. Elanco Animal Health had a net margin of 0.78% and a return on equity of 7.41%. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.13 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Elanco Animal Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.910-0.940 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.090-0.120 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Elanco Animal Health will post 0.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elanco Animal Health

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its holdings in Elanco Animal Health by 2,563.5% in the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 1,385 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,333 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Elanco Animal Health by 136.7% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,882 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its position in shares of Elanco Animal Health by 80.3% in the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 2,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Elanco Animal Health by 79.3% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,151 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 951 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Elanco Animal Health by 184.3% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 3,724 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 2,414 shares in the last quarter. 97.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Elanco Animal Health

(Get Free Report)

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, an animal health company, innovates, develops, manufactures, and markets products for pets and farm animals. It offers pet health disease prevention products, such as parasiticide and vaccine products that protect pets from worms, fleas, and ticks under the Seresto, Advantage, Advantix, and Advocate brands; pet health therapeutics for pain, osteoarthritis, ear infections, cardiovascular, and dermatology indications in canines and felines under the Galliprant and Claro brands; vaccines, antibiotics, parasiticides, and other products for use in poultry and aquaculture production, as well as nutritional health products, including enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics; and a range of vaccines, antibiotics, implants, parasiticides, and other products used in ruminant and swine production under the Rumensin and Baytril brands.

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Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 4.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,320,845 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 286,470 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 0.47% of RTX worth $922,970,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in RTX during the 1st quarter worth about $916,739,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in RTX by 1.9% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 122,074,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,825,353,000 after purchasing an additional 2,238,247 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of RTX by 28.0% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,385,201 shares of the companys stock worth $845,784,000 after purchasing an additional 1,394,918 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of RTX by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,958,191 shares of the companys stock worth $2,330,215,000 after purchasing an additional 1,361,071 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of RTX by 1,178.2% in the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,212,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $160,588,000 after buying an additional 1,117,506 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.50% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of RTX from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Robert W. Baird set a $203.00 price target on RTX in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and set a $195.00 target price on shares of RTX in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on RTX in a research note on Tuesday. They issued an outperform rating and a $210.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of RTX from $197.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $180.44.

RTX Stock Performance

RTX opened at $172.88 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $154.35. RTX Corporation has a 1 year low of $112.27 and a 1 year high of $181.31. The company has a market capitalization of $231.79 billion, a PE ratio of 35.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.64.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $22.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.26 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 13.28% and a net margin of 7.67%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.45 EPS. RTX has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.100-6.200 EPS. Research analysts expect that RTX Corporation will post 6.11 EPS for the current year.

RTX Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st will be paid a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 21st. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. RTXs payout ratio is 55.85%.

Insider Transactions at RTX

In related news, EVP Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 4,849 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.15, for a total value of $873,547.35. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 59,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,729,013.40. The trade was a 7.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 25,968 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.79, for a total value of $4,149,426.72. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

RTX Company Profile

(Free Report)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations.

Further Reading

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Legal & General Group Plc reduced its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,569,949 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 108,647 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned 0.47% of Charles Schwab worth $781,922,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 151,182,081 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,793,853,000 after acquiring an additional 2,786,829 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in Charles Schwab by 12.3% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 82,048,984 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,422,795,000 after purchasing an additional 8,954,248 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 2.9% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,381,183 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,399,181,000 after purchasing an additional 1,038,376 shares during the last quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 35.9% in the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 19,034,806 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,736,736,000 after buying an additional 5,032,728 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 18,176,812 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,658,452,000 after buying an additional 426,953 shares during the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on SCHW. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $112.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. They set an outperform rating and a $110.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $114.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Charles Schwab from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, September 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $106.45.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 3,205 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.33, for a total value of $299,122.65. Following the transaction, the insider owned 34,778 shares in the company, valued at $3,245,830.74. This trade represents a 8.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 50,016 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.00, for a total value of $4,851,552.00. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 68,938 shares of company stock valued at $6,671,953. Insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Trading Down 2.2%

Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $90.56 on Friday. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $65.88 and a fifty-two week high of $99.59. The businesss fifty day moving average is $93.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $92.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $160.92 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.02.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.06. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.26% and a net margin of 35.93%.The business had revenue of $6.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.93 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.71 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 25.29%.

Charles Schwab declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Legal & General Group Plc lessened its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 5,229,285 shares of the companys stock after selling 276,263 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for about 1.0% of Legal & General Group Plcs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Legal & General Group Plc owned approximately 0.55% of Eli Lilly and Company worth $4,076,385,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Blume Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 46.7% during the 2nd quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. now owns 44 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter worth $35,000. Finally, TD Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 129.2% during the first quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 55 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $1,042.86 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $623.78 and a fifty-two week high of $1,057.00. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $849.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $786.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.28. The company has a market cap of $985.90 billion, a PE ratio of 68.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.43.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 92.72%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 53.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 29.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LLY. Leerink Partners upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $886.00 to $1,104.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $876.00 to $879.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Daiwa America downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,010.00 to $900.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,027.95.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. (NYSE:LAR  Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $5.20, but opened at $4.86. Lithium Americas (Argentina) shares last traded at $4.82, with a volume of 1,389,092 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on LAR shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. Cormark upgraded shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) to a moderate buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) from $3.50 to $4.25 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d) rating on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lithium Americas (Argentina) has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $4.25.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on LAR

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $788.78 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.72. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $4.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $3.07.

Lithium Americas (Argentina) (NYSE:LAR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 10th. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.01) by ($0.01). As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Lithium Americas will post -0.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Lithium Americas (Argentina)

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LAR. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Sandhill Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Lithium Americas (Argentina) in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Lithium Americas (Argentina) during the third quarter worth $34,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in Lithium Americas (Argentina) during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Sage Investment Counsel LLC bought a new position in Lithium Americas (Argentina) during the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. 49.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Lithium Argentina AG, a resource and materials company, focuses on advancing lithium projects in Argentina. The company owns interests in the Cauchari-Olaroz project located in Jujuy province; and the Pastos Grandes project located in Salta Province of Argentina. The company was formerly known as Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp.

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Martin Currie Ltd. trimmed its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 2.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 585,342 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 14,098 shares during the period. Chipotle Mexican Grill comprises approximately 1.3% of Martin Currie Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Martin Currie Ltd.s holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $32,867,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of CMG. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 123,457,125 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $6,932,118,000 after acquiring an additional 993,798 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.6% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 56,827,332 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $2,853,302,000 after purchasing an additional 4,027,016 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 8.0% in the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 32,505,318 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,632,092,000 after purchasing an additional 2,404,798 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 29,659,508 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,657,193,000 after buying an additional 325,926 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.1% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 20,662,628 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,037,471,000 after buying an additional 425,648 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.30% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $43.00 to $38.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $48.00 to $44.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 13th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $68.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. BTIG Research reduced their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $57.00 to $45.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, UBS Group set a $45.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Friday, October 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.81.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 2.1%

Shares of NYSE CMG opened at $30.36 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $37.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $44.88. The firm has a market cap of $40.14 billion, a PE ratio of 26.87, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.98. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 1-year low of $29.75 and a 1-year high of $66.74.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 44.32% and a net margin of 13.04%.The company had revenue of $3 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.27 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.29 EPS for the current year.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

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Marubeni (OTCMKTS:MARUY  Get Free Report) and China Resources Enterprise (OTCMKTS:CRHKY  Get Free Report) are both large-cap multi-sector conglomerates companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, valuation and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Marubeni and China Resources Enterprise, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Marubeni 0 1 0 0 2.00 China Resources Enterprise 0 0 0 0 0.00

Dividends

Marubeni pays an annual dividend of $5.45 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. China Resources Enterprise pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Marubeni pays out 23.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Earnings and Valuation

0.1% of Marubeni shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares Marubeni and China Resources Enterprises revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Marubeni $51.16 billion 0.80 $3.32 billion $23.16 10.66 China Resources Enterprise $5.37 billion 2.17 $659.20 million N/A N/A

Marubeni has higher revenue and earnings than China Resources Enterprise.

Risk & Volatility

Marubeni has a beta of 0.65, meaning that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, China Resources Enterprise has a beta of 0.01, meaning that its share price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Marubeni and China Resources Enterprises net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Marubeni 7.04% 15.11% 6.20% China Resources Enterprise N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Marubeni beats China Resources Enterprise on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Marubeni

(Get Free Report)

Marubeni Corporation engages in various business activities. It manufactures, wholesales, and retails apparel, footwear, home furnishing and sport goods, industrial and textile materials, tire and rubber materials, and household and nursing care products; develops uranium, nuclear fuel cycle, iron ore, coking coal, copper mines, and related equipment and services; smelts and refines aluminum and magnesium; leases temporary steel construction materials; explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas; manages infrastructure funds; and develops and manages real estate. The company also offers insurance, technical, ICT, and logistic services; agri-inputs; fertilizer and crop protection product contracting services; crop protection product formulations; wood chips, biomass fuels, pulp and waste papers, paper, paperboards, sanitary, and building and construction materials; engineering, procurement, and construction services; and operation and maintenance services. It trades in fertilizers, dairy, agricultural, and marine products; sugar, processed food, beverages raw materials, and commercial use food materials; grains, oilseeds, feed ingredients, compound feeds, fresh and processed meat, petrochemicals, plastics, salts, chlor-alkalis, life science products, electronic materials, fertilizer materials, and inorganic mineral resources and chemicals; steelmaking raw materials, ferroalloys, nonferrous metals, and steel products; cement and ingots related materials; and petroleum and LPG. The company engages in infrastructure; water; automotive finance; power generation; power service and retail; natural gas; hydrogen; and fuel ammonia businesses. It owns, purchases, operates, leases, sells, and charters aerospace and ship products; leases refrigerated trailers, commercial vehicles, and freight cars; and sells, trades in, leases, finances, and services construction and industrial machinery, and mobility products. The company was founded in 1858 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

About China Resources Enterprise

(Get Free Report)

China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells beer products in Mainland China. The company offers its products under the Nong Li, Snow, and Jinsha brands. The company was formerly known as China Resources Enterprise, Limited and changed its name to China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited in October 2015. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is based in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited operates as a subsidiary of CRH (Beer) Limited.

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Key Insights

Using the Dividend Discount Model, Turners Automotive Group fair value estimate is NZ$7.43

Turners Automotive Group's NZ$7.77 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Turners Automotive Group's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -35,226%

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZSE:TRA) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

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Crunching The Numbers

As Turners Automotive Group operates in the specialty retail sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.7%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%. Relative to the current share price of NZ$7.8, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= NZ$0.4 / (9.1%  3.7%)

= NZ$7.4

NZSE:TRA Discounted Cash Flow November 21st 2025

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Turners Automotive Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.266. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.
Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its position in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 295.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 189,961 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 141,950 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $22,116,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 10.8% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 3,140,771 shares of the mining companys stock worth $373,460,000 after buying an additional 305,061 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 1,529,258 shares of the mining companys stock worth $181,497,000 after acquiring an additional 102,000 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in Agnico Eagle Mines in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,937,000. Accordant Advisory Group Inc lifted its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Accordant Advisory Group Inc now owns 38,051 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $4,525,000 after purchasing an additional 1,492 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Saturna Capital Corp boosted its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 2.6% during the second quarter. Saturna Capital Corp now owns 29,148 shares of the mining companys stock worth $3,467,000 after purchasing an additional 752 shares during the period. 68.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Performance

NYSE AEM opened at $158.71 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $164.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $139.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 1 year low of $76.91 and a 1 year high of $187.50.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Agnico Eagle Mines ( NYSE:AEM Get Free Report ) (TSE:AEM) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The mining company reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.40. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 15.97% and a net margin of 32.62%.The firm had revenue of $3.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.93 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.14 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on AEM. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $209.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Zacks Research downgraded Agnico Eagle Mines from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $160.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Agnico Eagle Mines from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Finally, CIBC upped their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $165.00 to $231.00 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $184.50.

Read Our Latest Analysis on AEM

Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile

(Free Report)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. It explores for gold. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd reduced its holdings in Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 383,198 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 10,221 shares during the quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in CRH were worth $35,070,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CRH. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of CRH by 62.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 63,755,468 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $5,608,567,000 after buying an additional 24,591,538 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 1st quarter worth approximately $597,888,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of CRH by 58,695.3% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,830,994 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $249,043,000 after purchasing an additional 2,826,179 shares in the last quarter. Eleva Capital SAS bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 2nd quarter worth about $250,562,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in CRH by 24.3% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 12,803,346 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,175,347,000 after purchasing an additional 2,499,558 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the companys stock.

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CRH Stock Down 1.6%

CRH stock opened at $108.38 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $115.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.74. The stock has a market cap of $72.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.32. Crh Plc has a 12-month low of $76.75 and a 12-month high of $121.99.

CRH Dividend Announcement

CRH ( NYSE:CRH Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The construction company reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.27. CRH had a net margin of 9.09% and a return on equity of 15.68%. The company had revenue of $11.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.97 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. CRH has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.490-5.720 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Crh Plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 21st will be paid a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 21st. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. CRHs dividend payout ratio is 22.11%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on CRH. Morgan Stanley set a $134.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on CRH from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on CRH from $152.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Vertical Research upgraded CRH to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of CRH in a report on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $129.54.

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CRH Company Profile

(Free Report)

CRH plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials solutions in Ireland and internationally. It operates through four segments: Americas Materials Solutions, Americas Building Solutions, Europe Materials Solutions, and Europe Building Solutions. The company provides solutions for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings; and produces and sells aggregates, cement, readymixed concrete, and asphalt, as well as provides paving and construction services.

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Mitsubishi Electric Co. (OTCMKTS:MIELY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $54.76, but opened at $50.54. Mitsubishi Electric shares last traded at $52.3550, with a volume of 1,485 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, CLSA raised Mitsubishi Electric to a hold rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Mitsubishi Electric Price Performance

Mitsubishi Electric Company Profile

The company has a market capitalization of $55.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.86 and a beta of 0.53. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $53.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $47.12.

(Get Free Report)

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells electrical and electronic equipment worldwide. The company operates through: Infrastructure, Industry Mobility, Life, Business Platform, Semiconductor and Device, and Others segments. It offers turbine generators, nuclear power plant and power electronics equipment, motors, transformers, circuit breakers, gas insulated switchgears, switch controls, surveillance-system control and security systems, transmission and distribution ICT systems, display devices, locomotive and rolling stock electrical equipment, wireless and wired communications systems, network camera systems, elevators, escalators, building security and management systems, and others.

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Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of 0.47 per share on Friday, December 19th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th.

Molson Coors Beverage has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 0.0%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 4 consecutive years. Molson Coors Beverage has a dividend payout ratio of 29.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Molson Coors Beverage to earn $6.77 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 27.8%.

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Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TAP traded up $0.59 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $46.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 653,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,506,947. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $45.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.36. Molson Coors Beverage has a one year low of $42.94 and a one year high of $64.66.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.02 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a net margin of 7.81% and a return on equity of 8.61%. Molson Coors Beverage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.360-5.360 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage will post 6.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on TAP shares. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Molson Coors Beverage from $53.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating and issued a $65.00 price target (down from $67.00) on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an equal weight rating and set a $50.00 price target (down from $53.00) on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group lowered their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $51.00 to $49.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $54.24.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Molson Coors Beverage

Molson Coors Beverage Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report)s share price dropped 1.9% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $24.28 and last traded at $24.41. Approximately 51,387,826 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 0% from the average daily volume of 51,489,281 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.88.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on PFE shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $28.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Pfizer from $33.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.28.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Pfizer

Pfizer Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.98, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.54. The stocks fifty day moving average is $24.83 and its 200-day moving average is $24.47.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $16.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.94 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 16.84%. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.150 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. Pfizers payout ratio is 100.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of PFE. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Pfizer by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 533,363,457 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,928,730,000 after acquiring an additional 10,198,330 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.9% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 299,087,408 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $7,620,747,000 after purchasing an additional 2,786,098 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 127,471,481 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,080,552,000 after purchasing an additional 1,820,634 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 2nd quarter worth about $2,270,157,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Pfizer by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 64,019,807 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,631,225,000 after purchasing an additional 869,175 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. (NYSE:BBVA  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 11,221 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $172,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BBVA. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in the 1st quarter valued at about $254,000. SYM FINANCIAL Corp acquired a new position in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in the first quarter valued at approximately $152,000. Abel Hall LLC increased its stake in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 43.3% in the first quarter. Abel Hall LLC now owns 16,488 shares of the banks stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 4,983 shares during the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 23.6% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 70,340 shares of the banks stock worth $958,000 after purchasing an additional 13,427 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 222,327 shares of the banks stock worth $3,028,000 after buying an additional 16,408 shares during the last quarter. 2.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on BBVA shares. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set an equal weight rating on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (a-) rating on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research note on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen raised Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of BBVA stock opened at $20.25 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $118.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The businesss 50 day moving average is $19.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.38. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. has a twelve month low of $9.23 and a twelve month high of $22.09.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The bank reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.01. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria had a return on equity of 17.61% and a net margin of 29.17%.The firm had revenue of $10.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.47 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. will post 1.59 EPS for the current year.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 6th will be paid a $0.3736 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 361.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 6th. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentarias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.41%.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Profile

(Free Report)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Applied Materials, Johnson Controls International, Fabrinet, and Stellantis are the five Manufacturing stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Manufacturing stocks are shares of companies whose primary business is producing physical goodseverything from heavy machinery and automobiles to electronics, chemicals, and consumer appliances. For investors, these stocks offer exposure to the industrial/cyclical portion of the economy and tend to be sensitive to factors like economic growth, commodity and labor costs, supply-chain conditions, and capital investment cycles, which can increase volatility but also provide growth and dividend opportunities. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Manufacturing stocks within the last several days.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

Applied Materials (AMAT)

Applied Materials, Inc. engages in the provision of manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets. The Semiconductor Systems segment develops, manufactures, and sells various manufacturing equipment that is used to fabricate semiconductor chips or integrated circuits.

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Johnson Controls International (JCI)

Johnson Controls International plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in engineering, manufacturing, commissioning, and retrofitting building products and systems in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Building Solutions North America, Building Solutions EMEA/LA, Building Solutions Asia Pacific, and Global Products.

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Fabrinet (FN)

Fabrinet provides optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services in North America, the Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The company offers a range of advanced optical and electro-mechanical capabilities in the manufacturing process, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, printed circuit board assembly, advanced packaging, integration, final assembly, and testing.

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Stellantis (STLA)

Stellantis N.V. engages in the design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, engines, transmission systems, metallurgical products, mobility services, and production systems worldwide. It provides luxury and premium vehicles; sport utility vehicles; American and European brand vehicles; and parts and services, as well as retail and dealer financing, leasing, and rental services.

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Further Reading
Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Free Report) had its price target hoisted by Bank of America from $410.00 to $430.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. KeyCorp boosted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $370.00 to $380.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $355.00 to $380.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $357.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $370.00 to $417.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Rockwell Automation from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c) rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Rockwell Automation has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $366.00.

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View Our Latest Research Report on ROK

Rockwell Automation Stock Down 0.9%

ROK stock opened at $369.29 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $41.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.34, a P/E/G ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $356.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $339.68. Rockwell Automation has a 1-year low of $215.00 and a 1-year high of $398.20.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The industrial products company reported $3.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.94 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $2.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.19 billion. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 30.14% and a net margin of 12.03%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.200-12.200 EPS. Analysts expect that Rockwell Automation will post 9.35 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is an increase from Rockwell Automations previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 17th. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio is presently 72.06%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Cyril Perducat sold 1,435 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Friday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.08, for a total transaction of $499,494.80. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 3,787 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,318,178.96. This trade represents a 27.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 61,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $391.56, for a total value of $24,159,252.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 83,873 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,841,311.88. The trade was a 42.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 92,075 shares of company stock worth $34,820,361. Company insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ROK. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $281,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 3.7% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,353 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $608,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 41.9% in the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 1,776 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $459,000 after acquiring an additional 524 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 128.7% during the first quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 4,382 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,132,000 after purchasing an additional 2,466 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 2.5% during the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 8,729 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,255,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Rockwell Automation Company Profile

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Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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Shares of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSE:RCI.B  Get Free Report) (NYSE:RCI) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$57.40.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on RCI.B shares. TD Securities upped their price target on Rogers Communications from C$62.00 to C$64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Desjardins boosted their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$53.00 to C$56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$55.75 to C$57.75 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Sunday, October 26th. CIBC lifted their price target on shares of Rogers Communications from C$55.00 to C$58.00 in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$55.00 to C$57.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th.

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Rogers Communications Trading Down 1.3%

Rogers Communications Announces Dividend

TSE:RCI.B opened at C$53.25 on Friday. Rogers Communications has a 1 year low of C$32.42 and a 1 year high of C$56.15. The stock has a market cap of C$28.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 436.50, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.65. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$51.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$45.75.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, October 3rd were given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 8th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.8%. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio is 16.04%.

About Rogers Communications

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Rogers is the largest wireless service provider in Canada, with its more than 10 million subscribers equating to one third of the total Canadian market. Rogers wireless business accounted for 60% of the companys total sales in 2021 and has increasingly provided a bigger portion of total company sales over the last several years.

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Seeds Investor LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TFLO  Free Report) by 7.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 101,521 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,992 shares during the quarter. iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF accounts for about 1.2% of Seeds Investor LLCs holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Seeds Investor LLC owned approximately 0.08% of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF worth $5,142,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in TFLO. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 6,248,282 shares of the companys stock valued at $316,538,000 after purchasing an additional 975,106 shares during the period. SPC Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 151.0% in the second quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 1,406,426 shares of the companys stock worth $71,235,000 after buying an additional 846,162 shares during the period. Luminist Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 52.4% during the first quarter. Luminist Capital LLC now owns 681,526 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,410,000 after buying an additional 234,304 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 19.0% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,247,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $63,186,000 after buying an additional 198,824 shares during the period. Finally, Summitry LLC lifted its stake in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 39.5% in the 2nd quarter. Summitry LLC now owns 685,401 shares of the companys stock worth $34,716,000 after acquiring an additional 194,076 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA TFLO opened at $50.55 on Friday. iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF has a one year low of $50.36 and a one year high of $50.69. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $50.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.54.

iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Profile

The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. TFLO was launched on Feb 3, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Unternehmensgruppe Theo Muller has struck a deal to acquire a production site and associated brands from German dairy co-operative Hochwald Foods.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

In a statement yesterday (19 November), privately owned Muller said the transaction covers Hochwalds Luneburg facility, including the 150 employees.

The Germany-headquartered dairy giant will also acquire all trademark rights and products of the Elinas and Lunebest brands. Production will continue at the Luneburg plant.

Muller said the deal, which is subject to approval by competition authorities, will complement its dairy product portfolio in the German market, where it primarily operates in private label.

Hochwald acknowledged the transaction with Muller in its own statement. The plant and asset sale supports its strategy of focusing on its core offerings, the company said.

The dairy group also noted that it sees limited development prospects for the two brands within its own yogurt segment, a category that is "highly competitive".

Detlef Latka, CEO of Hochwald Foods, said: The planned sale will allow us to use our resources more effectively and further expand our strengths in our core business areas such as drinking milk, condensed milk, quark, cheese, and ingredients for Germany and export, particularly to third countries.

Hochwalds production is carried out at sites in Germany and the Netherlands. The co-operative employs approximately 1,970 people. Its other brands include its namesake line, along with Barenmarke and Tuffi, while the business also supplies to private-label customers.

In 2024, the company generated sales revenues of 2.01bn ($2.3bn), up 2% from the prior year. EBITDA rose by 22.9m to 161.2m, Hochwald reported in June.

Domestic sales accounted for 59% of turnover, while exports made up the rest.

Consumer product exports benefited from higher volumes to Arab markets, the company added.

In 2023, Hochwald acquired the Tuffi brand from Muller after clearance by the German regulator Bundeskartellamt. The purchase followed a ruling that required Muller to divest two brands as a condition for acquiring parts of FrieslandCampinas German business.

As part of that transaction, Hochwald also secured the licence to produce and sell rice pudding under the Landliebe brand.

Meanwhile, Muller operates dairy subsidiaries across continental Europe and the UK.

In April, the group entered the UK functional food market with the acquisition of Biotiful Gut Health, a kefir drinks and yogurts producer.
SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Free Report) by 103.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 80,136 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 40,810 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC owned 0.10% of Victorias Secret & Co. worth $1,484,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in VSCO. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in Victorias Secret & Co. by 9,595.8% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,419,080 shares of the companys stock worth $26,367,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404,444 shares during the period. Cramer Rosenthal Mcglynn LLC lifted its position in Victorias Secret & Co. by 163.0% during the 1st quarter. Cramer Rosenthal Mcglynn LLC now owns 1,406,865 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,140,000 after purchasing an additional 871,968 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 330.6% in the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 570,073 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,592,000 after purchasing an additional 437,688 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 382.1% during the 2nd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 487,198 shares of the companys stock worth $9,023,000 after buying an additional 386,135 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. during the 1st quarter worth approximately $7,170,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.29% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on VSCO shares. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $18.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price target on Victorias Secret & Co. from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Victorias Secret & Co. from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $29.91.

Victorias Secret & Co. Price Performance

Shares of VSCO stock opened at $33.74 on Friday. Victorias Secret & Co. has a 12-month low of $13.76 and a 12-month high of $48.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 2.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $31.12 and a 200-day moving average of $24.59.

Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 28th. The company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.40 billion. Victorias Secret & Co. had a return on equity of 33.77% and a net margin of 2.42%.The firms revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.40 EPS. Victorias Secret & Co. has set its Q3 2025 guidance at -0.750.550 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Victorias Secret & Co. will post 2.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Victorias Secret & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

Victorias Secret & Co operates as a lingerie, clothing and beauty retailer. It offers bras, panties, lingerie, pajamas, sleep, sport and swim apparel, and beauty products. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Reynoldsburg, OH.

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Wealthspire Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 20.0% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 6,583 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after buying an additional 1,099 shares during the period. Wealthspire Advisors LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $1,491,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC raised its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 16,500.0% during the first quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 6,707,064 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,113,373,000 after purchasing an additional 6,666,660 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 55.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 17,306,108 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,872,814,000 after purchasing an additional 6,180,445 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 1st quarter worth approximately $482,676,000. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.7% in the 2nd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,046,792 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,728,478,000 after buying an additional 2,537,760 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 31.5% in the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 8,864,014 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,471,426,000 after buying an additional 2,121,758 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance

NYSE TSM opened at $277.65 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $134.25 and a fifty-two week high of $311.37. The business has a fifty day moving average of $287.51 and a 200-day moving average of $244.57. The stock has a market cap of $1.44 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.31.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $32.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $951.89 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 36.06% and a net margin of 43.72%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 40.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.94 EPS. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has set its Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a $0.9678 dividend. This represents a $3.87 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Susquehanna increased their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $300.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $360.00 price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $371.67.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TSM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

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Taylor Wimpey PLC Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:TWODY  Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Friday . 312,333 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 158% from the previous sessions volume of 121,039 shares.The stock last traded at $13.09 and had previously closed at $12.54.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays lowered shares of Taylor Wimpey from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Zacks Research raised Taylor Wimpey from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Peel Hunt raised Taylor Wimpey to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Taylor Wimpey Stock Up 3.8%

Taylor Wimpey Dividend Announcement

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $13.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.56.

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.5591 per share. This represents a yield of 800.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 10th.

About Taylor Wimpey

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Taylor Wimpey plc operates as a homebuilder in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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TELUS Co. (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the stock from a neutral rating to an underweight rating. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now has a C$19.00 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of C$22.00. TELUS traded as low as C$19.10 and last traded at C$19.23, with a volume of 5280890 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$20.06.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. National Bankshares set a C$23.00 price objective on TELUS and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of TELUS from C$25.00 to C$26.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, September 8th. Desjardins cut their price target on shares of TELUS from C$25.00 to C$24.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 9th. CIBC upped their price target on shares of TELUS from C$24.00 to C$25.00 in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$24.00 to C$23.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$22.77.

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TELUS Stock Down 0.9%

The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$21.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$21.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 183.41, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of C$29.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.93.

TELUS (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The company reported C$0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$5.07 billion during the quarter. TELUS had a return on equity of 5.80% and a net margin of 4.62%. Sell-side analysts expect that TELUS Co. will post 1.2267985 earnings per share for the current year.

TELUS Company Profile

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Telus is one of the Big Three wireless service providers in Canada, with its 9 million mobile phone subscribers nationwide constituting about 30% of the total market. It is the incumbent local exchange carrier in the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, where it provides internet, television, and landline phone services.

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Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (NYSEARCA:MMKT  Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Thursday, November 20th. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st will be paid a dividend of 0.0705 per share on Monday, November 24th. This represents a yield of 366.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 21st.

Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF Price Performance

Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF stock opened at $100.21 on Friday. Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF has a 52-week low of $99.82 and a 52-week high of $100.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $100.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $100.23.

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The Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (MMKT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing in US government money market instruments, particularly overnight repurchase agreements with short-term maturities. The fund aims to balance income, liquidity, and capital preservation.

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Thai Airways International PCL (OTCMKTS:TAWNF  Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $0.2510, but opened at $0.2780. Thai Airways International PCL shares last traded at $0.2780, with a volume of 316,000 shares traded.

Thai Airways International PCL Stock Up 0.8%

The firms 50-day moving average is $0.34 and its 200 day moving average is $0.20.

Thai Airways International PCL Company Profile

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Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in airlines business in Thailand and internationally. It operates through three segments: Air Transportation Activities, Business Units, and Other Activities. The Air Transportation Activities segment provides passenger, freight, and mail services.

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Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH cut its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 1.2% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 173,231 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,139 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbHs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $8,331,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 414.3% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,987,132 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,960,000 after buying an additional 1,600,748 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at about $38,377,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 20.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,503,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $274,144,000 after acquiring an additional 750,388 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 72.4% in the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,380,377 shares of the companys stock worth $84,024,000 after purchasing an additional 579,649 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 24.2% in the first quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,797,189 shares of the companys stock worth $170,265,000 after purchasing an additional 544,353 shares in the last quarter. 78.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Molson Coors Beverage Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of TAP opened at $45.53 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.95. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a 52 week low of $42.94 and a 52 week high of $64.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.98, a PEG ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.65. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $45.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $49.36.

Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.72 by ($0.05). Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.61% and a net margin of 7.81%.The business had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.02 billion. Molson Coors Beverage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.360-5.360 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently -17.60%.

Insider Transactions at Molson Coors Beverage

In other Molson Coors Beverage news, Director Andrew Thomas Molson bought 7,500 shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $46.79 per share, for a total transaction of $350,925.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 22,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,059,980.66. The trade was a 49.49% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director David S. Coors acquired 2,245 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $44.47 per share, for a total transaction of $99,835.15. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 30,586 shares in the company, valued at $1,360,159.42. This represents a 7.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on TAP shares. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $53.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $67.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $51.00 to $48.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $49.00 target price for the company. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $65.00 price objective (down from $67.00) on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.37.

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Molson Coors Beverage Company Profile

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Iyo Bank Ltd. lessened its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ  Free Report) by 33.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 99,733 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 49,867 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Real Estate ETF accounts for about 3.6% of Iyo Bank Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Iyo Bank Ltd.s holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF were worth $8,882,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D boosted its stake in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 87.5% in the first quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 8,598,869 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $778,542,000 after buying an additional 4,013,382 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 458.2% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,252,481 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $294,480,000 after purchasing an additional 2,669,771 shares in the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 13,858,639 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,254,761,000 after purchasing an additional 2,064,842 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 33.5% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,696,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $425,194,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178,304 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 1,384.8% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 879,620 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $79,641,000 after purchasing an additional 820,378 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.03% of the companys stock.

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Vanguard Real Estate ETF Trading Down 0.4%

VNQ stock opened at $88.14 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $90.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $90.16. Vanguard Real Estate ETF has a 52 week low of $76.92 and a 52 week high of $99.20. The company has a market cap of $33.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.58 and a beta of 1.03.

About Vanguard Real Estate ETF

Vanguard REIT ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real property. It tracks the return of the MSCI US RIT Index, a gauge of real estate stocks. The Vanguard Group, Inc provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

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Willis Investment Counsel grew its stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW  Free Report) by 37.0% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 10,457 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,826 shares during the period. Willis Investment Counsels holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $10,878,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GWW. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger during the second quarter worth about $229,000. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its stake in W.W. Grainger by 0.8% in the second quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 1,580 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,644,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Dorsey Wright & Associates grew its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 5.1% during the second quarter. Dorsey Wright & Associates now owns 4,687 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,876,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 9,479 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $9,958,000 after acquiring an additional 454 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthspire Advisors LLC boosted its stake in W.W. Grainger by 6.9% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 389 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $405,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. 80.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at W.W. Grainger

In related news, SVP Jonny M. Leroy sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $992.86, for a total value of $496,430.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 1,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,758,355.06. This trade represents a 22.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 6.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

W.W. Grainger Stock Up 0.4%

GWW opened at $926.39 on Friday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12 month low of $893.99 and a 12 month high of $1,227.44. The business has a 50-day moving average of $960.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,009.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 2.82 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.17.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $10.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.95 by $0.26. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.99% and a return on equity of 49.63%. The business had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $9.87 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. W.W. Grainger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 39.000-39.750 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th will be paid a dividend of $2.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 10th. This represents a $9.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. W.W. Graingers payout ratio is currently 25.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on GWW shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Wednesday. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,000.00 to $950.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,035.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on W.W. Grainger in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. They issued a market perform rating and a $975.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,006.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $1,018.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger Profile

(Free Report)

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.

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Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by investment analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price objective would suggest a potential upside of 1.75% from the stocks previous close.

J has been the subject of a number of other reports. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions from $147.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Jacobs Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $169.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $152.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Jacobs Solutions currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $156.70.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on J

Jacobs Solutions Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of J traded down $1.41 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $127.76. The company had a trading volume of 629,294 shares, compared to its average volume of 856,227. Jacobs Solutions has a 1-year low of $106.23 and a 1-year high of $168.44. The stock has a market cap of $15.27 billion, a PE ratio of 31.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $153.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $141.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.08. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 17.13% and a net margin of 4.16%.The company had revenue of $3.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.37 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Jacobs Solutions has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.900-7.300 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Jacobs Solutions will post 6.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Jacobs Solutions

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of J. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 103.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 187 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Jacobs Solutions during the third quarter valued at $27,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. increased its position in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 121.0% during the third quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 221 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 65.4% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 220 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new stake in Jacobs Solutions during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. 85.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Jacobs Solutions

(Get Free Report)

Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments.

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By Alimat Aliyeva

OpenAI has officially rolled out the ChatGPT group chat feature globally for all users, including those on the free plan as well as Go, Plus, and Pro subscriptions. The launch follows a week of pilot testing in selected regions, including Japan and New Zealand, Azernews reports.

According to a report from TechCrunch, the new feature allows multiple users to have shared conversations with ChatGPT in a single chat thread.

OpenAI representatives note that this update transforms ChatGPT from a personal assistant into a collaborative tool where friends, colleagues, or family members can plan activities, create content, and make decisions together. At the same time, the AI can assist by searching for information, summarizing data, and comparing different options to help groups reach informed decisions.

Up to 20 participants can join a single group chat after accepting an invitation. Each participants personal settings and memory remain private. To start a group chat, users simply click on the people icon and add participants directly or via a link. All invited members must complete a short profile with their name, username, and avatar. When a new participant joins an existing chat, a separate copy of the conversation is created, leaving the original thread unchanged.

ChatGPT is designed to recognize when it should contribute to the conversation and when it is better to stay silent. Users can also tag the AI using the ChatGPT mention to prompt a response. In addition, the AI can react with emojis and even reference participants avatars, adding a playful and interactive dimension to group discussions.

The introduction of group chats comes less than two weeks after the release of the GPT-5.1 model, which includes Instant and Thinking modes, offering faster responses and enhanced reasoning capabilities.

Interestingly, this new feature could transform how people collaborate online. Beyond casual chats, it opens opportunities for team brainstorming, study groups, family planning, and even creative projects. Experts suggest that by blending social interaction with AI assistance, group chats may redefine collaborative work and make ChatGPT an integral part of everyday teamwork.
By Nora Eckert

DETROIT (Reuters) -China's Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) will build its electric AION V model at a Magna facility in Austria, the two companies said on Thursday, a strategy that should help GAC avoid the EU's tariffs on China-made EVs.

The GAC vehicle will be produced at Magna's facility in Graz, Austria, which can make gasoline-powered, hybrid and electric vehicles on shared lines.

Last year, the EU introduced provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on China-made EVs, describing their imports as a potential flood of unfairly subsidized EVs.

Europe is a vital market in GACs global development, said Wei Haigang, president of GAC International.

Roland Prettner, president of the Magna Steyr contract manufacturing business, said its expertise will allow automakers like GAC to localize production efficiently.

The GAC deal comes after Magna said in September it would build battery-powered models for XPeng at the same Graz facility.

(Reporting by Nora Eckert in Detroit; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Willis Investment Counsel decreased its position in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO  Free Report) by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,547 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 820 shares during the quarter. Willis Investment Counsels holdings in Southern were worth $418,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the first quarter worth about $510,229,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Southern by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 105,904,243 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,725,187,000 after buying an additional 1,694,066 shares during the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its position in shares of Southern by 125.4% during the 1st quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 1,349,200 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $124,059,000 after buying an additional 750,500 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in shares of Southern by 71.4% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,200,624 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $110,253,000 after buying an additional 499,996 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its holdings in shares of Southern by 18.7% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 2,565,858 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $235,623,000 after acquiring an additional 403,929 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.10% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. BTIG Research started coverage on Southern in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Mizuho raised their target price on Southern from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Barclays lowered their target price on Southern from $98.00 to $91.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an underperform rating and set a $97.00 price objective on shares of Southern in a report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Southern has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $99.03.

Southern Stock Down 0.6%

SO stock opened at $88.51 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $93.97 and a 200-day moving average of $92.45. Southern Company has a fifty-two week low of $80.46 and a fifty-two week high of $100.83. The company has a market capitalization of $97.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.75, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $7.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.04 billion. Southern had a net margin of 15.10% and a return on equity of 12.09%. The companys revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.39 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Southern Company will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is currently 73.27%.

Southern Profile

(Free Report)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

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Shares of WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (NYSEARCA:XSOE  Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 3,002,226 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 1,329% from the previous sessions volume of 210,045 shares.The stock last traded at $38.1950 and had previously closed at $38.39.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund Trading Down 1.5%

The company has a market cap of $2.01 billion, a PE ratio of 17.70 and a beta of 0.67. The businesss 50 day moving average is $38.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.80.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in XSOE. OLD Mission Capital LLC increased its holdings in WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund by 120.3% in the 1st quarter. OLD Mission Capital LLC now owns 166,785 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,149,000 after acquiring an additional 91,083 shares during the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund in the third quarter worth about $2,976,000. Montecito Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund in the third quarter worth about $1,607,000. Gould Asset Management LLC CA lifted its position in shares of WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund by 15.2% in the third quarter. Gould Asset Management LLC CA now owns 255,701 shares of the companys stock worth $9,701,000 after buying an additional 33,825 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Wealth Partners Ltd. bought a new position in shares of WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $852,000.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund Company Profile

The WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (XSOE) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of emerging market companies, excluding state-owned enterprises. XSOE was launched on Dec 10, 2014 and is managed by WisdomTree.

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Amcor PLC (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report)  Zacks Research boosted their Q2 2027 earnings estimates for shares of Amcor in a report issued on Wednesday, November 19th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $0.20 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.19. The consensus estimate for Amcors current full-year earnings is $0.74 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Amcors FY2027 earnings at $0.88 EPS.

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Amcor (NYSE:AMCR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.19. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.77 billion. Amcor had a return on equity of 19.43% and a net margin of 3.40%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 71.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.16 earnings per share.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Amcor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Amcor in a report on Friday, September 19th. They issued an overweight rating and a $10.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $11.50 price objective on shares of Amcor in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Amcor in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Amcor from $11.00 to $9.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $10.91.

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Amcor Stock Performance

AMCR opened at $8.37 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The firm has a market cap of $19.29 billion, a PE ratio of 23.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.72. Amcor has a fifty-two week low of $7.66 and a fifty-two week high of $10.70.

Amcor Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 28th. This is a boost from Amcors previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. Amcors payout ratio is currently 152.94%.

Institutional Trading of Amcor

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Amcor by 61.8% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 110,228,036 shares of the companys stock worth $1,012,996,000 after purchasing an additional 42,122,135 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Amcor by 41.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 129,701,986 shares of the companys stock worth $1,191,961,000 after purchasing an additional 37,982,310 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Amcor during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $328,839,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Amcor by 62.1% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 80,770,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $742,279,000 after buying an additional 30,938,660 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&G PLC increased its position in shares of Amcor by 26.6% during the third quarter. M&G PLC now owns 108,333,984 shares of the companys stock worth $866,672,000 after acquiring an additional 22,737,979 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.14% of the companys stock.

Amcor Company Profile

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Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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One of South Koreas largest fashion warehouses was forced to close after a massive fire nearly burned down the complex on Saturday, significantly hampering inventory at a major fashion and retail conglomerate in the country ahead of its Black Friday sales event.

E-Land World, a South Korean retailer that generates 51 percent of its sales from apparel and fashion merchandise, operates the distribution center. The retailer licenses brands including New Balance and G-Star, and owns labels including SPAO, Hunt, Who.A.U. and Roem, among others.

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The 2.1-million-square-feet site in Cheonan, South Korea hosted an estimated 11 million products, including clothing and footwear, at the time of the fire.

The fire started at the four-story logistics center, which is located roughly 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Seoul, at around 6 a.m. The main blaze was contained at 3:30 p.m., about nine and a half hours after the fire began, according to firefighters. It took 60 hours to extinguish the full fire.

The northern section of the warehouse partially collapsed, while the southern exterior was stripped away by heat and flames. A structural engineer at the site said the buildings internal supports had likely failed from within due to heat stress.

To put out the fire, authorities mobilized 430 personnel, 11 helicopters and 150 pieces of equipment. The exact cause of the fire is currently unknown, and will be determined after a detailed investigation, authorities said.

The full extent of the damage from the fire is expected to be assessed after an on-site investigation scheduled for Friday.

E-Land Fashion unveiled Sunday that deliveries of some products would be delayed or canceled in the wake of the fire. Orders of products that could only be delivered from the Cheonan logistics center were canceled.

Various brands, including New Balance, posted similar notices on their websites.

Unexpected delays in logistics center operations have caused some orders to be shipped later than usual, New Balance said. Products are being prepared for shipment in sequence.

Following the fire, E-Land ramped up operations at its domestic and overseas production sites to minimize disruptions to supply during its Black Friday event, which began Monday.

We have suffered enormous losses as a result of this accident, E-Land World CEO Cho Dong-ju said in an internal email to employees on Wednesday. What pains me most is that all the valuable products we spent so long preparing have been destroyed.
When it comes to rare earth elements  critical for many industries  its all about China. And more and more companies are trying to break the stranglehold the country has over its supply.

Rare earth elements, or REEs, are a group of 17 elements that are used in many industrial applications, most notably in fighter jets, robots, MRI scanners, and automobiles.

REEs are split into two categories: heavy and light. And while China is the major industry player in both the mining and refining of these elements, it especially dominates in heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium, common in permanent magnets for electric motors and wind turbines.

With news this week that China is allegedly dumping REEs into the market to hurt US and foreign companies, developing an "ex-China" supply chain for companies like automakers and defense contractors is paramount.

Read more: What are rare earth minerals, and why are they important?

That's where Brazilian Rare Earths (BRE.XA) comes in. It's one of many companies looking to meet that demand and provide non-China-based REEs.

The company acquired land in northeast Brazil, which it claims is a globally significant ... mineral province housing substantial volumes of both heavy and light rare earths. BRE says its operation will be functional by 2028 for REE production and that it will have its processing plant ready in 2030, which is significant. As Jefferies notes, it can take 10 to 15 years to bring a mining operation to a state of viability.

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, BRE CEO Bernardo da Veiga discussed why it was so important for BRE and other firms to break China's monopoly as Western governments and China's other rivals look to decouple, as da Veiga puts it.

China is limiting the supply of raw materials and using those resources to produce its own high-value goods to boost its own economy and get out of the low-cost supply game.

China doesn't want to sell you rare earths, they want to sell you cars, da Veiga said, meaning China wants to sell higher-margin finished goods to the world, as opposed to cheap materials. China wants to sell more cars in the global market, and that means keeping rare earths away from competitors.

A mine operated by Serra Verde Mining in Minacu, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, July 28, 2025, produces rare earth elements, including neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium which are essential for the production of permanent magnets. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

And that's where we come in, because you need Western companies that have deposits that are located outside of China, or in friendly countries, to be able to develop these, da Veiga said.

BRE isn't the only operation in Brazil; the US government itself invested in the Serra Verde project in central Brazil.

Rare Earth Magnet Demand is expected to grow substantially, driven by electric vehicles (EVs), robotics, and advanced air mobility, Jefferies analyst Mitch Ryan wrote in a note last week. In the US, magnet demand is projected to increase fivefold by 2035 (albeit from a low base), with [EVs], robotics, and new technologies such as drones and humanoid robots leading the way.
Held with WY tablets

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IMPHAL, Nov 20: A huge quantity of WY tablets weighing 5.669 Kgs was seized by a combined team of Senapati Police, Assam Rifles and CRPF this morning.

The security team conducted frisking and checking at Phikomei junction, around 2 Kms south of Mao police station early this morning.

During the operation, one individual was intercepted leading to a recovery of five packets of suspected WY tablets, weighing 5.669 Kgs.

Subsequently, the security forces arrested the individual identified as Al Mamun (30) s/o Sona Ulla from VTC Batabari, Goalpara, Assam.

Apart from the WY tablets, one mobile phone, one debit card and Rs 1420 in cash were also seized from the possession of Al Mamun.
Cooperative Week

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IMPHAL, Nov 20: The closing function of the 72nd Cooperative Week was held today at the Institute of Cooperative Management, Lamphelpat.

The closing function was jointly organised by ICM, Registrar of Cooperative Society, Manipur and the Manipur State Cooperative Union under the theme Cooperative as vehicle for Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Speaking at the function, ICM Director Kh Ramanando said that only the cooperative can revive the sick economy of Manipur.

Cooperative sector, being largely based in rural areas, is the most effective means of realising rural development, he said.

He said that the cooperative movement in Manipur is still not vibrant enough as compared to other developed States of India.

Out of around 11,000 cooperative societies/institutions registered in the State, almost half of them are inactive, the ICM Director said.

He said that the State-level Cooperative Week celebration was opened at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Konung Lampak on November 14.

After several events were held at Bishnupur, Chandel, Imphal East, Kamjong and Thoubal as parts of the Cooperative Week celebration, the closing function was held at Lamphelpat today, he said.

Prizes for best cooperator, best cooperative management and best cooperative were also distributed at the function.

CAU Imphal, Food Technology Dean Dr Ng Iboyaima, Cooperative Societies Registrar W Ibohal, MSCU president L Tompishak, Tribhuvan Sahakari University, Gujarat board member Jeena Potsangbam, MSCB Limited president P Ranjit, Manipur Womens Cooperative Bank Ltd chairperson K Manorama, IUCB Ltd president Y Kumar and MSCU managing body member Sh Hemanta were also present at the closing function.
United Arab Bank, a small cap player in the Middle East, showcases robust financial health with total assets of AED24.5 billion and equity of AED4 billion. Despite a high bad loans ratio at 3.1%, its customer deposit-driven funding structure accounts for 82% of liabilities, reducing risk exposure compared to external borrowing. The bank's earnings surged by 56% over the past year, outpacing the industry average of 15%, while maintaining a favorable price-to-earnings ratio at 9x against the market's 11.6x. However, shareholders experienced significant dilution recently and its allowance for bad loans remains low at 82%.

Operations: United Arab Bank P.J.S.C. generates revenue primarily through its Wholesale Banking segment, which accounts for AED497.67 million, followed by Treasury and Capital Markets at AED225.58 million, and Retail Banking at AED83.69 million.

Overview: United Arab Bank P.J.S.C. offers a range of commercial banking products and services to both individual and corporate clients in the United Arab Emirates, with a market capitalization of AED3.65 billion.

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Overview: Aksigorta A.S. is a Turkish company offering a range of life and non-life insurance products and services to both retail and corporate clients, with a market capitalization of TRY11.04 billion.

Operations: Aksigorta generates revenue primarily through its life and non-life insurance products and services offered to retail and corporate clients in Turkey. The company's financial performance is influenced by its ability to manage underwriting costs, claims expenses, and investment income. Net profit margin trends provide insights into the company's profitability efficiency over time.

Aksigorta, a notable player in the insurance sector, has demonstrated solid financial health with earnings growing at 49.6% annually over the past five years. The company reported a net income of TRY 824.95 million for Q3 2025, up from TRY 554.97 million the previous year, and TRY 2,034.77 million for nine months compared to TRY 1,163.33 million last year. Aksigorta is debt-free now versus a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.3% five years ago and boasts high-quality earnings alongside positive free cash flow trends, making it an attractive option in its market segment with a price-to-earnings ratio of just 4.2x against the TR market's average of 17.7x.

IBSE:AKGRT Debt to Equity as at Nov 2025

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Yayla Agro Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. is engaged in the production and sale of various food and grain products both within Turkey and internationally, with a market capitalization of TRY11.46 billion.

Operations: Yayla Agro's primary revenue stream is its food business, generating TRY15.09 billion.

Yayla Agro, a notable player in the food industry, has shown impressive earnings growth of 43.8% over the past year, outpacing the industry's -3.1%. Despite this growth, its net debt to equity ratio remains high at 49.3%, which is above the comfortable threshold of 40%. The company's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.9x, lower than the TR market average of 17.7x, suggesting potential undervaluation. Recent earnings announcements revealed a net loss of TRY 84.69 million for Q3 compared to a profit last year; however, nine-month sales rose significantly from TRY 10.79 billion to TRY 14 billion.

IBSE:YYLGD Debt to Equity as at Nov 2025

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ADX:UAB IBSE:AKGRT and IBSE:YYLGD.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
MP Materials, the US Department of War (DoW) and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) have entered into a joint venture (JV) to develop a rare earth refinery in Saudi Arabia.

This partnership follows the recent US and Saudi Arabia strategic framework agreement announced in Washington DC for cooperation on securing critical supply chains.

MP Materials said the JV represents a significant step towards rebalancing the global rare earth supply chain and aligns with US economic and national security interests.

The facility will leverage Saudi Arabias competitive energy base, advanced infrastructure, strategic location and substantial untapped rare earth resources, aiming to ensure a stable and secure supply chain for rare earth materials.

Designed to process rare earth feedstock from Saudi Arabia and other regions, the refinery will produce significant quantities of separated light and heavy rare earth oxides (REOs).

These refined products will supply manufacturing and defence industries in both the US and Saudi Arabia and will also be marketed to allied nations.

MP Materials founder, chairman and CEO James Litinsky said: We are honoured that the US Government asked MP to partner on a project of this magnitude and importance for America and its allies. By combining MPs technical expertise with the strategic vision of the US Department of War and Maadens capabilities and scale, the pieces are in place to fundamentally strengthen and diversify the supply chain.

The rare earth refinery JV is structured to ensure US oversight and alignment with national security objectives.

Under the agreement, MP Materials and the DoW, through a JV, will collectively hold a target equity stake of 49%, while Maaden will hold no less than 51%.

The DoW will provide full, non-recourse financing for the US JVs capital contribution.

MP Materials will bring its rare earth separation and refining technical expertise, along with its global sourcing and marketing capabilities.

The company is also exploring opportunities to support or collaborate on magnet manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.

Litinsky added: This agreement will be beneficial to MP and our industry, and it further aligns US and Saudi interests. The formation of the JV also underscores MP Materials role as an American national champion, and it demonstrates how our fully integrated platform can project US industrial capability abroad. We are proud to partner with Maaden on this transformative JV.

The JV is expected to unlock global upstream resources, expand MP Materials refining capacity, and enable disciplined growth across both its upstream and downstream businesses.
Musk laid out the vision that Tesla is designing its own AI chip (the so-called AI5 processor) to power future self-driving and robotics needs. He warned that even top contract fabs like TSMC (TSM) or Samsung (SMSN.L.EB) cant deliver enough volume and said Tesla probably will have to build a gigantic chip fab, which he called a terafab to get 100,000 wafer starts per month. He even floated teaming up with Intels foundry business: Maybe well do something with Intel probably worth having discussions to accelerate the plan. The goal is to make an ultra-efficient, inexpensive chip.

The biggest frustration for Tesla investors continues to be its valuation. Near the $400 level, the stock still looks expensive. Tesla trades at a forward P/E that hovers between roughly 270x and 370x, along with about 15x forward sales. That stands far above traditional automakers such as Toyota, which sits closer to 0.9. Even when stacked against major tech names, Teslas multiples remain among the highest in the market.

Tesla shares remain flat in 2025, giving up October gains due to rising EV competition, slowing China sales, investor concerns over Musks pay, and cautious sentiment around AI and FSD promises.

Tesla is a global leader in electric vehicles, battery energy storage, and renewable energy products. It builds popular EVs (the Models S, 3, X, and Y, as well as the new Cybertruck) and solar/battery systems while pushing hard into self-driving software and humanoid robots. Under CEO Elon Musk, Tesla has grown into the worlds biggest automaker by market cap, about $1.5 trillion as of now.

The news shows Musk is doubling down on Teslas shift from just selling cars to becoming an AI-and-robotics powerhouse. Investors are now asking: Does this justify TSLAs lofty valuation, or is the stock too rich for its own good?

He even floated discussing with chipmaker Intel (INTC) about partnering on the project. Musk bragged the Tesla-designed chips would be extremely power-efficient and cheap, about a third of Nvidias (NVDA) power draw at roughly 10% of the cost, and quipped that hes got chips on the brain these days.

Tesla (TSLA) is again caught in the spotlight after CEO Elon Musk told shareholders that Teslas wildly ambitious AI agenda may soon include making its own chips. At the companys annual meeting, Musk said Tesla is designing a fifth-generation AI5 processor and likely needs to build a gigantic chip fab to meet demand.

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I think the effects of this plan could be huge or costly. If Tesla builds its own fab, it could lock in dedicated capacity and tailor the process exactly for Teslas software stacks. But building a new semiconductor fab is expensive and risky. It could cost $10 billion to $20 billion and years of work. In the near term, Tesla still relies on existing suppliers: it currently partners with TSMC and Samsung for earlier-gen chips. Musk says a small run of AI5 chips may come in 2026, with mass production in 2027.

Tesla Delivers Record Revenue Growth

Tesla reported record revenue growth in its Q3 earnings but squeezed profits. Total Q3 revenue was $28.09 billion, representing a 12% increase year-over-year (YoY).

Earnings, however, were hit by rising costs. GAAP net income was about $1.37, down 37% YoY, and diluted GAAP EPS was just $0.37 below street forecasts. Operating income fell to about $1.62B with only a 5.8% margin, dragged down by higher R&D (AI/robotics projects), stock compensation, and new tariffs.

Free cash flow was a bright spot: Tesla generated roughly $3.99 billion in FCF in Q3, a record for the company. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at about $41.6 billion, giving Tesla plenty of dry powder.

Even as vehicle deliveries grow, we have to invest in autonomy, AI and future lines, noted Musk in the conference call. Musk is known to quip, Im super hardcore on chips I have chips on the brain when talking about these projects. Tesla did not give detailed numeric guidance for Q4 or full-year 2025. CFO Vaibhav Taneja said the push into new tech is weighing on costs this year.

Wall Street analysts currently expect full-year 2025 revenue to be around $97B and EPS to be near $1.15, versus $2.04 in 2024, reflecting margin pressure. Moreover, management did hint that expansions like Cybercab, Semi, and Megapack 3 are on track for 2026, but short-term momentum will depend on consumer demand without EV tax credits.

Analysts Take & Price Targets

Wall Street seems divided on Tesla's prospects. Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating with a $410 price target. The team highlights Teslas third-quarter delivery beat and sees long-term upside if AI and robotics initiatives succeed, though they acknowledge the stock currently trades at a P/E of 272x above their fair-value model.

Goldman Sachs recently nudged its target to $395 with a Neutral rating. Goldmans Tesla analyst cautions that the stock depends heavily on Musk executing on humanoid robots and autonomy. He noted that if Tesla captures an outsized share of those markets, theres meaningful upside potential, but if competition or execution slips, there could be downside risk.

On the bullish side, Wedbushs Dan Ives remains optimistic with a Buy rating and a $600 target, arguing that Teslas long-term value creation in robotaxis and AI is still underappreciated. Deutsche Bank also reiterated a Buy with a $440 target, pointing to confidence in Musks broader vision.

The consensus among roughly 40 analysts lands near a Hold, with an average price target in the $300s, which suggests the stock could pull back 4% from its current levels. In short, some expect further gains if Teslas AI and robotics bets pay off, while others warn that with valuations already stretched, any stumble could hit the stock hard.

The Bottom Line on TSLA Stock

Tesla is playing a very long game. The chip-fab hint and AI focus keep the door open for a major future payoff, but investors must judge whether todays stock price already bakes in too much hope. In the short run, Tesla is still mainly a car and battery company, and its profit margins have been under pressure. If youre excited by robotaxis and Elons grand vision, you might stick around for the ride, but if you want solid near-term numbers and a cheap valuation, TSLA might feel too high-risk right now.

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Nauman Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Jodi Smith, executive director of the Retirement and Investment Office, speaks during a meeting of the State Investment Board on Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

The North Dakota State Investment Board on Friday delayed approval of roughly $1.3 million in bonuses to 12 Retirement and Investment Office employees intended to reward strong performance of the states investment funds.

Seven of the bonuses exceed $100,000, with the top one exceeding $293,000. If the bonuses are ultimately accepted, it would be the first time the agency awards them.

Bonus pay is common in other states investment programs, said Retirement and Investment Office Executive Director Jodi Smith, though the agency didnt implement the pay structure until 2024.

It introduced the new compensation plan to encourage investment managers and other staff at the Retirement and Investment Office to bring in more money for the state. The Legislature gave the agency the authority to create the pay program in 2023.

The Retirement and Investment Office invests state money on behalf of the State Investment Board, some of which is managed by in-house investors. The top four funds are the Legacy Fund, the Public Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Fund for Retirement and Workforce Safety and Insurance.

Smith said offering bonus pay helps make jobs at the agency attractive, and incentivizes employees to make as much money for North Dakota as possible.

Were not here to support a typical state agency, she said.

Joe Nankof, right, a senior consultant for NEPC, a Boston-based firm, speaks to the State Investment Board during a meeting on Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

For employees to get the bonuses this year, the State Investment Boards top four funds had to exceed certain earnings benchmarks between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

The benchmarks are meant to represent standard market performance, Smith said, so that employees are only rewarded if the states investments do better than average. Employees can also get additional bonus pay based on individual performance. Smith noted that a third-party consultant was hired to set the performance benchmarks.

The funds outperformed the benchmarks by more than $191 million.

Compared to that sum, a roughly $1.3 million reward for employees is a modest and reasonable payout, Smith wrote in a Friday memo to the State Investment Board.

According to Smith, most other states dole out bigger bonuses.

The bonuses dont come from taxpayer money, theyre funded by earnings on the agencys investments.

Most of the 12 employees recommended for bonuses are eligible for awards of up to 50% or 75% of their salaries, according to the memo. Top officials can receive up to 90% or 100% of their annual pay.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) -- the kind that NuScale Power is developing -- are smaller, faster to construct, and can be installed in remote locations that are otherwise not feasible for traditional nuclear reactors. Moreover, NuScale Power is the only nuclear company in the U.S. to have received approvals for its SMR designs from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

2025 has been a wild ride for investors in NuScale Power. The nuclear energy stock shot through the roof in recent months, surging 200% in the year through mid-October. With President Donald Trump's policies backing the U.S. nuclear energy industry and the U.S. Army recently announcing a next-generation nuclear power program called the Janus program, investors bet big on NuScale Power stock.

As of November 13, 2025, shares were priced at $23.15, down 7.33% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 19.9 percentage points.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated November 14, 2025, Samsung C&T Corp increased its holdings in NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) by 2,578,702 shares during the third quarter. The positions value rose by approximately $83.55 million, lifting the total stake to 5,185,804 shares worth $186.69 million at quarter-end. The fund reported only one U.S. equity position after the transaction.

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However, with the nuclear energy stock giving up a significant portion of its gains in recent weeks, institutional investors like Samsung C&T spotted an opportunity to buy shares to capitalize on the nuclear energy boom, driven by surging demand for clean and uninterrupted power from energy-intensive industries like artificial intelligence data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.

NuScale Power's exclusive commercialization partner, ENTRA1 Energy, is also securing big contracts, all of which reflect the growth potential for NuScale Power. Just remember that NuScale Power has yet to bring its SMR technology to market and generate revenue from it, so the stock could remain volatile.

Glossary

13F reportable assets: U.S. equity holdings that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC using Form 13F.

Assets under management (AUM): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or financial institution.

Quarter-over-quarter: A comparison of financial or operational results from one fiscal quarter to the next.

Stake: The ownership interest or amount of shares held in a company by an investor or fund.

Buy (executed a buy): The act of purchasing additional securities or increasing an investment position.

Modular light water reactor: A type of nuclear reactor designed in smaller, factory-built units using ordinary water as coolant and moderator.

VOYGR series: NuScale Powers branded line of modular nuclear power plant systems for scalable energy generation.

Process heat: Heat produced by industrial processes, often used for manufacturing, chemical production, or other non-electric applications.

Scalable energy solutions: Energy systems designed to be easily increased or decreased in size or capacity to meet demand.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.



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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Nvidias sales of the computing chips powering the artificial intelligence craze surged beyond the lofty bar set by stock market analysts in a performance that may ease recent jitters about a Big Tech boom turning into a bust that topples the worlds most valuable company.

The results announced late Wednesday provided a pulse check on the frenzied spending on AI technology that has been fueling both the stock market and much of the overall economy since OpenAI released its ChatGPT three years ago.

Nvidia has been by far the biggest beneficiary of the run-up because its processors have become indispensable for building the AI factories that are needed to enable whats supposed to be the most dramatic shift in technology since Apple released the iPhone in 2007.

But in the past few weeks, there has been a rising tide of sentiment that the high expectations for AI may have become far too frothy, setting the stage for a jarring comedown that could be just as dramatic as the ascent that transformed Nvidia from a company worth less than $400 billion three years ago to one worth $4.5 trillion at the end of Wednesday's trading.

Nvidias report for its fiscal third quarter covering the August-October period elicited a sigh of relief among those fretting about a worst-case scenario and could help reverse the recent downturn in the stock market.

The market should belt out a heavy sigh, given the skittishness we have been experiencing, said Sean OHara, president of the investment firm Pacer ETFs.

The company's stock price gained more than 5% in Wednesday's extended trading after the numbers came out. If the shares trade similarly Thursday, it could result in a one-day gain of about $230 billion in stockholder wealth.

Nvidia earned $31.9 billion, or $1.30 per share, a 65% increase from the same time last year, while revenue climbed 62% to $57 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had forecast earnings of $1.26 per share on revenue of $54.9 billion. What's more, the Santa Clara, California, company predicted its revenue for the current quarter covering November-January will come in at about $65 billion, nearly $3 billion above analysts' projections, in an indication that demand for its AI chips remains feverish.

The incoming orders for Nvidia's top-of-the-line Blackwell chip are off the charts, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a prepared statement that described the current market conditions as a virtuous cycle. In a conference call, Nvidia Chief Financial Officer Collette Kress said that by the end of next year the company will have sold about $500 billion in chips designed for AI factories within a 24-month span Kress also predicts trillions of dollars more will be spent by the end of the 2020s.
A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday. The pilot of the single-seater aircraft was killed in the accident, the IAF said.

The pilot of an Indian combat plane has died after a crash during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show. The HAL Tejas aircraft crashed Friday at Al Maktoum International Airport. pic.twitter.com/QLq78GJY6u  The Associated Press (@AP) November 21, 2025

Visuals of the crash aired on various TV channels showed the jet losing altitude and then crashing to the ground, engulfed in a ball of fire, to the horror of spectators. Footage from the site showed black smoke rising behind a fenced airstrip.

ALSO READ | How did IAF's Tejas aircraft crash during Dubai Air Show 2025? Latest updates as horrific videos appear online

Breaking @themojostory - Tejas jet crashes at Dubai Air Show - more details are awaited. Praying for pilots safety pic.twitter.com/s83exxz1Zq  barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 21, 2025

This is the second known crash of the fighter jet, which is powered by General Electric engines and is crucial for India's efforts to modernise its air force fleet of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet fighters. The first crash was during an exercise in India in 2024, Reuters said. Dubai's government shared a photograph of firefighting teams dousing smouldering wreckage. It said emergency teams were managing the situation on-site. The crash happened during the last day of the air show, the Middle East's largest aviation event, which started on Monday.

What is Indias HAL Tejas?

Tejas Mark (Mk) 1 is a 4.5-generation, lightweight, high-agility supersonic multi-role fighter aircraft, which entered service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in July 2016. It is an all-weather tactical fighter, available in two variants  specifically, a single-seat fighter and a two-seat training aircraft.

CHECK OUT HAL TEJAS BROCHURE HERE

The Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) led the design and development of the fighter plane under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was the prime industrial contractor for the project.

What do you need to know about its development?

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.



IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.



A court of inquiry is being  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 21, 2025

The first demonstrator aircraft within the LCA programme made its maiden flight in January 2001. The second flight happened in June 2002. Tejas successfully fired an infrared-seeking air-to-air missile in December 2013 and achieved IOC status, a 2024 report by Air Force Technology said. The prototype with an advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite developed by the DRDO also took flight during the period, it added.

ALSO READ | Why HAL's LCA Tejas Mk1A rollout will start slow despite the major engine deal with GE

The Defence Ministry told the Indian Parliament in 2021 that the aircraft is no longer considered a replacement for the MiG-21 and is part of a general IAF fleet modernisation programme.

How big is a HAL Tejas?

The aircraft reportedly has a length of 13.20 metres and a wingspan of 8.20 metres, with a wing area measuring 38.40 square metres and a wing loading of 221.4 kg per square metre. It stands 4.40 metres tall and has an empty weight of 5,680 kg. Its maximum take-off weight is 13,500 kg, while the loaded weight is 9,500 kg. The internal fuel capacity is 3,000 litres. The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 at an altitude of 15,000 metres and has a ceiling of 16,400 metres. It offers a combat range of 850 kilometres.

What are the salient features HAL Tejas is equipped with?

Tejas fighters are equipped with Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seats, which allow pilots to eject safely even at zero altitude and zero speed, NDTV said in a report.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that New Delhi signed a deal on Friday to buy 113 engines from General Electric to power an advanced variant of its home-produced Tejas fighter jets, in a sign of warming ties with the U.S. following months of tariff-induced tensions.

The aircraft features a night-vision-compatible glass cockpit with zero-zero ejection seats from Martin-Baker (UK). It features dual 76mm  76mm colour multifunction displays by Bharat Electronics, a head-up display by the government-owned Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), and a liquid-crystal return-to-home-base panel with a keyboard, Air Force Technology said.

ALSO READ | How capable and efficient is India's LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter?

What are weapons HAL Tejas is incorporated with?

The Tejas features a 23mm twin-barrelled GSh-23 gun with a burst firing rate of 50 rounds a second and a muzzle velocity of 715m per second. It can be armed with air-to-air missiles such as the Vympel R-73, as well as air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles, precision-guided munitions, rockets and bombs. The Derby BVR-AAM missile, which can engage targets at a range of 50km, can be fitted to it.
The Indian Air Force pilot killed in the Tejas LCA Mk-1 crash at Dubai Airshow on Friday was identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal.

Syal, who hailed from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, was reportedly attempting a vertical takeoff when the fighter jet crashed. the exact cause of the accident will be revealed only after an official court of inquiry.

Indias Braveheart Pilot of Tejas Fighter Jet Wing Commander Namansh Syal seen here in a video during Dubai Air Show with Indias MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, Indias Envoy to UAE Deepak Mittal and Indias Additional Secretary, Gulf in MEA Aseem Mahajan. 



pic.twitter.com/SAFHACARpn  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) November 21, 2025

CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu shared the pilot's image on X, saying the news of Himachal's brave son is extremely heartbreaking.

"The nation has lost a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot," Sukhu said in the post. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal Ji".

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet participating in a display at the Dubai Air Show crashed on Friday afternoon. The HAL-built aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerial manoeuvre before a large audience.



(Tejas crash, Dubai air crash, Tejas pic.twitter.com/9r3e9R2mzs  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) November 21, 2025

The videos of the crash posted by spectators showed the aircraft abruptly losing altitude after a low-altitude manoeuvre. It quickly nosedived into the ground within seconds, leaving a ball of fire and thick black smoke over the airfield at the Al Maktoum International Airport.

"An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," an IAF spokesperson said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the maker of Tejas, said it is deeply saddened by Syal's death and expressed heartfelt condolences to his family.
With viral visuals of the Tejas IA fighter taking a nosedive before blowing up in a plume of smoke during a demonstration at the Dubai Airshow on Friday couldnt have come at a worse timefor the Indian Air Force (IAF), for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and for the country as a whole.

The single-engine, multi-role combat, delta wing fighter was giving a demonstration of its capabilities and prowess at Dubais Al Maktoum International Airport.

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet participating in a display at the Dubai Air Show crashed on Friday afternoon. The HAL-built aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerial manoeuvre before a large audience.



(Tejas crash, Dubai air crash, Tejas pic.twitter.com/9r3e9R2mzs  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) November 21, 2025

First, the death of Wing Commander Namansh Syal is a huge loss. Fighter pilots in demonstration shows in a brand new aircraft are among the most skilled ones, having demonstrated their flying prowess and mental abilities in many ways over time. While machines can be replaced, the loss of a skilled fighter pilot is irreplaceable.

Second, the state-owned HAL, which is making the long-delayed Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) for the IAFis in deep and troubled waters.

Conceptualised in the 1970s as an indigenous fighter to replace the IAFs aging MiG 21 fleet, Rs 560 crore was first set aside in 1983 for its development. Later the amount was increased to Rs 10,400 crore. But it was only in 2001 that the first test flight took place.

In February, HAL was in the news for the wrong reasons after a rebuke by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh went viral after being accidentally recorded at the Aero India show at the Yelahanka IAF base in Bengaluru.

The IAF chief was heard telling a few HAL officials: I can only tell you what our requirement and our worries are. You have to alleviate those worries and make us more confident. At the moment I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen I find that HAL is just not in mission mode.

In September, HAL was given an order to make 97 Mk1A LCAs for the IAF in a Rs 62,370 crore deal. The delivery was expected to have begun from 2027-28. Those timelines may now have to be extended.

This is the second Tejas to have crashed. The first one crashed last year during the IAFs biennial Exercise Bharatshakti in Rajastans Pokhran desert. For an aircraft-maker to lose two fighters even before a squadron has been fully equipped is a very damaging statement on capabilities.

Also meant as a platform for exports, the keen interest that many countries had shown in the fighter will suffer a very big dent along with dimming prospects for sale. More so, when the Tejas was to be pitted against the Chinese JF-17 Block III (China).

Third, for the IAF, the crash and the consequent delay would be painful in the backdrop of critical shortage of fighter squadrons. It has placed much hope on a faster delivery of the Tejas to fill up the depleting numbers. The IAFs fighter squadron strength now stands at 31, or about 200 aircraft short of the 42 squadron benchmark.
Farhan Akhtar-led '120 Bahadur' hit the theatres on Friday, November 21. Inspired by a true story of 120 Indian soldiers taking on thousands of Chinese PLA soldiers during the 1962 war at Ladakhs Rezang La pass. The heroic stand, in which the Indian soldiers of the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, fought to the last man and last round to defend the critical area, was led by Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC, played by Farhan in the movie.

Directed by Razneesh "Razy" Ghai and written by Rajiv G. Menon with dialogues by Sunit Arora, '120 Bahadur' is expected to honour an eternal chapter in modern India's military history. While the Bollywood drama hits theatres across the country, the handful of survivors from the Charlie Company who lived to tell the tale is back in focus.

Battle of Rezang La and Major Shaitan Singh's men

Honorary Captain Ramchander Yadav and Havildar Nihal Singh, two survivors of the brutal war, worked in close quarters with Major Shaitan Singh. While Yadav carried the Major's radio, Nihal Singh was his personal guard.

Ahead of the battle, Major Singh discussed with his men how they would not get any artillery support because of the mountains behind them. Yadav, in 2012, recollected how withdrawal came into the fore, but the jawans and the JCOs said they did not intend to leave Rezang La. "We have the blessings of Lord Krishna," they reportedly said.

Yadav, in the past, had spoken to the media along with his old friend Nihal Singh, elaborating on how the Charlie Company terrorised the PLA at Rezang La despite being outnumbered one to fifteen. Both Ramchander Yadav and Nihal Singh vouched numerous PLA personnel were killed during the battle. Yadav, during the interaction, described that the falling Chinese "were lying scattered like berries in a market" all around them.

Ramchander Yadav had revealed that his comrades were forced to switch to close-quarters combat with the PLA when they confirmed a fifth wave of attack was imminent. Indian machine gunners thwarted four waves of attempted enemy advances from the bunkers, but the Chinese threw everything they had at them in the fifth wave. During the intense fighting, he reportedly saw Naik Singh Ram, who was later awarded the Vir Chakra, smashing the heads of two PLA soldiers together. He also witnessed the PLA leaving a bayonet sunk to hang a helmet on the snow near the head of Ram after he fell. It was a mark of respect.

Major Shaitan's men learnt they were being encircled after yaks started to show up behind them. The bovines were being used to carry machine guns by the PLA. The Indian soldiers repeatedly stabbed the enemy with their bayonets, but the thick parkas meant they were ineffective, and this forced the likes of Singh Ram to focus on the comparatively unprotected necks and heads of the Chinese.

What happened when the battle ended

Ramchander Yadav used the sling of his out-of-ammo rifle to tie the Major to his belt. This tied their bodies together at the waist. He started to roll through the snow for about 400 yards. He told Indian Express that his idea was to get someone from the company headquarters below for help to get the Major down. But when it was 8:15 by the Major's watch, he noticed that the Major was no longer alive. He took off the Majors gloves and slid the body between boulders to hide it so that it remained safe until someone could come to fetch it. Then he made his way down.

Havildar Singh reportedly saw his commanding officer taking his final breath on the battlefield. Interacting with the media on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war, the Havildar recollected how he disassembled his out-of-ammo light machine gun (LMG) to pieces and threw it away so that the PLA couldn't use it during the battles to come.

Bleeding and stunned, he laid helpless in the bunker when the Chinese soldiers arrived. They pulled Singh out and tried to communicate in English. When their attempts to get the names of his Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander from him failed, Nihal Singh was given first aid and taken as a Prisoner of War (POW), he told the Indian Express in an interview in 2012.

The Havildar was taken to the Chinese posts by around 5:00 PM. He understood there was a realistic chance for him to slip away as his captivators were fatigued and were very much invested in conversations to keep their morale up. He waited for the sun to set and chose his moment smartly. Instead of sprinting and raising an alarm, he slowly moved away from the enemy, one step at a time. Yadav told Indian Express that he was at least 500 metres away when he heard the PLA firing shots into the air to signal others of his escape. "I slowly sneaked out from there. When I walked almost 500 metres, they fired three shots in the air," he said.

Nihal Singh kept walking through the snow until he reached the headquarters on the afternoon of November 19. "On November 22, we were admitted to a hospital in Jammu for advanced treatment," he said.
The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, held in Thailand, ended with Fatima Bosch of Mexico emerging as the winner amid much controversy.

Representatives from 120 countries participated in the competition, which was hosted by American comedian Steve Byrne. Former Miss Universe Victoria Kjr Theilvig from Denmark crowned Bosch.

Esto es por y para ustedes, MEXICO  #MissUniverse



VIVA MEXICO  pic.twitter.com/cYXLce7bpn  Fatima Bosch (@fatimaboschfdz) November 21, 2025

Fatima Bosch Fernandez, born on May 19, 2000, in Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, openly addressed enduring bullying and struggling at school due to ADHD and dyslexia.

She began her pageant journey in 2018, winning the Flor de Oro crown in Tabasco, using her struggles as a source of strength. In September 2025, she won the Miss Universe Mexico crown, becoming the first woman from Tabasco to secure the title.

Bosch has used her platform to advocate for sustainable fashion, community engagement, and mental health. She is vocal about using recycled fabrics and emphasises the need for a social mission in fashion projects, which motivates her to design with discarded materials and convert waste into art with purpose. She has also spoken out against cyberbullying and is known for her love of animals.

Bosch studied fashion and apparel design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. She furthered her studies at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy, and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA.

In the Miss Mexico 2025 event, after she was announced the winner, many in the audience booed, and some contestants chanted "Jalisco won!" Many expected Miss Jalisco Yoana Gutierrez to win the title. Only four contestants congratulated her on stage, prompting her to say, Id rather have four hugs from people I know genuinely care for me. Lorena, Fernanda Puma, Emire, and Elena are queens in every sense of the word.

In a pre-pageant meeting, the director of Miss Universe Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly reprimanded Bosch, seemingly calling her a "dumbhead" for not posting enough promotional content for Thailand. Bosch stood up against this insult, and he responded by calling security to escort her out of the room, leading some other contestants to walk out in solidarity.

Nawat denied the insult, insisting he had accused her of causing damage. After the Miss Universe Organization condemned Nawats remark and limited his role in the pageant, he apologised during a livestreamed welcome ceremony.

This year's Miss Universe ceremony was fraught with controversy. In addition to the incident involving Bosch, Alicia Machado faced backlash for racist remarks against Nawat. Furthermore, two judges resigned from the event days before the final ceremony, with one alleging that the competition was rigged.

Bosch's win brought the title back to Mexico five years after Andrea Meza's win in 2020.

Believe in the power of your authenticity. Your dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth, Bosch said in her statement.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has landed in soup again, for pitching a 72-hour workweek like China for India's rapid economic growth. However, the 9-6-6 work rule in China, which the techpreneur quoted, was declared illegal in 2021 by Chinese authorities.

However, Murthy's comments has again brought to fore discussions on work-life balance, with many netizens strongly resisting the idea of "gruelling work hours" with five-day a week work schedule, with off during weekends.

During a recent television interview, Murthy said, "There is a saying in China, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. And that is a 72-hour work week." He claimed that the longer working hours helped China to achieve rapid economic growth.

However, once again, Murthy's comments have faced stiff resistance online. Dismissing Murthy's suggestion, an X user said, "India, choose balance, uncle. Work hard, but live fully." The user added, "Europe has a saying: 10, 5, 5. It means work from 10 to 5, 5 days a week. They walk, trek, meet friends, and truly live."

Calling it billionaire mentality, another user pointed out, "Iceland runs a four-day workweek, and it works great with high productivity. But Murthy wants billionaires to exploit Indias job scarcity. If someone works 9am to 9pm, theyd leave home by 7.30am and return around 10.30pm. Quality of Life?

What is 10-5-5 rule?

The 10-5-5 work rule is an European concept, considered an ideal work culture. An employee would work between 10am and 5pm for five days a week. As per this rule, an employee would have clocked a 35-hour work week, allowing for a healthy personal life outside of work.

A survey by HR solutions provider Genius HRTech in August this year found there was a strong resistance among employees towards the idea of extended working hours without additional benefits or flexibility. According to the Genius Digipoll report, only 16 per cent of the 2,076 employees surveyed responded positively to the idea of extended work hours.
CLAIM:

Washing your face with lukewarm water is better for cleansing, while cold water feels refreshing and helps reduce puffiness, but isnt effective at removing oil and dirt from the skin.

FACT:

Very hot or very cold water can irritate the skin and is not ideal for face washing. Experts recommend using lukewarm water, around 3638C, which effectively cleanses dirt and oil without damaging the skin. While ice water may feel refreshing, it has no proven skincare benefits, and pores do not actually open or close; they dilate and contract.

Many of us start our mornings with either a splash of cold water to wake up or warm water that feels relaxing, but which is actually better for your skin?

In a viral Instagram reel, Dr Manan Vora, an orthopaedic surgeon, reacts to a video where a girl asks, Cold water or hot water for face wash? Hot water feels nice, but its the worst thing you can do for your skin.

Dr Vora settles the debate by explaining, There are a lot of people who say that you should only wash your face with cold water. But personally, I like hot water. Now, hot doesn't mean very hot. Very hot water will strip off your natural oils, weaken your skin barrier, and make your dryness or acne worse.

He adds, Cold water is refreshing and helps with puffiness, but its not great at breaking down oil and dirt on your skin. And no, pores dont open and close. Thats a total myth.

The ideal solution, according to Dr Vora, lies in the middle. Lukewarm water, around 36 to 38 degrees Celsius, is best for daily face washing. It cleans effectively without harming your skin. After that, you can rinse your face with cold water to soothe your skin and reduce redness.

The reel has sparked conversations about skincare myths and the importance of maintaining a balanced cleansing routine.

Celebrity face wash trends

Many celebrities have popularised the trend of using ice water on their faces for glowing skin. Katrina Kaif, for instance, once showcased her ice water facial routine, while Kendall Jenner likes to start her day with skin icing after her morning tea. While these routines may seem appealing, understanding the science behind water temperature for cleansing is important.

Washing your face daily is a basic skincare practice that removes dirt, debris, and bacteria, leaving skin clean and refreshed. Confusion often arises around how often to wash the face, which products to use, and what water temperature is ideallukewarm, hot, or cold.

Benefits of cold and hot water

For routine skincare, washing the face with lukewarm water is considered best. Lukewarm water effectively removes oil and dirt without harming the skin barrier.

Cold water also has potential benefits when used occasionally. It can increase blood flow to the face and may reduce swelling and inflammation, and potentially lower oil production, which could benefit acne-prone individuals.

There are almost no benefits to using hot water above 42 degrees Celsius (107.6F) for washing the face or body, unless it is a personal preference. However, short-term heat therapy may be useful for certain skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, a common type of eczema.

In one study, researchers applied warmth of 49 degrees Celsius (120F) with a device for five seconds to areas affected by itchiness. This brief application significantly reduced itchiness and provided long-lasting relief. Effectiveness varied between individuals, and more research is needed, but this demonstrates that heat can have targeted therapeutic benefits even if regular hot water washing does not.

This suggests that while everyday hot water exposure may damage the skin barrier and worsen dryness, controlled, brief heat application can be a non-pharmacological option to manage specific skin conditions like itch or eczema.

The risks and limitations of cold and hot water

While cold water may feel refreshing, it is less effective at removing oil and dirt, which can leave residues and allow bacteria to accumulate in pores. It can also irritate sensitive skin and may not be suitable for prolonged exposure.

A 2022 study shows that hot water can strip natural oils, damage the skin barrier, increase oil buildup, and contribute to wrinkles. It can also make it harder to remove sebum, potentially clogging pores and worsening breakouts.

The same study, evaluating the effects of water temperature on skin barrier function, found that hot water exposure significantly increased transepidermal water loss, pH, and erythema, while cold water had milder effects. The study concluded that long and continuous water exposure damages skin barrier function, with hot water being even more harmful. It would be advisable to use cold or lukewarm water for handwashing and avoid hot water. Knowing the proper temperature for hand washing might be an important measure to prevent flares in patients with previous inflammatory skin diseases on their hands.

Also, the trendy facial icing is generally safe but may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with thin or sensitive skin may experience irritation and redness. People with broken capillaries should also avoid ice, as it can worsen their condition. Additionally, those recovering from cosmetic procedures such as surgery, lasers, or chemical peels should avoid facial icing, allowing their skin to heal naturally instead.

The right way to wash your face: Expert advice

Dr Rashmi Sarkar, Director-Professor at the Department of Dermatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi, explains that very hot water should be avoided for face washing. Hot water doesnt cause acne, but very hot water can obviously cause small scalds or redness on the face. Its like having small burns, so we dont recommend it, she says.

Regarding cold water, Dr Sarkar notes that it can be refreshing and helps reduce puffiness. Cold water is soothing and definitely removes puffiness. But for cleansing oils and dirt, normal temperature water is fine. It doesnt have to be extremely cold or hot, she explains. She adds that during winters, people with oily skin may benefit from lukewarm water, around 3638 degrees Celsius, which is effective for cleansing without damaging the skin.

On the trend of ice water facials, Dr Sarkar is cautious. There isnt enough evidence to show any added benefits of dipping your face in ice water. Its primarily refreshing, which is why beauty parlours often use it. Beyond that, we cannot claim any real skincare advantage, she says.

When asked about the common belief that pores open and close, Dr Sarkar clarifies, Thats a myth. Pores dont actually open or close. Sometimes, they may appear more visible or dilated, but that doesnt mean they are opening.

On the ideal water temperature for daily face washing, she recommends lukewarm water. Using lukewarm water, around 3638 degrees Celsius, is a good choice for cleansing daily as it effectively removes dirt and oil without harming the skin. But even normal temperature water is acceptable for regular washing. The main point is that it doesnt need to be extremely hot or cold. Lukewarm water is particularly useful if you are trying to remove extra oil or makeup, she adds.

This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
In a dramatic arc that seems straight out of a courtroom drama on the silver screen, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai saw both a shoe hurled in his courtroom during his tenure and a shower of flower petals at his farewell on Friday framing a tenure marked by controversy, calm, and a quietly assertive constitutional vision.

As Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai prepared to step down on November 23, his farewell speech delivered on his last working day at the Supreme Court carried the weight of history, emotion and a profound sense of duty. He called himself privileged to have been the captain of the Indian judiciary when India is celebrating 75 years of the Constitution, underlining that milestone as the lodestar of his 41-year legal journey.

VIDEO | Delhi: Speaking at his farewell function, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai says, I practice Buddhism, but I do not have any deep knowledge of any religious studies. I am truly a secular person. I believe in all religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam.



(Full pic.twitter.com/zqSo5qVuMX  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2025

Gavais remarks drew deeply from his belief that the Constitution is an evolving document, a principle he traced back to Dr B.R. Ambedkar and to his father. Dr Ambedkar always advocated for social justice, he said. I have tried, wherever possible, to balance Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles. His voice faltered with emotion, My voice is choked, I always believed that this is not an office of power but an office of duty.

In this same gathering, senior lawyers joined in tribute. Justice-designate Surya Kant praised Gavais legacy, calling his leadership clear, principled and decisive. But the ceremony also saw a touching moment of humility, when a lawyer attempted to shower the retiring Chief Justice with rose petals, Gavai gently raised his hand from the bench, No, no, dont throw  hand it over to someone. The gesture encapsulated the warmth many in the bar felt for him.

Yet, Gavais tenure was not without turbulence. On October 6, a 71-year-old advocate tried to throw a shoe at him inside Courtroom No. 1, shouting slogans about Sanatan Dharma. Security intervened immediately, and the courtroom paused. Gavai, composed, told the court, These things do not affect me, before resuming business.

Despite these dramatic moments, Gavais judicial legacy will be defined as much by his quieter constitutional work, most notably, the five-judge Constitution Bench on the Presidential Reference under Article 143. The question before the court was  can the President or state Governors be bound by judicially imposed timelines to grant assent to bills? A prior two-judge bench had set strict deadlines, Gavai and his colleagues were tasked with clarifying whether those lines could stand.

In the opinion delivered by the bench, Gavai stressed that the reference was functional, not an appeal against the earlier ruling. He insisted the Court was simply offering its legal view not overruling because Article 143 allows only advisory opinions. The Court rejected rigid timelines. It held that Governors and the President enjoy discretionary powers under Articles 200 and 201, they are not bound by the aid and advice of ministers, nor can courts impose deemed assent.

During the farewell, Gavai spoke openly about the philosophy behind that verdict. He said the court had used a Swadeshi interpretation, deliberately preferring Indian precedents rather than relying on foreign judgments.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, present for the ceremony, echoed the sentiment, noting that Gavais court had distinguished the US and British systems and affirmed we have our own jurisprudence.

Gavai also expressed deep satisfaction that his first major decision as CJI had been on the environment. His final months on the bench saw another landmark ruling with far-reaching ecological implications, a three-judge bench led by him passed an order in the long-running Aravalli mining case. Gavais bench adopted a scientific definition of the Aravalli landscape and directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. The court banned new mining leases until the plan is finalised but allowed existing operations to continue under strict environmental safeguards.

As he ended his address, the outgoing CJI returned to Ambedkars vision, social justice, constitutional morality, and equality. He reminded the bar that the Constitution is more than a legal document, it is a living contract between the people and their institutions. And for him, serving as Chief Justice during its 75th year was not merely professional privilege, it was a page in history.
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images The Cboe Volatility Index, a measure of market anxiety, is near its highest levels since May.

Key Takeaways

Wall Street is more anxious than it's been since April by some measures, with concerns about an AI bubble encouraging caution heading into Nvidia's quarterly earnings report.

Individual investor sentiment was at its most negative since September last week, and nearly half of fund managers consider an AI bubble the biggest risk to the stock market.

Nvidias quarterly results are almost here, and anxiety is running high.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), known as Wall Street's Fear Index, on Tuesday ended the day just below 25, near its highest level since May, when the market was cooling off from Aprils tariff tantrum. The index has risen substantially in the past week after coasting along in the mid-teens throughout the second half of the year. (It was recently a bit below 24; a reading below 20 is generally considered calm.)

And CNNs Fear & Greed Index, which tracks seven stock-market metrics to gauge the mood on Wall Street, yesterday fell to its lowest level since mid-April. Six of the seven index inputs were flashing Extreme Fear on Wednesday morning, with measures of momentum and market breadth having slumped in recent weeks.

Why This Is Important

Wall Street's mood can have as much of an impact on short-term stock performance as the health of the economy or developments with a specific business. Today investors are largely concerned with the quarterly earnings from Nvidia, due after the bell, which could substantially inform how people feel about stocks going forward.

Recent anxiety has centered on AI, with some investors worrying that tech giants are overspending on technology with uncertain commercial prospects. Others argue AI will transform nearly every industry, justifying techs massive investments and high stock valuations.

The AI bubble debate has been playing out for some time, but it intensified this month. Forty-five percent of fund managers surveyed by Bank of America in November said an AI bubble was the biggest tail risk facing the market, up from 33% last month and just over 10% in September. More than half of those surveyed said AI was already in a bubble.

And bullish sentiment among retail investors last week fell to its lowest level since early September, according to the Association of American Individual Investors. Bearish sentiment jumped nearly 13 percentage points, the biggest week-over-week increase since February.

The stock market faces a critical test this afternoon when Nvidia (NVDA) reports earnings. The AI chip giant's quarterly report has become a must-watch event on Wall Street this year, with its results often treated as a proxy for AI demand and a major driver of the AI rally.
A 17-year-old, Class 11 student died by suicide in Madhya Pradeshs Rewa district after alleging that a male teacher hit her, police said. The case has come to light just days after the alleged suicide of a 16-year-old created outrage in Delhi.

The student hanged herself at home and left a handwritten note on November 16. In it, she accused a male teacher of harassing and holding her hand while hitting her. She also says that he challenged her to open his closed fist.

Police who spoke to PTI said that the teacher allegedly pressed a pen between her fingers under the pretext of punishment. She says in the purported note that the pain was so excruciating that she lost her will to live.

The teens family said that she was perfectly normal at home and alleged that someone at school tortured her. They demanded that police examine the student's call details and conduct a thorough examination of the school, as someone had harassed her.

Police are probing all aspects to determine the reason behind the suicide.

On November 18, a 16-year-old class 10 student died after allegedly committing suicide by jumping from Delhis Rajendra Place Metro station. The boy left behind a note accusing his teachers and the school headmaster of constant humiliation and mental harassment. He also apologises to his parents and asks for his organs to be donated to someone who needs it.

The case sparked outrage, and groups of the boys relatives, parents and friends and neighbours gathered outside St Columbas School in Delhi to demand justice. His father, Pradeep Patil, named four people: Aparajita Pal, the headmaster, and teachers Julie Varghese, Manu Kalra and Yukti Aggarwal Mahajan, accusing them of harassing his son.
The Delhi Police on Friday strongly opposed the bail pleas of former JNU scholar Umar Khalid and activist Sharjeel Imam in the Supreme Court, asserting that their conduct during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act squarely falls under terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

What the accused describe as political speech, the police cast as calls for upheaval, a coordinated conspiracy that allegedly drew inspiration from mass uprisings in Bangladesh and Nepal and sought to engineer a similar regime change moment in India.

Appearing before a bench hearing the challenge to prolonged incarceration and trial delays in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the Delhi Police, said the two accused were part of a deeply coordinated conspiracy that went beyond dissent and entered the domain of violent subversion.

According to the police, Khalid, Imam and other co-accused had instigated the use of petrol bombs, firearms and coordinated attacks, including a plot to target the capitals sensitive chicken-neck pointsnarrow, high-value intersections whose blockade could paralyse movement and law-and-order response. Such actions, the ASG said, were not spontaneous acts of protest but calculated steps to engineer mass violence.

The police told the top court that speeches delivered by the accused were not mere political expression but were part of a larger conspiracy to provoke regime change, drawing parallels with political uprisings in Bangladesh and Nepal. The reference, officers argued, underscored the intention to destabilise the elected government through orchestrated civil disorder.

This is terrorism, the ASG emphasised, arguing that the UAPAs definition of terrorist acts using violent methods to threaten the countrys security, intimidate the public or destabilise the government squarely applies. The gravity of the offence cannot be washed away by citing delays in trial, he said.

On the issue of prolonged incarceration, Khalid has spent over four years in jail and Imam nearly as long, the Delhi Police insisted that the delay was attributable to the accused themselves. They alleged a brazen abuse of the judicial process through frivolous applications, repeated pleas designed to stall progress, and coordinated non-cooperation during the trial.

They cannot now take advantage of the delay they engineered, the ASG told the bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria. He further assured the court that if the accused cooperate, the police would ensure that the trial is completed within two years. But the nature of the case, he argued, involving a multi-layered conspiracy, dozens of protected witnesses and thousands of pages of digital evidence, necessitated a careful and time-consuming process.

The Bench, which continues to hear arguments on both bail pleas, is examining whether the allegations centred on speeches, WhatsApp groups and mobilisation for anti-CAA protests meet the threshold of terrorist acts under UAPA, and whether prolonged custody without conclusion of trial can justify release.
More allegations have surfaced against the teachers at the Delhi St Columba's School, where the class 10 student who committed suicide on Wednesday studied. A class 10 student, Shaurya Pradeep Patil, died by jumping from the platform of Rajendra Place Metro Station in Central Delhi after leaving a note blaming his teacher.

According to his father, the boy had alleged persistent mental trauma from school staff. A few days ago, he fell on stage during dance practice. But the teacher taunted him, saying, "Cry all you want, I don't care." This incident left Shaurya deeply saddened. When his family complained, the school threatened to expel him, local media reports quoted members of the Patil family.

Shaurya's father said he had been under stress for several months. When he complained, the school would tell him to "focus on his studies." The teachers were also unfriendly. One teacher had been threatening to call his parents and expel him for days. He was even pushed once, his father told reporters.

#WATCH | Delhi: Students and their parents hold a protest outside St Columba's School in Ashok Place over the death of a 16-year-old student, allegedly by suicide, at Rajendra Place Metro Station on November 18.



According to the FIR, the boys father alleged that his son was https://t.co/ptZjFuRvBo pic.twitter.com/IQ3PfjKYF7  ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2025

Also read: Teachers scolded him for every little thing: Parents of Delhi student who took his own life allege harassment

Earlier, the student's aunt, who was part of the protest outside the school, alleged that Shaurya had been under stress for quite some time, but they remained silent due to the upcoming board exams. He repeatedly told her he was being harassed. We learned from his classmates that he had even told school counselors and teachers that he would commit suicide. No one informed them, she added.

Shauryas sister claimed that he excelled in dance and theater and had recently won a competition, but the school did not even give him a certificate.

Meanwhile, four school employees have been suspended following the incident, including the headmistress. The school administration issued an order suspending the four teachers: Manu Kalra, Yukti Agarwal, Julie Varghese, and Aparajita Pal.

The headmistress of classes 4 to 10, the coordinator of classes 9 and 10, and two teachers have been relieved of their duties pending the completion of the investigation. This action is being described as preliminary, and a decision will be made based on the results of further investigation.

The Delhi Education Department confirmed on Thursday that a special committee has been formed to investigate the incident, which will review the school's conduct and the entire matter.
The Congress high command is treading cautiously as the leadership crisis deepens in the Karnataka unit of the party. While Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's loyalists have flown to Delhi to pressure the high command for a leadership change, Siddaramaiah continues to maintain that he would be the chief minister for the entire five-year term.

The high command reportedly witnessed an unusual show of strength from MLAs loyal to Shivakumar, who flew to Delhi in chartered flights. While Shivakumar has refrained from commenting publicly on the leadership change, it needs to be seen whether the DKS camp will watch patiently for long.

Speaking to reporters at the Mandakalli Airport in Mysuru, a visibly irritated Siddaramaiah snapped when he was asked whether he would present the state budget next year. Why are you asking this question? Yes, I will continue as chief minister and will also present the budget, the chief minister said.

However, Siddaramaiah refused to comment on possible leadership change in the state and said everyone should abide by the directions of the high command. "Whatever they decide, we will follow. All must abide by the high commands decision  MLAs, ministers, me, everyone," he said. Siddaramaiah is likely to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday in Bengaluru in the backdrop of the crisis.

Following Congress's landslide victory in the 2023 assembly polls, the high command managed to broker peace between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and the leaders reportedly arrived at a broad understanding that Siddaramaiah would serve as chief minister for the first half of the regime, after which Shivakumar would take over.

While Shivakumars supporters urge the leadership to honour the promises, Siddaramaiahs camp maintains that there was no such agreement. The leadership crisis comes amidst Shivakumar expressing willingness to step down as Karnataka Congress chief.

However, Siddaramaiah downplayed the visit of Ministers N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Shivanand Patil to Delhi. The chief minister said he spoke with Cheluvarayaswamy and was told the latter was in Delhi to meet the Union agriculture minister.

However, Shivakumar maintained there is no power tussle. On visit of his supporters to Delhi, Shivakumar said all 140 MLAs are eligible to become ministers and the chief minister. The chief minister has said he will complete five years. I wish him all the best; we will work with him."
On Thursday, Nitish Kumar, Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, was sworn in for a record 10th term in Patna at a grand ceremony. Among the 26 people who took the oath along with Nitish, only one wasnt a legislator: Deepak Prakash.

Son of Rashtriya Lok Manchu (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, Deepak Prakash is expected to be accommodated in the legislative council within six months. While Upendra Kushwaha is an MP, Deepaks mother, Sneh Lata Kushwaha, is the new MLA from Sasaram.

Interestingly, it was Sneh Latas name that initially cropped up as the RLM representative in the Cabinet. However, Kushwaha sprung a surprise last minute when he handpicked son Deepak, instead of wife, Sneh Lata.

The media got a whiff about Deepaks swearing in only when his wife, Sakshi Mishra, posted a cryptic message on Instagram. She posted a single picture of her husband, introducing him. Hours later, Deepak was seen attending the ceremony in an off-white shirt, jeans, and Crocs.

VIDEO | Patna: After taking oath as Bihar Minister, RLM leader Deepak Prakash says, I would like to thank my leader and father Upendra Kushwaha for giving me this opportunity, and I extend my gratitude to all the leaders and workers of the party. I am getting an opportunity to pic.twitter.com/5SAImcKgU2  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2025

While most people were surprised at seeing a clueless Deepak on stage, speculations are that he was a wildcard entry as neither the BJP nor Nitish was excited about him being a minister. I feel the responsibility to work for the youth and women. I extend my gratitude to all party workers, Deepak told reporters. When asked about the choice, Kushwaha said youth should be encouraged to take responsibility.



"Youth should be encouraged."



- Upendra Kushwaha on his son Deepak Prakash being inducted in Bihar cabinet pic.twitter.com/xno7EO2nBh  News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) November 20, 2025

A BTech graduate, Deepak has so far stayed under the radar. He was, however, active while campaigning for his mother at Sasaram. Sneh Lata was constantly accompanied not only by Deepak but his wife, Sakshi Mishra, who actively campaigned for her mother-in-law.

The 36-year-old did his school education in Patna in 2007. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from MIT, Manipur in 2011. Though he worked as a software engineer from 2011 to 2013, Deepak entered politics in 2019  ready to inherit his father's legacy. His grandfather, Ram Naresh Kushwaha, was a former MLA, and his grandmother, Muneshwari Devi, was a social worker.

His wife, Sakshi Mishra, is a social worker and the daughter of retired Uttar Pradesh IAS officer S N Mishra. Very active in social media, Sakshi is said to be active in politics and has displayed a level of political diligence when it comes to her family's prospects.
The Tamil Nadu government submitted draft guidelines for conducting roadshows and their public events at the Madras High Court on Friday. The draft was prepared following the tragic death of 41 people during Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) political rally in Karur in September.

The guidelines have been framed for events where over 5,000 people are expected to attend. However, these guidelines will not apply to religious gatherings held at places of worship.

In the draft, the government has categorically said political parties and organisers are primarily responsible for the safety of the public participating in public meetings and roadshows. As per the draft, the district collector will convene a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in the district and decide on venues for conducting public meetings, processions, roadshows, agitations, and protests in consultation with police.

As per the draft, officials from the Public Works Department must visit the venues and certify the maximum crowd that could be accommodated at the place. Organisers must apply to PWD for the necessary permissions.

For public meetings and roadshows along the national and state highways, permission from the concerned departments must be obtained at least 10 days ahead of the event.

While applying for permissions, organisers must specify details like date, time, purpose, expected number of participants, number of vehicles, and details of prominent leaders participating. For roadshows, the arrival and departure timings of the chief guests must be mentioned in the application. The draft also advises that political parties and organisers of such events must adhere to the permitted time slots.

The draft also stipulates that the public should not be made to arrive at the venue two hours before the event. For events like party conferences, where more than 50,000 people are expected to gather, permission must be sought at least 30 days in advance. For sudden agitations and protests, a decision will be taken by the district collector. In Chennai, the city police commissioner has been given the authority to decide.

However, the draft specifies that during elections, the guidelines mentioned by the Election Commission will be applicable. The high court will next hear the matter on November 27.

As many as 41 people died and over 50 people were injured during a rally organised by actor Vijay's TVK at Karur in September. Following the deadly mishap, the high court directed the state government to draft guidelines for such events.
The Supreme Courts reply to the Presidential reference on how the apex court could set a timeline for the president and governors to clear bills has come as a blow to the Opposition-ruled states. The Supreme Court, citing Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution, refused to impose timelines on governors for acting on bills.

The chief justice of India-led five-judge bench pointed out the phrase as soon as possible in Article 200 and said the governors' actions would be open to judicial scrutiny if they refused to act on the bills for a prolonged time in an inexplicable manner. However, the presidents actions on the bills are not open to judicial scrutiny. In short, enacted laws could be subjected to judicial scrutiny, but not the bills.

Analysts held that this decision could affect the bills of Opposition-led states such as West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. Its mostly the bills proposed by the Opposition governments that could be blocked now. You dont find any state government ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party or its allies facing this issue. We could see a precursor in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could not take its agenda forward as the Delhi lieutenant governor withheld important bills, such as the Mohalla Clinics Bill, and finally, the party lost the elections. Other Opposition parties could face a similar prospect, said Ajay Gudavarthy, associate professor in political science at the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Telangana is one of the states that could face an immediate crunch due to the decision. The Revanth Reddy-led Congress government attempted to push 42 per cent BC reservations in local governments, education and employment as a major policy initiative.

On August 31, it passed two key bills  the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in services under the state) Bill, 2025, proposing 42 per cent BC reservation in education and state jobs, and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in rural and urban local bodies) Bill, 2025, extending the same quota to rural and urban local bodies.

Before the passing of the bills in August, on July 15, the Congress government had attempted to introduce the local-body quota through an ordinance, but the governor referred it to the president as it breached the 50 per cent ceiling. The state later issued a Government Order (GO) to enforce the quota, which was challenged in court. The Telangana High Court stayed the GO for not meeting the Supreme Courts triple-test requirement, and the Supreme Court declined to interfere with that stay. This verdict has effectively ended the legislation route for the increased BC reservations in Telangana.

"The Telangana government can now forget the BC reservation bills. It may have to explore the internal quota option for the BC leaders in the local polls. This measure could save its face and if other dont follow it, they would be fault. However, this issue goes beyond these two bills. The unlimited power bestowed upon governors and the president undermines the elected state governments, said Telakapalli Ravi, a senior political commentator in Hyderabad. Going forward, elected governments will have to lobby with governors and the Centre even before proposing major bills, he added.
Donald Trump Jr, son of US President Donald Trump, is on a private visit to India for the lavish wedding of US-based couple Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju at Udapur on Friday. The Presidents son was already seen visiting the Taj Mahal on Thursday, posing for photographs, flanked by Secret Service Agents and Indian security personnel.

Now, videos and images show Trump Jr paying a visit to Vantara, the Reliance-owned animal rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation center located in Jamnagar, on the invitation of the Ambani family. He was accompanied by Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.

The videos showed Trump Jr and girlfriend Bettina Anderson joining Dandiya-Garba dancers with the Ambani couple.

But, what caught the netizens was the video of Trump Jr and his girlfriend bowing to the mammoth Lord Ganesha idol at Vantara. Many on X appreciated his gesture of honouring the traditions of the Ambani family and India.

He took a round of the sprawling wildlife facility with Anant Ambani and also visited a few temples in the area, sources told PTI.

Also read: Who is Netra Mantena? Inside the lavish billionaire wedding at Udaipur that Donald Trump Jr attends

Trump Jr and his girlfriend arrived in India for the Udaipur wedding of Netra Mantena, daughter of Orlando-based Ingenus Pharmaceuticals chairman Rama Raju Mantena. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Raju Mantena is a billionaire who runs research and development facilities in the US, Switzerland, and India.

Trump Jr was spotted on Thursday visiting the Taj Mahal, accompanied by a group of 126 special guests from nearly 40 countries during the tour of the Taj.
The Voice of Hind Rajab is the cry of a devastated nation, captured through the voice of a six-year-old girl. The Arabic film is not just the story of Hind Rami Iyad Rajab, who was killed in Palestine last Januaryit is the story of thousands who lost their lives to the horrors of war. Born on May 3, 2018, and killed on January 29, 2024, in an Israeli attack, Hind became the voice that conveyed the terror of war to the world. The Doha International Film Festival opened with the screening of The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania.

The festival became a platform for Qatar to strongly denounce Israels ongoing offensive in Palestine. The film is based on a phone call received by the Palestine Red Crescent in January last year. Hind Rajab, the six-year-old girl, called the Red Crescent pleading for help after the car she was travelling in with her relatives came under Israeli fire. She tells them that the people with her are covered in blood and are not waking up. The Red Crescent had fully recorded that phone call.

.@DohaFilm Institute (DFI) CEO Fatma Al Remaihi highlighted the crucial role the Doha Film Festival plays as a cultural platform.



In an interview with Doha News on the sidelines of the event, Al Remaihi also praised the impact of The Voice of Hind Rajab, a DFI-supported #film, pic.twitter.com/FzcGNDn1N9  Doha News (@dohanews) November 20, 2025

That recording runs throughout the film. The Red Crescent tried to rescue Hind, but with no safe corridor allowed, the effort failed. She was eventually killed by Israeli soldiers. Hinds mother, Wisam Hamada, also attended the festival. She said, through tears, that she desperately hoped her daughter would somehow return in the climax of the film. In every dream, she said, she still imagines her daughter coming backeven though she knows it will never happen. Accepting that reality has been impossible.

Wisam Hamada has filed a case in the International Court of Justice demanding action against the Israeli soldiers responsible for her daughters death. No parent, she said, could bear to hear Hinds final voice message in full. Its getting dark please take me from here, the child pleadswords that left the audience shaken. The film is featured in the competition category of the festival.

The 10-day festival was inaugurated by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of the Doha Film Institute. Actors Jamal Soliman and Golshifteh Farahani were honoured with the Excellence in Talent Award, presented by Sheikha Al Mayassa. Every voice matters, and the films that represent those voices have a place on this soil, said Festival Director and CEO Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi. A total of $300,000 in prizes will be awarded in the competition section.
Around 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators assembled late on Wednesday outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, where they chanted inflammatory slogans and heckled Jewish attendees arriving for an event hosted by Nefesh BNefesh, an organisation that facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel. Park East is a historic Orthodox congregation led by Senior Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a Holocaust survivor who witnessed Kristallnacht the violent anti-Jewish pogrom of November 910, 1938, widely seen as a crucial turning point in Nazi Germanys persecution of Jews.

Footage circulating on social media showed protesters shouting a series of incendiary chants, including references to armed resistance and calls directed against the Israel Defence Forces. Many carried placards reading Zionism is a death cult, while others invoked slogans celebrating intifada. The demonstration was organised by PAL-Awda NY, a pro-Palestinian activist group, which, in its promotional material, described Nefesh BNefesh as an arm of the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel. The activists accused the organisation of helping recruit North American settlers to what they regard as occupied Palestinian land.

The Rabbi of Park East Synagogue, NY, lived through Kristallnacht.



Last night, antisemites were chanting for intifada outside his synagogue.



He survived this hatred once. Now, hes forced to watch it rise again.



This was never about Gaza. Its an attack on the Jewish people. pic.twitter.com/7MSUZzDPGy  Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) November 20, 2025

As attendees made their way into and later out of the synagogue, they were obliged to pass directly by the line of demonstrators, who continued to jeer and chant. According to the Times of Israel, one masked protester positioned above the crowd urged others to intimidate those entering the building, repeatedly insisting that it was their duty to make them scared. Protesters echoed his words using a call-and-response format commonly employed to avoid the need for amplification equipment, which would have required an additional police permit.

New York City has witnessed more than 3,000 protests since the Hamas attacks of October 2023, but Wednesdays gathering appeared to mark a further escalation. For many members of the citys Jewish community, the scenes outside Park East Synagogue were another troubling indication of an increasingly hostile climate, despite the current ceasefire in Gaza.

Governor Kathy Hochul issued an unequivocal condemnation, describing the protest as a blatant attempt to intimidate Jews at a place of worship. No New Yorker should be intimidated or harassed at their house of worship, she said. What happened last night at Park East Synagogue was shameful and a blatant attack on the Jewish community. Hate has no place in New York.

A spokesperson for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Dora Pekec, said that Mamdani disapproved of the language used by protesters and would continue to discourage such rhetoric. She added that the mayor-elect believed all New Yorkers should be able to attend religious services without fear. However, she also commented that houses of worship should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law, without explaining why the synagogue event was considered to fall into this category.



The Nefesh BNefesh session had been advertised as an open house for North American Jews contemplating immigration to Israel, offering an opportunity to ask questions about life in the country. Mamdani has previously said he discourages the chant globalise the intifada, which critics view as a call for violence against Jews. His remarks regarding the synagogue event have raised fresh concerns about how he intends to address rising antisemitism. His team later clarified that his concerns related specifically to the organisations promotion of settlement activity beyond the Green Line the post-1948 armistice boundary.



Mamdanis election has unsettled many Jewish New Yorkers already alarmed by an increase in antisemitic incidents. He has promised to expand city funding for combating hate crimes, reinforce police protection for Jewish institutions, and ensure the safety of Jewish residents.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, currently abroad on a trip that included a visit to Israel, condemned the anti-Jewish chants as vile and branded the protesters sick and warped. He announced plans to visit Park East Synagogue upon returning to New York in order to show solidarity. Pray for our city, he wrote. Today it is a synagogue. Tomorrow it is a church or a mosque  We cannot hand this city over to radicals.
Akbar Novruz



On November 21, 2025, a group of Armenian civil society representatives arrived in Baku as part of the ongoing dialogue process between the two countries, Azernews reports.

The visit follows the Azerbaijani civil society delegations trip to Yerevan on October 2122, 2025, reflecting the reciprocal and structured nature of the confidence-building efforts.

Both sides continue engagement within the peace agenda set after the Joint Statement adopted in Washington on August 8, focusing on strengthening mutual understanding, supporting regional stability, and encouraging direct dialogue between communities as normalization efforts advance
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The stock market needs a hero. Can Nvidia fit the bill?

It's been a dicey few days for stocks. The market is in the middle of a four-day sell-off, with tech companies taking the brunt of it.

There are a lot of reasons investors are getting nervous  sky-high valuations, circular dealmaking between big players  but the core of the issue is this: Tech companies keep spending big on AI without much revenue to show for it.

As luck would have it, the company sitting at the center of the AI debate is here for its quarterly check-in.

Nvidia reports earnings this afternoon, and Wall Street is still largely bullish on the company, writes BI's Samuel O'Brient. But with the market in the middle of an AI-driven identity crisis, a strong showing is more crucial than ever.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for Nvidia, either. Despite it being the first company to reach a $5 trillion valuation, SoftBank and Peter Thiel's fund recently offloaded their Nvidia stakes.

A simple beat on analysts' estimates also won't necessarily ease concerns. Investors will look for ambitious revenue forecasts that indicate the AI boom its chips are powering isn't losing steam.

Any indication of weakness, however small, would likely add fuel to the growing worries that tech companies' AI ambitions are exceeding reality.

Nvidia could also be a victim of its own success.

The company has been clear about pursuing an aggressive product road map, with CEO Jensen Huang previously targeting a new chip release every year.

That's likely to be a key talking point this afternoon, as Nvidia gives an update on its upcoming Blackwell Ultra and Rubin chips.

On the one hand, that's great news for Nvidia investors. A fresh stream of new products means more revenue.

But regularly pushing out new chips also poses a problem for the Big Tech companies that are its customers. Spending big on AI infrastructure already has people uneasy, and now there's a risk it will quickly become outdated.

The market may not react negatively to Nvidia's development of new chips, but some have raised concerns about investing in companies that will have to buy new AI chips every couple of years.

The depreciation costs of AI chip investments were described as a "not-so-hidden" cost of AI by Barclays last year. Famed short-seller Michael Burry, who is betting big against Nvidia, recently highlighted it in his critique of the overall AI trade.
Amid the statement by the Russian primary aircraft manufacturer that it had delivered two Su-57 fighters to a foreign buyer for the first time, speculations are rife about who the secret customer could be. Though Vadim Badekha, the CEO of United Aircraft Corporation, said "foreign partner" had received the aircraft and was satisfied, he did not mention who the buyer was, triggering speculations that it could be India.

Su-57E, which Russia pitches as an alternative to the US F-35 and Chinese J-20, was earlier showcased in India as well.

But the latest rumours are that the customer could well be Iran, considering how the Islamic Republic is striving to modernise its programmes. These efforts have included upgrading avionics, installing new radar systems, and integrating modern weaponry.

Weeks earlier, videos had gone viral showing Iranian pilots undergoing formal and supplementary training in Russia on the Su-57. They were seen joking about the F-4 Phantom fighter jets, acquired before the 1979 revolution, before the Iranian revolution. Iran still operates over 60 F-4s, making it the largest Phantom operator in the world.

In February, a Russian Su-57 Felon fighter was spotted in an Iranian base. The fighter jets touched down in Iran on their way back home from the Aero India 2025 international airshow. This was also the first known instance of one of the new-generation Russian jets stopping in Iran for any reason. Satellite imagery showed the jet was at the Iranian airbase in Bandar Abbas for multiple days. No reason was given for the stopover.

However, leaked documents claim that though Iran has expressed interest in the Su-57, Tehran has its hands full with the acquisition of 48 Su-35 fighters that preceded the Su-57s development.

That said, the most probable buyer is Algeria, as the countrys state media on February 12 confirmed for the first time that it has become the first client for the Su-57 fifth generation fighter, revealing that Algerian pilots were currently undergoing training in Russia. The deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin later in the year, it said.
Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) recently foiled an assassination attempt by preventing a high-ranking Russian officer from drinking beer specially delivered to him from a "girlfriend".

The beer, allegedly laced with a British-made version of banned military-grade nerve agent VX, had the power to cause an agonising death in just 20 minutes, the FSB said in a statement.

In that regard, the FSB has detained a resident of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), who was allegedly involved in the covert assassination attempt, and was arrested by its officers before he could deliver the beer bottles.

How it happened

Several months ago, the targeted officer claimed that he had met a girl called Polina on an online app. The two got chatting, quickly moving to Telegram.

"She sent me photos and videos from the gym several times, all roughly the same. After a few months of our communication, she said she wanted to give me a gift, which she would deliver through a friend," the officer said, as per a Russian media report.

Polina's "friend" turned out to be the now-detained man, who was allegedly promised $5,000by the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR)for delivering two packages of the poisoned beer, which the FSB claimed were British-made.

Polina was not real eithershe was allegedly a fake account created by the GUR for the operation.

"Based on the results of the tests on the confiscated bottles, it was established that the beer contained a mixture of highly toxic poisons, colchicine and tert-butyl bicyclophosphate (an analogue of the military-grade nerve agent VX, banned by the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention), produced in Britain, which, when consumed, causes an agonising death within 20 minutes," the FSB said.

The man had called the Russian officer, giving him a time and place to meet. The officer had already accepted the package from him when the FSB made a crucial interruption and detained the man.

"I was ordered to carefully place the package on the ground. After which they explained to me that the bag contained beer, which contained a military-grade poison intended to eliminate me, and that Polina's account was used by Ukrainian intelligence officers," the officer added.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative, announced on Thursday that he was running for governor in the state of California, USA. The candidates in the race are looking to succeed Govenor Gavin Newsom.

The congressman announced his gubernatorial candidacy on the late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! In a post on X, Swalwell said, California needs a fighter and protector.

In his first campaign video, Swalwell says that the next California governors job is to keep the worst president in our history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives  and bring a new California.

On his website, he says that one of his goals will be to take on US President Donald Trump and lead the democrats' efforts to investigate January 6. Our state is under attack. The President has militarized our streets, canceled cancer research, zeroed out clean energy climate projects, and is chasing our immigrant friends and neighbors through their workplaces, kids' schools, and houses of worship," he says on the site.

California needs a fighter and protector. Im running for Governor. pic.twitter.com/foJ6PX58bq  Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) November 21, 2025

The California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026.

About two dozen candidates have already announced they are running for the primaries. Several have also dropped out. Former vice president Kamala Harris, a former Califronia senator, said that she was not running for governor.

Others who have left include Laphonza Romanique Butler, Matthew William Mahan, Alex Padilla, and Adam Schiff.

Prominent candidates currently include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.

Newsom, who was elected in 2018, is term-limited.

In his biography, he says that he was raised by two Republicans in Dublin, California, and was the first in his family to go to college.

Swalwell currently serves on The House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committee.

During Donald Trump's first term, he became a key figure opposing the president as a member of the House Intelligence committee. He was removed from the committee along with Adam Schiff after Republicans took control of the U.S. House in 2023.

Swalwell had also advocated for gun control after making a brief run for president in 2019.
Former CIA officer John Kiriakou recently revealed that Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had tried to force him to apologise publicly for earlier saying that India would win a conventional military conflict with Pakistan.

However, Kiriakou boldly responded to the scores of death threats he had received, against advice from his lawyerwhich has gone viral since his recent appearance on the Julian Dorey Podcast.

The death threats followed his interview with ANI about a month ago, in which he had pointed out that there was no use in Pakistan's constant quarrels with India, and that nothing good would come out of a "conventional war" between the two, as the "Pakistanis would lose".

ALSO READ | 'If nukes are introduced...': Ex-CIA officer claims THIS is why India-Pakistan tensions never went nuclear

After waves of online backlash from Pakistanis, he explained that he later received a letter from the PTI that condemned his actions in the "strongest possible terms".

The letter also demanded "an immediate apology" to former Islamabad PM Imran Khan, as well as the people of Pakistan.

"I wipe my a** with your demands for an apology," Kiriakou replied, despite his lawyer telling him to ignore the letter.

"I hit send ... and I haven't heard back from them."

The former chief of counterterrorism operations was stationed in Pakistan just after the devastating 9/11 attacks in the US. Over a 15-year career with the top investigative agency, he was also famed for blowing the whistle on the CIA's torture tactics reportedly used in their enhanced interrogation techniques.

Kiriakou also declared that he would never again do any more interviews with Indian or Pakistani news outlets, going on to describe how he felt the issue was blown out of proportion.

He also claimed that India and Pakistan hated each other because they were "exactly alike", going into detail about the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Mexico Fund, Inc. (The) (NYSE:MXF  Get Free Report) major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 47,273 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $19.15 per share, with a total value of $905,277.95. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,597,698 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,595,916.70. The trade was a 3.05% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Saba Capital Management, L.P. also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, November 17th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 13,451 shares of Mexico Fund stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $18.94 per share, for a total transaction of $254,761.94.

On Thursday, October 23rd, Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 506 shares of Mexico Fund stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $18.64 per share, with a total value of $9,431.84.

Mexico Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MXF traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $18.82. The stock had a trading volume of 82,767 shares, compared to its average volume of 56,377. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $19.12 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.96. Mexico Fund, Inc. has a 1-year low of $12.99 and a 1-year high of $19.86.

Mexico Fund Dividend Announcement

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mexico Fund

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 22nd were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 22nd.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Mexico Fund by 9.3% during the second quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 3,608,772 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $63,406,000 after acquiring an additional 305,864 shares during the period. SFI Advisors LLC increased its stake in Mexico Fund by 342.4% in the 1st quarter. SFI Advisors LLC now owns 131,807 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,876,000 after purchasing an additional 102,015 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Mexico Fund by 62.1% during the first quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 236,078 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $3,359,000 after acquiring an additional 90,483 shares during the period. North Ground Capital acquired a new position in Mexico Fund in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $608,000. Finally, Almitas Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mexico Fund by 8.3% in the first quarter. Almitas Capital LLC now owns 344,264 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,899,000 after purchasing an additional 26,418 shares in the last quarter.

Mexico Fund Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Mexico Fund, Inc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Impulsora del Fondo Mexico, S.C. It primarily invests in public equity markets of Mexico. The fund seeks to invest its portfolio across diversified sectors. The Mexico Fund, Inc was formed in June 01, 1981 and is domiciled in Maryland, United States.

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Shares of Wheels Up Experience Inc. (NYSE:UP  Get Free Report) shot up 3.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $0.9616 and last traded at $0.9660. 853,480 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 3,167,802 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.9301.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Wheels Up Experience in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen cut Wheels Up Experience from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Wheels Up Experience currently has an average rating of Sell.

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Wheels Up Experience Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $623.56 million, a P/E ratio of -1.69 and a beta of 2.30. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $1.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1.62.

Wheels Up Experience (NYSE:UP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $185.49 million during the quarter.

Insider Activity

In other Wheels Up Experience news, Director Donald Lee Moak sold 43,166 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.11, for a total value of $134,246.26. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 180,431 shares in the company, valued at approximately $561,140.41. This trade represents a 19.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Meaghan Danielle Wells sold 47,931 shares of Wheels Up Experience stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.22, for a total transaction of $58,475.82. Following the transaction, the insider owned 526,681 shares in the company, valued at $642,550.82. This represents a 8.34% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 335,692 shares of company stock worth $747,340. Company insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wheels Up Experience

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UP. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Wheels Up Experience by 9.8% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,614,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,651,000 after purchasing an additional 323,945 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Wheels Up Experience during the 2nd quarter valued at about $795,000. Militia Capital Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of Wheels Up Experience during the 3rd quarter valued at about $644,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Wheels Up Experience by 350.6% during the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 305,419 shares of the companys stock valued at $562,000 after acquiring an additional 237,639 shares during the period. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC purchased a new stake in Wheels Up Experience in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $463,000. 98.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Wheels Up Experience

(Get Free Report)

Wheels Up Experience Inc provides private aviation services in the United States and internationally. The company offers Wheels Up Membership program that consists of two primary membership categories, such as Individual membership for individual and business fliers; and UP for Business membership consists of small and medium enterprise, and custom enterprise solutions for business fliers that tend to spend at higher levels.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Gulfport Energy and New Concept Energys revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Gulfport Energy $866.54 million 39.23 -$1.63 billion ($6.86) -30.82 New Concept Energy $153,000.00 25.86 -$20,000.00 ($0.02) -38.55

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New Concept Energy has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Gulfport Energy. New Concept Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Gulfport Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Gulfport Energy -144.45% -93.72% -3.48% New Concept Energy -25.85% -0.83% -0.82%

Risk and Volatility

This table compares Gulfport Energy and New Concept Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Gulfport Energy has a beta of 5.5, meaning that its share price is 450% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, New Concept Energy has a beta of 0.05, meaning that its share price is 95% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of Gulfport Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.5% of Gulfport Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.1% of New Concept Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

New Concept Energy beats Gulfport Energy on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gulfport Energy

(Get Free Report)

Gulfport Energy Corporation engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. Its principal properties include Utica Shale covering an area of approximately 205,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Eastern Ohio; and SCOOP covering an area of approximately 76,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2020, it had 2.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent of proved reserves; proved undeveloped reserves of 7 MMbbl of oil; and 923 Bcf of natural gas and 16 MMbbl of NGL. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On November 13, 2020, Gulfport Energy Corporation, along with its affiliates, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

About New Concept Energy

(Get Free Report)

New Concept Energy, Inc. engages in real estate rental business. The company owns approximately 190 acres of land located in Parkersburg West Virginia. It also provides advisory and management services for an independent oil and gas company. The company was formerly known as CabelTel International Corporation and changed its name to New Concept Energy, Inc. in May 2008. New Concept Energy, Inc. is based in Dallas, Texas.

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The stock markets early rally fizzled by the afternoon, with the S&P 500 swinging from a nearly 2% gain to a slight selloff by midday. Nvidia, which initially jumped after reporting strong earnings, reversed 1% into the red along with the rest of the megacap AI trade.

The broader market mood wasnt helped by mixed economic data and uncertainty around the Federal Reserves next move, especially after a canceled jobs report and signs of uneven labor-market conditions. And then, theres Ray Dalio.

The billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates warned in a CNBC interview Thursday that investors are misreading the underlying mechanics of todays rally, even as AI giants like Nvidia insist the boom is nowhere near finished.

There is definitely a bubble in markets, Dalio said, adding that while the situation doesnt perfectly match 1929 or 1999, the indicators he tracks show the U.S. is closing in fast.

The picture is pretty clear, he said. But we dont have the pricking of the bubble yet. And, crucially: A lot can go up before the bubble bursts.

Dalios comments landed just as Nvidia reported one of the most astonishing quarters in corporate history. The chipmaker announced a staggering $57 billion in revenue in the third quarter, up 22% from the prior quarter and 62% from a year earlier, and reaffirmed it has roughly $500 billion in AI-chip demand already lined up for the rest of 2025 and 2026. Data center revenue alone hit $51.2 billion, up 25% sequentially and 66% year over year, powered by off the charts demand for its new Blackwell GPUs. On top of that, Nvidia issued guidance of $65 billion in revenue next quarter, plus or minus 2%, signaling that its AI spend is nowhere near rolling over.

CEO Jensen Huang used the attention during his earnings call to dismiss bubble fears outright.

We see something very different, he told analysts, arguing that demand for AI compute isnt tied to any single trend but three simultaneous revolutions: non-AI software shifting to accelerated computing, the explosion of new generative AI apps, and agentic AI that operates without user prompts.

But Dalio is looking past Nvidias fundamentals to what he sees as the fragile architecture of the broader market. In a lengthy essay released the same day on X, he argued that bubbles dont burst simply because valuations are too high. They burst when investors suddenly need money to cover debts, taxes, or liquidity requirements, and are forced to sell assets to get it. That forced selling, not bad earnings or shifting sentiment, is what historically drives the cascade, Dalio argued.
Shares of Barclays PLC (LON:BARC  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 450.

Several brokerages have commented on BARC. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 435 to GBX 500 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Barclays from GBX 500 to GBX 525 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Barclays from GBX 400 to GBX 415 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 380 price objective on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Barclays from GBX 455 to GBX 470 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th.

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Barclays Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of LON:BARC opened at GBX 405.80 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 390.37 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 359.79. The company has a market cap of 56.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. Barclays has a 12 month low of GBX 223.75 and a 12 month high of GBX 430.90.

Barclays (LON:BARC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The financial services provider reported GBX 10.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Barclays had a return on equity of 6.97% and a net margin of 19.54%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Barclays will post 39.1062802 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Barclays

(Get Free Report)

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $101.6333.

FMX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $107.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $97.00 price target (down from $132.00) on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research report on Tuesday, August 19th. UBS Group raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a neutral rating to a buy rating and reduced their price target for the company from $115.00 to $111.00 in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $93.00 to $97.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fomento Economico Mexicano

Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Down 0.1%

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 41.4% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 369 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 4.6% in the second quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 2,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $293,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 42.5% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 439 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 25.3% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 821 shares of the companys stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 16.0% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the companys stock valued at $135,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the period. 61.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE FMX opened at $94.02 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.91, a P/E/G ratio of 5.54 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.63. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 1 year low of $81.07 and a 1 year high of $108.74.

Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.06 by ($0.18). The business had revenue of $11.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $215.60 billion. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a return on equity of 5.01% and a net margin of 2.09%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 16th were issued a $1.9982 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 16th. This represents a $7.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.5%. This is a boost from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous quarterly dividend of $1.36. Fomento Economico Mexicanos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 89.92%.

Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

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A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTCMKTS:AMKBY  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Reduce by the six research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company.

Several brokerages have weighed in on AMKBY. BNP Paribas downgraded A.P. Moller-Maersk to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. BNP Paribas Exane lowered shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, September 17th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk in a report on Thursday, November 13th.

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A.P. Moller-Maersk Stock Down 3.2%

Shares of OTCMKTS:AMKBY opened at $9.33 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $10.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.89. The company has a current ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. A.P. Moller-Maersk has a 12-month low of $6.69 and a 12-month high of $11.50.

A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTCMKTS:AMKBY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The transportation company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.20). A.P. Moller-Maersk had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 12.33%. The company had revenue of $14.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.44 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that A.P. Moller-Maersk will post 0.41 earnings per share for the current year.

A.P. Moller-Maersk Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

A.P. Mller  Mrsk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ocean transport and logistics business in Denmark and internationally. It operates through Ocean, Logistics & Services, Terminals, and Towage & Maritime Services segments. The Ocean segment is involved in container shipping activities, including demurrage and detention, terminal handling, documentation and container services, and container storage, as well as transshipment hubs.

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Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Extra Space Storage Inc (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) by 183.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,755 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 9,555 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $2,175,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXR. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the first quarter worth $29,000. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new position in Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter valued at about $50,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter valued at about $75,000. Finally, Avalon Trust Co acquired a new position in Extra Space Storage in the 1st quarter valued at about $79,000. 99.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Extra Space Storage Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:EXR opened at $128.91 on Friday. Extra Space Storage Inc has a fifty-two week low of $121.03 and a fifty-two week high of $175.57. The firms 50 day moving average price is $140.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $144.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market cap of $27.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.14.

Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement

Extra Space Storage ( NYSE:EXR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.06 by $0.02. Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 28.40% and a return on equity of 6.53%. The company had revenue of $858.46 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $736.26 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.07 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Extra Space Storage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.120-8.20 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Extra Space Storage Inc will post 8.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.0%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 144.64%.

Insider Transactions at Extra Space Storage

In other Extra Space Storage news, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 7,500 shares of Extra Space Storage stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.41, for a total transaction of $1,060,575.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 19,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,794,261.60. The trade was a 27.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI restated a cautious rating on shares of Extra Space Storage in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $148.00 to $146.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $160.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Extra Space Storage from $165.00 to $150.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $148.36.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Extra Space Storage

Extra Space Storage Profile

(Free Report)

Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,714 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.6 million units and approximately 283.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands.

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SG Americas Securities LLC grew its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Free Report) by 309.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 20,189 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 15,261 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities were worth $1,466,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ARE. Presima Securities ULC raised its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 1.4% in the first quarter. Presima Securities ULC now owns 11,895 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,100,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional grew its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 13.8% in the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 1,445 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $105,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 55,580 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,037,000 after buying an additional 202 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 17,602 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,278,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York Life Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 23,096 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,677,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares during the period. 96.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on ARE. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $79.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. BNP Paribas Exane reduced their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $82.00 to $72.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Zacks Research lowered Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Citizens Jmp lowered shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of $79.38.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE ARE opened at $48.89 on Friday. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 12 month low of $48.66 and a 12 month high of $112.42. The stocks 50 day moving average is $71.18 and its 200 day moving average is $74.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $8.45 billion, a PE ratio of -19.79, a P/E/G ratio of 5.06 and a beta of 1.29.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.22 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.31 by ($0.09). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a negative net margin of 13.43% and a negative return on equity of 1.89%. The firm had revenue of $751.94 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $752.90 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.37 earnings per share. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess quarterly revenue was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.980-9.040 EPS. Research analysts predict that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 9.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th were issued a dividend of $1.32 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $5.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.8%. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess payout ratio is presently -213.77%.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Profile

(Free Report)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

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Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in TC Energy Corporation (NYSE:TRP  Free Report) (TSE:TRP) by 80.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 48,628 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 21,750 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in TC Energy were worth $2,369,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of TRP. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of TC Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $689,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in TC Energy in the first quarter valued at $612,000. Ninepoint Partners LP bought a new position in TC Energy in the first quarter valued at $2,112,000. Argonautica Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in TC Energy by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Argonautica Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 8,453 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $399,000 after buying an additional 889 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in TC Energy by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 9,908 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $468,000 after buying an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.13% of the companys stock.

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TC Energy Price Performance

NYSE:TRP opened at $54.25 on Friday. TC Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $43.51 and a 12-month high of $55.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.51, a P/E/G ratio of 4.82 and a beta of 0.73. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $52.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.

TC Energy Increases Dividend

TC Energy ( NYSE:TRP Get Free Report ) (TSE:TRP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.56. The company had revenue of $1.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. TC Energy had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 28.98%.During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.03 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that TC Energy Corporation will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a $0.85 dividend. This is an increase from TC Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. TC Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 103.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Cibc World Mkts downgraded shares of TC Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of TC Energy in a report on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, US Capital Advisors cut TC Energy from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.00.

Read Our Latest Report on TC Energy

TC Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

TC Energy Corporation operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. It operates through five segments: Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines; U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines; Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines; Liquids Pipelines; and Power and Energy Solutions. The company builds and operates a network of 93,600 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, which transports natural gas from supply basins to local distribution companies, power generation plants, industrial facilities, interconnecting pipelines, LNG export terminals, and other businesses.

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SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (The) (NYSE:NTB  Free Report) by 321.3% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 37,914 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 28,914 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son were worth $1,679,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NTB. Quarry LP increased its position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,327 shares of the banks stock worth $129,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its stake in shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 207.4% during the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 830 shares of the banks stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 560 shares during the last quarter. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son during the second quarter worth $27,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 16,663 shares of the banks stock valued at $649,000 after acquiring an additional 739 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 26,391 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,027,000 after acquiring an additional 1,148 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NTB shares. Zacks Research raised Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $50.00 target price (down from $54.00) on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son in a research report on Monday, September 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.67.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Price Performance

Shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son stock opened at $45.35 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $43.87 and its 200 day moving average is $44.02. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited has a one year low of $34.77 and a one year high of $46.92. The firm has a market cap of $2.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.59 and a beta of 0.68.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (NYSE:NTB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The bank reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $153.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $147.92 million. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son had a net margin of 28.27% and a return on equity of 21.94%. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.16 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited will post 4.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 11th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 10th. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons dividend payout ratio is 37.88%.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd. provides community banking and wealth management business. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Channel Islands and the UK, and Other. The Bermuda and Cayman segments offer retail banking and wealth management.

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB decreased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 16.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,091,228 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 217,123 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $148,418,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 10.7% in the second quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 795 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. FF Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. FF Advisors LLC now owns 1,904 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 14,018 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,907,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% during the second quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 12,555 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,607,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Opes Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.9% in the first quarter. Opes Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,854 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $379,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of ABT opened at $124.01 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $130.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $131.25. The company has a market cap of $215.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $110.86 and a one year high of $141.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.30.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.30. The company had revenue of $11.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.40 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.78% and a net margin of 31.88%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.21 EPS. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were paid a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on ABT. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $147.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $153.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $145.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $147.00.

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About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE  Free Report)  Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for DTE Energy in a report released on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the utilities provider will post earnings of $1.61 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.64. The consensus estimate for DTE Energys current full-year earnings is $7.18 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for DTE Energys Q1 2027 earnings at $1.98 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $8.33 EPS.

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DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.23 billion. DTE Energy had a net margin of 10.16% and a return on equity of 12.72%. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.22 earnings per share. DTE Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.090-7.230 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 7.590-7.730 EPS.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $147.00 to $146.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of DTE Energy to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded DTE Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, October 19th. Morgan Stanley set a $144.00 target price on DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on DTE Energy from $153.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $149.17.

Read Our Latest Analysis on DTE

DTE Energy Trading Up 0.5%

DTE opened at $135.69 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $28.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $138.70 and a 200-day moving average price of $136.86. DTE Energy has a 12 month low of $116.30 and a 12 month high of $143.79.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DTE Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DTE. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of DTE Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $567,000. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in DTE Energy by 5.3% during the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 208,818 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,470,000 after purchasing an additional 10,586 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in DTE Energy by 65.3% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,612,925 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $223,019,000 after purchasing an additional 637,378 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in shares of DTE Energy by 3.6% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 181,905 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,152,000 after buying an additional 6,375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its stake in shares of DTE Energy by 9.9% during the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 53,714 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $7,115,000 after buying an additional 4,838 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.06% of the companys stock.

About DTE Energy

(Get Free Report)

DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to various residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through coal-fired plants, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets.

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Volatility & Risk

Omnitek Engineering has a beta of -0.25, indicating that its share price is 125% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Paul Mueller has a beta of 0.17, indicating that its share price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Omnitek Engineering and Paul Muellers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Omnitek Engineering 7.23% -8.00% 10.57% Paul Mueller 12.37% 37.76% 18.67%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Omnitek Engineering and Paul Muellers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Omnitek Engineering $1.02 million 0.30 -$170,000.00 $0.02 0.70 Paul Mueller $248.59 million 1.77 $29.67 million $40.20 11.77

Paul Mueller has higher revenue and earnings than Omnitek Engineering. Omnitek Engineering is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Paul Mueller, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Paul Mueller beats Omnitek Engineering on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Omnitek Engineering

(Get Free Report)

Omnitek Engineering Corp. develops and sells technology to convert diesel engines to an alternative fuel, natural gas engines, and complementary products in the United States and internationally. It offers conversion kits for converting diesel engines to run on an alternative fuel, including compressed, liquefied, and renewable natural gas, as well as liquid petroleum gas; natural gas engines and components; and high-pressure natural gas coalescing filters. The company's products are used for stationary applications; and the transportation market, such as light commercial vehicles, minibuses, heavy-duty trucks, and municipal buses, as well as rail and marine applications. It sells and delivers its products through its distributors, system integrators, fleet operators, and engine conversion companies, as well as directly to end-users. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Vista, California.

About Paul Mueller

(Get Free Report)

Paul Mueller Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides manufactured equipment and components in the United States, North America, Asia, the Far East, the Netherlands, EU countries, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through four reportable segments: Dairy Farm Equipment, Industrial Equipment, Field Fabrication, and Transportation. The Dairy Farm Equipment segment offers milk cooling and storage equipment and accessories, refrigeration units, and heat recovery equipment for use on dairy farms to independent dealers for resale, and directly to farmers; and services for farmers, as well as milk coolers for rent to farmers. The Industrial Equipment segment sells food, beverage, chemical, and industrial processing equipment; and biopharmaceutical and pure water equipment, as well as stainless steel, alloy processing, storage tanks, and heat transfer products. The Field Fabrication segment sells large, field-fabricated tanks and vessels, such as stainless steel storage tanks for sanitary and industrial process applications. The Transportation segment offers delivery of products to customers; backhauls of materials and components; and contract carriage for third parties. It serves its products in various industries, including animal health, beverage, brewing, chemical, dairy farm, dairy processing, food, heat transfer, HVAC, industrial construction, oil and gas, personal care, pharmaceutical, pure water, tank fabrication, and wine. The company was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.

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Nvidia walked into earnings carrying the weight of a monthlong AI panic and walked out with a $57 billion quarter that made the whole selloff look like stage fright. The data-center business alone grew into a $51 billion engine, the kind of gravitational force that reorganizes the rest of the sector around it.

The market didnt take long to recalibrate: Stock was up as much as 6.4% in after-hours trading. The print read like a reminder that the biggest constraint in AI remains supply, not sentiment, and traders responded the way they usually do when an idea survives contact with reality. Wedbushs Dan Ives called it a champagne moment for a reason; screens tilted green once the numbers hit.

Wall Street had braced for something good, but not necessarily something quite this loud. Analysts were looking for about $55.4 billion in revenue and $1.26 a share in earnings. Instead, Nvidia cleared both bars without breaking cadence. Revenue hit $57 billion (up 62% from a year ago and 22% from the prior quarter), earnings landed at $1.30 a share, and the growth rate pushed the entire conversation back toward scale rather than saturation. Even the margins  73.4% on a GAAP basis  held in place, a small-but-critical signal for a company ballooning this quickly.

But perhaps the biggest sign for Wall Street came from the outlook. Nvidia told investors to expect $65 billion in revenue next quarter, a number that jumped well past the Streets $61.7 billion range and landed like a statement. If demand was slipping, Nvidia wouldnt be leaning into the quarter with targets that size or gross-margin expectations edging toward 75% on a non-GAAP basis.

The beat and the guidance effectively imposed a new baseline for what normal demand looks like in this phase of the cycle. And the rest of the print drew the same shape.

Demand for Nvidias Blackwell-series chips has been running ahead of available supply for months, and early readouts from the call suggested that the pace hasnt slowed. Cloud providers have been booking capacity across compute and networking to get ahead of Rubins ramp next year, turning the upgrade path itself into a catalyst. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in the earnings release that Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud GPUs are sold out.

Compute and networking inside the data-center segment turned into a $51 billion pillar, with networking alone climbing more than 160% year-on-year as hyperscalers kept stitching together larger and larger AI clusters. Inventory rose to $19.8 billion because Nvidia is booking supply as quickly as manufacturers can produce it. Even the cloud-service agreements  where Nvidia effectively rents its hardware back through partners  doubled to $26 billion, a sign that customers are willing to lock in capacity before the next wave of model training crowds the queue. For all the hand-wringing about an AI cool-off, the spending news out of hyperscalers pointed in the opposite direction.
Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,297,463 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 574,437 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.s holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $1,106,083,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 150.7% in the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 341 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Ingersoll Rand in the first quarter worth about $40,000. Gladwyn Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. 95.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $83.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $92.00 to $91.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.90.

Ingersoll Rand Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:IR opened at $74.55 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $78.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $80.98. The company has a market cap of $29.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.22, a PEG ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 2.16 and a quick ratio of 1.51. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a one year low of $65.61 and a one year high of $106.03.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.01). Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 12.14%. The business had revenue of $1.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.84 EPS. Ingersoll Rands quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.310 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 13th. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. Ingersoll Rands payout ratio is presently 5.93%.

About Ingersoll Rand

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc.

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Legal & General Group Plc cut its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 0.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,571,484 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 6,198 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises approximately 0.8% of Legal & General Group Plcs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,130,840,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the second quarter worth about $11,421,213,000. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $4,238,764,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Mastercard by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,526,118 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,413,936,000 after purchasing an additional 3,765,378 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 25.6% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $3,580,909,000 after buying an additional 1,299,977 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,475,807 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $44,098,695,000 after buying an additional 931,132 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,263 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $591.00, for a total transaction of $10,202,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 31,234 shares in the company, valued at $18,459,294. This represents a 35.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MA has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Mastercard from $638.00 to $630.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Citigroup raised Mastercard to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. KeyCorp reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $665.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $690.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $652.50.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Mastercard

Mastercard Price Performance

MA stock opened at $528.28 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $564.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $569.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The stock has a market cap of $474.39 billion, a PE ratio of 35.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $465.59 and a one year high of $601.77.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.The company had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.89 EPS. Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 9th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 9th. Mastercards payout ratio is presently 19.44%.

About Mastercard

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

Further Reading

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Xero Limited (ASX:XRO  Get Free Report) insider David Thodey acquired 833 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$119.87 per share, for a total transaction of A$99,853.38.

Xero Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 87.88, a quick ratio of 5.24 and a current ratio of 6.62. The company has a market capitalization of $31.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 179.38, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 1.02.

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Xero Company Profile

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Xero Limited, together with its subsidiaries, a software as a service company, provides online business solutions for small businesses and their advisors in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It offers Xero, an open platform that connects small businesses to a range of solutions, which helps to manage their finances.

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GAP (NYSE:GAP  Get Free Report) had its price target boosted by equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $32.00 to $36.00 in a research report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price objective points to a potential upside of 45.63% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on GAP. Bank of America boosted their price objective on GAP from $23.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $29.00 price objective on shares of GAP in a research note on Friday. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price target on shares of GAP from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Friday. BTIG Research assumed coverage on GAP in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a buy rating and a $30.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Zacks Research raised GAP from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.63.

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GAP Trading Up 7.2%

GAP stock traded up $1.66 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $24.72. The stock had a trading volume of 8,566,025 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,136,625. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.17 billion, a PE ratio of 10.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 2.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.68. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $22.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.48. GAP has a twelve month low of $16.99 and a twelve month high of $29.29.

GAP (NYSE:GAP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.04. GAP had a net margin of 5.86% and a return on equity of 27.04%. The firm had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.72 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. GAP has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Analysts expect that GAP will post 2.02 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other GAP news, Director Robert J. Fisher sold 500,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.90, for a total value of $11,450,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,829,502 shares of the companys stock, valued at $64,795,595.80. This trade represents a 15.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director William Sydney Fisher sold 200,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.86, for a total value of $4,772,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,253,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at $77,627,388.58. This trade represents a 5.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 943,064 shares of company stock worth $22,011,784. 30.56% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GAP

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Danske Bank A S bought a new position in GAP in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $765,000. Verity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of GAP in the third quarter worth $758,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in GAP by 0.6% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 71,867 shares of the companys stock worth $1,537,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of GAP by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,588,800 shares of the companys stock worth $98,154,000 after acquiring an additional 180,991 shares during the period. Finally, Fiduciary Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of GAP during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,716,000. Institutional investors own 58.81% of the companys stock.

About GAP

(Get Free Report)

Gap, Inc operates as a global apparel retail company, which offers clothing, apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. The firm operates through the following segments: Gap Global, Old Navy Global, Banana Republic Global, Athleta, and Other. The Gap Global segment includes apparel and accessories for men and women under the Gap brand, along with the GapKids, BabyGap, GapMaternity, GapBody, and GapFit collections.

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Shares of Persimmon Plc (OTCMKTS:PSMMY  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $31.36, but opened at $33.05. Persimmon shares last traded at $33.2950, with a volume of 5,645 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Friday, November 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Persimmon currently has an average rating of Buy.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PSMMY

Persimmon Stock Up 5.4%

Persimmon Company Profile

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of $32.85.

(Get Free Report)

Persimmon Plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a house builder in the United Kingdom. The company offers family housing under the Persimmon Homes brand name; housing under the Charles Church brand name; and social housing under the Westbury Partnerships brand name. It also provides broadband services under the FibreNest brand; and timber frame, insulated wall panels, and roof cassettes under the brand Space4.

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Shares of Ithaca Energy plc (LON:ITH  Get Free Report) dropped 13.5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 200 and last traded at GBX 202. Approximately 10,037,082 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 393% from the average daily volume of 2,037,826 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 233.50.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on ITH shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Ithaca Energy to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from GBX 145 to GBX 220 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Peel Hunt reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 200 price target on shares of Ithaca Energy in a report on Wednesday, September 17th. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a no recommendation rating on shares of Ithaca Energy in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Ithaca Energy has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 210.

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Ithaca Energy Trading Down 13.7%

About Ithaca Energy

The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 204.66 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 179.21. The firm has a market capitalization of 3.32 billion and a PE ratio of -19.01.

(Get Free Report)

Ithaca Energy is a leading UK independent exploration and production company focused on the UK North Sea with a strong track record of material value creation. In recent years, the Company has been focused on growing its portfolio of assets through both organic investment programmes and acquisitions and has seen a period of significant M&A driven growth centred upon two transformational acquisitions.

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RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) and Progressive (NYSE:PGR  Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation.

Risk and Volatility

RenaissanceRe has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Progressive has a beta of 0.29, indicating that its share price is 71% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Institutional & Insider Ownership

100.0% of RenaissanceRe shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 85.3% of Progressive shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.0% of RenaissanceRe shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Progressive shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Earnings & Valuation

RenaissanceRe pays an annual dividend of $1.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Progressive pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.2%. RenaissanceRe pays out 4.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Progressive pays out 2.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. RenaissanceRe has raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years. RenaissanceRe is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

This table compares RenaissanceRe and Progressives gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio RenaissanceRe $12.10 billion 1.00 $1.87 billion $35.99 7.30 Progressive $85.17 billion 1.57 $8.48 billion $18.23 12.51

Progressive has higher revenue and earnings than RenaissanceRe. RenaissanceRe is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Progressive, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for RenaissanceRe and Progressive, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score RenaissanceRe 1 11 4 0 2.19 Progressive 2 11 6 1 2.30

RenaissanceRe currently has a consensus price target of $284.50, indicating a potential upside of 8.27%. Progressive has a consensus price target of $266.52, indicating a potential upside of 16.85%. Given Progressives stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Progressive is more favorable than RenaissanceRe.

Profitability

This table compares RenaissanceRe and Progressives net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets RenaissanceRe 14.23% 16.83% 3.17% Progressive 12.57% 33.88% 9.15%

Summary

Progressive beats RenaissanceRe on 12 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About RenaissanceRe

(Get Free Report)

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S. multi-line reinsurance. The Casualty and Specialty segment writes various classes of products, such as directors and officers, medical malpractice, and professional indemnity; automobile and employers liability, casualty clash, umbrella or excess casualty, workers compensation, and general liability; financial and mortgage guaranty, political risk, surety, and trade credit; and accident and health, agriculture, aviation, cyber, energy, marine, satellite, and terrorism. It distributes products and services primarily through intermediaries. The company invests in and manages funds. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

About Progressive

(Get Free Report)

The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, business related general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. The Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos and recreational vehicles (RV). This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and related products. The Commercial Lines segment provides auto-related liability and physical damage insurance, and business-related general liability and property insurance for autos, vans, and pick-up trucks used by small businesses, as well as non-fleet taxis, black-car services, and airport taxis; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and long-haul operators; dump trucks used by light contractors and heavy constructions; log trucks and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, garbage/debris removal, and coal-type businesses; and tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses. The Property segment writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, as well as offers manufactured homes, personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; acts as an agent to homeowners, general liability, workers' compensation insurance, and other products; and reinsurance services. It sells its products through independent insurance agencies, as well as through mobile applications and over the phone. The Progressive Corporation was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio.

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Wynn Macau, Limited (OTCMKTS:WYNMF  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $0.87, but opened at $0.8320. Wynn Macau shares last traded at $0.7903, with a volume of 5,500 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Citigroup upgraded shares of Wynn Macau from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Wynn Macau presently has an average rating of Buy.

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Wynn Macau Price Performance

Wynn Macau Announces Dividend

The firms 50 day moving average price is $0.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.79.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $0.185 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a dividend yield of 535.0%.

Wynn Macau Company Profile

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Wynn Macau, Limited engages in the development, ownership, and operation of integrated destination casino resorts in the Peoples Republic of China. It operates through two segments, Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau. The company offers tables games, slot machines or similar gaming devices; offers 24-hour gaming, and various games comprising private gaming salons and sky casinos; a luxury hotel with guest rooms, suites, and villas; food and beverage outlets; brand-name and retail shopping; recreation and leisure facilities, including a cable car ride through SkyCab, health club, spa, salon, and pool; and a meeting and convention spaces.

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Gerdau (NYSE:GGB  Get Free Report) and ThyssenKrupp (OTCMKTS:TYEKF  Get Free Report) are both mid-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, profitability and valuation.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

1.5% of Gerdau shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of Gerdau shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares Gerdau and ThyssenKrupps net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Gerdau 4.81% 6.51% 4.29% ThyssenKrupp -2.34% -7.71% -2.73%

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Gerdau 0 3 1 0 2.25 ThyssenKrupp 0 0 0 0 0.00

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Gerdau and ThyssenKrupp, as reported by MarketBeat.

Gerdau presently has a consensus target price of $3.80, indicating a potential upside of 11.93%. Given Gerdaus stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Gerdau is more favorable than ThyssenKrupp.

Risk and Volatility

Gerdau has a beta of 1.46, meaning that its stock price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ThyssenKrupp has a beta of 1.02, meaning that its stock price is 2% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Gerdau and ThyssenKrupps gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Gerdau $69.71 billion 0.10 $846.59 million $0.27 12.57 ThyssenKrupp $38.01 billion 0.17 -$1.63 billion ($1.42) -7.47

Gerdau has higher revenue and earnings than ThyssenKrupp. ThyssenKrupp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Gerdau, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Gerdau beats ThyssenKrupp on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gerdau

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Gerdau S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a steel producer company. The company operates through Brazil Business, North America Business, South America Business, and Special Steel Business segments. It also provides semi-finished products, including billets, blooms, and slabs; common long rolled products, such as rebars, wire rods, merchant bars, light shapes, and profiles to the construction and manufacturing industries; drawn products comprising barbed and barbless fence wires, galvanized wires, fences, concrete reinforcing wire mesh, nails, and clamps for manufacturing, construction, and agricultural industries; and special steel products used in auto parts, light and heavy vehicles, and agricultural machinery, as well as in the oil and gas, wind energy, machinery and equipment, mining and rail, and other markets. In addition, the company offers flat products, such as hot-rolled steel coils and heavy plates; and resells flat steel products. Further, it operates mines that produce iron ore located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The company sells its products through independent distributors, direct sales from the mills, and its retail network. Gerdau S.A. was founded in 1901 and is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

About ThyssenKrupp

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thyssenkrupp AG operates as an industrial and technology company in Germany and internationally. It operates through five segments: Automotive Technology, Decarbon Technologies, Materials Services, Steel Europe, and Marine Systems. The Automotive Technology segment offers components, systems, and automation solutions for vehicle manufacturing, such as axle assembly, body in white, camshafts and electric engine components, dampers, dies, springs and stabilizers, crankshafts and conrods, steering, and undercarriages. The Decarbon Technologies segment provides slewing bearings and rings, green ammonia and methanol, chemical and cement plants, high pressure processing, and refinery services, as well as green hydrogen. The Marine System segment manufactures submarines, naval services, and naval surface vessels. The Material Services segment offers 3D-printing/additive manufacturing, alloys, infrastructure project and services, industrial minerals, logistics services, metals, nonferrous metals, plastics, rolled steel, special ores, and stainless steel. The Steel Europe segment manufactures composite materials, electrical steel, hot strips, organic coated strips and sheet, packaging steel, precision steel strip, and sheet and coated products. thyssenkrupp AG was founded in 1811 and is headquartered in Essen, Germany.

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Canadian Natural Resources, Celsius, and Canadian Solar are the three Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are shares of ownership in companies incorporated in Canada or primarily listed on Canadian exchanges (for example, the Toronto Stock Exchange or TSX Venture Exchange), representing a claim on those firms assets and earnings. For investors they provide exposure to the Canadian economy and sector mix (notably energy, materials and financials) and entail considerations such as Canadian-dollar currency risk, domestic regulatory and tax rules, and typical dividend policies of Canadian firms. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days.

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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

Celsius (CELH)

Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CELH

Canadian Solar (CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides solar energy and battery energy storage products and solutions in in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy. The CSI Solar segment designs, develops, and manufactures solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power and battery storage products.

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Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. aims to spend an initial $1 billion to $5 billion growing its US manufacturing footprint, propelling an expansion aimed at sating the enormous needs of AI sector leaders Nvidia Corp. and OpenAI.

Also known as Foxconn, the Taiwanese company on Friday unveiled a partnership with OpenAI on server design and production. The two will work closely together to resolve the particular pain points of getting artificial intelligence data centers up and running over the key first few months of operation, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

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For OpenAI, theyre the largest user of AI compute and they have a lot of experience with what can go wrong, Liu said on Friday. Anything can happen with the IT equipment, with the power equipment, with the cooling equipment. So because of that experience, they learned that there must be a new way or new architecture for the AI data center. We share the same feeling, same understanding.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. aims to spend $1 billion to $5 billion growing its US manufacturing footprint, propelling a global expansion aimed at sating the enormous needs of AI sector leaders Nvidia Corp. and OpenAI.Source: Bloomberg

The two companies will co-design server racks with a focus on making sure they can be manufactured across the US. Foxconn also plans to produce cabling, power systems and other key equipment for data center facilities in the country. Foxconns expansion of server production capacity is focused on the US and Liu expects the company to be able to assemble up to 2,000 racks per week in 2026.

No purchase agreements were detailed as part of the OpenAI tie-up, but Liu said the two companies have already collaborated extensively and hes hosted OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman in Foxconns Taiwan offices.

We had a long talk about the problems that theyre facing and what we are seeing with the AI data center today, Liu said.

Foxconn has designs on growing its leadership and market share in the AI hardware ecosystem, in part to reduce its longstanding reliance on assembling iPhones for Apple Inc. The Taiwanese company is already a partner in OpenAI and Oracle Corp.s Stargate project, by operating a server production site owned by SoftBank Group Corp.

OpenAI has spent much of this year working with Oracle and SoftBank on an ambitious initiative to invest $500 billion in US data centers and AI infrastructure over the next few years  a move announced in the early days after President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Foxconn has been expanding its own AI server production in the US, meeting a key demand of the administration and helping mitigate tariff risks.
Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:FLTW  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 312,118 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 178% from the previous sessions volume of 112,370 shares.The stock last traded at $57.6140 and had previously closed at $57.56.

Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF Stock Up 0.5%

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $60.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $636.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.84 and a beta of 0.94.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF in the second quarter valued at $54,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC boosted its holdings in Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF by 248.4% in the first quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 742,413 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,095,000 after purchasing an additional 529,293 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,085,000. Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF by 103.4% in the first quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 14,784 shares of the companys stock valued at $639,000 after purchasing an additional 7,515 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AIA Group Ltd acquired a new stake in Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $12,701,000.

Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF Company Profile

The Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF (FLTW) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Taiwan RIC Capped index, a market-cap-weighted index of Taiwanese companies, excluding small-caps. FLTW was launched on Nov 2, 2017 and is managed by Franklin Templeton.

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Auto Trader Group (OTCMKTS:ATDRY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,295,318 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 239% from the previous sessions volume of 382,083 shares.The stock last traded at $2.12 and had previously closed at $2.08.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of Auto Trader Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Reduce.

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Auto Trader Group Price Performance

Auto Trader Group Increases Dividend

The firms 50 day moving average price is $2.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.67.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 1st were issued a dividend of $0.0192 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 105.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Auto Trader Groups previous dividend of $0.01.

About Auto Trader Group

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Auto Trader Group plc operates in the digital automotive marketplace in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company provides vehicle advertisement on its websites for private sellers, as well as insurance and loan financing products to consumers; and display advertising on its websites for manufacturers and their advertising agencies.

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ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas (NYSEARCA:BOIL  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $33.39, but opened at $35.29. ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas shares last traded at $35.1640, with a volume of 1,463,572 shares.

ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas Stock Up 2.9%

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $30.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.61.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BOIL. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas by 52.9% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,026 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 701 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas during the 3rd quarter worth $74,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas during the 1st quarter worth $85,000. Thrive Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas in the third quarter worth $231,000. Finally, HUB Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas in the second quarter valued at about $324,000.

About ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas

The ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas (BOIL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex index. The fund provides 2x the daily return of an index that measures the price performance of natural gas as reflected through publicly traded natural gas futures contracts.

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Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $39.89, but opened at $41.43. Gold Fields shares last traded at $41.56, with a volume of 1,221,926 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GFI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. HSBC reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Gold Fields in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Investec cut shares of Gold Fields from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Gold Fields in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research raised Gold Fields from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on Gold Fields from $30.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $40.43.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Gold Fields

Gold Fields Price Performance

Gold Fields Increases Dividend

The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $40.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.27.

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Friday, September 12th were given a dividend of $0.3993 per share. This represents a yield of 130.0%. This is a boost from Gold Fieldss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 12th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gold Fields

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GFI. DJE Kapital AG grew its position in shares of Gold Fields by 19.7% during the 2nd quarter. DJE Kapital AG now owns 4,511,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,260,000 after acquiring an additional 742,174 shares during the period. Paradiem LLC bought a new stake in Gold Fields during the second quarter valued at about $2,010,000. U S Global Investors Inc. grew its holdings in Gold Fields by 53.8% during the second quarter. U S Global Investors Inc. now owns 100,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,367,000 after purchasing an additional 35,000 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Gold Fields in the second quarter worth about $1,316,000. Finally, Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Gold Fields in the second quarter worth about $1,349,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.81% of the companys stock.

Gold Fields Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Gold Fields Limited operates as a gold producer with reserves and resources in Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, Australia, and Peru. It also explores for copper and silver deposits. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Sandton, South Africa.

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Shares of Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $1.37, but opened at $1.30. Kosmos Energy shares last traded at $1.3250, with a volume of 1,890,642 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KOS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $2.00 price target (down from $3.00) on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Kosmos Energy from $3.00 to $2.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Stephens initiated coverage on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $1.75 price target on the stock. Finally, Clarkson Capital assumed coverage on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research note on Friday, October 24th. They set a buy rating and a $4.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $3.07.

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Kosmos Energy Stock Down 11.8%

The stock has a market cap of $552.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.50 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.56, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 0.45. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $1.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1.78.

Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.15) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.13) by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $311.23 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $360.82 million. Kosmos Energy had a negative return on equity of 14.16% and a negative net margin of 10.74%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Kosmos Energy Ltd. will post 0.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kosmos Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Foster Group Inc. bought a new position in Kosmos Energy in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Kosmos Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Verum Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Kosmos Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Vident Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kosmos Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft acquired a new stake in shares of Kosmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 95.33% of the companys stock.

About Kosmos Energy

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Kosmos Energy Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas along the Atlantic Margins in the United States. The companys primary assets include production projects located in offshore Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as well as gas projects located in offshore Mauritania and Senegal.

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EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) recently received a number of ratings updates from brokerages and research firms:

11/17/2025  EastGroup Properties had its hold (c+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/12/2025  EastGroup Properties had its price target raised by analysts at Truist Financial Corporation from $177.00 to $188.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

11/10/2025  EastGroup Properties had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $187.00 to $196.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  EastGroup Properties had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/4/2025  EastGroup Properties had its price target raised by analysts at Robert W. Baird from $190.00 to $196.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

10/28/2025  EastGroup Properties was given a new $183.00 price target on by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock.

10/28/2025  EastGroup Properties had its sector perform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada.

10/27/2025  EastGroup Properties was given a new $200.00 price target on by analysts at Industrial Alliance Securities.

10/27/2025  EastGroup Properties had its price target raised by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald from $190.00 to $200.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

10/27/2025  EastGroup Properties was upgraded by analysts at BNP Paribas from a neutral rating to an outperform rating. They now have a $207.00 price target on the stock.

10/27/2025  EastGroup Properties was upgraded by analysts at BNP Paribas Exane from a neutral rating to an outperform rating. They now have a $207.00 price target on the stock.

10/8/2025  EastGroup Properties had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

10/6/2025  EastGroup Properties had its price target lowered by analysts at Evercore ISI from $180.00 to $179.00. They now have an in-line rating on the stock.

10/1/2025  EastGroup Properties is now covered by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald. They set an overweight rating and a $190.00 price target on the stock.

10/1/2025  EastGroup Properties is now covered by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald. They set an overweight rating and a $190.00 price target on the stock.

9/27/2025  EastGroup Properties had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

Insider Activity at EastGroup Properties

In other news, EVP Richard Reid Dunbar sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.00, for a total transaction of $350,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 20,630 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,610,250. This represents a 8.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina.

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Pfizer (PFE) has reportedly decided to sell its entire remaining stake in BioNTech (BNTX), showing a lack of confidence in BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine and in BNTX stock. Meanwhile, BioNTech has generally been generating relatively steep losses and its shares are not cheap.

Finally, while its two most prominent drug candidates show some potential, they both have significant weaknesses and consequently may very well not end up generating large amounts of revenue for the firm.

More News from Barchart

In light of these points, I recommend that investors sell BNTX stock.

About BioNTech

In partnership with Pfizer, BNTX developed one of the leading vaccines for Covid-19. Based on mRNA technology, the shot, known as Comirnaty, generated peak sales of $37.8 billion in 2022. However, the vaccines sales have dropped a great deal subsequently. In the third quarter of 2025, it generated $1.15 billion of revenue, representing a year-over-year decline of about 19%, Pfizer reported.

As a result, BioNTech, which had generated very high profits in 2022 and was significantly profitable in 2023, has fallen fairly deep into the red. In 2024, it reported a net loss of $719.9 million, while its net loss in the third quarter of 2025 was $33.55 million. However, in Q3 the companys bottom line was tremendously boosted by payments from Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) that BNTX received. The payments are related to the companies collaboration on BNT327, an immuno-oncology treatment, and the upfront portion of the payments will amount to $1.5 billion. However, BNTX will receive another $2 billion total in non-contingent anniversary payments through 2028 and can obtain up to an additional $7.6 billion in payments if the drug attains certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones.

Still, BioNTech looks poised to generate significant losses for some time. Indeed, analysts on average expect it to report a loss per share of $4.10 in 2025 and a loss per share of $4.04 in 2026.

The shares are changing hands at a price-sales ratio of 8.3 times.

www.barchart.com

Assessing the Companys 2 Most Prominent Pipeline Drugs

The two drugs in BNTXs pipeline that have received the most attention in the media and from the company itself (based on an analysis of its press releases and of the transcript of its third-quarter earnings call) are BNT327 and BNT323, which is based on  a type of high-precision chemotherapy.
Sadly, this is happening just the way it does every year . . .

Counterintuitively, homicides ramp up as we approach the holidays as economic harsh times and so many pressure of the holiday season are often too much to handle . . . What's worse is that this year domestic violence has been spike and this trend seems to be continuing.

Even worse . . .

This is the third Kansas City homicide in the last three days.

Accordingly . . . We count the latest deadly shooting by way of local news links and info that police are sharing with media . . . Check-it:

Homicide 55th and Wabash

Tonight just after 7:30pm officers were dispatched to the area of 55th and Wabash on the sound of gunshots.



On arrival officers checked the area and located a vehicle mid block to the south in the east side alley. Inside the vehicle officers located an adult female shooting victim unresponsive.



Officers called for EMS who responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased at the scene.



Homicide detectives are now at the scene canvassing for any witnesses. Crime scene investigators are processing the scene for evidence.



There is not any preliminary information about what led up to the shooting, nor any suspect information yet. Indication is that the shooting happened at this location in the alley though.



If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency

############

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Woman killed in shooting near 55th, Wabash Thursday night A woman has died following a shooting in Kansas City Thursday night.

Police investigate after woman found shot to death in Kansas City car Police are investigating after a woman was found shot to death inside a car in Kansas City.

Developing . . .
The tone of the Mayor's latest post is optimistic but it deserves some context and follow-up . . .

Critics of Mayor Q often remind Kansas City news readers that the precipitous decline of the Country Club Plaza wasn't brought about by rambunctious youngsters or even the emergence of online retail. The Plaza didn't really fall off a cliff until Mayor Q lead a group of activists during a riot shouting "No Justice, No Peace" and later that night a riot erupted that marked two weeks of chaotic destruction during the nation's "mostly peaceful" BLM riots following the murder of George Floyd.

Now . . .

With at least 50 vacancies and desperation setting in . . . Developers are demanding at NEARLY A QUARTER BILLION BUCKS WORTH OF TAX INCENTIVES in order to bring back The Plaza.

That's our perspective and what local news often forgets . . . Now, here's what Mayor Q had to say today on social media . . .

"Part of the discussion is taking place already in connection with the Plaza Bowl concept, which Council recently modified in part to welcome and retain Kansas City businesses. The next phase of discussion should look to properly scale density and changes that allow for market competitiveness while respecting the original design vision of the Country Club Plaza and the neighborhoods around it.



"In terms of public support, we all expect a collaborative discussion with taxing jurisdictions, including our rising schools, library system, and the City itself, as we build out a model of how a healthy Plaza over the next generation can lift an entire community. I am heartened to see steps taken in that direction."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Mayor Q On FB: "In Kansas City, we can respect the past while planning for a bright, dynamic, and competitive future, and that's the step essential as we plan for the future of Kansas City's century-old Country Club Plaza."

Developing . . .
Special thanks to readers who sent this link . . . And our main takeaway . . .

REDDIT FRUSTRATION INTRODUCES TKC BLOG COMMUNITY TO EVEN MORE READERS FOR BETTER AND WORSE!!!

Actually . . .

There have been Reddit threads about our blog that are MUCH WORSE . . . In this one we notice . . .

- Of course there's comment criticism and a few conspiracy theories -- Sorry but TKC has a hard enough time updating this week . . . We don't have time to delve into comment beef very often.

- Very special thanks for a couple of nicer comments.

- For TKC readers who think we're a flaming lib, the local redditors claim TKC is a right-wing reactionary. Again, this indicates that we're probably doing a great job and garnering zero love amid a hyper-partisan world . . . Sadly . . . Independence from partisan hacks only assures universal rebuke and very little support from dark money funders who power most of the political discourse.

- The stuff that's not overtly bitter might have a point . . . This blog is a remnant of a bygone online era but then again . . . Drudge is still going strong and all manner of websites STILL seem like more fun than the endless doomscroll of social media AI SLOP.

From our vantage . . . It's nice to earn a mention and there's even a bit of constructive criticism for our blog community that merits a moment of consideration.

The intro line . . .

"Does this publication ever write anything positive? The takes are pi$$y, uneducated and never actually fully describe a situation. Im just surprised the amount of followers that follow this account."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Reddit KC: Tonys Kansas City: what is it for?
A long shot given that this debate will be won at the ballot box or not at all . . . Check-it:

Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, filed the complaint . . . Saying Attorney General Catherine Hanaway did not have the right to list the entirety of the Missouri General Assembly as a plaintiff in the case.



In the complaint, Beck says Hanaway is in violation of several attorney rules, saying she neither obtained consent from the Missouri General Assembly to represent it in this lawsuit, nor sought any action from the Missouri General Assembly to participate in the objectives of such a suit.



Although this lawsuit names the Missouri General Assembly as a plaintiff, I had no knowledge of the Attorney Generals intent to initiate such suit prior to its filing, the complaint reads.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri Senate Minority Leader files misconduct complaint against Attorney General The complaint, filed with the Office of Chief Disciplinary Council, says the Attorney General didn't have the authority to list the Missouri General Assembly as a plaintiff in a redistricting lawsuit without its input.

Related if only for culture war context . . .

Missouri attorney general investigating organization for not hiring white man Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has announced that her office will be initiating an investigation into the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Developing . . .
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Details added: first version posted on 10:25

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum, themed Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion, got underway in Baku. It features heads of media-related institutions, leading media organizations from the D-8 member states, other high-ranking representatives, and well-known experts in the field, Trend reports.

Hikmat Hajiyev, the Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, first read President Ilham Aliyevs address to the Forum participants.

The Forum includes two panel sessions focused on Responsible Journalism and Digital Innovation and Strategic Communication and Crisis Management. There is also a workshop titled Media Ethics in a Digitalising World: Technologies, Trends and Narratives.

Almost 150 delegates are attending the Forum. This includes 71 foreign representatives from the eight member countries and the D-8 Secretariat.

Spaeking at the event, D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam said that after joining the D-8 organization, Azerbaijan has implemented unusual initiatives in a short period of time.

He noted that he would like to thank the Azerbaijani government for joining such a prestigious organization.

"Azerbaijan's joining this organization has led to positive changes in our work. I am impressed by the great interest shown by the representatives of the D-8 member countries in the event. We intend to continue cooperation not only in the economic sphere, but also in the media and communications sectors. These issues are of great importance for our region. This organization is further strengthening its position.

We are working to increase the authority and influence of the media. Dialogue, impartial information sharing and adherence to common values are important for us. At the same time, we want to establish journalism schools and provide scholarships to students studying here," the secretary general added.

Then, Pakistani Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar noted that the transition from electronic media to digital media happened spontaneously.

He pointed out that digital media is developing rapidly today.

"The main task is to explain proper use of social and mass media to Gen Z. Misinformation damages the public's trust and directs them in the wrong directions. Broadcasting companies should employ professionals, and companies should be provided with modern equipment. We need to educate the population to prevent disinformation.

'Today, the Baku Declaration will be adopted here, and this will form our roadmap. I propose that we also implement a joint initiative in terms of social media and networks. This will serve to create a single platform for people living in our countries. Such a platform can be very important for the fight against Islamophobia. The fight against hate speech, extremist individuals and organizations in the online space should also be one of the main issues," the minister added.

Meanwhile, Advisor for Multilateral Affairs at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Agustaviano Sofjan said that D-8 Forum for 2026-2027 will be held in Indonesia.

He noted that ethical and independent journalism is the main condition for building trust in the public.

"Fact-checking, establishing an early warning center to prevent disinformation, preserving adherence to national and cultural values, ensuring the correct and purposeful use of artificial intelligence in the media, as well as supporting exchange programs, are important issues. The D-8 Media Forum is a strong platform for joint action. Member states can significantly benefit from the exchange of experiences, joint strategies, and initiatives here. Indonesia will host the D-8 Forum for 20262027. We'll try to contribute to the joint work," he added.

Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi said that the implementation of programs to improve youth literacy in the field of media is one of the important tasks.

He noted that sustainable solutions come from existing realities on the ground.

"It's important to create such an ecosystem among ourselves. The total GDP of the D-8 member countries is $8 trillion. In terms of cooperation in the media sector and digital reforms, D-8 has greatly benefited us. We have established a second-tier UNESCO Institute for Media Literacy in Nigeria and are ready to share our experience in this area. More than 100 million people use digital platforms in our country. Young content creators are already contributing to the country's GDP.

In addition to combating disinformation, it is also important to implement literacy programs covering young people in the media sector. The organization of scholarship programs, cooperation between newsrooms are very important. Nigeria is open to dialogue, maintaining stability in the region by combining joint innovations and cooperation in the media sector is a key issue," the minister emphasized.

Will be updated
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for the decision to lift restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia, the Kazakh President told the media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

"I express my gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his decision to lift sanctions and create conditions for direct bilateral trade through his country's territory. Thus, in November this year, the first batch of Kazakh wheat, amounting to 1,000 tons, was delivered to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. This initiative is of particular political and economic significance," Tokayev said.

According to him, Kazakhstan is ready to supply high-quality grain products and other goods to Armenia regularly.

We have agreed to make every effort to further develop this area, the head of state said.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on October 21, stated that: Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that had been in place since the occupation.
Key Points

A high-yielding payout hasn't been enough reason for investors to buy Pfizer's stock.

The pharmaceutical giant's valuation has been cut in half in just three years.

Investors appear to be worried about what lies ahead for the business.

10 stocks we like better than Pfizer 

Healthcare giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has been offering a high yield for some time. But that hasn't been enough to get investors to buy up the stock. You can see that in its sluggish share price, and also in the fact that the dividend still yields an incredibly high amount at 6.9%. That's nearly six times the S&P 500 average of 1.2%.

Investors are clearly having doubts about the dividend, and perhaps the company as well. If they weren't, then clearly it would be a steal of a deal, the stock would take off, and the yield would come down. If investors aren't touching a stock, there's usually some nagging concern about it.

Below, I'll look at whether Pfizer's dividend is safe and whether it could be a reliable income stock to own right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Pfizer's profits declined by double digits last quarter

In its third-quarter results, Pfizer reported earnings per share of $0.62, down 20% from $0.78 in the prior-year period. Meanwhile, the company has been paying $0.43 per share in dividends each quarter. Based on this most recent quarter, that would put its payout ratio at just under 70%, which is a fairly healthy percentage.

The good news is that if Pfizer is able to maintain its current level of profitability and its earnings don't deteriorate further, the dividend should remain safe and secure.

It's generated more than $10 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months

Another way to evaluate the dividend is to look at free cash flow, which tells you how much cash the company is generating and how much is left over after factoring in both day-to-day operating expenses and capital expenditures.

Since cash flow can fluctuate over time, depending on the collection of receivables and the payment of invoices, examining multiple periods may be ideal in this situation. And over the trailing 12 months, Pfizer's free cash flow has totaled $10.4 billion, which is more than the $9.7 billion it paid out in dividends during that time frame.

While the buffer doesn't seem nearly as comfortable when looking at cash flow, there are no glaring signs to suggest that Pfizer's payout is in trouble.

Why is the stock struggling?

With strong enough financials to support its current payout, and potential room for another rate hike in the near future, you may be wondering why the stock can't seem to get much momentum. This year, shares of Pfizer are down nearly 6%, and over the past three years, they've lost close to half of their value.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of D-8 Media Forum on Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion, Trend reports.

"Dear Forum participants,

I cordially welcome you to the first ever Media Forum of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8). It is a significant event to hold such first Forum in the city of Baku on the initiative of Azerbaijan.

As you may know, last year, the Republic of Azerbaijan was unanimously elected to the D-8 membership. It is a notable case that the organization operating for almost thirty years, has adopted the decision for its expansion for the first time. This reflects the international confidence placed in our country as it mirrors our strong friendly and cooperative relations, our unity and solidarity with each member country. The D-8 member countries with total population of 1,2 billion people and vast economic potential, share religious and cultural values. Today, spanning three continents, the D-8 platform disposes wider opportunities to advance the development in such important areas as sustainable economic growth, digital transformation, AI, mitigating global climate change and ensuring energy security. Azerbaijan has transformed into an important actor of regional and international cooperation by building multifaceted partnerships with D-8 countries in energy, transportation and communication spheres.

Since its membership to the D-8 family, Azerbaijan puts efforts for its institutional development. And, it is seen not only in the economic area of collaboration, but also cultural, social and humanitarian ones. During almost one year period since Azerbaijans acceptance into D-8, the first meeting of D-8 NGOs was organized in the city of Baku by our countrys initiative as it was in the case with the D-8 High-Level Climate and Urban Dialogue that took place within D-8 Week. Azerbaijan will continue to give its further contribution to expand the collaboration within this institution.

I stress my confidence that this Forum which brings together public and political figures, communication professionals and media representatives from friendly countries, will become an effective platform to discuss new challenges emerging in global information arena and reach common goals. During this period when communities are facing global crisis, new challenges and difficulties, it is extremely important to provide mutual support and showcase media solidarity between our countries.

The information cannot rest as a mere news in the contemporary world as it plays an important role in shaping confidence and understanding between peoples by turning into a main driving force of international relations, public opinion and economic development.

Currently, the media environment is affected by rapid transformations. It is regrettable that there is a never-ending rise of disinformation, fake news, hybrid threats, deepfakes, AI misuse and other manipulation cases in global information space. Besides having a serious impact on the countries image and their internal life, these factors damage the international stability as a whole, and undermine the confidence among countries. This is why one of primordial tasks of D-8 Media Forum is to form a credible collaboration between media institutions of member countries to build a just, impartial, non-biased and responsible information space.

Azerbaijan hosts several prestigious international events related to the media, and constantly, puts forward important initiatives in this area. Aligning our national media strategy with the international practice, we focus, in particular, on increasing professionalism of journalists, broadcasting evidence-based news and developing media literacy. At the same time, we support the creation of information platforms via the regional collaboration.

Todays Forum is a new line of cooperation opening up favorable opportunities to share experience between media institutions of friendly countries. I do believe that ideas voiced here coupled with proposals and joint project initiatives to be made, will play a significant role in the future information policies of D-8 countries.

Hoping to see D-8 Media Forum to contribute significantly to fostering cooperation, mutual confidence and solidarity between our peoples and ensuring information security, I wish every single success to it," the address reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Currently, the media environment is affected by rapid transformations, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of D-8 Media Forum on Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion, Trend reports.

"It is regrettable that there is a never-ending rise of disinformation, fake news, hybrid threats, deepfakes, AI misuse and other manipulation cases in global information space. Besides having a serious impact on the countries image and their internal life, these factors damage the international stability as a whole, and undermine the confidence among countries. This is why one of primordial tasks of D-8 Media Forum is to form a credible collaboration between media institutions of member countries to build a just, impartial, non-biased and responsible information space," said President Ilham Aliyev.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijan hosts several prestigious international events related to the media, and constantly, puts forward important initiatives in this area, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of D-8 Media Forum on Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion, Trend reports.

"Aligning our national media strategy with the international practice, we focus, in particular, on increasing professionalism of journalists, broadcasting evidence-based news and developing media literacy. At the same time, we support the creation of information platforms via the regional collaboration.

Todays Forum is a new line of cooperation opening up favorable opportunities to share experience between media institutions of friendly countries. I do believe that ideas voiced here coupled with proposals and joint project initiatives to be made, will play a significant role in the future information policies of D-8 countries," said President Ilham Aliyev.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The employees of the judicial authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan were awarded, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant order.

According to the order, the following persons were awarded medals for their effective work in the judicial bodies:

"Taraggi" medal

Adil Abilov

Aytan Muradova

Elchin Nasibov

Medal "For Distinction in Civil Service"

Gultan Abdullayeva

Hakim Abdulov

Emil Huseynov

Ogtay Isayev

Javid Mammadov

Yunis Mammadov

Matanat Muradova

Leyla Zakirova.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. A centralized information and digital analytical system (IDAS) has been created for the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree in this regard.

According to the decree, the Regulations on the Centralized Information and Digital Analysis System of the State Security Service have been approved.

The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to resolve issues arising from this decree.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, taking into account part 2 of this decree, should ensure the implementation of measures arising from the requirements of Decree No. 263 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 12, 2018 On Approval of the Rules for the Formation, Maintenance, Integration, and Archiving of State Information Resources and Systems, as well as certain measures related to e-government.

The State Security Service shall take the necessary measures to establish, maintain, organize, and develop IDAS, as well as ensure its effective use, and, together with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, take measures to include President Ilham Aliyev signs decree to establish Digital Information System for State Security ServiceIDAS in the Unified Register of State Information Resources, Systems, and Electronic Services and the State Register of Personal Data Information Systems.

Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan State Committee for Displaced Persons, The State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Work with Religious Structures, the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Border Guard Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Mobilization and Conscription, the State Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Tourism, the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, The State Agency for Water Resources of Azerbaijan, the State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Open Joint Stock Company "Azerishig" and the production association of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan "Azerigaz" in order to ensure access to the information specified in Part 3 of the Regulation approved by Part 2 of this Decree through the electronic government information system, within six months to take the necessary measures take appropriate measures and inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan about it.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijan's Prime Minister, Ali Asadov, met with the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, today, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

The meeting underscored the significance of the ITU's World Telecommunication Development Conference held in Baku. As the first such event in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the conference was recognized as a major milestone, with the participation of 2,500 experts from around the world.

Moreover, it was highlighted that the establishment of the ITUs Regional Acceleration Center in Baku, as part of the conference, would play a pivotal role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the region and is expected to evolve into a leading platform for technological advancement.

The parties also discussed Azerbaijans ongoing initiatives to advance its ICT sector, including the development of the information and knowledge economy, the expansion of digital infrastructure, and efforts to combat cybercrime.

Additionally, the meeting noted that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has prioritized ICT development, with the approval this year of the Digital Development Concept and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2025-2028.

Azerbaijans leadership in the region was highlighted, with the country now achieving 100 percent broadband internet coverage.

The development of high technologies, which has paved the way for the implementation of the smart city/smart village concept, was also discussed. Information was shared on the widespread adoption of this concept in Azerbaijans recently liberated territories.

The meeting further explored the potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the ITU in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, e-government, and other relevant sectors.

The discussion emphasized that the ITUs international expertise, particularly in digital governance and the enhancement of digital skills, would be of significant value to Azerbaijan.

In addition, the meeting addressed the expansion of Azerbaijans representation within the ITUs governing bodies and working groups, specifically focusing on the extension of Azerbaijans membership in the ITU Council, as well as other matters of bilateral cooperation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijani families arriving today in Jabrayil district's Horovlu village with the latest resettlement convoy received the keys to their new homes, Trend's regional correspondent reports.

After the families relocating to Horovlu were welcomed, the staff of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) briefed them in detail about the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. They were advised to avoid unfamiliar objects or items and to promptly report any such situations to the relevant authorities.

The key-handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Presidential Representation in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, officials from the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, as well as other state representatives. Families joyfully accepted their keys and settled into their new homes.

At this stage, 47 families (189 people) are returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan. These families had previously been temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative facilities across various regions of the country.

07:17

The next group of former internally displaced persons is returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan and the Khojaly district, Trend reports.

At the first stage, 47 families (189 people) are returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan, and 25 families (136 people) to the Khojaly district.

The former IDPs returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan and the Khojaly district thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21.A Memorandum of Understanding on medical cooperation has been signed between Azerbaijan and China, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health said in a statement, Trend reports.

The document was signed during a meeting between Professor Nazim Panahov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after Aziz Aliyev under the Ministry of Health, and Professor Tang Zhishu, Rector of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

The delegation from the Institute also engaged in discussions with the leadership of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where they explored the application of traditional Chinese medicine and potential avenues for international collaboration in this field.

Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the existing strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and China, with both sides agreeing to expand future cooperation.

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the clinic of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine to learn about its operations.

Later, at the meeting held at the Peking University Health Science Center, cooperation issues on continuing medical education, scientific research, and resident and fellow exchange were discussed. The parties agreed to establish a joint working group and sign a memorandum of cooperation in the future.

At the meeting held at the People's Hospital of Peking University, the hospital's healthcare management model, diversification mechanisms in the organization of medical services, and the field of traumatology were introduced.

The meetings open new opportunities for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in the fields of medical education, traditional medicine, and healthcare organization.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. D-8 Forum for 2026-2027 will be held in Indonesia, Advisor for Multilateral Affairs at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Agustaviano Sofjan, said at the D-8 Media Forum under the theme Fostering dialogue, collaboration, and regional cohesion today, Trend reports.

He noted that ethical and independent journalism is the main condition for building trust in the public.

"Fact-checking, establishing an early warning center to prevent disinformation, preserving adherence to national and cultural values, ensuring the correct and purposeful use of artificial intelligence in the media, as well as supporting exchange programs, are important issues. The D-8 Media Forum is a strong platform for joint action. Member states can significantly benefit from the exchange of experiences, joint strategies, and initiatives here. Indonesia will host the D-8 Forum for 20262027. We'll try to contribute to the joint work," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Namig Islamzade, and Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Director General Agil Gurbanov paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the Dubai Airshow 2025 aviation exhibition, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense said in a statement, Trend reports.

Deputy Defense Ministers, together with various state officials and representatives of international companies, took part in the official opening ceremony of the event.

Azerbaijani delegation reviewed military aviation, global aeronautics, AI-supported innovations, and space research showcased at the exhibition, which features leading international companies.

During the visit, meetings were held with the heads of several companies, and issues of mutual interest related to military-technical cooperation were discussed.

Meanwhile, the MIRAS Military-Industrial Company LLC, operating under the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, represented our country with a stand at the exhibition for the first time.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
U.S. prediction market platform Kalshi has reportedly pushed its valuation to roughly $11 billion after raising $1 billion in a yet undisclosed funding round, according to an initial report from TechCrunch citing a source with knowledge of the deal.

The rise in valuation marks one of the fastest step-ups in the prediction market sector this year.

The company closed the round weeks after securing $300 million at a $5 billion valuation in October. Trading activity, market depth, and user adoption continued to climb into this years final quarter.

Kalshis annualized trading volume reached about $50 billion last month, according to a report from crypto analytics platform CryptoRank. The figure marks a dramatic jump from roughly $300 million just a year ago, as reported by the New York Times.

It has also outpaced Polymarket, its main rival. Just last month, it generated approximately $4.4 billion in trading volume, surpassing Polymarkets $4.1 billion during the same month.

About a third of bets on Kalshi are for sports-related markets, according to a Dune dashboard. Weekly notional volume among prediction markets have also been on a steady rise since September, according to a broader dashboard from the same maintainer.

Sequoia Capital and CapitalG reportedly led the deal, joined by Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, Anthos Capital, Neo, and other returning backers.

Kalshis raise just shows the ceiling is only getting higher for prediction markets, and we havent seen anything yet, Farokh Sarmad, co-founder and president of rival prediction market platform Myriad, told Decrypt. (Disclosure: Myriad is owned by Decrypts parent company Dastan).

Kalshi declined to comment for this article. Decrypt has reached out to all named investors, and will update this article should any respond.

Prediction markets and regulators

Prediction markets have long faced legal friction in the U.S., given how such platforms sit between regulated derivatives and prohibited gamblingcreating a jurisdictional tension that has so far shaped the industrys growth.

Kalshi won a high-profile lawsuit last year against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, securing the right to offer election markets to U.S. users. The ruling accelerated domestic growth, but opened new fronts with state regulators who view certain types of contracts as gambling products rather than federally governed derivatives.

Kalshi Sues New York Regulators After Crypto.com's Nevada Loss

In May, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission moved to drop its appeal against Kalshis victory in a case allowing the company to offer U.S. contracts on election outcomes. Still, the company has concurrent disputes with several state regulators who argue its contracts still fall under gambling statutes rather than commodities law.

Months later, its rival Polymarket received approval from the same regulator to operate in the U.S., years after it was fined and pushed offshore over allegations that it failed to comply with the regulators federal policies.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The Media Excellence Center is being established in Azerbaijan on the recommendation and initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, with its primary mission focused on combating disinformation and fake news across the member states of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), said Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency (MEDIA), Trend reports.

Speaking to reporters during the D-8 Media Forum in Baku, Ismayilov pointed out that the center will be a jack-of-all-trades in the media sector, lending a helping hand for professional development, supporting talent training, and implementing specialized projects in this field.

He emphasized that the forum aims to strengthen international and regional cooperation among media entities of D-8 member states, enhance collaboration against disinformation in the digital environment, and create a lasting platform for mutual partnership.

The forum discussed a strategic plan for establishing the D-8 Media Excellence Center. The plan has already been presented to forum participants, and by the end of the day, recommendations from our media experts and government officials from D-8 countries will be incorporated into the centers future strategy, he added.

The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation has inaugurated a media forum titled "Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion" in Baku. Approximately 150 visitors are participating in the forum, including 71 representatives from the eight member nations and the D-8 Secretariat.

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JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, November 20. Azerbaijani families arriving today in Jabrayil district's Horovlu village with the latest resettlement convoy received the keys to their new homes, Trend's regional correspondent reports.

After the families relocating to Horovlu were welcomed, the staff of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) briefed them in detail about the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. They were advised to avoid unfamiliar objects or items and to promptly report any such situations to the relevant authorities.

The key-handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Presidential Representation in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, officials from the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, as well as other state representatives. Families joyfully accepted their keys and settled into their new homes.

At this stage, 47 families (189 people) are returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan. These families had previously been temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative facilities across various regions of the country.

07:17

The next group of former internally displaced persons is returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan and the Khojaly district, Trend reports.

At the first stage, 47 families (189 people) are returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan, and 25 families (136 people) to the Khojaly district.

The former IDPs returning to the village of Horovlu in the newly liberated Jabrayil area of Azerbaijan and the Khojaly district thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

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KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, November 21. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs), consisting of 25 families (136 persons), has returned to the native Khojaly city and received keys to their houses, the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Khankendi city, and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, told Trend.

The families who arrived in Khojaly were welcomed by personnel of the Special Representative Office of the President of Azerbaijan and by officials of the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly.

Speaking at the presentation of the keys, Sabuhi Gahramanov, Deputy Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly, said that the next relocation to Khojaly carries both historical and symbolic significance.

We are witnessing another phase of the long-awaited return to Khojaly. The 'Great Return' program, implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, ensures the revival of life in the liberated territories. Today, the revival of Khojaly is a demonstration of the strength of the Azerbaijani state and the will and unity of the people, he emphasized.

According to Gahramanov, large-scale construction and reconstruction work continues in Khojaly, and the relocation is being carried out in phases. The return of people is already continuing not only to Khojaly city but also to several villages in the district.

Currently, over 50,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former IDPs who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. The D-8 Media Forum hosted a panel discussion titled "Responsible Journalism and Digital Innovation" under the theme "Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation, and Regional Solidarity," Trend reports.

Faruk Wasif Omar, Director General of the Bangladesh Press Institute, emphasized the need for social platforms like Facebook and YouTube to act responsibly in fact-checking.

Today, digital development has reached a level where distinguishing reality from artificial intelligence products is difficult. In the age of bloggers and TikTokers, we need to influence the areas where young people are active. Combating fake information has become increasingly challenging. When discussing false information, it is necessary to identify its source. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube must be responsible in verifying facts, he stressed.

Elham Abedini, Head of International Relations at Irans Press TV, highlighted the importance of establishing clear protocols for information dissemination.

The most important task is to develop protocols that regulate the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. Our achievements in this area are minimal. Centers established under the D-8 framework can bring us together on AI issues. We must determine how journalism can continue in the AI era and identify ways to benefit from AI positively. AI can also bring us closer to each other, Abedini noted.

Ezzat Ibrahim Youssef, Editor-in-Chief of Egypts Al-Ahram Weekly and Al-Ahram Online, spoke about the dominance of algorithms over newsrooms.

The dominance of social platforms will continue in the future. Governments will no longer be able to regulate the media as before, and as a result, media institutions will face the necessity of coming together. Establishing new centers is an important step in discussing these rules, he said.

The panel culminated in a series of discursive engagements.

The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation has inaugurated a media forum titled "Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion" in Baku. Approximately 150 visitors are participating in the forum, including 71 representatives from the eight member nations and the D-8 Secretariat.

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The American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham Azerbaijan) has officially launched its Education & Vocational Working Group, a strategic initiative designed to enhance cooperation between the private sector, educational institutions, universities, NGOs, and families. The Working Group is chaired by Francesco Banchini, an experienced educational leader and advocate for publicprivate partnerships in learning and workforce development.

The Education Working Group will serve as a platform for companies and educational organizations to work together in shaping the future skills, capabilities, and opportunities needed for Azerbaijans evolving economy. Through this collaborative framework, AmCham aims to support students career pathways, strengthen schoolindustry engagement, and promote inclusive and forward-thinking educational practices across the country.

Chairperson Francesco Banchini emphasized the importance of aligning education with economic and technological trends. Education is a long-term investment in Azerbaijans future workforce. By building bridges between companies, educators, and families, we can create real opportunities that prepare young people for tomorrows challenges and empower them to thrive, he said.

The Working Group will focus on several key areas, including:

Future skills and innovation  supporting students in developing competencies required in emerging fields such as AI, digitalisation, and green technologies.

 supporting students in developing competencies required in emerging fields such as AI, digitalisation, and green technologies. Career readiness and employability  providing real-world exposure through mentorship, internships, and industry engagement.

 providing real-world exposure through mentorship, internships, and industry engagement. Family and community partnerships  helping parents better understand global competencies and the evolving career landscape.

 helping parents better understand global competencies and the evolving career landscape. Sustainability and social responsibility  encouraging student involvement in environmental and community initiatives.

 encouraging student involvement in environmental and community initiatives. Educational equity and access  supporting outreach programmes for students in underserved regions through partnerships with NGOs and institutions.

 supporting outreach programmes for students in underserved regions through partnerships with NGOs and institutions. Policy dialogue  facilitating constructive discussions between the private sector and government stakeholders on improving educational frameworks and opportunities.

Through this initiative, AmCham Azerbaijan aims to contribute to a stronger national talent pipeline, equip young people with relevant skills, and encourage companies to play an active role in supporting educational development.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. A new Regional Acceleration Center of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has officially opened in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The center was established as part of a strategic partnership between the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), operating under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on digital technologies.

The opening ceremony was attended by Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, as well as representatives from a wide range of local and international public and private organizations.

As the first ITU Acceleration Center in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, the center is designed to bring together startups, business entities, government institutions, and educational organizations. Its objectives include enhancing innovative entrepreneurial potential, fostering collaboration within the ecosystem, and accelerating digital transformation at the regional level.

The ITU Acceleration Center is part of a network of 17 innovation hubs designed to develop new, sustainable, and forward-looking approaches to navigate the rapidly evolving digital world safely and reliably. The initiative is part of ITUs "Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Digital Development Alliance," which promotes economic inclusivity and sustainable growth through technological projects. The centers serve as a key platform to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors and turn innovative potential into tangible results.

By aligning the centers activities with Azerbaijans national priorities and ITUs global mission, the country aims to strengthen its position as a regional innovation leader. This strategic partnership will provide a significant boost to the development of the regional innovation ecosystem.

Speaking at the opening, IDDA Chairman Farid Osmanov said the center will serve as a hub for startups and innovative projects from Azerbaijan and neighboring countries.

"Startups at the center will be able to participate in acceleration programs designed according to the methodology and standards of the International Telecommunication Union. This will accelerate their access to global markets while fostering a culture of innovation in our country through exposure to advanced global practices," he said.

The Regional Acceleration Center will operate within the administrative building of the Azerbaijan Innovation Center, offering event halls, meeting and presentation rooms, as well as training and co-working spaces.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Security between the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been approved, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree in this regard.

The decree reads:

To approve the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Security between the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, signed in Hanoi on October 26, 2025.

Upon the entry into force of the Agreement, the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan has to ensure the implementation of its provisions.

The State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan has to notify the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, and Alena Aliyeva attended a series of events held in Lankaran, Trend reports.

As part of the trip, Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva first joined the ANIMAFILM in Lankaran Festival, co-organized by the Azerbaijan Animation Association at the Lankaran City Culture Center.

The event featured the screening of the animation films showcased at the 8th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, namely History, Money Talks, Nargiz, Soyuz Graviton, as well as Boom-boom and Earth and Moon.

In his remarks, Rashid Aghamaliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Animation Association, noted that the film "Boom-boom," which was presented to a wide audience for the first time, was based on the motifs of the poem of the same name by prominent Azerbaijani writer and People's Poet Vagif Samadoglu, while the short animated film "Earth and Moon" is a joint production of the Azerbaijani and Uzbek animators.

Teachers working in preschool educational institutions of the Lankaran district, as well as students, watched the animated films with great enthusiasm.

Initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the event is of great importance in promoting Azerbaijani animation art among children.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious crimes, continued on 21 November, Trend reports.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language he understands (Russian) as well as a state-funded defense lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters, and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating in the hearing for the first time and articulated their entitlements and responsibilities as delineated by statutory provisions.

The victims' testimonies were then brought forward.

Responding to questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, victim Baylar Shabanov noted that while they were driving from Sugovushan in the direction of Aghdara-Kalbajar, the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups opened gunfire on the Niva vehicle they were driving at. The incident took a toll on the vehicle.

Victim Kanan Rzazade stated that while he was in an ambulance with a distinctive insignia in the Kalbajar district, the enemy hit his vehicle with a mortar shell, injuring him and Elvin Suleymanov, who was with him at that time.

Hasil Talibov reported that Farid Mehbali and Elshan Babazade were killed, and Ilkin Vasalov, Mehdi Yusifov, and several others were wounded as a result of an enemy provocation in the Zangilan district.

Responding to questions from Assistant Prosecutor General for Special Assignments Tugay Rahimli, victim Zamin Amrali noted that Farid Rustamov and Nahid Mamedov were killed, and Farid Mammadov, Saleh Gasanov, and several others were wounded as a result of an enemy mortar shell explosion in the Zangilan district.

Victim Orkhan Alasgarov testified that he was wounded by enemy artillery shelling in the Kalbajar district and that Sarkhan Omarov, who was with him at the time, was killed.

Victim Ibrahim Mayilli said that Farid Mehbali and Tabriz Rahimov were killed in a mortar shell explosion fired by the enemy in the Zangilan district, while he, Rahib Mammadov, Seymur Hasanli, and several others received injuries of varying severity.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Public Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, victim Alim Maharramov stated that an explosion occurred while he was cleaning mines planted by the enemy in the Gubadli district. As a result of the incident, he, Naghiyev, Alishanov, and Ibrahimov received various injuries.

Victim Farid Shahbazov noted that he, along with Sadig Shakarov and Murad Aliyev, sustained a shrapnel injury as a result of the mortar fire by the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the vicinity of the Aliaghali village of Aghdam district.

Another victim Parviz Shirinov claimed that he, along with Elnur Soltanov and Sadig Hamidov, was injured in an explosion of the grenade thrown by the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the Janyatag village of Aghdara district.

Responding to the questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, victims Murtuz Namazov and Mahammad Gilmizliyev claimed they were injured as a result of the explosion of a landmine planted by the enemy in the forest trail in the Zangilan district. Namazov sustained a head injury, while M.Gilmizliyev saw his right knee amputated.

Responding to the inquiries from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, victim Sarkhan Isgandarov said that he was injured as a result of the enemy rifle fire in the Gulyatag village of Aghdara district.

Victims Abdul Malikov, Mardan Allahverdiyev, and Sahil Rasulov noted they sustained various bodily injuries as a result of the artillery and grenade fire from the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the Vangli village of Aghdara district, with Zamin Hasratov, Bayram Huseynov, Tamerlan Rashidli, Subhan Abbasov, Ravan Mammadov, and Emin Jafarov also wounded in the incident.

Responding to the inquiries from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, victim Ramil Manafov said he was wounded by enemy fire in Zangilan district.

Another victim Samir Akbarov mentioned that, while evacuating those injured in a landmine blast in the Aghdam district, he, as well as several other people around him, also sustained injuries by stepping on a landmine.

Victim Rustam Rustamov said he was wounded as a result of the fire from the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the Aghdara district.

In their testimonies, victims Ramal Badalli and Khayal Hajiyev emphasized they were wounded by enemy fire from various directions.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence in the criminal case file.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for 24 November.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

The preliminary investigation into the criminal case against Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan, who is accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been carried out by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. On November 21, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Alena Aliyeva visited a special boarding school for children with disabilities in the city of Lankaran, Trend reports.

First, they, along with the students and teachers, visited an exhibition of handicrafts dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the historic Victory.

They also toured the classrooms, training rooms, and recreation rooms to see the effective organization of children's leisure activities.

As the only regional special boarding school for children with disabilities in the southern region, it offers specialized services. These services include education and rehabilitation for children diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, and mental impairment. The school also provides accommodation, a privilege presently availed by 34 children.

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UK-based personal guaranteed insurance provider Purbeck Insurance Services has called on the government to use the Budget to be held on 26 November to provide small and medium-sized (SME) businesses with stability.

The call comes amid new data revealing that firms are pulling back on investment, borrowing more for maintaining cashflow, and facing personal financial risk.

Last month was a record month for applications for personal guarantee insurance, highlighting increased exposure for business owners.

According to Purbeck Insurance Services' latest analysis, 38% of SME loans that were taken that month were solely for working capital and intended to sustain cashflow.

This marks the highest proportion recorded by the business since the beginning of 2025.

Data from the Barclays Business Prosperity Index indicates that 55% of SMEs have paused plans to make investment in response to economic uncertainty, a 7% increase over last year.

Simultaneously, insolvencies are on the rise, with the Insolvency Service reporting a year-on-year (YoY) jump of 16.7% in business failures and more than 2,000 firms entering liquidation during October alone.

Further Purbeck Insurance analysis shows the extent to which UK-based SMEs are financially 'stretched'.

For the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, lending data revealed that the average SME loan value climbed 42% YoY to 289,827 ($379,377). For young businesses, defined as those operating for two years or less, loans reached a record 155,257 - up 64% from the previous year.

Purbeck Insurance Services is requesting the UK's chancellor to introduce long-term policy stability, enabling businesses to better plan investments.

The company also advocates for support to include established SMEs.

It urged to include measures to ease cashflow pressures, lessen dependence on high-risk borrowing, and implement policies that build confidence.

Purbeck Insurance Services managing director Todd Davison said: Small businesses are remarkably resilient, but theyre facing a perfect storm - rising costs, political uncertainty, and increasing pressure to take on more personal risk to secure finance. The Budget must give them breathing space.

"Purbeck Insurance calls on UK government for SME stability in Budget " was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. At the 16th session of the Parliamentary Defense Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Croatia Ivan Anusic presented the 2026 state budget proposal and projections for the next three years, Trend reports citing the country's Defense Ministry.

In the coming years, special attention will be given to investing in improving the status and material rights of members of the Croatian Armed Forces, announced Anusic.

The proposal plans further investments in the modernization of the Croatian Armed Forces and in improving the status of its personnel.

Minister Anusic and Chief State Treasurer Danijela Stepic presented the Defense Ministrys detailed budget proposal to the Defense Committee, which includes a range of activities of strategic importance for the development and strengthening of Croatias defense system.

The proposed state budget for the Ministry of Defense amounts to 1,626,034,457 euros for 2026, 2,129,021,818 euros for 2027, and 2,263,752,159 euros for 2028. Croatia will continue to maintain a high level of defense investment, with a share of 2.08 percent of GDP in 2026 and more than 2.5 percent in 2027 and 2028.

Minister Anusic emphasized that compared to 2025, the 2026 defense budget is higher by around 281 million euros, or 20.9 percent. Compared to 2025, the budget in 2027 is planned to increase by around 784 million euros, or 58.3 percent, and in 2028 by around 919 million euros, or 68.3 percent, he explained.

The fact that the 2026 budget is 207.6 percent higher than in 2016 shows that the Croatian Government and Ministry of Defense continuously raise standards for Armed Forces personnel and systematically invest in equipping the Armed Forces, Minister Anusic highlighted.

The Minister noted that in 2025, new strategic documents were adopted  the Croatian Defense Strategy and the Long-Term Development Plan for the Armed Forces of Croatia  along with amendments to the Defense Act and the Armed Forces Service Act. These measures laid the groundwork for further development of the defense system and the introduction of basic military training.

For the implementation of basic military training in 2026, approximately 3.2 million euros is planned, covering medical examinations of recruits, transportation, and other pre-training expenses. The budget allocates 23.6 million euros for five intakes of 800 conscripts each (a total of 4,000 conscripts in 2026), which covers salaries, allowances, clothing, footwear, and meals.

Minister Anusic emphasized that the budget prioritizes the further equipping and modernization of the Croatian Armed Forces. The most significant expenditures relate to continuing and launching new acquisition and modernization programs, including Bradley combat vehicles, the Leopard main battle tank, multirole combat aircraft, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS missile systems, Bayraktar UAVs, 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, multipurpose ships/corvettes, medium-range air defense missile systems, coastal surveillance radar systems, modernization of FPS-117 radar, counter-drone systems, non-combat vehicles, and communication and information systems.

Around 640 million euros is planned for these projects under the Equipment and Modernization program, with additional investments allocated to infrastructure, training, and logistics.

Speaking about personnel as the core of the defense system, Minister Anusic stressed: Investments in Croatian Armed Forces personnel remain a permanent priority. Following a roughly 30 percent salary increase in 2024, the Personnel Management, Education, and Support program for 2026 amounts to about 630 million euros. In the coming years, we will pay special attention to improving the status and material rights of Armed Forces members.

Regarding the importance of peacekeeping missions, Minister Anusic noted that 50 million euros has been allocated, which is 16.6 million euros more than in the 2025 plan. He also reported that around 25 million euros has been planned for programs supporting civil institutions  including fire protection, Coast Guard operations, emergency medical transport, and search and rescue.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Romania and Italy have strengthened their cooperation on Black Sea security and transatlantic relations as part of the Strategic Dialogue on foreign policy and security, Trend reports citing the Romanian Foreign Ministry.

Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu opened the conference dedicated to the Strategic Dialogue between Romania and Italy on foreign policy and security, alongside Stefania Craxi, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Italian Senate.

The event, in its second edition, was organized by the Romanian Embassy in Italy in partnership with the New Strategy Center and Istituto Affari Internazionali, and took place at the Istituto Luigi Sturzo. The conference provided an opportunity to deepen dialogue between Romanian and Italian experts from academic institutions on security and foreign policy issues, including challenges in the Black Sea region and transatlantic cooperation, topics of interest to both countries.

Recalling the historical and cultural affinities between Romania and Italy, the Romanian Foreign Minister encouraged cooperation to restore peace and security in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, to strengthen stability in the Western Balkans, and to consolidate cooperation and cohesion within NATO and the EU.

She emphasized Romanias intention to develop regional cooperation in the Black Sea area, both in navigation security and in the development of the regions economic and energy potential. She noted that strengthening NATO-EU cooperation and the transatlantic relationship remains essential in the current context. Romania expressed interest in developing cooperation with Italy across all these areas, as well as in safeguarding security in the Western Balkans and Mediterranean regions.

The conference supported the overall objective of the visit: strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership through the exchange of opinions and perspectives, and identifying opportunities for cooperation in priority areas for both countries.

At the conclusion of the event, the Foreign Minister held a meeting with Stefania Craxi, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Italian Senate, during which they discussed topics such as the strategic importance of advancing the EU enlargement process, joint efforts to combat disinformation and hybrid threats, and the crucial value of transatlantic unity.
Iran's product imports from Kazakhstan plummet in 7M2025

Irans imports from Kazakhstan plunged in the first seven months of the current Iranian year, down 49.3% in value and 38.7% in volume.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The volume of trade between Azerbaijan and the US reached over $1 billion from January through October 2025, Trend reports via the country's State Customs Committee.

This represents an increase of $19.7 million, or 1.9 percent, compared to the same period of 2024.

Trade with the US accounted for 2.59 percent of Azerbaijans total trade turnover during the reporting period, ranking the US as the 6th largest trade partner of the country.

Exports from Azerbaijan to the United States totaled $52.7 million, reflecting a decrease of $65.8 million, or more than 50 percent, compared to the same period last year. In contrast, imports from the U.S. amounted to $1 billion, representing an increase of $85.5 million, or 9.3 percent, positioning the U.S. as the fourth-largest source of imports for Azerbaijan during the reporting period.

In total, Azerbaijan's foreign trade reached $40.8 billion from January through October 2025, marking an increase of $1.5 billion, or 3.8 percent, year-on-year. Of this total, $21.6 billion was attributed to exports, while $19.2 billion represented imports. Over the past year, exports experienced a decline of $1.1 billion, or 4.9 percent, while imports saw a rise of $2.6 billion, or 15.6 percent.

As a result, the country's foreign trade balance recorded a positive surplus of $2.41 billion, though this represents a decrease of $3.7 billion, or nearly 2.5 times, from the previous year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijan and Israel discussed expanding joint activities in the oil and gas sector, the Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on his X page, Trend reports

"During our working visit to the State of Israel, we held a productive meeting with Eli Cohen, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel.

We exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy and water management, as well as expanding joint activities in oil and gas," he explained.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, November 21. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $17 million in grant financing to help Tajikistan digitalize and modernize its livestock sector, aiming to raise rural incomes and improve access to nutritious food, Trend reports via the bank.

The package includes a $14 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, financed by the Government of Japan.

Agriculture remains one of Tajikistans main economic pillars, employing more than 40% of the workforce and contributing over 20% of GDP. Livestock production is especially significant, mostly driven by small household farms. But outdated veterinary services, climate pressures, and limited access to digital tools continue to hold farmers back, particularly women, who play a central role in animal care.

ADB will support Tajikistan to modernize livestock farming by introducing a national digital livestock system, improving veterinary services, and upgrading pasture areas to better handle climate risks, said ADB Country Director for Tajikistan Ko Sakamoto. This means farmers will have healthier animals and earn more money, people will eat better food, and women will have more chances to lead in animal farming.

The project will establish a national digital livestock platform to track animal health, regulate livestock movement, and certify animals for domestic and export markets. It will also help modernize breeding and veterinary services in pilot districts, including upgrading the national artificial insemination center and building a secure facility for storing genetic material.

Mobile veterinary clinics and regional centers will be equipped with diagnostic tools and stronger cold-chain capacity for vaccines. Training schools will be modernized, scholarships will be offered to women veterinarians, and a national network of women veterinarians will be formed.

To improve climate resilience, the program will upgrade pasture management by creating a digital pasture health map, building a pilot animal migration point with shelters and washing stations, and providing mobile facilities for veterinary care. Community groups will be trained in sustainable grazing and pasture planning.

The Ministry of Agriculture will lead project implementation, with support from the Committee for Food Security. Completion is expected by 2031.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998. The partnership has since supported major transport, energy, water, health, and education projects across the country, including hydropower rehabilitation and reconnecting Tajikistans grid to the Central Asian power network.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijan discussed the work done on the Middle and the Zangezur Corridors with the U.S. the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"We met with US Charge d'Affaires Amy Carlon and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State's Office of Policy Planning, Jonathan Askonas. We provided information on the work done by Azerbaijan for the development of the Middle Corridor.

We discussed cooperation between the two countries in this direction, as well as on the Zangezur Corridor. At the same time, we exchanged views on partnership in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence," Nabiyev pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Middle Corridor connects the container rail freight networks of China and the European Union countries through the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkiye, and Eastern Europe.

The multilateral multimodal transport infrastructure connects the ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.

Meanwhile, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP, Zangezur Corridor) is designed to connect the main part of Azerbaijan with the country's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This route is part of the broader Middle Corridor, providing a reliable and efficient connection between Asian and European markets.

This project emerged in the course of the implementation of the agreements set out in the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia in 2020.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has signed a cooperation agreement with Fabrikai Kannodii Amiri to support the expansion of Tajikistans food-processing sector, the bank said, Trend reports.

The agreement was signed by EDB Management Board Deputy Chairman Ruslan Dalenov and company director Akhliddin Bobomurodov.

The partnership aims to boost the companys production of flour and confectionery goods through the launch of new lines and the expansion of existing facilities. The project will require long-term investment and technical support, the EDB said.

According to the bank, the initiative will help modernize production infrastructure, strengthen the competitiveness of local manufacturers, and encourage the adoption of modern technologies and quality standards.

Under the agreement, both sides will jointly develop projects to expand production capacity, improve productivity and product quality, and support the introduction of new technologies.

The project is expected to increase domestic food output, create jobs, enhance the countrys food security, and stimulate growth in processing industries and local manufacturing.

As of July 2025, the banks portfolio included 319 projects with a total value of $19.1 billion, largely concentrated in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, industry, and engineering.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 21. Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom reviewed prospects for further expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, Trend reports via the Uzbek MFA.

The discussions took place during a meeting between Uzbekistans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muzaffar Madrakhimov, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Uzbekistan, Timothy Smart.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the increasing momentum in their bilateral relations and emphasized the series of high-level visits and engagements that have taken place in recent years. They acknowledged that there remains significant untapped potential for further expanding trade, economic, and investment relations between the two nations.

An agreement was reached to ensure continued close coordination in 2026, which will include organizing joint events, facilitating mutual exchanges of delegations, conducting inter-ministerial political consultations, and pursuing other collaborative initiatives to strengthen cooperation.

Meanwhile, Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration, highlighted that Uzbekistan continues to attract an increasing number of British companies, with over 270 firms now operating within the country. Official data indicates that the total trade in goods and services between the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan reached a record 1.3 billion pounds sterling ($1.63 billion) during the four quarters leading up to the first quarter of 2025, marking an all-time high in bilateral trade.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. A meeting on the coordination of FM radio broadcasting stations between Azerbaijan and Iraq was held on the sidelines of the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Baku, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

The Azerbaijani delegation was represented by officials from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Agency for Information and Communication Technologies, and the State Administration of Radio Frequencies.

During the discussions, the provisions outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Baghdad in 2023 were taken into consideration, leading to an agreement on the frequencies and other technical specifications for both existing and planned FM radio broadcasting stations between the two countries. A relevant protocol was subsequently signed to formalize these agreements.

The meeting concluded with a mutual decision to maintain ongoing cooperation on the aforementioned matters.
International Paper's price target has been updated following recent analyses, while its fair value estimate remains unchanged at $47.16. Changes in underlying assumptions, such as a slightly higher discount rate and lower revenue growth expectations, suggest evolving sentiment around the companys prospects. Stay tuned to discover how investors can monitor these changes and remain informed on the evolving story behind International Papers valuation.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value International Paper.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

Recent analyst commentary on International Paper highlights a mix of optimism and caution as investors weigh the companys strategic moves and future outlook. Views range from bullish upgrades based on management actions and operational improvements, to reservations regarding execution risks, valuation, and market dynamics.

 Bullish Takeaways

Stifel upgraded International Paper to Buy from Hold and maintained a price target of $57.80. The firm notes that original exuberance following CEO Andy Silvernails appointment has transitioned to more realistic expectations as the market absorbs recent events.

Analysts at Stifel point to tangible actions, including the $1.5 billion divestiture of underperforming Global Cellulose Fiber operations. They cite this as evidence of focused execution and cost control, and highlight that the company is nearing an inflection point where a strategic shift could drive improvements in profit and margin.

UBS reiterates a Buy rating despite lowering its price target to $55 from $60, signaling continued confidence in the companys underlying prospects and managements ability to deliver on growth momentum.

 Bearish Takeaways

Wells Fargo, while slightly increasing its price target to $44 from $43, maintains an Underweight rating due to concerns that too much optimism is reflected in the current valuation. The firm highlights downside risk for investors and notes that the industrys flat pricing over recent months stems from capacity adjustments amid sluggish demand, with expectations of only modest price increases ahead.

Seaport Research downgraded International Paper to Neutral from Buy. The firm cites that future performance will increasingly hinge on longer-term outcomes, particularly strategic actions in Europe that may be more challenging to execute. Analyst Mark Weintraub at Seaport emphasizes this elevated execution risk in his outlook.

Overall, analyst opinion reflects a market recalibrating expectations around International Papers valuation, execution quality, and path forward. While some point to proactive management and strategic repositioning as catalysts for renewed growth, others caution that risks remain around execution and whether optimism is already fully priced into the shares.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Azerbaijan Chamber of Appraisers have discussed reducing banking risks and improving the quality of appraisals in the country, Trend reports via the CBA.

The Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Toghrul Aliyev, held a meeting with the leadership of the Chamber of Appraisers.

During the discussions, key topics included the enhancement of the legal and regulatory framework governing appraisal activities, the implementation of standards in line with the "International Valuation Standards 2025," and the incorporation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into the valuation of collateral and assets.

Additional points of discussion encompassed the development of electronic platforms and analytical systems, the mitigation of banking risks, and the improvement of appraisal quality.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Norwegian energy company Equinor has signed a long-term agreement to supply natural gas to the Czech Republics capital through local utility Prazska plynarenska, the companies said, Trend reports.

The contract runs until October 1, 2035, with gas deliveries made at the Czech hub. Terms, volumes, and pricing were not disclosed.

The gas, sourced from Equinors fields on the Norwegian continental shelf, will provide heat, electricity and natural gas to households and businesses in Prague and other regions.

I am excited that we have made this agreement with Prazska plynarenska and that we now provide energy to homes and enterprises in the Czech Republic, Equinor CEO Anders Opedal said. This joins a string of long-term gas contracts we have signed across Europe in recent years, demonstrating the role gas plays for European energy security.

Ludvik Baleka, Chairman of Prazska plynarenska, said the agreement would significantly strengthen the stability and reliability of natural gas supplies for the companys customers, covering a substantial portion of household consumption.

Equinor, which has traditionally focused on Northwest Europe and the UK, has expanded its gas supply markets over the past decade to include the Baltics, Poland, and now Central and Southern Europe.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 21. Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda met with Kyrgyzstans Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev to discuss the next phase of cooperation, focusing on regional connectivity, climate resilience, and private sector development, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed Kyrgyzstans progress in "strengthening regional connectivity and climate resilience - from greener transport and modernized border systems to deeper cooperation through CAREC," Kanda said in a post on X.

The discussion also covered reforms to accelerate implementation under the ADBs Framework Financing Arrangements and to expand private sector participation through small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance, renewable energy projects, and public-private partnership advisory services.

Kanda reiterated the ADBs commitment to helping the Kyrgyz government "turn these priorities into results - from advancing the green transition to strengthening competitiveness and enhancing the countrys connectivity with the region".

Earlier, ADB confirmed plans to mobilize more than $800 million to support two major regional hydropower developments, including Kyrgyzstans Kambarata-1 project.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijani banking is in the fast lane, as digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), open banking infrastructure, and mounting cybersecurity challenges are turning the sectors strategic priorities on their head. These trends were highlighted at the Ninth International Banking Forum in Baku, which became a key platform to showcase the future direction of the banking sector both regionally and within Azerbaijan.

The digital banking scene is picking up steam

These days, hitting up a bank branch is not just a choice for many people. Mobile applications, online services, and AI-enhanced operations have become the bread and butter of banking.

Alpaslan Cakar, President of the Banks Association of Turkiye, described the future of banking: Artificial intelligence is inevitable. The main fuel of banking in the coming years will be data. He emphasized that digital banking is not just about accessibility but about creating a smarter, more agile, and predictive system where banks transform into technology hubs that analyze customer behavior and anticipate needs in advance.

Rafal Sokolowski of the Polish Banks Association noted that Azerbaijans digitalization keeps up with European trends.

Innovation in banking is transforming the entire region. Digital payments in Poland have reached record levels, and Azerbaijan is taking equally rapid steps. He highlighted the countrys advancements in instant payment systems, mobile banking, and digital services as aligning with modern European financial models," Sokolowski stressed.

As the representatives highlighted, in the years ahead, its a safe bet that most banks will be leaning on artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems to tackle customer inquiries, speeding up service while keeping a tight rein on operational costs.

Open banking: flexibility beyond borders

Open banking is coming to the forefront in Azerbaijan, allowing banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions to join forces on a common platform and share data securely, all with the customer's nod of approval.

Sahib Hasanov, Head of the Special Regulatory Regime Department at the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), explained that in addition to unified standards, a shared infrastructure has been created for institutions to access open banking services. CBAs technical sandbox will allow startups to safely test innovations using synthetic data, providing more sustainable results without negative scenarios.

"Testing innovation without exposing it to negative scenarios will deliver more sustainable outcomes," he added.

In essence, the regulatory official emphasized that the open banking model has the potential to boost competition within Azerbaijans financial ecosystem, foster the development of new products, and provide customers with a more flexible and diverse range of services.

Security: a growing responsibility in the shadow of digitalization

The rapid expansion of digital services brings with it a heightened responsibility: robust cyber defense. Today, banks must prioritize not only fast and convenient service but also ensuring the highest standards of security.

Resat Kokcen, a cybersecurity lead at Mastercard, emphasized the importance of defense against foreign-directed attacks.

A large share of attacks targeting Azerbaijan come from abroad We are applying our global threat intelligence more actively here, Kokcen highlighted.

This statement is no coincidence. As Azerbaijan rises to the occasion as a regional hub for digital payments, the country is bound to become a shining star in the financial landscape.

Kokcen also pointed out that the company is gearing up to set up a local cybersecurity team in Azerbaijan, which will surely bolster their security capabilities right in the heart of the action.

Elvin Juvarov, a digital anti-fraud expert at CBA, highlighted that most digital fraud, around 80-90 percent, occurs through customer manipulation.

This striking figure underscores that even with strengthened technical defenses, the human factor remains a critical and complex challenge. It calls for ongoing education and awareness for both banks and their customers.

Juvarov emphasized the need to bolster standards, enhance authentication processes, and expand information sharing between banks to effectively address these risks.

Regional Banking Integration: Complementary Markets

The forum offered more than a glimpse into domestic trends; it highlighted how the regions banking sectors are increasingly interlinked. Participants from Azerbaijan and neighboring countries shared their insights, showcasing a growing alignment in the regions vision for the future of banking.

Mikheil Kapanadze, CEO of the Open Banking project of the Georgia Bankers Association (GBA), pointed to the potential for expanded cooperation in open infrastructure and innovation between Azerbaijan and neighboring countries. The expert noted a clear trend: South Caucasus and Central European banks are moving in unison on digital payments, identification systems, and open APIs, shaping a new regional financial map.

To wrap things up, Azerbaijan is stepping into a brave new world of banking, bolstered by the wonders of AI, the open banking revolution, and a fortress of cybersecurity. The 9th International Banking Forum (IBF 2025) demonstrated that the countrys financial sector is not only adapting to these changes but actively preparing to lead. If these strategies keep rolling, Azerbaijani banking is on track to turn into a more nimble, savvy, and safe financial landscape before long.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 21. Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Akram Aliev discussed potential avenues for expanding cooperation in the mining sector with representatives of Frances Orano Group and Japans Itochu Corporation, Trend reports.

According to the ministry, the parties sang the praises of the positive results from ongoing projects and drove home their significance for the industrys long-term growth.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to active engagement and to jointly advancing new projects aimed at expanding the countrys mineral resource base and boosting the tech prowess of the industry.

Meanwhile, Orano has been operating in Uzbekistan through the Nurlikum Mining joint venture, established in 2019 with Navoiyuran, to develop the Djengeldi uranium deposit using modern ISR technology. Under a March 2025 agreement signed in Paris, the project has entered a new phase at the South Djengeldi site in the Tomdi district, with the ventures structure updated to give Orano and Navoiyuran equal 45-percent stakes and Japans Itochu a 10-percent share as a project partner.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The Regional Acceleration Center of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has opened in Azerbaijan's Baku, Trend reports.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev announced the opening in a post on his official X page.

He noted his participation in the inauguration of the ITU Regional Acceleration Center in Baku.

It is exciting that Azerbaijan has become the first country in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to host this Center. Its mission is to unite startups, businesses, government bodies, and educational institutions across the region, boosting innovation and entrepreneurial potential, fostering collaboration within the ecosystem, and driving the pace of digital transformation throughout the region, the post reads.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to the development and regulation of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Its primary functions encompass the allocation of worldwide radio spectrum and satellite orbits, the development of technical standards to facilitate seamless global connectivity, and efforts to enhance access to ICTs for underserved communities.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 21. The aggregate count of Uzbek-Chinese collaborative enterprises has escalated to approximately 5,000, with an infusion of nearly $15 billion in Chinese capital being deployed since the commencement of this fiscal year, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

The portfolio of technological partnership projects between the two countries has now approached $90 billion.

These figures were announced during a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and a delegation of the Peoples Republic of China led by Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The sides discussed practical measures to further deepen the comprehensive, all-weather strategic partnership in the new era and to expand multifaceted cooperation within the framework of high-level agreements.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade turnover between countries exceeded $14 billion last year, and since the beginning of 2025, it has increased by 23 percent. This sustained growth underscores the strengthening of economic ties and reaffirms Chinas position as one of Uzbekistans key and reliable partners.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the most favorable countries in the region for fostering innovation and supporting the startup ecosystem, said Vusal Gasimli, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), Trend reports.

Speaking at the "Demo-Day" event of the "Green and Digital Silk Road" international acceleration program, held under the "Startup School 3" project by the "Enterprise Azerbaijan" portal, Gasimli emphasized that Azerbaijans current position is the result of decades of strategic development.

"Our country has long played a decisive role in the implementation of major infrastructure projects. Thanks to the visionary strategy of the late National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the successful execution of the 'Contract of the Century' in 1998 marked a major turning point in Azerbaijans energy sector. Subsequently, carefully planned policies on the exploitation of the Caspian Seas oil and gas resources established Azerbaijan as a recognized energy exporter on the global stage.

The development of gas supply infrastructure enabled the realization of Azerbaijans largest energy projects," the Executive Director noted.

He highlighted that over the past two decades, road construction alone has created 20,000 kilometers of infrastructure, including more than 1,500 kilometers of new highways.

Currently, three of the nine international transport corridors pass through Azerbaijan. Today, our country boasts the greatest logistical capacity in the Caspian region and the most advanced air transport infrastructure. All of this further reinforces Azerbaijans pivotal role on the Great Silk Road.

As a result of these long-term efforts, the Great Silk Road now encompasses not only land routes but also sea corridors. Today, Azerbaijan offers both the shortest and most efficient route along this historic trade artery," he added.

Gasimli emphasized that Azerbaijan is taking bold steps to strengthen ties with Central Asian countries and integrate the region into green energy projects:

"Over the past 30 years, the essence of the Great Silk Road has acquired a completely new content, expanding not only through caravan routes, but also along oil, gas, railways, highways, logistics, digital infrastructure, and 'green energy'.

As a logical continuation of this policy, we are moving towards creating a technology center on the Great Silk Road. Because for us, the Great Silk Road is not just a trade route. It is a great space where cultures meet, values are shared, and spiritual and social ties are formed along with economic cooperation," he explained.

The official highlighted that this historic trade route has evolved into an exceptional platform for innovation and entrepreneurship:

"This year, 130 startups are participating in the startup program organized at the initiative of Azerbaijan. They have passed various stages and participated in competitions. This time, not only local ones, but also startups from Turkiye, Pakistan, and other countries have taken part in the project.

The project is supported by the University of Nevada in the U.S., Istanbul University, the Artificial Intelligence Center in Germany, and other influential institutions. This shows how much resonance the initiative has had at the international level."

Gasimli underlined the strategic vision driving the initiative:

"The main goal of our development strategy is to aim to ensure that the economy is more sustainable, more innovation-based, and promising. For this, the development of human capital is of particular importance.

I would like to congratulate all the startups participating in this year's competition in this regard. Because being selected from among 130 startups and getting into the top 30 is a great achievement," he concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. Georgias Deputy Justice Minister Lana Morgoshia held a working meeting with World Bank representatives to review progress under a major land management and digital governance initiative, the ministry said, Trend reports.

The sides discussed implementation of the land administration and digital management component of the World Bankfinanced Sustainable Agriculture, Irrigation and Land (GRAIL) project, as well as planned activities for 2026.

According to the ministry, Morgoshia briefed the delegation on the extensive work carried out by Georgia so far. World Bank representatives praised their cooperation with the Public Registry Agency, describing it as a model institution in project management and innovation.

The World Bank delegation is in Georgia to assess the overall progress of the GRAIL project. During the visit, officials also reviewed new digital tools introduced by the Public Registry Agency, including the national spatial data infrastructure project, the NSDI.GOV.GE multifunctional geoportal, and the agencys smart contract platform, the ministry said.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 21. Uzbekistan and Italy talked about ways to ramp up cooperation in passenger and cargo transportation, Trend reports via Uzbekistan Airports.

These issues were highlighted during a meeting between Javlonbek Umarhodzhaev, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports, and the management of Aeroporti di Roma (ADR).

The Italian side presented information on key strategic projects underway at Romes airports, including terminal modernization, rising passenger flows, and the development of the Cargo City infrastructure.

Special attention was given to sustainability initiatives. ADRs leadership noted that the company is among Europes leaders in green airport technologies and sets its sights on hitting the bullseye of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 by jumping on the bandwagon of renewable energy, electric transport, and cutting-edge waste-management systems.

The parties agreed to continue dialogue and further explore joint projects aimed at improving passenger services, opening new routes, and sharing expertise in managing modern aviation hubs.

Aeroporti di Roma is the Italian operator managing Romes two airports: the international Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) and Ciampino Airport.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 21. Uzbekistan and China signed the Protocol of the Strategic Dialogue Meeting along with an extensive Cooperation Program between the foreign ministries of the two countries, Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov announced on his X page, Trend reports.

We executed the Protocol of the Strategic Dialogue Meeting alongside the comprehensive Cooperation Program between the Foreign Ministries of Uzbekistan and Chinacrucial instruments that will steer and invigorate our collaborative efforts in the forthcoming years, Saidov stated.

The agreement was signed together with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China.

Our candid and comprehensive discussions covered the full spectrum of our rapidly advancing bilateral agendafrom political and economic cooperation to connectivity, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties. We also explored additional steps to further enrich our All-Weather Strategic Partnership, Saidov wrote.

He mentioned that they kept their eyes peeled on key regional and international issues, with both sides putting their cards on the table to reaffirm their shared commitment to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $14 billion last year, and since the beginning of 2025, it has grown by 23 percent. This steady upward trend underscores the strengthening of economic ties and reaffirms Chinas role as one of Uzbekistans key and reliable partners.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. A delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) visited Oranos Georges Besse 2 uranium enrichment site in southern France on Thursday, observing progress on the plants 1.7 billion euros expansion, Trend reports via the bank.

The visit follows a 400 million euro financing agreement granted by the EIB in March to support the project, which aims to strengthen Western energy sovereignty and reduce the European Unions reliance on imported Russian fuels and enriched uranium under the EUs RePowerEU program.

The expansion involves constructing four new enrichment modules to supplement the 14 already in operation. The new modules are scheduled to come online progressively from 2028 and be fully operational by 2030, potentially supplying low-carbon energy to the equivalent of 120 million households annually.

About 180 companies, mostly French and many regional, are involved in the construction, which is progressing on schedule and within budget, with over 70% of the concrete already poured.

Low-carbon energy sources are a key factor in enabling Europe to achieve climate neutrality and energy security, said Ambroise Fayolle, EIB vice-president. This is why the EIB is pleased to support Orano in increasing uranium enrichment capacity.

Orano CEO Nicolas Maes described the project as strategic, noting it will eventually provide power to nearly 60% of EU households and enhance European energy independence.

Oranos Director of Chemistry & Enrichment, Francois Lurin, added that the visit marked almost one year since the projects first stone was laid, thanking teams, partners, clients, and shareholders for their commitment.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan and Armenia discussed a roadmap for 2026-2030 to further expand trade and create joint production facilities in economic zones, Trend reports via the Kazakh PM's office.

Prime Ministers Olzhas Bektenov and Nikol Pashinyan as part of the Armenian PM's official visit to Astana.

The sides reviewed the implementation of bilateral agreements reached between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Pashinyan, covering trade, agriculture, industrial cooperation, transport, digitalization, space, tourism, and cultural projects.

They noted that bilateral trade has grown sixfold over the past five years, from $14.2 million in 2020 to $82.8 million in 2024. In January-September 2025, trade totaled $41.6 million. Officials discussed a roadmap for 2026-2030 to further expand trade, with potential additional exports of Kazakhstans metallurgical, petrochemical, and food products valued at around $350 million.

Agriculture was highlighted as a key area for cooperation, including exports of high-quality Kazakh grain to Armenia and imports of Armenian fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Industrial cooperation, including machinery, metallurgy, light industry, and electrical equipment, was also emphasized, with over 27,000 units already exported.

The meeting also covered transport integration, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and space initiatives, including plans for IT tech exports, scaling tech parks, and projects like the TUMO Ventures branch in Astana and the national Virtual Observatory.

Tourism was identified as a growth area, with plans for increased travel flows, direct flights, and development of mountain tourism, including Kazakhstans new Almaty Mountain Cluster resort.
Azerbaijan keeps tabs on its oil exports to Croatia in 10M2025

Azerbaijan exported 1.19 million tons of crude oil and petroleum products worth $634.7 million to Croatia in the first ten months of 2025, Trend reports. Compared to the same period in 2024, export value fell 24.6 percent and volume dropped 13.6 percent.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. The Zangezur corridor will provide Kazakhstan with a new route to Turkish ports, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin told reporters at the Kazakh President's residence, Trend reports, Trend reports.

"Currently, we are going through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Black Sea ports of Georgia. This route will allow us to reach Nakhchivan and then directly to the seaports of Turkiye," he said.

On August 8 in Washington, with the participation of the U.S. president, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, signed a joint declaration. One of the points of the document provides for the launch of the Zangezur corridor (the so-called Trump Route) to unblock regional communications. In addition, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia initialled an agreement on peace and interstate relations.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan aims to begin the construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2029, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency, Almassadam Satkaliyev, told journalists, Trend reports.

He made the remarks at the Kazakh President's residence in Astana on the sidelines of a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Satkaliyev stated that project planning and survey activities will continue into the next year. To date, 50 wells have been successfully drilled, and analysis of the soil composition is currently in progress. Additionally, hydrological, hydrotechnical, and engineering assessments have been completed, topographic surveys have been conducted, and two hydrological monitoring posts have been established.

In October 2024, Kazakhstan held a referendum in which 71.12 percent of voters supported the establishment of nuclear power facilities, with a voter turnout of 63.66 percent. The plant will be developed in partnership with Russia's Rosatom. On November 17, the name for the new nuclear power plant was chosen through a nationwide vote: the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. A document that will elevate the cooperation between Kazakhstan and Armenia to the level of a strategic partnership will be signed today, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an expanded-format meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Tokayev emphasized that bilateral trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and scientific-educational contacts have been developing steadily. He noted that the interstate relations are genuinely constructive, with significant potential for further strengthening and expansion.

In turn, Pashinyan highlighted that his visit to Kazakhstan opens up new opportunities for further deepening bilateral relations and advancing them to the level of strategic partnership.

"Today, we had the opportunity to discuss the main directions for the further development of our cooperation with the President of Kazakhstan. I believe that, given the changes in the region, new opportunities are emerging for economic cooperation and strengthening transport links. I am confident that the existing potential in the transport sector should be fully realized, which will open up new opportunities for us," Pashinyan.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the prospects for cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, economic, and transit-transport sectors, investment cooperation, subsoil use, agriculture, digitalization and artificial intelligence implementation, healthcare, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. New opportunities for strengthening transport links are opening up in the region, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during an expanded meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

According to Trend on Friday, citing the press service of the President of Kazakhstan, this was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an expanded meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana.

"Today, we had the opportunity to discuss the main directions for the further development of our cooperation with the President of Kazakhstan. I believe that, given the changes in the region, new opportunities are opening up for economic cooperation and strengthening transport links. I believe that the existing potential in the transport sector should be fully realized, which will open up new opportunities for us," Pashinyan said.

Meanwhile, Tokayev stated at the meeting with Pashinyan that Kazakhstan and Armenia will sign a document today that will elevate cooperation between the countries to the level of a strategic partnership.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on October 21, stated that: Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that had been in place since the occupation.

On August 8 in Washington, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration. One of the points of the document provides for the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) to unblock regional communications.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan and Armenia have elevated their bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership, as outlined in the Joint Statement signed by the two countries, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, told media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports via the Kazakh Presidents press service.

Our interaction in all areas is developing progressively. We are committed to further enhancing our cooperation. This is confirmed by the outcomes of my official visit to Armenia last year and todays talks. Kazakh-Armenian relations are now being elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. This decision will undoubtedly strengthen the friendship between our two countries and open a new phase of multifaceted cooperation, Tokayev said.

For his part, Pashinyan noted that upgrading the relationship to the level of strategic partnership marks a new stage in the development of their cooperation in the region.
Silvers value has seen an increase in 2025, driven by booming industrial use and a growing wave of investors treating the metal as a safety net. Recently, the December silver futures contract (SIZ25) rallied to an all-time high of $51.590 per ounce. This surge comes as the silver market enters a fifth straight year of sizable supply deficits, with demand consistently outpacing supply.

Meanwhile, HSBC has lifted its silver price forecast to $35.14 per ounce, citing the likelihood of sustained safe-haven demand in a riskier global environment. Pan American Silver (PAAS) has capitalized on this favorable environment with exceptional stock performance. Its shares have climbed 88% year-to-date (YTD), a rally that set the stage for the companys 16.7% quarterly dividend increase, following director approval of the payout.

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With record free cash and accelerating returns, investors must now ask. Is Pan American Silver destined for more upside, or is its rally nearly done? Lets dive in.

Pan American Silvers Financial Strength

Pan American Silver operates internationally as a precious metals mining company with a market capitalization of $16.19 billion. This company declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per common share on Nov. 12, marking a 16.7% increase and setting the payout for Q3 2025. It is payable on Dec. 5 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 24. This payment follows the most recent dividend of $0.12 announced on Aug. 18.

PAASs shares are trading at $38.12 with a rally of 88% YTD and 67% in the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

The company has a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.73x, while the sector median is 17.43x, and its forward P/E is 17.41x, compared to a sector average of 16.06x. These valuations show that investors are willing to pay a premium for Pan Americans growth and cash generation.

The Nov. 12 earnings report detailed Q3 2025 performance. This release showed record attributable revenue at $884.4 million and record attributable free cash flow of $251.7 million for the quarter. This result lifted cash and short-term investments to $910.8 million, alongside an additional $85.8 million at Juanicipio, which represents a 44% stake.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan wholeheartedly welcomes the common desire of Armenia and Azerbaijan to conclude peace, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, told media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports.

He also expressed support for US President Donald Trump's efforts to resolve the situation in Ukraine and the plan he presented.

Tokayev noted that in the course of negotiations with Pashinyan, an exchange of views took place on the current regional and international agenda, and similarities in positions on many issues were noted.

On August 8, President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration in Washington with the participation of the US President. On the same day, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries initialed an agreement on the establishment of peace and interstate relations.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan is interested in participating in the TRIPP (The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) project, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports.

According to him, the new geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus creates favorable conditions for the development of bilateral and interregional contacts.

We also confirm our interest in participating in the TRIPP International Route of Peace and Prosperity project. The connection of these strategic corridors with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the North-South Corridor is in the interests of both countries, the head of state said.

On August 8, in Washington, with the participation of the US President, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, a joint declaration was signed. One of the points of the document provides for the launch of the Zangezur corridor (the so-called Trump Route or TRIPP) to unblock regional communications. In addition, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia initialed an agreement on peace and interstate relations.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan and Armenia will soon begin work on establishing direct air links between the two countries, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports via the Kazakh presidents press service.

"One of the key priorities is to open direct air links between our two countries and organize air cargo transportation. Concrete plans are already in place, and the two sides will begin implementing them in the near future," Tokayev said.

Moreover, the president pointed out the golden opportunity for teamwork in the realms of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

"We have agreed to exchange experience in artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, and digital solutions, as well as discuss the prospects for joint projects. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed interest in the work of the largest IT startup tech park in the region, Astana Hub, and the artificial intelligence center Alem.ai. Next year, the TUMO International Educational Center of Armenia will open at Alem.ai in Astana," Tokayev added.

The discussions also covered the expansion of partnerships in key sectors such as industry, energy, agriculture, digitalization, construction, and others. Furthermore, they explored avenues for increasing cooperation in education and science.

Following the talks, Kazakhstan and Armenia elevated their bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership, as outlined in the Joint Statement signed by the two countries. The countries also signed a series of intergovernmental and interagency agreements designed to enhance bilateral relations in diplomacy, trade, technology, culture, and education.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan and Armenia will take concrete measures to increase mutual trade volumes and expand the range of products exchanged, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Astana, Trend reports via the Kazakh presidents press service.

We have reached an agreement to take specific actions to increase mutual trade volumes and expand the product range. To boost trade, Kazakhstan is ready to offer Armenian markets goods worth a total of $350 million, Tokayev said.

He also expressed Kazakhstan's readiness to support Armenia's export potential and underscored the need to get the ball rolling on investment projects.

We have agreed to take practical steps to strengthen business ties. The newly established Business Council Kazakhstan-Armenia is designed to bring together business representatives from both countries and help implement mutually beneficial projects, Tokayev added.

The president noted that an important topic of discussion was the expansion of partnership in sectors such as industry, transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, digitalization, construction, and other areas.

Following the talks, Kazakhstan and Armenia took their relationship up a notch, sealing the deal with a joint statement that laid the groundwork for a strategic partnership between the two nations. The countries also signed a series of intergovernmental and interagency agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in diplomacy, trade, technology, culture, and education.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan on November 24-25, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

"During the visit, high-level negotiations are scheduled, during which the prospects for strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will be discussed," the statement said.

In October 2024, Tokayev made an official visit to Turkmenistan. Following the meetings, Tokayev and Berdimuhamedov signed a Declaration on Strengthening Friendship and Deepening Multifaceted Strategic Partnership between the countries.

Additionally, members of the delegation signed documents aimed at developing cooperation, including agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments, strategic cooperation in transport, logistics, and transit, as well as agreements on collaboration in combating crime and in the field of tourism and other.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, November 21. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will support wheat-flour fortification in Tajikistan, Trend reports via the EDB.

The agreement was formally signed by Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board, and Adham Mussallam, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Tajikistan.

According to the EDB, the initiative is designed to address micronutrient deficiencies by increasing the use of fortified wheat flour. As part of the grant, milling plants will receive premix dispensers and laboratory equipment, while technical personnel will undergo training. The bank anticipates that these measures will enhance operational efficiency and promote the wider production and consumption of fortified flour across the country.

Dalenov emphasized that supporting projects aimed at strengthening food security and improving public health remains a key priority for the EDB. He noted that the collaboration with the WFP and national agencies would help align local practices with international standards in flour fortification.

This initiative follows consultations held in 2025 between Tajikistans Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Tajikstandard Agency, and the WFP. It marks the second joint project between the EDB and the WFP.

The EDB is a multilateral development bank operating across the Eurasian region. As of July 2025, its portfolio included 319 projects worth $19.1 billion, mainly in transport, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, industry and engineering.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 21. Moldovas Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi plans to make a trip to Turkmenistan, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

Over the phone talk with Turkmenistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Popsoi reaffirmed Moldovas support for Turkmenistans internationally recognized status of permanent neutrality.

The officials agreed to hold bilateral political consultations as a tool to strengthen dialogue and coordination on issues of mutual interest.

They also discussed key areas of cooperation between the two countries, noting the potential to deepen engagement, particularly in the energy sector.

Popsoi thanked Turkmenistan for the invitation to visit the country, saying the trip would help expand and energize Moldovan-Turkmen relations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The United States imposed a new round of sanctions targeting shipping networks and an airline it says are helping fund Irans "malign activities" through illicit oil sales and support for Iran-backed militant groups, the State Department said, Trend reports.

The Departments of State and Treasury announced coordinated designations aimed at disrupting the flow of revenue that Washington says Tehran uses to arm regional proxies and procure weapons that threaten U.S. forces and allies.

The State Department designated 17 entities, individuals and vessels across several countries - including India, Panama and the Seychelles - for their role in facilitating Irans petroleum and petroleum products trade.

In parallel, the Treasury Department blacklisted 41 entities, individuals, vessels and aircraft, expanding its campaign against Irans oil and petrochemical exports and the financial networks behind them.

"The United States remains committed to disrupting the illicit funding streams that finance all aspects of Irans malign activities," the statement said, adding that the measures support National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which mandates maximum pressure on Tehran.

"As long as Iran devotes revenue to funding attacks against the United States and our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, and pursuing other destabilizing actions, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable," the department said.
Soybeans were in the red on Wednesday with front months down 15 to 17  cents at the close. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was 17 cents lower at $10.63 3/4. Soymeal futures were back down $9, with Soy Oil futures 105 points lower. A Reuters report indicated the EPA may delay their 50% cut to credits on imported feedstocks from the previously proposed 2026 start date.

USDA reported another 330,000 MT of soybeans sold to China via their daily announcement system this morning. That followed the 792,000 MT from Tuesday.

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Delayed Census data was reported this morning, with August exports at 2.273 MMT (83.53 mbu). That was a 3-year high for the month, and 29.85% above July. Soybean meal exports were tallied at 1.336 MMT, a record for August but a slight 4.03% drop from July.

Soybean export bookings are expected to be reported in a range of 0.6 to 1.6 MMT for the week of 10/2. USDA will release the delayed report on Thursday morning, with soy meal seen in between 150,000 and 350,000 MT and bean oil at 0-25,000 MT.

Commitment of Traders data from the week of September 30 showed managed money increasing their net short in soybean futures and options by 9,410 contracts. That brough their net short to 38,712 contracts at the end of September.

ANEC estimates the Brazilian soybean exports at 4.71 MMT in November, a 0.45 MMT increase from the previous estimate last week. Safras & Mercado estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 178.76 MMT, down 2.16 MMT from their previous estimates.

Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.36 1/4, down 17 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $10.63 3/4, down 17 cents,

Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $11.44 1/2, down 15 3/4 cents,

May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.52 1/2, down 14 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
11/21/2025

Media contacts: Brooke Coupal, communications, economic impact and research development specialist, Brooke_Coupal@uml.edu, and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass.  The Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Municipal Fellowship Program checked all the boxes for Amy Bickford.

The program aligned with her career goals, kept her close to her hometown of Billerica, Mass., and, most importantly, provided her with the opportunity to make a difference in her community.

Over the past six months, Bickford and eight other local college students worked alongside local governments and planners across the state on clean energy projects as part of the CELT Municipal Fellowship Program. The Healey-Driscoll Administration, in collaboration with UMass Lowell and Boston University, launched the CELT initiative to advance clean energy solutions, support municipal decarbonization and expand geothermal workforce development. The UMass Lowell Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy led the establishment of CELT Fellowship Programs, providing students with paid opportunities to build a more sustainable future by working with state and local governments.

CELT connects students passion for sustainability with the real needs of Massachusetts communities, said Ruairi OMahony, CELT director and UMass Lowell associate vice chancellor for sustainability and enterprise development. Our municipal fellows are driving real progress toward local decarbonization goals while gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to lead the clean energy transition.

Joanne Bissetta, director of the Green Communities Division within the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, applauded the work of the fellows as they shared their experiences with municipal leaders on Friday in the heart of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), a mixed-use development fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem.

The projects youve done have positively impacted the residents of your community, Bissetta said to the fellows during the event. Regardless of whats going on in the wider world, having a local impact where people live and work, Ive personally found really meaningful, and I hope youve seen that in the projects youve done.

Image by Brooke Coupal

An environmental science and policy major at Framingham State University, Bickford spent her fellowship with the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), a regional planning agency serving the Greater Lowell region. She worked on several projects, including an energy siting study that estimates the power needed to support 19,000 new housing units in Greater Lowell over the next decade as part of efforts to address the housing crisis.

By helping individual municipalities get the ball rolling on their clean energy initiatives, I knew that Id be contributing to positive changes in communities that need it most, Bickford said. This fellowship has been so rewarding.

Municipal fellow Elias Rodriguez, a mechanical engineering major at UMass Lowell, valued the knowledge he gained by working with the town of Athols Department of Planning and Development on projects focused on decarbonization.

I want to focus my career on designing and innovating carbon-neutral energy generation systems like photovoltaic cells, fusion energy and their supporting systems, he said. Learning about how those systems get funded and what it takes for them to be truly adoptable and equitable has been insightful.

For Ashanti Mclean, an environmental studies and sustainability major at UMass Boston, working with the town of Needham helped her realize what she wants to do after graduating.

Through this fellowship, Ive discovered a strong interest in urban planning and have learned so much about how work happens at the municipal level  something I knew very little about before, she said. I feel more confident about my career direction, and Im grateful for the opportunity and exposure this fellowship has given me.

While the municipal fellows gained career-connected experiences that translated into real-world impact, the municipalities including Arlington, Ashfield, Athol, Berlin, Needham, Salem and Springfield, as well as NMCOG, gained vital support.

"Our partnership with the UMass Lowell CELT Municipal Fellowship Program has been a tremendous asset to NMCOG, said NMCOG Deputy Director Kelly Lynema. Amy Bickford, our fellow, brought remarkable energy, fresh ideas and strong research skills to every project she worked on. Her contributions not only advanced our work in clean energy and access to outdoor resources but also enriched our teams capacity to think creatively and approach regional challenges with new perspectives. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program and look forward to continuing this collaboration.

"The work that our CELT municipal fellow, Elias Rodriguez, has provided the Town of Athol has been invaluable, said Eric R. Smith, Athols director of planning and community development. Elias helped us generate a better understanding of the costs and benefits of electric vehicles as well as helping us plan for more municipal solar installations in the future. The Town of Athol thanks the CELT Municipal Fellowship program for his assistance, which enabled the town to advance efforts that would otherwise have been challenging given current staff capacity."

We have had a wonderful experience working with our CELT municipal fellow, Ashanti, this year, said Needham Sustainability Manager Gabby Queenan. Ashantis work has supported research topics that were prioritized by the Needham Climate Action Committee and Climate Action Roadmap. It was wonderful to have Ashanti join our office to boost our capacity for understanding the policy options for these climate topics.

Local college students interested in applying to be part of the next Municipal Fellowship cohort can see more information on the Municipal Fellowship webpage. Applications are also being accepted for the next Office of Energy Transformation Fellowship cohort.
11/20/2025

Media contacts: Brooke Coupal, communications, economic impact and research development specialist, Brooke_Coupal@uml.edu, and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass.  The U.S. Department of the Navy is deepening its partnership with the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the State University of New York at Stony Brook to increase energy resilience across naval operations.

Over the past five years, the Department of the Navys Office of Naval Research (ONR) has funded both universities in their pursuit of innovative energy solutions that can withstand anticipated and unanticipated disruptions. Most recently, ONR awarded UMass Lowell and Stony Brook a grant totaling $6.3 million to advance technologies in areas such as energy infrastructure and storage to enhance the reliability and accessibility of energy systems on land and at sea.

This partnership reflects UMass Lowells commitment to advancing research that addresses real-world challenges and strengthens our national security, said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. Working alongside the U.S. Navy, Stony Brook University and our industry partners, our researchers are developing innovations that not only support the nations defense but also drive progress in energy resilience and sustainability.

Stony Brook University has long been a leader in energy innovation for the benefit of Long Island, the state of New York and beyond, said Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith. Thanks to our continued partnerships, including with the U.S. Navy, UMass Lowell, Brookhaven National Laboratory and our industry partners, Stony Brook and its innovative researchers are driving transformative solutions to ensure the security and reliability of our critical energy infrastructure. This includes research underway at the New York State Center of Excellence in Energy and the Center for Grid Innovation Development and Deployment, two hubs that exemplify our commitment to advancing a sustainable future for New York and the global community.

Image by Courtesy

Researchers at UMass Lowell and Stony Brook are working on 12 projects in four focus areas: improved power grid management, structural health monitoring of energy infrastructure, energy storage and materials, and fuels and power systems. The research is being conducted in collaboration with industry partners, including National Grid, PSEG Long Island and the Long Island Power Authority.

Reliable access to energy is critical for the Navys operations. By strengthening its energy systems, the Navy can ensure continuous power for critical missions, even in the face of natural disasters, cyberthreats or disruptions to fuel supplies.

This collaboration creates a powerful exchange of ideas, said Christopher Niezrecki, principal investigator and professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at UMass Lowell. By engaging with the Navy, we gain valuable insight into their operational challenges and energy goals. At the same time, the Navy benefits from our technical expertise and facilities, allowing us to advance research in areas that are critical to its mission. Together, were developing solutions that enhance energy resilience and national security.

Resilient energy systems are vital to the Navys readiness and operational success, added Yacov Shamash, principal investigator and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Stony Brook. This partnership allows us to bring together cutting-edge research and real-world application to develop innovative solutions that not only benefit the Navy on sea and land but, through our industry partners, strengthen civilian energy infrastructure nationwide."

Congressional leaders from Massachusetts and New York, who championed the grant, praised the funding as an important step in advancing energy innovation and national defense.

Our militarys energy grid is only as strong as the investments we make in it, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). I fought hard to secure this funding, and its great to see Massachusetts universities continuing to lead the way in research and the path to energy independence.

Federal research investments to universities are critical for our nations economy, health and national security, said Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA). I am proud that researchers at UMass Lowell and Stony Brook are partnering with the U.S. Navy to build resilient energy systems that will improve physical and cyber security, protecting us from an unstable world.

UMass Lowell continues to prove that groundbreaking research and national service go hand in hand, said Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA). By partnering with the Navy and Stony Brook to develop resilient, secure energy systems, they are strengthening our national defense, supporting good-paying jobs, and driving innovation right here in Massachusetts. This federal investment will ensure that the technologies developed in our backyard help power critical missions at sea and modernize energy infrastructure across the country.

The Office of Naval Researchs investment in Stony Brook University and UMass Lowell represents the best of how federal research partnerships can strengthen our national security and drive innovation, said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). By advancing next-generation energy systems, Stony Brook is helping ensure our Navy has the tools it needs to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
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Watch: India's Tejas crashes at Dubai Air Show, Pilot killed

In a shocking incident Friday November 21, 2025, Wing Commander Namansh Syal has been killed as Made in India Tejas fighter jet crashed in Dubai during an air show

[The Tejas fighter jet turned into a ball of fire after the crash (Inset) Wg Cdr Namansh Syal]

Dubai: In a shocking incident Friday November 21, 2025, Wing Commander Namansh Syal has been killed as Made in India Tejas fighter jet crashed in Dubai during an air show.

"An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident", the India Air Force said in a statement.

"IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief", it added.

"A Ball of Fire"

The homegrown Tejas fighter jet crashed in a ball of fire in front of horrified spectators during the aerial display at the Dubai Airshow, AFP reported.

Footage from the site showed black smoke rising behind a fenced airstrip. Dubai's government shared a photograph of firefighting teams dousing smouldering wreckage.

Jignesh Variya, 46, who was attending the show with his family, told Reuters the fighter jet had been flying for no more than eight or nine minutes and done two to three laps when it went into a nose-dive before crashing at around 2:15pm (1015 GMT).

"I could see three different fireballs when it collided with the ground," he said.

"Everybody in the crowd stood up there on their feet, and then maybe in around 30 seconds, the emergency vehicles rushed over to the location at the crash site", he added.

Video: Tejas Fighter Crash

A deeply painful moment for Indian aviation. Watching Tejas crash with no sign of ejection is something that leaves you shaken. Our pilots carry the nations pride every time they fly, and seeing this feels like a punch to the heart. Still waiting for clarity, but the visuals pic.twitter.com/BDlJhnC4k4  Shashank Singh (@shashank_seo) November 21, 2025

The aircraft crashed at one of the world's largest aviation exhibitions was a single-seat Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

IAF orders probe

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has ordered a probe into the tragic incident.

"A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident", the Indian Air Force said.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi said he has been saddened by the crash and the tragic death of the IAF pilot in the Tejas crash.

Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave IAF pilot in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to his family. The nation stands with them, honouring his courage and service, he said in a post on X.

Condoling the death of the Tejas Pilot, Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi said, "We have lost a courageous son of India, an Indian Air Force pilot, in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show."

"My prayers and deepest condolences to his family. The nation stands with them in this hour of sorrow, honouring his supreme sacrifice", she added.

This is the second time after its launch in 2001 when Tejas fighter has crashed. The first crash invloving Tejas jet was reported in March 2024 when it met with an accident in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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The largest stablecoin, Tether, has recently disclosed its expansion in Latin America through its investment in the digital assets custody platform Parfin.

With its latest move, it seeks to accelerate the adoption of its native USDT stablecoin for institutional use cases.

Tether Pushes for Institutional USDT Use in Latin America

Largest stablecoin firm Tether has been building key partnerships, with its latest one coming with Latin American crypto custody and trading firm Parfin.

This comes on the heels of the companys latest plan of 1 billion euro investment in Germany-based Nuera.

According to Tether, the investment strengthens its commitment to supporting financial institutions using USDT as a settlement asset for high-value applications.

This includes real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, cross-border payments, and yield-generating credit markets such as trade finance, commercial receivables, and credit card receivables.

On the other hand, Latin American firm Parfin is popular for providing regulated infrastructure for digital asset operations, and is positioned as a key driver of financial transformation in the region.

The company offers tools that allow institutions to adopt blockchain technology securely and at scale, balancing ease of use with compliance and operational precision.

Tether said the collaboration underscores how innovation can expand institutional access to blockchain while catering to the regulatory requirements. Speaking on the development, company CEO Paolo Ardoino said:

At Tether, we believe in global, unrestricted access to financial freedom and real-world digital asset use cases. One way to achieve this is to strengthen the bridge between traditional finance and blockchain technology, enabling easier access for individuals and institutions. Parfin has shown a strong commitment to bridging this gap. This investment also reflects our belief in Latin America as one of the global powerhouses for blockchain innovations.

Building Key Partnerships Worldwide

Tethers investment in Neura marks one of the largest cross-sector expansions by a crypto-native firm into the fast-growing humanoid robotics industry.

In a similar move, Tether has made a strategic investment in Ledn, a Bitcoin-backed consumer lending platform.

The move comes as the stablecoin firm continues broadening its services and partnerships across the digital asset sector, while Ledn concludes a strong year of growth and expansion.

Read original story Tether Makes Latest Move in Latin America to Boost Usdt Institutional Use-Case by Bhushan Akolkar at Coinspeaker.com
British universities have continued signing agreements with Chinese institutions linked to Beijing's military apparatus, even after MI5's director-general personally warned academic leaders about the espionage risks and threats to national security.

A new investigation has revealed that at least 23 UK universities have entered into partnerships with Chinese institutions deemed to have significant ties to China's defence sector. Perhaps more alarming, at least seven universities have signed or renewed deals with Chinese institutions flagged as posing a high risk for military-related researchpartnerships that security experts believe could facilitate surveillance, human rights abuses, and weapons technology development.

MI5's Stark Warning Falls on Deaf Ears

In April 2024, MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum delivered an unprecedented briefing to university leaders, warning that hostile statesparticularly Chinawere actively targeting sensitive UK research to advance their military capabilities and undermine British national security.

McCallum has repeatedly characterised Chinese espionage as the most significant threat to UK national security, revealing that more than 20,000 people in the United Kingdom have been targeted online by Chinese operatives for recruitment or influence campaigns in recent years.

Yet despite this extraordinary intervention, several prestigious British institutions have pressed ahead with partnerships that critics say play directly into Beijing's hands.

The 'Seven Sons' Connection

Among the most concerning collaborations are those with members of China's "Seven Sons of National Defence"a group of universities deeply integrated with the Chinese military apparatus.

Queen Mary University of London renewed a collaboration with Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), one of these seven institutions. Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen partnered with NWPU's National Subsea Centre, which specialises in naval technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and space technology.

Aberdeen University extended its relationship with Harbin Engineering University, whose naval engineering department describes itself as an important research and talent training base for China's shipbuilding industry, naval equipment, and marine development. The university has been identified in US court documents as a recipient of sensitive information in a 2019 espionage trial.

Oxford and Cambridge: 50 Million in Chinese Funding

Freedom of Information requests have unveiled that the UK's most prestigious universities have received substantial sums from Chinese sources, some with documented connections to Beijing's military and intelligence networks.

From 2020 to 2024, Oxford University received approximately 24 million in gifts, grants, research funding, and donations from Chinese organisations. This included 1.8 million from Sichuan University for a biomedical collaboration. Sichuan University has been flagged by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as "very high risk" due to alleged involvement in China's nuclear weapons program and suspected ties to cyber espionage.

Cambridge University received between 12 million and 19 million during the same period, including hundreds of thousands of pounds from entities tied to China's military and intelligence networks. In early 2024, Cambridge received 204,000 from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences for earthquake researchbut given the academy's military-linked background, even ostensibly civilian research raises concerns about potential dual-use applications.

Huawei Remains Major Funder Despite Ban

Perhaps most striking is the continued role of Huawei Technologies. Despite being banned from building UK 5G networks in 2020 on national security grounds, Huawei remains the largest single source of Chinese funding for British universities, providing between 20 million and 38 million in grants since 2017accounting for nearly a quarter of all Chinese university funding in the UK.

Imperial College London continued its research partnership with Huawei on video generation technology, even as the company remains under US sanctions. The University of Edinburgh accepted a 250,000 donation from Huawei in 2023.

The Scale of the Problem

According to research by Civitas, a British think tank, 46 of 88 UK universities surveyed had received between 122 million and 156 million from Chinese sources since 2017. Approximately 30 percent of this funding came from entities linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army, including those sanctioned by the United States.

Three UK universities received 100 percent of their Chinese funding from military-linked entities: the University of Westminster, the University of Huddersfield, and Cranfield University.

Other Chinese military-linked entities providing funding include seven education institutions controlled by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, research institutes for nuclear warheads, and the PLA's largest supplier of precision-guided missiles.

'Not an Accident'

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of China's policies, expressed grave concerns about the dependency British universities have developed on Chinese financial backing.

"This is not an accident," Smith said. "China seeks sensitive information from the UK because of our intelligence links with the United States, and Beijing sees the university system as a vulnerable strand of British intelligence."

He suggested this dependency might be compromising academic independence, leading institutions to defer to China's interests, especially when it comes to stifling open discussions on human rights issues.

Sam Dunning, director of the UK-China Transparency think tank, warned that China's growing presence in academic collaborations could have far-reaching implications for the UK's security.

"The Chinese regime is laser-focused on using academic partnerships to further its military modernisation," he said. "Research that seems innocuous can have unforeseen military uses."

Academic Freedom Under Threat

The concerns extend beyond research partnerships. Recent reports have documented Chinese government efforts to intimidate academics and suppress research critical of Beijing.

Sheffield Hallam University terminated a project about Uyghur forced labour after Chinese state security officers reportedly interrogated a staff member in Beijing and a Chinese company named in published reports filed a defamation lawsuit. The university initially removed reports from its website and restricted the researcher from continuing her work, only reversing course after she began legal action for violating her academic freedom.

Charles Parton, of the think tanks Rusi and Merics, was blunt in his assessment: "The Chinese Communist Party is a hostile power: it does not play by any rules except its own. UK universities should not help its military or repression systems."

Universities Defend Their Position

British universities defending these agreements argue they are conducted with appropriate caution. The Russell Group, representing the UK's 24 leading research institutions, emphasised the importance of international collaborations for addressing global challenges such as healthcare, climate change, and technological innovation.

A spokesperson from Robert Gordon University insisted the institution uses "stringent processes" to assess partnerships, including risk evaluations and collaboration reviews. Oxford University asserted it had robust policies ensuring academic independence, stating that "funders have no influence over how Oxford academics carry out their research."

Calls for Stronger Measures

Lord Beamish, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, has advocated for a public register of universities receiving donations from Chinaa measure that has yet to be fully implemented.

Alicia Kearns, who chairs the British House of Commons' foreign affairs committee, said the extent of ties between British and Chinese universities was "extremely troubling."

"Pleading ignorance will no longer cut it," Kearns told The Times. "Universities must be clear-eyed about relationships they are entering into with institutions designed to bolster China's military capabilities, or those guilty of facilitating grave human rights abuses."

A government spokesperson reassured the public that the UK has implemented a "robust approach to risk" in the research sector, with universities being supported in making informed decisions when collaborating internationally.

However, as MI5's warnings continue to echo and the geopolitical rivalry between China and the West intensifies, the question remains: are these academic ties inadvertently helping to expand China's military power at the expense of British national security?
TotalEnergies has strengthened its deepwater footprint offshore Nigeria after signing reciprocal deals with Conoil Producing that will lift the French majors operated interest in block OPL257 from 40% to 90%. In exchange, Conoil will acquire TotalEnergies 40% stake in block OML136.

The move consolidates TotalEnergies control over one of its most strategically positioned Nigerian offshore blocks. OPL257 sits adjacent to PPL 261, where the company and partners discovered the Egina South field two decades ago. That reservoir extends into OPL257, making operatorship crucial as the company evaluates the resources development potential.

TotalEnergies plans to drill an appraisal well on the OPL257 side in 2026, with the aim of maturing Egina South as a low-cost tie-back to the existing Egina FPSO, located roughly 30 kilometers away. Such projectsleveraging existing infrastructure to monetize additional reservesare at the core of the companys current capital discipline and portfolio strategy across Africa.

Mike Sangster, TotalEnergies Senior Vice-President for Africa, said the deal builds on a long-running partnership with Conoil and provides the clarity needed to advance an attractive tie-back opportunity aligned with the firms focus on operated gas and offshore oil assets in Nigeria. Tie-backs have become particularly valuable in Nigeria, where declining investment, security challenges, and regulatory delays have pressured output. Reusing infrastructure can reduce cost, shorten timelines, and mitigate above-ground risks.

The transaction follows a broader regional trend as international operators streamline Nigerian portfolios while doubling down on deepwater assets where security risks are lower and project economics remain competitive. TotalEnergies, Nigerias largest international operator by production, has maintained a more stable footprint than some peers and continues to invest through both greenfield and brownfield offshore projects.

TotalEnergies remains one of Nigerias key hydrocarbon producers, delivering 209,000 boe/d in 2024 across upstream, marketing, and gas operations. The company also operates a large fuel distribution network and emphasizes community engagement as part of its long-standing presence.

Completion of the Conoil transaction is subject to standard regulatory approvals. Once finalized, the strengthened position in OPL257 will give TotalEnergies the operating control required to advance the next phase of development around the Egina huban important anchor for Nigerias deepwater output and long-term production stability.
The University of Wyoming College of Law once again is ranked as one of the best values in legal education.





Every year, the National Jurist evaluates law schools based on cost and student outcomes. A combination of affordable tuition, consistent bar exam passage and strong post-graduation employment has helped UWs College of Law earn a spot on the National Jurist best value list for the past seven years.





It is important to us that the College of Law consistently delivers an outstanding value for our students, Dean Julie Hill says. We want to attract students from all walks of life. We also want to make sure that our graduates are not saddled with a debt burden that will keep them from pursuing the types of careers that are meaningful to them in the places that need their expertise.





Part of the reason UWs College of Law can deliver great value is the Wyoming Legislatures strong support of the university and the College of Law. The college recently completed construction of the Alan K. Simpson Center for Clinic and Experiential Learning -- a 20,000-square-foot addition to the law building funded by the Legislature and generous donors.





The center provides a modern space for students to get hands-on legal experience representing clients of limited means. Last year, College of Law students provided free legal representation for clients in 18 of Wyomings 23 counties.





Without legislative support, we would not be the strong law school we are today, Hill says. We try hard to be good stewards of the resources they provide.





For more information, go to www.uwyo.edu/law.
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.
TotalEnergies has signed agreements with its long-time Nigerian partner, Conoil Producing Limited, to acquire an additional 50% interest in offshore exploration block OPL 257, raising its ownership to 90%. Conoil will retain the remaining 10% following regulatory approval.

The transaction strengthens TotalEnergies position in Nigerias deepwater oil sector, aligning with the companys strategy to focus on operated offshore and gas assets. The French major aims to leverage existing infrastructure around the nearby Egina field for cost-effective production growth.

As part of the deal, Conoil will acquire TotalEnergies 40% stake in block OML 136, while TotalEnergies consolidates control over OPL 257, located about 150 kilometers off the Nigerian coast. The block includes an oil discovery made in 2005 in structure PPL 261, which straddles the concession boundary.

An appraisal well on OPL 257 is planned for 2026 as part of TotalEnergies next drilling campaign. The company intends to assess the potential for tiebacks to the Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, optimizing development costs.

TotalEnergies remains deeply committed to Nigeria, a key country in our global portfolio, said a company spokesperson. This transaction underscores our focus on operated assets and our long-term investment strategy to support Nigerias energy growth.

The move follows a string of milestones for TotalEnergies in Nigeria, including the start-up of Akpo West in early 2024, the Ubeta gas project reaching FID in mid-2024, and new exploration entries in deepwater blocks PPL 2000 and 2001 in 2025. The company produced 209,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Nigeria in 2024 and continues to support the countrys goal of attracting investment and boosting production.

Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else.

You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here.
 Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) was received at the White House by US President Donald Trump.

 Since the 1960s, Washington has applied the principle of "Qualitative Military Edge" aimed at ensuring Israels technological superiority in the Middle East. A doctrine enshrined in US law since 2018. Donald Trump has chosen to place Saudi Arabia at the same level of armament as Israel. He has pledged to provide 48 F-35s to the KSA, while Israel owns 45 and has ordered 30 more. This agreement will take several years to be honored.

 The United States has signed a mutual security pact with Saudi Arabia comparable to the one it has concluded with Qatar.

 Saudi Arabia has committed to investing $1,000 billion in the United States, instead of the $600 billion previously announced.

 The atmosphere of this meeting was the opposite of the attitude of the Biden administration. The latter considered MBS a "pariah" after the murder of Muslim Brother journalist Jamal Khashoggi. On the contrary, Donald Trump has cleared MBS of any crime.

 Elon Musk has announced that his xAI artificial intelligence project is collaborating with major chipmaker Nvidia to build a 500-megawatt data center in Saudi Arabia.

 Donald Trump did not get Saudi Arabia involved in the Abraham Accords.

The implementation of the "Master Plan" for Gaza will be crucial.
Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense.

Contents of issue N152

EDITORIAL

4306 Saudi Arabia placed at the same level of armament quality as Israel

AMERICAS

4307 Washington and Moscow have agreed on Ukraine

4308 The United States restricts naturalization for obese individuals

4309 Donald Trump signs into law a bill requiring the disclosure of all documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case

4310 The man who shot Donald Trump was reportedly subjected to conditioning.

4311 Four so-called antifascist organizations, declared "terrorist organizations"

4312 Insider trading by US parliamentarians could be prohibited

4313 Reopening of the investigation into Hillary Clintons role in Russiagate

4314 Controversy over the "racial" consequences of electoral boundaries

4315 First round of the presidential election in Chile

EUROPE

4316 The United Kingdom changes its migration policy

4317 Young French Muslims Convinced by the Muslim Brotherhood

4318 Lifting of judicial control of Pavel Durov

4319 Germany tries to save its industry

4320 Joint Statement on Countering the Russian Threat

4321 Alexander Stubb defends Ukraine despite "Operation Midas"

4322 Donald Tusk denounces Russias war

4324 Donald Tusk denounces a train accident

4325 NATO Peoples Democracy Survey

4326 "Military Schengen" project

4327 European External Action Service believes it does not have a budget commensurate with its needs.

4328 Who took part in human safaris in the 1990s in Sarajevo?

4329 Volodymyr Zelenskys Travels

4330 Volodymyr Zelenskys nepotism

4331 Ukrainian MPs await Andriy Yermaks resignation

AFRICA

4332 Senegals dual leadership

4333 Failure of the Quad in Sudan

ASIA

4334 South African Dossier on Israels Escalation of Crimes in Gaza

4335 Israeli army mistakenly fires at UNIFIL

4336 Syria to help the Pentagon fight Daesh and the "Axis of the Resistance"

4337 Iran has stopped enriching uranium

4338 Iran files complaint against Donald Trump, the United States and Israel

4339 IRGC releases Marshall Islands ship

4340: Publication of internal documents from an IRGC hacking unit.

4341 Pakistan reportedly convinced Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Bharat

4342 Pakistan Becomes a Militarized State

4343 New complaint from Cambodia against Thai attack

4344 Tensions Rise Between China and Japan

4345 Japan sends envoy to China

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

4346 Alexander De Croo elected UNDP Administrator

4347 The UN General Assembly calls for the observance of the Olympic Truce

4348 UN Security Council Adopts President Trumps Comprehensive Plan for Gaza

4349 The UN Security Council and the Transition in Syria

4350 UNEP notes failure of Global Methane Pledge
Tyson Foods (TSN) is closing a beef production plant in Nebraska and paring operations at another as the outlook for the industry remains challenged amid tighter cattle supply and soaring prices.

The meat-processing giant announced on Friday plans to close one beef facility in Lexington, Neb., and will also lower production at its beef plant in Amarillo, Texas. To meet demand, it plans to increase volumes at its other beef facilities.

The company said earlier this month it expects losses in its beef business to be up to $600 million for its current fiscal year. The decision may impact up to 5,000 workers across the two facilities.

"The company is committed to supporting our team members through this transition, including helping them apply for open positions at other facilities and providing relocation benefits," the company said.

This decision comes after President Trump announced plans to cut tariffs on more than 200 foods, including beef, bananas, coffee, and orange juice, last Friday.

Read more: The latest news and updates on Trump's tariffs

Earlier this month, the administration also launched an investigation into the nations largest meatpacking companies, alleging these companies were "artificially inflating prices at the expense of farmers, ranchers, and working families."

In its latest quarter, Tyson reported beef prices jumped 17% as volumes fell 8.4%. For its fiscal year ended Sept. 27, Tyson reported a $426 million loss for its beef business.

The company warned that it planned to decrease roughly 2% of its domestic production in 2026.

"Cattle supplies are at record lows due to drought, potential herd rebuilding, and the impact of New World screwworm in Mexico," CEO Donnie King told investors on the company's latest earnings call. "These factors created market headwinds during the quarter."

This comes a little over two years after the company closed four chicken processing plants.

A shopper looks at a meat display November 4, 2025 at the Market 32 Supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)  Robert Nickelsberg via Getty Images

Brooke DiPalma is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy
Court splits up family living in woods in Abruzzo after 33,000 people sign petition demanding that they be left alone.

The three children of an Australian woman and a British man living off-grid in the woods in Italy's central Abruzzo region have been taken into care.

The children of Catherine Birmingham, a 45-year-old former horse riding instructor, and Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old former chef, were taken away by authorities on Thursday evening, following a ruling by the juvenile court in L'Aquila.

The children - an eight-year-old girl and six-year-old twins - were transferred to a protected facility in Vasto, a town on the Adriatic coast.

Authorities eventually allowed the children's mother to go with them, albeit requiring her to sleep in separate accommodation, following lengthy mediation between the family's lawyer, Giovanni Angelucci, and social workers.

Courts

"Parental responsibility has been suspended by executive order" - Angelucci told newspaper La Repubblica - "The [parents] are very aware of the situation, the children too. The judges questioned both the children's physical and educational status. But the parents know that this process is necessary to one day being able to lead the free life they have always dreamed of."

The family living in a ramshackle farmhouse in the woods of Palmoli, in the Chieti area, had fought a legal battle to keep their children in their forest home after social services accused the couple of "parental negligence" -charges the pair have denied categorically.

After the children were removed from their home on Thursday, to an educational community for a period of observation, their father told reporters: "How can you tear children away from their parents? They will be traumatised."

In making the decision, the juvenile prosecutor's office had cited "serious harm" to the children's development, however the parents have defended their choice to "free themselves from the toxicity of modern life", expressing the desire to live in proximity with nature, in harmony with their children and animals.

Petition

Their case has received widespread media coverage in Italy, with more than 33,000 people signing an online petition demanding authorities to allow the family to continue living off-grid in the wilderness.

"Good-hearted people who have done nothing wrong but who risk being crushed by the system" - the petition states - "The system is unjustly persecuting this wonderful family and threatening to take their children away!"

The family home is an old farmhouse with well water, a wood-burning stove and a zero-impact outdoor bathroom, with electricity self-generated by solar panels.

Birmingham and Trevallion, who bought the remote site in 2021, raise several farm animals and grow organic fruit and vegetables.

The children have been homeschooled and prior to being taken into custody were described by Italian media as "happy and healthy".

Their case came to light in the autumn of last year after all five members of the family needed to be taken to hospital because they had been poisoned by mushrooms.

Speaking to Rome newspaper Il Messaggero on Thursday evening, Trevallian said he intended to bring a suitcase full of clean clothes to his family on Friday as they only managed to take what was necessary for one night.

"Who would ever separate a family with small children if they haven't done anything wrong?" - Trevallion said - "I believe this measure is the product of a horrible system that harms people who live honestly."

Salvini

Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini came to the defence of the family on Friday morning, pledging to follow the case directly, "not as a minister but as a parent, as a father and as an Italian".

"I find it shameful that the State concerns itself with the personal life choices of two parents who found in Italy a welcoming country and that instead it takes their children away from them", Salvini wrote on X, noting that he had signed the petition and urging others to do the same.

Photo RAI News
New School Rome is taking learning far beyond the traditional classroom with an immersive three-day theatre trip to London. Students will step directly into the world of professional performing arts, experiencing some of the citys most iconic stages and productions while gaining insight into the creative industries that shape contemporary culture.

The programme includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Theatre, where students will explore rehearsal rooms, production workshops and technical spaces rarely open to the public. The visit offers a unique opportunity to see how sets are built, costumes are prepared and complex staging is engineeredrevealing the craft and collaboration behind major productions.

Throughout the trip, students will attend performances of Hamlet, The Weir and Come Alive, engaging with texts they have studied in class and seeing them interpreted by leading directors and actors. Experiencing the plays live allows students to understand character, rhythm and atmosphere in a way no written script can fully capture.

The initiative reflects the New Schools longstanding emphasis on experiential learning. By blending academic study with hands-on cultural exploration, the school aims to deepen students understanding of literature, performance, and the role of the arts in society. The London theatre trip is not only a celebration of creativity and global culture but also a practical extension of the New Schools educational philosophy: learning that is active, immersive and connected to the world.
How to file your 2025 tax returns in Italy and in the United States

Living in Italy as an American is wonderful until tax season arrives. You file in Italy. You still file in the United States. Each system has its own rules and if you get one thing wrong you can face penalties or end up paying tax twice.

To make the process easier FRESH is hosting a live online session that explains how to stay fully compliant in both countries for your 2025 tax return. The goal is clarity. No legal jargon. Only practical guidance you can use right away.

Experts in U.S. and Italian expat taxes

Gail Buka is a U.S. CPA who works exclusively with Americans abroad. She will explain how to file U.S. taxes from Italy, what forms you need and what the IRS expects when you live overseas.

Nicolo Bolla is an Italian accountant who advises international residents across Italy. He will walk you through how Italy taxes foreign income, what assets must be reported and how the Italian tax system works for Americans.

What you will learn

Filing Obligations and Deadlines in Italy and U.S.

 How to avoid double taxation

How to avoid double taxation  Filing Strategy & Order

Filing Strategy & Order Foreign Reporting Requirements

 Other Considerations

Other Considerations Q&A

Why this matters for Americans in Italy

American expats often feel lost between two tax systems. A small mistake can create years of stress. Understanding the full picture now can save you money and prevent costly errors. This free webinar gives you a clear roadmap so you can file with confidence and stay compliant in both countries.

Date and time

Thursday 4 December 2025

11:00 AM Eastern Time / 4:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM CET
Claire Henry

A Brazilian man who used his skateboard to strike a man outside a chipper, causing a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain, has been jailed for two years.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Aquila Batista (33) of no fixed address, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at an area near Parnell Street, Dublin, on September 2nd, 2022.

He has no previous convictions and has not come to the attention of the gardai since this incident.

Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan said the defendant left the scene and returned a short time later with a skateboard and hit the injured party with the skateboard.

He noted this resulted in a severe gash, and the injured party was brought to the hospital for treatment. The injured man also sustained a fractured skull and had a small bleed to the brain.

Judge Nolan said the injured party had made a good recovery from his physical injuries but that the attack affected his confidence and his mental health.

The judge said, What motivated this defendant seems to have been some form of revenge or bad temper.

He noted the following as mitigating factors: his guilty plea, his level of cooperation, his lack of previous convictions, and his good work history.

Judge Nolan said, obviously, if you hit someone with force with a skateboard on the head, there will be reasonably serious injuries.

He noted the injured party has been left with a scar. He sentenced Batista to two years in prison. He concluded by saying, When you attack someone in a vicious way with a weapon, you have to endure a custodial term.

Mr Marc Murphy BL, prosecuting, told the court that on the night of September 1st, 2022, the injured party, his girlfriend, and three other friends were socialising in Dublin.

At approximately 2:30am, the group went to a nearby chipper. The group waited outside while the injured party's girlfriend went inside.

Batista was inside the chipper and attempted to chat up the woman. As she was leaving, he attempted to place his hands on her, but she pushed him away.

The court heard that a verbal altercation took place between Batista and the injured party, and Batista left the area.

He returned a short time later on his skateboard. He then proceeded to strike the injured party on the top of the head with the skateboard.

The injured party was brought to the Matter Hospital. Upon examination, he suffered a fracture to the skull and a minor bleed to the brain.

The injured party underwent reconstructive surgery and is left with a permanent scar on his face. Batista remained at the scene and was also taken to the hospital for minor cuts.

He was arrested and interviewed, and said he acted in self-defence. He denied striking the man with a skateboard and said he pushed him to the ground.

The court heard that the injured party has since moved out of Dublin and has physically recovered from that attack. The injured party did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Counsel defending Batista said he remained at the scene and also required medical treatment. Batista, who is originally from Brazil, came to Ireland in 2017 to study English and has no previous convictions.

Counsel said Batista has no family in Ireland and finds it difficult to get work. He brought 2,500 to court as a token of remorse.

The court was told this: It seems very out of character for Batista, and he wants to offer his apologies to the injured party.

He asked the court to take into account his client's guilty plea and asked the court to be as lenient as possible.
Eimear Dodd

A man who stabbed his friend, causing him serious injuries, has been jailed for three years and three months.

Gerard Baird (39) of Kilbarron Road, Coolock, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on October 31st, 2021, at an address in Beaumont, Dublin.

Evidence was heard that Baird was socialising with the injured party, and they had had some drinks.

When Baird was leaving the victim's home with his bike and a can of alcohol, the injured party noticed he had a knife from the apartment.

Baird called him a rat, then stabbed him. The victim tried to calm Baird down and urged him to call an ambulance, then leave.

Baird didn't have a mobile and used the victim's phone to call emergency services. He remained at the scene, and the victim said he was shouting mad stuff at him.

The victim thought he wasn't going to survive due to the bleeding. He was stabbed twice in the stomach, once in the chest and once in the neck.

He required surgery, but has made a good recovery, the court was told.

When gardai arrived, Baird told them that the victim was stabbed after answering the door.

Baird was arrested in March 2022, accepted he was at the property and repeated what he told gardai on the night. He also identified himself on the 999 call recording.

In a victim impact statement, the victim outlined the mental and physical effects of the assault. He said it has taken him a lot of time to get his life back on track, and he is nervous about leaving his home at night.

Baird has 70 previous convictions, including for burglary, assault, public order, and criminal damage, all at the District Court. He has four previous convictions from the United Kingdom, including one from 2015 for grievous bodily harm.

The garda witness agreed with Judge Martin Nolan that Baird appears to have a problem with alcohol.

The garda also agreed with defence counsel that the plea was of value to the prosecution, and Baird has remained out of trouble for the last 12 months.

The court heard that Baird had serious alcohol issues at the time of this incident and was homeless. He has made attempts in the past to deal with his addiction, but has made progress recently in addressing these issues. He is working and now has hostel accommodation.

Counsel said his client is extremely apologetic for his actions, but has a poor recollection of what happened.

He suggested this was out of character for Baird.

Judge Martin Nolan said it appeared Baird had attacked viciously the injured party for no apparent reason.

He said Baird has a long history of offending and his principal problem is that he becomes aggressive and angry when drink is taken.

He said Baird should have known to take steps to address this issue, and the court considered the offence may not have occurred if Baird hadn't been drinking.
British prosecutors are investigating a failed crypto project that raised tens of millions from retail investors before shutting down.

The U.K. Serious Fraud Office said Thursday it arrested two men as part of an inquiry into Basis Markets, a collapsed crypto hedge fund that allegedly defrauded backers out of $28 million.

The office executed search warrants in Herne Hill and near Bradford, seizing digital devices and documents. Authorities suspect the men whose identities remain undisclosed of fraud and money laundering related to two rounds of fundraising that took place between November and December 2021.

Basis Markets was able to raise at least $28 million through two public fundraisers: one in November 2021 through an NFT membership sale, and another in December through a token offering, according to the SFO. The funds were meant to launch crypto hedge fund arbitrage strategies to retail investors.

"With our expanding cryptocurrency capability, we are determined to pursue anyone who would seek to use cryptocurrency to defraud investors," SFO Director Nick Ephgrave said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing, and the SFO has asked the public to come forward with any information that could help. Decrypt reached out to SFO for comment on the eligibility of victims for restitution and whether other enforcement agencies are coordinating.

'Modern-Day Pablo Escobar': Treasury Sanctions Ex-Olympian Over Alleged Crypto-Fueled Crime Empire

Hours after U.K. authorities announced their probe, the BASIS token dropped nearly 40% before settling at a 28% loss on the day. The token has been effectively dead since April 27, 2022, when $10.8 million was dumped in a single day, according to CoinGecko's historical data.



By June of the same year, investors were informed that, due to proposed new US regulations, the project could no longer proceed as planned, the SFO stated.

Basis Markets pitched itself as a yield optimizer for directionless trading, according to snapshots recorded on Wayback Machine.

Criminal Crypto Use Is Becoming 'Increasingly Sophisticated', Says Europol

Our direction is we're going to build a decentralized liquidity pool, one of the founders, operating under the pseudonym TraderSkew and named as Adam in what appears to be an investor call, said in a documented video. The limited equity owners [] You will own all of the assets.

The individual appears to be Adam Cobb-Webb, a 48-year-old UK national identified through CFTC documentation from 2023, where the commission fined Cobb-Webb $150,000 for spoofing oil futures contracts during the same period he was promoting Basis Markets.
David Raleigh

Summonses for alleged speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving without insurance, which were marked struck out or withdrawn, were shown to a jury in the trial of four gardai and a retired superintendent, on Thursday.

The five accused have pleaded not guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to a total of 39 counts of engaging in conduct tending or intended to pervert the course of justice.

The charges relate to the five accused allegedly unlawfully interfering in road traffic prosecutions.

The jury was shown copies of twenty court summonses that had been struck out or withdrawn from various Limerick District Court proceedings on different dates.

Siobhan O'Connor, head of the Court Services Office, Limerick, gave evidence that shorthand notes written by judges on the summonses, such as, 'S/O meant the summons was struck out.

She explained that the short-hand WD meant the summons was withdrawn, and ST meant the application for striking out the case or withdrawing the case was made by a prosecuting sergeant acting on behalf of the State.

The five accused are retired Garda Superintendent Eamon O'Neill, as well as Sergeant Anne Marie Hassett; Sergeant Michelle Leahy; Garda Colm Geary and Garda Tom McGlinchey, of the Limerick and Clare Garda Divisions.

Ms OConnor, under cross examination from senior counsel Felix McEnroy, acting for Eamon ONeill, agreed that District Court judges can make a wide number of orders, including withdrawing, striking out, or dismissing a prosecution.

The witness agreed with counsel that there is only one decision maker in the district court and that is the judge.

When asked if she had been aware of any issue with any of the twenty summonses after they had been dismissed, Ms OConnor replied: "No, Im not aware.

The witness agreed that there was nothing unusual about a summons being struck out, in certain circumstances, in general situations, including, for example, if a motorist had not had their driving licence on them when stopped by a garda and subsequently produced the licence at a garda station within a required timeframe.

The trial centres around alleged approaches by members of the public to gardai in respect of fixed charge penalty notices (FCPNs) relating to potential or pending road traffic prosecutions.

The five accused were charged before Limerick District Court on May 14th, 2021, following an investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).

The trial has heard that gardai in senior ranks have the power to legitimately cancel FCPNs in certain circumstances.

It was also heard that GNBCI detectives raided a number of Garda stations and homes in Limerick, Clare and Cork, and seized mobile phones, as part of the probe.

A GNBCI officer told the court that a number of private citizens had been suspected of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but that none of these people had ever been charged with an offence arising out of the investigation.

The GNBCI probe involves at least 10 detective sergeants supported by other colleagues, it was heard.

The probe was led by GNBCI Detective Chief Superintendent Walter OSullivan, now retired, who appointed Detective Inspector Mick McNulty, GNBCI, as the senior investigating officer.

The two senior ranking Gardai made all of the key operational decisions in the probe, the court heard.

Det Sgt Robert Madden, GNBCI, said he and his colleagues in the investigation team had been furnished with briefing documents to familiarise themselves with the complexities and nuances of FCPNs, which he agreed he had known very little about prior to the investigation.

The briefing documents explained what a fixed charge penalty notice was, how FCPNs are processed, and what guidelines and exemptions are legitimately used by gardai for cancelling FCPNs.

The trial before a jury of eight men and four women continues next Tuesday.
Sean McCarthaigh

The mother of a Dublin teenager who was killed after crashing a friends e-scrambler motorcycle that he was riding for the first time has called for such vehicles to be banned.

Tallaght woman, Margaret Murphy, made her comments following an inquest into the death of her son at Dublin District Coroners Court on Thursday.

Sean Murphy (18) of Mac Uilliam Court, Fortunestown Lane, Tallaght, died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries he sustained in the single vehicle collision which occurred a short distance from his home.

The inquest heard the teenager collided into the pillar of the driveway of a house at Mac Uilliam Heights at around 10:30pm on June 7th, 2023.

The teenager was rushed by ambulance to nearby Tallaght University Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

These machines should be taken off the road. Theres nothing but lives being lost with them, said Ms Murphy after the conclusion of the hearing.

She added: Theyre not wearing helmets. Theyre not wearing safety gear. You see them flying across fields and most of the time its for drug runs. I just want them banned.

The deceaseds grandmother, Jean Leeson, gave evidence of identifying her grandsons body to gardai at TUH after being notified about the fatal collision by his mother.

His friend, Marcus OGorman, told the inquest that he and Sean, whom he described as a brother had met up earlier that evening after work and were outside with another friend, Oskar Ivashchenko, who had an e-scrambler.

The inquest heard another friend, Bradley Doyle, had asked if he could have a go on the bike and went up and down the road really slow before Sean asked for a turn.

Mr OGorman said his friend was a messer and began throttling the machine which shot out in front of him.

However, he said Sean began to get confident as he got the feel of the machine.

At one stage, Mr OGorman said he saw his friend coming down the road too fast before he disappeared out of view after wobbling on the vehicle.

He then heard a loud bang and ran up the road to find that his friend had crashed into a pillar with a large puddle of blood on the ground.

He was in bits. His head was cracked open, Mr OGorman recalled.

Mr Ivashchenko told the hearing that he had bought the Sur-Ron Light Bee X  a high-performance, electric, off-road dirt bike  from a motorsports store in Tallaght for 5,000.

He recalled telling the deceased to be careful and to go easy on the throttle when using the e-scrambler as he knew Sean was unfamiliar with such vehicles.

Mr Ivashchenko said he could tell that his friend was excited about being on it but was going too fast.

'Overly confident'

Mr Ivashchenko believed that Sean was overly confident and took off again after which the crash occurred.

In reply to questions from coroner Crona Gallagher, Mr Ivashchenko said he just used the vehicle for leisure purposes but pointed out that users needed to take time to learn to ride them.

A woman who came to the deceaseds assistance, Joanne Hassett, said she was preparing to go to bed when she heard a loud bang outside her home followed by screaming.

Fighting back tears, Ms Hassett said the injured teenager was trying to get up and told her: I feel really sick in my belly. Its hurting.

After a few minutes, she noticed a change in his breathing and he became more confused and began slurring his speech.

Ms Hassett, who tried to stop the victims bleeding with a towel, remarked: Its horrific. I just tried to do what any mother would do.

Another neighbour, Sawson Mohamad, who got a blanket to keep the teenager warm before paramedics arrived on the scene, recalled seeing his chest was blue and looking like he was going to die.

Relatives of the deceased apologised to Ms Mohamad for racial abuse that she and her family had suffered after the incident from young men with hormones over whom they had no control.

A postmortem showed the victim had suffered multiple severe injuries to his head and upper body including his liver, lungs and kidneys as well as internal bleeding.

The coroner noted that his injuries were unsurvivable.

The deceased tested negative for alcohol.

Although Sean was on medication for suspected epilepsy, the coroner said she was satisfied from the evidence that he did not suffer any seizure that could have caused the fatal collision.

A forensic collision investigator, Garda John Cullition, said weather and road conditions played no role in the crash.

Garda Culliton noted that the deceased was not wearing any safety equipment including a helmet for use on an e-scrambler that had a maximum speed of 75km/h.

He said an examination of the scene indicated that the victim had impacted straight into the pillar without going over the handlebars.

Although the e-scrambler was found to have no mechanical defects, Garda Culliton said such vehicles were designed to be used off-road and not in a public place.

He described what happened as a sudden occurrence, high-speed incident.

The investigator said it was not possible to estimate the exact speed that the deceased was travelling at the point of impact.

Garda Culliton also observed that the victim may not have been experienced enough to operate the e-scrambler safely.

He noted the absence of any evidence of braking indicated the sudden nature of the impact.

Garda Culliton said such vehicles were specifically designed for off-road use with riders wearing safety gear including goggles and a helmet.

Dr Gallagher remarked that the popularity of such vehicles had grown exponentially and perhaps the law has not kept up.

The coroner noted that several witnesses had outlined how e-motorbikes also delivered power quicker than those with traditional engines and were quieter which might give users a false sense of security.

Sergeant Cormac ODonnell said CCTV footage which captured the fatal collision corroborated the evidence provided by witnesses.

Sgt ODonnell said the images showed that there were no other moving vehicles in the area at the time and the deceased had taken no evasive action.

He confirmed that no criminal prosecution arose out of the circumstances of the fatal collision.

Sgt ODonnell told the coroner that he did not believe the type of vehicle involved in the crash was allowed to be used on public roads.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Dr Gallagher observed that the inherent risk of using such vehicles might not be perceived by young people who can feel invincible.

It highlights the risk of machines that are much quieter than traditional motorbikes. Maybe people feel they are less dangerous but they need a certain level of skill and expertise to operate them, she added.

Offering her condolences to Seans family on such an extremely tragic incident, the coroner said she could see the impact it had on his friends and those who helped him on the night.
Three decades in the making, 459 pages and a bibliography spanning over 300 entries. When Waterford historian Dermot Power describes his newest book The Street Where You Live as a labour of love, its a generous understatement.

The Street Where You Live unearths the linguistic origins, colloquialisms, and hidden meanings that have given birth to the naming of the ground beneath Waterford residents feet.

The genesis of the book began in 1992, when Power released his first piece of work, a 20-page booklet of the same name. Originally confined to the streets of Waterford City, his newest iteration encompasses The Liberties and urban sprawl of Waterford.

Power speaking in the Granville Hotel, on Thursday, November 13.

This book is lots of sleepless nights, very little help, except from friends, Power said while speaking at the book's launch on Thursday, November 13, in front of a packed-out ballroom at the Granville Hotel.

If everything I collected I had written downthe present book would have easily been seven or eight hundred pages.

The book covers the streets of Waterford in forensic detail - a singular passage on Dunmore Road spans six pages, charting the roads transformation from a well-renowned locale used to burn women at the stake in the 1700s, to its present status as the pinnacle of affluent suburbia.

Giving the book life proved demoralising for Power. He bemoaned the lack of support from local heritage funds and said he was liable to cut a frustrated figure, often slumped out on a couch, rotting in front of the flat screen.

He credits his partner Rima Norvydiene as the books catalyst. At his nadir, she offered him a small biscuit box with 500 parcelled inside.

Her instructions were clear: Get off the couch, and start working.

From there Power searched for alternative funding, courting the same people he interviewed as a historian.

Jim Doherty of Dohertys fish shop, The Granville Hotels Anne Cusack, and Joan Johnson of the Waterford Quakers were some of many names that contributed to the books funding.

The book was ultimately published by Kazoo Independent Publishing Services in Dublin.

Manically cross-referencing through a towering mountain of books, newspaper archives and interview records, Power says he gained an untapped insight into the quaint thought process that informed the naming of locales.

Lots of names were generational, an example of that was Denny's lane. The real name was Penrose LaneI knew it as Denny's lane.

He points to the example of a now-closed Aldi on the Glen - years ago that probably would have become known as Aldis lane.

There was another place, where Sanofi is built, out on the old Kilmeaden road. There's a very old name thereIt hasn't been probably used for 400 years, called Crainn na Spioroga, The Trees of the Sparrowhawks.

I've gotten to the stage there now that I can visualise a fella, an ancient Irish fella, walking along there, and he's captivated by these sparrowhawks flying in and out of that tree.

And he puts the name on it and then it becomes a name for the area, The Trees of the Sparrowhawks. That's the way the Irish did it...Waterford is recognised as a Viking city, which it is, but I don't think we should be defined as it because we're here 10,000 years.

Speaking at the launch, Waterford City and County Council Mayor Seamus Ryan thanked Power for his historical contributions to the Deise.

What sets his work apart is his gift for storytelling, and we saw that in his music as well (Power is also a well-known member of the band Simon). The ability to take historical detail and turn it into something engaging and accessible, not just for scholars or historians, but for anyone who loves Waterford, Mayor Ryan said.

Dermots discovery that the Irish Tricolour was first flown here in Waterford in 1848 stands as one of his most significant contributions, a finding that deepened our understanding of Ireland's national story and placed Waterford firmly at the heart of it.

Having spent a career grounding himself in the streets of Waterford, writing three other historic works on Waterford, Power says just like street names, the city has moved, changed forms, and not always for the better: What I've seen is the heart of the city gone, and replaced by phone shops, vape shops, cafes, coffee shops and beggars this is the changing face of the city."
A man in his 40s has been imprisoned for his defilement of a vulnerable teenage girl.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene OKelly.

The offence occurred nearly a decade ago at a location in Waterford. The girl, then aged 16, had recently moved to Ireland from Eastern Europe and was struggling to integrate. One day she was brought to a flat by a friend, where the man was living in at the time. He was in his early 30s and plied her with alcohol and attention. The girl came to think of the man as a trusted person and someone who would protect her. She opened up to him about sexual abuse she suffered in her home country. The man pressured the girl into performing sexual acts with him. In one incident, the victim described being pushed down onto a bed and the accused forcing oral sex on her.

Her mother came to learn about the relationship and was "not happy". Two years after meeting, the teen gave birth to a child, fathered by the accused. The man constantly exerted control over her, pressuring her into wearing lingerie and at one point tried to make her set up an OnlyFans account.

Towards the end of the relationship she arrived to their home one day to find the man drinking and smoking with his friends. Their child had been left to sit in a soiled nappy.

When Gardai arrested the man in 2023, he denied the accusations. He said that he never pressured her and that he was "willing to take a polygraph test".

He told Gardai: It was not forced, I asked her if she wanted to do it again. She started crying and it all stopped.

The man had three previous convictions, including for sexual assault.

Defence counsel Michelle Smith De Bruin told the court that her client was "not aware" that the victim was under the age of consent.

In her victim impact statement, the woman described being groomed by the accused and not realising that he was a predator. She wrote about crying and throwing up after the assault.

Judge OKelly imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced by nine months in mitigation.

Judge OKelly noted that the accuseds separate offence for sexual assault "does suggest that this is a man with a propensity of abuse towards young females".

The final 18 months were suspended on the condition that the accused leave the jurisdiction and not return for a period of six years.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
The search is underway to find the 2026 Waterford Rose. Young women from all over the county are invited to apply online.

The Waterford Rose Selection 2026 will take place on Saturday 14 March at the Tower Hotel.

The current Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins recently met with some Waterford Rose applicants to launch the search.

Katelyn along with Waterford Rose Co Ordinator, Lyn Moloney and Chloe O'Donnell (2017 Waterford Rose) briefed the applicants as to what is in store for them on their journey.

Ms Moloney said: The Rose of Tralee international Festival is the most incredible experience, and I would encourage as many young women as possible to take part and become their local Rose. I guarantee them they will make incredible friends and have an amazing experience. Many people think that the Rose of Tralee festival is just a week-long festival and they dont realise that the Roses and Rose Escorts have so many incredible experiences throughout the whole year. All I can say to any young woman is to go for it and apply!'"

The Waterford Rose Centre would be delighted if any Club, Society, or business considered sponsoring an entrant for the 2026 Waterford Rose Selection.

As a Waterford Rose entrant sponsor, there are several ways that your company or organisation can benefit from supporting a Waterford Rose entrant:

 Your sponsors name will appear on your entrants sash which is worn at all official Waterford Rose events that take place throughout the county  Your sponsors name will appear on our screens throughout the selection evening on March 14

 Your sponsors name will be included on all our Social Media Platforms.

 Your organisation will be associated with the Rose of Tralee International Festival, one of Irelands largest and longest running festivals, connecting the worldwide Irish diaspora.

A spokesperson for the Waterford Rose Centre said: We would like to sincerely thank Sinead, Aine and their wonderful team for their continued support and friendship.  If you know someone who would love this experience or someone you think would be a fantastic Ambassador for Co. Waterford, let the Waterford Rose Centre know today.

For further detailsdon't hesitate to get in touch with the Waterford Rose Co Ordinator or Lyn Moloney on 0834631611 or email Waterfordrosecentre@roseoftralee.ie

IT COULD BE YOU !
Eva Osborne

A Narwhal, an Arctic species of whale never seen in Irish waters, has been found dead and stranded off the Donegal coastline.

This finding is the first recording of the species in Irish waters, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed.

The body of a female Narwhal was retrieved by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, working with regional staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Narwhal is a toothed whale found exclusively in the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic, north of 60.

The initial discovery was made by a family walking along Sweet Nellies Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula, who reported the sighting of a small, stranded 2-3m whale or dolphin to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Volunteers from the IWDG responded quickly and arrived at the scene to recover the carcass and collect skin samples.

The IWDG and NPWS regional staff worked together to retrieve and transport the carcass to the Regional Laboratory in Cork for post-mortem examination and tests.

Speaking about the discovery, Minister for Nature Christopher OSullivan said: Id like to thank everyone who was involved in retrieving the stranded Narwhal for their rapid response and collaboration, from the young people who initially spotted it on the beach and raised the alert, to the dedicated teams in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my own Department.

This is a significant event and it is important that we try to find out more about why this species arrived on our coastline.

"An examination is underway which I hope will reveal important details about its life and history, and shed some light on the reasons why it arrived on our shores.

"The Narwhal is an arctic species that is mainly found in cooler waters. Findings like this are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of a changing climate, and the need to protect them.

Niall O Donnchu, director general of the NPWS, said:We can confirm that a female Narwhal, a species never before recorded in Ireland, was discovered in Co Donegal last weekend and has since been retrieved for scientific examination. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented event.

"I want to acknowledge the swift actions of the family who reported the stranding, as well as the rapid and professional response by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and our NPWS regional colleagues.

As we await the results, NPWS will continue to work closely with our partners to monitor Irelands marine environment and to better understand the impacts of climate and ecological change on vulnerable species. Each event like this reminds us of the importance of sustained scientific vigilance and public awareness in protecting our natural world.

There are an estimated 170,000 living Narwhals worldwide. Male Narwhals are famous for their long tusks, and they are often dubbed the unicorns of the sea.

The population is threatened by the effects of climate change, such as reduction in ice cover and human activities such as pollution and hunting.

Narwhals have been hunted for thousands of years by Inuit in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory, and regulated subsistence hunting continues to this day.

Narwhals are rarely recorded outside the Arctic with the last stranding record in western Europe, when a young male washed up dead in Belgium in 2016.

Prior to that record, two females stranded in the Thames Estuary, England in Kent 1949.

The only sightings are of two off Orkney and one off Aberdeenshire in Scotland in 1882 and one in the Hebrides in 1976. This is the 10th stranding record of Narwhal in western Europe and only the fourth female.

The IWDG is continuing to conduct an examination as part of a Deep Diving and Rare Investigation Programme to understand more about these kinds of rare strandings.
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BusinessConsumer affairsBlood Oil Will Australians pay more at the petrol pump to cut off Putins blood oil? Nick Toscano November 21, 2025  9:38am Save 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 94 View all comments

Blood oil: A new series by the Herald and The Age. See all stories .

Banning fuel imports from overseas refineries that still use Russian oil could raise petrol prices in Australia, but any immediate jump would probably be limited to a few cents a litre, industry executives and experts say. The Albanese government is under pressure to widen Australias four-year ban on direct Russian crude oil imports to also prohibit shipments of refined fuels from foreign facilities known to have recently processed Russian oil. Australia is among the worlds largest importer of fuel products made from Russian crude at Indian refineries, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Stephen Kiprillis The governments consideration of the move, which could bring Australia in line with European sanctions taking effect in January, comes amid revelations that some petrol and diesel being shipped to Australia from Indias biggest oil refinery has been made from Russian crude and is therefore helping finance Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Australia is among the worlds largest importers of fuel products from India that have potentially been refined from Russian oil, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a think tank.

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However, as the federal government evaluates further measures, it is considering the cumulative impact that more sanctions could have on the cost of petrol and diesel for Australian motorists, especially as recent moves by the United States and European Union are already expected to put upward pressure on prices. Related Article Blood Oil Blood oil: How this Australia-bound ship is helping pay for Putins war If Australia replicated the EU bans, it could create further tightness in the market for some fuel products and increase the risk that sudden global supply shocks could hike prices at the pump, said Janiv Shah, a vice president at global consultancy Rystad Energy. This would likely pose a challenge for consumers, as prices could become more volatile as the buffer in the system reduces, he said. Indian refineries account for about 10 per cent of Australias imported petrol and diesel. Most of this is typically shipped to Western Australia, according to industry insiders not authorised to speak publicly about the matter, while smaller volumes are sent to terminals along the eastern seaboard.

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Tougher sanctions curtailing Indian deliveries would force petrol station operators to boost orders from other refineries in South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and China, and may impact prices locally by narrowing the pool of supplies, they said. Related Article Exclusive

Blood Oil Australias biggest super funds accused of profiting from Russian blood oil While announcements of incoming sanctions by the US and EU had sent some fuel product prices higher since October, the impact of Australia adopting tougher measures would be much less significant, said one Australian fuel executive, since benchmark petrol and diesel prices were set globally and Australia was not a large enough market to make a major difference. Local prices would have to go up, they said, but how and when any increase flowed through to motorists would most likely get lost in the noise of many other factors, like geopolitics, that affect the price of oil and fuels all the time. Following the closures of ExxonMobils Altona refinery in Melbourne and BPs Kwinana plant in Perth in 2021, just two local refineries remain: the Viva Energy-owned Geelong refinery and Ampols Lytton refinery in Brisbane. This has left Australia reliant on imports for about 90 per cent of its fuel.

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AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said Indian refiners 10 per cent share of Australias fuel imports was significant in its size, but banning it probably wouldnt be enough to impact the price. There could be a jolt before it settles back down again  a jolt would be 5 to 7, he said. Most people wouldnt notice it within a monthly discounting cycle. Australia is considering whether to ban petrol and diesel imports from foreign refineries known to still be processing any Russian crude oil. Eddie Jim Australian fuel prices go through cycles of varying durations, during which retailers progressively discount their fuel by a few cents each day to compete for customers, until prices bottom out and then rapidly rise again by up to 40 a litre. Despite market jitters this year about the risk that fighting the Middle East may affect oil supplies, average fuel prices have remained relatively stable. The Saudi-led cartel of oil-producing countries, known as OPEC+, had been expanding output, keeping benchmark oil prices subdued, Oliver said.

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Related Article Editorial

Blood Oil Importing Russian oil is pouring blood on troubled waters. Its time to act The Herald's View Editorial Peter Khoury, a spokesman for the NRMA motoring body, said he would be shocked if any new restrictions on Indian fuel cargoes had a noticeable impact at the pump. I dont think there would be much outrage if the government were to enforce harder sanctions, he said. We know that the Australian population is not supportive of Russias decision to invade, and the impact on our prices is likely to be negligible. Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said buying petrol and diesel refined from Russian oil was not just an economic choice, but a moral one. The blood of Ukrainian men, women, and children stains the fuel that ends up in the tanks of Australian cars, he wrote on social media last month.

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Myroshnychenko this week stepped up calls for the Albanese government to immediately require three of the biggest Australian fuel suppliers  Ampol, BP and Viva  to guarantee that the products they were sourcing and importing were free of Russian oil. In a statement, Viva said none of the crude oil it processed into fuels at its Geelong refinery came from Russia. About 1 per cent of its refined fuel imports were from India in the past year, and it had no Indian fuel imports scheduled to arrive, it said. Our governance and risk management procedures ensure that we continually monitor and promptly adapt to any chances in sanctions regulations to maintain strict compliance, Viva said. Ampol and BP, however, declined to say whether or how much of their fuel came from Indian refiners. Ampol said it was in talks with suppliers and government officials about levels of assurances and solutions to ensure it continued to comply with laws and sanctions across its supply chains. Ampol remains deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the profound impact it is having on Ukraines people, a spokesperson said.

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BP said it took compliance with sanctions and export controls seriously, and conducted appropriate checks on trading counterparties and the documents they used to demonstrate the origin of products. Loading Oil traders are reporting that Indian refiners are increasing purchases of crude oil from the Middle East for December and January deliveries as US and EU sanctions put them under mounting pressure to replace more of their Russian intake with alternative supplies. Reliance Industries, the owner of Indias giant Jamnagar refinery, which ships fuel to Australia, this week said it would stop using Russian crude oil for its exported products from December. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessMarketsDrones Opinion Crash and burn: How Australias $6b drone-killer lost the plot Colin Kruger Senior business reporter November 22, 2025  2:00am

November 22, 2025  2:00am Save 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

The dash for trash is a well-known investing phenomenon that marks the euphoric phase of any market boom and bubble. This year it has aptly described the rotation out of blue-chip stocks to what can best be described as lower-quality players that have lacked certain basics like positive cash flow and earnings. Droneshields shares have plunged after chief executive Oleg Vornik sold all of his shares in the company. Chris Fowler As hedge fund rock star John Hempton told investors recently via a newsletter from Bronte Capital: We used to think really intense sell the good stuff to buy junk events  at least on any scale  were rare. He cited the 1969 sharemarket frenzy and the 2000 dotcom mania as two such events.

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Alas we have now had two of these total junk rallies in five years. We dont really have an explanation, other than that for a variety of reasons the world has got crazier. At the time he wrote those words, Droneshield was about to peak with a $6 billion valuation pumped with a blizzard of ASX announcements on its multimillion dollar sales contracts with governments and defence departments around the world. Related Article Aviation Welcome to the era of the affordable cruise missile As chief executive Oleg Vornik boasted on a podcast in October: Were the only listed counter-drone company in the world. The Ukraine war elevated drones from annoying kids toys to a legitimate industrial military complex must-have. The recent closures of European airports due to rogue actors with drones only serves to underline the point.

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It helps explain why a company which had only just broken even in June this year, and reported revenue of $57.5 million for the 2024 financial year ending December 31, was trading at 100 times that revenue figure by October. It makes Nvidia look like a staid property trust. It was too good to last, and investors have now lost $4 billion in just six spectacular weeks to prove it. The early declines may reflect some of the froth blowing off the stock with some big fund managers selling down their stakes. But the real fun began earlier this month when Droneshield achieved $200 million of revenue over a 12-month period and more than 44 million performance options handed to staff with a market value of around $180 million at that time. Around half of these options ended up in the hands of CEO Vornik, his chairman Peter James and fellow director and retail guru Jethro Marks.

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Droneshield may take years to recover from what happened next. Within days, the trio converted their options into shares and sold every single share they owned while spruiking to investors that Droneshield has the brightest of futures. We  look forward to maximising performance for the remainder of this record year, and building a strong foundation for 2026 and beyond, Vornik said in the ASX release announcing the vesting of his options. DroneShield is supplying its counter-drone technology to Ukraine. The day after directors notices were posted to the ASX awarding them their options, the trio began selling shares which were then worth $66 million, with zero warning to their faithful investors. You can imagine the investor panic when these sales notices hit the ASX and investors realised their chairman and CEO had sold all their shares with no explanation.

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The only question was: What do they know that we dont? The company still has not offered a satisfactory explanation for the sales, but the board has had other dumpster fires to deal with. To make matters worse, Vornik, James and Marks were selling their shares just as Droneshield announced another multimillion dollar deal with the US government. It was retracted within hours when executives realised they had actually re-announced an earlier deal. It may explain why Droneshields US chief executive, Matt McCrann, resigned with immediate effect this week, which triggered a fresh share meltdown. On Friday, shares dropped as much as 12 per cent amid reports a conference call scheduled with investors on Thursday  to shore up market support  was cancelled at the last minute in a perfect illustration of what a shambles the place is.

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The most astonishing thing is that investors who bought in at the start of the year have still doubled their money. But Droneshield has shredded any credibility it has as a trusted corporate player, and we have yet to hear from the corporate watchdog on what it is making of this mess. At this stage, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission says it is aware of the matter and will continue to monitor the situation in line with our normal processes. And keep in mind that its customers are governments and military departments that need to deal with credible and transparent vendors. Copenhagen Airport was shut down in September this year amid a drone attack with alleged Russian involvement. Bloomberg

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Mind you, the mind-boggling share sale should not have been a complete surprise. Editor's pick Opinion

Healthcare More casualties expected as ailing Healthscope prepares for sale Colin Kruger Senior business reporter It is a repeat of the same stunt this Droneshield troika pulled last year when the company was just a modestly successful tech stock sitting way outside the ASX200 universe. As Droneshields last annual report showed, Vornik sold all of his 10 million-plus shares, Marks sold out too. It was chairman James who retained a modest stake. And whatever Vorniks sale says about his loyalty to the company and his (former) fellow shareholders, his ruthless investment savvy may just be a reflection of the industry where he cut his teeth.

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For all the media reporting of the Russian-born Vorniks maths wizardry, he is not the genius behind Droneshields technology. Vornik is a former investment banker who stepped in as one of Droneshields first employees and became the finance boss before stepping up as CEO. If anyone knows when your financial market luck is stretched too thin, it is Vornik. Now he just needs to learn the art of keeping faith with investors and clients. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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On Monday night in Belem, Brazil, the mood among the Australian contingent at the United Nations climate talks was high. Earlier in the day, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen had appeared at an event, talking up the Australian bid to host next years talks, COP31, in Adelaide. Turkey was also fiercely bidding for the rights. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Matt Willis Let me make it clear  were not going anywhere, Bowen had said. Its the fight weve got to have because it is very much in Australias interests, and I believe in the worlds interest, having Australia as the president of COP31. That night, he held drinks for Australian diplomats, civil society and business delegations. Normally, this is done off-site, but options were limited in the Amazonian city, so this year it was held in the Australian pavilion in the UNs blue zone, the heart of the sprawling COP campus.

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Catering for the venue had been cancelled by the hosts, so the Australians made do with chips and Brazil nuts and toasted their bid on local wines and beer. Related Article Updated

Climate policy Turkey refused to budge, so Australia caved. Why is Albanese still calling it a win? It was clear to all that Turkey had not backed down. But given the overwhelming support Australia had secured within the UN group of nations it shares with Turkey, the support it had from Pacific island states, and the practical work that had already begun, the crowd believed the bid would succeed. That positive spirit curdled overnight. The Australians in Brazil woke to reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said back home that if Turkey did not fold, Australia would not block it as host. Many on the ground in Belem were stunned. Under UN rules, if the group of nations whose turn it is to select a host cannot come to a consensus agreement, hosting duties revert to the UNs climate headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

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The Australians, who were not authorised to speak publicly, saw Albaneses comments as an unnecessary concession to Turkey before the clock had run out  an undermining of the effort at worst, incompetent diplomacy at best. The Australians were doing well. They were holding the line. Everyone knows the Turks have a pattern: they fold at the end when they have extracted concessions, said one veteran of the COP process who was in Belem, but not a direct party to negotiations. He said that Australian negotiators would have gone into meetings on Tuesday on the back foot. You cant negotiate without the support of your capital. It is even worse when your capital is effectively briefing against you. It was not until Wednesday in Belem that Bowen made it official, stepping out of ongoing negotiations in the afternoon to explain that Turkey would host, but that he would hold a new position at the Turkish talks as president of negotiations with authority to set the agenda, appoint chairs and leads and prepare the draft decision text.

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A pre-COP meeting would be held in the Pacific and it would be used to direct finance to the small island nations that were to have co-hosted an Australian event. It was a lacklustre end for a bid that had started in 2022 with high hopes of bringing the event to Australia to encourage green investment and focus attention on the countrys decarbonisation efforts at a time when the Biden administration was making climate change a global priority. Its proponents hoped, too, that it would be a boon for Adelaide and that it would offer a boost for Australias diplomatic ties to the Pacific states highly exposed to climate change and who are also being courted by China. Speaking in Perth on the day Bowen conceded Australia would not host COP, Albanese described the deal as an outstanding compromise with Turkey that would still assist the Pacific. Australia, by having the COP presidency for the negotiations, will be in a very strong position, he said.

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It is not a universally shared view. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said, just hours after Bowen had announced Australia had conceded to Turkey, that he had had active discussions with the prime minister and Bowen in the lead-up to Belem, but that he had not found out until the day before the government was preparing to back down. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Anthony Albanese spruiked the COP bid during the federal election campaign. Ben Searcy Photography My last conversation with the prime minister was on Tuesday night and I spoke to Minister Bowen yesterday and it was clear that the position of the Commonwealth was changing, Malinauskas said on Thursday. It was up to his federal Labor counterparts to explain why, he said pointedly. Some federal Labor MPs are angry, too, that Albanese did not do more to support Bowen and they have questioned his decision not to visit Belem, even if there was little prospect of success. They note it follows other instances where Albanese was unwilling to associate himself with a losing cause after the Voice referendum failure, such as backing down on superannuation changes proposed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

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But other MPs welcomed the outcome. They were wary of the domestic political risks of hosting an expensive international conference, which promotes renewable energy, at a time when many Australians are struggling with the cost of living, fuelled in part by rising energy bills. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Even Albaneses friends are impatient with his lack of ambition James Massola Chief political commentator According to an estimate reported by the Australian Financial Review, the cost of hosting the event could reach as high as $2 billion, a figure that prompted some observers to raise their eyebrows as the event hosted by Glasgow in 2021 was estimated to have cost $500 million. And given Turkeys intransigence, the MPs cannot see what Bowen or Albanese could have done differently, given how bad a climate conference orphaned in a German city that did not want to host could have been. When Bowen and his team headed to Belem on Saturday, they knew the negotiations would be tough.

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The mood in the broader Australian delegation might have been upbeat on Monday, but one senior Australian official said that over the weekend Bowen and his core team had been far more circumspect. This was not the case early this year, when Australian officials still thought there was time to elegantly see Turkey to the door. In one notorious example, Turkey had ditched its bid to host COP in 2019 after Britain offered a package of incentives, including advocacy for Turkey to receive climate aid, a promise to host a Turkish investment conference in London and British backing of Turkish candidates for international posts, as Politico reported in May. So intransigent was Turkey this year that close observers of the process began to speculate about other motivations. Was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan motivated by his wife, known to have environmental concerns? Was Turkey acting as a wrecker of the COP process on behalf of Russia, whose war economy depended on fossil fuel sales the climate talks sought to arrest? But as months slipped by, Turkey showed no signs of budging, despite interventions from Australian officials, entreaties from Pacific leaders and finally appeals from Albanese himself.

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The government came to realise that contingency plans were needed. Related Article Political Sketch

Climate crisis Australia beaten by the Turks. Dont mention the war In the wash-up of Australias concession, Bowen put on a brave face. He emphasised that Australias goals of furthering the national and regional interest would still be achieved under this new model. Perhaps, but no one quite knew what authority a president of negotiations would have, given that such a role had never existed before. Indeed, Bowen and the Australian team continued to hammer out the finer points with the Turkish delegation over the following hours. Thats presumably what they were doing on Thursday afternoon when national pavilions caught fire and delegates fled. It could have been really terrible, another of the Australians present said. It turns out there was no public address system, no fire alarms and no fire wardens.

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The fire was extinguished, but by then Australias original bid plan was in ashes. Turkey was seen by many observers as the outright victor. Ankara, which has an NDC/climate plan rated as critically insufficient, will host the summit with the Aussies handed the thankless task of running the negotiations, reported Climate Diplo Brief substack, relied upon for daily updates by many observers not on site. Theyve been absolutely mugged. Aus minister Chris Bowen put a brave face on it but Turkey has done em, hook, line and sinker. Related Article Analysis

Climate policy Australia can win big international bids when it wants. This was an omnishambles Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean, who attended the talks, disagreed. He said he was disappointed, but he said the role that Bowen had crafted was significant. We have the software of the meeting but not the hardware, he said.

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Tennant Reed, who directs the climate change and energy program for the Australian Industry Group, said from Belem that Australia had lost the opportunity to demonstrate to the world its deployment of renewables and to showcase the impacts of climate change on a landscape that is on the frontline. But he agreed that Bowens role at the coming talks could  if managed well  still see Australia help shape the worlds efforts to combat climate change. And he believes that it was Australias respect for the COP process that prompted Albanese and Bowen to blink before Turkey. Now, he says, the diplomats and officials who lost the race are going to have to work out how to make the process work. It is going to take some real diplomacy for Australia and Turkey to build trust now, Reed said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Two neo-Nazis have been charged for threatening federal MPs and another man arrested for targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as the Australian Federal Police warns that threats against politicians have soared to almost 1000 a year. In Victoria, former young Liberal and neo-Nazi Stefan Eracleous was charged on Friday with harassing independent senator Lidia Thorpe, allegedly stomping on an Indigenous flag at her office. The charge came a day after Joel Davis, a leader within the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network was arrested in NSW for allegedly calling on supporters to rhetorically rape independent MP Allegra Spender. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been targeted by online harassment. Alex Ellinghausen AFP acting assistant commissioner Matthew Gale on Friday said there had been 951 referrals of threats to federal parliamentarians in the last financial year, rising 63 per cent over the past four years, and it had turned into a significant issue. Davis, 30, was charged with the threat to Spender after she condemned a neo-Nazi march on NSW parliament earlier this month.

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Davis was refused bail by Sydney Local Court on Friday, deemed an unacceptable risk of further offending. The court heard Spender was concerned for the safety of herself and her family. Separately, a 29-year-old man from northern NSW is alleged to have made online threats targeting Albanese, and will face court in January. The AFP said officers seized a gel blaster rifle and ammunition during a raid on a Tamworth home last week, and the man has been charged with harassment as well as the unauthorised possession of a firearm and other weapons offences. We will allege the man used an online website portal to make threatening and harassing comments towards the high office holder, Gale said. There are current and emerging individuals and groups who are eroding our countrys social fabric by advocating hatred, fear and humiliation, and the AFP, once again, is putting them on notice.

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Communications minister Anika Wells declined to comment on cases before the court but said the online world had been a wild west for too long. This has been an unregulated space where too many Australians have found themselves the subject of online harm, Wells said. Related Article Investigation

Extremism An Andrew Tate insider is helping Australian Nazis recruit teens Eracleous was unmasked as a neo-Nazi by this masthead in 2022, after appearing in a video burning the Aboriginal flag that targeted Thorpe with racist slurs. The AFP now allege Eracleous, 32, defaced a flag at Thorpes Melbourne office, which also reported receiving abusive emails and a phone call including hateful and menacing rhetoric. Police said they raided a house in Mernda in Melbournes northeast on Friday and seized electronic devices and offensive material.

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Thorpes office declined to comment, citing the court proceedings. Eracleous was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court next week, but he could face up to five years in prison for the charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. Last year, Eracleous was kicked out of The National Socialist Network by its leader, Thomas Sewell. He did not answer phone calls or emails from this masthead on Friday. The neo-Nazi group is on an aggressive recruitment drive and has been behind a series of recent stunts targeting politicians that include ambushing Albanese and other MPs during the last federal election campaign. NSN leadership claimed on Friday that they have now signed up the 1500 members required for the group to register a federal neo-Nazi political party and plan to contest upcoming state elections in NSW and Victoria too. This masthead recently revealed how a close friend of misogynist influencer Andrew Tate is helping the NSN flood social media with Tate-style propaganda to draw in young men.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday it has authorized the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips, the equivalent of up to 35,000 Nvidia Blackwell chips, to two companies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The companies, G42, which is a state-run AI company based in Abu Dhabi, and Humain, which is a Saudi government-backed AI venture, have big data center projects planned in their respective countries.

The announcement coincided with the first visit to the U.S. by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since 2018, and represents a big show of support by the U.S. in the two countries AI aspirations.

"Both companies are receiving approvals to purchase the equivalent of up to 35,000 Nvidia Blackwell chips (GB300s)," the Commerce Department said in a statement. A total of 35,000 Blackwell's are worth an estimated $1 billion, but prices vary.

"The approvals are conditioned on both companies meeting rigorous security and reporting requirements," the Commerce Department said.

Earlier in the day Humain, a government-backed Saudi AI firm, said it planned to purchase of 600,000 Nvidia AI chips.

Humain and Elon Musk's xAI plan to jointly develop data centers in Saudi Arabia, including a 500 megawatt facility.

The UAE hailed the decision as "another milestone" in its partnership with the U.S.

"The authorization follows sustained engagement between both governments and reflects the confidence that underpins our collaboration in advanced technology and national security," UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba said in a statement.

G42, an Emirati state-linked tech firm that is driving the development of its artificial intelligence industry, intends to build one of the world's largest data center hubs in the United Arab Emirates with U.S. technology.

Technology giants Nvidia, OpenAI, Cisco, and Oracle, along with Japan's SoftBank are working with G42 to build the first phase, known as Stargate UAE, set to go online in 2026.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Chris Sanders in Washington; Additional reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Chris Reese and Stephen Coates)
Bulgaria has been hard hit by US sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil (Nikolay DOYCHINOV)

By taking over the Balkan's largest refinery from Lukoil, Bulgaria has for now avoided punishing US sanctions against the Russian oil giant, which enter into force on Friday.

But what comes next for the crucial refinery on the outskirts of Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas is uncertain.

- Why has Sofia stepped in? -

On October 22, Washington announced it would impose sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil to stifle the financing of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022.

Among European Union members, Bulgaria took the hardest hit from the measure as it hosts Lukoil's largest refinery in the Balkans. Lukoil has owned the Neftochim plant since 1999.

Bulgarian authorities said the US sanctions would effectively shut the refinery down as all business partners have refused to pay companies sheltered by Lukoil.

In a move aimed at preventing such an outcome, Bulgaria's parliament on November 7 adopted legal changes to place all Lukoil assets in the country under state control.

Last week, the government named senior government official Rumen Spetsov, who was the National Revenue Agency director and is also a former bodybuilding champion, to take control of the refinery.

Just after that, the US Treasury Department issued a license authorising transactions involving certain Lukoil entities in Bulgaria -- including the refinery -- until April 29 next year.

- Why does the refinery matter? -

The Burgas refinery plays a key economic role for Bulgaria. It is the largest company in the poorest EU member with turnover of 4.68 billion euros ($5.39 billion) in 2024.

Lukoil is the dominant force in Bulgaria's wholesale fuel market as well as in sales to end-customers owing to its large network of petrol stations.

Its presence in Bulgaria made it "a key part of Russian influence", said Martin Vladimirov, an expert at the Sofia-based think-tank CSD.

But Lukoil's importance goes well beyond Bulgaria's borders, he added, describing the company as "effectively a market maker for the whole of southeast Europe".

"It is no coincidence that fuel prices in Romania are rising, as the refinery in Bulgaria plays a key role in supplying the Romanian market," Vladimirov told AFP.

And "Romania is a major distribution hub for the region - Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Austria," he added.

- What's next? -

Bulgaria has given free rein to administrator Spetsov to sell the refinery with the government's consent.

The US has set a December 13 deadline to find a buyer, with the potential contract subject to Washington's approval.
Beware of BlackRock and its ilk.

If the worlds largest asset managers continue to accumulate Ether, Ethereums native cryptocurrency, at unprecedented rates, the network will face two key existential threats, according to Vitalik Buterin.

Buterin spoke at a panel at the Funding the Commons side event at Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires alongside computer scientist Roger Dingledine, who co-founded the privacy software Tor Project .

During the talk, attended by DL News, Buterin laid out how institutional capture could fundamentally break what makes Ethereum valuable.

How do you avoid capture by big behemoths like BlackRock? Dingledine asked Buterin, referencing the flood of institutional interest following BlackRocks Ethereum ETF launch.

Buterins answer was blunt. Institutional influence creates two specific risks that could destroy Ethereums core purpose.

The nine Wall Street firms that offer Ethereum exchange-traded funds now hold over $18 billion in Ether, while treasury companies hold an additional $18 billion on their balance sheets.

Analysts, moreover, forecast that institutions could hold more than 10% of Ethereums entire supply in the near-term.

But Buterin sees danger in that type of success.

Indeed, since the arrival of Wall Street behemoths, Ethereum has faced a fundamental tension. Institutional money brings legitimacy and capital. But it also brings pressure to optimise for institutional needs  not the permissionless, censorship-resistant values that made Ethereum exciting to build on in the first place.

Threat one: driving people away

The first risk is pretty straightforward.

When BlackRock and other institutions gain too much influence, they alienate the people who actually care about decentralisation.

It easily drives other people away, Buterin said.

The core community and builders who spent years developing Ethereums infrastructure dont want to build for Wall Street. They want to build transparent, permissionless systems, he explained.

If Ethereum becomes primarily a tool for institutional finance, those builders could get up and leave. And without them, Ethereum loses the technical expertise and ideological commitment that keeps it decentralised.

Threat two: wrong technical choices

Theres a second, more concrete, threat.

Institutional pressure leads to technical decisions that could break Ethereums accessibility.

Their existence easily leads to the wrong kinds of choices on the base layer, said Buterin, who offered up an example: 150-millisecond block times. Faster blocks sound great for high-frequency trading and institutional applications, but they create impossible constraints for ordinary users.
Volkswagen Group has scaled back planned spending on its India electric vehicle (EV) platform, reported Bloomberg, citing sources.

The company is also looking for a domestic partner to share costs and risk. Earlier in 2024, negotiations with Mahindra & Mahindra had collapsed.

Volkswagens Indian unit has reduced expenditure on the EV platform development to about $700m from the earlier target of around $1bn.

The company did not provide a response to queries regarding the reported cost reduction.

After a presence of nearly 20 years in India, Volkswagen has secured only about 2% market share and is reluctant to commit further capital without a partnership structure in place, as per the unnamed sources.

Identifying a local partner is seen as important for unlocking additional internal funding.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, a subsidiary of the company, is said to be in talks with several potential partners, which includes a local contract manufacturer.

The group has also held conversations with JSW Group, the Indian partner of Chinas SAIC Motor, to examine possible cooperation.

The discussion with JSW was previously reported on Indian media publications including Moneycontrol.

Stricter domestic carbon-emission rules are expected to take effect from 2027, pushing automakers towards lower-emission and electric models.

With Volkswagens first EV not anticipated before 2028, the group is evaluating interim measures, including importing electric models if a trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) makes such a move viable.

The cutback in India is said to signal increasing caution among international automakers as they balance capital deployment across India, China and Western markets.

Skoda Auto chairman Klaus Zellmer has previously described India as the companys most important market outside Europe, but the groups efforts over two decades and investments have yet to translate into a larger share of the country.

The Skoda brands compact SUV Kylaq, produced in India and positioned at lower price points, has been gaining some traction among local buyers, highlighted Bloomberg.

The vehicle was launched last year in November.

Many European brands have found it difficult to achieve sustainable profitability in Indias highly costsensitive market.

Domestic manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors hold a strong position in the market, driven by their portfolio of relatively low-cost, fuel-efficient models.

"Volkswagen trims India EV investment, seeks local collaborator  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
Belcarra Tidy Towns Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) recently hosted a climate awareness through art exhibition as a follow-up to a climate-themed art competition held in Belcarra National School. The initiative forms a key component of Belcarras Energy Master Plan (EMP), currently being developed with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The competition showcased the creativity and environmental awareness of local students, with seven prizes awarded and a total prize fund of 300. As a lasting celebration of the childrens work, three winning artworks will be printed, laminated, and permanently displayed along Belcarras riverside walk, creating a public visual reminder of the communitys commitment to climate action.

The exhibition also featured energy information stands from SEAI, Westquay Energy, Churchfield Home Services, and Laurence OReilly, the consultant leading the development of Belcarras EMP. These stands provided residents with practical information on home energy upgrades and available grants.

Belcarra SEC has been awarded 20,000 in funding from SEAI to prepare its EMP, which will outline opportunities for energy savings, renewable energy generation, and long-term sustainability for the community. The final plan is expected to be launched next year.

Speaking at the event, Mary Prendergast, Chair of the Belcarra Tidy Towns SEC, expressed her gratitude:

We are delighted with the enthusiasm shown by the students, the school, and the wider community. This exhibition not only highlights the creativity of our young people but also encourages important conversations around energy and climate action.

Belcarra Tidy Towns SEC extends a sincere thank you to Belcarra National School, the SEC committee, and the Tidy Towns committee for their invaluable support in making the event a success.
A family living near Ballyhaunis has been waiting four years to be seen by a local GP, highlighting what appears to be a widespread challenge in Ballyhaunis.

When we first moved to Ballyhaunis we rang around a few GPs in the wider area, like Castlerea, Knock, Claremorris, Castlebar. They all said they were full. That was early 2021, explained Taylor Crowshaw who moved to a property her and her husband purchased and renovated in Coogue South.

In the meantime, Taylor and her husband drive to Cavan, where they lived for 30 years, to see their previous GP.

Its a days journey up and down, says Taylor.

But aside from the journey she worries what happens when her husband  hes 75 now and in good health - is no longer able to drive. Likewise, shes worried what will happen when her doctor in Cavan retires.

I phone a lot of GPs and the answer is just no, no space. I ask can you not just see me once as an emergency? But they send me to the out-of-hours doctor in Knock.

Follow-up care for a bile duct operation was difficult, explained Taylor. Likewise, they had to cope without a local GP when her husband had a stroke at the end of 2021.

Thankfully hes okay he got great care at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) but we werent able to get a GP.

Referrals for visits to MUH had to be done through the GP in Cavan.

We have also had to go to Cavan to get a scan.

Several other Ballyhaunis-based people suggested they have also struggled to find a local GP, with several relying on Mayo University Hospital for medical needs. Others meanwhile explained theyd secured access to a local GP through local Irish connections.

An Eastern European factory worker said an Irish friend two years ago secured him access to a Ballyhaunis GP with whom he had a good relationship.

Since that time I have brought my wife and children to Ballyhaunis but I still go to that local doctor, anytime I need to I make an appointment and pay 60.

Similarly, a resident of the local IPAS centre explained how his local employer had prevailed on a local doctor to see him, his wife and three children.

Separately a Ballyhaunis native explained how his local GP agreed as a favour to me to see a Ukrainian native with a recurring medical problem.

The doctor continues to see him, he said.

A retired medic explained there are a range of factors behind the shortage of GP places. The number of doctors operating in Ballyhaunis has stayed largely constant compared to earlier decades, he noted.

However, their workload has increased significantly as the population ages and various government health programmes put new duties on local doctors.

While acknowledging the increase in the local population - and the greater longevity of the population - the retired medic also explained that peoples expectations from a medical practice have increased.

People bring more things to a doctor. Theres also heightened expectations from the medication as to what the outcome should be. Preventative medication has become more important. Therefore, the amount of work per person or patient seen has increased.

Another factor complicating the future of rural medical services is the reluctance among younger doctors to take on a medical practice, said the retired medic.

They want a job [in a hospital] or they want to join an existing practice. But someone has to take responsibility for running a practice.
Best of luck to the Westport Mothers & Others' who are having a trip of a lifetime.

Ireland West Airport Knock pictured the squad before they flew out to Malaga yesterday for some warm weather training ahead of a big blitz this weekend.

The airport said, "Enjoy the weekend, players and management - you wont miss the cold weather here!"
There's a particular grimness to discovering that Ireland has developed its own strain of far-right extremism. Small groups have emerged, adopting the trappings of Irish republicanism - the manifestos, the hierarchies, the oaths of allegiance, even plans to drape themselves in the Tricolour. The irony would be almost comedic if it weren't so sinister: appropriating the symbols of Irish struggle while targeting the very people who care for elderly Irish citizens in nursing homes.

What's notable about some of these groups is their operational discipline. Unlike the usual keyboard warriors who broadcast their every grievance online, certain cells have maintained virtually no digital footprint, suggesting a level of organisation that security services are taking extremely seriously.

The counterpoint remains stark: at the very moment immigrant care workers were being celebrated at awards ceremonies in Dublin for their dedication to Irish elderly citizens, acts of violence were being directed at asylum accommodation elsewhere in the country. While Filipino, Indian and Spanish workers spoke movingly about their pride in caring for those who built Ireland, others were attempting to drive those same communities out through intimidation and arson.

The contrast tells you everything about where we've arrived as a nation.

But there's an uncomfortable truth that tends to get lost between the celebrating and the firebombing: a great many ordinary Irish people, who wouldn't dream of lighting a match in anger, are genuinely worried about what's happening in our country. And dismissing those concerns as mere bigotry wrapped in respectability is precisely how you get ten deluded men in a minibus planning domestic terrorism.

Ireland took in over 21,000 asylum applications in a recent 12-month period. For a country of five million, that's not a rounding error. It's equivalent to Denmark's 2015 crisis, which sent that country careening from Scandinavian openness to something approaching a fortress mentality. Communities across Ireland have seen the emergence of accommodation centres with minimal consultation and inadequate infrastructure to support them. Housing lists that were already biblically long got longer, while school places that were already scarce became scarcer. These aren't imaginary problems conjured by conspiracy theorists but real pressures on existing systems that were creaking before anyone mentioned immigration.

iThe question isn't whether these concerns exist; the question is whether they are valid. They are. The question is how a mature democracy addresses them without either surrendering to the mob or pretending the mob has no legitimate grievances whatsoever.

Denmark serves as an instructive example here, though the lesson is more complex than simply condemning or emulating it.

Denmark was, until recently, the poster child for Scandinavian openness. Then 2015 happened, and everything changed. The country looked around, discovered ethnic enclaves with unemployment rates that would make inner-city Dublin blush, and promptly declared war on immigration with the zeal of a convert denouncing their former faith. Advertisements in Lebanese newspapers. Plans to ship refugees to Rwanda. Mandatory integration measures. The stated aim was "zero asylum seekers".

Denmark is notable not just for the unprecedented severity of the response but also for the Machiavellian political mechanics of its governing parties. The right-wing Danish People's Party had gained considerable ground, a rise unthinkable a decade earlier, but instead of opposing this movement on principle, the mainstream parties - including the centre-left Social Democrats - adopted the platform wholesale. They outflanked the more radical right by becoming them and the Danish People's Party's vote share subsequently collapsed in a whimper.

We may call it cynical opportunism or shrewd politics - the interpretation depends largely on your stomach for democratic realities. Denmark's politicians looked at what voters were actually thinking and made a calculation: pretending the problem didn't exist wasn't going to cut it. Neither was wagging fingers at people for having the wrong sort of concerns. So they didn't. They chose to govern according to what voters actually wanted, not what progressive elements and a strident Brussels thought they should want. The welfare state they'd built depended on social cohesion and broad public support. Uncontrolled immigration threatened both. So they controlled immigration.

Whether this was wise or monstrous depends mainly on where you sit. But it unquestionably defused a political crisis that was threatening to put a more radical party into power.

Which brings us back to Ireland and Simon Harris announcing that there were "too many migrants" - a statement that sent half the country nodding in relief and the other half reaching for their fainting couches.

Harris had probably seen the political writing on the Dail walls and realised the odds were against him, politically and arithmetically. Ireland's creaking infrastructure, which includes housing, health, and education, can barely cope with the people already dependent on their services.

Continually piling on additional demand without expanding capacity is not a compassionate policy, it's blinkered thinking masquerading as competence. You can be pro-immigration and still acknowledge that absorbing large numbers of people requires planning, resources, and crucially, public consent.

at the very moment immigrant care workers were being celebrated at awards ceremonies in Dublin, acts of violence were being directed at asylum accommodation elsewhere in Ireland. Illustration: Conor McGuire

The failure of Irish governments, successive ones across multiple parties, has been in trying to maintain an effectively open borders policy without building the infrastructure to support it or preparing the public for the change. They've treated mass immigration as something that just happens, like weather, rather than a policy choice requiring democratic legitimacy. Then they act shocked when people get angry.

The danger - and it's a real one - is that acknowledging public concern can slide into validating more extreme viewpoints. There's a difference between saying "we need to manage immigration better" and "too many migrants", though Harris probably doesn't appreciate the distinction. The former is policy. The latter is rhetoric that the men with petrol bombs hear as vindication.

Ciaran O'Connor at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue warns that politicians must be careful with their language. They have agenda-setting power. Careless remarks about migration can inflame sentiment that manifests in violence. This is true. But it's equally valid that refusing to acknowledge genuine concerns - dismissing everyone worried about immigration as racist or thick - creates the very resentment that more extremist elements exploit.

The cruel paradox is that Ireland desperately needs qualified immigrants as our many nursing homes are staffed by carers from the Philippines, Spain, and India while our healthcare system relies heavily on doctors and nurses from around the world. That unsuspecting Indian care worker at the Mansion House, speaking about the pride of looking after those who built Ireland, wasn't just being sentimental; he was describing our economic reality.

But processing immigrants possessed of necessary skills and identification in an orderly fashion and managing undocumented immigration effectively are two different things. You can support continued immigration while questioning the pace and the mechanisms and you can welcome newcomers while encouraging them to integrate into Irish society rather than forming parallel communities. You can be pro-refugee without pretending that every asylum application is equally valid or ignoring the reality that the system is being exploited.

It may be anti-EU but Denmark's model offers one path by acknowledging public anxiety, implementing strict controls, and calmly watch as the opposition deflates. The uncalculated cost is that you become the thing you were trying to prevent, just with better table manners. But the alternative is to court disaster - ignoring legitimate concerns while hoping extremism doesn't take root hasn't exactly covered itself in glory either.

Extremism in Ireland might be contained at the moment, but the conditions that produced it remain. Young men don't join terrorist cells because everything's going swimmingly. They join because they're angry, frightened, and convinced that nobody in authority gives a damn about their concerns. Sometimes they're right about that last part, even if their response is monstrous.

Ireland needs a conversation about immigration that doesn't begin and end with either "borders are racist" or "Ireland for the Irish". Perhaps we need to discuss numbers, integration, infrastructure, and cultural change honestly. That means acknowledging that rapid demographic transformation is unsettling for many people, not because they're bigots but because humans are generally suspicious of rapid change. It also means distinguishing firmly between those seeking reasonable policy adjustments and those plotting arson.

The Danish approach may have worked, to some extent. The more extremist elements lost their purchase. Denmark recognised its native population as meriting priority but perhaps lost some of its liberality in the process. The question for Ireland is whether we can find a third way: addressing genuine concerns about immigration while refusing to surrender either our compassion or our common sense. It's a narrow path between capitulation and catastrophe.

So far, we're not walking it particularly well.
With a market cap of $13.5 billion, Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) is a global pizza company operating through U.S. Stores, International Franchise, and Supply Chain segments with both company-owned and franchised locations. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it offers pizzas and a wide range of complementary menu items under the Dominos brand.

Shares of Domino's Pizza have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. DPZ stock has fallen 9.1% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 12.3%. Moreover, shares of the company have declined 4.8% on a YTD basis, compared to SPXs 12.9% gain.

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Focusing more closely, shares of the pizza chain have lagged behind the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLY) 4.2% rise over the past 52 weeks

www.barchart.com

Dominos Pizza shares rose 3.9% on Oct. 14 as the company posted Q3 2025 EPS of $4.08 and revenue of $1.15 billion, both ahead of analyst forecasts. The stock gained further support from strong U.S. same-store sales growth of 5.2%, beating expectations of 4.0%. Investors also reacted positively to the success of value-driven promotions like the $9.99 pizza deal, new menu items, and the continued boost from its DoorDash partnership.

For the fiscal year ending in December 2025, analysts expect Domino's Pizzas EPS to rise 5.3% year-over-year to $17.57. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing on two other occasions.

Among the 30 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Thats based on 16 Strong Buy ratings, one Moderate Buy, 11 Holds, and two Strong Sells.

www.barchart.com

This configuration is slightly more bullish than three months ago, with 15 Strong Buy ratings on the stock.

On Oct. 15, BofA increased its price target on Dominos Pizza to $536 and reiterated a Buy rating.

The mean price target of $500.53 represents a premium of 25.2% to DPZ's current price. The Street-high price target of $597 suggests a 49.4% potential upside.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny, windy, and cold with wind chills in the teens and 20s all day. West winds will gust 25-35mph. A few lake-effect snow showers are possible north of I-78 in the afternoon and evening, especially in the Poconos. .

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, and brisk. Wind chills in the teens overnight.
With a market cap of $22.7 billion, Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, offering over 25,000 products from around 500 established and emerging brands. The company operates stores with full-service salons and sells products through its website and mobile applications.

Shares of the beauty products retailer have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. ULTA stock has surged 45.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 12.3%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 14.4% on a YTD basis, compared to SPXs 12.9% increase.

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Narrowing the focus, shares of the Bolingbrook, Illinois-based company have outpaced the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLY) 4.2% rise over the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

Despite reporting better-than-expected Q2 2025 profit of $5.78 per share and revenue of $2.79 billion on Aug. 28, shares of ULTA tumbled 7.1% the next day as the companys operating margin fell to 12.4%, SG&A expenses jumped 15.0% to $741.7 million, and inventories surged 20.5% to $2.4 billion while the company also added $289.1 million in short-term debt to fund the Space NK acquisition. In addition, management warned of uncertain consumer demand in the second half of the year, while raising full-year EPS guidance to $23.85$24.30.

For the fiscal year ending in January 2026, analysts expect ULTAs EPS to decrease 3.8% year-over-year to $24.37. However, the companys earnings surprise history is promising. It beat the consensus estimates in the last four quarters.

Among the 25 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Thats based on 12 Strong Buy ratings, two Moderate Buys, 10 Holds, and one Strong Sell.

www.barchart.com

This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, with 10 Strong Buy ratings on the stock.

On Aug. 29, UBS analyst Michael Lasser maintained a Buy rating on Ulta Beauty and raised the price target to $680.

The mean price target of $589.48 represents an 18.5% premium to ULTAs current price levels. The Street-high price target of $680 suggests a 36.7% potential upside.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Redwood City, California-based Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) is a data center real estate investment trust (REIT) that provides highly interconnected colocation and digital infrastructure solutions to enterprises, cloud providers, and network operators. Valued at a market cap of $76.5 billion, the company operates a global platform of carrier-neutral facilities that support reliable, secure, and scalable data exchange across markets.

Shares of this specialty REIT have considerably lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. EQIX has declined 14.3% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 12.3%. Moreover, on a YTD basis, the stock is down 17.4%, compared to SPXs 12.5% uptick.

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Narrowing the focus, EQIXs underperformance looks even more pronounced when compared to the Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETFs (DTCR) 19.2% uptick over the past 52 weeks and 23.4% YTD rise

www.barchart.com

Equinix released its Q3 results on Oct. 29, and its shares climbed 4.4% in the following trading session. Due to robust growth in recurring revenues, the companys total revenue improved 5.2% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, meeting consensus estimates. Moreover, its AFFO per share of $9.83 increased by a notable 8.6% from the year-ago quarter, surpassing consensus estimates by 6.2%. Additionally, EQIX raised its fiscal 2025 adjusted EBITDA and AFFO per share guidance, further bolstering investor confidence. It now expects adjusted EBITDA in the range of $4.5 billion to $4.6 billion, and projects AFFO per share to be between $37.95 and $38.77.

For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect EQIXs FFO per share to decline 2.9% year over year to $34.01. The companys FFO surprise history is promising. It topped the consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters.

Among the 30 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy, which is based on 21 Strong Buy, three "Moderate Buy, and six "Hold ratings.

www.barchart.com

This configuration is slightly less bullish than a month ago, with 22 analysts suggesting a Strong Buy rating.

On Nov. 10, Andy Yu CFA from DBS maintained a "Buy" rating on EQIX, with a price target of $1,218, the Street-high price target, indicating an ambitious 56.3% potential upside from the current levels.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) is one of the cheap US stocks to buy according to analysts. On November 18, Wells Fargo analyst Trey Bowers initiated coverage of Norwegian Cruise Line with an Overweight rating with a price target of $30. This sentiment was announced as Bowers believes that the company is positioned to achieve sustained double-digit earnings growth over the next several years.

After the release of the companys Q3 2025 earnings report, the companys share price declined. Wells Fargo considers this decline a favorable buying opportunity for investors.

Wells Fargo Initiates Coverage on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) with Overweight Rating, $30 PT

In the Q3 earnings report, the company set a record for the highest quarterly revenue, which was driven by robust consumer demand. This revenue totaled $2.94 billion, growing by 4.69% year-over-year. The companys bottom-line results exceeded guidance, and adjusted EPS came in at $1.20, which was $0.06 higher than the guidance.

Norwegian Cruise Line focused on attracting more families, which contributed to the higher load factors, but this shift led to some dilution in blended pricing due to more children in cabins. Building on this momentum, the company also raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $2.10, which is a 19% year-over-year increase.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.

While we acknowledge the potential of NCLH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
New exhibition at WAM: Intersections: Bill Ainslie and the Johannesburg Art Foundation

When: Tuesday, 25 November 2025 Where: Wits Art Museum

Start time: 18:00 Enquiries: Julia.Charlton@wits.ac.za

Book launch at WAM: Bill Ainslie, South African Artist and Cultural Catalyst.

You are invited to the launch of Sophia Ainslies book Bill Ainslie, South African Artist and Cultural Catalyst at WAM on Tuesday 2 December 2025, at 18:00 for 18:30. The book contains contributions from a wide range of artists, affiliates, writers, poets and supporters, whose memories and experiences pay tribute to Bill Ainslies life and legacy. Internationally renowned artist and Johannesburg Art Foundation affiliate William Kentridge will join Sofia Ainslie to discuss the books contribution to South African art history by examining Bill Ainslies painting practice, teaching philosophy, and his enduring legacy as founder of the Johannesburg Art Foundation. Museum hours: Tuesday  Saturday, 10:00  16:00 Entrance is free and all are welcome.
Key Points

401(k)s offer fewer investment options than IRAs.

You typically can't withdraw your funds before age 59 1/2 without penalty.

You may do better by spreading your money across several retirement accounts.

The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook 

It's hard to imagine any downside to putting $23,500 in your 401(k) in 2025. That amount of money could seriously improve your retirement readiness, especially if it has a few decades to grow before you need to use your funds.

But, like a lot of things, maxing out your 401(k) is a bit of a double-edged sword. Before deciding whether it's worth doing, it's helpful to understand how the drawbacks could affect you today and in the future.

Image source: Getty Images.

Lack of investment flexibility

When you put money into your 401(k), you limit yourself to the pool of investment options your employer makes available to you. Sometimes, these are fine. Other times, you might have to choose between expensive or ill-suited investment options that hamper the growth of your savings or force you to take on too much risk.

While you can ask your employer to add new investment options if you don't like what's available to you, it doesn't have to comply. And once you've added money to your 401(k), your employer may not permit you to roll it over to an IRA while you're still an employee. Each company sets its own rules about this.

Before investing in your 401(k), review your investment options to ensure they're a good fit for you. If not, you may want to save just enough in your 401(k) to get your employer match. Then, switch to an IRA. These accounts give you greater freedom to invest your money how you'd like. This can help you keep fees down, which may enable your savings to grow more quickly.

IRAs have lower contribution limits compared to 401(k)s, though. You can only set aside up to $7,000 in one in 2025, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older. These limits will rise to $7,500 and $8,600, respectively, in 2026. So you may need to switch back to your 401(k) once you hit these limits.

Access limitations

401(k)s are tax-advantaged retirement plans, and they're subject to IRS rules about when you can take money out of your account. Typically, you must wait until you're at least 59 1/2 to withdraw your money. Otherwise, you'll pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty on top of income taxes if the money comes from a traditional 401(k).

You can avoid the early withdrawal penalty if you meet one of the following criteria:
Wheat futures are trading with Thursday morning gains in the winter wheats and steady action in the spring wheat market. The wheat complex is showing weakness across the three exchanges at midday. Chicago SRW futures were 9 to 10 cents lower on Wednesday. Preliminary open interest dropped 2,240 contracts KC HRW futures settled 10 to 11 1/4 cents in the red. OI was down 5,419 contracts on Wednesday. MPLS spring wheat futures were down 1 to 3 cents at the close on Wednesday. Talks of a possible peace deal with Ukraine and Russia were adding pressure.

Rain is expected to fall across much of Southern Plains over the next week, extending over to parts of SRW country. Totals are heaviest in TX, OK, and AR, with 4 to 6 inches expected and other totals over an inch.

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Census trade data was delayed due to the shutdown but tallied a total of 2.69 MMT of wheat shipped in August. That was the highest total in 9 years for the month and a 16.81% increase from last year.

Export Sales data will be released on Thursday showing data for the week of 10/2. Analysts are looking for between 350,000 and 600,000 MT in wheat sales.

Delayed Commitment of Traders data showed specs adding 1,474 contracts to their net short in CBT wheat by September 30 to 99,209 contracts. In KC wheat, they were adding 3,569 contracts to 53,873 contracts net short.

Saudi Arabia issued a tender to buy 300.000 MT of wheat with offers due on Friday.

Dec 25 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.36 3/4, down 9 3/4 cents, currently up 4 cents

Mar 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.49 1/2, down 9 1/2 cents, currently up 3 1/4 cents

Dec 25 KCBT Wheat closed at $5.15 1/2, down 10 3/4 cents, currently up 1 1/4 cents

Mar 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $5.31 3/4, down 11 1/4 cents, currently up 1 1/2 cents

Dec 25 MGEX Wheat closed at $5.81 1/4, down 1 1/2 cents, currently unch

Mar 26 MGEX Wheat closed at $5.86 3/4, down 2 1/4 cents, currently up 1/4 cent

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
From left, Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., Hanan El-Atr Khashoggi, the widow of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., hold a news conference as they call on President Donald Trump to release the transcript of a call he had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Khashoggi's killing, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Offshore oil and gas platform Esther is seen from Seal Beach, California, in January.
A truck driver secures a heavy machinery prior to transporting it at the Port of Long Beach, California, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

California officials announced this month that they will revoke more than 17,000 commercial drivers licenses issued to immigrants after determining that the state should never have granted them under a state law that barred noncitizens without federal work authorization from holding commercial credentials.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles sent out notices on November 6. Drivers will have 60 days to respond before their licenses are canceled, and many may lose their jobs immediately afterward. The move affects workers throughout transportation, logistics and agriculture, including long haul truckers who have held these licenses for years.

The DMV said it discovered the technical limitations in its system after an internal audit and consultation with federal regulators who warned the state that the licenses were not compliant with federal requirements.

At the same time, the Trump administration is imposing new federal rules that would sharply reduce the number of immigrant commercial truck drivers, especially in California.

Under the pretext of public safety, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is moving to bar refugees, asylum seekers and DACA recipients from holding or renewing commercial licenses, rules that would immediately threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands of drivers in California alone. Roughly 8 percent of the states 720,000 active commercial licenses (about 61,000) are held by workers in these categories. Nationwide, this would potentially affect 194,000 workers.

The administration is simultaneously escalating enforcement against drivers with limited English proficiency. These moves are being timed for rapid implementation, potentially as early as January, with the clear intent of pushing immigrant workers out of one of the states most essential industries.

Behind the scenes, the new rules are being enforced through coercion. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to strip California of $160 million in federal highway safety funding, with an additional $40 million at risk over claims the state is failing to enforce English-language requirements.

The DOT claims to have conducted a nationwide audit of state licensing systems, yet has published findings only for California, a politically convenient target as the administration escalates its anti-immigrant agenda.

Even the DOT concedes there is insufficient evidence that immigrant drivers pose any unique risk, exposing the administrations narrative as a deliberate effort to scapegoat workers while ignoring the real causes of trucking fatalities, including speedup, overwork and deregulation.

The announcement triggered widespread fear among immigrant communities, already terrorized through months of ICE raids, militarized sieges and mass deportations, and immediate political buck-passing by California Democrats. State officials publicly framed the issue as fallout from the Trump administrations escalating attacks on immigrants, pointing to intensifying federal pressure on state agencies.

Yet the legal basis for the 17,000 initial revocations rests largely on California statutes and regulations such as the California Code of Regulations (CCR). The Legislature, dominated by Democrats for decades, wrote and approved the very statute that restricts commercial licenses to immigrants with federal work documents. The state is enforcing its own reactionary framework and hiding behind Trump to mask its complicity.

Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta quickly issued statements posturing as opponents of Trumps immigration policies, claiming that federal hostility has created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. But their attempt to shift blame collapses on the most basic facts: in revoking the licenses, the DMV cited state law, not any new federal rule or mandate.

At the same time, there is no doubt that the Trump administration is applying intense pressure on state governments, including California, as part of its broader drive to criminalize immigrants and expand deportations.

While there are deepening conflicts within the ruling class, the revocations flow from the bipartisan structure of immigration enforcement built over decades. No less than the Republicans, Democratic administrations have made history for the large numbers of deportations, most notably under Obama. They continue to adamantly uphold laws designed to keep millions of workers in a condition of permanent insecurity.

The consequences for the affected workers will be devastating. For many, the CDL is their only viable source of income. These workers operate heavy trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles. Many have held commercial licenses and stable jobs for years. Some completed state-approved training programs and paid thousands of dollars for certifications the state now says they were never entitled to receive.

Tens of thousands are now at risk of losing their income, housing and ability to support their families. This catastrophe will be felt across logistics, agriculture and construction, industries already plagued by overwork and exploitation.

Employers, especially in the logistics corridors of Southern California, are already preparing contingency plans to replace them. The state has offered no compensation, transition support or legal pathway for workers to regain their licenses.

The mass revocation of licenses further exposes the long-standing fraud of sanctuary states and cities. For years, the Democrats have invoked the term to posture as a humane alternative to the Republicans, yet they have not shielded a single immigrant from the machinery of federal repression.

Last October, Newsom staged a highly publicized signing of SB 98, AB 49 and SB 81, presenting them as bold defenses of immigrants and waving the sanctuary state banner in defiance of Trumps mass-deportation campaign. These bills were empty gestures that left the federal deportation apparatus entirely untouched.

Far from challenging the foundations of Trumps program, they accepted the legitimacy of ICE, the permanence of mass expulsions and the basic premises of the anti-immigrant framework.

The escalating conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states like California is not a struggle between anti-immigrant and pro-immigrant forces but a dispute over how to manage and discipline a workforce that is essential to capitalist exploitation.

The initial revocation of 17,000 commercial licenses is a warning to immigrant workers and the working class as a whole. As economic and political crises sharpen, both parties are prepared to deploy the mechanisms of the state against the most vulnerable layers of the workforce. The necessary response is the independent mobilization of workers themselves, across citizenship status and industry, against both the open attacks of the Republican right and the hypocritical, equally destructive policies of the Democratic establishment.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) held a significant public meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana on Monday at the Spades Park Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.

Workers and students from Indianapolis and surrounding communities attended the meeting which was titled, After the No Kings protest: A socialist strategy to stop Trumps dictatorship.

Many of those in attendance originally met SEP members and campaigners who had set up a literature table and distributed leaflets during the No Kings protest at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis on October 18.

Others came in response to campaigns for the meeting over recent weeks, including at the campus of Indiana University in Indianapolis, Allison Transmission and Rolls Royce.

George Kirby, SEP member and writer for the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance. He said, Were almost a month after the No Kings protest, where millions said, No Kings and No Fuhrers. This was the second wave of protests bringing out millions of youth, workers, professionals and retirees.

A movement is developing internationally against the threat of fascism, dictatorship and war. What is lacking is a clear political perspective, and this is what this meeting will provide.

Kirby then introduced the main speaker, Jerry White, the labor editor of the WSWS and member of the SEP Political Committee.

Whites report first focused on the escalation of the Trump administrations war drive in South America and against the working class in the US. He denounced Trumps claims to be fighting to prevent drugs from reaching the US, saying, This narrative is a thin justification for longstanding geopolitical aimsthe seizure of Venezuelas vast oil reserves, the rollback of Chinese economic influence across South America, and the reassertion of unchallenged US imperialist dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

White drew a direct link between the preparations for war abroad and the intensification of repression within the United States. He explained, Increasingly, the administration treats internal political and social opposition as part of a broader security threat.

The report detailed how the same language used to describe alleged foreign enemiesterrorists, invasions, cartel-linked operationsis applied to immigrants, protesters, and increasingly, the working class, illustrating the merging of war on terror rhetoric with domestic law enforcement.

In cities such as Chicago, Charlotte, Houston, and Los Angeles, ICE raids have taken the form of paramilitary incursionsmasked squads, heavily armed, conducting nighttime operations, sealing off apartment buildings and detaining entire families without warrants.

White pointed to the growth of popular opposition to the fascist administration, citing the No Kings protests involving millions in more than 2,500 locations that expressed widespread hostility to authoritarianism and demonstrated the potential for mass working class mobilization.

White explained that this movement had to be developed independently of the Democratic Party, which has acted as Trumps enablers. By reopening the government, he said, the Democrats were giving Trump a green light to escalate his war on immigrants and basic democratic rights, and slash billions from food stamps, public education and other essential services.

White also drew attention to the rise in workplace deaths, specifically highlighting the recent fatalities of postal worker Nicholas Acker and autoworker Ronald Adams Sr. He said, The horrific death of Nicholas Acker, a young postal worker killed in a mail sorting machine in suburban Detroit is symptomatic of the broader atmosphere of neglect and profit-driven disregard for safety.

White explained that workers needed to form new organizations of strugglerank-and-file committees, which were independent of the labor bureaucracies that led the United Auto Workers and other unions. In opposition to the economic nationalism promoted by UAW President Shawn Fain, who has backed Trumps tariffs, White said, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) was fighting for the unity of US, Canadian, Mexican and all workers against the global corporations.

The state of Indiana has a rich history of class struggle and socialism that had to be revived, White said, from socialist railroad leader Eugene Debs and the left-wing novelist Theodore Dreiser to the sit-down strikes in the 1930s at the GM plants in Anderson where militant workers smashed the influence of the KKK and Black Legion. In 2010, GM stamping workers in Indianapolis rebelled against the UAW bureaucracy and formed a rank-and-file committee with the assistance of the SEP, and in 2022-23 many workers in the city and in the state supported Will Lehman, the socialist candidate for UAW president.

The fundamental issue, White concluded, was the need to build within the working class a socialist and internationalist leadership, which is the task of the SEP.

The discussion following the report began with a focus on workplace deaths. Questions were asked about the process for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations into the death of workers on the job. A former workplace safety expert who was in attendance reviewed the fact that the structure of OSHA investigations is set up to protect the employers.

Attendees were also attracted to the emphasis placed on the history of the SEP as the US section of the International Committee of the Fourth International during the discussion.

Attendee Austin said, I attended the meeting with a decent grasp of the history and goals of the Socialist Equality Party, with the intention of joining myself. As someone who is beginning to embrace the worldview and ethos of the SEP, I found the meeting to be incredibly validating and feel inspired to continue learning more of the history and principles of the party.

What is most impressive to me is the historical foundations of the party, on an international scale, along with the holistic approach that the party uses to tackle the issues of today. For example, the principle of social equality was used to address international crises from the situation in Venezuela to the fact that 15 Americans die each day from incidents at their industrial jobs.

As someone who has been desperately searching for a political party with firm, uncompromising principles, I believe I have found my home. The SEP is a party that fights for the struggles of the working class and is unwavering in the goal of building class-consciousness.

Kyle said, Ive never interacted with the Socialist Equality Party before but can say that it was an overall very enjoyable experience, and plan to go to future meetings.

Salena also spoke about the emphasis on the history of Trotskyism: Jerry White made clear how Stalinism undermined and finally overthrew the Russian Revolution because of the isolation within world capitalism and why we need internationalism now. I appreciated that he has more than 45 years of knowledge, that every time I wrote a question down, he was able to answer it in the discussion.

I do think that answers require a focus on the length of the material. There is no shortcut way, it relies on historical context. The presentation was a thorough introduction to the Socialist Equality Party for those in attendance. I thought it would only be local interventions, but wider topics were presented all rooted in the context of history. There was no pandering or word salads, only direct clear answers for people to grasp what this party is.

After the meeting ended attendees remained in the room for ongoing questions and discussion. Several bought books at the SEP literature display.

Austin said, At the meeting, I was able to purchase a book, The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century by David North, a leader of the international socialist movement for more than half a century. I am excited to dive into the historical betrayals against the working class by the ruling class, and build a deeper understanding of how we got here and how to move forward. This meeting deepened my understanding of the party, and I am excited to continue my journey with the SEP.
Indian food delivery major Zomato is close to an agreement with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) to share customer information with restaurants, according to a report in The Economic Times (ET).

NRAI president Sagar Daryani told the newspaper that the industry body has also initiated similar negotiations with Swiggy, Zomatos main competitor.

Zomato has begun introducing a consent feature that asks users if they are willing to allow their phone numbers to be shared with restaurants to directly receive marketing and promotional updates.

The association had earlier taken Zomato and Swiggy to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), alleging anti-competitive practices such as data masking by delivery platforms. That case remains under consideration at the regulator.

Its very important for us to know our customers not to spam them, but to know their ordering habits and make proper marketing spends, using the right marketing funnel, Daryani told ET.

The latest developments coincide with urban mobility company Rapidos foray into food delivery through its Ownly service, which has signed a pact with NRAI committing to provide restaurants what was described as "valuable customer data".

A senior executive at a food deliverer told ET that earlier attempts by aggregators to pass on customer data to restaurant partners had prompted adverse reactions from users, leading platforms to scale back such initiatives.

This time, we are working on something along with the restaurants to ensure the scope for the use of data that is being shared is limited and well defined, the executive stated.

NRAI, which represents around 500,000 restaurants across India, has previously raised concerns over issues including deep discounting, rising commissions - which it said had climbed from between 5% and 7% to around 35% - and the masking of consumer data.

Information on average order values, preferred cuisines and location-specific tastes has long been a sticking point between restaurant brands and delivery aggregators.

Swiggy and Zomato have masked consumer data for a very long time, a senior executive at a large global quick service chain told ET. Access to such information is crucial to our consumer interface strategies, and is absolutely necessary to help customise offers and promotions, the executive added.

Zomato and Swiggy did not respond to ETs enquiries.

In 2025, the NRAI also approached the CCI over the launch of separate tenminute delivery apps by Zomato and Swiggy, arguing that these amounted to engaging in private labels and sale.
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Protesters holds signs amidst the arrival of federal law enforcement, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. [AP Photo/Matt Kelley]

Over 30,000 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district took part in a sickout on Monday to protest the police-state raids being carried out by the Trump administration. Representing 20 percent of the districts total enrollment, the walkouts were a powerful rebuke to the ongoing Gestapo-style raids in Charlotte, North Carolinas largest city.

The protests continued throughout the week, with hundreds joining walkouts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at schools including East Mecklenburg High School, Philip O. Berry Academy, Ballantyne Ridge High School and Northwest School of the Arts. Many students carried handmade signs defending immigrant rights and denouncing the raids. Of the over 147,000 students in the district, some 44,000 students are Hispanic.

By weeks end, more than 56,000 students had refused to go to class, making the Charlotte protests one of the largest expressions of opposition to Trumps immigration crackdown in the country.

Weve noticed a really dramatic change as ICE raids have continued to get a lot worse in our community, said Chase Jordan-Fancher, a senior and one of the organizers of a walkout at his school. After seeing several other schools start protests, we wanted to do the same.

The students have been joined by growing sections of the population. Charlotte residents are organizing in chat groups and on social media to monitor and resist federal raids. They are sharing reports on sightings of Border Patrol and ICE agents, including at schools, homes and even retail outlets like the Charlotte Premium Outlets, where a heavily armed and camouflaged agent was spotted. Absolutely disgusting to post up in an establishment where families, workers and children are present, wrote one local resident.

As in Chicago and Los Angeles, many residents who are not themselves targeted by immigration raids are defending their immigrant neighbors. At a Home Depot on Wednesday, more than 100 people gathered to confront federal agents attempting to abduct day laborers. The same day, over 1,000 people attended a volunteer event at a local church to offer support and protection to immigrants. Erika Reynosa, a local resident, said many immigrants are staying home: Theyre locked in for their own safety.

Protesters hold signs amid the arrival of federal law enforcement, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. [AP Photo/Matt Kelley]

That same night, hundreds of workers and young people marched through Charlotte, demanding an end to the raids. Signs at the demonstration read, Human rights have no borders, Immigrants are not criminals, but Donald Trump is, and No human being is illegal.

The protests are a response to a brutal and unprecedented immigration crackdown that has turned entire working-class communities into militarized zones. Last week, as part of Trumps expanding war on the working class, federal immigration agents launched a sweeping operation across North Carolina under the direction of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commander Gregory Bovino.

The operation, given the absurd code-name Charlottes Web by the Department of Homeland Security, marked a sharp escalation in brutality. Unlike previous operations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this one was spearheaded by CBP, a move designed to circumvent any local legal restrictions. The result has been a campaign of terror: masked, heavily armed agents in unmarked dark vehicles have been filmed trespassing on private property, pulling over drivers at gunpoint, and abducting workers suspected of being undocumentedall without warrants or legal justification.

In the span of just one week, nearly 400 people have been arrested in Charlotte and other cities and towns in North Carolina such as Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Hickory, Lenoir and Blowing Rock. Agents have refused to disclose the identities of those detained, their legal status or whether any had outstanding charges. Eyewitness accounts describe agents monitoring traffic for suspicious patterns, targeting families in stores and public spaces, and terrorizing entire neighborhoods.

Local residents, regardless of immigration status, are being subjected to racial profiling and unconstitutional searches. What is underway is mass abduction and political intimidation carried out by a fascistic police apparatus.

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security told Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden that Charlottes Web was officially over. But DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told the Guardian, The operation is not over and it is not ending anytime soon. Many federal agents are now expected to redeploy to New Orleans for Swamp Sweep, a month-long operation targeting southeast Louisiana, with up to 250 agents arriving beginning Friday.

The protests in North Carolina mark a significant development in the growing popular opposition to Trumps war on democratic rights. They come just one month after millions participated in the nationwide No Kings demonstrations. Recent polls show that more than half of North Carolinians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, with a majority disapproving of Trump, in a state Trump carried in the last three elections.

The immigration raids in Charlotte mark a major escalation of the Trump administrations conspiracy to establish a presidential dictatorship. With no legal justification, the administration is deploying heavily-armed Border Patrol agents, far from any border, as a paramilitary force to carry out abductions and terrorize the population. The deployment is part of a broader assertion of unlimited executive power, including the use of federal troops in American cities, the preparation for invoking the Insurrection Act, and the declaration of a war on what Trump calls the enemy within, that is, the American working class.

When NBCs Jacob Soboroff asked the DHS spokesperson McLaughlin to explain the legal basis for deploying the Border Patrol, which is legally allowed to operate within 100 miles of the border, in Charlotte, she replied with a single word: Airport. This answer, even more absurd than the previous justification of Lake Michigan used to deploy agents in Chicago, makes clear that the administration is dispensing entirely with all legal norms in its drive toward authoritarian rule.

The raids in Charlotte are taking place just a week after the end of the government shutdown, which the Democratic Party ended on Trumps terms. Throughout the shutdown, the Democrats avoided any mention of Trumps conspiracy for dictatorship, presenting the conflict as a budgetary disagreement. Then, as popular opposition grew and the crisis of the administration deepened, they handed Trump a political lifeline.

Their aim was not to oppose Trumps war on democratic rights, but to contain mass anger and preserve the state. Far from an opposition party, the Democratsincluding Biden, Harris, and figures like Bernie Sandershave facilitated Trumps anti-immigrant program at every step: from Title 42 expulsions to expanding deportation powers under the Laken Riley Act. Sanders, in particular, has repeatedly praised Trumps attacks, telling right-wing comedian Tim Dillon last month that Trump did a better job than Biden in waging war on immigrants.

The Socialist Equality Party calls for the broadest mobilization of the working class in defense of immigrant workers and democratic rights. The brutal ICE and Border Patrol raids in Charlotte and across the country are central to the fascistic program of the Trump administration, which is seeking to build an American police state under the command of the financial oligarchy.

At the same time that immigrant families are being terrorized and disappeared, workers are confronting mass layoffs, plant closures and industrial deaths. The same government that is rounding up workers on the streets of Charlotte is overseeing the gutting of food stamps, Medicaid and public education; it is sending workers to die in unsafe facilities, and handing out trillions to billionaires like Elon Musk and Wall Street speculators.

The defense of immigrants must be fused with the growing resistance in the working class. Students must turn to workers and workers must take up the cause of immigrants as their own. The SEP calls for the formation of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and neighborhood to organize opposition from below, independently of the union bureaucracy and both corporate-controlled parties.

Workers must demand and fight for the immediate end to the mass roundups; the release of all those detained; and the withdrawal of Border Patrol and CBP from all domestic policing operations.

The Trump administration is a government of, by and for the capitalist oligarchy. Its goal is to smash all opposition to the social counterrevolution being carried out on behalf of the billionaires. To stop dictatorship, defend democratic rights and secure jobs, wages and a future for all, workers must unite across all racial, national and citizenship lines, and build a socialist movement to take power and reorganize society on the basis of human need, not private profit.
The call by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) for a rank-and-file investigation into the on-the-job deaths of USPS workers Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr. has been endorsed by members and supporters of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) at Royal Mail in the UK.

Postal workers have drawn parallels with the exploitative practices which inevitably sacrifice workers health and endanger their lives at Royal Mailprivatised more than a decade ago and now under the sole ownership of Daniel Kretinskys billionaire equity firm, EP Group. The leaders of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), Dave Ward and Martin Walsh, embraced the 3.6 billion takeover in alliance with the Starmer Labour government to drive forward the downgrading of the mail service and transform it into a low-wage parcel carrier.

Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr.

This underscores the need for an international, rank-and-file-led fightback against the profit-driven dismantling of postal services worldwidewhich are being carved up for privatisation and handed over to the financial oligarchy.

Miles, a distribution driver at Royal Mail in London:

I fully support the call for an independent inquiry into the tragic, preventable deaths of two US postal workers, Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr., in such a short space of time.

Millions of workers go to work expecting to return home to their families at the end of an exhausting working day, but even this can no longer be taken for granted. My thoughts go out to the families. Why is this happening in the 21st century? These conditions were supposed to belong to the long-lost past.

The fact these tragedies are brought to light by the IWA-RFC lifts the cloak on years of speed-up, job cuts and the destruction of long-standing health and safety conditions by the corporations and their labour understudies in the trade union bureaucracy. Its long been clear that just by changing a unions leader brings no change to our conditions.

I work for Parcelforce, the UK parcel arm of Royal Mail, now owned by billionaire asset-stripper Daniel Kretinsky whoworking closely with the CWUis driving up profits through hiked up workloads, to the point where heart monitors were used on postal workers to see if productivity could be increased to the maximum. It is common to see postal workers with bandages and strain supports during long days in temperatures from 1C to 35C.

Workers in UPS, FedEx, DPD and DHL report the same experiences. Different uniforms and vans make no differenceso why are we divided locally, nationally and internationally? These global companies extract ever-greater profits while the unions block unity to protect their relationship with management.

Technology like AI should assist workers, but instead it is used to impose higher volumes and workloads. We work in a globally integrated postal system where we are treated as nothing more than wage slaves. We need a globally integrated movement to oppose this. The work of the International Workers Alliance is crucial in exposing our dire conditions and organising a fight against the slaughter of workers in the name of profit.

James, a delivery worker in Glasgow:

With great solidarity to Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr. and their loved ones. Workers in the UK face the same struggle as our brothers and sisters in the USA and worldwide. Royal Mail workers have endured the year-on-year destruction of living standards and safety conditions through every union-management agreement. Safety conditions supposedly guaranteed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have instead been eroded in the race for profit. The Health and Safety Executive, the body meant to enforce these laws, has shown itself to be a paper tiger.

The deaths of our two brothers in America should be a wake-up call to workers everywhere. Instead, the CWU ignores it and presses ahead with its policy of collaboration with management. We face massively increased fatigue from impossible workloads, with deliveries that once took three hours now stretched to five hours or more. New work patterns were introduced without the legally required risk assessments, despite the entirely predictable rise in accidents and sickness. Stress levels are through the roof as workers tryand inevitably failto complete mail duties deliberately built to fail in favour of parcels.

Any attempt to involve the union or health and safety reps is met with stonewalling. The only consistent opposition now comes from the rank-and-file committee. Senior full-time reps, once in near-daily attendance to ram through extra work, are now totally absent and unreachable. The lesson is clear: we must build an opposition from the ground up and stop relying on full-time officials who serve managements agenda.

One example of the cavalier contempt shown by CWU and management was the replacement of proper, legally binding risk assessments with the monitoring of exhausted delivery workers using heart-tracking devices run by a private company with no experience in the postal sector. The results were never published, and no lessons were learnedexcept what we already knew. Increased workloads in extreme conditions leave workers exhausted, ill, and unable to enjoy family life.

It is time for the rank-and-file to make a stand take up the struggle to win back our hard-fought conditionsand the right to a life outside work.

Pauline Beach, whose husband Des was victimised by Royal Mail, has also backed the call for a worker led investigation. Des died on April 23 this year at the age of 58 after he suffered a catastrophic heart attack. The PWRFC published a tribute to Des and his fight against injustice sending condolences to his family and friends. Des previously conducted a video interview with the PWRFC in November 2024 to bring his case to light. This exposed his unfair dismissal by Royal Mail on trumped charges on June 8, 2023 after 31 years of exemplary service, and the collusion of the CWU with his frame-up who withdrew support for his Employment Tribunal claim. Neither party have ever replied. The YouTube video which can be viewed here has received 8,000 views and Des received messages of solidarity from postal workers around the country.

Pauline said:

Reading of the deaths of postal workers Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr. in the USA brought back to me how Royal Mail and the CWU contributed to the death of my husband in April this year. I send my sincere condolences to the families and close friends of those who lost their lives. An investigation led by rank-and-file workers is the only way of getting at the truth and stopping a cover-up.

Wedding day photo of Pauline and Des Beach taken on October 1, 2020 [Photo by Pauline Beach]

I can totally relate to how their families and friends are feeling. This is the sort of thing that happens when you work for a company who put profits before people, just like Royal Mail here in the UK.

Some of you will remember the interview done by my husband Des Beach in November last year. Little did we know he would lose his life only a few months later. Des looked after his health and fitness his whole life. He was diagnosed with kidney disease in October 2020 but with treatment it was well managed.

Des was dismissed for gross misconduct in June 2023 along with his CDV [van share] partner. These were allegations he always denied and a former manager who spent a week going over his case said there was nothing in it that even warranted a quiet word in his ear, let alone dismissal. The case notes are full of procedural errors, management inconsistencies and CWU negligence. The only outcome as far as Royal Mail was concerned was always going to be dismissal. Des had 31 years service and an unblemished record, no current sickness stages.

Despite him being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease there was never any occupational health assessment done. Personally, I find this omission in a company as large as Royal Mail totally unacceptable.

Having spoken to many former and current posties I have found what happened to Des not uncommon. Rumours abound as to the reasons, but I feel sure getting rid of long serving posties on legacy contracts and replacing them with part-time staff on much inferior contracts will save Royal Mail a lot of money. Unbelievably the CWU, who are meant to protect their workers, actually agreed to these new contracts along with new inferior sickness policies for all staff.

After almost 2 years of knowing he had lost his livelihood due to his treatment by Royal Mail and the CWU, Des suffered a massive heart attack and passed away in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne on 23 April 2025. Some of the top cardiologists in the country looked after Des and all agreed the stress of the last 2 years had contributed to his death. Dess colleagues at Royal Mail were threatened with being conducted [face disciplinary charges] so only a small number of brave souls stuck their heads above the parapet with supporting witness statements. These were totally ignored by Royal Mail and the CWU other than being told they were lying or mistaken.

The problem here is as long as folk choose to bury their heads in the sand this sort of situation will carry on. The workforce at Royal Mail is huge as is the CWU membership. You pay the wages of the CWU so should expect a first-class service when you need them. Workers shouldnt be expected to take on even heavier workloads when they cant even manage the existing ones. Des paid union fees for 31 years and got nothing. Without the union members the union will not exist.

If you dont expose bullying managers, health and safety problems and CWU reps who are besties with the managers then nothing will ever change. Stick together and stop looking out just for yourself otherwise nothing will ever change and it could be your loved one left distraught and grieving.

Help lift the lid on the conditions facing postal workers and expose the workplace injuries, stress and death toll caused by the ruthless drive for corporate profit. Messages of support to the Scruggs and Acker families can be sent using the report form below. Please say whether you are willing for them to be published as part of the IWA-RFCs campaign for a rank-and-file investigation.
In an interview with Radio NZ (RNZ) on November 12, New Zealands opposition Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins sought to identify himself with New Yorks mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Party politician and self-described democratic socialist.

Hipkins declared that Mamdanis victory showed there was a big backlash against the system at the moment. People feel like the economic system isnt working for them and theyre looking for alternatives.

New Zealand Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins. [AP Photo/Robert Kitchin]

He continued: Weve had four or five decades around the world, now, of an economic system that says: dont worry about concentration of wealth, eventually that will flow down, everyone will be better off. And a lot of people are looking at that going: thats not us, thats not what were experiencing, the cost of livings getting more, were feeling more marginalised economically, our jobs are less secure, and they want something different.

Asked if he considered himself a democratic socialist, Hipkins replied: I dont really have a problem with the label. Social democrat, democratic socialist, variants of the same thing: people who believe there is a more active role for the state.

With an election less than 12 months away, NZs right-wing National Party-led coalition government is widely despised. The October 23 mega strike involving more than 100,000 healthcare workers and teachersNew Zealands biggest strike since 1979revealed seething anger towards the relentless austerity measures, soaring living costs and obscene levels of social inequality. There is also widespread opposition to the governments alliance with US imperialism and its support for the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Under these conditions, the Labour Partyone of the two main parties of big business and imperialist waris positioning itself to try and trap workers and young people who are moving to the left. The great fear of the ruling elite is that working class anger could erupt outside of the control of the capitalist parties and the corporatist union bureaucracy.

The same processes are underway in the United States. Support for Mamdani indicates a profound shift to the left among workers and young people in the US, a country where socialism and communism have been relentlessly demonized by the entire political and media establishment for decades.

The WSWS has warned, however, that Mamdani is no socialist: he is a Democratic Party politician and member of the pseudo-left Democratic Socialists of America, which represents layers of the affluent middle class. Like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanderstwo other self-styled democratic socialists who lined up completely with the right-wing, pro-genocide Biden administrationMamdani is using populist phrases to divert the growing movement against the fascistic Trump administration behind the Democrats, the party that enabled Trumps rise and has done nothing to oppose his relentless assault on democratic rights.

Mamdanis relatively minor reform proposalsfree public transport, rent caps on some housing, free childcare and a council-run supermarketwill not be implemented if they in any way undermine the profits of the Wall Street bankers who control the Democratic Party. To reassure the financial elite that he does not pose any threat to their interests, Mamdani has named a right-wing deputy mayor and his transition team is full of establishment Democrats.

Unlike Mamdani, a relative unknown prior to New Yorks mayoral election, Hipkins has a substantial record as a government minister and in 2023 he served as prime minister. He led the Labour government to one of the most crushing electoral defeats in its history, amid a profound social crisis and an out-of-control COVID pandemic.

For Hipkins to now call himself a democratic socialist is an insult to the intelligence of workers, who have had many years of bitter experience with Labours phoney promises to alleviate social inequality and poverty.

When the Labour Party formed a coalition government in October 2017 with the right-wing, anti-immigrant NZ First Party and the Greens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told an interviewer that capitalism had been a blatant failure given that there were hundreds of thousands of children living in homes without enough to survive.

The corporate media, as well as pseudo-left groups like the International Socialist Organisation, falsely portrayed the Ardern government as offering a kinder, gentler version of capitalism. In fact, as the Socialist Equality Group warned from the outset, it was a right-wing government that would impose austerity in health, education and other services, while strengthening New Zealands military alliance with US imperialism.

Ardern pledged to end child poverty, properly fund health and education, solve the housing crisis and end homelessness. In all of these areas, however, the crisis significantly worsened between 2017 and 2023.

The number of children living in material hardshipin families unable to afford basic necessities such as fresh fruit and vegetables, doctors visits and heatingincreased from 135,000 in 2017 to 143,700 six years later (about 1 in 8 children).

In his interview with RNZ, Hipkins said that he wanted to restore the dream of home ownership for more families. The last Labour governments Kiwibuild policy, which pledged to build 100,000 affordable homes, ended up building just over 2,300 homes by 2024 in collaboration with private developers. These were sold at market rates, which were out of reach for most working class families.

Homelessness increased under Labour. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of people living in severe housing deprivation rose from 99,462 to 112,496 people (2.3 percent of the population).

Speaking to RNZ, Hipkins highlighted out-of-control food prices, saying: We have the supermarket duopoly controlling a huge proportion of our food supply. He also pointed to very, very large profits being made by the banks and electricity companies, adding that anyone who is making a large amount of money from monopolistic behaviour should be worried about a future Labour government.

New Zealand, with a population of just over 5 million, produces enough food for about 40 million people, but large numbers of people can no longer afford basic items. In the past 12 months alone, food prices have gone up 4.7 percent, the price of milk went up 13.5 percent, eggs 18.5 percent and cheese 18.5 percent. Meanwhile wages increased just 2.1 percent in the year to September.

Hipkins outlined no solutions, merely saying that a Labour government would seek to encourage more competition to bring down prices. Here again, Labour must be judged on its record.

In November 2020, when food prices were rising at a similar rate, the Ardern government announced a year-long market study by the Commerce Commission to determine whether supermarket prices were fair. Ardern told the media: We will act on what they find. Yet despite the Commission eventually finding that supermarkets were making double what it considered a fair rate of return on capital, the Labour government took no action, even as more and more people struggled to afford food.

In May 2023, the New Zealand Food Network reported that since the pandemic there had been a 165 percent increase in the number of people regularly relying on food banks, which had reached half a million people (one in 10). Government surveys found that the proportion of children living in households where food runs out sometimes or often increased from 14.4 percent in 2021/22 to 21.3 percent the following year and 27 percent by 2023/24.

Hipkins played a significant role in imposing the Ardern governments right-wing agenda. As education minister from 2017 to 2020 he enforced an effective pay freeze, triggering nationwide strikes by primary and secondary teachers in 2019 that were sold out by the union bureaucracy, which pushed through pay deals of about 3 percent per year.

As minister for COVID-19 response in the governments second term, Hipkins oversaw the dismantling of all restrictions on the spread of the coronavirus, after the government ended its zero-COVID policy in 2022 at the behest of big business. He earned the nickname Let-it-ripkins on social media, as the government abolished mask mandates and social distancing requirements and suppressed COVID testing to keep infected people at work. Hospitals were overwhelmed with COVID patients and thousands died from the virus.

Hipkins replaced Ardern as prime minister after she resigned in early 2023 as Labours support in the polls plummeted. The government moved further to the right under his leadership.

In his RNZ interview, Hipkins blamed NZ First for blocking Labours plans to make our tax system fairer, including the introduction of a capital gains tax (CGT). In 2023, however, Hipkins ruled out any increase in tax on the wealth hoarded by the countrys billionaires and multi-millionaires. Labour campaigned in the 2023 election on cutting spending and reducing public sector jobs, in order to pay for the debt accumulated by subsidising and bailing out big businesses during the pandemic.

Labour lost the election by a landslide, its support almost halved from 50 percent in 2020 to 26.9 percent in 2023.

Hipkins is now promising a CGT on property if Labour wins the 2026 election, with the revenue used to fund three doctors visits per year for every person in the country. Even if this promise is actually implemented, it would represent a very small increase in tax on the countrys wealthiest layers, who have benefited from decades of speculation in shares and property.

Labour has no differences with the National governments militarist foreign policy and its close alliance with the US under the fascistic Trump regime. Before and after the October 2023 election, Hipkins supported Israels genocidal assault on the Gaza Strip, and smeared anti-genocide protesters as anti-semitic.

This year, Hipkins made clear that Labour supports the National-led governments move to double military spending, which is preparing the country to join a US-led war against China. This is being funded by starving healthcare, education and other vital services.

Workers and young people cannot allow themselves to be duped by Hipkins pseudo-populist phrase-mongering, or by the similar statements being made by the Green Party, which propped up the Ardern-Hipkins Labour government and is complicit in its right-wing attacks. All the capitalist parties, as well as the trade union bureaucracy, bear responsibility for imposing the burden of the economic crisis on the working class, while allowing the richest layers of society to accumulate unprecedented wealth.

Those who want to fight against austerity and imperialist war must draw the necessary political lessons from these experiences and act accordingly. The capitalist system cannot be reformed; it is plunging the world towards war, climate catastrophes, mass poverty and fascist barbarism. The current order based on the private ownership of the means of production must be ended and replaced with a socialist system, in which societys resources are owned and democratically controlled by the working class.

We call on those who agree with this perspective to join the Socialist Equality Group, the only organisation fighting to build a genuine socialist and internationalist party: the New Zealand section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, talks with U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. [AP Photo/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office ]

With the Ukrainian government of Volodymyr Zelensky facing a deepening corruption scandal and military crisis, the Trump administration submitted to Kiev on Thursday a 28-point plan for a negotiated settlement of the war with Russia.

The proposal was submitted by a US military delegation led by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.

The plan, as published in full by Axios, marks a significant departure from earlier US positions and is a testament to the deepening crisis facing the US-NATO proxy war against Russia.

The document declares that NATO will not expand further and that Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. It also declares that NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

The 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest declared that Ukraine and Georgia will become members of NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin cited the moves by Ukraine to integrate itself into NATO as the main justification for the Russian invasion in 2022.

The document declares that Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and a major aim of the NATO powers in provoking the war with Russia in 2022 was to reconquer the territory. In 2023, Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley declared that NATO would assist Ukraine to go on the offensive to liberate Russian-occupied Ukraine. Russia currently occupies much, but not all, of Luhansk and Donetsk.

The agreement also stipulates that Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days, all but guaranteeing the fall of the Zelensky regime, which currently rules by emergency decree.

The Trump administrations plan also stipulates that Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy and that Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8, from which it was expelled in 2014.

European officials told US newspapers that they had not been consulted about the plan and made barely-veiled condemnations of the proposal in public. Peace cannot be capitulation. We do not want the capitulation of Ukraine, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot Thursday.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski added, Europes security is at stake, so we expect to be consulted. Asked whether any European officials had been consulted in drafting the proposal, Sikorski added, Not to my knowledge.

Kaja Kallas, the European Unions foreign policy chief, stated, Different peace plans cannot work if Ukrainians and Europeans do not agree to this, adding that she did not see any concession from the Russian side.

A Ukrainian official told the New York Times that the Trump administration had not sought Kyivs input into the talks and that the terms in the plan were unacceptable to Kyiv. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Zelensky, called the proposal unconditional capitulation, adding that accepting the proposal would be submission.

Ukrainian politician Roman Kostenko declared that the deal means capitulation, for Ukraine, for Europe and for America.

While Zelenskys advisers bluntly condemned the proposal, the Zelensky government officially accepted it as a starting point for discussions. Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram, Our teamsUkraine and the USAwill work on the points of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and prompt work.

The Financial Times reported that US officials are seeking an extremely rapid timetable for the implementation of the agreement:

The Ukrainian officials said the Trump administration had told Zelensky and other people in his team that the White House was working to an aggressive timeline to finalize the proposal in order to bring the war to an end before the close of the year. They added that U.S. officials expect Zelensky to sign the agreement before Thanksgiving on Thursday next week, with the aim of presenting a peace deal in Moscow later this month and concluding the process by early December.

The Zelensky government is facing a spiraling corruption scandal over a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme headed by Zelenskys closest associates. Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged last week that Timur Mindich, Zelenskys business partner, had organized a scheme to steal over $100 million over 15 months from the states nuclear power company.

The scandal has forced the resignation of Ukraines justice minister, Herman Halushchenko, and the energy minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk.

The political party of Petro Poroshenko, Ukraines former president, called the conduct of Zelenskys government unprofessional and corrupt in a statement this week.

The New York Times quoted Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, a former presidential foreign policy adviser, as saying, Ukraines position right now is not strong, and this is seen not only inside the country but also by our partners, including the United States, and of course by the aggressor.

Russia is making regular, steady advances on the battlefield, including in the city of Pokrovsk, which is expected to fall imminently.

On Thursday, Putin received a briefing from Chief of Russias General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who said that Russian troops had taken control of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, as well as large portions of the city of Pokrovsk.

The US officially estimates that 1.2 million men have been killed or injured in the war, which is the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The real figure, however, is likely to be significantly higher.
A man checks his cell phone during a break outside the Verizon headquarters in Lower Manhattan, New York. [AP Photo]

Verizons announcement that it will eliminate more than 13,000 jobsthe largest mass layoff in the companys historyhas triggered shock, anger and anxiety among telecommunications workers and across wide layers of the working class. The cuts, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last week and confirmed in a company-wide memo from new CEO Dan Schulman Thursday, amount to roughly one-fifth of Verizons management workforce and come as the company claims it must reorient its business and simplify operations in the name of improving customer experience.

The real motive is not customer satisfaction but Wall Streets satisfaction. Verizon posted nearly $5 billion in profit in the third quarter alone and is aggressively restructuring to boost its stock price, slash labor costs and prepare for intensified competition in wireless, home internet and enterprise services. Schulman, who took over only last month, declared that Verizon had reached a critical inflection point and announced an aggressive transformation of the businesscorporate language that workers immediately understand as synonymous with firings, outsourcing and speedup.

The Verizon cuts come as new, long-delayed jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expose the underlying weakness of the US labor market and contradict claims by the Trump administration and the media of a strong economy. The September employment report, held back for seven weeks by the government shutdown, shows anemic job growth, rising jobless rates, slowing wage gains and significant job losses in key productive sectors, such as manufacturing, warehousing and logistics.

On Reddit and thelayoff.com, Verizon employees have flooded forums with reports of entire departments being eliminated and hundreds of retail stores divested or closed. Many describe scenes of stunned silence during mass conference calls where entire teams were informed they no longer had jobs. One worker wrote, Emotionally draining day  my friends were cut and it just feels like a death. NO ONE deserves to be without a job right before Christmas. Another technician commented: Theyre ditching field techs in favor of contracting out to companies so they dont have to pay salaries, benefits, taxes, etc. Going to start seeing cell towers being fixed with duct tape.

Workers reported that roughly 180 stores were hit in a single day, with about 179 slated for divestment. Retail districts are being consolidated nationwide. Territories and districts will be redrawn and that will cause impacts to local retail ops, one poster explained. I called my mortgage company already. I dont know what else to do.

Some workers noted that the layoffs will not be confined to the US. One Reddit commenter reported: India is going to be impacted too. Thirteen thousand across US and India. Workers expressed outrage that a company reporting strong profits would simultaneously slash thousands of jobs on multiple continents.

Across the forums, employees denounced the companys claim that the cuts are meant to simplify operations or improve customer experience. One wrote: Verizon layoffs have nothing to do with AI. Its only about increasing the stock price. Another pointed to the insulting severance packages: The severance pay is honestly so insulting, the worker noted, adding that it amounted to only two weeks of pay per year of service. Another summed up the broader mood: Every Fortune 500 company is this greedy. No one cares about the working class.

The long-delayed BLS report provides only a glimpse of the economic insecurity that tens of millions are facing as the economy slides towards a potential recession. The US officially added 119,000 jobs in September, a number the media described as stronger than expected, but the underlying details make clear that the labor market was already faltering before the shutdown. Gains were concentrated in low-paid, overstretched sectorshealthcare, restaurants and social assistancewhile critical productive industries continued to shrink. Manufacturing lost 6,000 jobs in September, extending a months-long decline. Transportation and warehousing lost 25,300 jobs, reflecting a contraction in logistics following massive cuts at UPS, Amazon and warehouses throughout the country.

The official unemployment rate rose from 4.3 to 4.4 percent as 450,000 people entered or re-entered the labor force and could not find work. Wage growth slowed, leaving workers increasingly unable to keep up with housing costs, food prices and basic expenses.

The six-week blackout of official labor data only obscures the worsening reality. According to the Cleveland Federal Reserve, 39,000 workers received formal layoff notices in Octobera level seen earlier this year only in May and, before that, only during acute periods of crisis. In the past several weeks, Amazon, General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, Paramount, Target, UPS and other major corporations have all announced plans to eliminate tens of thousands of jobs. Verizons 13,000-job assault is merely the latest and most visible expression of a rapidly widening corporate job-cutting campaign.

These events intersect with the broader wave of layoffs reported by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. In October alone, US-based employers announced 153,074 cuts, up 175 percent from last October. Through the first 10 months of 2025, companies have announced 1,099,500 layoffsa 65 percent increase from last year and the highest figure for this point in the year since the mass pandemic layoffs of 2020.

Technology companies lead the way, driven by restructuring around automation and AI, with more than 141,000 job cuts announced this year. Warehousing recorded nearly 48,000 cuts in October alone, as companies unwind pandemic-era expansion and automate operations. Retailers have slashed more than 88,000 jobs so far in 2025an increase of 145 percent over last yearas chains shut stores and funnel resources into online operations built on low-wage, precarious labor.

Cost-cutting was the reason cited for more than 50,000 of Octobers layoffs. AI-driven restructuring accounted for another 30,000. At the same time, planned hiring has collapsed to its lowest level since 2011.

Michigans Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings show the devastation in a single state. In recent weeks alone: Dana Thermal Products is closing its Auburn Hills facility, destroying 200 jobs; XALT Energy is shutting down operations in Midland and Auburn Hills, eliminating 134 jobs; Freudenberg Battery Power Systems is closing plants in both Auburn Hills and Midland, cutting 190 jobs; the Taubman Company is closing its Bloomfield Hills headquarters, wiping out 105 positions; Avancez is laying off 143 workers in Hazel Park; IAC is cutting 68 jobs in Alma and 178 in Mendon; Oakland Stamping is closing its Detroit plant, cutting 133 jobs; Coles Quality Foods is closing its Muskegon plant, eliminating 175 jobs; Spirit Airlines is temporarily laying off 103 workers; Vista Maria is laying off 154 workers in Dearborn Heights; and Anderton Machining is closing its Jackson facility, cutting 41 jobs.

Similar closures and layoffs are occurring across every major industrial region of the United States. The Philadelphia Housing Authority is firing more than 300 union trades workers and will now contract out repairs as needed. Providence Swedish and Providence Oregon are cutting hundreds of hospital workersincluding cleaners, technicians and essential non-clinical staffwhile demanding more exhausting workloads from those who remain.

Corporations, politicians and the media describe these layoffs as a market correction, an adjustment to consumer trends or efficiency gains from AI. In reality, they reflect the deepening crisis of American capitalism. Corporate profits remain at historic highs, yet employers insist they cannot afford workers while funneling billions into share buybacks, dividends and automation designed to eliminate jobs entirely. The Trump administrations escalating tariffs, combined with austerity at every level of government, have only intensified these pressures.

This is an international crisis with mass layoffs spreading in Germany and Europe and throughout the world.

Verizon workers, autoworkers, logistics employees, healthcare workers, educators, retail workers and public sector employees in the US and around the world face a common enemy: a corporate-financial oligarchy determined to protect profits by destroying jobs and driving down wages.

The unionsincluding the Communications Workers of America, Service Employees International Union, the United Steelworkers, the United Auto Workers and othersoffer no strategy to oppose this onslaught. Instead, they seek to divide American workers from their international brothers through the promotion of economic nationalism and demand concessions in the name of saving jobs, even as plants and departments are wiped out one after another.

The accelerating jobs massacre is a conscious policy of the capitalist class and its political servants. It can be halted only through a unified, international counteroffensive of the working class, built through the formation of independent rank-and-file committees in every workplace. Only through collective struggle for a socialist alternative can workers defend their livelihoods and put an end to a system that sacrifices millions of jobs for the enrichment of a tiny elite.
On Tuesday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forcibly deported 50 people to Ukraine from the US.

The ICE-chartered plane departed from Alexandria, Louisiana. Many of those deported had lived in the US for years, built lives with families and were seeking refuge from war and political instability in Ukraine.

Of the 83 Ukrainian nationals originally scheduled for deportation, 50 were on the flight. The other 33 were either granted stays, had their deportations delayed due to ongoing legal proceedings or were not included in the final flight for logistical or administrative reasons, according to multiple sources tracking the event.

As of November 19, Ukrainian and US officials confirmed that 50 returned to Ukraine via the Shehyni checkpoint, while others remain detained or are under review for future deportation.

Andrii Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraines State Border Service, told NPR, Currently, border guards have ensured their registration in the border relation for entry into Ukraine in accordance with the rules established by law. It is worth noting that Ukraine accepts its citizens in any case. Demchenko also confirmed to news agencies that 45 of those deported were men and 5 were women.

The US Department of Homeland Security issued a statement through a representative defending the deportation and claiming the individuals had received full due process and were ordered removed by an immigration judge, in some cases many years ago. As has been proven multiple times since the Trump White House began its assault on immigrants, these assertions cannot be trusted because no evidence or legal record of the alleged proceedings has been presented.

The abrupt expulsion to Ukraine is a violation of basic rights and places them directly in the path of the Zelensky governments relentless conscription efforts for the ongoing US-NATO war against Russia.

Several family members of the deportees, interviewed by NPR and CNN, described the trauma and fear caused by these forced removals. Children have been reportedly left behind, American spouses are now separated from loved ones and entire households have been shattered.

The designated deportation destination guarantees that some will be forcibly conscripted and sent against their will to the front lines in what has become a death trap for working-class youth on both sides of the conflict.

According to figures published by the Ukrainian government, the number of military dead and wounded in the war with Russia is more than 400,000.

Eric Lee, an immigration attorney who has represented several of the Ukrainian deportees, told NPR: These individuals are not soldiersmany have fled direct persecution, only to face ICEs indifference and a tragic return to a country that will press-gang them into war. This is more than deportation. This is state-sanctioned violence, carried out in concert with the Ukrainian regime and Washingtons war agenda.

Lee further elaborated to CNN, We are seeing cases where ICE is actively ignoring asylum claims and humanitarian protections. Its clear that the Department of Homeland Security is prioritizing geopolitical objectives over basic rights and international laws designed to protect refugees and those seeking asylum.

The case of Roman Surotsev illustrates the brutality of the US policy. Born in the Soviet Union, Surotsev moved to the US as a refugee in the early 1990s, escaping the chaos and violence that erupted after the dissolution of the USSR.

He built a life, working in construction, marrying, and assisting his local community in Houston, Texas. Surotsev has lived in the US for over 25 years.

For years, Surotsevs legal status remained precarious. The US government previously attempted to deport him in 2014, but internal legal setbacks prevented his removal. It was recognized then that his return placed him at risk.

This time, however, he was suddenly detained in Texas and whisked away to a deportation facility. We were given almost no warning, his lawyer said. Roman was not even allowed to contact his wife before the transfer. ICE knew full well that sending him to Ukraine meant near-certain conscription, and possibly death.

Speaking on Surotsevs behalf, Eric Lee added, Romans case is emblematic of the reckless disregard ICE exhibits for established legal protections. Hes lived more than half his life in the US, has family, a job, and roots here. That counts for nothing to the bureaucrats, who see these deportations as simply numbers to process for political gain.

On November 15, the Socialist Equality Party issued a powerful statement, Stop Trumps deportation flight of Ukrainian immigrants into forced conscription! Referring to the deportations as The modern-day Voyage of the Damned, the SEP statement condemned the flights, linking them to the Trump administrations broader assault on immigrants and democratic rights.

The statement said, The forced removal of Ukrainian immigrants marks a new front in the Trump administrations war against immigrantsThese deportations serve two purposes: fueling the military needs of the Ukrainian government and sending a chilling message that no immigrant, regardless of their circumstances, is safe under this regime.

The SEP also documented the mounting collaboration between US immigration officials and Ukrainian conscription agencies, with US authorities fully aware that deportees are immediately seized for war service upon landing.

Despite international conventions forbidding forced conscription of refugees, arrangements have been made to hand over deportees straight to Ukrainian military officials at the airport, which is a grotesque violation of their rights.

The forced removal of Ukrainian refugees is another step in the Trump administrations drive to establish a fascist dictatorship in the US with the support of the Democratic Party. Undocumented immigrants and refugees from multiple countries now face the threat of arbitrary removal, family separation, and intentional exposure to violence.

The US governments overt collaboration with foreign authorities complicit in such abuses highlights an agenda aimed at eviscerating basic democratic rights, not just of immigrants but of the working class as a whole. It is also part of the preparations of the American ruling class for world war.

The SEP statement warns, Deportation flights, family separations and the disregard for legal process all serve to build the architecture of a police-state dictatorship. This campaign is driven not only by racist and xenophobic impulses but also by a class strategy aligned with the needs of US imperialism that seeks to impose military service on vulnerable populations and simultaneously ramp up repression at home.

The deportation of Ukrainian refugees is a warning to the entire working people in the United States and worldwide. The story of Roman Surotsev and countless others being sent into harms way must become the cause for renewed resistance by workers and youth to the attacks on immigrants, refugees and in defense of democratic rights.

As the SEP statement urges: This struggle is inseparable from the fight against war and dictatorship. Workers must unite, internationally, to overturn the policies that lead to forced conscription, militarism, and the construction of an authoritarian US state. Only through the independent, international action of the working class can the onslaught be halted.
Postal workers, come forward with descriptions of the conditions at your plant by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs Jr.

The World Socialist Web Site is continuing to receive new comments from postal workers in response to the deaths of Nick Acker on November 8 at a United States Postal Service facility near Detroit and of Russell Scruggs Jr. near Atlanta, Georgia on November 15.

Several postal workers spoke to a WSWS reporting team at the distribution center in downtown Detroit about Ackers death.

One worker, Kim, said, They are really not saying much about what happened, except that it was a two-man job and [Nick] knew it. But I say, even if he knew it was a two-man job, that wasnt the first day he did that. You knew what was going on. They dont care about us period.

I know how they are. They are trying to make it like it was his fault, she said. They are blaming his supervisor. The supervisor should not be the only one held accountable. All management. Where was the person who was supposed to help?

Another worker said that even if Nick had been instructed by his supervisor to do the job by himself, there should have been some kind of mechanism (a sensor) to shut off the machine the moment he fell inside of it.

However, workers at Ackers plant informed the WSWS that these basic safety mechanisms were disabled in order to keep operations going.

A veteran with many years at the post office said, There is no way he should have been working by himself. He was a newer employee. He added, There was another death not long ago at the same building in Allen Park. A man fell to his death with a fire extinguisher. I knew him. What a nice guy. He concluded, We never heard anything.

He added: Its a shame what they are doing, and they are doing all over the place. They are so damn greedy. The top 1 percent, what do they control? Sixty percent of all the wealth? They are getting it all, but we cant get healthcare, but we can build bombs.

A comment on Facebook echoed a widely-held sentiment: USPS treats its contracted employees like property. All employees other than management are not allowed to have a voice even with a Union. Without craft employees USPS would be nothing. Have management do the work, Id like to see them get it done instead of barking orders.

Multiple workers have both written into and spoken with WSWS reporters on the death of Scruggs at the Palmetto Processing and Distribution Center.

One worker submitted a comment detailing an experience closely resembling that which resulted in Scruggs death:

My concern is the treatment of injured workers in an unsafe environment and the lack of care and concern when on the jobs accidents occur. My fall happened in front of two supervisors, one made a rude comment and turned her back as if she didnt see me, the second supervisor was more concerned about my ripped glove than my injuries. Neither supervisor offered assistance as I struggled to get to my feet, nor did they ask if I was okay.

Although I suffered back, hip, and knee injuries in the fall, a report was never generated and neither supervisor faced disciplinary action for failure to offer assistance. Management seems to support abusive supervisors while punishing injured workers.

Another postal worker at the North Metro Processing and Distribution Center in Duluth, Georgia shared their experience of management abuse.

They fired me for failure to report to work, but at the time I was hospitalized unable to walk nor talk or work let alone breathe on my own. All because the United States Postal Service thought that it was smart and safe to do construction work [with the facility running]. While we the employees were in the building working, there werent any air ventilation systems set up. In fact, they took them all down. They had myself along with a ton of other coworkers working in the building that was deemed unsafe, that looked condemned.

I lost my medical coverage because I was wrongfully terminated. I lost my all the benefits that I had in regards to the United States Postal Service. That is all now gone and Im without a job.

The United States Postal Service wont take accountability for having their employees in an unsafe work environment, and then they dont want to take accountability and responsibility for when their employees are injured while working on their premises.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees has announced an independent workers inquiry into the deaths of Acker and Scruggs. In a statement, the IWA-RFC explained: This is not a journalistic exercise but an effort to arm workers with the knowledge they need to defend themselves and go on the offensive against the regime of corporate dictatorship in the workplaces, which makes these deaths inevitable.

It concluded:

The time has come to take a stand. An independent investigation into the deaths of Nick Acker, Russell Scruggs, Jr. and other postal workers will become a spearhead for the fight to empower rank-and-file committees to take control of safety conditions, guarantee the right to life, health and safety on the job, and end the dictatorship of production for profit.
A Palestinian walks through the ruins of a building damaged by an Israeli strike the day before, in Gaza City, Nov. 20, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi]

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted Monday by 13 votes to 0 to approve would-be US dictator Donald Trumps peace plan for Gaza, including the creation of a colonial-style board of peace to oversee the territory. The overwhelming support given to the plan, which tramples on the democratic rights and the very right of the Palestinians to exist, came as Israel continues to bombard targets in Gaza and Lebanon with impunity.

The resolution was introduced by the United States, Israels key supplier of weapons and political support during its two-year-long genocide against the Palestinians. The document embraced Trump, hailing his proposal as a historic deal that represented a new course in the Middle East for Israelis and Palestinians and all the people of the region alike.

Moreover, the UNSC authorised the creation of an international stability force to police Gaza on behalf of the imperialist powers and gave UN approval for the creation of Trumps unelected board of peace (BoP) to dictate Gazas future. Trump will chair this body, which will also include among its members the unindicted war criminal Tony Blair. The international stability force will be accountable to no internationally recognised institution, but placed under Trumps direct oversight, with the resolution declaring that military force would deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP.

As if this wasnt enough of an outrage, the resolution also praised the constructive role of the United States of America for having facilitated the ceasefire.

The fact of the matter is that American imperialism facilitated the genocide of the Palestinians. The Biden and Trump administrations supplied the Zionist regime with tens of billions of dollars in high-powered weaponry since Israel launched its onslaught on Gaza in October 2023. Authorities in the US and all of its imperialist allies viciously cracked down on anti-genocide protesters and sought to smear them as antisemites. Trump held numerous meetings with the war criminal and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to oversee the ongoing genocide, while ensuring that the outstanding arrest warrant for Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court has yet to be carried out. And all of this came after decades in which Washington was instrumental to Israels relentless persecution and dispossession of the Palestinians.

Underlining the UNSCs support for all of these crimes, and the continued attacks on and starvation of the Palestinians by Israel, the resolution included in its entirety Trumps peace plan in an annex.

The absurdity of describing the Trump administrations plan as a peace agreement was underscored in the days following Mondays UN vote. On Wednesday alone, Israel killed at least 25 people across the enclave in a series of air strikes, which the Zionist regime asserted were launched after gunshots were fired at soldiers, causing no injuries. Since the Trump plan went into force last month, Israel has killed some 280 Palestinians in Gaza and continued to back rampant far-right settler violence to annex land in the West Bank.

Israel persists in systematically blocking aid into Gaza, which is still falling well short of the 600 truckloads a day promised when the ceasefire began. It also arbitrarily seizes on alleged violations to carry out bloody murders of Palestinian civilians, including when they cross new lines of control unilaterally drawn by the US in consultation with Israel that allow the Israel Defense Force to maintain a substantial presence in Gaza.

Israels fascist government led by Netanyahu also launched air strikes on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon Tuesday night, killing 13 people. After Israel slaughtered some 4,000 people in Lebanon during last years air bombardment and ground incursion into the countrys south, it has continued almost daily air strikes on supposed Hezbollah targets since a ceasefire was struck in late November 2024. The UN has verified 100 civilian casualties in Lebanon during this period of supposed peace.

Mondays UN vote provides yet another devastating exposure of the dead end of the perspective of protest politics that has guided the leaderships of the anti-genocide demonstrations around the world since 2023. The anger of millions of people was misdirected behind making bankrupt appeals to the UN and the consciences of politicians to reconsider their support for Israels imperialist-backed extermination of the Palestinians and pursue a different policy.

But the unanimity with which Trumps peace plan has been adopted underscores that what is involved here is not merely a policy choice, but the pursuit of definite geostrategic and economic interests by all of the imperialist powers. They view the consolidation of a US-dominated Middle East as the best way to sideline rivals like China and Russia, while at the same time they seek to ruthlessly advance their interests in a bitter conflict among themselves over how to divide up the spoils.

As for the capitalist regimes in Moscow and Beijing, they chose to let Trumps resolution pass by abstaining in the vote, which either of them could have blocked with a veto. Part of their motivation for this course was the despicable role played by all of the despotic Arab regimes, who have swung behind Trumps plan but also serve as important trading partners and sources of investment for Russia and China. However, the more fundamental reason is that both the Putin and Xi regimes represent the interests of oligarchies that want nothing more than an accommodation with imperialism to secure a share of the spoils in a new redivision of the world and the right to continue brutally exploiting their own working class.

The UNSC vote confirms once more the continued relevance of Lenins description of the League of Nations, the UNs predecessor, as a thieves kitchen of imperialism. Over the past two years, the UN has published a series of damning reports and statements exposing the barbarism of Israels genocide against the Palestinians. Figures like UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, and even to some extent Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have denounced the Zionist regime for its indiscriminate killing of civilians, its use of starvation as a weapon of war, the forcible expulsion of millions of Palestinians, and the intentional destruction of hospitals and other social infrastructure. Netanyahu and his fascist ministers routinely attacked the institution as an agency of Hamas and denied many officials the right to enter the country. But when all is said and done, the UN, as it did in the destruction of Iraq, Yugoslavia, Libya and other targets of imperialist war, has rubber-stamped the Gaza genocide.

The urgent lesson for workers and young people who participated in anti-genocide protests to draw from the UN vote and the entire experience of two years of genocide is that the international working class is the only social force capable of leading a successful struggle against capitalist barbarism. The Gaza genocide is an expression of the barbaric methods the imperialist powers and their attack dogs will deploy in the struggle to redivide the world. Rooted in the crisis-ridden capitalist system, genocide and war cannot be stopped through moral appeals to the politicians guilty of perpetrating these crimes, but only through the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement by workers power and socialism.

Trotskys theory of permanent revolution has never been as relevant as it is today, both for the Palestinians and the working class in the imperialist centres. The co-leader of the Russian Revolution with Lenin insisted that all outstanding democratic and social aspirations in the oppressed countries could be realised only under the leadership of the working class fighting for socialism. In connection with the Middle East, this entails the fight for the political independence of the workers and rural poor from all factions of the bourgeoisie, and the development of the closest fighting alliance with the working class in the imperialist centres of North America and Europe. Only on this basis can the Palestinian masses secure their rights in the struggle for the United Socialist States of the Middle East, a programme that depends upon the victory of the working class against imperialism throughout the world and the socialist transformation of society.
Every U.S. state defines its own car insurance laws, which govern coverage requirements and your right to sue after an accident, among other things. There are two broad legislative approaches: at-fault and no-fault. Most states follow the at-fault framework, which requires drivers who cause accidents to pay for all damages and injuries.

A states at-fault designation has various implications, from the type of insurance you need to how claims are managed. Heres a review of the details you need to know, including which states have at-fault laws and what it means for you when you take the wheel.

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Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.

At-fault states

Thirty-eight U.S. states have at-fault car insurance laws:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maine Maryland Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Learn more: Minimum car insurance requirements in all 50 U.S. states

What does at-fault mean?

In at-fault states, whoever caused a car accident is financially responsible for the resulting injuries and property damages. If you suffer damages caused by someone else, you can file a claim with that persons insurance. As part of the claims process, insurance companies investigate the accident details to determine what happened and identify who is at fault.

You can sue the other driver if there is not enough insurance or if you disagree with the insurance companys claims decision.

Learn more: How much does car insurance increase after an accident?

Insurance requirements in at-fault states

Most at-fault states require minimum levels of property damage liability and bodily injury liability insurance. These coverages ensure you are financially able to pay for another persons medical bills and property repair costs, up to your policy limits. You are still responsible for costs that exceed your insurance limits, however.

At-fault vs. no-fault state

No-fault states differ from at-fault states in two ways. First, no-fault states require drivers to carry insurance that pays for their and their passengers' medical bills after an accident. Second, no-fault states restrict the ability to sue other drivers for injury-related costs.

Property damage costs are the responsibility of at-fault drivers in all states. This is why nearly every state requires drivers to carry property damage liability insurance.

Learn more: What is liability car insurance, and how much do you need?

Contributory and comparative negligence

Because more than one driver can contribute to an accident, states specify how fault can be shared and how that affects who pays for damages. There are two main approaches.

Contributory negligence: Contributory negligence laws prohibit you from recovering any funds from another driver if you shared any responsibility for the accident. Comparative negligence: Under comparative negligence laws, you can often pursue compensation from another driver for damages if you contributed to the accident. The amount available is adjusted based on your level of fault. For example, if you were 40% responsible for the accident, the other party may only be held accountable for 60% of your damages.

In at-fault states, negligence laws apply to property damage and bodily injury claims. In no-fault states, negligence laws apply to property damage claims and large personal injury claims that exceed lawsuit thresholds.

Pros and cons of at-fault car insurance laws

At-fault car insurance laws have advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

The pros of living and driving in an at-fault state include:

If you are a victim, you can attempt to recover damages for your losses, including non-economic issues like pain and suffering. Auto insurance premiums in at-fault states can be lower.

Cons

The downsides to at-fault systems are:

Claims can take longer to resolve because insurance companies must determine who caused the accident. The potential for lawsuits in at-fault states can increase accident costs.

Learn more: How to protect yourself from being sued after an accident

Choosing insurance limits in at-fault states

When you live in an at-fault state, your bodily injury coverage limit is an important financial protection. This is because medical costs can be the largest expense after an accident. According to Insurance Information Institute data, the average cost of bodily injury claims in 2023 was more than $26,000. The average property damage claim was much lower at $6,551. In severe accidents, injury and property damage costs can be much higher than these averages.

If your bodily injury liability insurance limit is too low, you will pay out-of-pocket for the overage. With a judgment against you, the other party can put a lien on your home, take funds from your bank accounts, or possibly garnish your wages.

You can minimize the risk of high out-of-pocket costs by carrying high liability limits. Financial experts typically recommend liability limits at least as high as your net worth, which is the value of your assets less the value of your debts.

Learn more: How much car insurance do I need?

At-fault states FAQs

What makes a state a no-fault state?

A state is no-fault when it requires drivers to self-insure for injury-related costs resulting from car accidents. Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance provides this coverage. No-fault states also restrict your right to sue other drivers for injury-related costs.

Am I at fault if I hit a car in front of me because he slammed on his brakes suddenly?

In rear-end collisions, the rear driver is generally assumed to be at fault for following too closely. There can be exceptions, however. A lawyer can help you determine if the front drivers actions contributed to the accident.

Learn more: What to do after a car accident: Your step-by-step guide

Can both parties be at fault in a car accident?

Two drivers can share fault in a car accident. The state laws specify how shared fault affects financial responsibility for resulting damages.

Tim Manni edited this article.
The Fear and Greed Index is leaning far into the Extreme Fear measure. However, if you know anything about such measures of investor angst, you may ask, "Which Fear and Greed Index?"

There is one trusted Wall Street measure of uncertainty  the VIX, a volatility tracker from the Chicago Board Options Exchange  and there are other gauges that measure investor sentiment toward cryptocurrencies and gold.

If you want a sentiment barometer for your portfolio, the investment will determine which Fear and Greed Index you will want to reference.

Read more: Prediction markets: What they are and how they work

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The Fear and Greed Index for stocks

The VIX is the most widely watched measure of volatility in the stock market, and there has been a recent spike in the VIX.

Yahoo Finance Markets and Data Editor Jared Blikre and Asking for a Trend host Josh Lipton provided an overview of market trends, including the VIX, on late Thursday.

"The VIX has been trending higher," Blikre said. "The VIX also historically tends to spike in October and November. So the worst might not be behind us."

However, market volatility is not necessarily the same as "fear and greed." For that, you might look at the CNN Fear and Greed Index, which is showing "Extreme Fear" as of Nov. 21.

CNN's Fear and Greed Index measures:

Market momentum: By tracking 125-trading-day averages of the S&P 500 index.

Stock price strength: This is the number of net new highs or lows on the New York Stock Exchange.

Stock price breadth: This is a measure of stocks on the NYSE that are rising compared to those that are falling.

Put and call option: Puts are options to sell; calls are options to buy. If the ratio of puts to calls is rising, it's a signal of bearish investors.

Market volatility: Using the VIX, if volatility rises, it's a sign of fear.

Safe haven demand: This is a measure of when Treasury bond returns are higher than stocks over 20 trading days.

Junk bond demand: When investors turn to high-yield bonds over government bonds, it's a sign of greed.

The Fear and Greed Index for crypto

While financial advisors may recommend only a sweetener of cryptocurrency to a risk-adjusted portfolio, this is the Fear and Greed Index that gets the most swing for the money. Cryptocurrency has a boom-or-bust mentality that changes frequently.

CoinMarketCap measures crypto market sentiment with its Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which, coincidentally or not, is also in the "Extreme Fear" mode.

CoinMarketCap says it calculates the index using five factors:

Price momentum: This measures price performance of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization (excluding stablecoins).

Volatility: The index measures expected volatility over the next 30 days in the trading of bitcoin and ethereum.

Derivatives market: Like CNN's stock fear index, CMC considers the put/call ratio  but instead of stocks, it's looking at the bitcoin and ethereum options markets.

Market composition: Measures the relative value of bitcoin and that of major stablecoins.

CMC proprietary data: Includes keyword searches, user engagement metrics, retail interest, and emerging trends.

The Fear and Greed Index for gold

Finally, there's the gold Fear and Greed Index. Stock market pessimists have long advocated stashing a pile of gold bars in the basement.

JM Bullion sells precious metals and hosts a Fear and Greed Index for Gold, which is now solidly planted in the Greed quintile.

The price of gold has jumped recently, as the equity and crypto markets have stalled.

JM Bullion states that its fear index considers physical gold price premiums, gold spot price volatility, social media sentiment, retail activity, and Google Trends for gold search terms.

Read more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps

How should fear and greed guide your portfolio?

Of course, the answer is that neither fear nor greed should play a part in investment decisions. While it may be entertaining to know if the world thinks it is on fire or merely burning, your life after work needs to be financed.

Lisa Shalett, wealth management chief investment officer for Morgan Stanley, recommends investors maintain a focus on strategic asset class diversification.

"Real assets, municipal bonds, intermediate-term U.S. treasuries, real estate, and select private infrastructure are our favorite opportunities to add," Shalett said in a Morgan Stanley video insight in October.

"Bull markets are meant to be ridden and not timed, and our foundational advice is to be fully invested according to your strategic asset allocation," she added.

Read more: Create a stock investing strategy in 3 steps
On 27 and 28 November 2025, Luxembourg will welcome the high-level mission of the Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) at Senningen castle. The UHPR is an initiative launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to strengthen countries' preparedness for health emergencies.

The UHPR enables each participating country to thoroughly assess its preparedness capabilities, learn lessons from past crises  notably the COVID-19 pandemic  and identify areas for improvement. The process includes a national review, a high-level mission conducted with the WHO and the European Commission, and a peer review between Member States.

The mission will be attended by:

Martine Deprez, Minister of Health and Social Security,

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, WHO Headquarters

Sandra Gallina, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) at the European Commission,

Dr Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of the Directorate-General for the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) at the European Commission.

Two official observers from Portugal and Sri Lanka.

For two days, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Security will discuss the strengths and challenges of Luxembourg's public health system with experts from the WHO, the European Commission and other Member States.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security
Universal Orlando Resort kicks off its holiday celebration Friday, running daily through Jan. 4, 2026, with festive thrills and experiences for guests.

The celebration features in-park experiences such as Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas, and Universals Holiday Parade featuring Macys.

Guests can immerse themselves in dazzling decor and wizarding splendor across all three wizarding world locations this season, including Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, and, for the first time, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter  Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe.

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The Miss Universe pageant took place in Thailand on Friday local time.

The 2025 winner, Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, was crowned after some drama-filled weeks for the pageant.

The Miss Universe Organization has been no stranger to controversy since its inception.

A new Miss Universe has officially been crowned.

Over 100 women gathered in Bangkok in November to compete for the Miss Universe title, strutting on the stage in ball gowns, swimsuits, and costumes. The competition concluded on Friday morning local time, with Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch being crowned the new winner.

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The weeks leading up to the finale were full of drama, from a contestant falling off the stage to a pageant director yelling at Bosch.

However, scandal isn't unfamiliar to the Miss Universe Organization, which has had its share of ups and downs since its inception in 1952.

Take a look back at some of the most controversial moments in the pageant's history.

Mary Leona Gage wasn't allowed to compete at Miss Universe in 1957 after judges discovered she had lied during Miss USA.

Miss USA 1957. Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images

Mary Leona Gage won the Miss USA pageant in 1957 and was supposed to represent the United States at Miss Universe.

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However, as The Baltimore Sun reported, Gage's title and crown were revoked the day after she won the pageant because the Miss Universe organization discovered that she was married, had two children, and had lied about being 18 when she was actually 21. The pageant did not allow contestants to be married or have children until 2023.

In 2005, Gage told The Baltimore Sun that she had competed in the Miss USA pageant in the hopes of escaping her husband, whom she had married at the age of 14.

Bob Barker resigned as host of the pageant after 21 years in 1987.

Bob Barker and Miss Universe 1985. PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images

Bob Barker served as host of both the Miss USA pageant and the Miss Universe pageant from 1966 to 1987.

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But Barker was a staunch animal rights activist, so he took issue with the Miss Universe organization giving Miss USA and Miss Universe contestants fur coats as part of their prizes, as The Los Angeles Times reported. In 1987, he told the organization that he would not host the events in the future if the pageant continued to give contestants fur coats as part of their prize winnings.

The organization agreed to substitute the coats for faux fur options in 1987, so Barker hosted both pageants.

However, in 1988, Miss Universe planned to offer contestants fur coats again, so Barker resigned as host for good, The New York Times reported.

In 1994, the pageant stripped Miss Puerto Rico of her title after she competed at Miss Universe.

MIGUELITO PARCERO / Staff / Getty Images

As the Orlando Sentinel reported, Brenda Robles was secretly pregnant when she competed at the Miss Universe pageant, and the organization revoked her Miss Puerto Rico title and crown when they discovered she was with child.

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The outgoing Miss Universe, Dayanara Torres, was also from Puerto Rico. She crowned Miss India Sushmita Sen during the 1994 pageant.

Donald Trump criticized Miss Universe Alicia Machado after she won the pageant in 1996.

Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Machado was crowned Miss Venezuela in 1995 before going on to win the 1996 Miss Universe pageant. She was just 18 years old at the time.

As The New York Times reported in 2016, Machado gained weight after she was crowned queen. She said she requested emotional and medical support from the pageant and was then made to exercise in front of the press by the Miss Universe Organization and Donald Trump, who was an executive producer for the pageant at the time.

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"This is somebody who likes to eat," he told reporters of Machado during the incident.

After Hillary Clinton pointed to Trump's criticism of Machado  saying he called her "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping" because of her Venezuelan heritage  during a 2016 presidential debate, Trump stood behind his statements, as Business Insider previously reported. During a September 2016 "Fox and Friends" segment, he said Machado "gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem."

Machado responded to Trump in a press conference organized by Clinton's campaign, saying she developed bulimia and anorexia because of Trump's treatment.

"He always treated me like garbage," she said.

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Miss Lebanon dropped out of the pageant in 2002 because of global politics.

Getty Images/Staff

Christina Sawaya was crowned Miss Lebanon in 2002. But unlike other champions that year, she did not go on to appear at the Miss Universe pageant.

As CNN reported, Sawaya wanted to avoid competing alongside Miss Israel amid mounting tensions between the countries.

In 2008, Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Marie Rivera alleged that her makeup and clothes were pepper-sprayed during the pageant.

Ali Paige Goldstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Ingrid Marie Rivera was crowned Miss Puerto Rico in 2008.

But after she won, Rivera said someone covered her evening gown and makeup for the pageant in pepper spray, The Associated Press reported. She said she broke out in hives and had to apply ice packs all over her body after the competition.

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The AP reported that an investigation found that one of Rivera's evening gowns and her swimsuit tested positive for pepper spray, and investigators believed two pageant employees were likely responsible for the incident.

Rivera went on to compete at Miss Universe, but Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela won the top prize.

Jenna Talackova planned to sue so she could compete in the 2012 Miss Canada pageant.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Jenna Talackova wanted to compete in the 2012 Miss Canada pageant, which feeds into Miss Universe. But Talackova was initially barred from competing because she is transgender, CNN reported at the time.

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Talackova hired women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred to challenge the pageant's rule, but the pageant decided to change its policy in April 2012.

Talackova ended up participating in the 2012 Miss Canada pageant, but Sahar Biniaz beat her for the crown and went on to compete at Miss Universe. Olivia Culpo won the title while representing the USA that year.

Donald Trump's nearly 20-year run at Miss Universe came to an end in 2015 following comments he made about immigrants during his presidential campaign.

Donald Trump with (from L-R) Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori, Miss Tanzania 2007 Flaviana Matata, Miss Kosovo 2009 Marigona Dragusha, and Miss Kosovo 2008 Zana Krasniqi on July 27, 2011 in New York City. D Dipasupil/WireImage/Getty Images

After Trump referred to Mexican immigrants as "rapists" during a June 2015 speech, NBC and Univision decided not to air the Miss USA 2015 pageant . The competition instead aired on the Reelz channel, where it drew 4 million fewer viewers than in 2014.

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Trump sued NBCUniversal for breach of contract but ultimately bought out the network's share of their joint venture  which had begun in 2002  and then sold Miss Universe to WME/IMG, which held onto the company until Anne Jakrajutatip bought it in October 2022.

In a 2018 New Yorker piece titled Trump's Miss Universe Gambit, a number of contestants spoke about what it was like to compete during the Trump era. Some contestants said Trump told them he selected nine of the top 15 for every competition, and that the finalists often came from countries with which Trump was doing business  or wanted to do business.

A Miss Universe spokesperson told The New Yorker at the time that Trump and other pageant staff members were allowed to participate in naming finalists, per the pageant's rules.

In 2015, Steve Harvey crowned the wrong winner.

Steve Marcus/Reuters

From asking a contestant to meow onstage to making jokes about the cartel , Steve Harvey had plenty of gaffes during his five-year stint as the host of Miss Universe .

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But no moment was bigger than when he accidentally crowned the wrong winner during the December 2015 pageant.

Harvey initially announced that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez had won the title of Miss Universe. But after the crown was placed on Gutierrez's head and the Miss Universe sash was draped over her shoulders, Harvey revealed there had been a mistake  the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Harvey, who was hosting Miss Universe for the first time, took responsibility for the mix-up. He later told Kevin Hart in a 2021 interview that the scandal was "the worst week of my life."

Miss Puerto Rico 2016 lost her crown after telling reporters, "I just do not like cameras."

Miss Puerto Rico 2016 Kristhielee Caride during her trial against the organization. GV Cruz/WireImage

Kristhielee Caride sued the Miss Universe Puerto Rico organization for $3 million after she was stripped of her title before the Miss Universe 2016 pageant.

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In March 2016, it was announced that Caride would no longer represent Puerto Rico after she canceled appearances and refused to answer questions during an interview with reporters, the Daily Mail reported .

Caride shocked the national organization when she told one Puerto Rican newspaper, "I just do not like cameras."

Desiree Lowry, who was the national director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico, held a press conference to announce Caride's replacement. She said Caride informed her she was going through personal issues at the time, but that she canceled other appearances and did not apologize to the newspaper.

"Miss Puerto Rico is a public figure and part of your job is to be in front of the camera," Lowry said.

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Caride sued the organization months later, and the weeklong trial gripped the country, according to the BBC . The lawsuit was dismissed after a judge ruled that Caride had violated the terms of her contract.

Miss USA, Miss Australia, and Miss Colombia were accused of bullying contestants during the 2018 competition.

2018 MISS USA: Winner: Miss Nebraska, Sarah Rose Summers (C) is named MISS USA at the 2018 MISS USA Competition airing Monday, May 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT on FOX) FOX via Getty Images

Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers , Miss Australia Francesca Hung, and Miss Colombia Valeria Morales were criticized for a video they made during the final day of rehearsals.

In the clips, Summers said Miss Vietnam H'Hen Nie was "so cute" and "pretends to know so much English," according to People . She also mentioned that Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat didn't speak any English and "not a single person here speaks her language."

"Can you imagine?" Summers continued. "Francesca said that it would be very isolating, and I think yes, and just confusing all the time."

Social media users accused the three pageant queens of bullying Miss Cambodia and Miss Vietnam. Summers later issued an apology on Instagram and shared a photo of herself , Morales, and Hung hugging Sinat and Nie.

"In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realize can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologize," Summers said. "I would never intend to hurt another."

Miss Peru 2019 lost her crown after a leaked video showed her during a night of partying.

FOX via Getty Images

Miss Peru 2019 Anyella Grados was stripped of her title in March 2019 when a video emerged that appeared to show her drunk and vomiting, the Daily Mail reported at the time.

The video was recorded by Miss Teen Peru 2018 Camila Canicoba. Yoko Chang, who had placed second runner-up in the Miss Peru 2019 competition, also appeared in the video.

Canicoba told Peruvian outlets at the time that she had accidentally uploaded the video to social media and only meant to share it privately.

The Miss Peru organization cut ties with Grados.

Grados released a statement after she was stripped of her title and said the video had been filmed without her consent and "impinged against my honor and my reputation."

Miss Bolivia 2022 Maria Fernanda Pavisic lost her crown due to comments she made about other Miss Universe contestants.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Less than two months before the 71st Miss Universe competition took place in January, Miss Bolivia 2022 Maria Fernanda Pavisic posted a video on her Instagram story in which she discussed her Miss Universe competitors.

She said Miss Paraguay, Miss Brazil, and Miss El Salvador looked like "old ladies," that Miss Venezuela and Miss Peru resembled "transsexuals," and that Miss Ecuador, Miss Aruba, and Miss Curacao belonged in the "thanks for participating" category, the Daily Mail reported .

After she was criticized for her remarks, Pavisic said that the comments were a social experiment designed to "generate change" and inspire people to share positive content on social media.

"People decide to support the negative, but I risked everything to leave a message," she wrote. "I have always said that it does not matter what people say about you, instead what you think of yourself."

But her explanation wasn't enough for the Miss Bolivia organization, which stripped Pavisic of her title and found a replacement a month before the competition.

Miss Russia 2022 Anna Linnikova said she was "shunned" by contestants during the 71st Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Russia is 22. The Miss Universe Organization

Miss Russia 2022 Anna Linnikova told Evening Moscow in January 2023 that many contestants avoided her during the competition after "learning about my origins" and that Miss Ukraine and Miss Switzerland "simply ran from me like fire!"

Linnikova said she had tried to make contact with Miss Ukraine Viktoria Apanasenko, "but all efforts were in vain."

Apanasenko had previously told the Daily Beast that the only time Linnikova approached her was to try to take a selfie.

"Miss Russia did not say a word about the war," she said. "People told me it would be dangerous for her."

Apanasenko also told the site that she struggled to stand on the same stage with Linnikova, who wore a "Crown of Russian Empire" outfit during the national costume contest .

"I am not sure the organizers understood what it felt like for me to be standing and smiling on the same stage with Miss Russia, who was wearing a red dress, the color of blood," she added.

In 2024, the CEO of Miss Universe at the time, Anne Jakrajutatip, received backlash after praising the winner for her "blond hair and blue eyes."

Anne Jakrajutatip at the 72nd annual Miss Universe pageant. Alex Pena/Getty Images

Anne Jakrajutatip became CEO of Miss Universe in 2022 after buying the organization with her JKN Global Group for $20 million. She promised to center women in her reign, saying in 2023, "From now on it's going to be run by women, owned by a trans woman, for all women around the world."

However, her tenure as CEO was marked by several hiccups.

In 2024, Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark was crowned Miss Universe. In a press conference following her win, Jakrajutatip indicated that Theilvig represented the ultimate "evolution" of the pageant in response to a question from a reporter, as seen in a clip on Instagram.

"We have blond and blue eyes, so we're coming to the ultimate evolution already," she said. "We don't need any more evolution here. We already got the best here."

Some pageant contestants criticized Jakrajutatip, while others said they weren't offended by her remarks.

The comments followed an October 2023 video, obtained by Business Insider, in which Jakrajutatip said diverse contestants "can compete, but they can't win." She later said in a statement on Facebook that she was referring to a Miss Universe reality show, not the pageant, with her comment.

Jakrajutatip was also accused of trying to meddle with the pageant results during her tenure.

A former Miss Universe judge told Business Insider that in 2023, Jakrajutatip tried to pressure Paula Shugart, the longtime president of Miss Universe, to put Miss Thailand in the top five. Shugart resigned from the organization during the 2023 pageant.

Jakrajutatip didn't respond to a request for comment at the time and never publicly addressed the allegation.

Miss Universe announced it had replaced Jakrajutatip as CEO just days before the 2025 pageant.

Josh Brasted/Getty Images

On October 29, less than a week before the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was set to begin, the organization announced that Jakrajutatip had been replaced as CEO.

The organization said Mario Bucaro would step into the role in her place. Bucaro was previously a diplomat, and he served as vice president for international relations at Miss Universe.

"The Board of the Miss Universe Organization expresses its full confidence in Mario Bucaro's leadership to guide the organization into a new era of growth and global influence," the organization said in its announcement about Bucaro. "His vision of Miss Universe as a worldwide movement that celebrates authenticity, transformation, and empowerment will continue to unite cultures, expand opportunities for women, and elevate the values that define our brand."

The organization also said Bucaro would help Miss Universe expand its reach to over 130 countries.

The regime change occurred after Jakrajutatip and JKN Global faced financial difficulties throughout her tenure as CEO. She made headlines when JKN Global missed a payment in 2023, and in June 2025, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against JKN Global. The complaint alleged Jakrajutatip and her sister had included misleading information on both their 2023 financial statements and paperwork for Q1 of 2024.

In its statement about Bucaro's new role, Miss Universe said Jakrajutatip had stepped down as CEO on June 20.

Jakrajutatip and the Miss Universe Organization didn't respond to requests for comment on the role changes and financial issues.

During the 2025 pageant, contestants walked out after the director of Miss Universe Thailand yelled at Miss Mexico.

Miss Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil with Miss Universe 2025 contestants. Courtesy of Miss Universe

Nawat Itsaragrisil was named director of Miss Universe Thailand and host for the 2025 pageant, which took place in Bangkok.

On November 4, Itsaragrisil was captured on Miss Universe Thailand's Facebook livestream berating Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch and criticizing her team over a sponsorship event. He called security to remove Bosch, leading several other Miss Universe contestants and Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjr Theilvig to walk out of the room.

Pageant queens told Business Insider they weren't surprised by Itsaragrisil's behavior.

After the footage of the incident went viral, Miss Universe president Raul Rocha announced Itsaragrisil would be restricted from the pageant, and Itsaragrisil issued an apology. However, he appeared at multiple Miss Universe events  including the finals, where Bosch was crowned Miss Universe  following his confrontation with the pageant queen.

Itsaragrisil and Miss Universe did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

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The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant is taking place in Thailand on Friday morning local time.

Former Miss Universe contestants have become famous after competing in the pageant.

Some became actors and TV personalities, like Olivia Culpo and Gal Gadot.

Women from around the world have gathered in Thailand to compete for the most prestigious pageant title: Miss Universe.

The 74-year-old competition is considered to be a powerful stepping stone, helping many past contestants find fame  even if they didn't win the crown.

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From reality TV to the big screen, here are some of the celebrities who have competed for Miss Universe.

Kenya Moore represented the United States at the 1993 Miss Universe pageant.

Ron Galella/Getty Images

Moore won Miss USA while representing Michigan, becoming the second Black woman to ever win the pageant.

She placed in the top six at Miss Universe, while Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico took home the crown.

After her Miss USA reign came to an end, Moore appeared on television shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Living Single," but today, she's best known for her extensive career in reality television.

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Moore was a longtime cast member on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," and she's appeared on other reality shows, including "The Apprentice" and "Dancing With the Stars."

Ali Landry competed at Miss Universe in 1996.

Miss USA 1996 Ali Landry. MISS UNIVERSE/ho/AFP via Getty Images

Landry won the Miss Louisiana and Miss USA pageants in 1996, earning her a spot at that year's Miss Universe competition.

Like Moore, she placed in the top six at the pageant but did not win. Alicia Machado of Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe that year.

Landry also pursued acting after her pageant career, gaining fame from appearing in a Doritos ad that aired during the 1999 Super Bowl and starring as Rita Lefleur on "EVE" from 2003 to 2006. She was also in the divisive 2023 film "Sound of Freedom."

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Gal Gadot represented Israel when she competed in the Miss Universe pageant.

MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images

Gadot was crowned Miss Israel in 2004. She went on to compete for her home country at Miss Universe the same year, but she didn't place among the top 10 during the pageant. The Miss Universe crown went to Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.

After her Miss Israel win, Gadot enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces from 2004 to 2006 before she pursued a career in acting. As her IMDb page notes, Gadot's role as Gisele in 2009's "Fast and Furious" propelled her to fame. She's gone on to appear in American and Israeli films, most notably starring as the titular character in 2017's "Wonder Woman" and other films in the DC universe. She most recently appeared in Disney's live-action version of "Snow White."

Gadot also stirred up controversy in Hollywood in 2020 when she spearheaded a now-notorious video of celebrities singing "Imagine" at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Former Miss USA president Crystle Stewart competed at Miss Universe in 2008.

Crystle Stewart after winning the Miss USA pageant in 2008. Denise Truscello/WireImage

Stewart first gained fame when she won Miss USA in 2008 while representing Texas.

When she competed at Miss Universe that year, Stewart made it to the top 10 but fell during the evening gown round of the competition. Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela won the crown.

After her Miss USA win, Stewart went into acting, as her IMDb page notes. Her most notable role was Leslie Morris in the TBS and OWN series "For Better or Worse," which aired from 2011 to 2017.

Stewart returned to the pageant world in 2020, becoming president of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. She was suspended from her position in November 2022 after multiple contestants said the pageant was rigged in favor of R'Bonney Gabriel, who went on to win Miss Universe in January 2023.

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An investigation found no evidence that the Miss USA pageant was fixed, but Miss Universe announced that Stewart was parting ways with the organization permanently in August 2023.

She is currently starring in Tyler Perry's Netflix series "Beauty in Black."

Olivia Culpo won the 2012 Miss Universe pageant.

Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe in 2012. David Becker/Getty Images

Culpo became the first Miss USA to win Miss Universe in 15 years when she took the crown in 2012. She competed in her very first pageant, Miss Rhode Island USA, and then went on to win Miss USA and Miss Universe that same year.

She turned to Hollywood after her reign, appearing in films including "The Other Woman" with Cameron Diaz in 2014 and "I Feel Pretty" with Amy Schumer in 2018, according to her IMDb page.

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In 2022, Culpo starred in the TLC reality show "The Culpo Sisters" with her family.

Culpo is now a successful Instagram influencer with more than 5 million followers. She is also married to the San Francisco 49ers player Christian McCaffrey. The couple welcomed their first child in July.

Catriona Gray represented the Philippines when she won Miss Universe in 2018.

Miss Universe Catriona Gray Lillian Suwanrumpha/Getty Images

Gray was already a decorated pageant queen before she won Miss Universe in 2018. She competed at Miss World 2016 for the Philippines, placing in the top five, and is the first Filipino to represent the country at both Miss World and Miss Universe.

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Gray went viral during the Miss Universe 2018 pageant thanks to her "lava walk," which won praise from supermodels Tyra Banks and Ashley Graham.

After her reign, Gray went on to host and perform on the Philippines musical variety show "Sunday Noontime Live!"

She has also been a backstage correspondent for the Miss Universe competition.

Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst ranked in the top 10 at Miss Universe.

Miss USA Cheslie Kryst appears onstage at the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Para Griffin/Getty Images

Kryst won Miss USA in 2019 while representing North Carolina and placed in the top 10 at Miss Universe. Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa took home the crown and became Kryst's roommate in New York City that year.

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Kryst and Tunzi helped make history, as 2019 was the first time Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss Universe, and Miss America had all been won by women of color.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kryst became the longest-reigning Miss USA titleholder in the pageant's history at 557 days.

Kryst was a complex-litigation attorney before her Miss USA reign and once helped free a client who had been sentenced to life in prison. She became a correspondent for "Extra" and received two Daytime Emmy nominations.

Kryst died on January 30, 2022, at the age of 30.

Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA 2023 and placed in the top 20 at Miss Universe.

Miss Utah Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA in 2023. Miss USA

Voigt won Miss USA in September 2023, where she competed as Miss Utah. She placed in the top 20 at Miss Universe, while R'Bonney Gabriel crowned Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua as the new queen.

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Voigt was set to finish her tenure as Miss USA following the pageant, but in May 2024, she announced her resignation. Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava followed suit just two days later.

Voigt's and Srivastava's mothers told Business Insider at the time that their daughters were bullied by Laylah Rose, who was president and CEO of Miss USA from August 2023 to September 2025.

Representatives for Rose and Miss USA did not respond to a previous request for comment on the mothers' statements. However, Miss USA told ABC News at the time that it was "committed to fostering a healthy, communicative, and supportive environment for all contestants, state titleholders, national titleholders, and staff."

Voigt's resignation and the controversy surrounding the pageant were covered by news outlets worldwide, making her a household name. Voigt said Bella Hadid told her she was "inspired" by the pageant queen's decision to step down when they met at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEED TO KNOW

Michael B. Jordan was honored at the 39th American Cinematheque Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Thursday, Nov. 20

Ben Affleck paid tribute to the actor at the event, praising their friendship in a speech onstage

"Your friendship has meant an enormous amount to me, probably more than you know," said Affleck

Michael B. Jordan received an evening of tributes from some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

The actor-director, 38, was honored at the 39th American Cinematheque Awards ceremony held at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Thursday, Nov. 20.

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Sinners director Ryan Coogler, a frequent collaborator of Jordan's, honored Jordan at the event, as did his Creed costar Tessa Thompson, his Fruitvale Station onscreen mom Octavia Spencer, friend Bradley Cooper, Phylicia Rashad, Daniel Kaluuya and more. Tom Cruise and Angela Bassett also shared video messages celebrating Jordan.

During the night, Ben Affleck took to the podium, praising his friendship with Jordan as a highlight of his Hollywood career.

"It is a genuine honor and a personal joy to be here tonight to help celebrate an actor, director, a human being who I've been a fan and a friend of for a long time now, in a very worthy 2025 award ceremony," said Affleck, 53.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Ben Affleck Ben Affleck

Affleck said when he saw Jordan's true-story drama Fruitvale Station back in 2013, he was "blown away by that incredible performance, and I rank it as a life-changing movie I will never forget seeing."

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"I immediately thought, 'My God, this guy is a huge movie star,' and I couldn't shake it," recalled Affleck. "I remember thinking and remembering that when I broke into the business, if I hadn't had a friend who I trust, who I could talk to and could kind of relate to, to how crazy the world seemed overnight, I honestly don't know what I would've done."

"So," he continued, "I took a shot, and I reached out to Michael."

Affleck said he told Jordan back then that he's "got a giant career ahead of him" and "I would be honored if he would want to sit down and talk to me sometime."

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Michael B. Jordan Michael B. Jordan

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"I told him that the only deal was I would never ask him for anything. I would never repeat anything he told me. I would always tell him the truth," Affleck said. "Luckily, he called me. From time to time, we talk. In retrospect, it's clear to me those conversations were much more valuable to me than they were to him."

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Affleck said he was excited to gain a "front-row seat to a young man with enormous talent," saying of Jordan, "I got to watch him navigate this world with grace and aplomb, and it's been one of the great joys of my career."

Affleck commended Jordan for his "profound goodness" and "amazing work ethic," plus his "fundamental decency, and his warm stride to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals is all his."

"It has been a tremendous pleasure," said Affleck, "and honor to watch Michael's success story unfold, share some of his journey as he's become not just one of our best and most exciting actors, but also as he's established himself as an extraordinary director, producer, powerhouse on the screen."

Concluding his speech, Affleck told Jordan, "Your friendship has meant an enormous amount to me, probably more than you know, and it has been truly one of the great, great, wonderful gifts that this opportunity here has given me. I tip my hat to you. I respect you. I admire you. You deserve all this. Congratulations."

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In 2023, Affleck and Jordan sat down for Variety's "Directors on Directors" series, when Jordan recalled words of wisdom from Affleck and Matt Damon.

"Fruitvale Station had premiered at Sundance, and I remember you and Matt were basically like, 'Mike, your life is getting ready to change.' From there, it was just like a big brother/little brother kind of relationship. That meant a lot, man," said Jordan.

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Doughnut updos and bombshell waves dominated the Miss Universe 2025 stage on Friday during the grand finale in Bangkok, Thailand, where 120 contestants vied for the title, and only 30 made it past the first round.

The majority of women  such as Miss Universe China, Zhao Na, and the newly-crowned Miss Universe 2025 winner, Fatima Bosch of Mexico  opted for blowouts with combed-through curls courtesy of lead hair director Juan Trejos and his team. Lina Luaces of Cuba and Jennifer Ventura of the Dominican Republic, however, moved to the beat of their own beauty, donning slicked ponytail extensions. Several contestants  such as Miss Universe Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, and Miss Universe Cote dIvoire, Olivia Yace  switched from the big blowout to a braided bun for the third stage walk.

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When it came to makeup, most contestants stuck with the same look throughout the competition, painting their lips in nude and pale pink hues and their eyes in pearly shadow thanks to Yamileth Paduani, the Miss Universe color cosmetics team lead. Indeed, Ventura went against the status quo, donning a scarlet red lip, as did Nadeen Ayoub of Palestine.

Ahead, WWD breaks down the best beauty moments from the grand finale competition.

Fatima Bosch (Mexico)

TOPSHOT - Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Before being crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch graced the pageant stage with wide barrel curls and a rose-taupe gloss. Meanwhile, her eyes were accentuated with black shadow on her lids and under waterlines, as well as wispy lash extensions. Boschs eyebrows were kept full, undercut by a gold-toned shimmer that appeared as if it were wet.

Yanina Gomez (Paraguay) and Itza Castillo (Nicaragua)

Yanina Gomez of Paraguay and Itza Castillo of Nicaragua at the Miss Universe 2025 finale competition.

Yanina Gomez of Paraguay and Itza Castillo of Nicaragua graced the Miss Universe 2025 stage in the top 30 lineup with slicked ponytails. Both Gomez and Castillo donned long, dark brown extensions protruding from the back of their heads.

Eve Gilles (France)

Miss France Eve Gilles takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Miss Universe France, Eve Gilles, stood out amongst her contestants, styling a short pixie cut and dark fringe. She did, however, follow suit with the makeup trends, dressing her lips in a nude gloss. Her eyebrows were plucked thin and undercut by metallic-hued highlighter that matched her opening outfit.

Ophely Mezino (Guadeloupe)

Miss Guadeloupe Ophely Mezino takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Ophely Mezino of Guadeloupe stepped out on the Miss Universe 2025 grand finale stage with full hair and a rose taupe lip. Her eyes were dressed in a pearly shimmer with smoked-out shadow and thick black eyeliner in the shape of a cat-eye. Meanwhile, the high points of her cheeks and the tip of her nose were dotted with a touch of highlighter.

Olivia Yace (Cote dIvoire)

Miss Ivory Coast Olivia Yace takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Miss Universe Cote dIvoire, Olivia Yace, kicked off the competition with brushed-through curls parted to the right of her face. Her nails were kept at a natural length and dressed in a milky pink hue. Yace mirrored the glitz of her fashion with a light sparkle on her lids and in her inner corners.

Audrey Eckert (USA)

Miss USA Audrey Eckert takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Miss USA, Audrey Eckert, appeared like the quintessential Victorias Secret Fashion Show angel with her silky waves and a soft smoky eye, comprised of rose-colored shimmer auburn shadow. Her lips were left untouched, accentuated only by a neutral liner and clear gloss. Eckerts cheeks were lightly contoured with pops of pink blush, and her nails were painted in a square-shaped French tip.

Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)

Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Miss Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, switches from her long blowout to a braided updo on the crown of her head for the evening gown portion of the pageant. Here, her glam is updated with a bolder lip and fresh gloss. Manalos brown, smoky eye is prominent; the shadow dragged from the outer corners of her eyes and onto her lids.

Zhao Na (China)

Miss China Zhao Na takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Zhao Na of China set her inky black hair to the side of her face with wide curls creating movement throughout. Her cheeks were lightly flushed with a peach-toned blush, while her bottom lash line boasted a gold shimmer.

Miss Universe 2025: Best Beauty Moments

Miss Universe 2025: Best Beauty Moments

Miss Universe 2025: Best Beauty Moments

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Brendan Fraser is reflecting on the cultural differences he noticed between Japan and the United States.

After spending four months living and working overseas, the Oscar winner shared a candid  and often lighthearted  take on American culture.

During his appearance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," the host asked the actor, "How was your reintroduction to American culture?"

The Whale Star Brendan Fraser Reflects On Emotional Hollywood Comeback: I Just Broke Out Crying

After spending four months living and working overseas, the Oscar winner shared a candid  and often lighthearted  take on American culture.

Fraser responded with a laugh, "I got back and I went, Were doing it wrong."

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He followed up by adding, "We dont know how to eat  public transport  we dont have no jetpacks yet. I think we could work on our manners a little bit more."

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The audience laughed and applauded throughout his remarks.

(L-R) Julia Lebedev, Brendan Fraser, Shannon Gorman, Mari Yamamoto, HIKARI, Akira Emoto, Takehiro Hira, and Eddie Vaisman attend the "Rental Family" Los Angeles premiere.

Fraser continued joking that America could take a page  or several  from Japans playbook.

He pointed to some of the differences he observed in day-to-day interactions, noting, "Its anathema to a Japanese person to burden someone else with their troubles  and also saying no to someone is a real circuitous sort of maybe not today, or perhaps we should try something else."

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His comments come as he promotes his latest film, "Rental Family," in which he plays an American actor embedded in Japans "rental family" industry  a real-world service where people can hire stand-ins for emotional or social needs.

The role immersed Fraser deeply in Japanese daily life and etiquette.

Fraser said that exploring Japan on foot helped him connect more deeply with the experience.

"The Whale" star has described living in Tokyo as both "eye-opening" and transformative.

In a separate interview, he explained that the project allowed him to explore new territory as both an actor and a visitor.

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"I love the aspect of making discoveries," Fraser told People.

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That sense of discovery extended to his character, Phillip Vandarploeug, and his own time overseas.

Fraser said he arrived early in Japan to absorb the culture.

"I took the time to come in early enough to feel like I had my own Tokyo story to tell," he shared.

He added that exploring the city on foot helped him connect more deeply with the experience.

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During his appearance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," the host asked the actor, "How was your reintroduction to American culture?"

Adam Sandler Gives Jennifer Aniston's New Romance His Public Blessing At Hollywood Event

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"I spent enough time wandering the streets with my pocket translator trying to talk to anybody," he recalled.

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The firsthand immersion, he said, "was one of the most eye-opening experiences Ive had in my career."

"Rental Family" is scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 21.





Original article source: Brendan Fraser says America is doing it wrong compared to Japan after 'eye-opening' experience
(Photo by Guam Restoration of Watersheds, courtesy of Guam Visitors Bureau)



Join the movement to restore Guams natural beauty and protect our vital water resources.

The Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) initiative invites the community to a hands-on sustainable tree-planting event in the Ugum Watershed. This effort is dedicated to preserving the islands ecosystem, reducing soil erosion, and protecting our coral reefs from sediment runoff.

Whether you are a student, a family looking for a meaningful weekend activity, or an eco-conscious resident, your help is needed to plant the future of Inalahan.

Event Details

Event Name: GROW in Malojloj

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM

Location: Ugum Watershed, Inalahan

Why Participate?

By volunteering for this event, you are directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Climate Action (Goal 13): Trees sequester carbon and help regulate local temperatures.

Life Below Water (Goal 14): Stabilizing the soil prevents runoff, keeping our rivers and bays clean for marine life.

Life on Land (Goal 15): Reforestation restores habitats for native wildlife.

Directions to the Site

Please refer to the map graphic for visual guidance. The planting site is accessible via the road leading toward the Layon Landfill.

Travel south on Route 4 past the Talofofo Bay and Transfer Station.

Pass McKrauts and the 76 Circle K station in Malojloj.

Turn inland toward the Solar Fields.

Follow the signs past the Talofofo Falls turnoff.

Proceed toward the designated GROW site marked near the Layon Landfill area.

Partners and Sponsors

This event is made possible through the collaboration of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability, UOG Sea Grant, Guam Green Growth, Calvos Insurance, USDA, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Chadwick Boseman has finally earned his spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

According to ABC 7, the late actor received a posthumous star on the landmark, an honor that gathered his friends and family for an emotional ceremony honoring the late actors life and work, on Thursday. Several of Bosemans former co-stars and collaborators were in attendance, including Ryan Coogler, Viola Davis, Letitia Wright and others.

Read on for more about the ceremony and how those close to Boseman remember the late actor.

Derrick Boseman, Taylor Simone Ledward and Kevin Boseman attend as Actor Chadwick Boseman is honored with a Posthumous Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20, 2025 in Hollywood, California. | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Letitia Wright, Taylor Simone Ledward and Michael B. Jordan attend as Actor Chadwick Boseman is honored with a Posthumous Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20, 2025 in Hollywood, California. | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Chadwick Bosemans star is seen as Actor Chadwick Boseman is honored with a Posthumous Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20, 2025 in Hollywood, California. | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Kevin Boseman (L), Derrick Boseman (C) and guests attend as Actor Chadwick Boseman is honored with a Posthumous Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20, 2025 in Hollywood, California. | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

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Coogler described Boseman as our most incredible jewel

Many of Bosemans co-stars shared tributes to the late actor during the ceremony. Coogler, who worked with the actor on the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther, recalled his physical strength and described him as our most incredible jewel.

Theres something special about being that close to somebody that great. You realize how much you dont measure up, but you also realize how much a human body is capable of, he said, ABC 7 reported. Chad showed that every day. And his generosity extended to, the fact that even when he knew his days were limited and his moments were numbered, he still gave to the art form, he still threw himself into the fire.

Davis, who starred in Ma Raineys Black Bottom with Boseman in 2020, recalled how he channeled the divine.

Chadwick was a mighty, mighty elixir that sort of stirred up that alchemy that were all in search of, which is meaning, the Oscar winner said, per ABC 7.

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She added, I celebrate him today, and I say to him, I hoped all the angels in heaven just sang him to a beautiful rest. And I thank him for what he left behind in me, which is a burning ember that always guides me to a higher meaning of my work and my purpose.

Bosemans family also remembered the late actor during the ceremony. Bosemans wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, reflected on who he was off-screen.

In life, Chad was more than an actor, or even an artist, he was a spiritual teacher, fortified by a family and close friends that kept him grounded in faith, she said, according to ABC 7.

She continued, Chad taught all of us a great deal. His heart was so vast, he could give each and every person a specific part of him and still have so much left to share with the world.

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Bosemans brothers, Derrick Boseman and Kevin Bosema,n also attended the ceremony.

Nyongo told Variety the location of Bosemans star is aptly fit for a king

Ahead of the ceremony, Nyongo opened up to Variety about the cosmic placement of Bosemans monument near the Dolby Theatre, where Black Panther held its premiere.

It means it wont be missed. A place of prominence for a king, she told the outlet.

Nyongo later reflected on Bosemans spirit, which she said seemed almost invincible.

I think thats what really shattered so many of our hearts because it hadnt occurred to me that Chadwick could die, she said.

The Us star also recalled the charmed time she and Boseman had while making Black Panther, but also discussed how it was hard work. She said Boseman was up for the challenge.

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He was a learner. He was observant. He rolled up his sleeves and did the work, and he was very generous, she told Variety of how they practiced the Wakandans Xhosa dialect in the Marvel film. He wasnt coasting through. He was finding it as much as we were, and he was doing it elegantly, of course, but he would blunder. So, youre seeing a great person at work, but he doesnt stop being human. After a pause, Nyongo added, He never stopped being human.







The post Chadwick Boseman Receives Posthumous Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame; Honored By Viola Davis, Michael B. Jordan And More appeared first on Blavity.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys relationship has often been under media scrutiny. Many reports have suggested that the personal life of the royal couple is hitting a rough patch. But sources say that despite all the ups and downs, its the constant drama that is keeping the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs relationship going.

Constant drama keeps Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys relationship going, claims source

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles relationship has always been in the limelight. However, many insiders have recently claimed that its falling apart over his alleged willingness to return to the United Kingdom. Sources have told RadarOnline that the one thing that is still holding their relationship together is the drama that ensues every now and then.

One longtime friend told the outlet, There have been periods when the turmoil never seemed to stop, and strangely, it kept them united. But instead of giving up, the Sussexes have learned to function within the chaos. Constant drama and chaos and mayhem seems to be all that is tying them together at the moment, claimed the source.

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Another source close to the royal couple also voiced the same. As per the individual, Harry and Markle have grown so used to being under fire that, bizarrely, the strain keeps them in step.They feel like theyre the only ones the other can truly depend on. There have been long stretches when it has genuinely felt like Meghan and Harry versus everyone else, claimed the insider.

The person further added that the duke has taken a fiercely protective stance toward his wife since the beginning. However, the source believed that has developed into a pattern of them separately and together creating chaos for themselves and others, then reveling in it and being brought close by their misbehavior and betrayals of the royal family.

But, it seems the couple has been drifting apart over Harrys willingness to return to the U.K. and Markles Netflix deal. These Netflix projects are really pulling Harry and Meghan onto separate paths, claimed a source. Meghan is throwing herself into Hollywood, while Harrys focus is drifting back toward the UK and the world he walked away from. Due to this, the prince sometimes feels sidelined in their brand, and its putting a serious strain on things. The source confided, This pair is now divorced creatively and could be soon divorced legally.

The post Chaos Keeps Meghan Markle & Prince Harrys Marriage Alive  Source appeared first on Reality Tea.
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson are not returning to HGTV with their series, Married to Real Estate, but they still had a big reason to celebrate recently.

On November 18, Sherrod took to Instagram to gush over her latest achievements. She began, "Still on cloud nine!"

Related: HGTV Star Shares Raw Message About Father's Death Weeks After Show Cancellation

Sherrod explained, "Last week, I was incredibly honored to be named Realtor of the Year by Modern Luxury Magazine." She added, "On the very same night, Indigo Road Design took home the Design 9 Award for Best Living Room."

On November 14, Modern Luxuryfeatured the modern luxury living room created by Sherrod's Indigo Road. She told them she wanted to "evoke the timeless undertone of Italy" in her design. So, they brought in someone to create "hand-plaster architectural columns" to bring "artisanal texture and authenticity to the design."

Related: HGTV Surprises Stars & Fans With Show Cancellation

In her Instagram post, Sherrod explained, "To be recognized in both real estate and design means the world to me, because it represents exactly why I founded this company just two years ago."

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She continued, "This journey has always been about creating spaces that feel like home and serving clients with excellence, intention, and heart."

"This one is for my entire team, the brilliant, dedicated people who keep the wheels moving forward every single day. None of this happens without you," Sherrod added.

The former HGTV star wrote that she was grateful "for every client who trusts us, every partner who believes in us, and every opportunity to keep elevating the way families live and love in their homes."

Fans flooded the comment section of the Instagram post with congratulatory notes.

"Congratulations!! You are absolutely everything you think you are," one supporter wrote.

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Another fan wrote, "Congratulations Egypt. You truly deserve it. And might I say you and Mike are looking marvellous!"

"Absolutely love it my Sis... Congrats and nothin but class and intellect!!!...and much more," read someone else's response.

In June, Sherrod revealed the disappointing news from HGTV about the cancellation of Married to Real Estate. She wrote that as she and Jackson returned to the U.S. from a trip abroad, they were "met with unexpected news: HGTV has decided not to move forward with Married to Real Estate."

The couple's show aired for four seasons on HGTV.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni could spend up to five years behind bars if convicted for aggravated fraud.

Ferragni, 38, was indicted in Italy in January for allegedly misleading a handful of charity campaigns. In the charges, the social media personality was accused of falsely suggesting that the proceeds of her sponsored Christmas Pandoro cake would benefit a local childrens hospital. She subsequently denied the accusations.

We remain firmly convinced that this matter has no criminal relevance and that every controversial element has already been addressed and resolved before the AGCM, her lawyers Giuseppe Iannaccone and Marcello Bana told Reuters in a statement shared at the time.

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Reuters further reported that Ferragni was fined nearly $1.1 million by the countrys Competition Authority (AGCM), which she agreed to pay.

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We realized that some internal analysis processes could have been handled better. Were working to improve some organizational aspects, Ferragni told Italys Corriere Milano newspaper in a 2024 interview after the initial claims made headlines that same year. Ive always thought that if you have 30 million followers, if you do charity work and talk about it, you create an emulation effect.

Ferragni further revealed that she and her husband, Federico Leonardo Lucia (better known as rapper Fedez), previously donated 50,000 euros to local hospitals in 2020.

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By communicating it, crowdfunding produced the best results in Europe, raising 4.5 million euros, which we were able to donate to an intensive care unit in a month and a half, Ferragni recalled. Following our example, others have set up similar operations in support of other hospitals. My rationale was that, within commercial operations between my companies and a partner, it was simply a good idea to try and add a small charitable component to [a] contract.

Piero Cruciatti / AFP

Ferragni, who shares two children with 36-year-old Fedez, stressed that every cake label read, Chiara Ferragni and Balocco support the hospital instead of directly revealing how the proceeds would be donated.

One should not confuse the individual, Chiara Ferragni, with the brand and the companies. Furthermore, without the [company], there would have been no donation, she said. To me, the important thing was to make the donation.

Ferragnis trial began in September and is set to continue through November. A fraud conviction in Italy carries a jail sentence of one to five years in prison as well as a hefty fine in euros.

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All of the Celebrities at Milan Fashion Week Spring 2024

Ferragni currently has amassed more than 28 million followers on Instagram and also runs her eponymous fashion and beauty brands. In addition, she created the Blonde Salad blog and the TBS Crew marketing agency.

The future remains a question mark, she admitted to Corriere Milano. I dont know if my job is something Ill do for the rest of my life or if Ill want to recount my life forever. I know that I have always liked communicating. At 16, I used to go around with a tripod, take self-portraits, I wanted to see myself through the camera lens and give myself a meaning. There was never the idea of keeping those photos for myself, but always of sharing them with the world and seeing that people thought of them, both good and bad.
Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Thursday night at the Impact Challenger Hall in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bosch received the crown from 2024 winner Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark during the event, where 120 women from around the world took to the stage to compete for the pageant's 74th crown.

Miss Mexico's crowning comes after a number of pageant scandals over the last few weeks, including a Nov. 4 incident when Nawat Itsaragrisil, the Miss Universe Thailand director, called her "stupid." This drew significant backlash as a video of fellow Miss Universe contestants walking out in support circulated on social media. Bosch subsequently characterized the comment as "unacceptable."

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The moment was vindicating for the humanitarian and volunteer whose closing message focused on education, equality and female empowerment, resonated with both the judges and the audience. Her win was a moving moment for viewers from the United States, Mexico and other countries who watched the broadcast.

Who is Fatima Bosch?

Fatima Bosch Fernandez, Miss Universe 2025, is the fourth Mexican to win that international title.

She was born in Santiago de Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, and studied Fashion Design at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City; she also completed additional training at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (Milan) and the Lyndon Institute (Vermont).

Hailing from Tabasco  the state from which she became the first woman to win the Miss Universe Mexico 2025 national pageant  Bosch entered the national competition on Sept. 13, 2025, and successfully represented her state before going on to participate in the international competition.

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Throughout her personal journey, she has been open about having faced dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder during her studies, challenges she has used as a platform to advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion.

How old is Miss Universe Mexico?

Fatima Bosch was born on May 19, 2000. She's 25.

What controversy was Fatima Bosch involved in?

During the first few days of the competition with the delegates in Thailand, the Mexican representative became embroiled in a controversy that garnered attention and support on social media.

During the sash presentation ceremony in early November, Bosch and Itsaragrisil had a tense exchange when the executive reprimanded the delegate for not participating in a social media contest to promote the pageant.

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The Mexican representative spoke up to defend her position, which led to a verbal confrontation and Bosch's departure from the room. She later gave statements to the media in which she said that the director insulted her by calling her "stupid."

Hours after the confrontation, Miss Universe President Raul Rocha condemned Itsaragrisil's actions on behalf of the organization, and Itsaragrisil publicly apologized for the incident on several occasions.

Similarly, Bosch received support from many figures in the media and the online community, who expressed their solidarity on social media.

How many times has Mexico won Miss Universe?

Mexico has won Miss Universe four times, including Bosch's crowning on Thursday night.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Fatima Bosch? Meet the Mexican woman who won Miss Universe 2025
Kevin Spacey claims hes living out of suitcases and struggling financially nearly a decade after sexual misconduct allegations halted his Hollywood career, NBC News reports.

The two-time Oscar winner described his financial situation as not great in an interview published Wednesday in The Telegraph. Spacey, 66, said he lost his Baltimore home to foreclosure and now moves between temporary lodgings.

Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, Im going where the work is, Spacey said. I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain.

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Spacey spoke to the British newspaper while performing standards at a nightclub in Cyprus.

According to NBC News, the actor has been unable to land major roles since 2017, when actor Anthony Rapp told BuzzFeed that Spacey made a sexual advance on him in 1986.

Rapp was 14 at the time, while Spacey would have been 26. A civil jury later sided with Spacey over Rapps allegations, but others came forward with accusations of improper behavior.

Spacey admitted to being too handsy and touching someone sexually in a way that I didnt know at the time they didnt want.

The American Beauty star was fired from the critically acclaimed Netflix show House of Cards when Rapps allegations surfaced during the height of the #MeToo movement, the report said.

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In the Telegraph interview, Spacey compared himself to writers caught up in the Hollywood blacklist era and suggested it would take just one prominent ally to revive his career.

So, my feeling is if Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino call Evan Lowenstein, my manager, tomorrow, it will be over, Spacey said. I will be incredibly honored and delighted when that level of talent picks up the phone.

Read the original article on silive.com.
Actor Spencer Lofranco died on Tuesday, his brother, Santino Lofranco, confirmed. The Gotti star was 33.

To the legend @roccowinning. My brother, Santino began in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Thursday.

You lived a life only some could dream of. You changed people [sic] lives, and now you are with God. I will always love you and miss you Bear. RIP. October 18, 1992  November 18, 2025, he added.

Actor Spencer Lofranco died on Tuesday, his brother, Santino Lofranco, confirmed. The Gotti star was 33. Getty Images

To the legend @roccowinning. My brother, Santino began in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Thursday. Instagram/@santino.lofranco

You lived a life only some could dream of. You changed people [sic] lives, and now you are with God. I will always love you and miss you Bear. RIP, he added. Instagram/@santino.lofranco

Santino shared a carousel of several throwback photos of himself with his brother during their childhood.

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He also shared some images of Spencer, including one of the Canadian actor posing next to a black dog.

Spencers death is being investigated in British Columbia, Canada, according to TMZ, which was first to report the news of his death.

Spencers death is being investigated in British Columbia, Canada, according to TMZ. WireImage

A cause of death has not yet been determined. WireImage

A cause of death has not yet been determined.

As a teenager, Spencer learned how to act at the New York Film Academy. He then went on to star in a total of seven films, including At Middleton, Jamesy Boy, Unbroken and King Cobra.

Spencers final work on the big screen was in the 2018 Kevin Connolly-directed crime thriller Gotti, in which the late actor played John Gotti Jr. alongside John Travolta (who portrayed John Gotti Sr.) and Kelly Preston (DiGiorgio Gotti).

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That same year, Spencer revealed that he was homeless with his dog.

As a teenager, Spencer learned how to act at the New York Film Academy. He then went on to star in a total of seven films, including At Middleton, Jamesy Boy, Unbroken and King Cobra. Everett Collection / Everett Collection

Spencers final work on the big screen was in Gotti, in which the late actor played John Gotti Jr. alongside John Travolta (who portrayed John Gotti Sr.) and Kelly Preston (DiGiorgio Gotti). Everett Collection / Everett Collection

That same year, Spencer revealed that he was homeless with his dog. Instagram/@santino.lofranco

In a YouTube video shared that June, the actor-turned-street-artist ate a pizza mukbang while sharing that he was currently living on the Venice Beach boardwalk.

Though Spencer said sleeping on the beach was nice, he admitted that he was fully exposed because everyone is always walking around.

Theres no privacy, he shared, adding that its like he lives in a glass house.
Netflixs 2025 true crime documentary The Carman Family Deaths plays out like a real-life Greek tragedy.

Director Yon Motskins film opens with the miraculous rescue of Nathan Carman after eight days lost at sea, but slowly unravels a troubling family feud that may have culminated with the murders of both Nathans mother, Linda Carman, and his grandfather, John Chakalos.

In 2013, millionaire real estate developer Chakalos was murdered in a suspected break-in at his Windsor, Connecticut, home, with his grandson Nathan named as the last known person to see him alive. Three years later, Nathan and his mother, Linda, were reported missing during a fishing trip off the coast of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, but only Nathan returned alive.

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Nathan was eventually indicted for both the murder of his mother and grandfather in 2022, though a deadly turn of events meant that he never actually stood trial. (Nathan always maintained his innocence.)

Natalia Graces High-Profile Adoption, Age and Abandonment Scandal: Where Are the Key Players Now?

Keep scrolling for more on the true story behind Netflixs documentary The Carman Family Deaths.

What Happened to John Chakalos?

The Carman Family Deaths chronicles a long-standing family rift between John Chakalos and his daughter Linda Carman  which ultimately involved Lindas son, Nathan Carman, as well.

The Greek-American real estate magnate amassed a significant amount of wealth throughout his life and shared much of it with his family. In the documentary, Nathans father, Clark Carman, alleges that Chakalos had a volatile personality and was occasionally violent with his daughters.

Courtesy of Netflix

Clark relays one specific incident in which Chakalos allegedly tried to attack his daughter Linda during a family meeting to discuss Nathans mental health care. Chakalos was opposed to Nathan receiving inpatient treatment and threatened to cut off financial support unless Linda and Clark checked their son out of the hospital.

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In 2013, Chakalos was murdered in his bed with a gunshot wound to the head  and his grandson Nathan was the last known person to see him alive. Nathan and his mother, Linda, denied any wrongdoing and neither were charged in the immediate aftermath of the crime.

Nathan told investigators during a deposition that the only firearm he owned was an air rifle, though it was later discovered that hed purchased a Sig Sauer .308-caliber semi-automatic rifle for $2,099.99 one month before his grandfathers death. His lawyers said at the time that they would not address "unsupported allegations" or engage in "litigation in the press.

What Happened to Linda Carman?

In September 2016, Nathan and his mother, Linda, set off for a fishing trip in his boat, The Chickenpox, off the coast of Rhode Island. When they did not return as scheduled the following day, a friend reported them as missing.

A Coast Guard search took place over 62,000 nautical square miles in the Atlantic Ocean before a freighter spotted Nathan on a life raft near Marthas Vineyard eight days later.

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Nathan told investigators that The Chickenpox suddenly started taking on water during his trip and then sank. He claimed to have not seen or heard his mother as he fought for his own life during the sinking of his boat.

Lindas body was never found, and she was declared legally dead in 2023, according to The Carman Family Deaths.

What Happened to Nathan Carman?

The Carman Family Deaths sheds new light on Nathans background, including his autism diagnosis and mental health struggles. Family members reveal in the documentary that, as a teenager, Nathan lived in a camper outside his familys home and refused to enter the house.

Shortly before her death, Linda recorded a living will on video where she left her home to another family member specifically because Nathan refused to enter the residence.

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Family members allege in The Carman Family Deaths that Nathan and his mother had a troubled relationship dating back to childhood. Nathan allegedly once confided in his priest that his mother resented him for living a functional life despite his autism diagnosis.

Nathans father, Clark, confirms in The Carman Family Deaths that his son was hospitalized for a mental health crisis as a teenager  which only deepened the feud between his mother, Linda, and grandfather, John.

In September 2016, Nathan and his mother were reported missing when they didnt return as planned from a fishing trip off the coast of Rhode Island. Nathans rescue after eight days at sea was initially reported as a miraculous and inspiring story of survival, though police quickly discovered potential flaws in his retelling of events.

Where Are Brian Laundries Family Members After Gabby Petitos Murder and His Death?

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During the investigation, Nathan was asked by authorities why he did not radio for help or set off the boat's emergency locator once he realized The Chickenpox was taking on water. Nathan insisted that he did not realize how serious the leak was until it was too late.

Investigators also raised questions about whether Nathan was really lost at sea for eight days, as the location of his rescue off the coast of Marthas Vineyard did not match up with the projected path his raft should have taken.

Other suspicious elements of the case were uncovered throughout the investigation, including the discovery of a bucket of eels  a common fishing bait  in Nathans car. However, Nathan did bring along a handheld water maker, which can turn salt water into fresh water.

Nathan was indicted for the murder of his mother and his grandfather in 2022, though he publicly maintained his innocence. In a 2018 statement, Nathan said that he did not kill [his] grandfather or [his] mother.

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He died by suicide at age 29 in prison while awaiting trial in June 2023, and all charges against him were subsequently dropped.

Chakaloss 2013 murder is still technically an open case as of November 2025. Police closed the investigation into Linda's disappearance and declared her legally dead in 2023.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Kevin Spacey says hes officially homeless after becoming ensnared in a costly legal battle brought on by various allegations of sexual misconduct.

Speaking to The Telegraph in an interview published Wednesday, Spacey said hes been living in hotels and Airbnbs while performing at a nightclub in Cyprus, having recently lost his Baltimore, Maryland, home in foreclosure.

Buzz: Seth Meyers Says This 1 Word In Trump's Wild Rant Proves He's Totally 'Spinning Out'

I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain, he told the outlet. The costs over these last seven years have been astronomical. Ive had very little coming in and everything going out.

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A two-time Oscar winner, Spacey was hit with a series of sexual assault and harassment allegations in 2017. His accusers included Rent and Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, who claimed Spacey made sexual advances toward him when he was just 14 years old, and actor Richard Dreyfuss son, Harry Dreyfuss.

On the same day that Rapp went public with his allegations, Spacey came out as gay after years of speculation around his sexuality. His announcement was met with heavy criticism from the LGBTQ+ community, with many accusing him of attempting to distract from the seriousness of the claims leveled against him.

"I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain," embattled actor Kevin Spacey told The Telegraph this week. Rosdiana Ciaravolo via Getty Images

Spaceys fall from grace in the wake of the accusations was swift, with Netflix firing him from the smash series House of Cards.

In 2022, however, a New York jury found the actor not liable for battery in Rapps case. A year later, he was found not guilty of nine charges of sexual assault from four complainants in London. Several other charges and lawsuits have been dropped.

Buzz: 'Quiet, Piggy!': Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back Hard After Trump's New Attack On His Show

In recent years, a number of high-profile Hollywood stars, including Liam Neeson and Sharon Stone, have spoken out in Spaceys defense.

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Maybe he got too out of hand, but I dont think he should be punished endlessly for it, actor Brian Coxtold The Hollywood Reporter last December. There should be a case of forgive and forget. Lets move on. I think he should be given the opportunity to come back to work.

Appearing on The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter podcast in February, however, actor Guy Pearce recalled feeling targeted by Spacey, whom he described as a handsy guy, while on the set of the 1997 film L.A. Confidential.

In his chat with The Telegraph, Spacey said he and his team had been in touch with some extremely powerful people who want to put me back to work, and feels optimistic that will happen in its right time.

But I will also say what I think the industry seems to be waiting for is to be given permission  by someone who is in some position of enormous respect and authority, he said. So, my feeling is if Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino call [my manager, Evan Lowenstein] tomorrow, it will be over. I will be incredibly honored and delighted when that level of talent picks up the phone.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Originally appeared on E! Online

Michael B. Jordan paid tribute to his late friend Chadwick Boseman as he was immortalized in Hollywood.

The 38-year-old was on hand to honor his Black Panther costar as he received a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame on Nov. 20, hours before Michael himself was honored by American Cinematheque.

"That was special. I couldn't have planned it any better," Michael told E! News' Erin Lim Rhodes at the American Cinematheque Award Ceremony. "Chad was a special person and for him to be honored and remembered the way he is, hearing people talk about him, makes me feel full and happy. So to kind of like share this day with him really is special."

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Joining Michael on the Walk of Fame were his and Chadwick's Black Panther costar Letitia Wright as well as the late actor wife Taylor Ledward-Boseman.

"Today we recognize a lifetime of artistry," Taylor said in her speech at the ceremony. "We recognize your skill and your devotion and we submit your legacy as a hero and an icon."

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She continued of Chadwick, who passed away from colon cancer at age 43, "You lived with honor and you walked in truth. You are as brilliant as you were beautiful, and as courageous as you were kind. We love you. We miss you. We thank you."

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Letitia later shared a heartwarming memory about Chadwick on social media.

"He always held my hands," she recalled on her Instagram Stories. "Placed it near his heart to comfort me. Honoured to celebrate you today: @chadwickboseman."

Also in attendance at the star ceremony: Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and Viola Davis, who starred with Chadwick in the 2020 film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, his last movie.

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"This star, as beautiful as it is on the Walk of Fame," Viola said in her own speech, "shines a whole lot less brighter than Chadwick is in Heaven."

Remember the actor's legacy by looking back at his best roles...

Lincoln Heights

In the early '00s Chadwick Boseman was seen here and there on television, but it wasn't until he landed the role of Nathaniel Ray in 2008 on Lincoln Heights that he had his first big break. He played the character, who was in the Army and later discovered to be the son of the lead character Eddie Sutton (Russell Hornsby), on the ABC Family show for nine episodes and all of them were twisted and so interesting.





Persons Unknown

Following his time on Lincoln Heights the South Carolina native was on the short-lived series Persons Unknown. Again Boseman played a military man, this time named Graham McNair, who was one of several strangers who woke up to find themselves in a ghost town with no way out.





42

In 2013, Boseman made a big splash in the movie world when he portrayed Jackie Robinson in the film 42, which was a biography focusing on the athlete's road to becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.





Draft Day

The actor played Vontae Mack, a football player hoping to get drafted by Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) and the Cleveland Browns in Draft Day.

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Get on Up

In 2014, Boseman portrayed another iconic figure in American history...James Brown. In Get on Up he helped depict the story of the musician's rise from poverty to the legendary artist he became.





Message From the King

The actor switched things up from sports and biography films with Message from the King. In this film, Jacob King (Boseman) arrives from South Africa in Los Angeles to avenge his sister's death. Oh, and it's a thriller!





Captain America: Civil War

In 2016, fans first saw Boseman as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War and from then on he became a fan-favorite Marvel superhero.





Marshall

Marshall is the story of Thurgood Marshall (played by Boseman), the lawyer who became the first ever African American Supreme Court Justice. With the help of Sterling K. Brown and Josh Gad, Boseman was able to depict this historical journey and become Marshall.

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Black Panther

2018's Black Panther took Boseman to super stardom as he played the title character Black Panther AKA T'Challa as he steps forward to lead the people of Wakanda into the future.





Avengers: Infinity War

Boseman reprised his role as T'Challa and Black Panther for Avengers: Infinity War and teamed up with the rest of the good guys in the Marvel superhero flick.





Avengers: Endgame

He then returned to the role to help save the day once again in the 2019 hit Avengers: Endgame.





21 Bridges

Boseman continued to work with Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo on a 2019 film they produced called 21 Bridges. In the movie, Boseman played NYPD detective Andre Davis.

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Da 5 Bloods

Boseman played the role of Stormin' Norman in Spike Lee's 2020 film Da 5 Bloods. The Netflix movie told the story of four African American veteransPaul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.)who returned to Vietnam decades after the war to search for the remains of their late squad leader (Boseman) and buried treasure.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Michael B. Jordan quite often expresses his love for anime publicly, speaking about his favorites anime series during interviews. This time, as he sits down with fellow actors Paul Mescal and Austin Butler for a Vanity Fair video, he shares his love for My Hero Academia. Jordan also explains how anime has influenced him in many ways, to the point that he has even tried to incorporate elements of it into his films.

Michael B Jordan talks about My Hero Academia with Austin Butler and Paul Mescal

On Vanity Fairs Guys Hanging Out Watching YouTube Michael B. Jordan joins fellow actors Paul Mescal and Austin Butler, to each share a video with the other two. He starts off by showing the boys a scene from Season 7 of My Hero Academia. Jordan pulls up the scene where Bakugo seemingly dies in a battle against Shigaraki and the League of Villains. This is kind of his epic moment of almost self-sacrifice in a way, the Black Panther actor said, describing the scene.

Butler quickly follows up by asking whether that spoils the entire series for him when he goes to watch it, leading to all three of them laughing. Jordan continues to describe details about the clip playing, further going deeper into Japanese culture and the aspects of anime that influence him the most. Their themes of friendships, bonds and promises. And being sometimes the odd one out, the one that doesnt belong, the one that society casts as outcast, is usually the one that is the hero, Jordan shares. He explains that there is something about these themes that feels deeply empowering and emotional, and that he can personally connect with.

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Later, when asked by Butler whether he finds himself taking inspiration for his films from certain anime, Jordan replies, Oh, big time. He then revealed, With Creed III, the first film, the film that I directed There was a lot of fight moments that I have seen throughout anime, that I was like it would be great if I could actually incorporate or get this feeling of this sequence.

The post Michael B. Jordan Is Sharing His My Hero Academia Love With These Actors appeared first on Mandatory.
The Miss Universe contest took a concerning turn this week as a contestant was rushed to the hospital after a sudden accident.

On November 19, Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry took a major fall during her walk for the preliminary evening gown category of the competition.

Video footage shows Henry, wearing a bedazzled orange dress with a flowing cape as she walks down the runway, posing for judges before turning around.

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Then, as she begins to walk back to leave the stage, she takes a step too far over the edge and her entire body falls to the ground.

After people rushed to help her, Henry was eventually taken away to the hospital on a stretcher.

"She did amazing! Im hoping shes okay for finals," one viewer commented on the video.

"She was rushed to the Paolo Rangsit Hospital, where medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries; however, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery," the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization said in a statement posted to Instagram.

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"We kindly ask everyone to stay upbeat, lift her in prayer, and send positive thoughts as she receives the necessary medical care. We thank everyone for their outpouring of love, support, and continued prayers," the statement continued.

Miss Universe Organization President Raul Rocha also shared an update on his Instagram later that same night, saying, "I would like to share with the Miss Universe family that are concerned for the health of our Miss Universe Jamaica that at 12:00 a.m. Bangkok time, that I have just left the hospital where she is being treated."

He continued, "I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night and we will remain in touch with her family to support her. Our prayers go out for her prompt recovery."

The Miss Universe finals will take place in Thailand on November 25, which the community hopes Henry will recover in time to still attend.
NEED TO KNOW

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry was absent from the Miss Universe Pageant on Thursday, Nov. 20

On Wednesday, Henry was rushed to the hospital after falling offstage

Henry's absence follows a series of controversies with this year's pageant, held in Bangkok, Thailand

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry was noticeably absent from the Miss Universe pageant on Thursday, Nov. 20  just one day after being hospitalized.

A representative for the pageant had no comment regarding the contestant's status at this time.

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Henry, 28, fell offstage while competing in the preliminary evening gown round just a day before on Wednesday, Nov. 19. In social media videos of the incident, Henry walks across the stage in an orange dress and high heels when she misses a step and falls off the stage.



In later social media videos, Henry is seen being removed from the pageant on a stretcher.

Raul Rocha, the owner of the Miss Universe pageant, wrote in an Instagram post following the incident, "I would like to share with the Miss Universe family that are concerned for the health of our Miss Universe Jamaica that at 12:00 a.m. Bangkok time, that I have just left the hospital where she is being treated. I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care."



The Miss Universe Jamaica organization also posted a statement providing an update on Henry's condition: "The Miss Universe Jamaica Organization wishes to advise the public that Dr. Gabrielle Henry, Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, experienced a fall from the main stage during the evening gown round of the preliminary competition ahead of this weekends Miss Universe Finals in Thailand."

Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Miss Universe 2025 contestants pose on stage during the official Miss Universe 2025 welcome event in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 5, 2025. Miss Universe 2025 contestants pose on stage during the official Miss Universe 2025 welcome event in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 5, 2025.

The statement clarified that Henry had been rushed to Paolo Rangsit Hospital in Thailand, where "medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries; however, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery."

The incident comes after a series of controversies have rocked the Miss Universe pageant.

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.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, pageant judge Omar Harfouch dropped out after claiming that the Miss Universe Organization had formed an "impromptu jury" to choose 30 finalists before participants from 136 countries took the stage for the preliminary round. Two other judges have since dropped out of the pageant, including Claude Makelele and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, who is president of the selection committee.



Read the original article on People
Dr. Gabrielle Henry, aka Miss Jamaica, was missing from the end of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant, after an earlier incident sent her to the hospital.

Ultimately, Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, won the event.

According to footage posted to social media, on Nov. 19, Henry, 28, was strutting down the stage in Bangkok, Thailand, in a gown, when she fell off the runway and face-planted into the crowd.

Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Alexis Henry, during the 74th Miss Universe Preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

Miss Jamaica falls off the stag at the 2025 Miss Universe. Meekiimodez/Instagram

Audience members immediately leapt out of their seats to check on the fallen beauty queen. Further footage showed Henry being carried away on a stretcher.

She was taken to Paolo Rangsit Hospital in Thailand and is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries, the Miss Universe Jamaica organization said in a statement on social media on Thursday.

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Henry is an ophthalmologist and the founder of the See Me Foundation, which is a charity helping the visually impaired people in Jamaica.

Raul Rocha, owner of the Miss Universe pageant, posted an update on Thursday.

I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones, and she is under good care. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night, and we will remain in touch with her family and support her, Rocha wrote, adding, Our prayers go out for her prompt recovery.

Contestants Miss Laos Lattana Munvilay, Miss Puerto Rico Zashely Alicea, Miss Malaysia Chloe Lim and Miss Saint Lucia Shianne Smith during the official Miss Universe 2025 welcome event in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 5, 2025. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA / Shutterstock

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch after being crowned as Miss Universe 2025 during the 74th Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 21, 2025. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA / Shutterstock

The Miss Jamaica organization said, Medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries; however, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery.

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The statement continued, We kindly ask everyone to stay upbeat, lift her in prayer, and send positive thoughts as she receives the necessary medical care.

This is just one of numerous scandals to make waves at the 47th annual Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Universe contestants present on stage during the 74th Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 21, 2025. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA / Shutterstock

Gabrielle Henry, aka Miss Jamaica, on Nov. 6, 2025. officialgabriellehenry/Instagram

Miss Universe judge Omar Harfouch resigned from the pageants official jury, mere days before this years competition began.

Harfouch alleged that an impromptu jury with personal ties to participating contestants had already chosen which contestants would move forward out of the 136 women competing.

Nawat Itsaragrisil, another Miss Universe executive, was also dismissed from this years pageant following a confrontation with Miss Mexico.

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The Thai businessman called Bosch a dummy, sparking a shouting match between the two, which was caught on livestream.

The incident led to dozen other Miss Universe participants walking out of a pre-pageant event in solidarity with her.

No further updates have been made about Henrys health.
Miss Universe contestant Fatima Bosch, who found herself caught in the center of a pageant controversy, has been crowned winner.

Miss Mexico Bosch, 25, won the competition, which was held Friday, November 21, at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Miss Thailand Praveener Singh, 29, was named runner-up, with Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser, 25, coming in third.

Boschs win came after the contestant made headlines after a tense interaction with pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil.

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During a November 4 livestream, which is still posted on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page, Itsaragrisil was addressing the contestants and pointed out in front of the group that Bosch allegedly refused to participate in a photo shoot meant for contestants to share on social media.

In the video, someone can be heard shouting back at Itsaragrisil, who eventually called security to seemingly have Bosch escorted out. Pageant contestants can be seen walking out in solidarity.

After the incident unfolded, Bosch was interviewed for The Great Pageant Community Instagram page.

I truly love Thailand. I respect all of you, Bosch said. I think that youre amazing people, but what your director did is not respectful. He called me dumb because he had problems with the organization, and I think thats not fair because I am here. I do everything okay, I dont mess with anyone. I just try to be kind. Im trying to give my best, and he just shot me [down], and he just said to me to shut up and a lot of different things. And I think that the world needs to see this.

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This is a platform for our voice, she continued, and no one can shut our voice.

According to the BBC, Nawat denied calling Bosch dumb, claiming his words were misunderstood.

The outlet reported that, after the incident, MUO President Raul Rocha said Nawat had forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host.

Nawats participation in the pageant would be limited as much as possible or eliminated entirely, Rocha said.

After her win, Bosch wrote on Instagram (as translated from Spanish), Today I reaffirmed that what God has destined for you, neither envy stops it, nor destiny aborts it, nor luck changes it. Long live Christ the King.

Read More From Globe

This story Miss Mexico, Who Was Allegedly Called Dumb by Pageant Exec, Is Crowned Miss Universe first appeared on Globe. Add Globe as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fatima Bosch, who was berated by a beauty contest executive and led a walkout of supermodels, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday.

The 25-year-old Miss Mexico was named the 74th winner of the prestigious pageant, beating out first runner-up Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh.

Venezuelas Stephany Abasali, Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines and the Ivory Coasts Olivia Yace rounded out the top five.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 21, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

Miss USA Audrey Eckert finished in the Top 30.

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Bosch is now the fourth Miss Universe winner from Mexico, and the first since Andrea Meza was crowned in 2020.

The pageant, held in Thailand under the theme The Power of Love, was marred by scandal since the contestants arrived in Bangkok, the capital, in early November.

During the annual sashing ceremony, Nawat Itsaragrisil, an executive director of Miss Universe Organization, called out Bosch for not participating in a social media shoot with the organizing committee.

The Thai businessman called Bosch a dummy, sparking a shouting match between the two, all caught on livestream.

Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjr Theilvig crowns Bosch as Miss Universe 2025. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA/Shutterstock

Bosch was named the 74th winner of the prestigious pageant, beating out first runner-up Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh and Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali. AFP via Getty Images

I still keep talking to everybody, why you still stand up to talk to me, Itsaragrisil questioned Bosch.

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Because I have a voice, she said. You are not respecting me as a woman.

Itsaragrisil, unable to quiet his opposer, called for security to take her out of the room as the rest of the contestants bemoaned the decision.

As women, you need to show respect for us. Im here representing a country and its not my fault that you have problems with my organization, Bosch exclaimed as she walked out of the room.

Bosch is now the fourth Miss Universe winner from Mexico, and the first since Andrea Meza was crowned in 2020. AP

The future Miss Universes actions led to a walk out by dozens of other contestants and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjr Theilvig.

Itsaragrisil was dismissed from his duties at this years pageant following backlash, as Bosch was praised for standing up to the bigwig bully.

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Theilvig returned to the pageant stage Friday to crown her successor.

Days before the ceremony, Miss Universe judge Omar Harfouch resigned from his position on the voting jury, claiming the Top 30 list had been chosen in secret long before the judges ever cast a vote.

Harfouch claimed he discovered that an impromptu jury had already chosen which contestants would move forward.

The Miss Universe Organization denied his claims saying it was part of a confusion and lack of understanding.

His comments incorrectly suggested that an unauthorized or impromptu jury had been formed and that the official judges had been excluded from the selection of finalists, the company said Tuesday.

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The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols, the statement added.

Miss Universe executive director Nawat Itsaragrisil called out Bosch during the annual sashing ceremony on Nov. 4, 2025. Miss Universe Thailand

The Thai businessman called Bosch a dummy, sparking a shouting match between the two, all caught on livestream. Miss Universe Thailand

Miss Universe contestants walk out on Itsaragrisil after the viral confrontation. Miss Universe Thailand

During the preliminary evening gown round on Wednesday, Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, fell off the runway, face-planting into the crowd and was carried out on a stretcher. She was hospitalized and was notably absent the next day.

The Miss Universe pageant owner, Raul Rocha, updated fans that Henry did not break any bones during her fall, he wrote on Instagram.

Nadeen Ayoub, the first-ever Miss Palestine, faced backlash after her secret life was revealed after placing in the Top 30.

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Ayoub, a 27-year-old US and Canadian citizen, is married to the son of Hamas most-wanted prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, and even named a son after him.

During the competition, she represented Palestine, a territory the US and Israel dont recognize as a sovereign state.

She kept her personal life under wraps for a majority of the competition until years-old screenshots and social media posts obtained by The Post showed she took pains to hide that she was once married to Sharaf Barghouti  son of the infamous Fatah leader serving five life sentences in Israel for orchestrating terror attacks that killed five people in 2001 and 2002.
Meet the new Miss Universe.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe at the 74th edition of the global competition in Thailand on Friday, Nov. 21. She received the crown from 2024 winner Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark.

Miss Mexico's win comes after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil called her "stupid" during a livestreamed speech to contestants on Nov. 4, drawing backlash as video of fellow Miss Universe contestants walking out in support emerged. Bosch subsequently characterized the comment as "unacceptable."

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Here's what to know.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch celebrates winning the 2025 Miss Universe pageant.

Who is Fatima Bosch?

Fatima Bosch Fernandez, Miss Universe 2025, is the fourth Mexican to win that international title.

She was born in Santiago de Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, and studied Fashion Design at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City; she also completed additional training at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (Milan) and the Lyndon Institute (Vermont).

Hailing from Tabasco  the state from which she became the first woman to win the Miss Universe Mexico 2025 national pageant  Bosch entered the national competition on Sept. 13, 2025, and successfully represented her state before going on to participate in the international competition.

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Throughout her personal journey, she has been open about having faced dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder during her studies, challenges she has used as a platform to advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion.

How old is Miss Universe Mexico?

Fatima Bosch was born on May 19, 2000. She's 25.

What controversy was Fatima Bosch involved in?

During the first few days of the competition with the delegates in Thailand, the Mexican representative became embroiled in a controversy that garnered attention and support on social media.

During the sash presentation ceremony in early November, Bosch and Itsaragrisil had a tense exchange when the executive reprimanded the delegate for not participating in a social media contest to promote the pageant.

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The Mexican representative spoke up to defend her position, which led to a verbal confrontation and Bosch's departure from the room. She later gave statements to the media in which she said that the director insulted her by calling her "stupid."

Hours after the confrontation, Miss Universe President Raul Rocha condemned Itsaragrisil's actions on behalf of the organization, and Itsaragrisil publicly apologized for the incident on several occasions.

Similarly, Bosch received support from many figures in the media and the online community, who expressed their solidarity on social media.

How many times has Mexico won Miss Universe?

Mexico has won Miss Universe four times, including Bosch's crowning on Thursday night.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Who won the 2025 Miss Universe pageant? Meet Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch
The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant took place on Friday at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand. Women from all over the world joined the competition in hopes of being crowned as Miss Universe 2025. As always, footwear and shoes played a starring role alongside the gowns, crowns, and biggest fashion moments.

The pageant partnered with Jojo Bragais as the official footwear sponsor again this year. Filipino designers heels have become well-known within the competition, with the contestants opting for the brands six-inch stilettos, platform sandals and towering heels throughout the event that were nude, gold, and covered in shiny stones.

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Miss Universe 2025 proved once again that the right pair of heels doesnt just complete a look, it is a key aspect in each of the contestants biggest moments on stage, ensuring that they walk elegantly, while feeling confident with each step. From Miss Philippines to Miss Palestine, take a look at the most head-turning heels from this years competition.

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Miss Bangladesh Tangia Zaman Methila

Miss Bangladesh Tangia Zaman Methila

Miss Bangladesh Tangia Zaman Methila took part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, Thailand wearing gold-tone platform stiletto sandal with crystal-embellished criss-cross straps.

Miss Zimbabwe Lyshanda Brendon Moyas

Miss Zimbabwe Lyshanda Brendon Moyas

Miss Zimbabwe Lyshanda Brendon Moyas takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi in crystal-embellished platform metallic heels.

Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo

Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo

Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, Thailand. She wore strappy patent leather platform heels in a nude shade.

Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub

Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub

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Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburhigh, Thailand wearing heeled, open-toe platform sandals in a beige patent finish.

Miss Nicaragua Itza Helen Castillo

Miss Nicaragua Itza Helen Castillo

Miss Nicaragua Itza Helen Castillo took part in the final competition of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Nonthaburi, Thailand wearing a platform sandal in beige leather with a stacked platform and a block heel.

Miss Malta Julia Ann Cluett

Miss Malta Julia Ann Cluett

Miss Malta Julia Ann Cluett took part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthabur, Thailand and also opted for a pair of nude-colored platform sandals with crystal-embellished straps.

Miss Guadeloupe Ophely Mezino

Miss Guadeloupe Ophely Mezino

During the swimsuit portion of the competition, Miss Guadeloupe Ophely Mezino wore platform sandals with criss-cross crystal-embellished straps and a metallic gold finish.

Miss Colombia Vanessa Pulgarin

Miss Colombia Vanessa Pulgarin

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Miss Colombia Vanessa Pulgarin wore Christian Louboutin peep toe pumps in a beige leather finish during the swim suit portion of the pageant.

Miss China Zhao Na

Miss China Zhao Na

Miss China Zhao Na took part in the final competition at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, Thailand wearing a stiletto-style platform sandal in a nude patent leather with rhinestone-encrusted straps crossing over the foot.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Miss Mexico has gotten her flowers.

Fatima Bosch Fernandez was crowned Miss Universe on Nov. 21, with Miss Thailand Praveener Singh, 29, named runner-up, followed by Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser, 25, in third.

The journey to the crown wasnt an easy one. Earlier in the competition, the 25-year-old was publicly berated by pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisi, who called her dumb during a pre-sash ceremony for not following through with an obligation. When she was escorted out by security, her fellow contestants staged a walkout in solidarity.

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I just want to let my country know, I'm not afraid to make my voice heard, she said in an interview, translated from Spanish and shared on Instagram. It's here stronger than ever. I have a purpose. I have things to say.

Im not a doll to be made up, styled and have my clothes changed, she continued. I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes and to tell my country that Im completely committed to that.

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Now, following Fatimas first-place finish, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated Fatima for speaking up for herself in the face of adversity.

It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices, the president told reporters, per NBC News. We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights.

Arnun Chonmahatrakool/Thai News Pix/LightRocket via Getty Images

This years Miss Universe also saw two of the pageants judges resign, one of whom accused the organizers of rigging the competition while another threatened a lawsuit against the organization, per NBC News.

Plus, during a preliminary evening gown category, Jamaicas Gabrielle Henry took a terrifying tumble off the stage. While walking the runway in a gorgeous, bedazzled orange gown, the contestant walked towards stage left where she fell completely off the raised platform.

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Footage shared to social media of the accident showed people rushing to Gabrielles aid before she was carried off in a stretcher.

Following the jarring incident, pageant co-owner Raul Rocha shared an encouraging update on the Miss Jamaica contestants wellbeing.

(Photo by Mohan Raj/Getty Images)

I have just left the hospital where she is being treated, the Instagram post read. I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night and we will remain in touch with her family to support her.

He added, Our prayers go out for her prompt recovery."

(E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Nicki Minajs appearance at the United Nations on Tuesday as a guest of the Trump administration surprised a lot of people  though it shouldnt have. While the 42-year-old rapper and pop star only recently began publicly gushing over President Donald Trump on social media, shes trended in a MAGA  and generally problematic  direction for a while.

In response to a Nov. 1 post by Trump claiming Christians are being killed in Nigeria by radical Islamists, Minaj expressed gratitude for the message and thanked the President & his team for taking this seriously. Just days later, in response to a clip of MAGA campaign bankroller Elon Musk giving a speech about how humanity needs to become a star-faring civilization, Minaj tweeted, Speak Elon, were listening. And when a fan questioned Minajs wisdom in boosting the presidents message because of this administrations anti-LGBTQ policies, the rapper responded, Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay  Ill advocate for you the same way that Im advocating for MURDERED CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA. like I always have. Just remember that.

Nicki Minaj and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz ahead of a panel discussion on "Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria" at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City on Nov. 18, 2025. (Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)

But it was Minajs appearance at the U.N., standing beside the Trump administrations ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, that seemed to confirm her full MAGA turn. I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism, and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief, Minaj said in her speech.

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Experts on the region have noted that while terrorist violence is widespread, it is difficult, if not impossible, to delineate the killings based on religious affiliations, Olayinka Ajala, a scholar who focuses on violent conflicts in West Africa, wrote. Likewise, Nigerias Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris has said the notion of a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful.

This wasnt the first time that Minaj has indulged in spreading MAGA-style misinformation. Back in 2021, as Covid vaccine skepticism was hardening into a defining pillar of Trumpism, Minaj shared stories that had all the anti-science hallmarks of an urban legend with her 22 million social media followers. My cousin in Trinidad wont get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent, she wrote, claiming the mans testicles had swollen so dramatically his traumatized fiance canceled their wedding. It turns out, after scouring the tiny country for the supposed victim of the vaccine, the Trinidadian Health Ministry lamented having wasted so much time running down this false claim.

Minaj also said she wouldnt attend the 2021 MET Gala specifically because of vaccine requirements, and even two years later  despite ample time for reflection  continued to defend her tweets by claiming she prefers to arrive at her own assessment of everything without help from everyone. Which is to say, she does her own research.

Minaj has endured both racism and sexism without question  misogynoir is both real and pervasive. But she has also leveraged racism and sexism to her own benefit, like a true Black conservative, using it to deflect from accountability for her own choices. And yet, she has consistently portrayed herself as the victim  a persecuted figure and long-suffering martyr betrayed on all sides. She has claimed that a never-ending line of opps have spent millions to ruin her, and that competitors have made [her] the bad guy.

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But what about some of those choices that have drawn criticism, like her history of associating with sexual predators?

She has repeatedly collaborated with rapper Daniel Hernandez, aka Tekashi 6ix9ine, even after he pleaded guilty in 2015 to felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a 13 year-old-girl when he was 18. Minaj posted bond and, through her lawyers, expressed 100 percent support of her brother Jelani Maraj when he was accused of repeatedly raping his then-11-year-old stepdaughter. (In 2020, he was sentenced to 25 years to life for the crime). And Minajs husband Kenneth Petty served four years in jail on charges related to the 1994 rape of Jennifer Hough.

A lawsuit filed by Hough in 2021 contends Minaj and Petty together undertook a campaign of intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, harassment, assault, battery, sexual assault, and sexual harassment to get her to recant her story  one that included associates of the couple threatening her life.

It is unsurprising that Minaj has become part of a movement built around protecting, celebrating and reelecting a man found liable for sexual abuse. Even one of Minajs alter egos, Roman Zolanski, is a play on the name of film director Roman Polanski, who fled the U.S. rather than face charges of drugging and raping a 13-year-old child in 1977.

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Minaj blazed a road through rap that is as undeniable as her talent, dominating for a decade, and changing not just hip-hops landscape but pop culture writ large. But her outsized image has shown cracks in more recent years, mostly caused by her own hand. Her alignment with MAGA just affirms the leanings weve seen from her all along. Too bad it further tarnishes, instead of burnishing, what should be a shining legacy.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, one of the most stylish royal women working today, has an enviable wardrobeand her daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia (also known just as Princess Amalia), knows it.

Yesterday, the heir to the Dutch throne attended a special session of the States General in the Grote Kerk alongside her father, King Willem-Alexander.

Patrick van Katwijk - Getty Images

Her outfita burgundy Valentino cape and a red Natan Couture dresswas immediately familiar to royal watchers, as her mom Queen Maxima had worn the exact same one four years earlier. The Princess of Orange, however, did not wear the same belt as her mom, or the dramatic hat, instead choosing to accessorize with a delicate gold necklace and LOTT.gioielli earrings.

Patrick van Katwijk - Getty Images

Plus, Queen Maxima wore the elegant Valentino cape earlier this week, to welcome the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg on their State Visit to the Netherlands.

Patrick van Katwijk - Getty Images

Its not Amalias first time wearing this maroon cape coat; she also wore it for the abdication of Grand Duke Henri and the inauguration of Grand Duke Guillaume in Luxembourg.

Patrick van Katwijk - Getty Images

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The 21-year-old princess frequently borrows clothes from Queen Maximas closet. In fact, in late October, for a concert celebrating the 750th year of official existence at the Museumplein, Princess Amalia wore a green Theresia Vreugdenhil gown that her mom had previously worn. The dress was actually a family heirloom, originally worn by Queen Beatrix on a state visit to Belgium in 1981.

Princess Catharina-Amalia is currently enrolled in the bachelors program in Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam. At the same time, per the Dutch royal family, she is participating in a two-year part-time military work and study program at Defensity College.

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Brendan Fraser traveled all the way to Japan for his new film, "Rental Family."

The film, which is based in Japan, found the Oscar winner immersing himself in the Japanese language and culture.

While promoting the new heartwarming Hikari-directed film on "Good Morning America" earlier this week, Fraser shared a few phrases he learned while working on the movie.

Brendan Fraser shares how he transformed for his role in 'The Whale'

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He also spoke with "GMA" at the film's Los Angeles premiere last week about why "Rental Family" was a "dream job."

"You think, 'Yay, dream job! I'm going to Tokyo,' and then I was like, 'Wait, I got some work to do here,'" he said. "I need to learn how to speak Japanese, I need to do some research -- I've got actual work -- and chase Hikari around, she moves fast!"

James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures - PHOTO: Shannon Gorman and Brendan Fraser in "Rental Family."

The new film follows Fraser's character, an actor named Phillip Vandarploeug, who lands an unusual gig at a Japanese "rental family" agency to play a stand-in role for strangers. The job becomes much more when Phillip is tasked with playing the estranged father of a young girl named Mia to help her get into an elite school.

Fraser said Hikari's story had an "authenticity to it."

"It doesn't pretend that it is anything that it isn't," he said. "It acknowledges that we need to seek connection with one another, even if it means that you're going to be, frankly, well, paying for it as a surrogate to stand up for someone who says, 'I need help, I'm lonesome as a family member.' I think that's noble."

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He added, "It touches me in the feels and I'm glad to be a part of it."

James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures - PHOTO: Shannon Gorman and Brendan Fraser in "Rental Family."

At the LA premiere, Hikari discussed the concept of rental families as something deeply rooted in Japanese culture and said it was something she'd never heard of until the making of the film.

While addressing the audience before the film's screening, Hikari said rental families have been around in Japan since the 1980s and added that there are about 300 companies that offer clients with professional actors to portray friends, family members or co-workers at events like weddings.

What Hikari said she learned was that the rental services provided more than a stand-in at events, they provided connection.

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"We found this amazing community of people [who] are there for each other, and I thought I just wanted to make it into a story," she told "GMA."

James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures - PHOTO: Akira Emoto and Brendan Fraser in "Rental Family." RENTAL FAMILY.

She added, "It was such a beautiful and interesting character-driven story. This is nothing more than just people connecting to one another through very random or through very interesting occasions, and I thought there's something beautiful ... that I think we could definitely create from it."

Also starring in the film are "Shogun" actor Takehiro Hira, "Pachinko" actress Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman and legendary Japanese actor Akira Emoto.

Brendan Fraser brings girlfriend, sons to 2023 Oscars

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At its core, Emoto said the film is about the "unchanging universal idea about human loneliness."

"I feel that modern society goes quite far in understanding loneliness, however, I think loneliness isn't bad, and that's something people are still learning, but I hope that that's a message that people take away from this," he said.

"Rental Family" is in theaters now.
Spoiler alert! The following post contains major details about the ending of Wicked: For Good (in theaters now). Stop reading if you dont want to know what happens.

Every Wicked fan knows that the song For Good is emotional terrorism.

But in the new movie musical Wicked: For Good, its what happens immediately after that will break audiences open.

Toward the end of the film, Glinda (Ariana Grande) travels in secret to the castle where Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is hiding out. Elphaba is exhausted from fighting and ready to surrender, having been shattered by the losses of her lover Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) and sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). She hands over the Grimmerie to Glinda, asking her to use the book of spells to enact positive change in Oz. And through tears, the longtime friends sing For Good, as the witches acknowledge the indelible marks they've left on each other's lives.

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Glinda (Ariana Grande, left) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) say they will always be with each other, "like a handprint on my heart."

After the song, Elphaba grabs Glindas hand and hides her in a closet, assuring her that everything will be all right before saying I love you.

I love you, too, Glinda responds, sobbing. Elphaba closes the closet, and the two women lean their heads against opposite sides of the door, weeping together one last time before Dorothy runs in and throws a (seemingly) lethal bucket of water on our green-skinned heroine.

The gut-wrenching scene is not in the original Broadway musical, and was actually improvised by the actresses.

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Neither one of us knew what we were doing on the other side of the door, Erivo tells USA TODAY. Wicked director Jon M. Chu just let the camera run. When we had rehearsed that scene, we knew how important it was for them to say those words because you hadnt heard them say I love you to each other. Both of us were very aware that this might be the final time these two women see one another.

Cynthia Erivo, left, Ariana Grande and director Jon M. Chu filming the "For Good" scene in the new "Wicked" movie.

It was really overwhelming, knowing this was a moment for them both to just let go and grieve, Erivo adds. Elphaba has tried to be really strong the entire time, and even when she says, Goodbye, its going to be OK, shes still smiling. It's when she shuts that door that I felt my heart break. It was just really desperately heartbreaking to let go.

Erivo is grateful to Chu for allowing her and Grande to be so unguarded in that moment: To have that space to fully release all of the things theyve been holding onto was really special.

Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet.



"Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion.



As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London. Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Universal Studio Singapore on Nov. 13, 2025, in Singapore. Cynthia Erivo Michelle Yeoh Jeff Goldblum From left, Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London. Cynthia Erivo Ariana Grande From left, Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu and Ariana Grande Ariana Grande Cynthia Erivo Jonathan Bailey Jeff Goldblum Michelle Yeoh Marissa Bode Ethan Slater Frankie Grande Paul Tazewell Beyonce, Cynthia Erivo and Robert Pattinson in the best celebrity photos from November 1 of 20 Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet.



"Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion.



As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.

Initially, the scene was written much closer to how it plays out on stage, screenwriter Winnie Holzman says: But the girls just went for it and I love what they did there. Theyre extraordinary.

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Chu confirms that the witches saying I love you was definitely not scripted.

After Erivo and Grande finished singing For Good, I didnt call cut, so they just kept going because they were so present, Chu recalls. Suddenly, they were improvising this scene and they said, I love you, which was almost meta. On that day, we never planned for the shot of the door in between the two of them. But watching them do it, I was like, Weve got to do the door shot. Theres this separation, and yet theyre connected. It gave me the catharsis I needed in that moment, and I think for our audience, too.

It was a really beautiful and really real moment, he adds. Im really glad people see it and feel it, because I felt it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elphaba, Glinda's gutting 'Wicked: For Good' scene was improvised
Miramax and the Film Committee at Media City Qatar announced on Friday that they are partnering to co-develop premium film titles for audiences across the Middle East and international markets.

All the projects are being developed by Miramax MENA+T through its regional headquarters in Doha, which is managed by Lucy Dertavitian, Head of Content.



Under the new multi-project agreement, the Film Committee will executive produce the development of one original scripted series and one film.



The partners said that the projects were in various stages of development, with production timelines and release details to be announced.

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The new accord was among a raft of partnerships announced by the Film Committee at its first ever Industry Days meeting, which is unfolding within the context of the new Doha Film Festival.

Earlier in the day, the body announced agreements with Neon and Department M as well as a new rebate incentive.

Miramax is owned jointly by Qatars BeIN Media Group and Paramount Skydance, with the latters 49% stake originally acquired by ViacomCBS in 2019.





Speaking on a panel about Miramaxs activities at the Industry Days conference Friday, the studios CEO Jonathan Glickman said the joint development slate would draw heavily on the companys library of some 700 film titles.

He revealed that one of the projects in the works was a remake of the 2001 U.S. romantic comedy Serendipity starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.



We have an incredible partnership with the Film Committee thats going to allow us to make movies and original movies, using our IP to create stories, he said.



The first one were going to do is the romantic comedy Serendipity, he continued. I dont know if you guys remember the original movie, but thats a story that lends itself to all different worlds, and Im excited to see what an Arabic language and Arabic culture version of that story comes about.

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The slate will also tap into original stories, and Glickman said the partners were scouting established and emerging talents locally and regionally.

Were working together to find mid-career writers from the region, but also using the local universities  Doha has this incredible campus  to find emerging voices that we can work with and nurture to create stories that work for the global market and use our knowledge, I wont say expertise, because these kids are going to have the expertise on what the stories are, but our knowledge of how to get these stories out to the world at large.

Film Committee head Hassan Al Thawadi said of the deal: This partnership personifies Qatars vision to develop the very best talent locally, regionally and in the wider region, showcasing authentic stories from the Arab world. Working with an industry leader such as Miramax underlines Qatars ambition and commitment to build a world-class film industry right here in Doha.

Talking more widely about Miramaxs activities, Glickman touched on the crossover between film and TV and the benefits of remakes for the original IP.

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In that context, Glickman teased a possible series remake of 2002 spy film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was originally directed by George Clooney and written by Charlie Kaufman.

I read a script on my way out here for an adaptation of a movie called Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. I dont know if you guys remember that movie, George Clooney directed he said, noting that the new script was written by Oscar-nominated The Favourite and Poor Things screenwriter Tony McNamara.

So, well probably make that into a series too and not only do we hope for that to be a traditionally successful television show, but well also push up the original IP.

In response to a question on whether Miramax has also set its sights on Africa, Glickman revealed a big African project was under development.

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Im very interested in African stories. We have one that hasnt been announced. I want to say it out loud, but I cant because Ill get in trouble, he said.

I think its under serviced in terms of the the storytellers that are out there and culturally I like The Woman King a lot, but I would like to see stories that are very particular to the voices of modern Africa. Theres infrastructure there to shoot in Nigeria and in South Africa that is extremely well set up to tell those stories. So Im very keen, and I think its another huge growth area.





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Rental Family from director HIKARI and first time screenwriter Stephen Blahut is exactly what I hoped it would be. Its a sentimental, touching story without being saccharine. Its also predictable and comforting without being boring. Most importantly, its a gorgeous, quiet little movie rich in big ideas. This is a human story about loneliness, connecting with others, and what any of us want and need from one another.

The premise of Rental Family sounds preposterous but completely works. A wonderful, charming, sad Brendan Fraser plays struggling American actor Phillip Vandarpleog. Hes lived in Japan for seven years and is only really known for playing a superhero-like tube of toothpaste in a commercial. He books a fulltime gig, reluctantly agreeing to work for the company that gives the film its name. Its a small, strange little operation. People hire them out to create scenarios (a concept introduced in a truly delightful way) where they can live out fantasies or have someone play a role in their life.

There are obvious moral, ethical, and logical problems raised by such an operation. But Rental Familys owner Shinji (Takehiro Hira) and his more dedicated (of two) employees, Aiko (Mari Yamamoto), explain away these issues to their token white guy by saying he will never fully understand Japan and its people. Therefore he will never fully understand why this actually makes sense and helps people.

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Its not a hand-wave. It lets American audiences know that, like Phillip, we are the outsiders here, and our views of the world are exactly that, ours. This is works in the moment as a plot point. It proves especially effective and powerful later when it ties into the films themes, because Phillip is both wrong and right about this company.

Searchlight Pictures

Phillip plays a myriad of roles. He works as someones husband, anothers friend, and as a journalist. Some of the customers know theyre paying an actor. Some dont because their own family members hired him. Thats especially problematic when a single mom has Phillip pretend to be her adorable daughter Miyas long-lost father. Phillip can recognize why this is a really bad idea but commits to the role. As with his other Rental Family parts, the lonely Phillip starts to have a real connection with Miya. Hes also really good at pretending to be a dad, an element of the story enriched in small but meaningful ways by his own story.

Ultimately, the film, which also explores the value in even pretending to care about people, goes everywhere you expect when Phillip cant help but do his job too well. He comes to really care for his clients and wants to help them after he sees their individual humanity and all the failings that comes with being a person. That inevitably leads to all the problems the audience can see coming. But every moment and plot point feels completely earned. Everything makes sense so the story never feels trite.

Searchlight Pictures

It also never feels sappy. That, as much as anything, is why this film works. Because while this is ultimately a beautiful, humanist story, its underpinned by a real sadness. Its a sadness the film doesnt shy away from. The people who work for Rental Family are just like their customers: lonely. They crave the same human connection as the people who hire them. The fact so many people cant achieve a meaningful connection without paying someone to pretend to care is inherently bleak. But thats why the movie is ultimately hopeful. We are connected by our shared experiences, and loneliness is universal. Until its not. And when someone like Phillip makes the effort to truly care, not because hes paid to care but because he genuinely does, its so wonderful I found it overwhelming.

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Rental Family isnt perfect. A few sequences feel as though they are missing a scene or two of development. But thats a small quibble since it does everything well. Fraser, whose hangdog eyes and natural warmth make him perfect for the role, leads a fantastic cast. (I like everyone in this movie.) Yamamotos Aiko is especially great. Shes utterly fantastic. As is Akira Emoto as Kikuo Hasegawa, an elderly actor afraid the world has forgotten him. His relationship with Frasers pretend journalist is the best surprise of the film. Their time together ends up being just as important (if not more) than Phillips moving relationship with Mia.

Searchlight Pictures

I love Rental Familys script, HIKARIs direction, its sense of place, and its cast. But what I love most is that it has something to say about what it means to be a person. Its a gorgeous story about what we need from others. Our hearts and souls need to know someone knows we are here and that, no matter how small our presence in this giant world might seem, we matter because we are a part of it.

We all just want to be seen. This movie fundamentally understands, with clear eyes, why thats true of all of us, no matter our age, our experiences, or where we come from. And for that reason you should see Rental Family.

 (4 of 5)

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Rental Family comes to theaters November 21, 2025.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post RENTAL FAMILY Is a Beautiful Story About Being Seen (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.
Bruce Springsteens Nebraska has been getting a lot of attention lately, with the Scott Cooper-helmed biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Nebraska 82: Expanded Edition both released in October.

In 1984, Springsteen released Born in the U.S.A., his first political album, a commentary on national identity, disillusionment, and patriotism through the eyes of Vietnam veterans and the working class.

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In the 10 years after the success of Born in the U.S.A., Springsteen had been having an inner debate with himself, which centered around his place as a rich man. Now that he had amassed wealth and superstardom, what was his role? No longer among the working class, what work still needed to be done to address those who were less fortunate than him?

The Ghost of Tom Joad was his answer. Released on November 21, 1995, Springsteens 11th album is a companion piece to both of these earlier groundbreaking records, continuing his narrative-driven songwriting about the overlooked and forgotten. Sonically, its stripped-down, acoustic-heavy songs are reminiscent of Nebraska, though, of course, with much more production. Theres also the literary element that inspired this album, much like Flannery OConnors A Good Man Is Hard to Find helped inspire songwriting in Nebraska, so too did John Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath, with Tom Joad serving as the connection between the plight of Dust Bowl migrant workers during the Great Depression and the poor and marginalized in contemporary America and Mexico.

Like Born in the U.S.A., The Ghost of Tom Joad reflects on political issues, most directly, illegal immigrationwhich is arguably more relevant now with thousands of ICE raids happening across the countryand national identity, with a corrupt government forcing Americans to choose sides.

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While some rightly argue that The Ghost of Tom Joad is a starkly depressing album, with songs such as Straight Time, about an ex-convict struggling to live a normal life, the decline of the Ohio steel industry in Youngstown, and Sinaloa Cowboys, about two Mexican immigrant brothers chasing the American dream, with dire consequences, Springsteen does offer hope.

The albums title trackwhich Springsteen later re-recorded with Tom Morello in an almost eight-minute-long rock version (and also covered by Rage Against the Machine)is an ode to those who fall prey to the contradictions of capitalism. Springsteen employs Steinbecks Tom Joad as a symbol of aspiration: Now Tom said, Mom, wherever theres a cop beating a guy / Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries / Where theres a fight against the blood and hatred in the air / Look for me, Mom, Ill be there / Wherever somebodys fighting for a place to stand / Or a decent job or a helping hand / Wherever somebodys struggling to be free / Look in their eyes, ma, and youll see me

Thirty years later, The Ghost of Tom Joad reminds us that theres still plenty of work that needs to be done in America, that its our job to give a voice to the voiceless, to stand up for whats fair and right, and even during our hardest times, we as a nation must endure.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  For six days and seven shows in Columbus, Tavis Kordell and Darien Crago are on stage, doing what they love, performing in the hit musical Some Like It Hot.

But this week, they are also learning more about the time period their musical is set in. Some Like It Hot is based off the popular 1959 movie, starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe, and is set back in the 1930s in the middle of the prohibition movement.

And there may be no better place to learn about the movement than Westerville.

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Why Ohios governor could be forced to release $900 million in unused COVID-19 funds

Westerville was the dry capital of the world. Westerville was the epicenter of the national movement, said Jackie Barton, manager of the Westerville History Museum. The Anti-Saloon League was here and the Anti-Saloon League was the leading organization of the temperance movement.

Just a short drive from the Ohio Theater where Some Like It Hot is being performed is the Westerville History Museum, full of documents, propaganda, and publications that tell the history of the prohibition movement.

I feel like it gives what we do a lot more intention. And I was saying how just learning about prohibition and learning where we get a lot of the phrases and the things that we do in the show, it makes the show feel fresher and it keeps it new, said Kordell, who plays the roles of Jerry and Daphne in the show. This is going to hit differently tonight because I now know the context behind what were saying and doing.

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The Anti-Saloon League moved its headquarters to Westerville back in 1909, and for good reason.

They did everything from peaceful protests to blowing up buildings. That made the national papers. And everyone around the country knew that Westerville was a place where alcohol was absolutely despised, Barton said.

And now, Crago, a Westerville native herself, can transport herself back into that time period every night on stage with an even deeper connection than ever before.

I feel like Ive gone back to school today and in the best way. I can almost see my elementary school where I grew up, Crago said. But its amazing to come back as an adult. And of course, I can appreciate and learn and have some connection with the current show that Im in, more so with the history of this community. And its so just wild to be home right now. It feels surreal.

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You can check out the full Anti-Saloon League collection at the Westerville History Museum connected to the Westerville Public Library. Some Like It Hot is playing through Sunday at the Ohio Theater.

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CHEYENNE  They say laughter is the best medicine, and comedian Nurse Blake is headed to the capital city on Sunday with a full-bottle prescription.

Blake Lynch, better known online as Nurse Blake, was a nurse for approximately a decade before he began gaining a presence on social media and entering the comedy scene. Now, he makes light of his experiences in trauma centers across the country and growing up as a gay man in Florida through comedy.

Although his stories stem from his experience in health care, his shows resonate with more than those in the industry. He strives to provide a safe space for nurses through his jokes and roasts, while also educating people in the crowd who arent nurses.

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I love bringing nurses together in real life, Lynch told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. My audience is all different ages, backgrounds and specialties, and its so cool to see many different generations of nurses kind of being able to laugh together and relate to one another.

Lynch also started NurseCon at Sea, one of the largest nursing conferences in the country that offers CNE courses, events, activities and a place for nurses to connect, all on a cruise ship. When hes not on tour, hes hosting and planning the next years NurseCon. This summer will be their sixth cruise.

On top of that, hes the author of two childrens books. I Want to Be a Nurse When I Grow Up is Lynchs story about wanting to be a nurse from an early age, and Santa Sent to the E.R. is a holiday-themed book about teaching kids the basics of first aid and prevention care.

Not only is Lynch a nurse, comedian and author, hes also an advocate. In 2013, he started Banned4Life, a movement that aimed to lift the FDAs lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men being able to donate blood in the United States.

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He started working as a patient transporter at 17 years old and went on to graduate from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where he grew up, to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Post-grad, he jumped into working in Level 1 trauma centers around the country in a variety of nursing roles. It wasnt until 2017 that he started using social media as an outlet to decompress from his everyday life in the health care world.

His videos started going viral on Facebook first, and hes since also started posting to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, poking fun and sharing stories about nursing life.

Although he doesnt work in a hospital anymore, hes still a registered nurse and is focusing on educating other nurses through NurseCon and his comedy tours.

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Today, he has more than a million followers across all of his platforms and has been on multiple comedy tours, including 2022s PTO tour and 2023s Shock Advised tour. His current tour, But Did You Die?, is making its way to Cheyenne on Sunday at the Cheyenne Civic Center.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle was able to talk with Lynch over Zoom this week. Here are some excerpts from that conversation:

WTE: You said youve known you wanted to be a nurse since you were a kid. Who or what inspired you to get into nursing?

Lynch: So, my dads been a respiratory therapist for almost 35 years now, working the night shift. And growing up, I remember him coming home from work when I would be getting ready for school, and hed share stories over cereal from what his night was like, and I thought it was so fascinating. And my mom was in medical device sales ... So, between the two of them, I kind of knew that health care was my path.

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Respiratory is pretty defined within its scope. There arent not too many opportunities for RTs to get into many different lanes of health care like there are in nursing. So nursing was just kind of the path I decided to go down, and Im so glad I did it. ... I didnt consider any other field or profession.

WTE: How did you make that shift from nursing to social media and use it as an outlet?

Lynch: In about 2017, I was working in the surgical liver transplant ICU, and after driving home after a 12-hour shift, I had my very first panic attack. I didnt know what I was experiencing, which is funny, because Im a nurse, but in the moment, I was just scared. And I realized I was getting burnt out. Nursing was becoming very tiring; I was being overworked, we were constantly short-staffed, and I needed an outlet to kind of connect with other people. I had this need for wanting to share my story and a need for laughter. And I started posting to Facebook in 2017, and joined other platforms as they popped up.

WTE: Youve done a ton of tours before But Did You Die? Do you tailor each one to a different point in your nursing career, since you dabbled in a couple of different areas?

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Lynch: I kind of gear my shows more toward (my) feelings and what Im going through in my life. For example, for Shock Advised, I wanted to prepare the audience to be shocked; I talked about growing up and going through gay conversion therapy and other stuff, and in that moment in my life, I just wanted to give people a version of me that they didnt necessarily see online.

But Did You Die? is about how I was taking life a little too seriously last year, to the point where I actually admitted myself into a mental health facility for 30 days, and I kind of built my show around how I was feeling. So, the whole show is about not taking life so seriously, but also about educating the public on how to interact with and treat health care workers.

WTE: How would you say you approach comedy in general? Do you lean more toward crowd work and storytelling?

Lynch: I do a mix of stand-up and stories; I would say Im inspired by Joan Rivers. I think her style of comedy was so funny, and it got the audience going. She was really busy on stage, and I also feel like Im really busy on stage. ... In Shock Advised, there was a roast in that show where I roasted the different nursing specialties and intertwined them with stories, and this year, my show is a spin on the Ten Commandments, geared toward patients and their loved ones when theyre in the hospital. The show has a beginning, a middle and an end, and there are a lot of callbacks.

If theres someone in the front whos not in health care, I will use them throughout the show to break down topics and verbiage that maybe only nurses would know and use them as an example to just bring in other audience members who might not be in health care to make sure they understand what Im saying.
"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin accused former New York Magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi of being "unethical" Thursday as the journalist faces new allegations of an improper romantic relationship.

Nuzzi, who has written a forthcoming book about an alleged "sexting" relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his presidential campaign, was accused this week by her ex-fiance, Ryan Lizza, of also having a romantic relationship with former South Carolina Gov. and Rep. Mark Sanford.

"For me, its akin to an attorney sleeping with her client. Its akin to a prosecutor sleeping with a witness," Hostin said. "A shrink, a doctor sleeping with a patient. It's unethical. It's beneath the professional standards."

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Co-host Joy Behar added that it "undermines the work."

Cheryl Hines Breaks Silence On Husband Rfk Jr.s Alleged Online Affair Ahead Of Journalist's Tell-all

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin criticized ex-New York Magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi as being "unethical" after new accusations of an improper romantic relationship.

"She is now the West Coast editor for Vanity Fair," Hostin added after Behar noted that she got the job after the scandal broke. "That, to me, undermines that position. I dont know how you trust her as a journalist."

Read On The Fox News App

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin defended Nuzzi, expressing frustration that the journalist faced backlash while Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. got off "scot-free," she argued.

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"I think the alleged RFK situation was inappropriate. I would have never engaged," Giffin said during the discussion. "I dont think women in journalism should, but I think you can come back from one mistake. I dont think that should ruin your entire career.

"What makes me nervous about the story, it sounds like there may have been other situations, and I just hope, if thats untrue, she will come forward and defend herself. She is tremendously talented, and I think that would really help her."

Nuzzi has not spoken out on Lizza's allegations, which he published in a Substack on Monday.

Nuzzi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about Hostin's remarks.

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Olivia Nuzzi Exits Ny Magazine Following Rfk Jr. Relationship Revelations

Ryan Lizza and his ex-fiancee Olivia Nuzzi.

Lizza claimed that, in 2020, he had found a note spilling out of Nuzzis backpack in the Georgetown townhouse that would "alter the course of our lives."

"We were under contract to write a book about the presidential campaign. The primaries were in full swing, and it felt like we were falling behind on our project. But there was one bright spot. Olivia was spending more and more time in South Carolina, from where she had just returned, which was a good thing, I thought, considering how politically important the state was," Lizza wrote.

"In the fall, she had published, in New York Magazine, a profile of a long-shot but intriguing presidential candidate, and he continued to be a helpful source," he continued, later noting it was Sanford. "Maybe this book would come together, after all."

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Journalist Olivia Nuzzi was accused by former fiance Ryan Lizza of cheating on him with former South Carolina Congressman and Gov. Mark Sanford.

Before the book could be finished, Lizza said he found a note his then-fiancee wrote that said, "If I swallowed every drop of water from the tower above your house, I would still thirst for you."

Lizza wrote that he saw a name and the first line of an unfinished love letter, which he said had enough information for him to deduce that there was a physical relationship between them and some sort of falling out.

He described the note as a love letter addressed to "a famous politician, 32 years older than Olivia, and well-known for a sex scandal," identifying the recipient as Sanford.

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"She later explained to me that she became infatuated with him after their interview, that she couldnt get him out of her head, and that as her obsession intensified, she sent him increasingly risque pictures and texts, secretly followed him on the campaign trail when she told me she was out covering other candidates, and fantasized about a rendezvous, which was consummated at his home in South Carolina one night after she went dark on me and made up a story about how she was dealing with a crisis concerning her sick mother," Lizza wrote.

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Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.





Original article source: 'The View' co-host criticizes journalist Olivia Nuzzi amid alleged romantic relationships
With their hard-to-pronounce labels and indecipherable grapes, it's easy to skip past Greek wines on the shelf at your local wine shop. However, if you choose to move beyond these mere details, you'll be rewarded with a world of wines and one-of-a-kind grape varieties you'll only ever see coming from Greece. With more than 300 indigenous grapes and dozens of regional appellations across the Greek mainland and islands, there's no shortage of wines to try. Naturally, with such regional specificity in the varieties and wine styles, and limited export abroad, it's hard for the average consumer to get a solid grasp of what Greece has to offer.

Nevertheless, as a few select grape varieties gain traction and the value of Greek wines becomes more broadly recognized, the country's role in the international wine landscape becomes increasingly solidified. And with good reason; Ancient Greek culture and viticultural tradition are at the heart of wine's longstanding history. Indeed, historic vineyards that have survived natural and human interventions continue to be cultivated, blending the old with the new.

Combining my experience as a Certified Specialist of Wine with some insider knowledge I picked up on a recent trip to Greece, I've put together a list of Greek varieties and wines to give you a solid foundation. Whether your Greek wine journey has yet to begin or you've only just started dabbling in the country's viticultural offerings, these Greek wines will expand your palate.

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Read more: The 30 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Assyrtiko

bottle of assyrtiko greek wine against a beige background next to twigs and tangerines - Gaia Wines / Facebook

Assyrtiko might just be the buzziest Greek grape at the moment, and probably the easiest one to source. The white variety originates from the island of Santorini, and arguably its best expressions come from this volcanic terroir. Nevertheless, it has expanded to mainland Greece as well as other islands. Depending on the origin, assyrtiko spans a range of styles, from concentrated, crisp, and mineral expressions (typical of Santorini) to rounder and fruitier wines, with plenty of acidity that makes it a great match for food.

The fresher styles are fermented in stainless steel to maintain a leaner profile, whereas oak or clay vessels are used in other variations, playing up the texture. Additionally, assyrtiko grapes are sometimes sun-dried to make a rich, sweet wine. Overall, it has the capacity to age quite well, evolving with complex aromas and a honeyed, yet no less mineral-rich, character.

Although you'll find assyrtiko produced around the country, to truly experience the grape in all its splendor, a bottle from Santorini is in order. Try Assyrtiko by Gaia Wild Ferment, made with mature fruit from a prestigious PDO Santorini vineyard. The wine is fermented with native yeast in a blend of stainless steel tanks and new oak barrels, offering complexity and nuance. Notes of citrus fruit are prominent on the palate, alongside a saline and mineral character with subtle hints of spice.

Xinomavro

bottle and glass of greek Xinomavro rose wine with nature scenery in the back - kekkebk / Instagram

Ask its most ardent fans and you'll be told that xinomavro produces wines that are not dissimilar to Barolo from Piedmont. Comparisons to the revered nebbiolo wine aside, xinomovro boasts its own unique qualities that make it worthy of praise. The grape is found across the north and central areas of the mainland, including designations like PDO Naoussa in Macedonia.

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Aside from producing dazzling red wines, xinomavro is also vinified as rose, sparkling, and sweet wines, showcasing its versatility. Nevertheless, the red wines are most age-worthy, bringing complexity to the table and pairing well with hearty Greek specialties. Xinomavro displays vibrant red fruits and earthiness on the palate, with hints of star anise, allspice, licorice, and tobacco that add complexity. It boasts sturdy tannins that contribute to its longevity, along with a bright acidity that brings balance.

Thymiopoulos Vineyards in Naoussa produces 10 different expressions of xinomavro, so it's a pretty solid bet if you're looking to get a feel for the variety. Try the Rose de Xinomavro for something a little lighter albeit no less complex, with aromas of red berries, plums, sun-dried tomato, rose petals, and oregano. If you're ready for more, Xinomavro Young Vines is an excellent progression toward bolder styles of this variety. Expect notes of ripe red fruits, mint, and hints of spice.

Moschofilero

white wine bottle with sea urchins on rocky terrain - ktima_tselepos / Instagram

If you're a fan of fragrant white wines, then moschofilero is a good bet. The fruit itself has a darker tinge, but moschofilero is typically vinified as a white wine, with some sparkling and rose wines on the market too. It's mostly grown in the Peloponnese under the PDO Mantinia designation, where it benefits from the cooler mountain climate. Thanks to its full-throttle aromas, moschofilero is often blended with milder grapes to boost their character, though it's increasingly bottled as a single-varietal wine.

Its richly aromatic profile is balanced by a refreshing hit of acidity, keeping the wine light and playful. Notes of rose petals, potpourri, orange blossom, honeydew, citrus, and almond are commonly tasted. Depending on the vinification, it can take on a zestier, more herbaceous and savory character. For this reason, many people refer to it as a chameleon grape, with its ability to shift styles.

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Sample the grape with a bottle of Tselepos Wines Mantinia Classic Moschofilero, which boasts plenty of acidity and fresh citrus notes. Hints of rose and white flowers suggest sweetness, but this wine remains perfectly dry on the palate. Serve it with seafood, sushi, or classic Greek stuffed vine leaves.

Malagousia

bottle of greek white wine Malagousiawith plants in the back - naturavini / Instagram

Close to extinction by the second half of the 20th century, malagousia persevered and found its way back into vineyards across Greece. As Greek grape growers went back to their viticultural roots, the qualities of this white grape became increasingly evident, and it's now grown on the mainland and in some islands, namely Rhodes, where it has a PDO designation. It expresses its terroir quite prominently, resulting in a range of styles depending on the soil and climate of where it's grown.

Malagousia shines in top-tier white wines that are brimming with aromatic potential, with tasting notes including peach, citrus, melon, flowers, and fresh herbs. Its fragrant features make it a great candidate for blending, though its rich character is best expressed when bottled solo. Both dry and sweet late harvest malagousia wines are produced, highlighting the variety's diverse character.

Chances are there's a style of malagousia perfect for the occasion. To begin your exploration, try a bottle of Malagouzia by Domaine Tatsis, a biodynamic and organic producer in Goumenissa, Macedonia. The wine is delightfully fresh, with hints of stone fruit, citrus, quince, white flowers, and a nutty finish.

Agiorgitiko

bottle of red wine on a dinner table with bread and tomatoes in the back - domaineskouras / Instagram

Don't be intimidated by its tricky name (which actually means St. George's grape), as Greece's most prominent red wine grape, agiorgitiko shows up in a wide range of styles. Whether you're looking for a light rose or a more complex red wine, there's a bottle for you. The latter is typically aged in oak barrels, adding roundness and structure to the wine. You'll commonly find this grape bottled under the PDO Nemea appellation in the Peloponnese peninsula, which also happens to be the largest appellation in the country. Here, it's often grown at higher altitudes, bringing freshness and balance to the palate.

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Notes of raspberry, blackberry, dark plum, baking spices, and chocolate are common in agiorgitiko. Thanks to the variability in vinification, it pairs well with plenty of foods, from grilled vegetables to heartier meat stews. Try a bottle of Saint George Nemea by Domaine Skouras, an applauded winery in the Peloponnese, blending tradition with modern innovation. Hints of black cherry, berries, tobacco, and spice linger on the palate, along with smooth tannins to tie it all together.

Roditis

close up of Roditis greek white wine bottle with dinner table in the background - wine_tasting_rhodes / Instagram

Roditis comes out on top as the most planted white grape variety in Greece, though it happens to have a pinkish tinge that can be highlighted in vinification. The grape shows up in several regions and appellations of the country, namely the PDO Patras. The best versions are grown at higher altitudes, helping guarantee sufficient ripening during the day, balanced with acidity retention in the cooler nights. Although roditis is increasingly bottled as a varietal wine, it is also commonly blended with other white grapes for a balanced result.

Since this grape is so common, it is worthwhile to choose a reputable producer, as it can be bland if improperly handled in the vineyard and cellar. When done well, it exhibits subtle notes of tropical fruits, zesty citrus, minerality, white flowers, honey, and herbs. Esteemed producer Tetramythos's Roditis is a solid bet to experience the variety at its best. Notes of green apple and lemon mingle with honeyed, floral aromas and a stony finish. This is a winner with seafood or poultry dishes.

Savatiano

person pouring white Savatiano wine glass from bottle in a restaurant setting - Papagiannakos Winery / Facebook

This old Greek white grape variety is commonly planted around the country, making up a fair share of the white wines. Savatiano was once primarily used in the production of retsina, a resinated wine, but it has since pivoted toward well-crafted white table wines. Once a bit misunderstood in the vineyard and cellar, wine growers are increasingly fine-tuning its production, resulting in excellent wines, bottled both as a single varietal or as a blend. This includes limiting yields, following suitable pruning methods, harvesting at the optimal time, and growing the best clones for the terroir.

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Typically displaying notes of green apple, pear, honeydew, lime, herbs, and grass, savatiano comes together with a rounded finish that manages to balance freshness and richness, especially with lees aging. Domaine Papagiannakos produces an excellent Old Vines Savatiano that captures the nuances of this variety. Crisp citrus notes are paired with peach and floral aromas, along with an herbal and saline character that gives it an edge. Serve it chilled as an aperitif or with your favorite Greek seafood dish.

Mavrodaphne

mirror image of a bottle of sweet red Greek wine Mavrodaphne against a white background - Loukatos

This grape variety has dark, near-black skins, giving the resulting wines an extra inky hue. Traditionally vinified as a fortified dessert wine (the most notable example being Mavrodaphne of Patras, which is often compared to Port), more recently this variety has been used to make full-bodied dry wines (not unlike Italian Amarone). Mavrodaphne is most abundant in the Peloponnese peninsula, as well as the island of Cephalonia, where it's used to make dry and dessert wines.

Whether vinified sweet or dry, mavrodaphne typically exhibits concentrated rich aromas of dried dark fruits, spices, caramel, chocolate, and marzipan, with a subtle bitter finish. Discover this iconic Greek dessert wine with a bottle of Loukatos Mavrodaphne of Patras, brimming with blackberries, blueberries, dark plums, and fig, along with a balanced acidity. Mix it up by serving this sweet wine as an aperitif, or for a classic option pair it with a decadent chocolate dessert.

Athiri

bottle of greek white wine with glass at sunset - Domaine Sigalas / Facebook

This ancient white wine grape calls the Aegean Sea home, where it's grown on several islands, especially Rhodes. It can handle the dry conditions common in this area of the country, though it's also grown on the mainland, in parts of Macedonia. Athiri displays fairly subtle flavors, with a medium body, moderate alcohol levels, and an overall moderate nature. These mild characteristics make it a popular candidate for blending, such as to round out the acidity of assyrtiko wines. On the other hand, its medium alcohol and acidity levels make it a wine best drunk young.

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Bottled as a single-varietal wine, it's fresh and lively, with notes of citrus, apple, and white flowers prominent on the palate. Athiri's easy-going nature makes it a good match for hard-to-pair foods, light seafood dishes, or simply served as an aperitif. It can be tricky to track down a 100% athiri wine, so try a blend to see how it complements other varieties. Domaine Sigalas AA features assyrtiko and athiri grapes, displaying notes of stone fruit, citrus zest, and white blossoms alongside a mineral-driven palate.

Retsina

hand holding bottle of Greek retsina wine - fysika_athens / Instagram

Unlike the rest of this list, retsina isn't a grape variety but a type of Greek wine. It's commonly made with savatiano and roditis grapes, but the process is really where it stands out. Evidence suggests retsina has been produced for thousands of years, blending pine resin with wine for a one-of-a-kind result.

Traditionally, pine was incorporated into production because the vineyards were close to pine forests, making it a natural pairing. Additionally, the sticky resin was sometimes used to seal vessels during fermentation, and the vessels themselves were occasionally made with pine wood. Furthermore, pine resin was also purposely added to wine to give it more character, which as expected, leaned heavily toward piney aromas.

The success of the technique has largely varied, and it once left quite a lot to be desired. Nowadays, retsina has started to see a resurgence in quality thanks to producers dedicating more attention to this ancient winemaking method. Tetramythos Wines makes a great retsina with the roditis grape, featuring notes of lemon, peach, pear, chamomile, and herbs. The winery also produces a version fermented in clay amphora that's available in some markets.

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Thanksgiving in 2025 is on Thursday, Nov. 27. With the holiday quickly approaching, many families will be starting to prepare for their Thanksgiving meals.

The grocery list for Thanksgiving can be quite long. Traditionally, the star of the show is the turkey -- but this can also be the biggest expense of all the items on the Thanksgiving menu.

There's little doubt that people will be searching for the best deals on whole turkeys at Wilmington-area grocery stores.

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That's why we've compiled a list of local grocery chains and their listed prices for turkeys in the week prior to Thanksgiving.

Here's a look at local prices on whole turkeys.

Cheapest prices

Food Lion

Food Lion is selling the store brand's frozen turkey for 29 cents per pound. Like many offers on this list, this price is only good with the Food Lion MVP card.

Food Lion is also selling Butterball fresh turkeys for $1.19 per pound.

Publix

Publix is selling its store-brand frozen turkey for 49 cents per pound. This is down over $2 from the usual price of $2.59 per pound. The discounted price is valid through Nov. 26.

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Publix is also selling Butterball fresh turkeys for $1.19 per pound.

Target

Target is selling its Good and Gather brand whole turkey for 79 cents per pound, the same price as 2024.

Most expensive

The Fresh Market

The Fresh Market is selling its store-brand whole, fresh turkey for $2.99 per pound.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods is selling its store-brand whole, fresh turkey for $2.99 per pound.

Trader Joe's

The cheapest price on a whole turkey at Trader Joe's is for the store-brand brined turkey, which comes at $2.49 per pound. Trader Joes also sells a store-brand organic turkey for $3.99 per pound. The store does not stock frozen turkeys.

Other prices

Lowes Foods

Lowes Foods' cheapest price on a whole turkey is 97 cents per pound for the Jennie-O frozen turkey, down from its usual price of $2.99 per pound. They also offer a Jennie-O fresh turkey for $1.79 per pound.

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Both of these prices are valid until Nov. 27.

Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter is offering the store brand's frozen and fresh whole turkeys for 99 cents per pound.

Walmart

Walmart offers frozen Butterball turkeys for 97 cents per pound. According to the company, this is Walmart's lowest price since 2019.

Aldi

Aldi is selling a Butterball frozen turkey for 97 cents per pound. There is a limit of 2 per customer.

Lidl

Similar to many other grocery chains, Lidl is selling a frozen Butterball turkey for 99 cents per pound, down from the usual price of $1.79 per pound.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Best deals on Thanksgiving turkeys at Wilmington, NC, grocery stores
Speeding is the most common traffic citation in the US, with 24.6% of all traffic tickets being issued to those of the population with a leaden right foot. On the face of it, if you're pulled over for speeding, the ramifications aren't too bad. In Nevada, for instance, the penalties range from $100 and one penalty point for being 5 mph over the speed limit to $420 and four points for being 21 mph over the limit. Not that we're saying that these are trivial numbers, but they're not the biggest cost errant drivers face.

The real expense arrives later in the form of increased insurance rates. The bad news for Nevada drivers (at least speeding ones) is that the state has the third-largest insurance rate increase for speeding drivers in the US. For a driver who is booked doing between 11 and 15 mph over the limit, the standard penalty is $200 and two penalty points. However, according to a study undertaken by LendingTree, the average auto-insurance premium jumps from $2,789.85 to $3,663.39, a rise of 31.3%.

When compared to the national average of 22.7%, Nevada is one of the most expensive states when it comes to coverage costs after a speeding violation. It's topped only by California  car insurance in California is not cheap anyway  and Michigan, with rate increases of 42% and 35.8%, respectively.

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Read more: Popular Cars You Should Avoid Buying, According To Consumer Reports

How speeding offences affect insurance premiums

Driver slumped in despair after getting a speeding ticket - Katarzynabialasiewicz/Getty Images

The insurance figures quoted in the study are based on full coverage policies for a 30-year-old male driver with no previous driving offences and driving a 2018 Honda CR-V. However, for younger drivers caught speeding, the story is even bleaker. While the insurance premium percentage increase is similar across age groups, the greater initial premiums paid by younger drivers set a higher starting bar. For instance, a driver in their sixties pays an average insurance premium of $1,783.08 and faces an average "speeding ticket" raise of 30.7%  equating to an insurance increase of $548.09. For comparison, a 20-year-old driver can expect to see a coverage hike of 28.9% but when applied to the average base premium of $4,092.50, the increase is a whopping $1,183.67.

Ultimately, insurers care about one thing  crash risk. As insurance agent Rob Bhatt explained to LendingTree, "In the eyes of an insurance company, drivers with a speeding ticket are more likely to get into accidents than those with a clean driving record." For Nevada drivers, this risk-based approach translates into some of the steepest post-speeding ticket increases in the country. One of the reasons that the jump feels so severe is that the state's baseline premiums are already higher than the national average. Nevada ranks as the fourth most expensive state for car insurance, with the average annual full-coverage car insurance costing $3,549  or about 5% of the average person's income. With an average speeding ticket adding $702, this rises to $4,251.

What can you do if you're caught red-footed?

Speed limit sign on US highway - BalkansCat/Shutterstock

Speeding is a very common offense; annually, over 40 million Americans are issued a speeding ticket, or about 78 drivers a minute. Statistically, the average driver faces a 17% chance of receiving a ticket for any offense, and roughly a quarter of these are for speeding. It therefore equates to about 4% of drivers being charged with speeding annually. So, what can you do if you're one of the one-in-twenty-five drivers facing increased insurance bills because of a speeding offense?

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One option that could help is to take advantage of a diversion program that many states run. For instance, in Nevada, you can have a maximum of three points removed by attending an approved Traffic Safety School. Of course, shopping around for the cheapest car insurance is also an option. This is especially relevant, as speeding offenses don't normally affect insurance premiums until a policy needs to be renewed. This time can be spent researching and comparing quotes to see if a better deal is available (not all insurers apply the same penalties).

Finally, avoid future convictions. For insurance purposes, convictions are considered when calculating premiums for three to five years after the offense. This means that as long as you keep within the speed limit, your insurance costs will eventually normalize. On the flip side, multiple speeding tickets can make things significantly worse, with premiums climbing far beyond the state's post-ticket average. One other possible consideration is an app that could prevent you from getting a speeding ticket.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Amid the Black Friday and Cyber Monday frenzies, the real steals aren't limited to TVs and trendy coats. This stretch of the holiday shopping season also happens to be one of the best times of the year to snag deeply discounted getaways - from tropical escapes and European adventures to snowy vacations and big-city retreats - at prices that are hard to beat.

Travel experts say these holiday-week promotions often offer some of the lowest rates you'll find all year, making it an ideal moment to plan winter vacations, spring break trips or even early summer travel.

While some of the most attractive deals, especially from airlines, may appear at the last minute on Travel Tuesday - a day dedicated to travel bargains, Dec. 2 this year - several major hotel chains, boutique resorts, cruise lines, and all-inclusive properties have already released substantial discounts. Here's a roundup of some of the wide-ranging, best bargains available so far:

Regional deals

The High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid's Cyber Monday sale features with 100 nights available for $100, plus a "Sweet Holiday Stay" package from $150/night through Dec. 26. (eyedias/Getty Images)





Heartwood at Vassar, Poughkeepsie: Heartwood at Vassar is offering 30% off stays of two nights or more with code CYBER26. Book Dec. 1-15 for travel through Dec. 31, 2026. Rates start at $159 before discount. Visit theheartwood.com.

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The Lodge at Schroon Lake: Enjoy 40% off stays, with early access beginning Nov. 24 and a public sale Nov. 27-Dec. 5. Valid for travel through December 2025 (excluding Christmas week). Visit lodgeatschroonlake.com.

The Glen House, White Mountain National Forest, N.H.: Take up to 35% off stays booked through Dec. 3 for travel through June 14, 2026. Rates start at $129/night with promo code THANKS2025. Visit hotelsone.com.

Inn on Boltwood, Amherst, Mass.: Take 30% off best available rates as part of its 100th anniversary sale. Book Nov. 23-Dec. 1, for travel through December 2026. Rates start at $159/night. Visit innonboltwood.com.

Topnotch Resort, Stowe, Vt.: Topnotch Resort is running a Cyber Monday flash sale with 100 nights offered at $100 each for travel Dec. 1-Mar. 31, 2026. The resort is also promoting its "O'Christmas Tree" holiday package starting at $278/night through Dec. 24. Visit sterlingridgeresort.com.

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High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid: The Cyber Monday sale features with 100 nights available for $100, plus a "Sweet Holiday Stay" package from $150/night through Dec. 26. Only one room priced at $100 (excluding taxes and resort charge) is available per night at each property on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit highpeaksresort.com.

Caribbean, international travel deals

Beaches Resorts is offering up to 65% off savings at the chain's Jamaica and Turks & Caicos resorts. (Oscar Wong/Getty Images)





Sandals Resorts, Caribbean: Enjoy up to 65% off stays, plus up to $1,500 in booking credit and a $100 web bonus, valid for travel through Dec. 25, 2027. Visit sandals.com/sale.

Beaches Resorts, Jamaica and Turks & Caicos: Take up to 65% off, up to $500 in booking credit, and a $100 web bonus for travel through Dec. 20, 2027. Visit beaches.com/sale.

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Princess Hotels & Resorts, Jamaica: Princess is offering up to 70% off stays booked through Dec. 3, for travel Dec. 1, 2025-Oct. 31, 2026. Rates start at $256 per person per night (Senses) and $225 (Grand Jamaica). Visit princess-hotels.com.

Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts, St. Maarten: Take 50% off select stays with code EARLYACCESS (Nov. 18-24) and BFSALE (Nov. 25-Dec. 2). Valid for travel Dec. 1, 2025-Dec. 24, 2026. Rates start at $259 for Ocean Point and $189 for Maho. Visit sonestastmaarten.com.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Caribbean & Mexico: Karisma is offering major savings across its portfolio, including 60% off at Nickelodeon Punta Cana (kids under 6 stay free), 45% off at Nickelodeon Riviera Maya, up to 65% off Margaritaville resorts, and 60% off Azul Beach Negril with added perks. Book through Dec. 4, for travel through Dec. 22, 2026. Visit karismahotels.com or call 1-866-527-4762.

Online travel platforms

Save up to 40% off hotels, 25% off rental cars and 20% off attractions through Dec. 3 at Booking.com. (SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett)





Expedia: Take up to 50% off hotels and up to 75% off Flash Deals for bookings made Nov. 20-Dec. 2, valid for travel through Dec. 30, 2026. Visit Expedia.com.

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Hotels.com: Up to 50% off stays, up to 75% off on Travel Tuesday, and bonus gift card offers during its Nov. 20-Dec. 2 sale. Visit Hotels.com.

Vrbo: Savings of $396 or more on weekly stays and $70 or more on shorter stays for bookings made Nov. 20-Dec. 2. Visit Vrbo.com.

Booking.com: Save up to 40% off hotels, 25% off rental cars, 20% off attractions and transfers, 15% off flights, and up to $2,000 in cruise credits for bookings made Nov. 20-Dec. 3. Visit Booking.com/dealspage.

Cruise and tour operators

Enjoy up to 30% off Holland America Line cruises cruises on bookings made Nov. 20Dec. 4. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)





Cruise Croatia: Save up to $1,000 off select 2026 sailings booked Nov. 28-Dec. 12. Visit unforgettablecroatia.com.

Uniworld River Cruises: Take up to 50% off, waived solo traveler fees, and free trip extensions during its 12 Days of Christmas sale Nov. 28-Dec. 12. Visit Uniworld.com/12days.

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Holland America Line: Enjoy up to 30% off cruises, 50% reduced deposits, and free or prepaid amenities for bookings made Nov. 20-Dec. 4, valid for travel December 2025October 2027. Visit HollandAmerica.com.

Contiki: Up to 50% off select 1835 group trips, plus up to $800 off itineraries in Japan, Scotland, and more, for bookings made through Dec. 4. Visit Contiki.com.

Trafalgar: Buy-one-get-one 50% off select trips plus up to 15% off top itineraries during its sale through Dec. 4. Visit Trafalgar.com.

Friendly Planet Travel: Up to $2,000 off travel packages, plus an extra $50 discount for reservations made Nov. 28-30, for bookings made Nov. 28-Dec. 5, valid for 20262027 travel. Visit FriendlyPlanetTravel.com.

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CIE Tours: Take up to 15% off European tours, plus savings of $2,000 per couple with no blackout dates, for bookings made through Dec. 2. Valid for 2026 travel. Visit CIETours.com.

Perillo Tours: Save $500-$750 off group and custom Italy and Europe trips for bookings made Nov. 28-Dec. 5, valid for travel Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026. Call 1-800-431-1515.

MSC Cruises: Cruise from $199 per person and receive up to $1,000 onboard credit, plus kids sail free on select cruises. Book by Nov. 28. Visit msccruisesusa.com.

Royal Caribbean: Receive up to $1,000 off cruise fares and a "third and fourth guests sail free" promotion. Visit Royalcaribbean.com.

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Carnival Cruises: During the Black Friday presale, through Nov. 25, you can book a cruise and sail from $79 per person, per day, and receive a $50 onboard credit. Visit Carnival.com.

Hotel chains

On Nov. 28, 2025, only, guests can snag up to 50% off Family Suites at Great Wolf Lodge by using the code "FRIDAY" for select stays between Nov. 28 and April 29, 2026. (Smith Collection/Gado/Gado via Getty Images)





Westgate Resorts - multiple U.S. cities: Westgate Resorts is offering up to 50% off vacation stays booked now through Dec. 3, valid for travel Nov. 3, 2025Dec. 18, 2026. Visit WestgateResorts.com.

Great Wolf Lodge: On Nov. 28 only, guests can snag up to 50% off Family Suites by using the code "FRIDAY" for select stays between Nov. 28 and April 29, 2026. Visit GreatWolf.com.

Hard Rock Hotels: Take up to 55% off a future Hard Rock Hotels stay for travel between Dec. 20 and the end of next August when you book by Dec. 7. Visit hotel.hardrock.com.

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Hilton: Thousands of Hilton Honors properties across the Americas are offering up to 25% off stays through April 6. To secure the discount, bookings must be made through an official Hilton reservations channel before Dec. 15. Visit Hilton.com.

Hyatt: More than 750 World of Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide are taking part in this Cyber Week promotion, offering 30% off for loyalty program members (free to join) and 25% off for all other guests. Visit hyatt.com.



Marriott: From Nov. 25-Dec. 2, travelers who book through the Marriott Bonvoy app can save 25% on stays taking place between Nov. 30 and the end of February. Visit Marriott.com.

Yotel: Reservations made before Dec. 3 are eligible for 40% off stays at participating properties through Nov. 30, 2026. Visit yotel.com.

Revist this list of travel deals, as we'll be updating the offers through Travel Tuesday.

This article originally published at Black Friday travel deals: Score discounts on hotels, resorts, cruises.
To cook or not to cook? It's the question of convenience vs. cost this Thanksgiving for many Tennesseans and families across the country.

Ordering Thanksgiving dinner to go is a growing trend in the United States, according to a 2024 Pop menu survey. The study found that a whopping 37% of consumers reported that they plan to order takeout or delivery from restaurants for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Many big-box grocery chains in Tennessee, like Sam's Club and Publix, are advertising precooked holiday meal packages this year. Several chain restaurants are also serving up and selling all the classic Thanksgiving fixings.

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In an economy where grocery costs continue to be on the rise, is it cheaper to cook Thanksgiving dinner at home or purchase the feast from a retailer in Tennessee?

Here's a price breakdown.

How much could it cost to make Thanksgiving dinner at home in Tennessee?

Each year, the University of Tennessee Extension, led by UT Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Professor Ann Berry, releases a study about the price of Thanksgiving dinner. The research team looks at the meal costs to feed a group of 10 with a traditional turkey feast.

To find the cost, experts shop at 14 big-box and local grocery stores all around Tennessee. They shopped from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 for the same 22 ingredients at each store, then averaged the total cost at all the stores.

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This year, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner has crept up again to $128.50, data shows. Berry's team found that a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to feed 10 people in 2024 costs $12.80 per person.

Where can you buy a prepared Thanksgiving meal in Tennessee?

Nowadays, most grocers offer some sort of Thanksgiving meal deal. To compare prices to a homemade Thanksgiving price, using 2025 UT Extension study data, to a more convenient alternative, only prepared heat-and-serve meal options are included on this list.

Cracker Barrel

Honey Baked Ham

Amazon

Publix

Sam's Club

On a budget? Where to shop affordable Thanksgiving meal deals from Aldi, Walmart, Target

Cracker Barrel Heat n' Serve

Thanksgiving Heat & Serve Feast at Cracker Barrel feeds 8-10 people. This meal includes two oven-roasted turkey breasts, sweet potato casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes with cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry relish and rolls, with pumpkin and pecan pies for dessert.

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The meal package will run you around $164.99 to $184.99, but may vary depending on store location. This meal package is more expensive than a homemade meal, but it comes fully prepared and ready to warm up.

Honey Baked Ham

There is a litany of holiday meal options at Honey Baked Ham, the most comparable to competitors being the 3.5 lb Half Boneless Ham & Turkey Feast, which feeds up to 15 people, according to the restaurant. This meal includes a 3.5 lb boneless ham and a 2.95 lb turkey breast (either roasted or smoked). The meal also includes your choice of four of the frozen Heat & Serve Side Dishes.

This meal package costs around $137.99, but may vary depending on the store location. The meal package averages out to around $9.19 per person. This is compared to the average homemade grocery cost of $12.80 per guest.

Amazon $25 Thanksgiving meal deal

Amazon has launched its 2025 Thanksgiving meal deal, featuring a Butterball frozen turkey. From Nov. 12 to 27, families can pick up a ready-to-assemble holiday spread for just $25, averaging about $5 per person. The meal includes:

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Butterball frozen turkey ($0.69 per pound)

Resers homestyle stuffing

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Green bean casserole

Cranberry relish

Amazon Grocery crescent rolls

Holiday pie from select national brands

Note that cooking is required for the Amazon deal. To feed 10 people, this feast will cost $50, still less than half the cost of the average grocery bill for Thanksgiving in the Volunteer State.

Publix Complete Turkey Dinner

Another heat-and-serve option, Publix offers a complete turkey dinner that feeds seven-10 people. This meal includes some of the classic Thanksgiving sides, like stuffing and mashed potatoes, and costs around $76.99, depending on your store location.

Like other retailers, there are many meal packages available for purchase.

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Fully cooked 10-12-pound turkey

2.5 lbs of Publix Deli Old-Fashioned Cornbread Dressing

2.5 lbs of Publix Deli Homestyle Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes

16 oz of Publix Deli Cranberry Orange Relish

28 oz of Publix Deli Marshmallow Delight

32 oz of Publix Deli Homestyle Gravy

Sam's Club Member's Mark Thanksgiving Feast

The Sam's Club 2025 Members Mark Thanksgiving Feast can be ready in two hours and feeds 10 people, according to the grocer. The nine-item meal deal, priced at $100, is available now online, in club, via Curbside Pickup or with $8 Express Delivery for Plus members. It includes:

Members Mark Smoked Turkey

Members Mark Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes

Members Mark Macaroni and Cheese

Members Mark Yeast Dinner Rolls

Members Mark Pumpkin Pie

Members Mark Green Beans with Cranberries and Sliced Almonds (new)

Members Mark Garlic Herb Corn (new)

Members Mark Harvest Salad (new)

Members Mark Sweet Potato Mash (improved)

So, is it cheaper to buy or cook Thanksgiving dinner?

In 2025, price comparisons show that it's cheaper to feed 10 people with a heat-and-serve meal kit, rather than shopping for all the Thanksgiving essentials at the grocery store.

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This conclusion is in no way all-encompassing. Walmart, Aldi and Target all sell ingredient kits to make Thanksgiving happen on a tight budget. Plus, cooking at home may yield more food than a store-bought alternative.

So, will you cook or buy in 2025?

Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com

Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost? See grocery costs vs. prepared
Thanksgiving Day is near and so is all the dinner prep  especially for those with frozen turkeys still sitting in the freezer.

When to yank that bird out of the freezer and what to do with it between now and Nov. 27 depends on how big that bird is.

And its not just about making sure its thawed enough to hit the oven or the fryer; its also a safety issue.

Heres what you need to know about getting the bird ready for its big day.

When do I thaw my turkey?

First, do not just drop your frozen turkey on the kitchen and wait for it to thaw out. That lets the raw meat reach the temperature danger zone (40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for a long period of time, giving bacteria time to multiply quickly, which increases the chances of getting food poisoning.

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Moving your turkey from freezer to refrigerator is the most preferred and least labor-intensive method of defrosting a turkey because it will thaw at a consistent temperature.

Place the turkey, breast side up, in a pan that has raised sides (to prevent leaking and making a mess in your refrigerator). Make sure your refrigerator is set to 40 degrees or colder. Once thawed, the turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before cooking.

This method takes some time, so allow 24 hours for each 4 pounds of weight or use this reference guide according to the USDA, for thawing time in the refrigerator:

4 to 12 pounds = 1 to 3 days; so, you can wait until Monday or Tuesday.

12 to 16 pounds = 3 to 4 days; so, get that bird out on Sunday or Monday.

16 to 20 pounds = 4 to 5 days; Sunday is a good day to start thawing.

20 to 24 pounds = 5 to 6 days; Saturday is probably your day.

24 to 28 pounds = 6 to 7 days; youll want to start no later than Friday.

Can I thaw my turkey in cold water?

Cold water thawing takes less time but requires more attention. Leave the turkey in its original wrapping or put it in a leak proof bag (to prevent germs from getting all over your sink & the bird getting over watered). Then submerge the wrapped turkey in cold water, breast side down into a large enough pot, bowl or the kitchen sink. It is important that the water is cold so that the turkey stays at a safe temperature. The water needs to be changed every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed to make sure the bird doesnt get into the temperature danger zone.

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Note, the CDC warns that when a turkey stays out at room temperature for more than two hours, "It's temperature becomes unsafe even if the center is still frozen."

This method would potentially require at least 30 minutes for each pound of weight or use this reference guide according to the USDA for estimating the time needed to thaw the turkey. Once the turkey is thawed this way, it needs to be cooked immediately.

4 to 12 pounds = 2-6 hours; you can start after your Thanksgiving breakfast.

12 to 16 pounds = 6-8 hours; youll want to get the turkey in a cold bath before you get hot coffee in the morning.

16 to 20 pounds = 8-10 hours; so, youll need to get up with the sun.

20 to 24 pounds = 10-12 hours; you should get the bird out of the freezer the same time you have your late-night ice cream.

24 to 28 pounds = 12-14 hours; clean up Wednesdays dinner mess and get that bird in the sink.

And if the timing doesnt work for you, maybe try a fresh whole turkey instead.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Thawing a frozen turkey, how to defrost in time to cook for Thanksgiving
Locus Cafe, a new dessert and coffee shop in Tacomas South End  a neighborhood that could use more such fun  soft-opens today, Nov. 21.

The cafe took over a storefront at 4822 Pacific Ave., the original home of Ericas Peace Love and Ice Cream, which relocated to a much larger building a half-block north last year. It was a sensible expansion for the Altameemi family  brothers Ali and Hassan have owned and operated Dania Smoke Shop right next door since 2018.

They have two sisters, Ranya and Dania, who are leading the Locus concept, design and day-to-day happenings.

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The long and narrow space has been transformed into a modern, minimalist cafe with archway accents and wood-slat paneling, creating little nooks for each table. A banquette with throw pillows near the front will allow for families and groups to gather.

From behind the counter, staff will create waffles, crepes and mini pancakes with six flavor combinations ($12.99-$14.99). In test runs, the Biscoff Mr. Locus has emerged as a favorite, said Dania, with its caramelized sauce made with Lotus Biscoff paste drizzled alongside a Kinder Bueno sauce (the Italian milk-chocolate wafer candy), all topped with Biscoff crumbles and a cookie. Others include the Ferrero with milk chocolate and Bueno sauce finished with crushed peanuts, and the Pistachio Dream with a pistachio and white chocolate sauce. Also on the menu: Dubai chocolate strawberry cups, the trendy treat with crushed katafia plus white and milk chocolate.

Dania and Ranya Altameemi were inspired by dessert cafes that served late into the night in the U.K., Turkey and their familys native home of Iraq. They wanted to create their own desserts at Locus, such as the Mr. Locus waffle drizzled with Biscoff and Bueno sauce, shown here with the Little Mountain coffee (caramel, white chocolate, Biscoff).

Signature coffees (most $4-$6.50), available hot or iced, feature more Biscoff in the Mr. Locus with sweetened condensed milk, mocha and hazelnut with chocolate syrup in the Noir, and banana pudding cream (in lieu of foam) with vanilla in the aptly named Banana Pudding. They will also offer seasonal drinks  right now a Toasted Marshmallow and Peppermint Mocha with crushed candy canes.

Equipped with a proper espresso machine, you can opt instead for a classic Americano, latte or cappuccino, and customize with flavored syrups and cold foam.

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Alternative caffeine comes in the form of energy drinks (most $6.50-$7.50), such as the Oasis with watermelon, mango and cantaloupe, or the Cloud 9 with pineapple, blue raspberry and green apple.

We focus on the detail and the portion, said Ali. The sauces are made especially for the shop, he added.

Creating a cafe with fun drinks & desserts in Tacoma

Amid final touches of hanging the television-screen menu on the wall behind the counter and ordering more plastic cups and lids, the siblings said this week they had lightly teased the idea of opening another business over the years. Dania was inspired by travels with their mother in the United Kingdom, Turkey and Iraq, to shops serving unique drinks and colorful desserts.

One cool idea they will soon unveil: the Locus Box, a custom, bento-box-esque presentation of miniature desserts and fruit (pineapples, strawberries, bananas) with ramekins of sauces to dip.

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The family arrived to the Tacoma area as Iraqi refugees in 2008, explained Ali. He, as a teenager, and his parents worked as interpreters for the U.S. military, he said, and they eventually applied for sponsorship through a Seattle-area church to emigrate. They left Iraq in 2006 and spent about a year in Jordan before receiving the news that their dream of moving to America would come true.

It kind of all morphed, said Dania. It always looked so beautiful and welcoming, in particular the late-night cafes in Iraq, where its so very hot during the day that such leisure occurred after sundown. So we said, if we ever opened another business, we would open up a cafe.

Brothers Ali and Hassan Altameemi have run Dania Smoke Shop since 2018. When the space next door opened up, they knew it was time to pursue their sisters cafe idea.

Then Ericas vacated this unit to move to 47th Street in 2024. They have been working on the project for 13 months, they said. Neighbors have dropped by to share their excitement, added Dania  a sentiment with which yours truly, as a South End resident, wholeheartedly agrees.

They are hoping to grow a collection of board games and generally become a place where all ages can relax by day and hang out by night. Starting hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m., but earlier mornings are possible down the line, as are blended drinks like smoothies and milkshakes.

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No matter when you visit, you are likely to see the siblings and other family members, including Hassans wife Safa Jaffar, behind the counter.

Locus Cafe
Since OpenAIs public launch of ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022, the world has become obsessed with the technology. AI has reshaped how we live in a multitude of ways, from automating tasks to creating images to setting up schedules.

Find Out: Im a Self-Made Millionaire  6 Ways I Use ChatGPT To Make a Lot of Money

Read Next: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Because of this, Mark Cuban, an entrepreneur, investor and TV personality, believes AI presents a golden opportunity for high school and college students everywhere. He believes the jobs of the future will revolve around those who understand AI, and anyone entering the workforce should spend as much time as possible learning about the new technology.

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Here are four AI skills that Cuban suggested job seekers study.

Knowing the Basics

Even just knowing the basics of AI and how to use it can put you ahead of most others. Those who understand how to use AI to their advantage will have a leg up once they get a job. Cuban explained that if youre in this position, you can show your colleagues and managers how AI can make their jobs easier and more efficient. Even just understanding the fundamentals and core concepts can provide a competitive advantage.

Learn More: I Asked ChatGPT for the Best Passive Income Ideas of 2025  Heres What It Said

Prompts

With the availability of free AI tools, its easier than ever to experiment with prompts. Prompting is asking meaningful questions to AI chatbots to get efficient responses. Those who master prompts can have AI identify trends, analyze large datasets and find creative solutions to nagging issues.

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Efficient prompting can make businesses more productive. Because of this, Cuban has said that if he were starting out, he would learn how to write effective prompts. Once he has this skill, he would start reaching out to smaller companies that dont have the large budgets that industry leaders do and offer his services. Since the technology is still new, even big companies may be willing to spend money for insights on how to prompt well.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is an aspect of AI in which computer systems use data to learn and make decisions without human intervention. Machine learning uses algorithms to distinguish patterns and then make recommendations and predictions based on those patterns.

It might seem unhelpful to study how machines learn without human help. However, individuals with machine learning knowledge and experience are in high demand. The tech is being used across major industries, like detecting fraud in finance or diagnosing illnesses in healthcare.

Ethics

AI can provide a lot of advantages in the workplace, but its still essential to understand how to use it responsibly. Studying the ethics of AI means learning how to integrate new technology into the workplace without infringing upon employees rights.

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AI can help with many roles, such as resume screening for the human resources department, handling basic customer service questions and handling cybersecurity risks. However, its vital that companies dont overuse AI to the point where it violates labor laws, infringes upon employees privacy or discriminates. Learning about AI ethics enables you to help companies overcome these risks as well as hold yourself accountable.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Mark Cuban: Use Your Free Time To Learn AI  and Watch the Job Offers Roll In
PANAMA CITY  With the holiday season in full swing, families across the area are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree.

To help guide them on this quest, here is a list of places in Bay County to get real, cut Christmas trees:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County

With the holiday season in full swing, here is a list of places to get live Christmas tress in Bay County.

As part of a fundraiser, the local nonprofit organization will sell trees at its Bill H Haisten Christmas Tree Lot, which is in Panama City off West 23rd Street, across from Bill Cramer Chevrolet GMC.

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According to the group's website, trees are sold every year from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until early December. The lot will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until trees are sold out.

Comet Palm Farm

Typically known for growing and selling palm trees, this local business is slated to also sell traditional Christmas trees  Douglas firs and Fraser firs  starting Dec. 1. It is located at 627 N Comet Ave. in Callaway.

Christmas trees will be sold daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and from 5 to 9 p.m., until they are sold out.

The business also is offering a lighted Christmas trail, as well as pictures with Santa.

Home Depot

In addition to a variety of other holiday decorations, Christmas trees are being sold at both Home Depot locations in Bay County. They are at 409 E 23rd St. in Panama City and 11500 Panama City Beach Parkway in Panama City Beach.

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The stores are open Mondays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More for the holidays: 6 Bay County bakeries to help with holiday season sweet treats

Lowe's Home Improvement

Christmas trees also are being sold at both Lowe's locations in Bay County. They are at 300 E. 23rd St. in Panama City and11751 Panama City Beach Parkway in Panama City Beach.

The stores are open Mondays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Did we miss you? To be added to the list, email ncobb@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Here is a list of places to get real Christmas trees in Bay County
I knew this adventure with Kim Haas wasnt ordinary the moment we climbed onto a motorcycle-powered wooden train cart in Cordoba, bound for the remote village of San Cipriano. Home to just 600 people and tucked deep within Colombias rainforest, San Cipriano has no roads in or out. The only way to reach it is by rail. By rail, I mean a handmade contraption of wooden benches attached to a motorcycle.

Locals call the ride moto-brujas or brujitas. Bruja in Spanish means witch. Its a name that comes from the broomstick-like poles previously used to push wooden carts when the ride was designed over 50 years ago. The motorcycle attached is why the ride is now called moto-brujas. Little Witches is the perfect name for the handmade engineering because what the villagers created is nothing short of magic for a region in the country that has long been denied resources and investment.

Mitti Hicks

Activists and local human rights groups say this is no coincidence. Located in the Valle del Cauca department (similar to a state) on Colombias Pacific Coast, its home to the second-largest Afro-Colombian population in Colombia. The Choco department is believed to be home to the largest population of Afro Colombians, which is also located on the Pacific Coast. The communities have historically been overlooked despite their profound cultural influence.

Uncovering Afro-Latino Contributions And Cultures

While many travelers assume Colombias Bolivar department has the largest Afro-Colombian population because of its modern capital, Cartagena, Kim Haas is a travel visionary on a mission to debunk myths about Afro-Latin identity and culture. Through her guided tours, she spotlights hidden Afro histories, people, and stories that you dont readily see.

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Colombia has such a great, amazing Afro descendant community that it is time to spotlight, says Haas. You may hear that the Black population is 10% in Colombia, but once here, you realize it just cant be.

According to Haas, some researchers estimate Colombias Afro population is around 30%, perhaps even more. Race, however, is complicated because it depends on how people identify. Historically, identifying as Black has been perceived negatively, according to Haas, but the attitudes are shifting. Notably, Colombia elected its first Afro-Latina Vice President, Francia Marquez.

Throughout her Latin American travels, whats clear to Haas is that Black communities have shaped Colombias culture in undeniable ways.

So much of what people enjoy here and throughout Latin America comes from Black people, Haas adds. Salsa, the marimba, cuisine, and viche.

How Kim Haas Is Reclaiming The Map

Most people know Kim Haas from her PBS show, Afro-Latino Travels With Kim Haas. The show is dedicated to Afro-Latino communities along with their talents, legacies, and contributions.

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The show stems from a passion that began when she was seven. Her grandmother took her on a trip to Mexico that changed her life.

My grandmother took me to Acapulco, Mexico. I remember being in the hotel lobby, and a stranger approached me and asked, Would you like to learn how to count in Spanish? From that moment on, I was hooked, she tells Travel Noire.

Kim Haas

Haas studied the language from elementary school through high school, eventually majoring in Spanish in college. The Philly-native became interested in Afro-Latino culture while studying in Seville, Spain, during a study abroad program. She did a paper on enslavement in Brazil and compared it to Cuba, two countries where she was well aware of the Afro communities.

Traveling throughout the region after college, she noticed something that stuck with her.

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When I would travel, I would take notice of the Black Spanish-speaking people in these countries and the contributions they made to their countries. But, none of this was reflected on Spanish TV in the United States.

That absence inspired her to create her own show. Hosting travel groups was never a part of the plan until viewers started reaching out. They wanted to experience the Afro-Latin cultures she was spotlighting on screen, specifically with her.

What Makes Travels With Kim Haas Unique

In San Cipriano, Haas brought our group to the jungle resort Mama Yeya Raices, where we were served a traditional home-cooked Afro-Colombian meal: plantains, yuca, rice, and seafood stew, along with the Afro-Colombian ancestral drink, viche.

Like tequila, which can only be made in specific regions of Mexico, Colombia recognizes that viche is protected by law and can only be produced in the Pacific coast region of Colombia. Fermented and distilled from sugarcane, then infused with local herbs and fruits, viche originates from enslaved Africans and holds deep cultural significance within Afro-Colombian communities. Its used for medicinal purposes and ceremonial uses.

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This drink is similar to moonshine, the owner jokingly says. Traditionally, midwives would give this drink to women after they had a baby for 40 days. It was seen as a healing that women of African descent would drink.

Mitti Hicks

After years of fighting for recognition, the spirit distilled from sugarcane was officially recognized as a heritage drink in 2021, protecting it from exploitation by outsiders.

Its moments like this, the ones that are deeply personal, culturally rooted, shared directly by Afro communities, that define Haass tours. She partners with Afro communities and families to provide intimate experiences that allow people to connect with Afro-Latino culture ethically.

Her travel company is one of the very few intentionally mapping Afro culture across undiscovered regions of Latin America.

Expanding To Other Destinations Across Latin America

Mitti Hicks

Since launching the group tours in 2024, Haas is now expanding into other countries, including San Salvador, Brazil, the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture, Guatemala, and Uruguay.

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Her work is more than tourism. Its cultural preservation, empowerment, and singlehandedly reshaping how the African diaspora sees itself globally.

The mistreatment of Black people in Latin America saddens me, especially given how much they have given. I also get inspired by how much theyve done in unbelievable circumstances, says Haas. I see myself in Afro-Latin communities, and I get excited about learning about Black cultures in Latin America.







The post Rewriting the Map: How Kim Haas Is Uncovering Afro-Latin Americas Hidden Heritage appeared first on Travel Noire.
Maine Coon cats are beloved for their gorgeous fur, expressive faces, and larger-than-life personalities. These big, beautiful felines are friendly, social, and full of quirks that make every day a little more entertaining.

One perfect example is Denver, a stunning silver Maine Coon who has absolutely mastered the art of doing things his own way. His parents say hell use anything as his chair, and after watching him in action, I completely believe it, especially when his chosen seat is Dad.

Take a look at this hilarious Instagram shared by @giantmainecooncats on November 13:

Denver really is the complete package. At first, he looked perfectly content perched up on his dads shoulders, tail draped across his face like some kind of royal scarf. But with Maine Coons, sitting still isnt really in their playbook.

Related: Massive Blue Smoke Maine Coon Turns Heads on His Shopping Adventure

After giving his paws a quick clean, Denver suddenly shifted into what can only be described as playful attack mode. He leaned down, chomped gently on Dads back, and stared right into the camera like he knew he was putting on a show.

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When hed made his point, Denver went right back to grooming, completely unbothered. Its not easy being king, but he handles it like hes been in charge his whole life.

As if this werent enough to adore, Denver also has a soft spot for yogurt. In a TikTok from @our.maine.man.denver shared on November 15, he makes a bold attempt to steal a taste from Mom, leaning in with the determination only a hungry Maine Coon can pull off. He may be regal, but hes not above a good snack heist.

Take a look:

What Makes Maine Coons So Unique?

According to Trupanion, Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds and can weigh from 10 to over 25 pounds, with some males growing even larger. Their luxurious coats are built for cold weather, and their signature tufted ears and bushy tails add to their striking appearance.

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But its their temperament that wins people over the most. Maine Coons are known for being affectionate, easygoing, and social. Many enjoy being close to their families, follow their humans around the house, and often behave more like gentle puppies than independent felines. Their playful, people-oriented nature is exactly why cats like Denver gather fans so quickly, as every moment with them feels bigger, sillier, and sweeter.

He might keep his family on their toes, but hes a big-hearted character every cat parent cant help but hope for. Anyone whos lived with a Maine Coon, or even spent five minutes around one, knows why they carry themselves like theyre running the entire household, and with good reason.

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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Travel + Leisure has put Westport in the spotlight, saying its a more affordable version of Cape Cod with all the same coastal charm.

In a Nov. 17 article by Anna Laird Barto, the Top 5 Cant Miss highlights were listed as:

Horseneck Beach, beloved by locals for its miles of soft sand and sweeping views of Buzzards Bay.

Paddling the calm waters of the Westport River.

A self-guided food tour of the countryside, stopping at roadside farm stands and stores to sample local fare straight from the source.

Buzzards Bay Brewing, to enjoy some craft beer.

Fresh oysters from Westport Sea Farms.

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Barto writes that Westport, part of the areas beautiful Farm Coast, embodies the most beloved aspects of New England, minus the crowds and steep price tags.

Jenny Hoffman rides Calypso Z and Amy Laliberte rides Zorin at Horseneck Beach in Westport on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.

Strolling Westports historic seaport, with its colonial-era cottages and their weathered gray shingles, youd swear you were on Cape Cod or Nantucket, Barto writes. Like the Cape and the islands, Westports beaches and wetlands are protected from development; you can stroll for miles with little sign of civilization. Venture a bit inland and the scenery changes to  fields scattered with timber-framed barns and crisscrossed by low stone walls that have stood for generations.

Travel + Leisure also noted how the local food scene has been influenced by the towns farming and fishing traditions.

To get a taste of Westport, Travel + Leisure recommended places to stay like The Harbor Inn Acoaxet; things to do like the aforementioned Top 5; shopping at spots like Weatherlow Farms, Lees Market, Partners Village Store, Jeffrey Westport and more; and dining options like The Back Eddy, Perrys Bakery, Bittersweet Farm and more.

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Travel + Leisure also gave recommendations for the best time to visit, how to get there, and ways to get around town.

Here are some other spots to check out around town, among the many scenic, shopping, and culinary delights that Westport has to offer:

Unique stays: SouthCoast is home to plenty of one-of-a-kind getaways  from lighthouse to schoolhouse

The Paquachuck Inn, 2056 Main Rd., is located at Westport Point and listed on Airbnb. It offers a historic stay, in the heart of a quaint working harbor that dates back to the 18th century, according to its listing. Enjoy water views, an antique greenhouse, and a main lobby that was originally a general store.

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For things to do, take your pick!

Explore the shoreline at Horseneck Beach State Reservation, check out The Knubble, and dont miss out on a hike or one of the many programs offered by the Westport Land Conservation Trust.

Located at 573 Adamsville Road in Westport, Westport Woods Conservation Park sits on 82 acres of land and offers three miles of trails.

WLCT is a local non-profit that invites the community to explore the beauty right here in our own backyard. They offer various group hiking opportunities each month, exploring everything from forests and meadows, to looking for birds (including owls), and even include nature-themed crafts in some of those hikes. Most hikes are also free to attend.

Head over to Westport Woods Conservation Park, 573 Adamsville Rd., and get ready to witness Westports natural beauty. Volunteers are always welcome, and there is even a Tuesday Trail Team, which helps to maintain and improve hiking trails and conservation lands.

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Interested in some of Westports farming history?

Find that, and dive into even more local history, at the Westport Historical Society.

Located at 25 Drift Rd., the Westport Historical Society offers a look into the towns rich past and culture, with programs offered for history enthusiasts of all ages. They offer creative exhibits throughout the year as well, and every year the Handy House Halloween Trail is open for visitors looking for some family-friendly, spooky fun.

Each year, the Westport Historical Society also shines a light on traditional crafts, with The Handy House Artisan Fair and Vintage Market.

The Handy House Artisan Fair and Vintage Market, organized by the Westport Historical Society, returns each fall, showcasing 18th and 19th century skills and featuring an expanded market

In addition to the other shops mentioned by Travel + Leisure, consider checking out:

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Country Woolens, 842 Main Rd., offering adventure ready apparel, as they say on their website.

Denis Closet, 937 Main Rd., a clothing boutique offering a range of items.

The Head Town Landing Country Store, 488 Old County Road, Westport, is seen here Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.

The Head Town Landing Country Store, 488 Old County Rd., which is under new ownership but still offering the favorites that customers have come to love over the years.

Amys Fabric Treasures, 1032 American Legion Hwy., for crafty shoppers.

Exploding6 Gaming Supply, 151 State Rd., Suite 7, for gamers of various interests.

Country Dog, 1099 State Rd., which, among other services and supplies for pets, has baked dog treats.

Dog bakeries around the SouthCoast: The best spots for treats, cakes and gourmet biscuits

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And there are, of course, many more shops to explore in town.

When it comes to food, theres just as much to explore  in addition to the fun fact that Westport has its very own heirloom vegetable, the Macomber turnip!

Members of the Smith family trim Macomber turnips in 1963.

Indulge at local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and more, like:

Til Dusk Cafe and Bakery opened its doors Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 549 American Legion Highway, Westport, the former site of Countryside Market.

Til Dusk Cafe and Bakery , 549 American Legion Hwy., a bakery and deli focusing on fresh-made items.

Backyard Westport , 140 Charlotte White Rd., Ext., offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Galley Grille , located in Whites of Westport, serving up comforting classic dishes.

Portas da Cidade , 231 State Rd., specializing in authentic Portuguese cuisine.

Lexi-Lus Place , 1133 American Legion Hwy., whipping up creative breakfast and lunch specials.

Ten Cousins Brick Oven , 977 Main Rd., cooking up fun pizza specials every month.

Bootleg BBQ , 778 Main Rd., with barbecued delights and comforting favorites.

Grays Daily Grind, 638 Adamsville Rd., brewing up an array of specialty coffees and drinks.

The chef's signature burger at Bootleg BBQ in Westport.

And many more local spots that are sure to cater to every palate.

With so much to offer, its no wonder that Westports having its moment in the spotlight.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Travel + Leisure says Westport 'more affordable'
EDITORS NOTE: This CNN Travel series may have adjacent ads by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos, in compliance with our policy.

Its only taken a few hundred years, but the Spice Islands region of eastern Indonesia  now known as the Maluku Islands  is once again attracting attention.

Virtually off-the-grid for global travelers just two decades ago, the archipelago and its hundreds of islands, along with several surrounding regions, are now on the bucket list of travelers craving new and unusual adventures at sea  all complemented by modern, high-end amenities.

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Ranging from some of the most famous names in luxury hospitality to posh private yachts, there are more than a dozen options to explore the islands that sparked a 16th- and 17th-century spice rush for cloves, nutmeg and mace by Portuguese, Dutch and British traders, who could fetch high prices for their flavorsome commodities back in Europe. Most of these cruises also include journeys into neighboring regions like Raja Ampat, which is often referred to as the last paradise on Earth.

The far eastern isles of Indonesia are a true frontier, says hospitality consultant Jason Friedman, who works with the Kudanil Explorer, a steel-hulled luxury expedition yacht that offers charters for $23,000 per night.

Raja Ampat's Karawapop Lagoon. - Lamima

Filled with astonishing biodiversity, he says they offer a true sense of remoteness that can only be explored by boat.

Its a place where coral reefs explode with color, volcanoes rise from untouched seas, and ancient cultures thrive in isolation, adds Friedman.

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Every island tells a different story, with traditions and languages found nowhere else. Theres simply no other place on Earth that feels this wild, authentic and alive.

Carolyn Coenen, an Asia-Pacific regional specialist for Wilderness Travel, says the region has become increasingly popular with people who want to be blown away by the insane amount of underwater life.

Coral reef fishes that you wouldnt see elsewhere and in large quantities, she describes. Just an overload to the senses.

Relaxed but highly curated

The Aqua Blu is a long-range ocean explorer yacht. - Stevie Mann/Aqua Expeditions

Aqua Blu's main deck salon. - Stevie Mann/Aqua Expeditions

Among the big names offering journeys to eastern Indonesia is National Geographic Expeditions, including a two-week Spice Islands/Raja Ampat cruise on the 28-passenger Aqua Blu, which once served as the private yacht of an aristocratic European family. The all-inclusive price, $27,000 per person, includes upscale amenities like Balinese massages, gourmet meals, scuba diving and other water sports, and a National Geographic certified photo instructor to help you snap perfect pictures.

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With Aqua Blu, we made a deliberate choice to offer an intimate, yacht-style experience rather than a traditional cruise, says CEO & founder Francesco Galli Zugaro.

Most vessels in the region carry larger groups and follow fixed routes. Aqua Blu carries just 30 guests, which allows us to access remote lagoons and lesser visited islands that larger ships simply cant reach. We offer the perfect combination of scale, flexibility and service.

The region has become increasingly popular with people who want to be blown away by the insane amount of underwater life, says Carolyn Coenen of Wilderness Travel. - Diana Himmelspach/Wildnerness Travel

Guests can spend more time in the water or exploring ashore, without the feeling of being on a timetable, he adds.

We designed the vessel and the itinerary to feel relaxed but highly curated, everything from the dive operations to the cuisine reflects the same level of attention.

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Another option is an Indonesian phinisi, a traditional two-masted vessel used for centuries by Spice Islands traders, pirates and fishermen.

Todays phinisi are nothing like the boats of old. A prime example is the 14-passenger Lamima, available for charter at a cool $27,000 per night (plus tax). Made of wood, it was constructed by traditional boat builders on a beach in Sulawesi, then outfitted with modern safety features and luxury amenities in Bangkok by a team that included sail riggers from the United Kingdom and engine room specialists from Germany.

Lamimas all-inclusive rate includes access to an array of watersports gear. - Lamima

Because of the way she was built and the way she is run  with an all-Indonesia crew  Lamima has a soul, says co-owner Dominique Gerardin, who hatched the idea of building the $50 million vessel and saw it through to completion.

From the very start we wanted this boat to reflect the heritage of Indonesia.

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Lamimas all-inclusive rate includes unlimited massage and beauty treatments at the onboard spa, as well as yoga and meditation sessions, and an array of watersports gear from jet skis, underwater scooters and e-foil boards to surfboards, paddleboards and kayaks.

The Lamima was constructed by traditional boat builders on a beach in Sulawesi, then outfitted with modern safety features and luxury amenities. - Lamima

Michael Travers of SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, one of the oldest tour companies in the region, says businesses offering boat journeys have had to radically change their products over the years to appeal to high-end travelers with sky-high expectations.

We started off more than 30 years ago as a bit of a high-end backpacker operator with shared bathrooms and fan-cooled rooms when there was no other way to see and explore Indonesia, Travers explains.

He says that while the islands of Bali and Java were the only destinations that most non-diving travelers were able to easily visit in the 1990s and early 2000s, his company has adapted to cater to those seeking more variety. But even though en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning and quality gourmet food are now standard on our boats, our original ethos of adventure  and were all in this together  is still at the core of what we do.

Raja Ampat: Indonesias biodiversity hotspot

Its not hard to see why eastern Indonesia is attracting adventurous, well-heeled travelers.

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First and foremost, it offers a blend of sea and land that seems downright unreal. Its a mosaic of turquoise coves and lush green islands that looks like something generated by computer graphics or artificial intelligence rather than a real-life place on planet Earth.

Below the surface are pristine coral reefs that swarm with millions of tropical fish and other denizens of the deep. The islands also harbor unique cultures found nowhere else in Indonesia, small but vibrant societies that blend aspects of both Asia and the Pacific.

Raja Ampat, an archipelago of more than 600 tiny islands off the west coast of West Papua  the Indonesia half of the island of New Guinea  and adjacent to the Spice Islands, draws the most raves (and ship itineraries).

Diver training organization PADI ranks Raja Ampat as one of the worlds best scuba spots. - Brendan Veary/Lamima

Indonesia offers a blend of incredible experiences on sea and land. - Brendan Veary/Lamima

Declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2023, Raja Ampat is a biodiversity hotspot both above and below the surface. Among its treasures are more than a thousand species of fish and more than 500 types of hard coral.

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Travers of SeaTrek says that multiple factors make Raja Ampat so alluring.

The remoteness, the beauty, the resilience and health of the corals, the fact that its so hard to get to and consequently all but devoid of tourists. The only way to see it is by boat  its just too vast to see otherwise.

Both diver training organization PADI and Dive Magazine rank Raja Ampat as one of the worlds best scuba spots. The archipelago also boasts a world record for the most fish species spotted on a single dive: 374 species recorded during a 90-minute dive in 2014.

The jagged jungle-shrouded karst islands are known for spectacular and colorful birdlife including photogenic species like the red bird of paradise, Blyths hornbill, white-bellied sea eagle and palm cockatoo.

Declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2023, Raja Ampat is a biodiversity hotspot both above and below the surface. - Lamima

The water is crystal clear in Raja Ampat and this is a part of the world where there is very limited coral bleaching, says Gerardin.

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So you see incredible marine life if you are diving or snorkeling or even from a paddleboard. You hear a noise, you lift your head and see a big hornbill flying out of the jungle. Suddenly you dont know where to look  up or down!

Many cruises also include visits to Komodo island for an up close glimpse of the worlds largest lizards and bats (flying foxes), or a shore landing on Sumba island to watch local horsemen race along the beach on sturdy little sandalwood ponies.

For instance, Wilderness Travel offers six seagoing itineraries in eastern Indonesia on three different ships. Their menu ranges from a popular Raja Ampat snorkeling cruise and an expedition-style voyage between Komodo and Bali to more uncommon journeys like swimming with whale sharks in super-remote Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua and a snorkeling expedition to the Wakatobi islands off Sulawesi.

We kind of pride ourselves in finding more off-the-beaten-path destinations, says Coenen.

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Dropping anchor at night in places and motoring along during the day and not seeing another boat. You may not see anyone else for several days. Thats one of the things that people really love about cruising eastern Indonesia.

Travers says that despite the growing popularity of the eastern Indonesian islands, there are still many areas that are virtually untouched by tourism.

Like the Kei and Aru island chains in the Arafura Sea between Raja Ampat and Australia.

SeaTrek has created a brand new trip for 2026 and 2027 that will visit both of those secluded island chains and the Banda Islands before finishing in Triton Bay in West Papua, where passengers will be able to swim with whale sharks.

People come back from our trips feeling changed on many levels, says Travers. At least thats our aim.

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Thirteen people were rushed to the hospital after an ammonia leak at a food-processing plant in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, on Thursday.

The incident occurred at a facility just north of Narragansett, where firefighters identified a vapor ammonia leak that spread through the buildings HVAC system. Two of the hospitalized individuals are in serious condition.

We did find a leak on the roof of the ammonia system, which was then transported down into the building throughout the HVAC system, said North Kingstown Fire Chief John Linacre.

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Firefighters reported that the affected individuals were experiencing eye and throat irritation due to the leak.

This is not the first incident of its kind at the plant. In July 2023, a similar ammonia leak at the same facility resulted in 15 employees falling ill, leading to a $650,000 fine for the plant.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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An Erie Bureau of Police vehicle was heavily damaged and the officer driving it was taken to the hospital for evaluation after police said a 15-year-old boy who took the family vehicle crashed into the police cruiser Nov. 21.

The accident was reported shortly after 1 a.m. Nov. 21 at East 21st and Holland streets. According to Erie police, a 15-year-old boy was driving a black sport-utility vehicle when he crashed into a city police cruiser. The officer who was driving the cruiser was taken to the hospital with a suspected concussion, police said.

The boy drove away after the accident and the SUV was eventually located in the 900 block of East Eighth Street, according to police. The boy is facing charges including driving without a license, speeding, driving through a stop sign, recklessly endangering and accidents involving death or personal injury, police reported.

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From October: Erie police car involved in another crash injuring three people

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 15-year-old accused of crashing SUV into Erie police cruiser
A 23-year-old man was charged after court records said he threw away his license plate following a fatal hit-and-run in Carthage.

Jenry Wayner Rodriguez Gonzalez arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with fleeing the scene of a crash and tampering with evidence, Cincinnati police said in a statement. His bond was set at $50,000 during a Nov. 20 court appearance.

On Sept. 26, he fatally struck Kristy Luckett on Vine Street, according to court records.

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Police said impairment was being investigated as a factor in the crash. Officials did not provide an update on Gonzalez's sobriety in the Nov. 21 release.

Gonzalez is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center. He only needs to post 10% of his bond to be released, but he would be required to wear an ankle monitor.

He is scheduled to next appear in court on Dec. 1, according to Hamilton County records.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man charged nearly 2 months after fatal Carthage hit-and-run
Titans of industry like Salesforce, Microsoft, and Intel have all been slashing staff, and employees are hand-wringing about being next on the chopping block. Donald King, a 26-year-old who built AI agents for PwC, never thought hed be the next one out the doorbut he soon realized why consultants are called hatchet men.

After graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, King landed a job at one of the Big Four consulting giants: PwC. He packed his bags and moved to New York to start his role as an associate in technology consulting, working with major clients, including Oracle, during his first year. But everything changed when PwC announced a $1 billion investment in AI; King was already intrigued by the tech, so he pitched himself to join the companys AI factory team. Working 60 to 80 hours a week, he immersed himself in the tech, even throwing knowledge-sharing AI agent block parties within the firm that drew up to 250 participants. King logged a ton of hourssometimes at the expense of his weekendsbut was confident he was excelling in his role as a product manager and data scientist.

I was coding and managing a team onshore and offshore. It was crazy, its like, Give this 24-year-old millions of dollars of salary spent per month to build AI agents for Fortune 500 [companies], King tells Fortune. [It was] my dream job  I won first place in this OpenAI hackathon across the entire firm.

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Although King was proving himself as a key AI talent for PwC, he did begin to question the impact of his work. The AI agents King was building for major corporations could undoubtedly automate swaths of human rolesperhaps even entire job departments. One Microsoft Teams agent his group created mimicked an actual person, and King was a little spooked.

We had a late night call with all the boys that are building this thing, like, What the hell are we building right now? King says. Just saying, Treat them like humans is probably not the best way to think about it.

Behind the scenes, a layoff was brewingbut this time, for King. In October 2024, just eight months into his final role at PwC, the Gen Zer presented his winning project from the OpenAI hackathon: a fleet of AI agents that automated manual tasks. King was proud and felt confident in his place at the firm, but two hours later, PwC called King to inform him he was being laid off. The 26-year-old recorded the meeting and posted it on TikTok, racking up more than 75,000 likes and 2.1 million views. Commenters under his videos expressed shock that King would be let go after winning the hackathon.

I thought I was safe, especially after I won first place, King says. I just got a little blindsided.

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King clarifies he doesnt think there were any nefarious intentions behind his layoff, reasoning he was likely a random staffer dismissed after the firm had overhired in previous years. However, he does connect the dots between the AI agents he built for PwC customers and the layoffs that soon ensued at those client companies.

Fortune reached out to PwC for comment.

King believes his AI agents may have been connected to layoffs

While King doesnt believe his former role at PwC was automated, he recognizes that the AI agents he built likely had an impact on others. The year after his layoff, King observed that some of the Fortune 500 clients he served were implementing staffing cuts. Those AI agents he helped create may have had a hand in the layoffs.

Its 100% connected, King says. I knew that consulting was a hatchet-man type job, I knew youre going in to potentially lay people off, but I didnt think it was going to be like this.

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While King believes AI agents are akin to the reasoning power of a 5-year-old, they still know all the corpus of information in the world and can automate mundane tasks. Oftentimes, that means entry-level jobs are most at risk of being disrupted.

Its automating tasks, 100%, those are gone, King says. If your job is doing those menial types of things, if youre just emailing a spreadsheet back and forth, you can kiss your job goodbye.

Pivoting to his new life purpose: Founding a marketing agency

While being on PwCs AI team may have once been his dream job, the layoff didnt crush his spirit.

Im grateful for it happening  It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but then it turned into the best thing, King says. Overall, [Im] very grateful that I got laid off.

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In the aftermath of being let go, King says he was inundated with job offers from major tech companies to join their AI operations. However, the scrappy young entrepreneur sidelined the idea of returning to a nine-to-five gig; instead, King started his own marketing agency, AMDK. The business officially launched in December last year, less than two months after he was laid off from PwC.

So far, King says, AMDK has roped in clients ranging from small companies to billion-dollar enterprises, many of whom are looking for AI agents of their own. His end goal is to build a swarm of agents that help companies with their back-end operationsbut after his experience on PwCs AI team, he says hes being cautious about the ramifications of his creations. Hes still learning the ropes of entrepreneurship, but wouldnt trade the highs and lows for a salaried corporate job.

This is my purpose in life, versus this is someone elses purpose, King says. [Im] way happier.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Three Washington County sheriffs deputies have been acquitted of murder, as a jury found them not to be criminally at fault for the death of Eurie Martin, a man who died after the officers tased him in 2017.

A little over a day after jurors began deliberations, they told the judge they could not reach a unanimous verdict on all charges in the cases against former deputies Rhett Scott, Henry Lee Copeland and Michael Howell. However, they did find all three of them not guilty of murder, they ruled Thursday afternoon.

Martin died after an altercation with the three deputies in Sandersville, who were called to confront Martin after a local resident had called 911 to report a suspicious person, according to court testimony. Martin had heart disease and schizophrenia, two conditions that the deputies say they werent aware of at the time of the incident.

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Martin was uncooperative with deputies, attempting to walk away from them as they tried to confront him, according to court testimony. He also threw a can on the ground during the altercation, according to court testimony.

The jurors did reach a verdict on all counts for Scott, who was acquitted on all charges. The jury was able to reach a verdict on two counts for Copeland and Howell, acquitting both of them of murder and aggravated assault. They were unable to decide if Howell and Copeland should be convicted of involuntary manslaughter or reckless conduct.

Jurors believed Howell and Copeland were not guilty of murder and aggravated assault, but couldnt unanimously agree on whether the two should be convicted of involuntary manslaughter or reckless conduct, so a mistrial was declared on those charges.

It is possible that Howell and Copeland could be tried again on the charges for which jurors could not reach a verdict.

Taser didnt contribute to Martins death, jury rules

Jurors werent convinced that being tased was the direct cause of Martins death, which Assistant District Attorney George Lipscomb tried to convince them over the course of the trial. A coroners report referenced in the trial showed that Martin had died from a cardiac arrhythmia during police restraint, but didnt mention the use of a taser.

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The attorneys for the former deputies  Shawn Merzlak, Pierce Blitch and Mark Shaefer  argued that it was Martins own stress during the situation that led to his death, rather than the taser. The lawyers contended that the deputies were unaware of Martins mental health issues, but at the end of the day, he was violating the law, and he was resisting an arrest, according to testimony in court.

The case has been an eight-year-long judicial battle as prosecutors have attempted to take the case to trial. The deputies were initially declared immune from prosecution under the Stand Your Ground law, but the decision was reversed by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2020.

A year later, their first trial ended in a mistrial after jurors werent able to unanimously agree on a verdict.

Theyre killing me

Martin left his home in Milledgeville and trekked 30 miles to Sandersville on July 7, 2017, coming to a stop on Deepstep Road, where he asked a local resident for water. A resident refused Martin water, then called 911 dispatchers and reported Martin to be a suspicious person, according to testimony in court.

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Howell was first to interact with Martin, but was stunned by Martin being uncooperative, according to court testimony. His concern for the situation led him to call for backup, with Copeland coming in. An argument ensued between the three. Representatives for the deputies argued that Martin had violated the law by walking away from and ignoring deputies commands, so Copeland and Howell were justified in using their tasers to subdue him and arrest him, according to testimony.

However, Martin continued struggling and ripped off the prongs of the taser. By this time, Scott arrived. Scott was told by Howell that he was tased, but that he would need to be tased again to subdue him, so Scott quickly tased Martin again, according to testimony.

During the incident, Martin was scared and begging them to stop, according to court testimony. One of the last things he said was Theyre killing me, theyre killing me!

After the three deputies struggled, they eventually put handcuffs on Martin. However, he died some minutes later from a heart attack caused by police restraint, according to court testimony.
A case of bad timing landed a man behind bars in Kitsap County.

The sheriffs office shared body camera video of deputies confronting a man  accused of shoplifting from a grocery store.

Yeah, sorry. I was going to pay for this, the man told deputies.

On Patrol: Caught Stealing



Very bad timing lands a suspected shoplifter behind bars. pic.twitter.com/q7q2tg0qjD  Kitsap Sheriff (@KitsapCoSheriff) November 20, 2025

A store employee told deputies that a man had walked out with a cart full of items  and didnt pay.

By coincidence, deputies were conducting a welfare check on a man just outside of the store  the same man, according to the department.

Deputies placed the man under arrest, and as he was being searched, they found drugs on him.

The 30-year-old from Bremerton was booked into the Kitsap County Jail.
An Allegheny County man pleaded guilty on Monday to sexually exploiting two children.

Dylan Weyandt, 34, of Wall, pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of violating federal laws regarding sexual exploitation of minors.

Prosecutors say Weyandt induced two children outside the Western District of Pennsylvania to create and send to him sexually explicit photos and videos.

Weyandt met the children on social media and would switch between complimenting and threatening them to get the material, prosecutors say.

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Weyandt will remain detained until his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 23. He could face at least 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

The case is part of the DOJs Project Safe Childhood, intended to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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A Palestinian man described crossing the Yellow Line at night to avoid Hamas detection and feelings of security in the Israel-controlled territory.

Hossam al-Astal, leader of the Counter-Terrorism Strike Force militia, confirmed that his group had spoken with the US about having a role in the future of the Gaza Strip, BBC News reported on Friday.

Based south of Khan Yunis, Astal provided little detail on whether his militia was working alongside Israel.

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"Let's say it's not the right time for me to answer this question," Astal answered when asked if Israel was supplying him. "But we coordinate with the Israeli side to bring in food, weapons, everything."

The former Palestinian Authority official oversees tens of fighters, according to estimates by the BBC. Despite the groups small size, BBC Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson noted that his tent was well-stocked.

"People all over the world are supporting us," he shared when asked how he was able to access his supplies. "It's not all from Israel. They claim Israel is the only one supporting us and that we are agents of Israel. We are not Israel's agents."

A view of Gaza City at sunrise, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, November 19, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Despite not working for Israel, the militia opened a new site within the Israel-controlled Yellow Line. Astal claimed tens of families had recently relocated to the new site, and more were anticipated to soon join.

Palestinian Authority refuses to work with anti-Hamas militia groups

"We are the next day for the new Gaza," Astal claimed. "We have no problem cooperating with the Palestinian Authority, with the Americans, with anyone who aligns with us. We are the alternative to Hamas."

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While willing to work with the PA, the West Bank leaderships security force spokesperson Maj-Gen Anwar Rajab insisted that the militia groups could not be absorbed into its force.

"Israel might demand the integration of these militia, due to Israel's own specific political and security considerations," he said from the West Bank city of Ramallah. "But Israel's demands don't necessarily benefit the Palestinians. Israel wants to continue imposing its control in one way or another in the Gaza Strip."

Palestinian families sneak past Hamas to live behind Israel-controlled Yellow Line

Montaser Masoud, 32, was among those to cross the Yellow Line and begin living in the Israel-controlled territory. After coordinating with the IDF, he crossed at night to avoid Hamas detection along with his wife and four children.

Despite telling the BBC he felt more secure, Masoud said relatives had been critical of his decision to move past the line.

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"They've been harassing us, saying what we're doing it wrong and has no future," he said. "I tell them that they're the ones we worry about, because they live outside the Yellow Line and anyone from Hamas could hide next to them, and they could be bombed."

While his interview was disrupted by the sound of gunfire, Masoud told the BBC, "It's the [Israeli] army nearby but it's not a problem because we know we're not the target."
Alvotech and Advanz Pharma have announced the European Commissions (EC) marketing authorisations for Gobivaz, a biosimilar to Simponi (golimumab), across the European Economic Area (EEA).

The authorisations cover Gobivaz in both 100mg/ml and 50mg/0.5ml formulations, provided in pre-filled syringes with autoinjector formats and passive needle safety guards, to treat adults with axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis (with or without methotrexate).

It can also be used for treating rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate, and ulcerative colitis.

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Gobivaz can also treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis treatment in children aged two years and above when used in combination with methotrexate.

The approval from the EC comes after a favourable opinion in September 2025 from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Under the collaboration between Advanz Pharma and Alvotech, the former retains the registration and exclusive rights to commercialisation within the EEA and the UK, while Alvotech will undertake the commercial supply and development of Gobivaz.

The EC granted its approval on the basis of clinical and analytical evidence.

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In April 2024, Alvotech reported positive top-line findings from a confirmatory clinical trial that compared the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of the biosimilar candidate AVT05 (golimumab) with the reference medicine Simponi in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

AVT05 is approved as Golimumab BS (golimumab) in Japan, and in the European Economic Area, as Gobivaz (golimumab).

Advanz Pharma CEO Steffen Wagner stated: We welcome the EC approval of Gobivaz, an important milestone in our partnership with Alvotech.

Expanding access to high-quality biosimilars is central to Advanz Pharma's mission, and this approval enables us to offer patients across Europe a valuable new treatment option for immune-mediated diseases.

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In November 2025, Alvotech and Advanz Pharma announced the receipt of marketing authorisations from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for all four formulations of Gobivaz.

"Alvotech and Advanz announce EC approval for Gobivaz biosimilar" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




For the first time, several of the workers taken into custody during an ICE raid at the Allston Car Wash are sharing their stories.

Four of the six employees released from custody so far spoke exclusively with Boston 25 News.

They were handcuffed while washing cars at the business on Cambridge Street back on November 4th.

One told Boston 25 News he had work authorization card in his backpack and is waiting to become a green card holder.

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He said he wasnt allowed to show any of that documentation.

I tried really hard to do everything the correct way so I wouldnt have any problems in America, he said through a translator.

Boston 25 News agreed to not publish the identity of the young man who was freed from custody on his 20th birthday on Tuesday night.

He said he came to the United States from Honduras the day after he turned 16.

I came from my home country to have a better life here, he said.

He said he was brought to a nearby Target parking lot with eight of his coworkers where chains were placed around their ankles and waists.

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Boston 25 News also spoke with a coworker who was detained on her 45th birthday.

From the moment they grabbed me, I thought, its over. The American dream is over. I wont be able to work anymore. I wont be able to help my family. I wont be able to send money home, said the mother of three from Guatemala through a translator.

She also asked that her identity not be published.

She told Boston 25 News she spent eight days in Burlington without adequate food before being transferred to Vermont.

She said she doesnt feel free despite being out of custody.

We came here to this country to work for our daily bread every day, to work hard, to work honestly, she said. We did not come here to hurt anybody.

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A 67-year-old man from Colombia was also released with those workers back on Tuesday night.

Three more workers were released on Thursday night.

That includes two sisters, ages 22 and 30, who spoke with Boston 25 News less than 24 hours after their release.

The older of the two teared up talking about her 7-year-old daughter who she says is a US citizen.

I have to pick up my daughter every day from school. The day I was detained, I wasnt able to go and pick up my daughter from school, she said through a translator.

The 22-year-old said shes still processing what happened.

She said shes even more upset after meeting others in similar situations while in an ICE detention facility in Vermont.

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Its an injustice. We were just working. We werent doing anything wrong, she said.

Three of their coworkers remain in ICE custody.

Some community members have criticized the workplace ICE raid, and Boston University student Zac Segal, who said he called ICE about the car wash.

Segal, president of Boston University College Republicans, said he received death threats after he took credit for calling immigration officials for months.

BU protest condemns student who called ICE on Allston workers

The owner of the Allston Car Wash blasted his actions in a social media post:

This week, a student at a local university publicly claimed credit for triggering last weeks enforcement action at our business. At no point did this individual contact us, speak with management, or inquire about our employees or operations. Publicly labeling our workforce as criminals without any knowledge of who they are is reckless and distressing.

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An ICE spokesperson said Segal was not the reason for the raid at the business.

The operation was highly targeted and relied on law enforcement intelligence, not a silly rumor, said a statement.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously released the following explanation about the operation:

On November 4, ICE conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Allston, Massachusetts that resulted in the arrest of 9 illegal aliens including an illegal alien who chose to commit a felony by illegally re-entering the U.S. Three entered under the Biden administration, four were gotaways at the border, one entered illegally under W. Bush, and another overstayed his visa which expired under President Clinton. Tricia McLaughlin

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
WHEN SIX MEMBERS OF CONGRESS released a short video on Tuesday emphatically reminding military personnel1 that they must not obey illegal orders, the message ricocheted through the political world and the media like a rifle shot. Reactions split along predictable lines. Some saw the video as a necessary civic reminder in a volatile moment. Others attacked it as inappropriate political rhetoric directed at the armed forces. Still others lied about what was said, or mocked the message as condescending. As the controversy escalated, the lawmakers who appeared in the video began receiving death threats, while the president himself suggestedastonishinglythat their message constituted sedition and that they should be imprisoned or executed.

I want to address a fundamental point revealed by the video and the debate surrounding it: Most Americans do not understand what is in the oaths sworn by our service members. Confusion about that, combined with an understandable desire to keep the military a nonpartisan institution, fuels both the alarm that motivated the videos creation and the backlash against the video. A clearer understanding on this subject will help reveal the aspects of our constitutional structure that protect the nation from unlawful uses of the military.

Heres the truth, learned on the first day of service by every enlisted soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, guardian, and coast guardsman, and learned but sometimes not recognized by the young officers who first take the oath: There is not one military oath. There are two. And the differences between them explain exactly who is responsible for refusing illegal orders, why the system was designed that way, and what it means for this moment.

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One reason the debate keeps going sideways is that the public keeps talking about the military as if it were a single, undifferentiated mass of people with identical obligations. It isnt. The Constitution and Congress deliberately created two different oathsone for enlisted personnel, and one for officers. That structure is not bureaucratic trivia; it is grounded on the bedrock American civilmilitary relations. Ignoring it leads to the misleading assumption that everyone in uniform bears equal responsibility when confronted with an unlawful command.

They dont. And that distinction matters.

Enlisted members swear to support and defend the Constitution, and to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And the UCMJ makes crystal clear that the service members obligation is to obey lawful orders, and that no enlisted member is permitted to carry out an unlawful order. But the enlisted oath is also intentionally anchored in obedience of the chain of command. The accountability lies one level up.

Which brings us to the officer oathshorter in words, heavier in weight. Officers swear to support and defend the Constitution; to bear true faith and allegiance to it; and to well and faithfully discharge the duties of their office. They also affirm that they take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. What they do not swear to do is equally important: Officers make no promise to obey the president and the officers above them.

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That omission is not an oversight. Officers give orders, evaluate legality, and act as the constitutional circuit breakers the Founders intended. They are expectedby law, by professional ethic, and by centuries of traditionto exercise independent judgment when presented with a questionable directive. Officers are duty-bound to refuse an unlawful order. It is not optional. It is not situational. It is their job.

When the members of Congress in their video urge what seems to be the entire military not to follow illegal orders, they may unintentionally blur the very lines that keep the system functioning. Enlisted personnel obey lawful orders; officers ensure the orders that reach them are lawful. The real constitutional failsafe is not a general broadcast to every rank. It is the officer corps, obligated by oath to the Constitution alone.

This matters in a moment when Americans are hearing loud claims about using the military to solve political disputes, intervene in elections, or take actions beyond statutory authority. People are right to worry. But they should also understand the guardrails already in place. The military has been here beforethey have already, at times in our history, faced unlawful pressure, political manipulation, or attempts to turn the armed forces into a tool of personal power.

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Also worth remembering: No one in the American military swears allegiance to any individual. The oaths are not pledges of loyalty to a party, a personality, or a political movement. Loyalty is pledged to the Constitutionand officers further take that obligation without mental reservation, knowing full well it may someday require them to stand with courage between unlawful authority and the people they serve.

So while pundits and politicians continue fighting over the optics of the lawmakers video, the core reality remains: The safeguards are already built into the structure. The oaths already distribute responsibility. The law already forbids what some fear. And the officer corps already knows that they bear the constitutional duty to ensure that unlawful orders never reach the young men and women who follow them, and who, in effect, they also serve.

This is not a moment for panic. It is a moment for clarity.

If Americans understood the difference between the two oathsone grounded in obedience, the other grounded in constitutional discernmentthey would see that the republics defenses against unlawful orders are not theoretical. They exist. They function. They dont depend on the whims of political actors on either side of the aisle, but on the integrity of those who swear to uphold them.

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The video is directed not only at military service members but also at members of the intelligence communitybut in this article, Im focusing exclusively on the former.
A section of Blue Dog Lake shoreline before and after the implementation of a South Dakota state government program paying for buffer strips to improve water quality. The program covered the Big Sioux River watershed. (Photos courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

A section of Blue Dog Lake shoreline before and after the implementation of a South Dakota state government program paying for buffer strips to improve water quality. The program covered the Big Sioux River watershed. (Photos courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

As a public debate begins about agriculture and water pollution in South Dakota, a new report shows the effects of a $3 million effort to mitigate the problem.

South Dakotas top state Senate Republican and the governor sparred this week over whether the state should tighten agricultural regulations to address water pollution. Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, told a legislative committee that with most monitored rivers and streams in the state too polluted to support at least some uses, such as swimming, fishing or boating, the state can no longer dance around the idea of more regulations on agriculture.

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Gov. Larry Rhoden, a rancher, blasted those comments as misinformation made out of ignorance and said Karr would be set straight.

Meanwhile, a final report quietly emerged about an effort to keep cattle waste out of lakes and streams and reduce chemical and sediment runoff from farms. Karr was the prime sponsor of the bill that created the 2021 initiative. The state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources managed it. It paid $3 million to help landowners contain livestock waste or plant grass and other vegetation along streambanks in the Big Sioux River watershed.

Jay Gilbertson, manager of the East Dakota Water Development District, said the enrolled vegetated strips, called buffers, filter pollution and stabilize stream banks. Livestock are required to be kept out of the areas for part of the year, except during limited times and circumstances when grazing and haying are allowed.

According to the report, 67 projects created 83 linear miles of buffers, protecting 1,219 acres. The project contracts last for 10 years. They prevent an estimated 1,484 pounds of phosphorus, 6,415 pounds of nitrogen and 953 tons of sediment from entering the Big Sioux River watershed each year.

Payments increased after low interest

The program started slowly. Nobody had signed up for it by January 2023, two years after it was approved.

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The feedback that we got back was that were not paying enough to really move the needle, Hunter Roberts, secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, told lawmakers at the time.

So, the department began paying more.

DANR materials say that under the original cash-incentive program, a 50-foot, half-mile buffer under a minimum 10-year contract would have yielded a total payment of about $5,000 for cropland and $1,300 for pastureland over 10 years. Under a new formula Roberts outlined, the rates for the same examples increased to about $13,000 for cropland and $4,400 for pastureland.

Additionally, the department allowed the funds to be spent on livestock waste containment systems. Two of those were installed, involving 690 cattle. The department also allowed landowners to stack their program payments on top of payments from the federal governments Conservation Reserve Program, which pays landowners to take marginal land out of agricultural production. That meant landowners could receive both federal and state payments for eligible acres, plus another incentive if those stacked acres are enrolled in a Game, Fish and Parks program that pays landowners to allow public access for hunters.

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Everybody seems to like free money or at least additional money, Gilbertson said. And these activities got the ball rolling, and it turned out to be pretty popular.

Gilbertson credited lawmakers, including Karr, for launching the initiative.

It was a great example of the Legislature stepping forward, stepping up and saying we need to invest in our natural resources here in South Dakota, he said.

Benefits and worries beyond 10 years

Sushant Mehan is an assistant professor and water resource engineer at South Dakota State University. He and a team are quantifying how the buffer initiative changes vegetation and downstream water quality, in a project requested and funded by the East Dakota Water Development District.

A map shows the Big Sioux River watershed in South Dakota and the location of projects within it to improve water quality, funded by a $3 million state program. Projects included feedlot waste containment systems and vegetative buffer strips along lakes and streambanks. (Image courtesy of South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

He said buffers are often on flood-prone, low-yield acres, and the research already shows enrolled acres are more productive during the times when grazing and haying are allowed than they would be under year-round grazing.

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So, if people go that route, ultimately, its a win-win situation for them, Mehan said.

Mehan frames the benefits of buffers as both direct for landowners and indirect for everyone paying a water bill. He said filtering out contaminants is a costly business for water systems, and those costs are passed along to customers.

Mehan said the next step is figuring out where buffers will do the most good. The teams ongoing work is about mapping which enrolled acres are truly critical to maximize water-quality gains.

Gilbertson worries that maintaining the buffers after the 10-year contracts expire could be difficult if landowners expect a similar payment.

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Paul Lorenzen administers the states watershed protection program for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He said the program included cost-sharing for fencing and alternative water sources. He said once those investments are in place, landowners may choose to keep the buffers even after the checks stop.

Lorenzen said other programs with similar 10-year commitments have seen producers stick with the practices once they experience the benefits, and he hopes buffers will follow the same pattern.

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A report from the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources on a Big Sioux River watershed riparian buffer program.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

A person holds a transgender flag and a rainbow umbrella during a rally outside the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on March 14, 2024. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  An Oklahoma law affecting transgender students use of public school bathrooms came before a three-judge panel Thursday in the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senate Bill 615, signed into law in 2022, requires individuals to use multi-stall school bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their biological sex, not their gender identity. A single-use bathroom also must be made available.

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Oral arguments on behalf of three transgender students challenging the law contended an Oklahoma City federal judge was wrong to dismiss their lawsuit without further considering the case. The plaintiffs, led by then-Noble High School student Andrew Bridge, filed the lawsuit in 2022, arguing SB 615 violates Title IX and the U.S. Constitutions Equal Protection Clause.

U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice in March 2024, meaning she found the case to be without merit and decided it cannot be refiled.

The plaintiffs then appealed the dismissal to the Tenth Circuit, based in Denver.

The plaintiffs attorney, Robert Gianchetti of Covington & Burling LLP, said his clients present a plausible claim for relief and the students should be afforded the opportunity to prove their claims on their merit.

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These are very fact-intensive issues that need to be resolved at a later date, Gianchetti told the appeals court judges.

Oklahoma Solicitor General Garry Gaskins, representing the state and defending the law, contended the case would face insurmountable obstacles if it proceeds. He asked the Tenth Circuit judges to let Dishmans dismissal stand.

The lawsuit is fundamentally transformed in light of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision this year to uphold a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, Gaskins said. The Supreme Court justices rejected similar arguments that the Tennessee law violated transgender students equal protection rights.

Tenth Circuit Chief Judge Jerome A. Holmes echoed the Tennessee precedent. He referenced Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos opinion that determined different treatment based on gender identity is not enough to violate the Equal Protection Clause.

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Rather, the challenged law must treat people unequally based on their biological sex to be overturned, according to Alitos opinion.

Theres no differential treatment of men and women in this case, Holmes said of the Oklahoma lawsuit.

Allowing bathroom use by gender identity could present a major safety concern, the Oklahoma City federal judge decided when throwing out the lawsuit.

Tenth Circuit Judge Carolyn B. McHugh, though, said the safety argument seems a little thin.

Do we just presume that theres a safety issue? McHugh said. The (plaintiffs) complaint suggests the safety issue goes the other way. If you force transgender students to use the bathroom of their sex at birth, theyre more likely to be subject to being beaten up.

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The choice of whether to overturn the dismissal and allow the lawsuit to continue now rests with Holmes, McHugh and Senior Judge Michael R. Murphy. The judges can reach a decision by voting 3-0 or 2-1.

There is no set timeline to issue a decision, but the court typically takes four months, said Cassidy Fallik, of the ACLU of Oklahoma, which represents the plaintiffs.

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A Middletown man has learned his sentence for coercing minors online into creating nude images and videos involving sexual conduct.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

William Scott Elam, 53, pleaded guilty in July to 10 counts of coercion and enticement and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

He was sentenced this week to 312 months in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

TRENDING STORIES:

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According to court documents, Elam pretended to be a 14-year-old boy and engaged in online relationships with numerous minor females, between the ages of 10 and 16, across at least seven states over approximately four years.

He targeted vulnerable minors, particularly those who had previously engaged in self-harm or had body or social issues.

Elam coerced victims into performing sexual acts on live video calls and manipulated them by threatening self-harm or to leak naked images he had obtained.

There are real-life consequences to actions taken online, said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. Predators like Elam hide behind a computer screen while preying on vulnerable children. But the harm they cause is real, and so is the significant amount of time they will spend in federal prison to account for those actions.

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A new prosecutor has been named in the Georgia 2020 voter fraud case against Donald Trump. If the prosecutor decides to continue to prosecute this case, must it wait until Mr. Trump is out of office, or can it proceed sooner?  Scott

Hi Scott,

Dont expect the president to stand trial while hes in office.

But his co-defendants could  that is, if the case makes it that far against any of them who havent pleaded guilty already or wont plead guilty before such a trial would occur.

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So, Donald Trump being in office wouldnt freeze the case against all defendants, but it would likely freeze it against him to the extent that he wants to keep it paused during his presidency. He may still try to push for the cases dismissal pretrial, while maintaining that he shouldnt stand trial in office if those dismissal efforts fail.

After Trump won the 2024 election, his federal criminal cases went away due to the Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Thats a federal policy, not a state policy, but its rationale could still prevent a state trial against a sitting president. As is true of much Trump-spawned litigation, its an unprecedented legal issue.

It arose briefly in the Georgia case before Trump won the election. When the presiding judge broached the subject in planning a possible trial, his Georgia lawyer, Steve Sadow, signaled that he was prepared to argue that even a state trial against a sitting president would be improper. Id expect the courts to agree if it came to it.

Stepping back and looking at the Georgia case overall, its fate is unclear, not only as to Trump but as to all remaining defendants. As you note, a new prosecutor has taken over, following Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis disqualification. But it wasnt assigned to a new regular prosecutors office. Indeed, no other office would take the case.

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Reassignment fell to a Georgia state panel tasked with doling out cases when there are conflicts, such as the one that Willis disqualification presented. Unable to find any takers for the sprawling case against the president and other high-profile figures, the head of the panel, Peter Skandalakis, said he would keep it himself. That has the short-term effect of preventing an automatic dismissal. But the longer-term effects are unknown.

Skandalakis has different options for how to proceed. He could go full steam ahead, as Willis intended. He could withdraw the case completely, as Trump hopes. He could narrow the charges or drop them against some defendants while pursuing others.

I am keenly aware that this matter has been of significant public interest since January 2021, when District Attorney Fani Willis announced the initiation of the investigation, Skandalakis said in a statement explaining his decision to appoint himself after no one else would take over. My only objective is to ensure that this case is handled properly, fairly, and with full transparency discharging my duties without fear, favor, or affection, he said.

Of note, when Willis was previously disqualified from charging a different subject of her investigation, Skandalakis took over and ultimately declined to charge that individual. There are differences between that situation and the already existing indictment against Trump and his co-defendants, but that prior episode shows that the prosecutor taking over Willis case might not share her views about how to proceed.

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The presiding judge, Scott McAfee, who made the initial ruling that led to Willis disqualification on appeal, has set a Dec. 1 status conference to check in and see whats happening. We may learn the new prosecutors latest thoughts then.

While were on the topic, its also worth thinking about Trumps pending appeal of his New York state conviction. We dont know when the hush money appeal will be fully resolved; its in New Yorks intermediate appeals court now, and the last word could come from the U.S. Supreme Court. But if Trump ultimately wins the appeal, that wouldnt necessarily lead to the case being dismissed forever. It could simply win him a new trial. That would present another looming criminal case for the president, raising questions of whether and when it would be retried. As in the Georgia scenario, a trial probably wouldnt come until after he leaves office.

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This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
URUAPAN, Mexico (AP)  Authorities on Friday arrested seven bodyguards suspected of being involved in the assassination earlier this month of a popular mayor in west-central Mexico who they were supposed to be protecting.

The Associated Press saw at least five of the suspects arrested by state and federal authorities in Uruapan on Friday, steps away from the site where Mayor Carlos Manzo was killed during Day of the Dead festivities on Nov. 1.

Later, the Michoacan state prosecutor's office said in a brief statement that seven public officials, who it did not identify, were arrested for their likely participation in aggravated homicide.

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An official familiar with the operation said all seven had been bodyguards for Manzo. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about it.

Soldiers, National Guard troops and state agents led the suspects out of a city building Friday beside the central plaza where a teenage gunman had shot Manzo. Attention had immediately turned toward Manzo's large security detail that had failed to stop the lone gunman and suspicion only grew when it appeared that the gunman had been shot dead by members of the security detail after they had him on the ground.

On Wednesday, Mexican authorities announced the arrest of a man they said was involved in planning and ordering the killing. They connected the plot to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the organized crime groups operating in Michoacan.

Manzo's wife was sworn in as Uruapan's mayor following his killing.

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On Friday, members of Manzo's  and now his wife's  team recorded the arrests, some while crying as they watched colleagues hauled off. Two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared for their safety said that among those arrested were member's of Manzo's inner circle.

Uruapan's central plaza is still filled with candles in tribute to the slain politician, who had been outspoken against organized crime's grip. Notes expressing sadness about Manzo's slaying and demanding justice still hang around the plaza.

The mayors killing brought renewed pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum to adjust her security strategy. Days later she announced Plan Michoacan, which while heavy on spending for social programs, also included having 10,000 troops spread out across the state to get control of the various criminal organizations operating there.
A report from the CNN Investigates team documented more than a dozen fraud cases tied to a single crypto ATM in Arizona since last year.

What's happening?

There were over 40,000 crypto ATMs worldwide as of September 2025. While they look just like traditional banking ATMs and can be used to turn cash into a $3.5 trillion market, these crypto machines have been the center of scams affecting countless unaware people.

According to the CNN report, the investigation team found that at least a dozen people were defrauded out of $118,000 at a single ATM in Arizona.

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Common cryptocurrency scams involve scammers calling unsuspecting people, telling them they have a fine or debt that needs to be paid to a company or the government and then sending them to these new machines.

"Many people aren't familiar with crypto ATMs or how they work," chief investigators Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Curt Devine, and Majlie de Puy Kamp wrote to CNN analyst Zachary B. Wolf. "Scammers tend to exploit this, especially when they are pretending to be law enforcement or government officials. They send often elderly victims to these machines under the assumption that the crypto ATM is a legitimate way to pay off (made up!) fines, fees, or debts to companies or the government."

According to the FBI, in 2024 alone, people were defrauded out of $250 million from crypto schemes, per ABC News.

"Requesting crypto is now the No. 1 preferred method of criminals," Amy Nofziger, AARP's director of fraud victim support, told ABC News. "It is a huge problem."

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While older adults are a common target for fraudsters, people of all ages are being targeted.

Why is this report important?

There are approximately 40 million to 70 million active crypto users worldwide, making it a huge industry. This makes it a legitimate way for people to store and transfer funds globally. Renewable energy, such as hydroelectric dams, can power crypto mining  making it a sustainable currency option.

Crypto can also have a significant environmental footprint. According to some estimates, one transaction can consume the same amount of power as the average American household does in 15 days. Noise pollution from crypto facilities is also having a huge impact on communities.

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"Crypto mining consumes about twice as much electricity as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple combined," George Kamiya, an energy analyst at the International Energy Agency, told Time.

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While questions of the energy use needed for crypto come more into play as crypto use grows, the report from CNN also highlighted the real impact crypto scams can have on people.

What's being done about cryptocurrency scams?

While many scammers do remain anonymous, authorities have made some arrests, including an Indian citizen who was charged in Arizona. According to CNN, prosecutors viewed this individual as "a high-level member of a sophisticated, organized, transnational fraud ring." It's difficult to recover money stolen from crypto machines, as fraudsters typically wire money directly to accounts and exchanges outside of U.S. jurisdiction.

Some U.S. states have taken steps to stop crypto schemes by setting daily transaction limits. Arkansas has a law that allows users 72 hours to recover money if they suspect a scam. Arizona has also recently announced new protections.

"I'm glad we can implement common-sense protections to prevent even more Arizonans from becoming victims of cryptocurrency ATM fraud," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in the announcement. "Last year, Arizonans lost an astounding $177 million in their hard-earned savings to cryptocurrency scammers. This is a good first step, but we need to do even more to protect Arizona seniors from these persistent criminals."



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Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago arrested 19 people after raiding an illegal quarrying site that had been stripping natural resources and bringing in over $1 million weekly, Trinidad and Tobago Express reported.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service carried out the operation before dawn in the Manuel Congo area of Guanapo. Officers discovered pits dug 60 feet down and artificial ponds that appear to be draining the nation's water supply.

During the raid, multiple people ran into nearby woods. One person jumped into a pond and didn't come back up. Search teams continued looking for that individual throughout the day.

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Police arrested a construction firm's director allegedly running the operation. Officers found two trucks idling, showing how quickly law enforcement acted.

The illegal site had been operating for years, causing damage to forested land where animals once lived. Trees were chopped and sold. Then the ground underneath was dug up and sold for building projects.

Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro told reporters the operation was stealing from the country's natural wealth.

"This is a criminal enterprise engaged in illegal quarrying, mining, and operating an unlicensed processing plant," Guevarro said. "They are robbing Trinidad and Tobago of its patrimony. They removed State material, destroyed pristine forest where wildlife once roamed, cut the trees, sold them, and then dug and sold the material.

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The stolen materials may have been used to build homes across the country. Police said the operation likely cost the country millions in lost revenue each month. That money could have gone toward roads, emergency services, and other public needs.

Acting Superintendent Leon Haynes said police changed their approach to target the people profiting most from these crimes rather than just arresting machinery drivers. Authorities worked with mining officials for over a year to build their case.

Police seized excavation equipment and large amounts of gravel and stone. The investigation continues as officers work to identify additional suspects linked to the business.



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NEED TO KNOW

A driver in North Carolina was shocked on Nov. 19 when something crashed through her car's windshield, and it turned out to be a cat dropped by a bald eagle

"You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield," she told a 911 operator

A state trooper said that the cat had been seen "fighting" the bird in mid-air before the incident



A driver in North Carolina was left bewildered after something crashed through her car's windshield as she was driving to work. After closer inspection, she discovered the object was a cat that had been dropped from the sky by a bald eagle.

According to a statement from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the woman was driving on US-74 at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Swain County, near Bryson City, about 65 miles outside Asheville, when the unusual collision occurred.

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The woman dialed 911 immediately and told the operator that the plummeting feline "shattered" her windshield.

"You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield. It absolutely shattered my windshield," the driver, who has not been named, told a 911 operator in a transcript obtained by ABC 11.

"I do believe you, honestly," the operator replied. "I had a witness who was like, 'That is the craziest thing I've ever seen."

Getty A bald eagle (stock image). A bald eagle (stock image).

Though the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that the woman was not injured, The Charlotte Observer reported that the cat died after the accident.

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State trooper Kosal Thach told the outlet that the cat had been seen "fighting" the bird in mid-air while the eagle carried the feline.

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According to the Observer, the car was going around 55 mph when the cat made impact. A photo provided by police shows the vehicle's passenger-side windshield shattered. The driver had her car towed and got a ride to work after the incident, Thach said.

The eagle fled the scene before troopers arrived. It is unclear where the cat came from or whether the animal was a local pet.

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Bryson City is located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the region is known for being home to many bald eagles.



According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagles are the largest bird of prey species in North America. Females may have a wingspan of up to 8 feet and can weigh as much as 14 pounds, while male eagles may have a wingspan of up to 6 feet and weigh in at 10 pounds.

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Bald eagles are also opportunistic feeders, and fish serve as a staple food for the species. They also feed on waterfowl, shorebirds, waterbirds, turtles, rabbits, snakes, and small animals, catching them by swooping down from the sky and picking them up off the ground with their talons.



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It didn't take long for the video to spread on social media: An employee, crouched in an alley behind a Bay Area restaurant, slamming racks of uncooked frozen short ribs onto pieces of cardboard barely covering the concrete below, surrounded by trash and a mop bucket.

On Thursday, hours after the video, shot from above on a nearby roof and posted on TikTok, went viral and a Reddit sleuth identified the restaurant, the Santa Clara County Environmental Health Department shut down Pho Love in Milpitas. An inspection report confirmed what happened in the video and cited a slew of health violations, including a cockroach infestation, raw chicken stored on the floor and improper handling of the raw ribs. The inspector ordered Pho Love to close immediately.

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As of Nov. 21, the original TikTok video has racked up nearly 5 million views.

Pho Love, an unassuming strip mall restaurant, was slammed with negative online reviews citing the video. Amidst the fallout, owner Uyen Tran alleged on Yelp that it was a "deliberate act by a former employee and an accomplice" who conspired to "bring my restaurant down."

"We never instructed this employee to work this way," Tran wrote in response to negative Yelp reviews. "We will have the police investigate this matter." (The Milpitas Police Department said it's aware of the video but there does not appear to be any criminal conduct to investigate.) Tran could not be immediately reached for comment.

In a statement, Environmental Health Director Marilyn Underwood said Pho Love will remain closed until the business "can correct the major violations and demonstrate acceptable food handling practices."

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Health code violations at restaurants are relatively common; in Santa Clara County, the health department has closed more than 200 food businesses in the last six months due to violations, according to health records.

This incident offers another example of the rapid speed and amplification power of social media. Earlier this year, an influencer complained in a TikTok video about how a restaurant owner had treated her; intense backlash followed, and the restaurant closed days later. (It soon reopened, without the owner and under a new name.)

On Wednesday, a TikTok account with fewer than 1,000 followers and a handful of videos documenting what appears to be the user's job as a roofer posted the video. The caption said it was located close to San Jose but did not identify the restaurant.

A self-described "hobbyist geoguesser" on Reddit stepped in to figure it out. This person guessed the business was in East San Jose, where there's a large concentration of Vietnamese restaurants; scrutinized the rear of the business in the video, including a beige light fixture above the back door and a downspout next to it; then compared it to images on Google Maps, the person wrote on Reddit. The person believed it was Pho Love and reported the business to the health department on Thursday.

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Within hours, a health inspector arrived at Pho Love. The employee in the video, who has not been identified, told the inspector that they had been attempting to thaw the meat on Tuesday in a "one-time occurrence" because there was no space on the food preparation counter.

(In 2014, an employee of a San Francisco restaurant was captured on video slamming a large slab of raw beef on the sidewalk outside in a similar fashion.)

"When they realized that the meat was falling out of the package and onto the ground, they saw that the meat had become contaminated, and immediately discarded all of the meat," the inspection report states. The employee threw out the meat; none of it was served to customers, the worker told the inspector. The owner said that employees are instructed to thaw meat in the refrigerator or in standing water of the preparation sink, according to the report.

The inspector also flagged two unrelated, major violations: A live cockroach between the gaskets of an upright cooler and the absence of any sanitizer in the kitchen.

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Employees were also washing their hands in a food preparation sink without soap, according to the report. Other minor violations included a tray of raw chicken stored on the floor of the food preparation area and bean sprouts sitting on a counter below the proper temperature. Staff also did not have required food manager cards.

Pho Love passed its most recent health inspection in September. The health department didn't find any major violations at the time, according to a report, but did note that the back door was "left wide open," as it is in the video.

Before it can reopen, the restaurant will have to undergo follow-up health inspections as well as a hearing "due to the lack of active managerial control and improper and unsafe food handling practices."

This article originally published at Bay Area restaurant ordered to close after worker caught slamming raw beef onto dirty concrete.
Authorities were searching Friday for a grizzly bear that emerged from the forest in a remote part of Canada and attacked a group of 20 children and their teachers, critically injuring two people.

A total of four people remained in hospital a day after Thursday's attack in the Bella Coola area of Canada's western British Columbia province, provincial officials said.

The bear targeted children -- aged nine and 10 -- doing outdoor activities from the Acwsalcta school in Nuxalk First Nation.

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Inspector Kevin Van Damme of the BC Conservation Officer Service told reporters that the teachers used bear spray to repel the attack and "put themselves in harm's way to protect the children."

"In my 34 years of experience, I have not seen a (bear) attack like this with such a large group of people," he said.

Two people suffered "critical" injuries and two were in "serious" condition, the Provincial Health Services Authority told AFP in a statement.

Authorities have not disclosed the ages of those in hospital, citing family requests for privacy.

Seven other people received care at the scene but did not require hospitalization, the provincial authorities added.

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Provincial environment minister Tamara Davidson said conservation officers were in the area "attempting to locate the bear."

Authorities have urged people to stay out of the area to aid the search.

In a Facebook post, the Acwsalcta said it was closed on Friday due the attack and praised its staff for demonstrating "courage" during "an incredibly challenging moment."

- 'So close' -

Veronica Schooner told the Canadian Press that her son was in the group that was attacked but he was not injured.

"He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else," she told CP.

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Van Damme said conservation officers had set traps in the area and were interviewing witnesses in an effort to track the bear.

He noted that conflicts with humans can increase as winter approaches.

"They're trying to get enough fat reserves to hibernate," he told reporters, noting there have been increased reports of grizzlies interacting with humans in Bella Coola.

Bella Coola has a large grizzly population but Van Damme warned against concluding the area's bears were generally getting more aggressive.

"One individual bear could increase conflicts," he said. "It's not necessarily generic across" the population.

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Van Damme confirmed reports that there is an injured bear in the area, amid local speculation that the wounded grizzly was the one who targeted the group.

"But we don't know that is the offending bear in this case," he said.

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Beijing's recent fury directed towards Japan is hammering home a point on Taiwan to the wider world, especially the United States and its allies, analysts in mainland China have suggested.

Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a conflict in the Taiwan Strait might be a "survival-threatening situation" that would justify military intervention.

The comments appeared to challenge Japan's policy of strategic ambiguity about how it would respond to any crisis - something Beijing said would undermine the post-war international order.

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Beijing warned Tokyo to brace for "all the consequences" before unleashing a series of retaliatory measures this week, while suggesting more might follow.

This stance could be a "multilayered" strategic signal, according to Chen Yang, director of the Japan Research Centre at the Beijing-based think tank Haiyi Institute.

"[It] is not only aimed at Japan but also a reminder to the United States and its system of allies - including Australia and South Korea - as well as a broader range of Asia-Pacific nations: stay prudent on the so-called Taiwan contingency," he said.

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Beijing's response "creates a 'demonstration effect' in the regional strategic context: it conveys a warning to all countries that might be drawn into the Taiwan situation but have yet to take an explicit stance", according to Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University in Shanghai.

He said Beijing's message included "do not position yourselves on the front lines of confrontation with China".

"Overall, the approach can function both to uphold [Beijing's] position on Taiwan and to issue an early warning against the potential spreading of intervening roles within the network of US Asia-Pacific allies."

Takaichi's comment - which she said was "hypothetical" but has refused to retract - made her the first Japanese leader since World War II to directly state that the country's troops might intervene in a conflict over Taiwan.

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Official media in mainland China accused her of displaying an "ambition" to militarily intervene and of making a "threat of force" against Beijing - both unprecedented since Japan's defeat in 1945.

Japan's post-war constitution renounces the use of force to settle international disputes and says its military can only be used for self-defence.

Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that the US was pressing Japan and Australia to make clear what role they would play in the event of a war over the island.

According to the report, the Japanese defence ministry responded that it was "difficult to answer" a hypothetical question of that nature.

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A recent report by the Rand Corporation think tank said the two countries could play a "core" role in US-led sanctions designed to deter an attack on Taiwan.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month that his country supported "the status quo when it comes to Taiwan".

"We have a bipartisan position for the one-China policy, but we also don't want to see any unilateral action," he added.

Takaichi's remarks could be read as a "belated" open response to the US request and a signal Japan was willing to align with Washington on the issue, according to Chen from Haiyi.

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"[Beijing's] warning to Japan is ringing alarm bells for the American alliance system, making other US allies such as Australia and South Korea clearly recognise the huge cost of following suit in intervening," he said.

"That also serves as an indirect warning to the US ... [that] any attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs by leveraging alliance power will be countered."

He also said that Beijing's recent actions were sending a clear message to the international community about "respecting each country's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

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Most countries - including the US, Japan and other American allies - do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

On Thursday, George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, said Washington was supporting Takaichi in the row with Beijing.

"I just want to say directly from the president and from myself and from the embassy ... we have her back," Glass said, according to Kyodo News.

Official media in mainland China has criticised the Japanese leader over her comments. Photo: Kyodo alt=Official media in mainland China has criticised the Japanese leader over her comments. Photo: Kyodo>

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Last week, the US approved the first arms sales to Taiwan since Donald Trump returned to the White House, triggering strong condemnation from Beijing.

Earlier this month, the Chinese embassy in Wellington posted the full text of the 1972 joint communique issued when New Zealand switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing - which "acknowledged" Beijing's one-China policy - in an apparent protest about a group of MPs attending a reception at Taiwan's de facto embassy.

Also last week, China's ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing cautioned against "changing the strategic goals" of the alliance between Seoul and Washington, and warned them "not to play with fire" on Taiwan.

Beijing describes Taiwan as a "core interest", where its official positions are not subject to negotiation or compromise.

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"Advancing the cause of national reunification" ranked as a priority in the framework for the five-year plan adopted by the Communist Party's Central Committee last month.

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  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Maine Sen. Rick Bennett, who announced he is leaving the Republican Party to run as an independent for governor, chats with an attendee at a Portland campaign event on Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)

At a Thursday campaign event with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Maine Sen. Rick Bennett from Oxford denounced the two-party system, making the case for his independent bid for governor.

Bennett, who formerly chaired the Maine GOP and left party earlier this year to announce his run, emphasized his long history working within his former party, as well as with Democrats, to pass legislation he believed in.

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If elected governor, he said he would prioritize passing reforms in favor of affordability and fixing broken systems, including capping drug prices, focusing on improving academic performance in public schools, and lowering energy costs.

What people want is actual, real results, and theyre not getting it from the partisan structure, Bennett told the 50 or so attendees.

Im running for governor as an independent because I want to govern as an independent, and that is different, he added. For example, serving as an independent governor would allow him the flexibility to choose the best suited members of his cabinet, he said, as opposed to having to select exclusively Republicans or Democrats.

At the event, which was held at the Cumberland Club, Bennett was endorsed by the centrist Forward Party, formed in 2020 by Todd Whitman, known as a centrist Republican, and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. The group supports independent candidates across the country at the local, state and national level that reflect its values from all parties. In 2024, the group endorsed Rep. Amy Roeder, a Democrat from Bangor.

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We want to support those that represent our values, as Rick does, and we want to find those candidates in the state and local offices, Todd Whitman said.

Bennett is among a crowded field of contenders vying to replace Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who will be termed out. The Oxford senators long track record in state government drew a mix of Democrats, Republicans and independents to the event who told Maine Morning Star they support his ideas and appreciate his commitment to work across the aisle.

Voters tired of two-part system

Many people in attendance were undecided on who they will be voting for next November, and many plan to vote in Democratic or Republican party primaries in June. But many said they think highly of Bennett, and agree with his denouncement of increasingly partisan politics.

Phil Steele and his wife Francesca Galluccio-Steele are both registered Democrats, but attended because they agreed with Bennetts push for transparency in campaign finance. Bennett introduced multiple bills last session aiming to expand clean elections to the local level and chaired the committee behind the successful 2023 referendum banning foreign entities from spending money on referendum campaigns.

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Im fed up with both parties, we have to get out of the two party system, Phil Steele said. I dont agree with him on a lot of issues, but I agree on getting dark money out of politics.

Anne Butterfield, who previously worked with Our Power Maine, the campaign to establish a public utility system in the state, said she agrees with Bennetts ideas about energy reform and reducing utility costs for Mainers. Butterfield, also a registered Democrat, said shes still looking at the playing field, but the trust is really high with him.

Ted OMeara, another former chair of the Maine Republican Party, said he left the party several years ago and is aligned with Bennett on many issues. Bennett has demonstrated leadership through his work across the aisle, he said, such as with former U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud when the two co-led the Maine Senate, and that makes him the kind of candidate that people are looking for this year.

He has demonstrated throughout his political career that hes willing to work with anybody to find a solution, OMeara added. And people are really fed up with the partisanship and fighting. They really just want solutions.
State and local agencies in Massachusetts and Maine are actively searching for a university professor who was last seen on a small island off the coast of Portland and has been missing for nearly a week.

Wiley Davi, 57, was last seen on Peaks Island on the evening of Nov. 15, according to the Maine Warden Service, as reported by ABC News. The search efforts focused on the island's hiking trails and other wooded areas, while the Maine Marine Patrol searched the surrounding waters.

Peaks Island is a little over one square mile and is considered a part of Portland, Maine.

Wiley Davi with her dog Conway.

"At this time, the investigation has not revealed any evidence of foul play," Portland police said in a Nov. 20 Facebook post. "We continue to ask residents to check any outbuildings on their property, including sheds and garages, as well as vehicles for anything suspicious."

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The agency urged anyone with information about Davi's whereabouts to call 207-874-8575 or text the keyword PPDME along with their message to 847411.

Davi is an English and media studies professor at Bentley University, a private school in Waltham, Massachusetts, according to its website.

"Our hearts and minds are with Wiley and their loved ones, and we are hoping and praying for Wiley's safe return," the university said in a statement to ABC News on Nov. 20.

This story has been updated with new photos.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crews continue searching for missing Bentley University professor
COLUMBUS  Ohio Reps. Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, and Josh Williams announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 102, legislation aimed at closing a loophole in the states Sex Offender Registry and Notification laws.

The bill will expand residency and loitering restrictions for registered sex offenders, ensuring stronger protection for victims, especially children, who may have to face being in proximity to their abusers.

As the current law stands, sex offenders are prohibited from living near schools and childcare centers but can legally reside near their victims. The bill addresses this issue by prohibiting registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of their victims homes and loitering within 1,000 feet of their victims residences.

House Bill 102 will now go to the Senate for further consideration.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police are investigating a Boylan High School student after a concerning social media post.

Boylan administrators sent a message to parents Friday morning saying, Overnight, we became aware of a social media post that displayed some concerning images that may impact school safety.

School authorities said law enforcement had been contacted and were investigating the matter.

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The student involved will not be in the building while this investigation continues, the letter continued. We will remain attentive to all student behaviors and continue to monitor school safety.

The school said counseling staff would be available during the school day.

A Rockford Police spokesperson said the investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian agricultural research agency Embrapa has received the greenlight from health agency Anvisa to research the cannabis plant, a landmark move that puts farming powerhouse Brazil a step closer towards authorizing its cultivation.

In an interview on Friday, Embrapa researcher Daniela Bittencourt welcomed Anvisa's decision this week, which gives the agency unprecedented permission to build its first-ever cannabis seed bank and develop projects to genetically improve the plant for various applications.

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Embrapa will also research hemp used to produce fibers, Bittencourt said.

"This is only the beginning," Bittencourt said by telephone from Brasilia. "Our plan is to carry out research for 12 years but it may possibly go on forever, like what happens with soy and corn."

Similar research efforts from Embrapa since the 1970s opened up vast regions of Brazil for large-scale soybean farming, kicking off a significant increase in the country's output of the oilseed to make it the world's largest producer and exporter.

Embrapa scientists, who breed genetic varieties of grains, cotton and vegetables best suited for Brazil's tropical climate, applied last February for authorization from health agency Anvisa to carry out cannabis research.

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Embrapa's work may also grab international attention from cannabis companies, which have shown interest in Brazil's potential for the development and domestic sale of medicinal and industrial cannabis products for a long time.

An initial 13 million reais ($2.41 million) in public funding will imminently be released to fund Embrapa's cannabis research, Bittencourt said, adding the agency is open to studying the plant in partnership with the private sector.

Despite recent delays, Bittencourt also said she is confident that by March 2026, Anvisa will issue pending regulation for cannabis cultivation in Brazil after a court ruling obliged it to do so in November 2024.

In 2019, Anvisa had approved regulations for the rollout of medicinal cannabis products but in a separate vote blocked a proposal to allow domestic medical marijuana plantations.

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In the decision authorizing Embrapa's cannabis research, Anvisa said it is developing rules for growing cannabis "for medicinal and scientific purposes."

Planting and selling recreational marijuana remains prohibited in Brazil, though purchasing and possessing up to 40 grams of marijuana for personal use is no longer a crime.

($1 = 5.3926 reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Richard Chang)
On a quiet Thursday night with 41 days left in 2025, Florida's 100th orbital rocket of the year took off from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The SpaceX rocket launch, which was carrying a Starlink mission, signaled volumes for what is to come for the Space Coast.

We are breaking records across the board, Col. Brian Chatman, commander of Space Launch Delta 45, told FLORIDA TODAY. 100 launches is a complete game changer on the Space Coast. Were identifying efficiencies, getting additional mass to orbit  it couldnt be a more exciting time to be out here.

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The 10:39 p.m. launch seemed to rise from the fog as it rumbled into the night sky on Nov. 20. The Space Coast had set a new launch record last week and now for the first time ever hit a triple digit launch cadence.

When you look at the total launch count across the world, we have launched more off the Space Coast than the entire world combined  if you take Vandenberg out of the count, said Chatman, referring to the launch site in California.

Hitting the 100 launch goal came a year later than planned, as in early 2024, officials predicted well over 100 launches. That prediction was delayed a year as 2024 experienced hurricanes and a few Falcon 9 rocket mishaps. The frequent flier Falcon 9 was grounded twice last year as SpaceX investigated an upper stage malfunction and a failed booster landing. Overall, 2024 recorded 93 launches  already a significant increase from 72 in 2023.

During the shuttle years, they dreamed of 100 flights a year, Florida Tech's Robert Taylor, an emeritus space history professor, told FLORIDA TODAY. That goal never came to fruition, as the reusable space shuttle required significant turnaround time between launches.

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Taylor said that just less than a decade ago, 30 to 40 launches per year was considered a great launch year for Florida.

Right now, rockets are leading the way. Wernher Von Braun would be a happy man, he said.

Florida's 101st rocket of the year took off during the hazy early hours of Saturday, Nov. 22, adding another 29 Starlink satellites to SpaceX's ever-growing satellite internet constellation.

When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA launch schedule at Cape Canaveral

The future of rocket launches from Cape Canaveral

The increase in launches is not slowing down anytime soon.

Looking ahead, Chatman believes Florida will once again break 100 launches in 2026. He told FLORIDA TODAY the Space Force is currently planning on between 100 to 120 rocket launches next year.

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And the numbers will only increase with new launch providers and rockets. Chatman said looking ahead toward 2035 to 2040, the Space Coast could see upwards of 300 launches in a single year.

Chatman said the Space Force, Space Florida, government agencies, and Kennedy Space Center are working very closely on what this future looks like, and how to best navigate potential logistical challenges.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch brings yearly Florida liftoff count to 100
Adams County, Colorado, officials will pay $80,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit filed by Barry Zatkalik, who was wrongfully arrested while filming a sheriff's deputy from a distance during a February 2024 traffic stop. Zatkalik, a former reserve officer for the Denver Police Department, had pulled over to record Deputy Walter Berlinski, believing the deputy was speeding without lights or sirens. When Berlinski noticed and demanded his ID, Zatkalik refused and asked for a supervisor while continuing to film, which is protected by law. Berlinski handcuffed and arrested him for obstruction, even threatening to Taser him. Bodycam and dashcam footage later revealed other officers telling Berlinski he had no probable cause to arrest Zatkalik. Berlinski himself conceded his case was weak.

The post Brickbat: the Camera Never Lies appeared first on Reason.com.
Georgia U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter sent a letter Thursday urging Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to increase federal law enforcement resources in the city of Atlanta.

Carter says recent reports find that Georgia has 479,000 illegal immigrants, making it the sixth highest state in the nation for illegal immigration.

That represents a 45% increase since 2018 in the number of people in Georgia living in open defiance of the law, Carter said in his letter to Noem. By deploying more federal officers, DHS and ICE would provide crucial support to local and state partners. Increasing enforcement presence would help deter unlawful entry, disrupt illegal networks, and uphold the rule of law.

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Cities across the country where the federal government has sent in federal authorities have been met with protests and unrest.

TRENDING STORIES:

Until Carters letter to Noem, there had been no inkling that the federal government had any intention of sending federal troops into Atlanta.

In a statement shared with Channel 2 Action News, a spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens said he has made public safety a top priority of his administration, adding that year after year, crime has gone down in the city of Atlanta thanks to APD, AFRD, E-911 and EMS, by making investments that address the root causes of crime, and through strong partnerships with the Governor, State, and regional partners.

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The spokesperson also said the results in Atlanta speak for themselves, sharing the following crime statistics:

Homicides are down 27 percent year to date and 44 percent from 2022

Shootings are down 19 percent year to date and 37 percent from 2022

Motor vehicle theft is down 41 percent YTD and 10 percent from 2022

Since Mayor Dickens took office, Atlanta has been named the best place in the country to live, the best city to start a career, the best city to start a business, and Georgia continues to be the best place in the country to do business through our collaboration and partnership with the State, the spokesperson continued. Mayor Dickens will continue to expand the group project until Atlanta is the best city in the nation to raise a child.

Carter is among the Republican candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. He has touted himself in ads as a MAGA Warrior who is closely aligned with President Donald Trumps agenda.

Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race.

Carter represents Georgias 1st District, which includes the city of Savannah.
A man experiencing homelessness said he hoped the government would focus on increasing accessibility to housing in its upcoming Budget.

Josh, 26, who is currently a resident at the night shelter Jimmy's in Cambridge, said the availability of council housing and "move-on housing" - shared accommodation where people can receive support - was important.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver Labour's second budget on 26 November.

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Cambridge City Council received 1,139 homelessness applications between April 2024 and March 2025, which was a 13% rise on the previous year.

Josh said his focus was to get back into work after he completed his electrician qualifications, which he said were "just as hard as a degree in my opinion".

He would like to see the Budget include more opportunities for continuing apprenticeships and more financial support for necessities such as course books.

Josh said he recently received a government grant to pay for essential job hunting equipment, such as a mobile phone, boots and suitable clothing.

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He added that he would support a rise in taxes if they were spent on investing in public services, "especially the train lines into London".

Andrew said people need to "make good" with the budget they have got [Shariqua Ahmed/BBC]

Andrew works in the security sector and lives in Peterborough in a home owned by the charity Hope Into Action.

The charity, which was set up in the city 15 years ago, owns 130 houses across the UK.

Andrew has beea living in one of the charity's properties for two years, after experiencing homelessness for about "three or four months".

"The charity saved my life," he said.

He said renting in the private sector "can be expensive" but that people themselves have "got to budget as much as possible".

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Applications for housing to Peterborough City Council are also rising.

In 2024, it was contacted by 3,654 households facing homelessness, which was an 11% jump on the previous year.

And since 7 April this year, there have already been 2,333 approaches  an average of 70 a week.

The authority received nearly 1m last month to help tackle rough sleeping in the city.

Andrew said he recognised that public services needed to be paid for and that if tax rises needed to happen to pay for them then "you've got to make good" yourself.

HM Treasury was contacted for comment.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 30 into law Oct. 2, immediately legalizing the year-round sale of E15 in California. (Stock photo via Getty Images)

Farm state politicians have been trying for more than a decade to pass legislation that would allow E15  gasoline containing 15% ethanol  to be sold year-round across the country. While E15 can be sold from Sept. 15 to June 1 each year, an antiquated glitch in the Environmental Protection Agencys fuel regulations prevents gas stations from offering it each summer when Americas roadways are the busiest.

When I served in Congress, we got close and for his part, President Donald Trump tried to use administrative powers to remove that glitch during his first term in 2019. But, threatened by the competition of more ethanol, oil refiners sued to stop Trump  and they won. The courts found that only Congress can permanently remove the summertime E15 barrier.

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So, with the 2025 congressional calendar ticking away, year-round E15 remains stuck in the mud and Big Oils ethanol barricade remains in place. Meanwhile, corn farmers are harvesting the largest-ever crop in history, corn prices are plummeting, farm bankruptcies are on the rise, and grain is piling up across the Midwest. Year-round E15 would provide an immediate demand boost and brighten the otherwise grim prospects in farm country.

E15 typically sells for 10-30 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline, meaning the summertime barrier prevents consumers from accessing a lower-cost, cleaner-burning option that includes a higher content of American-made fuel.

But here is the ironic twist. On Oct. 2, with the stroke of a pen, California Gov. Gavin Newsom did what President Trump and Midwest lawmakers havent been able to do. He signed Assembly Bill 30 into law, immediately legalizing the year-round sale of E15 in California, the nations second-largest gasoline market.

In signing the bill, Newsom stated, While we continue the critical work to stabilize our states fuel market, were cutting red tape to provide consumers with more options as we continue our transition to cleaner transportation. He also cited a recent study by the University of California, Berkeley and the United States Naval Academy, showing E15 could lower gasoline prices by up to $0.20 per gallon and save Californians as much as $2.7 billion annually.

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Because California has its own unique gasoline specifications, the seemingly immovable EPA summertime barrier that bedevils states across the country simply doesnt apply in the Golden State. California retailers can now sell E15 fuel 365 days a year.

Newsoms move to allow year-round E15 could boost demand for ethanol by 600 million gallons, providing a sorely needed increase in corn demand. If California gas stations adopt E15 statewide, over 200 million bushels of additional corn  equivalent to the entire annual corn crop in Texas or Kentucky  will be needed to satisfy the new demand.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Trump and Republican lawmakers continue to promote the idea that Newsom and California have waged war on liquid fuels. Yet, the allowance to sell E15 year-round in the state would cement California as the single largest market for corn ethanol in the country.

All of this leads to some natural questions. Are Trump, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and GOP lawmakers really trying hard enough to secure year-round E15 and open new markets for farmers? If California, the bastion of electric vehicles, can get it done, why cant our leaders in Washington? If the president and his fellow Republicans want to Make America Great Again doesnt that start with supporting American workers and helping all Americans save money?

While farmers are caught in Trumps trade war, the president and Republican lawmakers appear headed for yet another round of bailout payments, rather than creating new demand opportunities for our nations corn and soybean growers. If they really want to help Americas farmers, they should simply follow Californias lead and do whatever it takes to allow year-round, nationwide E15 sales as quickly as possible.
A Canadian man has lost his 16-year legal battle to get back more than 1.2 million Canadian dollars he had stored in bizarre locations around his home.

On December 1, 2009, police visited Marcel Bretons rural property on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, a city in northwest Ontario, looking for an illegal handgun, according to court documents.

There, they made an unusual discovery: 15,000 Canadian dollars worth of bills in the floor heating ducts of the living room, about 32,000 dollars stored in locations around the garage, and over 1.2 million worth of Canadian bills in a rubber tub buried in the ground under the garage.

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All up, the stash was worth 1.19 million US dollars in 2009.

Police also found a variety of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy, and told Canadian media at the time that they were flabbergasted.

Breton was charged with various offences, including possession of the proceeds of crime, and was initially convicted. But in a retrial, he successfully argued the search of his property wasnt lawful, and he was acquitted.

But then came the matter of what to do with all of the money.

On Monday, an Ontario appeals court upheld a 2023 ruling that decided the lions share of the money should go to the government.

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The appeals court noted the trial judge, Justice Bruce Fitzpatrick, remarked that it was unusual for an average person to have such a large amount of money buried in tubs underneath their property.

The judge also noted that the most common type of bill found in the bundles was 20 Canadian dollars, which is the most common denomination associated with the drug trade.

Moreover, Breton had not reported any income to the Canada Revenue Agency between 2001 and 2008, the documents said.

Fitzpatrick also did not buy Bretons justifications for why he had so much cash  that he had won it in a lottery or casino, or had earned it from his vehicle repair business.

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The trial judge then ordered that most of the money be handed over to the government, a decision the appeals court affirmed.

Sanaa Ahmed, assistant professor of law at the University of Calgary, said the case is an example of legalistic hair-splitting.

Confronted with facts such as these, courts will often find ways to justify confiscating monies and thus punishing the accused, even though they may have been acquitted otherwise, she told CNN in an email.

Unfortunately, as societies, were growing increasingly comfortable with breaking some rules to catch the so-called bad guys, Ahmed added. But we forget that we made those rules precisely to avoid subjective, normative judgements by those who found themselves in judicial office.

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Michelle Gallant, professor of law at the University of Manitoba, said in this case, the onus is on Breton to prove the money was obtained legally, noting cash is the currency of illegal drugs.

What legitimate source might underlie dollars stuffed in a barrel and buried? Why bury it? Each day, at the very least, you would even bank interest, Gallant said.

But it wasnt all bad news for Breton. The appeals court upheld Fitzpatricks prior ruling that Breton gets to keep 15,000 Canadian dollars which was found inside the vents of the home, since the judge couldnt rule out that that cash had been obtained lawfully. In todays money, thats worth just over $10,600.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Sometimes the heat of the moment gets to all of us.

A contentious New Castle County Council meeting on Nov. 18 laid bare a lot of rifts in and out of council chambers. The meeting was intended to include a vote on county-level data center regulations in the face of one such project outside of Delaware City.

Before the meeting even got going, council members and more were involved in a heated discussion about amendment timing and more right outside of chamber doors. The meeting's agenda took an hour to get to the data center-sized elephant in the room, and it felt like debate over data center regulations would spill it over.

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But, after a vote to table that legislation, the tension that bubbled for the hour leading up to it seemed to level off.

Still, online public comment had to happen, even after the large contingent of data center-supporting union workers streamed out of the council chambers. Things then got nasty again.

MEETING COVERAGE: New Castle County Council delays data center vote

One public commenter pointed her remarks at council member Valerie George. Some council members said she couldn't do that, but council member Kevin Caneco defended the commenter, saying the council should not be able to dictate what people can or cannot say.

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A yelling match between council members ensued, and council member Timothy Sheldon, who represents Pike Creek, stood up and showed Caneco a middle finger before leaving the council chambers.

"Let the record reflect he just gave his middle finger to me," Caneco said at the meeting right after receiving the one-finger salute.

In an interview on Nov. 20, Sheldon said he will apologize publicly and said that's not how statesmen should act. He did not appreciate what the commenter was saying to George and called it bullying.

"I did what I did. I lost it a little," he said.

"I hate a woman to be bullied."

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Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New Castle County Council member flips off another, leaves meeting
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Chambersburg wants you to take a seat, responsibly.

Each year, dozens of people reserve their spots for the boroughs Christmas Parade by setting up chairs and other household furniture.

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Ahead of this years parade on Nov. 22, Chambersburg said it recognizes that there is a tradition of placing chairs and other objects within the public right of way.

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But there are some ground rules.

First, leaving a seat behind doesnt guarantee itll be there later. As the borough put it, unattended objects do not reserve public spaces.

Any object the Chambersburg Police Department deems dangerous can be removed at any time, such as a roadway obstruction, the borough said. It will not tolerate objects that block corners or pedestrian access, or any barricades, ropes, fences or gates.

Property owners also have the right to remove objects left on their sidewalk. So, be mindful of storefronts.

Harrisburg tree lighting, holiday parade this weekend

If attendees insist on making a reservation by chair, they will want to do it as close to the parade as possible. The borough can remove sidewalk obstructions within 12 hours of the parade.

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The Christmas Parade kicks off this Saturday at 6 p.m. in downtown Chambersburg.

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 ABC27.
The Mint Museums Randolph location in Charlotte is set to receive a new roof, pending a vote by the Charlotte City Council on Monday to allocate $1.1 million for the project.

The city of Charlotte, which owns the Mint Museum Randolph property, plans to replace certain sections of the roof to improve drainage.

The roof replacement project aims to address drainage issues by replacing specific sections of the roof, officials said.

WATCH: Iconic painting on display at Mint Museum for the first time in North Carolina
By James Oliphant and Aleksandra Michalska

CHARLOTTE (Reuters) -North Carolina this week emerged as a new front in President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown - one poised to shape one of next years most competitive U.S. Senate races.

Raids in Charlotte and other cities capped a year of bitter fights over immigration in a rapidly diversifying swing state - a battle that both Democrats and Republican officials say could echo into the next presidential election. North Carolina, a key battleground Trump narrowly carried in his last three campaigns, remains central to the election strategies of both Republicans and Democrats.

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The latest flashpoint follows a bruising summer showdown in the state over whether local sheriffs should cooperate with federal authorities in raids against illegal immigration, a clash that ended with Republicans overriding the Democratic governors veto.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office said on Thursday that the operation in Charlotte had finished, but federal officials did not confirm that, saying that the raids are "not ending anytime soon."

Trumps push to arrest migrants in Charlotte and Raleigh is galvanizing Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when control of a Republican-led Congress will be at stake.

Unlike other places the administration has targeted such as California and Illinois, which vote solidly Democratic, North Carolina offers a test case of whether Trump's immigration policies can swing voters one way or the other.

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Masked U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in camouflage patrolled streets in Hispanic neighborhoods this week. Videos of arrests have been posted across social media, including one showing masked agents smashing a pickup window and dragging a man out. More than 370 people have been arrested, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said.

People are terrified, theyre angry, theyre hiding, Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, a Democratic county commissioner in Charlotte, said of her constituents. Theyre mad as hell that this happened in our community, and they want to know what the hell we are going to do about it.

Charlotte, a top banking center in the nation, has been rapidly changing as it has grown into a major metropolis of 2.8 million people. Since 2000, the immigrant population in the city and the surrounding region has grown more than 126% and now comprises about 16.5% of all residents. There are more than 8,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in the area, according to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Charlotte, resulting in an economic output of $12.9 billion annually.

The incursion by CBP agents into Charlotte triggered protests by angry residents and led to some businesses closing because of concerns over raids outside their doors.

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ROILING THE SENATE RACE

The raids have roiled the race to replace Republican Thom Tillis in the U.S. Senate. Former two-term Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is likely to face either Michael Whatley, a Trump-endorsed candidate and the former chair of the Republican National Committee, or Don Brown, a lawyer. Polls show Cooper in the lead.

Republicans say Cooper, while governor, pushed for North Carolina to become a sanctuary state, which typically have laws or policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Cooper in turn accused the Trump administration this week of randomly sweeping up people based on what they look like, including American citizens and those with no criminal records.

Republicans say the raids are mostly aimed at dangerous criminals. The people that they're picking up off the streets aren't just the typical people that you would be wanting to have living next door to you or in the carpool line at your child's school, said Kyle Kirby, the chair of the Republican Party in Charlotte. These are people, for the most part, which have perpetrated violent and dangerous crimes. Reuters was unable to verify the immigration status or criminal history of those detained.

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With the elections a year away it is not clear whether this week's raids will shift voters. But a poll conducted by the Carolina Journal, a nonpartisan publication that covers state government, this month found that the percentage of residents who view the state on the wrong track has risen 20 points in the 12 months since Trump was elected.

Donald Bryson, the publisher of Carolina Journal, said the border security focus could benefit Republicans, who tend to place a higher priority on the issue than Democrats. But another local pollster, Michael Bitzer of Catawba College, said the issue could also animate Democrats concerned that the Trump administration is trying to intimidate Hispanic voters.

While the immigration raids have caused tensions locally, the battle lines for the fight were drawn in July, when the Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature passed a measure mandating that county sheriffs cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Democrats resisted the bill, and the states Democratic governor, Josh Stein, vetoed it.

Republicans cast it as a referendum on public safety and voted to override Steins veto. The state House Republican Caucus launched an ad campaign against vulnerable Democrats in the legislature up for reelection next year citing their vote against the measure. The targeted lawmakers lacked the courage to stand up to criminal illegal immigrants, the ads said.

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Democrats plan to fight back in the coming months by arguing the Trump administration is overreaching.

"We'll have a Democratic voice in every community talking about what the federal government is doing to harm them," said Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

(Reporting by James Oliphant in Washington and Aleksandra Michalska in Charlotte, editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell)
The Department of Homeland Securitys Charlottes Web operation resulted in 370 arrests over five days, according to the latest numbers from the agency.

READ MORE: DHS: Operation Charlottes Web not ending as local leaders say agents left town

The operation took place in Charlotte and involved federal law enforcement actions aimed at addressing criminal activities in the area. Despite local reports suggesting otherwise, DHS maintains that the operation will continue into the future.

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Jason Houser, a former Chief of Staff for ICE during the Biden administration, criticized the operation, stating that it did more harm than good.

He argued that the real criminals are engaged in human smuggling and drug trafficking at the border, not those going about everyday activities in central North Carolina.

In contrast, the North Carolina GOP supports the operation, viewing it as an important step after years of tension between federal authorities and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.

We applaud our federal law enforcement actions in Charlotte, said Jason Simmons, NCGOP chairman.

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The operation has sparked debate among local and federal officials.

While DHS claims the operation will continue, there is uncertainty about the backgrounds of those arrested and the specific impact of the operation.

Local law enforcement previously indicated that Border Patrol had left Charlotte, but DHS refutes this claim, insisting that federal efforts are ongoing.

The operation comes after years of clashes between federal authorities and local law enforcement, particularly with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, who has been criticized by the North Carolina GOP for his refusal to cooperate with federal detainers.

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The Charlottes Web operation has highlighted differing perspectives on immigration enforcement in North Carolina, with federal authorities and local officials at odds over its execution and impact.

As DHS continues its efforts, the debate over the operations effectiveness and necessity remains a contentious issue.

VIDEO: Victim wants suspect arrested as Border Patrol agents hunt repeat offenders
           

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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  The Chesapeake NAACP and the Virginia State Conference NAACP are weighing in after a fight in a Chesapeake restaurant and the subsequent fallout that has made national news, saying discriminatory actions took place there.

Nine women allege discrimination at Chesapeake steakhouse

10 On Your Side, which broke the news earlier this week, went to the home of the owners of Cork and Bull Chophouse, and they declined to comment on the recent controversy. Meanwhile, the Virginia NAACP is calling for accountability.

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There probably should be a swift statement of, this is not our policy, this is not what we do, this is not what we stand for, and the fact that that hasnt come yet and here we are almost two weeks after the event, is a bit disturbing, said NAACP Virginia State Conference President Rev. Cozy Bailey.

The NAACP Virginia State Conference, along with the Chesapeake branch of the NAACP, released the below joint statement on whats been called discrimination at Cork and Bull Chop House earlier this month:

The NAACP Virginia State Conference and NAACP Chesapeake Branch stand united in our condemnation of the discriminatory actions that took place at Cork and Bull Chophouse on November 6, 2025. The treatment of nine Black women, who were unjustly asked to leave the restaurant after a fight that did not involve them, highlights ongoing issues of racial bias and discrimination in our community.

This incident is a painful reminder that racism remains embedded in our daily lives. It is unacceptable for anyone to be judged or mistreated based solely on the color of their skin, stated Rev. Cozy Bailey, President of the NAACP Virginia State Conference. We must hold establishments accountable when they perpetuate racial stereotypes, and we call on the community to stand in solidarity with these women and demand justice.

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We urge the management of Cork and Bull to reflect on this incident and take steps to ensure that all patrons are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race. Together, we will continue to fight against discrimination and work towards a more equitable society for all.

The incident happened in early November when a group of nine women say they were dining at the restaurant when 2 guests at a table across the room began fighting. Those 2 guests appeared to be African-American. the 9 women told me Monday that after the brawl, a manager at the restaurant told them they had to go too.

He responded by saying because you all like to fight, Shakoya Holt said.

The women told 10 On Your Side they felt humiliated, saying they were not involved in that fight. Bailey said what happened is shocking.

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Appalled, frustrated, disgusted but unfortunately not surprised, that this kind of behavior still exists, Bailey said.

The womens lawyer agrees.

.

I hope that this restaurant takes this matter very seriously, lawyer Joyvan Malbon-Griffin said.

We will continue to push for the principles to eliminate race based discrimination, Bailey said.

The nine women still plan to move forward with further legal action.

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 WAVY.com.
CNNs Abby Phillip shut down a MAGA commentator during a fiery on-air showdown, accusing him of distorting the contents of a video released by Democratic lawmakers about military conduct.

The blowup between GOP podcaster and radio host Ben Ferguson and Phillip unfolded Thursday night on NewsNight with Abby Phillip as the panel dissected President Donald Trumps furious tirade on Truth Social that Democrats had engaged in seditious behavior. He labeled the group traitors whose crime should be punishable by death.

Trump exploded in a furious tirade on social media over the video released by six Democratic lawmakers. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Trumps outburst came after the six lawmakersSens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly and Reps. Chris DeLuzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crowreleased a video reminding service members they can, and indeed must, refuse unlawful commands.

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The controversy comes at a time of rising political tensions, fueled by the killings of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and a Democratic state lawmaker in Minnesotaand prompted warnings that Trumps tirade would put the lawmakers lives at risk.

Ferguson repeatedly claimed during the segment that the Democratic lawmakers had told U.S. service members and the intelligence community directly to defy orders given by the president.

We wouldnt be having this conversation right now if it wasnt for a ridiculous video that was put out by Democrats telling people in uniform to defy the president of the United States of America, the conservative pundit said.

Phillip hit back: Ben, we just laid out that the video says you should not follow illegal orders. Do you think that members of the military should follow illegal orders?

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Ferguson immediately reframed the issue: I think its pretty clear that this was an obvious video that was put out without any issue around it, saying, if you dont like what the presidents doing

Phillip cut him off, saying, Thats literally not what it said.

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona is one of the six Democratic lawmakers who enraged President Donald Trump this week. / Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Ferguson then accused Kelly of attacking Trump by telling people in the military to not obey the president of the United States of America.

Phillip shut the pundit down. Hold on a second, she began. We just played for people at home exactly what the video says. You cant then sit here and lie about that same video. That doesnt work.

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The host added: The video did not say that they should defy the orders of the president. It said that you cannot follow illegal ordersthats in the military code of justice.

Trump responded to the lawmakers video with a flurry of furious posts on Truth Social on Thursday, blasting the group for what he called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

He went on to declare, Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. An example MUST BE SET.

In another post, he asked, LOCK THEM UP??? and later shared another post which said: HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

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The six Democrats later released a joint statement defending their position, saying, No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar has condemned the announcement that U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan will be speaking at the University of Texas at El Paso.

"As a loving, welcoming community, the invitation of Tom Homan is contrary to the values most El Pasoans hold dear," Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a news statement. Homan has been one of the chief architects of the Trump administrations cruel, hardline mass deportation tactics. Despite promises to go after the worst of the worst, their efforts have done little but terrorize families, including mixed-status families, households with immigrants who have been in the country for decades, parents of U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens themselves."

Homan was invited to speak on Dec. 4 by the UTEP branch of Turning Points USA. He is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. in the Undergraduate Learning Center.

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The border czar was previously in El Paso alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in February 2025.

Protests are being planned in response to his visit.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Border Czar Tom Homan, at right, speak to the media during a visit to the southern border in Sunland Park, New Mexico on Feb. 3, 2025.

More: Migrant caravans served as a lifeline, U.S. policy shut them down prior to Trump's re-election

Escobar, who received her bachelor's degree from UTEP, has criticized the university' President, Heather Wilson, for the loss of a National Science Foundation aerospace grant. The initial grant was worth $15 million, and had the potential to increase to potential of growing to $160 million over 10 years.

The border czar's visit is especially concerning for Escobar after an event with her and representatives from President Joe Biden's administration to celebrate the university receiving a National Science Foundation grant in 2024 was deemed too "political." The event was held during an election season and was ultimately canceled.

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More: 'Listen to them': Pope Leo backs US bishops message against Trump's immigration crackdown

She expressed her disappointment that Homan was invited because of the hostile language he has used against immigrants.

"While I believe in productive debate and genuine conversation," Escobar said in her statement, "Im disappointed and ashamed that the leadership at UTEP is amplifying someone who is actively engaged in demonizing many of those who attend UTEP, like DREAMERs, individuals in mixed-status families and first generation Americans, all of whom have long considered UTEP to be a safe place."

She warned, "Attendees should expect a white-washed, ugly rewriting of recent history."

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Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@usatodayco.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US Rep. Veronica Escobar blasts Trump's border czar's visit to UTEP
AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

Prominent supporters of President Donald Trump demanded answers on Thursday after it was revealed that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee had held a secret meeting in Jerusalem with Jonathan Pollard, a convicted spy who sold American secrets to Israel.

Reacting to news of the July rendezvous, which reportedly raised concerns at the CIA, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said, This is shocking behavior from a United States ambassador. Is Huckabee going to explain it?

This is shocking behavior from a United States ambassador. Is Huckabee going to explain it? https://t.co/HBYczZvXp4  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 21, 2025

Sure, this seems normal and healthy https://t.co/Bubd0OKYIH  Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) November 20, 2025

Immediately Recall Ambassador Huckabee, He is Out of Control, reacted former White House chief strategist and Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon.

Immediately Recall Ambassador Huckabee, He is Out of Control https://t.co/wDUURpCw02 pic.twitter.com/4TnndxFwBa  Grace Chong, MBI (@gc22gc) November 20, 2025

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Jonathan Pollard is a convicted traitor to the United States and Mike Huckabee welcomed him into the US Embassy https://t.co/y9xExbLuh3  Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) November 20, 2025

Mike Huckabee should be fired for this https://t.co/VL7UgugvRt  Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) November 20, 2025

There is no universe where its appropriate for Mike Huckabee, who is supposed to be OUR AMBASSADOR and serve our countrys interest, is meeting with Jonathan Pollard, who to this day encourages spying on the U.S., protested Mike Cernovich, who called for an investigation into the meeting.

There is no universe where it's appropriate for Mike Huckabee, who is supposed to be OUR AMBASSADOR and serve our country's interest, is meeting with Jonathan Pollard, who to this day encourages spying on the U.S.https://t.co/XUjpDrqWUT  Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 20, 2025

It's even worse than that. Pollard viciously insulted President Trump. It was President Trump's DOJ that allowed Pollard to make Aliyah in 2020 by declining to continue his parole restrictions. pic.twitter.com/Zeess3S5rJ  Douglass Mackey (@DougMackeyCase) November 20, 2025

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This is the kind of crap Jonathan Pollard did pic.twitter.com/smiQfaMrtS  Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) November 21, 2025

The meeting was also condemned by several Democrats, including Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and former Obama White House staffer Tommy Vietor.

Jonathan Pollard is a convicted traitor who provided highly sensitive national security information to the Israeli government. He did grave harm to our country. He has never shown a degree of remorse for his crimes. Its unacceptable that Ambassador Huckabee secretly met with pic.twitter.com/WgscBzxWhs  Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) November 20, 2025

Why on earth would @GovMikeHuckabee welcome a traitor like Jonathan Pollard into the US embassy? https://t.co/Pnu6pznqsi  Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) November 20, 2025

Jonathan Pollard is a convicted traitor who provided highly sensitive national security information to the Israeli government. He did grave harm to our country. He has never shown a degree of remorse for his crimes, declared Castro. Its unacceptable that Ambassador Huckabee secretly met with Mr. Pollard, a convicted traitor, at the United States Embassy.

Huckabees secret meeting with Pollard at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was revealed by the New York Times on Thursday  four months after the rendezvous took place.

Pollard confirmed the friendly meeting in an interview with the newspaper and said that a lot of things that came up in conversation.

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Pollard also attacked President Trump, calling him a madman who has literally sold us down the drain, for Saudi gold.

Three unnamed officials told the Times that the meeting alarmed the Central Intelligence Agencys station chief in Israel. The White House was also reportedly unaware of the meeting in advance.

The former U.S. intelligence analyst was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 after he was found guilty of selling American secrets to the state of Israel.

After being released from prison in 2015, Pollard moved to Israel in 2020  flying on a private jet owned by top Trump donor Sheldon Adelson. In Tel Aviv, Pollard was given a heros welcome by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The post He Is Out of Control: MAGA Demands Answers After Trump Ambassador Mike Huckabee Covertly Meets With Spy Who Sold American Secrets first appeared on Mediaite.
Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A draft agreement between nearly 200 countries at the COP30 conference to address climate change does not mention fossil fuels, which are the largest contributor to the problem.

The first version of the draft, released earlier this week included a roadmap for the "transition away from fossil fuels," but the final draft published Friday does not include the road map, let alone the term "fossil fuels."

COP30 is a meeting of United Nations countries, held this year in Belem, Brazil, to discuss how to address global climate change and formulate a plan to stop, or at least mitigate, its effects.

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According to the BBC, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern, as well as Russia and India, countries whose economies depend on either the sale or significant use of fossil fuels, are blocking a deal on reducing their use.

Some countries opposed to fossil fuel section threatened to walk out of the talks, which have been going on for two weeks.

Brazil, Britain and at least 27 other countries sent a letter to the COP30 president, a Brazilian official, threatening to block any final deal that does not include a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, The Guardian reported.

"We express deep concern regarding the current proposal under consideration for a take it or leave it," the letter said. "We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels."

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At COP28 in Dubai in 2023, leaders reached a deal to transition away from the use of fossil fuels, a key step toward implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement, which U.S. President Donald Trump has twice pulled the United States out of.

Although the deal did not call for phasing out use of all fossil fuels, but rather rapid, sustained cuts in greenhouse gas emission over the course of a slow turn from them in order to reach net zero by 2050.

The deal, however, did not include a timeline or methods for how the goal was going to be achieved.

Last year, at COP29, the commitment to work toward net zero emissions failed to be reconfirmed.

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Frustration over the lack of a commitment to start phasing out fossil fuels has grown, but the potential for a deal exists, Catherine Abreu, director of the International Climate Politics Hub, told The Guardian.

"It's clear that a growing group won't leave Belem without an ambitious package deal," Abreu said. "The question is whether the Brazil presidency will choose to listen to them, with time running out [on the meeting."
Nov. 21As corporate ownership of residential property across the country rises nationwide, researchers from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Center for Geospatial Solutions, which is housed at the institute, warn this rising trend has complicated the housing market for first-time buyers.

According to a joint "Who Owns America" report, nearly 9% of residential parcels in 500 U.S. counties are owned by a corporation. The concentrations exceed 20% in some cities, including St. Louis, Missouri; Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Franklin, Ohio.

Researchers told Stateline they define "corporate ownership" as any rental property held under a formal business entity, whether a single-property LLC or large institutional investors such as Blackstone. They also track three factors: whether the owner is a business entity, whether it is based in- or out-of-state, and the size of its housing portfolio.

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Roughly 2% of residential lots are owned by out-of-state investors. Investors have shifted their capital to older industrial metros such as St. Louis, along with Buffalo, New York, and Akron and Toledo in Ohio, where rents are rising and vacancy rates are extremely tight.

Although corporate owners currently hold a modest share of all residential parcels nationwide, their footprint is expanding steadily, said Reina Chano Murray, associate director at the Center for Geospatial Solutions.

"Corporate ownership may look small on paper, around nearly 9% across the counties we studied, but that share is steadily increasing," said Chano Murray. "Even if corporate owners don't make up a huge percentage right now, the trend line is clear. They're growing."

This past year, states took a major step in attempting to use legislation to rein in corporate ownership of rental homes. According to an August report by the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, lawmakers in 22 states have introduced such legislation in 2025, including in California, New York and Texas. Cities in Indiana have capped the percentage of single family homes that can be rented in a neighborhood.

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AEI, however, believes the issue of corporate land ownership is a "narrative [that] is not supported by empirical evidence," highlighting that less than 1% of institutional investorship is in residential property, according to its report.

Earlier this year, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, proposed a 75-day moratorium on institutional or corporate investors buying single- and two-family homes to disincentivize those groups from buying up housing stock at the cost of individual buyers.

Washington state lawmakers have floated caps on how many units a single investor may own. In 2024, Colorado enacted a law that gave cities a right of first refusal on some multifamily property sales. Locally, some redevelopment authorities in Cincinnati and Minneapolis are using their own capital to compete, by directly acquiring and preserving single-family homes for low- and moderate-income buyers.

The impact of corporate residential ownership, researchers at the Lincoln Institute say, is most severe for first-time buyers, who are increasingly outbid by cash offers from well-endowed investors.

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"For first-time homebuyers, it's a double whammy. Units are being removed from the marketplace, and investor competition is driving up prices," said George McCarthy, president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute. "Cash-only transactions make up nearly a third of single-family sales this year, and those aren't families with briefcases full of cash."

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at [email protected].

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A north suburban man and city clerk has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to child pornography and grooming charges.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office said Nicholas S. Kachiroubas, 45, of Crystal Lake was arrested last summer.

He was being investigated by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children and was accused of grooming children and possessing child pornography.

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Authorities said they found that Kachiroubas was having explicit conversations with children as young as 12 on social media. They say he had pictures of child porn and also shared pictures of himself. He negotiated a plea earlier this year.

Kachiroubas pleaded guilty earlier this month. A judge expected to sentence him to five years in prison on Thursday.

ABC7 Chicago news partner the Daily Herald reported that Kachiroubas had been the city clerk for Crystal Lake since 2009.

He also sits on the Illinois Community College Board, and is an associate professor for DePaul University. The university told ABC7 that Kachiroubas no longer works at DePaul.


The man accused of dousing a woman in gasoline and setting her on fire on a CTA train will stay behind bars.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally ordered Lawrence Reed to remain in custody until his next court hearing, saying he poses a danger to the community.

Reed once again Friday declined legal counsel and decided to represent himself.

He paged through photos of evidence Friday from CTA security footage, allegedly committing the crime on a CTA Blue Line train Monday night.

Reed is accused of dousing a 26-year-old woman with a bottle of gasoline he filled up at a gas station 20 minutes prior and setting her on fire.

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The victim was sitting alone, looking at her phone, when she was attacked at random.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Bond says the woman tried to get away but was cornered by Reed at the end of the train and set on fire again. While in police custody, Bond says Reed yelled, 'Burn b****' and 'Burn alive b****'"

She is still being treated at a hospital for severe burns.

Reed, meanwhile, has a lengthy criminal record, with at least 14 criminal cases in Cook County, records show. He has 72 arrests, 15 since 2016, eight felony convictions, seven misdemeanors, spending 32 years in and out of the criminal justice system, prosecutors say. The dozens of arrests came with a long list of mug shots for crimes ranging from driving on a suspended license to battery. In 2020, he was sentenced to mental health probation for also setting a fire outside the Thompson Center.

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Now he's charged with committing an act of terrorism on a mass transportation system. If convicted of the crime, it's a charge that has never been applied in Chicago and carries with it a possible life sentence.

"This is an absolute failure of our criminal justice and mental health institutions," Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

On Thursday, Mayor Johnson called the case an isolated incident on the CTA, but certainly not an isolated case of crime for Reed, given his lengthy record.

Prior to the Blue Line arrest, Reed was arrested in August for attacking a social worker at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, while Reed was at psychiatric patient. A Cook County judge released him on electronic monitor under strong objections from the State's Attorney's office. The Safe-T Act gives judges that discretion.

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"It is the judgment of those elected judges that ultimately determine in most cases whether somebody is released or not," Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said.

Requesting detainment Friday, federal prosecutors said Reed has been given too many chances.

Defending himself, Reed also asked to be detained. He told Judge McNally he doesn't feel safe out in the public, before asking her to making sure he gets to eat in custody.

Cook County Health shared the following statement from the victim's family with ABC7 Thursday evening:

"We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes as our daughter receives care for injuries sustained earlier this week. We are also grateful for the excellent care and support of the burn team at Stroger Hospital. We will not be providing updates at this time, and ask for her - and our - privacy as we focus our attention on her and her recovery. Thank you."
Torrential rains and landslides have killed at least 43 people in Vietnam since last weekend, authorities said on Friday.

Nine others remain missing, the country's disaster management agency said.

Nearly 70,000 houses are still flooded, forcing thousands to evacuate. Many residents fled the rising waters by climbing onto their roofs.

Tens of thousands of animals have also died in the floods. Local media described the situation as "historic flooding."

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The worst-hit areas include the city of Quy Nhon, the popular coastal resort of Nha Trang and other parts of central Vietnam.

Many roads were blocked by fallen rocks and landslides, disrupting traffic. Authorities and relatives have received hundreds of calls for help from affected communities.

Meteorologists forecast further rainfall over the weekend.

On Sunday evening, a tour bus in the region was struck by a landslide and buried under earth and boulders. Six people were killed in the accident and 19 others were injured.

Earlier this month, dozens of people were already killed when heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in central Vietnam.

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Particularly affected were the tourist hotspots Hue and Hoi An, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In recent days, the picturesque town of Hoi An, famous for its lantern-lit streets, was flooded once again.
An Ohio woman died after being attacked by a deer in a pen at her home.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Belmont County Sheriffs Office responded to a home in Stewartsville regarding a reported animal attack on the evening of November 15, according to a sheriffs office release obtained by Lede News.

TRENDING STORIES:

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When deputies got to the scene, family members said 64-year-old Jodi Proger was trapped inside an enclosure with a male deer that was being kept at her home. The deer had become aggressive and appeared to have attacked Proger.

Family told deputies that they tried to reach her and even tried to kill the deer before they got to the scene, WTRF in Wheeling, West Virginia, reported.

Deputies shot the deer, and first responders were then able to reach Proger.

Proger died from her injuries at the scene.

No foul play is suspected.

An obituary for Proger stated she devoted the last 12 years of her life rescuing injured deer.

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The sheriffs office told media outlets that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was notified and is working with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

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COMPANY NEWS: Rapid7 announced the launch of Curated Intelligence Rules for AWS Network Firewall to deliver industry-leading, curated threat intelligence directly into customers native AWS environments. This new offering empowers organisations to scale their cloud defences effortlessly and reduce the significant operational overhead associated with managing network security rules.

Managing and manually updating firewall rules to keep pace with evolving threat actors is a resource-intensive task that often leaves security teams with coverage gaps. Rapid7 converts curated intelligence on relevant Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) from Rapid7 Labs into high-quality rule groups, delivering expert-vetted threat intelligence directly within an organisation's AWS environment. By providing this intelligence directly into AWS Network Firewall, Rapid7 Curated Intelligence Rules removes these coverage gaps, enabling immediate, high-quality protection against real-world threats.

Integrating our Curated Intelligence Rules directly with AWS Network Firewall transforms world-class threat intelligence into instant, actionable protection. Customers can now deploy defence backed by Rapid7 Labs research with just a few clicks, ensuring their security scales as dynamically as their AWS environment, said Craig Adams, chief product officer at Rapid7. This is game changing for security teams dealing with the complexity associated with a proliferation of manual rule creation and maintenance.

Harnessing industry-leading threat intelligence

Rapid7s approach to Curated Intelligence Rules is built on three core principles:

Focus on quality over quantity: Rules emphasise meaningful, low-noise detection directly aligned with current, real-world threats, significantly reducing alert fatigue.

Rules emphasise meaningful, low-noise detection directly aligned with current, real-world threats, significantly reducing alert fatigue. Curated global intelligence: Rule sets are powered by high-quality, region-specific data from unique sources, providing unparalleled visibility and context for actionable detections.

Rule sets are powered by high-quality, region-specific data from unique sources, providing unparalleled visibility and context for actionable detections. Dynamic and self-cleaning rule sets: Threat intelligence is not static. Using Rapid7s proprietary Decay Scoring system, rules are automatically retired when an IOC passes a certain threshold, ensuring the delivered intelligence is always fresh, relevant, and current.

The operational advantage

Rapid7 Curated Intelligence Rules for AWS Network Firewall deliver immediate and tangible value, allowing security teams to achieve a significant operational advantage:

Automate threat protection: Reduce overhead with continuously updated, curated detections delivered natively within AWS Network Firewall.

Reduce overhead with continuously updated, curated detections delivered natively within AWS Network Firewall. Adopt protections faster: Deploy protections backed by industry-leading threat intelligence from Rapid7 Labs with just a few clicks in the AWS console.

Deploy protections backed by industry-leading threat intelligence from Rapid7 Labs with just a few clicks in the AWS console. Maintain predictable operations: Benefit from AWS-validated updates, transparent per-GB metering, and clear rule-group metadata.

These rule sets provide practical defence against a wide range of attack scenarios, including blocking command and control (C2) communication from known ransomware families, detecting network reconnaissance activity, preventing data exfiltration, and identifying traffic to malicious domains used in phishing campaigns.

The curated intelligence that powers Rapid7 Curated Intelligence Rules is derived from ingestion sources that are unique to Rapid7, such as honeypot data and proprietary research, as well as insights from Rapid7s open-source initiatives and research communities. These include Metasploit, AttackerKB, and other global communities that make Rapid7s reach into understanding the threatscape both broader and deeper. Expertly crafted machine learning (ML) models combined with manual verification from the Rapid7 Labs team provide additional layers of validation.

In todays cloud environments, the sheer velocity of new threat campaigns demands more than volume-based threat feeds. It demands curated, high-fidelity intelligence. With Rapid7 Curated Intelligence Rules for AWS Network Firewall, were cutting through the noise to give security teams the clarity and confidence they need to focus on what truly matters, said Raj Samani, chief scientist at Rapid7. Our curated, continuously refined intelligence empowers defenders to disrupt adversaries faster and maintain protection that evolves as dynamically as the threats themselves."

This new integration comes at a time when cybercriminals are accelerating the pace of vulnerability exploitation following disclosure. Rapid7s recent Q3 Threat Landscape Report identified a significant number of threat actor campaigns exploiting software vulnerabilities. Integrated threat intelligence is a crucial component in successfully warding off such attacks.

Learn more about Rapid7 in AWS Marketplace here.
Several Democrats accused by President Donald Trump of "seditious behavior" defended their message to military members that they can refuse illegal order. The president and administration officials suggested the action could be punishable by law.

The video featuring six Democrats who served in the military or in the intelligence community set off more than a dozen social media posts by Trump, who called them "traitors" and said their action could be "punishable by death."

"I think it's important to say that there is nothing more American than standing up for the Constitution, that's what we were doing. President didn't like it, so now he calls for us to be hanged," Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly said on CNN's "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" on Thursday night.

Annabelle Gordon/Reuters - PHOTO: Sen Mark Kelly speaks at a press conference calling for the release of the Epstein files, on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 18, 2025.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, on MS NOW, said the message to military members was "chapter and verse" from the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

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"I think his reaction is just characteristic of a political system that no one is proud of right now," she said.

Trump calls Dems video to service members 'seditious behavior, punishable by death

The president, appearing on "The Brian Kilmeade Show" on Friday, continued to lash out at the lawmakers.

"These are bad people. These are people that, in my opinion, broke the law. Now, what happens to them? I can't tell you, but they broke the law," Trump said.

But after some bipartisan backlash to his comments about the death penalty, Trump softened somewhat.

"I'm not threatening death, but I think they're in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death  That was seditious behavior, that was a big deal. You know, nothings a big deal, todays a different world," he said.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office of the White House, November 18, 2025 in Washington.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday was forced to clarify to reporters on Thursday that "no," Trump does not want to execute members of Congress.

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But Leavitt called the video by Democrats "dangerous," and falsely characterized Democrats of encouraging military members "to defy the president's lawful orders."

"It perhaps is punishable by law. I'm not a lawyer. I'll leave that to the Department of Justice and the Department of War to decide," Leavitt said.

Evan Vucci/AP - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, November 20, 2025.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in an appearance on "Hannity" on Fox News on Wednesday, said he wanted to know why the lawmakers released the video.

"What is the reason that they all went on a video and encouraged young men and women to defy court orders without even giving a hint of what's illegal, without even giving any suggestion of what law or what order they're being asked to violate. You cannot do that in this country, especially if you're a leader," Blanche said.

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What the military oath of enlistment says about legal and illegal orders

"So what does the investigation look like? I think they should be held to account. I think that those congressmen should be required to answer questions and to answer questions about why they did what they did. And the American people deserve that, and so does President Trump," he added.

When pressed if an investigation was underway, the deputy attorney general responded: "Look, we don't, Sean, you know we don't talk about investigations."

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a news conference at the Justice Department on November 19, 2025 in Washington.

In the video, which was released on Tuesday, none of the Democrats mentioned any specific illegal orders given to service members. Its not clear whether service members have been asked to break the law.

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Both Kelly and Slotkin, when asked why they felt the need to share the video message, pointed to recent administration actions that have raised legal challenges, including lethal strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin America and the deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities.

"He has talked about sending troops into more U.S. cities, he's talked about invoking the Insurrection Act," Kelly told CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"All of us had been getting outrage from folks in uniform, folks in the intelligence community saying like, 'Hey, we're really concerned,'" Slotkin said on MS NOW. "'You know, I'm being deployed to a city or, you know, inside the United States, or I'm being asked to conduct strikes in the Mediterranean. And I don't understand ... like how this is legal?'"

Slotkin corrected that she meant strikes in the Caribbean Sea, where dozens of people have been killed in strikes the administration says is part of its "war" against drug cartels in the region.

Arin Yoon/Reuters - PHOTO: Sen Elissa Slotkin speaks during a VoteVets town hall in Overland Park, Kansas, November 12, 2025.

The administration has defended the legality of the boat strikes and the use of National Guard troops in American cities, including Washington and Los Angeles.

"They're suggesting ... that the president has given illegal orders, which he has not. Every single order that is given to this United States military by this commander in chief and through this chain of command, through the secretary of war, is lawful," Leavitt said on Thursday.
The Democrats whom President Donald Trump called traitors and threatened with the death penalty on Truth Social blasted his rhetoric as incitement to murder and political violence, saying it is instead a time for moral clarity.

Trump took to social media Thursday and reprimanded the group, Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), along with Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), over a Tuesday PSA that urged U.S. troops to be wary of following any illegal orders that may come out of the White House. The Democrats, who are all veterans themselves, released the video and drew immediate ire from the president.

We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, the group of congressional Democrats said in a joint statement on Thursday after Trump said their video was punishable by death. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.

In the second half of their message, the politicians pointed out Trumps call for violence.

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Whats most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law, the message reads. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.

It continued: But this isnt about any one of us. This isnt about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the Presidents calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity. In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.

Their Tuesday warning statement sent Trump spiraling on his Truth Social page on Thursday where he pulled no punches on what he thought should happen to the left-wing leaders.

This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country, Trump said in a series of posts. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? President DJT.

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In a third post, he wrote: SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

On Thursday, Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly defended Trumps remarks and said the Democrats were behaving wildly inappropriate.

That is a factual statement, Johnson said, mentioning that he didnt see all of Trumps comments. For a senator like Mark Kelly or any member of the House or Senate to behave in that kind of talks is to me so just beyond the pale.

The post Democrats Trump Threatened With Death Penalty Slam His Calls for Murder, Political Violence: Time for Moral Clarity appeared first on TheWrap.
One deputy died and another was hurt Friday morning in a shooting in Indian River County. A third person was shot and the suspect was also injured by gunfire, according to Sheriff Eric Flowers.

1 p.m. update:

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers released the following details at a noon news conference Friday:

Sheriff Flowers at press conference for Deputy killed, 2 others shot during attempted eviction in Vero Beach

A woman was in the process of evicting her son from a home at Bermuda Club, a gated community near Vero Beach.

Sheriff Eric Flowers said deputies were working to evict a man in Vero Beach when he opened fire on them.

Three deputies and a locksmith were in the entryway of the home.

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The homeowners son, Michael Halberstam, 33, who was facing eviction, went and got a gun from another part of the home, Flowers said.

Halberstam opened fire at struck two deputies, as well as the locksmith, the sheriff said.

The shooting victims included:

Deputy Terry Mashkow, age 47: Deceased . She served with the IRC Sheriffs Office for 25 years, having started as a dispatcher

Deputy Tino Arizpe: Shot in the shoulder; ran into garage after being shot, but will survive

Locksmith (name not released): Was also shot; at last report, was in surgery and listed in critical condition

Flowers said a third deputy who was on scene, was not hit by gunfire. He fired at the suspect, injuring him.

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Halberstam, at last report, was in surgery and in critical condition.

Flowers said the suspects criminal history included a 2006 narcotics charge & a 2015 assault (misdemeanor) charge, both out of the state of Virginia.

Sheriff Eric Flowers said deputies were working to evict a man in Vero Beach when he opened fire on them.

The sheriff said there have been seven calls to this residence on Governors Way within the past month  almost all made by the suspects mother

Flowers also said the suspect was fired from his job at UPS  and had also been posting negative comments on a social media account about the Indian River Sheriffs Office.

Flowers said investigators are also looking into whether gunfire by Mashkow struck the suspect. He added that Fridays shooting was only the second line-of-duty death at the Indian River Sheriffs Office in the past 100 years.

Sheriff Eric Flowers said deputies were working to evict a man in Vero Beach when he opened fire on them.

Original story:

A deputy has been shot and killed in Indian River County, according to the mayor of Vero Beach.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis, in an unrelated news conference from Crystal River, said two other members of law enforcement were hurt in the Friday morning shooting.

Channel 9 has learned it happened at Bermuda Club, a gated community off Highway A1A near Vero Beach.

Indian River County deputies were reportedly attempting to serve an eviction notice at a residence.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey told Channel 9 that several Brevard County deputies are on their way to assist.

WFTVs Melonie Holt is also on the way to this breaking story.

Check back here for regular updates and watch Eyewitness News beginning at noon for the latest details.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The Department of Justice has abruptly moved to dismiss the indictment against two people accused last month of "ambushing" federal agents conducting an immigration sweep in Chicago, including a woman who was shot five times in the incident.

The government filed a motion on Thursday asking a federal judge to "dismiss the indictment and exonerate" Marimar Martinez and Anthony Santos Ruiz, who were involved in a collision, near 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood on Oct. 4.

The case was dismissed Thursday afternoon, with prejudice, at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

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The incident set off street protests on Chicago's Southwest Side.

RELATED: Repairs may have been made to SUV CBP agent drove to Maine after alleged Brighton Park car-ramming

Martinez's attorney, Christopher Parente, told ABC News on Thursday that he and his clients are relieved by the government's decision.

"We appreciate the U.S. attorney being thoughtful in agreeing to dismiss this," Parente said.

A Customs and Border Protection agent shot Martinez after a convoy allegedly tried to box in federal agents.

Martinez and Santos Ruiz faced multiple federal charges that could have landed them behind bars for up to 20 years.

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The decision to drop the case was a dramatic reversal, and it comes amid questions about the actions of one of the agents involved in the encounter.

READ MORE: Former judges concerned over Trump admin. plan to install military attorneys as immigration judges

Defense attorneys argued the agent who shot Martinez was responsible for the crash, not the other way around. And earlier this month under questioning, that agent acknowledged he drove his damaged vehicle to the East Coast before defense attorneys could inspect it. He was also confronted with group text messages in which he appeared to brag about the shooting.

After the judge dismissed the charges, Santos Ruiz left without comment. But Martinez, a day care worker, spoke to reporters.

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"It's been hard. Honestly, it's been hard, like I can't sleep, but now I'm going to go to sleep," Martinez said. "I just want to thank the judges, all the parents that supported me, everybody that supported me. I'm just grateful for everything."

"This was a bad shoot. It was a violation of CBP's policy. It was a bad shoot. They know it. It's going to come out eventually, but this is the first step, the dismissal of the indictment. That's what we were hired to do, and that's what we did," Parente said. "I mean, the reason this is dismissed is because the facts in those press releases were not true. This case was going to be a winner at trial regardless. These agents are in reports saying things that just are not true. So when you read the next press release, I mean, consider that."

SEE ALSO: Federal agents detain grandparents in Franklin Park, family says

Despite the DOJ dropping the charges, the Department of Homeland Security doubled down Thursday, maintaining that, "Border Patrol law enforcement officers were ambushed by domestic terrorists. ...Our law enforcement shows incredible restraint and prudence in their exercise of force."

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Martinez's attorney says authorities are holding on to his client's vehicle because it's subject to another investigation by another U.S. Attorney's Office, not involving his client. But gave no further details.

"As the United States Attorney has stated repeatedly in his public comments, the U.S. Attorney's Office is constantly evaluating new facts and information relating to cases and investigations arising out of Operation Midway Blitz, the largest ever law enforcement surge in the Northern District of Illinois. This continuous review process applies to all matters-whether charged or under investigation. It helps ensure that the interests of justice are served in each and every case, and that those cases that are charged are appropriately adjudicated through our federal court system," a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois said.

ABC News contributed to this report.
Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Justice Department has until 5 p.m. EST to submit a response to a federal judge in the case against former FBI Director James Comey regarding a potential indictment error.

Attorneys representing former FBI Director James Comey said there is no valid indictment against him after interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan testified in federal court and want the case dismissed.

The full grand jury that indicted Comey did not see the final indictment accusing him of lying to Congress, Halligan told U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia Judge Michael Nachmanoff on Wednesday, ABC News reported.

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She said the full grand jury did not see the final indictment that was signed by the grand jury's foreperson after the grand jury had rejected one of the counts filed against Comey.

Instead of presenting the updated indictment to the full grand jury, Halligan said it was only shown to one grand juror and the foreperson.

Halligan took the stand on Wednesday to address issues raised by Comey's defense team and judges involved in the case regarding its handling.

Her testimony suggests the grand jury did not approve all of the current charges against Comey, which could cause the case to collapse and end due to the five-year statute of limitations in the matter having expired.

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Several federal judges aired their concerns about the case and the grand jury record regarding the matter, according to The Hill.

Nachmanoff on Wednesday repeatedly asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons if the active indictment driving the case against Comey was seen only by part of the grand jury.

"Yes, that is my understanding," Lemons answered.

Nachmanoff afterward asked Halligan about the apparent discrepancy, to which she said the grand jury foreperson and another grand juror were in the magistrate's courtroom when the final transcript was presented.

One of Comey's attorneys, Michael Dreeben, subsequently argued "no indictment was returned" by the grand jury and said the case against Comey should be dismissed.

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Without a valid indictment, the five-year statute of limitations has expired in the matter, Dreeben argued.

Comey is accused of lying while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020, while it looked into the origins of the 2016 "Russian collusion" investigation that sought to tie President Donald Trump to Russian operatives during the 2016 election cycle.
The Downs Family prepares to shine its light on the Norman community for the 17th year in a row.

Weather permitting, we go live on Thanksgiving evening, Kimberli Downs said.

Though the family has always decorated, her husband, Chuck Downs, began setting up the larger-than-life Christmas display when he retired 17 years ago. What started as a family tradition has grown into a community gathering that sees over 20,000 cars per season.

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If you think about four people in each car, thats a hundred thousand people, she said. Weve had church buses, weve had semis.

The display began at their house, but when the neighboring property went up for sale, they bought it as well to expand their light display. There are over 30 acres for parking, so traffic should not be a problem, according to Downs.

The light show will run from 6 p.m. to midnight from Thanksgiving to Jan. 4, 2026. All donations go to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Guests are invited to tune to 99.9 FM when they park to watch the 45-minute show.

Downs said they encourage people to stay in their cars, as it is not a walk-through display.

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Every year, the Downs donate to the food bank, but this year the earlier federal government shutdowns effect on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits increases the need.

With the shutdown, the food bank has been wiped out, Downs said. We encourage people to donate, she said.

The display will stand at 2900 72nd Ave SE. Beginning Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, it will run throughout the night, every night, in 45-minute segments.

This time around, setting up has included fewer helpers than they thought they would have because of a loss of crew. Apart from the fewer crew members, their daughter has also been busy this year.

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Our daughter had a baby, she said.

Downs husband is setting up lights tirelessly, working even when he is sore, she said. Downs said the setup process this year has been staying on schedule despite a new challenge.

We added a new song, she said.

Their new song and light display, set to Jesus, Oh, What A Wonderful Child, required over 100 hours of programming, Downs said.

The light show includes holiday hits like Wizards in Winter by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but the full playlist is a surprise until the show begins, according to Downs.

She said they put on the show to celebrate Christ, and that through donations to the food bank, they want to promote the true spirit of Christmas.

The mega light-trees went up last week, Downs said, each towering above 85 feet tall.
A driver in North Carolina told emergency responders that a bald eagle dropped a cat that crashed through her windshield, police said.

The incident happened around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, North Carolina Highway Patrol said. The driver was not injured.

Highway patrol did not provide additional information.

A photo shared by officials showed the car's broken windshield with a massive hole.

A driver in North Carolina says her car windshield was smashed after a bald eagle dropped a cat it was carrying. / Credit: North Carolina Highway Patrol

In a 911 call, obtained by CBS News, the driver told the dispatcher that the cat probably did not survive.

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"OK, you may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield," the 911 call said, according to WLOS. "It absolutely shattered my windshield."

The driver told the dispatcher that another person also saw the cat drop, remarking, "He's like, 'That is the craziest thing I've ever seen.' I'm like, 'Really?'"

The dispatcher offered some assurance, saying, "Oh my goodness. Let's see. I've heard crazier."

"Well, that's terrifying," the caller said, to which the dispatcher replied with, "Yeah."

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Bald eagles are predatory birds that can stand up to 3 feet tall and have a wingspan stretching more than 8 feet. They weigh between 8 to 14 pounds and can typically carry things between 3 to 5 pounds. Bald eagles are native to North Carolina and most of North America.

Domestic cats are about 2 feet long and weigh between 5 to 20 pounds. While bald eagles can carry smaller cats, they are not a common prey for the bird.

In 2019, a large catfish crashed through a woman's windshield in North Carolina after reportedly getting dropped by a flying bird.

Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, told the Associated Press the cat dropped on the car could have been roadkill scavenged by the eagle.

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"But they can take animals the size of a cat," he said. "It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat. They usually don't prey on something they don't find palatable. And, scavenging is a common behavior in bald eagles."

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Earlier this week, drivers told Channel 2 Action News Investigates that yellow school bus warning lights dont stay on long enough to give them time to slow down, resulting in $1,000 fines.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln learned many drivers dont understand the court process, or why the fee cant be paid in installments.

Lincoln went to the Atlanta Municipal Court and sat in on one of these hearings.

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Inside, she saw driversand even their lawyersunclear about how to challenge these violations.

Week after week, more than 100 people fill Judge Terrinee Gundys courtroom.

Angela Tapia, 84, went to challenge her $1,000 school bus violation.

I said, Well, Im ready to go to jail or do community service, but now I learned you cannot do that because its a civil case, not a criminal case, Tapia said.

The former schoolteacher told Lincoln that she pays attention to stopped buses but believes the fine is unaffordable for most drivers.

I am all for the safety of my children, Tapia said. That is too much. Absolutely too much.

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Gundy said most drivers dont understand that these are civil cases.

With a criminal case, youre able to go on probation. Youre able to pay over time, Gundy said. But because its a civil case, we dont have those options.

MORE STORIES FROM 2 INVESTIGATES:

The options they do have are to accept liability and pay the $1,000 fine or contest it.

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David Wells did just that, telling the judge he was fined for a vehicle he doesnt own.

I was kind of surprised and shocked, and I knew I did not own a Toyota, Wells said.

His case was dismissed

Despite the mix-up, he supports the tougher penalties but said the technology needs to be more accurate.

His family member went to school with Adalynn Pierce, the 8-year-old whose death spurred the approval of Addys Law, which raised the fine for passing a stopped bus from $250 to $1,000.

I agree with that $1,000 because there have been children who have lost their lives, Wells said.

If a driver doesnt pay, they cannot renew their vehicle registration.

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In 2024, 58 tags were held statewide.

This year, more than 400 so far.

State Rep. Don Parsons said those numbers show drivers simply cant afford the fine.

A fine needs to get peoples attention, yes. But it shouldnt be so high that its impossible to pay, Parsons said.

Lawmakers say judges can use discretion to reduce fines, but it varies by courtroom.

Tapia said her reduction is still a hefty price to pay.

Even $500 is difficult, Tapia said.

The judges in the state of Georgia, we are ethically bound to follow the law, and we can only follow the laws that are passed by the legislature, Gundy said.

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Because this is a civil judgment, drivers wont face jail time, but they can lose their vehicle registration if they dont pay.

Parsons has proposed two bills: one creating a tiered fine system, and another giving judges more authority to adjust fine amounts.

Both go before lawmakers this session.,
Long-simmering tensions between President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz are boiling over, with White House allies convinced that the Texas Republican is aiming to boost his 2028 presidential prospects at the expense of Vice President JD Vance.

Cruz has raised hackles by positioning himself against Trump  and, by extension, Vance  on several key issues, three people with knowledge of the situation told NBC News.

Clearly everything Ted has been doing for the last year has been calculated with his eyes toward 2028, a person close to the White House said, assessing Cruzs motivations. The person, like others, was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

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Hes doing this dance where he wont say anything bad publicly about Trump or Vance specifically but hes doing things to position himself to the right, and hes not doing a good job concealing it, they added.

The irritation dates to the earliest days of Trumps second term, when Cruz unsuccessfully sought unilateral subpoena power in his role as chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The move would have given Cruz broad authority to bring administration officials and Big Tech executives friendly with Trump and Vance before his panel.

In recent months, Cruz has clashed with the Trump administration over free speech issues and with Tucker Carlson, the influential conservative commentator with close ties to Vance.

Three people granted anonymity to share details of private conversations say Cruz also opposed Vance and others who recommended Trumps recent renomination of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.

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White House frustrations with Cruz were first reported by NOTUS.

A Cruz spokesperson described the senator, who was runner-up to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, as the point of the spear for advancing Trumps agenda, noting among other initiatives Cruzs sponsorship of the No Tax on Tips Act.

For the past decade, Sen. Cruz has consistently been President Trumps strongest ally in the Senate, the spokesperson said. Sen. Cruz and President Trump are very good friends, and no amount of sniping from disgruntled anonymous staffers trying to score political points is going to change that.

White House spokespeople did not respond to a request to comment for this article. But Trump also characterized the relationship as friendly when asked about Cruzs 2028 prospects this week.

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I mean, I havent spoken to him, but its a little early, Trump told reporters Monday in the Oval Office, praising Cruz on the one hand while savoring his victory over him on the other. Hes a very good friend of mine. You remember, we had quite a campaign against Ted, and it worked out quite nicely. Lets see, where are we? Oh, were in the Oval Office.

For the moment, Trumps aides and allies are carrying the grudges for him.

Cruz, working through his staff, has consistently worked to stifle the administration, while claiming ignorance, a person close to the White House said.

This person added, channeling Trumps nickname of Cruz from the 2016 primaries: Once Lyin Ted, always Lyin Ted, and everyone sees his game.

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The unilateral subpoena issue really pissed people off in the White House, said another person close to the administration. Cruz also was among the early Republican critics of Trumps tariff policy.

Neither Cruz nor Vance has announced plans to run for president in 2028. Trump, who is constitutionally barred from serving a third term, has not endorsed a successor but has identified Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio  like Cruz, a vanquished 2016 rival  as potential heirs to his MAGA movement. Early polls of the prospective 2028 field peg Vance as the GOP front-runner. And Trump is sharing a modest but notable portion of his fundraising proceeds with him.

As Trumps vice president, Vance has been careful not to get too far and disloyally off script from Trump. Cruz, operating from outside the administration, has fewer political constraints. He is also a known advocate on free speech issues and a critic of Big Tech  long-held positions that have informed the fights he has picked with the administration.

Big Tech censorship poses a serious threat to free speech in the U.S., and my Committee has previously uncovered evidence of these platforms using vague terms of service agreements to silence conservative voices, Cruz said in July, when he reintroduced legislation targeting companies like Slack and Eventbrite.

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Cruzs pushback on the White House has escalated since September. He criticized Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr for threatening to police remarks that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk  and has scheduled an FCC oversight hearing for next month, with Carr as a witness.

Meanwhile, the Isaacman renomination has surfaced as a major tension point.

Cruz had favored keeping NASA under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been serving as the agencys acting administrator, the three people familiar with the nomination process said. White House officials were surprised and upset this week when Cruz scheduled a new confirmation hearing for Isaacman, these people added. Isaacman had a hearing in April, before Trump withdrew his nomination in the midst of a feud with Elon Musk, an Isaacman ally. The White House had expected he would move immediately to a confirmation vote.

Cruz has gone out of his way to throw a wrench in the process, which has pissed off the White House, one of the people familiar with the process said, adding that they believe the episode spoke to Cruzs desire to tangle with Vance.

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A person close to Isaacmans confirmation process blamed the delay on the unique situation of being nominated, having that nomination pulled by the White House, and then being nominated again, causing the process to reset.

Cruzs public attacks on Carlson have perhaps invited the most speculation about his 2028 intentions, given how the attacks have served to call attention to Vances relationship with the MAGA-friendly podcaster and former Fox News star.

In recent speeches to Jewish audiences, Cruz has warned of a rise in antisemitism on the political right and criticized Carlson for hosting on his show Nick Fuentes, an activist who has espoused white supremacist ideology and said he believes the Holocaust was exaggerated.

Sen. Cruz has not hesitated to call out antisemitism wherever it appears, including within his own party, Jason Wuliger, chair of public affairs for the Jewish Federations of North America, said when introducing the senator at an event the organization hosted this week. At a time when many of us in the Jewish community feel like the walls are closing in, with the rise of anti-Jewish hate increasing on both sides of the aisle, allies like Sen. Cruz have been in short supply, and he speaks up in impactful ways in influential places.

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Carlsons interview with Fuentes has become a flashpoint among Republicans balancing their support for free speech against their support for Israel. Vance, in an interview last year with CBS News, called Fuentes a total loser. Trump, who was criticized for dining with Fuentes in 2022, defended Carlson when speaking with reporters Sunday.

Weve had some great interviews with Tucker Carlson, but you cant tell him who to interview, Trump said.

Carlson, in a text message to NBC News, said he has found Cruzs focus on him to be hilarious.

Can you get elected president by running against a podcaster? Its amusing but mostly its revealing of the Republican donor class, which is feeding that buffoons ego, Carlson added. Pathetic. As for what happens in two years, God knows. Things are changing so fast, Im bewildered.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Millions of households will see a slight rise in energy prices at the height of winter, after regulator Ofgem outlined its next price cap.

The 0.2% increase from the current cap will take effect at the start of January, and affect those on variable tariffs in England, Wales and Scotland.

The rise was a surprise after forecasters suggested the cap may fall at the start of the year. Government policy is primarily behind the shift.

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Gas and electricity bills remain relatively high, and the sudden drop in temperature has brought the costs to the forefront of people's minds.

"While wholesale energy costs are stabilising, they still make up the largest portion of our bills which leaves us open to volatile prices," said Tim Jarvis, from Ofgem.

Rising electricity unit rates are behind the latest change, offset by a slight fall in gas rates. So, heavy users of electricity will see the biggest impact.

Prices will be slightly lower than the same period the previous year, but Mr Jarvis said the cap was a backstop and people could take action - such as shopping around for a fixed tariff - to reduce their bill.

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Ofgem said the price cap change was driven by government policy costs and operating costs, such as funding the Sizewell C nuclear project.

[BBC]

The cap sets the maximum price that can be charged for each unit of gas and electricity, not the total bill - so those who use more energy, pay more.

The Ofgem cap is illustrated with a household using a "typical" amount of 11,500 kWh of gas and 2,700 kWh of electricity a year with a single bill for gas and electricity, settled by direct debit.

This illustrative household would see a 3 rise in its annual bill from 1,755 to 1,758.

However, the amount used varies significantly between households, so the best way to calculate the change is to work out the percentage change from your own usual annual bill.

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Standing charges - the fixed costs that cover the cost of running the network as well as government levies - will rise by 2% for electricity and 3% for gas.

Dame Clare Moriarty from Citizens Advice said: "With bills still drastically higher than before the energy crisis, and due to rise again from April, it's high time for decisions about the longer term."

Liz Walker runs a community morning cafe and opens the doors earlier so people can come and stay warm, without having to put the heating on at home [BBC]

At St Nicholas Church in Maidstone, Kent, there is a community hub for parents and toddlers in one room, and a get together over tea and cake for the older generation in another.

Liz Walker, one of the organisers of the morning cafe, said small changes had helped everyone with the cost of energy.

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"We are into winter now and we open the doors earlier, as we have for the last three years, because it means some people won't have to put their heating on for the whole morning."

Debt worries

Charities say they are seeing people owing increasing levels of unpaid bills and charges to suppliers.

The total amount owed has reached a record 4.4bn, prompting plans from Ofgem to ensure energy companies write off some of that debt.

Up to 500m could be knocked off the total under plans that the regulator wants to take effect early next year.

Dhara Vyas, chief executive of Energy UK, which represents suppliers, said anyone facing difficulties paying should contact their energy provider as soon as possible.

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"We know that far too many people are struggling to pay for the energy they need to use," she said.

[BBC]

But she added that suppliers could help with efficient appliances, tailoring the tariff to customers' needs or ensuring people were on the correct benefits.

Energy consultancy Cornwall Insight, which had expected the cap to fall slightly, said Ofgem's announcement marked "the beginning of a potential trend" in which the primary driver of higher bills would be government policies as opposed to higher wholesale energy prices.

Principal consultant Dr Craig Lowrey said households faced bills rising further in April due to the costs of running the energy network and transitioning to net zero.

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But he added: "A low carbon system means more energy security and less exposure to the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices.

"These upfront costs represent an investment in stability and affordability for the long run, and that's a message we need to keep front and centre, while not ignoring the critical issue of immediate affordability for both households and businesses alike."

The government has hinted at extra cost-of-living support in the Budget on 26 November.

One option said to be under consideration is removing VAT from energy bills, which would cut approximately 80 from annual bills.

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Dr Lowrey said that any support would be "zero-sum" and simply "make energy bills look lower".

"These costs will still need to be recovered, whether through bills or through taxes, as the pipes, wires, and networks that keep the lights on still need investment as we move to a cleaner, more secure energy system," he added.

Energy Minister Martin McCluskey said: "We know that energy bills remain too high. That is why we are taking immediate action, with millions more families receiving 150 off their bills through the expanded Warm Home Discount scheme this winter."

But the Conservatives said Labour's net zero policies are "making energy unaffordable".

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Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said: "Ed Miliband promised to cut everyone's energy bills by 300 but more and more experts are sounding the alarm that his plans will lock us into paying higher bills for decades.

"Despite gas prices falling, independent experts, energy suppliers, and academics say it's the extra costs of Ed's Net Zero targets that are putting upward pressure on bills."

In the meantime, as the cold weather sets in, various tips are available to keep people warm while controlling costs, including clothing, insulation and heating rooms people are in rather than the whole home.
Infoblox, the leader in uniting networking, security and cloud with a protective DDI platform, today announced the launch of Infoblox AWS Marketplace managed rules for AWS Network Firewall. This new integration strengthens organisations cloud security posture with predictive, DNS-based threat intelligence natively within their existing Amazon Web Services (AWS) environments.

Infoblox managed rules deliver curated rule groups powered by Infobloxs DNS threat intelligence. These rules enable AWS Network Firewall to detect and block connections to malicious domains before they impact workloadsproviding preemptive protection at the enterprise edge.

Attackers are moving faster than ever, using automation and AI to bypass traditional security defences and compromise cloud workloads, said Mukesh Gupta, chief product officer, Infoblox. DNS is the most effective way to provide preemptive protection. With Infoblox managed rules, were empowering organisations to stop threats on average 68.4 days before other solutions even know they exist. The integration with AWS Network Firewall brings predictive, DNS-based threat intelligence to the perimeter, helping organisations deploy and operate workloads securely in a cloud native manner. Its a game changer for organisations looking to stay ahead of threats without adding complexity.

Key Benefits

Preemptive Protection at the Network Perimeter: Infoblox managed rules enable AWS Network Firewall to block malicious domains before they can connect to or impact workloadsproviding simple, native-to-AWS protection. Customers using Internal Infoblox threat feeds report a fivefold reduction in downstream alerts in their firewall systems.

Infoblox managed rules enable AWS Network Firewall to block malicious domains before they can connect to or impact workloadsproviding simple, native-to-AWS protection. Customers using Internal Infoblox threat feeds report a fivefold reduction in downstream alerts in their firewall systems. Predictive, DNS-Based Threat Intelligence: With over 70 billion DNS queries daily across enterprise and service provider networks worldwide, Infobloxs DNS focused threat intelligence powers curated rule groups with automated feed updates that ensure protection against the latest threats.

With over 70 billion DNS queries daily across enterprise and service provider networks worldwide, Infobloxs DNS focused threat intelligence powers curated rule groups with automated feed updates that ensure protection against the latest threats. Native AWS Integration: Customers can subscribe and activate Infoblox rule groups directly from the AWS Network Firewall console. Deployment is simple and native to AWS. Theres no additional infrastructure, manual rule writing or maintenance required, accelerating time to protection by more than 90 percent compared to manual setup.

Customers can subscribe and activate Infoblox rule groups directly from the AWS Network Firewall console. Deployment is simple and native to AWS. Theres no additional infrastructure, manual rule writing or maintenance required, accelerating time to protection by more than 90 percent compared to manual setup. Simplified Operations: The integration automates rule updates and reduces configuration overhead, ensuring that security teams spend less time managing rules and more time focusing on strategic priorities. Infobloxs automation saves organisations an average of 500 SOC analyst hours per month through automated rule and feed management.

The integration automates rule updates and reduces configuration overhead, ensuring that security teams spend less time managing rules and more time focusing on strategic priorities. Infobloxs automation saves organisations an average of 500 SOC analyst hours per month through automated rule and feed management. Actionable Visibility: Infoblox managed rules provide lightweight visibility through AWS-native alerts and logs, giving teams confirmation that threats are being blocked and policies are working as intendedwithout adding alert fatigue or monitoring complexity.

Closing Critical Security Gaps, Quickly

Modern attackers increasingly use DNS to deliver phishing payloads, establish command and-control (C2) channels and exfiltrate data. Traditional perimeter defences often are reactive and overlook or provide rudimentary protection for DNS. Infoblox managed rules bring best-of-breed, preemptive DNS-based security to AWS Network Firewall, enabling organisations to stay ahead of threats rather than reacting to them.

The Limited Preview version allows customers to quickly enable the capability and provide feedback, and it has a subset of Infoblox threat intelligence signals optimised for AWS Network Firewall. A full set of Infoblox threat intelligence signals for AWS Network Firewall will be available at GA.

According to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average breach costs U.S. organisations over US $10 million. Through this integration, Infoblox and AWS help customers avoid costly breaches through reduction in exposure and fast protection.

For more information about the Infoblox AWS Marketplace managed rules for AWS Network Firewall read the blog.
A rendering of Related Digitals planned data center in Saline Township, Mich. Credit: Related Digital

A handful of environmental advocacy groups on Thursday submitted a petition to intervene as energy regulators review contracts for one of the states largest energy companies to supply energy for an incoming data center in Saline Township.

The Sierra Club, Michigan Environmental Council, Natural Resources Defense Council and Citizens Utility Board of Michigan are calling on the Michigan Public Service Commission to initiate a contested case proceeding in reviewing DTE Energys contracts, arguing that this type of proceeding is needed for the groups to properly evaluate the companys proposal and advocate for Michiganders who will be impacted by the project.

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At the end of October, DTE filed an ex parte request with the commission, which oversees Michigans energy companies. This type of request does not require public hearings, nor does it allow interested parties to conduct discovery and file testimony for the commission to review before making its decision on the contracts.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed her own request asking the commission to treat the matter as a contested case to ensure customers arent left to foot the bill on energy costs tied to the project.

While the public service commission has since announced plans to hold an online session for public comments, Nessel argued that taking comments without hosting formal hearings on the matter or declaring a contested case, amounted to performative listening rather than thorough public scrutiny.

As of Tuesday, Nessels office said the commission had not responded to her request. Matt Helms, a public information officer for the public service commission, declined to comment Friday when asked if the regulatory body had responded to either Nessels request, or the environmental organizations.

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In a statement to the Michigan Advance, Ryan Lowry, a DTE spokesperson, said the contracts under review by the public service commission ensure that its customers rates will not increase as a result of the data center project, which is being developed by Chat GPT creator Open AI, Oracle and Related Digital.

DTE, like the Attorney General and the [public service commission], is focused on customer affordability, which is why we have taken additional steps in our contracts with Oracle to ensure the data center will absorb all costs associated with the storage assets that are being developed as part of this project, Lowry said.

However, both Nessel and the environmental intervenors argue the company hasnt provided enough evidence in its request to prove that residents will not be impacted by the deal.

Transparency is not optional. Under Michigan law, the [commission] cannot approve utility requests that will result in increased costs for ratepayers without giving other interested parties an opportunity to fully participate in the proceeding, Elena Saxonhouse, a managing attorney with the Sierra Clubs Environmental Law Program, said in a statement. With so many data center proposals on the way, and so many questions about how each project will impact already high utility bills for Michiganders, the [commission] cannot allow utilities to rush through contract approvals without scrutiny.

In their filing with the public service commission, the environmental groups pointed to the bodys decision in March to deny Consumers Energy, another major energy provider, ex parte approval in seeking to revise its terms of service for large energy customers like data centers, with the commission noting The electric load of new data centers presents unique and significant cost implications, and the development of an evidentiary record to consider the application is prudent and reasonable.
Get ready to read the Epstein files.

President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law this week, starting the 30-day clock for the administration to publicly release information about the case against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In recent months, the issue has become a political juggernaut, as prominent figures and politicians have faced renewed scrutiny for their ties to the late disgraced financier.

The bills passage defied political odds: House Republican leadership spent months trying to prevent a vote on the legislation at the White Houses behest, only for Trump to abruptly reverse course and give the effort his blessing. Now, the Justice Department has to scramble to prepare more than300 gigabytes worth of documents  which could include heavy redactions  before a looming December deadline.

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Heres POLITICOs guide to get you up to speed on the Epstein files.

When will we see the files?

The administration has about a month to prepare the disclosure for the public. The bill Trump signed into law Wednesday demands Attorney General Pam Bondi release a host of wide-ranging materials in her department's possession related to Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.

DOJ has 30 days to make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials, the bill states. Relevant documents include internal communications among DOJ staffers and data from institutions  such as businesses or universities  that were tied to Epsteins alleged trafficking scheme.

Bondi must also hand over a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons in the files to the House and Senate Judiciary committees.

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Asked Wednesday how and when the Justice Department plans to distribute the files, Bondi spoke in vague terms. We will continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims, she said.

Still, Bondis claim that her agency is following through on past disclosures undercuts a July statement from DOJ and the FBI that no further disclosure of Epstein-related materials would be appropriate or warranted.

Justice Department spokespeople did not respond to a request for further comment.

Will the files be redacted?

There will certainly be redactions among the materials due to be released, particularly around the names of potential victims.

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Bondi can redact identifiable information to protect victims privacy along with depictions of abuse, death or injuries. She can also withhold information to protect ongoing federal cases, along with information that may risk national defense or international policy. Congress has ordered that any redactions be justified in writing and publicly disseminated.

But in an apparent effort to ensure that the identities of potential Epstein accomplices are outed, the bill states that Bondi cannot withhold information on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.

What new material do we actually expect?

The documents disclosed by the Justice Department will likely be a mix of new information and previously disclosed material, since reams of documents from investigations into Epstein and Maxwell have already been released.

DOJ brought federal sex trafficking charges against Epstein over his alleged abuse of underage girls, and Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on those charges. Epstein had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to state prostitution charges in Florida after reaching a federal non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. attorneys office there that allowed him to serve minimal jail time.

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Substantial material in DOJs investigative files from the Epstein and Maxwell cases was disclosed as evidence in the Maxwell trial, where she was convicted on sex trafficking charges, or through various civil lawsuits. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence. In recent weeks, Congress also released thousands of other documents obtained directly from Epsteins estate.

But there are significant tranches of material that have never been seen by the public. That includes any prosecution memos laying out the evidence to support charging individuals examined during the investigation; transcripts of witness interviews; and materials obtained through the searches conducted of Epsteins five palatial properties.

Bondi also could release documents provided in response to subpoenas issued in the federal investigations, which could include materials from financial institutions, as well as email accounts and phone records.

Can DOJ withhold some material?

Yes, the Justice Department can choose not to release certain material if it determines that making the material public would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary, according to the bill Trump signed.

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Last week before the bill signing Trump ordered the department to open an investigation into prominent Democrats ties to Epstein, and Bondi assigned the task to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. While it could be viewed as a loophole, the situation may present a bit of a conundrum for the Trump administration, since any material that looks incriminating for Democrats is likely precisely the material theyd seek to release, not withhold.

Bondi suggested Wednesday that the Manhattan investigation could be the basis to hold back some records, but she was circumspect about how it would impact the congressionally-mandated document dump. We're not going to say anything else on that because now it is a pending investigation in the Southern District of New York, she said.

There is also a high likelihood that the Justice Department will withhold some material recovered from Epsteins homes in Palm Beach, Manhattan, on his private island or other locations, because federal agents say thats where they found child pornography. In Epsteins Upper East Side mansion, for example, agents found thousands of sexually suggestive photographs, some in a locked safe they sawed open. Many were on compact discs with handwritten labels, the details of which prosecutors redacted in court filings as Young [Name] + [Name].

When judges were considering releases of sealed information in civil litigation involving Epstein, some of his associates  acting anonymously  came forward to object to additional disclosures. Its possible Epsteins acquaintances could try something similar this time, but they would face an uphill battle.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, an outspoken Donald Trump antagonist, is running for California governor, adding one more Democratic hopeful to the jam-packed field.

The seven-term member of Congress, who represents the San Francisco Bay Area, said on his website he is running for Governor with fresh ideas and tremendous heart before appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night.

"I'm running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared," he wrote.

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A Swalwell candidacy was on nobodys radar just a few months ago. His decision to enter the race late in the year  when other candidates have had as much as a years head start  is the latest sign of an unsettled Democratic field in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom, with no decisive frontrunner.

The leading Democrat, Katie Porter, has been hobbled by unflattering viral videos , while former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have struggled to break into double-digits in the polls. The other contenders  state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former state controller Betty Yee, entrepreneur Stephen J. Cloobeck and former assemblymember Ian Calderon  have failed to break out from the bottom of the pack.

Other new and potential entrants include a pair of billionaire entrepreneurs  Tom Steyer, who announced a run Wednesday, and Rick Caruso, a Los Angeles developer  while some Sacramento players have encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta to take another look at the race.

Swalwell, who began his congressional career by ousting a 40-year Democratic incumbent, has built his profile on relentless criticism of Trump. He parlayed his regular appearances on cable news into a short-lived presidential run, which ended after three months in 2019.

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"I've been in these fights as a city council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress, but I'm ready to bring this fight home," Swalwell told Kimmel on his show.

Swalwell's persistent needling of the president has made him a target of the administration. Last week, a Trump official alleged Swalwell committed mortgage fraud  a recurring accusation against Trumps enemies such as New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was indicted last month , and California Sen. Adam Schiff  and referred the case to the Department of Justice for possible investigation.

Swalwell has also become an object of derision on the right, where his detractors are quick to point out his previous ties to a Chinese spy who sought to influence American politicians. Swalwell has said he cooperated with the FBI when he was alerted to her work for the Chinese government and that he immediately cut off contact.

While his combat with Trump has made him a hero to grassroots Democrats, he will need to play significant catch-up for his nascent campaign. He has roughly $500,000 in his congressional campaign account, which he could put toward his race. He also is not particularly well-known among Sacramento power brokers, which means hell have to quickly build relationships to secure major endorsements that could give his campaign a boost.
Erie police accuse a city man of breaking into a westside residence on the morning of Nov. 16 and assaulting two men inside.

Authorities are now investigating the death of one of the men he is accused of attacking, although it's not known whether the death was related to the assault.

The man accused in the assaults, 48-year-old Joseph F. Rotunda, was arraigned Nov. 19 on a felony count of burglary and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault in the incident, which police said happened Nov 16 at about 11:20 a.m. at a residence in the 1000 block of West Fifth Street.

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Police also charged Rotunda with felony witness intimidation after accusing him of contacting a woman while Rotunda was in the Erie County Prison and telling her to go to the victims' residence and offer one victim money to drop the charges against Rotunda, according to information in Rotunda's criminal complaint.

Erie 1st Ward District Judge Sue Mack set Rotunda's bond at $25,000 following his arraignment. A lawyer for Rotunda was not listed on his criminal docket sheet Nov. 20.

What happened in the reported burglary and assault?

According to Erie police, officers were sent to the West Fifth Street residence on Nov. 16 to investigate a report of a man bleeding from the mouth, after one of the victims reportedly told someone else to call 911 as he had gotten beaten up.

The man told officers he was sleeping on the couch when Rotunda reportedly entered the residence unannounced, woke the man up and told the man to contact somebody to get him drugs, detectives wrote in the affidavit filed with Rotunda's criminal complaint.

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Another person in the residence at the time came up from the basement, and Rotunda reportedly started beating that man up in the kitchen. The first man said he went into the kitchen and told Rotunda to stop, and Rotunda punched him, causing him to fall to the ground, according to information in the affidavit.

The first man said he ran across the street for help, and people there said they saw another man identified as Rotunda following the man, police wrote in the affidavit.

Detectives said they interviewed the man who was woken up by Rotunda on Nov. 18, and the man identified Rotunda as the person who assaulted him and the other man.

More: Erie man sentenced on no-contest plea to assault in 2023

What led to the witness intimidation charges?

Detectives wrote in the affidavit that they reviewed two phone calls from the Erie County Prison between Rotunda and a woman. In the calls, according to police, Rotunda told the woman to go to the West Fifth Street residence and offer a person there money in exchange for dropping the criminal charges against Rotunda.

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Rotunda also stated he already contacted the man advising him to drop the charges, according to information in the affidavit.

Detectives wrote that when they interviewed the man on Nov. 18, he said Rotunda had arrived at his residence and asked him to drop the charges against him. The man said he would because he was fearful if he told Rotunda otherwise, according to information in the affidavit.

Death investigation

The man who reportedly was beaten up after coming up from the basement died at UPMC Hamot on Nov. 17 at 5:44 p.m., according to police and the Erie County Coroner's Office.

It was not known Nov. 20 whether the death was related to the reported assault.

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An autopsy was performed on the 47-year-old man Nov. 19, but his death is still under investigation as officials await the results of toxicology testing on him, Coroner Lyell Cook said Nov. 20.

Erie police are awaiting a final coroner's report in the case, Erie police Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said Nov. 20.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA man charged in home burglary, assault on two men
Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The European Union has sanctioned the deputy leader of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces as the paramilitary group's bloody civil war against the country's military nears three years old.

The RSF has been waging war against the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 15, 2023. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, though the RSF has also been accused of committing ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo is the second in command of the RSF, which his brother, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leads.

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Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, announced the sanctions against Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo in a statement, condemning atrocities committed by the RSF in Sudan, but in particular following its seizure of the North Darfur city of El Fasher.

"Deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnically motivated killings, systematic sexual and gender-based violence, starvation as a method of warfare and denying access for humanitarian aid are serious breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law," she said.

"The EU stands ready to impose any further restrictive measure where further appropriate, on all actors responsible for destabilizing Sudan and obstructing its political transition."

The RSF was a powerful mostly independent paramilitary force under the SAF, and together overthrew the country's three-decade dictator in a civilian-backed coup in 2019. The civil war broke out between the two forces in April of 2023 as infighting over Sudan's transition to democracy turned violent.

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About 12 million people have been displaced in Sudan by the fighting, according to United Nations statistics, and while a death toll is unknown, estimates put it as high as hundreds of thousands.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters Thursday that more than 100,000 people had fled El Fasher and the surrounding areas since Oct. 26, when the RSF took over.

Many remain unaccounted for, he said.

"Those who escaped El Fasher are arriving at displacement sites where conditions are -- as you can only imagine -- extremely dire and the scale of needs is massive," he said.

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Doctors Without Borders is present in El Fasher, where it said in one night it screened 70 children arriving in the city -- all were suffering from acute malnutrition.

"After 500 days of siege, families are eating animal feed. We need safe passage now," it said in a Thursday statement on X.

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, described Darfur as "an absolute horror show" on Wednesday. He said it was "the epicenter of human suffering in the world."

"El Fasher, based on the testimonies I heard from many survivors, is basically a crime scene," he said in a recorded statement. "The deliberate attacks on civilians ... must stop and we want those who commit these crimes to face justice."
The new rules by the European Broadcasting Union discourage governments and third parties from "disproportionately promoting" songs to sway voters.

Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced on Friday changes to voting rules to avoid state interference after controversy over Israel's entry this year.

The new rules by the European Broadcasting Union discourage governments and third parties from "disproportionately promoting" songs to sway voters - and say they could otherwise face sanctions.

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At this year's edition, Israel's Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas, came second overall. However, some on social media raised concerns about the transparency of the voting system, which was echoed by the winner, Austrian entry JJ.

Critics said state promotion unfairly boosted Israel's entry and that individuals' multiple voting for the same contestant went against the spirit of the competition, which has been running since 1956.

Israel has not commented on those accusations, but it often alleges a global smear campaign against it since the Gaza war began after the Hamas attack. The Israeli permanent mission in Geneva did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

YUVAL RAPHAEL and Elphaba in Wicked. Kindred spirits. (credit: REUTERS/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Eurovision director Martin Green said the organization was taking steps to ensure the competition remains a celebration of music and unity. "The Contest should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalized," he said in a statement.

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Under the new rules, an expanded professional jury will be reintroduced at the semi-final stage and will have about 50% of the vote. The other half will remain a public vote.

Israel says it will not quit competition

Audience members will now have a maximum of 10 rather than 20 votes to cast. "Fans will be actively encouraged to share their support across multiple entries, the EBU stated.

Ahead of next May's 70th edition in Austria, EBU members will meet in December to discuss Israeli participation.

Five countries - the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, and Spain - want Israel excluded over the number of Palestinian civilians killed during Israel's offensive in Gaza.

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Israel denies targeting civilians in Gaza and says it is being unfairly demonized abroad.

According to the Euronews outlet, a dozen European members of parliament called for the release of voting data from this year's Eurovision contest, citing fears of manipulation, after various national broadcasters had expressed the same worry.

Irish broadcaster RTE confirmed at the time that it had requested a breakdown of Eurovision voting numbers.

Posts and photos from the Israel X account run by Israel's foreign ministry and dated May 15 - the day that Israel competed in this year's Eurovision semi-final - encouraged people to vote for Raphael, adding that "you can vote up to 20 times."
Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell entered a not guilty plea on Friday, weeks after he was indicted on new charges in connection with causing the death of a child in utero.

Farwell had his appearance waived for the arraignment in federal court in Boston, where he now faces charges in the murder of Sandra Birchmore and the death of her unborn baby.

Both parties in the courtroom said they are still working through discovery issues.

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Allegations against Farwell include the disgraced officer having sex with Birchmore before she was 16 until around early 2021.

Birchmore was in the Police Explorers program when they met. Farwell was a volunteer in the program.

Prosecutors said that in December 2020, Birchmore told Farwell she was pregnant and he was the father of the child.

Then, a month later, on January 20, 2021, those prosecutors allege a friend of Birchmore called Stoughton police and told an employee that Farwell was having sex with Birchmore, and Farwell was told about the call.

Farwell is accused of killing Birchmore by strangling her on February 1, 2021, and then staging her apartment to make it look like a suicide.

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He was arrested and indicted on a federal charge of killing a witness or victim in August 2024 in Birchmores death.

In court on Friday, prosecutors went over Farwells indictment, which was filed in October.

They said Farwell could be sentenced to death or life in prison plus $250,000 for killing a witness and life in prison plus $250,000 for causing the death of a child.

Additionally, a new court filing is requesting that the trial be moved out of Boston.

Farwells trial is set for October 2026.

Read the full indictment against Farwell:

Farwell Superseding Indictment 10-28-25 by bostonweb

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By Bianca Flowers

(Reuters) -Chicago will not apply for federal community violence intervention grants after the Trump administration reshaped the program to focus on law enforcement and immigration, the city said this week, calling the new stipulations an effort to politicize public safety.

"The city of Chicago does not intend to apply for any federal grants that require the city to comply with President Trump's political aims," Mayor Brandon Johnson's press office said in a statement first shared with Reuters.

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The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed it has shifted the focus of the grant, which was originally intended to support community violence-prevention efforts.

Chicago officials and the Trump administration hold conflicting notions about what constitutes effective violence prevention. Johnson characterized the administration's decision to rescind more than $800 million in violence prevention grants in April as "politically motivated."

The move to shun the new grants marks the latest flashpoint between the city and the administration over its aggressive immigration crackdown. Chicago previously sued the Trump administration over conditions it called "illegal restrictions" on other community policing grants.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday about Chicago's decision to avoid seeking the grant funding.

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Chicago is the only U.S. city so far to say publicly that it will not apply for the funding, even as cities such as Newark, New Jersey, and Columbia, South Carolina, told Reuters they are moving ahead with applications. Several cities benefited in the past from the grants, when money was given directly to community-based organizations.

In late September, the DOJ announced that it was changing its Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative to exclude community organizations from direct funding and prohibit services for undocumented residents. It also cut total funding of the program to $34.6 million. The grants were first appropriated in 2022 with $50 million for CVI and an additional $50 million was allocated over five years under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Last week, a DOJ spokesperson confirmed the program shift in a statement and said the funding will also be used to hire more law enforcement officers, purchase equipment and "build criminal justice system capacity."

The rewrite of the grants "reflects our belief that the best way to prevent violence in our communities is through robust support for law enforcement," the statement said.

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However, two former DOJ officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, as well as community interventionists and gun violence experts, said the agency's goals deviate from the programs original intent. The new goals, they said, reflect a broader ideological shift that steers resources away from historically marginalized communities impacted by crime.

"Now, the funds must pass through a government agency," said Jordan Costa, associate director for the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention. Community-based organizations can only be subrecipients, and they would presumably have to comply with the same mandates."

SOME SEE 'OVERREACH' BY ADMINISTRATION

President Donald Trump has made immigration crackdowns a cornerstone of his political agenda. He has also sought to strip federal grants from cities that refuse to comply with requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain suspected undocumented immigrants.

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"I don't know how tying immigration into gang violence intervention even makes sense," said Renee Hall, president of The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. "This is just another overreach of the administration in an effort to further its agenda."

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Reuters in a statement last week that the administration has been successful in its approach to mitigating crime.

"Any insinuation that the Trump administration isnt successfully combatting dangerous crime is false and uninformed."

In Columbia, South Carolina, Deputy Chief of Police Melron Kelly said earlier this month that his grant staff submitted an application for funding and is seeking answers to what cooperation with immigration enforcement would entail.

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"There are always some parameters when you ask for federal dollars - but not specific to how you're going to enforce the law or what laws to enforce," said Kelly.

(Reporting by Bianca Flowers in Chicago; Editing by Kat Stafford and Matthew Lewis)
Theres another transcript in Washington waiting to come to light.

Rep. Eugene Vindman, a Virginia Democrat, is alleging there was a shocking 2019 call between President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia following the brutal killing of Jamal Khashoggi that the public needs to hear. Vindman knows about it because he was working at the time as a lawyer on the White Houses National Security Council, which produced a classified summary of the conversation.

For me, the call was shocking, and I think the American people deserve to hear the contents of that call, Vindman tells TIME.

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Vindman first spoke publicly about the phone call on the House floor on Tuesday, but his comments were largely swamped in the news by the landslide House vote demanding Trump release the Jeffrey Epstein case files. In his speech, Vindman called on Trump to also release the transcript of his call with MBS, as the Crown Prince is known. If history is any guide, the receipts will be shocking, Vindman said.

Those remarks were the opening salvo of a pressure campaign Vindman plans to unfold in the next weeks and months to demand Trump reveal to the public what he told MBS in private. That campaign includes Khashoggis widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, who joined Vindman for a press conference at the Capitol on Friday.

Vindman tells TIME he has also spoken to the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, about writing a bill to require Trump release the transcript. On Thursday, 36 House Democrats joined Vindman in sending Trump a letter insisting he make public the full transcript of the call.

Vindmans unusual decision to speak about the sensitive work he was involved with on the National Security Council came about quickly this week. He says the President forced his hand. He was in his Capitol Hill office on Tuesday when he heard that Trump had defended the crown prince during their Oval Office meeting, in response to a question about Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist. Trump said on Tuesday the Saudi leader knew nothing about Khashoggis 2018 death and things happen." But a CIA assessment released in 2021 found that Saudi agents in Istanbul had been acting on bin Salmans order in 2018 when they killed and dismembered Khashoggi, who had written critically of the Saudi royal family. Trump described Khashoggi as "extremely controversial"

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Trumps defense of the Crown Prince outraged Vindman, whose work on the national security council staff during Trumps first term involved monitoring the contents of sensitive phone calls between Trump and foreign leaders.

We cant whitewash what he did, Vindman says.

Vindmans name may be familiar because of his better-known twin brother Alexander Vindmanwho also worked on the NSC during Trumps first term and who blew the whistle on Trumps infamous call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that led to Trumps first impeachment. Trump eventually released the summary transcript of that call which shows Trump suggesting the Ukrainian President investigate his then-political rival Joe Biden.

Now the other Vindman finds himself in a similar situation, pushing for accountability over what the same President said in a private call with a foreign leader. Vindman declined to describe the exact contents of Trumps call with MBS to TIME. The records of such calls are often classified. But, he stresses, the President has the power to release the records.

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White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed Vindmans call for the transcript. Vindman is a bitter back-bencher who nobody takes seriously, Cheung said in a statement to TIME. He is a serial liar and was part of the hoax relating to the perfect Ukraine call.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump drew international attention for both his aggressive defense of the Crown Prince and his disparagement of Khashoggi, who he called "extremely controversial." A lot of people didnt like that gentleman that youre talking about. Whether you like him or dont like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it, Trump said while sitting next to MBS. We can leave it at that. You dont have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that." The comments dovetailed with ones Trump made in 2019, in an interview for Bob Woodwards book Rage, in which Trump said he saved the Crown Princes ass after news of Khashoggi broke and that Trump was able to get Congress to leave him alone.

Hanan Elatr Khashoggi told TIME in an interview Friday that she choked when she heard Trump describe her husband as extremely controversial." "I would like to tell him, Mr. Presidenthe doesnt know Mr. Jamal Khashoggihe is describing someone else," she said. "And even if he was not liked by someone, that dont give a license to someone to kill him." She says she hopes to have a chance to meet Trump in person one day "and introduce the real Jamal, how he was transparent, professional and was a brave man."

Vindman described the President saying things happen about the killing as outrageous. A brutal murder like this does not just happenof a U.S. resident, he says.

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Vindmans efforts to shed light on the 2019 call follows the successful effort by some lawmakers to force Congress to pass a bill requiring the Justice Department to release much of what it has on Epstein. Trump signed that measure into law on Wednesday. Vindman suggests the timing could be right for another bipartisan effort toward transparency. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who tried and failed to line up Republican opposition to the Epstein vote, looks like hes starting to lose a little bit of control of the floor, Vindman says.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative is facing significant delays, hampered by the 43-day government shutdown and lack of a clear plan to spend the first $25 billion appropriated for the program this summer, eight sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

The shutdown delayed hiring and pulled crucial personnel away from their normal duties of approving and signing contracts, according to three industry sources and a U.S. official, who along with other sources spoke with Reuters on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals for talking to the press about a program where many aspects are classified as secret.

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More critically, the nearly $25 billion earmarked for Golden Dome as part of the budget reconciliation package approved this summer has not been turned into a spending plan that details exactly how the money will be allocated, two sources from the administration along with a source on Capitol Hill and two of the industry executives told Reuters.

The setbacks threaten Trump's promise that the $175 billion program, unveiled on the seventh day of his new administration, will be in place to protect the continental United States by 2028.

I don't think they have made a lot of progress, but I don't think it's going horribly, one of the U.S. officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Reuters spoke to over a dozen sources from within the administration, the Pentagon, Capitol Hill and in the defense industry to piece together a picture of the headwinds facing Golden Dome, Trump's signature national defense priority.

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A spending plan outlined in the bill funding Golden Dome was due to Congress in late August. That plan is now expected to be delivered by Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg in December, two sources on Capitol Hill told Reuters.

Delays in defense contracting are routine, but because of Trump's short timeline they have taken on added significance for Golden Dome. Those delays have led some in the defense industry to express fear that key Golden Dome contracts will not be issued by the Pentagon's internal deadline of December 31. Such a delay could potentially drive up costs, according to four defense industry executives who are planning to bid on aspects of the program.

"The Golden Dome is a visionary project led by a visionary President," a White House spokesperson said. "It shouldnt surprise anyone that it takes hard work to create such a system, and everyone is working well together to put pen to paper and deliver this next-generational technology."

A Pentagon spokesperson said it is closely guarding the progress it is making on Golden Dome. "Recognizing adversaries' intent to exploit Golden Dome's breakthroughs, we are rigorously protecting America's strategic advantages inherent in this program."

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Feinberg and Golden Dome program manager General Michael Guetlein declined to comment.

GOLDEN DOME STRUGGLES TO MEET AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE

Guetlein met a mid-November deadline to present an implementation plan for the system and that plan is under review, the Pentagon told Reuters. From that blueprint, the Pentagon plans to begin awarding contracts for companies to test and build satellites, interceptors, ground stations and networking infrastructure.

But sources inside the administration told Reuters the architecture for the plan proposed in September remains in flux, and won't be finalized for several more weeks. A Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters "the baseline architecture has been established but did not give further details.

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Without the final architecture, implementation plan or an approved spending plan Guetlein has been unable to put programs up for contract, effectively freezing the initiative's ability to move from planning to rapid execution, one U.S. official and three industry executives said.

The delays have fueled industry concerns that Golden Dome will need a much larger budget and longer timeline. Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, estimated in September the cost of a "robust, all-threat" missile defense system at $3.6 trillion over 20 years.

Guetlein is scrambling to staff up the Pentagon's Golden Dome office and still has not met the internal headcount goal of 30 staffers. The program has also lost a key technical director from the U.S. Space Command working on the project's architecture, said one administration official and three industry executives familiar with the program.

A new staff member to fill the position has been identified, two of the people said.

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Guetlein has managed to mobilize a workforce of contractors, establish internal systems and hire a small team within the Pentagon in addition to borrowing missile defense experts from various facilities like the rocket development center at Redstone Arsenal outside Huntsville, Alabama, an administration official and three industry executives said.

Tom Karako, a weapons security expert at the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the point of having a four-star general like Guetlein in charge is that "he can break glass and get things done."

"As long as there is indecision about every little thing at still higher levels, none of this is ever going to get started," he said.

CONTRACTORS BALK AT DEVELOPMENT COSTS

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But Golden Dome's challenges don't end with the bureaucratic delays. Potential contractors have balked at the upfront costs they will have to shoulder to develop the Space-Based Interceptors, a network of satellites that would carry missiles to intercept a threat from launch to just before impact, multiple defense industry sources said.

One of the executives at a top defense contractor told Reuters they are unlikely to compete to build the interceptors because of the costs of the years-long competition and the possibility that the next administration will abandon the program.

The development costs for the interceptors are expected to be borne by the companies competing for the award, according to documents seen by Reuters. Typically this type of risky research funding is partly shouldered by the federal government.

Contractors are being asked to develop four different versions of the interceptors, according to the documents: two versions that can intercept missiles at different altitudes of the boost phase, one version during mid-flight, and another to counter faster-moving hypersonic missiles.

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The government envisions groups of as many as five companies competing for different interceptor types. Within each competition group there are "prize pools. The largest pool for $340 million would be split among companies that complete an "on orbit" test with first place receiving $125 million and fifth place, $40 million, according to a Pentagon presentation to industry viewed by Reuters.

Ultimately companies could win lucrative production contracts worth $1.8 billion to $3.4 billion annually, the Pentagon said in its presentation. But industry executives estimate it might cost $200 million to $2 billion to build and test a space-based interceptor.

Major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX and Boeing are expected to compete for various components of Golden Dome once blanket contracts can actually be awarded.

Some things are going right. The Department of Defense is making progress centralizing early-warning systems maintained by disparate government spy agencies intended to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, according to two industry sources and two U.S. officials.

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Those systems involve hacking into enemy systems, gathering information from satellites and intelligence on the ground and feeding that simultaneously to Golden Dome, greatly aiding preparations to shoot missiles down.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington. Editing by Chris Sanders and Michael Learmonth.)
The barrier of entry for pre-teens and teens into a world of cybercrime has never been lower. This trend will continue in 2026. Many young people drift into cybercrime through gaming, where the line between competition and misconduct can blur. What begins with harmless curiosity  using cheats or trying to outmaneuver rivals  often escalates as they discover tools for DDoS attacks, credential theft, or exploiting vulnerabilities.

Online gaming communities, Discord servers, and YouTube tutorials normalise these behaviors, making powerful hacking tools feel accessible and consequence-free. Without guidance, what starts as an attempt to gain an edge in a game can rapidly evolve into activities that cross legal boundaries and expose them to real-world criminal risks. Europol has warned that criminal networks use emotionally manipulative messaging to groom minors  offering belonging, validation, and a sense of purpose that many youths may lack. And because of their age, minors often have limited legal risk, making them low-risk assets.

Youth can be better protected from ransomware gangs and other criminal enterprises with the help of their parents or guardians and older siblings. Teaching digital ethics, legal boundaries, and the real consequences of small hacking at school and home helps set guardrails before youth criminal influencers. Programs like Aussie Kids Code, CyberPathways, and government cyber-safety curriculums reinforce positive pathways.

Cyberwarfare  The convergence of state objectives and criminal profit

We are standing at the breaking point of a digital arms race. In 2026, the boundary between state-sponsored and financially motivated cyber activity will continue to blur, making it more difficult for incident response teams to definitively identify the perpetrators of an attack and build defences against them.

Traditionally, state-sponsored actors weaponise cyber avenues to achieve political objectives, such as espionage, the disruption of critical services and disinformation campaigns, including election interference. Unlike typical ransomware groups, financial gain has not always been their primary motive.

But this is changing. A growing number of nation-states, particularly those facing international sanctions, turn to cybercrime to raise money instead. The Australian Government joined the US and UK in imposing over 1,600 sanctions since Russias invasion of Ukraine, and while this may serve as a significant deterrent, these actions are also putting our nation at risk of retaliatory campaigns.

In the coming year, Australia will continue to see coordinated attacks on government- operated networks, critical infrastructure and businesses. It will be harder for the security industry to unmask the exact perpetrators, as nation-states and criminal syndicates continue to work together for mutually beneficial aims.
After 120 years, scientists in Mexico have rediscovered a type of rabbit long thought extinct. The Omiltemi cottontail rabbit was finally spotted on camera in the conifer forests of Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sur.

The five-year mission to find the elusive Omiltemi rabbit was led by ecologist Jose Alberto Almazan-Catalan. Locals had claimed for years that they regularly hunted Omiltemi rabbits, but scientists could never seem to find them.

But with the information from the locals, the scientists set up a series of cameras that eventually started capturing footage of the rabbits. And Almazan-Catalan was thrilled. "I was completely amazed and very happy to have had the opportunity to see one."

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The effort was done in conjunction with Re:wild as part of a global initiative to locate and protect animals and plants that have not been seen for 10 years or longer. The goal of the effort is to protect and restore our planet, and it has been successful. The Omiltemi rabbit marks the 13th species Re:wild has rediscovered.

But the work is not over. Now that the species has been rediscovered, scientists hope to learn more about the elusive rabbits. They want to gain insight into their reproductive habits as well as the role the species plays in the mountains so that they can be better preserved and protected.

Conservation efforts are not limited to just rediscovering species. For example, conservationists have recently had success reintroducing pygmy pigs in India. And creative efforts in Tristan da Cunha helped save a very rare bird species, the Wilkins' bunting.

The ability to save and preserve all the species on our diverse planet is extremely important. All species are part of our biosphere and are essential to a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

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The Omiltemi rabbits are a perfect example of this. As Jose Alberto Almazan-Catalan explains, "They are important for seed dispersal.  Their droppings are important for soil fertility.  They are the base of the food chain for predators such as snakes, owls, tigrillos, ocelots, pumas and coyotes."

Christina Briggs of Re:wild applauded the efforts of the scientists. "Alberto and his team are helping fill a huge knowledge gap to make sure that the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit is never lost to science again."



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Farmers throughout India have reported a 50% decline in coconut production because of erratic weather and crop diseases, threatening their livelihoods and the stability of their supply chains.

What's happening?

As The Times of India reported, farmers in the old Mysuru region, located in southwestern India, are suffering from the drastic reduction in yields, and shoppers are feeling the impact with higher prices for coconuts and coconut oil.

Traders and customers have observed that tender coconut prices have increased by approximately 5 rupees (around $0.06), while coconut oil prices have risen by 100 rupees (around $1.13). These are the highest prices recorded in recent years, and customers fear that the sticker shock could become even more pronounced.

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Kempugowda, the president of the Mandya district unit of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, an association of farmers, told the Times that the decline in yields is making it hard to keep food on the table.

"I used to get 20,000 coconuts from my 140 trees. However, this year, the yield is not even sufficient for my family," he said.

"I will not be surprised if tender coconut touches 100 rupees a piece in Mysuru, Bengaluru, and other cities."

Why is the drop in coconut yields concerning?

As the farmers mentioned, the sudden drop in production is having a significant impact on their ability to feed their families and continue earning an income. Plus, customers are having to pay more for coconut at stores, which translates to a tighter budget.

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A separate Times of India article explained that the ongoing root wilt disease could be the culprit behind the most recent drop in yields. It has been affecting trees since 2023, and experts say the warming climate is making coconut plants more susceptible to disease and stunted growth. Coconut root wilt disease is caused by a bacterium called phytoplasma, which is transmitted by certain insects. These insects can reproduce and expand their ranges more easily because of the changing climate.

In other countries, such as Sri Lanka and Malaysia, farmers are also experiencing lower coconut yields due to hotter temperatures and unpredictable rainfall.

What's being done to help?

In India, scientists are investigating the spread of root wilt disease and injecting plants with a specific medicine to mitigate its effects. In Malaysia, the government is importing coconuts from Indonesia to meet demand in the short term.

Unfortunately, studies show that rising global temperatures and more extreme weather will likely continue to drive grocery prices higher over the next decade. Consumers can keep more money in their pockets by switching to plant-based foods, getting creative in the kitchen, shopping locally, and utilizing apps like Too Good To Go, which offer discounts on food.



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The Trump administrations increasingly aggressive attempts to crack down on people who monitor or protest its widely unpopular immigration policies have been well documented. Those efforts have included federal indictments and pressure campaigns against Big Tech. Now documents newly obtained by The Guardian show the government surveilled activists who were monitoring its activities outside immigration court proceedings earlier this summer in New York City.

The documents, which were given to The Guardian by government transparency group Property of the People and havent been independently verified by MS NOW, show how the feds accessed messages sent by activists on encrypted messaging platform Signal.

Per The Guardian:

The FBI, the documents show, gained access to conversations in a courtwatch Signal group that helps coordinate volunteer activists who monitor public proceedings at three New York federal immigration courts. The US government has repeatedly been accused of violating immigrants due process rights at those courts. A joint situational information report from the FBI and the New York police department (NYPD), dated 28 August 2025, quoted from a chat on Signal, the encrypted messaging app, and also characterized the court watchers as anarchist violent extremist actors. The two-page report was distributed to other law enforcement agencies across the US.

The report offered no evidence to support the claim that the courtwatch group consists of anarchist violent extremist actors, and the FBI didnt respond to The Guardians request to provide evidence. But given that the goal of such groups is to ensure federal immigration laws and proper procedures are followed, its hard to align that with an anarchist agenda.

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How the administration acquired the messages is unclear, according to The Guardian. The report states that the information came from a sensitive source with excellent access and warns about extremist actors targeting law enforcement officers and federal facilities.

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI declined to comment to The Guardian on the report, and an NYPD spokesperson told the outlet, This is not an NYPD document ... This investigation has been reviewed by an external civilian representative exercising oversight pursuant to court order.

Numerous viral videos have documented federal agents in New York targeting people at immigration proceedings, inflicting violence on immigrants family members and journalists alike.

In recent months, the Trump administration has continued to face widespread backlash and public discontent over its bigoted mass incarceration and deportation agenda, which has also ensnared scores of U.S. citizens.

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The administration has only gotten more aggressive in its effort to get control of the narrative around immigration enforcement. My colleague Steve Benen recently noted the push by DHS to pressure social media companies to remove unflattering content  a hypocritical gambit from a conservative movement that spent years claiming to oppose government interference in what social media companies allow on their platforms.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A federal district court judge in Texas released one of the strangest dissents in recent legal history on Wednesday, effectively accusing one of his colleagues of judicial misconduct and making a series of personal attacks on legal groups and political figures over the states gerrymandering wars.

The main winners from Judge Browns opinion are George Soros and Gavin Newsom, Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee who has served on the court since 1987, wrote. The obvious losers are the People of Texas and the Rule of Law. I dissent.

Smiths broadside runs 104 pages in length. That isnt always unusual in gerrymandering cases, where lower court judges have to discuss each legislative map change in careful detail. But a significant portion of his opinion is not actual legal analysis or reasoning. Instead, it can only be described as a series of personal invectives aimed at the majority opinions authorand, weirdly enough, some of the litigants.

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A small sample: Smith described Browns opinion as a prime candidate for a Nobel Prize for Fiction, as well as the most blatant exercise of judicial activism that I have ever seen. Brown is also accused of, in Smiths words, pernicious judicial misbehavior, of serving as a legislator/activist jurist, and of being an unskilled magician in manipulating the law and precedent.

The dissent is, by its nature, not binding on any other court, and any persuasive weight it might carry is ruined by its caustic nature. Nonetheless, Smiths unjudicial tone is a new marker for the decline in American institutions in the Trump era, as well as a startling insight into how at least some federal judges view the world around them.

The case arises from the ongoing nationwide standoff between Democrats and Republicans over redistricting and the 2026 midterms. Democrats are generally favored to pick up seats in the House of Representatives next fall, where the GOP currently holds a slim three-seat majority. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump pressured Texas Republicans to redraw their states congressional maps to be even more advantageous to them by eliminating five safe Democratic seats.

The Constitution requires states to redraw maps after each census every 10 years, but there is no explicit prohibition on doing it more often than that. Texas Republicans initially demurred since gerrymandering isnt without risks past a certain point. By moving too many Democratic voters into formerly safe GOP districts to maximize partisan gain, Republican lawmakers could ultimately be more vulnerable across the board in a wave election. (Perhaps not coincidentally, a number of GOP-led states have opted out of this mid-decade redistricting scheme since Democrats dominated the elections held earlier this month.)

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Texas leaders changed course after the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division sent a formal letter to the state alleging that four congressional districts in Texas were unconstitutional because they were intentionally drawn as majority-minority districts. Though those districts were drawn in part to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Trump Justice Departments position is, in a nutshell, that forcing states to remedy racial gerrymandering is itself unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.

In response, Governor Greg Abbott called a special legislative session in July and state lawmakers ultimately redrew the map in August. A group of voters led by the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, filed a lawsuit soon thereafter to challenge the new map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander for eliminating majority-minority districts. The Supreme Court is set to decide a similar question later this term in Louisiana v. Callais.

Absent that possible ruling, however, racial gerrymandering remains unconstitutional under the VRA, more than 60 years of Supreme Court precedents, and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. That made it fairly easy for two judges on a three-judge district court panel to conclude that Texas had acted improperly by eliminating the majority-minority districts. Judge Jeffrey Brown, writing for the panel, granted a preliminary injunction and ordered the state to use its 2021 congressional map instead.

The purpose behind the 2025 redistricting was to take the people who were in those coalition districtsspecifically, Hispanics and Blacksand place them in districts that really represent the voting preference of those people who live  in Texas, Brown wrote. Thats a stark admission. The Governor wanted Texas to use race as a basis for separating voters into districts.

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In this sense, the Justice Departments letter may have backfired. The Supreme Court has effectively blessed the use of partisan gerrymandering by ruling that federal courts cannot stop it in the 2019 case Rucho v. Common Cause. In the past, Texas has defended its gerrymanders by claiming that partisan affiliation, not race, was the deciding factor. But as Brown noted, state leaders effectively forfeited that argument here.

Governor Abbott consistently rejected the idea that Texas was redistricting to fulfill President Trumps demand for additional Republican districts, Brown explained, quoting from past precedents on racial gerrymandering. The Governor subordinated race-neutral districting criteria like partisanship to racial considerations. Racenot politicswas the predominant factor motivating the  decision to place a significant number of voters within or without a particular district.

Naturally, Texass gerrymander did not occur in a vacuum. Trumps ham-fisted pressure campaign drew considerable criticism from Democratic leaders and prompted the party to abandon its long-standing support for anti-gerrymandering reforms. Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom persuaded the states voters to approve a state constitutional amendment that would hand redistricting power back to state lawmakers. Other Democratic-led states are considering similar steps.

If the district courts ruling stands, then Trumps mid-decade redistricting push will likely ultimately result in a net gain for favorable Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 election. By pushing so hard for a few additional GOP seats, Trump may have made it more likely that the GOP loses the House in 12 months.

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This nationwide context is not really relevant to the legal and constitutional questions in LULAC v. Abbottexcept, of course, for Judge Smith. The overall message from his dissent is that Brown has unfairly given Democrats an advantage in this fight. This courts intrusion into bare-fist partisan politics is particularly concerning where other states are redistricting in real time, Smith wrote, claiming that his colleague was effectively helping pick partisan winners and losers.

This argument for judicial restraint is hard to credit when Smiths own opinion shows a disturbing lack of it. Its all politics, on both sides of the partisan aisle, he claimed. George and Alex Soros have their hands all over this. Smith then spent the next three pages outlining funding ties between the plaintiffs lawyers and some of their voting rights experts, as well as their past work on voting rights cases.

Soros, a progressive billionaire and nonprofit donor, is described as some omnipresent and malevolent force in these cases. One of the plaintiffs experts is described as a paid Soros operative [who] does not attempt to hide it because his organization, the UCLA Voting Rights Project, receives grants from the Open Society Foundations. Soros has been pumping money into the group for years, Smith claimed, allowing the expert to [parade] across the country opposing Republican redistricting.

I will not bother to point out at length that sort of thing happens on the Republican side as well. (Leonard Leos benefactors are hardly misers, for example.) Surely Smith, who has served as a federal judge for longer than Ive been alive, was aware before this week that some lawyers tend to focus their practice on specific types of cases, that public-interest firms receive funding from wealthy donors, and that those firms often work closely with expert witnesses who testify in other cases as well.

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The plaintiffs lawyers, for their part, also receive what Smith described as Soros money from the Soros coffers, as if he operated a private mint like some Renaissance prince. These references likely land better to someone primed to think of Soros in negative ways. Those lawyers, Smith added, also [do] not try to hide it, which is a cowardly way for him to imply wrongdoing and nefarious motives without leveling any actual accusations of misconduct.

Even Smith himself appears to realize, if only subconsciously, that these are perilous waters for him. In a footnote, he added that the aforementioned lawyers serve, as officers of this court, with integrity and professionalism who meet the highest standards of the profession and have assist[ed] this court in the administration of justice. Apparently when George Soros chooses his fiendish legal thugs to bedevil the great and noble state of Texas, he only sends the best.

But Smiths greatest umbrage is reserved for his colleague, whom he claims rushed out the opinion without giving him sufficient time to write a dissent. After hearings that ended on October 10, Brown and a third member of the panel, Judge David Guaderrama, voted to grant a preliminary injunction. I voted to deny, Smith explained. It was understood that the majority judges would begin putting together an opinion.

Smith then went into great detail about the weeks that followed, even taking the extraordinary step of publishing excerpts of emails from Brown updating him on the cases status. Internal judicial deliberations are typically considered to be sacrosanct; many Supreme Court justices even have stipulations on their official papers that they cant be released for decades or until their colleagues have all retired.

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In the email excerpts, Brown told Smith that he planned on issuing the injunction in mid-November but likely wouldnt be able to attach Smiths dissenting opinion to it. The fuse is simply too short in light of Purcell, he claimed, referring to a 2006 precedent where the Supreme Court blocked what it saw as last-minute changes to election rules shortly before one was to take place. We will, however, note on the opinion that you are dissenting, he explained. We are not trying to cut you out, we just dont have the time.

Smith said that he received the first complete draft of the opinion on the night of November 15, followed by a revised draft the following morning and a final draft on November 18, the last of which was issued a few minutes later by the court. By Smiths reckoning, he only had five calendar days to actually review the majoritys opinion.

This outrage speaks for itself, Smith claimed. Any pretense of judicial restraint, good faith, or trust by these two judges is gone. If these judges were so sure of their result, they would not have been so unfairly eager to issue the opinion sans my dissent, or they could have waited for the dissent in order to join issue with it. What indeed are they afraid of?

The aggrieved tone is somewhat undercut by two things. First, for three of those daysNovember 13, 14, and 17Smith was either attending, traveling to, or traveling from the funeral services of a recently deceased fellow judge. This is unfortunate timing, of course, but Smith acknowledged that his staff continued working in his absence. (Given the highly personal tone, on the other hand, it seems likely that Smith ultimately wrote most of his own dissent.)

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Second, Brown was apparently not as rigid and inflexible as Smith claimed. In the first email, Smith quoted Brown as saying that the majority planned to issue the injunction on November 15. But they did not actually do it until November 18. If Brown softened the deadline because of Smiths travel plans, that would undercut his claims of malice. If the back-and-forth process led to revisions, that would weaken Smiths claims that the deliberative process had been abandoned.

It is also possible that something else led to the delay. There is no real opportunity now for Brown to present his own version of events, which may shed a different light on the matter. Its not like he can dissent from Smiths dissent. The result is an ironic one: Smith can accuse Brown of pernicious judicial misbehavior in a dissent complaining about his alleged inability to weigh in on a case, while Brown has no recourse or way to respond to those accusations.

Perhaps the most striking moment comes five pages in, when Smith asked readers to forgive his haste and any flaws in his reasoning or demeanor that might come with it. In the interest of time, this dissent is, admittedly, disjointed, Smith wrote. Usually, in dissenting from an opinion of this length, I would spend more days refining and reorganizing the dissent for purposes of impact and readability. In short, he asked for a grace that he would plainly not give to his colleagues.

The result is a judicial scandal, though perhaps not the one that Smith intended. Here we have a federal judge who used his official position to launch personal attacks on fellow judges integrity, as well as partisan attacks on various litigants, plaintiffs, witnesses, and unrelated parties. He appears to be driven by political animus toward progressives, Soros money, and the Democrat Party [sic], which seems so natural to him that he is willing to memorialize it in a judicial opinion.

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It is hard to imagine why any progressive legal organization or plaintiff could ever be confident in his impartiality after this, especially in voting rights cases. If Browns opinion is truly as flawed as Smith claimed, then it will be obvious to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and to the Supreme Court, neither of which has been accused of excessive sympathy with progressives in recent years.

As a result, there is no real point to the venomous nature of Smiths dissent, perhaps other than to satisfy some sort of personal grievance or to make some kind of performative gesture to the public, neither of which are appropriate for a sitting federal judge. Congress and the executive branch are already filled with people who do not know how to separate their personal impulses and temptations from their public duties and responsibilities. It would be a tragedy if the federal judiciary followed suit.
A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a Chicago commuter train has a decades long criminal history and was on court-ordered electronic monitoring in an unrelated battery case at the time of the unprovoked attack, prosecutors said Friday.

The detail revealed in Fridays hearing confirmed a variety of court and law enforcement records dating back more than 30 years that detail 50-year-old Lawrence Reeds frequent contact with police in and around Chicago. A judge agreed Friday to keep Reed in jail pending trial on a federal terrorism charge he faces in the train attack.

The attack Monday night on Chicago's Blue Line L train has garnered national attention and drawn comparisons to the apparent random attack in August that saw another woman stabbed to death on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the Chicago attack, investigators say the victim was sitting on the train scrolling through her phone when she was approached from behind by Reed, doused with gasoline and set ablaze seconds later.

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Police arrested Reed the next morning, and federal prosecutors charged him with one count of committing a terrorist attack, which carries up to a life sentence. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois has said if the victim dies from her injuries, Reed could face the death penalty.

Reed has spent 32 years in and out of the criminal justice system, starting when he was about 18 years old, and has been arrested 72 times, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Bond said Friday during the detention hearing for Reed. His record includes eight felony and seven misdemeanor convictions.

Bond called Reed a clear danger to the community and said his criminal offenses have grown more serious over time.

He has been given chance after chance after chance, Bond said, arguing that Reed is too dangerous for release.

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Information provided to the AP by the Cook County Circuit Court shows more than 60 criminal cases filed against Reed since 1993, ranging from traffic, trespassing and drug possession offenses to more serious charges involving violent behavior  including at least 15 battery and assault cases. At least two cases accused him of arson.

At the time of Monday's attack, Reed was on electronic monitoring in an active charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm after authorities say he hit a hospital social worker in the face in August, causing a concussion and optic nerve bruising. Reed's next court date for that case has been set for Dec. 4. A public defender representing Reed in that case did not immediately return a message Friday seeking comment.

The Cook County chief judges office declined to comment on the court's decision in that case to release Reed on electronic monitoring, but did point to state law that limits strictly limits judges from denying defendants release ahead of their trials.

Reed currently has no attorney representing him in the federal case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally offered Reed legal counsel during Friday's detention hearing, noting that a public defender was present and able to jump in at any point. Reed insisted, "Im representing myself.

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Reed also agreed to being detained pending trial, saying he doesnt feel safe in society.

Im a target from society, he said. I dont feel safe out there. I think for my safety, its best for me to be detained.

He repeatedly asked the judge if he would be given three meals a day while detained and begged her to make sure I eat.

Investigators have relied heavily on surveillance cameras to build their case, noting that cameras inside the train captured the attack on the woman and those on the train platform showed him walking away at a downtown stop. Cameras at a nearby gas station showed Reed filling a small container with gasoline just 30 minutes before the attack, a federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire and Explosives agent said in an affidavit.

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The affidavit said Reed attempted to ignite the 26-year-old woman after he doused her with the gas, but she fought him off and ran from one end of the car to the other, with Reed chasing her before he managed to ignite the bottle hed used to carry the gasoline and used it to set the woman on fire.

Officials have not released the victims name, and her family issued as statement Thursday night asking for privacy as we focus our attention on her and her recovery.



Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
A federal judge has released an extensive report on "Operation Midway Blitz." It is over 200 pages long.

The 7th Circuit Appellate Court has temporarily blocked the preliminary injunction handed down by federal Judge Sara Ellis, which restricted how often agents could deploy chemical agents into a crowd of protesters.

Now, Ellis is issuing her written opinion, explaining what evidence she used to decide her ruling against DHS.

Judge Ellis pointed to several examples where she believes the Department of Homeland Security's narrative was untrue.

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The 233-page report examines evidence provided for a preliminary injunction earlier this month, which restricted agents use of against protesters and journalists.

The appeals court temporarily blocked Ellis' order earlier this week, while an appeal by the Trump administration is considered.

The report pointed to an incident outside the Broadview processing center on Sept. 19, where pepper balls and tear gas were deployed to a crowd. Judge Ellis said she did not find the defendant's evidence and witnesses credible.

The report also noted that in one instance, an agent asked ChatGPT to create their use of force reports based off a brief sentence and several images.

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The court says this "further undermines the credibility and may explain the inaccuracy of these reports when viewed in the light of body worn camera footage."

Friday morning, dozens of protesters, including a group of Cook County commissioners, returned to the Broadview ICE facility.

"They were pretty much using pepper balls like toys like it was a paint gun fight," protester Levi Roles siad. "Pretty much took any excuse to fire whatever they could, shooting cars in the street just cause they were protesters' cars."

Cook County Commisioner Kevin Morrison, who is running for Congress for Illinois' 8th District, expressed concerns over the tactics federal agents have been using during "Operation Midway Blitz."

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"Just yesterday, a judge put out an opinion, criticizing the excessive use of force that has been placed on peaceful protesters," Morrison said. "Right here in Broadview, we saw a pastor shot in the head with a pellet. We've seen Halloween youth be tear gassed."

DHS issued a statement late Friday afternoon, calling the 7th Circuit Appellate ruling a win for law enforcement across America, while also responding to Ellis' written opinion.

They said in part, "Judge Ellis' thoughts on 20th century poetry and Chief Bovino's conduct in the order are noted. They don't change the reality of the situation on the ground and at the appeals level. Throughout Operation Midway Blitz, rioters and other violent criminals have threatened our law enforcement officers, thrown rocks, bottles, and fireworks at them, slashed the tires of their vehicles, rammed them, ambushed them, and even shot at them."

The 7th Circuit Appellate Court is set to have another hearing on this use of force case. That's on Dec. 17.

There is also expected to be a federal trial on the matter in early March as Ellis says she'd like to set some ground rules if there is another surge of operations in the spring.
Five people have been killed by airstrikes in the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza, the Israeli military said on Friday.

In a post on Telegram, the military described those targeted as "terrorists," saying they had "emerged from underground terrorist infrastructure" in the southern city of Rafah.

The group "approached" Israeli troops stationed in the area, "posing an immediate threat to them," it said.

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According to the military, the incident occurred beyond the "yellow line," which demarcates the area to which Israeli troops retreated after a ceasefire came into effect last month.

Palestinian media reported one person was killed by Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. It was initially unclear whether they were referring to the same incident.

It was not possible to verify the accounts of either side.

According to Israeli media reports, some 100 to 200 armed Hamas fighters are hiding in tunnels in the Rafah area. They are said to be pushing to be allowed to leave for Palestinian-controlled areas of the strip - a demand that Israel has so far rejected.

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The army radio, citing the military, reported that the five people killed were likely part of the Hamas group hiding out in the area.

It comes after Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to an attack on Israeli soldiers.

Some 25 people were killed in the strikes, according to Palestinian reports.

Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 after more than two years of war, fatal clashes take place almost daily.
Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A 45-year-old Florida deputy died and three other people were shot, including another Indian River County deputy, during an eviction in Vero Beach on Friday morning, only the second line-of-duty death in 100 years of the agency.

Indian River County Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, 45, a 25-year-old veteran of the agency, died during gunfire at a residence before 9 a.m., Sheriff Eric Flower said during a news conference.

Vero Beach is about 80 miles north of West Palm Beach.

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Three deputies were serving an eviction notice on Michael Halberstam, 37, in the upscale Bermuda Club. Halberstam retrieved a weapon and fired at the deputies, Flowers said.

He is listed in critical condition at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce

Deputy Florentino Arizpe, who has worked 25 years for the agency, was shot in the shoulder and taken to the hospital, where he is in stable condition. Their sergeant, Gary Carlos, was not injured.

An unidentified locksmith called to assist with the eviction was listed in critical condition and underwent surgery at the hospital.

"Our team will feel this forever," Flowers said. "Terri was an amazing deputy. She had a beautiful heart, and she will be missed.

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"I'm absolutely heartbroken. I've worked my entire career with Terri."

Flowers said he worked his entire career with Mashkow, who started out as a dispatcher, worked in road patrol for 20 years and in 2023 moved to the legal process civil unit.

Mashkow, who was married with children, was honored in the office's 2023 quarterly report for helping a local family during the Christmas holiday, Spectrum News reported.

Her American flag-covered coffin was escorted from the crime scene as personnel lined the road. Her body was then placed in a fire rescue ambulance, followed by numerous vehicles to the medical examiner's office in Fort Pierce.

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Indian River Fire Rescue suspended an American flag on an Interstate 95 overpass.

"Her loss is felt deeply by every member of our agency, as well as by the community she served with pride. ... We also extend our gratitude to the first responders, medical staff, and community partners who assisted during today's tragic events," the sheriff's office said in a tribute posted to Facebook.

"As we grieve, we remain dedicated in our commitment to honor Deputy Mashkow's legacy by continuing the work she believed in so strongly - serving with integrity, courage, and compassion."

Patricia Mashkow, the deputy's mother-in-law, told WPTV-TV: "We love Terri very much. She's like a daughter to us. I can't say enough about her. She died a hero today. This is just unbelievable. This is just a nightmare.

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Patricia Mashkow, who was on a cruise during the shooting, said she "was the most caring, the most giving person. I couldn't ask for anything more from a daughter-in-law. She was just everything. I can't even comprehend this. ... It's so unbelievable."

Flowers described the eviction as a "standard call for service," and Halberstam "was not someone that was on our radar; this was not someone that we were actively engaged with."

Flowers said Halberstam's mother had called for assistance seven times and in the past month asked to have her evicted.

"Our deputies and a locksmith were on scene to carry out the court-ordered eviction and remove him from the home," Flowers said. "While they were in the entryway - having just made entry - Mr. Halberstam retrieved a weapon and began indiscriminately firing at our deputies."

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Halberstam has a prior criminal record in Virginia, including a 2006 narcotics charge and 2015 misdemeanor assault, Flowers said.

The sheriff said their real-time crime center identified social media posts made by Halberstam with negative comments about local law enforcement.

The Bermuda Club comprises "93 West Indies style single-family homes," which are a short walk from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean, according to its website.

"It's very, very sad, especially with Thanksgiving week," Robert Carter, who lives in a nearby community, told WPTV-TV. "The poor lady, Officer Mashkow, how devastating it must be for her and her family at this time, and everyone else who's been caught up in the events. So hopefully everyone can make a fast recovery soon."

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Gov. Ron DeSantis, during an event in western Florida, said the "Florida Department of Law Enforcement is engaged, working with the sheriff and the local community. We will hope for the best results out of that."

Attorney General James Uthmeier said he learned about the shooting as he began a news conference in Jacksonville.

"We are praying for the brave officers who put their lives on the line to protect Florida and our families," Uthmeiser posted on X.

Several other agencies responded, including helicopters from Martin County and St. Lucie County. Deputies from Brevard County, which is north of Indian River County, were also on the scene.

The first county sheriff's deputy killed on duty was Cpl. Richard R. Raczkoski, who was shot several times on Sept. 23, 1986, after responding to a 911 hang up from a convenience store, Vero News reported. Vietnam veteran William Reaves was convicted and sentenced to death row.
VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A Florida sheriff's deputy was killed while attempting to serve an eviction notice Friday in a beachside residence on the state's Atlantic coast, a county sheriff said.

The accused shooter, another deputy and a locksmith working for law enforcement were all wounded, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said at a news conference. The other deputy was hit in the shoulder and was recovering, the sheriff said.

The locksmith, who was not identified by officials, and the shooter remained in critical condition Friday night following surgery, said Alexander Hagan, a spokesman for HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital.

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The 47-year-old deputy who died, Terri Mashkow, was a 25-year-veteran of the sheriffs office, Flowers said. He grew emotional while speaking about Mashkow, describing her as an amazing deputy who he worked alongside his entire career.

I can tell you that our team will feel this forever, Flowers said.

The officers had gone to the house in the Bermuda Club neighborhood near Vero Beach, where a resident of the home was evicting her son, Flowers said. While officers were in the entryway, the son grabbed a firearm and began indiscriminately firing at the deputies, the sheriff said.

Authorities identified the alleged shooter as Michael Halberstam, who investigators found had been terminated from his job at UPS and had a previous narcotics charge and a misdemeanor assault charge. Flowers said the suspect had been posting some negative items about the Indian River Sheriffs Office on a social media account.

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Over the past month, the sheriffs office had received seven calls from the home, almost all of which were from the mother calling about her son, Flowers said. Still, deputies weren't expecting any trouble when they arrived for the eviction Friday since this was a standard call for service, the sheriff said.

It was not immediately known whether Mashkow fired her weapon. Our deputies did fire at him and he has been struck multiple times, Flowers said.

Investigators were still looking for more information about the suspect, Flowers said, but as of Friday there was nothing in his record to preclude him from legally having a firearm.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged the shooting during an earlier news conference Friday, saying, Just wanted to take a couple moments of silence for the officers that were in the line of duty.

Vero Beach is more than 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach.
NEED TO KNOW

The School Board of Brevard County is being sued by a Florida high school student and her father, alleging the student was strip-searched four times

The father also alleges that school officials falsely reported to the Florida Department of Children and Families that he had impregnated his daughter

The father alleges that even after a pediatrician said his daughter was not and never had been pregnant, school staff spread this rumor by interviewing students about the false claim

A Florida high school student claims she was strip-searched four times by school officials  and now she's suing.

That is just one of the allegations made by a female student, identified in the suit only by her initials, M.D., and her father in a federal lawsuit against the School Board of Brevard County and assistant principal Carrie Humphrys of Eau Gallie High School.

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The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by PEOPLE, also accuses the school of falsely reporting the student's father to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and accusing him of molesting his daughter and getting her pregnant.

The father also alleges that school staff then spread this false rumor around school by conducting interviews with students even after a pediatrician produced a record to show M.D. was not  and never had been  pregnant.

Brevard Public Schools' Director of Communications Yvete Cruz tells PEOPLE that district employees "have never conducted strip searches, and we never will," while declining to comment on the other allegations made in the complaint.

U.S. Dist Court for the Central Dist of Florida M.D. writes about one alleged strip search where a male was present M.D. writes about one alleged strip search where a male was present

The complaint alleges that the problems between the student's family and school district date back to August 2023, when the student was attending Johnson Middle School in Melbourne, a city located approximately 50 miles southeast of Orlando.

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The father claims he reported that his daughter and others were being subjected to frequent racial slurs and misogynistic comments from fellow students, but the school did nothing in response.

He then filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against the district, alleging an ongoing lack of action to protect students of color and accusing Brevard County Schools of falsifying documents regarding reports of violence and bullying, according to that complaint.

The father accuses the school board of labeling his family as "whistleblowers" and launching a campaign of retaliatory measures against him and his daughter.

The complaint alleges that these measures were a concerted effort that began when M.D. started her freshman year at Eau Gallie High School in 2024.

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Examples provided in the complaint include allegations that several teachers "changed M.D.'s grades to lower grades and refused to correct them until [the father] produced records confirming M.D. did the work" and one teacher making "a disparaging comment about [the father] for unknown reasons."

The complaint alleges that on Sept. 18, 2024, "school official(s) at Eau Gallie High School called DCF and stated that M.D. was pregnant and molested by [the father]."

An investigation was opened by DCF, according to the father and local police became involved as well, coming to the house and questioning M.D., according to the complaint.

The father claims that he took M.D. to her pediatrician, who produced a report stating she was not and never had been pregnant. But even after producing this report to officials, the school began interviewing students about the allegation allowing "the pregnancy and molestation accusation to spread like wildfire," according to the complaint.

U.S. Dist Court for the Central Dist of Florida M.D. writes about the impact a false report claiming her father got her pregnant had on her M.D. writes about the impact a false report claiming her father got her pregnant had on her

Three weeks later, M.D. was subjected to her first of four strip searches, alleges the complaint  one of which was allegedly conducted while a man was in the room.

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.

M.D. was allegedly made to lift her shirt and expose her breasts each time, while sometimes shaking so that possible contraband might fall out.

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There was never any contraband discovered on M.D.'s person, and at no point was the father alerted to the fact that his daughter would be strip-searched by the school, the complaint alleges.

A letter purportedly sent by Principal Keith Barton to the father after one of these alleged strip searches  which was filed as an exhibit in the complaint  says that "staff did not follow district policy" requiring searches be conducted by and in the presence of individuals "of the student's gender."

The letter does not specify the nature of that search.



Read the original article on People
COMPANY NEWS: IDeaS, a SAS company and the worlds leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, announced that Novotel Bali Nusa Dua has implemented the IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to enhance its commercial approach and streamline hotel operations. Since going live, the property has reported a 9% boost in Average Daily Rate (ADR) and a 15% uplift in room revenue.

Novotel Bali Nusa Dua is a 4-star resort offering spacious suites with kitchenettes, a kids club, lagoon-style pool, and private beach club access, making it a go-to for families and long-stay guests. But in Balis highly competitive hospitality market, staying ahead required more than exceptional amenities. As a result, Novotel Bali Nusa Dua turned to IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to modernise its revenue strategy and improve operational efficiency.

Before G3 RMS, we relied heavily on manual pricing and historical data, said Rania Septiani, Revenue Manager at Novotel Bali Nusa Dua. This limited our ability to respond to real-time market changes and made optimising rates by room type a challenge.

Since implementing IDeaS G3 RMS in August 2024, the resort has transformed its revenue strategy. Daily pricing recommendations, demand forecasts, room type pricing guidance, and group evaluation tools help guide their decisions, allowing the team to act faster and with greater precision.

It allows us to make faster and more accurate decisions, Septiani explained. In a dynamic market like Bali, prices need frequent adjustment based on demand shifts and market changes. The system helps ensure that our pricing is consistently supported by data-driven recommendations.

Beyond functionality, G3 RMSs ease of use and the responsive support from IDeaS have been key to its success. The support from IDeaS has been excellent. Their team is responsive, knowledgeable, and always ready to assist. Whether its training, troubleshooting, or system optimisation, they provide professional guidance and timely responses, said Septiani.

The shared visibility into demand trends and forecasts has also improved cross-department collaboration. Sales, marketing, and operations now align around a common set of data, helping build stronger, more integrated strategies.

The impact of G3 RMS has been both immediate and measurable. Novotel Bali Nusa Dua has reported a 9% boost in Average Daily Rate (ADR) and a 15% increase in room revenue compared to the same period the previous year. These gains go beyond numbers. The hotel now operates with a more proactive, analytical mindset, one where decisions are supported by data rather than assumptions.

One key non-financial benefit is improved collaboration, Septiani noted. With clear data and forecasts, we can better align with sales, marketing, and operations. The system encourages a more analytical and proactive mindset in managing revenue.

With IDeaS G3 RMS, Novotel Bali Nusa Dua has not only enhanced its revenue management capabilities, but it has also empowered its team to work smarter, faster, and more strategically in Balis competitive hospitality landscape
A Florida resident, with the help of friends, used a snare and ax to subdue a massive Burmese python that they had encountered Tuesday on the way home from dinner.

Wade Gardner, of Rotonda West in Charlotte County, told WINK News that after spotting the nearly 12-foot python stretched across the road, he drove home to gather equipment for catching the snake.

Its worth noting that Burmese pythons, a highly invasive species in Florida, are spreading beyond the Everglades region at an alarming rate, threatening native wildlife.

Wade Gardner, friends with nearly 12-foot python.

Members of the public are allowed to capture and humanely kill pythons without permits, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

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Gardner told WINK News that the python he killed measured 11-plus feet and boasted a girth of 15 inches. Thats above average, but the longest Burmese python captured in Florida measured 18 feet.

ALSO: Enormous, dinosaur-like bird lands on tour boat in Africa

Gardner, now known locally as the snake guy, wasnt sure what to do with the python so he telephoned the FWC.

The agencys response: "They said there's just too many of them now, and they can't come and get all of them. So bury it, put it in the trash.

Burmese pythons are native to India, lower China, the Malay Peninsula and some East Indies islands.

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They dont belong in South Florida, but controlling their numbers is nearly impossible.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Florida man catches giant python encountered on way home from dinner
(Reuters) -Florida Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, said they oppose a Trump administration plan that could allow new oil and gas drilling in waters off the state's Gulf Coast.

The reactions came in response to an Interior Department proposal published on Thursday that contemplates future oil leasing in the eastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico, an area used extensively for military testing and training.

The region was withdrawn from consideration for energy development by Congress nearly two decades ago, and President Donald Trump, a Republican, extended that moratorium in 2020 during his first administration at the behest of Florida officials.

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"Our Administration supports the 2020 Presidential Memorandum and urges the Department of Interior to reconsider and to conform to the 2020 Trump Administration policy," Molly Best, a spokesperson for DeSantis, said in an emailed statement on Friday.

Best noted the ban on drilling in Florida's state waters and the importance of the Eastern Gulf to military activities.

The Department of Defense declined to comment on the plan. The Interior Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Florida's Republican senators, Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, also criticized the proposal in posts on X.

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"I have been speaking to (Interior Secretary Doug Burgum) and made my expectations clear that this moratorium must remain in place, and that in any plan, Florida's coasts must remain off the table for oil drilling to protect Florida's tourism, environment, and military training opportunities," Scott said in a post on Thursday.

Moody called the proposal concerning and urged her Congressional colleagues to support legislation that would ban drilling off Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

"Preserving our states natural beauty is deeply important to the millions who call the Sunshine State home, our visitors, and those whose livelihoods depend on tourism," Moody wrote.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; editing by Diane Craft)
A Ford worker stands accused of orchestrating a massive, years-long heist, swiping millions in auto parts straight from the companys Southeast Michigan plantshoods, bumpers, whole lighting rigs, the works. Cops say this wasnt some quick snatch-and-grab; the operation allegedly ran for over two years, with stolen goods funneled to local chop shops before popping up for sale online.

Multiple Ford factories got hit, including Flat Rock Assembly, Michigan Assembly, and the Dearborn Truck Plant. Were talking facilities churning out heavy hitters like the Bronco, Mustang, and F-150, so the stolen gear wasnt just priceyit had serious resale clout. The sheer audacity stands out: these werent tiny, pocketable bits but bulky, attention-grabbing components.

Heres the kicker: the suspect allegedly trucked the loot to Detroit-area repair shops, where the parts eventually landed on eBay. The scope became real clear once cops started raiding spots tied to the case. One Detroit stash-house was crammed floor-to-ceiling with pristine, never-used parts.

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So far, four people are cuffed in connection with the scheme. Raids went down in Dearborn, Canton Township, and at two Detroit businesses tied to the resale hustle. Charges are still cooking, but youre looking at potential racketeering, grand theft auto, the whole nine yards.

Local authorities say it took tight teamwork between law enforcement and Fords security squad to crack this thing. And the probe? Still wide open. Theyre trying to piece together how this scam ran under the radar for so long without anyone sounding the alarm.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/ford-worker-allegedly-walked-out-with-millions-in-hoods-and-doors-for-years-unnoticed/ar-AA1EqmEt?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

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Former Immigration judges are deeply concerned about a Trump administration plan to install military attorneys as immigration judges around the country, including in Chicago.

They are worried about what this could mean for due process, with reports of only a few weeks of training for attorneys before becoming an immigration judge and ruling on case law so complex it's considered second only to the tax code.

The ABC7 I-Team is learning there is at least one such judge now ruling on cases in Chicago and has been for several weeks.

Carla Espinoza and Samuel Cole were longtime immigration judges in Chicago. After President Donald Trump took office, Espinoza says she was fired without cause.

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"I would say it takes about six months to a year to feel comfortable being a judge and adjudicating cases fairly and efficiently," she said.

Espinoza is now an immigration attorney. Cole is now Chief Immigration Litigation Counsel at ACLU of Illinois after choosing to retire early, fearing his ability to rule impartially was under attack.

"I saw at the beginning of this new administration that I would no longer be able to make independent decisions," Cole said.

SEE ALSO | Appeals court temporarily blocks release of hundreds arrested in 'Midway Blitz'

Now that question of impartiality and due process has resurfaced again in their replacements. The Department of Defense just issued a legal opinion allowing any military attorney to become an immigration judge.

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"Before this administration, you needed seven years of experience in immigration law or administrative law. We certainly respect their service to the nation, but they're not qualified to do these jobs," said Matthew Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, the union that represents immigration judges.

He said these temporary replacements now filling dozens of vacancies made by Trump administration firings may have no immigration law experience and only one or two weeks of training before they take the bench to rule on cases.

Espinoza is concerned immigrants before the court will be stripped of due process.

"To have one week or two weeks of training without prior knowledge in immigration law, to me, just seems absurd," she said.

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Cole is echoing that fear. Both said they have seen the current administration pressure judges to rule in the government's favor.

And with temporary active military judges, Cole believes they could face retribution if they rule impartially.

"I think they would have to worry about if they make certain decisions that goes against what this administration might want them to do, they'd have to worry about their job security, not just as a temporary immigration judge, but in the military as well," he said.

The I-Team reached out to the Department of Justice about the efforts to fill immigration judge vacancies with military attorneys. We have not heard back.
For the first time since his resignation in 2022, we're hearing from former Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams about why he left the department.

Williams' deposition is part of a civil case involving Willie McCoy's niece. McCoy was shot and killed by Vallejo police in 2019 at a Taco Bell drive-thru.

According to a federal civil rights lawsuit that McCoy's niece filed, she says she was pulled over by two of the officers who shot at him a couple of months later. She claims she was thrown on the ground, tased and arrested. Her attorney says she was never charged with a crime.

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In 2022, approximately three months after the Vallejo Police Department Police Officers Association issued a vote of no confidence in then VPD Chief Shawn Williams, he resigned.

In a deposition with civil rights attorney Melissa Nold, Williams testified his resignation was a result of "racial animus" and "retaliatory things that were happening that just made it unbearable or impossible" for him "to perform" his "duties in a safe environment."

RELATED: Vallejo PD chief abruptly resigns months after police union's vote of no confidence

Williams also detailed threats he says he received in the mail.

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Williams was the first African American Police Chief at Vallejo Police Department.

Nold deposed him as part of Deyana Jenkins' -- Willie McCoy's niece -- civil lawsuit.

In 2019, Vallejo police shot McCoy more than 50 times at a Taco Bell drive-thru.

A couple of months later, Jenkins says two of the officers who shot her uncle stopped her, dragged her out of a car, threw her on the ground, tased and arrested her.

RELATED: Vallejo POA votes no confidence in Police Chief Shawny Williams as tensions grow

"From what we can tell, it was racial profiling. The officers were very aggressive," Nold said.

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At the time, Vallejo police said she was combative and resisting arrest.

Nold said she deposed Williams because he said he was threatened and forced out of the department for his reform efforts and for disciplining officers, including one of the officers in Jenkins' case.

"He was trying to get people terminated, and so he was doing a lot of things that were new and different for the city of Vallejo, and that seemed to be the reason why they forced him out," Nold said.

The I-Team reached out to the Vallejo Police Department for comment. Reporter Melanie Woodrow has not yet heard back.

RELATED: District attorney explains why she refused to investigate fatal Vallejo police shootings

Mike Rains represented the Vallejo Police Officers Association in 2022 when the POA issued its vote of no confidence in Williams. He has a different take on the resignation.

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"Shawny Williams was, without a doubt, the worst police chief I have dealt with in 45 years. The most incompetent, the poorest communicator with his immediate administrative staff and with the entire department," Rains said. "He was the victim of animus, but it wasn't racially motivated. It was because he was incompetent."

In an emailed statement, Williams' attorney Jamon Hicks writes: "Through his years dedicated to public service, Chief Williams made transparency a top priority. Even in his retirement, Chief Williams maintains his core values of honesty, transparency and dedication to the communities he serves."

A joint dispute letter filed by Nold on behalf of Jenkins says that Williams was forced out of his job as Chief because he feared for his safety, after harassment, racism, threats, retaliation and intimidation that resulted in three formal complaints the city failed to investigate or resolve.

VIDEO: Vallejo police release body cam footage from deadly shooting in Taco Bell drive-thru

The letter also states that during the deposition in question, Williams accused Vallejo Assistant City Attorney Katelyn Knight of trying to threaten and intimidate him in relationship to the deposition. Citing attorney-client privilege, Knight directed him not to answer Nold's questions about how.

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In an emailed statement to the I-Team, Knight denies any intimidation, and writes in part: "There was no legally inappropriate conduct by counsel for the City."

She also stated that she is prohibited from discussing the contents of the communications at issue due to attorney-client privilege.

During his deposition, Williams also stated that he had concerns about the city failing to keep him safe or investigate. Attorney Melissa Nold is seeking to re-depose Williams specifically to ask what Vallejo Assistant City Attorney Knight said or did that he felt was a threat or intimidating.

Take a look at more stories by the ABC7 News I-Team.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
A former assistant for Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld has filed a claim against the county alleging she was fired for filing a complaint over workplace violence.

Jennifer Ortega, a former television news anchor, was working in Bredefelds office for about six months as his community relations and digital media manager when she alleges Bredefelds chief of staff Daniel Gai blew up at her on June 13.

Ortega complained about the alleged incident and was fired three months later, she said.

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I am devastated, she said in an interview with The Fresno Bee.

I had a successful career in television, and I got out of that to have more flexibility in my life, and I chose to work for Garry because he had a reputation for getting things done, she said. In the short time I was there we were a successful team, and then Danny Gai just lost it one day, and I am out of a job.

Ortega has filed a $1 million claim against the county seeking damages for lost income and emotional distress. Her attorneys, Laura Brown and Peter Bradley of Bradley & Brown of Fresno, said the claim is a required precursor to filing a civil lawsuit. Its like a request for a settlement, she said.

The intent behind it is to allow government entities to resolve problems themselves, Brown said.

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Gai did not respond to a request for comment for this report.

The county has 45 days from the time the claim was made in order to respond. If they deny the claim, the person filing the claim can proceed with taking the issue to court.

Ortega said the incident happened on June 13 after a text she sent prompted Gai and Bredefeld to cancel lunch plans and come back to the office. Ortegas text message was related to a request for a media interview with the supervisor. When Gai arrived back to the office, Ortega says she could see that he was visibly upset, angry that he had to cancel his lunch plans.

Gai proceeded to yell at her for nearly 10 minutes, she claims. She says she ran to her office to get away from him, but he followed her.

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He slammed my door and hovered over my desk with his finger in my face, Ortega said told The Bee. Then he said, Dont bite the hand that feeds you. I got you this job.

Ortega said she began to feel uncomfortable and told him to please open her office door.

I did not know what he was capable of because I knew he had a history of domestic violence, she said. I was worried for my safety.

GV Wire was first to report that a claim was filed by Ortega.

Gai was convicted of domestic violence charges in January 2022 in an incident involving his fiancee and her mother, court records show.

Gai, who was part of Bredefelds city council staff at the time, pleaded no contest to one count of committing corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, three counts of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and one count of child endangerment.

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He was facing 11 years in prison, but Superior Court Judge Jeff Hamilton gave him four years of probation, based on his lack of criminal history.

Bredefeld said Tuesday that while he normally doesnt comment on pending claims or litigation he is making an exception.

I know the countys actions were completely justified, and the many facts demonstrate Ms. Ortegas claim is baseless, he said in a statement.

Ortega said she is saddened by Bredefelds lack of support.

I believe in his cause and I believe in him, but I am extremely disappointed right now, she said. He told me my job was secure and that the way Danny treated me was unacceptable.
By Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Foxconn said on Friday that a $1.4 billion supercomputing centre it is building with Nvidia will be ready by the first half of 2026, and when complete will be Taiwan's largest advanced GPU cluster.

The 27-megawatt data centre will be powered by Nvidia's new Blackwell GB300 chips and is also set to be Asia's first GB300 AI data centre, said Neo Yao, CEO of a new unit Foxconn has established for AI supercomputing and cloud operations called Visonbay.ai.

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"As GPU technology accelerates, building individual facilities may no longer make economic sense," said Alexis Bjorlin, a Nvidia vice president, at the contract electronics manufacturer's tech day, which was attended by Foxconn's partners and clients including Nvidia, OpenAI and Uber.

"Renting compute resources may offer a far better return on investment, enabling flexibility and enabling companies to scale their compute according to both product and business cycles," he said.

Foxconn, Apple's top iPhone assembler, has been expanding beyond electronics into electric vehicles and AI data centres. It is now Nvidia's main maker of AI racks, which are server racks tailored for AI workloads that house chips, cables and other equipment.

This has made the company a big beneficiary of the data centre boom, as cloud computing firms spend billions of dollars to expand their AI infrastructure and research capacity. Foxconn offered a bullish outlook on AI-related demand last week, saying it would be a big driver of 2026 growth.

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Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told Reuters in an interview published earlier on Friday before the event that Foxconn would invest $2 billion to $3 billion a year in AI.

Foxconn's founder, Terry Gou, also made an appearance at the tech day as did Spencer Huang, a product line manager at Nvidia's leading robotics product who is also the son of Nvidia founder Jensen Huang. Huang said that Nvidia was working with Foxconn to bring AI to factories and manufacturing lines.

Liu said the company now had the capability to manufacture 1,000 artificial intelligence racks per week, and it expected that rate to increase next year.

He also said the company's EV volumes were just at about the level where automakers could outsource more production to Foxconn and Chief Strategy Officer Jun Seki showcased the company's "Model A" electric vehicle on stage.

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Liu said that the Model A was designed by Japanese engineers and that Foxconn planned to eventually set up a company there to serve Japanese customers. The Model A will eventually be made in Japan too, he said.

(Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Jamie Freed and Philippa Fletcher)
Six of the top 10 highest paid Fresno city employees in 2024 worked in the Fire Department, according to records obtained by The Fresno Bee.

A number of those firefighters compensations were buoyed by overtime, pension contributions and other pay, according to the information released to The Bee through a public records request. The top 50 highest compensated employees averaged $296,445 in 2024.

Fire Capt. Emil John Ross was the highest compensated city employee in 2024 at $388,017 with more than half of his pay ($195,352) coming from overtime.

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Aside from the firefighters, the top 10 list includes department heads like City Manager Georganne White and City Attorney Andrew Janz as well as high-ranking members of the Fresno Police Department.

Despite leaving the city halfway through 2024 following a scandal, ex-Police Chief Paco Balderrama also made the list at No. 28 with a total compensation of $288,520.

Here are the top 50 highest compensated city employees for 2024, according to records.
A self-portrait by celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sold for $54.66 million in New York on Thursday, setting a record for the price of a painting by a woman, the auction house Sotheby's said.

The sale of Kahlo's 1940 artwork, titled "El sueno (La cama)" -- which translates to "The dream (The bed)" -- broke the previous record set by American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, whose 1932 painting "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" sold for $44.4 million in 2014.

Kahlo's painting is "the most valuable work by a woman artist ever sold at auction," Sotheby's said in a post on social media platform X.

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The artwork depicts Kahlo sleeping in a bed that appears to float through the sky, beneath a skeleton with its legs wrapped in sticks of dynamite.

The work was painted during a pivotal decade in Kahlo's career, marked by her turbulent relationship with Mexican painter Diego Rivera, the auction house said on X.

The painting went on the auction block with an estimated price range of $40 million to $60 million.

The buyer's name was not disclosed.

The work is a "very personal" painting, in which Kahlo "merges folkloric motifs from Mexican culture with European surrealism," Anna Di Stasi, the head of Latin American art at Sotheby's, told AFP.

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The Mexican artist, who died in 1954 at the age of 47, "did not completely agree" with her work being associated with the surrealist movement, Di Stasi said.

However, "given this magnificent iconography, it seems entirely appropriate to include it," she said.

Kahlo struggled with fragile health throughout her life due to childhood illness, polio and a serious bus accident in 1925, and pain and death were central to her work.

The skeleton depicted in the painting echoed the papier-mache version that hung above Kahlo's bed, according to Sotheby's.

-Women under-represented-

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None of the 162 pieces of art that had previously sold for more than $50 million were by women, according to an AFP tally.

Less than one percent of the 468 works sold for more than $30 million are by women artists.

The record-setting sale of Kahlo's self-portrait came two nights after Sotheby's made another record sale, with a painting by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt fetching $236.4 million -- the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.

Klimt's "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer," which he painted between 1914 and 1916, depicts the daughter of his main patron standing in front of a blue tapestry.

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The most expensive painting ever sold at auction remains the "Salvator Mundi," (Savior of the World), a Renaissance work attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, which was bought for $450 million in 2017.

Female artists whose works have fetched the highest sale prices are primarily prominent 20th century figures.

The third-highest sale price, after O'Keeffe's White Flower No. 1," was for a huge spider sculpture by French visual artist Louise Bourgeois, which sold for $32.5 million in 2023.

Kahlo's self-portrait "Diego y yo" ("Diego and I", 1949) fetched $34.9 million in 2021 and "Portrait of Marjorie Ferry" (1932) by the Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka was sold for $21.2 million in 2020.

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Pras Michel, a member of the 1990's hip-hop group the Fugees, arrives at U.S. District Court on March 31, 2023, in Washington, DC. Michel is on trial for his alleged participation in a campaign finance conspiracy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Pras Michel of the Fugees was sentenced to 14 years in prison Thursday for laundering money to support Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, The Associated Press reports.

Justice Department prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Michel while defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg had recommended three years, according to AP. Zeindenberg said a life sentence, which is typically for drug cartel leaders and terrorists, was too high of a punishment for Michel and that the 14-year sentence is completely disproportionate to the offense.

He added that Michel will appeal his sentence, as well as his conviction.

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Michel had been convicted of 10 counts in April 2023, including money laundering, acting as an unregistered foreign agent and conspiracy for laundering over $120 million that financier Jho Low stole from Malaysia's state-owned investment fund, 1MDB, to donate to Obama's campaign. He was also accused of bribing Donald Trump's administration to drop an investigation into Low's embezzlement.

Michel sought a new trial, but his request was rejected in 2024. The judge said errors that occurred during the trial, including some from his defense attorney's use of an AI program, weren't enough to demonstrate a serious miscarriage of justice.

Copyright  2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
COMPANY NEWS: Informatica, a leader in enterprise AI-powered cloud data management, today announced three strategic innovations with Microsoft. The announcement, at the Microsoft Ignite 2025 conference, showcases the integration of Informaticas Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform with Microsoft Foundry, Microsofts enterprise-grade agentic AI platform

As enterprises across all industries adopt agentic AI solutions, the Informatica-Microsoft collaboration empowers customers to seamlessly build and deploy AI agents built with governed, high-quality data to accelerate AI adoption at scale while maintaining trust and compliance.

Our collaboration with Microsoft brings the best of Microsoft Foundry and enterprise-grade data management together, said Krish Vitaldevara, Chief Product Officer at Informatica. By integrating our CLAIRE AI engine and IDMC services with Foundry, we help customers build AI agents and applications with confidence, compliance and speed. This is a major leap forward in realising the true promise of AI in the enterprise.

New Innovations Unveiled at Ignite 2025

Informatica MCP Server for Foundry Agent Service

Customers building AI agents in Foundry can now connect directly to trusted data from Informaticas Intelligent Data Management Cloud using the industry-standard Model Context Protocol (MCP). This integration allows agents to tap into Informaticas Cloud Data Governance and Catalog, Data Quality and Master Data Management servicessecurely and in near real time.

New GenAI Recipes Built for Foundry

Informatica also unveiled the new agentic blueprint for Foundry and a library of new pre-built GenAI recipes designed to accelerate the development of enterprise-ready applications and agents on Foundry. These include Simple React Agent and Agent with Multifunction Calling with Foundry and industry-specific Foundry recipes for loan processing, automobile insurance claims processing and more, all using Foundry and Informaticas data management backbone. The recipes help customers accelerate the configuration, build, connection, management, orchestration and deployment of their Enterprise GenAI solutions.

CLAIRE AI Engine Expansion with Foundry

The CLAIRE AI engine, Informaticas intelligent metadata-powered platform, now integrates Foundry to deliver advanced reasoning across services like data integration, quality, governance and Master Data Management (MDM). CLAIRE is now natively available on Microsoft Azure regions in the U.S. and Europe, enabling customers to meet compliance requirements while processing data closer to home.

Expanded Interoperability for Analytics

Informatica also announced support for reading and writing Microsoft OneLake tables backed by the Apache Iceberg table format, making it easy for customers to unify, secure and access their entire data estate. Informaticas integration with Microsoft OneLake and Apache Iceberg reinforces its commitment to open data ecosystems and seamless interoperability.

All innovations are being demonstrated live at Informaticas Booth #5520 at Microsoft Ignite and on the joint Digital Sponsorship Page.



Our partnership with Informatica helps Dayforce develop a unified, reliable view of our customers  the foundation for providing smarter, more personalized experiences, said Anupama Jha, Vice President of Enterprise Data Governance and Analytics at Dayforce. At Dayforce, we are committed to removing data silos and unlocking new levels of speed, accuracy and innovation. With Informaticas Intelligent Data Management Cloud integrated with Microsoft Foundry, we can further enhance our AI capabilities and deliver intelligent experiences at scale  with confidence, compliance, and purpose.



Enterprises are rapidly adopting agentic AI through Microsoft Foundry, said Amanda Silver, CVP Apps and Agents, Microsoft. Trusted, governed data is critical to delivering accurate and responsible outcomes. Informaticas deep integration with our platform empowers customers with the data they need to bring AI to life in production.

Informatica and Microsoft empower over 1,000 joint customers across industries with AI-driven, trusted data. For more information visit the Informatica website.
Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has said he is opposed to banning mobile phones and social media in schools.

"I'm not convinced that this is the right way," Klingbeil said during a visit on Friday to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where digital experts are trained.

Instead, he said, "I think we have to see how we can use, for example, gamification in modern education."

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Gamification involves transferring playful elements and skills from the computer and video game industry to other areas such as education or the health sector.

Klingbeil will attend the G20 summit of leading industrialized and emerging countries in the South African city of Johannesburg on Saturday and Sunday together with his boss, Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz advocated a ban on mobile phones in primary schools at the beginning of October. He conceded then that it would not be easy to enforce a ban on social media for young people under the age of 16, but said he had great sympathy for countries that had already implemented such a ban.

"Children need to learn arithmetic, writing and reading, not play around on their mobile phones," the German chancellor said.

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Klingbeil told the students in Johannesburg "you have to know in Germany at the moment, there's a debate going on how to ban smartphones and social media from schools."

On artificial intelligence, Klingbeil said he wanted "a more optimistic debate about that."

He said there were concerns that AI will lead to many job losses, but he believed new ones could be created. "We have to talk about both sides, about the danger and the opportunities."
By Andreas Rinke

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's research and technology minister told Reuters that the country's civilian scientists should be free to work on military or dual-use projects to support Europe's push to become more independent in security and defence.

Many of Germany's public universities are guided by conventions that ban civilian projects from working towards secondary military benefits, which has been called into question after Russia's attack on Ukraine.

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"I am fundamentally in favour of reconsidering the so-called civilian clauses at universities," said Dorothee Baer, who is a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc.

"In order to maintain peace today, we cannot afford to impose restrictions on thought and research," she said, adding that the decision would ultimately lie with individual institutions and researchers.

She said the strict separation from military research was also holding back some start-up firms seeking to spin off from academic institutions.

Aerospace research is set to become a focal point of the debate after Germany's defence ministry this week unveiled plans to invest 35 billion euros ($40 billion) in space to make the military the backbone of the country's space strategy.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Ludwig Burger, editing by Thomas Seythal)
Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw says a report alleging an alcohol-related episode in Mexico led to him being issued an international travel ban is erroneous clickbait.

Punchbowl reported that Crenshaw, 41, was banned by top House Republicans from traveling internationally for three months after an alcohol-related episode during a foreign congressional delegation.

Crenshaw allegedly toasted to a crude joke made by a Mexican official in August that made a woman present uncomfortable.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, 41, is facing a primary challenge for his seat representing an area north of Houston, Texas. / Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Specifics about the supposed joke have not been released. However, Punchbowl reports it was severe enough that GOP Rep. Rick Crawford, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, urged Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Crenshaw from an anti-drug cartel panel.

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Johnson reportedly refused to boot Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL officer, from the post.

A source close to Crenshaw told the Daily Beast that the lawmaker was not drunk at the event, which was attended by lawmakers of both parties in Mexico City.

The source added that Crenshaw had an approved trip booked for October, but had it canceled because of the government shutdownnot due to a House-imposed travel ban.

Crenshaw slammed the Punchbowl report in a series of posts on X, insisting that his October trip was not canceled due to a travel ban.

Big problem with this clickbait story: I was booked to go on an overseas CODEL, which was fully approved by House Ethics, from October 1st to October 6th of this year. The CODEL was canceled right before departure due to the government shutdown, but not due to any so-called https://t.co/ZyJttrSju7  Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) November 20, 2025

This is a fact: people can pull receipts, he posted to X. Once again, we are dealing with the usual media playbook of publishing sensational stories based on anonymous sources and incorrect facts.

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He continued in follow-up posts, Another problem with this headline, this alcohol related incident is literally me doing a toast with Mexican Generals... Sorry, everyone, I truly wish I had a better story to tell you about my time in Mexico. But the truth is, in fact, very boring. Im *shocked* that Punchbowl would try to sell you subscriptions with clickbait headlines. Super shocked.

Jake Sherman, one of the Punchbowl reporters who broke the travel ban story, fired back at Crenshaw by calling his posts clickbait, too.



Big problem with this clickbait tweet: Crenshaw was barred from international taxpayer travel for 90 days by the chair of his committee.



Ethics approves privately funded travel. https://t.co/jAixrniIIq  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) November 20, 2025

Big problem with this clickbait tweet: Crenshaw was barred from international taxpayer travel for 90 days by the chair of his committee, he wrote. Ethics approves privately funded travel.

Punchbowl reported that Crenshaws ban from international travel was ordered by Crawford, who recently got into a heated meeting with Crenshaw and Johnson over a drug cartel task force that has since been shuttered.

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Crenshaw, who represents an area north of Houston, Texas, is facing a primary challenge from Steve Toth.

Toth, a Republican state lawmaker, alleged to Fox News last month that Crenshaw ran as a conservative but has done nothing except act like the newest version of Liz Cheney in Congress. Toths campaign had raised more than $300,000 at the time.

Crenshaws team fired back that Toths comments were a pathetic disservice to voters, who first elected Crenshaw to Congress in 2018.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, which were recommended by the Adirondack Park Agency board, to improve the protection and management of public land.

From providing clean drinking water to welcoming millions of visitors every year to enjoy the outdoors, the Adirondack Park is a national treasure and a symbol of New Yorks environmental leadership, Hochul said in a press release.

These amendments ensure that New York remains at the forefront of public land preservation and conservation for the benefit of New Yorkers today and tomorrow. By strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable recreation, we are safeguarding the Adirondacks for the next generation while preserving their wild character.

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The SLMP guides how state land within the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve can be used by the public and maintained and modified by the state through establishing different classes of protection.

The amendments approved Thursday ensure that planning for the preservation of and recreation in the Adirondacks also aligns with the values of inclusion and resilience. These amendments further enhance the APA and Department of Environmental Conservations ability to:

 Protect habitat and open space and protect recreation investments by addressing climate risks.

 Improve public land and water access for persons with disabilities by identifying existing accessible infrastructure and assessing potential additions.

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 Support sustainable outdoor recreation by incorporating visitor use management into public land planning.

The Adirondack Council thanks Governor Hochul and the Adirondack Park Agency for listening to public concerns, modifying the agencys original amendments to ensure that the State Land Master Plan continues to protect the ecology and wild character of the Adirondack Park, while providing access to people of all abilities, Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre said in a press release.

The SLMP guides decision making for 2.9 million acres of state land in the Adirondack Park. In addition to requiring that climate change, accessibility and visitor use management are included in management and use planning for each state land parcel, the amendments update practices for wildlife management structures and historic areas.

Additionally, a recent state land acquisition  the 585-acre Four Peaks Tract in the towns of Wilmington and Jay  was classified as Wild Forest. Containing a diverse array of meadowlands and mountains, the Four Peaks Tract was identified in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and has the potential to expand recreational opportunities in the Ausable River Valley.

This action concludes nearly two years of hard work and thoughtful deliberation, APA Executive Director Barbara Rice said in a press release. These amendments will ensure the State continues to protect New Yorks globally significant natural resources as we work to ensure access to our public lands to people of all abilities.
Governor Josh Stein pardoned two turkeys, Krispy and Kreme, during the annual Turkey Pardon Ceremony at the Governors Mansion today.

The event, attended by Tim Thomas, President of the North Carolina Poultry Federation, and representatives from Butterball, highlighted the importance of the poultry industry in North Carolina, which contributes over $39 billion to the states economy and supports nearly 150,000 jobs.

Carolina Strong: Family and friends donate thousands of turkeys to Charlotte Rescue Mission

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Thanksgiving gives us a moment to pause and reflect on all that were grateful for, said Governor Josh Stein. Im grateful for the farmers who put food on our tables, for the first responders running into danger to keep us safe, for the teachers who educate our children, and for every North Carolinian who sees a neighbor in need and helps them back on their feet.

Butterball announced during the ceremony that it would donate 1,500 turkey breasts to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, helping 1,500 families in need enjoy a holiday meal.

Krispy and Kreme, the pardoned turkeys, are 19-week-old hens weighing roughly 45 pounds each. They will live out their days at Naylor Family Farm.

Carter and Wallace Lassiter of Lassiter Family Farms in Northampton County provided the pumpkins that served as a backdrop for the event.

VIDEO: Father, son duo donate thousands of turkeys to Charlotte Rescue Mission
Eleven people, including children, were injured in a grizzly bear attack that occurred in the small, remote community of Bella Coola in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, according to regional and local officials.

Officials said they received a call at around 1:46 p.m. local time about an animal attack along a trail in Bella Coola, with two ambulances and a community paramedic responding to the scene.

Seven people were treated at the scene and four patients were transported to the hospital, according to the Provincial Health Services Authority.

NPS/Jim Peaco - PHOTO: A grizzly bear attack has been reported Thursday in the small, remote community of Bella Coola along the Central Coast of Canada's British Columbia province.

The British Columbia Conservation Office Service, which was deployed to the scene along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said three children were among the injured.

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Acwsalcta School, an independent school in Bella Coola run by the Nuxalk Nation, said it will be closed Friday due to the "bear incident," adding that "it's hard to know what to say during this very difficult time."

The victims were part of a school group of students and teachers who stopped along a trail near the river when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked. Multiple teachers physically intervened, using bear spray and a bear banger, to drive the bear away, the BCCOS said on Friday

MORE: 2 hikers hospitalized after encountering grizzly bear with 2 cubs on trail

Four patients remain in the hospital as of Friday, officials said.

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"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery," said BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme said in a statement.

Jennifer and Lonnie Mack - PHOTO: Ambulances respond to reports of a bear attack in Canada's British Columbia province.

British Columbia Premier David Eby thanked the teachers who intervened for their "heroism" and their "willingness to confront this vicious animal." He also said he sends his "heart out to the parents and the kids and the loved ones of everyone who's been injured."

Nuxalk Nation said the animal "has still not been found" after warning of an "aggressive bear" in the Four Mile subdivision, a forested and residential area in the Bella Coola Valley where Acwsalcta School is located.

Preliminary information suggests the offending bear may have been previously injured, officials said.

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"The conservation officers, I'm assured, are working hard to identify and find the bear," Eby said in a statement on Friday.

Mike James - PHOTO: Ambulances respond to reports of a bear attack in Canada's British Columbia province.

Officials also urged people in the area to stay indoors, warning them to not go looking for the bear and to not go down any trails.

British Columbia is home to an estimated 15,000 grizzly bears, which makes up more than half of the total grizzly population in Canada, according to a 2012 assessment and status report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
A man in his sixties with disabilities says he feels he will "get hammered" whatever happens in the Budget announcement on 26 November.

Andy Watson, 64, lives in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, and has serious mobility problems.

He has also had a liver transplant and two types of cancer.

He says he was hoping that some of the rumours about increased taxes in the budget do not turn out to be true.

When sitting with a cigarette in his mouth in the room where he spends most of his life, Andy Watson does not look like a survivor.

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But somehow, he says, he is still "living and breathing".

After receiving a lung transplant 22 years ago, he was diagnosed with lung cancer eight years ago.

Bowel cancer followed in 2022, along with back problems.

"My spine is poking into the spinal cord," he said, "so walking is very difficult, very very painful.

"I've been receiving injections in the spine for the last few years, but you're only allowed so many of them and they stopped."

Mr Watson finds it difficult to get out and about without his scooter [Martin Heath/BBC]

Mr Watson says he is on a waiting list for hospital treatment, but in the meantime his mobility is "lousy" so he is "stuck in the house" apart from visits to a nearby coffee shop.

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"Whatever happens in the budget," he said, "we know we're going to get hammered.

"I'm just hoping [the government] are going to breach their manifesto and there's a call to arms by everybody for them to have another election.

"It's gone beyond the point of saying 'yeah, they've just got in, they've got to find their feet'."

Suffering financially

Mr Watson believes the economy has only got worse over the past 18 months and the government is "just investing more and more money on immigrants".

He believes paying 49.18 a week to asylum seekers has resulted in the government being forced to consider new unpopular charges in the budget.

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He also spoke against the government housing migrants in hotels as the accommodation was "still a hotel, still a nice little holiday joint".

Research conducted by the University of Hertfordshire and the Helen Bamber Foundation concluded that while the media and politicians "depict people seeking asylum as living in luxury... the reality could not be more different."

The government said it would close every single asylum hotel, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds.

Mr Watson says pensioners are suffering financially despite "contributing to the country all these years - but Mr Starmer don't think about that, it's a joke".

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The state pension is currently 230.25 per week while the allowance for an asylum seeker goes down to 9.95 per week if their accommodation supplies meals.

Mr Watson said his own income, which is made up of a Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance and a mobility allowance, was "a couple of hundred pounds a week to live on [and I] contribute towards running a house, buying food".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could change tax rates in the budget on 26 November [Reuters]

Mr Watson said: "[The government is] on about taxing your mileage.

"Scrap the road tax - just put it on the petrol [so] we're all paying equal."

A spokesperson for the Treasury said Vehicle Excise Duty was forecast to raise approximately 9.1bn in the current financial year, which would go towards funding public services.

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Mr Watson would like some measures in the budget to give him a little more income: "I'm very lucky, my wife has retired, so she has a pension.

"She pays the majority of the bills and the running costs, other than that it's very, very tight.

"It would be lovely to be off on nice holidays and all the rest, but you can't do it."

He said he enjoyed a "couple of little mini-breaks a year" with his wife Liz in the UK.

Before his health forced him to give up his job eight years ago, Mr Watson was running a shop selling mobility aids.

"We miss it," he says, "we miss the banter - it was lovely to help people."

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Although he has left the world of business behind, he has a keen interest in what owners of small businesses are going through.

At the moment, bosses have to register for VAT if their turnover over 12 months is greater than 90,000.

The think tank, The Resolution Foundation, has suggested the government drops the threshold to just 30,000 to increase competition, but Mr Watson is not impressed.

"What a joke," he said, "I know a few shopkeepers, they're closing earlier now, because they are frightened to death of going over and into the VAT."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)  Gov. Josh Green, a Hawaii Democrat who has floated the possibility of running for president, predicted that Americans will want a peacemaker once Donald Trumps second term is over  and California Gov. Gavin Newsom may not fit the bill.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Green doubted that politicians skilled in hand-to-hand combat would be successful with voters weary of political conflict.

The remarks reflect how ambitious Democrats are already jockeying for position in a crowded field of White House hopefuls three years before the next presidential election, especially with no heir apparent and uncertainty about how the party regains power in Washington.

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Newsom is a leading Democratic contender who has drawn attention as one of Trump's most high profile antagonists. But Green, a moderate who has occasionally frustrated liberal interest groups, said he worries that Newsom will be seen as a radical from California.

Green said he has deep respect for Newsom and his successful fight to redraw U.S. House districts in California to help Democrats in the midterm elections.

But if Gavin is ultimately going to win over America, he will have to also adopt some of the conciliatory, collegial rhetoric  or even policy ideas  that others are going for, Green said Thursday during a meeting in Arizona of the Western Governors Association.

Spokespeople for Newsom did not respond to a request for comment.

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Green said he's hopeful both parties will nominate candidates committed to healing the deep partisan divide, warning that the country is dangerously close to a political civil war. He named Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, along with Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and himself.

We're going to need leaders that are willing to take from both ideologies, Green said. I think that thats who the next president should be, whoever that is, whether its Republican or Democrat.

He said he's open to running himself but would rather support someone else, saying governor of Hawaii is most likely his last job in elected office.

I will definitely try to heal America, even perhaps as president someday, if were really in deep trouble, he said. Green is about to enter the last year of his first term and is seeking re-election in Hawaii next year.

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Newsom briefly made a move toward conciliation as Trump took office earlier this year, inviting a backlash from many on the left. He warmly greeted the president days after the inauguration and hosted popular figures from his Make America Great Again movement for friendly podcast interviews.

More recently, however, Newsom has been among Trump's most vocal critics, forcefully fighting the deployment of National Guard and active military troops to California and leading the redistricting fight that voters approved this month.

His office has also relentlessly mocked the president by mimicking his style on social media, trying to get under his skin while earning laughs  and attention  from Democrats who are eager for a more confrontational approach.
Lovewell Farms Director of Cultivation Ryan Plante plants seedlings at the farm in the Hope Valley section of Hopkinton in May 2024. (Courtesy of Lovewell Farms)

I co-founded Lovewell Farms, Rhode Islands only USDA-certified organic hemp farm in 2018. Since 2019, weve been growing legal hemp outdoors, using natural ethanol extraction, and creating safe, full-spectrum CBD products like tinctures, salves, and gummies, all lab-tested, adult use only, and compliant with some of the strictest regulations and THC limits in the country. Our mission is simple: to make non-intoxicating, plant-based wellness options accessible. Were not trying to get people high, were trying to help them feel better.

But last week, Congress quietly passed H.R. 5371, a government funding bill that redefines hemp so narrowly it could effectively ban most full-spectrum CBD products, even those that are non-intoxicating, naturally extracted, and legally sold under state law. The bill criminalizes any product with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC or THCA, and even targets products extracted outside the plant, including widely used, safe methods like ethanol distillation.

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What this definition ignores is botanical reality: It is virtually impossible to grow a CBD-rich hemp plant with absolutely zero THC. All cannabis plants, including federally legal hemp, naturally produce trace amounts of THC, its part of the plants chemistry. These trace levels are not enough to cause intoxication, especially when balanced by a dominant cannabinoid like CBD. Full-spectrum products rely on these naturally occurring compounds to work effectively and safely, not to get anyone high.

So, whats the result? Tens of thousands of compliant hemp businesses, including ours, could be shut down. Not for breaking the rules, but for following them. This isnt science-based regulation. Its 21st-century reefer madness.

According to Reuters, the U.S. was already losing over 11,000 jobs per week as of October. Now, an additional 300,000 hemp industry jobs, from farmers to retailers to manufacturers, could disappear by 2027, threatening a $28 billion market.

Even more frustrating: while the bill includes a one-year delay on enforcement and mandates a federal study by the FDA and USDA it still amounts to a ban now, ask questions later approach. Unlike here in Rhode Island, where regulators kept regulations the same while a state-led study is underway, the federal law already rewrites the definition of hemp, locking in penalties before the study is even complete.

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For farmers like us, a year isnt enough time. We make seed purchases in March, plant in April, and harvest in October. If the ban takes effect in November 2026, we could be forced to destroy our entire crop at the end of next season, despite following all the rules. Thats not a transition plan, its a trap. At minimum, Congress should delay enforcement by 720 days to accommodate real-world timelines of agriculture.

Rhode Islands current rules already require lab testing, child-resistant packaging, adult-only sales and labeling that mirrors the states medical program. Yet our Attorney General, Peter Neronha, signed a letter to congressional leaders describing the entire industry as unregulated and marketed to children. Thats simply not true, is deeply misleading to the public and harms compliant, state-licensed family farms like ours. In Rhode Island, the state requires customers to prove they are 21 -years old, and meet the same exact testing, packaging, and label requirements as the regulated adult-use and medical cannabis programs.

We make seed purchases in March, plant in April, and harvest in October. If the ban takes effect in November 2026, we could be forced to destroy our entire crop at the end of next season, despite following all the rules.

The letter goes even further to claim that hemp-derived THC products kill children. In reality, only two isolated independent case reports exist linking child deaths to cannabis ingestion, and both involved illicit, unregulated products, infants, and in one case, additional substances such as fentanyl and ketamine. These tragedies are not connected to regulated hemp products.

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A broad ban wouldnt prevent harm, it would push the market underground, where unregulated products are more likely to pose real risks. Responsible regulation is what keeps children and consumers safe. Thats what we already have in Rhode Island, and it works. To date, there is no record of a single cannabis-related death, of a child, infant, or adult, in the state.

The letter Neronha and 38 other attorneys general signed also makes the claim that hemp-derived gummies and beverages are designed to appeal to young children. By that logic, the same could be said of alcoholic drinks like hard seltzers, which are often sweetened, fruit-flavored, and brightly packaged. Yet alcohol wasnt banned, likely because that industry is larger, older, and has more powerful lobbyists. We didnt ban potatoes just because someone turned them into moonshine. We regulate alcohol. We should do the same with hemp.

Despite calls from farmers and small business owners across the state, both of Rhode Islands U.S. senators, Democrats Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, voted to keep the ban language in the bill, citing Neronhas falsehood-ridden letter as justification. Thankfully, Rhode Islands Democratic Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, both voted no on the corresponding House bill, though it still ultimately passed.

We still have time to fix this, but only if the public speaks up. The bill allows for a year before implementation. Thats one year for advocacy, education, and science to lead the way. Congress should be going after bad actors, not punishing compliant small farmers who follow the law, protect public health, and provide plant-based wellness alternatives to pharmaceuticals.

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This isnt a partisan issue. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, from progressive Democrats to conservative Republicans, have expressed concern about the impact of this hemp ban. Thats because it affects real people in every state: farmers, veterans, small business owners, and families looking for natural relief. We need smart, bipartisan solutions, not rushed overreach that punishes the compliant.

We dont need another war on cannabis. We need honest, evidence-based legislation.

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Whenever Donald Trump is in political trouble, he seeks a fight and a foil.

He will get both on Friday after one of the most misjudged weeks of his two presidencies, after his own choices eroded his political authority over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Trump is embroiled in a bitter new feud with Democrats over national security, provocative rhetoric and presidential power that he deliberately turned nuclear. And at a White House meeting Friday, hell go head-to-head with the next mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist hes planning to brand as the unacceptable communist face of the Democratic Party next year.

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Trumps political touch deserted him in recent days. Hes heard speculation about whether his decadelong grip on the GOP base is slipping. His missteps amplified the big question over Epstein  why is he so desperate to stop the evidence coming out? And his attempt to empathize with voters over the cost of living became a farce when he accused Democrats of stealing the world affordability.

So you just knew the president, who has gotten more irascible by the day, would look for an opening.

And he found it, taking the chance to ignite the kind of political storm that obliterates everything in its path, drags his outraged foes onto his preferred political ground, rallies conservative media and solidifies his base.

Trump tried to seize back the initiative  in the inflammatory way that only he can  in a post of social media posts and reposts that culminated by a warning that a group of Democratic lawmakers were guilty of SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

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His fury was provoked by a video from lawmakers who  unlike the commander in chief  were veterans of the military or intelligence services reminding members of the armed services that they do not have to obey any illegal orders.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Never in a million years 

By any objective measure, Trumps response was inflammatory and disproportionate in the countrys current climate of political violence. After all, this was a president of the United States ostensibly calling for the prosecution and possible execution of members of Congress. Thats not just an affront to decency and presidential decorum; its an assault on the foundations of constitutional, republican government and the separation of powers.

And its dangerous. Republicans accused Democrats of inciting violence after two assassination attempts against Trump and the killing of conservative icon Charlie Kirk. Its hard to see how this is any different. The presidents comments also contrasted with the conciliatory tone of one of his erstwhile political friends, MAGA icon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who apologized Sunday on CNN for her role in toxic politics.

One of the Democrats who appears in the video expressed her shock.

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I never in a million years, thought Id be talking to you tonight about the fact that the president of the United States has called for my death by hanging for sedition and treason. And called for it because I and a number of other people published a video that says you have to follow the law, Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, told CNNs Erin Burnett.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a news conference in Washington, DC, on September 3. - Bryan Dozier/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

Representative Chrissy Houlahan listens during a news conference in Washington, DC, on November 6. - Eric Lee/Getty Images

Trump, however, loves these kinds of fights.

By any normal political standards, theyd be potential career enders for a top political figure. But Trump uses them, as he did Thursday, to get Democrats to make arguments in defense of institutions, the Constitution, civility and traditional presidential behavior. Their points are often well made. But they can often seem esoteric and off-topic to voters far from Washington who are more concerned with economic security or the cost of health care. In recent elections, Democratic warnings about Trump fracturing norms and legal constraints and threatening the soul of the nation havent always worked.

Plus, the controversies whip up Trumps conservative media cheerleaders and activists and sets up a loyalty test for Republicans wary of breaking with him.

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The country has seen it all before, multiple times: In Trumps racist birther campaign against President Barack Obama; in his mockery of the late Sen. John McCains war record; in his false claims that he won the 2020 election. Its a technique that has often worked for Trump. He might alienate half the country, but its one of the keys to his staunch support from his GOP base and his capacity to always portray himself as an anti-establishment scourge and an outsider.

One question now, however, amid some of his worst-ever approval ratings and struggles with the economy, is whether Trumps antics may begin to disgust even some voters who have always stood by him.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to media at the US Capitol on Thursday. - Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/AP

Republicans face familiar political dodgeball

Thursdays bombshell was typical of the distraction tactics that Trump has always used and that some of his critics have sometimes accused the news media of repeatedly falling for. Yet Trumps distraction gambits are often so unhinged or threatening to basic American values that its inevitable that they create huge shock and fierce debate. They require pushback from his opponents, even if it dilutes their messages.

As usual, Trumps detonation of a new controversy forced Republicans on Capitol Hill to dance on the head of a political pin, with some deploying the classic excuse that they hadnt read the posts.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson gingerly tried to separate himself from the presidents comments, saying the words are not the ones that I would use. He told CNNs Manu Raju that obviously, I dont think that this is these are crimes punishable by death or any of that.

Another close Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the presidents comments were over the top. And Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has questioned the legality of administration attacks on alleged drug-trafficker boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, said he didnt think it was a good idea to talk about jailing your political opponents, or hanging them, or whatever else.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the president really wanted the execution of members of Congress. She replied: No. But true to Trumps lifetime mantra, she counterattacked, sketching an argument other Republicans adopted that the video was an attempt to get members of the armed forces to disobey the commander in chief.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt listens to a reporter's question during a White House press briefing on Thursday in Washington, DC. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

This is a misrepresentation. But it created sufficient political heat to blur reality while making the presidents out-of-bounds outburst seem just like one side of a political back-and-forth. Johnson, for instance, said that what the legislators did was unprecedented in American history, and it should be called out, and thats what the president has expressed.

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Some might question why the Democrats chose to make their video  and to give the president an opportunity to change the subject after hes spent days flailing over the Epstein matter and the cost of living. And any political move involving the military risks creating a drama that leaves servicemembers in the middle of a partisan firestorm.

A counterargument would be that there is deep concern among many lawmakers  one that is especially acute for combat veterans  that Trump will ask service members to undertake unlawful attacks and missions. This is not hypothetical. As CNNs Aaron Blake reported, there have been many occasions when Trumps foreign policy or military ventures have raised questions of legality.

Judges have often ruled that administration policies infringed the law. Trump has sent troops into American cities on questionable grounds. His actions near Venezuela have many on Capitol Hill fearing an illegal war. And his threats of retribution need to be taken seriously since hes turned the Justice Department into his engine of personal retribution.

And after all, the Democrats in the video were only restating a principle that every servicemember understands  even if the question of deciding whether an order is a legal or not can be fraught and imprecise during the fog of war.

President Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani - Getty Images

High-stakes White House showdown looms

Trumps meeting with Mamdani at the White House on Friday is high stakes for both men.

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Both are New Yorkers; both won power through populist politics. Each harnessed a political moment and won power against insider, establishment elites.

But while presidential power dwarfs that of a mere mayor-to-be, some comparisons may also be unflattering to Trump, who at 79 is closer to the end of his political career than the 34-year-old Mamdani.

Trump has made his intentions clear with Mamdani. Hes setting up the mayor-elect as a political foil and a symbol of all Democrats to try to dispute their partys more mainstream credentials ahead of the midterm elections next year. Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social network on Thursday.

The president threatened during the mayoral campaign to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani won because as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! Mamdani is not a communist, and anyone who understands the deprivations and tyranny of communist rule in the Soviet Union and elsewhere would see the comparison as absurd. But hes been enthusiastic in his democratic socialism, and Trump will be hoping that his attacks can brand the incoming mayor and his followers nationwide as extreme.

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The meeting, if it takes place in the Oval Office, before the cameras, will be a huge test for Mamdani. The president has not hesitated to humiliate some past visitors on television, most notoriously Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But Mamdani will also know that some of the presidents ire can sometimes be defused by flattery.

The next mayor of New York City will be keen to show he can stand up to Trump  and to maneuver politically ahead of what could be a year of confrontation.

And any new eruptions by the president, after a week in which hes looked like hes racing off the rails, might only further underscore doubts over his political health.

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Meta Platforms  incorporating Facebook and Instagram, will begin enforcing a sweeping new chapter in Australias digital-youth protection landscape (this will be two weeks ahead of the requirement). From that date, Australian users under the age of 16 will no longer be able to create new accounts on Facebook, Instagram or Threads  and existing accounts of users identified as under-16 will be subject to deactivation.

This move comes under the banner of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, the world-first legislation that bans children under 16 from holding social-media accounts on major platforms in Australia unless strong reasonable steps are taken.

Whats changing, and what it means

Starting 4 December , platforms will begin to block new sign-ups from under-16s and start deactivating flagged existing accounts. Meta says it will aim to complete the process by 10 December 2025 .

Affected users will receive warnings via in-app messages, SMS or email, and will be given options: download their data , update their contact details for later re-activation at 16, or delete the account.

Meta emphasises a data-minimisation approach to age verification (for example: behaviours, account signals, and if needed, age-assurance tech such as a selfie or ID check) rather than blanket document checks.

While the law targets reasonable steps rather than guaranteeing perfect coverage, the regulator warns that the engineering challenges are considerable  and the company admits a margin of error must be expected.

Why Australia is acting  and why it matters

Australia has taken a bold, arguably radical stance by banning under-16s from mainstream social-media platforms altogether. The governments rationale: concerns around online harm to children, mental-health risks, social-media addiction, and the difficulty of effectively moderating younger users at scale.

This move is being watched globally: many other jurisdictions are grappling with age-verification, childrens online safety and platform responsibility  but few have gone as far as Australia.

Fines, compliance and tech-giant accountability

Under the new law, platforms that fail to implement the required reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts may face financial penalties of up to A$49.5 million (approximately US$3233 million).

The bill does not specify a one-size-fits-all verification method  only that platforms must be able to demonstrate they have taken robust steps. This creates a compliance-challenge: companies must balance age-assurance, user privacy, account-integrity, global user-flows and potential mis-flagging of users.

For Meta, which has long allowed users from age 13 upward, this represents a significant operational and reputational pivot. The companys Australian director, Mia Garlick, has publicly acknowledged the magnitude of the engineering and age-assurance challenges ahead.

Risks, criticism and unanswered questions

Though broad in ambition, the ban has raised numerous concerns:

Effectiveness : Will younger teens simply migrate to lesser-controlled platforms or unmoderated online spaces, nullifying the protections?

Privacy : Age-verification technologies (video selfies, ID upload) may raise privacy-and-data-security issues. The government has said it will not force users to hand over personal information en-masse.

Access & equity : Digital engagement is part of modern youth life  banning access may lock some children out of beneficial social, educational, or community interactions.

Global vs local implementation: Meta and other global platforms will need to tailor road-maps to each jurisdiction. Australias state-first approach may increase the complexity of user-flows, verification systems and regional data-handling.

What this means for Meta and its users

For Meta, compliance isnt optional. Failing to show reasonable steps could result in large fines  but the bigger cost may lie in operational disruption, user-trust erosion and brand-reputation risk. The company will need to demonstrate that under-16 users are being excluded in practice (not just on paper), while minimising false positives and preserving adult user access.

For Australian users aged under 16, its a stark transition: existing accounts will be deactivated, meaning loss of digital history, friends-list continuity, community engagement. Teenagers who wish to maintain a presence must wait until their 16th birthday or switch to alternative platforms (within the remaining regulatory scope).

Parents and guardians are advised to review their childrens social-media use and to ensure birthdates and account settings are correct.
A sign on the door of a famed Kansas City barbecue restaurant reads, Arthur Bryants will be closed temporarily for the next few days.

A Tuesday report from the Kansas City Health Department says the 1911 structure received extensive damage from flooding.

For more than 115 years, Arthur Bryants Barbeque has dished out smoked meat and tangy sauce for presidents and passersby. Now the storied business faces another challenge.

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On a recent visit to the eatery at 1727 Brooklyn in the 18th and Vine District, a reporter noted that the restaurants adjoining dining rooms had been thoroughly emptied. Floor tiles had become unglued in spots. The water-damaged ceiling revealed the joists above.

The restaurants wood tables were stacked outside in the south parking lot. A restaurant employee said that electricians and plumbers had already been called. He said the restaurant hoped to reopen indoors within two weeks, depending on the timing of city inspections.

The restaurants owner wrote in a text, Were going as fast as we can.

Photos from Kansas Citys Dangerous Buildings inspection show a collapsed ceiling inside of Arthur Bryants Barbeque at 1727 Brooklyn Ave. Uploaded on Nov. 18.

What happened?

Records from the Citys neighborhoods department offer a closer look of how the Arthur Bryants building was damaged.

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A report shows that a dangerous buildings inspector was dispatched to the property this week for an initial inspection due to a broken water sprinkler that left major water damage and deterioration to the property. Inspection photos show the ceiling collapsed and exposed.

According to a sign posted at the restaurant, a water line was unintentionally struck during renovation work, causing a flooding incident.

The city can declare a building dangerous and order an owner to either demolish or repair the building within 30 days. That can happen when a structure has faced severe deterioration or damage that presents a safety risk.

But in this case, the file was closed because the property is still structurally sound, and the owner was advised to follow up with the fire department, the health department and the planning department to resolve certain issues, according to the inspection report.

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As of Tuesday, the Kansas City Health Department suspended Arthur Bryants operating permit, according to spokesperson Dan Hoyt. In an email, he said the agency, which conducts restaurant inspections, did this because of extensive structural and water damage inside the facility.

Hoyt said that Evergy disconnected power to the building. City records show a permit was issued Wednesday related to an inspection for reconnecting the electrical. A permit related to demolishing the upstairs and dining room ceilings is pending as of Thursday afternoon.

Repair work in progress

Andy Miller  owner of Arthur Bryants, Guys Snacks, Guys Deli and other local brands  told The Star via text Thursday morning that hes hoping to get the restaurant open as soon as possible.

Were expecting the work to be done yet today and then we need the city to inspect so I dont have a definite date, he wrote.

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The incident occurred during planned renovation work on the buildings second floor, according to a statement posted online by Arthur Bryants.

Miller said pipes broke on the second floor after business hours. As a result, water came flooding through the dining room ceiling.

All damage is water-related, Miller said. We are replacing the ceiling and replacing the lighting and such and anything that got wet.

If it doesnt reopen soon, Miller said his team would serve customers outside the restaurant  an old-fashioned neighborhood-style barbecue.

Debris covers tables inside of Arthur Bryants Barbeque in this photo from Kansas Citys Dangerous Buildings. City inspectors uploaded images of 1727 Brooklyn Ave. on Nov. 18.

Miller purchased Arthur Bryants in 2022, along with his business partner, Chris Stuewe. Miller previously approached Jerry Rauschelbaugh, former president of Arthur Bryants, about expanding Arthur Bryants sauce line.

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He eventually convinced Rauschelbaugh and his family to sell.

Its a brand my grandfather used to eat, a historic Kansas City brand, an iconic Kansas City brand. To be a steward of a brand like this is surreal, Miller said in an interview with The Star shortly after the purchase.

The Rauschelbaugh family had owned the restaurant since 1982.

This 1959 advertisement in The Kansas City Star promotes Arthur Bryants new location at 1727 Brooklyn Ave.

History of the Arthur Bryants building

Arthur Bryants has been serving ribs and burnt ends from the 18th and Brooklyn building since 1958. The restaurant itself traces its roots back to self-proclaimed Barbecue King Henry Perry. In about 1907, the Black entrepreneur started a barbecue stand in the Quality Hill district, before setting up his tent and smoke pit in the 18th and Vine neighborhood.

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Perrys protegee, Charlie Bryant, opened a restaurant at 18th and Euclid, which his younger brother, Arthur Bryant, took over in 1946 and renamed after himself. The grease house, as Bryant called it, moved east to Brooklyn Avenue a decade later. The building at 1727 Brooklyn was previously used as a mattress store, apartments and a bakery.

Former president Barack Obama visited at Arthur Bryants Barbeque in 2014. The historic building received extensive damage when the fire suppression system was activated.

Former presidents Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, and Harry Truman have eaten at Arthur Bryants. U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan visited the business while she was in town just last week.

While the building has an iconic past and present, it is not listed on either the local or national historic registers.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries clashed with a CNBC host when asked about the future of Affordable Care Act premium tax subsidies and whether Democrats want them to lapse in order to hurt Republicans.

On CNBC's "Squawk Box" Nov. 21, anchor Rebecca Quick asked Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, whether he and Democratic leaders were now rooting for health care costs to go up to damage the GOP politically.

As many as 22 million low- and middle-class Americans are expected to see their premiums double or even triple in 2026 without the renewal.

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More: Millions could go without health care coverage in 2026. Heres why.

People visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as the museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. School groups visit the American Presidency exhibition at The Smithsonian National Museum of American History as the museum and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. People visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as the museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. People visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as the museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. School groups visit The Smithsonian National Museum of American History as the museum and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. School groups visit The Smithsonian National Museum of American History as the museum and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. People visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the Apollo Lunar Module LM-2 as the museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. School groups visit The Smithsonian National Museum of American History as the museum and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown. Smithsonian museums begin to reopen after more than a month of government shutdown 1 of 8 People visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as the museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History reopen to the public on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 following the government shutdown.

Quick asked why House Democrats are seeking a three-year extension of those subsidies, which Republicans say they wont support, instead of a one- or two-year deal, which some Republicans have suggested they might support. Democrats are trying to force a House vote on their plan, which would need support from at least four Republicans to move forward.

"I don't think you want a deal done," she said. "I think that you'd like to see the rates go higher and allow the Republicans to hang themselves with that. Is that the answer?"

Thats absolutely a ridiculous assertion ... shame on you for saying that, Jeffries responded.

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Its not a partisan issue for us. In fact, the states that are most impacted as it relates to an Affordable Care Act tax credit expiration are all Republican states, he said.

Susan Page: Master stroke or dumb luck, Dems may win shutdown's long game

Nov 12, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries leads a press conference on the House Steps at the United States Capitol as members return after a 54-day break, before House lawmakers take up legislation that would end the longest government shutdown in American history and vote on the Senate-passed spending deal.. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Democratic lawmakers pushed to include an extension of the Obamacare subsidies in a spending package to reopen the government. But eight Senate Democrats relented and voted with Republicans Nov. 10 to end the record-breaking 43-day government shutdown without extending the subsidies.

Patient advocates say the subsidies face an uphill path to passage before the end of the year.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has promised to hold a vote in December on a plan to extend the Obamacare subsidies that help millions of Americans afford health care. But Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, has not not committed to a similar vote in his chamber.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hakeem Jeffries clashes with CNBC host over Obamacare tax credits
A key House Republican moderate is drafting a new bill that would extend soon-to-expire Obamacare subsidies and offer a carrot to try to win over more-conservative GOP colleagues and President Donald Trump.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, outlined in an interview Friday several elements he is eyeing for the new proposal: an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, with income limits and required minimum premium payments; new flexibility for health savings accounts, a conservative priority aimed at wooing Trump and conservatives; and potentially a stalled bipartisan package overhauling the role of pharmaceutical benefit managers.

Fitzpatrick, who has been working with fellow GOP centrists who are desperate to address the subsidy cliff, said it was our hope that they would soon introduce a bill encompassing those provisions.

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Were going to have to move quickly, he said.

The proposal would be competing with multiple alternatives from conservative Republicans who are proposing to at least partially end the federal subsidies for plans purchased on Affordable Care Act exchanges, replacing them with individual accounts that they say would give Americans more flexibility to purchase health care.

Fitzpatrick and his allies are open to moving toward more flexibility for HSAs, but they dont want to allow the Obamacare tax credits to expire as well. Some in the group strongly believe they need to focus on extending the existing subsidies first, then develop a broader health care overhaul.

Fitzpatrick, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and several other Republicans in the Problem Solvers group spoke about their health care plans during a private dinner Thursday night. Bacon rolled out a separate bipartisan plan Friday with GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado and Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey that would extend the subsidies for two years, albeit with new restrictions on eligibility.

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But Fitzpatrick said that, based on conversations with colleagues, more than an extension will need to be included in order to attract a critical mass of GOP votes. Trump and top House GOP leaders have signaled they are opposed to continuing the ACA tax credits, and scores of House Republicans have signaled the same.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, asked about the centrist Republicans aims in an interview Friday, said GOP leaders had other plans. He indicated Republicans are planning to bring legislation dealing with HSA flexibility, the PBM overhaul, cost-sharing reductions and other conservative policies to the floor in the coming weeks  but not an ACA tax-credit extension.

There are a lot of really good ideas that we're going to be bringing to the floor for votes that lower premiums for families, bring more transparency and more options for families, he said.

When asked if GOP leaders believe its tenable to allow the subsidies to expire, letting those other policies fill the gap, he replied: We don't have all the final things agreed upon, and we will work through it with our whole conference.

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The House GOP centrists feel left in the lurch by their own leaders, who have followed the lead of more conservative factions in advocating for the subsidies to expire. But theyve also been angered by moderate Democrats, who they say are insisting on first sketching out a larger framework for negotiations.

Democrats have been cool to the GOP proposals that would substitute individual spending accounts for the existing subsidies, arguing that they would not fully fill the financial gap for many Americans and could destabilize health insurance markets.

One House Republican who was at the Thursday night dinner said colleagues spent a large portion of the evening kvetching about Democrats, whom they remain angry at after the lengthy government shutdown.

Were past talking about frameworks, said another House Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the internal discussions. This is an emergency.
BEHIND THE LINES: IDF warns Hamas is rebuilding control despite the ceasefire, raising doubts over Gazas future and the 20-point plan.

"Hamas is committed to disarming according to the ceasefire agreement. But Hamas is not disarming. It is rebuilding its control," Col. Nadav Shoshani tells a group of foreign reporters gathered at a base of the IDFs 252nd Division in Gaza.

Shoshani is the IDFs international spokesman. The position is located about 200 meters from the so-called Yellow Line, the dividing point between the 47% of the Gaza Strip still held by Hamas and the 53% currently controlled by Israel.

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We are in what was once the neighborhood of Shejaia, located on the southern outskirts of Gaza City. Now it is rubble.

Its not my first time in this vicinity, once a notable stronghold of Hamas. I was here in December 2023. Then, the Merkava tanks of the 36th Division were crashing into central Gaza. There were still 251 hostages. The memories of October 7 were shocking and raw, and there was a sort of fervor for the war that we all felt. Then, the mission seemed clear. Now, by contrast, a month into the ceasefire, the future appears rather more ambiguous, with many more questions than answers regarding the way things may be headed.

Shejaia, over which the IDF fought three major engagements in the course of the last three years (I witnessed the first), has been reduced to ruins. But a little beyond the point which marks the Yellow Line, one may make out the first buildings of Gaza City itself, still under Hamas control. The Gaza City skyline appears surprisingly intact. Hamass capital survived the war, and is evidently now returning to a kind of life, still under Hamas rule.

IDF INTERNATIONAL SPOKESMAN Col. Nadav Shoshani (pictured) took the Post along with a group of foreign reporters to a base of the IDFs 252nd Division in Gaza, located in the former Hamas stronghold of Shejaia. (credit: JONATHAN SPYER)

The 252nd Division is a reserve armored formation, but the base we visit is held by the infantry element of the unit. Its mission in Shejaia, according to Shoshani, is to hold the line, remove terror infrastructure, and secure aid going in. This is in accordance with the ongoing implementation of the first phase of US President Donald Trumps 20-point plan.

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There are, according to the IDFs international spokesman, daily violations of the ceasefire by Hamas fighters. These have included an attempt two weeks ago to place explosives in a house on the Israeli side of the line.

There is sporadic automatic gunfire coming from somewhere in the distance. Shoshani thinks its from within Gaza City itself. Perhaps Hamas is settling accounts with one or another of its enemies within the city. A UAV buzzes overhead. Nothing seems to be moving amid the gray rubble and ruins between the point that marks the Yellow Line and the position of Division 252. But further in, evidently, life is proceeding along the lines that Hamas prefers. The IDF has no accurate figure, but the vast majority of the Gaza population is living in the Hamas-controlled part of the Strip.

The goal of the 20-point plan is that the current de facto partition of Gaza, which may be observed along the line between Gaza City and Shejaia, should not freeze into an ongoing reality. Rather, the plan envisages the disarmament of Hamas and the end of its existence as a de facto governing force in Gaza.

Different types of pressure can be used to disarm Hamas: IDFs international spokesman

The IDFs international spokesman suggests that there are different types of pressure which can be placed on them to make them disarm.

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What form might such pressure take?

Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Danny Danon said this week that the emergent International Stabilization Force, now with a mandate from the UN, would need to stabilize the situation and strip Hamas of its weapons. Col. Shoshani agreed that this would indeed be the responsibility of this emergent force.

Such statements seem somewhat at odds with observable reality. Hamas has made clear that it rejects any clause related to the disarmament of Gaza, or harming the Palestinian peoples right to resistance. Viewed from the positions of the 252nd Division close to the Yellow Line, it is starkly obvious that the living part of Gaza remains very much under Hamass control. Does anyone seriously believe that an international force is going to deploy and seek to disarm by coercive means an Islamist militia that doesnt want to be disarmed? And what happens when the Islamist militia starts shooting back?

The general sense one gets from reading and hearing statements by Israeli officials in this regard is that no one really believes this, but there is a need to pretend to do so, at least in public. This is because Israel doesnt have any options other than the 20-point plan, and the US administration evidently does believe in its various provisions.

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The true picture is different. At the outset of the war, when the blood from the October 7 massacres was hardly dry, and three divisions were heading into Gaza, Israel defined its war aims as freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas rule in Gaza. Reality didnt really allow for pursuing both those aims with full vigor simultaneously, so Israel pursued the first, at the expense of the second. The result is that the hostages are now free, but Hamas rule over half of Gaza and nearly all its population remains. The two real options are that Israel either now or in the future commit to completing the job of reconquering Gaza and destroying the Hamas authority there, or that Hamas, as an organized, armed, and dominant political-military force in Gaza, is set to survive.

Shejaia, over which the IDF fought three major engagements in the course of the last three years, has been reduced to ruins. The Post visited the neighborhood on Wednesday with the IDF. (credit: JONATHAN SPYER)

The international stabilization force, if it is deployed, is likely to form a severely complicating factor regarding any attempt at realizing the first option, and would almost certainly eventually serve as a guarantor for the second.

In the meantime, the IDF, via positions like the ones held by Division 252 in Shejaia, is holding the lines and maintaining control over the largely empty 53% of Gaza, which it controls. And Hamas, visible in living, intact Gaza City a few hundred meters away, is reemerging and strengthening itself.

What this means is that despite the losses and the huge efforts made since October 2023, the essential question facing Gaza  namely, the continued existence or the removal of an armed and hostile Islamist sovereignty in the area  remains unresolved.
GREENBELT, Maryland  The Trump administrations highest-profile deportation case appears to be on the verge of unraveling due to an oversight by an immigration judge six years ago.

Trump officials illegally deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented Salvadoran immigrant then living in Maryland who was sent in March to an anti-terrorism prison in his home country, before they reluctantly returned him to the U.S. under a court order. Before he returned, officials criminally charged him with immigrant smuggling. The legal saga has already made one trip to the Supreme Court.

But a court hearing Thursday indicated that Abregos immediate prospects for release from custody hinge on a key step Baltimore Immigration Judge David Jones apparently failed to take in October 2019 when he ruled Abrego could not be deported to El Salvador based on his claim he was likely to be persecuted if returned there.

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In a detailed, 15-page order, Jones considered and credited Abregos assertion that he could be targeted in that country based on gang-related threats to his familys pupusa business. The judge said it was too late for Abrego to get asylum, but granted him protection from being sent back to El Salvador. But Jones never explicitly ordered Abrego deported.

There is no order of removal in the docket, in the record, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said Thursday near the beginning of the four-hour hearing. You cant fake it til you make it. You got to have it.  You have to have the order. Its got to be an order memorialized somewhere and I dont have it.

The formal deportation order is potentially crucial to Abregos fate because immigration judges typically specify which country immigrants will be deported to. That is a key point of contention in Abregos current predicament. Trump administration officials are seeking to send him to Liberia  a country he has no ties to  and Abregos lawyers are urging that he be sent to Costa Rica or allowed to remain in the U.S.

But Jones ruling doesnt say where Abrego was to be sent, or even that he had to leave the U.S.

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Its critically important, Abrego lawyer Andrew Rossman told Xinis. It would be an obvious due process violation to remove someone without a final order of removal.  I think the entire structure the government has built crumbles if there is no final order of removal.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign dismissed the missing order as a technicality and said the notion that Abrego was being ordered deported was implicit in Jones finding that he could not be sent to El Salvador.

I think this represents, necessarily, the final order of removal, Ensign said.

But [Jones] made a mistake and there is no order of removal, Xinis interjected.

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I think that is requiring more formality than the law requires, Ensign replied.

A ruling that Abrego was never formally ordered deported could allow him to make a new asylum claim or take other steps to remain in the U.S. that arent open to someone under a deportation order.

The hearing Thursday also focused on where Abrego could be sent if he is deported. After Abrego was returned to the U.S. earlier this year and put in criminal proceedings in Tennessee on charges he drove migrants from Texas to the East Coast as part of an immigrant smuggling ring, Abregos lawyers and the government neared an agreement that he would be deported to Costa Rica.

However, that deal fell apart over Abregos unwillingness to plead guilty in the criminal case.

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The Trump administration now contends that Costa Rica is no longer a viable destination, proposing instead a series of African countries. Immigration officials current plan is to send Abrego to Liberia, a nation in West Africa founded in the 1800s by people formerly enslaved in the U.S.

Xinis repeatedly prodded lawyers for the government Thursday to reconsider the possibility of sending Abrego to Costa Rica and made clear she understood why he was resisting the African nations.

Hes been to CECOT and back, the judge observed, referring to the notorious anti-terrorism prison Abrego was held in after his deportation from the U.S. She added that Abrego has no cultural ties, no ties whatsoever to Liberia. He will be completely removed from everything and everyone he knows.

Xinis heard from one witness Thursday about the state of Abregos deportation proceedings: John Cantu, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's acting assistant director for removal operations.

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Cantu said a State Department attorney advised him that Costa Ricas earlier willingness to take Abrego was non-binding and sending him there now would require further negotiation and likely additional commitments by the United States.

However, Cantu said he was unable to provide additional details about the issues with Costa Rica or the promises by Liberia because the sum total of his knowledge on those matters came from a five-minute video conference where State Department lawyer Carl Anderson read Cantu a prepared statement.

Cantus testimony irritated Xinis. She said she had no bone to pick with Cantu, but that his appearance continued a pattern of the administration failing to comply with her orders to produce witnesses knowledgeable about the efforts to find so-called third countries to take Abrego.

This witness said nothing today, the judge said later in the hearing. Mr. Cantu knew nothing about anything.  Today was a zero, in my view.

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At least twice during the hearing, Xinis alluded to the fact that a request remains pending for contempt-of-court sanctions against the government for allegedly defying her orders earlier in the legal wrangling over what the courts concluded was his illegal deportation to El Salvador.

Abregos lawyers have argued that the administrations current insistence on sending their client to Africa is an act of retaliation for embarrassment he caused President Donald Trump and other officials in that fight and his current unwillingness to plead guilty in the criminal case. Xinis didnt go that far, but said she found it strange the government was unwilling to give her a detailed explanation of why Costa Rica appeared to be off the table.

Its so odd to me and thats really being polite, she said.

For now, Abrego remains in immigration detention in Pennsylvania and an order Xinis issued earlier in the case blocks his deportation. Even if she orders his release, he faces a trial beginning in January in Nashville in the criminal case.

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Xinis warned both sides Thursday that it will take a while for her to rule and she made one more pitch to the administration to reach a deal with Abrego.

Its not going to be a quick decision, Xinis warned. If the government wants to moot it, it sounds like Mr. Abrego is still open to going to Costa Rica.
India has announced a sweeping set of labour reforms, saying it will implement four long-delayed labour codes that the government says will modernise outdated regulations and extend stronger protections to millions of workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X on Friday that the overhaul would provide a strong foundation for universal social security, minimum and timely payment of wages, safe workplaces and remunerative opportunities.

He said the changes would spur job creation and lift productivity across the economy.

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The labour ministry echoed that message, saying the reforms place workers, especially women, youth, unorganised, gig and migrant workers, firmly at the centre of labour governance, with expanded social security and portable entitlements that apply nationwide.

The government says replacing 29 fragmented laws with four unified codes covering wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety will simplify compliance and make India more attractive for investment.

Many of Indias existing labour laws date back to the British colonial era and have long been criticised by businesses as complicated, inconsistent and a barrier to scaling up manufacturing, an industry that still accounts for less than 20 percent of Indias nearly $4-trillion gross domestic product (GDP).

The new rules formalise changes approved by parliament in 2020 but stalled for years due to political resistance and pushback from several states and unions.

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The reforms introduce significant shifts in how factories operate. Women can now legally work night shifts, firms have greater room to extend working hours, and the threshold for companies requiring prior approval for layoffs has been raised from 100 to 300 workers.





Union opposition

Officials argue this flexibility will encourage employers to expand operations without fear of lengthy bureaucratic delays.

For the first time, the codes also define gig and platform work, offering legal recognition and expanding social protection to a fast-growing segment of the labour force.

Government estimates suggest the gig economy could reach more than 23.5 million workers by 2030, up sharply from about 10 million in 2024/25.

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Economists say the changes may initially strain small and informal firms but could strengthen household incomes over time.

In the short term, they may hurt small, unorganised firms, but in the long run  with minimum wages and increased social security, it could be positive for both working conditions and consumption, said Devendra Kumar Pant of India Ratings & Research, speaking to the Reuters news agency.

Trade unions, however, remain fiercely opposed. The labour codes have been implemented despite strong opposition from the trade unions and it will snatch the workers rights, including fixed-term jobs and rights available under the earlier labour laws, said Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress.




An Indian fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot in front of hundreds of shocked onlookers.

The Indian-made Tejas warplane was executing a manoeuvre when it plunged to the ground and erupted in a fireball. The pilot was unable to eject.

The crash happened in full view of a packed grandstand watching the aerobatics display on the last day of the Middle East's biggest air show.

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Dubai's government-run media office confirmed the "tragic death of the pilot" and the Indian Air Force (IAF) announced an inquiry.

"IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," it said in a statement.

The plane went down about a mile (1.6 kilometres) from the show site, which was full of planes, helicopters and other hardware on static display.

The United Arab Emirates' president and prime minister, aviation industry leaders and military top brass were among thousands who attended the show this week.

Videos on social media showed the aircraft plunging to the ground and bursting into flames on impact. Smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles sped towards it.

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"The pilot was flying at a low altitude, performing risky manoeuvres," Iraqi eyewitness Hassan Loqman told AFP.

"Then he seemed he was trying to avoid the accident, he began to steer the plane upwards, but he couldn't do so in time."

The incident happened near the start of the daily flying display, which features barrel rolls, loops and other stunts. The demonstration later resumed.

It is the second crash involving the single-seat Tejas in less than two years after a non-fatal training accident in Rajasthan in March last year.

In September, India signed a $7 billion order for 97 upgraded Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to replace its Russian MiG-21 fleet after decades of use.

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The Tejas, designed and built in India, was first commissioned into the air force in 2016.

Friday's crash is believed to be the first in the history of the Dubai Airshow, which dates back to 1986.

Dubai's state-owned Emirates and flydubai airlines signed several major agreements at the airshow, including Emirates' order for 65 Boeing jets valued at $38 billion.

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There was no warning before the gunshot was fired from within the house. Inside, an armed homeowner believed they'd thwarted a crime. Feet away, a loved one watched as their family member died, the light low before sunrise.

That was the case on Nov. 5, 2025, as it also was on Sept. 25, 1986. Nearly four decades before the death of Maria Florinda Rios Perez, a high school junior mistaken for a vandal was fatally shot while delivering The Indianapolis Star on his early morning paper route.

The killing of Scott "Patrick" Lawson, 16, drew national headlines. As the teen approached a northside home to deliver the morning paper, 74-year-old Nokomis Toombs fired a shotgun through his living room window, striking Lawson in the chest. Lawson's mother, who was helping her son out that morning, was parked feet away.

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Toombs told police he'd been keeping an all-night vigil after a rash of youth violence near his home in the 5200 block of North Rosslyn Avenue north of the Indiana Fairgrounds. When Lawson approached his home at about 4:45 a.m., Toombs believed he was a neighborhood teen taking part in an ongoing harassment campaign. He did not give a warning before firing the gun, he told police.

Archive photo: A station wagon parked next to Nokomis Toombs' house warns of a "burgler proof home" on Thursday, Sept. 25, 1986 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Toombs had recently testified against three teens in a burglary case and feared retaliation, according to a Sept. 26, 1986, United Press International article.

About a month before Lawson's death, police confiscated two guns from Toombs after he admitted to firing into a neighbor's home. He said his own home had been fired upon first, and the guns were returned because Toombs had no criminal record.

Prosecutors soon learned that Toombs had not been home all night on Sept. 25, as he had claimed, and had instead been cut off at a bar only hours before the shooting  a fact that likely made the state's case stronger.

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Toombs was charged with murder within days of the shooting.

Archive photo: Scott Patrick Lawson was a 16-year-old junior at Chatard High School when he was killed by a paper route customer who mistook him for a vandal on Sept. 25, 1985.

"I'm not convinced this was a case of a homeowner defending his home," said Steve Goldsmith, Marion County's then-prosecutor, according to an Associated Press article from Sept. 29, 1986.

Indiana law allows people to use reasonable force  including deadly force  to prevent an unlawful entry of their home, occupied motor vehicle or curtilage.

Toombs eventually pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 1987, serving two and a half after a sentence reduction and good time credit.

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There are sharp differences between the two shootings, decades apart. Curt Andersen, the 62-year-old man charged in connection with the Nov. 5, 2025, shooting of Maria Florinda Rios Perez, who arrived at his home mistakenly thinking she had a cleaning job there, made no mention to police about previous break-ins or crime, according to court documents. There's also no indication that investigators suspected Andersen of being under the influence at the time of the shooting.

Archive photo: A copy of the Indianapolis Star and a pair of shattered glasses lay on the ground next to a broken window at Nokomis Toombs' house on Thursday, Sept. 25, 1986 in Indianapolis.

On Nov. 17, Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced a charge of voluntary manslaughter against Andersen. Guy Relford, Andersen's attorney, indicated on social media that his defense will center around castle doctrine.

"Contrary to the contention of the prosecutor  and without discussing the specific facts of the case  we believe Mr. Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time," Relford wrote on X shortly after charges were announced.

Andersen pleaded not guilty during his initial hearing Nov. 21.

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Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s
The Tolleston neighborhood is one step closer to welcoming its new community hub as construction continues on Garys new YMCA campus

Garys new YMCA is taking shape, with construction moving steadily toward a planned September 2026 opening and several newly confirmed amenities and youth programs now taking form in the Tolleston neighborhood. Construction has reached a major new phase, with exterior walls up, pools being dug, floors being poured, and interior work expected to begin after Christmas. The $35 million project is funded through a mix of city, state, and philanthropic contributions.

The new YMCA facility, a partnership with Crossroads YMCA, Methodist Hospitals, and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana, will feature a state-of-the-art, 91,000-square-foot facility that combines youth development and wellness.

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We are on track, said Jay Buckmaster, CEO of Crossroads YMCA.

The facility will include classrooms, a wellness center, a teaching kitchen, outdoor recreation areas, and community gathering spaces. Buckmaster said updated plans also add three gyms, including a main court with a track around the perimeter, a full-day child care center for up to 70 infants and preschoolers, a ramped warm-water therapy pool for rehabilitation, and a cafe the YMCA hopes to lease to a local vendor through a future request for proposal.

A rendering shows the front of the new YMCA. (Courtesy of Shive-Hattery) A rendering shows a planned swimming pool at the new YMCA. (Courtesy of Shive-Hattery)

We dont want to run it, as that is not our wheelhouse, Buckmaster said jokingly about the cafe. The hope with this [request for proposal] for the cafe is that we get somebody who is from the community who really has the experience to be able to move with the need and demand.

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For Buckmaster, having more than 6,000 Gary residents already enrolled at other Crossroads YMCA locations underscores how significant the new facility will be for families who travel outside the city for youth programs, exercise classes, and child care.

We know the value is there, he said. Its just that people have to leave their community to get those resources. This project brings those resources home.

The existing Boys & Girls Club building, the former Tolleston School, is undergoing a full interior renovation and will connect directly to the new YMCA. No major exterior changes are planned, but staff say the inside will look completely new by the time the facility opens.

Everything will be changed and updated because we havent had a facelift since we moved here, said program director Marcus Steele.

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Club director Brianna Griffin said the partnership will eventually allow families to access health care, pools, youth programming, fitness areas, and child care in one location.

Were showing you that you can have this in your community, Griffin said, noting that many residents travel outside the city for amenities that should be available locally. You dont have to go to [other places]. Its right here in Gary. I want them to take pride in that we own something that is high quality.

The construction process has also inspired a new workforce development program for teens. The club created CONSTRUCT  Constructing Opportunities for New Students To Reveal Underrepresented Construction Talent  which introduces middle and high school students to careers in engineering, architecture, and the trades. Children have toured the site, reviewed plans, and followed the work up close.

Weve had kids who have started saying they want to go into that field, Steele said. This gives kids who know school isnt for them a chance to explore another career path.

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As the project moves toward its final stages, club staff and YMCA leaders say the excitement has continued to build among families.

I think this will be the start of something great for Gary, Steele said. Were heading in such a great direction, and I think this will be like the crown jewel. I think this hub will bring people back to the community, bring jobs, and bring resources for our people.

The post Inside Garys New YMCA: Upcoming Features and Programs appeared first on Capital B Gary.
ORLANDO, Fla.  As a parks reporter, I visit theme parks more than most people. I've seen the hard work and heart that go into building and operating these immersive destinations.

However, I was completely blown away by all the things Id not considered and encountered at my first International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in Orlando, which felt like a fever dream designed for fun.

There were so many highly specialized companies on the massive show floor, experts in everything from the misting fans that cool guests off in queues to the soft pretzels sold at snack stands, and of course, the makers of the rides themselves.

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When you look at an amusement park, it's actually a village, Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of IAAPA, the global trade association for the attractions industry, told USA TODAY.

The whole village showed up at IAAPA Expo with their latest and greatest offerings. Here are five of the top things I saw and one thing I didnt.

1. Accessibility for all abilities

In joint Instagram post with Zamperla, Morgan's Wonderland said WingZ's "unique motion and responsive interactivity creates a feeling of freedom not found in any other attraction."

There are several full-on rides set up on the massive show floor at the Orange County Convention Center. Towering above them all is WingZ, a first-of-its-kind, wheelchair-accessible tower ride built by Zamperla in partnership with and for Morgans Wonderland, the worlds first ultra-accessible theme park in San Antonio. It will open with the park's 2026 season in late February.

Riders flap their arms to go higher. If a guest doesnt have arm mobility, a fellow guest can do the flapping instead, as I discovered on a test ride. The ride itself is thrilling, bobbing up and down at will, and an example of how guests of all abilities can play together, which is central to Morgans mission.

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Wahl said many other parks are moving in that direction. It is in the interest of each one of us to do the right thing, but also the thing which actually makes economic sense, he said. We want to deliver experiences for the broadest number of guests.

'For everybody': See inside the first ultra-accessible theme park, Morgans Wonderland

2. New ride vehicles

Dollywood says NightFlight Expedition will be the "world's first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride."

Each year, ride makers unveil new attraction vehicles at IAAPA Expo. This year, Mack Rides and Dollywood debuted a boat-like vessel for NightFlight Expedition, which will open at the Smoky Mountain theme park next spring.

It's the first of its kind, a hybrid water coaster that's really unique, Eugene Naughton, president of the Dollywood Company, told USA TODAY. We have half a million gallons of water that's going to rush by you as you're riding the NightFlight Expedition, and you're going to get a chance to really, truly feel what it's like to whitewater raft.

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Other debuts included a submarine-like vehicle by Vekoma for SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, a groundbreaking suspended dark ride opening at SeaWorld Orlando next year.

3. Not-just-virtual reality

A video monitor shows what the rider's view on VR Fighter Aircraft, which FuninVR demonstrated at IAAPA Expo.

Multiple expo booths showcased virtual reality experiences. The ones that stood out paired VR with physical effects in motion simulators, like the VR Fighter Aircraft by FuninVR.

I didnt try it myself, but watched a young expo attendee steer the aircraft with a smile, as it wove from side to side. It may not have been a theme park ride, but the expo isnt just for parks, and I can definitely see VR being incorporated into more park experiences going forward.

When we talk about the attractions industry, we often think of theme parks. We think Disney, we think Six Flags, we think SeaWorld, we think LEGOLAND, but looking at the people who come here, it's everything, Wahl said. We have ski resorts here. We have cruise companies here. We have shopping centers here ... because everybody is about thinking, how do we entertain guests and how do we bring even more joy to the people?

4. Impressive animatronics

Only Dinosaurs displayed an array of dinosaur animatronics, puppets and more at IAAPA Expo.

I was delighted by an animatronic Dilophosaurus by Only Dinosaurs. I know it was supposed to look scary as it opened its toothy mouth and fanned out its neck frill, but I thought it was adorable. I was also enamored by the company's puppets, including a baby Triceratops whose mouth I could open and close and whose eyes I could make blink by hand.

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Other animatronics on display at the expo included a cute little blue alien at the Hitec Commercial Solutions booth and two newly revealed characters created by Sally Dark Rides for Kings Islands highly anticipated Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, opening next April.

5. Unique souvenirs

Apple Industries unveiled its new Star Wars Galactic ID maker at IAAPA Expo, noting it's still a work in progress.

There was a whole section of the show floor dedicated to branded photo booths. The most impressive was a new Star Wars Galactic ID maker by Apple Industries. Instead of printing on film paper, the machine produces high-quality, hard-plastic Rebel and Resistance ID cards.

I didnt quite align my head in the right place for mine, but it still looked cool. And I could imagine the personalized souvenir becoming a must-have for Star Wars fans.

Bonus: Collaboration

Even after hours on the show floor, I didnt see it all, but theres one thing I wish I had time for at IAAPA Expo.

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We actually have 170 education sessions where peers talk about the insights, what they have learned, what worked, what didn't work, to make sure to help others, Wahl said.

He noted that companies may be secretive about future projects, but they readily share lessons from current and past experiences.

Sally Dark Rides and Kings Island unveiled audio-animatronics for the Ohio park's upcoming Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare attraction, at IAAPA Expo.

I think what we try to do here is to inspire people, obviously with new products and innovations, but also with what others have done, he said.

I definitely left the expo inspired.

(This story was updated to fix a typo and add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 of the coolest things at IAAPA, the massive expo behind theme parks
(Photo by David R. Krigbaum)



Sasebos Shimanose Art Center opened its latest exhibition, Waltz on the Western Edge, on Oct. 31, and runs till Nov. 30.

As a coastal city, the ocean has always been vital to Sasebos livelihood and its place on Kyushus western edge has put it in contact with foreign influences through trade, religion, and conflict. Waltz on the Western Edge conceptually explores this relationship over 40,000 years through artifacts.

The Circulating Sea covers prehistory and shares artifacts from Japans earliest civilizations, the Jomon and Yayoi. This 10,000-year time span is illustrated with skeletal remains, pottery, jewelry and tools. While many of these came from Sasebo, such as a 6,000-year-old tomb with human remains, they are displayed alongside artifacts from that era found around Japan.

(Photo by David R. Krigbaum)

(Photo by David R. Krigbaum)

human remains (Photo by David R. Krigbaum)



The next section, Dividing Sea, covers an aspect of Japanese history unique to Kyushu, the Hidden Christians. Many people in what is now Nagasaki Prefecture had converted to Christianity before it was banned in the early 17th century. Its followers were required to recant their faith or face a gruesome public execution via means such as boiling alive or crucifixion. Pockets of Christians continued to worship in secret, especially on Sasebos remote islands. They hid Christian iconography in everyday items such as crosses in sword guards, and even Buddhist statues were given a secret Christian bend. This section displays these Christian items as well as the edict banning the religion and a map of Japan.

sword guard (Photo by David R. Krigbaum)



The last history section is the Swirling Sea, which covers Sasebos history as a military port from the bases opening in 1889 to the post-World War II era. Broadly, this is split between calligraphy by people associated with Sasebo such as Admiral Togo Heihachiro and a display of Japanese World War II artifacts. Togos relationship with Sasebo goes back to 1883 when he commanded a ship which brought navy surveyors to Sasebo Bay. He would return as Sasebo Naval District commandant in 1899 and his vessels sortied from Sasebo during the Russo-Japanese War, were he became a national hero. A special addition is a display of atomic bomb artifacts from Nagasaki, including a clock stopped when the bomb detonated at 11:02.

Whether youre interested in archeology, military history or Japanese culture in general, this exhibition is an opportunity to see a little of each and how they relate to the port many service members, civilians and retirees call home.

Also on display are two photo exhibitions on the mezzanine. One is an underwater World War II ship wreck photo collection taken at Bikini Atoll, where many warships were sunk in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests. The other is a collection of smiles from around the world.

Upon entry, visitors are greeted by the peace cannon. This home-made cannon can blast rice and smell delicious doing it. It part of the ground floor Interactive Sea portion of Waltz on the Western Edge, which focuses on exploring themes of peace through contemporary art and music.

The entire exhibition is in Japanese but I used Google Translate and had no issue understanding the artifact descriptions and floor summaries. Tickets are 1,200 yen.

Article author David R. Krigbaum loaned a portion of his Japanese Home Front collection to the museum for this exhibition.
The government has identified the underdeveloped Makran region in southeastern Iran as a possible new capital. No timeline for the move has been announced.

Iranian PresidentMasoud Pezeshkian said that relocating Irans capital from Tehran has become unavoidable, citing overcrowding and limited water resources, Iran International reported on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting in Qazvin, Pezeshkian said Tehran can no longer support further construction or population growth.

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He noted that transferring water from the Persian Gulf would be extremely costly, explaining that although Iran lacked the funds when the relocation plan was first proposed, the move is now considered essential.

The government has identified the underdeveloped Makran region in southeastern Iran as a possible new capital. No timeline for the move has been announced.

A youth drinks water from a fountain in Mellat Park, as the Iran faces sever water shortages, in Tehran on November 9, 2025. Iran was laying plans on November 8, 2025, to cut off water supplies periodically to Tehran's 10-million-strong population as it battles its worst drought in many decades. (credit: ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Mismanagement of Tehran's water supply

As of last week, Tehrans Amir Kabir Dam sat at just 8% capacity, and the capitals reservoirs are half-empty. Water-pressure reductions have begun across the city, with officials quietly warning that the taps may soon run dry altogether.

The government blames climate change and sanctions for Irans water crisis. But the truth, as Iranian water experts repeatedly emphasize, lies in decades of human error: overbuilding dams, draining aquifers, and politicizing resource management.

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Between 2012 and 2018, Iran more than doubled the number of its dams, from 316 to 647, many of which were built without environmental assessments. The result is a network of failing reservoirs, collapsing groundwater tables, and a 25 percent loss of urban water through decaying pipelines.

Alex Winston contributed to this report.
An East Irondequoit high school student was arrested Nov. 21 after he brought an altered airsoft gun to school, police and school officials say.

Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said officers were called to Eastridge High School Friday morning after school security officials discovered a gun in a student's backpack.

"Upon further inspection, after breaking the gun down, we come to find out it was only an airsoft pistol, but it actually had a real gun magazine with a live round inserted into it," Peters said. "He could pull the magazine out to make it look like it was a real gun."

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The airsoft gun, however, would not be capable of firing the bullet inside.

Police: Gun found in students backpack at Eastridge High

Peters said the student was charged with criminal possession of an airsoft gun on school grounds, considered a minor infraction. He will likely be released Friday with an appearance ticket.

School officials said they received an anonymous tip about the firearm and initiated a "hold-in-place" procedure until the student and weapon were secured.

"At no point did anyone use the weapon in a way that put another student or staff in danger," a district statement said.

The student involved will face discipline in accordance with the district's code of conduct. Irondequoit police will increase patrols around the district over the next few days.

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 Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Irondequoit student brought altered airsoft gun to school in backpack
MILAN (Reuters) -Italy's competition authority said on Friday it had closed a probe it had launched last year over Google's alleged unfair commercial practices in the use of personal data after the online search giant adopted remedies.

In July 2024 the authority opened an investigation as the request Google sent its users for consent to connect to its services "could constitute a misleading and aggressive commercial practice", and that the information it provided was "incomplete and misleading".

After the regulator's probe, Google will change its consent request "by providing clearer and more accurate information on the implications of consent for the use of personal data", as well as on the range and volume of its services where consent may involve the "combination" and "cross-use" of personal data, the Antitrust said in statement.

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Giulia Segreti)
At an eel restaurant near Tokyo, four friends sit down to eat a Japanese delicacy now the subject of a heated international debate as its numbers decline.

The eel, hugely popular across Japan, is also endangered and will be discussed at a key global forum that regulates trade of threatened wildlife, starting in Uzbekistan on Monday.

"It's a luxury dish that we eat to treat ourselves or to celebrate an occasion," Yukiko Takahashi, a 52-year-old saleswoman told AFP as she tucked into her food at Hiranuma Suisan.

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"Today, we friends came here to lift our spirits."

Japan is strongly opposed to a proposal by the European Union, Panama and Honduras to list all 17 species of eels worldwide under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which restricts trade of protected wildlife.

Up to 85 percent of global eel consumption takes place in East Asia, particularly Japan, which imported almost three-quarters of the 61,000 tons consumed there last year.

Eel populations are falling worldwide, scientists say, largely due to factors linked to human activity such as the pollution of waterways, destruction of wetlands, hydroelectric dams, and fishing.

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Estimating population sizes remains difficult because of the mysterious life cycle of the snake-like fish.

The Japanese eel, a common species in East Asia, reproduces west of the Mariana Islands, 2,000 to 3,000 kilometres (1,240-1,865 miles) from the Japanese coast.

Its larvae develop into glass eels (juveniles) as they approach the coast, then live in freshwater for 5 to 15 years before making the reverse journey.

The Japanese eel, along with the American variety, is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.

The European eel is considered critically endangered.

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- A luxury dish -

Eels, called "unagi" in Japan, have been consumed there for millennia and are now typically grilled on skewers and dipped in a soy and rice wine sauce.

People are willing to face ever-increasing prices to continue the culinary tradition, driven by significant year-to-year fluctuations in supply.

"Customers understand that it's a luxury dish," chef Tomoyuki Takashino said from behind the stove as he skewered an eel he had just killed and filleted.

Unaju, an eel served over rice in a lacquered box, is priced at 5,250 yen ($34), more than double what the dish might have cost 15 years ago, Takashino said.

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Nearly all eels consumed in Japan come from aquaculture, which relies entirely on the capture or import of glass eels because they do not reproduce in captivity.

Catches of glass eels in Japan have dropped to less than 10 percent of their 1960s levels.

"We buy the glass eels, which we raise in these tanks," said Takayuki Hiranuma, president of a high-tech aquaculture farm that operates the restaurant.

Behind him, some 80,000 eels are kept in six huge reservoirs in 30C filtered water.

Their weight will increase a thousandfold over 10 months of farming before they are sold or cooked on site.

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If eels are listed under Appendix II of the CITES convention, as will be discussed in Uzbekistan, their trade would be more strictly regulated, requiring export permits from the country of origin.

"This is a point that worries us greatly," Hiranuma said.

Japan argues that it has implemented fishing quotas and farming permits, and cites a study by Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology that says the Japanese eel population has tripled across East Asia since 1990.

"And we are cooperating with China, South Korea, and Taiwan -- territories where the Japanese eel lives -- to limit the quantities of glass eels captured and improve stock management," Tetsuya Kawashima, an official from the Japanese Fisheries Agency, told AFP.

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A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization expert advisory panel also said in a report this year that the risk of extinction for Japanese and American eels was "low".

- 'Greatest wildlife crime' -

But for Andrew Kerr of the Sustainable Eel Group, such findings fail to take into account eel trafficking, which he calls the "greatest wildlife crime" on the planet.

Due to the fact that eels look alike, "all sorts of games are played pretending it's one species when it's another", he said. "So trafficking can thrive."

Asian supply has long relied on the smuggling of glass eels from the EU, which banned their export in 2010.

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Approximately 100 tons of glass eels transit each year, according to the European police agency Europol.

But with the dismantling of illegal supply chains, European supply has diminished and there's been a rise in shipments from the Caribbean, threatening that population, Kerr warned.

"It's not about their imminent risk of extinction. It's about how do we create some sort of world order in the trade of eel. It's a global game," he said.

mac/aph/ane/pbt
Japan's export of lethal weapons sent an "extremely dangerous signal" indicating expanded military capabilities, Chinese observers and media said on Thursday as relations between the two countries continued to nosedive.

The assessment followed Japanese media reports on Wednesday that Japan had exported domestically produced Patriot surface-to-air missile interceptors to the United States.

The US would use the missiles to replenish its own stockpile as it provided military support to Ukraine in the war against Russia, Kyodo News reported.

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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.

Japan's export of lethal weapons has been heavily constrained by its Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, guidelines for the country's arms exports. In recent years, Tokyo has repeatedly sought to revise the principles.

The efforts included a 2023 amendment to the principles permitting the supply of Japanese-made Patriot missiles to the US.

Japan's export of lethal weapons like these surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptors has been heavily constrained by the country's Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology. Photo: AP alt=Japan's export of lethal weapons like these surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptors has been heavily constrained by the country's Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology. Photo: AP>

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For years, Beijing has accused Japan's political right-wing of whitewashing the nation's wartime history and trying to amend its pacifist constitution, alter its non-nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities.

Global Times, a state-owned tabloid newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, quoted Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng on Thursday as saying Japan "has no intention of exercising self-restraint in arms exports, which is an extremely dangerous signal that will trigger a series of chain reactions".

Zhang argued that "Japan will use the export of Patriot missiles as a template to export more lethal weapons abroad, which will inevitably pose a threat to regional security".

The recent weapons shipment comes in the midst of a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on a Taiwan contingency.

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Speaking to the Japanese parliament on November 7, Takaichi stated that the use of force against Taiwan could be deemed a "survival-threatening situation", thereby enabling Tokyo to deploy its Self-Defence Forces.

The Japanese leader has refused to retract her comments, further infuriating Beijing.

Talks in Beijing on Tuesday involving senior diplomats failed to ease the tensions, with Beijing reportedly imposing a seafood import ban and suspending cultural exchange events as well as intergovernmental dialogue.

Takaichi's comments suggesting Japan might intervene should Beijing use force against Taiwan signalled a shift from the long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" voiced by previous Japanese leaders.

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Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including Japan and the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Beijing has vowed to respond with "resolute" countermeasures if Tokyo were to resort to force in the Taiwan Strait.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator and former People's Liberation Army instructor, said Japan wanted to leverage arms production for the US to advance its domestic military industry.

"It can replicate or even improve certain American weapons systems by introducing and acquiring intellectual property," Song added.

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Song said Japan hoped the shipment would create a "breach" in its strict arms export restrictions.

In addition, Japan was seeking to "exert political influence" by exporting arms to countries such as the Philippines and Australia, according to Song.

Tokyo's ultimate objective, he said, was "to amend the Peace Constitution and normalise the nation" - terminology tied to improving Japan's national defences.

Last month, Japan's new defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, announced he would continue to promote the country's arms exports.

Also last month, Takaichi said she intended to increase Japan's defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by the end of March next year, fully two years ahead of the deadline set by previous governments of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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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  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Prosecutors have taken the death penalty off the table for the estranged couple accused of hiring a hitman to kill a St. Johns County father of four.

Thats according to court documents filed on Friday.

Action News Jax has been following the murder of Jared Bridegan since he was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach in 2022.

Bridegans ex-wife Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband Mario Fernandez Saldana have both been arrested for Bridegans murder.

Shanna Gardner (left) and Mario Fernandez Saldana

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In a social media post, Bridegans widow Kirsten Bridegan said she supported the decision. Read her statement in full below:

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Today the State of Florida officially withdrew the death penalty. This is a decision we unanimously support and stand behind. As a family it is something we have considered and weighed for quite some time.

From the beginning, our greatest responsibility has been to advocate for Jared and for all four of his children. They have already endured unimaginable pain. Prolonging their suffering through years of appeals or forcing them to relive this trauma during an extended, grueling trial would only deepen their wounds.

Our decision to support the withdrawal of the death penalty is rooted entirely in our love for Jareds oldest two children. It is not an act of mercy for those who took Jareds life; it is an act of mercy for the children who must live with the consequences.

The people who murdered Jared showed no mercy, no compassion, and no regard for the lifelong pain their actions would inflict on his children. We are choosing a different path - one that honors Jareds legacy and the man he was.

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This choice does not diminish the gravity or the evil of what was done. We remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for Jared and believe it will be seen in this life and the next. That belief brings us strength.

Thank you for standing with us and for supporting us as we continue this difficult journey. #justiceforjaredb #justiceforthekids #news

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

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.
When JD Vance told a stadium of thousands he hoped his wife would one day be moved by the Christian gospel the same way he was, he inadvertently stepped into a contentious dialogue in India and among the diaspora about religious freedom and, for some, evoked memories of the countrys complicated past with Christian proselytizing.

Speaking at an event last month with Turning Point USA at the University of Mississippi, Vance was asked by an audience member about Christianity and American patriotism.

Why are we making Christianity one of the major things that you have to have in common to be one of you guys? To show that I love America just as much as you do? the audience member asked.

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In an assertive and lengthy response that began on immigration, Vance then discussed his interfaith marriage: My wife did not grow up Christian. I think its fair to say she grew up in a Hindu family but not in a particularly religious family.

Raised in an evangelical family, Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019. His wife, Usha Vance, who grew up in Southern California and is of Indian descent, was raised in a Hindu household.

Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way, Vance went on to say.

As the debate around those comments began to swell online among some Indians and the Indian diaspora, Vance responded to a since-deleted comment on X, writing that like many people in an interfaith marriage, he hopes his wife may see things as he does one day, but would continue to support her regardless.

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Speaking on October 30 at the Turning Point USA event honoring his longtime friend and late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, Vance explained that he and his wife were agnostic or atheist when they met.

We decided to raise our kids Christian, the vice president said, adding that the couples 8-year-old son, Vivek, had his first communion a year ago  a remark that drew thunderous applause.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance at the Vatican, May 19. - Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Reuters

Usha Vance talked about navigating raising children in an interfaith marriage during an interview with Meghan McCain in June, noting she and her husband had several conversations about it during his conversion to Catholicism.

Im not Catholic and Im not intending to convert or anything like that, Usha Vance said.

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She added that while their children attend Catholic school, they can choose whether they want to be baptized Catholic. They are also exposed to the Hindu faith and traditions through her family, she said.

My grandmother is a particularly devout Hindu. She prays every day. She goes to the temple regularly. Shell do her own pujas (prayer rituals).

During the event last month, the vice president said, One of the most important Christian principles is that you respect free will  You figure this stuff out as a family, and you trust in God to have a plan, and you try to follow it as best as you can.

But, despite Vances invocation of free will, his remarks struck a nerve  some described the vice presidents words as denigrating towards Hindus  and broadly, South Asians  at a time of rising hostilities towards immigrants in the US.

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Its ridiculous and absolutely wrong, 25-year-old Kush Mehta of Mumbai told CNN of Vances comments expressing his hope his wife would convert. Im in favor of everyone having their own identity, their own values, and their own spiritual path. No one should be forced or pressured into any religion.

Vance felt compelled to declare that his wife was indeed raised Hindu, but not that Hindu, CNN affiliate CNN-News18 editor Shubhangi Sharma wrote in an opinion column. In a political climate so charged against Indian immigrants, this is not just personal. Its political. Its a presidential call to convert.

When an elected leader treats his faith as the ultimate ideal for everyone, including his wife, it ceases to be personal, Areena Arora, a journalist with The Hindu, wrote in an opinion piece, noting at the time of his baptism six years ago, Vance told The American Conservative: My views on public policy and what the optimal state should look like are pretty aligned with Catholic social teaching.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, October 29. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

A reminder of Indias colonial past

For some, Vances comments were a reminder of Indias painful past, where the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century heralded Christian proselytization, prejudice and, at times, forced conversions - particularly under British colonial rule.

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The belief that the Christian religion must shape public order is the same civilisational justification that fuelled Europes conquest of the world, Arora, a journalist with The Hindu, wrote.

Because of the differences between how Hindus and Christians think of religion, and because of the colonial history of Christian evangelizing, many Hindus today still think of Christianity as a kind of undigestible foreign faith, said Chad Bauman, a professor of religious studies at Butler University in Indiana whose research focuses on the interactions and conflicts between Hindus and Christians.

This view is particularly common among the supporters of the party currently in charge, Bauman added, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its brand of Hindu Nationalism.

India has seen recurring ethnic and religious clashes for centuries  but tensions have surged in recent decades amid a rise in violence against the Christian and Muslim minorities and, most notably, since the BJP came to power in 2014.

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Indias constitution guarantees freedom of religion, although some critics argue that religious freedoms have been eroded under the BJP at the expense of non-Hindu minorities. The issue of changing religion remains deeply controversial, and multiple states have put in place laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths.

Bauman said Vances remarks also confirmed a common stereotype many Hindus have of religion in Trumps America: America is not a nation of religious tolerance and pluralism but rather one that privileges Christianity over all other religions.

Several social media users described Vances comments as contrary to American values.

One X user criticized Vance for what they viewed as him casting Ushas Hindu faith as a problem to be fixed, writing: This isnt American values; its weak leadership & poor politics, bending to MAGA pressure, not defending her dignity.

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Another user wrote on X: When JD Vance had hit his lowest, it was his Hindu wife and her Hindu upbringing that had helped him navigate through the tough times. Today in a position of power, her religion has become a liability. What a fall.

She has to stick to her roots

For some in India, Usha Vances position in the administration as a woman of Hindu faith has become a point of pride.

Its amazing  to see someone with Indian roots and a Hindu background in such a visible, powerful space in the US. It shows how far the community has come and how diverse leadership is becoming, said Mehta of Mumbai.

If the second lady does convert, It would create a lot of backlash from people who are very staunch in their beliefs, said Vanessa Almeida, a business owner in Goa.

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She has to stick to her roots as much as possible, Almeida said. Thats what the community has been hoping for.

CNN has reached out to the vice president and second ladys offices.

Then Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive at a campaign rally, July 27, 2024, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. - Adam Bettcher/AP

Vance was quick to defend himself on social media against backlash, writing in the X post that the criticism wreaked of anti-Christian bigotry.

She is not Christian and has no plans to convert, Vance clarified, adding that Usha Vance encouraged him to reengage with his faith many years ago.

But like many people in an interfaith marriage  or any interfaith relationship  I hope she may one day see things as I do, he goes on to say. Regardless, Ill continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because shes my wife.

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This is completely in contrast to Vances previous comments that his wifes Hindu upbringing and values inspired his own return to faith, Priyanka Deo, US correspondent of Indian network NDTV, said on Instagram, adding that his latest remarks suggest acceptance in the United States is conditional and predicated upon becoming a Christian.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism while already married, has said his wife encouraged him to explore his faith and that his family influenced him in the decision.

I remember when I started to reengage with my own faith, Usha was very supportive, Vance said during an interview with Fox News in June 2024.

During the same interview, Usha Vance said she supported her husbands decision for a few reasons, including seeing the power of her parents faith. That was one of the things that made them such good parents. That made them, really, very good people.

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I knew that JD was searching for something. This just felt right for him, she added.

Wooing the Republican base?

Vances comments come ahead of the 2028 election. Trump, in August, suggested Vance was most likely the heir apparent to the Make America Great Again movement  the furthest hes gone in backing Vance as a future presidential candidate.

Vance also told Fox News recently he plans to talk to Trump about potentially running after the 2026 midterm elections.

Ram Puniyani, a Mumbai-based writer and critic of Hindu fundamentalism, said he thinks Vances comments trample on freedom of religion  an essential tenant of any democratic society, be it the United States or India, which is still widely regarded as the worlds largest democracy.

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I believe that Americas civic society had much more liberal attitudes earlier, but those attitudes are getting rigid, and this is not a healthy thing for the growth of democracy worldwide, he added.

Usha Vance has not spoken out about her husbands comments, though some have jumped quickly to her defense.

No one has been harsher on JD Vances policy than I have, wrote California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who is also Hindu, on X. But his wife is an accomplished daughter of immigrants, and they have young kids. Attack on the policies. Leave his family out of it.

In response to others who have called Usha Vance a threat to the MAGA base, McCain, daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, said the second lady was a huge asset to the Republican party, someone who bridged party and political lines and brought warmth to the vice president.

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She is among other things a modern mother and a style icon, McCain wrote on X. Shes personally my favorite person in the Trump administration.

CNNs Esha Mitra and Ayushi Shah contributed to this report.

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NEED TO KNOW

JD Vance said he texted Jeff Bezos with a recommendation about staffing The Washington Post's political desk with a right-wing journalist on Thursday, Nov. 20

Vance said that he recommended the outlet hire Breitbart News' Matthew Boyle as the head of its political coverage

Boyle was not hired and remains at Breitbart, where he is the Washington Bureau Chief

JD Vance has revealed that he once recommended some restructuring of The Washington Post to its billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Vance, 41, sat down for a conversation with Breitbart News' Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle for an interview broadcast on the White House's video feed.

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During the conversation, Vance praised Boyle, describing him as "the most well-sourced journalist in Washington, D.C"  and revealed that he once recommended him to Bezos for a key role at The Washington Post.

"If you remember, maybe six months ago... Maybe it was a year, year and a half ago, when there was this big conversation in The Washington Post about 'What do we do to actually get in touch with the other half of America. How do we actually make our journalism more appealing to the half of the country that doesn't agree with far-left politics?' " Vance said.

"I actually, I think I texted Jeff Bezos, and I said, 'If you're really serious about this, you should just hire Matt Boyle and make him run your entire political reporting shop,' " Vance added.

"Now, Larry Solov [cofounder and CEO of Breitbart News] I'm sure is pissed off at me for that suggestion, but, unfortuantely for The Washington Post, they did not take my advice," he concluded the anecdote.

SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos at Donald Trump's second inauguration Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos at Donald Trump's second inauguration

Bezos has owned the historic publication since 2013, during which he and Donald Trump have had an at-times contentious relationship, due in part to The Washington Post's political coverage.

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Despite this, Bezos was one of several billionaires to attend Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. Others in attendance included Elon Musk  who later served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)  and Mark Zuckerberg.

Bezos is also one of multiple wealthy donors to bankroll the ballroom Trump is building after demolishing the East Wing of the White House, according to reporting by ABC News. The outlet noted that Bezos also donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration.

More recently, Bezos was one of several high-profile guests to attend a black-tie dinner hosted at the White House during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The crown prince's visit was controversial as he has been tied to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was a contributor to The Washington Post. According to The New York Times, a C.I.A. investigation concluded that bin Salman ordered the death.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty JD Vance JD Vance

Bin Salman has continued to deny any involvement, and Trump refused questions on the topic during a press briefing with the crown prince on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

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"You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about," the president told reporters. "Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."



Read the original article on People
NEED TO KNOW

Mark Epstein says he believes President Donald Trump took so long to endorse the release of the Epstein files because theres things in there he doesnt want people to see

He also alleged that Jeffrey Epstein called Trump a crook and investigators should look into the presidents flight logs from the '90s

A White House spokesperson dismissed Mark's recent allegations as "baseless claims" when reached by PEOPLE on Nov. 20

Mark Epstein is sharing why he believes President Donald Trump took so long to release the files related to his late brother, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Mark called into CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront and admitted that he thinks Trumps delay in supporting the release of the long-awaited Epstein files was purposeful.

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Well, I think its an obvious question, not just for me, he said. Its just theres things in there he doesnt want people to see. I mean, that... seems to be obvious.

There is currently no evidence to support his claim, which appears to be speculative.

Additionally, Mark told Burnett that his brother and Trump were very good friends and used to fly together on their respective private planes, which he said is something investigators should look into.

They say Donald was on Jeffs plane like seven times, but I question, have they checked Donalds flight logs from those days to see how many times Jeffrey was on his plane?" Mark said. "I know Jeffrey told me on a number of occasions that he flew up or flew down with Donald. And Donald was in Jeffreys office quite a bit back in the 90s. They were good friends, everybody around knew that.

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Mark then alleged that Jeffrey cut ties with Trump because he realized that Trump was a crook  a comment from his brother that he claims was caught somewhere on tape.

Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997

In the interview, Mark also claimed that the pair spoke to each other following the 2016 presidential election.

Jeffrey told me that it was after the election, Trump called him and it was sort of like Can you believe this? Because nobody believed Trump was going to win. Trump was sort of surprised himself that he won, Mark alleged.

Trump has maintained that he hadnt spoken to Jeffrey in several years prior to his death.

The latest comments from Jeffrey's brother come shortly after he claimed in a phone interview with NewsNation that an unnamed source told him that names of conservative politicians were being axed from the Epstein files to prevent Republicans from getting incriminated.

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"I've been recently told, the reason they're going to be releasing the files and the reason for the flip is that they're sabotaging these files," Mark said on Monday, Nov. 18, further alleging that administration officials are "scrubbing the files to take Republican names out."

"That's what I was told, by a pretty good source," he added.



Additionally, Mark alleged that his brother had information on Trump when he was running for his first term in office in 2016, claiming that it was incriminating enough to cancel the election.

"He didn't tell me what he knew," Mark told the outlet, "but Jeffrey definitely had dirt on Trump."

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Asked about Mark's recent claims, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson shifted the conversation to Democrats who were also seemingly in Jeffrey's orbit, suggesting that their affiliations with Jeffrey deserve attention too.

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"Instead of amplifying baseless claims, the media should start asking real questions: why was Democrat Stacey Plaskett live texting Epstein in 2019 during a congressional hearing after he was a convicted sex offender and why did she accept thousands of dollars from him? Why was Hakeem Jeffries soliciting money and dinner from Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender? Why did President Bill Clinton travel on Epsteins plane 26 times? And why did one of Epsteins victims write that she saw Clinton on Epsteins island with two young women?" Jackson said in the statement.

"These are just some of the many questions that the American people deserve to have answered, she added.

Plaskett has addressed her text exchanges with Epstein during a 2019 House hearing by defending to CNN that she "believed that Jeffrey Epstein had information" and "was going to get information to get at the truth." She claimed, "Having a friendship with him is not something that I would deem to have."

House Minority Leader Jeffries recently shrugged off a newly released Epstein email  which showed that a fundraising firm invited Epstein to one of Jeffries' campaign dinners in 2013  telling CNN, "I have no recollection of the email. I've never had a conversation with him, never met him, know nothing about him other than the extreme things that hes been convicted of doing."



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Clinton's spokesperson, meanwhile, has maintained for years that the former president was unaware of Epstein's crimes. In another of the recently released emails from Jeffrey's personal address, the late wealth manager wrote, "CLinton [sic] was never on the island."

Trump has distanced himself from Jeffrey over the years, though there have been documented ties between the two for years prior to the disgraced financier's arrest and downfall.

Jeffrey was arrested in July 2019 and charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. One month later, while he was awaiting trial at Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, Jeffrey died in an apparent suicide.



Read the original article on People
Podcaster Joe Rogan mocked President Donald Trump's changing stance on releasing the Epstein Files during the Nov. 19 episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience."

I heard theres no files, I heard its a hoax, Rogan said. And then all of a sudden, hes going to release the files. Well, I thought there was not files.

Trump referred to the files as a hoax before calling on congressional Republicans to vote for the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In announcing that he signed the bill on Nov. 19 Trump again said the growing demand for transparency on Epstein's relationships with the rich and powerful, including the president himself, was the "latest Hoax (sic)" created by Democrats

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Rogan is an ally of Trump's, having had him on the podcast and endorsing the then Republican candidate just before the 2024 election. However, Rogan's support for Trump administration has waned  primarily due to how it has handled the Epstein files.

"This one's a line in the sand," Rogan said, while discussing the Epstein files on the July 25 episode. "You have this one hardcore line in the sand that everybody had been talking about forever and then they're trying to gaslight you on that."

"The Joe Rogan Experience" was named the most popular podcast of 2025 by Apple Nov. 18.

Joe Rogan stands for a benediction after President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

'I am one story of a thousand': Epstein survivors have a message for the country

What are the Epstein files?

The files include thousands of documents related to civil and criminal investigations of Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex offender. He died of suicide in his jail cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial.

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Between a federal indictment, a police investigation, civil lawsuits, and public allegations, Epstein is accused of running an international sex trafficking ring that recruited more than 1,000 girls as young as 14 to participate in sex with him, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and other men.

Women have said they were abused all over the world  in California, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, the United Kingdom, and the Virgin Islands  often under the guise of providing massage services to earn extra money or getting help with their modeling careers from a well-connected man.

National Director of World Without Exploitation Lauren Hersh embraces Jeffrey Epstein survivor Liz Stein as they react to the Senate's passing of the bill to force the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025. Annie Farmer, victim of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, speaks from the podium during a candlelight vigil to honor survivors of his crimes in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025. US lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on November 18 for releasing government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after President Donald Trump dropped his opposition to opening the books on a scandal that has roiled politics, law enforcement and the country's elite. Epstein abuse survivor Danielle Bensky, and National Director of World Without Exploitation Lauren Hersh embrace after receiving word that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved passage of the House's Epstein Files Transparency Act on Capitol Hill on Nov. 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The House voted 427-1 to approve the bill and the release of documents and files. The legislation instructs the U.S. Department of Justice to release all files related to the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump can now sign it into law. Epstein abuse survivors were attending a bipartisan vigil hosted by the Democratic Women's Caucus. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) walks to the House Chambers on Nov. 18, 2025 before the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Jena-Lisa Jones, left, victim of Jeffrey Epstein, left, and along with other Epstein survivors and family members depart the United States House of Representatives on Nov. 18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The group of Epstein survivors and family members depart the United States House of Representatives on Nov.18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) departs the United States House of Representatives on Nov.18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) departs the United States House of Representatives on Nov.18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) departs the United States House of Representatives on Nov. 18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) who are leading the charge to release files related to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaking Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025 along with survivors as the House prepares to vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) departs the House floor, following the vote of the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the bill seeking to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025. U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) speaks at a press conference calling for the release of the Epstein files, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025. Reporters and members of Congress participate in live TV segments before the U.S. House of Representatives begins voting on the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) walks to the House Chambers in the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The House voted 427-1 to approve the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the release of documents and files. The legislation instructs the U.S. Department of Justice to release all files related to the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. It now goes to the Senate for a vote before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) center, and Ro Khanna (D-CA), left, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), center right, who are leading the charge to release files related to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaking Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025 along with survivors as the House prepares to vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) departs the United States House of Representatives on Nov. 18, 2025 following the House vote on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) departing the Capitol on Nov. 18, 2025 after the House voted on the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. See emotional reactions to Epstein files bill clearing Congress in rare moment of unity 1 of 17 National Director of World Without Exploitation Lauren Hersh embraces Jeffrey Epstein survivor Liz Stein as they react to the Senate's passing of the bill to force the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025.

When will the Epstein files actually be released?

It is uncertain when exactly the Justice Department will release materials under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The Justice Department has 30 days to publicize "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" from the investigation into Epstein, according to the legislation. The files must be released to the public in a "searchable and downloadable format."

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Certain information can be withheld, including the identity of victims, "child sexual materials," and anything that might jeopardize an ongoing investigation, according to the bill. Attorney General Pam Bondi is required to provide to Congress a summary of redactions made and legal justifications for withholding information.

We'll continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims, Bondi said Nov. 19.

Days before Trump called on House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files, he ordered the Justice Department to launch an investigation into Democrats linked to Epstein. Ty Cobb, a White House lawyer during Trump's first term, said in an interview with CNN that he believes Bondi will cite the ongoing investigations as a reason not to release the files.

The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 427-1 and the Senate followed suit about three hours later when Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, introduced a motion for unanimous consent.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Nov. 19 that the "clear intent" from the House and Senate is to "get the information out there" after both chambers voted overwhelmingly for the bill.

Contributing: Michael Loria and Joey Garrison  USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Rogan comments on Epstein files. See what he said about Trump
POTOSI, Mo.  A mistrial is declared in a Washington County murder case as jurors remained deadlocked for several hours.

Derek Politte had been accused of killing Christian Hildebrandt in 2021.

Hildebrandt was found dead in a wooded area in Fletcher, Missouri, on the afternoon of March 11, 2021, with a stab wound to his neck. He was 28.

Jurors twice declared they were at a standstill, prompting Polittes attorneys to ask for a mistrial.

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The prosecution requested the jury continue deliberations, but the judge made the decision to end the proceedings.

Both the defense and prosecution will reconvene Dec. 3 to discuss a retrial.

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 FOX 2.
Hinds County Court Judge Yemi Kings granted bond for the woman charged in connection with the 2023 shooting death of Jackson State University student Jaylen Burns, according to court documents.

Court records show 23-year-old Elisha Brown, the woman accused, received a $100,000 bond during her initial court appearance on Friday, Nov. 21. Brown is facing charges for accessory after the fact and hindering prosecution in connection with the death of Burns.

Burns, a 21-year-old Jackson State senior, was shot while trying to break up a fight on Oct. 15, 2023, at the University Pointe Apartment Complex during the university's homecoming weekend.

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According to police, Burns tried to drive himself to the hospital but only made it as far as Lynch Street and Alta Vista Boulevard, where he encountered Jackson police officers. Burns was transported to a hospital where he died.

The family of Burns described him as a "unique and inquisitive" person who was able to touch the lives of many people along with those who knew him from his involvement on campus. Burns was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and president of the C100 Chapter at Jackson State University, an affiliate of the 100 Black Men of America. According to his father, Jason Burns, Jaylen made the dean's list every year.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Bailey Martin said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was requested to take over the investigation Nov. 9, 2023. According to Martin, the agency worked "diligently" with multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies and witnesses to lead to multiple arrests.

Brown was one of four suspects announced as arrested Nov. 7, 2025, by MBI in connection with Burns' death.

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The three other suspects identified by authorities were 23-year-old Jamison Kelly Jr., 24-year-old Marquis Scales and 21-year-old Ziquae Amos. Kings previously denied bond on Nov. 10 for all three suspects for their alleged involvement in this case. Kings said the three suspects were dangers to the community and flight risks.

Water rate increase debate continues: Judge postpones decision on water rate increase for Jackson customers, again. See why

Scales and Amos each face a murder charge. Kelly faces a charge for accessory after the fact.

Back in 2023, authorities initially arrested Kelly and another alleged suspect, Joshua Brown, in connection with the shooting.

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In Nov. 2023, Hinds County Court Judge Johnnie McDaniel released Kelly after determining there was not enough evidence to hold Kelly but ruled the state reserved the right to present the case to the grand jury.

Brown was also released after it was discovered he was out of town at the time of shooting.

Shirley Brown, the mother of Joshua, filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing several entities, including Jackson State University and its campus police department, of conducting a grossly negligent and/or reckless investigation that led to her son's arrest.

Shirley said the family provided video evidence to JSU around Oct. 24, 2023, which "clearly showed" Joshua was in Jones County  about 90 miles from campus  on the day of Burns' death. During a preliminary hearing, the charges against Brown were dismissed.

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That lawsuit case is expected to go to trial in October 2026.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Suspect in 2023 shooting death of JSU student gets bond from judge
A federal judge ruled Thursday that President Donald Trumps deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., was illegal, concluding he lacks authority to send in troops for the deterrence of crime.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb said that while Trump may be the commander in chief of the Guard, his power is constrained by federal laws that limit how those troops can be federalized and deployed, particularly in Washington, D.C., which is controlled by Congress.

The Court rejects Defendants fly-by assertion of constitutional power, finding that such a broad reading of the Presidents Article II authority would erase Congresss role in governing the District and its National Guard, Cobb wrote in a 61-page ruling.

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The Biden-appointed judge also concluded that the Pentagon lacked authority to send 1,000 out-of-state National Guard troops into the district to assist with the law enforcement mission.

Cobb postponed the impact of her decision until Dec. 11 to give the Trump administration time to appeal her decision. However, her decision lands just as the Supreme Court is set to issue its own ruling on the deployment of the National Guard to the Chicago area. Federal appeals courts are also weighing deployments in Portland and Los Angeles.

Trump has described large-scale violence and chaos to justify the deployments, saying the troops are necessary to protect federal functions, despite the fervent objections of state and local leaders.
(This story was updated with new information and the correct spelling of Deran Maddox's name.)

DAYTONA BEACH  A young couple watched a movie on a weekend night three years ago and then parked at the Florida Technical College in DeLand for some alone time in the backseat of a Toyota sedan.

That's when four would-be carjackers drove up intent on taking the Toyota in which Mark Rodriguez was sitting with his girlfriend. Rodriguez fought off one of the carjackers, who appeared to be retreating.

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Another carjacker fired a single shot into Rodriguez's car. The bullet hit him in the head, fatally wounding him. His girlfriend held his bleeding head in her lap as she called for help.

Accused murderers face judge in Daytona Beach

Three of the men involved in the deadly carjacking attempt were sentenced Friday, Nov. 21, during a hearing at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Isaiah Thomas, Nassan Bacon and Terrell Maddox were each charged with first-degree felony murder in Rodriguez's killing on May 22, 2022.

But they reached plea deals to lesser charges, including second-degree murder for Thomas and Maddox, and principal to second-degree murder for Bacon.

Isaiah Thomas was sentenced Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, for a carjacking attempt in 2022 in DeLand in which the car's owner was fatally shot.

Slain De Leon Springs man's family talks about grief

Rodriguez's family members testified at the hearing about the great loss of the young De Leon Springs man who was enjoying life and had a great future ahead of him. A family member spoke about how Rodriguez's father had planned to help his son build a house, but instead found himself tending to his son's grave. An uncle said how he would never be able to speak to his nephew again.

DeLand carjacking ends in murder

It was the second attempted carjacking of the night for the group, which, according to testimony, was looking to steal a car so one of them, Maddox's brother, Deran, could use it to flee town because he was wanted in a separate shooting.

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Deran Maddox was not charged in this crime. But Deran Maddox, 24, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2023 for a shooting on May 20, 2022 in Daytona Beach in which his girlfriend suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The first carjacking attempt was at about 11:45 p.m. at Walmart, 1699 N. Woodland Blvd. on May 21. That failed when they forced the car's owner out of the vehicle. He ran off with the fob needed to start the car still his pocket. The men fled without the car.

They drove around until they found Rodriguez and his girlfriend in the Toyota about an hour later at Florida Technical College at 1199 S. Woodland Blvd. Earlier that evening, the couple watched the movie in Daytona Beach. But they each lived with their parents and they sought privacy in the parking lot.

According to testimony and evidence, the Maddox brothers got out of the backseat of Thomas' Nissan and went to take the Toyota. Thomas remained in the passenger seat; Bacon was the driver.

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The Maddox brothers were unable to take the car from Rodriguez who fought them off. Then one of the carjackers fired the shot that killed him.

Terrell Maddox was sentenced on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, for a fatal carjacking attempt in DeLand during a hearing at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Thomas, 24, of New Smyrna Beach, testified Friday, Nov. 21, that he was not the shooter. He expressed his regrets to the Rodriguez family and said he was sorry for the death of their family member.

But Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz said it was Thomas who purchased four Glock handguns when he turned 21 earlier that year at Buck's Gun Rack in Daytona Beach. Two of the weapons were 9 mm guns. A 9 mm casing was found at the scene of Rodriguez's shooting. None of the four guns were ever found by police, she said.

Schwartz also said that another man said Thomas was the shooter, although Thomas' defense attorney pointed out that the man later said someone else had fired the shot.

Judge sentences men in 'totally senseless' death in DeLand

The courtroom was quiet as Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn began her sentencing, but that would soon change.

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"I think it was Mr. Maddox's father who said it best when he said this is a tragedy for all families involved and it truly is," Blackburn said. "No sentence the court can impose is going to make any of the families happy nor will that bring back Mr. Rodriguez. But this tragedy was made and came as a result based on incredibly bad, thoughtless decisions and choices that these three young men who are before me today made both individually and collectively."

She said each played a role in Rodriguez's death.

"This death was totally senseless. It was executed in a manner with absolutely no regard for property or person or the life of another person," Blackburn said.

In sentencing Thomas, Blackburn noted that he had come from a "generational family of faith."

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"By Isaiahs own words, he was given every opportunity to have a meaningful life and yet still made the choices he did that brought us here today, Blackburn said.

Blackburn said she found that the evidence pointed to Thomas being the shooter and even if he wasn't the person who pulled the trigger, Thomas admitted that it was his gun used in the shooting. She also noted it was Thomas' car the group was driving around that night looking for a victim.

Schwartz asked the judge to sentence Thomas to 45 years in prison.

Blackburn sentenced him to life.

With that, some of Thomas' family in the courtroom gasped and yelled. A woman screamed "Oh, my God. I hate you!" as she rushed out of the courtroom. Other family members also filed out.

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Blackburn sentenced Maddox, 23, of New Smyrna Beach, to 50 years in prison. Some of his family members also gasped at the sentence. Schwartz had asked for 40 years.

Maddox's family and supporters in the courtroom groaned and cried and then yelled "Love you!" as he was led away.

Nassan Bacon leaves the witness stand on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at the S. James Justice Center in Daytona Beach during his sentencing.

Blackburn sentenced Bacon, 25, of Daytona Beach, to 30 years in prison, which is what Schwartz had asked for.

The three young men each took the stand and testified, expressing regret and apologizing to family members of Rodriguez who sat in the front row in the gallery.

Blackburn also sentenced Thomas, Maddox and Bacon each to 30 years in prison concurrent on the carjacking charge.

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Two others were involved in the crimes that night. John E. Torres, 26, of DeLand, entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder. He also pleaded guilty to burglary with an assault or battery and carjacking.

Blackburn sentenced Torres earlier in the week to 18 years in prison followed by 12 years' probation.

Torres was driving a Cadillac SUV and his role was to be the look-out. His girlfriend, Estella Luna, 27, of DeLand, was with him that night.

Blackburn sentenced Luna to 180 days in the county jail and two years of community control, which is basically house arrest. She also sentenced her to 13 years of probation.

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The case was investigated by the Daytona Beach and DeLand police departments.

State Attorney R.J. Larizza stated in a press release after the sentencing on Friday, Nov. 21: "Today marked the end of the road for five co-defendants involved in a series of crimes which left one victim dead and another traumatized for life. We do not suffer violent crime in the 7th Circuit. No quarter shall be given."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand carjackers sentenced from 30 years up to life in killing
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Connor Grubb, the Blendon Township police officer who fatally shot TaKiya Young in 2023, has been found not guilty of murder and all other charges brought against him.

On Friday morning, Grubb, 31, was acquitted of two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the death of TaKiya Young, 21. The jury delivered the verdict in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas after deliberating for just under seven hours, following an approximately two-and-a-half week trial.

It never brings pleasure to a prosecutor to be prosecuting a police officer for criminal charges but thats how our system works and thats our job as special prosecutors was to essentially to come in here and make sure the jury got the full presentation of the facts, said prosecutor Daniel Brandt.

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After Judge David Young (who is not related to TaKiya Young) read the verdict, TaKiya Youngs grandmother broke down and yelled its not right. She was escorted out of the courtroom by those who were with her.

TaKiya Youngs grandmother, Nadine Young, after the jury delivered a not guilty verdict. (Pool photo) Connor Grubb after the jury delivered a not guilty verdict. (Pool photo)

You look at these recent police killings in Columbus, and you have officers who have an unreasonable, an irrational fear with no weapons involved for folks doing very minimal behavior that the escalate into a murder, said Sean Walton, an attorney representing the Young family. Its not normal behavior.

Defense attorney Mark Collins said Grubb did not testify because prosecutors had already entered his statement to investigators into the record, but added that the trial has been a struggle for him. Grubb did not make any public comments after the trial.

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He took a life on duty and realized another life after the fact, Collins said. To walk around with that is a difficult situation.

Use of force trials for police officers use a different standard than the typical murder trial. Jurors did not have to decide if Grubb killed TaKiya Young, but rather if Grubbs use of force was objectively reasonable based on what he knew at the time, without the benefit of hindsight.

Before the Aug. 24, 2023, shooting, TaKiya Young was captured on camera at the Kroger on South Sunbury Road stealing multiple bottles of liquor and leaving the building. A Kroger employee flagged down Grubb and another officer, both of whom happened to be in the parking lot helping someone get into a locked car, and told them TaKiya Young had stolen alcohol from the store.

The officers approached TaKiya Youngs car, with Grubb standing in front of the vehicle while the second officer stood by the drivers side door. The officers repeatedly ordered her to exit the car. Instead, TaKiya Young began to pull forward, resulting in her car coming into contact with Grubb, whose feet were briefly lifted off the ground. At the same time, he fired one fatal shot into the car.

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At the trial, the prosecution argued that Grubbs use of force was completely unnecessary, as TaKiya Young used her right turn signal and began to slowly drive her vehicle away from Grubb. The defense maintained Grubb was justified, since TaKiya Young had her foot on the trigger of a deadly weapon  a 3,500-pound car.

Montgomery County prosecutors Brandt, Erin Claypoole and Richard Glennon were responsible for convincing the jury that Grubbs use of force was unreasonable, while attorneys Kaitlyn Stephens and Collins defended Grubb.

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
(NewsNation)  NASAs big reveal Wednesday of 3I/ATLAS images and the agencys assertions its just a comet havent swayed Avi Loeb, the Harvard astrophysicist who has theorized the interstellar object could be an alien vessel.

Lets wait and see, Loeb told Elizabeth Vargas Reports on Wednesday. Bureaucrats or unimaginative scientists want us to believe in the expected, but the rest of us know the best is yet to come.

NASA officials released several images Wednesday and conceded that 3I/ATLAS, which comes from outside our solar system, is a most unusual specimen as comets go. Loeb counters that the new data doesnt really offer anything new, nor does it explain the anomalies hes been discussing for months. These include the unusually large size of 3I/ATLAS, its chemical signatures and the mysterious jets coming from the objects surface.

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3I/ATLAS may be revving an engine, Harvard professor suggests

What they uncovered was the skin of the object  some ices and perhaps some dust that evaporates when the sun illuminates that surface, said Loeb, who had pressed NASA to release its latest images. Even if you consider spacecraft that travels through the core of the interstellar medium, it would accumulate over time  ices and dust on it.

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, circled in the center, as seen by the LLORRI panchromatic, or black-and-white, imager on NASAs Lucy spacecraft. This image was made by stacking a series of images taken on Sept. 16, 2025, as the comet was zooming toward Mars. Lucy was 240 million miles away from 3I/ATLAS at the time making its way to explore eight asteroids that share an orbit with Jupiter. The LLORRI imager captured the comets coma, the fuzzy halo of gas and dust surrounding 3I/ATLAS above, and its tail, a smudge of gas flowing to the right of the comet. This image spans about 11 arcminutes of sky, or roughly one-third the width of the full Moon. Solar system north is up. Image Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/JHU-APL Comet 3I/ATLAS appears as a bright object near the center of this image, made from combining observations from NASAs PUNCH mission taken from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 2025, when the comet was about 231 million to 235 million miles from Earth. Its tail appears as a short elongation to the right. Stars appear as streaks in the background. Image Credit: NASA/Southwest Research Institute An ultraviolet image composite of the hydrogen atoms surrounding comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected by astronomers, as it passes through our solar system. This image was taken on Sept 28, 2025- just days before the comets closest approach to Mars  by an instrument on NASAs MAVEN spacecraft, which has been studying Mars from orbit since 2014. The instrument, the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph, takes pictures in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum to reveal the chemical composition of objects. The image shows hydrogen emitted from different sources: the comet (dim spot on the far left), hydrogen from Mars (bright emission on the right), and hydrogen flowing through our solar system between the planets (dim emission in the middle). MAVENs spectrograph distinguished the comets hydrogen from the interplanetary and Martian hydrogen using a special mode to separate each source by its speed. Hydrogen emission from the comet is confined to the location of the comet on the sky, which is why it is small and round instead of extended. Image Credit: NASA/Goddard/LASP/CU Boulder The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Oct. 2, 2025. At the time it was imaged, the comet was about 0.2 astronomical units (19 million miles, or 30 million kilometers) from the spacecraft. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona A faint image of comet 3I/ATLAS as observed by ESA/NASAs SOHO mission between Oct. 15-16, 2025. The comet appears as a slight brightening in the center of the image. Image Credit: Lowell Observatory/Qicheng Zhang This image shows the halo of gas and dust, or coma, surrounding comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected by astronomers as it passes through our solar system. The image was taken on Oct. 9, 2025, by an instrument onboard NASAs MAVEN spacecraft, which has been studying Mars from its orbit since 2014. The instrument, the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph, takes pictures in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum to reveal the chemical composition of objects. The center of the image has the brightest pixel, indicating where the comet is. The next brightest shades in the image indicate areas where the instrument detected atoms of hydrogen coming from the comet. This hydrogen is released when sunlight heats the comet, causing its water ice to turn directly into vapor. Once released into space, the water molecules break apart into oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Image Credit: NASA/Goddard/LASP/CU Boulder

So, when will Earthlings definitively know whether 3I/ATLAS is of intelligent design?

Loeb says we should be able to figure that out by the time the object reaches its closest point  170 million miles away from our planet  Dec. 19.

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I would say by Dec. 19 we would have enough data. There would be a flood of data that would tell us what this object is, he said.

Michio Kaku speculates on age of 3I/ATLAS

One of Loebs colleagues, author and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, has said the unique characteristics of 3I/ATLAS, compared to other comets, is likely attributable to its vast age of 7 billion years.

Over 7 billion years, its had plenty of time to accumulate different gases, different elements, different kinds of environments that it goes into, he told NewsNation recently. I think that explains a lot of the mystery behind the comet.

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 NewsNation.
Kentucky state Sen. Robin Webb held up a thick black binder stuffed full of white paper.

The binder, which she hefted in the air during a Nov. 21 meeting in Frankfort, contained the many recommendations the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force, co-chaired by Webb and Rep. Chris Freeland (R-Benton), received the last five months.

The general assembly created the task force during the 2025 session to study disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation after Kentucky suffered three major natural disasters in the first 45 days of the year. That followed several major recent natural disasters including the Mayfield tornadoes in 2021, which killed more than 80 people, and mass flooding in Eastern Kentucky since 2022.

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More: 'This is not going to end': How climate change is bringing more intense rainfall to Kentucky

After months of gatherings, it was the task force's final meeting, and Webb gave an overview of several of its recommendations for consideration by the General Assembly, which will begin session January 6. It is a budget year.

Here are eight recommendations the task force will ask lawmakers to consider:

Chief Resilience Officer

The task force's first recommendation is for the state to create a state-level position known as a Chief Resilience Officer. Little concrete details were given on how this office would be created for the Commonwealth, but it resembles what other states have in recent years.

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Based on a study by the Georgetown Climate Center, at least 12 states have a CRO position.

States like Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, have created the position with executive orders. Other states, like West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, have created the position through statutory authorization.

Webb said the position would focus initially on data.

"That office would work with agencies and tear some of those silos down to get information to make sure we don't have duplication of expenditures and just that agencies are talking to one another, sharing maps and data," Webb said.

The continuation of the task force

The task force is also recommending that its work be continued, either as a oversight or regular committee. Webb said the "general assembly needs to get involved."

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Other members of the committee echoed how much they learned they didn't know prior to the creation of the task force.

"I've learned more in this committee than probably all my committee meetings combined this interim," Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty said.

Stream gauges, flow systems and monitoring Kentucky's waterways

The task force is also considering a recommendation regarding stream gauges, used to observe water levels, and better monitoring to alert residents ahead of flooding.

"We heard great information on preparedness on monitoring and flow systems that are just no brainers," Webb said, harkening back to a September meeting that included presentations on stream gauges and flood inundation maps from both Jerry Brotzge at the Kentucky Mesonet and Rebecca Shelton with the Appalachian Citizens Law Center.

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The task force also discussed recommendations regarding: 4. public education and awareness, 5. long-term recovery groups, 6. commonwealth sheltering programs, 7. enhancing or expanding urban search and swift water rescue teams and 8. mitigation.

Other members of the task force included:

The task force's final report is expected Dec. 5.

Environmental reporter Connor Giffin contributed to this report. Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter. Reach her at skuzydym@courier-journal.com or on social at @stephkuzy.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky natural disaster task force addresses floods, tornadoes
The Kentucky Parole Board has ordered Ronald Exantus to remain incarcerated, according to a Nov. 20 release from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

Exantus, 42, served seven years of a 20-year prison sentence in Woodford County after facing multiple charges in connection to the 2015 stabbing death of 6-year-old Logan Tipton and an assault of his family in their Versailles, Kentucky home.

After violating the terms of his mandatory reentry supervision program by failing to register as a felon within 48 hours, Exantus was extradited from Florida back to Kentucky. According to the release, the Kentucky Parole Board made the decision to revoke his mandatory reentry supervision after Exantus admitted to violating the conditions of his supervision, providing a "significant risk to prior victims or the community at large."

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"Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release Exantus on Mandatory Reentry Supervision (KRS 439.3406) on Oct. 1, despite the Kentucky Parole Board recommending he stay incarcerated every time it was given the opportunity," the release said.

Exantus is currently being held at the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange.

Caroline Neal contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ronald Exantus will remain in prison after violating supervised release
A Kirkland woman was arrested on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter after investigators determined her 10-year-old daughter died from untreated complications related to Type 1 diabetes, according to the Kirkland Police Department.

Detectives took the 42-year-old woman into custody on Nov. 4 following a months-long investigation that began after Child Protective Services referred the case to police this summer.

She is being held at the King County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail.

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The case dates back to July 24, when the woman brought her daughteralready deceasedto a Tacoma hospital.

Because the family lived in Kirkland, CPS notified Kirkland police, prompting detectives to begin their investigation.

Working with medical experts, the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office and the King County Prosecutors Office, investigators determined the child died from prolonged diabetic ketoacidosis.

According to information gathered by detectives, the girl slipped into a coma and died after showing symptoms that required urgent medical attention.

Police said the mother did not seek treatment despite being aware of the warning signs, and detectives concluded that the lack of medical care contributed to the childs death.

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This was a complex and emotionally challenging investigation, Police Chief Mike St. Jean said in a written statement. The collaboration between our detectives, medical professionals, and prosecutors was essential in bringing clarity to what happened. We remain committed to protecting our communitys most vulnerable residents, especially children who cannot advocate for themselves.

Kirkland police encourage the public to report concerns about child mistreatment.

Anyone who believes a child is in immediate danger should call 911.

Non-emergency concerns can be reported to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families at 1-866-END-HARM (1-866-363-4276).
Talks in Geneva aimed at discussing a US-backed draft peace plan to end the war in Ukraine have concluded after a day.

US and Ukrainian teams reportedly went through the 28-point proposal drafted by American and Russian officials last month. Ukraine is likely to have pushed back on some particularly contentious elements - namely those concerning territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Russia has said it has not seen any updated to plan off the back of talks between the US and Ukraine.

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The original iteration of the plan proposed to hand over those areas of Ukraine's industrial eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control to the de facto control of Russian President Vladimir Putin - an unpalatable option for Ukraine.

The plan also called for Kyiv to cut the size of its armed forces to 600,000 people.

What are the key points?

On the face of it, several of the plan's 28 key points could be acceptable to Ukraine. Others come across as vague and imprecise.

Ukraine's sovereignty would be "confirmed" and there would be a "total and complete comprehensive non-aggression agreement between Russia, Ukraine and Europe", with robust or reliable "security guarantees" for Kyiv and a demand for snap elections in 100 days.

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If Russia were to invade Ukraine a "robust co-ordinated military response" is proposed along with a restoration of sanctions and a scrapping of the deal.

Although elections are impossible in Ukraine as there is martial law in place, they could theoretically be held if a peace deal is signed.

But on security guarantees, there is no detail on who would provide them and how robust they might be. This falls well short of a Nato-style Article Five commitment to treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on all. Kyiv would want more than a vague promise if it were to sign up.

Handover of Ukraine's territory and cut in armed forces

Among the most contentious proposals are Ukraine handing over its own unoccupied territory and cutting the size of its armed forces.

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"Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast [region] that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarised buffer zone, internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone."

Ceding territory where at least a quarter of a million Ukrainians live - the Donetsk "fortress belt" cities of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka - will not be acceptable to most Ukrainians. Russia has spent well over a year trying to capture the town of Pokrovsk - Ukraine is unlikely to hand over such important strategic hubs without a fight.

"The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel."

Ukraine's military was estimated last January at about 880,000 active personnel, up from 250,000 at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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While 600,000 might seem a potentially acceptable number in peacetime, that kind of limitation would infringe on Ukrainian sovereignty. It might also be too big a number for Russia to accept.

"Our red lines are clear and unwavering," Ukrainian representative Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the UN security Council: "There will never be any recognition formal or otherwise of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Ukraine will not accept any limits on its rights to self defence or on the size or capabilities of our armed forces."

The draft also proposes that "Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States".

In other words Ukraine and other countries would not need to recognise Russian control by law. That could enable Kyiv to accept such phrasing, as it would not impinge on Ukraine's constitution that says its borders are " indivisible and inviolable".

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Elsewhere, in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzia, the front lines would be frozen and Russia would relinquish areas it has occupied elsewhere in Ukraine - a reference to the north-eastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions, as well the Mykolaiv region in the south.

On Monday Zelensky said allowing Moscow to seize land by force would set a dangerous precedent. Giving legal recognition to the territories "stolen" by Russia would "break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty", he said.

Ukraine's future - with EU but not Nato

The draft proposes significant commitments on Ukraine's strategic future:

"Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join Nato and Nato agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future."

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"Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will get short-term preferred market access to the European market while this issue is being evaluated."

There is little chance of Ukraine joining Nato any time soon and Russia has in recent months softened its stance on Ukraine's candidacy for EU membership. The document appears to offer Kyiv access to EU markets while ignoring the views of 27 European countries.

Joining both the EU and Nato are part of Ukraine's constitution and another of Khrystyna Hayovyshyn's red lines at the UN was: "Nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

Other draft proposals are that Nato agrees not to station troops in Ukraine and that European fighter jets will be stationed in neighbouring Poland. Kyiv would also have to commit to being a "non-nuclear state".

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That appears to reject the West's Coalition of the Willing's plans led by the UK and France to help police any future deal.

Bringing Russia back from isolation

Several points refer to Russia being brought back from isolation with "Russia to be re-integrated into the global economy" and invited back into the G8 group of powers.

That seems a long way off for now, with Putin under an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Russia was thrown out of the G7 after it seized and then annexed Crimea in 2014 and Trump tried to bring Putin back into the fold six years later.

If the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan were reluctant before the full-scale invasion, there's even less chance of that happening now.

What about Russia's frozen assets?

The draft proposes that $100bn (87bn; 76bn) of frozen Russian assets should be invested "in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine", with the US receiving 50% of the profits and Europe adding $100bn in investment for reconstruction.

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This is reminiscent of the US minerals deal with Ukraine earlier this year, extracting an American price for involvement, and it also leaves the European Union with nothing but hefty bills.

The sums it mentions may not be sufficient, either: earlier this year the total cost of reconstruction in Ukraine was put at $524bn.

Some 200bn in Russia frozen assets are largely held by Euroclear in Belgium, and the European Union is currently working on a plan to use the money to fund Kyiv financially and militarily.

The rest of those frozen assets would go to a "US-Russian investment vehicle", under the draft, so Russia would see some of its money come back, but again there would be a financial benefit for the US.

What is not in the plan?

Several commentators have pointed out that the plan does not require weapons limitations on Ukraine's military or its arms industry, even though there is a provision saying: If Ukraine fires a missile at Moscow or St Petersburg then the security guarantee will be considered null and void.

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But it does not place an restriction on the long-range weapons Ukraine has been developing - such as its Flamingo and Long Neptune missiles.

Is this a definitive peace plan?

No.

"There's still some work to be done," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted late on Sunday, after his team's crisis talks with Ukrainian and European negotiating delegations in Geneva, Switzerland.

"But we are much further ahead today at this time than we were when we began this morning and where we were a week ago, for certain," America's top diplomat added. He refused to go in details on what main sticking points remained.

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Rubio also said that any new plan had to be agreed with Russia, which has not publicly commented on the latest developments.

Meanwhile, several media outlets reported and published what they said was an alternative plan from Ukraine's European allies led by the UK, France and Germany.

But Rubio said he was "unaware" of any European counter-proposals to the US plan.

The US was initially keen to press ahead fast under an "aggressive timeline" with its proposals, giving Ukraine until 27 November to agree to it.

However, Trump later said it was not his "final offer" for Kyiv, after Ukrainian allies voiced concerns over the plan.

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Rubio said a deal may be reached by Thanksgiving, or before or even after the US holiday.

Is the draft a Putin wishlist?

Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is known to have spent as long as three days with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff discussing this plan, raising suggestions of a stitched-up deal to suit Moscow.

A group of US senators have said they were told by Rubio that the plan was not an American proposal - that it represented the Russian position and was leaked by a representative for Moscow.

This contradicts the position of the White House, which says the plan has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, having been drawn up by his officials.

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Rubio later said the peace proposal had been "authored by the US".

"It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations. It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine."

Russia's response has so far been cautious but Putin has said it could be the "basis" for a peace settlement.

The handover of Ukrainian territory to Russia, even in a demilitarised zone, is the biggest sign of a slant towards Russia's narrative, but freezing the front lines in the south could prove difficult for the Kremlin which has annexed both Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in its constitution.

One of the proposals is for the lifting of sanctions to be "agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis" - which Moscow will probably see as far too slow.

However, a plan for a "full amnesty" for all parties will go down well in Moscow and very badly in Kyiv and European capitals.

Commentators have pointed out that while there do appear to be major concessions to Putin, some of the requirements for Nato might be too vague for Kremlin tastes.

Russia has also consistently demanded that a peace plan would need to eliminate what it sees as "the root causes" of the war. One of those root causes is halting Nato expansion in Eastern Europe, which the draft appears to deal with.

Some of the other 28 points of the draft also nod to Russia's claims of discrimination against Ukraine's Russian-speaking population without explicitly endorsing them.

One point is explicit but even-handed: "Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education."

Another apparent attempt to be even-handed comes from a proposal to distribute electricity generated by the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - the biggest in Europe - "equally between Russia and Ukraine".
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  Leaders from the Group of 20 countries will meet for a summit in South Africa this weekend without any U.S. representatives after President Donald Trump announced a boycott over his widely rejected claims that the host country is persecuting its Afrikaner white minority.

Trump's decision to pull the United States  and himself  out of the talks in Johannesburg is likely to undermine the first G20 leaders' meeting in Africa, as well as South Africa's aim to push for progress on issues affecting poor countries, such as the impact of climate change, the cost of green energy transition and spiraling sovereign debt levels.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping also won't attend as he cuts back on international travel, meaning the heads of the world's two biggest economies will skip a meeting meant to bring developed and developing countries together to tackle pressing global issues.

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A bridge between rich and developing nations

The G20 is a group of 19 countries that includes the richest but also the top developing economies in the world. The European Union and the African Union, which joined in 2023, are also members, making it now a group of 21.

It was formed in 1999 and unlike the Group of Seven, which only includes the richest democracies, it offers some developing countries a forum to raise their problems.

Its focus is the global economy and international development, though it has no charter or permanent secretariat  unlike organizations such as the United Nations. It also doesn't issue binding decisions and critics say there's no meaningful mechanism for it to put words into action.

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The G20 often struggles to reach real consensus because of the different interests of the big powers like the U.S., China and Russia, as well as those of Western European nations.

The leaders of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund typically attend G20 summits as guests.

The US boycott

Trump has claimed that white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa are being killed and that their land is being seized, calling it a disgrace that South Africa is hosting the summit and saying it should be thrown out of the G20.

The South African government and others, including some Afrikaners themselves, have rejected Trump's claims of racial persecution as misinformation.

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South Africa has been a target for Trump since he returned to office at the start of the year, with his administration casting the country as anti-American because of its diplomatic ties with China, Russia and Iran.

The U.S. will take over the rotating presidency of the G20 from South Africa and while the world's biggest economy will boycott the talks, a representative from the U.S. Embassy in South Africa will attend a formal handover ceremony at the end of the summit, a White House official said.

The main issues

The country holding the G20 presidency gets to set the agenda for the annual summit.

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South Africa wants climate change and disaster relief, financing green energy transition, easing debt levels for poor countries and addressing global inequality to be priorities for the two-day meeting.

It says climatic disasters such as drought, floods and cyclones are having a devastating effect on countries that cannot afford to rebuild and is calling for more help from the global community.

South Africa has proposed that G20 leaders set up an independent international panel on global wealth inequality, similar to the U.N.-appointed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

That followed a report commissioned by South Africa for the summit and led by Nobel Prize-winning American economist Joseph Stiglitz that concluded the world is facing an "inequality emergency."

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G20 summits have traditionally attracted protests, and a counter summit was organized this week in another part of Johannesburg by groups critical of the G20 and what they called a global economic system rigged in favor of elites and billionaires.

The summit also is an opportunity for closed-door bilateral meetings. New trade deals are likely to figure in the discussions in the wake of the Trump administration's tariffs that have impacted the global economy.

Absent leaders

Trump and Xi are the highest profile absentees, although China has sent a government delegation led by Premier Li Qiang.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin also is not attending but Russia will be represented by a low-level delegation led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Russian presidential executive office. Putin faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court over Russias war in Ukraine that obliges South Africa, a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the court, to arrest him if he sets foot on its territory.

Argentina's President Javier Milei is also to skip the summit in solidarity with his ally Trump.

If you boycott an event or a process, you are the greatest loser because the show will go on, Ramaphosa said of Trump's decision not to attend.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer say they will attend the summit.

___

Follow APs coverage of the G20 summit in South Africa: https://apnews.com/hub/g20-summit
Shots were fired Thursday afternoon near a high school in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to police, prompting a school lockdown.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to Woodrow Wilson Senior High School on Multnomah Street just after 3:30 p.m. after receiving calls about a reported shooting.

Two suspects reportedly opened fire in the parking lot area, one of whom got into a truck - possibly a green truck - and took off, according to police.

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The second suspect was seen running on Soto Street. Police said no victims were found.

The Los Angeles Fire Department cleared the scene later in the afternoon and also said no victims were found.

It's unclear what prompted the shooting.

The incident remains under investigation.

Meantime, LAUSD sent a message to parents and guardians, confirming law enforcement activity in the area.

"The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remain my top priority. I am calling to advise you that our campus is on lockdown because of law-enforcement activity in the area. The law enforcement activity is not related to immigration enforcement. We are following district protocols.

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Our school will also provide resources for students who may need additional mental health support because of this incident."

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
A former Las Vegas resident is accused of repeatedly harassing and cyberstalking a girl in Western Pennsylvania.

A federal grand jury indicted Renad Bautista, 36, on charges of cyberstalking and sexual exploitation of a minor, the Department of Justice says.

According to the indictment, Bautista intimidated and harassed the girl when she was a minor and into adulthood between May 2022 and August 2025.

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The indictment says Bautista repeatedly tried to contact the girl over social media and through the mail, which caused distress to her and her family.

Bautista was arrested in Las Vegas and arraigned in the Western District of Pennsylvania earlier this week.

He could face up to life in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is part of the DOJs Project Safe Childhood, intended to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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Lawrence ODonnell had a message for his fellow news television hosts on Thursday night, and its one that wont be heeded.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump kick-started another newscycle, this time by suggesting that six Democratic lawmakers should be executed.

On Tuesday, those lawmakers  all of whom served in the military or the intelligence services  released a video telling Americans currently serving in those capacities, You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.

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The Democrats in the video are: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ); Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI); Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO); Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA); Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH); Rep Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).

About 48 hours later, Trump erupted on Truth Social.

Its called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, Trump claimed on Truth Social. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand  We wont have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.

In a subsequent post, the president wrote, SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! Additionally, he reposted a post that said, HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

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On The Last Word on MS NOW, ODonnell played a clip of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) answering reporters questions about Trumps comments.

The words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use, ok? Johnson said. Obviously, I dont think that this is um, these are crimes punishable by death or any of that, ok?

ODonnell cut the clip and said, The speaker, being a politician, then added, quote, Sometimes, he uses heated rhetoric, ok? But do any of you agree that thats appropriate, that they should be telling young members of the military to defy orders?'

The host objected to Johnsons characterization and said that it is a violation of sanity to ask for reactions from Trump supporters on such matters:

No one told members of the military to defy orders. They told members of the military that they should not follow illegal orders. And every Republican and every Rupert Murdoch-owned propaganda outlet that tries to smear those Democrats with the accusation that they told the American military not to follow orders is lying, and they know they are lying. They are consciously lying about what those Democrats said. And that is the only way that those liars know how to respond to a situation like this. Its why it is a complete waste of time and a violation of sanity to bring Trump defenders onto television shows on subjects like this, because they will all lie and claim that the Democrats told the military not to follow orders. They will all leave out the word illegal. They will all lie. That is how they do it.

Watch above via MS NOW.

The post Lawrence ODonnell Says Its A Violation of Sanity To Ask Trump Backers for Reactions to Crazy Comments first appeared on Mediaite.
The Lebanese army has detained the countrys most infamous drug lord, two years after he was sanctioned by the United States over suspected links to narcotics rings in Syria.

In a post on X on Thursday, the Lebanese army confirmed they had arrested a citizen with the initials NZ, and three security sources confirmed to the Reuters news agency that the individual in question was the fugitive Noah Zaitar.

Following a series of precise security surveillance and monitoring operations, security forces arrested Zaitar in an ambush in the city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Baalbek-Hermel governorate, the Lebanese military said.

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The detainee is one of the most dangerous wanted individuals, pursuant to a large number of arrest warrants, for crimes of forming gangs operating across numerous Lebanese regions in drug and arms trafficking, manufacturing narcotic substances, and robbery and theft by force of arms, the military said.

He had also previously opened fire on army elements and facilities, as well as citizens homes, and kidnapped individuals for financial ransom. The investigation has commenced with the detainee under the supervision of the competent judiciary, it added.

Zaitar allegedly ran a drug empire in Lebanons Bekaa Valley area near the Syrian border, producing and exporting drugs including the synthetic stimulant captagon.





A military tribunal sentenced Zaitar  who had evaded arrest for years while living in his home village of Kneisseh surrounded by armed supporters  to death in 2024 for killing a Lebanese soldier.

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He was also named in US Department of State sanctions in 2023 against the regime of ousted Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and individuals connected to his lucrative captagon trafficking network.

The State Department said Zaitar was a known arms dealer and drug smuggler, with close ties to the Fourth Division of the Syrian Arab Army  an elite unit once central to the captagon trade.

It also said Zaitar was wanted for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

The arrest of Zaitar comes amid an ongoing crackdown by Lebanese authorities against drug traffickers in the country.

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In a separate post on X on Wednesday, the Lebanese military said two soldiers, named as Bilal al-Baradi and Ali Haidar, were killed in clashes in Baalbek on Tuesday as they pursued fugitive narcotics suspects.

                   / /                    .

       pic.twitter.com/aIw9IjiuYi    (@LebarmyOfficial) November 18, 2025

Translation: The Army Command  Directorate of Orientation, mourns the First Assistant Martyr Bilal al-Baradi and Corporal Martyr Ali Haidar, who were martyred on 18/11/2025 as a result of clashes with wanted individuals during the execution by the Intelligence Directorate of a series of raids backed by an Army unit in the al-Sharawna area  Baalbek.

The military said that another Lebanese citizen, referred to by the initials HAJ  and named by the local news outlet Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International as Hassouneh Jaafar  was shot and killed after opening fire on Lebanese security forces during that raid.

The fugitive was wanted in connection with the murder of four soldiers, as well as kidnapping, robbery, armed robbery and drug trafficking.

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Lebanese authorities also arrested two other men  referred to only as FM and GQ  for promoting drugs and possessing a quantity of weapons and military ammunition in the Akkar governorate, north of Baalbek, close to the Syrian border.




Lawmakers in Tallahassee are reconsidering Floridas Free Kill Bill, which would repeal the law protecting hospitals from lawsuits in cases of medical negligence.

The proposed measure aims to change existing legislation that currently shields hospitals from being sued if a loved one dies due to medical negligence.

This effort follows a similar attempt last year that Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed.

The governor previously vetoed the bill, citing concerns that it could lead to excessive lawsuits and potentially drive doctors away from practicing in the state.

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7 On Your Side Investigates is getting to the bottom of what likely contributed to the massive sinkholes that opened in New Jersey, despite not getting their questions answered by the Borough of Wharton mayor and council members.

"Obviously there's something going on in the area that should be investigated," said resident Elliana Dividu.

When a massive sinkhole opened on I-80 in Wharton, New Jersey last December, it shocked first responders and it worried people living inside Avalon Wharton apartments, a development just a few hundred feet away, especially after two additional sinkholes opened in the months that followed.

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"If it was so deep in there and it's only 500 feet from our building, what makes you think the building is stable," Dividu said.

With a newborn baby at home, the mother said she couldn't sleep at night. When neighbors reported cracks in both the ceiling and flooring of the building, Dividu decided to move her family out of the area altogether.

"We were sitting ducks there, not knowing what's going on," Dividu said. "There's nothing more important than my piece of mind."

Sinkholes aren't new for this area

It's not the first time a sinkhole opened in Wharton.

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Back in 2000, an old mining air shaft opened in the field next to the American Legion.

"We were deemed unsafe until the Bureau of Mines had to come in and investigate," said Lee Stickle of the American Legion.

It took months and hundreds of thousands of dollars to fill in the hole.

"They actually went into every inch of the parking lot, punching it and filling it with cement and grout," Stickle said.

Much of the area is built over abandoned mines that stopped operating in the late 1800s. In fact, an entire community nearby is named Mine Hill.

There's even an abandoned mine in the middle of the east and west bound lanes of I-80, according to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection maps.

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Planning documents for the community where Dividu lived also include maps that show numerous locations where mine pits and shafts used to be located.

The documents show how they planned and prepared the area for construction, by pouring "cement based grout" into vertical holes that were drilled down into the ground to stabilize the area.

What caused the sinkhole?

"That is certainly a viable approach to remediate an area," said Casey Jones, a geotechnical engineer which specializes in soil and rock.

He didn't work on the New Jersey project but he has worked to stabilize other mines.

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"The question is, after all these decades, why are these sinkholes suddenly opening up," Jones said.

A spokesperson for AvalonBay Communities said they hired an engineering firm who conducted a site investigation. The report found "... no grounds to believe that the building is unsafe." And as for those cracks that residents reported, they "....do not appear to be recently developed and are consistent with the general wear of a building this age."

The spokesperson said they also hired a geotechnical engineer to establish a monitoring program and said "vibration monitors were installed and no unusual activity was detected."

The spokesperson also added, "Regarding ongoing concerns, our on-site team and our centralized Customer Care Center have not received resident or prospect inquiries related to the sinkhole in several months."

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When Eyewitness News requested a copy of the monitoring report and asked whether they're still monitoring, the spokesperson didn't respond.

The mayor of Wharton also didn't answer our questions after repeated phone calls and emails over three months time and neither did council members.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation, the agency in charge of remediating the sinkholes along Interstate 80, did tell Eyewitness News what they believe likely contributed to the sinkholes in the first place.

A spokesperson said by email: "An exact cause of why the abandoned mine became unstable remains uncertain, however drought conditions over the past two years and the 4.8-magnitude earthquake on April 5, 2024-despite the area's low seismic hazard-likely contributed to destabilizing the subsurface environment, leading to roadway damage."

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For most of her life, Gorda was just an axolotl who lived in a museum in Mexico City  that is, until she became the star of the countrys favourite banknote.

The note, which features a depiction of Gorda as the model for Mexicos iconic species of salamander, went into circulation in 2021, dazzling the judges of the International Bank Notes Society, who declared it the Note of the Year.

Four years later, the Bank of Mexico has released a report revealing that 12.9 million Mexicans are holding on to this note as if it were worth more than just its value of 50 pesos, or a little under $3. Indeed, millions of them are hoarding more than one.

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Only a minority said they would not contemplate spending the notes. Nonetheless, the survey found that roughly $150m worth of them were at least temporarily out of circulation at the time. Some of the first to be printed are even being traded for 100 times their intended value.

All of this is specific to the axolotl banknote: only 12% of those holding on to it said they did the same for other notes. And the reason for most was simple: they liked the design.

Perhaps it is because axolotls are a symbol of something uniquely Mexican.

Axolotls  which are forever tadpoles, never losing their gills to become land dwellers like other salamanders  predate the Aztecs, let alone the Spanish, and once inhabited Lake Texcoco, under the ever-smoking volcano, Popocatepetl.

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When the Aztecs arrived in roughly AD1300, they built Tenochtitlan, the seat of their empire, on an island in the middle of the lake  a scene depicted on the flip side of the banknote, based on a mural of the ancient city by the artist Diego Rivera. The Aztecs sometimes snacked on axolotl  but also named them after their god of fire and lightning.

Related: Axolotls in crisis: the fight to save the water monster of Mexico City

After the Spanish conquered Tenochtitlan, the new rulers drained the lake, restricting axolotls to Xochimilco, on the southern edge of todays capital  the only place the old waterways endured.

Today, few axolotls survive in the wild. By 2014, their population in Xochimilco had collapsed to just 36 per square kilometre.

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Gorda is one of six specimens living in Axolotitlan, the Mexico City museum dedicated to Mexicos cutest critter.

She is now rather elderly, and rarely put on display in the museum. But the museums founder, Pamela Valencia, told El Pais that it had been worth wheeling her out for the photo shoot for the banknotes design, if only to bring the public closer to an iconic species at risk of extinction.

We used to see souvenirs of jaguars and hummingbirds. Today we can see how the axolotl is becoming part of our culture, our everyday lives, said Valencia. We cannot save something if we dont know it exists.
The Louisiana State Capitol (Julie O'Donoghue/Louisiana Illuminator)

Starting next year, hundreds of Louisiana officials will be able to sue private citizens, businesses and government entities for not removing their basic biographical information from the internet.

Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers approved a new law earlier this year allowing a wide swath of public officials to bring lawsuits against those who dont take down online posts with officials personal-identifying information when they request it.

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Anyone who doesnt take the information off social media or websites could also face criminal penalties under the new law, including up to 90 days in prison and a fine of up to $1,000 per violation.

States across the country have approved similar laws in recent years after a handful of high-profile attacks on judges and other politicians. By shielding their personal information from the public, government officials hope to reduce their risk to political violence.

But Louisianas version is more sweeping than almost all other states laws. It will entitle a wider range of elected officials to sue over internet posts for more reasons, according to a review of dozens of states privacy laws.

Government transparency advocates said Louisianas law will infringe on citizens First Amendment rights and lead to frivolous lawsuits. Attorney Scott Sternberg described the new law as wildly unconstitutional in a memo he wrote on behalf of the Louisiana Press Association earlier this year.

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Effectively, the Louisiana Legislature has decided to criminalize the publication of a church birthday calendar, the mortgage documents required by federal law, birth announcements, engagement party RSVP websites and traffic tickets, he wrote.

This law will undoubtedly lead to more litigation, higher costs for public and private entities, and a chilling effect on speech, Sternberg said.

New limits on social media, news articles, political commentary

In Louisiana, the ability to bring a lawsuit or criminal charges over internet posts is already in effect for active and retired judges and family members who live with them. Starting in February, it will be available to many more government officials and their relatives.

At that point, it will extend to current statewide elected officials, state legislators and public service commissioners, current or retired district attorneys, current or retired assistant district attorneys, and current or retired district attorney investigators. Spouses, children and other dependents who live with these officials will also be covered.



Among items that officials and their relatives can demand come down off the internet are their home addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, marital records, birth dates, schools and daycares of their children, places of worship and employment locations of spouses, children and dependents.

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Governments will have 15 days after receiving a request from one of these officials to take their personal information off the internet or provide a reason why they cant.



Individuals and private businesses will have 72 hours to remove the protected information before they become vulnerable to a lawsuit or criminal charges.

This new restriction will apply to almost any type of internet post, including news stories, the states political campaign contributor database, private websites and social media posts from constituents.

Louisiana judges, for example, are barred from running for their seats again once they turn 70 years old. But under the new law, a judge could threaten a news outlet with a lawsuit for not removing a judges birth date from a news story. They could also sue an individual for not taking down a Facebook or TikTok post that mentioned their birth date.

The breadth of Louisianas law is what sets it apart from 38 other states with similar statutes, which were identified by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In other states, the provisions apply to far fewer people, often only judges, prosecutors and law enforcement.



The scope of what can be taken off the internet is also narrower in most other states. It sometimes includes just home addresses, telephone numbers and email accounts, and it almost never applies to someones place of worship.

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Texas enacted a law in September that allows judges and their families to sue over internet posts with personal information, but its doesnt apply to other types of elected officials. It also doesnt apply to content that involves reporting, news gathering, speaking, or engaging in other activities intended to inform the public on matters of public interest or public concern.

Judges fear violence

Judges have been pushing states to adopt these new security measures for themselves in response to violent attacks on the judiciary.

They started pursuing the state laws after U.S. District Court Judge Esther Sales son was murdered at her home in New Jersey in 2020. The man who ambushed her family had appeared before her in court.

The assault on Salas home led to a new federal law that allows federal judges and their families to demand the removal of internet posts with their personal information, but the federal statute is less restrictive than the Louisiana version.



Unlike Louisiana, the federal law does not permit judges to require the removal of such information from news stories, political commentary and other speech on a matter of public concern. Federal judges also dont have a right to sue private citizens or businesses for damages under the federal law.



Louisiana judges have experienced threats of violence that made the state law necessary, said Judge Tiffany Chase, who serves on the states 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, during a legislative hearing in 2024.

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Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Kimya Holmes was stalked by a family member of one of the teenagers she sent to prison for the killing of 73 year-old Linda Frickey during a botched 2022 carjacking. Chase also had a person who appeared before her in court show up at her house, she said.



We are in a more precarious situation, Chase said last year.

Louisiana drafted its law to look like a Maryland judicial security statute, which passed after a district court judge there was murdered in his driveway.

Yet the Maryland law is not as sweeping as Louisianas. It does not allow for lawsuits or criminal charges to be brought over personal information included in a news story, political commentary or any other speech on matters of public concern, as the Louisiana law does.

The Maryland law also applies solely to judges and hasnt been expanded to allow other elected officials to bring lawsuits.

State lawmakers worry about violence too

Judges arent the only ones fearing for their personal safety.



California and Florida passed laws limiting access to elected officials home addresses after Minnesota House Democratic Caucus leader Melissa Hortmann and her husband were murdered in a political attack carried out at their home. The same gunman also shot and injured Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.



In California, state lawmakers closed off access to elected officials home addresses included on their voter registration forms, which used to be given out on a limited basis to journalists.

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In Florida, legislators approved a new law restricting access to elected officials addresses on publicly-available government documents to just their home city and ZIP code.

But Louisiana legislators passed their law a few days before the Minnesota ambushes took place, and its protections go well beyond what California and Florida have done.



Neither California nor Florida allow elected officials to sue private citizens or businesses for posting their home address  or other personal information  on the internet. Free speech advocates have said that is likely because such a law impinges on peoples constitutional rights.



This kind of behavior isnt going to hold up to constitutional scrutiny, said David Cuillier, director of the Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.



California used to have a similar law in place prohibiting people from posting state lawmakers telephone numbers and home addresses on the internet if the lawmakers feared for their safety. It was repealed in 2017 after a federal judge ruled the statute unconstitutional.

At the time, gun rights activists had posted online the home addresses and telephone numbers of 40 California state lawmakers who voted for a law that required the state to collect personal information about gun buyers. When lawmakers received threats and the state demanded that activists remove the posts, the activists sued California in federal court and won.

In Louisiana, free speech advocates werent given the chance to raise concerns about the expansion of the law that allows elected officials to sue over internet content.

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The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Marcus Bryant, D-New Iberia, initially only expanded the right for lawsuits from judges to district attorneys, their staff and their retirees. Lawmakers changed it to apply to other elected officials  such as the governor, attorney general and themselves  very late in the legislative process after public hearings and the opportunity to provide testimony on the bill had closed.

Louisiana lawmakers also didnt debate the amendment to expand the protections to themselves and other elected officials before voting. With no discussion, they approved the bill unanimously in both chambers.
A man has appeared in court accused of assisting a family from Afghanistan to enter Northern Ireland illegally.

Ibadullah Alimi, 25, with an address at Allum Rock Road in Birmingham, England, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court in connection with an alleged breach of immigration law.

The offence is alleged to have taken place at Grand Central Station in Belfast on Wednesday.

Mr Alimi is accused of assisting a family from Afghanistan to travel to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland to facilitate the commission of a breach of immigration law by a person who was not a national of the United Kingdom.

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An interpreter explained the charge to the defendant and an officer from the National Crime Agency (NCA) told the brief hearing that she could connect him to the charge.

The court was told Mr Alimi will require a Pashto interpreter when he appears before the court again, via video link on 19 December.

There was no application for bail and the defendant was remanded into custody.
Authorities have identified the worker who was killed in an incident involving heavy machinery at a cranberry bog on Cape Cod on Friday morning.

Officers responding to a report of a workplace accident at the cranberry bogs behind 1054 County Road in Bourne just before 8:30 a.m. found a man pinned under work equipment, according to the Bourne Police Department.

Emergency crews performed CPR on the 71-year-old victim, but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

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In an update on Monday, the Cape & Islands District Attorneys Office identified the man as Hector Maldonado, of Bourne.

Police say the man had been operating a piece of equipment in the bogs when it rolled over on top of him, leaving him pinned.

Investigation underway after man killed in workplace accident in Cape Cod cranberry bog

In a statement, officials said, The Bourne Police Departments collective thoughts are with the family, friends, and co-workers of the victim in this incident.

Bourne police, Massachusetts State Police, and OSHA are investigating.

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Fresno County deputies have identified the man who was found dead on the side of Old Aurberry Road in Fresno County.

Investigators identified the man as 43-year-old Joie Carrell of Fresno.

Deputies say they received a call of a person suffering from a gunshot wound around 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Nearly an hour after the call, a CHP officer assisting Fresno County deputies made his way to Old Auberry Road and found a person, now known as Carrell, dead on the side of the road.

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Authorities say based on the circumstances, homicide detectives were called to the scene and began an investigation.

Details on how Carrell was shot are not being released and no suspect or motive was revealed.

The investigation is ongoing.

Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story.
Investigators in Camden County are trying to track down a gunman after a shooting at a Cherry Hill recording studio on Thursday afternoon.

It happened inside Luxury Studios in Cherry Hill.

Studio manager Ezrah Archie says he got a call from one of his staff members shortly before 4 p.m.

"Someone was shot in the studio," said Archie. "It was a nightmare. Something I never could imagine."

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According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, officers were called to the studio around 4:13 p.m. and found a 36-year-old man shot and injured. He was taken to Cooper University Hospital and listed in stable condition.

Surveillance footage shows several people running from the recording studio and then leaving the building.

"On the cameras, you hear the gunshot go off and you see the people who are in the studio all run out," said Archie.

Archie says this was a last-minute booking for the studio space, and the group had never recorded there before. He says security measures will be increased going forward.

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"Definitely going to tighten up the house rules," said Archie. "Moving forward, it's just kind of just cracking down and really honing in on the community that wants to do better."

Police have not released a motive, but staff at the studio say there was an argument about the song they were recording.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
Johnathan Trent Thomas, 27, of Linwood, N.C., pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats to murder federal officers, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Thomas threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officers if immigration enforcement actions did not cease.

He also threatened to come to Charlotte with armor-piercing ammunition and body armor to carry out his threats.

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ALSO READ: Man accused of threatening to kill CMPD, ICE officers, referencing deadly Charlotte ambush

Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers, stated U.S. Attorney Ferguson.

Court documents reveal that Thomas made a series of threatening phone calls to the CMPD, in which he warned of violent actions if he observed law enforcement making arrests.

He referenced previous arrests made by ICE agents in Charlotte as the catalyst for his threats.

During the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thomass residence, where they seized three rifles, a handgun, and various types of ammunition. Thomas had also claimed to have explosives around his house.

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Thomas has a history of threatening law enforcement, including incidents involving the Davidson County Sheriffs Office and CMPD, where he reportedly followed officers in marked patrol cars.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and local police departments.

Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for his threats against federal officers. He remains in federal custody, with a sentencing date yet to be determined.

VIDEO: Man accused of threatening to kill CMPD, ICE officers, referencing deadly Charlotte ambush
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump met in the Oval Office Friday, discussing topics around affordability and safety in New York City, appearing cordial despite trading barbs for months.

The Oval Office meeting marked the first time that Mamdani and Trump have met face to face following a war of words between the two leaders throughout Mamdani's campaign and election.

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mamdani said.

WATCH FULL REMARKS | Trump and Mamdani speak of 'strong' and 'safe' NY after White House meeting

Watch the full remarks from Zohran Mamdani and President Trump after their Oval Office meeting on Friday.

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He said the two spoke about common goals like crime, rent, groceries and utility process. He said he appreciated the time and looked forward to delivering affordability.

CeFaan Kim has more:

CeFaan Kim has more.

"Working people have been left behind in New York. In the wealthiest city in the world, one in five can't afford $2.90 for the train or bus. As I told Trump today- it's time to put those people right back at the heart of our politics," said Mamdani in a post on X after the meeting.

Working people have been left behind in New York. In the wealthiest city in the world, one in five can't afford $2.90 for the train or bus. As I told Trump today its time to put those people right back at the heart of our politics. pic.twitter.com/PUVQfuT38s  Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 21, 2025

At every turn, Trump and Mamdani fell over themselves complementing each other during the post-meeting press conference. Trump, who did most of the talking during the 30-minute availability, even leapt to his defense at times, calling Mamdani a "rational" person who wants to make New York great again.

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"I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor," Trump said, promising to help Mamdani "make everybody's dream come true."

"The better he does, the happier I am," Trump added.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The president also brushed aside Mamdani's criticisms of him over his administration's deportation raids and claims that Trump was behaving like a despot. Instead, Trump said the responsibility of holding an executive position in the government causes a person to change, saying that had been the case for him.

"He's got views that are a little out there, but people change. I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually," said Trump, who later seemed to take little umbrage when reporters asked Mamdani to clarify his past statements indicating that he thought the president was acting like a fascist.

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The meeting focused "not on disagreement but shared purpose" they have in serving New Yorkers and not on their differences.

"We discussed crime more than ICE, per se. He doesn't want to see crime, I don't want to see crime," Trump said.

When asked if he would feel comfortable living in New York City under the Mamdani administration, Trump said he would be very comfortable, and even more so after the meeting.

He also praised Mamdani for retaining Jessica Tisch, who he called a great police commissioner, noting Tisch is a good friend of his daughter Ivanka Trump.

The president and mayor-elect's remarks post-meeting, come in stark contrast to their public comments over the past several months, in which Trump has slammed Mamdani, falsely labeling him as a "communist" and predicting the ruin of his hometown, New York, if the Democratic Socialist was elected. He also threatened to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized American citizen, and to pull federal money from the city.

ABC News Political Director Averi Harper analyzes the Oval Office meeting held between Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump on Friday.

Local lawmakers react to Mamdani and Trump's meeting

Several prominent New York lawmakers reacted to the meeting, including Governor Kathy Hochul, who welcomed "President Trump's renewed commitment today to New York's success and his acknowledgment of our shared priorities: lowering costs and improving public safety."

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"I also appreciate that the President rejected efforts by members of his own party to weaponize the mayor-elect's background, faith, and identity for political gain, including the Islamophobic attacks labeling him a 'jihadist.' There's no place for rhetoric like that in our politics or in New York," Hochul said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said Mamdani "showed why he is ready to lead our city."

After meeting with the President, our next Mayor @ZohranKMamdani showed why he is ready to lead our city.



He has a plan to keep us safe, make sure New Yorkers can afford their lives, and he has the leadership we need in this moment.  NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) November 21, 2025

In a post on social media, Mayor Eric Adams spokesperson Fabien Levy said the meeting "Sounds a lot like @NYCMayor@ericadamsfornycsaying he wants to 'work with the president, not war with him,' but then the legacy media had a meltdown."

Sounds a lot like @NYCMayor @ericadamsfornyc saying he wants to work with the president, not war with him, but then the legacy media had a meltdown.



(Would note that Mayor Adams never stood by President Trumps side in the Oval Office like this)  Fabien Levy (@Fabien_Levy) November 21, 2025

Meanwhile, Republican candidate for governor, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, called Mamdani "Kathy Hochul's jihadist."

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"We all want NYC to succeed. But we'll have to agree to disagree on this one," she said in a statement. "If he walks like a jihadist, if he talks like a jihadist, if he campaigns like a jihadist, if he supports jihadists, he's a jihadist."

Mamdani rose from an obscure state lawmaker to become a social media star and symbol of the resistance against Trump during his mayoral campaign. He campaigned on an array of progressive policies and a message that was stark in its opposition to the aggressive, anti-immigrant agenda Trump has rolled out in his second White House term.

The 34-year-old appealed to a broad cross-section of New Yorkers and defeated one of its political heavyweights, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In his election night victory speech, Mamdani said he wanted New York to show the country how to defeat the president. But the day after, while speaking about his plans for "Trump-proofing" New York once he takes office in January, the incoming mayor also said he was willing to work with anyone, including the president, if it can help New Yorkers.

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Political observers say both men know New York needs Washington, and Washington needs New York.

(ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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MEXICO CITY (AP)  A Mexican woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to robbery with violence in the case of the 2024 killings of an American and two Australian surfers, authorities said Thursday.

The Baja California State Prosecutors Office said in a statement that a judge sentenced Ary Gisell Silva Raya on Wednesday in relation to the case of Australian brothers Callum Ryan Robinson and Jake Martin Robinson and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, whose bodies were found in a sparsely populated area 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Ensenada, Mexico.

The prosecutors office said that Silva Raya made contact with the three foreigners in the coastal area of Punta San Jose and instigated her companions to rob them of their belongings.

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She was the romantic partner of one of the men charged in the killings of the American and Australians who had traveled from California to surf in the area.

The surfers were robbed and shot, and their bodies were then dumped in a remote well where investigators eventually found them.

The three men arrested on charges for the killings remain in custody awaiting trial.
Minnesota state Sen. Erin Maye Quade (D) on Thursday slammed President Trump after he called six Democratic lawmakers traitors and suggested their request to military service members to disobey unlawful orders could put them in prison and is punishable by death.

A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO, Quade wrote in a post on Bluesky. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark  and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF.

The lawmaker added in another post, Where is the bottom?? I cannot describe how fing dangerous this is.

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The lawmaker referred state House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, who were killed in a politically motivated shooting in June. A roommate of the shooter, who was identified as Vance Boelter, told local reporters Boelter was a strong [Trump] supporter.

Earlier Wednesday, the president shared a story from the Washington Examiner about Democrats calling on members of the military to disobey what they called unlawful orders. Trump called this really bad, and Dangerous for our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???

The president followed the post with: SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

He was responding to a video, made by a small group of Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds, who told active service members, Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.

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Sens. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.), and Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Chris Deluzio (Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (N.H.) appeared in the video. The same group called Trumps response telling.

Whats most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law, the lawmakers said in a statement. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.

But this isnt about any one of us, they added. This isnt about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the Presidents calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.

Although the lawmakers did not specify which unlawful orders service members should disobey, Slotkin referred to the deployment of U.S. troops in American cities amid the presidents crackdown on crime and immigration. She also argued that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should testify about these deployments in a public hearing.

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House Democratic leaders also condemned Trumps posts and called them disgusting and dangerous death threats.

The Presidents violent and unhinged rhetoric against American patriots is consistent with his well-documented history of attacking prisoners of war, Gold Star families and war heroes, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement. There is no bottom when it comes to Donald Trump.

The White House defended Trumps statement, saying the president is not advocating for executing Democrats, but wants to see them held accountable.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday unveiled what he called a sweeping comprehensive defense plan to fortify the strategic corridor between Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, declaring that heavy weaponry and missiles are already deployed and operational as a U.S. military presence lingers in nearby Caribbean waters.

In a nationally televised presentation on state television channel VTV, Maduro stood before a map outlining the densely populated stretch linking the capital to the countrys main port and international airport. He said the plan detailed street by street, community by community, weapon by weapon, weapons system by weapons system how the government intends to defend the area from what he described as external threats.

The show of force comes as Washington maintains an air and naval deployment in the Caribbean that began in August as part of an antidrug trafficking operation. Caracas calls the U.S. presence a threat and an attempt to provoke regime change  accusations Washington denies. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been frozen since 2019.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - SEPTEMBER 01: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at Hotel Melia Caracas on September 01, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela. Maduro stated that his government is targeted by military ships and 1,200 misiles; what he called the largest threat on Venezuela in the last 100 years. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Maduro said an arsenal of weapons for the militiamen and militiawomen  members of the citizen-based Militia, a special component of the Bolivarian National Armed Force  is already in place. According to the government, more than 8 million people enrolled in the Militia during an enlistment drive launched in August, shortly after the U.S. deployment began.

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He added that the entire system of rifles, heavy weaponry, and missiles in the CaracasLa Guaira corridor is active, focused on defending the coastal mountains and key infrastructure, including La Guairas port and Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia.

Maduro emphasized that the defense blueprint was devised not by military strategists but by the thinking minds of the empowered people who live in the communities along the corridor. In September, the government announced the creation of more than 5,300 Communal Militia Units across the country, reinforcing the administrations long-standing claim that the people have the weapons and that Venezuela is prepared for any prolonged war.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the worlds largest aircraft carrier.

The escalating military rhetoric comes amid a new phase of uncertainty in U.S.Venezuela relations. On Monday, Maduro warned that a U.S. attack on Venezuela would mark the political end of President Donald Trump, though he also signaled openness to a face-to-face meeting.

Trump, for his part, said Sunday that there could be discussions with Maduro because Venezuela wants to talk. On Friday, he added that he had already decided on a set of measures regarding Venezuela but offered no further details.

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Over the weekend, the State Department announced it will designate the Cartel de los Soles  a drug network Washington says is led by Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials  as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Nov. 24. The move is widely seen in Venezuelan political circles as one that could clear the way for military action and eliminate any remaining possibility that Maduro might negotiate a peaceful exit before becoming a military target.

U.S. accusations against Maduro intensified in August, when Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled the reward for his capture to $50 million and called him one of the worlds biggest drug traffickers. Bondi said Maduro not only leads the Soles cartel but also collaborates with criminal groups including the feared Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and Mexicos Sinaloa cartel.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military has moved unprecedented firepower into the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, entered U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility last week, expanding what officials describe as the biggest American military presence in the Caribbean in decades.

Under what the Pentagon has labeled Operation Southern Spear, an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 military personnel are now operating near Venezuela. Washington describes the mission as a counter-narcotics effort; Caracas insists it is a prelude to regime change and has ordered a nationwide military mobilization.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - OCTOBER 4: Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez (center right) supervised a training session on military leadership and defense on October 4, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) carried out special military exercises throughout the country, as instructed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Authorities reiterated that this preparation is a direct response to the military threat currently posed by the United States against Venezuela. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

The Ford Carrier Strike Group includes seven Arleigh Burkeclass destroyers and two guided-missile cruisers. A powerful amphibious force  the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale  is carrying roughly 4,500 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Live-fire drills near Venezuelan waters, the deployment of the fast-attack submarine USS Newport News, Coast Guard cutters, F-35Bs, MQ-9 Reapers, CH-53 helicopters, P-8 Poseidons and the special operations vessel MV Ocean Trader underscore the scale of U.S. readiness.

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Inside Venezuelas ruling party, Trumps recent comments have triggered divergent interpretations. Diosdado Cabello, one of the regimes most powerful figures, used his weekly program to suggest that Trump is being pushed toward hardline positions by advisers hostile to dialogue.

Trump knows perfectly well that within his own team there swarm such shadowy characters that they seem to have been raised in a damp basement, Cabello said, referring to what he called a faction that dreams of seeing him stumble again in Venezuela policy. He argued that Trumps openness to talks with Maduro detonated like a nuclear bomb among U.S.-based Venezuelan hardliners and domestic opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado, whom he mocked as part of a mafia advocating foreign military intervention.

The corridor between Caracas and La Guaira  the gateway for the nations imports and its primary link to the outside world  has long been one of Venezuelas most sensitive zones. Any militarization there resonates deeply in a country shaken by economic collapse, mass migration, and political repression.

This article was complemented with el Nuevo Heralds wire services.
Catherine Hanaway talks to reporters on Aug. 19 after being announced as the state's next attorney general (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway on Thursday joined a growing number of government agencies investigating the makers and sellers of a product called 7-OH for engaging in what she called unlawful practices.

The name, 7-OH, is short for 7-hydroxymitragynine, and its made by chemically converting the main opioid-inducing element in kratom. 7-OH is sold as gummies, candies, imitation ice cream cones, liquid shots, tablets and powders. People can buy 7-OH products in Missouri smoke shops, gas stations, convenience stores and online shops.

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Hanaway on Thursday announced her office had issued civil investigative demand letters, which are essentially subpoenas, to six companies that represent the major points of sale for both 7-OH and regular kratom products. The letters mandate the company to hand over multiple types of documents, including lab test results, research on health risks and safety label information.

Consumers, Hanaway said in a press release, may be exposed to unapproved, unsafe and deceptively marketed opioid-like drugs.

According to the letters sent to each company, the attorney generals investigation targets the distribution of products containing 7-OH or any part of the plant Mitragyna speciosa, which is the kratom plant.

We are deeply concerned, she said, that Missourians are being sold drug-like substances under the guise of harmless supplements, with no FDA approval, no safety testing, and in some cases no meaningful disclosure of what these products actually contain.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued a health advisory last month warning consumers of potential health risks it says are associated with 7-OH.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters in June to six manufacturers of 7-OH, and federal action is still pending. The companies the FDA targeted are different from the ones Hanaway is investigating, except for one.

Kansas-City-based Shaman Botanicals LLC  the leading supplier of 7-OH in Missouri  received letters from both the FDA and Hanaway.

The companys owner, Vince Sanders, has said Shaman was the first company to make 7-OH products.

Sanders replied to the FDAs questions about the companys products in August, told The Independent Friday, and has not yet heard back from the federal agency. The FDA warning has not stopped the companys production, which he said is higher than ever.

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The companys response to the FDA warning letter included 300 pages of expert testimony and 200 pages of legal opinion, he said.

Ive got seven of the worlds experts on there that wrote letters that are saying, Listen, you guys are completely wrong. Heres the science, heres the facts, Sanders said.

He plans on providing the same information to Hanaway, he said. Sanders other Kansas City company, CBD American Shaman LLC, also received a letter from Hanaway.

CBD Kratom, the largest kratom retailer in the country, was also among the recipients, along with St. Louis-area companies Green Dragon CBD, Emporium Smoke Shop and Moonlight Smoke Shop.

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CBD Kratom issued a statement Friday saying the company plans on taking the attorney generals process seriously and welcome any opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our safety standards, compliance practices, and long-standing commitment to consumer education.

CBD Kratom does not manufacture or sell 7-OH products, according to the companys statement, and its leaders believe the investigations scope is unusually broad.

The company pointed to the FDAs distinction this summer between natural kratom and 7-OH.

In a July press release announcing the FDAs warning letters, the agency stated: While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom, the agencys letters focus on concentrated 7-OH products such as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots, which may be dangerous.

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Kratom leaves come from a tropical tree found in Southeast Asia, and they can be crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules.

The leaves contain an alkaloid called mitragynine. During digestion, the body converts it into 7-OH in small amounts. Its what gives people the opioid-like effect.

The products the FDA is targeting contain a highly concentrated amount of 7-OH by taking mitragynine and chemically oxidizing it.

The way that 7-OH is being marketed as kratom is what has the FDA and some medical experts concerned.

Sanders argues his product is superior to most kratom products and shouldnt be taken off the market.

We clearly have a better product, he said. Consumers voted with their dollar.
About two years ago, Three Rivers Waterkeeper, a nonprofit environmental group of researchers, began sampling for PFAs contamination across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> We need to work together: Pitt study on water quality of Three Rivers analyzes pollutants

That area includes Montour Run, a waterway along parts of the Montour Trail where people fish, boat, and swim and have done so for years.

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What researchers found there was alarming: one of the highest levels of PFAs throughout their testing area, and they want people who use that stream to be aware.

Michael Karkalla is no stranger to the Montour Run Watershed. He grew up in Robinson Township, near Groveton Park and the Montour Trail, spending much of his childhood and adolescence in the water.

We would canoe down the creek, we would swim in the creek Karkalla said. As a youth, youre not really thinking about what is it and is it harmful?

Karkalla is talking about PFAs, a suite of synthetic chemicals used in consumer and industry products since the 1930s, which can accumulate in the environment. In the last year, Three Rivers Waterkeeper collected samples from dozens of rivers and streams across the region, including those in the Montour Run watershed, which runs through five different municipalities.

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We just really wanted to document and understand where we have contamination levels, if any, in our southwestern regional space. We found one of our highest levels here on the Montour Run where it meets the Ohio River, said Heather Hulton VanTassel, executive director of Three Rivers Waterkeeper.

Three Rivers Waterkeeper said it identified 15 types of PFAs chemicals in parts of the Montour Run watershed.

We went to McLarens Run, and we sampled that region and thats where were starting to see over 400 parts per trillion and that was alarming we have never had a sample that high, Hulton VanTassel said.

The waterways basin includes the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and the 171st Air Refueling Wing, a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In its report, Three Rivers Waterkeeper identifies PIT and the 171st as potential sources of PFAs contamination due to a prior mandate from the FAA to use a firefighting foam containing PFAs.

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A spokesperson for Pittsburgh International Airport/Allegheny Airport Authority issued this statement to Channel 11:

Public Safety is the top priority at the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Previously, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated that U.S. airports utilize AFFF. Following the recent change in federal mandates that allow for Fluorine Free Foam, the Airport Authority implemented Fluorine Free Foam nearly a year ago. AFFF is no longer utilized by the Airport Authority. Additionally, ACAA firefighters are recognized experts and teach courses to regional fire departments and other airports that include tactics to utilize Fluorine Free Foam during an emergency response.

A spokesperson with the 171st Air Refueling Wing issued this statement to Channel 11:

PFAS, the forever chemicals, has been a topic of conversation here for several years. Its not something we take lightly and we are just as concerned about it as our neighbors in this community. The Guardsmen who serve at this base and their families are part of that same community.

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The 171st no longer uses AFFF foam. However, the remaining AFFF is still present on the installation, but is not in use and is being properly stored and awaiting removal from the installation in accordance with regulations and EPA guidance.

We are just as concerned as our neighbors as we are part of this community as well. We have an obligation to be good stewards of the environment. We continue to work with the National Guard and applicable agencies to follow guidance addressing detection, mitigation, and restoration.

Hulton VanTassel said no levels of PFAs are considered safe for human consumption, but believes there are still safe ways to enjoy Montour Run.

It is a beautiful place. I dont want anyone to think that just because we did find high levels of PFAS contamination that it is no longer worthy of recreation because it absolutely is, and if we dont continue to recreate in it then were not going to be able to fight for it to get even better, Hulton VanTassel said.

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As for Karkalla, hes planning to undergo medical testing for PFAS exposure by the end of this year, something he says hes willing to pay out of pocket for in order to get answers.

Nobody really knows what the long-term effects of this is because its so new, Karkalla said.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says Montour Run was stocked with trout three times last spring.

In an email to Channel 11, DEP officials said fish tissue data show concentrations below the current statewide fish consumption advisory threshold, but are using Three Rivers Waterkeepers findings to prioritize additional sampling.

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(The Center Square)  Seven months after the Trump administration claimed Mexico would be complying with a treaty to ensure south Texas received water, Texas still hasnt received it.

Gov. Greg Abbott Friday again demanded that Mexican authorities fulfill their treaty obligation and pointed to a potential solution proposed by Texas U.S. senators.

Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement," Abbott said in a statement. "Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley. The significant economic loss from Mexico's failure to supply more than two years' worth of water obligations  almost 2 million acre-feet  has had a severe negative impact on Texas' agricultural industry. The breach of the 1944 Water Treaty violates foundational elements of international law and diplomacy and must be corrected immediately."

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At issue is a 1944 Treaty of Utilization of Waters, which governs water usage between the U.S. and Mexico, including from two international reservoirs, Lake Amistad and Falcon Lake in Texas along the international border. Mexico has historically released water storage from Lake Amistad to Mexican growers, not to Texas growers, and the U.S. federal government hasnt enforced the treaty. Last year, Mexican officials killed any agreements to release water to Texans, even running ads in Mexico City to protest compliance, according to several news reports.

Under the treaty, Mexico is obligated to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet over five years to the United States from the Rio Grande River; the U.S. is obligated to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of water to Mexico from the Colorado River. The U.S. has consistently met its delivery obligations, according to International Boundary and Water Commission data.

In April, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins claimed that 100 days into his term, President Donald Trump, in a historic demonstration of leadership, had ensured Mexican water delivery for Texas farmers. Mexico has committed to make an immediate transfer of water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of the flow in six of Mexicos Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle, she said, The Center Square reported.

Seven months later that hasnt happened.

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The last five-year cycle ended in October with Mexico once again failing to meet its minimum delivery obligations. According to the IBWC, as of Oct. 24, 2025, Mexico ended the cycle delivering approximately 885,000 acre-feet, less than 50% of its total obligation of 1.75 million acre-feet.

Preliminary IBWC data indicates Mexico has a remaining delivery deficit of more than 800,000 acre-feet of water, the governors office says. Thats equivalent to roughly 2.5 years of required deliveries.

The Rio Grande Valley is among the most fertile agricultural regions in Texas and the U.S. Half of crop production acreage in the lower Rio Grande Valley is irrigated. In order to grow a wide range of crops, farmers rely on water from the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers. The agricultural industry in the valley contributes roughly $1 billion annually to the economy and provides roughly 8,400 full-time jobs, The Center Square reported.

A 2023 Texas A&M AgriLife analysis states valley growers have been suffering from water shortages since the mid-1990s.

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These shortages were exacerbated in 1992, when Mexico began under supplying the average minimum annual amount the 350,000 acre feet of water in the Rio Grande, which continues today, it said, referring to two years ago.

In 2023, irrigation water shortages resulted in an estimated $495.8 million crop revenue loss and $993.2 million loss in economic output, it states. The loss of irrigated crop production in the region was an estimated $554.8 million loss in value added (contribution to the states GDP) and an estimated loss of 8,404 jobs (full-and part-time) that depend on the production and sales of these commodities for some portion of their income, it says.

Fast forward to one year after the report was published and Texas last sugar mill was forced to close. The sugar industry blamed Mexican authorities for not releasing water and U.S. authorities for not holding them accountable, The Center Square reported.

Last year, record-low levels in the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs forced Texas to accept water from Mexico through non-designated sources. Last November, Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to accept water from the San Jaun River but again said Mexico must comply with the treaty, The Center Square reported.

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The San Juan River water deliveries were downstream of Falcon and Amistad reservoirs, which prevented Texas from capturing water that was not immediately needed, he said.

On Friday, Abbott pointed to a possible solution proposed by Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to strengthen enforcement of the treaty. If a bill they filed is enacted, restrictions would be imposed on Mexico, including denying all non-treaty requests from the Mexican government and limiting engagement until it complies.
Complaints about aggressive debt collectors have tripled in Georgia over the past three years, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Consumers in Georgia are facing increasing harassment from debt collectors, with reports of collectors pursuing debts that customers do not owe.

The rise in complaints highlights the aggressive tactics used by some collection agencies, which are incentivized to recover debts.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray spoke with financial educator Thomas Nitzche, with Money Management International, who said collectors are often financially incentivized to be aggressive in their collection efforts.

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Earlier this year, Channel 2 Action News reported on Clayton County resident Kenneth Redon III being barred for life from debt collection for allegedly harassing people into paying back debts they did not owe.

According to federal law, debt collectors cant call you in the middle of the night or more than seven times a week. They also cant show up on your doorstep or tell family members or co-workers about your debt.

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Gray spoke with Sam Brashears, a single mother who works from home as an appointment scheduler.

She said she experienced aggressive debt collection after medical emergencies led to increased debt. Despite arranging a payment plan, she faced collections calls when she was late on a payment.

They immediately sent it to collections, and I started getting the calls, she said.

Brashears had accumulated about $40,000 in debt across five credit cards and faced additional medical expenses for her two teenagers.

It was about maybe $3,000 for one kid and then about $2,000 for the other, she said.

She continues to receive calls regarding medical debt collections but waits for written communication to verify legitimacy.

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Im waiting for the letter. You send me the letter, then Ill pay off what I can, she explained.

Brashears has worked with credit counselors to negotiate lower rates on her credit cards, successfully cutting her debt in half and aiming to be debt-free within three years.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was willing to negotiate, following the presentation of the US peace plan for resolving the Ukraine conflict.

The 28-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump could form "the basis for a final peace settlement," Putin said at a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday.

He confirmed for the first time that he had seen the text, describing it as a new draft of what had been discussed in the past, including at his meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, in August.

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Putin stressed that the points now need to be discussed in detail.

Putin accused the Europeans of being incompetent and of not having any real information about the situation on the battlefield, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

Russia would achieve its goals militarily, Putin asserted. Nevertheless, Russia remains willing to negotiate a peaceful solution, he added.

The US has presented the Ukrainian government with a 28-point plan aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine, which has been going on since early 2022.

The draft primarily calls for Ukrainian concessions to Russia, including territorial cessions, a withdrawal of Kiev's troops from parts of eastern Ukraine, restrictions on the army and a legally binding renunciation of NATO membership.

Putin has been waging war against Ukraine for more than three and a half years and has repeatedly threatened to take further territories of the country if Kiev does not surrender.
Coordinated counterterrorism raids across Europe have uncovered what Israeli authorities describe as a significant Hamas network preparing attacks against Israeli and Jewish civilians. The joint effort involved the Mossad and multiple European intelligence and law enforcement agencies working across several countries.

According to the statement released by Israels Prime Ministers Office on behalf of the Mossad for Intelligence and Special Operations, the dismantled network was part of a broader effort by Hamas leadership to establish terror infrastructure across the continent. Israeli officials refer to the network as the "Hamas Octopus," describing operational cells, weapons hideouts and logistical channels intended to activate attacks "on command."

A senior Israeli intelligence official familiar with the details told Fox News Digital, "There are active cells across Europe right now, already on their way to targets, and the public  along with law-enforcement bodies in these countries  must be significantly more alert as this activity continues."

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Trump Faces Middle East Test As Netanyahu Balks At Erdogans Gaza Troop Hopes

One of the pivotal discoveries was made in Vienna this past September, when Austrias security and intelligence service (DSN) located a weapons hideout containing pistols and explosive materials. Israeli authorities say the cache belonged to Hamas operative Muhammad Naim, the son of senior Hamas political bureau member in Gaza, Bassem Naim, who is described as close to Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya.

As European agencies coordinated their investigation, Israeli officials uncovered information linking the Vienna activity to developments outside Europe. Israel says a meeting took place in Qatar in September between Muhammad Naim and his father. The timing, according to Israel, suggests possible involvement by Hamas leadership abroad in advancing the networks activities despite repeated public denials by senior movement figures. Israeli officials add that such denials may indicate a loss of control over "rogue operatives."

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The senior Israeli intelligence official claimed, "It is no coincidence that one of the key suspects is the son of one of Hamas most senior leaders based in Qatar."

Idf Strikes Hamas 'Terrorist Targets' Across Gaza Following Reported Ceasefire Violation

The investigation widened further to Turkey, which Israeli authorities describe as "a convenient area of activity for Hamas operatives, both past and present." European intelligence services are examining possible Hamas-linked plots tied to operatives moving through Turkish territory. In November, German authorities arrested a prominent figure in the network, Burhan al-Khatib, after a stay in Turkey, "likely after completing his operational activity on European soil," according to Israel.

The senior Israeli intelligence official said that Turkey  despite its friendship with the White House and President Recep Tayyip Erdogans close ties with Washington  shows "unmistakable signs of involvement. This includes the arrest in Germany of a Hamas operative who arrived directly from Turkey. Some of the direction and operational guidance is being carried out from inside Turkey, and Turkeys hosting of Hamas is directly fueling terror activity in Europe."

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Israeli officials say the multinational cooperation reflects a growing recognition in Europe of the threat posed by Hamas activity beyond the Middle East. They note that European bodies have recently taken additional steps targeting Hamas incitement and recruitment networks, including charities and religious institutions used "to raise funds and recruit operatives," with Germany cited as a recent example.

Hamas terrorists watch the handover of three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on Feb. 8, 2025.

The Mossad says it continues to work with partners worldwide to prevent attacks on Israeli, Jewish and civilian targets. Since the Oct. 7 massacre, Israel reports that Hamas has intensified efforts to build infrastructure abroad, and that Mossad is working to thwart "dozens of attack plots worldwide."





Original article source: MossadEuropean intelligence operation launches sweeping crackdown on Hamas global terror network
Illegal drug activity at a Myrtle Beach oceanfront hotel has led to it being declared a nuisance by a Horry County judge.

The judges order on Nov. 17 opens the door for the Solicitors Office to close the property.

Solicitor Jimmy Richardson filed a petition in October asking for a temporary injunction to close the Twilight Surf Hotel, 1703 S. Ocean Blvd., stating that the oceanfront hotel has the general reputation for repeated acts of unlawful possession or sale of controlled substances and continuous breaches of the peace.

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A message left with the hotel was not returned by publication.

A judge signed an order Nov. 17, 2025, declaring the Twilight Surf Hotel in Myrtle Beach, SC, a public nuisance.

The Solicitors Office worked in conjunction with the Myrtle Beach Police to stop and correct dangerous and illegal activity happening at the property, according to a news release from the police department Wednesday.

For several years, there has been very little management or oversight at the hotel, the release said. Because of that, drug activity and disturbances have grown out of control, creating serious safety concerns for the community.

Myrtle Beach Police responded to 284 calls for service at the hotel from May 18 to Nov. 17 according to the release. Myrtle Beach Fire Department responded to 22 additional calls. These calls included keep checks, disturbances, drug-related reports and other safety issues.

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The high number of calls shows that the property has become unsafe for neighbors, visitors and first responders, the release said.

Posting the Twilight Surf Hotel as a nuisance begins a legal process through the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office to stop the dangerous activity and bring the property back into compliance with state law, the release said.

The Solicitors petition asked for the hotel to be closed for one year until a trial can be conducted. With the judges order this week, the hotels owners and employees will be restrained from using, maintaining and assisting in the using of the hotel. Also, the Myrtle Beach Police Department will remove all the furniture, equipment, fixtures and other property and put it in a place for safekeeping based on the petition.

The hotel was built in 1972 and has had three owners since its construction, according to online county records. The final was SK Holding Group in 2021.
A New Hampshire State Representative was arrested on charges that he shared an explicit photo without the victims consent, officials say.

31-year-old Bryan Morse of Franklin, N.H., was arrested on November 20, with a charge of Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sex Images, according to police.

Morse is a Republican State Representative for N.Hs Merrimack District 3.

The arrest comes 6 months after the incident was originally reported to police.

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On May 16, 2025, the Nashua Police Department took a report from a female victim who stated Morse had posted explicit photographs of her on a social media application, according to the Nashua Police.

Morse released a statement on his Facebook page, Thursday.

"Recently, I was informed that a warrant had been issued for my arrest based on a false accusation. I immediately turned myself in and will be pleading not guilty as I work to clear my name and address these charges," Morses statement reads in part.

Morse has launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist with his legal bills.

Morse was released on $200 cash bail, according to police.

He is due back in court on December 18.

N.H. State Rep. Bryan Morse was recently arrested on charges that he shared an explicit photo without consent, police say.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Members of the Pentagon press corps, who refused to sign new coverage rules and walked out last month, don't want fellow reporters and U.S, citizens to forget how they played a vital role in monitoring Defense Department actions.

As a tribute to them, the National Press Club in Washington has created an exhibition dedicated to these reporters, most of whom turned in their security badges rather than agree to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new mandates.

Among those: Reporters were barred from freely roaming Pentagon halls. Building access was sharply curtailed. And, Journalists had to sign a pledge promising not to obtain or use any unauthorized material, even if the information was unclassified.

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Dozens of reporters from outlets like the Washington Post, wire services and major TV networks recused to sign and walked out en masse.

The press corps was reconstituted with more than 60 journalists from pro-Trump and alternative outlets such as TurningPoint USA, RedState and a streaming service run by Mike Lindell, the pillow-maker.

"The Pentagon access exhibit is meant to speak directly to the reporters and editors who rely on that access and feel the impact of these changes most directly," National Press Club President Mike Balsamo said.

"The National Press Club is a busy professional hub where thousands of journalists, newsmakers and guests pass through every week," he said.

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The exhibit in the club's journalism library including artifacts such as newsroom signs, a reporter's helmet damaged in Afghanistan and historical Pentagon documents. It opened Nov. 14.

Other items on display include simulated "Secret" and "Top Secret" cover sheets, the Pentagon's reporter bullpen clock and a dictionary, military coin and phone from the press office.

Balsamo said the club maintains some member-only spaces to preserve an environment in which journalists can work, meet sources and speak candidly, adding that this structure supports its press freedom efforts and ability to document moments like this one.

"At the same time, we're committed to keeping the public informed about the extraordinary shift that's happening with Pentagon access, and we'll continue doing that through all of our public-facing platforms," he said.

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The exhibit, which is open on weekdays for members, features many of those personal and professional items, and is part of the club's broader push to raise awareness about what it describes as an unprecedented rollback of press access.

Beth Francesco, the press club's executive director, called the Pentagon press corps "a group of journalists whose work is essential to the country's understanding of its military and national security decisions. "

"Many non-members encounter the exhibit as they come through the Club for briefings, news conferences and press freedom programs, and we're sharing the story behind it through our public statements and digital channels so the broader public can understand what's at stake," Balsamo said.

During the exhibit's opening, club leaders emphasized that independent reporting on the military is central to democratic oversight and warned that government-approved reporting standards set a dangerous precedent for state control of information.
Netanyahu held the meeting with the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police as settlers attacked Huwara, also amid criticism of the security establishment's failure to prevent West Bank violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to address the growing concerns over the failure of the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police to contain escalating violence carried out by Jewish extremists in the West Bank.

The discussion occurred as dozens of young Jewish men entered the Palestinian village of Huwara and set fire to vehicles and buildings. The attack was reportedly carried out in retaliation for the recent killing of Aharon Cohen, 70, a resident of Kiryat Arba, who was shot dead this week during a terrorist attack at Gush Junction.

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During the security assessment, Central Command head Maj.-Gen. Avi Balut warned: The writing is on the wall. There are normal residents living on the farms, and in the outposts, there are disorderly lawbreakers and rioters.

National Missions Minister Orit Strock emphasized distinctions between settlers, saying: There are farms and there are outposts, and they are different.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, There are good people in the outposts as well. It cannot be that you evacuate an outpost, while on the other hand, Arabs who also build illegally in the West Bank are not evacuated.

Israeli security forces clash with Jewish settlers during the evacuation of Illegal structures in Tzur Misgavi, an outpost in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, November 17, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/NAAMA STERN)

Shin Bet chief Maj.-Gen. (res.) David Zini, speaking to the meetings legal adviser, added: If taking over land is terror, then taking over land in the Negev is also terror. He called for coordinated action: The phenomenon must be dealt with full force. This must be done through joint efforts between all bodies if the aim is to eradicate the phenomenon, Channel 12 reported.

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Zini also expressed his support of Ben-Gvir's proposed death penalty bill for terrorists, saying that "it is a law that will that will deter [terrorism]."

"There will be no preventing it," IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during the debate over the bill. "But judges should be given discretion."

A focal point for far-right youth involved in violent activity

The rampage in Huwara occurred despite warnings from the security establishment that Jewish extremists were likely to act following both Cohens murder and the recent evacuation of the illegal Givat Hatilim outpost in Gush Etzion. Officials have described that outpost as a focal point for far Right youth involved in violent activity.

Security officials have expressed concern about the defense establishment's inability to respond effectively. According to assessments, about 70 core activists are involved in these violent actions, with an additional 200 youths participating sporadically.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Abortion is again illegal in North Dakota after the state's Supreme Court on Friday couldn't muster the required majority to uphold a judge's ruling that struck down the state's ban last year.

The law makes it a felony crime for anyone to perform an abortion, though it specifically protects patients from prosecution. Doctors could be prosecuted and penalized by as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Three justices agreed that the ban is unconstitutionally vague under the state constitution. The other two justices said the law is not unconstitutional.

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The state constitution requires at least four of the five justices to agree for a law to be found unconstitutional, a high bar. Not enough members of the court joined together to affirm the lower court ruling.

In his opinion, Justice Jerod Tufte said the natural rights guaranteed by the state constitution in 1889 do not extend to abortion rights. He also said the law provides adequate and fair warning to those attempting to comply.

North Dakota Republican Attorney General Drew Wrigley welcomed the ruling, saying, The Supreme Court has upheld this important pro-life legislation, enacted by the peoples Legislature. The Attorney Generals office has the solemn responsibility of defending the laws of North Dakota, and today those laws have been upheld.

Republican state Sen. Janne Myrdal, who introduced the 2023 legislation that became the law banning abortion, said she is thrilled and grateful that two justices that are highly respected saw the truth of the matter, that this is fully constitutional for the mother and for the unborn child and thereafter for that sake.

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The challengers called the decision a devastating loss for pregnant North Dakotans.

As a majority of the Court found, this cruel and confusing ban is incomprehensible to physicians. The ban forces doctors to choose between providing care and going to prison," Center for Reproductive Rights senior staff attorney Meetra Mehdizadeh said. Abortion is health care, and North Dakotans deserve to be able to access this care without delay caused by confusion about what the law allows.

The ruling means access to abortion in North Dakota will be outlawed. Even after a judge had earlier struck down the ban last year, the only scenarios for a patient to obtain an abortion in North Dakota had been for life- or health-preserving reasons in a hospital.

The only abortion provider relocated in 2022 from Fargo to nearby Moorhead, Minnesota.

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Justice Daniel Crothers, one of the three judges to vote against the ban, wrote that the district court decision wasnt wrong.

The vagueness in the law relates to when an abortion can be performed to preserve the life and health of the mother," Crothers wrote. "After striking this invalid provision, the remaining portions of the law would be inoperable.

North Dakota's newly confirmed ban prohibits the performance of an abortion as a felony crime. The only exceptions are for rape or incest in the first six weeks  before many women know they are pregnant  and to prevent the mothers death or a serious health risk to her.

North Dakota joins 12 other states enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Another four bar it at or around six weeks gestational age.

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Judge Bruce Romanick had struck down the ban the GOP-led Legislature passed in 2023, less than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door to the state-level bans, largely turning the abortion battle to state courts and legislatures.

The Red River Women's Clinic  the formerly sole abortion clinic in North Dakota  and several physicians challenged the law. The state appealed the 2024 ruling that overturned the ban.

The judge and the Supreme Court each denied requests by the state to keep the abortion ban in effect during the appeal. Those decisions allowed patients with pregnancy complications to seek care without fear of delay because of the law, Mehdizadeh previously said.
North Korean operatives created a fake job-application platform targeting applicants to major US artificial intelligence and crypto firms as part of a new effort to steal money and know-how for the Kim Jong Un regime, researchers said on Thursday.

Its a twist on a yearslong campaign to infiltrate Fortune 500 companies: Instead of simply impersonating employees of those companies, North Korean tech workers are now working to gain long-term access to the computers of applicants before they join a company, according to security firm Validin, which discovered the scheme.

Going after job seekers gives North Korean actors a huge advantage. Instead of trying to slip past an employers defenses, they take over the entire hiring process and make it feel completely legitimate to individuals, Validins chief executive Kenneth Kinion told CNN. People assume theyre doing a normal coding test or following steps for a promising job opportunity, so theyre far more likely to run whatever the interviewer sends them.

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The fake jobs platform mimics the style and substance of Lever, a headhunting platform that boasts tens of thousands of customers. Among the fictional jobs advertised on the North Korean-built platform are a product manager related to Claude, the popular AI model developed by San Francisco-based firm Anthropic.

Anthropics technology is in high demand. The firm committed to spending $30 billion on Microsofts compute capacity to expand the use of Claude, Microsoft announced this week.

CNN has requested comment from Lever, Anthropic and all the other companies impersonated in the scheme. The North Korean diplomatic mission in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Because many candidates dont want their current employer to know theyre looking elsewhere, theyre less likely to report anything suspicious, making it even easier for the attackers to slip through unnoticed, Kinion said.

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Kinion, whose team discovered the fake job portal this week, said he wasnt aware of anyone who has fallen victim to the scheme yet, but many have fallen for past industrial espionage campaigns tied to Pyongyang.

For years, North Korean workers have used fraudulent identities and sometimes passed interview screenings to infiltrate American companies big and small. The workers then send the money back to Pyongyang to support the regimes rogue weapons program, according to private experts and US officials.

A previous CNN investigation showed how the founder of a California-based cryptocurrency startup had unwittingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to a North Korean engineer. The entrepreneur was unaware of the situation until the FBI notified him, he said.

North Korean hackers have also stolen billions of dollars from banks and cryptocurrency firms over the last several years, according to reports from the United Nations and private firms. A White House official estimated in 2023 that half of North Koreas missile program had been funded by cyberattacks and cryptocurrency theft.

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A series of US indictments and sanctions has raised awareness of the insider IT worker threat. Pyongyang has evolved its tactics in response, according to experts.

These operators appear to hold elevated privileges, far beyond what a standard IT worker receives, which is evident from their more malicious activities, Michael Barnhart, a North Korea-focused researcher at insider threat firm DTEX Systems, told CNN. This reinforces the notion that these activities are part of a broader, well-integrated ecosystem within North Koreas cyber operations.

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Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday called on New Jerseys leaders to stay rooted in bipartisanship as his successor prepares to tackle a looming state budget challenge and a potential health care crisis.

Murphy, a two-term Democrat, delivered his final address to the New Jersey League of Municipalities at its annual conference in Atlantic City.

The speech, a tradition for sitting governors, drew hundreds of local officials.

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With about two months left in office, Murphys appearance came during a pivotal week: Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill resigned her U.S. House seat after defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a nationally watched race.

Sherrill, also a Democrat, will take office on Jan. 20.

As in past years, Murphys remarks centered on unity. He highlighted his administrations accomplishments, including improved credit ratings and consecutive contributions to the state pension system.

We have never allowed the smallness of politics to stand in the way of getting big things done for the people we serve, he said.

He also pointed to property-tax relief through the ANCHOR program and investments in the Transportation Trust Fund.

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Murphy praised local leaders for guiding the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered steep job losses and intense political pressure to lift shutdowns while safeguarding public health.

Managing the pandemic remains a defining part of the governors first term.

He also stressed affordability, saying last weeks election results underscored voters concerns about rising costs, particularly utility bills.

For the second election in a row, the voters of New Jersey have sent a resoundingly clear message to those of us in power: Its the economy, stupid! Murphy said. The people have spoken, and they are demanding that our leaders remain laser-focused on lowering costs.

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Thursday marked Murphys eighth address to the league, a voluntary organization that convenes municipal leaders for seminars and networking.

Murphy is now in the lame-duck period, a two-month window when lawmakers rush to pass legislation before new officials are sworn in.

Among the bills under consideration is a ban on cellphones in schools.

The governor did not outline a broad policy agenda but emphasized his plan to stabilize the State Health Benefits Program, which covers about 150,000 county and municipal employees. Enrollment has dropped as towns opt for cheaper plans.

Murphy has proposed spending $260 million in state funds to rescue the program by paying off its debt and creating a reserve fund for unexpected claims.

State workers protest double-digit insurance premium hikes

N.J. health insurance program is broke. Murphy proposes $260M bailout to save it.

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Copays for doctor visits would rise from $10-$15 to $30-$50, and employees would for the first time pay deductibles ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 under new plan.

The plan would reduce available options from 50 to six and require workers to pay higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

We are not done yet, because if you think were going to hang up our cleats before the final whistle, youve got another thing coming, Murphy said.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As President Donald Trump's administration redefines which degrees are considered "professional," many graduate students are left with questions and concerns about how to finance their education.

Who is considered a professional student? The list includes programs like pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine and law, among others. The list may not be all-inclusive, but advocates and professional organizations sounded the alarm that it leaves off many important programs, including nursing.

The Department of Education emphasized that it did not update the federal definition of professional degree to exclude nursing  the definition never included it, said Ellen Keast, a representative for the agency.

What is a professional degree?

The confusion and controversy stem from a 1965 federal law, which defines a "professional degree" as one that "signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor's degree."

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The definition goes on to list examples of a professional degree, including:

Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)

Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)

Law (L.L.B. or J.D.)

Medicine (M.D.)

Optometry (O.D.)

Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)

Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.)

While the definition states that the list is not exhaustive and that professional licensure is also generally required, past Department of Education committee meetings this fall to discuss student loan regulations and other issues have used the initial description that includes only those ten degrees.

Nurse Elisa Gilbert checks on a patient in the acute care COVID-19 unit at the Harborview Medical Center on Jan. 21, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Student stories: Will Trumps new spending law make college tuition more expensive?

What degrees are not classified as professional?

Multiple graduate programs are left off the "professional degree" list, including nursing, sparking responses from national organizations and groups advocating for a wider range of degrees to be represented under the umbrella.

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In an Aug. 28 letter to the Office of Postsecondary Education, the American Council on Education has pushed for changing the definition and adding more programs, including nursing, architecture, accounting, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education, public health, social work and more.

The American Nurses Association has also expressed concern with the current definition, with association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy saying in a letter that excluding nursing will "severely restrict access to critical funding for graduate nursing education, undermining efforts to grow and sustain the nursing workforce."

"At a time when healthcare in our country faces a historic nurse shortage and rising demands, limiting nurses access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care," Mensik Kennedy said. "In many communities across the country, particularly in rural and underserved areas, advanced practice registered nurses ensure access to essential, high-quality care that would otherwise be unavailable. "

How can it impact students?

Currently, the definition is being used in discussions surrounding student loan caps under the Trump Administration's "Big Beautiful Bill," which could drastically impact how much students are allowed to borrow. The bill eliminates the Grad PLUS loan program, which has historically helped students pursue careers in medicine, law and other training-intensive careers, and places caps on the Parent PLUS program, limiting them to $20,000 per year per student, with a $65,000 total limit.

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Graduate students pursuing "professional degrees" on the defined list are able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 overall. But for students in graduate programs that are not considered "professional degrees," loans are capped at $20,500 per year. Graduate programs are limited to $100,000 overall.

This means students in programs not listed on the list or defined as a "professional degree" could face a lower loan cap when pursuing those programs. The loan changes  and overall adjustments to higher education finances and funding  are slated to take effect on July 1, 2026.

This story has been updated with new information and video.

USA TODAY's Zachary Schermele, Saman Shafiq and Jeanine Santucci contributed to the reporting of this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is considered a 'professional degree'? The term explained.
Each of the U.S. Air Forces Special Operations Commands (AFSOC) new OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft has a somewhat unexpected feature in its cockpit. Nestled on the right side of the dashboard in the aircrafts front seat is a commercially available EOTech XPS-series holographic sight, which is commonly used on tactical rifles.

TWZ reached out to AFSOC after @GansoConABomba on X called attention to this overlooked and somewhat peculiar aspect of the OA-1K in a post on Monday (seen below). The discussion on the X post had users positing what the commercially off-the-shelf sight was intended to do. Now we have a definitive answer to that question.

Why does this sky raider II have an eotech in the cockpit? pic.twitter.com/ZhH8rQbWQG  Ganso (@GansoConABomba) November 17, 2025

Air Force Skyraider IIs are starting to be seen more commonly in certain areas as active-duty Air Force and Oklahoma Air National Guard personnel push ahead with getting the aircraft into operational service. Prime integrator L3Harris delivered the first fully missionized OA-1K, which is a heavily modified version of the Air Tractor AT-802 crop duster, earlier this year. The Skyraider II fleet is eventually expected to grow to 75 aircraft.

As you are aware, the Skyraider II will be used for close air support, precision strike, and armed ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance], an AFSOC spokesperson told TWZ. As such, the sight has been included in the OA-1K design since inception and installed on every OA-1K.

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The EOTech holographic sight is used before flight to align [the] pilots [sic] helmet mounting cueing system to the aircraft position, they added.

A stock picture of an OA-1K Skyraider II. USAF

OA-1K pilots reportedly use Thales popular Scorpion helmet-mounted display, which has already been integrated on a number of other tactical aircraft in U.S. service. The system puts datalink and sensor data, including positions of friendly and enemy forces, and more, along with flight data, right in front of their eyes.

In modern tactical combat aircraft where members of the crew wear helmet-mounted displays, the preflight alignment process can involve calibrating positioning via the aircrafts built-in heads-up display (HUD). However, the two-seat OA-1Ks tandem cockpit, though full of digital displays, has no HUD.

A look inside the cockpit of an OA-1K. The EOTech sight is just barely visible on the right side of the dashboard in the front seat. L3Harris

Especially in the absence of a fixed HUD, there is also the possibility that the EOTech optic might also provide an emergency back-up option for aiming weapons. However, this would only be doable when employing gun pods or other munitions in an unguided mode, and its placement is far from ideal for that role.

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Well it does shoot things, the official Air Tractor AT-802U account on X wrote yesterday in response to @GansoConABombas post. AT-802U is Air Tractors in-house designation for the special mission version of the AT-802 that serves as the basis for the OA-1K.

A screen grab of the response from the official Air Tractor AT-802U account on X to @GansoConABombas post. X screen capture

It is interesting to note that this isnt the first time a standard, off-the-shelf EOTech XPS-series sight has appeared in the cockpit of an AFSOC aircraft. Back in 2018, TWZ noticed that these optics were in use on now-retired AC-130W Stinger II gunships, mounted on the left side of the cockpit, next to the pilot.

The exact function the EOTechs played on the AC-130W is unclear. It is possible the reason was, in part, similar to why the sights are now found on the OA-1Ks. Older model AC-130s had traditional HUDs in this position in the cockpit, but the Stinger II did not. TWZ has separately reported on how AC-130W pilots also used Scorpion helmet-mounted displays, and they would have similarly needed to align them before flight.

A view inside the cockpit of an AC-130W showing the pilot wearing a helmet-mounted display. The EOTech sight is also just visible at bottom left. USAF

A better view of the EOTech sight mounted in the cockpit of an AC-130W. USAF capture

The video below shows AC-130W operations over Syria circa 2018, and includes views of the EOTech sight mounted in the cockpit.

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AC-130W pilots could also have used the EOTechs in the same role as the HUD on earlier AC-130s, to help line up the aircraft against targets on the ground during pylon turn attack runs using the guns firing out of the left side of the fuselage. As we noted in our report back in 2018, the pilots of the Air Forces very first fixed-wing gunships, the Vietnam War-era AC-47s, used World War II-era reflector gunsights mounted in a window on the left side of the cockpit to aim at targets on the ground.

A look at the reflector gunsight in the cockpit of an AC-47 gunship. San Diego Air and Space Museum

As another interesting aside, for many years, Air Force F-15 squadrons mounted scopes designed for hunting rifles in the cockpits below their windscreens to provide a poor mans long-range visual identification capability.

In a way, the EOTech sight on the OA-1K also evokes the aircrafts namesake, the Korean and Vietnam War-era Douglas Skyraider. Development of the piston-engined Skyraider began at the tail-end of World War II, and they were fitted with a reflector gun sight as was the standard for tactical aircraft at the time. AFSOCs new Skyraider IIs already have the distinction of being the first tail-dragging tactical combat aircraft anywhere in U.S. military service in decades.

We now know the OA-1Ks all have lowly rifle sights in their cockpits, albeit primarily to help cue up much more modern helmet-mounted displays.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
A teenager sleeping in class. (Getty Images)

Whenever Ohios gerrymandered Republican supermajorities in the Statehouse concoct new culture war bills to codify book bans, dictate lesson plans in school, mandate bathroom rules, erase marginalized youth, or outlaw diversity, equity and inclusion as the downfall of society, lawmakers always bray about the need to protect the vulnerable young from terrible MAGA imaginings.

Yet these same disingenuous actors just passed an outrageous child exploitation measure last week as a cheap labor gift to businesses desperate to find workers.

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Ohio Senate Bill 50 is a sweet deal for companies looking to hire for less and work low-cost employees longer hours.

Republican legislators want to put kids to work as young as 14 and 15 years old on night shifts for cheaper pay than adults. Let them work later at fast food restaurants after a full day of school, they say. Builds character, they say. Imparts valuable skills (over a hot fryer), they say. Helps them be successful, they say.

Forget about protecting children from greedy corporations looking to maximize profits on the backs of middle schoolers.

Senate Bill 50 is focused on relieving the burdens of employers battling labor shortages  not learning lapses from sleep-deprived child laborers who fall behind in school and life.

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Key industries in the state cant fill job openings with an ever-shrinking pool of available hires, exacerbated, in part, by the nearly sevenfold increase in ICE deportations of immigrant workers in Ohio this year.

Exhibit A is Springfield, Ohio, ground zero for JD Vances hateful, dehumanizing campaign to eradicate a legal Haitian community welcomed as a revitalizing engine in the region.

It devastated employers in the area who lost hard-working, reliable employees they cant replace.

One exploitive solution Ohio and other red states have embraced is to supply companies with child laborers who can temporarily fill employment gaps (and company coffers) during the school year for practically nothing.

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Ohio Senate Bill 50 would allow employers to pay 14- and 15-year-old employees the federal $7.25 minimum wage to work late on school nights  instead of Ohios entry level wage of $10.70 per hour.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Ohio Republicans did their business pals and campaign donors a solid.

They voted to use minors  who should be focused on school and being a kid  to mitigate a depleted labor base (as workers leave Ohio for opportunities or detention camps) and boost company earnings with bargain rate teenage hires.

Picture eighth and ninth graders on the payroll until 9 p.m., with their parents permission, as corporate net incomes balloon from revenue generated by sub-minimum wage middle schoolers who cant even drive yet.

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These are kiddos in school before the sun comes up, off the bus in the afternoon, with friends or buried in homework in the interval and catching a ride to bus tables or man drive-through windows until closing time.

Does it matter to anyone that Ohios youngest workers could get home and in bed by maybe 10:30-11:00 on a school night just to wake up early and do it all again?

Apparently not in the General Assemblys Republican caucus that overwhelmingly drove Ohio Senate Bill 50 to passage.

The legislation clearly regards 14- and 15-year-olds as commodities in service to bottom-line business growth, not as developing children in vital school years who need protection from economic predators.

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The GOP measure was crafted to remedy a scarcity of labor problem, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors.

It weakens century-old child labor protections with extended work schedules for the under 16 workforce that stretch beyond the 7 p.m. restriction stipulated in the federal child labor law.

The prospect of exhausted teens sleepwalking through school to meet labor demands doesnt raise eyebrows in Ohios ruling party.

The teen labor bill is emblematic of how little state Republicans value public education as a paramount investment in future generations of Ohioans.

So what if kids nod off in class, fall behind academically and never catch up if Chick-fil-A can save on hiring costs and plug job vacancies on closing shifts?

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Of course, Ohio businesses who take advantage of the GOPs largesse in Ohio Senate Bill 50, with low-paid, underage workers historically exploited and abused by employers, still risk federal child labor law violations.

Unfortunately, enforcement of youth labor laws by the Department of Labor hasnt been great and the number of minors employed in jobs that violate child labor laws is rising precipitously.

But the Ohio lawmakers who bray about protecting the very young from invented MAGA crises are the same ones putting them most in harm with a return to the bad old days of 1938 when Big Business notoriously pounced at the chance to exploit children working long hours for little pay in unsafe conditions without educational opportunities.

Were forfeiting the promising futures of school-age Ohio kids to accommodate employers who cant get enough employees.

Thats not character-building. Thats a crime.

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By Rich McKay

(Reuters) -An Ohio jury found a white police officer not guilty of murder on Friday in the 2023 fatal shooting of a pregnant Black woman suspected of shoplifting from a grocery store, attorneys in the case and court records said.

Connor Grubb, an officer with the Blendon Township Police Department, was also cleared of involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault charges in the death of Ta'Kiya Young, Grubb's attorney Mark Collins said.

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The case drew national attention because of the circumstances and has become part of a broader debate over police using excessive force against Black people and other minorities.

Young, 21, died at a hospital a short time after the shooting, which took place in a community about 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Columbus.

A judge had previously dropped initial charges against Grubb in the death of the unborn child, saying he could not have known she was pregnant, court records show.

"While this was the right and just outcome, it doesn't change the fact that a young woman and her unborn baby died," Collins said. "We know the family of Ta'Kiya Young is grieving and their sorrow is real."

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After the verdict was read, Young's grandmother, Nadine Young, broke down in court, according to media accounts. "It's not right. This is not right."

The Young family attorney, Sean Walton, was not immediately available for comment.

Police body camera footage of the incident showed Grubb shooting Young on August 24, 2023, in a Kroger store parking lot as she started to drive her car while the officer was in front of the vehicle with a gun pointed at her.

Grubb's attorney told the court that the officer feared for his life as the car moved forward while she ignored commands.

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Erin Claypoole, a prosecuting attorney from Montgomery County who was brought in as special prosecutor in the case, told the jury earlier that Grubb knew his actions would cause harm to Young, ABC News reported.

Claypoole said that police protocols instruct officers to take reasonable steps to move out of the path of an approaching vehicle instead of discharging a firearm, the network reported.

She was not immediately available on Friday for further comment.

Grubb has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting.

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Frank McGurty and Lisa Shumaker)
One of the worlds largest banks detected suspicious activity on Jeffrey Epsteins account and took decisive action  nearly 20 years ago, according to a new report.

In 2007, an HSBC branch in Paris notified Epstein that it was ending its business relationship after evidence of money laundering and other misconduct came to light, according to Bloomberg.

Its notable as its the sole known instance of a major financial institution cutting ties with the disgraced financier prior to 2008, when he pled guilty to procuring minors for prostitution in Florida.

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The previously unreported termination comes as public scrutiny into Epstein  who died in 2019 while awaiting trial  escalates to new heights.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Department of Justice to release its files on the late sex offender. He also instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Epsteins involvement with former President Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals.

Earlier in November, a House committee published a trove of some 20,000 documents from Epsteins private estate, including several emails from Epstein in which he claimed Trump knew about the girls and spent hours with a victim.

The Republican president, who used to socialize with Epstein, has consistently maintained he did nothing wrong and described the accusations against him as a hoax perpetuated by Democrats.

An HSBC branch in Europe closed its account with Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 after suspicious activity was flagged, according to a new report. (Getty)

Suspicious activity

A few days before Christmas in 2007, the HSBCs branch in Paris  where Epstein owned a palatial apartment  sent him a letter.

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We hereby inform you that we do not intend to maintain our relationship and notify you this day, subject to a one month notification period, the end of our banking contract, an English translation of the document read.

Consequently, after this period is over, you should return all unused checks still in your possession and provide us with your new banking references, the letter, obtained by Bloomberg as part of a cache of Epsteins personal emails, continued.

The letter did not provide a reason for the abrupt action. However, two unnamed individuals with knowledge of the matter told the outlet that it came after compliance staff noticed suspicious activity.

Specifically, they became concerned over financial transactions related to young women linked with a French modeling agency owned by Jean-Luc Brunel. A longtime friend of Epsteins, Brunel died in prison in 2022.

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Compliance employees also observed that Epsteins account had numerous round-dollar deposits and that withdrawals bore hallmarks of money laundering and other financial misconduct.

A few weeks later, Epsteins personal attorney, Darren Indyke, informed the late sex offender of the banks decision. He wrote in an email that Epsteins legal representative in France asked the HSBC branch for an explanation.

The representative asked if it was maybe an Arab/Jewish thing or something about Epstein that the bank does not like, Indyke wrote, adding that after this, the bank representative got nervous

There is no record of a response from Epstein, Bloomberg reported. The outlet noted that Epstein maintained at least one other account with HSBC in Switzerland.

An apartment building that Jeffrey Epstein owned in the 16th arrondissement of Paris (AFP via Getty Images)

An HSBC office in Paris in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

The revelation comes as major banks that associated with Epstein have come under scrutiny by Congress.

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This week, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden released a memo accusing JP Morgan Chase of underreporting dubious activity linked to Epsteins accounts over a nearly 20-year period.

The memo said JP Morgan filed suspicious activity reports, known as SARS, covering $4.3 million in transactions by the disgraced financier from 2002 to 2016. But, following Epsteins death in 2019, it filed reports describing $1.3 billion in transactions as suspicious.

In other words, the cumulative dollar value of the suspicious transactions the bank reported after Epsteins death in federal custody was nearly 300 times greater than the value of the transactions it flagged while he was alive and actively trafficking women and girls, Wyden said.

When asked about Wydens memo, Patricia Wexler, a spokesperson for JP Morgan, told The Independent, We acted appropriately in filing SARs as early as 2002. The second the government finally made public the sex trafficking details in 2019  information they clearly had for years  we identified for law enforcement a range of Epsteins past transactions intended to assist with the investigation.

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In 2023, JP Morgan reached a $75 million settlement over a lawsuit alleging the bank enabled Epsteins sex-trafficking crimes.

A spokesperson for HSBC declined to comment when contacted byThe Independent.
If the court approves the settlement, it means that rather than going to trial, Greystar is agreeing to the states conditions to avoid further litigation and court costs. (Getty Images)

The countrys largest landlord would stop using algorithmic software to artificially inflate rent prices under a $7 million settlement offer Oregon and eight other states proposed.

Greystar Management Services manages nearly 950,000 rental units across the U.S, including almost 19,000 units in Portland in 2023, according to the Portland Business Journal. A spokesperson for Greystar could not immediately provide the Capital Chronicle with the total number of units they manage in Oregon.

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Greystar and other large landlords used rent-setting algorithms from RealPage, a Texas-based software company that gave them pricing recommendations based on sensitive data from their rivals. The landlords used those recommendations to coordinate rent increases, the states alleged in their complaint.

When the largest landlord in America uses an algorithm to price-fix the rent, the result is simple: people pay more, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. It squeezes working families when the cost of housing is already at an all-time high. This settlement holds the largest U.S. landlord accountable. Its a win for Oregonians, our pocketbooks and the rule of law.

If the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina approves the settlement, it means Greystar wont have to go to trial or admit any wrongdoing. Rather, it is agreeing to the states conditions to avoid further litigation and court costs.

Other conditions in the settlement, announced Tuesday, would require that Greystar stop using algorithmic rent-setting software, refrain from sharing or receiving sensitive data from other landlords and refrain from participating in meetings hosted by RealPage of other landlords.

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Greystar must pay the $7 million to the state of California, which will then distribute the funds to the remaining plaintiff states of Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Massachusetts.

The company already reached a nonmonetary settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in August in a lawsuit that began under the Biden administration.

The states settlement was proposed one day before the Portland City Council voted to ban algorithmic price fixing.
A stark warning from France's new army chief about the country "losing its children" in a potential war with Russia has sharply divided political opinion.

Gen Fabien Mandon, who took over as army chief-of-staff in September, told a congress of mayors on Tuesday that France's biggest weakness in today's dangerous times was the lack of a will to fight.

"We have the know-how, and we have the economic and demographic strength to dissuade the regime in Moscow," he said.

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"What we are lacking - and this is where you [the mayors] have a role to play - is the spirit. The spirit which accepts that we will have to suffer if we are to protect what we are.

"If our country wavers because it is not ready to lose its children  or to suffer economically because the priority has to be military production, then we are indeed at risk.

"You must speak of this in your towns and villages."

The remarks were in line with other pronouncements the general has made, warning of a coming confrontation with Russia and stressing the need for psychological as well as economic and military preparation.

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But they were condemned as warmongering and out-of-place by political leaders on the left as well as the nationalist right.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, who heads the far-left France Unbowed party, said he "totally disagreed" with the chief-of-staff.

"It's not his job to invite mayors or anyone else to start making military preparations that no-one has agreed on," he said.

The leader of the Communist Party Fabien Roussel said: "No! 51,000 memorials to the war-dead in our towns and villages - aren't they enough? Yes to national defence, no to intolerably belligerent speeches."

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Practically alone on the left, Raphael Glucksmann - the strongly pro-Ukraine MEP and head of the Place Publique [Public Square] party - came out in support of General Mandon.

"By the strength of their reactions, these ostriches merely underline the state of denial and capitulation that is so strong in the French political class," he said.

"Gen Mandon is right to alert the nation about the need to change its state of mind."

For the far-right National Rally, Sebastien Chenu said the general had committed an "error" because he did not have the "legitimacy" to pronounce on such matters. But another senior figure Louis Aliot said it was "necessary to be ready to die for one's country  if the war is just or to ensure the survival of the nation".

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In an interview with a defence magazine earlier this month, Mandon said that "by living for so long in peacetime, we find it hard to fully comprehend the dangers which now surround us and the intransigence of certain players.

"The Russians for their part do not know peace. They have been at war in Ukraine for years and they are ready to pursue it."

In October, he told the National Assembly's defence committee that "the first objective I have given the armed forces is to be ready for a confrontation in three or four years, which may come in the form of a test.

"Russia is a country which could be tempted to pursue war on our continent and that is the determining factor as I make my plans," he said.

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Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin and government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon both came to the defence of the general.

"Our policy is to do everything to avoid war but at the same time prepare, and consolidate that collective moral force without which no nation can survive the test," said Vautrin.

Other senior European defence figures have also warned of the need to prepare for a possible clash with Russia - particularly if it disengages from Ukraine following any peace deal.

German defence minister Boris Pistorius told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that the general view had been that a Russian act of aggression could come from the year 2029.

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"But now some are saying that it could be envisaged from 2028 - and there are even experts who think we might have just lived through our last peacetime summer."
Pennsylvania is set to become the 28th state to guarantee people protection surrounding their hair.

State lawmakers passed the Crown Act, which protects against racial discrimination based on hair type, hair texture, or protective hairstyle like braids, twists, knots and locs.

Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton began pushing for legislation in 2019.

"For every person of color that has struggled with, 'How am I showing up for this interview? What will I wear to work in terms of my hair? Do I have to press my hair? Can I wear it in a curly style or locks? It affirms you can be yourself," said McClinton.

The legislation now heads to Governor Josh Shapiro's desk for his signature.


An alleged Palestine Action activist "whipped" a security guard during an organised break-in at an Israel-based defence firm's UK site, a trial has heard.

Six people are accused of carrying out a "meticulously organised" attack at an Elbit Systems factory near Bristol on 6 August last year.

Prosecutors say the group broke into the site in a prison van before using sledgehammers as weapons on security guards and police officers.

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Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, deny charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.

Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court earlier, security guard Angelo Volante told the trial that he saw a "large group advancing towards us while using pyrotechnics and fireworks to threaten us".

Wearing red jumpsuits and carrying sledgehammers, they used a prison van, allegedly driven by Ms Head, to crash through security fencing, before then breaking into the factory itself, the court heard on the opening day on Tuesday.

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Volante said the activists were "armed" and "resorted to using physical violence".

He told jurors he was "whipped on the right side" by Ms Head.

After her lawyer, Rajiv Menon KC, denied this took place, Mr Volante said she "did have a whip and she used the whip on me at some point during the struggle".

'Serious consequence'

Jurors were shown footage of a confrontation at the site in which prosecutors allege Zoe Rogers swung a sledgehammer towards Mr Volante.

After Ms Rogers' lawyer, Audrey Mogan, suggested it made no contact with the security guard, Mr Volante said he thought it did make "some contact, it wasn't a direct hit".

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On the footage of the incident Mr Volante can be heard saying: "If you swing that once more it's going to get really serious."

Asked by Ms Mogan what that comment meant, Mr Volante said he meant the "consequence if you hit me and injure me are going to be really serious".

He explained: "I'd defend myself, I'd use more physical force."

Mr Volante, who took possession of a sledgehammer during the incident, was asked by Jordan Devlin's lawyer, Andrew Morris, if he struck Mr Devlin.

"I don't think there was any intentional strike, if there was any strike to Mr Devlin, it was in the struggle."

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Another security guard, Patrick Luke, told the court a woman swung a sledgehammer "quite aggressively and with a lot of force" towards him during the events, which "just missed" his chest.

Prosecutors previously said police sergeant Kate Evans was struck twice on the back by Mr Corner.

Mr Luke told jurors: "I saw the individual with a sledgehammer bang in the back of the police officer's back and then she went down."

Mr Corner denies an additional charge of grievous bodily harm.

'Encouraged to intervene'

The court also saw footage of the Mr Volante shouting at people who were wearing red jumpsuits, which he said was to "mitigate any further violence".

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Mr Volante said he "confiscated" an angle grinder during the events.

Asked what Elbit security guards are told to do in such situations, he said they were "encouraged to intervene while simultaneously calling the police".

"We're there to contain and manage the incident and to intervene to stop criminal damage, threat to life, threat to injury," he added.

The trial is expected to last until January.

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"They punished ordinary people. This is collective punishment."

It's been more than nine months since 54-year-old Nehaya al-Jundi last saw her home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nur Shams, in the occupied West Bank, after being forced to evacuate by the Israeli military.

"They punished the infrastructure, the institutions and people of the camp."

In a cafe in nearby Tulkarm, Nehaya speaks to the BBC about her family's panicked flight, as Israeli troops stormed into the camp in early February.

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For two days Nehaya watched and listened in terror as military bulldozers razed the area around her house.

"We were besieged inside our house and couldn't leave," she recalls, describing how power, water and internet connections were all severed.

Eventually, on 9 February, Nehaya escaped with her 75-year-old husband, Zaydan, and their teenage daughter Salma.

"When we got out, I was shocked by the damage in the area," she says.

Nehaya al-Jundi was forced out of her house in Nur Shams in February [BBC]

The Israeli military launched "Operation Iron Wall" in late January, sending troops and armour into Nur Shams and two other refugee camps in the northern West Bank, to tackle Palestinian armed groups it said were responsible for attacks on Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers.

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The operation followed a largely unsuccessful attempt by the Palestinian Authority to quell the activities of local gunmen, many of them affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in the parts of the West Bank where it governs and controls security.

By the end of February, the three camps had been all but emptied in the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since Israel occupied the territory in the 1967 Six Day War.

The Israeli military says it needed to demolish buildings in Nur Shams and two other camps to "open new access routes" [EPA]

In Jenin, where the largest of the three camps dominates the western side of the city, we hear similar stories of terrified flight and long months of dislocation.

"We stayed three days in the house without power or water," says 54-year-old Nidal Abu Nase, a development consultant and freelance book editor.

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"The shooting never stopped."

When the chance to escape finally arrived, Nidal's family left with little more than their clothes, thinking they would soon be back.

"I never managed to get home to collect my stuff," he says.

Nidal Abu Nase has been living all his life in the Jenin refugee camp [BBC]

Ten months on, Nidal and at least 32,000 residents of the three camps still don't know when they will be allowed to return to their homes.

When that moment finally comes, many will find they no longer have homes to go back to.

Human Rights Watch says Israel has demolished 850 homes and other buildings across all three camps.

Other estimates rate the extent of the damage much higher.

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In a report published earlier this week, HRW said Israel's forced, prolonged evacuations and the associated destruction "amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity".

"The Geneva Conventions prohibit displacement of civilians from occupied territory except temporarily for imperative military reasons or the population's security," HRW said.

The group said Israel's actions "may also be considered 'ethnic cleansing'".

In February, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said he had instructed the army "to prepare form a prolonged stay in the camps that have been cleared for the coming year".

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As the year's end approaches, there's still no end in sight.

Israeli forces continue to be deployed inside Nur Shams, Tulkarm and Jenin camps [BBC]

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson told the BBC that "in order to locate and uproot the terrorist infrastructure at its source, the IDF has had to operate for an extended period of time."

But already in August, Katz called the operation a success, saying "there is no terror in the camps and the scope of terror alerts in [the West Bank] has dropped by 80%."

The IDF says it has dismantled bomb-making and other weapons facilities hidden inside all three camps.

It is not clear why Operation Iron Wall continues, although demolitions are still happening in the camps.

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It seems clear from the pattern of destruction and the Israeli military's own explanations, that the operation has longer term goals.

In a statement to the BBC, the IDF said armed groups had been able to exploit the densely built environment of the camps, making it hard for the army to move freely.

"The IDF is acting to reshape and stabilise the area," the IDF spokesperson said. "An inseparable part of this effort is the opening of new access routes inside the camps, which requires the demolition of rows of buildings."

Satellite images from all three camps show the extent of the damage, with narrow, barely visible streets now wide enough for military vehicles, including tanks, to pass through.

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The demolitions, the IDF spokesperson said, were "based on operational necessity", with residents able to submit objections and petitions to Israel's Supreme Court.

All such petitions - some of which argued that Israel's actions violated international humanitarian law - have been rejected.

According to HRW, Israel's military has been given "wide discretion to invoke the grounds of urgent military necessity".

HRW has called on the Israeli military to halt the forcible displacement of Palestinian civilians throughout occupied Palestinian territory, and allow all the residents of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams to return to their homes.

The UN estimates that around 52% of the total structures in Jenin camp have been damaged [Reuters]

For tens of thousands of displaced people, the future remains uncertain.

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Nehaya al-Jundi's family eventually found refuge in a nearby village. But with their lives turned upside down and most of their possessions now out of reach, back in the camp, it's been a hard year.

"Everything has been difficult since we left," she says.

Nur Shams' tight-knit community has been scattered across the Tulkarm area. Some are living with relatives, others in rented accommodation.

Many are out of work, dependent on modest handouts from the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority and various NGOs.

With schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also out of action in the camps, education has also been severely impacted.

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"My kids were enrolled in UNRWA schools," says Nidal Abu Nase, whose family has been living with relatives since January.

"They went for months without school."

Despite recent protests, such as this one near Nur Shams, very few residents have been allowed back into the camps [BBC]

Crucially, the camps' strong communal bonds have been fractured.

The residents of West Bank refugee camps are mostly descended from Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948-49.

"For me, the camp is identity and culture," Nidal says.

"There was love and affection in the camp," Nehaya says, "but not anymore because we are far from each other."

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Nehaya has not seen her house since February. Despite recent protests, very few residents have been allowed back into the camps.

The community centre where she ran rehabilitation services for the disabled has been turned into an Israeli military barracks.

And reports from young men who have managed to sneak into Nur Shams suggest that Nehaya's house is no longer habitable.

"They told me the house is wide open - and fully destroyed."

Additional reporting by Alaa Badarneh
Army Secretary Dan Driscolls high-stakes visit to Ukraine this week to deliver the Trumps administrations latest peace plan has placed the service leader into the role of major international negotiator  a sharp contrast from his boss, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who spent the time in Washington sitting through White House meetings and firing angry missives at Democrats on social media.

Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday and planned to talk to NATO allies. The high-profile role for Driscoll  whom President Donald Trump refers to as his drone guy due to his embrace of cutting-edge tech  is emblematic of the Army chiefs rising prominence in the administration. He is increasingly the public face of ambitious projects and often sells the administrations plans to reporters, unlike Hegseth, who has focused on the less glamorous tasks of promoting acquisition reform and troop physical fitness, and eliminated most journalists from the Pentagon.

The Army leaders visit was a profound split screen between a rising star and a novice Pentagon chief who has faced numerous scandals and lost support from some in the administration.

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Theres not a lot of trust in Hegseth to deliver these messages to key leaders, said a person familiar with administration dynamics. There is more trust in Dan to do that right now.

Driscoll, who attended Yale Law School with Vance and remains close friends with him, served in the Army for three and a half years. This included a deployment to Iraq as a cavalry scout platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division. He later worked in investment banking in North Carolina.

On paper, his job as Army Secretary is mostly bureaucratic. He manages the service's annual budget and its workforce of over one million active-duty, National Guard and reserve soldiers, as well as more than 330,000 civilian employees.

But he has started to take on a broader role that brings him to the White House frequently. Hes both acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and point person for National Guard deployments at the border and in U.S. cities.

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Dan's relationship with JD certainly helped him get the job, but all of his success has been on the merits, said a person close to the White House, who like others interviewed, was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters. He's just really fucking good at the job.

Neither the Army nor the Pentagon responded to requests for comment.

Driscoll has been one of the most impressive members of Trump's administration since his confirmation, a second person close to the White House said. While he didn't have many relationships in the Trump orbit outside of the vice president prior to his nomination, he has built strong relationships inside the West Wing over the past year and is well-liked by senior staff.

The increasing trust put in Driscoll by the White House appears to differ from Hegseth, whose trip to the Pacific last month was the first time since May that hes had a largely solo foreign swing. And there has been friction between Hegseth and the White House over his personnel choices for top Pentagon jobs, including Hegseths chief of staff, Ricky Buria, according to the person close to the White House, with whom administration officials clashed.

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White House chief of staff Susie Wiles "doesnt distrust Pete, the person said. She questions his judgment because of the Ricky thing.

The White House disputed that there was any tension. Susie has a longstanding relationship with Secretary Hegseth and thinks the world of him both personally and professionally, spokesperson Anna Kelly said. "He is doing a wonderful job leading the Pentagon. Dan Driscoll is also widely respected, and his talent and experiences proves he is the perfect person to help the administration deliver peace to the war in Russia and Ukraine.

While Hegseth had no public events on the books Thursday, Driscoll met with Zelenskyy for an hour at the Ukrainian presidents gold-inlaid office in Mariyinsky Palace. He was feted at a reception at the U.S. ambassadors residence in one of the citys most hip neighborhoods.

"We have seen in the last 36 hours, really a remarkable pace of diplomatic activity, Julie Davis, the U.S. charge d'affairs in Ukraine, told reporters in Kyiv after she and Driscoll met with Zelenskyy. The Americans discussed an aggressive timeline for these efforts.

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Driscoll will meet next with NATO allies in Europe and try to schedule a sit-down with Russian defense minister Andrey Belousov to push for a peace deal that has eluded the White House all year, according to a defense official with knowledge of the planning.

His Kyiv trip was originally aimed at striking a deal around some of Ukraines most innovative drone technologies, the official said, which Trump is eager to get done.

But the visit became far more consequential after a meeting at the White House last week when Trump gave his enthusiastic blessing for Driscoll to take major new diplomatic responsibilities, according to the official. Driscoll was at the White House on other business when the word came down.

The defense official described Driscolls meetings as equal parts battlefield innovation and diplomacy.

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The U.S. Army is a proven Ukraine ally, the person said.

Driscoll's expanded foreign policy role within the administration could continue. Another administration official said Driscolls goal was to make incremental progress on the three-day Ukraine visit. I don't think he expects to be getting the deal done, the official said. He expects to be hammering out a set of parts of it, or just moving the ball.

Dasha Burns contributed to this report.
NEED TO KNOW

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, killing the pilot

Emergency teams responded quickly to the crash, which occurred on the event's final day near Al Maktoum International Airport

Indian and UAE officials expressed condolences and announced an investigation to determine the cause of the accident

A pilot is dead after a fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show.

On Friday, Nov. 21, the Indian HAL Tejas combat aircraft, used in the Indian Air Force, crashed at around 2:10 p.m. local time as a crowd watched the demonstration flight near the Al Maktoum International Airport, according to Sky News and the BBC.

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In footage shared on social media, black smoke could be seen billowing up into the sky as a huge fire ball exploded. Onlookers were also heard gasping and standing up in shock.

An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident, the Indian Air Force wrote on X. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.

They added, A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Xinhua/Shutterstock ( The Indian HAL Tejas crashed at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nov. 21, 2025 The Indian HAL Tejas crashed at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nov. 21, 2025

PEOPLE has contacted the Dubai Air Show and Dubai's Media Office and the UAE Ministry of Defence for comment.

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Dubai's Media Office and the UAE Ministry of Defence told the BBC that firefighters and emergency services "responded rapidly" to the scene and are still monitoring the location.

Action Press/Shutterstock Onlookers at the Dubai Airshow on Nov, 21, 2025 Onlookers at the Dubai Airshow on Nov, 21, 2025

In a tragic accident that occurred just moments ago, a pilot from the Indian Air Force lost his life today when his multi-role Tejas fighter aircraft crashed during its participation in the flying display accompanying the Dubai Airshow, the UAE Ministry of Defence wrote on X. The relevant teams responded immediately to the incident.

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A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in todays flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot, they added. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site.

Action Press/Shutterstock Fighter jet crashed at Dubai Air Show in Dubai United Arab Emirates on Nov. 21, 2025 Fighter jet crashed at Dubai Air Show in Dubai United Arab Emirates on Nov. 21, 2025

India's Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan also told the BBC that the Indian Army "deeply regret the incident" and "stand firmly" with the late pilots loved ones.

The Dubai Air Show was on its last day of its five-day event when the crash happened, per the website.

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NEED TO KNOW

A United Airlines flight was diverted after an object cracked the windshield, injuring the captain

The NTSB report suggests a weather balloon may have collided with the plane at 36,000 feet

The balloon company has implemented new safety measures to prevent future aircraft-balloon incidents

Two pilots ended up being covered in glass after a passenger jet collided with an apparent weather balloon at 36,000 feet, officials have said.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, United Airlines flight 1039 had been traveling from Denver to Los Angeles, when it was diverted to Salt Lake City due to damage sustained while flying near Moab, Utah.

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The plane had been at 36,000 feet when an object unexpectedly cracked the multilayered windshield and injured the pilot, PEOPLE previously reported.

Further details regarding the incident have now been released in a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report seen by PEOPLE, with the document stating that the captain and his first officer (FO) were both "showered with pieces of glass" when the object collided with the Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The incident occurred at 6:43 a.m. local time.

United Airlines/National Transportation Safety Board A United Airlines flight collided with an apparent weather balloon on Oct. 16, 2025 A United Airlines flight collided with an apparent weather balloon on Oct. 16, 2025

The captain sustained minor injuries following the incident, while none of the other 111 occupants on board the airplane were injured, per the report.

"According to the captain, while established in cruise flight at flight level 360 (36,000 ft pressure altitude), he noticed an object distant on the horizon," the report read. "Before he could mention the object to the first officer (FO), there was a significant impact to the FOs forward windshield along with a loud bang."

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The document stated, "The impact resulted in both pilots being showered with pieces of glass. The captain sustained multiple superficial lacerations to his right arm; the FO was uninjured."

United Airlines/National Transportation Safety Board A United Airlines flight collided with an apparent weather balloon on Oct. 16, 2025 A United Airlines flight collided with an apparent weather balloon on Oct. 16, 2025

"Following the event, the flight crew coordinated with air traffic control and initiated a descent. The cabin pressurization remained stable, with no fluctuations throughout the flight," the NTSB report continued, adding that the captain "initiated self-care to clean, sterilize, and bandage his wounds on his arm" after arranging for the plane to land in Salt Lake City.

WindBorne Systems, a long-duration smart weather balloon company, previously released a statement on Monday, Oct. 20, explaining that the mystery object that cracked the planes windshield could have been one of their weather balloons.

The NTSB preliminary report went into further detail about the weather balloon being consistent with the path of the passenger jet, writing, "After the event was reported, data was requested for the position of weather balloons, any other aircraft, and for any known reentry objects that were large enough to have signification portions survive that might have been in the area of the collision."

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"WindBorne Systems Inc. reported that they lost contact with one of their global sounding balloons (GSBs) that was in the vicinity of the airplane at the time of the accident. The GSB was launched from Spokane, Washington at 1129 MDT on October 15, 2025. The balloon traveled south from Washington, down through Oregon and Nevada before turning northeast, and was crossing though Utah at the time of the accident," the report added.

The document stated that WindBorne had said "the GSBs are designed with the intent to minimize harm in the event of an impact during flight or landing."

Getty A stock photo of a United Airlines Boeing 737-8 A stock photo of a United Airlines Boeing 737-8

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The company said in a statement on Thursday, Nov. 20 following the NTSB report's release, "We are deeply relieved that Flight UA1093 landed safely and with minimal damage. While the NTSB continues to determine the precise cause of the incident," adding that it had "already implemented four additional safety measures to further reduce the possibility of any future aircraft-balloon interactions as well as mitigate harm should an impact occur again."

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The NTSB report pointed out that the plane's "windshields are certified to withstand the impact of a four-pound bird without penetration."

The NTSB, United Airlines and WindBorne didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

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The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and Port Orange Police Department seized 22 illegal gambling machines from three businesses in Port Orange last week.

The enforcement action confiscated 20 slot machines, two coin pushers, and $25,659. The bar operators were charged with Possession of Slot Machines and Keeping a Gambling House and each received a court notice.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is joining with other law enforcement agencies to stop illegal gambling in our state, said FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer. If businesses are unclear on the legality of their machines, they can contact the FGCC anytime for direction and clarification.

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The FGCC targeted three spots in Port Orange: Mulligans Grill, Port Hole, and The Dog House. At Mulligans, agents seized eight illegal slot machines, one coin pusher, and over $3,500. At Port Hole, six slot machines and more than $15,500 were confiscated. The Dog House had eight slot machines, one coin pusher, and $6,000 seized.

Florida law limits gambling to eight pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward and seven Seminole Tribe venues.

Operating slot machines or unauthorized machines at unlicensed sites is illegal.

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A conservative pro-life influencer who went viral after being punched in the face during a street interview in New York City has filed a lawsuit against her alleged attacker.

Savannah Craven Antao, pro-life activist and host of the YouTube channel "Her Patriot Voice," says she was conducting man on the street interviews for the organization Live Action on April 3 when she was repeatedly struck by Brianna J. Rivers, 30, of the Bronx.

According to the complaint, filed Nov. 18 in Bronx Supreme Court, Craven Antao went to the emergency room for stitches after the attack, incurring more than $3,000 in medical bills. Her attorneys at the Thomas More Society allege that Rivers has "knowingly, willfully and maliciously continued to mock [Savannah] and her views online in order to further inflict emotional distress."

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The lawsuit also claims Rivers mocked Craven Antaos religious beliefs and marketed merchandise referencing the assault. One alleged post showed a T-shirt design with the word "BAM!" and an image of a fist striking a face  which the complaint says Rivers and her cousin created to raise money for her legal defense.

Pro-life Influencer Speaks Out After Nyc Attacker Goes Unpunished Due To Prosecutor's Error

Craven Antaos attorneys say the influencer has suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and has received hundreds of death threats since the incident. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

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Rivers was initially charged with second-degree assault, but the case was dismissed in July after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office failed to turn over discovery on time. The lawsuit criticizes Braggs office for downgrading the charge to a misdemeanor and later allowing it to lapse.

Craven Antao also slammed Bragg's handling of her case in an interview with Fox News Digital this week.

"I have to look over my shoulder and worry about if somebody who supports her actions  there are a lot of people out there that do  that theyre going to try to do something else," she said. "Because what the DA Alvin Bragg himself has shown to people, with letting this case be dropped, is that they can go assault somebody and hurt them if they disagree with them and nothing is going to happen."

Woman Caught On Camera Allegedly Lunging At Maga Activist In Viral Confrontation

Pro-life activist Savannah Craven Antao was allegedly sucker-punched during a filmed street interview in Harlem. Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs office later dropped the assault case after missing a filing deadline.

In September, Braggs office issued a statement acknowledging a filing error and apologizing to Craven Antao.

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"Every victim deserves their day in court, and our office has reached out to apologize to Ms. Craven Antao for the unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline," a spokesperson said. "We are taking immediate internal steps in light of this case."

Craven Antao said she decided to file the lawsuit to hold Rivers accountable and send a message.

"First, Id really appreciate my over $3,000 in medical bills to be paid off, because I should not be responsible for those," she said. "Second, its to send a message  hopefully to show her that she cant do this again."

"Honestly, I hope that she eventually finds God," she continued. "That's what I pray for, because it's obvious that she's got a lot of deep trauma rooted, and she takes it out on other people."

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Thomas More Society attorney Christopher Ferrara said Braggs handling of the case forced them to take civil action against Rivers.

"Savannah was violently assaulted for peacefully expressing her pro-life beliefs and then humiliated all over again when the attacker went online to glorify it," he said in a statement. "The D.A.s office had every opportunity to pursue justice and due to their incompetency or lack of will, failed to prosecute this vicious assault. Their refusal left us with no choice but to file civil action to hold Rivers accountable."

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Craven Antao also linked her fears to broader safety concerns for conservative figures, citing the recent killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

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"If they could do it to somebody like him, who has the resources to have the security and the checks and all the people surrounding him, what does this say for just average journalists  who dont have the means to hire a whole security team and be armed?" she said.

"With all the threats online and the comments she 'likes,' encouraging her behavior, it makes me wonder if the wrong person is going to find me next time and something worse will happen," she continued.

Rivers previously apologized in an April 5 Facebook post, saying she was sorry "but cannot sit around and allow you to continue pushing this one-sided narrative."

"I understand hands being put on someone is never the answer, but throwing rocks and hiding hands is worse. Savannah is a professional antagonist, not a reporter, and the truth will be told," she added.

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The Manhattan DAs office and Rivers did not respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment.

Fox News' Michael Dorgan contributed to this article.





Original article source: Pro-life influencer attacked in NYC files lawsuit after DA Alvin Bragg drops case
After over a month of government shutdown, NASA finally released new images of mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS on Wednesday.

During the livestreamed event, NASA brass took pains to address the rumors, with associate administrator Amit Kshatriya vehemently denying a theory championed by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb that we could be looking at an alien spacecraft coming to visit from a different star system.

This object is a comet, Kshatriya said. It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points towards it being a comet.

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The announcement appears to have angered Loeb. In a blog post, the astronomer criticized NASA for repeating the official mantra that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet, arguing that there was no big news.

He quoted British author Arthur Conan Doyles fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, that there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact  effectively accusing NASA of misleadingly and prematurely discrediting his far-fetched theory.

The tense back-and-forth highlights a fascinating discussion over whats deemed acceptable in scientific discourse  and what isnt. While Loeb maintains that we shouldnt discard the possibility that we could be looking at an alien spacecraft, NASA officials are clearly wary of adding any credence to the theory and are unwilling to entertain it.

NASA showed off an image of 3I/ATLAS taken by the HiRISE camera attached to its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the release of which was delayed by the government shutdown. It shows a fuzzy white ball, per Kshatriya, contrasted against the blackness of outer space.

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Loeb argued that the image, as well as ultraviolet readings from NASAs MAVEN spacecraft, only added slightly to what we already learned this summer through observations from NASAs Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

Instead, NASA should have emphasized what we do not understand about 3I/ATLAS rather than insist that it is a familiar comet from a new birth environment, he wrote.

Loeb has cataloged a dozen anomalies that he says could support the theory that 3I/ATLAS an alien mothership, including its enormous suspected mass, its highly improbable trajectory that had it blazing past several inner solar system planets, and gigantic tightly-collimated jets pointing towards and away from the Sun, as seen in recent observations by amateur astronomers.

In case 3I/ATLAS is a natural icy rock as they suggest, Mother Nature was kinder to NASA than expected from a random delivery of rocks by at least a factor of 100,000, Loeb wrote.

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Theres still time before 3I/ATLAS leaves us for good. In December, the object is expected to make its closest pass to Earth, allowing us to once again point our ground- and space-based telescopes at it.

While NASA has cemented its stance on the matter, concluding that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet, Loeb isnt giving up. To him, its a matter of keeping an open mind.

Imaginative scientists master the humility to learn something new from anomalies rather than display the arrogance of expertise, he wrote in his latest blog post.

Life is worth living if we allow for the unexpected to surprise us, he added. Bureaucrats or unimaginative scientists want us to believe in the expected. But the rest of us know that the best is yet to come.

More on 3I/ATLAS: NASA Releases Long-Delayed Image of 3I/ATLAS
Italian prosecutors have widened their scrutiny of luxury shoemaker Tods, placing the company and three of its senior executives under formal investigation over suspected labour abuses in its supply chain, as reported by Reuters.

Authorities are seeking a temporary ban on advertising certain Tods products, in addition to the ongoing inquiry into working conditions at outsourced manufacturing sites.

Prosecutors have asked for a six-month prohibition on marketing goods produced at the subcontracted factories currently under examination.

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The development marks a step up from a case disclosed in October 2025, when prosecutors moved to place Tods under judicial administration, in line with measures already applied to five other fashion brands.

It is the first time an Italian fashion label and its top management have themselves become direct subjects of a labour exploitation probe, after a series of investigations that have already increased pressure on major players in the sector.

Investigators allege that Tods was made aware of labour exploitation issues at contractor-run workshops after several years of third-party audits identified concerns.

These findings underpin the request for restrictions on advertising products linked to those facilities.

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A court hearing has been scheduled for 3 December, at which representatives of Tods could be questioned or file written submissions in their defence.

The company did not immediately comment in response to a request from Reuters.

Tods founder Diego Della Valle has previously defended the groups practices and cautioned that investigations into supply chains could harm the Made-in-Italy brand reputation.

US private equity company L Catterton, backed by French luxury group LVMH, completed the takeover of Tods in 2024 under a deal with the Della Valle family, the brands controlling shareholder.

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In September, L Catterton announced an investment in Japan-based Seki Furniture.

The firm characterised the deal as strategic, without revealing financial terms, and said that the capital injection was aimed at supporting Seki Furnitures domestic growth, drawing on L Cattertons experience in consumer-facing businesses.

"Prosecutors investigate Tods and executives over alleged labour abuses " was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




More than 200 pupils were kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in central Nigeria on Friday, the second mass school kidnapping this week.

The latest attack targeted St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, where authorities had already ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools due to rising security threats.

The Christian Association of Nigeria said 215 students and 12 members of staff were taken during the early morning raid.

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Nigeria has faced a renewed wave of attacks by armed groups in recent days, including the kidnapping on Monday of more than 20 schoolgirls, who the BBC has been told are Muslim, from a boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi state.

A church was also attacked further south, in Kwara state, with two people killed and 38 abducted while the service was being broadcast online.

President Bola Tinubu has postponed his foreign trips - including this weekend's G20 summit in South Africa - in order to address these security issues.

Police said armed men - locally known as bandits - stormed St Mary's School on Friday at about 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) and abducted students from their hostel.

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Fear and uncertainty have gripped the area as families wait for news.

"Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise," local resident Dominic Adamu told the BBC.

Mr Adamu, whose daughters attend St Mary's School but were not abducted, added: "People are complaining about the state of security in our country."

One distressed woman tearfully told the BBC that her nieces, aged six and 13 were kidnapped.

"I just want them to come home," she said.

The authorities in Niger state said the school, attended by both girls and boys, had disregarded an order to close all boarding facilities following intelligence warnings of a heightened risk of attacks.

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"Regrettably, St Mary's School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the state government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk," they said in a statement.

The school has not commented on that claim.

The police said that security agencies were "combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students".

The attack follows claims by US President Donald Trump that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, an allegation dismissed by the Nigerian government.

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Earlier this month, Trump said he would send troops into Nigeria "guns a-blazing" if its government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".

And on Thursday, in a meeting with Nigeria's national security advisor, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Nigeria to take "urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians", a statement from the Pentagon said.

Hegseth also conveyed the US' will to "work by, with, and through Nigeria to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States".

The Nigerian government denies that Christians are being persecuted, saying that is "a gross misrepresentation of reality".

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An official said that "terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology - Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike".

Nigeria is currently grappling with multiple overlapping security crises.

The country's 220 million people are roughly evenly split between followers of the two religions, with Muslims in the majority in the north.

The kidnapping of people for ransom by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, has become a major problem in many parts of the country.

Armed men exchanged fire with police officers before abducting girls from this school in Maga, Kebbi state, earlier this week [Africa Independent Television via Reuters]

In the north-east, jihadist groups have been battling the state for more than a decade. Organisations monitoring violence say most of the victims of these groups are Muslim because most attacks happen in the north.

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In the centre of the country, there are also frequently deadly attacks between herders, who are mostly Muslim, on farmers, who are largely Christian. However, analysts say these are often motivated by competition for resources such as water or land, rather than religion.

Local media report that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom for those abducted from the church in Eruku, Kwara state.

The payment of ransoms has been outlawed in an attempt to cut the supply of money to the criminal gangs but to little effect.

Two of the schoolgirls abducted on Monday in Maga, Kebbi state have managed to escape, while 23 are still missing. Two people were killed in that attack. They were both Muslim.

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Additional reporting by Abayomi Adisa in Lagos & Wedaeli Chibelushi in London

[BBC]

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[Getty Images/BBC]

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Ukraine is using music to bring down Vladimir Putins invincible hypersonic missiles.

An electronic warfare team is jamming satellite signals on Russian weapons and replacing them with a song that parodies Russian propaganda.

Night Watch, the group operating the technology, claims to have brought down 19 Kinzhal missiles  described by Putin as invincible  in the past two weeks.

The team told technology website 404 Media that it is using a song and a redirection order to knock the next-generation missiles, which carry a 480kg payload and cost around 7.7m each, out of the sky.

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Kinzhals and other guided munitions rely on the GLONASS system  Russias GPS-style navigation network using satellites  to find their targets.

Night Watch developed its own Lima jamming system that replaces the missiles satellite navigation signals with the Ukrainian song Our Father is Bandera.

Night Watch claims to have brought down 19 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles over the last two weeks - Pavel Golovkin/The Associated Press

The song was chosen as a dig at alarmist Russian propaganda, which has tried to portray all Ukrainians as supporters of the 20th-century Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.

When the song begins, the Lima system feeds the incoming missiles a false navigation signal, tricking them into believing that they are flying over Lima, in Peru, so that they attempt to change their trajectory.

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Travelling at a speed of more than 4,000 miles per hour, however, the missiles become destabilised by the abrupt and unexpected change of course.

Night Watch said they developed the system after discovering that the Kinzhals used a controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA), an antiquated type of technology for resisting, jamming and spoofing.

The team told 404: They had the same type of receivers as old Soviet missiles used to have.

The airframe cannot withstand the excessive stress and the missile naturally fails. When the Kinzhal tried to quickly change navigation, the fuselage of this missile was unable to handle the speed  and, yeah, it was just cut into two parts.

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The biggest advantage of those missiles, speed, was used against them.

A Night Watch source told Forbes that on another occasion a missile had been lured 200km off course from the airfield that was the target of the strike.

Night Watch said that Russia was attempting to increase the number of receivers on the missiles, in some cases doubling them, to make them less vulnerable, but maintained that this would not inhibit efforts to bring them down.

Vladimir Putin described the Kinzhal, which has a range of up to 2,000km, as invincible and an ideal weapon in 2018. Even Joe Biden, the former US president, said in 2022 that its almost impossible to stop it.

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Several have since been shot down over the course of the war following the delivery of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, but Kyivs supply of the US-made systems is limited.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is in excellent health.

He recently had a check-up in hospital, the 73-year-old said on Wednesday while touring an exhibition in Moscow.

"Thank God everything was fine," Putin was quoted as saying.

He explained that he had undergone two days of tests. He said he was admitted to hospital one afternoon and was discharged the following day after an overnight stay.

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Putin's health has been the subject of persistent rumours over the years.

The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized Putin's physical fitness, often showcasing him in dramatic public displays.

Past photographs have shown him shirtless in the wilderness, diving for ancient amphorae and at the controls of a fighter jet.

The images have been seen as a way to contrast Putin with his unpopular predecessor Boris Yeltsin, who was ill in office.

Despite the Kremlins narrative, speculation about Putins health has increased during his sometimes prolonged absences from public view recently, with some rumours even suggesting a body double. The Kremlin has consistently denied such rumours.
Rain, rain, no, it's not going away.

Rain will continue in Nashville and Middle Tennessee into the morning of Nov. 22, with a slight risk for severe storms.

"The severe risk is very low, but it's also not zero as storms roll through tonight," the National Weather Service in Nashville said on X. "Yes, more rain today and storms tonight. If you head to bed early, make sure your phone is turned on and up JUST in case."

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Middle Tennessee is under a marginal risk, a one on a scale of five, with the main threat of winds in excess of 60 mph, small hail and a very low chance of a tornado.

And it doesn't stop there. There will likely be a short reprieve but rain will return Nov. 24 and 25. A big cold front will follow, just in time for Thanksgiving.

The weather service does not believe it will be a record setting cold Thanksgiving Day, but it will certainly be colder than average.

Just throwing this out there. The severe risk is very low, but it's also not zero as storms roll through tonight. Yes, more rain today and storms tonight. If you head to bed early, make sure your phone is turned on and up JUST in case. #tnwx pic.twitter.com/7iV2ukLZQq  NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) November 21, 2025

Nashville area radar

Nashville 7-day weather forecast

Nov. 21: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 3 p.m. with a high near 73. Showers and thunderstorms continue overnight with a low around 57.

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Nov. 22: Mostly cloudy with a high near 64 and overnight lows around 41.

Nov. 23: Patchy fog before 9 a.m., otherwise sunny with a high near 64 and overnight lows around 42.

Nov. 24: Mostly cloudy with a high near 68 and showers overnight with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Nov. 25: An 80% chance of precipitation, mainly before noon, with a high near 68. Showers continue into the evening with a low around 46.

Nov. 26: A 20% chance of showers otherwise partly sunny with a high near 56. Overnight lows just below freezing at 31.

Thanksgiving, Nov. 27: Mostly sunny with a high near 48 and lows again near freezing.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NWS Nashville warns of small severe storm risk, lots of rain
Former Vice President Dick Cheneys funeral attendees include prominent polticians across bi-partisan lines. But the elephant in the room is why Donald Trump didnt say his final goodbyes.

More than 1,000 guests were expected at the invitation-only funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 20, including two presidents and four vice presidents. Former presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden are attending to pay their respects, alongside former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were not in attedance either.

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Related: Trump Just Responded to Andrew Losing His Royal Titles After Reports of the Ex-Princes Secret Bond With Melania: I Feel 

But why wasnt the current POTUS in attendance at the politicians funeral?

Why Wasnt Donald Trump at Dick Cheneys Funeral?

Per multiple reports, Donald Trump wasnt invited to the former Vice President Dick Cheneys funeral. Current Vice President J.D. Vance was also not invited to the event.

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During his final years, Cheney was a critic of Trump and his administration, and he described the current president as a coward and said no one was a greater threat to our republic.

A point of contention between the two politicians was when Cheneys daughter Rep. Liz Cheney crossed party lines when investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. The former Congresswoman lost her position in Republican leadership and lost her seat when Trump endorsed her opponent.

He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him, the former vice president stated. A real man wouldnt lie to his supporters. He lost his election and he lost big. I know it, he knows it, and, deep down, I think most Republicans know it.

Speaking of his daughter, he added, There is nothing more important she will ever do than lead the effort to make sure Donald Trump is never again near the Oval Office and she will succeed.

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Vice President Dick Cheney died on Nov. 3, 2025. President Trump has not commented on his death. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on the afternoon he died only that Trump was aware that Dick Cheney died.

I know the president is aware of the former vice presidents passing. And as you saw, flags have been lowered to half staff in accordance with statutory law, she said.

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The Trump Train is losing steam.

Political commentator and former communications director for the Jeb Bush campaign, Tim Miller, spoke with Nicole Wallace on Deadline: White House about how the Trump administration is falling apart at the seams.

We think the wheels are coming off the Trump Train right now, The Bulwark Podcast co-host said in a Wednesday episode recapping his appearance on the MS NOW program.

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While discussing U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligans court appearance, where she revealed that a full grand jury never reviewed the final indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, Miller indicated that this slip-up was indicative of a sinking ship for the Trump administration.

I look at all this and its just blatantly incompetent, Miller told Wallace. The incompetence almost papers over the perniciousness of this.

I think theres something to the fact that we all kind of know that this is a preposterous case and that Jim Comey is not a real criminal and that theyre doing this for show, Miller continued. So the stakes feel a little bit low for people at some level. But to me its like, look, this is the government of the United States.

The case brought by Halligan, a former beauty pageant contestant who had never tried a case before her appointment, accuses Comey of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

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The revelation that the full grand jury never saw the altered indictment is the latest in a series of challenges for a case already under scrutiny.

Miller also railed on Attorney General Pam Bondi over her extremely gross selfie with billionaire Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff as details were coming out about the botched indictment.

Thats the attorney general in that selfie with a tech CEO [as she is] ordering an investigation against a political foe; thats purely politicalits based on nothing, Miller said.

Billionaire CEO of Salesforce Marc Benioff took a cheeky selfie with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House Dinner on Wednesday night. / Marc Benioff via X

Its based on pure politics because her boss told her to do so, like its a banana republic, he added. And she assigned a Florida insurance lawyer to do it because none of the professionals would actually do it. And then that lawyer botches it so badly that the judge is gobsmacked.

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To me, that series of facts would make anybody in polite society want to say, I dont want to be seen with Pam Bondi, he continued. What she is doing is a frontal assault on the rule of law. Shes doing it in an extremely incompetent manner.

Wallace then cut to MAGA-adjacent podcaster Tim Dillon, who defected from previous Trump praise to label his second term the lame duck presidency.

This is the end of the Trump administration, Dillon claimed, while speaking about H1-B visas. Now well start three years of talking about a ballroom. He will trail off, he will get older, hes adorned the White House in gold. Epsteins gonna suck the oxygen out of a lot of this.
Local store to partner with Habitat for Humanity to repair homes in the Dayton area.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton received an $85,000 grant from Lowes to help repair 14 homes, according to a spokesperson.

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With the support of the grant, Daytons Habitat for Humanity gave seven homeowners roof repairs, and another seven homeowners received bathroom and furnace repairs.

Dayton Habitat for Humanity Director David Mauch, said the partnership has been significant in allowing them to help residents with critical home repairs.

Lowes continues to step forward to make a positive impact, and their partnership allows us to create better outcomes for families, said Mauch.

Lowes also contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to help complete the repairs.

On Oct. 11, Lowes red vest associates from area stores joined Dayton Habitat for Humanity to donate 108 hours to the Edgemont community during the annual Rock the Block event.

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These projects are part of Lowes commitment to deliver 10 million square feet of impact in communities nationwide this year.

Since 2003, Lowes and Habitat for Hummanity have worked together to help more than 18,000 people build or improve their homes.

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Its a deal that has been kept under lock and key while being hashed out between American and Russian officials.

European governments, without seeing its contents, derided it as a capitulation and surrender to the Kremlin.

But now The Telegraph can reveal the entire 28-point plan put forward by Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine.

In order to secure peace, it demands that Ukraine slashes the size of its army to 600,000 and gives up missiles that can hit Moscow.

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Kyiv will not be allowed to invade Russia, nor will it be able to use military force to reclaim lands stolen from it by Moscow.

Ukraine will not be allowed to welcome Nato troops into the country, and foreign fighter jets will only be allowed to be stationed in Poland.

Any breach of the deal will see Ukraine forfeit yet to be defined security guarantees from its American and European allies.

The deal promises decisive military action against Russia and the reintroduction of sanctions if it attacks Ukraine again.

In return for peace, Russia will be given the entire Donbas region and Crimea, recognised as de facto, including by the US.

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Russia will be reintroduced into the G7, making it the G8 once again.

All frozen assets will be handed back to Russia, apart from $100bn (77bn), which will be given to Ukraine for rebuild projects of its war-ravaged country.

In the meantime, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, will be made to hold elections within 100 days of the ceasefire, while Vladimir Putin will promise not to invade a Nato country.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly personally taking credit for scrubbing a statement that vaccines dont cause autism from the Centers for Disease Control web site.

The controversial vaccine skeptic said he ordered the change because he believes there could be a link between childhood vaccinations and rising autism rates, even though public health experts widely agree that any such link has been ruled out, the New York Times reported on Friday.

The whole thing about vaccines have been tested and theres been this determination made, is just a lie, Kennedy told the paper in an interview conducted on Thursday. The phrase Vaccines do not cause autism is not supported by science.

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Kennedy added that the best way to convince parents to vaccinate their children was to be honest with them about pros and cons of the lifesaving shots.

My job is not to gaslight Americans but to give them accurate information about the state of the science, the Trump-appointed health secretary said.

The CDC website was updated to reflect Kennedys views on Wednesday but the interview amounts to the first formal confirmation that Kennedy himself directed the controversial change.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, a medical doctor who has occasionally sparred with Kennedy over vaccines, denounced the change and predicted it would cause more parents to avoid vaccinating their children.

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That in turn, will lead to more kids becoming ill and even dying from preventable diseases that vaccines have all but eradicated, he predicted.

Vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism, Cassidy tweeted in a rebuke to the change. Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.

The CDC website previously had a statement simply saying Vaccines do not cause autism along with a primer about what it said were false efforts to claim a possible link.

The site now has an asterisk next to the statement and highlights the remark: the statement Vaccines do not cause autism is not an evidence-based claim.

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The website change is the latest move by Kennedy to pump up public distrust in the long-held scientific consensus about the safety of vaccines and other drugs.

It was immediately decried by experts who say widespread scientific consensus and decades of studies have firmly concluded there is no link between vaccines and autism.

We call on the CDC to stop wasting government resources to amplify false claims that sow doubt in one of the best tools we have to keep children healthy and thriving: routine immunizations, Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement.
Ben Mingle, CEO of The Centurion Foundation, speaks during a hearing conducted by the Office of the Attorney General on the proposed sale of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady on March 19, 2024, at Rhode Island College. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

The Centurion Foundation, the Atlanta nonprofit trying to buy Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, appears undeterred by the states pursuit of an alternative buyer.

At least, thats the image it presents in federal bankruptcy court hearings and media statements.

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But internal emails to state regulators obtained by Rhode Island Current reveal the foundations distress over potential competitor Prime Healthcare, and its unhappiness with the state for allegedly standing in the way of the deal.

In a Nov. 7 email to the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office and the Rhode Island Department of Health, Centurion CEO Ben Mingle asked the state to cease its discussions with Prime, which Mingle claims are making it harder for the foundation to close the deal. He also blamed the state for its continued lack of support in easing the financial conditions needed to secure its purchase.

Over the course of much of 2025, we repeatedly requested direct financial support from Rhode Island and unfortunately that support did not materialize, Mingle wrote. We strongly believe that a show of meaningful financial support from the State during our prior financing attempts would have made them successful.

Mingles letter set off a series of tense exchanges with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, whose office has played a key role in regulating the sale of the state hospitals, including in federal bankruptcy court since January, when Prospect filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

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Since approval, first by the State and then the Bankruptcy Court, the State and others have shown extraordinary patience and flexibility as Centurion has attempted to secure financing to complete the acquisition, Neronha wrote in a Nov. 10 email response to Mingle. The reasons for your inability to secure committed financing are irrelevant to the primary need to get the hospital transactions closed and to mitigate the current losses at the hospitals.

Centurion received conditional approval to buy the hospitals from their now-bankrupt owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, in June 2024. But Centurion, and its local subsidiary, CharterCARE Health of Rhode Island, has struggled to secure the investor-backed bond financing needed to close the deal, despite multiple revisions by state regulators and the states quasi-public financing agency meant to ease the financial requirements.

Amid delays, Rhode Island Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest reached out to Prime, his former employer and owner of Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, to gauge the companys interest. Gov. Dan McKees office condoned the courtship as a Plan B focused on keeping the safety net hospitals afloat, especially after Prospect signaled its intent to shutter the hospitals by the end of the year because of growing operating losses.

A union hospital worker holds up a sign expressing her concern with the potential closure of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence and Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence during a rally on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. In the foreground is Chis Callaci, general counsel for the union. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

True feelings exposed

Centurion has repeatedly shifted questions about Prime back to its own commitment to the hospital sale. But Mingles email does not hold back in his criticism of the California hospital chain operator.

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Prime Healthcare has a very clear track record across many years in its ownership and management of hospitals, regardless of whether they are technically for-profit or non-profit, Mingle wrote. Rhode Island residents can expect another operator that calls the shots from California, one that will reduce the scope of services at [Fatima] and [Roger Williams,] and one that will significantly dwindle access to high quality physicians.

Leaders with the union representing 1,200 hospital workers at the facilities have also expressed concern with Primes record, citing a trio of Justice Department settlements and cost-cutting measures at other hospitals nationwide.

Noel True, a spokesperson for Prime, touted Primes recognitions for safety and care at Landmark in an emailed response on Friday.

As a nonprofit public charity, Prime Healthcare Foundation is honored that state leaders turned to us, recognizing our mission-driven work saving Landmark Medical Center from bankruptcy in 2013 and transforming it into a hospital recognized for award winning care with eight consecutive Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Awards, Leapfrog A ratings, and the distinction of being ranked #1 in Rhode Island for social responsibility by the Lown Institute, True wrote. Our mission has saved hospitals across the nation, created thousands of jobs, uplifted communities and has never led to a single hospital closing  even in the most challenging times.

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In a rare moment of alignment, McKee and Neronha separately defended the states ability to consider alternative proposals.

You, however, seem to think that conditional approval precludes the State from responding to interest expressed in the Rhode Island hospitals from other entities, especially when your ability to close after all this time remains speculative, Neronha wrote. Nothing in Rhode Islands decisions or law provides you with the exclusive right to purchase the hospital or to be the only party with approval to do so or limits Rhode Islands obligation to evaluate alternative transactions in accordance with the exercise of its regulatory authority.

Backing up Neronha, McKee said the states precautionary steps were the right and responsible course of action.

Waiting and doing nothing is simply not an option and would pose an unacceptable risk to the well-being of our health care system and the Rhode Islanders who rely on it, McKee said in an emailed response Friday.

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Neronha also underscored the urgency, concluding his letter by noting that time is running out.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha rebutted The Centurion Foundation CEO Ben Mingles criticisms of the states interference in its purchase of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in a series of private emails. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Out of time

Avoiding the dire consequences of closing the hospitals appears to be one point of agreement between the feuding sides of the deal.

The hospitals offer 500 beds between them, including 104 beds for behavioral health patients, which represents more than one-fifth of the states behavioral health beds. They saw a combined 50,000 emergency room patients last year, while employing 2,400 people. Roger Williams houses the only fully accredited bone marrow transplant unit in the state.

We strongly believe that Centurion and CharterCARE are best positioned to support the health care needs of these communities  truly nonprofit health care, locally controlled and in partnership with local physicians, Mingle wrote in a second email to state regulators on Nov. 14.

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With that in mind, Mingle proposed two alternative scenarios, with timelines, to close the deal, both of which extend beyond the Nov. 30 short-term financing plan for the hospitals, and may also require more leniency from state regulators.

In the first option, Centurion would still rely on investor-backed bond financing to buy the hospitals, closing no later than Jan. 15, 2026. The proposal relies upon the state and Prospect agreeing to share the tab for hospital operations until closing.

Alternatively, Centurion could close by Dec. 15 using a short-term loan from Bank of America, using the state-controlled hospital fund and other cash on its balance sheet as collateral. Bond financing finalized on or about Jan. 15, 2026, would pay off the bank loan and release the collateral.

We are diligently pursuing both of the above Scenarios to bring this transaction to closure as soon as possible, Mingle wrote. In addition, we are willing to consider other proposals from the State or others to ensure that CharterCARE Health of Rhode Islands ability to ensure that the health care needs of the communities that it will serve are fully preserved and maintained.

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Neronha was unpersuaded.

It does not appear that you have any more certainty with respect to financing under either of the scenarios described in your November 14th letter than you did a week ago, he wrote in a Nov. 17 emailed response.

He also noted that even if the state agreed to put up more money to keep the hospitals open until Centurion can close a deal, Prospect, and the federal bankruptcy court must also be convinced.

And he again made clear that Rhode Island is not locked in on Centurion as the only potential buyer until it satisfies the conditions tied to its approval.

Rhode Island cannot give and has never given you any exclusivity because as regulator it reacts to requests for, or changes in, ownership or other changes based on the States evaluation of the facts relevant to the changes being requested and from the perspective of Rhode Islands residents and their need for health care.

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Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Health, also indicated the agency is not budging on the conditions tied to its approval of the Centurion deal.

Our priority throughout this process has been to ensure that these two hospitals remain open, Wendelken said in an email Friday. That is critical for individual patients and for Rhode Islands healthcare system as a whole. Centurion can still pursue the financing necessary to close the transaction that we approved.

Neronhas office met with representatives from Prime Healthcare on Thursday, according to news reports. Megan Skinner, a spokesperson for Neronhas office, declined to comment when asked for an update on the meeting Friday.

Progress on Prime

However, attorneys for the AG and Prospect are scheduled to offer an update on the sale proceedings in federal bankruptcy court on Tuesday, Nov. 25. At a status conference earlier this week, Thomas Califano, an attorney for Prospect, said there was progress toward a deal, but did not offer specifics. Califano also indicated that Prospect and the AGs office had tentatively agreed to extend their cost-sharing agreement for hospital operations through December to allow more time to finalize a buyer.

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The existing agreement, which funds hospital operations through November, requires that whoever buys the hospitals repay Prospects bankruptcy estate and the state for money spent on hospital operations  about $6 million in total for November.

Thats roughly the same amount of money Centurion is seeking to recoup from Chartercare Foundation, a charitable foundation tied to the hospitals until 2014. But so far, Centurions requests to return donations made to the Chartercare Foundation have been rebuffed.

Mingle also sought Neronhas help in forcing the Chartercare Foundation to relinquish assets which Mingle said were intended to support Roger Williams and Fatima, and can now be given back under the return to nonprofit status.

Neronha did not want to get involved.

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Centurions inability to persuade the Foundation to invest in its acquisition effort speaks for itself, he wrote to Mingle. The Attorney Generals regulatory role is limited to situations where the charitable funds are not properly used.

Paula Iacono, the Chartercare Foundations executive director, declined to comment in an emailed response Friday.

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Russian officials claim that a prototype of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate fighter could be in flight testing by early next year. Development of the single-engine aircraft, which first broke cover four years ago, is otherwise said to be ongoing with a heavy emphasis on potential export sales. There also continues to at least be plans, which currently look to be aspirational, for further variations on the design, including an uncrewed derivative.

Russias United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) officially unveiled a Su-75, also known as the Light Tactical Aircraft (LTA), or LTS in Russian, at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. A full-scale mockup of the jet was shown at that event. Later that year, UAC said that work on an actual flying prototype was underway.

The Su-75 mock-up unveiled at the Dubai Airshow in 2021. Rostec

Were still working on development of this aircraft, Sergey Chemezov, head of Russias state-run defense conglomerate Rostec, told TWZ and other outlets at this years Dubai Airshow on Tuesday, according to a translator. We need some time to get the real prototype for the test flights.

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Basically, we are almost at the stage of the testing flights, and in the near future, we will be launching it into production, Chemezov added, again per the translator.

I think this is the beginning of 2026, Sergey Bogdan, Sukhois chief test pilot, also said about the expected timeframe for the start of Su-75 flight testing in a separate interview with Russias state-run Channel One television station on Tuesday. The aircraft is already on the shop floor, it is already being finalized, and there are already certain time plans. Therefore, with Gods help, it should take place soon enough.

Specifications for the Su-75 that UAC has provided at this years Dubai Airshow say the design, at least in its present form, has a maximum takeoff weight of some 57,320 pounds (26,000 kilograms). The jet is said to be able to carry up to 16,314 pounds (7,400 kilograms) worth of air-to-air and/or air-to-ground munitions on an array of underwing hardpoints, as well as one inside three internal bays. UAC has stated the aircrafts top speed to be between Mach 1.8 and Mach 2 with an engine in the 32,000 to 36,000-pound-thrust-class (14,500 to 16,500 kilogram-force). Size-wise, the design, as it was shown in 2021, is approximately 57 feet long and has a wingspan of 39 feet.

Some data on Sukhoi 's fighters from ROE. Su-57E, LTA Checkmate. 1/2#DAS25 pic.twitter.com/pI1LsecrVq  Michael Jerdev (@MuxelAero) November 19, 2025

As TWZ has noted in the past, despite its LTA moniker, the Su-75 is really more of a middle-weight design. As a comparison, Lockheed Martins single-engine F-35A is 51 feet long and has a wingspan of 35 feet, and has a stated maximum takeoff weight in the 70,000 pound class. As another reference point, Russias twin-engine Su-57 Felon, a heavyweight fighter design, measures 66 feet in length with a 46-foot wingspan, and has a stated maximum takeoff weight of 74,957 pounds.

Some great comparison shots of the Sukhoi LTS / S-75 "CheckMate" and the Su-57



(via 'helmutkohl' from the SecretProjectsForum)@Strike_Flanker @CombatAir pic.twitter.com/dFvY7Yapgs  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 11, 2021

Based on models and renderings that UAC has shown, the Su-75s design has evolved since 2021. This includes the enlargement of the rear edges of both wings, with flaperons that now stretch all the way down both sides of the tail, and the extension of the wing roots at the nose end of the jet. The shaping of the wing tips, as well as parts of the nose and tail ends of the jet, has also changed. The cockpit canopy now has sawtooth edges at the front and back, as well.

A side-by-side top-down comparison of an Su-75 rendering from 2021, at left, and the design the UAC has been showing in renderings and model form since at least 2023, at right. TASS/UAC

There have also been changes observed to what is easily one of the Su-75s most striking visual features, its highly angular air intake that wraps around the underside of the nose section. The mock-up that was unveiled in 2021 had a divider in the middle of the intake, which has since disappeared in renders and models of the design. The underside of the intake has also gotten flatter. It still has a diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) style of design, the benefits of which you can read about in more detail here. Lockheed pioneered DSI technology in the 1990s, with this becoming a key aspect of the F-35s design. It has now appeared in various forms on a number of other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, especially ones developed in China.

A head-on look at the Su-75 mock-up unveiled at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. TASS

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Overall, like the Su-57, the Su-75s design does look to have some low-observable characteristics, but appears to be mostly focused on reducing the radar signature from the frontal hemisphere, rather than any kind of all-aspect stealth. UAC claims that Checkmate will be effective in areas protected by air defense systems and in a complex jamming environment thanks to its sensor suite, including an active electronically scanned array radar and an infrared search and track (IRST) system, and other features.

As noted, since the Su-75 was first unveiled, UAC has talked about plans for an entire family of designs based on the single-seat LTA configuration. Models of a two-seat crewed version, as well as the aforementioned uncrewed derivative, have been shown over the years.

Evidence is growing that Russias Su-75 Checkmate may appear not only as a single-seater, but also an unmanned wingman and a two-seat version  the latter eyed by Middle Eastern buyers. Commercial models with Iran and UAE markings hint at export plans. https://t.co/YFNxsirvHL pic.twitter.com/nZgDwlzHpr  Mohammad Hassan Sangtarash (@MHSangtarash) November 15, 2025

There is notably a more refined model of the uncrewed Checkmate design on display at this years Dubai Airshow. It shows an overall configuration in line with the revisions to the single-seat design.

A general look at the model of the uncrewed derivative of the Su-75 on display at this years Dubai Airshow. Jamie Hunter

Another look at the model from the front. Jamie Hunter

The Checkmate drone model also notably features what looks to be an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) underneath its fuselage that sits inside a windowed enclosure broadly akin to the ones seen on the U.S. F-35 and Chinese J-20, as well as other designs globally. There is what appears to be another electro-optical and/or infrared sensor system with a more fixed forward field of view on the underside of the fuselage, as well. A sensor aperture is also present on top of the nose. These latter two systems look to be part of a distributed aperture system (DAS) type arrangement that could also have a more capable IRST capability. Advanced combat drones have a particular need for an array of sensors around the aircraft to provide general situational awareness, especially if they are designed for more independent autonomous operations, as well as to help spot and track targets in the air and down below.

A look at the sensor systems depicted on the underside of the model. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

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Another view of the windowed enclosure. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A close-up look at the sensor aperture on top of the models nose. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

All of this being said, much about the Checkmate effort, especially plans for follow-on variations, crewed and uncrewed, currently look to be highly aspirational.

Generally, it takes about 10 to 15 years to create the proper aircraft, Rostecs Chemezov said in Dubai on Tuesday about ongoing work on the Su-75, according to the translator. You can have a baby born in nine months, but the aircraft will take a little longer than that.

Chemezovs remarks here are, broadly speaking, true. As a point of comparison, the first flight of a pre-production Su-57 prototype occurred in 2010 and it took another decade or so for serial production of that design to officially kick off. At the same time, this then points to UAC reaching a high level of maturity with the baseline Su-75 design, let alone putting it into large-scale production, sometime well into the next decade, at the earliest.

The second production Su-57 seen under construction in 2020. United Aircraft Corporation

When it comes to the prospective first flight of the Su-75, it should be noted that, to date, there has been no imagery or other hard evidence of a real prototype under construction or any initial testing. This is in marked contrast to how images and other details highlighting progress on other advanced Russian aircraft developments, like the S-70 Okhotnik-B uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), have emerged in the past.

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The pressures of the ongoing war in Ukraine make it impossible not to question whether Russia is really willing to dedicate the resources necessary for a new fighter project. Though Rostecs Chemezov was quick to downplay any concerns in Dubai earlier this week, there are also real questions about Russias current ability to produce combat aircraft, crewed or uncrewed, in general, after years of Western sanctions. The Russian defense industry chief also acknowledged the additional demands that conflict has placed on Russias defense industry to meet the immediate needs of the countrys armed forces. Deliveries of production Su-57s to the Russian Air Force have been notably sluggish, with the Russian Air Force having received around 18 of the jets between 2022 and 2024. The service has a standing order for 76 of those aircraft, and it is unclear when it might be fulfilled in full.

Earlier this year, authorities in Belarus, a very close Russian ally, announced that they were exploring a joint partnership on the continued development of the Su-75. This could help at least defray the costs of the Checkmate program.

Since 2021, UAC has also been very heavily pitching the Su-75 as a more advanced, but also lower-cost fighter option, especially for smaller air arms in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In the ensuing years, there have been reports of interest from a host of countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Algeria, and Vietnam. To date, however, there have been no confirmed orders.

It is worth noting here that reports earlier said Algeria had become the first export customer for the larger Su-57. UAC also said just this week that it had delivered the first two export Su-57s to an unnamed foreign customer. No visual evidence of Su-57s entering service outside Russia on any level has yet to emerge.

A pre-production Su-57 prototype seen flying at this years Dubai Airshow. Jamie Hunter

Competition, in general, in the international fighter market only looks set to grow, as well. China has been making particularly pronounced inroads in this space globally, and export variants or derivatives of its J-35 stealth fighter could be on the horizon. The Su-75, which again has yet to even fly, faces additional challenges posed by the fact that any nation that buys Russian weapon systems runs real risks of triggering secondary sanctions, especially from the United States.

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Altogether, it very much remains to be seen when a prototype Su-75 might take to the skies for the first time, as well as when, or if, any of the broader ambitions for the Checkmate program, including the drone derivative, become a reality.

Jamie Hunter contributed to this story.

Special thanks to Michael Jerdev, who you can follow on X under the handle @MuxelAero, for sharing additional imagery from the 2025 Dubai Airshow.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
(Corrects name of cybersecurity expert cited in paragraph 7)

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Salesforce said Thursday it is investigating unusual activity involving Gainsight-published applications that may have exposed customer data.

In a brief statement published to its status portal, Salesforce said the Gainsight-published applications, which are installed and managed by customers "may have enabled unauthorized access to certain customers Salesforce data."

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Salesforce said in its message that it had temporarily "revoked all active access" to Gainsight's applications. In an email, the company noted that, "There is no indication that this issue resulted from any vulnerability in the Salesforce platform."

Gainsight said on its website that "we continue to work closely with Salesforce as they investigate the unusual activity that led to the revocation of access tokens for Gainsight-published applications." Gainsight didn't immediately return an email for further comment.

Although Reuters could not establish the scope or nature of the incident, hackers have repeatedly exploited the integrations between software-as-service companies like Salesforce and Gainsight to steal data.

Last month, Alphabet's Google said that the exploitation of a weakness at Oracle's E-Business Suite of applications had likely impacted more than 100 companies. In June, Google said hackers had tricked employees of Salesforce clients into installing a modified version of Salesforces Data Loader, a proprietary tool used to bulk import files, and compromising their data.

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Jaime Blasco, the cofounder of Nudge Security, said it was part of an emerging paradigm.

"Attackers dont need to breach the core platform when they can compromise an integration with privileged access," he said in a post on LinkedIn. Speaking to Reuters, he said: "This is the new attack surface."

(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Diane Craft)
One of America's most critical urban hubs is sinking into the sea, the New York Post reported, citing a "scary" study led by NASA.

What's happening?

In January, a NASA-led study was published in the peer-reviewed American Association for the Advancement of Science journal Science Advances.

Los Angeles, like New York City, is central in part because it's coastal. Before the advent of air travel, the ocean primarily transported people and cargo. If a city was close to the sea, it played a critical role in trade and commerce.

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Scientists have long warned that New York City and the adjacent Long Island are sinking. The former is falling partially because of the weight of its skyscrapers.

NASA's research focused on Los Angeles and San Francisco, examining coastal vertical land motion "including uplift and subsidence." Subsidence is defined as "the sinking of land," according to the California Department of Water Resources. Groundwater extraction is among its primary causes.

As the Post explained, subsidence is unfortunately not occurring in a vacuum in Los Angeles or other affected coastal cities worldwide. However, nearly 70% of Californians live near coasts.

Coupled with rapidly rising sea levels, experts worry that this one-two punch could enable subsidence to "creep up more than twice as much as previously forecast" in the next 25 years.

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NASA researchers reviewed high-resolution satellite data spanning 2015 to 2023 for these projections.

"Our findings reveal that regional estimates substantially understate sea level rise in parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles, projecting more than double the expected rise by 2050," they explained in the study, citing past and future groundwater extraction as a major contributing factor.

Why is this important?

On Nov. 2, industry trade publication Smart Water Magazine revisited the findings. It noted that causes identified in the research, such as groundwater extraction, are human-induced.

Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

In contrast with natural contributing factors like the natural movement of the land, human interventions are less predictable and more controllable.

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As average temperatures increase and seas rise, extreme weather becomes more frequent, and dangerous environmental changes accelerate.

Land has always shifted tectonically, but scientific consensus shows that human activity significantly worsens these impacts.

In a press release issued by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, landslide expert Alexander Handwerger explained why the risk was grave and immediate.

"In effect, we're seeing that the footprint of land experiencing significant impacts has expanded, and the speed is more than enough to put human life and infrastructure at risk," he cautioned.

What's being done about it?

In the study's abstract, its authors cited a "critical need" to update the criteria for assessing sea level rise and subsidence, calling for improved coastal management and adaptation efforts.

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A separate NASA press release about the study urged the public to remain aware of key climate issues like sea level rise.



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Fresh research has suggested a link between nanoplastic ingestion and Parkinson's disease.

What's happening?

In a study published in Nature, a recent experiment involved mice who were fed small amounts of polystyrene for three months. After that time, the mice had damaged intestinal lining and higher liver inflammation. That inflammation can lead to Parkinson's disease.

"The nanoplastic exposure level used in this study (2 mg/kg every other day) reflects environmentally relevant doses, consistent with recent reports of nanoplastics found in human blood, lungs, placenta, and brain tissue," said the report.

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Nanoplastics differ from microplastics by virtue of size. Microplastics typically measure between 1 micrometer and 5 millimeters, but nanoplastics are as small as 1 nanometer. This small size makes nanoplastics especially insidious and able to infiltrate bodily functions.

Other research has corroborated the harmful effects of nanoplastics, including causing dementia, lung damage, and compromised immune systems.

Why are nanoplastics important?

Research data suggested that vulnerable populations may be at added risk from nanoplastic threats.

"The observed disruption to the gut-liver-brain axis suggests that even low-dose exposure may pose systemic risks," the report said. "Vulnerable populations, including individuals with neurological or metabolic conditions and children, may therefore face heightened impacts from nanoplastic exposure."

What's being done about nanoplastics?

Using less plastic can reduce your environmental exposure to the particles that plastic sheds. Clothing and tires are especially common sources of microplastic pollution. Walking instead of driving when you can and wearing clothes with eco-friendly fibers can both help.

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Some jurisdictions have seen the damage these particles can cause and are taking action. Rhode Island is aiming for a microplastic ban in 2029, and California is trying to get them out of beauty products.

The research paper had a clear call to action given its conclusions on nanoplastics: "In light of the prevalence of plastics, regulatory action and alternatives are crucial to overcome the long-term consequences of these invasive environmental toxins."



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A Phoenix toddler remains missing, as the search to find her heads into the weekend, according to police.

The Phoenix Police Department is asking for help in locating 3-year-old Wednesday Guilford, who they say vanished Thursday with her mom, Kendal Guilford.

Phoenix Police Department - PHOTO: Wednesday Guilford, 3, was last seen on Nov. 19, 2025, in Phoenix with her biological mom, Kendal Guilford, 32.

"Detectives are looking for 3yo Wednesday Guilford. She was last seen with her biological mother 32yo Kendal Guilford near 44th St. and Baseline Rd. walking a black French Bulldog," the Phoenix Police Department posted on X late Thursday night.

Phoenix Police Department - PHOTO: Wednesday Guilford (left), 3, was last seen on Nov. 19, 2025 in Phoenix with her biological mom (center and right), Kendal Guilford, 32.

Phoenix Police Department's Sergeant Brian Bower told ABC News that Guilford's family reached out for help locating her on Wednesday, and the case is civil, not criminal.

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"This case does not involve any criminal nature and there is no custody documentation. Because there is no formal court paperwork for custody, and mom does not have a place to live, family members are worried for Wednesday's welfare. This is more of a civil issue with detectives concerned for Wednesday's welfare," he said.

Bower said that Kendal Guilford is alleged to be homeless and use drugs.

"Mom is known to be homeless. She stays at friends' houses, here and there. Dad was staying with the kid. Dad invited mom back over. Mom's known to use drugs, so Dad's like, 'Hey, if you want to come over!' Dad leaves the house for a little bit -- when he gets back with other family members, the mom is gone with the daughter," he said.

READ MORE: Where is Melodee Buzzard? A timeline of the 9-year-old's puzzling disappearance

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Bower added that Kendal Guilford is "not going to get arrested" if police find her and her daughter.

Wednesday Guilford is described as 3 feet tall and 40 pounds with brown eyes and brunette hair, according to local affiliate KNXV. The outlet noted that she was last seen wearing a pink dress with floral print and black flats.

Kendal Guilford is said to be 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 200 pounds with blue eyes and orange-blond hair, KNXV reported. She was last seen wearing a grey sweat suit and glasses with clear frames, according to the Arizona station.

Anyone with information regarding Wednesday Guilford can call the Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit at (602) 534-2121.
I feel like I have said, "This is not normal" so much about whatever it is Donald Trump and his administration and his MAGA disciples are up to that I might as well stamp it on my forehead.

It's exhausting. (And to repeat, none of it is normal.)

So you know what? I'm not going to say this is not normal anymore. I have changed my position.

This is insane.

By "this," I am referring to basically just the last week or two in Trumpworld. To hit some of the lowlights  it is important for context here to remember that Trump is the president of the United States and not a bad actor playing a Mafia thug in a third-rate mob movie  Trump called a woman reporter for Bloomberg "piggy," called an ABC News reporter "insubordinate" for her daring to ask fair and important questions, threatened ABC's broadcast license, attacked Jimmy Kimmel (again) and said ABC should "get the bum off the air," went after Seth Meyers and said that NBC should fire him (FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, ever the suck-up, posted a screenshot of Trump's rant on X) and, just for good measure, the White House sent media an email (including to me) blasting ABC as having a "long, rich tradition of peddling lies, conspiracies, and outright opinion thinly veiled as fact" accompanied by a long list of supposed affronts.

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Did I leave anything out? I am certain that I did. Life is short, etc. What is weirder still is that, while each of these things is crazy all by itself, when you add them up you wonder, how has the man had time to be president? How did he fit in welcoming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia  whom U.S. intelligence officials have said orchestrated the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi? Or to squeeze in a press conference in which Trump brushed off the murder as, "Things happen"? (Questions about that are what led to the ABC rant.)

What's most troubling of all is that these aren't even the worst things Trump has done lately (though the defense of MBS is close).

Trump called for Democratic lawmakers, including Mark Kelly, to be hanged

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Trump accused a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, of "seditious behavior" which he said was "punishable by death!"

Kelly and the other Democratic lawmakers posted a video reminding U.S. service members that they are under no obligation to follow illegal orders. "Our laws are clear," Kelly says in the video. "You can refuse illegal orders." Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania says, "You must refuse illegal orders."

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"HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!" Trump posted in a truly unhinged, even for him, screed on Truth Social.

In a joint statement from Kelly and the others that Kelly posted on X, they say, "Whats most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law." They go on to say, "But this isnt about any one of us. This isnt about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the Presidents calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity."

What is sedition?

Sedition is, and let's quote Merriam-Webster here, "Incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority."

Which does not describe what the lawmakers, all of whom have served in the military or the intelligence community, do in the video. They simply point out what those in the military are told during their training.

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But why quibble over the details, except that you are the president and you are threatening to kill political opponents? (What's that definition of sedition again?) Was the video meant to troll Trump? Maybe. But that doesn't make it sedition.

It goes without saying that this isn't normal. This clearly rises to the level of insane.

It all does. This is just the most egregious  and dangerous  of Trump's latest tantrums.

Karoline Leavitt defends everything, like always

The White House defends all of it, of course. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is what the word "obsequious" looks like in human form, told reporters Trump didn't want to kill lawmakers, that if "this were Republican members of Congress who were encouraging members of the military and members of our United States government to defy orders from the president and from the chain of command, this entire room would be up in arms. But instead, it is the other way around, and I think thats quite telling."

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They didn't tell them to defy orders. They told them they could defy illegal orders.

Leavitt was on a roll during the media briefing on Thursday. She also defended Trump for calling Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey "piggy" when telling her to be quiet.

"I think the president being frank and open and honest to your faces rather than hiding behind your backs is, frankly, a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration, where you had a president who lied to your faces and didnt speak to you for weeks, Leavitt said.

This is, of course, insane. Again.

But there's more. "He calls out fake news when he sees it, Leavitt said. He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration.

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Lucey wasn't lying and wasn't spreading fake news. She was asking questions about the Epstein Files, the release of which Trump has flip-flopped on. But it fits the now-familiar pattern. "Fake news" is the default response to any question the answer to which might put Trump or the administration in a bad light. Or even a less-than-glowing light.

Making Trump happy is job one with this bunch of Trump media apologists. Sycophany, even if it means lying, is a close second. This makes any information Trump or the White House puts out suspect. How can we trust them? Where can we find the truth?

The lying, the calls for political violence, the nonstop gaslighting just cannot become anything approaching normal.

There's a word for this. Hang on, it'll come to me. Oh yeah.

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Insane.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook:facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Media commentary with a side of snark? Sign up for The Watchlist newsletter with Bill Goodykoontz.

A journalist asked about murder: Trump's response? 'Things happen'

(This story has been updated to add a new video.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedition? Hanging? Really? Trump has lost it | Opinion
President Donald Trump had nothing but good things to say about New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani following a White House meeting on Friday, Nov. 21.

The meeting between the two leaders came weeks after Mamdani, 34, won the general election on Nov. 4 to become NYC's first Muslim and South Asian mayor after months of campaign-season insults and warnings.

I think youre going to have, hopefully, a great mayor, said Trump, who occasionally patted the mayor-elect on the arm. The president's kind words toward Mamdani were reciprocated when the democratic socialist star remarked that their meeting was positive.

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It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mamdani said.

See the meeting between Mamdani and Trump.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) listens as New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement. NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meets with President Trump for first time 1 of 7 President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.

See the photos here

U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

US President Donald Trump (R) meets with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2025.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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USA TODAYs Joey Garrison contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See photos of NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meeting Trump in Oval Office
Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, speaks with Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. The congressional candidate is an outspoken Catholic. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Gov. Mike Braun on Friday condemned a wave of threats against state lawmakers  including ones he said targeted him and his family  shortly after Republican Sen. Andy Zay confirmed a bomb threat at his Huntington vehicle rental business.

Sen. Linda Rogers revealed on Friday that shes also been a victim of several intimidation incidents.

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The threats came amid a week of swatting attempts and other harassment aimed at Senate Republicans.

Enough is enough, the governor said in a Friday afternoon post on X. These threats to lawmakers, including those received by me and my family in recent days, need to stop.

Braun said Indiana State Police and other law enforcement agencies have been working around the clock all week to protect lawmakers and investigate the string of incidents.

The governors office said state police are investigating more than one credible threat made against the governor but did not provide details about the nature of those threats.

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Rest assured  if you threaten or attempt to carry out acts of violence against Indianas elected officials, we WILL bring you to justice, Braun wrote.

Zays business targeted

Hours before Brauns announcement, Zay shared about his experience.

Yesterday, my business in Huntington was targeted with a bomb threat, which is part of the recent troubling pattern against lawmakers in Indiana, Zay said in a news release.

Its unfortunate that my family and I continue to be threatened for my work as a public servant and state senator, he added. This is no way to weigh in on any public issue, even if you do not agree with my stance. My office is always open, and I encourage constituents with any concerns to reach out.

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Zay is supportive of a controversial proposal to redistrict Indianas congressional boundaries  and make Indianas two blue districts red  ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Sometimes youre not yes enough for some of our friends on the right, and when you get this mob mentality going, you know, its a little challenging, Zay told the Capital Chronicle.

He said he has been quietly working behind the scenes with the Trump administration to move redistricting forward.

Zay pushed for an aggressive marketing campaign to explain why the new map is needed to the public. He said the pressure and influence needed to come more from constituents.

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Obviously, the administration has chosen an entirely different tactic, which I dont agree with, which has kind of turned into this, this ugly, threatening, demeaning, bashing thing. Im not surprised. Its certainly not uncharacteristic of the administration, but I think we all would have been better served to have a stronger groundswell of support to bring it to a vote.

Zay said he is hopeful that vote can still happen.

Other senators receive threats

Another Republican senator, Linda Rogers of Granger, said Friday shes also been targeted. Rogers has not said publicly where she stands on redistricting.

I can confirm I have been the victim of several intimidation incidents, but the St. Joseph County Police Department and the Indiana State Police are working diligently to get to the bottom of it, Rogers said in a statement.

Sen. Linda Rogers speaks in committee on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

She commended both agencies for their timely response and assistance but said she would not provide further details while the investigation continues.

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Earlier, fellow Republican Sen. Kyle Walker of Lawrence, said Thursday that attempts have been made to intimidate me and threaten violence at my home. A spokesperson clarified Friday that it was a bomb threat. Walker is against early redistricting.

Four other GOP senators, all of whom oppose redistricting or are undecided, have been targeted in attempted swattings this week.

Swatting involves hoax calls or reports to emergency services intended to trigger armed responses  and can have lethal consequences for unwitting victims at the swatted location.

The spate of harassment prompted bipartisan condemnation from leaders in the Indiana House.

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House Speaker Todd Huston and House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta denounced the threats in a joint Friday statement.

The threats, swatting attempts and other criminal activity being directed at our colleagues in the Senate are abhorrent and completely unacceptable. This is no way to express political disagreement, and it must stop, the duo said.

We thank our local, state and federal law enforcement for responding to and investigating these crimes, and for keeping our elected officials and their families safe, they continued. This is incredibly harmful to those being directly impacted and to our entire state. Were praying for our colleagues, their families and neighbors, and our law enforcement partners. We hope to see swift justice for anyone responsible for these crimes.

Zay also thanked police and said hes hopeful that state and local law enforcement will be able to find those responsible and hold them accountable for their actions.

Update: This story has been updated with information from Gov. Mike Braun and Sen. Linda Rogers.

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The San Francisco Zoo is soon saying goodbye to Twiggy, a beloved female chimpanzee, and two others as they plan to temporarily close the chimpanzee exhibit and make room for a new program.

Chimpanzees get a lot of love at the San Francisco Zoo. Gombus, Michael, and Twiggy have been there since 2019.

"Twiggy is a crack up," said Robbie Graham, Senior Curator of Mammals at the San Francisco Zoo.

The zoo announced Thursday it's placing its chimpanzee program on hiatus. It will be the first time in the zoo's 96-year history it's been without chimps.

RELATED: Beloved SF Zoo chimpanzee Maggie dies at age 55 after lymphoma diagnosis

"Our chimps--we're looking to send them out to other facilities," said Graham.

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In the past few years, three senior chimpanzees have passed away.

After much discussion, zoo officials have decided it's time for a change.

"So right now, species around the world are taking a tailspin for extinction. So, we are taking a look at numbers when spaces open up or when our senior chimps pass on what we want to do with these programs," said Graham.

Twiggy will join a troop at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

MORE: New male gorilla from Kentucky zoo makes official debut at San Francisco Zoo

The newest member of San Francisco's Zoo gorilla troop made his official public debut on Wednesday. Welcome, Cecil!

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"She loves being an auntie. She likes being in troops where there are babies which is something we can't provide here," said Graham.

The two male chimpanzees, Michael and Gombus, will move together once they find a good home.

Zoo officials say they will bring back the chimpanzee exhibit in 5 to 10 years. It'll be a new and expanded habitat.

"We'll bring chimps back to the zoo and do a large multi-generational troop of chimps here," said Graham.

The zoo says the change will allow them to focus on other great ape species.

MORE: Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall helped pioneer several programs at Oakland Zoo

Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall visited the Oakland Zoo several times and left a lasting impact across the Bay Area.

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"This is Judy. That is Berani in the doorway," said Graham about a pair of orangutans that are critically endangered. "We are doing a last-ditch effort to try and save the species."

Zoo officials say its chimpanzee habitat will be converted to house orangutans.

"Our orangutans-- we will be breeding next year, along with bringing in a Bornean orangutan, which are critically endangered and took a 60% decline in the last decade," said Graham.

The zoo will also bring in a pair of white-cheeked gibbons, another primate species.

"It's sad to see them go, but it's a new home," said Krista Kelly, a zoo visitor.

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Twiggy will be leaving after the first of the year. So, guests still have time to go and say their goodbyes and wish her well.

ABC7 News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes actually spoke to the San Francisco Zoo 10 years ago when they were also considering moving their chimps to a different facility.

However, back then, they ultimately decided against it and chose to keep the three chimps Minnie, Maggie and Ccobby.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) had CNBCs Rebecca Quick rolling her eyes during a tense exchange on healthcare.

Jeffries joined Quick on Squawk Box on Friday where she grilled him on whether Democrats actually want a bipartisan deal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. Quick noted that Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Don Bacon (R-NE) pitched a two-year extension to avoid an end-of-the-year deadline that would see millions of people hit with rising health insurance costs.

Quick argued Democrats would need to agree to something like a one-year or two-year extension instead of pushing for more.

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If you want to get done, you are going to need at least some Republicans to come over, why not start with a one-year extension or potentially even a two-year extension? Quick asked after arguing a three-year extension and other asks will be dead in the water.

Jeffries shot back that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered an extension in the midst of the government shutdown.

Thats different. Im talking about what you have now, Quick said.

You can ask me the question. Ill provide the answer, Jeffries said.

Answer the question instead of going back, Quick pushed him.

Jeffries blasted Republicans, accusing them of not being interested in past talks to extend subsidies.

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Im providing an answer in order to provide context, he said, earning an eye roll from Quick.

It was one-year straight extension, plus a multi-year process through a bipartisan commission to more permanently resolve the Affordable Care Act issue. So having that context is absolutely important, regardless of what you may think, he said.

Quick then accused the Democratic leader of not wanting a deal and instead playing politics. She argued Democrats may want insurance premiums to rise in order to make Republicans hang themselves.

Its important context to make me realize that I dont think you want to get a deal done. I think this is something where youd like to see the rates go higher and allow the Republicans to hang themselves with that. Is that the answer? Is this politics? Quick said.

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Jeffries blasted the ridiculous assertion and said, Shame on you for saying that.

Check out the exchange below:

REBECCA QUICK: If this is something that you want to satiate, if you want to get done, you are going to need at least some Republicans to come over, why not start with a one-year extension or potentially even a two-year extension? HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, Leader Schumer offered a one-year extension in the context of trying to end the Trump Republican shutdown. QUICK: Thats different. Im talking about what you have now. Lets not go back to whats done in the past and what has not been extended. If you want to get something that it has actually done, you need to do something that will have bipartisan effect. JEFFRIES: You can ask me the question. Ill provide the answer. QUICK: Answer the question instead of going back. JEFFRIES: Im providing an answer in order to provide context. Republicans have repeatedly refused to take yes for an answer. It was a very reasonable multi-year extension that was offered. It was one year straight extension, plus a multi- year process through a bipartisan commission to more permanently resolve the Affordable Care Act issue. So having that context is absolutely important, regardless of what you may think. QUICK: Its important context to make me realize that I dont think you want to get a deal done. I think this is something where youd like to see the rates go higher and allow the Republicans to hang themselves with that. Is that the answer? Is this politics? JEFFRIES: Thats absolutely a ridiculous assertion, and really shame on you for saying that. QUICK: Three years is not going to get passed so what do you do? JEFFRIES: Its not a partisan issue for us. In fact, the states that are most impacted as it relates to an Affordable Care Act tax credit expiration are all Republican states. Were talking about West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi, right? Tennessee. QUICK: I agree. Im not contesting that. Thats why you probably have some Republicans who would sign on if you guys could come up with something that actually looks like a bipartisan deal. JEFFRIES: Listen, this is not a partisan fight for us, its a patriotic fight. Were fighting for every constituent, even if Republicans arent necessarily fighting for their own constituents. We want to find a bipartisan path forward. And that is what weve repeatedly indicated we want to do. Like, we want sit down and have a reasonable discussion, find common ground to address this issue. Now, Republicans said in the House they were willing to deal with the Affordable CARE Act tax credit issue after the government funding agreement was reached. Well, now the government shutdown is over and theres still been no conversations with House Republican leaders despite- Mike Johnson never  QUICK: Mike Johnson never said that. The leader never said that. You do have Republicans though who would agree with you on something if it was actually bipartisan in nature. Thats what Im trying to get at.

Watch above via CNBC.

The post Shame on You! Annoyed CNBC Host Rolls Her Eyes During Heated Exchange with Hakeem Jeffries Over Healthcare first appeared on Mediaite.
As drones have become more accessible to the general public, questions surrounding their legality have emerged among Hoosiers.

It's become common to see drones flying above concert venues, major events across the state or agricultural fields.

But for many, there remains some confusion regarding what drone operators are legally allowed to do in Indiana.

Here's some information regarding the laws surrounding drones in Indiana.

What are the laws about drones in Indiana?

A Draganfly drone with a digital sign takes to the sky at a demonstration in Sierra Vista on Nov. 17, 2025.

Similar to other states, Indiana's laws for recreational and commercial drones primarily follow the regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

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The FAA requires all owners and operators of drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds to register their unmanned aerial vehicles with the government. Drones weighing under 0.55 pounds do not need to be registered with the government, but they can only be used for recreational purposes.

In Indiana, commercial drone operators are required to complete an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an approved FAA testing site. After completing this test, operators will be required to complete a background check by the Transportation Security Administration.

Over the years, the state has passed several laws that restrict or prohibit how a drone can be used in Indiana.

In 2017, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Bill 299, which created laws prohibiting people from using drones to interfere with first responders conducting their official duties. A person caught meddling with first responders can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony if they have prior offenses.

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The law also prohibits sex offenders from using drones for inappropriate means. A sex offender caught using a drone to either follow, contact or capture unsolicited photos or videos of another person can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony if they have prior offenses.

The Indiana General Assembly also placed restrictions on the use of drones for hunting activities and limited law enforcement agencies from using drones in official business. Law enforcement officers are required to obtain a search warrant before they can launch a drone from private property or conduct surveillance of an individual, item, or structure located on private property.

However, this does not apply in cases of emergency where a warrant may be waived or if a warrant would not traditionally be required for a search in other non-drone law enforcement scenarios.

When is it illegal to use drones in Indiana?

Similar to many states, there are designated areas across the county that the Federal Aviation Administration and government entities have designated as "No Drone Zones".

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No Drone Zones are areas where unmanned aerial vehicles are prohibited or require a permit from a government agency to be obtained before a licensed operator can fly their drone.

In Indiana, several locations have been predetermined as "No Drone Zones," like military facilities such as Camp Atterbury and Naval Support Activity Crane, airports and property owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

In some situations, governmental entities can restrict the flying of unmanned aerial vehicles during events like those at Lucas Oil Stadium or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These locations are categorized as"Temporary Flight Restrictions" zones by the FAA.

There are some restricted areas where licensed operators can fly their drones once they receive approval from governmental entities like the Indianapolis Airport of the City of Indianapolis.

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To learn what areas in Indiana are considered "No Drone Zones," drone operators can find resources on the FAA's website or visit www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/b4ufly.

Can drones be used for hunting in Indiana?

According to Indiana law, drones can not be used for hunting.

Specifically, the law restricts people from using an unmanned aerial vehicle to search for, scout, locate or detect a wild animal during the hunting season.

However, a drone operator can use their drone with infrared abilities to locate and recover a wild animal that they legally killed during the hunting season.

Hunters are restricted from entering another person's property or recovering an animal from private property.

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Drones are also restricted on property owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The department does have specific sites for the purpose of flying drones, but requires proper approvals.

Can I use my drone for agriculture in Indiana?

Farmers are legally allowed to use unmanned aerial vehicles to assist them with agriculture, but these drones must be registered with the federal government.

On top of that, if a farmer intends to use a drone with a spray to spread chemicals like pesticides or fertilizers, the operator is required to obtain a pesticide license from the Office of the Indiana State Chemist.

Can you shoot down a drone in Indiana?

It is illegal to shoot down a drone in Indiana.

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The Federal Aviation Administration classifies drones as aircraft, and according to federal law, it is a criminal offense to damage or destroy an aircraft.

What can I do if a drone is flying over my property?

If a person witnesses a drone operating over their private property or being used to commit a crime, the FAA recommends that people immediately report it to local law enforcement.

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates and manages the airspace above people's property, which allows drone operators to fly above people's homes.

Whether a drone operator is flying for commercial or recreational purposes, it's important that they follow the basic FAA rules:

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Keeping their drone within eyesight.

Not interrupting other aircraft in the area.

Flying one's drone at or below 400 feet above a given property, unless other restrictions apply.

Not using a drone in a manner that may endanger another person or be used for illegal purposes

A person can also report illegal drone activity to the Federal Aviation Administration's local Flight Standards District Office. For drone operators in Indianapolis, the local FSD office is located in Plainfield and can be contacted at 317-837-4400.

Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Can I shoot a drone if it flies over my property in Indiana
Brands

Rupert Campbell, EVP and President of HEYDUDE

Casual footwear brand Crocs has promoted Rupert Campbell to the role of executive vice president and president of the Heydude brand. Since joining Crocs in March as Heydudes senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Campbell has been responsible for overseeing and executing the brands commercial strategy globally. Now as brand president, Campbell will lead all aspects of the brands product, marketing and commercial go-to-market strategy.

Moose Knuckles

Canadian luxury outerwear and ready-to-wear brand Moose Knuckles announced the appointments of Ludovico Bruno as global creative director and Raif Adelberg as design director. As global creative director, Bruno will oversee the brands complete creative direction, guiding seasonal collections and collaborations as well as campaigns and storytelling. Working closely with Bruno is Adelber, bringing more than two decades of experience bridging craftsmanship with culture and luxury.

More from Sourcing Journal

Trina Turk

Los Angeles lifestyle label Trina Turk has named Christopher Harlan as chief executive officer. As CEO, Harlan will oversee all aspects of the business to guide the Trina Turk and Mr. Turk brands into the next growth era. He brings over 30 years of experience, most recently serving as Restoration Hardwares senior vice president of digital leadership, with earlier experience in executive roles at companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap and Ralph Lauren, among others.

Retail

Omnichannel womens specialty chain retailer J.Jill announced the appointment of Viv Rettke to the novel role of chief growth officer. In this newly-created position, Rettke will be responsible for direct channel performance, working with senior leadership to define and lead a holistic growth strategy aligning the brand with marketing as well as direct and retail sales channels. She will also head J.Jills artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, reporting directly to the companys president and CEO, Mary Ellen Coyne. Most recently, Rettke served as chief strategy and transformation officer at Cole Haan and, before that, as head of transformation at Reebok. Earlier in her career, she held a series of roles of increasing responsibility at Kraft Heinz.

Logistics

Cloud-based data management platform Texbase announced the appointment of Randy Harward to its advisory board. He brings 20-plus years of experience in leadership across product development, materials research and manufacturing systems. Harward spent much of his career at Patagonia, serving as vice president of advanced research and development, and later became Under Armours senior vice president of advanced material and manufacturing innovation. He joins existing members Jenna Flateman Posner and Jack Keating.

Philanthropy

Dress for Success (DSF) Worldwide

Dress for Success has named Barbara Wagner, brand president of Talbots, a long-time national partner of Dress for Success, to its board of directors. Wagner brings a wealth of knowledge, with previous leadership experience at brands such as Duluth Trading Co., Kohls, Loft and Banana Republic.
Officials say a small plane went down in a field in northwest Harris County Thursday night.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the pilot took off from West Houston Airport headed to Dallas when he experienced engine trouble.

The pilot said he was forced to land in a field near the Grand Parkway and West Road area at around 11 p.m.

DPS told ABC13 no one else was on board, and the pilot was not hurt.
Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are expected to see a rain-snow mix this weekend, while the rest of Michigan will see sunny and dry conditions, but leading up to Thanksgiving, temperatures are likely to fall and the chances of snow pick up.

"Chance for mixed rain/snow showers today (Nov. 21), mainly in the eastern UP. Quieter weather this weekend, and warmer temperatures arrive for Sunday (Nov. 23) through Tuesday (Nov. 25). But colder and snowier weather is likely by the time we reach Thanksgiving," the Gaylord National Weather Service said on X on Nov. 21.

Rain and lake-effect snow are forecast to develop late on Saturday, Nov. 22, around Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, Gaylord and Alpena. Though it will be wet, at least some sunshine is still expected during the day, the weather service said.

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Accumulations of rain and snow will be light. In the central and eastern UP, less than a half inch of rain and snow is expected, according to the NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer on Sunday, Nov. 23, for the Lower Peninsula. Highs will range in the upper 30s to lower 50s during the day, then in the 20s-30s at night. Detroit, Coldwater and Kalamazoo could get into the 50s with forecast highs hitting 53 degrees for Sunday, Nov. 23.

In the Upper Peninsula, highs will range in the 30s-40s, dropping to the 20s-30s at night.

Looking ahead to next week, weather officials expected rain, snow and colder temperatures to move into Michigan due to a cold front. Residents who are planning to travel for Thanksgiving are urged to watch for weather updates, the weather service said.

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"Confidence is increasing for cooler weather arriving for Thanksgiving and lasting into the following weekend" the NWS office in Detroit said on X on Nov. 21. "Snow will be possible during this period as well."

Here's the National Weather Forecast for cities across Michigan on the weekend, Nov. 22-23:

Are there any weather watches, warnings in place?

Here's a look at weather warnings and advisories.

What's the weather going to be like in Detroit this weekend?

Here's the forecast for Detroit:

Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. At night, mostly cloudy with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 53. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Will it snow in Lansing this weekend?

Here's the forecast for Lansing:

Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 52. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Is it expected to snow in Grand Rapids?

Here's the forecast for Grand Rapids:

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Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 51. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Michigan winters make driving hazardous: Be prepared for winter. 10 things experts say keep in your car

What will the weather be like in southwest Michigan?

Here's the forecast for Coldwater:

Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 53. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Here's the forecast for Kalamazoo:

Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 53. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 33.

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Here's the forecast for St. Joseph:

Nov. 22: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Sunny, with a high near 51. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Will northern Michigan see snow this weekend?

Here's the forecast for Gaylord:

Nov. 22: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. At night, rain and snow showers before 10 p.m., then between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Nov 23: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Here's the forecast for Traverse City:

Nov. 22: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Nov 23: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

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Here's the forecast for Alpena:

Nov. 22: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. At night, rain and snow showers before 10 p.m., then rain showers 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

What's the weather forecast for the Upper Peninsula get this weekend?

Here's the forecast for Marquette:

Nov. 22: Snow after 1 p.m., mixing with rain after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Gusts as high as 20 mph. At night, snow before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

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Here's the forecast for Sault Ste. Marie:

Nov. 22: Snow before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. At night, rain and snow before 1 a.m., then just rain. Cloudy, with a low around 34.

Nov 23: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. At night, mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Here's the forecast for Ironwood:

Nov. 22: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 43. 20 mph wind gusts. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Nov 23: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

See how much snow falls this weekend

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Rain, snow in northern Michigan this weekend. See statewide forecast, radar
A small unmanned surface vessel called the Lightfish made a new milestone for USVs when it arrived in Portugal just over two months after being launched by the U.S. Navy in June.

The fully autonomous Lightfish is a small solar-powered craft manufactured by Seasats. Its solar panels operate and store energy even in cloudy weather, and the craft is equipped with a battery and generator that can extend its range for over 500 nautical miles in emergency situations. The Lightfish is able to detect obstacles in its path and can respond to them autonomously or be maneuvered remotely.

The Unmanned Naval Innovation Team of the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic launched the Lightfish from Sullivans Island, South Carolina, in late June with a destination of Troia, Portugal. During its journey, the craft operatively autonomously but was monitored across various naval commands and areas of responsibility. The Lightfishs journey was supported by Commander, Task Force 66 of the U.S. 6th Fleet, an all-domain task force focusing on autonomous systems and often nicknamed the Black Sea Battle Lab.

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At least twice per day, we would change command and control and oversight of this vessel between various Navy numbered fleets, Michael Grass, UNITs lead scientist and program manager, said in a service release. Every morning and every evening, there was essentially a change of command, and ownership, and oversight of this particular vessel for the entirety of the duration.

The Lightfish beat a previous USV record by over 12 days after it made the 4,000 mile journey in just a little over two months with no damage to speak of except minor wear and tear  and a collection of barnacles.

Requiring no replenishment except topping off of some fuel, it went directly into a NATO exercise of autonomous craft called REPMUS involving over 30 nations and led by Portugal this year.

I think people tend to underestimate just how manned unmanned operations are, said Navy Lt. Alexander Varon, officer in charge for unmanned software development within CTF 66, in the release.

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Not only is there a large manned footprint when it comes to the deployment, the recovery and the care and feeding of these craft, as well as the actual operations, but there is a massive engineering support role, specifically that were receiving from NIWC Atlantic over in Charleston, South Carolina, that is helping connect these different types of craft all into a single ecosystem of systems.

He added that crafts like the Lightfish are not only revolutionizing military affairs but keeping service members out of harms way on potentially demanding tasks.

As demonstrated here, USVs, and drones in general, are proving themselves to be quite an asymmetric threat, Varon said. Unmanned assets are [lower cost options that are easier to replace] and we can put them into dangerous environments without risking human life  freeing up our national assets for more important mission tasking or giving them longer periods of time to work through their maintenance availabilities and stay up to speed."
LIMA  Fundraising efforts for the West Ohio Food Bank continue in the aftermath of the federal government shutdown, which temporarily disrupted payment of federal nutrition benefits to low-income families who turned to food banks for help.

Dr. Nonso Ezema and Nneamaka Ezema of Next Gen Research presented a $5,500 check to the West Ohio Food Bank on Thursday to match a donation made by the Lima Black Ministerial Alliance last week.

The donations are part of a community effort to raise money for the food bank led by a coalition of pastors, philanthropic organizations, city leaders and Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith, who formed the Stronger Together Fund in late October in anticipation of a lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments.

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The federal shutdown is over, but that does not mean the needs for our families have ceased, Smith said, so we are asking community members to continue to step up and help those of us who are in need.

The community raised $35,500 through the fund and direct donations to the West Ohio Food Bank as of noon Thursday, with fundraising expected to continue throughout the holiday season.

Nneamaka Ezema, clinical director for Next Gen Research, said she was inspired by the Stronger Together campaign to support the food bank.

When we hear our patients concerned with where their food is coming from, we knew we had to step up in some way to supplement what they need to improve their life, she said.

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Tommie Harner, chief executive officer of the West Ohio Food Bank, said the need for assistance remains high even after the government reopened and SNAP payments resumed.

Were seeing a lot of working poor people living paycheck to paycheck, Harner said, and it just continues to grow.

Harner said the food bank can provide six meals for each $1 donated. That means the Stronger Together initiatives $35,500 in donations for the West Ohio Food Bank could purchase as many as 213,000 meals.

Were so thankful to all the community for stepping up and helping us during this time, Harner said.
Tacoma police say a 2-year-old boy who was found not breathing in an apartment near downtown last week has died, and newly filed court documents describe the injuries and interviews investigators reviewed before the childs death.

Officers were sent to the 000 block of St. Helens at about 10:20 a.m. on Nov. 13 after Tacoma Fire Department crews responded to a report of a toddler who was not breathing.

Firefighters began life-saving efforts and told officers the injuries they saw did not match what the childs caregiver said had happened, according to police.

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The boy was taken to Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital, where doctors found several small brain bleeds, signs of an anoxic brain injury and possible bruising to the small intestine.

Detectives wrote in court records that the child had extensive bruising to his face, ears, chest, stomach and legs.

Medical staff told investigators the injuries were not consistent with a fall and said there was no medical explanation for why the child stopped breathing.

According to court documents, the childs mothers boyfriend, 26-year-old Colby Allen Sorrells, told detectives he put the boy down for a nap around 8:45 a.m. and later found him unresponsive.

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He said he called the childs mother and then dialed 911 after being instructed to begin CPR.

He also told investigators the child had recently fallen down stairs, which he said explained the bruising.

Detectives wrote that the boys mother initially defended Sorrells care for her children, but in a later interview that lasted nearly four hours, she described several incidents in which she said she had seen Sorrells strike or forcibly handle the toddler and his older sibling.

She told investigators she had seen him hit the child in the stomach with a closed fist, yank him by the arm, slap him across the face, and lift him by his hair.

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She also provided detectives with text messages Sorrells sent while caring for the children, including a photo of the toddler being forced to do a wall-sit as punishment.

The mother told detectives the boy was awake, acting normally and eating breakfast before she left for work around 8:18 a.m. that morning.

She said it was not normal for him to nap at 10 a.m.

Police initially arrested Sorrells on Nov. 13 on suspicion of first-degree assault of a child.

Prosecutors filed a formal charge on Nov. 17, alleging Sorrells intentionally assaulted a child younger than 13 and caused great bodily harm.

The charge also listed aggravating factors, including claims that he used a position of trust and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

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The Pierce County prosecutors office tells KIRO 7 News his charges will be upgraded to homicide.

The Tacoma Police Department said the boy died at the hospital on Nov. 19.

A judge set Sorrells bail at $2 million and ordered him to follow strict release conditions if posted, including no contact with the childs mother, her children or any witnesses.

According to the Pierce County jail roster, Sorrell is still in custody.
Heading to a Tampa club to drop off some microphones last week, Dedrick Sykes decided to take a less busy route through Ybor City.

Sykes had worked as a DJ since his teen years and was well known in the Tampa Bay area. People who knew him said the moniker he used on stage, DJ ShyGuy, was a fitting one.

But on the way to the club that evening on Nov. 14, a Friday, Sykes crossed paths with another driver at an Ybor City intersection. The two strangers exchanged words, and Sykes got out of his Jeep Cherokee.

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Seconds later, the other driver, 31-year-old Joel Moreno Cobo, opened fire from the drivers seat of his BMW, hitting Sykes, according to police and court documents. He died at the hospital.

Cobo stayed at the scene and told police he fired in self-defense, but investigators determined that Sykes did not do anything to indicate he was an imminent threat to Cobo, records state.

On Thursday evening, six days after the shooting, Tampa police announced that Cobo had been arrested on a second-degree murder charge.

The announcement came as community leaders and friends of Sykes were pressuring the Tampa Police Department to release the name of the shooter more quickly, which the department declined to do, citing a need to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Police also had said that rumors that the shooter worked in local law enforcement were not true.

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Justice is rooted in evidence, and that has guided our entire investigation, police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement Thursday. This arrest is the direct result of patience and precision, ensuring that we could bring a suspect into custody, and provide fact-based answers to a grieving family as they navigate this difficult time."

An arrest affidavit made public Friday provides more details about the encounter and the investigation that led to Cobos arrest.

Cobo told police he was driving his BMW east on Fifth Avenue when hepulled up to the stop sign at 22nd Street and saw a westbound SUV blocking the intersection. He flashed his lights to get the driver to move.

When the driver pulled away, Cobo said a man in a Jeep behind the SUV, later identified as Sykes, pulled into the intersection from 22nd Street and turned to head west onto Fifth Avenue. Cobo said he heard Sykes say something similar to Youre gonna wait there now bitch!

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Cobo said he responded by saying F--k you, bitch! He said Sykes stopped, got out and told him to get out of his car.

When asked, the defendant stated that he did not see any weapons and the victim did not imply that he had any weapons, the arrest affidavit states. In addition, the defendant also stated that the victim did not make any threats to the defendant, however the defendant stated that he believed that the intention of the victim was to hit him. The defendant did not have an explanation for why he believed that the victim was going to hit him, aside from the act of the victim exiting the vehicle.

Cobo said he picked up his holstered handgun from his drivers side floorboard and fired two shots at Sykes. He then checked on his girlfriend and child, who were riding with him.

Later in the interview with detectives, Cobo said that in that moment the victim was a threat to him because he did not know what the victim was getting out to do, the affidavit states.

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Sykes girlfriend, who was riding in the passenger seat of the Jeep, told police they were heading to one of the clubs where Sykes works to drop off microphones and were going to take Fifth Avenue to avoid traffic. She said she heard a car horn, and as they turned from 22nd Street, shesaw that the BMW driver had his window down. Sykes lowered his window, the two men exchanged words and then Sykes got out and gunshots rang out.

Cobos girlfriend, who was in the front passenger seat of the BMW, said she heard the two men exchange words, then saw movement out of her peripheral vision, then Cobo reaching for his gun and firing. She said she did not hear the other driver make any threatening statements.

Cobos 9-year-old daughter was in the back seat.

She knew her dad got mad and was yelling at a man in another car, the affidavit states. She believed the other man got out and wanted to fight her dad. She believed her dad wanted to fight him back and then she heard two gunshots.

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Another witness in the area said he heard a horn, then shouting. He looked up, saw a man get out of his Jeep and within two seconds, heard gunshots.

Surveillance video from local businesses did not show the full encounter and shooting. But at least one video showed four seconds passed between the time Sykes turned and came to a complete stop and the moment a witness visibly reacted to the sound of gunshots.

Booking records show Cobo lives less than a mile from the shooting scene and works as a freelance web designer. He was being held Friday in Hillsboroughs Falkenburg Road Jail.

Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to keep Cobo in jail until his case is resolved. The motion notes the nature of the charge and argues that no bond conditions would protect the community and ensure Cobo shows up to court. A hearing on the motion is set for 10 a.m. Monday.

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Sykes was born in Bartow. He lived in Plant City during some of his childhood years and then Lakeland, according to his obituary. He graduated from Lakeland High in 2003.

Sykes had a bachelors degree in business administration from Webber International University and a masters degree in sports management from Florida A&M University. But by the time he graduated high school, he was DJing, starting at the age of 14, according to his website. He specialized in a range of appearances, including corporate events, private parties and live shows. He was a DJ at 7th and Grove for more than six years, a post on the restaurants Facebook page said.

At a news conference Monday, community leaders and friends called for justice and transparency from Tampa police. Friend Ashley Gooden said that Sykes had worked as a DJ for her family for more than eight years. He was mild-mannered and calm, Gooden said.

Everybody loves him, she said. His nickname was ShyGuy for a reason.

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The announcement Thursday evening from Tampa police about the arrest came moments before a public viewing for Sykes was set to end in Plant City. His funeral and internment were scheduled for Friday.

Times staff writers Chris Tisch and Bea Anhuci contributed to this report.
Democratic congressional hopeful Aftyn Behn did not hold back when describing how she really feels about Nashville  the city shes now running to represent  in a 2020 podcast thats resurfaced just days before the Dec. 2 special election.

"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an 'it' city to the rest of the country. But I hate it," she said in the podcast.

Behn, a Democratic state representative and former healthcare community organizer, is running against Republican nominee Matt Van Epps to represent Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. The winner will succeed former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office in June to take a private sector job.

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Scoop: Trump-aligned Maga Inc. Jumps Into High Stakes Ballot Box Congressional Showdown

Democratic congressional nominee Aftyn Behn, a Tennessee state representative, is running in a Dec. 2 special election for a vacant U.S. House seat.

The district, which is located in central and western Tennessee and stretches from Kentucky to Alabama, is solidly red. President Donald Trump carried the district by 22 points in his 2024 White House victory.

But the district includes parts of the Democratic stronghold of Nashville, Tennessee's capital and its most populous city, and a major national center for the country music industry. The district encompasses parts of north and west Nashville, including the downtown area which has long been a very popular tourist destination.

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"The Democrat running in a special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, Aftyn Behn, is running on the message: 'I hate this place, elect me!' Tennessee deserves better," the Republican National Committee (RNC) argued in a social media post on Thursday.

Republican groups are pouring plenty of resources into the special election to avoid the possibility of a major upset and protect the GOP's current razor-thin 219-214 majority in the House.

Democrat Aftyn Behn Advances To Special Election In Battle For Vacant Congressional Seat In Deep-red District

Democrats, energized after their sweeping victories earlier this month in the 2025 elections, are optimistic about their chances in the special election. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin, who campaigned with Behn recently, argued that she has "an excellent shot to win."

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Behn is considered by many Democrats as a rising progressive star who some have dubbed the "AOC of Tennessee."

Republicans are also taking aim at Behn over an op-ed titled "Tennessee is a racist state, and so is its legislature," that appeared in a 2019 edition of The Tennessean newspaper.

The RNC, pointing in a social media post Wednesday to the six-year-old opinion piece, asked, "If Behn hates Tennessee so much, why is she trying to represent it?"

Kamala Harris Returns To Campaign Trail In Trump Country To Back Aoc Of Tennessee

Kate Briefs, campaign manager for Aftyn Behn for Congress, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Republicans are panicking and in a last ditched attempt, they are distracting from the fact that Washington Republicans and Matt Van Epps are raising costs on Tennessee families and ripping away their health care while Aftyn Behn will lower Tennessee families' costs and make groceries more affordable by eliminating the state's grocery tax."

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Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, was endorsed by Trump, which boosted him to primary victory last month in an 11-candidate race for the Republican congressional nomination.

Last week, Trump hosted a tele-rally for Van Epps in which he claimed Behn was a "Marxist" and linked her to Zohran Mamdani, the socialist mayor-elect of New York City, whom Republicans are aiming to make the new face of the Democratic Party.

The Van Epps campaign is asking the president to campaign in person in the district ahead of the special election.

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Meanwhile, Republican-aligned outside groups are spending big bucks to run ads targeting Behn. As Fox News Digital first reported this week, the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. launched spots backed by a seven-figure buy.

A Democratic strategist familiar with the race touted that "this is already a win. The fact that Republicans have spent over $2 million trying to hold a seat that Trump won by 22 points. Whether or not Aftyn Behn wins, overperforms, or loses, this is a win for us because Republicans know just how in trouble they are when they have to fight tooth and nail for a seat like this."





Original article source: Tennessee Democratic candidate caught saying she 'hates' Nashville, country music in resurfaced clip
Gary Humble, founder of conservative advocacy group Tennessee Stands, has ended his 2026 campaign for state Senate. (Screenshot from Tennessee Stands video)

Gary Humble, who founded the grassroots conservative group Tennessee Stands, has dropped out of the 2026 race for Tennessee Senate District 27, ending visions he could overcome a small deficit from four years ago.

In a press release, Humble said his personal life is in a season of significant transition, citing business opportunities and family needs.

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Humble first ran for the seat in 2022, challenging Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Franklin Republican, in the Republican primary. Johnson was a heavy favorite but beat Humble by only 786 votes out of a total 24,100 cast in the election, and the narrow win left the door open for a rematch.

In April, the Lookout reported Humble would run again for the seat, and he formally launched his campaign in September.

Humble formed Tennessee Stands in 2020, initially protesting pandemic policies and galvanizing resistance to COVID-19 emergency orders by state and local officials. Since then, the group has grown into a political power, opposing Gov. Bill Lees private-school voucher plan and backing Rep. Jody Barrett, a Dickson Republican, in the recent Republican primary for Congressional District 7.

Our political system is not healthy. We all see it  the corruption, the power structures, the backroom deals, the pressure to compromise, and the machine that punishes anyone who dares stand outside it, Humble said in the statement announcing his withdrawal from the race.. The environment is spiritually exhausting, and the cost on families is real.

campaign press release

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Gov. Ron DeSantis push for Florida lawmakers to launch a rare, mid-decade redraw of the states congressional boundaries is gaining new importance among Republicans after a court threw out a GOP-heavy plan approved by Texas.

DeSantis had been quick to endorse President Trumps demand that Republican-leaning states redistrict to help the GOPs chances of retaining control of the U.S. House in next years midterm elections.

Texas was the first to comply. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted a map that could give the party five additional seats next year at the expense of Democrats.

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But a court Nov. 18 ruled that plan unconstitutional, leaving Trump and his allies on the losing end of what has become a redistricting war between Democratic and Republican-leaning states.

Blue state California already countered Texas and Trump with a map of its own, which could give Democrats five additional seats there. Republican-heavy Utah has broken course by adding a Democratic-leaning district and Virginia looks poised to redistrict and create four additional districts that could elect Democrats.

Trump-backed redistricting in Missouri and North Carolina have likely added two more GOP seats. But Republican-leaning Indiana and Kansas so far have balked at redistricting proposals, heightening the focus on DeSantis and red-state Florida.

Florida gets ready to rumble  on redistricting

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, has scheduled a Dec. 4 initial meeting of the chambers redistricting committee. And DeSantis, back at his Yale alma mater for a Nov. 14 speech, boasted, Im going to make the Legislature do redistricting.

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Texas has appealed the ruling by the three-judge panel, which found the states new congressional map racially gerrymandered and likely dictated by Trump, not by appropriate population changes.

For now, Texas would be forced to use its 2021 congressional plan, which has resulted in 25 Republican seats in the 38-member delegation. The plan overturned by the court, was tilted to put 30 seats in GOP hands.

In Florida, 20 of the states 28 members of Congress are Republican. But DeSantis and Republican Party of Florida chair Evan Power have predicted that as many as five Democratic seats could be flipped in another round of redistricting.

More: Florida GOP eyes total control of state's 28 U.S. House seats

Florida Republicans have their Democratic targets

The most obvious targets are districts held by Democratic U.S. Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Parkland, Kathy Castor of Tampa and Darren Soto of Orlando. South Florida districts held by Democratic U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel and Frederica Wilson could possibly be made more competitive for Republicans.

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U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, another South Florida Democrat, faces a troubled future after being indicted Nov. 19 by the Justice Department for allegedly steering $5 million of federal relief funds into her election campaign.

Still, if DeSantis and Republicans try to create a super-Republican map they will likely face lawsuits under the states voter-approved Fair Districts constitutional amendments, which prohibit drawing boundaries intentionally to help or hurt a party or its candidates.

Florida Republicans hold an almost 1.4-million voter lead over Democrats in statewide registered voters. Only six of Floridas 67 counties now have more Democrats than Republicans, compared with 29 such counties in November 2016, when Trump was first elected.

Still, this months elections amplified the risk for the party in control.

There's plenty of risk in redistricting for the GOP

Democratic victories in governors races in Virginia and New Jersey showed Hispanic voters siding with Democrats over Republicans, a warning sign for the Florida GOP.

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Trump and DeSantis heavy-handed immigration policies may be repelling some Florida Hispanics, while the presidents claims of a robust economy fizzle in many households struggling to get by.

A redistricting risk... Democratic wins up north cloud DeSantis' demand for Florida redistricting

Black voters could lose (again).... Florida redistricting, voting changes threaten state's Black political strength

For Republicans to win more seats in redistricting, Democratic-leaning neighborhoods would be redrawn into districts already containing an overwhelming number of Republicans. The theory would be that these new voters wouldnt have much of an effect.

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But weakening Democratic districts to make them more competitive requires making Republican districts absorb more Democrats. Some GOP incumbents could wind up taking on enough new Democrats in redrawn districts to where they feel politically vulnerable.

Still, Trump pushing Republican leaders to move ahead will likely be enough for DeSantis.

It will be very difficult for Florida Republicans not to try to redistrict, in light of the national attention and expectations, said Susan MacManus, a political scientist and professor emerita at the University of South Florida.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Texas ruling on redistricting brings Florida more in focus for GOP
(Texas Scorecard)  In front of a U.S. Senate subcommittee on border security, Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd delivered an urgent call for stronger state and local enforcement of national immigration laws.

Boyd, a law enforcement veteran with over three decades of experience in rural South Texas, provided firsthand testimony of the evolving challenges facing his county and others grappling with border security and cartel-driven criminal activity.

In order to take the initiative in what can only be deemed as asymmetrical warfare against the cartels and their business partners, law enforcement must change their mindset, Boyd told lawmakers.

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He outlined how, beginning over a decade ago, Mexican cartels seized control of border regions and expanded their operations to include large-scale human smuggling into the United States.

These cartels, he testified, exert control not only over drug distribution but also by using smuggled migrants as part of their workforce, often placing them in indentured servitude across the nation.

Boyd described the rise of organized criminal networks whose reach now extends far beyond the border, warning that these groups have cemented themselves like a spider web, orchestrating crimes nationwide through complex logistical support and local partnerships with U.S.-based gangs.

In his own county, the impact has been profound: Arrest numbers skyrocketed in recent years, coinciding with weakened federal enforcement under the Biden administration.

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Sen. Ted Cruz (RTX) praised recent policy changes by President Donald Trump for reducing illegal border crossings by more than 99 percent instantaneously, adding, Turns out you didnt need new laws. All you needed to do was have the right people in charge and free up Border Patrol to do what it is that they love to do, and thats protect America.

Boyd touted Texas Operation Lone Star, an initiative uniting dozens of local agencies with state and federal partners, and 287(g) partnerships with ICE that grant certain immigration enforcement powers to local law enforcement, as evidence that state and local agencies are essential force multipliers for federal efforts.

However, cooperation varies dramatically by jurisdiction.

Boyd criticized sanctuary cities, where local policies bar police from working with federal immigration authorities.

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He stressed that, in areas lacking such cooperation, individuals charged with crimes but suspected of being in the country illegally are routinely released back into communities, exacerbating public safety risks.

Sen. John Cornyn (RTX), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, condemned sanctuary policies and their local consequences: Sanctuary jurisdictions  refuse to cooperate with law enforcement and allow [criminal aliens] to be transferred directly from jail if detained. Consequently, criminal aliens are often released back into their communities, inevitably to reoffend.

He noted the burden placed on law enforcement and the harm inflicted on vulnerable, often minority, communities.

Danielle Carter-Walters, vice president of Chicago Flips Red, testified to conditions in her city under current sanctuary policies: ICE has found dangerous criminals in Chicago all hiding under sanctuary city protection. Our leaders still put illegal aliens first. Over 56,000 illegal aliens are living in Chicago homes, while our veterans and homeless sleep outside.

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This is not compassion. This is failure. This is a betrayal of the people they were elected to protect, said Carter-Walters

Boyd called for comprehensive reform, including an expansion of the 287(g) program and a shift in the law enforcement mindset nationwide.

We must disregard those who stand in the way of change, ignore the anti-American media and outlets working against the interest of Americans, and create a new chain of command and organizational structure  that demands results and accountability, Boyd said.

He warned that failure to act swiftly and decisively could see the United States replicate the never-ending violence and instability found in Mexico.

Texas Senate Bill 8, passed this year and set to take effect on January 1, institutionalizes cooperation with federal authorities under 287(g). Under SB 8, every county sheriff in Texas must formally request and, if offered, enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. The list of Texas counties currently enrolled can be found here.
Today marks the third anniversary of the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, who was last seen at age 11 getting off her school bus near her home in Cornelius.

Earlier this year, police released a time progression photo of what Madalina might look like now, as the search for her continues.

Every day we think about her. Drive past the house and wonder where she is and who she is with. If shes still alive, said Al Martin, a neighbor of the Cojocari family.

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Its one of the saddest things to happen in this town, and its still a huge mystery. And we all have wonders about it, but continue to pray for her, said David Dunn, a business owner.

Its still so very sad. Not having any conclusion to this. Nothing to go by at this point, but it would be great to get some closure someday, said Diane Hloros, a resident.

Warrant: Madalina Cojocaris items burned in fire pit before she was reported missing

The case of Madalina Cojocaris disappearance remains unsolved, with her mother, Diana Cojocari, and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, having been convicted for failing to report her missing. Diana is believed to have returned to Moldova, while Palmiter still resides in Cornelius.

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Search warrants revealed that several items, including Madalinas mattress, clothes, Halloween costumes, family photos, and a carpet, were burned in a fire pit behind the familys home.

Prior to Madalina being reported missing, Diana Cojocari was seen sleeping in a car 150 miles from Cornelius, near Marshall in western North Carolina, but there was no sign of Madalina.

The Cornelius police department continues to display missing person flyers of Madalina, emphasizing that the case remains active.

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her whereabouts.

The community of Cornelius remains hopeful for answers in the mysterious disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, as the investigation continues with a substantial reward for information.

VIDEO: $25K reward offered in missing Madalina Cojocari case
Changes are set to impact a portion of Rice Village after the approval of a million-dollar bond, according to our partners at the Houston Chronicle.

The Chronicle also reported that only 4 of 12 eligible voters cast ballots, and experts said some people may be unaware they can vote on this type of measure.

"It could be considered an invincible government because it's so low-profile, most people don't know they live in a special district," University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs professor James Thurmond said.

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The bond will levy a property tax on the area of Rice Village from Times to University Blvd. and Kirby Drive to Greenbriar, according to the Chronicle; it's a staggering rate of exactly $1.50 per $100 of assessed property value.

Officials with Rice told ABC13 it's for the current state of water, sewer, drainage, and road infrastructure in the area, which they said is very poor.

They also told ABC13 that all the impacted property is currently owned by Rice University and managed through its Rice Real Estate Company division.

"To tell you the truth, the risk all belongs to the developer. They got to put -- they have to front the money for everything and then the debts issued to reimburse the developer and then the property owners start paying their taxes will pay - their taxes will retire the debt, and only in that district, it only affects that district."

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Thurmond added that there are over a thousand special districts in Houston, and this is a way to get things done across the city.

"In a way, instead of an entire jurisdiction paying for something that benefits one neighborhood, you have the neighborhood paying for it that benefits directly. So, in a way, it's a way of getting something done without having to tax everybody in the you know in the in the city or the county or something."

Rice officials told ABC13 the timeline for the next steps is unclear right now.

For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook, x and Instagram.
Traffic is slowly moving again a few hours after an accident involving two 18-wheelers on Interstate 95 Thursday.

South Carolina Department of Transportation cameras showed cars moving north and south on the highway as of 6:25 p.m. The average speed was 25 miles per hour, compared to 3 miles per hour around 2:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, the Hardeeville Police Department encouraged drivers to avoid I-95 North near exit 5, where all lanes of traffic were blocked by one of the 18-wheelers that was on its side across the highly-traveled interstate.

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At around 2:30 p.m. police told the public on social media to avoid the area for the following six hours.

The Hardeeville Police Department advised drivers to avoid I-95 North at exit 5 until about 8 p.m. Thursday because of a traffic accident blocking all lanes of travel.

Vehicles started using the shoulder to drive around the collapsed truck after nearly 30-minutes of standstill traffic.

As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, a spokesperson with the police department was not able to provide information about any injuries from the accident.
A train collided with a vehicle on a South Carolina road Wednesday morning, according to the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

At about 10:15 a.m., the department of public safety reported the collision that happened at a railroad crossing at the intersection of Magnolia and Russell streets. Thats in Orangeburg, in an area thats densely packed with restaurants and retail businesses thats about a quarter mile from the South Carolina State University campus.

Information about when the crash occurred, the cause of the wreck and the type of train involved was not available.

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There was no word about any injuries caused by the collision.

Part of Russell Street where the crash happened was blocked, according to the department of public safety.

Drivers are asked to find alternative routes, otherwise they should expect to be delayed and stuck in traffic.

Information about when the road is expected to be cleared was not available.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.
This story was originally reported by Sara Luterman of The 19th. Meet Sara and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy.

As The 19th makes plans for 2026, we want to hear from you. Complete our annual survey to let us know your thoughts.

Three years after the release of the first comprehensive roadmap to address difficulties faced by family caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities, the Trump administration has quietly erased transgender caregivers and caregivers of color from a list of underserved or hard-to-reach populations, The 19th has exclusively learned.

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Dozens of changes were quietly made this year to the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, which was first released in 2022 after years of work by government officials and community stakeholders. An objective to prioritize efforts to advance equity for unserved and underserved populations of caregivers was removed entirely, as was a section noting that the challenges of family caregiving are not equally distributed.

These changes distort reality, according to Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Family Caregiving. The alliance represents the interests of family caregivers, or about 59 million Americans. A recent report from the alliance and the AARP showed that not all family caregivers face the same amount or intensity of challenge.

[Our research] shows that family caregivers span the full spectrum Yet people of color, women and LGBTQ Americans experience greater negative impacts from caregiving, from financial hardships to worse health outcomes, Resendez told The 19th in a statement. He also condemned the changes to the report. Weakening the equity provisions in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregiving ignores this stark reality, he said.

The changes were made earlier this year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, which did not answer questions about the specific timing of the changes, who made them or why they were made.

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But the why is clear: On President Donald Trumps first day in office, he signed an executive order stating that the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female. That order signaled his administrations opposition to gender diversity and tasked federal agencies with excluding transgender people from laws that protect against sex discrimination. The order also equates being transgender to an ideology, or belief system, instead of an identity that is protected by state and federal law. That executive order is cited on the first page of the edited version of the report, along with a reference to a second executive order against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage Family Caregivers Act, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act, was first signed into law by President Trump in 2018. In 2022, the initial report was delivered to Congress. The report consisted of over 300 specific commitments from federal agencies about what they could do within their existing authorities and programs to better support family caregivers. It also included recommendations for Congress about key legislation that would make a difference for family caregivers, said Alison Barkoff, the former head of the Administration for Community Living.

The recommendations were developed by the advisory councils created by the law and extensive input from the public, including family caregivers and the people they support.

One thing that was really important to us was that all caregivers be able to see themselves in the report, Barkoff said. By taking out caregivers from certain communities, from taking out the acknowledgement of the unique barriers that people face in different communities face  I think it's going to create challenges in really meaningfully engaging some types of caregivers that actually face the most barriers and are maybe the least likely to see themselves as caregivers and to seek support.

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This is far from the first time that a federal agency has removed trans people from government-funded health research or a government website. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deleted terms like transgender and pregnant person from agency websites, and the State Department purged references to queer and transgender people from its online resource for LGBTQ+ travelers. The Social Security Administration scrubbed all mentions of trans and intersex people from its resource page about Social Security benefits for LGBTQ+ people. Some webpages were quickly restored, following public outcry and a federal judges order.

Early this year, employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were warned to reject grants that mention women, trans or diversity. Another federal judge intervened, ordering the agency that oversees public health research to restore grants that had been cut based on references to gender or racial diversity. However, the Supreme Court ultimately allowed the agency to terminate over $780 million in grants linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Making changes to a report delivered to Congress three years ago is still fairly unusual, however, and no one who The 19th spoke with could recall a similar situation in recent history.

Jace Flatt, an associate professor of health and behavioral sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was among many researchers whose grants were cancelled earlier this year. Their research focuses on the needs of LGBTQ older adults and LGBTQ caregivers. They were not surprised by the changes.

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Taking people out doesnt take away the need, they told The 19th, adding: It doesn't just make this disappear that there are unique concerns and needs for groups of caregivers.

Flatt said they are concerned about how erasing certain populations and the idea of inequality from government documents and research will impact policy and funding.

If a certain group isnt listed as a priority, they dont just go away, Flatt said. It just means we will not have data or information on them, which will create knowledge gaps and limit how we move forward and provide care to all caregivers.

Orion Rummler contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Trans people and people of color have been quietly erased from national caregiving plan
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits as federal public benefits," which will bar some immigrant taxpayers from receiving them, even if they file and pay taxes and would otherwise qualify.

Tax experts say immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as children, known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status are most likely to be affected by the planned change. Foreign workers and student visa holders as well as some families with children who are U.S. citizens could also be affected, depending on how the rule is written, they say.

The Treasury Departments announcement was the latest sign of how the Trump administration has been taking a  whole of government  approach when it comes to immigration enforcement and looking to departments across the federal government  not just Homeland Security  to come up with ways to help carry out the presidents hardline immigration agenda.

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The Treasury said in its announcement that it plans to craft new rules affecting the refunded portions of certain individual income tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Savers Match Credit.

The rule-making would redefine the tax credits as federal public benefits within the meaning of Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. As a result, many immigrants with U.S. work authorization would no longer be able to receive these benefits.

According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are often not eligible for the same tax benefits as U.S. citizens, even though this group of people paid nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022.

For instance, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits or Medicare health insurance, even though they contribute billions of dollars to the federal payroll taxes that fund these benefits.

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Critics slammed the change as a way to target immigrants as part of Trump's broader policies.

Its a terrible and unfair idea to deny tax credits to people who have paid taxes and are eligible for them because of their immigration status, said Daniel Costa, director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute.

Implementing this will require determining who has status and who doesnt, which is another way that the Trump administration will expand its deportation dragnet.

The final regulation is expected to apply beginning in tax year 2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news release that we are enforcing the law and preventing illegal aliens from claiming tax benefits intended for American citizens. Treasury sought a Justice Department reinterpretation of the law in order to craft the new rule, the agency said.

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Carl Davis, research director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said since people without work authorization already dont qualify for these refundable tax credits, the folks who are really going to be impacted are people who are really trying to do the right thing, the people authorized to work and paying their taxes.

He said he believed the administration was trying to make the lives of taxpaying immigrants more difficult.

NYU Tax Law Center Policy Director Brandon DeBot said in a statement that the Treasurys reinterpretation of the law in order to craft a new rule for the tax credits overrides such clear provisions of the tax code.

Denying tax credits to immigrant families requires Congress to act explicitly, DeBot said.

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Davis said there probably wouldn't be majority support for the move in Congress, which he said probably prompted the administration to act unilaterally on the issue instead.

The American people are broadly sympathetic to the Dreamers and DACA recipients. Targeting them in this roundabout way, thats not a policy change that wouldve had majority support in Congress, he said.

___

Salomon contributed from Miami.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announces that the federal government has approved West Virginia's broadband expansion plan during a news conference Friday. (Photo courtesy Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey)

The Trump administration has approved about $545 million in funding for West Virginias plan to expand broadband access across the state.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved West Virginias proposal to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Friday.

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This technological upgrade will connect every corner of West Virginia and facilitate the jobs and opportunities needed to move forward, Morrisey said in a news release. Weve worked closely with the Trump administration to secure this historic investment and are proud to provide these possibilities to the people of West Virginia.

BEAD is a $42.45 billion federal grant program funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by congress in 2021 that aims to connect every American to high-speed internet by funding partnerships to build infrastructure.

West Virginia was approved for $1.2 billion in BEAD funding last year under former President Joe Biden.

The Trump administration in June announced plans to revamp the program, remove burdensome regulatory requirements and institute changes aimed at lowering costs. West Virginia revised its application down from connecting 110,000 locations to nearly 74,000 locations across the state.

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NTIA administrator Arielle Roth said in a news release Friday that Benefit of the Bargain reforms brought the plans cost down from $959 million to $545 million, a savings of 43%.

Congratulations to West Virginia on the approval of its BEAD Final Proposal  an important milestone in the states path toward universal connectivity, Roth said.

The states approved plan includes nearly $546 million for 142 deployment projects that will connect 73,044 unserved and underserved locations throughout West Virginia. The federal agency is reviewing other allowable uses for additional funds and will issue updated guidance in the future, Morrisey said in a news release.

The build out phase of the project will take four years, through 2029, to complete, Morrisey said.

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Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. praised the announcement in a news release Friday morning, saying that it brings West Virginia closer to deploying the largest amount of broadband funding for the state to date.

I am thrilled that West Virginias BEAD plan has been approved by the Department of Commerce, Capito said in the release. This means West Virginia is another step closer to better-connecting our homes, businesses, and classrooms across the state. I have had dozens of conversations with the Administration and our state officials, and while there is still a long road ahead to getting more West Virginians connected, we are well on our way with todays announcement. I look forward to continuing to help our state in any way that I can as the plan moves its way through the approval process at NIST.

In a news release Friday, Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., who submitted the states initial proposal for the funding in November 2023 when he was governor, said he made sure the state was in the best position possible to receive the funding so it could keep modernizing its broadband infrastructure.

This funding is an absolute gamechanger and will cover thousands of locations throughout the state, fostering new opportunities, jobs, education, and investment, Justice said. This doesnt get done without the Trump Administration, the NTIA approving West Virginias final proposal, great partners like Sen. Capito, and the countless state and federal stakeholders who made this possible. This historic investment in broadband technology and infrastructure will have a tremendous impact on West Virginia.
Nov. 21In a tacit admission that U.S. food production requires foreign labor, the Trump administration is making it easier for farmers to employ guest workers from other countries.

At the same time, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months appears to be refraining from conducting agricultural workplace raids, even as it scours Democratic-led cities for immigrants who are in the country illegally.

"We really haven't seen agriculture targeted with worksite enforcement efforts, and early this year we did," said Julia Gelatt, associate director of U.S. immigration policy at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

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The shifts come as many Americans are concerned about the rising cost of food, creating political problems for a president who campaigned on lowering them. Last week, the administration also announced it would lift tariffs on some foreign food products, including bananas, beef, coffee and tomatoes.

To ease labor shortages on farms and ranches, the administration last month made changes to the federal H-2A visa program, which allows employers to hire foreign workers for temporary agricultural jobs when there aren't enough U.S.-born workers available. Under the new rule, the Department of Homeland Security will approve H-2A visas more quickly.

"Our immigration system has been broken for decades, and we finally have a President who is enforcing the law and prioritizing fixing programs farmers and ranchers rely on to produce the safest and most productive food supply in the world," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an email to Stateline.

But the move to increase the supply of foreign agricultural workers conflicts with a July statement by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that "the promise to America, to ensure that we have a 100% American workforce, stands."

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Rollins also said the administration was committed to the mass deportation of immigrants who are here illegally, but that it would be "strategic so as not to compromise our food supply." Ultimately, she said, the solution would be increased automation of agricultural jobs.

The government has issued about 420,000 H-2A visas for agricultural workers every year since 2023, which amounts to about half of the 812,000 agricultural worker jobs. They are concentrated in states that grow fruits and vegetables as opposed to grains, which are increasingly planted and harvested using machines. The government expects an additional 119,000 visas to be issued under the new rule.

Almost half the H-2A visas in the 2025 fiscal year were in Florida (60,000), Georgia (44,000), California (37,000), Washington state (36,000) and North Carolina (28,000).

Lower wages

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The new H-2A rule also includes new hourly wage guidelines that vary by state but are lower than previous wages, and allows employers to charge workers for housing that used to be free. In North Carolina, for instance, the new rate is $11.09 for unskilled workers compared with $16.16 last year. In California, the rate is $13.45 for unskilled workers compared with $19.97 last year, though minimum wage laws in California and some other states would apply to those jobs, according to a Cornell University analysis.

In North Carolina, farmers are looking forward to lower labor costs, said Lee Wicker, deputy director of the North Carolina Growers Association, a trade association that brought 11,000 guest workers to the state through the H-2A guest worker program last year.

"If you think farmers are making more money in these conditions, you're wrong. They're going broke," Wicker said. Workers will take a pay cut under new guidelines and will have to pay for housing, but that may help farmers stave off bankruptcy, he said.

"I'm not saying the workers are going to be happy about this, but I think they'll come back. Wages have gone down before and they kept coming," he added.

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Jeffrey Dorfman, an agricultural and resource economics professor at North Carolina State University, said the changes will be a boon to the state's farmers.

"The move to lower the H-2A wages by the Trump administration will be very well received by growers in North Carolina and will save farmers tens of millions of dollars statewide," Dorfman said. "For many farmers, it will turn money-losing crops into money-making crops, if prices stay about where they are now."

Unionized California farmworkers are opposed to the pay cuts and loss of free housing in the new guest worker visa plan, said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a spokesperson for the United Farm Workers, which represents about 10,000 workers in California.

First came the raids, which hurt workers, and now in order to appease business interests, they make all these concessions on wages and the guest workers program.  Antonio De Loera-Brust, United Farm Workers

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The union sued the administration over ICE raids in the fields earlier this year, but recently "it's been pretty quiet," he said.

"For us it's been really a one-two punch," De Loera-Brust said. "First came the raids, which hurt workers, and now in order to appease business interests, they make all these concessions on wages and the guest workers program."

Fewer raids

The administration quickly walked back a June directive to avoid raids on the agriculture and hospitality industries. Nevertheless, ICE raids on those employers have been more infrequent in the months since.

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In June, ICE raided a dairy farm in New Mexico and a meatpacking plant in Nebraska. Since then, the agency has raided only a handful of food and agriculture employers, such as a July raid on a California marijuana grower and an Arizona restaurant chain, and a September raid to arrest Wisconsin dairy workers.

Earlier this month, ICE agents descended on an onion farm in Northern California, arresting four immigrants on charges of illegally selling farmworker visas.

Even as ICE ramps up its activity in North Carolina cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh, Wicker, of the growers trade group, said farms in the state have not been targeted.

Gelatt, of the Migration Policy Institute, said that's been true of farms and ranches in many states since June.

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"In past administrations we've seen a very quiet de-emphasis of immigration enforcement at farms. You don't need to make an announcement. You don't need to fight in the courts," Gelatt said. "It is possible just to direct enforcement activities away from farms. It'll be hard to know if that's happened now, but I would not be surprised."

While farmworkers in California are seeing some relief from raids, life is still uneasy for them, De Loera-Brust said.

"Overall, they have clearly slowed down [raids] in ag areas, but that's not policy. They could resume at any time. People are living with uncertainty," he said.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at [email protected].

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New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump emerged from a White House meeting with nothing but good things to say about one another after trading weeks of campaign-season insults and warnings.

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mamdani said in the Oval Office after the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the democratic socialist political star and the MAGA president who has mused about deporting him.

I think youre going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor, said Trump, who even patted Mamdani on the arm.

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Visual story: Trump and Mamdani meet at White House: See how they compare

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.

The high stakes Nov. 21 meeting between billionaire Trump and Mamdani  who has said a fair system wouldn't allow billionaires to exist  included discussions on affordability, federal funds and infrastructure projects and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city.

Supporters of the mayor-elect had feared a televised ambush reminiscent of a February incident in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance ganged up on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Instead, Trump freely praised Mamdani, and declined opportunities to criticize him in front of the cameras.

"I expect to be helping him, not hurting him," Trump said of Mamdani. "A big help."

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More: Donald Trump to meet Zohran Mamdani. What's at stake in White House showdown?

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) listens as New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement. NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meets with President Trump for first time 1 of 7 President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.

Both Trump, 79, and Mamdani, 34, were elected in part by focusing on the cost of living. "Some of his ideas are the same as my ideas," the president said. "He wants to see housing go up, see a lot of housing created, apartments built...People would be shocked, but I want to see the same thing."

More: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reveals pick for NYPD's top cop

Trump dishes affirmations after rough week

Mamdanis Nov. 21 jovial visit to the Oval Office came amid a particularly bad week for the president.

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Mamdanis meeting portrayed Trump, often smiling, in a different light. He embraced Mamdani, a socialist with firmly opposite views to his own.

One of the things I would have loved to be someday is the mayor of New York, Trump said. And especially now, because I think youre at really a turning point one way or the other. It can go great. Or it can go in a different direction, and I think you really have a chance to make it great.

Mamdani dished back, pointing to the presidents record support in Trump's hometown of New York. There were more New Yorkers who voted for President Trump in the most recent presidential election because of that focus on cost of living, Mamdani said, and I'm looking forward to working together to deliver on that affordability agenda."

I got a lot of votes, Trump responded.

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- Eduardo Cuevas

Mamdani-Trump voters? They're more common than you think

During the convivial Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the two New Yorkers discussed one thing they had in common: voters who supported them both.

A lot of my voters actually voted for him, Trump said. "One in ten," Mamdani, standing next to the president, interjected.

And Im OK with that, Trump responded.

More: The number of households living paycheck to paycheck has risen. Why?

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House, November 21, 2025.

Polling indicates Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won at least some New York City voters who backed the Republican president in record numbers last year.

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Around 10% of Mamdani voters backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election, according to a CBS survey. Queens, where Trump grew up and Mamdani now lives, seemed to have the largest flip of voters to Mamdani's side, according to the CBS analysis.

Mamdani went viral early in his mayoral campaign by speaking to New Yorkers who supported Trump, and asking them if they'd support his affordability-focused mayoral campaign. In the Oval Office, Mamdani and Trump happily agreed on addressing cost of living.

- Eduardo Cuevas

Trump commends Mamdani for keeping NYPD commissioner  a friend of Ivanka Trump

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speak with reporters after their visit to the New York City Police Memorial on Nov. 19, 2025.

Trump applauded Mamdani for retaining New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who the president said is friends with his daughter Ivanka Trump.

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She is a good friend of some of the people in my family, Ivanka, and they say shes really good, really competent, Trump said. And he just retained her, so thats a good sign.

-Joey Garrison

Trump says Mamdani surprised me in meeting

Trump, who relentlessly criticized Mamdani for months leading up to the mayoral election, said the mayor-elect surprised me in their Oval Office meeting.

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025.

He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down, all things that I agree with, the president said. Now, we may disagree how to get there.

Trump said he appreciated hearing Mamdani say he wants to build more residential units to bring down the cost of housing.

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I expect to be helping him, not hurting him  a big help - because I want New York City to be great, Trump said.

-Joey Garrison

Trump marvels at the interest in his Mamdani meeting

Trump marveled at the public interest in his meeting with Mamdani.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City.

The press has eaten this thing up, Trump said. You know, Ive had a lot of meetings with the heads of major countries  nobody cared. This meeting  outside you have hundreds of people waiting. This is just a little group. For some reason, the press has found this to be a very interesting meeting.

Asked why he believes there is so much interest, Trump said: I think hes different  and that can be in a very positive way  but I think hes different.

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He has a chance to really do something great for New York, Trump said.

-Joey Garrison

Trump says he doesnt mind Mamdani calling him a fascist

Trump brushed off Mamdanis past criticis and said he doesnt mind if the mayor-elect calls him a fascist.

Mamdani started to respond when a reporter asked him whether he stands by his past criticism of Trump. Then Trump stopped him.

Thats OK, you can just say it, Trump said, patting Mamdani on the arm with a smile. Its easier. Its easier than explaining it. I dont mind.

President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on Nov. 21, 2025.

Earlier in the Oval Office exchange with reporters, Mamdani was asked whether he plans to retract comments he made calling Trump a despot.

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We are very clear about our positions and our views, and what I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers, Mamdani said.

Trump chimed in: I've been called much worse than a despot, so it's not that insulting.

-Joey Garrison

Mamdani says he wants to work with Trump on affordability

Mamdani said hes looking forward to addressing an issue that both he and the president have talked often about: affordability and bringing costs down.

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.



Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (R) and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks with reporters after their visit to the New York City Police Memorial on Nov. 19, 2025. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, right, and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visit the New York City Police Memorial, on Nov. 19, 2025 in New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he has chosen to keep Jessica Tisch as New York City Police Commissioner. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani interacts with Pre-K students at Friends of Crown Heights Education Center on Nov. 13, 2025 in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Mamdani along with Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman and Councilmember Rita Joseph met with educators and visited with young students, speaking about his campaign promise of free care for children starting at 6 weeks old. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani serves meals during a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11, 2025, in the Bronx borough. Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.



Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the citys first Gen Z first lady. Supporters attend the election watch party for New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at the Brooklyn Paramount on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the closely watched election for New York City mayor. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Democratic Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, votes at The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Voters in NYC are voting for who will be replacing Mayor Eric Adams between the front runner New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa. More than 735,000 people have voted early, according to the Board of Elections, more than four times as many as in the 2021 contest. This election also has other city offices on the ballot, as well as six proposals. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani pauses while speaking about Islamophobia outside of the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx in New York City on Oct. 24, 2025, New Yorkers will cast their votes for mayor on November 4, 2025. Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, is the current frontrunner ahead of former New York Governor and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. (L-R) New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) stands with his mother Mira Nair, and father Mahmood Mamdani as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. (L-R) Mira Nair, New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY), Rama Duwaji and Mahmood Mamdani celebrate on stage during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. Democratic mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo (L), and Zohran Mamdani (2R), present arguments as Whitney Tilson (2L) and Michael Blake (R) look on during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks as New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani listens during the Fighting Oligarchy town hall at the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Artson Sept. 6, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani joined Sanders at his New York town hall after marching with union members in Manhattan's Labor Day parade. Sanders, an early backer of Mamdani's primary bid, has staged 34 rallies in 20 states since launching his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour this year, aimed at challenging the power of billionaires and corporations in U.S. politics. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) rides the subway as he prepares to head to Albany on March 24, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani announced that he is halting fundraising efforts after his campaign raised over $8 million, the spending cap for the upcoming June primary. Director Mira Nair and Music Supervisor Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Tendo Nagenda, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, director Mira Nair and Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Director Mira Nair, Mahmood Mamdani and Nishant Tharani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. (L-R) Nishant Tharani, Director Mira Nair and music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect 1 of 20 New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, recounted what he heard on the campaign trial.

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When we spoke to those voters who voted for President Trump, we heard them speak about cost of living, the mayor-elect said. We focus on that same cost of living, and thats where I am really looking forward to delivering for New Yorkers in partnership with the president on the affordability agenda.

-Joey Garrison

Trump, Mamdani talk nicely after productive meeting

President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani described a productive meeting and talked kindly of each other as they addressed reporters in the Oval Office.

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers, Mamdani said.

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Trump said he congratulated Mamdani on his election win and talked about some things in very strong common like housing and getting housing built.

If I can get prices down, its good for New York, Trump said.

Said Trump: I think youre going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor.

-Joey Garrison

Mamdani arrives at White House for meeting with Trump

New York City-Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani has arrived at the White House for his meeting with President Donald Trump, a White House official said.

The meeting was slated to begin at 3 p.m. ET.

Reporters were not present when Mamdani entered the Whtie House.

Too late guys! Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, said in an X post ahead of the 3 p.m. scheduled meeting, showing an image of reporters crowded outside. Yall are too slow!

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 Joey Garrison and Eduardo Cuevas

House denounces 'horrors of socialism' before Mamdani-Trump confab

Hours before President Donald and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani are set to meet, the House of Representatives passed a resolution denouncing the horrors of socialism.

More: How Zohran Mamdani won NYC: Be everywhere. Talk to everyone. Focus on affordability.

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is greeted by supporters following a press conference at City Hall Park in New York City, Nov. 20, 2025.

The resolution, passed the morning of Nov. 21 with all Republican support and 86 Democrats joining them, was seen as a dig against Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist. Mamdani calls himself a socialist but many of his ideas are right out of the Communist playbook of Karl Marx & are known failures, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from Staten Island, a conservative bastion of the city, said on X.

Democratic socialism is different than communism, though Trump and others have repeatedly, and wrongly, called Mamdani a communist.

Notably, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat who made a late endorsement of Mamdani, voted in support of the resolution. Ninety-eight Democrats voted against the measure, with two voting present.

-Eduardo Cuevas

Once protesting outside White House, Mamdani gets to Oval Office

Zohran Mamdani protested outside of the White House nearly two years ago.

In December 2023, Mamdani, a state assemblyman, was calling on then-President Joe Biden for a permanent ceasefire of Israels siege of Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October of that year. In an Instagram post, Mamdani said he and others had just ended a five-day hunger strike. Outside the White House, they read some of the names of those killed, when the death toll stood at 15,207 people, he said.

More: Trump meeting Mamdani today. What's his schedule? Can I livestream it?

We've now been been on hunger strike here in Washington DC for four days.



Four days without any food.



Four days of just water, gatorade, and coconut water.



Four days of sitting outside of the White House in the cold, calling on Pres. Biden to support a permanent ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/vpCsFuMVVX  Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) December 1, 2023

Each action gives birth to another, and we leave DC ever more committed to the work of holding our President and our Congress accountable in saving lives, he said. See you at the next one.

Reuters reported the death toll in Gaza is now at over 69,000, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. Despite a tentative American-brokered ceasefire under President Donald Trump since October, Palestinians have still been killed by Israeli airstrikes.

Now back in Washington, Mamdani and Trump are set to meet in the Oval Office, though the topic is not expected to touch on Gaza. Instead, Mamdani has indicated the meeting would focus on addressing affordability.

- Eduardo Cuevas

Where is the current NYC mayor?

Eric Adams, the embattled one-term Democratic mayor, has been noticeably absent from the city in recent days.

Thank you to Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov for a productive meeting on how New York City and Uzbekistan can further our economies together and benefit from each other's industries and talents. pic.twitter.com/XhKJjN1GiB  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 21, 2025

On Nov. 21, while Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani planned to meet with President Trump, Adams public schedule listed him in Uzbekistan to meet with government, business and religious leaders in the Central Asian country. Adams, 65, has been in Uzbekistan for several days, after traveling in Israel. Adams has been out of the country for a week.

Adams, facing tough re-election prospects, ended his campaign in September. His administration has been mired in scandals, resignations and corruption probes. The mayor had faced federal corruption charges, related to allegedly soliciting and accepting illegal gifts and campaign donations from wealthy foreigners, including the Turkish government.

In early 2025, Trumps Justice Department intervened to get the charges dropped, in what critics said was a deal for his cooperation on federal immigration enforcement. Adams has denied any quid pro quo took place. Earlier, Adams traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump; he attended Trumps inauguration in Washington, DC.

Mamdani is set to replace Adams on New Year's Day, leaving Adams out of a job for now.

Trump says he expects 'civil' meeting with Mandani: 'We'll get along fine'

President Donald Trump said Friday he gives New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani credit for running a good race and believes well get along fine during their afternoon Oval Office meeting.

Look, were looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong, Trump said in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade show on Fox News Radio. And you know, theres such a different philosophy. But Ill let you know. Ill let you know over the next year.

Trump was asked about Mamdanis election night speech in which the 34-year-old democratic socialist directed his comments to the president and told Trump, Turn the volume up.

He has to be careful when he says that to me, Trump said, but added that he isnt sure what Mamdani meant.

"I said, What does that mean? Turn the volume up. Does that mean? Lets go at it? Trump said. I dont think so. He was very nice in calling, and were going to have a meeting  I guess we meet at 3 oclock today  and I think its going to be quite civil. Well find out.

Ahead of the Nov. 4 election, Trump repeatedly warned he would withhold federal funds if Mamdani, who Trump attacked a socialist, won the election.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called out President Donald Trump during his Nov. 4 victory speech at the Brooklyn Paramount.

Trump said he expects to open the face-to-face meeting up to reporters.

I would think so. Hes a politician, so I dont think he has a problem. The one thing I notice about politicians is the answer is always, Yes  other than with Biden, Trump said.

-Joey Garrison

Both from Queens, Trumps childhood neighborhood voted for Mamdani

President Donald Trumps childhood Queens neighborhood of Jamaica Estates voted heavily for Zohran Mamdani in the Nov. 4 mayoral election.

The affluent, suburban enclave is located in eastern Queens. The precinct including the Trump familys two-story Tudor-style home, at 85-15 Wareham Place, had a nearly 20-point margin for Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens, according to unofficial New York City Board of Elections results. Mamdani received 56% of votes, compared to 37% for his next closest opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, another Queens native running as an independent who received support from Trump.

Mamdani won around 50.4% of Queens as a whole, compared to 41.6% for Cuomo, which mirrors citywide election results.

Mamdani, 34, and Trump, 79, lived in vastly different versions of Queens, which today is one of the most diverse places in the world. Nearly half of the borough is foreign-born.

Trumps Jamaica Estates at the time was nearly all White, as the New York Times reported. The neighborhood today is more diverse. City demographics data for the neighborhood and abutting Holliswood, where Cuomo grew up, showed the area was around 32.5% Asian, 24.7% Black, 22.3% White, and 15.4% Hispanic or Latino. Holliswood, another affluent neighborhood, is traditionally more Black and Latino than Jamaica Estates.

- Eduardo Cuevas

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, 34, is currently a three-term New York state assemblyman representing parts of Queens. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is set to become the first Muslim mayor and first Asian American mayor in New York City history.

Born in Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York as a child and grew up on Manhattans Upper West Side. He is the son of Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, who is a Ugandan of Indian descent.

The mayor-elect is married to Rama Duwaji, an artist and illustrator. The two, married earlier this year, live in Astoria, Queens.

--Eduardo Cuevas

A year ago, Mamdani talked with Trump supporters. The topic was affordability.

Just over a year ago, Zohran Mamdani went viral on social media for speaking with New Yorkers about why they voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. With microphone in hand, Mamdani went to heavily immigrant, nonwhite working-class neighborhoods in the Bronx and Queens that saw the largest swings toward Trump.

Mamdani asked them about their vote, or if they skipped the ballot box altogether. According to his post, the common theme for their support of Trump was cost of living. Mamdani then asked about the upcoming 2025 mayoral election.

If there was a candidate talking about freezing the rent, making buses free, making universal child care a reality, are those things that you'd support? said Mamdani, a not-so-subtle nod to his three-part campaign platform. Absolutely, one man told Mamdani, he would have my vote all day.

Mamdani has since had a meteoric rise, from polling in single digits, to becoming the citys next mayor in less than two months. Like Trump, voters will have to see whether Mamdani can lower costs for them. Both, with starkly different approaches, now plan to meet at the White House.

--Eduardo Cuevas

Trump said Mamdani would have 'problems with Washington'

He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sept. 29. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He wont be getting any of it, so whats the point of voting for him.

-Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (R) celebrates alongside his wife Rama Duwaji (L) during an election night event at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York on November 4, 2025. New Yorkers elected leftist Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor Nov. 4, 2025, broadcasters projected, on a day of key local ballots across the country offering the first electoral judgement of Donald Trump's tumultuous second White House term.

Why did Mamdani reach out to White House?

A day before the White House visit, Mamdani explained his reasoning for reaching out to the White House to set up the meeting.

Because I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than 8.5 million people who call the city home, he said. I have many disagreements with the president and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that could make our city affordable for every single New Yorker.

President Donald Trump confirmed via Truth Social that he's meeting with NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to discuss affordability and public safety.

Mamdani's campaign promises include free buses, universal childcare and rent freezes on rent stabilized apartments. He has said he'll finance these initiatives by hiking the taxes of the top 1% of income earners ( who earn close to $1 million) and raising corporate taxes.

Mamdani has also said the citys police officers will not assist ICE in executing federal immigration operations.

--Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

Keeping an open mind to 'do what's right'

I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers, he said on Nov. 19.  If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting was evidence of Trump's open mind.

It speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and to try to do whats right on behalf of the American people whether they live in blue states or red states or blue cities," said Leavitt.

Trump's city of birth and where he built his real estate empire is "becoming much more left than I think this president ever anticipated in his many years of living in New York, she said.

--Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump and Mamdani in chummy White House meeting: recap
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met in the White House on Friday, taking questions from the press and saying that they look forward to working together.

Weve just had a great meeting, a really good, very productive meeting, Trump said from the Oval Office. We have one thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do very well.

The meeting Friday was a high-stakes one for Mamdani, his first in-person interaction with the president after the two criticized one another for months.

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The meeting, which was closely watched by the media, turned out to be rather warm and friendly, with Trump laughing, shaking the mayor-elects hand multiple times and even admitting he once wanted to be New York Citys mayor.

The two leaders shared that while they clearly have their differences, theyve also found agreement. Mamdani highlighted their shared New York roots and said that many of the people who voted for him also voted for Trump in 2024 due to affordability and the cost of living.

We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities, we spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out, Mamdani said. And I appreciated the time with the president. I appreciated the conversation. I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. | Evan Vucci

Mamdani, a self-declared democratic socialist, won the citys mayoral race earlier this month and will make history on Jan. 1 as one of New York Citys youngest mayors and its first Muslim mayor.

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He and the president traded barbs from afar throughout the campaign and after Mamdanis victory. Mamdani called Trump a fascist, and addressed the president during his victory speech, telling him to turn the volume up.

Trump on Wednesday confirmed that Mamdanis transition team reached out to secure a meeting, calling him a Communist Mayor.

The president, ahead of Election Day, threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won the race, calling him an extremist. In a last-minute move, Trump endorsed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and the president urged voters to cast their ballots for him, as Cuomo appeared to have a better shot at beating Mamdani than the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa.

Trump did not make note of his previous threat to withhold federal funding on Friday.

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Mamdani was asked by the press multiple times about his previous criticism of the president, and the mayor-elect dodged. Both Mamdani and Trump focused on their shared values rather than the areas where they disagree.

President Donald Trump talks after meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. | Evan Vucci

I think both President Trump and I, we are very clear about our positions and our views, and what I really appreciate about the president is the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, (but) focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers, Mamdani said.

Trump joked that hes been called things worse than what Mamdani has had to say and later said it was OK for Mamdani to say hes a fascist.

Q: "Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?"@ZohranKMamdani: "I've spoken about."



President Trump: "That's okay. You can just say yes."



Mamdani: "Okay. Alright."



Trump: "It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind." pic.twitter.com/7VgsbGUelX  CSPAN (@cspan) November 21, 2025

While they may have different views on how to accomplish bringing down the cost of living and enforcing safety in the city, the leaders agreed they are top priorities for them both.

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We had some interesting conversation and some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have, the president said.

President Donald Trump talks after meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. | Evan Vucci

Trump was asked if he would be comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani leadership, to which the president replied that he would absolutely be comfortable with that idea, especially after the meeting.

I want New York City to be great. Look, I love New York City. Its where I come from. I spent a lot of years there, Trump said. I think this mayor can do some things that are going to be really great.

We agree a lot more than I would have thought.  I want him to do a great job, and well help them do a great job, he added.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Friday met the man who had proudly proclaimed himself Donald Trump's worst nightmare, but he seemed to find the opposite.

The Republican president and New York Citys Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani were warm and friendly, speaking repeatedly of their shared goals to help Trump's hometown rather than their combustible differences.

Trump, who had in the past called Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic" and a total nut job," spoke openly of how impressed he was with the man who had called his administration authoritarian.

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I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually," Trump said of the democratic socialist as Mamdani stood next to him in the Oval Office.

The meeting offered political opportunities for both men. For Mamdani, a sit-down offered the state lawmaker  who until recently was relatively unknown  the chance to go head-to-head with the most powerful person in the world.

For Trump, it was a high-profile chance to talk about affordability at a time when hes under increasing political pressure to show hes addressing voter concerns about the cost of living.

Until now, the men have been political foils who galvanized their supporters by taking on each other, and it's unclear how those backers will react to their genial get-together and complimentary words.

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Were going to be helping him, to make everybodys dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York, the president said.

What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers, Mamdani said.

Ill stick up for you'

Mamdani and Trump said they discussed housing affordability and the cost of groceries and utilities, as Mamdani successfully used frustration over inflation to get elected, just as the president did in the 2024 election.

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Some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have, the president said of Mamdani about inflationary issues.

The president brushed aside Mamdani's criticisms of him over his administration's deportation raids and claims that Trump was behaving like a despot. Instead, Trump said the responsibility of holding an executive position in the government causes a person to change, saying that had been the case for him.

He seemed at times even protective of Mamdani, jumping in on his behalf at several points. For example, when reporters asked Mamdani to clarify his past statements indicating that he thought the president was acting like a fascist, Trump said, Ive been called much worse than a despot.

When a reporter asked if Mamdani stood by his comments that Trump is a fascist, Trump interjected before the mayor-elect could fully answer the question.

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Thats OK. You can just say yes. OK? Trump said. Its easier. Its easier than explaining it. I dont mind.

Trump stepped in again when a reporter asked Mamdani why he flew to Washington instead of taking transportation that used less fossil fuels.

Ill stick up for you," Trump said.

All about affordability

Mamdani, who takes office in January, said he sought the meeting with Trump to talk about ways to make New York City more affordable. Trump has said he may want to help him out  although he has also falsely labeled Mamdani as a communist and threatened to yank federal funds from the city.

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But Trump on Friday didn't sling that at the mayor. He acknowledged that he had said he had been prepared to cut off funding or make it harder for New York City to access federal resources if the two had failed to get along, only to pull back from those threats during the meeting.

We dont want that to happen," Trump said. "I dont think thats going to happen.

Afterward, Mamdanis former campaign manager and incoming chief of staff Elle Bisgaard-Church told NY1 that the pair clearly disagreed on some issues but were able to find common ground on things like reducing crime.

We discussed that we share a mutual goal of having a safe city where everyone can move around in comfort and ease, she said, before later adding, We know that there have been labels thrown all around that are just simply not fair and we kept it, again, at where we could find agreement on making the city affordable."

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Trump loomed large over the mayoral race this year, and on the eve of the election, he endorsed independent candidate and former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, predicting the city has ZERO chance of success, or even survival if Mamdani won. He also questioned the citizenship of Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized American citizen after graduating from college, and said he'd have him arrested if he followed through on threats not to cooperate with immigration agents in the city.

Mamdani beat back a challenge from Cuomo, painting him as a puppet for the president, and promised to be a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually deliver. He declared during one primary debate, "I am Donald Trumps worst nightmare, as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in.

The president, who has long used political opponents to fire up his backers, predicted Mamdani will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party. As Mamdani upended the Democratic establishment by defeating Cuomo and his far-left progressive policies provoked infighting, Trump repeatedly has cast Mamdani as the face of Democratic Party.

Some had expected fireworks in the Oval Office meeting

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The president has had some dramatic public Oval Office faceoffs this year, including an infamously heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. In May, Trump dimmed the lights while meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and played a four-minute video making widely rejected claims that South Africa is violently persecuting the countrys white Afrikaner minority farmers.

A senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions said Trump had not put a lot of thought into planning the meeting with the incoming mayor  but said Trumps threats to block federal dollars from flowing to New York remained on the table.

Mamdani said Thursday that he was not concerned about the president potentially trying to use the meeting to publicly embarrass him and said he saw it as a chance to make his case, even while acknowledging many disagreements with the president.

Instead, both men avoided a public confrontation in a remarkably calm and cordial series of comments in front of news reporters.

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Mamdani, who lives in Queens  where Trump was raised  has shown a cutthroat streak just as Trump has as a candidate. During his campaign, he appeared to borrow from Trump's playbook when he noted during a televised debate with Cuomo that one of the women who had accused the former governor of sexual harassment was in the audience. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing.

But the tensions were subdued Friday as Trump seemed sympathetic to Mamdani's policies to want to build more housing.

People would be shocked, but I want to see the same thing, the president said.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in New York contributed to this report.

__

An earlier version of the story said Trump's heated Oval Office exchange with Zelenskyy was in March. It was in February.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met in the Oval Office Friday discussing topics around affordability and safety in New York City, appearing cordial despite trading barbs for months.

"I just want to congratulate. I think you're going to have hopefully a really great mayor and the better he does, the happier I am," Trump said. "I will say there's no difference in party. There's no difference in anything. And we're going to be helping him, to make everybody's dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York and congratulations, Mr. mayor."

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, November 21, 2025.

Mamdani said: "It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers."

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Trump and Mamdani appeared cordial and shook hands after the roughly 25-minute closed-door talk -- and both said they agreed on a lot.

Will the rich leave New York City after Mamdani takes office? Experts weigh in

Their friendly news conference differed from the months of insults, harsh rhetoric and even threats that were lobbed at each other as Mamdani rose from an unknown state assemblyman from Queens to the leader-elect of one of the biggest cities in the world.

Trump repeatedly called Mamdani -- a self-described democratic socialist -- a "communist" as late as Thursday.

After the meeting on Friday, Trump predicted that Mamdani would be a great leader for the city and said he's going to surprise "some conservative people."

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, November 21, 2025.

"I think this mayor could do some things that are going to be really great," the president said.

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Mamdani, who in the past has called Trump a despot and a fascist and criticized his conservative policies, said, after the meeting, that he and the president were focused on ensuring the 8.5 million New York City residents could live without worrying about affording their basic needs, such as rent.

Mamdani makes history with improbable, meteoric rise to become New York's next mayor, ABC News projects

"What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers," he said.

Trump and Mamdani's previous bad blood was brought up during the news conference and both leaders appeared to put their animosity behind them.

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When a reporter asked Mamdani if he still considers Trump a fascist, the president stepped in with a joke before taking another question.

"That's OK, you can just say, 'Yes,'" Trump said as he patted Mamdani on the back with a laugh. "It's easier. It's easier than explaining it."

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House, Nov. 21, 2025.

In the past, the president threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani was elected and to send federal agents into the city to tackle crime. Mamdani has also been critical of ICE's expanded raids and the administration's surge in deportations.

Mamdani and Trump said that crime was discussed during their meeting.

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NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch agrees to stay on under Zohran Mamdani's administration

"We discussed ICE and New York City, and I spoke about how the laws that we have in New York City," Mamdani said, adding that New Yorkers have concerns about immigration enforcement as well as tackling serious crimes.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, November 21, 2025 in Washington.

Later, Trump said of Mamdani: "He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down. All the things that I agree with. Now, we may disagree how we get there."

The president's approval for Mamdani's proposals went so far that he said he would feel "very comfortable" living in New York City as a billionaire.

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"Yeah, I would, I really would, especially after the meeting," Trump said. "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job, and we'll help him do a great job."

Mamdani's critics have expressed skepticism that his progressive proposals, such as free city buses, free child care and freezing the rent for rent-stabilized units, could actually pass.

Zohran Mamdani's proposals for NYC build off city's progressive foundation: Experts

The mayor-elect said he talked with Trump about President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and how that benefited Americans during the Great Depression.

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Trump showed Mamdani a portrait of FDR during their talk.

"One thing I also appreciated in our meeting [was] to appreciate a portrait of FDR and the incredible work that was done with the New Deal, and also in thinking about what it can look like when the federal government and New York City government work together to deliver on affordability. It can be transformative," Mamdani said.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 21, 2025.

Trump expressed gratitude for the meeting and indicated that he will work more closely with the mayor-elect in the future.

"There will be topics that we disagree on. I think we'll probably come to a conclusion and, ultimately, he'll convince me or I'll convince him," Trump said. "You know, it's for the good of New York. Ultimately, it's for the good of New York. I don't care about, affiliations or parties or anything else. I want to see if this city could be unbelievable. If he could be a spectacular success, I'd be very happy that we excel."
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war would recognize Crimea and other areas in eastern Ukraine as Russian, bar future expansion of NATO and prohibit either country from using military force once the plan is agreed upon.

According to the 28-point plan, a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY and was verified by a knowledgeable source, Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk would be "recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States."

"Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact," the proposal states. "Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions."

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 17, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The proposal also states: "It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further."

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Trump's proposal would require Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government to make significant concessions to end the war. Ukraine's army would be capped in size and the nation would have to amend its constitution to prohibit it from joining NATO. Ukraine would also have to give up land that Vladimir Putin's military does not currently control and split the electricity that's produced with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with Russia.

"Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation," the proposal states. "Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone."

Russia currently controls roughly 20 percent of Ukraine, including parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk. It has occupied Crimea since 2014. It launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Included in the proposal are the promise of unspecified "security guarantees" for Ukraine that the United States says it will provide with compensation.

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"After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment," the proposal says.

More: Trump shakes up negotiations, shops new proposal to end Russia's war on Ukraine

If Russia were to reinvade Ukraine, it says, global sanctions would be reinstated and "recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked."

Trump's proposal also calls for the size of the Ukrainian Army to be capped at 600,000 personnel. As of January, Ukraine had an estimated 880,000 active-duty personnel.

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Ukraine would be allowed to join the European Union and would receive $100 billion in funds from frozen Russian assets to rebuild war-affected areas. Children who were forcibly taken from Ukraine would also be returned. Russia would be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven, a club for the world's most advanced economies, restoring it to the Group of Eight.

Within 100 days, Ukraine would have to hold elections. They have been suspended under the martial law since Russia fully invaded.

Axios was the first to report on the proposal, which U.S. officials stressed was a preliminary document. It was presented to Zelenskyy in Ukraine by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, whose visit was cast as a shake-up in the administration's negotiating strategy as it sought to refresh negotiations to settle the war.

"Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas. And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions. That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Nov. 19 post on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump plan would require Ukraine to concede land to Russia to end war
President Donald Trump's administration is planning to open up millions of square miles (kilometers) of US coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, it said Thursday, in a step that could lead to a massive expansion of fossil fuel extraction.

The move comes as Washington looks increasingly out of step with much of the developed world, where there is growing acceptance of the reality of human-caused climate change.

Under the plan announced by the US Department of the Interior, 34 lease sales will be offered, allowing for drilling in 1.27 billion acres (500 million hectares) -- an area the size of the Amazon.

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The proposal includes waters off the north coast of Alaska that have never been drilled before, in the Gulf of Mexico -- which the administration calls the Gulf of America -- and off California.

"The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of Americas offshore production," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, referring to Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.

Burgum insisted that offshore energy production requires a lot of time and investment.

"By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that Americas offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come."

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Trump speaks frequently of what he says is the need for America to drill for more fossil fuel, and is disparaging about the global shift to renewables, which he calls a "scam." He regularly calls climate change science "a con."

Under his presidency, the country has pulled back from international agreements on fighting climate change, and did not send an official delegation to the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

But the plans announced Thursday are likely to face pushback domestically, particularly from California, whose government pledged to block drilling in the state's coastal waters.

"Trumps idiotic plan endangers our coastal economy and communities and hurts the well-being of Californians. This reckless attempt to sell out our coastline to his Big Oil donors is dead in the water," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

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"Californians remember the environmental and economic devastation of past oil spills. For decades, California has stood firm in our opposition to new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that.

The proposals are also expected to face opposition in the Gulf, where memories remain of the devastating Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, which saw millions of gallons (liters) of oil wreck tourism and fishing.

Rick Scott, a Republican senator for Florida, was quick to lodge his objections to the Trump plan.

"Floridas coasts must remain off the table for oil drilling to protect Floridas tourism, environment, and military training opportunities," he wrote on X.

hg/dw
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's government said on Friday that 22% of its exports to the United States remain subject to a 40% extra tariff after Donald Trump expanded the list of exemptions to include goods such as coffee, meat and fruit.

Speaking to journalists, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin noted that before Washington's decision on Thursday, that share had stood at 36%.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Chris Reese)
By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two Florida academics who were put on leave following comments tied to the September 10 assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk say they have their jobs back.

Karen Leader, an associate professor of art history at Florida Atlantic University, and Rebel Cole, a finance professor at the same institution, say they have been told they can return to work after being put on paid administrative leave over their commentary.

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Cole made the announcement on Wednesday on LinkedIn, where he posted a letter saying an investigation had recommended that the administrative leave be "lifted without the imposition of discipline." Leader told Reuters on Thursday that she too had been reinstated but that a third academic at the university remains on leave.

Florida Atlantic University did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the reinstatements or the status of the third employee.

The three FAU academics were among those whose experiences were detailed in a Reuters investigation published Wednesday into the nationwide wave of punishments that followed Kirk's death. Reuters found that more than 600 Americans were fired, investigated, or otherwise disciplined for comments about the killing, which mostly ranged from open celebration of the assassination to more measured critiques of Kirk's politics.

Cole was put under investigation for pro-Kirk commentary, including a promise he made to "hunt down" those celebrating the assassination. Leader was in the anti-Kirk camp; she issued a stream of posts highlighting the conservative's past comments.

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Cole had earlier filed a lawsuit against FAU over his suspension. In his LinkedIn post, he said the suit would proceed "until FAU administrators offer a settlement that makes up for this enormous administrative blunder." Cole and his lawyer did not immediately return emails seeking further detail.

(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with an October break-in of a Holliston gun academy, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Holliston Police Chief Matthew Stone announced.

Jason Liberis, 18, of Oxford, and Bryan Ayala Perez, 18, of Johnston, RI, both face the following charges:

Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime

Breaking and Entering from a Firearms Dealer

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Weapon and Conspiracy.

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The incident occurred on the night of October 30, when officers were dispatched to 100 Kuniholm Drive, Mass Firearms School (MFS), regarding a breaking and entering in progress.

Surveillance footage from inside the building showed that three suspects smashed the front door of the building, with two of the three individuals having weapons. The individuals were seen fleeing from a vehicle, which was described as possibly a four-door, light-colored sedan.

The owners of MFS arrived to confirm that two semi-automatic rifles hanging on the wall in the front lobby had been stolen.

An investigation revealed that Liberis, Ayala Perez, and an unconfirmed third individual traveled to the firearms school using a stolen car that Perez broke into from a convenience store in Johnston, RI. Once at the firearms school, Ayala Perez waited outside while Liberis and the third individual broke into the store and eventually stole the two semi-automatic rifles.

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Liberis was arrested on Friday morning at his Oxford residence and will be arraigned in Framingham District Court today and ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Monday, November 24.

Ayala Perez was also arrested this morning at his home in Palm Springs, FL. He will be arraigned and subject to extradition to Massachusetts.

Various law enforcement entities continue to investigate the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The United States and the Philippines are stepping up joint naval and marine to counter China's expanding reach across disputed waters in Southeast Asia.

Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the allies have added a new access site on Balabac Island at the southern tip of Palawan -- strategically located between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.

The expanded cooperation underscores Washington's effort to reinforce Manila's defenses and mounting maritime pressure from Beijing.

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But in the southern Philippines -- from the Sulu Sea to the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi -- local fishers and Indigenous sea communities, like the Sama-Badjao, say the growing military presence has yet to bring real protection to their threatened livelihoods in their ancestral grounds.

While the Balabac site enhances surveillance of China's maritime pressure in the West Philippine Sea, the greater challenge lies in safeguarding artisanal fishers in the Sulu corridor, where Chinese vessels continue to shadow, harass and outcompete local boats, often within sight of Philippine shores.

Samu-Badjas works his trade in the Sulu Sea. Photo by Yolanda Ortega Stern/One World Institute

"There's been some improvement in the security situation in the Sulu archipelago to combat transnational crimes like kidnapping, robbery, piracy and trafficking," said Lucio Pitlo III, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation. But he added that the Chinese fishing in the Sulu Sea is less known, given the waters' historical association with piracy.

Regional defense and maritime reports indicate that unidentified or unmarked vessels -- many believed to be Chinese or operating under "flags of convenience"-- routinely transit the Sibutu Strait and adjoining waters of the Basilan and Sulu Seas without prior coordination with Philippine maritime authorities.

Expanded alliance, limited reach

Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy has shifted markedly since the Trump administration's hard-edged approach to China.

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The new Balabac facility at the southern tip of Palawan is meant to close a critical surveillance gap, giving the Philippines radar reach and rapid-response capability across its southwestern frontier - including the Sulu and Celebes Seas, where illegal fishing, unmarked vessels and gray-zone incursions persist.

China's shadow in southern waters

Scarborough Shoal has long been more than a disputed reef -- it is a litmus test for how the world reacts when international norms are bent by force. Now, analysts say China's gray-zone tactics are quietly migrating south into the Sulu basin, where coverage is sparse, enforcement is weak and global attention is minimal.

Policy experts in Manila warn that these southern waters are emerging as the "soft underbelly" of Philippine maritime strategy. They say that China views the Sulu and Basilan corridors as permissive zones to test pressure on unprotected communities such as the Badjao, who have no state protection and depend on open access to the sea.

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"The Balabac site allows rapid deployment for disaster response and enhances monitoring in southern waters," a U.S. official told UPI. But Filipino security analysts argue that the site's deeper purpose is to push back against Beijing's encroachment -- a form of low-intensity contest waged through fleets rather than firepower.

On the water, the Chinese presence remains visible. Although international attention continues to focus on Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands, Chinese distant-water fishing fleets are now venturing farther south into the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

Operating in dense clusters, the vessels crowd out local fishers and complicate regional enforcement efforts.

"We see them with bigger lights and bigger nets," said a fisherman from Tawi-Tawi, who asked not to be identified. "There's no coast guard here -- only us."

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China has denied deploying state-linked fishing flotillas beyond its recognized exclusive economic zone, but satellite data reviewed by maritime research groups shows intermittent, large-scale trawling near Philippine waters.

Maritime analysts warn that without stronger coastal enforcement and sustained regional patrols, such incidents will continue to erode confidence in the Philippines' ability to protect its own fishermen.

While the Balabac site strengthens surveillance across the region, major gaps persist in protecting southern fishing communities.

"The U.S.-Philippine alliance is strategic," said Collin Koh, a maritime security fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School. "But even with stepped-up patrols to counter Beijing's intimidation, fishers along Palawan, Zambales and the western seaboard are still navigating real risks at sea."

Widening security-development gap

The Sulu and Celebes Seas -- long marked by piracy, smuggling and insurgent activity -- remain among Southeast Asia's toughest waters to police, even without rising great-power friction.

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For generations, the Sama-Badjao, often described as "sea nomads," have lived aboard wooden houseboats and fished for reef species, octopus and sea cucumbers. But as fish stocks decline and security patrols expand, many are being forced closer to shore, eroding access to the traditional livelihoods that sustained their communities.

Philippine Coast Guard Western Sulu Station Commander Al-Hafidz T. Bih told UPI that maritime safety "is not only a law -- it is a shared responsibility. The sea connects us all, and safety must be the language we share."

His comments reflect a growing recognition among Philippine maritime authorities that stronger coastal coordination, not just military buildup, is essential to safeguarding lives and livelihoods in the country's southern waters.

Development efforts aimed at lifting Indigenous sea communities have not kept pace with expanding security spending. As Manila and Washington pour resources into new military sites, southern Mindanao remains among the Philippines' poorest regions, with limited access to basic services and economic opportunity.

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"The real threat to stability here is economic exclusion," said Yolanda Ortega Stern, co-founder of the One World Institute and the first Filipino American dual citizen from Mindanao. "You can build more bases, but people need boats, education and markets."

Training, not transformation

Last month, the United States launched a three-year maritime training initiative with the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen patrol capacity and crisis coordination. The program includes technical exchanges, command-and-control upgrades and joint exercises focused on law enforcement rather than combat.

It is part of a broader regional effort under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative to help Southeast Asian partners resist coercion at sea.

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Defense analysts say the training marks progress, but caution against expecting immediate results.

"Balabac offers surveillance reach; training offers skills. But it will take years before coastal governance and fisheries enforcement catch up with geopolitical competition," said maritime scholar Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines.

In response, Manila and Washington have expanded coordinated patrols and coast guard exchanges aimed at deterring foreign incursions and improving maritime domain awareness. But defense analysts say the scale of the challenge in the southern corridor -- with its scattered islands, porous borders and limited radar coverage -- continues to outpace both nations' enforcement capacity.

Local civil society groups say the Badjao and other coastal families are being squeezed between great-power rivalry and a fast-declining marine environment. Pollution, overfishing and illegal gear are stripping what's left of the Sulu Sea's fragile habitats, leaving traditional fishers with fewer places to work and fewer species to harvest.

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For communities like the Badjao, those geopolitical currents feel distant. Their reality is the daily scramble for a safe launch and a modest catch in contested waters.

Most mornings, they still push their narrow outriggers into seas now crowded by naval drills, commercial trawlers and territorial patrols -- a dangerous convergence that leaves little room for the people who have been here the longest.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday pushed back against a US plan to end the war in Ukraine, while Russian leader Vladimir Putin welcomed the proposal that includes many of his hardline demands.

With President Donald Trump giving Ukraine less than a week to sign, Zelensky pledged to work to ensure any deal would not "betray" Ukraine's interests, while acknowledging he risked losing Washington as an ally.

Putin said the blueprint could "lay the foundation" for a final peace settlement, but threatened more land seizures if Ukraine walked away from negotiations.

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Ukraine faces one of the most challenging moments in its history, Zelensky said in an address to the nation, adding that he would propose alternatives to Trump's 28-point plan.

Kyiv and its European allies were startled by the proposal -- which would force Ukraine to give up land, cut its army and pledge never to join NATO.

Russia, meanwhile, would gain territory, be reintegrated into the global economy and rejoin the G8, under a draft of the plan, seen by AFP.

- 'He'll have to like it' -

"Ukraine and its European allies are still living under illusions and dreaming of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield," Putin said in a televised meeting with his security council.

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If Kyiv walks away, Russia's claimed recent capture of Ukrainian city Kupiansk "will inevitably be repeated in other key areas of the front line," Putin added.

The Ukrainian army says Kupiansk remains under Kyiv's control.

Zelensky on Friday recalled how he marshalled Kyiv's response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, saying "we did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now."

"I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives," he added.

Trump said at the White House that next Thursday was an "appropriate time" to set for Zelensky to agree a deal, but he indicated it could be flexible.

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"He'll have to like it, and if he doesn't like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting," Trump told reporters at the White House. "At some point he's going to have to accept something."

Zelensky said after talks with US Vice President JD Vance that Ukraine continues to "respect" Trump's desire to end the war.

He also held an emergency call with the German, French and British leaders as Europe, cut out of the process, scrambled to respond.

- Army cuts -

The Ukrainian leader plans to speak directly to Trump soon, his office has said.

The US plan envisages recognizing territories controlled by Moscow as "de-facto" Russian, with Kyiv pulling troops out of parts of the Donetsk region.

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Kyiv would also cap its army at 600,000, rule out joining NATO and have no NATO troops deployed to its territory.

In return, Ukraine would get unspecified "reliable security guarantees" and a fund for reconstruction using some Russia assets frozen in foreign accounts.

"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelensky said in his address.

"The pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said, warning of a break with Washington.

In a call with Zelensky, key allies Britain, France and Germany stressed their "unwavering and full support for Ukraine on the path to a lasting and just peace," said a joint statement after the talks.

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The United States bypassed Europe with the plan, and many European governments were unsettled by the prospect of the war ending on Moscow's terms.

- 'Flexibility' -

Putin, who treated Trump's proposal more favourably, said an early version of the plan was discussed with the US president even before they met in Alaska on August 15.

There, Putin told Trump that Russia was ready "to show flexibility" in resolving the conflict, without elaborating how, according to the Kremlin chief's televised meeting.

Putin added that Russia is ready for detailed discussion of Trump's plan. Otherwise, it will continue the war.

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Trump's administration has previously rejected accusations that it worked on the proposal with Moscow.

The White House gave Zelensky until November 27, when the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, to decide on what it called a "good plan" for Russia and Ukraine.

In Kyiv, people were divided over whether Ukraine should engage with the proposal and negotiate a better position, or reject it as a capitulation.

Yanina, a 41-year-old seamstress, predicted the proposal will lead nowhere and the war will continue.

"Neither us nor Russia will make concessions," she said.

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Ukraine's ambassador to the United States has firmly ruled out any border changes in the country in response to a US peace plan to end the war launched by Russia nearly four years ago.

"The territorial integrity of Ukraine and the changing of Ukrainian borders is not something which should be put on the table," Olha Stefanishyna said during a roundtable discussion in Washington on Thursday evening.

Ukraine and its European have been pushing for months for a ceasefire along the current front lines as a first step towards any peace agreement, but Moscow has not budged from its maximalist war aims.

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Stefanishyna said Kiev was open to having a "detailed conversation" about exactly where the line of contact between the forces would be frozen, but that this has not been "part of the dialogue" so far.

The 28-point plan, leaked to media outlets this week and only formally presented to Kiev on Thursday, calls for Ukraine to make major concessions, including the withdrawal of troops from the parts of the contested Luhansk and Donetsk regions they currently control.

Furthermore, Washington would be expected to recognize the Crimean Peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014, and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as de facto Russian territory.

Additionally, Ukraine would be required to renounce NATO membership by constitutional decree and limit the size of its army to 600,000 troops.

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In return, Ukraine would be promised security guarantees from the US and allowed to join the European Union.

Stefanishyna described the 28 points of the plan as "Russian."

A similar position was echoed by Ukraine's envoy to the UN in New York on Thursday evening, where the Security Council discussed the war.

"There will never be any recognition - formal or otherwise - of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," said Khrystyna Hayovyshyn.

The diplomat also ruled out any restrictions on defence capabilities, such as the proposed cap on army size.

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She also criticized the idea of a NATO ban: "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defence or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces. Nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday that the proposal presented by Washington should not be seen as a conclusive plan to end Russias war in Ukraine.

Speaking in Brussels, Wadephul described the document as "a list of issues that urgently need to be discussed between Ukraine and Russia, not as a final plan."

He emphasised that Germany, along with its European partners, fully supports Ukraine. "It will be Ukraine that decides which compromises it makes, just as Russia will have to make similar decisions," Wadephul said.

"We are not arbiters here, but we are advocating for Ukraine, because Ukraine is defending its freedom and the freedom of Europe," he said.
When I began PA school, I faced an unexpected financial hurdle: I no longer qualified for employer-sponsored health insurance, and although at the time, I didnt meet the requirements for Medicaid, I did qualify for subsidized health coverage through the marketplace. However, even with subsidies, the monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs were still a financial strain. To afford health care and cover basic living expenses, I had to continue working part-time while enrolled full-time in an intensive program. Balancing the rigorous academic demands of PA school with part-time employment was extremely challenging, but it also reinforced my resilience and deepened my commitment to this profession. It was a difficult period, but one that strengthened my empathy and gave me a firsthand understanding of the complex decisions patients often face when navigating health care access and affordability.

That experience made me reflect on the many individuals who fall through the cracks of our health care system, those who earn just enough to disqualify for Medicaid or Medicare, yet still cant afford private health insurance. Living above the poverty line doesnt always equate to financial stability, especially in high-cost areas like Long Island, New York, where people often struggle to afford not only health coverage, but also basic needs like food and housing. My own challenges navigating the system gave me a clearer understanding of just how flawed and exclusionary our current structure can be. Thats why I strongly believe in the expansion of public health care programs to include individuals who live above the traditional poverty threshold. No one should have to choose between staying healthy and staying afloat.

As an older and single physician assistant student, I currently rely on Medicaid for my own health insurance. I agree a lot with what Heidi Allen has to say about the program, in her TEDMED talk, The cost of being uninsured in America, particularly the myth that no provider will see you if you have it. I have been able to switch seamlessly from private health care insurance to Medicaid while retaining 90 percent of my health care providers. I am able to receive the same quality of care with Medicaid as with private insurance. At this point in time, without Medicaid, I wouldnt be able to afford private health insurance, which would be a detriment to my health at this stage in my life. Therefore, I believe in the expansion of Medicaid as an aid to caring for our citizens. I also believe that, as one of the wealthiest nations, no one should be uninsured in the U.S.

Economically, it doesnt make sense not to provide expanded health care insurance. According to Heidi Allen, increased coverage has led to greater PCP visits. It is important for the clinician-patient interaction to initially identify risky behaviors, potentially cutting off chronic disease in the future, which can be expensive to care for. Overall, expanded coverage could lead to a healthier nation and drive down health care costs. But health care costs can only decrease if unnecessary tests arent ordered. As I learned on rotations in the emergency department of a hospital, when ordering bloodwork or a specific exam, you must be able to justify that workup when asked. Each part of the workup must be valid in ruling out something specific in your differential diagnosis. What if all providers were held to that standard? There would be fewer exams just because they are available.

Mona Bascetta is a physician assistant student.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The president of Ukraine is facing a confluence of crises testing his ability to lead an increasingly weary nation nearly four years into a devastating full-scale invasion by Russia.

For more than a week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has struggled to contain the fallout from a $100 million corruption scandal implicating top officials and other associates. The pressure on Zelenskyy has ratcheted up as the United States pushes a proposal it drew up with Russia that would require major concessions from Ukraine  and seemingly few from Russia  to bring an end to the war.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest, Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation Friday.

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All this is playing out as Russia makes slow but steady advances across parts of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and relentlessly bombs Ukraine's power plants, causing severe electricity shortages as colder weather sets in.

Here are five things to know about the growing pressures confronting Zelenskyy:

Facing a rebellion

Zelenskyy has been facing a rebellion from lawmakers in his own party since the country's corruption watchdogs revealed that $100 million had been embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors.

After investigators publicized their findings, Zelenskyy dismissed two top officials and imposed sanctions on close associates. One Zelenskyy associate implicated in the scheme, Tymur Mindich, has reportedly fled the country. Mindich is a partner in a media production company that Zelenskyy was a co-owner of before he became president.

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Some Ukrainian lawmakers and activists are calling on the president to fire his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak.

Neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak have been accused of wrongdoing by investigators. But because Yermak is widely believed to decide key government appointments and to have sway in top political affairs, lawmakers believe he should take responsibility as a way to help restore the public's trust.

The Servant of the People party that Zelenskyy leads won over two-thirds of parliamentary seats in 2019. But some politicians warn that a split in the party or a series of defections could lead Zelenskyy to lose his parliamentary majority, if he doesnt part ways with Yermak.

Many of Zelenskyys political allies feel something has to change, even if they have not gone public with their concerns, said Mykola Davidiuk, an independent political expert. One of the chief criticisms of Zelenskyy's government is that too much power is concentrated in the hands of Yermak and his advisers, Davidiuk said.

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The management style of Zelenskyy is not working," he said.

How decisively Zelenskyy responds to the corruption scandal could determine whether the fallout damages Ukraines standing with allies, said Davidiuk.

Zelenskyy's hold on power is not imminently at risk

Russia's invasion triggered martial law in Ukraine, indefinitely postponing presidential and parliamentary elections.

So even if Zelenskyy's grip on parliament weakens and his popularity plummets, he is highly unlikely to be unseated while the war is still going on  unless he voluntarily resigns.

Ukraines presidential term is normally five years and, before the war, the next elections had been scheduled for spring of 2024.

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The growing political headwinds Zelenskyy faces could challenge his ability to push through parliament any potential peace deal being negotiated with Russia. And if he were to seek reelection after the war, his chances could be hurt if Yermak is still in the picture, political analysts say.

A former general is seen as a rival, but denies political aspirations

No elected Ukrainian opposition figures pose a viable threat to Zelenskyy. Former Ukrainian president and current opposition lawmaker, Petro Poroshenko, has failed to expand his support beyond his small core loyalist base. His attempts to call a vote of no confidence in Ukraine's government also fell short. He collected fewer than half of the 150 votes needed.

One potential challenger could be Ukraines former army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who oversaw several successful counteroffensives in the first year of the war and was fired by the Ukrainian president in late 2023.

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Zaluzhnyi now serves as Ukraines ambassador to the U.K.

Zaluzhnyi denies any intention to enter politics, but polls in Ukraine show him as theoretically competitive with Zelenskyy, keeping speculation alive that he could be convinced to run in the next election.

US and Russia design a plan to end the war in Ukraine

The U.S. and Russia have drawn up a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that calls for major concessions from Kyiv, according to a draft obtained by The Associated Press, including granting some demands the Kremlin has made repeatedly since it invaded early in 2022.

The plan calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia and for Kyiv to limit the size of its military.

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Russia, as part of the proposal, would be given effective control of the entire eastern Donbas region  an area Moscow has long sought  even though Ukraine is still in control of part of it.

Zelenskyy has previously rejected the same conditions, describing them as unconstitutional and unjust. On Friday, he said Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, "either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, in the U.S.

Reports about the plan came out just as Zelenskyy was facing increased unrest over the corruption scandal. The timing is very damaging for Ukraine, said Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert at Chatham House.

Zelenskyy is vulnerable. Both the U.S. and Russia (saw) the domestic scandal and decided to put more pressure on him to concede to a Russian plan, Lutsevych said. But the effort may not work out as envisioned, she said, noting that European allies are coming to Ukraine's defense and speaking out against the plan.

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In his speech Friday, Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to stop the political games and work in unity. It will be much easier for me to achieve a decent peace for us ... knowing that the nation of Ukraine is behind me.

Pressure on the front and across the country

Against this backdrop, Russias better equipped army has scaled up attacks along the front line and against energy facilities in the rear, putting further strain on Ukraine.

The Russian army continues to steadily advance in multiple areas. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian forces are pushing on the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, which Ukraine wrested back from Russia in the first year of the war. But the fiercest battles are around the besieged Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russian attacks on Ukraines power plants in November have resulted in some of the worst electricity shortages since the war began.
United Nations climate talks in Brazil have gone past their scheduled deadline as countries remain deeply divided over a proposed deal that contains no reference to phasing out fossil fuels.

Negotiators remained in closed-door meetings on Friday evening at the COP30 summit in the Brazilian city of Belem as they sought to bridge differences and deliver an agreement that includes concrete action to stem the climate crisis.

A draft proposal made public earlier in the day has drawn concern from climate activists and other experts because it did not contain any mention of fossil fuels  the main driver of climate change.

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This cannot be an agenda that divides us, COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago told delegates in a public plenary session before releasing them for further negotiations. We must reach an agreement between us.

The rift over the future of oil, gas and coal has underscored the difficulties of landing a consensus agreement at the annual UN conference, which serves as a test of global resolve to avert the worst impacts of global warming.

Many countries, especially oil-producing countries or countries that depend on fossil fuels  have stated that they do not want this mentioned in a final agreement, Al Jazeeras Monica Yanakiew reported from Rio de Janeiro on Friday afternoon.





Meanwhile, dozens of other countries have said they would not support any agreement that did not lay out a roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels, Yanakiew noted.

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So this is a big divisive point, she said, adding that another major issue at the climate conference has been financing the transition away from fossil fuels.

Developing countries  many of which are more susceptible to the effects of climate change, including more extreme weather events  have said they want richer nations to shoulder more of the financial burden of tackling the crisis.

So there is a lot being discussed  and negotiators say that this might likely continue throughout the weekend, Yanakiew said.

The deadlock comes as the UN Environment Programme warned ahead of COP30 that the world would very likely exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7-degree Fahrenheit) warming limit  an internationally agreed-upon target set under the Paris Agreement  within the next decade.

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Amnesty International also said in a recent report that the expansion of fossil fuel projects threatens at least two billion people  about one-quarter of the worlds population.





In a statement on Friday, Nafkote Dabi, the climate policy lead at Oxfam International, said it was unacceptable for any final agreement to exclude a plan to phase out fossil fuels.

A roadmap is essential, and it must be just, equitable, and backed by real support for the Global South, Dabi said.

Developed countries who grew wealthy on their fossil fuel-based economies must phase out first and fastest, while financing lowcarbon pathways for the Global South.
University of Oregon Professor Andrew Edmund Goble was arrested the morning of Nov. 21 in Eugene on 20 counts of encouraging child sex abuse.

Lane County Sheriff's Office stated detectives served a search warrant at his residence in south Eugene in the 1900 block of Dogwood Drive the morning of Nov. 20. The warrant came from Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, focusing on child exploitation.

He was taken into police custody on 10 counts of encouraging child sex abuse in the first degree and 10 counts of encouraging child sex abuse in the second degree. According to Oregon law, encouraging child sex abuse is defined as creating, publishing, disseminating, printing or selling sexually explicit content involving a child, which is child abuse. This material is known as child pornography or child sexual abuse material.

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Goble is the professor of history and medieval studies with an interest in Japanese history. UO stated it immediately placed him on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.

"We understand that this news is deeply concerning to our community," UO stated. "According to law enforcement, the individual does not present any current threat to the university community, and the investigation has found no indication that any students were involved or at risk. The university will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds."

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon professor jailed for child pornography
The US ambassador to Israel has described recent Israeli violence in the West Bank as terrorism after a Christian town was attacked.

Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Jewish expansion in the occupied territory, denounced thugs who had come there to create havoc.

The rare rebuke by a senior Trump administration official followed days of rolling violence in the West Bank, triggered in part by the Israeli security forces unusual decision to demolish a number of illegal outposts near Hebron. Israel has also stepped up air strikes in Gaza, having said its troops came under fire in the south of the enclave on Wednesday.

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Given a particularly violent olive-harvest season in the West Bank in recent weeks, some Israeli politicians have said that the state had lost control.

Masked youths appeared to respond by torching Palestinian homes and vehicles, including in Jaba, a village near Bethlehem.

The aftermath after a vehicle belonging to Palestinians was set on fire by Israeli settlers in the West Bank - Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu via Getty Images

A Palestinian man walks past graffiti that states in Hebrew Death to Arabs following an attack by Israeli settlers - Mahmoud Illean/AP

Taybeh, a prominent Palestinian Christian town, has also been attacked, prompting the intervention by Mr Huckabee, an ordained evangelical pastor.

Speaking to News Nation, he said: Israelis can carry out terrorism as well. But most of these people are not actual settlers who live there, he said.

This is a very small number, mostly of youth, angry and disaffected. These are thugs. Many of them dont even live in Judea and Samaria. They come into there to create havoc, he added, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name.

Mr Huckabee said: Israelis can carry out terrorism as well - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Many security analysts disagree that the perpetrators come from outside the West Bank.

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Instead, they point to a growing split between the mainstream settler community, who prefer to work with Israeli security personnel to improve their foothold in the territory, and an ultra-violent splinter group who are prepared to be violent towards the Israel Defense Forces and police if they try to stop them from attacking Palestinians.

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Mr Huckabee is arguably the most pro-Israeli ambassador the United States has sent to the country and he rarely voices criticism. However, earlier this year, he called for police to take action following another attack on Taybeh.

Some arrests have been made this week, but as yet no charges have been brought.

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On Tuesday, an Israeli citizen was killed and three others were injured following a car-ramming and stabbing attack carried out by two Palestinian assailants at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank.

A Palestinian woman speaks to journalists about the moment Israeli settlers tried to enter her house during an attack on the village of Jaba - Mahmoud Illean/AP

Donald Trump began his second term by lifting US sanctions on various settler ringleaders who had been identified as orchestrating violence towards Palestinians.

Activists accused him of giving the green light to increased attacks this year.

However, Mr Trump has disappointed the settler community by telling Israel not to annex the territory, fearing it would derail his peacebuilding efforts with Arab countries.

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In a potential threat to his Gaza deal, Qatar strongly condemned Israels air strikes in the Strip on Wednesday, which reportedly killed at least 25 people.

Further Israeli strikes took place in Gazas southern city of Khan Younis early on Thursday, killing five people, hospital officials told the Associated Press.

The strikes have been some of the deadliest since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October.

They took place after Israel said its troops came under fire near Khan Younis on Wednesday.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
The U.S. Air Force plans to put an experienced acquisition officer in charge of overseeing many of its most important  and, in some cases, most troubled  major programs, and award him a fourth star.

Lt. Gen. Dale White, the services military deputy for acquisition, technology and logistics, was nominated Tuesday to be promoted to general. An Air Force spokesperson said that White, if confirmed, will be assigned to be the direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapons systems, which will be a newly created position.

In that role, White will report directly to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg to ensure centralized oversight and accelerated delivery of major defense programs, the Air Force said in a statement.

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Those programs will include the F-47 family of systems, which includes a sixth-generation fighter to be built by Boeing and a fleet of drone wingmen known as collaborative combat aircraft.

White will also oversee the B-21 Raider stealth bomber family of systems, the LGM-35A Sentinel and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and the VC-25B presidential aircraft, commonly known as Air Force One.

By directing the execution of critical Air Force programs, this DRPM role will help streamline the acquisition process, enabling faster decision making and expediting the delivery of major systems  ensuring the Air Force remains at the forefront of modernization and readiness, the Air Force spokesperson said.

The Air Force said this move is part of its acquisition reform efforts to enhance efficiency, reduce redundancy and accelerate capabilities for our warfighters, and are meant to support Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths department-wide acquisition reforms.

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It also elevates efforts to get back on track the services troubled Sentinel and Air Force One programs, which have each brought an unflattering focus to the Air Forces acquisition efforts.

Boeing has been working on the new Air Force One program for the last decade, and was awarded a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract to convert two 747-8 aircraft into new presidential aircraft. But a series of setbacks has left the VC-25B program well behind schedule. Boeing was originally supposed to deliver the new Air Force Ones last year, but the aircraft now wont be ready until at least 2027 or perhaps 2029.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Boeings Air Force One delays, and earlier this year, accepted a 747 jet from Qatar that the Air Force will convert into a presidential jet. That aircraft is expected to go to Trumps presidential library after his term ends.

The Air Force confirmed that the work to convert the Qatar 747 into a presidential aircraft will also fall under Whites new portfolio.

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Northrop Grummans Sentinel, which will replace the nations arsenal of about 400 Cold War-era Minuteman III nuclear missiles, is also facing significant future cost overruns that caused the Pentagon to sound an alarm on the program in 2024.

This program was originally expected to cost $77.7 billion. But its projected future costs spiraled, with most of the growth coming from the necessity to build physical infrastructure across the Plains region, and the Pentagon realized it was on track to cost $160 billion.

The cost overruns triggered a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach, and the Pentagon began a major review of Sentinel to look for ways to restructure the program and bring its costs down.

But more problems have continued to emerge. For example, an assessment of the existing Minuteman III silos found they were not in good enough shape to reuse, which will force the Air Force to dig entirely new silos for Sentinel.

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And as Sentinel faces delays, the already half-century-old Minuteman III may need to keep operating until 2050, government auditors said in September.

White has served in the Air Force for more than 28 years and has extensive experience with acquisition programs. Before arriving at the Pentagon, he served for four years as a program executive officer for advanced aircraft, including fighters, at the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

He also worked on the B-21 Raider program from 2015 to 2018 as a program director in the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

And when Trump announced Boeing had been selected to build the F-47 in an Oval Office ceremony earlier this year, White stood alongside former Air Force Secretary Gen. David Allvin and Hegseth.

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White will have a small, highly specialized staff at the Pentagon to assist him, the Air Force said. But the current acquisition workforce supporting those major programs will remain in their present roles.

The Air Force said it will work with the Pentagon and Michael Duffey, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition and sustainment, to create Whites new office over the next few months.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Thursday that the slow arrival of the states bombshell redistricting decision has limited the Legislatures ability to appeal the ruling which overrode lawmakers authority over redistricting.

Its OK to disagree with logic of the case. I do very, very strongly. I think it was a mistake, Cox told the Deseret News. I disagree with the decision, but the timing plus the decision is what makes it so hard for justice to fairly play out.

On Nov. 10, 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson rejected a new congressional map drawn by legislators in favor of one drawn by nonprofit groups creating a Democratic-leaning district anchored in the northern portion of Salt Lake.

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Gibson said this was necessary to follow state law under Proposition 4, a 2018 ballot initiative that required congressional maps to meet a set of anti-gerrymandering criteria meant to encourage fair electoral boundaries.

Republican elected officials had attempted to redraw Utahs U.S. House districts to make them more competitive under Gibsons orders. They were subsequently angered by the very uncompetitive map selected by Gibson, an unelected judge.

When did Gibson deliver her decision?

State House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, immediately vowed to appeal the decision. But the GOP majority has so far been stumped on what to do next because Gibson delivered her decision at the last possible moment.

Gibsons ruling arrived less than 20 minutes before midnight on Nov. 10, the deadline given by Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson to ensure time to prepare Utahs election system before the candidate filing deadline in early January.

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This comes after the Utah Supreme Court took one year to rule that the Legislature had violated the state Constitution by amending Proposition 4, and after Gibson took two months longer than promised to rule on the states previous congressional maps, according to Schultz.

This astronomical timeline made it impossible for the Legislature to pursue a typical appeals process to the Utah Supreme Court, Schultz said. While the Legislature may pursue an emergency appeal, Schultz said this would prevent the case from being heard on the merits.

This judge structured this in a way to where it takes away the voice of the people and our judicial process in going and filing an appeal in a timely manner to the state Supreme Court, Schultz said. Were confident in our position, but the judge took that away from us by doing that.

Are criticisms of the court unfair?

Some have criticized the GOP supermajoritys verbal attacks on Gibson, saying they damage the judicial process. On Monday, court administrators highlighted an increase in threats toward court personnel which they said endangered the functioning of the justice system itself.

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Katharine Biele, the president of League of Women Voters of Utah  one of the plaintiffs in the redistricting case  said that such rulings are difficult and complex and require the judiciary to be both thoughtful and thorough.

We are thankful that Judge Gibson took the time to understand redistricting and how it complies with the state constitution, Biele said in a statement to the Deseret News. No one, and certainly not the governor should have wanted a hurried ruling without a sound foundation.

Cox, a former attorney who clerked for a U.S. District court judge, said that beyond disagreeing with the logic of the case, he believes that if Gibson had acted sooner, she could have followed the normal process outlined in Proposition 4 by asking the Legislature to redraw the map again if needed.

Schultz has framed Gibsons decision to run out the clock as purposeful, and some lawmakers have come out in favor of impeaching Gibson on grounds that she overstepped her authority by taking control of a legislative process when lawmakers were attempting to follow the law.

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Cox was hesitant to go so far, but said it was common practice for judges in high-profile cases, particularly those with political stakes, to make sure there is room for a full appeals process, which includes time to prepare arguments for a higher court.

The piece that Im struggling with  a lot of people are struggling with  is the timing, how long it took, Cox said. Ive worked for the judiciary, I clerked for a judge on a big decision like this. We always would have made a decision earlier to allow time for an appeal.
Venezuela's opposition leader will be considered a "fugitive" if she travels to Norway to collect her Nobel Peace Prize, the nation's attorney general has said.

Tarik William Saab told news agency AFP that Maria Corina Machado - who has been living in hiding to avoid arrest - was accused of "acts of conspiracy, incitement of hatred, and terrorism".

The 58-year-old was named as the prestigious prize's recipient in October, being praised for her efforts towards a "peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy".

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She has long denounced President Nicolas Maduro's government as "criminal" and called on Venezuelans to unite to depose it. Many nations view his rule as illegitimate.

Machado - who has long been one of the most respected voices in Venezuela's opposition - was barred from running in last year's presidential elections, in which Maduro won a third six-year term in office.

The elections were widely dismissed on the international stage as neither free nor fair, and sparked protests across the country.

Despite her barring, Machado was able to unite Venezuela's opposition behind her little-known surrogate on the ballot, Edmundo Gonzalez.

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The government-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner - even though tallies from polling stations showed that Gonzalez had won by a landslide.

Gonzalez later fled to Spain, fearing repression. This was followed by attempts to detain other opposition officials.

The Nobel Committee, when announcing the recipient of the prize at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, hailed Machado as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times".

Nobel chairman Jrgen Watne Frydnes said at the time he hoped Machado would be able to attend an award ceremony in Oslo on 10 December, but acknowledged the serious security situation she faced.

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Machado expressed shock at winning the prize, saying: "I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this."

She added that it was the "achievement of a whole society".

Machado has long been a staunch critic of President Nicolas Maduro (pictured) [Getty Images]

Among the leaders to congratulate her at the time was US President Donald Trump, who was also up for the award and whom tensions with Maduro's government have become increasingly strained.

Attorney General Saab also said Machado was under investigation for her support of the deployment of US military forces in the Caribbean.

The Trump administration has launched an operation targeting boats, mostly in the Caribbean, it accuses of transporting drugs from South America to the US. More than 80 people have been killed in the strikes, most of whom were Venezuelan.

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Trump has accused Maduro of being the leader of a drugs cartel, something the Venezuelan leader has denied.

Maduro has, in turn, accused Trump of trying to incite a war to gain control of Venezuela's oil reserves, but recently said he was willing to hold face-to-face talks with representatives of the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, Machado has been trying to encourage the Venezuelan military to switch sides and turn on Maduro, outlining her vision for a post-Maduro Venezuela in what she called a "freedom manifesto" in a video posted on Tuesday.

"We stand at the edge of a new era - one where our natural rights will prevail," she told viewers.

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It's the ultimate homecoming photo  a smiling family rushing to reunite with a U.S. Air Force officer in 1973 who spent years as a POW in North Vietnam, his oldest daughter sprinting ahead with her arms outstretched, both feet off the ground.

Burst of Joy, the iconic black-and-white image capturing the Stirm family at Travis Air Force Base in California, was published in newspapers throughout the nation. Taken by Associated Press photographer Sal Veder, it won a Pulitzer Prize and has continued to resonate through the years, a symbol of the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

On Veterans Day, retired Col. Robert Stirm, seen in the photo in uniform with his back to the camera, died at an assisted living facility in Fairfield, California, his daughter, Lorrie Stirm Kitching, confirmed Thursday. He was 92.

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It's right in my front foyer, Kitching, 68, of Mountain View, said of the photo. She was 15 when that moment of her running to hug her father was forever preserved.

"Just the feelings of that and the intensity of the feeling will never leave me," Kitching told the AP in an interview. "It is so deep in my heart, and the joy and the relief that we had our dad back again. It was just truly a very moving reunion for our family, and that feeling has never left me. It's the same feeling every time I see that picture.

And every day, how grateful I am that my father was one of the lucky ones and returned home, she added. "That was really a gift.

Stirm was shot down over North Vietnam

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Stirm, a decorated pilot, was serving with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron based in Thailand in 1967. During a bombing mission over North Vietnam that Oct. 27, his F-105 Thunderchief was hit and he was shot three times while parachuting. He was captured immediately upon landing.

He was held captive for 1,966 days in five different POW camps in Hanoi and North Vietnam, including the notorious Hanoi Hilton," known for torturing and starving its captives, primarily American pilots shot down during bombing raids. Its most famous prisoner was the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, who also was shot down in 1967.

McCain and Stirm had known each other. They shared a wall in solitary confinement and communicated through a tapping code.

John McCain tapped in this joke. First time Dad laughed in jail, Kitching said. I just wish I knew what that joke was, she said. I'm sure it was something very ribald.

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Photo represented heartbreak for Stirm

Stirm, who was 39 when the photo was taken, told the AP 20 years later that he had several copies of it, but didn't display it in his house. He had been handed a Dear John letter from his wife, Loretta, by a chaplain upon his release.

I have changed drastically  forced into a situation where I finally had to grow up, the letter read in part. Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we cant make it together  and it doesnt make sense to be unhappy when you can do something about it. Life is too short.

Stirm said the photo brought a lot of notoriety and publicity to me and, unfortunately, the legal situation that I was going to be faced with, and it was kind of unwelcomed.

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The couple divorced a year after Stirm returned from Vietnam and both remarried within six months.

They came together for weddings and other family events. Loretta Adams died in 2010, of cancer. She was 74.

It hurt really deeply, Kitching said. She told him she wanted to make the marriage work. But she was being up front and honest. So every story has two sides, and I know very well just how difficult it is to understand the two sides."

Stirm retired from the Air Force in 1977 after 25 years of service. He joined Ferry Steel Products, a business his grandfather started in San Francisco. He also had worked as a corporate pilot.

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This story has been corrected; Stirm was flying in a F-105 Thunderchief, not Thunderbird, when shot down.
Wakefield High School students joined other Wake County students and held a walkout amid the federal immigration crackdown centered around Charlotte, which resulted in hundreds of arrests.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 'Operation Charlotte's Web', which began over the weekend, is the latest phase of Republican President Donald Trump's aggressive mass deportation efforts. These efforts have sent military personnel and immigration agents into Democratic-run cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles.

Hundreds of students left the school building and walked toward the entrance, holding posters and signs condemning the actions of Border Patrol agents. Agents -- some heavily armed and using unmarked vehicles -- carried out arrests in and around Raleigh this week.

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Their presence has sparked fear among families, prompting some parents to keep their children home from school and not going to work for the remainder of the week.

Student organizers with Wakefield's Latino Union said attendance has been low at school.

"We just want to show awareness for our community, especially us, where our group, I want to say, is the most affected right now," Christopher Rivero Pantoja, a senior and Vice President of the Latino Student Union, said. "We have people whose parents are missing out on a whole week of working in this economy. You know, that's not something they can afford to do, let alone people who are living paycheck to paycheck, people who are working in our construction jobs, who are living off of the weekly pay."

Rivero Pantoja added that he is speaking out to provide a voice for those too afraid to speak for themselves

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"Most of our people here are first generation Americans. Our parents immigrated, however they did...I don't like to use the term 'illegal aliens.' We are all humans. We all should be. Even if we're here illegally, we here for a reason. Most of us are contributing towards our economy in our society," he said.

There was confusion over whether the North Carolina operation had ended. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden stated on Thursday that federal officials confirmed the operation had ended, but ICE agents would continue operating as they had in the past. However, a Homeland Security official insisted the arrests would not let up.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police posted on social media that they received "reliable information" that Border Patrol personnel involved in the operation had departed that morning. Another statement attributed to an unnamed Homeland Security spokesperson said that federal agencies "continue to target some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens as Operation Charlotte's Web progresses," and that about 370 people had been arrested over the past five days.

Wakefield High School's walkout was similar to efforts at Rolesville High School on Thursday, where students held a rally that was recorded and uploaded on social media, quickly spreading to others online.

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Students said they feel empowered and understand what it means to stand in solidarity with their classmates and community.

"We are here to become a voice for our community, for the people who can't be, " said Rivero Pantoja.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Weeklong operations across six West Bank brigades targeted terror cells, weapons manufacturing, and incitement, the IDF said.

IDF troops, operating with Shin Bet direction, arrested more than 60 wanted suspects across the West Bank this week, including 18 Hamas operatives, during a series of raids targeting terror cells and weapons trafficking hubs.

The arrests took place in multiple sectors, including in those of the Etzion, Judea, Binyamin, Menashe, Shomron, and Ephraim Brigades, as troops seized rifles, pistols, magazines, and explosives, and closed two workshops used to manufacture weapons.

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In the Etzion sector, forces carried out roughly 300 searches and 220 interrogations over three days, leading to the arrest of four suspects accused of planning attacks and eight others tied to weapons trafficking, the military said.

Troops also confiscated more than 15 vehicles allegedly purchased with terror funds.

In the northern West Bank, troops detained 18 wanted Hamas operatives and inciters, along with suspects linked to recent attacks.

IDF seizes weapons in West Bank raids, November 21, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Seized materiel included M16 and M4 rifles, pistols, a Carlo submachine gun, a gas grenade, magazines, and improvised charges.

In Binyamin, forces conducted four focused operations and arrested 17 additional suspects, including alleged arms dealers and Molotov cocktail throwers, while seizing an M4 rifle, a pistol, and other equipment. In Menashe, Yamam and West Bank undercover units arrested suspects advancing terror infrastructure, with further arrests in the village of Bartaa.

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In the southern West Bank, IDF troops with Israel Police located and seized two lathes used to manufacture weapons, two hunting rifles, and a Carlo firearm, arresting nine suspects. Forces in Ephraim conducted warning conversations and made additional arrests in Tulkarm and nearby villages. All detainees and seized items were transferred to the Israel Police and the Shin Bet for further investigation.

In Kafr Akab in east Jerusalem, Israel Border Police officers from the counterterrorism Yamas unit killed two Palestinians and injured two others during a Thursday night operation against individuals attempting to harm security personnel.

A recent rise in IDF counterterrorism activity in the West Bank

The raids followed a sustained uptick in West Bank counterterrorism activity this month, including operations that thwarted imminent plots and dismantled cells, according to recent reporting.

In recent days, the IDF said it killed an assailant in Nablus and arrested additional suspects in overnight raids, while other operations netted dozens of arrests and exposed networks preparing attacks.

The IDF has said these campaigns aim to preempt escalation by degrading weapons production and arresting organizers before attacks are carried out, with a particular focus on Hamas-linked infrastructure in the West Bank.
Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A New Jersey family whose kitten escaped through an open window were reunited with their beloved pet 10 years later thanks to a microchip.

The Montclair Township Animal Shelter said on social media that a stray cat was brought in by a member of the public recently and officials scanned the feline for a microchip.

The microchip identified the feline and Asa, and a call to her owners revealed she had been missing for an entire decade.

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"Ten years ago, a family adopted two kittens from a shelter. Not long after, one of them slipped out through a window and disappeared," the post said. "This family looked and looked and looked. They posted flyers, contacted every shelter, talked to neighbors -- they did everything right."

The shelter shared a photo from the happy reunion.

"Microchips matter. Microchips work. And sometimes, they bring a lost family member home -- no matter how much time has passed," officials wrote.
(Reuters) -The White House has asked for the resignation of top aide to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, Politico reported on Friday, citing administration officials.

Makary had sought to promote Sanjula Jain-Nagpal, a policy and research staffer at the FDA, which the White House had not yet approved, the report said.

Instead, the White House emailed leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday asking for her resignation, Politico reported.

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Makary pushed back on the request to force Jain-Nagpal out of the agency, officials told Politico.

She is an employee at the FDA, and that has not changed, an HHS spokesperson told Reuters.

The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Jain-Nagpal was appointed in April to serve as the associate director of policy and research strategy in the FDA's office of the commissioner. She was a professor at Johns Hopkins University and is frequently seen on Makary's "FDA Direct" podcast.

The development comes amid rising tensions between Makary and leadership at HHS and the White House in recent weeks. There have been other controversies involving staff Makary brought into the agency, according to media reports.

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Trump administration officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have also discussed scaling back the role of Makary, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

The FDA recently appointed the agency's veteran oncology chief Richard Pazdur to oversee the department that reviews new medicines, replacing George Tidmarsh, who resigned earlier this month amid serious concerns about his personal conduct.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)
The Woodburn City Council declared a state of emergency Nov. 21 in response to the impact of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the region.

The largest immigration operation in the state since President Donald Trump took office happened in Woodburn in October, when ICE arrested at least 35 people. Advocates estimated more than 80 people had been detained in Woodburn by the end of October.

The move by the city council comes after residents and local organizations called on city leaders to do more in response to the increase in ICE activity and after the Statesman Journal published a story detailing residents' fears and the impact on businesses.

Flyers displayed at several downtown Woodburn businesses give instructions on what to do if you see ICE.

"Its outrageous that masked agents, many who are unidentified as agents, are sweeping people off our streets, leaving families, children and employers in fear and complete limbo, Mayor Frank Lonergan said in a statement.

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Residents and business owners described downtown Woodburn as a "ghost town" in the wake of the arrests. Officials estimated 50% to 80% fewer people were walking around the city's center.

An estimated 63% of the city's population is Hispanic, and 31% of the population was born outside the United States.

The city council voted Nov. 10 to suspend the use of Flock safety cameras for 60 days in response to concerns that the system could be used for ICE operations.

In its statement announcing the emergency declaration, the city said it heard from community members and partners about widespread fear and a "measured decline" in people going to work, attending school and willing to report crime.

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"The current crisis also further strains local food banks and other nonprofit service providers," the statement said.

Reyna Lopez, executive director of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, the farmworker union based in Woodburn, said the declaration was a good step for the community, businesses and organizations. She described the past month as one of terror and trauma.

The resolution declares a local state of emergency "due to the economic and humanitarian crisis" and authorizes the Woodburn City Administrator to direct $30,000 toward mitigating the impacts of ICE actions.

It also requests emergency assistance from the state, including relief for affected families and small businesses, expanded access to food, housing, and mental health services, support for local providers responding to increased demand, and coordination with agencies to ensure compliance with the state's sanctuary laws.

Downtown Woodburn businesses have seen a decrease in customers after at least 35 people were arrested by ICE agents on Oct. 30.

The resolution also calls on Oregon's congressional delegation to publicly denounce "all unconstitutional actions" and demand immediate oversight and transparency from federal immigration enforcement agencies.

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I want people to understand that its not just undocumented farmworkers that are being impacted, but American citizens. Citizens who are afraid to do business and go to work out of fear of being targeted by federal agents because of the color of their skin alone, added City Councilor Mark Wilk. Not only does racial profiling set our country back decades, it undermines the legitimacy of all law enforcement as well as our local economy. The erosion of civil liberties affects everyone.

Woodburn City Council President Sharon Schaub said the impact breaks her heart.

"It is imperative that we treat people with dignity and respect and honor the civil rights of all people," Schaub said. "We cannot overlook these core American values in our own community.

Lopez said the community wants to see their local governments step up and do what they can to help mitigate harm.

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"This is really going to provide people some peace of mind that their city government is listening, they're watching, and they're going to do something to support families in this difficult time," she said.

Woodburn joins Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Cornelius and Washington County in passing emergency ordinances in response to an increase in ICE activity in the state.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Woodburn declares state of emergency in wake of ICE enforcement
Japanese local authorities approved the restart of the world's biggest nuclear plant on Friday for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of Niigata province where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is located, told a news conference he "would approve" the resumption, which will need final permission by Japan's nuclear regulator.

The plant was taken offline when Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.

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However, the resource-poor nation now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its heavy dependence on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.

Fourteen reactors, mostly in western and southern regions, have resumed operation since the post-Fukushima shutdown after strict safety standards were imposed.

The 400-hectare (1,000-acre) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant on the Sea of Japan coast facing the Korean peninsula would be the first restart for Fukushima operator Tepco since the disaster.

The huge facility in central Japan has been fitted out with a 15-metre (50-foot) wall in case of tsunamis, new power backup systems on higher ground and other measures.

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Before the 2011 quake and tsunami, which killed around 18,000 people, nuclear power generated about a third of Japan's electricity, with fossil fuels contributing most of the rest.

Power company Kansai Electric said in July it was taking an initial step towards building the nation's first new nuclear reactor since the Fukushima disaster.

Japan is the world's fifth-largest single-country emitter of carbon dioxide, after China, the United States, India and Russia, and is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.

Nearly 70 percent of Japan's power needs in 2023 were met by power plants burning coal, gas and oil -- a figure Tokyo wants to slash to 30-40 percent over the next 15 years.

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Almost all these fossil fuels must be imported, at a cost of around $500 million per day.

Japan passed a law in June allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years to compensate for stoppages caused by "unforeseeable circumstances".

It aims to make renewables its top power source by 2040.

Under the plan, nuclear power will account for around 20 percent of Japan's energy supply by 2040 -- up from 5.6 percent in 2022.

kh-aph/pbt
People enter the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church on Martin Road before Sunday service in Duluth, Minn. on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune)

This story was first published by ProPublica in collaboration with the Star Tribune. It contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse.

The girl pleaded not to go.

She fought with her father on the drive over, screaming and crying in his truck until they arrived at the office building for Bruckelmyer Brothers, a home construction company on the outskirts of Duluth, Minnesota. She was just entering her first years of grade school.

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In the office, two men were waiting. One of them was Clint Massie, who the girl had recently told her parents had touched her genitals and groped her under her shirt. The other was Daryl Bruckelmyer, a preacher and leader of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church down the road, where the girls family worshipped. Massie was a respected member of the congregation. Bruckelmyer had asked them all to the meeting, according to the girls account to police years later.

In front of the girl, her father and Bruckelmyer, Massie asked her for forgiveness. Looming over her, the three men wept. Then the girls dad and preacher allowed the man who had been sexually abusing her since kindergarten to hug her.

It was one of the worst things ever, she told police some 15 years later.

In accordance with one of the core tenets of their church, the matter was resolved. It was forgiven. It should now be forgotten. If she spoke of it again, she would be guilty of having an unforgiving heart and the sins would become hers.

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But she could never forget. And neither could the other children.

Over the course of about 20 years in two states, Massie had, according to court documents and by his own admission, sexually abused children within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, or OALC, community. He touched girls under blankets when their parents were present, in the backseat of a car with other passengers  even in the pews at church. His abuse was such an open secret among the tight-knit congregation that mothers warned their daughters to stay away from him.

Some former victims, as adults, confronted preachers, including Bruckelmyer, about what Massie had done to them. Church leaders told Massie to stay away from the congregations children, and they sent him to a therapist who specialized in sex offender treatment.

But they never reported Massies crimes to police, as required by the law. Instead, Bruckelmyer and other leaders in the church encouraged the victims to take part in forgiveness sessions  which allowed Massie, now 50, to continue abusing children, according to an investigation by the Minnesota Star Tribune and ProPublica.

Clint Massie in a March booking photo. Over the course of about 20 years in two states, Massie had, according to court documents and by his own admission, sexually abused children within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church community. (St. Louis County)

Massie did not respond to requests for comment but has denied abuse allegations relating to some individual victims in pending lawsuits. In December 2024, he pleaded guilty to four counts of felony criminal sexual conduct with victims under the age of 13. In March, a judge sentenced him to 7 1/2 years in prison. Church officials, including Bruckelmyer, were not charged in connection with Massies crime, but prosecutors said they should have done more to stop him.

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It gives the appearance of a group of people who are not just trying to protect someone  but something, Mike Ryan, the St. Louis County assistant district attorney who prosecuted Massie, said at his sentencing. And they have enabled something awful here.

Law enforcement there first became aware of the allegations against Massie in 2017. They said that the churchs lack of cooperation  including pressuring potential witnesses and victims to stay quiet about the abuse and preachers failing to report it to authorities  was a major factor in the delay in bringing charges.

Bruckelmyer declined to comment or to answer a detailed list of questions. But in a 2023 interview with a St. Louis County detective, he acknowledged knowing about Massies sexual abuse and didnt dispute that he took part in forgiveness sessions involving Massie and his victims.

He said it was up to the victims to report the crimes to police, a clear misreading of the law for mandated reporters  doctors, teachers and others who are required to report crimes against children.

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We dont protect either one, Bruckelmyer said of sexual abusers and their victims.

Bruckelmyer also told police his actions followed church protocol. An internal church document, obtained by the Star Tribune and ProPublica, suggests that, when appropriate, church leaders and others facilitate a conversation with both parties together  an action that experts who work with abuse victims say can add to a victims trauma. While the document praises the police and the justice system, it doesnt mention mandatory reporting laws and gives preachers wide latitude on whether to involve police.

An internal church document outlining guidelines for handling abuse includes bringing both parties together for a discussion. (Obtained by the Star Tribune and ProPublica. Highlighted by ProPublica.)

Kimberly Lowe, a lawyer and crisis manager for the church, said its preachers are unpaid and therefore might not be legally required to report sexual abuse of children. Asked if she believes the preachers are mandated reporters under Minnesota law, Lowe would only say that the language of the statute is unclear.

Bruckelmyers church, Woodland Park, is one of two OALC congregations north of Duluth, in the bluff region above Lake Superior. Some members live nearby, in a rural, forest-lined community. Members are not obviously identifiable by their clothing  they dress modestly but modernly, in muted colors and long skirts. Women do not wear makeup, jewelry or open-toed shoes and they keep their hair up in a bun, giving rise to the nickname bunners. According to church literature, members are to live simple, modest lives like Jesus did; television, music and dancing are seen as sinful, according to former members.

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On a recent Sunday, the modern, unadorned sanctuary of the Woodland Park church, which seats 1,000, was full of families, parents soothing babbling and crying infants, older children clutching baggies of candy or toy cars.

At the close of the sermon, the preacher asked the entire congregation for forgiveness, which kicked off movements  a portion of the service when congregants embraced and begged one another for forgiveness for various sins, frequently in tears.

OALC is a conservative Christian revival movement that came to the U.S. with 19th-century settlers from Norway, Finland and Sweden, and it is not affiliated with any mainstream Lutheran denominations. There is no official count, but one academic study estimated 31,000 members worldwide as of 2016, with most in the United States. The church is rapidly growing, experts say, and the member count today is likely much higher. OALCs emphasis on large families has created booms in places like Washington state and Duluth.

There are 33 OALC churches in the U.S. and Canada. Only men hold leadership positions. The less formal nature of OALC structure  a spokesperson said theres no headquarters in the U.S.  means that, unlike sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church or Southern Baptist Convention, theres no central authority to hold accountable. Still, news of the criminal case against Massie spread widely in the insular OALC, inspiring more victims to come forward in Minnesota and other states.

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St. Louis County investigators say they have been contacted by current and former church members in South Dakota and Washington who allege they were victims of sexual abuse that was never reported to law enforcement. The Star Tribune and ProPublica have interviewed more than a dozen alleged victims of Massie and of other church members in Wyoming, Maryland and Michigan.

By forgiving men like Massie, prosecutors and police said, preachers created a situation where the alleged victims had to worship next to their alleged abusers  and allowed Massie to escape arrest and prosecution for years.

He was so brazen about it  and there was so little done about it  that he thought it was permission, Ryan said.

The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church on Martin Road in Duluth, Minn. seen on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Photo by Amanda Anderson/Star Tribune)

Church knows

For the girl who said she was pressured to forgive Massie at Bruckelmyers office, the silence that followed only compounded her trauma. She reported struggling with debilitating anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder in her teens. She grew tense every time she walked into the church, especially when she saw Massie holding another little girl.

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I lived in darkness for so many years of my life because I couldnt talk about it, the girl said in a recorded interview with police. Multiple times in my life I wanted to die.

When she was 16 and in counseling, she told her therapist how Massie had abused her. The therapist reported it to the police, which is how the St. Louis County Sheriffs Office in Duluth first learned about Massie in summer 2017.

Sgt. Jessica LaBore was the investigator assigned to the case. In a recorded interview, the girl reluctantly told LaBore how she used to sit with Massie and his wife, Sarah, at church, just a few rows from the front. Massie would snake his hands up her skirt and touch her thighs and genitals. Another time, at a gathering at the home of her parents friends, she said, Massie told her to get a blanket and began touching her underneath it, with her mom and dad nearby.

She told LaBore that shed reported the abuse to a preacher, Calvin Raisanen, and that her mother had spoken to Bruckelmyer about it, according to police documents and a recording of the interview obtained through a public records request. Raisanen did not respond to requests for comment. In her own conversation with LaBore, the girls mother confirmed that Massie had asked forgiveness from her husband and daughter years ago.

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Like some victims in the records from Massies case, she declined to speak to reporters for this story and is not being identified because the news organizations typically dont name victims of sex crimes without their consent.

In an email to reporters, she wrote that she is still a member of the church and feels supported by its community: I truly believe Im in the right place.

St. Louis Countys case against Massie cites victims descriptions of the churchs forgive and forget practice. (Obtained by the Star Tribune and ProPublica. Highlighted by ProPublica.)

When LaBore interviewed Massie, he confirmed some important details about the allegations: Bruckelmyer was aware that several girls had accused Massie of sexual abuse. And he remembered asking for forgiveness at his preachers business office.

LaBore did not respond to requests for comment, but police reports show that the girls family stopped cooperating with the investigation. The mother told her that preachers at the church had spoken to Massie and that hed learned his lesson, though the mother believed that Massie had continued to sexually assault children after this point, according to LaBores notes.

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LaBore referred the case for charges to Deputy St. Louis County Attorney Jon Holets. In a statement to the Star Tribune and ProPublica, Holets said he also spoke to the victims mother, who informed him that there had been therapeutic intervention, that they were good and that her daughter did not want anything more to be done. Without the girls cooperation, Holets said he decided he could not bring charges against Massie, an outcome he said gives him heartache to this day.

Three years later, Massie again came to the attention of the sheriffs office. Two crime-reporting hotlines received anonymous tips saying Massie had sexually assaulted little girls over the course of three decades. Church knows but no action, reads a police summary of one of the tips.

This time, LaBore went to Bruckelmyer. According to her notes, Bruckelmyer said the church encourages abuse victims to go to police, but he told her he believed it was on them to do that.

LaBore explained the states mandated reporting law to Bruckelmyer and told him that he and others at the church could be charged criminally if somebody that they already know about were to keep abusing children and they failed to report it.

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We are finding out from our investigations that these Mandated Reports are not being made, and instead, these incidents are being dealt with within the church, she wrote in a departmental memo to update other detectives. Sometimes the preachers are facilitating in the asking for forgiveness.

For the second time, Holets decided not to bring charges, though this time it was about church preachers rather than Massie. In a statement to reporters, Holets said law enforcement decided to try to educate church leaders about their legal responsibility to report the sexual abuse of children.

I believed it was more effective to work with existing leadership to influence practices and attitudes regarding child abuse reporting, rather than to pursue criminal enforcement at that stage, Holets wrote. That said, criminal charges for failure to report remain a possibility in such cases.

When LaBore spoke to Bruckelmyer, she read him the entire mandated reporter law over the phone, line by line, then texted it to him.

Haunted by silence

In 2023, a call to police breathed new life into the case.

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A woman told police that shed been sexually abused repeatedly as a kid. Her abuser was a relative: Clint Massie.

The case landed on the desk of Sgt. Adam Kleffman of the St. Louis County Sheriffs Office. He interviewed the victim and listened to the different ways the woman said Massie sexually abused her: the nights when she slept over after helping tend to his horses, the day when she rode a tractor with him, or swam with him and other members of her family at the lake.

Her mom had reported Massie to a preacher when she was a child, she told Kleffman. At the time, the preacher promised to handle it, she said, and told her mother never to speak of it again, not even to her husband. Later, she went through a session with Bruckelmyer, similar to the other girl, where she was pressured to forgive Massie and forget the abuse.

As an adult, she was alarmed to see Massie in church, hugging and kissing children about the same age she was when the abuse began, which is why shed felt a duty to report it all these years later, she said.

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I went back to the same preacher, which is Daryl [Bruckelmyer], and said, Why is he still able to hold kids and whatever? she recalled to Kleffman in a recorded interview. And hes like: I dont know. Like, weve told him that hes not supposed to, but he still does.

Kleffman picked up where LaBore left off and contacted the girl who spoke to their office in 2017. She was now in her early 20s, married, a new mom living in Washington state. In a recorded conversation, she told Kleffman that the trauma  and in particular, the mandate that she remain silent about it  still haunted her.

Though the woman had tried to put time and distance between herself and Massie, Massies wife, Sarah, had asked for a meeting about a year earlier when the woman returned to Duluth for a visit. At a Starbucks, she said, Sarah Massie told her that the abuse was no big deal and she needed to forget about what happened. The conversation, the woman said, was horrible.

Sarah Massie declined to comment for this story.

The woman agreed to be part of the police investigation but told Kleffman that she had little faith it would go anywhere. It did not, after all, go anywhere last time.

I can tell you, Kleffman said, you should have lots of faith in me.

The investigator now had two victims. They gave him the names of others they suspected had also been abused by Massie. Kleffman tried to contact them, but some were reluctant to cooperate. One woman told Kleffman that Massie had asked for forgiveness. The sin, she said in the recorded call, was washed away in the blood of reconciliation.

It is gone forever, she told Kleffman.

So youre following what the church says to do, Kleffman replied.

I am following what God says to do, the woman told him, before hanging up.

Sgt. Adam Kleffman of the St. Louis County Sheriffs office works inside his office at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth, Minn. on Friday, July 18, 2025. Kleffman was the investigator on the Clint Massie case. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune)

There could be hundreds

On Feb. 10, 2023, Massie sat opposite Kleffman and Investigator Tony McTavish in a beige, windowless room at the sheriffs office in Duluth. In a video of the interrogation, Massie downplayed the allegations as a series of accidents and misunderstandings. But as the 90-minute interrogation progressed, his demeanor shifted. He admitted hed felt a tinge of a sick, perverted thing when, he claimed, one very young girl had pulled his hand to her vagina before he realized what was happening.

Im a lustful man, sure, he said, but he denied he touched girls on purpose. Strike me dead right now if Im lying to you. I was not trying to touch her sexually.

I call bullshit on that, Kleffman said.

Massie told Kleffman and McTavish that Bruckelmyer had spoken to him at least three times about inappropriate behavior with children. The investigators asked how many more girls might come forward with stories about him touching or kissing them.

I mean, there could be hundreds, Massie said.

Five days later, Bruckelmyer walked into the same interview room with Raisanen, another preacher at the church.

Bruckelmyer, now 68, is described as a kind but domineering force in the church, a father of at least 12 who worked in construction.

Unlike in other branches of Christianity, OALC preachers like Bruckelmyer do not attend traditional seminaries or receive formal training before assuming their leadership roles. Instead, according to a church spokesperson, they are selected by the congregation.

Their advice is seen as coming directly from God, according to several former church members.

In a video recording of the police interview, Bruckelmyer and Raisanen joked quietly with one another before Kleffman and Sgt. Eric Sathers, another investigator, entered the room.

Do you know what the mandated reporting laws are in the state of Minnesota? Kleffman asked.

We have looked at them some, but its hard for us to interpret everything, Bruckelmyer replied.

Have you ever been told about them? the officer asked.

No, Bruckelmyer said.

Kleffman said he knew that wasnt true and brought up the 2020 call with LaBore. I just listened to the audio recording, and it was line-for-line. You said you understood what they were, Kleffman said.

We felt, unless its changed, that as a part of the church that we keep silent, Bruckelmyer said.

Kleffman and Sathers explained that if someone like Massie confessed to Bruckelmyer one-on-one, that would constitute a protected conversation with clergy. But hearing directly from the victims, from parents of victims or about abuse allegations in a group setting was another matter entirely.

Bruckelmyer and Raisanen claimed ignorance of the legal distinction and thanked the officers for the clarification. Bruckelmyer asked what became of the 2017 investigation into Massie. I mean, it should have been taken care of then, you know? the preacher said. Its like, what happened?

Kleffman reminded him that a decade before that, the girls parents had come forward to Bruckelmyer and was told to forgive Massie.

Nothing was done by you, Kleffman said. So in that meantime, she is not being protected while Clint is still scot-free doing what hes been doing for 15 years.

I see, Bruckelmyer said quietly.

Youre just keeping a pedophile in your church, Kleffman said.

Both Bruckelmyer and Raisanen confirmed theyd known about the girl from the 2017 report, and Bruckelmyer said he knew of two others as well. He expressed his eagerness to cooperate with law enforcement moving forward but denied knowledge of any other victims beyond the three.

Bruckelmyer and Raisanen left the St. Louis County Sheriffs Department office without facing any consequences. John Hiivala, a spokesperson for the Woodland Park Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, said that the church has fully complied with the law in the referenced case, and its a matter of legal record. Hiivala declined to comment further.

By the time prosecutors brought the case against Massie, the three-year statute of limitations had run out on charging Bruckelmyer with failure to report.

Kyla Chamberlin, who flew in from North Dakota for the sentencing, prepares to walk into the St. Louis County Courthouse on the day of Clint Massies sentencing hearing in Duluth, Minn. on Thursday, March 27, 2025. I feel a sense of justice for the first time in 30 years, Chamberlin said afterwards. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune)

Reckoning

On the day of Massies sentencing in March 2025, Kleffman walked Kyla Chamberlin to the front row of the high-ceilinged courtroom. The opposite side of the courtroom quickly filled with at least a dozen Massie supporters, including his wife, Sarah.

Chamberlin had flown in from North Dakota alone. Of the nine alleged victims prosecutors identified from the case, she was the only one to attend the sentencing in person. As she waited, she was shaking. She didnt want to look back, particularly at Sarah Massie, whom shed adored as a child. She said she could feel the eyes of her former church community on her, people shed once trusted and loved.

A former EMT and mother of three, Chamberlin had grown up in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the 1990s. Clint and Sarah Massie lived nearby and opened their home to Chamberlin and her four siblings. Her parents sometimes asked Clint, starting in his late teens, to babysit.

The sexual abuse began around the time Chamberlin was 7 years old, she told police. In interviews with Kleffman, she described a remarkably similar pattern of abuse as the two Duluth victims.

After the Massies moved to Duluth in the early 2000s, Chamberlins parents say she went from meek and sweet to being filled with an inexplicable anger. She rebelled, she drank. The close-knit family began to fray. She and one of her older sisters, Kristi Bertolotto, stopped speaking to each other.

Ive lost a lot of friendships, a lot of relationships, divorces, anger management  didnt understand why I was so mad, Chamberlin said.

Kyla Chamberlin gets emotional while sitting in a bar in Watford City, North Dakota on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Chamberlin says she is still dealing with the aftermath of her sexual abuse by Clint Massie decades later. My family watched me go through quite a bit of emotional, mental health problems, and never knew why, Chamberlin said. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune)

She stopped attending church in 2010 and, in response, her parents made it clear that she was no longer welcome at family and holiday functions, a painful and common experience described by several former church members.

Its like you dont even think for yourself, Janie Williamson, Chamberlins mother, said in an interview. To turn against your own children because of some of those things is  its awful.

After St. Louis County announced charges against Massie, Kleffman began receiving calls from alleged victims all over the country. One of those was from Chamberlin. Months later, Kleffman realized that one of the other victims he interviewed was Chamberlins older sister, Bertolotto.

Neither of them knew what had happened to the other. Neither knew the other sister had come forward. Both women agreed to be named in this story.

Court filings listed nine alleged victims, but only three of the cases resulted in charges of felony sexual conduct with a victim under the age of 13. The statute of limitations under South Dakota law had run out for Bertolotto and Chamberlin. And the girl whod been pressured to forgive Massie in Bruckelmyers office hadnt had her case charged either; under Minnesota law, too much time had passed between her initial report in 2017 and the prosecution.

Nevertheless, six of the alleged victims whose cases didnt result in charges were still part of the case, and some of the women traveled to Duluth in December 2024 to testify at Massies trial. Just after jury selection, Massie agreed to plead guilty to four felony counts. One charge was dropped.

Four months later, at his sentencing, Massie looked pale and paunchy in an orange jumpsuit, his hands and feet shackled. His attorney, citing Massies lack of a criminal record, asked that he receive no prison time and be allowed to seek treatment and receive probation that he could serve at home. Massie apologized to his victims and their families.

I beg for their forgiveness, for the damage and hurt that Ive caused them over the years, he said in a quavering voice. I feel responsible for the horrible acts to these children.

But Judge Eric Hylden noted that since Massie had pleaded guilty, hed never tried to enroll in sex-offender treatment or written apology letters to his victims. Hylden also quoted aloud from one of 17 letters of support for Massie, many from OALC members, which he said demonstrated that some in Massies community still did not believe hed done anything wrong: I wish you find ones that have actually done these things and get them put away rather than putting your energy into lying and seeking evil where there is none to be found.

The judge sentenced Massie to 7 1/2 years in prison.

Afterward, in the witness room a floor higher in the courthouse, Chamberlin met Ryan, the assistant district attorney, and Kleffman  the two men she credited with putting Massie in prison 30 years after hed abused her. The three exchanged hugs.

I feel a sense of justice for the first time in 30 years, Chamberlin said.

Kyla Chamberlin looks out on Lake Superior from the top of the Radisson Hotel Duluth-Harborview following Clint Massies sentencing hearing in Duluth, Minn. on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Massie, 50, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune)

At the same time, none of them felt completely satisfied that the problem began and ended with Massie  that church leaders had not been held accountable.

Ryan said that hed struggled as he prepared to go to trial with keeping several of the women from succumbing to what he called a constant effort by members of the church to try to get these girls to either tone down their position on it or just to not cooperate. One alleged victim, he said, had dropped out weeks before trial.

Chamberlin and her sister have retained the same lawyer who represented some of the victims in the Jeffrey Epstein case. He has filed lawsuits on their behalf against Massie, their church in South Dakota and the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church of America.

In a letter written from prison that was filed in court, Massie denied both sisters allegations. The OALC, in a motion to dismiss both lawsuits, wrote that while OALC-America is mindful and sympathetic to Plaintiff for the abuse Plaintiff alleges occurred by Massie, such empathy does not take away from the plain fact that this Court does not have personal jurisdiction over OALC-America.

Chamberlin and Bertolottos family has left the church. They are now navigating a delicate reconciliation, which Chamberlin credits to the abuse finally coming to light.

Chamberlin said she hoped to have a role encouraging other victims to come forward before the secrecy consumes their lives the way it had consumed hers.

Theres a lot more to be done, she said. Theres a lot of Clints out there.

Christa Lawler of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed reporting. Mariam Elba of ProPublica contributed research.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to work with the US on "their vision" for ending the war with Russia.

Under the widely leaked plan, Kyiv would cede significant areas of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine that it still controls, cut the size of its army, and pledge not to join Nato - proposals it has previously ruled out.

The White House has pushed back on claims that Ukraine was not involved in the drafting of the plan, which emerged following meetings between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and and Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev.

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Provisions in the draft plan come across as heavily slanted towards Moscow - and it received a carefully diplomatic response from Kyiv.

Ukraine has relied heavily on US military support since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, but President Donald Trump has shifted the US position so that further aid is funded by its Nato allies and securing a peace deal has become a priority.

The draft Witkoff-Dmitriev plan emerged as Russia claimed small territorial gains in eastern Ukraine and Zelensky faced a domestic crisis implicating top officials in a $100m (76) million corruption scandal.

In his nightly address, the Ukrainian leader said US military officials in Kyiv had "presented its proposals, the points of a plan to end the war - their vision".

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"From the first days of the war, we have upheld one very simple position: Ukraine needs peace. A real peace - one that will not be broken by a third invasion."

Kyiv and its European allies have long supported the idea of a "just and lasting" peace that would ensure no more of Ukraine is taken by Russia. Moscow has already annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula as well as four regions it partly occupies through the current, full-scale invasion.

However, European leaders have been left out of the US-Russia plan and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said from his perspective it was not yet a fully fledged plan but rather "a list of topics and options", citing remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The leaked draft proposes limiting Ukraine's military limited to 600,000 personnel, with European fighter jets stationed in neighbouring Poland.

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Kyiv would receive "reliable security guarantees", although details are not given. "It is expected" that Russia will not invade its neighbours and that Nato will not expand further.

The draft also suggests Russia will be "reintegrated into the global economy", through the lifting of sanctions and by inviting Russia to rejoin the G7 group of the world's most powerful countries - making it the G8 again.

Zelensky said he was set to speak to Trump in the coming days about the proposals, which also include plans for Ukraine to forgo many of its weapons.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected suggestions that the proposals would constitute major concessions from Ukraine - and that Ukraine had been frozen out, saying the US had engaged "equally with both sides".

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Witkoff and Rubio had been working on a proposal quietly for about a month, and had engaged both sides "to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace", she said.

"It's a good plan for both," Leavitt added, without providing further details. "We believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done."

An unnamed senior US official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that the plan "was drawn up immediately following discussions with one of the most senior members of President Zelensky's administration, Rustem Umerov, who agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and presented it to President Zelensky".

One Ukrainian MP told the BBC that Kyiv had not been involved in initial discussions, but brought in later on.

Zelensky's office said the US believed the draft plan could "help reinvigorate diplomacy" [Getty Images]

Zelensky's office issued a carefully worded statement earlier on Thursday, saying the plan "in the American side's assessment, could help reinvigorate diplomacy".

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In August Trump came away from a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska empty-handed. The US president became increasingly frustrated with negotiations with Moscow, culminating in Trump imposing fresh sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil producers which come into force on Friday.

Zelensky has been careful not to publicly criticise or reject the plan, saying he "appreciated the efforts of President Trump and his team to return security to Europe"  perhaps a way to keep the US president onside despite his administration's apparent soft approach to Russia.

But he stressed that Ukraine needs a "worthy peace," and that the "dignity of the Ukrainian people" must be respected.

The statement came after a meeting in Kyiv on Thursday between Zelensky and senior US military figures, including US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, army chief of staff Gen Randy George and top US army commander in Europe Gen Chris Donahue.

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When asked if Europe was involved in the process of drafting the plan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "Not that I know of."

She added: "For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans onboard."

Ukraine's European allies have now had to take on much of the funding for Kyiv's military and financial aid, and countries including the UK and France have offered to provide forces to ensure any peace holds.

Moscow, meanwhile, has downplayed the significance of the 28-point plan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that, while there had been "contacts" with the US, there was "no process that could be called 'consultations'".

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Peskov warned that any peace deal would have to address the "root causes of the conflict" - a phrase Moscow has used as shorthand for a series of maximalist demands which, to Ukraine, are tantamount to surrender.

Since starting his second term earlier this year, Trump has launched into various initiatives aimed at ending the war in Ukraine including several visits by his envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, and rounds of talks with Zelensky and other Western leaders.

But as the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears, the two sides remain deeply at odds over how to end the conflict.

While Ukraine has become adept at targeting Russian military infrastructure and energy facilities with long-range drones, Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian targets continue unabated.

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Late on Thursday, a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least five people, according to the regional governor. Hours later, Russia's defence ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed 33 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions.

Earlier this week, at least 26 people were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on blocks of flats in Ukraine's western city of Ternopil. Another 17 people were still missing at the site on Thursday, Zelensky said.

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Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his people that the country "may soon face an extremely difficult choice" in response to the peace plan put forward by the President Donald Trump administration.

"Either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner. Either 28 complicated points or the hardest winter yet -- and the risks that follow," the Kyiv Independent reported Zelensky said on Telegram.

The speech came just one day after U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll delivered the plan to Zelensky, who said he is willing to negotiate with Trump.

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The president on Thursday indicated that he is giving Ukraine until Thanksgiving to accept the plan. He said on Fox News Radio's Brian Kilmeade Show, "Well, we have, you know, I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines," Trump to a question about the deadline. "But Thursday is, we think, an appropriate time."

The administration has said that if Zelensky doesn't accept by the deadline, Ukraine will lose U.S. support, The Washington Post reported.

The plan asks Ukraine to allow Russia to take some Ukrainian territory in the Donbas region in southeast Ukraine. Zelensky has in the past refused any effort to give Russia land. It would also require Ukraine to significantly cut the size of its army and give up many of its weapons.

"Ukraine's national interest must be taken into account," Zelensky said in his speech. "We will pursue a calm dialogue with America and all of our partners. There will be a constructive search for solutions with our main partner."

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He also said that the country needs more unity.

"We need to pull ourselves together, stop the quarrels, stop the political games. The state must function. The parliament of a country at war must work in unity. The government must work effectively," he said.

Some European leaders have voiced their support of Ukraine since the details were released. They've insisted that any decisions must be made by Kyiv.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a joint call with Zelensky Friday and, "agreed to continue to pursue the goal of safeguarding vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term," CNN reported.

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A German press office statement said that includes "ensuring that the line of contact is the starting point for an understanding and that the Ukrainian armed forces remain capable of effectively defending Ukraine's sovereignty."

Zelensky told his people that he would work around the clock and would not betray his country.

"I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process, and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy," he said.
President Zelensky addressed the nation on Ukraine's Dignity and Freedom Day [Zelensky/Telegram]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv risks losing US support over a White House plan on how to end the war with Russia.

Addressing the nation on Friday, Zelensky said Ukraine "might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner", adding that "today is one of the most difficult moments in our history".

The widely leaked US peace plan includes proposals that Kyiv had previously ruled out: ceding eastern areas it now controls, significantly cutting its army size, and pledging not to join Nato.

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These provisions are seen as heavily slanted towards Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin said the plan could be a "basis" for peace settlement.

At Friday's meeting with his security cabinet, Putin said Moscow had received the plan, which had not been discussed with the Kremlin in detail. He said Russia was willing to "show flexibility" but was also prepared to fight on.

Later in the day, US President Donald Trump said Zelensky would "have to like" the plan, adding that otherwise Ukraine and Russia would continue fighting.

Ukraine is critically dependent on deliveries of US-made advanced weaponry, including air defence systems to repel deadly Russian air assaults, as well as intelligence provided by Washington.

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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In his 10-minute address in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky warned that Ukraine would face "a lot of pressure... to weaken us, to divide us", adding that "the enemy is not sleeping".

Urging Ukrainians to stay united, he stressed that the country's "national interest must be taken into account".

"We're not making loud statements," he went on, "we'll be calmly working with America and all the partners... offering alternatives" to the proposed peace plan.

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Zelensky also said he had been reassured of continuous support during a phone call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Sir Keir said late on Friday that Ukraine's allies remained committed to securing "a just and lasting peace once and for all".

Ahead of the G20 summit, which begins on Saturday in South Africa, the prime minister said he and other world leaders would "discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of President Trump's push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations".

Trump is not attending the gathering over widely discredited claims that white people are being persecuted in the country.

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Separately, Zelensky said he had spoken "for almost an hour" with US Vice-President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, adding that Ukraine "always respected" Trump's efforts to end the war.

In Washington, Trump warned that Ukraine would lose more territory to Russia "in a short amount of time".

He said it was "appropriate" to give Ukraine until 27 November - Thanksgiving in the US - to agree to the peace deal, but added deadlines could be extended if things were "going well".

Speaking at the White House on Friday, the US president said "we think we have a way of getting peace", adding that Zelensky "is going to have to approve it".

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Washington has been pressing Kyiv to quickly accept the plan, and sent senior Pentagon officials to the Ukrainian capital earlier this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin [EPA/Shutterstock]

On Thursday, Putin sounded determined to continue the war despite reported heavy Russian combat casualties.

"We have our tasks, our goals," the Kremlin leader, wearing a military uniform, told his army commanders. "The chief one is the unconditional achievement of the aims of the special military operation [full-scale war]."

The 28-point US peace plan emerged as Russia claims small territorial gains in south-eastern Ukraine, while Zelensky faces a domestic crisis implicating top officials in a $100m (76m) corruption scandal.

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The White House has pushed back on claims that Ukraine was frozen out of the drafting of the proposal, following meetings between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev.

An unnamed US official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that the plan was drawn up "immediately" following discussions with Ukraine's top security official Rustem Umerov, who agreed to the majority of it.

Umerov is said to have made several modifications before he presented it to Zelensky.

The leaked draft proposes Ukrainian troops' withdrawal from the part of the eastern Donetsk region that they currently control, and de facto Russian control of Donetsk, as well as the neighbouring Luhansk region and the southern Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

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The plan also includes freezing the borders of Ukraine's southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions along the current battle lines. Both regions are partially occupied by Russia.

The US plan also limits Ukraine's military to 600,000 personnel, with European fighter jets stationed in neighbouring Poland.

Kyiv would receive "reliable security guarantees", the plan says, although no details have been given. The document says "it is expected" that Russia will not invade its neighbours and that Nato will not expand further.

The draft also suggests Russia will be "reintegrated into the global economy", through the lifting of sanctions and by inviting Russia to rejoin the G7 group of the world's most powerful countries - making it the G8 again.

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Ukrainians both under and free of Russian occupation struck a defiant tone in reaction to news of the US proposal.

In Kyiv, the widow of a Ukrainian soldier told the BBC: "This is not a peace plan, it is a plan to continue the war."

Another person speaking from one of the occupied territories in Ukraine told the BBC: "I'm trying to keep my sanity here in the conditions of constant propaganda that Ukraine has forgotten us. I hope they will not sign this."

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory and its troops have been making slow advances along the vast front line, despite reported heavy losses.
Sziget Festivals future is back on stable ground. Founder Karoly Gerendai has regained control of the event after the previous owners withdrew from the Hungarian market, a move that had placed the festivals continuity in doubt.

In an interview with 24.hu, Gerendai explained how the buyback unfolded, what he plans to change, and what the festival has learned from recent years.



Gerendai said his return was not originally part of the plan. But once he realised Sziget might disappear altogether, he felt obliged to step in. He is now waiting for the Budapest General Assembly to approve the permit needed to use the public space on Obuda Island. At the time of the interview, the final decision was still pending.



Criticism of the Former Owners



Looking back, Gerendai was critical of both the festivals previous economic model and the approach taken by the former owners. He argued that the international investors placed too much emphasis on headline acts and attempted to run all festivals in their portfolio according to a uniform template. This, he said, contributed to a steep decline in foreign visitors.



Sziget previously sold 50,00060,000 season passes each year, with around 85% purchased by international guests. Last year, only 22,800 passes were sold, and just 70% of those went to visitors from abroad.



According to Gerendai, this confirms that a strong line-up is not enough on its own; the festival must also provide a broader and more distinctive cultural programme.



Strengthening Szigets Cultural Identity

Looking ahead, Gerendai plans to invest more in visitor experience and cultural content. Additional resources will be directed toward programming, services, design and communication.



The aim is to make Sziget appealing not only to younger festivalgoers but also to audiences in their 30s and 40s.



While the 2026 line-up has yet to be announced, demand for passes is already strong. Food and drink prices are expected to stay at this years levels, including the continuation of the budget food options.



Although Gerendai has repurchased Sziget Zrt., the brand name remains owned by the previous proprietor, meaning the company will still pay a licensing fee.



Gerendai plans to focus on strategic leadership and will spend two days a week at the Sziget office, while his hospitality businesses continue to operate under his management team.



Financial Results Did Not Require an Exit



From his perspective, Szigets financial situation alone did not justify the former owners decision to pull out. He noted that the wider company group had been performing well, and cross-financing could have kept Sziget on a sustainable footing.



The real motivation behind the American investment funds departure remains unclear to him.



With Gerendais return, Sziget is now preparing for a new chapterone that places greater emphasis on cultural variety, a diverse audience, and long-term stability.



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Marking World Childrens Day, UNICEF Hungary said it is partnering with the national police headquarters ORFK to promote child safety and the protection of childrens rights.

"On November 20, the world lights up in blue as a reminder that every child has a right to safety, love and dignity," UNICEF Hungary said in a statement.



It said World Childrens Day was about emphasising that these rights were not just principles in an international accord, but values that defined childrens everyday lives.



UNICEF Hungary said it has entered into a partnership with Hungarys police force with the aim of raising awareness of childrens rights. As part of the partnership, the organisation will train crime prevention advisors in supervising childrens rights awareness sessions.



Those taking part in the training sessions will acquire methodological and sensitisation-related knowledge on how to proceed when a child indicates that they are being abused, in danger online or that their rights may be violated.



The crime prevention experts will then hold interactive sessions with students nationwide, explaining to them their rights and teaching them where they can turn for help.



On Thursday, several buildings across the country were lit up in blue to mark World Children's Day, the statement said.



Karacsony: Budapest to set up Childrens Rights Office



Budapest is setting up a Childrens Rights Office in order to enable the capital to use its own resources to help "break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness", Gergely Karacsony, the citys mayor, said in a post on Facebook.



The Childrens Rights Office will soon begin operating within the framework of the Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions (BMSZKI), providing assistance in child protection and childrens rights-related situations, Karacsony said.



He said the office would be a "safe and open space" offering community programmes, food and professionals ready to help.



The mayor said the capital was also working on offering housing support to those who grew up under the supervision of child protection services and on arranging internship, scholarship and mentoring opportunities for them and those still in child protection care at Budapest-run companies and institutions.



"We can never compromise on humanity, care and solidarity in Budapest, or on ensuring the equality of dignity to every child and everyone in need of help," Karacsony said.



He said it was critical to "keep trying" because "todays state child protection regime reproduces hopelessness."



He said children who grew up in state care tended to be "released back into poverty". Close to a quarter of homeless people in the capital, and almost half of those under the age of 30 grew up in state care, the mayor said.



Karacsony also said that on Thursday Budapests landmark Chain Bridge will be lit up decoratively to mark World Childrens Day.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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The four-time GRAMMY Awardwinning multitalented icon, Lenny Kravitz, has announced his Lenny Kravitz Live 2026 tour, with which he will return to Budapest on August 2 at the Budapest Arena  almost exactly two years after his hugely successful concert here.

Following the highly acclaimed Blue Electric Light Tour 2025  which brought sold-out shows across Europe, South America, Australia, and even included a Las Vegas residency  Kravitz continues what Billboard has called the Lennaissance, a period of worldwide success and creative rebirth.



Kravitzs 12th studio album, Blue Electric Light, was released in May 2024 and received widespread critical acclaim. The Associated Press praised it as brilliant and the rockers best work in years, while NPR described it as a kaleidoscope of soaring rock, psychedelic funk, tender soul, and more.



In 2025, Kravitz received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; in 2024 he was awarded the Music Icon Award at the Peoples Choice Awards, the Best Rock Award at the Video Music Awards, and the CFDA Fashion Icon Award.



Tickets:

livenation.hu



About Lenny Kravitz
Recent attacks underscore the severity of the situation. This week, TTP militants killed six Pakistani soldiers in an ambush in Akakhel Khwangi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Dozens of soldiers were injured, and more than 15 personnel went missing, with the army investigating whether they were abducted or deserted their posts.
Chirag Paswan said that the LJP(RV) systematically built its structure in every district of Bihar, ensuring deep grassroots outreach that contributed to the impressive NDA performance.
One of the most notable developments in the new cabinet was the induction of Deepak Prakash, son of senior Bihar leader Upendra Kushwaha, as a minister from the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) quota, despite not contesting the Assembly elections.
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Morelos  Janeth Diaz arrived in Jiutepec, Morelos, searching for refuge. She had escaped Bogota, Colombia, in 2021 after years of domestic violence inflicted by the father of her three daughters. She thought that crossing the border would allow her to close that dark chapter. However, on October 30 of this year, her life was shattered once again: her middle daughter, Sharick Staicy Bonilla Diaz, disappeared without a trace. Since then, Janeth has been reliving the same fear she thought she had left behind.

Janeths story began years ago in the Colombian capital. I decided to leave the country to protect myself and my daughters, she recalls in an interview with La Silla Rota. The immigrant arrived alone in Morelos after the father of her daughters refused to sign the permit allowing her to take them out of Colombia.

They were years of lawyers, paperwork, and savings spent until she was finally able to bring Geraldine, the youngest, first  and just seven months ago, Sharick, who is now missing. While Janeth was in Mexico, the girls biological father tried to force her to return: He took the girls away from my parents several times. It was very dangerous. I didnt feel safe.

Janeth was able to reunite with both daughters little by little over a span of four years. Geraldine, the youngest, arrived first; Sharick, the middle daughter, came in April. She didnt know I was going to pick her up; it was a surprise, she says. In Morelos, mother and daughters were seeking what violence had denied them in Colombia: We just wanted a peaceful life.

She just went to the park and didnt come back

Sharick left home at 12:30 that Thursday. She wore old sneakers and a sweatshirt. She told her mother Janeth she was just going to the park, half a block away, and would return in time for lunch. Janeth allowed her to go. She had been there several times; she hadnt had any problems, she recalls in the interview. But at two in the afternoon, when lunch was ready, the teenager didnt return.

After sending messages and calling her repeatedly, Janeth walked to the park, then to the library, and searched the nearby streets. Thats when I realized she wasnt there. And thats when my anguish began, she says, her voice breaking.

At 2:30 p.m., while still searching, she decided to send a photo to her daughter on WhatsApp, just so Sharick would see it and respond. She did. Mom, delete that photo, youre boleteandome, the teenager replied. In Colombian slang, boletear means to expose someone.

Minutes later, Sharick sent another message: Mom, Im in Cuautla. Janeth couldnt understand how or why her daughter had left Jiutepec without telling her. The text messages were disconnected, strange. Sharick talked about getting herself a room, about wanting to live alone. Janeth tried to calm her: I told her: if you want to go live somewhere else, Ill go with you, I wont force you to stay with me. But she said she wanted to think things over.

At 11:30 p.m., after Janeth asked her for a photo and a voice note, communication stopped. The phone went silent. The next day, Friday the 31st, at 8:10 a.m., Sharick sent a brief greeting. It was the last message the mother recognizes as truly hers.

Chats, a deleted photo, and an audio that brings no relief

That same night, almost at midnight, Sharicks phone sent another message but it was no longer her. The message went to Geraldine, the younger sister. We thought it was her, but no  it was someone else.

The person texting asked for money: first 500 pesos for the bus, then 1,500. They said Sharick was in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and that they were helping her. They sent a photo that Janeth managed to see: It was her, but the person deleted it immediately. A short audio also came through: Hi, Geral, Im fine. Then, silence.

Janeth and her new partner searched for Sharick on their own in hotels, red-light zones, drug-selling areas, dangerous neighborhoods. They even consulted a hacker and a psychic. Nothing. Its desperate. Not knowing if she ate, if she slept well, if someone is hurting her, Janeth says.

The prosecutor's office assumed it was just teenage rebellion

When she went to the Morelos Prosecutors Office, Janeth brought everything: her daughters phone number, locations, social media, contacts, and testimonies. The initial response was frustrating. They assumed it was a tantrum, that she had run off with a boyfriend, the mother laments, pointing out that her daughter had arrived just seven months earlier and didnt know the area, didnt know how to get around on her own, didnt have friends.

Recently, the Morelos Prosecutors Office showed Janeth the geolocation records from her daughters cellphone, confirming that she left Morelos the moment she walked out of the park on Thursday, October 30. By Friday the 31st, at six in the morning, the device was already at the MexicoUnited States border. It remained active there until Monday, November 3, when the signal stopped for good.

According to the National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons (RNPDNO), Morelos has recorded 2,071 disappearances from 1952 to November 19, 2025. Just this year, between January and October, the state registered 231 new cases  a 20% increase compared to 2024. The main victims: teenage girls and young men.

In the midst of this reality, Janeth tries to hold on. She says she revisits every decision, every step, every sign. She finds no answers.

Maybe thats why she ended up in a network. I dont know. But I brought her here so she would be safe, not for this, she says, her voice breaking. Thousands of miles from the domestic violence that drove her out of Colombia, Sharicks disappearance confronts her with a deep pain she believed she had left behind forever.

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Conditions for holding China-Japan-ROK culture ministers' meeting not yet in place: foreign ministry

Xinhua) 08:49, November 21, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The conditions for holding the trilateral culture ministers' meeting among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are currently not in place, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday.

According to reports, the trilateral meeting among China, Japan and the ROK, originally scheduled for this month, will be postponed.

Mao told a regular press conference that a Japanese leader had openly made highly erroneous remarks on Taiwan, which hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, challenged the post-WWII international order, and undermined the foundation and environment for cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK.

This has led to a situation where the conditions for holding the meeting are not yet in place, said Mao.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
Eating lots of Paella can may boost a person's sex drive, scientists claim.

Paella

Saffron  the vivid yellow-orange threads plucked from crocus flowers and sprinkled into everything from risottos to rice dishes  isnt just a pricey seasoning.

According to researchers, it may supercharge libido, boost arousal, and even improve orgasms, earning it a reputation as the most seductive spice on Earth.

Dr. Daniel Amen, of Amen Clinics in the USA, is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper: "Im Lebanese, and Middle Eastern folks cook with a lot of saffron.

"Theres folklore in Iran  if youre too happy, you must have had saffron."

He added: "Saffron increased sexual function in research."

Iranian scientists last year found the spice significantly ramped up desire, arousal and orgasm intensity, while a 2019 study revealed it "improved sexual function specifically addressing erectile dysfunction and enhancing desire".

Experts say the secret lies in saffrons powerful natural compounds, which may help regulate stress hormones, ease tension and lift mood  a triple-whammy that paves the way for better sex.

Nutritionist Claudia Calisto explained: "Saffron is an aphrodisiac spice.

"Saffrons natural compounds may help regulate stress hormones and promote a sense of calm by supporting healthy serotonin levels. Lowering stress levels is a great way to increase libido."

The mood-boosting perks dont stop in the bedroom. Research shows saffron can also reduce symptoms of depression, with its happiness-enhancing effects so well known in Iran that being overly cheerful is jokingly blamed on sneaking too much of the spice.

Still, saffrons reputation as a bedroom booster is whats turning heads. Scientists say its ability to relax the mind while rousing the body makes it one of natures most potent pleasure enhancers.
The Chief Executive (CE), Sam Hou Fai, has affirmed that no significant impacts are expected with the closure of all the satellite casinos, due by the end of this year.

Responding to a question from lawmaker Song Pek Kei during the Q&A session at the Legislative Assembly about the 2026 policy address, Sam said that closing the satellite casinos will have a negligible impact on the financial sector, specifically on loans taken out by the operating companies and on property-related issues.

Still, he remarked that, according to official information, at the end of September, the total loans to the companies where the satellite casinos are located accounted for less than 1% of total bank loans.

For this reason, he advised confidence that the banking institutions will be able to handle the issue and absorb any potential impacts, recalling that the local financial systems ratio is 15.78%, exceeding the legal requirement of 8%, and reaffirming that the situation is under control.

He also claimed that, under government guidelines, banks must perform proper asset evaluations and set aside provisions to reduce risks from illiquidity.

Regarding other potential effects on the real estate market, the CE sought to allay concerns, noting that Macau has a free-market economy and that government intervention in such matters could have severe consequences.

Taking the opportunity, Sam noted that his policy address for 2026 already includes measures to stimulate the property sector, including the exemption of stamp duty on the first MOP6 million of residential property purchases by eligible residents.

The CE also claimed that local government has been very proactive in tackling property market issues, far beyond what has been done in neighboring regions.

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Pressure is mounting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take stronger action to show accountability in the face of a corruption scandal presenting the greatest threat to his government since Russias full-scale invasion.

Last week, Zelenskyy dismissed two top officials and imposed sanctions on close associates after government investigators revealed that $100 million had been embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors.

But that hasnt quieted the political storm. After more than three years of war in which Ukrainians face regular power outages as a result of Russias fierce bombardment, allegations of corruption in the energy sector arent sitting well with the public. Calls are growing for Zelenskyy to remove his longtime chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, considered by many to be Ukraines de facto vice president.

Neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak have been accused of any wrongdoing by those leading the corruption investigation. Yet Zelenskyys political opponents  as well as allies worried the scandal could weaken their parliamentary governing coalition  say more senior leaders need to be held accountable to restore public trust.

Zelenskyys term officially ended in May 2024, but he has continued to govern without elections, saying they cannot be held while Russia is occupying a fifth of the country.

His critics say its also important to bolster credibility with Ukraines Western allies, whose support is vital to the war effort and in eventually negotiating an end to the conflict.

Its really hard to imagine that all this is happening at the behest of people from the outside without political support, Anastasia Radina, the head of parliaments anti-corruption committee, said on Facebook yesterday [Macau time]. By not cutting ties with Yermak, Zelenskyy is provoking an even greater internal crisis, she said.

Ukraine has been plagued by corruption since gaining independence, and Zelenskyy was elected on a mandate to eliminate graft.

Two officials in Zelenskyys office say the president has not made any decision to dismiss Yermak. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.

The investigation conducted by Ukraines anti-corruption watchdogs implicated high-ranking officials with pressuring contractors to pay up to 15% kickbacks in exchange for construction business with Ukraines state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.

The investigation involved over 1,000 hours of wiretaps of individuals using code names and cryptic language to discuss the scheme. In some conversations, references were made to a powerful figure operating under the alias Ali Baba, though this persons identity has not been made public, if it is even known.

After the scheme was made public, Ukraines parliament approved Zelenskyys dismissal of the energy and justice ministers. His office imposed sanctions on close associates who were implicated, including Tymur Mindich, a co-owner of Zelenskyys media production company.

Zelenskyys political opponents say it is hard to believe that such a huge corruption scheme could have taken place without the knowledge of Yermak  the presidential adviser who has towered over Ukrainian politics for six years  though they have not provided any evidence to support the allegation.

Yermak has not publicly addressed the calls for his resignation.

However, he has apparently sought to bolster his support within the government. He sought to arrange a meeting with Ukraines popular former army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is currently Ukraines ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to an official close to Zaluzhnyi who spoke on condition of anonymity. The request for a meeting was denied, the official said.

Yermaks spokesperson did not respond to request for comment.

Zelenskyys landslide victory in 2019 resulted in him obtaining around two-thirds of the seats in parliament. Many of his allies favor Yermaks resignation, said lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, who is a member of the presidents political party.

The faction and the parliament dont want to bear responsibility for the corruption, he said.

Around 30 members of parliament from Zelenskyys party are campaigning to create a coalition of national stability based on unity and not political interests and backroom deals, said Mykyta Porturaev, a leading Zelenskyy party lawmaker. But the head of Zelenskyys party, David Arakhamia, said Porturaevs announcement did not reflect the official party line. Ukraines parliamentary speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said lawmakers are consulting on next steps. SAMYA KULLAB, KYIV, MDT/AP

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A Philippine court yesterday convicted a former mayor, who officials say is a Chinese national, of human trafficking charges for helping establish an illegal online gaming complex in a northern province where hundreds of Chinese and other foreign nationals were forced to conduct scams.

The Pasig city regional trial court in metropolitan Manila sentenced Alice Guo to life in prison with seven other Filipino and Chinese co-accused, and ordered them to pay a fine of 2 million pesos ($34,000) each and compensate several trafficking victims, who filed the complaints.

Guo denied all allegations against her and says she is a Filipino citizen.

Vast online scam centers have flourished in Southeast Asia in recent years, especially in the border areas of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The U.N. has estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been trapped in virtual slavery by gangs who force them to financially exploit people around the world through false romances, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes.

In the Philippines, scam operations rapidly built vast compounds with buildings or rented upscale offices in Manilas financial districts and moved around large numbers of workers by bribing authorities.

Philippine authorities allege that Guo is a Chinese national named Guo Huaping, who faked Filipino citizenship to run for mayor of the town of Bamban in northern Tarlac province, where she ran a sprawling illegal scam compound near the town hall.

They used the parcels of land and buildings to house the trafficked workers and to force them to work as scammers, the court said in its decision.

Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on hundreds of mostly Chinese-run online gaming operations, which proliferated under the administration of previous President Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos accused the gaming operations of crimes including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnapping and murder.

Many have been raided and shut down since then, with tens of thousands of trafficked workers rescued and sent back to their home countries. But more scam centers remain in operation, officials said.

The conviction of Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, is a victory against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime and many other transnational crimes, said Sen. Risa Hontiveros. But it is far from over.

Hontiveros led televised Senate inquiries last year that exposed underground online scam operations in the Philippines, along with Guos alleged criminal involvement.

Philippine security officials and Hontiveros have said the scam centers operated by Guo and other Chinese nationals may have also been used for espionage by China, which has had increasingly fierce territorial conflicts with the Philippines in the South China Sea and has strongly opposed the presence of American forces in the country. The Philippines is the oldest U.S. treaty ally in Asia.

We will continue to demand accountability from every government agency that failed in their duties, and we will continue to investigate the full extent of Chinese intelligence operations in our country, Hontiveros said. And to all others who enabled Alice Guos criminal empire: the Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration and espionage.

Guo has not been charged with espionage and she denies any connection to spying.

The town of Bamban is located several kilometers (miles) from a Philippine air force base, where American forces have been allowed to maintain a rotating presence with their aircraft and weapons under a 2014 defense pact.

Guo was dismissed from her post as mayor last year by a state Ombudsman, who cited grave misconduct. She fled the Philippines in July 2024, but was tracked down in Indonesia, where she was arrested and deported to the Philippines. She has been in detention since last year. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP

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Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fai stated that the government is considering making the temporary subsidy plan for employer-paid maternity leave benefits permanent.

Addressing the matter during the Q&A session of the 2026 policy address, the CE noted the intention but said specific details still need to be studied.

The government has included revising the Labor Relations Law in next years legislative plan, focusing on improving regulations on annual leave and maternity leave.

Following a report last month, legislator Leong Pou U has expressed concerns about improving labor standards, including specific measures to enhance protection against wage arrears and combat illegal work.

The CE responded that the government will advance related work and maintain ongoing communication with various sectors of society, emphasizing the need to balance employee rights with economic development.

Currently, including government special subsidies, maternity leave has been extended from 56 days to 70 days.

Sam indicated that the employer-paid maternity leave subsidy has been in place for several years. Initially set to end this year, it was decided to extend it to the end of next year.

This extension has now been linked to the possibility of turning the program into a permanent one, with the government considering how many days of maternity leave will be extended and whether it will continue to be subsidized.

The government has seen a year-on-year increase in wage arrears payments, especially in large employee cases, with rising payouts from the Labour Claims Security Fund.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Police joined enforcement efforts with the Labour Affairs Bureau, inspecting over 2,960 locations and uncovering 517 illegal workers from January to September, in a bid to reinforce the fight against illegal work and protect local workers. Ricaela Diputado

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The government projects the citys casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) to reach MOP236 billion in 2026. This forecast, omitted from Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fais 2026 policy address, was revealed yesterday along with the release of next years fiscal budget plan.

The projected figure falls short of the initial 2025 forecast (MOP240 billion) made by the outgoing government of Ho Iat Seng. It is just 3.5% higher than the revised estimate for 2025 (MOP228 billion) set in June this year, following weaker-than-expected gaming results between November 2024 and April this year.

The fiscal budget plan highlights recent increases in visitor numbers and the gaming industrys success, noting that monthly GGR exceeded MOP20 billion for several months this year and pointing to a positive outlook for tourism, with the rise in visitors likely to continue into 2026.

However, the government emphasized that the 2026 GGR forecast reflects caution amid global economic uncertainties, describing the estimate as the basis for that years fiscal planning.

The Legislative Assembly will soon address the budget proposal, as budgets are reviewed and approved under Budget Laws.

Against the trend

As of October, the accumulated GGR for 2025 has reached MOP205.43 billion, or an average of MOP20.54 billion per month, a figure that is even higher than the forecast from the previous government that ceased duties in December 2024.

Compared to the revised forecast by the current government (an average of MOP19 billion per month), the current GGR level is approximately 8.1% higher, exceeding their estimates for 2026.

Compared with the current GGR level, the prediction now represents a 4.24% decrease for 2026.

The government forecast also differs from that of market analysts, with Morgan Stanley describing the gaming industrys outlook as positive in a memo released this week. The private bank noted that monthly GGR continues to grow at over 10% year over year, forecasting a further 16% rise through April 2026.

A similar analysis was presented by Citibank, which said 2025 might close around MOP248.6 billion, representing 10% year-on-year growth, and forecast 2026 GGR to grow between 5% and 7% to MOP265.5 billion.

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A delegation composed of 25 Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT)-certified Macau enterprises, has toured Lisbon from November 9 to 15.

The second edition of the Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon had the primary purpose of enabling local enterprises to participate in key industry events, including the Web Summit, held from November 10 to 13.

The Web Summit, the largest technology conference in Europe and one of the largest in the world, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from over 80 countries to discuss emerging trends and foster collaboration.

Macaus participation aimed to deepen ties with Portugals tech scene, allowing local tech entrepreneurs to gain deeper insights into the latest developments and trends, being co-hosted by DSEDT and Sands China Ltd.

During the summit, Macau companies engaged directly with global technology leaders and investors, exchanging insights and exploring potential collaborations.

Besides the Summit, the local delegates also had the opportunity to visit Portuguese incubators and innovation hubs to better understand the local ecosystem.

In a press statement, Grant Chum, CEO of Sands China, emphasized the continuous support from the company, stating, Following last years success, we are committed to supporting Macaus 1+4 development plan and nurturing local talent and enterprises. NS

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Missouri has escalated its attempt to seize Chinese government-owned property across the United States, asking the Trump administration for help collecting on a roughly $25 billion court judgment related to the COVID-19 pandemic that Beijing has flatly rejected.

Missouri is asking the U.S. State Department to formally notify China that the state intends to pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership to satisfy the judgment, state Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said yesterday [Macau time].

The move stems from a lawsuit alleging China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic, harming Missouri and its residents. A federal judge ruled for Missouri earlier this year after China declined to participate in the trial, calling the lawsuit very absurd when it was filed in 2020.

Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier this year that its actions during the pandemic arent subject to U.S. jurisdiction and it doesnt recognize the ruling.

Some legal experts have cast doubt on whether Missouri can collect on the judgment, because federal law generally shields foreign nations from lawsuits in U.S. courts.

Hanaway said she expects a long process.

We think the state was damaged. We want to recover, Hanaway said. It costs money to provide health care and other benefits to people as a result of the epidemic.

As a first step, Hanaways office sent a letter Wednesday to a federal court asking it to forward copies of the judgment to the secretary of states office to be served on China.

She said her office is still assembling a list of Chinese properties that could be targeted. She said Missouri is focusing on properties wholly owned by the Chinese government, as well as those owned by companies in which the Chinese government has a stake.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement yesterday [Macau time] that Chinas policies and measures during the pandemic were acts of national sovereignty and are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.

The so-called pandemic compensation lawsuits fabricated by certain forces in the U.S. ignore basic objective facts and violate fundamental legal principles; they are purely malicious frivolous lawsuits and political manipulation, with extremely sinister intentions, Liu said. China firmly opposes them and will not accept any so-called default judgments.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case has taken an unusual path. U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh initially dismissed the lawsuit in 2022, saying Missouri couldnt sue China or the other defendants. But an appeals court allowed one part of the lawsuit to proceed: the allegation that China hoarded personal protective equipment, such as respirator masks, medical gowns and gloves.

After Chinese officials didnt respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouris estimate of past and potential future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until its collected.

The lawsuit was originally filed by state Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Trump ally who subsequently won election to the U.S. Senate. MDT/AP

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A planned trip by some Panamanian lawmakers to Taiwan has unleashed the latest diplomatic spat with China as the Central American country tries to navigate the turbulent waters between the Asian superpower and the United States.

Yesterday [Macau time], Panamas Foreign Relations Ministry and the U.S. ambassador to the country criticized Chinas diplomats in Panama for asking the lawmakers to cancel their trip to Taiwan, with the ministry accusing the Chinese Embassy of meddling in internal Panamanian affairs.

This followed comments from Panama President Jose Raul Mulino a week earlier saying that the planned Taiwan trip did not have the approval of his administration and reminding the lawmakers that the executive branch was responsible for Panamas foreign policy.

China has also been embroiled in a spat with Japan after new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7 that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response. Her comments drew a warning from China against any interference in Taiwan.

In Latin America, Chinese diplomats have worked to get governments to establish diplomatic relations with it and cut ties to Taiwan.

Panama established relations with China in 2017 after breaking them off with Taiwan.

The Trump administration has brought the weight of the U.S. government to bear on the issue this year, starting with accusations that China could influence the operations of the strategically important Panama Canal because a Hong Kong-based conglomerate held the long-term concession to operate ports at either end of the canal. The canals administration and the Panamanian government have denied that China had any sway over canal operations.

Panamas Foreign Relations Ministry said in a statement that as a sovereign country, it does not accept restrictions, nor pressure that tries to influence the legitimate decisions of its subordinates.

The statement did not name China, but came a day after one of the countrys largest newspapers, La Prensa, reported that 10 lawmakers were asked by the Chinese Embassy to immediately cancel the trip because it seriously violates the principle of one China and constitutes an intervention in Chinese internal affairs.

The Chinese Embassy referred a request from The Associated Press to the reporting from La Prensa.

Mulino has lamented that Panama has been drawn into the U.S.-China tensions.

When Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama on his first trip as the U.S. top diplomat in February, he made Chinas influence a top issue. Mulino said then that Panama would not be renewing its agreement with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative when it expires. The initiative promotes and funds infrastructure and development projects that critics say leave poor member countries heavily indebted to China.

In August, U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera gave public backing to Panamanian lawmakers who joined the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of hundreds of lawmakers from dozens of countries concerned about how democracies approach Beijing.

In September, the Trump administration said it was restricting visas for Central American nationals who, while in Central American countries and intentionally acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), knowingly direct, authorize, fund, provide significant support to, or carry out activities that undermine the rule of law in Central America.

Some of the lawmakers who planned to make the Taiwan trip later this week defended their decision. Some said the trip would expose them to models and experiences that could help Panamas modernization, others cited opportunities for investment and cooperation.

Yesterday, Cabrera addressed the controversy, saying that Chinas Embassy shouldnt be involved in those issues. ALMA SOLIS, PANAMA CITY, MDT/AP

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Police have arrested a suspected Russian hacker on the Thai resort island of Phuket who was wanted by the FBI on allegations he was behind cyberattacks on U.S. and European government agencies, officials said.

The 35-year-old, who entered Thailand on Oct. 30 at Phuket Airport, was taken into custody earlier this month at his hotel and is now being held pending possible extradition, Thai police said.

The suspects name was not released but Russian state-run news agency Russia Today identified him as Denis Obrezko, a native of Stavropol. It reported that his relatives confirmed the Nov. 6 arrest and were planning to fight his extradition to the United States.

In an e-mail yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice refused to comment on the possible extradition or give other details. The U.S. State Department and American officials in Thailand also refused to comment.

The Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian embassy in Thailand also did not respond to requests for comment, but Russias consul general in Phuket, Yegor Ivanov, told Russian state news agency Tass that the consulate had received notification of the arrest of a Russian citizen on charges of committing an information technology crime.

He was arrested on November 6 and transferred to Bangkok that same day, Ivanov said, without providing further details.

Ilya Ilyin, head of the consular section of the Russian embassy in Thailand, told Tass on Monday that Russian diplomats had visited the suspect in prison in Bangkok.

Embassy staff conducted a consular visit to the Russian citizen detained at the request of the United States, Ilyin said, adding that the embassy was arranging for him to be able to meet with his relatives.

Thailands Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau said in a Nov. 12 statement that it was an FBI tip that the world-class hacker was traveling to Thailand that led to his arrest in Phuket on an international warrant.

In the raid on his hotel, police seized laptop computers, mobile phones, and digital wallets, the polices statement said, adding that FBI officials were on hand for the arrest.

Several media outlets reported a second Russian hacking suspect wanted by the FBI, who has ties to Russian military intelligence, had been arrested in Phuket the following day, but Thai police said there had only been one arrest.

The formal request for the suspects extradition has been made but it was not clear how long the process would take. MDT/AP

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China, Russia, and North Koreas de facto alliance risks creating a "new world order which could lead to Tokyo facing a three-front contingency in the future, a report released by a think tank of Japans defence ministry said.

The China Security Report 2026, released by the National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS) in Tokyo, argued that the strategic partnership among the three countries is becoming increasingly assertive, though marked by internal imbalances.

It noted that although a formal military alliance among the three countries has not been formed, they have already built a de facto coordinated relationship that functions as a strategic bloc in key areas.

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It comes as Japans relations with China deteriorated to its worst levels in years. Japans new prime minister Sanae Takaichi recently sparked a controversy after she said a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response. Beijing demanded she retract the remarks and urged its citizens not to travel to Japan, resulting in mass cancellations that could deal a sizeable blow to the world's fourth-largest economy.

The report noted that China is expanding its political and military influence while Russias war in Ukraine has driven Moscow into a tighter embrace with both Beijing and Pyongyang.

North Korea, meanwhile, is leveraging the geopolitical turbulence to advance its nuclear ambitions and gain greater independence from any single patron.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II at Tiananmen Square in Beijing Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (KCNA)

North Korea has become capable of confronting the United States on its own by securing more independent options through enhanced deterrence, it said.

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The report quoted Zhang Tuosheng, a senior research fellow at the Grandview Institution, saying that North Korea developing its nuclear capabilities will trigger a domino effect in the medium to long term.

It will lead to the nuclearisation of Japan and the South and, as a result, an all-out collapse of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said.

By conducting joint military exercises and patrols with Russia, China has sent signals to other parts of the world while examining its own military and operational capabilities, said Masayuki Masuda, the lead author of the report.

Images of a visibly emotional Kim mourning the soldiers killed in Russia were broadcast by the official Korean Central Television (KCTV)

These joint military actions by Russia, China and North Korea may create worrisome situations for Japan through their coordinated actions, it said.

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Russian president Vladimir Putin stood shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time on 3 September as they attended a massive military parade in Beijing.

It was the first time for Mr Kim, Mr Xi and Mr Putin, all key challengers of the US, gathered at the same venue.

Russia has become North Koreas foreign policy priority since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has been supplying troops and ammunition to support the war in exchange for economic and military assistance.

Analysts say that Mr Kim is also seeking to restore ties, as China is North Korea's biggest trading partner and aid benefactor, and he would want to brace for the end of the Russia-Ukraine war.

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The joint appearance of the Chinese, Russian, and North Korean leaders at the Tiananmen viewing platform on September 3 is anticipated to act as a momentum for trilateral strategic coordination, the report said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025 (Sputnik)

As a result, Northeast Asia may see an intensification of a Japan-US-ROK versus China-Russia-North Korea bloc confrontation dynamic, it said, referring to South Korea with its official name.

The report urged policymakers to prepare for a world where China exerts greater global influence, Russia remains unpredictable and militarised, and North Korea operates with increasing confidence under the protection of two major powers.

The report warns that Japan must now prepare for a potential three-front contingency, with simultaneous pressure from China, Russia and North Korea.

It says the three states are expanding military coordination and acting more assertively around Japans periphery, creating the risk of overlapping crises. This emerging security environment, it argues, could stretch Japans defences in ways not seen since the Cold War.
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger went to a barn on their first date.

Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt tied the knot in 2019

The 46-year-old movie star began dating Katherine, 35, back in 2018, and the author has now opened up about their first-ever date.

Katherine - who is the eldest daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver - told Extra: "I took him to the barn on the first date.

"We didnt even know each other and he was trying to figure out where we should go on our first date."

Katherine drove up to Carpinteria in California to introduce Chris to her horse.

She added: "It was definitely a risk to take like a five-hour drive with someone that you don't know, but it lended itself to a lot of talking and conversation."

Chris and Katherine actually met for the first time at church, and the movie star previously joked that he was "sneaking glances" at his future wife.

During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Chris shared: "You kind of don't want to be like, 'Whoa, who is that?' at church, you know what I mean. But I was kind of sneaking some glances and I was like, 'Who is that? Any way, what am I doing? Come on, I'm broken, help me.'"

Chris explained that their relationship moved at a rapid pace.

The film star also described Katherine as the "woman of [his] dreams".

Chris said: "God has a fast-forward button When it's right, boom. You fall in love, you get married. Now we have two beautiful daughters to add to my family.

"My own journey, finding a higher power and leaning on that and being like, 'please save me,' and then feeling saved. And then shortly later finding the woman of my dreams."

Chris also joked his relationship with his father-in-law.

The actor - who married Katherine back in 2019 - quipped: "There's peer pressure, and then there's Arnold Schwarzenegger peer pressure."
Dancer-actress AC Bonifacio has withdrawn from the upcoming K-pop thriller film Perfect Girl after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident while in Bangkok for filming.

AC had been in Thailand for nearly a month for rehearsals and shoot schedules when the accident occurred during her day off. She rode a motorcycle taxi to a weekend market when the vehicle slipped, causing her to fall on her right shoulder.

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It wasnt anything crazy we just slipped. I blocked my fall with my arm. Kasi if not, it could have been worse, she said.

AC recalled trying to stand but realizing she could not move because of the pain. Medical tests later confirmed she had a fractured humerus that required surgery.

It was a clean break, the orthos are saying Im lucky to have, AC added.

Although several weeks of scenes had already been filmed, the production team decided to recast the role and reshoot her sequences, prioritizing her recovery. AC stressed that the decision was mutual.

A steel plate has been inserted in her arm, and she is expected to undergo six weeks of healing followed by physical therapy.

AC has returned to the Philippines and remains part of ABS-CBNs upcoming series Roja.
Jeffrey Epstein may be dead, but he continues to haunt Donald Trump, threatening to tear MAGAand possibly the entire ruling classapart.

[Originally published at communistusa.org]

The scandal surrounding the worlds most famous pedophile has come full circle. First, Trump dangled the release of the Epstein files as a sign of his willingness to take on the corrupt swamp of Washington, DC. Then, in a 180-degree turn, Trump brushed the whole thing aside, calling it a Democrat hoax. Now, the rallying cry to release the files has been turned against Trump himself, becoming the biggest wedge in the MAGA camp to date.

From scandal to mutiny

In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed Epsteins client list, full of rich and powerful pedophiles, was on her desk. Trumps base rallied, while Democrats and liberal media outlets smirked at another MAGA conspiracy theory. By July, Bondi denied the list ever existed. The Justice Department (DOJ) and the FBI released a joint statement claiming that their systematic review of the Epstein files revealed no incriminating client list.

According to Bondi and co., keeping the files hidden from the public wasnt an attempt to cover up the crimes of wealthy and well-connected pedophiles. It served only to protect victims. They further claimed that there was no evidence to suggest that Epstein was murdered in his jail cell to keep him quiet. The case was closedor so they hoped.

Millions of Americans smelled a rat. A week later, Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would instruct the DOJ to release all Epstein-related files.

They also circulated a discharge petition, a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote on the bill against the wishes of the House leadership. Trump warned Republicans that signing the petition would be a very hostile act. His lapdog, Speaker Mike Johnson, went to Herculean lengths to prevent a vote, including sending the House on an early summer vacation and refusing to swear in Arizona congresswoman Adelita Grijalvawho planned to sign the petitionfor nearly two months after her special-election victory.

But pressure mounted after the Wall Street Journal published Trumps lewd 2003 birthday card to Epstein. Within a week, DOJ officials were having closed-door meetings with Epsteins accomplice and convicted child sextrafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. In the wake of these parleys, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum security prison. She reportedly now gets concierge-style treatment, with a high-ranking prison official saying hes sick of having to be Maxwells bitch.

When asked, Trump said he would not rule out a pardon or commutation of her sentence. Conveniently, the DOJ released transcripts from their investigation, in which Maxwell said she never witnessed anything untoward in Donald Trumps friendship with Epstein.

On November 12, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three Epstein emails asserting that Trump knew about the girls. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt covered for Trump, saying the emails prove absolutely nothing, other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong. In response to the emails, House Republicans released a flurry of more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents.

When asked what had changed, Bondi stumbled through a vague reply: Information that has come forward, information, uhm, theres information that, new information, additional information / Image: The White House, Wikimedia Commons

This threw gasoline on the Epstein dumpster fire. Despite Trumps heavy pressure, three Republicans besides Massie still publicly supported the Epstein Files Transparency Act: Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Trump, Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel took Boebert into the Situation Room to discuss the matter, but she stood firm. The president withdrew his support from Greene, calling her wacky and Marjorie Traitor Greene.

Mike Johnson finally swore Grijalva into office. She provided the final signature on the discharge petition to force a vote. Trump caved. Knowing that the bill would passand that anyone voting against it would live to regret it come the 2026 midtermshe urged House Republicans to vote yes and promised to sign the bill.

The House passed the bill with only one vote against. The Senate passed it unanimously, and it now sits on Trumps desk. Pam Bondi said the Justice Department would release the files within 30 days. When asked at a press conference what had changed since the DOJ announcement that there was nothing more to disclose, she stumbled through a vague reply: Information that has come forward, information, uhm, theres information that, new information, additional information.

Cracks in MAGA

The cracks in MAGA are the widest theyve ever been.

Marjorie Taylor Greene was once one of Trumps most rabid supporters. But shes broken ranks with him on healthcare premiums and, now, the Epstein files. She has appealed directly to the MAGA base, saying the files represent the failures of the federal government and Congress to the American people  this is why they dont trust Congress. This is why they dont trust the government. Greene can see which way the wind is blowing. If MAGA turns on Trump, she is angling to carve out some influence among a section of his fragmented base.

Trump himself has cracked. When a reporter pointed out that Trump could release the files without Congress, he snapped, Quiet. Quiet, piggy. Over the past week, he has angrily lashed out at numerous reporters who ask questions about Epstein. Seated in the Oval Office next to the journalist-murdering Saudi Crown Prince, he told an ABC News correspondent, Youre a terrible reporter, and a terrible person.

And on Sunday, when a reporter brought up the sore subject, Trump responded, Well, I dont wanna talk about it because fake news like youyoure a terrible reporterfake news like you, they just keep bringing that up to deflect from the tremendous success of the Trump administration.

Trumps approval rating is now just 38%, the lowest since his term began. He is tanking on the economy, cost of living, and immigration. The continuation of the Ukraine War, the bombing of Iran, and extrajudicial murders on the high seas have also played a role.

But his worst issue is Epstein. Polls show 59% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the case, while only 20% approve. In his own party, 60% think Trump is hiding the client list. And a near-unanimous 92% of Americans think the files probably include damaging information about wealthy or powerful people.

Trumps approval rating is now just 38%, the lowest since his term began. He is tanking on the economy, cost of living, and immigration / Image: White House, Flickr

The Epstein files are a Pandoras Box that threatens the entire ruling class. Already, Steve Bannon and Larry Summers have been exposed, and former British royal, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, lost his princely title. Theres no telling who will be next. Although the mere mention of someones name doesnt automatically imply guilt, other names that have been linked to the pedophile billionaire include Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, RFK, Jr., and Ehud Barak.

Trump is at the mercy of his base. Hes already worried that releasing the files wont be enough to placate them, as many have already lost trust in the Justice Department, FBI, and federal law enforcement generally.

Meanwhile, the Democrats, facing historically low approval ratings, cynically latched on to the Epstein files in the hopes of bolstering their popular support. They may live to regret it. Epstein was a Democratic Party donor, and more prominent Democrats will certainly be implicated if the files are fully released. For example, documents show Epstein gave live feedback and fed questions to Stacey Plaskett, Democratic delegate from the US Virgin Islands, during a congressional hearing in 2019.

The White House still has a few cards left. The Department of Justice could refuse to release the files on the grounds that they are conducting an investigation into big-name Democrats like Bill Clinton. Or they could release the files, but redact all the Republican nameswhich Epsteins brother Mark says they are already planning to.

No matter what happens, the Epstein scandal is another nail in MAGAs coffin. In an epoch of world capitalist crisis, this cross-class electoral coalition will not last forever. The common problems facing all workers will eventually lead to all-out explosions of the class struggle that will turn American politics upside down.
At least 64 people are missing following a boat capsizing on Monday in the Sankuru River in Kasai Province, central Democratic Republic of the Congo, local news reported only on Wednesday, November 19. The vessel, carrying approximately 120 passengers, had departed Bena Dibele on November 13 en route to the capital, Kinshasa, more than 800 kilometres away. Officials said the boat overturned after encountering strong whirlpools, with around 50 people rescued so far as search and rescue operations continue.

Water transport remains a vital means of travel in the DRC, but accidents are frequent due to overcrowding and poor vessel conditions. Authorities continue efforts to locate the missing passengers, highlighting ongoing concerns about river safety in the country.
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An astrocyte cell grown in tissue culture stained with antibodies to GFAP and vimentin. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / GerryShaw, CC BY-SA 3.0

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a natural mechanism that clears existing amyloid plaques in the brains of mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and preserves cognitive function. The mechanism involves recruiting brain cells known as astrocytes, star-shaped cells in the brain, to remove the toxic amyloid plaques that build up in many Alzheimer's disease brains.

Increasing the production of Sox9, a key protein that regulates astrocyte functions during aging, triggered the astrocytes' ability to remove amyloid plaques. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests a potential astrocyte-based therapeutic approach to ameliorate cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disease.

"Astrocytes perform diverse tasks that are essential for normal brain function, including facilitating brain communications and memory storage. As the brain ages, astrocytes show profound functional alterations; however, the role these alterations play in aging and neurodegeneration is not yet understood," said first author Dr. Dong-Joo Choi, who was at the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor while he was working on this project. Choi currently is an assistant professor at the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

In the current study, researchers looked to identify mechanisms associated with astrocyte aging and Alzheimer's disease, focusing on Sox9, as this protein is a top regulator of multiple genes in aging astrocytes.

"We manipulated the expression of the Sox9 gene to assess its role in maintaining astrocyte function in the aging brain and in Alzheimer's disease models," said corresponding author Dr. Benjamin Deneen, professor and Dr. Russell J. and Marian K. Blattner Chair in the Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Center for Cancer Neuroscience, a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor and a principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital.

"An important point of our experimental design is that we worked with mouse models of Alzheimer's disease that had already developed cognitive impairment, such as memory deficits, and had amyloid plaques in the brain," Choi said. "We believe these models are more relevant to what we see in many patients with Alzheimer's disease symptoms than other models in which these types of experiments are conducted before the plaques form."

In these Alzheimer's mice, the team overexpressed or eliminated Sox9 and then assessed the cognitive function of individual mice for six months, evaluating the animals' ability to recognize objects or places. At the end of the experiment, the researchers measured plaque deposition in the brains.

Compared to reducing Sox9 expression, increasing it had the opposite effect. Sox9 knockout accelerated plaque formation, reduced astrocyte complexity and decreased clearance of amyloid deposits. Overexpression reversed these trends, promoting plaque clearance, while increasing the cells' activity and complexity. Importantly, overexpression of Sox9 also preserved cognitive function in these mice, indicating that astrocytic clearance of plaques halts neurodegenerative-related cognitive decline.

"We found that increasing Sox9 expression triggered astrocytes to ingest more amyloid plaques, clearing them from the brain like a vacuum cleaner," Deneen said. "Most current treatments focus on neurons or try to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques. This study suggests that enhancing astrocytes' natural ability to clean up could be just as important."

Choi, Deneen and their colleagues caution that more research is needed to understand how Sox9 works in the human brain over time. But their work opens the door to therapies that could one day harness the power of astrocytes to fight neurodegenerative diseases.

Sanjana Murali, Wookbong Kwon, Junsung Woo, Eun-Ah Christine Song, Yeunjung Ko, Debo Sardar, Brittney Lozzi, Yi-Ting Cheng, Michael R. Williamson, Teng-Wei Huang, Kaitlyn Sanchez and Joanna Jankowsky, all at Baylor College of Medicine, also contributed to this work.

More information: Astrocytic Sox9 overexpression in Alzheimer's disease mouse models promotes A plaque phagocytosis and preserves cognitive function, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02115-w. Journal information: Nature Neuroscience
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

If you buy your own health insurance, or had planned to for next year, you might have seen news stories and social media posts about insurance costs going up.

And not just a little. A lot.

You also might have heard that extra government funds to help people afford health insurance have expired and might not be replaced.

And all of this may have left you feeling confused and worried, especially with deadlines coming up soon.

You may even think you should just try to go without health insurance to save money.

But University of Michigan Health experts have some important, timely advice: Don't make any decisions until you have explored all your options.

There is still money available to help some people with their costs, but exactly who and how much depends on Congress and the president.

Whatever you do, the experts say, don't go without coverage if you are able to afford an available plan, and get help finding the best option for you.

"For 15 years, people who don't get health insurance from an employer, and don't qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or other plans, have had the option to buy their own coverage under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA," explained A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., director of the U-M Center for Value Based Insurance Design and a professor at the U-M Medical School.

"This year, there's uncertainty about who exactly will get help from the federal government to reduce the cost of coverage, and how much they will get, which has raised a lot of worry," he added.

"But what we know from the days before the ACA is: Being uninsured is hazardous to your physical and mental health, and could dramatically impact your financial health.

"Before you decide that it is just too expensive to enroll in a health plan, it's worth checking out the options and considering cutting costs in other areas of your budget to afford health insurance," he said, "because one unexpected illness, injury or operation could spell financial ruin if you don't have coverage."

Alena Hill and her team of Michigan Medicine Patient Financial Counselors have heard a lot of worry in recent weeks since the enrollment period began.

They run a toll-free helpline that anyone in Michigan can callwhether or not they've received care at U-M Healthto talk through their options.

"We want to help people, and we hope they'll call us, or our partners at the Washtenaw Health Project, or other unbiased trained counselors near them," said Hill.

For people who live outside Michigan, she notes that counselors who are listed as "assisters" in the Find Local Help section on healthcare.gov are not paid by health insurance companies; they offer independent advice.

That site also lists insurance brokers, who get paid based on how many people enroll through them.

10 key things to know about 2026 health insurance

1. Act soon.

If you want your coverage to begin January 1, you have until December 15 to commit to a plan and pay your first bill.

If you don't do it by then, you can still sign up and pay before January 1 and have coverage starting February 1.

If you miss the January 1 enrollment deadline, you may qualify to enroll later in 2026 if you lose a job; get married, divorced or widowed; move to another state; or have or adopt a child.

If Congress and the president don't make a deal about government assistance for insurance costs by December 14, it's up to you whether you want to enroll on December 15 for the best plan you can afford, or wait to see if they make a deal by December 31, enroll by then, and just go without coverage until your plan kicks in on February 1.

2. Don't assume anything.

The healthcare.gov insurance marketplace has five tiers of coverage: catastrophic, bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

Because of weird quirks in the way health insurance on the individual market is priced, you may actually pay less for a higher-level plan than a lower-level plan, especially gold vs. silver.

At every level, consider total costs, Hill says.

Don't stop at what it will cost you each month (called a premium) but also look at the deductible (how much you'll have to pay for care before your insurance kicks in) and the co-pay and co-insurance amounts you'll pay when you get care.

Also, check the network of hospitals and providers that are considered "in network" and the list of medications a plan will cover, especially if you have a doctor you like or a prescription you rely on.

Here's the list of ACA plans that U-M Health's hospitals, health centers and providers in southeast Michigan will accept in 2026. Here's the list of all plans accepted at UM Health-Sparrow.

If you currently have insurance that you bought on the Healthcare.gov site or a state marketplace, you may be tempted to just automatically let the system re-enroll you for next year.

But don't assume that the plan you have now will be the best one for next year. It may not even be offered, or another plan may be better for you or less expensive in monthly premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

3. Know what's available for veterans.

Check to see if you might be eligible for Veterans Health benefitsthe criteria have expanded recently. Even if you didn't qualify before, you might now.

4. Your exact income really counts this year.

That's because federal help with insurance costs will no longer be offered for people with incomes over 400% of the federal poverty level.

But people with incomes below this cutoff will get at least some help with the cost of their insurance. How much is up to Congress and the president.

There's a calculator here that will help you understand where your income falls based on how many people live with you, and there's a list of what kinds of income counts.

The income levels that the calculator shows for each household size are the 100%, 200%, 300% and 400% of poverty for that state.

If your income is just over the 400% line, even by a dollar, you may want to consider whether there are ways to reduce your income slightly in order to qualify for help. Or you can contact insurance brokers and companies directly to see if you might be able to buy a plan directly for less than it would cost you on the healthcare.gov site.

5. If your income is between 200% and 399% of the federal poverty level, you may want to wait until Congress and the president act before choosing a plan.

That's because you are in the bracket of income that will receive some sort of help with the cost of self-purchased health insurance, but exactly how much you'll get is still up in the air.

Extra help is set to expire on New Year's Eve unless Congress and the president renew it.

But remember, in order to have coverage on January 1, you need to sign up and pay your first payment by December 15.

6. If you have a low income, you will not face the high monthly costs that you might have heard about on the news. and Medicaid changes aren't happening soon.

If your income is under 200% of poverty, you will definitely qualify for government help with the cost of your coverage.

If your income is below 138% of poverty for your state, you may qualify for Medicaid or a Medicaid expansion plan such as the Healthy Michigan Plan.

You may have heard that changes are coming to Medicaid plans, to require people to confirm twice a year that they still have a low income and that they are working, volunteering, going to school or caregiving in order to keep their benefits. These changes aren't taking effect immediately.

However, if you qualify for Medicaid, it's really important to make sure to update your phone number, email address and street address on file so that you won't miss notifications about changes coming later.

Also, even if you make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, your children may qualify for the MIChild program (or its equivalent in other states) which is free to the family. Children in Michigan families that make up to 217% of poverty are eligible.

If you live in the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid and your income is under the federal poverty level but too high to qualify for your state's Medicaid program, you are not eligible for government help with the cost of buying insurance.

7. Your age counts, too.

Insurance plans that people buy directly under the Affordable Care Act aren't allowed to charge people more based on their health or disability status. But they are allowed to charge more based on age.

So if you're in your 50s or early 60s, you may have the biggest rise in insurance costs. Make sure to talk with a trained and unbiased advisor to find the best option for you.

8. If nothing else, you can consider a catastrophic plan.

These are stripped-down, bare-bones plans that have low monthly premiums but very high deductibles (meaning that you would have to bear the cost of health care you receive until it reaches thousands of dollars).

You can only get these plans if you're under age 30, or don't qualify for any government assistance with your health insurance costs, or your insurance will cost more than 8% of your total income even if you do get help.

These are not the best insurance choice for most people; if you qualify for any federal help with your insurance costs, you're better off choosing a higher-tier plan.

But if you don't, or you truly can't afford one of the plans available to you, catastrophic plans offer a way to get coverage for worst-case scenarios like major accidents or illnesses.

Plus, under the Affordable Care Act, they must cover 10 types of essential care, three primary care visits and the cost of certain preventive care before you've met your deductible.

If you get a catastrophic plan, be sure to stash as much money as you can in a Health Savings Account. See below for more on those.

If you end up facing medical bills you can't afford next year, hospitals and health systems usually offer financial help, but they usually have a requirement that you have the coverage you qualify for, and that you're below income limits.

For instance, U-M Health's information is here.

9. If you get a plan with a high deductible, open a health savings account.

Every bronze and catastrophic plan is eligible for these, and some other higher-level plans may also be HSA-eligible; check the plan's details.

An HSA makes it possible for you to put cash into a special account that doesn't charge taxes when you take the money out and spend it on health expenses that your plan doesn't cover, such as your costs up until you meet your deductible. You can keep the account from year to year, and let money build up if you don't use it.

10. If you're an immigrant, check to see if your immigration status makes you ineligible for coverage.

There have been recent court cases and federal policy changes that limit which immigrants can buy insurance on healthcare.gov.

People who used to be eligible, including the "Dreamers" covered under the DACA program, may no longer be. See this page for information about eligibility and where to get care.

Keep in mind that community health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and hospitals and health systems may offer free or reduced-cost care for people in these situations.

No matter what, Fendrick and Hill say it's important to get help navigating this especially complicated year.
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Propensity Score Graph for exposure to malaria messages (1 = Exposed, 0 = Unexposed) among women of reproductive age in Uganda. Credit: Malaria Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05629-7

Edson Mwebesa, Fellow at the Wits-based Sub-Saharan Africa Advanced Consortium for Biostatistics (SSACAB), knows children who died from late-diagnosed malaria. His research has also revealed that malaria is more prevalent in pregnant Ugandan women than in any other population. Malaria is also endemic across Africa, impacting all aspects of social and economic life.

Mwebesa, a biostatistician, wanted to dive deeper into what made people choose methods to help prevent malaria. He focused on social and behavioral change messaging, an essential part of encouraging people to use insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). While messaging campaigns have been implemented in the media, hospitals, and schools, the question of whether these messages actually change behavior remains uncertain.

Robust biostatistics methods used by African experts are set to change this.

Mwebesa applied a quasi-experimental causal inference method, known as Propensity Score Matching, to investigate this phenomenon. This approach can measure, with precision, whether messaging actually changes behavior.

Traditionally, measuring messaging impact relied on simple correlations and on counting how many people heard a message and whether they used a mosquito bed net. But correlation cannot reveal whether the messages caused the behavior, which in this case is using the mosquito net.

Those who heard or saw the messages might differ from those who did not, and thus, the use of mosquito nets might not be comparable between these groups. Those who hear malaria messages are often wealthier, more educated, or better connected, and these factors independently increase bed net use. This has made it difficult for policymakers to know whether expensive behavior-change campaigns genuinely deliver impact.

Mwebesa measured the impact of messaging aimed at women in Uganda. In that country, about 1 in 4 children under 5 years old tested positive for malaria. In some districts, incidence rates over six-month periods have exceeded 500 cases per 1,000 people, demonstrating how quickly the disease can spread in high-transmission settings.

Malaria causes fever, chills, weakness, anemia, and in some cases, complications involving the brain, lungs and other organs. Beyond the clinical burden, malaria disrupts schooling, reduces productivity and places immense strain on household finances, particularly among poorer families.

Understanding how to drive preventive behavior in this context is both a scientific and operational priority. Historically, however, researchers lacked the tools and data required to measure the impact of health communication. In 2001, economists John Luke Gallup and Jeffrey Sachs, writing in The Intolerable Burden of Malaria, explained that reliable data on malaria incidence were lacking for many of the most severely affected countries.

They constructed an indirect malaria index using historical risk maps, estimates of the proportion of falciparum malaria and population distribution data. Their work was pioneering but constrained by limited information, underscoring how weak data systems restricted the ability to study malaria's economic and social effects. They could not measure behavior or the effectiveness of prevention campaigns. They could only infer risk.

"We're in a different position now. We have conducted repeated Malaria Indicator Surveys, geocoded demographic data, collected extensive health record data, and improved surveillance systems. What's most exciting, though, is how we are growing the capacity to analyze data using modern causal methods," says Mwebesa.

Institutions such as SSACAB have trained a new generation of African biostatisticians who can use advanced techniques to answer complex policy questions that were previously out of reach.

Mwebesa used nationally representative data from the 201819 Malaria Indicator Survey and examined whether exposure to malaria messages increases the use of insecticide-treated nets among women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Uganda. The findings are published in the Malaria Journal.

The descriptive findings show that 37.6% of women aged 1549 and 37.9% of caregivers of young children had been exposed to malaria prevention messages in the six months preceding the survey. Net use was higher but not universal: 69.3% of women reported sleeping under an insecticide-treated net the night before the survey, as did 71.8% of children under 5.

Mwebesa's use of propensity score matching paired each woman who was exposed to malaria messages with another woman who was not, but who shared similar characteristics, such as age, education level, wealth, household size, region, and urban or rural residence. By ensuring that the two groups are comparable, the method isolates the effect of the messaging itself.

"For years, people assumed that malaria messages influenced behavior, but this analysis shows, with causal evidence, exactly how much they matter. Our findings demonstrate that communication increases net use. We can now quantify this," he said.

After matching, women who were exposed to malaria messages were 5.1% more likely to sleep under an insecticide-treated net than similar women who were not exposed. Among children, caregivers' exposure to messages increased ITN use by 4.3%.

These differences, when applied nationally, translate into tens of thousands of additional protected households and reduced malaria direct and indirect costs. The study also identified which communication channels were major sources of malaria messages. Radio emerged as the dominant messaging channel, reaching roughly two-thirds of women and caregivers. Community health workers and interpersonal communication were also influential. Digital platforms were used far less frequently, suggesting an untapped potential.

Professor Tobias Chirwa, Principal Investigator for SSACAB and Head of the Wits School of Public Health, explains why this type of work matters for Africa's statistical future. "This study shows what becomes possible when we combine strong African data with strong African statistical capacity. We move from describing problems to measuring impact. That is the essence of statistical innovation. African biostatisticians are leading analyses that were impossible twenty years ago."

In light of African Statistics Day, this work reflects an important shift in statistical justice and evidence sovereignty. Africa is no longer dependent on global assumptions or incomplete models. It can produce high-quality causal evidence that speaks to households' lived realities and informs local policy with accuracy and confidence. This, in turn, supports more efficient investments in communication campaigns, builds equity by identifying which groups are least reached and strengthens the effectiveness of malaria prevention efforts across the continent.

African Statistics Day 2025 highlights the theme of leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive and prosperous society for Africans. In the field of malaria prevention, this theme is particularly resonant.

More information: Edson Mwebesa et al, Effect of exposure to malaria messages on insecticide-treated net use among women and under-five children in Uganda: a propensity score matched analysis, Malaria Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05629-7 Journal information: Malaria Journal
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Researchers identified shared genetic architecture across diseases, enabling improved prediction using multitrait polygenic risk scores in the Han Chinese population. Credit: Academia Sinica / Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (adapted from Fig. 2 in the Nature article).

Researchers at Academia Sinica have developed the first population-specific polygenic risk score (PRS) models for people of Han Chinese ancestry, achieving unprecedented accuracy in predicting risks for common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders. The study, published in Nature on October 15, 2025, analyzed genomic and health data from more than half a million Taiwanese participants of the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) and demonstrates the transformative potential of ancestry-specific genetics in improving precision medicine across East Asia.

Unlocking population diversity in genomic research

Polygenic risk scores combine the effects of millions of genetic variants to estimate an individual's likelihood of developing complex diseases. However, most existing PRS models were built from studies of European ancestry populations, leading to reduced accuracy when applied to others.

To close this gap, TPMI scientists conducted the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of Han Chinese individuals to date, analyzing 695 diseases and 24 quantitative traits across 463,447 participants. The team identified 2,656 independent genetic associations, including 95 previously unreported variants, and found that the genetic risks collectively explain up to 10.3% of total health variation in the Taiwanese population.

"This project marks a milestone for precision medicine in East Asia," said Dr. Cathy S.-J. Fann, senior corresponding author at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica. "By integrating large-scale genomic and clinical data, we are building predictive models that truly reflect the real genetic architecture of our population."

Improved disease prediction through population-specific models

Using state-of-the-art algorithms such as LDpred2 and PRSmix+, the researchers developed and validated PRS models for hundreds of diseases, achieving area-under-the-curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.8 for ankylosing spondylitis and around 0.7 for psoriasis, atrial fibrillation, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. When applied to independent cohorts from the Taiwan Biobank, UK Biobank, and All of Us Project, TPMI-derived PRS consistently outperformed models trained on European data for East Asian populations.

"Our results show how locally developed risk prediction can substantially enhance healthcare precision," added Dr. Hung-Hsin Chen, the first and corresponding author at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica.

Shared genetic architecture across diseases

Analyses of genetic correlations revealed three major clusters of traitscardiometabolic, autoimmune/infectious, and kidney-relatedsuggesting shared biological mechanisms. Multitrait PRS models further improved predictive performance, especially for cardiometabolic diseases, where the explained variance increased 1.77-fold.

Novel insights into hepatitis B and immune diseases

Leveraging Taiwan's unique hepatitis B (HBV) epidemiology, the team also identified 19 new genetic loci associated with HBV infection and found inverse genetic correlations between HBV and autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. These results highlight how population-specific datasets can uncover geneenvironment interactions invisible in European cohorts, offering new insights into both infection susceptibility and immune regulation.

Toward equitable precision medicine

The researchers emphasize that genetic diversity is essential for fair global health. Despite representing almost a quarter of the world's population, East Asian people account for under 4% of participants in past genome-wide studies. By making TPMI data available for research, the team hopes to inspire similar efforts worldwide.

"Precision medicine should serve everyone, not just the populations that have been most studied," said Dr. Chen. "Our work offers a blueprint for other countries to develop population-specific risk prediction frameworks."

More information: Hung-Hsin Chen et al, Population-specific polygenic risk scores for people of Han Chinese ancestry, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09350-y Hsin-Chou Yang et al, The Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative provides a cohort for large-scale studies, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09680-x Journal information: Nature

Provided by Academia Sinica
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Scientists obtained stem cells expressing cardiac muscle-specific genes and proteins. The cells displayed regular rhythmic contractions similar to a heart, confirming that they were functional cardiomyocyte cells. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

In research, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are derived from skin, urine, or blood samples and developed into other cells, like heart tissue, that researchers want to study. Because of the similarities between certain dog and human diseases, canine iPS cells have potential uses in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.

Research on iPS cells is challenging because the cells are extremely sensitive to culture conditions. Before they are developed into other cells, iPS cells are in an undifferentiated state. At this stage, the cells are grown in a culture medium that provides the essential nutrients, growth factors, and signaling molecules that they require.

However, optimizing these components is tricky, leading many cells to fail to maintain their pluripotency (ability to become any cell type) or differentiate in undesirable ways. As a result, the medium often constrains what researchers can achieve.

An international team led by Professor Shingo Hatoya of the Graduate School of Veterinary Science at Osaka Metropolitan University has developed a new culture medium, AR medium, that transforms canine iPS cells into cardiomyocyte cellsthe muscle cells that contract the heart. The study is published in Stem Cell Reports.

Using AR medium, the researchers created the specific conditions required for proliferation in their undifferentiated state. They then established culture conditions suitable for the undifferentiated iPS cells to undergo differentiation into cardiac tissue. The result was cells that expressed genes and proteins that are only found in heart muscle cells.

The researchers also observed rhythmic contractions similar to a beating heart; the gold standard of whether the cells are functionally heart cells.

Far from simply being similar to heart muscle cells, these cells were functionally identical to cardiomyocytes. This would allow them to be used to test how new compounds affect heart rhythm, contractility, and safety before clinical trials and evaluate drug efficacy and safety.

"Our research contributes to the development of treatments and could play an important role in preclinical studies for genetic abnormalities common to both humans and dogs that involve similar genetic pathways, such as dilated cardiomyopathy," Hatoya said.

"Research using canine stem cells is expected to accelerate the development of regenerative medicine and genetic disease treatments for humans."

The AR medium also potentially allows researchers to differentiate the iPS cells into cell types other than cardiomyocytes. Professor Hatoya is excited about the possibilities. "Using the medium would expand the potential use of iPS cells in regenerative medicine and allow researchers to investigate molecules to treat difficult-to-treat diseases, including everything from heart and liver disease to neurological disorders."

More information: Toshiya Nishimura et al, Signaling pathway-based culture condition improves differentiation potential of canine induced pluripotent stem cells, Stem Cell Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102640 Journal information: Stem Cell Reports
As the inheritance battle over late industrialist Sunjay Kapurs will entered its third day in the Delhi High Court on Thursday, Priya Kapurs lawyer laid out all the receipts for the childrens education fees, directly countering Karisma Kapoors allegation from the last hearing that the fees were unpaid.



The defence lawyer, Sheyl Trehan, produced the Rs 95-lakh-per-semester receipt, showing the fees were fully paid. The lawyer also clarified that the next instalment for the second semester is only due in December.



During the last hearing, the lawyer for Karismas daughter had alleged that two months of university fees remained unpaid, prompting the bench to caution both sides to avoid melodrama and stick to facts. On Thursday, the defence established that not only were the fees paid, but the next instalment wasnt even due until December.



The court then shifted to the heart of the dispute: The validity of Sunjays will, contested by Karisma and the children. The defence then described, in detail, how the will came into existence.



The defence revealed that the original Word document was created on the laptop of Nitin Sharma, the lawyer who drafted the will.



Sharmas affidavit supported this, but he went further: Screenshots of the file, the document history, and the metadata all aligned with his account. Sharma even placed his laptop before the court, inviting verification.



Then came the timeline of changes. The defence showed that Sunjay personally reviewed the draft on March 10, 2025. Over the next few days, he sent his inputs, and revisions were made accordingly. The final edit, the one that sealed the document in its completed form, was timestamped March 17, 2025. Crucially, this date matched the plaintiffs own admission that Sunjay returned to Delhi that very day. To close the loop, the defence submitted travel logs that aligned with the metadata, stitching together a digital and physical trail that mirrored each other without contradiction.



The defence laid out the complete chain of creation of the Word file, conversion to the final signed PDF, email trail from Sharma to accountant Dinesh Agarwal, the renaming and forwarding of the document, and finally, the moment when Sunjay himself viewed the will at 5.01pm on the Family Office WhatsApp group. All of these were backed with screenshots, device logs and affidavits.



The plaintiffs latest argument  that the signature on the will may not be genuine  was strongly challenged. The defence pointed out that this same signature was relied upon by Karisma and the children to secure Rs 2,000 crore worth of benefits from the RK Family Trust. They never questioned the signature until it came to the will, which dealt with assets outside the trust. The defence countered this by explaining that the children already hold a beneficial interest of nearly Rs 2,000 crore under the trust. The will governs only Sunjays personal residual estate  including his 6.5 per cent share in AIPL and certain overseas properties.



Both attesting witnesses  Sharma and Dinesh Agarwal  reaffirmed in sworn affidavits that the signature was genuine and witnessed properly. Emails shown to the court revealed that immediately after Sunjays passing, Agarwal contacted the executor. The executor received the original will on June 24, 2025, and this handover was acknowledged by the plaintiffs in writing. In fact, for weeks after Sunjays death, the plaintiffs never asked for the will  they were focused entirely on trust documents, undermining their claim that the eill was being hidden.



The plaintiffs suggestion that the will was questionable because it was not registered was also dismissed. The defence clarified that registering a will is not mandatory under Indian law, Delhi is a non-probate jurisdiction. Most of Sunjays immovable assets lie outside India, making probate unnecessary. These points were supported by case law placed before the court.



As the hearing wound down, the defence highlighted Priyas steady conduct after Sunjays death, noting how she spent over Rs 1 crore on the childrens education, medical needs, and well-being  exactly as the will and trust required.



The court will hear the next round of arguments on November 21.
Louis Tomlinson has donated 4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for a former One Direction bodyguard.

Louis Tomlinson donates 4k to help fund ex-One Direction bodyguard's life-saving surgery

Preston Mahon requires a bypass or amputation due to blocked arteries in both of his legs, and he is hoping to raise 35,000 to pay to go under the knife after "exhausting" his savings on an initial private operation in Spain.

Louis, 33, has pledged the four-figure sum to help the boy band's former minder, and Preston - who also looked after Simon Cowell, Boyzone, Westlife, Leona Lewis and The Enemy throughout his career - "can't thank" the 1D star "enough" for his generosity.

He told The Sun: "Im so appreciative. It means the world to me.

"I cant thank him enough. Wow. I wasnt expecting that.

"I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you. All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me.

"I met up with all the lads again at Liams funeral exactly a year ago.

"It was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion."

Preston's friend Tracy Trigg set up a GoFundMe page to save her pal's legs.

Following Louis' hefty donation, more than 6,600 was raised for Preston's op, but in the early hours of Friday morning (21.11.25) another 4,000 has been pledged by an anonymous donor.

This has taken the total past 10,800.

Preston admitted he "desperately" needs a second operation to "to have a chance of living out my years without pain".

He explained: "My dad organised for me to see an expert in Madrid who did his knees.

"He phoned my father after the op and told him, We just did life-saving surgery on your son.'

"After the operation, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders but now I desperately need this second operation to have a chance of living out my years without pain."

Preston insisted he is only asking for donations because has "nothing left" in the bank.

He said: "Ive never asked for money but Ive got nothing left.

"My family finances have been exhausted."
Opposition legislators have accused the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of funnelling disproportionately higher infrastructure funds to MLAs and MPs from the ruling party, alleging that allocations meant for their own constituencies are being withheld.



They say this uneven flow of civic money has directly stalled development work in several areas and handed the ruling bloc a clear advantage on the ground.



According to opposition MLAs, essential civic and district-level allocations are being sanctioned only after recommendations from the guardian minister  an approval they claim remains out of reach for non-ruling members. They argue that this form of political gatekeeping has widened the development gap across the city, with ruling party constituencies receiving steady improvements while opposition-held regions wait indefinitely for basic works to begin.



Several legislators say the funding pattern has created a lopsided civic landscape, one in which public projects appear to move swiftly in ruling party strongholds while stagnation persists elsewhere. They warn that such disparities risk turning routine administrative processes into partisan tools, undermining balanced development across Mumbai.



Sanctioned funds being bypassed



Jogeshwaris UBT MLA Bala Nar said he met civic chief Bhushan Gagrani two days ago to push for pending work in his constituency, only to be told again that funds would be cleared only after approval from the guardian minister. Ruling party MLAs received funds of Rs 17.50 crores. But I did not get a penny. There is a provision of Rs 17.50 crores in the civic budget for each assembly constituency. However, the final fund was allotted only to the ruling party MLAs and MPs. I will be meeting him again as this fund is for my constituency, he said.



Vikhrolis UBT MLA Sunil Raut echoed the sentiment. I also tried for funds, but did not get any. Meanwhile, former corporators who are with the ruling party now are getting funds for which they have suggested, he said.



Seweris Shiv Sena UBT MLA Ajay Chaudhari wrote to deputy chief minister and guardian minister Eknath Shinde last week, saying that while ruling party MLAs received Rs 5 crores under the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC), his constituency was allotted just Rs 2 crores.



Seweri constituency is dominated by Marathi people. Late Balasaheb Thackeray also had a special affection for the Lalbaug Parel area. This is an injustice to Marathi people, he said, adding that DPDC funds should be distributed to all MLAs, but my constituency got less than half the funds compared to the ruling party.



Contrasting data



A Mumbai Mirror report on November 1 detailed the recent distribution of funds  six BJP MLAs received Rs 17.50 crores each, five MLAs and one MLC received Rs 12.50 crores, while one MLA received Rs 14.56 crores. Four MLAs from Shindes Shiv Sena were sanctioned Rs 17.50 crores each, while another received Rs 15.50 crores and one more Rs 12.50 crores. Additionally, one MLA from Ajit Pawars NCP received Rs 12.50 crores.



Mumbai has 36 MLAs  16 from the BJP, five from Shiv Sena, 10 from Shiv Sena UBT, three from Congress, and one each from Ajit Pawars NCP and the SP.



Civic officials maintain that a policy framed in February 2023 governs the distribution of funds. According to them, allocations are made only after the guardian ministers recommendation, and the recent disbursal followed this procedure. Opposition MLAs argue, however, that the system effectively sidelines constituencies not aligned with the ruling coalition, leading to inequitable development across the city.



When Mirror contacted Ashish Shelar, Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburbs, he said, As per norms, all funds have been proposed and it will be approved for those who were recommended.




In a complaint addressed to the Konkan divisional commissioner, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), and Environment and Police authorities, environmental NGO Vanashakti has alleged large-scale destruction of mangroves and illegal reclamation on CRZ-1B land in the heart of Thane  allegedly carried out by the Thane Police themselves. The police, however, said they have only just received the complaint and will take appropriate action.



The complaint, sent by Vanashakti Director Stalin Dayanand, questions how reclamation work for a new road is being executed adjacent to the recently created helipad near the police ground at Rabodi. According to the email, soil is being dumped and a road is being built on mangrove land in CRZ-1B by the police authorities.



Authorities meant to protect mangroves are destroying them



Stalin said it was deeply disappointing that the very agency expected to protect ecologically sensitive areas was now allegedly responsible for their destruction.



Instead of handing over mangroves as per the orders of the Bombay High Court, the land has still not been transferred to the Forest Department. The authority that should protect the mangroves is destroying them themselves. Will this not set a wrong precedent, encouraging land mafias to carry out destruction of mangroves and CRZ lands? he said.



The High Court had earlier directed that all mangroves on government land across Maharashtra be handed over to the Forest Department for protection. Environmentalists allege that the Rabodi patch remains outside this mandate.



Vanashakti has submitted videos, geo-tagged photographs, satellite imagery and CRZ maps to substantiate the violations.



The group claims the land clearly falls within CRZ-1B, a category where mangroves enjoy the highest level of protection and where reclamation or construction is strictly prohibited, except in rare cases of essential public utilities with prior clearances.



To the best of our knowledge, this activity cannot be done in CRZ-1 and on mangrove lands, Stalin said, demanding immediate restoration of the site.



Who will file a case against the police?



In a sharp criticism of the enforcement system, Vanashakti questioned how action can be taken against private offenders if government authorities themselves violate the CRZ norms.



The question here is: who will file the case against the police department for this violation? There are numerous violations nearby under investigation or pending inquiry. With what face can violators in those cases be booked if this is happening on government land and is being done by the police themselves? the complaint states.



Calls for immediate action



Vanashakti has urged the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, State Environment Department, Mangrove Cell, Thane Collector, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Thane Municipal Corporation to:



 Restore the damaged site



 Halt the reclamation immediately



 Take legal action, irrespective of the violators identity



 Ensure all mandatory environmental clearances are obtained before any permissible work



The NGO Vanshakti stressed that even if the activity is essential and permissible, it must still undergo the mandatory CRZ clearance process  a requirement no government agency can bypass.



An official from the Mangrove Cell said they will look into the matter but cannot comment before inspecting the site.



A senior officer from the Thane Police Commissionerate said: We just received the complaint. We will scrutinise the allegations and take action accordingly.
Early on New Years morning five years ago, I spotted a young man walking his ducks. I asked him, Are you going to eat them? He grinned and replied, Well, we bought them to breed them for eating but Ive decided I cant do that. So, theyre my pets and we go for a walk every morning.



Delighted, I decided to take that as a portent for 2020. Then the city shut down for Covid. And every time there was a report about nature returning, I thought about the young man and his ducks. Peacocks and Asian Paradise Flycatchers appeared in the city. Flamingos arrived in the tens of thousands. Those stories your parents told you about dolphins off the coast seemed less hallucinatory (even though it was the LSD infused 60s) as they were spotted after decades from Malabar Hill. And not just nature, but even old social temperaments returned - neighbours relied on each other, checked in on the elderly, shared resources and yelled at one another, window to window.



The lockdown is a bittersweet memory now but it reminded us all of one important fact. Despite being one of the planets megapoleis, Mumbais multitudes still contain its villages. Hemmed in every day by high-rises, highways and high-handedness, they endure, hiding in plain sight.



Mumbais villages are mostly nucleated (which come up around a place of worship, or a marketplace) and linear villages (along a railroad or river or shore). Most predate the municipality and its records, which is why every time a new Development Plan arrives, activists must hustle and file PILs. For example, according to citizens groups, the DP for 2034 recognises only 52 of the citys 189 gaothans. Homes of the aboriginals or old settlers, with nary an HNI in sight, gaothans and koliwadas are a sitting duck for being lumped indiscriminately into the Slum Rehabilitation Authority plans that ignore their aboriginal identity and relevance.



But the villages exist. You know some of them - the quaint ones. Their visibility cripples them in the cruellest ways. They attract the bludgeon of brutal redevelopment for an aspirational set who plunge their SUVs down the bylanes to misinterpret the histories of the residents and the antecedents of the architecture. These villages also suffer the saccharine gaze of those who aspire to document them. The Insta-carousel equivalent of an expensive, designer brand T-shirt featuring a Marxist revolutionary - these records are all soft-tones, ignoring the gumption and grit of a feisty set of folk that modern life has reduced to tourist attractions.



The less instagrammable villages suffer in other ways. The koliwadas across the city are a perfect example of how Mumbais hurtle into the future uses its aboriginals as nothing more than starting blocks. The old huddles of houses develop tumourous illegal constructions as the old residents are impoverished by the citys new aspirations. For these fishing villages, the ocean is the farm - now riddled with concrete pillars, teeming with plastic, reclamations obliterating sand beaches where boats were moored for generations. There is a particular poetry to the fact that so many expensive sea-front neighbourhoods must endure the aroma (miasma?) of fish drying every winter. For the locals, it is the smell of home. For the newer entrants, it is a problem that a municipal election, when it does eventually manifest, may spirit away.



Far more pleasant are the smells of drying laundry, spices being roasted and pounded into masalas and the heady raat-ki-raani that your mother swore attracted snakes. If you know where to look you will still find functional wells, small tracts of farmland, orchards, hives and poultry farms. DPs often call them land parcels.



In 1822, a tiger was spotted on Malabar Hill on its way to Gowalia Tank. Tigers, wild boar, hyenas and several other species were commonplace across the islands, with sightings recorded in Byculla, Kurla, Mazgaon and the suburbs. In 1859, a panther caused panic in the lanes of Kalbadevi. The last tiger of Mumbai was shot near Vihar Lake in 1929. The golden jackal though, survives in the mangroves. An important part of the citys ecosystem, their numbers are said to be increasing. In contrast, and aptly, our iconic Bombay Duck has been listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Like our citys villages, theyre not yet in danger of extinction, but require conservation measures.



Last week, I watched a young man chase his dog near some mangroves. Of course, I had to ask why. Shes killed someones chicken and now those guys are chasing me! he said breathlessly. It wasnt serious, just a village scuffle but a reminder that not everything needs be developed into something shiny and new. Not all ugly ducklings want to turn into swans.



Genesia Alves is a journalist and Mumbai is her ancestral village




Documentary theatre sits between fact and performance, archive and imagination, ethics and instinct. In India, where archives are often incomplete or politically shaped, the form becomes something else altogether: a strategy for truth and a method for placing erased histories back into public space. This is the terrain mapped in Documentary Theatre in India: Assembling Publics, Performing Politics (Transcript Verlag), edited by theatre-maker Anuja Ghosalkar and German dramaturge Kai Tuchmann. The book launches today at the Goethe-Instituts Library MMB with speakers YS Alone, known for his work on Dalit and Bahujan visual cultures; Sharmistha Saha, scholar of performance and political theatre; and a performance by Yalgaaar Sanskrutik Manch, a collective rooted in protest traditions. The line-up signals what the book keeps asking: who speaks, who listens, and who is kept outside the frame.



The art form as refuge



Ghosalkar began full-time theatre at age 34 and found the proscenium strangely uninterested in women who were not moulded to its expectations. I felt a certain violence, she says of the comments about her body and voice, and the rehearsals that reinforced the hierarchy of male directormale playwrightfemale actor. She wanted to work on her own terms.



A 2013 workshop with Tuchmann shifted everything. The sessions centred on Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own, and Woolfs imagined figure of Judith, Shakespeares equally gifted sister who never stood a chance. How does one claim ones space and ones histories through art? Ghosalkar recalls asking herself. Documentary theatre, with its use of real materialslegal files, family archives, letters, testimonies, inherited memoryoffered a frame.



Working with



whats missing



Much of her practice begins with absence. Pointing to gaps is a political act, she says. You do not accept erasures as given. When official archives fail, she works with fiction, silence and personal mythologies, treating absence as information rather than lack.



Her work reflects this shift. Lady Anandi, her debut, opened in an unfinished state and grew through audience conversations. The Lonely Hearts Club, created during the pandemic, unfolded on Zoom and Instagram with queer, Dalit and trans collaborators telling intimate stories about desire. A Bengaluru piece with a Deaf performer used Indian Sign Language, images and deliberate silence to rethink what a performance can sound like. And in Kathmandu earlier this year, she co-created a work with Gen Z artists inside a state museum, asking them to speak about the leaders in their lives. Little histories came alive in that space, she says. Our tool was hope, not sloganeering.



Drama Queen, her company, functions as a laboratory of sorts. She invites small groups for pre-show feedback and revises only what the piece demands. I do not know who defines failure, she says. I listen and take what serves the work.



The politics of documents



Tuchmann approaches the form from the other end of the spectrum: structure, translation and ethics. He worries about what happens when concepts travel across cultures without carrying their histories. Translation creates its own fault lines, he says. His central ethical question is simple and difficult: how to work with another persons pain. The pain of the other is never fully shareable. Yet it still calls out to us.



The book takes these questions seriously. One contributor, Prof Soumyabrata Chowdhury, describes Indias current condition as a crisis of the document: who possesses



the papers that prove their



existence, and who must rely



solely on memory.



What the book wants to shift



Neither editor claims the label activist. Their politics lie in the form itselfin who is platformed, how work circulates, and which stories are treated as legitimate. Ghosalkar even avoids ticketing platforms that exclude community audiences; their productions often travel through galleries, archives and experimental festivals rather than commercial stages. Their ambition is not a new canon but an unsettled one. Who speaks? Who is spoken for? Who is spoken about? Tuchmann asks. The book argues that documents include gesture, image, silence and sitenot only paperand that performance can function as an archive of its own.



Tuchmann hopes the form becomes tough without losing its tenderness. Ghosalkar hopes more artists claim small histories with clarity and risk. Together they offer the same invitation they extend to their audiences: to look at what was always there, and to see it differently.



Book launch: November 21, 6 pm, Library MMB, Fort. First-come-first-seated




New Jerseys highest court ruled Thursday that expert testimony about shaken baby syndrome is scientifically unreliable and inadmissible in two upcoming trials, a decision that comes as the long-held medical diagnoses have come under increased scrutiny.

The New Jersey Supreme Court determined that a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, which is also known as abusive head trauma, is not generally accepted within the biomechanical community and is therefore not sufficiently reliable for admission at the trials.

The 6-1 ruling deals with the trials of two men facing charges in separate cases, where the young victims showed symptoms that have come to be associated with shaken baby syndrome.

The justices, using an abbreviation for the syndrome, concluded in their lengthy decision that there was no test supporting a finding that humans can produce the physical force necessary to cause the symptoms associated with SBS/AHT in a child.

But Justice Rachel Wainer Apter, in a strongly worded dissent, said the other justices put more weight on the views of individual biomechanical engineers over the consensus perspective of every major medical society in the world.

That, she said, includes all the medical discipline involved in the diagnosis and treatment of shaken baby syndrome  pediatrics, child abuse pediatrics, neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, radiology, ophthalmology and emergency medicine.

Wainer Apter also noted that every other U.S. state allows testimony in court on the syndrome and every other court that has considered the question has held such evidence as admissible.

No case has ever concluded that evidence of SBS/AHT is unreliable, she wrote. And no case has ever found its reliability sufficiently questioned to preclude its admission at a civil or criminal trial.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the syndrome is a result of forcefully shaking an infant or a toddler, which can damage or destroy a childs brain cells and cause permanent brain damage or even death. Symptoms include bleeding around the brain, brain swelling and bleeding in the eyes.

Prosecutors and medical societies say the syndrome is the leading cause of fatal head injuries in children younger than 2 years of age, with more than 1,000 cases reported in the U.S. each year, according to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

But defense lawyers and some in the medical and scientific communities argue that shaken baby diagnosis is flawed and has led to wrongful convictions, pointing to overturned convictions or dropped charges in California, Ohio, Massachusetts and Michigan.

The state attorney generals office declined to comment Thursday, but the public defenders office hailed the decision as a landmark moment, saying it reflected the importance of relying on reliable, well-supported scientific evidence in criminal cases.

Where the science is uncertain, the stakes are simply too high to permit unsupported expert opinions to decide a persons guilt or to justify separating children from their parents, Cody Mason, a managing attorney in the public defenders office, said in a statement.

By PHILIP MARCELO

Associated Press
Sonora, CA  Fire departments across California are beginning to transition to the new National Emergency Response Information System, a cloud-based platform that aims to modernize how emergencies are reported and analyzed.

The transfer to NERIS is part of a national deployment spearheaded by the US Fire Administration and other agencies. It will replace the National Fire Incident Reporting System, which has been in operation for decades, and will provide agencies with free access to advanced data tools and analytics.

Modernizing emergency data collection is a critical step toward strengthening public safety, stated California State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant. By utilizing NERIS, we are giving our departments better tools to protect our communities, manage resources effectively, and make informed decisions backed by current data.

CAL Fire provided these key NERIS features:

 Zero-cost access for all public fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies

 Local data ownership, giving departments full control of their records

 GIS-based reporting for location-specific insights and planning

 Actionable dashboards for operational awareness and performance tracking

 Streamlined onboarding with help desk support and training tools: Departments can begin the onboarding process today by visiting the NERIS website.

The process includes account setup, administrator access, and, if required, records management system (RMS) connection.

NERIS is purpose-built for todays fire service, Steve Kerber, Executive Director of the Fire Safety Research Institute, said. Its based on research and feedback from the field, and it delivers actionable information that improves emergency response and supports long-term planning and resourcing at the local, state, and national levels.

The current system will be decommissioned on January 1, 2026.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  TaKiya Young had big dreams for her growing family, and for herself.

Seven months pregnant, the 21-year-old Ohio woman loved to spoil her two sons and was thrilled to be expecting a daughter. She bought onesies, scheduled a photo shoot and showed off her belly. And she applied for public housing so they could have their own place while she pursued her goal of becoming a social worker.

Instead, Young and her unborn daughter were buried together  the mother in bright fuchsia and the daughter in white. Neither survived the shooting of a police officer in the parking lot of a grocery store where Young had been suspected of shoplifting in August 2023.

A jury on Friday acquitted the officer, Connor Grubb, of criminal wrongdoing. Her grandmother sobbed in the courtroom, yelling This is not right!

Young treated her young boys  now 8 and 5  like kings, dressing them up, cooking them steaks and indulging them with too many sweets. A relative called Young a smart young woman who was beautiful inside and out.

Mourners celebrated her joyful spirit at her funeral by wearing various shades of her favorite color, bright pink. Her mother had died just a year earlier.

The familys lawyers vowed Friday to keep pursuing their civil claim against Blendon Township and its police chief, seeking accountability for her death despite the verdict.

TaKiyas two sons deserve to know that their mothers life mattered. They deserve financial security. They deserve to grow up in a world where pregnant Black women are not killed by police over shoplifting accusations, the lawyers said. And they deserve a legal system that delivers accountability even when a criminal jury cannot.
UC Riverside Highlanders (2-3) at San Diego Toreros (3-1)

San Diego; Friday, 9 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Toreros -6.5; over/under is 152.5

BOTTOM LINE: UC Riverside is looking to break its three-game skid with a victory over San Diego.

San Diego finished 6-27 overall a season ago while going 5-13 at home. The Toreros averaged 11.4 assists per game on 24.8 made field goals last season.

The Highlanders have gone 1-2 away from home. UC Riverside is 1-0 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 16.0 turnovers per game.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

By The Associated Press
Sian Welby felt "pressure" to return to work after giving birth to her first child.

Sian Welby returned to work three months after giving birth

The 39-year-old TV star and her fiance, Jake Beckett, welcomed their daughter Ruby into the world in June 2024, and Sian has now explained why she decided to return to work just three months later.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Sian explained: "I'm very realistic that I can't be sure what would happen if I took a full year off. I don't know many people in this industry that would take that much time out. You have to be very secure within your job and your role.

"I have bills to pay. I have to provide for my family, and I had built this up, it was 15 years in the making, some of these jobs are finally there.

"People might know me now from This Morning or Capital. Those jobs took a long time to get, and I wasn't ready to potentially throw them away or let them, or the momentum slow down. I was also really loving the fact it was finally getting going."

Sian has never taken more than three months off in her entire TV career, and she felt she needed to remain active in order to continue her career momentum.

The This Morning star said: "I was torn. It was a very difficult time. Deep down I would have loved to have more time off. Realistically I couldn't.

"That's something that loads of parents face, and I've since spoken to loads of people that did quicker than me. Three months for me is the longest I've ever had off work."

Despite this, Sian feels fortunate to have such a strong support network around her.

She said: "My partner's parents are brilliant when they can help, they work full time. So I'm in a very relatable situation in terms of working parents.

"My job's a bit more mad, but everyone could relate to the fact of the mum and dad guilt we feel for having to go back to work."
Individuals named Ailsa are often characterized by their deep sense of commitment and spiritual awareness, reflecting the name's meaning of devotion to God. They tend to be thoughtful, introspective people who value meaningful connections and principles over superficial relationships. Their devotion extends beyond religious contexts to include loyalty to family, friends, and personal values.



Ailsas typically demonstrate strong integrity and are known for keeping their promises, embodying the 'oath' aspect of their name's meaning. They often possess a quiet strength and resilience that helps them navigate challenges while maintaining their core beliefs. Many Ailsas show artistic or creative tendencies, combined with practical wisdom that makes them both dreamers and doers in their pursuits. Their combination of spiritual depth and practical capability makes them valued friends and reliable companions who approach life with both passion and purpose.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Amad holds profound significance in Islamic culture as one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, carrying deep religious and spiritual meaning. The name derives from the Arabic root meaning 'to praise' and reflects the high esteem in which the Prophet is held within Muslim communities worldwide. Throughout Islamic history, the name has been bestowed upon children as both an honor to the Prophet and an aspiration for the child to embody praiseworthy qualities. In many Muslim societies, names connected to the Prophet are considered particularly blessed and are believed to bring barakah (divine blessing) to the bearer. The name appears in various forms across the Muslim world, from North Africa to Southeast Asia, demonstrating its universal appeal within the Islamic tradition. The cultural importance of Amad extends beyond mere nomenclature; it represents a connection to Islamic heritage and serves as a constant reminder of the prophetic example that Muslims strive to emulate in their daily lives.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Darline emerged as a variant of Darlene during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly within Christian communities in English-speaking countries. The name carries strong connotations of endearment and affection, reflecting Victorian era sensibilities where virtue names and terms of affection became popular as given names. In Christian contexts, the name's meaning of 'darling' or 'beloved' aligns with biblical concepts of divine love and the cherished status of individuals within their faith communities.



The name saw particular popularity among Protestant denominations in the American South and Midwest, where it symbolized both familial devotion and spiritual belovedness. During the mid-20th century, Darline represented ideal feminine virtues of kindness, loyalty, and nurturing care. It frequently appeared in Christian households as a way to express the cherished nature of a daughter within both family and faith community. The name's usage declined as naming trends shifted toward more modern inventions, but it remains significant in family genealogies and communities with strong traditional values.
Women named Ignacia typically exhibit personality traits characterized by passionate intensity, strong willpower, and deep conviction. Their fiery nature manifests as enthusiasm for their pursuits, whether professional, creative, or personal. Ignacias often possess natural leadership qualities and the ability to inspire others through their vision and determination. They approach challenges with resilience and a problem-solving mindset, rarely backing down from difficult situations. This strength is balanced by a warm, compassionate nature that makes them loyal friends and devoted family members. Their inner fire provides both the energy to pursue ambitious goals and the warmth to nurture meaningful relationships.



Ignacias tend to be deeply principled individuals who value authenticity and integrity in themselves and others. They often demonstrate a blend of traditional wisdom and innovative thinking, respecting heritage while embracing progress. Their passionate nature makes them excellent advocates for causes they believe in, and they frequently excel in roles that require persuasion, teaching, or leadership. While they can be strong-willed, Ignacias typically channel this determination into constructive purposes rather than conflict. They possess an intuitive understanding of people and situations, combined with the courage to speak truth and stand for their beliefs. This combination of fire and wisdom makes Ignacias memorable individuals who leave lasting impacts on their communities.
A new luxury grocery store in Tribeca is making headlinesand stirring controversyover its pricey offerings, including gluten-free chicken nuggets selling for $15 per half dozen.

Meadow Lane, located at 355 Greenwich St., opened last Friday and immediately drew massive crowds, forcing the store to impose quotas on several high-demand items.

Founder Sammy Nussdorf, 28, known online as "Brokeback Contessa," told Side Dish, "We can't keep up. We outperformed all of our projections."

The swanky market, which also sells $625 tins of Siberian caviar, $65 bottles of olive oil, and $74 containers of matcha powder, quickly became a social media sensation, with followers lining up to try the upscale offerings, NY Post reported.

The store's sudden popularity has not come without backlash. Nussdorf revealed he has received death threats and threats of vandalism, a response he attributes to both the high prices and political tensions in the city.

"People are threatening to burn down the store and throw rocks through the windows. The hate is out of control," he said.

Despite the controversy, shoppers continue to flock to Meadow Lane. Prepared foods like the gluten-free nuggets, a $20 Chinese chicken salad, horseradish leek chicken salad, and miso salmon bowls are selling out daily.

Even the store's reusable tote bags have become sought-after items. To manage demand, the store limits customers to five prepared foods per person and regularly posts updates on social media when items run out.

Swanky new NYC grocer faces death threats, lines around the block in first days: We cant keep up https://t.co/EY6NHcFJaP pic.twitter.com/NKUl42qLJ4  NY Post Business (@nypostbiz) November 21, 2025

Gluten-Free Nuggets Draw Crowds to Meadow Lane

Fans of Meadow Lane include "Shark Tank" star Barbara Corcoran, who was spotted shopping for the famous chicken nuggets.

Other visitors, like Kate Friedman from Chicago, said they were drawn both by Nussdorf's social media presence and the promise of gluten-free options.

"I love [Nussdorf] on TikTok, and I am also gluten free. I want to try the chicken nuggets and the matcha," she said.

The store's interiors, designed by Sarah Carpenter, feature sleek displays and carved nooks for customer convenience.

Nussdorf emphasizes that Meadow Lane is meant to serve New Yorkers, not just social media visitors passing through the city. "The locals are the ones who keep local businesses afloat," he said.

According to Fox5, experts note that the frenzy around Meadow Lane reflects the "scarcity effect," where limited availability fuels demand.

Whether it's the high prices or the sense of exclusivity, Meadow Lane has turned grocery shopping into a social and status-driven experience.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Those bearing the name Taliesin typically exhibit a complex blend of creativity, intuition, and intellectual depth that marks them as natural seekers of truth and beauty. They often possess a magnetic quality that draws others to their insights and perspectives, combined with a thoughtful, sometimes introspective nature that values solitude for creative or philosophical contemplation. Their communication style tends to be eloquent and persuasive, reflecting the bardic tradition of using language as both art and tool for enlightenment. Taliesins are frequently drawn to uncovering patterns and meanings that others might overlook, whether in art, nature, or human relationships. They may display a certain wisdom beyond their years and often serve as mentors or guides to those around them. While deeply connected to tradition and knowledge, they also embrace innovation and transformation, seeing life as an ongoing process of learning and reinvention that mirrors their namesake's mythological journey through multiple existences.
The symbolic richness of Thomdic extends far beyond its literal meaning, representing profound concepts of protection, growth, and the wisdom of boundaries. The thorny element symbolizes the necessary defenses that enable true vulnerability and growth  much like how rose bushes protect their beautiful flowers. This speaks to the psychological truth that healthy boundaries are essential for authentic relationships and personal development. The dike component represents structure, containment, and the human ability to shape environments for safety and productivity. Together, these elements create a powerful metaphor for the balance between protection and freedom, defense and growth. In Christian symbolism, Thomdic echoes the protective love of God while acknowledging the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for discernment. The name also carries environmental symbolism, representing humanity's role as stewards who must both protect and work with nature. Modern psychological interpretations see Thomdic as representing the healthy ego  strong enough to maintain boundaries yet permeable enough to allow for connection and growth. This multi-layered symbolism makes the name particularly resonant in our increasingly boundary-challenged world, serving as a reminder that true safety comes not from eliminating all threats but from creating structures that allow life to flourish within protected spaces.
Actress Han So-hee showcased a series of striking photos, garnering wide attention for both her innocent and sensual charms.

Photos posted on her personal channel depicted the current daily life of Han, capturing moments of an evolving style and artistic expression. According to the source Panchoa, there was growing buzz regarding the photos as they made their rounds on the internet.

The photos released show Han in a pure white tube-top dress with a see-through waist panel that proudly displays a bright tattoo running down her side. The look, balancing soft and bold, has been discussed extensively by the fans via Nate and other sites, where her visual change continues to be a hot topic.

Observers noted that Han exuded what many referred to as "AI-perfect beauty" with the delicate features accentuated by subtle styling and soft, natural lighting in the photos.

Her update also comes at a crucial juncture in her career, as she is gearing up for the release of her forthcoming film, Project Y. The crime drama stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo as two women hanging on to nothing but each other as they try to steal hidden black money and gold bars to get themselves out of their dire situations.

The film is by Lee Hwan, whose works are known for being provocative with titles such as Park Hwa-young and You Don't Know Adults.

Han So-hee said about Project Y, "When I first chose this film, I thought that it was a film that I could only make if I looked like this at this age. I even thought that it was a once-in-a-lifetime project where I could mix my current passion that wouldn't be there even if five years passed by, with a moderately mature feel."

She continued, "Although I've become really close friends with actress Jong-seo, when we first started working on the project, I couldn't help but think about how to show our chemistry. I was confident that we would really suit each other and that we could maximize the synergy between actresses our age. I really want to prove that through this project."

Project Y is expected to release later this year, and the anticipation continues to build as Han So-hee's latest photos drive renewed public interest in her evolving artistry.
China's sweeping industrial push over the past decade has reshaped the global technology and manufacturing landscape, described as "interlocking innovation flywheels" that propel breakthroughs across multiple high-tech sectors simultaneously, noted a study by "US-China Economic and Security Review Commission." The report submitted to the US Congress notes that China has rapidly expanded its industrial, science, and innovation policies since 2015, deploying massive state funding, strategic planning, and nationwide coordination to strengthen its capacity to design, produce and commercialise advanced technologies. It says, "The evidence shows that comprehensive strategic planning, massive state funding, and adaptive implementation have allowed China to overcome previous industrial policy failures." The report adds that China has built an "industrial commons", a dense ecosystem of talent, supply chains, scientific infrastructure, and manufacturing capacity, that now allows Chinese firms to innovate faster and compete aggressively in global markets. The study notes, "Innovation follows manufacturing," highlighting how advancement in one sector, such as batteries, robotics, or artificial intelligence, are increasingly catalysing progress in adjacent industries. China's electric vehicle (EV) revolution is cited as a cornerstone example. Built atop earlier capabilities in lithium batteries and large-scale automobile production, the EV sector has now become a platform driving innovation in Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, industrial automation, and autonomous driving technologies. Domestic EV giants such as BYD, XPeng and Li Auto are now moving into humanoid robotics, leveraging overlapping expertise in motors, batteries, sensors, thermal management and AI. According to industry executives quoted in the report, these shared supply chains could allow automakers to produce humanoid robots at far lower cost than traditional robotics firms. China's robot density has surged from just 19 units per 10,000 workers in 2015 to 470 in 2023, now the world's third-highest. This has driven steep efficiency gains across manufacturing and accelerated China's shift toward "smart factories," many of which operate with minimal human intervention. Beyond hardware-led sectors, China is also making rapid advances in synthetic biology, an emerging field with applications in medicine, agriculture and advanced materials. The country now controls around 70 per cent of global fermentation capacity, a core input for scaling biotech innovations, and has established major research clusters such as Shanghai's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. The report warns that China's dominance in bio-manufacturing could give it an enduring first-mover advantage in the global bio-economy, with implications for pharmaceuticals, food security, and national security. However, it also acknowledged large inefficiencies, duplicated investments, and periodic overcapacity, especially in EVs, batteries and solar panels. The study notes that China's policy approach ultimately produces globally competitive firms after weaker players are squeezed out through intense domestic competition. "The firms that survive this process... are then typically highly competitive in global markets," it observes. Even as China faces slowing growth and mounting local debt, the report concludes that Beijing will continue to prioritise industrial policy spending, viewing technological leadership as essential to national security, economic resilience, and geopolitical influence. The study warns that without a coordinated response, the U.S. and other countries could lose ground in critical sectors, including robotics, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday chaired the 11th Pre-Budget Consultation with experts from the infrastructure and energy sectors in New Delhi, marking another step in the preparation of the Union Budget 2026-27. According to the Ministry of Finance on X, the meeting was attended by Secretaries from the Ministries of Power, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Road Transport and Highways, along with the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Chief Economic Adviser. The Ministry in a statement on X said, "Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman chairs the 11th Pre-Budget Consultation with the experts from the #Infrastructure, and #Energy Sectors in connection with the forthcoming Union Budget 2026-27, in New Delhi, today. The meeting was also attended by Secretaries of @MinOfPower; @shipmin_India; @MORTHIndia; Chairman of Railway Board; and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India." The Finance Minister has completed 10 rounds of Pre-Budget Consultations, in New Delhi as part of the preparations for the forthcoming Union Budget 2026-27. The meetings, held over the past few days, brought together representatives and experts from key sectors of the economy, from agriculture and MSMEs to capital markets, manufacturing, services, and technology. Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, senior officials from the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India. Secretaries from various relevant ministries and departments also joined the consultations. The series began with consultations with leading economists, followed by representatives from farmer associations and agricultural economists. Subsequent sessions engaged stakeholders from MSMEs, capital markets, startups, manufacturing, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance), information technology, tourism and hospitality, and finally trade unions and labour organisations. During these meetings, sector experts and stakeholders presented their recommendations, challenges, and expectations for the upcoming Union Budget. It focused on economic growth, employment generation, investment climate, technological advancement, industrial competitiveness, financial sector stability, labour welfare, and sustainable development. The wide-ranging consultations underline the Ministry of Finance's continued emphasis on inclusive and collaborative policy-making. Meetings with the stakeholders are a regular practice followed by the Union Finance Ministry to seek their suggestions and discuss important policies on the major economic or non-economic activities. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 21: Cyberin has built a reputation as a reliable, developer-friendly, and cheap cPanel hosting provider in India's rapidly changing digital world. Cyberin has been around for more than ten years. Its original goal was to provide feature-rich web hosting without forcing users into expensive or complicated plans. It has become a trusted name in the Indian hosting space over time because it always puts customer needs first, has great technical skills, and has clear pricing. Buy cPanel Hosting Services Online - https://cyberin.in/ Cyberin's journey isn't just about getting more customers; it's also about earning their trust. The company has hosted more than 30,000 websites and has always stressed reliability, performance, and quick support. Cyberin knew from the start that a lot of website owners, especially freelancers, small businesses, and developers, couldn't afford good hosting or had to settle for bad services. It responded by providing a strong cPanel hosting infrastructure based on modern storage, strong backups, and solid security, all at prices that won't break the bank. Cyberin's Core Services: cPanel Hosting and More Cyberin is best known for its cPanel hosting, but it offers a lot more than that. Some of its most important services are: cPanel Shared Hosting Cyberin offers shared hosting plans with cPanel, which gives users an easy-to-use control panel for managing websites, databases, FTP, email, and more. Reseller Hosting Cyberin has a free cPanel reseller plan for anyone who wants to start a hosting business. There are no monthly limits or minimum account requirements--you can begin selling from your very first account. Our custom-built module, combined with the WHMCS add-on, makes it easy to manage clients and billing. This plan also gives you unlimited storage, helpful add-ons, and access to secure data centers at a low price Cloud VPS Cyberin's cloud VPS plans come with full root access, SSD or NVMe storage, and reliable daily backups for customers who need more control and scalability and it allows to attach volume and block storage, and use S3-compatible object storage with global CDN--backed. Deploy in under 60 seconds across 15+ global regions with automated patching, snapshots, and security built in. WordPress Hosting Cyberin's WordPress Hosting plans are designed to be fast and easy to use. They also work with cPanel, which makes it easy for users to manage their WordPress sites, email accounts, and more. Domain Names and SSL Certificates Cyberin does more than just hosting. It also helps you register a domain and offers a range of SSL certificates (DV, OV, EV, Wildcard) to keep your websites safe. Values That Helped Cyberin Succeed Three main values have helped Cyberin grow: 1. Affordable without giving up quality Cyberin has some of the lowest prices on the market, but they don't cut corners. Their entry-level cPanel hosting plans start at very low prices and include unlimited websites, bandwidth, and NVMe storage. 2. Transparency One of Cyberin's strongest points is that its renewal prices stay low, so customers don't have to worry about sudden price increases. This kind of predictability makes people trust you more, especially small businesses and individual developers. Their 30-day money-back guarantee also gives you more confidence. 3. Support & Reliability Cyberin offers 24/7 support through live chat, phone, and ticketing to back up its services. They usually answer support tickets in less than an hour. Customer reviews also show how helpful their team is, even late at night. Also, they keep their uptime high, which gives customers peace of mind that their sites will stay up. Why You Should Choose Cyberin for cPanel Hosting If you're thinking about cPanel hosting in India, here's why Cyberin is a great choice: 1. Budget-Friendly Plans Cyberin makes cPanel hosting affordable, with plans starting at just 145 per month. You can plan your budget with confidence because their prices are clear and the cost of renewing stays the same. 2. Strong Technical Features * NVMe Storage & Bandwidth: High-speed storage translates to faster page loads. * LiteSpeed Web Server & LSCache: Performance is optimized for small and growing sites. * Softaculous App Installer: Install over 400 apps (like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal) with a single click. * Multiple PHP Versions, Git, SSH, Cron Jobs: Developer-friendly features give flexibility and control. 3. Security & Backups Cyberin backs up your data every day automatically, so you don't have to worry about losing it. Also, free SSL makes it easy to protect your sites. 4. Free Migration They let you move your site for free (up to 10 GB) without any downtime, so switching to Cyberin is easy and safe. 5. Excellent Customer Support Support is available 24 hours a day, and tickets are often answered in less than an hour. Customers often praise them for their commitment to service. 6. Trust and Reputation * Cyberin has a great 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with many users praising how cheap it is and how quickly they respond to support requests. * They have hosted tens of thousands of websites since 2012, which shows how stable and big they are. Conclusion: Cyberin's Plan for the Future The story of Cyberin is about making good web hosting available to everyone. They have helped thousands of small businesses, developers, and agencies in India build a strong online presence without going over their budget by offering a cost-effective, feature-rich cPanel infrastructure and dependable support. As they keep growing, improving, and adding to their products and services, their unwavering focus on customer satisfaction and technical innovation puts them in a good position for the future. Cyberin is a great choice for anyone in India looking for a reliable cPanel hosting partner. This is true whether you're just starting your first website, managing multiple client sites, or looking for hosting solutions that can grow with your business. (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.)
According to a press release by the airline, the Investment will be made through combination of equity shares and 0.01 per cent Non-Cumulative Optionally Convertible Redeemable Preference Shares (OCRPS), in one or more tranches.

The funds raised by IndiGo IFSC shall be primarily deployed towards the acquisition of aviation assets, thereby enabling ownership of aircraft.

IndiGo has historically maintained a fleet structure predominantly reliant on operating leases. In recent years, the organisation has undertaken a strategic development towards a more balanced ownership structure and diversified forms of financing.

This move reflects IndiGo's commitment to prudent capital allocation and sustainable value creation for all stakeholders.

IndiGo is India's leading and amongst the fastest growing carriers in the world. With its fleet of 400+ aircraft, the airline operates around 2300+ daily flights, connecting 90+ domestic and 40+ international destinations, inducted 58 aircraft in 2024 and welcomed over 118 million customers in FY25.

IndiGo was also named the 'Best Airline in India and South Asia' by Skytrax at the World Airline Awards 2025. (ANI)
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Friday said that India's civilisational strength lies in its ability to learn, rebuild and move forward, describing the country's progress as a reflection of its enduring identity. Addressing the Global Indology Conclave 2025, Adani warned that the challenges of the present era come not through traditional means of invasion but through control over the human mind and imagination. "The new forms of invasions do not come with armies or flags," he said. "They seek something far more powerful -- our attention, habits and imagination. This quiet civilisational force has arrived in its most powerful form -- Artificial Intelligence." Calling AI both a transformative and a dangerous force, Adani said it carries the potential to reshape human understanding of culture and memory. "AI is becoming the world's new teacher, the guide to our past and the keeper of our civilisational memory, and this is where the danger lies," he said. "It threatens the very essence of the culture that defines who we are." Adani said that India's growth journey is deeply connected to its cultural roots and philosophical heritage. "Our civilisation that refuses to break is also the one that learns how to build," Adani said. "Over the past decade, Bharat has not only been the fastest-growing major economy but has also become the fourth-largest economy on the planet. When a civilisation knows who it is, its economy knows where it must go." Reflecting on his upbringing, Adani recalled the stories his mother told from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. "My mother used to narrate episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, including Lord Ram's 14 years of exile, the devotion of Maa Sita... From the Mahabharata, she spoke about Arjuna's battlefield doubts and Lord Krishna's words to him to rise beyond family bonds and serve the purpose of Dharma," he said. "My mother was shaping my sense of duty, devotion and Dharma." Emphasising the importance of Indology, Adani described it as the disciplined study of India's philosophies, arts, sciences, and governance. "When studying it, we don't look back to live in history, but we look forward so that the best of history lives through us," he said. He noted that India's past wounds were not just physical but intellectual, citing the burning of Nalanda and Vikramshila universities and the colonial dismissal of Indian knowledge systems. "It was psychological war and it broke our civilisational self-confidence," he said. Adani said the need for a conclave on Indology is rooted in reclaiming that confidence and ensuring India's knowledge heritage continues to guide its future. "When the roots of culture fade, the land turns dry and barren, but as long as values remain, darkness can never dare," he said. (ANI)
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green on Friday welcomed Reliance Industries' decision to supply to Australia oil that is free of Russian crude. Speaking to ANI, the Australian High Commissioner to India added, "India has been a supplier of petroleum products to Australia for quite some time. The issue of Russian oil has become an important one for us for obvious reasons, because of the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In Australia, we are keen to avoid, we've totally sanctioned Russian oil to come to Australia." "And so we were very pleased when Reliance has made clear earlier this week and Reliance is the dominant supplier of oil to Australia. We're very pleased that Reliance is making an arrangement from next month, I believe, whereby from its SEZ refinery, it will only be supplying oil free of Russian content for Australia. That's a good step forward," Green said. Australian High Commissioner also underlined the rapidly growing cooperation between India and Australia, particularly in sports, critical minerals, and regional security, describing the bilateral relationship as being at its "highest order." He said the Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue remains the most significant annual meeting between the two governments. "This is where they sit down for two or three hours and go through all of the issues that are before us bilaterally, regionally and globally," he explained. He noted the close working relationship between the ministers: "Of all of her counterparts that she's met in the world, Dr Jaishankar is the one that she has met the most often, 26 times, including the time that they met yesterday." A major focus of the meeting was strengthening cooperation on critical minerals. "Australia produces more than half of the world's lithium," Green said, adding that discussions are underway to support India's growing battery and electric vehicle ambitions. He pointed to an existing partnership between Australia's Critical Minerals Office and India's Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL), aimed at identifying key lithium and cobalt projects for the Indian industry. Reaffirming Australia's commitment to the Quad, Green said, "We live in a world which is more competitive and more disrupted... you need stable, reliable partners." He added that the Quad remains "a powerful vector to try to keep our region, the Indo-Pacific, stable and prosperous and peaceful." Green confirmed that Australia looks forward to the next Quad Summit in India. "Prime Minister Albanese (Anthony Albanese) will be keen to come whenever that can be scheduled" he said. (ANI)
PNN New Delhi [India], November 21: Terra Rex Realty--a brand synonymous with luxury second homes and high-value plotted developments--has announced the launch of its new corporate office in Noida, marking a significant milestone in its nationwide expansion strategy. This move underscores the company's commitment to strengthening its reach across Delhi-NCR, scaling its channel partner network, and enhancing its presence among investors across India's major metros and scenic lifestyle destinations. A Vision Built on Transparency, Luxury, and LifestyleWith signature projects across New Goa (Sindhudurg), Port Blair, and Kasauli, Terra Rex Realty continues to redefine second-home living for the discerning modern Indian. Each project combines premium amenities with nature-rich environments--be it coastal beauty, hill-station tranquillity, or island exclusivity. The company's RERA-approved developments are known for their strong appreciation potential, transparent processes, and resort-inspired living experiences. Guided by a wellness-centric approach and visionary leadership, Terra Rex is rapidly emerging as one of India's most trusted brands in the luxury real estate segment. Strengthening Market Leadership Through Strategic GrowthTerra Rex Realty's forward momentum is fueled by a development philosophy rooted in credibility, investor trust, and long-term value creation. The company continues to expand its footprint in India's fastest-growing real estate corridors, ensuring its projects align with evolving buyer preferences for spacious, nature-driven lifestyle communities. Leadership that InspiresBehind Terra Rex Realty's success stands a powerful leadership duo: Mr. Abhishek Singh - Chairman & Managing DirectorAn Ex-IAS officer with deep expertise in governance, infrastructure development, and public policy. His long-term vision and emphasis on transparency have set the foundation for responsible, future-ready development across all Terra Rex projects. Mr. Shashank Gulati - Chief Executive OfficerA seasoned entrepreneur and investor who has driven the company's strategic growth, brand building, and investor relations. His leadership ensures each project delivers exceptional quality, customer trust, and value-driven innovation. Expanding Horizons Across IndiaThe newly launched Noida headquarters positions Terra Rex Realty at the heart of one of India's most influential investor markets. The office will serve as a central hub for client connect, partner collaborations, and nationwide project planning. Projects in New Goa (Sindhudurg), Port Blair, and Kasauli continue to attract strong interest due to their unmatched natural appeal, growing connectivity, and long-term appreciation prospects. These developments reflect Terra Rex Realty's mission to create exclusive lifestyle communities that offer both leisure and investment value. Redefining Second Homes for Modern IndiaLifestyle shifts, especially post-pandemic, have fueled demand for second homes that offer privacy, open spaces, and long-term wealth creation. Terra Rex Realty remains at the forefront of this movement, offering meticulously planned plotted developments and luxury destinations that balance wellness, design, and natural surroundings. A Future Rooted in Trust and VisionTerra Rex Realty aims to become India's leading developer of luxury second-home communities--setting benchmarks in quality, transparency, and sustainable luxury. The Noida office launch and ongoing expansion into premier natural destinations mark a new chapter in the company's growth journey. Visit Terra Rex Realty's Noida Office or explore upcoming projectswww.terrarexrealty.com Terra Rex Realty -- Where Luxury Meets Nature, and Vision Builds the Future. (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.)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said India and Israel will deepen their collaboration in technology and innovation, revealing that the two nations will now examine new areas of cooperation, including what "could be a startup bridge between Israel and India after the signing of Terms of Reference (ToR). Speaking to the media during his Israel visit, Goyal said, "We have just entered into the Terms of Reference yesterday. Now we will look at all the different elements and one of the elements could be a startup bridge between Israel and India." A key pillar of the partnership will be technology-driven collaboration. Highlighting this, Goyal noted, "One of the elements is going to be technology and innovation in our comprehensive partnership with Israel." The Minister said India sees substantial room for collaboration to advance its own startup ecosystem. "I believe we can collaborate with Israel to promote our own startup ecosystem, aspiring to take it to the levels of deep tech and high-quality innovation at competitive prices, given the economies of scale that India has to offer. We are looking at a deep partnership with Israel." "India aspires to become the startup capital of the world in the years ahead. There's a lot of excitement in Israel amongst the startups, amongst their innovators and businesses to work with India, a country which provides scale, a country which provides opportunities for the future," he said. He highlighted multiple sectors where collaboration could flourish, including cyber security, mobility, climate action, green steel and med-tech. "I do think that whether it is cyber-security, whether it's mobility, whether it's action against climate change, problems like producing steel with less carbon, or it is the med tech devices sector. I think India and Israel can work together, can partner together, and innovation will find purpose, innovation will find scale, innovation will become the new way of working and living. We have just entered into the TOR yesterday. Now we'll look at all the different elements," he added. On November 20, India and Israel formally signed the ToR to begin negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). (ANI)
Police are investigating a Japanese woman in her 50s for allegedly attempting to break into BTS member Jungkook's residence multiple times over a three-day period earlier this month.

The Yongsan Police Station confirmed on Wednesday that the unnamed woman is under investigation for attempted trespassing. According to authorities, the suspect repeatedly pressed the digital keypad lock at Jungkook's Yongsan-gu residence between last Wednesday, Nov. 12, and late Friday, Nov. 14.

The report was filed on Friday last week, the final day of the incident, per Korea Joongang Daily.

Police stated they have not yet confirmed whether the woman has returned to Japan. Investigators plan to question Jungkook to establish the complete facts of the case and determine the appropriate charges.

The Japanese woman's identity was not publicly released.

The recent incident marked yet another alarming addition to an increasingly worrying trend of security violations at Jungkook's home since his discharge from mandatory military service in June 2025. Over the past five months, the BTS member has become the repeated target of individuals attempting unauthorized entry to his residence.

The first incident occurred on the very day Jungkook completed his 18-month military enlistment. A woman in her 30s from China was arrested at approximately 11:20 p.m. after attempting to enter the residence by repeatedly trying different passwords at the front door. She was taken into custody on charges of attempted trespassing and was subsequently referred to prosecutors for investigation.

During questioning, the woman stated she had traveled to South Korea specifically to see Jungkook following his military discharge. However, Seoul Western District Prosecutors later granted the woman a suspended prosecution, which meant the charges against her were dropped. It was later reported that she had already flown back to her home country, according to Yonhap News.

Another security breach occurred when a woman in her 40s was arrested for trespassing in the underground parking space of Jungkook's residence on August 30. According to witnesses and police reports, she followed a vehicle through the entrance, loitered around the building, and attempted to flee when authorities arrived. The woman provided a confusing explanation to officers, claiming she had entered because it was "a friend's house."

Jungkook revealed during a Weverse live broadcast celebrating his birthday on Sept. 1 that he personally witnessed the parking lot incident unfold on closed-circuit television.

"I was watching everything from home. When the police arrived, she tried to run out of the basement car park in a panic," he recounted.

Expressing his frustration, the 28-year-old artist criticized the invasion of privacy while issuing a stark warning to any potential intruders.

Originally published on Kpop Starz
PNN Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 21: Under the leadership of Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, Chairman of RK HIV AIDS Research and Care Center, a successful nutrition kit distribution program for TB patients was organized in Ranchi, along with the launch of the TB Mobile Medical Unit. This initiative was undertaken by SBI Foundation under the CSR program SBIF Jeevanam in collaboration with RK HIV AIDS Research and Care Center, Mumbai, Organized under the excellent leadership of Mr. Sanjay Prakash, MD and CEO of SBI Foundation, and Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, over 300 TB patients received nutrition kits from eminent personalities present at the event. The program began with the lighting of a lamp, followed by a welcome ceremony for guests. Inspiring speeches were delivered by eminent personalities. The distribution of nutrition kits was followed by the grand flag-off of the TB Mobile Medical Unit. (https://youtube.com/watch?v=NIzyjxNsPkQ&feature=shared) The event was attended by prominent guests including Mr. Sanjay Prakash, MD and CEO, SBI Foundation (Chief Guest), Mr. Shashi Prakash Jha, Mission Director, NRHM; Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, State Tuberculosis Officer, Jharkhand; Mr. Rajaram Chavan, Senior Manager - Health and Women Empowerment, SBI Foundation; Dr. S. Baski, District TB Officer, Ranchi; Mr. Praveen Kumar Singh, DPM, Ranchi; and Ms. Nikita Arohan, Assistant Manager - Women Empowerment, SBI Foundation. Dr. Dharmendra Kumar's collaboration with SBI Foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to strengthening TB care, improving nutrition support, and increasing access to healthcare services across Jharkhand. Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, founder of the Guinness World Record-holder RK HIV AIDS Research and Care Center and President of Doctor 365, has organized several mega medical camps across the country, benefiting millions of patients. Wheelchairs, nutrition kits, and spectacles are distributed. RK HIV AIDS Research and Care Center is renowned for organizing the largest and most frequent free general medical camps. The organization has been organizing free medical camps in various parts of the country for years, benefiting millions of people. Free health checkups, free eye exams, free medicines, and free spectacles are distributed. Hundreds of doctors contribute to the medical camps. Nutrition kits are provided to TB patients. Dr. Dharmendra Kumar is continuously working towards making the country TB-free. RK HIV AIDS Research and Care Center has conducted medical camps, health checkups, and medicine distribution in Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. For two decades, the organization has been involved in HIV AIDS awareness, prevention, treatment, TB control, cancer screening, and mobile medical care. More than 60 million people have benefited through charitable initiatives across the country. Life-saving medicines worth over 1,500 crore were distributed free of charge. Over 15 million spectacles were provided to those in need. Over 3.4 million wheelchairs were distributed completely free of charge. Over 12 million TB tests were conducted, and over 117,000 TB patients were provided with complete treatment and nutrition kits. Over 780,000 anemia and sickle cell patients were diagnosed and treated. Over 420,000 cervical cancer screenings and treatment were conducted. Over 20 million HIV awareness sessions and over 10 million general medical checkups were conducted. Dozens of ambulance service centers are operated across India. (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.)
At the inaugural Adani Global Indology Conclave, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani announced a landmark commitment to building the Bharat Knowledge Graph -- a first-of-its-kind digital framework designed to preserve, structure and future-proof India's civilisational knowledge in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The Adani Group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education's Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), is hosting the three-day Global Indology Conclave to revive Indology -- the global academic study of India's civilisation, languages, philosophies, sciences and cultural heritage. Delivering the keynote address at the event, Gautam Adani said, "As a beginning, I am humbled to announce a founding contribution of Rs 100 crore towards building the Bharat Knowledge Graph and supporting the scholars and technologists who will contribute to this Indology mission. This is the repayment of a civilizational debt." The guest of honour at the conclave was Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math -- the 46th in an unbroken lineage of revered acharyas who trace their spiritual authority to Adi Shankaracharya himself. Addressing the conclave, the Shankaracharya said, "When I assumed the position of Shankaracharya, I had said that my role would become meaningful only when India becomes the Vishwaguru (global teacher). And today, Gautam Adani ji's initiative is a major support to that very dream of mine". The Global Indology Conclave is being held at the Adani Corporate House (ACH) in Ahmedabad from November 20 to 22, 2025. At a time when Indology departments worldwide are shrinking, this effort seeks to reassert India's ownership of its knowledge systems and present them to the world through an authentic, research-driven Indian lens, a release said. "If a civilisation does not actively defend its cultural and emotional frameworks, human behaviour will bend, not towards culture or tradition, but towards the cold logic of the machine's algorithms. This shift will be silent, gradual and will reshape how we feel, learn and analyse our own country," added Gautam Adani. The partnership brings together the Adani Group's long-term commitment to nation-building with IKS' mandate to integrate India's traditional knowledge frameworks into contemporary education. Launched under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, IKS works to mainstream ancient Indian wisdom across disciplines, encouraging interdisciplinary research, preservation of texts and practices and practical application in modern contexts such as engineering, environmental science, linguistics, public policy and healthcare. Indology has historically shaped the global understanding of India, influencing sectors as varied as linguistics, astronomy, mathematics, governance, literature and health sciences. But decades of declining institutional support have diluted its academic depth. To address this challenge, the Adani Group and IKS are also leading a five-year program to support 14 PhD scholars across leading institutions. Their research will span Paninian grammar and computational linguistics, ancient astronomical systems, indigenous healthcare frameworks, sustainability principles in traditional engineering, political thought, heritage studies and classical literature. The scholars were selected through a rigorous national consultation involving IITs, IIMs, IKS-focused universities and eminent scholars. By integrating classical knowledge with advanced tools such as data science, systems thinking and multimodal archiving, the programme seeks to make Indology relevant to contemporary academic discourse and global scholarship. Rooted in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- the ancient Indian ethos of "the world as one family"-- the initiative reflects the Adani Group's commitment to strengthening India's soft power and civilisational leadership, the release said. (ANI)
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has taken a significant step toward its renewable energy target of 10 GW by 2030, awarding a 300 MW ISTS-connected solar power project that will generate approximately 710 million units of green power annually. The company announced the development in an X post on Friday, calling it a major leap in its clean-energy journey and a contribution to India's national mission of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The new solar project forms a central component of ONGC's integrated plan to develop 300 MW of solar and 300 MW of wind power for captive consumption across major operational hubs, including Hazira, Uran and ONGC's group entity OPaL. With this addition, the company said its onshore green power consumption is expected to surge from 6 per cent to 47 per cent, marking a transformational shift toward sustainable operations. "To achieve its renewable energy target of 10 GW by 2030, ONGC has taken another major leap in its clean-energy journey by awarding a 300 MW ISTS-connected Solar Power Project with a capacity to generate ~710 million units of green power every year. This milestone strengthens ONGC's commitment to India's national mission of 500 GW of RE capacity by 2030. This project forms a core part of ONGC's integrated plan to develop 300 MW Solar + 300 MW Wind for captive consumption across key operational hubs like Hazira, Uran and group entity @OpalIndiaIn," the energy major added in the post. "ONGC, along with ONGC Green Ltd (OGL), now operates a renewable energy portfolio of 2.85 GW. The company noted that with upcoming tenders for 300 MW wind, 600 MW solar and 1,200 MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS), the combined ONGC-OGL portfolio is poised to expand to 3.70 GW in the near future," the post read. According to ONGC, each addition to its renewable energy footprint enhances India's energy security, reduces emissions and accelerates the nation's transition toward a cleaner future. The company reiterated its commitment through the message: "Energy Now. Energy Next. A greener India in the making." (ANI)
In a historic decision, four labour codes which subsume several labour-related laws, came into force from Friday, as part of efforts towards a future-ready workforce for Aatmanirbhar Bharat by modernising regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work. The four Labour Codes - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, introduce major welfare initiatives and reforms that strengthen worker protection and simplify compliance for employers, an official release said. The new Labour Codes ensure formalization of employment in terms of mandatory appointment letters to all workers. Written proof will ensure transparency, job security, and fixed employment, the release said. Under Code on Social Security, 2020 all workers including gig and platform workers will get social security coverage. All workers will get PF, ESIC, insurance, and other social security benefits. Under the Code on Wages, 2019, all workers will receive a statutory right minimum wage payment. Minimum wages and timely payment will ensure financial security Employers must provide all workers above the age of 40 years with a free annual health check-up. Promote timely preventive healthcare culture. Mandatory for employers to provide timely wages, ensuring financial stability, reducing work stress and boosting overall morale of the workers. According to release, women are permitted to work at night and in all types of work across all establishments, subject to their consent and required safety measures. Women will get equal opportunities to earn higher incomes - in high paying job roles. ESIC coverage and benefits have been extended Pan-India - voluntary for establishments with fewer than 10 employees, and mandatory for establishments with even one employee engaged in hazardous processes. Social protection coverage will be expanded to all workers. There will also be reduction in compliance burden. The release said that many of India's labour laws were framed in the pre-Independence and early post-Independence era (1930s-1950s), at a time when the economy and world of work were fundamentally different. "While most major economies have updated and consolidated their labour regulations in recent decades, India continued to operate under fragmented, complex and in several parts outdated provisions spread across 29 Central labour laws. These restrictive frameworks struggled to keep pace with changing economic realities and evolving forms of employment, creating uncertainty and increasing compliance burden for both workers and industry," the release said. "The implementation of the four Labour Codes addresses this long-pending need to move beyond colonial-era structures and align with modern global trends. Together, these Codes empower both workers and enterprises, building a workforce that is protected, productive and aligned with the evolving world of work -- paving the way for a more resilient, competitive and self-reliant nation," it added. The Fixed-Term Employees will receive all benefits equal to permanent workers, including leave, medical, and social security. "Gratuity eligibility after just one year, instead of five. Equal wages as permanent staff, increasing income and protection," the release said, adding that the the Labour Codes promote direct hiring and reduces excessive contractualisation. 'Gig work', 'Platform work', and 'Aggregators' have been defined for the first time under the Labour codes. Aggregators must contribute 1-2 per cent of the annual turnover, capped at 5 per cent of the amount paid/payable to gig and platform workers. Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Number will make welfare benefits easy to access, fully portable, and available across states, regardless of migration. Gender discrimination has been legally prohibited and there is equal pay for equal work ensured. Women are permitted to work night shifts and in all types of work (including underground mining and heavy machinery), subject to their consent and mandatory safety measures. "Mandatory women's representation in grievance redressal committees. Provision to add parents-in-law in Family Definition of Female employees, expanding dependent coverage and ensuring inclusivity. To ensure a decent standard of living, workers will receive wages as per the floor wage determined by the Central Government," the release said. All MSME workers covered under the Social Security Code, 2020, eligibility based on employee count. For beedi and cigar workers, minimum wages have been guaranteed for all. "Working hours capped at 8 -12 hours per day, 48 hours per week has been capped. Overtime Work beyond prescribed hours, to be consent based and pay at least double the normal wage rate. Timely payment of wages ensured. Workers eligible for Bonus after completing 30 days of work in a year," the release said. "Plantation workers are now brought under the OSHWC Code and the Social Security Code. Labour Codes apply to plantations with more than 10 workers or five or more hectares. Mandatory safety training on handling, storing, and using chemicals. Protective equipment mandatory to prevent accidents and chemical exposure. Workers and their families to get full ESI medical facilities; Education facilities for their children are also guaranteed," it said. The release said digital and audio-visual workers, including journalists in electronic media, dubbing artists, and stunt persons will now receive full benefits. Mandatory appointment letter for all workers - clearly stating their designation, wages, and social security entitlements. Timely payment of wages ensured. Overtime Work beyond prescribed hours, to be consent based and pay at least double the normal wage rate. The Social Security Code treats certain commuting accidents as employment-related, subject to conditions of time, and place of employment. Central Government notified standards to standardize workplace occupational safety and health conditions. Health safety for all workers will be ensured. Free annual health check-up will be provided. Limit on working hours set to 8 to 12 hours per day, 48 hours per week to ensure health and work-life balance. Hazardous industry workers will receive free annual health check-ups. "Central Government will frame national standards for better safety of workers. Women can work in all establishments, including underground mining, heavy machinery, and hazardous jobs, ensuring equal job opportunities for all. Mandatory safety committee at each site for on-site safety monitoring, and safe handling of hazardous chemicals ensured. All Migrant Workers (direct, contractor-based and self-migrated) to get Equal wages, welfare benefits and PDS portability benefits. Workers can raise claims for upto 3 years for settlement of pending dues, facilitating flexible and easy resolution. Provision for double wages for workers for overtime work," the release said. The release said that in line with the wide-ranging consultations carried out during the drafting of the Labour Codes, the Government will likewise engage the public and stakeholders in the framing of the corresponding rules, regulations, schemes, etc. under the Codes. During transition, the relevant provisions of the existing labour Acts and their respective rules, regulations, notifications, standards, schemes, etc. will continue to remain in force. The release said over the past decade, India has expanded social-security coverage dramatically, rising from about 19% of the workforce in 2015 to more than 64 per cent in 2025, ensuring that protection and dignity reach workers across the country, and also earning recognition in the global arena for this milestone achievement in social protection. (ANI)
Kabir Khan, known for directing 'Kabul Express', 'New York', 'Ek Tha Tiger', 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and '83', on Friday said the survival of meaningful cinema depends on a shared responsibility between the industry and its audiences. Pointing to 'Homebound', which he described as "a beautiful film" that failed to receive the theatrical response it deserved, Khan stressed that filmmakers must work to improve the way such titles are showcased and promoted. At the same time, audiences too must step forward to support the kind of cinema they wish to see. Speaking to ANI, he said, "There have been some changes, post-Covid, in the audience behaviour. And we are all still trying to, I think, analyse it and struggling to understand it. 'Homebound' follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a story grounded in friendship, duty, and the pressures facing young India. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles. Despite the accolades and critical acclaim it earned, Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound' was unable to translate that appreciation into box-office success. The ace director shared, "When a film like 'Homebound', which is a beautiful film, releases in the theatres, it doesn't get the kind of footfall that a film like that should merit. And that is something that we, as an industry, need to work towards: being able to give them more showcases and promote those films in a bigger way." Khan emphasised that audiences play a crucial role in sustaining quality cinema. "At the end of the day, the film industry is an ecosystem that involves the audience as well. Audiences also need to learn how to encourage and support cinema like this, especially when they feel that that kind of cinema is not being made enough. Because without the support of the audience, films cannot be made," he added. The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' director was speaking at the International Film Festival of India 2025 (IFFI), where the screening of the anthology film 'My Melbourne' took place, which includes four powerful stories directed by filmmakers Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Rima Das and Onir. While talking about the festival, he noted that it has grown into a powerful platform that brings together filmmakers and cinema lovers from across the globe, offering a creative space. "The festival has really grown, and you can see today how big a platform it is. I think over the years it has grown from strength to strength. Today, filmmakers from all over the world come here. There are films we can watch here from every corner of the world. And that's why it's such a fabulous festival." Khan said that such festivals are not just about screening films but about meaningful exchanges. "As a filmmaker, I come here not only to watch films but also for the opportunity to meet and interact with talent from all over the world. You get to learn a lot. New opportunities arise," he added. Speaking about his own schedule, the director said he had arrived in Goa for the festival and also for the screening of his film 'My Melbourne'. "I reached late last night....and it felt so good to see a house-full audience at that hour," he said. He added that much of his day was dedicated to the Australian delegation at the festival, including his friend and the film's producer, Mitu Bhowmick. "There's a lot of the Australian delegation here. My friend, Mitu Bhowmick, who has produced 'My Melbourne', is also here. There are some announcements about Indo-Australian co-productions. So, most of my day is dedicated to her," he said. The 56th International Film Festival of India is currently underway in Goa. It will run till November 28. (ANI)
Netflix's latest special, Dining with the Kapoors, brought together members of the iconic Kapoor family, Randhir Kapoor, Rima Jain, Neetu Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, as they bonded over food, memories, and nostalgia. While enjoying a lavish spread, the Kapoors reminisced about their shared moments and fondly recalled their deep connection with one another and with the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. Ranbir opened up about a lesser-known family story. He shared how his name is not just his own, but a tribute to his grandfather, the showman Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor's full name was Ranbir Raj Kapoor, and decades later, when Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor welcomed their son, they chose to give him a part of that name, carrying forward the family's history, spirit, and love for cinema. "My name is actually my grandfather's name. His real name was Ranbir Raj Kapoor. That's how he used to sign his cheques. And when I was born, I think my family was running out of names from R. So, my grand-uncle Mr. Shammi Kapoor told my grandfather (Raj Kapoor) that since you have not used this name, let's give it to him. That's how I got the name Ranbir," he shared. Dining With The Kapoors is created by Armaan Jain and directed by Smriti Mundhra of Indian Matchmaking fame. (ANI)
The MoU was signed under the Australia-India Creative Collaboration initiative in association with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

The MoU reflects the shared vision of IICT and Deakin University to advance innovation, academic excellence, and cross-disciplinary engagement in creative and technology-led education.

Vishwas Deoskar, CEO, IICT, said, "This collaboration strengthens our mission to nurture global talent and push the boundaries of immersive and interactive media education."

Under the agreement, both "institutions will collaborate on academic programs, training, and research in creative and applied technologies, including workshops and masterclasses, while promoting student and faculty mobility and working with industry to ensure real-world impact."

Adding to the vibrancy of the event, IICT also hosted a dedicated booth at Waves Bazaar, where delegates were seen engaging in interactive activities and learning more about the institution's innovative programs and initiatives.

IFFI 2025 kick-started on Thursday, with a historic parade, a blend of cultural performances and a cinematic tribute to upcoming and past iconic movies of India.

For the first time in its distinguished journey, IFFI 2025 grand opening stepped beyond the walls of tradition into the vibrant heart of Goa, embracing its people, streets and spirit in a celebration like never before.

The opening ceremony of IFFI 2025 was attended by numerous stars, including Anupam Kher, Muzaffar Ali, Nandamuri Balakrishna, and others. (ANI)
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressing her concern over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bengal is a "direct attack" on a Constitutional body. "Who is Mamata Banerjee to stop SIR? This is a direct attack on a constitutional body. SIR is not a new process, but it is happening for the 9th time in the country. Since day 1, she has been scaring people, launching personal attacks against the Chief Election Officer, abusing CEC." Adhikari told ANI in response to Mamata Banerjee's letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bengal. The BJP leader further added, "No, SIR, no election. If there is no final voter list by February 7, elections will not take place in April. Mamata Banerjee is creating a ruckus as she fears losing power since the deceased, fake and illegal voters are being removed... How will she win when over 1 crore voters will be deleted, who are either dead, fake or are illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators... TMC only has a difference of 22 lakh votes with BJP..." In a letter written to the CEC Gyanesh Kumar on November 20, CM Banerjee claimed that the "critical gaps in training, lack of clarity on mandatory documentation and the near-impossibility of meeting voters in the midst of their livelihood schedules have made the exercise structurally unsound." The letter reads, "I have time and again flagged my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the way it has been thrust upon the people. Now, I am compelled to write to you as the situation surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reached a deeply alarming stage. The manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous. The absence of even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one." Meanwhile, more than 50.40 crore electors, nearly 99 per cent, have received enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and union territories, according to the Election Commission of India. There are 50.97 crores voters across these 12 states and union territories as on October 27, the Election Commission said. The states and UTs included in the second phase of SIR are Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed for Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the first G20 summit, where he will discuss key issues related to India and the global south. This summit is the fourth consecutive G20 meeting hosted by the Global South, following Indonesia, India, and Brazil's presidencies. Prior to South Africa, the G20 presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023) and Indonesia (2022). PM Modi will attend the summit from November 21 to 23, marking a significant milestone as the first G20 summit held on the African continent. This will be PM Modi's fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016 and his attendance at the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. According to the Secretary (ER) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Sudhakar Dalela, G20 is an important forum, with countries in previous sessions agreeing to have a consensus declaration, pilot, and take new initiatives on several themes that impact the Global South. "We are very happy that these discussions have carried forward under the presidency of Brazil and, of course, in South Africa under four verticles that South Africa has outlined for their own presidency. A number of achievements have been made throughout the year across various tracks in these areas. So we are very happy that the issues of importance to the Global South are at the centre of discussion and are being highlighted," Secretary added. The G20 comprises major economies representing 85% of global GDP and 75% of international trade. The forum has identified priority areas under South Africa's presidency theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'. Regarding the bilateral meetings to be held on the sidelines of the G20, Secretary Dalela said they are in the process of organising them. He added that India and South Africa are democracies and that their cooperation has three pillars, one of which is political cooperation. The African Union, which became a permanent member of the G20 during India's 2023 presidency, will play a key role in shaping the summit's agenda. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed for Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the G20 Summit. In his departure statement, Prime Minister Modi called the G20 summit being held in Africa a "special summit". South Africa will host the G20 Leaders' Summit, the first to be held on African soil. During India's Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union became a member of the G20. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Will be attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a particularly special Summit as it is being held in Africa. Various global issues will be discussed there. Will be meeting various world leaders during the Summit." "The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues. The theme of this year's G20 has been 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability', by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I will present India's perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and 'One earth, One Family and One future," Prime Minister said. "During the visit, I also look forward to my interaction with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, which is one of the largest outside India," he added. On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi will also participate in the 6th IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Summit, where the leaders of the three major democracies of the Global South are expected to review cooperation and discuss avenues to deepen their strategic partnership. The Prime Minister further expressed enthusiasm about meeting the Indian diaspora in South Africa, one of the largest and most vibrant Indian-origin communities outside India. He described his upcoming interaction with the diaspora as a moment of personal warmth and cultural connection. During the visit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders to strengthen India's global partnerships and reinforce its commitment to multilateral cooperation. (ANI)
Fatima Bosch, Miss Mexico, has been crowned Miss Universe 2025 at this year's competition. Her win came after a tense round with 5 other finalists from Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Cote d'Ivoire.

Bosch advanced through the preliminary rounds with strength, securing a spot in the Top 30 along with her Latin American peers. She then moved on to the Top 12 and ultimately into the Top 5 finalists, a strong showing for Mexico. In her live interview round (Top 5 stage), Bosch was asked about "the challenges of being a woman in 2025" and responded that she would use her voice in the service of others.

Miss Thailand Pravenaar Singh was the first finalist, respectively. Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali, Miss Philippines Athisa Manalo, and Miss Cote D'Ivoire Olivia Yace completed the group of the five semifinalists.

From Tabasco to the world

Fatima Bosch Fernandez hails from Santiago de Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, and on 13 September 2025, she was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025. She studied Fashion & Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, and pursued additional studies at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA. Fatima also publicly shared how she battled dyslexia and ADHD during her school years, now turning those challenges into a platform for advocacy on neurodiversity.

On September 13, 2025, Fatima became the winner of the national title Miss Universe Mexico 2025, representing her home state of Tabasco, making her the first woman from that state ever to hold the title and be sent to compete internationally at Miss Universe 2025.

Earlier this month, at a pre-pageant sash-presentation event in Thailand, the pageant's director for the host country, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly criticized Bosch, accusing her of failing to participate in a promotional shoot.

The exchange was captured on livestream, and Itsaragrisil reportedly publicly called Bosch "dumb" and had security escort her out when she attempted to defend herself. Several other contestants walked out in solidarity. In the aftermath, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, the owner of the Miss Universe Organization, condemned the incident as "humiliation and abuse" and announced swift measures to restore order.

Originally published on Latin Times
The 5th Shillong Literary Festival 2025 commenced on November 20, where eminent authors, columnists, and artists converged at the iconic Ward's Lake of Meghalaya's capital city, Shillong, currently draped in pink Cherry Blossoms. The setting offered the perfect backdrop for literary lovers, marking the beginning of three days of literary brilliance and creative dialogues. The opening day witnessed the presence of some of the most distinguished literary and cultural figures of the region and the world, including Booker International Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq; internationally acclaimed Spanish author Francesc Miralles; Sanjoy Hazarika, Sam Dalrymple, Jerry Pinto, Prof. Desmond Kharmawphlang, Malvika Banerjee, Sonal Jain, Dennis Laishram, Patricia Mukhim; and several celebrated local writers such as Streamlet Dkhar and Valden John Pariat. Their presence lent immense gravitas and creative energy to the inaugural ceremony. Stating that hosting the Shillong Literary Festival has become a ritual, Vijay Kumar D., Commissioner & Secretary, Tourism Department, said, "This has spawned a whole movement of engagement in colleges, schools, and institutions. The levels of interest in literature, conversations, and poetry - this festival has been able to spawn all of this. I'm sure the festival will be a huge success, and we look forward to the conversations, the interactions, and the authors who have come from far away." "A request from our side - please take our stories to the world. And to all the young people of the state who are here, this festival is for all of you. Everything the government does, all these wonderful events, are for the young people, so that you are able to leverage these opportunities and create great things for yourselves and for the state," he added. Terming the Shillong Literary Festival as a Festival of Imagination, Banu Mushtaq, Booker International Prize-winning author of Heart Lamp, reflected on the city's creative spirit. "To stand in Shillong today feels like walking into a page that has been quietly waiting for me. The city of music and gentle hills has always lived in the Indian imagination as a place where stories breathe easily. I am honoured to add my own voice to that landscape. This festival, here in these hills, is a reminder of how deeply stories connect us," she said. She added, "As we begin this celebration, I hope we allow ourselves to wander into unfamiliar narratives, to listen with patience, and to imagine with courage. Let these next days be filled with conversations that surprise us, words that challenge us, and stories that stay long after we return home." Sharing his bond with India and his experience in the region, Francesc Miralles, internationally acclaimed Spanish author of Ikigai, said, "I feel very honoured to be in Shillong for the first time. I am just discovering this beautiful region, but I am very attached to India in my relationship with writing books. I was a publisher and a translator of books; I studied German language and literature. But it was during my first trip to India in 1998 that I decided to become a writer. Without India, I would never have written books." Malvika Banerjee, Curator of the Shillong Literary Festival 2025, expressed her delight at returning to Ward's Lake after four years. She described it as an honour to curate the festival and shared her hope that the audience would enjoy the programme, thoughtfully crafted over the past months. She highlighted the distinct privilege of curating the Khasi and Garo programmes this year, acknowledging the guidance she received from several contributors. "When I first came in 2021, I heard a Garo Poet; I didn't know her name. She recited a poem, and it was so beautiful when she recited the translation. So, I thought we should have these poems- these voices, because this is Shillong- this is the heart of Meghalaya. And if we don't have these sessions here in these languages, then just bringing outside voices or even having sessions just in English, with locals, will not really represent the state," she said. Day 1 of the festival also witnessed the launch of three books- 'Wad Shwa La Ka Tynrai' by Streamlet Dkhar (renowned Khasi poet and writer), 'Songs of Our People' by Anurag Banerjee (writer and researcher) and 'Is She Wise' by Monica Thomas, Gladinia Pyrtuh and Anthony Durpui (authors and cultural documentarians). The launches reflected the diversity of voices and the rootedness of the festival in the local literary landscape. The day continued with an engaging session where Francesc Miralles, in conversation with Prof. Desmond Kharmawphlang, discussed the Japanese way of life that inspired Ikigai. This was followed by a conversation with Sanjoy Hazarika and Preeti Gill, exploring his journeys and the genesis of the Dibrugarh boat clinic project. A reflective segment on myths and memory unfolded through "Puri - The Shape of Water," after which a live drawing session by Dennis Laishram, readings by Valden John Pariat, and a discussion by Rosy Chamling and Hoihnu Hazel brought forward the richness of Himalayan folklore. A special session on the bilingual children's book Is She Wise featured its authors in conversation with Moushumi Dey, highlighting Biate folktales and the wisdom of women. Another powerful session titled "Heal The World" brought together Jerry Pinto and Dr. Neena Verma to discuss empathy, grief, mental health and palliative care. A conversation between Sam Dalrymple and Cyril V.D. Diengdoh explored the five partitions that shaped modern Asia, as detailed in Shattered Lands. Later, Banu Mushtaq engaged with Patricia Mukhim on her award-winning collection Heart Lamp. The evening closed with a session titled, "Making Khasi Literature Travel," featuring Streamlet Dkhar, Bandarilin Bairo, Alfidarie Kharsyntiew and Smti Basilica Nongpluh, who reflected on translation, literary platforms and the future of Khasi literature. The day ended with a soulful musical performance by artists of the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project, celebrating the musical talent and creative vibrancy of Meghalaya's youth. (ANI)
Assam Police has delivered yet another major blow to the region's narcotics network, seizing large quantities of contraband in three consecutive operations in Karbi Anglong that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described as a "Bollywood-style beating" for the drug mafia. Taking to social media late on Thursday, the Chief Minister praised the police force and revealed the scale of the busts: 255.641 kg of ganja worth approximately Rs 1.2 crore; 1.985 kg of morphine valued at nearly Rs 1.9 crore; and 9.44 kg of opium worth Rs 47.5 lakh, along with one arrest."Try. Fail. Repeat. In 3 back-to-back ops, the drug mafia got a Bollywood-style beating: 255.641 kg Ganja (1.2 Cr) 1.985 kg Morphine (~1.9 Cr) + 9.44 kg Opium (47.5 L) + 1 arrested," CM Sarma's X post read. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1991574077103042769 In his post, Sarma lauded the Assam Police as "Assam's real-life Avengers," highlighting the state's aggressive stance under the ongoing Assam Against Drugs campaign. Meanwhile, based on specific intelligence regarding illicit poppy cultivation, Assam Rifles on Thursday launched a joint operation with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Manipur Police in the general area of Songlung village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur. The operation commenced during early hours and involved area domination and a search operation to uncover pockets of illegal narcotics cultivation. During the conduct of the operation, the joint team detected and destroyed about 10 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, along with three makeshift huts used for storage and processing activities. The destroyed poppy fields had the potential to yield around 70 kgs of opium worth multiple crores. Earlier, the Assam Rifles destroyed about 25 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, which had the potential to allegedly yield over 170 kgs of opium worth multiple crores of rupees, officials informed on November 16. Based on intelligence regarding illicit poppy cultivation, Assam Rifles, alongwith CRPF and Manipur Police, launched a joint operation in the general area of Loibol Khullen in Kangpokpi District on Saturday. During the operation and area domination exercise, officials also searched suspected pockets, during which the poppy field was discovered. "Conducted under challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions, the operation highlights the unwavering efforts of Assam Rifles to curb illicit narcotics cultivation and dismantle the financial networks that fuel insurgency and other anti-national activities," the official statement read. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that VFS Global has agreed in principle to establish a centre in Guwahati to cater to visa applications for over 60 countries. Sharing a post on X on Thursday, the Chief Minister informed that the state and North East residents may soon no longer need to travel to Delhi or Mumbai for visa-related biometrics, as the state gears up to host a dedicated visa facilitation centre. "Travelling abroad? Need to submit biometrics for you visa application? That meant a long journey to either Delhi or Mumbai. Soon, this will be history for our people from Assam and the North East. Happy to share that @VFSGlobal has agreed in principle to set up a dedicated visa facilitation centre for over 60+ countries in Guwahati," Sarma wrote. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1991566172165403134 The Chief Minister added that further details, including the list of countries and timelines for opening, will be shared soon. "We will be sharing more details soon - such as countries for which visa application can be made in Guwahati, opening timelines etc.. Do stay tuned," he added.. Earlier on November 21, the Chief Minister presented appointment letters to 377 TET and TET-cum-Recruitment qualified candidates from the Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities at a programme held at Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Thursday. With this, Assam's tally of government recruitments since 2021 has reached 1,35,376 through a fully transparent, merit-based process. Moreover, at the same programme, Chief Minister Sarma handed over funds to educational institutions to waive fees for students from BPL families who took admission in Higher Secondary First and Second Year, as well as in the four-year undergraduate courses, for the academic year 2025-26. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that the government has fulfilled the promises made during the 2021 Assembly election campaign. "Although the commitment was to appoint one lakh youth to government jobs, as of today, 1,35,376 candidates have been appointed through a completely transparent process," he said. He clarified that this figure pertains only to regular posts under the Assam government, and does not include contract-based appointments made under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, National Health Mission, etc. CM Sarma said that appointment letters have been distributed at public functions to inspire others to work hard and secure government jobs. (ANI)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the three-day mega cataract surgery camp at the Command Hospital in Udhampur, highlighting the Army's significant yet often not mentioned role in community welfare. During his visit on Thursday, Singh said, "Usually, the operations of the Army are discussed. But their peacetime activities, their social work, are usually not mentioned. A good example of that is before you. The speciality of this three-day camp is that such machines are used for cataract surgery, which are available in India for the first time now." Accompanied by Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Northern Army Commander, the Minister toured hospital wards, interacted with patients who had undergone successful cataract surgeries, and personally distributed post-operative kits to the beneficiaries and spoke with them about their experiences. Meanwhile, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that Operation Sindoor was one of the best vindications of India's achievements in the space sector. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the India International Space Conclave here in the national capital, he underscored how the warfare scenario has changed and is driven by technology. Jitendra Singh, who is also Minister of State in the PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, said India has high-quality startups, and many of them are becoming very lucrative entrepreneurs. "India has now started attracting engagement and investment in the space sector from across the world. India is fast emerging as a preferred global destination for space sector engagement and investment. From a decimal economy, today we are an eight-million US economy...We hope to go up four, five times in the next eight, ten years, which means around 40-45 billion...Space will be an important contributor to India's future economic growth," he said. "The entire warfare has been totally transformed into a technology-driven warfare. The contact warfare is now on the decline and Operation Sindoor was one of the best vindications of India's achievements both in the space sector as well as in the atomic energy sector and we have succeeded in demonstrating our capacities, which would not otherwise be easy to demonstrate because you can't blow up missiles and just test how efficiently it works. But incidentally, Pakistan gave us an opportunity to test our capacities," he added. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 night in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. India hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK through precision strikes and repelled the subsequent Pakistani aggression by pounding its airbases. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday offered prayers and sought the blessings of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy at the Tirumala temple. The Tirumala Tirupati DevasthanamS Chairman and Additional EO received her on arrival. In a post on X, TTD said, "The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, arrived in Tirumala today. TTD Chairman and Additional EO received her on arrival." https://x.com/TTDevasthanams/status/1991503479710630369?s=20 President Murmu also prayed to the Goddess Sri Padmavathi Ammavari at the Tiruchanur Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tirupati on Thursday. The TTD officials welcomed the President and arranged the "darshan with traditional honours" In another post on X, TTD stated, "Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Tiruchanoor. TTD officials welcomed the President and facilitated the darshan with traditional honors." https://x.com/TTDevasthanams/status/1991498826784600233?s=20 President Droupadi Murmu is on a visit to three states - Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from November 20 to November 22. Earlier on her Chhattisgarh visit, President Droupadi Murmu emphasised that the contribution of tribal communities has been instrumental in shaping India's history, as she graced the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebrations organised by the Chhattisgarh government at Ambikapur, Surguja. In a post shared on X, the President said, "The contribution of tribal communities is a glorious chapter in the history of India. The development of tribal people is a priority of the Government of India. Various national-level schemes have been developed and implemented for the welfare of tribal communities." The President joined the state-level event to honour the legacy of tribal freedom fighters, including Birsa Munda. Addressing the gathering, she reiterated the Centre's commitment towards the welfare and empowerment of tribal communities. "The contribution of tribal communities is a glorious chapter in the history of India. The development of tribal people is a priority of the Government of India. Various national-level schemes have been developed and implemented for the welfare of tribal communities," she said. President Murmu also congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh on the state's progress and praised its cultural and historical significance. "I congratulate the people of Chhattisgarh for their progress. They have just celebrated the silver jubilee of state formation. I have had the honour of visiting Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birthplace (in Jharkhand) and offering my tribute. The contribution of tribal communities has been tremendous in the history of Indian. I feel very cordial after coming to Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand and Odisha are not far from Chhattisgarh," the President stated. (ANI)
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, submitted a rebuttal letter to Election Commission of India Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressing a communication from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls. In his letter on Thursday, the Opposition leader of West Bengal alleged that Mamata Banerjee's message is a deliberate attempt to undermine the Constitutional mandate of the Election Commission of India (ECI). He claimed that it aims to create discord among election officials and to protect a vote bank comprised of ineligible and illegal voters. "Her communication, rather than offering constructive suggestions for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls, appears to be a calculated attempt to undermine the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Constitutional Mandate, sow discord among Election Officials, and protect a Vote-Bank of 'ineligible and illegal elements' that her Trinamool Congress (TMC) led State Government has nurtured for electoral gains for years. This is not merely an Administrative concern; it is a blatant assault on the sanctity of India's democratic principles," wrote Adhikari. He further accused the West Bengal Chief Minister of allegedly threatening Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and claimed that she intimated the officers to defy ECI directives and prioritise her political whims. "It is imperative to first address the Hon'ble Chief Minister's own track record of intimidation and defiance towards the ECI. Over the last few months, she has repeatedly threatened Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who are, after all, State Government Employees, reminding them that they are after all tied to her Administration post-elections, she instigated and intimidated them to defy ECI directives and prioritize her political whims. Her public rants against the ECI have been nothing short of vitriolic, including baseless accusations of corruption against the Hon'ble CEO, West Bengal, Shri Manoj Kumar Agarwal, without a shred of evidence; a smear campaign designed to discredit impartial officials," claimed Adhikari. Adhikari further accused Banerjee of attempting to erode public trust in the ECI and trying to undermine the ECI's independence. He emphasised that such conduct from the West Bengal Chief Minister must be condemned in the strongest terms. "Even more alarmingly, she has made direct and indirect statements that are utterly unacceptable about you, the Hon'ble Chief Election Commissioner yourself, indicating that you have been following political orders to please someone in the CentralGovernment. This is an attempt to erode public trust on the ECI and trying to curb the ECI's independence. Such conduct from the head of a State Government is unbecoming and must be condemned in the strongest terms, as it exemplifies the very "Jungle Raaj"that has plagued West Bengal under TMC rule," added Adhikari. Therefore, he urged the ECI to conduct the SIR process as effectively and flawlessly as possible. "I urge you, Hon'ble Chief Election Commissioner, to stand firm as the Guardian of Democracy. The People of West Bengal, weary of TMC's "Jungle Raaj" are looking to the ECI to rescue our Electoral Process from this morass of manipulation, unethical pressurization, and external interference by Smt. Mamata Banerjee and her party. I plead to you to kindly conduct the SIR exercise as appropriately and flawlessly as possible, deploying additional resources if needed, to ensure every genuine voter is empowered and every bogus entry is purged. Only then can we restore faith in free and fair elections, paving the way for a truly representative mandate in 2026. The ECI's resolve will not only cleanse West Bengal's rolls but also reaffirm India's Democratic ethos," said Adhikari. On November 20, in a letter to CEC Gyanesh Kumar CM Banerjee claimed critical gaps in training and a lack of clarity regarding mandatory documentation. She emphasised that the near-impossibility of reaching voters amid their livelihood schedules has made the exercise structurally unsound. The letter reads, "I have time and again flagged my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the way it has been thrust upon the people. Now, I am compelled to write to you as the situation surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reached a deeply alarming stage. The manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous. The absence of even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one." Meanwhile, more than 50.40 crore electors, nearly 99 per cent, have received enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and union territories, according to the Election Commission of India. (ANI)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat addressed a gathering of dignitaries in Imphal on Friday, during the first day of his three-day visit to Manipur. In his address, Bhagwat reflected on the Sangh's civilisational role, national responsibilities, and the ongoing efforts for a peaceful and resilient Manipur, according to an official statement. Bhagwat stated that the RSS continues to be a subject of daily discussion across the country, often shaped by perceptions and propaganda. While stating that the Sangh's work is unparalleled, he said, "There is no organisation comparable to the RSS, just as the sea, the sky, and the ocean have no comparison. The growth of RSS is organic and the methodology was resolved after 14 years of its foundation. To understand one has to visit Shakha. The objective of RSS is to organise the whole Hindu society including those who oppose the Sangh, not creating a power centre within the society." He highlighted that misinformation campaigns against the RSS began as early as 1932-33, including from sources outside Bharat (India) that lacked an understanding of Bharat and its civilisational ethos. The Sarsanghchalak stressed the need for understanding of the organisation based on truth rather than perception-driven narratives. Recalling the life of RSS founder KB Hedgewar, Bhagwat underlined his academic excellence, born patriotic activities, and involvement in all streams of the then freedom struggle. He noted that Hedgewar's realisation of the need for a united and qualitatively improved society led to the creation of the RSS. "The Sangh is a man-making methodology," he said, urging people to understand the organisation through its shakha system on the ground. He noted that the term "Hindu" in this context is a cultural and civilisational descriptor rather than a religious identity. "It (Hindu) is not a noun but an adjective," the statement added. For a strong Rashtra, Bhagwat emphasised the need for "quality and unity". The progress of a nation not only depends on leaders alone but on a strong and united society. He praised the inclusive nature of Hindu thought, citing, "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti." Truth, compassion, purity, and austerity form the essence of Dharma, he said, adding that these values are the core of our Hindu civilisation. "Vividhata (diversity) is not a myth. Diversity is the manifestation of inherent unity within the society," he added. Speaking on the country's ancient nationhood, he said the our Rashtra emerged not through western state mechanisms but through the "tapasya" of great ancient seers for the welfare of humanity, with principles like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam reflecting the universal vision of Hindutva. Emphasising the need for expanding apanatva (sense of belonging), Bhagwat remarked, "As our societal strength increases, the world listens to us. Nobody listens to the weak. The mission of the Sangh is to nurture capable individuals for a strong and harmonious Hindu Samaj." He added that the RSS does not work for its own glory. "Tera vaibhav amar rahe Maa Ham Din Chaar Rahe Na Rahe. Such dedicated individuals are the Nayaks envisioned by our Gurus," he said. The RSS chief outlined the Panch Parivartan initiatives being undertaken during the centenary year of the RSS: Samajik Samarasata (Social Harmony), Kutumb Pravodhan (Family awakening), Paryavaran Sanrakshan (Environment protection), Swabodh (understanding our own identity and promoting swadeshi thoughts and products) and Nagarik Kartavya (Civic responsibility). According to the statement, Bhagwat commended Manipur's strong cultural traditions, including the wearing of traditional attire during special occasions and the use of native languages, and encouraged further strengthening of these traditions. Regarding the current situation in the state, he stated that efforts are underway at both the community and societal levels to restore stability. "Destruction takes minutes, but construction requires years, especially when done inclusively and without harming anyone. Peace-building requires patience, collective effort, and social discipline," he observed. He said that not everything could be expected from the government, and the responsibility of society is very much required. He called for people to be self-reliant as a society for a Swavalambi Bharat. He also emphasised the need for skill development for an economically empowered society. (ANI)
A national seminar organised by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) at the Constitution Club of India brought together tribal autonomous district councils, constitutional experts, parliamentarians and movement organisations from across the Northeast to place a united appeal before the Union Government ahead of the winter session of Parliament, an official press release said. The programme opened with tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma and introductory remarks by Chairperson Prof. Ramesh Bhardwaj. The gathering drew leaders including Pramod Boro, former CEM of BTR and signatory of the Bodo Accord; Sukla Charan Noatia, Minister for Tribal Welfare and Minorities, Tripura; Pyniaid Sing Syiem, former CEM, KHADC; Vijay Hansaria, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court; Sabda Ram Rabha, Senior Advocate, Gauhati High Court; Aditya Khakhlari, Secretary General, All Assam Tribal Sangha and Chief Coordinator, CCTOA. Also present were Gobinda Basumatary; Nilo Kanta Goyary; Manuranjan Basumatary; Bijuel Nelson Daimary; Deputy CEM of BKWAC Romeo P. Narzary; Tamulpur MLA Jalen Daimary; former BTCLA Speaker Katiram Boro; former BTC Executive Member Ranjit Basumatary and Ex-NDFB Welfare Association President Rujugra Mosahary, along with representatives from BTR, BKWAC, Tripura, Meghalaya, etc. Speaking on behalf of ABSU and the signatories of the Bodo Accord, President Dipen Boro, in his keynote address, said, "This seminar brings together tribal councils, movement groups and community leaders who have walked through many phases of struggle to secure constitutional safeguards and political rights. The amendments linked to Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule decide how our councils receive funds, exercise powers and plan development. They influence village councils, municipal structures and the responsibilities given to institutions in Bodoland and other Sixth Schedule areas." "The Bodo Accord of 2020 promised a stronger council with wider subjects, improved financial autonomy and clear mechanisms for rehabilitation and development. Some clauses have progressed, while others remain incomplete, including full council restructuring, village bodies, land rights and the use of the Special Development Package. Review meetings have been held several times with senior officials. The next step must now come through Parliament. With this seminar, we place a clear appeal to pass the amendment to Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule in the forthcoming winter session and complete the Accord within the timeline already committed," he added. Sharing Tripura's perspective, Minister Sukla Charan Noatia said, "The programme convened by ABSU gives strength to the concerns of tribal regions across the Northeast. In 2019, the Government of Tripura approved and sent a proposal to the Centre for an upgraded Sixth Schedule arrangement. That proposal followed extensive discussion and carried the expectations of our people, yet it remains pending. Our state carries a long history, from the period when it functioned as an independent kingdom to its merger with India in 1948. At that time tribal communities formed a majority." "The latest census records tribal population at around 33%, which increases the need for a stronger council and firm constitutional support. The government of India has a duty to address the issues of the ten autonomous councils in the region. During the COVID-19 period, commitments were made on this subject. States such as Mizoram and Meghalaya have demonstrated how constitutional arrangements can support progress. We look forward to a practical solution for tribal communities and their councils," Minister Noatia added. Highlighting the need for collective assertion from the autonomous councils, former KHADC, MDC, and opposition leader Titosstarwell Chyne said, "We have continued to pursue the matter of Sixth Schedule reforms. More than a year has passed since the meeting with the Union Home Minister, where a special committee was mentioned and an assurance was given that leaders of the autonomous district councils would be called for further discussions. That commitment brought hope to our councils. However, the absence of visible results has created concern and disappointment. This is why today's seminar in Delhi carries importance for all of us. It sends a message that the tribal councils of the Northeast remain united on their constitutional demands." "The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council stands with the demands raised here. Our support goes to the call for meaningful amendments and stronger councils. At times there is a feeling that tribal regions stand away from the core of national decision-making. A common platform for all councils can help address that feeling and present our case in an organised manner before the Union government," Chyne added. Vijay Hansaria, the senior-most advocate of the Supreme Court and constitutional expert, said, "The Bodo Accord cannot stay as a document brought out for display without visible progress on the commitments inside it. People expect action on administration, finance, land and village-level structures. Trust was placed in this agreement, and that trust needs to see results on the ground. Tribal councils across the Northeast require stable funding from the Centre to function responsibly and plan long-term development." "Without proper financial support, councils struggle with basic duties and community services. Many of them continue to face neglect in policy spaces, and that delay affects entire regions. The Northeast has shown its readiness to move forward; the next step must come from the Union Government with clarity and commitment." Hansaria added. Recalling four decades of struggle and negotiations, former BTR Chief Executive Member and Bodo Accord signatory Pramod Boro said, "I thank ABSU for convening this seminar at a crucial moment. For nearly 40 years, Bodo people and other tribal communities in the Northeast have carried a long movement. During this period close to five thousand innocent lives were lost. The Bodo Accord is linked to that history; it holds the aspirations of families who accepted peace in the hope of a stable future. An accord cannot be treated like a campaign promise that fades after an election. It should be honoured as a commitment made to citizens. The document we signed in 2020 carries the imprint of sacrifice and trust." "In recent years, several accords have been signed in the region, and all of them require firm support from the nation. The accord of 2020 followed a period when the Prime Minister spoke of a new beginning in Bodoland, and people responded with faith. We are hopeful that the 125th Amendment Bill will be taken up in this Parliament session so that the constitutional side of the accord can progress, and the message from Bodoland and the Northeast can be respected in full," he added. The seminar closed with a joint appeal to the Union government and the government of Assam for time-bound implementation of pending clauses of the Bodo Accord, introduction of the constitutional amendment in Parliament and stronger financial and administrative provisions for the ten Sixth Schedule councils. Delegates will gather at Jantar Mantar for sit-in Dharna on November 21 to continue the call for constitutional progress, as per an official release. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, urging the Election Commission to intervene immediately. Sharing her previous letter on X addressed to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee described the SIR exercise as "unplanned, chaotic and dangerous," highlighting gaps in training, lack of clarity on documentation, and the impossibility of meeting voters amidst their work schedules. "Sharing herewith my latest letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, articulating my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing SIR....," she wrote. https://x.com/MamataOfficial/status/1991711174526922987 Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Banerjee wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that the "critical gaps in training, lack of clarity on mandatory documentation and the near-impossibility of meeting voters in the midst of their livelihood schedules have made the exercise structurally unsound." The Chief Minister expressed serious concerns about the ongoing SIR, citing inadequate planning, insufficient training, and unrealistic timelines that are "compromising the process's credibility." The letter reads, "I have time and again flagged my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the way it has been thrust upon the people. Now, I am compelled to write to you as the situation surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reached a deeply alarming stage. The manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous. The absence of even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one." CM Banerjee highlighted the excessive workload and pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are struggling with online data entry, server issues, and inadequate training, risking inaccurate voter data. The letter states, "I deeply appreciate the strenuous efforts put in by the BLOs under these extremely pressing circumstances and huge workload. However, it cannot be denied that the BLOs have not been provided adequate training, support and time required for undertaking a mammoth exercise of this nature. The unrealistic workload, impossible timelines, and inadequate support with online data entry have collectively placed the entire process and its credibility at severe risk. This strikes at the heart of our electoral democracy." She further claimed, "BLOs are now operating far beyond human limits. They are expected to manage their principal duties (many being teachers and frontline workers) while simultaneously conducting door-to-door surveys and handling complex e-submissions. Most are struggling with online forms due to a lack of training, server failures, and repeated data mismatches." She warned that the SIR's flaws may lead to "disenfranchisement of genuine voters, erosion of electoral roll integrity, and undermining of democratic processes." The letter reads, "At this pace, it is almost certain that by 4th December, voter data across multiple constituencies cannot be uploaded, maintaining required accuracy. Even more concerning is the fact that many BLOs, under extreme pressure and fear of punitive action, are being pushed to submit incorrect or incomplete entries-risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters and eroding the integrity of the electoral roll." "What is particularly unacceptable is the response from the Election Commission at this juncture. Instead of offering support, extending timelines, or addressing systemic flaws, the office of the CEO of West Bengal has resorted to intimidation. Show-cause notices are being issued without justification. BLOS-already stretched and distressed-are being threatened with severe disciplinary action simply because the Commission refuses to acknowledge the reality on the ground," it added. The Chief Minister pointed out that the SIR coincides with peak agricultural season, making it difficult for farmers and labourers to participate. The letter stated, "The timing of this exercise is equally indefensible. West Bengal is currently at the peak of paddy harvest, continuing until mid-December 2025. Simultaneously, Rabi sowing-especially for potato, a strictly time-bound activity, is underway. Millions of farmers and labourers are engaged in essential agricultural work and cannot be expected to abandon the fields to participate in SIR enumeration." "The human cost of this mismanagement is now unbearable. Yesterday, an anganwadi worker serving as a BLO in Mal, Jalpaiguri, died by suicide, reportedly under crushing SIR-related pressure. Several others have lost their lives since this process began. A revision that previously required three years is now being forcibly compressed into three months, subjecting BLOs and officials to inhuman working conditions and forcing common people under the shadow of fear and uncertainty," it added. Chief Minister Banerjee has requested the poll body chief to intervene, halt the exercise, provide support, and reassess the methodology and timelines to protect electoral integrity and the democratic framework. "Under these circumstances, I strongly urge and expect immediate corrective action. Continuing this unplanned, coercive drive not only endangers more lives but also jeopardises the legitimacy of the electoral revision itself. I would request you to kindly intervene decisively to halt the ongoing exercise, stop coercive measures, provide proper training and support, and thoroughly reassess the present methodology and timelines. If this path is not corrected without delay, the consequences for the system, the officials, and the citizens will be irreversible. This intervention is not only necessary but imperative to protect the integrity of the electoral process and our democratic framework," the letter added. (ANI)
During his visit, HM Shah paid tribute to the jawans who laid down their lives in the line of duty, laying a wreath at the memorial for the jawans.

BSF is primarily tasked with the India-Pakistan border. Before the creation of the force, the border was banned by the State Armed Police Battalion.

BSF was established in 1965 following the India-Pakistan war to enhance border security. Initially, BSF was raised with 25 Battalions and with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, North east region etc.

At present BSF is holding 193 (including 03 NDRF) Battalions and seven BSF Arty Regiments guarding International Border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In addition, the BSF is also performing Anti-Infiltration role in Kashmir Valley, Counter Insurgency in North East region, Anti Naxal Operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states and security of Integrated Check Posts along Pakistan and Bangladesh International Border.

During Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, BSF personnel on the Jammu frontier destroyed and damaged over 118 Pakistani post, and "dismantled Pakistan's entire surveillance system, Home Minister Shah had said in late May.

Even during peacetime, BSF remains vigilant to watch on Pakistani posts, and struck them based on precise intelligence and the "shortest possible time they inflicted maximum damage."

BSF is the world's largest border guarding force, employing over 2.7 lakh personnel, and for over six decades, it has ensured the nation's robust security.

The 2024 Raising day parade of the BSF was held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where Shah highlighted the sacrifice of the personnel during the line of duty. According to Shah, til l 2024, over 1992 BSF have sacrificed their lives, and 1330 have been awarded medals, including 1 Maha Vir Chakra, 6 Kirti Chakras, 13 Vir Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, 56 Sena Medals, and 1,241 Police Medals. (ANI)
MIAMI - William Levy has encountered a character who, for the first time and publicly, has allowed him to embrace an important aspect of his faith. Spanish Civil Defense Commander Mario Torres, the protagonist of his new film Bajo Un Volcan, has lived in his skin for more than two years in a place that has changed his life: the Spanish island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.

However, in an interview with The Latin Times and ENSTARZ, the Cuban actor acknowledged that the experience has been transformative on many levels. Personally, Torres has served as a vehicle to demonstrate the importance of intuition. "For me, they are messages from God," Levy said, revealing a mystical side he usually keeps private.

Over the years, "you learn to listen to your intuition and know that that intuition comes with you. It's something God gives you, something life gives you. For me, intuition is that connection, that feeling of being in tune, of being connected with God. That's how God manifests within you, you know? It's through your intuition, your feelings," the artist said. "I'm not going to come here to talk personally about other things, but God communicates with you through your intuition, and for me, it's been that way my whole life. I've learned that it's through intuition that you ask, and if it's telling you something and repeating it... damn, listen, man. Listen, because that's your intuition, brother."

"And whenever I ignore my intuition, I'm wrong. I've always been wrong," he emphasized.

Torres avoids doing the same. His intuition tells him he has to listen to Dani's character, his co-star Maggie Civantos, and thank goodness he does!

Under the Volcano tells what happens when a town responds when a volcano, dormant for more than three centuries, seems to become active.

Mexican actress Fabiola Guajardo plays Ximena, a volcanologist, much like Dani, but more attached to the rules and factual science. In her personal life, the star, known for her role in the telenovela La Jefa, considers herself much less rigid.

"Years and maturity teach you that it's 100%. You have to trust your intuition. Every time I've had my intuition in the past, my intuition has told me this. At first, I'd say no; you can't think like that. Then I'd hit a wall," he confessed.

In the show, Levy and Guajardo are exes. In real life, they clearly get along very well, with the Cuban actor eager to give him space to talk about a project in which he's not only the lead actor but also the boss, as he was the executive producer.

The affection is so strong that, when this reporter complimented Guajardo's social media, Levy said: "When I grow up I want to be like Fabi. WOW."

Guajardo returned the compliment in spades when speaking about his experience in Tenerife. "William knows everything: the best places to eat, where to go. He'll always give you the best recommendations," he said.

They both agree that the must-see place is Mount Teide. "It looks like Mars," said Guajardo. For Levy, it's one of the "most magical places in the world." She went there at night, in the cold, with friends and her daughter Kailey. "Incredible," she says.

Bajo un volcan, which is already available on VIX in the United States and on Netflix in the rest of the world, is actually one of four projects Levy has done in the area. He already filmed two seasons of his series Camino a Arcadia there and has just finished the second installment of Captain Mario Torres. This one is called Under a Fire , and it marks his daughter's acting debut.

Two Italian-language films he's made are set to premiere in the coming months, and he has no intention of stopping. In fact, this seems to be William Levy's most productive period yet, and thank goodness for that!
District Administration Jammu carried out an anti-encroachment and demolition drive and retrieved land worth crores of rupees at village Sikanderpur, Tehsil Bishnah, an official press note from Jammu and Kashmir police said. The drive was carried out on the directions of District Magistrate Jammu, Rakesh Minhas, in coordination with SSP Jammu Sh Joginder Singh. Land measuring about 130 kanals, falling under Khasra Numbers 308, 389, 2206, had been under illegal occupation, with construction of illegal structures raised by land encroachers and offenders booked under the NDPS Act. The district administration has cautioned against such illegal occupation of state land and warned land encroachers that strict action shall be taken against violators. The land retrieved in yesterday's operation will be handed over to the concerned department, and some portion will also be proposed to be utilised for Niabat, Patwar Halqa and Police Chowki. The anti-encroachment drive was conducted under the overall supervision of SDM Jammu South, Manu Hansa and Superintendent of Police HQ Jammu, Irshad Rather, in the presence of Tehsildar Bishnah, Ankush Tripathi, SDPO R.S Pura, Gurmeet Singh, Rakesh Jamwal, SHO Bishnah and other officials from the Revenue and Police departments. Meanwhile, a team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police's State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted a raid on the Kashmir Times office in Jammu on Thursday. Further details of the raid are awaited. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary asked the investigative agencies not to "pick-and-choose" media organisations for raids, saying there should not be any pressure on the press. "The agencies are doing their work. If a raid has to be conducted, it should not be done on a pick-and-choose basis. If they have done anything wrong, action should be taken, but not just to create pressure. The Press is the fourth estate, and it should get space to practice journalism," Surinder Choudhary told reporters. Youth Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (JKPDP) chief Aditya Gupta criticised the raid, calling the Kashmir Times the "boldest voice" of the Union Territory. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Congress for presenting the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. Addressing a press conference, Bhatia recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks on the Congress' "changed DNA" and said the opposition party now operates in a manner that raises serious national concerns. "A few days ago, PM Modi had told how the DNA of the Congress has become Muslim-Maoist Congress. When India's oldest political party functions like a Maoist organisation and spreads its network abroad, then it becomes a matter of great concern," Bhatia said. Referring to the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024, the BJP leader criticised the event, at which former Chilean President and ex-UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet was presented with the award in the presence of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. He alleged that the choice of awardee reflected Congress's "anti-India mindset." "Just as the DNA of Congress is anti-India, those who were awarded also attack the sovereignty of India," he said. Bhatia cited Bachelet's statements during the 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, where she raised concerns about alleged human rights violations in Jammu & Kashmir and criticised the amendment of Article 370. "She questioned India's actions in Kashmir and said Article 370 should not be amended. Such positions are completely against India's sovereign decisions," he added. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was on Wednesday presented with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. The award was presented to her by the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, which confers the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. Those present included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and jury Chairman Shiv Shankar Menon. Presenting the award, Sonia Gandhi recalled her contribution not only to her country, but also towards global peace. She said Michelle Bachelet has seen loss, oppression, torture and exile in her early years and recalled her journey of breaking barriers and becoming Chile and Latin America's first woman Defence Minister. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on the plea of former Minister of State (MoS) Bhanwar Jitendra Singh challenging the summon issued to him. The case pertains to a painting of MF Hussain. Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to the respondents on the plea and sought their response. The matter has been listed on April 7 for the next hearing. Meanwhile, the High Court has allowed Jitendra Singh to appear before the court through video conferencing (VC). The Rouse Avenue court had issued a summons to former minister Jitendra Singh on November 11 by setting aside the magistrate court order. A petition has been filed in the high court on behalf of Bhanwar Jitendra Singh through advocate Saud Khan seeking a stay on the order directing Singh to appear before the court. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, alongwith Saud Khan, appeared for Bhanwar Jitendra Singh. It was argued that the revision court issued a direction without conducting an inquiry, as the petitioner is a resident of Rajasthan. It was also argued that it is not a case of not returning the painting of MF Hussain. It is a case of gifting. "It was not a case of him keeping the painting for purchase and not returning it," the advocate said. Counsel for the petitioner also argued that there was no communication or message asking to return the painting since 2014 by the complainant side. The revision court at Rouse Avenue Court had issued a direction to Bhanwar Jitendra Singh after considering the arguments on the revision moved by the complainant. While setting aside the magistrate court 's order the revision court had said, "Thus, the material available on record prima facie discloses sufficient grounds to proceed against respondent (Bhanwar Jitendra Singh for the offence punishable under Section 406 of IPC." "Accordingly, the order dismissing the complaint under Section 203 CrPC. is set aside," Special Judge had ordered on November 11. The revision court had directed the magistrate court to proceed further in accordance with law and to pass appropriate orders. The complainant and respondent were directed to appear before the Trial Court on November 25 for further proceedings. The complainant, an art collector and proprietor of Art Sanatan, alleged that in April 2014, respondent Jitendra Singh approached his mother, Prabha Thakur, at her government residence, seeking to borrow a painting by late artist MF Hussain, purchased by her on September 24, 2013 from Mumbai's Gallery Sachi, for 22.50 lakh. The revision said that the complainant further alleged that the respondent had expressed his desire to borrow the painting in question with the intention of showing it his wife, who was an admirer of the works of late artist MF Hussain, and to discuss with her the possibility of purchasing the said artwork. It was further alleged that, since the respondent was personally known to the complainant's mother, she acceded to his request and lent the painting to him. However, she had categorically informed the respondent at the time of handing over the painting that its valuation exceeded 1 crore, the revision court noted in the submission. The complainant continued to rely on the assurances given by respondent Jitendra Singh until around July 2018, when Prabha Thakur and his brother of the complainant met respondent on the Shatabdi Express train, where he allegedly refused to return the painting, the court noted in order of November 11. (ANI)
Malpe police arrested two individuals on Friday for allegedly leaking information about an Indian Navy vessel from the Udupi Cochin Shipyard, according to police officials. The security breach was reported by the Udupi Cochin Shipyard, which is managed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, after which an investigation was launched and an FIR registered. According to authorities, the two accused, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37) shared information with unauthorised individuals and posed a significant threat to the nation's sovereignty, unity, and internal security. Rohit had earlier held a position at Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, Kerala and allegedly disseminated confidential ship identification numbers and other classified data through whatsapp, receiving illicit compensation for the same. Both the accused, Rohit and Santri from Uttar Pradesh, were presented before the court and have been remanded to judicial custody till December 3, pending further investigation. "Authorities believe that even after relocating to Malpe, Rohit continued to receive sensitive information from an associate in Kochi. He is accused of subsequently sharing this information with unauthorised individuals, thereby posing a significant threat to the nation's sovereignty, unity, and internal security," according to an official statement. The investigation was initiated following a formal complaint filed by the Chief Executive Officer of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe, with case being registered at Malpe Police Station (Crime No. 128/2025) under Section 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. A special police team, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police for Karkala Subdivision, Harsha Priyamvada, IPS, and including PSI Anil Kumar D, ASI Harish, and PC Ravi Jadhav, carried out the arrests. The authorities are continuing to investigate the full extent of the information compromised and the potential ramifications for national security. (ANI)
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, along with Cabinet Minister and MLAs, also paid tribute to Mahtab.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy met the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, for a detailed review of steel-related developments in the state, particularly the operations and expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), the Steel Ministry said.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram was also present during the meeting.

Terming the interaction "fruitful," Union Minister Kumaraswamy said the discussions centred around strengthening Odisha's position as a leading steel and mining hub. Senior officials from the Ministry of Steel and the Odisha Government participated in the deliberations.

The Minister noted that the talks covered three key areas. "We discussed the functioning of the Rourkela Steel Plant, the planned expansion of the facility, and various issues related to increasing steel and mining production in Odisha," he said. He highlighted that Odisha, with its rich mineral resources and robust industrial base, remains an essential pillar for India's steel growth strategy.

Speaking to the media, Union Minister Kumaraswamy said that the Chief Minister assured full cooperation in facilitating the expansion of RSP and the broader development of the steel sector.

"The Chief Minister assured full support of the State Government to help us achieve Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision of reaching 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2030," he stated. (ANI)
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel graced the kit distribution ceremony for Anganwadi centres as the chief guest. The event at the Commissioner's Auditorium in Varanasi.

In her address to the assembly, she articulated that ongoing initiatives are being implemented to enhance the welfare of women, girls, and expectant mothers. She referenced the initiatives undertaken during her previous term in 1998, which elevated the department's profile in Women and Child Development, as stated in the release.

Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the death of MLA Sudhakar Singh, representing the Ghosi Assembly Constituency in Mau district.

The Chief Minister paid tribute to the late legislator and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "The passing away of the Honourable MLA Shri Sudhakar Singh Ji from the Ghosi Assembly Constituency of Mau district is extremely heartbreaking--my humble tribute to him. My condolences are with the bereaved family members. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed soul be granted eternal peace and the grieving family be bestowed with the strength to bear this immense sorrow."

The Samajwadi Party (SP) also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of its MLA from Ghosi Assembly, Sudhakar Singh.

In a post on X, it said, " The demise of Shri Sudhakar Singh Ji, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Ghosi Assembly, is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to his soul. May the bereaved family find the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Heartfelt tribute!"

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav condoled the loss, describing it as "extremely heartbreaking."In a post on X, Yadav prayed for the departed soul's peace and wished strength to the bereaved family during this difficult time.

"The demise of Shri Sudhakar Singh Ji, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Ghosi Assembly, is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to his soul. May the bereaved family find the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Heartfelt condolences!", the post read. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, with his wife, attended a programme organised at Jeevan Deep Seva Nyas in Roorkee on November 21. He offered prayers at the temple and wished for the prosperity and well-being of the state's people. The Chief Minister also received blessings from Juna Akhada's Mahamandleshwar Swami Yatindranand Giri Maharaj. CM Dhami said during the programme, "At every event held by the Jeevandeep Ashram, one can see a wonderful harmony of spirituality and social service, which serves to inspire the masses... Today, we are also inaugurating Shaheed Chowk in memory of our immortal martyrs, and this square expresses our gratitude for their indomitable courage, unwavering patriotism, and supreme sacrifice. It will continue to remind future generations of sacrifice, devotion, and valour. Along with this, today we have also inaugurated the auditorium on this campus." Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with his wife, performed Kanya Pujan during the event organised at Jeevan Deep Seva Nyas in Roorkee. According to him, an inauguration ceremony was held for an auditorium here, along with the construction of a gate at Hanuman Chowk, and the Kanya Pujan for 1,100 girls. He said, "I congratulate everyone on this... Our Sanatan is being re-established. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, all our religious sites are being adorned and beautified today. The Ayodhya Temple has been built in honour of Lord Ram. In Kashi, we have successfully constructed the Kashi Corridor. In Ujjain, we have created the Mahakal Lok. We are working as fast as we can on Badri Vishal's master plan." "The Kedarnath Dham programme is coming to an end quickly. We are gonna create the Haripur gate in Kalsi. We are also gonna create the Ganga and Sharda Corridor. We are also busy with the development and renovation of many Kedarkantha temples in Dehradun... Continuous efforts are underway to revive our religious sites in a new form," he added. He further provided updates on the Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2027 at Haridwar, followed by the Purna Kumbh Mela in 2033. "We have begun all preparations for Kumbh... Work is being done on all aspects. I have already held two review meetings... We will all together organise a grand and secure Kumbh here..." (ANI)
The Delhi Police on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the trial of several accused persons, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the 2020 Delhi riots case, is likely to be completed within two years. The Supreme Court has listed the matter for further hearing on November 24, Monday, when it will continue hearing arguments by the Delhi Police opposing the bail pleas of seven accused persons who have approached the Court seeking bail. During the hearing, the Delhi Police argued that "intellectuals involved in terrorism are more dangerous than those operating on the ground."This submission was made while opposing the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others. The police also referred to the recent Red Fort blast, highlighting the alleged involvement of educated individuals, including doctors and engineers, in anti-national activities. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, mentioned that the Red Fort blast, which killed 15 people and injured many, was "another demonstration of a terrorist attack alleged to have been carried out by doctors." A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria heard part of the submissions from the Delhi Police today and adjourned the matter to tomorrow afternoon. Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Sharjeel Imam, argued that the videos presented by the Delhi Police are only short clips taken from three-hour-long speeches and are intended to prejudice the case against the accused. The Delhi Police further contended that the plan to carry out protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was merely a red herring, claiming the broader intent was "regime change and economic strangulation in the country." According to the police, the conspirators coordinated through multiple WhatsApp groups, including DPSG (allegedly used for planning chakka jams and dharnas), MSJ (Muslim Students of JNU), and JCC (Jamia Coordination Committee). The police also alleged that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam played central roles by creating or using "communal" student groups such as MSJ and SOJ to mobilise students from JNU and Jamia, thereby "breaking the secular fabric of the campuses" and contributing to the organisation of protests preceding the riots. (ANI)
The two-day National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 concluded successfully at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. The second day featured focused technical deliberations that further strengthened the collective national effort to build an integrated and resilient One Health ecosystem. The Assembly convened senior officials from key ministries, scientific bodies, development partners and implementation agencies, underscoring the importance of coordinated action across human, animal and environmental health. Following a strong start on Day 1 during which senior leadership across government reaffirmed their commitment to joint stewardship and whole-of-government collaboration, today's sessions sustained that momentum through deeper scientific, operational and programmatic discussions. These dialogues advanced shared priorities and laid the groundwork for enhanced preparedness, rapid response capabilities, and long-term One Health integration across sectors. The day's proceedings were led by senior national and international experts. Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, set the tone with a call for sustained collaboration, system preparedness and stronger national capacities. He was joined by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health research and Director General, ICMR and Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, who highlighted the importance of innovation, translational science and integrated surveillance. Contributions from Scott Newman of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Vandana Jain, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reinforced the value of multisectoral engagement and global cooperation. Experts from institutions such as DRDO, ICAR, THSTI, CEPI, FIND, AYUSH and the International Vaccine Institute also participated, bringing diverse scientific and implementation perspectives to the discussions. Speaking at the Assembly, Dr Vinod Kumar Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said, "India's progress in One Health relies on a strong whole-of-government approach that advances a healthier and more resilient future. Community participation remains central to this effort. The media plays a crucial role in shaping public understanding and addressing misinformation, while our law and order systems serve as vital force multipliers during emergencies. Strengthening these partnerships will ensure timely, trusted and coordinated action when it matters most." Dr Paul underscored that community engagement is the foundation of early disease detection, surveillance and rapid response, and highlighted that community-led mobilisation was one of India's greatest strengths during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that One Health preparedness must extend to the grassroots, where frontline workers, local governments and communities form the first line of defence. He also noted that India's One Health journey has now reached an important inflection point, with the Assembly successfully bringing together diverse stakeholders to advance integrated action across sectors. Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, stated, "We need science, technology and development to work in unison. The goal is not only to build diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for future outbreaks, but to do so with speed. By bringing together experts from across sectors, the National one Health Mission platform is helping shape a more agile, prepared and responsive ecosystem for managing current and future public health threats." Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, noted, "COVID-19 was a watershed moment that exposed both the fragility and the global interdependence of our technological future. What is now clear is that the triad of intelligence -- biological, artificial and natural -- will redefine all future technologies. Their convergence will drive a scale and speed of innovation that is difficult to imagine today. Harnessing this potential will be central to strengthening India's One Health and bioscience capabilities." In the discussions on medical countermeasures, experts from leading national and international research institutions underscored the need to accelerate the development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics that can rapidly respond to emerging threats. They emphasized building agile research platforms, strengthening regulatory systems for emergency use, and expanding collaborations between scientific agencies, industry and global partners. State governments added practical insights, sharing experiences on implementing surveillance systems, inter-departmental coordination and operational readiness at the field level. Conversations on capacity building and community engagement further highlighted that a strong One Health system depends on skilled human resources, trusted institutions and empowered communities. Experts from wildlife health, public health training, community-based research and health systems development stressed the need for multi-tiered training architectures, integration of One Health into professional education, and sustained community partnerships. State governments shared diverse implementation experiences that demonstrated the importance of tailored community engagement strategies and locally adapted solutions. The day also featured an exhibition showcasing India's expanding One Health capabilities. Institutions demonstrated innovations in surveillance, biosafety, digital platforms, laboratory networks and collaborative research efforts, reflecting the country's growing technological and scientific capacity. A felicitation ceremony was held for the National One Health Hackathon, which invited tech-driven and community-focused solutions to strengthen India's One Health Mission, bringing together multidisciplinary student and early-career teams to develop practical prototypes addressing real-world One Health challenges. The deliberations concluded with a shared recognition that One Health is essential to achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat. By advancing scientific excellence, enabling cross-sectoral cooperation and strengthening preparedness across all levels of the system, India continues to move towards a safer and more resilient future. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the four new labour codes, to be implemented from today, provide a strong foundation for universal social security and will protect workers' rights. The Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are set to be implemented from today. "Shramev Jayate! Today, our Government has given effect to the Four Labour Codes. It is one of the most comprehensive and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence. It greatly empowers our workers. It also significantly simplifies compliance and promotes 'Ease of Doing Business'," the Prime Minister posted on X. PM Modi further stated that the implementation of these four labour codes will ensure minimum and timely payment of wages, along with a safe workplace and remunerative opportunities, especially for women and youth. "These Codes will serve as a strong foundation for universal social security, minimum and timely payment of wages, safe workplaces and remunerative opportunities for our people, especially Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti," the PM said. He further stated that these reforms will boost job creation, drive productivity and push India towards being developed. "It will build a future-ready ecosystem that protects the rights of workers and strengthens India's economic growth. These reforms will boost job creation, drive productivity and accelerate our journey towards a Viksit Bharat," he added. In a historic decision, the Government of India has announced that the four Labour Codes - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are being made effective from 21st November, rationalising 29 existing labour laws. By modernising labour regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work, this landmark move lays the foundation for a future-ready workforce and stronger, resilient industries driving labour reforms for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. According to an official release issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, many of India's labour laws were framed in the pre-Independence and early post-Independence era (1930s-1950s), at a time when the economy and world of work were fundamentally different. While most major economies have updated and consolidated their labour regulations in recent decades, India continued to operate under fragmented, complex and in several parts outdated provisions spread across 29 Central labour laws. These restrictive frameworks struggled to keep pace with changing economic realities and evolving forms of employment, creating uncertainty and increasing compliance burden for both workers and industry. The implementation of the four Labour Codes addresses this long-pending need to move beyond colonial-era structures and align with modern global trends. Together, these Codes empower both workers and enterprises, building a workforce that is protected, productive and aligned with the evolving world of work -- paving the way for a more resilient, competitive and self-reliant nation. (ANI)
The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, on Friday said there is "no coordination between the bureaucracy and the political leadership" in the state, as the confrontation between the government and the State Election Commission (SEC) over the delay in Panchayati Raj elections deepened. The Governor's sharp remarks came shortly after State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi submitted a sealed report to him on the status of the panchayat polls, a move that has pushed the issue directly into Raj Bhawan. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said the report submitted by SEC Anil Khachi would be examined, but expressed concern that ministers and top officers were contradicting each other. "Ministers are saying elections should be held on time, but officers, including DCs of seven districts, are saying elections are not possible. Here, who is bigger, the minister or the officer?" said the Governor. He said the government and the Election Commission must act together to ensure that panchayat elections are held on schedule. "If the Assembly elections are not held on time, the entire state faces instability. Similarly, timely panchayat elections are extremely important," he said. The government has indicated that polls may need to be postponed, while the SEC maintains that elections should be conducted within the constitutional timeframe. With the matter now formally brought before the Governor, tensions between the two institutions have escalated. Meanwhile, speaking at the inauguration of "Audit Week" organised by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department in Shimla, Governor Shukla highlighted the crucial role of audit institutions in maintaining transparency in public expenditure. "It is the responsibility of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service to give the nation responsible officers who ensure clarity, accuracy and transparency in financial matters. In India, CAG reports have often changed political equations because they are clear, transparent and precise." Shukla said. He said audits ensure checks on both officials and governments that overlook public interest. The Governor also voiced concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, referring to two shooting incidents within 24 hours. "Two firing incidents in 24 hours are worrying for such a peaceful state. The government must address law and order as a priority."Said Shiv Pratap Shukla On drug abuse, he said awareness campaigns were showing results, but stricter measures were necessary to preserve the cultural and moral fabric of the hill state. "The purity of Devbhoomi Himachal must be protected. This is everyone's responsibility." (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday addressed the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Flow's 3-day Inter-State Conference on Thursday, highlighting the state's transformation over the past eight years under his leadership. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Adityanath attributed India's remarkable rise as the world's fourth-largest economy to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "You have seen India transform in the last 11 years. The country has progressed in different sectors and India's unprecedented progress attracts the world today. In the last 11 years, under the leadership of PM Modi, India established itself as the fourth largest economy and now India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economy. We will soon become the third largest economy in the world," the Chief Minister said. Reflecting on the law and order situation in the state, Chief Minister Adityanath noted the significant improvements made since his government assumed office and said that today law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh is considered a model in the country. He stated, "A society cannot be self-reliant if it ignores half of its population. 8.5 years ago, before we came to power, there was atmosphere of insecurity, law and order had collapsed, there used to be riots in the state... businessmen, women, industries, markets, nothing were safe. When we came, we gave top priority to security in Uttar Pradesh. Today, the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh is considered a model in the country, festivals are organised peacefully. Every person feels safe." The Chief Minister credited the state's security reforms as a key factor in attracting investments, which have exceeded Rs 45 lakh crore in the past years. He highlighted that these investments have made a positive impact in the state and under his tenure, the women workforce in Uttar Pradesh has sharply increased by 3 times and has become around 35-36% in the last eight years. Chief Minister Adityanath asserted, "Its result is that we brought an investment of more than Rs 45 lakh crore. Soon we will put on ground the new investment of Rs 5 lakh crore. When this investment came, employment also increased and it was not just limited to men. When our government came, there were only 12-13% women workforce in Uttar Pradesh, but now it has increased upto 35-36%. It means it has increased by 3 times in the last 8 years." (ANI)
Top UK university University College London (UCL) is looking to significantly expand its footprint in India through long-term research partnerships, joint degrees and more staff-student exchanges with leading Indian institutions, including IIT Delhi, AIIMS and IISc Bengaluru. In an interview with ANI, UCL Vice-Provost for Research, Innovation and Global Engagement Professor Geraint Rees, who is visiting here, said India's rapidly advancing research landscape has created strong complementarities with UCL. "India is an advanced economy. The research capability of Indian institutions has really come up recently, and is very high quality...Their work in areas like advanced therapies for cancer, AI and quantum technologies are all areas where we also have a lot of depth." He stressed that UCL, ranked 9th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, has no plans to establish a campus in India and prefers a co-creation model. "UCL isn't one of those British universities that want to establish a campus in India. We think that there are such fantastic Indian institutions like the IITs, like IISc, like AIIMS, that we would prefer to co-create with those institutions." UCL's partnerships in India have expanded rapidly in the past two years. In 2024, UCL signed a trilateral agreement with AIIMS New Delhi and IIT Delhi to boost multidisciplinary medical-technology research in diagnostics, imaging, implants, digital health, AI and surgical technologies. Last year, IISc and UCL launched a new phase of their strategic partnership to strengthen joint work in healthcare innovation. Rees said these collaborations are already yielding results. "We reviewed their progress in terms of seed funding recently... We've already awarded funding to seven projects. They've received somewhere around 5,000-10,000 each... And we talked today about the next round of funding, which will go out shortly." On academic mobility, UCL is exploring scalable models without setting numerical targets. "We want to create the kind of scientists and students who are globally literate, culturally literate... We're talking about, for example, PhD students maybe spending some time in each other's institutions... up to longer, more ambitious programs, like perhaps a two-year master's program, where there'll be one year in each." Rees added that India's global orientation strengthens UCL's long-term engagement approach. "India is, to me, a dynamic, modern, open economy that is seeking to link itself to the world... What we're seeking to do is build something that can last 10, 20, 30 years." Rees said UCL aims to become a preferred partner for Indian institutions while deepening research and innovation collaborations across sectors, including assistive technologies and entrepreneurship. (ANI)
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday said that an investigation committee has been formed by the state government amid chaos over the suicide of a teenager from a prestigious school in the national capital. Speaking to reporters here, Sood said that the schools have also taken action in the case. He informed that he will be writing to schools to enquire whether they are monitoring students' mental health and overall well-being in accordance with the CBSE guidelines. "We have formed an investigation committee, and the school has also taken action. I see this not only as the Education Minister, but also as a concerned parent. Soon, I will be writing to schools to ask whether they are monitoring students' mental health and overall well-being in accordance with CBSE guidelines. The state government is ready to provide handholding and support. We are deeply concerned about our children's mental health and well-being," the Delhi Education Minister said. The school, located in central Delhi, has suspended four of its staff members. Earlier, the Maternal uncle of the deceased teenager student said that there was "no clarification on the course of action against the teachers" and informed that they will carry out protests demanding the resolution of the conflicts and grievances. Speaking to ANI, the Uncle of the victim said, "Right after the suicide of my nephew, an anonymous call reached his father, who was in Maharashtra. We immediately rushed to the metro station and found that the people were already taking the kid to the hospital. He wanted to pursue his career as an actor." The victim's uncle said that the child had been complaining about his teachers for 4-5 months and that they had organised a protest at the school gate at 1:00 pm today, urging action against them. "Such a creative and sensitive child was tortured and misunderstood. The children should be recognised for their unique qualities rather than focusing solely on exams and marks. The child had been complaining about his teachers for 4-5 months, whom he named in the suicide note. The parents even talked to the teachers and the principal. His friends said that the taunting and harassment increased in the last 4 days before the incident. The school did not take any action, and even the FIR was registered in 5 hours. It was when we carried out protests that this matter was taken seriously. There is no clarification on the course of action for the teachers. We will carry on our protests demanding the resolution of the conflicts and grievances of students and parents," he added. Meanwhile, the father of the deceased child has alleged that his son could not bear the "humiliation" and was subjected to repeated "scolding" by one of his teachers. A class 10 student, who allegedly died by suicide near Rajendra Place Metro Station, left a note accusing his school teachers of harassment and calling for strict action against them. "For the past 8-10 months, he's been complaining that his teacher scolds him for every little thing. The teacher even complained to me about his mischievous behaviour. Despite our insistence, she continued to torture him. We told him we'd change schools as soon as he passed 10th grade. Three days ago, just before his board exam prelims, he was threatened with expulsion. Yesterday, he slipped and fell, and the teacher scolded him, saying he did it intentionally. He couldn't bear the humiliation. I received a call at 3:15 pm that he had fallen from the metro station," the father of the victim recalled on Thursday. He further mentioned that his son has also written the names of the teachers who tortured him. "He also asked that his organs be donated after his death. He wrote that his last wish was that such an incident never happen to any child again. An FIR was filed yesterday, and we parents demand that strict action be taken against these teachers and that they be given justice," he added. Following the incident, students and parents held a protest outside the school, alleging that the school administration had ignored repeated complaints of teacher harassment. According to the FIR, the student allegedly jumped from Platform No. 2 of Rajendra Place Metro Station. Tension gripped the School, and parents and students protested after the family accused several teachers of subjecting him to sustained harassment and academic pressure, and demanded accountability. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for increasing the number of person-days provided under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) to 150 days for J&K to enhance livelihood security in rural areas affected by natural calamity. In a post on X, LG Sinha said, "I'm grateful to PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan for increasing the number of person-days provided under MGNREGA to 150 days for J&K to enhance livelihood security in rural areas affected by natural calamity." "1,962 Panchayats of J&K UT were declared 'flood affected' and it had caused adverse impact on livelihood. Special relief was sought from GoI and today's decision will ensure stable income to vulnerable rural households, relieve the families from economic distress and create durable assets," he added. Earlier, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) had recommended extending the benefit of additional employment of 50 days over and above 100 days per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the 'flood/cloud burst/landslide' (natural calamity) affected areas of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir for FY 2025-26. In view of the likelihood of increased demand for employment on public works due to the natural calamity, it has been decided, under Section 3(4) of Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act, to provide up to 50 days of additional employment over and above 100 days per household in the affected rural areas of UT of Jammu and Kashmir for the Financial Year 2025-26. According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the vision of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is to enhance the livelihood security of rural households across the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA recognises the importance of strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor by reaching the most vulnerable sections of rural areas, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women-headed households, and other marginalised groups. The scheme encourages a sense of community and collective responsibility by strengthening Panchayat Raj institutions. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA promotes a bottom-up approach to planning and execution, empowering local communities to take charge of their development. Through the creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability, the scheme addresses immediate economic needs while laying the foundation for long-term prosperity. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet the Matua community in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, on November 25.

Currently, a nationwide SIR is underway in 12 states and union territories, with the final elector's list to be published on February 7, 2026.

These states and UTs are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the Election Commission, printing and training took place from October 28 to November 3, followed by an Enumeration Phase from November 4 to December 4.

The draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objections period from December 9 to January 8, 2026. The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 2026, with publication of Final Electoral Rolls on February 7, 2026.

The opposition has strongly opposed the SIR process, alleging that it is aimed at striking the names of voters from underprivileged communities off the voter lists.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, urging the Election Commission to intervene immediately.

Sharing her previous letter on X addressed to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee described the SIR exercise as "unplanned, chaotic and dangerous," highlighting gaps in training, lack of clarity on documentation, and the impossibility of meeting voters amidst their work schedules.

"Sharing herewith my latest letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, articulating my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing SIR....," she wrote. (ANI)
The Delhi Government is working on its Winter Action Plan, with a firm focus on curbing pollution at its sources. As part of these efforts, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has intensified enforcement of its comprehensive guidelines to mitigate dust pollution arising from road cutting and construction activities. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated, "Dust generated from road cutting and construction is a significant contributor to harmful PM2.5 levels in our air. Strict compliance with the dust mitigation guidelines is non-negotiable as we work to protect the health of our citizens and ensure cleaner air for Delhi." DPCC's guidelines require executing agencies and contractors to implement key dust control measures, including: Erecting dust/wind barriers of at least 2 meters in height along road cutting stretches wider than 18 meters. Covering and keeping loose soil and construction debris moist to prevent air-borne dust. Using tarpaulin or green nets to cover stored material and ensuring transport vehicles are fully covered. Storing all construction waste only at designated sites and not on public roads. Regular sprinkling of water on unpaved or loose soil areas to suppress dust. Safety gear and dust masks for all workers Clear signage on road restoration timelines and diversions Only PUC-certified vehicles permitted for hauling material Minister Sirsa further stressed, "There will be zero tolerance for non-compliance. Environmental compensation of up to 5 lakh will be levied on agencies found in violation of these dust mitigation norms. Thousands of enforcement personnel are on the ground, conducting inspections and keeping a close check on activities." The Delhi government has directed all executing agencies, ground officers, and contractors to strictly adhere to the DPCC guidelines and contribute to the collective fight against air pollution. Minister Sirsa reiterated, "Our teams are actively monitoring all sites, and any breaches will attract prompt penalties. We expect nothing less than full cooperation from every stakeholder involved in road work." For citizens, the Minister advised, "People of Delhi have a vital role to play, adopt best practices, avoid any open burning or waste fires, and remain vigilant for any violations." The Minister further highlighted that the enforcement teams have ensured the provision of 305 community kitchens, supplying cooked food to over 5,000 individuals across Delhi, to prevent any instances of biomass burning by construction workers, truck drivers, and labourers stationed at project sites. Additionally, as part of the dust-control drive, an average of 3,000 km of roads are being mechanically swept every day, significantly reducing loose dust on major corridors. At Delhi's borders, polluting interstate trucks are being strictly checked and stopped, preventing non-compliant heavy vehicles from entering the city. Simultaneously, stringent action is being taken against all construction and demolition sites found causing dust or running air-polluting activities, ensuring full compliance with Delhi's dust mitigation norms. Over 50 such projects have been shut across Delhi so far. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said on X that the grand welcome accorded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg reflects India's rising global stature. Dhami posted, "The grand welcome accorded to the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji at the G20 Leaders Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a vivid testament to India's growing stature and respect on the global stage." "Under the unparalleled leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji, India is today steadfastly advancing towards development, self-reliance, and becoming a world guru. This scene of his global popularity and India's emerging power is a moment of pride for the entire nation," the X post read further. Meanwhile, during his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed vibrant cultural performances by members of the Indian diaspora. He was greeted with the Tamil rendition of the Girmitiya song 'Ganga Maiya,' along with Ganapati Prarthana, Shanti Mantra and other devotional prayers. Sharing details in a post on X, PM Modi said, "It was a gladdening and moving experience for me to witness a performance of the South African Girmitiya song 'Ganga Maiya' in Johannesburg. Another special part of this performance was the rendition in Tamil! This song carries with it hope and the unbroken spirit of those who came here many years ago. They faced numerous hardships on the way, but that did not deter them. They kept India alive in their hearts through songs and prayers. Thus, it is commendable to see this cultural connection kept alive." He added, "The cultural connection between India and South Africa is truly heartwarming and timeless. In Johannesburg, my young friends sang the Ganapati Prarthana, Shanti Mantra and other divine prayers with great devotion. Such moments reaffirm the enduring bonds between our people." The Prime Minister further wrote, "Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Johannesburg. This affection reflects the enduring bond between India and South Africa. These ties, rooted in history and strengthened by shared values, continue to grow even stronger!" PM Modi will attend the G20 Summit from November 21 to 23 -- the first G20 Summit to be held on the African continent. He will take part in discussions on key issues concerning India and the Global South. This marks his fourth official visit to South Africa, following trips in 2016, 2018, and 2023 for the BRICS Summits. (ANI)
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Bhubaneswar Zonal Unit has successfully secured the conviction of three accused involved in drug trafficking. The sentence was awarded by the Court of the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This case dates back to August 13, 2021, when officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau apprehended three accused persons with 20 kilograms of opium. Further investigation revealed that the accused were linked to an inter-state trafficking racket, in which opium was being transported by concealing it in a specially designed cavity inside the driver's cabin of a truck. A chargesheet was filed against all three accused in February 2022. The truck used for transporting the illegal opium was also seized. The three accused -- Vijay Bhan, Suraj Pal, and Surendra -- were sentenced on November 20 under sections 18(b), 25, 28, and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 (as amended). Each of them was awarded 10 years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. This conviction highlights the NCB's efforts in dismantling organised drug trafficking networks operating across state borders. It is also notable that this is the third conviction secured by this unit in as many cases during the current calendar year. The Bureau remains committed to its mission of protecting society from the dangers of drug abuse and curbing narcotics trafficking. In another case, the NCB succeeded in securing the conviction of two accused involved in inter-state drug trafficking. The NCB, Ahmedabad Zonal Unit, successfully secured the conviction of two accused involved in inter-state drug trafficking. The case is related to the seizure of commercial quantities of 4-MEC from the accused, who was engaged in smuggling activities in Kheda district and Ahmedabad city. This case pertains to the recovery of 1.014 kg of 4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) from the possession of Rais Mohammad, a resident of Rajasthan, and 0.464 kg of 4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) from the house premises of Faiyaz Ahmed of Ahmedabad in January 2023. The investigation established that the accused were involved in inter-state trafficking of 4-MEC. 4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) is a synthetic stimulant that is misused for euphoria and increased energy. It dangerously elevates heart rate and blood pressure, leading to dehydration, seizures, kidney failure, and even death. Mentally, it causes agitation, hallucinations, severe anxiety, depression, and addiction. Its unpredictable toxicity makes it extremely unsafe and harmful. It is a synthetic drug used as a psychotropic substance and can cause irreversible bodily harm. After the completion of the investigation and collection of evidence, a complaint was filed before the Court, Kapadvanj, in June 2023. On November 21, the Court, Kapadvanj, convicted both accused and awarded each of them 14 years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhawna Bohra on Friday alleged that a clear divide has emerged among Karnataka MLAs amid ongoing speculation about a possible change in the Chief Minister's post, criticising the Congress high command for creating confusion within the party, adding that the power tussle was overshadowing governance and public welfare. Speaking to ANI in Raipur, Bohra said the differences between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were increasingly visible in public forums. She claimed that MLAs were openly clashing, indicating internal discord. "... Differences between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister can be clearly seen. There is a split among the MLAs, who are clashing in public meetings. The storm has arisen because the high command is confused. In this entire tussle for power and position, the public, who voted for them, is being neglected. What happened in Chhattisgarh is now being repeated in Karnataka..." Bohra said. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed the ongoing speculation, stating that leaders meeting the party's senior leadership should not be viewed as unusual, further emphasising that MLAs and ministers frequently meet top leaders for various discussions. Speaking to the reporters in Bengaluru, DK Shivakumar said, "...All are eligible to go and meet their leaders. You can't stop them, you can't tell them no, because so many are going with ministers. Some of them are going with the CM. Who will stop them? No one will stop them..." His comments came amid reports that several Karnataka MLAs were travelling to Delhi to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, sparking rumours of internal unrest. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday downplayed the speculations of leadership change in the state, terming it as an "unnecessary debate" and attributing these speculations to recent discussions about a cabinet reshuffle. The Chief Minister further said that senior party leadership would further take decisions on the cabinet reshuffle, as out of the total 34 ministerial posts, two posts are vacant, which would be filled during the cabinet reshuffle. When asked if he will continue as the CM for 5 years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "This is an unnecessary debate. Only after it was said that the cabinet can be reshuffled after two and a half years, the issue of changing the Chief Minister has come to the fore. The party leaders need to take a decision on the cabinet reshuffle. There are a total of 34 ministerial posts, out of which two posts are vacant. These vacant ministerial positions will be filled during the cabinet reshuffle." (ANI)
Finding the human voice in an age of AI translation

Xinhua) 09:14, November 21, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Yan Yuchen realized that her beloved translation program would come to a halt shortly after she returned to campus, ready to begin her second year of training in Monterey, a small town perched on the Pacific coast of California.

Yan studies interpretation and translation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, also known as MIIS. The training is a grind -- demanding and unrelenting, but offset by the rhythms of the coast and the institute's reputation as a leading school for translators and interpreters worldwide.

But in late August 2025, Vermont-based Middlebury College said it would shutter its graduate programs in Monterey by 2027 -- including its flagship translation and interpretation track.

The college cited steep declines in enrollments and applications. Meanwhile in China, where translation classes also face a shrinking student pool, many point to the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence (AI), reigniting old debates over whether studying foreign languages is still worth the effort.

"Our program has such a strong reputation," said Yan. "Most students who want to study translation hope to make it here." The announcement, she added, left her "utterly stunned."

She was echoed by Liu Leshan, a master's student in an interpretation program at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) in south China, who said the news had left him unsure about the profession and path he had chosen.

Reaction has been sharp in China -- and for good reason. For decades, its foreign-language programs have punched above their weight, helping break post-1949 isolation, bringing in technology and managerial know-how during the reforms which started in the late 1970s, and later riding the WTO wave to fuel the growth of trade, finance, law and scientific cooperation after 2001.

Along the way, these programs drew a fair share of the nation's brightest students, offering a glimpse of glittering careers on international stages such as the United Nations and the World Bank, where paychecks were comfortably padded.

Yet in recent years, the sentiment has changed. Notably, some Chinese universities have suspended or even scrapped foreign-language programs, and educators and industry practitioners are calling for curriculum adjustment to adapt to the changing market.

WHEN MACHINES CAUGHT UP

Talk of machines replacing human translators and interpreters is hardly new. IBM tried its hand at machine translation as early as 1954, but for decades, humans were able to laugh off the results.

This trend changed in 2016, when Google's Neural Machine Translation system slashed errors significantly, for the first time producing translations approaching human quality. With the recent rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, the industry now faces not a slow creep but potentially a cliff-edge shock.

Luo Qing, who works in sales at a large translation firm, said one recent quote for a medical project summed up this shift.

A full human translation costs 800 yuan (about 113 U.S. dollars) per thousand Chinese characters, while a "machine translation plus human editing" package costs 300 yuan, she revealed.

Her company's traditional translation business has shrunk by three-quarters, while AI-assisted tasks -- ranging from machine translation and post-editing to subtitling, have surged.

According to an April 2025 report by the Translators Association of China, hybrid workflows have become the norm in the industry, with 97.1 percent of translation firms now using AI tools. Of their projects, 26 percent are delivered as pure machine translations, while another 33.2 percent rely on machine translation coupled with post-editing.

The picture is more complicated in the interpretation market. Practitioners report that human interpreters are still preferred for in-person scenarios, but many online meetings have embraced AI-generated subtitles.

ELITE HUMAN TRANSLATORS

While acknowledging that AI has boosted translation efficiency, Ren Wen, dean of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation at Beijing Foreign Studies University, also said: "AI can, to a degree, substitute for medium- and lower-level human work, but it is unlikely to displace top-tier translators and interpreters any time soon."

Observers say human translators and interpreters still carry far more credibility than algorithms in diplomatic talks, business negotiations or policy disclosures. Concerns about data leaks or the sensitive nature of political documents prevent AI from participating in this translation process.

Liability is another sticking point. In legal, medical or contractual texts, a mistranslation can cost dearly -- and yet people cannot pin responsibility on a machine.

Chai Ying, vice general manager of China Translation Corporation, said humans remain essential for judging AI translations and tailoring them to the context.

To thrive in the AI era, human translators still need to master the basics of their craft, Chai said. "To be able to evaluate AI translations, we must be good at language and translation skills ourselves."

Many language and translation programs, notably, are shifting toward more interdisciplinary offerings to broaden the skills students have under their belts.

GDUFS, for instance, has partnered with Macao Polytechnic University to introduce dual-degree pathways that combine translation with computer-related disciplines at the undergraduate level.

Also, other institutions such as Shanghai International Studies University, have launched doctoral programs to cultivate the country's next generation of elite translators and interpreters.

"Future interpreters/translators may wear a lot of hats on the job, sometimes as editor, project manager or cross-cultural consultant," said Xu Ran, an associate professor of interpretation at China Foreign Affairs University.

"It's important for aspiring learners to not only build a strong base in language and culture, but also pick up a range of skills and learn to work with AI," she said.

SPOTLIGHT ON CHINA

Analysts highlight that China's translation industry faces not only the disruptive rise of generative AI but also unprecedented opportunities in Chinese-to-foreign translation.

They say that as China moves closer to the center of the global stage, the world is increasingly keen to learn about the country and engage in endeavors such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Chinese AI firm iFLYTEK said its translation device, which has mastered more than 80 foreign languages, has proven popular among managers of small and micro firms, as they are traveling more often to non-Anglophone countries participating in the BRI.

Will increasingly versatile AI one day make human interpreters obsolete? Sun Jingting, director of AI translation at iFLYTEK, said that this is not what such systems are designed to do.

"Business negotiations are also about conveying emotions and bridging cultures. This is where humans are not to be replaced," he noted.

The adoption of AI often reflects practical constraints, as human interpreters of some less spoken languages are often in short supply, or their services are simply beyond the reach of small businesses, Sun explained.

In fact, while traditional translation fields are shrinking, sectors such as IT and the Internet, culture and media, and cross-border e-commerce are increasingly snapping up language talents offering cross-disciplinary skills.

Liu, for example, has secured a job offer in overseas sales from a domestic manufacturer of educational equipment, which is now looking to expand into more markets. The job, he said, will require nuanced, empathetic exchange that goes beyond the cold, clinical precision that AI translation provides.

"AI is already woven into the study, work and daily lives of students in the translation and interpreting fields," he said.

"I don't see it as something poised to bury the profession, but as a tool that, if we learn to use it well, can turbocharge our competitiveness. And that, to my mind, is a good thing."

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
Brussels, Belgium (PANA)  The European Council has approved conclusions welcoming the pact for the Mediterranean, which coincides with the marking of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, that laid the foundations for a comprehensive partnership between the EU and 10 countries in the southern Mediterranean
Acting on specific intelligence, BSF and Customs Sabroom launched an operation along NH-08, near the Sabroom-Jolaibari-Matai tri-junction in South Tripura district. At around 8:10 pm, the joint team intercepted a vehicle bearing registration number TR01-AE-1816, arriving from Agartala.

A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of clothing items and various consumer goods, valued at nearly Rs 74 lakh, which were reportedly transported to border areas for smuggling across to Bangladesh. The driver of the vehicle was apprehended on the spot.

This successful operation reinforces BSF's steadfast commitment to curbing smuggling in Tripura and reflects the strong coordination between BSF and sister law enforcement agencies in protecting the nation's economic and security interests.

Earlier, the BSF, in a joint operation with the PR Bari Police Station in Tripura, seized 168 kg of ganja and apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals during two separate operations on November 7.

According to BSF Tripura, a joint team of BSF personnel, local police, and officials from the Deputy Collector and Magistrate's office in Belonia conducted a house search in Uttar Awasthipara, Dakshin Krishnapur, Radhanagar, under PR Bari Police Station in South Tripura district.

During the search, 168 kg of ganja was recovered.

In another operation on the same day, BSF troops apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals from the Indian village of Megliband, Katlamura, under Sidhai Police Station in Mohanpur subdivision of West Tripura district.

The individuals were caught while allegedly attempting to exfiltrate to Bangladesh. (ANI)
According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the High Commission for Addressing Migrants' Issues recorded the return of 1,763 families on Wednesday. Fitrat shared the update on his official X account.

He noted that the returnees entered Afghanistan through several border crossings: Salma Qala in Herat, Pul-i-Abdesham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand, and the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar.

Fitrat added that 2,222 returnee families (13,303 people) were transported to their home provinces, and 1,534 individuals received humanitarian aid.

These returns follow other mass repatriations earlier in the week: on Sunday, 12,666 Afghan refugees were sent back from Iran and Pakistan, and on Tuesday, another 7,326 Afghans were forcibly repatriated.

Chagai and Quetta in Balochistan and Attock in Punjab were the top three districts across the country where most Afghan Citizen Card ACC holders or undocumented Afghan nationals were arrested or detained over more than ten months this year, Dawn reported, citing a United Nations refugee agency assessment.

The report stated that the highest number of arrests or detentions occurred in 2025, with 100,971 Afghans arrested from January 1 to November 8, 2025, compared to 9,006 Afghans detained in 2024 and 26,299 Afghans arrested in 2023.

According to the UNHCR report, released on Friday, before 2023, there was no data collected on the arrest and detention of ACC holders or undocumented Afghan nationals. Since January 2023, the International Organisation for Migration IOM has been collecting such data.

From November 2 to November 8, a total of 13,380 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained, marking a 72 per cent increase from the previous week. (ANI)
A Brazilian defence delegation headed by Admiral Guilherme Da Silva Coasta, Head of Culture and Education of Joint Staff of Brazilian Armed Forces, visited the College of Defence Management, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said. In a post on X, it highlighted that the delegation was briefed by Major General G Srinivas, Commandant CDM IDS on various training activities of the College and the conduct of the Higher Defence Management Course, the flagship course of CDM. It further noted that the delegation was introduced to the Comprehensive Assessment of Security Strategies (COMPASS) framework for Net Assessment. "Admiral Guilherme Da Silva Coasta appreciated the academic excellence, state-of-the-art infrastructure and knowledge being imparted at CDM. He emphasised that there exists a strong relation between India and Brazil, and there is further scope for taking forward academic association with CDM", HQ IDS shared on X. https://x.com/HQ_IDS_India/status/1991506879126851824?s=20 Earlier in July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil. He and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided to charter a strategic roadmap to strengthen further bilateral ties over the next decade around five priority pillars, which included defence and security. The Joint statement issued by the MEA on his visit noted that the countries recognised convergent views and strategic complementarities in defence and security matters between Brazil and India. "The leaders welcomed the growing defence cooperation, including participation in joint military exercises and the exchange of high-level defence delegations. They expressed satisfaction with the signing of the Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information, which will enable deeper cooperation in various strategic areas. They also welcome the establishment of a Bilateral Cybersecurity Dialogue as a platform to deepen cooperation through the exchange of information, experiences, and national perspectives on cybersecurity issues". (ANI)
The 19th edition of the WAVES Film Bazaar opened with an unexpected moment on Thursday when South Korean lawmaker Jaewon Kim sang Vande Mataram during the inaugural ceremony, drawing a standing ovation from delegates and filmmakers gathered for the event. Kim, a Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and a Guest of Honour at the ceremony, praised the organisers for their "commitment and consistency since the first edition." Expressing hope for deeper India-Korea ties in the creative sector, she said the Film Bazaar reflects "a wonderful commitment to collaboration." Her rendition of India's national song came as the country marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, adding symbolic weight to the opening day. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, who was joined by Ministry Secretary Sanjay Jaju, actors Nandamuri Balakrishna and Anupam Kher, festival director Shekhar Kapur, and other dignitaries. Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary Sanjay Jaju described WAVES Film Bazaar as a "complete ecosystem" for the film industry, combining screenings, masterclasses and technology showcases. He also emphasised how the new identity of WAVES aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of "converting art into commerce." Meanwhile, L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, while inaugurating the Bazaar, spoke about the Prime Minister's vision for India to emerge as a global hub of film production. Calling it a "bridge between creators and producers," he praised the platform for empowering young voices and new storytellers, noting the participation of 124 new creators in the bazaar this year and reaffirming its role in taking Indian culture and content to the world. The WAVES Film Bazaar, held annually alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), has become a major platform for global filmmakers, producers, sales agents and festival programmers. This year's edition features more than 300 film projects and delegations from over seven countries, as per press statement. Organisers said they expect more than 40,000 visitors over the next five days at the event hosted at the Marriott Resort in Panjim. Established in 2007, the Film Bazaar has grown into South Asia's key film market, offering a space for creative discovery, co-production opportunities and industry networking. According to MEA, India-Republic of Korea (ROK) established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1973. Consular relations were established in 1962. Both countries formed a "Strategic Partnership" in year 2010, which was elevated to "Special Strategic Partnership" in year 2015 during the State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Seoul. Both countries commemorated 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2023. (ANI)
Iran's Interior Minister stated that nearly six million foreign nationals are currently living in the country, Tolo News reported, with Minister Iskandar Momeni noting that more than 1.5 million migrants have returned to Afghanistan during the ongoing solar year. Expanding on the scale of these returns, Momeni told Iranian media that "so far, about 1.5 million foreign nationals have been returned," stressing that Iran's capacity to host migrants remains limited despite "historical, cultural, and religious ties" with neighbouring nations. He added that "over 70 per cent of this 1.5 million returned voluntarily," according to Tolo News. However, while Iranian authorities present the returns as orderly and voluntary, Afghan migrants in both Iran and Pakistan describe an increasingly difficult environment marked by stricter policies and rising deportations. Morteza Nazari, an Afghan migrant in Iran, said: "The government has announced that no jobs should be given to migrants. Another problem is that the children of migrants are no longer being admitted to schools. Also, bank cards and SIM cards belonging to migrants have been deactivated." Amid this tightening landscape, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in Afghanistan reported fresh developments involving Afghan detainees abroad, noting that more than 2,000 Afghan migrants have recently been released from prisons in Pakistan. Tolo News reported that the ministry's spokesperson said over 284,000 Afghan nationals had been deported from Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey in under a month. Offering further details, Abdulmutalib Haqqani said: "From these countries, 83,135 single men have returned separately from their families, and 2,076 prisoners have been released from Pakistani jails, bringing the total number of deported migrants to 284,717." This rapid rise in expulsions has prompted growing concern from international organisations. The UNHCR representative in Afghanistan recently warned of the increasing pressure on Afghan migrants returning from Iran, a trend unfolding at a time when international aid is decreasing. (ANI)
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi has concluded his official visit to the United States, aimed at deepening the India-US maritime partnership and advancing shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, Admiral Tripathi held a series of high-level meetings with senior US civilian and military leaders, including US Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby, INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen P. Koehler, and US Marine Forces Pacific Commander Lt Gen James F. Glynn. He also met Vice Admiral Yvette DeVids, Steve Parode, and Rear Admiral Raymond P. Owens. The discussions focused on the core pillars of India-US defence cooperation. Both sides reviewed plans to strengthen maritime security and domain awareness, expand operational interoperability, enhance information sharing, protect sea lines of communication and undersea infrastructure, and coordinate responses to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue, counter-piracy, and other non-traditional security challenges. US Secretary of Navy John C Phelan wrote in an X post, "Earlier this week, I hosted Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy, at the Pentagon. Our discussion focused on further strengthening maritime cooperation, expanding operational coordination, and reinforcing our strategic security partnership that keeps the Indo-Pacific stable and open." They also deliberated on refining bilateral and multilateral exercises such as MALABAR, PASSEX, CMF, and MILAN. Collaboration in new and emerging domains, including unmanned systems, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, cyber, and space-enabled maritime capabilities, was also a key area of discussion, as per press statement. Earlier, Admiral Tripathi also visited the Centre for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance in Hawaii, where talks centred on boosting cooperation and sharing best practices in disaster response, maritime humanitarian operations, and resilience-building across the Indo-Pacific. At the National Defence University in Washington, the Navy chief met its president, Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin, and reviewed ongoing cooperation on professional military education, higher learning partnerships, and training exchanges. He also interacted with Indian officers currently enrolled in courses at the Eisenhower School, the National War College, and the College of Information and Cyberspace. (ANI)
The US Navy has launched a major recovery operation to lift two crashed aircraft from the floor of the South China Sea, amid concerns that the debris could offer China access to sensitive military technology, CNN reported. According to CNN, an F/A-18 Super Hornet and an MH-60 helicopter went down within half an hour of each other in late October during routine operations involving the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. While the cause of the incidents has not been formally identified, US President Donald Trump told reporters shortly afterward that contaminated fuel "may be to blame." All personnel aboard the aircraft were safely rescued. A Navy spokesperson confirmed to CNN that a salvage vessel is currently conducting recovery work but did not disclose the exact crash site or the ship's position. "USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52), a Safeguard-class salvage ship operated by Military Sealift Command, is on-scene conducting operations in support of the recovery efforts," Cmdr. Matthew Comer of the US 7th Fleet said. Documents cited by CNN show that the Salvor can lift up to 300 tons from the seabed. The newest F/A-18 variants aboard the Nimitz weigh roughly 33 tons at maximum takeoff, while the MH-60 helicopter weighs about 11 tons. Military analysts told CNN that despite not being the Navy's most advanced platforms, the aircraft could provide valuable intelligence if retrieved by an adversary. Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said acquiring the wreckage of an American jet would "provide valuable insights into its technological strengths and how to defeat it tactically." Schuster noted that no F/A-18 has ever landed in Chinese possession, adding that such access could help Beijing enhance its carrier-based J-15T aircraft, which are not considered as advanced as the American fighters. He also pointed out that the MH-60 is equipped with anti-submarine warfare systems that remain ahead of China's own capabilities. "China is now prioritizing the upgrading of its anti-submarine warfare systems. So, recovering that helicopter should enjoy a high priority," he said. CNN reported that it has not been able to verify whether China is attempting to reach the crash sites. Beijing maintains sweeping claims over the South China Sea, disregarding an international tribunal ruling that rejected those assertions. The current US operation mirrors a 2022 recovery effort, when an F-35 fighter was successfully lifted from a depth of 12,400 feet after crashing while trying to land aboard the USS Carl Vinson, CNN recalled. China's Foreign Ministry reacted to the latest crashes by saying it could extend humanitarian assistance if needed. At the same time, spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticised US activity in the region, stating that the accidents took place during what he called "US military exercises." He said, "The US has been flexing muscles by frequently sending military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea. This is the root cause of security issues at sea and disruption to regional peace and stability." Schuster warned that China's proximity to the crash zone could give it a "homefield advantage," telling CNN that Beijing could move to impede US recovery efforts "if possible." The US continues to maintain a strong military presence in the region, saying China's expansive territorial claims and growing military infrastructure threaten freedom of navigation through one of the world's busiest maritime routes, CNN added. (ANI)
According to Dawn, air quality deteriorated sharply across multiple urban centres, with IQAir morning data showing Bahawalpur recording an alarming AQI of 469 at 8 am, followed by Faisalabad at 436 at 9 am.

Multan and Sialkot also reported severely polluted air, with readings of 308 and 226, respectively.

Dawn noted that Lahore, ranked the world's second most polluted city on Thursday evening, saw extreme fluctuations throughout the day.

The city's AQI surged to a dangerous 547 at around 2 am, dropped to 197 by 7 am, and climbed again to 366 by 9 am, underscoring the scale and persistence of the smog emergency.

The worsening pollution has been linked to widespread non-compliance with mandatory smog SOPs at major development sites. Despite the PKR 137 billion Lahore Development Plan, Dawn observed that no comprehensive environmental safeguards were visible.

Site inspections at construction zones such as Chauburji, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Defence Road, and Model Town revealed poor adherence to EPA requirements.

Basic measures like green coverings and routine water sprinkling were largely missing, allowing hazardous particulate matter to spread unchecked.

Officials told Dawn that such violations at construction projects were significantly amplifying smog levels and deepening the public health crisis.

In response, Punjab's Environmental Protection Department and Police have initiated an aggressive enforcement drive.

EPA spokesperson Sajid Bashir said a crackdown was underway in coordination with the Safe City Authority, particularly against vehicles lacking mandatory green stickers.

"Two thousand delivery challans were issued in just four days, and action will be further intensified," he said.

He stated that authorities were enforcing a strict penalty regime, including double fines for second offences and impounding vehicles upon a third violation.

Meanwhile, Punjab police reported action across multiple districts over the past 24 hours, registering 23 cases and arresting violators, including in Lahore.

A total fine exceeding PKR 1.35 million was imposed on 556 individuals for smog-related violations such as crop residue burning, smoke-emitting vehicles, and improper industrial or brick kiln operations.

Providing a broader overview, the police spokesperson said that since the launch of the anti-smog campaign, 2,749 cases have been registered, 2,422 people arrested, and fines surpassing PKR 225.7 million imposed.

Punjab IGP Usman Anwar directed all relevant officials to intensify operations on highways, industrial zones, and agricultural belts, emphasising a "zero-tolerance" stance against breaches of smog regulations. (ANI)
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green on Friday said the Quad remains a "powerful vector for ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific" and stressed that Canberra sees India as a trusted and indispensable partner in a rapidly changing world. Speaking to ANI, Green said today's geopolitical environment demands "stable and reliable partners," adding that India and Australia have maintained strategic trust despite global turbulence. "We live in a world which is more competitive and disrupted, and it is a time that we need stable and reliable partners," he said. "Despite all the global disruption, between India and Australia, things are very stable. There is a high level of strategic trust, and we want to be a reliable partner for India and all the other peace-loving countries in the region." Calling the Quad a "powerful vector" for stability, prosperity and peace in the region, Green noted that the grouping has already convened two major foreign ministers' meetings this year, including the one held in July in Washington. He said Australia now looks forward to India hosting the next Quad Summit. "It is up to Prime Minister Modi to identify the dates for that, and I know that Prime Minister Albanese will be keen to come whenever that can be scheduled," he added. In August, Trump had said that he no longer planned to visit India for the Quad Summit, according to a report by The New York Times. The High Commissioner's remarks come a day after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasised that India and Australia must make full use of their bilateral platforms and the Quad to strengthen regional cooperation. Wong, who co-chaired the 16th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, said the partnership between the two countries has "never been more consequential." "You are a leading power, and we are comprehensive strategic partners who share a vision of a peaceful, stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific," Wong said, adding that the next phase of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will focus on benefiting both nations and the wider region. Wong arrived in Delhi on Wednesday for the dialogue, which marked the 26th meeting between the two ministers. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that the Quad is a "valuable platform" for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal cited recent engagements such as the Quad Ports of the Future Conference held in Mumbai on October 29-30, which saw participation from 24 countries. "We see Quad as a valuable platform for discussion among the four Quad partners on issues of importance and of interest to them in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad is making steady progress. We recently attended the India Maritime Week in Mumbai. We had the Quad Ports of the Future Conference in Mumbai on 29th and 30th October. We had almost 24 countries participate in it, which included the four quad partners," he added. The Quad, comprising India, Australia, the US and Japan, is expected to hold its next leaders' summit in India. (ANI)
As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) escalates globally and poses a growing threat to public health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia has issued a strong call for coordinated and urgent action. Marking World AMR Awareness Week 2025, Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia, warned that drug-resistant infections are undermining decades of medical progress and jeopardising essential health services. "Antimicrobial resistance threatens the very foundations of modern medicine, jeopardising decades of medical progress, as around the world and particularly in South-East Asia, common infections are becoming harder to treat," Dr. Boehme said. She noted that AMR is already responsible for over a million deaths annually worldwide, with numbers projected to rise sharply. This year's global theme, "Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future," builds on commitments made at the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR. Dr. Boehme emphasised that the momentum from these commitments must now translate into concrete action. "This call-to-action urges all stakeholders - governments, civil society, health-care providers, veterinarians, farmers, environmental actors and the public to translate the political commitments into tangible, accountable, life-saving interventions." A newly released Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 highlights widening disparities, with low and middle-income nations disproportionately affected. According to the report, resistance was most prevalent in the WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions in 2023. To address the growing threat, Member States recently endorsed the Regional Roadmap on AMR (2025-2030), which aims to accelerate progress through stronger governance, financing, innovation and integration with broader health systems. The WHO South-East Asia Regional Office is currently assisting countries in updating national action plans, strengthening regulatory authorities, expanding antimicrobial stewardship, and developing cross-sectoral surveillance systems. "Our actions can and must ensure that infections remain treatable, surgeries stay safe, and progress continues for future generations," Dr. Boehme stressed. Calling AMR one of the greatest threats to global health, food security and development, she concluded: "Together, we can preserve the life-saving power of antimicrobials for current and future generations. Let us act now, and let us act together." World AMR Awareness Week 2025 started on November 18, 2025 and will conclude on November 24, 2025. (ANI)
The New Zealand government announced it would ban doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to young transgender individuals with gender dysphoria as part of a "precautionary approach."

In a statement, Health Minister Simeon Brown said that Cabinet agreed to introduce new rules under the country's Medicines Act. These would align with New Zealand's approach to the United Kingdom's restrictions on the aforementioned medications, which are also known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues.

New Zealand Announces Ban on Puberty Blockers for Youths

Brown noted that these medications play a crucial role in treating a range of medical conditions. He added that they want to make sure that they remain available for patients who need them for various issues, such as early-onset puberty, endometriosis, or prostate cancer. He argued that in these cases, the medications have shown strong clinical evidence of benefit.

The announced changes will be effective starting on Dec. 19, 2025, and will not affect patients who are currently receiving the treatment. However, new prescriptions will be stopped pending completion of a UK clinical trial examining the medications' use for gender dysphoria, according to 1News.

The situation comes as the Ministry of Health revealed that in 2023, roughly 113 young people aged 11 to 17 were started on puberty blockers. Brown noted that the "stronger safeguards" would provide added "confidence that any treatment is clinically sound and in the best interests of the young person or child."

Brown added that the decision was made because the government is taking a "precautionary approach," given the "uncertainty" in the evidence about the medication's benefits or risks. Currently, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues are not approved by MedSafe for use in delaying puberty in young people who have gender dysphoria or incongruence.

Increasing the Risks

Other countries, including Britain, have already placed a temporary ban on the sale or supply of these medications to individuals under 18 who are not already taking them. The latest ban in New Zealand is expected to have a significant impact on the lives and well-being of transgender and gender-diverse youth, said Elizabeth McElrea, an official of a transgender health body, The Guardian reported.

She argued that the ban will result in worsening mental health, increased suicidality, and dysphoria for gender-diverse children and young people. McElrea added that it would lead to a higher risk of experiencing marginalization and discrimination for these individuals.

The decision to ban puberty blockers comes amid a growing global debate regarding the number of adolescents seeking to change their gender. This has divided the people who are concerned about hastiness in prescribing such medications and others who are worried about access to remedies that they consider life-saving, as per the Daily Maverick.
India is preparing to restart air cargo services with Afghanistan, an External Affairs Ministry official announced on Friday during the visit of Afghanistan's Taliban Trade Minister Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi to New Delhi. Following the announcement, Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed that the groundwork for resuming cargo flights has been completed. "I am pleased to announce that the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi sector and Kabul-Amritsar routes have been activated and cargo flights on these sectors will come very soon," he said. Azizi is in India on a five-day visit aimed at strengthening trade ties, with a particular focus on agricultural exports, as Afghanistan looks to broaden its economic partnerships amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan. His meetings in New Delhi are expected to revolve around increasing trade volumes, expanding market access for Afghan produce, and boosting Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, machinery and textiles. Afghan officials indicated that the agenda also includes discussions on improving transportation routes through air cargo links and Iran's Chabahar port. Additionally, both sides are likely to review ways to restore payment systems disrupted after Afghan banks were cut off from SWIFT and explore reopening the earlier India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor. Azizi's trip comes shortly after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited New Delhi less than two months ago, marking a shift in engagement and aligning with India's move to enhance its diplomatic presence in Kabul. At the same time, Pakistan has reacted strongly to Kabul's growing outreach to India. Cross-border military exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified recently, with efforts at negotiations yielding limited progress. The timing of the visit is also significant as Pakistan's land border closure following recent clashes has severely affected Afghan trade, particularly exports of perishable items such as fruits. With the primary land route blocked, Afghan traders have suffered heavy losses. In light of these disruptions, the Taliban authorities have urged traders to diversify export markets and reduce dependence on Pakistan. (ANI)
A 40-member delegation from Brazil's Naval War College was hosted at the Naval Headquarters here in the national capital. The visit of the delegation saw discussions on enhancing the bilateral training cooperation in maritime domain. The outreach forms a part of the Indian Navy's engagement with key maritime nations. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Indian Navy Spokesperson said, "As part of #IndianNavy's outreach with key Maritime Nations, a 40-member delegation from Escola de Guerra Naval (Naval War College) - EGN, Rio de Janerio, #Brazil was hosted at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi from 17 - 19 Nov 25. The delegation visited the National War Memorial, @IFC_IOR and National Defence College, and were provided an overview of India's Strategic Imperatives by a combined team from #HQIDS and #IndianNavy. The delegation head RAdm Gustavo Leite Cypriano Neves, Commanadant, EGN called on RAdm Sachin Sequeira, ACOP (HRD). The discussions focussed on further enhancing the bilateral training cooperation in Maritime Domain. The visit underscores the strong cooperation between Indian and Brazilian Armed Forces." https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1991799698995413410?s=20 Earlier, a Brazilian defence delegation headed by Admiral Guilherme Da Silva Coasta, Head of Culture and Education of Joint Staff of Brazilian Armed Forces, visited the College of Defence Management, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said. In a post on X, it highlighted that the delegation was briefed by Major General G Srinivas, Commandant CDM IDS on various training activities of the College and the conduct of the Higher Defence Management Course, the flagship course of CDM. It further noted that the delegation was introduced to the Comprehensive Assessment of Security Strategies (COMPASS) framework for Net Assessment. In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil. He and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided to charter a strategic roadmap to strengthen further bilateral ties over the next decade around five priority pillars, which included defence and security. The Joint statement issued by the MEA on his visit noted that the countries recognised convergent views and strategic complementarities in defence and security matters between Brazil and India. "The leaders welcomed the growing defence cooperation, including participation in joint military exercises and the exchange of high-level defence delegations. They expressed satisfaction with the signing of the Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information, which will enable deeper cooperation in various strategic areas. They also welcome the establishment of a Bilateral Cybersecurity Dialogue as a platform to deepen cooperation through the exchange of information, experiences, and national perspectives on cybersecurity issues". (ANI)
Defence Expert Sanjeev Srivastava on Friday, hailed the recent news of the resumption of issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide, calling it a constructive development in the bilateral ties. Speaking to ANI, he said, "This is yet another constructive development of India-China relationship. Reports are there that India has opened up its visa facility for Chinese nationals, who can apply for tourist visas." In a significant step towards normalising bilateral ties, India is learnt to have resumed issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide-- a move ending a five-year suspension imposed following the 2020 Galwan clash. The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights. Srivastava highlighted how the meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan led to the two countries engage over several areas of ties such as the disengagement, Kailash Mansarover yatra resumption. "All of these developments are a clear indicator that India-China relationship is now coming back to normalcy. This is a very good development. India and China- two largest populated countries, major economies, two significant powers in the international affairs-- if they have a constructive and a good relationship, this will be beneficial for not only the people of India and China, but also give a good message to the international community...". Officials, privy to the development, said that the decision followed an order issued in July this year suggesting to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals. A month ago, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, halted for five years, was also revived in June 2025, with the first group of Indian pilgrims crossing into Tibet. Earlier, on April 1, marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, Presidents Xi Jinping and Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and PM Modi, exchanged congratulatory messages, signalling renewed commitment to stability. Throughout 2025, diplomacy between India and China intensified as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Beijing in July, noting relations were "gradually moving in a positive direction" with a "fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocated with a two-day trip to New Delhi in August, meeting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and EAM Jaishankar to discuss border de-escalation and normalisation. This paved the way for PM Modi's landmark visit to China on August 31, his first in seven years, for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where he and Xi committed to viewing each other as "partners rather than rivals." Earlier on November 10, Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, on Monday welcomed the first batch of passengers arriving from New Delhi as direct commercial flights between India and China officially resumed after five years. India in Shanghai wrote in an X post, "Fair Winds & Clear skies! India emerges as a Global Hub as people-to-people ties grow stronger. CG @PratikMathur1 was at hand to receive the first set of passengers as direct flights resumed between New Delhi and Shanghai." (ANI)
The Tejas aircraft that crashed at the Dubai Air Show on Friday was piloted by Wing Commander Namnash Syal, said officials. Himachal CM Sukhwinder Sukhu mourned the death of the officer. "The news of the demise of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district's brave son Namnash Syal Ji in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending. The nation has lost a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal," the Himachal CM said. An eyewitness of the crash, Manoj Kumar Tuteja, told ANI, "It was performing a negative G manoeuvre...he was already pretty low at that point, and then he recovered and went straight into the ground...A huge fireball after that, and extremely shocking. I've never felt this feeling ever in my life." The Dubai Media Office on Friday said that emergency teams and firefighters have reached the IAF Tejas crash site and are managing the situation. The Media Office further noted the tragic death of the pilot. In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office said, "A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today's flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site." https://x.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1991825766703915122?s=20 A Tejas aircraft of the IAF crashed in the Dubai Air Show 2025, the Indian Air Force said on Friday. "An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in its statement. Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan on Friday expressed regret at the death of IAF Tejas pilot, who succumbed to his injuries after a crash in Dubai. Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff said they stood with the bereaved family. In a post on X, the IDS said, "General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." (ANI)
Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan on Friday expressed regret at the death of IAF Tejas pilot, who succumbed to his injuries after a crash in Dubai. Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff said they stood with the bereaved family. In a post on X, the IDS said, "General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." https://x.com/HQ_IDS_India/status/1991832919078572273?s=20 The Dubai Media Office on Friday said that emergency teams and firefighters have reached the IAF Tejas crash site and are managing the situation. The Media Office further noted the tragic death of the pilot. In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office said, "A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today's flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site." https://x.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1991825766703915122?s=20 A Tejas aircraft of the IAF crashed in the Dubai Air Show 2025, the Indian Air Force said on Friday. "An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in its statement. A fighter jet crashed during a flight demonstration on the last day of the ongoing Dubai Airshow at the AI Maktoum International Airport. The plane went down while performing an aerial display before a large crowd, local media reported. Khaleej Times reported that the fighter jet crashed into the ground soon after take-off. Photos and videos shared online show plumes of black smoke billowing into the air from the aircraft on the ground. The news outlet cited one eyewitness as saying, "As soon as the plane took off, it crashed. I am not sure which aircraft it was. "Another eyewitness cited by the Khaleej Times said that helicopters and firefighters rushed to the scene. " It is all clear now," he said. "Within about 45 minutes, the entire incident was taken care of. We are not sure if the programme will restart." Gulf News reported that the show was temporarily halted, and visitors were directed back to the exhibition area. Rescue operations began immediately, it said. The Dubai Airshow, one of the largest airshows in the world, kicked off on November 17 and is set to run till November 24. More than 1,500 exhibitors are exhibiting at the show. (ANI) (ANI)
The Gen-Z protestors in Nepal's Bara district have agreed to pause protest plans for three days after verbal agreement with local authorities to address their demands. Two parties reached to agreement two days after the claimed attack on the Gen-Z youths by the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) cadres on Wednesday in Simara. After hours long discussion between the security council and the Gen-Z representatives verbal agreement was reached on late Friday evening. "Today we decided that those who attacked on us will be held accountable by the authorities. Till today three people has been arrested and complaint has been filed against five who are to be arrested. We also have filed another complaint against two attackers. The authorities have promised that they will face the judicial consequences," Samrat Upadhyay, Bara District Coordinator of the Gen-Z group told ANI after completion of meeting. "The protest for now has been paused. After all the accused are arrested and brought to justice then only the protest will come to end," Upadhyay added. The meeting which took place at the Armed Police Force, Nepal Technical Training School in the presence of Gen-Z leaders Sudhan Gurung, Purushottam Yadav and Shiva Yadav. The Gen-Z supporters in Simara have halted demonstrations since 4.30 PM (Local Time) on Thursday. The group had presented a total of 6 demands to the authority led by the Bara Chief District Officer Dharmaendra Kumar Mishra. "The administration has promised to fulfill our demands within three days. We will see how they stand up to their promise and we will have a formal agreement with them about how they address our demands," Upadhyay said. Officials had called the group for talks on Thursday, but Gen-Z refused until those named in their complaint were arrested. Till Friday evening, the Police have arrested three individuals which includes two elected ward chairs from the CPN-UML- Dhan Bahadur Shrestha and Kaimuddin Ansari. Shrestha is the chair of ward 2, while Ansari of ward 6. Another accused, Arvind Sah, named as the main perpetrator and planner of the attack on Gen-Z group was arrested in Hetauda on Thursday night. The Gen-Z group has filed complaint against remaining individuals named in the lodged complaint demanding authorities to arrest the remaining accused. "We will again come into the streets demanding punishment for those goons who has been named. The next movement will be a collective where the locals of Simara will be on street along with the support from the people all across Nepal," Upadhyay told ANI. "Those who attacked us are the followers of Mahesh Basnet, the goon of the CPN-UML are the ones that I am referring to as goons," the Gen-Z leader added. The clash took place on Wednesday when Gen-Z youths had called for a peaceful demonstration demanding former Prime Minister and ministers on board then government be brought to justice for the atrocities committed during September uprising. The UML cadres on Wednesday had attacked the Gen-Z youths as UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and politburo member Mahesh Basnet, among others, were heading to Simara from Kathmandu for a youth mobilization event in Parwanipur. The complaint was lodged by Gen Z district coordinator Samrat Upadhyaya, who led the protest against UML leaders. Simara, tense for two days, remained calm on Friday. There were no demonstrations, clashes or curfew orders, though security personnel were deployed. (ANI)
Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev expressed optimism as India reopens tourist visa for Chinese citizens and called it a step towards the normalisation of ties between the two countries. In an interview to ANI, he said, "This certainly is one more step, one more inch of normalisation and harmony of relations between China and India. Since Galwan, India has stopped issuing visas for any Chinese tourists to come to India." Sachdev added, "Four months ago, in July, before the SCO meetings, India opened up and said, we will now allow Chinese tourists to apply for a visa and come to India. But that was only for people in China who could go to the Indian mission or embassy and apply for a tourist visa. Now, what India has done is that Chinese citizens, oftentimes in other countries, can go to the Indian embassy in that country and apply for a visa. So this makes it more convenient for Chinese tourists or businessmen to come to India... So this is one step of goodwill, I would say, one inch forward by India towards China and China is reciprocating also." Earlier, Defence Expert Sanjeev Srivastava on Friday, hailed the recent news of the resumption of issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide, calling it a constructive development in the bilateral ties. In a significant step towards normalising bilateral ties, India is learnt to have resumed issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide-- a move ending a five-year suspension imposed following the 2020 Galwan clash. The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights. Officials, privy to the development, said that the decision followed an order issued in July this year suggesting to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals. A month ago, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, halted for five years, was also revived in June 2025, with the first group of Indian pilgrims crossing into Tibet. Earlier, on April 1, marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, Presidents Xi Jinping and Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and PM Modi, exchanged congratulatory messages, signalling renewed commitment to stability. Throughout 2025, diplomacy between India and China intensified as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Beijing in July, noting relations were "gradually moving in a positive direction" with a "fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocated with a two-day trip to New Delhi in August, meeting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and EAM Jaishankar to discuss border de-escalation and normalisation. This paved the way for PM Modi's landmark visit to China on August 31, his first in seven years, for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where he and Xi committed to viewing each other as "partners rather than rivals." Earlier on November 10, Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, on Monday welcomed the first batch of passengers arriving from New Delhi as direct commercial flights between India and China officially resumed after five years. India in Shanghai wrote in an X post, "Fair Winds & Clear skies! India emerges as a Global Hub as people-to-people ties grow stronger. CG @PratikMathur1 was at hand to receive the first set of passengers as direct flights resumed between New Delhi and Shanghai." (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed his condolences at the death of Wing Commander Namnash Syal. Singh extended his condolences to Syal's family. In a post on X, he said, "Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour." https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1991870621576556835?s=20 Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Dubai said that the Embassy and Consulate teams are on the ground and extending all assistance regarding this case. In a post on X, the Embassy stated, "We deeply regret and condole the loss of life in the accident involving IAF Tejas aircraft at Dubai Air Show. Embassy and Consulate teams are on the ground and extending all assistance. We are in touch with UAE authorities in the matter." https://x.com/IndembAbuDhabi/status/1991862610338435229?s=20 The Indian Navy also condoled the death of the pilot in Dubai. In a post on X, the Navy said, "Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS and all personnel of the Indian Navy express heartfelt condolences on the loss of life of the IAF Pilot in the accident during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. Indian Navy stands firm with the bereaved family during this hour of grief." https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1991874074197492017?s=20 A Tejas aircraft of the IAF crashed in the Dubai Air Show 2025, the Indian Air Force said on Friday. "An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in its statement. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Johannesburg on Friday to take part in the G20 Summit and met his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in his first bilateral engagement. In his remarks, Albanese termed the relationship "very strong" and said the economic relationship can be strengthened further. The Australian Prime Minister expressed condolences over the Delhi terror attack and the bus crash in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indian Umrah pilgrims lost their lives. "We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong. I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today," he said. The meeting between the two leaders came a day after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the 16th India-Australia Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue (FMFD) in New Delhi. This was the fourth FMFD co-chaired by Jaishankar and Penny Wong. During FMFD, the Ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and progress under different pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including trade & investment, defence and security, education and skills, research and innovation, science and technology, space, energy and people-to-people links. Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed. The Ministers exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific and affirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. During the visit, Penny Wong also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Earlier, upon his arrival in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed exuberant cultural performances by the members of the Indian diaspora. Sharing the details in a post on X, he lauded the spirit of the diaspora in sustaining and keeping the cultural connect with India alive. "It was a gladdening and moving experience for me to witness a performance of the South African Girmitiya song 'Ganga Maiya' in Johannesburg. Another special part of this performance was the rendition in Tamil! This song carries with it hope and unbroken spirit of those who came here many years ago. They faced numerous hardships on the way but that did not deter them. They kept India alive in their hearts through songs and prayers. Thus, it is commendable to see this cultural connect kept alive," PM Modi said. "The cultural connect between India and South Africa is truly heartwarming and timeless. In Johannesburg, my young friends sang the Ganapati Prarthana, Shanti Mantra and other divine prayers with great devotion. Such moments reaffirm the enduring bonds between our people," he added. PM Modi received a warm and ceremonial welcome on his arrival in Johannesburg. "Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Johannesburg. This affection reflects the enduring bond between India and South Africa. These ties, rooted in history and strengthened by shared values, continue to grow even stronger," he said in a post on X. In his departure statement, PM Modi said that the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit being held in Johannesburg will be special as it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. He said that during India's G20 Presidency in 2023, the African Union became a member of the G20. PM Modi said the Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues. "The theme of this year's G20 is 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability', by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I will present India's perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and 'One earth, One Family and One future'," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said he looked forward to his interactions with leaders of the partner countries and to his participation in the 6th IBSA Summit, scheduled on the sidelines of the Summit. "During the visit, I also look forward to my interaction with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, which is one of the largest outside India," he said. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held talks with Prime Minister Antony Albanese of Australia and expressed satisfaction on the deepening of India-Australia ties. PM Modi and Albanese talked about defence and security, nuclear energy and trade among other things. In a post on X, he said, "Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation. During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors, defence and security, nuclear energy and trade, where there is immense potential for ties to grow further. The other sectors discussed included education, cultural exchanges and more." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1991922352029106446?s=20 Albanese said that Australia and India are great friends and partners. In a post on X, he said, "Australia and India are great friends and partners. From trade, defence and security to education and clean energy our relationship is fundamentally important. Wonderful to catch up with my friend Prime Minister Modi ahead of the G20 Summit." https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1991904608529392076?s=20 Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said that the two leaders committed to strengthen the fight against terrorism. In a post on X, he said, "PM Narendra Modi met PM Anthony Albanese of Australia in Johannesburg, South Africa today. Both leaders expressed satisfaction on substantial deepening and diversification of our ties as we mark 5 years of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Took stock of progress in India-Australia cooperation in diverse areas including defence and security, critical minerals, trade and investment, education and people-to-people contacts, and discussed ways to further expand our multifaceted cooperation in these and new areas. They also committed to strengthen global fight against terrorism." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1991914037438013625?s=20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Johannesburg on Friday to take part in the G20 Summit and met his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in his first bilateral engagement. In his remarks, Albanese termed the relationship "very strong" and said the economic relationship can be strengthened further. (ANI)
 Fox to bring 40 years of high-profile trial experience, deep insurance defense insight and a national reputation to BD&J's expanding complex-litigation practice 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationally recognized defense trial lawyer and longtime Lewis Brisbois partner, Dana Alden Fox, will join BD&J, PC as a partner starting January 5, 2026. Fox's move will mark one of the most notable recent shifts of a high-profile defense side trial lawyer into the plaintiff arena. With 40 years of experience trying California's most complex, high-exposure cases, Fox is widely regarded as the "go-to" attorney for general liability and civil rights defense litigation.

Dana Alden Fox joins BD&J in California to lead police brutality practice. (PRNewsfoto/BD&J, PC)

"Dana is one of the most accomplished defense trial lawyers in California, and having him choose BD&J speaks volumes about our direction as a firm," said Kevin Danesh, founding partner at BD&J. "His understanding of the insurance ecosystem, coupled with decades of trial success, strengthens our ability to anticipate defense strategies and elevate outcomes for our clients. We are honored to have him on our team starting in January 2026."

Fox will join BD&J following a distinguished tenure as a partner in the Los Angeles office of Lewis Brisbois, where he co-chairs the firm's General Liability practice and its Civil Rights and Police Litigation Defense Task Force, and serves in the Transportation and National Trial Practice groups. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and an Advocate with the American Board of Trial Advocates, Fox has tried numerous high-profile cases, including:

Advising Live Nation in the litigation arising from the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting

Serving as lead trial counsel for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Frank McCourt in the widely publicized 2011 stadium assault case

Defending a movie production company in the litigation surrounding the accidental shooting by Alec Baldwin

"After four decades on the defense side, I've developed a clear understanding of how insurers assess risk and prepare for trial," said Dana Alden Fox. "Joining BD&J allows me to put that experience to work for injured clients and to approach cases with a strategic perspective informed by precisely how the other side operates."

Fox earned his J.D., with distinction, from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific and received his B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles.

BD&J has expanded rapidly in recent years and has surpassed $2 billion in recoveries for clients. The firm has more than 60 attorneys, many of whom hold leadership positions across respected California legal organizations.

About BD&J, PC: BD&J, PC, has served all Californians for over 20 years in many areas of personal injury law, including auto or truck accidents, motorcycle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, commercial injury, dog bites, and more. Having represented tens of thousands of clients from all walks of life, the attorneys at BD&J are proud to protect the rights of individuals from anywhere in California at any time. To learn more, contact BD&J here.

Media Contact: Juniper Elizondo - [email protected]

Correction: We have made updates to this release's headline, subheadline, and first three paragraphs, editing the verb tense.

SOURCE BD&J, PC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, met on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs said. "Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening and diversification of cooperation between India and Australia in the last five years following the elevation of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. Prime Minister Albanese offered his solidarity on the recent terror attack in India. The leaders committed to strengthening the global fight against terrorism," the press release added. Both leaders reviewed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including political and strategic ties, defence and security, energy, trade and investment, critical minerals, technology, mobility, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The Prime Ministers also shared perspectives on regional and global matters of mutual concern. During their meeting, PM Modi and PM Albanese noted that regular high-level engagements have added significant momentum to the relationship between India and Australia. Reaffirming their shared vision, the two leaders pledged to elevate the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights. PM Modi will attend the summit from November 21 to 23, marking a significant milestone as the first G20 summit held on the African continent. He will discuss key issues related to India and the global south. This will be PM Modi's fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016 and his attendance at the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. This summit is the fourth consecutive G20 meeting hosted by the Global South, following Indonesia, India, and Brazil's presidencies. Prior to South Africa, the G20 presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023) and Indonesia (2022). The G20 comprises major economies representing 85% of global GDP and 75% of international trade. The forum has identified priority areas under South Africa's presidency theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'. (ANI)
OSAKA, Nov 21 (News On Japan) - A coordinated police crackdown on pedal-equipped electric bikes known as mopeds was carried out in Osakas Minami district, where traffic violations involving the increasingly popular vehicles have been spreading.

Prefectural police launched nightly spot checks in September targeting mopeds across Minami, amid a surge in riders treating them like ordinary bicycles despite legal provisions that classify them as motorbikes.

Because mopeds require a drivers license, the law also mandates the display of a number plate and the use of a helmet, yet violations continue to rise. On November 20th, officers reported detecting multiple offenses, including riding without a license.

One rider stopped during the operation said, while pedaling the vehicle, "I borrowed it, so Ive been using it like a bicycle." When asked by a reporter whether he knew a license was required, he replied, "I had absolutely no idea. So when they stopped me and said I was unlicensed, to be honest, I was shocked."

Police are urging the public to recognize that these are motorbikes, not bicycles, as enforcement efforts continue.

Source: KTV NEWS
The African Ministerial Conference on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of child soldiers, held Thursday in Rabat, was crowned with the adoption of a joint statement, pledging to combat the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.

The Rabat Declaration, endorsed by participating African Ministers and Heads of delegations, is a collective African response to a scourge which continues in the Continent despite several international initiatives to stop the recruitment of child soldiers.

The text expresses deep concern over the continued serious violations committed against children, including forced recruitment, sexual violence, abduction, and the obstruction of access to education and humanitarian assistance.

The Declaration stresses the importance of prevention and called for strengthening community resilience, the establishment of early-warning mechanisms, and the fight against the roots of child soldiers recruitment including a combination of factors such as poverty, social and political instability, conflict-related drivers, and children vulnerability.

The document insists on backing programs combining psychosocial support, family reunification, social inclusion, schooling, economic empowerment and reconciliation within communities.

The Rabat Declaration calls for strengthening regional and international cooperation, highlighting the central role of African organizations, local communities and civil society in prevention, protection and reintegration efforts for children associated with armed forces and groups.

The text says peacebuilding and post-conflict processes should integrate child protection and calls for elaborating an African convention dedicated to preventing the recruitment of child soldiers and supporting their reintegration in society.

During the conference, Morocco sounded the alarm bell against the recruiters of child soldiers, especially terrorist groups, alluding to the Algeria-backed Polisario militias which use children in conflict zones.

The North African Kingdom has stressed the need to work out an African legal instrument to combat the scourge of child soldiers.
Morocco is a trusted partner of the United States in Africa and the recent visit paid by Chief of U.S. Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, to the Kingdom highlights the longstanding and deep partnership existing between the two countries, said AFRICOM in a press release issued Thursday.

This visit, which underscored the strategic importance of Morocco and shared interests on the continent, was an opportunity to engage directly with key partners, added the statement, recalling the separate meetings held by Gen. Anderson with Minister Delegate in charge of National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi and Inspector General of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces Gen. Mohamed Berrid.

Discussions focused on the deep history of military cooperation and the strong bond shared between the two nations through mutual support and proactive cooperation on security and prosperity, said AFRICOM.

Anderson also toured Ben Guerir Air Base, focusing on the African Partner Flight Training area and the F-16 training area. He received a briefing on the Airborne, Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Infantry Tactics Training Area for African partners. The upgraded air base has become a focal point for multinational exercises like African Lion, demonstrating the versatility of the U.S.-Morocco partnership.

We understand that the needs of both of our nations are constantly evolving, said Anderson. Therefore, we maintain an open dialogue with Moroccan leadership to continually reassess our mutual interests and ensure our partnership remains aligned and mutually beneficial.

Anderson emphasized the enduring nature of the U.S.-Morocco relationship and the commitment of U.S. Africa Command to working closely with Moroccan partners to address shared security challenges and promote stability and prosperity in the region.

According to AFRICOM press release, the Moroccan-American talks focused on longstanding partnership based on enduring friendship, strong military cooperation, shared security & prosperity.

The United States and Morocco share a partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and a long history of cooperation, said Benjamin Ziff, Charge dAffaires at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat.

General Andersons visit reaffirms our continuing commitment to work hand in hand with our Moroccan partners to advance regional stability, security, and prosperity.
For decades, Algerias foreign policy was built on an unshakable creed: With Palestine, guilty or innocent. That slogan has become a tenet of the regimes quest to gain legitimacy while implementing antiSemitism policies that erased Algerias own Jewish heritage.

The country that still bars Israeli passport holders from entry and which closed and converted synagogues and desecrated cemeteries is now hinting at a possible normalization in principle.

On November 18, at a Washington event hosted by the Stimson Center, Algerias ambassador Sabri Boukadoum was asked pointblank whether US pressure for normalization with Israel was conceivable. His answer:

Everything is possible.

Three words that detonated sixty years of ideological rigidity. For a regime that made antinormalization its sacred line, Boukadoums phrase was a signal of desperation with a prolonged state of diplomatic isolation.

Boukadoum understands that his countrys overtures to Washington will not bring about an alliance with the US unless Algeria normalizes with Israel.

Days before Boukadoums Stimson moment, Algeria voted for a U.S.drafted UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, a text Hamas rejected.

At home, the regime still chants antiimperialist slogans while ironically restricting proPalestine rallies for fear of a spillover into domestic unrest in a country with rampant unemployment and corruption.

Abroad, Algeria adopts pragmatism to Washington and signals that even normalization with Israel is possible.

Algerias duplicity corrodes trust. For decades, antiSemitism and the Palestinian cause were instrumentalized by the regime for populist purposes and for power grab. Now, under pressure and isolation, the same regime pivots. The Algerian regime should now admit that slogans have been traded for survival.
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript Biotech Corporation, a global leader in life sciences R&D and manufacturing services, successfully hosted the GenScript Biotech Global Forum London 2025 in the UK. This marks the Forum's second edition in Europe and the eighth consecutive Global Industry Forum organized by GenScript since its debut at the 2020 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Franciscohighlighting the Forum's continued role in supporting industry exchange and advancing the development of the Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT) sector.

Under the theme "THE NEXT ERA OF CGT IS HERE," attracted nearly 400 participants from around the world, including global scientists, business leaders, and investors such as Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello, who engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge CGT topics, including the transition from ex vivo to in vivo therapies, strategies to overcome CMC challenges in manufacturing, and capital and collaboration trends.

Global Leaders Converge on the Next Era of CGT

The forum was moderated by Dr. Shawn Wu, President of the European Division at GenScript.

Sherry Shao, Rotating CEO of GenScript, delivered the opening remarks, stating:

"Through the combined strength of GenScript Life Science and our subsidiary ProBio, we now offer end-to-end CGT solutions  from discovery to commercialization. And we are profoundly inspired by milestones like CARVYKTI  developed by our associate Legend Biotech  which has now treated over 9,000 patients globally, bringing hope to thousands of families. It stands as a testament to what's possible when science, scale, and spirit align."

Ms. Shao emphasized that the Forum aims to connect global expertise and foster collaboration among academia, industry, regulators, investors, and ecosystem partners such as CROs and CDMOs, addressing critical challenges and advancing CGT therapies for patients worldwide.

Keynote Insights from Nobel Laureate and Industry Pioneers

This year's forum featured keynote speeches by Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello, Dr. Carl June, Director of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Cellular Immunotherapy, and Dr. Miguel Forte, President and Board of Directors Chair of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT). They shared the latest advancements and practical insights in CGT from scientific, industrial, and clinical perspectives, offering strategic guidance for the future of the field.

Dr. Craig Mello, who received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering RNA interference (RNAi), highlighted RNAi's high programmability and therapeutic potential. New oligonucleotides can be quickly generated at low cost and precisely target mature mRNAs, making almost any disease target potentially druggable. He illustrated this with a siRNA therapy for preeclampsia, which stabilized maternal blood pressure with a single subcutaneous injection.

Dr. Mello also noted that RNAi can complement cell therapies by modulating key genes to enhance safety and efficacy. Looking ahead, he predicted that RNAi will become a major therapeutic approach, standing alongside CGT in tackling a wide range of diseases.

Dr. Carl June, the "Father of CAR-T," gave a comprehensive review of the CAR-T therapy's applications in blood cancers and ongoing research in treating solid tumors.

He noted that second-generation CAR-T therapies have demonstrated durable responses in blood cancers, and new insights into their persistence are helping guide next-generation product design.

Professor June also highlighted his team's progress on armored CAR-T programssuch as IL-18 and IL-9 constructswhich are showing encouraging activity in refractory lymphoma and in a pancreatic cancer mouse model. He noted that improving CAR-T infiltration and durability in solid tumors remains a core challenge, while combination strategies with oncolytic viruses are beginning to show promising signals.

Dr. Miguel Forte, a versatile leader whose influence spans academia, industry, and regulatory domains, underscored that delivering real benefits to patients requires not only scientific innovation, but also an adequate business model, clinical convenience, and accurate product launch.

Dr. Forte pointed out that every therapy must be managed with scientific rigor to appropriately address safety risks. He called on the industry to stay grounded in reality and strike the right balance between enthusiasm and rationality, so that CGT can move from being merely "possible" to genuinely "accessible."

In-Depth Roundtable Discussions Address Industry Pain Points and Future Trends

Four deep-dive roundtable sessions were hosted, covering topics on both technological innovation and commercial strategy.

Traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapies have shown remarkable success in hematologic cancers, but long manufacturing cycles, high complexity, and high costs remain significant barriers. In response, the industry is actively exploring new solutionsmost notably in vivo CAR-T, which engineers T cells directly inside the patient, potentially simplifying production and improving accessibility.

During the "Navigating the Future of Cell Therapy: Evaluating Varied Pathways in Cell Therapy Innovation for Comprehensive Sector Insights" roundtable, Mr. Stephen Hansen, Biopharma Intelligence Director at BioCentury, moderated a vibrant discussion featuring industry leaders: Dr. Ying Huang, CEO of Legend Biotech, Dr. Paul Stoffels, Former CSO at Johnson & Johnson and Co-founder/Former CEO-Chair of Galapagos NV, Dr. Paula Rio, Head of the Bone Marrow Aplasia Unit at CIEMAT/CIBERER/IIS-FJD, Dr. Marcello Maresca, Senior Director of the Genome Engineering Department at AstraZeneca, and Dr. Jonathan Esensten, Senior Advisor at Multiply Labs, Director of Advanced Biotherapy Center at Sheba Medical Center.

The panelists were generally optimistic about the development prospects of in vivo CAR-T therapies. Dr. Ying Huang shared insights into the latest industry trends, highlighting that while many companies worldwide are actively advancing in vivo CAR-T, the therapy still faces challenges such as patient-to-patient variability, immune system reconstitution, and strict GMP regulations and quality control, which remain key hurdles for commercialization.

Dr. Jonathan Esensten guided the discussion toward the promising applications of in vivo CAR-T, particularly in cases of rapid immune cell depletion for non-cancer indications, and suggested that pairing it with decentralized manufacturing could make treatments faster and more accessible in regions with limited medical resources.

Evolving patient needs are driving new drug development paradigms. For complex genetic diseases, traditional therapies often fall short. Gene therapies and nucleic acid medicines offer a way to repair defective genes or intervene at the RNA level to control diseases at their source.

Moderated by Dr. Julen Oyarzabal, CSO of Syngoi Technologies SL, the session "Gene Therapy and mRNA Therapeutics" brought together experts from both academia and industry: Dr. Sergio Linares Fernandez, Unit Head of RNA Science Automation at Sanofi, Dr. Luigi Calzolai, Scientific Officer at the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Dr. Anna Cereseto, Head of Lab for Advanced Genome Editing Technologies at the University of Trento, Co-Founder of Alia Therapeutics, Dr. Robin Shattock, Chair in Mucosal Infection and Immunity at Imperial College London, and Mr. Miroslav Gasparek, CEO and Co-Founder of Sensible Biotechnologies.

Experts agreed that future efforts to improve mRNA therapies should focus on optimizing expression, reducing immunogenicity, extending duration, controlling costs, and improving global accessibility. Mr. Miroslav highlighted that cell-based production of naturally modified RNA can enhance consistency, lower immunogenicity, streamline supply chains, and support large-scale clinical use.

Despite significant therapeutic breakthroughs, CGT still faces substantial obstacles on its path from laboratory concept to broadly accessible clinical productcomplex processes, high development difficulty, technical barriers, and stringent regulatory requirements continue to restrict growth and adoption.

Moderated by Peter Jones, Director at Pengwin Consultancy, the roundtable "From Lab to Patient: Overcoming CMC Barriers in Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing" featured Dr. Jin Yin, CTO of the CGT Technology Center at ProBio, Dr. John Maher, Scientific Founder and CSO at Leucid Bio, Dr. Marten Hansen, Head of the Laboratory for Cell Therapy at the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, CEO of the Amsterdam Cell Therapy Center, and Dr. Dima Al-hadithi, Partner-CMC, RareGenix/Minaret Consulting Limited.

Cell and gene therapies face major challenges, including high costs, complex processes, and scattered batch records. To address these issues, Dr. John Maher and Dr. Marten Hansen highlighted that process optimization and digitalizationincluding workflow streamlining, platform standardization, and improved batch record managementcan reduce costs and enhance quality across R&D, manufacturing, and clinical operations.

Other panelists also agreed that the key to CGT CMC breakthroughs is early planning: defining target selection, quality-by-design, comparability, and supply chain strategies upfront can prevent costly, hard-to-change bottlenecks later.

Amid a global downturn in capital markets, understanding how to identify opportunities in CGT, optimize resource allocation, and achieve meaningful returns remains a top priority.

Moderated by Michael Brinkman, Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. Biopharma Investment Banking at Jefferies, the session "Innovation and Investment for CGT" gathered: Dr. Laura Stoppel, Partner on the Investment Team at RA Capital Management, Dr. Hongbo Lu, Founder and Managing Partner of NextBio Capital, Dr. Daniela Couto, General Partner at BioGeneration Ventures, Dr. Michiel Broker, Managing Director and Global Head of Pharma at UBS, and Mr. Matthieu Coutet, Partner of Sofinnova Biovelocita Strategy.

Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, panelists agreed that the scientific breakthroughs and clinical value of CGT continue to provide a strong foundation for long-term investment. Forward-looking strategiesfocusing on high-value targets, platforms with strong clinical and manufacturing capabilities, and AI-driven optimizationwill enhance capital efficiency and maximize returns.

Looking Ahead

With insights shared by global experts and leaders, the GenScript Biotech Global Forum London 2025 concluded successfully. The event brought together key stakeholders from across the biopharmaceutical ecosystem and facilitated in-depth discussions on the latest developments in CGT. GenScript Biotech will continue to advance open collaboration and help accelerate the translation of scientific breakthroughs into practical applications, with a continued focus on improving patient outcomes. The next GenScript Biotech Global Forum is scheduled to take place during the 2026 JPM Healthcare Conference week, promising another opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

Founded in 2002 in New Jersey, GenScript Biotech Corporation accelerates innovation in biotech and healthcare by providing researchers and companies with the building blocks needed to develop groundbreaking treatments and products. Guided by its mission to Make People and Nature Healthier Through Biotechnology, and its role as a trusted global leader, GenScript has a team of over 5,700 employees and has served more than 200,000 customers across over 100 countries and regions.

Learn more here: https://www.genscript.com

SOURCE GenScript Biotech Corporation
Morocco was elected to the presidency of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the year 2026, during the Councils 122nd session held in Cordoba, Spain.

This election reflects the central role of the olive-growing sector in Morocco, one of the eleven founding members of the IOC, which has played a historic and consistent role within this body alongside member states representing 94% of global olive production.

Established in 1959 in Madrid under the auspices of the United Nations, the International Olive Council is the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to olive oil and table olives.

The IOCs 122nd session was marked by the adoption of the Cordoba Declaration, which sets out a shared vision for sustainable olive cultivation worldwide. The Declaration, adopted by ministers of agriculture and partner international organizations, embodies a collective commitment to promoting, modernizing, and strengthening the resilience of the olive sector.

Through this text, the signatory countries reaffirm the strategic importance of the olive treean ancient species and universal symbol of peace, wisdom and civilization. They also highlight its crucial role in food security, human health, biodiversity conservation, the fight against desertification, and mitigation of climate change impacts.

Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari who represented Morocco at the session said the Declaration reinforces efforts launched under the Green Morocco Plan and expanded through the Generation Green 20202030 strategy, focusing on quality, human capital and climate adaptation.

He also highlighted the sectors centrality in Moroccan economy, noting that olive trees account for 65 percent of the countrys orchard area, more than 1.2 million hectares, and generate over 51 million workdays annually.

The industry covers nearly 19 percent of Moroccos edible-oil needs and contributes around 2.1 billion dirhams to the trade balance.

During its 122nd session, the IOC emphasized its strategic role in supporting the sector, enhancing sustainability and ensuring product quality. Member states reviewed several priority initiatives, including the development of a carbon footprint tool for olive groves, promotion of the IOC in Brazil, updates to the statistical dashboard and improvements to quality standards and analytical methods.
An American delegation composed of elected officials & business leaders from Great Neck, Nassau County in the state of New York, visited this week the Moroccan Saharan city of Dakhla to tap into the regions economic potential, identify its investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation ties between the twinned cities.

Members of the delegation held meetings with the Wali of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, governor of the province Oued Eddahab, President of Dakhla City Council, Director of regional investment Centre and Head of regional employers Union.

They were briefed on the local infrastructure projects, incentives offered to investors and huge business opportunities in renewables energies, agricultures, fisheries, tourism, desalination

The American delegation was impressed by Dakhlas wind & solar resources, with ongoing projects including 900 MW wind farm, and the giant Atlantic port, a $1.6 billion deep-water port under construction, aimed at boosting trade with West Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

The American investors were also interested by Dakhlas plan of expanding irrigated farmlands (via a desalination plant for 5,000 hectares) and potentials of aquaculture in the fertile coastal zone.

US investor Lior Cohen told the media the mission is meant to develop joint projects and identify new regional investment opportunities. The delegation seeks to establish sustainable economic relationships with local stakeholders, envisioning long-term partnership development rather than isolated transactions, he said.

Health sector investor Edwin Cohen Azarkian noted that favorable conditions observed during his initial Dakhla visit, combined with the regions remarkable economic momentum, encouraged his return for deeper examination of investment prospects and high-potential development sectors. His repeated engagement signals genuine business interest beyond preliminary exploration.

In its 2025 Investment Climate report, the US government highlighted Moroccos emergence as a gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, positioning the country as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) and regional manufacturing.

Moroccos geographic location at the crossroads of three continents is complemented by world-class infrastructure, including Africas largest commercial port, Tanger-Med, and the upcoming Nador West Med and Dakhla Atlantic ports. These projects are part of Moroccos Atlantic Initiative, aimed at connecting landlocked Sahel countries to global trade routes.

Morocco remains the only African country with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. The FTA supports Moroccos ambition to become a regional financial and trade hub.
Even as shipments resumed, the broader threat to Russias energy infrastructure remained a market driver. Ukraine also targeted major refineries at Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk, adding pressure to the diesel marketa segment already

The week opened with heightened attention on Russias Novorossiysk export terminal following Ukrainian drone and missile strikes that halted loadings for roughly two days. Because the facility handles meaningful export volumes, traders initially priced in a sustained outage. However, when officials confirmed that the hub would resume operations more quickly than expected, the earlier rally lost momentum and crude retreated.

Earlier support driven by Russian export disruptions faded quickly once flows resumed, leaving the market more responsive to surplus signals than temporary outages. While refined-product tightness and strong U.S. crude exports prevented a deeper slide, the broader backdrop leaned clearly toward oversupply, setting the stage for cautious trading as the week closed.

Crude oil spent last week trading with a bearish tilt as the market digested a rapid sequence of supply and geopolitical developments. The tone heading into Friday was defined by weakness, with WTI settling at $58.66 on Thursday, down $1.38 or 2.30%, after traders reassessed the impact of a potential Russia-Ukraine diplomatic framework and the likelihood of looser sanctions.

Crude oil spent last week trading with a bearish tilt as the market digested a rapid sequence of supply and geopolitical developments. The tone heading into Friday was defined by weakness, with WTI settling at $58.66 on Thursday, down $1.38 or 2.30%, after traders reassessed the impact of a potential Russia-Ukraine diplomatic framework and the likelihood of looser sanctions.

Earlier support driven by Russian export disruptions faded quickly once flows resumed, leaving the market more responsive to surplus signals than temporary outages. While refined-product tightness and strong U.S. crude exports prevented a deeper slide, the broader backdrop leaned clearly toward oversupply, setting the stage for cautious trading as the week closed.

Russian Export Disruptions and Diesel Tightness Drive Key Price Action

The week opened with heightened attention on Russias Novorossiysk export terminal following Ukrainian drone and missile strikes that halted loadings for roughly two days. Because the facility handles meaningful export volumes, traders initially priced in a sustained outage. However, when officials confirmed that the hub would resume operations more quickly than expected, the earlier rally lost momentum and crude retreated.

Even as shipments resumed, the broader threat to Russias energy infrastructure remained a market driver. Ukraine also targeted major refineries at Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk, adding pressure to the diesel marketa segment already tight in Europe. Diesel margins rose to their strongest levels in more than a year, reinforcing expectations that refiners would keep runs elevated to capture margins despite a softening crude balance. This product-level tightness helped put a floor under prices even as bearish forces grew.

Sanctions added further complexity. With the U.S. preparing to enforce new restrictions on transactions involving Rosneft and Lukoil, buyers weighed whether compliance risks would reduce Russian exports more meaningfully or simply widen discounts. Analysts noted that Russia has historically adapted to restrictions, and discounted barrels continued to clear, reinforcing the perception of ample global supply.

Late in the week, geopolitical sentiment shifted sharply when reports suggested Washington was encouraging Kyiv to consider a draft U.S. peace proposal. The possibilityhowever remoteof diplomatic movement cast doubt on whether sanctions would be implemented aggressively. Traders quickly recalibrated expectations and removed part of the geopolitical risk premium, contributing to Thursday's decline toward the weeks lows.

Chinas Stockpiling Surplus Pressures Oil Price Projections

Chinas October crude balance added another bearish weight to global fundamentals. According to estimates, Beijing accumulated roughly 690,000 barrels per day of surplus crude in October as total crude availabilityimports plus domestic productionexceeded refinery runs. This followed Septembers surplus near 570,000 barrels per day and contributed to an average build close to 900,000 barrels per day across the first ten months of the year.

These steady stock builds reveal two critical points for traders. First, Chinese buying has helped absorb seaborne supply in the short term, providing temporary support to the physical market. Second, Chinas accelerating stockpiling suggests that refiners may be comfortably supplied heading into 2025. If domestic demand softens or if refiners tap these inventories, the resulting reduction in purchasingor release of stored barrelswould add material bearish pressure to the broader market.

This interpretation aligns with increasingly cautious oil price projections from major institutions. Goldman Sachs reiterated its view that a sizable multi-year surplus is forming as long-cycle projects add new barrels and OPEC+ gradually unwinds past cuts. ING and the International Energy Agency issued similar assessments, projecting a well-supplied market into 2025. These forecasts encouraged traders to treat rallies as selling opportunities rather than the start of sustained strength.

U.S. Inventories, Exports and Product Builds Complicate the Weekly Balance

U.S. inventory data delivered mixed signals that helped define mid-week trading. The API survey pointed to builds across crude, gasoline and distillates, reinforcing fears of softening demand. However, the official EIA report offered a partial counterweight: U.S. crude stocks fell by 3.4 million barrels for the week ending November 14, far exceeding expectations and underscoring strong export demand and firm refinery runs supported by healthy margins.

Still, gasoline and distillate inventories rose for the first time in more than a month. That increase suggested a slowdown in domestic product consumption, raising concerns about late-November demand as refiners continue operating at elevated utilization levels. Positioning data added nuance: speculative traders trimmed short exposure, but not enough to offset the dominant narrative of comfortable supply.

Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures

Trend Indicator Analysis

Light crude oil futures are on track to resume their recent two-week losing streak after failing to overcome the 52-week moving average at $62.11 and a series of potential resistance levels at $62.45, $62.54, and $63.69.

As of Thursdays close, the market is trading at $58.66, down $1.38 or -2.30%.

The market is also trading on the weak side of a key 61.8% level at $59.39, but catching a small bid in front of a minor 50% level at $58.23. Renewed selling pressure on Friday and into next week could trigger a further break into a pair of bottoms at $55.91 and $55.22

Overcoming the Fib level at $59.39 will signal the return of buyers. If they are able to generate enough upside pressure, then we could see a drive into the 52-week moving average at $62.11, which is currently providing resistance and controlling the downtrend.

Weekly Technical Forecast

The direction of the weekly Light Crude Oil Futures market for the week ending November 28 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the 61.8% retracement level at $59.39 and the minor pivot at $58.23.

Bullish Scenario

A sustained move above the Fibonacci level at $59.39 will signal renewed buying interest. If this move generates sufficient upside momentum, a retest of the 52-week moving average at $62.11 could follow.

Bearish Scenario

A sustained move below the short-term pivot at $59.23 will indicate active selling pressure. This could trigger a sharp decline toward $55.91, with potential for an extended move down to $55.22 or lower.

Oil Prices Forecast: Bearish Fundamental Bias Heading into Next Week

Looking ahead, next weeks crude trade is set against a backdrop of mildly bearish fundamentals. Russias rapid export recovery, Chinas ongoing stock builds, and the markets growing confidence in multi-year surplus projections all weigh on sentiment. The possibility of diplomatic progress between Russia and Ukraine introduces another bearish layer by reducing expectations for tighter sanctions.

At the same time, downside risk is tempered by strong U.S. crude exports, elevated refinery runs, and continued tightness in global diesel markets. These factors should help prevent a sharp selloff unless a new economic or geopolitical shock materializes.

The most likely outcome is range-bound trade with a downside bias, where rallies encounter selling interest driven by surplus concerns, while dips find support from product-driven crude demand and lingering geopolitical risk.

Technically, the overall downtrend is being controlled by the 52-week moving average at $62.11. The short-term choppiness is being influenced by the pivots at $59.39 and $58.23.

A sustained move over $59.39 will generate a short-term upside bias with gains likely capped by the 52-week moving average. On the flipside, a sustained move under $58.23 will signal stronger selling pressure with the next downside target zone $55.91 to $55.22.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Kyrgyzstan as part of a three-country tour of Central Asia to reaffirm Beijings status as the regions top trading partner following US diplomatic inroads at a high-profile summit in Washington earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump hosted the five Central Asian presidents at the White House in early November for a summit focused on tapping into the regions abundant and strategic critical mineral wealth.

While not in the spotlight, Chinas growing economic and political influence in Central Asia was in mind amid the Trump administrations move to deepen ties to the region.

During the meeting, Washington signed tens of billions of dollars in prospective deals. That included Kazakhstan inking a $1.1 billion tungsten mining deal with the US company Cove Kaz Capital. Pini Althaus, the firms CEO, said afterwards that Trump and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick helped negotiate the deal to prevent Chinese companies from developing the strategic deposit themselves.

Wangs visit to Kyrgyzstan is his first in three years and his tour of the region will last until November 22 with additional stops in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He landed in Bishkek on November 19 and met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said that his countrys relations with Beijing are currently at a historic high, according to a readout provided by the Kyrgyz presidents office.

Before departing Beijing, Chinas Foreign Ministry said that Wangs visit will be focused on deepening the countrys already steady ties with the region by injecting momentum into the slew of agreements worth billions of dollars signed at the China-Central Asia summit in June in Kazakhstan.

[This visit] will enhance political mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and bring about more positivity to the building of the China-Central Asia community, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told journalists in Beijing on November 17.

The Deals China Is Looking To Implement

A key Chinese-led project discussed during the China-Central Asia summit was the long-awaited multibillion dollar China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

The megaproject aims to boost East-West trade, cutting delivery times between China and Europe by up to one week and giving Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan better connection to overland trade routes.

Construction of the railway began in July 2024, and Kyrgyz Transport and Communications Minister Absattar Syrgabaev said on November 12 that the 450-kilometer-long railway would be completed in five years.

The venture is estimated to cost up to $6 billion, although the exact share of each countrys contribution has not been disclosed. Syrgabaev did not provide a breakdown during his public comments, saying only that Kyrgyzstan has already fulfilled its funding obligations, and both Uzbekistan and China are also financing their respective shares.

Beyond the railway, other agreements were also reached on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in September in China.

There, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev signed more than 70 new commercial deals worth some $15 billion, which included investments in oil and gas projects, petrochemicals, transport corridors, logistics hubs, and digital technologies. Astana also concluded an additional $1.5 billion worth of investments into oil and gas projects with Chinese companies.

Uzbekistan announced 13 new mining-related deals with China following the summit, including for uranium, with a reported value of $5 billion.

Chinese companies also play a dominant role in Tajikistans mining sector, and the Tajik government has defended China's growing position within the global mining industry by claiming that Chinese firms have set themselves apart by being the only foreign companies willing to take on such large projects.

A 2024 RFE/RL investigation into major Chinese-run mines in Tajikistan found that the sites are harmful sources of air and water pollution and that Tajik officials have turned a blind eye to enforcing environmental regulations out of fear of scaring away sorely needed Chinese investment into Central Asias poorest country.

The five Central Asian countries hold large deposits of copper, gold, and rare earths, and produce roughly half the worlds uranium. Gaining access to those minerals is a developing fault line in Washingtons rivalry with Beijing.

Both China and Russia play major roles in Central Asias critical minerals sector.

In the case of rare earths -- 17 elements used in everything from wind turbines to smartphones to fighter jet engines -- China controls more than 70 percent of global rare-earth mining, 90 percent of their separation and processing, and 93 percent of magnet manufacturing.

Incident Involving Chinese Workers

In addition to discussing Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, the readout from Japarovs office noted that Wang said that representatives of Chinese companies operating in Kyrgyzstan have been being instructed to strictly comply with local laws and respect the traditions of the host country.

That appears to be a reference to a brawl involving dozens of Kyrgyz and Chinese construction workers on November 15 in a village in northern Kyrgyzstan after a road dispute.

Police detained 16 people and called in another 44 for questioning, including Chinese workers. One Kyrgyz worker was hospitalized in the incident, which triggered online anger in the Central Asian country.

The clash also feeds into some lingering anti-Chinese sentiment in the country of 7 million, which is among the most reliant Central Asian countries when it comes to Chinese trade, loans, and foreign investment.

Chinese companies bringing in their own workers as opposed to using local labor is a point of contention that has flared up in protests in the past.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, who Wang also met with, rejected claims that Chinese workers were flooding the country and taking jobs away from locals following the incident.

"There's very little information about China, what kind of cooperation we have, what projects are underway,' Nurbek Toktakunov, a prominent lawyer in Kyrgyzstan, told RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service.

When information is scarce and people get silenced whenever they speak up, that's when xenophobia thrives. The only way to combat it is through transparency.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
News of Zelenskyy considering the peace proposal comes on the same day that new U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil officially take effect, targeting key subsidiaries in an effort to restrict Kremlin revenue from fossil-fuel sales.

November 21st, 2025.

Donald Trumps 28-point peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war has become the main talking point of oil markets this week, with potentially higher Russian supply capping ICE Brent futures below $63 per barrel. Refined products markets, in the meantime, are exploding as middle distillate cracks are the highest in almost three years, largely driven by EU sanctions on products from Russian oil.

US Expands Iran Sanctions, Hitting Tankers. The US Treasury Secretary announced a new round of sanctions on trading and shipping companies facilitating Iran's oil and refined products exports, adding six more tankers to its OFAC list and targeting India- and UAE-based product traders.

India's Top Refiner Halts Russian Imports (Or Not). India's 1.4 million b/d Jamnagar refinery operated by Reliance Industries has stopped importing Russian oil to its 600,000 b/d export-oriented plant, however it continues to run Russian crude in the 800,000 b/d unit geared towards the domestic market.

Seattle Fuel Supply Jeopardized by Pipe Leak. Seattle's Tacoma airport moved into emergency mode after BP's (NYSE:BP) Olympic pipeline that moves fuel from northern Washington to Oregon was halted due to a pipeline leak, first reported on November 11 after a sheen emerged next to a blueberry farm.

Venezuela's Production Suffers Another Outage. Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA halted operations at its Petrocedeno upgrader after an explosion and a fire destroyed the plant's atmospheric distillation tower, reportedly due to overpressure and excess water, losing 30,000 b/d of production.

Mozambique's Outlook Improves by the Day. US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) lifted force majeure on its 18 mtpa Rovuma LNG project, following in the footsteps of TotalEnergies as it resumed works on its Mozambique LNG a month ago, ending a four-year hiatus caused by terrorist attacks.

Beijing Allows Teapots to Buy More. China's Ministry of Commerce approved an additional batch of crude import quotas for independent refiners, mostly located in the country's northeastern Shandong province, allowing them to buy 10 million metric tonnes in the remaining months of 2025.

China Ups the Ante Against BHP. China's state-owned iron ore buyer CMRG has ordered steel mills and traders across the country to stop purchasing Linbao fines, a lower-grade iron ore, from mining giant BHP (NYSE:BHP) as the two sides are locked in protracted negotiations over 2026 contract terms.

Trump Proposes New Gulf Lease Sale. The US Department of Interior announced a new lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico this week, tentatively called 'Big Beautiful Gulf 2' and offering 15,000 unleased blocks across 80 million acres, with a royalty rate fixed at 12.5%, lower than the Biden-era rate of 16.67%.

Curacao Wants Its Refinery Back. Curacao, a Caribbean island that is part of the Netherlands, has asked for the US government's approval to reopen its shuttered 335,000 b/d Isla refinery and resume dealings with Venezuela's PDVSA, after its previous OFAC license ran out in December 2024.

Egypt Doubles Down on LNG Imports Again. After experimenting with LNG exports in recent months, Egypt's state-controlled gas firm EGAS is seeking four LNG cargoes for December delivery, indicating a supply shortage after Israel started maintenance at its giant Leviathan field mid-November.

Trump Is Dreaming of California Drilling. US President Donald Trump announced plans to launch the first oil and natural gas licensing round off California's coast since 1984, eyeing six lease sales in 2027-2030, sparking criticism from the Golden State governor Gavin Newsom who called the plan 'idiotic'.

Europe's Copper Industry Warns of Shortages. Europe's metal industry is calling for the EU to replicate its ban on aluminium scrap exports and restrict copper scrap exports, too, as Chinese buyers are mopping them up since 2022, leaving the Old Continent vulnerable to price spikes in 2026-2027.

Japan Set to Restart World's Largest Nuclear Plant. Having received the approval of the Niigata governor, Japan's leading utility firm Tokyo Electric Power (TYO:9501) will launch a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plants, revamping 2.7 GW out of the plant's total capacity of 8.2 GW.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Turkmenistan is home to over two-thirds of the 25 largest methane emissions sites identified worldwide so far in 2025, according to an academic monitoring initiative.

Researchers at UCLAs Stop Methane Project mapped over 3,100 methane plumes at oil & natural gas extraction sites in dozens of countries of all income levels and in all world regions. They based the findings on data provided by Carbon Mapper, a non-profit working to fully chart greenhouse gas emissions to empower mitigation action.

Of the top 25 sites in terms of hourly emission rates, 17 are found in Turkmenistan, according to the UCLA list. The top two emitters are in the Esenguly District of Turkmenistans Balkan Province on the Caspian Sea, pumping out 10 million tons and 9.6 million tons respectively of methane per hour. Three other sites in Esenguly also made the top 10. Other high-pollution sites were confirmed in Balkanabat, also in Balkan Province.

Other countries with more than one site in the top 25 were Venezuela and Iran. Methane emissions are considered a major factor driving global warming.

The UCLA researchers said they excluded some major methane emission sites from their list because they were observed only once by satellites, due to their orbit routes.

To be careful, we only included sources that were observed at least twice, according to an explanatory note posted on Substack. So, there are a few oil and gas sector sources with extremely high emissions rates that appear on Carbon Mappers portal, but that we excluded from this list because they were observed only once.

By Eurasianet

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Saudi Arabia made investment commitments of as much as $1 trillion during the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the United States. The sum is a substantial increase on an original pledge of $600 billion, but it is also a sign that the relationship between two of the worlds largest oil producers is back on track.

The relationship, dating back to the early 20th century, was rather damaged during the Biden administration, in part due to its focus on the energy transition, which put it at odds with Saudi Arabia as an economy heavily dependent on oil revenues. Another part of the reason for the worsened bilateral relations was the issue of human rights and the murder of a dissident Saudi journalist, which included President Biden at one point calling the kingdom a pariah state. On top of those complications, President Biden at one point threatened to punish Saudi Arabia if Riyadh did not ramp up oil production to lower prices. In short, the Biden administration did not play well with the Saudis.

President Trump changed all that, bringing relations back to the friend zone and extracting massive investment commitments across industries, but notably in LNG, defense, and critical minerals. The two also made progress on nuclear energy, with the U.S. agreeing to share its nuclear power technology with the Saudis on the condition that it would not be used for weapons-grade uranium enrichment.

Related: 5 Utility Stocks Outperforming The Market

The latter had been a thorny issue for years, ever since talks about nuclear tech sharing began during the first Trump administration. At the time, the Saudis refused to sign off on the non-enrichment clause, which delayed the deal. Now, Chris Wright and Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a preliminary deal for the tech sharing, with specific steps forward presumably to follow.

Aramco, meanwhile, announced preliminary agreements with U.S. companies worth a total $30 billion, noting the prospective deals build on earlier investment commitments made this year, with a value of up to $90 billion. The areas that the deals cover span from LNG to advanced materials manufacturing and financial services, the company said.

In liquefied gas specifically, Aramco is looking into an investment in the Lake Charles project led by Energy Transfer, and an offtake deal for Commonwealth LNG.

The Lake Charles LNG project is fully permitted, uses existing infrastructure, and benefits from an abundant natural gas supply through existing connections to the Henry Hub and connectivity to Energy Transfers vast network of natural gas pipelines. It will have an annual capacity of some 15 million tons of liquefied natural gas once completed. Finding equity partners for 80% of the facility is the condition Energy Transfer has set for making the final investment decision for the project.

The Commonwealth LNG facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, will have an annual capacity of 9.5 million tons of liquefied gas. The construction of the first phase will cost $11 billion, according to Commonwealth LNG, and generate annual export revenues of some $3.5 billion. However, the company has yet to make the final investment decision on the project, just like Energy Transfer, after revising the timeline for the projects completion, with commissioning moved from 2027 to 2031.

Critical minerals and metals were another area of interest for both. Saudi Arabia has considerable deposits of some of these minerals and metals. The United States needs them. That one was really a no-brainer, and only a matter of time. During the Saudi visit, U.S. MP Materials announced a deal with Saudi Maaden and the U.S. federal government for the construction of a rare earths processing plant in Saudi Arabia.

Nuclear, LNG, and critical mineralsthis is more or less all the priority boxes ticked, plus weapons and military equipment supply deals to cement the mended fences. Now, the only question is how many of the preliminary commitments will progress to full deals.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Sudans conflict is drawing in more external actors. The UAE continues to supply the RSF with equipment and logistics, while Saudi Arabia has asked the U.S. to step in on the government side. On the ground, the RSF is expanding its hold across central and western areas, the army

Israeli strikes in Gaza have restarted in earnest, with roughly 25 dead after Israel assessed that Hamas had moved outside the ceasefire terms around Nuseirat and Khan Younis. Israel is also announcing evacuation warnings in several towns in southern Lebanon and targeting sites it links to Hezbollah surveillance and firing teams. The Gaza ceasefire is still the official line, but it is no longer leading. Israel is enforcing its own limits.

This week is the clearest escalation yet in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Trump has allegedly signed a covert-action finding authorizing CIA operations inside Venezuela, moving the U.S. posture from pressure to active shaping. At the same time, there is a carrier group already positioned in the Caribbean, and weve seen a revival of back-channel chatter during which Maduro has tested the idea of a 2-3 year transition and which DC has already rejected. Both the covert and military options are now in play for regime change. Inside the country, a major fire at the Petrocedeno refinery has taken one of the Orinoco Belts key assets offline. Petrocedeno is very important to Venezuelas ability to raise crude exports.

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

This week is the clearest escalation yet in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Trump has allegedly signed a covert-action finding authorizing CIA operations inside Venezuela, moving the U.S. posture from pressure to active shaping. At the same time, there is a carrier group already positioned in the Caribbean, and weve seen a revival of back-channel chatter during which Maduro has tested the idea of a 2-3 year transition and which DC has already rejected. Both the covert and military options are now in play for regime change. Inside the country, a major fire at the Petrocedeno refinery has taken one of the Orinoco Belts key assets offline. Petrocedeno is very important to Venezuelas ability to raise crude exports.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have restarted in earnest, with roughly 25 dead after Israel assessed that Hamas had moved outside the ceasefire terms around Nuseirat and Khan Younis. Israel is also announcing evacuation warnings in several towns in southern Lebanon and targeting sites it links to Hezbollah surveillance and firing teams. The Gaza ceasefire is still the official line, but it is no longer leading. Israel is enforcing its own limits.

Sudans conflict is drawing in more external actors. The UAE continues to supply the RSF with equipment and logistics, while Saudi Arabia has asked the U.S. to step in on the government side. On the ground, the RSF is expanding its hold across central and western areas, the army is trying to maintain control of the Nile corridor, and the conditions for a de facto partition are now visible. In the meantime, South Sudans oil is highly exposed. Juba has resumed exports after one of several RSF-linked drone attacks on the pipeline corridor, but each incident shows how easily the route to Port Sudan can be interrupted. If Washington steps into the fray, the conflict will become even more complicated and there will likely be some quid pro quos here between the US and UAE. TheUAEs support for the RSF is entrenched now, and it has invested in networks and supply routes that give it influence over what happens next.

Lukoils asset sell-off widened this week after the U.S. cleared limited transactions, with Chevron, Exxon and Abu Dhabi now reviewing parts of its overseas refining, retail and upstream portfolio, and the companys Finnish arm beginning to close fuel stations ahead of a full exit. Russia launched another round of missile and drone attacks that triggered explosions across several regions in western Ukraine, adding to the steady pressure on infrastructure away from the main front. At the same time, the UK said it has response options ready after a Russian vessel used lasers against RAF pilots. Russia is giving up more ground overseas while expanding strike activity into western Ukraine, and the number of security incidents around Europe are likely smoke and mirrors.

Discovery & Development

Petrobras latest post-salt find in the Campos Basin offers a modest but timely addition to Brazils resource pipeline. The probe in the Marlim field area confirmed light oil in post-salt sequences that Petrobras has been re-evaluating as part of its broader plan to extract more value from mature assets. This isnt a headline pre-salt discovery but it will allow Petrobras to tie in new barrels without a ton of spending.

Two new finds this week will help Cairos push to firm up near-term supply. An offshore oil discovery in the North-East Ramadan area adds a modest but immediate boost to the Gulf of Suez portfolio, while a Western Desert gas well (Gomana-1) is slated to bring on incremental dry gas and condensate. Both are small, but they feed directly into Egypts short-cycle strategy as it tries to stabilise domestic supply.

In Libyas Sirte Basin, OMV has confirmed a new gas discovery in Block 106/4 with initial test flows in line with small commercial tie-in potential. Tripolis current focus is on monetising gas and reducing flaring, and this discovery adds another near-infrastructure play that can be brought into the grid without major investment.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

TotalEnergies is moving ahead with plans to acquire 50% of European EPHs flexible-generation platform in a transaction valued at roughly 10.6B. The deal will bring a large gas-fired and fast-start fleet into TotalEnergies existing LNG and trading system just as Europes power balance is tightening again. The structure gives TotalEnergies control over dispatch and optimization while EPH retains a strategic foothold. This is one of the largest European energy transactions this year.

Aramco signed a wide set of agreements (17 in total) and MoUs with U.S. firms this week with a potential value above $30 billion. The deals cover LNG cooperation, advanced materials, manufacturing build-outs, and service-sector contracts. Riyadh is locking in U.S. technology and supply-chain links while Washington is trying to steer more investment toward North America. For Aramcos part, this is likely an attempt to get its ducks in a row before its next expansion push. For American contractors, this is a major opening into Saudi energy and industrial projects.
The post-pandemic economic environment and a return to shareholder primacy have made the expense and "green grandstanding" of large COP delegations harder for blue-chip firms to justify amid cost-cutting drives.

This shift is primarily driven by the political climate, specifically the new US administration's anti-green energy rhetoric which has weaponized climate as a culture war issue, increasing the risk for corporate visibility.

Corporate representation at COP30 has sharply declined since the 2021 Glasgow summit, replacing high-profile marketing stunts with caution and minimalism.

Reclining on stage at the 26th COP summit in his native Glasgow, Alan Jope was at home both literally and spiritually.

The Unilever chief executive had spent three years establishing himself as one of the corporate worlds most passionate climate and diversity advocates, vowing to accelerate his predecessor, Paul Polmans, environmental, social and governance leadership. And with his company a principal partner at the biggest climate summit in history, the Scotsmans efforts had reached their natural apogee.

We think there are three existential challenges in the world: climate change, the loss and destruction of nature, and growing inequality, he told a Bloomberg Green event. None of these issues are good for our business so Ive been delighted to see the representation of business here in Glasgow.

Corporate presence was  as the Uni-lifer observed  hard to miss at the environmental jamboree of the year; one which the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson had billed as the worlds moment of truth. Outside the main hangar, pharma giant GSK had installed an inflatable air purifier. Utilities giant SSE had commissioned an entire Imax screening event  called Hydro  devoted to hydroelectric power. And in the world of haute couture, Stella McCartneys Future of Fashion exhibition showcased her labels efforts to leverage the limitless possibilities of material innovation.

Where have all the suits gone?

Four years on, with the 30th iteration of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) in Brazil now in its second week, the agenda items that range from youth-led climate forums and fraught political negotiations look similar to those at Scotlands edition in 2021. Environment ministers, official delegations and third-sector titans are, as they were in Glasgow, also out in force. What is missing, however, are the clean-cut executives and no-cost-spared marketing stunts from the blue-chip firms  and their consultants  that viewed the 2021 summit as the consummate platform for burnishing their green credentials.

Before, if you werent doing something around COP, then questions would be asked, said one senior corporate affairs executive. Now its totally different.

My clients have definitely sent fewer people to this years summit, added a director at a UK-based PR agency. Expense is a massive reason, but so is the political environment.

What is COP30?

Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, COP has, for decades, been the worlds best-attended, and most consequential environmental gathering. Since its establishment at a 1992 treaty signed in Rio de Janeiro, an assortment of presidents, prime ministers, chief executives and campaigners have descended on a different city each year to agree how best to limit the effects and extent of whats become known as the climate crisis.

Over three decades it became a temple to the political consensus which held that the changing climate posed an existential threat to humanity, and that the world  largely via a series of agreements at COP  needed to do everything it could to stop it. Heads of state would use the jamboree as a platform to commit their nations to ambitious transition targets. Campaigners would make hay from the eyes of the worlds science and environmental media being trained on one place at the same time. And executives would trumpet the painstaking but important lengths to which their companies were going to reduce their own contribution to the crisis at hand.

But as the world exited from the pandemic and entered the energy price shock of 2022, that consensus was punctured. Aided by the outbreak of a hot war in Europe  and an aggressive rate-hiking cycle from the western worlds central banks  lawmakers priorities evolved from energy sustainability to energy security.

Drill, baby, drill

Initially, that shift happened quietly  and even sheepisly. Or at least it did until, last year, the man vying to be the 47th President of the United States turned climate into one of the most salient topics of the primary and presidential campaigns.

Efforts to boost green energy were, Donald Trump said during the primaries, a scam. Instead the US needed to drill, baby, drill if it wanted to improve living standards, maintain its position as the worlds largest natural gas exporter and keep energy prices down.

Since taking office in January, the president as followed through on his unstinting rhetoric. He quickly sought to block all offshore wind projects  even those that were very close to completion  and launched a legislative tirade against companies that set ESG targets and strategies.

Political climate keeps firms away from COP

According to Charlie Tarr, chief executive of corporate affairs consultancy Woodrow, the direction in which Trump has taken his second term is the primary reason for firms low-key turnout this year.

The glossy pavilions, the huge delegations, the climate grandstanding that weve seen in previous years is just over, he says. Now, weve got caution, weve got minimalism, weve got private conversations. US politics has weaponised climate as a culture war issue. That has fundamentally changed the calculus for corporate visibility.

Where once firms would once dispatch six or seven senior staff, this year they are sending two, Tarr adds. And where chief executives used to block their calendar months in advance to be seen on a panel with a former presidential candidate or feted naturalist, now they are more likely to delegate that job to their senior sustainability officer.

One senior PR executive, who worked with several blue-chip firms in the run-up to Glasgows COP, said the judgement call Western firms made in 2021 was, if your business wasnt doing something big around it, consumers and shareholders would demand to know why.

We had entire COP strategies that fleshed out how we were going to engage with stakeholders, working out the business opportunities on the ground, etc, she said. Association with it was almost universally positive.

Another PR agency director added: It has dropped off the agenda of, for example, the big asset managers, and big banks who will have occasionally dipped their toe into COPs in the past.

Logistical and political difficulties

But according to some, the lack of corporate representation is not just down to the fresh political scrutiny emanating from the White House.

Michael Hartt, who leads international affairs at Fleishmanhillard and is advising several firms on their COP 30 communications strategies, said the logistical issues around this years summit, which is being held in the heart of the Amazon, are just as important as politics.

A mix of practical factors. and wider forces, including political pressure in some countries means some companies have adjusted their presence, he told City AM.

And according to others, a patchy track record, and several missteps including controversial locations, meant firms were beginning to lose faith in the value the summit brings to the climate debate, and its track record for delivery amid a testing macroeconomic backdrop.

Theres no doubt that were seeing [clients] row back on COP engagement, said Imogen Sackey, senior associate director at the Romans. But I think it reflects a bigger question about COPs role in global climate leadership.

[It] feels increasingly abstract and were seeing businesses afraid to break the binary between good for business and good for the planet, she added.

Firms finding COP outlay harder to justify

That binary trade-off may  as Sackey claims  be myopic, but it is a core component of executives decision-making. As the era of cheap money that characterised the post-financial crisis global economy shuddered to a halt in 2022, corporates across the world tighten their belts.

Shareholder primacy returned to the ascendancy. And shareholders, for their part, relearned the importance of a robust bottom line. All of which meant blue-chip firms, many of whom had recruited rapidly over the pandemic, felt forced to cut back on staff levels, employee benefits and marketing spend to sate increasingly scrupulous investors.

Looking at large-cap companies  and including S&P500 businesses  they are just scaling back, said Woodrows Tarr. Theyre wary of optics on cost-grounds because some have been been laying people off.

One company keeping a markedly lower profile at this years instalment  and which has, itself, been engaged in a major cost-cutting drive  is Alan Jopes erstwhile employer, Unilever.

The consumer giant has  like many in its category  been on a striking financial and rhetorical journey since the Glaswegian stepped down at the end of 2023. After years of underperformance, Jopes replacement, Hein Schumacher, scaled back the firms ambitious climate targets just four months into the job, saying the group needed to be more focused in its allocation of resources.

His successor, Fernando Fernandez, has doubled down on that direction. In his first set of public remarks in September, the new chief executive conceded that Unilever had lost its focus on volume growth, blasting the many pockets of mediocrity that existed in the companys ranks.

Despite having led the firms Brazilian division for nearly 10 years, Fernandez will not be showing his face at COP 30. Instead, his focus for the firm was made abundantly clear in a Linkedin post published just a fortnight before COP got underway.

We know what we need to do to make Unilever a marketing and sales machine, and we are doing it at speed, he wrote in late October. Lets go!

By City AM

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Board to Launch Search for 140-Year-Old Institution's Next President

CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Nivine Megahed, Ph.D., has announced her plan to retire as president of National Louis University (NLU) at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year after more than 16 years of leading the institution.

"National Louis University is a remarkable place, rooted in innovation with a community that is strong, resilient, and committed to the success of its students and alumni," said President Megahed. "Serving as president of this landmark institution has been a great honor of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what our community has accomplished during my tenure."

A nationally-recognized innovator and transformation expert, Megahed was named as the 11th president of the 140-year-old institution in 2010, and has overseen a tenure marked with numerous achievements and institutional expansions. Highlights of her strategic leadership and vision include:

The acquisition of Kendall College and its positioning as the region's premiere culinary and hospitality management degree-granting school;

Development of the Undergraduate College for incoming freshmen, a model that was designed to assist first-time college students obtain undergraduate degrees in a variety of fields, and built on the belief that higher education should be affordable, supportive and professionally focused;

Launch of the School of Nursing which laid the foundation for more health services programs in the near future;

Creation of "Accelerate U," an innovative academic workforce pathway that meets the unique needs of today' students seeking job-skill credentialing and a path to a full-time, living-wage job immediately;

Formation of "Learn & Earn in 3," an accelerated three-year bachelor degree-granting program for working adults who can earn credit for working their full-time jobs;

The expansion of online programs; and

The establishment of the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University, a nationally recognized center of excellence focused on workforce learning, credentialing innovation, and applied research in the science of early childhood education.

A clinical psychologist by training, Megahed has held various executive level roles throughout her career. An expert in academic leadership and new program development, she has provided guidance and counsel to academic institution worldwide on matters including curriculum and university development, digital applications in higher education, the promotion of women in leadership and championing educational equity.

"This is a moment of both reflection and anticipationhonoring the remarkable legacy of President Megahed, while looking ahead with confidence to the next chapter in NLU's history," said Ian Ross, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

At the conclusion of her administration, President Megahed will partner with NLU in the onboarding of its next leader to ensure a seamless transition for the institution, students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders.

About National Louis University: National Louis is a nonprofit, non-denominational university focused on preparing the diverse workforce of tomorrow and widening access to quality educational and career opportunities for all learners. NLU offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across a wide variety of fields, serving approximately 13,000 students annually at locations in Illinois and Florida, as well as online. Visit nl.edu for more info.

Contact: Lauri Sanders

Phone: (312) 261-3832

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE NATIONAL-LOUIS UNIVERSITY
International Holding Company (IHC) of Abu Dhabi has expressed interest to the U.S. Treasury to potentially acquire the international assets of Russias Lukoil, the UAE conglomerate told Reuters on Friday, joining a growing number of suitors for the foreign assets of the now sanctioned second-largest oil company in Russia.

IHC told Reuters in response to a query whether it had expressed interest in Lukoils international assets to the U.S. Treasury Department, Yes, we have expressed interest in Lukoil's foreign assets.

IHC did not elaborate further on the subject.

The Abu Dhabi firm joins private equity giant Carlyle and U.S. oil and gas supermajors Chevron and ExxonMobil, who are also believed to have already expressed interest in the foreign assets of Lukoil.

As of Friday, Lukoil is under U.S. sanctions, alongside Russias top oil producer Rosneft. The Trump Administration designated last month the two biggest Russian oil producers and exporters to force Moscow to genuine negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine.

This was the first sanctions move by the Trump Administration against Russia, but it became the most disruptive, stranding millions of barrels of crude at sea as buyers retreat and forcing a fire sale of Lukoils international assets.

The U.S. Treasury rejected the first suitor, Switzerland-based commodity trading giant Gunvor, with which Lukoil had even reached a preliminary agreement to sell its international assets. Describing Gunvor as the Kremlins puppet, the U.S. declined to approve the deal, but extended through December 13 a license for Lukoil to negotiate a sale of its international businesses.

Lukoil is the most active Russian energy company internationally, with upstream operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Latin America, and retail fuel businesses in many parts of the world, including the United States.

The potential suitors for Lukoils international assets now include Carlyle, Chevron, and Exxon, according to various media reports of the past week.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The COP30 climate summit is ditching an earlier draft of a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, according to the latest draft of negotiating texts at the global gathering in Belem, Brazil.

Many countries at COP30 have mobilized and supported a so-called roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels. But the latest draft document of the summit has removed reference to transitioning away from fossil fuels entirely, Reuters reports.

While more than 80 countries joined the call for a roadmap to move away from fossil fuels, others have resisted any deal on phasing out of oil, gas, and coal.

The delegates at COP30 are still discussing language for the final communique that will be published and agreed on unanimously by the countries attending the summit, so Fridays version of the draft may not be final.

Yet, signs point that there wont be an explicit reference to transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Even the European Union has backed off supporting the roadmap.

As many as 82 countries earlier this week called for a clear roadmap toward the phase-out of fossil fuelsbut the European Union, which aims to lead by example in the global push to net zero, was not among these.

Many EU countries backed the 82-nation-strong push to ditch fossil fuels, but the EU-27 did not formally support the initiative as such backing needs the unanimous approval of all 27 member states, Politico reports.

The joint effort to abandon the use of fossil fuels globally was supported by the EUs biggest economy, Germany, as well as Colombia, the United Kingdom, and Kenya.

The pledge to transition away from fossil fuels was made two years ago at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 in what was for the first time in decades that the end of fossil fuels was mentioned in a negotiating text. However, the topic did not evolve at the following COP29 in Azerbaijan last year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Equinor has started delivering natural gas to Pragues gas and electricity company PraAska plynarenska under a 10-year long-term agreement for supplies into the Czech Republic, the Norwegian energy major said on Friday.

The gas deliveries, which started in October, will last until 2035. Information on volumes, terms and conditions are confidential, Equinor said.

PraAska plynarenska will use the gas to supply households and businesses in the capital city of Prague and other parts of the country with heat, electricity, and natural gas.

Equinors supplies of pipeline gas to Europe are backed by the resources on the Norwegian continental shelf, Europes biggest oil and gas producing province, the Norwegian major said.

The deal with the Czech Republic joins a string of long-term gas contracts we have signed across Europe in recent years, demonstrating the role gas plays for European energy security, Equinors CEO Anders Opedal said in a statement.

Equinors main gas markets have been in Northwest Europe and the UK, but the company has expanded its reach over the past decade to include supplies to the Baltic countries and Poland. Equinor also sees a growing market potential among customers in Central and Southern Europe, it said today.

Equinor expects to boost its oil and gas production by more than 10% by 2027, by developing profitable projects and pursuing infrastructure-led exploration in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company, as well as other operators offshore Norway, will continue exploring and developing oil and gas projects to meet Europes energy needs.

Norway has been boosting its gas production since 2022 when it overtook Russia as Europes top gas supplier. Not a member of the EU, but a NATO founding member and key EU and UK ally, Norway looks to continue providing the gas Europe needs.

Companies operating offshore Norway are raising production of gas and oil, with the support of the Norwegian government, which continues to bet on the oil and gas industry and the massive revenues it raises for the country and its $2.1-trillion sovereign wealth fund, the worlds largest.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The European Union is considering buying direct stakes in critical minerals projects in Australia as a way to secure supply, Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, said on Friday.

Sefcovic, who is on a visit to Australia and meeting with top officials, discussed on Thursday EU-Australia cooperation with Australias Resources Minister, Madeleine King. The officials discussed accelerating cooperation on critical minerals, focused on real, timely results between trusted partners, Sefcovic posted on X.

Australia's strong capacity and shared high standards are key assets. Central to our economic security agenda, the EU Commissioner added.

The EU will announce soon a list of critical minerals projects in Australia, in which it would be interested to buy a stake, Sefcovic told reporters in Melbourne.

We did the first such selection of the projects where we would declare our official interest, the EU Trade Commissioner said, as carried by Reuters.

That list should be published very, very soon, he added.

The EU, which is struggling to break dependence on China in critical minerals and rare earths, could decide to finance projects in Australia by buying equity stakes, striking offtake agreements for the materials, or participating in joint investments in production, Sefocvic noted.

We in Europe, we paid so much for dependencies over the last years, the commissioner said.

The EU also plans to set up a centralized authority responsible for building and maintaining an inventory of critical minerals to avoid having the United States snatch the worlds critical minerals from under our noses, the EUs executive Vice President for industrial strategy told the Financial Times.

Because Europe, like the U.S., is overwhelmingly dependent on imports of critical minerals essential in a range of industries, it now plans to set up a body to buy, co-ordinate European purchases, set aside stocks and also to push companies to integrate more economic security into their supply chains, Stephane Sejourne told FT.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Forecasts of milder weather in the weeks ahead and the proposed U.S. peace plan for Ukraine pushed down on Friday European benchmark natural gas prices to their lowest level since May 2024.

Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, traded down by 2.5% at $35 (30.38 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) at 11 a.m. in Amsterdam. This was the lowest the benchmark price has been since May 2024, as the latest weather models predict milder temperatures in the weeks ahead after the current cold snap in northwest Europe.

European gas futures have traded for months at about $36.90 (32 euros) per MWh. Now geopolitics and weather have pushed prices lower.

Gas traders are eyeing the talks on the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, which could lead to easing of some of the sanctions on Russian energy exports. Thats of course if the plan goes through, which is far from certain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said that The American side presented points of a plan to end the wartheir vision. I outlined our key principles. We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure its all genuine.

We're geared up for clear and honest workUkraine, the U.S., our European and global partners, Zelenskyy said about the plan, which reportedly includes heavy concessions for Ukraine.

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Tom Marzec-Manser, director for Europe gas and LNG at Wood Mackenzie, commented for Bloomberg,

An end to the war could mean the banning of Russian pipe supply to the EU never happens, which would result in Europe being better supplied than previously expected.

Despite Europes gas inventories now falling and at levels lower compared to this time last year, rising LNG flows are easing concerns about a shortage of supply. However, as in any winter, Europes gas futures prices will be very sensitive to weather patterns, geopolitical events, and supply shocks.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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U.S. sanctions on the global operations of Russian oil heavyweights Rosneft and Lukoil enter into effect today, with some 48 million barrels of Rosneft and Lukoil crude on tankers that will now have to look for new destinations.

Bloomberg reported the figures, citing Kpler data and noting that the cargoesmostly Urals and ESPOwere loaded on some 50 tankers with an original destination in China and India, but also others without a set final destination. The publication added that this round of sanctions was among the most aggressive by the U.S. federal government, adding that if these barrels do not find a new home, they would be stranded for the foreseeable future, or until sanctions are lifted in case of a peace deal with Ukraine.

Still, Bloomberg added that Russian oil flows abroad remain steady, at around 3.4 million barrels daily, despite the looming sanctions.

Russian export flows are holding up, but its not finding its way through to their destinations yet, Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING, said, as quoted by Bloomberg. If that continues and finally backs up all the way, we could start seeing supply falling, which will be a concern to markets.

In a note this week, Patterson and his colleague Ewa Manthey wrote that Ukraine was unlikely to accept the U.S. peace deal proposal because it was favorable towards Russia, yet news outlets reported that President Zelensky had indicated willingness to work with the U.S. government on the peace deal.

The news immediately pushed oil prices lower, the implication being that the latest sanctions may not end up getting enforced for very long. However, it would be wiser to adopt a more skeptical approach, seeing as this is not the first time that President Trump has tried to broker a peace to end the war in Ukraine, unsuccessfully.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The United Arab Emirates is ready to invest as much as $50 billion in Canadas industries, notably energy and artificial intelligence, following a visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Abu Dhabi.

Reuters reported the news, citing a statement by the Emirati authorities that did not feature any details on the investment agreement. Earlier reports, however, mentioned an investment pact signed by Carney and his hosts in Abu Dhabi.

The pact was a prelude to a trade agreement in any scenario that Canada has been in, the former premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, who accompanies Carney on his UAE visit, told the media.

Canadian media noted that the UAE is using its abundant oil and gas resources to fuel a data center boom, benefiting from cheap energy, and that Carneys government wanted to replicate the scheme with Albertas oil sands as a source of affordable energy to power data centers.

Canadas new Prime Minister has been touring the world in search for alternative trade partners to the country as it distances itself from its neighbor in the south amid President Trumps non-delicate, to put it mildly, rhetoric on matters of trade and Canadian sovereignty.

The only way Canada is going to have trade agreements with  new regions in the world is if the prime minister is the one who leads it, Charest also said, as quoted by CBC News, adding that We have a lot in common, because we're each in our own way a hub to the rest of the world.

Following Carneys meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an official statement from the Prime Ministers office said that the two had agreed to close a deal that would see lower bilateral tariffs and greater export market access for Canadian companies. Canada plans to double the amount of non-food goods it exports to countries other than the United States over the next 10 years.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Venezuelas Parliament has approved a 15-year extension of the countrys oil-producing joint ventures with Russian companies, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Telegram as the South American country doubles down on its strategic alliance with Russia.

The 15-year extension now allows the joint ventures established under the strategic energy alliance between the two countries to continue operations until 2041, Rodriguez said, adding it is a crucial step toward Venezuelas energy development.

No illegitimate blockade can overcome our energy strengths, the Venezuelan vice president said.

Venezuelas state-owned oil firm PDVSA has joint ventures with a unit of Russian firm Roszarubezhneft that develop two oilfields, Boqueron and Perija, in western Venezuela.

Roszarubezhneft, owned by a unit of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, was incorporated in 2020. After the U.S. sanctioned two units of Rosneft for trading Venezuelan oil, Roszarubezhneft bought the Venezuelan assets of the Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft.

The strengthening of the Venezuela-Russia energy alliance with the 15-year extension of the joint ventures comes as the two countries are under increased pressure from the United States.

The Trump Administration has just sanctioned Rosneft and the second-biggest Russian producer, Lukoil, while U.S. aircraft carriers have moved to the Caribbean close to Venezuelan waters.

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In recent days, the U.S. has moved the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds most advanced aircraft carrier, close to Venezuela, and U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week said he would not rule out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela.

Hours after the Presidents comments, Nicolas Maduro said that he is ready to hold face-to-face talks with representatives of the Trump Administration.

Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions on the global operations of Russian oil heavyweights Rosneft and Lukoil come into effect today, with some 48 million barrels of Rosneft and Lukoil crude on tankers that will now have to look for new destinations.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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(Illustration courtesy of Okinawa International Carnival Committee)



The Okinawa International Carnival returns Nov. 22 to Gate 2 Street and Koza Music Town.

Since its launch in 1993, this carnival has been celebrating the host municipality of Kadena Air Base and Camp Foster, where people from more than 60 countries live.

The programs include a parade, samba carnival, urban sports, live music performance by the III MEF Band and Lester Middle School, and more.

Traffic restrictions will be in place during the festival on and around Gate 2 Street.

Come to Gate 2 Street and enjoy what the international city of Okinawa has to offer!

(Illustration courtesy of Okinawa International Carnival Committee)



Okinawa International Carnival

Date: Nov. 22 (Sat.)

Time: 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

*Traffic restrictions will be in place on and around Gate 2 Street between 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. (subject to change)

*For more info, check out the website.


Governor Koteks Latest Executive Order on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Pushes More Unaffordability onto Working Families

By Oregon State Senator David Brock Smith,

SALEM, Ore.  Today, Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), vice chair of the Senate Committee on Energy & Environment, rebuked Governor Koteks EO that will increase costs for Oregon families while putting more of them at risk during inclement weather.

The Oregon Energy Strategy rolled out this week from ODOE is incomplete, and Governor Koteks EO 25-29 is not only authoritarian, but it will also drive up costs for every Oregonian across the state while doing nothing to impact global greenhouse gas emissions, said Senator Brock Smith.

A recent report by the nonpartisan public policy nonprofit Discovery Institute calculated the costs of Oregon and Washingtons ambitious GHG reduction goals at $1 trillion. You can view their in-depth presentation HERE.

Oregon produces less than 0.14% of greenhouse gas emissions on the global scale, according to data from the Oregon Global Warming Commission. The Director of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality was asked during the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction: What impact would be had if Oregon were to have zero GHG emissions? His response: Senator Brock Smith, you are correct that Oregons portion of global carbon emissions is, Ill use the word minuscule. When Dr. Philip Mote, Director of Oregon Climate Services and the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, was asked, he responded the impact would be imperceptible.

As Governor Kotek and her Democrat supermajority continue to make the cost of energy in Oregon more expensive, they are also putting more families at risk during severe weather events, said Senator Brock Smith. The Governors EO 25-29 and EO creating the Climate Protection Program, the recent Oregon Energy Strategy, and her Democrat supermajoritys legislative policies attack reliable and affordable clean energy like natural gas, which is critically important for generating electricity to balance load. This is especially true during severe weather events. During severe heat events, natural gas is needed to produce more electricity to cool homes, businesses, and shelter centers. During severe cold weather, natural gas is desperately needed to not only heat these same homes, businesses, and warming shelters with reliable gas furnaces, but it is also necessary to produce electricity to handle increased electrical load for those without natural gas.

Additionally, forcing the electrification of all energy through ever increasing costs on reliable natural gas, puts the health, life, and safety of Oregonians at risk. During the last ice storm, tens of thousands of Oregon families were without power for days, if not weeks, due to downed power lines. This may be why Governor Kotek is having natural gas upgrades installed at her residence, Mahonia Hall. The media reported today that Lane Transit District invested $30 million in electric buses 6 years ago, and is already phasing them out due to battery problems, unreliability, and costs.

If the Governor and her Democrat supermajority are truly interested in reducing GHG emissions, they would stop coddling their environmental for-profit nonprofit special interests and join together in sustainably managing our greatest carbon sequestration assetand, due to lack of management, the greatest emitterour forests. Oregonians produce a little over 60 MMT of anthropogenic emissions annually, while our natural and working lands sequester more than we emit. Oregon forests and their products alone sequester more than half of the total emissions produced by Oregonians. Adding other natural and working lands, such as wheat, nursery, and grass seed, that sequestration could be greater than what is produced. We have the knowledge and expertise to manage our forest resources sustainably, mitigating wildfire, creating needed wood products and jobs, growing our rural economies, while reducing the costs for the backbone supplies needed for housing. These actions alone would not only reduce GHG emissions more effectively than the Governors costly EO, but they would also bring down costs and grow Oregons economy across all sectors, rather than perpetuate the continued decline under her and her Democrat supermajoritys leadership, concluded Senator Brock Smith.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating a data breach that led to unauthorized access to the sensitive information of 122,960 individuals affiliated with WEL Companies, Inc. ("WEL"), a Wisconsin-based transportation, logistics, and warehousing company.

On January 31, 2025, WEL detected unusual activity on its network and learned that data was accessed and acquired without authorization.

DATA BREACH ALERT: WEL Companies, Inc. If you received notification of this breach you may be entitled to money damages. Post this

Although the breach occurred in January 2025, WEL did not notify impacted individuals until November 19, 2025, which may have violated state and federal laws. The following information may have been compromised in the breach: names, Social Security numbers, and driver's license or state identification numbers.

If your personal information was impacted by this incident, you may be at risk of identity theft and other serious violations of your privacy. As a result, you may be entitled to money damages and an injunction requiring changes to WEL's cybersecurity practices.

If you received notification of this data breach or are affiliated with WEL and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/welcompanies.

About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.

Contact

Sonum Dixit

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

[email protected]

Tel: 415-299-8207

SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

November 2025 now ties with spring of last year, when the spouse scandal broke, as the worst time in Oregon Governor Tina Koteks governorship.

Here is why:

 Stop the gas tax petition surges. Governor Koteks flagship bill, the $4.3 billion gas tax, was signed in November, and the petition referendum drive to stop it (by Senator Bruce Starr, Representative Ed Diehl, Jason Williams, Taxpayers Association of Oregon) was launched and has exceeded daily returns across Oregon and ahead of schedule. There was long lines and wild enthusiasm for this petition.

 Kotek backtracks: Governor Kotek had to backtrack on Oregon National Guard statement. KOIN-6 headline below:

 Governor Kotek was criticized for meeting behind closed doors. OPB criticized Governor Kotek for holding key meetings behind closed doors.

 Media highlights her widespread criticisms  even among supporters.

OPB had this story on Governor Kotek;

accomplishments have been hard to pin down  and who struggled openly to pass a major road-funding bill in recent months. groups struggle to point out signature achievements of Koteks first 2.5 years Among the more than 40 people OPB spoke with  Republicans and Democrats alike  there was a consensus that the governor is smart, hard-working and driven to take on intractable issues. Theres also a sense among some that she has underperformed.

 ODOT director resigns. This month the head of the Oregon Department of Transportation resigned amidst a year of controversy.

 A poll just showed that 67% of Oregonians think Oregon is the wrong track. Read here.

 Two Democrat Senators criticized Kotek for delaying signing own signature gas tax bill.

 Her $200,000 travel trip to Asia was a bust. There were hardly any news items on her trip to Asia to justify the bad press she received for spending $200,000 to go to Japan and South Korea.

 Please support our watchdog journalism of how your taxes are being spent. Make a donation at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

The Oregon population decline is being led by young families with children. Parents are pulling their children out of schools, and leaving for other states. Additionally, during Covid many parents pulled their children out of school and then enrolled them in Charter schools and private schools. Oregon was cited as a top state for charter school enrollment.

The change is so big that some cities, like Corvallis, are closing schools.

OPB reports, The Corvallis School District is facing a nearly $4 million deficit for next school year  no small problem for a shrinking district of about 6,000 students. The district had to cut $3 million last year, and another $8 million the year before that.District leaders are searching for a long-term solution that balances capacities in Corvallis school buildings as student enrollment continues to decline. This week, theyll vote on whether to close two neighborhood schools.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Islamophobia in Western Europe is driven far more by anti-immigrant nativism and authoritarian attitudes than by religious belief, new research from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) shows.

A study by Professor Kai Arzheimer of the JGU Department of Political Science, published in Research & Politics, reveals a strong connection between anti-Muslim prejudice and nativism. It also points to a robust link between Islamophobia and right-wing authoritarian attitudes.

By contrast, individual Christian religiosity shows virtually no connection to either of these tendencieschallenging the common assumption that religious belief fuels Islamophobia in Western Europe.

Professor Kai Arzheimer, who heads the German Politics and Political Sociology research unit at the JGU Institute of Political Science, analyzed data from nearly 75,000 people in Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The study was carried out as part of the SCoRE project, an international research initiative examining political attitudes and radicalization across Europe. It used a detailed survey that measured key far-right attitudesnativism, authoritarianism, and populismwith unusual precision.

Abstract summarizing Professor Kai Arzheimer's research on Islamophobia in Western Europe

Measuring the roots of anti-Muslim prejudice

The analysis focused on citizens of the four countries and excluded individuals belonging to non-Christian religions, while retaining those with no religious belief at all. It used an advanced statistical method to estimate how five central factors relate to one another:

Christian religiosity, measured through church involvement;

nativism, understood as perceived cultural or economic threat from immigrants;

Islamophobia, captured through measures of anti-Muslim prejudice;

right-wing authoritarianism, reflected in support for authority, punitive measures, and traditional norms; and

populism, defined as distrust of elites combined with an idealized notion of "the people."

"The findings are striking," said Arzheimer. "Across all four countries, the correlation between personal religiosity and Islamophobia is practically zero. People who regularly attend church or identify with a Christian tradition are not systematically more likely to hold Islamophobic views than their secular counterparts."

By contrast, the research revealed a strong and positive association between Islamophobia and both nativism and authoritarian attitudes. These patterns were consistent across all four countries, pointing to a shared dynamic throughout Western Europe.

'Christianism' as strategic use of Christian identity

"These findings have significant implications for understanding the rise of a strategy used by some far-right parties in Western Europe, who present themselves as defenders of so-called "Christian values' against an alleged Islamic threat," said Arzheimer.

Scholars refer to this strategy as "Christianism," meaning the political use of Christian identity for cultural or nationalist purposes. Arzheimer's research suggests that this strategy may be effective precisely because it separates genuine Christian religiosity from anti-Muslim prejudice.

"Far-right actors have crafted a narrative portraying Christianity as a cultural symbol of "Western civilization' while simultaneously framing Islam as a threat to 'our' cultural identity," Arzheimer explained.

"This allows them to appeal to a broad group of voters who are increasingly secular yet receptive to nationalist and anti-immigrant messages."

Differences between Europe and the U.S.

The study shows how far-right parties can avoid appearing overtly racist by presenting Christianity as a cultural symbol rather than a faith centered on humility, universalism, and compassion.

"This tactic allows the far right to appeal to voters who are concerned about cultural changeand it also fits into a broader pattern of civilizational populism," said Arzheimer.

Furthermore, the research helps explain why Western Europe has no genuinely religious far-right parties, in contrast to the United States of America. While in the U.S. certain strands of white Christian religiosity are closely linked to racism and hostility toward immigrants and Muslims, Western Europe does not offer a comparable pool of attitudes on which such movements could build.

"In light of these results, it becomes clear why some West European far-right parties have turned to Christianist narratives," Arzheimer concluded.

"What remains uncertain is whether this strategy is more effective than othersand whether this culturalized use of 'Christian values' can survive in increasingly secular societies, especially when many church leaders are openly critical of the far right."

More information: Kai Arzheimer, Islamophobia in Western Europe is unrelated to religiosity but highly correlated with far right attitudes, Research & Politics (2025). DOI: 10.1177/20531680251351895
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In one of the most important state environmental decisions this year, California air regulators adopted new rules designed to reduce methane leaks and better respond to disastrous underground fires at landfills statewide.

On Nov. 20, California Air Resources Board members voted 12-0 to approve a batch of new regulations for the state's nearly 200 large landfills, designed to minimize the release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas produced by decomposing organic waste. Landfills are California's second-largest source of methane emissions, following only the state's large dairy cow and livestock herds.

The new requirements will force landfill operators to install additional pollution controls; more comprehensively investigate methane leaks on parts of landfills that are inaccessible with on-the-ground monitoring using new technology like drones and satellites; and fix equipment breakdowns much faster. Landfill operators also will be required to repair leaks identified through California's new satellite-detection program.

The regulation is expected to prevent the release of 17,000 metric tons of methane annuallyan amount capable of warming the atmosphere as much as 110,000 gas-fired cars driven for a year.

It also will curtail other harmful landfill pollution, such as lung-aggravating sulfur and cancer-causing benzene. Landfill operators will be required to keep better track of high temperatures and take steps to minimize the fire risks that heat could create.

There are underground fires burning in at least two landfills in Southern Californiasmoldering chemical reactions that are incinerating buried garbage, releasing toxic fumes and spewing liquid waste. Regulators found explosive levels of methane emanating from many other landfills across the state.

During the three-hour Air Resources Board hearing preceding the vote, several Californians who live near Chiquita Canyon Landfillone of the known sites where garbage is burning deep undergroundimplored the board to act to prevent disasters in other communities across the state.

"If these rules were already updated, maybe my family wouldn't be sick," said Steven Howse, a 27-year resident of Val Verde. "My house wouldn't be for sale. My close friend and neighbor would still live next door to me. And I wouldn't be pleading with you right now. You have the power to change this."

Landfill operators, including companies and local governments, voiced their concern about the costs and labor needed to comply with the regulation.

"We want to make sure that the rule is implementable for our communities, not unnecessarily burdensome," said John Kennedy, a senior policy advocate for Rural County Representatives of California, a nonprofit organization representing 40 of the state's 58 counties, many of which own and operate landfills.

"While we support the overarching goals of the rule, we remain deeply concerned about specific measures included in the regulation."

Lauren Sanchez, who was appointed chair of the California Air Resources Board in October, recently attended the United Nations' COP30 climate conference in Brazil with Gov. Gavin Newsom. What she learned at the summit, she said, made clear to her that California's methane emissions have international consequences, and that the state has an imperative to reduce them.

"The science is clear, acting now to reduce emissions of methane and other short-lived climate pollutants is the best way to immediately slow the pace of climate change," Sanchez said.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Conceptual framework representing how participatory scenario planning (PSP) can build empathy. PSPs allow participants to imagine alternative realities, particularly imagining alternative plausible realities of futures. PSPs provide an opportunity for participants for social learning, allowing them to learn more about the needs and welfare of the present people, future people, and non-human life-forms. PSPs can also serve as a priming stimulus for actions that can are future oriented (i.e., empathize for future people) and environment oriented (i.e., empathize for non-human life-forms). Credit: Sustainability Science (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11625-024-01607-1

When environmental policymakers are invited to imagine the future together, they don't just think differently, they feel differently, too.

That's the finding of a McGill University study published in Sustainability Science. It shows that participatory scenario planning, a collaborative process wherein members of diverse groups co-envision possible futures, can boost their empathy for future generations, as well as non-human life. The research was led by Ph.D. graduate Elson Ian Nyl Ebreo Galang and Professor Elena Bennett from McGill's Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Bieler School of Environment.

"Through this process, we saw decision-makers become so much more empathetic toward non-humans like animals and plants, and especially toward future generations," said Galang, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University. "By sitting down together, listening to one another, and co-imagining futures, they began to care more deeply about those usually on the periphery of these discussions."

A human approach to environmental decisions

The team brought together government officials, NGO personnel, researchers and agricultural representatives in the Bay of Fundy area in Nova Scotia, which is shaped by a push and pull between dykelands and tidal wetlands. Participants were asked to imagine both hopeful and challenging futures for the landscape, ranging from thriving ecosystems supported by nature-based solutions to degraded environments driven by private interests.

"Several of the people we brought together had clashed in the past," said Galang. "When they took time to share personal stories about their relationship to the land, the room's energy shifted from tension to warmth and co-operation."

That spirit of collaboration helped make the exercise more than just a policy discussion. After the workshop, participants reported feeling more "sympathetic," "moved" and "compassionate" toward non-human life and people who will be living in the future.

Measuring empathy over time

To test whether these emotional shifts lasted, the team used a validated "Empathic Concern Index" before, immediately after and then three months after the workshop. They found that empathy for future generations and non-human life increased significantly immediately after the workshop. Moreover, the increase in empathy for future generations was retained even after three months.

A second scenario planning workshop in Quebec focused on the futures of wetlands, agricultural lands and urban greenspaces, produced similar results, suggesting that this empathy-building effect can be replicated in other contexts.

"Our goal was to find ways to change how people feel, not just how they think," said Galang. "If we want decision-makers to make choices that are sustainable for both humans and non-humans, we need to nurture empathy as much as knowledge."

Bennett said the project's success hinged on personal connection.

"Those personal invitations and careful facilitation meant participants understood why they were uniquely important to the process," she said. "Once they were in the room, Elson's special magic of listening and making everyone feel welcome helped people see that their input was truly shaping the conversation."

Toward more empathetic decision-making

The research, part of the NSERC ResNet project led by Bennett, highlights empathy as a vital but often overlooked ingredient in environmental management.

"Maybe what we need is more empathetic decision-making," said Galang, "and spaces where people can imagine the future together and, in doing so, change how they feel about the present."

More information: Elson Ian Nyl Ebreo Galang et al, Co-imagining future scenarios can enhance environmental actors' empathy toward future generations and non-human life-forms, Sustainability Science (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11625-024-01607-1 Journal information: Sustainability Science
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Delegates are set to resume their negotiations after a dramatic fire on Thursday afternoon torched a hole through the fabric ceiling of the COP30 venue, forcing a panicked evacuation.

A breach, a blockade, and a blaze: tumultuous UN climate talks head into their final day Friday in the Brazilian Amazon, with countries still sharply split over fossil fuels.

At stake at COP30 is nothing less than proving that international cooperation can still function in a fractured worldand delivering a text that nudges the planet back toward the critical 1.5C long-term warming target, despite the absence of President Donald Trump's United States.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has branded it the "COP of truth," investing significant political capital in its success and defending his choice to hold it in Belem, despite concerns over inadequate infrastructure that have plagued the hot, humid city on the edge of the world's largest rainforest.

Delegates are set to resume their negotiations after a dramatic fire on Thursday torched a hole through the fabric ceiling of the COP30 venue, forcing a panicked evacuation.

It was the third major incident since the summit began at the COP30 compound, located on the site of an old airport and made up of enormous, air-conditioned tents alongside permanent structures.

Last week, Indigenous protesters stormed the venue and blockaded the entrance days later in a peaceful demonstration.

Thursday's fire broke out around 2:00 pm (1700 GMT), quickly filling the cavernous halls with acrid smoke.

The blaze was brought under control in six minutes, organizers said. Nineteen people were treated for smoke inhalation and two for anxiety attacks, officials said. The venue reopened later on Thursday night.

Infrastructure woes

The symbolism of a fire breaking out at the UN's annual summit tasked with reining in global warming was hard to miss.

In another twist, Brazil had chosen as its COP30 mascot a folklore guardian of the forest with flame-like hair, known as Curupira.

The cause of the blaze was being investigated but may have been the result of a short circuit or other electrical malfunction, said Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.

Infrastructure problems have beset the summit from the start, from air-conditioning woes to leaking ceilings, and numerous participants have reported issues with electrical wiring.

At the negotiating table, countries are tasked with finding what UN chief Antonio Guterres has called an "ambitious compromise" on divisive issues.

These include phasing out fossil fuelsthe main driver of human-caused warming and its escalating impacts, from record heat and severe storms to rising seas, crop failures and economic losses.

Fossil fuel fight

Lula has championed agreeing to a "roadmap" that would give countries specific targetsbut in a dramatic turn, even the words "fossil fuels" were cut from the latest draft proposal put forward by the summit's Brazilian leadership and seen by AFP.

That text was slammed by more than 30 countries that co-signed a letter drafted by Colombia stating: "We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels."

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China, India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Russia have rejected the fossil fuel roadmap, according to a negotiator who wished to remain anonymous.

Negotiators are also at odds over pressure from the developing world for developed countries to provide more financing to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change and deploy renewable energy.

"The lack of finance from richer nationsa critical part of the Paris Agreementremains an ongoing obstacle in these final days to securing bold and fair outcomes," Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told AFP.

And for the first time at a COP, trade has come to the fore.

The European Union is fighting resistance led by China and India to its "carbon tax" on imports such as steel, aluminum, cement and fertilizersmeasures Britain and Canada are also preparing to adopt.

Although COP30 is set to conclude Friday, climate summits often run into overtimeand Thursday's lost hours may make that likelier.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Home Depot is leveraging artificial intelligence to help professional contractors with a complex taskmeasuring and quantifying all the materials needed for residential projects.

The Vinings-based home improvement retailer said it has launched a new tool called "Blueprint Takeoffs." The AI-powered service creates a complete materials list and quote for a single-family project.

Takeoffs, an industry term for estimating materials for a project, can be costly and time-consuming. Contractors have to source every material from framing lumber to the inside trim, perhaps revising estimates from different suppliers.

Home Depot said with its AI-powered assistant it can complete the task in two days or less. It will charge $249 per project, a spokesperson said. The company also said it has a team to provide guidance and help source hard-to-find materials.

"Blueprint Takeoffs will transform the way pros plan and prepare for their projects," Ann-Marie Campbell, Home Depot senior executive vice president, said Tuesday on the company's third-quarter earnings call. "This technology replaces a manual, intensive process that took weeks to complete, increasing accuracy and reliability."

The tool would not replace any jobs at Home Depot, a spokesperson said.

Home Depot has spent billions targeting professional contractors, the people who build single-family homes and perform major remodels, as an avenue for growth. The company has recently acquired two firms that specialize in serving contractors and ramped up other capabilities geared toward the pro, including offering trade credit and sales support and expanding its flatbed distribution network.

Home Depot hopes pros using Blueprint Takeoffs will then purchase from the retailer the materials they need for their project.

"We'll never get all of their wallet," Ted Decker, Home Depot chair, president and CEO, said during a supplier conference last month in Atlanta. He was referring to pros, such as renovators, remodelers and builders.

"But if we can consolidate the number of people that they have to deal with it, they can speed up their jobs. And for them, cycle time is everything," he said.

Today, about half of Home Depot's business is from contractors, Decker said at a September retailing conference. But it's making a big play for more spending from contractors, especially amid a housing market slump and growing consumer uncertainty that is currently impacting demand for its retail business.

Recently, Home Depot acquired specialty building products companies SRS Distribution and GMS Inc. In September, it launched a project planning tool.

"This is nothing less than a transformation," Billy Bastek, Home Depot's executive vice president of merchandising, said at the October supplier conference.

"We are going to do for wholesale what Bernie and Arthur did for retail," he said, referring to two company founders, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank.

Atlanta home builder Jim Cheeks said he is integrating his business with Home Depot. He is founder and CEO of Fortas Homes, which focuses on infill construction and small developments in urban Atlanta neighborhoods.

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Over the years, Cheeks has advocated for housing affordability by building smaller homes that cost less. For example, he worked on a recent project called Oak Cottage Court in Decatur.

Cheeks said he was among a group of professional contractors recently invited to Blank's Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana to learn more about Home Depot's pro strategy and services.

During a Tuesday phone call, he was already familiar with Home Depot's Blueprint Takeoffs tool and said he plans to use it.

"It's dynamic," Cheeks said. "It's one piece of the reason why I want to align our company with Home Depot, because they can do things like this."

But he doesn't source all his materials from Home Depot.

"We don't buy everything from them now, but they're obviously working very hard on fixing thaton becoming the preferred vendor," Cheeks said.

Home Depot is no stranger to experimenting with AI. It's used AI at scale for more than a decade on its website, an executive previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The retailer is among many companies harnessing the technology to assist customers.

In March, Home Depot also rolled out Magic Apron, an online concierge that's powered by generative AI. The tool helps answer customers' questions about products and how to get projects done.

2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Camera trap image of black-tailed deer grazing. Credit: Tara Martin

As ecosystems in coastal British Columbia disappear due to long-term browsing pressures from overabundant black-tailed deer, a new study led by UBC with Coast Salish Nations and regional research partners identifies the most effective solutions to address deer overabundance on the Southern Gulf Islands.

The research, published in People and Nature, finds Indigenous-led hunting to be the most successful and cost-effective strategy for managing hyperabundant deer when considering ecological and cultural needs. Drawing on both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, the study also highlights the importance of honoring distinct knowledge and value systems equitably in wildlife management.

A growing ecological crisis

Following almost two decades of research led by Dr. Tara Martin from UBC's Faculty of Forestry, black-tailed deer populations on the Southern Gulf Islands are now estimated to be up to 10 times higher than they were a century ago, due to a combination of human-altered landscapes, restrictions on hunting, and the eradication of predators.

As deer populations grow unchecked, they overbrowse vegetation, prevent forests from regenerating, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt cultural connections to the land.

"For most people, these islands look beautiful and natural, but they are entirely degraded," says Dr. Martin. "The change has been so slow, most people don't recognize this shift. We've found hyperabundant deer are one of the major drivers of this change."

The consequences are stark. One of B.C.'s most endangered ecosystems, the Garry Oak meadow, is now at risk of irreversible collapse due to overgrazing. Other regions across Canada and the globe are facing similar threats from hyperabundant herbivores, including Haida Gwaii, Ontario, Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Inclusive approach to decision-making

Developing deer management strategies that address overpopulation and also support the well-being of people and the landrather than focusing solely on ecologyis inherently complex.

"This study offers a roadmap to help unpack complicated problems where many values and goals compete, often leading to decision paralysis and inaction," says lead author and doctoral student Sofie McComb. "Hyperabundant deer are damaging ecosystems around the world, and we're offering a framework that gives decision-makers practical, inclusive solutions."

Working in collaboration with Coast Salish Nations and local land stewards and knowledge holders, Dr. Martin's group considered a number of strategies for successful deer management. These included Indigenous-led hunting, improving predator viability, hiring deer reduction specialists, using birth control, increasing licensed hunting, and combining approaches.

Indigenous-led hunting was the only strategy with a high likelihood of being successful and achieving ecological and cultural benefits. Compared to the status quo, Indigenous-led hunting was found to increase the likelihood of maximizing human and ecological well-being by almost 60%, and was more than 50% likely to maximize project uptake and implementation goals.

Strategies such as increased licensed hunting were cost-effective from a Western science perspective, as they are low-cost strategies with moderate feasibility, but were less likely to achieve meaningful long-term benefits (less than 30% likelihood).

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Cost of inaction

Experts agreed that sticking with the status quo will not improve ecosystem functions and will continue to feed the decision-making paralysis fueled by a fear of controversy. Researchers warn that delaying action is the most harmful option.

"If we don't do something soon, the ecosystems will not be recoverable, because there will be nothing left," says Sofie McComb. "The deer are also struggling, and have turned to eating starvation foods. Inaction is actionthat is the action that has been chosen and the ecosystem is suffering."

The study provides an inclusive, transparent framework for communities worldwide facing hyperabundant herbivores. By integrating multiple knowledge systems and weighing feasibility and cost alongside ecological and cultural benefits, decision-makers can chart a path toward recovery that is both effective and socially grounded.

"It's possible to find solutions to complex environmental issues that are good for people, the land and the deer," says Dr. Martin. "This work shows that restoring cultural sovereignty and ecosystem health can go hand in hand."

More information: Sofie McComb et al, Decision analysis rooted in Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge identifies costeffective strategies for managing hyperabundant deer to restore keystone places, People and Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1002/pan3.70136 Journal information: People and Nature
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Eels, a popular delicacy around the world but also endangered, will be discussed at a key forum in Uzbekistan.

At an eel restaurant near Tokyo, four friends sit down to eat a Japanese delicacy now the subject of a heated international debate as its numbers decline.

The eel, hugely popular across Japan, is also endangered and will be discussed at a key global forum that regulates trade of threatened wildlife, starting in Uzbekistan on Monday.

"It's a luxury dish that we eat to treat ourselves or to celebrate an occasion," Yukiko Takahashi, a 52-year-old saleswoman told AFP as she tucked into her food at Hiranuma Suisan.

"Today, we friends came here to lift our spirits."

Japan is strongly opposed to a proposal by the European Union, Panama and Honduras to list all 17 species of eels worldwide under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which restricts trade of protected wildlife.

Up to 85% of global eel consumption takes place in East Asia, particularly Japan, which imported almost three-quarters of the 61,000 tons consumed there last year.

Eel populations are falling worldwide, scientists say, largely due to factors linked to human activity such as the pollution of waterways, destruction of wetlands, hydroelectric dams, and fishing.

Estimating population sizes remains difficult because of the mysterious life cycle of the snake-like fish.

The Japanese eel, a common species in East Asia, reproduces west of the Mariana Islands, 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers (1,240-1,865 miles) from the Japanese coast.

Eel populations are falling worldwide, scientists say, due to pollution, destruction of wetlands and fishing.

Its larvae develop into glass eels (juveniles) as they approach the coast, then live in freshwater for 5 to 15 years before making the reverse journey.

The Japanese eel, along with the American variety, is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.

The European eel is considered critically endangered.

A luxury dish

Eels, called "unagi" in Japan, have been consumed there for millennia and are now typically grilled on skewers and dipped in a soy and rice wine sauce.

People are willing to face ever-increasing prices to continue the culinary tradition, driven by significant year-to-year fluctuations in supply.

"Customers understand that it's a luxury dish," chef Tomoyuki Takashino said from behind the stove as he skewered an eel he had just killed and fileted.

Unaju, an eel served over rice in a lacquered box, is priced at 5,250 yen ($34), more than double what the dish might have cost 15 years ago, Takashino said.

Nearly all eels consumed in Japan come from aquaculture, which relies entirely on the capture or import of glass eels because they do not reproduce in captivity.

Restaurant prices for eels have been rising, with significant fluctuations in supply.

Catches of glass eels in Japan have dropped to less than 10% of their 1960s levels.

"We buy the glass eels, which we raise in these tanks," said Takayuki Hiranuma, president of a high-tech aquaculture farm that operates the restaurant.

Behind him, some 80,000 eels are kept in six huge reservoirs in 30C filtered water.

Their weight will increase a thousandfold over 10 months of farming before they are sold or cooked on site.

If eels are listed under Appendix II of the CITES convention, as will be discussed in Uzbekistan, their trade would be more strictly regulated, requiring export permits from the country of origin.

"This is a point that worries us greatly," Hiranuma said.

Japan argues that it has implemented fishing quotas and farming permits, and cites a study by Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology that says the Japanese eel population has tripled across East Asia since 1990.

"And we are cooperating with China, South Korea, and Taiwanterritories where the Japanese eel livesto limit the quantities of glass eels captured and improve stock management," Tetsuya Kawashima, an official from the Japanese Fisheries Agency, told AFP.

A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization expert advisory panel also said in a report this year that the risk of extinction for Japanese and American eels was "low".

Infographic on the migration of the endangered Japanese eels from their spawning grounds in the Mariana Islands to their maturing sites in freshwater estuaries and rivers.

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'Greatest wildlife crime'

But for Andrew Kerr of the Sustainable Eel Group, such findings fail to take into account eel trafficking, which he calls the "greatest wildlife crime" on the planet.

Due to the fact that eels look alike, "all sorts of games are played pretending it's one species when it's another", he said. "So trafficking can thrive."

Asian supply has long relied on the smuggling of glass eels from the EU, which banned their export in 2010.

Approximately 100 tons of glass eels transit each year, according to the European police agency Europol.

But with the dismantling of illegal supply chains, European supply has diminished and there's been a rise in shipments from the Caribbean, threatening that population, Kerr warned.

"It's not about their imminent risk of extinction. It's about how do we create some sort of world order in the trade of eel. It's a global game," he said.

 2025 AFP
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Bill morphological characterization and stabbing behavior simulation in Phaethornis guy. Credit: Journal of Experimental Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.250769

Let's get one thing out of the way: All hummingbirds fight. Most species fight for food, using their tiny bodies and sharp bills to force competitors away from flowers. But the green hermit hummingbird, which lives primarily in mountain forests of Central and South America, fights to win a mate.

"They gather together at a place in the forest that looks just like a singles bar," said Alejandro Rico-Guevara, an associate professor of biology at the University of Washington. "They all have perches, and if someone else takes their perchtheir place in the singles barthey go bananas, and they fight."

Hummingbirds' weapon of choice? Their own bills. Like medieval knights in a joust, the birds raise a long, needle-thin bill into the air before driving it into their opponent. The stakes are high: Hummingbirds also use their bills to eat, poking them deep into flowers to reach nutrient-rich nectar. Losing a fight means a hummingbird might not find a mate. Breaking a bill could mean they starve.

New research led by researchers at the UW Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, where Rico-Guevara is the curator of birds, found that these fights have shaped the species' evolution, yielding significant differences in bill shape for male and female green hermits. Compared to their female counterparts, male green hermits' bills are straighter, sharper and structurally stronger. The straighter bills work better as weapons, while female birds' more curved bills provide improved access to nectar in some flowers.

The findings suggest that green hermits' bill sexual dimorphismwhen two sexes of a species exhibit different characteristicswas likely driven by their tendency to fight, not solely by ecological factors.

"Adult male green hermits have reinforced bills because they fight so much," Rico-Guevara said. "It's the same tool, but in very different contexts. This is an example of how much we can still learn from sexual dimorphism in nature."

In the study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers selected green hermit specimens from the Ornithology Collection at the Burke Museum and used photogrammetry to develop 3D models of male and female bills. Through curvature and angle analyses of those models, researchers found that male bills are 3% straighter and 69% sharper, respectively, with a dagger-like tip not found on female bills.

But the differences, researchers found, extend beyond bill shape. CT scans revealed that the male bill's internal structure provided additional strength by transmitting forces more efficiently.

Finally, researchers ran the models through a series of simulated stabbings to stress-test the bills in both head-on and angled attacks. They observed that the male's straighter bill expends 52.4% less energy due to deformation, and is more resistant to breaking. The male bill experienced on average 39% less stress than the female bill.

They also found that male bills' straighter shape can accommodate a wider variety of attack angles, requiring less precision while fighting.

"It's a really cool example of sexually dimorphic weapons in birds," said co-author Lucas Mansfield, a graduate student at Michigan State University who completed this work while studying at the UW. "When you think of sexually dimorphic weapons, you usually think of deer and moose, animals with big antlers. There aren't many examples of things like that in the bird world. It's fun to explore a more cryptic or hidden weapon."

More information: Felipe Garzon-Agudelo et al, Sharper, straighter, stiffer, stronger: sexually dimorphic bill shape enhances male stabbing performance in the green hermit hummingbird (Phaethornis guy), Journal of Experimental Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.250769 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology
NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) resulting from allegations that Hormel may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Hormel securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47180 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On October 29, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "Hormel Cuts Forecast on Price Pressure, Consumer Backdrop; Parts Ways With CFO." The article stated that Hormel "warned earnings in the latest quarter were squeezed by price pressures, bird flu and a fire that damaged its Arkansas peanut butter production facility. The company also said it was parting ways with its top finance executive[.]"

On this news, Hormel Foods stock fell 9.1% on October 29, 2025.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study, called the MENCALLHELP2 project, has explored the content, nature and characteristics of call data received by the Men's Aid Ireland national helpline service over one calendar year (2022)

Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) is a serious societal problem that negatively affects the health and well-being of those who experience it. Traditionally, this has been viewed as something perpetrated by men and experienced by women. This makes it difficult for male victims to recognize abuse and seek support.

Researchers at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin have undertaken this research because there is very little research done in the area of male victimization in Ireland. This study examined a retrospective analysis of 7,132 contacts to Men's Aid Ireland in 2022, using sequential mixed methods of inquiry, firstly analyzing numerical followed by text-based data. The study is published on the school's website and at a conference in the school.

Men's Aid Ireland empowers and supports men and their families experiencing domestic violence to be safe.

Dr. Melissa Corbally, Associate Professor in General Nursing, explained the study: "This study provides unique insights into the profile of male abuse victims as well as identifying some at risk groups within a national service dedicated to men. Domestic Violence and Abuse is a serious problem and in patriarchal societies the idea of male vulnerability gets ridiculed, making it very difficult for abused men to seek support."

Key findings from the study

Of the 7,132 clients, 1,232 reported DVA experiences with 93.1% perpetrated by a female partner. 85% reported experiencing more than one form of abuse. 73.1% reported 24 types of abuse with 11.9% reporting five or more types of abuse. Concerned individuals also contacted the service on behalf of men.

The most prevalent abuse types were emotional abuse (86.1%) psychological abuse (69.3%), physical abuse (36.9%), coercive control (30%), parental alienation (26.3%) and economic abuse (20.3%). Unstable living conditions, fatherhood and frequent contacts to the service were associated with higher odds of abuse.

Notes relating to 2,200 contacts to the service were also analyzed (e.g., emails, call records, one-to-one meetings or outreach services). The experience of DVA was found to be complex and multifaceted with multiple forms of abuse as well as multiple service needs recorded. The health impact was mostly psychological. Information, legal related support, and empathetic listening were the most commonly provided services by Men's Aid staff.

The study suggests that:

A national set of working definitions of all types and variations of DVA across genders be developed to ensure consistent comparison across agencies

Services pay particular attention to callers living in unstable living arrangements and callers contacting the service on multiple occasions due to higher DVA risks

A caller ID or a reference code be given to anonymous callers to enable the potential development of a "client" profile and to benefit from continuity of service and further analysis. Future research needs to explore this anonymous dataset as a priority

Future research examines health outcomes as well as how men and concerned others articulate the frequency, severity and escalation of the male abuse experience

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Jim O'Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, said, "MenCallHelp shines a light on a side of domestic abuse that too often goes unseen. In a society shaped by traditional ideas of masculinity, reaching out for support as a man can feel impossible because their vulnerability is dismissed or ridiculed.

"This research gives us a clear understanding of who is affected and the barriers they face in seeking help. It shows how services can respond effectively, with evidence, compassion, and respect at their core.

"Its findings fill a critical gap in national knowledge and provide guidance for Government policy and practice under the Zero Tolerance Strategy.

"MenCallHelp reminds us, that challenging stigma, listening carefully, and acting decisively are responsibilities that fall to both society and Government alike."

Shane Kelly, CEO, Men's Aid Ireland, said, "Male victims of domestic abuse remain largely unseen, not because their experiences are less real, but because embarrassment, shame and the fear of not being believed often silence them. This research brings those hidden experiences into view and reflects what our frontline staff encounter every day: men who are frightened, isolated, and unsure where to turn.

"Our hope is that these findings challenge outdated attitudes and support the development of services and policies that recognize the reality of abuse in all its forms. Every victim, regardless of gender, deserves to be supported and safe."

Dr. Corbally, concluded, "This study contributes to the national policy of Zero Tolerance by strengthening the knowledge base surrounding male victimization as well as influencing frontline service provision.

"How we define abuse is of crucial importance if we are to generate comparable European data at a national level. It is crucial that we carefully consider how we define the experience of intimate partner violence and abuse for everyone.

"There is a need for more research in this area for greater understanding of the gendered experience of violence and service provision to ensure that service delivery is non-judgmental, evidence-based and meets the needs of vulnerable individuals."
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The flow, transformation, and retention of 13C-labeled carbon through the crop, soil, and soil food web system. Credit: Zhang Xiaoke

Researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have uncovered how soil food webs promote the transformation and storage of photosynthetic carbon in farmlands. Their results were published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Crop photosynthesis converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic matter, which later contributes to soil carbon sequestration. Returning crop residues, or stover, to the field is a common conservation tillage practice that restores soil nutrients and stimulates biological activity.

Through field trials and 13C isotope labeling experiments, Dr. Zhang Xiaoke's research team traced how photosynthetically fixed carbon moves from crops into soil and throughout different components of the soil food web.

They found that stover return increased the content of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) by approximately 30.96% and 11.39%, respectively, compared with plots where stover was removed. Stover return also reshaped the structure of soil biotic communities, strengthening the trophic connections among soil microorganisms, microfauna, and macrofauna.

Further analysis revealed that soil microfauna, primarily nematodes, played a crucial role in the carbon turnover process, contributing approximately 60.52% to total soil carbon renewal. These small soil biota enhance interactions within the soil food web and facilitate the trade-off between active (POC) and stable (MAOC) forms of soil carbon.

The crop photosynthetic carbon turnover pathway revealed how photosynthetic carbon efficiently circulated through crops, soil, and the soil food web. The researchers found that bacterial decomposition processes facilitated the renewal of POC, while fungal decomposition processes supported the stable accumulation of MAOC. The synergy between crops, soil microbes, and soil fauna ensured that more carbon was accumulated in the soil.

The study clarified a chain of interactions described as "stover return  soil food web restructuring  enhanced carbon transformation  soil carbon sequestration." It also highlighted the essential role of microfauna in connecting aboveground plant processes with belowground carbon storage.

More information: Yijia Tian et al, Stover return enhances the transformation and sequestration of photosynthetic carbon through regulating soil food web, Journal of Cleaner Production (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146910 Journal information: Journal of Cleaner Production
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Across Europe, scientists and citizens are uncovering a hidden legacy of contamination beneath their feet. From Denmark's first PFAS crisis to a new generation of soil-mapping initiatives, a continent is learning to seeand stopthe pollution it once ignored

The ground beneath our feet can hide pollution. How can we map and prevent contamination?

Before 2021, Korsr was known mostly as a quiet, picturesque town on Denmark's western coasta place of grazing cows and calm waters. Few imagined it would become the epicenter of the country's first PFAS contamination. At the time, almost no one in Denmark had even heard of PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals." If you Googled it, you got five hits.

"Before our contamination, PFAS didn't exist as a subject in Denmark," recalls Kenneth Nielsen, a local biology teacher and former chairman of Korsr Cow Grass Association.

The discovery was made almost by coincidence. "A journalist called me asking if I had heard something about contamination of the ground where our cows were out in the summer," Nielsen says.

"I said, I have no idea what you're talking about." The cows grazed on land near a firefighting training site. It was later found to be heavily polluted with PFAS foam residues that had seeped into the soil and water for decades. Nielsen offered to have his meat tested. A week later came the call that turned their lives upside down and changed the way Denmark is treating forever chemicals.

They told him the test results of the meat: "It's bad. It's really, really bad. You can't eat that meat. It's not suitable for human beings, not even animals."

The city authorities quickly confirmed the results and issued warnings, but no one could explain what PFAS really was, or what risk it meant for those who had eaten the meat. "It was the most terrifying weekend I've ever had," recalls Nielsen. "You just sit there thinking, what have we done to our families?"

He called his doctor on Monday, only to get a surprising answer. "I said, I have PFAS in my bodywhat should I do? And she said, "I can't help you." Nobody knew what PFAS was or how to treat it. We were left alone."

Nielsen did not give up; his persistent search for answers from the authorities and doctors is part of the reason why we know more about PFAs today.

From local tragedy to European

What started with a single steak from a family freezer soon became a national, then continent-wide wake-up call. "PFAS are mobile, persistent and toxic substances," explains Hans Peter Arp, an environmental chemist at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

"They are often called forever chemicals because they don't break down naturally and can accumulate in animals, plants and humans over time, spreading silently through soil and water."

"In soil, they don't degrade," adds Arp. "If no action is taken, they'll be there beyond our lifespansand our children's. Unlike oil spills or metal pollution, PFAS contamination is invisible. "It's not like an apocalyptic landscape," Arp adds. "PFAS goes into the plants, but it doesn't kill them. You can't see it, but the animalsand the peopleare contaminated."

Searching for solutions

The Korsr crisis compelled Denmark to actand drew European scientific attention. Across Europe, estimates suggest 60% of soils are unhealthy, making such efforts vital. Within ARAGORN, an EU project addressing soil contamination and remediation, Korsr is considered a "zero site"a starting point for learning how to clean up and prevent similar contamination elsewhere.

"Our approach is co-creation," says Arp. "We work with local experts, community members, and site owners to identify their concerns and goals. Then we combine that with our technical expertise to find a pathway forward." Xenia Trier, ARAGORN's coordinator, says the project is part of a broader European soil mission aimed at achieving healthy soils by 2050.

"Soil sits at the interface between where we live and have our activities, it supports our food production, it's above water," she explains. "If we want to combat contamination, we must first avoid adding new pollutionbut also deal with what's already there. Prevention is key, but so is reducing risk for people and ecosystems."

That means mapping hotspots, prioritizing urgent areas for remediation, and testing different methods before any large-scale work begins. "There's no one-size-fits-all solution," Trier says. "Decisions must include the people who actually live on the land. Co-creation ensures solutions are realistic, effective, and fit for purpose."

"Without community involvement, it might not be a success," Arp, who also works within the ARAGORN project, stresses. "You can't just come in and fix ityou have to work with the people who live with it."

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A European effort

The lessons from Korsr are now shaping European policy. The European Union aims to phase out PFAS from firefighting foams, textiles, packaging, and even some industrial systems.

In October 2025, the EU adopted its first Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directivea law requiring Member States to track soil health and map contaminated sites. ARAGORN supported it in various ways, for example, they helped with proposals on which chemicals should be regulated and what should be the principles behind it.

"We're still at the beginning," says Trier. "We need a harmonized framework so that countries act consistentlynot just where contamination has already been found, but to prevent new cases. If one law says one thing and another says the opposite, it frustrates land managers and slows down action. Harmonized, realistic regulation is crucial if we want to make progress."

Prevention is the central playfield

"Factories that make PFAS need to reduce their emissions, or, ideally, stop making PFAS, make something else," Arp says. "Some industries say they can't replace PFAS in certain uses. But others can be restricted as soon as possiblelike fluorinated gases or textiles in clothing. These are the things that we have to reduce right away."

Meanwhile, scientists are mapping dozens of sites across Europe that may already host PFAS pollutiona process inspired by The Forever Pollution Project's cross-border investigation. "Mapping is essential if we want to act efficiently," says Trier. "It helps us see where the problems are, and where intervention matters most."

A high price for awareness

Four years on, Korsr remains a warning and a lesson. The land is monitored, and some remediation trials have begun, but for residents like Kenneth Nielsen, the emotional and physical impact endures. "I've eaten this meat for 17 years," he says. "You can't see PFAS, you can't smell itbut it's in us. It changes how you look at your home, your food, even your country."

He keeps speaking out, hoping it helps others avoid the same fate. "If our story means no one else has to go through this," Nielsen adds, "then at least something good came out of it."

Stories like Nielsen's and his community are a reminder of what is at stake. "Science and regulation can feel abstract, it may just be like numbers," Trier says. "But when you listen to people in places like Korsr, you see the human impact."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A US$125 billion rainforest fund is being hailed as a flagship announcement from the 2025 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil. The goal is noble: this is essentially a trust fund that will pay countries to keep their tropical forests standing. But its core idea was tried 30 years ago, and the results weren't great.

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggests the so-called Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) is innovative because it is "an investment fund, not a donation mechanism." This, in theory, means investors can benefit too, providing a long-term stability that isn't affected by political cycles.

Turning to private markets is not in itself all that innovative. But years of efforts to mobilize private finance for climate action have routinely failed to attract sufficient investment.

The reasons for this are pretty simple. Many necessary activities simply aren't "good" investments. Even commercial renewable energy projects often struggle to offer returns high enough to compete with other assets.

All of these problems are particularly pronounced for forest conservation. There aren't many ways to generate income by leaving forests alone, and clearing them for timber or agriculture is generally more profitable. Indeed, this is one of the key drivers of deforestation in the first place.

Back to the future?

The TFFF is designed to work around these constraints. Rather than investing directly in conservation projects, it functions like a large endowment or trust fund. It aims to raise US$25 billion in "sponsor capital" from government and philanthropic donors.

Brazil has pledged US$1 billion. Norway followed suit, promising about US$3 billion. The fund also plans to sell US$100 billion in bonds to private investors.

Eventually, the full US$125 billion will be invested in financial markets. After paying interest to investors and sponsors, the remaining returns will be used to pay participating countries around US$4 per hectare of standing tropical forest, minus penalties for forest loss.

By separating investors' returns from conservation success, the TFFF does potentially create a more appealing offer for private investors than previous climate finance schemes.

However, this model has been tried before.

Trust funds for conservation

In the early 1990s, around the time of the first global negotiations on climate change, the World Bank's Global Environment Facility financed a trust fund for biodiversity conservation in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. It was followed by similar projects in Uganda, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine.

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These funds were justified in terms very similar to Lula's pitch for the TFFF. Private finance was needed, wrote one World Bank official in 1993, "because it is impossible to predict whether the current 'boom' in international [government] financing for conservation will last."

Yet evaluations of these conservation trust funds highlighted recurring problems.

Returns on investment were often lower than anticipated, delaying projects sometimes by years, including the very first one in Bhutan. (And quite how much revenue the TFFF's investments will actually generate is uncertain.)

The money was tied up in investments and only a small amount was available for conservation. And, while a trust fund can generate a steady trickle of revenue to pay operating costs, it's much harder to use this model to start new projects.

In Bhutan, the managers of the trust fund struggled with how to finance start-up costs for establishing new conservation areas without eating into the fund itself. Eventually, they received a separate grant from the World Wildlife Fund. The TFFF would likely face similar difficulties funding initiatives such as returning farmed land to indigenous communities.

The TFFF inherits these issues, and adds a new one. To attract private investors, interest payments will be prioritized over conservation spending. The TFFF's concept note is explicit that payments to participating countries will fall if investment income can't cover payments to bondholders. In other words, there is a real risk that reassuring investors may come at the expense of the fund's ability to actually protect forests.

There are bigger questions to ask, too. For instance, a coalition of civil society organizations from across the Amazon, as well as Africa and Asia, have already rejected the initiative. They argue it risks turning forests into commodities with a price tag, and that, despite claims of centering on Indigenous communities, it actually allocates them a paltry amount of money in top-down fashion.

The revival of a mechanism first tried in the early 1990s should give us pause. If private capital can only be mobilized on terms that weaken climate action, then perhaps there's no longer any alternative to greatly increased public funding and much stronger redistributive measures. Rich countries, corporations, and individuals will need to shoulder more of the cost of mitigating a crisis they've played a disproportionate role in creating.

In recent years, activists and researchers have proposed a long list of alternative options. These include diverting some of the trillions currently spent on the world's largest militaries, reforms to reduce corporate tax avoidance, and debt relief for climate vulnerable countries.

We can debate whether any or all of these specific options are effective or appropriate. The TFFF and its limits are a sign that it's well past time to take such measures seriously.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Building believed used as criminal safehouse found during investigation into murder of Cancun narcotics officer

Cancun, Q.R.  A building believed used as a criminal safehouse has been seized in Cancun. Authorities have connected the use of the building to the recent murder of a city officer.

The building was located in the Jardines de la Costa neighborhood in SM 77 of Cancun Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into the murder of the officer.

The property is believed to be a safehouse linked to the criminal group responsible for the murder of Cancun narcotics Adalberto Altamirano Olarte, who was gunned down early Sunday morning in a parking lot.

The search and subsequent seizure operation was led by the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Combating Homicide and supported by the Mexican Army, National Guard, the Navy and Municipal Police.

The operation focused on building 22 located between 55th and 84th Streets. During the operation, authorities secured a black motorcycle and a blue vehicle, both believed involved in the weekend murder.

Six adults and one minor have since been arrested. They were taken into custody Monday on the federal highway south of the city of Playa del Carmen in three taxis.

At the time of their arrests, they were found in possession of five guns, three of which were identified as having been used in the murder.
Formal charges laid against former police officer in disappearance of Cancun man and woman

Cancun, Q.R.  A former Quintana Roo police officer arrested last week for kidnappings has been charged. Roberto N has been charged in the disappearance of two people from the city of Cancun.

The unnamed man and woman disappeared in February of 2020 after being forcefully removed from a central city bar by armed men. On Thursday, authorities reported on the formal charges laid against the former police officer.

Roberto N, alias Puebla was charged for his alleged participation in acts possibly constituting the crime of disappearance of persons to the detriment of a male and a female whose identity is reserved.

He is accused of events that occurred in the early morning of February 22, 2020, in a bar located in Superblock 19 of Cancun where armed men entered and deprived the victims of their freedom.

Police say that the kidnapped man worked for Roberto N and were in the midst of a property conflict at the time he disappeared.

The State Attorney General also confirmed that Roberto N worked as a municipal and ministerial police officer and was considered a priority target of the Quintana Roo Crime Atlas, a most wanted list due to his high level of danger and his involvement in the disappearance of people.

The presiding judge has ordered the precautionary measure of preventive detention for Roberto N for the time that the judicial process lasts. Roberto N was arrested last week in the town of Tres Reyes, in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas, an area that borders with Cancun.

Authorities were offering a 500,000 peso reward for information leading to his capture.
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Police execute arrest warrant against Cancun union leader wanted for 2018 murder

Cancun, Q.R.  The State Attorney General (FGE) says they have arrested Cancun union leader Jose Isidro N. Jose Isidro N was wanted in relation to the death of a former union coworker from July of 2018.

In a statement Friday, state officials said he was arrested Thursday morning by elements of the Investigative Police assigned to the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Combating the Crime of Homicide.

The arresting officers fulfilled a current arrest warrant against Jose Isidro N when he was about to enter a hearing at the headquarters of the Federal Judicial Power in SM 50 of Cancun.

He was taken into custody for the revocation of precautionary measures, which he had failed to comply with within a Federal Criminal process, for human trafficking in the form of prostitution of others, a crime that has been pursued against him since 2019 and for which he was detained for more than three years, the FGE reported.

Regarding the arrest warrant executed for the crime of aggravated homicide allegedly perpetrated on July 17, 2018, and according to the investigations, Jose Isidro N accused the victim of stealing money, jewelry and high-end watches belonging to him, which occurred inside the offices of the union where he is the leader, they added.

The union leader was arrested Thursday morning as he was heading into a Cancun court.

The deceased man that he is accused of killing (aggravated homicide) was a fellow coworker at the union. That man has not been named. Police said following his arrest, Jose Isidro N was placed at the disposal of a judge who will determine his legal status in accordance with the law.
Quintana Roo Judiciary requesting 1.3 billion to operate in 2026

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The Quintana Roo judiciary says over 1.3 billion pesos will be required to function next year. The money will take into account previously unaddressed needs as well as new courts.

Heyden Cebada Rivas, President of the Superior Court of Justice and the Council of the Judiciary of the State of Quintana Roo, says the court will make the 1.3 billion pesos operating request for 2026.

According to Cebada Rivas, the money will cover the integration of the new Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal and the Judicial Administration Body, as well as the mixed courts of Bacalar.

He explained that in light of the implementation of the constitutional reform, adjustments were made to integrate the new courts that were not included in the 2025 budget.

Therefore, the proposal presented to the deputies of the Eighteenth Legislature already includes resources to equip all areas.

We are going to request 1.3 billion pesos. We understand that we have a constitutionally mandated base of 2 percent of the states allocated budget.

We are focused on consolidating what was implemented with the reform. We had to redirect several projects that could not be finished, so now, our priority is to strengthen the Judicial University, the Arbitration and Mediation Center, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the courts in Bacalar, he said.

The Disciplinary Tribunal is allocating 27 million pesos for the Bacalar court and 2 million pesos for the necessary personnel as it is a mixed court that began with family law matters.

He explained that since assuming presidency, many staff members who were under contract have been given permanent positions, and although next years goals will be limited, the objective is to strengthen the judicial branch staff who, in the instance have long had the lowest salaries.

Our ideal budget is 1.3 billion pesos since currently, we have around 1,970 people, he detailed.
Aerial view of part of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Credit: Rob Dunbar / Stanford University

Plans are underway to establish one of the world's largest marine protected areasa key step toward the sustainable resettlement of a community removed from their homes on the Chagos Islands decades ago.

In early November 2025, the government of Mauritius announced its plans to maintain a ban on commercial fishing across an area of the Indian Ocean larger than France, once a sovereignty dispute over the region is resolved. Stanford University-led research and stakeholder meetings convened on campus helped inform the protected area's careful consideration and inclusion of traditional practices and fishing for local consumption.

"Up until now, the cultural aspects involved in negotiating regional sovereignty have been framed within a human rights context, which is extremely important," said Krish Seetah, associate professor of environmental social sciences and of oceans in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. "However, as we move forward, we can really use science in an effective way to bring Chagossian knowledge and regional cultural heritage to bear on ocean governance for the marine protected area."

The United Kingdom and the island nation of Mauritius have disputed the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago for decades. Despite granting independence to Mauritius in 1968, Britain continued to claim sovereignty over the archipelago, and forcibly removed the Chagossian people. Years of international pressure followed, including a UN tribunal ruling that Britain had illegally deprived Mauritius of fishing rights through the creation of a marine protected area around the Chagos Islands.

Britain agreed last year to return sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, but to maintain a joint UKUS military base on the island of Diego Garcia. The timeline for return has been held up by debate within the British government and concern from some scientists about what the move would mean for conservation of fisheries and ecosystems.

In response, government officials from Mauritius, alongside a wide range of international partners, principally the Zoological Society of London, began negotiating a marine resource management plan for Chagos. As part of this process, Mauritius's former ambassador to the UN reached out to Seetah, who has worked with communities in Mauritius for years as part of Stanford's Mauritian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Project. A unique project was born.

Seetah leads a working group that brings together displaced Chagossian community members, scientists, government officials, and legal experts from multiple countries to better assess how to incorporate cultural knowledge and traditions into plans for a marine protected area.

Rob Dunbar, a co-principal investigator on the project and professor of oceans and of Earth system science in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, brought decades of climate-based research in the region, effectively providing expertise for planning how to mitigate climate change risks as part of repatriation to these fragile island ecosystems.

Seetah, marine biologist Fiorenza Micheli, Earth system science postdoctoral scholar Josheena Naggea, and environment and resources Ph.D. student Eeshan Chaturvedi co-organized a conference in March 2025 that brought researchers, community groups, government officials, and practitioners from across the Indian Ocean region to Stanford to discuss the role of culture in securing a sustainable future for island communities.

"Facilitating a space wherein communities can shape policies and decisions about their land, ocean, values, practices, and livelihood should be the norm," Naggea said. "We are able to witness a powerful example of that through this work on the Chagos marine protected area."

Following the conference, Seetah and Micheli worked with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment to push stakeholders beyond academic discussion through an Uncommon Dialogue. The closed-door discussion encouraged open and candid debate on the processes of decolonization within environmental policymaking at the international level.

"We are people who have our tradition, our culture, and we want to preserve it," Chagos Refugee Group leader Olivier Bancoult told attendees at the 2025 Stanford Oceans Conference during a keynote address. Bancoult and five other members of the group traveled from Mauritius with support from a Doerr School of Sustainability engagement grant to attend the conference and discuss how to safeguard the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Using insights gleaned from Stanford researchers and others, Mauritius will establish the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (CAMPA) a new approach to ocean governance that explicitly integrates cultural considerations into marine protection. The area is divided into four zones, including a zone for resettlement of Chagossian community members and a zone where fishing would be permitted under sustainable quotas for artisanal, traditional, ceremonial, and subsistence purposes.

"Stanford has offered us an opportunity for individuals from a range of disciplines, but also government and NGO partners to come together in a way that allows neutrality and freedom of expression," Seetah said. "What's made this collaboration unique is the number of international colleagues that have come together in service not only of the cultural working group, but to the Chagossian community and government of Mauritius as well. There is a sense of being able to do academic research, but for the greater good of a community."

Provided by Stanford University
One homeowner in Austin, Texas, discovered the hard way that it matters who you choose to install your new HVAC system.

They posted about their experience in the r/HVACadvice subreddit. "Just got quoted 33k for A/C and heater in Austin for 1,000 sq ft house," they said.

Photo Credit: Reddit

According to the original poster, they didn't even believe that they needed most of the equipment that their consultant was trying to sell them.

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"I just bought the house and in the inspection the guy told me the cooler was likely toast and may cost 3k to fix if they can, but the ducts are good and I can get a new one for like 6k," they said.

"I went to Home Depot and the guy kept trying to convince me the heater must be broken too. He turned the thermostat up to 85 (its highest) and said 'see, no hot air.' I pointed out it was 94 degrees in the house at the time so why would the heater turn on when the read temp is above the set temp.

" He did not inspect anything while we were there other than me pointing to the data on the side of the cooler. I have no prior knowledge in this field but there seemed to be more red flags than a Chinese military parade."

It's important for this homeowner to make the right selection. Home heating and cooling are responsible for more than half of your energy bills, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By investing in the right upgrades, you can significantly lower your bills  and because you're using less energy, it's better for the planet. In fact, if you switch from gas to electric, you're even directly preventing a huge amount of pollution.

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Commenters strongly suggested that the original poster consider a heat pump.

"I did exactly this when I couldn't afford new central AC and heat," said one user. "I bought new high efficiency inverter window AC/heat pumps. They work BETTER than central HVAC and use LESS power than the 25 year old central HVAC did. Win/win."

Every home has different needs, so trusted brands like Mitsubishi have a whole host of heat pump options and will help you find the right one for your situation, such as one of its cost-effective mini-split systems.

Not only do heat pumps outperform comparable traditional HVAC equipment when it comes to saving energy, but you can also save money on them through tax credits and rebates. Many federal incentives are going away at the end of the year, but the options for heat pumps still exist  and buying your system while they are still around could save you thousands of dollars.

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To make the right heat pump choice, you need to find the right installer. Mitsubishi can connect you with trained professionals from its trusted network that will help you find a system that is perfect for your needs at a price that fits your budget.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
CCTV: Yesterday, Premier Li Qiang, during his visit to Zambia, attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) revitalization project. Following the event, the three sides released a joint statement on building the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt. Can you share more details?

Mao Ning: Yesterday, Premier Li Qiang, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel John Nchimbi attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the TAZARA revitalization project. Under the personal guidance and effort of heads of state of the three countries, the TAZARA Railway, a milestone project of China-Africa friendship, will gain new vitality and dynamism in the new era. To catalyze sustainable development of the project after its revitalization, the governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia agreed to jointly build the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt, advance the comprehensive development of regions along the railway in a systematic manner, and unleash the potential of regional development in Tanzania and Zambia. Under the vision of China and Africa jointly advancing modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win and eco-friendly, puts the people first, features diversity and inclusiveness, and is underpinned by peace and security, the three countries agreed to forge the railway into a path to freedom, development, friendship, happiness, green development and harmony. The three sides will stay committed to the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, advance the building of the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt, inject new impetus to socioeconomic development of Tanzania, Zambia and surrounding countries, and deliver more benefits to the local people.

AFP: Two Chinese nationals and two Americans have been arrested for allegedly illegally exporting cutting-edge Nvidia chips with AI applications to China. Justice officials said the four had conspired to illegally export these advanced chips to China through Malaysia and Thailand. What is the Foreign Ministrys comment on this?

Mao Ning: Im not familiar with that.

Reuters: There have been a number of social media posts by Chinese diplomats about the Japanese Prime Ministers remarks on Taiwan. For example, a post made by the embassy in Manila was accompanied by a series of cartoons. Some analysts say this constitutes China relaunching its wolf warrior diplomacy. What does the Foreign Ministry make of this assessment?

Mao Ning: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made blatant and erroneous remarks on Taiwan. Those remarks implied the possibility of Japans armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, eroded the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and triggered outrage and condemnation from the Chinese people. China will resolutely respond should anyone trample on the red line when it comes to the Taiwan question. The international community should draw its attention to what Japan is up to and whether Japan is still committed to the path of peaceful development.

AFP: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said today that she wants constructive and stable ties with China and that the countrys stance on Taiwan remains unchanged. Does the Foreign Ministry have any additional comment on this? (Similar question from Kyodo News)

Mao Ning: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made blatant and erroneous remarks on Taiwan. Those remarks implied the possibility of Japans armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, triggered outrage and condemnation from the Chinese people, and eroded the political foundation of China-Japan relations. China has made clear its firm opposition.

If Japan truly hopes to develop the strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China and make the relationship a constructive and stable one fit for the new era, Japan needs to uphold the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries and its political commitments, retract the erroneous remarks at once, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China.

Phoenix TV: It was reported that the Japanese government has recently completed its export of Patriot air-defence interceptor missiles to the United States. This is Japans first export of deadly weapons since Japan relaxed controls on arms exports. Sources say that Japans Liberal Democratic Party has begun discussions on revising the three security documents, including revising the three non-nuclear principles and increasing defense spending. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: Following the WWII victory, international treaties and instruments such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender clearly stated Japans obligations as a defeated country, requiring Japan to be completely disarmed and not to maintain such industries as would enable her to re-arm for war.

However, in recent years, Japan has kept easing the restrictions and seeking military buildup. It has increased defense budget for 13 consecutive years, and adopted the new security laws to remove the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense. It has also replaced the Three Principles on Arms Exports with the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology to ease restrictions on arms exports and has even started exporting deadly weapons. While claiming it hopes to build a world without nuclear weapons, Japan is actually strengthening cooperation on extended deterrence, and even seeking to revise its three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons to open the door for enabling nuclear sharing arrangements. All these moves show that Japan is breaking free from the exclusively defense-oriented principle and re-arming itself at pace. People cannot help but ask, what exactly is Japan seeking to achieve?

If Japan seeks to go back to the path of militarism, violate its commitment to peaceful development and disrupt the postwar international order, the Chinese people will not allow it, and the international community will not allow it. Such attempts will only end in failure.

Ukrinform News Agency: The Ukrainian Defense Forces reported that earlier this week in the Donetsk region they destroyed a Chinese-made multiple launch rocket system used by Russian military. At the same time, it is known that China does not provide military support to Russia. So, Russias use of Chinese-made weapons may also be another attempt to discredit China as a supporter of Russia. How can the Foreign Ministry comment on the presence of Chinese-made weapons in the Russian army and will the Chinese side investigate this matter?

Mao Ning: Im not aware of what you mentioned. Let me stress that China never provides lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and strictly controls dual-use articles.
Our advice columnists have heard it all over the yearsso were diving into the Pay Dirt archives to share classic letters with our readers. Submit your own questions about money here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

My brother and I had babies seven months apart. My mother put $30,000 in a college account for my brothers son, her first grandchild, shortly after he was born. She promised the same for our child. We opened a 529 college savings account and my husband suggested to my mother that she deposit $15,000 this year and then $15,000 next year, to help her avoid taxes. Which she agreed to do.

I ended up getting pregnant again very quickly and having a second baby this year. My brothers wife is pregnant again, and now my other brothers wife is also pregnant. In light of these new developments, my mother has reneged on her initial offer of an additional $15,000 for my daughter, but is offering $15,000 for our new babys college funds.

I understand her predicament, and my mother is not a rich woman by any means, just a hardworking nurse that was smart about her money. While I have never taken money from herI left home at 16, worked throughout college, and have been entirely on my own financiallyshe has supported my brother quite a bit through the years. He lived with her until 26, working on and off, while he took the long route through college, before finally leaving the nest. Then she paid for expensive fertility treatments for his family as they tried to conceivetreatments that cost tens of thousands of dollars.

While I have never wanted handouts from her, I cant help but be bothered by the fact that our attempt at saving her money in taxes has cost my oldest $15,000 in college savings. There is the additional factor that my brother has a son (with a second son on the way), and I have had daughters. In her culture, the firstborn grandson is traditionally favored much more than the other children, and boys in general are more celebrated. While Im grateful to my mom for her generosityshe does not owe us this money, and I know we are lucky to have itI cant help but feel irritated at the disparity, and the fact that our attempt to do something good has cost my daughter education funding. I dont want this to come between me and my brother, as we are close. Id love some perspective to help me feel less annoyed.

No Good Deed Going Unpunished

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Dear No Good Deed,

I think youre looking at this the wrong way. Your attempt at saving money didnt cost you money in college savings; the needs of your siblings and their children didand they shouldnt be faulted for that. Your mother did not know, when your brother had her first grandchild, that there would be more on the way, or how and when they would be spaced apart. She had no way of knowing that.

I also think you may be attributing more of your situation to gender bias than is warranted. Is there any evidence that if your brothers firstborn was a daughter, the situation would be any different?

The reality is that when parents make promises to support their grandchildren in this way, before any grandchildren are born, they can only estimate what the outlay is going to be and how its going to occur. Your brother benefited from his timing, but theres no evidence that your mother is being unfair. She doesnt owe any of you help with your childrens college finances. Her contributions are a gift, not fulfillment of an IOU.

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And this absolutely should not come between you and your brother because, to put it bluntly, your brother did nothing wrong. If it hurts your relationship, you can only blame yourself. Its understandable that youre disappointed that your children will not see the same benefit your brothers eldest will, but it doesnt seem like anyone is trying to shortchange you.

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There are always going to be certain disparities in how parents treat their children individually, most of them unintentional. It does no good to keep score, and in all likelihood, you and your siblings treat your parents differently, too. I dont think you want your mom keeping score on that front either, so I think the best course of action is to be grateful for her generosity and write off your brothers additional windfall as a consequence of timingbecause it is.

Elizabeth Spiers

From: Our Family Just Had a Major Financial Shock. Do We Have to Tell Our Kids? (Feb. 17th, 2022.)

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Get money advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Pay Dirt, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Pay Dirt following up) Submit

Dear Pay Dirt,

My parents did not save any money for my education, and they seem to blow any money they have saved on plastic surgery and designer bags. My countrys education system is extremely poor, and I have dreams of going abroad to escape the poverty-stricken lifestyle here. I have had that plan since I was 10, and I keep bugging my parents about my college funds. They always told me that there was no need, and that they had enough money to shell out when the time comes.

Im graduating in under a year, and time is shrinking. I realize now that the plan Ive been manifesting since such a young age is impossible. The education system I have does not provide examinations like SATS, IGCSEs, or A-Levels unless paid for separately from the school fees.

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I dont know what to do, because I havent prepared for this situation due to the constant reassurance of everything will be fine. I dont even know how Im going to get into university in my country, because I have never set my sights there, and so I dont know whats required. Im stuck between a rock and a hard place, and truly Im way in over my head.

So Disappointed, and Rethinking Everything

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Dear Disappointed,

I am sorry your parents have promised you one thing and have in reality done another. Our parents are human, and sometimes they make selfish choices without thinking of how they affect their children. I think you may have to put your (justified!) anger at them aside in order to move forward with this plan, at this point. You figured out a little late in the day that they truly wont help you, but you still have time, especially if youre willing to work for a while in between high school and college.

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Its a little hard for me to say how you can finance your education and come to the US, since I do not know where your home country is, but we have a few options you can look into. First, you must apply and be accepted to a school that is a part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, otherwise known as SEVP. The U.S Department of Homeland Security created the SEVP to allow students based outside of the U.S a way to ensure they are receiving a quality education from an accredited school. Once a student has been accepted, they can then file for a student visa. Most visas for educational purposes are F-1.

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While you cannot receive federal funding from the American government to help aid your educational pursuits, you can still qualify for scholarships, private loans and any other type of funding your country, or SEVP-approved school, may have. EducationUSA is also an important resource. With over 430 advising organizations in over 175 countries, EducationUSA is a network provided by the US Department of State that offers step-by-step guidance to make your dream a reality. Organizations in this network can also help pay for fees for tests like the ones you mentioned above. Good luck.

Athena Valentine

From: My Parents Blew My College Money On Plastic Surgery. (February 22th, 2022).

More Money Advice From Slate

I struggled early in my career, due to a shrinking industry and back-to-back layoffs. Ive come to terms with it and have altered my goals, based on where Ive landed. My younger sister has flourished in a related industry to where I started out. She landed her dream job immediately after graduating, at a famous company. Since, shes been promoted and works on glamorous projects. She deserves her success. But every time were together, I leave despondent after listening to her constant stories, and recommendations to consume her companys products. I appreciate that she is proud, but Ive told her in the past that it can be difficult for me to hear play-by-plays of her work life. My sister does not take criticism well.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

The Trump administration faced back-to-back rebukes on Thursday in a pair of cases that challenged the presidents efforts to intimidate or terrorize deep-blue cities into submission. In Chicago, Judge Sara Ellis ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officers to stop brutalizing protesters, journalists, and faith leaders, although an appeals court has temporarily frozen her injunction, writing that more tailored relief may be appropriate. In the District of Columbia, Judge Jia Cobb ruled that President Donald Trumps deployment of the National Guard into D.C. is illegal, although she stayed her own decision for 21 days to allow orderly proceedings on appeal. Ellis (an Obama nominee) and Cobb (a Biden nominee) confronted distinct issues, but each called out the governments unlawful effort to seize control of Democratic cities that resist his agenda.

On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the importance of these two decisions in exposing the Trump administrations escalating abuse of authority and distortion of reality. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: This decision about Chicago doesnt have immediate force, but it is a very significant piece of writing. Judge Ellis pretty much eviscerates members of the Trump administration, accusing officialsincluding CBP chief Greg Bovinoof straight-up lying on the stand.

Mark Joseph Stern: Its an extraordinary 233-page ruling and the latest entry in our continuing series about judges calling out the Trump administration for lying. But in some ways this is the harshest and most extreme example, because Ellis made a lot of these people testify under oath, and she also got access to their bodycam footage. So she was able to contrast what they claim they did with the video evidence showing what they actually did. Over and over again, as she wrote in this opinion, they were just flat-out lying, from lower-level agents all the way up to the top.

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Ill just pluck out a few examples. First, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that in Chicago, rioters had shot at agents with commercial artillery shell fireworks, which is why the agents had to respond with tear gas and riot munitions. Judge Ellis looked at the video and said: No, thats not true. The explosions here were actually deployed by DHS officers: They set off flash-bangs, then used them as a justification for more force against protesters. Second, DHS officers claimed that protesters had thrown a bike at federal agentsbut what actually happened was that the agents stole the protesters bike and threw it. So it was a complete reversal of victim and offender. Third, DHS claimed that its use of riot munitions was necessary to disperse an unruly mob, when in reality the scene was quiet until suddenly agents started lobbing flash-bang grenades, tear gas, and pepper balls, shouting, Fuck yea! as they did.

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Then theres Greg Bovino, the CBP chief. Judge Ellis wrote that she specifically finds his testimony not credible, adding: Bovino appeared evasive over the three days of his deposition, either providing cute responses to plaintiffs counsels questions or outright lying. When he was shown a video of agents hitting the Rev. David Black with pepper balls, he denied seeing a projectile hit Rev. Black in the head. Shown video of himself tackling one of the plaintiffs witnesses, he denied using force and instead stated that force was used against him. It just goes on and on like this. This is the most unqualified, direct accusation of mendacious lying by a judge that we have seen so far in the Trump administration. And its not just that agents lied to cover up violence; they lied because they wanted to justify their own brutal assaults by framing innocent protesters as the aggressors.

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I always credit our friend Skye Perryman, who said: Listen, this is why were doing what were doing in the district courts. We are fully aware that somewhere down the line we can lose. But this is the place where the fog of war doesnt enter the room. What enters the room is people telling the truth and the judge making findings. That is the story we tell, and its what we can do to hold the line right now. And you have just described exactly why. And its frustrating that this order has been stayed. In other words, this changes nothing on the ground. But it is important to have the judge who ordered agents to wear bodycams now make findings in which she says: You just lied. And I think that is the value of all this.

Its too easy to say, Nothing matters, LOL, Supreme Court. But it matters a lot to have a judge say that the DHS officers themselves incited violence. They created violence and then they answered it with their own violence. And I think that is the moral of the story.

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It matters to the victims of the violence, too, that this gets sorted out in court. The higher courts can still distort the law to rule in favor of Trump. But at least now we have a record that the people who were accused of violently accosting federal agentswhich is a felonywere not in fact doing that at all. The record shows clearly that they were exercising their First Amendment rights, and they were the victims of, frankly, criminal conduct.

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Related From Slate Why It Matters That Trumps DOJ Got Caught by a Judge Blatantly LyingAgain Read More

We also got news on Thursday that Judge Jia Cobb ruled the deployment of the National Guard in D.C. illegalboth the D.C. National Guard and out-of-state guardsmen who were deployed there. This is a pretty enormous finding.

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When D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb brought the suit, a lot of folks said he shouldnt have because the District has a unique status. We are a federal enclave; we have home rule, but its limited. So its a completely different legal question from the troops in Chicago and Portland and L.A. And yet, still, the Trump administration managed to butcher the law. One problem is that the president has not fully federalized the D.C. National Guard. That means his control over it is still subject to limitations under both federal and D.C. law. He can use our guard for military drills, parades, and inspections. But instead he sent in the Guard to allegedly control crime. And the president can only use D.C.s guard to aid civil authorities when the mayor or other top officials request it. That didnt happen here, so the deployment was illegal.

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Cobb also held that the flood of out-of-state guardsmen from red states is illegal. As she explained, the president can only send other states National Guards to perform crime control when he has invoked the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. And that requires a request from the D.C. mayor. Once again, the mayor has made no such request, and so the compact has not been lawfully invoked, so the out-of-state guardsmen have to leave.

What I loved most about this decision is that Cobb made it very clear D.C. still has some autonomy and self-governance. She wrote that Trumps actions have infringed upon the Districts right to govern itself and to make its own decisions on key elements of home rule. She also noted that one reason the Framers created a federal district was to prevent individual states from exerting any influence over the nations capital. And she wrote that this flood of out-of-state guardsmen undermined D.C.s constitutional status as a federal district free from state interference. I thought that was really powerful, because even though its not as dramatic as Judge Ellis ruling, its another good example of the truth tumbling out in district court.

Its really interesting when you look at these two decisions together, because they both really do directly confront the premise that the Trump administration can go into blue cities that dont like him and dont support him and overwhelm them completely by commandeering his own private army to terrorize the citizens. Now we have two judges in very different places saying to the president in very different ways: You actually cant do that. Move on.
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Abortion was back in the news this week when South Carolina legislators debated what would be the most stringent abortion law in the nation. The bill would have banned abortion from the moment a pregnancy is clinically diagnosablea term used to ensure the bill wouldnt sweep in contraceptives or IVF. The law would have subjected women who have abortions to prison sentences of up to 30 years; criminalized the act of providing information about how to get an abortion, even in another state; allowed family members to sue women who had abortions; and eliminated exceptions for rape and incest.

The second hearing on the bill was a coup for self-proclaimed anti-abortion abolitionists. The abolitionists argue that if the unborn really are rights-holding persons, then punishing women is both a constitutional imperative and a logical necessity. The bills stalling is a sign that abolitionists may seem to be on the back foot. But the story in South Carolina is more complex, and it focuses on the incremental mainstreaming of extreme anti-abortion positions.

The state senator pushing the bill, Richard Cash, is a giant in the states anti-abortion movement. Cash helped to shepherd the states current ban, which applies the moment fetal cardiac activity can be detected, through passage. He had long led an anti-abortion organization, Personhood South Carolina, which aims to restore Constitutional protection for all human beings beginning at the moment of fertilization  because they are created in the image of God. Cashs group ran an ultimately successful campaign to defeat several female state senators who had objected to the states abortion ban. Now, hes turned to a law that would criminally punish women.

The bill failed to progress, but not a single Republican voted against it. Several stated that the state simply wasnt ready yet for what Cash proposed, and that incremental progress to that ultimate goal had to come first. Others seemed ready to accept more modest punishments for women: an amendment to that effect failed in a 44 vote partly because Cash joined Democrats in opposing it.

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For now, the South Carolina bill isnt entirely dead, and state lawmakers are expected to take up the abortion issue again in January. But without a favorable committee report, its unlikely to pass in the near term.

Related From Slate Trumps Scheme to Gift the GOP Extra House Seats Just Blew Up in His Face Read More

Just the same, its a sign of something happening nationwide: the mainstreaming of abolitionism, a movement that calls for conservatives to bring the law in line with scripture, and that identifies the punishment of women as necessary for guaranteeing equality for the unborn.

The question of whether punishment is necessary to recognize fetal rights isnt new, and the possibility of punishing women has sparked debate for abortion opponents for years. In the 19th century, when physicians in the recently formed American Medical Association mobilized to criminalize abortion throughout pregnancy, they pushed for bills that would punish womenand that reserved especially harsh penalties for married women who failed to carry out their procreative and sexual obligations to their husbands. But most state laws focused on punishing providers, and as abortion prosecutions began, courts generally framed women as victims rather than accomplicesa necessary step to secure a conviction when it was hard to prove that an early pregnancy existed, that an abortion had taken place, or that the procedure wasnt lifesaving.

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The idea that women are abortions second victims became even more prominent in the 1990s, when a wave of murders and clinic attacks were damaging the reputation of the anti-abortion movement. Leading anti-abortion groups compared abortion patients to smokers, arguing that both deserved sympathy because they had been hoodwinked by an insidious and opaque industry.

But all of this never resolved what should happen to people who did know what abortion was and freely chose it. Then there was the logical question: If the anti-abortion movement believed that constitutional rights began the moment an egg was fertilized, and that those rights required harsh punishment for anyone who transgressed against the unborn, then why could women be exempt?

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Self-proclaimed abolitionists pressed this point when they mobilized in the 2010s. At first, they seemed to be a fringe element, but that status isnt as obvious anymore. The abolitionists of today have targeted state lawmakers like Cash, many of whom will often have little fear of losing a general election, and who may be open to the idea of punishing women. Some lawmakers, like Cash, have roots in conservative religious communities that embrace abolitionism or experience working with aligned groups.

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The abolitionists dont just have soft targets; they also have a sophisticated legal organization, led by Bradley Pierce, an experienced lawyer who has written abolitionist model legislation, and who has worked with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is now the nations leading anti-abortion litigator. Pierces model laws are ready-made solutions for men like Cash who want to push colleagues further toward even more extreme anti-abortion views.

Pierces cause also has an army in Southern Baptist churcheswhich are pushing for an endorsement of abolitionism in the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC hasnt gone that far, but it has passed resolutions replete with abolitionist language, and abolitionist allies continue to press for more. And Pierces movement has the support of ground troops from Operation Save America, a conservative Christian organization known for blockading abortion and fertility clinics. The abolitionists are just as visible online, with attack dogs targeting any abortion opponent who stands against them.

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Abolitionists arent necessarily expecting to pass bills next yearand they probably wontbut theyre using bills to normalize their cause among Republicans. GOP lawmakers in South Carolina fully understood that this bill would be a political loser. Others worried that Cashs bill sent a disturbing message about their own wives and daughters. And yet none of them voted against it; some tried to domesticate it or expressed hope that South Carolina would be ready for a bill this extreme in the future.

Abolitionists are playing the long game. Once Nick Fuentes Groypers were outside the bounds of mainstream conservatism, but thats not true anymore. Those affiliated with men like Cash are working toward the same goal. The fact that not a single Republican opposed a bill this extremeand one that would be this unpopularsays that the abolitionists are already getting that job done.
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The 28-point RussiaUkraine peace planput on the table this week by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps emissary, and Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin aide equally inexperienced at diplomacygrants Kyiv two favors but otherwise amounts to a Moscow wish list.

It is worth noting that neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nor any European leader was consulted in the backroom drafting. Spokesmen for Russian President Vladimir Putin say, a bit improbably, that they havent seen the deal either. Even if its outlines were acceptable to both sides, several of its planks are ambiguous, requiring extensive negotiation. Still, Trump has demanded that Ukraine accept the plan before Thanksgiving.

This timetable seems unlikely, as does the notion that peace is now at hand.

The plan allows Ukraine to apply for membership to the European Uniona significant point, given that, in some ways, the war began back in 2014, when Putin deposed a Ukrainian president who was on the verge of striking a deal with the EU. The plan also commits $100 billion in seized Russian assets to rebuild war-torn areas of Ukraine.

However, the rest is a shambles. It hands much of Ukrainian territory to Russiaincluding Crimea and the eastern Donbas districts of Luhansk and Donetsk. It reduces the size of the Ukrainian army to 600,000 troops (it currently has about 880,000), while putting no cap on the number of Russian troops on Ukraines borders. It demands that Ukraine revise its constitution to prohibit membership in NATO, bars NATO troops from being stationed in Ukraine, and forbids Ukraine from attacking Moscow or St. Petersburg with missiles (a peculiar clauseas Lawrence Freedman asks, But [attacking] Rostov is OK?), without barring Russia from firing missiles at cities in Ukraine.

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Finally, Ukraine must hold elections within 100 days (nothing about how security might be kept at polling stations in areas still under dispute), all combatants and politicians are granted amnesty (so much for war-crimes trials), and Russia will be reintegrated into the global community, complete with restored membership in the G8 and the dropping of sanctions.

A few other articles seem to favor Ukraine at first glance, but not so much upon scrutiny. For instance, Russia is expected not to invade neighboring countries (italics added), which sounds like a courteous request, not a legal demand. (By contrast, the same plankin fact, the same sentencestates, NATO will not expand further.)

Another: Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees, but there isnt a hint on what Moscow would find acceptable in this department. Similarly, Russia will codify a non-aggression policy toward Europe and Ukraine, thus allowing Putin to load the codification with whatever loose language and loopholes hed like.

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The plan calls for the creation of a humanitarian committee to oversee an all for all exchange of prisoners, detainees, and kidnapped children. Thats good, but theres nothing about who appoints the committee members or how the trades are enforced; for instance, who sends police into Moscow homes to retrieve Ukrainian babies and adolescents? Even assuming the best of intentions (a dubious assumption), this will take a while to formalize.

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Similarly, the plan says that Donetsk will be turned into a demilitarized zone, with no Ukrainian or Russian troops allowed to enter. Again, fine, but who supplies the armed peacekeepers to enforce this ruleand why should Moscow accept it, given that the deal recognizes Donetsk as Russian territory?

These are not small points. Article 28, the plans final plank, states, Once all parties accept this memorandum, a ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides withdraw to the agreed points for the start of the agreements implementation. In other words, all of the plans ambiguities, loose ends, and remaining disputes have to be settledand then troop withdrawals have to be completed, not merely startedbefore a ceasefire takes hold.

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This is the opposite of the 20-point peace plan that Trump helped impose on Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It shrewdly demanded a ceasefire and hostage exchange as the deals first steps. It is not at all clear that details about the remaining points will ever be negotiated, much less implemented (in fact, most of those points seem politically dead on arrival), but the important thingTrump and his Arab partners realizedwas to stop the killing and to keep it stopped for as long as possible.

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The RussiaUkraine plan does the opposite: It imposes a ceasefire after agreement and action on all the other steps toward a peaceand an unjust peace at that.

The main problem with the plan is that, like its American authors, it fails to recognize the true nature of the war: namely, that Ukrainians are fighting for their sovereignty as an independent nation, while Putin is fighting for the restoration of the old Russian empire, which entails, among other things, the total subjugation of Ukraine.

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A Kremlin spokesman said as much on Friday, when he said that any peace deal must address the wars root causes. Putin has made clear a number of times that he regards, as the wars main root cause, the insistence by the government in Kyivwhich he denounces as an illegitimate neo-Nazi dictatorshipthat Ukraine exists as a nation with its own history, culture, and language.

The best way to end the war is for Trump to realize this factand to convince Putin that the West will not let this imperial dream come true. Short of that, all the rest, including the 28-point peace plan, is at best a distraction and at worst a recipe for democratic Ukraines surrender.
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On Thursday, President Donald Trump lashed out at six members of Congress, all with military and national security backgrounds, who publicly stated that members of our armed forces have a legal (and moral) duty to refuse to carry out illegal orders. They reminded the American public that people entering the armed services and national security services take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. They are obligated under U.S. law and international law not to commit war crimes, not to murder civilians, and not to commit crimes against humanity.

The president declared on Truth Social that the statements by these senators and representatives, all of whom are veterans of service to the United States, constituted SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL and that Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL, asserting that their statements were punishable by DEATH! and that the government should HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

Oddly, the president believes that it is criminal to urge members of the armed forces or the intelligence community to uphold the Constitution, respect the oath they took, and obey the law. Never having served in the military, the president seems not to understand that those who risk their lives to defend our nation have a legal obligation to refuse illegal orders, as stated by Sen. Mark Kelly, a former naval captain (which is the equivalent of a colonel in the other services). The commander in chief seems to have something different in mind for the oaths of the service members under his command. Its unclear what that is, but certain history comes to mind. In Nazi Germany, for instance, soldiers took a holy oath of unconditional obedience to the Leader of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces. Civilians took a similar oath. Our servicemen and women, by contrast, take an oath, not to any leader but to the law and the Constitution.

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This is not the first time this president has accused people of treason or sedition when he disagrees with them. A short lesson on these terms is useful.

Treason is the only crime defined in the U.S. Constitution. Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution states that treason consists of an overt Act of levying War against the United States or adhering to the Enemies [of the United States], giving them Aid and Comfort. Speech is emphatically not an overt act. In England you could be tried for treason for declaring the king should be executed or even drawing a picture of a man hanging with the kings name under the picture. It was called constructive treason, because there was no act, but courts construed such forms of speech to be treasonous. The Framers of the Constitution emphatically rejected the idea that speech or even advocacy constituted treason.

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The representatives and senators who spoke out were not levying War against the United States. They were discussing public policy and existing law. They were not adhering to the Enemies of the United States, in part because our nation is at peace, there is no declared war, and we currently have no enemies in the legal and constitutional sense. One can commit treason today by physically attacking the nation or trying to overthrow the government.

Sedition, meanwhile, is an active assault on the government, an attempt to overthrow the government by force of arms. Again, this is not about mere words. In 1798 Congress passed a notorious sedition act, making it a crime to print, utter or publish  any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States  or the President  with intent to defame the said government, or  Congress, or the said President, or to bring them  into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them  the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States. That law expired in 1801 and was never reenacted. President Thomas Jefferson pardoned everyone convicted under it, and Congress passed a law to remit the fines they paid. It is considered a disgraceful example of oppression. In 1918 a new law (often called the Sedition Act of 1918) criminalized disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the government, the flag, or the armed forces. Congress repealed the law in 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson pardoned almost everyone convicted under it.

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One can commit sedition by overt actsbombing a federal building, being part of a mob that attacks Congress, organizing to do so, or even publicly urging a crowd to do so. But criticizing the government is not sedition. It is free speech protected by our Constitution, and free speech is central to our democracy.

Our democracy is threatened when leaders, like the president, hurl inflammatory languagelike traitor, treason, or seditionat their opponents. It is neither treason nor sedition when members of Congress urge those in the military and in civilian service to obey the law and protect and defend the Constitution.
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For half a century, scientists have been warning about the risk of the planet warming by 2 degrees. Its a catchphrase that plagues the conversation about climate concerns, including at the United Nations COP30 meeting in Belem, Brazil, this month. Take U.N. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbocks remarks to the press this week, in which she stated that member countries had previously committed to limiting global warming well below two degrees. Thats a huge mistake. Well, the math is right. But the wording, at least where Americans are concerned, is dead wrong.

Two degrees is a benchmark in Celsius. And the worlds leader in per capita carbon emissionsa leading culprit of the greenhouse gas effect warming the planetis the United States. Americans speak in Fahrenheit. Many folks are already loath to take action to combat climate change. Thanks to the rallying cry of 2 degrees, people in the U.S. are likely to mistake the dangerous warming of the planet as happening almost half as slowly.

Among U.N. member states, the U.S. is an outlier in sticking with the Fahrenheit scale. A few other smaller nations such as the Cayman Islands and Liberia, use it, too. But almost every other country in the world uses the Celsius system. Normally, I wouldnt suggest kowtowing to the Americans and their strange instance on measuring things their own way. But if a bit of temperature translation will help light a fire, so to speak, in the perpetrators, its worth it.

In some ways, the 2-degree communication debacle is a home-grown problem for the United States. It was 50 years ago, within its borders, that Yale University economics professor William Nordhaus started the conversation around this benchmark by publishing papers warning that a rise in global temperatures of 2 or 3 degrees Celsius would take the climate outside of the range that humans had been living in for millennia. The focus around 2 degrees gained traction and became a central speed limit for climate change. Back in 2015, a report from the Carbon Brief noted that, Limiting warming to no more than two degrees has become the de facto target for global climate policy. That same year, a global treaty known as the Paris Agreement (which the U.S. had signed on to and, under Trump, has withdrawn from) set a target to keep global warming under a limit of 2 degrees. Nordhaus likely spoke in Celsius because it remains the temperature scale for researchers, regardless of where they are on Earth. This is similar to the way professional bakers, even in the States, measure in grams. People are willing to do those conversions to make sure their pastry doesnt burn. They dont seem willing to do the same for their planet.

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A difference of 2 degrees Celsius is, depending on the exact temperature on the scale, equivalent to around 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. That might sound like splitting hairs, but consider this: Climate warming is not linear. Each degree increase accelerates the problem. Take the example of measuring a childs temperature. Lets say it starts out at 39 degrees Celsius. Thats equal to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheita true fever. But a 2-degree Celsius increase isnt equivalent to reaching 104.2 Fahrenheit (still a fever, but manageable at home). Forty-one degrees Celsius equals 105.8 degrees Fahrenheita medical emergency that would mean an immediate trip to the ER, at the very least, or a call for an ambulance.

Americans may not understand that scientists talking about a 2-degree difference in climate are speaking about what translates into moreoften around double the rise in numberin Fahrenheit. And yet, even some prominent television and news coverage centers around the issue of 2 degrees, sometimes without even giving the Fahrenheit conversion. Even NASA, a U.S. agency, has published a headline in Celsius (an easy mistake for a science-focused institution to make). The Wikipedia page on the 2 degree climate target doesnt, as of this writing, include a mention of a Fahrenheit equivalent.

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Between 1970 and 2023, the global average temperature already increased about 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Were warned that at 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit warmerthe equivalent of the famous 2-degree Celsius benchmarksomewhere between 800 million to 3 billion people would face chronic water scarcity. And, unfortunately, the United Nations Environment Programme has stated that at the rate were going, were on track for a 5-degree Fahrenheit rise in average global temperatures by the end of the century. Perhaps no issue is more important than global warming when it comes to the future of the world and the lives our children will lead. If a conversion can help even a few more Americans understand it, its worth a shot.

Im not suggesting that the temperature conversion could solve the problem of climate apathy. But a few small changes could help: Headlines in U.S. outlets should be in Fahrenheit. U.N. leaders need to go to greater lengths to translate their message into Fahrenheit, in addition to Celsius. To put it another way, they dont need to go the extra kilometer to make sure we all know how dire things could becomethey need to go the extra mile.
Trot Insider has learned that former Ontario-based Open pacing mare and broodmare Angels Uprising has passed away at the age of 34.

Angels Uprising was trained by Larry Fitzsimmons and owned by the Fitzsimmons family and partners her whole life.

Described as a "one of a kind" mare by her connections, Angels Uprising was a career winner of 25 races with 46 additional top three finishes in 158 starts and more than $300,000 in purse earnings. The Fundamentalist-Chicopee Star mare won the 1995 Damsel Pacing Series and took a lifetime mark of 1:52.4 at Woodbine Racetrack during her four-year-old campaign, going on to win Open and Preferred level races at Woodbine, Elmira Raceway, Flamboro Downs and Western Fair Raceway.

As a broodmare, Angels Uprising foaled seven race winners, including six-figure earners Jake Parrish ($192,940 - 1:54.2h) and Ontario Sires Stakes winner Angel On The Wing ($122.490 - 1:54.3s).

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Angels Uprising.

(Standardbred Canada)
Myratgeldi Mammedov Vs Union of India & Anr. (Delhi High Court)

The petitioner, a Turkmenistan national, filed a writ petition seeking release of a 516-gram gold chain detained by the Customs Department at the IGI Airport, New Delhi. He asserted that the chain constituted his personal effect. The petitioner had travelled from Istanbul to Delhi on 04 May 2018, where he was intercepted by Customs officials who detained a gold chain, USD 520, and INR 3,460. An interpreter from Jawaharlal Nehru University was provided as the petitioner spoke Russian. According to the petitioner, he

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NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, shown in this artists concept, orbits Earth as it studies the ever-changing universe. | Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

A history-making robotic rescue mission scheduled to launch next year will fly on a rocket dropped from a plane.

In September, NASA announced that it has chosen Arizona company Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the altitude of its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory , a space telescope whose orbit has gotten dangerously low since its November 2004 launch.

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Today (Nov. 19), we learned how Katalyst's spacecraft will get off the ground  aboard Pegasus, an air-launched rocket built by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman.

The $500 million Swift observatory was built by Orbital Sciences, a company that in 2014 became Orbital ATK, which was then acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2018. The space telescope has been studying gamma-ray bursts  the most powerful explosions in the universe since the Big Bang  from low Earth orbit (LEO) for two decades.

But that orbit has decayed considerably over the years, from an initial 373 miles (600 kilometers) to about 249 miles (400 km) today. As Swift gets lower and lower, it encounters more frictional drag from Earth's atmosphere , so its descent is accelerating  and the observatory has no thrusters to counteract the process.

If nothing changes, Swift will likely crash back to Earth by the end of 2026 , and there's no replacement mission in the works. So NASA decided to fund a rescue effort, leveraging the capabilities of private industry to meet a tight timeline.

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Katalyst won that contract. And the company has decided that Pegasus  which fires up its solid rocket motors after being dropped by Northrop Grumman's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft at an elevation of about 39,000 feet (12,000 meters)  is the right launcher for the job.

"It's the only launch vehicle that can meet the orbit, the schedule and the cost to achieve something unprecedented with emerging technology," Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said in a statement today.

Pegasus is capable of hauling about 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) of payload to LEO. The rocket debuted in 1990 and has 45 missions under its belt to date, 40 of them fully successful. Pegasus flew most recently in June 2021 , when it lofted a "space domain awareness" satellite for the U.S. Space Force .

Northrop Grumman already had the rocket hardware for this coming mission pretty much ready to go, according to Kurt Eberly, director of space launch for the company.

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"We have to do some final integration and test, and we have to develop the trajectory and the guidance for the RAAN [right ascension of the ascending node] steering and software, but that's really it," Eberly told Space.com.

Katalyst's mission will fly on a Pegasus XL, a slightly longer and more massive version of the air-launched rocket. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the total budget of the Swift rescue mission is $30 million, including launch.

The Pegasus XL will launch in June 2026, if all goes according to plan. And there's not much wiggle room in that target, considering how quickly Swift is coming down.

"We are treating this launch date as a firm commitment," Kieran Wilson, vice president of technology at Katalyst, told Space.com. "We'll kind of continuously evaluate where Swift stands in its orbital decay and figure out what sort of adaptations we might need to pursue, whether it's launching to a different altitude, whether it's targeting slightly different insertions."

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The Katalyst spacecraft will head to an orbit similar to that of Swift, then spend two to three weeks closing in on the observatory. The boost vehicle will inspect its target "from reasonable standoff distances, to allow us to get high-resolution imagery and understand the current state," Wilson said.

Once that state is understood, the rescuer  which is about 4.9 feet (1.5 m) tall and weighs 770 pounds (350 kg)  will close in and capture Swift using its three robotic arms.

This will be challenging, as the NASA observatory was not designed to be serviced. And Swift has super-sensitive optics, which cannot be pointed toward the sun , Earth or moon without potentially incurring damage.

So Katalyst has been poring over old prelaunch photos of Swift and consulting with teams from NASA and Northrop Grumman to figure out the best and safest way to grab the observatory.

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"There's a lot of really fun detective work going on behind the scenes, in order to determine what points on the spacecraft we can actually capture and what the states are going to be," Wilson said.

That work has revealed a primary capture point as well as a few promising backups, he added.

Artist's illustration of Katalyst Space Technologies' servicing spacecraft approaching and capturing NASA's Swift space observatory on an orbit-boosting mission. | Credit: Katalyst Space Technologies

After a successful capture, the Katalyst spacecraft will haul Swift back up to its initial altitude of 373 miles (600 km) or so, if all goes to plan.

"That lasted it 22 years the first time," Wilson said. "We expect [the boost] to provide a similar amount of on-orbit longevity this time around."

A successful boost would be historic, marking the first-ever capture of an uncrewed U.S. government satellite by a private spacecraft. (It would not be the first-ever servicing mission to a NASA space telescope, however; astronauts repaired and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope five times between 1993 and 2009. But Hubble was designed to be serviced.)

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Katalyst already has spaceflight experience; in 2024, the company launched two spacecraft to LEO on SpaceX's Transporter 10 rideshare mission . Those satellites demonstrated many of the core systems that the Swift-boosting craft will employ, Wilson said.

But the Swift mission marks a step up in difficulty, especially given how quickly everything must come together: A June 2026 launch will come just eight or nine months after Katalyst scored the NASA contract.

Saving Swift could therefore serve as a blueprint of sorts, paving the way for similar, and perhaps even more ambitious, feats down the road, according to Wilson.

"If we're able to do this for NASA in just eight months, I do think that opens up a new set of responsive missions in the future," he said, noting that servicing missions have historically taken multiple years to develop and launch.

Katalyst plans to operate some of those future missions itself. For example, in 2027, the company aims to launch its first mission to geostationary orbit, which lies 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above Earth. That flight will mark the debut of Katalyst's larger Nexus spacecraft, "a multi-mission robotic platform to serve both government and commercial customers for life extension and space domain awareness services," Wilson said.
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Credit: SpaceX

Another SpaceX launch, another milestone.

A Falcon 9 rocket launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station tonight (Nov. 20) at 10:39 p.m. EST (0339 GMT on Nov. 21), carrying 29 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites to orbit.

It was the 100th liftoff of the year from the Sunshine State, a nice round number that had never been reached before.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Nov. 20, 2025 | Credit: SpaceX

The rocket's first stage came back to Earth as planned about 8.5 minutes after liftoff tonight, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean on the SpaceX droneship "Just Read the Instructions." It was the 23rd flight for this particular booster, which carries the designation 1080.

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The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the Starlink craft toward low Earth orbit , where they'll be deployed about 65 minutes after launch.

Previous Booster 1080 missions

Ax-2 | Euclid | Ax-3 | CRS-30 | SES ASTRA 1P | NG-21 | 16 Starlink missions

'SpaceX is responsible for the vast majority of this year's record-breaking rocket traffic from the Space Coast, which features two side-by-side spaceports: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center .

Elon Musk 's company has now launched a total of 149 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, more than 90 of them from Florida. (The others have flown from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.) That total, which increases every other day or so, is a record; the previous high, set in 2024, was 132 Falcon 9 launches.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and ASRY (Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard) have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the shipbuilding sector

Under the MoU, the two sides will jointly evaluate opportunities for the design and construction of offshore service and military vessels up to 80 metres in length, as well as the potential for export contracts in the Gulf area.

The agreement also includes maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for military, commercial and offshore vessels, as well as the exchange of know-how in naval design and production process optimisation.

The military vessels would be intended for use by the Bahrain Navy and Coast Guard.

ASRY is a leading operator in ship repair and marine services in the Gulf of Bahrain.

Fincantieri was represented by its chairman, Biagio Mazzotta, and Eugenio Santagata, general manager of the Fincantieri Naval Vessels Division, who signed the agreement together with Ahmed AlAbri, CEO of ASRY.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri, said the MoU represents an opportunity for Fincantieri to enter the Bahraini shipbuilding market and is a further step in consolidating the group's strategy and presence in the Middle East.

This agreement strengthens our strategic position in the Gulf and confirms Fincantieri's desire to develop long-term industrial partnerships with leading partners such as ASRY, said Folgiero.

By combining complementary skills and converging visions, we are laying the foundations for a solid and structured presence in the Bahraini shipbuilding market, in line with the objectives of our integrated export platform in the Middle East.

The signing of the MoU took place on the sidelines of the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in the presence of Italian President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni, and Bahrains Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Separately, Fincantieri announced a partnership In Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to establish a scholarship aimed at supporting young researchers in maritime security, cyber-resilience and emerging applied navigation technologies.

It follows an MoU signed last January and reflects a shared commitment of both sides in promoting excellence in education and technology transfer, in line with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, a Fincantieri statement read.

The scholarship will enable young and talented researchers to develop innovative solutions to counter new threats to navigation, such as recent cases of AIS and GPS spoofing, which can alter vessel positions and compromise the safety of shipping routes, it stated.

The programme will focus on three strategic areas: the advanced authentication of AIS signals to prevent manipulation; the opportunistic detection of GPS spoofing through intelligent satellite data analysis, and star-based position verification enhanced by machine learning algorithms.

Fincantieri added that the goal is to develop an operational software platform that can be integrated into on-board digital systems, strengthening the collaboration between universities and industry and contributing to the growth of the Fincantieri Digital Ecosystem (FDE).
1 min read

Nokia plans to expand its U.S. R&D and manufacturing capabilities, investing $4 billion to accelerate innovation in AI-ready mobile, fixed access, IP, optical, and data center networking technologies. The planned investment over multiple years is in addition to Nokias $2.3 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, R&D, and AI connectivity through its purchase of Infinera. Additionally, Infinera had previously announced a $456 million investment for two U.S. manufacturing facilities, which received CHIPS Act incentives.

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Nokia expects to invest around $3.5 billion in U.S. R&D, reflecting the companys strong commitment to advancing the next generation of connectivity and AI technology across all facets of the network, including mobile, fixed, IP, optical, data center networking technologies, and mission-critical/defense solutions. Nokia is committed to continuing the creation of groundbreaking technologies in the U.S., following in the footsteps of its award-winning Nokia Bell Labs headquartered in New Jersey. For over a century, the scientists and engineers at Nokia Bell Labs have pioneered technological innovations from the invention of the transistor to advancements in digital communications and now AI.

About $500 million in U.S. capital expenditures will be invested in manufacturing and research and development in U.S. states that include Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The U.S. investment plan will strengthen Nokias comprehensive suite of AI-optimized networking solutions, as well as its industry-leading R&D in advanced networking technologies, including automation, quantum-safe networks, semiconductor manufacturing, testing, and packaging, and state-of-the-art material sciences.

Nokias $4 billion investment is another Trump administration win for America, said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Their investment in manufacturing, packaging, and R&D for optical chips means the most innovative technologies that power AI, data centers, and critical national security applications will be developed and built here in the U.S.A.

Nokia innovation and technologies are foundational to todays critical network infrastructure. Our expanded investment will help strengthen the nations capacity to deliver greater security, productivity, and prosperity through AI-optimized connectivity at scale, while advancing the newest research and innovation that will shape the future of networking for the years to come, said Nokia President and CEO, Justin Hotard.
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Detection failures are muddying an online information landscape awash with AI-generated fakes.

When outraged Filipinos turned to an AI-powered chatbot to verify a viral photograph of a lawmaker embroiled in a corruption scandal, the tool failed to detect it was fabricatedeven though it had generated the image itself.

Internet users are increasingly turning to chatbots to verify images in real time, but the tools often fail, raising questions about their visual debunking capabilities at a time when major tech platforms are scaling back human fact-checking.

In many cases, the tools wrongly identify images as real even when they are generated using the same generative models, further muddying an online information landscape awash with AI-generated fakes.

Among them is a fabricated image circulating on social media of Elizaldy Co, a former Philippine lawmaker charged by prosecutors in a multibillion-dollar flood-control corruption scam that sparked massive protests in the disaster-prone country.

The image of Co, whose whereabouts has been unknown since the official probe began, appeared to show him in Portugal.

When online sleuths tracking him asked Google's new AI mode whether the image was real, it incorrectly said it was authentic.

AFP's fact-checkers tracked down its creator and determined that the image was generated using Google AI.

"These models are trained primarily on language patterns and lack the specialized visual understanding needed to accurately identify AI-generated or manipulated imagery," Alon Yamin, chief executive of AI content detection platform Copyleaks, told AFP.

"With AI chatbots, even when an image originates from a similar generative model, the chatbot often provides inconsistent or overly generalized assessments, making them unreliable for tasks like fact-checking or verifying authenticity."

Google did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

'Distinguishable from reality'

AFP found similar examples of AI tools failing to verify their own creations.

During last month's deadly protests over lucrative benefits for senior officials in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, social media users shared a fabricated image purportedly showing men marching with flags and torches.

An AFP analysis found it was created using Google's Gemini AI model.

But Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot falsely identified it as a genuine image of the protest.

"This inability to correctly identify AI images stems from the fact that they (AI models) are programmed only to mimic well," Rossine Fallorina, from the nonprofit Sigla Research Center, told AFP.

"In a sense, they can only generate things to resemble. They cannot ascertain whether the resemblance is actually distinguishable from reality."

Earlier this year, Columbia University's Tow Center for Digital Journalism tested the ability of seven AI chatbotsincluding ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, and Geminito verify 10 images from photojournalists of news events.

All seven models failed to correctly identify the provenance of the photos, the study said.

'Shocked'

AFP tracked down the source of Co's photo that garnered over a million views across social mediaa middle-aged web developer in the Philippines, who said he created it "for fun" using Nano Banana, Gemini's AI image generator.

"Sadly, a lot of people believed it," he told AFP, requesting anonymity to avoid a backlash.

"I edited my postand added 'AI generated' to stop the spreadbecause I was shocked at how many shares it got."

Such cases show how AI-generated photos flooding social platforms can look virtually identical to real imagery.

The trend has fueled concerns as surveys show online users are increasingly shifting from traditional search engines to AI tools for information gathering and verifying information.

The shift comes as Meta announced earlier this year it was ending its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, turning over the task of debunking falsehoods to ordinary users under a model known as "Community Notes."

Human fact-checking has long been a flashpoint in hyperpolarized societies, where conservative advocates accuse professional fact-checkers of liberal bias, a charge they reject.

AFP currently works in 26 languages with Meta's fact-checking program, including in Asia, Latin America, and the European Union.

Researchers say AI models can be useful to professional fact-checkers, helping to quickly geolocate images and spot visual clues to establish authenticity. But they caution that they cannot replace the work of trained human fact-checkers.

"We can't rely on AI tools to combat AI in the long run," Fallorina said.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When the first large language models were unleashed, it triggered a headache for authorities around the world as they tried to figure out how to satisfy data centers' endless demand for electricity.

AI models are out on an energy-intensive training session with no end in sight. The training takes place on the servers in the world's data centers, which currently number just over 10,000. Especially the large language models and generative AI that creates images and videos consume huge amounts of electricity.

They are so voracious that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that the power they needed for computing increased a billion-fold from 2022 to 2024.

The entire global energy sector is now changing because the demand for electricity to run and cool servers is so high.

Control in just a few hands

"What we see happening now in the development of artificial intelligence is truly extraordinary and perhaps a pivotal point in human history," said Sebastien Gros.

He is a professor at NTNU's Department of Engineering Cybernetics and head of the Norwegian Center on AI Decisions (AID). This is one of Norway's six new centers for research on AI.

Gros notes that developments in the AI universe are driven by just a few technology companies. The scale, electricity consumption, investments and pace are formidable, with control concentrated in the hands of just a few private enterprises.

Large, undisclosed figures

It's not now possible to find out exactly how much electricity AI providers use.

"The companies that supply electricity to the data centers do not disclose these figures. The AI providers are commercial operators whose aim is to make money, and they have little interest in sharing this type of information. I don't think anyone knows exactly, but the figures are clearly astronomical. Truly astronomical," said Gros.

'Today we launched ChatGPT'

"Today we launched ChatGPT. Try talking with it here," wrote Sam Altman, then CEO of OpenAI, on X on 30 November 2022.

Since then, ChatGPT, Claude, Meta AI, DeepSeek, CoPilot and others have been competing to provide us with everything from cookie recipes to solutions to the world's biggest problems.

Every instruction we give them passes through the data centers' servers. Thousands of calculations are needed to determine which words the models should respond with.

Each keystroke consumes electricity

Regardless of whether it has become your office assistant, meal planner, or psychologist, every one of your keystrokes consumes electricity.

Altman has said that the polite but completely unnecessary "thank you" or "please" costs the company tens of millions of dollars in electricity each year.

Currently, data centers use approximately 400 terawatt-hours, or 1.5% of the global electricity consumption. The IEA estimates that this will double in the next five years, reaching a level comparable to the entire electricity consumption of Japan.

Americans are noticing higher electricity prices

Some of the data centers built for companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta consume more electricity than large cities like Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Already heavily burdened power grids are under even more strain, and Americans are starting to notice that their electricity bills are rising.

The world's largest data center to date is currently being built in Jamnagar, India. American Nvidia, which has become the world's most valuable company by selling chips for AI development, is heavily involved. According to the IEA, the center could end up using as much electricity as the 10 million people living in the area.

Making difficult decisions with AI

Of all the aspects of AI development, commercial language models have received the most attention so far. However, in the shadow of these popular models, entirely different, efficient tools are being developed.

They run locally, use far less electricity, and can help us with entirely different tasks, such as detecting diseases faster, optimizing the power grid and perhaps even tackling the climate crisis.

NTNU and SINTEF researchers at the AID center are working to integrate AI more closely with industrial players and government authorities.

The goal is to develop tools that can manage risk and make decisions in challenging situations. These might be as varied as determining when it is safe to discharge a patient from the hospital, or ensuring stable electricity supply and production that is optimally adapted to consumption.

AI for smarter energy use

"Energy for AI, and AI for Energy," said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, when presenting the Energy & AI report in April 2025.

So, what was his point? That AI can also be part of the solution. According to the report, if AI is used to operate power grids more efficiently, we might be able to save up to 175 gigawatts of transmission capacity.

To put this into perspective, that could cover the electricity needs of 175 cities the size of Oslo for one year.

Uncertain development in Norway

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has analyzed how the country's energy market will change and grow (in Norwegian). They estimate that AI and data centers will account for 2% of electricity consumption in Norway by 2050.

"I'm not exactly blown away by this number. The trends in Norway may not be as dramatic as we thought," said Magnus Korpas, an energy systems expert and professor at NTNU's Department of Electric Energy.

"Based on NVE's figures, it looks like computing power will consume similar amounts of electricity as transport and other major electricity consumers, which will increase in the years to come. And in any case, 2% is very little compared to the 15% used by electric panel heaters to warm our homes," Korpas said.

Export of computing power is a political choice

Much remains uncertain, however. How things will look in 2050 partly depends on the development of data centers. Currently, Norway has registered a little over 70 of these centers.

"NVE considers 2% to be a realistic level that developers can reach and that Norway is able to handle. Worldwide, however, the demand for power is inexhaustible. Norway may be very well suited to becoming a major exporter of clean computing power. But then again, no one has actually suggested this," Korpas said.

The Big Question

Korpas doesn't think that making Norwegian electricity available for a moderate number of data centers poses a dilemma.

"But the big question is whether we should make the power system and Norway's natural environment available for the inexhaustible global consumption of AI. Whether we want to become the world's hub for computer power is a political question," he said.

He adds that this could very quickly be the case if we do not establish regulations. "Establishing a center here is attractive. Electricity is cheap, we have a cool climate, and the market is endless."

Economically, politically and environmentally sensible?

Google is developing a center in Skien (link in Norwegian). Green Mountain and TikTok (links in Norwegian) have established themselves in Hamar.

In Arendal, Bifrost Edge AS wants to build a center that will use as much electricity as just over 100,000 households per year. This summer, Kjell Inge Rkke and Aker launched the major Stargate Norway project in Narvik in collaboration with OpenAI.

Professor Sebastien Gros sees rational arguments for developing data centers in Norway, especially in the north.

"Financially, it is very rational to build in Narvik, an area with large electricity surpluses and low prices. Politically, it also makes sense, because it provides the country with revenue. And environmentally, clean Norwegian hydropower is better than coal power in California or China. We need to consider the advantages and disadvantages and look at the bigger picture," said Gros.

'Blinded by cat videos'

Tomas Moe Skjlsvold, professor of Science and Technology Studies at NTNU, thinks the discussion about AI, data centers and energy is too narrow.

"We often get blinded by content like cat videos, but we need to zoom out and ask the big questions," said Skjlsvold. He is head of the Norwegian Center for Energy Transition StrategiesNTRANS.

Must set requirements

As electricity becomes an increasingly scarce resource, it will be difficult to implement new energy projects.

"We need to ask who is going to be given access to the electricity, and under what conditions. When data centers apply for huge amounts of energy, we need to impose stricter requirements than just technical assessments, an area where the centers often score highly. Many more criteria should be assessed, such as whether the projects will contribute to verifiable cuts in emissions or other measurable environmental benefits," Skjlsvold said.

Israeli actors operating for TikTok

He also highlights the geopolitical perspective. The United States has been open about its plans to secure technological global dominance through AI strategies.

"At the same time, we see companies from different countries building and operating data centers for each other's services, such as Israeli actors operating facilities for Chinese TikTok. These are not neutral processes," Skjlsvold said.

Skjlsvold believes the real questions relate to who gains power, control over infrastructure and influence over tomorrow's digital economyand how Norwegian resources would be used to make this possible.

Consequences for security and emergency preparedness

Skjlsvold feels Norwegian society should consider two important questions:

Whose political goals and global interests are we supporting by making Norwegian electricity and natural advantages available to data centers?

What consequences will this have for Norwegian energy security, emergency preparedness and value creation?

"We need frameworks for transparency, societal benefit, environmental and climate considerations, as well as for the geopolitical direction Norway is actually helping to support," Skjlsvold said.
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Characteristics of the four Net Zero Society futures by sector. Credit: Nature Energy (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01898-3

Reducing the U.K.'s energy demand could help the country reach its net zero target faster and at half the cost compared to relying mainly on supply-side technologies, according to new research by energy experts.

Most national strategies emphasize supply-side technological solutions such as electrification and renewable energy generation. But the research, published today in Nature Energy, finds that supporting demand-side solutions, such as social and behavioral changes to how people travel, work, heat their homes, and consume goods, could cut total U.K. energy demand by between 18% and 45% by 2050 compared to today.

These demand-focused pathways would continue to maintain quality of life while costing around half as much as technology-led pathways.

The finding is the result of a unique collaboration between academics from The University of Manchester, University College London, University of Leeds, and University of Oxford and members of the public, which informed a report published by the UK Government Office for Science in 2023.

"Evidence shows that substantial reductions in energy demand are feasible, yet most national strategies still focus on supporting new technologies and supply-side solutions. Our study shows that when policymakers consider how society uses energy, not just how we produce it, the U.K. could achieve far greater cuts in energy use, much quicker, while also lowering costs.

"Although this finding challenges the current focus of U.K. energy policy, it was deemed plausible by the policymakers thanks to our intensive engagement process," says lead researcher Maria Sharmina, Professor in Energy and Sustainability at The University of Manchester.

The study uniquely placed policymakers at the center of modeling four future scenario designs, guided by the experts. Together, they explored how different mixes of technology, lifestyle, and social change could shape the country's energy system and costs:

Atomized Society: Rapid tech growth drives high consumption, but it creates a divided society where the rich are protected and the poor face greater climate risks.

Metropolitan Society: High growth and trusted AI enable efficient living, but this concentrates prosperity in cities, creating an urban-rural divide.

Self-preservation Society: Low growth and outdated tech lead to a fragmented society, though some communities find comfort in the slower, traditional pace of life.

Slow Lane Society: Despite low growth, strong community values and high trust promote repair, reuse, and major cuts in energy demand.

Analysis shows that all four futures deliver lower energy demand than today, but reductions vary. The Slow Lane Society achieves the biggest cut (around 45%), while the Atomized Society delivers the smallest (around 18%). Energy system costs also vary: the most energy-intensive future could see costs rise 136% by 2050, while the lowest-demand scenario limits this to just 24% compared to today.

Crucially, higher-demand futures depend far more on large-scale carbon removal technologies, which are still unproven at scale, whereas lower-demand pathways could reduce the need for such measures by around 70%.

"This co-creation approach bridges the gap between academic research and policy implementation. Our approach embeds policymaker knowledge and priorities directly into scenario creation rather than presenting academic scenarios to policymakers afterwards. These scenarios are not predictions of the future but tools for thinking. They reflect real-world trade-offs that any government would face when trying to reach climate goals, helping them to consider which policies would still work no matter how the future unfolds," says Oliver Broad, Senior Research Fellow at University College London.

The researchers also held discussions with members of the public to explore how believable each scenario felt and what impacts people thought they might have on everyday life. Participants generally viewed the Metropolitan Society and Self-Preservation Society as most realistic, while Atomized and Slow Lane Societies were seen as more aspirational. Interestingly, while policymakers described Slow Lane as somewhat restrictive, the public viewed it as hopeful and positive.

The team say their approach could help other countries design people-centered climate policies that balance technological innovation with social, demand-side change.

More information: Maria Sharmina et al, Policymaker-led scenarios and public dialogue facilitate energy demand analysis for net-zero futures, Nature Energy (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01898-3 Journal information: Nature Energy
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Energy harvesting performance of the p/n-ITEM and n-ITEM. Credit: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a novel thermoelectric (TE) film, capable of powering LED lights using a mere 1.5C temperature difference between the human body and ambient air. This innovative technology promises new possibilities for self-powered wearable devices and energy-harvesting applications.

Led by Professor Sung-Yeon Jang from the School of Energy Chemical Engineering at UNIST, the research team has developed a thermodynamically guided design strategy for high-performance ionic TE polymer complexes, achieving record-setting figures of merit for both p-type and n-type materials.

The work is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

How thermoelectric materials work

Functioning like tiny generators, TE materials convert temperature differences into electrical energy. In ionic TE systems, the movement of ionsprotons (H) in p-type and chloride ions (Cl) in n-type materialsdrives the generation of voltage. When a slight temperature gradient exists, these ions migrate and produce an electric current.

The new materialscomprising a flexible, polymer-based compositeachieve record-high ionic figures of merit (ZT i ) of 49.5 for p-type and 32.2 for n-type, representing a 70% improvement over previous materials. Such high performance enables the generation of sufficient power from minimal temperature differencesless than 2Cto operate electronic devices.

Material composition and performance

The p-type material is based on a conductive polymer composite, PEDOT:PSS, while the n-type incorporates copper chloride (CuCl) into the matrix. In operation, protons (H) serve as charge carriers in the p-type, and chloride ions (Cl) in the n-type. Both materials are lightweight, flexible, and easily fabricated into thin, film-shaped generators.

In practical tests, a module composed of ten pairs of these p- and n-type films connected in series produced over 1.03 volts with just a 1C temperature difference.

Remarkably, this enabled a single LED bulb to light up with only a 1.5C gradient. Long-term stability assessments confirmed the device maintained over 95% of its initial performance after more than two months of indoor operation.

Design strategy and future applications

The research attributes this performance to a systematic thermodynamic design strategy that optimizes the interplay between ion concentration and diffusion within the materials.

By carefully analyzing and adjusting additive concentrations, such as CuCl, and internal polymer structures, the team identified conditions that maximize power density without hindering ion mobility.

Dong-Hu Kim, the lead author, explained, "Ionic TE materials have long lacked systematic design principles, which limited their full potential. Our work provides fundamental strategies to unlock their high-performance capabilities."

Professor Jang said, "The newly developed materials are thin and flexible, allowing easy attachment to skin or curved surfaces. They can power wearable devices like smartwatches without batteries and enable self-powered sensors operating in environments with minimal temperature gradients."

More information: DongHu Kim et al, Thermodynamic Design Strategy for Ionic Thermoelectric Polymer Complexes with Giant Thermopower and Power Density, Advanced Functional Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202514954 Journal information: Advanced Functional Materials
Building a healthy China for modernization

Xinhua) 09:16, November 21, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- On the path of Chinese modernization, the country has achieved steady progress in building a "Healthy China" and it is now set to accelerate its efforts in the years ahead.

At a key Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee meeting held in Beijing last month, the Party leadership adopted recommendations for formulating the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for economic and social development, which required enhancing both life expectancy and the overall health of the people.

Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, said in a recent interview with Xinhua that governments across the country should make public health a priority in their work plans for the coming period, take health indicators as crucial aspects in their performance assessment, and help foster healthy lifestyles, production methods, and governance models.

The recommendations mandated deepening the reform of public hospitals in staffing allocation, service pricing, salary system, and supervision, to see that they truly serve the public interest. The document also urged strengthening support for the operation of county- and grassroots-level medical institutions.

China's public hospital reform has made notable progress, yet issues remain, said Lei, emphasizing the necessity to make the government the primary stakeholder in running hospitals.

He highlighted efforts to establish a medical price adjustment mechanism with medical services as the dominant factor, improve the salary system, and strengthen supervision over medical service quality and safety, institutional operations, and the behavior of healthcare professionals, while cracking down on insurance fraud and corruption in the pharmaceutical sector.

China will also subsidize public medical institutions that face financial difficulties but with patient demands, Lei said.

In terms of high-quality population development, the recommendations proposed pilot subsidies for childcare services, and reducing the financial burdens incurred by childbirth, childcare, and education.

Lei said China will implement comprehensive measures to build a birth-friendly society, optimize supportive and incentive policies for childbirth, and steadily expand the scope of free education.

Efforts will be made to help young people develop positive attitudes toward marriage and childbirth, leverage the effects of policies such as childcare subsidies and personal income tax deductions, and develop an inclusive childcare service system, Lei noted.

Additionally, China will enhance capacities for prenatal care and birth defect prevention, aiming to reduce the number of induced abortions, he added.

In the coming years, population aging will continue to be pressing issue in China, leading to a growing demand for medical care for individuals with disabilities and cognitive impairments, as well as hospice care for patients in the terminal stages of illness.

"We will strengthen sci-tech innovation to address major health issues, expand the supply of rehabilitation nursing and hospice care services in both urban and rural areas, and promote the establishment of a long-term care insurance system," Lei said.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, China has established a medical and health care service system of the largest scale in the world, deepened the reform of the medical and health system, and promoted high-quality population development.

By the end of 2024, the number of medical and health institutions across China exceeded one million, with nearly 16 million medical and health personnel. Residents can now reach the nearest medical and health service site within 15 minutes.

In 2024, China's average life expectancy reached 79 years, with an average annual increase of more than 0.2 years in the past five years. Key indicators such as maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate continued to improve. The average life expectancy is expected to increase to around 80 years by 2030.

Official figures show that Chinese residents' health literacy level has risen from 23.15 percent in 2020 to 31.87 percent in 2024. The premature mortality rate from major chronic diseases has dropped by 10.6 percent.

The incidence rates of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS have continued to decline or remained at a low prevalence level, and the country has withstood the significant impact and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The central government has provided financial support to 70 cities to facilitate pilot projects aimed at promoting the high-quality development and reform of public hospitals, further highlighting the public welfare nature of the medical and health care undertakings.

China has also successively introduced a series of policy measures to encourage childbirth, including extending maternity leave, enhancing prenatal and postnatal care services, implementing personal income tax deductions for child-rearing expenses, and gradually rolling out free preschool education.

China has established and implemented a childcare subsidy system and developed inclusive childcare services.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
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Foxconn Chairman Young Liu delivers a speech during the Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 25) at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying

OpenAI and Taiwan electronics giant Foxconn have agreed to a partnership to design and manufacture key equipment for artificial intelligence data centers in the U.S. as part of ambitious plans to fortify American AI infrastructure.

Foxconn, which makes AI servers for Nvidia and assembles Apple products including the iPhone, will be co-designing and developing AI data center racks with OpenAI under the agreement, the companies said in separate statements on Thursday and Friday.

The products Foxconn will manufacture in its U.S. facilities include cabling, networking and power systems for AI data centers, the companies said. OpenAI will have "early access" to evaluate and potentially to purchase them.

Foxconn has factories in the U.S., including in Ohio and Texas. The initial agreement does not include financial obligations or purchase commitments, the statements said.

The Taiwan contract manufacturer has been moving to diversity its business, developing electric vehicles and acquiring other electronics companies to build out its product offerings.

"This partnership is a step toward ensuring the core technologies of the AI era are built here," Sam Altman, CEO of San Francisco-based OpenAI, said in the statement. "We believe this work will strengthen U.S. leadership and help ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared."

General Manager of IBM Asia Pacific Hans Dekkers delivers a speech during the Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 25) at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying

OpenAI has committed $1.4 trillion to building AI infrastructure. It recently entered into multi-billion partnerships with Nvidia and AMD to expand the extensive computing power needed to support its AI models and services. It is also partnering with US chipmaker Broadcom in designing and making its own AI chips.

But its massive spending plans have worried investors, raising questions over its ability to recoup its investments and remain profitable. Altman said this month that OpenAI, a startup founded in 2015 and maker of ChatGPT, is expected to reach more than $20 billion in annualized revenue this year, growing to "hundreds of billions by 2030."

Foxconn's Taiwan-listed share price has risen 25% so far this year, along with the surge in prices for many tech companies benefiting from the craze for AI.

The Taiwan company's net profit in the July-September quarter rose 17% from a year earlier to just over 57.6 billion new Taiwan dollars ($1.8 billion), with revenue from its cloud and networking business, including AI servers, contributing the most business.

Visitors listen to the introduction of NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 AI server during the Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 25) at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying

"We believe the importance of the AI industry is increasing significantly," Liu said during Foxconn's earnings call this month.

"I am very optimistic about the development of AI next year, and expect our cooperation with major clients and partners to become even closer," said Liu.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Architecture of federated carbon intelligence. Credit: MRS Energy & Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1557/s43581-025-00146-1

As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and widespread, so does the environmental cost of running it. Behind every chatbot, image generator, and television streaming recommendation are massive banks of millions of computers housed in an increasing number of data centers that consume staggering amounts of electricity and water to keep their machines cool. Most of that electricity is still produced by fossil fuel-burning power plants, which contribute directly to air pollution and climate change.

Researchers propose a new solution

A study from UC Riverside's Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, however, proposes a solution to this growing problem. It outlines a method to dramatically reduce the pollution caused by AI processing in large data centerswhile also extending the life of the hardware doing the work. No existing system combines these two goals, say the authors, professors Mihri Ozkan and Cengiz Ozkan. The findings are published in MRS Energy & Sustainability.

While other strategies focus mainly on scheduling computing tasks when or where electricity is cleaner, the proposed system goes further. Called the federated carbon intelligence, or FCI, it integrates environmental awareness with real-time assessments of the condition of the servers in use. The goal is not just to minimize carbon emissions but also to reduce the stress and wear and tear on the machines that generate the pollution.

How federated carbon intelligence works

The researchers, who are married, backed their proposal with simulations. Their modeling showed that FCI could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 45% over a five-year period. The system could also extend the operational life of a server fleet by 1.6 years.

"Our results show that sustainability in AI cannot be achieved by focusing on clean energy alone," said Mihri Ozkan, professor of electrical and computer engineering. "AI systems age, they heat up, and their efficiency changes over timeand these shifts have a measurable carbon cost.

"By integrating real-time hardware health with carbon-intensity data, our framework learns how to route AI workloads in a way that cuts emissions while protecting the long-term reliability of the machines themselves."

By constantly monitoring the temperature, age, and physical wear of servers, FCI helps avoid overworking machines that are already stressed or nearing the end of their useful life. In doing so, it prevents costly breakdowns, reduces the need for energy and water-intensive cooling, and keeps servers running longer.

Broader impact on sustainability

This approach recognizes that sustainability isn't just about cleaner energy. It's also about getting the most out of the hardware we already have, the authors say.

Their system further accounts for the complete lifecycle carbon footprint of computingespecially the embodied emissions from manufacturing new servers. By keeping existing machines in service longer and distributing computing tasks in a way that balances performance, wear, and environmental impact, the system addresses both sides of the sustainability equation.

"We reduce operational emissions in real time, but we also slow down hardware degradation," said Cengiz Ozkan, professor of mechanical engineering. "By preventing unnecessary wear, we reduce not only the energy used today but also the environmental footprint of tomorrow's hardware production."

Potential for real-world adoption

FCI dynamically determines where and when to process AI tasks based on constantly updated data. It tracks the condition of the machines, gauges the carbon intensity of electricity at any given time and place, and evaluates the demands of each AI workload. Then, using that information, it makes real-time decisions to send the task to the server best suited to handle itwith the least impact on the planet and the machine.

Deploying such systemsdriven by AI modelscould represent a major advancement for both environmental sustainability and the cloud computing industry, the researchers said.

Establishing the adaptive framework would not require new equipment, just smarter coordination across the systems already in place, Mihri Ozkan said.

The researchers say the next step is partnering with cloud providers to test FCI in real data centers, a move that could lay the foundation for NetZero-aligned AI infrastructure worldwide. The Ozkans described an urgent need. The growing number of data centers is already consuming more power than entire countries, including Sweden.

"AI is expanding faster than the energy systems that support it," Cengiz Ozkan said. "Frameworks like ours show that climate-aligned computing is achievablewithout sacrificing performance."

More information: Mihrimah Ozkan et al, Federated carbon intelligence for sustainable AI: Real-time optimization across heterogeneous hardware fleets, MRS Energy & Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1557/s43581-025-00146-1 Andy Guise et al,
A China-nexus threat actor known as APT24 has been observed using a previously undocumented malware dubbed BADAUDIO to establish persistent remote access to compromised networks as part of a nearly three-year campaign.

"While earlier operations relied on broad strategic web compromises to compromise legitimate websites, APT24 has recently pivoted to using more sophisticated vectors targeting organizations in Taiwan," Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) researchers Harsh Parashar, Tierra Duncan, and Dan Perez said.

"This includes the repeated compromise of a regional digital marketing firm to execute supply chain attacks and the use of targeted phishing campaigns."

APT24, also called Pitty Tiger, is the moniker assigned to a suspected Chinese hacking group that has targeted government, healthcare, construction and engineering, mining, non-profit, and telecommunications sectors in the U.S. and Taiwan. The group is also known to engage in cyber operations where the goal is intellectual property theft, specifically focusing on information that makes organizations competitive within their fields, per Google.

According to a July 2014 report from FireEye, the adversary is believed to be active as early as 2008, with the attacks leveraging phishing emails to trick recipients into opening Microsoft Office documents that, in turn, exploit known security flaws in the software (e.g., CVE-2012-0158 and CVE-2014-1761) to infect systems with malware.

Some of the malware families associated with APT24 include CT RAT, a variant of Enfal/Lurid Downloader called MM RAT (aka Goldsun-B), and variants of Gh0st RAT known as Paladin RAT and Leo RAT. Another notable malware put to use by the threat actor is a backdoor named Taidoor (aka Roudan).

APT24 is assessed to be closely related to another advanced persistent threat (APT) group called Earth Aughisky, which has also deployed Taidoor in its campaigns and has leveraged infrastructure previously attributed to APT24 as part of attacks distributing another backdoor referred to as Specas.

Both the malware strains, per an October 2022 report from Trend Micro, are designed to read proxy settings from a specific file "%systemroot%\\system32\\sprxx.dll."

The latest findings from GTIG show that the BADAUDIO campaign has been underway since November 2022, with the attackers using watering holes, supply chain compromises, and spear-phishing as initial access vectors.

A highly obfuscated malware written in C++, BADAUDIO uses control flow flattening to resist reverse engineering and acts as a first-stage downloader that's capable of downloading, decrypting, and executing an AES-encrypted payload from a hard-coded command and control (C2) server. It works by gathering and exfiltrating basic system information to the server, which responds with the payload to be run on the host. In one case, it was a Cobalt Strike Beacon.

BADAUDIO campaign overview

"BADAUDIO typically manifests as a malicious Dynamic Link Library (DLL) leveraging DLL Search Order Hijacking (MITRE ATT&CK T1574.001) for execution via legitimate applications," GTIG said. "Recent variants observed indicate a refined execution chain: encrypted archives containing BADAUDIO DLLs along with VBS, BAT, and LNK files."

From November 2022 to at least early September 2025, APT24 is estimated to have compromised more than 20 legitimate websites to inject malicious JavaScript code to specifically exclude visitors coming from macOS, iOS, and Android, generate a unique browser fingerprint using the FingerprintJS library, and serve them a fake pop-up urging them to download BADAUDIO under the guise of a Google Chrome update.

Then, starting in July 2024, the hacking group breached a regional digital marketing firm in Taiwan to orchestrate a supply chain attack by injecting the malicious JavaScript into a widely used JavaScript library that the company distributed, effectively allowing it to hijack more than 1,000 domains.

The modified third-party script is configured to reach out to a typosquatted domain impersonating a legitimate Content Delivery Network (CDN) and fetch the attacker-controlled JavaScript to fingerprint the machine and then serve the pop-up to download BADAUDIO after validation.

"The compromise in June 2025 initially employed conditional script loading based on a unique web ID (the specific domain name) related to the website using the compromised third-party scripts," Google said. "This suggests tailored targeting, limiting the strategic web compromise (MITRE ATT&CK T1189) to a single domain."

Compromised JS supply chain attack to deliver BADAUDIO malware

"However, for a ten-day period in August, the conditions were temporarily lifted, allowing all 1,000 domains using the scripts to be compromised before the original restriction was reimposed."

APT24 has also been observed conducting targeted phishing attacks since August 2024, using lures related to an animal rescue organization to trick recipients into responding and ultimately deliver BADAUDIO via encrypted archives hosted on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. These messages come fitted with tracking pixels to confirm whether the emails were opened by the targets and tailor their efforts accordingly.

"The use of advanced techniques like supply chain compromise, multi-layered social engineering, and the abuse of legitimate cloud services demonstrates the actor's capacity for persistent and adaptive espionage," Google said.

China-Nexus APT Group Targets Southeast Asia

The disclosure comes as CyberArmor detailed a sustained espionage campaign orchestrated by a suspected China-nexus threat actor against government, media, and news sectors in Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The activity has been codenamed Autumn Dragon.

The attack chain commences with a RAR archive likely sent as an attachment in spear-phishing messages that, when extracted, exploits a WinRAR security flaw (CVE-2025-8088, CVSS score: 8.8) to launch a batch script ("Windows Defender Definition Update.cmd") that sets up persistence to ensure that the malware is launched automatically when the user logs in to the system the next time.

It also downloads a second RAR archive hosted on Dropbox via PowerShell. The RAR archive contains two files, a legitimate executable ("obs-browser-page.exe") and a malicious DLL ("libcef.dll"). The batch script then runs the binary to sideload the DLL, which then communicates with the threat actor over Telegram to fetch commands ("shell"), capture screenshots ("screenshot"), and drop additional payloads ("upload").

"The bot controller (threat actor) uses these three commands to gather information and perform reconnaissance of the victim's computer and deploy third-stage malware," security researchers Nguyen Nguyen and BartBlaze said. "This design enables the controller to remain stealthy and evade detection."

The third stage once again involves the use of DLL side-loading to launch a rogue DLL ("CRClient.dll") by using a real binary ("Creative Cloud Helper.exe"), which then decrypts and runs shellcode responsible for loading and executing the final payload, a lightweight implant written in C++ that can communicate with a remote server ("public.megadatacloud[.]com") and supports eight different commands -

65, to run a specified command using "cmd.exe," gather the result, and exfiltrate it back to the C2 server

66, to load and execute a DLL

67, to execute shellcode

68, to update configuration

70, to read a file supplied by the operator

71, to open a file and write the content supplied by the operator

72, to get/set the current directory

73, to sleep for a random interval and terminate itself

While the activity has not been tied to a specific threat actor or group, it's possibly the work of a China-nexus group possessing intermediate operational capabilities. This assessment is based on the adversary's continued targeting of countries surrounding the South China Sea.

"The attack campaign is targeted," the researchers said. "Throughout our analysis, we frequently observed the next stages being hosted behind Cloudflare, with geo-restrictions enabled, as well as other restrictions such as only allowing specific HTTP User Agents."
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves might be busy with the elections campaign but he has no intention, its seems, of allowing T&T Senator Anil Roberts from getting away with what he said is defaming utterances.

Even as Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves indicated to both local and regional media that he was contemplating legal action against Trinidad and Tobago government minister Anil Roberts, for what he alleged was "serious breaches of privacy and politically motivated defamation, word out of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, November 19, was that an internal investigation has been launched by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) into how three family members of the Gonsalves family obtained HDC units at Victoria Keys, in Diego Martin.





The matter of the probe and PM Gonsalves intention to bring legal action, were prompted by issues raised by Government Senator and Junior Minister in the Ministry of Sport Anil Roberts last week, in one of his Double and Coffee (podcast) episodes.





Roberts, declared then that PM Gonsalves wife, Eloise, and son, Storm, had purchased HDC Victoria Keys apartments in 2018, while his daughter, Soleil, obtained an apartment under a rent-to-own arrangement with an agreement signed on April 30, 2025two days after the Trinidad and Tobago April 28 general election.

Roberts carried his "expose to the point of suggesting that the matter should engage the attention of the police.





And while Gonsalves has strongly condemned Roberts broadcast, which he claims not only damages his personal reputation but also violates the constitutional rights of his family members, the HDC chairman Feeroz Khan confirmed, to the Express, that "an internal investigation has been launched by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) into how three family members of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves obtained Victoria Keys apartment units in Diego Martin.





The investigation, the Express was told, will look into alleged issues in the paperwork for the applications.





The crux of the matter, according to Roberts, had to do with Eloise Gonsalves and Storm Gonsalves purchases of Victoria Keys apartments in 2018, and daughter, Soleil, acquiring an apartment under a rent-to-own arrangement with an agreement signed on April 30, 2025two days after the April 28 general election.





Eloise Gonsalves purchase amounted to TT$1,960,000.00, and Storms to TT$1,625,000.00.





As for Soleil, Roberts declared that on August 13, 2020, her brother Storm sent a letter to HDC managing director Brent Lyons, committing to pay her rent for the property at Victoria Keyes in the amount of $4,350 for the first five years.





On October 11, 2024, Roberts continued, "Prime Minister Gonsalves wrote to Denielle Taylor, customer sales supervisor, Republic Bank Ltd, Westmall branch, stating that he would give his daughter $7,000 monthly to facilitate payment of her mortgage for the Victoria Keyes apartment.





On April 30, 2025, the rent-to-own agreement between the HDC and Soleil Gonsalves stated that she would pay a monthly rental of $2,750 payable to the HDC on the first day of each month, Roberts said.





PM Gonsalves response





In an initial response to Roberts "allegations, Prime Minister Gonsalves assured the Express that his relatives followed the process in applying for the HDC units; that there were no special favours or sweetheart deals; and that his wife "is Trinidadian and his children are also Trinidadian by descent.





When prompted, Roberts all but said his expose was in response to Gonsalves attack on Trinidad and Tobagos Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, most recently for her stance in relation to the USAs military build-up in the region.





PM Gonsalves meanwhile, having given indication of his intention to take legal action, used the occasion of one of his Unity Labour Partys public meeting to go further, and accused the United National Congress, which currently forms the government in the twin island republic, of involving itself in the ongoing election campaign in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, towards a November 27 general election.





Gonsalves was clear that the UNC interference, if any, was in support of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and to support this, made reference on a subsequent occasion to UNC party functionaries coming to assist the NDP with its campaign.





But Roberts did not allow Dr. Gonsalves to rest easy on his accusation, pointing him to the fact that the only UNC member taking issue with Gonsalves was he, Roberts, and, as per a November 19 report by the Express, he dismissed Gonsalves claim that there were UNC supporters on the ground in St Vincent.





In related news, Storm Gonsalves, also threatened legal action against Anil Roberts over claims about his (Storms) purchase of an HDC apartment.





The younger Gonsalves, in joining with his father but not in as many words, dismissed Roberts allegations as politically motivated, timed just weeks before St. Vincent and the Grenadines general elections scheduled for November 27.





There has been no word on any legal action taken by either the Prime Minister or his son, Storm, in relation to Roberts "expose the Trinidad and Tobago acquisitions.
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was opened on March 27, 2024. It is one of seventeen Sandals beachfront all-inclusive resort across the Caribbean.

Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has proudly claimed one of the industrys highest honours, winning Best All-Inclusive Resort  Overall, Gold (World) at the 2025 Travvy Awards, held recently.





Produced by TravelPulse and AGENTatHOME, the Travvy Awards celebrate excellence across global tourism, recognizing the top destinations, hotels, resorts and travel suppliers shaping the future of the travel industry.





General Manager Tamon Allen described the award as a powerful moment not only for the resort, but for the entire nation.





"This win belongs to our incredible team, to the Sandals brand, to our guests and to the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Allen said. "It shows the world that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is not only breathtaking, but truly world class in hospitality and service. Since opening, Sandals Saint Vincent has captured the hearts of travellers seeking luxury, something fresh, intimate and authentically Caribbean. Recognition like this fuels our passion to continue crafting unforgettable experiences inspired by this beautiful island we call home.





Allen also noted that the award highlights the rising prominence of the Eastern Caribbean as a leader in luxury travel, adding that "this growing momentum continues to elevate Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to international acclaim.





Situated along the pristine shores of Buccament Bay, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has rapidly emerged as one of the regions most desirable, new luxury escapes since its opening in 2024. The resort was designed to honour the islands landscapes, thriving culture and warm Vincentian spirit, seamlessly blending elevated luxury with meaningful authenticity. These qualities have positioned Sandals Saint Vincent to standout in world leading all-inclusive experiences.





The Travvy Award further cements Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines place on the world

stage as a premier destination for travellers.





Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Carlos James, in highlighting the achievement, commented: "This is a proud and historic moment for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. To have Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines voted the best all-inclusive resort in the world is a powerful endorsement of our destination, our people, and the strategic partnership we have built with Sandals Resorts International.





He extended congratulations to Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, the leadership team, and most importantly, the hundreds of Vincentians whose professionalism and hospitality made this achievement possible.




Marian and Jack Totheroh honored with Rotary Community Service Award

By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesThe Santa Paula Rotary Club honored two longtime Santa Paula residents for their lifetime of commitment to community, and Marian and Jack Totheroh showed theyre still going strong, according to Mitch Stone, who made the presentation at his last meeting as president.This is the third year of the Community Service Award originated by Past President Joe Jauregui, an award to a non-Rotarian for service to our community and deep commitment to bettering society. Thank you for doing that, Joe, because it gives me an opportunity to recognize two of my favorite people in Santa Paula, Jack and Marian Totheroh.Stone said the Totherohs moved from Hollywood to Santa Paula in 1945, where Jack became a Santa Paula High School teacher/advisor/counselor for seven years before joining the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools office. And, when Jack retired in 1984, he had three years of accumulated vacation time which he still hasnt taken! said Stone.Marian, was also a teacher, starting in Piru in 1952 before joining the Santa Paula Elementary School Districts Grace Thille, McKevett and Bedell schools. She has volunteered with the Santa Paula Art Collection inventory, and helped establish Santa Paulas Head Start program.

Marian also helped to revive and remains involved with the League of Women Voters Santa Paula Chapter, and she was involved in the Leagues publications: Too High A Price, a study of housing costs and availability of housing for farmworkers, and Know Your Community: A Study of the Santa Paula Area. She has been a docent at the Ventura County Museum for many years, said Stone, and both she and Jack are currently docents at the Santa Paula California Oil Museum.The Totherohs have been involved in so many other things over the years too numerous to mention. Everywhere I go in Santa Paula, I am always running into Jack and Marian actively engaged in some community activity, just as they have been for over 60 years. In short, noted Stone, Jack and Marian dont know the meaning of slowing down. They embody the spirit of service on which Rotary is built.A California native, Jacks father Roland Rollie Totheroh was the longtime cinematographer for comic genius Charlie Chaplin. Jack himself made his film debut as an infant in an Essanay film starring silent cowboy star and producer Billy Bronco, and has made film appearances in recent years, including the 1992 production of Chaplin, which was partially filmed in Santa Paula.






(TBTCO) - Von vay nuoc ngoai cua Chinh phu, ac biet la von ODA va von vay uu ai a va ang tiep tuc ong vai tro quan trong oi voi phat trien kinh te - xa hoi, au tu ket cau ha tang, giao duc ao tao, khoa hoc cong nghe va chuyen oi so cua at nuoc. Tuy nhien, nghiep vu cho vay lai hien nay van con mot so kho khan
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GUARDIAN Group has been awarded the Lisa James Award for Learning and Development by the Hum
Dr. Kris Harley is a 1995 SC State graduate.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- South Carolina State University will hold its fall commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

The commencement address will be delivered by Dr. Kris Harley, chief of surgery at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Commencement rehearsal is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at SHM.

About Dr. Kris Harley

Harley oversees all surgical disciplines at the center and is nationally recognized for advancing quality, safety and innovation in acute care surgery. A leadership style marked by compassion, precision and integrity has earned him respect among his colleagues and within the community he serves.

Harley has nearly 20 years of expertise in trauma surgery and critical care medicine and has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes across the Carolinas, Iowa and Ohio.

He also mentors emerging professionals and champions initiatives that expand access to equitable healthcare.

The Orangeburg County native is a 1995 graduate of SC State. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University in 2020.

Harley's journey began at the former Orangeburg Regional Hospital, now Medical University of South Carolina-Orangeburg. It was also profoundly shaped by his years at SC State, where he found a second family that molded his identity and purpose.

Harley is a lifelong member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and is an engaged supporter of the SC State National Alumni Association. The philanthropist is also a member of the prestigious Thomas E. Miller Society which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their alma mater.

The entrepreneur and servant leader continues to embody the university's values of excellence, community and service to others. His journey stands as a reflection of Bulldog pride and is a living testament to the transformative power of an SC State education.
PHOENIX  Attorney General Kris Mayes will continue to pursue criminal charges against the 11 Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state's legally elected electors after the 2020 presidential race.

Mayes said Friday that she will seek Supreme Court review of a ruling that quashed the original indictment. It named not just those who signed certificates Donald Trump won the state in 2020  he did not  but also seven others in the Trump orbit, including several attorneys and Trump's chief of staff from his first term as president, on felony charges of fraud, conspiracy and forgery.

Mayes contends they all were part of a scheme to undermine the results of the 2020 election by creating doubt about the results in Arizona and other battleground swing states by submitting paperwork claiming they were the legal electors. She said that was designed to get then-Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding officer of the Senate, to refuse to accept the official results from Arizona and other states, preventing victor Joe Biden from getting the necessary 270 electoral votes, a move that could have allowed Congress to give Trump an immediate second term.

Mayes said Friday she remains convinced it is necessary to pursue the case to "uphold the law and protect Arizonans.''

"An independent grand jury of ordinary Arizonans found that there was sufficient cause to charge the defendants with the alleged crimes,'' she said in a written statement. "These defendants were charged based on two things: the facts and the law.''

Now she has to convince the state's high court to restore the original indictment.

Original indictment thrown out

Mayes could face an uphill battle. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sam Myers threw out the original indictment against all 18 earlier this year.

He ruled the grand jurors were not provided with a key piece of information that could have backed up the defendants' claim there was no intent to defraud: That the 1887 federal Electoral Count Act addresses the possibility of competing electors from a state and how Congress must handle them. The defendants contend that the election results in Arizona were not clear  there was a legal challenge at the time, which was eventually dismissed  and they were simply submitting the GOP slate to Congress should it turn out that Biden actually lost.

Myers' decision was upheld unanimously by a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals.

It is that decision Mayes hopes to overturn, by telling the justices that the 1887 law is irrelevant to the case.

"The Electoral Count Act is a federal statute that provides no defense to the state fraud, forgery, and conspiracy charges,'' wrote Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Klingerman, who has been spearheading the prosecution for Mayes' office.

Klingerman also wants the high court to conclude that instructing the grand jurors on the federal law "would be misleading at best.'' He said it is legally up to a trial jury  and not the grand jurors, as Myers said  to determine whether the defendants' legal interpretation of that law is correct.

The defendants now have 30 days to respond.

Other challenges

Even if the high court agrees with Mayes, that does not mean the case will go to trial as scheduled next year, if at all.

First, there is another legal issue that must be resolved: whether Mayes violated the state's Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation law.

SLAPP, as it is known, is designed to prevent public officials from using the court to punish and prevent speech on political issues. Myers, in a preliminary ruling in February, said there was evidence the indictment appeared to attack what is "at least in part some arguably lawful speech.''

The judge at the time gave the Attorney General's Office 45 days to respond. But that issue was put on the back burner until it's decided whether the prosecution will proceed after the indictment was thrown out.

There's also a separate bid by Christina Bobb, one of Trump's former lawyers who was among those indicted, to have Mayes and her office disqualified entirely from hearing the case. She says that much of the case was prepared not by the Attorney General's Office but instead by States United Democracy Center.

At this rate, the case could run into the 2026 election season, where Mayes, a Democrat, is seeking a second term.

Defendants blast decision

The decision to try to get the indictment reinstated drew criticism from attorneys for state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican who was one of the 11 false electors.

"The court has already made a preliminary finding that Mayes pursued the case to punish the defendants for lawfully exercising their constitutional rights,'' Hoffman's lawyers said in a prepared statement, referring to the yet-to-be-decided issue over the SLAPP law.

Hoffman's lawyers said dismissing the case would be "right and just for the defendants and the people of Arizona.''

Anthony Kern, a former state senator who also signed the certification, said Mayes is "wasting money.''

"If she drops the case and she loses, her base is going to be mad at her,'' said the Glendale Republican, who is trying to get back into the state Senate after an unsuccessful 2024 bid for Congress. "I get that,'' he said. "But how dumb can you be?''

Mark Williams, attorney for Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, called the case "frivolous, politically motivated'' and the appeal "a desperate Hail Mary to avoid a loss."

He said Mayes sought the indictment to punish his client and others "for their support of our great President Donald Trump'' and to discourage others from supporting him. He also said she did it "to advance her own political interests and those of the Democratic Party.''

Kurt Altman, who represents defendant Michael Roman, who headed Election Day operations for the 2020 Trump campaign, said while he was disappointed by Mayes' decision, it is "not surprising.''

"We're confident how this is going to end, and she's just wasting the taxpayer money,'' he said.

Mayes' decision has no effect on Jenna Ellis, one of Trump's attorneys, who also was indicted. Ellis already entered into a deal to have the charges against her dismissed based on a promise to cooperate with prosecutors.

Not affected is Loraine Pellegrino, one of the 11 electors, who pleaded guilty last year to a single misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument. Her attorney, Joshua Kolsrud, said she wanted to spend more time with her husband, who had Stage 4 cancer, and did not believe she could fight the case and take care of him.

All this comes after Trump earlier this month issued "full, complete, and unconditional'' federal pardons to everyone connected with various efforts in Arizona and other states to overturn his loss in the 2020 election, including everyone Mayes has indicted.

That has no legal effect on the case here, however, as the defendants face charges of violating state laws.

Trump himself was not charged in the Arizona indictment but was named as an unindicted co-conspirator.
November 21, 2025: Russia recently discovered that the Pakistani ISI/ Inter-Services Intelligence agency was seeking to steal Russian military technology in the form of information on Russias S-400 air defense systems and helicopters. India has ordered ten regiments/battalions of Russian S-400 air defense squadrons. Deliverers will be completed in 2026. India currently has four squadrons, each consisting of sixteen vehicles. This includes missile launchers, radar, a control unit and support vehicles.

Pakistan uses air defense systems it obtained from China. These systems proved intermittently ineffective against Indian aircraft. For India, their S-400s proved to be a disappointment. Several other systems performed poorly. The brief fighting between India and Pakistan left India the net loser. Pakistan fought using 42 jets versus about 70 for India. Pakistan used several Chinese J-10C fighters which cost India three French Rafale jets and two Russian models, a MiG-29 and a SU-30MKI. Two S-400 missile launchers were damaged. This came after successful Indian airstrikes on over half a dozen Islamic terrorist targets on Pakistani territory in Kashmir as well as Pakistan air bases. India and Pakistan have been fighting over who should own all of Kashmir since 1947.

The biggest surprise was the successful combat test of the Chinese J-10 jet. Since 1988 China has tried to get an original modern Chinese fighter design operational. The J-10 was the aircraft that succeeded. The J-10C version uses more composites in the airframe and has improved electronics. This includes a new AESA radar. J10s are the most widely used modern Chinese-designed jet fighter, and are still in production.
In an interview marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Vietnam, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier emphasized that the partnership is built on trust, shared values, and a strong commitment to progress.

His comments reflect a three-decade trajectory that began with humanitarian efforts in the early 1990s - including the resettlement of over 100,000 Vietnamese boat people - and has evolved into one of the EUs most comprehensive and strategically significant partnerships in Asia today.

Ambassador Guerrier noted that the EU seeks to cooperate with Vietnam in a more ambitious future, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and contributing to global peace, stability, and prosperity.

This 35-year journey mirrors Vietnams transformation, the EUs strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific, and the political and economic trust that now underpins a relationship ready for its next leap.

Julien Guerrier  EU Ambassador to Vietnam.

EVFTA: The economic foundation of trust

Over the past decade, the EUVietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become the cornerstone of bilateral economic cooperation. Coming into force amid the COVID-19 global slowdown, the agreement has helped bilateral trade surge by about 40% to 65 billion. EU FDI in Vietnam also grew from 22 billion to more than 30 billion, solidifying Vietnam as the EUs largest trading partner in ASEAN and its 16th largest globally.

Ambassador Guerrier called EVFTA a core legal framework that boosts confidence in Vietnams market stability and transparency. It has encouraged reforms in procedures, licensing, and regulatory predictability - all of which are priorities for European businesses.

Despite years of trade surpluses favoring Vietnam, the EU has chosen not to impose balancing tariffs. Instead, a high-level working group was established to monitor market access and ensure the full, fair, and predictable implementation of the EVFTA.

The energy transition: A new frontier for cooperation

On climate, the EU and Vietnam share the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Guerrier revealed that the EU is mobilizing unprecedented resources for Vietnam: 142 million in budget support for the green energy transition, more than 100 million in grants for climate adaptation, and up to 4 billion in preferential loans through blended finance mechanisms from European development banks.

Key projects like the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant, Tri An hydropower, and nearshore wind in Tra Vinh demonstrate the EUs deep commitment to helping Vietnam restructure its energy sector.

This is essential to ensure Vietnamese exports meet the EUs tightening environmental standards in the years ahead.

Beyond EVFTA and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Ambassador Guerrier identified the Global Gateway strategy as a new pillar of EUVietnam cooperation for the next decade. This initiative will focus on investment in clean energy infrastructure, transport (especially rail and high-speed lines), and digital infrastructure, including 5G and advanced tech.

This structural capital investment lays the groundwork for Vietnams strategic modernization - a prerequisite for achieving its goal of becoming a developed country by 2045.

A multifaceted partnership

Despite geographical distance, the EU has direct interests in the South China Sea, through which 40% of its imports and 25% of its exports pass. Guerrier reaffirmed the EUs strong support for a rules-based international order and UNCLOS, and praised Vietnams role as a stable regional partner.

The 2019 Framework Participation Agreement - the EUs first with an ASEAN country - marked a major step in defense cooperation. The EU now provides training to Vietnamese peacekeepers, while Vietnam sends officers to EU missions. This reflects the maturity of the bilateral relationship.

Beyond trade and energy, EU assistance reaches deeper levels of Vietnams development: institutions, legal reform, governance, and human capital. Currently, over 300 million in EU grants are being deployed, with an additional 160 million planned by 2027 to support legal reform, governance capacity, and an inclusive green transition.

Though less visible, these forms of aid have lasting impact - they build the foundation for sustainable growth in an increasingly open economy.

In education and research, Erasmus and Horizon Europe programs connect students, experts, and scientists, shifting EUVietnam ties from government-to-government to people-to-people. This is a vital step toward a resilient, long-term strategic relationship.

The yellow card on IUU fishing: A test of enforcement

Ambassador Guerrier acknowledged Vietnams overhaul of its legal framework to meet international standards against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, but stressed that enforcement remains the key challenge. This includes managing vessels over 15 meters, improving vessel monitoring systems, and strengthening data and penalties.

The Prime Ministers directive requiring coastal provinces and ministries to submit regular reports to Brussels has been well received by the EU.

Resolving the yellow card is not just a compliance issue - it is also a test of Vietnams ability to deliver on commitments under next-generation trade agreements.

Toward a comprehensive strategic partnership

The most anticipated milestone in 2025 is the elevation of EUVietnam ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Guerrier described this as a future-proof framework - deep enough to remain relevant for decades. Once in place, new priority areas like semiconductors, high-tech innovation, and strategic raw materials will come to the fore.

The 35-year journey of EUVietnam cooperation is one of maturity: from humanitarian aid, to development, to robust trade and defense collaboration - and now, toward a strategic partnership.

It is a path built on trust, converging interests, and shared aspirations.

As Ambassador Guerrier noted, this anniversary is not just a moment to reflect on the past, but a point to define a shared vision for the future - a rule-based, reform-driven, sustainable, and resilient partnership for an unpredictable but opportunity-rich world.

Tu Giang
At the session, ministers and senior officials reviewed and agreed on several key matters, including items requiring upgrade negotiations, progress in Costa Ricas accession process, consideration of initiating accession talks with a number of other economies, and assessments of implementation and outstanding issues under the agreement.

Delegates were also briefed on Vietnams preparations and priority agenda for 2026, when the country will take over the CPTPP Chairmanship. Vietnams proposal to establish a CPTPP support unit to help address resource constraints received strong backing and unanimous endorsement from member economies.

The meeting adopted the Joint Statement of the ninth CPTPP Commission and agreed to open accession negotiations with Uruguay. Negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines and Indonesia are set to commence in 2026 when conditions permit.

On the meetings margins, CPTPPEU and CPTPPASEAN trade and investment dialogues were convened to enhance connectivity between the CPTPP, the EU and ASEAN, thereby fostering cooperation amid increasing global economic and trade volatility.

The Vietnamese delegation made active and substantive contributions that were well recognised by other members. Minister Dien also held bilateral discussions with counterparts from New Zealand, Japan, the UK and the EU on issues of mutual concern and ways to advance economic and trade cooperation. The 10th CPTPP Commission at ministerial level will take place in 2026, chaired by Vietnam, with Australia and Peru serving as Vice Chairs.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Dien noted that 2026 is forecast to remain a challenging period for the global economy and trade, while CPTPP members will face an unprecedented workload linked to implementation, upgrading and expansion of the agreement.

In this context, he affirmed that Vietnam is honoured to take on the 2026 Chairmanship and is committed to fulfilling the role with the utmost responsibility, building on Australias achievements as Chair in 2025 and injecting fresh momentum into the CPTPP.

He stressed Vietnams intention to promote a comprehensive agenda focused on strengthening implementation, advancing upgrade negotiations, broadening engagement with key partners, concluding Costa Ricas accession, and progressing other accession processes. Vietnam also aims to work with members to reinforce coordination mechanisms and enhance support for CPTPP economies.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the CPTPP is Vietnams first next-generation free trade agreement. It has markedly strengthened the countrys foreign trade. As of October, Vietnams trade with CPTPP partners reached 102.8 billion USD, up 20.6% year-on-year; exports hit 58.3 billion USD, rising 26%, while imports totalled 44.5 billion USD, up 14.47% from the same period in 2024./.
As one of the citys premium residential areas with modern facilities, Thao Dien Ward (in the former Thu Duc City) is often referred to as the rich neighborhood of HCMC, where most residents have high incomes.

Thao Dien enjoys convenient transport connections, linked to surrounding areas through Metro Line 1 and the expressway. With a network of prestigious international schools, the area attracts a large community of foreigners working and living in HCMC. As a result, many restaurants, cafes, and shops in European and American styles have arisen.

What makes Thao Dien stand out from other luxury neighborhoods is its peaceful, nature-friendly atmosphere. Its proximity to the Saigon River keeps the air cool throughout the year.

Thanks to these natural and demographic advantages, housing types in Thao Dien are distinctive. In addition to riverside villas, many developments here are luxury condominiums.

However, every time there is heavy rain or high tide, some main roads in the "rich area" of Thao Dien such as Xuan Thuy, Nguyen Van Huong or Thao Dien streets turn into a river.

Despite the frequent flooding, house prices in Thao Dien are still among the most expensive in HCMC.

Nhu Quynh, a broker specializing in apartments in Thao Dien area, commented that due to its prime location and upscale living environment, most investors develop luxury apartments with high selling prices.

One of the projects with price increases year by year is the Masteri Thao Dien apartment complex. According to the broker, although apartments were handed over a decade ago, they are still increasing in price and are sought after by many people.

"From the initial level of VND55-65 million/sqm, the price of many apartments here has exceeded VND100 million/sqm. For example, a 70sqm apartment is being offered by the owner for VND7.5 billion. Since Metro line 1 began operating, the price increase of this apartment complex has become increasingly clear," Nhu Quynh said.

The Nassim Thao Dien apartment complex has a higher selling price, averaging VND130 million/sqm. The highest asking price in the area belongs to the Thao Dien Green apartment complex, ranging from VND160-240 million/sqm.

According to Nhu Quynh, the rent for apartments in Thao Dien area is also comparable to the central area of HCMC. A 2-bedroom apartment at Masteri Thao Dien rents for VND17-20 million/month. The same type of apartment at Thao Dien Green is VND40-60 million/month.

Townhouses, according to Huu Binh, a senior broker in Thao Dien area, are suitable for families who want a long-term residence, not for short-term investment. Although it has potential, buyers should not expect rapid price increases.

"Rapid price increases only belong to units with beautiful views, river views, and large areas. Units without these factors will only maintain their price and not increase sharply," Binh said.

The broker said that the price of townhouses in the "rich area" of Thao Dien currently ranges from VND250-310 million/sqm. The price of villas has gone up to VND200-350 million/sqm. For example, a 200sqm villa located on Nguyen Van Huong street is being offered for VND70 billion.

In recent years, the Eastern part of HCMC (former Thu Duc City) has always been the leading area for new housing supply, especially the apartment segment. However, the differentiation in apartment supply in this area is becoming increasingly clear, as the market almost exclusively offers high-end products.

Apartment prices are increasing, with developers launching products at higher prices than the previous phase. The average apartment price in this area is approaching VND200 million/sqm.

Eaton Park by Gamuda Land is the project leading the price level in the Eastern HCMC area, averaging over VND200 million/sqm.

After the two high-rise subdivisions, Masteri Grand and Lumiere Midtown, Masterise Homes is preparing to launch luxury apartments belonging to the CT5 tower at The Global City urban area. Although the developer has not officially announced, the expected selling price will not be lower than Eaton Park, according to many sources.

The developer of the Palm City project is also expected to launch a new high-rise subdivision, with prices ranging from VND250-300 million/sqm in the near future.

Dat Xanh Group is also participating with the next phase of The Prive project. More than 1,000 apartments in the first phase of this project have selling prices ranging from VND115-130 million/sqm.

Anh Phuong
On the evening of November 19, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, Anphabe - Vietnams pioneer in employer branding and workplace happiness consulting - officially announced the Top 100 Best Places to Work in Vietnam 2025.

According to the latest survey results, CMC Technology Group has once again earned a place among the Top 100 companies with the most attractive working environments in the country. In addition, CMC proudly secured a position in the Top 10 within the IT/Software & Application/E-commerce sector.

CMC representative Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Thuy  Group HR Director  receives the Top 100 Best Places to Work in Vietnam 2025 award.

A trusted ranking, with 73,000 participants marking its 12th year

This years results were based on evaluations from 73,000 participants - including more than 7,000 students - assessing 650 enterprises across 18 key industries. The survey was conducted under the auspices of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and independently verified by market research firm Intage Vietnam.

This is the 12th year that the Top 100 list has been published and the third year that Anphabe has used a tiered system of Top 1, Top 10, Top 20, and Top 50, helping businesses clearly identify their standing in Vietnams competitive talent landscape.

In 2025, Anphabe certified CMC among the Top 10 in the IT/Software & Application/E-commerce industry and among the Top 100 large enterprises in Vietnam.

Notably, the Employer Brand Health Check 2025 indicates strong gains for CMC in brand awareness, employee favorability, and preference among IT talent.

Affirming a future-forward HR strategy in the age of AI

CMCs consistent placement among the Top 100 employers reaffirms the success of its human resources strategy, particularly as the company drives its AI Transformation Strategy and pushes toward becoming a global tech powerhouse in the artificial intelligence era.

Beyond its technological achievements, CMC places people at the heart of its mission - consistently investing in workplace culture, capacity development, and building a happy, sustainable work environment. This commitment is foundational in attracting, nurturing, and retaining the digital talent needed in todays fiercely competitive IT sector.

CMCs consistent presence in prestigious rankings affirms its position as a leading employer brand in the ICT sector.

Nguyen Trung Chinh, Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman of CMC Technology Group, shared: CMCs continued recognition as one of Vietnams Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2025 is a meaningful acknowledgment of our effort to build an open, creative, and inspiring workplace. In this era of AI, we place people at the center of every strategy. We will keep investing in learning, talent development, and creating space for every CMCer to explore, experiment, and thrive.

This recognition strengthens CMCs resolve in its journey to become a global technology corporation - and a workplace where every member can find opportunity, inspiration, and a meaningful future.

HR Director Dang Thi Thanh Thuy added: We believe people are at the heart of every growth strategy. In the AI era, empowering each CMCer to learn, develop, and innovate not only unlocks their full potential but also forms a powerful competitive edge for CMC. This honor motivates us to invest even more in people - the key to breakthrough and sustainable growth.

CMC aims to reach global enterprise status with USD 1 billion in revenue and a workforce of 10,000 by 2028. Human capital remains central to achieving this vision.

Strengthening its place in Vietnams tech talent community

CMCs continued presence in both the overall Top 100 and the Top 10 IT sector rankings reflects growing trust within Vietnams tech talent pool. It affirms the strength of CMCs employer brand and the effectiveness of its digital workforce development strategy.

Moving forward, CMC Technology Group will continue to invest in people, workplace culture, and innovation - striving to become one of the happiest, most creative, and most sustainable workplaces in Vietnam and the broader region.

PV
Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc.

Hanoi Vice Chair Truong Viet Dung reported that since the beginning of 2025, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Steering Committee 57 have issued seven directives to implement Resolution 57-NQ/TW. The Steering Committee has met and assigned 197 specific tasks to agencies, units, and localities related to developing science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

The city Peoples Committee has ensured implementation across the administrative system with 111 key documents and 14 decisions announcing a list of 103 green lane administrative procedures, shortening processing time by 3060 percent, and demonstrating a strong reform mindset in supporting enterprises.

Regarding tasks assigned by the central government in 2025, Hanoi has completed 98 out of 187 tasks. Among these, 83 were completed on time and 15 overdue; 89 out of 187 tasks are in progress, and 12 are being implemented behind schedule.

He praised the efforts of departments and sectors in modernizing digital infrastructure, building cloud-based data centers, implementing the two-tier government model, and strengthening data connectivity across the system.

However, one of the biggest bottlenecks is outdated technology infrastructure, with each commune/ward currently needing to use an average of 20 operational software applications.

The city has proposed several urgent solutions such as transferring all commune/ward public administrative service points to the city-level center in November 2025, allocating resources to upgrade facilities before November 30, 2025, developing iHanoi into a Super App for residents and businesses by Q4 2026, and launching the Hanoi Data Center and cloud infrastructure from December 2025.

Hanoi will lead and implement its agenda based on vision  data  example setting, and execute through OKR  KPI  digital dashboards. The city commits to completing all key tasks before December 31, 2025.

Protecting those who dare to think, dare to act, and dare to innovate

Speaking at the meeting, Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the city is implementing a race to the finish plan to deliver Resolution 57-NQ/TW in 2025 along four axes: Party agencies, the Peoples Committee, the Peoples Council, and the Fatherland Front and its member organizations.

He said this is a very urgent task to utilize digitized data, serving the work of leadership, direction, management, and administration at each level, and citizens, businesses, and socio-economic development tasks. The Steering Committee has set out seven key tasks for this.

"The GDP for the science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation sector in the first three quarters of the country reached 16.3 percent. For Hanoi alone, this index was 16.9 percent, higher than the national average. The implementation of the seven key task groups of Resolution 57 is moving in the right direction, consistent with the Central Government's directives," Ngoc said.

However, according to the Hanoi Party Secretary, there are still many limitations that need to be addressed soon to ensure the overall progress of the country.

Specifically, there are six main groups of limitations affecting the progress of 569 tasks and 13 general difficulties that the Central Steering Committee has pointed out.

First, many inter-sectoral tasks lack clearly defined outputs, leading to poor quality and delays. Of the 221 tasks underway, 30 are overdue. These tasks have been identified as causing systemic obstacles to the citys development and must be resolved in 2025.

Second, mechanisms for coordination and data sharing between agencies remain inconsistent. Many units still suffer from data fragmentation, with databases not interconnected and standards lacking uniformity.

The Party Secretary said: We must end data siloing and treating shared resources as private assets. Each unit must have a clear address and take responsibility for sharing information for the common good.

Third, digital infrastructure and shared databases remain inadequate. Interconnection between sectors is limited, processes are not standardized, and lack of system integration affects task handling and public service delivery.

Fourth, implementation capacity at the grassroots level is uneven. Some units lack specialized personnel; system operators remain weak; and training does not meet practical demand.

Fifth, financial mechanisms and investment procedures for science-technology and digital transformation face obstacles, especially in developing technical-economic norms and pricing for sciencetechnology products.

Sixth, limited initiative and avoidance of responsibility: The spirit of proactivity of a portion of units is limited, with some showing avoidance and fear of responsibility.

PV
Recognized as a national historical site in 1995, Mo So Cave (located in Kien Luong commune, An Giang province) is part of a dramatic limestone mountain range that boasts mysterious caverns and rugged terrain.

More than just a scenic destination, Mo So holds traces of Vietnams revolutionary past and remains a draw for visitors fascinated by both history and unspoiled nature.

Aerial view of Mo So Cave complex. Photo: N.H

In Khmer, Mo So means white stone. The mountain range rises dramatically from the low-lying Mekong Delta landscape, its wild forests and intriguing caves forming both a natural landmark and a living monument to Vietnams two great wars of resistance.

According to Kien Luongs Cultural and Sports Center, during the First Indochina War, Mo So served as a base for Engineering Workshop 18 (under Military Zone 9) and Cambodian volunteer forces.

Here, revolutionary troops produced and modified weapons seized from the French, supplying the Southern battlefront with vital arms.

Mo So features over 20 interconnected caves. Photo: T.T

Every step inside the cave is a journey into Vietnams proud history and untouched natural beauty. Photo: T.T

In the following Vietnam War, Mo So once again became a critical strategic base, acting as a command post on Route 1C - a key transportation route for moving weapons and supplies from the North to the South.

Despite repeated raids by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces aiming to destroy the base, Mo So endured, thanks to its treacherous terrain and the ingenuity and bravery of local fighters. It played a crucial role in securing revolutionary victory in the region.

Geologically, Mo So takes the shape of a ring, enclosing a green valley in its center. Experts say the caves were formed millions of years ago, when the area was submerged beneath seawater. Ancient marine erosion left behind dramatic cave walls, deep hollows, and fantastical stone formations.

The range contains over 20 caves - some so narrow only one person can squeeze through, others vast enough to shelter hundreds.

Within the mountain lie cold underground streams and shimmering stalactites, illuminated by beams of sunlight that filter through skylight holes. The result is a subterranean cathedral sculpted by natures hand.

A cool underground stream winds through Co Yeu Cave. Photo: T.T

A commemorative plaque at the entrance to the Medical Cave honors revolutionary fighters who gave their lives for national reunification. Photo: T.T

Local students take part in back to the roots activities at Mo So Cave, learning about Vietnams revolutionary legacy. Photo: N.H




Contrary to rumors, the standard version in the S26 series is expected to launch simply as the Galaxy S26 - not Galaxy S26 Pro. Both the S26 and S26 Plus are set to receive significant upgrades aimed at enhancing the user experience compared to the S25.

A Galaxy S26 concept render. Photo: TT Technology

Here are the six key improvements the tech world is anticipating in Samsungs next flagship line.

Snapdragon and Exynos: Power split returns

According to supply chain sources, Samsung is reviving its dual-chip strategy for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus, depending on the market.

Some regions will receive the version powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while others will get Samsungs in-house Exynos 2600 chip.

While previous Exynos chips drew criticism for performance inconsistencies and high power consumption, the new Exynos 2600 - built on a 2nm process - is expected to reverse that narrative with improved efficiency and speed.

The real-world performance, however, will only be verified upon release.

Despite the chipset split, users are hoping for better optimization this time, avoiding the performance disparity seen in earlier generations.

Revamped rear camera design

From the front, the S26 and S26 Plus will likely retain the familiar minimalist look of past Galaxy phones.

However, leaked images show a notable change on the back.

Unlike the individually separated lenses on the S25, the new models will feature a unified camera island. This design not only looks more cohesive but also promises practical benefits: less dust and lint accumulation - an issue many S25 users complained about.

While some may debate its visual appeal, the unified layout offers better durability and cleanliness in daily use.

Faster 20W wireless charging

Samsung is expected to bump the wireless charging speed from 15W to 20W on the S26 and S26 Plus.

Though the upgrade seems modest, its meaningful given that battery capacity wont be increased in these models.

With the faster charging power and the upcoming Qi2 wireless charging standard - expected across all Galaxy S26 models - users can expect quicker top-ups and improved convenience.

As Apple and others push forward with standardized wireless charging, Samsungs move ensures it remains competitive and user-friendly.

Qi2 support: Expanding the magnetic accessory ecosystem

One of the most exciting changes is full Qi2 support.

This means the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will integrate magnets into their chassis for seamless use with magnetic accessories - similar to Apples MagSafe.

This opens the door to an entire ecosystem of gear: magnetic battery packs, wallet attachments, car mounts, camera grips, and magnetic pop-sockets.

Previously, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus were only Qi2 Ready, meaning they lacked internal magnets but could still use magnetic accessories if paired with a compatible case.

With magnets now integrated directly into the device, the connection will be more stable, secure, and practical - subtly transforming the Galaxy experience.

Improved telephoto sensor size and quality

All Galaxy S26 models are expected to feature a new 12MP telephoto sensor measuring 1/2.55 inches - significantly larger than the 10MP, 1/3.52-inch sensor on the S25.

While the optical zoom remains at 3x, the upgraded sensor is expected to capture more light, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos with less noise in low-light conditions.

In an era where mobile photography is a key differentiator, this upgrade could help the S26 compete with or even surpass rivals like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Smarter AI experience

Samsung isnt just investing in hardware - its also ramping up its artificial intelligence capabilities.

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will launch with One UI 8.5, which brings advanced customization and intelligent features.

Expected upgrades include: a fully customizable Quick Settings panel, enhanced visual effects, smarter battery-saving modes, and a new voicemail feature.

As AI becomes the center of innovation in mobile tech, Samsungs Galaxy AI push will allow it to compete directly with Apple and Google in the AI space.

With all these rumored improvements - from design and cameras to chips and AI - the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are shaping up to be headline-grabbing releases ahead of their expected February 2026 launch.

Many questions remain, especially about pricing and real-world performance, but Samsung is clearly signaling a strong commitment to advancing beyond the S25 generation.

If the leaks hold true, the Galaxy S26 could be one of 2026s most well-balanced flagships, delivering performance, intelligence, design, and daily usability in equal measure.

Hai Phong
Nguyen Thi Khanh Dieu, a student at Phenikaa University, is blazing her own trail in biomedical technology - specifically the application of antennas in medical devices. Her story is a shining example of youth who dare to diverge, who persist despite obstacles, and who strive every day to become the Number 1 version of themselves.

A turning point: From paper to circuit boards

Born in Ha Tinh, Dieu spent three years preparing for Vietnams A1 entrance exams. She was also the top scorer in the D stream at Ly Tu Trong High School and was accepted into the Banking and Finance program at the Foreign Trade University with a near-perfect score of 28. Her future seemed clear: stable, comfortable, and suitable for a girl.

Nguyen Thi Khanh Dieu in the lab with her peers, exploring the field of biomedical engineering. Photo: Provided by subject

But life sometimes draws a new path - bolder and more radiant.

Offered a full scholarship by Phenikaa University, Dieu made a bold pivot into Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She stepped into a world of unfamiliar territory: resistors, circuits, electromagnetic waves - all things she had never encountered before.

The first year was a jolt. She had to start from scratch: electromagnetism, circuit simulation, programming. But rather than give up, she chose to recharge herself, nurture her passion, and persist daily - embodying the spirit of resilience and unrelenting drive.

Each night, when the lab lights went off, Dieu remained - debugging code, reworking antenna simulations that failed time and again, just to find why the radiation pattern wasnt correct.

Whenever exhaustion hit, shed reach for a bottle of Number 1. The strong, explosive taste of Number 1 energizes me, sharpens my focus, and gives me the push to keep going, Dieu laughed. I tell myself, Just a little more. And then I sit back down at the desk and continue.

Dieu powers through late nights, nurturing her passion for biomedical tech and embodying the resilient in passion, never backing down spirit of Vietnams youth. Photo: Provided by subject

From silent components to meaningful innovation

Those sleepless nights taught Dieu that results arent everything. What matters most is growing stronger with every challenge - and staying loyal to your passion.

A chance encounter led her to antennas - originally a domain for telecom engineers. But for Dieu, they became a bridge between technology and human life.

A tiny antenna embedded in a heart-monitoring patch. A sensor transmitting data to a remote medical center. Suddenly, cold technical systems took on a soul.

A vibrant leader in student activities, Dieu inspires peers with positivity and unwavering determination. Photo: Provided by subject

Technology only truly matters when it serves people, Dieu said. To me, each antenna simulation or biomedical sensor is not just engineering - its a small step toward safer, better lives.

Even amid circuits and calculations, Dieu relies on Number 1 to stay sharp and push through every challenge in her research. Photo: Provided by subject

Persistence powered by purpose

In addition to her lab work, Dieu is an active leader in student life, bringing her positive energy and "resilient in passion" mindset to peers across campus.

In moments when I feel overwhelmed, Number 1 helps me reset and refocus. Thanks to that, Ive learned to withstand pressure, keep my passion alive, and rise stronger with every obstacle, she smiled.

Fueled by that mindset, Dieu has achieved a remarkable list of accomplishments: five international scientific papers (three as lead author), the Vietnam Women in Science and Technology Award 2025, and invitations to speak at conferences both in Vietnam and abroad.

Behind the success lies a trail of failed experiments - but also a clear philosophy: No road is too far. Only those without enough passion cant go the distance.

Even amid circuits and calculations, Dieu relies on Number 1 to stay sharp and push through every challenge in her research. Photo: Provided by subject

A daily dose of energy and purpose

For Dieu, every research session and antenna simulation is like a fuel injection. She balances the tension of science with moments of reflection, helping her stay sharp, energized, and endlessly passionate.

If rapper Den - the brand ambassador for Number 1 - shares his story through music, then I tell mine through antennas and circuitry, Dieu said. We both represent young Vietnamese who dare to dream and dare to act. Quietly, persistently, we pursue those dreams - no matter how rough the road.

To Dieu, every mistake and misaligned graph is a necessary bump toward becoming a better version of herself.

Her journey reflects not only that of a promising young researcher, but of thousands of students quietly laboring in labs, of engineers testing endlessly, of young people constantly finding the energy to move forward.

And somewhere - across factories, lecture halls, labs, and studios - millions of young Vietnamese are doing just the same: from workers, doctors, teachers, and engineers to artists. They are daring to dream, choosing passion over comfort, and pushing forward with quiet resolve.

Because the journey upward isnt about competing with others.

Its about fueling your own fire. Being resilient. Becoming the Number 1 version of yourself.

Bui Huy
Nguyen Thanh, a researcher in microwave and acoustic engineering from the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), proposes developing a framework for monitoring and managing unmanned aircraft in Vietnam (Photo: Du Lam)

UAVs are a new type of vehicle with entirely new behaviors, creating a gap with existing aviation laws and regulations, which are not fully compatible.

Nguyen Thanh, a researcher in microwave and acoustics engineering at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), said a legal corridor must be developed to facilitate the growth of this sector and allow companies, organizations, and individuals to participate. At the same time, technical infrastructure needs to be strengthened.

He pointed out key differences between low-altitude UAVs and traditional aircraft, such as flight trajectories and the expanded ownership base that includes individual users. In the future, individually owned UAVs may account for a high proportion.

Allowing individuals to own UAVs, combined with flexible and spontaneous flight capabilities, makes traditional licensing and monitoring rules no longer ineffective.

Without proper management, UAVs could be exploited for dangerous activities, including illegal flights, smuggling, transporting prohibited items, or even serving terrorist or military purposes.

Thanh emphasized that for the UAV sector to develop responsibly, Vietnam needs a complete, transparent, and timely legal framework for enterprises, organizations, and individuals involved in UAV operations.

Predicting that low-altitude UAVs will be used widely in daily life, similar to cars and motorbikes, he said Vietnam will need an air traffic police force along with the necessary technical infrastructure.

To address these challenges, he proposed a low-altitude drone/UAV monitoring and management system consisting of four subsystems: a command and information-processing center; management of legal UAVs through 4G/5G networks; a low-altitude radar network to detect illegal UAVs; and aircraft suppression equipment(soft and hard suppression tools to neutralize dangerous UAVs if needed).

According to Nguyen Thanh, drone buyers must register with the management agency to obtain an identification code, similar to registering license plates for ground vehicles.

Vehicles need to be equipped with a 4G/5G communication module, connected to the ground mobile network, ensuring the device can report its coordinates and trajectory parameters during flight.

Regarding the radar network for detecting and monitoring illegal vehicles, the radar will be deployed as a network in areas requiring surveillance and management.

The system will compare information with the database of authorized aircraft and their licensed flight schedules to detect illegal vehicles.

In China, several localities are rolling out low-altitude UAV monitoring and management systems using a crossing the river by feeling the stones approach.

In Vietnam, Nguyen Thanh said he is proposing a test zone of 35 sqm before 2028 in key areas before 2030, in provincial-level areas before 2032, and to commune-level areas before 2035.

Safety in the airspace

According to Le Thi Phuong, Deputy Director of the Aeronautical Information Service Center under the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), the airspace is already congested with many types of aircraft operating simultaneously. The mass presence of low-altitude UAVs will further increase risks.

In reality, low-altitude UAV activities have already affected civil aviation. In 2025, Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa had to adopt multiple control measures, enhance warning systems, and tighten security after several aircraft were forced to change direction or suspend nighttime operations due to repeated drone interference in June.

This shows that UAVs are not only potential risks but have become direct threats to civil aviation.

According to Phuong, VATM has modernized infrastructure and applied new technologies to support aviation safety services and accommodate new types of vehicles and equipment. For unmanned and low-altitude flight operations, some tasks are underway, including establishing a shared database.

In several leading UAV-adopting countries, UAV operations are tightly monitored. For example, in the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires UAVs to have real-time electronic identification information attached, and set up a UAV operations and airspace committee to balance the needs of different users.

To ensure safety, the FAA also develops special flight corridors near densely populated areas, areas with many obstacles, and airports.

When a complete management framework and an effective surveillance force are established, UAVs will become a powerful driver to boost the low-altitude economy, a new economic sector that could contribute $10 billion to Vietnam by 2035.

The low altitude economy includes economic activities that take place below 1,000m, and can be expanded to below 5,000m depending on each countrys actual needs. It leverages manned and unmanned flight technology and low altitude smart networks to develop infrastructure, produce aerial vehicles, provide services, and ensure flight safety.

With advantages in geopolitics, innovation-friendly policies, and a young, dynamic workforce, Vietnam is facing a once in a thousand years opportunity to become a regional and global low altitude industry hub, creating 1 million jobs.

Du Lam
After three suspenseful and emotion-filled hours, Miss Mexico - Fatima Bosch - was officially crowned Miss Universe 2025 at the grand finale held in Thailand on November 21. The runners-up titles went to contestants from Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines, and Cote dIvoire.

An electrifying start

The final event began at 8 AM local time with a dazzling opening ceremony. Following the introduction segment, the organizers announced the Top 30 finalists, selected from contestants representing countries and territories around the world, including India, Guadeloupe, China, Thailand, Brazil, Rwanda, Cote dIvoire, Colombia, the Netherlands, Cuba, Bangladesh, Japan, Puerto Rico, the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Malta, Chile, Canada, Croatia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Palestine, Nicaragua, France, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay (who won the fan vote).

Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch from Mexico.

Swimsuit round: Where confidence shines

In the swimsuit segment, each of the Top 30 contestants appeared on stage in colorful two-piece swimwear. With approximately 30 seconds to walk the runway, they demonstrated poise, energy, and confidence, engaging both the judges and the cheering audience.

The segment was charged with energy and excitement, with each contestant showcasing vibrant charisma, refined catwalk skills, and lively interaction with the cameras and spectators.

At the end of the round, judges selected the Top 12 contestants: Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malta, and Cote dIvoire.

Top 30 contestants showcase swimwear during the competition.





Evening gown competition: Elegance meets individuality

The Top 12 contestants then moved on to the evening gown segment, where they displayed personal style, elegance, and stage command.

Standout looks included:

Chile in an off-shoulder pink sequin gown

Colombia in a high-slit pastel pink fitted dress

Guadeloupe in a navy blue crystal-embellished ensemble

Mexico exuding queenly grandeur in a red and gold embroidered gown with a dramatic cape

Venezuela in a radiant red dress with gold sequin accents

China surprising the audience in a shimmering silver gown paired with a white feathered cape by Vietnamese designer Nguyen Minh Tuan

After this visually striking segment, the judges narrowed the field to the Top 5: Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, and Cote dIvoire.

Cac thi sinh trong trang phuc da hoi.

The Q&A: Voices of purpose and passion

In the all-important interview round, each finalist addressed a question live from the judges:

Thailand was asked what global issue she would address if speaking at the UN General Assembly. She chose gender equality, advocating for equal treatment in the workplace and families, and called on everyone to raise their voices for womens rights.

The Philippines spoke about her dream to inspire others, having come from a poor background. She started entering beauty contests at age 10 to fund her education and lift her family out of poverty. Her presence on the Miss Universe stage was proof of perseverance and determination.

Venezuela was asked how she would use the Miss Universe platform to foster empathy and cultural understanding. Drawing from her experience living across continents, she emphasized breaking language barriers and the power of female role models to shape the world.

Mexico addressed the challenges facing women in 2025. As Miss Universe, she vowed to use her voice to create safe spaces for women worldwide. Women today must speak up and lead change, she said. Those who dare to rise become the ones who make history.

Cote dIvoire was asked what emotional skill should be taught in schools. She emphasized teaching self-love to young girls through the mantra affirm your identity. She believes that confidence and self-worth empower girls to shine and shape their futures.

The Top 5 finalists of Miss Universe 2025.







Final question: Empowering the next generation

In the last round, the Top 5 were given the same final question: If you win the Miss Universe title, how will you use this platform to empower young girls?

Thailand said that everyone can overcome failure, and the key is not how you fall, but how you rise. She encouraged girls to be their own heroes and spread light to others.

The Philippines highlighted her work with a youth organization that helps children from low-income families recognize that their circumstances do not define their futures. She wants to expand this mission through the Miss Universe platform.

Venezuela spoke about the combined power of education and communication. Her journey to Miss Universe, shaped by belief and experience, reflects her desire to be a steadfast example of perseverance for all girls.

Mexico delivered a heartfelt message: Believe in the power of your authenticity. Believe in yourself. Your dreams matter. Your voice matters. Never let anyone make you question your worth - you are valuable and your voice must be heard.

Cote dIvoire envisioned herself as the face of a new generation - blending modernity with tradition. She aims to be a role model for girls everywhere, showing that they too can lead, shine, and affirm their identity with pride.

Crowning moment

After a touching final walk by outgoing Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjr Theilvig, host Steve Byrne returned to announce the winner.

In a wave of cheers and applause, Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears as Victoria Kjr Theilvig placed the crown on her head - marking a beautiful conclusion to an inspiring journey.

Huy Minh
Elon Musk's artificial-intelligence startup, xAI, is reportedly in advanced talks to raise $15 billion in fresh funding, bringing the company's valuation to an eye-popping $230 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The fundraising details were shared with investors by Musk's wealth manager, Jared Birchall, on Tuesday night. It remains unclear whether the $230 billion figure is pre- or post-money.

Reuters could not independently verify the report, and Birchall was not immediately reachable for comment. xAI's automated response to inquiries simply read, "Legacy Media Lies."

If confirmed, the new valuation would more than double xAI's $113 billion value after merging with Musk's social-media platform X in March, EconomicTimes reported.

Last week, Musk dismissed a CNBC report claiming a $15 billion Series E round at a $200 billion valuation, calling it "false."

Since its launch in July 2023, xAI has been working to close the gap with competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude.

The company has been rapidly expanding its data-center operations to support more advanced AI models. Among its major projects is the planned Colossus supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, which is expected to power the startup's future AI research.

#newsmakeroftheday



xAI in talks to raise USD 15 billion at USD 230 billion valuation



The new valuation would more than double xAIs USD 113 billion mark disclosed when it merged with social-media platform X in March 2025.#internationalfinance #xai #elonmusk pic.twitter.com/IT7t5BHoJT  International Finance (@IntlFinanceMag) November 19, 2025

Tesla Shareholders Approve Investment in Musk's xAI

Musk has also suggested that Tesla could financially back xAI. Tesla shareholders recently approved an investment in the startup, although a significant number abstained from voting.

According to Reuters, Investor interest in AI remains high, despite warnings of a potential bubble caused by soaring valuations and aggressive spending.

Analysts note that xAI's rapid growth reflects both the excitement around AI and Musk's influence in driving attention to the sector.

xAI's valuation leap highlights the intense competition in artificial intelligence, as companies race to develop more powerful models and secure large investments.

Musk's high-profile leadership has brought extra attention to the startup, making it one of the most closely watched AI ventures today.

Experts believe that the planned $15 billion funding round could help xAI scale operations even faster and solidify its position as a major player in AI.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) from continents have submitted more than 1,300 comments on the draft political report for the Congress, reflecting a strong sense of responsibility, trust and desire to accompany the nation.

Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the press that said the current term has seen evolution in OV affairs. What began as outreach and occasional mobilisation has evolved into laws and mechanisms designed to let them take a more proactive and direct role in national development.

The Party and State attach importance to supporting the material and spiritual needs of OV communities, with particular emphasis on preserving Vietnamese culture and language, supporting local integration, and fostering community unity. These efforts, Kien said, have bolstered their confidence, deepened their connections to the homeland, and encouraged greater contributions to Vietnams growth.

Following a Politburos conclusion issued in August 2021 and a Governments subsequent resolution, agencies within the entire political system have innovated their working methods. Citizen protection and legal assistance have become more proactive people-centred. Vietnamese language courses and cultural initiatives including the Vietnamese Bookshelf project, and community events have expanded in host countries. Engagement with OV experts, professionals and entrepreneurs has also intensified, especially in such priority fields as sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation, education, and healthcare.

Coordination involving ministries, localities and the SCOV has improved markedly. Numerous OV-led initiatives have been launched in Vietnam, while a growing number of Vietnamese scientists and professionals abroad are engaging in policy advisory roles, strategic consulting, innovation, startup mentoring and skilled workforce training.

On the draft political report, OV contributors broadly commended its quality and strategic vision, particularly the linkage between socio-economic development and Party building. Many welcomed a shift in leadership thinking as this is the first time four major reports have been merged into a single political report, complete with an attached action plan - a move signaling a commitment to matching words with deeds.

They also expressed broad support for the Congresss theme, describing it as succinct, clear and reflective of national unity and development aspirations.

Regarding development strategy, he said feedback highlighted an emphasis on sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation as the three main pillars of Vietnams next growth model.

On foreign affairs and global integration, several comments spotlighted the nearly 6.5 million-strong Vietnamese community abroad as a strategic resource and soft power for global integration and people-to-people diplomacy. Suggestions included tighter coordination between diplomatic missions and mass organisations, the OVs leveraged role in cultural and scientific diplomacy, and expansion of Peoples Ambassadors network to project an image of a creative, humane and globally engaged Vietnam.

For OVs-specific policies, contributors called for a stable legal framework to ensure their confidence in integration and contribution, expanded Vietnamese language education and cultural preservation, streamlined administrative procedures and digitised public services, increased youth exchanges, scholarships, and internships; and the creation of global networks connecting Vietnamese experts, entrepreneurs, and professionals with domestic localities.

According to Kien, OVs are closely following the upcoming Congress and place high expectations on its outcomes, believing that each decision will shape not only the countrys future and global standing but also the pride and identity of the global Vietnamese community./.VNA
Receiving Neil Pollock, Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), PM Chinh called on the business community to contribute to strengthening the Vietnam-South Africa relations.



Building on the two sides sound political ties and the vast untapped potential for economic cooperation, the PM invited the SACCI leaders and member enterprises to visit Vietnam soon, and encouraged them to explore investment opportunities in the Vietnamese market.



He said Vietnam stands ready to welcome South African investors for experience exchange and to deepen, diversify and enhance the effectiveness of economic, trade and investment ties for mutual benefits, especially in sectors where both sides possess significant potential and strengths, such as agricultural production, mining, oil and gas, and in trading Vietnams key export items, including electronics, textiles, footwear and fruits.



With 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) covering more than 60 major economies and strong advantages in farming, Vietnamese enterprises could invest in South Africa and export locally, thereby contributing to food security in the country while tapping into the African market of more than one billion people, the Vietnamese leader noted.



Pollock praised Vietnams rapid growth and strong development amid global and regional uncertainties, and lauded the leaders of both countries in turning commitments into concrete actions. He also highlighted the two sides shared cultural and historical values as well as their strong potential for tourism cooperation.



He stressed that South Africa could learn much from Vietnams experience, and that South African businesses could also learn from their Vietnamese peers. Pollock proposed stronger governmental connectivity, saying South African enterprises are ready to work with Vietnamese partners to seize major opportunities, and expressed confidence that progress would unfold swiftly.



Working with Brenda Moagi, Board Member, and Sesakho Magadla, CEO of the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa Limited (PetroSA), PM Chinh underlined that cooperation in oil, gas and energy is vital to ensuring fast and sustainable development for each nation.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brenda Moagi, Board Member of the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa Limited. (Photo: VNA)

He proposed PetroSA cooperate with the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) in promising areas such as offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation, petrochemical refining, oil and gas services, energy industry development, offshore wind and solar energy, joint investment in potential regions, and human resources training. The PM also invited PetroSA leaders to visit Vietnam for discussions with relevant partners and practical cooperation deals.



For their part, the PetroSA leaders expressed strong interest and willingness to cooperate with Vietnam, saying they would hold detailed discussions with Petrovietnam with a view to signing a memorandum of understanding for rapid, sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation.



Moagi added that with South Africas electricity grid connected regionally, the two sides have great potential for cooperation, particularly in offshore wind power and oil and gas exploration, which are sectors that could begin collaboration immediately. Petrovietnams support is highly necessary for PetroSA, she said.



Working with De Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink, PM Chinh noted that although cooperation between Vietnam and South Africa is developing strongly in the fields of politics, economy, trade, and tourism, they still lack direct flights. He emphasised that collaboration in expanding air routes and the aviation market will significantly contribute to promoting trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges, tourism, cargo transport, and e-commerce between the two countries.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and De Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink (Photo: VNA)

He stated that Vietnams aviation market is growing rapidly, with the total air transport market expected to reach about 85 million passengers in 2025, an increase of around 11% compared to 2024. The market currently includes six Vietnamese airlines, namely Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways.



Vietnam is also focusing on developing its airport infrastructure to meet the market's growth, especially Long Thanh airport, which is expected to complete Phase 1 by the end of this year, and Gia Binh airport, which will be completed in the coming years - both designed on a large scale to help Vietnam become a regional aviation gateway capable of handling up to 100 million passengers and millions of tonnes of cargo annually.



PM Chinh also noted that South Africa is a gateway to Africa, while Vietnam is a gateway to Asia and Southeast Asia, with a radius of about 56 hours flight covering a region that accounts for roughly 50% of the worlds population and 60% of global GDP.



He proposed that, based on its experience in operating air route networks, Airlink enhance cooperation with Vietnamese airlines to further strengthen aviation connectivity between the two countries. The goal is for Airlink to serve as the gateway to Africa for Vietnamese airlines, and for Vietnamese airlines to serve as the gateway to Asia of Airlink in particular, and other South African airlines in general.



Engelbrecht fully agreed with the Vietnamese PM on the importance of strengthening aviation cooperation for the bilateral relations. He said that discussions are already underway with Vietnamese airlines to implement collaboration activities in line with the PMs proposals, thereby contributing to the establishment of a tourism and people-to-people exchange corridor between the two countries./.VNA
Reading culture is not just about opening a book, its about how one seeks, reflects on, and applies knowledge. Yet today, at many universities in Hanoi, students no longer frequent libraries or read printed newspapers. Studying, researching materials, or reading stories or specialized books is mostly done via phones and computers.

Nhu Quynh, a third-year student at Hanoi National University of Education, said she only reads about three paper books a year because she mainly uses her iPad to read and take notes quickly, which is more convenient than carrying books.

Although only reading a few printed books each year, Quynh said she still regularly researches over 20 academic PDF documents and reads specialized articles. This shows that instead of losing reading habits, many students are shifting reading from traditional to digital forms, which are seen as faster and more convenient.

The internet is also a double-edged knife: many students only skim or watch summaries, and easily lose concentration due to social media and short videos.

Hai Long, a student at a university in Cau Giay (Hanoi), said: I intend to go online to find materials, but then get drawn into watching video clips and reading comments on Facebook. When I try to come back to work, the whole session is gone. Now I read much less and not as deeply as before.

Not a few students consider reading paper books old-fashioned. Others face obstacles in time, book purchase costs, or simply no longer have enough patience to sit and read for long.

New reading culture

However, it cannot be denied that today's students are creating a new form of reading culture.

The Vietnam National University Hanoi Library (VNU) reported that in 2021-2023, the school's digital library system recorded over 77.6 million visits, more than three times higher than 2020 (23.6 million s). By 2025, VNU Library has served over 142 million interactions and uses. These figures show students are increasingly proactive in exploiting electronic learning materials for study and research.

In addition to expanding digital data, libraries also regularly organize activities like Book Day and One good book per week to encourage students to return to paper books and practice deep reading in the technology era.

Not only reading online, many students combine both forms. They use platforms like Google Books, Wattpad or Kindle to read quickly, but still buy favorite books to keep, mark and contemplate.

According to Huong Huyen, a student at Hanoi University of Commerce, maintaining reading culture in the digital age is not just reading a lot, but more importantly, reading selectively, reading to understand and knowing how to apply.

Huyen shared that amid countless technology temptations, each person can start with small actions like dedicating 15-30 minutes daily to long content without interruption, limiting social media time, or joining book clubs to exchange and spread the learning spirit and love for knowledge.

At Hanoi University, HANU Book Club regularly organizes Book Talk series for students to read, discuss and share feelings about meaningful books. This activity helps ignite interest in reading, create connection spaces and help students learn to listen, debate and view issues multi-dimensionally.

Education PhD Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen believes the rise of social media and short content not only affects students but also impacts children and adults.

Frequent exposure to fast information reduces many people's concentration when reading long texts and written information processing capacity. When losing patience for deep reading, learners gradually lose interest, perceptiveness, and self-study capacity, the core elements of reading culture.

However, along with that change, a new way of reading is taking shape. Today's students read more flexibly, using technology to access knowledge anytime and anywhere through many forms like e-books or audiobooks. However, listening to books cannot completely replace reading, because only when reading - noting - underlining - reflecting, readers can truly understand and remember knowledge.

Huyen believes that building reading culture needs to start early, from preschool and primary levels. For students, to revive this habit, the important thing is finding a community or reading tribe, where people have the same interests and goals, encouraging each other to maintain reading. No need to read a lot right away, just a few pages daily from favorite books, then gradually increase. The important thing is regularity, she said.

Tu Anh
A journalist from CTO Magazine (USA) recently interviewed Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Boston Global Forum, on the topic of shaping frameworks for artificial intelligence. The conversation explored how ethical AI could redefine leadership, governance, and the global digital economy - while underscoring the need to build a human-centered AI world. Tuan Viet Nam is honored to present the full interview below. The question for todays leaders is no longer what AI can do, but rather how AI should be directed. In a world increasingly governed by algorithms, the call for ethical frameworks, transparent digital systems, and human-centered leadership has never been more urgent. At the pivotal intersection of innovation and responsibility stands Nguyen Anh Tuan - Co-Founder, Co-Chair, and CEO of the Boston Global Forum, and creator of the AI World Society (AIWS) and the AIWS Digital Asset Standards Initiative (AIWS-DASI). He offers a transformative perspective. Beyond strategy, his ideas challenge todays leaders to think beyond performance and disruption - and instead to develop technology that uplifts society, protects truth, and preserves human values in an algorithm-driven world. As the world races toward an AI-shaped future, Nguyen Anh Tuans vision warns that innovation without ethics may ultimately erode the very humanity it seeks to elevate. His message is clear: technology must evolve hand-in-hand with conscience. Technology alone does not determine the future - people do. Even as we create the fastest and most advanced AI systems, what truly defines progress is how we use them, guided by ethics, compassion, and a shared sense of responsibility. This is a timely reminder that human values - not technical power - are the true driving force behind a meaningful digital future. The future of technology depends not on how powerful AI becomes, but on how wisely and compassionately we choose to lead it.

Youve worked with global leaders, governors, and professors at institutions like Harvard. What have those collaborations taught you about the kind of leadership needed in the AI era?

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan delivers a tribute speech honoring spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the World Leader for Peace and Security Award, November 3, 2025, at Harvard University.

Nguyen Anh Tuan: Leadership in the AI age requires more than power or popularity - it demands vision, compassion, innovation, and deep ethical wisdom.

Working with world leaders, esteemed governors, and prominent professors - especially at institutions like Harvard - Ive learned that the most impactful leaders today are those who:

Think long-term - true pioneers who can foresee both the promises and perils of AI.

Act with compassion and responsibility - making decisions grounded in respect for human dignity and well-being.

Innovate with purpose - using technology not just for efficiency or dominance, but to ethically and effectively serve humanity.

Move fast and wisely - in a rapidly evolving AI age, leaders must balance speed with foresight and flexibility.

Ultimately, leadership today must rise above populism, avoiding short-term applause in favor of long-term responsibility.

True leaders must think with, for, and by the people. Equally important is interfaith understanding and respect. The future must be inclusive, drawing from the spiritual and cultural values of diverse traditions. Ethical AI cannot thrive without a foundation of empathy, mutual respect, and a shared moral compass.

These lessons have deeply shaped my work in building the AI World Society (AIWS) and designing a new form of enlightened, human-centered leadership for our era.

What inspired you to create the AIWS Digital Asset Standards Initiative (AIWS-DASI)? Was there a turning point?

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan and Pope Francis at the Vatican, June 2024.

The inspiration came from a clear and disturbing realization: the digital asset ecosystem was descending into chaos - untrustworthy and prone to abuse.

In late December 2024, I witnessed a surge of unethical behavior across digital asset platforms - lies, fraud, manipulation, and cybercrime. Public trust was eroding. There were no shared values, no transparency, and no clear ethical framework guiding the use or governance of digital assets.

That moment changed everything for me.

I realized that if digital assets were to truly empower people and support a new economy - rather than exploit them - we needed a principled foundation. A framework rooted in ethics, responsibility, transparency, and respect for human dignity.

Thats why I founded AIWS-DASI under the broader vision of AIWS.

AIWS-DASI is more than a technical standard - its a social and moral covenant for how digital assets are created, valued, and used, with AI as a trusted agent of support, not manipulation. It recognizes that digital assets must contribute to a new economy of trust, uphold social good, reflect cultural and spiritual values, and align with the principles of a human-centered AI era.

By establishing these standards, we aim to shape a future in which digital transformation is both innovative and ethical - where truth and integrity define the digital economy, not speculation or deceit.

AIWS-DASI launches the worlds first ethical certification system for digital assets. How will this certification work in practice, and who can apply? What is its core mission?

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan and French President Emmanuel Macron at the AI Action Summit in Paris, February 2025.

AIWS-DASI introduces a pioneering ethical certification system designed to uphold integrity, transparency, and trust in the rapidly expanding digital asset space. At its core, the certification ensures that digital assets - whether tokens, digital art, cryptocurrencies, or AI-generated products - adhere to clear ethical, technical, and legal standards.

In practice, the certification process is governed by the AIWS-DASI Council and reviewed by the AIWS Asset Board - a body composed of global experts in AI, finance, cybersecurity, law, and ethics. Applicants - including creators, startups, platforms, and organizations - submit their digital assets for evaluation across criteria such as origin transparency, ethical use of AI, privacy protection, traceability, environmental impact, and social value. Assets that meet the criteria are awarded the AIWS Ethical Label, signaling their credibility and social responsibility.

The primary objective is to combat fraud, deception, and unethical practices in the digital space, particularly as digital assets increasingly underpin economic and social infrastructures. By establishing a behavioral standard, AIWS-DASI aims to build a safe, human-centered digital economy - where innovation serves the public good.

How does AIWS differ from other global AI ethics initiatives, and what unique impact do you hope to create?

AIWS sets itself apart both in vision and structure. While many global efforts focus on frameworks or principles, AIWS builds a workable and actionable societal model for the AI era - grounded in ethics, human dignity, and global cooperation.

It integrates governance, the digital economy, education, culture, and spiritual values into one unified ecosystem. The goal is not just safe AI or regulatory compliance, but to shape a future where AI becomes a companion to civilization.

We ask not only what AI should not do, but what AI can do for good - supporting democracy, creativity, peace, and the common prosperity.

Our unique impact lies in creating living institutions such as AIWS Government 24/7, AIWS Film Park, AIWS Music for Humanity, and AIWS Digital Assets - where ethical AI is practiced and shared in daily life. Through partnerships with global leaders, institutions like Harvard and MIT, and policymakers, AIWS seeks to pioneer a new age of enlightenment, where AI reinforces moral foundations instead of eroding them.

What safeguards ensure transparency and accountability in the AIWS-DASI certification process itself?

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.

AIWS-DASI is designed with a multi-layered governance architecture to ensure integrity, transparency, and credibility at every stage:

First, independent oversight by the AIWS Asset Board. This globally representative board - comprising leaders in ethics, law, finance, and technology - oversees the entire certification framework. It evaluates applications, monitors compliance, and has the authority to revoke certifications in cases of violations.

Second, transparent evaluation criteria. All ethical, technical, and governance standards required for certification are publicly available. Applicants undergo a rigorous assessment process based on these published standards, ensuring decisions are objective and free from bias or arbitrariness.

Third, audit trails and a public registry. AIWS-DASI maintains a tamper-resistant, auditable registry of all certified digital assets and related decisions. Each certified project is listed in a public ledger, enabling community oversight and limiting potential abuses.

Fourth, whistleblower and appeals mechanisms. Any individual or organization may raise concerns or report violations via a secure whistleblower system. Applicants have the right to appeal, with reviews conducted by an independent panel to ensure fairness.

Fifth, regular reassessments of certified entities. Certified holders must submit periodic updates to ensure continued compliance with evolving standards in ethics, security, and transparency.

Sixth, the AIWS Code of Ethical Conduct. All certified participants must pledge to uphold this code - committing to human dignity, truth, privacy rights, and responsible innovation. Breaches may result in revocation of certification and public disclosure.

Together, these mechanisms ensure that AIWS-DASI functions not merely as a technical certifier, but as an ethical steward of the digital asset ecosystem - fostering public trust, protecting users, and advancing a fairer, more enlightened digital economy.

Experts forecast that up to 90% of online content in the near future may be generated by AI. What governance mechanisms, in your view, could realistically ensure truth and authenticity in such a future? And how can we ensure that human creativity remains central - not sidelined?

In a world where AI-generated content becomes the dominant form of information, the core challenge is not AIs presence itself, but how we govern its role in shaping narratives, values, and beliefs.

AI is a tool, not an author

My fundamental belief is simple: all AI-generated content must originate from a human idea - a human intention. AI is a powerful assistant: it accelerates expression, expands reach, and amplifies imagination. But it must never overwhelm the core creative impulse that resides only in humans.

Governance frameworks by BGF and AIWS

To maintain this balance, BGF and AIWS are developing governance frameworks and standards to:

First, verify source and intention: Every AI-generated content must be traceable to a human originator, with metadata indicating whether it was human-made, AI-assisted, or AI-generated.

Second, introduce ethical standards for AI content: Under the AIWS-DASI framework, we can certify platforms and creators who adhere to ethical standards - ensuring that truth, respect, and transparency permeate every layer of digital content.

Third, celebrate human-centered creativity: Initiatives like AIWS Film Park and AIWS Music for Humanity show how AI can amplify the human story without diminishing its soul.

HumanAI partnership for truth

In this ecosystem, AI does not lead - AI supports. Governance mechanisms will ensure that AI:

Operates transparently, with auditable logs of how content is created

Respects intellectual and emotional authorship

Actively avoids spreading falsehoods by embedding verification protocols

Empowers creators from diverse cultures and spiritual traditions

Preserving the human spirit in the age of AI

Our mission is to build a digital society where AI expands - not narrows - the scope of human expression. By enforcing ethical standards, verifying content provenance, and honoring the dignity of human creativity, we can ensure that even in an AI-dominated future, humanity remains at the center - with its stories, dreams, and truths.

How can developing countries meaningfully participate in global AI ethics and digital governance?

Developing nations have a vital role in shaping the ethical future of AI and digital governance. They are not passive recipients of technologies developed elsewhere - they must co-create global standards and values in the age of AI. Their perspectives, challenges, and cultural richness offer irreplaceable insights.

Participation is essential because:

Inclusive norms protect their interests: Without their involvement, global standards may emerge that fail to reflect their realities - inadvertently widening inequalities, deepening digital divides, or embedding exploitative systems. Active participation safeguards sovereignty, culture, and future economies.

AI as a leapfrogging tool: With proper ethical frameworks, AI can help these countries leap ahead in healthcare, education, finance, and governance. Engagement allows them to build protective fences while maximizing benefits.

Cultural and spiritual contributions to ethics: Many nations hold deep spiritual and cultural traditions essential to a more humane vision of AI. Philosophies rooted in harmony, compassion, and community can enrich the global framework.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan announces the AIWS Digital Assets Standards Initiative (AIWS DASI) at Loeb House, Harvard University, November 4, 2025.

Meaningful engagement involves:

Joining global alliances and initiatives: Organizations like BGF and initiatives such as AIWS-DASI welcome collaboration. Through these, countries gain access to cutting-edge research, policy frameworks, and ethical standards they can adapt locally.

Sharing local innovations and real-world scenarios: Contributing examples of local AI use, societal challenges, and ethical dilemmas helps ground global frameworks in real life. Lead working groups, present at international forums, and participate in multilateral dialogues as equal partners.

Building local capacity with international support: Through AIWS networks, countries can train AI ethicists, policy leaders, and engineers with curricula grounded in universal values of dignity and justice.

Launching ethical model pilots: Pioneering AI ethics pilots in healthcare, rural development, or digital identity - and linking them to AIWS-DASI certification - positions these countries as leaders and models for the global community.

The benefits of engagement include:

Global prestige and influence: Shaping the rules instead of merely following them.

Access to resources and knowledge: Unlocking funding, technical support, and world-class networks.

Cultural empowerment: Embedding their own philosophies, religions, and traditions into global digital governance, ensuring AI is value-rich, not value-less.

Economic development with integrity: Ethical AI frameworks attract responsible investment and nurture trustworthy innovation ecosystems.

Conclusion: Engaging in AI ethics and digital governance is not merely a right - it is a vital necessity. By acting now, developing nations can shape the future of AI to serve all humanity and create a future that reflects their values, voices, and visions.

What does human-centered innovation mean to you in practice - and how can businesses and governments embrace this mindset?

To me, human-centered innovation means that all technological progress must begin and end with the well-being, dignity, and empowerment of people.

Its not merely about user experience or satisfaction - its about aligning innovation with human values, ensuring technology becomes a force for compassion, equity, and upliftment.

In practice, this means:

Start with human needs, not just technological capabilities.

The fundamental questions should be: What human problems are we solving? What opportunities are we unlocking for human growth? Technology is a tool to amplify potential, not the destination itself.

Respect human agency.

People are not data points or passive users - they are decision-makers, co-creators, and partners. Systems must provide transparency, control, and meaningful choices.

Embed ethics from the start.

Design for fairness and justice from day one - not as an afterthought. Every innovation should be stress-tested for its social and ethical impact, especially on vulnerable communities.

Prioritize inclusion.

Solutions must account for cultural, linguistic, and diverse human needs - particularly those of marginalized populations. The AI revolution must leave no one behind.

Recommendations for businesses:

Establish a Human Values Unit within R&D and product design teams.

Adopt AIWS-DASI certification to ensure transparency, trustworthiness, and dignity in AI systems.

Co-design with users, especially those most affected by the technology.

Redefine KPIs beyond profit - include trust, well-being, accessibility, and social value.

Recommendations for governments:

Integrate ethics into policy and regulation using standards like AIWS and the Boston Charter for AI Ethics.

Invest in humanistic education, combining AI, ethics, humanities, and public service.

Fund Civic Tech and social innovation: leverage AI to tackle issues like health, climate, and education.

Protect digital human rights: ensure data, identity, and digital freedom are safeguarded by law and design.

In summary:

Human-centered innovation is about restoring the soul of technology. It calls on us to develop AI not merely for efficiency or growth, but for compassion, truth, meaning, and shared progress.

With the right mindset and mechanisms, we can ensure that innovation lifts humanity - not replaces it.

How do you envision the development of the AI World Society in the next decade?

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan launches his new book "AI World Society: 30 Years of U.S.Vietnam Partnership, from Nha Trang to Boston (19952025). Reflections on Peace, Innovation, Creativity, and Shared Destiny over Three Decades."

In the next 10 years, I envision AIWS evolving into a global citizen-technology ecosystem - a collaborative ethical platform where governments, businesses, universities, and individuals work together in the AI era to build a peaceful, inclusive, and creative civilization.

The AIWS Government 24/7: An integrated model of AI-enabled governance

AIWS will help governments transition from traditional administration to intelligent, continuous, transparent, responsive, and efficient governance - with trustworthy AI agents supporting public institutions while upholding democratic values.

Ethical digital economy and financial systems

AIWS will contribute to shaping a digital economy grounded in trust and fairness. Through the AIWS-DASI framework, it will lead efforts to certify ethical digital assets, protect against cybercrime, and empower citizens across both developed and developing nations.

Centering culture, spirit, and humanity

AIWS fosters the fusion of culture, technology, and spirituality. Initiatives like the AIWS Film Park and AIWS Music for Humanity promote global artistic collaboration, elevate human creativity in partnership with AI, and preserve sacred values and shared heritage across borders.

A global alliance of democratic forces

AIWS will continue to unite democratic nations - from the U.S., EU, Japan, and India to Southeast Asia - to promote responsible AI, counter authoritarian digital models, and uphold the four pillars: Democracy, Ethics, Innovation, and Humanity.

Enlightened digital citizenship in the AI era

AIWS will broaden access to educational initiatives that equip students, young leaders, and citizens with ethical, cultural, and civic capacities to shape the AI future. Knowledge platforms, digital libraries, and transnational research centers will make AI education accessible, practical, and value-driven.

By 2035, AIWS will no longer be just a vision - it will be a living society of values. A trusted framework to ensure AI remains a friend of humanity, not a force of disruption. A world where innovation is led by compassion, where digital progress is rooted in ethics, and where the soul of civilization is never lost to the speed of machines.

As a global voice in ethical AI, what keeps you optimistic and purposeful in this fast-changing and complex landscape?

What keeps me hopeful is the unwavering belief that human dignity, compassion, and creativity will always prevail over complexity. I believe that technology, when guided by ethics and wisdom, can be a profound force for good.

Even in uncertain times, I draw clarity and strength from several sources:

The power of global collaboration: Working alongside governors, spiritual leaders, professors, and young innovators - from Harvard to Hanoi, Paris to Tokyo - I witness a shared aspiration to build a better future. These collaborations remind me that no matter how far AI progresses, humanitys pursuit of peace, fairness, and meaning remains at the center.

Moral anchors like AIWS and BGF: AIWS gives me a moral compass - focusing not just on machines, but on societies, values, and our shared destiny. Initiatives like AIWS Government 24/7, AIWS-DASI, and AIWS Music for Humanity prove that ethics and beauty can coexist within digital innovation. That gives me hope.

Stories of integrity and vision: When I think of leaders like the late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, French President Emmanuel Macron, and spiritual teacher Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, I am reminded that ethical leadership is real and powerful. Honoring their legacies reinforces the purpose behind this work.

The energy of youth and future generations: Young people in Vietnam, the U.S., Japan, and beyond inspire me every day. They embrace AI not just as a tool, but as a responsibility. They are curious, ethical, and bold - and they will shape a more enlightened digital civilization.

Ultimately, I remain optimistic because I see AI as a mirror. It reflects who we are. If we act with ethics, courage, and compassion, AI will reflect that back. And together, we can build a civilization that celebrates both intelligence and humanity.

What core values should guide young AI leaders as they innovate?

My advice is simple yet profound: lead with humanity first. Technology may define the tools of our era; values define the destiny of our civilization.

Compassion and responsibility: Every algorithm, model, and system you build impacts real lives. Lead with compassion - design technology to serve people, not to control them. Let responsibility guide every innovation, ensuring that progress never comes at the cost of dignity or freedom.

Truth and transparency: In an era where information can be distorted by speed and automation, truth becomes sacred. AI leaders must commit to transparency, honesty, and integrity - both in how AI is built and how its deployed. Trust is the foundation of every sustainable innovation.

Creativity and courage: Dont just replicate what exists - imagine what could be. Great AI leadership demands creative thinking and the courage to pioneer. The most transformative breakthroughs come from those who blend vision with ethical imagination.

Collaboration and humility: No one builds the future alone. Work alongside scientists, philosophers, artists, and spiritual leaders. Humility allows you to listen, learn, and evolve. The best AI leaders are not those who dominate technology, but those who harmonize human and machine intelligence.

Respect for cultural and spiritual diversity: AI must reflect the richness of human diversity. Leaders must ensure that AI respects different cultures, beliefs, and values - strengthening global solidarity rather than division. Interfaith understanding and ethical depth are essential for sustainable innovation.

In essence, young AI leaders must see themselves not just as innovators, but as stewards of the future - building an ethical, compassionate, and human-centered AI world. Because in the AI age, the true measure of leadership is not how powerful the technology is, but how wisely and kindly it serves humanity.

From founding VietNamNet to leading Boston Global Forum: How has your journey shaped your vision for technology and ethical governance?

My journey has always been guided by a deep commitment to using technology as a force for good.

Looking back, when I founded and served as Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet, I saw journalism as a foundation to uplift society - a platform for reconciliation and a catalyst for compassion. One of my earliest initiatives was World Reconciliation Day, which promoted respect, tolerance, and love.

As I witnessed the rapid rise of AI, I saw both immense promise and profound risk. I quickly recognized the urgent need for ethical governance - to ensure that AI serves humanity, rather than the reverse.

Over time, I began to envision a future in which AI would not replace humans, but become a sincere companion and assistant - amplifying our capabilities and uplifting our dignity.

That vision crystallized in 2017 with the founding of the AI World Society (AIWS) - a comprehensive framework for building a new kind of society in the AI era: one grounded in ethics, human values, and technological innovation.

Today, through the work of Boston Global Forum, we continue that mission - collaborating with global leaders and thinkers to shape a fair, peaceful, and enlightened future led by responsible AI.

Nguyen Anh Tuan is the Co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum, and the creator of the AI World Society (AIWS) initiative. Formerly the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet, he is a pioneer in digital media and governance. His work bridges global leaders, thinkers, and innovators to define a Social Contract for the AI Age. He leads the development of AIWS programs, including AIWS-DASI, which aim to establish ethical, human-centric frameworks for the digital economy of the future.

Tuan Viet Nam
Cybersecurity autonomy is not merely a matter of technology. It reflects a strategic convergence of local innovation, high-quality workforce development, and proactive international cooperation. In the era of global cyber threats and rapid digitalization, Vietnam sees self-reliance in cybersecurity as critical to safeguarding national infrastructure, data sovereignty, and citizen trust.

Cybersecurity as a digital shield

As digitalization accelerates, Vietnams national infrastructure increasingly relies on connected systems in government, banking, energy, transportation, healthcare, and telecommunications.

Any large-scale cyberattack could disrupt public services, paralyze administrative operations, destabilize financial markets, or block millions of citizens from accessing essential digital platforms.

Recent years have seen targeted ransomware campaigns and mass encryption attacks by international hacker groups, which significantly delayed business operations. Several large-scale intrusions into hundreds of servers have underscored growing vulnerabilities within Vietnams digital backbone.

In some cases, attacks bear state-sponsored signatures, aiming to hijack critical data, interfere with governance, or weaken national defense.

Vietnam's strategy is thus shifting towards cybersecurity autonomy: mastering technologies, processes, and a qualified incident response force to shield its critical systems.

Why cybersecurity autonomy matters

In recent times, Vietnam has faced a surge in targeted cyberattacks, with international hacker groups launching large-scale data encryption campaigns, demanding ransom, and disrupting business operations for weeks.

Currently, most cybersecurity tools - from firewalls and surveillance systems to analytics platforms - are developed by foreign corporations. This heavy reliance poses significant risks.

Without control over source codes, algorithms, or technical infrastructure, local organizations are left vulnerable and reactive in the event of large-scale breaches.

Moreover, some foreign solutions carry embedded data collection mechanisms, exposing sensitive information to external parties.

True autonomy in cybersecurity means eliminating this dependency. It ensures Vietnam can manage digital risks proactively, retain control over strategic data, and maintain national digital sovereignty.

The 2025 Cybersecurity Law reflects this direction, requiring state agencies and enterprises to prioritize "Make in Vietnam" cybersecurity products, bolstering local industries and creating tailored solutions adaptable to Vietnams evolving context.

The law also mandates cybersecurity investment as an essential infrastructure expense, on par with electricity or water, facilitating system upgrades and modern cyber operation centers.

The three pillars of cybersecurity autonomy

Vietnam's strategy hinges on three core pillars: localized product development, skilled human capital, and selective international collaboration.

First, promoting domestic cybersecurity products is a strategic imperative. Vietnamese firms have built advanced solutions in firewalls, intrusion detection, behavioral monitoring, and security analytics. The law carves out a clear path for these technologies to be prioritized in public and private procurement, reducing costs and enhancing control.

Second, skilled personnel are vital. Cybersecurity leadership at national information systems must hold official certifications, signaling a new level of accountability. Leaders are expected to understand technical threats and lead with informed decisions, not just delegate to IT teams.

The broader goal is to cultivate a multi-tiered cybersecurity workforce capable of preempting and mitigating complex threats.

Third, international cooperation remains essential amid cross-border cyber threats. Vietnam must join global threat intelligence networks, pursue joint cybercrime investigations, and exchange best practices with advanced nations.

However, such cooperation must be selective and sovereignty-conscious. The law establishes frameworks to benefit from international experience while maintaining national control.

Citizens: The first line of cyber defense

While technical infrastructure is critical, most cyber breaches originate from user error - clicking malicious files, using weak passwords, oversharing personal data, or falling for deepfake scams.

Thus, public awareness is the true first line of defense.

Vietnam is ramping up cybersecurity education in schools, digital literacy campaigns, and real-time fraud alerts to empower citizens to protect their data.

In the workplace, training programs and incident response drills are becoming routine to strengthen organizational resilience.

Well-informed citizens and trained employees can thwart many attacks before they escalate, turning awareness into a national asset.

Toward a resilient digital future

Cybersecurity self-reliance determines Vietnams ability to secure its national data, protect citizen rights, and ensure the continuity of critical services.

It lays the foundation for Vietnam to participate in global digital value chains, advance economic competitiveness, and foster digital trust.

In the long run, cybersecurity autonomy is not just a technological goal, but a political and economic necessity.

Only by mastering its digital shield - from technologies to talent - can Vietnam build a safe, independent, and resilient digital nation for the future.

Thai Khang
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to elevate the bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership during their meeting in Johannesburg on November 21, within the framework of the formers working trip to attend the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in South Africa.



President Ramaphosa thanked PM Chinh and a high-level Vietnamese delegation for attending the G20 Summit, showing Vietnams spirit of solidarity and active support for South Africa. He affirmed that South Africa always considers Vietnam a close traditional friend and a key partner in Asia.



PM Chinh congratulated the South African President on the countrys remarkable development and its increasingly prominent role and standing on the international stage. Thanking President Ramaphosa for inviting Vietnam to participate in the G20 Summit, he expressed his confidence that, with South Africas role, standing, and experience, the summit will be successful, promoting the participation of all countries, including developing nations, in global governance for peace, cooperation, stability, and development.



The two leaders agreed to instruct relevant agencies to soon develop an action plan for implementing the newly-established relationship framework, concretising the content of the Joint Statement on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership, with the aim of creating breakthroughs and making Vietnam  South Africa relations a model of cooperation among Global South countries.



The two sides also reaffirmed their commitments to further strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation, viewing it as a key focus of bilateral collaboration. They agreed to promptly negotiate an agreement and establish a working group to promote market access for each others goods and products, with the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to 45 billion USD within the next 23 years.

PM Chinh proposed that the two sides upgrade the Inter-governmental Committee mechanism from the deputy-foreign-minister to the foreign-minister level.

At the meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on November 21. (Photo: VNA)

He also asked South Africa to soon officially launch negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), thereby creating the best possible conditions for businesses of both countries to expand cooperation and investment, particularly in infrastructure, the green economy, the digital economy, telecommunications, manufacturing, agricultural processing, energy, electric vehicle production, and the Halal industry.

He further called for strengthened ties in defence and security, as well as emerging fields such as science  technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence. The PM encouraged South Africa to facilitate Vietnamese enterprises' participation in local 5G projects and digital transformation initiatives.

Cooperation in tourism, education  training, labour, sports, culture, and people-to-people exchanges should also be stepped up, PM Chinh added.

The two leaders agreed to continue negotiations with a view to soon signing additional important cooperation documents that will provide legal and institutional frameworks for bilateral relations, including agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, visa exemptions for holders of ordinary passports, and cooperation in crime prevention and control.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, PM Chinh and President Ramaphosa agreed that the two countries will enhance coordination and support each other more actively at multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 (G77), and in contributing to the success of the G20 Summit.

President Ramaphosa expressed his satisfaction that in a short period since his recent visit to Vietnam, both sides have actively negotiated and reached consensus on a joint statement on upgrading bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, as well as an agreement on agricultural cooperation  an area that has long been under discussion.

He affirmed that South African authorities will work closely with their Vietnamese counterparts to ensure the swift realisation of the issues agreed upon by the two countries high-ranking leaders.

PM Chinh emphasised that Vietnam and South Africa had stood side by side throughout their struggles for national independence and for human rights, and that today, the two countries will continue to accompany each other in national construction and development, in the spirit of trust, comradeship, and fraternity.

Concluding their meeting, the two leaders agreed on the joint statement on upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation between Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and South Africas Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development./.VNA
HA NOI  The legal requirement for child safety seats starting from January 1 next year has sparked huge demand, with purchasing power rising sharply, especially in major cities.

According to the 2024 Road Traffic Safety Law, cars transporting children must have a safety seat or cushion suitable for the childs age and height from the beginning of 2026.

Children under 10 years old and shorter than 1.35 metre are not allowed to sit in the front seat.

Drivers who do not comply can face fines ranging from VN800,000 (US$30.5) to VN1 million ($38).

The move is seen as an important step in raising awareness about road safety for children, and it has also created a strong boost for companies selling safety equipment in cars, particularly for specialised child seats.

There is currently a wide variety of child safety seats available on the market, with prices ranging from VN1.5 million to VN6 million for mid-range models, to over VN10 million for high-end models.

To save costs, many people are opting to buy second-hand seats or rent them on a daily basis for infrequent or short-term use, such as when travelling or going back to their hometown.

The buying and selling of second-hand seats is quite active on social media community groups. The typical price for a used seat is around VN700,000 to VN1 million, while rental prices range from VN150,000 to VN250,000 per day, depending on the type of seat, rental duration and condition. The longer the rental period, the lower the price.

Hoang, manager of a car accessories store in An ong Ward, HCM City, told the Nguoi Lao ong (Labourer) newspaper that after the announcement of the mandatory child safety seat regulation, many stores quickly sourced products to start selling.

There were a few stores that previously imported child seats for display, but sales were so slow that most stopped importing them. This time, the demand seems clearer, said Hoang.

Not only car accessory stores, but many baby product stores have also started importing safety seats to test the market.

Nhung, an employee at a store in An Khanh Ward, HCM City, said that many parents had inquired about these items recently.

They mainly want to explore the models and prices. Some said they would come back to buy once the regulation is officially implemented, she said.

To assist citizens in choosing the appropriate products, the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security has recommended that parents might use safety belts, child seats, or cushions, as long as they are suitable for the child's physical condition, family circumstances, and the car.

These devices serve as mandatory protective equipment, helping to minimise the risk of injury in the event of a collision or accident. Safety standards for child safety seats have already been established under the National Technical Regulation.

Additionally, on each certified device, manufacturers are required to attach a fixed label clearly indicating the weight and height limits for children, installation instructions and safety warnings. If a device lacks a label, warning signs or installation instructions, it may not meet the technical requirements.  VNS
HA NOI  Foreign investments in Viet Nam's industrial and energy sectors are on the rise, signalling strong interest from international players and presenting new opportunities for growth.

As mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities ramp up, stakeholders are assessing the implications for the Vietnamese economy and market environment.

In mid-November, a notable discussion took place involving Quang Ngai provincial authorities and Hyundai Eco Vina, a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate HD Hyundai.

This meeting focused on the planned acquisition of the industrial project from Doosan Enerbility Vietnam at the Dung Quat Economic Zone.

CEO of Hyundai Eco Vina Seung Hyun Choi said that the legal processes for this transfer are underway, with completion expected by December. Following the acquisition, the company plans to engage in the production of LNG storage tanks, reinforcing its foothold in the energy sector.

This specific deal is part of a broader trend highlighting the increasing volume of foreign investment in Viet Nam's industrial landscape.

Recent reports from Grant Thornton, an international auditing and consulting firm, outline how Korean investors have been particularly active, capitalising on M&A opportunities to enhance production capabilities and reduce operational costs.

Another prominent example of this trend occurred in October when OCI Holdings, a leading South Korean energy and chemical group, acquired a 65 per cent stake in Elite Solar Power Wafer.

This facility, currently under construction, aims to produce solar wafers with an initial capacity of 2.7GW and a projected investment of approximately US$120 million.

OCI's investment reflects its strategy to source polysilicon from its existing manufacturing plants directly, improving supply chain efficiency and targeting key export markets such as the United States.

Industry analysts note that South Korean investors are keen to leverage Viet Nam's manufacturing capabilities while benefiting from lower labour costs. Their preference for substantial equity stakes in acquisitions demonstrates a long-term commitment to the Vietnamese market.

Despite these positive developments, obstacles persist.

Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (KOCHAM) Kim Nyoun Ho emphasised the need for improved investment conditions and business environments.

He highlighted KOCHAM's upcoming initiatives to address operational challenges faced by member firms and urged simplification of administrative procedures.

The recent M&A activities underscore the attractiveness of Viet Nam's industrial and energy sectors, which have become leading domains for foreign capital amidst substantial M&A transactions.

The energy sector has notably surged, with recorded transaction values reaching approximately $115 million in October, Grant Thornton's November report showed.

Meanwhile, industrial production maintained significant activity with transactions valued at around $109 million.

As foreign investment continues to flow into Viet Nam, stakeholders recognise the importance of enhancing the investment framework to bolster confidence.

Vice Chairman of the Singapore Business Association in Viet Nam Seck Yee Chung called for aligning local regulations with international standards. The inclusion of conditional public tender offers and provisions for forced buyouts in the securities law would provide a more comprehensive legal framework for investors.

Kenneth Atkinson, representative of the British Business Association (BritCham), said that Viet Nam needs over $136 billion in investments to develop its electricity generation and transmission sectors between 2026 and 2030.

He also pointed out that the private sector plays a crucial role in mobilising necessary capital through mechanisms such as green loans and sustainable bonds, which remains important.

However, Atkinson highlighted ongoing challenges, including the absence of a national green classification framework, limited requirements for ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting and inadequate incentives for green financing.

To address these issues, the BritCham representative recommended establishing a clear regulatory framework and national classification system for green finance.

He emphasised the need to strengthen ESG disclosure requirements to align with international standards and to implement independent verification mechanisms.

Furthermore, he advocated the creation of a credit guarantee fund or risk mitigation support for green financing, as well as expanding incentives for green lending and circular economy initiatives.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Ha Noi on Thursday between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and its Russian counterpart on cooperation in scientific research, industrial development and innovation in the industrial sector.

The signing took place at the opening ceremony of the VietnamRussia Scientific Forum on Industrial, Technological and Innovation Promotion.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai affirmed that Russia is not only a traditional and reliable partner but also a great friend who has accompanied Viet Nam throughout the process of nation-building and national defence.

Entering a new era of national rise, Viet Nam identifies industrialisation and modernisation as central tasks, with science, technology and innovation considered top national priorities, he said.

Under development orientations toward 2030, Viet Nam aims for industry to contribute over 40 per cent of GDP, with manufacturing and processing accounting for around 30 per cent.

According to Hoai, Viet Nam is focusing on shifting its growth model toward depth, prioritising the development of energy industries, materials industries, mechanical engineering and the digital technology sector. To realise these goals, alongside domestic capacity, Viet Nam places great value on international cooperation, especially with Russia  a nation boasting a strong foundation in basic sciences and leading core technologies.

Addressing the forum, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Aleksey Gruzdev emphasised that the forum has become a driving force and an important step forward in deepening bilateral relations, fostering trade promotion activities and expanding cooperation in industry and high technology.

In the coming period, the Russian Government will invest in supporting the development of industries such as truck manufacturing and sectors with strong growth potential like high-tech production.

Russia is also targeting a 40 per cent share of non-energy exports. By 2030, the country aims to achieve up to 90 per cent industrial self-sufficiency and become a global leader in high-tech industries.

Gruzdev noted that Russia and Viet Nam still possess significant potential for joint development. With their strong and longstanding relationship, he expressed confidence that the two nations will achieve many accomplishments in the coming time.

Hoai praised the initiative of organising the forum. With the participation of numerous administrators, experts, scientists and major enterprises such as Rosatom, Rusal and AlPharma, along with leading Vietnamese corporations, he expressed his belief that the forum will go beyond theoretical discussions and open up substantive and in-depth cooperation opportunities in the future.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  In celebration of the year-end holiday season, Vietjet has increased the frequency of its HiroshimaHa Noi route to four return flights per week, effective from December 20.

The airline is also offering a range of attractive promotions for both local travellers and international tourists, aiming to make holiday travel more convenient and affordable.

From November 24 to November 30, Vietjet will provide passengers millions of Economy tickets for zero ong (excluding taxes and fees), along with an additional 20kg of free checked baggage.

The airlines regular promotions are continuing as well, including up to 20 per cent off SkyBoss and Business class tickets on the second and 20th of each month, plus monthly double-day offers.

With 10 routes connecting major Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Hiroshima, Vietjets total flights between Viet Nam and Japan will increase to 70 return flights per week.

This expansion strengthens ties between the two countries, fostering cultural and economic exchange.  VNS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Crisis: Rider University placed on financial probation October 30 by Middle States accreditors. If Rider loses accreditation, students can't get federal financial aidessentially closing the school. The Plan: "March to Sustainability" approved unanimously by Board October 30 requires: Lay off 35-40 full-time faculty (25% of total) by December 31

Cut ALL employee base pay 14% starting December 1

Suspend retirement contributions indefinitely starting December 1

Require all remaining faculty teach more classes per semester

Eliminate external faculty tuition remission (2026-27)

Eliminate priority adjunct health benefits (January 1, 2026)

Eliminate several senior administrative positions The Numbers:$21.8 million deficit. President John Loyack called situation "more severe than expected" and warned of "severe cash deficit" threatening core financial obligations. Middle States meet in March 2026 to decide accreditation status. The Outrage: AAUP President Maria Villalobos-Buehner: "This has been the narrative for the last 10 years... The Board has approved yet another plan in which the faculty is carrying all the responsibility for things that happened that we were not involved in." The Timing: Faculty got email about mass layoffs less than 30 minutes after campus emergency shelter-in-place was lifted November 10, with no communication from president about their well-being.

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.  Rider University administrators announced plans Monday to lay off roughly 25 % of its full-time faculty by Dec. 31 as part of a cost-cutting strategy following the university's placement on financial probation by its accreditor.

Under the "March to Sustainability Plan" unveiled by President John Loyack on Nov. 10, the institution will eliminate 35-to-40 full-time faculty positions, reduce all employees' base pay by 14 %, suspend the university's retirement contribution indefinitely starting Dec. 1, and increase faculty teaching loads.

Rider was placed on probation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education on Oct. 30 after auditors raised concerns about the university's financial stability. The probation raises the possibility that Rider could lose accreditation if improvements aren't made.

What Losing Accreditation Actually Means

On October 30, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education placed Rider on probation.

This isn't a minor administrative issue. It's existential.

If Rider loses accreditation from Middle States, students are no longer eligible for federal financial aid. That includes:

Pell Grants

Federal student loans

Work-study programs

Without federal aid, most students can't afford to attend. Without students, the university closes.

Middle States became concerned about Rider's "financial viability" and whether the university complies with Standard VI: Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvementwhich requires appropriate financial, human, physical and technical resources.

Translation: Accreditors aren't confident Rider can pay its bills.

While under probation, Rider remains accredited and has until January 12, 2026 to submit a monitoring report showing compliance with financial standards. Middle States will meet in March 2026 to decide whether to:

Remove probation (best case)

Continue probation with conditions (bad)

Remove accreditation (catastrophic)

Why This Matters

The volume of proposed faculty cuts at Rider is significantly higher than typical budget-reduction efforts at U.S. universities and signals deep-seated financial distress.

Loss of faculty capacity may impact program viability, teaching loads, and student-faculty ratios, raising concerns about academic quality.

Accreditation probation places additional regulatory pressure on the institution and could deter prospective students or donors.

The situation highlights the broader vulnerability of small private universities facing declining enrollments, revenue pressures, and rising costs.

What Comes Next

The university's Board of Trustees unanimously approved the cost-reduction plan at its Oct. 30 meeting according to the Rider news. Implementation begins immediately, with mass-notification to impacted faculty expected in the coming weeks. Faculty and staff will continue negotiations with Rider administration and union representation in an effort to mitigate the impact.

Observers will watch closely whether the cuts stabilize Rider's finances without compromising academic mission  and whether similar institutions follow suit amid mounting higher-education financial pressures.
HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien led the Vietnamese delegation to the ninth meeting of the Commission of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and related activities, held in Melbourne, Australia, from November 2021.

At the session, ministers and senior officials reviewed and agreed on several key matters, including items requiring upgrade negotiations, progress in Costa Ricas accession process, consideration of initiating accession talks with a number of other economies, and assessments of implementation and outstanding issues under the agreement.

Delegates were also briefed on Viet Nams preparations and priority agenda for 2026, when the country will take over the CPTPP Chairmanship. Viet Nams proposal to establish a CPTPP support unit to help address resource constraints received strong backing and unanimous endorsement from member economies.

The meeting adopted the Joint Statement of the ninth CPTPP Commission and agreed to open accession negotiations with Uruguay. Negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines and Indonesia are set to commence in 2026 when conditions permit.

On the meetings margins, CPTPPEU and CPTPPASEAN trade and investment dialogues were convened to enhance connectivity between the CPTPP, the EU and ASEAN, thereby fostering cooperation amid increasing global economic and trade volatility.

The Vietnamese delegation made active and substantive contributions that were well recognised by other members. Minister Dien also held bilateral discussions with counterparts from New Zealand, Japan, the UK and the EU on issues of mutual concern and ways to advance economic and trade cooperation.

The 10th CPTPP Commission at ministerial level will take place in 2026, chaired by Viet Nam, with Australia and Peru serving as Vice Chairs.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Dien noted that 2026 is forecast to remain a challenging period for the global economy and trade, while CPTPP members will face an unprecedented workload linked to implementation, upgrading and expansion of the agreement.

In this context, he affirmed that Viet Nam is honoured to take on the 2026 Chairmanship and is committed to fulfilling the role with the utmost responsibility, building on Australias achievements as Chair in 2025 and injecting fresh momentum into the CPTPP.

He stressed Viet Nams intention to promote a comprehensive agenda focused on strengthening implementation, advancing upgrade negotiations, broadening engagement with key partners, concluding Costa Ricas accession, and progressing other accession processes. Viet Nam also aims to work with members to reinforce coordination mechanisms and enhance support for CPTPP economies.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the CPTPP is Viet Nams first next-generation free trade agreement. It has markedly strengthened the countrys foreign trade.

As of October, Viet Nams trade with CPTPP partners reached US$102.8 billion, up 20.6 per cent year-on-year; exports hit $58.3 billion, rising 26 per cent, while imports totalled $44.5 billion, up 14.47 per cent from the same period in 2024.  VNA/VNS
JOHANNESBURG  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on the business communities of Viet Nam and South Africa to enhance investment, solidarity, cooperation and mutual support to secure shared successes, development and happiness.

He made the appeal while addressing the Viet NamSouth Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg on Friday. The event, which also saw the presence of Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile, formed part of his trip for the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in the African nation.

The Vietnamese leader stressed that bilateral relations have been strongly promoted over the recent past as seen in high-level mutual visits. He revealed that he will have a meeting with the South African President during which the two sides will declare the upgrade of ties to a strategic partnership.

Highlighting the extremely good political relationship, forged by their joint struggle for national liberation and aspiration for freedom, he said there is no reason for them not to stand together for fast and sustainable development.

He said that with a solid political foundation in place, the two sides should strive for concrete results in economic, trade and investment cooperation, based on a spirit of balance.

PM Chinh noted Viet Nams development achievements and orientations, saying the country is pursuing two centenary goals amid numerous difficulties. During this process, Viet Nam has learned much from South Africa, he said, adding that he hopes the two countries will remain united to foster economic, trade and investment cooperation.

He called on Vietnamese businesses to invest in agricultural production such as rice and the produce that South Africa has to import to meet local demand and serve export. He also suggested them invest in energy, including renewable energy and logistics while increasing the export of South African products and helping with the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement.

Meanwhile, the PM recommended South Africa invest in the areas that serve as new growth drivers in Viet Nam such as innovation, the green economy and creative economy, as well as processed products.

He suggested the two sides optimise their distinctive potential, outstanding opportunities, competitive edges, the intellect of South African and Vietnamese people, along with close cooperation mechanisms to turn the nature into products contributing to both countries development.

PM Chinh asked for upgrading the Inter-governmental Committee, which is coordinated by the two foreign ministries. Meanwhile, businesses should set up working groups to foster cooperation to transform natural resources into products with higher value added.

Addressing the forum, Deputy President Mashatile said the convening of the South AfricaViet Nam Business Forum, on the margins of the G20 Summit, is a timely reminder of the vital role that partnerships and collaboration play in shaping an inclusive global economy.

He said this forum followed closely on the successful state visit to Viet Nam by President Cyril Ramaphosa, a visit that has ushered in a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Over the past years, South Africa has been Viet Nams leading trade partner in the continent, and Viet Nam is a potential market for South Africa with a sizable population of more than 100 million, as a gateway to the ASEAN market of nearly 700 million people and a GDP of US$4 trillion.

Similarly, South Africa continues to serve as the most industrialised and diversified economy in Africa and a strategic entry point into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which connects over 1.4 billion people in a single market.

As it stands, we are appreciative that bilateral trade between South Africa and Viet Nam has grown steadily, surpassing previous records in recent years. Yet, there remains vast untapped potential, he noted.

He went on to say that the two Governments are committed to creating an enabling environment for trade and investment.

South Africa encourages Vietnamese companies to explore investment opportunities in its special economic zones, which offer world-class infrastructure and incentives. Likewise, it welcomes South African businesses to invest in Viet Nams dynamic industrial clusters and technology hubs, as well as the enhancement of cooperation between the two countries chambers of commerce and industry, according to the host.

Our government, together with our Vietnamese counterparts, stands ready to support you every step of the way, the Deputy President noted. Let us build on the momentum of President Ramaphosas state visit and the spirit of this G20 Summit to propel South Africa  Viet Nam relations to new heights.

The forthcoming agreement to enhance bilateral relations signifies that both parties want to establish camaraderie while also ensuring mutual benefits for their populations. Together, we can create a model of partnership that demonstrates how developing nations, through mutual respect and shared ambition, can achieve prosperity that is both inclusive and sustainable, he added.

For more than 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries Partnership for Cooperation and Development has been flourishing, with economic and trade cooperation an important pillar.

Bilateral trade reached $1.72 billion in 2024. Viet Nams main exports to South Africa include electronics, mobile phones and components, textile  garment, footwear, and agricultural products while imports include fruits, timber, minerals and chemicals.

As of July 2025, South Africa had 20 valid investment projects worth $0.88 million in Viet Nam which, in turn, had invested $8.86 million in four projects in the African country, ranking 45th among the 84 overseas destinations of Vietnamese investment.

At the forum, participants were updated on the investment environments of both countries, along with bilateral economic and investment links. Businesses presented their investment capabilities and interests in various spheres, including mining, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, power, agriculture, processing and manufacturing. They also proposed the two Governments support them to develop cooperation projects in the time ahead.

PM Chinh and Deputy President Mashatile witnessed the exchange of cooperation agreements between the countries businesses in such fields as the transfer of strategic 3D radar technology, the launch of production projects in Viet Nam and R&D cooperation in strategic technology, tourism, air transport and trade.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Vienna Chamber Orchestra and La Philharmonica, an elite ensemble of female artists from the Vienna Philharmonic, are set to perform a special three-night concert series titled The Vienna Concert at the Ho Guom Opera House in Ha Noi on November 27, 28, and 29.

The series will commence with an opening night performance by La Philharmonica, featuring six distinguished female musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic. The ensemble is scheduled to present a selection of distinctive works, including two new compositions written specifically for the group by Tristan Schulze and Georg Breinschmid. It also features pieces by Pauline Viardot, John Williams, Johann Strauss II, Constanze Geiger, Mathilde Kralik, and Josefine Weinlich. With an elegant blend of strings and percussion, the event will take audiences on a journey from the romantic textures of opera and film music to the vibrant, refined rhythms of Viennas iconic dance tradition, the house announced on November 18.

The second night, titled Chamber Night by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, will focus on the opulent, lively musical spirit of Vienna. It features classic works by Johann Strauss II, Eduard Strauss and Josef Strauss - waltzes and polkas that define the citys dance-music heritage, including Fledermaus Overture, Mit Extrapost, Wiener Blut, Pizzicato Polka, Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald and Unter Donner und Blitz Polka. The evening will conclude with Mozarts Symphony No. 40 in G Minor (K. 550).

The series will close with Spirit of Vienna, a concert dedicated to the timeless masterpieces of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. It opens with Mozarts Violin Concerto No. 4, and Clarinet Concerto, two pieces emblematic of the elegance, clarity and emotional depth of Viennas classical era. They are followed by Joseph Haydns bright and energetic Sinfonia concertante. The final work, Beethovens Symphony No7, brings the series to a powerful close with its driving rhythms, serving as a resounding tribute to the Vienna musical tradition.

Founded in 1946, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has, for more than 75 years, maintained its standing as one of the worlds foremost chamber orchestras, performing globally in Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Morocco, and more.

Its return follows an acclaimed first visit to Viet Nam in November 2024, which featured two concerts at the Ho Guom Opera House on November 23  24. Their refined and stylistically impeccable performances generated a strong positive impression on Vietnamese classical music audiences. This return a new step in international artistic collaboration and reflects Vietnams growing prominence in the regional orchestral landscape.

The two concerts by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra on November 28 - 29, 2025 will be conducted by Katharina Kratochwil, a rising Austrian conductor born in 1998 in Tulln an der Donau. Beginning her musical journey at a young age, she performed with a number of leading Austrian ensembles, notably the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Volksoper Vienna, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic, alongside the Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy Orchestra, the Webern Symphony Orchestra and the Lower Austrian Tonkunstler Orchestra.  VNA/VNS
Vietnamese people in villages and urban communes across the country celebrated the National Great Unity Day on November 18 to foster national community bonding as well as honour the role of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front.

Throughout the country, ethnic minorities engaged in cultural and artistic exchanges, showcasing folk songs and dances that immersed visitors in the vivid, melodious sounds representative of various ethnic groups.

These performances reflected the transformative changes in villages, driven by the attention of the Communist Party, the State, and local authorities, as well as the solidarity among ethnic minorities. The songs and dances celebrated the joy of unity and the aspiration for a peaceful future.

The event served as a gathering for all 54 ethnic groups, illuminating the traditional flame of unity and affirming the spirit of togetherness.

It highlighted the enduring value of the bonds between ethnic groups in the ongoing efforts to build, protect, and develop the homeland, especially during the current period of industrialisation and modernisation.

Furthermore, it contributes to preserving, promoting, and spreading the tradition of national unity while honouring the rich cultural heritage of the entire Vietnamese nation. VNS
LANG SON  Huu Lien Commune in Lang Son Province is transforming its unique limestone landscape, large special-use forests, and rich cultural heritage of 11 ethnic groups into a thriving tourism economy. By developing international-standard homestays and preserving local traditions, the area has boosted income and improved residents livelihoods.

The communes greatest draw is its stunning natural scenery. Its limestone topography creates valleys that flood seasonally and turn into lush green grasslands in the dry season, with the ong Lam Steppe standing out as a prime example. The setting is ideal for eco-tourism, camping, and photography.

Huu Lien Mountain Range and ong Lam Lake are key attractions within the Lang Son Geopark, one of UNESCOs Global Geoparks.

The Mountain Range, located in the Huu Lien Nature Reserve, is famed for its distinctive karst formations and rich biodiversity. Its dramatic limestone peaks and seasonally flooded valleys support a rare and valuable ecosystem.

Meanwhile, ong Lam Lake is often described as an 'inland Ha Long Bay' for its tranquil beauty. Green karst mounds and hills rise from the water, creating a striking panorama. The lake and surrounding area host abundant flora and fauna, including numerous bird species and free-roaming horses grazing along the banks.

Adventure tourism is also flourishing, with mountain climbing drawing more than 25,000 domestic and international visitors each year.

To meet rising demand, many families in Huu Lien Commune have opened homestays and developed community-based tourism, creatively showcasing the rich cultural heritage of ethnic minorities.

Among these businesses, five households forming a homestay cluster won ASEAN Homestay Awards, while Huu Lien itself received the ASEAN Community Tourism Award at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2025).

The homestays offer comfortable accommodation while preserving and promoting the traditional stilt-house architecture of the Tay and Nung peoples. Visitors can immerse themselves in local life, experiencing indigenous lifestyles firsthand.

Guests can explore typical living spaces, join daily activities with residents, help prepare traditional cuisine and visit nearby mountains and forests. Folk cultural activities such as Pao Dung and Then singing, traditional dances and local customs are also maintained and shared through village gatherings and festivals.

Head of Ang Village Le Van Quy said he was eager to operate a homestay, which brought his family higher income than traditional farming.

To expand their businesses, homestay owners have upgraded facilities and services and actively partnered with travel companies to attract more visitors.

The effective combination of cultural heritage and community-based tourism has delivered significant results. Between 2020 and 2025, Huu Lien welcomed over 186,000 visitors, generating revenue of more than VND52.11 billion (US$2 million), and contributing substantially to improving local living standards.

With the aim of developing tourism into a leading economic sector, Huu Lien plans to host 210,000 tourists by 2030, generating revenue of VND67.2 billion.

Local authorities are committed to mobilising resources, attracting investment in infrastructure, and promoting the application of information technology.

Crucially, officials and residents have pledged to develop tourism in harmony with environmental protection and cultural preservation, ensuring sustainable growth, safeguarding local identity, and delivering long-term benefits for the community.  VNS
HUE  The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre on November 21 launched a series of exhibitions and heritage education activities to mark the 20th anniversary of Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 2005  2025).

Among the exhibitions are the one about the Nguyen Dynastys Co Mat Vien - one of the most significant administrative institutions of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) and a heritage education programme that offers students and visitors an opportunity to learn about Co Mat Vien.

Meanwhile, the Donated artefacts exhibition showcases more than 50 notable items selected from nearly 500 artefacts donated to the centre since 1995. The display expresses gratitude to individuals and organisations at home and abroad who have contributed to the preservation of Hues cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, the painting exhibition Net Hue 3 features 40 works by lecturers, artists and students from the University of Arts under Hue University. Through contemporary artistic expressions, the works highlight the cultural identity and gentle charm of the former imperial capital.

The activities, held as part of the Heritage Week in Hue, aim to spread heritage values within the community while creating a platform for cultural exchange among heritage professionals, collectors, and artists.

To celebrate Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Day, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre will offer free admission for Vietnamese citizens on November 23 at all heritage sites under its management.  VNA
ALGIERS  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who was in Algeria for an official visit, on Thursday evening (Ha Noi time) chaired an emergency online meeting with representatives of ministries, agencies and localities on urgent measures to respond to heavy rains, floods, and other natural disasters in several central provinces.

The leader extended his deepest condolences to the families of those killed, missing or injured by the natural disasters.

He emphasised that, under the direction of Party General Secretary To Lam, the top priority is saving lives and protecting the health and safety of citizens, while also searching for the missing and arranging funerals for the deceased.

At the same time, urgent efforts must be made to restore housing for residents, ensure the safety of schools, and maintain healthcare facilities, he said.

It is also a must to provide immediate and timely delivery of food, drinking water and medicine to isolated areas; and repair disruptions to electricity, telecommunications and transportation, the leader said.

According to updated reports, as of 8pm on Thursday, extremely heavy rainfall has occurred since early November 16 across Lam ong, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and ak Lak provinces, with some areas recording more than 1,700mm.

Flood levels on the Ba and Ky Lo rivers in ak Lak and the Dinh Ninh Hoa River in Khanh Hoa have peaked, exceeding historic records by 0.2-1.1 metres, and are now receding.

The PM has issued five official dispatches on responding to and overcoming the aftermath caused by flooding, inundation, and landslides. The PM and Deputy PMs have maintained regular communication with officials of relevant localities to monitor the situation and direct flood response efforts.

From November 18 to 20, Deputy PM Ho Quoc Dung directly inspected affected areas, oversaw response and recovery efforts, and visited residents impacted by the disasters in Khanh Hoa and ak Lak provinces. On late Thursday, he chaired an online meeting with representatives of Gia Lai, ak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam ong.

Earlier, on November 18, the PM decided to provide an emergency aid package of VN50 billion (US$1.9 million) to Khanh Hoa Province to address flood-related damage. Ministries, sectors, and localities have strictly implemented the directions of the PM and the National Steering Committee for Civil Defence.

The Ministry of National Defence deployed 18,066 officers and soldiers along with 441 vehicles, while the Ministry of Public Security mobilised 17,624 officers and 24,143 grassroots security forces, together with 3,207 vehicles, to respond to floods.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment sent three working delegations to coordinate early with localities in response and recovery efforts, and issued two rounds of SMS alerts to 26.4 million subscribers and 24.1 million Zalo messages warning residents in affected areas.

Local authorities urgently evacuated 18,408 households with 61,035 people from high-risk areas, suspended school activities, and directed the operation of reservoirs to reduce downstream flooding. Hydropower plants in the Ba River basin alone cut down 96.3 million cu.m of water to help lower flood levels.

As many as 41 people were confirmed dead while nine are still missing. 167 houses were damaged and 51,138 were flooded. Many communes and wards remain severely inundated across the three provinces: Khanh Hoa (54), Gia Lai (35), and ak Lak (34).

In agriculture, 13,026ha of rice, crops, and vegetables were damaged; 2,183ha of perennial and annual plants were affected; 30,731 heads of livestock and poultry were killed or swept away; and 88ha of lobster farms in Khanh Hoa suffered losses.

Regarding transportation, 30 locations along national highways remain locally flooded, causing traffic disruptions. Many sections of provincial roads and inter-communal routes are deeply flooded or affected by landslides, resulting in traffic blockages.

More than 1 million customers have experienced power outages, of whom over 457,000 have had power restored, while 553,250 customers remain without electricity. Local authorities continue to assess damage and implement recovery measures.  VNA/VNS
ALGIERS  As part of his official visit to Algeria, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held working sessions on November 20 with several Algerian ministers and leaders of major economic groups and organisations of the African nation to advance the implementation of the newly established VietnamAlgeria Strategic Partnership.

At a meeting with Algerian Minister of State for Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab, PM Chinh noted that during his talks and meetings with host leaders, the two sides shared the view that there are no limits to bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic sphere. He proposed expanding oil exploration alongside deeper collaboration in petrochemicals and petroleum processing to increase resources value. He also called for stronger partnerships in Viet Nams key sectors including solar and wind energy, machinery and electrical equipment, and smart grid development.

Applauding the strong performance of the oil exploration project jointly carried out by the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) and Algerias national oil company Sonatrach, PM Chinh urged the establishment of a working group, a joint venture, and cooperation mechanisms to invest in Algeria, focusing on sectors and projects agreed upon by the two PMs, including expanding from onshore oil extraction to offshore exploration - where Viet Nam has strong experience. He called on Algeria to adopt more enabling policies and streamline procedures to facilitate projects.

Arkab expressed thanked PM Chinh for his timely and attentive guidance in promoting Viet NamAlgeria cooperation, particularly in the oil industry, and creating favourable conditions for Algerian businesses to fully collaborate with their Vietnamese partners.

The minister noted that the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines is actively implementing the Algerian Presidents directive to propose specific cooperation projects in oil and gas, as highlighted by PM Chinh. He expressed satisfaction with Algerias effective collaboration with Petrovietnam, describing it as a model of successful AlgeriaViet Nam partnership. He also agreed with the Vietnamese leaders proposal to establish a working group to coordinate the implementation of specific projects with Viet Nam.

Recognising Viet Nams experience, capacity, and strengths in the oil sector, the minister called for Viet Nams support in this field, particularly in workforce training and technology transfer across all stages of oil and petroleum product exploration, processing, and distribution.

Meeting with Algerias Minister of Mujahideen (War Veterans) and Rights-Holders Abdelmalek Tacherift, PM Chinh expressed his pleasure at making his first official visit to Algeria during this historic November period, as the Algerian people commemorate the heroic chapters of their struggle for national independence.

He congratulated Algeria and its people on their remarkable achievements in building a New Algeria, with comprehensive economic and socio-cultural development and an increasingly important role and position in the region and the world.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam always treasures its close solidarity and fraternal ties with Algeria, a friendship built over six decades since 1962, the PM stated, affirming that despite changing times, this bond remains a precious legacy for both peoples.

He stressed that Vietnamese people always remember and cherish the solidarity and invaluable support that the Algerian government and people have extended to Viet Nam, both during the arduous struggle for national independence and in the countrys national construction and development at the present.

Highlighting that Viet Nam and Algeria stood side by side through difficult times, sharing the aspiration for independence and freedom, PM Chinh expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of heroes, martyrs, veterans, and meritorious people of the two countries, who have enabled Viet Nam and Algeria to develop as they do today.

PM Chinh asked Algerias Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders and relevant Vietnamese agencies, including the Ministry of National Defence and the Vietnam War Veterans Association, to strengthen cooperation in sharing policy experience on support for persons with meritorious services, war-consequence remediation, and the development of databases in these areas. He also proposed enhanced collaboration in museums, communication, and educating younger generations about the two countries historical ties and long-standing friendship.

For his part, the minister affirmed that veterans and persons with meritorious services are an important link in the deep, enduring historical bond between the two nations. He expressed confidence that this connection will continue to serve as a driving force for the new phase of bilateral relations, noting that Viet Nam and Algeria now stand united on a new front  national development. He affirmed readiness to work closely with Vietnamese agencies on the areas outlined by PM Chinh.

On this occasion, the PM conveyed invitations from Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang and the Chairman of the Vietnam War Veterans Association to the Algerian minister to visit Viet Nam.

Meeting with Abdelkrim Benmebarek, Secretary-General of Algerias National Liberation Front (FLN), PM Chinh stressed that history has recorded how the two Parties stood side by side during their struggles for national liberation and in building and safeguarding their countries. He expressed hope that the FLN will continue guiding its members to contribute to strengthening the friendship between the two Parties and two nations in the new development phase.

The PM called for closer ties between the FLN and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), including exchanges of leadership experience, guidance for national development and defence, and lessons on Party building.

He also proposed that the FLN support the Algerian Government and bilateral cooperation efforts, including the early formulation of an action programme to implement the newly established Strategic Partnership. He suggested both sides exchange assessments of global developments and share experience in Party building.

PM Chinh conveyed Party General Secretary To Lams invitation for FLN Secretary-General Benmebarek to visit Viet Nam, and wished the FLN continued success in its leadership role, contributing to Algerias development under its vision to 2035.

Benmebarek said Viet Nams struggle for independence against colonialism had been an inspiration for peoples worldwide in their fight against oppression.

He noted that following his earlier meeting with the PM, the Algerian President had instructed ministries and organisations to promptly implement concrete measures to bring to life the agreements signed across all fields, including the cooperation agreement between the FLN and the CPV.

Benmebarek emphasised that the two Parties share common goals and expressed hope to translate Party-to-Party cooperation into broader cooperation between the two nations.

On this occasion, PM Chisnh and FLN Secretary-General Benmebarek witnessed the signing and handover of the cooperation agreement between the CPV and the FLN. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Lawmakers are scheduled to hear the Governments proposal and a verification report on the draft Law on Artificial Intelligence, and discuss the draft Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Technology Transfer, and the draft Law on High Technology (revised) Friday as part of the 15th National Assemblys 10th session.

Amendments to the Law on Technology Transfer focus on six policy groups.

Key contents include defining the scope of technologies regulated under the Law to cover emerging global trends and practical requirements; and promoting the transfer of domestically developed technologies, including transfers among Vietnamese enterprises, organisations and individuals, as well as the commercialisation of research outcomes and development activities.

The draft revised Law on High Technology comprises six chapters with 27 articles, stipulating high-tech activities along with relevant policies and measures to encourage and advance the sector.

It features six major policy groups, including fostering the development of high-tech ecosystems and supplementing regulations on models of high-tech zones and high-tech urban areas.

The draft law is formulated on the principles of simplifying administrative procedures, enhancing post-approval inspection, and promoting digital transformation in both management and high-tech operations.

It also reflects a shift towards results-based management, rather than managing processes.

A key objective is to attract non-budget investment in high technology by encouraging enterprises to invest in and fund research and development of high-tech and strategic technologies.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly deputies will have a plenary discussion on the draft Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Statistics and the draft Law on Bankruptcy (revised), before moving to group discussions on the draft Law on Artificial Intelligence. VNA/VNS
PRAGUE  A delegation from the Party Central Committees Commission for Internal Affairs, led by its Deputy Head Nguyen Thanh Hai, paid a working visit to the Czech Republic from Tuesday to Thursday to exchange experience and promote bilateral cooperation in preventing and combating corruption, as well as advancing public sector integrity.

On Thursday, the delegation held a meeting with representatives of the Czech Ministry of Justice, including Franek Michal, Director of the Department for the Development of Anti-Corruption Legislation.

At the meeting, Hai briefed the Czech side on Viet Nams recent achievements in combating corruption, stressing that the work is a central task receiving strong and consistent direction from the Party and State, with the active involvement of multiple agencies.

He underlined the important role of the public in detecting, reporting and helping to address corrupt practices.

For his part, Michal presented the Czech Republics anti-corruption model, noting that the Government provides direct oversight while the Ministry of Justice develops legal frameworks and coordinates specialised advisory groups that propose solutions in three-year cycles, adjusted to changes in government. Investigations and trials related to corruption are conducted independently by police, prosecutors and courts in accordance with the Criminal Code, with the Ministry of Justice not permitted to interfere in judicial procedures.

He stressed that transparency, strong legal frameworks and active international cooperation remain core priorities for the Czech Republic.

The country participates in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to enhance data sharing, exchange experience and promote effective legal and policy models.

It also operates a monitoring mechanism for lobbying activities to help ensure accountability in interactions between officeholders and interest groups.

Whistleblower protection is safeguarded under a dedicated law to prevent retaliation or job loss, an issue of particular interest to the Vietnamese side.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Vietnamese delegation visited the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office in Brno.

Both sides spoke highly of the implementation of the 2017 agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons and the 2023 agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Michal Fiala, Director of the Department for Serious Economic and Financial Crime, briefed the delegation on the offices operations and shared experience in investigating and prosecuting major corruption cases in recent years.

The Czech side reaffirmed its willingness to share experience and expand cooperation with Viet Nam in the fight against corruption and serious economic crimes.  VNA/VNS
A former Marlborough College physics teacher who died earlier this month is now at the centre of a public debate over a reported comment said to have cost him his job.

John Wright, 54, was found dead on 3 November in Marlborough, according to Wiltshire Police, who confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious. An inquest opened on 7 November and is set to reconvene at a later date.

Wright had taught at Marlborough College for ten years before being dismissed following an internal investigation into conduct during a school trip to Marlborough College Malaysia, the school's sister institution, where 29 pupils from Wiltshire reportedly travelled. The school has not released specific details of the incident. The Gazette & Herald reports only that Wright was dismissed after an internal investigation into 'inappropriate behaviour on a school trip.'

As speculation spread online, news outlets reported that Wright allegedly used the phrase: 'No gum, no gays'  a reference said to compare Singapore's chewing gum ban with anti-LGBT laws in Malaysia. The phrase has not been confirmed by the school or police.

A Marlborough College spokesperson issued a brief statement following Wright's death, saying the institution extends its 'heartfelt condolences' to his family and that it would be 'inappropriate to comment further.'

An announcement post on the Marlborough Notice Board was also put up following the tragic event:

Debate Over Whether the Remark Was Offensive

Because the school has not clarified the wording or context of Wright's alleged comment, online users have been left to speculate. On Reddit, several commenters criticised the dismissal as disproportionate, arguing that the remark  if true  might have been intended as a plain joke, delivered clumsily:

Comment

by u/dailystar_news from discussion

in uknews

Comment

by u/dailystar_news from discussion

in uknews

Meanwhile, others suggested that there may have been more than a single comment involved:

Comment

by u/dailystar_news from discussion

in uknews

Comment

by u/dailystar_news from discussion

in uknews

The lack of confirmed detail has fuelled wider questions over transparency, school safeguarding rules, and where the line lies between misconduct and inappropriate humour.

Broader Cultural Reactions

On X (formerly Twitter), some expressed anger at the outcome, suggesting disciplinary processes in elite schools can be 'unforgiving' and 'reputation-driven,' emphasising that careers can be ended without public explanation.

A user points out that the situation posts a bigger question to society about perception:

John Wright of Marlborough College correctly said, No gays and no gum in Malysia and now hes dead by suicide. His story breaks my heart, and its on my doorstep, and it raises profound questions for us all.



During my suspension from New College Swindon for not referring to a  Kevin Lister (@KevsTribulation) November 19, 2025

Others argued that serious school safeguarding policies mean teachers must avoid jokes that could be interpreted as singling out groups of students, regardless of intent.

What Happens Next?

With an inquest pending, no confirmed account of Wright's conduct, and no official record of the alleged remark, many questions are unlikely to be answered publicly. However, the debate sparked by Wright's death highlights a growing tension in UK schools: How to address inappropriate comments while balancing due process, context, and mental-health consequences for staff under investigation.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
HA NOI  As Viet Nam gears up to host the prestigious APEC Economic Leaders Week in 2027, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has called for a comprehensive, successful organisation that leaves a lasting impression on the Asia-Pacific stage.

At the first plenary session of the National Committee for APEC 2027 held on August 21, representatives from 18 ministries and agencies gathered to map out the ambitious roadmap, with a spotlight on infrastructure projects in key host locations like Phu Quoc Island.

Deputy PM Son underlined the events importance, describing it as a vital political and diplomatic priority that offers Viet Nam a unique chance to showcase its strategic role in shaping the evolving international economic landscape.

This is not just a meeting but a statement of our position and responsibility on the world stage, he said, stressing the need to excel in every aspect  from substantive agendas to protocol, logistics, communication and cultural programmes.

The session focused on reviewing progress in establishing the committees five subcommittees and Secretariat, finalising a comprehensive work plan for 20252027, and accelerating preparations in host provinces, particularly infrastructure development on Phu Quoc Island.

Deputy PM Son instructed the Secretariat to incorporate all feedback and finalise the committees detailed work plan, which will serve as the foundation for the subcommittees programmes.

He urged the swift completion of establishing and consolidating the subcommittees and Secretariat by August 2025, alongside issuing operational regulations and setting annual and overall work plans by early September.

Committee members were encouraged to actively participate in APEC 2025 in the Republic of Korea and APEC 2026 in China, not only to show support but to promote Viet Nams interests ahead of its hosting year.

Deputy PM Son tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Content Subcommittee to quickly develop proposals. They are to consult extensively with APEC economies, particularly Korea and China, as well as experts and the business community domestically and internationally.

He also praised An Giang Province for its proactive stance on infrastructure, highlighting the urgency of completing critical projects like the convention centre well ahead of schedule. The province was further advised to designate land for an APEC Park that will display cultural and artistic works from member economies, aiming to create a unique tourism attraction.

The National Committee for APEC 2027 is set to hold its second plenary session in early December 2025 to assess progress and plan activities for 2026.

With clear direction and high-level commitment, Viet Nam is positioning itself to make a strong mark on the Asia-Pacific region through a landmark APEC summit.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Friday morning (local time), marking the start of their participation in the G20 Summit and a series of bilateral activities in South Africa.

The activities, taking place from November 2124, are held at the invitation of South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who serves as Chair of the G20 in 2025.

This is the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to South Africa in 21 years.

At the airport, PM Chinh was welcomed by representatives of the South African Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and liaison officials. On the Vietnamese side, Ambassador Hoang Sy Cuong, staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and members of the Vietnamese community in South Africa were present.

The 2025 G20 Summit is hosted in Johannesburg, one of South Africas and the worlds major metropolitan cities. The summit, held on November 2223, focuses on the theme 'Unity, Equality, and Sustainable Development'.

Discussions centre on four key areas: strengthening resilience and disaster response; promoting sustainable debt management for low-income countries; mobilising finance for a just energy transition; and leveraging critical minerals for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Leaders of G20 member countries, along with invited guests such as Egypt, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, New Zealand, Nigeria, Finland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Viet Nam and the UAE, as well as representatives from 23 international and regional organisations, are expected to attend.

Having participated in six previous G20 meetings, Viet Nam will this year present key policy messages that contribute to global efforts to boost economic growth, reduce risks and strengthen cooperation in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, energy, trade reform, finance and global investment. These areas that are essential amid the current reshaping of global rules and frameworks.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister will hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries and international organisations to advance cooperation in strategic areas for Viet Nam, including green transition, digital transformation, innovation, strategic infrastructure development and high-quality human resources. These engagements aim to mobilise international resources in support of Viet Nams development goals.

PM Chinh will also engage in bilateral activities with South Africa to strengthen the Viet NamSouth Africa partnership, implement high-level agreements and work toward elevating the relationship to a Strategic Partnership. These efforts aim to inject new momentum into bilateral ties, advancing cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples and contributing to peace and development in the region and the world.  VNS
HA NOI  Vice Chairwoman of the Japanese Vietnamese Association and Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in Kansai Le Thuong has stressed the role of the overseas Vietnamese (OV) community as an important bridge promoting bilateral cooperation while giving feedback on the draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress,

Thuong highlighted several new points in the draft documents, including policies on the private sector, people-to-people diplomacy, and science, technology and international integration. She said these orientations align closely with the needs and strengths of the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Enhanced people-to-people diplomacy, she noted, will complement official diplomatic efforts and facilitate cooperation between localities and businesses of both countries.

Thuong proposed attracting more Vietnamese experts abroad to local associations, as they serve as strong links in cultural promotion and people-to-people diplomacy. To maximise their contributions, she recommended clearer mechanisms and support for overseas associations, enabling them to operate more systematically and develop long-term cooperation initiatives with Japanese authorities.

Regarding cultural preservation, she emphasised the importance of activities such as Vietnam Days, cultural festivals, exchanges with Japanese universities, and Vietnamese-language classes for children. Events like Homeland Spring and the Hung Kings Commemoration also strengthen ties with Viet Nam.

Thuong expressed her hope for a Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Japan, saying the young and growing community requires additional support from Viet Nam to realise this goal. Overseas Vietnamese, she stressed, are uniquely positioned to foster mutual understanding as they experience both cultures.

As the Vietnamese community expands, Thuong underscored the importance of maintaining the mother tongue. She said she hopes Vietnamese universities will establish faculties of Vietnamese studies to collaborate with associations in Japan in offering Vietnamese-language courses, helping second- and third-generation members retain cultural ties and contribute to future people-to-people diplomacy.

Commenting on the emphasis in the draft documents on the private sector as a key economic driver and science, technology and innovation as central to development, Thuong said these orientations will attract high-quality overseas Vietnamese talent. Many members of the intellectual network in Japan, including professors, researchers, specialists and entrepreneurs, can support bilateral conferences, dialogues and scientific and cultural exchanges, helping to promote Viet Nams image.

She said Vietnamese intellectuals abroad, particularly those with experience in both Viet Nam and Japan, can provide valuable policy advice in science and technology. She also called for favourable conditions for successful overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs to return and invest in Viet Nam, contributing to national development in the new period.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly deputies on Friday voiced strong support for the introduction of the Law on Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that it will serve as a foundational legal framework for a transformative technology expected to shape national competitiveness for decades to come.

During a group discussion held as part of the ongoing 10th session, lawmakers said that as countries around the world ramp up investment in AI, Viet Nam urgently needs a comprehensive legal framework to avoid falling behind and to proactively seize opportunities presented by the new technology wave.

Deputy To Ai Vang of Can Tho City said that the law is essential to meeting the countrys development needs and aligns with global trends.

She cited several strategic goals outlined in Party resolutions, including maintaining Viet Nams position among the top three ASEAN nations in the Global Innovation Index; ensuring the digital economy accounts for around 20 per cent of GDP; placing the country among the regional leaders in AI development and application; establishing at least five world-class digital technology enterprises; and gradually mastering key digital and strategic technologies.

With such ambitious targets, we must establish legal provisions that provide a basis for implementation."

"Most importantly, the legal framework must align with international and regional norms, enabling integration, cooperation and the safe and lawful application of AI.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga of Quang Tri Province called for clearer definitions in the draft law to ensure AI-related research activities do not overlap with those in the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

She emphasised the need to maintain consistency with the Law on Digital Technology and other legislation being reviewed at the same session.

The draft law designates the National Committee on Artificial Intelligence as an inter-agency body responsible for directing and coordinating AI strategies, while the Ministry of Science and Technology would serve as the lead agency overseeing implementation and evaluation.

However, Deputy Tuyet Nga argued that the draft lacks clarity regarding the committees legal status, functions, authority, organisational structure and operational mechanism, and does not authorise the Government to issue detailed regulations in these areas.

She proposed defining the necessity of establishing this committee, specifying its organisational model and legal standing, and ensuring alignment with Party directives on streamlining the state apparatus.

Regarding human-resource development stipulated in Article 24, Nga praised the draft for taking a holistic and strategic approach, covering AI education from the general-school level to higher education and research, and clearly outlining the roles of the State, educational institutions and businesses.

She recommended adding provisions to attract domestic and international AI experts to teach and conduct research, as well as policies enabling mobility and collaboration between universities and enterprises.

Nga also noted that although the draft includes 36 articles, it does not specify any prohibited behaviours  an omission she described as significant.

She stressed that defining banned acts in the AI law is crucial to preventing misuse, protecting human rights, ensuring fair competition and promoting responsible AI development. She proposed adding an article outlining prohibited behaviours.

Raising concerns about childrens access to AI, Deputy Lo Thi Luyen of ien Bien Province said some countries set a minimum age of 13 for AI access, while others, including some neighbouring countries, have yet to regulate this area despite worrying trends.

In some places without age restrictions, media reports have shown children following AI blindly, befriending AI and even expressing romantic attachment or marrying AI. Allowing children, whose minds are still like blank sheets of paper, to engage with AI without safeguards poses significant risks for the future, she cautioned, calling on the drafting committee to clarify how the law will address this issue.  VNS
HA NOI  President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milos Vystrcil on Friday reaffirmed that the Czech Republic remains open to international students, including those from Viet Nam, stressing emerging opportunities for cooperation under the Viet NamCzech Strategic Partnership.

Vystrcil made the statement during a visit to the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV), where he also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two countries diplomatic academies.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thin, Deputy Director of the DAV, said the academy, now approaching its 70th year, stands as Viet Nams leading institution for diplomatic training, professional development and research. She underlined that international collaboration in education and research forms a key pillar in DAVs ambition to become a premier regional and international centre for diplomatic studies.

According to Thin, the MoU represents an important milestone that will boost people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation in education and diplomacy between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic. She added that the agreement carries special significance given the Czech Republics extensive experience in education, science and technology, engineering and environmental technology, having trained more than 30,000 Vietnamese students over the decades.

The agreement sets out a framework for the two academies to exchange modern teaching methods and research practices, and opens new opportunities for student, lecturer and researcher exchanges through joint training programmes, workshops and seminars.

Thin expressed her hope that the Czech Senate President will continue to support the swift implementation of the agreement through concrete actions that will advance cooperation in education, science and technology, and further reinforce the Viet NamCzech Strategic Partnership.

Dana Kovarikova, Director of the Czech Diplomatic Academy, described the MoU as a strategic step at a time of rapid global change requiring closer international cooperation, especially in diplomacy. She said the expansion of educational collaboration is a well-founded decision, building on the long-standing tradition of the Czech Republic training hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese students, who now serve as cultural bridges between the two nations.

Speaking with DAV students after the signing ceremony, Vystrcil noted that although the two countries are geographically distant, they are united by shared aspirations for peace, development and prosperity. He also highlighted the important role played by the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, which continues to strengthen bilateral ties.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is reaching out to its overseas communities ahead of the 14th National Party Congress scheduled for early 2026, upholding their role as an inseparable part of the nation.

Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) from continents have submitted more than 1,300 comments on the draft political report for the Congress, reflecting a strong sense of responsibility, trust and desire to accompany the nation.

Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the press that said the current term has seen evolution in OV affairs. What began as outreach and occasional mobilisation has evolved into laws and mechanisms designed to let them take a more proactive and direct role in national development.

The Party and State attach importance to supporting the material and spiritual needs of OV communities, with particular emphasis on preserving Vietnamese culture and language, supporting local integration, and fostering community unity. These efforts, Kien said, have bolstered their confidence, deepened their connections to the homeland, and encouraged greater contributions to Viet Nams growth.

Following a Politburos conclusion issued in August 2021 and a Governments subsequent resolution, agencies within the entire political system have innovated their working methods. Citizen protection and legal assistance have become more proactive people-centred. Vietnamese language courses and cultural initiatives including the Vietnamese Bookshelf project, and community events have expanded in host countries. Engagement with OV experts, professionals and entrepreneurs has also intensified, especially in such priority fields as sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation, education, and healthcare.

Coordination involving ministries, localities and the SCOV has improved markedly. Numerous OV-led initiatives have been launched in Viet Nam, while a growing number of Vietnamese scientists and professionals abroad are engaging in policy advisory roles, strategic consulting, innovation, startup mentoring and skilled workforce training.

On the draft political report, OV contributors broadly commended its quality and strategic vision, particularly the linkage between socio-economic development and Party building. Many welcomed a shift in leadership thinking as this is the first time four major reports have been merged into a single political report, complete with an attached action plan - a move signaling a commitment to matching words with deeds.

They also expressed broad support for the Congresss theme, describing it as succinct, clear and reflective of national unity and development aspirations.

Regarding development strategy, he said feedback highlighted an emphasis on sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation as the three main pillars of Viet Nams next growth model.

On foreign affairs and global integration, several comments spotlighted the nearly 6.5 million-strong Vietnamese community abroad as a strategic resource and soft power for global integration and people-to-people diplomacy. Suggestions included tighter coordination between diplomatic missions and mass organisations, the OVs leveraged role in cultural and scientific diplomacy, and expansion of Peoples Ambassadors network to project an image of a creative, humane and globally engaged Viet Nam.

For OVs-specific policies, contributors called for a stable legal framework to ensure their confidence in integration and contribution, expanded Vietnamese language education and cultural preservation, streamlined administrative procedures and digitised public services, increased youth exchanges, scholarships, and internships; and the creation of global networks connecting Vietnamese experts, entrepreneurs, and professionals with domestic localities.

According to Kien, OVs are closely following the upcoming 14th National Party Congress and place high expectations on its outcomes, believing that each decision will shape not only the countrys future and global standing but also the pride and identity of the global Vietnamese community.  VNA/VNS
JOHANNESBURG  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to elevate the bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership during their meeting in Johannesburg on November 21, within the framework of the formers working trip to attend the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in South Africa.

President Ramaphosa thanked PM Chinh and a high-level Vietnamese delegation for attending the G20 Summit, showing Viet Nams spirit of solidarity and active support for South Africa. He affirmed that South Africa always considers Viet Nam a close traditional friend and a key partner in Asia.

PM Chinh congratulated the South African President on the countrys remarkable development and its increasingly prominent role and standing on the international stage. Thanking President Ramaphosa for inviting Viet Nam to participate in the G20 Summit, the Premier expressed his confidence that, with South Africas role, standing, and experience, the summit will be successful, promoting the participation of all countries, including developing nations, in global governance for peace, cooperation, stability, and development.

The two leaders agreed to instruct relevant agencies to soon develop an action plan for implementing the newly-established relationship framework, concretising the content of the Joint Statement on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership, with the aim of creating breakthroughs and making Viet NamSouth Africa relations a model of cooperation among Global South countries.

The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation, viewing it as a key focus of bilateral collaboration. They agreed to promptly negotiate an agreement and establish a working group to promote market access for each others goods and products, with the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to fourfive billion US dollars within the next twothree years.

PM Chinh proposed that the two sides upgrade the Inter-governmental Committee mechanism from the deputy-foreign-minister to the foreign-minister level.

He also asked South Africa to soon officially launch negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), thereby creating the best possible conditions for businesses of both countries to expand cooperation and investment, particularly in infrastructure, green economy, digital economy, telecommunications, manufacture, agricultural processing, energy, electric vehicle production, and the Halal industry.

He further called for strengthened ties in defence and security, as well as emerging fields such as sciencetechnology, innovation, and artificial intelligence. The PM encouraged South Africa to facilitate Vietnamese enterprises' participation in local 5G projects and digital transformation initiatives.

Cooperation in tourism, educationtraining, labour, sports, culture, and people-to-people exchanges should also be stepped up, PM Chinh added.

The two leaders agreed to continue negotiations with a view to soon signing additional important cooperation documents that will provide legal and institutional frameworks for bilateral relations, including agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, visa exemptions for holders of ordinary passports, and cooperation in crime prevention and combat.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, PM Chinh and President Ramaphosa agreed that the two countries will enhance coordination and support each other more actively at multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 (G77), and in contributing to the success of the G20 Summit.

President Ramaphosa expressed his satisfaction that in a short period since his recent visit to Viet Nam, both sides have actively negotiated and reached consensus on a joint statement on upgrading bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, as well as an agreement on agricultural cooperation  an area that has long been under discussion.

He affirmed that South African authorities will work closely with their Vietnamese counterparts to ensure the swift realisation of the issues agreed upon by the two countries high-ranking leaders.

PM Chinh emphasised that Viet Nam and South Africa had stood side by side throughout their struggles for national independence and for human rights, and that today, the two countries will continue to accompany each other in national construction and development, in the spirit of trust, comradeship, and fraternity.

Concluding their meeting, the two leaders agreed on the joint statement on upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation between Viet Nams Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and South Africas Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development.  VNS
JOHANNESBURG  Viet Nam and South Africa have issued a Joint Statement on the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip to South Africa to attend the G20 Summit and conduct a number of bilateral activities from November 21-23.

The following is the full text of the joint statement.

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE UPGRADE TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

1. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1993, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Republic of South Africa have forged an excellent traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation in numerous areas on the basis of trust, equality, mutual respect, and convergence of interest.

2. Amidst profound shifts worldwide, and taking into account the increasing interdependence among economies around the globe and the common aspirations of the two peoples, based on the results of the state visit of the President of South Africa to Viet Nam from October 23 to 24, 2025, on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to South Africa to attend the G20 Summit and conduct a number of bilateral activities from November 21 to 23, 2025, Viet Nam and South Africa have decided to elevate their bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership.

3. The establishment of the Viet Nam-South Africa Strategic Partnership serves to elevate the two countries relations to a new height, both bilaterally and multilaterally. This framework will also contribute to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world, in compliance with the United Nations (UN) Charter, international law, and the principles of respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and non-intervention in each others domestic affairs.

4. Under this Strategic Partnership, Viet Nam and South Africa will continue to deepen their bilateral cooperation, with focus given to the following areas:

POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC COOPERATION

5. The two Sides agree to further step up delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, particularly at the high level and Ministerial level, on a regular basis across Party and State channels, as well as between Vietnamese and South African localities. This will help bolster political ties and mutual understanding between the two countries.

6. The two Sides underscore the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in both Asia and Africa and around the world, on the basis of full compliance with the UN Charter and international law. Both Sides reiterate their support for multilateralism, and will continue to work closely with each other at international and regional organisations to accelerate the reforms towards a fair and effective global governance system, fulfilling the aspirations and reinforcing the role of developing countries, and calling for a greater voice and stature of the Global South in international relations.

7. The two Sides support the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the crucial role of the African Union (AU), and agree to seek the means to strengthen the collaboration among Asian and African nations and South-South cooperation. Viet Nam reaffirms its support for South Africa in enhancing coordination with ASEAN and its Member States, particularly in areas aligned with the interest, potential, and strength of each country. South Africa supports Viet Nam in bolstering cooperation with and making substantive contributions to the AUs 2063 Agenda.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION

8. The two Sides agree to enhance bilateral defense and security cooperation commensurate with the strategic level of bilateral relations by stepping up delegation exchanges. Both Sides will also engage in closer collaboration in training, defence industry, UN peacekeeping operations, and response to non-traditional security challenges.

9. The two Sides remain committed to regularly implementing the Deputy-Ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue, increase academic exchanges among defence and security academies and research institutes, expedite the negotiations and signing of new agreements between relevant agencies, enhance information exchange in areas pertaining to security and public security, and advance cooperation in such fields as cybersecurity, hi-tech crimes, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crimes.

ECONOMIC, TRADE, INVESTMENT, AND TOURISM COOPERATION

10. The two Sides pledge to bolster economic cooperation, which has been a key pillar in the Viet Nam-South Africa Strategic Partnership. Both countries will work towards breakthroughs in two-way trade and investment growth, ease market access, and support enterprises to expand investment and using each others market as gateways to their respective region through the network of FTAs of ASEAN, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and other regional FTAs.

11. The two Sides are committed to promoting an enabling, transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for trade, investment, and tourism cooperation, and encouraging further exchanges among businesses. Both Sides will also strive to establish direct flights to each others cities.

12. The two Sides stand ready to effectively implement existing cooperation arrangements, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and to explore the establishment of new cooperation frameworks in specific areas pertaining to trade, investment, and tourism. In this regard, both Sides reaffirm their commitment to convening regular meetings of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) as a mechanism to advance and monitor bilateral economic cooperation. Furthermore, both Sides pledge to work closely together on economic matters of mutual interest within international organisations of which both are members.

13. The two Sides agree to review existing and negotiate new cooperation agreements, thereby laying the necessary legal foundation for bilateral collaboration across the board.

COOPERATION IN INDUSTRY, ENERGY, MINERALS, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TRANSPORTATION

14. Both Sides are committed to strengthening cooperation in minerals, mining, manufacture, supporting industries, and oil and gas services, as a new impetus to advance bilateral ties. The two nations will also strive to enhance energy cooperation to accelerate the transition to renewables in each country, with focus given to the efficient use of energy, cutting of emissions, and manufacturing of electric vehicles, serving the practical development needs of each country.

15. The two Sides agree to enhance South-South cooperation and to promote collaboration in agriculture, forestry, aquacultural cultivation, fishery, processing of agricultural produces, circular economy, resource and environmental management, climate action, preservation of biodiversity, and protection of wildlife.

16. The two Sides also agree to work closely in infrastructure construction, and in maritime and aviation services.

COOPERATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING

17. The two Sides will step up cooperation programs in digital transformation, circular economy, artificial intelligence (AI), and green technology.

18. The two Sides also express the aspiration to promote academic exchange programs and scholarships, and implement joint programs and projects in a number of areas, including managerial and leadership capacity building, education technology, vocational training, and upskilling.

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION AMONG LOCALITIES

19. The two Sides agree to strengthen collaboration among businesses, to promote cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, as well as cooperation and exchanges between localities in the fields of economy, science and technology, culture, education, and sports, thereby bolstering friendship and mutual understanding. Both Sides also pledge to expedite the signing and implementation of cooperation agreements between localities from both countries, and other agreements to facilitate the travel of the two peoples, agreements between localities of the two countries aimed at delivering tangible socio-economic development outcomes.

This Joint Statement is established in Johannesburg on November 21, 2025, in 02 (two) copies in Vietnamese and English of equal values. If there is any difference in the interpretation of this Joint Statement, the English copy will prevail.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam hosted a reception for visiting President of the Senate of the Czech Republics Parliament Milos Vystrcil in Ha Noi on November 21.

Party General Secretary Lam expressed satisfaction with the positive development in the bilateral relations in recent years, noting that two-way trade, currently standing at US$2 billion, remains modest and has yet to match the two countries potential, strengths, and sound political ties.

With a range of well-known, non-competing export items, both sides should step up trade promotion activities to raise bilateral trade to US$5 billion in the years to come. The top leader also emphasised the need for the two nations to make use of each others markets as gateways to Europe and Southeast Asia, thereby enhancing strategic autonomy, diversifying markets and supply sources, and deepening participation in global supply and value chains.

Lauding the talks between Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Senate President Vystrcil, the Party leader expressed his hope that the two legislatures will continue close coordination to create a legal corridor and favourable conditions for promoting bilateral cooperation, in line with the common interests of both nations.

He recommended the two sides to step up the exchange of delegations at all levels and via Party, State, Government, parliamentary, locality-to-locality, and people-to-people channels; enhance coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums; and foster cooperation in economy, trade, investment, defence-security, science-technology, education-training, culture, and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in new areas such as clean energy, renewable energy, and digital transformation.

For his part, Senate President Vystrcil expressed strong agreement with the cooperation orientations set out by the Party General Secretary, affirming that he personally, as well as the Czech Senate, will work closely with the Vietnamese NA and support the Czech Government and relevant agencies in promoting the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect. In this spirit, the Czech Senate stands ready to encourage remaining EU member states to soon ratify the EUVietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), he said.

The two leaders noted that Viet Nam and the Czech Republic possess invaluable assets to further advance the bilateral relations. These include the sincere and warm affection shared between the two countries' people; the recognition of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic as an ethnic minority group; tens of thousands of Vietnamese specialists and engineers trained in the European country; and approximately 300,000 Vietnamese who can understand Czech.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the formulation and implementation of an action plan to realise the substance of the Viet Nam-Czech Republic Strategic Partnership, turning potential and strengths into concrete, practical, and effective cooperation projects that meet the aspirations and interests of both nations.

Senate President Vystrcil highly valued the active role and contributions of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, stating that the European country will continue to create favourable conditions for them to live, study, and work stably and for a long term.

He affirmed the support for resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, for peace, stability, and development in both regions and the world. The official also expressed his backing for Viet Nams stance on the East Sea issue.  VNS
HA NOI  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man held talks with President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Milos Vystrcil in Ha Noi on November 21, within the framework of the latters official visit to Viet Nam from November 18-22.

Chairman Man said that the visit is of great significance as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (19502025), the first year of implementing the Viet NamCzech Republic Strategic Partnership framework, and the 10th session - the final session of the 15th National Assembly of Viet Nam.

The trip contributes to further strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries in general and enhancing parliamentary cooperation in particular, he said, sincerely thanking Senate President Vystrcil for, on behalf of the Czech Government, presenting a sum equivalent to VND3.5 billion (US$132,810) to support Vietnamese people in overcoming the aftermath of recent storms and floods.

The top Vietnamese legislator affirmed that, despite profound global changes, Viet NamCzech Republic relations have always been nurtured and positively developed by generations of leaders and people of both countries. He emphasised that Viet Nam always remembers and is grateful for the invaluable support the Czech Republic provided for Viet Nam during its past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as its continued support for the countrys current development process.

Chairman Man said that Viet Nam always attaches importance to promoting traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Czech Republic  its first Strategic Partner in Central and Eastern Europe. He emphasised that in recent years, both sides have conducted numerous high-level exchanges, notably Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs official visit to the Czech Republic in January 2025 and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fialas visit to Viet Nam in April 2023.

Thanking the Vietnamese Government for unilaterally granting visa exemptions to Czech citizens, Senate President Vystrcil expressed satisfaction with the successful business-matching activities between the two countries enterprises during the visit. He affirmed that the Czech Republic always seeks to further deepen bilateral cooperation across all sectors.

Acknowledging the proposals of the Vietnamese NA Chairman, the Senate President affirmed that the Czech Parliament supports and continues to encourage other European Union (EU) member states to promptly ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The two leaders agreed to continue stepping up contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, across all channels in order to further enhance political trust and mutual understanding, thus forming a foundation for promoting and expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Emphasising the importance of parliamentary cooperation within the overall bilateral relationship, both leaders agreed to enhance the exchange of high-level parliamentary delegations to share information and experiences in parliamentary activities, as well as to cooperate in supervising, urging, and supporting the two governments in effectively implementing bilateral collaboration agreements.

The two sides assessed that trade and investment cooperation is one of the key pillars of the bilateral relations and welcomed joint projects in Viet Nam, such as the Skoda automobile manufacturing plant and the Mong Duong 2 thermal power plant in Quang Ninh Province.

They agreed to soon develop an action plan to implement the Viet NamCzech Republic Strategic Partnership framework for the 202526 period, aiming to further deepen bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, education and training, healthcare, culture, labour, tourism, renewable energy, nuclear energy, defence and security, digital transformation, environmental protection, and local cooperation. They also encouraged airlines from both countries to explore direct flight routes to promote tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and bilateral economic cooperation.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the regions and the world.

Chairman Man thanked and urged the Czech Government to continue facilitating the integration and stable living of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic. He emphasised that the community serves as a vibrant bridge of friendship between the two nations, making a positive contribution to the bilateral relations in particular and Viet NamEU relations in general.

Senate President Vystrcil affirmed that the Czech Government and people always support and hold a special affection for the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.

On this occasion, the Senate President invited the top Vietnamese legislator to pay an official visit to the Czech Republic at an appropriate time, and the latter gladly accepted the invitation.

Earlier, the Senate President laid a wreath at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs, and paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum in Ha Noi.  VNS
by Steve Szilagyi

Prologue

Most people visit the James A. Garfield Memorial to admire its Victorian splendor, or to pay respects to a forgotten president. I go for another reason: my great-great-grandfather carved some of its stone. If Garfield had lived out his term, the man might never have come to Cleveland, never met the woman who became my great-great-grandmother, and Iand a whole thicket of brothers, sisters, cousins, and auntswould never have arrived on this earth. Absurd as it sounds, my existence is one more ripple in the long aftermath of a presidential assassination. Before getting to that family tale, its worth recalling who Garfield was, and why his loss mattered far beyond my own accidental genealogy.

James A. Garfield was the most qualified man ever to be elected president of the United States. He was a fine physical specimen: six foot, 185 pounds, born in a log cabin, and good with his fists. He had a towering intellect, led a frontier college, taught the classics, and could write in Latin with one hand, Greek with the other. People liked him, even his political enemies. Hed greet you with a bear hug on his way to the lectern or pulpit to deliver a thoughtful speech or sermon (he was an ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ church). A fervent abolitionist and Civil War hero, he served nine terms in Congress and knew how to work the levers of government.

Most attractively, when he was nominated for the presidency as a compromise candidate in a deadlocked 1880 Republican convention, he didnt want the job. Seriously. His long seniority in the House gave him power and influence he was reluctant to sacrifice.

But once this superb human being, this fine farmer, husband, and father of five surviving children, moved into the White House in 1881, he never got the chance to fulfill his promise or address the great issues of his dayreconstruction, national infrastructure, justice for Native Americansor set a moral direction for Americas growing wealth and international presence. Instead, he spent almost every minute of his scant 120 days in office wrestling with the squalid business of political patronagebattling the corrupt rascals of his own party who were desperate to preserve their petty prerogatives in the distribution of remunerative public offices.

He had only just scored a solid victory in this effort, humiliating his chief enemy, the villainous Senator Roscoe Conkling, and was eagerly preparing to take on the real work of the presidency when he was shot in the back by a perfect fool, and killedafter two agonizing monthsby inept doctors who probed his wound with dirty fingers.

Six months as president. That was all he got.

Garfields story is ably told in two splendid recent biographies: President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier by C. W. Goodyear (2023), and the gripping Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard (2011). Goodyears book is essential for understanding why Garfield mattered to the people and the politics of his time, and Millards is a ripping yarn, and undoubtedly the inspiration for Death by Lightning (2025), a Netflix limited series dramatizing the parallel stories of Garfield and his assassin.

He was unquestionably the good guy. The negative charge most often laid against Garfield was that he was too much of a compromiser. He tried to see both sides of an issue and was too often in favor of negotiation when his associates preferred to make a show of hanging tough.

His enemies, on the other hand, were as rascally a set of scoundrels as ever plundered the public purse. They included the aforementioned Conkling of New York, the former President Ulysses S. Grant, and various wingmen in the Republican machinemen whose petty wars over patronage overshadowed the real work the nation needed done.

After he was wounded, Garfield lay dying for two months. Every up and down of his condition during that time was headline news in the gaudy popular press. These accounts built up so much public steam that when Garfield finally breathed his last, there was an explosion of popular grief of a depth not seen since the death of Lincoln.

His death appeared to me as among the gloomiest calamities that could have come to my people,  Frederick Douglass

Garfield was born, lived in, and served as congressman for Northeast Ohio. So it was in the City of Cleveland that a subscription was quickly launched to build a permanent monument for the fallen president. More than 110,000 private citizens contributed, with hundreds schoolchildren donating their proverbial pennies. A site was chosen at the top of a magnificent hill in Clevelands Lakeview Cemeterytoday a virtual arboretum, with spiky obelisks and grand mausoleums overlooking the city.

A design for the combination tomb and memorial was launched and won by Connecticut architect George Keller. He designed a circular tower with a conical roof to house a 12-foot statue of the late president, rising from atop a drum-shaped tomb chamber, where Garfields body, and later that of his wife, would lie in a freestanding marble sarcophagus.

The Memorial is heavy, Romanesque in its arches and doorways, and constructed of blocks of worked granite. It is reached by broad steps and has a high portico with a fine view of downtown Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, and Lake Erie. Around the portico are four terra-cotta bas-relief panels containing more than 100 life-sized figures illustrating episodes from Garfields life. The high, circular rotunda inside is spectacular, with stained glass windows, columns, chandeliersthe works, wonderfully executed with the fine materials by accomplished craftspeople from around the world. The centerpiece is a 12-foot-tall marble statue of the late president, standing under a halo of lights.

And it is there, in the stonework of the Garfield Memorial, that my mothers familyand therefore I myselfenter the story. This building, raised in grief over a fallen president, is the historical hinge upon which my mothers family swung into existence.

It goes like this. I had a great-great grandfather. His first and middle names were Johan Nikolas. He was born in Bavaria in 1842 and learned the trade of stone carving. He came to the United States around 1870, to heavily German Cincinnati, Ohio, where he applied his skills to what was to become the sculpted jewel of that citys downtown: Fountain Square. While working on the fountain, he got an official letter from Bavaria. It was his draft notice. Bavarias army was joining the Franco-Prussian war, and young Johan Nikolas wisely decided to keep out of it and remain in the States.

About a decade later, he got wind of a gig up in Cleveland. They were building a colossal granite memorial to the recently slain president Garfield, and men who could swing a hammer and chisel were in big demand. Johan Nikolas packed up his tools, and made his way up to Cleveland, where he joined the crews elaborating the exterior of the great edifice.

While in Cleveland, he met and wed his future wife, Margaretha. And once the Garfield Memorial was complete, he settled in downtown, opened and stone-carving shop outside another cemetery, and lived out his days. (Some of his stone angels are still to be seen poking up behind the walls of Clevelands older cemeteries.)

So goes the family legend.

Of course, there are an infinite number of colliding atoms in the chain of causality leading to any event. But such is the human thirst for distinction, that I take pride in the fact that my existence is associated with an event of national historical importance  even one so hideous and shameful as a presidential assassination. And not only my existence, of course, but that of my brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins and aunts. None of us would be here if Garfield had not died as he did, and Johan Nikolas had not come to Cleveland to work on the tomb and meet his future life.

Many years ago, I was introduced to a fine-looking gentleman Id been told was the great-grandson of President Garfield. It was at a high society charity event, and I was already feeling underdressed and out of my element. Shaking hands with this direct lineal descendent of a man whod shaken the hand of Abraham Lincoln, I could think of nothing to say but, Do you know, if your great grandfather hadnt been shot, I would never have been born?

In return for this remark, I got that Who let this idiot in? look I know so well, and I went on to sputter out the rest of my tale, which seemed to interest him not in the least (though his wife gave an appreciative chuckle).

I was, perhaps, primed to ponder path dependency, as a child, by my mother. When we were all little. Shed pause from her household chores and curl up on our ratty old couch, and every kid at hand would jump up and snuggle around her, while she entertained us with stories and funny voices. One day, she was frowning into the middle distance. We asked her what was wrong.

I was just thinking, she said. What would have happened if Id never met your father. Where would you all be? Would you still be where you were before you were born? Or would you be born as someone else? With different parents?

Pretty heavy stuff to lay on a bunch of 3 to-9-year-olds. Much like pondering who or where I would be if Garfield had been wearing a bullet-proof vest the day he was shot.

Certainly American politics would have been different. After Garfields death, the Republican Party drifted without enthusiasm for his successor, allowing the Democrats to recapture the presidency for the first time since the Civil War and setting in motion a string of destabilizing events that left the nation seesawing between factions for decades. It isnt hard to sketch out the alternate timeline: a strong, stable, two-term Garfield presidency dampens the patronage wars, steadies the party, and likely averts the TaftRoosevelt split that handed the White House to Woodrow Wilson. And if Wilson isnt president in 1914, the entire character of World War Oneand the century that followedchanges. No Bolshevik coup in a collapsing Russia, no Versailles humiliation ripe for a demagogue, no Hitler, no Holocaust, no Maoist catastrophes, no Cold War, no Middle East shaped by imperial debris.

It should be pretty clear that tens of millions of lives might have unfolded differently if Garfield had simply been allowed to finish the work hed barely begun. The world would unquestionably be a better place. On the other hand, I would never have been born. So the heck with that.

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HA NOI  President Luong Cuong met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Woo Won Shik in Ha Noi on November 21 afternoon within the framework of the latters official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.

Warmly welcoming Speaker Woo and the high-ranking delegation of the Korean National Assembly on their official visit to Viet Nam, President Cuong assessed the visit as having important significance, adding new momentum to develop the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries more substantially and effectively in the coming time. He affirmed that the two countries have truly become each other's leading important partners.

Expressing his pleasure to visit Viet Nam again, Speaker Woo conveyed the warm regards of Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and sincerely thanked President Cuong for attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, contributing to the overall success of the event. He said that the RoK will actively share experiences and closely coordinate with Viet Nam to successfully organise the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting 2027 in Viet Nam.

Speaker Woo emphasised that the relationship between the RoK and Viet Nam is a special and inseparable relationship. The RoK wants to promote and further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam, and is ready to accompany Viet Nam on the journey to realise the goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045.

The two leaders expressed their joy at the important achievements of the two countries in many fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. They agreed to continue strengthening political trust to create a solid foundation for promoting other areas of cooperation between the two countries; and continue to concretise commitments and agreements reached during recent visits by senior leaders of the two countries.

Appreciating the results of the talks between NA Chairman Man and Speaker Woo, President Cuong hoped that the legislative bodies of the two countries would closely coordinate to create a legal corridor, implement the content of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and support the agreements and commitments of the two governments.

Believing that the potential and strengths of cooperation between the two countries are very huge, the President emphasised that the two sides need to continue strengthening political trust; increase the exchange of delegations at the high level and by ministries, localities, and businesses of the two countries; promote cooperation in defence, security, and prevention and combat of transnational crimes; and strengthen cooperation in education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges to create deeper connection and understanding between the people of the two countries.

Highly agreeing with the proposals of President Cuong, Speaker Woo hoped that Viet Nam would continue to support and remove difficulties for Korean enterprises and create favourable conditions for the Korean business community to confidently make long-term investment in Viet Nam. The Speaker said that he would coordinate with the Vietnamese legislative body to support the two countries' governments to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, in conformity with the interests of the two nations people.

On this occasion, President Cuong expressed his thanks and hoped that the Korean side would always pay attention to and support the Vietnamese community in the RoK to integrate, live, study, and work stably and permanently in the country. He also affirmed that the Vietnamese side would also create favourable conditions for the Korean community in Viet Nam.

The two leaders agreed to continue to closely cooperate and support each other in regional and international forums of mutual interest, and make efforts to promote the long-term peace process on the Korean peninsula.  VNS
ONG THAP  ong Thap Province continues to advance sustainable fishing practices, enhance offshore productivity and support national efforts to lift the European Commissions IUU yellow card.

A key factor behind these achievements is the expansion of collaborative fishing groups and co-operatives, which have enabled fishermen to reduce costs, remain longer at sea and enhance compliance with legal requirements.

The province now has more than 1,500 fishing vessels with 9,747 crew members.

Since 2014, when the co-operation model was introduced, ong Thap has formed 31 fishing co-operation groups with 392 vessels and 3,453 crewmen, alongside one fishing co-operative with 10 vessels and 70 members. Three fishery trade unions operating with 98 vessels and 745 crewmen help further consolidate the organisational structure of offshore fishing.

Fishermen say the benefits are increasingly evident. Shared logistics, mutual assistance at sea and coordinated trips have helped stabilise incomes and improve safety.

In emergencies such as storms, accidents, or machinery failures, support from vessels within the same group arrives promptly, reducing risks that could affect productivity and cost vessel owners significant losses.

Equally important is the improvement in fishermens awareness of responsible fishing. Local authorities frequently convey messages on compliance through community meetings, Nghinh Ong festivals and local information channels.

These reminders, which emphasise the importance of maintaining complete documentation, reporting according to regulations and avoiding IUU violations, have gradually improved responsible fishing behaviour across the province.

Gia Thuan Commune, a major fishing area with 580 registered vessels, including 436 offshore and 145 nearshore boats, recorded a catch of 40,760 tonnes of seafood in the first ten months of 2025.

Local fishermen credit this performance to better organisation within the co-operation groups, which has helped minimise wasted time and improve efficiency.

For fishermen like Le Van Muoi, director of the Vam Lang Fisheries Co-operative, cost savings are clear.

With 10 offshore vessels, his co-operative has reduced expenses significantly by sharing transport services. In the past, vessels would spend two to three months at sea before returning with their full catch.

Today, smaller service boats collect seafood more frequently and deliver it to shore, ensuring fresher products and better market prices. This shift reduces the risk of spoilage and allows offshore vessels to maximise time spent at sea.

Before each trip, co-operative members meet to discuss weather conditions, fishing grounds and regulations.

Fishermen are reminded to avoid prohibited waters, follow registered routes and carry full documentation. This collaborative approach has strengthened compliance and operational discipline.

A similar level of cooperation is seen at the Truong Duy Fishing Co-operation Group, led by Ly Van Lieng.

Vessels frequently exchange information about fish shoals, while service boats deliver fuel, ice and essential supplies.

According to fishermen, this reduces fuel consumption by 1520 per cent. Some groups estimate savings of up to VN15 million (around US$600) per trip when logistics are effectively shared.

Monitoring systems have also been improved. Captains and vessel owners regularly exchange updates about tracking devices to ensure uninterrupted signal transmission.

When a temporary loss of signal occurs, immediate contact is made with equipment providers to restore connectivity as soon as possible.

Maintaining continuous vessel monitoring is essential to avoiding potential IUU violations and ensuring transparency.

Deputy Chairwoman of Gia Thuan Commune Peoples Committee Ha Tran Phuong Thuy said the commune now has 29 fishing co-operation groups and one fishery co-operative.

She noted that from 2024 to the present, no vessel from the commune has violated IUU regulations  a result she attributes to consistent communication and strong coordination among local authorities, border guard units and the fishing community.

Support from Kieng Phuoc Border Guard Station and provincial agencies has reinforced the enforcement of legal requirements.

Fishermen are regularly reminded to respect permitted fishing zones, follow proper procedures and comply with all relevant laws, strengthening efforts toward sustainable fishing.

According to Tran Thi Be Bay, deputy director of the ong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, the co-operative model not only enhances economic efficiency but also supports better fisheries management.

By providing additional services, purchasing seafood directly at fishing grounds and enabling vessels to stay at sea longer, co-operatives help ensure both productivity and regulatory compliance.  VNS
HA NOI  Parents and caregivers are advised to stop using ByHeart Whole Nutrition, an infant formula product linked to cases of botulinum poisoning in babies, immediately if they have purchased it.

The product has been licensed for sale and is available on several e-commerce platforms in Viet Nam.

According to the Viet Nam's Ministry of Health, it was the advises from the World Health Organization (WHO).

They should pay close attention to warning signs and take children displaying any of the above symptoms to the nearest medical facility without delay.

Parents are also advised to thoroughly wash any utensils or surfaces that may have come into contact with the formula using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

The Ministry of Health on Thursday reported that the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning about ByHeart Whole Nutrition, an infant formula product linked to cases of botulinum poisoning in babies.

As of Thursday, the CDC had identified 31 suspected and confirmed cases of infant botulism associated with the use of ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula.

Botulinum poisoning is rare but extremely serious and can be fatal.

Symptoms in infants may include gagging or difficulty feeding; constipation; poor or weak sucking; drooping eyelids; reduced facial expression; weak crying; inability to lift the head; muscle weakness or limpness (particularly in the upper body, arms and legs); and difficulty reaching for or gripping objects. VNS
HCM CITY  The University Medical Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) and Novartis Vietnam Ltd., on November 19, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 202527 period, marking a new milestone in their long-term partnership established since 2021.

The agreement aims to foster medical innovation, expand clinical research capabilities and strengthen healthcare workforce training to improve patient outcomes in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Hoang inh, Vice Director of UMC, said: Over the years, the University Medical Centre of Ho Chi Minh City has focused on developing high-quality human resources, improving professional capacity, standardising processes, promoting digital transformation and expanding global clinical research. The collaboration with Novartis contributes to expanding the network of strategic partners accompanying the hospital, bringing more new opportunities in training, treatment and contributing to realising the vision of an innovative medicine for the health of patients.

Under the MoU, the collaboration focuses on four key areas, including developing and expanding the Centre of Excellence model, enhancing healthcare professionals capabilities, advancing clinical research cooperation according to international standards and expanding patient-oriented programmes.

Moving forward from 2025, Novartis and UMC will continue expanding their partnership across core areas, including treatment enhancement, professional education and clinical research. Ongoing initiatives include the UMC Health Project for transplant patients, the Lipid Control Centre Project for LDL-C management and the SpA Optimal Management Program for patients with axial spondylarthritis.

Collaboration in medical education will also be strengthened through the Education Partnership Programme, the Continuous Medical Education Programme, clinical pharmacy training and patient education.

In parallel, Novartis and UMC will participate in Novartis Global Trials, with six ongoing clinical studies in Viet Nam focusing on innovative therapies, aiming to bring advanced treatment options and improved quality of life to Vietnamese patients.

Jondy Syjuco, Country President of Novartis Vietnam, said: By combining Novartis global research strength and innovation capabilities with leading hospitals, we aim to advance clinical research, strengthen medical capacity and accelerate technology adoption in healthcare  enabling patients in Viet Nam to access advanced, high-quality therapies sooner. Novartis takes pride in being a trusted partner of Viet Nams healthcare system, keeping patients at the centre of everything we do, and maintaining a long-term commitment to improving healthcare quality for the Vietnamese people.

With a shared vision for advancing medical innovation, the MoU between Novartis and the University Medical Centre of Ho Chi Minh City not only reinforces their strategic partnership but also contributes to Viet Nams broader healthcare transformation, professional capability enhancement and tangible benefits for patients nationwide.  VNS
HA NOI  Central provinces and the Central Highlands are struggling with the aftermath of historic flooding that has killed or left missing at least 52 people and caused at least VN3 trillion (US$113 million) in damage, according to official data released on Friday morning.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that days of heavy rainfall have triggered widespread inundation across Gia Lai, ak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces, leaving a trail of destruction.

43 people had been confirmed dead and nine remained missing.

ak Lak recorded the highest loss of life, with 16 deaths, followed by Khanh Hoa with 14 and Gia Lai with five.

Lam ong reported four fatalities, while Hue and a Nang each had two.

Among the missing were four people in ak Lak, two in a Nang, and others in Quang Tri, Khanh Hoa and Lam ong.

Nearly 68,000 houses were submerged, with ak Lak bearing the brunt at more than 39,500 affected homes. Gia Lai reported 19,200 flooded houses and Khanh Hoa 9,000. Numerous communes across these provinces remain isolated by floodwaters.

Agricultural losses are severe  about 15,000 hectares of rice and other crops have been ruined, and close to 31,000 livestock and poultry have been killed or swept away.

Transport infrastructure has also been heavily impacted. More than 30 locations on national highways and 142 spots on provincial roads are flooded or blocked by landslides. Lam ongs key mountain passes  Prenn and Mimosa  have suffered major collapses, prompting a state of emergency.

Fourteen passenger trains have been halted, and Tuy Hoa airport suspended operations on November 20. Close to 400,000 customers across several provinces remain without electricity.

The disaster stems from a prolonged episode of extreme rainfall beginning November 16.

Over five days, several areas recorded 1,000 to 1,800mm of rain. On November 19 alone, parts of ak Lak saw more than 800mm, while Khanh Hoas Ho Hoa Son station measured 684mm in 24 hours.

Runoff pushed water levels on major rivers to historic highs. Flood peaks on the Ba River (ak Lak), Ky Lo River (ak Lak) and Dinh Ninh Hoa River (Khanh Hoa) exceeded previous records by 0.2 to 1.1m. At Cung Son on the Ba River, the flood crest surpassed the 1993 historic level by 1.09 metres.

Although floodwaters on major rivers are receding, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that downpours will persist across provinces from a Nang to Khanh Hoa through Saturday, keeping the risk of flash floods, landslides and further inundation high.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while still in Algeria during an official visit, convened an emergency online meeting late Thursday to direct the national response.

Multiple urgent directives have been issued, ordering provincial authorities to mobilise all available resources to protect residents.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has travelled to hard-hit areas in Khanh Hoa and ak Lak to oversee recovery efforts, while President Luong Cuong visited flood-affected communities in a Nang to offer support.

The Ministry of National Defence has deployed more than 21,000 personnel, including militia forces, along with hundreds of specialised vehicles. Four Mi helicopters and nine tonnes of rations have been prepared for airlifts to isolated communities. The Ministry of Public Security has mobilised nearly 42,000 officers to assist with rescue operations, maintain security and manage traffic disruptions.

Emergency financial support totalling VN50 billion for Khanh Hoa, VN300 billion for Gia Lai and VN200 billion for ak Lak has been approved. The Ministry of Finance has also released 4,000 tonnes of rice from national reserves to assist affected households.

Reservoirs at hydropower and irrigation facilities are being operated flexibly to reduce downstream flooding. On the Ba River basin alone, coordinated reservoir releases have helped cut an estimated 110 million cubic metres of floodwater.

Evacuation operations continue at pace, with more than 21,700 households, or 71,669 people, moved from high-risk areas to safer locations.

International assistance is beginning to arrive, with UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and the European Union among those pledging emergency supplies valued at millions of US dollars to support communities across the region.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese police have dismantled a major transnational drug trafficking network, arresting 13 suspects and seizing 777kg of synthetic narcotics, the Ministry of Public Securitys Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04) reported on Thursday.

The months-long operation, code-named 825P, began in July after investigators detected suspicious activity involving two Ha Noi residents. Around the same time, border guards identified a separate Laos-to-Viet Nam smuggling ring run by two organisers from Nghe An and Phu Tho provinces. Subsequent probes found out that the networks were connected.

Police described the ring as highly sophisticated and tightly organised. The alleged mastermind, identified only as Long, is a fugitive hiding overseas. Operatives worked in isolated cells, communicating solely via encrypted apps like Telegram and Signal under pseudonyms and never meeting in person. Drugs were cached in remote drop points, with couriers receiving only GPS coordinates and photos.

One key suspect, 43-year-old Chu Anh Tuan from Phu Tho, was recruited by Long during a trip abroad and paid VN3 million (US$115) per kg to receive and distribute shipments inside Viet Nam. In May, Tuan allegedly took delivery of 300kg at a local stadium, temporarily stashed the drugs at a relatives house, repackaged them, and relocated the cache near a cemetery. Couriers then collected batches of 2-24kg each, and the entire 300kg were moved undetected within two months.

In August, another operative, Tran uc Thanh, agreed to smuggle 930kg from Laos to Ha Noi for $250,000. He hired a container truck that crossed the border carrying 49 sacks of narcotics. The load was delivered to Tuan on August 17 and again hidden at his relatives residence. Over the following month, more than 200kg were distributed nationwide, including to southern Viet Nam.

At 9.30pm on Friday, police simultaneously raided sites in Phu Tho, arresting Tuan and several accomplices and seizing 706 kg of synthetic drugs, a vacuum-sealing equipment and documents. Coordinated raids in other provinces netted 11 more suspects and an additional 70kg.

Police later identified Long as Tran Van Quyet, a 40-year-old HCM City resident already wanted on two prior drug-trafficking warrants. Quyet is believed to be hiding near the Golden Triangle and continues to orchestrate large shipments with foreign partners.

C04 described the bust as a major victory and a demonstration of close coordination between police and border defence forces.  VNA/VNS
GIA LAI  Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long on November 21 visited and presented gifts to residents severely affected by floods in the central province of Gia Lai.

Specifically, Long presented forty gift packages to people in Luat Le village, where a thirty-metre section of the local dyke was breached and triggered rapid and widespread flooding in the downstream area. Another sixty gift packages were delivered to three other villages along the dyke, namely Van Hoi 1, Van Hoi 2, and Dieu Tri, to help locals overcome the aftermath of the disaster.

He also visited SOS Childrens Village Quy Nhon, where nearly one hundred and thirty orphans along with the staff, had to move to the second floor for safety as floodwaters surrounded and isolated the area. At the village, the Deputy PM presented one hundred seventeen gift packages, providing essential supplies for the children.

On the same day, Long held a meeting with the Gia Lai provincial Party Committee, during which Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Pham Anh Tuan reported that within a very short period, Gia Lai suffered a double disaster caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi and an exceptionally heavy flood immediately afterwards, resulting in severe damage beyond the local capacity for recovery.

Essential infrastructure, housing, and livelihoods of tens of thousands of households were destroyed; many sectors including education, health care, transportation, electricity, and irrigation were heavily affected. It is estimated that the disasters caused a total loss of about VND7 trillion (US$265.6 million) while leaving five dead, one missing, and ten injured.

Given that local resources have been depleted, Gia Lai needs emergency assistance from the central government, Tuan emphasised, calling for the Government to consider providing VND1 trillion to build resettlement areas for three thousand households in thirty-six high-risk locations requiring urgent relocation.

The province also requested urgent aid of VND1 trillion from the central budget to rebuild Quy Nhon and repair damaged transport infrastructure across the province.

Secretary of the Gia Lai Party Committee Thai ai Ngoc said that the entire province, from lowland to mountainous areas, has suffered serious and widespread damage. He requested that police and military forces continue to stay and assist the local authorities and residents in overcoming storm and flood aftermath, especially as hundreds of schools, medical stations, and thousands of homes remain in disarray.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM Long expressed sympathy for the province and bereaved families on the difficulties facing them. He acknowledged the proactive and coordinated response by the local authorities and armed forces in the face of disasters, affirming that the timely evacuation of residents and assistance provided by the police and military are a bright spot in the provinces disaster prevention and response efforts.

In the immediate term, the province needs to focus on delivering food, essential supplies, and medicine to residents, while repairing and cleaning medical stations and schools to ensure that students can return to classes as soon as possible.

In addition, Gia Lai must closely monitor the weather, remain vigilant, and avoid complacency. The armed forces should keep supporting residents and local authorities in overcoming flood consequences. In the long term, the province needs to develop plans to help people stabilise their lives, said Long.

The Deputy PM noted that Gia Lai should continue to conduct damage assessments while paying particular attention to the situation of businesses to implement appropriate support mechanisms and policies such as tax relief and assistance with bank debts. He acknowledged the provinces proposals and stated that they will be reported to the PM for timely and suitable action.  VNS
On November 14, ACCA Vietnam, in collaboration with VNHR, TopCV, GIMO and BIDV, held an event in Hanoi that brought together nearly 100 leaders and HR professionals. The discussion focused on practical strategies for leveraging AI while safeguarding employee wellbeing and maintaining a balanced working environment amid rapid technological change.

In the first keynote session, Tran Trung Hieu, founder and CEO of TopCV Vietnam, highlighted the expanding role of technology and artificial intelligence in HR operations. Beyond automating workflows, AI enables deeper data analytics and predictive decision-making.

This represents a significant advancement as the labour market continues to shift and organisations are required to respond with greater agility, said Hieu.

Tran Trung Hieu, CEO of TopCV Vietnam. Photo: ACCA Vietnam

Extending the conversation on technology, the second keynote delivered by Tran Minh Huong, country head of HR, Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam), shifted the focus to people, particularly the need for balance in the modern workplace.

As the boundary between work and personal life becomes increasingly blurred, she explained that creating a harmonious environment, where employees are understood and supported to grow holistically, is no longer a mere benefit but a core strategy for retaining talent and ensuring long-term performance.

These themes were further expanded during the panel discussion featuring Huong from Standard Chartered Vietnam; Pham Hoang Ngoc Linh, partner, head of People and Change Advisory, KPMG Vietnam; Le Quynh Lan, CHRO & COO, Stavian Group; and Dinh Thi Thu Ha, deputy CEO of Business & User Growth at GIMO together with moderator Vu Viet Dung, northern representative of VNHR.

Panel discussion. Photo: ACCA Vietnam

The panel delved into essential topics including ethical AI adoption, building risk management frameworks, developing human capabilities in a digital-first environment, maintaining corporate culture, and strengthening internal cohesion as technology increasingly influences organisational operations.

Practical insights from diverse business models painted a comprehensive picture of Vietnams ongoing transformation, where technology and human values must be harmonised to generate long-term organisational value.

To Quoc Hung, country manager at ACCA Vietnam, described the event as an important milestone in ACCAs strategic collaboration with Vietnams HR community.

"Through initiatives focused on connection, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building, we hope to co-create new initiatives that enhance workforce quality not just in finance and accounting, but across the entire business ecosystem," said Hung. "We believe an organisation can achieve sustainable growth only by balancing technology, people, and values. HR serves as the bridge that brings this balance to life through every policy and every employee experience."

To Quoc Hung, country manager, ACCA Vietnam

"We are witnessing a profound period of transition, as AI and digital technologies reshape not just individual roles but the entire workplace. From recruitment and training to performance measurement and employee experience, technology is becoming HRs new collaborator," he said.

However, alongside opportunities, Hung also pointed out several challenges that organisations must confront. These include balancing technological efficiency with human values, fostering workplaces that are both flexible and cohesive, and ensuring organisational resilience and sustainability in times of volatility.

In this context, HR is no longer merely a support function. It is becoming the strategic driver of organisational transformation. HR professionals must adopt data-driven mindsets, understand technology, and still uphold human empathy because no matter how far technology evolves, people remain at the heart of every organisation, he added.

SAV and ACCA lead discussion on building trustworthy AI in auditing As digital transformation continues to reshape industries across the globe, AI has emerged as a powerful driver of innovation and efficiency in governance, particularly within accounting, auditing, and the public sector.

ACCA builds new generation of financial leaders in Vietnam The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) celebrated its New Member Ceremony on October 13 and 14 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, highlighting the theme Legacy of Leadership.

Vietnams audit frontier in the age of AI technology As Vietnam rises as one of ASEANs AI frontrunners, the national auditing industry stands at a defining crossroads where technology meets human judgment and innovation demands integrity. Talking to VIRs Hazy Tran, ACCAs global president Ayla Majid shared that the future of public auditing and public financial management will belong to those who balance intelligence with ethics.
The award highlighted ATAD's ability to maintain international standards, operate a comprehensive quality management system, and implement ESG-aligned sustainable practices across its design-manufacturing-construction value chain.

For over more than two decades of development, ATAD has expanded its footprint to encompass 13 offices and delivered projects in over 60 countries, including airports, industrial facilities, and large-scale infrastructure.

This track record demonstrates the global competitiveness of a Vietnamese enterprise in a sector requiring high levels of technical precision, safety compliance, and international certification.

Nguyen Le Anh Tuan, CEO of ATAD Steel Structure Corporation, represented the company on stage to receive the award

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Nguyen Le Anh Tuan, CEO of ATAD, noted, "This award is an acknowledgment of ATAD's credibility and capabilities in the international market. It marks more than 20 years of continuous innovation, people development, and commitment to sustainable growth.

We will continue investing in technology, advancing green and modern manufacturing, and delivering world-class projects, affirming the emerging role of Vietnamese enterprises in the steel structure industry across Asia and globally.

ATAD currently operates steel structure manufacturing facilities with a combined annual capacity of 216,000 tonnes, offering end-to-end design and build services from engineering and fabrication to logistics, erection, and maintenance.

ATAD is also the only company in the steel structure industry to be honoured with both the Vietnam National Brand (Vietnam Value) and the Vietnam National Quality Awards.

The company serves major global clients such as Samsung, Heineken, Hyundai, Toyota, P&G, Sanofi, ACV, VinFast, and Hoa Phat.

In line with its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, ATAD adopts a zero accident safety policy, applies LEED standards in production to reduce carbon emissions, and maintains long-term corporate social responsibility programmes in education, healthcare, and community support.

The company also operates Vietnam's first LEED Gold-certified steel structure factory, backed by international certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IAS AC472, CE Marking, AISC, ASME, CWB, and UKCA, meeting the stringent requirements of demanding markets such as the US, EU, the UK, Australia, and Japan.

ATAD's technical capability has been demonstrated in major infrastructure developments, most notably Long Thanh International Airport, where the company fabricated and installed more than 45,000 tonnes of steel structures and executed a 5,300-tonne roof lifting operation.

ATAD has also contributed to key international projects including Metro Line 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, MRT-7 in the Philippines, the Jackson Generation Power Plant (US), Kampala Flyover (Uganda), Matarbari Power Plant (Bangladesh), H2 Green Steel (Sweden), and various airport developments across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The Manufacturing Asia Awards is a recognised regional programme honouring companies that demonstrate leadership in innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable industrial development.

ATAD's achievements reflect the growing presence and capability of Vietnamese manufacturers in the global steel structure industry.

Kanematsu Corporation officially becomes strategic shareholder of ATAD ATAD Steel Structure Corporation, a leading steel structure company in Vietnam, has announced that from April 2021, Japan's Kanematsu Corporation has completed transaction procedures and officially became the company's strategic shareholder.

Successful lifting of Long Thanh International Airport central terminal steel roof structure As a member of the Vietur joint venture, ATAD Steel Structure Corporation and Swiss subcontractor VSL have lifted the central steel roof structure for Long Thanh International Airport.
Ahead of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 1824), the Vietnam Respiratory Society hosted a symposium on antibiotic resistance and strategies for treating infections on October 25 in Hanoi and October 26 in Ho Chi Minh City. The event, organised in collaboration with GSK Vietnam, aimed to raise public and professional awareness, encourage responsible antibiotic use, and promote sustainable treatment strategies.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent global public health threat, with the potential to cause at least 10 million deaths annually by 2050  matching the mortality of cancer  if effective action is not taken. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that, beyond mortality and illness, AMR also carries substantial economic costs.

Vietnam is among the countries increasingly affected by AMR, largely due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics over many years, including for non-bacterial infections. In treating community-acquired respiratory infections, some cases  particularly in children  require high-dose antibiotics. Alarmingly, resistance rates for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, the main pathogens behind pneumonia, otitis media, and sinusitis, have reached concerning levels.

In light of this situation, healthcare professionals gathered at the event explained the need for coordinated multidisciplinary action to control AMR, especially in the context of widespread antibiotic overuse for mild respiratory conditions.

Dinh Xuan Anh Tuan, former president of the University of Corsica, France, noted that in 2019, one in five deaths among children under five was linked to antimicrobial resistance. He explained that unnecessary antibiotic use destroys beneficial bacteria that protect the body, allowing resistant bacteria to grow, dominate, and even transfer resistance to other bacteria.

Antibiotic overuse is accelerating this process, turning resistance into a global issue that threatens public health, hampers economic development, increases poverty, and worsens social inequalities, Tuan said.

He added, Even more concerning, the growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is making antibiotics less effective, raising the risk of death from infectious diseases and pushing medicine back to the 19th century, when many infections were considered incurable.

According to data from the National Childrens Hospital, respiratory diseases have accounted for the highest hospitalisation rates from 2020 to 2024 and show an annual upward trend. The main bacteria causing community-acquired pneumonia in children in Northern Vietnam are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Most of these strains exhibit high resistance to commonly used beta-lactams and macrolides - the antibiotics most frequently prescribed today.

Paediatric antibiotic stewardship strategies should follow the WHO classification framework, which divides antibiotics into three groups: Access, Watch, and Reserve, to ensure accurate and rational prescribing, said Tran Minh Dien, president of the Vietnam Pediatric Association.

Beyond adhering to these stewardship strategies, it is essential to use diagnostic tools to identify the causative pathogens. This enables correct and adequate antibiotic use while reducing unnecessary prescriptions for viral infections, added Dien.

Pham Tuan Canh, vice president of the Vietnam Otorhinolaryngology Association, noted that ear, nose, and throat infections, as well as community-acquired pneumonia, are common respiratory conditions in adults. They contribute significantly to hospitalisations and mortality, particularly among older patients and those with underlying health conditions.

Current data show that pneumococcal strains causing respiratory infections have markedly reduced susceptibility to second-generation cephalosporins and macrolides, he said. This is a warning sign of increasingly complex antibiotic resistance, requiring close coordination between microbiological testing and rational antibiotic selection in clinical practice.

Citing the Ministry of Healths antibiotic use regulations, Nguyen Hoang Anh, director of the National Centre for drug information and adverse drug reaction monitoring, said, Understanding antibiotic classification, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics is fundamental to selecting the right antibiotic, with accurate and sufficient dosing to overcome bacterial resistance and ensure effective treatment from the initiation phase. The role of community pharmacists and pharmacies is to provide proper counselling, helping patients adhere to the full course of antibiotic therapy, thereby contributing to reducing antimicrobial resistance.

Ngo Quy Chau, president of the Vietnam Respiratory Society, said controlling antimicrobial resistance requires a comprehensive approach, especially in respiratory, otorhinolaryngology, and paediatric care, where antibiotic use is most common.

To build an effective infection management strategy, we must rely on up-to-date microbiological data from hospitals, research initiatives such as SOAR, and surveys on medication use. At the same time, harmonising treatment guidelines and implementing education and training for healthcare professionals at all levels are crucial to ensure the long-term efficacy of antibiotics, Chau added.

To combat AMR and support global healthcare efforts, GSK launched the Fleming Initiative in 2024, a global network bringing together expertise in science, clinical practice, policy, and community engagement to develop innovative solutions. With more than 70 years in antibiotic research, production, and supply, GSK currently holds the largest AMR-focused research and development portfolio in the industry, including over 30 medicines and vaccines in development, 12 of which target pathogens classified as 'critical' or 'urgent' by the WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. In Vietnam, GSK has contributed to AMR efforts for over three decades. Pham Thi My Lien, president of GSK Vietnam, said, We are proud to work with health organisations, the British Embassy, medical associations, hospitals, pharmacies, and healthcare professionals to promote the rational use of antibiotics and expand vaccine coverage. Through these initiatives, we aim to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating community-acquired respiratory infections.

Prevention the key to addressing respiratory health challenges Amid growing cases of pulmonary-related diseases, prevention is considered the key to addressing respiratory health challenges, according to experts.

Nearly one in four adolescents carry invasive meningococcal disease without symptoms The Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine in collaboration with GSK Vietnam have held a symposium on invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) to update the epidemiological situation and promote a proactive prevention strategy in Vietnam.
Expected to be passed by the National Assembly on December 10, the amended law aims to complete the legal corridor for high-tech growth, streamline governance, and address obstacles that have limited progress since the 2008 High-Tech Law. Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung highlighted that the revision focuses on aligning development with socioeconomic needs, promoting international integration, and enhancing decentralisation to accelerate Vietnams high-tech sector.

Key updates include provisions that encourage domestic companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups to invest in research and commercialise high technologies. The law also supports research institutes and universities in developing high-tech enterprises and turning their research results into marketable innovations.

The draft law prioritises foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) that transfer core technologies and foster collaboration with domestic companies, strengthening national technological capabilities and avoiding foreign investment that relies solely on outdated technologies and low-cost labour.

It also classifies high-tech enterprises into two tiers. Tier 1 applies to enterprises in which domestic investors hold over 30 per cent equity and which receive transfers of core technologies at the innovation and development level; these firms enjoy the highest corporate income tax incentives: four years of tax exemption, 50 per cent reduction for nine subsequent years, and a 10 per cent tax rate for 15 years.

Tier 2 applies to most other high-tech enterprises with incentives including two years of tax exemption, 50 per cent reduction for four years, and a 15 per cent tax rate.

In addition, the draft proposes abolishing the certificate of high-tech enterprise status and replacing it with a self-assessment mechanism based on established criteria, thereby reducing administrative procedures.

It also introduces regulations for high-tech urban areas to create dedicated spaces for high-tech research, development, and application, linked with sustainable urban development.

At a recent NA session, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said, The amended High-Tech Law aims to refine the legal framework to promote high-tech development in line with socioeconomic needs and international integration, strengthen decentralisation, and remove obstacles that have hindered progress over the past 17 years under the 2008 High-Tech Law.

While largely supportive of the draft, many NA deputies, economic experts, and local leaders argued that the law needs further refinement, particularly in clarifying incentive policies for high-tech enterprises to ensure effectiveness and strike a balance between FIEs and domestic firms.

For example, Clause 2, Article 18 of the 2008 Law on High Technology stipulates that high-tech enterprises shall enjoy the highest level of incentives in accordance with the laws on land, corporate income tax, VAT, export tax, and import tax.

However, the amended draft merely states in general terms that high-tech enterprises shall receive incentives and support in accordance with the law, including tax incentives, land incentives, credit support, and support from the Investment Support Fund.

Experts warn that this wording weakens policy commitments and makes it harder for businesses to predict the long-term investment environment.

In its appraisal report, the NAs Committee on Science, Technology and Environment noted that the draft still shows a gap between strategic intent and actual implementation mechanisms, especially regarding incentive policies.

The drafting agency should inherit existing provisions and clearly specify the highest level of incentives for high-tech enterprises and strategic technology enterprises. This is necessary to create breakthroughs in high-tech development and raise technological capacity in accordance with Resolution 57-NQ/TW, and aligns with the core purpose of this amendment, said Nguyen Thanh Hai, Chairwoman of the committee.

Under current regulations, high-tech enterprises enjoy top-tier incentives: four years of corporate income tax exemption, a 50 per cent reduction for the following nine years, a 10 per cent tax rate for 15 years, and even higher incentives for special projects; yet the amended draft Law preserves this package only for Tier 1 enterprises, while Tier 2 firms are entitled only to a two-year exemption, a 50 per cent reduction for four years, and a general 15 per cent tax rate.

Several members of the committee expressed concern that this could create disparities between FIEs and domestic businesses. Even if FIEs meet the technical criteria, their entirely foreign-owned capital structure would automatically place them in Tier 2, meaning they would face tighter incentives.

NA Deputy Pham Hung Thai, Deputy Secretary of Tay Ninh Party Committee and head of the provinces delegation, proposed, The drafting body should review and harmonise the system of incentives for high-tech firms, zones, and urban areas within the law, including land incentives, administrative procedures, access to credit, and infrastructure support.

Thai also recommended authorising the government to detail the scope and form of these incentives, ensuring coherence with related laws such as the Law on Investment, the Land Law, and the Planning Law, to prevent overlaps and facilitate investor operations.

Bui Ngoc Tuan, partner of Tax and Legal Advisory Services at Deloitte Vietnam, warned, Reducing incentives could affect Vietnams ability to attract investment, especially as global competition for high-tech projects intensifies and Vietnam targets $4050 billion in foreign investment annually through 2030.

He added, The Law on Investment stipulates that incentives must be safeguarded when legal frameworks change. We need a clear and transparent transitional mechanism to ensure investors continue to receive the incentives originally committed, avoiding policy risks that could disrupt the investment environment.

Perfecting legal corridor to boost high-tech sector The Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment held a workshop in HCM City on September 23 to collect comments on draft amendments to the Law on High Technology.

Vietnams growth formula evolves as high-tech and green industries take lead Vietnam is entering a new phase of economic transformation where foreign direct investment (FDI), high-tech industries, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, and human resources quality will define its growth path. Industry leaders highlight that the next generation of industrial parks must evolve to be green, smart, and integrated to meet investors' rising standards and Vietnam's net zero ambitions.
Tran Khai Hoan, member of the Board of Directors and acting general director of Nam A Bank and Carolin Gassner, chairperson of the Board of Directors of GCPF signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

On November 19, Nam A Bank and the GCPF signed an MoU to collaborate on climate adaptation finance. The partnership aims to develop a new joint framework for financing climate-resilient projects in Vietnam, with a particular focus on supporting the agriculture sector.

The agreement underscores Nam A Banks commitment to sustainable development in Vietnam. As part of its sustainable development strategy, the bank pays particular attention to the agricultural sector as it is the most vulnerable to climate change. The bank will collaborate with prestigious organisations to research, design, and pilot climate adaptation financial products.

The goal is to strengthen the resilience of farmers and agricultural firms in the face of challenges such as drought and saltwater intrusion while facilitating investment in irrigation technologies, water management, and other innovative adaptation measures.

Vietnams green finance market is undergoing a drastic transformation. The governments net-zero commitments have prompted commercial banks to stimulate green credit in association with environmental protection, thereby promoting sustainable development.

In addition, the establishment of the International Financial Centre (IFC) in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to attract international capital, particularly green finance. By leading cooperation with global funds such as GCPF, Nam A Bank is supporting the citys efforts to lure large-scale international green financing, thereby strengthening the sustainable financial position of both the city and Vietnam.

The two parties plan to jointly explore a climate-adaptation financing framework in 2026.

Globally, climate adaptation is facing a massive financing gap, as developing countries require around $387 billion per year for adaptation, which is nearly 20 times the currently available capital. The majority of global climate finance currently prioritises mitigation, making it challenging for adaptation projects to secure long-term capital.

A representative of Nam A Bank said, "Climate adaptation finance is an urgent requirement given Vietnams net-zero commitments. This collaboration strengthens Nam A Bank's sustainable development strategy while also allowing for partnerships and knowledge exchanges with international partners."

A representative of GCPF said, We highly appreciate the pioneering role of Nam A Bank in this partnership. The bank has been GCPFs long-standing partner in Vietnam, with outstanding achievements in the green finance field. This is an important foundation for two sides to exchange expertise and implement projects in the future.

The signing ceremony was held at Nam A Banks head office.

GCPF is managed by responsAbility Investments AG, one of the worlds leading impact asset managers. The fund invests in three key areas: climate finance, financial inclusion, and sustainable food, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Meanwhile, Nam A Bank affirms its position in sustainable development. As of present, the bank has mobilised nearly $200 in international capital for sustainable development. Among them, GCPF has disbursed more than $40 million.

The bank has also completed and adopted its Environmental and Social Risk Management System in line with IFC standards. It is one of the first banks in Vietnam to announce full compliance with Basel III international risk management requirements.

Both sides have partnered since 2018 to implement funding for green credit initiatives. After a long period of cooperation, the bank has been recognised by GCPF as one of the most successful implementing partners in Vietnam.

HDBank joins forces with FMO to advance green finance Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank) has expanded its international sustainability agenda through a new cooperation agreement focused on advancing green finance.

Green finance framework vital for reshaping industrial future Vietnam is in critical need for a clearer framework for green finance to develop its carbon trading and renewables ecosystem and reshape its industrial future.
According to Savills third quarter 2025 Hanoi Property Market Report, the capital now offers around 2.3 million square metres of office space across nearly 200 buildings. While inner districts still dominate in supply, many of these offices are ageing, feature small floor areas, and lack green credentials or hybrid-friendly design  prompting firms to seek modern, sustainable alternatives in the citys western districts.

Companies, particularly those in finance, insurance, and real estate, are prioritising relocations to newly built, high-quality offices that provide efficient layouts, stable technical infrastructure, and sustainability certifications.

Matthew Powell, director of Savills Hanoi, noted that the shift from the old central districts to the west has been ongoing for years and is becoming increasingly pronounced. Firms are moving to new urban areas such as Starlake because of higher-quality office buildings with green standards, reasonable rents, and more floor space, features the older central business district cannot accommodate, he said.

Powell also highlighted workforce considerations, saying, Tay Ho Tay, Cau Giay, and Nam Tu Liem are closer to where many employees live. Shorter commutes improve recruitment, retention, and overall job satisfaction.

Savills also reports that Hanois overall occupancy rate now sits around 86 per cent and is expected to remain stable as nearly 265,000 sq.m of new Grade-A supply enters the market between 2025 and 2027, most of it located in the west.

Tay Ho Tay is rapidly developing into a major office cluster supported by comprehensive urban planning, the arrival of embassies, international schools, and high-end residential projects. Savills estimates that by 2027, roughly 290,000 sq.m of Grade-A office space will be added to the area, an expansion that central districts simply cannot accommodate due to limited land availability.

William Gramond, director of Commercial Leasing at Savills Hanoi, said, Demand for Grade-A offices is rising, but short-term new supply is still limited. Projects in Tay Ho Tay have a clear competitive edge thanks to modern design and operational standards.

The areas location near the airport, major transport corridors, and well-established residential communities also enhances its appeal. The planned relocation of several government offices and the presence of foreign-invested enterprises further strengthen its position in Hanois evolving urban structure.

Within this broader transformation, Starlake stands out. The presence of research and development (R&D) facilities, international schools, and high-quality housing has created a connected live-work-learn environment that many corporates value.

Savills and OSI Holdings representatives mark the launch of Oriental Square by OSI in Starlake

On November 19, Savills and OSI Holdings hosted a launch event at plot H2CC1 in Starlake, drawing around 40 companies, potential tenants, investors, and commercial property partners. The gathering marked the first public unveiling of Oriental Square by OSI.

Located in the administrative and diplomatic heart of Starlake, Oriental Square by OSI belongs to the Grade-A segment and incorporates features aligned with current market demands: large column-free floors, a 100mm raised floor system, and a 4.5-m slab-to-slab height. The project is pursuing LEED Gold certification, in line with tenant priorities for energy efficiency and sustainability.

Savills Vietnam, appointed as property management partner, explained during the event that operational quality has become a decisive factor for tenants. Common requirements now include reliable MEP systems, robust digital infrastructure, and the ability to support hybrid working models.

Attendees toured sample areas and evaluated the initial level of completion. Although the event did not announce leasing rates, it provided prospective tenants a clearer sense of the undertakings functionality and design.

Oriental Square by OSI arrives at a time when the market is recalibrating around three priorities: quality, scale, and connectivity. With its location within Starlake and its large, flexible layouts, the venture is positioned to meet the needs of companies expanding or seeking upgraded premises that can support long-term workforce growth.

The surrounding environment is another advantage. Starlake hosts Samsungs R&D Centre, embassies, international schools, residential neighbourhoods, and upcoming retail developments. Together, these elements form a complete ecosystem, something businesses increasingly consider when selecting office locations for multi-year commitments.

Oriental Square by OSI in Starlake

With the launch of Oriental Square by OSI, Starlake is cementing its role as a new hub for Grade-A offices in Hanoi. While it is unlikely to replace the citys traditional central business districts, Tay Ho Tay and Starlake are emerging as attractive alternatives for companies seeking modern spaces, efficient operations, and workplaces better suited to employee needs.

As competition for talent intensifies and workplace expectations rise, the shift away from the historic core is expected to continue. Oriental Square by OSI demonstrates  through its design and operational approach rather than promotional claims  the evolving standards of Hanois office market.

The new home of modern business at Hanoi's Starlake Located in Starlake, Hanois rising administrative and economic centre, Oriental Square by OSI is quickly becoming a standout among the capitals top-tier Grade A office developments.

Vietnam's hospitality sector on the rise: new supply, big ambitions Savills Hotels, WeHub, and their partners hosted Meet The Experts (MTE), the region's largest annual real estate and hospitality conference, on October 1 in Hanoi, aiming to enhance networking, create collaboration opportunities, and provide valuable insights for developers, hotel industry owners, operators, and professionals.
According to the guide, released on 21 November by global real estate services companyJLL and corporate law firm DN Legal, annual returns of 67.5 per cent are helping drive hotel investment, with total inflows expected to reach around $125 million by the end of 2025. Vietnam is consolidating its position as Southeast Asias fastest-growing tourism market, welcoming 13.9 million international visitors in the first eight months of the year  up 21.7 per cent on-year.

Karan Khanijou, senior vice president of Asia Hotel & Hospitality Investment at JLL, said his firm expects major deals to continue focusing on centrally located hotels and upscale resort projects in the coming years, driven by both domestic and international investors.

Reflecting enhanced market fundamentals and active transaction pipelines, we have revised the 2025 transaction volume projection from $100 million to $125 million, incorporating both pending deals and improved investor confidence throughout the market, Khanijou said.

The report notes that Vietnams hotel sector is gaining strong momentum thanks to new legal reforms. One major driver is the policy extending visa-free stays for selected nationalities from one month to three months and allowing unlimited entries since August 2023.

China remains the largest source market, with more than 3.5 million visitors, up 44.3 per cent on-year. South Korea contributed 2.9 million arrivals, while Taiwan recorded 829,000. India saw growth of more than 42 per cent, and European markets, particularly Russia, posted the strongest expansion during the period.

Hotel supply has increased steadily, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 7 per cent through 2024.

As of July, the market recorded over 185,000 rooms across more than 1,500 accommodation facilities, with the upscale-to-luxury segment accounting for 57 per cent of total supply.

Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang are the three key markets, representing 14 per cent, 13 per cent, and 12 per cent of national supply respectively.

Hanoi, Danang, and Hoi An lead future pipelines through 2028, with 33 per cent of upcoming supply expected in the mid-scale segment.

As of July, hotels nationwide continued to post robust performance with 20 per cent on-year growth, supported by rising occupancy.

Revenue per available room, measured in local currency, recorded average annual growth of 21 per cent from 2020 to 2024.

Ho Chi Minh City surpassed its 2019 performance levels in 2024 and has maintained strong momentum into 2025.

Along with Hanoi, the two cities significantly outperformed the national average thanks to their ability to attract a diverse mix of business, leisure, and events and conference travellers.

Hotel investment is also gaining attention, with recent transactions generating yields of 6 to 7.5 per cent, approaching investors target range of 8 to 9 per cent.

Vietnam is undergoing comprehensive legal reforms that are creating an unprecedentedly favourable investment environment.

The 2024 Land Law allows for more flexible land price adjustments within the same year instead of once every five years, improving transparency in land valuation.

Since July, the government has reduced construction permit requirements for projects with approved detailed plans or designs, eliminating major procedural impediments, shortening project timelines, and lowering costs and legal risks for investors. That month also saw a major administrative restructuring, merging 63 provinces and cities into 34 provincial-level units and consolidating several ministries to create a leaner governance system. This overhaul not only streamlines administration but also creates opportunities to upgrade transport networks, service standards, and accommodation infrastructure.

The Personal Data Protection Law, effective from January 2026, will require strict compliance with international standards for protecting customer and employee information, enhancing credibility while giving Vietnamese hotels a competitive edge.

The government is also rolling out initiatives to position Vietnam as a top tourism destination in Southeast Asia, including expanding international air connectivity and improving infrastructure.

Major airlines have widened their networks to additional Vietnamese destinations, such as Emirates, boosting accessibility for international travellers. Newly established Sun Phu Quoc Airlines also launched operations with the ambition of connecting domestic and international routes through Phu Quoc.

The combination of flexible visa policies, comprehensive legal reforms, and effective administrative restructuring is generating a sustainable growth cycle for Vietnams hotel sector.

Khanijou forecasts a positive outlook for 2026, with expectations for sustained deal activity contingent on quality hotel inventory entering the market.

However, the greatest challenge remains identifying assets that meet institutional investment criteria, as the actual supply of such properties is still relatively limited, he said.

Sun Group named Inspirational Brand at 2025 APEAs Sun Group has been recognised as one of Asia-Pacifics most inspirational enterprises at this years APEA awards in Ho Chi Minh City.
On November 21, Vietjet announced it is offering assistance to passengers impacted by heavy rains and flooding in Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces, while also transporting relief goods free of charge. The extreme weather has disrupted local travel and led to temporary suspensions at several airports, affecting flights to and from Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, and Cam Ranh and prompting schedule adjustments.

To assist both local and international travellers, Vietjet is offering free flight changes or refunds as credit vouchers, in line with fare conditions, for passengers travelling from the affected airports, including:

- Flights departing from Cam Ranh Airport from November 20 to November 23, 2025.

- Flights departing from Tuy Hoa Airport from November 20 to November 25, 2025.

- Flights departing from Phu Cat Airport from November 19 to November 23, 2025.

Passengers can contact Vietjets hotline at 1900 1886, official ticket offices, or Vietjet representatives at Cam Ranh, Tuy Hoa, and Phu Cat airports for assistance.

The airline is also providing free transport of relief goods from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City airports to flood-affected areas in Central Vietnam. Organisations, units, and individuals wishing to send relief items can register by contacting Vietjet at 0918716828 (Hanoi), 0912384770 (Ho Chi Minh City), or via email at cuutro@vietjetair.com.

By expressing solidarity with the central region at this difficult time, Vietjet hopes to support local communities in overcoming the floods and returning to normal life swiftly.

Vietjet orders 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft Vietjet has made a significant order for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft, marking a new milestone in UK-Vietnam ties.

Vietjet launches new Ho Chi Minh CityManila route To celebrate the festive season and the upcoming launch of its first-ever route to the Philippines, Vietjet is offering everyone seven golden days of promotion on the new route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, Philippines.
China's rural revitalization offers lessons for Africa's socioeconomic development

09:20, November 21, 2025 By Michael Oduro ( People's Daily Online

Foreign students visit a kumquat processing center in Rong'an county during a winter field trip organized by the International Students Office at Beijing Foreign Studies University from Jan. 11 to 16, 2025. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

Who could have ever imagined that a small kumquat could hold the secret to changing the lives of an entire county? On a sunny morning in early January, I arrived at a kumquat orchard in Rong'an county in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The sweet fragrance of citrus filled the air, and the sounds of hardworking farmers echoed all around. It was here that I met Mr. Li, a farmer whose eyes sparkled with pride as he showed me his bountiful harvest. He shared with me how the kumquat orchard had helped lift his family, as well as many others, out of poverty.

I was in Rong'an as part of a field trip with fellow international students, seeking to experience China's rural revitalization firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of rural Chinese culture. The trip provided me with profound insights and a greater appreciation of how rural revitalization is transforming China and lifting rural communities out of poverty.

China's rural revitalization strategy, first put forward during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017, aims to rejuvenate rural areas and address the gap between rural and urban regions by promoting rural development, agricultural modernization, and improving the standard of living in rural communities. The goal is to ensure that rural areas are not left behind on the path to modernization. Over the years, this strategy has successfully boosted local economies, reduced poverty, and enhanced social stability in rural communities across China.

Rong'an is often referred to as the "home of kumquats," as it is the world's leading producer of kumquats. According to a report, in 2024, the total area of kumquat cultivation in Rong'an had reached 226,000 acres, with a total output exceeding 260,000 tonnes. The full industrial chain is valued at nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion). This success has not only helped farmers increase their incomes but has also driven rapid economic development in the region.

During my visit to Rong'an, I had the opportunity to tour a large kumquat farm, where I witnessed firsthand how mechanized agricultural equipment is used in both the cultivation and harvesting of fruits. Advanced water filtration systems were also in place, ensuring efficient irrigation for the farm. What left a lasting impression on me, however, was a visit to a kumquat processing and packaging center. There, I saw something quite different from what is usually the norm in many African countries.

At the center, modern equipment and cutting-edge processing technology were employed to process kumquats into high-quality products, which were then packaged and distributed nationwide. Additionally, I observed livestreaming sales and learned about the transportation of products to buyers across the country through a sophisticated logistics system, an innovation still uncommon in many African countries.

In contrast, in much of Africa, harvested fruits are typically transported from rural areas to cities for processing, packaging and sales. Unfortunately, poor transportation infrastructure often leads to fruits spoiling before they even reach processing facilities.

This stark difference highlights how adapting China's rural revitalization strategy to fit Africa's unique conditions could be a game changer. By modernizing agricultural practices, improving local processing capabilities and enhancing infrastructure, rural development could be significantly boosted, leading to stronger economic resilience across the continent.

China's rural revitalization strategy offers valuable lessons to African countries facing rural poverty, weak infrastructure, and food security challenges. China's experience demonstrates that with strong policy support, investment in agricultural modernization, ecological protection, and cultural preservation can transform even the most remote areas into dynamic economic centers.

Africa can benefit from adopting similar approaches, including strengthening rural transport, electricity, and internet connectivity, as well as developing agro-processing industries to raise farmers' incomes and create local jobs.

By prioritizing rural revitalization as China has done, African countries can unlock the potential of rural areas, driving sustainable growth and improving livelihoods. With the right policies, rural revitalization can be a key path toward a more prosperous and food-secure future for Africa.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang)
A 28-point-plan, drafted with Russian input, is the White Houses latest push to end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/19/witkoff-back-channel-push-ukraine-alarms-allies-00660247

The more time Russia takes, the more favorable the deal becomes. The long winter of suffering for the West will persist

As long as the West refuses to acknowledge the realitythat they are indifferent to Ukraine and that this conflict is fundamentally about undermining Russia with Ukraine as a pawnpeace remains unattainable. The Western elites need to recognize their role in this war, understand that their policies have failed, and realize that a change is necessary. Only then can we hope for peace

Oops

The Russian Foreign Ministry has not received any information from the US through official channels regarding certain agreements on Ukraine, which are being reported by the media, Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS.

Now what Russia says is the truth and as always what the USA says is games ans lies

WtR
Additional support for North Wales health board as it continues in special measures

The Welsh Government has announced additional support for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board as part of its ongoing level 5 special measures intervention.

Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said the board continues to face significant and persistent challenges in delivering safe, timely and effective care, particularly in planned care, cancer services and urgent and emergency care.

The board has been in level 5 special measures since February 2023.

It previously spent more than five years under the highest level of Welsh Government intervention between 2015 and 2020.

A report earlier this year noted that Betsi Cadwaladr has the largest proportion of long waits in Wales.

The health board serves more than 700,000 people across North Wales and employs more than 19,000 staff.

A special measures progress report published on 24 October said governance and leadership had improved, but performance issues remained and continued to pose risks to patient safety and public confidence.

The report said people are experiencing unacceptably long waiting times for planned and emergency care.

Mr Miles said the health board had reflected on that report and had asked for further support.

He said: Despite some signs of improvement since the health board was escalated to in special measures in February 2023, it has faced significant and persistent challenges in delivering safe, timely, and effective care, particularly in relation to planned care, cancer and urgent and emergency services.

The health board has reflected on that report and has now requested additional support to accelerate improvement.

Mr Miles confirmed that additional senior level capacity and expertise will be placed inside the organisation, with support from NHS Performance and Improvement.

The new team will include an improvement director and experienced operational leads, who will work with the chief executive and board.

He said the support is not intended to replace operational leadership but to assist it.

The work will focus on reducing ambulance handover delays, improving patient flow, reducing waiting times for planned treatment and diagnostic tests, improving cancer diagnosis and treatment times and further strengthening governance and leadership capability.

The support will be in place for an initial six months before it is evaluated. The intervention will operate under agreed terms of reference and accountability arrangements.

Mr Miles said the intervention will be delivered in partnership with NHS Performance and Improvement teams already working with the board.

He said he will want to know what more can be done to accelerate the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Group of Performance and Productivity and the mandatory enabling actions in the 2025 to 2028 Planning Framework.

Mr Miles added: Regular progress reports will be provided, including outcomes. This decision reflects our commitment to the Duty of Quality under the NHS Wales Act 2006 and our clear aim to improve NHS services for people in North Wales.
Calls for urgent devolution of police powers to Wales

A Labour Senedd member has called on the Welsh Government to hold talks with Westminster to ensure policing is at long last, urgently devolved to Wales.

Mick Antoniw made the comments in the Senedd after the UK Government confirmed plans to scrap police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in Wales and England in 2028.

The former minister described the creation of elected police chiefs as an ill-thought-out concept done on the back of fag packet that was always doomed to eventual failure.

Mr Antoniw argued PCCs were introduced to distract from massive policing cuts that led to the previous Tory UK Government cutting 20,000 officers from forces across the UK.

During topical questions today (November 19), he told the Senedd: The only way this can work effectively in Wales is by the devolution of policing.

Political intransigence

Mr Antoniw, the former chief legal adviser in the Welsh Government, added: The failure to devolve policing previously was an act of political intransigence by the UK Government, rather than practical policy, but we now have the opportunity to rectify that anomaly.

Jane Hutt, Wales social justice secretary, told Senedd members she has spoken to and written to Sarah Jones  the UK policing minister  since the Home Office announcement.

The main issue is that key functions currently exercised by police and crime commissioners in Wales must continue to be exercised in Wales, she said. The conversation weve opened with the UK Government is about how that happens  not whether it happens.

Conservative Joel James pointed out that scrapping PCCs means their powers will be given to mayors or councils in England, expressing concerns about the implications for Wales.

His colleague James Evans said: I am totally against the devolution of policing, questioning the cost to Welsh taxpayers and suggesting Wales would end up with a lesser service.

Losing impetus

Ms Hutt recognised: There is no equivalent to mayors within the democratic structures of Wales, so we need a different approach to police accountability.

Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price accused Westminster of dragging its feet on devolution, asking: What is it about Welsh democracy that the UK Labour Government so distrusts?

Ms Hutt said the Welsh Government was keen to grasp the opportunity for Wales-specific reforms, including to progress the devolution of policing.

Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrats leader in Wales, called for any savings from scrapping PCCs to be invested into frontline policing, particularly in rural Wales.

But she warned the impetus for devolution is being lost, saying: It feels a little bit lost, the timetable and the target for us to get policing and criminal justice devolved here to Wales.

Expensive experiment

Labours Alun Davies added his voice to calls for devolution of police powers.

He said: Its very clear that the Home Office had given absolutely no consideration to the situation of Wales when this decision was made and announced, and they seem somewhat surprised that we have our own arrangements and democracy here.

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, said incredibly low turnout shows the public have not embraced the expensive political experiment of police commissioners.

He pointed out that nearly 73% of police funding comes from Wales already, suggesting it was a perfect opportunity to reform and, perhaps, merge Wales four police forces.

Ms Hutt confirmed she was told about the Home Office decision but not consulted, as she pledged to make the case for devolution of policing to Labour colleagues in Westminster.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Former North Wales AM and Reform UK Wales Leader jailed for 10.5 years for pro-Russian bribes

A former North Wales Senedd Member has been sentenced to over a decade in jail for taking pro-Russia bribes.

Nathan Gill, 52, of Anglesey pleaded guilty on 26 September at the Old Bailey to eight counts of bribery, under the Bribery Act, 2010. Gill was sentenced today, 21 November to a total of 10 years and six months imprisonment.

Justice Cheema-Grubb, sentencing Gill today, told him: (Full sentencing remarks here)

Each count encapsulates specific incidents or periods between December 2018 and

July 2019, during which, as an MEP, you agreed to accept monetary reward in exchange

for the improper execution of your public duties. The architect of these bribes was Oleg Voloshyn, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian MP

and journalist. During your interactions, he and his wife were connected with the

private Ukrainian television channel 112 Ukraine, owned by an associate of Victor

Medvedchuk. It appears that in due course you joined the editorial board of that

organisation. Medvedchuk, chairman of the Opposition Platform  For Life pro-

Russian Ukrainian political party in 2018 and subsequently an MP, has since faced

criminal allegations including of treason and looting of national resources in Crimea.

He is a close friend of Vladimir Putin, Russias President since 2012. Medvedchuk was

the ultimate source of the requests and the money you received.  You abused a position of significant authority and trust, with your crimes

spanning eight months, motivated by financial and political gain. The offending was

sophisticated: you accepted payments from foreign nationals, made statements on

important international matters at their behest, utilised scripted material presented as

your own, and orchestrated the involvement of other MEPs. Your culpability is

categorised as high, category A.  When you were elected, you were entrusted to exercise independent judgment and

uphold the highest standards of integrityvalues of paramount importance. In

seeking public office, one pledges to act in accordance with conscience and the public

good. Parliamentarians wield significant influence over public and political discourse.

It is incumbent upon them to speak with honesty and conviction, irrespective of

whether their views are met with approval or dissent. When you say what someone has paid you to say, you are not speaking with sincerity.

If it were your genuine opinion, you would not need to be paid for saying it. Whether

or not you believed any of what you said at the behest of Voloshyn and Medvedchuk,

allowing money to corrupt your moral compass constitutes a grave betrayal of the

trust vested in you by the electorate. Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond personal honour, which is now

irretrievably damaged. It erodes public confidence in democracy itself. When

politicians succumb to financial inducement, the public can no longer rely on the

veracity of political debate, which may be tainted by disinformation. The enlisting of

fellow representatives into this activity compounds the wrongdoing, undermining the

mutual trust essential to the proper functioning of democratic institutions. The

corrosive damage to public life, caused by such actions, is enduring. This Court regards bribery as a malignancy at the heart of public life, one that

impoverishes the national interest. Those entrusted with public leadership are required

to adhere to the highest standards of probity. The law will respond to such breaches

with stern punishment, both to mark societys condemnation and to deter others from

similar transgressions.

Mr Gill will be a familiar face locally and across the region  as in 2016 he was elected to represent the North Wales electoral region for UKIP as a then Assembly Member (now MS), he subsequently joined the Brexit Party, and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 for Wales.

In March 2021 he was announced as the Leader of the Reform Party in Wales ahead of the Senedd elections  but was not elected  and left the party shortly after .

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, which led the investigation, said: This sentencing should send a clear message that any efforts by foreign powers to bribe people in the UK in elected and influential positions will not be tolerated. It also shows that there are grave and severe consequences for anyone here who engages with that sort of activity.

Instead of looking after the interests of his constituents and the interests of the UK, Gill was more concerned about making money for himself by peddling views and opinions that were in support of the Russian states activities in Ukraine  which, as demonstrated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, we have seen to be quite appalling.

Id like to thank our European partners, as well as colleagues in the US and FBI for their support in this investigation. The strength of the evidence and case we put together gave Gill little choice other than to plead guilty. It should also send a clear message that we will work closely together with our partners to disrupt this kind of activity and protect our collective democratic values and our national security.

Detectives began to uncover Gills offences as a result of him being stopped by police on 13 September, 2021 at Manchester airport. Gill was due to fly to Moscow later that day, when he was stopped under schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Borders Security Act, 2019 and officers seized his mobile phone for further examination.

At the same time as Gill was being stopped and spoken to at the airport, Counter Terrorism detectives also carried out a search at Gills home address in Anglesey, where further electronic items were seized. Officers also found a quantity of cash at his home  around 5,000 in Euros and US Dollars respectively.

Officers found evidence on his phone that showed Gill was in contact with a pro-Russian politician in Ukraine  Oleg Voloshyn. Messages found by detectives showed Gill had agreed that, in exchange for money, he would make certain statements that were supportive of pro-Russia media being present in Ukraine.

Voloshyn also bribed Gill to make certain comments and statements criticising the Ukrainian governments decision to ban certain media outlets, as well as criticising the criminal investigation into pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who was being investigated for treason in Ukraine at the time.

Some of the messages between the pair appeared to be coded  referencing the exchange of Xmas gifts or postcards in lieu of explicitly discussing money. However, as the pair continued to exchange messages, officers found more explicit examples where they openly discussed Gill receiving sums of 5k for the activities Voloshyn was requesting.

Through the course of the investigation, officers liaised with international partners, including the various European and US agencies. In particular, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the US were able to share key evidence that allowed detectives in London to positively attribute the messages sent to Gill as coming from Voloshyn.

In total, detectives were able to identify eight specific occasions between December 2018 and July 2019, where Gill had agreed to make statements or encourage other MEPs to make statements that parroted the pro-Russian narratives Voloshyn was providing; and that he was agreeing to do this in exchange for money or reward.

From other open-source enquiries, officers were also able to identify the respective statements made by Gill  either to the media or in the European Parliament  some of which were almost verbatim copies of the scripts Voloshyn provided.

Gill was interviewed under caution in March 2022 but made no comment to the questions put to him. After further enquiries were carried out, and liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service, various bribery charged were authorised and Gill was issued with these via postal charge requisition on 20 January, 2025.

The CPS also authorised a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery against Oleg Voloshyn, although he has never been arrested by UK police and he remains wanted in respect of this matter.

Gill pleaded guilty to the eight bribery charges as detailed above.

He pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, under the Criminal Law Act 1977 and this charge lies on file.

Top pic: Archive image from his 2021 electoral activity locally and across North Wales as Reform Leader in Wales.
Wrexham-based ultra-low carbon cement plant secures National Innovation Award

A Wrexham-based ultra-low carbon cement firm has won a major UK industry award for its work in ultra-low carbon construction.

Material Evolution (Mevo) was named National Innovation Award winner at the 2025 Constructing Excellence Awards, after winning the Welsh regional title earlier this year.

Judges praised the firms bold and game-changing approach to cement production.

Mevo uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and alkali fusion technology to combine industrial by-products without the need for heat, cutting carbon emissions by around 85% compared with traditional Portland cement  producing a high performance, sustainable binder called MevoCem.

Last October, the business also opened its Mevo A1 Production Facility in Wales  the UKs largest ultra-low carbon cement plant able to produce MevoCem at a commercial scale  a significant turning point for the industry.

Dr Liz Gilligan, CEO and co-founder at Material Evolution, said: Winning the Constructing Excellence National Innovation Award is a huge milestone for Material Evolution and a real validation of everything our team has worked towards.

Its a recognition not just of our technology, but of the scale of change were driving in the construction sector.

What excites me most is that this award shows the industry is ready to embrace ultra-low carbon solutions  it proves that sustainable, scalable, high-performance cement is not just possible, its happening today.

For our team, for our partners and for the construction industry, this is a moment to celebrate, but also a reminder of the responsibility we have to keep pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation.

As well as success at this years UK Green Business Awards, Unlock Net Zero Awards and Construction Industry Training Boards Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards, Mevo has recently acquired its Made in Britain certification, bolstering its commitment to domestic manufacturing. For more information on Material Evolution and its solutions, visit the website.
A Gardnerville woman has been found guilty of a number of financial crimes stemming from the embezzlement of money from a South Lake Tahoe construction company.

Between November 2019 and May 2023, Kami Power embezzled more than $1.4 million from a construction company she was working for, according to a release from the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Power used the money to buy two houses, several new cars, ATVs, a horse, and a $29,000 Hawaii vacation.

What started as a local investigation after South Lake Tahoe Police were contacted by the owners of the company grew into a federal prosecution as the magnitude of the embezzlement became clear, with the case ultimately being picked up by the Department of Justice.

Power was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

She is facing a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft.

Power is scheduled to be sentenced on February 27 of next year.
Authorities have arrested a man suspected of stealing mail and using the enclosed stolen credit card in three Northern California counties.

Deputies say the investigation started last month after an El Dorado County man reported his mail stolen.

During their investigation, Matthew Henson emerged as a person of interest.

Deputies say they worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and learned that Henson allegedly used the stolen credit card in El Dorado, Sacramento and Amador counties.

Between the two agencies, officers served search warrants at several locations.

Deputies say as a result of the search warrants, officers found:

* Firearms and ammunition

* Thousands of pieces of stolen mail

* Credit card embossing machines

* Fake driver's licenses

* Illegal mailbox keys

* License Plate covers

Henson was arrested for the following charges and booked into the El Dorado County Jail Placerville with a bail of $615,000.00.

* Identity theft

* Grand theft

* Illegal use of a credit card

* Felon in possession of a firearm

* Felon in possession of ammunition

(El Dorado County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.)
Deputies have arrested a man they say abducted a woman at gunpoint near Winnemucca on Thursday night.

Authorities say the suspect, whose name hasnt been released, was arrested after responding to the area of Water Canyon Campground on Thursday night.

Deputies say the victim is safe and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The suspect was booked into the Humboldt County Detention Center for violations of Nevada Revised Statutes related to domestic violence and other charges, says the sheriffs office.

Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.
Violent and threatening messages sent to several Washoe County Human Services Agency employees prompted a Washoe County Sheriff's Office investigation that led to the arrest of a Reno resident.

According to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in an online post, several HSA employees reported receiving numerous phone calls, voicemails, and text messages on November 19 that allegedly included threats of sexual assault, murder, and active-shooter violence aimed at them and their workplace.

Deputies identified the suspect as 32-year-old Cliffonda McCarver of Reno.

On November 20, with support from the Human Exploitation and Recovery Operations Unit, the Northern Nevada Drug Task Force, and the sheriffs K9 Unit, deputies found McCarver and took him into custody without incident.

McCarver was booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on a felony charge of coercion with force or threat of force and four misdemeanor harassment counts. Deputies also noted McCarver had an outstanding felony warrant from California for corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, along with revoked probationary status tied to that warrant.

(The Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his country in an address Friday that it could face a pivotal choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs, as leaders discuss a U.S. peace proposal seen as favoring Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, cautiously welcomed the U.S. plan to end Moscows nearly four-year war in Ukraine, which contains many of the Kremlins longstanding demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. Putin said it could form the basis of a final peace settlement," while accusing Ukraine of opposing the plan and being unrealistic.

The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia  something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out  while reducing the size of its army and blocking its coveted path to NATO membership.

Zelenskyy, in his address hours earlier, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while pledging to work calmly with Washington and other partners in what he called truly one of the most difficult moments in our history. He said he spoke for almost an hour Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about the peace proposal.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest, Zelenskyy said in the recorded speech. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.

Speaking at a meeting of Russias National Security Council, Putin called the plan a new version and a modernized plan of what was discussed with the U.S. ahead of his Alaska summit with President Donald Trump in August, and said Moscow has received it. I believe that it, too, could form the basis for a final peace settlement," he said.

But he said the "text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why, adding that Washington has so far been unable to gain Ukraine's consent. Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield, Putin said.

Trump says he wants Ukraine to respond within a week

Trump said Zelenskyy is going to have to come to terms with the U.S. proposal, and if he doesn't, they should just keep fighting, I guess.

Asked by reporters about Zelenskyy saying his country faces a difficult choice, Trump alluded to their tense meeting in February that led to a brief rupture in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship: You remember right in the Oval Office not so long ago? I said you dont have the cards.

Trump in a radio interview earlier Friday said he wants an answer from Zelenskyy on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but said an extension is possible to finalize terms.

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, Trump said in an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. But Thursday is it  we think an appropriate time.

While Zelenskyy has offered to negotiate with the U.S. and Russia, he signaled Ukraine has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.

He urged Ukrainians to stop fighting each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week will be very difficult.

Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine

Zelenskyy spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the U.S. proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

Wary of antagonizing Trump, the European and Ukrainian leaders cautiously worded their responses and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, Merzs office said.

The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees, the statement added.

The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and "the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.

Starmer said the right of Ukraine to "determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.

Existential threat to Europe

European countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Russias war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."

Trump in his radio interview pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Putin to carry out further malign action on his European neighbors.

Hes not thinking of more war," Trump said of Putin. "Hes thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now.

A European government official said the U.S. plans werent officially presented to Ukraines European backers.

Many of the proposals are quite concerning, the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.

The official was not authorized to discuss the plan publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

European Council President Antonio Costa, in Johannesburg, said of the U.S. proposals, The European Union has not been communicated any plans in (an) official manner.

Proposal meets with skepticism in the US Senate

This so-called peace plan has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace, said Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the worlds most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin.

Wicker added that Ukraine should be allowed to determine the size of its military and Putin should not be rewarded with assurances from the U.S.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said theres general concern and alarm that this is a Russian wish list proposal.

Ukraine examines the proposals

Ukrainian officials said they were weighing the U.S. proposals, and Zelenskyy said he expected to talk to Trump about it in coming days.

A U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

However, Umerov on Friday denied that version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared the talks.

He said technical talks between the U.S. and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv.

We are thoughtfully processing the partners proposals within the framework of Ukraines unchanging principles  sovereignty, peoples security, and a just peace, he said.

Hatton contributed from Lisbon, Portugal. Harriet Morris in Tallinn, Estonia, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Angela Charlton in Paris, Pan Pylas in London, and Aamer Madhani in Washington also contributed reporting.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Its time for holiday traditions old and new.

Start your week with matcha and mani, shop local for last-minute foodstuffs, then get in a pre-Thanksgiving feast run at the Napa Valley Turkey Chase. Indulge in post-Turkey Day brunch on Friday or jump straight to Christmas movies, markets, tree-lightings, and the flair of the annual Dickens Fair.

Jump ahead to this week's top events:

Live out your Home Alone nostalgia with a screening of the film and appearance from its star.

Meet your idols at a weekend of fun at the Fan Expo.

Step back in time for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.

Get in the spirit with A John Waters Christmas at Great American Music Hall.

Have a good one.

Treat yourself to some chic new nails. On the Other Hand offers clean and manis from technicians paid living wages to look good and feel good; Mondays and Wednesdays though Sundays. // On the Other Hand, 3562 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights); booking at otohnails.com





Live out your Home Alone nostalgia with a screening of the film followed by an interview with leading man Macaulay Culkin; Monday at 7:30pm. // Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway (Oakland); tickets at paramountoakland.org





Sip, savor, and shop at Hestan Napa. Indulge in Michelin-star chef Mark Dommens creative menu and award-winning Hestan Vineyard wines, then experience the pinnacle of cookware and appliances in the brands new downtown Napa destination; Mondays through Sundays, 11am to 5:30pm. // Hestan Napa, 1300 First St., Ste. 291 (Napa); details at hestanculinary.com

Thank you to our partners at Hestan Napa.

Immerse yourself in Japanese coffee culture at The Wild Fox, a new cafe led by executive chef Tsubasa Onozaki that's serving up single-origin pour-overs and matcha, along with onigiri, salads, sandos, and pastries; Mondays through Fridays, 7am to 5pm. // The Wild Fox, 123 Battery St. (Fidi); details at thewildfoxsf.com





Raise a glass to holiday spirits with spritzes, frosty frozen cocktails, warm drinks, and unique creations by Elmer Mejicanos on Causwells extensive holiday cocktail menu; Monday through January 1st. // Causwells, 2346 Chestnut St. (Marina); causwells.com





Stock up on fresh, local goods for your Thanksgiving spread. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market will welcome special seasonal guests for a holiday edition of its Tuesday market; Tuesday, 10am to pm. // Ferry Plaza, 1 Ferry Plaza (Embarcadero); details at foodwise.org





Take on a holiday tradition when the city of St. Helena lights up its 36-foot tree made from repurposed Beringer wine barrels. Stay for wine and hot toddies, plus a market and live music; Wednesday at 5pm. // Hunt Ave. and Main St. (St. Helena); details at sthelena.com





Drink your way through San Francisco history. Discover SFs original shoreline, the Barbary Coast, and the birthplace of the citys most iconic cocktails in this walking tour with connoisseur Camper English; Wednesday, 5pm to 6:45pm and Friday and Saturday, 2:30pm to 4:15pm. // Details and reservations at airbnb.com

Decorate like a pro with a stop at the San Francisco Flower Market. Shop mums, grasses, branches, and greens for tablescapes and wreaths during the markets public hours; Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8am to 1pm. // San Francisco Flower Market, 901 16th St. (Potrero Hill); details at sfflowermarket.org





Work up an appetite at the Napa Valley Turkey Chase. Choose between a paved 5K or 10K course along the river pre-feast; Thursday at 8am. // Napa Valley College, 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy. (Napa); register at runsignup.com





Leave turkey behind this year. On Thanksgiving evening, Copra (1700 Fillmore St.) is open for delicious Indian fare, Z&Y Peking Duck (606 Jackson St.) will offer its eponymous bird as a centerpiece, and Crustacean (195 Pine St.) is dishing out Vietnamese delightsincluding turkey-stuffed dumplings if you don't want to leave it all behind.





Keep the good eats going with a post-Thanksgiving brunch. Enjoy pecan pie pancakes and turkey hash with none of the dishes at Stephanie Izards Silicon Valley outpost; Friday, 11am to 2pm. // Valley Goat, Treehouse Hotel, 1100 N Mathilda Ave. (Sunnyvale); reservations at sevenrooms.com

Celebrate French Toast Day. Chapeau! is serving up thick slices of homemade brioche pan-fried in French butter and topped with salted caramel ice cream to fuel your Black Friday shopping; Friday, 5pm to 9pm. // Chapeu! 126 Clement St. (Inner Richmond); details on Instagram





Dance off the carbs and sweets when Sara Landry lands in town for her Eternalism tour; Friday and Saturday at 9pm. // Palace Of The Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St. (Presidio); tickets at eventim.us





Spend your Sunday drinking tea and eating macarons when legendary Parisian maison de patisserie Laduree lands in San Francisco for a special holiday-edition of The St. Regis San Franciscos afternoon tea service; Friday at 2pm through December 31. // The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa); reservations at opentable.com





Support local neurodiverse artists and shop original goods at The Helpers Artisan Boutique; Fridays and Saturdays, 10am to 4pm. // Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Meet your idols at a weekend of fan fun. The Fan Expo returns to unite celebs and fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, and cosplay; Friday, 4pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm. // Moscone Center West, 800 Howard St. (SoMa); tickets at fanexpohq.com





Choose naughty or nice brunch and cocktails. The Deck the Halls holiday pop-up bar returns with jolly decor, holiday spirits, and weekend brunch; brunch is on Friday through Sunday, 11am to 2pm, bar is open Mondays through Sundays, 4pm to 12am. // Deck the Halls, 2298 Market St. (Upper Market); deckthehallsbar.com





Step back in time for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. Hop aboard a live steam train, take in the scent of roasted chestnuts, and live out the ultimate storybook Christmas in music halls, pubs, dance floors, and festive shops; Friday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm. // Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave. (Daly City); tickets at dickensfair.com

Get ahead on holiday gifting. Shop jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, apparel, art, plants, and more from more than 50 local makers as you enjoy live music and hearty libations; Saturday, 11am to 5pm. // Broadway Plaza, 1275 Broadway Plaza (Walnut Creek); details at makersmarket.us





Catch ODC/Dances The Velveteen Rabbit. The beloved Bay Area tradition returns with choreography by KT Nelson featuring students from ODCs Youth & Teen Program; Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 2pm. // Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard St. (SoMa); tickets at odc.dance





Shop vintage but make it kawaii with clothing, Sanrio goods, and arcade fun at a pop-up from OK Marketplace; Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 7pm. // Japan Center, East Mall (Japantown); details on Instagram

Bring the family out for a Sunday soiree. Santa will make an appearance at the woman-owned Songbird Parlour, which is dishing out treats for adults and kids alike to fuel up for shopping in a surrounding artisan marketplace; Sunday, 12pm to 2pm. // Songbird Parlour, 14301 Arnold Dr., Ste. 3 (Glen Ellen); details at songbirdparlour.com





Dust off your favorite ugly Christmas sweater for complimentary holiday aperitifs alongside dinner at Spoonbar; Sundays, 4pm to 9pm. // Spoonbar, 219 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg); reservations at spoonbar.com





See the lighting of the Bay Areas largest tree at Thrive City. Catch shows from Louis Cato and August Lee, plus appearances by special guests from the Warriors and the Valkyries; Sunday at 4pm. // Thrive City, 1725 3rd St. (Mission Bay); details at chasecenter.com




A National Guard member monitors the perimeter as the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigate a shooting involving a deputy in the International District earlier this month. Chancey Bush

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigate after at least one deputy opened fire on a person Wednesday evening off East Central. Chancey Bush

Local and federal law enforcement have refused to identify the man shot and critically injured by Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies during a federal crime-fighting operation in the International District.

In response to questions, the agencies involved in the incident  BCSO, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service  would not give the mans name, say if he was armed or release any other details on the Nov. 12 shooting.

BCSO referred questions to the USAO, and the USAO referred questions to the FBI, which referred questions to the U.S. Marshals.

BCSO said they were unable to provide the information because it was a federal case, while the FBI said they could not comment on the case.

The runaround came more than a week after BCSO deputies, assisting federal authorities with Operation Triple Beam, shot the man after he fled a traffic stop in an East Central neighborhood.

While federal authorities have for years shown a lack of transparency following law enforcement shootings, local agencies like the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police release suspect identities and other details within days of incidents.

APD, which was recently dismissed from a decadelong police reform effort, will often release details on police shootings within hours.

BCSO will often identify the person shot within days of the incident but will not release other details, such as if they were armed at the time, until a briefing weeks later.

During an interview on an unrelated matter Wednesday, Sheriff John Allen and BCSO spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said multiple deputies opened fire on the man but they did not specify how many and refused to answer additional questions.

If and when we have stateside charges, I can then release that, Gonzales said.

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Although Allen said the man is a repeat violent offender, he did not elaborate on the mans criminal history. BCSO said the FBI would have to release his name because federal charges were pending.

The FBI could not comment on the shooting, according to Albuquerque FBI spokesperson Margot Cravens. Cravens suggested contacting U.S. Marshals, who said they had no information to provide.

U.S. Attorneys Office spokesperson Tessa DuBerry said there were no publicly available documents regarding the shooting. DuBerry said she would not be able to provide any details, including the mans name.

If any information becomes public through the court, we will be able to assist, she said.

On Nov. 12, BCSO was assisting federal authorities on Operation Triple Beam in Albuquerques International District. Around 4:45 p.m. deputies pulled over a vehicle. It is unknown why the deputies pulled the vehicle over.

One person was detained by deputies and a man in the vehicle took off on foot. In an initial release, BCSO said that some sort of altercation ensued at that point and shots were fired.

The man who was shot was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Gonzales said he was still in the hospital in critical condition as of Thursday.
The Republican senator spoke about the Bessemer data center during a virtual presser this week. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt says shes worried that a $14 billion data center project proposed for rural Alabama could mean higher electric bills for nearby residents.

I understand the importance of data centers. We are in a race against China when it comes to AI, and we have to make sure we maintain the lead that we currently have because this is the race, Britt said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday. However, I think we have to be smart about how we do it.

The Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of rural land just southwest of Birmingham to make way for the development of an 18-building hyperscale data center campus. An attorney for the developer called it one of the largest private investments in Alabamas history.

Logistics Land Investment, LLC, owned by Atlanta-based TPA Group, is behind the push for Project Marvel development on mostly timber land off Rock Mountain Lake Road in Bessemer.

Brad Kaaber with Logistics Land Investment told the city council on Tuesday that, despite the increase in demand for power that the data centers would need to operate, residents would not see an increase in power bills.

Ive been told that its not going to raise rates and I want to know is that commitment for the long term. I want to make sure that we are making life more affordable for Alabamians, Britt said. We have the highest power rates in the Southeast. I think that is unacceptable.

Alabama Power said in a statement to AL.com that large-load customers like data centers will have to cover their own costs.

This ensures those customers pay the full, fair cost to serve their needs and safeguards other Alabama Power customers from any negative impacts as a result, the company said. Full, fair cost to serve means large-load customers pay the costs they create  such as dedicated facilities, delivery, and any customer-specific capacity obligations. Those agreements also include terms like minimum-bill provisions and minimum-term lengths that manage risk and maintain parity for all customers.

Spokespeople for Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D), whose district includes western Jefferson County, did not respond to requests for comment.

Another representative for the developer, Adam Rashid, said Tuesday that power lines on the Bessemer site attracted them, and that the city could benefit from a municipal fee paid by Alabama Power.

Britt also said shes concerned over how the demand for power in this part of Bessemer could limit future economic development and opportunities for jobs.

Take a look at what this brings to the area versus what we may lose as a result. How do we meet those demands? What other opportunities may we lose because we will not have the power supply for them? And what does this do to affordability? Britt said. We need some real answers about how were going to drive down power rates for Alabamians and what role this plays in that overall.

The project has been met with resistance from residents, who have packed out public meetings since April. While the site is in Bessemer, many of the residents who live closest to it on unincorporated land have expressed concerns over noise, electricity and water usage, environmental protection and other issues with the project.

Britt added that finishing the Northern Beltline  the future Interstate 422 under construction through northern Jefferson County that could conflict with the data center campus  should take priority.

I want to make sure that the Northern Beltline is completed. I think that that opens opportunity for an entire part of Jefferson County and an entire region that is poised for economic growth and development, she said. That has to be prioritized no matter what comes next.

On Tuesday, Kaaber told the council that the developer is in communication with Alabama Department of Transportation to ensure that any construction wont interfere.
A north Alabama man has been arrested for his alleged role in an illegal conspiracy to send artificial intelligence (AI) technology to China.

According to a release from the Department of Justice, Brian Curtis Raymond, 46, of Huntsville, was one of four individuals arrested in connection to the alleged conspiracy.

DOJ said the three other individuals arrested included another U.S. citizen, Hong Ning Ho of Florida, and two Chinese nationals residing in the country, Cham Li and Jing Chen.

The indictment unsealed yesterday alleges a deliberate and deceptive effort to transship controlled NVIDIA GPUs to China by falsifying paperwork, creating fake contracts, and misleading U.S. authorities, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said.

The National Security Division is committed to disrupting these kinds of black markets of sensitive U.S. technologies and holding accountable those who participate in this illicit trade.

According to the indictment, all of the alleged conspirators worked to transport NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPU) to China from Malaysia and Thailand in violation of U.S. export laws.

In October 2022, the Department of Commerce created new license requirements for exporting NVIDIA GPUs, that contain advanced AI capabilities.

Raymond allegedly used a technology company he owns to send NVIDIA GPUs to other alleged conspirators for export to China.

Between October 2024 and January 2025 about 400 of the graphic processors were sent to China, according to the DOJ.

Two additional exports of 50 NVIDIA GPUs were intercepted by officials and the U.S. will seek to obtain them through forfeiture.

Raymond has been charged with conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), two counts of ECRA violations, smuggling, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and seven counts of money laundering.

If convicted on each charge Raymond could face up to 190 years behind bars. The other alleged co-conspirators all face similar charges.
A suspect has been charged in the shooting death of a Mountain Brook man who was found shot to death at hunting property in Talladega County.

Joshua Thomas Bettis, 36, of Childersburg, is charged with murder in the slaying of 31-year-old Frank Wesley Davies IV.

Bettis was taken into custody Friday. He is being held in the Talladega County Jail.

Chief Deputy Josh Tubbs said a motive is not being released at this time.

Davies, whose family has owned Little Hardware for generations, was found dead Saturday night in the 1000 block of Odena Road North.

He lived in Mountain Brook but had spent a lot of time at the familys second home on Odena Road near Sylacauga.

Tubbs said deputies received a call from the mother of Davies child who was concerned because she had not heard from him for several days.

Deputies went to the home to check on Davies and found him dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
An Alabama mother and son are accused of stealing more than a $680,000 from Providence Water Authority in Walker County.

A grand jury indicted 61-year-old Sharon Lei Windham and her son, 40-year- old Cody Warren Windham, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Thursday.

Sharon Windham is charged with two counts of first-degree property theft and one count of first-degree theft of services. Her son is charged with one count of first-degree property theft.

Marshall said the water authoritys loss at the time of the indictment is $680,305.14.

The indictment accuses Sharon Windham of stealing $539,804 in customer cash payments. She also failed to pay her water bill, resulting in $3,975.55 in unpaid charges.

And, authorities say, she illegally provided unauthorized water services for others totaling $17,925.49.

Sharons mother, 81-year-old Marie Windham, worked for the water authority but subcontracted her work to her daughter.

Marie Windham is not charged with any crime, Marshall said.

Cody Windham, who was not employed by the Providence Water Authority, is accused of stealing $118,600 from the water authority by using a checkbook that belonged to the water board.

The water authority in August filed a civil lawsuit against Sharon Windham and Cody Windham.

According to the lawsuit, Marie Windham owned Windhams Tax Service, and her daughter was her employee. The Windham company collected payments from the water boards customers, kept their books and presented monthly statements to the water board.

In early April, water board authorities discovered that Sharon Windham and Marie Windham were providing the board with false financial statements, the lawsuit alleged.

When two board members went to Synovus Bank to inquire about a check, they learned that unauthorized weekly checks had been, and were being, written to Cody Windham. Those checks were signed by his mother in the name of his grandmother.

The false statements provided to the water board, according to the suit, stated that the board had more than $230,000 in its account when, in fact, the balance was only $30,000.

The defendants are also accused of falsifying records to reflect they paid their water bills and their neighbors had paid their water bills when in fact they had not been paid.

The charges against Sharon Windham are Class B felonies punishable by between two and 10 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections and fines of up to $30,000.

The charge against Cody Windham is also a Class B felony.

The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Special Prosecutions Division.
As Alabama private schools rake in millions from a new school choice program, a host of out-of-state vendors also are cashing in on the states CHOOSE Act.

This year, more than 6,000 students will use funds  up to $2,000 per person  for home education, in addition to the 13,000 using money for private school.

With some of the nations weakest homeschooling rules, Alabama is quickly becoming fertile ground for companies profiting from state-funded vouchers. The new program leaves it up to families to figure out the quality of a curriculum or tutor, with virtually no oversight.

Some vendors provide therapy for kids with learning disabilities. Others offer art and music lessons, or standardized test prep. Several others offer a substitute for school entirely  either through textbook subsidies or online courses.

Veritas, a popular online Classical education provider, accepts tax credits in Alabama and at least a dozen other states that run voucher-like programs. President Marlin Detweiler said tax credit programs are a bargain for states that can fund private education at a fraction of the cost of enrolling a student in a public school.

He estimated it would cost between $5,500 to $6,500 for a family to buy his course materials. The average cost to educate a public school student is about $12,500 in Alabama.

Its really helped us help people more, because now the idea of paying twice (once with their tax dollars and once with their tuition dollars) is no longer the concern it was, he said.

What is in homeschool curriculum?

Alabama doesnt regulate homeschooling in general; anyone can do it. But if a family wants to use CHOOSE Act money to pay for curriculum, tutoring or counseling, they must select from a list of vendors approved by the state.

Of the 243 tutors, therapists, and other vendors that had applied to participate in the program by April, the state has denied 18  mostly due to missing licenses or certifications.

AL.com reviewed nearly a dozen textbooks commonly recommended for homeschool use.

Apologia, a North Carolina-based company that publishes Christian textbooks and online courses, states in its biology curriculum that the Earth is thousands of years old, rather than millions of years old. In a zoology textbook, authors claim dinosaurs came into existence on the sixth day of Creation and suggest that they lived among humans.

An excerpt from an Apologia textbook. Mila Oliveira/AL.com Mila Oliveira/AL.com

If dinosaurs lived millions of years ago as some scientists believe, how did ancient people who had no access to fossils of these animals produce such accurate artwork depicting them? one passage reads. It is more reasonable to conclude from such pictures that humans and dinosaurs were created together and shared this planet until the dinosaurs went extinct.

Apologia did not respond to a request for comment. Veritas and a few other approved vendors, however, use many of the companys science books in their online courses. Detweiler said while students may hold many different beliefs, the school encourages open dialogue about controversial topics.

All of them understand that our statement of faith guides what we believe, he said, noting that the school attracts thousands of students from different backgrounds. And many of them just say the education is so good, we want it anyway. But we have an enormous opportunity for open discussion guided by teachers that is crucial to getting students to think and believe on their own.

And we also teach students that even if they disagree, its great that they can disagree, but they have to do it kindly, co-founder Laurie Detweiler added.

Detweiler said Veritas teachers arent required to be certified by public school standards, but all hold a bachelors degree. At least two in three hold an advanced degree  usually in the subject they teach. The program also offers as many as 25 math courses, which go up to advanced calculus.

If a student is struggling, he said, there are systems in place to quickly get them the help they need.

Its a little different than the typical 300-student Christian school in Birmingham because of our sheer size, and that really allows us to do some wonderful things from a specialization standpoint, he said.

Startups join school choice market

Online companies have also embraced education savings accounts and private school vouchers.

Their offerings include a wide range.

Former public school teacher Karen Lemons founded Lemons-Aid Learning in her Virginia home at the onset of the pandemic. Now, she serves just over 3,000 students across the country.

Lemons said shes quadrupled her staff to handle increased interest in Alabama since the CHOOSE Act. She also hired a specialist to help families of students with disabilities.

Her online courses are backed by the science of reading and other evidence-based practices, she told AL.com, and teachers are carefully vetted.

Theres a common misconception that homeschool curricula lack rigor or arent evidence-based, she said. In reality, our curriculum is intentionally designed using research-validated and evidence-based practices that prepare students for success in higher education and careers.

But the company isnt shy about its faith-based approach.

The school says all coursework is aligned with the Masters Seminary, a conservative doctrine that rejects homosexuality and the theory of evolution. Some lessons also take a firm stance on humanistic political theories such as Marxism, which, one description reads, short-circuit Gods design and result in human suffering.

Lemons told AL.com that she partners with parents if tough topics come up, and teachers encourage students to be knowledgeable about a range of scientific theories, worldviews and interpretations of the Bible. However, all learning is ultimately guided by scripture, she said.

Since we view scripture as inerrant and the absolute truth, that is our foundation for everything, including controversial or sensitive topics, she said.

Alabama has also approved companies with explicitly political missions.

One vendor, the Tuttle Twins, uses graphic novels to teach economics concepts. In the Road to Surfdom, the main characters learn that a new road was poorly planned by government officials and will have unintended consequences. Critics call the books conservative indoctrination and libertarian propaganda, claiming that they uncritically tout free market ideals.

In a statement, spokesman Chad Thomas said the books are focused on making topics like economics and history fun and accessible for kids.

Our materials dont espouse one particular viewpoint (in fact, we warn against political tribalism), he said. Rather, we teach principles that are rooted in merit and we strongly emphasize the importance of critical thinking. We help kids to value freedom, think for themselves, and become prepared for the real world. Were thrilled to offer educational resources to families in Alabama with the same goals.

Room for all of us

As the state prepares for its next legislative session, lawmakers will weigh possible changes to the new program  including whether or not to tighten restrictions on vendors.

Some advocates say they think regulations are already too stiff.

Robin Mears, at the Alabama Christian Education Association, said theres two camps of homeschoolers that he encounters as a private school accreditor. There are those who want to stay involved with public and private school systems, and those who just want to be left alone.

And theres room for all of us, he said.

Experts and educators, meanwhile, say parents can do their part to make sure homeschoolers are getting a well-rounded education.

Vet textbooks carefully, including their authors and their funders. And question any book that confirms your own political or religious beliefs.

Anna Clinkman, a public school teacher and former homeschooler, said she enriched her own learning by visiting her local library and enrolling in college courses.

Pick a book as a family to read together, she said. Add in an article from the Associated Press. Watch videos and listen to podcasts.

Just know what youre teaching them, she said. And also please, please be willing to supplement.
State library board members pushed the issue of a local librarys state funding down the road again, while finalizing a new policy change restricting children and teen books with transgender characters.

The Alabama Public Library Service board of trustees voted Nov. 20 to delay a decision on the funding for Fairhope library until board chair and Alabama GOP president John Wahl reads the controversial books that the Fairhope board determined should remain in the teen section.

Are you becoming the censor-in-chief for Alabama that youre reading these books? board member Ron Snider asked Wahl before the vote.

Snider said the local board should be the final arbiters of book placement, and that APLS cant make choices for all 226 libraries in the state.

Wahl denied Sniders claim of censorship and said We just talked about trying to not create misinformation, but there you are.

Fairhope Library Board President Randal Wright told AL.com she was shocked and flabbergasted they did not make a decision today. If the state board ultimately does not approve funding, they may have to eliminate things from their budget.

The policy change enacted last year on inappropriate content has caused confusion among libraries across the state. Fairhope is the only library to be in non-compliance, even though Fairhope librarians made efforts to enforce the APLS code change.

Right now, the silence speaks louder than any policy, Autumn Zellner, from Fairhope, said during the public comment period. It no longer appears to be about procedure. It appears to be about censorship and punishment. That concern is amplified by the proposed administrative code changes. When the state controls which stories are allowed, it stops being about protection and becomes political intimidation.

Snider said the APLS board owes Fairhope an apology for not being clear about the status of $20,000 in state funding, which had already been disbursed to other area libraries. The June 30 due date wasnt made clear to Fairhope, which assumed a decision would be made at the September board of trustees meeting.

I would apologize for any lack of information or unclarity, Wahl said. He noted nine libraries were held in noncompliance after June 30 for reasons other than book collection.

Board member Kasandra Stevens asked about the process for libraries in the future.

I think nobody on this board wants funds withheld, Stevens said. If this book is reviewed by any library and is determined its sexually explicit, is there a standard policy where its implemented statewide and how are we going to so that were not doing this every meeting? Nobody wants to do this.

Wahl said a specific process could be up for discussion later.

Snider made a motion to approve Fairhopes funding. Amy Minton and Debbie Windsor voted no. Snider and Angelia Stokes voted yes. Stevens and Jerria Martin abstained. Wahl was the tie-breaking no vote.

They voted again to delay the decision, and it was split similarly, with Snider and Stokes voting no, Minton and Windsor voting yes and the same two abstaining.

Wahl said he will report back to the board after hes read the books.

Meanwhile, the board finalized a restriction on transgender books for children and teens. Once approved by legislative services, the code states that any library material regarding transgender procedures, gender ideology or the concept of more than two genders must be weeded out of library circulation or moved to the adult section.

The word positive from Amy Mintons original proposal was removed.

We want parents to make the decision what their children are being exposed to, Wahl said. It should be consistent across the board and not just require movement of positive depictions, but of all depictions.

Public supporters of the code change did not make comments at the Nov. 20 meeting.

Most of the people of Alabama have not asked for this latest library-fixated assault on the LGBTQ community, because its their children and children of friends and relatives youre attacking with the misguided proposal before you, said former University of Montevallo president Jim Vickrey during public comment. Ask them and your teens and the teens of others if they favor this kind of irrational public policy.

Stokes and Snider voted No on approving the code change.

APLS executive director Kelyn Ralya said the next step is in the hands of legislators, who will enact a waiting period. Wahl said this code probably wont be changed until spring of 2026.

Wahl denied signing off on emails sent to the states Republicans to support the restriction. Snider said thousands of letters approving the code changes came in after these emails were sent.

The board also voted to make Ralya the executive director after looking at more than a dozen resumes. Snider and Stokes voted not to hire her.

The board unanimously approved a new chief of staff position to work with our libraries so that theres continuity across the state with policy implementation, Minton said.
David Barnes has been held in a Russian jail since January on charges of molesting his two sons in the U.S. But family members say he is innocent and they fear for his safety. (Family photo from Carol Barnes)

Talks involving Russia and the U.S. over a prisoner exchange may involve a man born in Alabama.

Axios is reporting that Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who runs Russias sovereign wealth fund, spoke to U.S. officials in October about a possible swap.

Earlier this year, Reuters reported that U.S. officials gave the Russians a list of nine Americans they wanted returned. Included in that list was David Barnes, a native Alabamian who was sentenced to 21 years in a Russian penal colony in February 2024.

American officials confirmed the talks but said nothing is imminent.

I met some U.S. officials and members of the Trump team on some issues that are humanitarian in nature, such as possible exchanges of prisoners that the U.S. side has been working on, Dmitriev told Axios.

An unnamed U.S. official said the discussions were positive.

The U.S. will welcome the release of any detained American, the official said.

Barnes sister, Carol, released a statement: The State Department has repeatedly told us that they have raised Davids case with the Russians and were hopeful that this report means that he is finally coming home to us and will not be left behind.

A native of Gadsden and a former Huntsville resident, Barnes was arrested in January 2022 after he traveled to Russia to meet with his two sons.

He was accused of sexually abusing his two sons several years ago in Montgomery County, Texas.

The charges were brought by his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva.

Because at least one of the children has Russian nationality, Russian authorities claimed jurisdiction in the case.

The couple divorced in 2015, followed by a messy child custody case.

Koptyaeva made allegations of sexual abuse against Barnes, which were investigated and found not credible by the Montgomery County D.A.s office in Texas. No charges were ever filed against him in the U.S.

After Barnes was awarded custody of the children, Koptyaeva left the country that same week with the two sons, and Barnes eventually tracked them to Russia.

Koptyaeva was indicted in Montgomery County, Texas on Dec. 12, 2019, for felony interference with child custody. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

When Barnes entered Russia in 2022 to make contact with his sons, he was arrested by Russian police after a report by Koptyaeva.

Barnes attorney argued Russian authorities had no jurisdiction in the case, but Barnes received an additional six months added to his sentence after he appealed.
A Birmingham salon owner and two employees are under arrest after a dispute over the cost of a clients braids was recorded and went viral on social media. (TikTok Screenshot)

A Birmingham salon owner and two employees are under arrest after a dispute over the cost of a clients braids was recorded and went viral on social media.

Aissatou Camara, 32, Julia Ondo, 30, and Gwadys Audrey Nzinga Koumba, 45, are charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault, Birmingham police announced Friday.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said they will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

The alleged crimes happened Saturday at Mama Gifted Hands salon at Parkway East.

The victim, Jessica Odom, posted about her ordeal on TikTok.

In the video, which as of Friday had 157,000 likes and 42,000 shares, Odom said she reached out to the salon on Saturday and was told she could come that day for an appointment.

The cost would be $200 for the style she wanted, she was told. OnTikTok, she provided screenshots of the text messages shared between her and the salon.

Everything went great, she said, until she paid her $200 in cash. It was then, Odom said, that the stylists demanded $50 dollars more from her because of the human hair used in her braids.

I was told I could not leave, Odom said. I was threatened, locked in.

She said in the video that when she tried to leave, she was pushed back into the business and her hair pulled.

They pulled out my real hair while doing this, Odom said.

Birmingham police responded to the scene.

She was still trying to cut the human hair out of my head, but the officer had to tell her repeatedly that she could not touch me, Odom said.
Membership-based bulk retailer BJs Wholesale Club today announced a new location will be coming to Foley sometime next year.

This will join the Madison storefront as the chains second Alabama location and is expected to create between 100 and 150 jobs, according to todays news release.

The future site is located on 14.27 acres off Ala. 59 and south of the Juniper Street, according to previous comments from the Foley Planning Commission.

Once open, the new club will also support a local food bank with regular donations of produce, meat and dairy products.

Our momentum remains strong as we continue to bring unbeatable value and convenience to new communities, Bill Werner, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development, BJs Wholesale Club, said in the release.

Were on track to open our first clubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2026 and look forward to bringing BJs Wholesale Club to even more families in 2026 and beyond.

The company previously announced plans to open 25-30 new clubs in its 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, including its remaining fiscal 2025 openings in Sumter, S.C.; Springfield, Mass.; Casselberry, Fla.; Selma, N.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Delray Beach, Fla.

BJs also announced today a new location coming to Mesquite, Tex.

Founded in Massachusetts in 1984, BJs currently operates 257 clubs and 194 BJs Gas locations in 21 states.
The Bessemer Police Department is mourning the death of K-9 Falco who help nab 26 suspects and was previously recognized for making the largest heroin hit of the year. (Bessemer Police Department)

The Bessemer Police Department is mourning the death of K-9 Falco who helped nab 26 suspects and was previously recognized for making the largest heroin hit.

Falco died Thursday after serving the department for six years. He was an 8  year old Dutch Shepherd.

Falco had one of the strongest drives I have seen in a K-9, said handler Sgt. Daniel Glassco. He was truly a loyal partner. I couldnt ask for a better partner, harder worker, and there was no comparison to his drive.

Falco served as a Dual-Purpose K-9, certified in both illegal narcotics detection and the tracking and apprehension of suspects.

Falco was assigned to the Interstate Criminal Enforcement team within the Special Operations Unit and in 2023 was part of the unit awarded the Largest Heroin Hit of the Year in 2023 by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

K-9 Falcos achievements also included the capture of three violent suspects and cash seizures totaling nearly $2 million. He also helped to confiscate 71.5 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, 95 pounds of marijuana, 2.2 pounds of cocaine and 7.25 pounds of methamphetamine.

The streets of Bessemer and interstates traveling through Bessemer were safer with Falco on watch, Glassco said. We are so grateful for what he did as my K-9 partner, but for us, he was much morehe was family."
This is an opinion column.

Fear isnt free; neither is foolishness. Each can be expensive.

Together? Get out your calculator.

Fear may cost you an opportunity. It may cost you peace. It may cost you joy.

Foolishness? Man, get out the calculator. Or follow the headlines coming out of Washington. D.C., out of the White House, out of Congress.

Pair them and they may break the bank. And make you look like a fool. Or worse.

Earlier this week, Wayne Reid, executive director of Alabama Public Television, calmly and efficiently laid out the cost of fear and foolishness. Laid out  like me scrutinizing a restaurant bill  just how much it would cost Alabamians if the Alabama Educational Television Commission capitulated to the fear and foolishness of a few.

To the fear and foolishness of at least two commission members who proposed that APT drop PBS, the engaging, intelligent, family-friendly network that has informed audiences and educated children across Alabama for generations.

To become the first state to drop Big Bird and Elmo. Drop the wonderful storytelling of Masterpiece.

Drop it because of Donald Trumps fear and foolishness, because the president and the fearful right dont like it. Dont like that its news programming doesnt bow to their leanings, doesnt co-sign their fears and foolishness. That Big Bird, Elmo and their friends may teach children about things their parents may fear, teach them truths about the complicated world around them.

That programs like Sesame Street might inform and empower children to be smarter, more empathetic, and maybe less fearful than their parents.

Trump did what he does  tries to choke the life out of anyone or anything that does not genuflect to his whims  by defunding the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, stripping $1.1 billion previously allocated by Congress. That foolishness cost APT more than $2 million, about 13% of its annual budget.

Cost 13 Alabamians their jobs.

Yet APT Commissioners Les Barnett, Ferris Stephens and William Green wanted more. They wanted to unplug from PBS altogether. Their fear? That continuing to air PBS might not curry favor with Trump and Republican state leaders, including Gov. Ivey, which may threaten state funding. Wouldnt want them mad at us  over Big Bird and Elmo.

Their foolishness? Barnett, who heads South Alabamas Center for Forensics, Information Technology and Security, called PBS the enemy. Yeah, Big Bird, Elmo and their vicious gang of characters are the enemy.

Ivey actually tempered the foolishness, at least somewhat. In a letter released the day before the APT was to reconvene and likely vote on fulfilling its contract with PBS, she essentially, and rightfully, told the commission to slow its roll.

She called for a public survey to ensure voices are heard. In a bit of a political two-step, she also wrote: For the sake of our people, it is imperative that APTs programming align with Alabama values.

Anytime the governor spouts Alabama values, I squirm because there is no such thing. Alabamians espouse differing values, depending on the subject in front of them. When the governor talks about the states values, shes not talking about all of us  depending on the subject, of course.

Well, we now know this: Alabamians value PBS.

At least if measured by the passion of those who showed up on Tuesday to express their support for PBS. They overwhelmed the room and crowded the sidewalk outside APT headquarters.

If there were dissidents present, advocates for squashing PBS, they were as muted as The Quiet Family.

Reid came bearing a detailed presentation outlining the cost of killing PBS, the tab for fear and foolishness: Almost $6 million.

Thats $3 million to replace PBS programming, mostly with British stuff  aligning perfectly with Alabama values, right? And up to $2.7 million in lost contributions from APTs loyal members.

The cost was clear. The commission voted overwhelmingly to honor its PBS contract, which extends through July 2026.

Stephens and Green did the math  and voted yes. Barnett, who attended remotely, abstained, saying he could not hear the motion.

Voices were heard. Fearless voices. Voices expressing Alabama values.
Former Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Greg Nesmith, center, is charged in an off-duty crash in his patrol vehicle that killed Jackson Cunningham of Hoover, left, and Nicole Moore of Chelsea, right. (Contributed)

A former Florida sheriffs deputy has been charged in an off-duty crash that killed two young Alabama residents as they walked across the street to go crabbing on the beach in Perdido Key.

Greggory Nesmith, 47, is charged with two counts of vehicle homicide in the July deaths of Jackson Cunningham, of Hoover, and Nicole Moore, of Calera. Both were 20 years old, and their families have filed civil lawsuits in the case.

Nesmith, who was off-duty and on his way home in his sheriffs vehicle from an extra job at the Flora-Bama when the deadly crash happened, has since resigned from the Escambia County Sheriffs Office.

Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Jason King said Friday that Nesmith is not yet in custody and is cooperating with the investigation.

The crash happened at 2:57 a.m. Saturday, July 5, on State Road 292 and River Road in Floridas Escambia County.

Cunningham, Moore and two other friends were headed to the beach when two of them were hit. The other two friends were not struck or injured.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol report, Nesmith was traveling east on State Road 292 when he struck the pedestrians while they were crossing the road.

Both victims were dead on the scene.

Jackson Cunningham, of Hoover, and Nicole Moore, of Calera, were killed when they were hit by a vehicle in Escambia County, Florida on July 5, 2025. (Contributed)

Cunningham graduated from Hoover High School in 2022. He then attended the University of Alabama for two years, where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, pledge class of 2022.

After college, he pursued a career in fiber optics.

He was a man of unwavering character, faith, and kindness, and his impact on the lives of others will last forever, Theta Chi posted on social media. His laughter and smile was felt in every corner of the room he was in, and his absence leaves a hole in our brotherhood that words cant fully express. Until we meet again, brother.

Jackson lived a life full of love, energy, and an unwaveringly positive spirit. His presence brought light to those around him, and he will be deeply missed, his obituary read. He was a man of strong character, deep faith, and endless kindness.

His smile was contagious, and his laugh unmistakable, according to his obituary. Jackson showed us what true friendship really meant and how to be there for othersno matter what.

Moore was a graduate of Chelsea High School and was a cosmetology student at Paul Mitchell Cosmetology-Birmingham where she was set to graduate July 16.

Nicole was a light in the lives of all who knew her. She was known for her kind heart, vibrant spirit, gentle soul, and infectious smile, according to her obituary. Nicole lived her life with compassion, curiosity, generosity, and grace.

She was a beloved coworker at Station 31 in Chelsea, where she touched many lives through her kindness, sense of humor and warm personality over the last four years, the obituary read. Whether in times of joy or struggle, she leaned on God with a trust that inspired everyone around her.
Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, left, a member of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, accompanied by defense lawyer David Kenner, right, arrives at federal court for his trial in 2023,. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) AP

Fugees member Pras Michel has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was convicted on charges of conspiracy and illegal foreign lobbying.

A judge sentenced Michel on Thursday after he was convicted in April 2023 on 10 counts, including violating campaign finance laws during Barack Obamas 2012 reelection bid and illegally lobbying the Donald Trump administration in 2017.

According to Billboard, Michel was handed a 14-year sentence, which will be followed by three years of probation. He was facing 22 years behind bars.

In a statement to Variety, Michels rep Erica Dumas said, Throughout his career Pras has broken barriers. This is not the end of his story. He appreciates the outpouring of support as he approaches the next chapter.

Michel was initially charged in 2019 and went to trial four years later.

The trial lasted for three weeks and included testimony from Leonardo DiCaprio on behalf of the prosecution.

Just last month, Michel was ordered to forfeit more than $64 million after he was found guilty of orchestrating a foreign influence campaign to coax the United States into dropping an investigation into Malaysian financier Jho Low.

He attempted to get a retrial after claiming that his former lawyer David Kenner, best known for representing Suge Knight in his 2015 murder case, used artificial intelligence to come up with closing arguments.

In early 2024, Kenner pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal contempt and was sentenced to one year of probation over his handling of discovery materials in Michels case.

In an interview with Variety following his conviction, he outlined his plans to appeal the outcome of his case. Im going to fight, and Im going to appeal, but theres a possibility that Im going in while Im fighting," he said. Its just the reality.

Michel is expected to surrender to authorities on January 27.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
A Louisiana man is dead after single-vehicle crash on Wednesday in south Alabama.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, a crash occurred at about 4:23 p.m. in Baldwin County on Interstate 65 involving a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer.

The vehicle, driven by Timothy Tate, 52, left the road and struck several trees but continued to cross a highway before striking another set of trees.

Tate, from Hammond, Louisiana, was pronounced dead at the scene.

ALEAs Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate the incident.
Savannah Chrisley, best known for appearing alongside her parents in long running reality show Chrisley Knows Best, spoke at the University of Alabama Wednesday evening for an event in the Student Center Theatre hosted by Turning Point USA.

The group, founded by late Republican influencer Charlie Kirk, advocates for conservative policies among the countrys youth.

This was Chrisleys second time speaking to UA students this semester, following her appearance at a remembrance rally for TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk in September.

This week, Chrisley covered topics including women empowerment and the issues in our American justice system, campus paper The Crimson White reported.

She specifically mentioned the powers that be on UAs campus, saying they are stifling conservative voices.

At a rally for Kirk, who died Sept. 10 after being shot while speaking at a campus event at a university in Utah, Chrisley and her brother Grayson, a UA student, shared a similar message.

The pair attributed Kirks death to what they say is an ongoing effort against conservative figures.

The left was scared of Trump, Grayson said previously.

They were scared that he was making too much sense and that he was spreading Gods word, and by doing so, he would stop their agenda.

The Chrisley family have been outspoken supporters of Kirk and President Donald Trump, who pardoned parents Todd and Julie earlier this year and released them from prison.

We will not be silenced, Savannah said previously.

We will not back down...We love this country. We love faith, we love freedom, and we are not afraid to say it. And together, were going to make America strong again. Well make America free again. And yes, we will make America great again.

The couple was found guilty in 2022 of 10 total charges after prosecutors said they fraudulently obtained $36 million in bank loans and hid millions of dollars in income from their Chrisley Knows Best show to avoid paying federal taxes, according to AP News.

Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven years, and both were ordered to pay $17.2 million in restitution.

Trump announced his intention to pardon them in May, saying the celebrity couple had been given a pretty harsh treatment based on what Im hearing.

In a speech at last years Republican National Convention, Savannah said her parents sentencing was a form of persecution because of their public profile and conservative beliefs.
Huntsville Animal Services is euthanizing one-third of the adult dogs it used to.

According to city statistics, the average was 45 per month in 2023 and 46 in 2024; as of October 2025, it is 14.

We have never euthanized an animal that could be saved, John Fischer, who marked one year as Huntsville Animal Services director this month, told AL.com.

We never had to euthanize for space or we didnt have enough money, or we didnt have enough people. Our euthanasia is reserved for acts of compassion, a medical case - an animal that was hit by a car - and theres just nothing you can do.

Total intake per month of adult dogs was 238 in 2023, 220 in 2024 and 210 as at October 2025. About 3540% come from outside the city limits but within Madison County.

Average monthly transfers of adult dogs to other rescue groups increased from 15 in 2023 and 20 in 2024 to 32 in the first 10 months of 2025.

Adoptions increased from 50 per month on average in 2023 to 98 in 2024 and reached 102 as of October 2025.

Monthly returns to the owners averaged 58 in 2023, 47 in 2024, and 60 in 2025.

The average number of adult dogs voluntarily dropped off decreased from 44 per month in 2023 to 16 in 2024 and 13 in 2025.

The number of euthanasia requests for adult dogs is also down from four a month in both 2023 and 2024, to three a month, according to available data for 2025.

Average number of strays brought to the shelter per month decreased from 184 in 2023 and 183 in 2024 to 175 as of October.

In 2023 and 2024, the number of euthanasia procedures never dropped below 30, reaching 63 in March 2024. But since January, it has been less than 30.

July marked the first month of single-digit euthanasia instances in the three years of government statistics reviewed for this story. That number hit a low of three in August.

There has been a total of three single-digit euthanasia months already in 2025, with October marking the third one, with eight.

Whats behind the change?

Fischer credited various initiatives, including letting staff carry out their ideas, providing supplies and guidance to the public, increasing public engagement, city leadership support, the creation of a foster program that now has 120 pets, and the work of a full-time social media manager.

Our social media presence - were almost at 70,000 followers, the director said. I think we were at 35,000 or 40,000 when we started last year. We hired someone who - thats what she does - she markets our pets.

Huntsville animal advocate Karen Borden praised the social media managers work.

She does consistent write-ups on every one of their animals, Borden said. And when you read it, its like, oh, my God, this animal has to be adopted. Its cute, its witty, its precious. So that social media is getting people, is getting these animals out there and people are adopting based on these social media posts.

Borden and another person in her advocacy group meet with Fischer about once a quarter to exchange ideas.

She said the veterinary team repairs broken legs and does everything they can to get an animal healthy and be adopted. She mentioned the assignment of animal control officers to specific geographical areas to engender familiarity.

I feel like Im living in a dream because this is not what I ever thought I would see with our animal services, Borden said.

Fisher told AL.com that one of the first things he did upon assuming office was to update the computer program, which was five years behind.

We were not using it to its full potential, he said. So we did the upgrade, and now we can check microchips anywhere in the United States or Canada. With so many people moving to Huntsville, sometimes they didnt update their microchips. So maybe they were in Utah before. Now I can find it now. I can scan them and I can get them home.

The director said the officer would give such pets a get a free ride home, and the owners do not have to come pick them up at the shelter.

Other things they freely provide include trolleys, doghouses for people who have their pets out in the cold in freezing weather, food supplies, and vouchers for pet sterilization. They also started operating a pantry.

Some people come here, and they want to get rid of their pet, Fischer said. They say, every time I go to work, the dog chews up my couch.

OK, let me give you a dog crate so that when you go to work, you can put your dog in the crate. You come home, you let him out, you get to keep your dog. Your dog is happy all day long. He doesnt chew anything up. Hes not going to get hurt. We do a lot of things to let people keep their pets.
Two board members from Birminghams regional water works are suing their board colleagues to stop the actions of the newly hired new CEO.

Meanwhile, CEO Jeffrey Thompson, a few hours on the job, delivered a major shakeup that included placing all senior managers on paid administrative leave.

Employees placed on paid administrative leave include Mac Underwood, the general manager who until Thursday had led the daily operations at the utility.

In their lawsuit Thursday afternoon, two board members, Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson and Jarvis Patton of Birmingham are asking a Jefferson County Circuit judge for a temporary restraining order to block Thompsons hiring.

The president and the other committee directors are not upholding their fiduciary duties to disclose the material information in their possession to the minority directors the lawsuit states. Consequently, the minority directors are unable to uphold their fiduciary duties because they have been deprived of information that would allow them to make an informed vote on the CEO.

The case is assigned to Judge Fred Bolling.

Board members Thursday held a special meeting to hire Thompson as CEO on a 4, 2, 1, vote.

Most of the non-Birmingham members voted yes, while the two Birmingham-appointed members objected. Board member Phillip Wiedmeyer of Jefferson County abstained by voting present rather than declaring yes or no.

Tyson said the majority of the board have disregarded the two Birmingham members and held their own discussions until calling the full board to a vote Thursday.

Jeffrey Thompson Contributed

Youve blocked us out every way you could, she told AL.com regarding the lawsuit. Youve got five people who know everything about this person were going to be hiring  the good, the bad and the ugly  and the two of us knew nothing.

Thompson, who is also an engineer, was given a contract of five years that pays him $446,000 a year. Thats a far cry from the salary of $750,000 previously recommended by a search firm and the $650,000 salary in the proposed budget.

Thompson for months had been viewed as the frontrunner, although there had been no official meetings or committee meetings throughout the process.

Thompson was hired in spite of a signed separation agreement between him and the former Birmingham Water Works in 2023 that explicitly states that he would not return to the agency.

Thompson acknowledges and understands that he is releasing all legal rights and claims... and shall not be eligible for re-employment, the document reads.

The meeting was tense as members Patton and Tyson railed against the lack of information, transparency in the process and accused the board chairman of purposely excluding them.

I have never been in an organization before in all my life that runs like this, Patton said. We sit here, and we pray before we have every meeting. Its obvious that we dont pray to the same god. Im trying to figure out what the hell is going on here.

Patton said the board has not lived up to the principles it claimed to be formed to uphold.

I thought I was part of something, that we were upstanding, honorable and respectful, Patton said. I thought we sat here and said we were going to do what was in the best interests of the ratepayers and the citizens of Birmingham and surrounding areas.

Thats exactly what were doing, Hudson said in response.

Board member Jeffrey Brumlow after the meeting, praised Thompsons credentials.

His background in water is stellar, Brumlow said. This is who the chairman wanted to put forward.

Thompson previously worked for the utility and served as assistant general manager of operations and technical operations from late 2019 till May 2023.

He then went to DC Water as the authoritys new chief operating officer and executive vice president, where he served from May 2023 to August 2025.

Secrecy in the selection process was a source of conflict within the board, where just three of the seven members served on the search committee. Multiple requests by AL.com for details, including a list of candidates, were ignored by the utility.

Later in the day, Thompson, the newly-appointed CEO, sent all senior executives home with administrative leave with pay. That includes Underwood and the four assistant general managers.

Tyson said the early actions of the new CEO will already cost the agency money. The five executives are out of work but are being paid, and will likely be replaced with new employees, she said.

Our financial structure cant handle that, she said.

AL.com late Thursday made a request to Central Alabama Water for comment on the personnel action, the cause of the move and how long it will last.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., speaks in the Oval Office of the White House as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump listen, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., says she is not in favor of a clean extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies amid reporting from Punchbowl News that she is trying to get President Donald Trump to agree to a plan on the issue.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has spoken with the president several times this week to pitch the idea, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the outlet reported.

Britt and other GOP senators, some with different views on the subject, were scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday, but were told the meeting was canceled for unrelated reasons.

But Britt clarified on X that she is not in support of a clean extension of the subsidies that are set to expire on Dec. 31.

As Republicans work on fixing Democrats health care disaster, I have long stated that any clean extension of these COVID-era subsidies continues to be a nonstarter.

Lets be clear: Obamacare is anything but affordable. Its been a disaster since its inception.



As Republicans work on fixing Democrats health care disaster, I have long stated that any clean extension of these COVID-era subsidies continues to be a nonstarter.  Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) November 21, 2025

AL.com has contacted the senators office about the report and her stance on ACA subsidies.

The subsidies are tax credits under the ACA that made health insurance more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans.

Their expiration will result in premiums doubling and more than 130,000 Alabamians losing access to health care.

Britt has previously been described as a key negotiator and intermediary between the White House and congressional members in the bipartisan deal to end the shutdown.

The GOP has reportedly been deliberating internally to determine a plan to address healthcare as many Republicans believe the issue can lead to many losses in the 2026 midterms.

According to the Alabama Reflector, Britt previously expressed skepticism at a Democrat plan to extend ACA subsidies for a year saying, a proposal of just a one-year extension doesnt deal with any of the issues that are in front of us on that.
A former U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew staff member has been accused of falsely reporting her own assault after authorities found her bound by zip ties in the woods, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said Wednesday. Canva Illustration for NJ.com

A New Jersey woman has been charged with conspiracy and making false statements after she faked being the victim of a brutal attack, by zip-tying herself, paying an artist to scar her face and body with cuts and writing TRUMP WHORE on her stomach in a fabricated plot, the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey said Wednesday.

Natalie Greene, 26, a former staff member for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), allegedly told a concocted story to FBI agents, saying she was attacked on July 23 around 10 p.m. by three men who called her names while she was walking with a friend on a nature trail in Egg Harbor Township.

Two of the men restrained her on the ground, she said, binding her ankles together with zip ties as they struck her in the head and cut her with a sharp object all over her body.

Another message, scrawled in capital letters on Greenes back, said, (Federal Official 1) IS RACIST, though the complaint redacts the officials name.

Greene claimed one of the men had a gun and threatened to shoot her if she didnt stay quiet. Her friend claimed one of the men held her down, too, but she escaped and then called 911, after which responding cops found Greene tied up around 10:36 p.m.

They were attacking her. They were, like, talking about politics and stuff. They were, like, calling her names, the friend told a 911 operator, according to court documents.

New Jersey officers took Greene to local hospital to receive medical treatment and treat the cuts on her face, chest and shoulder.

Officers started to become suspicious of the incident when they searched Greenes Maserati car, in which she drove to the nature reserve with her friend.

Officers found two black zip ties similar to the ones used in the alleged incident and a roll of duct tape.

Greene also told officers that she worked for a federal official and that there were some threats at work but nothing personal to her.

Theres so many. I mean. Yeah, racist um, Greene told a law enforcement officer, according to court documents.

Windmills belong on your grave. Like stupid, I mean like there, they have a bunch of little things on there that theyll write on there. We have them all, you can look at all of them. But um. Yeah we keep em just. We keep all of our hate mail. We recently got like, a letter with like powder in it and stuff. A couple of the politicians got like.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Greenes phone that showed a Reddit profile, in which she was active in communities for body modification and scarification. Detectives also reviewed her travel history, which had directions to a body-modification artist in Pennsylvania.

Calls and a series of Instagram messages were tracked by cops between Greene and the body-modification artist, and they found a waiver form from the artist on July 23. Greene paid $500 for body work and signed a consent form around 2:31 p.m. that day, a little under eight hours before she was found cut up and tied up on the nature trail.

Detectives concluded the body modifications made by the artist matched the same lacerations Greene sported when cops located her.

Prosecutors and the FBI also worked to gain access to a cellular tower, obtaining the location data from Greene and the friends phone, as well as gaining a search warrant for the friends phone.

Two days before the incident, on July 21, the friend conducted a Google search of zip ties near me, and 40 minutes later went into a Dollar General store around 6 p.m. in Ventnor, N.J. It was unclear from video surveillance obtained by officers if the friend actually purchased the zip ties there.

Greene was a constituent advocate director and worked with Van Drews office in 2021, according to Legistorm.

We are deeply saddened by todays news, and while Natalie is no longer associated with the Congressmans government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her, a spokesperson for Van Drew told the NJ advance media.

If convicted of conspiracy and false statements, Greene, who lives in Ocean City, N.J., could face a maximum imprisonment of up to five years, a $250,000 fine and a three-year term of supervised release.

She was released on $200,000 unsecured bond after her court appearance in New Jersey Federal Court.

2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump telling a reporter, quiet, piggy, saying the remark was a lot more respectful than how the Biden administration treated the press.

I think the president being frank and open and honest to your faces rather than hiding behind your backs is, frankly, a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration where you had a president who lied to your face and then didnt speak to you for weeks. And hid upstairs and didnt take your questions, Leavitt told reporters during her daily briefing.

I think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near-daily basis, she said.

On Monday, Trump insulted Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey after she asked him whether there was any incriminating information on the president in the Epstein files.

Quiet, quiet piggy, Trump told Lucey after she asked the question on Air Force One.

Leavitt claimed Trumps frankness is one of his redeeming qualities that led to him winning the 2024 election.

I think its one of the many reasons that the American people re-elected this president, because of his frankness. And he calls out fake news when he sees it. He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration. But he is also the most transparent president in history, and he gives all of you in this room ... unprecedented access, she said.
Isolated severe storms will be possible tonight in north and central Alabama. Above is the severe weather outlook for Friday night into Saturday morning. The areas in dark green still have a Level 1 out of 5 severe weather risk tonight. Storm Prediction Center

A cold front will bring a low risk for a few strong storms to parts of Alabama through the overnight hours, according to forecasters.

The strongest storms could have wind gusts strong enough to take down tree limbs and power lines.

And this may not be the only chance for storms. The National Weather Service thinks more storms could be possible on Tuesday, although as of now severe weather isnt officially in the forecast.

NOAAs Storm Prediction Center as of Friday evening is maintaining a Level 1 out of 5 (marginal) risk for severe weather for part of Alabama for tonight into early Saturday morning (see the map above).

The Level 1 risk area has been modified a bit in the latest update and includes north Alabama and the northern part of central Alabama.

Rain and storms have been scattered across the state so far today, but none has reached severe limits as of 7 p.m.

No big cooldown is expected after this front passes through.

In fact, the weather service said a few spots have the potential to get close to record territory on Saturday if the sun manages to peek through.

However that wont be the case with the next system, which could affect Alabama from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Theres a chance for more storms with that system, according to the weather service, although severe weather isnt in the forecast for Alabama so far.

The weather service said much cooler air will follow the Tuesday system, and Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) looks to be clear and cooler for much of the state.

Heres more from the weather service:

NORTH ALABAMA

3:12pm Don't forget that there's a chance for strong to severe storms tonight into early Sat morning (Midnight tonight - 6am Sat)

Hazards: Damaging winds, very low threat for a tornado, heavy rainfall

Stay weather aware and have more than 1 way to get warnings tonight#HUNwx pic.twitter.com/nNMYaMUeQO  NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) November 21, 2025

CENTRAL ALABAMA

Showers and a few thunderstorms will affect the region tonight through Saturday morning. The threat for severe storms remains very low tonight. A few showers and storms may redevelop across southern Alabama on Saturday with daytime heating. #alwx pic.twitter.com/51eOvAH6Dl  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) November 21, 2025

SOUTH ALABAMA
Secretary Linda McMahon is working to fulfill President Trumps March executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education (DoE). Last week, the department announced six interagency agreements to transfer major programs and responsibilities to other federal agencies, including the Labor, HHS, and the State Department. The move follows a similar transfer of federal workforce programs to Labor over the summer.

As Secretary McMahons team considers how to move additional programs and responsibilities out of the department, they should consider opportunities to improve the value of the federal education R&D enterprise to improve learning opportunities for American children.

A focus of this effort should be the departments Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, one of the federal governments key initiatives aimed to improve learning outcomes. EIR received $259 million in FY2024. Since 2017, the Department has spent $1.5 billion on grants through this initiative. Under federal law, the program must provide grants to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students, and to rigorously evaluate such innovations. The law requires grants to focus on three phases of projects: early development, validation, and scaling up proven interventions.

But its unclear to the White House and Congress what EIR is accomplishing. The Trump administration has called for ending the EIR program, zeroing out its funding in the FY2026 budget proposal. Congress has committed to continuing funding the program. This year, the House Appropriations Committees FY2026 funding bill would provide $229 million for EIR, while the Senate Appropriations Committee would spend $235 million. But Congress has been asking serious questions about whether EIRs grants are actually helping American students.

For nearly five years, Congress has requested that the Department of Education establish transparency into the innovations being developed by the EIR program, including by publishing and publicizing research findings from this program. The House Appropriations Committee wrote in 2021:

The committee encourages the secretary to better showcase those programs that have demonstrated, through rigorous research as required by the ESEA, that their innovations show specific evidence of achievement in educational outcomes. The department is also encouraged to communicate any research findings that demonstrate successful outcomes to outside stakeholders, particularly chief state school officers and district superintendents. The committee believes that publicizing these research findings will provide critical information for state governments, state and local education agencies, and others, particularly in unserved and underserved communities.

House appropriators reiterated this request with their latest funding bill.

But there is little evidence that the department has fulfilled Congresss request. The Education Innovation and Research programs website includes a tab titled grantee presentations and papers, which features examples of how the EIR program has benefited students and teachers. For example, a 2023 summary of EIR grant impact highlights some interesting projects, such as providing game-based STEM learning for neurodiverse students and the Playground Physics app, which aims to make STEM meaningful. But theres little information that clearly communicates any research findings that demonstrate successful outcomes to stakeholders that would answer Congresss mandate.

When the Department of Educations team has carefully studied the EIR grant model, the results havent been good. A 2024 evaluation of the Investing in Innovation (i3) program, which was the precursor to EIR, found that few of the strategies that grantees implemented and subsequently evaluated improved student outcomes in grantee sites, and that only 26 percent of the i3 evaluations found at least one statistically significant positive effect and no negative effects on students. This is after the Department of Education awarded $1.4 billion in i3 grants between 2010 and 2016. Its disappointing that a billion-dollar education research program focused on innovation failed to identify promising new interventions to improve students learning opportunities.

Given the dismal returns of the i3 program, Congress and Secretary McMahons team should review how current EIR grant funds are being spent (including the ongoing projects funded) and consider alternative models that could have a more substantial impact on students across the United States.

There are surely better ways for the Department of Education to promote innovation in education through R&D. For example, former Institute of Education Sciences Director Mark Schneider has called for an ARPA for education, inspired by the Department of Wars model. Schneider championed the establishment of a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE). An approach such as NCADE or ARPA-ED would likely have a greater impact than the current i3/EIR model. Since Congress has considered legislation to establish an ARPA in education, transferring funding from the EIR program could be a good way to pay for it.

The Trump administration and Congress could also consider the model of the Open Technology Fund, a non-profit organization funded by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. OTF began as a project within Radio Free Asia in 2012. Its mission is to invest in technologies that promote internet freedom and help people around the world avoid government surveillance and censorship. In 2021, Congress authorized OTF, and the fund receives annual funding from Congress, including $43.5 million in FY2024.

OTF has had a broad, global impact. It provided early funding to support the development of Signal, which has more than one billion users worldwide. It also funds Psiphon, which provides a surveillance technologies tool that reports 37 million monthly users living in repressive environments. In contrast to the Department of Educations EIR site, OTFs website provides a clear, transparent overview of the projects it has funded and their impacts.

An Open Education Fund could similarly reorient the EIR program to funding the development of open-source education tools that would expand learning opportunities for American children. Funded tools could include technologies, curricula, and services that could be made broadly available to students, parents, teachers, and school leaders to improve learning options. Such an approach could include a mandate to allow researchers to evaluate funded programs impact and encourage a focus on scaling evidence-based best practices. Rather than reaching small populations of children, as the current EIR program does, one can imagine an Open Education Fund developing learning tools that will have a widespread impact.

Transforming the EIR program into an ARPA or OTF model would require Congress to act. But to move Congress along, the Trump administration could call on the authorizing committees and appropriators to grant the Department greater flexibility to use $230 million in grant funding to promote technologies and interventions that will be broadly available to American children.

American taxpayers have already spent nearly $3 billion on the i3 and EIR programs, which dont appear to have done much, if anything, to help American students learn. Its time to try a different approach.

Dan Lips is a senior fellow with the Foundation for American Innovation.

Image: DoE
From Wikimedia Commons: The Pogrom in Strasbourg on the 14th February, 1349 (Emile Schweitzer, 1894)

In the aftermath of WWII, cultural optimists assumed that anti-Semitismthe ancient hatred of Jewshad been permanently discredited. The horrors of the Nazi concentration camps should have inoculated modern conscience against that oldest of prejudices.

Yet nearly a century later, anti-Semitism persists and, in some quarters, thrivesmanifesting on both the right and left. A recent interview between media personality Tucker Carlson and white nationalist Nick Fuentes illustrates how this hatred mutates within the right. The left, however, takes the lead; they have long ago joined forces with the Arab mob, demonizing Israel and recasting Jews as symbols of parasitism. To grasp this convergence, one must recall both the Hitlerite and Stalinist pogromsthe twin totalitarianisms that turned anti-Semitism into a political instrument and an ideology of annihilation.

In October 2025, Tucker Carlson hosted Nick Fuentes for a lengthy, uncritical interview. The exchange was notable, less for what was said than for what was not. Fuentes repeated familiar tropes about Jewish control, Zionist neocons, and the alleged fusion of Jewishness with U.S. foreign policy. Carlson offered little resistance, allowing the conversation to unfold as a sympathetic exploration rather than a cross-examination. What might have exposed prejudice instead normalized it.

The episode drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. Conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson warned that uncritical exposure amounted to complicity. Once a defender of Carlsons cultural commentary, he argued that the host had given an unfiltered platform to a Holocaust denier and Jew-baiter, betraying a central postwar conservative tenet: a moral firewall against anti-Semitism. For the historian, this went beyond a lapse of taste, demonstrably representing civilizational regressiona relapse into the moral fog from which conservatism had once helped rescue the West.

The controversy recalled William F. Buckley Jr., founder of National Review, who insisted that conservatism draw clear lines between dissent and hate. In 1959, he expelled the conspiratorial John Birch Society because its paranoia mirrored anti-Semitic logic. The contrast between Buckleys rigor and Carlsons indulgence marks the distance between a conservatism that disciplines extremism and one that surrenders to it.

Historically, right-wing anti-Semitism has rested on the myth of Jewish conspiracythe fantasy that Jews secretly control finance, media, and government. Modern versions no longer require swastikas or racial pseudoscience; they survive through euphemism. Globalists, neocons, and Zionist elites are rebranded signifiers of the same idea. The FuentesCarlson exchange was dangerous because it normalized this coded language. When a figure with Carlsons reach entertains such ideas without rebuttal, the effect is not exposure but endorsement. The medium of conversation implies legitimacy; silence implies assent. The line between critique and complicity collapses.

This process mirrors the soft anti-Semitism that infected European conservatism in the interwar years, when elites claimed merely to raise reasonable questions about Jewish influence. Such rhetoric fertilized the soil in which genocidal politics later grew. The lesson of that descent is that the step from insinuation to violence is shorter than it seems.

Yet focusing mainly on the right is anachronistic. An anti-Western ally of Islamism, the left excels in anti-Semitismone that speaks the language of justice while reviving an ancient prejudice. Marx, in On the Jewish Question, conflated Judaism with money-worship, equating emancipation from capitalism with emancipation from the Jewish spirit. That fusion haunted socialist movements across Europe. Stalin, while publicly opposing racism, revived the trope in his campaign against rootless cosmopolitans, code for Jewish intellectuals. The Doctors Plot of 1952an alleged conspiracy of Jewish physicians to poison Soviet leaderswas a state-sponsored pogrom in embryo, nourished by paranoia and envy.

Left-wing anti-Semitism disguises itself as anti-Zionism. Factual criticism of war policies shades into delegitimization of Israels territorial integrity. The obsessive focus on the Jewish state, the denial of its right to self-defense, and the recasting of Jews as colonial oppressors transform political critique into moral indictment. On Western campuses, Jewish students are ostracized, not for their opinions but for their identity. This new anti-Semitism no longer invokes theology or race; it speaks the vocabulary of decolonization. Yet the logic remains: the Jew, once accused of disloyalty to Christendom, is now accused of betraying universal justice.

Both right- and left-wing anti-Semitism feed on resentment and simplification. On the right, Jews symbolize globalist elites undermining sovereignty; on the left, they represent capitalist or colonial power. In either case, Jews become abstractions upon which societies project anxiety. Historical memory is distorted: the Holocaust minimized, the Gulags persecution of Jewish cosmopolitans forgotten.

The twentieth century offers two paradigms of what happens when anti-Semitism fuses with state power. The first is Hitlers Germany, where the myth of Jewish domination justified extermination. Between 1941 and 1945, six million Jews were systematically murderednot spontaneous outbursts but coordinated expressions of genocidal ideology, anti-Semitisms apotheosis: the erasure of the Jew as human.

The second, less remembered, is Stalins Soviet Union. Although Stalin denounced Nazism, he shared with Hitler a utilitarian contempt for Jewish life. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Jews were accused of forming a Zionist-imperialist conspiracy. Yiddish writers were executed, theatres closed, thousands imprisoned. The planned deportation of Soviet Jews to Siberiathwarted only by Stalins deathwould have spelt another disastrous pogrom. If Hitlers anti-Semitism was racial and annihilatory, Stalins was ideological and bureaucratic; both dehumanized Jews as the Other within.

The lesson of these twin tyrannies is that anti-Semitism belongs to no single ideology. It is a recurring pathology of modernitya means for societies to externalize contradictions and assign metaphysical blame. Whether cloaked in racial purity or social justice, its function is constant: to simplify complexity by inventing a guilty people.

In todays climate, historical memory is eroding. Holocaust denial, once confined to neo-Nazi fringes, now circulates online as revisionism. Some right-wing commentators, including Carlsons guests (e.g., Darryl Cooper), have suggested that Hitlers early wars were defensive or that the Holocausts scale is exaggerateda narrative that seeks to relativize Nazi crimes and rehabilitate ultranationalism. Simultaneously, segments of the left trivialize Soviet anti-Semitism or romanticize Stalinist anti-fascism. In both cases, amnesia serves political convenience.

Hansons warning is therefore not about manners but moral survival. American conservatism once drew strength from its clarity about evil: it opposed both totalitarianisms, Nazi and Soviet, which both dehumanized the Jew. To forget that symmetry is to risk repeating it. When public figures cease to challenge lieswhether about the Holocaust or Israelthey erode the foundations of civic reason itself.

The comparison with Buckleys Firing Line is instructive. Buckley believed that ideas must be confronted, not coddled. He invited Marxists, atheists, and radicals onto his program but met them with intellectual rigor. Debate, for him, was moral hygiene. Carlsons encounter with Fuentes exemplified the opposite: performative neutralitythe pretense that merely asking questions absolves responsibility. However, neutrality toward hate is not objectivity; it is abdication.

In an era, when media personalities command audiences larger than traditional institutions, scrutiny becomes more, not less, urgent. To host an anti-Semite without contradiction is to launder his message through the credibility of the platform. Freedom of speech is not freedom from moral judgment. Public discourse depends on distinguishing debate from dissemination, engagement from endorsement.

Countering anti-Semitism, whether right or left, is a task of civilizational scopeand non-partisan. It requires a moral language transcending faction. Both conservative and progressive traditions contain resources for this: the commitment to human dignity rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics and the ideal of universal equality, respectively. Ultimately, conservatives must confront the conspiracism that offends both intellect and decency; progressives must reject the moral inversion that casts Jews as oppressors and Israel as apartheid incarnate.

Remembering the Holocaust and the Stalinist purges is a first line of defensesiding with truth and justice against cynicism. The millions, who tragically perished in the labor camps, are not abstractions; they measure what happens when evil lies about Jews become doctrine. Their ghosts indict not only the haters but also the silent.

Anti-Semitism endures because it adapts. It changes costumefrom cross to hammer, from swastika to sloganbut its melody remains. It thrives where critical thought fails and moral courage retreats. The CarlsonFuentes controversy warns that even in democracies, the old poison can return, sweetened by irony and algorithm. To resist it requires memory, vigilance, and the integrity once exemplified by Buckley and, in his way, Hanson.

The moral test of modern civilization is how it relates to the Jews. Indicative of regression, the right and left are successively on trial. The outcome will depend on whether those, who know better, will speaknot with hysteria, but with the calm authority of history. As long as the names of Auschwitz and Vorkuta are remembered, the West cannot plead ignorance. What it cannot plead, it must answer.
Numbnut is derogatory American slang, sometimes used for humor, to mean a slow-witted, unresponsive, or inept person. But no humor exists in the fact New York City (NYC) voters, always on the edge of numbnut-osity, went over it by electing socialist/communist Zohran Mamdani mayor.

A majority (50.4%) of NYC voters demonstrated unbelievable incomprehension, as would be expected from slow-witted, inept andby choosing to ignore numerous red flags about Mamdaniunresponsive constituents. As the proverb goes, they will now have to reap what you sow.

Mamdanis campaign was a blank check of promises providing all sorts of things. These included free bus fare, government-run grocery stores (already a $29 million failure in Kansas), free high quality child care, freezing rents, maintaining abortion rights, opposing President Donald Trump, increasing the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, etc. Prior to the election, Trump forewarned a Mamdani victory could well result in the loss of federal funding to NYC wherever it could legally be done.

Thus, Mamdani may well face having to fund a lot more than he anticipated to make good on his blank check promises. It will be interesting to see from where such money comes to do what his campaign claimed it would do to make NYC life more affordable. He made clear some of it will come by way of increased taxes for the wealthy and corporations, which is already leading to an exodus. (A recent Daily Mail poll reported over 760,000 New Yorkers would definitely leave the city if Mamdani won while another two million indicated they would seriously consider it.)

Labeled a communist by Republicans, Mamdani denies it, calling himself a democratic socialist. He has been a longtime member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) which does not claim political party statusundoubtedly for the tax benefits gained as a political non-profit organization. It has given both Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib political life as members of Congress. And, it provided Mamdani with enormous support during his campaign, adding yet another ideological soulmate to government.

While DSA members argue they are not communists, they fail to look in the mirror. Their espoused strategy mirrors that of the Communist Party in seeking the same objectivei.e., Americas destruction as a democracy. It is run by a group that parallels the Communist Central Committee. A majority of DSA committee members are openly communist, having come from openly communist groups within the U.S., to which democracy is anathema.

Interestingly, during his election victory speech, Mamdani felt compelled to quote a socialist five-time U.S. presidential candidate of the early 1900sEugene Debs. Mamdani proclaimed, I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.

Mamdanis speech was notable for another reason as welli.e., he made no effort to use it as a call for political unity in working together to solve the citys problems. He dismissed his main political opponent, Andrew Cuomo, with the statement, Let tonight be the final time I utter his name.

Calling for the protection of illegal immigrants, he challenged Trump to come through all of us to get to them. It was not the same Mamdani who had demonstrated a more conciliatory persona during the campaignit was his radical doppelganger finally taking off the mask to set the tone for his term.

At one point during Mamdanis victory celebration, the massive screen at his campaign headquarters was hacked to portray the message Trump is your president.

Mamdani gamed voters too with his Islamic religion, claiming that being a Muslim was to sacrifice safety. NYC hate crimes against Muslims is only a fraction of overall crime, while the vast majority in 2023 (88%) were against Jews, of whom he made no mention.

Evidence of NYC voters numbnuttiness was further evidenced by the fact they elected a candidate committed to defunding police, using $600 million that could provide a safer city for residents, instead to create a new agency to replace the depleted ranks of the police force. Subsequent to George Floyds death in police custody, Mamdani repeatedly called for slashing NYPDs funding, and even dismantling the force altogether.

Mamdani plans a $1.1 billion program to carry through on this effort with an initiative to replace police with social workers on 911 calls. He fails to grasp that doing this will only increase crime as criminals confront unarmed mental health professionals supposedly trained to defuse non-life-threatening incidents instead of experienced and armed law enforcement officers. This totally ignores the fact that oftentimes what may initially appear to be a non-life-threatening situation can quickly turn violent.

Unsurprisingly, NYPDs Deputy Chief who heads the team responsible for responding to such calls retired the day after Mamdanis election. He has been joined by several other officers who quit as well. This is an obvious rejection of a billion-dollar experiment any law enforcement official knows will not work.

If Mamdani really believes it would, why did he hire armed bodyguards to protect him while campaigning? Perhaps to show his confidence in this program, he should, upon taking office, replace his assigned police security detail with mental health professionals. But as armed gangs of shoplifters terrorize NYC, even taking time to read product labels, the answer to the query in the Ghostbusters song, If theres something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?, is Mamdanis social workers.

When an NYPD officer was killed while off-duty on July 28, 2025along with three other civilian victimsin a mass shooting, Mamdani said he no longer supported defunding police. However, four months later, despite this assurance, it looks like he has flipped on the issue again. Mamdanis defund police champion now heads his transition team.

Vladimir Lenin purportedly boasted, Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted. The NYC mayor serves a four year termconsidered long enough by Lenin to sow the communist ideologybut can legally serve two terms. Mamdani has already planted the seed of socialism/communism with NYC voters by promoting much more than what he will be able to deliver. The big question now is whether those voters will give him a second term to further feed that seed into a NYC self-destructive sprout or, hopefully, shed their numbnut-ism before it evolves.

Image generated by ChatGPT.
Antisocial people run in packs. They exert concentrated power, but they are decidedly in the minority.

Prosocial people operate individualistically, but in the aggregate, they have much-greater power. Prosocial people can be defeated only by themselves.

Many familiar practices dont utilize power effectively. Some new practices also wouldnt.

Use power effectively these 6 ways:

1. Worship, love, and save.

Individual faith in Christ limits the envy that stymies economic growth. Individual faith also strengthens lesser magistrates to limit greater magistrates, which secures individuals rights.

Love is disciplined action that builds healthy relationships.

Saving builds productivity.

2. Choose assets, and consumer products, whose producers do the least harm.

Stocks provide the greatest long-term returns of any single class of investment.

Choosing stocks in normal times, but choosing gold instead in crisis times, provides even-greater long-term returns. In normal times that include routine government-money-error cycles, stocks provide the greatest returns. In crisis times, when money producers have been more greatly inflating the money quantity, and more greatly suppressing profits, gold shelters assets and provides better returns.

Shopping for the best added value is the key ingredient that makes voluntary cooperation select for the producers that add the most value. But this added value can give fund managers and corporate managers the power and control to pursue ends that harm everyone.

Individuals can limit such harms by moving their investments out of funds like those of BlackRock and Vanguard, by supporting government officials who limit government pension investments in such funds, and by considering corporate managers harmful actions when choosing products like those of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Target, and Disney.

3. Assess government people by how fully they use their constitutional powers against others in government and cronies.

Government people are delegated powers through their jurisdictions charters.

Government peoples powers are strikingly asymmetric. Government people have no lawful powers to defy the Constitution but awesome lawful powers and duties to support the Constitution.

If government people use their lawful powers to limit only themselves, we need supermajorities before this will secure our freedoms. But if any government person also uses his lawful powers to limit others, then each single executive, bloc of legislators, or judge better secures our freedoms.

Many politicians have much to say about what other people should do and are eager to do other peoples jobs, but they dont do their own jobs.

The only things politicians say or do that are worth supporting are actions to use constitutional powers to limit others in government and cronies.

4. Vote strategically for constitutionalists in Republican primaries and in general elections.

Keep Republican Progressives from returning in subsequent elections as hard-to-dislodge incumbents.

Register as a Republican if needed to vote, and in primaries vote for the most constitutionalist Republicans. In general elections, vote for the most constitutionalist candidates from any party.

If you build support, more will follow.

If a Progressive Democrat wins for the time being, others in the various branches and jurisdictions have the power and duty to undo any damage he might do. Of these others, Republicans are the only people who might limit Progressive Democrats; and Republican Progressives dont.

Wherever theres unmitigated damage, Republican Progressives are the people we must hold accountable.

5. Support partial secessions of county regions from legacy state governments and of neighborhood regions from legacy city governments.

The Constitution has a rule that the national government shall guarantee to each state  really, to each states residents  a republican form of government. A given government can assuredly be republican only if its charter has the same rules and sanctions as the Constitution.

In state, county, and city charters, the ratifiers echo the Constitutions design features but then layer on incompatible scope and administrative states. No state constitutions delegate only limited, enumerated powers.

Just as state delegates ratified the Constitution in the USA, county delegates can ratify county-region constitutions within each state, and neighborhood delegates can ratify neighborhood-region constitutions within their cities.

Compared to when the USA seceded from Great Britain, this is simpler. Now each regions delegates can copy the Constitution. Also, now these delegates will be implementing the explicit governing law  the Constitution  whereas the legacy states or cities clearly arent.

6. Support a good party.

Our fundamental political and therefore economic problem in our system of two major parties is that both are majority Progressive.

If the economy is viewed as a process, then governments are impactful controls. If governments are viewed as processes, then parties are the key controls.

Where the Constitution is designed to limit governments, party rules are designed to empower party organizations. For a good party, like for a seceding county region or neighborhood region, the Constitution is a model design solution. Its ready-built and well examined.

The fundamental solution is to build at least one major party with a party constitution that limits the partys power. A good party will use a party constitution and complementary party laws to enact candidate selection processes that favor constitutionalist candidates.

We can build a good party any of multiple ways: elect a president who uses his constitutional powers, partially secede from state governments, start neighborhood voter information meetings, take control of the Republican Party.

Fail to fix at least one party, and no other solution will be sufficient  Not term limits, not other constitutional amendments. Fix at least one party, and its people will make quick, lasting work of the remaining problems.

The more effectively that prosocial individuals use their powers, the more quickly that all people will live in increased freedom.

James Anthony is a chemical engineer and the author of The Constitution Needs a Good Party and rConstitution Papers. For more information, see jamesanthony.us.

Image via Pxfuel.
France and Germany were historical rivals until the end of World War Two. In the wars aftermath and, in recognition of each others peoplehood and histories, they joined to work toward peace and prosperity. In so doing, they conceived what is today known as the European Union.

The Europeans, however, are wrongfully projecting their European values onto the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ignoring the fact that concepts of compromise and tolerance do not exist in the Palestinian lexicon. Neither does democracy.

Arabs armies burst out of the Arabian desert in the 7th century under the flag of Islam, with the aim of bringing the last and the truest word of God, which they considered Islam to be, to the entire world. Any territory conquered by the Muslims was considered the domain of Islam, including Spain and todays Israel. Islamic conquest reached as far as Indonesia. Were it not for Charles Martel, who stopped the Muslim armies at the battle of Tours, France in 732, Europe would pray toward Mecca.

The Muslim Ottoman Turks tried to subjugate Europe in 1683, and once again, Europe was saved  this time by a brave Polish king, John III Sobieski, who stopped the Ottomans at the gates of Vienna.

The intent to conquer Europe for Islam has never abated. Today, we do not see armies carrying the banners of Islam on the way to conquer Europe, but rather hordes of Muslim immigrants. Many of these migrants are motivated by the Muslim Brotherhood creed, which seeks to transform Europe.

In appeasing their Muslim communities, the Europeans are ready to sacrifice the Jews of Israel on the altar of the two-state solution. Having betrayed six million Jews during the Holocaust doesnt seem to be enough for the Europeans; now they are asking the Jews of Israel to commit political, if not actual suicide. Ironically, the Palestinians do not want a two state solution. They want the Jewish state to disappear.

Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), when hosted by European and American leaders, has declared that his Palestinian people want to live alongside Israel and that the Palestinians recognized Israel as a state and territory in the Oslo Accords. The Europeans, for their part, are happy to accept these declarations at face value. Missing in these declarations of recognition, however, is the second part of the Oslo declaration  namely, two states for two nations.

The fundamental assumption of the Oslo Accords was that at the core of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, two national movements existed: a Jewish Zionist and an Arab Palestinian, who were fighting over the same territory. If the territory were to be divided between these two nations, peace would finally reign. Whereas Israel recognized Palestinian nationhood, the Palestinians never recognized the Jewish people as a nation with the right to self-determination.

Oddly enough, prior to Israel capturing the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza during the Six-Day War of 1967, the Palestinians did not proclaim themselves as a separate nation from their Arab brethren, nor did they seek self-determination. Arab Jordan held the West Bank, and Arab Egypt controlled Gaza, yet Yasser Arafat and his Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) never demanded a Palestinian state. The PLO was formed in May 1964. What lands were they demanding be liberated?

The simple explanation is that the Palestinians never sought a state alongside Israel, but fought bitterly against the Jews having one. Few peoples have had as many opportunities to establish a state as the Palestinians have had, and they have rejected them all.

The British Peel Commission in 19361937 offered the Arabs 72% of Mandatory Palestine. The Arabs (Arabs were not yet called Palestinians; only the Jews were known as Palestinians) rejected it because approximately 25% would have been allocated for a Jewish state, while 3% was to be internationalized, including greater Jerusalem. The Jews accepted the commissions recommendations despite being offered a tiny territory. In November 1947, the U.N. voted on the Partition Plan, which again gave the Palestinians an opportunity for a state. Again they said no, because there was to be a Jewish state.

In more recent times, in July 2000, President Clinton arranged a summit at Camp David with Yasser Arafat and Israels P.M., Ehud Barak. Prodded by Clinton, Barak made painful concessions. Clinton thought it was an opportunity for the Palestinians to finally end the occupation and have a state. Arafat, however, said no to the deal. In September 2008, it was Mahmoud Abbass turn to say no to even more concessions showered upon him by Israel P.M. Ehud Olmert. In both cases, Arafat and Abbas refused to commit to end the conflict and have their own state alongside Israel.

French president Emmanuel Macron proposed free, open, and democratic elections to be held in the Palestinian areas (West Bank and Gaza). If conducted, Hamas would win easily. Abbas is now 90 years old and intensely unpopular among the Palestinians. Abbass reign is marked by corruption and mismanagement.

Abbas shares with Hamas the same strategic goal: Israels destruction. They differ only on tactics. Abbas has chosen to use diplomacy while encouraging terror against Israel, whereas Hamas is more direct in its uncompromising stance and its use of terror. Both the Hamas and Fatah charters do not recognize Jews as a nation or their claim to their ancestral home, although the Hamas charter doesnt mince words regarding its intent to destroy Israel.

To have a Palestinian state nine miles away from Israels population centers is sheer suicide for Israel, especially if Hamas is installed in Ramallah. The October 7 massacre experienced by Israel has created unanimity among Israelis in their opposition to a Palestinian state.

The Europeans are, once again, supporting a situation whose aftermath will result in the shedding of crocodile tears for dead Jews.

Image: hendricjabs via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Texas governor Greg Abbott issued an uncharacteristically bold proclamation on Tuesday, formally designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Transnational Criminal Organizations under Texas law. It is the first time a state has applied those labels to CAIR, a national Muslim civil rights group that wields significant influence in D.C. Some believe that CAIR is a wolf in sheeps clothing, not a benign civil rights organization.

The designation does not change federal terrorism lists. Under U.S. law, only the U.S. secretary of State can place an entity on the federal list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The Trump administration is reportedly considering designating the Muslim Brotherhood as an FTO. Texas is using state criminal and property statutes to restrict the organizations activities inside the state.

The Muslim population has grown significantly in Texas in the last two decades, resulting in a sharp increase in religious infrastructure, including numerous mosques. As of 2024, Texas has the third highest (224) number of mosques in the U.S., after New York (over 340) and California (over 300).

However, recent 2025 data show that there may currently be more than 330 mosques and Islamic centers in the state. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has been called the Medina of America due to its large Muslim community. Texas has the largest Muslim population (420,000 Muslims) in the United States, most of whom are concentrated in Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

Texas is also home to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), which is planning a massive development project called EPIC City. Texas attorney general Ken Paxton recently asked for a review of the master-planned community near Josephine due to suspected state and federal securities violations. In September 2025, Governor Abbott signed a law banning the application of sharia in Muslim compounds.

By tying the designations to various Texas statutes and recent bills, Abbott subjects the listed organizations to heightened civil remedy penalties should they engage in criminal activities. It also prohibits the organizations and their affiliates and members from purchasing or acquiring an interest in land in Texas.

Abbotts Rationale for Designations

The four-page proclamation describes the Muslim Brotherhood as a transnational Islamist organization. Quoting statements on jihad from its founder, Hassan al-Banna, and leader Mohammed Badies statements on Islams mastership of the world, Abbott builds his case for the potential threats posed by the Brotherhood.

Al-Banna professed jihad to be the fighting of the unbelievers and involves all possible efforts that are necessary to dismantle the power of the enemies of Islam, including beating them, plundering their wealth, destroying their places of worship, and smashing their idols. Badie is currently serving a life sentence for plotting an armed insurrection in Egypt. Some branches of the Muslim Brotherhood provide support to localized branches ... including groups that conduct terrorism internationally. Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and already designated by the U.S. as an FTO.

As for CAIR, Abbott highlights the organization as Islamist and notes that it has been identified by the FBI as a front group for Hamas and its support network in the United States. He labels CAIR as a successor organization to the Muslim Brotherhood and points to several CAIR-linked individuals convicted in terror-related cases. Among those convicted, the proclamation names Ghassan Elashi, a founding member of the Texas branch of CAIR, who was sentenced to a total of 65 years in prison, for providing material support to the Hamas movement through the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) in 2009. CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

In an email to Focus on Western Islamism, CAIR stated that Abbott is baselessly advancing anti-Muslim bigotry:

Although we are flattered by Greg Abbotts obsession with our civil rights organization, his publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation has no basis in fact or law. By defaming a prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, Mr. Abbott has once again shown that his top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas.

CAIR and other civil rights advocates see their efforts very differently. Founded in 1994, CAIR is reportedly the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, dedicated to combating anti-Muslim discrimination, defending religious liberty, and encouraging Muslim civic engagement. The group has litigated high-profile cases on workplace accommodation, mosque construction, and government surveillance. CAIR has also worked with law enforcement agencies on outreach and hate crime reporting but reportedly has had a tenuous relationship with the FBI since 2008.

Will this proclamation be successful?

CAIR itself is likely not buying ranches. Most Muslim community property is held by mosques, schools, or nonprofits with separate boards and EINs. Proving that a local Islamic center is a legal affiliate of CAIR for purposes of a land ban is not easy. If lawyers see risk, theyll just structure future property under distinct entities with no formal ties to CAIR.

The affiliates and members part is where things get dicey. The attorney general may use that clause sparingly, against entities branded as CAIR or visibly controlled by CAIR officers. Therefore, the impact will be relatively narrow. If pushed broadly, the state faces constitutional hurdles.

Gang and FTO remedies in Texas law still require nuisance activity or criminal conduct. Simply being CAIR or associated with it isnt likely to win an injunction in court. There are also First Amendment hurdles because the language is relatively broad. If a state were to reach donors, partner mosques, or co-sponsoring organizations, protected speech and associational rights would be an issue.

In addition, the FTO status is normally a federal designation. A judge could still ask whether the state is stepping into an area Congress clearly reserved for the federal Executive.

Politically, the proclamation plays well to the conservative base running up to the midterms. It also may encourage mosques or Muslim charities to distance themselves from CAIR, giving the governor a soft-power win of sorts. The attorney general can use the proclamation to justify investigations, or subpoenas tied to EPIC City and similar projects. Even if those efforts fail to reach trial, it costs time and money to litigate and can deter other ambitious developments in the state. Still, it remains to be seen whether the proclamation has legal teeth in the courts.

Image: Greg Abbott. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
By now youve heard the story. On November 19, six Democratic lawmakers  Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Jason Crow (D-CO)  released a video urging U.S. military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders from President Donald Trumps administration. They framed it as a defense of the Constitution amid concerns over operations like immigration enforcement and the Caribbean drug interdictions. The message invoked service members oaths to prioritize the law over blind obedience. The admonition restates a core tenet of military law  that personnel must disobey manifestly unlawful commands under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Nevertheless, its timing and tone have ignited a firestorm, with Trump branding it SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! on Truth Social.

Full disclosure  Im not an attorney. But I doubt the Democrats words cross any criminal line. UCMJ Articles 90 and 92 bind service members only to lawful orders. This echoes the Nuremberg principle that just following orders offers no defense for atrocities. As a layman, I fail to see how encouraging awareness of this duty, even preemptively, constitutes sedition under 18 U.S.C.  2384, which requires conspiracy to oppose U.S. authority by force. I doubt it violates congressional oaths, as lawmakers retain oversight roles in probing executive actions. Attorney General Pam Bondi has yet to pursue charges, accentuating the videos protected speech status.

Nevertheless, the danger does not lurk in illegality, but in implication. By issuing this plea absent specific unlawful directives  none have been credibly alleged  the lawmakers cast a shadow of doubt over Trumps entire chain of command. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and Kelly, a Navy veteran, are leveraging their credentials to signal: We know youre under pressure...refuse illegal orders. This underhanded framing implies mutiny against a commander-in-chief whose Supreme Court record affirms lawful conduct.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt countered in a fiery briefing: Theyre suggesting the President has given illegal orders, which he has not. This preemptive partisanship risks fracturing the apolitical ethos of the 1.3 million active-duty troops, fostering hesitation that could cascade into chaos during crises.

The fallout was swift. Trump exploded on Truth Social: Each one of these traitors should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL, denouncing a soft coup that undermines national security. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer countered that Trumps retort  evoking execution for sedition  lights a match in a country soaked in political gasoline, invoking January 6 and recent assassination attempts on GOP figures.

I have a question  Who is pouring the political gasoline, Chuck?

Leavitt condemned a reporters query on executing Congress, by pivoting with the question, Why arent you talking about what these members...are doing to encourage and incite violence?

Some authors have speculated on shadowy connections  Goodlanders ties to Biden advisor Jake Sullivan and Slotkins Burisma-era connections  reveal a resistance echo chamber that is amplified by groups like 50501 that peddle disinformation to erode faith in the military.

This episode demonstrates how obviously true principles, when weaponized politically, sow discord. Surveys show 80% of troops grasp their duty to disobey illegal orders, yet such broad-brush warnings from legislators could embolden rogue interpretations, blurring lawful dissent into seditious drift. In our polarized republic (thanks for nothing, leftists!), tactics like these imperil the Constitution and invite the very instability they condemn.

Image generated by ChatGPT.
What on earth were they thinking?

Those six moronic Democrats who put together a video advising our troops to disobey any orders with which they are not comfortable really stepped in it this time.

Must I shoot a simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of a wiley agitator who induces him to desert?Lincoln, on calls by Democratic elected officials for rebellion and sedition on the part of the military, June 12, 1863 pic.twitter.com/tgmwdcjNRH  Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) November 20, 2025

Those sorry characters in the video are Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH).

They are each so Trump-deranged that they forgot that most Americans trust and respect our military far more than they trust or respect any of them. What they did was truly shocking, especially since a few of them have actual military experience. They should be stripped of any military honors or awards theyve received. They should each step down from their positions in Congress, for they have betrayed all the citizens of this country.

The video was colossally stupid; they did not mention any illegal or unconstitutional orders they imply have been given.

Jason Crow, when questioned by newscaster Martha McCallum as to what order they were referring, could only come up with Trump has made comments.

How could these six members of Congress be so blinkered that they thought their bit of theater would win them any support from anyone beyond the most Trump-deranged?

It was so arrogant, so obviously meant to make our troops distrust their commander-in-chief.

The video is most certainly a form of treason. They are clearly trying to erode our troops faith and trust in the president. It is as though they hoped to kickstart a color revolution.

Color revolutions are characterized by mass protests, student activism, civil disobedience, and nonviolent resistance against regimes accused of electoral fraud, corruption, or human rights abuses. They encourage defections among police and military members.

The deep state has long been rather good at that sort of thing and has employed the tactics all over the world at one time or another.

President Trump did not call for their death, as each of them is claiming. He stated that death is a possible sentence for anyone tried and convicted of sedition or treason, which it is.

The responses of each of the Seditious Six are pathetic. Has even one of them expressed sorrow or regret? Admitted they used very poor judgment? Of course not. They still seem to be quite proud of themselves.

The definition of sedition is conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

That is what they did. Will they be held accountable? Of course not, because they are Democrats. Had Republicans done anything remotely like this when Joe Biden or Barack Obama was president, the left would have had the biggest tantrum of all time. They would demand that those involved be tarred and feathered and dragged through D.C., and every activist judge in the District would approve.

This is true, and every American knows it. The problem is that the left celebrates its taken-for-granted freedom to flout the law while the right justifiably fears it, for good reason.

What the Biden regime did to President Trump, his family, his friends, any lawyer who represented him, etc. was diabolical. They are still doing it, and they should suffer some consequences.

A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. --Cicero

Image: Screen shot from X video
The challenges to save the lives of babies have not gone away, and anyone who hoped that overturning Roe would have that effect was indulging a dream. Fortunately, there are organizations that realize the stakes are still high for protecting our children, and they have geared up to influence the 2026 midterms:

Today, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA) and Women Speak Out PAC (WSO) announced an $80 million investment to retain pro-life majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. The plan to reach 10.5 million voters across the country will include canvassing, digital advertising, voter contact mail and a robust early vote campaign as races progress. SBA and WSO will make 4.5 million visits to voters at their homes across several battleground states including Iowa, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina.

Democrats are defending abortion more ardently than ever, as they support more drastic measures for killing babies. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, explains the reasons for campaigning aggressively:

The party that once claimed the position of safe, legal and rare is now the party of abortion anytime, anywhere, paid for by the taxpayer. The Democrats have become unrecognizable as they continue to embrace second and third trimester abortions and wont even outlaw the killing of babies who survive failed abortions. We must retain our pro-life majorities in both houses to stop this extremism and prevent the abortion lobby from clawing back $500 million in taxpayer funding for their own political machine.

In addition to surgical abortions, the abortion pill, although outlawed in some states, is being used, arguably more frequently than before, and there are serious questions about whether the pills are safe or not. An extensive study revealed that the pills put women at risk, but the FDA has been slow in conducting its own random studies, so the pills are still on the market. The expansion of telehealth options suggests that pills are easier to get, arguably contributing to an increase in abortions since the reversal of Roe:

The upward trend in abortion volume is likely due to multiple reasons, including expanded telehealth capacity, the ability to mail medication abortion pills to patients, and the lower costs for telehealth abortions through virtual clinics compared to in-person care. Medication abortion via telehealth now accounts for 25% of all abortions.

Congress has played a significant role in pro-life wins, and we cant take these members for granted, protecting them at all costs:

In a statement, SBA credited congressional anti-abortion victories with the passage of restrictions on federal Medicaid funding for health organizations that provide abortions as part of the presidents sweeping domestic policy bill.

Theres no doubt that Democrats will maintain their radical pro-abortion position, continuing to push it, even at the state level. But Iowa for one is not relinquishing its pro-life stance:

When Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill in May 2018, Iowas law was the leading pro-life stand in the country. It was to go into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, but pro-abortion forces fought the heartbeat law in court. The law survived the legal challenges and officially went into effect on July 29, 2024. One year after the Fetal Heartbeat Law went into effect, abortions in Iowa are down nearly 60%, Reynolds said in a statement earlier this year. This is a powerful victory for life, and its all because Iowans and their representatives stood strong for the rights of the unborn, passing the bill not just once, but twice  and by an increasingly wide margin. [snip] Abortion-on-demand blue states and cities have pushed a macabre abortion tourism or death destination industry catering to pregnant women in states with more restrictive laws.

And the kill-babies wheel continues to turn rapidly, as the abortion numbers continue to rise:

The most accurate, current, and complete data shows that 1,121,450 abortions were performed within the formal U.S. health care system from July 2023 to June 2024. Peer-reviewed research also shows thousands upon thousands of self-managed drug-induced abortions occurring outside the formal health care system.

Turning back Roe was only a first step in stopping the pro-abortion forces from encouraging and aiding pregnant women in their desires to rid themselves of their babies. We may see other influences on the pro-life movement to save these lives, such as the emphasis on marriage and family by the late Charlie Kirk and TPUSA, but this is no time to sit back and hope.

Too many lives are at risk.

Image: Public domain.
It seems like some Samsung data is being sold by a hacker, but theres absolutely nothing to worry about. Why? Well, this has nothing to do with Samsung Electronics, so youre good.

Hacker seems to be selling Samsung data, but youre safe

So whats going on exactly? Well, based on several reports, a hacker is selling Samsungs internal data on a cybercrime forum. The date that is on sale doesnt seem to have anything to do with Samsung Electronics, though, so its not something that should worry you.

Samsung is not just a consumer electronics company, as many of you know. The company also works in the medical, construction, and military fields. There are a lot of companies under the Samsung umbrella.

Well, data from one of those group companies seems to be on sale, based on HackReads report. The breach was allegedly made possible through a contractor, and the hacker managed to get data from several companies, including Samsung.

The data allegedly includes cloud storage data, backend database content, user records, internal logs, exported cloud directories, and more. Samsung still didnt comment on any of this, by the way, at least not at the time of writing this article.

The company in question is Samsung Medison, and it has nothing to do with you

So, what company exactly are we talking about here? Samsung Medison. That company develops medical equipment and other related products. The most important thing that you have to keep in mind, as a user of Samsung consumer electronics, your data is safe. This apparently has nothing to do with that.

Were seeing more and more security breaches lately, which is definitely not a good sign. Major tech companies do have a lot of our data these days, so its not surprising that theyre a target. That data is valuable, and these breaches are concerning.
Police in Irvine, California, are asking the public to help them identify a thief who they say bears resemblance to Backstreet Boy band member AJ McLean.

Were pretty sure this isnt AJ McLean from the @backstreetboys, but the resemblance had us doing a double take, Irvine Police Department wrote in a social media post Wednesday. The real AJ McLean has not been accused of wrongdoing.

The post was accompanied by a video of the theft  set to the beloved song Everybody.

Footage captured the 90s pop star doppelganger, wearing a maroon t-shirt, black joggers and a black backwards cap, entering an apartment building behind an Amazon delivery driver.

The video showed the man grabbing several packages and walking out with them.

Police in Irvine, California, are asking the public to help identify a suspect who they say looks like a Backstreet Boys member (Irvine PD)

Rife with references to the Backstreet Boys tracks, police said: Instead of being larger than life, this suspect followed an Amazon driver into a secured apartment mailroom on Spectrum and walked out with packages that werent his.

Quit playin games with our mail. Backstreets back, but your packages shouldnt be going with him. If you know who he is, tell us why he walked out with other peoples stuff, the statement continued.

Police urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact them.

Some social media users said they didnt see the suspects resemblance to AJ McLean, who is pictured attending Netflix Tudum 2025 in May (Getty Images)

Its not immediately clear if any arrests have been made in the case.

The Independent has asked Irvine Police for more information.

Several social media users disagreed with the police, saying the suspect looks more like a few other 90s pop stars.

Instead, some social media users claimed the suspect looked more like Joey Fatone, a member of another boy band *NSYNC (Getty Images for Verizon)

One Facebook user said the suspect more closely resembled a member of *NSYNC: Eh, he looks more like Joey Fatone but Ill take a BSB song any day for no reason at all.

He looks more like the guy from 98 degrees, another remarked.

Yet another user harshly put it: If they think he looks like AJ I struggle to believe they can positively ID any criminal.
Sir Chris Wormald arriving at Covid-19 inquiry public hearing ahead of giving evidence in 2023 - Alamy

You never want to read stuff in the press, grinned Britains top mandarin when facing MPs last month.

Sir Chris Wormalds future has been the subject of much debate since he became Cabinet Secretary last December. Modest, low-key and a dedicated Whitehall lifer, he is said by friends to loathe the limelight, speculation and newspaper gossip.

But Labour briefings about his effectiveness have undermined him in recent weeks. Now, the publication of Baroness Halletts mammoth 800-page pandemic report on Thursday means that he finds himself, once again, in the headlines. He will not be enjoying all this, says one official drily.

The central charge laid against Wormald this week concerns his leadership at the Health Department. As permanent secretary from 2016 to 2024, he led the civil servants preparing for a pandemic, and then tackling one when it arrived in 2020. He was also, it was pointed out in the inquiry, responsible for acting as the apolitical foil to partisan ministers.

Sir Chris Wormald being questioned by by the Chair of the Covid inquiry

His department was the lead government department responsible for pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. Reporting first to Jeremy Hunt ahead of the pandemic, and then to Matt Hancock during it, it was Wormalds job to ensure that those vital plans were ready to go and fit for purpose.

But any serious examination of the plans would have revealed they were unfit for purpose, and forced a hugely expensive reworking of the nations contingency schemes, including the creation of millions more emergency NHS beds.

And when the virus struck, and Wormald was paired with the Tiggerish Hancock, he failed to rectify, in Halletts words, the overenthusiastic impression that the minister gave to others when explaining the departments pandemic response.

In short, Wormald was criticised for keeping schtum in the early days of the outbreak as a naive and overly enthusiastic health secretary falsely assured Downing Street and anyone else who would listen that DHSC was taking the right course of action.

Wormalds inaction prompted one of the most withering lines by Hallett in her report, which concluded that lockdowns could have been avoided entirely. His failure to [rectify Hancocks unjustified assurances] gave rise to additional concerns at the centre of the UK government about the effectiveness of Sir Christopher Wormalds leadership  a remark that damns him in its understatement.

At present, No. 10 insists the Prime Minister retains full confidence in Wormald. But others within government are concerned about further revelations which could emerge about the most senior Covid-era figure left in high office.

There could be a steady drip-drip-drip, says one aide. That could finish him off. Halletts findings this week represent only the second module in a series of ten that will be dealt with.

Chris Wormald, Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty arriving at 10 Downing Street during the Covid pandemic - Shutterstock

The first part of the inquiry revealed DHSC had no plan at all for a coronavirus outbreak, despite having given assurances to the contrary. Worse, its main pandemic plan  UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011  was found to be fatally flawed in a number of respects, but most notably in that it failed to consider preventing a novel virus sweeping across Britain in the first place.

All it really did competently was make plans to bury and incinerate the dead, and make sure that was done outside of the public gaze.

When it was said that the UK was well prepared before the Covid-19 pandemic, this meant at the time that the UK should have been able to manage the deaths of [837,500] people  not that it was prepared to prevent them, the inquiry said.

This week, Hallet went further still, saying officials were too slow to act and impose measures such as contact tracing, self-isolation and face coverings when the pandemic erupted, meaning lockdowns became inevitable.

Had stringent restrictions short of a mandatory lockdown been introduced earlier than March 16 2020  when the number of Covid-19 cases was lower  the mandatory lockdown might have been shorter or, conceivably, avoided entirely, she said, blaming the dithering on a toxic and chaotic culture at the centre of government.

Of those still to come, modules six and seven on the care sector, and test, trace and isolate will likely be particularly uncomfortable for Wormald and senior health officials.

Hiring someone with such an established track record was the risk Keir Starmer took in promoting Wormald. He has spent 34 years working in the Civil Service, following in the footsteps of his father, Peter, who served as under secretary in the Health Department from 1978 to 1981. Peter, too, was embroiled in a major medical inquiry into tainted blood.

Sir Chris worked his way up the greasy pole of Whitehall, serving ministers like Estelle Morris, Charles Clarke and Nick Clegg. A model official, is how one describes him. At the time of his promotion last year, he had spent 12 years as a permanent secretary  first at education, then health.

It was at the Department of Education from 2012 to 2016 that Wormald helped Michael Gove and his special adviser, Dominic Cummings, impose cuts on the ministry, leading to claims that he was something of a yes man.

Keir Starmer hosting his weekly Cabinet meeting earlier this year - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

By the time he had moved on to health, Wormalds longevity saw him nicknamed Permy Wormy among Tory special advisers.

Sir Keirs choice of his fellow knight surprised mandarins, given the jarring juxtaposition of Wormalds safe reputation and Starmers declared goal of complete rewiring of the British state. His appointment personifies the failing upwards culture that makes so many of us want to leave the Civil Service, sniffed one to the Guardian, hours after his appointment.

Wormalds role is Janus-like  serving his political masters as Cabinet Secretary, while championing the interests of officials as head of the Civil Service. After the vicissitudes of Brexit, Covid and a churn in personnel, he has a difficult task in restoring Whitehall morale as the figurehead for a workforce of half a million staff. Its like the England manager gig, says one civil servant. Its an impossible job.

Another says: You have got a very tired organisation. That role has changed several times in the last five years alone. We need someone who is going to hold that for 10, 15 years and really put some weight back into it.

After 11 months in post, Wormald has certainly disappointed some of Starmers allies, who fear that the centre of government remains underpowered. Critics charge that Wormald has exhibited a lack of dynamism and an excess of caution. Admirers counter by pointing to Starmers muddled style of politics and administration of government.

To be fair to Chris, if youve got a Prime Minister with a difficult team who brief against each other and a lack of clear vision and a lack of clear steer, what exactly is he supposed to do? says one civil servant. Another points to the death of mission-led government, absent from Starmers conference speech. How can you deliver when the PM doesnt know what he wants?

Criticism of Wormald, though, is not reserved solely for the politicians. His colleagues fear that insufficient work is currently being undertaken to attract, retain and promote skilled officials.

There is a problem around other permanent secretary talent and management, reflects one. But hes not dealt with that. I dont see a decent pipeline coming up. I think theres a lot of stuff that could have been done to manage the second perm secs coming through and manage an SCS [Senior Civil Service] pipeline. They note the small field of contenders who would likely replace Sir Chris, should he leave his post in future.

Wormald is a man well-respected among colleagues for his unimpeachable professionalism. There is near-universal agreement in Whitehall that he is an improvement on his predecessor, Lord Case. In 2020, he became the youngest ever abinet secretary, and in 2024, he earned the distinction of becoming the youngest ever ex-cabinet secretary.

One of those robot little hoovers would be a step up from Case, is the verdict of one former colleague. Several ministers praise their interactions with Wormald, who is regarded and unlikely to write  in the words of a former political aide  the gossipy indiscreet messages for which Case became infamous after the pandemic WhatsApp messages leaked as part of The Telegraphs Lockdown Files investigation in 2023.

Asked by MPs last month if he expected to survive, Sir Chriss response was pithy, but didnt exactly convey confidence. I certainly hope so, he said.

James Heale is the Deputy Politics Editor of The Spectator magazine
Conspiracy theorists Gareth Train is recorded by a police body camera on Dec. 12, 2022, at a rural property at Wieambilla, Australia (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Three Christian extremists shared a delusional disorder when they opened fire on police officers they perceived as "demons intent on killing them" on a rural Australian property three years ago, a coroner found.

The extremists  brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train, and Gareths wife, Stacey Train  were among six people killed in a six-hour gunbattle that began on 12 December 2022 in the sparsely populated Wieambilla region, west of Brisbane, Queensland.

The trio killed two police constables, Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and neighbour Alan Dare, who had come to investigate scrub fires the Trains had ignited. Police had attended Gareth and Stacey Trains home in response to a missing persons report for Nathaniel Train, a former school principal in New South Wales.

State Coroner Terry Ryan on Friday accepted psychiatric evidence that the Trains each had an undiagnosed and untreated psychotic illness. A shared delusional disorder.

In this undated photo provided by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General, a rifle lays on a log and a pistol is on a near-by table at a rural property in Wieambilla, Australia

The disorder began with Gareth Train, the older brother. All three believed the world was about to end in accordance with Christian teachings.

They were psychotically unwell and driven by their persecutory beliefs. I consider that Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel were from the time the Queensland Police Service officers entered their property intent on killing the officers and, if necessary, intent on dying rather than being taken into custody, Ryan said.

I accept that while End of Times religious themes became central to their beliefs system, their psychotic disorder was underpinned by broader persecutory beliefs including that the government was evil and that police officers, including the police officers who attended at their property  were demons intent on killing them, he added.

Ryan had heard medical evidence, during a 17-day inquiry hearing last year, that shared delusional disorders were exceptionally rare.

The coroner rejected a contrary psychiatric opinion that the Trains ambush was an act of terrorism as defined by Australian law with the intention of intimidating the Queensland government and police.

In this undated photo provided by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General a rifle lays on the ground at a rural property at Wieambilla, Australia

Australian law defines a terrorist act as an action or threat made with the intention of advancing a political, religious, or ideological cause to coerce a government or intimidate the public.

Rather I consider they were acting defensively within their delusional framework to defend themselves and their property from what they regarded was an evil advance on them, Ryan said.

The Trains beliefs, although wrong, meant they posed an extreme risk of danger to any police officer or other authority figure who might have attended their property, Ryan added.

The Train brothers opened fire with bolt-action rifles from concealed sniper positions within two minutes of the four police officers stepping on to their property.

Nathaniel Train killed Arnold first, then his brother killed McCrow.

Officer Randal Kirk was wounded as he fled. A fourth officer, Keely Brough, hid in scrub on the property for around two hours before police reinforcements arrived.

A Police officers walks across a road near the scene of a fatal shooting in Wieambilla, Australia, Dec. 13, 2022 (AAP IMAGE)

The police Glock pistols did not have the range or accuracy of the Trains high-powered rifles.

Once the shooting commenced, the officers Glocks were woefully inadequate for the purpose of defending themselves or each other from the attack they faced, Ryan said.

The coroner said he was not satisfied that wearing armored vests could have prevented the two police officers' deaths.

He also rejected a submission made by Dare family lawyers that police had caused Alan Dare's death by failing to advise his wife when she called to report smoke that there were active shooters in the area.

In this undated photo provided by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General an armored police vehicle is damaged from gunshots at a rural property at Wieambilla, Australia

Ryan found at least some of the Trains weapons had been obtained lawfully under Australias relatively tough gun ownership laws.

He recommended the Queensland government consider introducing mandatory mental health assessments for people who apply for gun licenses.

The coroner also recommended police consider using drones to make risk assessments in rural and remote locations like Wieambilla before sending officers in on foot, and that additional funding for the Queensland Fixated Threat Assessment Center that monitors fixated and grievance-fueled individuals.

It is concerning that the online activities of Gareth Train in the years leading up to Dec. 12, 2022, carried out in plain sight, did not appear to have been monitored or drawn to the attention of law enforcement agencies, Ryan said.
Close to 400 million Christians live in danger of persecution

Campaigning for the persecuted church can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Ive looked at bloody, terrifying scenes hours after a massacre, cried with people whose family members were slaughtered, read the statistics and shook with righteous anger.

Yet so many people who should know better reject what they are told, and argue that Christians are powerful, wealthy, and, if anything, are the ones doing the persecuting. Such naive and ignorant responses fail to grasp the power dynamics of Africa and Asia in particular, and the true nature of world religions.

Lets start with the facts. Close to 400 million Christians live in danger of persecution, and last year almost 5,000 were murdered because of their faith and more than 7,500 churches and religious properties were attacked. The number of countries where persecution is deemed likely has steadily increased, with North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan acutely dangerous for Christians.

Currently were seeing another outbreak of anti-Christian violence in Nigeria, with churches invaded and Christians murdered, sometimes in front of their families, and Catholic and Methodist clergy abducted. The culprits are usually members of the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency, many of whose victims down the years have been other Muslims.

All of this  and more  has been condemned by churches in the West, but its not a dominant theme in the mainline Christian narrative. Instead, what has been given a great deal of time and space recently is the ostensibly unacceptable treatment of Palestinian Christians by Israel. Now, this is different from a Christian support for peace in the region, the backing of a Palestinian state, or campaigning for justice for the Palestinian people  it is something far more worrying. Its also misplaced, and I wonder if church leaders who visit Israel are being shown the full picture.

Lets look at the make-up of Israel. To begin with, theres a major difference between Israel and the West Bank. Israeli Arabs full citizens of the country, who represent more than 20 per cent of the Israeli population  are predominantly Muslim, but include a substantial Christian minority. They have the same legal rights as Jewish citizens and are not a persecuted class, though they do suffer some socio-economic disadvantages (such as poorly funded schools) depending on where they live.

A Palestinian woman speaks to journalists after Israeli settlers tried to enter her home in the in the West Bank village of al-Jaba - AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean

There are also guest workers in Israel who are Christian, and Israeli Jews who follow Jesus. Take the case of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, the young couple murdered in May in Washington DC by a gunman shouting Free Palestine. They worked at the Israeli embassy. Lischinsky was born to a Jewish father and a Christian mother and was a believing and practising Christian who was dedicated to the Israel state.

During the October 7 Nova festival massacre, Arab-Israeli paramedic Awad Darawshe, a Christian, was killed while caring for the wounded. There were also Thai and Filipino victims, some of whom were Christian. There are Christians, as well as Muslims and Druze, who serve in the IDF.

It could be argued that in recent years an anti-Christian attitude has developed among some within the ultra-orthodox settler movement  indeed, Ive experienced it myself  but this is confined to specific areas, is fairly recent, and is utterly condemned by the rest of Israeli society.

Within the West Bank, however, its a different matter. There can be no denying that a combination of settler aggression, military indifference or even support for that aggression, and harsh government policies, have made life extremely difficult for local Christians. Those who visit these communities see the injustice and speak out. Theyre often justified in what they say  but a failure to present the whole Israeli-Jewish attitude towards Christians and Christianity has played into the hands of those who would do Israel harm, and is manipulated by the new wave of Right-wing anti-Semites with sizeable followings online.

Why this misplaced focus? For one thing, its a lot easier to criticise the wrongdoings of the Jewish state than the sins of countless Muslim ones, where active persecution of Christians is rife. Theres a fear of alienating the Muslim community, and a desire for ecumenism with a large and growing minority faith.

Another factor is the growth in popularity of replacement theology  or Supersessionism  the doctrine that the Church has replaced the Jewish people as Gods chosen. It may sound obscure and innocuous but, again, its being used by those with a strong bias against Israel and Jews.

Its the vocation of Christians to speak up for those being mistreated. Nobody pretends that the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is acceptable. Its also the vocation of Christians to understand cause and effect, their own involvement in the current situation in the Middle East, and to reject political caricature, especially when the consequences can be so dangerous.

When it comes to addressing persecution, the Church needs to look again at its priorities.
Cole Palmer faces another spell on the sidelines after fracturing his toe in an accident at home.

The Chelsea forward had just returned to training after two months out with a groin injury.

But boss Enzo Maresca has revealed Palmer will miss Saturdays trip to Burnley, Tuesdays blockbuster Champions League clash with Barcelona and next weekends Premier League tussle with leaders Arsenal.

He is probably not available for tomorrow for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure, said Maresca.

Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe but it is nothing important  but he wont be back in the next week.

Maresca tried to laugh off the incident but it is a big blow for the Blues with a huge week coming up.

Its nothing important, but for sure hes not back next week, added the Italian.

Its fractured. The only thing we know is that hes not available for this week, next week.

Burnley (a) - Sat Nov 22, Premier League

Barcelona (h) - Tues Nov 25, Champions League

Arsenal (h) - Sun Nov 30, Premier League

It can happen, it can happen. I wake up many times during the night to go to the toilet, and I hit my head, my leg, my everything, so it can happen.

He was back with us, almost, with the groin. Then again, he had this small problem and hopefully its nothing important.

The last time I saw him was yesterday morning and he was without socks, without flip-flops.

He was limping, not too much, he was walking OK. The problem is that its a small toe, so the contact with the boots can be a bit painful.

Defender Axel Disasi, part of Chelseas so-called bomb squad with fellow exile Raheem Sterling, has been training with the first team over the international break.

Axel Disasi is not back in Enzo Marescas first-team plans at Chelsea (Mike Egerton/PA)

But Maresca has ruled out the prospect of reintegrating the Frenchman into the first-team squad.

Axel is helping the second team, hes helping young players, said Maresca.

During the international break we had just five, six players here, so we needed some second-team players, and Axel was part of some sessions with second-team players, but I think it was just one session.

At the moment hes helping the second team, hes working with the second team, and hes there with the second team.

Hes a Chelsea player and hes with the second team. Raheem, again, hes a Chelsea player and hes in the same situation.

Maresca confirmed defender Benoit Badiashile could return against Burnley after a muscle problem.
While Sara Cox was covering 135 miles in five days, one of the special musical guests on Children in Need was completing her own marathon. Performing fiery pop banger Hell Yeah, Ella Eyre was unveiling a track from her first album in 10 years.

Its the pointedly titled Everything, in Time, a record the Londoner, 31, thought shed never make, not least when she had to undergo major vocal surgery during the pandemic. She crafted the album in the teeth of major label calamities, finally struggling free of what she characterises as decade-long [music] industry creative straightjackets.

Its a 15-strong set of songs thats a triumphant two-fingers to the executives who told the double Mobo-winner who scooped a Brit award when she was just 19 that she couldnt write songs.

Ella Eyre lost her voice following an operation (PR handout)

When we meet in a Finsbury Park cafe, Eyre says she felt the stakes were higher now that, after two major label deals, shes signed with indie Play It Again Sam (PIAS). The pressure is on as an independent artist, on an independent budget. When you dont have a major label footing all the bills that you werent aware of, everything becomes very real. Not only do I want it to go well, but I need it to go well, because were having to work 10 times harder to get to that point.

Looking back, being with Virgin EMI, which released her 2015 debut album Feline, or Island, with whom she parted ways in 2021 after they agreed to disagree on the strength of her new songs, had its benefits. Honestly, the luxury of having your cars booked for you! exclaims this animated artist swaddled in a woolly balaclava and drinking a black Americano. Ive been driving myself to my music videos at four in the morning. But the grind makes it more real. I feel more in tune and engaged with what Im doing than ever. I am making it happen. Its not everybody else around me telling me what to do.

The singer is releasing her first album in 10 years (PR handout)

Signing her first deal at 16, Eyre  born in west London and educated at the Brit School in Croydon  had instant lift-off when the first song I put my voice on went to No 1 and I won a Brit Award. That same year, 2014, she was runner-up in the BBC Sound of poll and the Brits Critics Choice award, losing both to Sam Smith.

I remember people not comparing me to Sam Smith, but it was difficult because we were always level pegging. Someone told me that there was a bet as to who, out of me and Sam, was going to make more money out of touring. Thats not a pressure I ever put on myself. But that is something that Ive been aware of for over 10 years, and how much Sam ran away with that lead.

In hindsight, she continues, Sam was so clear in their mind what they were as an artist. I hadnt been able to do that work yet. I was so young, so excited and desperate to please and be successful.

She was tapped for her powerhouse vocal skills by Naughty Boy and Tinie Tempah, had three Top 20 singles from Feline. But later, when shed signed to Island, the results of a 2019 songwriting trip to Jamaica didnt meet their expectations.

I thought the songs were for my [second] album. But they didnt see me as the artist that was making this music. At that point, I had done quite a lot with Sigala. My hit rate on radio was great. What I failed to recognise when I signed to Island is that we were on very different missions. They were like: Why dont you make more dance music? Becky Hills doing it. And Im like: Becky Hill is amazing, because Becky Hill does what she loves doing.

So I dont think it was about me not being a good writer, she continues. I wasnt being supported as a young female in the industry.

Eyre was also suffering in her personal life. Her dad died in 2017. I started seeing a therapist a year or two after that, because a female manager  who had also lost her dad  recognised some behaviours in me. Consequently, shes been taking sessions every Monday since God knows how long now. I feel so grateful for the tools that Ive learned to cope with my emotional irrationality. Particularly with the peaks and troughs of life, but also the music industry and being in the public eye. I definitely have hang-ups about my body and my hair and other things that all have to do with childhood trauma. Its forced me to have some very good conversations with myself.

It all led to a moment of clarity. Possessed of a powerfully soulful voice and compared in her early days to Amy Winehouse, rather than make music that would have her gallivanting around dance festivals, Eyre wanted to lean into writing the classy soul-pop that spoke naturally to her. That meant finding a space which is allowing me to grow And luckily, I was able to get out quite unceremoniously. Thank God for Raye! I think she put the fear of God in all the major labels by going on her Twitter rant. That meant that my label were terrified of me doing the same.

Eyre signed her first record deal at just 16 (Press handout)

Rayes very vocal social media complaints (Im done being a polite pop star) about her label refusing to release her debut album set off a firestorm within the industry. Celeste also recently took public issue about the lack of support for her album. Eyre knows exactly where theyre coming from. We have a voice, because we have these platforms that we can use. Fair play to Raye for having the balls to do that. Eyres own voice, though, was also literally muted. As she was licking her wounds after exiting the Island deal, she was also recovering from lockdown-era surgery.

Ive always had a naturally husky voice. It wasnt until I was in the music industry and my record label could afford to shove a camera down my throat that we realised that I had scar tissue. Thats something that Ive had for a very long time, potentially since birth. My mum always recalls a woman in the supermarket when I was a baby saying: Oh, does she smoke 20 a day already? So doing 300 shows in my first year as an artist, I was basically running on a broken leg.

Cue, eventually, an operation to chop a bit out from her vocal cords, which led to a difficult recovery period. Recuperating at home, Eyre couldnt speak, laugh or even cry, because crying can really affect that recovery. And its really hard not to do that when it feels like my life is falling apart, my career is in tatters.

After a month of absolute silence, her speech therapist asked her to say: Hi, how are you? To Eyres horror, nothing came out. It was truly terrifying. There followed months of laborious and incremental vocal exercises. It meant everything to get it right. I didnt know if I was ever going to be able to do again what I love doing.

It was actually all part of the process of Eyre reclaiming control. She signed with PIAS in 2023 with the album finished, but then, I had a heavy break-up  Id been with my partner for seven years  and I was about to turn 30. It felt like an earthquake. Then a new world had started to grow I felt like I almost was born again. I had to go back to the studio to write a few more songs. I was like: Ive had this breakthrough, and I need to write about that. So [title track] Everything, in Time was the last song that I wrote for the album.

Nonetheless, she admits that she has worried all the time that shed lost too much momentum. Especially because, lI ove my mum to death, but she likes to tell me every week: Oh, Ella, why are you not doing this? Theyre gonna forget! But Eyre ultimately kept the faith that at some point I was going to have my moment.

What message, then, does she think Everything, in Time sends to her previous labels?

You caught me on a good day, she begins with a smile. This industry can be quite catty. I would like to think that the people who were a part of me before see the album and go: Yeah, she deserves that. We didnt quite know how to do that  but we get it. I hope that they dont see my name come up on the Top 10 Shazam charts and go: F***ing bitch! I hope they go: Fair enough. Good for her.

everything, in Time is out on November 21. Ella Eyre performs a candlelit show at Great Hall, St Barts Hospital on December 6
Englands batting imploded as Mitchell Starc snapped up seven wickets in a dramatic start to the first Ashes Test in Perth.

After choosing to bat first on a green pitch, the tourists were rounded up for 172 in less than 33 overs. In reply, Australia reached 15 for one at tea after Jofra Archer felled Jake Weatherald without score.

It was a woeful start to a series that has been billed as the litmus test of the Bazball era, with Starc acting as executioner with a brilliant, career-best haul of seven for 58.

Mitchell Starc struck in the first over of the series (Robbie Stephenson/PA)

The rot started with Zak Crawley, who edged the sixth ball of the day to slip for nought, and there was also a duck for Joe Root as he failed to banish his demons Down Under.

Roots quest for a first century on Australian soil is a major sub-plot of this trip but he kicked off with a seven-ball duck, squared up by a typically menacing delivery from Starc as he fed third slip. That was the left-armers 100th Ashes wicket, with opener Ben Duckett the 99th, and he was not done yet.

There was a sliver of resistance from Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, with the former compiling a steady 46 in sharp contrast to a wildly attacking 52 from his partner.

Brook stepped away and tried to thrash Starc off just his second ball and landed a handful of blows as he backed to leg or stepped down the pitch in a remarkable show of bravado.

(PA Graphics)

Pope overbalanced as he was trapped lbw by all-rounder Cameron Green before lunch and skipper Ben Stokes had his stumps rearranged by Starc just after the restart.

Brook ticked off the first half-century of the series but was stopped in his tracks by debutant Brendan Doggett, who cramped him with a bouncer and grazed the glove.

From 160 for five, England folded to the tune of five wickets for 12 runs, Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith (33) both falling to the simplest of short-ball plans.

Archer knocked debutant Weatherald off his feet and had him lbw with the second ball of the reply but Australia averted further losses despite several near misses.
If you have a dog at home, chances are they love to assist when you're doing chores, especially the ones that don't happen every day. Dogs are naturally curious, so it makes sense that they'd be interested in seeing what you're doing and trying to 'help'. But their help usually ends up making the job take longer or with a big mess, as you'll see in this video!

Piper is a young German Shepherd, and her mom recently bought her a new dog bed that came in a box and has to be assembled. Piper is ready to help get the job done, and the cutest chaos ensues! Make sure your sound is on because her mom's commentary will crack you up!

Piper's zoomies at the end were the highlight of this funny video! Her mom admits in the video's caption, "The zoomies at the end!!!" Y'all, I promise shes a good girl, but some nights she sure does love to test me!"

Related: German Shepherd Takes on Job of Raising Toddler and Totally Nails It

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Viewers' Funny Reactions to Piper's Excitement

People were cracking up watching Piper, and some of us were tired just watching all of that energy! @Carolina Warn was spot on when she said, "Tell me shes under 3 years old without telling me shes under 3 years old." @Brecken agreed, "German shepherds are quite literally nuts (coming from someone whos had 2)!"

Commenter @Coco got nearly 10,000 likes when she shared, "Piper is a psychopath, I love her LOL!" Another commenter added, "Please tell Piper that I love her, and whatevers wrong with her." @Dee made us laugh when she pointed out, "In another life she was an orange cat..."

@dominicrobertsmith wondered, "Is Piper an active police K9 working in the narcotics department, perhaps? Hehehe!" Piper's mom replied, "We joke that she actually works for TSA LOL!" @TRexWithATinyHat gets it, "Every time I bring ANYTHING home, my German Shepherds MUST inspect it."

We laughed when @Cottonmouth admitted, "I thought her name was Hyper and I found that to be so fitting." If we had to take a guess, we'd say that Hyper is probably her nickname (or that it should be)!

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A farmer in northwestern Greece was confronted with a shocking sight: three of his sheep mauled to death, their demise unequivocally attributed to a bear. The grim discovery underscores the increasingly frequent presence of these once-rare predators in the region.

Anastasios Kasparidis found large paw prints confirming the attack. It was a bear, a very big one, and they come often now. I wasnt the only one; it struck elsewhere, too, he recounted, noting another farmer had lost chickens and pigs.

To protect his remaining livestock, Mr Kasparidis moved his small flock into a sheep pen near his house. Because in the end I wouldnt have any sheep, he explained. The bears would eat them all.

Environmentalists have welcomed the rebound of bear and wolf populations in Greece thanks to the protected species designation that banned them from being hunted. But some farmers and residents of rural areas say they now fear for their livelihoods and, in some cases, their safety. They are calling for greater protection in a phenomenon playing out elsewhere in Europe, with some arguing conservation has gone too far and pushing to roll back restrictions.

Bears, wolves and boars

Brown bears, Greeces largest predator, have made a remarkable comeback. Their numbers have increased roughly fourfold since the 1990s, said Dimitrios Bakaloudis, a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who specialises in wildlife management and conservation.

A brown bear peers through the trees inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio, northern Greece (AP)

Up to an estimated 870 brown bears roam the forests of northern Greece, according to the most recent survey by Arcturos, an environmental organisation set up in 1992 that provides a sanctuary for rescued bears and wolves.

And its not just bears. Wolves also have seen their numbers rise. While wolves could only be found as far south as central Greece in 2010, they have now spread to the outskirts of Athens and into the Peloponnese in southern Greece, Bakaloudis said.

Their recovery has been sustained in part by the also increasing population of wild boars, which is unrelated to conservation efforts. Rather, a combination of a number of factors, including a reduction of hunting, milder winters and cross-breeding with domestic pigs, have led them to reproduce at a faster rate, Professor Bakaloudis explained.

Viewed by many as pests that destroy crops, the sight of a dozen or more boars trotting along sidewalks or snuffling through backyards is no longer uncommon in many parts of Greece.

Visitors sit on the stairs inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio (AP)

The larger number of wild animals has also resulted in more contact with humans  the vast majority of whom are unfamiliar with how to behave during an encounter. Lack of familiarity has led to fear in some communities, particularly following a small number of serious incidents this year: a child bitten by a wolf, an elderly man injured by a bear in his yard, a hiker bitten by a bear and another hiker who died after falling into a ravine during a bear encounter.

In Levea, a village of about 660 people surrounded by fields in northwestern Greece, several bear encounters were reported in October, while boars frequently roam through the village, said community president Tzefi Papadopoulou. The bears especially frightened residents.

As soon as they heard a dog bark, they were ready to go out with the gun, she said.

Farmer Anastasios Kasparidis stands outside his sheep pen with his three dogs in Levea village, days after a bear attack killed three of his sheep (AP)

Its similar in the nearby village of Valtonera, 170km west of Greeces second largest city, Thessaloniki.

The village used to be without wild animals. In the past, a wolf would appear once in a while, said Konstantinos Nikolaidis, community president. Now, wild boars, foxes, bears or wolves roam around or even inside the village, he noted.

This has caused concern among all residents. Its now difficult for a person to walk around outside at night, he said.

The burgeoning wild boar population, meanwhile, has led to calls for the hunting season to be extended.

Giorgos Panagiotidis, deputy mayor of the nearby small town of Amyntaio, said boars had been increasingly encroaching on houses. In May, he asked authorities to allow hunters to shoot boars out of season to tackle the problem.

Its an issue that isnt unique to Greece. In a victory of farmers over environmentalists, European Union lawmakers voted in May to reduce protections for wolves across the EUs 27 member states. The movement even gained support from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, whose pony Dolly was killed by a wolf three years ago.

Experts note it isnt just the larger number of wild animals that has led to encroachment on urban areas. Many factors are at play, they say, from loss of habitat due to wildfires to noise disturbances from wind turbines and recreational vehicles, and animals emboldened by dwindling human populations in villages.

There is of course fragmentation of the bears habitat, frequently there is drought, theres a lack of food in the natural environment, theres a desertification of villages, which makes inhabited areas more attractive to bears, so they approach and find food, said Panos Stefanou, communications officer at Arcturos.

Measures to keep wolves and bears at bay have been developed and approved by scientists, said Professor Bakaloudis, including using lights around property, proper disposal of trash and dead livestock and avoiding feeding strays.

In exceptional circumstances, more invasive methods are used, he said, such as in the case of the wolf attack on the child in northern Greece, where authorities decided to capture and remove the animal.

With so many factors contributing to increasing encounters between wild animals and humans, Mr Stefanou cautioned against overly simplistic solutions.

Killing the animals is not what will solve the problem, he said.
KFC unveils new gravy flight to delight all your dipping desires

This holiday season, KFC is shaking up the dinner table, urging fans to ditch the turkey and ham for its signature fried chicken.

The fast-food giant unveiled its Extra Crispy Festive Feast this week, featuring a brand-new Gravy Flight for $25.

The limited-time festive bundle comes with eight pieces of chicken (four drums and four thighs), two large mashed potatoes, four biscuits, and three 8-ounce gravies, including classic, white peppercorn, and the new Southwest cheddar.

For those who just want to try the gravies, the flight is also available separately for $1.99.

The holiday gifts dont stop there. KFCs Personal Pot Pie, filled with shredded chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots in a creamy gravy, is back for $4.99 through Black Friday.

KFC has announced this years festive menu (Kentucky Fried Chicken)

The chain is also offering matching pajamas and festive chicken-themed wrapping paper, and even a golden drumstick ornament, for the KFC-obsessed person in your life.

To make sure everyone gets the message, KFC launched its playful Cluck Turkey campaign, featuring nationwide billboards urging shoppers to pick chicken over the traditional holiday bird.

According to a company news release, its all in good fun, and a clever way to keep KFCs chicken at the center of the holiday table.

"KFC has been bringing people together around the dinner table for more than 70 years, and this holiday season we're inviting everyone to cluck turkey and make room for flavor," Melissa Cash, KFC U.S. CMO, said in a statement.

"For us, it's about comfort, connection, and craveable food. The Extra Crispy Festive Feast and our first-ever Gravy Flight are designed to bring that joy back to the holiday table  at a price that brings everyone to the table, because the holidays should taste as good as they feel, she added.

KFCs Personal Pot Pie, filled with shredded chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots in a creamy gravy, is back for $4.99 through Black Friday. (Kentucky Fried Chicken)

However, KFC has an option for customers in select states who are still craving the other bird.

KFC is offering Cajun-style deep-fried turkeys for pre-order at select locations in California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. Participation and pricing may vary, the company says.

A Popmenu survey polling 1,000 American consumers from November 17 to 18, 2024, found that 37 percent of consumers planned to get Thanksgiving dinner through takeout or delivery from restaurants, up from 32 percent in 2023, while only 5 percent planned to dine out, down from 17 percent in 2023.
Larry Summers and his wife flew to Jeffrey Epsteins private island for part of their 2005 honeymoon, according to a report.

Summers, the former treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton and the former president of Harvard, and his wife Elisa New got married in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in December 2005. Ten days later, they headed to Little Saint James, the Harvard Crimson reported.

To reach the island, the pair boarded Epsteins plane in Bedford, Massachusetts, traveling to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, where they then took a helicopter to reach the disgraced financiers private island, flight logs seen by the outlet show.

Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse girls with Epstein, was also on board, according to the flight logs.

Mr. Summers and Ms. New spent their honeymoon in St. John and Jamaica in December 2005, which was long before Mr. Epstein was arrested for the first time, a spokesperson for Summers told the Crimson. As part of that trip, they made a brief visit of less than a day to Mr. Epsteins island.

The Independent has reached out to Summers for comment.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers and his wife honeymooned on Epsteins Island in 2005, according to a report (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

In March 2005, Palm Beach Police launched an investigation into Epstein after allegations surfaced that he molested a 14-year-old girl during a massage. By December, Epstein was assembling his legal defense team.

Summers has flown on Epsteins planes four times  including three times when he served as Harvards president, according to the Crimson report.

The revelation comes as Summers leaves his teaching role at the Ivy League school after a tranche of emails between him and the convicted sex offender were released this month. Summers exchanged emails with Epstein as recently as 2019.

Harvard also launched an investigation into the emails and his ties with Epstein.

Before announcing he was stepping down from his teaching role, Summers said earlier this week that he planned to take a step from public life after the emails came to light.

Little St James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, is seen in an aerial view in July (REUTERS)

I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused, Summers told Politico Monday. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.

Last week, President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Jeffrey Epsteins involvement and relationship with Clinton, Summers and other prominent Democrats. Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his Island, the president wrote on Truth Social.

Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrats problem, not the Republicans problem! he fumed in a separate post. Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers about Epstein, they know all about him, dont waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!

Trumps name frequently appeared in the tranche of Epstein emails. He has not been accused of any wrongdoing and did not send or receive any of the messages.

In one email, Epstein claims Trump knew about the girls. Trump has directly refuted this allegation, saying: I know nothing about that.
Im sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor, says Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves has said she is sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to her, days before she unveils her make-or-break Budget.

Hitting back at critics amid growing concern over sweeping tax rises that are expected next week, the chancellor said she is not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence.

Ms Reeves also admitted the government has made a couple of unforced errors but insisted it is fighting to win.

But the chancellor failed to give any detail on what she will unveil in the Budget or how she will improve Britains ailing public finances, nor did she address the leaks and briefings that have dominated the media landscape in the lead-up to next weeks fiscal event.

It comes as the chancellor scrambles to fill a 20bn black hole in the public finances after weeks of speculation about her tax rise plans and growing criticism of the Treasury for what the Commons speaker dubbed a hokey-cokey Budget, after the department briefed out plans to raise income tax and then appeared to row back on it.

The chancellor is now widely expected to look at other ways to raise cash to tackle the shortfall and ensure she remains on track to meet her fiscal rules.

The chancellor will lay out her make-or-break Budget next week (PA)

There are lots of people who say cut taxes and the economy will grow, but what spending would they cut? Borrowing is too high, but you cant cut it overnight, Ms Reeves said.

Public services are a mess, but we havent got loads of money to throw at them and we have to use what weve got well.

We cant just carry on like this and muddle through. We have to make some decisions to get on a different path.

The Times interview with Ms Reeves also saw her address the day when she was seen crying during PMQs amid growing speculation over her future in the Treasury  an incident that was blamed on a personal issue at the time.

If you werent recording this, Id tell you about what was going on, but Im not saying that to the world, she said.

Most people have had a day at work when they go into the toilets and have a cry, or say to their boss, Im just going home early.

Unfortunately, my difficult moment was on live television. I always go to Prime Ministers Questions  I thought it was my duty to be there  but if I had that day again, I wouldnt have gone into the chamber.

Asked about her critics, the chancellor said: Im sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to me.

But as Britains first female chancellor, she also acknowledged still feeling the need to prove herself to the boys who now write newspaper columns.

Asked whether that spurs her on, she said: Yeah, a bit. I recognise that Ive got a target on me. You can see that in the media; theyre going for me all the time. Its exhausting.

But Im not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence. Ive seen off a lot of those boys before  and Ill continue to do so.

In another blow to the chancellor, with just days to go before she unveils the Budget, the latest official figures showed higher-than-expected government borrowing last month.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector borrowing stood at 17.4bn last month, 1.8bn lower than a year ago but the third-highest level for October since records began.

The figure was more than the 15bn expected by most economists and higher than the 14.4bn forecast in March by the UKs independent fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Mahmoud Khalil outside federal court in Philadelphia in October. Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP

Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian activist who participated in protests at Columbia University and was detained by Ice earlier this year, has filed a lawsuit demanding the Trump administration release its communications with anti-Palestinian groups he says contributed to his March arrest and efforts to detain him.

The groups, a number of which have boasted about their involvement in sharing dossiers on Palestine activists with the administration, have claimed credit for Khalils arrest, according to the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is part of the legal team representing Khalil, and they say there is evidence that indicates the Trump administration acted on information and misinformation  provided by these groups in cracking down on Khalil and other pro-Palestine activists.

Related: Pro-Israel group says it has deportation list and has sent thousands of names to Trump officials

For months, shady organizations and individuals carried out a smear and harassment campaign designed to intimidate and silence me, said Khalil in a statement to the Center for Constitutional Rights.

The public deserves full accountability for every bad actor who helped make that possible, including those at Columbia who fabricated and amplified these smears and opened the door for state retaliation against Palestinian speech.

The Center for Constitutional Rights said that several weeks before Khalils arrest, Betar USA  a far-right, pro-Israel group  included him on its deport list and said ICE was aware of his home address and whereabouts on X. Betar reportedly said it shared that information with officials within the Trump administration, including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.

Then, in the days before Khalils arrest, the group Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus called for his deportation in a post on X, as did Shai Davidai, a Columbia professor and advisory board member of the group.

Mr Khalil and the public at large have the right to know about the depth of the collusion between the federal government and the shadowy groups targeting people who speak out against a genocide, said Adina Marx-Arpadi, an attorney and justice fellow at the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Khalil was released from an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana, in June, having been held for more than three months over his activism against Israels war on Gaza. The Columbia University student had been detained in early March in the lobby of his Columbia building.

Related: Mahmoud Khalil on exile, liberation and Ice detention: It was a clear act of cruelty

His detention was the first in a series of arrests of international student activists, and his release was part of several defeats for the administration, which had promised to deport pro-Palestinian international students en masse. Three other students detained on similar grounds  Rumeysa Ozturk, Badar Khan Suri and Mohsen Mahdawi  were previously released while their immigration cases were pending.

As part of the lawsuit, Khalil is hoping to uncover records of communications between ICE, the justice department, the state department and the homeland security department with the groups Canary Mission, Betar, Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus, Columbia Alumni for Israel, Middle East Forum, Shirion Collective, Capital Research Center and Camera.

He is also seeking any communications between the agencies and individuals reported to have targeted, doxed and called for or sought to facilitate his own deportation or that of other pro-Palestinian students.

Earlier this year, Khalil filed a claim for $20m in damages against the administration, alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and being smeared as an antisemite as the government sought to deport him over his prominent role in campus protests.

That July filing  a precursor to a lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act  names the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the state department.
Miss Mexico has won Miss Universe 2025 after a dramatic competition which has sparked outrage across the internet.

Fatima Bosch Fernandez, 25, was crowned the winner after the competition took the world by storm, after the beauty queen stood up to the host for bullying.

Second place was given to Praveenar Singh of Thailand, 29, and Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela came third. The other two runners up were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and Olivia Yace, 29, from the Ivory Coast.

The controversy began after the host scolded Miss Mexico earlier in the competition, calling her dumb, instigating a walkout in solidarity of the other queens.

Miss Mexico has been crowned the 2025 Miss Universe. pic.twitter.com/1KquZhD3ly  Pop Base (@PopBase) November 21, 2025

The incident took place at the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the 130 contestants on November 4, when Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Fatima for allegedly not posting enough promotional content.

When she stepped up to defend herself, Nawat called security, prompting Fatima to walk out of the room herself.

She was swiftly joined by several others in a display of solidarity, including the former 2024 Miss Universe, Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark.

Speaking to Thai reporters, Fatima said: What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb,

If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.

Miss universe contestants walked out in solidarity with Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch after a heated discussion with Miss Universe exec, Nawat Itsaragrisil. pic.twitter.com/gaoDbijpbl  non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) November 6, 2025

Nawats conduct was condemned as public aggression and serious abuse by the president of the Miss Universe Organisation, Raul Rocha Cantu.

Cantu was even joined by Mexicos first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, at a press conference in Mexico City, saying she wanted to give recognition to Fatima for voicing her position in a dignified way.

She explained: It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices.

Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that women look more beautiful when they keep quiet.

We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights, she said.

Nawat later issued a melodramatic apology, in Thai, for his actions - whilst still appearing defiant about his behaviour.

This is exactly how narcissistic men act when they get caught on camera being pieces of shit  playing the victim now, but didnt care when he was out there threatening Miss Mexico and the other Miss Universe contestants for not kissing his ass. pic.twitter.com/V59KbvQzZ0 https://t.co/T6i4dcHyfV  Pinkrose (@pinkrosevev) November 5, 2025

During the ceremony, he addressed the controversy and said: If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable, it happened, I am so sorry.

He then turned to the contestants and said, Its passed. OK? Are you happy?

And now, at the opening ceremony, when he finished his "apologies," he turned to Miss Mexico and said, "Are you happy?" without a single drop of remorse for what he had done.  https://t.co/JvbyJHzdYr  Gabriel Martinez (@GabrielMartMrl) November 6, 2025

It was also reported that two judges quit this years competition due to allegations that the competition was rigged  a claim which was denied by the organisation.

Thai police have also been involved in investigating the competition, on the grounds that online casinos were allegedly being promoted illegally as part of the events publicity.

This isnt the first time Miss Universe has been mired in controversy. In 2021, the competition was criticised by pro-Palestine voices for being held in Israel.

Smaller incidents  such as Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry falling on stage  have also attracted attention. Fortunately, the beauty queen was not badly hurt.

Before claiming the Miss Universe 2025 title, Fatima says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy, focusing on creating sustainable designs and discarded materials.

Other issues close to the beauty queens heart include mental health issues, environmental activism, and supporting migrants and children with illnesses.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Johannesburg for the G20 summit (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa for the annual G20 summit.

The summit will bring together world leaders from the 20 biggest economies, with Downing Street saying the visit will be used to engage with allies to strengthen support for Ukraine.

Sir Keir joined French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where they discussed a US-backed peace plan.

US President Donald Trump will not be in attendance over widely discredited claims that white people are being persecuted in the country.

The prime minister, whose critics have labelled "never here Keir" because of the frequency of his trips overseas, has emphasised the benefits of a prime minister acting as an ambassador for UK businesses abroad.

With that in mind, here are all the other trips the prime minister has taken this year.

Kyiv, Ukraine visit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrive to lay wreaths at The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine on January 16, 2025 (via REUTERS)

In an attempt to strengthen support for Kyiv, Sir Keir made his first trip to the war-torn nation and inked a century-long alliance with Ukraine back in January.

As he reaffirmed European solidarity against Russian aggression, Sir Keir said the 100-year agreement was the foundation of Britain's steadfast support for Ukraine.

The prime minister took an overnight train from the Polish border to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Sir Keir met patients and workers at a burns hospital, and the two placed a wreath on the wall honouring fallen soldiers.

Sir Keir said: Putin's ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.

The power of our long-term friendships cannot be underestimated. Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia's barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to the government's security and Plan for Change.

Auschwitz

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria visited Auschwitz in January (PA Wire)

During a visit to Poland to meet with its political leaders, the prime minister lay a wreath at the former Nazi concentration camp in advance of the 80th anniversary of its liberation.

After he and his wife Victoria, who is Jewish, visited the site, Sir Keir said in a statement: Nothing could prepare me for the sheer horror of what I have seen in this place. It is utterly harrowing. The mounds of hair, the shoes, the suitcases, the names and details, everything that was so meticulously kept, except for human life.

He also visit Warsaw for talks with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk about a new defence and security treaty between the two countries.

Brussels trip

Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (PA Wire)

Sir Keir went to Brussels to join a gathering of European Union leaders  the first time a British prime minister has done so since Brexit.

The prime minister headed over the English Channel for talks focused on defence and security co-operation and also met Nato secretary general Mark Rutte whilst there.

The trip was also part of what he called a reset between the UK and the European Union.

A visit to Paris

France's President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer before an informal summit of European leaders. (AFP via Getty Images)

Sir Keir went to Paris for emergency talks with fellow leaders on Ukraine after he warned of a generational challenge and said the UK and Europe need to do more on security.

He has stated that if an agreement to stop the war with Russia could be reached, he would be willing to send a peacekeeping force into Ukraine.

The conference took place amid concerns that the US may scale back its security commitments in the continent and as European leaders were frantically trying to come up with a plan in response to US President Donald Trump's desire for an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

First visit to Washington to meet Trump

(AFP via Getty Images)

Sir Keir met US President Donald Trump during his first visit to the White House.

The visit had so many interesting elements.

The opening included the prime minister reaching inside his jacket pocket and pulling out an official letter from King Charles III - an invitation for a second state visit.

Trump appeared to be genuinely taken back for a few seconds, asking: Am I supposed to read it right now? and after taking a minute to read the letter, Trump said he accepted the invitation.

Sir Keir also couldnt help but clash with US Vice President JD Vance over free speech.

A week earlier, US Vice President JD Vance had criticised the UK and other European democracies at the Munich Security Conference, saying that "free speech is in retreat."

Trump urged his deputy to defend himself when he was questioned about the remarks. Mr Vance maintained that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British but moreover American technology companies and by extension, American citizens.

Sir Keir interrupted and said: We've had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom - and it will last for a very, very long time.

He rejected Vance's claim, saying in relation to free speech in the UK, I'm very proud of our history there.

Paris, again

Sir Keir visited Paris again in March to rebuild trust and coordination between the UK and EU following years of tense Brexit fallout. Discussions reportedly included security, trade, energy, and migration cooperation.

Talks with President Emmanuel Macron focused on bilateral defence cooperation, especially in light of the war in Ukraine and increasing European calls for strategic autonomy. Follow-up to the UK-Poland defence pact and the Ukraine summit hosted in London earlier that month.

Although not an EU member, Sir Keir is a proponent of closer strategic alignment. His Paris visit likely included talks around broader European Political Community (EPC) initiatives, where the UK now has observer or contributor status.

Rome

(AP)

Sir Keir Starmer attended Pope Francis's funeral in Rome in April.

There was a large delegation of world leaders in attendance, including Prince William, Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron.

Starmer was accompanied by his wife Victoria and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, as they paid their respects at the Pope's coffin inside St. Peter's Basilica before the open-air service.

Oslo

In May, Sir Keir visited Oslo, meeting Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre onboard a Norwegian coastguard vessel.

As part of a Joint Expeditionary Force summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing steadfast support to Ukraine and welcomed ongoing efforts to deliver a secure and lasting peace.

The leaders also discussed joint efforts between the UK and Norway to protect critical subsea infrastructure to safeguard economic security, and discussed the signing of the Green Industrial Partnership by UK and Norwegian energy ministers.

Kyiv

Straight from Oslo, Sir Keir was one of around 30 global leaders reasserting their call for Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

The Prime Minister joined French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for the meeting, which was hosted by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky.

Other members of the "coalition of the willing" participated remotely, including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian PM Mark Carney, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato.

The leaders assembled in Kyiv warned that "new and massive" sanctions would be imposed on Russia's energy and banking sectors if Putin did not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire "in the air, at sea and on land".

Tirana, Albania

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have had a breakthrough in his bid to secure a new deal with the European Union ahead of a major summit with the bloc (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer had a two day visit to Tirana in May, in a trip to step up cooperation on migration and expand joint initiatives with Albania to more countries in the region.

It came after the Prime Minister unveiled the governments Immigration White Paper, a plan to bring net migration to the UK down significantly.

During the first ever official visit to Albania by a UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir visited the Port of Durres to see how UK cooperation is intercepting people smugglers, deterring would-be migrants and snaring criminals using fake documents.

Canada

Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney and Sir Keir Starmer (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) (PA Wire)

In June, Sir Kei flew to Ottawa to meet Mark Carney, the recently elected Canadian prime minister.

Ahead of the G7 summit, hosted by Carney, the talks between the two prime ministers on Saturday focussed on security and trade.

Following the meeting with Carney, Sir Keir attended the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

The Hague

Sir Keir was among world leaders in The Hague for a gathering of the military alliance, having called on nations in the Middle East nations to keep the fighting on hold.

Sir Keir discussed the volatile situation in the Middle East with his French and German counterparts, with the trio agreeing now was the time for diplomacy and for Iran to come to the negotiating table, Downing Street said.

Zurich

In July, Sir Keir jetted off to Switzerland to watch the Womens Euro 2025 final, which saw England emerge victorious with a penalty shoot-out win over Spain.

Second Washington visit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer returned to Washington DC for talks with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders.

The conference followed the US president's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the Russian leader reportedly requested that Ukraine give up the Donetsk and Luhansk areas in exchange for the war's end.

The initiative reportedly received private support from Mr Trump, a move Kyiv has fiercely opposed.

The night before the high-level meeting in the White House, Mr Trump implied that Ukraine could not reclaim Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and placed the burden of concessions on Mr Zelensky.

Russia's refusal to stop fighting before accepting a deal would make any effort to achieve enduring peace more difficult, Ukraine's leader warned.

Mr Zelensky stated in a statement prior to his journey that stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.

Sir Keir and other leaders stand ready to support this next phase of talks, according to Downing Street, and emphasised that they will continue to help Ukraine as long as it takes.

Russia's demand that Ukraine give up Donetsk and Luhansk was one of the territorial issues discussed during the negotiations.

They also discussed Ukraine's security assurances, which may be supported by US air power.

Denmark

Sir Keir met with Danish business leaders at the British ambassadors residence in Denmark in early October, before attending the 7th European Political Community Summit the following day.

India

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised the Britons case in talks with Indian leader Narendra Modi on Thursday (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)

Sir Keir led the UK's largest ever trade mission to India in October.

The trip was to boost trade, technology, and defence ties, and followed Indian Prime Minister Modi's trip to Britain during which the two signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Starmer and Modi held a meeting in which the two discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India's reliance on fossil fuels, and India's purchase of Russian oil,

Sir Keir reiterated the UK's support for India's bid for permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Egypt

Later in October, Sir Keir attended the 2025 Gaza peace summit which included key nations agreeing to US President Trump's Gaza peace plan to end the Gaza war.

Sir Keir claimed the event led to a historic day while pledging that the UK would lead rebuilding efforts and announcing a 20m humanitarian package for Gaza.

Turkey

Sir Keir met with Turkish President Erdogan in late October, where the two agreed that the UK would sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey in a deal worth up to 8 billion.

Brazil

(l to r) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the Prince of Wales at the Cop30 summit in Belem (Mauro Pimentel/AP) (PA Wire)

Sir Keir attended COP30 in Rio de Janeiro in November, where he acknowledged the waning political support on climate change.

He said it had been a unity issue internationally and in the UK, but "today sadly that consensus is gone".

Marking 200 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the UK, Starmer held a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Lula, where they discussed multilateralism and international collaboration on climate change, joint efforts on clean energy, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
One of the worlds largest banks detected suspicious activity on Jeffrey Epsteins account and took decisive action  nearly 20 years ago, according to a new report.

In 2007, an HSBC branch in Paris notified Epstein that it was ending its business relationship after evidence of money laundering and other misconduct came to light, according to Bloomberg.

Its notable as its the sole known instance of a major financial institution cutting ties with the disgraced financier prior to 2008, when he pled guilty to procuring minors for prostitution in Florida.

The previously unreported termination comes as public scrutiny into Epstein  who died in 2019 while awaiting trial  escalates to new heights.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Department of Justice to release its files on the late sex offender. He also instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Epsteins involvement with former President Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals.

Earlier in November, a House committee published a trove of some 20,000 documents from Epsteins private estate, including several emails from Epstein in which he claimed Trump knew about the girls and spent hours with a victim.

The Republican president, who used to socialize with Epstein, has consistently maintained he did nothing wrong and described the accusations against him as a hoax perpetuated by Democrats.

An HSBC branch in Europe closed its account with Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 after suspicious activity was flagged, according to a new report. (Getty)

Suspicious activity

A few days before Christmas in 2007, the HSBCs branch in Paris  where Epstein owned a palatial apartment  sent him a letter.

We hereby inform you that we do not intend to maintain our relationship and notify you this day, subject to a one month notification period, the end of our banking contract, an English translation of the document read.

Consequently, after this period is over, you should return all unused checks still in your possession and provide us with your new banking references, the letter, obtained by Bloomberg as part of a cache of Epsteins personal emails, continued.

The letter did not provide a reason for the abrupt action. However, two unnamed individuals with knowledge of the matter told the outlet that it came after compliance staff noticed suspicious activity.

Specifically, they became concerned over financial transactions related to young women linked with a French modeling agency owned by Jean-Luc Brunel. A longtime friend of Epsteins, Brunel died in prison in 2022.

Compliance employees also observed that Epsteins account had numerous round-dollar deposits and that withdrawals bore hallmarks of money laundering and other financial misconduct.

A few weeks later, Epsteins personal attorney, Darren Indyke, informed the late sex offender of the banks decision. He wrote in an email that Epsteins legal representative in France asked the HSBC branch for an explanation.

The representative asked if it was maybe an Arab/Jewish thing or something about Epstein that the bank does not like, Indyke wrote, adding that after this, the bank representative got nervous

There is no record of a response from Epstein, Bloomberg reported. The outlet noted that Epstein maintained at least one other account with HSBC in Switzerland.

An apartment building that Jeffrey Epstein owned in the 16th arrondissement of Paris (AFP via Getty Images)

An HSBC office in Paris in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

The revelation comes as major banks that associated with Epstein have come under scrutiny by Congress.

This week, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden released a memo accusing JP Morgan Chase of underreporting dubious activity linked to Epsteins accounts over a nearly 20-year period.

The memo said JP Morgan filed suspicious activity reports, known as SARS, covering $4.3 million in transactions by the disgraced financier from 2002 to 2016. But, following Epsteins death in 2019, it filed reports describing $1.3 billion in transactions as suspicious.

In other words, the cumulative dollar value of the suspicious transactions the bank reported after Epsteins death in federal custody was nearly 300 times greater than the value of the transactions it flagged while he was alive and actively trafficking women and girls, Wyden said.

When asked about Wydens memo, Patricia Wexler, a spokesperson for JP Morgan, told The Independent, We acted appropriately in filing SARs as early as 2002. The second the government finally made public the sex trafficking details in 2019  information they clearly had for years  we identified for law enforcement a range of Epsteins past transactions intended to assist with the investigation.

In 2023, JP Morgan reached a $75 million settlement over a lawsuit alleging the bank enabled Epsteins sex-trafficking crimes.

A spokesperson for HSBC declined to comment when contacted byThe Independent.
(Dave Benett)

Standing out from the crowd is no fools errand  as the capitals most decorated party guests can attest. But how to nail it, Monday to Friday, week in, week out until Christmas? Well, there are some rules.

Jessica Clarke, model

Jessica Clarke

Rule: Never wear head-to-toe designer

Mix your highs and lows. Head-to-toe designer is a no for me  a full Versace look is simply unimaginative. The magic is in the contrast. There is nothing better than your mums vintage coat, or that random 5 belt from Oxfam that somehow makes the whole outfit feel cooler and less contrived. You want to look like youve just thrown it on  even if youve actually tried everything in your wardrobe. Perfection is boring. Personality isnt.

Read more: Party jeans are here! The pairs to pick for your next soiree

Tish Weinstock, writer

Tish Weinstock (Getty Images for Gucci)

Rule: Wear secondhand  and channel the previous wearers trouble

I love a gown, whether its a John Galliano bias-cut number or a major 1930s piece. Its become a uniform for me. I love to lean into the romance of wearing something secondhand and imagine all the trouble its previous wearers got into and try to channel that. At the moment I also love a vintage 1920s feather wrap or shawl. Always good to dial up the drama. That, and a statement choker.

Juliet Mayhew, Real Housewife of London

Juliet Mayhew (Laura Rose/Dave Benett)

Rule: Choose a spectacle piece  never an intrusive one

The truly stylish guest understands elegance is a conversation, not a competition. A spectacle piece may be a bedazzled cuff, vintage brooch or sculptural heel. This should intrigue and add personality without dominating the dialogue. An intrusive piece, by contrast, demands attention it hasnt earned. Utterly gauche!

Munroe Bergdorf, Model and activist

Munroe Bergdorf (Ian West/PA Wire)

Rule: Overdress, overdress, overdress

Dont be afraid to do the most. Give them a moment! Try to get a feel for the vibe of the event and build a look from there. A great party isnt just attended, its created by the energy of those in the room. Pay it forward and dress as the party you want to attend. Your host will love you for it and I guarantee you  and everyone else  will have more fun.

Be the most fabulous in the room  dont worry about outshining your host, thats their own damn problem

The Flag Twins, DJs

(Dave Bennet)

Rule: Dress to compliment your partner

Dressing as a pair is not about competing, its about understanding how to compliment each other. We are big on matching each others energy as opposed to style, but silhouettes are important  what works for you? We would always rather be overdressed than underdressed, so go with the mindset you could be the best dressed at the party  that comes with a lot of responsibility.

Sydney Lima, Model and writer

Sydney Lima (@sydneylimaa)

Rule: Wear a conversation starter

After your sixth Christmas do, youre going to be struggling to care about why so-and-so moved from Hackney to Walthamstow, so why not incorporate a conversation starter into your outfit? This can be achieved with a slogan tee. I recommend my very own T-shirt, which ironically reads Rich Parents, because what screams bleak midwinter more than the state of nepotism in the creative industries?

Oliver Proudlock, TV personality

Oliver Proudlock (Jed Cullen/Dave Benett)

Rule: Dont be bound to the dress code

When it comes to dressing to a theme, keep within the world of it but dont be bound to it too tight. Comfort translates to confidence and if you feel uncomfortable, people can see straight through it. Look at A$AP Rocky: he will stick to a theme, but he always gives it that bit of A$AP, and thats why he always stands out.

Henry Conway, Socialite & writer

Henry Conway (Dave Benett)

Rule: Always try to outshine the host

In my decades of going hell for leather in party season, the one thing I have learned is that you must dress up. No one will thank you for arriving in sweats and a gym top. Embrace colour and remember there is no time of day in December when sequins are inappropriate. Aim to be the most fabulous in the room  dont worry about outshining your host, thats their own damn problem. Make like our party spirit guide Princess Margaret and dress every day in December as if it were the best day of your life.

Izzy Richmond, model

Isobel Richmond (Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)

Rule: Dont DTM

Shorthand for do too much, duh. I used to exclusively wear heels as tall as a four-year-old and coats that would take up as much space as possible, regardless of circumstance or unpredictable weather. Now I try to stick to things that suit me in a way that feels aligned with the context of the event. Avoid birthday make-up, Skims shapewear as a cocktail dress and extreme low-cuts for a 10am brunch.

Jazzy de Lisser and Lady Lola Bute, fashion designers

Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Rule: You cannot go wrong with a red lip  and a high heel

Full black outfit, bit of lace, bit of fur and a red lip  love. There is nothing sexier than a little bit of black lace, which we have plenty of at DeBute, our partywear label. Show up with your biggest cheerleaders, never be shy. Oh, and never forget a good, good heel.

Isabella Charlotta Poppius, Model

Isabella Charlotta Poppius (Max Cisotti/Dave Benett)

Rule: Lukewarm is a fashion crime  commit to the bit

If you're wearing a bow, be the bow. If you're doing minimal, be devastatingly minimal - right down to the naturally glowing skin and 'barely there' make-up. The worst outfit in the room isn't the bold one or the quiet one, it's the one that isn't certain of itself and hesitation reads immediately.

Oliver Cheshire, Model and fashion designer

Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Rule: A slip on black boot adds a touch of sex appeal

Dressing for a party is arguably one of the hardest things for a man. Theres a fine line between standing out  who doesnt love a compliment from a beautiful stranger  but not too much. A wide-leg black tailored trouser is always a good starting point. It adds length to the silhouette with some drape and should be completed with a neatly stacked heeled boot. A slip-on black boot always adds that touch of sex appeal  and why not elevate it with a croc-skin finish? Next comes the tricky part. You could go with a finely knitted Merino wool chocolate polo or a statement silk shirt for a touch of super-fun glamour.
The Australian government has added popular streaming platform Twitch to the list of apps banned in the country for children under the age of 16.

The countrys internet watchdog said on Friday that its upcoming teen social media ban would apply to the Amazon-owned live streaming service Twitch, popular among gamers.

Australia is set to enact the world's first law barring children aged 16 years and under from using social media, with penalties of up to $32m (A$49.5m) for non-complying companies failing to take "reasonable steps".

Platforms previously included in the list of banned apps include Metas Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.

Though Twitch is mainly used by gamers for livestreaming, Australias eSafety Commissioner said on Friday that the streaming platform also qualifies as a social media service as its interactive content allows users, including children, to communicate with others in relation to content posted.

Social media networking apps are displayed on a phone screen with the Australian flag displayed in the background (Getty Images)

Twitch, mainly used by gamers to chat with viewers as they play video games, said it plans to deactivate all user accounts for people aged 16 and under from 9 January.

The company said it would also bar new underage users from creating accounts once the ban takes effect.

However, the watchdog said the list of apps banned for teenagers does not include the image-sharing platform Pinterest.

Platforms that are excluded from the new rules, as of 21 November 2025 include Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, Lego Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids, the government said.

Pinterest has not been included in the ban since its core purpose is not about social interaction, Australias eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

Australias stringent rules are the most comprehensive efforts by any government to police minors access to social media.

While most platforms currently have a minimum age of 13 for account holders, delaying account access until 16 will give young people more time to develop important skills and maturity, the Australian government said.

Its breathing space to build digital literacy, critical reasoning, impulse control and greater resilience, it said.

On Thursday, Meta announced it would start blocking the Instagram and Facebook accounts of Australian users under 16 from 4 December, a week before the governments new law takes effect.

Australian teenagers have already begun receiving notifications on these apps to save their data before access to their accounts is revoked.

For all our users aged 15 and under, we understand the importance of the treasured memories, connections, and content within your accounts, Metas regional policy director Mia Garlick said in a statement.

When you turn 16 and can access our apps again, all your content will be available exactly as you left it, Ms Garlick said.

However, it remains unclear how companies would enforce the ban.

Some possibilities include users providing a government-issued ID or an Australian government-accredited digital ID to prove their age.

No Australian will be forced to provide a government-issued ID or use an Australian government-accredited digital ID service to prove their age, the internet watchdog said.

Age-restricted social media platforms will have to offer reasonable alternatives to users, it added.

Experts hope the ban could push youth to interact more in the real world.

If we want to support young peoples wellbeing, we need to help them rebalance their time  encouraging them to reconnect with real-world activities that build skills, confidence and social connection, said Dot Dumuid, a behavioural epidemiologist from the University of South Australia.
President Zelensky has vowed not to betray Ukraines interests in a US-led peace process aiming to bring an end to the war with Russia.

The Ukrainian president has promised to propose alternatives to Donald Trumps 28-point peace plan, but warned that Kyiv faced a difficult choice between losing a key partner and its national dignity at one of the most perilous moments in its history.

It is understood US President Trump and President Zelensky will discuss the plans via video call next week.

The United States has presented its 28-point peace plan to Ukraine, which reportedly states Ukraine must cede the entirety of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk to Russia - despite Ukraine still controlling a third of the latter - and will see Ukraines military reduced from 880,000 troops to 600,000.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska (R) pay a tribute to commemorate the memory of demonstrators killed during the mass Euromaidan protests on Day of Dignity and Freedom (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER)

Under the proposal, part of Russias frozen assets would fund Ukraines recovery, sanctions on Moscow would be removed, and Washington and Moscow would embark on a series of long-term economic deals.

Two people familiar with the matter said Washington threatened to cut key support for Kyiv if it did not agree to the framework of the proposal, according to Reuters news agency.

In a somber video statement, Zelensky pledged to work with the United States on the plan but said he expects more political pressure over the next week.

He urged Ukrainians to remain united in the face of what he said were additional attempts by Russia to derail the peace process.

"Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history. Now, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the heaviest," he said.

"Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice  either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner."

President Zelensky and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Sources told Reuters that Washington was putting greater pressure on Ukraine than it had done during any previous discussions, adding that intelligence sharing could also be cut.

It comes after Ukrainian officials were reportedly left f***ing mind-blown by the US demands on Kyiv.

Reacting to the plan, a senior lawmaker in Zelenskys party reportedly said: Being f***ing mind blown has become our norm.

It comes as Russia is grinding forward on the battlefield and pounding Ukraine's energy system with missiles and drones as a domestic political crisis unfolds over a massive corruption probe involving senior officials and business elites.

Washington has presented Ukraine with terms that include that Kyiv cede additional territory, curb the size of its military and be barred from joining NATO.

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview that he thinks Thursday is an appropriate deadline for Ukraine to accept the US-backed peace proposal and bring an end to the conflict.

"I've had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines. But Thursday is we think is an appropriate time," Trump told Fox News RadiosThe Brian Kilmeade Show on Friday.

Trump and Putin at their summit in Alaska in August (Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin says Russia has received the US settlement plan for Ukraine.

Speaking at a meeting of the Russian security council in Moscow, he says Donald Trump's proposals were discussed at the two presidents' summit in Alaska in August.

Putin described the recently unveiled 28-point plan as a "modernised" version of them.

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK "must determine its future under its sovereignty" following a call with Mr Zelensky about the US-backed peace plan.

The Prime Minister said he along with French and German leaders had emphasised to Mr Zelensky their support for Ukraine and the "fundamental principle" that Kyiv should be in charge of its own destiny.

Following the call, Sir Keir told broadcasters: "We all want a just and lasting peace. That's what the president of America wants. That's what we all want.

"And so we need to work from where we are to that end.

"But the principle that Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle."

Sir Keir spoke to Mr Zelensky from South Africa, where it is thought he intends to use his attendance at the G20 summit to shore up support for Kyiv.
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been jailed for 10 and a half years after taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements while a member of the European parliament.

Nathan Gill, 52, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery on dates between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb handed him the sentence as she said that the harm he had caused was profound and that he had fundamentally compromised the integrity of a legislative body for substantial financial gain.

Gills activities included making pro-Russia statements about events in Ukraine in the European parliament and in opinion pieces for news outlets, for which he was paid 40,000.

Gill was first elected a member of the European parliament in 2014, representing Ukip, and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020  at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit Party.

He led Reform UKs 2021 Welsh parliament election campaign, but left the party that year.

Opening the facts of the case at the Old Bailey on Friday, prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said Gills crimes were exposed after he was stopped at Manchester airport on 13 September 2021 and his phone was seized.

He said that he was travelling to Russia by invitation to attend a scientific conference in Moscow, and that he had been invited to act as an observer in the Russian state Duma elections in the middle of that month.

He also said that he had performed the same role on two previous occasions, the prosecutor said.

Gills mobile phone was examined and messages were found between him and Oleg Voloshyn, now 44, who served as a pro-Russia Ukrainian government official until 2014.

Mr Heywood said: The communications between the two men showed that an established relationship existed between them.

WhatsApp messages between the pair included references to promised x-mas gifts, postcards, and 5K, which was a reference to payments, he said.

After Gill spoke from a script at one debate, Mr Voloshyn told him: Impressive... You are the perfect orator, the court was told.

Nathan Gill arrives at court on Friday morning (PA)

Further exchanges between the pair related to Gill being paid 5,000 for speaking with the Ukrainian news channel 112 Ukraine about the case of Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukraine national and ally of Vladimir Putin, who was being prosecuted for treason.

In other messages, Gill was invited to encourage others to adopt the same approach and repeat the same line that he had used, the court was told.

There were references to other members of the European parliament, including British representatives and politicians from the Netherlands.

Mr Voloshyn reported that if Gill could get three, then they would be extremely grateful and that his fee would be 5K.

The Old Bailey also heard that, following the 2019 European elections, Mr Voloshyn asked Gill to arrange for colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend a presentation by Medvedchuk on the conflict in the Donbas region.

He asked that Mr Gill book a room, he asked that he invite colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend, Mr Heywood said, adding: Mr Gill said that he would see about his new colleagues, but it will take time to build a relationship with them, as they are all new to politics.

He later expressed certainty that he could Drag a few in to attend.

Mr Voloshyns response to that was that he would definitely be fairly rewarded, and then these words: I already have a small sack of paper gifts for you.

Mr Heywood said Gill had voluntarily attended a police station interview and answered No comment to all questions. The prosecutor told the court that Gills offending fell into the highest category of culpability.

He said: The indictment offending spanned a series of months, and arguably came to an end at a time when it was obvious that his involvement, his role as a member of the European parliament, was either at, or soon to be at, an end.

It appears from the material that Mr Gill was expecting to receive the order of several thousand, perhaps 5,000 or euros, in respect of each offence. He was to do so in cash, but he was to do so clandestinely.

Peter Wright KC, defending Gill, said that his client was of hitherto good character and was facing prison for the first time.

[He has] a lifelong history of commendable service to others, as reflected in the testimonials and his political career, culminating in his elections to both the European parliament as an MEP, and to the Welsh Assembly, he said.

All now utterly dashed by his conduct, as reflected in the counts in this indictment, which in the context of his life, with all its laudable and noble features, is utterly unfathomable.

Mr Wright said Gills Eurosceptic views had gained greater prominence because of the wider political climate at the time, but that he had also had a genuine concern for the tensions in eastern Ukraine between pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian factions.

He travelled and met a number of opposition Ukrainian MPs, who highlighted to him the plight of the Russian-speaking sections of the population, he said.

It was a version of events, and a prism through which to view the tensions, that struck a chord as to the myopic way in which these tensions were being portrayed on the geopolitical stage.

The defendant had not deliberately set out to monetise his availability. But its clear [that] payments were offered. They were not refused, and to his abiding shame, once made, [they were] kept and not declared.

He can offer no excuse for that utterly venal compromise of his hitherto highly held principles. There is, on his behalf, no attempt to deflect or dissemble.

Sentencing Gill, Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb said the harm he had inflicted was indeed profound.

You abused a position of significant authority and trust, with your crimes spanning eight months, motivated by financial and political gain, she said.

The offending was sophisticated. You accepted payments from foreign nationals, made statements on important international matters at their behest, utilised scripted material presented as your own, and orchestrated the involvement of other MEPs.

Gill was jailed at the Old Bailey on Friday for 10 and a half years (Metropolitan Police)

Your conduct fundamentally compromised the integrity of a supranational legislative body, particularly in its dealings with Russia  a persistent hostile state during a period of an association agreement between the EU and Ukraine reached in 2017.

The revelation of your actions has a broad and deleterious effect on public confidence and trust in democratic institutions of importance to many dozens of millions of people.

The aggregate financial gain, although difficult to quantify precisely due to the piecemeal cash nature of the payments, is substantial.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb told Gill that there is scant personal mitigation before she jailed him. She said his offending was persistent, rather than an isolated lapse of judgement.

The judge said his actions had eroded public confidence in democracy.

Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond [your] personal honour, which is now irretrievably damaged. It erodes public confidence in democracy, she said.

When politicians succumb to financial inducement, the public can no longer rely on the veracity of political debate, which may be tainted by disinformation.

After the sentence was passed, the security minister Dan Jarvis said: Nathan Gill used his privileged position in public office to advance the malign interests of Russia over those of the UK in exchange for money  that is a betrayal of our country, our people, and our national security.

He will now face the consequences of his actions. This week, I announced comprehensive action to disrupt and deter interference from foreign states. Russias hostility and attempts to weaken our democracy will continue to be met by the full force of the law.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: Mr Gills actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: A traitor was at the very top of Reform UK, aiding and abetting a foreign adversary. Nigel Farage and his party are a danger to national security.

Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putins TV channel, Russia Today, and said [Putin] was the world leader he admires the most. We must all ask  where do his loyalties really lie?

We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics.
Russian forces are dressing up as civilians to confuse Ukraines defensive forces in the eastern town of Pokrovsk, Kyivs military has said.

The commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed "Liutyi, told Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne that Russian troops are acting more like sabotage and reconnaissance groups rather than following any typical procedures of war.

"The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so. Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units, Liutyi said.

The town in Ukraines Donetsk region has been the site of fierce fighting in the past year, with Russian troops finally entering in recent weeks after months of edging closer despite heavily fortified Ukrainian defences.

Russian troops have entered Pokrovsk in recent weeks after more than a year of fierce fighting in the region (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Liutyi added: They do not follow any standard procedures, but their movements still complicate our logistics routes.

The commander also said Russian troops are trying to exploit weather conditions to allow them to move through the city with ease.

Ukrainian forces rely heavily on drones for reconnaissance and defence missions. When Russian troops move through the city in rainy or foggy conditions, it makes it more difficult for Ukraines troops to track them.

Moscows troops have avoided bringing large, heavy equipment into Pokrovsk regularly, as it comes under heavy fire by Ukraines defence. A Russian tank was struck by soldiers of the 68th Brigade while approaching the city, The Kyiv Independent reported.

At the same time, the Russian army avoids bringing heavy equipment into Pokrovsk too frequently, as it quickly comes under fire.

Drone footage from Provost, Ukraine (Skala - 425th Separate Assault Regiment via AP)

"(Russian forces) have long since abandoned these attempts, when 1620 units of equipment entered at the same time, because it is difficult to hide equipment from us. We will find it anyway and burn it," Liutyi said.

Soldiers of the 68th Brigade struck a Russian tank on 19 November as it approached the city.

But logistics remain difficult in the area, after Russian troops created a so-called killzone around Pokrovsk stretching up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the city to the frontline.

"The enemy has brought many of its best crews here to work against us. The intensity of enemy drone strikes is so great that sometimes it is simply impossible to drive in (the positions)," the Ukrainian commander said, adding that they therefore have to travel through this area on foot.

Using a civilian disguise is known as perfidy. It is considered a war crime under international law.
A student has been arrested for promoting a fake SantaCon party in Fairfield, Connecticut, that attracted more than 600,000 views online.

Emmet Blaney, 19, a Fairfield University sophomore from Massapequa, New York, is accused of publicizing the event on a private residential beach without the homeowners permission.

He was charged with criminal attempt to commit disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal attempt to commit criminal trespass and is scheduled to appear at Bridgeport Superior Court on December 8.

Emmet Blaney, 19, a Fairfield University sophomore from Massapequa, who has been arrested and charged for promoting an unauthorized SantaCon party (Fairfield Police)

An account under the username @fairfieldsantacon had publicized the event in a series of posts on Instagram, according to The Fairfield Mirror, calling it The Mardi Gras of the Northeast and scheduling it for 11 am to 5 pm on December 5, giving the address as either 445 Fairfield Road or 2 Lighthouse Point and advising attendees to arrive by train as a cheaper alternative to Uber.

On Tuesday, the account abruptly notified followers: Fairfield santacon has been cancelled and moved to jennings beach for students only. were sorry for everyone who was planning on coming from other schools, you will not be able to make it to the beach.

One of the online fliers promoting the event (TikTok/Fairfield Santacon)

That message appeared five days after Fairfield University announced it would host the only official SantaCon party in the area for students and their guests, and that it would be a private, ticketed event.

Fairfield Police Department has since been at pains to underline that the state will not be hosting any public SantaCon gatherings this year, following problems with overcrowding and crime last year.

In 2024, Fairfield experienced significant challenges when thousands of college-aged individuals arrived in the beach area, creating safety hazards, quality-of-life issues, and an unsustainable strain on emergency services, FPD officers wrote on Facebook.

Men dressed as a Santa Claus drinking beer at a bar in Brooklyn, New York City, as part of SantaCon (Getty)

As a residential beach community, Fairfield is not designed to accommodate large, unregulated crowds. Following last years difficulties, the Fairfield Police Department, town officials, and Fairfield University collaborated to develop a more controlled and responsible approach for 2025. Much of Fairfields shoreline consists of private property and private beach associations, which are not open to the general public.

Recently, unauthorized social media accounts have circulated false and misleading information about SantaCon occurring at locations other than the sanctioned Fairfield University event. These posts are inaccurate and are being reviewed by law enforcement.

FPD Chief Michael Paris said, Our priority is protecting our residents, our neighborhoods, and everyones safety. If you are not invited to the private event, do not come to Fairfield expecting a public SantaCon celebration. There isnt one.

First Selectman Christine Vitale added, If you are planning to travel to Fairfield for this event, dont. We are putting extensive plans in place so that our neighborhoods or emergency services are not overwhelmed. I want our residents to know that our police will be there and will be looking for all violations of the law, including trespassing.

However, several students have reacted with outrage to Blaneys arrest on the anonymous platform Fizz, according to the Mirror.

SantaCon was originally conceived as performance art but has become a 'reviled bar crawl' (Getty)

Where is freedom of speech. FREE EMMET, one person wrote, while another urged people to flood the comment sections of the FPDs Facebook page to protest.

The first SantaCon was staged in San Francisco in 1994 and was inspired by a radical Danish theater group who, in 1974, had staged an anarchist event in Copenhagen in which men dressed as Santa Claus stole items from the shelves of department stores and handed them out to members of the public as presents in order to satirize the rampant consumerism of the holiday season, resulting in their arrest.

San Franciscos Cacophony Group aimed to recreate the spoof Christmas event, and it spread quickly to other U.S. cities, beginning with Portland in 1996, Seattle in 1997, and then Los Angeles and New York in 1998, with thousands of costumed participants taking to the streets to party.

However, in the process, the event became associated with drunken revelry, vandalism, and public urination, with The Village Voice complaining in December 2014 that it had devolved from joyful performance art into a reviled bar crawl.
Iqbal Mohamed has left Your Party, leaving just four MPs still involved with the group - Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images

A second MP has quit Jeremy Corbyns Your Party days before its first conference.

Iqbal Mohamed resigned from the Left-wing party on Friday after he was rebuked by Zarah Sultana, its co-founder, over a series of gender-critical social media posts.

The MP for Dewsbury and Batley in West Yorkshire, is the second to quit within a week after Adnan Hussain announced his departure last Friday.

In his resignation post on X, Mr Mohamed wrote: The many false allegations and smears made against me and others, and reported as fact without evidence, have been surprising and disappointing.

However, I am confident that my colleagues and I have acted professionally, patiently and in good faith throughout.

Signing off as an independent, Mr Mohamed said he would continue working with former Labour leader Mr Corbyns Independent Alliance, the group of MPs central to the founding of Your Party.

My statement on my departure from Your Party. pic.twitter.com/NsoNLHU7xI  Iqbal Mohamed MP (@iqbalmohamedMP) November 21, 2025

The departure takes the Your Party group from five prospective MPs to four  down from six within a week.

As well as Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana, the other MPs are Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan. All four were elected on a pro-Palestinian platform at last years general election.

Earlier this week, Ms Sultana hit out at Mr Mohamed over his gender-critical social media posts. He had said womens rights must not be taken away, prompting her to insist that a pro-trans position must be non-negotiable for the party.

Mr Mohamed wrote in response: White or brown men shouldnt be telling or forcing biological women to give up their rights and private spaces to other biological men, black, white, brown or trans. What about the biological womens rights?

They have rights which I will always fight to protect. I also believe in the human rights of all trans and LGBTQ+ people, but not by taking away the hard-won rights of women.

Responding to Mr Mohameds remarks on Sunday, a spokesman for Ms Sultana told The Telegraph: Zarah will always stand with the trans community. She believes an iron-clad commitment to trans rights is non-negotiable for a socialist party.

People dont need manufactured culture wars. They need real, material improvements in their lives. Your Party must stand up and deliver exactly that.

Mr Hussain quit the party last Friday following a public clash with Ms Sultana over his gender-critical views. He blamed his resignation on a toxic culture and said he had been forced out by serious and damaging infighting among the group.

Adnan Hussain quit Mr Corbyns Your Party a week ago, complaining of a toxic culture

In what will be seen as a swipe at Ms Sultana, Mr Mohamed wrote on X on Sunday: Dont blame Corbyn for the faults of the Left and its ability to look for differences to fight over. And make sure that he is not replaced by a selfish, egotistical power hungry, dishonest, me-myself-I person.

Your Party faced chaos in September when Ms Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, accused her fellow independents of excluding her from a toxic boys club.

Mr Mohameds statement on Friday noted that Ms Sultana had voluntarily left the Independent Alliance and Your Party stewarding group in September.

Ms Sultana, who compared herself and Mr Corbyn to Noel and Liam Gallagher last month following another public spat, has repeatedly claimed she has been excluded from key Your Party planning decisions, including in the run-up to its inaugural conference next weekend.

However, senior Your Party sources have claimed Ms Sultana froze herself out of planning decisions by leaving organisational WhatsApp groups.

The co-founders are engaged in what appears to be a battle of audiences, with both Ms Sultana and Mr Corbyn set to run clashing pre-conference rallies next Friday evening. Ms Sultana has not been invited to Mr Corbyns event, it is understood, and vice-versa.

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have scheduled rival events ahead of Your Partys inaugural conference - Jacob King/PA

The payment portal for Ms Sultanas event, which charges 5 per ticket with a solidarity option of donating 10, says: Your payment will go to Zarah Sultana. The event is being run without financial support from Your Party, the Telegraph understands.

An initial meeting was held with the Independent Alliance and Jeremy Corbyn in May, months before Ms Sultana was openly part of the project, it is understood.

MPs were reassured several times in the meeting the project would be a politically broad church and that they would be at the helm of the partys direction.

It was acknowledged in the meetings that the Left had a tendency towards infighting, the Telegraph understands.
A Bosnian man cradles his child as they and others run past one of the worst spots for snipers in Sarajevo, 11 April 1993. Photograph: Michael Stravato/AP

A Croatian investigative reporter has filed a complaint with Milan prosecutors against the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, for his alleged involvement in the Sarajevo safari affair, in which snipers from Italy and other countries allegedly travelled to the Bosnian capital to kill civilians during the four-year siege of the city in the 1990s.

Last week, Milan prosecutors launched an investigation aimed at identifying the Italians allegedly involved on charges of voluntary murder aggravated by cruelty and abject motives.

According to investigators, groups of sniper tourists are alleged to have participated in the mass killings after paying large sums of money to soldiers belonging to the army of Radovan Karadzic  the former Bosnian Serb leader who in 2016 was found guilty of genocide and other crimes against humanity  to be transported to the hills surrounding Sarajevo so that they could shoot at the population for pleasure.

More than 10,000 people were killed in Sarajevo by shelling and sniper fire between 1992 and 1996 in what was the longest siege in modern history, after Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia.

The snipers were perhaps the most feared element of life under siege in Sarajevo because they would indiscriminately pick off people on the streets, including children.

The investigation originated from a legal complaint submitted by Ezio Gavazzeni, a Milan-based writer who gathered evidence on the allegations, as well as a report sent to the prosecutors by the former mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karic.

Related: In the snipers sights: life under fire during siege of Sarajevo  in pictures

Gavazzeni said he had first read reports about the alleged sniper tourists in the Italian press in the 1990s, but it was not until he watched Sarajevo Safari, a 2022 documentary by the Slovenian director Miran Zupanic, that he began to investigate further.

On Wednesday, the investigative journalist Domagoj Margetic filed his complaint against Vucic with prosecutors who are investigating the case.

As reported in Sarajevo, in recent days Margetic posted evidence on social media that Vucic, then a young volunteer, was present at one of the military posts in Sarajevo from which, according to witnesses, foreign citizens and Serbian ultranationalist units were shooting and killing civilians in what has been described as a macabre tourist safari.

Nicola Brigida, a lawyer who helped Gavazzeni prepare his case, said: The evidence accumulated after a long investigation [by Gavazzeni] is well substantiated and could lead to serious investigation to identify the culprits. There is also the report from the former Sarajevo mayor.

Gavazzeni claimed many, many, many Italians were alleged to have been involved, without providing a figure. There were Germans, French, English  people from all western countries who paid large sums of money to be taken there to shoot civilians.

He added: There were no political or religious motivations. They were rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction. We are talking about people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa.

Gavazzeni claimed the Italian suspects would meet in the northern city of Trieste and travel to Belgrade, from where the Bosnian Serb soldiers would accompany them to the hills of Sarajevo.

There was a traffic of war tourists who went to there to shoot people, he said. I call it an indifference towards evil.

Vucic has yet to comment on the allegations and did not immediately respond to a request from the Guardian [see footnote]. Yet rumours about his time in Sarajevo have circulated for years.

In a 2021 interview with a Bosnian TV channel, the Serbian president explicitly denied ever firing on the besieged city, describing the allegations as a political manipulation rooted in the nationalist rhetoric of his youth and the regions fragile balance of power.

Agencies contributed to this report.

 Footnote added on 24 November 2025: After publication, a statement on behalf of President Vucic was received which said that, in late 1992 and early 1993, he stayed in Pale (near Sarajevo) exclusively as a television journalist and translator, with a clearly defined professional mandate and without any contact with military structures or operational activities. His sole subsequent visit to the wider Sarajevo area occurred in 1994, with no involvement in any security or military operations.
Sir Keir Starmer has found himself in a heated row with Nigel Farage, after branding the Reform leader spineless and calling on him to explain himself over claims of racist behaviour during his days at a top public school.

The prime minister said Mr Farage did not have a good track record because he failed to take action against Reform MP Sarah Pochins racist remarks about the number of ethnic minorities appearing in television adverts.

Hitting back at Sir Keir, the Reform leader  who denies the claims about his behaviour while at Dulwich College as a teenager  said it is utterly ludicrous for the weakest prime minister in living memory to call me spineless.

The prime ministers comments came as he was asked about a Guardian report based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61, who recounted incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years.

The Labour leader told reporters travelling with him to the G20 summit in South Africa: He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible.

He hasnt got a good track record in relation to this because Sarah Pochin, his MP, made some clearly racist comments and Nigel Farage has done absolutely nothing about it.

Starmer says of Farage He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible (PA)

The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, Id have dealt with it straight away. He needs to explain the latest allegations, and whilst hes at it, he needs to explain why hes too spineless to take action in relation to what is obvious racism in the comments of his fellow MP.

So far hes said absolutely nothing about it. Hes got plenty to say about plenty of things, apart from showing some leadership when it comes to racism.

Mr Farage, who has threatened legal action over the claims, responded: For the weakest prime minister in living memory to call me spineless is utterly ludicrous.

The voters will have their say on both of us at the ballot box next May.

A Reform source said Sir Keir was desperate, sinking in the polls and lashing out.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the party also said the allegations reported in The Guardian are entirely without foundation and said the newspaper has produced no contemporaneous record or corroborating evidence to support these disputed recollections from nearly 50 years ago.

Sir Keirs comments about Ms Pochin came after the Reform MP last month said she was driven mad by seeing adverts full of black and Asian people, comments that sparked widespread criticism.

She later said her remarks were phrased poorly and apologised for any offence caused. She said she was trying to say many adverts were unrepresentative of British society.

Mr Farage resisted calls to suspend her from the party, saying he did not believe the intention behind her comments was racist and suggested they should be read in the context of DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] madness.

But writing in The Independent, deputy prime minister David Lammy said the comments normalised and marked a return to flagrant racism.

He said many people were disgusted by the remarks, criticising those who would have us believe that we are more divided than we really are.

Among those making allegations in The Guardian was the Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, who claimed to have been verbally abused by Mr Farage repeatedly as a 13 and 14-year-old.

He would sidle up to me and growl Hitler was right or Gas them, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers, Mr Ettedgui claimed of his experience of being in a class with Mr Farage.
Court artist sketch of Owen Flowers (left) and Thalha Jubair appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (PA Wire)

Two teenagers have pleaded not guilty to carrying out a cyber attack on Transport for London (TfL).

Thalha Jubair, 19, and Owen Flowers, 18, were arrested in September as part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and City of London Police.

Prosecutors said the alleged cyber attack resulted in a 39 million loss for TfL as well as a "loss of livelihood" for people dependant on TfL licences, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard in September.

The two defendants are charged with conspiring together to commit unauthorised acts against TfL.

The alleged attack posed "significant risk" to the UK economy and London residents, the court was told previously.

Flowers, of Walsall, West Midlands, who was first arrested over the TfL attack in September 2024 and then arrested again in September this year, is also charged with targeting US healthcare firms.

He is accused of conspiring with others to commit unauthorised acts against SSM Health Care Corporation and attempting to commit unauthorised acts to Sutter Health.

Jubair, from Tower Hamlets, east London, faces an additional charge under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) of failing to disclose the Pin or passwords of his devices.

They appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The NCA previously said investigators believe the TfL cyber attack was carried out by the criminal hacking collective known as Scattered Spider, which has been linked to other cyber attacks on Jaguar Land Rover and retailers including Marks and Spencer.

Transport for London identified that there had been a cyber attack on September 1 last year, in which customer details including names, contact information and Oyster card refund data including bank details were accessed.

Judge Christopher Hehir said a trial date of June 8 had been identified.

Both defendants are next due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on February 13 for a pre-trial review.
Donald Trump has warned Ukraine to agree to his widely criticised peace proposal by Thursday 27 November or lose access to US intelligence and weapons.

Volodymyr Zelensky said his nation faces one of the most difficult moments in our history as he considers a 28-point US-brokered plan that appears to heavily favour Russia.

Kyiv would have to cede land, agree not to join Nato, and accept limits on the size of its military  while Russia would be welcomed back into the international community.

Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, Mr Zelensky said in a bleak address to the nation, vowing that he would not betray his country.

The US has threatened to cut intelligence-sharing and the supply of weapons to Ukraine in an effort to pressure it into agreeing to the framework, according to Reuters sources.

Mr Trump confirmed he had given Ukraine until next Thursday  the United States Thanksgiving holiday  to agree to the deal.

After an outwardly productive summit in Washington last month, the Trump administration has now presented Kyiv with a difficult peace proposal (AP)

Ive had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines, the US president told Fox News Radio. But Thursday, we think, is an appropriate time.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said the US proposals could be the basis of a resolution of the conflict, but that if Kyiv turned down the plan then Russian forces would advance further.

"I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement," Putin told senior officials at a meeting of the Russian Security Council.

Putin said that Ukraine was against the plan but that neither Kyiv nor European powers understood the reality that Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine and would continue to advance unless there was peace.

"If Kyiv does not want to discuss President Trump's proposal and refuses to do so, then both they and the European warmongers should understand that the events that took place in Kupiansk will inevitably be repeated in other key sectors of the front," he said. "And in general, that works for us."

The Kremlin urged Ukraine to negotiate now or risk losing more territory, claiming that thousands of Ukrainian troops were trapped in Kharkiv amid a Russian advance in the east.

The space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while claiming that Moscow was yet to receive anything official from the US on the actual proposition.

European leaders have raised concerns about the plan, which was drawn up without their involvement.

Russias war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe, said the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. This is a very dangerous moment for all.

The aftermath of a Russian airstrike on the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine on Wednesday (AP)

A joint statement from Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Friedrich Merz said that any agreement would have to fully involve Ukraine, preserve its sovereignty and guarantee its future security.

The Trump plan would see the United States take responsibility for unspecified security guarantees, a major sticking point for Kyiv around ending the war. One of Ukraines main demands is dealt with in a single line that provides no details: Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.

Mutual investment and development schemes outlined in the new plan would theoretically bind US and Ukrainian interests, and the US would receive profits from a substantial programme to rebuild Ukraine. European allies would not be able to station peacekeepers in Ukraine.

Russia, meanwhile, would be invited to rejoin the G8, and be gradually reintegrated into the global community, with the lifting of sanctions discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Experts have warned that the US proposal is heavily favourable to Russia, sidelining Europe and leaving Ukraine with no meaningful security guarantees.

It looks like an attempt by Trump to score a quick diplomatic win rather than a strategy for durable peace, Natia Seskuria, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), told The Independent.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Keir Starmer during a London meeting in October (No 10 Downing Street)

In its current form, the plan is a non-starter for Ukraine: it would compel Kyiv to accept major losses without credible security guarantees, while allowing Russia to advance its longstanding goal of seizing the Donbas region it does not yet fully control.

She warned that such an offer would be politically unfeasible for President Zelensky, who would have to face fresh elections within 100 days of a deal.

Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much, said Tim Ash of the think tank Chatham House. If Zelensky accepts this, I anticipate huge political, social and economic instability in Ukraine.

And William Browder, anti-corruption campaigner and head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, described the proposal as a 28-point plan cooked up probably on a drunken night in the Kremlin and then endorsed by the United States, in comments to Sky News.

Ukraines Zelensky faces a difficult decision as Trumps deadline approaches (AFP/Getty)

The acceleration in US efforts to end the war comes as Ukrainian troops are on the back foot on the battlefield and Mr Zelenskys government has been undermined by a corruption scandal. With the wars fourth winter approaching, Russian troops occupy almost one-fifth of Ukraine and have been grinding slowly forward along a 750-mile front line.

Russia says it has taken control of the city of Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine, and most of Pokrovsk in the east, its first big prizes in nearly two years. Kyiv denies losing control of those cities, but has acknowledged that Russia is advancing.

Mr Zelensky held a phone call on Friday with the leaders of the UK, Germany and France, and later spoke to the US vice-president JD Vance, with a call to Mr Trump expected to take place next week.

We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war, he said. We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will discuss with Donald Trump and US-Russian plan to end the war which would see Kyiv give up territory and shrink its army. Photograph: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trumps latest plan for ending the war in Ukraine would see territory ceded to Russia, Russia readmitted to the G8 and Ukraine banned from joining Nato, according to drafts of the proposal seen by Axios, AFP and the Associated Press.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected to discuss the plan with Trump in coming days, adding any deal must bring a dignified peace with respect for our independence, our sovereignty.

The cautious response from Ukraines presidential administration stood in contrast to the outrage at the plan from some Ukrainian officials who called it absurd capitulation and the effective end of its existence as an independent country

The plan appears to repeat Moscows maximalist demands and violate numerous Ukrainian red lines and would require an about-turn from Zelenskyy, who has said giving up territory would be unacceptable. It would also probably be deemed unacceptable by Ukraines European allies, who have long insisted that they should be given a role in the peace talks given the broader implications of the settlement for the continents security, particularly on Natos eastern flank.

The plan was reportedly drafted by Russian and US officials, including the influential head of Russias sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, who has been involved in previous talks on Ukraine and is known to be in touch with the US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

On Thursday White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, the president supports this plan. Its a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine.

Witkoff and US secretary of state Marco Rubio had been quietly working on the plan with both Russia and Ukraine for around a month, Leavitt said. She rejected concerns that the plan echoes many of Moscows maximalist demands.

So what is in the 28-point plan?

Territory

Ukraine would give up the Donbas region to Russia, according to the draft seen by a number of outlets, which corresponds to Moscows previous demands.

Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian, including by the United States, the plan reads. Kyiv still partly holds Luhansk and Donetsk, which together make up the Donbas industrial belt on the frontline of the war. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Areas from which Ukraine has withdrawn in Donetsk would be deemed a demilitarised zone which Russian forces will not enter, according to the plan.

The southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia  which Russia falsely claims to have annexed  will be frozen along the line of contact, it said. The plan for Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia corresponds to Moscows previous demands.

Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, occupied by Russian forces since March 2022, would be supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the electricity it produces be shared between Russia and Ukraine, the plan reportedly says.

Security

The US-backed plan calls for Ukraine to reduce its army to 600,000 personnel, according to the draft seen by multiple outlets, a reduction of hundreds of thousands compared to its current size.

Nato would agree not to station troops in Ukraine  dashing Kyivs hopes for a European peacekeeping force  and the country would be barred from joining Nato. That fits with previous Russian demands that have been made public and goes against Ukraines previous demands.

Ukraine would receive reliable security guarantees, the plan says without specifying. But European jets would be stationed in neighbouring Poland.

Diplomacy

Under the proposed deal, Russia would be reintegrated into the global economy after nearly four years of tough sanctions and be allowed back into the G8.

It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further, the document says, according to multiple media outlets.

But all sanctions would snap back if Russia invades Ukraine again  in addition to a decisive coordinated military response.

In addition, $100bn in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine, but others would be invested in a separate US-Russian investment fund aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

The plan states that Ukraine would hold elections within 100 days, and both Ukraine and Russia would implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice.

With Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press
Rachel Reeves before delivering her 2024 budget Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Voters will look elsewhere if Rachel Reeves does not use next weeks pivotal budget to show that centre-ground politicians can fix the UKs entrenched economic problems, the former head of the civil service, Simon Case, has said.

Case told the Guardian that at the time of last years general election, when he was still cabinet secretary, he believed Labour would be forced to break its manifesto promise to not raise taxes because of the state of the public finances.

The buildup to Rachel Reevess set-piece fiscal speech has been dramatic, with the chancellor briefing heavily that she would be forced to breach the Labour manifesto and raise income tax, before the Treasury suddenly rowed back on the idea.

Instead, she is expected to seek more revenue through a suite of changes, including possible levies on gambling, and potentially a freeze on income tax thresholds  a de facto increase that would, however, allow Reeves to argue it does not breach the manifesto.

Before the election, some fiscal thinktanks said Labours pledge to not increase income tax, national insurance or VAT was unrealistic. Case said that while he was not allowed to give advice during pre-budget access talks, he believed the same.

In Whitehall we were very worried about the promises they made before the election on not raising taxes because we obviously knew the true state of the public finances that would face them on arrival, said Case, who left the role last December and is now a cross-bench peer.

If Wednesdays budget fails to get to grips with ingrained problems connected to tax, spending and debt, voters might abandon centrist parties for the likes of Reform UK, Case indicated.

Yes, this budget is going to be critical to the fortunes of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, which are intertwined, he said. But this budget is even higher stakes than that, because it raises the question of whether centre-ground governments can answer the fundamental questions that are hampering the UK. And if they cant, voters will look elsewhere. Its a really pivotal moment.

The arguments about whether particular tax rises may or may not break a manifesto pledge were, to an extent, missing the wider point, Case argued.

We talk about a few billion here or there thats going to be enormously politically significant, because its the difference between breaking the manifesto rather than accepting the fact the process is unsustainable, he said.

Nobody is having the really big conversation: if were going to dramatically change the UK economy we need to be talking about how we spend hundreds of billions.

Reevess woes are deep-rooted, he said: Some of this is to do with the current political situation, of course. But there are other long-running issues that just feel like theyre getting harder and harder.

Our economic productivity is poor despite multiple governments efforts to fix it. Theres also great pressure to spend on public services because theyre not performing as wed like. Every budget now for the next few years is going to be incredibly difficult.

One confirmed measure in the budget is a renewed crackdown on illegal vapes, involving new powers for border and tax officials to clamp down on the products, as well as QR codes for legal ones to make it easier to spot fakes.

The move comes five months after the government passed a ban on single-use vapes in an attempt to reduce environmental damage and stop their widespread use among children. Since the ban was passed, however, the government has struggled to limit the proliferation of illegal products.

Officials said Reeves would use her budget to unveil a series of new tools to fight the illegal vape trade. They include giving Border Force and HM Revenue and Customs the power to seize illegal vapes on the spot and fine rogue traders up to 10,000 for breaking the law.

A government source said: Britains high streets are being flooded with illegal vapes by rogue traders. The chancellor will crack down hard  giving Border Force and HMRC the power to seize dodgy vapes on the spot and hit offenders with 10,000 fines. Were protecting shoppers and backing honest businesses.
Donald Trumps remark onboard Air Force One on Friday was widely denounced. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

The White House issued a full-throated defense of Donald Trumps reference to a Bloomberg News correspondent as a piggy on Thursday, claiming without evidence that the president calls out fake news when he sees it and gets frustrated with reporters who spread false information.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, made the remarks during a White House briefing, saying Trump was re-elected because of his bluntness and that members of the media should appreciate his willingness to answer their questions.

Related: Telling a reporter quiet, piggy was shocking  even for Trump | Margaret Sullivan

He calls out fake news when he sees it and gets frustrated with reporters who spread false information, Leavitt said. But he also provides unprecedented access to the press and answers questions on a near-daily basis.

Leavitt did not specify what fake news or false information Trump was responding to when he called Catherine Lucey, Bloombergs White House correspondent, piggy.

The clash between Trump and Lucey happened on Friday onboard Air Force One. Lucey asked a question about the unfolding Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the possibility of the House voting to release all of the files related to his case, which came to fruition earlier this week.

When Lucey started to ask why Trump was behaving the way he was if theres nothing incriminating in the files, Trump pointed at her and said: Quiet. Quiet, piggy.

The remark received widespread backlash on Monday and Tuesday, with many fellow journalists condemning the incident. The CNN anchor Jake Tapper wrote on X that the comment was disgusting and completely unacceptable, while the former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson called the remark disgusting and degrading.

While Trump has long held and shared contempt for journalists publicly, he has been particularly open this week with his vitriol. On Tuesday, Trump called another female reporter, Mary Bruce of ABC News, a terrible person in the Oval Office. The reporter had asked Mohammed bin Salman, the visiting Saudi crown prince, about the killing of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and also why Trump had not released the Epstein files.

Mr President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Bruce asked. Why not just do it now?

Its not the question that I mind. Its your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter. Its the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who is highly respected, asking him a horrible, insubordinate, and just a terrible question, Trump responded.

After this incident, the Society of Professional Journalists issued a statement condemning Trumps remarks to Lucey and Bruce.

These incidents are not isolated; they are part of an unmistakable pattern of hostility  often directed at women  that undermines the essential role of a free and independent press, the statement reads.

The SPJ executive director, Caroline Hendrie, emphasized that targeting women reporters with humiliating insults should not be tolerated.

What we say  and what we refuse to say  signals to the world how much we value human rights and free expression, Hendrie said. When US leaders downplay the murder of a journalist or shame reporters for demanding transparency, it reverberates far beyond Washington.
SCO contributes to multipolar, just world order, says Tajik expert

Xinhua) 09:35, November 21, 2025

DUSHANBE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- More than two decades after its establishment, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has grown into a key platform for Eurasian cooperation, making a real contribution to a multipolar and just world order based on international law and mutual respect, a Tajik expert has said.

The 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the SCO in Moscow once again highlighted the organization's role in strengthening multilateralism, promoting regional cooperation and shaping a new architecture of global governance, said Jamshed Toshev, deputy director of Tajikistan's SCO Friendship and Cooperation Center.

Highlighting regional security as a core focus of the SCO, Toshev said the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure operating under the SCO enables members to conduct joint exercises, coordinate counter-terrorism efforts, fight extremism and drug trafficking, and cooperate on cybersecurity.

"These efforts enable countries in the region to effectively respond to modern threats and strengthen resilience against transnational challenges," he said.

Alongside security, the SCO promotes economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange, said Toshev, noting ongoing work to facilitate trade, improve transport connectivity and advance infrastructure development.

Emphasizing the alignment of national development strategies with initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, he said that projects in energy, transport, agriculture, the digital economy and green technologies are helping build an open and sustainable Eurasian economic space.

People-to-people ties are expanding through youth forums, cultural festivals, academic exchanges and the SCO University network, which strengthens mobility and intercultural dialogue, he added.

As a founding member, Tajikistan has helped improve the SCO's priorities. During its 2020-2021 chairmanship, Tajikistan focused on regional security, post-pandemic recovery and environmental cooperation. Toshev said Dushanbe has also promoted water diplomacy and the sustainable use of resources, while consistently raising the Afghanistan issue, advocating joint regional efforts for peace and stability.

Tajikistan also hosts SCO cultural and educational events, contributing to trust and mutual understanding among regional peoples, he added.

He said the SCO today plays an important role in promoting a new global governance architecture based on "equality and mutual benefit." In his view, the organization demonstrates that international cooperation can be built "not on confrontation but on partnership and solidarity."

"The SCO today is not merely a regional format but a dynamically developing platform of global significance, uniting countries with common values and interests," Toshev said.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
A lady walks through the midday heat in one of Belems many baixadas, which is the local name for favela areas (Nick Ferris)

For all the talk of Cop30  the international UN climate conference  being in the Amazon, the reality for most of the 1.4 million people living in the Brazilian city of Belem is a far cry from the lush, green tropical forests that most people would imagine.

The last census from 2022 found that 57 per cent of the population, some 745,000 people, live in so-called baixadas: the local name for Belems informal favela areas, which are scattered throughout the city. The term is derived from the Portuguese word for lowered, and refers to the fact that these areas lie on the low-lying floodplain of the mighty Guama River, which reaches the city after flowing hundreds of kilometres through the rainforest.

Official histories may note that Belem was founded by the Portuguese in 1616, but there was in fact a large indigenous settlement built by the Tupinamba long before that. Today, something of that legacy lives on in the large numbers of baixada dwellers of indigenous and Afro-Brazilian descent, who continue to feel a spiritual connection to the rivers.

Where there is river, there is life, and there are people and culture, says Guido, a resident of Jurunas, one of the largest favela areas in all of Brazil.

Climate impacts, environmental racism

But with 40 per cent of Belems city limits lying below sea level, and coastal erosion and extreme weather growing threats, the life-giving river is also a growing threat to communities. The situation is made worse by overcrowding, with the population increasing from just 250,000 in 1950. In June, the first-ever disaster risk reduction plan carried out by the local government found that 301 areas in the city are at risk of flooding.

Indeed, flooding is a constant fear for residents, with another baixada resident, 53-year-old Bea, sharing that some low-lying residences had been flooded by heavy rainforest rain that Belem had experienced on the day before we meet. Thalya, another resident, adds that serious floods last hit her suburb in 2023, washing out supermarkets and malls, and leading to many people losing everything.

Flooding is a constant threat in Belem (Nick Ferris)

Children play on the banks of the mighty Guama River estuary, with cruise ships housing Cop30 delegates in the background (AFP/Getty)

Within the city limits, many of the smaller rivers have been channelled into concrete waterways, disrupting the natural flow of the river and making it inaccessible to local people. In the baixadas, many of these waterways are filled with garbage. This kind of river is not compatible with how life should be in the Amazon, says 25-year-old Ruth, another resident of Jurunas.

Thirty years ago, the rivers were not channels, and we used to take baths and do our laundry there, adds Guido. Now, because of the garbage, and also because of the sewage, this is not a good idea. A 2023 study by the Instituto Trata Brasil finds that 20 per cent of wastewater in the city is collected but just 2.4 per cent is treated.

Pollution from sewage or garbage intensifies during times of drought, when the water levels run low, or the waterways dry up completely. At this time, the price of acai and other local staples increases as harvests decline on the food-growing islands around Belem, while more seawater floods into the estuary, killing fish in the river.

The ocean invades the river and kills the fish, explains 31-year-old Jean, another Baixada resident. The hot weather affects our food consumption but also our sense of identity, because we feel so connected here to the forest and the river.

Baixada residents who met with The Independent. From left, Thalya, Ruth, Bea, Ismael, Guido, and Jean (Nick Ferris)

The acai market in downtown Belem (Nick Ferris)

Ask any attendee of Cop30 what they think of Belem, and theres a high chance they will highlight just how hot the Amazon climate makes the city during the day. Its a phenomenon that is escalating with the climate crisis, with a study from nonprofit CarbonPlan highlighting that Belem is set to experience 222 days of extreme heat per year by 2050, in comparison to just 50 in 2000.

But for residents of baixadas without air-conditioning systems, days of extreme heat are not a novelty, but something unbearable, particularly given the lack of shade available on many streets.

Many residents also live under roofs made of the highly toxic building material asbestos, which was only outlawed by the Supreme Court in 2017. Millions of houses across Brazil built between the 1970s and 2000s still have these roofs, including around 20 per cent in the largest city Sao Paulo. Long-term exposure to extreme heat leads to asbestos-containing materials cracking and breaking, increasing the health risks.

Graffiti in Jurunas baixada. Residents told The Independent that their buses become unbearable during times of extreme heat  while Cop30 delegates enjoy air-conditioned buses (Nick Ferris)

More street art in one of the baixadas in Belem (Nick Ferris)

Guido describes the climate impacts in his community as environmental racism, as they disproportionately hit the non-white residents of baixadas. The state of Para  of which Belem is the capital  has the largest proportion of mixed-race people in the country, according to the 2022 Brazil Census, but also a GDP per capita of less than half that of Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo in the north.

Cop30 vs Cop de Baixadas

Ask residents of Belem what they think about Cop30, and the majority will tell you theyre happy that it is being hosted in their city, despite serious disruptions such as the two-week closure of schools. Residents here know the climate crisis needs to be addressed  while a 4.8bn reais (688m) federal investment programme for the summit is bringing much-needed improvements to city infrastructure.

For baixada residents, however, there is a sense that more could have been done to involve those who suffer most from the climate crisis.

Cop is for the negotiators and for groups that are bigger and more organised  not for small organisations in territories in the surrounding city, says Ruth.

Every year Cop happens in a different city  but if they are not worried about the demands of the city, and if they dont want to leave a real climate legacy, then why dont they just hold the conference online, says Jean. We believe in the Paris Agreement and what it is trying to do, but its impacts are too slow. We have had 30 Cops, and they all happen in the same way, with civil society never given enough input.

Jean and Ruth are among the organisers of the Cop de Baixadas, which gives local communities a forum to discuss climate issues (Cop de Baixadas)

Cop de Baixadas also features cultural activities (Cop de Baixadas)

Jean and Ruth are both organisers of an event held in the Jurunas baixada called Cop de Baixadas, which is a local climate forum inspired by the UN climate conference, but based in the community, giving all local residents a chance to share their climate concerns and solutions. We defend the Cop30 conference, but in this space we switch the dynamic, with real people speaking, and governments sitting back and listening, says Jean.

The first Cop de Baixadas  which was inspired by Jeans own trip to Cop28 in Dubai as an environmental activist  was hosted in 2023 and saw some 300 people attend. This years event, hosted in August, attracted 700.

The organisers have also organised yellow zones around Cop30, where they host events and meetings open to the public, as opposed to the UN-managed blue zone, for which delegates need to be accredited.

Cop de Baixadas is a place where we can reflect on climate injustice and environmental racism, and share our experiences openly and freely, says Ruth.

Bea and Guido outside the Gueto Hub (Nick Ferris)

But whether government figures actually pay attention to what is said is another question.

During the first two Cop de Baixadas, organisers were in contact with the local government, and there was a positive response from local leaders, says Ruth. The 2025 event, however, coincided with a new Belem city mayor being elected and authorities are apparently now less open to participating, she says.

The NGO Oxfam Brasil was a key backer of the Cop de Baixadas in its early years, but the charity is now facing funding difficulties that could put the programme and others like it at risk. Funding processes have become much more competitive here  with USAIDs operations ending, there is much more pressure on the funding ecosystem, says Viviana Santiago, Oxfam Brasil executive director. Given its middle-income status, Brazil has also never been a priority country for European funders, Santiago adds, despite the huge number of people in poverty.

For the Baixada residents, political disenfranchisement and funding threats are nothing new, however. And even if there is a weak political response to their activism they still see value in coming together.

We have a forum now where we can talk about the real impact of climate change on peoples lives. And when you do that you can mobilise and educate people, so that they can understand and respond to what is going on, says Ruth. This is why Cop de Baixadas is important.

This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
The inquest into the Wieambilla police shooting has examined the deaths of officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and of Alan Dare, at the hands of members of the Train family at a remote Queensland property. Composite: Guardian Design/Queensland's coroners court

A Queensland coroner has found that the three members of the Train family behind the 2022 Wieambilla shootings were not terrorists, but instead killed two police officers and a neighbour due to their shared persecutory delusions.

Officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were killed by the trio of conspiracy theorists at the remote property about 270 kilometres west of Brisbane on 12 December 2022.

The killers, Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train, also shot dead their neighbour, Alan Dare, before being killed in a shootout with police.

Queensland police had labelled the shootings an act of terrorism.

But on Friday, the Queensland state coroner, Terry Ryan, said it is not possible to conclude that the trio committed a terrorist attack.

In his findings, Ryan said the Trains were suffering from paranoid delusions.

They were psychotically unwell and driven by their persecutory beliefs, he said.

They were  intent on killing the officers and if necessary intent on dying rather than being taken into custody.

He said the weapons carried by officers who went to the Trains property  in response to a missing persons report filed about Nathaniel  were no match for the rifles used by the shooters who were in ambush positions.

Once the shooting commenced the officers Glocks [handguns] were woefully inadequate for defending themselves, he said.

Ryan said the Trains wrongly believed that they were being attacked when police arrived at the property.

They believed war had reached their gates and they had to defend themselves against the evil attackers in accordance with Gods will and, in that way, reach their own salvation  [as] they wrongly believed they needed to die, he said.

Ryan found that at least some of the firearms and ammunition used by the Trains was lawfully obtained and that Nathaniel, a weapons licence holder, was suffering a significant mental illness.

He recommended that the Queensland government consider the feasibility of adopting mandatory mental health assessments for weapons-licence holders.

He said it was unclear if better body armour would have prevented their deaths, and it was difficult to see how any officer could have been adequately equipped for the incident that unfolded.

Before the shootings, Nathaniel Train  a former school principal  had been the subject of a missing persons report to New South Wales police, which their counterparts in Queensland were following up.

Ryan commended triple-zero operator Katherine Beilby for her actions during a two-hour phone call with Const Keely Brough, who was trapped at the scene and survived the shooting. The Trains had hunted the rookie officer and attempted to burn her out.



Ms Beilby should be commended for her calm demeanour over a very lengthy call and her levelheadedness despite the terror that she felt at Const Broughs predicament, he said.

Ryans findings, which contained 10 recommendations, come after the inquest held five weeks of hearings last year.

Outside the court, Judy McCrow, the mother of one of the officers killed, read a statement on behalf of the victims families.

These recommendations, of course, come too late for Matt and Rachel and Alan Dare, who we believe should still be alive today if better processes were in place, she said.



We are initially disappointed with the coronial recommendations, but we need time to read process and respond to the findings and ensure that as families, our concerns and issues that were raised during this process have been listened to and respected.
Goalscorer: Ellie Carpenter (AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea ended a run of three consecutive defeats to rivals Barcelona with a 1-1 draw in the Women's Champions League, but were denied a second-half winner by offside.

Sonia Bompastor's team went ahead after 14 minutes at Stamford Bridge through Ellie Carpenter, but Ewa Pajor levelled shortly afterwards before a stoppage took place due to technical difficulties.

When play did get back under way, a cagey second half followed until a dramatic finale as Chelsea substitute Catarina Macario headed in with her first touch only to be denied by the offside flag in the 83rd minute before Carpenter dragged a gilt-edged chance wide.

It meant the hosts had to settle for a point against a team they have now defeated once in only eight meetings.

Chelsea are down to sixth in the league phase after four fixtures and outside of the top four which will earn automatic qualification for the quarter-finals.

Last season's painful 4-1 defeats in each semi-final leg were still fresh in the memory of Chelsea and Bompastor shuffled her pack after Sunday's disappointing 1-1 draw at Liverpool but Lauren James was again only on the bench along with captain Millie Bright.

Chelsea had failed to take the lead in each of their three previous contests with Barcelona, but a spectacular 16th-minute finish by Carpenter corrected that statistic.

After an even start, Carpenter exchanged passes with the bright Aggie Beever-Jones and the former Lyon full-back burst forward before she rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

It was a sensational strike, but Barcelona served up a strong response and equalised just eight minutes later.

Not long after Pajor had been denied by the offside flag, the Poland international swept home with aplomb after Claudia Pina's corner had not been cleared to make it 1-1 after 24 minutes.

The hosts responded strongly, with Wieke Kaptein denied by Cata Coll before the Chelsea forward went even closer when her stabbed effort hit the inside of a post and bounced to safety.

It was the last moment of note before a bizarre stoppage occurred after TV screens inside Stamford Bridge went down and referee Tess Olofsson subsequently experienced her own technical difficulties.

Play did eventually restart but despite nine minutes of first-half stoppage time, it remained level at the break.

A slow start to the second period was not helped when Chelsea's stand-in captain Erin Cuthbert needed treatment after a collision with three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who had cut a frustrated figure.

Barcelona had taken charge by now, although chances remained limited and the hosts' threat on the break was highlighted after 63 minutes when Carpenter bombed forward again only to drag her effort wide this time.

Bompastor turned to her bench with 18 minutes left and it almost paid off instantly when Macario headed home Cuthbert's wonderful free-kick.

Chelsea celebration were immediately cut short after a quick VAR check showed Macario had been marginally offside.

Macario was involved again in the 81st minute when she laid the ball off for Carpenter, but the right-back dragged wide from seven yards.
The Guardian understands Brazil faced pressure from some petrostates to omit the potential resolution. Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

A new draft text on the outcome of the Cop30 climate talks has been published that contains no mention of a phase-out of fossil fuels, despite countries supporting such action having threatened to block any agreement without it.

The Guardian revealed on Thursday night that at least 29 nations supporting a phase-out of fossil fuels at the climate summit had sent a letter to the Brazilian Cop presidency threatening to block any agreement that did not include such a commitment, in a significant escalation of tensions at the crunch talks. The leaked letter demanded that the roadmap be included in the outcome of the talks, which are due to end on Friday but are likely to continue into the weekend.

An option to start the process of drawing up a potential roadmap for the transition away from fossil fuels was included in the first draft of a potential outcome from the two weeks of talks, published on Tuesday. But early on Friday morning, a mutirao text was published by the presidency which contained no mention of the roadmap, and no mention of the term fossil fuels.

It was not immediately clear how countries would respond to the proposal, but the Guardian understands Brazil faced pressure from some petrostates  including Saudi Arabia, Russia and some large fossil fuel consumers including India  to omit the potential resolution.

Related: Keeping promises on renewables, energy efficiency and methane would avoid nearly 1C of global heating

Some of the countries opposing the roadmap had threatened to walk out of the talks on Thursday, before a fire broke out in part of the conference centre near the delegations offices and talks were suspended for more than six hours.

A letter to the presidency seen by the Guardian shows that many of the governments in favour of a roadmap have set it as a red line for the talks.

It reads: We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. This expectation is shared by a vast majority of Parties, as well as by science and by the people who are watching our work closely. The world is looking to this Cop to demonstrate continuity and progress after the Global Stocktake. Anything less would inevitably be seen as a step backward.

The global stocktake refers to the historic decision made at Cop28 in Dubai in 2023, which set out for the first time a pledge by all countries to transition away from fossil fuels, but set out no timeline for the transition and no measures on how to achieve it.

Since that commitment was signed, some countries  chiefly Saudi Arabia  have tried to unpick it. In 2024, at the Cop29 talks in Azerbaijan, an attempt to reconfirm the commitment failed in the face of opposition.

This year, countries in favour of the phase-out took a different tack. Some started to draw up proposals for a forum in which all countries could take part, to discuss a possible roadmap for the transition. This would not require any country to sign up to a firm deadline for a phase-out, and would allow all countries to choose their own policies and pathways. The roadmap would not be completed at this Cop but would take at least a year or more of work at future Cops to be fully articulated.

More than 80 countries joined the initiative, and held a press conference on Tuesday to announce their plans.

But this was too much for the countries that are still opposed to such a commitment, led by some members of a group known as the like-minded developing countries, a loose grouping which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Bolivia.

Related: More than 80 countries at Cop30 join call for roadmap to fossil fuel phase-out

The Guardian understands that the signatories to the letter in favour of the phase-out of fossil fuels include: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, Panama, Palau, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and Vanuatu.

Irene Velez Torres, the environment minister of Colombia, told the Guardian: The letter emerged after the presidency presented a take-it-or-leave-it text that we believe is insufficient for the level of ambition and implementation this Cop must deliver  particularly regarding the need, clearly backed by science and by people around the world, for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels.

This Cops success cannot be measured by adopting a text at any cost. The true success of this Cop lies in the quality of the outcome. Adopting a weak or empty text would signal a failure of climate multilateralism and a failure to future generations, who deserve a livable planet.

Catherine Abreu, the director of the International Climate Politics Hub, said: Its clear that a growing group wont leave Belem without an ambitious package deal built on four cornerstones: money for adaptation, better quality and accountability for climate finance, a clear focus on tackling the biggest sources of climate pollution  fossil fuels and deforestation  and a commitment to drive it all with a just transition.

She added: The question is whether the Brazil presidency will choose to listen to them, with time running out.

The fortnight-long talks in Belem were scheduled to end on Friday evening but have been delayed by the fire  in which no one was hurt but some damage was caused to the venue  and are likely to carry on into the weekend.

As the talks reach their final hours, the row over the transition away from fossil fuels is likely to dominate, but other issues also remain to be resolved, including a response to the fact that countries national climate plans are too weak to limit global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels as set out in the 2015 Paris agreement, and questions of finance, trade and transparency, and how much cash developing countries will receive to help them adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.
Corner shop owners who sell fake vapes will face on-the-spot fines of up to 10,000 and possible jail sentences under measures to be announced by Rachel Reeves at next weeks Budget.

The Chancellor is expected to announce new powers for Border Force and HMRC to tackle illegal vapes being sold in corner shops.

The Government will also introduce a new licensing scheme with a digital duty stamp to help inspectors and consumers identify fake or illegally imported devices.

Labour has previously announced plans to crack down on vaping, including a new ban on advertising products, in its Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The same legislation will also include a generation ban for smokers that will make it illegal to buy cigarettes for anyone born after January 1 2009.

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The new licensing scheme, which the Treasury said is supported by retailers, will be open for manufacturers to register from April, and will become compulsory from October next year.

A government source said: Britains high streets are being flooded with illegal vapes by rogue traders.

The Chancellor will crack down hard  giving Border Force and HMRC the power to seize dodgy vapes on the spot and hit offenders with 10,000 fines. Were protecting shoppers and backing honest businesses.

Rachel Reeves is expected to empower Border Force and HMRC to tackle illegal vapes sold in corner shops - Leon Neal/AP

However, Ms Reeves is also facing backlash after retailers said the decision to ban disposable vapes had driven the products underground.

Almost 80 per cent of corner shops polled by C-Talk, an industry group, said banning disposables would drive consumers towards the black market, while less than a quarter said it would help vapers quit.

Two thirds of retailers polled also said they did not stock refillable capsules for vapes, since most consumers bought another reusable vape each time.

Ban has failed

Jack Rankin, the Tory MP for Windsor, said: The failure of the disposable vape ban has proven to be a huge embarrassment for the Government. Having regulations that everyone can happily ignore or bypass makes a total mockery of the law.

Earlier this month, police arrested hundreds of suspects as they raided barbers, nail bars and vape stores in a nationwide crackdown on high street crime.

A total of 2,734 premises were raided, 924 people were detained and more than 10m seized, along with with 70kg of cannabis, 111,000 harmful vapes and four and a half million illegal cigarettes. More than 300 businesses were reported on suspicion of employing illegal migrant workers.
Prisoners could choose to die out of desperation, according to Baroness Grey-Thompson, the former Paralympian - Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures/Getty Images

Dangerous prisoners could take advantage of assisted dying to skirt justice, peers have warned.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, the former Paralympian, tabled an amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday to ban prisoners from qualifying for an assisted death.

Currently, prisoners would qualify under the proposed assisted dying regime. As the process is a private medical one, victims and even prosecutors would not be informed, even if an individual were awaiting trial.

Prisoners in Spain and Switzerland have already been able to use assisted dying laws in those countries to kill themselves, to the fury of prosecutors and victims.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being scrutinised by the House of Lords on Friday.

The bill will allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Assisted death is currently illegal in the UK.

However, the bill has had more than 1,000 amendments proposed by peers  the highest number ever tabled to a piece of backbench legislation.

Baroness Grey-Thompson wants to ban prisoners from qualifying for an assisted death - PA Wire/House of Lords

Lady Grey-Thompson said: Prisons and assisted dying are a terrible mixture. On the one hand, you risk vulnerable prisoners wrongly opting to die out of desperation. On the other hand, there is a risk that dangerous criminals will take advantage of the procedure to skirt justice.

No assisted dying process that operates inside the prison estate can possibly be safe. We must amend the proposed legislation to keep assisted dying out of prisons.

Lord Harper warned that the most disgusting criminals in the land have tried to escape justice by bringing about their own deaths, sometimes robbing victims of a trial.

Allowing that process to happen in secret on the NHS would be beyond naive, and evidence from overseas shows just how quickly the law would be abused.

Campaigners such as Esther Rantzen have said that people should be allowed a pain-free death - Eddie Mulholland

Many notorious killers have been granted assisted deaths in prison after they complained about psychological suffering.

In Spain, where assisted dying is legal, Marin Sabau, 46, who shot three former colleagues and a police officer, had an assisted death instead of facing trial in 2022. It occurred because he had been left partially paralysed when he was shot in the spine. Prosecutors and the victims condemned the decision.

Genevieve Lhermitte killed her son and four daughters, aged three to 14, in the town of Nivelles, Belgium, in 2007, while their father was away.

Genevieve Lhermitte was given permission to die - Yves Herman/AFP via Getty Images

She tried to take her own life but failed, and instead called emergency services. In 2023, her request to be euthanised was granted.

Peter Vogt, from Switzerland, was convicted for sexual assault and rape against multiple girls and women ranging in age from 10 to 56.

Citing physical and mental reasons, he applied for and received an assisted suicide two years ago.

In the Netherlands, Frank Van Den Bleeken, who was serving a life sentence for serial rape and murder, requested an assisted death, arguing that his psychological suffering in prison was unbearable. His victims families expressed outrage at the time.

Belgiums Federal Euthanasia Commission approved his request to undergo euthanasia, but the procedure was cancelled in 2015 after doctors withdrew. Instead, Van Den Bleeken was transferred to a psychiatric prison facility.

Frank Van Den Bleeken sought permission to be euthanised as a result of unbearable psychological anguish - Virginie Lefour/AFP via Getty Images

Many notorious killers in Britain have harmed or killed themselves after arrest but before their trials. They include Fred West, the serial killer who murdered at least 12 women between 1967 and 1987, and Stephen Akinmurele, a serial killer who murdered elderly people.

In 2000, Britains longest-serving prisoner Robert Maudsley, who killed four men, wrote a series of letters demanding to be able to die via a cyanide pill if the solitary confinement conditions he was housed in were not lifted.

Baroness Grey-Thompsons amendment is co-sponsored by Baroness Butler-Sloss, who, as a Court of Appeal Judge, handled post-trial matters of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables and chaired a number of abuse-related inquests. Thompson and Venables were 10 years old when they abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger.

Rantzen criticises 900-plus amendments

Elsewhere during the debate on Friday, Dame Esther Rantzen urged the House of Lords not to try and sabotage democracy.

In a message recorded in conversation with her daughter Rebecca Wilcox, the Childline founder said: First of all, I want to say to the people who dont agree with the bill, I absolutely understand your viewpoint. I think you should have the choice.

The particular circumstances of the bill are up to those parliamentarians who have been looking at it with such care and professionalism, and we want to get it right. But dont tell me that 900-plus amendments is about getting it right.

The 85-year-old, who is terminally ill with cancer, continued: What Im saying to you is: dont try and sabotage democracy.

Give us all the choice that you would want yourself. And then we can die in dignity, pain-free, and leave our families and our loved ones with happy memories. Thats all we ask.

Dame Esther has been among the high-profile campaigners for the assisted dying bill, and has criticised the law as it stands, branding it cruel.

The bill risks running out of time to become law because of the record high number of suggested changes to the draft legislation.

The bill will become law only if both the Commons and House of Lords agree on the final drafting of the legislation, with approval needed before spring when the current session of Parliament ends.
Street art depicting a fox in Penge, south-east London - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

Susie Dent has said graffiti is beautiful and should be celebrated.

The Countdown star, 61, said people should prize the art form because it is historic and dates back to ancient Pompeii.

Speaking on Russell Howards Five Brilliant Things podcast, in which guests discuss five items, places or people that make life worth living, the lexicographer revealed her final brilliant thing to be graffiti.

She said: When I say graffiti is a beautiful thing, Im not really talking about tagging.

That absolutely has its place. Im not anti-tag, but someone just saying I was here is not particularly interesting and nor is defacing beautiful buildings  but I just think the history of it, its a bit like the history of swearing, is really interesting.

She compared modern-day graffiti to that left in Pompeii, adding: If you go back to Pompeii... really obscene, a lot of it. But then you also get essentially Gaius was here. You get the same thing.

Susie Dent, the Countdown star, said: Some of the murals are just stunning, as we know from Banksy and many, many others - John Lawrence for The Telegraph

She added: But also, you know, graffiti wasnt always about rebellion. It was just about, you know, writing up the everyday. It was just saying, you know, I was here, I exist, in really such a basic way.

And it was only really a lot, lot later that it became the real well spoken but unspoken act of rebellion that we see it as today.

Its this sort of underground language where obviously it can be really peaceful as well. Some of the murals are just stunning, as we know from Banksy and many, many others.

So I just find it a really interesting form of expression. I think we do prize it in many, many ways. I think we either sanctify it or we reject it, but theres nothing in between.

Street art in Shoreditch, east London - Clara Molden

Her comments come as graffiti is on the rise across the UK, and particularly in the London.

On Thursday, a Labour MP criticised Sir Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, over off the scale graffiti on the Underground.

Rupa Huq, who has represented Ealing Central and Acton since 2015, posted several photos of graffiti on Central line Tube carriage windows on social media.
U.S. authorities have assisted the Peruvian government in seizing an estimated 10,000 individual shark fins destined for China  one of the largest wildlife trafficking operations in Latin American history.

The bust, on Nov. 10 at an industrial port outside of Lima, led to the arrest of three men tied to a transnational criminal network involved in illegal fishing and wildlife smuggling, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

U.S. authorities recently assisted the Peruvian government in seizing an estimated 10,000 individual shark fins destined for China. / Credit: United States Embassy, Peru

The cruelty behind the shark fin trade is well-documented. Shark finning often involves slicing fins off live sharks and discarding the mutilated animals back into the ocean, where they die from blood loss, suffocation or predation. The practice is banned in many countries but persists due to weak enforcement and high profits.

Shark fins are prized in Chinese cuisine, particularly for shark fin soup, which is associated with status and celebration, according to the nonprofit Shark Stewards. It's a dish that can sell for $100 a bowl and continues to drive a lucrative black market.

The fins, valued at more than $11.2 million, were sourced from threatened species including blue sharks, pelagic thresher sharks and common thresher sharks. / Credit: United States Embassy, Peru

Despite growing awareness and some regulatory crackdowns, the global demand for shark fins remains strong. The United Nations estimates the illegal wildlife trade generates up to $20 billion annually, rivaling the drug and arms trades in scale and sophistication.

"The billion-dollar fin and meat trade is driving the extinction of iconic shark and ray species. Now, more than ever, critical action must be taken before it's too late," Luke Warwick, director of Shark and Ray Conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society, told CBS News.

The operation was led by Peru's Organized Crime Investigation Division of the Environmental. The fins, valued at more than $11.2 million, were sourced from threatened species including blue sharks, pelagic thresher sharks and common thresher sharks.

Authorities say the criminal network purchased fins from Ecuadorian fishermen and laundered them through falsified documents claiming the catch originated in Peruvian waters. Once dried and stored in Callao, Peru, outside Lima, the fins were prepared for export to China.

U.S. authorities assisted the Peruvian government in seizing an estimated 10,000 individual shark fins destined for China. / Credit: United States Embassy, Peru

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in close partnership with the Peruvian National Police, is taking decisive action to dismantle the illegal shark fin trade. Together, we are committed to protecting sharks, and preserving the health of our oceans, for future generations," Doug Ault, assistant director of the office of law enforcement at the USFWS, told CBS News.

Sharks play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. As apex predators, their decline can trigger cascading effects, including the collapse of coral reefs and fisheries. Many shark species reproduce slowly, making them especially vulnerable to overexploitation.

While the bust marks a significant victory for law enforcement, it also highlights the scale of the challenge. The black market for wildlife products continues to thrive, driven by international demand, corruption and limited oversight, according to the U.N. For now, the 9.3 tons of fins seized in Peru represent a stark reminder of the global cost of environmental crime.

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There are many hundreds of distinct indigenous nations and tribes throughout the Americas, each with their own unique languages, dialects and naming conventions. Though there's a vast array of diversity across these cultures as many Native American names reflect a deep reverence for nature, family and spirituality that transcends fixed borders and cultural boundaries. So, if you're about to welcome a new dog into your family, why not consider one for them? To help you out, we put together 115+ Native American names for male and female dogs, below.

Your pet's name should be a meaningful one, and many traditional Native American names are rich with evocative meaning, making them great to use for any loved one no matter if they are a small pup or a giant one. Although it would be impossible to list all the many thousands of possible indigenous American names for your dog, we have gathered together more than 115 Native American names for dogs to help you on your journey. We've also tried to trace the cultural origin of each name, in case you wish to pay homage to a certain Native American culture or part of your family's heritage.

Check out all of these Native American names for pets and see see which one fits your dog best. We have a feeling you'll find the perfect moniker for your new furry companion.

Native American Names for Dogs

A dog running through water who has a Native American name.Image via Getty Images/Sarah Schmid

Calling all pet parents, if you have a furry fearless warrior or steadfast pup, these Native American dog names celebrate the qualities and traits that make our pets special. There are also some cute, even humorous names in here, too. While we've tried to categorize the names by gender, it should be noted that many Native American names are effectively unisex, or require additional affixes to "gender" them (though of course, this too varies from culture to culture).

Native American Male Dog Names

A wolfdog sitting on a rock in a river.Image via Getty Images/Anna Frignani

Ashkii: Navajo for boy, young man.

Adoette: Kiowa for "big tree."

Wematin: Algonquin for brother.

Kapono: Hawaiian for the good one.

Tosahwi: Comanche for white knife.

Atsidi: Navajo for hammer or blacksmith.

Cheveyo: Hopi for "spirit warrior."

Shandiin: Navajo for sunshine (unisex).

Maquinna: Nuu-chah-nulth for possessor of pebbles.

Shikoba: Choctaw for feather (unisex).

Sganyodaiyo: Seneca for handsome lake.

Naiche: Apache for mischief maker.

Ohiyesa: Lakota for winner, victor.

Kohana: Sioux (possibly Lakota) for "swift" (unisex).

Segenam: Blackfoot for the lazy one.

Danuwoa: Cherokee for warrior.

Degataga: Cherokee for standing.

Kwana: Comanche for fragrant or smelly.

Mahihkan: Cree for wolf.

Akicita: Lakota for brave warrior.

Bidziil: Navajo for he is strong.

Amaruq: Inuktitut for wolf.

Shiye: Navajo for my son.

Native American Female Dog Names

A fluffy dog camping in the mountains.Image via Getty Images/Cavan Images

Lenmana: Hopi for girl plays flute.

Iina: Navajo for life.

Ayita: Cherokee for first to dance.

Chumani: Lakota for "dewdrops."

Anangikwe: Ojibwe for star woman.

Liluye: Miwok for "hawk singing while soaring."

Ajei: Navajo for heart.

Arnaq: Inuktitut for woman.

Hauzini: Apache for standing up straight.

Waasnodae: Ojibwe for dawn.

Talasi: Hopi for corn tassel flower.

Tashina: Lakota for her shawl, her blanket.

Kalea: Hawaiian for joy, happiness.

Hurit : Unami for "beautiful" (unisex).

Winona: Lakota for firstborn daughter.

Mokeee: Cheyenne for little woman.

Eseeva'e: Cheyenne for day woman.

Tayanita: Cherokee for young beaver.

Nizhoni: Navajo for beautiful.

Vanaheoo: Cheyenne for sage woman.

Haseya: Navajo for she rises.

Talullah: Choctaw for leaping water, running water.

Ayuhwasi: Cherokee for meadow.

American Indian Puppy Names

A puppy with a Native American name playing in the snow.Image via Getty Images/Kristin Castenschiold / 500px

In many Native American cultures, a person's name may change as they pass through different stages of life and their identity evolves. While such traditions are beautiful and meaningful for humans, it may not be practical to give your dog a new name as they age, since most dogs are trained to answer to one name early on in life. Instead, we strived to curate a list of Native American names that are perfect for puppies, but will still sound just as charming once those puppies age into full-grown dogs.

Honeheso: A male Cheyenne name meaning little wolf, young wolf.

Sheawee: A unisex Navajo name meaning my baby.

Wapasha: A male Dakota name meaning red leaf.

Nalin: A female Apache name meaning maiden.

Chaska: A male Lakota name meaning firstborn son, leader.

Chebona Bula: A male Creek name meaning laughing boy.

Nahkoheso: A male Cheyenne name meaning bear cub.

Kiwisunce: A male Cree name meaning little child.

Monevata: A unisex Cheyenne name meaning young bird.

Kimimela: A female Sioux name meaning little butterfly.

Taqqiq: A unisex Inuktitut name meaning moon.

Nitis: A male Apache name meaning friend.

Shilah: A male Navajo name meaning brother.

Miigwaan: A unisex Ojibwe name meaning feather.

Alawa: A female Cree name meaning pea.

Daanis: A female Ojibwe name meaning daughter.

Mausi: A female Creek name meaning plucking petals.

Tiponi: A female Hopi name for child of importance.

Wayna: A male Quechua name meaning young boy.

Takoda: A male Sioux name meaning friend to everyone.

Names Inspired by Great Indigenous Figures in Native American History

A statue of a Native American man with his dog in Central Park.Image via Getty Images/Bruce Yuanyue Bi

The indigenous cultures of the Americas have lived here for thousands of years, and even through centuries of oppression and colonialism, their legacies endure. These names are borrowed from several the most well-known Native American figures in history, though these reflect just a few of the countless indigenous people who shaped the history of the Americas.

Sequoyah: A Cherokee man who invented the Tsalagi/Cherokee writing system in the early 19th century.

Sacagawea: A Lemhi Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Geronimo: A courageous Apache warrior and military commander who fought against the encroaching American and Mexican armies.

Tasunka Witko: The Lakota name of Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior who battled the US Army in the Great Sioux War.

Montezuma: The emperor who presided over the Aztec Empire at the height of its size and power before being murdered by Spanish conquistadors.

Tecumseh: A Shawnee leader who fought bravely against American expansion in the early 19th century.

Tatanka Iyotake: The Lakota name of Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota orator, leader, and holy man who spoke out against the US governments mistreatment of Native Americans.

Squanto: A Patuxet Wampanoag man who helped the people of the Plymouth Colony survive their first winter by teaching them lifesaving food gathering and agricultural practices.

Lozen: A female Chihenne Chiricahua Apache warrior who protected her people and fought against the Mexican and American armies.

Pocahontas: A Powhatan princess who acted as an intermediary between her tribe and the English settlers; she was also known by her birth name, Matoaka.

Location-Inspired Dog Names with Native American Origins

A hiker and their dog on a beach in the Pacific Northwest.Image via Getty Images/AJ_Watt

Here in the United States, we take many of our names for cities, rivers, and even states for granted, but did you know that many of these iconic location names actually have Native American origins? There are literally thousands of examples we could reference, but here are a few of the better-known ones that could also double as excellent dog names:

Seattle: Named after Chief Seattle, a 19th-century leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples.

Allagash: An Abnaki name meaning bark shelter.

Tacoma: Derived from the Lushootseed word for snow-covered mountain.

Tallahassee: A Muscogean word meaning old town.

Waukesha: A Potawatomi word meaning little foxes.

Wyoming: From a Delaware Tribe name for large plains.

Kenosha: An Ojibwe word meaning pike fish.

Chicago: From a Miami-Illinois word meaning smelly onion or wild leek.

Catawba: From the Catawba tribe, whose name means people of the river.

Talladega: From a Muscogee phrase meaning town on the border.

Malibu: Derived from a Chumash name meaning the surf sounds loudly.

Okaloosa: A Choctaw name meaning black water.

Tuscaloosa: A Muscogee name meaning black warrior.

Mississippi: From an Ojibwe word meaning big river.

Chattanooga: Derived from a Muscogean word for rock.

Mackinac: From an Odawa word for great turtle.

Manhattan: Believed to come from a Munsee Delaware phrase meaning where one gathers bows.

Dakota: From the Dakota people, whose name means ally or friend.

Minnesota: Derived from the Dakota name for their homeland, meaning where the water reflects the sky.

Saguache: From the Ute name meaning sand dunes.

Colorful Native American Dog Names

A Chocolate Lab in a field of bright yellow flowers.Image via Getty Images/Justin Paget

Want an evocative name that captures the intensity of your dog's bright green eyes, or the richness of their rust-red fur? These colorful Native American names are sure to please:

Doli: A female Navajo name meaning bluebird.

Voesta: A female Cheyenne name meaning white bison calf.

Chogan: A male Algonquin name meaning blackbird.

Millaray: A female Mapuche name meaning golden flower.

Makoomahe: A unisex Cheyenne name meaning red robe.

Osceola: A male Creek name meaning black drink (referring to a ritual tea made from yaupon holly).

Payne: A Mapuche unisex name meaning sky blue.

Calfuray: A female Mapuche name meaning violet flower.

Oukonunaka: A male Cherokee name meaning white owl.

Peta: A female Blackfoot name meaning golden eagle.

Mekaisto: A male Blackfoot name meaning red crow.

Sooleawa: A female Blackfoot name meaning silver.

Sialea-lea: A female Navajo name for little bluebird.

Tsistunagiska: A female Cherokee name meaning wild rose.

Diindiisi: A unisex Ojibwe name meaning bluejay.

Heoavaestse: A unisex Cheyenne name meaning yellow.

Inola: A female Cherokee name meaning black fox.

Kilchii: A male Navajo name meaning red boy.

Lamochattee: A male Creek name meaning red eagle.

Native American Dog Names Inspired by Nature

Two dogs at a lake with Native American names.Image via Getty Images/Meegan Zimmerman

Many Native American names are inspired by a deep respect for the natural world and our own interconnectedness with nature. You, too, can pay homage to the vast and eternal beauty of Mother Nature by giving your dog one of these simple yet profoundly beautiful Native American names:

Aanakwad: A unisex Ojibwe name meaning cloud.

Chosovi: A female Hopi name meaning bluebird.

Antiman: A male Mapuche name meaning condor of the sun.

Noodin: A male Ojibwe name meaning wind.

Yona: A unisex Cherokee name meaning "bear."

Tokori: A male Hopi name meaning screech owl.

Isi: A unisex Choctaw name meaning deer.

Citlalli: A female Nahuatl name meaning star.

Awinita: A female Cherokee name meaning fawn.

Sipala: A unisex Hopi name meaning peach.

Amaru: A male Quechua name meaning snake.

Jaci: A unisex Tupi name meaning moon.

Wambli: A unisex Lakota name meaning eagle.

Rayen: A female Mapuche name meaning flower.

Animikii: A male Ojibwe name meaning thunder; also the name of the giant mythological thunderbird in Ojibwe and Anishinaabe mythology.

Gaagii: A male Navajo name meaning crow.

Nita: A female Choctaw name meaning bear.

Misu: A male Miwok name meaning "ripples in the water."

Minnihaha: A female Dakota name meaning waterfall.

Adsila: A female Cherokee name meaning blossom.

Tahlako: A male Choctaw name meaning eagle.

Watonga: A male Arapaho name meaning black coyote.

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Dogs section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Mexico is nicknamed The Land of Enchantment due to its stunning landscapes and rich heritage and history. The term was initially coined as a title for a 1906 book on New Mexico by author Lillian Whiting, and later used in both a travel brochure and New Mexico Magazine to promote tourism to the state. So, is New Mexico enchanting? It sure is, and here are some of the best places to visit in New Mexico-we are so thankful for these local spots!

1. White Sands National Park

Ferenc  stock.adobe.com

White Sands National Park is the type of place that will stick with you, even after visiting once-or at least thats been my experience! I often think of the time I was here on a photography trip in college and couldnt believe what I was seeing-brilliant white gypsum dunes against a bright, cloudless blue sky, creating an almost otherworldly experience. I often think about my visit here, and I hope to return sooner rather than later. I am grateful that a place like this even exists.

2. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

DJSDO  stock.adobe.com

Nature is amazing, and no place in New Mexico attests to that fact more than the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Despite being home to tens of thousands of birds that winter here each year, this 57,000-acre wildlife refuge remains a bit of a hidden gem. The best time of year to visit is the fall, when over 10,000 sandhill cranes descend upon the landscape during migration. Some of the birds spend the winter here, while others continue migrating south. In addition to the sandhill cranes, hundreds of other bird species call Bosque del Apache home. Whether you love birdwatching or the great outdoors, or both, spending time here is a must for any nature lover.

3. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

Another thing we are absolutely thankful for in New Mexico is our hot springs. While many believe the mineral-rich water to be healing, its also incredibly relaxing. If youd like to treat yourself and perhaps a loved one to a luxurious and relaxing experience, book a stay or a day pass at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, which was first established as a health spa in 1868.

4. El Malpais National Monument

Claire  stock.adobe.com

Have you ever walked through a volcanic landscape? Well, you can do just that when you visit El Malpais National Monument in Grants, New Mexico. With lava fields and towering sandstone cliffs, taking a hike through this landscape is like walking on the surface of another planet. And if youre unable to go for a hike, no problem, as theres a scenic drive you can take through its rugged landscape. This is one of the most unique places to visit in New Mexico that will make you realize how truly enchanting the state is.

5. City of Rocks State Park

LMSwanson  stock.adobe.com

While New Mexico is home to 35 state parks, one of its most remarkable is City of Rocks State Park. Throughout its 1,230 acres, there are massive rock formations, some towering 40 feet high. When hiking through the landscape, the trails almost seem like roads meandering through a city of buildings, but instead of buildings, there are boulders. Its another unique spot to visit in an incredible state thats chockfull of unique natural attractions and, for that, we are grateful.

What New Mexico spots are you so thankful for this year? If yours isnt on the list, please send us a note to share your favorite places around the state and explain why you love them. If youre looking for a few bucket list adventures, check out the Ultimate and Definitive Bucket List for Everyone in New Mexico.

Plan your own enchanting trip to The Land of Enchantment with Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces a new crime initiative targeting violent repeat offenders in Houston. Photo: Bethany Blankley / The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday issued his third directive in three days targeting Islamic groups with alleged ties to terrorism. In response, Muslim groups sued, arguing his directives are unconstitutional.

On Tuesday, Abbott first declared the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on Islamic Relations (CAIR) foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations.

Both have made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islams mastership of the world," Abbott said. "The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.

In response, CAIR sent a letter to Abbott saying the proclamation was defamatory and has no basis in law or fact. It also said he has no authority to unilaterally declare any Americans or American institutions terrorist groups. CAIR says its an independent nonprofit organization that operates in full compliance with federal, state and local laws and it is not and never has been a member of or affiliated with any foreign organization.

On Wednesday, Abbott issued his second directive to law enforcement officers to investigate an Islamic Tribunal operating in north Texas that claims to make judicial rulings.

The tribunal claims its imams resolve legal disputes and are qualified to do so through their Islamic jurisprudence training at schools in Egypt, Sudan and Turkey.

The tribunals constitution explains, Stoning adulterers, cutting of the hands, polyandry and the like (all can be traced in the relevant literature and can be explained in their Islamic legal mentality and rational context in fairness and justice), are mainly a part of Islamic Criminal Law.

Abbott maintains the U.S. Constitutions religious protections provide no authority for religious courts to skirt state and federal laws simply by donning robes and pronouncing positions inconsistent with western civilization. Legal disputes in Texas must be decided based on American law rooted in the fundamental principles of American due process, not according to Sharia law dispensed in modern day star chambers.

In response, CAIR blamed Israel for Abbotts actions, also stating, Israels PR machine helps manufacture anti-Muslim hysteria, anti-Sharia panic, and blatant Islamaphobia used as political tools to dehumanize Muslims and justify state violence. CAIR also claims Abbott is an AIPAC agent, an anti-Muslim bigot and Israel First politician.

On Thursday, Abbott expanded his previous order by directing DPS, which includes the Texas Rangers and special agents assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, to launch criminal investigations into the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR. He directed them to work with federal partners to gather intelligence, investigate criminal organizations related to illicit funding and money laundering activities, and use Texas Terrorist Offender Registration Program when appropriate.

The goal is to identify, disrupt, and eradicate terrorist organizations engaged in criminal activities in Texas," Abbott said. We will target threats of violence, intimidation, and harassment of our citizens. We will also focus on individuals or groups who unlawfully impose Sharia law  which violates the Texas Constitution and state statutes."

In response, CAIR Legal Defense Fund and Muslim Legal Defense Fund sued Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas even though CAIR Texas is based in Richardson and CAIR National is based in Washington, D.C. The district court convenes in San Antonio with divisions in Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos and Waco.

The lawsuit alleges Abbotts actions violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution as well as the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

"No civil rights organizations are safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure, CAIR Litigation Director Lena Masri said.

MLFA attorney Charlie Swift said Abbotts unconstitutional proclamation undermines the very foundational notions of due process that our system depends upon and it must not stand. For the sake of our nations basic freedoms, Greg Abbotts latest attack on the American people must be defeated.
In this photo released by Christian Association of Nigeria, a man walk past belongings at the St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School after gunmen abducted children and staff in Papiri community, Nigeria, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Christian Association of Nigeria via AP)

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  Gunmen attacked a Catholic boarding school in a western region of Nigeria and abducted more than 200 schoolchildren Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria said, in the latest in a spate of abductions in Africas most populous country.

The attack and abductions took place at St. Marys School, a Catholic institution in the Agwara local governments Papiri community. Attackers seized 215 pupils and students as well as 12 teachers, said Daniel Atori, a spokesperson for the Niger state chapter of CAN.

I just got back to the village tonight after I visited the school where I also met with parents, Atori said in a statement, quoting the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa, the CAN chairman in Niger. The statement added that the association is working "to ensure our childrens safe return.

The Niger State Police Command said the abductions took place in the early hours, and that military and security forces have since been deployed to the community. It described St. Marys as a secondary school, which in Nigeria would serve children between the ages of 12 and 17.

A satellite image shows that the school compound is attached to an adjoining primary school, with more than 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It's located near a major road linking the towns of Yelwa and Mokwa.

Dauda Chekula, 62, said that four of his grandchildren, ranging in age from 7 to 10, were among the schoolchildren abducted.

We dont know what is happening now, because we have not heard anything since this morning, Chekula said. The children who were able to escape have scattered, some of them ran back to their houses and the only information we are getting is that the attackers are still moving with the remaining children into the bush.

The statement by the secretary to the Niger state government said that the abduction occurred, despite prior intelligence warning of heightened threats.

Regrettably, St. Marys School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk, it read.

Umar Yunus, a Papiri resident, said there were only local security arrangements and no official police or government forces securing the school at the time of the attack on Friday.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora said in a statement that a security staffer was badly shot during the attack.

Authorities, meanwhile, closed 47 of the countrys federal unity colleges that are mostly in conflict-battered northern states. The unity colleges  a group of elite government schools with attendance drawn from across the country  are to be closed immediately, according to a circular issued by Nigerias Federal Ministry of Education.

Spate of abductions

The abductions took place days after gunmen on Monday attacked a high school and abducted 25 schoolgirls in the neighboring Kebbi state, in Maga, around 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Papiri. One of the girls later escaped and is safe, the schools principal said.

In a separate attack on Monday in Kwara state, which borders Niger state, gunmen attacked a church, killing two people. During the attack, 38 worshippers were also abducted, Femi Agbabiaka, secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church, told The Associated Press on Friday. He said that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of 100 million naira ($69,000) for each person taken.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu canceled his trip to this weekends Group of 20 summit in South Africa over the recent events. Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent the president at the summit, the presidency said on X on Friday.

We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice, Shettima said during a visit to Kebbi state on Wednesday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Niger and Kebbi state, but analysts and locals say gangs often target schools, travelers and remote villagers in kidnappings for ransom. Authorities say the gunmen are mostly former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over strained resources.

Abductions have come to define the insecurity prevailing in Africas most populous nation.

At least 1,500 students have been abducted in the region since Boko Haram jihadi extremists seized 276 Chibok schoolgirls more than a decade ago. But bandits are also active in the region, and analysts say gangs often target schools to gain attention.

Nigeria was recently thrust into the spotlight after U.S. President Donald Trump singled the country out, stating that Christians are being persecuted  an allegation that the government rejected.

While Christians are among those targeted, analysts say that the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigerias Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur.

Community upset

Analysts and residents blame the insecurity on a failure to prosecute known attackers, and the rampant corruption that limits weapons supplies to security forces while ensuring a steady supply to the gangs.

Eze Gloria Chidinma, 27, a Lagos-based influencer, also known as Riaz Kitchen," told The Associated Press her sister was able to escape the school during the attacks by jumping a fence.

Chidinma said it's not the first time her family has been affected by the rampant kidnappings in the country.

My mother and my older brother were kidnapped last year. We called security, we called the police, and they just said there is nothing they can do," she said, noting the family had to pay a huge amount of money to rescue them.

"My message to the authorities right now is to think about the people. Your job is to protect lives and properties. Peoples lives should matter to you," Chidinma added.

Yohanna Buru, a pastor and head of the Peace Revival And Reconciliation Foundation, an organization focused on interfaith dialogue, called on authorities to increase security around schools in areas affected by the security crisis.

If the government was doing enough, then rampant kidnappings all over the country would not have happened," he said. Its as if they dont care about the future of our children.

___

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press journalists Mohammed Ibrahim in Kaduna, Dan Ikpoyi in Lagos, and Justina Asishana in Niger, Nigeria, contributed.
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Justice subpoenaed the personal phone records of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan in 2022, seeking the Ohio Republican's phone data covering a more than two-year period.

The subpoena, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows a federal prosecutor who later worked on special counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 investigation ordered Verizon to hand over the phone data, also known as toll records, reaching back to Jan. 1, 2020.

The request appears to be the most expansive yet of the publicly known subpoenas targeting senators and current and former House members during Arctic Frost, the investigation that led to Smith bringing election-related charges against President Donald Trump.

Jack Smith Targeted Then-house Speaker Mccarthys Private Phone Records In J6 Probe, Fbi Docs Reveal

Rep. Jim Jordan leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, June 4, 2025.

Smith did not begin working as special counsel until seven months after the subpoena was issued, meaning the request pre-dated his time at the DOJ.

The subpoena for Jordan's records appears to be one of the first known ones in the Arctic Frost probe and was issued during a time when Jordan was serving as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, which conducts oversight of the DOJ. His role at the time is illustrative of Republicans' sharp criticisms of the Arctic Frost subpoenas, as they claim the requests for Congress members' phone records breached the separation of powers, including under the speech or debate clause.

Read On The Fox News App

The toll records did not include the contents of Jordan's phone calls or messages but did include details about when calls and messages were sent and received and with whom Jordan was communicating. The subpoena sought records for three other phone numbers, which were redacted. It included a one-year gag order signed by a D.C. magistrate judge.

Read a copy of the subpoena below. App users click here.

Jordan, a close Trump ally, is the latest in a string of lawmakers to have recently learned that the DOJ sought their toll records as part of Arctic Frost. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's were sought in 2023, as were the records of what Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said were at least 10 Republican senators, including Sens. Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson.

Smith has said that his investigation into the Jan. 6 riot and 2020 election was consistent with DOJ policies and that the subpoenas he was involved with sending were "entirely proper" and narrowly tailored.

Verizon produced documents for the DOJ in response to the subpoena pertaining to Jordan, a source told Fox News Digital.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham speaks during a press conference on Saint Michael's Square in the city center on May 30, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Verizon said in a statement it has been coordinating with the House and Senate Judiciary committees and "working tirelessly" to gather information on the subpoenas related to lawmakers.

"As part of our investigation, we uncovered new information regarding Chairman Jordan and shared it with him as soon as possible," Verizon spokesman Rich Young said. "We are committed to restoring trust through transparency and will continue to work with Congress and the administration as they examine these issues and consider reforms to expand notification protections."





Original article source: Biden DOJ subpoenaed Jim Jordan's phone records covering more than two years
An Ohio police officer fired his weapon 15 times, repeatedly striking a 36-year-old man who appeared to be unarmed, body-camera footage from the Nov. 11 incident shows.

Police were responding to a 911 caller who reported a man was in the parking lot of Karams Lounge on Albrecht Avenue in Akron, pointing a firearm inside the bar, when the shooting happened.

The Akron Police Department on Nov. 18 released the bodycam footage and a 911 call from the incident in Ellet.

In total, the incident was about 20 seconds from the moment the officer stepped out of the cruiser to the second he opened fire. It took about 2 minutes for officers to make physical contact with the man; thats when officers handcuffed him, searched him, removed his jacket and shirt and awaited aid.

Based on the available footage, it did not appear that officers recovered a firearm.

Shooting: BCI investigating Akron police shooting Tuesday in Ellet; suspect in 'serious' condition

The man is in critical condition. Signal Akron reported that he underwent multiple surgeries for his injuries.

The officer who shot the man has four years of police service, with his last year in Akron, according to the Akron Police Department. He is now on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigation.

BCI will turn its findings over to the Ohio Attorney General's Office before being submitted to the Summit County Grand Jury for review. The Akron Police Department's Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will conduct a separate internal investigation, with the results being provided to the Akron police chief and the city of Akron police auditor.

Screen shot of body-worn camera footage showing the seconds leading up to the Nov. 11, 2025, police shooting of a 36-year-old man in Ellet.

What did the 911 caller say?

Identifying herself as the bartender at Karam's Lounge, a female caller told a dispatcher that she locked the doors because a man was in the parking lot with a gun, aiming it through the windows.

"He tried to shoot, but it didn't shoot. I don't know if he has the safety on," the woman said. "He's pulling on the door."

She said the man was "acting very strange" and nodded off. He had one drink.

"I asked him to leave, and he got flipping weird. He's still walking out there and saying, 'Yeah, I'm going back to prison tonight,'" she said

Interaction before shooting lasts about 20 seconds

Screen shot of body-worn camera footage showing the moment an Akron police officer fired 15 rounds, striking a 36-year-old man in Ellet on Nov. 11, 2025.

The officer exited his cruiser at about 9:14 p.m. and pointed his firearm at a man in a zipped-up hooded jacket. The man held his right hand at his chest, resting it on the zipper.

"Get your (expletive) hands out of your pocket!" the officer yelled. "Stop where you are. Get your hands out of your (expletive) pocket."

The man put his hands up.

"Get the (expletive) on the ground right now," the officer commanded. "Youre going to get shot. Get on the ground or you're gonna get shot."

The man leaned over but stood back up and spoke.

"Hey, don't yell at me, bro," the man said as he raised his right hand back up to his chest.

"Get out of your pockets," the officer said, walking to the right. "Hey, get out of your pockets."

Just as the officer finished that sentence, he opened fire, shooting 15 times in rapid succession. The man immediately staggered back, spun around and flailed before hitting the ground.

The officer radioed that shots were fired, and the suspect was down. While on the ground, the man groaned and yelled, "Oh, my God!"

"Hey, get your hands out," the officer yelled. "Get your hands out of your pockets. You're going to get shot again. Get your hands up."

"I can't," the man replied before another officer yelled at him to put his hands up.

At 9:16 p.m., officers approached the man. The officer who opened fire asked about the gun.

"I never had a gun," the man said, lying on his back and groaning. "I never had a gun.

Officers rolled him over and handcuffed him. Searching for a gun, officers went through his pockets, but they did not appear to find a firearm. After unzipping his jacket and taking off his shirt, multiple gunshot wounds are seen on the man's chest and abdomen.

After the shooting, bullet casings littered the ground. A nearby fence had multiple bullet holes.

Chief of police, Akron mayor release statements

Chief Brian Harding thanked all Akron officers for their work, noting it was a difficult and dangerous job that involved split-second decisions.

We have high standards in the Akron Police Department and that includes a belief that there is always room for improvement; always lessons to be learned, including in this incident, Harding said in a prepared statement.

The police department is in the final weeks of their Integrating, Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (de-escalation) training, he said.

In a separate statement, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said that it appeared the man was unarmed, but BCI will determine whether he had a firearm before the police encounter.

"This incident underscores why we are undertaking a comprehensive review of APDs use-of-force policies, practices, and procedures. Even when actions may meet legal standards, we must always ask: What can we learn? What is the best way to approach challenging situations? How can we improve training, tactics and systems to help us achieve the safest possible outcomes?" Malik said.

"We owe it to the community to understand what happened and to learn from it. We can't control every factor in volatile, high-risk situations. But we can control how we prepare our officers, how we train them, and how we equip them to de-escalate, make sound decisions under pressure and return home safely," Malik said.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron, Ohio police officer shot at man 15 times
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP)  A boiler at a glue-making factory in eastern Pakistan exploded on Friday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 21 others. The force of the blast destroyed the factory building and damaged several nearby homes, igniting a huge fire and spreading panic through the area, officials said.

Police said they arrested the factory manager and were looking for the factory owner who fled shortly after the explosion at the industrial facility in Faisalabad, a city in Punjab province.

The cause of the explosion, was not immediately known, according to Usman Anwar, the Punjab police chief. Police later said a gas leakage may have caused it.

It was not clear how many of the 18 dead were factory workers and how many were local residents. Earlier reports said at least 15 workers were killed.

Local administrator Raja Jahangir said an investigation was underway to determine how construction permits allowed the factory to be built in a residential area of Faisalabad, in violation of building laws.

The explosion completely flattened the factory, Jahangir said, adding that rescuers spent hours pulling bodies and survivors out of the rubble. Several of the injured were in critical condition.

Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that it collapsed nearby homes and hurled debris across the streets. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her condolences and ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

Muhammad Iqbal, one of the injured at the local hospital, said it felt like an earthquake and that roofs and walls of nearby houses collapsed. He said his wife and son were also injured, but they were in a stable condition.

Nadeem Zafar, 45, said he rushed out of his home after hearing a deafening boom and described the scene of chaos that ensued.

I saw flames and thick smoke rising, he told The Associated Press over the phone. People were screaming, running in every direction, calling for help."

Ambulances and rescuers arrived quickly and began pulling bodies out of the rubble in the Malikpur neighborhood, he said, adding that many around him initially thought it was a bomb or some sort of projectile.

Poor safety standards are a frequent cause of industrial accidents and factory fires in Pakistan. In 2024, a dozen workers were injured in a similar boiler explosion at a textile mill in Faisalabad. Also last week, a blast at a firecrackers factory in Pakistans port city of Karachi killed four people.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents with night-vision gear enter a building during a nighttime operation in New York on Jan. 28, 2025. Photo: Tia Dufour / U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Public Domain

(The Center Square)  Illegal border crossings and apprehensions continue at the northern border, which saw unprecedented numbers during the Biden administration.

Overall, illegal entries are down but with more Border Patrol agents in the field, they are apprehending more between ports of entry.

In Maine, Border Patrol apprehensions hit a 24-year high in fiscal 2025. The fiscal year goes from Oct.1 through Sept. 30.

In the first six months of the year, Maine Border Patrol agents apprehended 113 illegal border crossers coming through Canada from 16 countries, The Center Square reported.

As of Oct.1, that number increased to 725 coming through Canada from 46 countries, according to U.S. Custom and Border Protection data.

CBP and Border Patrol officers are tasked with securing the U.S.-Canada border in Maine in CBPs Houlton Sector. The Houlton Sector covers 611 miles of shared international land border between Maine and Canada and more than 3,500 miles of coast patrolled by U.S. federal agents.

Houlton Sector Border Patrol arrests last year surpassed their previous record of 685 apprehensions in 2001, its Chief Border Patrol Agent Derrick Stamper said.

This is about more than numbers; its about safeguarding national security. Every apprehension disrupts potential threats, from human smuggling networks to individuals with illicit intentions, ensuring that Maines communities and the entire United States remain safe from those seeking to exploit our borders, Stamper said.

Despite Border Patrol record apprehensions, they apprehend a fraction of illegal border crossers coming from Canada compared to CBP officers stationed at ports of entry and in field offices, according to CBP data.

In fiscal 2025, a total of 6,719 illegal border crossers were reported in Maine; 725 apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

The overall number is a dramatic drop from the record high of 23,495 apprehended in fiscal 2024, according to CBP data.

In fiscal 2023, at the height of the border crisis, a record 19,768 were apprehended in Maine in fiscal 2023, according to CBP data.

The sector, and the northern border, have never seen these numbers prior to the Biden administration, according to CBP data.

Houlton Sector agents, along with others in 14 northern border states, apprehended a record nearly 701,000 in fiscal years 2022 through the first three months of fiscal 2025, The Center Square reported.

The greatest number of illegal border crossers being apprehended in Maine  as has been the case nationwide  are single adults. The next greatest number are individuals claiming to be in a family unit (FMUA), followed by unaccompanied alien children (UACs).

A record 16,544 single adult illegal border crossers were apprehended in Maine in fiscal 2024; 13,902 were arrested in fiscal 2023. The data excludes gotaways, those who illegally enter between ports of entry to evade capture.

The greatest number of FMUAs were also apprehended in Maine in fiscal 2024 of 6,881, followed by 5,738 in fiscal 2023. The greatest number of UACs apprehended in Maine totaled 112 in fiscal 2023, according to the data.

The Houlton Sector reports an 80% decrease in illegal crossings between ports of entry along the U.S.-Canada border in Maine and no known gotaways since January.

This milestone was achieved through strategic resource allocation to vulnerable areas, improved infrastructure, enhanced enforcement posture, and prioritizing frontline operations that place agents in enforcement roles, Stamper said. He also attributes intelligence-sharing and operational partnerships enabling Border Patrol agents to identify and apprehend criminal aliens.

In the past year, Maine Border Patrol agents have apprehended MS-13 and Tren de Aragua members, designated as foreign terrorist organizations, and those with Interpol Red notices.

By July of this year, Border Patrol agents had arrested MS-13 members and a Salvadoran wanted by Interpol for aggravated murder in El Salvador, The Center Square reported.

Separately, Maine residents have been the victims of fraud perpetrated by an elaborate Chinese-Canadian fraud and money laundering scheme, The Center Square reported.
Justin Campbell Brianna LaPaglia

NEED TO KNOW

Brianna LaPaglia sat down with PEOPLE after competing on season 4 of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

The 26-year-old influencer, podcast host and reality star says she's "standing true to who I am" after getting vulnerable about her journey and public breakup last year

Amid her various endeavors, she's also relaunched her podcast, PlanBri Uncut

Brianna LaPaglia is stronger than she looks.

The 26-year-old influencer, podcast host and reality star just successfully completed season 4 of Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, and she sat down with PEOPLE to talk about her experience.

"What it's taught me about myself is how mentally capable I am of truly anything," she says. "I don't find myself saying 'I can't' anymore, which I did a lot on the show, and I don't find myself doubting myself as much, [either] which is really cool."

LaPaglia was subjected to numerous challenges  both physical and mental  while on the series, including "carrying 90 pounds of chains with a 30-pound backpack up a mountain in Africa in 100-degree weather," she recalls, and being "waterboarded in Morocco."

It was a moment of vulnerability, however, from an "interrogation" in the third episode that LaPaglia says seemed to connect the most with audiences. The influencer opened up about her breakup from country artist Zach Bryan in 2024, telling the show's Directing Staff agents that she "lost sight of myself" during that time and "just didn't want to be here anymore."

PETE DADDS / FOX Brianna LaPaglia on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.

LaPaglia tells PEOPLE that while watching the episode back was "definitely tough," she's also really proud of herself.

"The amount of people reaching out and the messages I received after that episode and the people coming up to me in the street just talking about episode three specifically, I think it made it all worth it," she says. "And, it was very therapeutic for me in the same sense."

After their split last October, LaPaglia discussed her relationship with Bryan during an episode of the BFFs Podcast, claiming that Bryan emotionally abused her. LaPaglia also claimed that Bryan asked her to sign an NDA, offering her $12 million and a New York apartment to "not talk about the relationship."

A rep for Bryan did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment at the time. Bryan has never addressed the abuse allegations publicly.

When asked if she feels like Special Forces helped her reclaim her voice, LaPaglia quips: "I don't think I ever lost it because I never signed it," referring to the alleged NDA.

"So, I don't think any of this is reclaiming, really. It's just standing true to who I am and how I've always been online," she continues.

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.

"This is Bri. This is who I was five years ago when I started on social media before I went through all of that, before anyone knew about that relationship," she explains. "So it's just me being who I am to the core, and that year and that dark place that I was in and that relationship, I wasn't me. So if anything, it's just me moving forward."

Jamie Pearl Brianna LaPaglia

In addition to cohosting the podcast BFFs with Josh Richards, the influencer has also relaunched her podcast PlanBri Uncut, this time as a solo endeavor after formerly cohosting with Grace O'Malley.

"It's such a safe place, not only for me, but for everyone that listens to it," she says. "It's definitely changed a lot than what it used to be  it's been through so many levels of silliness, through my partying era, through my college days, through TikTok, through relationships. It's just been so many different things, and now this is my favorite part or my journey that I've shared with the world of just being 26, going through everything I did publicly and just being an honest voice amongst so many that I think aren't right now in social media."

Justin Campbell Brianna LaPaglia

"I think it's hard to find people that are truly authentic through the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, and that's exactly what I want PlanBri to be, and what it is. So it's been such a joy to bring it back."

BFFs and PlanBri are available wherever you get your podcasts.

Read the original article on People
The captain of a motorboat which crashed into a sailboat off Italy's Amalfi coast, killing a U.S. tourist, has been jailed for more than four years for manslaughter, his lawyer said Friday.

Adrienne Vaughan, 45, the head of the U.S. branch of Bloomsbury publishing house, died after she was flung from the motorboat in the holiday hotspot in southern Italy in August 2023.

Italian skipper Elio Persico, 32, was sentenced by a Salerno judge to four years and nine months in jail after requesting a plea bargain, lawyer Liberato Mazzola told AFP.

Persico had tested positive for cocaine and alcohol at the time.

Vaughan had been on the boat with her husband and two children, aged 12 and 8, and had been sunbathing when the motorboat crashed into a sailboat carrying party-goers.

She was flung overboard and hit by the propellers. Her daughter was also thrown into the sea but was unharmed.

A video published by the New York Post showed guests on the sailboat during the collision, with one woman asking, "What happened?"

"This boat, it collided with us," a man responds frantically, before running across the deck.

Moments later, another guest says: "She needs help."

"The sailboat was going straight ahead and so was the [motor]boat," Pietro Iuzzolino, a barman who was making cocktails aboard the sailboat, told Italian newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno. "Then suddenly [the motorboat] veered 180 degrees: there was a collision and I heard a very loud bang.

"I saw the woman in the water being held up by her children and her husband," he said. "It was terrible."

Vaughan was pulled out of the water and brought to a dock but died by the time a helicopter ambulance arrived, state TV said at the time.

When the motorboat crashed, it had been headed to Positano, one of the most popular destinations along the Amalfi Coast, Italian media said.

View of Positano on the Amalfi Coast from Praiano, Italy. / Credit: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Vaughan was president of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., publisher of the Harry Potter series.

"Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers," said the board chair, Julia Reidhead, and president and CEO, Maria A. Pallante, in a joint statement after the incident. "Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate."

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Adrienne Vaughan/Facebook

NEED TO KNOW

The captain of a speedboat that crashed and killed an American publishing executive in Italy has been sentenced to over four years in prison for manslaughter, according to a report

Adrienne Vaughan, 45, died after being flung from the motorboat off the Amalfi Coast in August 2023

Elio Persico was sentenced after requesting a plea bargain, his attorney Liberato Mazzola told AFP, per CBS News

The captain of a speedboat that crashed and killed an American publishing executive in Italy in August 2023 has been sentenced, according to a report.

On Friday, Nov. 21, Elio Persico, 32, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for manslaughter after requesting a plea bargain, his attorney Liberato Mazzola told AFP, per CBS News.

PEOPLE previously reported Adrienne Vaughan  the CEO of the U.S. branch of publication company Bloomsbury  died at the age of 45 after being flung from the motorboat off the coast of Italys Amalfi Coast in August 2023.

Vaughan had been with her husband and two children on the 9-meter speedboat when it collided with a 45-meter boat named the Tortuga, U.K. newspaper The Guardian and CNN reported at the time.

According to CBS News, Persico had tested positive for cocaine and alcohol at the time of the incident.

PEOPLE has contacted Persico's attorney for comment.

Getty Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

"The vessel was going straight, and so was the hull, bartender Pietro Iuzzolino, who was making cocktails on the larger boat, told Italian newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno at the time. Then suddenly it turned 180 degrees: there was a collision, and I heard a very loud bang. I saw the woman in the water, supported by her children and husband ... It was terrible."

After Vaughan fell overboard, she was hit by the boat's propeller, per The Guardian. Vaughan was pulled out of the water and pronounced her dead at the scene according to the Associated Press.

While Vaughans daughter was also flung into the water, she did not sustain any injuries, per CBS News. PEOPLE previously reported that Vaughan's husband was taken to the hospital with a shoulder injury.

The motorboat had been heading to Positano when it crashed, Italian media reported, per CBS News.

The public prosecutor of Salerno, Marinella Guglielmotti, told CNN shortly after the crash that the captain of the Tortuga tested negative for substances and was not under investigation.

She added that none of the 80 passengers on the Tortuga were injured.



Bloomsburys board chair, Julia Reidhead and president and CEO, Maria A. Pallante confirmed Vaughans death to the AP in a joint statement at the time of the incident.

Calling her a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion," the statement continued that [Vaughan] had a deep commitment to authors and readers. Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate.



Read the original article on People
Colombia has recovered some treasures from a 300-year-old shipwreck called the San Jose including coins and a canon. - Colombia Ministry of Culture

Colombia has recovered gold and bronze coins, a porcelain cup and a cannon from a sunken Spanish warship dubbed the holy grail of shipwrecks.

The artifacts are the first treasures to be recovered from the wreckage of the San Jose, a Spanish galleon that was sunk by the British Royal Navy in the Caribbean more than 300 years ago.

At the time of its sinking, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the San Jose had been carrying large amounts of gold, silver and emeralds from Spanish colonies in Latin American back to the Spanish king.

Collectively, those treasures are believed to be worth billions of dollars in todays money and they are at the center of a heated legal dispute between the Colombian government and a US-based marine salvaging company named Sea Search-Armada (SSA).

Colombia maintains that it discovered the San Jose in 2015 with help from international scientists, but SSA, formerly known as Glocca Morra, claims to have found the shipwreck in the early 1980s and has launched a legal battle in the Permanent Court of Arbitration, claiming it is entitled to approximately $10 billion  roughly half the estimated value of the shipwrecks treasure.

Artifacts found in the wreckage of Spanish galleon San Jose are seen in this undated handout photo provided by the Colombian Ministry of Culture on December 5, 2015. - Colombian Ministry of Culture/Reuters

The Colombian government says its recovery of the treasures is part of a research project that could provide clues about Europes economic, social and political climate during the early 18th century. It also says the galleon is significant to Colombias culture and identity.

In a statement Thursday, Colombian Culture Minister Yannai Kadamani Fonrodona described the recovery as a historic event that demonstrated the countrys capacity to protect its underwater cultural heritage.

Alhena Caicedo Fernandez, director of Colombias Institute of Anthropology and History, said it opens the possibility for citizens to approach, through material evidence, the history of the San Jose galleon.

The government says the items, which were recovered using underwater robots, will now undergo a lengthy conservation process at a lab and will be used for archeological research.

Historical records show that the San Jose was part of a shipping fleet known as the Flota de Tierra Firme.

It was one of several ships in the fleet that left Peru in 1707 carrying a large amount of royal cargo, but records show that it never reached Spain, instead sinking off Colombia following a battle with British forces the following year.

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The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Amanda Cook, previously serving as an at-large member of the City Council in High Point, is the choice to replace former Rep. Cecil Brockman in the North Carolina General Assembly.

The Guilford County Democrat relinquished his seat Oct. 31 amid charges of statutory sex offense with a 15-year-old and two counts indecent liberties with a child. Cook was chosen by the Guilford County Democratic Partys House District 60 executive committee. Shes a former public school teacher.

Chris Williams on Monday was appointed to fill Cooks place on the City Council in High Point. The unexpired term runs through December 2027.

First-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein this week appointed Cook to the House of Representatives for District 60. The term is through December 2026.

Cook operates the educational nonprofit The Teachers Edge. Shes already launched a campaign website for the 2026 cycle; filing begins Dec. 1.

Brockman defeated Republican Joseph Perrotta 63.2%-36.8% in the November 2024 election. In the Super Tuesday primary for Democrats, he was 85 votes better than James Adams of more than 6,000 cast.
Michelle O'Neill, who was deputy first minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, was responding to the report by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry [PA Media]

The Stormont Executive would now be better prepared for a health pandemic, following damning criticism of how it handled the Covid-19 crisis, First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said.

She said it was important to "learn lessons" for the future and said the executive was already putting in place positive changes.

O'Neill, who was deputy first minister during the pandemic, was responding to the report by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The inquiry found that decision making in Northern Ireland "was chaotic, and infected by political machination".

In her report, Baroness Heather Hallett said "insufficient attention" was given to the prospect of a second wave of the virus, with only limited contingency planning in place for reintroducing restrictions.

Baroness Hallett said the relationships between ministers were "poor" and "detrimental to good decision making".

On "multiple occasions" decision making was "marred by political disputes between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein ministers," she said.

'Regrets'

O'Neill told BBC News NI she welcomed the inquiry as "it's crucially important that we learn lessons".

"We've already started to change in terms of how we prepare for emergency planning, also in terms of recruiting our own Chief Scientific Advisor.

"Those are all lessons learned that automatically came, which is a direct impact of how we had responded to the pandemic.

"I think it's really important that as a whole of the executive that we reflect on all those lessons and take them on board and actually make changes and improvements," she said.

Describing it as "one of the most challenging times" of her career she added: "Of course we have to reflect and of course there's things we could have done better."

When it was put to her about her decision to attend the funeral of Bobby Storey and how that undermined public confidence, she spoke of "regrets" she has about that time.

"I've spoken about it on numerous occasions including to the inquiry itself and I'm very mindful of all those people that lost a loved one and how my actions would have caused them even more harm and hurt," she added.

'Lessons to learn'

In a statement on Friday the DUP said they welcomed the report.

The party said their ministers "all at times prioritised" what they believed to be best interests of the people of Northern Ireland, adding they "fully cooperated with the inquiry".

"This was an unprecedented and extraordinarily difficult period for everyone across our society," the statement said.

It added that people in Northern Ireland, "including those on the front line of our health service, worked tirelessly to protect lives and safeguard livelihoods".

"It is important that public messaging is never again undermined by those responsible for setting rules failing to follow them. That had a significant impact on public confidence at a crucial time."

The statement said that there will "lessons to learned" from the report.

Diane Dodds says most decisions were taken "without any controversy" [BBC]

DUP MLA, Diane Dodds, who was economy minister for a time during the pandemic, defended the executive's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic saying the "vast majority" of decisions were taken "without any controversy or any real issues whatsoever".

However, Dodds told the BBC's The View programme: "We operate in a mandatory coalition in Northern Ireland, that means we have parties with differing views on many subjects."

She added that, if a pandemic were to re-occur, the executive should make sure that "we are well prepared, have a considered response, and there should be a contingency plan that is fully operational and able to be stood up at very short notice".

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA, Robin Swann, was health minister at the time of the pandemic.

The UUP said he "acted on the best scientific advice available" and that "his guiding light at all times was keeping the public safe".

"We were deeply dismayed by the lack of seriousness shown by some executive colleagues during this critical period, including persistent briefing against others and the leaking of confidential information."

They added that the report's findings on Sinn Fein members attending the funeral of Bobby Storey were "significant" and that the decision to attend "undermined public trust".

The statement said it was clear that "DUP colleagues were largely driven by political opportunism and sought to create division within the executive rather than focus on the collective challenge".

Dodds responded to the criticism on BBC One's The View, saying: "Pot, kettle, and black comes to mind."

"This is an opportunity that Robin Swann and the Ulster Unionists have taken to have a swipe at the DUP," she said, adding that there are "many issues that could be held against whoever within the executive".

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O'Toole, said the findings of the report "again highlight the lack of political leadership at Stormont".

He said the report "underlined the need for a serious programme of institutional reform to ensure better government".

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister called the executive "dysfunctional as ever", adding that "even for Covid" ministers "couldn't get it together".

A spokesperson for The Executive Office said the report is a "significant milestone", and that "there are lessons to be learned and the cross-departmental group established to take forward recommendations continues to meet and will now consider today's findings".

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw sat on Stormont's health committee during the pandemic [BBC]

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sat on Stormont's health committee during the pandemic, said Baroness Hallett's report is "damning" and show the need for government reform.

The problems in decision making details, she added, "undoubtedly" led to loss of life

Bradshaw told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme a four week circuit breaker in October 2020, when "the scientific evidence was for six weeks of lockdown", led to a 25% rise in Covid-19 cases.

"And there is a direct correlation between that 25% increase in cases and the number of deaths," she said.

She said there is a need for "urgent and widespread institutional reform here in Northern Ireland".

What are the report's recommendations?

The report gives a long list of suggestions, including 19 specific recommendations for Northern Ireland, to avoid "a potential vacuum of decision-making powers".

They include:

Reconstructing the role of chief medical officer for Northern Ireland as an independent advisory role.

A review into how powers are delegated in government during an emergency.

Amending the ministerial code to prohibit the disclosure of individual views expressed during meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive Committee.

Establishing structures to improve communication between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland during an emergency.

Dr Alan Stout said the report was "not surprising" [BBC]

Dr Alan Stout, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland, said the report is "not surprising and it's also not good reading".

"The first wave, the initial stages, the report covers this quite well. We were very, very dependent on the UK response and we very much followed the UK response," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"And actually, Northern Ireland probably performed slightly better."

"But it was that second wave, and that's where that word chaotic comes in," Dr Stout added.

He said it will be "disappointing and ironic" if the report is used "as an excuse for political parties just to take a pop at each other again" rather than learning.

Need to be 'more cooperative'

Former chief nursing officer in Northern Ireland Professor Martin Bradley said there is "nothing very new in all of this".

"I think that it wasn't our finest hour as far as politics was concerned," he said.

"If we are going to learn any lessons, we need to be more cooperative with each other, and we need to have more empathy with each other; understanding that if you rub people's noses in it from a political point of view then you're not going to get anywhere."
U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic lawmaker who served on Donald Trumps National Security Council in his first term urged the White House on Friday to release a transcript of Trumps 2019 call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after journalist Jamal Khashoggis killing.

"The Khashoggi family and the American people deserve to know what was in that call... the receipts will raise serious questions," Representative Eugene Vindman told a news conference with Khashoggi's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi.

In 2019, Vindman worked on the National Security Council where his job included reviewing confidential telephone calls.

"In my opinion, that call was shocking," Vindman, a retired Army officer, said.

Vindman declined to release details about the call because it was classified. But he said it involved a quid pro quo, implying that Trump had offered a favor in return for something.

Asked for comment, White House communications director Steven Cheung said in an email: "Vindman is a bitter back-bencher who nobody takes seriously. He is a serial liar."

Trump gave bin Salman a lavish welcome at the White House on Tuesday and defended him over the killing of Khashoggi by Saudi agents, which U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the crown prince approved.

Trump said on Tuesday that bin Salman knew nothing about the October 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi leadership.

Vindman represents Virginia, Khashoggi's home when he was killed at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. Dozens of congressional Democrats joined him this week in signing a letter demanding the White House release the call transcript.

Vindman did not specify the date of the call. According to media reports, Trump and the Saudi leader spoke on June 21, 2019. News coverage said they discussed U.S. tensions with Iran and oil prices.

In November 2018, Trump said bin Salman may have known about Khashoggi's killing. But, the president said, the U.S. would remain a "steadfast partner" to the kingdom and not "foolishly cancel" Saudi contracts to buy U.S. military equipment.

Vindman said he was concerned by two calls while at the NSC, one with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that led to Trump's first impeachment and the call with the Saudi ruler.

Vindman's twin brother, Alexander Vindman, also worked on the security council and blew the whistle on the Zelenskiy call that led to Trump's first impeachment. In that call, Trump suggested that Zelenskiy investigate Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Conibio Global A.C./Facebook Signs placed at Playa Bagdad on Nov. 17 declaring the area U.S. Department of Defense property

NEED TO KNOW

Signs appeared on a beach in Mexico Nov. 17 declaring the area "Department of Defense" property

The signs were soon removed by Mexican authorities, who determined they had been placed there by mistake

An official from the nearby U.S. military base told PEOPLE "contractors" had put the signs in the region by accident, and vowed to "avoid confusion" in future efforts

The United States Department of Defense appeared to mistakenly declare a Mexican beach part of U.S. property.

Signs appeared this week in both English and Spanish on the Mexico side of the border between the two countries, warning trespassers that the spot was Department of Defense property and declaring it a restricted area as directed by the commander, according to The Daily Beast.



The incident, which took place on Monday, Nov. 17, was quickly framed as an "invasion" on social media. When Mexican Navy members arrived at the scene about 12 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, they removed the signs after determining that they had been wrongly placed there.



Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mexican Ministry of the Navy released a joint statement confirming the removal of the signs, My San Antonio reported.

"Acting on information received, naval personnel located and removed six warning signs placed at Playa Bagdad, Tamaulipas, as a preventative measure, their statement read, according to an English translation. While they confirmed the signs had been taken down, they were not able to confirm who placed the signs on the beach.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, an official at Joint Base San Antonio  a nearby U.S. military facility  said that "contractors" placed the signs.

"Changes in water depth and topography altered the perception of the international boundarys location," the statement said, noting that "Government of Mexico personnel removed 6 of the signs based on that perception of the international boundarys location."

The JBSA official added that the contractors would "coordinate with appropriate agencies to avoid confusion in the future."

The signs appear to be connected to the military's plans to establish a National Defense Area (NDA) along Hidalgo and Cameron counties on the border of Mexico. The area is part of efforts under President Donald Trump to "seal" the southern border.

After visiting a newly established NDA in April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told troops, "This is Department of Defense property. Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base  a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by U.S. troops and border patrol working together."

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Nov. 21, 2024

According to My San Antonio, officials said the NDA would be administered by the U.S. Air Force by Joint Base San Antonio.

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The Pentagon referred PEOPLE to the Air Force when reached for comment.



The beach where the signs were placed is Playa Bagdad, described by My San Antonio as "a popular Mexican beach just outside of Matamoros, the sister city of Brownsville, the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley" that is also "a popular viewing spot during SpaceX launches."



Read the original article on People
Disney Cruise Line; Adventures with Beci/Instagram 'Disney Destiny' ship (left) and the note Beci Mahnken received after her hair dryer was taken (right)

NEED TO KNOW

A Disney Cruise Line passenger detailed her "walk of shame" after a common item got confiscated during a recent sailing on the new Disney Destiny ship

While she found humor in the experience, she shared it on social media as a tip for passengers as the cruise line appears to have updated their guidelines, she says

Disney Cruise Line currently has the item listed as the exception to electrical appliances allowed on board, but only if they meet certain requirements

A Disney Cruise Line passenger is documenting her walk of shame after a common travel item was confiscated during a recent sailing on the new Disney Destiny ship.

Taking to Instagram and Facebook on Nov. 18, Beci Mahnken, CEO of travel agency MEI-Travel, detailed the experience of getting her hair dryer taken away after boarding the cruise lines highly-anticipated seventh vessel earlier in November.

Cruise Tip You Didnt Know You Needed, she begins the post, followed by a red siren emoji. Before you set sail check your blow dryer and hair styling tools!

Mahnken then recalls how after she made it onto the ship, she opened her bag to find a note from the Guest Services Team.

My trusty blow dryer, the one Ive used for years - it probably has Pearl status on its own - got itself confiscated on the Disney Destiny. Yup, she continued. When I opened my bag, I got a little note: Welcome aboard  we took your blow dryer!

Alongside the caption, she included a photo of the actual note she discovered in her bag. Following a friendly greeting, the note explains, one of your items could not make it onboard for safety & security reasons.

It continued, please retain this card as your receipt to retrieve your item at the Confiscated Item Desk at our Cruise Terminal in Port Everglades at the end of the cruise. A paper receipt was included in the card that specified Mahnkens name and stated her hair dryer as the item that was taken.

Later in her caption, Mahnken says she had to use the hair dryer that the ship provided, which ended up being a slow process for her hair type. Once the sailing was over, she was finally reunited with her beloved hair tool  but only after she had a walk of shame to the ship's hair jail, she jokes.

At the end of the cruise, cue the walk of shame to the confiscated items desk in the port, AKA Hair Jail, where my dryer was lounging with at least 30 Dysons  all sitting there like they were on a luxury spa retreat, probably swapping blow-dryer gossip and judging the multiple steamers hanging out too, she writes.

She then highlights Disney Cruise Lines guidelines for bringing hair dryers on board, which she alleges are new rules as a longtime cruiser.

Sandor Szmutko / Alamy Stock Photo Dyson hair dryer

In the Prohibited and Restricted Items section of the cruise lines website, the company says, For the safety of all Guests on board, electrical appliances are restricted and therefore prohibited from being brought on board.

However, hair dryers are listed as the exception if they meet the following requirements: Hairdryers must be 220V/2000 watts max or 110V/1500 watts max, the website states, adding, all ships offer a hand-held hairdryer in each stateroom.

I have noticed issues on other newer ships where these items don't work as well, so it's likely the same issue, Mahnken concludes her post. Moral of the story: check your tools before you cruise. Avoid the embarrassment, the drama, and the awkward reunion with your overachieving hair gear.

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Boy_Anupong/Getty Woman using a hair dryer

In the comments section of her Facebook post, many users found Mahnkens retelling comical, and shared their own experience with confiscated items.

I lived the exact same life on the Destiny inaugural. I was like, What? You took my Dyson. Ive been on 50 bajillion cruises and never had it taken. I was mostly terrified I would forget to pick it up at the end, one person wrote.

Another added, Craziest things Ive seen on the table of shame  a rice cooker and a waffle iron. Do they not know that food is included?? Who thinks Hey, lets go on a cruise. Ill bring the waffle iron to cook breakfast in the room! Where are they mixing the batter? In the shower?

On the cruise lines website, rice cookers are clearly listed as a prohibited item. Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to seize and secure any item deemed to be dangerous or pose a security or safety risk, the company notes.



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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced on Thursday he is launching a campaign for California governor in 2026.

The congressman and longtime foe of President Donald Trump made the announcement during an appearance on the late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

"Hes going to hate tonights episode," Swalwell wrote on X in response to a social media post from the president criticizing Kimmel for being "biased" and having "no talent."

Trump Doj Opens Mortgage Fraud Probe Into Eric Swalwell As Congressman Vows To Keep Fighting Back

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is launching a campaign for California governor in 2026.

The Democrat lawmaker vowed to be a "protector and fighter" if elected governor.

Swalwell told the San Francisco Chronicle ahead of his announcement that the next governor of the Golden State should have two objectives.

Read On The Fox News App

"One, keep Trump out of our homes, streets and lives," he said, adding that the second is to "write the story of a new California on lower prices, on business growth and modernizing the state."

The congressman made the announcement during an appearance on the late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

"Im running to be a governor for all Californians," he later told MediasTouch. "Im the son of two Republicans, the son of a cop, and I grew up in a law-enforcement family. I worked as a prosecutor myself. I know that whether youre a Republican or a Democrat in this state, public safety for yourself, your kids, and your community is a top priority."

Swalwell is seeking to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, after the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Swalwell Mocked For Demanding 2028 Democrats Pledge To Demolish Trump's Ballroom

Rep. Eric Swalwell is seeking to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term limited.

Other candidates include former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire activist and 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer for the Democrats and former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco for the Republicans.

Newsom, who is term limited as governor, has been floated as a potential top candidate for the Democratic presidential primary in 2028.





Original article source: Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor, vows to be 'protector and fighter'
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Nadeen Ayoub, Miss Palestine, poses in a pink outfit with a sash that reads

Nadeen Ayoub, the first-ever Miss Palestine contestant, is among the final 30 contestants vying for the Miss Universe title  surviving the latest round of the competition hours after The Post exposed her secret marriage to a convicted terrorists son.

Ayoub has spent the past days and weeks competing in the preliminary competitions to qualify for the final Miss Universe pageant, ultimately gaining enough support to allow her to continue her pursuit of the major international title.

Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub competes in the Miss Universe pageants swimsuit competition during a preliminary pageant. @misspalestine_org/Instagram

The announcement, made shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, kicked off the final phase of the Miss Universe competition, with a winner to be determined at the end of the program.

However, Ayoub was eliminated following the swimsuit round  the first competition of the night  in which she wore a white one-piece and sheer, white tights covering her legs.

Pageant participants are scored on a number of categories  from evening gowns to interviews and platforms  to determine winners.

Her inclusion in the top 30 meant she scored higher than at least 90 other competitors from countries around the world, but not high enough to make it into the top 12.

Years-old screenshots and social media posts obtained by The Post show she took pains to delete social media post that she was once married to Sharaf Barghouti  the son of infamous Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in Israel for orchestrating terror attacks that killed five people in 2001 and 2002.

Marwan Barghouti enters the Tel Aviv courtroom Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 AP

Sharaf Barghouti and Nadeen Ayoub pose in a year-old photo obtained by The Post.

Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub wrote about her then-fiance Sharaf Barghouti in a since-deleted Instagram post.

Ayoub and Sharaf Barghouti have a child together who they named after the convicted terrorist.

Miss USA was also announced as one of the top 30 contestants in the pageant formerly owned by President Trump.

The full list of finalists also includes: Mexico, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Malta, Chile, Canada, Miss Universe Latina, Croatia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Palestine, Nicaragua, France, Paraguay, China, Thailand, Brazil, Rwanda, Cote dIvoire, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Cuba, Japan, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, India and Guatemala.
The author (second from left) visited her daughter in Rome with the rest of her family. Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire

My daughter is studying abroad in Rome, and I recently visited her.

We took cooking classes, went on food tours, and took a day trip to Tivoli.

My daughter seems different and more independent; she's navigating the city with expertise.

I almost didn't recognize my daughter when I first saw her. It had been 45 days since she left the US to study abroad in Rome.

She met me outside her Italian dorm, wearing a flowy beige dress and olive-colored satchel, embracing an Italian vibe. She mentioned she had gone to an Italian secondhand market to find her new threads.

As they say, "When in Rome."

For almost two months, we were separated by an eight-hour flight and a six-hour time difference. But we were able to reconnect quickly, and I realized just how much my daughter has grown since studying abroad.

My arrival in Rome was overwhelming

It all started when my husband, younger daughter, and I landed in Rome after a brutal red-eye flight at 6 a.m., which, to us, still felt like midnight.

The author's family in Rome. Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire

After about five seconds of considering taking public transportation from our hotel, our jet-lagged brains decided that was well above our pay grade. In hindsight, that was the right call, as my daughter later showed us how to navigate the system. Let's just say an engineering degree is probably necessary.

We thought we could walk to her dorm, but we got lost, and it took us close to an hour to find it. I wondered how my daughter navigated this city. Has she been lost, too?

We made the best of our time together

I quickly realized that not only was she an expert at navigating this city, but she was also growing into herself as an adult.

After briefing us on the essentials of Italian culture  like how dinner typically starts at 8:30 pm, not 6 pm  my daughter moved on to the most critical lesson: identifying the tourist traps. If you're wondering how to spot an inauthentic restaurant, the giveaway is a laminated menu with photos. She said it's a food culture scarlet letter.

For the most part, she kept our wallets safe from pickpockets and from overpaying on uninspired food, but the few times we went rogue, she scolded us. Talk about a role reversal!

My daughter is taking a culinary class as part of her study abroad program. We decided to sign up for not one, but two cooking classes and a food tour. We would never have even considered any of these things if she hadn't told us that it's a way for us to learn more about Italian culture.

The family in Tripoli. Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire

As we kneaded the dough in one class, my daughter casually mentioned her upcoming six-hour cooking course. Impressive! My daughter's expensive tuition is worth every penny if she plans to implement those skills when she's home.

We took a trip to Tivoli, too

Most of our activities in Rome were based on my daughter's local-like suggestions, but I had a destination I wanted to visit. After writing an article about UNESCO sites, I was determined to visit the two sites in Tivoli that were natural and cultural, so I booked a tour, and we all loved it.

It gave us an opportunity to explore a new place together  as a family.

The best part? When I met all of my daughter's friends, they said they'd never heard of Tivoli but now wanted to go. It turns out that even a tourist trap magnet can find a hidden gem or two.

Arrivederci (until the end of November)

I'll admit it. I went to Rome to make sure my daughter was OK and because I missed her.

But seeing her rattle off Italian tips like a local, navigate the bus system without an engineering degree, and introduce us to her friends made me realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She's becoming someone I don't recognize, and that's beautiful. She's becoming independent.

Since we've been back, the only thing I miss more than her is the gelato. Fingers crossed that a cookies and cream gelato recipe is on her culinary class curriculum, and she can make it when she's home for Thanksgiving.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Four were arrested this week in connection with an alleged smuggling ring involving Nvidia's chips. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Federal authorities arrested four men for shipping contraband Nvidia chips, which are critical components for artificial intelligence companies. The men allegedly created an elaborate smuggling network that saw the chips shipped from Alabama through Malaysia and Thailand, and eventually to recipients in China, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.

The accused men failed to obtain such permission as they allegedly sought to evade export controls that restrict the shipment of Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs). According to an indictment, the military in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) sought the chips for weapons design and testing, including for weapons of mass destruction as well as in connection with the PRCs development and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools. It added that China is developing supercomputing capabilities and intends to become the world leader in AI by 2030.

The export controls, imposed by the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security on advanced computing chips and on computers and devices that contain the chips, have been in place since October 2022.

As demonstrated by this indictment, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida is firmly committed to safeguarding our countrys national security, said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida in a statement. Thanks to the dedicated investigative work by our law enforcement partners, these defendants who wrongfully exported this sensitive technology are facing justice.

The arrests, which took place Wednesday in Florida, Alabama, and California, included Hon Ning Ho, also known as Matthew Ho, 34, a U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong and living in Tampa, Fla.; Brian Curtis Raymond, 46, a U.S. citizen from Huntsville, Ala.; Cham Li, 38, also known as Tony Li, from China and now living in San Leandro, Calif.; and Jing Chen, 45, a Chinese national on an F-1 nonimmigrant student visa living in Tampa, Fla. Chen and Ho appeared in court in Florida yesterday, Raymond appeared in court in Alabama, and Li appeared in court in California on Thursday.

The indictment describes Raymond as the CEO and sole owner of an unnamed distributor of U.S. technology products licensed to sell Nvidia GPUs. According to his LinkedIn bio, Raymond operates a company called Bitworks, which claims to deliver AI at scale with Nvidia HGX and DGX as a certified cloud partner. On LinkedIn, Raymond also identifies himself as the chief technology officer of Corvex, an Arlington, Va.-based AI cloud company, a role he listed as starting in October. Corvex announced last week it would merge with med-tech firm Movano, and go public once the transaction completes.

A Corvex spokesman told Fortune: Corvex had no part in the activities cited in the Department of Justices indictment. The person in question is not an employee of Corvex. Previously a consultant to the company, he was transitioning into an employee role but that offer has been rescinded.

Raymond did not respond to requests for comment. A message left for Ho was unreturned. Attempts to reach Li and Chen were unsuccessful.

According to the indictment, the scheme centered around a front company, Janford Realtor LLC, that operated in Tampa and was owned and controlled by Ho and Li. Through the front company, Ho, Chen, and Li identified potential customers in China who wanted to buy Nvidia GPUs and then made orders through Janford and another unnamed U.S. company. Ho and other unnamed co-conspirators bought the GPUs from unnamed vendors, including from Raymond and another unnamed U.S. company, the indictment states.

The ring was allegedly successful in smuggling two separate exports, including 400 Nvidia A100 GPUs shipped to China between October 2024 and January 2025 in two shipments. The third and fourth shipments were disrupted by law enforcement, but allegedly included 10 Hewlett Packard Enterprise supercomputers stuffed with Nvidia H100 GPUs and another 50 Nvidia H200 GPUs.

Authorities said Janford was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond allegedly supplied the GPUs through his Alabama-based electronics company, the indictment states.

Messages to Bitworks, the company Raymond lists on his LinkedIn were not returned. Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment.

Each of the four is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years on the exports evasion, 10 years on the smuggling charges, and 20 years on each count of money laundering.

The arrests come as Nvidia has faced deteriorating business in China due to export rules. Nvidia chief financial officer Colette Kress reported on Wednesday that Nvidia has seen purchase orders dry up due to geopolitical issues, but also advocated for access to the Chinese market.

While we were disappointed in the current state that prevents us from shipping more competitive data center compute products to China, we are committed to continued engagement with the U.S. and China governments and will continue to advocate for Americas ability to compete around the world, Kress said on Wednesday during Nvidias third quarter earnings call.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
FILE PHOTO: Young Liu, Chairman of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), makes a keynote speech at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

By Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki and David Dolan

TOKYO (Reuters) -Foxconn will invest $2 billion to $3 billion a year in AI, the head of the world's largest contract electronics maker told Reuters.

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu also said he expects a shakeout in China's crowded electric-vehicle market "soon" and that the company is talking with the Japanese government about potential investments in artificial intelligence and EVs.

"For now, AI will be the majority of the investment," Liu told Reuters on a visit to Tokyo earlier this month. Liu's comments were embargoed until Friday, to coincide with the Apple supplier's annual Hon Hai Tech Day.

The investment in AI infrastructure and technology development over the next three to five years means it will account for more than half of Foxconn's roughly $5 billion in annual capital expenditure, said Liu.

The Taiwanese company's cloud and networking business, which includes AI servers, has surpassed consumer electronics for two consecutive quarters, highlighting how quickly its revenue mix is shifting.

Liu, who has led Foxconn since 2019, said China's EV sector faces "very fierce competition" and forecast consolidation as unprofitable startups disappear and government support wanes.

"They're not making money," Liu said, adding that government support was too limited to support every EV maker in the world's largest auto market. He said China's automotive landscape will be "much more stable" once there is a period of consolidation.

The squeeze on EV makers in China is already evident. Top EV maker BYD reported its biggest quarterly profit drop in more than four years last month.

BYD faces growing competition from domestic rivals and slashed its 2025 sales target to 4.6 million vehicles.

TALKING WITH JAPAN ON AI, EV INVESTMENT

Foxconn delayed its ambitious target to capture 5% of the global EV market by 2025 in November last year, as the sector faces a slowdown in demand worldwide.

But rather than losing faith in EVs, it is holding off on ramping up investment until market conditions improve, with potential plans to expand in EVs or other areas such as quantum computing and robotics.

Foxconn is talking to Japan's government about possible investments in EV or AI, Liu said, without giving details. He added that local manufacturing of AI systems is critical for data sovereignty.

Liu said the EV sector could become like the early personal computer industry, where intense competition made in-house production unsustainable and drove a shift to outsourcing.

Foxconn pioneered that model with Compaq Computer in the 1990s the world's largest PC supplier. Liu said a similar dynamic is emerging for EVs, with carmakers likely to outsource faster as competition intensifies.

"Once they start outsourcing with one successful example, the others will follow," he said. "That's exactly what we saw in the PC market."

($1 = 31.1830 Taiwan dollars)

(Reporting by David Dolan, Maki Shiraki and Daniel Leussink; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel of the Fugees was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years in prison for a case in which he was convicted of illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

Michel, 52, declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him.

In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial in Washington, D.C., included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, whom they said "betrayed his country for money" and "lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes."

"His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed," they wrote.

Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg said his client's 14-year sentence is "completely disproportionate to the offense." Michel will appeal his conviction and sentence, according to his lawyer.

Zeidenberg had recommended a three-year prison sentence. A life sentence would be an "absurdly high" punishment for Michel, given that it is typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders, Michel's attorneys said in a court filing.

"The Government's position is one that would cause Inspector Javert to recoil and, if anything, simply illustrates just how easily the Guidelines can be manipulated to produce absurd results, and how poorly equipped they are, at least on this occasion, to determine a fair and just sentence," they wrote.

File photo: Pras Michel, former member of the Fugees, center, exits federal court in Washington, D.C., on April 3, 2023. / Credit: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti, was a founding member of the Fugees along with childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. Their hip-hop band won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums.

Michel obtained more than $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho  also known as Jho Low  and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obama's campaign.

Michel said during trial that he viewed Low's payments as "free money," and accepted the millions over the course of nine months to help Low secure a photo op with Obama. He said under oath at the time that no one told him such payments toward political donations could have been unlawful or violations of campaign finance laws.

The Justice Department also charged Michel with serving as an unregistered foreign agent for China, alleging that in 2017 he sought to sway the Trump administration to halt its probe into Low and to extradite a Chinese government target living in the U.S. That individual, dissident Miles Guo, was charged in New York in a billion-dollar fraud case and is still in custody.

Low, who has lived in China, was one of the primary financiers of "The Wolf of Wall Street," a movie starring DiCaprio. Low is a fugitive but has maintained his innocence.

"Low's motivation for giving Mr. Michel money to donate was not so that he could achieve some policy objective. Instead, Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama," Michel's attorneys wrote.

In August 2024, the judge rejected Michel's request for a new trial based in part on his defense attorney's use of a generative artificial intelligence program during his closing of the trial's arguments. The judges said that and other trial errors didn't amount to a serious miscarriage of justice.

Sneak peek: Who Wanted Nicki Lenway Dead?

Judge slams senior ICE official for "worst of all" answers on Kilmar Abrego Garcia case

Trump administration case against John Bolton in court
NEED TO KNOW

Four adults have been charged in a child abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl who authorities say was found weighing only 35 Lbs., according to court records viewed by PEOPLE

Walter Goodman, his wife Melissa Goodman, her daughter, Savanna LeFever, and LeFever's partner, Kayla Stemler, were arrested in connection with the abuse

The girl was discovered in her father's home in August severely malnourished, with respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis, and pancreatitis, according to reports

A 14-year-old girl in Wisconsin was discovered weighing only 35 Lbs. while living in her father's and stepmother's home, according to multiple reports.

Authorities found the child, whose identity has not been shared publicly, in an Oneida, Wisc., home in August. She was severely malnourished, with respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis and pancreatitis, according to Fox 11, citing court documents.

Initially, doctors were unsure if the girl would survive.

Outagamie County assistant district attorney Julie DuQuaine testified in court that she viewed photos of the child, who "looked like a skeleton," and was "literally just skin and bones," the outlet reported.

The victim's father, Walter Goodman,47, his wife Melissa Goodman, her daughter, Savanna Lefever, 29, and LeFever's partner, Kayla Stemler, 27, were all arrested on three felony counts of Chronic Neglect of a Child, with Consequence being Great Bodily Harm and two felony counts of Chronic Neglect of a Child, with Consequence being Emotional Damage, according to charging documents viewed by PEOPLE.

Outagamie County Jail Walter Goodman

All individuals charged face more than 80 years in prison, the outlet reported.

Authorities discovered the victim after her father called 911 to report that the girl was very lethargic and weak. Upon arrival, an officer believed the child was only around 6 or 7 years old due to her size.

The victim was hospitalized first in Green Bay before being transferred to Children's Wisconsin in Wauwatosa, Wisc., according to the criminal complaint. The complaint alleges that when the child was hospitalized, she requested a second portion of food, and when it was given to her, she told medical personnel that her father would "be so mad."

She alleged to medical staff that her father "doesn't like when I eat that much" after she was told that she would receive three meals a day while hospitalized. Staff reported that the girl's "eyes lit up" when she was informed about the meal schedule.

The child began living with her father in 2020 after her mother went to jail. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was attending school virtually through the 2020-2021 school year. The next year, the father claimed that the child was being homeschooled, per the criminal complaint.

"She was neglected for a number of years," DuQuaine said, according to the outlet. "She has not gone to the doctor since September 2020. She has not been in school since COVID."

Walter told authorities he monitored and communicated with his daughter via a webcam in her room, in which she was allegedly locked inside most of the time. A witness claimed Walter said, "Well, I keep her locked up in her bedroom with a camera on her, and that's where she stays," according to WISN.

Walter claimed his daughter has autism, and that is why she didn't eat or sleep. He said he fed her multiple meals a day.

However, text messages sent between Stemler and Melissa, which were submitted into evidence, paint a different picture. "Just so you know [the victim] was taking more than one bite at a time, and when Savanna confronted her, she continued to argue with her, so I used the belt," Stemler allegedly texted Melissa, according to the criminal complaint.

In a different text exchange, Melissa wrote, "Its hard tbh and some days I don't want to anymore and wish she'd just go away," the complaint alleges.

Outagamie County Jail (L-R) Walter Goodman, Melissa Goodman, Savanna LeFever, Kayla Stemler

Walter allegedly made similar remarks about the child. Police say that a friend told authorities that he'd confronted Walter about the way he treated his daughter, and that Walter allegedly responded with "If I could leave her somewhere in the woods, I'd leave her."

The complaint also alleges that Walter told his daughter, "I wish I could kill you."



A GoFundMe page created to raise funds for the child's recovery stated that since her rescue, she has grown 3 inches and doubled her body weight.



The four suspects remain in the Outagamie County Jail. The Goodmans' and Stemler's bail are set at $150,000 cash. LeFever's bail is $100,000.



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
On Molokai, Kalaupapa National Historical Park (on the Kalaupapa Peninsula) has reopened, offering a limited number of visitors the opportunity to take a uniquely personal guided tour with the residents of a former leprosy colony. RICHARD A COOKE III, Nat Geo Image Collection

For the first time in more than five years, visitors can now return to one of Americas least-visited national park sites in Hawaii. Closed since March 2020, Kalaupapa National Historic Park is open again, albeit under strict limitations, with the introduction of a brand-new tour that offers travelers a rare glimpse into a powerful, ongoing chapter of Hawaiian history.

Even before the pandemic closure, Kalaupapa was historically and statistically one of the least-visited national park sites due to its remote location, difficulty and expense of access, strict limitations on visitors, and its unique situation of housing patients.

When leprosy, also known as Hansens disease, broke out on the Hawaiian Islands during the mid-1800s, everyone who contracted the diseaseadults and children alikewas sent to Kalaupapa to live in forced isolation. Over the next 100 years, more than 8,000 people would die there on Molokais remote north coast, separated from their families.

Kalaupapa preserves the stories of those who lived in isolation after being diagnosed with Hansens disease, says Nancy Holman, superintendent of Kalaupapa Park. Today, the settlement remains home to a small number of cured patient-residents whose privacy is protected by restricting visitation to guided tours only.

Once a place of exile and tragedy, the park and its resident patients hope the tour will inspire a renewed compassion and understanding as it enters the next chapter in its history.

The Kalawao Settlement, on the small Hawaiian island of Molokai, was established in 1866 as the first isolation settlement for people with Hansens disease. Kalawao is now part of Kalaupapa National Historic Park. Everett Collection, Bridgeman Images

A brief history of Kalaupapa

In the mid-1800s, leprosy began to spread in the Hawaiian Islands. People didnt know much about the disease at the time, but its contagious and often-disfiguring nature sparked wide public fear. In response, the Hawaiian government ordered all people who contracted leprosy into forced isolation on the Kalaupapa Peninsula.

Its geography made the peninsula the perfect place. The base of the 17-square-mile, relatively flat peninsula juts out beneath 3,000-foot sea cliffs, which are among the tallest in the world, making it extremely difficult to access. Or in this case, extremely difficult to escape.

In 1865, the Kingdom of Hawaiis Board of Health enacted The Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy. The Board began sending patients to Kalaupapa in 1866. Researchers didnt develop effective treatment methods until after World War II. The process of forced isolation at Kalaupapa did not end until 1969, and by that time, more than 100 years had passed, and approximately 8,000 people, mostly Native Hawaiians, had died there.

When the government ended forced isolation in 1969, officials allowed patients to choose whether to stay or leave, and manyperhaps surprisinglychose to remain at Kalaupapa. But there were good reasons to stay. Some had lived there so long, having been brought as children or young adults, that it had become their homein many cases, the only home they knew. Hansens disease carried a stigma along with it. Patients who left Kalaupapa were sure to face challenges in the outside world.

The deal was that any patient who decided to stay would receive support from the State of Hawaii for the rest of their lives, and so, many stayed. Today, six still call Kalaupapa home, ranging in age from 84 to 101 years old.

(Discover more about this national park that was once an isolated quarantine zone.)

Photos of patients disfigured by Hansens disease, also called leprosy, are on display at a memorial hall in Kalaupapa, Hawaii. Eric Risberg, AP Photo

A tapestry depicting Father Damien, born Joseph De Veuster, hangs from the facade of St. Peters Basilica during a canonization ceremony in St. Peters Square at the Vatican. Alessandra Tarantino, AP photo

Tours resume under a unique situation

Kalaupapa Peninsula became a national historic site in 1980 with a mission to not only preserve the deep, dark history of the place, but to support and share the stories of kindness and compassion of the people who lived, worked, and died there, including historic figures like Father Damien, canonized as a saint for his work at Kalaupapa.

Another key part of the agreement with the Park Service is that it would support the remaining patients, medically and socially, and offer them the right of first refusal to organize any public tours to Kalaupapa. This way, the patients-residents would be assured their privacy and have complete control over any commercial activities in the park.

It was for this reasonalong with a few other logistical hurdles following the pandemicthat Kalaupapa remained closed for so long. Patients sponsored all previous tours, and the hope was that the tradition would continue. It took some time to get everything in order, but now, one of the remaining patients, Meli Watanuki, is aiming to give the public a fresh perspective with her new tour, the Kalaupapa Saints Tour, which launched in late September.

Brought to Kalaupapa when she was just 18 years old, Watanuki turned 91 in October 2025. She says having visitors back to the settlement ensures that future generations know the whole story of Kalaupapa. As with many historical events, smaller stories of community, hope, compassion, and kindness often emerge to counter the larger stories of tragedy and wrongdoing.

It warms my heart to see visitors walking in the footsteps of the saints and of so many who came before, Watanuki says. Kalaupapa has always been a place of love and faith, and its a blessing to share that spirit again.

This photo captures the memorial of the Reverend Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts at dusk on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii. Jessie Wardarski, AP Photo

A golden cage: A mix of hope and tragedy on the tour

A visit to Kalaupapa can be a confusing experience. Upon arrival, visitors cant ignore the beauty of the placetowering sea cliffs, beautiful ocean views, a seemingly idyllic village, and a peaceful, calm atmosphere. You may want to move there, or at least, consider it as a golden cage, as I did on my first visit back in 2013.

The Kalaupapa Saints Tour aims to capture this dynamic by sharing both sides of the story, the good alongside the bad. It visits key historic sites on the peninsula, which was once a bustling community with more than 200 buildings, complete with homes, a theater, a bar, a grocery store, a gas station, an airport, cemeteries, a post office, a jail, and a lighthouse.

Interactions with the patients, including Watanuki, are possible but situationally dependent (or not guaranteed) due to their age and ongoing medical needs.

Currently, the tour originates at the Honolulu Airport on Oahu. From there, after a briefing, guests take a 30- to 45-minute flight over to Molokai and land directly on the Kalaupapa Peninsula for a full day of exploration, lasting more than seven hours. Then, guests take the return flight to Honolulu at the end of the tour.

This trail leads to Molokais Kalaupapa Peninsula in Kualapuu, Hawaii. Marco Garcia, AP Photo

Tourists walk through a cemetery past the grave of Father Damien (on the left) at Kalawao, Hawaii. Damien cared for exiled leprosy patients in the mid-1800s. He contracted and died from the disfiguring disease in 1889. ERIC RISBERG, AP Photo

As of this writing, only eight people per tour are permitted to visit Kalaupapa due to limited transportation capacity, flight availability, and the fact that only a handful of tours are offered each month. Because of the limited number of airline seats to Molokai (nine per flight), the limited tour dates (only four in December, for example), the limited on-ground transportation capacity (maximum 16), and the fact that the tour originates on Oahu, the cost is an eye-popping $625 per person. At this point, visiting Kalaupapa appears to be reserved for high-end travelers, which hasnt impacted demand, with sold-out tours for the remainder of 2025.

However, Randy King, founder of Seawind Tours & Travel, the company working with Watanuki to help execute the tour, says that 2026 tour dates will be announced soon, hopefully with more frequency. Tours will eventually launch from Molokai as well, which could potentially reduce the price. When that happens, guests will be able to fly to Kalaupapa from Kaunakakai Airport on topside Molokai or the accessible area of the island, north of the sea cliffs on the islands northern coast.

For those who have visited Kaluapapa previously and are wondering, there are no plans to restart the more affordable hiking or mule ride options that once existed from topside Molokai. Patient-residents who previously ran these tours no longer offer them.

When and if tours originating from Molokai become available again, travelers should complete the experience by visiting the Molokai Museum to view its Kalaupapa collection, which includes old photographs and documents, as well as the Kalaupapa Overlook that provides a sweeping, panoramic view of the peninsula from the top of the sea cliffs.

Regardless of where the tour starts, King recommends preparing yourself for an active and emotional day.

Your day in Kalaupapa will affect you, says King. Theres a lot of beauty, a lot of sorrow. Take it all in and imagine what it was like when a thousand people were living there, when they all worked together to create a wonderful place to live. Yes, people were banished there, but they found a way to work together, to make it home, and this is the story that inspires us today.

Will McGough is an international travel journalist and tour guide. Check out his travel podcast, Wake and Wander.
Whenever Donald Trump is in political trouble, he seeks a fight and a foil.

He will get both on Friday after one of the most misjudged weeks of his two presidencies, after his own choices eroded his political authority over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Trump is embroiled in a bitter new feud with Democrats over national security, provocative rhetoric and presidential power that he deliberately turned nuclear. And at a White House meeting Friday, hell go head-to-head with the next mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist hes planning to brand as the unacceptable communist face of the Democratic Party next year.

Trumps political touch deserted him in recent days. Hes heard speculation about whether his decadelong grip on the GOP base is slipping. His missteps amplified the big question over Epstein  why is he so desperate to stop the evidence coming out? And his attempt to empathize with voters over the cost of living became a farce when he accused Democrats of stealing the world affordability.

So you just knew the president, who has gotten more irascible by the day, would look for an opening.

And he found it, taking the chance to ignite the kind of political storm that obliterates everything in its path, drags his outraged foes onto his preferred political ground, rallies conservative media and solidifies his base.

Trump tried to seize back the initiative  in the inflammatory way that only he can  in a post of social media posts and reposts that culminated by a warning that a group of Democratic lawmakers were guilty of SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

His fury was provoked by a video from lawmakers who  unlike the commander in chief  were veterans of the military or intelligence services reminding members of the armed services that they do not have to obey any illegal orders.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Never in a million years 

By any objective measure, Trumps response was inflammatory and disproportionate in the countrys current climate of political violence. After all, this was a president of the United States ostensibly calling for the prosecution and possible execution of members of Congress. Thats not just an affront to decency and presidential decorum; its an assault on the foundations of constitutional, republican government and the separation of powers.

And its dangerous. Republicans accused Democrats of inciting violence after two assassination attempts against Trump and the killing of conservative icon Charlie Kirk. Its hard to see how this is any different. The presidents comments also contrasted with the conciliatory tone of one of his erstwhile political friends, MAGA icon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who apologized Sunday on CNN for her role in toxic politics.

One of the Democrats who appears in the video expressed her shock.

I never in a million years, thought Id be talking to you tonight about the fact that the president of the United States has called for my death by hanging for sedition and treason. And called for it because I and a number of other people published a video that says you have to follow the law, Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, told CNNs Erin Burnett.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a news conference in Washington, DC, on September 3. - Bryan Dozier/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

Representative Chrissy Houlahan listens during a news conference in Washington, DC, on November 6. - Eric Lee/Getty Images

Trump, however, loves these kinds of fights.

By any normal political standards, theyd be potential career enders for a top political figure. But Trump uses them, as he did Thursday, to get Democrats to make arguments in defense of institutions, the Constitution, civility and traditional presidential behavior. Their points are often well made. But they can often seem esoteric and off-topic to voters far from Washington who are more concerned with economic security or the cost of health care. In recent elections, Democratic warnings about Trump fracturing norms and legal constraints and threatening the soul of the nation havent always worked.

Plus, the controversies whip up Trumps conservative media cheerleaders and activists and sets up a loyalty test for Republicans wary of breaking with him.

The country has seen it all before, multiple times: In Trumps racist birther campaign against President Barack Obama; in his mockery of the late Sen. John McCains war record; in his false claims that he won the 2020 election. Its a technique that has often worked for Trump. He might alienate half the country, but its one of the keys to his staunch support from his GOP base and his capacity to always portray himself as an anti-establishment scourge and an outsider.

One question now, however, amid some of his worst-ever approval ratings and struggles with the economy, is whether Trumps antics may begin to disgust even some voters who have always stood by him.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to media at the US Capitol on Thursday. - Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/AP

Republicans face familiar political dodgeball

Thursdays bombshell was typical of the distraction tactics that Trump has always used and that some of his critics have sometimes accused the news media of repeatedly falling for. Yet Trumps distraction gambits are often so unhinged or threatening to basic American values that its inevitable that they create huge shock and fierce debate. They require pushback from his opponents, even if it dilutes their messages.

As usual, Trumps detonation of a new controversy forced Republicans on Capitol Hill to dance on the head of a political pin, with some deploying the classic excuse that they hadnt read the posts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson gingerly tried to separate himself from the presidents comments, saying the words are not the ones that I would use. He told CNNs Manu Raju that obviously, I dont think that this is these are crimes punishable by death or any of that.

Another close Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the presidents comments were over the top. And Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has questioned the legality of administration attacks on alleged drug-trafficker boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, said he didnt think it was a good idea to talk about jailing your political opponents, or hanging them, or whatever else.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the president really wanted the execution of members of Congress. She replied: No. But true to Trumps lifetime mantra, she counterattacked, sketching an argument other Republicans adopted that the video was an attempt to get members of the armed forces to disobey the commander in chief.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt listens to a reporter's question during a White House press briefing on Thursday in Washington, DC. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

This is a misrepresentation. But it created sufficient political heat to blur reality while making the presidents out-of-bounds outburst seem just like one side of a political back-and-forth. Johnson, for instance, said that what the legislators did was unprecedented in American history, and it should be called out, and thats what the president has expressed.

Some might question why the Democrats chose to make their video  and to give the president an opportunity to change the subject after hes spent days flailing over the Epstein matter and the cost of living. And any political move involving the military risks creating a drama that leaves servicemembers in the middle of a partisan firestorm.

A counterargument would be that there is deep concern among many lawmakers  one that is especially acute for combat veterans  that Trump will ask service members to undertake unlawful attacks and missions. This is not hypothetical. As CNNs Aaron Blake reported, there have been many occasions when Trumps foreign policy or military ventures have raised questions of legality.

Judges have often ruled that administration policies infringed the law. Trump has sent troops into American cities on questionable grounds. His actions near Venezuela have many on Capitol Hill fearing an illegal war. And his threats of retribution need to be taken seriously since hes turned the Justice Department into his engine of personal retribution.

And after all, the Democrats in the video were only restating a principle that every servicemember understands  even if the question of deciding whether an order is a legal or not can be fraught and imprecise during the fog of war.

President Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani - Getty Images

High-stakes White House showdown looms

Trumps meeting with Mamdani at the White House on Friday is high stakes for both men.

Both are New Yorkers; both won power through populist politics. Each harnessed a political moment and won power against insider, establishment elites.

But while presidential power dwarfs that of a mere mayor-to-be, some comparisons may also be unflattering to Trump, who at 79 is closer to the end of his political career than the 34-year-old Mamdani.

Trump has made his intentions clear with Mamdani. Hes setting up the mayor-elect as a political foil and a symbol of all Democrats to try to dispute their partys more mainstream credentials ahead of the midterm elections next year. Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has asked for a meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social network on Thursday.

The president threatened during the mayoral campaign to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani won because as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! Mamdani is not a communist, and anyone who understands the deprivations and tyranny of communist rule in the Soviet Union and elsewhere would see the comparison as absurd. But hes been enthusiastic in his democratic socialism, and Trump will be hoping that his attacks can brand the incoming mayor and his followers nationwide as extreme.

The meeting, if it takes place in the Oval Office, before the cameras, will be a huge test for Mamdani. The president has not hesitated to humiliate some past visitors on television, most notoriously Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But Mamdani will also know that some of the presidents ire can sometimes be defused by flattery.

The next mayor of New York City will be keen to show he can stand up to Trump  and to maneuver politically ahead of what could be a year of confrontation.

And any new eruptions by the president, after a week in which hes looked like hes racing off the rails, might only further underscore doubts over his political health.

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Ben Shuldiner stands outside of the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence in Seattle. Photo: Seattle School Board of Directors / Courtesy of Seattle Public Schools

(The Center Square)  Incoming Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner will be compensated $425,000 per year as part of a newly agreed-upon contract with the school board.

The contract establishes a base salary of $365,000 with the inclusion of $60,000 in tax sheltered annuity plan contributions. In comparison, former Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones earned $390,940 in his final contract with the district right before he announced his intent to step down from the role at the end of last school year. Shuldiners salary is about 9% more than Jones.

Fred Podesta is currently serving as the interim superintendent for the beginning of the 2025-26 school year with a salary of $320,355.

Shuldiners first day as superintendent will be on Feb. 1, 2026, with his contract running through June 2028, as limited by state law. He will be the fourth superintendent for Seattle Public Schools since 2014.

Shuldiner is departing his current role as superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan, where he has served since 2021. His experience in education leadership roles includes roles in Michigan and New York for more than 20 years.

During his time at Lansing, the district saw a 26% increase in graduation rate, a 15% increase in attendance, and a true increase in district enrollment for the first time in decades, according to Seattle Public Schools.

Reaching this agreement was collaborative and reflects our commitment to the partnership and our genuine excitement to welcome Superintendent Shuldiner to Seattle Public Schools, School Board President Gina Topp said during the board meeting on Wednesday night. He brings a strong record of improving graduation rates, attendance, enrollment rates, and has led both with innovation and stability in Lansing.

School Board members previously touted Shuldiners experience in budgeting as he successfully increased the Lansing School Districts fund balance by over $40 million. Seattle Public Schools faced a budget gap of approximately $100 million that led to a plan to close 17 to 21 schools in order to save about $30 million However, pushback from teachers and families led to the district scrapping any school closure plans and relying on levy renewals to secure long-term financial stability for the district
Amy Sussman/Getty Mavis Leno and Jay Leno attend the premiere of "UNFROSTED" on April 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

NEED TO KNOW

Jay and Mavis Leno met while he was performing at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles

They got married in November 1980 because the comedian wanted to have her on his insurance

Mavis worked as an activist and spent many years on the board of the Feminist Majority Foundation

After his wife was diagnosed with dementia, Jay Leno learned the deeper meaning of for better or worse.

Now she really needs me and I like that. And I can tell she appreciates it, the former Tonight Show host said during an appearance on the Today show in November 2025. "The idea that you get married, you take these vows, nobody ever thinks theyll be called upon to act on them. You know that part  for better or worse. Even the worse isnt that bad.



Jay and Mavis Leno met after he performed at the iconic Comedy Store in the '70s. The comedian admittedly "wasn't very good at dating," and Mavis didn't think she would ever walk down the aisle. However, that all changed when the pair crossed paths.

"I always had this idea that I would never get married," Mavis told PEOPLE in 1987. "But with Jay, I began to realize that this was the first time I was ever with someone where I had a perfect, calm sense of having arrived at my destination."

The couple got married in 1980. Discussing the secret to their long-lasting marriage, Jay joked on PeopleTV, "Not screwing around is a huge key. You can do a lot. You can leave your underwear on the doorknob for the rest of your life if you don't screw around."

All jokes aside, Jay shared, "I always tell guys when they meet a woman, 'Marry your conscience. Marry someone who's the person you wish you could be and it works out okay.' "

In April 2024, Jay was awarded conservatorship over Mavis after she was diagnosed with dementia earlier that same year. As conservator, he plans to set up a living trust for Mavis to ensure her future care in the event of his death.

So who is Jay Leno's wife? Here's everything to know about Mavis Leno and her relationship to the former host.

She met Jay at a comedy club

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection Jay Leno and Mavis Leno in 1979.

Mavis met her future husband at the Comedy Store, the famous comedy club in L.A.

"It was in January  I don't remember the day. But at the time I thought, 'Holy s---! That comedian is gorgeous!' " she recalled in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "I had gone to the Comedy Store with my girlfriend because I was writing comedy with some partners. Friends kept saying, 'You have to hang out at the Comedy Store and the Improv. You'll meet people who can give you jobs.' The first time I went, they sat us front row center  that means you're this far from the comic. And there was Jay."

The pair's meet-cute happened after Jay's act. "I needed to go to the ladies' room. What I didn't know was in the Comedy Store back then, that area was the only place for the comedians to hang out," she recalled. "So when I came out of the bathroom, he said, 'Are you that girl in front?' And I said, 'Yes, that was me.' "

She didn't think she would get married

Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal Jay Leno and Mavis Leno in 1990.

Prior to meeting Jay, Mavis did not believe she would one day walk down the aisle. "I always had this idea that I would never get married," she told PEOPLE in 1987. "It was a big thing with me, part of my vehement feminism. But with Jay, I began to realize that this was the first time I was ever with someone where I had a perfect, calm sense of having arrived at my destination."

When asked what changed her mind, Mavis said, "It was just that by the time we were together, I was 34 ... I was past it, although that was an important gesture for me to make  that I could live without being married."

Jay proposed without an engagement ring

SGranitz/WireImage Jay Leno and Mavis Leno in 1999.

There was no ring involved when the Jay Leno's Garage star popped the question. "I think I said, 'Honey, I've got this insurance plan,' " Jay told PEOPLE.

He later explained to the Los Angeles Times that he wanted Mavis to be covered by his insurance in case something happened to him.

"I had this insurance policy, and I thought if something happened to me, my girlfriend wouldn't be covered, but if we're married, we're covered, so  we might as well get married. Not the most romantic. Mavis didn't even get an engagement ring until " he said before Mavis interjected.

"He was going to get me one, but we had just bought a house, so why would I do that?" she said. "I'm not that kind of person." Although Jay didn't buy an engagement ring, he did purchase a diamond ring for Mavis later.

She married Jay on a special date

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection Mavis Leno and Jay Leno at the 39th Annual Emmy Awards.

The couple tied the knot in a "very small wedding" held at a friend's house on the same day as Jay's parents' wedding anniversary.

"I thought my mom would like that  November 3, 1980," Jay told the Los Angeles Times. Mavis noted that she was "crazy" about the comedian's parents.

She did not want to have children

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection Mavis Leno and Jay Leno on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mavis told The Washington Post in 2014 that she "takes full credit for" her and Jay's decision to not have kids. Watching The Honeymooners as a girl influenced her.

"I would see a young woman who was very attractive and a thousand times smarter, and she's living in this little tenement hovel with her husband, Ralph, and then this Ed Norton, who has an even hotter wife," she said. "These men spend all their time talking about what a drag the wives are and asking how can they get away from them. It's perfectly obvious the women are the ones trapped."

She continued, "I remember telling my mother when I was 7 or 8 that I was never going to get married or have children. To me, this is the way women get caught."

She is a board member of the Feminist Majority Foundation

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP Mavis Leno speaking at a women's right and protest in 2014.

Mavis joined the Feminist Majority Foundation's board of directors in 1997 and is the chair of their campaign to stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

According to the foundation's website, she is "a leader in the effort to make the restoration of women's rights a non-negotiable element of a post-Taliban Afghanistan, and has been at the forefront of insuring that the plight of Afghan women is included in the world's reporting of the war in Afghanistan and that the women and girls of Afghanistan are not forgotten."

In 2009, she explained to the L.A. Times why she decided to be an advocate for Afghan women. "The Taliban was so egregious and so extreme that if women who were free to speak did not speak, we might as well say to the entire world, 'No matter what you do to women, no one cares, just go right ahead,' " she said. "I promised the Afghan women that I am not one of those Americans who has no attention span, and as long as this situation persists, I will be in there. Tenacity isn't just the most important thing, it's the only thing."

Mavis and Jay presented the inaugural Mavis Leno Award for Global Women's Rights in May 2024 at the Feminist Majority Foundations 16th annual gala. During their joint speech, the former talk show host gushed about his wife and said marrying her was the "smartest thing I've ever done."

The first years of The Tonight Show were hard for her

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal Mavis Leno and Jay Leno in 2001.

She revealed to the L.A. Times in 2009 that she and Jay had had "difficult" periods in their relationship.

"When Jay got The Tonight Show, the first years were hard for me. All of a sudden, Jay had this day job, and every person on the planet was asking him for something," she recalled.

Mavis decided she would be the one who wouldn't ask for anything. "It gave him relief at home, but that can also feel like distance," she reflected. "I don't know if he was aware of it because he was so swamped by the job  just the time demands alone, and the pressure."

It took Mavis a while to adjust to Jay being so busy, but in the end, it made their relationship stronger.

She was by Jay's side after his accident in 2022

David Livingston/Getty Jay Leno and Mavis Leno attend the 7th Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Awards for Global Women's Rights in 2011.

In November 2022, Jay suffered severe burns to his face, chest and hand in a gasoline fire that broke out while he was working on a car in his garage. The TV host was rushed to the hospital and, according to his doctor, Mavis was "by his side" the entire time.

"[She is] obviously very concerned," Dr. Peter Grossman said during a press conference following the accident. "They have a very close relationship, and she's doing as well as you can expect a wife who is concerned about her husband."

A month later, during an appearance on the Today show, Leno said he was also concerned about his wife during the ordeal. While the late-night veteran was urged by doctors to go straight to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, he decided to go home first.

"My wife doesn't drive anymore and I didn't want her stuck and not knowing what was going on," Leno explained. "It just seemed like the right thing to do, and I think it was."

Host Hoda Kotb asked, "So you loved your wife more than you worried about yourself?" He responded, "Yeah, that's it!"

She was diagnosed with dementia

Michael Tullberg/Getty Jay Leno and Mavis Leno attend the private unveiling of the Meyers Manx electric automobile on August 08, 2022 in Malibu, California.

Mavis was diagnosed with advanced dementia in early 2024. Jay has since been granted conservatorship of his wife.

According to Mavis' lawyer, she consented to the conservatorship and is "receiving excellent care with her husband."

"I've been very lucky in my life. My wife is fighting dementia and all that, but it's not cancer. It's not a tumor, so I enjoy taking care of her," Leno told PEOPLE in November 2025 of his wife's diagnosis.

He added, "It's not work, because people come up, and say they feel so sorry. I understand the sympathy, because I know a lot of people are going through it, but it's okay."



Read the original article on People
Then Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance walks onstage with his wife Usha Vance at a campaign event in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 23, 2024. - Nell Redmond/AP

When JD Vance told a stadium of thousands he hoped his wife would one day be moved by the Christian gospel the same way he was, he inadvertently stepped into a contentious dialogue in India and among the diaspora about religious freedom and, for some, evoked memories of the countrys complicated past with Christian proselytizing.

Speaking at an event last month with Turning Point USA at the University of Mississippi, Vance was asked by an audience member about Christianity and American patriotism.

Why are we making Christianity one of the major things that you have to have in common to be one of you guys? To show that I love America just as much as you do? the audience member asked.

In an assertive and lengthy response that began on immigration, Vance then discussed his interfaith marriage: My wife did not grow up Christian. I think its fair to say she grew up in a Hindu family but not in a particularly religious family.

Raised in an evangelical family, Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019. His wife, Usha Vance, who grew up in Southern California and is of Indian descent, was raised in a Hindu household.

Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way, Vance went on to say.

As the debate around those comments began to swell online among some Indians and the Indian diaspora, Vance responded to a since-deleted comment on X, writing that like many people in an interfaith marriage, he hopes his wife may see things as he does one day, but would continue to support her regardless.

Speaking on October 30 at the Turning Point USA event honoring his longtime friend and late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, Vance explained that he and his wife were agnostic or atheist when they met.

We decided to raise our kids Christian, the vice president said, adding that the couples 8-year-old son, Vivek, had his first communion a year ago  a remark that drew thunderous applause.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance at the Vatican, May 19. - Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Reuters

Usha Vance talked about navigating raising children in an interfaith marriage during an interview with Meghan McCain in June, noting she and her husband had several conversations about it during his conversion to Catholicism.

Im not Catholic and Im not intending to convert or anything like that, Usha Vance said.

She added that while their children attend Catholic school, they can choose whether they want to be baptized Catholic. They are also exposed to the Hindu faith and traditions through her family, she said.

My grandmother is a particularly devout Hindu. She prays every day. She goes to the temple regularly. Shell do her own pujas (prayer rituals).

During the event last month, the vice president said, One of the most important Christian principles is that you respect free will  You figure this stuff out as a family, and you trust in God to have a plan, and you try to follow it as best as you can.

But, despite Vances invocation of free will, his remarks struck a nerve  some described the vice presidents words as denigrating towards Hindus  and broadly, South Asians  at a time of rising hostilities towards immigrants in the US.

Its ridiculous and absolutely wrong, 25-year-old Kush Mehta of Mumbai told CNN of Vances comments expressing his hope his wife would convert. Im in favor of everyone having their own identity, their own values, and their own spiritual path. No one should be forced or pressured into any religion.

Vance felt compelled to declare that his wife was indeed raised Hindu, but not that Hindu, CNN affiliate CNN-News18 editor Shubhangi Sharma wrote in an opinion column. In a political climate so charged against Indian immigrants, this is not just personal. Its political. Its a presidential call to convert.

When an elected leader treats his faith as the ultimate ideal for everyone, including his wife, it ceases to be personal, Areena Arora, a journalist with The Hindu, wrote in an opinion piece, noting at the time of his baptism six years ago, Vance told The American Conservative: My views on public policy and what the optimal state should look like are pretty aligned with Catholic social teaching.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, October 29. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

A reminder of Indias colonial past

For some, Vances comments were a reminder of Indias painful past, where the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century heralded Christian proselytization, prejudice and, at times, forced conversions - particularly under British colonial rule.

The belief that the Christian religion must shape public order is the same civilisational justification that fuelled Europes conquest of the world, Arora, a journalist with The Hindu, wrote.

Because of the differences between how Hindus and Christians think of religion, and because of the colonial history of Christian evangelizing, many Hindus today still think of Christianity as a kind of undigestible foreign faith, said Chad Bauman, a professor of religious studies at Butler University in Indiana whose research focuses on the interactions and conflicts between Hindus and Christians.

This view is particularly common among the supporters of the party currently in charge, Bauman added, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its brand of Hindu Nationalism.

India has seen recurring ethnic and religious clashes for centuries  but tensions have surged in recent decades amid a rise in violence against the Christian and Muslim minorities and, most notably, since the BJP came to power in 2014.

Indias constitution guarantees freedom of religion, although some critics argue that religious freedoms have been eroded under the BJP at the expense of non-Hindu minorities. The issue of changing religion remains deeply controversial, and multiple states have put in place laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths.

Bauman said Vances remarks also confirmed a common stereotype many Hindus have of religion in Trumps America: America is not a nation of religious tolerance and pluralism but rather one that privileges Christianity over all other religions.

Several social media users described Vances comments as contrary to American values.

One X user criticized Vance for what they viewed as him casting Ushas Hindu faith as a problem to be fixed, writing: This isnt American values; its weak leadership & poor politics, bending to MAGA pressure, not defending her dignity.

Another user wrote on X: When JD Vance had hit his lowest, it was his Hindu wife and her Hindu upbringing that had helped him navigate through the tough times. Today in a position of power, her religion has become a liability. What a fall.

She has to stick to her roots

For some in India, Usha Vances position in the administration as a woman of Hindu faith has become a point of pride.

Its amazing  to see someone with Indian roots and a Hindu background in such a visible, powerful space in the US. It shows how far the community has come and how diverse leadership is becoming, said Mehta of Mumbai.

If the second lady does convert, It would create a lot of backlash from people who are very staunch in their beliefs, said Vanessa Almeida, a business owner in Goa.

She has to stick to her roots as much as possible, Almeida said. Thats what the community has been hoping for.

CNN has reached out to the vice president and second ladys offices.

Then Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive at a campaign rally, July 27, 2024, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. - Adam Bettcher/AP

Vance was quick to defend himself on social media against backlash, writing in the X post that the criticism wreaked of anti-Christian bigotry.

She is not Christian and has no plans to convert, Vance clarified, adding that Usha Vance encouraged him to reengage with his faith many years ago.

But like many people in an interfaith marriage  or any interfaith relationship  I hope she may one day see things as I do, he goes on to say. Regardless, Ill continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because shes my wife.

This is completely in contrast to Vances previous comments that his wifes Hindu upbringing and values inspired his own return to faith, Priyanka Deo, US correspondent of Indian network NDTV, said on Instagram, adding that his latest remarks suggest acceptance in the United States is conditional and predicated upon becoming a Christian.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism while already married, has said his wife encouraged him to explore his faith and that his family influenced him in the decision.

I remember when I started to reengage with my own faith, Usha was very supportive, Vance said during an interview with Fox News in June 2024.

During the same interview, Usha Vance said she supported her husbands decision for a few reasons, including seeing the power of her parents faith. That was one of the things that made them such good parents. That made them, really, very good people.

I knew that JD was searching for something. This just felt right for him, she added.

Wooing the Republican base?

Vances comments come ahead of the 2028 election. Trump, in August, suggested Vance was most likely the heir apparent to the Make America Great Again movement  the furthest hes gone in backing Vance as a future presidential candidate.

Vance also told Fox News recently he plans to talk to Trump about potentially running after the 2026 midterm elections.

Ram Puniyani, a Mumbai-based writer and critic of Hindu fundamentalism, said he thinks Vances comments trample on freedom of religion  an essential tenant of any democratic society, be it the United States or India, which is still widely regarded as the worlds largest democracy.

I believe that Americas civic society had much more liberal attitudes earlier, but those attitudes are getting rigid, and this is not a healthy thing for the growth of democracy worldwide, he added.

Usha Vance has not spoken out about her husbands comments, though some have jumped quickly to her defense.

No one has been harsher on JD Vances policy than I have, wrote California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who is also Hindu, on X. But his wife is an accomplished daughter of immigrants, and they have young kids. Attack on the policies. Leave his family out of it.

In response to others who have called Usha Vance a threat to the MAGA base, McCain, daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, said the second lady was a huge asset to the Republican party, someone who bridged party and political lines and brought warmth to the vice president.

She is among other things a modern mother and a style icon, McCain wrote on X. Shes personally my favorite person in the Trump administration.

CNNs Esha Mitra and Ayushi Shah contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Getty Kate Middleton on November 19, 2025

The Gist

Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall on November 19.

Backstage, the Princess of Wales caught up with actress Su Pollard, who complimented her lighter hair.

The future queen shared how she achieved the blonder color, according to a new report.

The world was abuzz back in late summer when famously brunette Kate Middletons hair was suddenly distinctly blonderbronde, as they say.

The Princess of Wales, her husband Prince William, and their three kids ended their summer holiday at Balmoral, the royal familys traditional late summer retreat, in late August, Kate with noticeably lighter hair as seen while driving to church alongside her family. By the time the future queen returned to official public duties on September 4, her hair was noticeably lighterand now, it seems, we know why.

Getty Kate Middleton on September 4, 2025

The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out for a glamorous date night at the Royal Variety Performance on November 19, where they were the guests of honor at their sixth appearance at the annual event. Per The Daily Mail, actress Su Pollard caught up with Kate backstage at Royal Albert Hall, where Pollard told the princess, I like your hair. It looks a lot lighter.

To this, Kate reportedly responded, It used to be brown, but its gone light in the sunshine.

Getty Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance on November 19, 2025

While many have speculated on the future queen experimenting with different hair colorsas she absolutely should if she wants tocelebrity hairstylist Adem Oygur also told The Daily Mail that other factors may influence how hair color appears outside of, well, color itself. Its very normal for hair to look different depending on lighting and styling, and thats almost certainly the case here, Oygur said.

At the Royal Variety Performance on Wednesday, the Princess of Wales wore a green velvet gown from German luxury brand Talbot Runhof, Queen Elizabeths Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings, Queen Marys diamond link choker bracelet, and a clutch by Jenny Packham. Co-founder and designer Adrian Runhof told People that Kate looked impeccable in her dress, and added that the palace notified him about 30 minutes before the future queen stepped out that she would be in the brands design.

Getty Kate Middleton on November 19, 2025

Noting that the stretch velvet makes the look feel as comfortable as a pair of pajamas, Runhof added that the brand is very thankful to her.

We think she is great, Runhof said. We respect her, and its a great honor for us that she picked this dress, that she obviously liked it enough to buy it and select it for the event last night.

Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton at Royal Albert Hall

He said that the design has been in the brands collection for many seasons, and speculated that she found it in her wardrobe and thought, Why dont I wear this? Its so beautiful.

Bethan Holt, fashion news and features director at The Telegraph, told People that the princess looked amazing, adding, It was quite a daring look from her, which I think shows how confident and happy she is right now.

Getty Princess Diana in Cologne, Germany on November 3, 1987

It was very [Princess] Diana, Holt continued, adding that Diana also had a penchant for sumptuous velvets and that slinky body-skimming silhouette. This gown felt like a nod to that.

Read the original article on InStyle
Reps. Cory Mills, R-Fla., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., leave the U.S. Capitol after the last votes before August recess on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Credit - Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Image

The House is back in business after a long absence during the shutdown. But since lawmakers returned to the Capitol, they have spent much of their time litigating efforts to punish members of the chamber rather than legislating.

Just this week, there have been multiple votes on measures to censure multiple lawmakers.

Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured. But the measures have become increasingly common in recent years. Five House lawmakers were previously censured this decade, including one earlier this year. And one of the targets of this weeks effortsRep. Jesus Chuy Garcia of Illinoishas now joined their number as well.

The burst of complaints has brought together lawmakers from across the aisle in a push to reform the censure process.

Heres what to know about censures, and what happened this past week.

What is a censure?

Censures are formally registered condemnations of members of Congress conduct. They are not as severe as expulsion, which removes a lawmaker from office and has typically been used in cases involving criminal chargesor, in the more distant past, service to the Confederacy amid the Civil War. The most recent House member to be expelled, for instance, was Rep. George Santos of New York, who was charged on multiple counts of fraud, money laundering, and stealing public funds, and later convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft following his expulsion from Congress.

Censures, by comparison, do not strip House members of their privileges, although lawmakers may decide to impose additional punishments outside of the censure proceedings, such as removing members from committee assignments.

They also require fewer votes: A two-thirds majority is needed to expel a member of the House, while a censure requires only a simple majority.

The term censure itself is not found in the Constitution, and the document also does not lay out the process for formally reprimanding a lawmaker or what kind of conduct could call for such actions, aside from specifying the threshold necessary for expulsion. The Constitution provides that "each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member."

Over the centuries, House members have been censured for a variety of reasons, including insult, assault, insider trading, mail fraud, and sexual misconduct with a House Page. In March, Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas was censured for conduct during a joint address by President Donald Trump which the measure brought by one of his Republican colleagues contended disrupted the proceedings of the joint address and was a breach of proper conduct. The last successful censure before that one was in 2023, when Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, another Democrat, was censured for having forced the evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building and disrupted the work of the Congress as a vote was underway on the floor of the House. Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff of California and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were also censured that year.

House members may also be reprimanded, a weaker rebuke of a lawmakers conduct than a censure.

Rep. Chuy Garcia

The Illinois Democrat was the only lawmaker to be successfully censured this week.

He was formally rebuked on Tuesday over the controversial timing of his retirement announcement, which critics accused him of planning to solidify the chances of his preferred successor replacing him.

Garcia announced his retirement just after the deadline for would-be candidates to file paperwork for next years race for his seat, after previously filing to run for reelection himself. The announcement left his chief of staff Patty Garcia, who had already submitted her candidacy, as the only Democrat running for the seat he had held since 2019 representing Chicago. (Patty Garcia and Rep. Garcia are not related.)

The push to censure the Illinois congressman over the decision was led by a member of his own party, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and 22 Democrats in total voted to reprimand him along with Republicans in the chamber.

Gluesenkamp Perezs resolution accused Rep. Garcia of undermining the process of a fair and free election and contended that his conduct was beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the United States Constitution.

Other Democrats have pushed back against the effort to reprimand their colleague.

[Garcia] is a good man who has always prioritized the people he represents, even while experiencing unthinkable family tragedy. We unequivocally oppose this misguided resolution and urge our colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to reject it, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement.

But Gluesenkamp Perez has defended her decision, and said that it shouldnt have drawn the reaction that it did from members of her party.

It shouldnt have caused as much friction as it did to speak honestly and consistently about election subversion. Congress is a legislative body, not a social club, and the American people will not accept blind calls to party loyalty in defense of an effort to deny them the right to a free and fair election, Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement following the vote. Representative Chuy Garcia has had a long career of public service, and he is retiring for honorable reasons, but election subversion is wrong no matter whos doing it.

Del. Stacey Plaskett

Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands was also the subject of a censure effort regarding texts she exchanged with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epsteinbut that measure ultimately failed.

The House voted against censuring Plaskett in a 209-214-3 vote. GOP Rep. Ralph Norman, who is running for governor of South Carolina, authored the resolution.

Recently released files related to Epsteins case showed that Plaskett texted Epstein before and during a congressional hearing in 2019 in which Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen was questioned. In the text exchange, which House Republicans released last week among thousands of other documents from the Epstein estate, the disgraced financier appeared to provide Plaskett information in an effort to aid her questioning in the hearing.

Plaskett confirmed that she had communicated with Epstein while defending herself before the censure vote on the House floor on Tuesday night.

"I believed that Jeffrey Epstein had information, and I was going to get information to get at the truth," Plaskett said on CNN. "Having a friendship with him is not something that I would deem to have. I'm just looking forward. I'm moving forward. I think that's what we, as American people, should do, move forward.

Rep. Cory Mills

In another intraparty conflict this week, GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a censure resolution against fellow Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida over allegations related to assault, stolen valor, and contracting violations.

That censure effort also failed, with the House voting 310-103 to refer the resolution to the House Ethic Committee.

"You're a disgrace," Mace said to Mills on the House floor.

A Florida judge issued a protective order against Mills in October after he was accused of threatening to release sexually explicit videos of his former girlfriend, according to court filings. Mills denied wrongdoing.

Mills has also faced scrutiny this year over the Bronze Star he was awarded in 2021 for service in Iraq in 2003, after NOTUS reported in May that veterans who served with him could not recall him being present at the incidents for which he was bestowed the military honor. Mills chief of staff dismissed the challenges to his military accolade, saying he earned his Bronze Star and the paperwork proves it.

Also this year, Mills was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District Columbia in connection with a report of assault in February. Prosecutors declined to pursue misdemeanor charges against Mills, however, after Sarah Raviani, who called 911, recanted statements she had given police. A spokesperson for Mills denied any wrongdoing in a statement to Fox News. Raviani accused Mace in a post on X this week of attempting to use my private life as a pawn for political gain and manufacture a narrative that simply does not exist.

Maces resolution also highlighted the Office of Congressional Conduct finding that there is substantial reason to believe Mills might have held contracts with federal agencies while serving in the House, violating congressional rules. The office previously recommended that the House Ethics Committee look into the allegations.

Congressman Mills is committed to complying with all laws and ethics rules and is pleased that the Federal Election Commission recently dismissed a complaint with similar allegations, a spokesperson for Mills told POLITICO earlier this year, saying they trusted the ethics committee would come to a similar conclusion.

Prior to the vote on the censure measure against Mills, the House Ethics Committee voted on Wednesday to create an investigative subcommittee to look into the allegations. Mills put forth the motion to refer the resolution to the Ethic Committee once Maces censure resolution was read.

Lawmakers push to make the censure process harder

House leaders from both parties have spoken in favor of revising the censure process following the pushes to reprimand multiple lawmakers this week.

I think censure is an extraordinary remedy, extraordinary cases, it should be used sparingly, as it has been over the history of this institution, Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday.

Jeffries agreed on Thursday, saying that he was open-minded about reforming the censure and that the process needs to be brought under control.

A bipartisan bill that would raise the threshold for a censure resolution to a 60% majority rather than a simple majority has been introduced by Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia and GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska.

I just think weve got out of control, Bacon said. It should be more bipartisan when we do one.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The American flag flies half-staff outside the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Lawmakers departed Capitol Hill for the Thanksgiving holiday without addressing rising health care costs or the looming expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans afford insurance. 

When senators return in December, they're expected to vote on extending those subsidies during the first half of the month, but passage remains uncertain. In the House of Representatives, there's no guarantee a vote will happen at all, as even moderate Republicans are demanding changes to the law before supporting an extension.

"I wouldn't sign on just a clean extension. They're gonna have to, Hakeem Jeffries can't do my way to the highway on this thing. This thing got passed without a single Republican vote to begin with," Republican Rep. Don Bacon said.

As the subsidy expiration approaches alongside the 2026 midterm elections, some Republicans are raising concerns about their party's healthcare strategy. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of Florida with President Trump's endorsement, acknowledged the challenge.

RELATED STORY | ACA marketplace premiums could rise even more without congressional action

"I think Republicans need to have a health care strategy and not just say that Obamacare is broken, although it's very broken, and that's what's causing some of the affordability crisis hurting the American people, are Democrat policies like healthcare policies. So we have some room to work on that as well," Donalds said.

Recent polling suggests Democrats may benefit from the healthcare debate in upcoming elections. An NPR-PBS-Marist poll shows Democrats favored on the generic ballot by 14 points among registered voters, their strongest position in three years. Additionally, 57% of respondents said lowering prices should be the Trump administration's top priority.

Democrats received another boost when a federal court threw out new congressional maps in Texas, though the ruling is pending appeal to the US Supreme Court. Combined with Democratic moves in California to strengthen their margins and positive polling, the party could potentially regain control of the House of Representatives.

"I think what you're seeing is a massive blue wave building for this election. Americans are deeply concerned about the direction of the country, especially in the spiraling upward of prices for everyday items, electricity, food," Sen. Richard Blumenthal said.

Whether affordable healthvcare will be addressed when lawmakers return in December remains unclear as Republican lawmakers debate the best path forward to reduce costs.
Sarah McNally from Longford died after she was stabbed in a bar on Saturday 30 March last year [Social media]

A man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the manslaughter of an Irish woman in New York last year.

Sarah McNally, who was originally from County Longford, died after being stabbed at the Ceili House pub in Maspeth in Queens.

Marcin Pieciak stabbed Ms McNally 19 times.

He had been charged with murder, but agreed to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter last month.

In court Pieciak reaffirmed his guilt and said he accepted the sentence.

He said he had no explanation for his actions, and said he thought about Ms McNally every day and what he had done.

Addressing her family in Ireland, Pieciak said: "I know it's too soon now, but I hope one day for forgiveness."

The stabbing happened in an Irish bar in Maspeth, Queens [Google]

Ms McNally had been in a relationship with Pieciak but had ended the relationship and told him she was returning to Ireland.

She had been working as a bartender in the Ceili House Bar when Pieciak attacked her.

He stabbed her 19 times causing severe injury to her neck, back and chest.

She suffered damage to her carotid artery and her spine was severed.

She was taken to hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

Pieciak attempted to stab himself in the neck with a second blade he had in his possession, but was stopped by patrons in the pub, who detained him until police arrived.
Joseph's Hospital-South, Riverview, Florida; Courtesy Shelby Martin Daniella Hines' newborn baby; Shelby Martin's newborn baby

NEED TO KNOW

Moms across the country have been getting a big surprise in the delivery room

This year, moms have delivered babies weighing nearly double the average size  about 7 lbs., according to the University of Rochester Medical Center  setting new hospital records

Each woman had one thing in common: they were shocked by the size of their new bundle of joy

Moms across the country have been getting a big surprise in the delivery room.

This year, moms have delivered babies weighing nearly double the average size  about 7 lbs., according to the University of Rochester Medical Center  setting new hospital records. Whether they were giving birth for the first time or expanding their family with another little one, each woman had one thing in common: they were shocked by the size of their new bundle of joy.

Here's a look at some of the record-breaking babies born in 2025.

Paris Halo

In Alabama, first-time mom Pamela Mann gave birth to her baby girl Paris Halo on Tuesday, March 4, at Grandview Medical Center, according to Fox affiliate WBRC-TV and NBC affiliate WVTM-TV. While the baby had measured large on an ultrasound by both an ultrasound tech and her OB/GYN, Mann told WVTM that the extent of the newborns debut caught everyone by surprise.

Everybody in the ER  they were amazed," the 31-year-old delivery driver said about her baby, who entered the world weighing 13 lb., 4 oz.. They were like, OMG, oh, this is a big baby!"

During her delivery, Mann faced some trepidation.

The doctor pulls her out of me, and all the nurses are like, Oh God! Wow!  Mann told Today. Then I started freaking out because I had no idea what was happening.

Speaking with WVTM, she recalled asking, Is something wrong? Whats wrong? And once they actually just said shes just big, I just broke out into tears.

St. Joseph's Hospital-South, Riverview, Florida Daniella Hines' newborn baby.

Annan

Back in September, Florida-based mom Daniella Hines got a big surprise when she delivered her son Annan at St. Joseph's Hospital-South in Riverview, Florida. According to Today, the newborn came out weighing 13 lbs., 15 oz., which was the "biggest baby" in the hospital's 10-year history.



We didnt expect such a big blessing, she told Today. But its just more to love!



Unlike when she delivered her older son, Andre Jr., who came into the world weighing 12 lbs., 11 oz., Hines felt something different this time around.

He was the talk of the maternity ward! Hines, 40, told the outlet. I remember thinking, What are they pulling out of me? What is going on here? I felt so much pressure."



After seeing the newborn for the first time, the strange feeling made more sense to her.

He was so big. I was like, Whose baby is this? He came out of me?' " Hines told Today. Then everybody starts coming in because its not every day you see an almost 14-pound baby pop out. He was like a little celebrity."

She added, "I can't wait to show him when he gets older: 'Look, you were in the news!'"



Courtesy Shelby Martin Shelby Martin's newborn baby

Cassian

Tennessee-based mom Shelby Martin had her birth plan meticulously mapped out  but life had other plans in store for her. In July, the boy mom of four delivered her son, Cassian, at HCA Healthcares TriStar Centennial Women's Hospital in Nashville. The newborn entered the world weighing 12 lbs., 14 oz. becoming the largest newborn delivered at that location in three years, according to hospital personnel.

"We had a heads up that he was going to be big, but I would have never guessed almost 13 pounds," Martin told PEOPLE in October. "Looking back on bump pictures, I probably should have known."

Martin said when her little one was born, everyone in the room "lit up." While she admitted that she was nervous before laying eyes on her newborn because it was her first C-section, she added that the moment her baby boy arrived, the energy in the room shifted.

"Everyone was amazed by his size! He made such a big impression that nurses and doctors from all over the hospital came by the NICU just to meet him," she shared. "He quickly became a little celebrity during his stay."

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.

Now settled at home, Martin told PEOPLE that her son is "the brightest rainbow" that the family has been waiting for, as the happy news came one year after she experienced a pregnancy loss. Her son Cassian entered the world a year later on her 30th birthday, which Martin said brought back the color that the family had been missing.

"He truly is the brightest rainbow we had been dreaming of," she added. "Of course, we still mourn our angel we lost, but being able to get him Earthside has filled something in all of us. His brothers are over the moon."

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Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Linoy Friedman at the Balmain Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show on Oct. 1 in Paris.

NEED TO KNOW

Linoy Friedman, the creator behind the account What People Are Wearing, is redefining street style journalism by capturing real people, real outfits and real connections  proving that fashions most compelling stories often happen on the sidewalk, not the runway

For Friedman, the core of everything is joy  the joy of meeting strangers, the joy of editing a video, and the joy of watching people light up when someone notices the outfit they put care into.

People always tell me I make them feel very comfortable, she tells PEOPLE. They forget about the camera. Its just a conversation.



In an industry often obsessed with exclusivity, Linoy Friedman has built her influence on something far more democratic: curiosity and connection. Through her hugely popular Instagram account What People Are Wearing, shes captured not just outfits but personalities, cultures and stories, showing that fashion is as vibrant on the streets as it is on the runways. Her lens has carried her from sidewalks to the front row, transforming her into one of social medias most compelling chroniclers of personal style and taste.

In New York, theres an energy you dont get anywhere else, Friedman tells PEOPLE during an intimate sitdown on a park bench in Tribeca, dressed in a white Reformation T-shirt and STAUD trousers. First, it feels like home, which is always a nice addition to being so busy and running around. Its always nice to have that familiar feeling. And I love that in New York people are so creative with their style and personality dressing.

Her approach to content creations is simple but effective: highlight creativity, celebrate individuality, and engage with people in an authentic way.

Im always on the lookout, she says with a smile. I dont really go into cities that Im not going to get content at because I feel guilty.

And the more her work grows, the more clear it becomes that the true magic is actually within herself. People always tell me I make them feel very comfortable, she says. They forget about the camera. Its just a conversation.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Linoy Friedman at the Balmain Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show on Oct. 1 in Paris.

Growing Up with an Entrepreneurial Spirit

Long before hundreds of millions of views and major brand partnerships, Friedman grew up watching her entrepreneur parents run businesses.

I always knew that I wanted to be my own boss, she says. My only experience working for somebody else lasted two months.

Social media was her natural entry point  first as a manager, then through her own photography and content agency  but fashion didnt click until an internship on Franklin Street, at a now-closed start-up that tried to replicate the iconic rotating Clueless closet. It was cute. I loved it, she laughs.

These days, Fashion Weeks around the world make up much of her calendar. And though she adores Milan, its Paris that feels most like home: Ive spent around six months total there over the past few years. I kind of speak the language. I understand the culture.

Paris is also where she finds her best vintage: a perfectly fitted leather jacket with intricate stitching and a cherished Dior jacket that cinches exactly the way she likes. One tip I have is to dress according to what works for your body, she says. Understand what looks best on you.

Despite what her impeccably edited videos and wardrobe might suggest, Friedman says her closet is a work in progress.

Im trying to be as minimalistic as I can because Im always on the go, she explains, citing brands like Cos and Sezane as some of her go-tos for elevated everyday wear. But at the same time, I keep buying and exploring other styles. My style keeps evolving each year.

Embracing the Era of the Influencer

While many debate the role creators play in fashion, Friedman sees it as a total positive movement.

It brought so much more accessibility, she says. It used to be just celebrities getting dressed by brands. Influencer culture brought something refreshing  it helps people find their personal style by seeing how real people get dressed.

Her audience seems to agree. One of her most viral videos was an emotional montage of visually matched couples walking together in the street. I titled it, This is your proof that humans were just made to find one another, she recalls. It always comes back to the outfits, too.

No matter how big her platform grows, she edits every video herself  and enjoys it.Every time I edit, I smile, she says. I remember the interaction.

For someone who interviews supermodels backstage and fashion insiders across continents, Friedman is remarkably unflappable.

Im not very starstruck, she says. At the end of the day, Im just having a conversation with another person.

Except, she admits, for Johnny Depp  the only person Id get starstruck for.

Still, the closest shes come to being tongue-tied was on a plane, face-to-face with her favorite filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino. She recounts the moment with theatrical clarity: referencing a line from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, telling him he was the kind of genius whos born every 50 or 100 years.

He said, Thats my favorite poem, she says, still glowing. And I told him, I know. Then he shook my hand, and I dropped my hat from excitement.

Looking Ahead

Despite the constant travel, brand deals and content pressure, she stays astonishingly balanced.

I dont need to put my phone in a box, she laughs. Working makes me happy. Im a very balanced person.

Her management team at DBA handles logistics, leaving her free to do the part she loves: talk to strangers, find beauty in the everyday, and turn those moments into something meaningful.

When fans recognize her  more often in Europe, surprisingly  the exchange is always gentle and grateful. Its very cute, she says. I love meeting people.

Theres no shortage of possibilities for What People Are Wearing. A podcast would be really cool, she says. To dive deep into unique people and unique styles.

Shes also dreaming of a photo-driven city style guide  part street photography, part global fashion diary  a natural extension of the observational lens shes so known for.

She even hopes to one day take her interviewing skills to the red carpet.That could be one of my big goals, she says. I dont really get starstruck, so I can be natural around anyone.

And based on the ease, warmth, and instinct she brings to every encounter  from Paris sidewalks to New York hotel lobbies  its not hard to imagine her there.



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A war of words between President Donald Trump and Democratic military and national security veterans on Capitol Hill has opened up a discussion about legal and illegal orders.

But the law governing the military clearly prohibits those in the service from following orders that are unlawful.

Spc. Richard Morgan/22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detac - PHOTO: Army Lt. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps, conducts the oath of enlistment for 64 future U.S. Soldiers in Fayetteville, N.C., Aug. 16, 2025.

The issue came up after Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who served in the Central Intelligence Agency, in which she and five other Democratic members of Congress urged military members to not follow "illegal orders," telling them "Don't give up the ship."

Trump calls Dems video to service members 'seditious behavior, punishable by death

"The threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders," they say in the video. "No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

Trump and his administration condemned their message, contending the Democrats were encouraging members of the military to disobey their oath of enlistment.

"This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???" Trump wrote on his social media platform Thursday morning.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters later in her weekly media briefing, "The president expects his Cabinet officials in the administration to follow the law and to demand accountability and hold people accountable for their dangerous rhetoric."

Federal law, however, does not permit members of the military to break the law, even if they were commanded by a superior officer, from the commander-in-chief down the chain of command.

The oath of enlistment, sworn by everyone who joins the military, states they "will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

The UCMJ contains several provisions and articles that stipulate that service men and women are liable for a wide variety of rules and regulations, regardless of whether they were ordered by a superior officer. That includes burglary, murder, assault, rape and property destruction.

UCMJ's Article 134 is a broad provision that prohibits "all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital," and is punishable in military court.

U.S. Marine Corps - PHOTO: Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jordan Lamber recite the oath of enlistment during a reenlistment ceremony in Dragsvik, Finland, Nov. 10, 2025.

Article 90, which covers the rules over "Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer," explicitly prohibits orders that "without such a valid military purpose, interfere with private rights or personal affairs."

Trump admin live updates

They are also bound to follow international agreements to which the U.S. is a signatory.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which protects victims under the rules of the Geneva Convention, also states that armed service members are liable for criminal responsibility "if the subordinate knew that the act ordered was unlawful or should have known because of the manifestly unlawful nature of the act ordered."

Unlawful orders have come up many times in U.S. military courts over the decades, with prosecutors pushing back against the "Nuremberg defense," a reference to the Nuremberg trials after World War II, in which several Nazis unsuccessfully defended their actions by claiming they they were following orders from their superiors.

In 1969 during the Vietnam War, the U.S. Court of Military Appeals ruled against a soldier who was convicted of killing a Vietnamese man and claimed that he was following orders.

The court ruled that there was no justification to follow orders if "the order was of such a nature that a man of ordinary sense and understanding would know it to be illegal."
U.S. Border Patrol riverine agents search the banks of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 20, 2019. Photo: Glenn Fawcett / U.S. Customs and Border Protection via Flickr / United States Government Work

(The Center Square)  Seven months after the Trump administration claimed Mexico would be complying with a treaty to ensure south Texas received water, Texas still hasnt received it.

Gov. Greg Abbott Friday again demanded that Mexican authorities fulfill their treaty obligation and pointed to a potential solution proposed by Texas U.S. senators.

Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement," Abbott said in a statement. "Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley. The significant economic loss from Mexico's failure to supply more than two years' worth of water obligations  almost 2 million acre-feet  has had a severe negative impact on Texas' agricultural industry. The breach of the 1944 Water Treaty violates foundational elements of international law and diplomacy and must be corrected immediately."

At issue is a 1944 Treaty of Utilization of Waters, which governs water usage between the U.S. and Mexico, including from two international reservoirs, Lake Amistad and Falcon Lake in Texas along the international border. Mexico has historically released water storage from Lake Amistad to Mexican growers, not to Texas growers, and the U.S. federal government hasnt enforced the treaty. Last year, Mexican officials killed any agreements to release water to Texans, even running ads in Mexico City to protest compliance, according to several news reports.

Under the treaty, Mexico is obligated to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet over five years to the United States from the Rio Grande River; the U.S. is obligated to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of water to Mexico from the Colorado River. The U.S. has consistently met its delivery obligations, according to International Boundary and Water Commission data.

In April, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins claimed that 100 days into his term, President Donald Trump, in a historic demonstration of leadership, had ensured Mexican water delivery for Texas farmers. Mexico has committed to make an immediate transfer of water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of the flow in six of Mexicos Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle, she said, The Center Square reported.

Seven months later that hasnt happened.

The last five-year cycle ended in October with Mexico once again failing to meet its minimum delivery obligations. According to the IBWC, as of Oct. 24, 2025, Mexico ended the cycle delivering approximately 885,000 acre-feet, less than 50% of its total obligation of 1.75 million acre-feet.

Preliminary IBWC data indicates Mexico has a remaining delivery deficit of more than 800,000 acre-feet of water, the governors office says. Thats equivalent to roughly 2.5 years of required deliveries.

The Rio Grande Valley is among the most fertile agricultural regions in Texas and the U.S. Half of crop production acreage in the lower Rio Grande Valley is irrigated. In order to grow a wide range of crops, farmers rely on water from the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers. The agricultural industry in the valley contributes roughly $1 billion annually to the economy and provides roughly 8,400 full-time jobs, The Center Square reported.

A 2023 Texas A&M AgriLife analysis states valley growers have been suffering from water shortages since the mid-1990s.

These shortages were exacerbated in 1992, when Mexico began under supplying the average minimum annual amount the 350,000 acre feet of water in the Rio Grande, which continues today, it said, referring to two years ago.

In 2023, irrigation water shortages resulted in an estimated $495.8 million crop revenue loss and $993.2 million loss in economic output, it states. The loss of irrigated crop production in the region was an estimated $554.8 million loss in value added (contribution to the states GDP) and an estimated loss of 8,404 jobs (full-and part-time) that depend on the production and sales of these commodities for some portion of their income, it says.

Fast forward to one year after the report was published and Texas last sugar mill was forced to close. The sugar industry blamed Mexican authorities for not releasing water and U.S. authorities for not holding them accountable, The Center Square reported.

Last year, record-low levels in the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs forced Texas to accept water from Mexico through non-designated sources. Last November, Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to accept water from the San Jaun River but again said Mexico must comply with the treaty, The Center Square reported.

The San Juan River water deliveries were downstream of Falcon and Amistad reservoirs, which prevented Texas from capturing water that was not immediately needed, he said.

On Friday, Abbott pointed to a possible solution proposed by Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to strengthen enforcement of the treaty. If a bill they filed is enacted, restrictions would be imposed on Mexico, including denying all non-treaty requests from the Mexican government and limiting engagement until it complies.
Scott Jennings Explains Who Motivated Six Democrats To Urge Military To Disobey Trump (Screenshot/CNN)

Republican strategist Scott Jennings explained Thursday why six House Democrats filmed a video urging members of the U.S. military to ignore potential orders from President Donald Trump.

Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin posted a video to X on Tuesday urging service members and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders, a message she delivered alongside five congressional colleagues who also boast military or intelligence backgrounds. During a panel discussion on The Arena, Jennings said the six Democrats knew exactly what they were doing, which was feeding red meat to the far-left base.

And in my opinion, they are simply making videos that are outrageous and pushing the envelope to satisfy a radical base that demands their Democratic leaders to do things like that these days, Jennings said.

Jennings dismissed the idea that any of the six Democrats would face arrest.

WATCH:

Look, I dont think any members of Congress are going to be arrested, but I dont think this should take away from the debate about whether what they did is responsible. They know better, Jennings said. (RELATED: Karoline Leavitt Says Reporters Caught Spying On White House Staff)

Jennings said the White House already made its position clear.

And I can only point you back to what the presidents direct representative, Karoline Leavitt, said today when she was directly asked about this. She said, no, thats not what the president was saying. And so I wholeheartedly agree with you that we all have a responsibility to denounce political violence. As far as I know, there hasnt been any political violence today, Jennings added.

And you have the White House press secretary [Karoline Leavitt] saying there should not be any political violence and no one should take it that way. So I think what Karoline did today was actually quite important when she answered a direct question about it.

Leavitt pushed back Thursday after reporters pressed her about President Donald Trump saying the Democrats who urged the military to defy him committed crimes punishable by death. She defended Trumps position and blasted the six lawmakers, accusing them of conspiring to encourage service members to ignore orders and endanger themselves.

You have sitting members of the United States Congress, who conspired together to orchestrate a video message to members of the United States military, to active duty service members, to members of the national security apparatus, encouraging them to defy the presidents lawful orders. The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed. Thats what these members of Congress, who swore an oath to abide by the Constitution, are essentially encouraging, Leavitt said.

The lawmakers released a message accusing Trump of wanting them executed simply for affirming their constitutional oath. They argued that reiterating the limits on presidential authority should never be treated as a capital offense and insisted they were standing up for service members who must follow only lawful commands.

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Millions of dollars in taxpayer money stolen as part of a series of massive Minnesota welfare fraud schemes may have been funneled to Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab, according to a report.

The radical Islamic terror group, which is a longstanding ally of al Qaeda and considered a threat to US interests, has likely been the beneficiary of money stolen in a spate of scams and sent to Somalia by the criminals defrauding the North Star State, City Journal reported Wednesday, citing federal counterterrorism sources.

This is a third-rail conversation, but the largest funder of al-Shabab is the Minnesota taxpayer, a source who worked on a federal investigation into Minnesotans attempting to join overseas terror groups, told the outlet.

There is an issue here that is real, and if there is ever an event that is traceable back to these funds, or to people from this area, then this situation will take on a whole new set of optics, the source warned.

The terror group reportedly takes a cut of money fraudulently obtained in the US and smuggled to Somalia. AFP via Getty Images

Minnesota has been plagued by several high-profile fraud scandals in recent years, the largest being the Feeding Our Future scheme, for which prosecutors have racked up 56 criminal convictions in what they allege was a plot to steal $300 million from a federally funded program meant to feed children during the coronavirus pandemic.

In recent months, the Minnesota US Attorneys Office has uncovered multimillion-dollar fraud schemes targeting the states Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program and a federally funded autism services for children program.

The states top prosecutor believes billions of dollars in taxpayer money has been stolen as a result of fraud.

To be clear, this is not an isolated scheme, acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson said in September when announcing the first charges in the autism fraud scheme. From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilization Services and now Autism Services, these massive fraud schemes form a web that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money.

Each case we bring exposes another strand of this network. The challenge is immense, but our work continues.

Former fraud investigator Kayesh Magan, a Somali-American who had worked in the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, noted in an op-ed last year that it is uncomfortable and true that nearly all of the defendants in several Minnesota fraud cases, including Feeding Our Future, are from my community. The Somali community.

David Gaither, a former Republican Minnesota state senator, believes state Democrats and the media have ignored fraud being perpetrated by members of the states large and politically influential Somali community, which has made the problem worse.

The media does not want to put a light on this, Gaither told City Journal. And if youre a politician, its a significant disadvantage for you to alienate the Somali community. If you dont win the Somali community, you cant win Minneapolis. And if you dont win Minneapolis, you cant win the state. End of story.

More than 70 people have been charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud case out of Minnesota. AP

The fraudulently obtained welfare funds make their way to al-Shabab through the untold millions of dollars in cash remitted by Somalis in Minnesota back to Somalia through an informal network of money handlers, known as hawalas, the outlet reported.

We had sources going into the hawalas to send money, Glenn Kerns, a retired Seattle Police Department detective who served on a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), explained. I went down to [Minnesota] and pulled all of their records and, well st, all these Somalis sending out money are on DHS benefits. How does that make sense? We had good sources tell us: This is welfare fraud.

Kerns said he later determined that significant funds were being sent from people in the US to al-Shabab networks in Somalia  and though it may not have been intentional, the terror group was getting a share.

Every scrap of economic activity, in the Twin Cities, in America, throughout Western Europe, anywhere Somalis are concentrated, every cent that is sent back to Somalia benefits al-Shabab in some way, a former member of the Minneapolis JTTF said. For every dollar that is transferred from the Twin Cities back to Somalia, al-Shabab is  taking a cut of it.
Callum Robinson/Instagram Ari Gisell Garcia Cota mugshot; Callum and Jake Robinson

NEED TO KNOW

Jake Robinson, 30, of Victoria, Australia, his brother, Callum Robinson, 33, of San Diego, and their friend, Carter Rhoad, 30, also of San Diego, traveled to Baja California for a trip of a lifetime in April 2024

They were reported missing when they failed to show up at the Airbnb where they were supposed to stay

On May 2, their bodies were found in the bottom of a well. All three had been shot in the head, police said

Three friends  two from Australia and one from the U.S.  met up in Mexico for a week of surfing and fun, but they ended up dead.

Now, one of the suspects convicted for her role in the brutal carjacking and execution-style shootings of the three men in April 2024 has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Ari Gisell Silva Raya, 23, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Nov. 21, to instigating the murders of Jake Robinson, 30, of Victoria, Australia, his brother, Callum Robinson, 33, of San Diego, and their friend, Carter Rhoad, 30, also of San Diego, during a surfing and camping trip in the northern Mexican state of Baja California, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.

Silva Rayal was sentenced on Nov. 21 to 14 years in jail for robbery of a vehicle with violence and an additional six years for robbery with violence, per ABC News Australia.

She was also fined 54,285 Mexican pesos ($4,563), according to ABC News Australia.

The three adventurers were last seen on April 27 while they were surfing and camping along the Mexican coast, south of Ensenada.

At the start of the ill-fated trip, Callum posted a picture on Instagram of his white pickup truck filled with equipment parked in a sandy locale with the caption, ...and it begins.

The trio then spent time in San Miguel, the last place they surfed before they disappeared.

On May 2, 2024, the bodies of the three men were found at the bottom of a 50-foot well after they were reported missing, FBI San Diego said at the time, NBC San Diego reported.

Carter Redd Rhoad/Instagram Carter Redd Rhoad

They each had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

The body of a fourth man was also found in the well but authorities said his death was unrelated to the murders of the three friends.

The deadly carjacking came about after Silva Rayal happened to meet the Robinson brothers and Rhoad, saw the truck they were driving and told her boyfriend at the time, Jesus Gerardo Garcia Cota, to "bring me a good phone and good tires for my pickup truck, prosecutors said in court, according to the BBC.



Sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. that night, Cota, who is known as El Kekas, his brother Irineo Francisco Garcia Montano and a third man, Angel Jesus Leon Aguilera, drove to Punta San Jose where the three surfers were camping, killed them and robbed them, prosecutors allege, NBC San Diego reports.

All three are in custody and awaiting trial, having pleaded not guilty.

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.

During the sentencing hearing, the victims family members spoke about their immense loss.

"Our hearts are broken beyond repair," Callum and Jakes mother, Debra Robinson, said via video link to the Mexican courtroom from Australia, ABC News Australia reports.

"The silence in our home is deafening, she continued. There are no words for the emptiness, the weight of their absence. The grief is constant  it lives inside us now."

Their father, Martin Robinson, said he would "never understand why you had to rob these young men, adding that he didnt think her sentence was long enough, ABC News Australia reports.

Via video link, Rhoads widow, Natalie Weirtz, said, "Carter was the love of my life. He was my safety in the world. My life is now a nightmare, per ABC News Australia.



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Celebrated photographer and conservationist Beverly Joubert is lucky to be alive. She died  four times by her husband Derecks count  working in Botswana in March 2017.

The Jouberts were in the bush in the Okavango Delta, when a buffalo, a creature they had extensive experience with, knocked Dereck down, before impaling his wife. The horn entered under her arm, passing through her chest, lacerated her neck and went up into her face.

Beverly died in my arms twice and I was able to pull her back, Dereck Joubert told CNN. Then again in the medical plane, then again in the hospital.

Seven surgeons and eighteen hours later, Beverly Joubert began the long road to recovery. I now have 41 screws in (my) face and seven plates, so I am a little bionic, she said with a gentle smile, sitting next to her husband on a video call.

I shouldnt have survived, Beverly Joubert reflected. But the incident, far from causing the couple to withdraw from the wild, only reaffirmed their commitment to protecting it, she explained.

Beverly and Dereck Joubert, photographed near Selinda, Botswana, in 2005. - Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert

The South African-born Jouberts are National Geographic Society Explorers at Large, and have lived in Botswana for 40 years, recording landscapes and animals across Southern Africa in still photography and more than two dozen documentary films.

Now they have compiled Beverly Jouberts photography into a hefty art book titled Wild Eye: A Life in Photographs.

There are the expected photographs: perilous wildebeest migrations and languorous leopards. There are also the remarkable and sometimes shocking images. For instance, Beverly Jouberts photographs of lions successfully hunting elephants at night  the first time it had ever been documented, the Jouberts believe.

It was this mysterious thing that wed heard in the dark and never seen, said Dereck Joubert.

During the dry season in 1997, wildlife began converging at the Savute watering hole in Chobe National Park, Botswana, including herds of elephants. Some confused calves were separated from their herds and became targets for lions. After a successful kill, the lions soon turned on the adults.

At 2 a.m., they jumped on a 21-year-old elephant cow, Beverly Joubert said. What ensued was a long and bloody tussle, with the lions emerging victorious. It was evident to us that lions can adapt remarkably fast to the situation, she added.

A lion tussles with an elephant in Chobe National Park in Botswana, 1997. This struggle lasted for days according to the Jouberts, and was so horrific to witness the couple took time off afterward. - Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert

The couple documented the behavior after years of research  a luxury that wouldnt be afforded to many photographers, and certainly not those who parachute in on assignment.

Thats our life, said Dereck Joubert. These things are happening all around us, all the time  Were the first to see it. If some new behavior starts emerging, you dont read about it in some scientific paper. It takes time. Theres no magic sauce here except time.

The duo has forged relationships with certain creatures; their bond is reflected in Beverly Jouberts most intimate shots. Legadema, a leopard driven away by her mother after a botched hunt, is one example. The animal is one half of a famed 2004 image alongside a day-old baboon. Legadema had just killed the infants mother, and the Jouberts were anticipating the leopard would do the same to the infant. Instead, she moved into nurturing this tiny new baby, said Beverly Joubert.

A leopard called Legadema next to a day-old baby baboon in Botswana, 2004. The image became central to "Eye of the Leopard" a book and film by the Jouberts. - Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert

For her husband, it embodies what makes an image iconic. Its a question mark, he said. What happened before this? And whats going to happen next?

Nature documentaries often have a penchant for anthropomorphism; transposing human-like narratives on animals. While saying theres a need to stop short of defining the inner lives of their subjects, Derek Joubert argued, its folly to avoid the notion that animals are like us in some way.

Theyre mammals like we are, he added. They have brains, they have reactions. Think about elephants: they have the ability to think (of) the past, present and future; to communicate  Many of these sacrosanct emotions are indeed not unique to us.

The Jouberts proximity to nature has made observing its struggles more heartbreaking.

In Africa, lions have disappeared from 95% of their historic range, cheetahs 90% of their historic range, with leopards and other big cats confronting decline also, according to the Big Cats Initiative, which the couple manages.

One can respond to that in one of two ways, said Dereck Joubert. One is to go, The world is burning, its finished. Or, What can we do about that?

They chose the latter. Nearly 20 years ago, the Jouberts began leasing land from governments and communities, establishing Great Plains Conservation, a safari operation which now spans Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The 15 safari camps employ roughly 1,000 people, fostering an economy built around preserving nature (in turn, deterring poaching), while managing over 1.5 million acres.

Proceeds help support the Great Plains Foundation, which oversees the Big Cats Initiative and other conservation programs.

What we do with our work as emergency conservationists is look for opportunities within this ever-changing world to regrow and to rewild, explained Dereck Joubert.

One opportunity is through animal translocation, moving animals from high density to low density areas in Southern Africa  a solution becoming increasingly necessary as safe spaces for animals are fenced off, and in some cases, required to maintain genetic diversity.

The alternative is culling, and conservation with a bullet is not a form of conservation, said Beverly Joubert.

An elephant hoisted by a crane during a translocation project in Zimbabwe, 2022. - Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert

Through multiple initiatives including Rhinos Without Borders, the Jouberts have been involved in large-scale animal translocations, including moving 100 elephants across Zimbabwe, and airlifting 87 rhinos via airplane and helicopter to a secret location in Botswana between 2016 and 2018.

Translocation is not cheap, said Dereck Joubert, estimating it costs around $10,000 to move an elephant across a country, and $45,000 to move a rhino. But its paying off; Beverly Joubert notes that from the 87 rhinos translocated in Botswana, 90 calves have already been born in the wild.

The Jouberts estimate they raise and distribute between $3-$10 million every year for conservation and community enterprise purposes. As well as employment opportunities, Great Plains has created schools and other education programs in remote areas near their camps, and distributed 7.8 million meals to Maasai children in Kenya.

Along with their documentary and photography work, this, they say, will be their legacy.

I think our lifes narrative  needs to be built on care and compassion and being kind to everything around us  elephants, school children, old grandmothers, rhinos. I think too often in our society we discard people in need, said Derek Joubert.

The career retrospective book is a natural opportunity to look back on their lives. What advice would they have for their younger selves?

Embrace life, be curious and speak out, said Beverly Joubert. Speaking out is so important. If you do not speak out, animals  everything around you  will disappear.

I would say to little Derek, Do it all again, exactly the way you did it the first time around, said her husband. Youre going to get dented. Youre going to get bruised. Youre going to get knocked by elephants. Youre going to get run over by buffalo. Youre going to crash a number of airplanes. Youre going to have scorpion stings, snake bites. Dont change a thing; its been a perfect life.

He paused.

I may change one thing, he added. I may say to little Dereck, Avoid buffalo a little more.

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Marimar Martinez shows her bullet scar during an interview on November 21. - Jordan Guzzardo/CNN

Even with a federal indictment hanging over her, claiming she had been a threat to law enforcement, Marimar Martinez was confident she could eventually prove her innocence.

I know the truth, Martinez told CNN Friday in an exclusive interview. I know what really happened that day.

After an extraordinary reversal by federal prosecutors in one of the most high-profile cases connected to Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, a judge dismissed charges Thursday against Martinez, a United States citizen who was accused of ramming the vehicle of a Customs and Border Protection agent in Chicago before he shot her several times.

The ruling from US District Judge Georgia Alexakis came after she repeatedly raised concerns about the handling of the investigation, including the revelation the vehicle of the Border Patrol agent who shot Martinez was moved 1,000 miles away after the incident and text messages showing the agent apparently bragging about the shooting.

Damage to the driver's side of the CBP vehicle is seen in an image from a criminal complaint against Marimar Martinez. - US District Court

Martinez had been accused of aggressively and erratically pursuing CBP agent Charles Exum and hitting his car on October 4 as protests against the Trump administrations immigration crackdown took place in the city. The charging complaint says Exum then stepped out of his vehicle and fired his weapon five times at Martinez  shots the Department of Homeland Security called defensive. Martinez had pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.

Inside the courtroom, the judge noted the governments case included omissions that caused her to tread carefully as Martinezs defense attorney alleged it was actually the agent who sideswiped Martinez. Outside the courtroom, the high-profile case garnered public scrutiny.

Defense attorney Christopher Parente  himself a former federal prosecutor  believes a rush by the Trump administration to have a meme-ready example of dangerous protest activity forced the US Attorneys Office to push a weak case too far.

She never would have been charged under the old system because they would have found out right away that this case is garbage, Parente told CNN.

The judges decision came hours after federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the charges against both Martinez and her co-defendant, Anthony Ruiz.

The US Attorneys Office is constantly evaluating new facts and information relating to cases and investigations arising out of Operation Midway Blitz, spokesperson Joseph Fitzpatrick said.

Parente commended the Trump-appointed US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, for not moving forward with the case despite what was likely enormous pressure.

That took incredible guts, Parente said.

Legal experts told CNN the move was likely the result of a series of questionable claims from the federal government in court and a calculation over whether it can be proven at trial that the gunshots were justified.

Ultimately, there was a determination when everything was evaluated that there were serious questions about the officers narratives, CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson said.

Heres what we know about the investigation and how experts say the governments case fell apart:

Apparent bragging text messages provide insight

Text messages displayed in court earlier this month were likely key in the prosecutions decision to move to dismiss charges, experts said.

Exum appeared to brag to fellow agents about his marksmanship after he repeatedly shot Martinez following a collision between their vehicles, the messages revealed.

Boasting about the shots would look bad to a jury, Jackson said. Had the case moved forward, the government would have needed to justify every shot he took and prove there was immediate danger and proportionate force.

Exum sent an article from The Guardian on October 7 to a group of other agents, which quoted Parente saying Martinez had seven holes in her body from five shots from this agent.

Read it. 5 shots, 7 holes, Exum said in the next text.

Images show text messages sent by Customs and Border Protection agent Charles Exum that were displayed in court. - US District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division

Parente pointed to the messages as an indication Exum understood the high public scrutiny of the case.

When Parente pressed him in court on what he meant, Exum responded he was a firearms instructor. He said, I take pride in my shooting skills.

Another message to the group read, I have a MOF amendment to add to my story. I fired 5 rounds, and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.

Exum explained to the judge MOF is a Miserable Old F**ker who is always trying to one up someone wherever possible. Its unclear what exactly he was responding to because the text conversations were redacted when presented to the court.

When asked to explain the text, Exum said, That means illegal actions have legal consequences.

Exum defended his use of force against Martinez, saying his life was at risk and I did what I had to do.

Parente told CNN he believes most federal agents would be embarrassed to see that kind of bragging about a shooting.

I have never come across an agent like that, Parente said. Those people go to work, and they try to do the right thing. They do not want to shoot people ever.

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said the texts reflect poorly on the agent, who would be a key witness at trial. Prosecutors also have to consider the fairness of the case. Here you have a woman who was shot multiple times, and there were serious questions of whether she had done anything wrong whatsoever, he said.

If the case had moved forward, it likely would have been unsuccessful, Jackson said. Martinezs attorney agrees.

There was no way we were going to lose this trial on the evidence, Parente told CNN.

Marimar Martinez sits with her attorney Christopher Parente during an interview on November 21 in Chicago. - Leonel Mendez/CNN

Key evidence was moved 1,000 miles away

Hearings in the case included discussion on what the government did with Exums car following the collision. The way that piece of key evidence was handled was one of the significant problems with the governments case, experts said.

Martinezs defense attorney sought to prove his claim the government potentially destroyed evidence when it released Exums damaged vehicle and allowed the agent to drive it more than 1,000 miles to his home state of Maine, where the car may have had repairs.

That means that the government did not properly handle and maintain evidence. Thats a major problem in the presentation of the case, Honig said. It needed to be preserved in the exact same condition it was in after the collision, he explained.

Jackson said it was a major misstep for the federal government that undermined their credibility. In every other case hes seen where a car was involved in a shooting, the car is taken to be analyzed by law enforcement and experts reconstruct the collision.

Any evaluation of the trajectory of the damage would go to show what happened. Instead, you take the car away and destroy evidence, Jackson said.

Judge Alexakis expressed skepticism over why Martinezs car had been kept in Chicago as evidence while the Border Patrol agents car was released and allowed to travel normally. What gives me great pause is the fact the cars have been treated differently, Alexakis said.

Government attorneys defended federal agents decisions, saying the FBI had preserved any evidence they believed was relevant before releasing the car back onto the street.

But Alexakis said the government clearly believed the vehicle could be exculpatory evidence; otherwise, it would not have gone through the trouble to preserve records on the car.

Alexakis ordered the government last month to return the SUV to Chicago.

Judge questioned governments narrative

Of more than two dozen people arrested for impeding or assaulting federal officers or other protest-related offenses amid demonstrations over the federal immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, none have gone to trial and charges have been dropped against at least nine of them, The Associated Press reported. Judges have expressed skepticism over the strength of some cases.

In its initial press release, the Department of Homeland Security had referred to Martinez and her co-defendant as domestic terrorists who had ambushed the Border Patrol vehicle on Chicago streets. Martinez says she couldnt believe the accusations she was facing.

They were (saying) domestic terrorist, that she had a semiautomatic. I was just like, thats crazy, Martinez told CNN.

Marimar Martinez is greeted by her family after being released on bail on October 6. - E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

In court, Alexakis noted discrepancies in the governments case have caused her to question the narrative being put forward.

She pointed out the Justice Department had previously said in court the agent took the SUV back to Maine because it was his personal vehicle, then stated in a later court filing the car is part of an official Border Patrol fleet.

The judge also noted she had not previously been told a mechanic had worked on the car, and the government has given at least two different accounts of who approved the cars removal to Maine.

She acknowledged the government version of events may turn out to be true, but I cant accept that possibility at this juncture, she said.

There have been serious questions raised about the truthfulness of the statements made by the Border Patrol agent who shot Ms. Martinez and about the extent to which she could get a fair trial when the Department of Homeland Security was using her case to make inflammatory public claims about the level of resistance to Operation Midway Blitz, Northwestern law professor Paul Gowder told CNN. Dismissing the case was the right thing to do with that kind of cloud over it.

When reached by CNN for comment on the judge dismissing charges against Martinez, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin on Thursday restated previous claims that Martinez was one of the drivers who rammed agents and referred questions on the charges to the Justice Department.

CNN has reached out to the DOJ for further comment.

Marimar Martinez poses on November 21 in Chicago. - Leonel Mendez/CNN

Along with the physical scars that wrapped around Martinez from her arms to her legs, the mental trauma is another reminder of that painful day, she said.

Im a survivor, Martinez said. I dont want to remember that day. Youre laying there at night and youre just thinking about it, like, whats gonna happen? Its really emotional to me.

Martinez, who works as a teaching assistant, says she now wants to put the case behind her and get back to work.

Im just so excited to go back with my students, the parents. They were so supportive, she told CNN.

Martinez says she will be happy to get her normal life back.

People are like, oh, you just want to be the victim, she said. Im not the victim. Im actually a survivor from all of this injustice thats going on.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Bill Kirkos, Andy Rose, Stephen Samaniego, Nicquel Terry Ellis, Elizabeth Wolfe and Andi Babineau contributed to this report.

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Halved juicy Lucy burger served with chips - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

The all-American cheeseburger is beloved from coast to coast, so naturally, you'll find abundant delicious variations nationwide. And whether it's the Great Depression origins of the Oklahoma onion burger or the unique Connecticut-style steamed cheeseburger, every type of patty tells a story. With Minnesota's juicy Lucy burger, there's even some heated contention regarding the origin narrative.

To those unfamiliar, the Minneapolis star burger essentially entails a restructured cheeseburger. Yet rather than throwing a slice of cheese atop the meat, the dairy is encased between two patties, with the beef edges pressed down to prevent leakage. Then, the patty is prepared well-done in order to ensure the cheddar melts, with the extra-fatty beef ensuring juiciness. Sure, a few extra condiments can complete the mix, but the Minnesotan magic really lies in the molten-hot combination of cheese and beef.

Two Minneapolis eateries, Matt's Bar & Grill and the 5-8 Club, both vigorously claim to be the best place to get the Juicy Lucy. Both trace the burger's emergence to the 1950s. Matt's Bar outright claims to have invented the burger, offering the more precise date of 1954, and claiming a regular customer requested the cheese modification and then exclaimed, "that's one Jucy Lucy"  thus giving the burger its name and its distinctive misspelling on its menu. Meanwhile, the 5-8 Club, which started in 1928 as a Prohibition-era bar, simply credits itself as the pioneer, using the grammatically correct spelling and the pointed jab: "rivals imitate, but no one duplicates."

Read more: Ranking Fast Food Burgers From Worst To Best, According To Reddit

Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club have separate approaches

Juicy Lucy from 5-8 Club - 5-8 Club / Facebook

Nowadays, you'll find the stuffed burger at many Minneapolis restaurants and bars, occasionally burning tongues and dependably delighting diners. New takes on the regional classic are abundant: whether melded with blue cheese and jelly at the Blue Door Pub Longfellow or a fully vegetarian rendition at the Francis Burger Joint.

Yet to really understand the debated synthesis of the first juicy Lucy cheeseburger recipe, you'll need to head to the two original eateries. Matt's Bar keeps its rendition streamlined. Smaller-sized burgers are griddled alongside abundant alliums, with exclusively American cheese stuffed inside. You can get it with pickles and the delicious cooked onions, but unlike the regular in 1954, modifications aren't encouraged. Matched with the divey, charmingly out-of-date surroundings, it's easy to imagine eating such a rendition all the way back in the 1950s.

Meanwhile, the 5-8 Club may be a few decades older, but its take on the dish is more modernized. The burger comes standard-sized, and still utilizes American cheese and pickles. However, you're able to add on toppings like mushrooms, jalapeno, bacon, and onions, in raw or fried form. Plus, the 5-8 Club also serves spin-off creative concepts, like a Saucy Sally containing a signature sauce or a Buffalo chicken version. Now operating out of four locations  with a revamped family-friendly vibe rather than a bar setting  the 5-8 Club has evolved its Juicy Lucy approach. Whoever came first remains unknown, but the restaurants' distinct trajectories are evident.

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
The Trump administration announced new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades on Thursday, as President Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems.

The oil industry has been seeking access to new offshore areas, including off Southern California and Florida, as a way to boost U.S. energy security and jobs. The federal government has not allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern Gulf, which includes offshore Florida and part of offshore Alabama, since 1995, because of concerns about oil spills. California has some offshore oil rigs, but there has been no new leasing in federal waters since the mid-1980s.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run and has emerged as a leading Trump critic, called the plan "idiotic" and "reckless" in a statement. The proposal is also likely to draw bipartisan opposition in Florida. Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.

The administration's plan proposes six offshore lease sales off the coast of California.

It also calls for new drilling off the coast of Florida in areas at least 100 miles from that state's shore. The area targeted for leasing is adjacent to an area in the Central Gulf that already contains thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms.

The five-year plan also would compel more than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.

CBS News reported earlier this month that the Trump administration was planning to hold offshore drilling auctions in several areas, including off the coasts of California, New England and the Carolinas. Plans viewed by CBS News called for lease sales off California as soon as 2027, and off Alaska as soon as next year.

The energy industry has encouraged the Trump administration to expand offshore drilling. All offshore areas "with the potential to generate jobs, new revenue and additional production to advance America's energy dominance should be considered for inclusion," the American Petroleum Institute and other groups said in a joint letter to the administration in June.

Some Florida politicians have pushed back on offshore drilling plans. Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican and Trump ally, helped persuade Trump administration officials to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when he was governor. Earlier this month, Scott and fellow Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody co-sponsored a bill to maintain a moratorium on offshore drilling in the state, which Mr. Trump signed in his first term.

"As Floridians, we know how vital our beautiful beaches and coastal waters are to our state's economy, environment and way of life," Scott said in a Nov. 3 statement announcing the bill. "I will always work to keep Florida's shores pristine and protect our natural treasures for generations to come."

Newsom said in a statement Thursday: "Trump's idiotic plan endangers our coastal economy and communities and hurts the well-being of Californians. This reckless attempt to sell out our coastline to his Big Oil donors is dead in the water."

California has been a leader in restricting offshore oil drilling since the infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill that helped spark the modern environmental movement. While there have been no new federal leases offered since the mid-1980s, drilling from existing platforms continues.

Newsom expressed support for greater offshore controls after a 2021 spill off Huntington Beach and has backed a congressional effort to ban new offshore drilling on the West Coast.

"For decades, California has stood firm in our opposition to new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that," the governor said in his statement Thursday.

A Texas-based company, with support from the Trump administration, is seeking to restart production in waters off Santa Barbara, California, damaged by a 2015 oil spill. The administration has hailed the plan by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. as the kind of project Mr. Trump wants to increase U.S. energy production as the federal government removes regulatory barriers.

Since taking office for a second time in January, Mr. Trump has reversed former President Joe Biden's focus on climate change to pursue what he calls U.S. "energy dominance" in the global market. The president created a National Energy Dominance Council and directed it to move quickly to drive up already record-high U.S. energy production, particularly fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

Mr. Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term reversing Biden's ban on future offshore oil drilling on the East and West coasts. A federal court later struck down Biden's order to withdraw 625 million acres of federal waters from oil development.

Meanwhile, Trump's administration has blocked renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across the country.

Democratic lawmakers, including California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, warned that opening vast coastlines to new offshore drilling "would devastate coastal economies, jeopardize our national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put millions of Americans' health and safety at risk.''

Oil spills "not only cause irreparable environmental damage, but also suppress the value of coastal homes, harm tourism economies and weaken coastal infrastructure,'' the lawmakers said in a letter signed by dozens of Democrats. One disastrous oil spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs and ecosystem restoration, they said.

The League of Conservation Voters called Thursday's plan "dangerous."

"This needless, reckless expansion of offshore drilling would jeopardize our coastal communities, public health, local economies, and the environment, while prolonging our dependence on fossil fuels and doing nothing to lower costs," America Fitzpatrick, the group's conservation program director, said in a statement.

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war would recognize Crimea and other areas in eastern Ukraine as Russian, bar future expansion of NATO and prohibit either country from using military force once the plan is agreed upon.

According to the 28-point plan, a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY and was verified by a knowledgeable source, Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk would be "recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States."

"Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact," the proposal states. "Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions."

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 17, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The proposal also states: "It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further."

Trump's proposal would require Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government to make significant concessions to end the war. Ukraine's army would be capped in size and the nation would have to amend its constitution to prohibit it from joining NATO. Ukraine would also have to give up land that Vladimir Putin's military does not currently control and split the electricity that's produced with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with Russia.

"Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation," the proposal states. "Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone."

Russia currently controls roughly 20 percent of Ukraine, including parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk. It has occupied Crimea since 2014. It launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Included in the proposal are the promise of unspecified "security guarantees" for Ukraine that the United States says it will provide with compensation.

"After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment," the proposal says.

More: Trump shakes up negotiations, shops new proposal to end Russia's war on Ukraine

If Russia were to reinvade Ukraine, it says, global sanctions would be reinstated and "recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked."

Trump's proposal also calls for the size of the Ukrainian Army to be capped at 600,000 personnel. As of January, Ukraine had an estimated 880,000 active-duty personnel.

Ukraine would be allowed to join the European Union and would receive $100 billion in funds from frozen Russian assets to rebuild war-affected areas. Children who were forcibly taken from Ukraine would also be returned. Russia would be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven, a club for the world's most advanced economies, restoring it to the Group of Eight.

Within 100 days, Ukraine would have to hold elections. They have been suspended under the martial law since Russia fully invaded.

Axios was the first to report on the proposal, which U.S. officials stressed was a preliminary document. It was presented to Zelenskyy in Ukraine by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, whose visit was cast as a shake-up in the administration's negotiating strategy as it sought to refresh negotiations to settle the war.

"Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas. And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions. That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Nov. 19 post on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump plan would require Ukraine to concede land to Russia to end war
US-VOTE-PENCE (Photo by GRANT BALDWIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom nominee, former North Carolina Rep. Mark Walker, has waited over seven months for his Senate confirmation despite involved parties stressing the roles importance to the Daily Caller.

President Donald Trump nominated former Republican North Carolina Rep. Walker for the role April 10 but the role remains empty in November. The position remains in limbo even as the president has designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern at the end of October, citing the killing of thousands of Christians by Islamic extremists in the country.

Back in April, Trump pointed to Walkers experience as a pastor and time as a leader in House leadership and across committees during his time in Congress.

Walker thanked Trump for the nomination. Religious expression is the foundation of human rights and, whether its a college campus in New York or Sub-Saharan Africa, Ill be relentless in fighting for those targeted who dare to live out their faith, he wrote. (RELATED: GOP Walking Right Into Democrats Carefully Laid Trap)

Former Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who served as President Donald Trumps ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom from February 2018 to January 2021, told the Caller on Wednesday that a vacancy in such a critical post greatly slows advancements in human rights, democracy and national security.

Brownback told the Caller that Walker has his full endorsement, pointing to Walkers background, key relationships in Washington and around the world and good soul. He added that Walker is a well-formed man who he believes would do a good job.

Brownback is not alone. Dr. Ben Carson, vice chair of the Religious Liberty Commission, and leaders of multiple churches and religious freedom organizations emphasized their support for Walkers nomination in an Oct. 29 letter to Trump

Across the globe, people of faith endure relentless persecution, imprisonment, and death, they wrote, arguing that Walker previous role as a minister and congressional experience in Intelligence and Counterterrorism made him fit for the role.

We are eager for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch to prioritize Ambassador-Designate Walkers nomination for the committees next hearing, the letter added.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly issued a statement to the Caller. President Trump has focused on promoting religious freedom and fighting antisemitism in a historic way. He wants all of his nominees confirmed as quickly as possible, including Mark Walker, whose role will be critically important to protecting Americans of faith, she said.

Brownback, who served as a Republican Kansas senator years before his ambassadorship, shared with the Caller what its like to be on both sides of such a nomination.

Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, accompanied by State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington,DC on June 10, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Brownback said his nomination took a similar time frame, noting that he was nominated a few months after Trumps first inauguration. He added that he was not confirmed by the Senate until January the following year. He assumed the position in February 2018.

Because two Republicans abstained from voting for Brownback, Democrats were able to force a tie despite the GOPs slight majority, requiring a tie-breaking vote from former President Mike Pence. Walkers path to confirmation is also in limbo despite Republicans holding a majority in the Senate.

Brownback told the Caller that, despite the bipartisan nature of the position and the Republican majority, Walker confirmation has been delayed due to the Senates rules and political partisanship.

He explained that unless a nominee can garner 60 votes, the precious commodity of Senate floor time must be spent pushing the nomination, adding that it would only take one person to hold up the entire process.

A Senate Foreign Relations Committee spokesperson issued a statement to the Caller. Chairman Risch has always been a strong leader on matters of religious freedom. The committee is responsible for nearly 300 nominations under each administration, the spokesperson said.

There is an important and complex process for vetting nominees that requires close coordination with my colleagues and the White House, they continued. When this nomination is ready for a hearing, it will be announced.

WASHINGTON, DC  APRIL 26: Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on April 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the defense secretary on Monday committed a total of $713 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries. (Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images)

The 1998 Religious Freedom Act, signed into law by former President Bill Clinton, created the ambassador at large position under the State Department. Though historically used as a tool for Congress, Brownback said that Trump has made international religious freedom a priority of his administration.

Brownback told the Caller the ambassador-at-large position is a vital tool in advocating against the authoritarians and dictators around the world who have gotten very sophisticated on controlling religious people.

Brownback pointed to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) restriction on religious freedom, a subject he has written a book on. He also testified at a Senate hearing about this topic Thursday.

Brownback argued that the ambassador-at-large serves as the administrations point person on a major human rights and national security topic because the CCP has built up its surveillance of religious populations and has exported that ability abroad. (RELATED: Nicki Minaj Delivers Impassioned Defense Of Christians At UN)

For China, [the freedom of religion is] an existential threat; for us, its a foundational building block of a free society, Brownback said, adding that the world needs Walker inside the administration and traveling around the world.

Walker has not responded to the Daily Callers request for comment.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Friday that hes not threatening death toward a group of Democratic members of Congress whom he accused of committing seditious behavior, which he said a day earlier was punishable by death.

In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death, Trump said in an interview Friday on conservative Brian Kilmeades radio show when asked to clarify what he meant.

The president's latest remarks come after he lodged the accusation and warning Thursday after Democratic lawmakers, many of whom are veterans, released a video urging members of the military and intelligence community not to follow illegal orders.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who previously worked at the CIA and Defense Department, on Tuesday shared the video of herself and other former members of the military and intelligence community.

This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution arent just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders, they said. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.

The other participants included Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Jason Crow of Colorado.

Trump responded to their video message in multiple posts on Truth Social, including one where he said, SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! He also reposted other posts such as one that said, Hang them George Washington would.

The president denied that he threatened the members of Congress: I think theyre in serious trouble. I would say theyre in serious trouble. Im not threatening death, but I think theyre in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death. That was seditious behavior.

Asked to respond to Trump's latest comments Friday, Slotkin's office referred to remarks she made Thursday night on MS NOW, saying that she received threats instantaneously and Capitol Police told her she'd be put on 24/7 security.

"Weve got law enforcement out in front of my house," she said. "It changes things immediately. And leadership climate is set from the top. And if the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldnt be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse."

Crow said in a statement Friday evening that "Trump's Truth Social posts threatening to execute Democratic Members of Congress speak for themselves."

No matter his attempts to silence and intimidate me, I will not back down from my lifetime oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, he said.

Kelly, Deluzio, Houlahan and Goodlander didnt immediately respond to requests for comment in response to Trumps assertion Friday that he wasnt threatening death.

Trump said that the lawmakers who appeared in the video broke the law, and added, I can say if I ever said that and there were a Democrat as president, all hell would have broken loose. And it has broken loose. The president said that he believes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is investigating the situation.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the idea Thursday that the president was calling for members of Congress to be executed. No, she said when asked that question, later adding that the Democrats comments are a very, very dangerous message and it perhaps is punishable by law. Im not a lawyer. Ill leave that to the Department of Justice and the Department of War to decide.

Threats and violence against public officials have surged in recent years, including the two attempted assassinations of Trump while he was campaigning for president last year. A recent NBC News poll found that more than 6 in 10 registered voters said they thought extreme political rhetoric contributed in the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said Thursday he wouldn't have used the same language as Trump, was asked Friday about the rise in threats against people serving in elected office and whether Trump has a responsibility to tone down the heated rhetoric.

I dont think you can put the blame on the president for any of that, Johnson told reporters. The rhetoric is heated all the way around. Weve had Democrats throughout this Congress who have in essence encouraged political violence against the president himself, against Republicans. Ive been calling on people to turn down the rhetoric across the board, everywhere, throughout the institutions. Its a dangerous time.

Crow, who served in the Army, told reporters on Capitol Hill on Friday that he was receiving more threats since Trumps posts. His office has formally requested that the U.S. Capitol Police investigate the presidents posts, referring to them as intimidating, threatening, and concerning, according to a copy of the email reviewed by NBC News.

I write to report threats made by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, against Congressman Jason Crow, Crows office begins the email, which outlined the Truth Social posts and said his offices have received a significant uptick in calls and emails with violent rhetoric and additional threats. Axios first reported the letter. Capitol Police doesnt typically comment on potential investigations, but requesting a probe into the sitting president is a long shot.

You know, when the president of the United States tweets out death threats and says the things that he says that, you know, that stirs things up a lot, Crow said Friday. But again, Im not going to be incredibly intimidated, and certainly not going to change my approach.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who served in the Marines, told NBC News he has seen an uptick in online vitriol since the president's comments on sedition.

Clearly the president knew exactly what he was doing, trying to turn his online digital mob against these members of Congress, he said in an interview Friday, while in Chicago to talk to small businesses about the impact of recent immigration operations.

The fact is that, what theyre [Democrats are] saying is very much what you do when you join the military. ... You should not follow any orders that are illegal, very simple," he added. "And the fact that he took it so personally tells you, tells me he just didnt understand the military. He thinks that theyre his toy. Theyre not there to protect the Constitution United States.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky Credit - Alberto Gardin 2025 SOPA Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a filmed public address on Friday said his country has been met with "one of the most difficult moments" in its history as it faces a "choice" between losing its dignity or a key partner, the United States.

Zelensky's comments come as President Donald Trump has given him a deadline to respond to his Administration's 28-point proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump said Zelensky has until the U.S. Thanksgiving holidayNov. 27to provide an answer to his peace plan, citing this as "an appropriate [amount of] time." He said that an extension may well be granted, if talks are "going well."

The widely-leaked plan, unveiled on Thursday, is said to propose Kyiv reduce its army and make land concessionssomething Ukraine has previously staunchly ruled out as a possibility. In his interview with Fox on Friday morning, Trump argued that Ukraine is already "losing land" and would likely lose that land "in a short period of time" anyway, if the conflict were to continue.

Were in it for one thing, we want the killing to stop Its a bloodbath, said Trump of the war, which was triggered when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, Zelenskywho has, at times, shared a contentious history with Trumpsaid he is determined to find a way to "work calmly with America and all partners."

Emphasizing that he won't betray his country's national interests, Zelensky said he will be "making arguments... offering alternatives" as he aims to lead a "constructive search for solutions."

He also reminded the public of the oath he took upon being sworn in as Ukraine's leader in 2019: "I, Volodymyr Zelensky, elected by the will of the people as the President of Ukraine, undertake to defend the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine with all my actions, uphold the rights and freedoms of citizens."

Later on Friday, Zelensky said he had spent almost an hour speaking with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of the U.S. Army Dan Driscoll about how to achieve a "dignified" and "lasting" peace.

"We agreed to work together with the U.S. and Europe at the level of national security advisors to make the path to peace truly doable," Zelensky said. "We agreed to maintain constant contact, and our teams are ready to work 24/7."

The Ukrainian President went on to express his gratitude for Trumps "desire to put an end to the bloodshed."

Zelensky also discussed the U.S.-penned proposal with various allies including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Throughout his updates and public addresses, Zelensky has reiterated the need for a real and dignified peaceone that will not be broken by a third invasion, with terms that respect our independence, our sovereignty, and the independence of the Ukrainian people.

In a statement shared with TIME on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "Any deal must provide full security guarantees and deterrence for Ukraine, Europe, and Russia to ensure the end of the war, in addition to financial opportunities for Ukraine to rebuild, and for Russia to rejoin the global economy, to benefit the people in both countries."

Leavitt added that the plan was formed "to find the best win-win scenario, where both parties gain more than they must give."

Trump's draft proposal, a copy of which has been published by the Associated Press, comes after meetings between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart, Kirill Dmitriev.

The plan shuts down a long-time aim of Zelensky's as it reportedly includes a pledge that Ukraine wont join NATO.

Ukraines pursuit for NATO membership has been widely documented and is a point of contention for Russia. At the annual NATO Summit in June, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said: NATO has no business in Ukraine. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, neither Russia, my job is to keep it as it is.

Trumps new plan also reportedly states that a dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the U.S., to resolve security issues and that no troops from the western security alliance will be stationed in Ukraine. The proposal further suggests that $100 billion in frozen Russian assets be invested in U.S.-led efforts to rebuild Ukraine.

In August, Trump warned Zelensky to give up on the idea of Ukraine reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO. President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight, Trump said via Truth Social, stating there was no getting back Crimea and no going into NATO by Ukraine.

Ahead of the new proposal leaking, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Wednesday that "a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions."

"Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas," he argued. "That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict."

Read More: Zelensky on Trump, Putin, and the Endgame in Ukraine

European officials have since responded to the draft proposal, urging that Ukraine be at the center of any discussions moving forward.

We are supportive of any plan that brings about a just and lasting peace, said Kaja Kallas, the E.U. high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

As for the peace plan we understand President Zelensky has been presented with, we have always said that for any peace plan to work, it has to be with Ukraine and with the Europeans on board, Kallas emphasized on Friday morning.

President of the European council Antonio Costa said that the E.U. has yet to review the proposal, but remains fully committed to ensure an unwavering support to Ukraine based on the principles of the United Nations charter.

Speaking alongside Costa at the G20 summit in South Africa, president of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen said that Europe has stood by Ukraine since day one and will continue to do so.

Von der Leyen added that she would be holding talks with European leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit, arguing that nothing can be discussed about Ukraine without the countrys active participation.

The E.U. announced its 19th package of sanctions on Russia last month, swiftly after the U.S. confirmed its own renewed set of measures against Moscow and its top oil companies.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of the Willing, composed of over 30 countries, has previously committed to deploying troops on the ground in Ukraine after a cease-fire, but the U.S. proposal looks to prevent such a peacekeeping force from being established, should it come into place.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump meet for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 2025. Andrew CaballeroGetty Images

Putin on Friday afternoon confirmed that Russia has received the U.S.-drafted plan.

We have this text. We received it through existing channels of interaction with the American Administration, said Putin during a meeting of Russias Security Council, according to state media TASS. "I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peace settlement."

However, the report states that Putin said the plan has yet to be discussed "with us in any meaningful way," as Ukraine is not yet on board with the agreement.

Trump and Putin were set to meet in Budapest last month, but the White House canceled. Expressing frustration with Putin, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the summit had been put on hold as he didnt want to have a wasted meeting.

The two world leaders met in Alaska in August to discuss a possible path toward peace, but the high-stakes summit ended earlier than expected, with no deal being reached. Some critics argued that Putin achieved more wins than Trump as a result of the sit-downwhich was the first in-person meeting between the world leaders since 2019.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he wants Ukraine to accept a new peace deal by Thanksgiving, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the deal was forcing his country to choose between its dignity and a key partner.

The White House wants Kyiv to sign off on a framework to end the war in Ukraine based upon the U.S.-crafted 28-point peace plan by Thursday, according to three U.S. officials.

Trump said in an interview on Brian Kilmeade's radio show Friday that the deadline is "an appropriate time" and said that he has no plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Russia while the administration waits for a response to the peace proposal. The president also suggested that Ukraine would "lose in a short period of time."

"They're losing land," Trump said about Ukraine.

At a gathering of reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said that the plan is "a way of getting peace" that needs to be approved by Zelenskyy. "Hell have to like it, and if he doesnt like it, then, you know, they should just keep fighting, I guess," Trump said.

He added, "Well, at some point hes going to have to accept something. You know he hasnt accepted. You remember right in the Oval Office, not so long ago, I said you dont have the cards."

The U.S. communicated the Thursday deadline to the Ukrainian government, though the officials stressed this was more of a goal than a firm deadline.

Negotiations to end the conflict are expected to be quite complex and will take more than a week to hash out, these officials acknowledged.

On reports that the U.S. threatened to halt intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine if the deal is rejected, a senior administration official said: It was strongly implied to the Ukrainians that the United States expects them to agree to a peace deal. Any changes will be decided upon by the president himself.

This is one of the most difficult moments in our history, Zelenskyy said in a somber 10-minute video addressed to the Ukrainian people.

Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest, he said. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, either the difficult 28 points, or a very difficult winter Zelenskyy added, urging the nation to stay united during what he said would be "a very difficult, eventful" week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a more upbeat note, saying the plan could form the basis of a final peace settlement, though he said it had not been discussed substantively with Russia.

Putin said that if Ukraine rejects the proposal, Russia would seek to achieve its objectives "through military means, through armed struggle."

The stark warnings came as Ukraine and its allies raced to respond to the proposal that would grant Russia key demands at a moment of weakness for Kyiv.

Zelenskyy later shared in a post on X that he spoke with Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for almost an hour Friday about the plan.

"We agreed to work together with the U.S. and Europe at the level of national security advisors to make the path to peace truly doable," Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine has always respected and continues to respect U.S. President Donald Trumps desire to put an end to the bloodshed, and we view every realistic proposal positively."

The Kremlin maintained that it had not seen details of the plan, but urged Ukraine to make a "responsible decision" in light of mounting battlefield pressure.

Emergency responders stand by an apartment building Friday, the day after it was hit by a Russian missile, in Ternopil, Ukraine. (Thomas Peter / Reuters)

Zelenskyy held an urgent call with the leaders of Britain, Germany and France, after which he said he valued Trump's efforts and would keep working with American officials to ensure Kyiv's "principled stances are taken into account."

The sudden emergence of the plan has fueled unease across the continent, which fears a deal imposing major concessions on Ukraine could further embolden Russia.

A senior U.S. official told NBC News that the plan was drawn up immediately following discussions with Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. He agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and presented it to President Zelenskyy, the official said.

Rustem Umerov is at the center of the reports swirling about the plan. (Pavlo Bahmut / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Umerov denied this Friday.

"During my visit to the United States, my role was technical  organizing meetings and preparing the dialogue. I provided no assessments or, even more so, approvals of any points. This is not within my authority and does not correspond to the procedure," he said in a post on X.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that any deal must provide full security guarantees and deterrence for Ukraine, Europe and Russia.

This plan was crafted to reflect the realities of the situation, after five years of a devastating war, to find the best win-win scenario, where both parties gain more than they must give, she said.

Ukrainian troops in the transport hub Pokrovsk are under intense Russian pressure and could soon be forced to surrender the city in the key Donetsk region. (Reuters)

The existence of the peace plan was first reported by Axios, which has since reported its full version.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC News that the reported plan was accurate. It's currently in draft mode but reflects where the parties stand at the moment, with feedback from both Russia and Ukraine, the source said.

The plan, as outlined, effectively amounts to a capitulation by Ukraine.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., criticized the plan on Friday.

This so-called peace plan has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the worlds most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin," he said in a statement.

It calls for Ukraine to surrender its eastern Donbas heartland to Russia, including withdrawing from fiercely contested areas that it currently controls. It also stipulates that Ukraine would have to cap the size of its military and agree to never join NATO. The annexed Crimean Peninsula will also be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

A large Russian drone and missile barrage on the western city of Ternopil killed at least 25 people, including three children, authorities said Wednesday. (Vladyslav Musiienko / AFP via Getty Images)

These are all key demands of Putin, with few obvious concessions to be made by the Kremlin as part of the plan.

The proposals do include a security guarantee modeled on NATOs Article 5, which would commit the U.S. and European allies to treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire trans-Atlantic community, though the proposals do not offer specifics about what exactly that promise would entail, according to a U.S. official.

Moscow has been publicly cautious.

"We are learning some things from the press even though our contacts have not stopped, and we have never stopped them," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday. "There are certain considerations on the American side, but at the moment nothing substantive is being discussed," he added.

He warned Zelenskyy to negotiate now, before it's too late. "The regime needs to make a responsible decision," he said.

The emergence of the plan comes at one of the most politically-charged moments for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.

Already facing battlefield setbacks, the government is now mired in a $100 million corruption scandal that has embroiled a number of high-profile figures, some with close ties to Zelenskyy.

Prosecutors have named Umerov as one of the officials allegedly implicated in the kickback scheme. He has denied any involvement and is not currently facing any charges, continuing his work in the government. Zelenskyy's name has so far not figured in the investigation.

The timing is viewed by Ukrainian officials as no coincidence, a source close to the Ukrainian government said, and they see it as a likely attempt by the Kremlin to take advantage of a potentially weakened Ukrainian leadership.

Putin, appearing in a military uniform as he received reports from the front lines, said Thursday the corruption scandal showed that Zelenskyy's government was "sitting on golden pots" without concern for its people or soldiers.

Putin and his entourage have themselves been subject of numerous corruption investigations throughout his 25-year rule.
Members of the Ipereg Ayu movement, representing the indigenous Munduruku group, demonstrated outside this year's summit [Getty Images]

A bitter row over fossil fuels has broken out at the COP30 UN climate talks in Belem, Brazil, as the meeting formally runs over time.

At the heart of the row is a disagreement over how strong a deal should be on working to reduce the world's use of fossil fuels, whose emissions are by far the largest contributor to climate change.

The dispute pits groups of countries against each other, but all 194 parties must agree in order to pass a deal at the two-week summit.

Representatives and observers from inside a guarded negotiating room say the talks have become very difficult.

One negotiator inside the room told the BBC that there "is a lot of fighting".

The talks were meant to finish at 1800 local time (2100GMT) and will now spill into overtime.

But the cruise ships that many delegations are staying on due to lack of accommodation in Belem depart the city on Saturday, piling on the pressure.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and some countries including the UK want the summit to commit nations to stronger, faster action to reduce their use of fossil fuels.

It would advance a deal made two years ago, at COP28 in Dubai, that committed countries to "transition away from fossil fuels".

A first draft of an agreement in Brazil offered three options including timeframes, but the latest version has no mention of fossil fuels.

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut said the deal was being blocked by "oil-producing countries - Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, but joined by many emerging countries." She added: "As it stands now, we have nothing left."

The BBC has approached Saudi Arabia for comment.

Speaking to journalists outside the negotiating room, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband said the UK was determined to keep "alive" at the talks a plan to take further action on fossil fuels.

"It's hard, it's sweaty, it's frustrating. There's a big divergence of views," he said.

"We are determined that one way or another, this innovative idea, with the support of more than 80 countries to have a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, is kept alive at this COP," he said.

Mr Miliband added: "I think that in 10-20 years time people will say, "You were the generation that saw the climate crisis around you. Did you take action? Did you rise to the challenge. It's that sense of what will people think of us in the future that keeps me going."

Some developing countries have not backed the deal on fossil fuels because they want richer nations to first deliver on promises to give climate finance to help them cope with or adapt to the effects of climate change.

"We need adaptation financing because we are already doing a lot to reduce emissions," Aisha Moriana, head of Pakistan's delegation, told BBC News.

"Who will pay the cheque? We are looking forward to receiving that money," she said.

When asked if Pakistan would support the fossil fuel deal if it received new promises about finance, Ms Moriana replied: "That is something which cannot happen in a few hours, and it requires a lot of financing."

[BBC]

In the hallways, groups of campaigners are chanting "fossil fuels out" and hanging banners saying "Stop Amazon oil" and "1.5C under threat: time to act".

"A good outcome could mean giving us a future and a present that it is worth fighting for," International Youth Climate Movement campaigner Shurabe Mercado, from Mexico told BBC News.

"Our generation is most at risk and we are most at stake."

The meeting is a fraught and delicate diplomatic process as countries jostle to protect their national interests, while also attempting to address the issue of climate change.

Some observers question the value of the complex, legalistic talks which almost always over-run.

But others point to the significant advances in measures to tackle climate change, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, and protection of nature in recent years linked to COP agreements.

Other issues discussed at the COP include the gap in climate finance promised by richer nations to developing nations that are most impacted by climate change.

The new draft deal called for global efforts to triple financing available to countries by 2030.

But it did not say if this should come from richer nations or from other sources, like the private sector.

This could anger poorer countries who want stronger support from richer nations and heavily criticised a deal at last year's COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which they considered paltry.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wants the summit to commit countries to stronger, faster action to reduce their use of fossil fuels [getty]

Deforestation has also been been a fraught issue at the meeting which takes place on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon.

The new draft deal weakened previous language around tackling deforestation.

"The wildlife and indigenous people who call the forest their home deserve better than this," said Kelly Dent, Director of External Engagement for World Animal Protection.

The two-week meeting has been interrupted by two evacuations.

Last week a group of protesters broke in carrying signs reading "Our forests are not for sale".

On Thursday a fire broke out, burning a hole through the sheeting covering the venue and causing 13 smoke inhalation injuries. The summit was evacuated and closed for at least six hours.

The summit has been praised for including the largest number yet of delegates from indigenous groups, but some leaders say they still have not been listened to despite being regarded the world's best guardians of biodiversity.

[BBC]

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The Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor prepares to moor pier side at Sembawang Naval Instillation during a regularly scheduled port visit to Singapore on August 3, 2023. - Petty Officer 1st Class Heath Zeigler/US Navy

The US Navy is trying to recover two aircraft from the bottom of the South China Sea that US experts say could yield sensitive information to China if Beijing were to get to them first.

The aircraft  an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60 helicopter  crashed within 30 minutes of each other while operating off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during routine operations in late October.

No official cause has been given for the crashes, but US President Donald Trump suggested to reporters shortly after the incidents that contaminated fuel may be to blame. All crew members were rescued.

The Navy confirmed to CNN on Friday that a salvage ship was operating in the South China Sea, while not revealing the specific location where the aircraft crashed or where the salvage ship is now.

USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52), a Safeguard-class salvage ship operated by Military Sealift Command, is on-scene conducting operations in support of the recovery efforts, said Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the Navys 7th Fleet in Japan.

The Salvor is capable of lifting objects weighing up to 300 tons off the seafloor, according to Navy documents. The maximum takeoff weight of the newest F/A-18 models on the Nimitz is about 33 tons while the MH-60 weighs around 11 tons.

While neither the F/A-18 nor the MH-60 are the most modern of the Navys aircraft, experts say the wrecks could yield useful intelligence if they fall into the hands of an adversary.

Acquiring an air frame and surviving systems will  provide valuable insights into its technological strengths and how to defeat it tactically, said Carl Schuster, the former head of the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center.

He noted that an F/A-18 has never fallen into Chinese hands, but if one did, Beijing could gather information that could help it improve Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carrier-based J-15T jets, which are not considered as advanced as the F/A-18.

Meanwhile, the MH-60 carries anti-submarine warfare systems that are likely more advanced than Chinas, Schuster said.

China is now prioritizing the upgrading of its anti-submarine warfare systems. So, recovering that helicopter should enjoy a high priority, he said.

CNN cannot confirm whether China is making any attempt to get to the lost US aircraft.

Beijing asserts ownership over almost all of the South China Sea, in defiance of an international court ruling.

The current US recovery effort follows a similar mission in 2022, when an F-35 jet, the Navys most-advanced fighter, crashed while attempting to land on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

The F-35 was eventually pulled up from 12,400 feet (3,700 meters) of water by a Navy recovery team.

Over the past two decades, China has fortified its territorial claims by constructing military installations on contested islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The US says Chinas assertions and military buildup threaten freedom of navigation in the waterway, through which trade worth trillions of dollars passes every year.

US forces maintain a steady presence in the region to push back on Chinese sovereignty claims and support Washingtons allies and partners.

But Schuster said Beijing has an edge on getting to wrecks in the South China Sea just based on proximity.

If China makes it a race, it enjoys homefield advantage, if you will, and can be expected to impede our recovery efforts if possible, he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said after the crashes that it could offer humanitarian assistance to the US Navy if needed.

But a spokesperson also said that the crashes occurred during what he called US military exercises.

The US has been flexing muscles by frequently sending military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea. This is the root cause of security issues at sea and disruption to regional peace and stability, spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing.

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With much fanfare, President Donald Trump announced this week that he and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had signed a new Strategic Defense Agreement that would include the sale of stealth F-35 fighters to that country, but very few details have emerged about the agreement and what impacts it might have for the Middle East.

During the Saudi princes visit to Washington, Trump also announced that Saudi Arabia would now be considered a major non-NATO ally and that Saudi Arabia planned to boost its investment in the United States to a trillion dollars, a significant boost from the $600 million announced during Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia in May.

A White House fact sheet contained limited descriptions of the agreement beyond the sale of an undefined number of F-35s. According to the fact sheet, the agreement also includes the sale of 300 U.S.-made tanks to Saudi Arabia, makes it easier for American defense firms to operate in Saudi Arabia and increases cooperation in other areas, including civilian nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 II is displayed at Al-Maktoum International Airport during the Dubai Airshow 2025 in Dubai, Nov. 20, 2025.

However, the lack of precise details about the agreement has led some analysts to question what it really means and how it would address the security relationship with Israel.

I think we're still kind of waiting to see what all this actually means, Elizabeth Dent, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told ABC News. The information that we've so far received is helpful, but again, not enough.

MORE: Takeaways from Trump's White House meeting with Saudi crown prince: deals and bromance

Dent said more information is needed about the strategic defense agreement in light of the executive order issued in September about Qatar that specifically provided security guarantees to that country. In 2022, the Biden administration had also named Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, which allowed it to benefit in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation.

This is not something that the Senate is going to ratify, so it appears to be an executive agreement that is slightly more formal than Qatar's executive order, said Dent.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump takes the hand of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, November 18, 2025 in Washington.

The executive order on Qatar stated that The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.

That arrangement likely got the attention of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and an ABC News contributor.

Mulroy believes the Saudis will likely be seeking something similar to that executive order, though that could mean the Trump administration will likely make it a requirement for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel to make that happen.

In his Oval Office meeting with Trump this week, the Saudi prince tied any movement towards joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel to a two-state solution for Palestinians, something the administration does not support.

MORE: With visit from Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, foreign affairs intersects with Trump's personal fortune

One issue being raised about the F-35 sale is how the version to be sold to Saudi Arabia will compare with the version already sold to Israel. The U.S. has a legal requirement that any U.S. advanced weapons sales to partners in the Middle East will ensure Israel maintains a qualitative military edge, what is known as QME.

As far as Im concerned, I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line, Trump said of Saudi Arabia and Israel, which already have F-35s. Israels aware, and theyre going to be very happy.

The United States and Israel have a long understanding, which is that Israel maintains the qualitative edge when it comes to its defense" Shosh Bedrosian, the spokeswoman for Israel's Prime Minister's Office said at a briefing on Thursday when asked about the sale.

"That has been true yesterday, that has been true today, and the Prime Minister believes that will be true tomorrow and in the future," she added.

But some on Capitol Hill, like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a long-time critic of Saudi Arabias human rights record, has raised concerns about whether the sale will maintain Israels QME and has said the Trump administration must fully explain why this sale is in the vital national interest of the United States.

However, some analysts believe the F-35 sale is an indication of how much the Trump administration sees Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the region.

It demonstrates that Trump is going all-in on the U.S.-Saudi relationship, Dan Shapiro, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and US ambassador to Israel, said in a press release issued by the Atlantic Council.

Shapiro believes the deal with Saudi Arabia is likely to meet the QME threshold because of the precedent set in 2020 with the sale of F-35s in 2020 that passed a QME review, though the deal eventually did not go through.

Israel will have been flying the F-35 for a decade and a half before the first Saudi plane is delivered, and Israel will have nearly seventy-five F-35s by then, he added.

To Mulroy, the goal of the new strategic agreement appears to be to keep Saudi Arabia in Americas sphere of influence, but it should also not mean ignoring the countrys human rights record.

Human rights has always been part of our foreign policy and always should be, but our presence and engagement in necessary, and the relationship between the countries is critical to both countries' security, he said.
A Kempsville High School assistant principal and his brother are facing charges stemming from an alleged conversation they had about threatening to hurt ICE agents.

An assistant principal in Virginia and his brother were arrested at an airport while en route to Las Vegas where they allegedly wanted to meet with like-minded individuals and plan violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

John Bennett, 54, and Mark Bennett, 59, were both busted at Norfolk International Airport on Wednesday  less than a week after they allegedly hatched the deranged anti-ICE plan, WTKR reported.

John Bennet, 54, allegedly told his brother he wanted to tag along on a nefarious trip to Las Vegas and go hunting. WTKR

Mark Bennett, 59, allegedly confessed that he recently purchased an assault rifle specifically because it can employ bullets that pierce certain vests, likely used by law enforcement. WTKR

An off-duty officer with the Norfolk Police Department claimed he overheard the brothers four days earlier discussing how ICE agents are kidnapping individuals and that they need to do something about it while dining at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the outlet.

Mark Bennett allegedly told his brother about his intentions to fly to Las Vegas and meet with like-minded people to formulate enforcement ideas and plans, according to the complaint.

The elder brother also allegedly confessed that he had recently purchased an assault rifle specifically because it utilizes the explosive rounds that are needed to penetrate the vests worn by ICE agents, according to the complaint.

John Bennett, an assistant principal at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, piped up and said he wanted to tag along on the trip to Vegas and go hunting, as alleged in the complaint.

The complaint states that Mark Bennett bought a ticket to fly to Sin City on Wednesday. Its unclear if his brother ever purchased one as well.

John Bennett is an assistant principal at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Va. WTKR

John Bennett was placed on leave following his arrest, WTKR reported.

He did take a one-year break from teaching and tried his hand at police work, according to his LinkedIn, before hanging up his badge and returning to teach high school mathematics.

The brothers are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding.

They were both granted bond after their arraignment on Thursday, 13 News Now reported.
Electric vehicle charging stations are seen at a Sheetz in Hillsborough, N.C., Dec. 29, 2023. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Recent public comments from various industry and local government organizations to the Department of Ecology on a new program intended to help reduce the costs of switching to electric vehicles reiterated prior concerns, including logistical challenges, with EV mandates.

Washington state has adopted several California regulatory policies such as the Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks. The goal is to have 100% light-duty EV sales by 2035, when it will be illegal to register a new gasoline-powered vehicle with the Department of Licensing. ACT requires that EV trucks make up an increasingly higher percentage of sales until they reach 75% by 2035.

However, in a public comment to the Department of Ecology, Washington Oil Marketers Association Executive Director Lea McCullough wrote that we believe the ACT regulation, as currently constructed presents significant legal, economic, and operational problems that must be addressed before any further enforcement or implementation proceeds.

McCullough cited numerous issues previously raised by others such as the Washington Trucking Associations, including the higher price tag for an EV truck compared to a diesel truck.

Washington state should prioritize improving the efficiency and emissions profile of existing fuel infrastructure by encouraging the adoption of advanced, low-emission fossil fuel technologies  such as renewable diesel, cleaner-burning gasoline blends and investment in pipeline safety and modern fleet upgrades  rather than mandating ZEVs or imposing energy choice on consumers, she wrote.

In addition to higher prices compared to regular vehicles, EVs also have a shorter distance before they have to recharge. The WTA said in its public comment that charging can take as long as 90 minutes to achieve a 200-mile range battery charge, whereas diesel trucks can fuel up in half an hour and go 1,500 miles or more before having to refuel.

A severe lack of public charging infrastructure for heavy trucks, coupled with challenges in installing private charging at leased properties, insufficient truck parking, and potential strain on local communities, the WTA public comment stated.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Association of Washington Business Government Affairs Director Ken Short in a public comment.

Numerous studies have shown that with the need to charge an EV truck during the course of the day, they simply do not match the efficiency of conventional trucks which often will have no need to stop even once during a shift," he said. Washington does not currently have the infrastructure needed to comply with the model that ACT envisions. We hope there will be consideration to proposals from industry partners that can assist in meeting a transition to lower emissions without significant disruptions to WAs business community.

Travis Nelson with the WA PUD Association wrote in a public comment that these logistical limitations makes them impractical for utility providers to adequately respond in the aftermath of storms, such as one recently that resulted in 200,000 customers losing power and caused local flooding due to blocked drain systems.

Nelson warned that the current ZEV (zero emission vehicle) capabilities are not adequate to support these operations that often require hundreds of miles of travel to reach neighboring communities in need of regional assistance outside the local area in need. Please exempt Utility Service Vehicles from the zero emission vehicle requirements.

Carly Michiels with the Washington Public Ports Association emphasized in a public comment to the Department of Ecology the importance of adequate infrastructure and energy supply, while maintaining efficient freight movement and trade competitiveness.

We already know that we will be facing a significant regional energy resource gap starting in 2026, Michiels wrote. Addressing this needs to be top priority.
The tasting menu at Uberto ends, like many others at restaurants of this caliber, with mignardises. Roughly translated from French, the word means dainty preciousness. Roughly translated from fine dining, it means the macarons, truffles, and other bijou sweets designed to soften the blow of an eye-popping bill.

What makes the tasting menu at Uberto unlike most othersbesides the fact that its located in Gay, Ga., a country town known for its semiannual Cotton Pickin Festivalis that there is no check accompanying the miso-andchanterelle bonbon, amber canele, and freeze-dried lemon-verbena ice cream that tastes, in the best possible way, like Trix. Provided youre staying on-site, that is, in one of the four impeccable cabins of Quercus, a 3,800-acre cattle ranch and microresort where the $2,700 nightly rate includes dinner and so much more.

The all-inclusive vacation is easy to mock as tackyas in the TikTok meme satirizing British tour company Jet2holidays. The humor lies in the gulf between the illusion of luxury and abundance advertised, and the sometimes rather dismal actual experience.

But in recent years, the relatively tiny ultrahigh-end segment of the all-inclusive sector has rocketed from tourisms bottom-dweller to luxe travel industry darling.

Quercuss version includes no all-you-can-eat buffets or spa vouchers. Instead, the biodynamic farm offers a private woodfired sauna, horse-training lessons, and kayaking and fishing on the Flint River.

At Quercus, in Georgia, the special touches feel both elegant and homey.

For us, it was important that this feel like youre a guest in someones home, Chiara Visconti di Modrone, Quercuss owner and a clinical nutritionist, explains as we rumble down a cow-flanked dirt road in her moss-green Ram pickup. That feeling of home is hard to achieve when youre signing a check every two minutes.

And the property is indeed her home; she and her husband, financierturned-farmer Angelos Pervanas, live on the estate with their kids and a sweet Australian shepherd, Bluey, who was curled up by my feet. Visconti di Modrone spent most of her childhood here; her parents, descended from Milanese nobility and the inventor of the Vespa, bought the land in the 1970s

The term all-inclusive was a buzzword in October at the International Luxury Travel Market conference in the Bahamas. While some properties, including Quercus and Montanas the Green O (from $2,290 per night), were founded with an inclusive pricing model, otherslike San Ysidro Ranch (from $2,800 per night) in Santa Barbarahave seen customer interest, and gradually pivoted.

Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner, who purchased San Ysidro in 2000, gave the green light to fold parking, then resort fees, then dining into the rate at the property which was the home of Franciscan monks in the 1700s, and hosted John F. and Jackie Kennedy on their honeymoon. But he told his staff hes committed to keeping the quality at an absolute premium. If were going to do this, we cannot value-engineer down, says general manager Ian Williams. When people read the menu, it should be a [pleasant] surprise. Consequently, the Stonehouse restaurant goes through eight pounds of osetra caviar a week.

The all-inclusive pricing helps avoid sticker shock or nasty surprises at the checkout desk. In our industry, people will talk a lot about getting the first 15 minutes on the property perfect, and nobody talks about getting the last 15 minutes perfect, Williams says. Youre in a blissful mood, then the front desk turns the bill toward you, and checkout becomes a defensive process.

Meanwhile, the big brands are salivating like cartoon coyotes. Marriott will add six new luxury all-inclusives between 2026 and 2029 in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

And Four Seasons planted the 15 jungle bungalows of Naviva (from $3,700 single/$4,500 double per night) on the Pacific coast of Nayarit, Mexico, in 2022. Its beyond all-inclusive concept centers the guest in a bespoke, frictionless stay. You want to have breakfast at 2 p.m., we do breakfast at 2 p.m., operations manager Luis Miguel Moreno Jimenez tells me. Guests can dine at Copal Cocina, the heart of the resort, or in tentwhere sliding glass walls open to a gleaming wood deck and private plunge pool sheltered in flowering plumeria and palms.

Besides food, Naviva includes an intuitive 90-minute massage per guest and daily activities. And the hotel, unlike many ultra-luxe all-inclusives, offers unrestricted alcoholic drinks. Just like if you come into my casa, whatever I have behind the bar, you have, Moreno says, before inviting me to grab a bottle of tequila and pour myself a shot. (No disrespect to Don Julio, but I opt for a thoughtful tasting of natural wines from Mexicos leading women winemakers instead.) So far, beyond all-inclusive has been a hit, with 75% of guests returning.

After less than a year in business, Quercus has also already had return guests. Visconti di Modrone and Pervanaswith their partners, chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger of Atlantas renowned Staplehousego to absurd lengths to make sure every detail feels special, from a house florist to the best hotel bed Ive ever slept in. The kind of milk you prefer in your morning coffee gets pre-stocked in the minibar. Le Chameau Wellington boots in your size await in the wardrobe for exploring the emerald ponds and pecan groves.

And exploring is encouraged, both on property and off. While Quercus fosters a feeling of remoteness and unplugging, guests are not trapped (as one might feel at a large all-inclusive resort). I could easily have walked to a brewery right outside the entrance, or driven five minutes down the road to a steak house.

But why would I, when Smith is cooking? Dinner at Uberto is an almanac of whats growing on the farm and whats been preserved from harvests past: sweet strawberries turned into vinegar and set into gelee for the chickenliver tart; lemongrass and galangal from the tropical greenhouse distilled into a crystal-clear curry poured over shrimp noodles; beeswax-and-pine-cured rutabaga to go with the dry-aged duck and Smiths grandmother Lillians potato rolls.

Giving in to a curated experienceeven one this exquisiterequires some adjustment, Visconti di Modrone tells me: We definitely push people a little bit out of their comfort zone. But for alpha travelers who are used to calling the shots at work and elsewhere in their lives, relinquishing some control is perhaps the ultimate luxury.

There is decision fatigue, she says. By the end of the stay, theyre asking, Can someone please just choose for me?

Its all included

You wont find an endless buffet or bingo night at these all-inclusive resorts, but you wont miss them

Quercus, Georgia

On an idyllic ranch outside Atlanta, everything from the minibar to Flint River kayaking and fishing is included for guests staying in the four country-luxe cottages.

San Ysidro Ranch, California

A legend since 1893, this former farm folded diningcaviar, seafood towers, and allinto its nightly rate after the pandemic.

Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort, Mexico

Four Seasons all-inclusive entree features 15 forested bungalows and your-wish-is-our-command service. Midnight tacos? Champagne? Temazcal ceremony? Say less.

The Green O, Montana

At this 37,000-acre adults-only luxury enclave within the Paws Up resort, guests can tool around in a loaner Lexus SUVuseful for getting from archery practice to dinner at the Scandinavian Social Haus.

This article appears in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of Fortune with the headline: A blissful escape from decision fatigue.

This article was updated on Nov. 25, 2025 to reflect new rates at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, speaking at the Fortune Innovation Forum in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 17, 2025. (Graham Uden for Fortune)

Foxconn, the Taiwan-based manufacturing partner of companies like Apple and Nvidia, and Intrinsic, an AI and robotics company under the Alphabet umbrella, are investing in a joint venture that will deploy robots in Foxconns U.S. factories, according to a statement from Intrinsic released Thursday evening.

Foxconn just has huge manufacturing expertise, Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, said to Fortune in an interview. She added that Foxconn, perhaps best known for its work assembling Apples iPhones, will know which parts of the manufacturing process can be best improved through AI.

Intrinsic is a graduate of Alphabets moonshot program, focused on developing breakthrough new technologies. Developers worked on ways to make industrial robots easier and cheaper to use; Alphabet debuted the firm as a separate company in 2021.

In particular, Intrinsic focuses on flexible manufacturing, or developing automated systems that can respond to new data, self-optimize, and adapt how they work. Currently, industrial robots are best applied to predetermined tasks, and it is difficult

and expensiveto change how they work. Thats why human labor, in many situations, is still a better option for manufacturers that need flexibility.

White says that Intrinsic and Foxconn had been in conversations for maybe a year or two now, and that it was inevitable that the electronics manufacturing giant would want to cooperate with Intrinsic on software and AI development.

In working with Intrinsic, we are able to tap their deep expertise in AI-driven robotics, Foxconn chair Young Liu said in a statement. This synergy complements our global manufacturing leadership, enabling us to collaboratively unlock the factory of the future.

In late October, Foxconn, whose official name is Hon Hai Technology Group, announced that it would deploy robots at its new Houston plant producing Nvidia server racks. Foxconn is also working with Nvidia to create medical robots for Taiwans hospitals.

The Taiwanese company is also cooperating with robotics firms from mainland China. In January, a Foxconn executive announced that the company would deploy robots from Shenzhen-based UBTech in its factories in mainland China.

White declined to share how much money Intrinsic or Foxconn was contributing to the joint venture, but did share that the initiative was not a pilot.

Asian robots

Initiatives like Intrinsics new joint venture are part of a growing shift in attention to physical AI, or AI models applied in the real world as opposed to the purely digital world of software.

White suggested that some of the interest in robotics is the result of COVID-era supply shocks, and companies recognition that they needed to onshore more manufacturing. Yet the loss of manufacturing expertise in advanced economies has meant that factories cant easily scale up production.

Robotics could help solve the problem of a shrinking manufacturing workforcein more ways than one. Whats interesting and heartening is that suppliers within manufacturing supply chains, like machine shops, are finding that bringing AI and robotics back into the conversation is bringing the young back into those industries, too, White suggested.

Asia, owing to its combination of technical expertise and manufacturing footprint, is taking the lead in industrial robotics. Other companies are paying attention to this region; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has touted South Korea as a future hub for this new technology.

Korea can create the robots, which then work in factories to create more robots, which work in more factories, Huang told reporters in late October, right after the U.S. chipmaker announced that it would ship tens of thousands of GPUs to Korean companies like Hyundai and Samsung.

Yet the biggest player in this space is China, which makes more than half of the worlds industrial robots. Firms like Hangzhou-based Unitree are now rapidly developing new humanoid robots.

Theyve got the skills and expertise, because theyve been producing for so long, White said. I wouldnt ignore it.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump shake hands in the Oval Office on Nov. 21, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

President Donald Trump welcomed New York City's mayor-elect, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, to the White House on Nov. 21

Despite their political differences, both politicians said they had a productive meeting and expressed how many views they found to have in common

Trump even "stuck up" for Mamdani when conservative reporters criticized him for flying to the meeting and baited him with past quotes

President Donald Trump hosted New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, at the White House on Friday, Nov. 21, in a meeting that turned out to be surprisingly cordial.

Following what both politicians called a "successful" private discussion, they took questions from the press, where Trump emphasized how impressed he was that he and Mamdani agreed on some major issues.

"Being the mayor of New York City is a big deal," the president said, praising the mayor-elect. "Especially now. I think you're at a turning point... I think you have a chance to make it great."

Mamdani repeatedly noted that, during his campaign, he spoke with Trump voters in New York who routinely expressed that their biggest concern was the cost of living in the city. The two agreed that they both believe that's an important issue moving forward, as is reducing crime and building new housing.

Ultimately, Trump was asked an important question by one of the reporters: "You used to call New York City home. Would you feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani administration?"



"Yeah, I would. I really would," Trump said. "Especially after the meeting. We agree on a lot more than I would have thought."

Andrew Harnik/Getty N.Y.C. Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters beside President Donald Trump on Nov. 21, 2025

Even when conservative reporters seemingly attempted to make Mamdani stumble  including one who scolded the progressive mayor for flying to Washington, D.C., rather than taking another, "greener" form of transportation, Trump had the future mayor's back.

"That's a long drive," Trump, 79, said. "I'll stick up for him here."

Another reporter baited the pair by calling back past quotes when Mamdani referred to Trump as a "fascist" and a "despot." Like with the other question, Trump wasn't having it.

"That's alright," he said with a laugh. "I've been called much worse than a despot."



Related: https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

While the politicians' public rhetoric prior to the meeting was adversarial, Trump hinted before the press conference that their meeting might be friendlier than expected. On Friday morning, he told Fox News Radios Brian Kilmeade, "I think well get along fine."

It was an unexpected take, given that Mamdani, 34, addressed the president directly in his victory speech on Nov. 4.

"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," referring to Trump's birthplace in Queens. "And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump; its how we stop the next one."



ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Zohran Mamdani celebrates on election night, Nov. 4, 2025

Mamdani toppled opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election. Trump, who endorsed Cuomo's independent campaign, previously threatened to limit funding to the city if Mamdani won the powerful office.

"Its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York, Trump said. Because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there.

Trump has frequently, incorrectly, referred to Mamdani as a "communist." In actuality, the mayor-elect  like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders  identifies as a democratic socialist.

Just hours before Mamdani's meeting with Trump, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution denouncing the "horrors of socialism" with an overwhelming majority.

Congress denounces socialism in all its forms, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States, stated the resolution, which was introduced by Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, whose parents fled Cuba during the reign of Communist dictator Fidel Castro.

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Another child of Cuban immigrants, New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said during the floor debate, Let me educate our colleagues on the other side of the aisle: socialism is communism-light.

The concurrent resolution passed with a 285-98 vote. All "no" votes came from Democrats, including Mamdani's fellow democratic socialist, AOC.



Read the original article on People
Lisa Burtenshaw (left) and Jeff Alldridge (right) will see a runoff election. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo

IDAHO FALLS  Donations, loans and contributions have been made in support of the two candidates for Idaho Falls mayor as the city prepares for a runoff election on Dec. 2.

Jeff Alldridge and Lisa Burtenshaw are vying to become Idaho Falls new mayor, and both have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support their campaigns.

RELATED | Idaho Falls mayor and city council races will both see runoff elections

Information on VoteIdaho.govs campaign finance system shows which candidate has raised the most, where the donations come from, and how each candidate has spent their money.

It should be noted that not all money used to support a candidate is contributed to a campaign. Locals, businesses, and political organizations can purchase advertising for or against candidates using their own money or resources.

Jeff Alldridge

Since the start of the election cycle on April 25, Alldridge has raised a total of $29,729.24, with expenditures of $20,789.46.

Allridge told EastIdahoNews.com that he is humbled by the support he has received from many residents in Idaho Falls.

These individuals, whatever they could afford  contributed because they believe in a new direction, Allridge said. Thats really humbling, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

During the EastIdahoNews.com Idaho Falls Mayoral Candidate Forum on Oct. 23, both candidates were asked about their donors and whether those donations would influence their decisions once in office.

RELATED | WATCH: 2025 Idaho Falls Mayoral Candidate Forum

Alldridge said that a majority of his donors have been individuals, with a few companies donating to his campaign.

I dont have any strings attached, alliances, (nor) allegiances or anything like that, Alldridge said.

A look at the top donors of Alldridges campaign shows that the candidate is his own most prominent donor, having contributed $3,350 of his own money. The following are the biggest donors, including three individuals and one company, each donating $2,000.

The company is BDS LLC, and a business search with the Idaho Secretary of States office shows it is owned by Brett Skidmore in Ammon. Skidmore is also one of the three individuals who have personally donated $2,000 to Alldridges campaign.

Skidmore is a building developer, and he is not the only one to donate to Alldridges campaign. East Idaho Home Builders Association and McNeil Development have each donated $500 to the race. Two other companies donated a total of $700.

They believe in me as mayor to help guide strategic growth, rather than the alternative. They have a vested interest in a healthy community, and thats where theyre putting their contribution, Allridge said.

Other notable donations include $950 from an individual, Doyle Beck, a board member of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a far-right advocacy group. A former local radio host and conservative political activist, Halli Stone, donated less than $100, and former Bonneville County GOP Chairman Nicholas Contos donated $719.40.

Discussing these donations, Allridge said there are only two options for the Idaho Falls mayor, and that these folks decided to donate to the candidate who aligns with what they think is best for Idaho Falls.

Looking at Alldridges expenditures, the most significant expense is advertising, totaling $18,486.04. It was spent on creating campaign ads for broadcast and yard signs, as well as other types of ads.

The remaining expenditures falling under general operations, food and refreshments, events and printing brochures or other literature.

Overall, Alldridge said that everything he has done has been in faith to do a good job and earn the voters trust. Either through volunteers who have assisted or through financial donations, he said, his campaign has been a grassroots effort.

It was an amazing experience to have the popular vote and to see everybody rallying towards this runoff, Allridge said. The city has shown that they want new leadership, and they have an opportunity, and thats how weve developed and grown this incredible grassroots movement.

According to the website, Alldridge has not received any loans and has no outstanding debts.

Lisa Burtenshaw

According to Idaho Sunshines website, Burtenshaw has raised $38,900 in contributions and has a loan of $50,000.

Burtenshaw told EastIdahoNews.com that the loan, which came from herself, was a way to start funding her campaign for mayor, meaning buying advertisements, yard signs and other campaign materials.

During the candidate forum, Burtenshaw said that none of her contributions come with any attachments or promises.

I have a track record of serving in public office and a track record of not having those kinds of strings attached, Burtenshaw said.

While raising a bit more than Allridge, a majority of her donations come from individuals, with $3,200 coming from businesses and $500 from a political action committee.

The committee is the Idaho Falls Firefighters PAC, which endorsed Burtenshaw and other city council candidates in late October.

Burtenshaw said she is grateful for their support, and just like first responders, they are there for the community.

That is a lot of what my supporters have, theyre community builders, theyre community-minded, Burtenshaw said. Thats what the firefighters are as well. They live a life of service.

The companies that have donated to Burtenshaws campaign are Brad Hall Investments with a $1,000 donation, Blake G. Hall & Associates with a $1,000 donation, and Eastmans Hunter Equipment with a $200 donation.

Over 25 individuals have contributed $1,000 each, including many notable figures in the Idaho Falls area. Bonneville County Commissioner Michelle Mallard and Idaho Falls School District 91 Board Trustee Jeremy Westwood are among Burtenshaws top donors.

Burtenshaw said many of these individuals are people that she has worked with in the community through service organizations. These donations come from years of work to help build the community and service.

Other notable donors are the late Carrie Scheid, a community activist who donated $500 in September.

RELATED | Community leader Carrie Getty Scheid dies

Examining the expenditures, Burtenshaws most significant expense was advertising, including yard signs and other types, excluding broadcast ads, totaling $20,384.77.

Expenses for printing, brochures, and literature totaled $10,670.05, and broadcast advertising cost her $6,344.53.

Other costs included production of advertising, newspapers, surveys and management services, totaling $10,249.71. In total, Burtenshaws campaign has spent $49,345.98 since the start of the election.

Discussing the donations, Burtenshaw said she takes them seriously and they are endorsements from a variety of residents who believe in her campaign for mayor.

I am proud of the variety of donors who have given to my campaign. Its a very diverse and broad spectrum of people who dont hold a single ideology, but want to do good for the community, Burtenshaw said.

Out-of-State donations

Both candidates have received donations from out-of-state sources for their campaigns.

For Alldridge, $1,100 came from family in Washington and another individual with a California address. During the debate, Alldridge stated that the donation from California is from a resident who lives in Idaho Falls but came from California.

For Burtenshaw, $1,200 in donations is from out of state, with $200 from California and $1,000 from Utah.

Election day for Idaho Falls will start on Dec. 2, but residents can vote early in Bonneville County until Nov. 26 at the Bonneville County Elections office, located at 497 North Capital Avenue.

Voting on Election Day will run between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and to find a polling location near you, visit VoteIdaho.gov.

The post Heres who is donating to Jeff Alldridge and Lisa Burtenshaw in the Idaho Falls mayoral runoff appeared first on East Idaho News.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, argued Attorney General Pam Bondi cannot use ongoing investigations related to the Epstein files to hold back their release from Congress.

Congress passed a bill Tuesday with the backing of all but one member of the House that compels the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the files to lawmakers.

But its passage comes as Bondi, at the direction of President Trump, launched a probe of Jeffrey Epsteins ties to Democrats.

Garcia, whose panel subpoenaed the files previously, said Bondi must still comply despite a provision included in the recent bill that opens the door to holding back information that might be pertinent to ongoing investigations

There is already a concern President Trump will attempt, on dubious legal grounds, to exploit a provision which allows DOJ to withhold information relevant to ongoing investigations. I write to remind you that the subpoena issued by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requires you to release the complete, un-redacted Epstein files to the Committee, including classified information and material relevant to ongoing investigations, while protecting the identity of survivors and potential victims, Garcia wrote in a letter to Bondi on Friday.

Any additional federal investigations launched by the DOJ or the President do not impact our subpoena.

The Oversight Committee has already received reams of documents related to Epstein from both the Justice Department and his estate.

Those files have led to notable disclosures, including the release of the birthday note Trump wrote to Epstein in 2003 noting the two share a wonderful secret and have certain things in common. Trump sued The Wall Street Journal for defamation after the outlet first published referencing the birthday note. Trump has denied writing the message, but House Oversight Democrats compared his signature on the image to other documents signed by Trump, arguing there was little doubt it is authentic.

And last week, Garcia released emails showing Epstein talking about Trump, saying the president knew about the girls.

The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment on Garcias letter.

But at a press conference earlier this week, Bondi said she would comply with the legislation, which requires release of the Epstein documents within 30 days.

So we have released over 33,000 Epstein documents to [Capitol] Hill, and well continue to follow the law and to have maximum transparency, she said.

Garcias Friday letter points to a prior congressional investigation opposed by Democrats to support his argument that the Justice Department cannot hold back the files.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) previously sought to obtain all files from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) as the prosecutor probed Trumps dealings with porn actor Stormy Daniels.

As a district court ruled when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his involvement with the ongoing criminal prosecution of President Trump, Congress has broad and indispensable power to conduct investigations that it sees fit in the pursuit of legislative remedies, Garcia wrote.

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 The Hill.
by Sumon Corraya

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area around the capital of Bangladesh this morning. The victims were hit by falling debris from buildings as they walked along the street. Panic and injuries were also reported in textile factories and university buildings. Bishops' Conference: no damage to churches. Experts warn: The country is in a seismic zone, building safety codes must be enforced.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - A strong earthquake struck Bangladesh this morning, causing panic across the country and leaving at least four dead and many injured. The quake, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, was felt at 10.38 a.m. in Dhaka and other districts. According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicentre was located near Madhavadi, in the district of Narsingdi, about 14 kilometres from the capital.

Authorities confirmed that three pedestrians were killed in the Bangshal area of Dhaka when the parapet of a five-storey building collapsed on KP Ghosh Street. They were walking down the street when the bricks fell on their heads, said Officer Ashish Kumar of the Bangshal police station.

The bodies of the victims were taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital. One was a child, another a medical student named Rafiul, while the third person has not yet been identified.

In Rupganj, Narayanganj, a one-year-old girl named Fatema died after a wall along the road collapsed during the earthquake. Her mother, Kulsum Begum, and a neighbour were injured and admitted to a local hospital. Witnesses said the two women were on their way to Bhulta Gausia when the wall collapsed.

The earthquake caused chaos in factories and universities. At least 200 textile workers were injured in the BSCIC area of Tongi when panic triggered a stampede at Fashion Pulse Limited. Workers attempted to escape, but the emergency gate was locked, causing falls and fractures. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital.

There were also casualties at Dhaka University. Four students from the Muhsin Hall, Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall and Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall dormitories were injured after jumping out of windows in fear. One is in critical condition at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Several buildings on campus developed cracks and debris fell from ceilings, although no serious structural damage was reported.

In other parts of the capital, bricks and plaster fell from old buildings. In Kasai Tuli, an eight-storey building partially collapsed, prompting the Sadarghat and Siddiqbazar fire brigades to intervene. Another building in Swamibag leaned dangerously against a nearby structure.

In Khilgaon, a man was injured when bricks fell from a construction site. A fire broke out in Block-F of Baridhara shortly after the earthquake, although it is unclear whether it was related to the tremor.

P. Tushar James Gomes, assistant secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, told AsiaNews that Christian communities had not suffered any damage. Our buildings comply with safety codes and we have not received any reports, he said.

Experts warn that today's tremor is a wake-up call. Bangladesh is located in a seismic zone. If a magnitude 6 earthquake were to strike, destruction would be inevitable, said Mehedi Ahmed Ansari, professor of civil engineering at BUET. He urged authorities to enforce building codes and prepare for future disasters.

The tremor, described as one of the strongest in recent years, lasted only a few seconds but caused widespread fear. Thousands of people ran out of their homes and offices, crowding the streets for fear of further aftershocks. Emergency services remain on high alert as assessments continue.
Leo XIV authorised the promulgation of the decree recognising the Australian missionary as venerable, the first step toward beatification. In 1920, she obtained a special papal dispensation to overcome a canonical rule that prevented nuns from practising medicine. She also founded the Catholic Health Association of India in 1947, which now serves 21 million patients annually in its facilities.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The first nun to practise medicine in the history of the Church could soon be beatified.

One of the decrees by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints whose promulgation Pope Leo XIV authorised today in an audience with the prefect, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, refers to the heroic virtues of Sister Mary Glowrey (1887-1957), an Australian missionary who pioneered medicine among the poor of India, where she also established the Catholic Health Association of India, a network of Catholic healthcare institutions that remains at the forefront of service to everyone in this vast country.

As of today, she becomes venerable in the Church's eyes, taking the first step toward the glory of the altars.

Mary Glowrey was born in 1887 in Birregurra, in the Australian state of Victoria, to a family of Irish immigrants.

Raised in a rural setting, she received scholarships to enter secondary school and the University of Melbourne, where she graduated in 1910 with a degree in medicine, at a time when many still considered the medical profession unsuitable for women.

In 1916, Mary became the first general president of the Catholic Women's Social Guild (now the Catholic Women's League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga).

Specialising in ophthalmology, she became a respected doctor in Melbourne, but after reading the biography of Agnes McLaren (1837-1913), a Scottish medical pioneer who converted to Catholicism, she decided to follow in her footsteps, abandoning her career to follow a vocational calling that pointed to India as her missionary destination.

Agnes McLaren, on a visit to Rawalpindi, realised the importance of having female doctors in a place like India, where local customs prevented them from consulting male doctors. However, she had to contend with a requirement of canon law that at the time barred nuns from practising medicine.

Mary Glowrey chose to take up this challenge, and in 1920, she obtained a special dispensation from Pope Benedict XV, thus becoming a pioneer in this type of service.

After moving to modern-day Andhra Pradesh, she entered the Congregation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, established in Guntur in 1904, taking the name Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart.

In that mission, which had prayed for years for a doctor, she began her 37 years of uninterrupted service to the sick of India.

The simple infirmary where Sister Mary began her medical mission in Guntur grew to become St. Joseph's Hospital.

She provided direct medical care to hundreds of thousands of patients, mostly poor women; and trained local women to become dispensary assistants, midwives, and nurses.

In 1943, she founded the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI), a network now comprising of 3,572 Catholic healthcare and social service institutions across India that each year serve more than 21 million people, regardless of religious affiliation.

In Bengaluru (Bangalore), a large city in modern-day Karnataka where Sister Mary died of cancer in 1957, St. John's Medical College Hospital (founded in 1963), the Catholic teaching hospital this healthcare pioneer dreamt about, has trained generations of doctors for more than 50 years.

The recognition of Sister Mary Glowrey's heroic virtues is therefore an important day for Indias Catholic community, which sees the recognition of service to the entire local community as a path to sainthood.

At the same time, the Australian Church is also rejoicing, seeing another woman born in the country approach beatification after Sister Mary MacKillop, the first saint in its history, proclaimed by Benedict XVI in 2010.

This milestone now requires only the formal recognition of a miracle brought about through her intercession, among the many graces that generations of the sick have invoked from the nun who, from her small infirmary in Guntur, gave hope to millions of sick people in India.
by Alessandra De Poli

India wants China to open a flight corridor over Xinjiang, even though the area is highly militarised. Tensions with India have led Pakistan to close its airspace to Indian aircraft, causing Air India losses estimated at over US$ 450 million a year. Meanwhile, closures of land crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan are paralysing regional trade, leading Ariana Afghan Airlines to lower fares to Indian markets.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  Air routes between South Asian countries reflect the new alliances forming in the region.

According to a recent report by Reuters, Air India is lobbying the Indian government to convince China to allow passage through Chinese airspace in the Xinjiang region, to access shorter routes, at a time when its operating costs are rising due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.

Direct flights between India and China resumed only a few weeks ago after they were suspended in June 2020 following military clashes in the Himalayan border areas.

For Air India, the need for an alternative route underscores the devastating financial cost of the current flight restrictions.

Indias national airliner has estimated that the impact of the closure of Pakistani airspace on its profits before tax will amount to US$ 455 million annually. Given that the airline's fiscal loss for 2024-25 was US$ 439 million, this represents a significant additional burden.

On some routes, fuel costs have increased by up to 29 per cent due to the proliferation of conflicts, and travel times have increased by up to three hours. Direct routes from Mumbai and Bengaluru (Bangalore) to San Francisco, for example, are becoming unviable, according to the airline.

Air India estimates that by passing through the city of Hotan, in Xinjiang, it could reduce losses by approximately US$ 1.13 million per week.

However, the airspace Air India wants to use is not simply a civilian corridor. It is surrounded by mountains exceeding 6,000 metres in altitude and pose security risks.

It is under the control of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command with an extensive presence of air defence systems, including drones and missiles.

For Air India, opening this route may be the only chance to restore its financial health.

This comes as the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) recently issued a notice extending the ban on Indian aircraft using Pakistan airspace until 24 December.

The measure follows the rise in tensions between India and Pakistan in late April, when a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in the disputed region of Kashmir, killed 26 Indians, prompting a harsh response from New Delhi, which launched a missile attack against Pakistan.

In response to India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan announced the closure of its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines.

For its part, the PAA reported a deficit of 4.1 billion rupees in August. India, meanwhile, is also reshaping its alliances.

In an attempt to revive exports, stalled due to the border closure between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Afghanistan's national airliner, slashed cargo rates between Afghanistan and India by more than half, a decision taken based on directives from Economic Deputy of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have also increased in recent months, primarily due to Kabul's continued support (according to Islamabad) for the Pakistani Taliban, who are primarily responsible for the rise in terrorist attacks in the country.

For Ariana Afghan Airlines, the move is aimed at supporting Afghan manufacturers and traders access international markets.

According to Afghan authorities, losses resulting from the closure of border crossings with Pakistan are estimated at US$ 200 million per month.

According to the Afghan National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA), in the first three quarters of 2025, Afghanistan imported goods from Pakistan worth US$ 1.241 billion, equivalent to 12.8 per cent of its total imports.

Afghan exports to Pakistan in the same period amounted to US$ 432.7 million, corresponding to 38.3 per cent of Afghanistan's total exports.

In view of the situation, Pakistan risks losing up to US$ 150-170 million if the disruption continued, especially jeopardising trade in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan and where fruit and vegetable prices have already risen.

Faced with an impasse, the Taliban have intensified their use of the Iranian port of Chabahar and routes through Central Asia.

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by Vladimir Rozanskij

Cosmetic surgery and women's clothing are being targeted by the authorities in Central Asia. In a sermon that went viral, the mufti of Dushanbe harshly condemned the injections, while in Ashgabat the police stopped women wearing excessive make-up. Sociologist Anora Sadykova: Campaigns created to avoid discussions about unemployment, corruption and rising prices.

Dushanbe (AsiaNews) - A Tajik preacher recently said that women will have to answer for beauty injections in the afterlife. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Turkmenistan, the risk for cosmetic surgery is not only heavenly punishment, but also very earthly repression: women with plumped lips and lengthened eyelashes are not allowed on international flights.

The president of the Council of Ulema and mufti of Tajikistan, Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, has spoken out harshly against the Botox craze, fillers and plastic surgery among women, and the video of his sermon has been posted on the Tajik Islamic Centre's YouTube channel, with tens of thousands of views.

The mufti described cosmetic procedures as haram, i.e. forbidden by Islam, and called on the faithful to improve their behaviour, not their appearance, condemning injections and operations as the body is a gift from Allah, and we will have to answer to Him.

Religious rhetoric is reinforced by wide-ranging state restrictions, as last year Tajikistan tightened its policy on women's clothing when, in the spring of 2024, President Emomali Rakhmon signed amendments to the law on restoring traditions, solemnities and rituals, effectively banning 'the import, propaganda and sale of clothing that does not correspond to the national culture' and imposing heavy fines of between 8,000 and 57,000 somoni (between 800 and 6,000 US dollars, ed.).

The types of clothing are not specified in the text of the law, which essentially refers to Islamic Middle Eastern dress codes, using the term foreign clothing. Women wearing the Khidzab are even prevented from entering healthcare facilities until they adjust their headscarves Tajik style, with the knot at the back.

Short skirts and bras that are too tight do not comply with national standards. In July 2024, police arrested two young women for posting photos of themselves in skimpy clothes on Instagram, stating that this offends the honour of Tajik women and mothers.

In Turkmenistan, too, women's appearance has been subject to state regulations, with very strict controls, especially since the transition from President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to his son Serdar in 2022, with a ban on overly obvious make-up, dyeing hair light colours, eyelash and nail extensions, and Botox injections. In 2023, two women were arrested in Mari on charges of choosing clothing inappropriate for Turkmen women because half of their breasts were exposed.

The ban on international flights is explained by the impossibility of recognising people with security systems if their appearance has been distorted.

MP Serdar Arazov explained that the bans are based on health regulations and in no way intend to restrict women's rights, who must be properly informed about them. The police carry out checks on the streets, stopping women with excessive make-up or non-compliant clothing; alleged compliance with the fundamentals of Turkmenism is verified not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of lifestyle and daily habits. Dozens of women have lost their jobs, especially hostesses and railway operators, because their appearance was too foreign to morality.

As Anora Sadykova, a sociologist from Dushanbe, states, the demands on make-up and clothing serve to avoid discussions about unemployment, corruption and rising prices, and under the pretext of defending national culture, images of the ideal submissive, modest woman without freedom of expression are constructed. Similar elements of particular control over women, while men are allowed almost everything, also occur in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, often using the argument of national traditions to limit the influence of overly radical Islam.
We confirm that we are interested in participating in the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, Tokayev said after talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian held in the capital Astana.

The transit corridor will open up great opportunities for both countries, Tokyaev told a joint news conference. Pashinian welcomed that interest, saying that the TRIPP could significantly boost Armenias trade with Kazakhstan which stood, according to Armenian government data, at a modest $60 million in the first nine months of this year.

Pashinian, U.S. President Donald Trump and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reached an agreement on the TRIPP during trilateral talks held in Washington in August. Crucial practical modalities of the transit arrangement have yet to be worked out.

Pashinians domestic critics maintain that the TRIPP amounts to the kind of an extraterritorial corridor that would compromise Armenian sovereignty over its strategic Syunik province. Aliyev has repeatedly echoed the Armenian opposition claims.

Kazakhstan as well as other ex-Soviet Muslim republics of Central Asia have supported Azerbaijan in the conflict with Armenia despite being nominally allied to the latter through the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization. Both Tokayev and his predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev have repeatedly congratulated Azerbaijan on its victory in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Tokayev on Friday again thanked Aliyev for letting his country export 1,000 tons of wheat to Armenia via Azerbaijan earlier this month. Pashinians government portrayed the inaugural shipment, carried out by rail, as another evidence of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The government quickly found itself on the defensive when it emerged that Armenia imported low-grade Kazakh wheat which is mainly used as animal feed. Opposition figures and other critics rang alarm bells, saying that it must not be used for bread production.

The outcry led Armenias Food Safety Inspectorate to pledge to conduct laboratory tests on the imported wheat. The government agency reported on November 13 that no harmful organisms were found in it.
21 November 2025 21:38 (UTC+04:00)

The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on 21 November.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language he understands (Russian) as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating in the hearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The testimonies of the victims were then heard.

Responding to questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, victim Baylar Shabanov, noted that while they were driving from Sugovushan in the direction of Aghdara-Kalbajar, the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups opened gunfire on the Niva vehicle they were driving at. The incident caused serious damage to the vehicle.

Victim Kanan Rzazade stated that while he was in an ambulance with a distinctive insignia in the Kalbajar district, the enemy hit his vehicle with a mortar shell, injuring him and Elvin Suleymanov, who was with him at that time.

Hasil Talibov reported that Farid Mehbali and Elshan Babazade were killed, and Ilkin Vasalov, Mehdi Yusifov, and several others were wounded as a result of an enemy provocation in the Zangilan district.

Responding to questions from Assistant Prosecutor General for Special Assignments Tugay Rahimli, victim Zamin Amrali noted that Farid Rustamov and Nahid Mamedov were killed, and Farid Mammadov, Saleh Gasanov, and several others were wounded as a result of an enemy mortar shell explosion in the Zangilan district.

Victim Orkhan Alasgarov testified that he was wounded by enemy artillery shelling in Kalbajar district, and that Sarkhan Omarov, who was with him at the time, was killed.

Victim Ibrahim Mayilli said that Farid Mehbali and Tabriz Rahimov were killed in a mortar shell explosion fired by the enemy in the Zangilan district, while he, Rahib Mammadov, Seymur Hasanli, and several others received injuries of varying severity.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Public Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, victim Alim Maharramov, stated that an explosion occurred while he was cleaning mines planted by the enemy in the Gubadli district. As a result of the incident, he, V. Naghiyev, E. Alishanov and V. Ibrahimov received various injuries.

Victim Farid Shahbazov noted that he, along with Sadig Shakarov and Murad Aliyev, sustained a shrapnel injury as a result of the mortar fire by the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the vicinity of the Aliaghali village of Aghdam district.

Another victim Parviz Shirinov claimed that he, along with Elnur Soltanov and Sadig Hamidov, was injured in an explosion of the grenade thrown by the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the Janyatag village of Aghdara district.

Responding to the questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, victims Murtuz Namazov and Mahammad Gilmizliyev claimed they were injured as a result of the explosion of a landmine planted by the enemy in the forest trail in the Zangilan district. N.Namazov sustained a head injury, while M.Gilmizliyev saw his right knee amputated.

Responding to the inquiries from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, victim Sarkhan Isgandarov said that he was injured as a result of the enemy rifle fire in the Gulyatag village of Aghdara district.

Victims Abdul Malikov, Mardan Allahverdiyev, and Sahil Rasulov noted they sustained various bodily injuries as a result of the artillery and grenade fire from the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in the Vangli village of Aghdara district, with Zamin Hasratov, Bayram Huseynov, Tamerlan Rashidli, Subhan Abbasov, Ravan Mammadov, and Emin Jafarov also wounded in the incident.

Responding to the inquiries from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, victim Ramil Manafov said he was wounded by enemy fire in Zangilan district.

Another victim Samir Akbarov mentioned that, while evacuating those injured in a landmine blast in the Aghdam district, he, as well as several other people around him, also sustained injuries by stepping on a landmine.

Victim Rustam Rustamov said he was wounded as a result of the fire from the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments in Aghdara district.

In their testimonies, victims Ramal Badalli and Khayal Hajiyev emphasized they were wounded by enemy fire from various directions.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence in the criminal case file.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for 24 November.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
21 November 2025 13:47 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Armenias recent reciprocal delegation visit to Azerbaijan, coming on the heels of the Azerbaijani delegations trip to Yerevan, shows a reality and a turning point that would have seemed unthinkable even a year ago. For decades, relations between the two neighbours appeared frozen stiff, locked in a cycle of hostility that many believed would never thaw. Yet, against all odds, the ice has finally begun to melt. The fact that this breakthrough emerged not from grand international summits, but from direct bilateral engagement, speaks volumes about the new realities of the South Caucasus.

For years, peace initiatives were lost in a maze of multilateral formats, such as trilateral, quadrilateral, and everything in between. Meeting after meeting ended in stalemate. Now, with hindsight, it is clear that these efforts fell flat because they were approached through the wrong lens. External actors, especially Western institutions and European structures, viewed the region through their own interests, agendas, and geopolitical calculations. They acted as though the South Caucasus were a chessboard on which they could advance their own positions. Meanwhile, genuine peace remained out of reach.

The failure of these formats was no mystery, but only a myth sustained by diplomatic inertia. Armenia and Azerbaijan were treated less as sovereign actors capable of resolving their own differences and more as pawns in someone elses geopolitical game. The result was predictable: much ado about nothing.

This dynamic became especially clear around 2020, when international pressure on Azerbaijan began to mount. At the very moment when a country suffering thirty years of occupation sought to restore its territorial integrity, a chorus of criticism, manipulation, and misinformation arose from media outlets, political platforms, and even international organisations. What became visible was the stark contrast between declared peacebuilding intentions and the rather more dubious motives hiding behind a curtain of hypocrisy.

One of the most influential forces behind this wave of pressure was the Armenian diaspora in the United States, especially those clustered around the Democratic Party and the Biden administration. Drawing encouragement from sympathetic figures in Washington, diaspora networks sought to weaponise the US Congress and the State Department against Azerbaijan. Even during COP29, a global climate conference where geopolitics should have no place, the former US administration attempted to send irrelevant and openly partisan figures to Baku. Their behaviour laid bare their underlying aim: supporting separatist narratives regardless of the context.

Despite such provocations, Azerbaijan stuck to its guns. Whether on the battlefield during the Patriotic War or on the diplomatic stage during global climate negotiations, Baku presented its case firmly yet responsibly. COP29, widely recognised as a success, demonstrated what effective leadership in a global forum looks like. Ironically, COP30, the successor event, stumbled into controversy, offering a textbook example of how poor organisation and political meddling can derail an international summit. It takes two to tango, and when some actors insist on distracting from the real issues with irrelevant agendas, even the best-designed events falter.

When Azerbaijan and Armenia held their first bilateral dialogue in Abu Dhabi, the reaction of certain actors drew a clear picture of their own. Those who had long insisted that peace was impossible without Western involvement suddenly fell silent. The quiet in some European capitals was deafening. Their predictions of perpetual conflict, their insistence that external mission teams were indispensable, all crumbled in the face of simple facts: Baku and Yerevan had chosen to speak directly, and it worked.

Meanwhile, the European Union continues to keep its monitoring mission stationed in Armenia, binoculars in hand, even though the risk of renewed war has dramatically decreased and both sides now speak openly about lasting peace. The missions very persistence suggests that Brussels is struggling to digest the new realities. The South Caucasus of 2025 is no longer the region of the 1990s, where outside actors could dictate terms and carve out spheres of influence. The ground has shifted, and some in Europe are finding it hard to regain their footing.

The collapse of the OSCE Minsk Group serves as yet another symbol of this changing landscape. For years, the group clung to the illusion that the conflict could be frozen indefinitely while Europe played referee. Some members openly fantasised about returning to the old status quo, as though the last four years had not transformed the region beyond recognition. But reality is what it is: Azerbaijan liberated its own territories and restored its sovereignty. Europe did not lift a finger.

It is natural to ask: Why did Europes peace initiatives flow freely when Azerbaijani lands remained under occupation, but dry up completely once both Armenia and Azerbaijan began negotiating in good faith? The contrast speaks for itself. The European Union, which spares no effort in supporting Ukraines reconstruction, mine-clearance, and institutional aid, has not launched a single serious project to help Azerbaijan deal with the devastation caused by three decades of occupation. This is not jealousy speaking, but merely an illustration of the double standards that continue to plague international politics.

Victims of mines in Ukraine and Azerbaijan are equally human, equally deserving of dignity and support. If the EU claims to act from principle, not preference, then surely it should adopt a consistent approach. Yet Azerbaijans appeals for assistance have been met with indifference, even as the EU invests billions in other conflict zones. It is a bitter pill to swallow, especially given Europes vast experience in reconstruction programmes worldwide.

Europe could play a constructive role in the post-war rebuilding of the South Caucasus. Projects such as the Zangazur corridor, also known by its modern designation, TRIP, along with major transport and energy links, offer huge potential for connectivity, commerce, and stability. But instead of lending a hand, Europe has chosen to sit on the fence. It is a missed opportunity that may one day come back to haunt it.

The last thirty years of European engagement, before and after the occupation, reveal one undeniable truth: peace must be free from narrow interests, political ambitions, and hidden agendas. It must be grounded in fairness, consistency, and respect. Today, Europe loudly champions open transport routes and communication links, yet turns a blind eye to the very initiatives that would achieve precisely that in the South Caucasus.

When these projects finally come to fruition, and they will, those who ignored them will surely line up to applaud, attempting to rewrite history and place themselves centre stage. Such political theatre is as old as diplomacy itself.

But the heart of the matter is this: peace in the South Caucasus was not built in Brussels, Washington, or Paris. It was built in Abu Dhabi, Washington, under the Trump administration, Baku, and Yerevan through direct dialogue, mutual recognition of reality, and pragmatic cooperation. By organising bilateral visits without third-party pressure, Armenia and Azerbaijan have demonstrated that peace is not a fairy tale. It is a practical choice, made by neighbours who share a region, a future, and the responsibility to ensure that the tragedies of the past are never repeated.

The so-called impossibility theorem of South Caucasus peace has been shattered. And it was shattered by the two parties themselves.
21 November 2025 17:16 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In todays complex global landscape, small states often face the challenge of navigating international norms while advancing national interests. Azerbaijan presents a compelling example of strategic diplomacy, balancing adherence to global standards with the flexibility to set its own terms when necessarya hallmark of professional statecraft.

Azerbaijans nuanced diplomacy is reflected not only in its bilateral relations but also in its active engagement with regional and multilateral initiatives, such as the D-8 Economic Cooperation Organisation. Currently, the D-8 Media Forum on Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation, and Regional Solidarity is underway in Baku, bringing together heads of media agencies, leading media organisations from D-8 member states, high-ranking officials, and renowned experts. The forum represents Azerbaijans proactive approach to fostering collaboration in areas that extend beyond traditional diplomacy, emphasising the strategic role of media in shaping public opinion, building trust, and promoting regional cohesion.

Azerbaijan was unanimously elected as a member of the D-8 Economic Cooperation Organisation during the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo, Egypt, on December 19, 2024. Subsequently, on March 19, 2025, the country officially submitted the ratification documents of the D-8 Charter to the Secretariat in Istanbul, thereby attaining full membership. This milestone reflects both the trust of existing member states and Azerbaijans growing role in multilateral economic cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev has highlighted that the D-8, operating for nearly three decades, is now expandinga testament to Azerbaijans strong diplomatic ties, credibility, and cooperative engagement with all member states. By hosting the Media Forum, Azerbaijan signals its commitment to strengthening dialogue and developing a reliable information environment, which is essential for fostering mutual understanding and regional solidarity.

It is also worth noting that last week, Azerbaijan was accepted as a full member of the Central Asian G6 format based on a decision by the Heads of State of the region. This milestone reflects Azerbaijans growing integration into regional multilateral platforms.

Joining such organisations offers Azerbaijan strategic advantages. Instead of acting alone, the country can amplify its voice and influence by participating in collective frameworks. Currently, Azerbaijan implements a balanced and exemplary foreign policy, taking into account both geostrategic considerations and broader international factors. This approach strengthens ties not only with immediate neighbours but also with countries spanning from East to West and North to South. Through these relationships, Azerbaijan not only fosters its own development but also enhances its regional power and global influence.

Multilateral engagement also contributes to regional development. The D-8 countries, for example, with a combined population of 1.2 billion and substantial economic potential, are capable of supporting one another. At the same time, political divergences among these nations can pose challenges to economic integration. Yet, shared interestssuch as common religion, culture, and historical tiescan serve as powerful drivers of cooperation and economic growth. In this sense, regional unity is both a source and measure of regional power.

As President Ilham Aliyev emphasised, the D-8 platform, now spanning three continents, offers significant opportunities to promote development in critical areas, including sustainable economic growth, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, global climate change mitigation, and energy security. "Azerbaijan has transformed into an important actor of regional and international cooperation by building multifaceted partnerships with D-8 countries in energy, transportation and communication spheres, the President noted.

It is also important to recall Azerbaijans proactive role in climate initiatives. During COP29 in Baku, the country stressed the importance of accessible climate finance, particularly for small island states facing critical environmental threats. This commitment continues at COP30 in Brazil, building on the legacy of Azerbaijans initiatives. Even prior to these events, during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan provided financial and humanitarian support to more than 80 countries, including 20 small island nations. This approach underscores a broader principle: developed countries, particularly those with a colonial past, have a responsibility to provide financial and technical assistance to nations most affected by climate change, rather than allowing the costs of global development to fall disproportionately on smaller states.

Beyond climate and economic development, Azerbaijan recognises the strategic importance of media in shaping regional cooperation. As President Aliyev stated, The information cannot rest as a mere news in the contemporary world as it plays an important role in shaping confidence and understanding between peoples by turning into a main driving force of international relations, public opinion and economic development.

Azerbaijan has consistently hosted prestigious international media events, establishing itself as a hub for dialogue and exchange. Since 2023, the Global Media Forum has been held annually in Shusha, attracting representatives from over 50 countries. Following this model, the D-8 Media Forum brings together public and political figures, communication experts, and media professionals from member states to address emerging challenges in the global information space and advance shared objectives.

The forum aims to establish reliable collaboration among media organisations to create an accurate, impartial, and responsible information environment. In todays world, information drives international relations and economic development and plays a central role in fostering mutual understanding among nations. For the D-8 countries, this shared media cooperation can strengthen regional cohesion and trust.

Azerbaijans experience demonstrates the stakes involved: during the 2020 Patriotic War, the country was targeted by disinformation campaigns that distorted the facts. Nevertheless, the truth prevailed, and the Azerbaijani Army achieved victory, liberating occupied territories despite significant external pressures. This experience highlights the necessity of cross-border media collaboration to counter disinformation effectively.

To this end, the Centre for Media Excellence is being established under the initiative and guidance of President Aliyev. As Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, explained, the centre will combat fake news, enhance media professionalism, organise training programs, and implement media-related projects across D-8 countries.

Azerbaijans engagement with the D-8 reflects a multi-dimensional approach to foreign policy that uses multilateral platforms to support regional development and advance cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, climate action, and media governance. Through initiatives like the D-8 Media Forum, which aims to strengthen collaboration, enhance information security, and promote professional media standards among member states, Azerbaijan contributes to the creation of a more cohesive and resilient D-8 community while supporting efforts to address emerging challenges in the global information environment.
21 November 2025 20:07 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

As Azerbaijan pushes forward with its peace agenda and reconstruction efforts, recently, a striking imbalance has recently emerged in the international response, particularly from Europe. During the years of occupation, the European Union and various European organisations regularly introduced peacebuilding programs, civil society initiatives, and grant-based projects, many of which ultimately helped maintain the existing status quo rather than resolve the conflict. Yet now, in a period when Azerbaijan has restored its sovereignty, opened the path for normalisation with Armenia, and is addressing the immense humanitarian and infrastructural consequences of occupation, Europes involvement has sharply declined.

Azerbaijan today finances almost the entirety of its demining operations alone, despite more than 20 per cent of its territory being left in ruins and heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance. Only a handful of states, such as Uzbekistan and Pakistan, have provided meaningful assistance. Europe, which once showed sustained interest and even competition in peace initiatives during the conflict, now demonstrates near-total passivity. This is particularly evident when contrasted with the EUs vigorous political, financial, humanitarian, and reconstruction support for Ukraine.

Azerbaijan, despite this discrepancy, has not withheld its own assistance to Ukraine, raising questions about why Europe applies a selective, asymmetric standard in its approach to post-conflict recovery. While the EU invests heavily in Ukrainian reconstruction and mine clearance, it has not initiated even a single substantial reconstruction or demining project in Azerbaijan. This selective engagement not only undermines Europes credibility but also reinforces doubts about its intentions and priorities in the South Caucasus.

The current reality invites discussion on whether Europe has strategically distanced itself from a peace process in which Azerbaijan now holds the initiative, and whether this withdrawal risks weakening regional stability. At the same time, new regional platforms, such as the Zangazur corridor and broader connectivity projects, present opportunities for meaningful support in energy, transport, reconstruction, and humanitarian fields. Yet Europe remains detached, prompting sharper questions about its future role, its geopolitical principles, and its long-term vision for the region.

Europe has abandoned the South Caucasus at the very moment when real peace became possible, British political scientist Neil Watson told Azernews, before outlining his assessment:

To regain credibility and relevance in the South Caucasus, the EU should establish a dedicated EU Recovery and Demining Fund for the Azerbaijani region of Garabagh, focusing on rebuilding critical infrastructure, schools, and agriculture in the liberated territories, thereby making a public and symbolic commitment. The EU should support the Zangazur Corridor, also known as the Trump International Corridor for Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), not just as a transport route, but as a blueprint for regional connectivity, energy diversification away from Russia, and a path towards a stable and interconnected South Caucasus, which has the potential to become essential in the New World Order. The EU must appoint a Special Envoy for the South Caucasus, embedding the region into the EUs strategic agenda, rather than treating it as a peripheral issue. Brussels should invest in the digital and green transformation of the region before China, Turkiye, or the Gulf states dominate this space. It is also important to launch a Brussels-Garabagh Dialogue Platform involving Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society, moderated by EU institutions, thereby playing a moral and diplomatic balancing role.

Watson continued:

EU foreign policy is more about inertia and optics than principle. Armenia was seen as the so-called victim as it fitted the EUs preferred narrative of a fragile Christian democracy needing support. When Azerbaijan regained control of its internationally recognised territories, it ceased to be the underdog and used the Russian expansionist mentality to its advantage. Europe struggles to engage with strong, assertive partners who dont follow its playbook. Geopolitical bias played a role  especially under pressure from Armenocentric France, which heavily influenced the policy stance in Brussels.

He added, and in the conclusion, warned that the EU has a choice:

The EU only supports peace when its convenient and beneficial to it. EU neutrality is selective. It doesnt protect principles; it protects narratives. This has undermined the EUs image as a reliable peacebroker and shifted trust toward alternative power centres like Turkiye. The ultimate message is dangerous: Strength and sovereignty wont be rewarded, unless they align with EU preferences. Europe has a choice: reclaim its influence by being bold and fair, or remain a spectator in a region moving toward new alliances. Azerbaijan has played its hand. The South Caucasus is united and independent of Russian domination for the first time.
21 November 2025 18:57 (UTC+04:00)

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21 November 2025 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The 7th meeting of the National Library Directors of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states has taken place in Ankara, Turkiye, at the Adnan Otuken Public Library, a key institution in the country's library history, Azernews reports.

This meeting was seen as a major event, uniting both traditional approaches and the latest trends in digital transformation. Representatives from ECO member states, including Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in observer status, were in attendance.

The representatives shared valuable insights into digital initiatives, national and cultural heritage preservation efforts, and opportunities for cooperation among the countries.

During the event's core session, three important topics were discussed. First, member states presented their efforts on developing digital infrastructure in national libraries, securing data, and expanding access to information. Later, discussions centered around enhancing digital literacy, improving professional training for librarians, facilitating staff exchanges, and broadening regional training programs.

Professor Karim Tahirov, director of the Azerbaijan National Library, gave a presentation titled "Azerbaijan National Library  Digital Projects".

In his speech, Professor Tahirov emphasized the role of digitization in safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring it is passed on to future generations. He noted several key projects, such as the "Electronic Music Library", "Return of Our National and Spiritual Values to the Homeland", and "Azerbaijani Manuscripts in World Libraries", all of which contribute to preserving and promoting Azerbaijan's cultural heritage.

The library director discussed the library's full-text electronic databases that cover significant historical events, reinforcing the role of digitization in promoting Azerbaijans rich cultural legacy on the global stage.

At the close of the meeting, the participants agreed to establish four specialized subcommittees focusing on Digital Infrastructure, Preservation, Public Engagement, and Funding, in line with Article 12 of the ECO Charter. The final composition of these committees will be decided after further coordination with the member states.

In conclusion, the outcomes of the meeting were summarized, and an agreement was reached on the draft "Ankara Declaration 2025". This declaration also marked the election of the new Chair and Secretariat for the Council for the period of 20252027.

The meeting was seen as an important step in fostering stronger cultural and scientific cooperation among the ECO member states, reinforcing the shared commitment to the preservation and digital transformation of library services.
21 November 2025 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An International Scientific Conference on "Miniature  Eastern Visual Philosophy and Contemporary Context" has been held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The event was organized by Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve in partnership with the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

The event was of great scientific and cultural importance, aiming to deeply explore the aesthetic and spiritual values of Eastern miniature art. It also focused on reinterpreting this tradition in the context of digital art and visual philosophy in the modern age.

The conference covered several key topics, including the philosophical and cultural aspects of miniature art, the visual philosophy traditions in Turkic-speaking regions, the influence of digital technologies on the visual arts, museum management, contemporary presentation methods, and the role of miniature art in cultural diplomacy.

Prominent scholars, art historians, and creative professionals from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, Romania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan participated in the event.

The participation of international experts allowed for a broad exchange of ideas on the contemporary research perspectives of Eastern miniature heritage.

Participants also reached significant agreements to expand scientific collaboration, promote joint research initiatives, and further the visibility of miniature art on modern platforms.
21 November 2025 17:46 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The International Mugham Center (IMC) has hosted another spectacular event within "Azerbaijani Mugham" project, Azernews reports.

The music evening themed "Destgah Mugham", focused on the performance of "Shur", one of the most classical and beloved mughams in Azerbaijani music.

The concert featured performances by Rauf Jafarov, Sarhan Mirzoyev, and Yusif Jafarbayli, all of whom are laureates of the Mugham Television Contest. The event was accompanied by the IMC's musical ensemble, under the direction of tar player Rashad Ibrahimov. The concert program aroused great interest among the k

Being one of the oldest musical styles in the East, mugham music never ceases to amaze music enthusiasts around the globe, serving as a major element in uniting people.

The mugham contains seven main modes - Rast, Shur, Segah (are especially common), Shushtar, Bayaty-Shiraz, Chahargah, Humayun, and three collateral kinds - Shahnaz, Sarendj, and Chaargah in some other form.

"Shur" is considered one of the fundamental mughams in Azerbaijan's professional musical tradition, known for its ability to express a wide range of emotions, including joy, light sorrow, nostalgia, and spiritual depth. It is often described as the "mugham of heartfelt warmth" and is frequently associated with feelings of love and emotional connection.

The "Azerbaijani Mugham" project's primary objective is to preserve and develop the classical tradition of Azerbaijani mugham, ensuring its legacy is passed on to future generations. In today's rapidly changing world, the importance of such initiatives is especially profound.

For young performers, participating in these programs provides them with a deeper understanding of the philosophy behind mugham, helping them master its intricate stylistic elements while maintaining a living link between tradition and modernity.

Through this project, emerging talents are given a platform to grow, and audiences have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness of Azerbaijan's national musical heritage time and again.

The International Mugham Center (IMC), a prominent cultural landmark in Baku, has become a symbol of the city's identity, distinguished by its unique architectural design and prime location.

The center was established on the initiative of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, in accordance with the presidential decree dated April 6, 2005.

The center, which laid its foundation that same year and is known as one of Baku's unique architectural projects, opened its doors in 2008.

The Mugham Center regularly organises large-scale music festivals and concerts by highly acclaimed cultural figures.

The Center also takes important steps towards bolstering cultural ties with Turkiye, Poland, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and other countries.

The International Mugham Center is determined to further expand its work and promote Azerbaijani musical culture.

Numerous projects are being carried out by the center in the direction of studying and promoting mugham art.

In 2025, the Mugham Center became the first cultural institution in Azerbaijan to be awarded "international" status by legislation.

This new status contributes to improving the financial well-being of the people working at the center, which has been one of the leading concert institutions in Baku for many years.
21 November 2025 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Central Scientific Library of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has hosted the opening of the 1st International Symposium on Traditional Music and Cultural Identity of the Turkic World, marking the 150th anniversary of Kalvali Ali Dede, Azernews reports.

The symposium is jointly organized by the ANAS Institute of Folklore, the Institute of Architecture and Arts, the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Ankara University of Music and Performing Arts, Erzincan Binali Yildirm University, Kars Caucasus University State Conservatory, Khoja Ahmad Yasawi International Turkic-Kazakh University, the Azerbaijan Ashiqs Union, and the Azerbaijan International Mugham Center.

The event began with a tribute at the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the library foyer, where fresh flowers were laid in his honor.

ANAS President, Academician Isa Habibbayli opened the symposium by highlighting its aim of deepening scientific research into the musical folklore of the Turkic world.

He emphasized the importance of studying the historical roots of ancient instruments such as the balaban, zurna, and saz, as well as understanding their cultural significance and place in collective memory.

Isa Habibbayli noted that evaluating the artistic legacy of Kalvali Ali Dede (Ali Karimov), a master of the zurnabalaban tradition, within the broader Turkic context holds substantial scholarly value.

He also recalled President Ilham Aliyev's remarks at the 80th anniversary of ANAS, which underscored new strategic tasks for the scientific community, including safeguarding national and spiritual values and promoting cultural heritage.

Isa Habibbayli further noted that Kalvali Ali Dede, a virtuoso performer of the zurna, balaban and saz, composed more than 70 dance melodies and established a significant musical school.

He added that his artistic legacy continues today through both his family and committed followers.

The Academician stressed that the symposium reflects scientific respect for Ali Dada's contributions and plays an essential role in promoting ancient wind instruments. The studies presented at the event, he said, represent the first comprehensive scholarly research of their kind in Azerbaijan.

Fakhri Hajiyev, head of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation's Executive Office, delivered a message from the Foundation's President, Aktoty Raimkulova.

The message highlights the symposium's relevance in exploring the shared spiritual memory of the Turkic nations and emphasized traditional music as a vital cultural value that strengthens identity, connects generations, and ensures continuity. He pointed out that the similarities between musical traditions across the Turkic world, such as mugham, ashik art, and folk melodies as evidence of deep common cultural roots. He also highlighted recent collaborative initiatives between the Folklore Institute and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.

Azerbaijan National Conservatory Rector, Professor Kamila Dadashzade, outlined the role of the symposium in fostering cultural integration and scientific cooperation among Turkic peoples. She noted the growing importance of studying traditional music as an expression of ethnic identity and stressed that the symposium contributes to refining theoretical and practical approaches to this field.

Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University (ASPU), Professor Mahira Nagiqizi Huseynova, spoke about the importance of preserving and presenting Kalval li Dds legacy to younger generations.

She remarked that being a "kalval" once required deep artistry and masteryvalues not fully understood by today's youth and stressed the importance of such scholarly events in strengthening national memory and musical heritage.

Rector of Ankara University of Music and Performing Arts, Professor Erhan Ozden, highlighted the enduring role of Turkic traditional art and music in shaping identity and maintaining cultural stability. He described music as a powerful bearer of pan-Turkic cultural codes.

ANAS Institute of Architecture and Art Director, Corresponding Member Ertegin Salamzade, reiterated music's significance in shaping the cultural identity of a people, describing it as a key marker of self-awareness and cultural preservation.

Director of the ANAS Institute of Folklore, Dr Hikmat Guliyev, noted that the symposium offers valuable opportunities for researchers from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan to discuss themes such as the wordmusicmovement triad, traditional performance, and folkloremusic connections. He described the event as an essential platform for safeguarding national identity amid globalization.

Hikmat Guliyev added that Kalvali Ali Dede occupies an important place in Azerbaijan's collective musical memory. He underlined the need for further comparative research on Turkic musical codes and for the development of a unified scientific framework for Turkic music. He also highlighted the importance of establishing a digital archive dedicated to Kalvali Ali Dede's legacy.

Associate Professor Jasurbek Salayev, Director of Uzbekistan's Khorezm Regional Pedagogical Skills Center, noted Uzbekistan's active participation, adding that a 28-member delegation represented the country, reflecting its commitment to cultural and scientific cooperation within the Turkic world.

On behalf of Kalvali Ali Dede's family, Associate Professor Elchin Galiboglu expressed gratitude to the organizers and participants.

He noted that well-known melodies such as "Heyvagulu," "Alma gulu," "Alca gulu," "Bnovs," "Kalval," "Cmnlik," "Mehriban," "Dag cicyi," and "Xrdaca" continue to serve as important examples for both contemporary zurnabalaban performers and practitioners of the ashiq tradition.

The event proceeded with an artistic program, followed by plenary presentations and discussions on various topics.

The international symposium is scheduled to conclude on November 21.
21 November 2025 17:54 (UTC+04:00)

On November 18, Azerkhalcha OJSC, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Albania and Tirana Art Gallery, with the support of Tirana City Municipality, held the next exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets in Europe at Tirana Art Gallery.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the traditional art of carpet weaving in the UNESCO Representative List of intangible cultural heritage with the direct initiative and support of the first vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. The next day, on November 19, a meeting and master classes were held between students of art faculties of various educational institutions and Azerbaijani artists.

The special event organized to mark the opening of the "May your hands remain well!" exhibition was attended by officials of Albanian state institutions, members of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Tirana, media representatives, representatives of science and academic circles, artists and cultural figures, as well as members of Azerbaijani, Turkish and other communities living in Albania.

The "May your hands remain well!" carpet collection includes traditional carpets from the Karabakh, Guba and Shirvan carpet weaving schools woven in the workshops of Azerkhalcha OJSC, as well as works from various special collections. These include one carpet from the 44 collection of Azerkhalcha OJSC in collaboration with Rashad Alekperov, two carpets from the Architect of Memory and Woman collections with Aydan Salahova, one carpet from a joint project with Faig Ahmed, three exclusive carpets from the Pomegranate Symphony collection with young artist Samira Allahverdiyeva, and two - Nakhchivan and Qarabagh carpets by Rufat Ismayil in collaboration with AFFFAIR. In addition, the exhibition will feature two carpets by the Albanian artist Xhevahir Kolgji, who in his works connects East and West and thus tries to destroy the borders.

The exhibition was declared open by the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Albania, Anar Huseynov. The Diplomat informed about the history of carpet weaving, which is one of the vivid examples of Azerbaijan's ancient and rich cultural heritage, and the state's care for the development of this art in our country. The ambassador noted that the purpose of the exhibition is to convey the culture and truth of Azerbaijan to local residents through art. The two-month exhibition will contribute to the rapprochement of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Albania. He thanked the municipality of Tirana for the conditions created for the exhibition.

During his speech, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC, Honored Artist Emin Mammadov congratulated the event participants on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the November 8 Victory Day and the magnificent victory, which we recently celebrated and which is written in golden letters in the centuries-old history of our people, and spoke about the history of the organization. The Chairman said that the main goal of Azerkhalcha" OJSC is to preserve the tradition of carpet weaving and further develop this art. He stressed that Azerbaijani folk-applied art and its branch, carpet weaving, occupy a special place in the history of the national culture of our people. E.Mammadov spoke about the short history of various carpets displayed at the exhibition and spoke about the future plans and main goals of Azerkhalcha OJSC.

Then, Director of The Art Gallery of Tirana Edith Pula and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to Azerbaijan Besart Kadia, who visited his homeland for this exhibition, continued the event with their speeches.

In order to promote the art of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan to the world, protect our national spiritual heritage, adapt it to the modern era and pass it on to future generations, and support the promotion of the art of carpet weaving, the "Qarabakh" and "Nakhchivan" carpets, belonging to the joint "A New Look at Cultural Heritage" collection of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC and "AFFFAIR", were donated to the Tirana Art Gallery by "PASHA Holding" and "PASHA Bank". These carpets will continue to be displayed in the gallery's permanent collection. At the same time, another example of Nakhchivan carpet was presented by Pasha Holding" to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania as a gift.

The process of weaving a real Azerbaijani carpet was demonstrated and master classes were held for the visitors of the exhibition. Participants of the exhibition have the opportunity to make their own loops on the carpet. A special certificate of Azerkhalcha OJSC was also presented to everyone who participated in the weaving process of the Azerbaijani carpet. The exhibition will last until January 20.
21 November 2025 19:11 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The project "Professional Theater Classes in the Regions" is underway in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The initiative is organized by the Culture Ministry's Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM).

The next series of master classes will be held at Mingachevir State Drama Theater on November 24-30.

The master classes will be conducted by Honored Artist and actor Gasim Nagi, along with theater scholar Daglar Yusif, an employee of MEMIM.

Launched in October of last year, the project "Professional Theater Classes in the Regions" seeks to improve the professional level of theater collectives, create an active creative environment, highlight current trends in theater arts, and facilitate the exchange of experience.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
21 November 2025 12:58 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

A joint working group will be established between Azerbaijan and Peking University Health Science Center in the near future, Azernews reports, citing the Health Ministry.

The Ministry noted that a delegation from the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after A. Aliyev held a series of meetings in Beijing.

The Azerbaijani delegation also familiarized itself with the operations of the clinic at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A meeting was held between the Institutes rector, Professor Nazim Panahov, and Tang Zhishu, Rector of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, during which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

Later, at a meeting hosted at the Peking University Health Science Center, the sides discussed cooperation in continuing medical education, scientific research, and the exchange of residents and trainees. The parties agreed to establish a joint working group and sign a future cooperation memorandum.
21 November 2025 11:37 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

On November 21, 2025, a group of Armenian civil society representatives arrived in Baku as part of the ongoing dialogue process between the two countries, Azernews reports.

The visit follows the Azerbaijani civil society delegations trip to Yerevan on October 2122, 2025, reflecting the reciprocal and structured nature of the confidence-building efforts.

The parties previously implemented this initiative in Yerevan at the end of October.

This exchange comes within a broader context of normalization measures that have been unfolding over recent years. Earlier diplomatic engagements, including the talks held in Abu Dhabi on July 10, where both sides discussed elements of the peace agenda, helped shape the framework for continued dialogue and set the stage for subsequent confidence-building steps.

Both sides continue engagement within the peace agenda set after the Joint Statement adopted in Washington on August 8, focusing on strengthening mutual understanding, supporting regional stability, and encouraging direct dialogue between communities as normalization efforts advance.

Another key development in this trajectory was President Ilham Aliyevs announcement in October 2025 lifting all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia.

The first transit shipment, Kazakh grain passing through Azerbaijani territory, marked the opening of a new practical route for regional trade.
21 November 2025 13:32 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Indonesia will host the D-8 Forum for the 20262027 period.

As reported by Azernews, the announcement was made by Agustaviano Sofjan, Senior Policy Advisor for Multilateral Affairs at Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the D-8 Media Forum titled Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation and Regional Solidarity.

He stressed that ethical and independent journalism is essential for building public trust.

It is important to ensure fact-checking, establish an early warning center to combat disinformation, safeguard national and cultural values, promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the media, and support exchange programs. The D-8 Media Forum is a strong platform for joint action, where member states can benefit from shared experience, common strategies, and collective initiatives. Indonesia will host the D-8 Forum in 20262027, and we are committed to contributing to our shared goals, he added.

It should be noted that the D-8 Media Forum on Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation, and Regional Solidarity is currently underway in Baku, bringing together heads of media agencies, leading media organizations from D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization member states, high-ranking officials, and renowned experts in the field.

Azerbaijan was unanimously elected as a member of the D-8 Organization during the 11th Summit of the D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization of the eight developing countries, held in Cairo, Egypt, on December 19, 2024.

Subsequently, on March 19, 2025, Azerbaijan officially submitted the ratification documents of the D-8 Charter to the Secretariat of the D-8 Organization in Istanbul, thereby attaining full membership in the organization.
21 November 2025 14:30 (UTC+04:00)

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for the decision to lift restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia, the Kazakh President told local media following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azernews reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

"I express my gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his decision to lift sanctions and create conditions for direct bilateral trade through his country's territory. Thus, in November this year, the first batch of Kazakh wheat, amounting to 1,000 tons, was delivered to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. This initiative is of particular political and economic significance," Tokayev said.

According to him, Kazakhstan is ready to supply high-quality grain products and other goods to Armenia regularly.

We have agreed to make every effort to further develop this area, the head of state said.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on October 21, stated that: Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that had been in place since the occupation.
21 November 2025 15:52 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The Media Excellence Center is being established on the initiative and recommendation of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev. Its primary objectives include combating disinformation and fake news in D-8 countries, enhancing professional expertise in the media sector, organizing personnel training programs, and implementing relevant projects.

Azernews reports that this was announced today by Ahmed Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, while speaking to journalists at the D-8 Media Forum held in Baku.

Ismayilov emphasized that the forum aims to foster international and regional cooperation among media entities of D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization member states, improve collaboration in countering disinformation in the digital environment, and establish a platform for mutual cooperation.

At the forum, a strategic plan for the creation of the D-8 Media Excellence Center is being discussed. The centers strategic plan has already been presented to forum participants. By the end of the day, recommendations from media experts and government officials from D-8 countries will be incorporated into the centers future strategic framework, he added.

The D-8 Media Forum, themed Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation, and Regional Solidarity, is currently taking place in Baku. The event brings together heads of media agencies, leading media organizations from D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization member states, senior government officials, and distinguished media experts.
21 November 2025 16:29 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed regret over the damage caused to the building of the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv following a missile strike on the Ukrainian capital on November 14.

Azernews reports this, citing the official statement of the Russian MFA.

According to the information, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin held a meeting with Azerbaijans Ambassador to Russia, Rahman Mustafayev. During the discussions, Russian officials noted that the Azerbaijani side's appeal dated November 14 concerning the damage to the embassys buildings, property and surrounding territory had been carefully considered by the competent Russian agencies.

The Russian side expresses its sincere regret over the incident, the MFA said in its statement.

The meeting also reaffirmed the mutual intention to continue developing bilateral relations and touched on the schedule of upcoming high-level contacts. Successes in the development of bilateral economic cooperation and the importance of fully restoring cultural and humanitarian ties were noted, the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

According to the Russian MFA, regional issues, including the possible assistance of the Russian side to the normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations on the basis of the complex of trilateral high-level agreements reached in 20202022, were also discussed separately. Issues of maintaining the rhythmic work of the 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform were considered.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that on November 14, Russian Ambassador to Baku Mikhail Yevdokimov was summoned to the ministry and presented with a formal note of protest. During that meeting, the Azerbaijani side strongly protested against the landing of one of the Iskander missiles on the territory of the Embassy amid missile and drone strikes on Kyiv at around 1:00 a.m. on November 14.

The Azerbaijani MFA noted that the explosion caused significant damage, stating that part of the fence of the embassy territory was completely destroyed, and structures, service vehicles, an administrative building and the consular department of the Embassy were damaged.
21 November 2025 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan and Israel have held discussions on deepening their cooperation in the oil and gas sector, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, on his account on X.

During our working visit to the State of Israel, we held a productive meeting with Eli Cohen, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel.

We exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in the fields of #energy and water management, as well as expanding joint activities in oil and gas, the post reads.